Catholicos of All Armenians to visit UK and France
May 4, 2010 – 15:42 AMT 10:42 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, launched a trip to UK and France on May 4
to meet with primates of the local Dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic
Church and benefactors of Holy Etchmiadzin.
MP: TURKEY’S INCLUSION IN OSCE MINSK GROUP PROPOSED DUE TO NECESSITY
Today
May 2 2010
Azerbaijan
Turkey’s inclusion in the OSCE Minsk Group was proposed because there
was the need, member of the political council of Azerbaijani ruling
party said.
"Turkey has very important influence in the region. Co-chairmanship of
this country in the OSCE Minsk Group is discussed periodically since
the establishment of an institute of co-chairmen," political council
member, deputy chairman of the Committee on Security and Defence of
the Azerbaijani parliament Aydin Mirzazade told the website of New
Azerbaijan Party.
He said that according to the procedural rules, a staff of co-chairmen
must be coordinated with Azerbaijani and Armenian sides.
"Armenia’s anti-Turkish position hampers the inclusion of a brotherly
country in a staff of Co-Chairmen. But Turkey actively participates
in the process though unofficially. It is impossible to exclude the
Turkish factor in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem,"
MP said.
MP said that Turkey’s position in connection with the conflict is
the center of Azerbaijani society’s attention. "Co-chairmanship was
raised because of the need and desire for a rapid solving of the
problem. But on the other hand, Turkey participates in this process,
regardless of whether it is co-chairman or not. At the same time, the
main aim is not only the co-chairmanship of Turkey, but also resolving
of the conflict as a whole", deputy chairman of the committee said.
Azerbaijani society encourages the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen to
show activity and objectively assess the seriousness of the problem.
"Unfortunately, except for the last few years, more than 10 years
co-chairmen have demonstrated formal operation. We wasted time. But
the time has come to solve this problem. Co-chairmen must carry out
their tasks. Armenia should be called on to respect international
legal norms," member of political council said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.
The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s resolutions
on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied
territories.
HUMAN RIGHTS ANALYSIS: PUBLIC OPINION IN ‘PARTLY FREE’ ARMENIA BECOMING MORE INFLUENTIAL
Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow correspondent
04.05.10
In the latest edition of the Freedom in the World report, Freedom
House again gives Armenia a ‘Partly Free’ status. The global rights
watchdog’s Freedom of the Press report, meanwhile, ranks Armenia among
countries where media are ‘Not Free’. (Both reports are available on
the organization’s website ).
The last time Freedom House ranked Armenia among countries with
‘Partly Free’ media was in 2002, the year when independent TV station
A1+ was controversially taken off the air.
As it was before, experts note a low level of the influence of public
opinion on the policies of the government, but say that public opinion
in Armenia is now expressed more freely and assertively.
The 2008 presidential election marred by violence and force used
to quell the street protests of the opposition were followed by a
public wave, especially noticeable in the human rights protection
field. The events of recent months provide many facts on how under
the influence of public opinion the authorities had to abandon their
earlier decisions, and authoritarian methods of government.
The opposition in Armenia had focused its efforts in the human rights
sphere on getting jailed oppositionists released from prison. And
under public pressure the authorities released more than 130 people.
The opposition still continues to struggle for the release of another
14 of its members and supporters who, it says, remain in prison for
their political views.
Social networks play a special role in raising public awareness.
Despite the apparent lack of organized social structures, raising
a wave of protest may be a matter of hours thanks to the Internet
and social networks online. The human rights website
has also played its part. The internet community appears to be the
vanguard of the human rights movement. Discussions unfold in blogs,
in e-newspapers and social networks and this debate results in human
rights initiatives.
Under the pressure of public opinion, a resident in the village of
Katnaghbyur in Armenia’s Tavush province Sasha Davtyan was cleared of
charges in a controversial case in which police alleged he had raped
his own daughter. His daughter stated in court that police officers
had used violence against her and forced her to slander her father.
Now human rights activists are advocating for the policemen responsible
for that to be brought to justice.
The protest against the demolition of the open-air theater of Moscow
Cinema and construction of a church in its place has also become
a major public action. Recently, the President-affiliated Public
Council told the government to reconsider the decision.
Students have been noticeably more active and have attempted to defend
their interests by staging protest actions. Upon the initiative of the
movement "We Are the Owners of this City" students are now pursuing the
collection of signatures against construction in Student Park, which
is located between the National Library and the Agrarian University.
It was also under public opinion pressure that Chief of Police
Alik Sargsyan last week apologized for misleading the public on the
circumstances of the death of 24-year-old Vahan Khalafyan in police
custody. A police officer in Charentsavan was arrested in connection
with that case and charged with torture after information of human
rights activists was published in the press.
It remains to hope that public activity will lead to a greater
influence of society on decision-making, as according to classical
rules, democracy is based on rule by the people.
ARMENIAN COLUMN IN A MILITARY PARADE IN MOSCOW
ARMENPRESS
MAY 4, 2010
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS: An Armenian military unit left for the
capital of Russia April 30 to take part in the military parade,
which will be held May 9 in Moscow on the 65th anniversary of the
victory of the Great Patriotic War.
An official from press and PR office of RA Defense Ministry told
Armenpress that the Armenian military unit is currently located at
the military academy of combatants and commanders of Moscow, where
all the necessary conditions for organizing the drills and rest of the
soldiers are available. The representatives of Belarus and Ukraine’s
armies are located at the same place.
Military units from Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Moldova, France, the UK and
US have already started their drills at various parade grounds. The
next joint drill of the columns will take place at the general
parade ground.
The column of RA Armed Forces marched to the Red Square and then to
the Park of Victory and paid tribute to the memory of the Soviet
Union warriors, who died in the 2nd World War. RA soldiers also
visited the central museum of the Great Patriotic War.
R. ZILLER: FRG TRUSTS THE ARMENIAN REPUBLIC
Aysor
May 3 2010
Armenia
"The year 2010 is special for the Armenian – German cooperation
in general. The Federal Republic of Germany will finance so many
programs in the sphere of Armenian infrastructure that can never be
found in the whole history of Armenian – German cooperation. That
means that the Federal Republic of Germany continues trusting the
Armenian government, during this crisis period in particular," said
the first vice president of the German KfW bank Roland Ziller.
He informed that around 120mln euros in credit will be given. 20mln
from that sum has been given to the hypothec market, 18mln to the
rehabilitating energy, tomorrow will be signed an agreement on giving
30mln euros to the Gyumri and Vanadzor water supply systems’ programs.
"Armenia has suffered a lot form the world financial economic crisis.
During the crisis Armenia has led a clear policy which has been
noticed by the international organizations," R.Ziller said.
ARMENIAN POLITICAL FIGURES CRITICAL OF MASS MEDIA
news.am
May 3 2010
Armenia
Armenia marks the World Press Freedom Day today, May 3. In its press
freedom report, the Freedom House lists Armenia among "not free"
countries.
The Armenian political forces are hardly complimentary about press
freedom in the country. Most of Armenian political figures reproach
Armenian mass media with being political or financially dependent,
committed and biased. Government officials accuse mass media of this,
whereas they ignore such factors as censorship and pressure.
Hovhannes Sahakyan of the Republican Party of Armenia told NEWS.am
that mass media often mix freedom of speech with "lack of any
restraint." He pointed out the necessity for a clear definition of
"freedom of speech." "Of course, we have some problems, but the
Armenian authorities are doing their best to resolve them and ensure
maximum freedom of press," Sahakyan said.
Naira Zohrabyan of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), who formerly
worked for the opposition newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak (Armenian Times),
wants Armenia to have full-fledged mass media one day.
"Unfortunately, we cannot say Armenia has full-fledged mass media now.
At present, they are an instrument in the hands of either the
authorities or the Opposition, which can be accounted for by their
not being financially self-sufficient," she said. Zohrabyan stressed
the serious problems of the print media and, on the hand, a high
professional level and impartiality of news agencies and news websites.
Artyusha Shahbazyan, Secretary of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaktsutyun) (ARF(D)) faction, is not enthusiastic over the
Armenian mass media’s activities. He pointed out considerable progress
in freedom of speech in Armenia over recent years. He disagreed with
Naira Zohrabyan, pointing out that printed media are much freer, as
they are not subject to as strong pressure as other media outlets. As
regards their impartiality, their being financially dependent and
"politically overcommitted" is an obstacle. "Armenian print media
often turn into a side in political games, which strips them of
impartiality," he said. Shahbazyan pointed out an even worse situation
in TV companies.
Stepan Safaryan, Chairman of the Heritage parliamentary faction,
pointed out subjective and objective reasons for Armenian mass media’s
"constraint." Among the objective reasons are an atmosphere of fear
in the country and violence against journalists, while subjective
reasons are mass media being "politically committed" and "financially
dependent."
RA Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan reported that his office is preparing a
special report on press freedom in Armenia. He pointed out that print
media and news websites ensure the existence of various opinions in
society, whereas TV companies are mostly biased.
Despite being critical of mass media, all the respondents wished the
fraternity of the Press freedom, independence, courage and honesty.
DEPOSITS RAISED BY ARMENIAN COMMERCIAL BANKS GROW BY 4,5% TO $1.7 BLN OVER MARCH 2010
ArmInfo
03.05.2010
ArmInfo. Deposits raised by Armenian commercial over March 2010 were
up 27% as compared with March 2009, and up 4.5% as compared with Feb
2010, having amounted to 694.1 bln AMD ($1.7 bln) by 1 April 2010.
In the structure of raised deposits, the share of deposits in Armenian
dram was 23% or 159.7 bln AMD ($398.7 mln), the share of deposits
in foreign exchange was 77% or $1.3 bln (534.4 bln AMD). The share
of deposits in drams was up 2,3% for March 2010 and down 4.1% as
compared with March 2009.
By preliminary data of Armenian Central Bank provided to ArmInfo by
the National Statistical Service of Armenia, the share of deposits
of non-residents was 18% or 125.6 bln drams (5,7% decline for March,
3,4% annual growth), including 7.5 billion AMD deposits in drams
(0,4% growth for March, 24,1% annual growth). The share of deposits
of non-residents in foreign exchange totaled 118.1 bln AMD (6,1%
growth for March, 2,2% annual growth).
Deposits of residents made up 82% of the total volume of deposits,
or 568.5 billion drams, including 152.2 billion drams deposits in
terms of Armenian dram (5,2% decline for March, 7,2% annual growth).
Deposits of residents in foreign exchange totaled 416.3 billion
drams (8,1% growth for March, 47% annual growth). The share of call
liabilities in deposits of residents was 57% or 234.2 bln AMD (4,5%
growth for March), the share of time deposits was 58,8% or 334.3 bln
AMD (4% growth for March).
Call liabilities in drams grew 8,2% in March and by 7,1% as compoared
with March 2009, having amounted to 93.5 billion drams, whereas call
liabilities in foreign currency grew by 15% in March and by 72,8%
as compared with March 2009, having totaled 140.7 billion drams. Time
deposits in drams grew by 0,02% to 58.7 bln AMD, whereas time deposits
in foreign exchange grew by 5% to 275.6 bln AMD.
Balance of population deposits as of April 1 2010 totaled 313.7
billion drams, having increased by 3,7% in March 2010 and by 39,3%
as compared with March 2009. Time deposits of the population grew
by 4,7% in March 2010, and by 35,3% as compared with March 2009,
having totaled 234.9 bln AMD.
Interest rates on deposits in terms of Armenian dram were down from
8,56% to 8,54% in March 2010, and by 1.1% as compared with March 2009.
SERZH SARGSYAN AND HU JINTAO DISCUSSED ARMENIA-IRAN RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION
news.am
May 3 2010
Armenia
Development of the relations with China is a priority of Armenia’s
foreign policy, RA President Serzh Sargsyan said during the meeting
with Chinese President Hu Jintao. Serzh Sargsyan arrived in China to
participate in the opening ceremony of Expo 2010 Shanghai.
According to RA President, high level of the political dialogue,
active cultural, economic and educational cooperation, as well as
support in different formats promotes confidence and understanding
between the sates.
The sides pointed out successful implementation of various joint
projects in energy, chemical industry, agriculture, science and
technology, defense, culture and education.
The Presidents discussed China’s participation in the construction
of Armenia-Iran railway, noting that operation of the joint
Armenian-Chinese venture Shanxi-Nairit testifies to development of
bilateral ties between the states.
Serzh Sargsyan and Hu Jintao expressed readiness to undertake extra
efforts to expand Armenian-Chinese cooperation.
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION TOTALS AMD 177.5 BILLION IN ARMENIA IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2010
PanARMENIAN.Net
May 1, 2010 – 15:46 AMT 10:46 GMT
The RA National Statistical Services reported that during the first
quarter of 2010 industrial production amounted to AMD 177.5 billion,
while industrial output’s sale in CIS countries made 111.4 billion,
in other countries – 51.2 billion.
The index of industrial output totaled 110.4% in January-March 2010
as compared with the same period of 2009.
Besides, the index of industrial output totaled 116.5% during
the reported period without data for electricity, gas, steam,
high-quality air, as well as water supply, sewerage, management and
waste processing.
Industrial output data was prepared on the basis of reports of 2248
industrial enterprises, as well as assessment of operation of small
enterprises that were not included in the statistical monitoring.
In Entertainment, UK
April 19 2010
Al Pacino’s portrayal of Jack Kevorkian
Filed Under: Movies | By: Tina Chubb
Veteran actor Al Pacino ` best known for his roles in movies such as
`The Godfather,’ `Scarface,’ `Carlito’s Way’ and `Scent of a Woman’ `
has been receiving rave reviews recently, for his portrayal of Dr.
Jack Kevorkian aka `Dr Death.’
81-year old Dr. Kevorkian, who claims he has assisted 130 of his
patients to die, is now the subject of a television movie called `You
Don’t Know Jack.’ And Al Pacinso, who will be celebrating his 70th
birthday soon, is playing the lead role.
The movie, which is also said to star Susan Sarandon, will be screened
on 24th April in the United States. Dr. Kevorkian ` a right-to-die
activist ` was convicted of second degree homicide in 1999, and jailed
in Michigan. He was then released in 2007.
Pacino said that he had not actually met Kevorkian, but says that he
did speak to him and studied television footage of him in preparation
of playing the part. The actor said that he sees Dr. Jack Kevorkian as
a doctor who cares for his patients.
19/al-pacinos-portrayal-of-jack-kevorkian/