Author: Torgomian Varazdat

PREMIER INTRODUCED NEW MINISTERS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
13.05.2009 21:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ PM Tigran Sarsgyan has today visited Ministries
of Education and Science, Labor and Social Issues and Agriculture
to introduce the newly appointed ministers (Armen Ashotyan, Gevorg
Petrosyan and Gerasim Alaverdyan) to relevant staffs.

Introducing Education Minister Armen Ashotyan, the premier said,
"I’m sure he’ll cope with his tasks thanks to his past experience
and assistance of ministry staff members."

Congratulating the new Minister of Labor and Social Affairs,
Mr. Sargsyan said, "Gevorg Petrosyan now has the opportunity to aplly
his knowledege in social sphere."

The premier finds Agriculture Minister Gerasim Alaverdyan to be
the best candidate for the post, considering his rich experience in
the sphere.

Newsly appointed ministers expressed their gratitude to RA President
and Prime Minister, promising to perform their tasks conscientiously.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT RATIFIES NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
13.05.2009 11:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev has
ratified the National Security Strategy to operate till 2020. The
document was amended in the light of recent developments in the
Russian-U.S. relations. It prioritizes economic growth, healthcare,
education and security.

The strategy adopted in 1997 functioned in the Russian Federation
before.

IRAN STARTS GAS EXPORTS TO ARMENIA

Fars News Agency
May 12 2009
Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- Managing Director of the National Iranian Gas Export
Company (NIGEC) Seyed Reza Kassaeizadeh traveled to Armenia on Monday
to take part in a ceremony on the inauguration of Iran’s gas export
to the country.

Noting that the volume of gas exports could reach 4 million cubic
meters (141.3 million cu-ft) per day in 2011 and rise to 6.3 million
cubic meters (222.5 million cu-ft) per day afterwards, Kassaeizadeh
reiterated that the gas is being transported via a 762-mm (30-inch)
diameter pipeline that runs for 113 km (71 miles) from Tabriz in East
Azarbaijan Province to the Iran-Armenia border.

He also told Tehran times in an interview that the gas was due to
be exported to Armenia in 2007 but the distribution problems on the
Armenian side caused the delay.

Iran and Armenia signed a contract according to which the latter is
to pay for the gas by electricity from Armenian power plants.

The announcement comes a month after a two-day visit to Iran by
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian.

During his stay in Tehran, eight agreements were inked between
the two sides that underlined Iran and Armenia’s commitments to
further developing their relations through additional significant
infrastructure, transport, and energy projects.

WOMEN FOR PEACE PROPOSES THAT MAY 12 BE DECLARED AS PEACE DAY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
12.05.2009 16:57 GMT+04:00

"Ceasefire has now acquired a new sense. Azerbaijan, Karabakh and
international community agreed have changed their positions on the
issue, and Armenia has found itself in a deadlock," Gayane Vardanyan,
representative of Women for Peace NGO, told a news conference today,
adding that the organization has submitted a claim to RA National
Assembly with a proposal to recognize May 12 as Peace Day. However,
no response has been received so far. "We asked them to make any
reply by the time we held the conference," Mrs. Martirosyan stressed.

"Despite the ceasefire agreement and our leaders’ appeal for peaceful
settlement of conflict, Azerbaijan still threatens us with war, leading
us to a deadlock," Gayane Martirosyan said, adding that Armenian
leadership cannot solve the country’s problems, either internal or
external. "World does not recognize Karabakh, ignoring its citizens’
demand for living in normal conditions," Ms. Martirosyan said. She also
noted that Armenia’s not recognizing May 12 as peace day testifies to
the fact that official Yerevan was unable to keep up its achievements,
missing the chance of stabilizing situation in some way.

"Armenia will anyway suffer defeat, no matter what agreements it may
sign," Ms. Martirosyan said, pointing out Armenia’s failure to take
any measures against the so-called "information warfare". "Azerbaijani
press carries out certain work, but what do we do? Open any Armenian
Web site on the Internet, and you’ll see that none of them makes any
attempt to resist Azeri media," she said. Such inaction, according to
Ms. Martirosyan, testifies to the fact that Armenian media either agree
or are indifferent to everything or else, they are in a helpless state.

ARMENIA STEPS UP COUNTER-TRAFFICKING PLAN

Middle East Times
a_steps_up_counter-trafficking_plan/642f/
May 8 2009
Egypt

YEREVAN, Armenia, May 8 (UPI) — Armenian officials announced a
new effort Friday to combat human trafficking with support from the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Armenia and the OSCE marked the new counter-human-trafficking
initiative Friday with the opening of the Anti-Trafficking Support
and Resource Unit in the country, the OSCE reported.

Eva Biaudet, OSCE special representative, traveled to Armenia
to recognize Armenian authorities’ efforts to combat human
trafficking. Biaudet said the Anti-Trafficking Support and Resource
Unit is a positive step but called on leaders in Armenia to stand
by the new commitment with resources to strengthen investigation
capabilities.

"Enhanced cooperation between (non-governmental organizations)
providing assistance to victims and law-enforcement agencies is a
prerequisite for better victim identification, and I urge the Armenian
authorities to put more effort into also investigating possible cases
of internal trafficking among vulnerable populations," Biaudet said
in a statement.

"TERRITORIES MUSTN’T BE CEDED"

A1+
04:03 pm | May 08, 2009

Society

On May 8, A1+ conducted a poll to find out Yerevan citizens’ stance
on the present phase of the Karabakh conflict settlement.

"We shall surrender no territory, even an acre of land. We must
struggle to the last drop of blood," said most of our respondents.

"The liberated territories cannot become a subject for disputes as
they are not occupied lands and belong to the Republic of Armenia,"
said Vardan Hakobyan.

Many people voiced concern that the negotiations are kept in secret
and Nagorno Karabakh is not involved in the talks.

"We are not aware of the negotiations. Ordinary people are not informed
of many issues, of the agreements on high levels, etc. I think the
issue is much more serious as Karabakh doesn’t participate in the
talk as a key actor," said Hayk Vardanyan. "Suppose Armenia had a
home problem and our neighbours settled it for us."

"Many mothers lost their sons because of the conflict. Many children
grew up without fathers. Many war veterans became invalids. Nothing
must be forgotten," said many mothers.

"Territories are yielded and taken back with bloodshed. A new war is
not excluded as everything depends on the interests of superpowers,"
said architect Erwand Avagyan.

Sergey Lorekyan thinks some territories can be ceded provided that
NKR independence is recognized. He says it is essential that the
negotiations be kept confidential. "Anyway, the last word is after
people," he adds.

EDWARD NALBANDIAN MEETS WITH EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOUTH CAUCASUS PETER SEMNEBY IN PRAGUE

Noyan Tapan
May 7, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 7, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met
with EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby
on May 6 in Prague.

According to the RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department,
the normalization process of Armenian-Turkish relations was discussed
at the meeting. The interlocutors also exchanged thoughts about the
negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh settlement.

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN ATTENDS THE CULTURAL EVENTS WHICH TOOK PLACE IN YEREVAN

National Assembly of RA
May 6 2009
Armenia

On May 5 the President of the National Assembly Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan
and Mrs. Julietta Abrahamyan accompanied the President of the Republic
of Armenia Mr. Serzh Sargsyan and Mrs. Rita Sargsyan at the premiere
of the Ballet Spartak by Aram Khachaturian in A. Spendiarian Opera
and Ballet National Academic Theatre. It took place by the high
patronage of the First Ladies of Armenia and Russia. The First Lady
of the Russian Federation Mrs. Svetlana Medvedeva arrived in Yerevan
especially to attend the ballet premiere. The ballet was staged by
the USSR People’s Artist, Hero of the Socialist Labor, Laureate of
Lenin and State prizes Yuri Grigorovich.

On May 4 the President of the Republic of Armenia Mr. Serzh Sargsyan
and Mrs. Rita Sargsyan and the President of the National Assembly
Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan and Mrs. Julieta Abrahamyan attended the
concert of St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra led by
well-known conductor Valery Gergiev. The concert was organized under
the high patronage of the President of the Republic. Works by Edward
Mirzoyan, Rodion Shchedrin and Pyotr Tchaikovsky were performed at
the concert.

39.8% OF PARTICIPANTS OF THE LATEST POLLS OF THE "SOCIOMETER" ARE SURE THAT THE ARMENIAN REPUBLICAN PARTY IS ABLE TO SOLVE THEISSUES OF THE YEREVAN RESIDENTS

ARMENPRESS
MAY 6, 2009
YEREVAN

39.8 % of participants of the latest polls conducted by the
"Sociometer" independent sociological center are sure that the
Armenian Republican Party (ARP) is able to solve the social issues
of the Yerevan residents.

23% of the participants of the polls 1650 residents from different
communities of Yerevan trust the "Prosperous Armenia" party, the
Armenian National Congress (ANC) is in the third place with 11%,
then comes the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), the People’s
Party and Orinats Yerkir Party.

During today’s press conference the head of the center Aaron Adibekian
noted that the fact that the ARP is in the first place is conditioned
that people better imagine Gagik Beglarian in solving the issues of
the capital. According to A. Adibekian, the ANC index would increase
if the list was headed by Ararat Zurabian who was not a bad community
head and the Yerevan residents could connect the solution of the
issues of the capital with him.

The results of the polls showed that the world financial crisis had
a negative impact on the families of 2/3 participants of the polls
and people expect from the new town authorities to be able to solve
their issues.

A. Adibekian noted that very few of the participants knew who are
involved in the lists of parties which take part in the elections of
Yerevan council of elders, moreover – who are heading the lists.

"There is an issue of awareness here, may be after the campaign kicks
off the situation will change but the polls show that the interest
of people towards these elections have decreased", – A. Adibekian said.

He noted that the campaign-makers put the main stress on the cleaning
of the streets, providing of lightening and sewerage issues. According
to the sociologist these issues are more or less settled in the capital
and the parties must present programs of ensuring the young families
with apartments, speak about providing additional allowances to the
lonely pensioners, participants of the war and others.

That’s to say issues the solution of which will contribute to the
improvement of the social status of the Yerevan residents. "It’s
obvious that the inhabitants would prefer in the council of elders to
see a political power which presents more promising programs and who,
preserving the traditional political function, will also present new
approaches", – A. Adibekian said.

The polls were held April 18-19 this year in all the Yerevan
communities. Another poll will be conducted in midst of May.

FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER OF TURKEY BELIEVES IN RUSSIA’S ABILITY TO SOLVE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Azerbaijan Business Center
May 5 2009

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. NATO organization men reports of Russia’s
decisive influence on settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

NATO senior civil officer in Afghanistan Hikmet Chetin (former Foreign
Minister of Turkey) said today in Baku that there is a demand for
Russia’s wider participation in settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

"Russia is an important country in the region that represents an
essential regional factor, so it needs to join the Caucasian Stability
Pact offered by Turkey," Chetin said.

The Pact’s reality disappeared last August when Russia recognized
independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in response to Georgia’s
attempt on their coercive reintegration.

"There are important gleams for Karabakh conflict solution seen in
Russia’s policy. I think Russia would contribute a lot to the conflict
solution. I see the world starting to be interested in the conflict
more and more. I am sure the conflict could find a solution through
the dialogue between the two countries, Azerbaijan and Armenia,"
Chetin added.

In his view, the consequences of conflict’s pendency influence all
of the sides, including Armenia, in a negative way, in the economic
regard.

"There are important pipelines passing through the region, hydrocarbon
fields, however, Armenia is left outside the projects. In future
the region will keep playing an important role in providing sales
markets with oil and gas. Armenia needs to understand the importance
of conflict solution since the region has a demand for security and
peace to be provided. And this peace is to be provided by solving the
Karabakh problem. I believe that at the nearest meeting Presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia will make important steps towards the problem
solution. In my opinion, wider participation of the United States,
NATO, Russia and Turkey in this matter would be useful." Chetin stated.