ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 13 2005
ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION ON COOPERATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONS MECHANISM BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES
YEREVAN, October 13. /ARKA/. The Armenian-Russian intergovernmental
commission on cooperation is the most important relations mechanism
between two countries, the RA President Robert Kocharyan stated
during the meeting with the Russian Co-Chair of the Armenian-Russian
intergovernmental commission on economic and scientific-technical
cooperation Igor Levitin, according to the RA PREsident’s Press
Service. According to the press release, programs on cooperation were
discussed in the course of the meting, and the issues of development
of energy and transport communications were paid special attention.
With regard to re-launching the Abkhaz part of the Georgian railway,
it was noted that the state of the railway and factors necessary
for the reconstruction of the railway are being studied as well as
possibilities of trilateral participation (Russia -Georgia -Armenia)
in the construction work. According to Kocharyan, the re-launching of
the railway will provide new opportunities for cooperation. The sides
touched upon the issue of re-launching of the Armenian enterprises
passed to Russia in the framework of Property for Debt Program.
According to Levitin, the Russian side is also interested in the
quickest re-launching of the enterprises, and a special work group
is formed for this purpose.

HRAYR HAWK: “I TRY TO PRESENT NOT ONLY ARMENIA BUT ALSO PEOPLE LIVING IN IT TO THE WORLD”
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 13 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The “Flying Hawk”
photoalbum by Canadian Armenian photographer Hrayr Hawk was published
in Yerevan. The album contains 160 photos depicting historic and
cultural monuments, areas covered with plants, mountains situated in
all parts of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
As Hrayr Hawk noted at album’s presentation held on October 13 at
the Armenian Union of Journalists, his goal was to present Armenia
and Artsakh from above. In 1995 he photographed a part of Armenia
and Karabakh. He continued working in 1999-2002 photographing the
rest part of Armenia except the Tavush region. The Canadian Armenian
photographer got assistance by RA Defence Minister Vazgen Sargsian,
then Serge Sargsian who gave him a helicopter.
“There are such places in Armenia, with which even Armenians aren’t
familiar. I try to present not only Armenia but also people living
in it to the world,” Hrayr Hawk emphasized.
The Canadian Armenian photographer noted that his photoalbum under the
title “Yerkir” (“Country”) was published several months ago. The album
contains 460 photos of historic and cultural monuments situated in the
territory of Western Armenia. Hrayr Hawk will present Armenian churches
existing throughout the world by a separate album. He photographed
numerous Armenian churches during his travel about 43 countries. The
album will be ready next year.

MEMORANDUM ON COOPERATION SIGNED BETWEEN RA NA AND US AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 13 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. A ceremony of signing a memorandum
on mutual understanding between the National Assembly of Armenia and
the US Agency for International Development (USAID) took place at the
“gilded hall” of the RA NA, on October 13. From the American party,
the memorandum was signed by Robin Phillips, the Director of the
USAID Armenia Mission, from the Armenian party by Artur Baghdasarian,
the Parliament Speaker.
“This is another good occasion to express our gratitude to US for
its consistent help and assistance to Armenia during the last 15
years,” Artur Baghdasarian stated during the short briefing wich took
place after signing the memorandum. According to him, signing of the
document will allow to raise the role of the parliamentary institute
in Armenia. The memorandum envisages implementation of a more than 2
mln US dollars program led to widening the RA NA international ties
as well as ones with the population of Armenia. This envisages the
NA staff’s, deputies’ re-training, technical assistance as well.
Answering the Noyan Tapan correspondent’s question, R.Phillips
mentioned that the program led to cooperation has started still in
2004 and will continue till 2007. The program envisaged by the present
memorandum is the continuation of another program with a value of 2
mln US dollars as well.
In his turn, Artur Baghdasarian mentioned that the program is a
rather effective one, and at present the sides start a new stage of
development of the cooperation. In the case of the constitutional
reforms’ being adopted by the November 27 referendum, this may
also have an important role in the issue of raising the role and
significance of the National Assembly what is envisaged by the
amendments.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF US CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 13 2005
YEREVAN, October 13. /ARKA/. The American Chamber of Commerce in
Armenia (ACCA), with the assistance of the US Embassy in Armenia,
will hold a regional conference of Chambers of Commerce in Yerevan on
October 15-16. ACCA Board of Directors Edit Khachatryan reported that
the motto of the conference will be “Common Future”. The conference
will be attended by members of American regional chambers of commerce,
as well as by other businessmen. The goal of the conference is
improving cooperation and exchange of information between the American
chambers of commerce in the region and finding common approaches to
the development of business environment and investment climate in
the South Caucasus.
The ACCA launched its activities in Armenia in spring 2001.

CHAIR OF NATIONAL SELF-DETERMINATION UNION SEES NECESSARY DISCUSSION
OF ISSUES OF UNITY OF ARMENIAN CHURCH AND UNITED ORTHOGRAPHY AT
ARMENIA-DIASPORA CONFERENCE
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 13 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenia-diaspora
conferences don’t touch upon issues of considerable role and meaning
for re-establishment the Armenian people’s unity. Paruyr Hayrikian,
the Chairman of the National Self-Determination Union expressed such
an opinion at the October 13 press-conference.
According to Hayrikian, the issue of a united system of the Armenian
Apostolic Church and of ways of re-establishing the united orthography
should certainly be involved in the agenda of the 3rd annual conference
Armenia-Diaspora to take place soon. On this occasion, the NSDU
Chairman sent a letter to Vartan Oskanian, the RA Foreign Minister by
which he proposes to work out slogans and a symbol for that conference
starting from now and even to announce a national competition for that
purpose. For example, according to him, the following symbol should
be put into the circulation: “Every Armenian, led by the commandment
“respect parents,” should visit Armenia and put out a candle at Surb
Etchmiadzin once in three years, at least in five years.”

MINISTRIES OF TRANSPORT OF RUSSIA, ARMENIA SHOULD CREATE CONDITIONS
TO ATTRACT ROLLING-STOCK, ADDITIONAL CARGO FOR SHIPPING OPERATIONS BY
KAVKAZ -POTI FERRY PASSAGE
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 13 2005
YEREVAN, October 13. /ARKA/. Ministries of Transport of Russia
and Armenia should create conditions to attract rolling-stock and
additional cargo for shipping operations by Kavkaz -Poti ferry passage;
Co-Chairman of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission
on Economic Cooperation, RF Minister of Transport Igor Levitin told
journalists in Yerevan. He reported that this formulation was included
in the protocol of the 7th meeting of yteh Commission. Levitin
said that currently the state did all possible for operation of
this ferry. “The states did everything was required from them,
and currently the business should use it”, Levitin pointed out. He
said that the state can not bought additional ferry-boats; it should
be doe by business. He also said that not everything in this issue
depends on Armenia and Russia. “Georgia is the participant of this
transit direction as well, and we have questions regarding tariffs,
which we will discuss in Georgia”, Levitin said.

A NEW FUND “BOOK” WITH THE PROPERTY CAPITAL WORTH AMD 100 THSD IS ESTABLISHED IN ARMENIA
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 13 2005
YEREVAN, October 13. /ARKA/. The RA government took a decision to
establish a Fund “Book” and approved its by-laws and the staff of the
Council of trustees. According to the RA Government’s Press Service
Department, AMD 100 thsd was assigned as a property investment in the
fund. According to the decision, the RA Ministry of Culture and Youth
Affairs is the state administering body representing the Fund. The
goal of the activity of the Fund is creating favorable conditions for
preserving, disseminating and developing written culture of literature
heritage, ensuring information awareness of the population, as well
as carrying out social protection of writers, editors and polygraphic
workers. The activity of the Fund will also enable to regulate the
issues connected with selling of the literature published with the
support of the government, and efficient use of funds gained from
selling of it. The Fund will be engaged in attracting additional
financial resources. ($1 = AMD 446,77).

YOUNG PEOPLE’S CHRISTIAN UNION TO REALIZE NEW PROGRAMS IN NKR
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 13 2005
Today the problems of youth have been discussed at the meeting of
Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) National Assembly Speaker Ashot Gulyan
with Young People’s Christian Union international organization Chair
Johan Wilhelm Eltvik who arrived in Nagorno Karabakh.
According to the information of the NKR NA press service, Mr. Eltvik
expressed satisfaction with the attitude to the youth’s problems in
Nagorno Karabakh, in part to the local branch of his organization. In
his words, taking the circumstance into consideration Young People’s
Christian Union is to realize new programs in the NKR, which will be
useful for Nagorno Karabakh.
Having noted the importance of the organization’s programs Ashot
Gulyan said they were of great importance for raising activeness of
Artsakh’s youth, broadening and deepening its ties with the friends
abroad. The NKR Parliament Speaker welcomed the programs of the kind
and voiced readiness to promote their realization.

COE CONGRESS TO OBSERVE LOCAL ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA
Council of Europe

Oct 13 2005
On Sunday 16 October, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
of the Council of Europe will observe local elections in several
regions of Armenia: Armavir, Lory and Tavush.
The Congress delegation, led by Sean O’Brien (Ireland, SOC), will
meet election candidates, the Chairman of the Central Election
Commission, members of regional electoral commissions, the governors
of regions concerned, the Armenian delegation to the Congress, as
well as representatives of the media and NGOs, including the National
Democratic Institute for international affairs (NDI).
The delegation also includes David Lloyd-Williams (United Kingdom,
ILDG), John Biggs (United Kingdom, SOC), Christopher Newbury (United
Kingdom, EPP, rapporteur), Luca Ciriani (Italy, ILDG) and Marja van
der Tas (Netherlands, EPP).
A final press conference will take place on 17 October at 3 p.m at
Ani Plaza Hotel in Yerevan.
For further information, please contact: Office of the Special
Representative of the Secretary General to Armenia, Bojana Urumova ;
Tel: + 374 1 24 33 85 / 87, E-mail : [email protected]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LEARN HOW TO HELP ARMENIAN SCHOOLS
Cambridge Chronicle, MA
Oct 13 2005
The Perkins School for the Blind will host a reception for the
Armenian community Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. in the Howe Building
on Perkins campus at 175 North Beacon St. in Watertown.
Perkins staff will share information about a new initiative to aid
schools and services for children who are blind in Armenia. The
presentation will be based on an April 2005 visit to the country,
hosted by the Cambridge-Yerevan Sister City Association
RSVP to Emily Goodman at [email protected] or call
617-972-7583. For more information, visit