Month: November 2009

OSCE MUST KEEP ITS KEY ROLE IN RESOLUTION OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT: UN UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL

armradio.am
13.11.2009 12:14

The OSCE must remain in its key role in the South Caucasus,
especially when it comes to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process,
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency
Relief Coordinator John Holmes believes.

"I think that the defrosting of any protracted negotiations is not
easy, but some revival concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh was noticed
recently and this is making us optimistic," he added.

Holmes expressed support to all the tactics and principles proposed
by OSCE Minsk Group. According to the top UN official, OSCE Minsk
process should come to some fruitarian. "Though this process will
be difficult for both Azerbaijan and Armenia, settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is in the interests of both sides," he said,
Trend News reported.

HANS-JOCHEN SCHMIDT: SETTING PRECONDITIONS IS DANGEROUS
Anna Nazaryan

"Radiolur"
13.11.2009 14:38

"The signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols was a daring political
step, but the process of normalization of relations requires great
patience and creative mind," Hans-Jochen Schmidt, the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Germany to Armenia, told a press
conference today.

The normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations will not only have a
political significance, but will also contribute to the establishment
of stability in the region. The Ambassador considers that setting
preconditions in the process is dangerous.

"I think that setting preconditions is dangerous politically. I do
believe we can hope that the ratification of the protocols will have
a positive influence on the settlement of the Karabakh issue. I attach
importance to the ratification of the protocols as soon as possible.

This step will serve as a stabilizing factor for the whole region,"
the Ambassador said.

According to Hans-Jochen Schmidt, the establishment of Armenian-Turkish
relations and opening of the border is in Turkey’s interest as
well. "If Turkey wishes to play an important role in the region,
it should prove its will by signing the protocols."

NABI SENSOY: ARMENIA-TURKEY NORMALIZATION TO PROVE USEFUL TO THE REGION

armradio.am
13.11.2009 14:55

"Ankara believes that it would be extremely beneficial to divert
Turkish-Armenian relations into a new channel with the protocols,
thereby starting diplomatic relations between the two countries,
followed by the opening of the common border and the start of an
exchange between them," Nabi Sensoy, Turkish Ambassador to the U.S.
said in an interview with Trend News.

"We think that this will prove useful not only to the bilateral
relationship between Turkey and Armenia, but also in terms of making
positive contributions to the peace, stability and security in the
South Caucasus, especially in the region rife with ‘frozen’ problems,"
the ambassador added.

Touching upon the Karabakh issue, he said "Turkey will continue its
efforts aimed at active encouragement of the final solution of the
conflict."

A PROGRAM OF SURVIVAL: ARTSVIK MINASYAN’S ASSESSMENT OF DRAFT BUDGET 2010
Nelly Danielyan

"Radiolur"
13.11.2009 15:39

The budget for Fiscal Year 2010 is not efficient. It’s just a program
of survival, said Artsvik Minasyan, head of ARF Dashnaktsutyun faction
of the National Assembly.

"The draft budget doesn’t meet the goals set by the government, these
being maintenance of macroeconomic stability, consumption incentives
and export growth," Artsvik Minasyan told a press conference today.

ARF Dashnaktsutyun has not yet decided whether it will vote for or
against the bill. However, they are not particularly inspired by
the document.

As concerns the government resignation, Artsvik Minasyan does not
consider it probable.

THE NUMBER OF SWINE FLU CASES IN ARMENIA REACHES 11

armradio.am
13.11.2009 16:05

The number of swine flu cases in Armenia has reached 11, Assistant to
the Minister of Health Shushan Hunanyan told "Radiolur." The number of
persons infected with H1N1 virus increased from 6 to 11 within a day.

Shushan Hakobyan noted that one of the infected persons is a driver
transporting passengers from the airport. The four others are members
of the same family. One of the family members arrived in Armenia from
Omsk. The laboratory testing confirmed the swine flu virus. Within
three days the citizen infected three other members of his family.

Yesterday the patients were taken to Nork Infection Clinic with
H1N1 symptoms.

Currently the number of swine flu cases in Armenia is 11. Three
patients have already been discharged from hospital. Specialists
assess the condition of the other eight as satisfactory.

Three out of 11 infected persons are from Russia, two – from Iran,
one – from Turkey, the rest are citizens of the Republic of Armenia.

The situation in the region is much more complicated. The number of
swine flu cases has reached 58 in Georgia, 14 cases have been confirmed
in Azerbaijan. The number of swine flu cases in Turkey totals 145.

ARMPRODEXPO 2009 INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION COMES TO AN END
Hasmik Dilanyan

"Radiolur"
13.11.2009 16:16

President Serzh Sargsyan today attended the closing ceremony of the
Armprodexpo 2009 9th international exhibition.

President Sargsyan walked about the pavilions, familiarized with and
tasted the products presented by 65 local and foreign companies.

The President presented his impressions to participants of the
exhibition, listened to their problems and proposals.

The global crisis has affected almost all participant companies. They
hope, however, to resume the earlier level of production in the
near future.

All the participating companies have already received different offers
during the three days of the exhibition.

CONSULTATIONS IN STEPANAKERT ON THE ANNUAL TELETHON

armradio.am
13.11.2009 16:25

On November 13 President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan
convoked a consultation on the "Hayastan" All-Armenian fund’s annual
telethon, which will take place in Los Angeles on November 26, Central
Information Department of the Office of the NKR President reported.

Noting that this year the telethon is dedicated to the recovery and
development of Shoushi, which has a special importance to us, the
Head of the State encouraged all those present to do the preparatory
work at the proper level and periodically report on the measures taken.

Meanwhile Bako Sahakyan underlined the importance of more active
participation of the republic’s population.

The President underlined, that this year all preparatory works are
taken in some different format: NKR President was present at the
meeting with our compatriots in Moscow, the National Assembly Chairman
visited France, the Prime Minister will leave for the US. The Head
of State gave corresponding instructions to Deputy Prime Minister,
Minister of Finance Spartak Tevosyan to coordinate the process in NKR.

ARTSAKH STATE UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY

armradio.am
13.11.2009 17:11

The Artsakh State University celebrates its 40th anniversary today. On
this occasion the President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Bako
Sahakyan, issued a congratulatory address:

"Dear friends,

The Alma Mater of Artsakh celebrates its 40th anniversary. It is a
holiday for our entire nation and the whole republic because during
all these years the university has been one of the most important
centers of preserving national identity. It stood at the origins of
the liberation struggle.

In 1992 as a result of implemented reforms the establishment was
given the status of university. This was not only of scientific
and educational, but also of political importance for our young
independent republic.

Nowadays, Artsakh State University as one of the key educational
establishments of our country is still playing a role in a hard
process of educating the younger generation and preparing cadres as
well as in a state building process.

In the current situation the university faces new and various
challenges that require persistent, purposeful and regular work
on a daily basis. It is important to deepen and enlarge ties with
universities in Armenia and other countries, use every single
opportunity to secure continuous development and improvement.

Our goal is to have a modern and competitive educational center meeting
international standards. The administration of the university with
the support of the state should do everything possible to achieve it.

I congratulate once again all the students, the alumni and the
university staff on the anniversary and wish good health, happiness
and all the best.

BALAKIAN TO SPEAK ON LEMKIN AND ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AT CJH CONFERENCE

Noyan Tapan
Nov 11, 2009

NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Peter Balakian,
an Armenian American Professor and author of numerous books, will be
part of a day-long symposium on the life and work of Raphael Lemkin,
sponsored by the Center for Jewish History and American Jewish
Historical Society and held at the Center for Jewish History on
Nov. 15.

Hayrenik weekly reports that the conference will present scholars
examining the legacy of Raphael Lemkin as a lawyer, scholar, teacher,
linguist, writer, and tireless advocate of international efforts to
prevent genocide. An exhibition of selections of Lemkin’s papers and
accompanying materials from the collections of the American Jewish
Historical Society will accompany the conference. Scholars from
around the world and across the United States will participate in the
conference. They include Peter Balakian, Colgate University; Vartan
Gregorian, Carnegie Corporation; Steven Leonard Jacobs, University of
Alabama; William A. Schabas, National University of Ireland, Galway,
and others.

Balakian will discuss the impact of the Armenian Genocide on
Lemkin’s thought, and then explore how Lemkin’s fuller understanding
of cultural annihilation can be understood by examining the range
of the Turkish government’s eradication of Armenian intellectuals,
cultural institutions, and artistic heritage.

RA NA SPEAKER RECEIVES NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF GERMANY TO RA

Noyan Tapan
Nov 11, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamian
receiving newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of Germany to RA Hans-Jochen Schmidt on November 11, expressed
the hope that the Ambassador will spare no efforts to develop the
Armenian-German partnership. He mentioned that the bilateral relations
are on firm bases and highly evaluated the current trade and economic,
political and cultural contacts, as well as programs implemented in
Armenia by GTZ.

According to the RA NA Public Relations Department, the interlocutors
agreed that they should further develop interparliamentary partnership
and use all possibilities given by the parliamentary diplomacy.

During the conversation the sides also discussed the process of
normalizing the Armenian-Turkish relations without preconditions
paying special attention to the role of the two neighboring countries’
parliaments in it.