Month: November 2006

SPECIAL FORCES DEPLOYED IN SAMTSKHE JAVAKHETIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
21.11.2006 21:42 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armed forces of the Georgian Ministry of Interior
numbering 150 servicemen were deployed in the Armenian-inhabited
region of Samtskhe Javakhetia after the rally held November 20
in support of Vahagn Chakhalyan, the director of United Javakhk
democratic alliance. The rally was held at the checkpoint of Bavra
at the Georgian-Armenian border and blocked the Gyumri-Akhalkalaki
highway. The rally participants urged to simplify the customs
regime for the Javakheti Armenians at crossing the Armenian state
border. According to the source, the special forces were deployed
in the region to frighten and exert psychological pressure on local
Armenians. The alliance said that inspirited by support from outside
the policemen and national security officers of the Akhalkalaki region
and Bogdanovka attempted to upset the action but despite provocations
the rally proceeded in a civilized way.
Some 700 people took part in the rally held November 20 from 12.30 to
7 p.m. The checkpoint was blocked by 100 cars. The Gyumri-Akhalkalaki
highway of also blocked. Exception was made for those cars which
conveyed small or ill children. According to the alliance, the drivers
and their passengers agreed with the demands and joined the rally
participants, reports IA Regnum.

ARMENIA’S MEMBERSHIP IN CSTO AND COOPERATION WITH NATO DON’T CONFLICT
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.11.2006 12:50 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Armenia should multiply its security elements,”
Secretary of the Security Council at the RA President, Defense Minister
Serge Sargsyan told reporters before departing for Brest to participate
in the sittings of the Council of Defense Ministers and Council of the
Security Secretaries of the CIS member states. The Minister stated that
‘the membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
and cooperation with the NATO do not conflict’. “It’s time to realize
that military and political alliances are formed not against anything.
The NATO, for example, was formed not against any other structure but
for the security of Europe. The Collective Security Treaty Organization
was signed not against the NATO but for ensuring security of the CSTO
member states,” Serge Sargsyan said, reports IA Regnum.

OSCE MG: YEREVAN AGREED ON PRESIDENTIAL MEETING IN MINSK
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.11.2006 13:02 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov
said today in Yerevan that the meetings of the mediators with the RA
President and Foreign Minister were efficient. Before departing for
Baku Yuri Merzlyakov told reporters in Zvartnots airport that the
Armenian side agreed on the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani
Presidents November 28 within the CIS summit in Minsk. According to
the Russian Co-chair, “we should receive the essential confirmation
from the Azeri President as well, though the Azeri FM has already
made an appropriate statement.”
When commenting on the absence of U.S. mediator Matthew Bryza Yuri
Merzlyakov said, “The Co-chairs divided responsibilities and our
American counterpart will meet with Arkady Ghukasian in the U.S. On the
whole the year is coming to an end with an optimistic estimation and
if we manage to maintain the mood of the sides we will meet the year
of 2007 with good outlook. Although elections restrain the negotiation
process in a way we think that the achievement of the current year
will alleviate the election period,” reports Mediamax.

INFORMAL MEETING OF RA AND AZERI DEFENSE MINISTERS MAY BE HELD IN BREST
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.11.2006 13:14 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The meeting of the Armenian and Azeri Defense
Ministers may be held within the framework of the sitting of the
Council of CIS Defense Ministers. As reported by the Agency of
National News with a reference to the CIS Executive Committee, two
months ago a meeting of the Defense Ministers was held at the border
of the two for the first time after a long break. The possibility
of the dialogue was discussed for three days during the meeting of
CIS Executive Secretary Vladimir Rushaylo and Secretary of the RA
Security Council Serge Sargsyan. The meeting to all appearance will
be informal and will be held after the sitting of the Council of CIS
Defense Ministers scheduled for Thursday in Brest.

OSCE MG HAS EXTRA IDEAS ON KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.11.2006 13:21 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs have extra ideas on
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement but over the confidentiality
of the negotiation process they cannot be divulged, said OSCE MG
Russian Co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov on arrival in Baku November 22. The
diplomat also informed that U.S. Co-chair Matthew Bryza will meet with
Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady Ghukasian in Los Angeles and over
this reason he did not join the mediators in the regional visit. At the
same time he voiced hope that all 3 Co-chairs will be present at the
meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani President in Minsk November 28.
French mediator Bernard Fassier said that the negotiation process
is going on. “We met with the Foreign Ministers three times within
several weeks. We are trying to build a wall in order to create a basis
for the future agreement. Each time we add a brick,” he underscored,
reports Trend news agency.

ARMENIAN WRESTLERS IN FRANCE
A1+
[01:20 pm] 22 November, 2006
Tomorrow a wrestling competition will start in Nice, France, dedicated
to the memory of World and Olympic champion Henry Dulagan. Armenian
sportsmen will also participate in it. Graeco-Roman wrestlers Vahan
Juharyan, Khosrov Meliqyan (60 kg), Arman Atikyan (66 kg), Arsen
Julfalakyan (74 kg), Tigran Sahakyan (84 kg) and Vahram Galstyan
(96 kg) have left for France.
As for free-stylers, Armenia will be represented by Arthur Araqelyan
(60 kg), Souren Markosyan (66 kg), Garsevan Vardanyan (74 kg),
Haroutyunyan Yenoqyan (84 kg) and Edgar Yenoqyan (96 kg).

SMALL GOVERNMENT IN THE WORKSHOP OF THE SHOEMAKER
A1+
[01:40 pm] 22 November, 2006
64-year-old master Hakob is one of the best shoemakers of Nor Aresh,
as the residents of the district claim.
He has been doing his favorite job for the last 50 years. He started
it quitting the school in the 7th form and joining a local master in
order to study the trade.
“What shall I do at home? I work here, and time passes”, the master
explains his wish to come to work every day. People of different
age visit the shoemaker. Often he repairs shoes free of charge, if
the owners do not have money. “I can’t let them freeze in the cold”,
he says.
About 3-5 customers come to him every day.
Nevertheless, the work is not what it used to be.
People prefer to buy new shoes instead of repairing old ones. “There
are cases when I don’t have anything to do for weeks”. During those
days he makes his workshop a kind of National Assembly or Government
where people discuss different issues and offer solutions. Master
Hakob’s friends visit him, and they discuss different problems
of their lives, hoping that the experiences master will give them
valuable advice.
At the end of the conversation the shoemaker said, “Let the country
be in peace, let our compatriots return to their homeland, and let
the young achieve their aims”.

AMERICANS WANT TO LIVE IN ARMENIA
A1+
[01:53 pm] 22 November, 2006
There are 77 Americans working in the schools, Universities, NGOs and
medical institutions of Armenia. They are all representatives of the
Peace Corps who live in Armenia voluntarily for two years and help the
Armenians to better understand the American way of thinking in the
market, health, education and ecology fields. The volunteers of the
Peace Corps realize small projects costing not more than 5000 USD each.
In the Business center of the American University in Armenia the eighth
annual presentation of the Peace Corps organizations took place. Arshak
Hovhannisyan, the head of the business developing program in Armenia,
said, “Not all the programs are perfect. All of them have positive and
negative sides. On the whole I’m pleased with the programs”. He added
that the Peace Corps does not carry out large projects like the USAID.
US deputy Ambassador to Armenia Anthony Godfry who was also present at
the ceremony, mentioned, “This is the third fair I have had the chance
to work in. The presence of the NGOs here presupposes that the links
established are valuable. Today we will represent to you 77 citizens
of the USA who look for ways to work more efficiently in Armenia”.
The US Peace Corps was established in 1961 and aims at supporting
the people of other countries: helping them to better understand
the American culture and helping the Americans to better understand
those countries.
The Peace Corps has acted in Armenia since 1992.
During the last 14 years 529 volunteers have worker in Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KHACHQAR ERECTED FOR THE FRIENDSHIP OF ARMENIANS AND RUSSIANS
A1+
[02:43 pm] 22 November, 2006
In the town of Barnaul, region of Altay, the crosses of the newly
built church St. Hripsime were anointed by Bishop Nersisyan of
the Armenian Diocese of Russia and New Nakhijevan. A red khachqar
brought from Armenia was also anointed. It was donated by Aramayis
Martirosyan. The khachqar was erected near the church in memory of
the long-lasting friendship of Armenians and Russians.
Bishop Maxim, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Altay,
President of the Barnaul Duma S. Krasnov, as well as representatives
of the city municipality were present at the ceremony.

DEPUTIES CANNOT ENGAGE IN CHARITY
A1+
[01:30 pm] 22 November, 2006
NA Deputy Hranoush Hakobyan does not want the electors to be misled,
“Some people say this or that deputy carried out a charity act. The
rights and responsibilities of NA deputies do not include charity;
it is not our responsibility. We get a salary of only 500 USD which is
barely enough for our own needs. A question rises: how can we engage
in charity?”
According to the deputy, it would be more correct for the journalists
to say that a businessman (who might also be a deputy) carried out
a charity act. “In this case it is clear that a businessman can have
income and can do whatever he wants. These are two different things”,
the deputy told “A1+” complaining that the people are misled by wrong
formulations. “When you meet your electors, they think you must give
them money from your own pocket”.
The head of the NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture
and Youth thinks that any act of charity carried out by a deputy or
a party in the pre-election period is bribery. “Charity is what you
do and keep silent about. But if you do something hoping to get votes
for it tomorrow, that has nothing to do with charity”.