La Nouvelle République du Centre Ouest
08 janvier 2005
Les saveurs de la Méditerranée
Une épicerie fine à l’enseigne ” La Menthe bleue ” vient d’ouvrir
dans le haut de la Grand’Rue. Une invitation à découvrir les
spécialités de la Méditerranée orientale.
D’entrée, Nael Alamy vous offre le thé. L’accueil est oriental. Après
avoir fait ses études supérieures à Poitiers au tout début des années
1970, Nael Alamy a sillonné les rivages de la Méditerranée orientale.
Tout particulièrement de la Grèce et de la Turquie. Il est revenu
dans la Grand’Rue avec une palette de saveurs.
Au client un peu perdu, il prend le temps d’expliquer d’où viennent
sa feta, sa tapenade et son miel attiki. Et comment est préparée la
pasterna : de la viande de boeuf séchée et enveloppée d’aromates. «
C’est un plat arménien fabriqué à Paris par des Arméniens ».
Fromages, chorizo espagnol, caviar d’aubergine, yaourt grec : les
produits frais occupent toute la vitrine réfrigérée. Sur les
étagères, les articles sont classés par pays. Avec les étiquettes
appropriées. Vins Ksara des pères de la vallée de la Bekaa au Liban,
sirop de rose, pois chiche (« Rien à voir avec celui que vous pouvez
connaître », précise l’épicier), concombres sauvages…
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

La Nouvelle République du Centre Ouest
08 janvier 2005
L’expo des filles à Graffiti
Trois femmes, dont deux soeurs pour une exposition tout en douceur à
la galerie Graffiti jusqu’à la fin janvier. Elles nous viennent de
l’atelier de la Bletterie de La Rochelle, une association d’artistes
gérée par la ville, qui bientôt accueillera trois artistes
montmorillonnais.
Evelyne Mékhitarian (d’origine arménienne) dont la technique est
plutôt le pastel gras, présente aussi quelques fonds à l’huile avec
ses mélanges perso, comme son triptyque sur panneaux de bois. Ses
dessins sont aussi remarquables.
Ann et Jule Kahlert présentent l’une des sculptures et modelages des
formes tout en rondeurs et l’autre des toiles et des poteries bien
tournées, originales dans les tons ocre, décorées de façon naïve,
simple et sauvage.
Le mieux c’est tout de même d’aller voir, pour un moment de plaisir,
de tendresse, de lumière douce aux tons pastel dans cette période de
grisaille.
– Galerie Graffiti ouverte du mardi au samedi de 10 h à 12 h 30 et de
15 h à 19 h jusqu’à fin janvier.

BEST RESULTS OF THE YEAR
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
07 Jan 05
The year 2004 is behind. What did it mean for sportsmen from Artsakh?
What success did they have outside the republic? Summing up the
success of our sportsmen we may conclude that the year was outstanding
for our achievements. Below are presented the achievements of our
sportsmen in competitions held both in Armenia and abroad.
JANUARY.
On January 3-12 the international chess tournament `Caucasian Winter’
was held in Tbilisi, Georgia. Pupil of the republic chess school Hovik
Hayrapetian won 7 points of 9 and took the first prize.
FEBRUARY.
In the third round of the world championship of extreme fights
organized by the international organization `Octagon’ in Odessa
unarmed self-defence sportsman, member of the sports society `Dynamo’,
champion of NKR and RA Ashot Danielian won the first place in the 74
kg weight category.
MARCH.
International chess tournament dedicated to the ninth chess champion
of the world Tigran Petrossian was held in Stepanakert, in which took
part 10 grand masters from Poland, Switzerland, Russia, Latvia, Iran
and Armenia. The winner was grandmaster Karen Asrian, from Artsakh by
origin. The second place was taken by the representative of Poland,
grand master Bartlome Macheya, and the third prize was won by grand
master Gabriel Sarghissian, again from Artsakh by origin. On March
24-29 junior table tennis championship of Armenia was held in Yerevan
and the pupil of the Stepanakert Junior Sports School Anna Adamian
took the first place.
APRIL.
In the sambo wrestling championship of Armenia held in Gyumri Ashot
Danielian, Narek Grigorian and Artur Mirzoyan won in their weight
categories. In the taeqvando championship of Armenia held in Yerevan
on April 4-6 Davit Saghian won the first prize.
MAY.
In the tournament of the premier league of chess of Armenia
international master Artur Chibukchian won 7 points from 9and shared
the first and second places with Benik Galstian from Yerevan. The
free-style wrestling open championship for sportsmen born in 1989-1990
dedicated to Albert Dadayan was held in Yerevan on May 7-10. Davit
Babayan took the first place. Davit Lalayan won in the Armenian
national fudokan karate-do open tournament.
JUNE.
Championship of Europe in sambo wrestling in Latvia Ashot Danielian
won bronze in the 74 kg weight category. In the international sambo
wrestling championship held in Yerevan, on June 11-13 dedicated to
Garnik Hovhannissian Ashot Danielian, Narek Grigorian and Mavrik
Nasibian became winners.
JULY.
Armenian Wushu Sanda Open Championship was held in Yerevan where Davit
Grigorian won the first place. On July 1-5 in Tsaghkadzor track and
field athletics championship of Armenia was held and in 100 and 200 m
footrace Ninelle Mnatsakanian won the first prize.
AUGUST.
On August 1 the NKR football open championship began with the
participation of 8 teams of the republic and one team from the town of
Goris, Armenia. The Stepanakert team `Lernayin Artsakh – 2′ won with
45 points, the team `Avo’ of Martouni took the second place (39
points) and the team `Zangezour’ from Goris took the third place with
37 points. Best goalkeeper of the championship was Vitali Petrossian
(`Zangezour’), best defender Youri Asrian (`Lernayin Artsakh – 2′),
best midfield Edik Avanessian (`Avo’ ) and best forward Marat
Aghabekian (`Berd’). `Lernayin Artsakh’ of Stepanakert was successful
in the first league of Armenia winning the second place and in 2005
the team will participate in the premier league championship of
Armenia.
SEPTEMBER.
In the 37th Panarmenian Games in Teheran the sportsmen from Artsakh
performed successfully in track and field athletics. Marine Musayelian
won in the 400 and 800 m footrace. In table tennis Arayik Firian took
the second place. The NKR women’s basketball team won the bronze. In
the championship of Armenia the women’s volleyball team of Stepanakert
won the thirdprize. In the October 26-27 free-style wrestling
traditional tournament devoted to killed azatamartiks Vahram and
Albert Danielian, Artur Aharonian, Georgy Danielian, Davit Hayrapetian,
Martin Mirzoyan, Armen Adamian, Arsen Barseghian, Mavrik Nasibian,
John Israelian, Davit Barseghian, Nerses Muradian and Levon
Harutiunian won first prizes in different weight categories. In the
eighth international judo championship of the cup of Zeitun held in
the capital of Armenia Yerevan Ashot Danielian and Armen Adamian
became winners. In Armenia Georgy Danielian, 34 kg, took the first
place in the traditional tournament of sambo wrestling dedicated to
King Varazdat. Kim Abrahamian, Grisha Sarghissian and Gor Azizbekian
won first prizes in the judo tournament of Armenia in Ghyumri. Table
tennis tournament of Armenia under 18 was held in Yerevan and Varoujan
Baghdassarian became the champion. In the traditional republic open
championship of athletics of the Yerevan Sports School of Center
Marine Musayelian took thefirst place.
NOVEMBER.
In the table tennis competition dedicated to Rafael Harutiunian held
in Yerevan on November 11-19 Anna Harutiunian took the first place and
Rafik Hovhannissian won the first place in pair games. Martin
Mirzoyan, Kim Abrahamian and Armen Adamian won in the sambo wrestling
competition held in Yerevan on November 13-17 in the memory of Viktor
Alikhanian.
DECEMBER.
Martin Mirzoyan and Armen Adamian won in the junior open championship
of the judo sports schools in Armenia.
ANAHIT DANIELIAN.
07-01-2005

Armenian minister says ties with Iran “good and expanding” prior to visit
IRNA web site, Tehran
8 Jan 05
Moscow, 8 January: Armenian Minister of Education and Science Sergo
Yeritsyan stressed the need for offering facilities to Iranian
students and solving their problems.
Making the remarks while talking to reporters in Yerevan on Friday [7
January] on the threshold of his visit to Iran, he described bilateral
ties as good and expanding.
Referring to the presence of about 1,200 Iranian students in Armenia’s
universities, he stressed the need for solving their problems.
He is to visit Iran from 15-19 January.

Armenian, Azeri foreign ministers to meet in Prague on 11 January
Noyan Tapan news agency
7 Jan 05
Yerevan, 7 January: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan will fly
to Prague at the invitation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen on 11
January.
A meeting between Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan and
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on the settlement of
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict is scheduled for 11 January. The
co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group will take part in the meeting.
The Armenian foreign minister will return to Yerevan on the same day,
the Armenian Foreign Ministry’s press and information department told
Noyan Tapan.

INTEL SPECIALISTS TO GIVE LECTURES IN THREE YEREVAN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS IN 2005
YEREVAN, January 5 (Noyan Tapan). During 2005, the Armenian Unicomp
company will organize “computer days” at Yerevan State University,
Yerevan Polytechnic University and the Armenian-Russian (Slavonic)
University. According to Armen Baldrian, director general of the
company, during “computer days” young specialists of the American
Intel Technologies corporation will deliver lectures, and students
will be shown technical and technological novelties. According to
A. Baldrian, the sphere of information technologies is rapidly
developing in Armenia, and students take great interest in such
programs. He expressed hope that the courses to be organized will be
efficient and useful for future specialists.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

APPROXIMATELY 110 THOUSAND FLOWERS EXPORTED FROM ARMENIA TO RUSSIA IN
2004
YEREVAN, January 5 (Noyan Tapan). In 2004, 100 thousand lilies and
about 10 thousand roses were exported from Armenia to Russia (mainly
Moscow). These flowers were grown within the framework of Florian
program implemented by gratis funding of the Dutch government.
According to Koryun Hovakimian, executive director of the Agroproject
center, it is envisaged to export about 100 thousand lilies and 80-100
thousand roses this year. In accordance with the Florian program with
a budget of 700 thousand euros, modern equipment has been installed
and the experts advice provided to 4 greenhouses located near Yerevan
in order to organize growing flowers there. Unlike the Dutch roses and
lilies that are sold for 1.5-2 euros apiece on the Russian market, the
Armenian roses and especially lilies cost 2-2.5 apiece. According to
K. Hovakimian, this is conditioned by these roses’ high quality, which
is ensured by using the modern Dutch technology and bulbs imported
from the Netherlands, as well as thanks to most favorable climatic
conditions in Armenia.

IN 2005 CORDLESS INTERNET NETWORK TO BE EXTENTDED IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, January 7 (Noyan Tapan). In 2005 the Unicomp company will
carry out activity aimed at extension of cordless Internet network in
Armenia. Armen Baldrian, Director General of the company, informed a
Noyan Tapan correspondent that according to the bill worked out by the
RA Ministry of Transport and Communications, one may already make use
of this sphere without a licence. According to A.Baldrian, the sphere
of information technologies is developing very quickly in Armenia but
the state assistance is late. Armenia is first to begin implementation
of new projects but the neighbouring countries finish them earlier. In
this respect, according to A.Baldrian, the companies of the sphere
should be united, should be able to struggle for solution of common
problems. He mentioned that non-execution of laws remains the main
obstacle. The Unicomp CJSC was founded in 1996 on the basis of the
Nairi-91 computer firm. This is the first Armenian computer company
that received the ISO:9001 quality management certificate. The main
directions of activity of Unicomp are programming, assemblying of
computers, projecting and installation of computer networks. The
company was first in Armenia to begin production of notebooks.
According to the director, at present the company realizes 25 such
computers a month, which makes 50-60% of home market. He mentioned
that in case of sale of 100 notebooks a month they will be exported.

ARMENIA SCORES HIGHEST AMONG CIS ON ECONOMIC FREEDOM INDEX
WASHINGTON, January 7 (Noyan Tapan). The Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA), in letters sent on January 5 to Members of
Congress, Administration officials, think tanks, the media, and the
broader Washington, DC foreign policy community, welcomed Armenia’s
high rating from the Index of Economic Freedom, prepared jointly by
the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal. The Index
measures 161 countries against 50 variables divided into 10 factors of
economic freedom. Armenia received a 2.58 rating and was ranked 42nd
overall – ahead of both France and South Korea. Armenia’s scores
places it, by a considerable margin, as the highest scoring nation
among the Commonwealth of Independent States. Within the Caucasus,
Armenia was listed as the only “Mostly Free” nation. Georgia ranked
100th overall with a score of 3.34, and Azerbaijan came in at 103rd
with a score of 3.38. Turkey continued to slip on economic freedoms,
coming in with a score of 3.36 and a ranking of 112th overall. Lower
scores on the Index’s five-point scale are more desirable. “Armenia’s
strong economic growth and steady progress in each of the ten areas
weighed by the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal are
reflected in the expansion of U.S.-Armenia economic relations,” said
ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. “We look forward to helping further
expand these commercial ties and to building on the passage of
Permanent Normal Trade Relations legislation – spearheaded last year
by Congressman Joe Knollenberg and Senator Mitch McConnell – by ending
double-taxation, securing a Social Security Agreement, and paving the
way toward free trade between the United States and Armenia.”
Armenia’s ratings in each of the ten factors covered by the Index are
provided below (Lower scores are more desirable): Trade: 2.0 Fiscal
Burden: 2.3 Gov. Intervention: 2.5 Monetary Policy: 2.0 For.
Investment: 2.0 Banking: 1.0 Wages & Prices: 3.0 Property Rights: 3.0
Regulation: 4.0 Informal Market: 4.0 According to the Index, Armenia
has made steady progress on economic freedom over the past
decade. Below find Armenia’s past scores: 2005: 2.58 2004: 2.63 2003:
2.59 2002: 2.78 2001: 3.03 2000: 3.21 1999: 3.50 1998: 3.50 1997: 3.50
1996: 3.69

5579.3 TONS OF HUMANITARIAN AID IMPORTED TO ARMENIA IN JANUARY-AUGUST
YEREVAN, October 5 (Noyan Tapan). In January-August 2004 5579.3 tons
of goods in the amount of $21.5m were imported to Armenia on the line
of humanitarian aid. To recap, in the same period of 2003 4422.2 tons
of goods in the amount of $35m, 62 thousand were imported to
Armenia. According to the data of RA National Statistical Service,
production of chemical industry and other industrial branches
connected with chemistry made 35.5% of the aid, devices and machinery
14%, textile goods 13.4%. In the same period 390.2 tons of production
of plant origin in the amount of $465.6 thousand, 95.6 tons of
ready-made foodstuffs in the amount of $357.8 thousand, 203.8 tons of
land, air and water transport means in the amount of $764.9 thousand
were imported to Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress