ABRAHAM RETAINS TITLE
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[12:25 pm] 25 September, 2006
Armenian professional boxer Arthur Abraham retained his title of IBF
middleweight champion for the third time in 2006. This time he beat
Edison Miranda from Colombia.
Abraham overcame a broken jaw in round five and numerous low blows from
Miranda to score the win. He came out on top of all three scorecards,
winning by scores of 114-109, 115-109, and 116-109. Miranda suffered
the first defeat in his career.
"HALF THE COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD TODAY WOULD NOT EXIST"
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[01:27 pm] 25 September, 2006
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian participated in the 10th Bertelsmann
Forum, held in Berlin, Germany, on September 22, 23.
The one and a half day conference convened on Saturday afternoon with
opening remarks by Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, French Prime
Minister Dominique de Villepin, EU Commission President Jose Manuel
Barroso and Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt. The audience of
100+ political leaders, which included former German Foreign Minister
Hans-Dietrich Genscher and US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger,
heard perspectives on Europe’s Strategic Responses, as the conference
is entitled.
Following the opening session, Minister Oskanian participated in a
panel on The Balkans and the Black Sea – a Litmus Test for Europe. The
panel also included the presidents of Bulgaria, Romania and Azerbaijan,
and the Prime Minister of Montenegro.
Throughout the discussion, Oskanian affirmed that the region’s litmus
test for Europe would be an effective European Neighborhood Policy,
the functionality and integrity of the Black Sea region, and practical
approaches to conflicts.
During a lively discussion on Kosovo, Minister Oskanian cautioned
against denying peoples their right to self-determination, simply
out of political expediency. If the world were guided by a fear of
setting precedents, he said, half the countries in the world today
would not exist. But there has to be strict criteria, he said, and
the chief principle should be whether the state can claim the moral
authority to rule.
The Bertelsmann Foundation is sponsored by the Bertelsmann Group,
the world’s largest publishing company.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
MEDAL TO THE AHARONYANS
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[02:05 pm] 25 September, 2006
Mr. and Mrs. Levon and Bella Aharonyans, Armenian philanthropists
from Tehran, have been awarded the "St. Grigor the Illuminator"
medal by Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Garegin II, for
many years of beneficent activity.
"Thanks to your activity a number of schools are reconstructed in
different towns of Armenia. As a token of gratitude one of them
has been named after you. You are the well-deserved children of the
Armenian community of Iran", the Catholicos said.
THE TURKS ARE LEAVING FOR LEBANON WHILE THEIR CASE IS BEING HEARD IN STRASBOURG
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[02:34 pm] 25 September, 2006
Despite the complaints of the Armenian community of Lebanon about
the allocation of the Turkish peace-keepers in the country, the
troupes will leave for Lebanon today. They will consist of a thousand
soldiers. 400 of them represent the naval forces, 500 are infantrymen
and the rest are civilians. By the way, Turkey intends to "use" the
self-proclaimed "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" for sending
soldiers to Lebanon.
By the way, today the plenary session of the European Parliament
starts in Strasbourg where the report of the Foreign Committee of
the Parliament about the reforms in Turkey will be discussed.
In this document the European legislators criticized severely the
Turkish authorities and especially their steps towards the improvement
of the free expression of opinions, and the improvement of relations
with religious and national minorities and Cyprus.
With the same document the members of the European Parliament called
on Turkey to open the border with Armenia and to recognize the Armenian
Genocide. Most probably the heated discussions will concern this point.
According to Hilda Choboyan, head of the Hay Dat European Office,
two political powers of the Parliament, the socialists, and the
liberalists, intend to exclude the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide from the list of commitments of Turkey, Radio station
"Azatutyun" reports.
The socialists are the second in the Parliament by the number of
deputies. The first place belongs to the Christian-democrats who,
according to Hilda Choboyan, defend the requirement of recognizing
the Armenian Genocide.
"WE MUST NOT DISCUSS ALL THE ISSUES ON THE SAME LEVEL"
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[03:30 pm] 25 September, 2006
Participant of the third conference "Armenia-Diaspora" Oshin
Qeshishyan who is the editor of "Armenian Observer" weekly which
has been published in Los Angeles for the last 36 years, thinks that
"the same copied materials were represented during the conference,
whereas we needed specialists more than speeches".
"It is impossible to hold a conference with 1000 participants. There
were Armenians from different countries and continents, with different
problems. For example, an Armenian from France is interested
in completely different problems from those of an Armenian from
Iran. That’s why we must not discuss all the issues on the same
level. It is noteworthy that no reference was made to the problems
of the Diaspora with the exception of the problem of preserving the
self-consciousness", Oshin Qeshishyan said.
As for the issue of preservation of originality of the Armenians, Oshin
Qeshishyan mentioned that in California, besides "Armenian Observer", a
number of other periodicals are published; there are Armenian schools,
three Armenians private round-the-clock TV Channels, etc. Nevertheless,
he did not deny the fact that if there weren’t immigrants from Armenia,
the Armenian community of California would soon be "exhausted". For
example, in one of the state Universities of Glendale where he works
as lecturer, eight thousand of the 20 thousand students are Armenians,
of which six thousand have migrated from Armenia and study excellently.
As for "Armenian Observer", the editor said, "Although it is published
in English, it is still an Armenian newspaper as it refers to the
national problems of the local Armenians. It is published in English
as in Armenian it would not be so popular. And now, it is read by
many senators, congressmen and even common Americans. Thus we tell
them about us".
EAFJD: TURKEY THREATENS EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS
PanARMENIAN.Net
25.09.2006 15:05 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Socialist and Liberal groups demand to suppress
the paragraph on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a
precondition to the adhesion of Turkey. Under the pressure exercised by
Turkey, the Socialist and Liberal groups -while being the two principal
promoters of the paragraph in question during the vote of September 4
in the Committee on Foreign Affairs – have performed an about turn by
submitting an amendment which aims to suppress the precondition. These
amendments do not enjoy the unanimity of their groups.
"Turkey has imposed these amendments by intimidating certain members of
the two groups. Several parliamentarians close to the file have even
been personally threatened" declared Hilda Tchoboian, the president
of the European Armenian Federation.
"Turkey, while not in Europe, is attempting to revert and direct
the political line of our European representatives and is imposing
its denial. The recognition of the genocide as a precondition to
the adhesion was adopted in the same terms in the resolution of
September 2005. We warn against this risky strategy which will
offend the European nations in order "not to offend" a state which
is definitively negationist" concluded Hilda Tchoboian.
EU THREE TO COME TO ARMENIA
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[03:46 pm] 25 September, 2006
On October 2 the delegation of the EU Three will arrive in Yerevan
together with Foreign Minister of Finland Erkki Tuomioja.
The delegation will consist of European Union Commissioner for External
Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner,
EU special envoy to Caucasus Peter Semneby, German State Secretary of
Foreign Affairs Gunter Glosser, the Ambassadors of Finland, Germany
and the European Commission to Armenia and other officials.
The delegation will meet President Robert Kocharyan and Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan.
OSCE CONSIDERS OBJECTIVITY OF ARMENIAN MEDIA OUTLETS
Panorama.am
14:16 23/09/06
OSCE Yerevan Office decided to educate the Armenian media outlets
to objectivity and advised to develop and use self-regulating
mechanisms. Yerevan Press Club and the Public TV joined OSCE in
this initiative.
Blanka Hanchilova, democracy development program head, mentioned that
not everything is possible to regulate with laws because they do not
fully reflect the reality and often are not implemented correctly. At
the doors of elections, OSCE wants to raise the importance of
self-regulating mechanisms.
It should be mentioned that Public TV heads are going to deliver most
speeches. Thus, the leaders of those media outlets which are funded
by the state and often reflect the authorities’ dispositions are going
to speak about objectivity and freedom of speech. "A news media should
not be funded by the state to the level that it has preference against
others in the market, thus violating the principle of competition,"
Yerevan Press Club Chairman Boris Navasardyan said.
Public TV has appeared in such a situation and its heads should have
been concerned with that. But the executive director of the Public TV,
Alexander Arzumanyan, and Public TV board chairman, Alexan Harutunyan,
were more concerned with the outmoded microphones of the company.
Speaking about the necessity of such seminar, the head of Yerevan Press
Club indicated that the recent incidents of attacks on journalists,
the upcoming elections and some disputes between reporters and other
institutions have brought them to this idea.
Navasardyan pointed out to several self-regulating mechanisms and
said there should be ombudsman in the area.
BABKUKHANYAN PROHIBITS TO NAME HRANT KHACHATRYAN NEXT TO OLIGARCHIC-CRIMINAL SYSTEM
Panorama.am
16:36 23/09/06
"I do not allow to name Hrant Khachatryan next to oligarchic-criminal
system. That person with his 18 years of political record has proved
that he is the enemy of such oligarchic system," Haik Babukhanyan,
acting Constitutional Right Union (CRU) chairman said.
He said some one and two ex-members of CRU supporting the authorities
have said that Iravunk newspaper must get rid of Haik Babukhanyan’s
presence. Among such he mentioned the name of Karen Vardanyan who
was supposedly a member of Hrant Khacahtryan’s "team" and blamed
Babukhanyan in misapropriation of funds.
Babukhanyan said Vardanyan is expeled from the party after the
Supervision Committee of the party checked the his claims.
Babukhanyan repeatedly said, "The problem was not between me and Hrant
Khachatryan. The problem was between CRU and Iravunk newspaper on one
hand and the criminal-oligarchic system, on the other hand." He said
the authorities variously prosecuted Iravunk newspaper. "In 1996 the
office of the newspaper was closed. In 1999 I was arrested on unclear
claims. An attempt of assisnation against me was made in 2003.
After that they tried so to say "bribe" Iravunk newspaper. They also
tried to discredit and impose economic pressures on the newspaper. A
phase of terror started against me and reporters followed. And finally,
after my open letters, one and two ex-members say that Iravunk
newspaper should be freed from my presence," Babukhanyan continues.
The CRU acting chairman also said the oligarchic-criminal system
launched when Serzh Sargsyan joined Armenian Republican Party (HHK).
Babukhanyan said his party is ready to cooperate even with Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (Dashnakcutiun) on a condition that the
latter withdraws from the ruling coalition. Among possible allies,
CRU acting chairman mentioned the names of Alliance party, Orinats
Yerkir, National Unity and Justice Block.
However, he said there are problems with the "passive" disposition
of Justice Block. The only person with who Haik Babukhanyan sees not
borders of cooperation is Serzh Sargsyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
UNICEF, GOVERNMENT OF ARMENIA PROMOTE EDUCATION FOR MINORITY CHILDREN
Panorama.am
17:25 01/09/06
UNICEF and the Ministry of Education & Sciences of Armenia joined
their efforts Friday in promoting education for ethnic minority groups,
living in Armenia.
"The right to quality basic education is fundamental right of all
children in all communities," UNICEF Representative, Sheldon Yett
said in a ceremony marking the start of a new academic year in a
Kurdish-populated community of Alagyaz, 50km north of Armenia’s
capital. "Investing in the education of all its citizens is one of
the best investments a country can make. It is the lever with which
children can lift themselves out of poverty and participate fully in
their communities."
The UNICEF Representative noted that the Ministry of Education &
Sciences has promoted basic education for minority groups through
the distribution of textbooks in minority languages and through the
training of teachers in minority schools.
The event organized jointly with the Ministry of Education & Sciences
is part of the "Welcome, School!"
project under which UNICEF provided school and recreation supplies
to schools in Yezidi and Kurdish communities of Aragatsotn region.
A UNICEF-commissioned survey on the status of education among ethnic
minority groups of Armenia showed that children from vulnerable
communities, including those from ethnic minority groups, face serious
problems related to education. The school attendance rates for these
children are significantly lower than the national average with a
higher level of drop out after grade 8.
"In many instances, this situation is linked to attitudes and beliefs
that prevail in those communities," Yett said, adding that "parents
sometimes prefer that their child works to help earn family income
rather than allow the child to stay in the classroom." Girls are
particularly vulnerable in that situation. The survey revealed that
the majority of those children who do not continue studies after the
grade 8 are girls.
Traditional attitude held by the minority groups towards education is,
however, not the only barrier.
UNICEF and the Government of Armenia understand that for parents to
be willing to send their children to school, the latter must have
proper conditions and well-trained teaching staff, Yett said.
"Unfortunately, many schools today lack basic supplies and equipment
as well as professional teachers. Many children, particularly those
in rural areas, have to share textbooks which also are often outdated
and worn out."
The UNICEF Representative emphasized that "getting all children into
school and giving them appropriate quality education today will pay
enormous dividends for next generation."
Jointly with the Armenian Government UNICEF is trying to address
these problems through the provision of school supplies in vulnerable
communities, training teachers, promoting interactive teaching methods
at schools and actively participating in education and child welfare
reform.
"The Government of Armenia has always paid special attention to the
needs of ethnic minority groups. With support from international
organizations such as UNICEF the Ministry of Education & Sciences
has been trying to find solutions to education problems of minority
children. We have been able to meet some of our commitments
already this year by funding the reconstruction of schools in 3
minority-populated communities," Deputy Minister of Education &
Sciences Bagrat Yesayan noted, adding that "the support to minority
communities will continue."
By promoting education and encouraging every child to attend school,
UNICEF is trying to accelerate progress towards the achievement of
the Millennium Development Goals, that Armenia together with the rest
of international community pledged to meet by 2015.
UNICEF established its presence in Armenia in 1994.
UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate
for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic
needs and to expand their opportunities to meet their full potential.