UPON RESULTS OF FIRST HALF YEAR, 2006, MORE THAN 122,5 FOREIGN TOURISTS VISITED ARMENIA
Yerevan, August 2. ArmInfo. The total number of foreign tourists,
having visited Armenia, reached 122.528 people for January-June,
2006, which exceeds the indicator of the same period, 2005, by 11,6%.
As ArmInfo was told in the National Statistical Service of Armenia,
119.451 Armenian tourists had left the country for the first half,
2006, which is higher than the similar period, 2005, by 13,3%.
MOST IMPORTANT PRECONDITION FOR KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
HISTORIC RECONCILIATION BETWEEN PEOPLES OF REGION
Arka News Agency, Armenia
July 31, 2006
YEREVAN, July 31. /ARKA/. The most important precondition for
establishment of peace and settlement of the Karabakh conflict
is a historic reconciliation between the peoples of the region,
NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan reported at the meeting with human
rights advocates and journalists from the NKR, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia and a number of European countries.
The NKR president’s press service reported that Ghukasyan pointed out
that "without such reconciliation, it will be difficult to implement
any agreement on the conflict settlement, eliminate the war aftermaths
and open a way for regional development" The NKR president pointed
out the fact of the presence of an Azerbaijani delegation in the NKR,
which, according to him, is a positive example of a constructive
dialogue between representatives of the two communities, divided by
the war.
In his turn, Arzu Abdullaeva, co-chair of the Helsinki Civil Assembly
(HCA) and coordinator of the Azerbaijani national committee of
this organization pointed out that HCA members and the organization
"Public Council for Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Settlement" created
not long ago in Baku, stand for immediate participation of the NKR
in the negotiations for a peaceful settlement to the conflict and
establishment of friendly relations between the two communities.
Abdullaeva also said that there is a warm atmosphere of mutual
understanding and cooperation between the existing human rights NGOs
of Armenia, Karabakh and Azerbaijan. "We would like such an atmosphere
to prevail during contacts at an official level," she said. R.O. -0–
ORRAN TO ORGANIZE MONTHLY CHARITABLE EVENT
YEREVAN, JULY 31, NOYAN TAPAN. On August 1, "Month of Orran" monthly
event will start on the initiative of the Orran non-governmental
charitable organization and Armenia Marriott hotel. As Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed from Susanna Manukian, Spokeswoman of Orran,
the goal of the monthly event held for the second time is to raise
funds in favour of the Orran beneficiaries. S.Manukian mentioned that
every Wednesday at 5pm, the alumni of Orran will perform Armenian
national songs and dances at the entrance of the hotel, and in the
hall of the hotel the visitors will be able to see and appreciate the
handworks made by those children. On August 18, a charitable dinner
will be held.
Orran, which was founded by Raffi and Armine Hovanissians in 2000,
with its charitable and philanthropical missions has helped more
than 1500 families and children by providing them with food, clothes,
psychological aid, education during its activity. 150 old people are
also included in the programs of Orran.
Armenian minister, US mediator discuss forthcoming steps on Karabakh talks
Arminfo
29 Jul 06
Yerevan, 29 July: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has met
the US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza, who is in
Yerevan within the framework of his regional visit.
Bryza has arrived in Yerevan for the first time as a new US
co-chairman and his visit has a fact-finding nature, the press service
of the Armenian Foreign Ministry has told Arminfo. The source reports
that the sides gave an assessment to the current situation in talks on
the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. Moreover, two men
discussed some details related to the main principles of the conflict
settlement which were on the negotiating table.
The sides also exchanged views on forthcoming steps on the settlement
of the conflict. After the meeting, the US co-chairman left for
Nagornyy Karabakh to meet the president of the republic, Arkadiy
Gukasyan.
Arka News Agency, Armenia
July 28, 2006
NKR PRESIDENT MEETS WITH DELEGATION OF GREEK YOUTH UNION
YEREVAN, July 28. /ARKA/. President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
(NKR) Arkady Ghuykasyan held a meeting with a delegation of the Youth
Union of Greece, which is on a visit to Stepanakert.
The NKR presidential press service reports that Ghukasyan welcomed
the Union’s decision to include the NKR in its yearly itinerary.
According to him, such visits maintain good traditions among young
people in the Diaspora and will consolidate the close ties between
the NKR and the Armenian community in Greece.
During the meeting President Ghukasyan informed the guests of the
origin of the Karabakh movement and answered a number of questions
about the NKR’s past and future plans. P.T. -0–
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
28-07-2006
Acting Press Secretary Vladimir Karapetian Replies to
Question by Haylur News Program
Question: In his interview given to the Azerbaijani news media, Elmar
Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, made a peculiar assessment of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict resolution process, and attempted (and failed) to
present the versions concocted by Azerbaijanis. How do you interpret these
statements?
Mr. Karapetian: While listening to the Foreign Minister, one might gain the
impression that he is in no way connected to the process about which he
speaks.
I think that the Azerbaijani side still suffers from the myths they
themselves have created, and which only they believe or take seriously.
The sooner they get rid of such illusions the sooner it will be possible to
establish stability and an atmosphere of reciprocal confidence in the
region.
THEY WILL SHOW TO BRYZA WHERE THE PROBLEM IS
Lragir.am
27 July 06
Mathew Bryza who is visiting Armenia on July 29 will be given a
surprise. Certain NGOs in Armenia are going to hold a protest meeting
on the days of his visit. Thereby these NGOs want to remind the U.S.
diplomat the statements often voiced by the American diplomats that
establishment of democracy and rule of law in Armenia is the problem
of the society. Thereby the NGOs planning the protest meeting want to
present the standpoint of the society on democratization and rule of
law in the context that in reality the United States prefers to work
with the administrative criminal system rather than the society in
Armenia. According to the NGOs, the activity of the U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia John Evans was marked by close connections with some Armenian
officials. Proceeding from this reality, the NGOs are likely to show
to Bryza that the society has a clear-cut standpoint in terms of both
democracy and lawfulness.
Turk court acquits author
Scotsman, United Kingdom
July 27, 2006
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – In a ruling sure to please the European Union
and human rights groups, a Turkish court on Thursday acquitted an
author and journalist of charges that she tried to deter people from
doing their military service.
Perihan Magden had irked conservatives in Turkey’s powerful armed
forces and judiciary by defending a conscientious objector who was
sentenced to four years in a military jail for refusing to wear
his uniform.
All Turkish men over the age of 20 are required to serve up to 15
months in the armed forces. The law does not recognise the right to
conscientious objection.
Magden had argued Turkey should establish a civilian service as an
alternative to military service, as many EU members have done. Turkey
is an EU candidate country, though it is not expected to join the
wealthy bloc for many years.
An Istanbul court ruled that Magden’s opinions fell within the scope
of freedom of expression and did not constitute a crime under Turkey’s
revised penal code, the state-run Anatolian news agency said.
State prosecutor Kadir Nazmi Yelkenci had himself called for the
acquittal of Magden, it said. Known in Turkey for her novels and
newspaper columns, Magden had faced up to three years in jail if
convicted.
Dozens more writers and journalists face prosecution in Turkey accused
of insulting the state and its institutions. The armed forces are
especially revered as the ultimate guardian of the mainly Muslim
country’s secular political system.
The EU has urged the government to modify articles in the penal code
which make it relatively easy for prosecutors to open cases against
those who question state policy or institutions.
The centre-right government of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has so
far resisted EU pressure to alter the articles, saying that freedom
of expression cases rarely result in a conviction.
Earlier this year, best-selling novelist Orhan Pamuk escaped
prosecution on a legal technicality after endorsing claims Ottoman
Turkey committed genocide against Armenians during World War One.
Turkey strongly denies the claims.
But Armenian-Turkish editor Hrant Dink fared less well. This month,
a higher court confirmed his six-month suspended jail sentence over
remarks he made about the genocide claims.
Security outside the courtroom on Thursday was tight.
Ultra-nationalists often hurl abuse and even try to attack defendants
in such human rights cases.
This article:
RA President signs new Laws
ArmRadio.am
26.07.2006 17:57
July 26 RA President Robert Kocharyan signed the Laws on implementing
amendments in RA Civil Trial code and RA Law on Insurance, President’s
Press Office informs.
Armenia Gets Another Western Credit Rating
Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
July 25, 2006
By Atom Markarian
Moody’s Investors Service, a leading Western risk assessment company,
has assigned its first-ever credit rating to Armenia in what senior
officials in Yerevan described on Tuesday as another milestone in
the country’s transition to the free market.
Moody’s ratings are widely used by investors around the world for
analyzing risks associated with lending to foreign countries and
companies. The BA2 grade given to Armenia signifies a medium level
of creditworthiness.
The chairman of the Armenian Central, Tigran Sarkisian, and Finance
Minister Vartan Khachatrian stressed the fact that Moody’s rated
Armenia more highly than neighboring Georgia and Turkey and put it on
a par with neighboring Azerbaijan. They said the rating will allow
the Armenian government to sell bonds in international financial
markets and will make it easier for local private firms to attract
foreign investments and loans.
Khachatrian made it clear, however, that Yerevan has no intention to
issue so-called Euro-bonds in the near future. "The government does not
plan to issue Euro-bonds and get into greater debt in the coming years
because we think we can achieve our current objectives with internal
resources and loans received from international organizations,"
he told a joint news conference with Sarkisian.
Much of Armenia’s budget deficits have for years been covered by
low-interest loans disbursed by the World Bank and financial grants
provided by Western governments. Proceeds from domestic sales of
government bonds and treasury bills still pale in comparison with
donor funding.
Moody’s rating is slightly higher than the one assigned to Armenia
by another famous rating agency, Fitch, in early June. The latter’s
"sovereign credit rating" of BB- indicated a relatively high risk of
doing business. While praising the country’s "impressive economic
performance," Fitch said Armenian economy remains "vulnerable to
shocks" due to its high degree of dollarization, underdeveloped
financial services and the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
A statement by the Armenian Central Bank quoted the Moody’s
vice-chairman, Sarah Bertin, as citing the same problems hampering
Armenia’s economic development. She said at the same time that Moody’s
analysts believe that a renewed war in Karabakh is unlikely in the
coming years.