FINAL CONCERT OF “GOLDEN GUITAR-2006” AUTHOR SONG TO BE HELD ON JUNE 7
AND 8 IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The final concert of the “Golden
Guitar-2006” (voske kitar-2006) republican festival of author song
will take place on June 7 and 8 in the hall of the Hakob Paronian
State Comedy Theater. 26 authors-performers from marzes and Yerevan
passed the competition stages participated in the concert. As
author-performer Tatev Aghamirian, the Cultural Director of the
festival informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent, the number of authors
presented a claim for participation in the festival was 50, but their
number reduced to 26 after the 3 competition stages. Famous
authors-performers Ruben Hakhverdian, Marieta Badalian, Eduard
Zorikian, Yeghishe Petrosian and Artavazd Bayatian, guitar player
Martin Aharonian, etc. will perform at the final concerts. According
to Tatev Aghamirian, the author song’s festival gives
authors-performers of this genre the first debute possibility. He
mentioned that such a festival was organized for the last time in
Armenia in 1999. And the “Yeghegnadzor” festival of author song was
traditionally organized before that.

NINOTSMINDA REGION EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE-CENTER HEAD DISCHARGED WITH
REASONING OF NOT KNOWING GEORGIAN

AKHALKALAK, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. With the reasoning
of not knowing Georgian, Robert Skoyan, the former Education
Department head of the Education Resource-Center of the region of
Ninotsminda was discharged.
According to the “A-Info” agency, Marine Zalalian who earlier worked
at Georgian National Security Ministry’s bodies and knows the Georgian
language took the place of Skoyan on this post.

ARMENIA TO ASSIST WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAM ON RESTORATION OF
JAVAKHK INFRASTRUCTURES

DUSHANBE, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian, who was on a working visit to Dushanbe, met with the
Georgian Deputy Prime Minister, State Minister Georgy Baramidze late
May 24. NT was informed about it from the RA Government Information
and PR Department. The sides expressed their satisfaction over the
activization of bilateral links and contacts in various spheres in
recent years. They underlined that the fact that the intergovernmental
commissions on Armenian-Georgian economic cooperation are headed by
the prime ministers of the two countries has contributed to the
solution of numerous problems that have accumulated in recent years,
as well as to development of new joint projects, particularly in the
energy sector, transport and tourism. A. Margarian and G. Baramidze
also stated their satisfaction at the process of discussing the issue
of delimitation of the Armenian-Georgian border. It was noted that a
regular joint sitting of respective commissions is scheduled to be
held in Yerevan this August. The sides also addressed the problem of
Javakhk and the Armenians living there. A. Margarian once again
expressed Armenia’s willingness to provide every possible assistance
for the implementation of the program of complex measures for
restoration of infrastructures in Javakhk, which is being developed by
the Georgian authorities. According to the Armenian Prime Minister,
in order to ease off the tension among the local population, it would
be expedient to ensure the maximum possible involvement of the local
businessmen and residents in the construction work, especially given
the fact that they have a considerable experience of such activities.
A. Margarian noted that at the present stage, under a decision of the
Armenian and Georgian prime ministers, the Armenian side will provide
help for restoration of several educational facilities. The amount and
ways of further assistance will be determined after presenting the
complex program on restoration of infrastructures in this region to
the Armenian side.

STARTING FROM SEPTEMBER CNN TO AIR COMMERCIALS ADVERTIZING ARMENIA AS
COUNTRY OF TOURISM

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Starting September 2006, CNN will
advertize Armenia as a country of tourism. RA Minister of Trade and
Economic Development Ara Petrosian stated this on May 25. In his
words, the Armenian TV companies “Armenia” anf “H2” were announced the
winners of the competitions for making 30- and 60-second
commercials. An agreement was reached with the CNN management that
these commercials will be aired 7 times a week.
According to A. Petrosian, a minute of a commercial airing by CNN
costs 800-1,000 USD. In his opinion, it is profitable for Armenia to
pay such a price, since 70% of the countries watch CNN programs. The
deputy minister reminded that each tourist spending 4-5 days in
Armenia Armenai spends on average the same amount as a minute of the
airing of a commercial by CNN costs.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GERMAN GOVERNMENT ENVISAGES TO ALLOCATE 8 MLN EURO CREDIT TO ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA National Assembly on May 23
discussed the agreement between the Armenian and German governments on
financial cooperation in 2005-2006, which was signed in Yerevan on
March 3, 2006. The purpose of the agreement is to promote the social
and economic development of Armenia. The German government provides
the Armenian side with the opportunity to receive a 8 mln euro credit
from KfW Bank. 6 mln euros of this credit will be used to develop
Armenia’s mortgage market. The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) will
receive the credit at a 0.75% interest rate and extend it to
commercial banks at 6-7% interest rates. The commercial banks will
provide credit resources to the population at 12-13% interest rates.

VENTURE CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN IN OCTOBER

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The pairs “scientist – scientific
development introducing company” to participate in the Science and
Technologies Entreprenuership Program (STEP) of the US Civilian
Research and Development Fund (CRDF) in Armenia will be chosen during
a venture conference in Yerevan in October 2006. The program
coordinator Andrew Chakhoyan stated this on May 26 when presenting the
STEP participation terms to representatives of state governance
bodies, private companies, business assistance and donor organizations
in the spheres of science and education. A. Chakhoyan said that
courses will be run for those representatives of the partner-pairs who
have submitted a bid in the period of May 1-30. In his words, in
considering the bids for participation in the STEP, the availability
of a program to commercionalize a development of scientific
application and local resources for implementation of such a program
will be taken into account. Out of the bids to reach the final –
venture conference discussion stage, 4-5 bids – the most substantiated
and accessible ones will be financed. The cooperating company has to
provide 10% of a 5,000-dollar grant from the CRDF to a scientist or
scientific group for fulfilment of new development idea during
implementation of each project. Director of the Enterprise Incubator
Foundation (EIF) Bagrat Yengibarian stated previously that a
50,000-dollar grant will be given to scientific groups in case of
availability of a contract between an enterprise and a scientific
group on implementation of a scientific development. It is envisaged
that the grant component of the STEP program will be financed by
various donor organizations operating in Armenia. According to
A. Chakhoyan, the STEP program has been implemented for a year in
Georgia, Moldova and Azerbaijan.

STEPAN DEMIRCHIAN DOES NOT EXCLUDE POSSIBILITY OF “ARDAROUTIUN”
FACTION’S COOPERATION WITH OYK

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The opposition in Armenia is not
dispersed yet and still will say its word. Stepan Demirchian, the head
of the NA “Ardaroutiun” (Justice) faction and the People’s Party of
Armenia stated about it on May 26. “In general, one must put aside
wrangling, all arguments and join efforts against this illegal
administration,” he mentioned. As for the issue if the “Orinats
Yerkir” (Country of Law) party entered the opposition rows if it’s a
game of the authorities, according to Demirchian, the time will put
everything in its place. “We do not suffer from mistrustfulness, it’s
better to be mistaken by believing than not believing, a lie is always
seen later or sooner,” he emphasized. Responsing the issue about
possible cooperation with the OYP, Demirchian said that the
“Ardaroutiun” faction is ready to cooperate with different political
forces on concrete issues. In response to the Noyan Tapan
correspondent’s question which those concrete issues are on which,
after the 2003 April cases, the opposition may cooperate with the
political force headed by Artur Baghdasarian, Demirchian said that
such a cooperation between the “Ardaroutiun” and “Orinats Yerkir”
factions may be promoted at the Parliament connected with any
legislative initiative. Demirchian stated that “Ardaroutiun” would not
participate in the NA Speaker’s elections as it did in 2003. In
response to the question about possible cooperation with the OYP
during the state elections, the Chairman of the People’s Party of
Armenia said that his party is ready to participate in them alone:
alliances are not excluded either, but I can not answer concretely
today, there is time, we’ll think, decide.”

COMPETITION-OLYMPIAD ON ARMENIAN HISTORY HELD IN JAVAKHK

AKHALKALAK, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The final stage of
the competition-olympiad on Armenian history for pupils of Armenian
schools of Javakhk took place in the building of the Akhalkalak Ruben
Ter-Minasian secondary school on May 26. According to the “A-Info”
agency, the main goal of this competition being held for the first
time on the initiative of the Armenian Relief Society Javakhk Fund and
“Akunk” union is to encourage teaching of the Armenian history in
Armenian schools of the region. The matter is that the Ministry of
Education of Georgia prohibited teaching of the Armenian history in
Armenian schools of the country, and this omission is filled by
optional classes. Competition winners were to get their prizes on May
28, the Day of First Republic of Armenia.

ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN COOPERATION IN TOURISM SECTOR DEVELOPS

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Cooperation of Georgia and Armenia in
the tourism sector is a promising one both in terms mutual visits of
citizens of the two countries and offering joint tourist service
packages to travelers of other countries. The Georgian Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Revaz Gachechiladze
stated this during a press conference to summarize the results of the
6th international exhibition Country of Talking Stones CTS 2006 held
in Yerevan on May 25-27. Director of the Jemini tourist company
(Georgia) Liana Ramanadze said that agreements have been signed with
Armenian companies to organize visits of those fond of adventure
tourism to Armenia and treatment of Georgian citizens in Armenian
health resorts. In addition, Ukrainian tourists will be given the
opportunity to travel via Batumi-Tbilisi-Yerevan route. According to
Chairman of the American Society of Traveling Agents (ASTA) Armenian
Office Eghishe Tanashian, it was for the first time that Georgian and
Ajarian state bodies and companies participated in the CTS. In his
words, a conference on tourism will be held in Tbilisi this autumn
with the participation of Armenia, Georgia and other regional
countries, during which the opportunities to form regional tourist
service packages, involing Turkey, will be discussed. Director of the
Armenian Tourism Development Agency (ATDA) Nina Hovnanian-Alexanian
said that she proposed Ambassador Gachechiladze to present a joint
Armenian-Georgian project during the conference – on organazing a wine
festival within the framework of the Kenats Festival traditionally
held in Armenia in autumn.

HRAYR KARAPETIAN: IRRESPECTIVE OF RE-ARRANGEMENTS, 66 VOTES NECESSARY
FOR MOST IMPORTANT VOTIONS TO BE AT PARLIAMENT

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The United Labour Party’s (ULP)
involvement in the staff of the parliamentary majority is more a
political issue than one of clear mechanical counting of votes. Hrayr
Karapetian, the “ARF” faction’s newly elected head stated about it at
the May 26 parliamentary breifing. Responding the Noyan Tapan
correspondent’s question, Karapetian assured that formation of a new
majority at the Parliament does not oppose results of parliamentary
elections as a result of what the coalition was created. According to
him, the issue is not the mandates the ULP has, but joining the
principles stated by the memorandum signed by the parliamentary
political majority. “I’m sure that those 66 votes that are necessary
for the votion, will be at the Parliament,” the “ARF” faction head
stated. According to him, the world experience shows that the role of
the once smallest in number faction of the Parliament was decisive in
the issue of the Prime Minister’s election and the Government’s
formation. Hrayr Karapetian mentioned that one must not understand his
word in the way that the ULP may have a decisive role at the
Parliament of Armenia tomorrow.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress