Author: Karabekian Emil

ARMENIAN CARD "EURO-26" TO BE CREATED

ARMENPRESS
MAY 14, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS: Youth assistance card system is intended
to be applied in Armenia for the formation of favorable environment
for the young people, improvement of conditions of the youth policy.

Armenian Sports and Youth Affairs Deputy Minister Arsen Karamyan
said today at a press conference that for helping the young people,
giving them privileges in using services of social, public, cultural
institutions the experience of 10 European countries in this sphere
has been studied. Moreover, the Council of Europe sponsors the partial
program of youth mobility the goal of which is to provide young people
under 26 "Euro-26" card which will enable them to get use of services
in different countries with discounts.

At the three-day 26th conference of the European Youth Card Association
Armenian Prime Minister officially stated about joining "Euro-26"
card program. It will promote the Armenian young people under 26 to
visit historic-cultural sites, libraries and other establishments of
a number of European countries.

"Now an issue may raise that if we join the "Euro-26" is it expedient
to create an Armenian card? It is being done not only to achieve such
privileged opportunities but to give Diaspora Armenian young people
the same privileges, bringing them to Armenia, making the country
more attractive," he explained.

The minister also said that negotiations are being held with
businessmen to establish certain privileges for young people. "The
current phase of the negotiations with the businessmen inspires hope
and in November-December of the running year we hope we will have
the Armenian card in correlation with the "Euro-26"," he said.

The Armenian card is intended to be given to the Armenian citizen
and Diaspora Armenian young people under 25 years old.

DONORS’ COORDINATION MEETING ON TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVES IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS

/ARKA/
May 14, 2010
YEREVAN

The World Bank hosted the Fourth Donors’ Coordination Meeting on
Transport Perspectives in the South Caucasus on May 12-13, 2010 in
Tbilisi, Georgia, World Bank said in a press release. The participants
of the Meeting were government officials from the three South Caucasus
countries, as well as of all the donors involved in the transport
sector (EU, EBRD, Council of Europe, BSTDB, EIB, KFW, ADB, JICA, MCC,
OSCE, WB).

The Armenian delegation was headed by Minister of Transport and
Communication Manuk Vardanyan, the Azerbaijani delegation was headed
by Musa Panahov, Deputy Minister of Transport. Georgian Minister for
Infrastructure and Regional Development Davit Tkeshelashvili led the
Georgian Government delegation.

"Today’s donor meeting is very important for Georgia and for all
participating parties as it is a step forward for coordinated
cooperation between the governments of the South Caucasus
countries and International Financial Institutions in the transport
development sphere," said Davit Tkeshelashvili, Georgian Minister
for Infrastructure and Regional Development.

Similar to the three previous Coordination Meetings held in Paris,
the overall objective of the meeting was to encourage better donor
coordination in the transport sector in the South Caucasus, share
views among donors on the current state of the transport sector and
related policy matters, and discuss issues and strategy going forward
with the governments of the three countries.

"The objective of this particular meeting was to maximize development
impact of donor programs through their better alignment with respective
national programs and strengthened donor coordination. It provided
an opportunity for the top government officials in this particular
sector to present their national programs, clarify investment needs
and promote new project ideas for donor support," said Asad Alam,
World Bank Country Director for the South Caucasus.

Presentations were made by the respective government representatives
on Transport Program and Strategy in their countries. Each donor
also presented their country programs and the alignment with the
Government needs. The meeting was also an opportunity to share best
international practices and this year’s presentations focused on Road
Maintenance Funding and Organization and Road Construction Quality
Assurance issues.

"This meeting is extremely useful for Armenia, as it offers a chance
to seek regional possibilities, as well as to know what each of
our countries is doing in the transport sphere. We hope that our
cooperation in this area will continue", said Manuk Vardanyan,
Minister of Transport and Communication of Armenia.

"Development of international transport corridors and integration
with European and Asian structures is of particular importance under
current circumstances. This meeting allows the participating countries
and donors to exchange views on these and other issues of common
interest, and discuss further cooperation in the transport sector,"
said Musa Panahov, Deputy Minister of Transport of Azerbaijan.

During discussions, Donors agreed that transport investments are
important for the three South Caucasus countries for their medium
and long term competitiveness and overall development. Efficiency
and sustainability of investments were essential for lasting results.

Participants agreed that the meeting was important in better addressing
the very large investment needs in the South Caucasus transport
sector.

AZERBAIJANI FM NEGATIVELY ASSESSES FACT THAT ARMENIA NOT EXPRESSES ATTITUDE TOWARDS UPDATED MADRID PRINCIPLES

Today
s/67927.html
May 14 2010
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov negatively assesses the
fact that so far Armenia has not expressed position on the updated
Madrid principles, offered to the sides by the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs in January.

"This document is result of the Minsk Group’s work with the sides of
the conflict," Mammadyarov said to journalists at a press conference
in Baku.

At the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents Ilham Aliyev and
Serzh Sargsyan in January in Sochi, the OSCE Minsk Group presented
the parties an updated version of the Madrid document, which is the
basis for negotiations.

Official Baku, adopting the Madrid principles, has not yet received
the information from the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen on Yerevan’s
position on an updated version of the Madrid principles proposed by
the mediators to Armenia. According to Mammadyarov, unlike Armenia
Azerbaijan accepts the document and is ready to continue to work
towards the long-term peace agreement based on the updated Madrid
principles.

"Unfortunately, it is already May, and Armenia has not yet expressed
its position on the updated document," the minister said.

Recently, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with the
OSCE Minsk group co-chairmen in Brussels. "I think that the results
of this meeting will be voiced by the Co-Chairs during the upcoming
talks in Venice," Mammadyarov added.

ARMENIA AND UAE TO COOPERATE IN PEACEFUL USE OF ATOMIC ENERGY

ARKA
May 13, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, May 13, /ARKA/. The Armenian government has okayed today the
signing of an agreement with the United Arab Emirates on cooperation in
peaceful use of atomic energy. Energy and natural resources minister
Armen Movsisyan said the draft agreement had been discussed and
approved by all stakeholders.

According to Armenian government, the proposal had been made by United
Arab Emirates foreign minister Sheikh Abdalla Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan when
an Armenian delegation led by deputy prime minister Armen Gevorkian
was visiting the Gulf country in January this year.

Under the agreement Armenia and the UAE will establish cooperation in
peaceful use of atomic energy, particularly, in construction of nuclear
power plants on the territory of both states and their safe operation.

The two sides plan also to cooperate in processing and storage of
radioactive waste, development of normative documents for securing
safe operation of nuclear units, protection of environment, use of
nuclear materials and technology in medicine, industry and agriculture.

ARMENIAN EMIGRATION: TRICKLE MAY BECOME A FLOOD
by Giorgi Lomsadze

EurasiaNet.org
May 13 2010
NY

With the Armenian economy’s winter of discontent far from over,
a second surge of mass emigration may be afoot, the United Nations
Development Programme warns.

As many as 300,000 Armenians could leave for the greener pastures
of Russia, Europe and the United States, if quality of life within
Armenia does not improve quickly, the UNDP report concluded. Armenian
men who work abroad and send home their earnings — a significant part
of the Armenian economy – might well choose to import their families,
if the government does not manage to create more jobs, stability and
democracy, the report said.

Armenians first started leaving their homeland en masse during the
topsy-turvy years of the Soviet Union’s breakup.

CO-CHAIRS OF OSCE MINSK GROUP AND AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER TO MEET IN EARLY JUNE

ArmInfo
2010-05-13 11:45:00

ArmInfo. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassador Igor Popov
of Russia, Bernard Fassier of France, and Robert Bradtke of the United
States, released the following statement today:

At their request, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassador Bernard
Fassier of France; Ambassador Robert Bradtke of the United States;
Ambassador Igor Popov of the Russian Federation) met Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian May 12 in Brussels to discuss the current
stage of negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They intend
to conduct a similar meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov in early June.

CYCLING OF VICTORY BY NKR LIBERATED TERRITORIES

ARMENPRESS
MAY 11, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS: A victory cycling in honor
of the May victories kicked off today by the route of
Yerevan-Qashatagh-Shushi-Stepanakert-Askeran-Sh ahumyan-Martakert-Martuni-Hadrut-Stepanakert.

Twe nty cyclists participate in the cycle race. The participants are
intended to reach the NKR province of Qashatagh today by passing
300 km.

On May 12 the group will be replenished with local athletes, and the
cycling by the liberated territories will start, which make 400 km. A
cycling parade is intended May 18 by Shushi-Stepanakert route, as well
as a competition of group cycling in the stadium of the NKR capital.

Arthur Soghomonyan, head of the Youth Policy Department of the
Armenian Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs told Armenpress that
the program aims to spread the idea of the significance of the May
glorious victories among the young people of Armenia and Artsakh, to
disseminate national and patriotic ideas in them, and to strengthen
Armenia-Artsakh ties between young people.

"Cycling in Armenia has all the prerequisites for developing and
becoming a massive sport style. Except that, this sport style is the
best means of physical upbringing and health preservation. Through the
help of the young cyclists a unique tie will be established between
Armenia and NKR settlements," he said. The program is implemented
collaboratively by the Armenian Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs
and NKR Ministry of Culture.

INVESTIGATION OF CRIMINAL CASE ON FACT OF SUICIDE ATTEMPT BY STUDENT OF ARMENIA’S POLICE ACADEMY COMPLETED

ArmInfo
2010-05-12 11:50:00

ArmInfo. Special Investigation Service of Armenia has completed
investigation of a criminal case on the fact of a suicide attempt by
a student of Armenia’s Police Academy.

As press service of Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office reports,
the prosecutor who supervised the execution of investigation, has
affirmed the accusation.

According to the source, V.G. threw himself through the window of
the classroom located at the fifth floor of the Police Academy’s
administrative building on January 19 at about 9:30 AM. The young man’s
life was saved due to the effective assistance by doctors of "Armenia"
Medical Center. The investigation cleared up that the suicide attempt
was caused by oppressions by commander of the 3rd platoon of the 1st
company command G. Hambartsumyan and junior sergeant G. Bareyan. Both
of them have been charged according to Article 110 of Armenia’s
Criminal Code. The criminal case has been sent to the court.

VICTORY – FOR THE SAKE OF THE FUTURE
Leonid Martirosyan

Azat Artsakh Newspaper
11 May, 2010
Nagorno Karabakh Republic

May 9, in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, after achievement its
independence, the eighteenth spring is marked as a threefold holiday.

People of the Nagorno-Karabakh together with compatriots of Armenia
and Diaspora solemnly celebrate the Day of Victory in the Great
Patriotic War, liberation of Shushi and creation of the NKR Defence
Army. May 9 as if has thrown on the original bridge through time in
the extent almost in half a century, having connected two Victories –
our general and huge native land over the German fascism in 1945, and
our native land small and sovereign – in 1992, in Shushi over Azeri
fascism. On the scales of war of 1941-1945-s’ and 1991-1994 they are,
of course, non-comparable, but by that they are not less guilty,
bloody and brutal. But the essence of a victory from it cannot vary.

It won’t be exaggeration to tell, that the victory in Shushi had so
huge value for destiniy of Karabakh people, as victory over fascism
for destiny of all over the world. For both in the first, and in the
second case there was a question – to be or not to be. If Shushi
won’t be released, Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh would
be comprehended inevitably by a fate of our compatriots who have
become victims of Turkish-azery genocides. Liberation of Shushi was
the forerunner of Road of the life which have connected choking in
vice of blockade Artsakh with Armenia. Historical value of a victory
of Shushi is also in it. Yes, the war imposed by Azerbaijan has not
come to the end with liberation of Shushi in 1992. As Azerbaijan
could not reconcile with such strategic loss for it. War proceeded
with tactical problems inherent in it – however the success of the
military operation of Shushi spent with high military skill, by right
is considered a brilliant victory of the Armenian weapon, strength
of mind and an unbending will of our soldiers. For this reason our
people mark with a special celebration the day of liberation of ancient
capital of Nagorno- Karabakh, and liberators of Shushi are especially
esteemed. And for this reason May 9 is considered the day of the NKR
Defence Army, which has become one of the main gains of independent
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and the main, reliable guarantor of its
safety and peace development. Being created and becoming tempered in
a war hearth, the Karabakh army has managed in the shortest terms
to turn to the efficient, well equipped armed forces providing
inviolability of borders of the NKR and safety of our people, ready
to reject worthy pressure to any encroachments of the opponent. In
its turn, the people serve as the guarantor of reliability of the
Defence Army, and it is possible to assert safely, that covered with
the Soviet ideology and as if the slogan which has lost an urgency
"People and army are indivisible" in our case have found the real,
vital sense. After all in the hardest conditions of aggression of
Azerbaijan and economic blockade the people have managed to mobilize
the intellectual and material resources, and also moral forces and
to direct them on creation of capable army. Any army is strong with
the back, and with understanding of this true our people have with
firmness stood extreme tests, consciously have gone on big victims
and deprivations. By that our victory is more significant and costly.

On May 9th is especially obvious the communication of the senior and
younger generation of Artsakh people. We think, today veterans of
Great Patriotic hardly probable will dare to complain that "today’s
youth is not that" as it, to admit, happened during Soviet times.

Today’s youth with military affairs and blood has proved, that he –
"that", that it is worthy of unprecedented feats and glory of the
fathers and grandfathers, that he will continue their work and
will protect the ancient and fine native land of the ancestors,
will defend our earth, our freedom and independence. The holiday of
May 9 is not only celebrations. It is, first of all, a day of memory
of our compatriots who have fallen on THOSE, already far, and THIS,
recent, war. In THIS and THAT case – in Patriotic War. As they have
fallen victims protecting honour and advantage of Fatherland, for
the sake of freedom winning the death by death. And in a generality
of this purpose communication and spiritual unity of generations,
communication of the past and the present, the present and the future
is shown. Our victory is paid by excessively high price and it is.

MEVLUT CHAVUSHOGLU SET TO VISIT ARMENIA

Tert.am
14:46 10.05.10

Mevlut Chavushoglu, a Turkish national and President of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), is expected
to pay a 2-day visit to Armenia in May 12, Davit Harutyunyan, Head
of Armenia’s delegation in PACE and Chairmen of Standing Committee
on State and Legal Affairs of the National Assembly of Armenia,
told Tert.am.

Chavushoglu is expected to hold meetings with Davit Harutyunyan and
NA Chairman Hovik Abrahamyan.