CA Senator Jack Scott in ROA to open California-Armenia trade office

Noyan Tapan News Agency
Sept 23 2005

SENATOR OF AMERICAN STATE OF CALIFORNIA JACK SCOTT IN ARMENIA TO OPEN
CALIFORNIA-ARMENIA TRADE OFFICE

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Jack Scott, a
Senator of the state of California, US, a member of the Republican
Party accompanied by members the US western regional administration
of the Liberal Democratic Party is in Armenia with the goal of
opening California-Armenia Trade Office. Artur Baghdasarian, the
Chairman of the RA National Assembly received the delegation on
September 22.

In 2001, the Senate of California made a decision on opening a trade
office in Armenia by Jack Scott’s presentation. The Senator is famous
for his activity beneficial for Armenians: the Senate of California
recognized the Armenian Genocide by his assistance as well. As Noyan
Tapan was informed by the NA Public Relations Department, at the
meeting with Artur Baghdasarian, the Senator expressed a hope that
the US Senate as well will recognize the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
According to his estimation, the Trade Office can support development
of not only bilaterally beneficial economic ties but of tourism as
well.

The NA Chairman expressed satisfaction on the occasion of opening the
Trade Office with the US state of California and expressed readiness
to assist in strengthening commercial and economic ties.
Establishment of direct ties between the Parliament of the state of
California and the National Assembly was attached importance to
bilaterally. It was mentioned that the issue of necessity to develop
parliamentary ties was discussed with Dennis Hastert, the US Congress
Speaker, as well.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UN Cup Chess Tournament to take place in Yerevan on Sept. 24

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 23 2005

A CHESS TOURNAMENT FOR THE CUP OF UN TO TAKE PLACE IN YEREVAN ON
SEPTEMBER 24

YEREVAN, September 23. /ARKA/. A chess tournament for the cup of UN
will take place tomorrow in Yerevan. According to the UN Public
Information Department, 40 young chess players aged between 10 and 12
years old, who will compete with famous Armenian grand masters Smbat
Lputyan, Karen Asryan, Tigran Petrosyan and the RA Champion, Grand
Master Ashot Anastasyan, will take part in the tournament, as well as
chess players – representatives of international and local
organizations and mass media. The Chairman of Chess Federation, RA
Minister of Defense Serge Sargsyan, Chairman of the National
Committee of Physical Education and Sport Ishkhan Zakaryan, the
resident representative of UN in Armenia Consuelo Vidal wil take part
in the tournament dated for the 60th anniversary of the ceremony of
opening of the tournament.
The organizers of the tournament are the UN Yerevan Office, Armenian
Chess Federation, RA Sport Committee, Cafesjian Foundation, UN
Armenian Association. A.H. –0–

Indian Vice-President to visit Armenia in November

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 23 2005

THE INDIAN VICE-PRESIDENT TO VISIT ARMENIA IN NOVEMBER

YEREVAN, September 23. /ARKA/. The Indian Vice-President Mr Shekhawat
will visit Armenia in November. According to the RA MFA, the details
of the approaching visit were discussed by Mr. Shekhawat and RA
Ambassador to India Ashot Kocharyan. During the meeting also issues
related to the development of bilateral Armenian-Indian relations
were discussed. Kocharyan introduced to the Vice-President the state
of the economic development of the country, the investment field,
process of constitutional reforms, possibilities of development of
tourism. The sides expressed hope that the approaching visit of Mr.
Shekhawat to Armenia will become a stimulus for the development of
Armenian-Indian relations and their enlargement in various spheres.
A.H. –0–

President of Finland to pay official visit to Armenia on Sept. 26-28

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 23 2005

THE PRESIDENT OF FINLAND TO PAY AND OFFICIAL VISIT TO ARMENIA ON
SEPTEMBER 26-28

YEREVAN, September 23. /ARKA/. The President of Finland Tarja Halonen
with her husband Pentti Arayarvi will pay and official visit to
Armenia in the framework o his regional tour on September 26-28.
According to the RA President’s Press Service, the main goal of the
visit is to stimulate bilateral international relations, discover the
perspectives for economic development. The Presidents of two
countries will discuss bilateral relations, the EU-Armenia
cooperation, regional issues and will exchange opinions regarding
issues o mutual interest.
On September 27, after the official ceremony of receiving top
officials, the Presidents of Armenia and Finland will have a
tete-a-tete conversation, after which the negotiations will continue
with participation of others.
Halonen will meet the RA NA Speaker, Prime Minister, visit the museum
after Sergei Parajanov, as well as meet the Catholicos of All
Armenians Garegin the Second. The delegation headed by Halonen will
visit the memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915,
where they will put wreaths. The President of Finland will also meet
professors, teachers and students of Yerevan State University.
Finland acknowledged the independence of Armenia on December 30,
1991. Diplomatic relations between two countries were established on
March 25, 1992. For the recent years the bilateral relations has
developed well. In October 2004 a governmental agreement was signed
between Armenia and Finland on encouragement and protection of
investments, which creates favorable conditions for the commercial
and economic cooperation. In April 2004 a memorandum on understanding
in the sphere of culture was signed between the countries. The
priority directions of cooperation with Finland are in the field of
IT, food industry and agriculture, as well as tourism and services
sector for Armenia.
According to the RA National Statistics Service, the foreign trade
turnover between Armenia and Finland in Jan-Jul 2005 made $3611,4
thsd.. (export – $665.0 thsd., import – $2946.4 thsd.) versus $1724
thsd in 2004 (export – $165.7 thsd., import – $1558.3 thsd.). Thus,
the indicator grew by $1887,4 thsd. ($1 =AMD 448,27). A.H. –0-

Delegation From Ministry of Finance & Economy Leave For Washington

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 23 2005

AN ARMENIAN DELEGATION AT THE HEAD OF THE RA MINISTER OF FINANCE AND
ECONOMY TO LEAVE FOR WASHINGTON ON SEPTEMBER 24-27

YEREVAN, September 23. /ARKA/. On September 24-27 an Armenian
delegation at the head of the RA Minister of Finance and Economy
Vardan Khachatryan will leave for Washington to participate in the
11th session of the Armenian-American Commission on Economic
Cooperation. The delegation will participate in the annual session of
the WB and IMF, meet the administration of the Millennium Challenges
Corporation, according to the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy
Press Service Department. According to the press release, on Sep
24-25 the delegation will take part in the annual forum of the WB and
IMF, hold meetings with top representatives of these organizations.
In the course of the meeting it’s expected to discuss the programs
implemented in the financial sphere as well as the prospects of
further development. The 11th meeting of the work group of the
Armenia-American Commission on Economic Cooperation will take place
on Sep 26. It’s expected to discuss various issues of bilateral
economic cooperation as well as prospects to ensure higher indicators
of economic growth, investments, improve the business atmosphere,
develop power engineering and infrastructures, and issue related to
tax and customs. On Sep 27 a meeting of the Armenian delegation with
the representatives of Millennium Challenges Corporation will take
place, in the course of which the application submitted by the RA
Government to the Corporation will be discussed.
The official delegation includes the RA President’s Councilor in
economic affairs Vahram Nersisyants, Chairman of CBA Tigran Sargsyan,
Minister of Trade and Economic Development Karen Chshmarityan,
Minister of Agriculture David Lokyan, the RA Ambassador to the USA
Tatul Margaryan. A.H. –0–

Armenia suggests increasing extent of involvement of UNDP Yerevan

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 23 2005

ARMENIA SUGGESTS INCREASING THE EXTENT OF INVOLVEMENT OF THE UNDP
YEREVAN OFFICE IN IMPLEMENTATION OF TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

YEREVAN, September 23. /ARKA/. Armenia suggests increasing the extent
of involvement of the UNDP Yerevan Office in implementation of trade
and development programs. According to the RA Ministry of Trade and
Economic Development Press Service Department, this was mentioned in
the course of the meeting of the RA Minister of Trade and Economic
Development Karen Chshmarityan with General Secretary of the UN
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Supach Panitcapak. In
the course of the meeting reforms conducted in UN were discussed. In
particular, programs implemented by UNCTD. The sides touched upon the
perspectives of involvement of state and private sectors in the
programs implemented by UNCTD. Also the possibility of formation of a
separate corresponding staff in UN Yerevan Office for the
implementation of UNCTAD programs and inclusion of it in the frames
of UNDP were discussed.
UNCTAD was established in December 1964 as a main body of the UN
General Assembly in the field of trade. It’s located in Geneva. A.H.
–0–

Russian Pension fund ready to establish active coop with Armenia

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 23 2005

PENSION FUND OF RUSSIA READY TO ESTABLISH ACTIVE COOPERATION WITH
ARMENIAN SIDE

YEREVAN, September 23. /ARKA/. Pension Fund of Russia is ready to
establish active cooperation with the Armenian side, Chairman of
Pension Fund of Russia Genadi Batanov said at his meeting with RA
President Robert Kocharyan, RA Presidential Press-Service reports.
The relevant agreement will be signed tomorrow, which will be the
basis for cooperation. During the meeting the sides discussed issues
of reforms in pension system.
Kocharyan welcomed the cooperation initiative, and pointed out that
Russia’s experience can be of benefit to Armenia. A.A. -0–

Work of $60m to be done at 2nd stage of Lincy Foundation

Noyan Tapan News Agency
Sept 23 2005

WORK OF 60 MLN USD TO BE DONE AT SECOND STAGE OF LINCY FOUNDATION

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Work of 60 mln USD will be done
in Armenia during the second stage of the Lincy Foundation in the
next two years, including the “Road Construction”, “Yerevan Sreets
Repairs” and “School Construction” components, each worth 20 mln USD.
Artashes Tumanian, Head of the RA Presidential Administration and
Chairman of the Lincy Foundation’s Armenian Office Management Board,
told this to reporters after the September 23 board meeting. He said
that the construction work envisaged by the program will be carried
out in accordance with the procedure, particularly after the approval
of the program by the RA National Assembly in October. According to
A. Tumanian, higher quality work will be implemented at the second
stage. In this connection he mentioned that as a whole, the work
carried out during the first stage was successful, but it was not
free from faults, due to the considerable volumes of the construction
work. It was pointed out that all the construction organizations
responsible for these faults have been held accountable.

According to A. Tumanian, the road construction component envisages
major repairs of three roads – 90-km Armavir-Gyumri Road, 50.8-km
Horom-Artik-Alagyaz Road and 36-km Stepanavan-Odzun Road.

The school construction component envisages major repairs of 18
schools, including 13 schools in Yerevan and one school in each of
the following marzes: Aragatsotn, Lori, Kotayk, Gegharkunik and
Shirak. The choice of so many Yerevan schools was conditioned by the
fact that over the past 5 years, 91% of the RA state budget resources
have been allocated to marzes. Considerable sums were allocated for
each school (on average 1.1 mln USD), since the buildings were in
poor comdition. The work to be done at the schools included in the
program will involve the reinforcement of buildings, the installation
of local heating systems and furnishing classrooms and sport
facilities.

The Yerevan streets repairs component envisages constructing a new
road to join Abovian and Papazian Streets, as well as reconstructing
Kasian, Komitas, Terian and some other streets.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Javakhk supports Armenian candidate for deputy of parl. of Georgia

Noyan Tapan News Agency
Sept 23 2005

JAVAKHK SUPPORTS ARMENIAN CANDIDATE FOR DEPUTY OF PARLIAMENT OF
GEORGIA

AKHALKALAK, SEPTEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Council
of the Samtskhe-Javakhk Armenian NGOs stated about supporting Robert
Haroutiunian, a candidate for deputy at the deputies’ majoritary
elections of the Parliament of Georgia to be held at the electoral
district of the region of Isani, Tbilisi on October 1, 2005. In the
statement adopted on September 20, the Council expressed a hope that
in the case to be elected, Robert Haroutiunian can greatly support
the implementaion of a political dialogue in Georgia as well.

According to the “A-Info” agency, Binidza Bregadze from the leading
“National Movement” party and Georgi Mosidze from the united
opposition are nominated candidates for deputy at the same electoral
district with Robert Haroutiunian.

Human Rights says Turkey does not want to confront with her past

Kurdish Info, Germany
Sept 23 2005

Human Rights says Turkey does not want to confront with her past

ISTANBUL (DIHA) – Istanbul Branch of Human Rights Association stated
that the postponement of the Armenian Conference to be held today in
Bogazici University shows how dependent is the jurisdiction. The
association indicated that there is no freedom of speech in Turkey
yet.

The association released a written statement about the decision of
the court postponing the conference entitled ‘The Armenian of Osmanli
in the falling period of the Empire’. The statement declared “This
decision assessed even by the PM Erdogan as ‘against to democracy’
has once more proved the effect of the military on the jurisdiction
which we said for many times before. The existing system does not
desire a discussion environment. It does not want Turkey to confront
with her past.”