The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear frends! Arminfo news agency inform Politics 2007-10-03 22:00:00 Rene van der Linden: Armenia's self-isolation may negatively influence the country's future ArmInfo-TURAN. Issues of Karabakh conflict settlement became one of the main topics of the meeting of the speaker of the Milli Mejlis Ogtay Asadov with PACE President Rene van der Linden in Strasburg, Wednesday. As Linden said during a briefing upon completion of the meeting, the absence of any progress in Karabakh conflict settlement "negatively influences the region's development as a whole". He recalled that Azerbaijan and Armenia, entering the Council of Europe assumed obligations to resolve the conflict peacefully. Armenia has no contacts with its neighbors on 2/3 of its borders. This may have a negative impact on the future generations of the country. "However, some Armenians, who live abroad don't want to think about their fellow-countrymen", Linden said. He mentioned the readiness of the Council of Europe to support the efforts for peaceful settlement of the conflict. For his part, the Speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament Ogtay Asadov urged CE and other international organizations to be firm in the decisions accepted by them on Karabakh conflict. The world community must condemn Armenia for its "aggressive" politics, Asadov said. 2007-10-03 21:56:00 If the first Armenian president enjoys blaming the present authority, let him do that, RA prime minister says ArmInfo. "If the first Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosyan enjoys blaming the present authority, let him do that", the Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan made such a statement in the Armenian National Assembly, Wednesday, commenting on the statement of the Armenian ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan's statement made during the festive reception in Marriott-Armenia Hotel on September 21. To recall, Levon Ter-Petrosyan referred to the representatives of the present authority as "mafiosi" and the system of ruling the country -completely corrupted. According to S. Sargsyan, the Armenian ex-president isn't returning to policy, as he has always been in politics. "To my deep belief, the country's former president always remains in the political field and is engaged in politics, otherwise politics will concern itself with him". The prime minister thinks that if we compare L. Ter-Petrosyan's statement with the articles of some newspapers, which are close to the Armenian All- National Movement Party, then we can see that his speech is a full accumulation of these articles. S. Sragsyan said that time and people assess any political force. "If one tries to assess us politically, then this is not the assessment of the people or the voters, but this is only one's private opinion. Thank God that liberty is appreciated among us, and I myself appreciate it. Anyone can tell whatever he/she wishes, what's the problem", asked the head of the Armenian Government. He also said that in general each political figure or personality must know the worth of his/her word distinctly. 2007-10-03 21:53:00 Serzh Sargsyan: Levon Ter-Petrosyan's meeting with some representatives of ARF Dashnaksutyun Party is not a great occasion ArmInfo. "I do not consider Levon Ter-Petrosyan's meeting with some representatives of the ARF Dashnaksutyun Party to be a great occasion, so it's not a surprise to me," Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan said in parliament, Wednesday, commenting upon the meeting of the first president of Armenia with ARFD representatives. S.Sargsyan noted that he doesn't perceive the presidential election as a fight of rivals, but only an occasion to present the country's future to people. "We are going to continue the calm policy we have been conducting during the past parliamentary election," he stressed. The prime minister also noted that if he continues his activity in power, then his main efforts in foreign policy will be focused on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. Asked about possible appointment of Armenian President Robert Kocharyan to the post of Armenian prime minister after his term in office expires, S.Sargsyan replied: "I don't see that R.Kocharyan wants it, and I am not going to comment on this issue". 2007-10-03 13:58:00 Final decision of the first Armenian president to run for president is conditioned by the results of Serzh Sarkisyan's coming visits, the leader of the National Unity party thinks ArmInfo. 'Final decision of the first Armenian president to run for president or not will be conditioned by the results of Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan's coming official visits', - the leader of the National Unity party Artashes Gegamyan told journalists in Hayeli club, Wednesday. He said that he does not mean getting guarantees of political support. The negotiating process on Karabakh settlement has been lasting for 13-14 years and there is no war which is evidence of the fact that the world superpowers and the EU states have indirectly recognized the status-quo in the Karabakh conflict zone. 'If continuation is not preserved in the negotiating process, a geo-political earthquake may happen in the region. But it is undesirable. I am sure that everything will find its place on 25 October, and everything will depend on the results of Serzh Sarkisyan's official visits and will become clear if Levon Ter-Petrosyan will run for president or not', - Gegamyan said. He also added that drawing out of a single conception on Karabakh settlement is today's one of the most important issues. All the political forces of the country should take part in this process, otherwise the situation will continue when Azerbaijani or Turkish mass media will like the position of an Armenian politician, as it happened after the known speech of the ex-president. Gegamyan emphasized that the fact that the Karabakh conflict has not been resolved continues leading Armenia to the regional and international isolation. At the same time he thinks that unlike the results of the presidential election the world community must be sure that in the matter of Karabakh issue the leadership of Armenia will conduct the policy drawn out on the basis of consensus between the main political forces and supported by the majority of the society. 2007-10-03 13:41:00 Hrant Dink's murdered regrets his action ArmInfo. A teenager accused of killing ethnic Armenian journalist Hrant Dink told a court on Monday he regretted his actions and claimed he carried out the slaying under the influence of drugs, according to a lawyer present at the hearing, Herald Tribune reports. Dink was shot dead in front of his newspaper's office in January in a brazen daylight attack that prompted international condemnation and debate within Turkey about free speech. On Saturday, Turkish media aired a recording of a telephone conversation between one of the suspects and a police officer. The dialogue, even though vague, suggests the police officer knew about a plan to kill the journalist but did nothing to protect him or hunt down the plotters. Although the tape emerged Saturday, there have been claims of police negligence since the arrest of the teenager, including allegations that one of the suspects who planned the killing was a police informant and was in close contact with police officials. A lawyer for Dink's family said that police officials "destroyed some other pieces of evidence" similar to the tape, and that lawyers asked the court to broaden the investigation to include the allegations. The lawyer requested anonymity because the trial is being held behind closed. Police have not commented publicly on the case since January, saying they did not want to interfere with the outcome of the trial, which resumes Feb. 11. Dink was hated by hardline nationalists for describing the mass killings of Armenians early in the last century as genocide, which is considered an insult by most Turks. Turkey denies the deaths constituted genocide, insisting those killed were victims of civil war and unrest. The trial took place behind closed doors because the alleged gunman is a minor. A total of 19 suspects are on trial for the killing. The teenager said in his testimony Monday that he regretted killing Dink, because the journalist - a father of three - had a family, said Bulent Akbay, a lawyer representing the Dink family. The defendant said he had taken Ecstasy tablets and other drugs before the killing and claimed that he had been "scared" into carrying out the slaying by two of the other suspects, Akbay said. The teen said he nearly abandoned plans to kill Dink when he came face to face with his victim in the street, Akbay said. Akbay said the teenager was smiling and laughing throughout his testimony. Defense lawyer Fuat Turgut confirmed that the teenager said he had taken drugs. He did not comment on the other remarks by Akbay. The taped recording that aired Saturday on private NTV television and other channels has added to those allegations. NTV said the conversation took place shortly after Dink was killed and suggests that authorities may have been able to prevent the killing. A lawyer who is following the case said the transcript was placed in the court files. The lawyer asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue. The Interior Ministry began an investigation to try to discover who leaked the tape to journalists, state-run media said Saturday. Turkey's top politicians, including the prime minister, vowed a thorough investigation into the Dink killing. The governor and police chief of the city of Trabzon - the hometown of the suspects - were removed from office because for allegedly failing to take measures to protect Dink. Dink had sought to encourage reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia. But he was prosecuted under Article 301 of Turkey's penal code, which bans insults to Turkish identity, for his comments on the mass killings of Armenians by Turks in the early 20th century. He was convicted but was appealing the verdict when he was killed. "Hrant Dink's death is linked to 301," said Claudia Roth, a leader of the German opposition Greens, who is in Istanbul to attend the hearing. "It was 301 which killed him and that's why I am here." 2007-10-03 13:31:00 'Orinats Yerkir' party confirms its intention to run in presidential election by its candidate ArmInfo. "Orinats Yerkir" party still confirms its intention to run in the forthcoming presidential election in Armenia by its candidate, the party leader Artur Baghdasaryan, members of the "Orinats Yerkir" faction Artashes Avoyan said at today's press-conference in "Urbat" club. He recalled that the session of the party's Board, held on September 29-30 resolved to nominate A. Baghdasaryan as a candidate for the presidential election. However, the final decision on this matter will be taken at the session of "Orinats Yerkir" scheduled for early November, he said added. Asked by Arminfo correspondent whom the "Orinats Yerkir" will support in case if a second round is necessary to reveal the election winner, Artashes Avoyan replied: "I can say that we shall unambiguously support a candidate from the opposition. Supporting of the power candidate is ruled out". 2007-10-03 13:31:00 'Orinats Yerkir' party does not think contacts with ANM party compromising it ArmInfo. Orinats Yerkir (OY) party does not think that contacts with the former ruling party Armenian National Movement (ANM) headed by ex-president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan compromising it in the eyes of its constituency. A member of OY parliamentary faction Artashes Avoyan made this statement at Friday Club, Wednesday. 'Indeed, we meet with many political forces. We have been invited to a meeting with ANM representatives. At these meetings political forces specify their stands on the presidential election. I do not think it can somehow compromise us in the eyes of our voters,' he said. 2007-10-03 13:26:00 Orinats Yerkir party leader dissatisfied with media coverage of his party's activity ArmInfo. Leader of Orinats Yerkir party (OY) Artur Baghdasaryan has no intention to avoid local media. He is just dissatisfied with how they cover the activity of his party and its parliamentary faction, a member of OY faction Artashes Avoyan said at Friday Club, Wednesday. He explained the leader's unwillingness to meet media representatives and the OY faction's refusal from participation in traditional parliamentary briefings with biased media coverage of the party's opposition activity. 'But it is not a boycott. We accept invitations to press conferences and various debates with pleasure. I assure you that journalists will get an opportunity to communicate with Artur Baghdasaryan shortly, ' he said. 2007-10-03 13:21:00 RA FM meets his Turkish and Iranian counterparts ArmInfo. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan met his Turkish and Iranian counterparts yesterday. The meetings were held in New York within the frames of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly. As RA FM's press-service told ArmInfo, during his first meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, V. Oskanyan touched on the present level of the Armenian- Turkish relations. The interlocutors also discussed the regional issues of mutual interest. The Armenian-Iranian relations, energy issues and regional processes were discussed during the meeting of V. Oskanyan with Iranian FM Manouchehr Mottaki. Speech of RA FM at the UN General Assembly has been scheduled for today. Economy 2007-10-03 21:46:00 VivaCell funds reconstruction of the unique one-meter-long Schmidt telescope in Byurakan Observatory ArmInfo. After years long failed attempts Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory finally got financial possibilities to restore the efficiency of the unique one- meter-long Schmidt telescope with objective prisms. As the press secretary of VivaCell mobile phone operator Vahe Isahakyan told ArmInfo correspondent, the company agreed to allot 23,3mln AMD for the modernization and reconstruction of the control system of Byurakan Observatory's telescopes. The observatory has been the most important of center of Armenian astrophysics over decades. It was founded in 1946 by the eminent astrophysicist Viktor Hambartsumyan. His 100th anniversary will be widely celebrated in 2008. As the director of Byurakan Observatory Hayk Harutyunyan told ArmInfo correspondent, the observatory's telescopes are currently in a deplorable situation. By the funds provided by VivaCell advanced equipment will be bought for the 2.6-meter-long telescope having got out of order. In particular, new computers will be placed in the control center of the telescope and the system for azote production, which ensures thermal insulation of the control center, will be reconstructed. The most important in the financial support will be the restoration of the one-meter-long Schmidt telescope. By the way, the Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Nikita Khrushchev attended the opening of the one-meter-long telescope in 1961. The electronic system of this unique telescope will be reconstructed. In particular, the light -absorbing device-matrix of CCD type will be created and the control system by the telescope will be commissioned. To note, the Russian and Armenian governments had promised to finance the reconstruction of Schmidt telescope. However, the authorities of the two countries broke their promise. According to the observatory's director, a relevant arrangement with the Special Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) of the Russian Academy of Sciences was made in 2006 within the frames of the agreement on cooperation in the sphere of science, signed by the Armenian and Russian presidents. Russia had committed itself to finance the installation of the photoelectric radiation receiver. For its part, the Armenian government had committed itself to allot a sum adequate to Russia's expenditures. However, there was no funding. Repudiation of obligation pushed Russia away, and the restoration project of the efficiency of one of the world's biggest telescopes was annulled. The implementation of the project would have given the Armenian and Russian scientists to get 4000 pixels information (which is 4-times more) about the galaxies on a 4-cm shot. To recall, recently the Russian MTS bought 80% of the shares of VivaCell mobile phone operator. 2007-10-03 13:28:00 Bread-grain prices growth in Armenia is not of a speculative nature, specialists of the Commission on economic competition protection think ArmInfo. Bread-grain prices growth in Armenia is in line with the world prices changing and is not of a speculative nature, chairman of the Commission on economic competition protection Ashot Shakhnazaryan said at its sitting over which the grain market of the republic was discussed. He also added that grain is chiefly imported to Armenia from Russia, as local producers can ensure only 40% of demands. Shakhnazaryan said that the bread-grain world prices have started growing since spring of the current year and have grown up to 75%. In Armenia growth of prices was oscillating between 8-12 drams from the world prices even in the conditions of the dram strengthening. This is not significant and cannot be considered speculation, Shakhnazaryan said. It was mentioned at the session that "Salex Group" company imports 35,06% of bread-grain, and "Manana Grain" - 35,8%. Both companies were recognized as dominating as each of them occupies more than the third of the market. The fact of speculation at the flour market has not been fixed either. A total of 139,7 thsd tons of flour was produced in the republic in 2006, 246 tons - imported and 139,2 thsd tons sold. Stemming from this, we have 100 gr of flour per capita per day. 2007-10-03 13:23:00 Eurobank to send 13,5 mln Euro for fulfillment of programme of ecological rehabilitation of Sevan lake ArmInfo. Today, RA Parliament continued discussion over the government-presented agreement between Armenia and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development about financing of the programme of ecological rehabilitation of Sevan lake. As Chairman of State Committee of water economy under RA Ministry of Territorial Administration Andranik Andreasyan told parliamentarians, the accredit agreement has been signed in April, 2007. The whole programme is assessed of 12 mln Euro, 7 mln Euro of which have been allotted as a credit and the rest 5 mln Euro as a grant. The Bank will also allot 1,2 mln Euro more as a technical assistance for financing of the work on development of estimates of the forthcoming works. Thus, A. Andreasyan said, the whole programme will cost 13,5 mln Euro. The credit of 7 mln Euro has been extended for a period of 15 years with the beginning of repayment in 3 years with an interest rate of Libor=1%. The credit will be extended by two tranches - of 5 mln Euro and 2 mln Euro. The programme envisages construction of new purifying plants in Martuni and Gavar. Moreover, it is scheduled to reconstruct the water channels of Jermuk and Sevan. Thus, the problem of waste waters discharge into the lake will be solved. Within the frames of the EBRD-financed programme, one of the most important problems of the lake will be soled. The project is pilot and, in case of its success, it will be continued in other regions of the republic as well. 2007-10-02 12:28:00 Gas supply to Georgia and Armenia suspended for a day-period ArmInfo. Supply of natural gas to Georgia and Armenia was suspended for a day today, on October 2, in the morning, due to unscheduled repair of Mazdok-Tbilisi and Northern Caucasus- Transcaucasia gas mains CJSC ArmRusgasprom told ArmInfo, Monday. Abovyan underground gasholder will ensure uninterrupted gas supply to Armenian consumers. To recall, CJSC ArmRusgasprom is the exclusive supplier of natural gas to Armenia. Finance and banks 2007-10-03 13:45:00 Exchange rate of dram against US dollar and EUR ArmInfo Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 333 drams for 1 dollar, 470 drams for 1 EUR and 13,2 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 334,5 drams for 1 dollar, 476 drams for 1 EUR and 13,5 drams for 1 Russian ruble. 2007-10-03 13:21:00 Second stage financial market reforms underway in Armenia ArmInfo. The second stage of the Armenian financial market reforms is underway, Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan said at the Armenian parliament, presenting the draft law on securities market and the related package of draft laws in the first reading, Wednesday. T.Sargsyan said the reforms are aimed at transition from the the securities market regulation system to the concept of commercial system. He added that up to this moment, the American model has been used as a basis of reforming the securities market in Armenia. Now the government proposes transition to the European model. In particular, this implies several changes in the organized securities market. Firstly, the stock market should include the companies that make initial public offerings (IPO) or have quoted securities. In other words, the matter concerns the companies, which publicly collect free cash on their own initiative. Secondly, banks and credit organizations should have the right to take a direct part in the securities market without any additional license. Given that now commercial banks are the key players in the securities market, this change may have a real impact on development of the equity market. There should be a single-whole policy of control and regulation of financial institutions, and this is extremely important to small countries. T.Sargsyan thinks that this will help avoiding new risks that may expand from the securities market to the credit one, then to the insurance market and, finally, affect the whole financial market of the country. The Central Securities Depositary is to serve also as a commercial organization contributing to attraction of foreign investments. Armenia has already signed a memorandum of mutual understanding with the Swedish exchange operator OMX whereby the company became the owner of the Central Securities Depositary and the Armenian Exchange. Under the memorandum, the Swedish company is to participate in the development of the republic's financial market. This required changes in the legislation of Armenia i.e. transition to the European model of the securities market regulation. Particularly, the experience of Estonia and Slovenia was used. As a result, a number of items have been included in the law, which made the regulation of the securities market more flexible and efficient. In its turn, this will allow the Armenian financial market getting integrated into European stock exchanges. In particular, this will allow Armenian companies selling their shares in the leading European stock exchanges without additional serious funds. According to the CB research, at the moment, 20 Armenian companies, which dealt with OMX, have been allowed to this program. The draft law also solves the problem of compulsory registration of companies' issue prospectus only in case of public offerings and stock floatation. At the same time, there are more exceptions which aim to facilitate the companies' activity. In addition, more serious attention will be paid to the companies which are to make IPO. The draft law stipulates a programmed issue of shares, which is banned by the current law. This means that a joint-stock company has the right to submit one application to the regulating body for issue of shares, as well as the time and volume of the issue, and not to apply constantly to the regulator with the same request. The circle of professional participants also increases in the market due to banks and credit organizations. Thus, 5 companies have already issued their bonds. The order of internal safety of the issued securities and the responsibility for price abuse has already been established. The Central Securities Depositary serves as a joint-stock company, and its activity is subject to licensing by the regulating body. This will allow the Central Securities Depositary becoming a profit organization, which will lead to attraction of investments and development of the financial market. The parliament approved the draft law in the first reading. Social 2007-10-03 13:26:00 Alvina Gyulumyan reelected to the post of European Court judge on human rights ArmInfo. Alvina Gyulumyan has been reelected to the post of European Court judge on human rights, press service of Council of Europe headquarters informed ArmInfo correspondent. Gyulumyan was reelected by absolute majority of votes. She will stay at the post for six years till October 2013. 2007-10-03 13:19:00 Chief human rights defender of Armenia intends to contest constitutionality of some articles of RA Law on Pensions ArmInfo. Human rights defender, ombudsman of Armenia Armen Harutyunyan intends to contest constitutionality of some articles of RA Law on Pensions in Armenia's Constitutional Court, in view of which he filed a relevant suit yesterday to the republic's Chief Constitutional body. As RA ombudsman's press-service told ArmInfo, the matter, in particular, concerns part 2 of Article 73, part 3 of Article 42 and part 2 of Article 47 of the Law on Pensions. According to these Articles, no more than 1 year of the insurance track record may be added over 1 calendar year. According to the Law, the work at enterprises, especially detrimental heath, cannot serve a basis for exception during calculation of the track record. The ombudsman thinks that part 2 of Article 73 of the Law on Pensions does not comply with Article 42 of RA Constitution as it prejudices the rights of citizens fixed by the Constitution. The matter in Article 47 of the Law on Pensions concerns the order of filing up the labour books, according to which the work record is added in line with a reference from the archive. According to the Law, the work record, which exceeds 25 years, cannot be approved juridically, the law only allows to fill up the gaps of the work record if the gap does not exceed 10 years. This ban, the ombudsman says, is also anticonstitutional as it prejudices the rights of citizens fixed by RA Constitution. 2007-10-02 19:57:00 Sochi Olympic objects to be built by Armenian architects as well ArmInfo. Armenia will provide the Sochi Olympic objects not only with building materials but specialists-architects and doctors as well, vice Mayor of Sochi Irina Badayan, being in Yerevan with official visit, told ArmInfo. She said that a preliminary agreement on attraction of the Armenian architects to the large- scale construction of the Olympic objects for the winter Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014 was reached between the Armenian Consul in RF South Federal district and the Mayor of Sochi. I. Badayan also said that the items of Sochi-Yerevan cooperation in this context will be specified within the next few days. To note, the prime ministers of Armenia and Russia have recently agreed on delivery of building materials, including polished up natural stones and reinforced concrete structures by Armenia for construction of the Olympic objects. Culture 2007-10-03 13:47:00 X-rays to penetrate into the secret of Matenadaran's parchments ArmInfo. The Matenadaran-the Armenian Institute of Ancient Manuscripts and the American Early Manuscripts Electronic Library (EMEL) signed an agreement on the digitization of more than 100 palimpsests- parchments. What was written on them was erased or washed out in order to reuse them, Matenadaran's director Hrachia Tamrazian told ArmInfo correspondent. According to him, digitization of the manuscripts with the device provided by the American side will directly start from the mid 2008. It isn't still decided by what funds the device worth $90 000 will be bought. However, EMEL expressed readiness to make concessions, promising in advance to send its specialists to Armenia for training the personnel who are going to operate the equipment. R. Tamrazian emphasized that the digitization of the palimpsests will make it possible to disclose the parchments' new contents in the Matenadaran. In the Middle Ages because of scarcity of parchments scribe-monks resorted to the method of washing out the antique manuscripts for writing new works. Earlier, these ancient writs were restored by chemical means. Now, the digitizing device does X-ray and infrared irradiation of the parchment, simultaneously. In this way EMEL organization disclosed the commentaries written by Archimedes to Aristotle, which were hidden under a layer of paint. Tamrazian emphasized that the American side was provided all the conditions for reservation of copyright on dissemination of information on the manuscripts beyond Armenia. 2007-10-03 13:33:00 Members of the CIS Humanitarian Cooperation Council visited an exhibition 'Holy Armenia - returning home' ArmInfo. Today the members of the CIS Humanitarian Cooperation Council visited an exhibition "Holy Armenia - returning home". The head of "Roscultura" Mikhail Shvydkoy, Armenian first lady Bella Kocharyan and Culture minister Hasmik Pogosyan were among the visitors. The exhibition "Holy Armenia - returning home" is exhibited in the Armenian history museum. Earlier it was exhibited in France within the frames of the Year of Armenia. Unique showpieces from treasury of Mother See Holy Echmiadzin, ancient manuscripts museum Matenadaran, a fragment of Noah's ark, etc. 'Awe in front of the history of Armenia, its church and culture seizes from the first minutes of contact with this unique exhibition. You pained it - and it gives minutes of happiness', - Mikhail Shvydkoy wrote in the visitors' book. No information from Site can be used without prior permission of ARMINFO http://www.arminfo.am -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: http://felist.com/member/unsub?grp=media.arminfo&email=e@mail http://felist.com/ mailto:ask@felist.com