Armenian president, US envoy discuss constitutional reforms, Karabakh
Arminfo
15 Sep 05
YEREVAN
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today received the US ambassador
to Armenia, John Evans.
The ambassador thanked the Armenian government and people for
humanitarian aid to the USA to overcome the consequences of Hurricane
Katrina.
The two parties touched on the process of constitutional reforms in
Armenia. Speaking on the issue, Evans said that it opens new
opportunities for Armenia’s development. They also discussed the
Karabakh settlement process.

THREE-YEAR PROGRAM ON COOPERATION BETWEEN YEREVAN AND SAINT PETERSBURG
TO BE DEVELOPED

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. A joint working group of Yerevan
and Saint Petersburg Mayor’s Offices will be set up with the aim of
developing a program on cooperation between the two cities in the next
three years. An agreement on this was reached between Saint Petersburg
Governor Valentina Matviyenko and Yerevan Mayor Ervand Zakharian at
the September 14 meeting in Yerevan.
According to V. Matviyenko, not only a historical basis but also an
economic potential and mutual interest exist for extending the
cooperation between Russia and Armenia, as well as Yerevan and Saint
Petersburg. She said that first of all, the volumes of commodity
turnover between Armenia and Saint Petersburg should
increase. Although this index grew by 15% in 2004 over the previous
year and made around 9 mln USD, it is still quite low. V. Matviyenko
also stated that they have achieved an agreement with E. Zakharian to
build a Saint Petersburg House in Yerevan and a Yerevan House in Saint
Petersburg.
During the one-day visit, the businessmen included in the Russian
delegation will meet with Armenian businessmen to discuss
opportunities for making investments and founding joint ventures.

“ARMENIA EXPO – 2005” INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OPENS IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. About 180 companies from 15
countries including Russia, the Ukraine, Moldova, Iran, Romania,
Czechia, Germany, China and Canada, participate in the “Armenia expo
2005” international commercial-industrial exhibition opened in
Yerevan, on September 14. As Karen Chshmaritian, the Minister of RA
Trade and Economy Development mentioned at the opening of the
exhibition, among the exhibitions held after Armenia’s becoming
independent, “Armenia Expo – 2005” is the largest by the number of
both participants and represented countries. Besides, unlike the
previous exhibition, production and service of the spheres of
construction, information technologies, service are also presented
this time.
According to Arsen Ghazarian, the Chairman of the Union of
Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia, “Armenia expo’s” holding for
the fifth time is the evidence of the fact that Armenia became a
center of coordination of regional economic ties.
“Industrial Armenia,” “Build expo,” “Trans expo,” “Comp expo,”
“Polygraph, Publishing, Advertising” and “Food and Drinks” pavilions
act at the exhibition. Within the framework of the “Armenia expo 2005”
exhibition, an Armenian-Russian business-meeting “Cooperation 2005”
will be held as well as days of “business” of the USA and China will
be organized.
The exhibition will be open till September 17.

ARMENTEL WILL IMPROVE ITS MOBILE PHONE COMMUNICATION SERVICES IN
COMING HOURS, RA MINISTER OF COMMUNICATION ASSURES

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The quality of the mobile phone
communication services provided by ArmenTel will improve early in the
morning of September 15. RA Minister of Transport and Communication
Andranik Manukian stated at the RA National Assembly on September 14
that, according to the company’s management, it will be achieved
thanks to the use of the new equipment brought to Armenia.
Andranik Manukian said that the Viva Cell company – the second
operator of mobile communication in Armenia – has already sold nearly
217 thousand cards, 7.5 thousand of which are user cards, while the
remaining are prepayment cards. He also noted that Viva Cell is
providing high-quality services, while ArmenTel has lost some of its
users due to low quality of its services.
According to the minister, ArmenTel was repeatedly warned by the
Ministry in connection with its low-quality services, which is
envisaged by the amended version of License No 60. He said that for
this reason the company paid a fine equivalent to 350 thousand US
dollars, and in case it does not rectify the situation, the respective
punishment will again be imposed on the company.

ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF WORKS OF JEWELLERS AND DIAMOND MANUFACTURERS OF
ARMENIA TO OPEN ON SEPTEMBER 29

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The annual exhibition of works of
jewellers and diamond manufacturers of Armenia will open in Yerevan on
September 29. As Artur Gyulnazarian, the Executive Director of the
Association of Jewellers and Diamond Manufacturers of Armenia informed
during the interview to the Noyan Tapan correspondent, gold
adornments, jewels and poli-precious stones and subjects made of them,
souvenirs as well as instruments and equipments used in jewellery and
diamond manufacture will be exhibited.
According to A.Gyulnazarian, about 3 dozens of companies and more than
20 individual businessmen placed orders for participation in the
exhibition. According to him, during such exhibitions, meetings of
jewellers and representatives of companies standing near to the
sphere, exchange of experience support development of jewellery and
diamond manufacturing in Armenia.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL GALLERY REPLENISHED WITH WORKS OF 24 RUSSIAN
PAINTERS

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation headed by Valentina
Matvienko, St Petersburg Governor, that arrived in Yerevan on the
occasion of the Year of Russia in Armenia, donated works of 24 Russian
painters to the Armenian National Gallery. Valentina Matvienko
declared this at the opening of the exhibition of these works on
September 14 at the gallery. Mrs Matvienko expressed hope that these
works will find their deserved place in gallery’s department of
Russian painters. She also mentioned that many Armenian painters got
education at St Petersburg Academy of Art and were fostered by the
traditions of Russian painting.
According to Mrs Matvienko, the first Armenians settled in St
Petersburg already since 1708 (St Petersburg was founded in 1703) and
had an impact on city’s establishment and development with their
practical, scientific and cultural activity.
In the affirmation of Gagik Gyurjian, RA Deputy Minister of Culture
and Youth ASffairs, this visit will become a kind of a bridge
restoring the traditional scientific-cultural and educational
cooperation already formed between the 2 peoples.
“Last I was in Armenia 18 years ago. We arrived at night but it was
pleasant to see that the city was illuminated, of course, it wasn’t so
light as in New York and there is no such need. Yerevan is Yerevan
with its peculiar attraction, its mystery and secrets,” V.Burov,
Chairman of St Petersburg Committee of Culture, mentioned.

RA PRIME MINISTER’S SPEECH AT 60TH SESSION OF UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
ENVISAGED ON SEPTEMBER 16

NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A high-level
plenary meeting of the 60th session of the United Nations General
Assembly started in New York on September 14. More than 170 heads of
states and governments, including Andranik Margarian, the Prime
Minister of the Republic of Armenia, participate in the summit of this
authoritative organization. RA Prime Minister arrived in New York on
September 12.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Government’s Information and Public
Relations Department, at this jubilee session of the UN General
Assembly, which is chaired by Jan Eliason, the former Permanent
Representative of Sweden at the UN, such themes as anti-terrorism
struggle, the world and security, protection of the human rights,
Millennium Challenges, issues connected with the international right,
necessity of reforms of the UN governance system, issues of education,
accessibility of health care, poverty, atomic energy, refugees,
problems of women and children, issues of climate change and
environment, drinking water and other issues the world community is
anxious about are envisaged to be discussed. Before the opening of the
session, the delegates discussed for a rather long time the draft
document of the three-day summing up summit to be presented to the
participants, that’s why the opening was held a few hours later than
it was envisaged. RA Prime Minister’s speech is also envisaged at the
UN session on September 16.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MILLENNIUM CHALLENGES CORPORATION SATISFIED WITH ECONOMIC CRITERIA
SUBSTANTIATION PRESENTED IN ARMENIA’S DRAFT PROGRAM

NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the RA Government
Information and PR Department, the RA Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian, who is taking part in the high-level plenary meeting of the
UN General Assembly 60th session, met in New York on September 13 with
the leadership of the Millennium Challenges Corporation (MCC) – the
Acting General Executive Official Charles Setnes and the Corporation’s
Deputy Chairman John Huko.
Issues related to cooperation with MCC were discussed at the
meeting. The MCC delegation noted with satisfaction that the
representatives of the US Congress were positively impressed during
their recent visit to Armenia. Both sides pointed out that the context
of their cooperation with the framework of MCC is acceptable and work
on specifying the mechanisms is currently underway. For this purpose
an Armenian delegation will soon arrive in Washington. The sides
expressed their contentment at the cooperation of the working
groups. MCC was satisfied with the substantiation of the economic
criteria presented in Armenia’s draft program by the Armenian
government.
A. Margarian said that special attention should be given to
agriculture, especially to farms. The MCC representative attached
importance to transparency of the work carried out by the MCC
Administrative Board, which requires that representatives of various
NGOs and the civil society be included in the Board. In this
connection the Armenian Prime Minister noted the RA government is in
favor of transparency and elections to the above mentioned
organizations may be held by a concerted effort of the MCC and
representatives of NGOs and the civil society.

“ALL OF US RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED,” ARMENIAN DEPUTY OF IRANIAN
PARLIAMENT SAYS

TEHRAN, SEPTEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The funeral of
Miro Begijanian, an Iranian Armenian young man killed during a dispute
with Persians late on Friday, took place on September 12. The funeral
was held at the Nor Burastan cemetery of Tehran, near graves of
Armenian victims.
Presence of a dense crowd at the graveyard witnessed the community’s
indignation concerning the happened. Archbishop Sepuh Sargsian, Vardan
Vardanian and Gevorg Vardanian, the former and present Deputies of the
North Iranian Armenians at the IRI Parliament, clergymen,
representatives of the Diocesan Council, national bodies and unions as
well as of the central administration of the Armenian cultural
organization “Ararat” and of the “Alik” institution and a great number
of sportsmen were present.
According to the Tehran “Alik” daily, Archbishop Sepuh Sargsian
chaired the religious ceremony, who, then, addressed a speech of his
fatherly consolation to those gathered.
Then a receiption of condolence took place at the “Raffi” complex
where the diocesan primate, deputies, representatives of the national
bodies and unions were present as well.
“I’m sure that all of us feel ourselves punished, I’m sure that
everybody feels responsibility for the happened and everyone
condoles. But nobody can protest louder, be a demander as Miro’s
family protests and demands by their silence,” Gevorg Vardanian
particularly said.
“Miro’s sad death must be a lesson for each of us how we can secure
the individuality of our Armenian youth, the appearance of our
national and Christian individuality,” Archbishop Sepuh Sargsian
mentioned.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LEGAL BODIES OF TEHRAN ASSURE THAT THOSE KILLED IRANIAN ARMENIAN YOUNG
MAN TO BE PUNISHED

TEHRAN, SEPTEMBER 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On September 13,
sardar Eslami, the general responsible for police stations of the
eastern region of Tehran, and those responsible for the police station
of the district of Narmak, and clergymen paid a visit of condolence to
parents and relatives of Miro Begijanian, an Iranian Armenian young
man killed during a despute with three Persians late on September
9. According to the “Alik” daily of Tehran, they passed the precept of
sardar Talayi, the chief police officer of the city, and assured that
they will pursue that the criminals were punished.