Author: Tashjian Arbi

IT IS ENVISAGED TO INTRODUCE NEW COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AT FIRST AID STATE-OWNED CJSC

Noyan Tapan
Dec 13 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. It is envisaged to implement
program "Refreshment of Communication Means and Computerization of
1-03 Service at the First Aid CJSC of Yerevan Mayor’s Office in
2007. Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed about it by company
Director Artyom Petrosian. He said that the program was worked out
jointly with Yerevan Research Institute of Communication Means as early
as in 2003, but due to lack of financing it has not been implemented
up to present. In A.Petrosian’s words, next year the program worth
130 thousand USD will be implemented either with state budget’s
financing or with credit means. As the company director estimated,
the introduction of new communication system will enable to respond
to calls more quickly. In A.Petrosian’s words, currently calls are
responded within three minutes, while the new system will reduce it
by 1.5 minutes. "The call will be at once registered by a computer
and through the respective program it will be decided what sub-station
and what doctors’ brigade should respond to it," A.Petrosian said. By
the program’s second stage special GPRS devices will be installed in
ambulance cars, by means of which it will be possible to watch cars’
location in the city and to determine the shortest way of reaching
the addressee.

JUSTICE MINISTERS BUILD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GEORGIA AND ARMENIA
By Diana Dundua

The Messenger, Georgia
Dec 13 2006

The Armenian Minister of Justice David Arutinian arrived in Tbilisi on
a two-day official visit on December 11. Georgian Minister of Justice
Gia Kavtaradze met his Armenian colleague at the Georgian-Armenian
border.

On December 12, the Justice Minister signed a Memorandum of
Understanding in order to foster bilateral cooperation.

"For me it is a great pleasure that Armenian Justice Minister David
Arutinian and his delegation are visiting Georgia. I want to say
that we are historical neighbours and the relationship between our
countries has always been fairly friendly. Cooperation between the
two ministries is also vitally important for Armenia and Georgia. I am
sure that from now on, our joint efforts will reach positive results
more easily and our future cooperation will be much more productive
and successful," Kavtaradze stated at the briefing on Monday.

The Memorandum of Understanding discusses cooperation in the areas of
law enforcement, experience-sharing in the prison system, exchanging
ideas and experiences to raise the level of personnel skills,
information sharing and legal assistance as well.

The sides also agreed to exchange information about their
organizational structure, experts’ opinions, legal acts, publications
as well as others.

"It is true that presently the Ministry of Justice is starting to play
a significant role in establishing better relationships between our
countries. I will say that Armenia and Georgia resemble each other in
many ways, in mentality and in structure. Both of us are ambitious,
we want to achieve our goals in a short period of time.

And thus each of us does his best to find new, interesting solutions
that will advance our country forward. I am sure that our mutual
cooperation will give us additional support," Arutinian told The
Messenger on December 11.

Besides the Ministry of Justice, the Armenian delegation visited the
National Bureau of Forensic Expertise. They met with the Minister of
Foreign Affairs Gela Bezhuashvili and Chairman of the Supreme Court
Kote Kublashvili as well.

CRRC-ARMENIA AND AIPRG ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS: CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES

AZG Armenian Daily
13/12/2006

On Saturday, December 9, 2006, the Caucasus Research Resource Centers
– Armenia (CRRC-Armenia), in cooperation with the Yerevan office of
the Armenian International Policy Research Group (AIPRG), organized
a roundtable discussion on "Armenian-Turkish Relations: Challenges
and Perspectives", which was moderated by political analyst Richard
Giragosian. The round table was initiated by an independent Turkish
think-tank TESEV (Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation)
that is implementing a project entitled, "The Normalization of
Turkish-Armenian Relations".

This TESEV project seeks to address the problems between the two
countries and to come up with policy proposals for decision makers on
both sides, with an overall objective of proving that the normalization
of relations constitutes a win-win situation.

The event was held at CRRC-Armenia premises and attended by a
number of participants (27), including representatives from leading
Armenian academic, scientific and public institutions, NGOs, and some
journalists. Opening the meeting, Heghine Manasyan, CRRC-Armenia
director and AIPRG fellow, presented a brief overview of the CRRC
and AIPRG, explaining their activities and upcoming events. In
particular, she cited the CRRC Data Initiative and Training programs
and the AIPRG’s ongoing research on the possible consequences of
the Armenian-Turkish border opening, including a subsequent AIPRG
conference on the issue to be held in Yerevan in January 2007.

Following the opening of the meeting, Mr. Mensur Akgun, TESEV
Foreign Policy Program Director, and Mr. Richard Giragosian,
international analyst and AIPRG Fellow, introduced the framework
of issues of Armenian-Turkish relations that were to be discussed
during the meeting. The meeting focused on three specific areas of
Armenian-Turkish relations, beginning with the key question of what
should be understood from "the normalization of relations?"

Second, the meeting then addressed several "problem areas"
in Turkish-Armenian relations, including the border, and its
recognition, the economic consequences of its closure, and the possible
outcomes of reopening the border for both sides; the effects of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on bilateral and multilateral relations;
the current situation in the region; the latest developments in
negotiations over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; and the effects of
the Armenian genocide issue on Armenian-Turkish relations, looking
at both mutual perceptions and the Diaspora factor.

The third issue addressed in the meeting was an analysis of Armenia’s
Euro-Atlantic integration process and its possible effects on bilateral
relations and regional stability (Armenian policy regarding NATO,
Armenia’s place in ENP). Much of the focus on these broader issues
also included an interesting look at the scale of change within Turkey
as well.

The discussion was held in a friendly and professional atmosphere
and raised substantial interest among the participants and sparked
a number of questions, observations and suggestions, including the
fact that Turkish policy toward Armenia had largely become "hostage"
to Azerbaijan, with Turkish foreign policy options for its possible
"normalized" relationship with Armenia having become subject to
considerations of Turkey’s relations with Azerbaijan in general,
and over the Nagorno-Karabakh issue in particular. The discussion
also emphasized the importance of dialogue and exchange between
independent experts from both Armenia and Turkey and the need for
future collaboration, and studies on possible scenarios for the future
course of Armenia-Turkey relations within a broader perspective of
the next 15-20 years.

The Turkish participants noted that the economic and commercial
opportunities may present the most feasible start to a "normalization"
of relations, with the economic incentives serving as dynamic catalysts
for beginning a fresh approach to the complexities of Armenian-Turkish
relations.

While the meeting was an important step forward in terms of a
deepening of dialogue and exchange, the participants agreed that it
was merely a first step toward an effort to break down misperceptions
and misunderstandings on both sides of the issue. And perhaps most
notably, while the Turkish participants never questioned the historical
legitimacy of the Armenian genocide issue, there was a stress on the
need to focus on educating and engaging Turkish society on the issue,
rather than continuing with an international diplomatic recognition
effort alone.

The meeting, one of several scheduled during the Turkish group’s visit
to Yerevan, offers a sense of hopeful enthusiasm that the level of
engagement can continue, to both overcome the intransigence of some
Turkish officials and to exploit the Armenian government’s positive
offer of establishing relations with no preconditions.

WORKSHOP HELD ON MINORITY REPRESENTATION IN TEXTBOOKS

The Messenger, Georgia
Dec 12 2006

CIMERA, a Swiss non-profit organization, held the workshop History
Teaching in Georgia & Representations of Minorities on December 12,
2006 at the Sheraton Metekhi Palace in Tbilisi.

Workshop participants included textbook authors, history teachers from
Armenian and Azeri schools in Georgia, representatives of the Ministry
of Education and Science of Georgia, foreign and local historians,
as well as international and local NGOs dealing with minority issues.

The aim of the workshop is to discuss the integration of the history
of minority groups into mainstream History teaching in Georgia.

During the first part of the workshop, CIMERA presented the findings
of a research project, conducted between September and November 2006,
focusing on the representations of minorities in current Georgian
history textbooks. In the afternoon, propositions were drafted and
discussed with the goal of improving the representation of minorities
in Georgian history textbooks, and forming a basis for teaching
history integrating all sectors and groups of the Georgian society.

SUSPECTS IN MURDER OF ARMENIAN BOY ARRESTED IN MOSCOW REGION

RIA Novosti, Russia
Dec 8 2006

MOSCOW, December 8 (RIA Novosti) – Prosecutors in the Moscow Region
said Friday they had arrested four suspects in the murder of an
Armenian boy last month.

Narek Kocharyan, 15, an Armenian citizen, was killed November 11 at
the Ivanteyevka railway station in the Moscow Region.

"The murder has been solved. Four young Ivanteyevka residents have
been arrested," the Moscow Region Prosecutor’s Office said, adding
they have been charged under the provisions of Statute 111/4 of the
Russian Criminal Law Code (infliction of grievous bodily harm leading
to death).

Authorities have been generally reluctant to treat attacks on
non-Russians as race-hate crimes, portraying them instead as acts
of hooliganism.

Russia has seen a wave of apparently racially motivated attacks on
non-whites in recent years, including an explosion at the Cherkizovsky
market in northeastern Moscow August 21, which killed 11 people
and injured at least 49. St. Petersburg has also been a focus for
race-hate attacks: in September, an Indian student was stabbed to
death in the city, and a Sudanese national was attacked.

TURKEY CHEATS ON EU, CYPRUS SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.12.2006 15:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Adopting a decision to open a port and an airport
for Cyprus, Ankara as a response demands from the EU to cease the
isolation of the Northern part of the island that has been occupied
by Turkey since 1974. Though Cyprus immediately denied Turkish
demands, its President Tassos Papadopoulos expressed readiness for
negotiations. FM Giorgos Lillikas called the Turkish offer a ‘derision’
at the European Union. In his words the Turkish government just another
time promises to fulfill its commitments "only partially", to fulfill
its obligations with ‘conditions’. On Friday morning Lillikas warned
that Cyprus will go back to the previous tough position on Turkey,
if other EU states accept the proposal spread by Ankara on Thursday,
Deutsche Welle reports.

ACCORDING TO ARF, "OUR HOMELAND" CANNOT BE "TRANSITIONAL ANTHEM"

Noyan Tapan
Dec 08 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. No agreement on the anthem of
the Republic of Armenia has been reached between the ARF and the
government. Secretary of the National Assembly ARF faction Gegham
Manukian stated this during the December 8 briefing. According to
him, ARF objects strongly to the idea of "Our Homeland" being a
"transitional anthem", and for this reason no agreement was reached
during the negotiations the day before. G. Manukian said that as
both the government’s draft law on the RA anthem and the draft of
the ARF faction are on the agenda of the NA sittings, the faction is
prepared to include the draft presented by the government in second
reading in its legislative proposal, except for the transitional
provision, and to stipilate in Point 2 that the anthem of the RA is
"Our Homeland". But the government insists on the necessity of the
transitional provision which should stipulate that "Our Homeland"
continues to be the RA anthem until the the words and music of
the anthem are approved by law. G. Manukian noted that the current
principal disagreements with the Republican Party of Armenia over
the issue of the anthem and that of extending the term of Armenian
military unit in Iraq cannot lead to the disintegration of the ruling
coalition. In his words, there were disagreements in the past as well,
and the coalition will function until the two forces officially sign
a document on the coaltional memorandum’s losing its force.

The faction secretary predicted that no early election or emergency
are expected in the country, while the opposition cannot come to
power at the upcoming elections. In his words, the opposition forces
are quite passive, as a result of which the society’s faith in the
opposition has decreased.

ARMENIA LEFT WITHOUT HYMN FOR SOME DAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.12.2006 17:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s National Assembly will hold a special
session within the next few days aiming at adopting the bill
"On Hymn" in final reading, Prime-Minister Andranik Markaryan
said. "Unfortunately we did not have time to adopt the law in second
and third readings, it is very unpleasant. In fact within the next
few days from legal point of view Armenia will not have a hymn,"
the Prime Minister remarked.

Touching on the causes of such situation Markaryan noted, that by his
estimations for final adoption of the law just there was not enough
time in Parliament.

"We should take into consideration the fact that this very law
regulates an issue that we cannot discuss in quick procedure," said
the Prime Minister, reports IA Regnum.

PLEASURE WITH "VYMPELCOM"

A1+
[06:22 pm] 06 December, 2006

It is not known whether the brand of "ArmenTel" will be changed or
will remain the same. "Vympelcom" which has bought 90% of the shares of
"ArmenTel" does not have the answer to that question yet. The reason,
according to the representatives of "Vympelcom", is the respect for
"ArmenTel": the issue is still being discussed.

Until then, the subscribers of "ArmenTel" must be ready to "enjoy
the connection and feel free in time and space" together with
"Vympelcom". This is the mission of "Vympelcom" in Armenia which
will be fulfilled under the direction of Oleg Bliznyuk who has been
appointed director of "ArmenTel" replacing Vasilis Fetsis from Greece
who occupied the position since 2004.

"Vympelcom" realizes that they have bought a large company which
"is an important step in the development of your own business in
the CIS countries". By the way, this bargain is the first attempt
of the Russian company in the telecommunication field. Nevertheless,
the director promises that the quality of the connection will improve
considerably. "Vympelcom" intends to become the leader in the Armenian
market and to provide the subscribers with high-quality service.

The representatives of the company did not inform how much money they
are going to invest in order to achieve their aims. They also refused
to say how the investments will affect the pockets of the subscribers.

Oleg Bliznyuk also claimed that their company is not afraid of
competition and stated that they are ready to renounce the monopoly
in the internet field. As for the fate of the 10% of the shares which
belongs to the RA Government, it is not yet clear. Let us remind
you that the Minister of Transport and Communication, who has been
entrusted with the shares, said the RA Government is ready to sell
that part if the new owner of the company renounces the monopoly.

ARMENIAN FM MET WITH THE AGO GROUP IN STRASBURG

Armradio.am
07.12.2006 14:40

In Strasburg Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met with
members of the Ago Group of the Council of Europe Ministers, who
are following the process of accomplishment of Armenia’s obligations
before the Council of Europe.

MFA Press and Information Department informs that during the meeting
the Minister familiarized the Ago Group members with the process of
peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict, the preparation of the
constitutional referendum in NKR and the parliamentary elections in
Armenia. Members of the Group called the attention of the Minister
to issues connected with elections, particularly the amendment of
the Electoral Code and correction of the voting lists.