Author: Topchian Jane

NGOS AGAINST THE NEW DRAFT LAW

Aysor
Jan 21 2010
Armenia

The NGOs demand from the Armenian Government and National Assembly
to take back the project of making changes and additions in the Law
of the "NGOs" of the Republic of Armenia. Besides it also calls on
organizing public discussions. According to the CDPF list more than
100 NGOs have expressed their negative opinion about the draft law.

As the "EcoLur" NGO informs at the same time there was organized a
collection of signatures against that draft law by other NGOs. The
society understands that the new draft law endangers the development
of the Civic Society in Armenia and the control over the Civic Society
brings to demolishment of the democratic processes in Armenia.

Moscow, Ankara agree on nuclear power plant cooperation

MOSCOW, January 13 (RIA Novosti)

Russia and Turkey on Wednesday signed a joint statement regarding
plans to build a nuclear power plant on Turkish soil.

The document was signed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin,
who is in charge of the energy and fuel sector, and his Turkish
counterpart.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, currently on a visit to
Moscow, said his country was completing preparations for the signing
of a formal agreement on the construction of a nuclear power plant on
its territory.

He said nuclear cooperation with Russia would proceed through "direct
interstate agreements."

He added that "practical results" were expected "in the foreseeable future."

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Russia had "significant
advantages over the competition" for building a nuclear plant in
Turkey.

"We provide loans and equipment, and we give local construction
companies … a share of 20-25% or even 30% in the entire volume of
contracts," he said. "We provide nuclear fuel and are ready to take
back spent nuclear fuel for reprocessing."

"Needless to say, we are expecting a positive decision," Putin said.

Turkey canceled a tender for the construction of its first nuclear
power plant late last year, but was expected to announce a new tender
for three nuclear power plants later this year.

‘BOOK OF ELI’ NOW IN THEATRES, DIRECTORS TALK ABOUT BEING ARMENIAN

Tert.am
15:37 ~U 18.01.10

"The Book of Eli," starring Denzel Washington, opened in U.S. theatres
nationwide. The film is directed by twin brothers Allen and Albert
Hughes, whose previous commercial film was "From Hell," released in
2001, reports Armenian Weekly.

In an article published in USA Today earlier this week, director
Albert Hughes talked about their experiences, saying, "People were
hailing us as the new school of black directors. I hated that. For one,
we’re half Armenian, half black. For another, that’s offensive.

We wouldn’t pose with other young black directors, because you wouldn’t
do that with, say, Italian directors."

The Hughes brothers were born in Detroit, Michigan. Their
African-American father left them when they were two. Thereafter,
together with their "staunch feminist" Armenian mother, Aida, they
moved to Pomona, California.

The Huges brothers often talk about their Armenian background. In a
2005 interview with Hrag Vartanian, Albert Hughes said, "One thing
[our Armenian side] did was to provide an audience. When we began
making movies, they were supportive. While the black side was not open
to us because we were half white, the Armenian half always welcomed
us. I attribute generosity and humbleness to Armenians… Is that a
trait of the culture…Armenians, in my opinion, are generous to a
fault. I’ve never been greedy and that comes from my Armenian side."

UNISTREAM SYSTEM TURNOVER IN ARMENIA IN 2009 MADE UP $551 MILLION

ArmInfo
2010-01-18 10:13:00

ArmInfo. UNIStream international money transfer system assured $551
mln turnover in Armenia in 2009, that is lower than the indicator of
2008 by 31%, Unibank told ArmInfo.

According to the source, the volume of money transfer to Armenia out
of the total turnover of UNIStream in the republic made up $494.9 mln
(the number of money transfer – 671507 transactions), and that from
Armenia – $56.1 mln (the number – 40951 transactions). The lion’s share
of transfers by UNIStream to and from Armenia fell on Russia and made
up 96% and 87%, respectively. The second place is held by Ukraine –
0,95% (incoming) and 6% (outgoing), followed by Greece and Georgia.

59% in the total volume of transfers have been carried out in US
dollars, 32% – in Russian rubles, 5% – in Euro and 4% – in Armenian
drams. According to the data of Unibank, 51% of the Armenian money
transfer market falls on the UNIStream (on transfers sent and
received).

According to the data of Armenia’s Central Bank, net inflow of private
transfers to Armenia through commercial banks by international payment
systems made up 102 bln drams by late 3Q, 2009, having grown by 37%
(by 28 bln drams), as compared to 2Q, and having reduced by 24%
(by 34 bln drams), as compared to 3Q, 2008. CB forecasted 30-35%
reduction of private transfers inflow to Armenia for 2009.

To note, UNIStream has been operating in Armenia through its exclusive
partner, Unibank, since the second half of 2002.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Watch our latest videos on YouTube here:

THE PRESIDENT OF THE PONTIFICAL MISSION IN USA VISITS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

On Tuesday 12 January 2010, His Excellency Bishop Robert Stern the President
of the Pontifical Mission in the United States of America, accompanied by
the Director of the Mission for Egypt, Syria and Lebanon visited His
Holiness Aram I. His Grace Bishop Nareg, the Ecumenical officer was also
present at the meeting. Conversations centered on inter-church relations and
ways for strengthening the churches in the region. After welcoming the
guests, His Holiness Aram I said that Christian presence and witness in the
region could be strengthened by supporting the efforts of local churches
through their programmes and projects.

##
View the photos here:
tos/Photos428.htm#6
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

RA PRIME MINISTER LAUNCHES BLOG

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.01.2010 13:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan has become a second
Armenian politician to launch a blog. Presently, one post of Jan. 14,
2010 is available at

"To be honest, it’s important that you understand what I want to say.

I think it’s good to be in direct interpersonal communication. Here
I will have an opportunity to present my ideas and read your feedback.

People are changing, expectations as well. We need mutual attention,
I believe," the post says.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan also practiced a blog during his
election campaign but it’s unavailable at the moment.

RA CEC registers Ara Simonian as National Assembly deputy

YEREVAN, JANUARY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. At the January 15 sitting, the RA
Central Election Commission (CEC) registered member of the National
Unity Party Ara Simonian as a deputy of the RA National Assembly by
the majoritarian electoral system from electoral district No 10 in
Yerevan.

The CEC’s decision was based on the January 14 decision of the
district electoral commission No 10 about A. Simonian elected as NA
deputy in the January 10 by-election by the majoritarian electoral
system. Hamlet Abrahamian and Zoya Tadevosian who represent the ARFD
and the Heritage Party respectively in the CEC declined to sign the
CEC’s protocol.

news.am, Armenia
Jan 16 2010

Serzh Sargsyan received Robert Bradtke

16:34 / 01/16/2010January 16, 2010 RA President Serzh Sargsyan met
with OSCE Minsk Group U.S. Co-Chair Robert Bradtke in Yerevan.

In the course of the meeting the officials discussed current stage of
Karabakh talks, RA Presidential Press Service informed NEWS.am.

As NEWS.am reported previously, Robert Bradtke will visit Stepanakert
within the framework of the visit.

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will arrive in Yerevan on January 20, 2010
and head to Baku next day, January 21.

L.A.

RECOUNT FOR ARMENIAN BY-ELECTION

Hurriyet
Jan 14 2010
Turkey

Armenia’s Central Election Commission ordered a recount of the votes
in a disputed parliamentary by-election, Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty’s Armenian service reported.

The recount has reversed results in at least two polling stations
in the Yerevan district, giving defeated challenger Nikol Pashinian
victory at these stations. There are 10 other polling stations in the
district that need to be recounted. Official results from Jan. 11 had
initially given pro-government candidate Ara Simonian 57 percent of
the vote to Pashinian’s 37.5 percent.

Pashinian and the Armenian National Congress, or HAK, of which he is
a leading member, condemned the ballot as fraudulent and said they
will challenge the results in court. Pashinian and the HAK alleged a
long list of irregularities, including vote buying, ballot stuffing,
and intimidation of opposition proxies and election observers by
government loyalists.

Pashinian issued a statement saying he understands the "disappointment"
of his supporters with the ballot’s outcome.

Pashinian is currently in prison while standing trial on charges
stemming from the March 2008 unrest in Yerevan. The HAK party said
that despite calling the vote fraudulent, it said its vote tally
testifies to the party’s "strength and growing authority."

Artashes Geghamian, the leader of the pro-presidential National
Unity Party, or AMK, with which Simonian is affiliated, insisted
that the vote was free and fair. Geghamian also thanked the three
parties represented in Armenia’s government for facilitating the AMK
candidate’s victory.

"In my view, the elections solved one issue," Geghamian told RFE/RL.

"The parties making up the government once again showed our society
that they are determined to go beyond partisan interests and to form
a new political culture."

REGIONAL PEACE MAINTAINED BY NKR DEFENSE ARMY, MINISTER SAYS

news.am
Jan 14 2090
Armenia

It is not statements that begin war, Minister of Defense of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Movses Hakobyan told a press
conference, commenting on official Baku’s bellicose statements.

He pointed out that such statements are mostly made for domestic
political purposes.

"We should hear the statement, draw right conclusions and take measures
to find out whether they are trustworthy or misleading. Our state
and army have the relevant agencies," Hakobyan said. He stressed that
the main task is for "the statements to remain mere statements."

The NKR Defense Minister pointed out that the Azeri leader Elchibey
would say he would "wash his feet" in Lake Sevan, but his statement
was followed by the fall of the city of Agdam.

"If Azerbaijan is ready for war, it will start war without asking
anyone," Hakobyan said. He pointed out that war can begin even this
moment for his as Minister of Defense. That is the reason for a large
number of servicemen on duty on the frontline.

As to why snipers have not been withdrawn from the frontline, Hakobyan
said that Azerbaijan refused to sign a relevant agreement with the
NKR Defense Army.

The NKR Defense Minister expressed the confidence that peace in the
South Caucasus can only be maintained due to the NKR Defense Army.

"This is our greatest achievement, and, by enhancing our army’s
efficiency, we must constantly force our enemy to talk to us, instead
of warring against us," Hakobyan said.