Month: October 2008

AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS AND EMBASSY STAFF LEND A HAND IN VOSKEVAZ

armradio.am
18.10.2008 13:30

A team of US embassy staffers came together with the volunteers of
Global Builders’ Program of Fuller Center for Housing Armenia (FCHA)
in Voskevaz village, Aragatsotn region, to help construct a house
for a local family. Lilit Asatryan, President of the Armenian Young
Women’s Association, Country Director of Armenian Assembly of America
also participated in the activity at the building site.

The volunteers joined hands to help the Manukyans – a family with 3
sons. In 2005, their dream to own a house seemed to be so close when
they were able to purchase a piece of land. But after getting married
in 1996, Vardan Manukyan and his family had to move into his parents’
home where his brother’s family was also living. Only love and respect
made it possible for everyone to get along in the overcrowded, 60
square meter house with no bathroom.

The family saved hard from Vardan’s income from wood-cutting and
family’s profit from selling strawberries and grapes in order to buy
a piece of land. Vardan started to build his house with the help of
his brothers and worked with such zeal that they would have finished
in two months had they not run out of funds after putting on the roof.

They did not want to delay their move, however, and decided to live
in the unfinished house20with bare walls, undone floor, no bathroom
and kitchen, hopeful that they could complete the house little by
little. But despite their best efforts, progress was slow and very
many years would have been required to finish the work.

Thanks to the assistance of Fuller Centre for Housing Armenia,
generous donors and volunteers the Manukyans and their three sons
will greet the New Year in a safe, healthy house. The volunteers
participated in the project to highlight their strong commitment and
attention to issues confronting the Armenian nation and to provide
a model of volunteerism. They hope to demonstrate a new way of for
Armenian and American people to cooperate and show their friendship
while encouraging more volunteers to join the organization and mission.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA MEETS WITH US DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE

ArmInfo
2008-10-17 20:42:00

ArmInfo. Today, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan met with US Deputy
Secretary of State Daniel Fried, reports the press service of the
President of Armenia.

Sargsyan pointed out that Armenia was interested in deepening its
relations with the United States and considered them as a guarantee
of economic growth, democratic development and regional stability.

Sargsyan and Fried discussed the prospects of Armenian-US cooperation
and exchanged views concerning regional stability, Armenian-Turkish
relations, the Nagorno- Karabakh peace process. They said that the
OSCE Minsk Group was the most efficient format. They also said that
the conflict had to be resolved in compliance with the basic principles
of the international law.

Sargsyan and Friend also discussed the post- electoral processes in
Armenia, the course of the investigation into the Mar 1 events and
the fate of the people arrested as a result of the events.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER: RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO CONTINUE "DEVELOPING" AT THE SAME PACE AS AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT HASN’T CHANGED

ArmInfo
2008-10-17 20:39:00

ArmInfo. The relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan will continue
"developing" at the same pace as Azerbaijani president hasn’t
changed, Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan told journalists
in parliament, Friday.

Commenting upon Azeri media’s daily statements that Armenia allegedly
violates the cease-fire regime, Ohanyan said: "The attempts to violate
cease-fire are repeated regularly, and in the majority of cases,
by Azerbaijan. If they are intentional, we give the corresponding
reply", the minister stressed.

Ohanyan also noted that the geopolitical events, particularly, in our
region show that in a conflict settlement the use of military force
is fraught with various developments. "Armed forces of Armenia and
Nagorno- Karabakh are ready to protect the values acquired in the new
history of our state", the minister said. He added that the militant
statements of Azeri President Ilham Aliyev had a domestic political
character in the pre-election period.

"The goal of such statements is to influence the organizations which
are engaged in Karabakh conflict settlement. However, there is a peace
process which needs Nagorno-Karabakh’s participation", Ohanyan said.

PRIME MINISTER OF ARMENIA MEETS WITH US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF BUREAU OF EUROPEAN AND EURASIAN AFFAIRS

ArmInfo
2008-10-17 20:44:00

ArmInfo. Today Prime Minister of Armenia met with US Assistant
Secretary of Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried.

Sargsyan said that his visit to Washington was very fruitful. He
pointed out that the United States was Armenia’s friend and had
substantially supported the country in the previous years. "I am sure
that our relations have good future," Sargsyan said. He told Friend
about the results so his official meetings in the United States,
particularly, the discussion of possibilities of bilateral and regional
cooperation and the possible consequences of the present financial
crisis for Armenia.

Fried expressed hope that Armenia would succeed in the resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, rapprochement with Turkey, reforms
and the investigation into the Mar 1 events. He said that Armenia
was facing new opportunities while the US had a new ambassador and
wanted to use existing chances for further developing Armenian-US
relations. Strong, sovereign and democratic Armenia is important for
the whole region, Friend said.

He pointed out that Armenia was an important country for the US and
the results of Sargsyan’s visit to Washington had proved that.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR DELEGATION’S VISIT TO BELGIUM

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2008-10-18 10:03
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

On October 15-16, the NKR delegation visited Belgium. The delegation
included NKR Deputy Foreign Minister Eduard Atanesyan and Head of
Informational Department of the NKR president’s staff David Babayan.

The main goal of the visit was to discuss the situation in and around
Karabakh with EU experts and the EU role in it.

Within the framework of the visit the NKR delegation, together
with representatives of research centers, organizations and the EU
structures, participated in a round table on "Nagorno Karabakh, its
neighbourhood and expanded Europe", organized by the European branch
of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU).

Members of the NKR delegation had speeches at a forum, organized
at Antwerp’s "Lesius" university. Besides local students, students
from Poland, the Czech Republic, France, Germany and Great Britain
participated in the forum. NKR officials also had meetings at EU
structures, European Parliament, as well as at European Policy Center
(EPC).

The NKR delegation had discussions with the Armenian organizations
in Brussels, concerning the Diaspora’s role in solving the problems
the NKR faces.

GRAND WEDDING IN ARTSAKH

NKR Government Information and
October 17, 2008
Public Relations Department

October 16 was a Day of Grand Wedding in Artsakh. Under initiative
and sponsorship of a well known businessman and benefactor Levon
Hayrapetyan a ceremony of unprecedented simultaneous wedding
of 700 couples has taken place. It took place in Gandzasar and
St.Ghazanchetsots (in Shoushi) churches. But the main part of the
ceremony was conducted in the newly constructed city stadium in
Stepanakert. Tens of thousands of our citizens and guests were present
at the celebration. The leadership of the NKR, representatives of
the Armenian Apostolic Church, numerous of invitees were present
at the arrangement. A number of Armenian businessmen from Russia,
who had contributed greatly into the measure, attended the ceremony,
which has turned into a great public holiday.

The NKR President B. Sahakyan, a number of spiritual, economic,
public and cultural figures delivered congratulatory speeches.

National lively melodies were heard from stadium up to midnight.

Performance of songs and dances by singers and dancers from Armenia
and Artsakh added a festive mood to the day. The celebration ended
in a grandiose salute.

Considerable financial assistance rendered to the newly married couples
by sponsors will help them to overcome some social difficulties.

The main aim of the grand wedding is to spur marriages and to promote
the nation’s population upsurge.

GENOCIDE IMPORTANT BUT NOT KEY ISSUE FOR ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF U.S.

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.10.2008 14:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The current election campaign in the U.S. is the
most tensed, said Arpi Vatranian, Armenian Assembly of America regional
director for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

"It’s conditioned by the financial crisis and economic recession
accompanied by considerable cut of health care and social
assistance. Presently, Republicans are backed by 55 million of
Americans. Democrats enjoy support of 72 million. This is a rough
calculation and it’s hard to foretell the outcome of the election
even despite Obama’s convincing victory in the debates," she said.

"The Armenian voters have the same concerns as the rest of
Americans. Of course, they attach importance to recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, which is not, however, the key issue for the
community."

"As to McCain, he is the first presidential candidate during the past
20 years, who openly speaks against recognition of Genocide, sounding
the position of the White House. Nevertheless, I should mention that
neither of Republican presidential candidates, starting from Ronal
Reagan, publicly denied the Armenian Genocide," Ms. Vartanian said.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM OF AMERICA CONSTRUCTION TO BE COMPLETED BY 2010

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.10.2008 15:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Construction of the Armenian Genocide Museum of
America, Washington D.C. will be completed by 2010.

"Presently, the museum is gifted archive documents and evidence
of people who survived the Genocide," Ms. Arpi Vartanian, Armenian
Assembly of America regional director for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh,
told a news conference in Yerevan today.

"As you know, the museum building has a historical value, for it hosted
the U.S. National Bank before. Washington authorities ordered not to
change the front of the building and this condition is observed. I
can’t make public the names of sponsors but I think that they will
be announced by the end of construction works," she said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PANARMENIAN.NET RECOGNIZED THE BEST COVERING EUROPEAN EVENTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.10.2008 15:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In the framework of Monitoring of European Events
Coverage by Armenian Media project, PanARMENIAN.Net was praised as
the agency providing best coverage of European events.

PanARMENIAN.Net was also awarded special prizes for Best Interview
and Best Analytical Article on European affairs.

The project was implemented by European Integration and International
Alert NGOs.

EP CONCERNED OVER LACK OF COMPETITION IN AZERI PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.10.2008 16:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A six Member delegation of the European Parliament,
led by Mrs Marie Anne Isler Béguin, Verts/ALE, France, Co-Chair of
the South Caucasus Joint Parliamentary Committee, and composed of Mr
Arpad Duka-Zolyomi, (EPP-ED, Slovakia), Mr Alojz Peterle, (EPP-ED,
Slovenia), Mr Evgeni Kirilov, (PES, Bulgaria), Mr Robert Evans,
(PSE, UK), Mr Adam Bielan, (UEN, Poland), observed the Presidential
elections in Azerbaijan, which took place on 15 October 2008.

Although 7 candidates participated in the election, the vote was
uncontested. There was almost no electoral campaign and the major
opposition parties boycotted the election, citing longstanding
obstacles to the equal opportunities.

Incumbent President, I. Aliyev won the elections with more than 80%
of the votes. The turnout was over 75%.

During Election Day, the Delegation witnessed the considerable progress
of Azerbaijan towards meeting international standards and electoral
commitments of the country, despite a number of remaining shortcomings,
namely with regard to the overall media environment and the counting
of votes.

After the election, a joint "Statement of Preliminary Findings and
Conclusions", and a joint Press release were adopted together with
Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and
Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE).

In the ensuing joint press conference the Chair of the EP Delegation,
Mrs Marie Anne Isler Béguin, stated: "According to our observations
on Election Day, the election was well prepared and largely carried
out smoothly. However, we deplore the lack of genuine competition,
due to the boycott by major opposition parties and the absence of a
real campaign".

Without any doubt, the participation of Azerbaijan in the European
Neighborhood Policy has contributed significantly to the country’s
progress towards meeting the standards and obligations of full
democracy and the rule of law.

–Boundary_(ID_2Fp+Racgl7kp4ugjx4ZIYg)–