Month: November 2009

ANKARA WAS NEVER INTERESTED IN KARABAKH ISSUE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 14:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ankara was never interested in Karabakh issue,
according to political scientist Igor Muradyan.

"The process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey
is being protracted and Karabakh is just a pretext," he said, adding
that Washington, Moscow and Brussels will never let Ankara join
Karabakh talks.

"Philip Gordon’s latest statement that normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations is impossible without resolution of Karabakh
conflict signals that a gap emerged in the Armenian-Turkish dialogue,"
Muradyan said.

GEORGIAN SECURITY COUNCIL DECIDES TO OPEN UPPER LARS CHECKPOINT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 15:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Georgian authorities have decided to open Upper
Lars checkpoint at the border with Russia. However, they threaten
to close it again "if Moscow re-launched information attacks,"
Kommersant reported.

Even opposition leaders were invited to participate in security
council’s debates in the presidential premises to discuss the issue.

WINE-MAKING DEVELOPMENT IN ARMENIA NEEDS AROUND EURO 150 MILLION INVESTMENTS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 15:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Wine-making development in Armenia needs around
Euro 150 million investments, Avag Harutyunyan, head of Armenian wine
makers union told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. "Outdated technologies
are being used in Armenia for wine production," he said.

In this context, wine makers union head added that Euro 3-4 million
investments are required for technological equipment of a factory
with 300 000 bottles’ annual production capacity. "Around 50 high
technology factories are necessary for Armenia to gain competitiveness
in world market within 5-6 years," Avag Harutyunyan explained.

Commenting on the possibility of consortium creation, prompted by
Italian wine makers’ development example, Avag Harutyunyan noted,
"The idea is a useful one. Still, in the first place, our wine makers
need quality equipment, which is a priority task at the moment".

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YEREVAN TO HOST ILON WIKLAND’S "KARLSSON ON THE ROOF IS FLYING AGAIN" ILLUSTRATION EXHIBIT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 15:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Karlsson on the Roof is Flying Again , the first
exhibition devoted exclusively to the drawings of Ilon Wikland, will
be on view at the Children’s Art Gallery of Armenia from November 19
through December 3, 2010. The Exhibition is organized by the Swedish
EU Presidency in cooperation with the Consulate of Estonia, Junior
Achievement of Armenia and Oriflame of Armenia.

Karlsson on the Roof, a story written by Swedish author Asrtid
Lindgren, was turned into a famous cartoon. The cartoon which aired
for many years from Soviet Armenia to independent Armenia has been a
favorite for generations. The illustrator of the book, Ilon Wikland
was born in Estonia and left with her grandmother to Sweden at the
age of 14. She is in Armenia for the opening of the exhibition.

The exhibition is part of the celebrations marking the adoption of
the International Convention on Children Rights. "I am pleased that
we can offer the opportunity for Armenians to come and enjoy one of
their favorite cartoon characters come to life through the work of
Ilon Wikland. At the same time, the event gives us the occasion to once
again emphasize the importance of bringing into public’s attention the
fundamental rights of children." stated Hans Gunnar Aden, Ambassador
of Sweden.

At the opening of the exhibition on November 19, skits on children’s
rights performed by school children will be presented. Four hundred
students from 20 schools of all regions of Armenia took part in a
competition organized by Junior Achievement of Armenia. The teams
studied the rights of children, discussed, wrote and presented a
script on one or more rights.

BOOKS ON BRONZE AGE ARMENIAN MILITARY ART PUBLISHED IN YEREVAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 16:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On the afternoon of November 17, RA Defense
Ministry’s administrative complex will host Armenian Genocide Museum
Director Hayk Demoyan’s "Bronze Age military art in Armenia" and
"Military art and wars in Armenia" two-volume edition presentation.

The event will be attended by RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, RA
Armed Forces’ senior officials and scientific circles’ representatives,
RA Defense Ministry press service reported.

ARMENIA NEEDS $600 MILLION TO PROTECT VINEYARDS FROM PHYLLOXERA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 16:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia needs $600 million to combat phylloxera
and preserve vineyards, Head of wine-makers’ Union Avag Harutyunyan
told today a news conference in Yerevan. At that he noted that one
of vineyards in Armenia is infected with phylloxera, but the process
has been at active stage for the past 3-4 years. "To avoid losses
Armenia will need $600 million for restoring vineyards, and that will
be achieved in 5 years," he said.

According to Harutyunyan, Armenia will never have the sum, let alone
that 99% of vineyards belong to rural population who don’t have
enough means. "Thus, Armenia faces the threat of total destruction
of vineyards," he added.

Phylloxera (Viteus vitifolii) is a greenfly originally native
to America. It had no significance there, however, penetrating
to Europe it changed its biology, becoming an extremely dangerous
vermin. First appearing in France, a country taking pride in its wine
making industry, phylloxera caused major harm to its economy. Later,
it spread to the east. Over the 30 years of its existence, the vermin
has destroyed vineyards with a total area of 6 million hectares.

140 ANNIVERSARY OF KOMITAS CELEBRATED IN ATHENS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 16:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 140th anniversary of the great Komitas was marked in
Athens. The evening dedicated to the Armenian composer, ethnographer,
gathered a large number of admirers of the Armenian culture in the
sports and cultural center "Ararat".

Participants had the opportunity to enjoy the music of Komitas
performed by inmates of "Hayastan" center . The event, organized by
the "Haystan" center was attended by representatives of the Armenian
Embassy in Greece and Armenian clergy.

Komitas graduated from Etchmiadzin Theological Academy in 1893. In
1896-99 he studied history and music theory in Berlin. From 1899
he lived in Echmiadzin, led music classes and choir of Theological
Academy. Because of the conflict with conservative church circles he
moved in Constantinople in 1910. From 1919 he lived in Paris. Komitas
was the classic of Armenian music, master of choral polyphony,
the founder of the Armenian science of ethnography. Collector and
researcher of folk songs, he made collections of typical examples
of centuries-old art of the Armenian people. Komitas introduced a
new methodology in folklore studies. As a singer, choir leader and
lecturer, he promoted the Armenian folk music in the Caucasus and
Western European countries, presented reports at the international
music congresses. . His work contributed to the development of the
national school of composition.

EXCAVATION UNDERWAY, PROVING DEVELOPED WINEMAKING IN ANCIENT ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 16:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Excavations proving the development of the ancient
wine-making on the territory of modern Armenia, continue, ethnographer
Suren Pogosyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. According to him,
excavations are conducted by the Institute of Archeology and
Ethnography of Armenia, and the first objects, in ancient times
winemaking was developed trade on the territory of modern Armenia,
were discovered in 2007.

According to Suren Pogosyan, excavations are carried out in a huge
cave, called Areni1 and located near the village of Areni, across the
river Arpa. "Bones of grapes, clay pots, stems of grapes were found.

These items indicate that Armenia produced wine 4 000 years BC and
perhaps even earlier, " he said. "The results of excavations cannot
been disclosed so far. After relevant expert estimations we can firmly
state that this construction is one of the oldest in the world,"
he said.

The ethnographer also informed that he takes part in excavations of
3 vineries of medieval period (13 century) n the village of Poti of
the Tavush region and one vinery in the village of Shnogh of Lori
region of Armenia.

ISRAEL READY TO COMPLETE UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES’ DELIVERY TO TURKEY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 16:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Israel is ready to complete the delivery of unmanned
aerial vehicles, or UAVs, to Turkey, Israeli Army Radio reported.

Turkey agreed with Israeli Aerospace Industry (IAI) and Elbit, one of
Israel’s largest defense electronics manufacturers and integrators,
to buy 10 Heron surveillance drones for more than 180 million U.S.
dollars.

The deal was made some four years ago, and reportedly, the delay in
UAVs delivery was the reason behind cancelling the joint NATO-Israeli
military exercise slated to take place in Turkey.

Israel cited technical problems as the reason for two-year delay.

ARMENIA FACING MORE AND MORE CHALLENGES DUE TO LEADERSHIP’S POLICY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 16:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia is facing more and more challenges due to
the policy its leadership pursues, according to Vahan Shirhanyan,
member of the board of Hnchak Social Democratic Party.

"To resist challenges, the nation should unite and trust authorities,"
he said.

For his part, RA NA member Vardan Khachatryan remarked that talks
for normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations and Karabakh conflict
resolution need arguments and proofs.