TOURISM DEVELOPMENT ARMENIAN AGENCY TO TAKE PART IN EVENTS OF YEAR OF ARMENIA IN FRANCE
YEREVAN, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the events of
Year of Armenia in France the Tourism Development Armenian Agency is
going to organize participation of RA tourist companies in exhibitions
to be held in 2006 September in Marseilles and in 2007 spring in
Lyon. Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed about it by Susanna
Azoyan, Marketing Director of the Tourism Development Armenian Agency.
In her words, in May the Tourism Development Armenian Agency
has already participated in the Eldorado international tourist
exhibition-festival held in France, in which only one new country can
take part every year. As S.Azoyan said, besides offers in the sphere
of tourism, national clothes, musical instruments and art working of
stone were presented at the Armenian pavilion.
It was mentioned that Armenia will take part in the international
tourism exhibition to be held in September in Tokyo and in November in
London. From the beginning of 2006, the Tourism Development Armenian
Agency and Armenian tourist companies have taken part in tourist
exhibitions of Utrecht (Holland), Berlin, Milan and Tbilisi.

MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ARMENIAN PROGRAM NEEDS INDEPENDENT MONITORING,
ASPAREZ CLUB CHAIRMAN IS CONVINCED
YEREVAN, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The name of the director of the
Millennium Challenge fund’s Armenian program will become known in the
coming days. Nazeli Vardanian, Chairwoman of the Armenian Forests
NGO, informed about it on July 24, at the presentation of current
developments of participation of civil society in the program. At the
same time, she did not wish to mention the names of 3 candidates sent
to the U.S. for approval.
N.Vardanian said that 5 NGOs elected in the Board of Beneficiaries
of the Armenian program will control the whole process of program
implementation. It was also mentioned that these organizations have
the veto and can use it in case of disagreement in any issue.
Levon Barseghian, Chairman of Board of the Asparez club, said that
the Regulations of the Board of Beneficiaries will be ready in the
coming days. In his words, the public notification organized in
connection with the program is rather bad: 750 thousand villagers
are not almost aware of the program, while the program is aimed
at improving their life conditions. It was also mentioned that the
program needs an independent monitoring, as about 180 mln USD will
be spent on implementation of construction works.

ARKADY GHUKASIAN PRESENTS STEPAN DEMIRCHIAN CURRENT
STAGE AND PROSPECTS OF NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
STEPANAKERT, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 25,
NKR President Arkady Ghukasian received Stepan Demirchian, Chairman
of the People’s Party of Armenia, Head of RA NA Ardarutiun (Justice)
faction, who arrived in Artsakh on a cognitive visit the day before.
The guest presented NKR President his impressions from his travel
about Artsakh. S.Demirchian said that he is inspired with what he has
seen and said that the war consequences are being liquidated and the
progress is noticeable.
The interlocutors touched upon a number of issues of socio-economic
development on the agenda.
As NT was informed from NKR President’s Acting Spokesperson, at the
guest’s request Arkady Ghukasian touched upon the current stage and
prospects of Nagorno Karabakh settlement peaceful negotiations.

SERGE SARGSIAN AND PETER SEMNEBY EXCHANGE OPINIONS ON NAGORNO KARABAKH
SETTLEMENT AND ARMENIA’S RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBOR COUNTRIES
YEREVAN, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 25, the
delegation led by Peter Semneby, EU Special Representative to the
South Caucasus, was received by Serge Sargsian, RA Defence Minister,
Secretary of the National Security Council under RA President.
They touched upon the Individual Partnership Actions Plan attaching
importance to the stage of its fulfilment.
Thoughts were exchanged on the Nagorno Karabakh peaceful settlement
and Armenia’s relations with its neighbor countries.
Peter Semneby once more confirmed EU’s readiness in the issue of
peaceful settlement of the conflict.
The interlocutors touched upon the EU’s involvement in the forthcoming
parliamentary elections.
As NT was informed by Colonel Seyran Shahsuvarian, Spokesperson for RA
Defence Minister, Ambassador of Germany to Armenia Heike Peitsch and
Ambassador of Finland to Armenia Terhi Hakala took part in the meeting.

COMMISSION ON ISSUES OF STATE SERVANT’S ETHICS CREATED UNDER NKR PRESIDENT
STEPANAKERT, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANDS TODAY. On July 25, NKR
President Arkady Ghukasian signed a decree “On Creating a Commission
on Issues of State Servant’s Ethics under NKR President.”
As NT was informed by the Acting Spokesperson for NKR President, the
Commission Chairman is Murad Petrosian. Alexandra Avanesian, Valerik
Khachatrian, Georgy Petrosian, Karen Saghian, Andranik Sargsian,
Vardges Ulubabian are also included in the commission.

BARGAVACH HAYASTAN TO GO TO PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ALONE
YEREVAN, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The Bargavach Hayastan (Prosperous
Armenia) party headed by big Armenian businessman, RA MP Gagik
Tsarukian will go to the parliamentary elections of 2007 alone.
“The party Chairman, Mr Tsarukian, said that we will go to the
parliamentary elections alone,” Vardan Vardanian, Chairman of party’s
Political Board, said in his interview to radio Liberty citing
Tsarukian’s speech made at the July 24 meeting in the building of
Sundukian theater. “This is the decision of the party Chairman. I am
convinced that the political board also will make such a decision,”
he mentioned.
The radio Liberty’s sources inform that during the July 24 meeting
Gagik Tsarukian also declared that Bargavach Hayastan “will win the
parliamentary elections,” as well as assured that they are ready to
cooperate with the political forces that wish free and fair elections
to be held in the country.
According to the same sources, the Gagik Tsarukian – Viktor Dallakian
bloc can be also considered as fully established.
Vardan Vardanian opposed to the statement of RA Defence Minister,
RPA Board newly elected Chairman, Serge Sargsian that Bargavach
Hayastan does not exist as a party yet. Vardanian insisted that
Bargavach Hayastan has been acting for already three years and has
210 thousand members and more than 300 party offices. “I can precisely
say that the party exists, it has a history of three
years, it has held its congress. So, I do not think there will be such
conversations,” he said.
According to Vardanian, people come to their party consolidating
around an idea. In the July 24 meeting speech Gagik Tsarukian said
that those having joined the party with the expectation of money
were mistaken as “there will be no money.” “Indeed it will be this
way. The party will not give money, the party is not a barn of money,”
the Chairman of the Bargavach Hayastan party’s Political Board said.

NKR PRESIDENT AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS DISCUSS ROLE OF ARMENIAN
CHURCH IN STRENGTHENING POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC POSITIONS OF ARTSAKH
STEPANAKERT, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 22,
NKR President Arkady Ghukasian met with Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II who had arrived in Artsakh the day before for taking part
in the ceremony of solemn laying of the first stone in the foundation
of cathedral church of Saint Blessed Virgin.
Greeting His Holiness the Patriarch, Arkady Ghukasian said that
the Stepanakert inhabitants are inspired by the construction of
the cathedral church in the NKR capital and the presence of the
Catholicos of All Armenians in this connection is a great event for
Artsakh residents.
The Supreme Patriarch emphasized in his speech that the current sound
moral atmosphere should strengthen the people’s souls and the Nagorno
Karabakh statehood should be built on these firm bases.
The interlocutors touched upon the role of the Armenian Apostolic
Church in the issue of strengthening political and economic positions
of NKR.
Servants of the Armenian apostolic church and representatives of NKR
high leadership also took part in the meeting.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS’ FOURTH SHIFT LEAVES FOR IRAQ
YEREVAN, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The fourth shift
of Armenian peacekeepers left Yerevan for Iraq on July 23. Like the
previous shifts, there are doctors, sappers and drivers among the 46
servicemen of the fourth shift.
As Captain Vasak Avetisian, Commander of the military unit, said in
his interview to NT correspondent, only 10% of the unit members has
previously taken part in the peacekeeping actions in Iraq. There are
some servicemen who have been in Kosovo but the main part, as well
as the Commander himself are leaving for Iraq for the first time.
The fourth shift of peacekeepers like the previous one left for Iraq
for 6 months. The previous shift will return 5 days after the arrival
of the next shift, after sharing its experience and information about
its obligations with the latter.
As Deputy Defence Minister Artur Aghabekian said, the Armenian
peacekeepers will continue to carry out their mission in Kosovo for
one more year. As for Iraq, the Armenian peacekeepers’ mission will
last longer there. In Aghabekian’s words, in late 2006 the Defence
Ministry will apply to the National Assembly with a proposal to
prolong the peacekeeping mission in Iraq for one more year.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA NA CHAIRMAN STRESSES NECESSITY OF DEEPENING ARMENIA-EU COOPERATION
YEREVAN, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 24,
the delegation headed by Ambassador Peter Semneby, EU Special
Representative in South Caucasus, was received by RA National Assembly
Speaker Tigran Torosian.
Appreciating the high level of Armenia-EU relations, NA Speaker
stressed the necessity to deepen the cooperation. He mentioned that
the creation of cooperation commission with the European structures
headed by the RA President is another step by Armenia confirming
that European integration is among the priorities of its foreign
policy. Tigran Torosian suggested to have a full EU representative
office in Armenia that will enable to solve the problems concerning
mutual relations more actively and operativly.
At Peter Semneby’s suggestion, NA Speaker touched upon the draft
Electoral Code and the preparation for the 2007 parliamentary
elections. It was mentioned that as a result of the discussion of
four dozens of suggestions of the Venice commission with political
forces of the parliament, they succeded in decreasing the number of
diagreements from 15 into 6-7. This creates a hope that at the end
of August, during the discussions with the participation of experts
of the Venice commission, the Electoral Code will be finally formed,
fully matched with the European standarts. For passing the elections
free, just and with democratic standarts, NA Speaker Tigran Torosian
attached importance especially to the creation of favorable atmosphere
between the pro-governmental and opposition political forces.
Ambassador Peter Semneby mentioned that a strong ground is formed
for EU-Armenia interrelations. As for the process of development of
democratic institutes, T.Torosian mentioned that consolidation of
political parties is another result of constitutional amendments,
which will enable to hold more predictable elections corresponding
to international standarts. In answer to P.Semneby’s question, NA
Speaker mentioned that the support of the European community can be
expressed in two ways: first, helping to creating favorable atmosphere,
then by the implementation of observer mission, when there will be
no attempt to use double standarts and to adjust the estimation of
elections with those in Azerbaijan.
As Noyan Tapan was informed from the NA Public Relations Department,
the issue of adoption of individual actions’ program of Armenia
was also discussed at the meeting. Peter Semneby mentioned that in
Brussels they are well informed about Armenia’s serious attitude
towards the relations with EU and the program will be approved after
some specifications.

GLENDALE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT SMB DEVELOPMENT IN KAPAN
KAPAN, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. On July 24, the delegation of Kapan
returned to the homeland from the U.S. The delegation had visited
Glendale, Los Angeles and Washington at the invitation of the
Glendale-Kapan Sister-Cities Co mmission. As Armen Karapetian,
head of the delegation, Kapan Mayor, said in his interview to NT
correspondent, during the visit they got acquainted with the activity
of Glendale Mayor’s Office, visited educational, health protection,
cultural institutions. In the Mayor’s words, they have reached
agreements of concrete cooperation. In particular, for the purpose
of SMB development in Kapan the Armenian community of Glendale will
provide 80-100 thousand USD, the delivery room of regional center’s
hospital will be repaired.
In September the delegation of Glendale will pay a return visit
to Kapan.