Author: Topchian Jane

RA NA FACTIONS HAVE CONSTRUCTIVE GOALS, EDUARD SHARMAZANOV CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Jun 27 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The discussion of the program of the RA
government for the coming five years at the NA showed that currently
all parliamentary factions have constructive goals in the respect of
their legislative work. Eduard Sharmazanov, a member of the Board of
the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and the NA RPA faction, said
that the evidence of this was the Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law)
faction’s abstaining from voting of government’s program and the
"positive opinion" voiced by it in connection with the program.

E. Sharmazanov also stated at the press conference that since RPA’s
coming to power in 2000, first generation reforms have been implemented
in the country. "Even with the naked eye one can see that in 1999
poverty made 90% and now it makes 29%," the MP said adding that the
RPA members will try to strengthen their achievements.

In response to the question of whether he is sure that RPA member
businessmen conscientiously pay taxes E. Sharmazanov said that
market relations have a history of only 15 years in Armenia and "it
is impossible without shade." He said that the result of fighting
fraud and corruption will become visible in several years. And as
E. Sharmazanov predicted, the RPA’s program under the title "For You,
Armenia" will be completely fulfilled until 2012.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER: OVERCOMING OF CORRUPTION AND SHADOW ECONOMY IN ARMENIA ASSUMES OVERCOMING OF PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIER AS WELL

ArmInfo
2007-06-26 16:23:00

Overcoming of corruption and shadow economy in Armenia assumes
overcoming of psychological barrier as well, Armenian Prime Minister
Serzh Sarkisyan said today when submitted the programme of the
government’s activity for the next five years to the parliament’s
endorsement.

He also added that tax payment declining and bribery will be observed
as unseemly development condemned by the society. Sarkisyan also said
that the government will demand from the law-enforcement agencies to
make fighting corruption more active, and let the society know the
crimes detected. For this reason, activity of prosecutor’s office, tax
and customs structures must become more transparent, Sarkisyan said.

ARMEN MELIKYAN: KARABAKH DIFFERS FROM ALL OTHER CONFLICTS ON POST-SOVIET SPACE

ArmRadio.am
25.06.2007 16:30

Resumption of military actions in the Azerbaijani-Karabakhi conflict
zone will cause a serious blow both to communications, possible
energy supply to the West and the influence of Europe and the US in
the region, in general, Adviser to NKR president on Foreign Policy
Issues Armen Melikyan told ArmInfo correspondent.

"In this regard the state of peace is important not as much for the
conflicting parties, as for the international community,’ the Adviser
declared. In his words, this is the serious difference of the Karabakh
and other conflicts. "In the global geopolitical context the issue of
Azerbaijan’s relations with Nagorno Karabakh greatly differs from all
other conflicts on post-Soviet space. In the relations with Abkhazia
and South Ossetia, many things simply depend on Georgia’s relations
with Western Europe on one hand and Georgia’s relations with Russia
on the other hand, i.e. for the Russian Federation and the Western
States it’s a matter of influence on Georgia. The same can be said
about Transniestria.

The situation in Karabakh is different, and the importance of Karabakh
is quite different. It exceeds the frames of regional processes and
assumes a global nature," Armen Melikyan said.

ROBERT SIMMONS: NATO IS READY TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING REFORMS OF RA ARMED FORCES

Noyan Tapan
Jun 22 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 22, NOYAN TAPAN. At the June 22 meeting of the RA
Prime Minister Serge Sargsian and the Special Representative of NATO
Secretary General to South Caucasus Robert Simmons, both sides in
the respect of development of Armenia-NATO political dialogue and
cooperation attached importance to the Individual Partnership Actions
Plan (IPAP), which includes all possible spheres of cooperation
with NATO.

S. Sargsian said that the departments included in the commission
founded for the purpose of IPAP implementation are continuing their
interested work in the direction of implementation of the IPAP’s
working program. The Prime Minister said that the RA government will
allocate financial resources for the program’s implementation and
will concentrate its efforts on implementing the program efficiently
according to the schedule. S. Sargsian attached importance to
NATO’s support for reforms aimed at making the RA armed forces more
competitive and the creation of a defence system meeting modern
military requirements.

R. Simmons reassured that NATO is ready to continue supporting the
reforms.

Expressing satisfaction with the adoption of the RA national security
strategy, as the next important step, he mentioned elaboration of a
military doctrine, for which, in R. Simmons’ words, NATO is ready to
provide experts and to show consultation assistance.

S. Sargsian said that the national security strategy is considered as
important in the RA government’s program of the next five years. The
program stipulates that it has been worked out on the basis of that
strategy, too.

Both sides attached importance to the creation of a crisis management
center in Armenia, in the direction of which efficient discussions
are already being held with the RA Rescue Service.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA government Information and
Public Relations Department, during the meeting S. Sargsian and
R. Simmons also touched upon Armenia’s participation in peacekeeping
actions. The Prime Minister emphasized that Armenia is ready to take
an active part in that mission.

Armenian National Committee of Burbank
361 E. Magnolia Boulevard, #C
Burbank, California 91502
Phone: 818 562 1918
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
June 21, 2007

Contact: Silva Kechichian
E-mail: [email protected]

Burbank ANC Embraces Community Spirit

Burbank, CA – The Burbank ANC Chapter has enjoyed a period of remarkable
growth over the past year, thanks to its growing role as an effective
grassroots organization serving the city’s Armenian American community.

The Burbank ANC has a long and growing tradition of serving the local
Armenian American community and has drawn its strength from over 40
dedicated members who have been successful in unifying the town’s Armenian
Americans behind a common and positive agenda. That agenda has included
bringing people closer to their local government, strengthening the local
school system, building ties with other business and community groups, and
working to provide resources to groups, like the local Armenian Relief
Society, that serve those in need.

"The Burbank ANC is an effective bridge builder," commented Burbank ANC
Chairman Dr. Arbi Ohanian. "We bring people together, to work for our
community and ultimately, to make the City of Burbank a better place to
live, work, and play for our families and our neighbors," Ohanian added.

In the first six months of 2007 the Burbank ANC has been hard at work
serving and uniting the community. In January, the Burbank ANC hosted a
bridge building meeting between the Executive Director of the Burbank
Chamber of Commerce Gary Olsen and local Armenian business owners. Shortly
thereafter, the chapter welcomed the national Chairman of the ANCA, Ken
Hachikian, who spoke to a standing room only audience at Woodbury University
to discuss the organization’s efforts in Washington, DC.

In May of this year the chapter welcomed over 300 local friends, activists,
and community leaders for its second Annual Banquet. The annual event
reviewed the organization’s achievements and featured a number of
individuals honored for their contributions to the community. Among those
present at the Burbank ANC’s banquet were Assemblymember Paul Krekorian,
former Assemblymember Carol Liu and local officials, from the city’s Mayor
to the Chief of Police. Following the banquet, the Burbank ANC Chapter held
a town hall meeting with the Executive Director of the ANCA Aram Hamparian,
who specifically praised the local ANC for being a "model grassroots
organization that truly serves the common interest of our community."

The City of Burbank is home to well over 100,000 residents, including a
growing and prosperous Armenian American community. The Burbank ANC is
expanding its efforts to reach out to all Armenian Americans as new and old
residents look to continue or become involved in local government and work
to make the town, known as the "Media Capital of the World," an even better
place to live.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in
coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout
the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.

###

Photo Caption: The Burbank ANC’s Second Annual Banquet.

OPPOSITION LEADER SET TO RUN IN ARMENIAN REPEAT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

Arminfo
18 Jun 07

Yerevan, 18 June: The leader of the opposition Heritage party and
head of the party’s parliamentary faction, Raffi Hovhannisyan, has
unexpectedly put forward his candidacy to run in the repeat election to
Armenia’s fourth National Assembly in the 15th single-seat constituency
in Aragatsotn Region.

The decision was made at the party’s board late on Saturday [16
June] night.

"Our party is not going to look on the developments in the republic or
in an individual single-seat constituency. Hovhannisyan’s nomination
is the best way of mobilizing the party to achieve a specific goal,
even not a major one. Especially as we have the task to bolster our
party’s parliamentary faction and its regional bodies, in particular
in Aragatsotn Region," the press secretary of the Heritage party,
Hovsep Khurshudyan, told Arminfo.

[Passage omitted: Hovhannisyan did not run in single-seat constituency
during the 12 May election]

The decision to hold a repeat election in the 15th constituency in
Aragatsotn Region was made after the winner in the [12 May] general
election, candidate from the [governing] Republican Party of Armenia
Khachik Manukyan, rejected his mandate and decided to run again to
settle disputes over his victory over a Prosperous Armenia party
candidate by a narrow margin. The repeat election will be held on
26 August in accordance with the decision of the Armenian Central
Electoral Commission.

PanARMENIAN.Net

It is difficult to imagine how Aliev will explain his militant
statements after reaching compromise on Karabakh
16.06.2007 14:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `After approving the Armenia-EU Action Plan first
elections were held in Armenia among the three south Caucasian states,
and in this respect the republic may serve as an example for
neighbors,’ EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter
Semneby stated at the meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Serzh
Sargsyan. In his part Serzh Sargsyan underlined the coming
presidential elections will also be held on proper level and Armenia
will take every efforts to make democratic transformations
irreversible. `I state this not only as the RA Prime Minister, but
also as the leader of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA),’ Sargsyan
underscored, adding that in order to be sure in it there is only 8
months left.

The sides also discussed issues concerning the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement. According to the Premier, the most rational way
for Karabakh resolution is compromise. `At the same time nobody must
view compromise as a unilateral concession. I regret that periodic
militant statements, which we hear from Azeri President and annual
increase of the military budget, inspire pessimism, despite the
constrictive position of the Armenian side that arises optimism and
her intention to settle the problem via peaceful talks,’ Serzh
Sargsyan underscored.

`If Azerbaijan really is ready to compromise and reach peaceful
solution to the conflict, why authorities of that country do not make
public statements, which would confirm that. Instead they act contrary
to logic, supposing that speaking from the position of force they will
be able to make someone sign a document, which would satisfy
them. This approach is doomed to failure. It is difficult to imagine
how Aliev will explain his militant statements after reaching
compromise on Karabakh,’ S. Sargsyan said

He also stressed Armenia is ready for active contacts on various
levels, as well as to build atmosphere of mutual confidence. The RA
Premier expressed pity that there are no positive signals from
Azerbaijan yet. In his part Peter Semneby stated that the EU continues
to perform interest in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
not only because Armenia and Azerbaijan are important partners for the
European Union, but also aiming to establish an atmosphere of
confidence and providing great assistance to both countries.

Semneby shares the concerns of Armenia’s Prime Minister in connection
with the militant propaganda in Azerbaijan, explaining it `by the work
style of Azeri media’. `But recently it seems that nothing similar is
noticed in Azeri President Ilham Aliev’s approaches. EU’s stance in
the settlement of the conflict remains the same, it must be settled in
the atmosphere of mutual confidence and through peaceful talks, and we
are ready to provide assistance in this issue,’ the EU Special
Representative underscored, the RA Government Press Office reports.

ArmRosgazprom conducts humanitarian action in Nagorno-Karabakh

arminfo
2007-06-16 15:29:00

Representatives of ArmRosgazprom are on a humanitarian mission in
Nagorno-Karabakh. ArmInfo’s own corespondent in Stepanakert reports
that they have made presents to several kindergartens; granted
scholarships to the best students of Artsakh State University;
computers, printers, music centers to secondary schools; computer and
folk music instruments to Stepanakert Music College.

This campaign is part of the events conducted on the occasion of the
10th anniversary of ArmRosgazprom.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO PARTAKE IN THE SITTING OF CIS MINISTERS OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

ArmRadio.am
15.06.2007 11:28

RA police delegation will participate in the extraordinary sitting
of the Council of CIS Ministers of Internal Affairs.

Press Service of RA Police informs that the delegation is headed by
Chief of Police, Colonel-General Hayk Harutyunyan. The sitting will
take place June 14-16 in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg. Issues
related to illegal migration are included in the agenda of the sitting.

MELINE DALUZIAN, CHAMPION OF WEIGHTLIFTING AMONG ELDERLY FAILS IN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
Jun 15 2007

PRAGUE, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 13 Meline Daluzian (63 kg,
Gyumri), the champion of weightlifting among the elderly, went on the
grandstand of the Youth Weightlifting Championship of Europe. She
showed a result of 100 kg in the pulling exercise and took second
place. In the pushing exercise she did not manage to lift the ordered
priliminary weight – 124 kg and so did not qualify.

Aram Khandikian took 7th place (77 kg, Sevan) with a result of 328
kg in the biathlon (pulling 148, pushing 180).

Hripsime Khurshudian (75 kg) and Sevak Sahakian (105 kg) will compete
on June 15.