Month: February 2012

ARMENIAN AND IRANIAN OFFICIALS MET: BILATERAL RELATIONS WERE DISCUSSED

15.02.12, 16:32

On February 14 delegation led by Armenian deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs Shavarsh Qocharyan left for Iran to hold the next political
councils between Armenian and Iranian MFAs. The delegation had
meeting with the deputy of Iranian MFA on Asian and CIS countries
Seyed Abbas Araghchi. Press and information department of the RA
Ministry of foreign Affair informs about this.

Armenian and Iranian deputy MFAs rated the frequent meetings between
two Ministries of Foreign Affairs the importance to expand the legal
sphere of cooperation.

Both sides expressed their satisfactions about the developing
cooperation between two countries and underlined the importance of
bilateral visits of Armenian and Iranian Presidents and MFAs. Armenian
and Iranian officials also discussed the plan of the economical
programs’ fulfillment.

On the same day Shavarsh Qocharyan met Iranian MFA Ali Aqbar Salehi.

Armenian deputy MFA transferred warm greetings to the Iranian MFA
from his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandyan. Minister Salehi
underlined that Iran paid great importance to the relations with
Armenia and asked to transfer his warm greetings to Edward Nalbandyan.

ARMENIA HONORS MEMORY OF AFGHAN WAR HEROES

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 15, 2012 – 16:04 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A memorial rally to commemorate the 23rd anniversary
of withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan took place in Yerevan’s
Victory Park on February 15.

Representatives of the Afghan war veterans union of Armenia headed
by the chairman, deputy of the National Assembly of Armenia, reserve
colonel A. Mkhitaryan, Afghan war veteran, Armenian armed forces
general staff chief Yuri Khachaturov were among the participants.

3762 people including 400 Armenian officers were sent to Afghanistan in
1979-89. 128 died in hostilities, no one is considered to be missing.

MARCHES TO RAISE AWARENESS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELD IN GLENDALE, BURBANK

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 15, 2012 – 16:30 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Nearly 60 volunteers marched the streets of Glendale
and Burbank to raise awareness and gain support for a new domestic
violence help center that they hope will make inroads with Armenian
families.

Volunteers met in front of St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church in
Glendale and walked to St. Leon Armenian Apostolic Church in Burbank,
marching under the slogan “Violence Hurts, Love Conquers.”

Fr. Vazken Movsesian of St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church in
Glendale formed the domestic violence task force under the auspices
of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, primate of the Western
Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.

“Nobody has a right to hurt a human being,” Movsesian said. “You don’t
have a right to hurt your wife and your children. In these cases, I
don’t look at statistics because if we have one case, that’s too many.”

The purpose of the domestic violence task force is to create a resource
center where victims can get help and support, or be taken to a safe
place. The center, with a central office at the Western Diocese in
Burbank, will probably open this fall, organizers said.

The walk ended in Burbank St. Leon Armenian Cathedral, where Derderian
conducted the blessing ceremony of volunteers, Glendale News-Press
reported.

LOBOS INVADEN CIUDAD SURENA DE ARMENIA
David Ebener

RIA Novosti
15/02/2012

La ciudad armenia de Sisian, en el sur del país caucasico, sufre una
invasion de lobos, informo hoy la prensa local.

Las abundantes nevadas y las temperaturas muy bajas que reinan estos
días en Armenia obligaron a los lobos hambrientos a abandonar su
habitat natural en busca de alimento.

El principal objetivo de los carnívoros, según los campesinos locales,
es su ganado y los perros callejeros.

En 2011, las autoridades armenias destinaron unos 25.000 dolares
adicionales para la caza de lobos.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN DEPUTY FM IS IN TEHRAN

NEWS.AM
February 15, 2012 | 16:15

YEREVAN. – Within the framework of its working visit to Iran, Armenia’s
delegation, led by Deputy FM Shavarsh Kocharyan, met with Seyed Abbas
Araghchi, Iran’s Deputy FM on Asia, Oceania and CIS Affairs.

The Armenian and Iranian deputy FMs underscored the need to hold
consultations between the foreign ministries of both countries,
and to expand the legal framework, MFA informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Expressing a satisfaction over the developing cooperation between the
two countries, the parties stressed the importance of the reciprocal
visits by the Armenian and Iranian presidents and FMs in 2011. They
also discussed the course of the joint economic programs. It was noted
that the fulfillment of the arrangements reached and the implementation
of the programs envisioned by the signed documents should give a new
impetus to the cooperation between both countries.

On the same day, Armenia’s Deputy FM Shavarsh Kocharyan was also
received by Iranian FM Ali Akbar Salehi. Kocharyan conveyed to
Salehi Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian’s greetings and well wishes. And
Iran’s FM noted that his country gives great importance to developing
relations with neighbor and friend Armenia.

TENNIS REQUIRES LARGE INVESTMENTS – ARMENIAN COACH
By Khachik Chakhoyan

news.am
February 15, 2012 | 15:59

YEREVAN. – Armenian tennis players have long and difficult trainings,
however, the athletes should participate at least in two-three
international tournaments to gain experience, chief coach of men’s
tennis team Vahe Avetisyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

In response to the question whether tennis is popular in Armenia and
how the chief coach assesses development of the sport in the state,
Avetisyan said that preparation of tennis players is gained through
long and hard trainings in Armenia. However, to register a success
investments are necessary.

Currently there are experts who can train the athletes for
international tournaments in investments are made. A total of
$30-40,000 is required annually for a junior tennis player to train and
participate in tournaments, while the amount triples for the adults.

Avetisyan said Danil Proskura, who is the leader of the team, as well
as Khachatur Khachatryan, Ashot Gevorgyan and Torgom Asatryan will
represent Armenia at the Davis Cup. The Armenian team will participate
in the tournament held in Bulgaria.

ORINATS YERKIR TO RUN FOR PARLIAMENT WITH A SEPARATE PARTY LIST AND A COMPETITIVE PLATFORM
Nvard Davtyan

“Radiolur”
15.02.2012 16:21

“Orinats Yerkir Party will run for Parliament with a separate party
list and with a competitive platform,” leader of the Party Arthur
Baghdasaryan told reporters today.

Accoridng to Baghdasaryan, there are no controversies inside the
party regarding the party list. “Orinats Yerkir will participate in
the elections with a pledge to deepen the social-economic reforms and
other slogans, which will be presented during the Party’s congress
on March 3,” he said.

“We are sure of our victory, we are not going to make loud statements,
we’ll suffice with the real public support. Be sure that the level
of this support is going to be very high. I won’t mention numbers,
but we are going to have more seats in the National Assembly than we
have today,” Arthur Baghdasaryan said.

WRITER: “ARMENIAN MEDIA HAS NEVER BEEN AS FREE AS IT IS NOW”

15.02.12, 17:14

Today at “Slaq” (“Arrow”) press-club writer Merujean Ter-Gulanyan and
editor-in-chief of “Azg” newspaper Hakov Avetiqyan met journalists
and spoke about the media role during the pre-electoral period.

Editor-in-chief of “Azg” newspaper ensured that these Parliamentarian
elections will mostly differ from other ones because of the mass
media activities.

“Journalists’ work will be harder in this period but it will also
be more useful. The details of the elections will be under the
social networks’ concentration and it will be too difficult to close
something”, H. Avetiqyan noted.

The speaker also considers that the society does not trust completely
to the information presented by the mass media and it would also make
harder the journalists’ work. Speaking about the printed and e-media
writer Merujean Ter-Gulanyan announced in his turn that the media
has never been so free in Armenia as it is now.

“The elections will be open and interesting at the same time. E-media
assists it much as the reader may express his/her own opinion on the
theme,” Ter-Gulanyan noted.

The writes is also sure that teh opposition media is more free now
that the media belonging to the authorities as the latter think that
they are in safe and the oppositiom media tries to reach somewhere.

H. Avetiqyan did not agree with such opinion completely. Accoridng to
him there is opposition media and media belonging to the authorities.

As he noted there is partial media.

Referring to the question whether it is right when the journalists
become deputies, M. Ter-Gulanyan said that he would be happy. “NA will
change its style. Journalists are able to express themselves better,
they are more joyful, which means that a new culture will come to
the National Assembly”, the speaker underlined and added that if the
journalist does not have his/her own views of the world, he/she must
not become a deputy. According to him the parties also realize that
the journalists will be useful if they are included in their lists
as they have experience to speak, can be engaged in lawmaking works,
can be opponents and do not afraid of meetings with the people. M.

Ter-Gulanyan also said that he did want to become a deputy again. “Now
it is young generation’s time. I would like to see young people in the
Parliament who know foreign languages, who respect their Motherland”.

H. Avetiqyan also welcomed journalists’ entrance to the Parliament. “I
find it is a progress if journalists replace the businessmen deputies”,
he noted and agreed with Gulanyan that now it is the young people’s
time.

SURVEY PLACES ARMENIA’S OFF-PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION AFTER RULING COALITION MEMBER PARTY

news.am
February 15, 2012 | 16:00

YEREVAN. – Over 26% out of 702 Yerevan respondents will support ruling
coalition member Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) in the upcoming
parliamentary elections, show social survey results.

The public opinion poll was conducted by the Public Political Studies
Center.

The other ruling coalition members Prosperous Armenia Party (21%) and
Orinats Yerkir (14%) follow the RPA, the fourth position occupies off-
parliamentary opposition Armenian National Congress (11%), followed
by parliamentary opposition ARF Dashnaktsutyun (9%) and Heritage (7%).

The fact that Orinats Yerkir is ahead from ANC caused ironic
expressions among the journalists.

According to the survey author, it does not reflect the whole spectrum
of the public opinion as only 702 people participated. If they were
more, the results could have been different.

Anyhow, 21% will participate in the elections, 45% will not, while 34%
will have to decide later.

Asked about the main sources of getting political information, 57%
said TV, meantime, 16% and 12.5% of the respondents follow print
Internet media.

HEAD OF ARMENIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION DREAMS ABOUT FIFA TOP TEN

news.am
February 15, 2012 | 16:44

YEREVAN. -Armenia has a good national team demonstrating a good
football, that is why it occupies the 41st position in FIFA ranking,
head of the Armenian Football Federation (AFF) Ruben Hayrapetyan told
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

FIFA published the rating-list on Wednesday. According to it, the
team moved up 4 places and occupies currently the 41st position.

In response to what position the team will occupy further, Hayrapetyan
said he does not like to make forecasts.

“I am dreaming about top ten,” he said.

To note, Spain leads the chart, followed by Germany and the
Netherlands.