Author: Jalatian Sonya

DM SEYRAN OHANYAN PRESENTS A SYMBOLIC SWORD TO RENOWNED ARMENIAN MUSICIAN JIVAN GASPARYAN

armradio.am
24.11.2008 15:43

On November 24 the Defense Minister of Armenia, Seyran Ohanyan,
received world known duduk player, composer, People’s Artist of
Armenia, laureate of a number of international awards Jivan Gasparyan.

The Minister first congratulated the renowned musician on his 80th
birthday, whishing him a long life, endless vigor, creative success
and realization of cherished dreams.

During the meeting Seyran Ohanyan noted that invaluable is Jivan
Gasparyan’s immense contribution to making the Armenian music better
known in the world: thanks to him Armenia appers before the world with
duduk, which sounds from the most famous stages of the world and in the
most popular films, exciting people’s hearts, affording real pleasure.

"Unaware of the Armenian musical instruments, the world was once
surprised to see how easily that simple wooden instrument wins
the hearts of people. In this sense, it’s hard to overestimate the
importance of your decades-long devoted activity, since culture has
always been of vital importance for the Armenian nation," the Defense
Minister said.

Seyran Ohanyan presented a symbolic sword to Jivan Gasparyan ,
whishing that the sword and duduk be always inseparable.

At the end of the meeting the Maestro thanked the Minister for warm
reception and presented him hi s CD. Jivan Gasparyan noted, in turn,
that he had the honor to meet with the noblest General he has ever
known.

UNDERGROUND AND SURFACE PARKING LOTS TO BE BUILT IN YARDS OF YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan

Nov 24, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. By the Master Plan of Yerevan,
the zoning projects of Shengavit, Malatia-Sebastia, Avan and Erebuni
districts have been developed this year. The Chief Architect of
Yerevan Samvel Danielian said at the November 24 press conference
that henceforth the city and district authorities will perform their
urban development functions only based on these projects.

The indicated projects envisage construction of underground and surface
parking lots in yards of the city. The garages in these areas will be
dismantled, with playgrounds being built in their places. S. Danielian
announced that studies have already been done with the aim of building
parking lots in yards of Ajapniak district.

Speaking about the urban development programs implemented in the
city this year, S. Danielian said that the work will be completed in
accordance with the schedule. In particular, the construction of the
section from Tumanian Street to Heratsi Street, as well as the bridge
to Nork Marash will finish next week.

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Azerbaijan
Nov 22 2008

Azeri official slams USA for unfair stance

It’s impossible for the US authorities to have a just position towards
Azerbaijan, Novruz Mammadov, the head of the foreign relations
department of the Azeri presidential administration, told
pro-government ATV channel on 22 November.

The USA had provided more than 1.6bn dollars in aid to the state
(Armenia) that occupied Azerbaijani territories and limited the
governmental aid to Azerbaijan as a result of the Section 907,
Mammadov said.

Section 907 bans any kind of direct United States aid to the
Azerbaijani government.

Panorama.am

17:46 22/11/2008

PRIME MINISTER CONGRATULATED 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN DRAM

The Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan congratulated the day of
bank officers and the 15th anniversary of Armenian dram.

According to the Prime Minister Armenian banking system has had a
short history but a comprehensive way to pass. That way was difficult
enough as the system had to meet the challenge of its customers who
did not believe in it.

`Today we can say for sure that we have a reliable and stable national
currency and banking system. And world financial crisis is to prove
that we managed to escape it,’ said the Prime Minister.

Source: Panorama.am

ARMENIA-EU ACTION PLAN FOR 2009-2011 RATIFIED

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.11.2008 19:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Secretary of the Armenian National Security
Council Artur Baghdassaryan presided Friday over the meeting of the
committee on coordination of cooperation with European structures,
the RA President’s press office told PanARMENIAN.Net.

The participants discussed outcomes of the work carried out in Armenia
and ratified the Armenia-EU action plan for 2009-2011.

ISABEL BAYRAKDARIAN’S "GOMIDAS SONGS" NAMED WNYC’S "SOUNDCHECK" CD PICK OF THE WEEK

Nonesuch Records
arians-gomidas-songs-named-wnycs-soundcheck-cd-pic k-of-the-week-2008-11-21
Nov 21 2008
NY

Isabel Bayrakdarian’s Nonesuch debut, Gomidas Songs, featuring the
music of Armenia’s national composer, Gomidas Vardabet, has been
named a CD Pick of the Week by WNYC’s Soundcheck. In recommending
the album, the show’s associate producer Brian Wise describes the
Canadian-Armenian soprano as "a rising star in the opera world." After
explaining the compelling story behind the album and its subject,
Wise calls Bayrakdarian "an interesting figure in her own right."

Gramophone magazine describes the album’s repertoire as "exquisitely
haunting miniatures [that] sound as if they belong somewhere between
Bartok and Canteloube." Reviewer John Allison says, "Above all, the
limpid, melismatic vocal lines allow us to savour the bright lyric
soprano of Bayrakdarian at her most relaxed."

ARMENIA IN 6th PLACE IN WORLD BY GDP GROWTH INDEX

Noyan Tapan

Nov 20, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian government attaches
importance to the outside world’s opinions about economic developments
in the country. The annual reports "Economic Developments in Armenia"
published by the Armenian European Policy and Legal Advice Center
(AEPLAC) present a "European view" on economic development processes
in Armenia. The 2007 report also shows that the Armenian economy
is developing in a correct way, the RA minister of finance Tigran
Davtian said at the November 19 presentation of the annual report
"Economic Developments in Armenia 2007".

According to him, the Armenian government receives technical
assistance from AEPLAC in the implementation of economic reforms,
and the government is satisfied with level of that cooperation.

The report was given by the head of AEPLAC’s economic team Gagik
Gabrielian.

In the report, 60 countries were selected for comparison with Armenia
and monitoring. It was mentioned that by data of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF), in 2007 Armenia was in 6th place among 181
countries by the index of GDP growth (13.8%). By data of the World
Bank, in 2007 Armenia was in 82nd place in the world and in 6th place
among CIS countries by the index of per capita purchasing capacity
(5,711 dollars).

The head of the European Commission Delegation in Armenia Raul de
Luzenberger said that an agreement has been reached with the Armenian
government, under which the AEPLAC will continue its work in 2009-2010.

KARABAKH DENIES LOSSES IN RECENT CLASH WITH AZERI TROOPS

Regnum
Nov 17 2008
Russia

17 November: "The defence army of the NKR [Azerbaijan’s breakaway
region] has not sustained any losses, even in wounded, during a
clash with an Azerbaijani sabotage group," the press secretary of
Nagornyy Karabakh’s defence army, Senor Asratyan, has told a Regnum
correspondent. He was commenting on Azerbaijani Defence Ministry
spokesman Eldar Sabiroglu’s statement on the death of two soldiers
from Karabakh in the exchange of fire on 16 November.

Asratyan also denied the statement of the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry
spokesman who had said that Azerbaijani military were trying to drag
the body of the dead [Azerbaijani] soldier from the territory of
Karabakh to Azerbaijan. Asratyan said that there was the established
procedure of returning dead soldiers and that if the Azerbaijani side
wants, it may appeal to relevant international agencies. Asratyan
stressed that the body of the dead Azerbaijani soldier had already
been shown on Armenian and Azerbaijani TV. "We are currently clarifying
if there are wounded on the part of Azerbaijan. However, it is a fact
that Azerbaijanis retreated, leaving their one dead," he said.

[Passage omitted: Sabiroglu said the Armenian and Azerbaijani troops
clashed near the breakaway region of Nagornyy Karabakh early on 16
November, leaving one Azeri and two Armenian servicemen dead.]

ARMENIA CARRYING OUT RELEVANT WORK TO REPATRIATE PARUYR SIMONYAN

ArmInfo
2008-11-19 15:27:00

ArmInfo. The rumors disseminated by the Azerbaijani mass media that
Armenian soldier Paruyr Simonyan doesn’t allegedly want to return to
motherland meet the standard approach recently displayed by Azerbaijan,
Lieutenant Colonel Samvel Asatryan, a representative of the Working
Group of Armenian State Commission for Captives, Hostages and Missing
Persons told journalists.

"Whoever finds himself on the Azeri side, no matter whether he is a
serviceman or a civilian, statements are made that the person doesn’t
allegedly want to return to his motherland",- Asatryan said. He
recalled that similar statements were made before repatriation of
Armenian serviceman Hambardzum Asatryan as well. Moreover, Asatryan
added that the Armenian party possesses facts proving that Azeri
special services were introducing themselves as employees of Baku
delegation of the International Committee of Red Cross and doing
their best to persuade Hambardzum Asatryan not to return.

"Relevant work is being done to repatriate Paruyr Simonyan",-
S.Asatryan stressed. He added that not a single message has been
handed to Simonyan’s relatives so far (through the ICRC). As regards
Azeri soldier Rafig Hasanov, who is currently in Armenia, Asatryan
said that the soldier doesn’t want to return to Azerbaijan as he was
beaten and humiliated in the military unit. To recall, P.Simonyan
has been on the Azeri side since May 25, and R.Hasanov has been on
the Armenian side since October 8.

RA PRESIDENT AND OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS DISCUSSED KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROCESS

De Facto
Nov 18, 2008

YEREVAN, 18.11.08. DE FACTO. On November 17 RA President Serge
Sargsian received the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs Yuri Merzlyakov
(Russia), Matthew Bryza (USA), Bernard Fassier (France) and the
Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej
Kasprzyk. Present at the meeting was also the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian.

According to the information DE FACTO received at the RA President’s
Press Office, the parties had discussed the current stage of the NK
peace process.

The Co-Chairs also informed the President of Armenia on the details
of their visit to Baku which had taken place earlier.