Author: Chaltikian Arsine

PRESIDNET KOCHARYAN MET WITH EDUCATION AND SCIENCE MINISTER

ArmRadio.am
30.03.2007 17:35

The process of complex reforms in the sphere of education and science
was discussed during President Robert Kocharyan’s meeting with RA
Minister of Education and Science Levon Lazarian. In particular,
reference was made to the reforms in the spheres of general and
higher education, implementation of the common examination system,
issues of working out the education doctrine.

Questions of the preschool and technical education were also
discussed. The interlocutors stressed the importance of having several
technical educational establishments in every marz, which will train
specialists corresponding to the demands of the market.

The Presidnet gave instructions on the issues discussed.

Bulgarian PM conveys condolences

ArmRadio.am
26.03.2007 17:17

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Sergey Stanishev sent a
telegram of condolence on the death of the Armenian Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan, which says, in part,

`On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and myself,
please accept our deep condolences on the untimely death of Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan. Te name of the respected political and
state figure will remain connected with the large scale reforms in the
Republic of Armenia and the efforts of the country in the direction of
integration into the European family.

In Bulgaria Andranik Margaryan was appreciated for his active role in
the development and deepening of Armenian-Bulgarian friendly
relations.’

Bush may urge the Congress to drop the Armenian Genocide resolution

Armradio.am
23.03.2007 11:46

US Department of State Director for Southeast Europe Douglas Siliman told
the reporters in Brussels that US President George Bush may sent a letter to
the Congress, asking to drop the Armenian Genocide resolution.

Noting that although the chances of passage of the resolution are small,
Silim said `he will not be surprised if Bush sends a letter to the Congress
asking to decline it, Turkish `Sabah.’

Nottingham Evening Post, UK
March 21, 2007 Wednesday

He made cello sing and dance

Beethoven and Rachmaninov were both keyboard players.

Beethoven’s Sonata in A major for cello and piano has features in
common with his Fourth Piano Concerto.

And Rachmaninov’s Cello Sonata, opus 19, recalls his Piano Concerto
No. 2.

But the cello writing in each work is of a high order, and it had in
the young Armenian soloist Alexander Chaushian a player who united
passion with elegance.

Versatile pianist Anthony Hewitt displayed the deftest of touches in
Beethoven, especially in the rhythmic scherzo. The early Rachmaninov
piece drew from him a suitably romantic weight of tone, and a
fluidity of pulse in keeping with the rhapsodic statement.

Chaushian seemed to make his instrument sing and dance. His phrasing
and dynamics were a delight. He opened the concert – the final in
Nottingham Music Society’s season – with the prelude and dances of
Bach’s Fifth Cello Suite. Their baroque splendour was realised with
conviction.

RICE STRESSES ARMENIAN ISSUE SHOULD BE LEFT TO HISTORIANS

Turkish Press
Sabah
March 22 2007

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday that Turkey was
passing through a democratization "evolution" concerning discussions of
the so-called Armenian genocide. "I think the historical circumstances
require that we allow historical commissions to explore this issue
and come to terms with their past," she told a House of Representatives

subcommittee hearing, adding that the House resolution on the
"genocide" issue wouldn’t help this process. "I think that the
Armenians and the Turks need to resolve their past before they can
move forward," she added. "I do think there is an evolution going
on in Turkey." Ankara has proposed that a commission of Turkish and
Armenian historians study the issue, but Armenian officials turned
the offer down.

‘US SHOULDN’T BE INVOLVED IN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’

Jerusalem Post
March 22 2007

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday that the United
States should not be involved in a dispute between Turkey and Armenia
over whether the killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians almost a
century ago constituted genocide.

Under intense questioning from Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, sponsor
of a resolution that would declare that Turkey’s Ottoman predecessor
state committed genocide, Rice repeatedly avoided answering whether
she believed there was any basis for historical debate on the matter.

"What we’ve encouraged the Turks and the Armenians to do is to have
joint historical commissions that can look at this, to have efforts
to examine their past, and in examining their past to get over it,"
she said in a congressional hearing. "I don’t think it helps that
process of reconciliation for the United States to enter this debate
at that level."

The dispute involves the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Armenians
during the waning years of the Ottoman Empire. Armenian advocates,
backed by many historians, contend they died in an organized genocide;
the Turks say they were victims of widespread chaos and governmental
breakdown as the 600-year-old empire collapsed in the years before
Turkey was born in 1923.

VARDAN KHACHATRIAN AND JUAN MIRANDA DISCUSS DETAILS OF CREDIT PROGRAM OF ASIAN DEVELOPMEMT BANK

Noyan Tapan
Mar 22 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Minister of Finance and
Economy Vardan Khachatrian on March 22 met with Juan Miranda, Director
General of the Central and Western Asia Regional Department of the
Asian Development Bank (ADB).

According to the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy, Mr. Miranda came
to Armenia with the aim of discussing details and implementation
process of programs envisaged by the agreement between Armenia and
the bank.

During the meeting, the interlocutors discussed a number of
issues related to Armenia-ADB cooperation, including the issue of
implementing the program on 66 mln dollar credit to be provided by
ADB to Armenia. The sides agreed to sign this credit agreement during
a meeting in Milan in February. Juan Miranda said that several ADB
missions will visit Armenia in order to become acquainted with the
programs and problems related to them on the spot.

Being a new international financial partner of Armenia, ADB plans to
implement a number of programs to promote the Armenian economy. Out
of the indicated sum of 66 mln USD, it is envisaged to allocate 30
mln USD for repairs of about 230 km of community roads, and about 30
mln USD – for repairs of water supply systems and solution of social
problems in marzes. Agriculture, transport, as well as the social
and private sectors are possible spheres of cooperation with ADB.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM OF ARMENIA TO HOLD EURO-2008 PROGRAM MEETING WITH TEAM OF POLAND ON MARCH 28

Noyan Tapan
Mar 22 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 22, NOYAN TAPAN. A meeting of the teams of Armenia
and Poland will take place in the city of Kielce, Poland, on
March 28, by the program of the group tournament of the "Euro-2008"
elimination stage. It is envisaged to broadcast the game by the Public
Television. Trainers Vardan Minasian and Armen Gyulbudaghiants will
accompany the team of Armenia to Poland on March 26. Team coach,
Scotsman Ian Porterfield, who underwent an operation these days,
will not leave for Poland.

GOVERNMENT APPROVES BILL ON TAX REGISTRATION

Noyan Tapan
Mar 22 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 22, NOYAN TAPAN. At the March 22 sitting, the Armenian
government approved the bill on tax registration. Deputy Head of
the RA State Tax Service Armen Alaverdian told reporters after the
sitting that the decision on registration of tax payers in Armenia
was taken in 1995 and since then many amendments have been made to
laws, which caused the necessity to develop a bill. According to
A. Alaverdian, the bill gives the definition of tax registration, the
order and terms of providing a tax payer code, etc. Within a month
after getting registered at the state register, the tax payer must
receive a tax payer code and retain it until bankruptcy or end of
activity. These codes are similar and used for all state bodies. By
the way, henceforth it will not be possible to open a bank account or
conduct customs transactions without such code. A. Alaverdian said that
henceforth urgent issues related to registration will be regulated by
law rather than solved by a tax body or governmental decision. Until
now tax payer codes have been given to 173 thousand tax payers in
Armenia, 50 thousand of whom either were liquidated or went bankrupt.

ISSUE OF PARTICIPATION OF CATHOLICOS KAREKIN II IN OPENING CEREMONY OF AGHTAMAR CHURCH NOT CLARIFIED YET

Noyan Tapan
Mar 21 2007

ETCHMIADZIN, MARCH 21, NOYAN TAPAN. "Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II received the invitation of the Turkish side to participate
in the opening ceremony of Aghtamar Church of Lake Van. Priest
Vahram Melikian, the Head of the press service of the Mother See
of Holy Etchmiadzin, said this during a phone conversation with
NT correspondent. At the same time, he noted that the issue of
participation of His Holiness in the opening ceremony has not been
clarified yet.