Month: November 2009

ANCA LAUNCHES "COUNTDOWN TO ERDOGAN" CALLING ON PRESIDENT OBAMA TO HONOR HIS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE PLEDGE

armradio.am
09.11.2009 13:13

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) today unveiled
"Countdown to Erdogan" – a month-long campaign of grassroots activism
aimed at encouraging the U.S. Congress, the media, and – ultimately
– the White House to put America on the right side of the Armenian
Genocide.

Starting on Monday, November 9th, the ANCA website –
– will launch a new action item every day,
ranging from on-line activism and call-in days to social networking,
coalition-building, community outreach, and hands-on activities – all
aimed at educating and inspiring President Obama, on December 7th,
to tell Prime Minister Erdogan, to his face, that America stands
for a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide. Each
week will also include at least one action item geared to end the
ongoing genocide in Darfur, as part of the ANCA’s broader commitment
to fostering U.S leadership in ending the cycle of genocide.

The first week of the campaign will address the U.S. Senate, the
second the U.S. House, followed by the media on the third week, and
then a final push in the final seven days directly to the White House.

President Obama is set to meet with President Erdogan on December 7th.

"As we all know far too well, when President Obama met this April
in Ankara with Prime Minister Erdogan, he got it wrong, breaking
his clearly and repeatedly stated promise to recognize the Armenian
Genocide," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian, in a letter
to campaign participants. "Even worse, in the weeks that followed,
he compounded his broken pledge by joining with Turkey in pressuring
Armenia, a landlocked and blockaded country, into accepting a
historical "commission" that calls into question this very crime
against humanity. This time, on American soil, President Obama has
a chance to make it right – to honor his pledge and be, as he stated
during the campaign, the President the American people deserve."

The "Countdown to Erdogan" campaign launch coincides with recent
statements by Prime Minister Erdogan denying both the Armenian
and Darfur genocides. In recent remarks, he asserted that "It’s
not possible for a Muslim to commit genocide." His statements came
in response to international pressure on Turkey to arrest Sudanese
dictator Omar al-Bashir during a scheduled visit, later postponed,
to Ankara. "We are comfortable [with the visit of al-Bashir],"
explained Erdogan.

DEFENSE MINISTER SEYRAN OHANYAN OFF TO DUSHANBE

armradio.am
09.11.2009 14:55

The delegation headed by the Defense Minister of Armenia, Seyran
Ohanyan, left for Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, to participate
in the recurrent sitting of the Coucnil of Defense Ministers of the
CIS participating states scheduled for November 10, Press Department
of the Armenian Ministry of Defense reported.

TIGRAN SARGSYAN: "ARMTECH" IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW ARMENIA’S IT PROGRAMS

armradio.am
09.11.2009 16:03

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan wrapped up his working visit
to the US. Within the framework of "ArmTech 2009" congress the Prime
Minister met representatives of the Renaissance and Mentor Graphics
companies to discuss the programs carried out in Armenia.

During the gala reception at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose Tigran
Sargsyan addressed the participants and guests of the event. He
pointed out that during the stay in Silicon Valley it became clear
that changes should be made in the government’s IT programs. According
to him, "ArmTech" is an opportunity to review and upgrade IT programs
in Armenia.

The Prime Minister also touched upon the issue sof teh Armenian
Genocide, the Armenia-Diaspora cooperation, teh Armenan-Turkish
relations.

On the last day of the visit Tigran Sargsyan visited the Plug and
Play high-tech incubator, got acquainted with its programs and
opportunities. During the negotiations with the leadership of the
Incubator an agreement was reached over cooperation of the Armenia’s
Enterprise Incubator Foundation and the Plug and Play, as well as
over the development and implementation of joint programs.

MEKHAK APRESYAN: ARMENIA HAS THE CAPACITY TO BECOME A TOURISM CENTER
Marianna Gyurjyan

"Radiolur"
09.11.2009 16:38

"I hope the winter will be snowy and many tourists will visit Armenia,"
Mekhak Apresyan, Head of the Tourism and Regional Development
Development Department at the Ministry of Economy, told a press
conference today.

There has been no decline in the field of tourism as a result of the
global crisis. On the contrary, there has been some improvement,
Mekhak Apresyan said, adding that 5.8% growth was registered in
January-September 2009.

Among people who prefer spending their vacations in Armenia are
holidaymakers from Russia, Georgia, countries of the Commonwealth
of Independent States (CIS), Iran, European Union member states,
the U.S., as well as Latin American and Scandinavian countries.

Armenia can become a tourism center, Mekhak Apresyan said, specifying
the main resources that could foster the development of tourism. "We
were the first country to adopt Christianity. We have Noah’s legend.

These can become our brands," he said.

Armenia will benefit from the opening of the Turkey border, Mekhak
Apresyan is confident.

SAAKASHVILI HANDS HIS OFFICE OVER TO A HOLLYWOOD STAR
Gita Elibekyan

"Radiolur"
09.11.2009 17:30
Tbilisi

The Georgian opposition criticizes the authorities for "ordering a
Hollywood film about the Russian-Georgian war." The opposition says
the film has been produced by President Mikhail Saakashvili and
immense sums have been allocated from the state budget.

The authorities insist they have nothing to do with the idea of the
film. Authors of the film say it’s not a propaganda movie.

Whole Georgia and especially the Parliament and the President’s Office
had been turned into a shooting area over the past few days. For a
few hours Mikhail Saakashvili handed his office over to Hollywood star
Andy Garcia, who plays the part of the Georgian President in the film.

The main episodes of the movie have alreeady been shot. The film’s plot
revolves around an American TV reporter and cameraman who are caught in
the thick of the conflict and are forced to make tough ethical choices.

Director of the film Renny Harlin, best known for "Die Hard 2" and
"Cliffhanger," has said the tale of a journalist and cameraman caught
up in the fighting is an impartial indictment of war.

"We still have to realize one thing. War still continues in different
parts of the world – Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, etc. I want to make a
film that says something about the human condition, and even if only
a few people see this and feel its impact and its anti-war message,
then I will have done something that’s important and I will be proud
of it," Harlin said.

The film telling about the short Russian-Georgian war will be
presented to viewers in spring. Producers say it will be presented
at the Cannes Festival.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN ON A VISIT TO HUNGARY
Lena Badeyan

"Radiolur"
09.11.2009 17:59
Budapest

President Serzh Sargsyan started his first state visit to Budapest
today. Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Hungary were
established in 1982 and the two countries have signed a number of
agreements ever since.

A number of agreements were signed today following the official
bilateral meetings, which provide a proper ground for development of
cooperation in different spheres, namely agriculture, taxes ad economy.

On the first day of the state visit President Sargsyan laid a wreath
at the memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The memorial
was erected in Budapest in the year 2000, on the occasion of the
1700th anniversary of adoption of Christianity.

Besides the official meetings, the Presidents of Armenia and Hungary
sailed along the Danube River.

Tomorrow President Sargsyan will attend the Armenian-Hungarian
business forum.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINISTER NALBANDIAN TO VISIT SWITZERLAND

armradio.am
09.11.2009 18:06

The Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, will visit
Switzerland November 10-11, Press and Information Department of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.

A number of bilateral documents will be signed within the framework
of the visit.

PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN ADDRESSES ARMENIAN HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY CONGRESS IN SAN JOSE

ArmInfo
2009-11-09 12:45:00

ArmInfo. Arm Tech – 2009, the Armenian high-tech industry congress
started in San Jose (USA) as attended by a Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan-headed delegation from Armenia, the governmental press-service
told ArmInfo.

The Prime Minister addressed the congress. He said that over the three
days of the forum he has learned several useful lessons. First, such
meetings and discussion create an exclusive opportunity to correct the
economic strategy of Armenia. "One of the spokesmen at the forum made
the following phrase "The past is created today, and the present will
come tomorrow", which reflects the idea of the rapidly changing world.

We must be ready for such changes," the prime minister said. He
mentioned that after the visit to the Silicon Valley it has become
clear that government programs on information technologies need
changes. "Our programs became outdated while we were trying to
implement them. We must "recharge" them. In addition, during our
meetings with the representative of one of the big companies the
following idea was announced i.e. it is not Armenia that should apply
to big companies, but big companies must apply to Armenia. This idea
surprised me at first. The world is becoming smaller and smaller and
competition between big companies is stiffening. No free place has
been left," the prime minister said. He highlighted that transnational
companies are competing for a position not in the present and even not
in the perspective markets since all the positions are occupied. "Deep
ocean strategy" comes to the fore. "We are late and we should find our
"ocean," our territory of relevant prevalence. No big company will
make a decision especially for us. Big companies care for their own
business. Only ArmTech will make it possible for us to chose our way
to develop," Tigran Sargsyan said. In his speech, the prime minister
also touched upon the issues of Armenian Genocide, Armenia-Diaspora
cooperation , Armenian-Turkish relations, the official stand of Armenia
and the president’s initiative on settlement of the Armenian-Turkish
relations. Those present warmly welcomed the prime minister’s speech.

The first ArmTech Forum was held in 2007. This annual forum is held
in Armenia and Diaspora by rotation. ArmTech ’09 took place November
5- 8 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, California. The Armenian
delegation comprise nearly 80 people.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT LAYS A WREATH TO CROSS-STONE TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS

ArmInfo
2009-11-09 15:21:00

ArmInfo. Over his state visit to Hungary President of Armenia Serzh
Sargsyan has laid a wreath to the cross-stone to Armenian genocide
victims in Budapest.

As ArmInfo correspondent reported from Budapest, the president of
Armenia also visited Heroes’ Square and laid a wreath to the memorial.

Serzh Sargsyan also met representatives of the Armenian Diaspora
of Hungary.

Today the president is also going to meet up with the speaker of the
Hungarian parliament Bella Katon.

OFFICIAL MEETING OF PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND HUNGARY IN BUDAPEST

ArmInfo
2009-11-09 12:44:00

ArmInfo. Yesterday evening Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s airplane
landed at Budapest airport. The delegation headed by the president
was met by Armenia’s ambassador to Hungary Ashot Hovakimyan, the head
of the State Protocol Service of Hungary Ferens Robac and the head
of the president’s administration Shandor Tarin.

As ArmInfo correspondent reported from Budapest, after the official
ceremony of meeting President Serzh Sargsyan went to the Hotel For
Seasons.

The official meeting ceremony of the Armenian president will start
in several minutes in the Hungarian president’s residence. Then the
face-to-face meeting between Serzh Sargsyan and Laszlo Solyom will
take place.

To note, the agreement ‘On ruling out dual taxation of property
and incomes’ will be signed between the governments of Armenia and
Hungary. The agreement will be signed by Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandyan and his Hungarian counterpart Peter Balazs. It
is also scheduled to sign agreements in the sphere of justice,
agriculture and economy.

The presidents of the two states will make statements for the press.