UN CONDITIONAL MODELLING-PLAY HELD AT RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN UNIVERSITY
Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. With the assistance of the
Armenian Association of the United Nations, a group of students
of the International Relations Department of the Russian-Armenian
(Slavonic) State University held on October 24 a modelled variant
of the UN Security Council sitting where every participant
“represnted” a UN member state. The main theme of the “sitting”
was the Palestinian-Israeli crisis on the occasion of which the
participants adopted a special resolution after a discussion lasted
for some hours. In words of Valeri Tkachuk, the representative
of the UN Public Information Department, “UN modelling is a too
interesting play,” which has been held already for some years
not only among young students but also among ready specialists,
politicians and diplomates. In his words, the event held in the
Slavonic University is the 3rd among the 7 modellings envisaged in
Armenia and “it’s gratifying that, by happy coincidence, this event
was held just on the day of the UN foundation, October 24.” In words
of Armine Halajian, the board responsible for information, the event
has mainly an educational goal as every participant, being involved
in discussions and undertaking role of any country’s representative,
study deeply that country’s history, geography, foreign policy, etc.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KAREKIN II CATHOLICOS EXPECTS BELARUSIAN AUTHORITIES’ SUPPORT IN AFFAIR OF BUILDING OF ARMENIAN CHURCH
Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006
ETCHMIADZIN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Receiving on October 24 at the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Sergey Sidorsky, the Prime Minister
of Republic of Belarus who is on an official visit in Armenia,
Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians
expressed satisfaction with making closer and strengthening the
Armenian-Belarusian relations at the state level, considering them
natural consequence of centuries-old friendship of the Armenian and
Belarusian peoples. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Press Services
of the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese, the Armenian Patriarch thanked
in the person of the Prime Minister the authorities of Belarus as
well for the attentive and careful attitude towards the Armenian
community. His Holiness expressed confidence that the authorities
will support the Armenian community in the affair of construction of
an Armenian church in Belarus.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA PRESIDENT VISITS BORDER MILITARY UNITS
Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. On October 23-24, RA President,
Commander-in-Chief of RA Armed Forces, Robert Kocharian visited
a number of border military units. The goal of the visit was to
get familiarized with technical equipment and fighting trim of
military units on the spot. As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA
President’s Press Office, R.Kocharian visited military training rooms,
followed the process of trainings, spoke to officers and soldiers,
got acquainted with their living conditions. During the two-day visit
the Commander-in-Chief of RA Armed Forces had a possibility to closely
familiarize himself with the discipline level of a number of military
units, fighting, tactical and moral-psychological condition of officers
and soldiers, social conditions of officers and their families.

ARMENIAN AND TURKISH PHOTOJOURNALISTS’ JOINT EXHIBITION OPENS IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Exhibition of Armenian and Turkish
photojournalists under the title Merhabarev took place on October
25 at Moscow cinema of Yerevan. The exhibition was organized by
the Caucasian Media Institute with the sponsorship of the Embassy
of Switzerland in RA. The Merhabarev is the first joint program of
photojournalists of Patkerphoto Armenian and Nar Turkish agencies. In
the words of the Patkerphoto founder, photographer Ruben Mangasarian,
five Armenian photographers took photos of Istanbul and five Turkish
photographers took some pictures in Yerevan streets. In the words
of Turkish photojournalist Oscan Yurdalan, the exhibition’s name,
Merhabarev, is a double greeting consisting of Turkish word “merhaba”
and Armenian “barev” (greeting). He said that he communicates with
his Armenian colleagues “in the language of documentary photography,
which enables “to concentrate upon the present at the same time sending
a message to the future.” And photojournalist Anahit Hayrapetian said
that in Istanbul she has worked with representatives of various local
strata and has never met any obstacle or pressure. “We, Armenians,
by saying “Turks” imagine a savage people, which indeed is not so,”
Anahit said. As she affirmed, it is already time that ice between
the two peoples melt.

DESIGN OF ARMENIA-GEORGIA HIGH-VOLTAGE LINE TO BE COMPLETED BY LATE 2006
Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. It is envisaged to complete the
design of the 400-kv high-voltage line from Georgia to Armenia by the
end of 2006, after which a tender to choose a construction organization
will be announced.
Karen Poghosian, architect of Grig Realty company that implements
the design work, told NT correspondent that the high-voltage line
will be 215-km long. The customer of the construction is Georgia’s
Ministry of Energy.

FREEDOM TO VAHAGN CHAKHALIAN SIT-DOWN STRIKE PARTICIPANTS SEND OPEN LETTER TO ARA ABRAHAMIAN
Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. On October 25, the participants of
the Freedom to Vahagn Chakhalian sit-down strike sent an open letter
to Chairman of the Union of Armenians in Russia, Ara Abrahamian,
proposing him supporting release of member of Presidency of the the
United Javakhk democratic bloc, Vahagn Chakhalian, from “clutches
of violence ruling in Armenia.” Emphasizing A.Abrahamian’s rich
experience of releasing and returning to the homeland Armenia’s and
Russia’s citizens sentenced on the charge of “taking part in armed
coups” in African countries, the letter authors propose “also using
such approach” towards Vahagn Chakhalian, Presidency member of the
United Javakhk democratic bloc arrested in Yerevan with the absurd
accusation of “illegally crossing the Armenian state frontier” and
releasing the national figure from clutches of violence ruling in
Armenia.” The participants of Freedom to Vahagn Chakhalian sit-down
strike ask Ara Abrahamian to take into consideration the fact that
“the efforts of RA National Assembly 17 Deputies, a number of parties
and organizations to release V.Chakhalian from custody are perceived
by RA law enforcement body heads and their chiefs as “a voice in the
wilderness,” the letter read.

JAPAN’S CREDIT PROGRAMS AIM TO ASSIST ARMENIA WITH ITS ECONOMIC REFORMS, ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER SAYS
Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian authorities attach
special importance to the consistent development of friendly relations
with Japan – one of the leading countries in the Asian-Pacific region,
taking into account this country’s contribution to maintenance of
peace and stability in the world and its assistance to developing
countries. The Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian stated this
at the October 25 meeting with the Japanese Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipoentiary to Armenia Yasuo Saito (residence – Moscow). He
noted with satisfaction that over the last 10 years the Japanese
government has provided assitance to Armenia both as official
development-aimed assistance at the bilateral level and through
international financial organizations. According to the prime minister,
general, cultural, small grant, and techical assistance programs, as
well as concessional credit programs related to such important sectors
of the Armenian economy as agriculture, small and medium enterprises,
community infrastructure, energy, culture, education and health care
are aimed at assisting Armenia with its economic reforms. A. Margarian
pointed out the agreement on allocation of a 150 million-dollar
concessional loan to the Armenian government for re-equipment of the
Yerevan Thermal Power Plant and welcomed the Japanese government’s
intention to implement 2 new grant programs on development of rural
communities in the near future. He said that the development of rural
communities, especially mountainous and border ones, is one of the
priorities of the Armenian government’s economic policy, because the
poverty level is especially high in these communities.
According to the RA Government Information and PR Department, during
the meeting the sides also underlined the importance of cooperation
at the international level. Ambassador Saito indicated the scarce
natural resources and considerable intellectual potential as the
common features of the two countries, adding that if the latter is
efficiently used, the country may achieve a remarkable success.

DUTCH GOVERNMENT ENVISAGES TO PROVIDE 500 THOUSAND-EURO SUBSIDY FOR EXPANSION OF METRIS COMPANY’S ACTIVITIES IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The Dutch government envisages
to provide a 500 thousand-euro subsidy to the Dutch medical and
pharmaceutical equipement manufacturing company Metris for expansion of
its activities in Armenia and staff training for this purpose. Levon
Baghdasarian, technical manager of the company, said this during
the October 25 press conference. According to him, such an agreement
was reached between the Dutch government and Metris so that the cost
of transportation and installation of the equipment (which will be
provided at its cost price to Armenia) will be subsidized by the Dutch
government. At the same time, it was noted that so far no Armenian
pharmaceutical company has made an offer to purchase this equipment
whose lowest price is 20 thousand USD. L. Baghdasarian said that in the
last two years, Metris’ equipment-related programming has been done
by Metris IT Solutions company that operates in Armenia and employs
4 programmers. It was noted that the program on expansion of Metris’
activities in Armenia had a problem with finding specialists (with
the initial minimal salary of 500 dollars), and an attemp was made to
solve this problems by making respective statements and cooperation
offers in higher educational institutions. As a result, it was decided
to launch a program on staff preparation at Metris from January 1,
2007. Over the last two years, Metris IT Solutions has prepared five
developments, which have been used in the equipment produced at the
request of Glexo-Smith-Klein company. In the words of L. Baghdasarian,
Metris’ equipment software serves the purpose of creation of “main
signal recognition, registration and analysis” automated systems used
in pre-clinical studies on drug effects. There are few institutions
engaged in this field that solve software programs ensuring high
precision. It was noted that in India the payment for such work is
three times as much as in Armenia. Metris has been operating on the
US and European markets for about 10 years. The company has branches
in Armenia, Japan, Russia, Hong Kong, with the total staff of 50. It
cooperates with such companies as Phillips Medical Systems, TNO
(Netherlands), Siemens (Germany), National Instruments (US). Among
the company’s customers are GM, Roche and others.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CATHOLICOS KAREKIN II EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO SWEDISH AUTHORITIES FOR SUPPORTING ARMENIAN COMMUNITY
Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. On October 25, Catholicos of All
Armenians Karekin II received newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of Sweden to Armenia, Hans Gunnar Aden, and Consul
of Honor of Sweden to RA, Edit Khachatrian, in the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin. As Noyan Tapan was informed from the Information Services
of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, greeting the visit of the
Ambassador of Sweden to Etchmiadzin, His Holiness expressed happiness
on the occasion of deepening of diplomatic relations between the two
countries. During the meeting His Holiness the Patriarch touched upon
the Armenian community in Sweden and organization of its spiritual
life, expressed gratitude for support provided to the newly formed
community by the authorities. The newly appointed Ambassador in his
turn expressed gratitude for reception and expressed the hope that
the diplomatic relations between the two countries will contribute
to development of Armenian-Swedish relations in various spheres. At
the end of the meeting the Catholicos of All Armenians wished the
Ambassador success in his mission.

MEMORIAL TO ROMANIAN PRISONERS OF WAR WHO DIED IN ARMENIA UNVEILED IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. A memorial to Romanian prisoners
of war who were taken prisoners in the 1941-45 World War and died in
Armenia was unveiled on October 25, in the Kanaker-Zeytun community
of Yerevan. The memorial construction was financed by the Romanian
government. As Christian Scarlar, representative of Association of
Romanian Soldiers Memory, said at the solemn unveiling ceremony,
Romanian Army Day is marked on October 25 and it is symbolic that
the memorial is unveiled on the very day. In his words, the memorial
symbolizes Armenian-Romanian centuries-old friendly contacts. Romanian
Deputy Ambassador to Armenia, Gabriel Grecu, said that 140 thousand
Romanian soldiers were taken prisoners during the Second World
War. They were moved to various countries. The prisoners of war
who moved to Armenia lived in camps and took part in construction
activities. In his words, according to not precise data, 175 thousand
Romanian prisoners of war were buried in Armenia, but only 90 prisoners
of war were mentioned in documents. Historian Ara Demirkhanian also
emphasized that 943 of prisoners of war brought to Armenia after the
Second World War were buried here.
From: Baghdasarian