VAZGEN MANUKIAN: SERGE SARGSIAN’S JOINING RPA ENDANGERS NAGORNO KARABAKH PROBLEM
YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian’s
joining the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) can result in power
monopolization. RA MP Vazgen Manukian, Chairman of the National
Democratic Union, expressed such a concern at the July 18 press
conference.
According to him, they can dispute around the issue, whether the
Defence Minister should belong to any party or not, but this issue is
secondary. Vazgen Manukian said that 40 thousand soldiers serving
in the army have always voted for the person they were dictated
from above.
According to the NDU Chairman, today the Armenian economy is
absolutely monopolized and is controlled by the authorities. It is
known, he mentioned, that Serge Sargsian controls not over the army,
but also the most part of economic and financial flows. Joining
Andranik Margarian’s party that controls the rest of the economy, he
will create a party, which controls the whole economy. As a result,
a one-party system, a monopoly power will be formed in the country
that will continue to keep economy monopolized.
According to Vazgen Manukian, the Soviet Union’s experience shows
that state control over economy results in a collapse. The NDU
Chairman also gave assurance that this situation can endanger not
only the issue of Armenian people’s prosperity, but also the Nagorno
Karabakh problem, and no matter what the above mentioned political
figures declare, they work to the detriment of Nagorno Karabakh.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VAHAGN HOVNANIAN ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF BOARD OF ASSOCIATION OF FOREIGN INVESTORS
YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Vahagn Hovnanian, Co-chairman of the
Hovnanian International company, was elected as Chairman of Board
of the Association of Foreign Investors at the organization Board’s
July 17 sitting. Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed about it by
Ashot Petrosian, Association’s Executive Director.
American Armenian businessman and benefactor Vahe Karapetian
was elected Board Deputy Chairman. According to A.Petrosian, the
organization’s 5-year program was approved at the Association’s
Board sitting.
It was mentioned that 11 big foreign investors of different spheres
are already members of the organization finctioning since 2006 April 1,
another 17 have put in an application of joining the organization.
Among the Association’s goals are to represent and protect the
interests of foreign investors, to support integration to investment
atmosphere, information support.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMAVIA CARRIES OUT FLIGHTS TO ALEPPO INSTEAD OF BEIRUT
YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armavia airline’s Yerevan-Beirut
flights are currently carried out to the city of Aleppo due to
Israeli-Lebanese conflict. As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed
by Sargis Mayilian, head of the airline’s Commercial Service, though
Armenia suffers losses because of the change of the flight, by doing
so it moves Armenians from Lebanon to Armenia. He said that 77 and
101 Armenian passengers, respectively, have arrived from Aleppo in
Armenia by two flights. According to S.Mayilian, only 29 passengers
moved from Armenia by two flights in the opposite direction. At
the same time, he found it diffucult to say, how long Armavia will
continue to carry out the flight to Aleppo instead of Beirut.
To recap, Armavia carries out two flights to Beirut and one to
Aleppo weekly.

TEACHERS FROM BRAZIL AND ROMANIA TAKE PART IN DIASPORAN ARMENIAN TEACHERS’
TRAINING COURSES FOR THE FIRST TIME
ETCHMIADZIN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN- ARMENIANS TODAY. The start of
training courses of the Diasporan Armenians began with a solemn
ceremony held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on July 17. Noyan
Tapan was informed about this from the Press Secretary of the RA
Minister of Education and Science. He mentioned that the courses
are held for the second time under the patronage of the Armenian
Apostolic Church.
During the ceremony, Levon Mkrtchian, Minister of Education and
Science, greeted the teachers and mentioned that this program of
retraining has become one of the serious links in Homeland-Diaspora
educational connections. The process started with efforts of
individuals several years ago and now it has become a traditional
one. It “gathered full speed” during the recent years and the geography
of the program broadened. Teachers from Brazil and Romania take part
in this retraining courses for the first time. In total 71 claims
of teacher’s participation are received from 13 countries. During a
month period, besides the professional training, the teachers will
also have an opportunity to get acquainted with the political and
cultural life of Armenia.

103 ARMENIANS MOVED FROM LEBANON TO ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. During the last day
103 ethnic Armenians were moved from Lebanon to the city of Aleppo,
Syria and then to Armenia by plane. As Vladimir Karapetian, acting
spokesperson of Foreign Ministry of Armenia informed the Radio Liberty,
some of these people are citizens of Armenia but their majority are
citizens of other countries, mainly of Lebanon.
He mentioned that the Armenian-populated regions of Lebanon are far
from the territories that are bombed by Israel and there is no great
alarm. At the same time, the spoksman confirmed that the Armenians
worried about the security of their families apply to the Embassy
of Armenia.
Vladimir Karapetian expressed hope that everything will calm down soon.
At the same time Agence France Press informes that a dancing group
of Australian Armenian children which was returning to Australia
from Armenia through Lebanon and remained in Beyrouth because of the
bombing of the Beyrouth airport, has already moved to Syria.

ARMENIA EVACUATES ITS CITIZENS IN LEBANON
YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The first group
of citizens of Armenia has been already evacuated from Lebanon. As
Vladimir Karapetian, Acting Spokesperson of Armenian Foreign Ministry,
informed radio Liberty, “a group consisting of 70 persons was formed,
which was first moved to Aleppo, then by a direct flight on Saturday
to Yerevan.”
The official representative of the Armenian diplomatic department
also stated that a serious attention is paid to the work of Armenian
representations in the Near East in these days. According to him,
a decision to strengthen the Armenian Embassy in Beirut and the
Consulate General in Aleppo has been made. “Additional diplomats
will be sent to these two cities. They are sent for the purpose of
satisfying the requirements of the citizens of Armenia and supporting
the efforts of evacuation of those willing.”
Vladimir Karapetian does not exclude that new groups of citizens of
Armenia will be formed and evacuated from Lebanon to Armenia in the
coming days.

NA POLITICAL FORCES FORMULATE PRINCIPLES OF SOLUTIONS ON VENICE COMMISSION’S
PROPOSALS ON ELECTORAL CODE
YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. On July 18, preliminary discussions
of the Electoral Code continued at the consultation at RA NA Speaker
Tigran Torosian’s office with participation of parliament factions
and groups. As a result of the discussion, they managed to formulate
principles of solutions on some proposals of the Venice Commission.
As NT was informed from NA Public Relations Department, the Electoral
Code’s next discussion is scheduled for July 21.

NKR FOREIGN MINISTER: ACHIEVEMENT OF SOLUTIONS IS POSSIBLE ONLY WITH
PARTICIPATION OF LEGALLY ELECTED AUTHORITIES OF THE NKR
STEPANAKERT, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. One may only
welcome a statement of the Great Eight countries on maintenance of
the intermediary efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and on necessity
of co-ordination of the core principles of the conflict’s peaceful
resolution. Nagorno Karabakh has always come out in favor of peaceful
resolution of the problem and is ready to exert every effort to achieve
the agreement on establishing long-term peace in the region. Nagorno
Karabakh Republic Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian said commenting
upon the statements of IA REGNUM, made during the summit of the Great
Eight countries in Saint Petersburg.
“Unfortunately, it is not everything that depends on the mediators.
Considering Azerbaijan’s extremely destructive position and its
unwillingness to be in any contact with Nagorno Karabakh it is
very difficult to find an acceptable and correct solution to date,”
G.Petrossian said.
“The President of the Russian Federation has fairly noted that Russia
is not going to impose any solutions on the parties to the conflict and
that the compromise must be reached by people. Taking into account
the Russian Federation’s readiness to become a guarantor of the
agreements’ fulfillment we remind once more that the achievement of
solutions directly concerning the future of our country and our people
is possible only with participation of representatives of legally
elected authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, the main and the
most suffered party to the conflict,” NKR Foreign Minister emphasized.

POSSIBILITIES OF SUPPORTING ARMENIANS WISHING TO MOVE TO ARMENIA IN
CONSEQUENCE OF EVENTS IN LEBANON DISCUSSED AT RA PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A consultation
dedicated to providing possible assistance to RA citizens wishing to
move to Armenia and any assistance to our compatriots in consequence
of the events in Lebanon was held on July 18 at RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian’s Office. RA Ministers of Territorial Government,
Finance and Economy, Transport and Communication, Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs, head of the Civil Aviation General Department
attached to RA Government, heads of the National Security Service
and Police took part in the consultation.
The Prime Minister expressed anxiety about the situation in the region
of Near East and emphasized the necessity to provide possible state
assistance to our Armenian compatriots in the formed situation.
RA Deputy Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanian reported that
160 RA citizens have already arrived in Yerevan from Lebanon
through Syria. According to the preliminary data of RA Foreign
Ministry, there are almost 1200 RA citizens in this 120-thousand
Armenian community. However, these figures need to be finally
clarified. G.Gharibjanian also informed that the Embassies of Lebanon
and Syria and Consulate General of Aleppo have been charged to give
three-month free entrance permits to the citizens of Lebanon of
Armenian origin wishing to leave for Armenia, as well as to foreign
citizens in Lebanon and to members of families of RA citizens. Now
there is great accumulation on the Syrian border, in connection with
which RA diplomatic representations were charged to do the necessary
work on the spot.
According to RA Government Information and Public Relations Department,
the Prime Minister also charged RA Foreign Ministry in a short period
to clarify and to provide information about RA citizens currently
residing in Lebanon, about our compatriots and those willing to
arrive in Armenia assisting them on the spot in issues of stay, food,
etc. through RA diplomatic representations. It was also instructed
to open a hot line at the Foreign Ministry.
After the consultation RA Deputy Foreign Minister G.Gharibjanian
reported that a hot line with 58-60-17 telephone number has opened
and will operate every day at 9:00-21:00.
The Prime Minister also gave instructions to the head of the Civil
Aviation General Department and Minister of Territorial Government.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NDU, ZHARANGUTIUN AND A NUMBER OF OTHER FORCES INITIATE NON-ELECTORAL CIVIL MOVEMENT
YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The National Democratic Union (NDU),
the Zharangutiun (Heritage) and a number of other parties initiate
public civil movement. As NDU Chairman Vazgen Manukian informed the
July 18 press conference, the initiators will come up with a statement
in the coming days.
According to Manukian, the movement will be non-electoral and the
parties involved in it will be able to take part in the parliamentary
elections in any bloc. According to the speaker, formation of such a
structure has a goal to put aside the ideological difference and to
solve an important problem, to return the power to the people. “We
think the main problem of Armenia is to return the power to the
people and for this the people should consolidate,” the NDU Chairman
emphasized. According to him, the society should be organized
irrespective of the fact, what political force will come to power.
Manukian affirmed that in democratic counties “it is up to the people
to decide.” He said that huge sums are spent in the West not to bribe
people but to convince them but the final choice is made by the people.