Month: May 2008

Armenia and Iran interested in deepening economic cooperation

armradio.am
06.05.2008 16:39

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received the Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran Seid Ali Saghaian.

Issued related to expanding the Armenian-Iranian cooperation in
different spheres, implementation of new programs were discussed.

`The Islamic Republic of Iran fully supports the newly elected
President of Armenia and the Government led by you in all the
directions that have been proclaimed a priority in the new Government
Program,’ Seid Ali Aaghaian underlined.

The parties attached importance to encouraging investments,
intensification of communication between businessmen, ensuring a
favorable environment for their activity.

The Armenian Prime Minister and the Iranian Ambassador stressed the
importance of founding Consulates in Tabriz and Kapan, an agreement on
which has already been reached.

The interlocutors turned to the issue of preparing the recurrent
sitting of the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental Cooperation
Commission to be held in summer of the current year.

`We are interested in and will do our best to deepen the economic
cooperation with neighboring Iran and to raise it to a qualitatively
new level, which derives from the interests of our peoples. On one
hand, it will increase the security of our countries and peoples, on
the other hand, it will encourage economic growth,’ Tigran Sargsyan
said.

Branch of Agrarian Academy on the basis of Agrarian College

07-05-2008 12:59:21 – KarabakhOpen

Recently agreement was reached with the rector of the Agrarian Academy
of Armenia to set up a branch of the academy in Stepanakert. As part of
the agreement, the department of agriculture at Artsakh State
University should be closed.

`The branch will operate from September on the basis of the agrarian
college,’ said the NKR minister of education and science Vladik
Khachatryan.

`If the branch of the Agrarian Academy is successful, we will start
thinking about opening a branch of the University of Architecture in
Stepanakert,’ said Prime Minister Ara Harutiunyan.

May 7 is the Radio Day

armradio.am
07.05.2008 16:51

The Armenian Radio is celebrating its 82nd anniversary today, which is
the recurrent vivid proof of the fact that for decades the Armenian
Radio has been the best friend and a preferable source of information
for Armenian listeners in both Armenia and abroad. Today, in this age
of rapid development of information technologies, when the world is
flooded by most various means of transferring information, millions of
our compatriots are still linked to the Motherland through the Armenian
Radio.

Today we are not alone in the air space, which we ` continuers of the
traditions of the Armenian Radio ` welcome, since competition was the
driving force that became an impetus for the Public Radio to find and
occupy its proper place in the new reality. `Over the past few years
the leadership of the Public Radio managed to implement serious
technical re-equipment. Today almost all the equipments of the Public
Radio are digitalized, the fund of the Radio has been digitalized,’
said Varuzhan Olkinyan, commentator of the Public Radio of Armenia.

`No matter how much the television and digital technologies develop,
the radio will never yield its positions. It has gone through many
trials and survived thanks to the fact that it carries out its function
of educating and providing information without taking time form the
listener, a factor, which is very important in this high-speed age.
Thus, the news about the past age and the death of radio are extremely
exaggerated,’ Director of the Radio Van Shushanik Arevshatyan said.
According to her, the future belongs to the radio, and radio’s speech
is very influential and important. `Words can cure or kill a man. Once
the voice of Levitan was inspiring hope in people, and while there is
this magic and psychological influence of the voice, radio will exist,’
Shushanik Arevshatyan.

Yerevan is on air¦ These words have sounded for 82 years, spreading the
voice of the Armenian state all over the world. Millions of Armenians
in different sites of the world communicate with the Motherland and
feel the pulse of Armenia thanks to the Armenian Radio. Today we
congratulate our partners from all the radio stations, wishing
uninterrupted broadcasting.

Georgia afraid Armenia may share Russia’s stance on the issue of
Abkhazia

armradio.am
06.05.2008 17:07

Georgia calls on Armenia to demonstrate a maximally constructive
position during the voting on the Georgia-proposed draft resolution
`Status of the Forcefully Displaced Persons during the
Georgian-Abkhazian Conflict’ during tomorrow’s sitting of the UN
General Assembly, Georgian Envoy to Armenia Georgy Saganelidze declared
in Yerevan today.

`We are anxious that Armenia may share Russia’s stance on the issue of
Abkhazia and vote against the resolution,’ Georgy Saganelidze said.

In his words, Georgia aspires to establish friendly relations with all
neighbors, at the same time not forcing them to support their position
on a number of issues. The Envoy noted that Georgia comprehends
Armenia’s neutral position disagreements between Georgia and Russia on
a number of issues.

The Georgian Envoy avoided assessing Georgia’s actions in case Armenia
votes against the resolution, noting that the anti-Georgian position of
the Armenian side is pregnant with consequences in the relations
between the two countries.

Georgy Saganelidze informed that the Georgian Embassy negotiated the
issue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, but it did not
receive a clear response, which is the reason of the fears of the
Georgian side.

Commenting on Georgia’s positive vote on the resolution not deriving
from Armenia’s interests, Georgy Saganelidze declared that `Georgia has
no right to struggle for its territorial integrity, not supporting the
territorial integrity of other countries.’

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia Fund Chair to be awarded Ellis Island Medal of Honor

armradio.am
07.05.2008 17:40

Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region announces that its president of the
board, Maria Mehranian, has been awarded the Ellis Island Medal of
Honor by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations. Mehranian will
be honored at a special ceremony at the Ellis Island in New York on
Saturday, May 10, 2008.

The Ellis Island Medal of Honor is designed to pay homage to the
immigrant experience, as well as for individual achievement. The medal
is awarded to U.S. citizens from various ethnic backgrounds. The
honorees are remarkable Americans who exemplify outstanding qualities
in both their personal and professional lives, while continuing to
preserve the richness of their particular heritage. NECO was
established by Mr. William Denis Fugazy in 1984.

The Ellis Island Medals of Honor are sanctioned by the United States
Congress and recipients’ names are listed in the Congressional Record.
When Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) sponsored a resolution to
officially recognize NECO’s Ellis Island Medal of Honor, she said, `Our
heritage gives us roots. It brings meaning to our lives and binds us to
each other.’ The Senate Resolution ` passed unanimously ` applauds the
Medal of Honor for celebrating `the richness and diversity of American
life’.

Since 2004, Mehranian has been serving as the president of Armenia
Fund, Inc. in a volunteer capacity. Since its inception the Fund has
rendered more than $190 million in large scale infrastructure
development projects as well as short term humanitarian aid. Since
2004, the Fund has registered an unprecedented level of growth in the
Western U.S. both in the number of donors and total amount raised.

Mehranian is the Managing Partner and Chief Financial Officer of Los
Angeles based Cordoba Corporation, a civil engineering and construction
management firm specializing in educational facilities, transportation
systems, and water infrastructure.

Mehranian also serves on the La Canada Planning Commission. The
municipal entity is responsible for reviewing proposed development and
land use requests with the mandate to preserve and improve the quality
of life in the city. Mehranian is also a volunteer board member at the
California Hospital Medical Center.

Changes in the new season
06.05.2008 17:47

Karen Ghazaryan
"Radiolur"

The Public Television and Radio Company of Armenia will start a new
season in September. `In the new season the cultural, political and
educational programs will increase on the first channel of the Public
Radio. The Radio Theatre will be restored. The second channel of the
Public Radio ` Radio Yerevan ` will remain more entertaining,’
President of the Council of Public Television and Radio Company of
Armenia Alexan Harutyunyan told a press conference today.

According to Alexan Haarutyunyan, from 2009 the Public Radio will
restart the activity of the Symphonic Orchestra of the Public Radio,
the National Ensemble after Aram Merangulyan and the `Arevik’
children’s group.

There will be more political programs on Public Television: great
attention will be paid to political debates, which will be aired every
day. According to Alexan Harutyunyan, from 2009 the Public TV will stop
broadcasting Latin American serials.

In the new season `Nor Alik’ will turn into a cultural channel.
Alexander Harutyunyan noted that only the nature of the channel will
change, the name will remain unchanged. Classical music will come to
replace the contemporary music, more attention will be paid to cultural
news. The channel will broadcast high-quality Armenian films, including
documentaries about art, history, literature, architecture, the
Renaissance.. `Currently we are cooperating with `Yerevan’ and
`Hayfilm’ studios. Besides the "Master and Margarita," `Doctor
Zhivago,’ `Hero of our time,’ `Yesenin,’ `The Golden Calf’ and other
classical works will be shown, Alexand Harutyunyan said, adding that
they will cooperate with the Russian `Kultura’ channel.

The Public Television will pay a special attention to football. All the
matches of Euro-2008 will be aired live in summer. The Public TV and
`Nor Alik’ will allocate eight hours to Olympic Games. According to
Alexan Harutuyunyan, the Public TV has purchased the license to
broadcast the matches of FIFA 2010. The broadcasting of the Champions
League will also continue.

Speaking about new films, Alexan Harutyunyan said the contemporary
version of the `Song of the First Love’ will be shot through
cooperation with the Russian side. In 2009 it is expected to shoot the
`Sardarapat’ film comprised of 4-5 parts.

In the near future it will become clear who will represent Armenia at
Junior Eurovision 2008 Song Contest. President of the Council of
Television and Radio Company of Armenia Alexan Harutyunyan informed
that children have already presented a number of songs. This time the
participant will be chosen through competition. `Unlike last year, this
year we have plenty of time to prepare. This time people will elect
Armenia’s entrant at the Junior Eurovision,’ he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WORLD ARMENIAN CONGRESS PLANS TO HOLD ALL ARMENIAN ACTION FOR PURPOSE
OF ADOPTING UNITED RESOLUTION ON NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

YEREVAN, MAY 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Aram Sargsian, the Chairman of the
Democratic Party of Armenia, called RA President for holding a serious
all Armenian representation conference, during which a variant of
Nagorno Karabakh settlement acceptable for the Armenian side will be
formed. "This is a very important moment, we have no right to miss it,
as it is a new government, a new power and they are empowered to do
it," A. Sargsian said at the May 7 press conference.

A. Sargsian also said that the World Armenian Congress, the Deputy
Chairman of which is he, is going to hold an all Armenian action.
Within the framework of the action during one day representation
meetings will be held in all Armenian communities of about 30-40
countries, which will discuss and adopt a united resolution on Nagorno
Karabakh settlement. "It is very important, as it will be the first
case when the Armenian side will confidently present Armenian society’s
united position over that issue," the World Armenian Congress Deputy
Chairman said.

Armen Gevorgyan appointed member of the CIS Economic Council

armradio.am
06.05.2008 18:02

RA President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on relieving Mnauk Topuzyan
from responsibilities of the member of the Economic Council of the
Commonwealth of Independent States.

According to another presidential decree, RA Deputy Prime Minister,
Minister of Territorial Administration Armen Gevorgyan was appointed
member of the Economic Council of the Commonwealth of Independent
States, President’s Press Office reported.

Kentucky becomes 41st state to recognize Armenian Genocide

armradio.am
06.05.2008 18:06

Kentucky Governor Steven L. Beshear proclaimed an issue recognizing the
Armenian Genocide. The "Bluegrass State" proclamation brings the number
of states to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide to forty-one.

The powerfully worded proclamation designated April 24, 2008, as "Day
of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide" in the state of Kentucky,
noting that "recognition of the ninety-third anniversary of this
genocide is paramount to guarding against the repetition of future
genocides and educating people across the Commonwealth about the
atrocities of these horrific events."

"Gov. Beshear’s proclamation reflects the growing sentiments of U.S.
government officials to speak with moral clarity on the Armenian
Genocide," stated ANCA Eastern Region Director Karine Birazian. "The
burgeoning Kentucky Armenian community’s initiative serves as an
inspiration to Armenian American activists across the U.S. to redouble
efforts to end Turkey’s gag rule on U.S. affirmation of this crime
against humanity."

Arthur Baghdasaryan meets with the Ambassador of Iran

armradio.am
06.05.2008 18:20

The Secertary of the Presidential Council on National security Arthur
Baghdasaryan received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia Seid Ali Saghaian. The
Ambassador congratulated Arthur Baghdasaryan on his appointment to the
high post of the Secretary of the national Security Council at RA
President’s Office and conveyed the greetings of the Secretary of the
Supreme Council of National Security of Iran Sayid Jalal and an
invitation to visit Iran.

Thanking the guest for the greetings and the invitation, Arthur
Baghdasaryan asked to give his regards to his Iranian counterpart,
noting that he is ready to host the latter in Armenia.

The interlocutors turned to the further development of the friendly
Armenian-Iranian cooperation, issues of deepening the relations in the
spheres of regional security, transport, energy and other fields.