UCLA CONFERENCE ON ARMENIA’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ArmRadio.am
15.05.2006 13:28
“Armenia: Challenges of Sustainable Development” was the theme of an
international conference at the University of California, Los Angeles,
on May 6.
Specialists in economics, finance, and public policy assessed
the achievements and shortcomings of Armenia in economic growth
and poverty reduction and issues related to tax revenues, business
investment climate, and financial sector development.
The conference was organized by the Armenian Educational Foundation
Chair in Modern Armenian History at UCLA and the Armenian International
Policy Research Group, with support from the UCLA Center for Near
Eastern Studies and Department of Economics.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO VISIT THE REGION LATE IN MAY
ArmRadio.am
15.05.2006 14:05
OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will visit the Karabakh conflict region in
late in May, Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov
told “Arminfo”.
In his words, he cannot note more precise dates, since the
schedules of the mediators can change. In response to the question
whether the Co-Chairs intend to visit Nagorno-Karabakh, the Russian
mediator noted that the Co-Chairs intend to meet NKR President Arkadi
Ghukasyan. However, they will hardly be able to visit Nagorno-Karabakh,
since they will stay in the region for three days only.

MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS ANTICIPATE NORMAL WORK FROM OSKANYAN-MAMEDYAROV MEETING
ArmRadio.am
15.05.2006 14:54
“OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs anticipate normal work from the upcoming
meeting of Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan Vardan
Oskanyan and Elmar Mamedyarov,” OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-Chair
Yuri Merzlyakov told “Arminfo” correspondent.
To remind, the Co-Chairs are scheduled to meet the Foreign Ministers
in Strasburg in the framework of the Council of Europe Council of
Foreign Ministers.
According to Yuri Merzlyakov, the meetings will start on May 18 and
may probably continue on May 19. As for the format of the meetings,
the Russian mediator noted that separate meetings with the two Foreign
Ministers are envisaged. The Co-Chairs, however, will try to arrange
a joint meeting.
In response to the question about the positive or negative outcome
anticipated from the meeting of the Foreign Ministers, Merzlyakov
mentioned that the level of the meeting of Ministers should not be
equated to that of Presidents.
Answering the question whether the meeting of the Ministers will
prepare ground for the meeting of Presidents, Merzlyakov said, “I
think it is inevitable that it supports the meeting of the leaders,
but never replaces.”

ELECTIONS OF RECTOR STARTED AT YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY
ArmRadio.am
15.05.2006 15:25
Elections of Rector started at Yerevan State University. The process
of elections is observed by the Head of the University Council,
Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan.
Candidacies have been suggested by Dean of the Law Department Gagik
Ghazinyan and acting Rector, Pro-Rector Aram Simonyan.
To remind, none of the four candidates received the necessary number
of votes at March 22 elections. During previous elections Ghazinyan
had received 36 votes, 20 ballots were cast for Aram Simonyan.

ARMENIAN GOLDSMITH AND DIAMOND SECTOR REPORT SLUMP
Armenpress
May 15 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 15, ARMENPRESS: Armenian diamond and goldsmith companies
have reported a drastic decline in output in the first four months
of this year, saying overall they produced 27 percent less goods from
a year ago.
Gagik Mkrtchian, head of a trade and industry development ministry’s
department dealing with this sector, said in terms of money 12
companies which the ministry monitors produced this year 28.4 billion
Drams worth goods, against 38.7 billion drams from a year ago. He said
75 percent of the output was manufactured by diamond cutting companies.
Consequently sale and exports in the first fourth months of 2006
reduced 24 percent from a year ago. The slump have also affected
wages which fall to 44,000 ($100) on average, less than an average
wage on national scale.
Mkrtchian attributed the slump to crises in global markets saying
higher prices of oil and gold coupled with depreciation of US Dollar’s
value have significantly cut demands for extravagant goods.
He said, there were also domestic reason, such as lack of effective
management, lack of financial resources and halt of Russian raw
diamonds supplies.
Now 80 percent of uncut diamonds are brought from Israel and Belgium.

COAF ESTABLISHES TWO ADOLESCENT CLUBS TO PROMOTE LIVESTOCK FARMING
Armenpress
May 15 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 15, ARMENPRESS: On May 12 the Children of Armenia Fund
(COAF), in partnership with the Center for Agribusiness and Rural
Development (CARD), formed adolescent clubs in the villages of Lernagog
and Argina of the Armavir District of the Republic of Armenia.
A press release by the COAF said the selected twenty 12-13 year-old
adolescents gathered in their respective school yards and cheered
the sponsors as they arrived with the sheep. After congratulatory
remarks by the Lernagog Mayor, Mr. Sargis Margarian, and COAF and
CARD project managers, the participating ten adolescent residents of
Lernagog received two sheep each, together with a care package. The
Argina distribution immediately followed Lernagog’s. The project aims
at teaching youngsters how to take responsibility for taking care of
the sheep ? caring, feeding, and controlling diseases. The broader
objective is to develop livestock farming in the region. Adolescents
from disadvantaged, needy, or single parent families are selected to
join the club provided they satisfy a set of pre-established criteria,
including their personal level of interest in livestock farming and
the existence of a suitable sheep shed adjacent to the family home.
Under the close watch and direction of an expert veterinarian, the
youngsters will gain knowledge of animal science and take daily notes
on their sheep.
CARD will be responsible for organizing trainings, providing
educational materials and hygienic supplies.
COAF has purchased the livestock and will provide animal feed, if
necessary. Monitoring and supervision of the project will be done in
a partnered way by both COAF and CARD project staff.
This project is expected to contribute to the economic development
of the Model Cluster villages.
Particularly in animal husbandry, COAF plans several other initiatives
that will increase the supply chain in agricultural products and
ultimately lead to milk and wool processing businesses or cooperatives.
Children of Armenia Fund was founded in 2000 with the aim to reduce
poverty through the revitalization of rural Armenia and the realization
of projects that are instrumental for the revival of communities. With
the introduction of its novel approach to clustering in February
2006, COAF is currently implementing the Model Cluster working in six
villages in the Baghramyan region of the Armavir District. The key
components of COAF’s Model Cluster project comprise Infrastructure and
Economic Development Programs, and Community Development including
Health, Social and Educational Programs. In 2006, besides its Model
Village Karakert, COAF is also working in Myasnikyan, Shenik, Dalarik,
Lernagog and Argina.
The Armenian Rural Youth Development Program, initiated by the Center
for Agribusiness and Rural Development, is a voluntary non formal
educational program that supplements formal school education. It is
modeled after the US 4-H Program.
The program is helping young people gain skills needed to become
responsible, self-directing, productive and contributing members
of society. The Extension Youth Development Program provides real
experiences and an opportunity for youth to gain life skills, project
development and implementation skills, basic agricultural knowledge
in order to be engaged in community development activities.

16 MORE CASES OF HIV REGISTERED IN ARMENIA
Armenpress
May 15 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 15, ARMENPRESS; Armenian doctors have registered this year
16 more cases of HIV, 15 of new carriers are Armenian citizens. The
overall number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Armenia, a country
with a total population of a little bit more than 3 million, by April
30, 2006 was 398, of whom 378 were Armenian citizens.
The HIV/AIDS situation assessment, however, has shown that
the estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS is about
2,800-3000. The majority- 293- are males and there are also six
children. According to the National Center for AIDS Prevention, 125
of these people were diagnosed with AIDS. Since 1988 when the first
case of HIV was registered in Armenia, 83 people died of HIV/IDS,
including 14 women and two children.
Unemployment, labor migration and the rapid growth of HIV rates
in the region contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS in Armenia. The
majority of HIV/AIDS carriers are in their 20s. Most infection comes
about through the intravenous injection of drugs – 53.6 percent –
and through heterosexual contacts – 38.2 percent.
Those who were infected by drug injection were all men, some of who
had worked or studied in Russia and Ukraine.

BAGHDASSARYAN POSITIVE ABOUT TIGRAN TOROSYAN’S NOMINATION FOR NA SPEAKER
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.05.2006 17:38 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As Artur Baghdassaryan told journalists yesterday
he positively assesses the nomination of vice-speaker Tigran Torosyan
for the post of the National Assembly chairman. To remind, May 11 at
the sitting of the political council of Orinats Yerkir party it was
decided that the party will secede from the ruling coalition. Yesterday
Artur Baghdassaryan announced of his resignation.

RUSSIAN STATE DUMA MEMBER OFFERS TO FORM STRUCTURE SIMILAR TO ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN
PanARMENIAN.Net
15.05.2006 13:26 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Former leader of Rodina (Fatherland) party, Russian
State Duma member Dmitry Rogozin offered to form in Russia a structure
similar to ARF Dashnaktsutyun, he stated in an interview with Russkaya
Liniya Internet edition. In Rogozin’s words, the success of the future
Russian patriotic movement will be conditioned by the experience
of “other persecuted nations”. “Let us take Dashnaktsutyun Party
as an example, whose name is translated as Armenian Revolutionary
Federation. It was the major anti-Turkish force already during the
Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire. Armenians were
dispersed, but they had Dashnaktsutyun party, which had its branches
in different countries, the International Bureau. The center guided
various initiatives: political and women’s organizations, youth unions,
journalists’ associations. We should form a similar structure,” the
Russian MP said, reports the Yerkramas, the newspaper of Armenians
of Russia.

TURKISH AMBASSADORS TO FRANCE AND CANADA RETURN TO THEIR POSTS
PanARMENIAN.Net
15.05.2006 13:48 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish Ambassadors to France and Canada Osman
Koruturk and Aydemir Erman, recalled to Ankara for a short term for
consultations, returned to their posts. “The return of Ambassador to
France Osman Koruturk after a few days of consultations in Ankara
is Ankara’s hint to Paris that it wants to mitigate the diplomatic
tension with France,” writes the Turkish Daily News.
At the same time well-known Turkish journalists Mehmet Ali Birand
believes that “each day Armenians advance more in their statements
over the Armenian Genocide.”
“The ring gradually tightens around Turkey and we only have an observer
status. We become gradually isolated and we do not take any measures
to influence the situation. We missed the train. From this moment on
we should take steps that are most important, most influential and
demand much political courage,” he emphasized.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress