Month: November 2009

ARMENIA, GERMANY TO EXTEND COOPERATION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 17:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Secretary of National Security Council Arthur
Baghdasaryan received November 16 Hans-Jochen Schmidt, newly appointed
German Ambassador to Armenia. During the meeting, parties discussed
issues concerning Armenian-German relations. Mr. Baghdasaryan highly
assessed diplomat’s activity, expressing hope he would contribute to
the development of Armenian-German relations. Parties also touched
upon Armenia-EU cooperation.

Upon the guest’s request, Arthur Baghdasaryan briefed on
Armenian-Turkish rapprochement, NSC press service reports.

IRAN’S NUCLEAR POWER PLANT NOT TO BE LAUNCHED IN 2009

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 18:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Nuclear Power Plant of Bushehr, Iran, will
not be launched in 2009, said RF Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko. "We
anticipate serious results by year end, however, plant is not expected
to be launched by that time. Iran positively assesses activities of
RF. Iranians see how the project works. There are no questions in
that regard," Interfax quotes him as saying.

"Russia, as before, is convinced of fulfilling all its commitments to
Iran," Minister said. "Construction work in Budapest is in satisfactory
state." Moscow and Tehran do not yet consider terms for launching the
plant, as that is conditioned by technical conditions," Shmatko said.

"Bushehr" Nuclear Power Plant (100 MW) is the main target
of Russian-Iranian trade-economic cooperation. Its construction
(launched back in 1970) is carried out by Atomstroyexport CJSC. In
February 2009, Rosatom Director Sergei Kirienko said the plant might
be technically launched by the end of current year. Later, however,
Moscow announced it wasn’t making haste considering the need for
"observing time-limits as well as security and reliability terms".

Ali Akbar Salehi, Director of Iran’s Atomic Enrgy Organization,
refrained from specifying time-limits back in September. Main
equipments are installed but terms of launching plant depend on test
work, he said

SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER CALLS ON ERDOGAN TO PREVENT SPREAD OF ANTI-SEMITISM IN TURKEY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 18:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Organization Simon Wiesenthal Center send a huge
number of appeals to the office of the Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan and the central committee of the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AK PARTY). Simon Wiesenthal Center in letters
is expressing protest in connection with the spread of anti-Israel
campaign in Turkey.

As Samanyoluhaber.com reports, representatives of organizations
are concerned with recent warming of Turkish-Iranian relations. In
addition, Simon Wiesenthal Center calls on Turkish prime minister
to take measures to stop anti-Semitism in Turkey in order the
500-year-long friendship between Turkey and Israel is not be
questioned.

ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION TO BE INITIATED ON MARIAM SUKHUDYAN CASE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 19:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Additional investigation will be initiated on
"S.O.S Teghut" movement activist Mariam Sukhudyan’s case. Investigator
Vigen Mesropyan, responsible for case-related investigative actions,
was put in charge of additional investigation. As lawyer Nona
Galstyan reported, this was the first time in the whole preliminary
investigation period when law enforcement agencies granted
defense-submitted petitions.

Criminal case was filed after the November 13, 2008 regular broadcast
of Haylur on Public TV channel. There, a school-girl from Nubarashen
boarding school No. 11 complained about being sexually harassed by
a teacher, "Ecolur" NGO says in a press release. Sukhudyan herself
finds she is being persecuted for participating in "SOS-Teghut"
function aimed the protection of Teghut forest.

Initially, Sukhudyan was accused of libel (Section 1, Article 135 of
RA Criminal Code). However, on August 15, Erebuni Police Office’s
Investigative Department replaced Article, accusing the defendant
of providing false information accompanied by artificial creation of
evidence. The article envisages graver punishment, i.e. imprisonment
for up to 5 years. On October 21, the court overturned the previous
decree, once again changing the accusation to libel, Ecolur press
service reported.

ISTANBUL HOSTED SEMINAR ON 1909 ARMENIAN MASSACRES IN ADANA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 19:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On November 6-9, Istanbul hosted conference titled
Adana – 1909: History, Memory, and Identity from a Hundred Year
Perspective. Discussions brought together scholars from United States,
Canada, Great Britain, France, Italy and Turkey, as well as students
and journalists.

Seminar was devoted to Turks who saved Armenians during on 1909
Armenian Massacres in Adana (Cilicia). Representatives from Armenia,
Europe and United States expressed their views over the issue.

Discussions were conducted by London Institute after Komitas, Sabancı
University (Istanbul), History Chair of Bildji University, Hrant Dink
International Fund, as well as Bogazici University, Komitas Institute
press service reports.

Adana massacres began on April 1, 1909. Over 4 days, 30 thousand
Armenians were annihilated. On April 12, regular troops invaded the
town, mounting new wave of slaughters.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA’S REVIEWING COURT CANCELS ADMINISTRATIVE COURT’S TEGHOUT CASE RESOLUTION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 19:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s reviewing court cancelled Administrative
court’s Teghout case resolution, Ecolur reported, citing Human Rights
Protection and Democratization Institute president Arpine Galafyan.

In summer 2009, Ecodar, Vanadzor’s Helsinki Office and Transparency
International Anticorruption Center NGOs have twice applied to RA
Administrative Court. First time it was a claim to consider illegal
two positive opinions by the State Environmental Expert Commission
of the Ministry of Nature Protection, the Government decision on
Teghout exploitation, as well as the issuance of license to "Armenian
Copper Program" for Teghout mine development, the second time it was
a appeal for dismissal of the claim. The Administrative has dismissed
both claims.

Commenting on the legal decision, assistant to Vallex Group president
Vahram Ayvazyan stated: "We’re not happy about court’s decision. We’re
confident the legal discussion will once again prove accusations
mentioned to be groundless."

TURKISH JOURNALIST CALLED KARABAKH ARMENIAN LAND

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 19:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish Akcam’s journalist Nagahen Alci’s statement
about Nagorno Karabakh mounted a new anti-Armenian hysteria in
Azerbaijan. Turkish journalist was recently on a visit to Stepanakert
where she met with NKR officials and colleagues working in Karabakh.

In an interview to NKR Public Television, Alci said she had heard a
lot about Karabakh and decided to see Stepanakert with her own eyes.

NKR Public TV’s news journalist Varduhi Ohanyan who conducted the
interview told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter that Turkish journalist said
her country was mistaken since Karabakh was truly an Armenian land.

During meetings with NKR senior officials, Alci made the following
statement, "You are determined enough not to give your lands".

Ohanyan said they possessed "raw material" of interview, proving that
Nagahen Alci really called Karabakh an Armenian land. NKR Public
Channel journalist said she was a little surprised by her Turkish
colleague’s boldness. "I also asked her about her opinion on Armenian
Genocide. Nagahen Alci stressed she was not historian and all she knew
was that tragic events occurred in 1915, and that Armenians and Turks
should look to the future and become friends," Varduhi Ohanyan said.

Akcam editorial office has announced that "in case Nagahen Alci’s is
proved to have made such statement she will be strictly punished,"
Turkish media report.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES DISCUSSED SOCIAL INTEGRATION ISSUES WITH VIVACELL-MTC REPRESENTATIVES

Turkish Journalist Called Karabakh Armenian Land
16.11.2009 19:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Within the frameworks "International Week of
Education" and International Month of Disabled People, VivaCell-MTC
representatives have today received 50 university students with special
needs. Meeting aims to promote employment opportunities, enabling
students to apply their knowledge in their future work with company.

Considering their personal experience, VivaCell-MTS employees
encouraged guests to never give way to despair, and to continue
knocking on employers’ doors, because they strongly believe everything
becomes possible in case of having desire, faith and self-confidence.

"Yes, people with disabilities need certain support, but not –
compassion. Today, they are proud to work in a leading company like
this and earn money to meet their and their families’ needs. This
helps them become independent, enjoy respect and be self-confident.

They need to be given a chance to live a full life, without being
isolated from the society," VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph
Yirikian said

TWO ARMENIAN GRANDMASTERS TO TAKE PART WORLD CUP-2009 CHESS TOURNAMENT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 20:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ World cup chess-2009 will be held from November
20 to December 14 in Khanty-Mansiysk (Russia), 128 players from
different countries will take part in the cup. Olympic champions
Gabriel Sargsyan (2676) and Tigran Petrosian will present Armenia
(2615). As Net Tigran Petrosian told a PanARMENIAN.net reporter, he is
currently preparing to this tournament and try to play successfully. At
present, Armenian GM Tigran Petrosian takes part in the tournament
"Football for the sake of equal opportunity". "In our spare time,
we always play football. In some ways it is similar to chess, since
in both cases, we need to think," Tigran Petrosian said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DAYS OF RUSSIA’S TELEVISION HELD IN YEREVAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 20:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Days of Russia’s television in Armenia will be
organized from November 16 to 19 in Yerevan.

In the framework of days president of the Russian Television Academy,
Special Representative of President on international cultural
cooperation, Ambassador at Large Mikhail Shvydkoi, Deputy Director
General of the First Channel’s Information Programs Cyril Kleimenov,
commentator Andrei Kondrashov, TV presenter Arina Sharapova arrived
in Yerevan Guests have been accompanied by the Armenian Ambassador
to Russia Armen Smbatyan.

"During the visit to Armenia the Memorandum of Understanding and
Cooperation between the "Russia’s Academy of Television" Fund and
four leading Armenian TV channels – Public Television of Armenia,
Armenian Second TV Channel, "Armenia" and "Shant " will be signed,
Mikhail Shvydkoi said.

According to him, in 2010 the leading Russian TV channels will organize
master classes and training sessions for journalists from Armenia.