Month: November 2009

CHAVEZ: US PROVOKING ALL-OUT WAR IN S. AMERICA

PRESS TV
Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:51:06 GMT

Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez President Hugo Chavez has threatened
an all-out war in South America should the US want to provoke Colombia
to launch an armed conflict in the region.

Chavez said Venezuela could end up going to war with Colombia,
warning that if a conflict broke out "it could extend throughout the
whole continent."

The anti-US leader ordered the military to prepare for a possible war,
addressing President Barack Obama to be cautious about any move in
the region.

"Don’t make a mistake, Mr. Obama, by ordering an attack against
Venezuela by way of Colombia," Chavez said during his weekly television
and radio program Sunday.

However, the Colombian government dismissed Chavez’s threats, saying
it would protest to the Organization of American States (OAS) and
the UN Security Council.

"Colombia never has, and never will, make an act of war," government
spokesman Cesar Mauricio Velasquez said.

A recent military agreement between the US and Colombia that gives
American troops greater access to military bases of Colombia has
sparked controversy in the region.

In recent weeks, tensions between the two Latin American nations have
been worsened by a series of shootings.

Last week, two Venezuelan National Guard troops were killed at a
checkpoint near the border in Venezuela’s western Tachira state,
prompting Caracas to temporarily close some border crossings.

The violence prompted Venezuela to send 15,000 soldiers to the border
with Colombia on Thursday to increase security along the border.

FOR ERDOGAN THE PRESIDENT OF SUDAN IS BETTER THAN ISRAEL’S PRIME MINISTER

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
09.11.2009 20:41 GMT+04:00

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he prefers communicate
with Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al Bashir, and not with the Prime
Minister of Israel Benjamin Netaniyahu.

Erdogan’s statement was made at a meeting with Iranian President
Ahmadinejad, the latter today visited Ankara. Erdogaan’s statement
was intended to clarify the reasons for canceling Al Bashir’s visit
to Turkey.

According to Erdogan, he it is not able to maintain a respectful
conversation with Netanyahuu because of the "crimes" committed by IDF
during "Cast Lead " in the Gaza Strip. "I intend to tell Netanyahu
that the crimes in Gaza are unacceptable. Muslims never dare to do
anything like this, " Erdogan said, nashe.orbita.co.il reports.

Al-Bashir is accused of war crimes, genocide against its own people
and crimes against humanity. According to estimates of experts,
he is guilty of killing 35,000 Sudanese citizens, and his actions
condemned more than 80,000 inhabitants to death by starvation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS EXPLAINS ARMENIA’S 2010 BUDGET REDUCTION

news.az
Nov 9 2009
Azerbaijan

The Armenian national congress stats that such a budget reflects the
mistakes and short-sightedness of any authority.

"The Armenian National Congress has repeatedly warned that the steps
taken by Armenia’s government in conditions of the financial and
economic crisis failed to avert or smooth today’s negative events",
says a statement spread by the Armenian National Congress, according
to 7or.am.

In the result of ignoring warnings, Armenia has left all CIS countries
and almost all countries of the world for official indicator of
economic decline due to attraction of an unprecedented loan at 1.5 bn
dollars. The so-called preventive measures of the authorities are in
fact aimed not to project the interests of the state, residents and
to settle urgent issues but to strengthen and preserve the corrupted
governing system.

Throughout the whole year of 2009, by concealing its shortcomings and
inability to settle any serious task, the government has made a shadow
reduction of the budget by different illegal ways. In such conditions
they prepared and presented to the parliament the draft state budget
for 2010 that ignores real tasks and challenges facing our country.

The 2010 budget envisioned 25% decrease in revenues when the
authorities predict economic growth in 2010. Serious reductions against
2009 are envisioned in education (almost 25%), defense (more than 22%)
in case when expenses for maintaining state administration have been
left changeless.

A very low and declining level of taxes is envisioned in taxes-GDP
ratio which, in fact, means powers will not fight against shadow and
corruption and they envision a high budget deficit of 6.5% GDP.

The Armenian national congress stats that such a budget reflects the
mistakes and short-sightedness of any authority", says the statement
of the Congress.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HUNGARY TO DEEPEN MULTILATERAL COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.11.2009 21:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Serzh Sargsyan has today met with Hungarian
President Laslo Shoyom. Let’s note that Armenian leader paid his
first state visit to a central European state upon the initiative of
his Hungarian counterpart. Official meeting between two leaders took
place in Hungarian President’s residence. Thereafter, Sargsyan and
Shoyom continued their discussion in tete-a-tete format. Shoyom said
he appreciated Armenia as a key partner and expressed his country’s
willingness to deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation in
political, trade-economic, humanitarian and other spheres.

During the meeting, parties also signed agreements and documents on
cooperation in various spheres.

Sargsyan and Shoyom stated that despite active dialogue between their
countries, paces of trade-economic cooperation remained relatively
slow. Nevertheless, they expressed hope that recently opened
Armenian-Hungarian business-conference, as well as the documents
signed would promote business development between two states, RA
President’s press service reports.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT PAYS VISITS TO BUDAPEST AND KALININGRAD

Aysor
Nov 9 2009
Armenia

Yesterday Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan left for Hungary to pay
a three-day visit, Cabinet’s press office reports.

Armenian delegation involves Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan,
Minister of Justice Gevorg Danielyan, Minister for Diaspora Affairs
Mrs. Hranush Hakobyan, Minister of Culture Mrs. Hasmik Poghosyan,
Minister of Agriculture Gerasim Alaverdyan, and head of the
Armenian-Hungarian Parliamentary Friendship Group Gagik Melikyan.

Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom will host to President Sargsyan. The
parties will have a meeting with participations of the two countries’
representatives. Presidents will sign agreements on cooperation and
then speak to journalists. Today Armenian President will also meet
with Speaker of the Parliament of Hungary, Bela Katona. In the evening
President Laszlo Solyom will host a dinner in honor of the President
of Armenia.

In Budapest President Sargsyan will lay a wreath at the monument on
Heroes Square and commend the memory of the victims of Genocide on
Petofi Square.

Tomorrow President Sargsyan will meet with Cardinal Peter Erdo,
Hungary’s Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai, and with participants of
Armenian-Hungarian business forum.

At the invitation of Governor of Russian region of Kaliningrad, Georgy
Boos, Armenian President will visit Kaliningrad tomorrow afternoon.

Serzh Sargsyan will meet with representatives of Armenian community,
participate in ceremony of opening of Armenian Culture Center, and
lay a wreath at the Cross Stone monument.

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan will return to Yerevan on
November 11.

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN WILL BE LEAVING FOR A THREE-DAY STATE VISIT TO THE REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY

president.am
Nov 8 2009
Armenia

On November 8, President Serzh Sargsyan will be leaving for a three-day
state visit to the Republic of Hungary.

The Presidential delegation comprises the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Justice Gevork Danielian, Minister
for Diaspora Affairs Hranush Hakopian, Minister of Culture Hasmik
Poghossian, Minister of Agriculture Gerasim Alaverdian, Chairman
of the Parliamentary group Armenia-Hungary, MP Gagik Melikian, and
other officials.

The President of Armenia will arrive to Budapest in the evening of
November 8.

On November 9, the official ceremony of welcoming the President of
Armenia will take place at the residence of the President of Hungary,
which will be followed by a tête-a-tête meeting of Presidents Serzh
Sargsyan and Laszlo Solyom. Later, the Presidents will be joined
by their delegations. The Governments of the two states will sign a
number of documents on bilateral cooperation.

After the signing ceremony the President of Armenia and the President
of Hungary will make a joint statement for the press. In the afternoon,
the President of Armenia will meet with the Speaker of the Hungarian
Parliament Bela Katona.

President Sargsyan will visit the Heroes’ Square in Budapest and
will lay a wreath at the memorial. In Petefi Square the President of
Armenia will lay a wreath at the khachkar dedicated to the memory of
the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

In the evening, the President of Hungary Laszlo Solyom will give a
state dinner in honor of the President of Armenia.

On November 10, President Sargsyan will meet with Cardinal Peter
Erdo and Prime Minister of Hungary Gordon Bajnai, as well as the
participants of the Armenian-Hungarian business forum.

In Budapest President Sargsyan will also go for sightseeing. Together
with the President of Hungary, he will tour the Budapest Museum of
Military History.

In the second half of the day, at the invitation of the Governor
of Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation Georgi Bross,
the President of Armenia will leave from Budapest for Kaliningrad
on a working visit. He will meet with the Governor of the region
as well as with the representatives of the Armenian community. In
Kaliningrad, the President of Armenia will attend the official ceremony
of inauguration of the Armenian Cultural Center and will lay flowers
at the khachkar-monument.

On November 11, the President of Armenia will return to Yerevan.

THIRD A/H1N1 SUSPECTED CASE REGISTERED IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.11.2009 21:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The third suspected case of A/H1N1 pandemic (swine
flu) has been registered in Armenia, and patients’ analysis samples
have been sent to London laboratory. One of suspects is an Iranian
citizens who arrived in Armenia after receiving relevant treatment.

The other two are young people who have flied from Moscow. They too,
are receiving relevant treatment.

Vaccines currently available in Armenia will suffice for 10 thousand
people. First of all they will be administered to individuals below
age 24. Health Minister Haurutyun Kushkyan has issued recommendation
for accelerating the process of receiving vaccines.

As noted by chief infectiologist Ara Asoyan, A/H1N1 is no more
complicated than ordinary seasonal flu, in terms of contagiousness
and lethal outcome as well. The only threat is the possible mutation
that may weaken serum effect. Besides, the incubation period in
case of this pandemic may last up to 7 days in contrast to ordinary
flu whose incubation lasts no more than 4 days. The main symptoms of
A/H1N1 are diarrhea, headache and temperature up to 370C. As possible
preventive measure, chief infectiologist recommended population to
use more liquid, dress warmly, wash hands several times a day and
observe all rules of hygiene, Armenian TV channels report.

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN RECEIVED THE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATO SECRETARY GENERAL ROBERT SIMMONS

president.am
Nov 8 2009
Armenia

Today, the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan received the Special
Representative of the NATO Secretary General in Caucasus and Central
Asia, Ambassador Robert Simmons.

President Sargsyan said that back in spring he met with the NATO
Deputy Secretary General, but a number of important events took place
in Armenia since his visit and the Individual Partnership Action Plan
for 2009-2010 was approved.

Serzh Sargsyan underscored that Armenia would continue her efforts
aimed at the strengthening cooperation with NATO. President Sargsyan
assessed cooperation with NATO in military as well as in the areas
of security and emergency as very useful, instructive, and essential.

According to Robert Simmons, Armenia-NATO relations stand on a very
good footing. He expressed hope that IPAP 2009-2010 will also be
successfully implemented. The high-ranking NATO official attached
importance to Armenia’s contribution to the international peacekeeping
operations.

In the context of regional issues the Special Representative of the
Secretary General of NATO hailed the progress achieved in the process
of the Armenian-Turkish normalization and noted that NATO favors the
establishment of relations without preconditions. He expressed hope
that the Parliaments of the two countries would swiftly ratify the
initialed protocols.

The parties exchanged also views on the Armenia-NATO agenda items
and regional issues.

THE NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF GEORGIA TO ARMENIA PRESENTED HIS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN

president.am
Nov 8 2009
Armenia

Today, the newly appointed Ambassador of Georgia to Armenia Grigol
Tabatadze presented his credentials to President Serzh Sargsyan.

Congratulating the Ambassador on this assignment, President Sargsyan
said, "We have a very long history of relations behind us and our past
relations obligate us to become even closer friends and to cooperate
more intensely. Certainly, today our relations are on a very high
level, however they require constant attention and improvement. Toward
that end, the Ambassadors of our two countries must work very hard. I
believe, we are still not using our entire potential and we can open
new opportunities for cooperation."

According to Ambassador Tabatadze, President Sahakashvili also
attaches great importance to the development of relations with
friendly Armenia and believes that friendship and cooperation have
no alternatives. At the same time Ambassador of Georgia said that
the political leadership of his country praises the vision of the
Armenian President, viewing him as a political figure who looks into
the future, without overlooking the past.

The President of Armenia and the Ambassador of Georgia concurred
that the two states have no problems which couldn’t be solved through
discussions and dialogue.

The two sides spoke also about the issues on the Armenian-Georgian
agenda and activities of the joint intergovernmental commission.

President Sargsyan expressed hope that the newly appointed Ambassador
would bring his contribution to the deepening of bilateral relations
in different areas and said that in his work the Ambassador of Georgia
would always have the support of the Armenian state bodies. In his
turn, Ambassador Tabatadze noted that he is ready for vigorous work.

ARMENIA SHOULD THINK ABOUT "EUOR-2016" SINCE TODAY

Aysor
Nov 9 2009
Armenia

As it is known UEFA has decided to add the number of the participants.

If till now there were 16 teams participating in the continental
championship, since 2016 the number of the participants will reach 24.

Naturally it is a good chance for the Armenian team which can aim
to appear in the final. But for this aim they should start thinking
about having a good team for "Euro 2016" since today. It first of all
supposes a hard, purposeful work with the present Armenian youth team.

By the request of Aysor.am reporter Fleming Sericlev, the chief coach
of the Armenian youth team, is speaking about the opportunities of
our team:

"I think that the opportunities of the Armenian team are actually not
bad. The team has good halfbacks who by that time will be in the staff
of the Armenian National team. I’m sure that we will have an excellent
staff. And I am sure that we will have an excellent halfback. Today
the main problem is growing 1-2good fullbacks. We should always tend
to make a correct choice as Armenia has little human resources and
losses are merely not permitted. The same thing can be noticed in
Dania the population of which is little too, only 5mln people. As in
the fullback of the Armenian National team there are young players at
the moment we can hope that in "Euro 2016" they will already be matured
and experienced football players. If 1-2 players from the youth team
are moved to the general team we’ll have a good bench of spares, which
will give us an opportunity to think about more serious problems."