OSCE REGISTERS PROGRESS IN THE INFORMATION FIELD OF ARMENIA
ArmRadio.am
21.06.2006 17:39
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Miklos Haraszti is in
Yerevan on a visit. Having spent several days in Armenia, he collected
first-hand information about the state of media in our country. He
noted that the OSCE has registered progress in the information field
of Armenian in the recent years.
However, the organization will issue the official report in mid-July.
Miklos Haraszti assures that the report will not be based only on
the information gained from the meetings. OSCE members periodically
observe the information field of Armenia, they read, listen and
watch Armenian news programs. ” Armenia has registered considerable
progress in improving the legislation on mass media. We should note,
however, that the diversity of opinion of the mass media is somewhat
restricted,” he said.
According to the OSCE Representative on the Freedom of Media, the
diversity of opinions is observed in the print media, the same cannot
be said about more powerful media like television. In his opinion it
is important that the State Television has been replaced by a Public
one. The OSCE has registered also that in the recent years the number
of violations against journalists has decreased.

SERGE SARGSIAN LEAVES FOR MINSK TO PARTICIPATE IN SITTINGS OF CSTO SECURITY COUNCILS SECRETARIES’ COMITTEE’S AND DEFENCE MINISTERS’ COUNCIL
Noyan Tapan
Jun 21 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation headed by Serge
Sargsian, the Secretary of the RA National Security Council attached
to President, the Defence Minister left for Minks to participate in the
sittings of the Committee of the Security Councils’ Secretaries of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization and of the Defence Ministers’
Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Colonel Seyran
Shahsuvarian, the RA Defence Minister’s Press Secretary informed
Noyan Tapan about it.

2094.6 TONS OF HUMANITARIAN AID BROUGHT TO ARMENIA IN JANUARY-APRIL
Noyan Tapan
Jun 21 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN. 2094.6 tons of goods of total value of
11.8 mln U.S. dollars was brought to Armenia as a humanitarian aid
in this January-April instead of correspondingly the 4097.8 tons of
goods and total value of 18.5 mln U.S. dollars of the same period of
the previous year. According to data of the RA National Statistical
Service, instruments and apparatuses made 38% of the received aid,
chemistry production and production of industrial branches connected
with it made 18.8%, machines, equipments and mechanisms made 12.3%,
paper and products of paper made 9.9%.

STATE HAS PRIVATIZED RIGHT OF GIVING LICENCES TO TV CHANNELS, OSCE REPRESENTATIVE SAYS
Noyan Tapan
Jun 21 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN. In July, OSCE plans to finish working at
the report on the state of media in Armenia, which will be submitted
to OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna. OSCE Representative on Freedom
of Media Miklos Haraszti informed about it at the June 21 press
conference.
Presenting his preliminary estimations connected with the situation
in the sphere of freedom of speech in Armenia, M.Haraszti emphasized
that real pluralism exists only in printed media, while in this
respect electronic media are inferior to printed media. However,
according to him, some newspapers are, in essence, “weak” due to lack
of funds and they cannot exert a proper influence on the formation
of the public opinion.
M.Haraszti drew attention to the circumstance that the majority of
members of the National Commission of Radio and Television is appointed
by the President and declared that one of the recommendations of OSCE
is to change this provision in RA law “On Radio and Television.” As
he estimated, there is an interdependence between the staff of this
commission and the situation in electronic media, which lack pluralism.
He pointed to the necessity to work out such a system of licensing
in giving frequences to electronic media that would exclude the
possibility of appropriating this right by someone. “The state has
privatized the right of giving licences to TV channels,” M.Haraszti
declared.
According to him, OSCE is going to recommend Armenia to perfect the
order of licensing of TV and radio frequences by new amendments to
the law. In particular, the process of licensing should be more
transparent. Besides, certain limitations should be introduced
here. In particular, according to M.Haraszti, there are persons in
Armenia who own more than one channel.
As for persecutions and physical violence towards journalists,
M.Haraszti mentioned that no cases of mass violations and persecutions
have been registered in Armenia since 2004. According to him,
“persecutions towards journalists do not have an organized character
in Armenia.”

“HEALTHY START” DANISH PROGRAM ENGAGED IN ISSUES OF INVALID CHILDREN’S TREATMENT FUNCTIONS IN ARMAVIR
Noyan Tapan
Jun 21 2006
ARMAVIR, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN. Invalid children’s medical researches
started in Armavir on June 20, within the framework of the “Healthy
Start” public program. This program has functiones in Armavir already
for 6 months and is implemented by the Danish “Mission East” public
organization. The “Arabkir” medical center of Yerevan shows medical
assitance to the program.
As Anna Avetisian, the responsible for the “Healthy Start” program
informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent, the program is addressed to
early discoveringof invalid children, early medical interference and
the process of their integration into the society. A rehabilitation
center for children is envisaged to build in Armavir within the
framework of the program what will make easier the process of treatment
and rehabilitation of children.
“Mission East” NGO representative Alfred Worldstay considers important
children’s researches in 11 communities of Armavir. According to him,
400 forms were already completed which are based on data allocated
by invalid children’s families, involve great information and are
seriously analyzed now.
“The pivot of our activity is a child and his family, and we hope
that we shall create a brighter future for them,” “Mission East”
representative emphasizes.

160 ARMENIAN CHILDREN UNDERGO COURSE OF MEDICAL TREATMENT IN GERMANY UNDER PATRONAGE OF “FRIEDENSDORF” CHARITY ORGANIZATION
Noyan Tapan
Jun 21 2006
VANADZOR, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN. A group of Armenian children undergoing
a course of medical treatment under the patronage of the German
“Friedensdorf” international charity organization will leave for
Germany in August. Children’s removal is implemented by a specially
rented plane expenses of which are incured by the “Friedensdorf.” The
minimal duration of the treatment is 6 months, the maximal one is
3 years.
In total, 160 Armenian children already underwent a course of medical
treatment under the patronage of the “Friedensdorf” organization. This
organization has implemented continuously for 14 years a wide-spread
program of free medical service for children who need it. They are
mainly children up to 13 years old, whose treatment is possible to
implement only in European countries.
The organization implements its mission in different marzes of Armenia.
As Varuzhan Sedrakian, the Chairman of the “Children’s Association of
Armenia” public organization mentioned in the interview to the Noyan
Tapan correspondent, medical examinations were held in the Lori marz
during the previous years only for children living in the city of
Vanadzor. Children of different regions of the marz as well will be
involved in medical examinations this year. Expenses of taking them
to the center of the marz were covered by the Health Care Department
of the Lori Regional Governor’s Office. Those children who will be
taken to Germany for treatment are chosen by doctors after medical
examination and diagnosis of disease.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REFUGEES OF LORI MARZ ARE PROVIDED WITH DWELLINGS, BUT THERE ARE STILL FAMILIES REMAINED HOMELESS AFTER EARTHQUAKE
Noyan Tapan
Jun 21 2006
VANADZOR, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The “Armenian PR Association” joint
with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees organized journalists’
visit to the marz of Lori on June 19. It was dedicated to the World
Refugees Day.
This was the third visit being implemented by the NGO within the
framework of the “Public Awareness Program” dedicated to social issues
of the country.
Visits were organized before that to the marzes of Kotayk, Ararat
and to Yerevan.
Lori Regional Governor Henrik Kochinian informed that refugees living
in villages of the marz of Tashir and the region of Tumanian have
no flat problem: they either directly exchanged flats or settled
in flats remained free of Azeris. There is flat problem in Spitak,
Vanadzor and neighboring territories suffered from the 1988 earthquake.
According to the Regional Governor, more than 230 families suffered
from the earthquake got flats by the UN resources and with the direct
assistance of the Norwegian Refugee Council, other 34 families were
given certificates for buying flats on the account of the state
budget. According to H.Kochinian, flats like cottages with 400 square
km personal plot were built in Stepanavan for 52 families. The Regional
Governor mentioned that about 200 families as well have flat problem
in the marz, mainly in the city of Vanadzor.
According to H.Kochinian’s estimation, in the sense of employment,
refugees are less protected as an individual enterprizing employer
first of all gives job to his relatives and friends. According to
the official data, the number of unemployed people increased in the
marz in 2005 by 3 thousand compared with the previous year and it
made 18.5 thousand people. At the same time the Regional Governor
finds that those people who work without official registration make
a considerable part among the unemployed people.
According to the Governor, there is little or much stable profit
in cattle-breeding. Big companies store up huge quantity of milk,
and it means that “the market problem is gradually being solved for
a villager. … There are families in the villages of the territory
of Tashir, Stepanavan populated with refugees who have 10-30 cows,
it is a serious profit,” H.Kochinian said.
Though the Regional Governor is not very satisfied with speeds of
development of small and meddium-sized entrepreneurial activity,
however it started to move at present in Vanadzor, Spitak, Stepanavan,
Alaverdi. According to H.Kochinian’s estimation, in this issue Vanadzor
“is some 3 year behind Yerevan, and villages – even more.”
The Regional Governor of Lori finds that it is important for
development of business to differ the agricultural production, thus,
to produce different goods (in the case, when numerous villagers
often sow the same cultured plants, irrespective of the demand). The
Regional Governor also considered important that amalgamation of
lands is implemented for an effective usage of technics.
Participants of the visit were in the villages of Saramej and Ayrum
as well where houses were given to two needy families by the UN High
Commissioner’s Office for Refugee. And in total, the number of families
provided with private houses and cottages by the 2005-2006 financing of
the office will make 31 in the marz of Ararat, and 9 in the Lori marz.

ARMENIAN GDP GROWS BY 10.5% IN JANUARY-MAY 2006
Noyan Tapan
Jun 21 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-May 2006, Armenia’s GDP
made 566 bln 577.5 mln drams (about 1 bln 263 mln USD), exceeding by
10.5% the respective index of last year. According to the RA National
Statistical Service, GDP index-deflator made 1.8%.
In January-April 2006, the total amount of industrial production made
242 bln 235.4 mln drams, declining by 1.9% compared with the same
period of last year, that without diamond production – 240 bln 877.8
mln drams, growing by 1.3%. The gross agricultural output amounted to
84 bln 56.8 mln drams, increasing by 1.8% on January-April 2005, while
construction amounted to 104 bln 524.4 mln drams, growing by 41.7%.
In January-May 2006, the Armenian foreign trade made 1 bln 107.4 mln
USD or by 9.7% more than in the same period of last year. These indices
without diamond trade made 919.8 mln USD and 19.2%. Exports amounted
to 339.1 mln USD, declining by 4.6%, exports without diamonds – to
248.8 mln USD, growing by 2.2%. Imports made 768.3 mln USD, growing
by 17.4%, imports without diamonds – 671 mln USD, growing by 27%.
Retail trade amounted to 261 bln 389.9 mln drams, exceding the
respective index of last year by 13.5%, the services delivered –
to 164 bln 540.6 mln drams, growing by 18.2%.
The concumer price index made up 99.3% in January-May 2006 compared
with the same period of last year, the index of manufacturers’ prices
– 95.5%.
In January-May 2006, the average monthly salary made 58,745 drams in
Armenia or by 20.2% more than in the same months of last year. These
indices with respect to employees of the budget sector made 41,632
drams and 24.8%, and employees of non-budget organizations – 71,721
drams and 16.9%. The monetary incomes of the population made 555 bln
137.3 mln drams or by 17% more, the monetary expenditures – 564 bln
616.9 mln drams or by 20.2% more.
The average exchange rate of the Armenian dram against the US dollar
made 448.51 drams in January-May 2006 compared with 457.69 drams in
January-December 2005.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS DEPARTS ON PONTIFICAL VISIT TO ISTANBUL
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 21 2006
ETCHMIADZIN, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians departs
for Istanbul, Turkey for a seven-day Pontifical Visit. His Holiness
is traveling to Turkey upon the joint invitation of His Beatitude
Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople; and
His All Holiness Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Information Services of the Mother
See, during this first Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Karekin II to
Turkey, the Catholicos of All Armenians will visit Armenian churches
and holy shrines, extend his pontifical blessings to the Armenian
community of Istanbul, and meet with Armenian intellectuals and young
men and women. On Sunday, June 25, His Holiness will celebrate a
Pontifical Divine Liturgy in the Armenian Patriarchate’s Cathedral
of the Holy Mother of God.
For two days during the trip, His Holiness will also be the guest of
the Ecumenical Patriarch in a fraternal visit. His Holiness will have
a number of ecumenical meetings in the Armenian Patriarchate as well.
A meeting is also planned between the Pontiff of All Armenians and
the Governor of Istanbul.
His Holiness’ return to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is scheduled
for June 28.
Accompanying the Catholicos of All Armenians during the journey is His
Eminence Archbishop Dirayr Mardigian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese
of Romania and Bulgaria; His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern); His
Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of
the Armenian Church of North America; His Eminence Archbishop Karekin
Bekdjian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Germany; His Eminence
Archbishop Yeznik Petrosian, Director of the Publications Department
of the Mother See; His Eminence Archbishop Navasard Ktchoyan, Vicar
General of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese; His Grace Bishop Vicken
Aykazian, Diocesan Legate for the Eastern Diocese (USA); His Grace
Bishop Arshak Khatchatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See; His Grace
Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus;
and Rev. Fr. Vasken Nanian, Staff-Bearer for His Holiness.

ARMENIAN DRAM APPRECIATES 2.3% AGAINST US DOLLAR IN MAY
Noyan Tapan
Jun 21 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN. In parallel with a 2.4% price growth on
Armenia’s consumer market in May 2006, the Armenian dram appreciated
by 2.3% against the US dollar.
According to the RA National Statistical Service, a 5.6% growth in
consumer prices was registered in May 2006 on December 2005, with
the settlement exchange rate of the US dollar declining 2.1% in the
indicated period. A similar tendency was registered in the same period
of last year: a 2.9% rise in consumer prices was accompanied by a 7.6%
depreciation of the dollar. The average settlement exchange rate of
the US dollar made 439.73 drams in May 2006, which was lower by 2.1%
than the respective index of May 2005 (449.25 drams).