Month: September 2008

982 WAGONS TRANSPORTED TO ARMENIA AFTER RESTORATION OF BYPASS THROUHG GORI-TBILISI RAILWAY BRIDGE

Noyan Tapan
Sep 1, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. 982 wagons of various commodities,
including 68 wagons of gasoline and 350 wagons of wheat, have been
transported so far to Armenia after restoration of the bypass through
Gori-Tbilisi railway bridge, co-chairman of the Armenian-Georgian
interparliamentary commission Volodya Badalian announced at the
September 1 press conference. According to him, in Georgia there is
now no notable accumulation of goods to be transported to Armenia,
and another 2,500 tons of gasoline will be loaded by September 3.

V. Badalian said that the restoration of the bridge will probably
be completed in a month. However, due to the post-war situation in
Georgia no one can guarantee that there will be no explosions. For
this reason V. Badalian attached importance to the issue of having
an alternative railway.

In his words, Armenia should be able to keep a neutral position
in the current Russian-Georgian relations. "These countries should
solve their problems themselves. Both are friendly countries for us,"
V. Badalian said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA PRESIDENT TO LEAVE FOR SOCHI ON SEPTEMBER 2

Noyan Tapan
Sep 1, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Serzh Sargsyan will
leave for Sochi on a working visit on September 2, where he will meet
with RF President Dmitry Medvedev. According to the report provided
to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s Press Office, issues related
to further development of Armenian-Russian strategic partnership,
Armenia’s assuming chairmanship in CSTO soon, as well as regional
and international issues will be discussed during the meeting.

RAFAEL VAHANIAN SHARES 4-5th PLACES IN ANTWERP CHESS TOURNAMENT

Noyan Tapan
Sep 1, 2008

ANTWERP, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The traditional international chess
tournament with the participation of 10 grand masters ended in Antwerp
(Belgium) on August 31. Bu Xiangzhi of China took first place with
7 points.

57-year-old Rafael Vahanian was the oldest chess player in the
tournament.

He earned 5 points and shared 4-5th places with Hungarian chess player
Zoltan Gimesh.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RICHARD AND TINA CAROLAN FUND PUBLISHES MANUEL KESHISHIAN’S MOKEGAN HAYELINER (MAGIC MIRRORS), A SERIES OF PLAYS

Noyan Tapan
Sep 1, 2008

ANTILIAS, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENIANS TODAY. The Richard and Tina Carolan
Publishing Fund, established under the auspices of the Catholicosate
of Cilicia, introduced its most recent publication, Manuel Keshishian’s
Mokegan Hayeliner (Magic Mirrors), a series of plays.

As the Mother See of Antilias reports, the jury, appointed by Aram A,
the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, enjoys the immediate
patronage of His Holiness, providing an opportunity to Diaspora
Armenian scholars, especially those of the modern generation to
publish their literary and research works.

During the two-year activity of the Fund four volumes have been
published: Vartan Matiossian’s Haravayin Goghmn Ashkhari (The Southern
Side of the World); Hagop Tcholakian’s Andioki Mertsaga Roudgi Hovidi
Hayere (The Armenians of the Valley of Roudge near Antioch); Dr. Saleh
Zahreddine’s Hayots Yegeghetsvo Teragadaroutyoune 1915-i Tcharteroun
(The Role of the Armenian Church in the Massacres of 1915); and the
most recent volume mentioned above.

It is mentioned that before being published all the works should be
certified by the jury and then sent to printing as Richard and Tina
Carolan Publishing Fund’s new volumes.
From: Baghdasarian

BAKO SAHAKIAN: INDEPENDENCE OF ARTSAKH IS NOT SUBJECT TO BARGAINING

Noyan Tapan

Se p 1, 2008

STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The President of the NKR Bako
Sahakian made an address in connection with the day of the Nagorno
Karabagh Republic. The text of the address was submitted to NT by the
Central Information Department of the Office of th NKR President. It
reads:

"Dear compatriots,

On September the 2nd we celebrate the day of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic, a holiday which has a special significance for our
nation. On this very day a new chapter in the history of Artsakh
was opened. It became the commencement of restoration of independent
Armenian statehood.

17 years ago the people of Artsakh set about to realize their
century-long dream of a building free and independent, democratic
and social state. This extremely difficult path we have been able to
overcome due to the unbreakable will, unity and cohesion. Artsakh
has become the symbol of rebirth of the triumphant spirit of the
Armenian people.

In the course of recent years we have succeeded both to reconstruct
the economy ruined by war and but also to lay a solid foundation
for further development of the state. Deepening and strengthening
Artsakh-Armenia-Diaspora relations, combining efforts and potential
of world-spread Armenians, we have begun to find effective solutions
to various problems our republic faces, improve living standards of
the population and develop construction and infrastructures.

Today we can proudly state that we have a strong and efficient army,
a harmoniously developing country that meets international norms and
standards and is considered to be one of the key factors of stability
in the region.

We should always remember what price has been paid for the present
free and peaceful life, what losses and hardship our nation suffered on
its way to independence. The best sons of the nation gave their lives
to the defense of the Motherland. Everlasting glory and honor to them!

We are obliged to fulfill the cherished dream of our martyrs: gain
international recognition of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic and leave
for the generations to come strong and independent, peaceful and
prosperous Motherland. Be confident, it is a matter of time!

The NKR authorities are committed to the idea that conflicts should
be settled exclusively by peaceful means through direct and frank
dialogue.

Everybody should realize once and forever that the independence of
Artsakh has no alternative and is not subject to bargaining.

Dear people of Artsakh, I cordially congratulate all of us on this
symbolic holiday and wish good health, happiness and further success
to the glory of the bright and serene future of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic."

REPRESENTATIVES OF 8 NGOs TO CARRY OUT MONITORING MISSION IN LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 7 IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan

Se p 1, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Eight NGOs have been accredited
in the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) in the established term
for carrying out a monitoring mission in the local self-government
elections to be held on September 7 in Yerevan’s Erebuni,
Kanaker-Zeytun, Arabkir, Nubarashen, Malatia-Sebastia, Achapniak
communities. As of September 1, the latters in total have accredited
1313 observers.

As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by Tatev Ohanian, CEC
Spokesperson, Institute of Free Society has accredited 501 observers,
Choice is Yours 481, Life International Association of Human Rights,
Policy and Humanitarian Problems 138, Will of Youth 91, Helsinki
Committee of Armenia 40, Against Legal Self-will 31, Center for Public
Dialogues and Initiatives 20, Transparency International 11 observers.

A NUMBER OF ARMENIAN PARTIES HOPE THAT RF WILL ALSO RECOGNIZE NKR’S INDEPENDENCE IN NEAR FUTURE

Noyan Tapan

Se p 1, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. A statement was adopted at the
sixth interparty consultation of the Constitutional Law Union,
Democratic Party of Armenia, United Communist Party of Armenia,
Christian Democratic Party of Armenia, and the Constitutional Law
Union in connection with the independence of South Ossetia and
Abkhazia. With the statement the consultation participant parties
welcomed recognition of independence of Republics of South Ossetia
and Abkhazia by RF. It was mentioned that after the recognition of
independence of Kosovo by the West and of South Ossetia and Abkhazia
by RF an absolute supremacy of right of nations’ self-determination
to the provision of territorial integrity was established in the world.

The statement authors expressed the hope that within the framework
of the same principles RF in the nearest future will also recognize
as an independent state the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, which
reaffirmed its independence from Azerbaijan through a national
referendum in 1991 and in fact has retained it. "The delay of
recognition of NKR independence can result in resumption of new
operations with all unpredictable political, military, humanitarian,
and economic consequences proceeding from it," the statement of the
parties-participants of the interparty consultation read.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA ASSEMBLES 2,066 COMPUTERS IN JANUARY-JULY 2008

ARKA
Sep 1, 2008

YEREVAN, September 2. /ARKA/. Armenian companies assembled 2,066
laptops and PCs in January-July 2008 – 21.7% year-on-year growth,
the RA National Statistical Service (NSS) reports.

According to NSS, 305 computers were assembled and installed in July.

A survey carried out in Armenia in 2006 showed that only 5% of local
households had PCs. About 70% of the country’s population will use
computers by 2018, experts say.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENTS SARGSYAN AND MEDVEDEV MEET IN SOCHI

armradio.am
02.09.2008 15:54

Today the Presidents of Russia and Armenia Dmitry Medvedev and Serzh
Sargsyan met at Bocharyov Ruchey in Sochi. The Presidents discussed
the situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"Armenia assumes the presidency of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO). Therefore, I would like to present my views on
international issues, especially considering that we have not met
ever since the aggression from Georgia. We will speak about it,"
Dmitry Medvedev said at the beginning of the meeting.

Medvedev noted that the CSTO countries will work out their position
on the events in South Ossetia during the summit in Moscow on weekend.

RA President Serzh Sargsyan noted he regrets about the tragic events in
South Ossetia. "I regret that events developed this way, and wish the
consequences to be eliminated as soon as possible," he said. President
Sargsyan extended his condolences to his Russian counterpart on the
death of Russian citizens and peacekeepers in South Ossetia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW UNION CALLS RA AND NKR AUTHORITIES FOR MAKING ACTIVE THEIR EFFORTS IN ISSUE OF ARTSAKH RECOGNITION

Noyan Tapan

Se p 1, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Applications to the leaderships of
the Republic of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh were adopted at the August
27 special sitting of presidium of the Constitutional Law Union (CLU)
in connection with the situation formed in the region. They express
disagreement and concern over the so-called Madrid principles of
settlement circulated in the negotiations proceeding over the Nagorno
Karabakh problem.

The application addressed to the RA authorities, in particular,
read: "We call the RA leadership for categorically rejecting the
so-called Madrid principles voiced by Matthew Bryza and binding large
one-sided concessions and for taking active steps by the international
community aimed at NKR’s reunification with RA or recognition of NKR
independence." At the same time, CLU considers it necessary to exert
efforts to make NKR a full side of the negotiations.

And CLU called NKR leadership for "at this stage more actively
expressing NKR population’s inflexible will on its innate and
inalienable rights, conveying it to the leaders of RF and CSTO other
countries, the U.S., European Union countries, the Arab world, and
of other countries, their media and public."

CLU also expressed confidence that sooner or later Armenia should
recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, but it
should be done after achieving uniterrupted work of RA transport
communication and guarantees of Javakhk population’s security.