Author: Ekmekjian Janet

CHINESE GET INTO ARMENIAN LABOUR MARKET

Yerevan, January 16. ArmInfo. In several years, mononational Armenia
will need foreign labor force, Sona Harutyunyan, the head of the State
Employment Service Agency of Armenia, told an ArmInfo correspondent
at a press-conference, Tuesday.

She noted that today, not only Armenians of Diaspora, but also citizens
of China, India and Iran come to Armenia looking for a job.

The Agency doesn’t yet hold social research on tendency of the
migration rate of foreigners to Armenia. Nevertheless, S.Harutyunyan
noted that the number of the Chinese working in the merchandise markets
as salesmen has visually increased. But the number of Armenians
– citizens of Iraq and Lebanon, looking for a job in Armenia is
known. According to official data, this number doesn’t exceed several
dozens. S.Harutyunyan also told the example of Lithuania where several
years ago the rate of migration from the country led to the deficit
of labor force in the country.

Meanwhile, according to the Agency’s data for the beginning of 2007,
102 thsd people looking for a job were registered in Armenia. Over
84 thsd of them are unemployed.

GENOCIDE ISSUE REMAINS PAINFUL PROBLEM FOR TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.01.2007 16:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Genocide issue is painful for Turkey
and the Turkish public should be aware of all the facts regarding
these tragic events, Co-chair of the Turkish-Armenian Business
Development Council (TABDC) Kaan Soyak told a news conference in
Yerevan. According to him, next year the Turkish Ministry of Education
intends to include that historical period in the curriculum. "The
Azeri lobby, that doesn’t wish normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations, hampers the issue badly alleging the unsettlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict," noted he.

At that Mr Soyak underscored that presently the Turkish government
takes moves for the establishment of dialogue between the two
states and furnished the example of reconstruction of the Akhtamar
Armenian Church. "The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has addressed
an invitation to Armenian Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan to
take part in the opening ceremony of the Church of Saint Cross on
Akhtamar. We are planning to continue reconstruction of Armenian
historical churches," Soyak underscored.

ECONOMIC RELATIONS CAN INITIATE YEREVAN-ANKARA POLITICAL DIALOGUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.01.2007 13:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Normalization of economic relations between
Armenia and Turkey can initiate political dialogue, Co-chair of the
Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council (TABDC) Kaan Soyak
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, economy is a priority
line for normalization of cooperation. "I do not know who will derive
greater benefit from opening of the Armenian-Turkish border. Istanbul
businessmen target at the West. They are not interested in cooperation
with Armenia. But it’s very important for the residents of near-border
regions. We work and do not lose hope that Armenia and Turkey will
come to agreement sooner or later. Our organization has appealed to
the Turkish Foreign Ministry. If you do not want to open the border
tell us not to make our work purposeless, we say. Nevertheless,
we do not lose hope," Soyak said.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 13 2007

Teymur Rajabov to meet with Levon Aroyan on January 21

[ 13 Jan. 2007 13:27 ]

Azerbaijani chess master Teymur Rajabov today will join the struggle
in Corus super tournament commenced in Veyk Ann Zee, Holland, APA
reports.

Our compatriot will play with black figures in the first tour with
Luk Van Veli from Holland in the tournament where 14 grand masters
take place. On January Rajabov’s competitor will Ukrainian Sergey
Karyakin. In the third tour he will play with Aleksey Shirov (Spain),
in the fourth with Sergey Tivyakov (Holland). According to the
calendar, the chess players will have rest on January 17. The next
day, Rajabov will meet with David Navara(Czech ), on January 19 with
Ruslan Ponomaryov (Ukraine), on January 20 with Indian Vishvatan
Anand and on January 21 with Armenian Levon Aroyan. In the next
stages our grand master will play with Maqnus Carlson (Norwey), Peter
Svidler (Russia), Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), Aleksey Motilev (Russia)
and Veseslin Topalov (Bulgaria). /APA/

EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 5-6 ON RICHTER SCALE AND FOLLOWED BY AFTERSHOCKS
OCCURS IN ARMENIA ON JANUARY 12

GAVAR, JANUARY 13, NOYAN TAPAN. A 3.6 magnitude earthquake measuring
5-6 on the Richter scale in the epicenter occured in Armenia – 18 km
north-west of the city of Gavar on January 12 at 12:00 local
time. According to preliminary information of the RA National Seismic
Protection Service, shocks measured 5 on the Richter scale in Gavar
and 3-4 – in Yerevan, Sevan, Artashat, Vardenis and Karchaghbyur.

A 2.8 magnitude aftershock measuring 3-4 took place at 12:55. The
earthquake measured 3 on the Richter scale in Gavar.

Aftershocks with magnitudes of 2.5 and 2,9 and measuring 3-4 occured
at 15:57 and 16:24. The earthquake measured 3 in Gavar.

A 3.2 magnitude aftershock measuring 4-5 occured at 17:49. The shock
was felt in Gavar.

ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN RELATIONS SHOW SIGNS OF EFFECTIVE ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN 2006

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Jan 9 2007

YEREVAN, January 9. /ARKA/. In 2006, Armenian-Georgian relations showed
signs of effective economic cooperation, particularly in energy,
transport, agriculture, industry and tourism, says an annual report
of RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan.

Armenian and Georgian top officials paid numerous mutual visits. The
Minister pointed out the 5th meeting of the Armenian-Georgian
Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation in Batumi in
July 2006.

According to the report, the construction of the 400-kw high-voltage
line was continued, which will allow the two countries’ energy systems
to start simultaneous operation.

The document stresses the importance of the bilateral agreement on
discounts on cargo transportation to Armenia in 2007. In April 2006,
the sides signed an agreement on motor communication. Under the
agreement Armenian and Georgian citizens are exempted from taxes and
dues in crossing the Armenian-Georgian border.

The Commission for Demarcation of the Armenian-Georgian Border agreed
on a 110-km section of the border. According to the report, the work
is to be continued.

NEW YORK LIFE DELAYS COMPENSATION TO HEIRS OF ITS CLIENTS

Panorama.am
16:50 08/01/2007

New York Life, an insurance company which insured the Armenians in
Western Armenia during the Great Genocide, promised to compensate to
their heirs.

However, the compensation is delayed and anxious citizens vigorously
apply to media to receive at least some information about possible
compensation. Many called Panorama.am these days wanting to know the
time when the compensation will be made.

The web portal of New York Life,
, which was supposed
to inform about the dates of transfer on behalf of the Armenian
Insurance Compensation Fund Board, has not been updated since November,
last year.

The silence of the board was accepted as a sign of impartiality at
the time when the applications were processed. At the moment, it is
not clear and is offensive to the citizens.

ROTATION OF ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS IN IRAQ EXPECTED BY 25 JANUARY

ArmRadio.am
08.01.2007 17:46

The rotation of Armenian peacekeepers in Iraq is expected in the
second half of January.

ArmINfo was told at the peacekeeping division of RA Armed Forces that
the rotation will take place before January 25.

Let us remind that the forth group of Armenian peacekeepers comprised
of 46 people is currently in Iraq. The rotation takes places every
six months.

Armenian peacekeepers are carrying out mission within the Polish
division.

Erdogan’s visit to Lebanon accompanied by protests of Lebanese-Armenians

04.01.2007 17:09
Anna Nazaryan
"Radiolur"

The visit of the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to
Lebanon was accompanied by mass protests of Lebanese Armenians. Prime
Minister Erdogan had arrived in Beirut to present suggestions on
overcoming the situation in the Middle East.

The protests of the Lebanese Armenians made the authorities to take
Erdogan from the international airport in a helicopter.

This, however, did not prevent 15-20 thousand Lebanese Armenians from
following the calls of Hnchakian, Ramkavar and Dashnaktsutyun Parties
to arrange an action of protest in the central square of the capital
city. Director of the `Vanadzayn’ radio station Armen Avdalyan of
Beirut told `Radiolur’ that the action was held under the slogans
denying Erdogan’s visit. In particular, participants of the
demonstration reminded that 10 days ago Turkey started military
partnership with Israel, which had launched military actions against
Lebanon in July 2006, destroying the infrastructures of the country.

Representatives of the Armenian community organized another action of
protest in front of the Lebanese Prime Minister’s Office during the
latter’s meeting with Erdogan. The Lebanese press broadly highlighted
the events, affirming that in 1915 genocide was perpetrated against
Armenians of the Ottoman Empire.

Armen Avdalyan informed that the Armenian community called on the
authorities of Lebanon to reject Erdogan’s suggestions, since these
have long-term objectives. `It is certain that the Prime Minister is
applying great efforts to stretch the Turkish line throughout the
Middle East and therefore participates in regional issues of the
Middle East to present itself to the European Union as a pacifist
mediator,’ says Armen Avdalyan. According to him, realizing this
political objective of Turkey, the Armenian community is trying to
reveal the real face of Turkey.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES 2007-2015 NATIONAL PROGRAM ON FIGHT
AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. At the December 28 sitting, the
Armenian government approved the 2007-2015 National Program on Fight
against Tuberculosis and its implementation schedule. According to the
RA Government Information and PR Department, the program was developed
based on the RA Constitution and the RA Law on Health Care and
Services of the Population. The purpose of the national program is to
take measures aimed at prevention and reduction of cases of
tuberculosis and its mortality. The program takes into account the
main directions and activity components of the new international
strategy on fight against tuberculosis, which was proposed by the
World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations,
as well as international standards of medical aid to tubercular
patients.