QUAKE IN TURKEY DEC 14
Yerevan, December 15. ArmInfo. A 3.9-point earthquake took place in
Turkey 10 km south-west of Ttak Dec 14 5:48 PM local time.
The National Seismic Protection Service of Armenia reports that in the
epicenter the magnitude was 5 points (12-point scale).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
SHOULD ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN ARMED CLASHES START IN JAVAKHQ ARMENIA WILL
HAVE TO INTERFERE: SAMVEL BABAYAN
Yerevan, December 15. ArmInfo. Of course, we all would like the
problems of Javakhq and Nakhichevan to be also solved along with the
problem of Nagorno-Karabakh, says the leader of the Dashink party, ex
commander of the Nagorno-Karabakh Defence Army Samvel Babayan.
Javakhq is very important for the Armeian statehood, it is a zone of
interest for the Armenian nation. But in 1988-1994 the Armenia nation
had no right to raise this problems too as it would mean a war with
Georgia and the blockade of Armenian also from the north. Armenia
would be quickly exhausted and might even lose its own statehood.
To raise the Karabakh problem was also dangerous venture. At that time
Armenia had no regular army, was ridden by devastating quake in 1988
and had no efficient economy. It was a great risk but we won due to
right tactics, says Babayan.
He notes that today the Georgian authorities are openly
anti-Armenian. And now much depends on Armenia’s policy in the
matter. The position of the present Armenian authoirities is not right
as it is contrary to the interests of the Armenian nation. They do not
realize the importance of Javakhq and treat it as a step-child. This
is not right.
Babayan notes that should Armenian-Georgian armed clashes start in
Javakheti, Armenia will be forced to interfere.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
INTERFAX-CEA IGNORES SOME OF LEADING ARMENIAN BANKS IN ITS RANKING OF 1,000
CIS BANKS
Yerevan, December 15. ArmInfo. The Interfax-CEA (Russia) ignored some
of the leading Armenian banks in its Jan-June 2006 rating of 1,000 CIS
banks.
According to ArmInfo, even though the number of Armenian banks grew
from 9 to 17 as against 2005, Interfax-CEA was not fully objective. Of
the 5 top Armenian banks (with biggest assets), HSBC Bank Armenia
(1st), ACBA (4th) and Armeconom (5th) as well as Cascade Bank (18)
were not on the list. The banks say that Interfaxt-CEA did not ask
them for financial information.
A1+
PAMBUKYAN REELECTED
[07:08 pm] 14 December, 2006
A number of local and international tennis tournaments will be held
in Armenia in 2007.
The Armenian Tennis Federation considered the organizational issues of
the tournaments. Alongside with other issues, the participants of the
discussion elected the president of the federation. Haroutyun
Pambukyan, president of the Armenian Tennis Federation, was reelected.
Reminder; Mr. Pambukyan has held the post since 2000.
PROSPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT OF IT, AGRICULTURE, SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESS
ARE ATTACHED IMPORTANCE IN ARMENIAN-INDIAN RELATIONS
DELHI, DECEMBER 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Meetings of the delegation headed by
RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosian started on December 13 in Delhi, the
capital of India. Ashot Kocharian, the Ambassador of Armenia to India
takes part in them. The Parliament of India, Sansad, consists of two
houses: the Rajya Sagha, the Council of States (250 members), and the
Lok Sabha, the House of the People (545 members). Issues of
development of the interstate and interparliamentary relations were
discussed during the meeting with Somnath Chatterjee, the Speaker of
the House of the People. Mr.Chatterjee, welcoming the high-ranking
guest at the Parliament of India, touched upon the newest developments
of the Armenian-Indian friendship, having two thousand-year history,
mentioning generality of viewpoints and interests, the two sides’
faithfulness to solution of problems based on peace and cooperation in
international relations. He expressed gratitude for the assistance
shown by India in the issue of membership to the UN Security Council
and readiness to assist the UN reformation from now on as well. The
Lok Sabha Speaker attached importance to the two sides’ united
position in the anti-terrorism struggle, mentioning that India is
inflexible in spreading peace and well-being, in policy of widening
cooperation between the peoples. Mr.Chatterjee touched upon the
necessity of development of science, high technologies, trade and
economic ties, mentioning that five hundred of Indian students get
education in Armenia. National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian
mentioned in the return speech that it is interesting and useful to be
in one of ancient cradles of civilization. The NA Speaker touched upon
the active and effective cooperation of the two countries, mentioning
that time and developments open new perspectives of deepening of the
economic, scientific, cultural ties of Armenia and India. Deepening of
the economic ties was attached importance within that context: growth
of the goods circulation volumes, giving of three hundred of Indian
tractors were mentioned with praise. It was mentioned that the
cooperation and mutual assistance will continue in international
structures. Mr.Torosian emphasized the balanced and impartial posture
of India concerning the South Caucasian region, and, particularly,
such a delicate issue as the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is. The
interlocutors expressed mutual confidence that Armenia will continue
assistance to international organizations of India, particularly, at
the UN, and similar assistance will be shown to Armenia by India. The
RA NA Speaker also mentioned that a group of parliamentary friendship
with India functions at the Parliament of Armenia, and added that
creation of a similar group at the Parliament of India would support
development of the interparliamentary ties. During the meeting the
sides also touched upon the cooperation of the two parliaments’ staffs
and exchange of experience. According to the information submitted to
Noyan Tapan by the RA NA Public Relations Department, the
parliamentary delegation headed by Armenian National Assembly Speaker
Tigran Torosian took part on December 14 in sitting of the Lok Sabha
and Rajya Sabha of India, during which the those presiding the
sittings addressed welcome speeches in honour of the National Assembly
Speaker and the delegation headed by him. The National Assembly
delegation had a meeting with Lal Krishna Advani, the Indian Sansad
opposition leader as well. Mr.Advani mentioned that time by time he
has opportunities to make sure that there are differences among
parliaments of different countries, but the meeting with the Armenian
National Assembly Speaker strengthens the friendship and assures that
there are no differences between Armenia and India: Armenia is a
friendly and democratic country. T.Torosian mentioned that the two
countries unite the common values what is the most interesting.
Mr.Torosian attached importance to the visit to India not only as a
rear possibility of direct contact with one of the most ancient
civilizations, but also as a possibility of future development of the
relations with a country which has an important role in the world
policy and is famous with the widest democracy.
He mentioned that the democracy in Armenia is still young, it is only
fifteen years that the independence of the country was re-established,
but it is already obvious that with presence of democracy parliaments
has a great role, and parliaments may be considered formed if the role
and meaning of the opposition is great there. At the NA Speaker’s
request, Mr.Advani gave information about the activity of the
opposition at the Indian Parliament. Advani himself has been in the
sphere of policy for more than half-century and during those years he
only once (during six year) was in the authorities staff, on the
Deputy Prime Minister’s post, the opposition headed by him has one
hundred thirty-eight votes at the Parliament /the ruling party has one
hundred forty-five votes/, according to the Parliament regulations,
the opposition head has a Minister’s status. Mr.Advani mentioned that
in some countries the opposition is perceived as a country
enemy. Fortunately, it is not like this either in India or in Armenia,
otherwise, the head of the legislative power of Armenia would not meet
with the opposition head, having an opposition representative in its
delegation. At the request of RA National Assembly delegation member
Alexan Karapetian, Mr.Advani presented the regulations rights of the
opposition at the Parliament of India. Bhairon Singh Shakhawat, the
Vice-President of India, Rajya Sabha Speaker, welcoming his Armenian
friends, attached importance to the existence of active democracy in
the two countries, which very quickly responds problems of the
country. He qualified the Armenian-Indian interparliamentary ties as
friendly and heartfelt ones, expressing confidence that the NA
Speaker’s visit will strengthen the relations aimed to progress and
development. NA Speaker Tigran Torosian, expressing gratitude for the
invitation and reception, mentioned that Mr.Shakhawat’s visit to
Armenia became a start for a good tradition for continuation of which
all the preconditions exist. He expressed a wish that this tradition
is spread not only on parliaments but on peoples’ friendship as
well. Mr.Torosian mentioned that the cooperation of the Parliaments
completes wonderful ties of the two states: the cooperation in
international structures, commercial and economic, scientific-cultural
relations, and expressed a confidence that natural continuation for
development of interparliamentary ties will be activization of the
intergovernmental commission the last sitting of which was convened
three years ago. He also expressed a hope that to strengthen the
interparliamentary ties, a group of deputies’ friendship with Armenia,
like the one acting at the RA National Assembly, will be formed in the
Parliament of India. The NA Speaker expressed satisfaction with the
fact that the two countries and peoples have complete mutual
perception on such delicate issues as the Nagorno Karabakh and Kashmir
problems are. Bhairon Singh Shakhawat, the Vice-President of India,
Rajya Sabha Speaker agreed with the NA Speaker, qualifying the
cooperation as excellent one. He expressed gratitude for the
assistance shown when joining the UN Security Council and attached
importance to prospects of development of the information
technologies, agriculture, small and medium business. Other issues
which are mutually attached importance to where also discussed during
the meeting. The delegation members laid a wreath in Rajhat to the
monument to Mahatma Gandhi, NA Speaker Tigran Torosian left a writing
in the honourary guests’ register.
UN Development Programme (UNDP) Armenia
14, Petros Adamyan St., Yerevan 375010, Armenia
Tel: +374 10 56 60 73 + 121
Mob: +374 91 43 63 12
Fax: +374 10 54 38 11
E-mail: [email protected]
URLs:
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Aramazd Ghalamkaryan
E-mail: [email protected]
THE FIRST JOINT PROJECT OF UNDP AND HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND LAUNCHED
/Yerevan, December 15, 2006/ – Today, in the UN House in Yerevan, United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
signed a memorandum of understanding that marked the start of the first
joint project – construction of a boiler house and heating transmission
channels for the Reanimation Department at the Nork Hospital for
Infectious Diseases in Yerevan.
Ms. Consuelo Vidal, UNDP resident representative in Armenia and Ms.
Naira Melkumyan, Chief Executive of the Fund signed the memorandum.
Ms. Vidal noted: "This is our first joint project since we started our
cooperation in October and we are sure it will not be the last one. For
UNDP, it is crucial to have reliable and committed partners while we
channel resources to regions of Armenia out of Yerevan.’
"We strongly believe that through joining our efforts we will be able to
achieve much more in our fight against poverty in the country," –
mentioned Ms. Vidal.
Ms. Melkumyan, in her answers to the journalists’ questions, mentioned:
"We and UNDP agree on the methods to be used while supporting Armenian
communities. Today we thank the Armenian Diaspora in Brazil, who
provided funds for this project through the Brazilian Embassy."
In the framework of a broader partnership with the Fund and the
Government of Armenia, UNDP assists local communities in Armenia in
elaborating village development plans, with direct participation of the
village inhabitants and the local self-governance bodies. UNDP’s support
will not be limited only to infrastructure, but to local projects in the
villages that generate jobs.
Currently, Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s activities focus on improvement
of large-scale physical and development infrastructures. The Fund has a
proven track record: 138 miles (220 km) of roads, 81 miles (130 km) of
waterways, 36 schools, 3 electric transmission networks, 210 residential
buildings, and 14 healthcare institutions.
The total budget of this project is USD 26,500.
* * *
UNDP is the UN’s global development network. We operate in 166
countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and
national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they
draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.
* * *
/For additional information, please visit
<; and/or contact Mr. Aramazd Ghalamkaryan: tel.:
+37410 566 073, ext. 121, +37491 436 312, e-mail:
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>./
EX COMMANDER OF KARABAKH DEFENCE ARMY KNOWS HOW TO RESOLVE KARABAKH CONFLICT
Yerevan, December 15. ArmInfo. There is no universal solution to the
Karabakh conflict and similar conflicts, says the leader of the
Dashink party, ex commander of the Karabakh Defence Army Samvel
Babayan.
The Karabakh conflict can be resolved if the conflicting parties are
democratized. There are four key principles: transitional sovereignty
under patronage of some international structure (for example EU),
voluntary return of Armenian refugees and internal displaced persons
of Azerbaijan, creation of prerequisites for Karabakh’s economic
development and determination of Karabakh’s status through new
referendum.
The resolution of the Karabakh conflict will stimulate regional
integration, while the preservation of the status quo does not serve
the interests of the Armenian side. If the above principles are
observed Karabakh will gain independence and it will be for the
Armenian nation to decide if it will remain independent or will join
Armenia, says Babayan.
ARREST OF NATIONAL HERO SEFILYAN IS RESULT OF AGREEMENT ON TERRITORIAL
CONCESSIONS: ARMENIAN MP
Yerevan, December 15. ArmInfo. The arrest of the national hero Zhirayr
Sefilyan is most probably the result of final agreement on the
Armenian side’s territorial concessions to Azerbaijan and the wish of
the Amenian athorities to neutralize people who may oppose such
policy, says the leader of the opposition Democratic Way party, MP
Manuk Gasparyan,
At the same time, Gasparyan is sure that shortly on the request of the
Russian special services the Armenian authorities will set Sefilyan
free.
Gasparyan says that the charges of forcible change of the
constitutional order the authorities have made against Sefilyan are
absurd. Sefilyan is not big enough for uniting the opposition against
the government.
To remind, the coordinator of the Union of Armenian Volunteers
initiative, Karabakh war hero Sefilyan was arrested on Dec 9.
SENATE OF ARGENTINA CERTIFIES DRAFT RECOGNIZING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
BUENOS AIRES, DECEMBER 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Senate
of Argentina unanimously certified on December 13 the draft
recognizing the Armenian Genocide. All the 57 senators present at the
sitting voted for the document, Radio Liberty informs. The Lower House
of the Parliament of Argentina adopted a draft in late November by
which April 24 was announced a day of tolerance and respect among
peoples in the memory of the Armenian people’s genocide. The draft
allows statesmen of the Armenian origin to be absent from work on
April 24 to take part in events dedicated to memory of the Genocide
victims.
Students of the Armenian origin are also allowed to miss leasons on
that day. To acquire strength of law, the draft must be signed by
Nestor Kirchner, the President of Argentina.
HAYKO RECOGNIZED BEST SINGER OF YEAR AT NATIONAL MUSIC AWARDING
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Results of the 4th National Music
Awarding were summed up on December 14 at the Al.Spendiarian Opera and
Ballet National Academic Theater. By the jury members’ open vote,
Hayko was recognized the "Best Singer of the Year" and Hasmik
Karapetian and Emmi shared the "Best Singer" (female) prize. Silva
Hakobian, recently won the first prize at the BBC music awarding was
recongized the winner in the "Discovery of the Year" nomination.
Tigran Petrosian’s "Whom" disk was recognized the "Best Album of the
Year," "Hayer" group was recognized the "Best Pop Group," "Empyray" –
the "Best Rock Group," the "Hayk" group’s "Kamin Pchi" Let’s Wind Blow
song was recognized the "Best Hit," Arman Hovhannisian’s and Arminka’s
duet was recognized the "Best Duet." The "Barev, Yerkir" (Good
Morning, Country) clip shot by director Davit Babayan was recognized
the "Best Clip of the Year" prize with unanimously vote of the jury
members. The prize after Tigran Naghdalian was given to composer Armen
Martirosian and author of the words Avet Barseghian for the "Karmir,
Kapuyt, Tsiranaguyn" (Red, Blue, Orange) song. World-famous
chansonnier Charles Aznavour was awarded a special prize. Singer Andre
was rewarded with a special prize for first of all representing
Armenia in the "Eurovision-2006" competition, and singer Varduhi
Vardanian was also awarded for the significant contribution in the art
of singing.