RA FOREIGN MINISTER MET WITH HIS GEORGIAN COUNTERPART
ArmRadio.am
01.11.2006 15:00
November 1 RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, who is participating
in the 15th sitting of BSEC Council of Foreign Ministers, met with
his Georgian counterpart Gela Bezhuashvili.
The Foreign Ministers discussed Armenia-Georgia bilateral relations,
the impact of Russian-Georgian relations on the region and the
opportunities of reducing the tension.
Turning to the relations of the two countries with the EU, the
Ministers highly assessed the adoption of the Action Plans with South
Caucasian countries and expressed confidence that it will enable
Armenia and Georgia to deepen bilateral cooperation in the direction
of European integration.
The parties exchanged views on the peaceful settlement of the conflicts
existing in the region, and the opportunities of elimination of the
possible consequences of the GUAM initiative in the UN.

GDP OF ARMENIA EXPERIENCED 12.5% GROWTH
ArmRadio.am
01.11.2006 15:46
During January-September 2006 the GDP of Armenia grew with 12.5% as
compared with the same period of 2005, reaching 172 billion drams in
market prices.
RA National Statistical Service told ArmInfo that in September the
index increased with 26.3% as compared with August. The GDP growth
is associated with about annual 40% increase of construction volume,
20% rise of the population’s incomes, and 11% increase of retail sale.
During January-September 2006 the average interest rate of RA Central
Bank was 1 USD=430.4 drams.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTIONS WITH OWN PLATFORM
ArmRadio.am
01.11.2006 16:04
The Democratic Party of Armenia is an independent political force
and will go for the parliamentary elections with its own platform,
President of the Democratic Party of Armenia, NA Deputy Aram
G. Sargsyan said in a press conference today. He added that the
political force is ready to cooperate with those parties, whose
programs will coincide with those of the Democratic Party.
According to Aram Sargsyan, the Democratic Party of Armenia aspires
to form a third force in the new Parliament, a candidate of which may
run for President in 2008. In his words, the first two parliamentary
forces will be the Republican Party of Armenia and the “Thriving
Armenia” Party.

NKR PARLIAMENT ADOPTED DRAFT CONSTITUTION AT SECOND READING
ArmRadio.am
01.11.2006 16:17
The National Assembly of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic adopted the
draft Constitution at second reading.
ArmInfo correspondent reports from Stepanakert that the draft was
adopted with a devastating majority of votes. The Deputies have taken
the decision to presentt the document for nationwide voting on December
10. It is noted in the draft Constitution that the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic is a sovereign, democratic, legal and social state. The
authority in NKR belongs to people. People apply its authority
through free elections, referendums, as well as through state and
self-governance bodies and officials. The state is the guarantor of
the fundamental rights and freedoms of the citizen, in compliance
with accepted principles and norms of international law.

RA DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER TO PARTAKE IN CSTO CONSULTATIONS
ArmRadio.am
01.11.2006 13:56
The delegation led by the Chief of General Staff of the Armed
Forces of the Republic of Armenia, RA First Deputy Defense Minister,
Colonel-General Mickael Harutynyan left for Moscow to participate in
the sitting of Chiefs of General Staffs of the Armed Forces of CIS
member states and consultations of Chiefs of General Staffs of the
Armed Forces of CSTO countries, RA MOD Press Service reports.
During the consultations of Chiefs of General Staffs of the Armed
Forces of CSTO member states it is envisaged to discuss the CSTO
coalition army building by 2010, the format of the mechanism of
cooperation of the CSTO joint Staff and General Staffs of member
countries, military-technical cooperation, joint training of
specialists.

CENTER FOR RESTORATION AND KEEPING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TO BE FOUNDED IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Nov 01 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. On the initiative of the RA Ministry
of Culture and Youth Issues and the “Culture and Cooperation”
European association restoring musical instruments, education
programs for masters, restoring, keeping and making new musical
instruments, are being implemented in Armenia during the period of
time from September, 2006 till July, 2007. As Philip Backman, the
Chairman of the association, the National Histrionic Art Director of
Chalons-en-Champagne, stated at the October 31 press conference this
program was adopted by the European Commission and is being implemented
in member countries of the European Union. “The idea of implementing
the program in Armenia appeared a year ago, when I visited Armenia and
saw what good music and what good specialists the Armenians have,”
Ph.Backman stated. He mentioned that within the framework of the
program, the Yerevan Komitas Conservatory, Al.Spendiarian Opera
and Ballet Academic Theater, Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia,
State Chamber Orchestra of Armenia as well as Aram Khachaturian
House-Museum will be their partners in Armenia. In Pl.Backman’s words,
it is envisaged to organize during a year European specialists’
short term missions to Armenia and Armenian masters’ long-term
missions to European countries. Besides, a center for restoration of
musical instruments will be founded in Armenia, workshops will open
and exchange of experience in making Armenian people’s instruments
with European masters will be organized. Pl.Backman also stated that
the Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia participating in the concert
to take place in France in February, 2007, will perform with already
restored instruments.

30th ANNIVERSARY OF UNION OF CONSTANTINOPLE ARMENIANS OF LOS ANGELES MARKED THIS YEAR
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Nov 01 2006
LOS ANGELES. NOVEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Union
of Constantinople Armenians of Los Angeles marks 30th anniversary of
its foundation this year. A festive ceremony will be organized in the
Universal Hilton restaurant on December 4. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian
and Bishop Vigen Aykazian from Washington will be present at the
event. According to Marmara, the union was founded in 1976 by a group
of Constantinople Armenians under the patronage of the Surb Sargis
church of Los Angeles. The goal of the union was to keep Armenian and
Constantinople Armenians’ traditions, to help education and bringing up
of younger generation, to activize sporting activity, to assist members
of the local Armenian community with charity initiatives, encourage
literary and cultural works. The union promoted its activity in the
Surb Sargis church till 1985. It has had its own center since 1985.

IN G.ISAGULIAN’S WORDS, PASSIVE POSE OF POLITICAL FORCES DOES NOT HAVE GOOD EFFECT ON RATING OF ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Oct 30 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. In the political sense, this autumn
does not differ from other autumns: parties do not carry out active
actions, have no enough number of structures in marzes, those existing
do not hold corresponding works with the local population. Garnik
Isagulian, the RA President’s Advisor on Security Issues, expressed
such a viewpoint at the October 28 press conference. Not mentioning,
which parties are particularly spoken about, G.Isagulian stated that
such a passive pose of political forces “does not have good effect
either on country’s rating or, in general, on whole process.” In his
opinion, if there is no healthy debate or dialogue in the country’s
politicial field just from the outset, instead of it, there is rivalry
among the forces, who will rail at who more, as a result, after the
2007 parliamentary elections, some political units will not get the
number of votes they expect and will start to complain and consider
results of the elections falsified.
Touching upon the fact of arresting Vahagn Chakhalian, a member of
“United Javakhk” democratic union with accusation of “illegally
breaking the state border of Armenia,” G.Isagulian mentioned that “if
there was no break, he would not be arrested” and added that, in his
turn, this is not the theme which needs “to be put into circulation so
much.” Responding the question how he will comment upon the statement
made by RF State Duma deputy Konstantin Zatulin about the necessity
of clerifying Armenia’s position on the Russian-Georgian conflict,
G.Isagulian said: “If you think that each of his statements will
be commented upon by state high-ranking officials of Armenia, you
are sadly mistaken. I am not interested in statements of this type,
let alone responding.”
Responding a journalist’s question if G.Isagulian’s viewpoint,
expressed months ago, according to which he considered RA Defence
Minister Serge Sargsian as the RA President’s “most prepared candidate,
remains in force, the speaker said: “In general, if Isagulian expresses
any viewpoint, he does not change it any more.”

IN STEPAN ZAKARIAN’S WORDS, ARMENIA LOSES CONSIDERABLE PART OF ITS INDEPENDENCE AS A RESULT OF OCTOBER 27 TERRORISM
Noyan Tapan
Oct 30 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia lost the considerable
part of its independence as a result of the October 27, 1999,
terrorism. Stepan Zakarian, a member of the “Ardaroutiun” (Justice)
faction of the RA National Assembly made such a statement at the
October 27 briefing. In his words, politicians who became victims of
the terrorism classified dignity of the state very highly and were
independent people. In S.Zakarian’s opinion, the foreign policy
of Armenia would be much clearer if politicians implementing it
were also independent. And loss of that independence is seen even
relating to the Russian-Georgian cases, when, in the deputy’s words,
“patriotic Armenians are arrested as a result of back-stage agreements
and to play up to another state.” He mentioned that during the Soviet
years Karen Demirchian managed to act in the way that Armenia was much
more prosperous than neighbouring republics were. “And today Armenia’s
property is given to strategic ally Russia without any compensation,”
S.Zakarian mentioned. In his words, K.Demirchian proved in 1988
that the people’s fate is more valuable for him than his post. In
S.Zakarian’s words, if he clung to the chair, the one that happened
in Czechoslovakia and Hungary, would take place in Armenia as well.

AMBASSADOR ARA AYVAZIAN AND KIND OF NORWAY DISCUSS PROSPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT OF BILATERAL RELATIONS
Noyan Tapan
Armeninas Today
Oct 30 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Ara Ayvazian,
the Ambassador of Armenia to Norway handed his credentials on October
26 to Harald V, King of Norway. The ceremony of handing credentials
was followed by the private conversation of the King of Norway and
the Armenian Ambassador, during which the sides discussed approaches
and prospects of development of the bilateral relations. During
the private conversation numerous displays of the two peoples’
friendship preceded the Armenia-Norway interstate ties, particularly
great humanist Fridtjof Nansen’s activity beneficial for Armenias,
were specially touched upon. At the request of the King of Norway,
Ambassador Ara Ayvazian presented the political and economic state of
Armenia and mutual relations with the neighbouring countries. As Noyan
Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, the sides emphasized the necessity of development of the
dialogue of civilizations as an important mean addressed to regional
and international stability and strengthening of security.