Author: Kalashian Nyrie

The Parliament Passed 2010 Budget

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department

December 29, 2009

The NKR Government at the head of prime minister Ara Haroutyunyan
today has attended the extraordinary session of the NKR National
Assembly. They discussed the final state budget draft of 2010. Taking
into considering the report of vice premier, minister of finance
S.Tevosyan and viewpoints of factions the parliament voted for the
main finance document, which has social warrant. In forthcoming year
budget expenses will exceed in more than 58 milliard drams. After
the discussion of the draft prime minister Ara Haroutyunyan has made
concluding remarks. He noted that the year of 2010 will be difficult;
nevertheless with available potential we will be able to realize our
plans.

TWO STATE INSPECTION’S OFFICIALS ARRESTED

Aysor
Dec 29 2009
Armenia

Head of the State Inspectorate for Environmental Protection Tigran
Grigoryan and his deputy, Arsen Petrosyan arrested on charges of
bribery, the press service of the Armenian police informs.

According to the report, 51-year-old A. Petrosyan demanded 5 million
drams, to decrease the penalty of 10 million drams identified for the
environmental violations in one of the companies. At the moment of
taking the bribe A. Petrosyan was arrested in his office by the members
of the department for combating organized crime. 1 million 210 thousand
drams was discovered with him the other 3 million 790 thousand drams,
he managed to convey to his boss, 49-year-old T. Grigoryan.

According to law enforcement officers, in addition, in A. Petrosyan’s
pockets was found 2 million drams, $ 1000, and in the pockets of T.
Grigoryan was found – 3 million 800 thousand drams, $ 23 thousand.

A. Petrosyan and T. Grigoryan are arrested. Meanwhile, the press
service of the police denied the information saying that that in
this criminal case was arrested also the Deputy Minister of Nature
Protection Simon Papyan.

THE FIRST IN THE REGION MICROSOFT INNOVATION CENTRE TO BE OPENED AT STATE ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-12-28 12:27:00

ArmInfo. The first in the region Microsoft Innovation Centre will
be opened in the middle of 2010 at State Engineering University of
Armenia. The relevant agreement was signed today by Armenian Economy
Minister Nerses Yeritsyan, director of Microsoft in Armenia Grigor
Barsegyan and Rector of Yerevan State Engineering University Vostanik
Marukhyan.

As Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan said, signing of the agreement is
a sample cooperation between the IT-industry and the University. ‘The
IT-industry co-financed by the government and supported by USAID
has itself creating a laboratory in the University, which will give
an opportunity for holding new scientific research and establishing
business-relations’, – the minister said and added that the government
and USAID are sure to have further success. In case of stability
of Microsoft Innovation Centre it will allow the IT companies to
transfer from outsourcing to development and later to sale of their
own production at international markets.

For his part, director of Microsoft Grigor Barsegyan said that it
is already for 3 years that the works on creation of the Microsoft
Innovation Centre in Armenia are underway. Becoming the single platform
the Centre will allow IT-specialists and students to develop via
various training courses held by experts of the world-known companies,
he said. ‘It is very much important that the government plays direct
part in the matter of the centre opening’, – he said and added that
budget of the Centre is more than $2 mln, which were allocated by the
Armenian government, Microsoft and USAID. The Innovation Centre will
be financed for 3 years. Then it should become self-financing.

State Engineering University Rector V. Marukhyan said a full equipped
center will be opened at the university to upgrade the qualification
of the teaching staff of the countries’ universities that may also
be involved in the training courses. In addition, special training
courses will be held at the Center for Microsoft certification.

Microsoft office in Armenia was founded in 2006. The National
Statistical Service of Armenia reports the services provided in the
information technologies sector in Armenia for Jan-Oct totaled 15.2
billion drams ($42.5 million), with annual decline of 3.9%.

Davutoglu and Mammadyarov believe peace in the Caucasus ‘around the corner’

2009-12-26 14:13:00

ArmInfo. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, who is paying
an official visit to Turkey, has met with his counterpart Ahmet
Davutoglu. APA reports that following the meeting the ministers held a
press conference.

Ahmet Davutoglu said they had discussed the development of the
bilateral relations and situation in the region, particularly
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

"We think we are very close to peace in the Caucasus. Everybody should
try not to lose this opportunity. Minsk Group should do its best to
increase the dynamics to solve the conflict. Our policy aims to end
occupations in the region and open the close doors. There is all-round
cooperation and coordination between Azerbaijan and Turkey in all
issues," he said. Elmar Mammadyarov said they had discussed the urgent
issues and problems. "First of all we discussed the most serious
security problem in the region, Nagorno Karabakh conflict. We believe
that occupation and the problem of refugees is the biggest obstacle
for the stability and development."

Davutoglu said the Turkish parliament’s will is superior: "The Prime
Minister explained the policy of our government toward this issue for
many times. The issue was also discussed in the United States and our
position was explained there. We sincerely wish to normalize relations
with Armenia". Turkish journalist asked about the recent
misunderstandings between Azerbaijan and Turkey. Davutoglu said they
would never allow misunderstandings between Turkey and Azerbaijan.

AZERBAIJAN’S MEDIA GO ON WITH DISINFORMATION

Aysor
Dec 25 2009
Armenia

The Foreign Ministry of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has issued
a statement on recent acts of falsification and disinformation in
Azerbaijani media outlets. In particular, this time it spread a
disinformation on fatality case at the Azerbaijan-Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic border. During a single day, Azerbaijan’s media over and
over again wrote controversial news.

First, a killed at the border woman was ‘a woman killed by Armenian
soldier’, then it was ‘a woman, killed by Azerbaijani soldier’, she
was ‘an Armenian woman’ and ‘an Azerbaijani woman’ at the same time;
and finally, a picture of a Georgian woman killed during the war in
South Osetia, 2008, was attached as an image to news.

"The Azerbaijani media one more time tried to put our country in bad
light," said in the statement by NKR foreign ministry.

"Azerbaijan’s media have been practicing falsifications and
disinformation in their anti-Armenian acts for a very long time. And
this is not only our side confirming this. Russian New Region edition
said this is at least the third case of falsification over the last
three months, when Azerbaijani media used pictures from clashes in
other countries to prove ‘acts of Armenian aggression’. New Region
edition mentioned a disinformation by Azerbaijani Vesti.az Agency when
a picture of a killed in August 2008 Georgian soldier was attached
to news on ‘losses of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic after its Armed
forces attacked Azerbaijan’. In fact, it was exactly the backwards.

"Besides, the New Region edition confirmed another disinformation by
Azerbaijani media. This time, it was an attached picture ‘of Armenian
aggression’ actually represented by a picture of killed people in
Kosovo, found on a Canadian French site," said in statement.

Some other cases of disinformation and falsification were found
on various Azerbaijani web-sites, including those found on Heydar
Aliyev Foundation’s pages. Incidentally, its director is a First Lady
of Azerbaijan.

"One more time we have to confirm that on the background of the ongoing
bilateral meetings between Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan and
optimistic statements by international mediators on the process of
settlement of the conflict, Azerbaijani government and its mentoring
media keep on the aggressive informational war against Armenia and
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

"Unfortunately, such a destructive policy by Azerbaijan’s government
could destroy long-term peace efforts if the world communities didn’t
respond this.

"We hope these Azerbaijani acts of disinformation and falsifications
will get an appropriate response in the upcoming year."

ARMENIAN WRESTLERS TRY TO WIN VOUCHERS TO LONDON OLYMPIC GAMES

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
25.12.2009 17:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In 2009 Armenian wrestlers brought 1 bronze medal
from the world championships, won by Hovhannes Davtyan (w/c 60). As
Armenian Head Coach Artur Gevorgyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net, 2009 was
a successful year for wrestlers.

"Armenian national judo team was formed this year, young wrestlers
have been included, and they performed well at international
tournaments. I’m satisfied with the results," Artur Gevorgyan said.

On January 15 the Armenian national team, headed by Artur Gevorgyan
will hold its first trainings in 2010. "In 2010 we have two Grand
Prix, European and World championships. We will try to win vouchers
for the London Olympic Games, " head coach said.

TURKISH TV CHANNEL TO BROADCAST NEWS IN WESTERN ARMENIAN STARTING FROM DEC. 28

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
25.12.2009 20:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ SU TV Turkish television channel will broadcast
news in Western Armenian language starting from December 28. This is
the first TV company in the country to take such initiative, Vatan
newspaper reports.

Armenian news broadcasts will be transmitted every day, at 08:00 p.m.

local time.

ELMAR MAMMADYAROV MEETS WITH TURKISH PRESIDENT

AZG DAILY
26-12-2009

Azerbaijani delegation led by Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov was
received by the Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

They discussed mostly the regional situation and solution to Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, APA Turkish bureau reports.

According to the source, Gul once again expressed the position of
his country. He said they wanted the OSCE Minsk Group to accelerate
its efforts toward the conflict solution and they welcomed recent
intensification of the activities toward this. Gul said Turkey
supported peace and development in the region and would always be
together with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani side also expressed satisfaction
with the Turkey’s position and asked Turkey to intensify its activity
in the region. Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic also
attended the meeting.

NKR MFA: THE AZERBAIJANI MASS MEDIA CONTINUE PRACTICING FORGERIES

armradio.am
25.12.2009 11:44

The Azerbaijani mass media have once again lost their way in broad
daylight, trying to depict the Karabakh party in an unfavourable
light. During a day, the woman, who was killed on December 20, 2009
on the NKR and Azerbaijani armed forces’ contact-line first by an
"Armenian" serviceman, then, as it was found out, by an Azerbaijani
soldier, turned from an "Armenian woman" into an Azerbaijani one.

Moreover, a photo of a Georgian woman made in August 2008 during the
war in South Ossetia was attached to the information.

The Azerbaijani mass media have practiced forgeries in their
anti-Armenian propaganda for a long time. This was fixed not only
by the Karabakh party. The Moscow edition New Region notes that the
Azerbaijani mass media have, at least, three times used forgeries for
the last three months, applying photomaterials of various countries
for "proving the facts of the Armenian aggression". Besides the
abovementioned forgery of the Azerbaijani Agency Vesti.az related to
the killed woman, the edition notes as an example the distribution
of a photo of a Georgian soldier killed in August 2008 "to confirm"
the Karabakh party’s losses allegedly taken place as a result of the
NKR Defense Army units’ attacking the Azerbaijani positions. In fact,
everything was exactly the contrary.

Besides, the Russian edition unmasked Trend Azerbaijani information
agency, which had informed of the completion of a documentary about
the Karabakh conflict, attaching a photo of alleged "victims of the
Armenian aggression", which, in fact, turned out to be a photo of
deceased citizens of Kosovo taken from a Canadian francophone website.

This forgery related to the tragic events in Khojaly and placed at some
Azerbaijani websites, including the one of the basic anti-Armenian
misinformation center of the Heydar Aliyev Fund (),
the leader of which is the Azerbaijani President’s wife, was earlier
diclosed by the NKR Foreign Ministry.

We have to state once more that against the background of the
proceeding meetings of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents and
the optimistic statements of the international mediators on certain
progress in the Karabakh conflict settlement process, official Baku
and its improvised mass media continue their aggressive information
war against the RA and NKR, using all the means for introducing the
Armenian parties as the misdeeds’ actors and for injecting a new
portion of Armenian-hatred poison into the international community’s
and their own people’s mind.

Unfortunately, this destructive policy of official Baku isn’t properly
assessed by corresponding international structures, which is fraught
with nullifying the multiyear peacemaking efforts.

"Democratic" Azerbaijan "integrating" into the West and its
"independent" mass media should finally realize that freedom of speech
is not freedom of misinformation.

We hope that in the coming year, the international community will
take the counterproductive actions of the Azerbaijani authorities
more seriously.

"PRESS COVERAGE OF ECONOMY AND FINANCIAL CRISIS" GUIDE PRESENTED IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.12.2009 16:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yerevan hosted a presentation of the "Press coverage
of economy and financial crisis" guide on December 24, 2009. Summary
of training materials for journalists is in the core of the guide,
which was produced through joint work of UNDP Yerevan office and the
Club of Journalists of Economic Sphere Armenian NGO. "Seminars for
journalists have been organized for three month to discuss how to
highlight the economy under financial crisis," Alla Bakunts, head of
UNDP democratic governance program said during presentation.