NA COMMITTEE ON STATE AND LEGAL ISSUES GIVES POSITIVE CONCLUSION TO LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE ENVISAGING AMENDMENTS AND ADDITIONS TO ELECTORAL CODE

Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. It will be proposed with the positive
conclusion of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Issues
to put the legislative package on making amendments and additions
to the RA Electoral Code on the agendas of the current session
of the parliament and of the regular plenary sittings starting
on May 2. The Committee made a decision about it at the April 28
sitting. The above-mentioned package was worked out by the working
group involving representatives of all the NA factions and the group
and was put into circulation on March 17. Besides the Electoral Code,
the package envisages amendments and additions to the Criminal code
and the law “On Parties” as well. The goal of the latters is to work
out effective mechanisms in the struggle against electoral crimes,
to strengthen the panishment, to raise responsibility of parties in
an electoral process. The worked out package, in essence, is a result
of political agreement. However, the “Ardaroutiun” (Justice) faction
joined the decision with reservations, concerning which the Parliament
will make a decision at the plenary sitting. According to preliminary
statement, in the case of ignoring the faction’s reservations in the
draft to be adopted in the first reading, “Ardaroutiun” will refuse
the co-authorship, taking back the signature. To recap, the faction
objected to the order of forming electoral commissions, particularly to
involvement of judges in them. It also presented proposals of forming
the parliament with 100% proportional electoral order, holding parallel
electronic votion in elections and using mechanism of staining voters’
fingers with ink. It was mentioned at the committee sitting that
conclusions of experts of the Venice Commission of the Council of
Europe and the OSCE Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Office
concerning both above-mentioned package and particularly reservations
of “Ardaroutiun” are also expected soon. After the NA adopts the
package in the first reading, the Standing Committee on State and
Legal Issues intends to initiate enlarged parliament hearings as well.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MOST PART OF FRUIT TREES OF LORI MARZ FROZEN

Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006

VANADZOR, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The most part of fruit trees of the
marz of Lori, especially of the region of Alaverdi, was frozen as
a consequence of hard rains of recent days. Volodia Buniatian, the
Chief of the Agriculture and Nature Protection Department of the
Lori Governor’s Office informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent about
it. According to his data, rains will continue till May 10.

GDP GROWS BY 8% IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY-MARCH

Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-March 2006, Armenia’s GDP in
market prices made 266 bln 145.5 mln drams (about 591.4 mln USD),
which exceeds the respective index of last year by 8%. According
to the RA National Statistical Service, GDP index-deflator made
99%. Industrial production amounted to 137 bln 928.1 mln drams,
declining by 4.7% on the same period of last year, while production
without diamonds amounted to 137 bln 271.1 mln drams, growing by
1.1%. Gross agricultural output made 40 bln 202.7 mln drams, growing by
3.5% compared with January-March of last year, construction – 27 bln
863.4 mln drams, growing by 25.1%. In January-March 2006, Armenia’s
foreign trade made 606.4 mln USD or by 7% more than in the same
months of last year. The same indices without diamonds made 506.2 mln
USD and 18.4%. Exports amounted to 184.4 mln USD, declining by 5.6%,
exports without diamonds – 138.1 mln USD, increasing by 2.7%. Imports
made 422 mln USD, growing by 13.6%, imports without diamonds – 368
mln USD, growing by 25.6%. Retail trade made 148 bln 281.9mln drams,
increasing by 13.6%, while services – 96 bln 64.5 mln drams, increasing
by 22.1%. Consumer prices index made 99.1% in January-March 2006 on
the same months of last year, index of manufacturers’ production –
92.4%. The average monthly salary made 55.586 thousand drams in Armenia
in the period under review or by 17.6% more than in the same months
of last year. The monetary incomes of the population amounted to 312
bln 792 mln drams, increasing by 16%, monetary expenditures – 326 bln
800.4 mln drams, exceeding by 18.3% the respective index of last year.

ARMENIAN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION GROWS BY 3.5% IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2006

Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-March 2006, the RA gross
agricultural output made 40.2 bln drams (about 89.3 mln USD) in current
prices, which exceeds the index of the same period of last year by
3.5%. As of April 1, 6,763 ha was sown with spring cultured plants
against 3,209 as of the same day of last year, 4,585 ha of which was
sown with grain crops and groats (in 2005 – 900 ha), 1,397 ha – with
potato (1,473 ha), 722 ha – with truck crops (765 ha), and 59 ha was
sown with fodder crops (in 2005 – 66 ha). The production volumes of
main agricultural foodstuffs, except eggs, increased in January-March
2006 compared with the same period of last year. Meat and poultry
production exceeded the index of the same period of 2005 by 2 thousand
tons or 11.3%, milk production – by 5.8 thousand tons or 7.5%. Fish
catch amounted to 261.4 mln drams (131.7 tons) in January-March 2006,
exceeding by 8.4% the respective index of 2005 (in comparable prices).

COOPERATION AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN NATIONAL CENTER FOR ARMENIAN SME DEVELOPMENT AND INECOBANK

Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The foundation “National Center for
Development of Armenian Small and Medium Enterprises (SME)” and
Inecobank on April 27 signed a agreement on cooperation. According
to the foundation’s press service, the purpose of the agreement is
to solve the problem of insufficent pledge in providing credits in
Armenian marzes, particularly in remote and border areas, through the
Center’s Credit Guarantees Program. The remote and border areas make up
80-90% of the Armenian regions where this program is being implemented.

12th SITTING OF USATF ENVISAGED TO TAKE PLACE IN AUTUMN

Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The 12th sitting of the US-Armenia Task
Force (USATF) was held in Yerevan on May 2. The RA Minister of Finance
and Economy Vardan Khachatrian stated during the press conference
following the sitting that the sides mainly addressed the Millennium
Challenge Program, investment encouragement issues, problems that
hinder the development of Armenia’s trade and the microeconomic
situation in the country. The minister noted that problems of
agriculture, especially those related to irrigation systems and the
energy sector were discussed as well. According to US Coordinator
for Europe and Eurasia Tom Adams, the discussions of all issues of
bilateral interest were held at high level. It is envisaged to hold
the the next – 13th sitting of the USATF in September-October. The
Armenian side proposed that it should be held in Armenia again. The
USATF was established in 2000 in order to bring to institutional level
the intergovernmental dialogs on further development of bilateral
economic cooperation and increasing the efficiency of assistance
programs implemented by the US government in Armenia. USATF convenes
two sittings annually – in Washington and Yerevan. Over the past
decade, the US government has implemented various development and
humanitarian programs of over 1.6 bln USD in Armenia.

12th SITTING OF USATF STARTS WORK IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The 12th sitting of the US-Armenia Task
Force (USATF) started its work in Yerevan on May 2. The sitting is
chaired by the RA Minister of Finance and Economy Vardan Khachatrian
and the US Coordinator for Europe and Eurasia Tom Adams. The
sitting participants will discuss issues of bilateral interest,
present the process of programs implemented up to now within the
framework of cooperation and clarify issues related to the programmed
measures. According to the press service of the RA Ministry of Finance
and Economy, the measures to encourage Armenia’s economic development,
democratic reforms, issues related to the Millennium Challenge Program,
the macroeconomic policy and long-term development promotion programs,
as well as tax and customs sector reforms are on the agenda of
the USATF’s sitting. Problems of agriculature, science, education,
the judicial and energy sectors, the fight against terrorism and
other programs of mutual importance will also be discussed during
the sitting.

HIP-HOP CONCERT – FLAGSTAFF ARIZONA – MAY 5, 2006

Arizona Reporter, AZ
May 2 2006

Venue: The Boardwalk | Address: 26 South San Francisco | Time: 8:00pm

Where: Flagstaff, AZ — Find your way to the Boardwalk for Cinco De
Mayo Friday, May 5, 2006 for a night with the hip hop scene. Come
hear these artist who will be sharing experiences and making music.

The Show will take place at The Boardwalk Nightclub and Bar (26 S.

Sanfrancisco St) in Flagstaff. Doors open at 8PM and there will be
a $5.00 Cover at the door. more info: 480.829.0607

Live Performances by:

APOLLO

Apollo is a 21 year old hip hop artist, raised in Bergen County, New
Jersey and now resides in Phoenix. He was born in Jerusalem, Israel
and raised in North Jersey. Apollo takes pride in his Armenian roots
and has been involved with different organizations to bring awareness
to the Armenian Genocide where 1.5 million of his own people were
massacred. Apollo appeared on MTV’S TRUE LIFE (I’m a Battle Rapper)
which aired on July 14th, 2005.

Apollo is also featured in the May Issue of VIBE MAGAZINE on page 66.

Apollo also is part of the 2005 Rap Olympics team. Apollo recently
opened up on the Power 92.3 Cassidy/Pussycat Dolls/ NB Rydaz/
Lil Rob concert. He is the 2004 Source Magazine’s “Unsigned Hype”
Battle Champion (which he won at America West Arena in front of 15,000
people at the AND1 game). Radio? He’s been on NYC’S #1 station (Z100)
and has made 22 LIVE appearances on Phoenix’s POWER 92.3 (including
promo rotation). Magazines? Apollo has been featured in Urban Magazine,
XPOZ Magazine, Press Box Magazine, The Muvement, Star Ledger Newspaper,
Arizona Republic, Vibe Magazine, etc. Internet?

Apollo has been featured on over 30 websites and held the #1 spot
on the National MP3 Charts for two weeks straight, and in the Top 50
Charts out of over 250,000 artists on Myspace. Including signed acts.

[the rest omitted]

ATTEMPT OF ILLEGAL IMPORT OF OPIUM FROM IRAN PREVENTED

Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. RA State Customs Committee employees
prevented at the Meghri Customs Center a case of illegal import of
about 300 grams of opium type of drugs. As Noyan Tapan was informed by
the information service of the committee, the drug was found out in
pockets of trousers of citizen of Iran Catrina Aslanian, a passenger
of a bus arrived from Iran. Preliminary investigation is implemented
at the National Security Service on the criminal action brought on
the occasion of the fact.

RA BILL “ON NATIONAL MINORITIES” WORKED OUT

Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The seminar organized on May 2 by the
“Cooperation for the Sake of Open Society” initiative was dedicated
to the discussion of the Armenian authorities’ policy towards the
national minorities living in the country and to the discussion of
the bill “On National Minorities”. According to Hranush Kharatian,
the author of the bill, Head of the Department on Issues of National
Minorities and Religion attached to RA government, the preparation
of the bill became necessary after signing of the “International
Convention on National Minorities” by Armenia. She mentioned that the
rights of the national minorities had been already stipulated by a
number of RA laws, including the Constitution and the law “On Working
Activity”. H.Kharatian said that the bill “On National Minorities”
envisages free use of the national language, possibility to get
education in the native tongue, preservation of the cultural values,
etc. She drew attention to one of the clauses of the bill relating to
the formation of the electoral bodies of the communities. According
to H.Kharatian, this circumstance will contribute to more effective
cooperation of the national minorities with the executive power.