ITALIAN-ARMENIAN SYMPOSIUM ON STONE QUARRYING AND PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES HELD IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
Jun 15 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The political cooperation between
Armenia and Italy is currently at the highest level, while economic
relations still have a potential for development. In this sense,
the symposium “Stone Quarrying and Processing Technologies” is quite
promising. The Italian Ambassador to Armenia Marco Clemente expressed
this opinion in his speech of welcome at the symposium on June 15.
27 Armenian companies operating in such spheres as stone quarrying
and processing, transport, insrument making, as well as 11 Italian
companies engaged in stone quarrying and processing equipment
and instrument production, and implementation of educational and
design program took part in the symposium. The event was organized
by the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia (UMBA)
and Olstone company (Italy) representing the interests of a number
of companies. The company’s technical manager Stephano Simone said
that the best Italian stone quarrying and processing companies have
been invited to participate in the symposium.
During the event, an agreement on cooperation was signed between
the UMBA and Olstone. UMBA Chairman Arsen Ghazarian notes that the
document creates preconditions for establishment of Armenian-Italian
joint ventures on operation of stone mines ans stone processing, for
introduction of new technologies and installation of conveyers in such
enterprises, as well as for training of Armenian enterprises’ employees
in Italy. According to him, the implementation of these measures will
increase Armenian exports. The Armenian travertine, tufa and felsite
are mainly used on the domestic market where an annual growth in
construction volumes made 20-30% in recent years. In the opinion of A.
Ghazarian, it is not ruled out that exports of Armenian construction
stone will exceed local consumption in the near future. He said that
construction stone is transported by railway to Georgian ports, then –
to Russia, Ukraine, the US, Germany, and France, in smaller amounts –
to other countries, particularly to Australia and South Africa.

DELEGATION OF RF SOUTH FEDERAL OKRUG TO VISIT ARMENIA ON JUNE 15-16
Noyan Tapan
Jun 15 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation of the RF South Federal
Okrug headed by D.Kozak, the RF President’s Authorized Representative,
will be in Yerevan on June 15-16. V.Chub, the Regional Governor of
the marz of Rostov, A.Baranov, the Commander of the North-Caucasian
Military Okrug, the Army General, were among the delegation staff.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and
Information Department, during its visit to Armenia, the delegation
of the RF South Federal Okrug will have meetings with RA President
Robert Kocharian, RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, Karekin II
Catholicos of All Armenians.
The delegation will visit on June 16 the Tsitsernakaberd memorial
complex to the Armenian Genocide victims where wreaths will be laid
and a ceremony of tree planting will take place.

MATTHEW BRYZA APPOINTED NEW CO-CHAIRMAN OF OSCE MINSK GROUP
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 15 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Matthew Bryza,
the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for State of European and
Eurasian Affairs, was appointed the new Co-Chairman of the OSCE
Minsk Group. Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian informed Radio
Liberty about it on June 14.
“The American side informed us that Matthew Bryza will take Steven
Mann’s place, and he will be completely involved in work, after
being affirmed in Vienna. He will probably visit the region to get
acquainted with main performers,” Vartan Oskanian mentioned.
Speaking about the negotiations taken place on Tuesday in Paris with
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov, Vartan Oskanian facted
that “the goal of the meeting was to attempt to find additional borders
in those issues on which the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
did not agree.”
“I do not think that we succeeded in it, however, it was a useful
discussion, and a continuation will be,” Foreign Minister of Armenia
said.
Responding the issue if a new meeting with the Presidents is expected,
Vartan Oskanian answered: “If there is at least not a bit of approach,
the meeting will just have no meaning. I may not predetermine, the
Presidents will decide. But I think additional meetings will take
place at the Ministers’ level.”

PARLIAMENTARY HEARINGS ON SUBJECT “PROBLEMS OF DUAL CITIZENSHIP, INTERNATIONAL LAW AND EXPERIENCE” TO BE HELD ON JUNE 23
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 15 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On June 23, RA NA
Standing Committee on Foreign Relations organizes parliamentary
hearings on the subject “Problems of Dual Citizenship, the
International Law and Exeperience.”
As Noyan Tapan was informed from the parliament, it is planned to
touch upon the following issues during the hearings:
– international legal regulation of dual citizenship institution;
– foreign experience of legal regulation of dual citizenship;
– international commitments assumed and expected by RA in the respect
of regulation of legal relations conditioned by dual citizenship.

A NUMBER OF NGOs ASK RA PRESIDENT TO GRANT RA CITIZENSHIP TO ZHIRAYR SEFILIAN
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 15 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On June 15, a number
of women’s NGOs sent an open letter to RA President Robert Kocharian
with a request to grant RA citizenship to Artsakh war Hero, Commander
of a separate battalion in Shoushi Zhirayr Sefilian.
“We are aware that the discussion of the second application addressed
to you by well-known Commander Zhirayr Sefilian on granting him
a citizenship of the Republic of Armenia is underway. We think
that each repatriated Diasporan Armenian has the right to become RA
citizen. Especially Zhirayr Sefilian who has been permanently living
in the homeland with his family for more than 15 years. He is the
lieutenant-colonel of the Armenian army who as the commander of a
military unit has participated in the operations from start to end,
has received high state awards. Granting RA citizenship to Zhirayr
Sefilian is an honor for all of us. We are glad and proud that such
an Armenian lives among us,” the letter, in particular, read.
The authors of the document express the hope that this time Zhirayr
Sefilian’s application will not be declined and he will be granted
RA citizenship.

ANDRANIK MARGARIAN: AZERBAIJAN DID NOT USE IN BUCHAREST POSSIBILITY OF FIXING PROGRESS IN NEGOTIATIONS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 15 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The extreme
nationalism made its run in Russia that is addressed not only against
Armenians, does not come from Russians’ interest. RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian stated about it in the June 14 interview to
journalists. According to him, if this process continues, contrary
steps are also possible towards a great number of Russians living in
different countries of the CIS. “I think that Russia’s authorities
and legal bodies must clearly show their position,” Andranik Margarian
mentioned.
According to the Prime Minister, a Tajik girl’s murder in
Saint-Petersburg got its worthy response, and it created a basis for
continuing similar actions.
As for the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers’ meeting taken
place in Paris, the Prime Minister mentioned that it is provided by
the necessity again to organize a meeting between the Presidents of
the two countries.
According to Andranik Margarian, the sides had in Bucharest a great
possibility for a progress connected with the peaceful settlement
of the Karabakh conflict: “It’s a pity, that the possibility was not
used by Azerbaijan.”

REGIONAL SEMINAR “IMPROVEMENT OF PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE BY PERFECTION OF LEGISLATIVE FIELD” TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
Jun 15 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 16-17, the Armenian National
Commission on Issues of UNECSO in Yerevan will hold a regional seminar
under the title “Improvement of Preservation of Cultural Heritage by
Perfection of the Legislative Field.”
As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, the seminar will involve representatives of all
interested institutions and services, including representatives of RA
Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs, Agency of Monuments Protection,
Mayor’s Office, International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
Armenian Committee, a number of organizations engaged in territorial
government and cultural heritage.
The main reporters at the seminar will be David Michelmore, expert
of the World Heritage Center and ICOMOS, Georgian and Iranian ICOMOS
representatives, as well as experts from Russia and the Ukraine.

JAVAKHK COMPATRIOTIC UNION CALLS FOR NOT AGGRAVATING SITUATION IN JAVAKHK
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 15 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The situation in
Javakhk should not be aggravated, constructive works should be done
for the Armenian and Georgian authorities to find a common denominator
as a result of discussions of some issues. Shirak Torosian, Chairman
of the Javakhk compatriotic union, made such a statement at the June
14 press conference.
According to him, the governments of Armenia and Georgia
should together determine the ways of solution of problems of
Javakhk for Javakhk “not to become a factor in the hands of
some forces.” Sh.Torosian also said that they should not run to
extremes: today we should secure raising of the level of Javakhk’s
self-government and giving its powers to independently solve some
problems, for a budget of its own to be formed, within the framework
of which it will be possible to solve some cultural, financial and
technical problems. “If in the future the Republic of Georgia by its
Constitution makes a decision to change the administrative-territorial
structure and to have the structure of a federal state, it will
be right if Javakhk also has a status of autonomy,” the speaker
emphasized.
In connection with withdrawing the Russian military base from the
territory of Georgia Shirak Torosian expressed anxiety that this
will deprive residents of Javakhk of hundreds of jobs. Besides, the
population feels itself safer with the Russian military base being
in Georgia.
According to Sh.Torosian, now the main administrative-civil bodies are
moved to Akhaltska, so, they are moved away from the Javakhk population
and power structures are brought to Javakhk. “Two power structures have
been created in Javakhk lately, one is the gendarmerie, the other the
military police. A question emerges: if there are no Georgian military
units in Javakhk, why is a military police created?” the Speaker
emphasized at the same time expressing an opinion that by means of
this the Georgians wish to destabilize the situation in Javakhk in
order “to appropriate Javakhk in the political and military respect.”
As for the Kars-Akhalkalak railway, according to Sh.Torosian, the
Armenians of Javakhk are against its construction as this is not in
the interests of Armenia.
Shirak Torosian gave assurance that it will be possible to smooth over
Armenian-Georgian contradictions within the framework of bilateral
negotiations and discussions, as a result of mutually beneficial
cooperation between the two states.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES 2005 STATE BUDGET EXECUTION REPORT
Noyan Tapan
Jun 15 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The report on the 2005 state budget
execution was approved unanimously – by 77 votes in favor, at the June
15 session convened on the initaitives of the RA National Assembly
deputies. Representatives of the opposition factions Justice and
National Unity were not present at the voting, while members of the
Orinats Yerkir faction did not participate in it..
According to the approved report, the actual revenues of the 2005
state budget made 374.7 bln drams or 99.9% of the adjusted program,
actual expenditures – 417.5 bln drams or 97.1%, the defecit – 42.8
bln drams or 78.3%. The underfulfilment of the defecit was due to
underimplementation of financing by 57.6%, with the internal financing
program being exceeded by 26.6%.
In 2005, the economic growth made 14%, exceeding the target index by
6% and the respective index of 2004 – by 3.5%. Nominal GDP amounted
to 2 trillion 244 billion drams, per capita GDP – to 697,421 drams
or 1,524 USD.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FIRST PRIZES NOT AWARDED IN COMPETITIONS ANNOUNCED FOR PREPARING MONUMENTS OF G. CHAVUSH AND M. MKRTCHIAN
Noyan Tapan
Jun 15 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The Yerevan Mayor’s Office initiated
competitions of drafts to monuments of Armenian prominent politicians
and intellectuals. Works recognized best in the competitions will be
placed in the capital.
As Samvel Danielian, the Chief Architect of Yerevan informed at the
June 12 press conference, competitions on building monuments to Gevorg
Chavush and Mher Mkrtchian have already been held.
According to S.Danielian, by the competition commission’s decision,
no first prize was awarded in the competition for preparing the
monument to G.Chavush as none of the presented drafts corresponded
to all the proposed demands.
And the second prize winner was proposed to remake the draft and to
present it to the commission during the coming months. According to
S.Danielian, works of preparing the monument to G.Chavush will start
after affirming the draft.
It will be placed in the community of Ajapniak, at the place of cross
of the streets of Mazmanian-Bashinjaghian-Beknazarian.
6 works were presented at the competition of creating Mher Mkrtchian’s
monument. No first prize was awarded here as well. Sculptors awarded
2nd and 3rd prizes must remake their works after what the final
variant will be decided.
To recap, M.Mkrtchian’s monument will be placed in the park of the
G.Sundukian National Academic Theater.
S.Danielian informed that a competition has been announced for
preparing Garegin Nzhdeh’s monument as well. It is envisaged to place
the monument in the community of Shengavit, on the square near the
“Hayrenik” cinema.