Month: October 2008

SERZH SARGSYAN CONGRATULATES TEACHERS

armradio.am
06.10.2008 11:51

President Serzh Sargsyan issued a congratulatory message on the
occasion of the Teacher’s Day. The message states:

"Dear teachers,

I sincerely congratulate you on the occasion of the Teacher’s Day.

For centuries the Armenian teacher has passed to the new generation
not only knowledge, but has also inspired love for Motherland and
education. Thanks to this reality, the centuries-old traditions of
our schooling and respect for teachers the esteem for teachers has
become a public norm among us.

Today you educate the Armenian citizens of new generation, who are
destined to be the carriers of the achievements of our young democracy,
as well as the national and universal values. These values should
be passed to them by the school and the teachers, who will get great
support and assistance from the state.

Once again I congratulate you on your professional day and wish health,
optimism and all the best."

OSCE TO HELP ARMENIAN OMBUDSMAN OFFICE MONITOR SITUATION IN THE ARMED FORCES

armradio.am
06.10.2008 14:11

Increasing democratic control over the country’s armed forces is the
aim of an agreement signed by the OSCE Office and the Armenian Human
Rights Defender’s Office (Ombudsman) in Yerevan today.

Under the agreement, a joint task force of experts will be set up to
help the Ombudsman’s Office analyze existing legislation regarding
disciplinary sanctions in the army, identify gaps and examine its
compliance with international standards.

"Respect for the rule of law and human rights in the armed forces is
an important aspect of any country’s democratic development," said
Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, the Head of the OSCE Office. "Strengthening
the role of the Ombudsman institution as an effective means of civilian
oversight is one of the key priorities of the OSCE Office."

The group will also monitor the application of existing disciplinary
sanctions in the army. Based on the findings, a report will be prepared
offering recommendations to the Government.

"We believe that a professional report and recommendations to the
Government regarding disciplinary sanctions in the army will increase
the level of human rights protection and foster an atmosphere of
tolerance. We appreciate the support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan
in implementing a professional approach in this sphere,0 added the
Armenian Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Armen Harutyunyan.

The OSCE Office in Yerevan has been supporting the establishment and
activities of public monitors over the penitentiary institutions and
police custody.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA MINISTER OF FINANCE, US AMBASSADOR DISCUSS ARMENIAN-AMERICAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION

armradio.am
06.10.2008 16:41

RA Minister of Finance Tigran Davtyan hosted the newly appointed
US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Marie
Yovanovitch.

The Minister congratulated the Ambassador on assuming her diplomatic
mission in our country, wishing her productive work targeted at the
reinforcement of bilateral economic ties.

The Minister presented to the Ambassador the priority directions of
the government program, as well as the visible results of the reforms
already implemented. He attached importance to the financial assistance
the United States renders to Armenia, which will contribute to the
realization of government programs especially in this stage of reform
implementation and will lead to qualitative changes in the field.

During the meeting Tigran Davtyan and Marie Yovanovitch discussed
the financial programs implemented within the framework of
Armenian-American economic operation and referred to the process of
accomplishment of the Millennium Challenge Program.

The parties expressed willingness to work together to contribute
to the reinforcement and development of Armenian-American economic
collaboration.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RECURRENT SHIFT OF ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS TO RETURN FROM IRAQ

armradio.am
06.10.2008 16:52

On October 7 the solemn ceremony of welcoming the last shift of
peacekeepers carrying out activity within the stabilization forces in
Iraq will take place at Zvartnots Airport in presence of the senior
Officer staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, Spokesman
for the Ministry of Defense, Colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan informed.

NA SPEAKER RECEIVES CONGRATULATIONS

armradio.am
06.10.2008 17:38

President of the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the
Russian Federation Sergey Mironov congratulated the Speaker of the
National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan. The
congratulatory message states, in part: "I’m sure that it’s necessary
to continue the close and productive cooperation, exchange experience
within the framework of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly and
international parliamentary bodies. I wish success to you and all
the Deputies of the National Assembly in your legislative activity
for the sake of the brotherly Armenian nation and the reinforcement
of Armenian-Russian relations."

Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Frank Pallone
and Joe Knollenberg congratulated Hovik Abrahamyan. "Armenia continues
the reforms and the work in the direction of establishing stability
in the region, and your new position inspires hope. We support the
diplomacy Armenia undertook in the Caucasus recently. The positive
nature of these actions will contribute to the deepening of US-Armenia
relations and will reinforce the international image of the country
as a reliable partner. As Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues, we expect to work with you to help raise the issues
Armenians and American Armenians face.

We render our best wishes to you on the occasion of assuming office.E2

Secretary of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization Peter Ryabukhin congratulated Hovik Abrahamyan,
wishing him success in his high position and expressing confidence
in further cooperation.

Congratulations have been received also from the Armenian community
of Kharkov, marzes of Armenia, scientific institutions and other
organizations.

HEAD OF INSTITUTE OF NATIONAL STRATEGIC STUDIES OF RA DEFENSE MINISTRY: SPECIALISTS KNOW THAT THE SO-CALLED ‘GENOCIDE OF MOUNTAIN JEWS’ ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED BY ARMENIANS IN NORTH OF AZERBAIJAN IS FALSEHOOD

ArmInfo
2008-10-06 16:46:00

ArmInfo. "Despite the negative lessons of cultivating enmity around
the South Ossetian and Abkhazian conflicts and talks on the Turkey’s
Platform of stability and security in the Caucasus, the neighboring
country’s special propaganda continues poisoning the public conscience
of its people and international community with conflict causing
misinformation", Head of the Institute of National Strategic Studies
of the Armenian Defense Ministry, Major-General, Doctor of Political
Sciences Hayk Kotanjyan said when commenting upon the information
published in an Azeri publication on allegedly upcoming decision
of the Knesseth on creation of a commission on investigating the
genocide against Mountain Jews in the north of present Azerbaijan at
the beginning of the 20th century.

As the RA defense ministry told ArmInfo, Monday, according to
Kotanjyan, the so-called "genocide against Mountain Jews" allegedly
committed by Armenians in the north of Azerbaijan at the beginning
of the 20th century is falsehood imposed on the public conscience of
Israel and Jewish Diaspora by Azeri special propagandists and their
foreign partners. "These actions aim to undermine the friendship
between Jewish and Armenian peoples having very much in common in their
centuries-old history. Besides the gift to support their century-old
cultural and historical identity and develop the intellectual potential
of hundreds of generations, our people are united by the disastrous
hardship of Genocide and Holocaust, as well as by the experience of
heroic surviving and rebirth of statehood as the Republic of Armenia
and the State of Israel", he said.

One thing is clear: the falsifiers’ fuss is immoral, actually, it is
sneering at the memory of Armenians exterminated by gangs of Caucasian
Tatars in places of century-old friendly co-existence of Armenians
and Mountain Jews. Experts of invention of "genocide" are trying to
pass off the remains of these Armenians, victims of the massacre, as
the remains of Jews allegedly killed by Armenians. The matter concerns
the crimes of the gangs which at that time exterminated in the north
of Azerbaijan several thousands of Russian officers and soldiers who
were returning home from the Caucasian frontline, Kotanjyan said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH AND ARMENIAN DEPUTIES ABOUT PROSPECTS OF DIALOGUE BETWEEN ANKARA AND YEREVAN

ArmInfo
2008-10-06 14:41:00

ArmInfo-Turan. All countries of the region will benefit from Turkey’s
initiative "Platform of Stability and Cooperation on Caucasus,"
head of Turkish delegation in PACE Mevlut Cavusoglu said in his
interview with Turan. He added that the visit of Turkish President
Abdullah Gul to Yerevan last month "was not aimed against Azerbaijan’s
interests." First of all Gul discussed the Karabakh conflict and
ways of its settlement with the Armenian government. "Recognition of
the so-called "Armenian genocide" and opening of Turkish-Armenian
borders were not the subject of discussion," claims Cavusoglu. The
deputy stressed that the Turkish president has informed Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev about results of the talks. Cavusoglu said
that uncertainty with the conflict settlement can last 20-30 years
and dialogue between Turkey and Armenia is needed to get things moving
from the dead point. Asked if borders between Turkey and Armenia can
be opened, Cavusoglu said this is possible only after taking efficient
measures to liberate occupied Azerbaijani territories and ensure its
territorial integrity. He said Karabakh conflict settlement is more
important for Turkey. "Recognition of Turkish borders by Armenia is
not a problem for us.

Turkish borders have been recognized by international Kars Treaty,"
said Cavusoglu. Avet Adonz , member of Armenian delegation in
PACE, representative of Prosperous Armenia party, told Turan’
correspondent that Gul’s visit to Armenia could help to begin "a
sincere dialogue." "When I say sincere dialogue and I mean that the
dialogue must be filled with practical steps," said Adonts. Asked if
Armenia still demands recognition of the Armenian genocide in 1915,
Adonts answered that Armenia does not lay down this condition for
establishment of diplomatic relations and opening of borders. He also
added that dialogue between Turkey and Armenia will have a positive
effect on the Karabakh conflict settlement. Asked if Armenia is
ready to compromises at the talks with Azerbaijan, Adonts said
"unlike Azerbaijan, Armenia was always ready to compromises."

TBILISI-YEREVAN VIDEOCONFERENCE TO BE HELD

ArmInfo
2008-10-06 11:44:00

ArmInfo-BLACK SEA PRESS. Tbilisi-Yerevan video-bridge will be held
today in Tbilisi International Center. The video-bridge has been
organized upon the results of the visit of Armenia’s President Serzh
Sargsyan to Georgia.

The Georgians party at the videoconference will be represented by
adviser of the Georgian president Van Bayburt, a political expert
Soso Tsiskarishvili and an economic expert Niko Orvelashvili. Armenia
will be represented by Director of the Caucasus Institute Alexander
Iskandaryan and candidate of philosophical sciences Alexander Markarov.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS JOIN THE MOVEMENT AGAINST BUILDING OF GEOPROMINING GOLD EXTRACTION PLANT NEAR SEVAN

ArmInfo
2008-10-04 22:33:00

ArmInfo. More than 20 international organizations have joined the
movement against building of GeoProMining gold extraction plant
near Sevan.

As Arminfo was informed from public organization "Ekolur",
organizations from the USA, the Great Britain, Mexico, Venezuela,
Kyrgyzia, Bulgaria and Uruguay joined ‘SOS Sevan’ campaign. The
information about the situation around Lake Sevan was disseminated
by "Ekolur" together with "Armenian Women for Health and Healthy
Environment" via the international net of women WECF.

IPEN international net on liquidation of organic wastes joined
them too.

VIVACELL ACQUAINTS YOUTH OF THE DIASPORA WITH THEIR MOTHERLAND

ArmInfo
2008-10-06 11:43:00

ArmInfo. VivaCell-MTS has donated AMD 20 mln to "Depi Hayk" Foundation
to realize comprehensive project which includes inviting to Armenia the
youth of the Diaspora for communication with their peers and engaging
them with their Motherland. As the Company told ArmInfo, VivaCell-MTS
staff together with volunteers of "Depi Hayk" Foundation realized
construction-renovation works in the secondary school of Norgyugh
village, Kotayk marz. In particular, 7 classrooms were redecorated
and the walls recolored.

Considering the preservation of national identity and culture as the
mission of every socially- responsible company, VivaCell-MTS takes
tangible steps to integrate the youth of the Armenian people divided
into two parts. In this respect, joint work and volunteering for public
good help foster effective communication between the Diasporan and
local Armenian youth. Young Armenians from all over the world gathered
in Norgyugh have got a chance to develop personal relationship with
their peers in Armenia, to become connected to their homeland, and
to get back in touch with their roots not only through TV programs,
internet or books about the native-soil but also as a result of
face-to-face communication.

Nothing unites people like joint work. Especially when they believe
their work is aimed at creating public good – reconstruction of
schools in rural areas where national traditions are stronger then
somewhere else, and all this for the sake of upbringing of children for
them to become educated and useful citizens for the motherland. It
is not by chance that the school was chosen as a place of joint
works by the staff of VivaCell-MTS and the volunteers of "Depi Hayk"
Foundation. The point is that VivaCell-MTS, being a corporate citizen,
pays huge attention to the school-building as the well-educated
younger generation is the greatest asset of our country and the key
to its prosperity.

As noted by Ralph Yirikian: "Being a corporate citizen means
always thinking for the future. And renovating a school is a real
long-term investment in our society, aiming at higher quality of
education and raising interest toward education, especially in rural
communities. Among Armenians, both in the Diaspora and Armenia,
high-quality education has been a very important part of life. We
must always keep our traditions awake. After all, national community
is characterized by such features as a common homeland and common
responsibility for the future."

160 schoolchildren of the village of Nor Geghi in Kotayk marz couldn’t
help waiting for the renovators. Soon they will be learning in clean,
renovated and luminous rooms. And 25 teachers are delighted as the
children are already more than ever interested in education.

These kinds of projects give opportunity to the youth of the Diaspora
to reconnect with their roots helping them to take part in Armenia’s
everyday life and invest into the development of their homeland
by volunteering, studying and at the same creating long-lasting
relations in the country of origin, eventually resulting in heightened
consciousness of national identity.