Month: October 2008

HILDA TCHOBOIAN AND PETER SEMNEBY DISCUSS EU’S CAUCASUS POLICY

Noyan Tapan

Oc t 9, 2008

BRUSSELS, OCTOBER 9, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Peter Semneby,
the EU special envoy to the South Caucasus, and Hilda Tchoboian,
the Chairperson of the European Armenian Federation, held a meeting
on 24 September in the framework of the regular consultations that
take place between the Euro-Armenian NGO and EU institutions.

The main focus of their talks was the recent geopolitical unrest in the
South Caucasus, the renewed interest in improvement of Turkey-Armenia
relations, and the challenges faced by Georgia’s ethnic Armenian
population.

The interlocutors reiterated their common interest in eventually
seeing the normalization of regional cooperation in South Caucasus,
particularly in the wake of the Georgian crisis. The President of
the European Armenian Federation, however, informed Mr. Semneby of
her organization’s scepticism about Turkey’s proposed "Caucasian
Platform for Stability and Cooperation," noting that, until now,
Turkey has primarily been a destabilizing factor in the region, as
evidenced by its blockade of Armenia and its pro-Azerbaijani bias in
the Karabagh conflict.

RUZANNA NAHAPETYAN TO PERFORM IN AMSTERDAM

Noyan Tapan

Oc t 9, 2008

AMSTERDAM, OCTOBER 9, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. On 10 October
Armenian soprano Ruzanna Nahapetyan will hold a concert in Amsterdam,
performing songs of Haydn and Armenian componists. She performed
Armenian songs at the concert in Leyden in 2005, organised by 24
April Committee of the Federation of Armenian Organisations in the
Netherlands (FAON) on the occasion of 90th anniversary of Armenian
Genocide.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CBA CHAIRMAN TO TAKE PART IN ANNUAL MEETINGS OF WORLD BANK AND IMF

Noyan Tapan

Oc t 8, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The chairman of the Central Bank of
Armenia (CBA) Arthur Javadian and the deputy chairman Vatche Gabrielian
left for Washington on October 8 in order to participate in the 2008
annual meeting of the boards of directors of the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group.

According to the CBA PR Service, they will take part in the
plenary sittngs of the IMF and WB boards of directors, sittings of
the Development Committee, and the meeting of the IMF Netherland’s
subgroup of countries.

RAGIP ZARAKOLU CALLS EU TO DEMAND CONCRETE REFORMS OF TURKEY

Noyan Tapan

Oc t 9, 2008

BRUSSELS, OCTOBER 9, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Well known
Turkish dissident expresses concern over the abandonment of Turkish
intellectuals.

Prosecutions have been authorized against more than 30 dissidents
since the "reform" of article 301.

At the invitation of the European Armenian Federation, Ragip Zarakolu,
the well known Turkish dissident, paid a visit to Brussels after an
appearance in Amsterdam, where he was honoured with the Freedom
of Expression award, granted by the International Publishers
Association. On the occasion, the European Armenian Federation
organized meetings between Mr Zarakolu and several political leaders
of the European Union Commission members, representatives of the
French presidency and European MEPs. These meetings gave Mr Zarakolu
the opportunity to share the current reality in Turkey with several
members of the EP Foreign Affairs Committee as well as the presidency
of the EU-Turkey Interparliamentary Delegation.

Mr. Zarakolu stated that the freedom of expression has regressed
in Turkey.

He argued that in 1997 and in 2000, people who published on the
Armenian genocide were prosecuted but acquitted while they are
nowadays condemned.

Mr. Zarakolu, as the president of the Committee for Freedom of
Publication, also presented the 2008 report on freedom of expression
in Turkey published by the Turkish Association of Publishers, and
revealed that according to official figures from the Turkish Minister
of Justice, prosecutions against 36 people have been authorized in
accordance with article 301 since its "reform".

He called on the Union "to be firmer in its principles" and to demand
of Turkey "concrete improvements". "A stiffer approach by the Union
is the only solution to make Turkey progress", stressed Zarakolu.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MEN’S PAIR OF ARMENIAN ACROBATS REACHES FINALS OF ACROBATIC GYMNASTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan

Oc t 9, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The Acrobatic Gymnastics World
Championship with the participation of nearly 600 sportsmen from 31
countries was held in Glasgow on October 1-6. Out of 16 men’s pairs,
Rudik Balasanian and Khachatur Nikoghosian from Armenia reached their
eighth final with the 5th result. The Armenian pair took 7th place. In
the competition of 28 women’s groups involving three partners, Ani
Kosakian, Nune Arevshatian and Hripsime Hovhannisian took 23rd place.

EDWARD MNATSAKANIAN TO TAKE PART IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF VETERAN CHESS PLAYERS

Noyan Tapan

Oc t 9, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The 18th World Championship of
Veteran Chess Players will start on October 28 in Germany. 318
sportsmen aged 60 and above are registered for participation in the
championship. 13 out of them are grand masters. The contest order is
Swiss and consists of 11 rounds. The winner will receive 2500 euros,
the second prize-winner 2000 euros, and the third 1500 euros.

Many-times champion of Armenia, international master Edward
Mnatsakanian will take part in the World Championship for the first
time.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TWO-DAY ARMENIAN-BELGIAN BUSINESS FORUM STARTS IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan

Oc t 8, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. An Armenian-Belgian business forum
started its work in Yerevan on October 8. It is held on the initiative
of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia (UMBA),
the Flemish Investment and Trade Development Agency and the Chamber
of Armenian-Belgian Trade.

According to the UMBA chairman Arsen Ghazarian, the forum is important
for further cooperation of the two countries. "Our purpose is to
present the Armenian market to Belgian businessmen, render concrete
their interest in Armenian goods and services, and to increase
Belgium’s investments in Armenia," he stated.

He said that out of EU countries, Belgium is one of the biggest
commercial partners of Armenia. Besides, Armenia has the largest
commodity turnover with Belgium, and it is not accidental that Armenian
businessmen are interested in promotion of bilateral relations with
Belgian partners. In his words, Belgian businessmen take interest in
Armenian market, in particular, in its food processing industry and
high-tech sector.

A. Ghazarian expressed a hope that the two-day Armenian-Belgian
business forum will be successful and help establish new business
links.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NAIRI CINEMA’S GROUND FLOOR TURNED INTO CLOTHES SHOP

Noyan Tapan

Oc t 8, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The building of one of Yerevan’s
well-known cinemas, Nairi will undergo some changes in the near
future. The other day the board Nairi written with big illuminated
letters on building’s upper storey was replaced by the colorful logo
of Morgan company’s clothes shop.

Noyan Tapan correspondent found out at the building that cinema’s
ground floor is turned into a shop, and the cinema halls will function
on the first floor.

It should be mentioned that cinema’s entrance and lobby were closed
over the past months due to the repairs.

15 CHESS PLAYERS OF ARMENIA TO TAKE PART IN WORLD YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan

Oc t 9, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. World Youth Chess Championship
will start on October 19 in the city of Vung Tau, Vietnam. It
will proceed by six age groups. 15 boys and girls will represent
Armenia. Samvel Ter-Sahakian, Karen Grigorian, Robert Hovhannisian,
Tigran Haroutiunian, Diana Mnatsakanian, Roza Shakrian, Maria Gevorgian
are among them.

It should be mentioned that five Armenian sportsmen, Vladimir Hakobian
(1986 and 1989), Elina Danielian (1992 and 1993), Levon Aronian
(1994), Gabriel Sargsian (1996), and Robert Aghasarian (2006) have
gained the title of world champion in various age groups.
From: Baghdasarian

CONCERT OF ARMENIAN MUSIC TO BE HELD IN MEXICO

Noyan Tapan

Oc t 8, 2008

TORREON, OCTOBER 8, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. A concert will
be held in the city of Torreon, Mexico soon, during which pieces
by Komitas and Aram Khachatrian will be performed by the local
orchestra. Cellist Sergei Kosemian will perform solo. The concert
will be conducted by Tatul Yeghiazarian.