ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF CRIMEA MARKS 20TH ANNIVERSARY
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.11.2009 12:43 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Events dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the
Armenian community of Crimea will be held in Simferopol on Friday. A
concert will take place in Crimean academic music theater; some of
community members will be honored for their activities.
NAZIK AVDALYAN WINS WORLD CHAMPION TITLE
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.11.2009 12:48 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 2008 European champion, silver medalist of 2009
European Championship Nazik Avdalyan (w/c 69 kg) won the World Champion
title at the World Weightlifting Championships in Goyang, South Korea.
Avdalyan lifted 119 kg in the snatch and 147 kg in the jerk. In all,
she won 3 gold medals.
In the team event, Armenia comes 3rd with 9 medals.
HAYASTAN ALL ARMENIAN FUND TELETHON 2009 RAISED USD 15,875,043
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.11.2009 13:08 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Hayastan All Armenian Fund concluded its 12th annual
Telethon – a twelve hour non stop live broadcast from Los Angeles, CA.
Summing up the results of a year long effort, which included a
whole range of fundraising activities, the Fund announced a total of
USD 15,875,043 in donations and pledges. The collected funds will
be directed at the realization of a variety of social and economic
infrastructure projects in the town of Shushi. Through building new
roads, schools, rehabilitating water mains and restoring apartment
buildings, the Fund will launch the process of the revival of the
historic Armenian town. Parallel to these projects, the Fund will
continue its rural development effort which reaches out to the villages
of Armenia and Artsakh.
Executive Director of Hayastan All Armenian Fund Ara Vardanyan and
Prime Minister of Nagorno Karabakh Arayik Harutyunyan were present
at the Telethon which also featured appearances by Primate of the
Artsakh Diocese Archbishop Pargev Martirosian, NKR President’s press
secretary David Babayan, Permanent Representative of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic to the United States Robert Avetisyan as well as
other distinguished and benefactors.
In an address to all Armenians, the Fund’s executive director said:
"This Telethon is yet another testament of the unity of the Armenian
people. Today, as a rule, we sum up and present the results of
the fundraising activities organized by the Fund’s various local
affiliates throughout the year. These funds are directed at solving
issues of national importance. I would like to express my gratitude
to all the benefactors; without your invaluable support the Fund’s
work would simply not be possible. It is your trust that makes it
possible to move forward, rebuild our Homeland stone by stone and
craft a bright future for our children."
One of the key fundraising events preceding the annual Telethon was
the fundraising gala in Moscow where Russian Armenian businessmen
made their contributions – USD 5,290,000 – which were reflected in
the final results of this year’s all Armenian fundraiser.
Another important fundraising event on the eve of the Telethon was
the annual pan European phonethon. The results of phonethon 2009 were
USD 1,800,000 in donations and pledges: a 10 percent increase from
the USD 1,5mln collected in 2008. More than 12,400 Armenian families
from all over Europe participated in this year’s phonethon.
This year’s fundraising effort was unprecedented in terms of the
number of people who participated and decided to have their input
in tackling the challenge of rebuilding Shushi. The participation of
residents of Armenia was especially impressive with more than 20,000
people making their donations in the period leading to the annual
Telethon. More than 13,000 people made their donations in their
local post offices. Others used their mobile phones in an innovative
fundraising effort that the Fund brought together in association with
Viva Cell MTS mobile operator.
The main sponsor of Telethon 2009 was VivaCell-MTS. Other sponsors
were: ACBA Credit Agricole Bank, Ameria Bank, Ardshininvestbank
and Haypost.
The fundraising activities in Armenia and Artsakh continue. The results
of this year’s fundraising effort will be finalized at the end of
the year when the Fund will sum up all the donations and publish the
names of the benefactors, the Fund’s press office reported.
HATIS BEAT BESIKTAS 87:64
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.11.2009 13:13 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s Hatis basketball club defeated Turkey’s
Besiktas 87:64 in European Cup 2009-2010 Group E qualifier on
November 26.
Hatis will play vs. Greece’s Athinaikos in Yerevan on December 3.
Presently, Hatis, Besiktas and Athinaikos score 6 points in Group F.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ARMENIA TO DEBATE RA-TURKEY PROTOCOLS
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.11.2009 13:49 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Democratic Party of Armenia is planning a debate
on Armenian-Turkish protocols in the near future.
"Representatives of ARFD, Heritage party and New Times party will be
participating," DPA leader Aram Sargsyan told reporters on Friday.
"Upon completion of the debate the parties will issue a joint
statement," he said. "We oppose ratification of such protocols and
will take action to prevent it."
EU HOLDS TALKS ON TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.11.2009 14:07 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European Union urged Turkey Thursday to open
its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels, ahead of a summit that may turn
up pressure on Ankara over its refusal to comply with the terms of
a trade pact with the bloc.
"It is very clear that the implementation (of the accord) is an
obligation for Turkey… and we will express ourselves on the issue
at a summit in December," Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, whose
country holds the rotating EU presidency, told a press conference.
Bildt was part of a visiting EU delegation, including also Spain’s
state secretary for Europe Diego Lopez Garrido, whose country takes
over the presidency next year, and the EU representative in Turkey,
Marc Pierini.
The delegation held talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
and the country’s chief negotiator in EU membership talks, Egemen
Bagis, to review progress in the country’s struggling membership bid.
Turkey refuses to allow Greek Cypriot vessels use its air and sea
ports under a customs union pact with the bloc on grounds the EU has
failed to keep promises to ease the international isolation of the
breakaway Turkish Cypriots.
Davutoglu said the problem would be resolved "not by exerting
unilateral pressure on Turkey, but by finding a comprehensive, just
and durable solution to the Cyprus conflict."
The EU has already punished Ankara by freezing accession talks in
eight of the 35 policy areas that candidates must complete.
In a newspaper interview this month, Cyprus President Demetris
Christofias hinted his country might seek more sanctions against
Turkey at the December summit.
Some analysts however believe the EU will refrain from tough measures,
wary not to raise fresh tensions and undermine UN-sponsored peace
talks between the Turkish and Greek communities in Cyprus aimed at
ending the island’s 35-year division.
The talks began in September 2008, but progress has been slow and
the two sides remain deeply divided on key issues.
Turkey is bitter that the Greek Cypriots, whose government is the
island’s internationally recognized administration, were admitted
into the EU in 2004 despite voting down a UN peace plan, while the
Turkish Cypriots – who gave the plan an overwhelmingly support –
were left out in the cold.
Since starting membership negotiations in 2005, Ankara has opened talks
only in 11 of the 35 policy areas. The process has been slowed down
also by opposition by some EU members, notably France and Germany,
who argue that the populous and relatively poor Muslim-majority
country should be given a special status rather than membership.
The EU officials Thursday welcomed a reform plan drawn up by Ankara to
expand the freedoms of its Kurdish minority in a bid to end a bloody
25-year insurgency in the southeast.
Garrido said Spain was hoping to secure progress in Turkey’s accession
talks when it takes over the EU presidency on January 1. "The political
reforms explained today by the two Turkish ministers is a very good
process to get Turkey closer to the EU… Spain has the intention
to open new chapters, not to slow down the negotiations," he said,
AFP reported.
DPA CALLS FOR NKR RECOGNITION
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.11.2009 14:41 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia should introduce conceptual changes in
Karabakh talks and recognize NKR independence, according to the leader
of Democratic Party of Armenia.
"In response to Ilham Aliyev’s warlike statements Armenia should have
suspended talks unless the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs gave their
assessment of the situation," Aram Sargsyan told a news conference
in Yerevan on Friday.
"Not recognizing independence of Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia can’t
explain the essence of the conflict to the international community,"
he said.
ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES NEWLY APPOINTED INDIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
ARMENPRESS
Nov 27, 2009
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS; Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan received today newly appointed Indian ambassador to Armenia
Achal Kumar Malhotra.
Governmental press service told Armenpress that congratulating
the ambassador on starting his activity in Armenia, the prime
minister expressed hope that his activity will give new impetus to
the consolidation of the Armenian-Indian friendly ties. The head of
the government pointed out that "Our political relations are on a
high level which we highly assess. At the same time we wish that the
economic relations deepen and expand. I am sure that there exists
great potential for it".
The ambassador on his part conveyed to the Armenian prime minister
the greetings of the Indian prime minister and highlighted the
contribution of the Armenian community to the Indian multi-cultural
and multi-lingual society.
The interlocutors referred to the creation of Information and
Communication Technology Excellence Center. They spoke about the
cooperation in agricultural, scientific spheres. The Indian ambassador
presented also the new concept of support to the friend-states.
The prime minister expressed hope that in near future the session of
the Armenian-Indian inter-governmental commission will take place.
THE SESSION OF THE EURASEC INTER-STATE COUNCIL TO BE CONDUCTED TODAY IN MINSK
ARMENPRESS
Nov 27, 2009
MINSK, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS; The session of the EurAsEC
Inter-State Council will be conducted today in Minsk on the level of
presidents. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan is also participating
in the event.
During the session it is expected to approve joint customs fee of
the Customs Union to be set up within the framework of the EurAsEC
which will be applied from January 1, 2010. The heads of states are
planning to adopt an agreement on the customs codex of the Customs
Union which will enter into force from July 1, 2010.
Members of EurAsEC are Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan. Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine have status of observers.
ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WRAPS UP HIS VISIT TO JAPAN
ARMENPRESS
Nov 27, 2009
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS; Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan met November 26 with the throne heir of Japan Narohito.
Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department told Armenpress
that the minister asked the heir to convey the greetings and best
wishes of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to Japanese Emperor
Akihito and noted Armenia’s wish to more consolidate and develop
friendly relations with Japan.
Edward Nalbandyan presented to the heir the position of Armenia over
a number of regional and international issues as well as the goal of
his visit to Tokyo, the results of his yesterday’s meetings and the
arrangements reached during them.
On the second half of the day Edward Nalbandyan delivered a speech
on Armenia’s foreign policy at the Japanese International Relations
Institute.
After the speech the minister met with the director of the Institute
Yoshiji Nogimi and discussed issues on cooperation between the Armenian
Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic school and Japanese International
Relations Institute.
On the same day the minister gave interview to Japanese "NHK" TV
channel and "Nikkei" daily.
Edward Nalbandyan also visited the headquarter of Shimizu corporation
and met with its leadership. During the meeting the sides discussed
programs carried out by the corporation in Armenia.
Today the minister wrapped up his visit to Japan and arrived back
in Yerevan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress