Month: June 2009

EAFJD HAS RELEASED A REPORT ON THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT’S LAST LEGISLATURE

PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 16:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In the run-up to this week’s European Parliament
elections, The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy
(EAFJD) has released a report on the European Parliament’s last
legislature between 2004 and 2009, which, it said, "enlightens
the positions adopted by the various political groups on the
issues relating to foreign affairs, such as Turkey’s accession,
the European Neighborhood Policy, the relations between the European
Union and Armenia [and] the destruction by Azerbaijan of the Armenian
cultural heritage." The 19-page report accused some MEPs of acting as a
"lobbyists" in favor of Turkey, while praising the European United Left
Group (GUE) — known to be close to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’
Party (PKK) — calling it "the most coherent group," in regards
to Turkey’s EU accession issue. The European Green Party "started
defending the Turkish immigrants from discrimination and progressively
moved to the unconditional support of the Turkish accession by the
dissimulation of the justified obstacles which impedes the accession
process. Consequently, it constitutes today a real [Turkish] lobby
within the European Parliament," the report states.

"The GUE has the most coherent position, which is in favor of Turkish
accession by principle and at the same time it firmly expresses the
preliminary demand of respect for European values, among which is the
recognition of the genocide," it says. The European People’s Party
(EPP) got its share of harsh criticism from the EAFJD, particularly
due to the stance of its member Ria Oomen-Ruijten of the Netherlands
who has acted as the rapporteur for Turkey for the last two years.

"The position of the EPP group got considerably worse, in particular
under the influence of Mrs. Ria Oomen-Ruijten, which showed a singular
leniency towards Ankara in general and was resolutely hostile to
any clear mention of the Armenian issue in particular. Mrs. Ria
Oomen-Ruijten notably said publicly offensive remarks about the
Armenians on several occasions. Her attitude pleased some EPP members
who continuously supported the idea of Turkey’s accession and who
always showed reluctance to mention the Armenian Genocide."

DATA COLLECTION GROUP MEMBERS BROKE UP FOR A LENGTHY TEA PARTY?

PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 16:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ March 1, 2008 events’ Data Collection Group member,
coalition representative Robert Avakyan who’s left the group, announced
that his decision remains unchanged. "I won’t return to the group, even
if RA President insisted on my returning," he told a news conference
today. He emphasized that its impossible to work in the same group
with a person like ANC representative Andranik Kocharyan.

"I realize how serious the issue is, and that the group’s existence
in danger," Avakyan noted and emphasized that to avid accusations
of pressure and hampering of the group’s work, he decided to yield
leadership to opposition and allow them to work. "Andranik Kotcharyan
would always ironize that I’m at a tea party. So I’m going home to
have tea," Robert Avakyan ironized in return.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VARAG AGHADJANYAN WON BRONZE MEDAL IN EUROPEAN TAE KWON DO CHAMPIONSHIP

PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 16:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian tae kwon-do youth team (below age 17)
finished competitions in XVII European championship held in Trelleborg,
Sweden. Defeating Romanian, British and Bosnian athletes, Varag
Aghadjanyan (weight class: 51 kg.) won title to semi-final in which
victory over Turkish tae kwon-do athlete Seitan Avaliku led him to a
bronze medal. Defeated in quarterfinal single combats, Haykaz Samvelyan
(w.c. below 59 kg.) and Vahagn Aghekyan (w.c. below 67 kg.) occupied
the 5th horizon in championship list.

The result may be deemed satisfactory, since Armenian young athletes
were not awarded medals over the past 5-6 years, RA Tae Kwon-Do
Federation President Vardan Khaghramanyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net
correspondent. "For me, it is a satisfactory result, because gold medal
was expected from Haykaz Samvelyan. All in all, it is a progress,"
Khaghramanyan said, adding that Armenian tae kwon-do team (cadets:
below age 15, coach: Zorayr Mekinyan) is to arrive in Zagreb, Croatia,
on June 24 to participate in third European Cadet Championship due for
June 26-28. Armenian tae won do team (chief coach: Rakhim Samekhi,
Iran) participating in European championship consisted of athletes
Hayk Samvelyan (w.c. 59 kg.)m Vahan Harutyunyan (below 55 kg.), Varag
Aghadjanyan (below 51 kg,). Gourgen Haroutyunyan (below 63 kg.) and
Vahagn Aghekyan (below 67 kg.) WTF European Tae Kwon-Do Championship
is held every year.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CENTRALIZED EXAMINATIONS ON GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY AND BIOLOGY LAUNCHED TODAY

PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 16:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Centralized examinations on geography, history
and biology launched today in Armenia. 2765 school graduates passed
examinations in 14 examination centers. RA Minister of Education
and Science Armen Ashotyan followed the progress of examinations in
Yerevan state University and RA State Polytechnic University, where
632 university entrants were passing exams.

"Today, our task is to organize examinations in accordance with
established rules. We’ll be closely following the process to
accept only those who possess the necessary knowledge to Armenia’s
Universities," RA Minister of Science and Education said.

TIGRAN SARGSYAN AND SYRIAN MFA DISCUSSED ARMENIAN-SYRIAN COLLABORATION

PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 16:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On June 2 RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
met Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Valem Muallem. Tigran
Sargsyan spoke of cultural – historical community and century -long
friendship as a firm foundation for warm relations between Armenian
and Syrian people. The parties emphasized the importance of contacts’
intensification between trade and economic chambers of Armenia and
Syria, development of trade and economic relations, implementation
of joint regional programs, experience exchange in banking sphere,
investments promotion and conducting of business forums. In his
turn,. Syrian MFA stressed the importance of the oncoming visit of
Syrian President Bashar Assad to Armenia, spoke of the possibilities of
collaboration in different spheres. Walid Muallem passed the invitation
of Syrian Prime Minister to Tigran Sargsyan, RA Press Service reported.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OMBUDSMAN NOT ENTITLED TO REPLACE HIS REPRESENTATIVE IN FACT-FINDING GROUP

PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 16:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Commenting upon RA Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan’s
claim, coalition representative Robert Avagyan, former member
of the fact-finding group investigating March 1, 2008 incidents,
expressed his agreement over the facts mentioned therein. "I agree
that the fact-finding group is politicized, and there is atmosphere of
intolerance prevailing there. But I don’t understand why Human Rights
Defender pretends to be the Pope of Rome, considering himself the
symbol of innocence," he said. Agreeing with Ombudsman’s statement,
Avagyan noted that coalition members "took up a job they’d never done
before". "That’s true, Gevorg Tovmasyan and I found that authorities,
namely, investigative bodies and Prosecutor’s Office, had already
said what they had to say, and in such situation, it was necessary
to give opposition a chance to work," Avakyan added, noting that
such step should be welcomed instead of being condemned. With all
his respect for his former student’s knowledge of law, Mr. Avagyan
stressed that Ombudsmen was not properly familiarized with President’s
decree. "The document clearly states that all 5 members of the group
can be replaced. It doesn’t contain any clause on Ombudsman’s being
entitled to appoint a new government," coalition member said.

SYRIAN PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO MARK NEW START IN ARMENIAN-SYRIAN RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 16:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On June 2, President Serzh Sargsyan received Syrian
FM Valed Muallem in Yerevan. During the meeting, President stressed
that Armenia attaches importance to development of friendly ties and
bilateral cooperation with Syria. Recalling former Syrian President
Khazef Asad’s visit to Armenia 30 years ago, Mr. Sargsyan noted
that incumbent President Bashar Assad is to arrive in our country
in a fortnight. Parties agreed that the visit will mark new start in
Armenian-Syrian relations. Syrian FM stressed the importance of active
political dialogue and extended cooperation (especially trade-economic)
between Yerevan and Damask.

Parties also discussed issues concerning stability and security in
South Caucasus, attaching primary importance to peaceful conflict
settlement. Serzh Sargsyan welcomed Syria’s balanced approach to
regional problems. In his turn, Valed Muallem introduced situation in
Near East and process of settling existing conflicts, RA President’s
Press Service reports.

ARMENIA’S STANCE REMAINS UNCHANGED

PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 16:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In a conference organized last week in Istanbul upon
the initiative of SETA, all raporteurs were for Armenian-Turkish
ties normalization, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan,
Director of Caucasus Institute, told a news conference. Dividing
prevalent opinions into two categories, Iskandaryan noted that some
speakers found Karabakh conflict settlement and Armenian Turkish ties
normalization simultaneous processes, while others insisted on the
two issues being interrelated.

"Conference focused on a variety of issues. Different opinions were
expressed both by Armenian and Turkish sides. Some Armenian delegation
representatives were against border opening before recognition of
Armenian Genocide. Turkish side was mainly radical and nationalistic
in its views denying real importance of any cooperation with Armenia,"
Iskandaryan said, adding that parties had also discussed normalization
of ties with Armenia.

Head of "Eurointegration" NGO Karen Bekaryan touched upon positive
consequences in terms of NKR representative Masis Mayilyan’s presence
at the event. "Turkish side was well-prepared; there were high-ranking
diplomats attending the conference. And what’s mostly important,
we saw with our eyes that Turkish society was split over the issue
of establishing ties with Armenia," he said.

Bekaryan also stressed that Armenia has no intention to change its
stance on normalization of ties with Turkey and Karabakh status. The
two process are not interrelated to each other, he added.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian politologist is surprised with Russia’s decision to transfer $500 million to Armenia

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 18:55 GMT+04:00

"I knew that Eastern Partnership program will be signed, and I
expected Mayoral elections to be held the way they were. Still, I
had my doubts about the situation with $500 million to take the turn
it took," Alexander Iskandaryan told a news conference, responding to
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter’s question on what the politologist considered
to be the most significant event of the last month. According to him,
Russia’s statement on the transfer of $500 million is important to
Armenia in financial crisis circumstances, considering problems the
region is currently facing.

NATO EXPERT TO SHARE EXPERIENCE WITH ARMENIAN JOURNALISTS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 19:06 GMT+04:00

On June 3 NATO information center in Yerevan will host a meeting
between NATO expert Yan Mulder and Armenian journalists. The expert
will provide detail information on how to organize Media activities
in emergency situations, including financial crisis circumstances