Month: November 2009

Turkey intensifies activities for Karabakh problem resolution
21.11.2009 15:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey has intensified diplomatic activities for
resolution of the Karabakh problem, a Turkish newspaper said.

`Although Nagorno Karabakh is not mentioned in the protocols, this
issue is the only barrier for normalization of relations between
Armenia and Turkey,’ Hurriyet daily quoted a diplomatic source as
saying.

According to the source, talks are held on deployment of peacekeeping
forces and status of Nagorno Karabakh. `These issues will be discussed
during a meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and
his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian on the sidelines of OSCE
summit in Athens. Mr. Davutoglu is also scheduled to meet with
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Ankara in
mid-December,’ the source said.

Speaking to PanARMENIAN.Net on condition of anonymity, an Armenian
diplomat said that Turkey once again tries to pass the desirable for
reality. `Armenia never held and will never hold talks on Karabakh
with Ankara,’ he said.

Turkey cancels agreement on purchase of Israel’s Heron drones
21.11.2009 16:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey has cancelled an agreement on purchase of 10
Israel’s Heron drones, Turkish media reported quoting a source in the
government.

The decision to annul the $200 million deal was taken by the
government on Friday. The agreement to purchase Herons from Israel
Aerospace Industries and Elbit was signed several years ago. Israeli
media reported lately that Turkey was considering scrapping it when
Israel failed to meet production deadlines.

Armenia-Lithuania relations have great development potential
21.11.2009 16:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
On November 21, RA National Security Council Secretary Artur
Baghdasaryan met Lithuanian Foreign Minister Vygaudas UÅ¡ackas. The
meeting focused on Armenia-Lithuania relations and collaboration
within international structures’ frameworks.

Artur Baghdasaryan noted that Armenia-Lithuania relations have great
development potential in various spheres, with the parties agreeing to
strengthen cooperation in food safety and frontier infrastructures
modernization.

The parties exchanged views on RA-Turkey rapprochement process and NKR
conflict settlement issue. Vygaudas UÅ¡ackas gave high assessment to
Armenia’s efforts towards normalization of ties and expressed
Lithuania’s support in rapprochement process, RA NSC press service
reported.

`Education: development through collaboration’ conference held in Yerevan
21.11.2009 17:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/

On November 20-21, Yerevan is hosting `Education: development through
collaboration’ conference, organized by RA Ministry of Education and
Science.

`Until now, RA Education and Science Ministry hasn’t been involved in
educational programs implemented by international organizations. We
aim to create new educational programs in collaboration with
international organizations, increase education systems’ availability
and expand cooperation in the sphere of educational reforms through
new organizations’ involvement,’ RA Education and Science Minister
Armen Ashotyan said at the conference. The conference was attended by
Head of European Commission Delegation in Armenia, Ambassador Raul de
Luzenberger, Head of World Bank Armenia Aristomene Varoudakis, RA NA
MPs, representatives of Armenian Ministers and foreign embassies in
RA, as well as international organizations on education programs
development and RA NGOs.

Armenian Kata Championship kicks off in Yerevan
21.11.2009 17:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
On November 21-22, Yerevan will host Armenian Cup Tournament
(including Kata and Docando championships), organized by RA Full
Contact Karate Federation.

Over 400 sportsmen participated in November 21 championship.

According to RA Full Contact Karate Federation president Hayk
Vardanyan, the increased number of Docando fighters was registered
over the year 2009.

International Full Contact Karate Federation president Gor Vardanyan
gave high assessment to tournament arrangement and qualification of
sportsman participating.

Young sportsmen above the age of 6 qualify for ëata championship.
Championship winners over 10 will be accepted for Grand Ship
participation, Gor Vardanyan’s sports school director Karen Karapetyan
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Bonus prize of $1000 will be awarded to Grand ship winner.

Gevorg Davtyan: Armenian weightlifters stand good chance to win World
Championship in South Korea
21.11.2009 19:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian weightlifters will are participating at
World Weightlifting Championship which kicked off in Goyang, South
Korea, on November 17.

Gevorg Davtyan, one of Armenia’s best weightlifters (European champion
2006 and 2007, world championship 2007 silver medalist and Olympic
Games 2008 bronze medalist ) can’t compete due to an injury.

`All our weightlifters are well trained and they stand a good chance
to win the championship,’ he told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Kiev to host 2009 Junior Eurovision Song Contest Final on November 21, 2009
21.11.2009 20:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On November 1, at 10:15 p.m. Yerevan time, 2009
Junior Eurovision Song Contest Final will be held. The morning of
November 21 started with every participating country, planting their
own tree in front of the Arena, Palace of Sports, in Kyiv. They all
will have name tags by their tree. Participating children can come and
see them in 20 years even and remember the wonderful time they had in
Kiev.

As Eurovision Family of Events’ Communications & Public Relations
Officer Jarmo Siim told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, the show will
feature guests and presenters, followed by contest participants’
performances to be concluded by voting and winner announcement. Young
acrobats from Rizoma will perform during the breaks.

The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2009 will be the seventh edition of
Junior Eurovision Song Contest and will take place in Kiev, Ukraine.
It has been scheduled for 21 November. 13 countries have been
confirmed by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to compete in the
Contest.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) invited broadcasters to bid for
the rights to host the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2009; three bids
were received from Belarus, Serbia, and Ukraine. TV4 of Sweden had
originally sent in a bid during summer 2007, but soon withdrew its bid
after deciding to completely withdraw from the contest. After
deliberations by the EBU, National Television Company of Ukraine was
granted the rights to the 2009 contest and will host it in Kiev.
Ukraine also hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 at the same
venue.

On 12 November 2009 Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Vasiunyk
declared that the contest would not be postponed; (earlier) Party of
Regions member of parliament Anna Herman had called on Prime Minister
Yulia Tymoshenko to cancel the song contest because of the 2009 flu
pandemic in Ukraine.

The EBU announced the complete list of participating countries in the
2009 Contest on 8 June 2009. 13 countries will compete in the contest:
Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, Cyprus, Georgia, Macedonia, Malta,
Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Sweden and Ukraine. Sweden will
return after missing the contest, while Bulgaria, Greece and Lithuania
will withdraw from the Contest.

At Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2009, Armenia will be represented by
Luara Hayrapetyan, featuring `Barcelona’ song.

Today, Azerbaijan
Nov 21 2009

There is a need to set up European integration institution:
Azerbaijani parliamentary official

21 November 2009 [09:57] – Today.Az

Azerbaijani parliament’s chief of staff Safa Mirzayev has made
statement on state of fulfillment of Azerbaijan’s commitments to the
Council of Europe.

He said it was not difficult for Azerbaijan to cope with Council of
Europe monitoring and even some countries that joined the Council of
Europe before Azerbaijan are still under the monitoring.

`Monitoring will be conducted until Azerbaijan completely fulfills
commitments to the Council of Europe. There are two main laws among
the commitments that remains to be fulfilled` draft law on alternative
service and convention on languages of ethnic minorities,’ he said.

`Regarding the first draft law, it can not be adopted while the state
of war continues. There were some financial problems with the second
issue. After ratification of this convention, the government should
assign huge funds to open schools, TV channels and publish books for
ethnic minorities. The situation was normal until the last year and we
thought that the problems would be solved soon. But financial crisis
delayed the issue. There are still some commitments in the field of
court system. It will be solved gradually. This is not a contest that
to think who will finish first. Everything should be carried out in
time.’

Speaking about the Council of Europe Secretary General’s statement
about the arrest of bloggers, Mirzayev said such questions are
periodically raised by international organizations.

`Once you get familiar with details of the case, you make sure that
the question is only of criminal nature. The criminals should be
punished anywhere. We are aware of that statement and now are working
on that. We will inform the Council of Europe co-rapporteurs about the
essence of the incident’.

Speaking about the proposals to establish parliamentary committees on
Karabakh and European integration, Mirzayev said one of them could be
established as a commission.

`We need to establish an institution on European integration. It is
not necessary to establish it in the form of committee. According to
regulations, MP can be member of one committee only. We need to
withdraw MPs from other committees to form it which may affect work of
other committees. I think we don’t need a committee on Karabakh. We
are not working on legislation about Karabakh yet while the main duty
of the committee is lawmaking. Karabakh problem is discussed in all
committees,’ he said.

/APA/

URL:

Interfax, Russia
Nov 21 2009

Russian, UK diplomats discuss relations with Ukraine, Moldova, Caucasus states

MOSCOW Nov 20

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin and the UK Foreign
Office’s Political Director General Geoffrey Adams have met in London
to discuss their countries’ relations with Ukraine, Moldova and a
number of nations in South Caucasus.

"The two countries’ relations with Ukraine, Moldova and South Caucasus
states were addressed. The parties also exchanged their views on the
prospects for settling the Nagorno-Karabakh and Transdniestrian
conflicts, as well as the progress of the Geneva-based discussions on
security and stability in Transcaucasia," the Russian Foreign Ministry
said on its website.

Karasin and Adams also discussed the progress of bilateral political
dialogue, including in light of UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s
recent visit to Moscow, the ministry said.

Aivazovsky painting fetches $1.35 mln at New York auction

19:30 | 22/ 04/ 2009

NEW YORK, April 22 (RIA Novosti) – A painting by Russian seascape
master Ivan Aivazovsky sold for $1.35 million on Wednesday at Sotheby’s
spring sale of Russian Art in New York, the auction house said.

The auction’s top lot, entitled Columbus Sailing from Palos, by the
Russian 19th century artist, was earlier given a price guide of $1-1.5
million.

Aivazovsky (1817 – 1900) created the work portraying Christopher
Columbus’ departure from Palos, Spain, to mark the 400-year anniversary
of his voyage to America. The painting was among works represented by
the artist at the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893.

"Aivazovsky’s stunning portrayal of Columbus’ departure from Palos,
Spain, on August 2, 1492, is among the finest of such compositions to
ever appear at auction," Sotheby’s said in a press release.

The painting comes from the private collection of Joseph Davies, former
U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union.

A series of Russian Art auctions held by Sotheby’s in November in
London yielded a total of 25.2 million pounds ($36.9 mln), well below
pre-sale estimates, signaling a downturn in the recently booming
Russian art market.