Author: Andres-Papazian

SOCCER: ARMENIA WELCOMES YOUNG AJAX STRIKER AHEAD OF CRUCIAL EURO-2012 FIXTURES
Araz Ozbiliz

Soccer | 05.10.11 | 00:36

Araz Ozbiliz, a young ethnic Armenian striker from Amsterdam, has
become a welcome addition to the national team of Armenia ahead of
crucial matches later this month.

The 21-year-old playing for AFC Ajax was officially introduced as
an Armenia player in Yerevan on Tuesday, even though is likely to
miss the two upcoming Euro-2012 qualifiers against Macedonia and the
Republic of Ireland due to an injury.

Armenian Football Federation (FFA) President Ruben Hayrapetyan
reportedly gave Ozbilis a national team jersey with number 23 on it.

Ozbilis, who was born in Turkey and whose parents emigrated to the
Netherlands in the early 1990s, has had quite a successful club career
in Amsterdam despite a series of injuries. Two years ago he was even
recognized as the most talented young player of Ajax, the club where
he began training as a young boy. Ozbilis was approached by Armenian
soccer officials on several occasions to start his performances for
Armenia, but reportedly hesitated, hoping to make it to the Dutch
team. Also, the player would have some problems with documents to be
granted Armenian citizenship.

On Tuesday, however, FFA head Hayrapetyan announced that Ozbiliz had
been granted Armenian citizenship by President Serzh Sargsyan~Rs order.

The player received his Armenian passport right away.

Now the Armenian national team is on the rise and for the first time
in the history of independent Armenia has the chance to qualify for
a major tournament.

Only a win or a draw in the October 7 match against Macedonia in
Yerevan will keep Vardan Minasyan~Rs side~Rs chances for promotion
alive ahead of the tenth and final round of the current qualifying
campaign against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on October 11. A
second spot in Euro-2012 qualifying Group B is likely to land Armenia
a chance to contest a spot in the finals through playoffs. If so,
Ozbilis will have recovered by that time.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT MEDVEDEV OF RUSSIA AWARDED AN ORDER OF GLORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

05.10.2011 01:29

President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree awarding the President of the
Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, with an Order of Glory for his
outstanding personal contribution to the reinforcement of traditionally
friendly ties between the peoples of Armenia and Russia, deepening
and expansion of allied strategic relations between the Republic of
Armenia and the Russian Federation, as well as the maintenance of
international peace and security.

From: A. Papazian

YEGISHE CHARENTS HOUSE-MUSEUM – THE MOST ATTRACTIVE FOR VISITS WITHIN “EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS”

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 4, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS: About 50 countries, which joined the
European Cultural Convention, participated this year already 26th
time in “European Heritage Days” program implemented by Council of
Europe and European Commission.

With the support of RA Ministry of Culture and EU delegation in
Armenia, Armenia joined this program 6th time. In our country it was
conducted under the title “Written Heritage”. The choice of the theme
was conditioned by 500th anniversary of Armenian book printing and
proclamation of Yerevan a World Book Capital 2012 by UNESCO. During
those days numerous interesting events have been organized in 24
museums of Armenia.

In an interview with Armenpress Director of National Gallery of Armenia
Paravon Mirzoyan positively assessed the activeness of visitors during
those days. Within European Heritage Days History Museum of Armenia
has had more than 110 visitors. “Erebuni” historical-archeological
reserve-museum has hosted about 300 visitors, Russian Art Museum –
about 150 visitors. More than 520 people have visited Yegishe Charents
House-Museum. Hovhannes Tumanyan House-Museum has had 250 visitors,
Martiros Saryan House-Museum – about 100, Aram Khachatryan House-Museum
– 430, and Yervand Kochar House Museum – 32.

The closing ceremony of “European Heritage Days” will be held October
9 in Hin Goris settlement.

From: A. Papazian

U.S. EMBASSY IN BAKU ATTEMPTS TO “JUSTIFY” AMERICAN SENATOR’S VISIT TO NKR

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 4, 2011 – 19:26 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The US Embassy is aware of press reports of a visit
to Nagorno Karabakh by California State Senator Joseph Simitian. As
a state senator, Simitian does not represent the United States
Government, Spokesman for the US embassy in Azerbaijan Keith Bean
stated.

He noted that under the doctrine of separation of powers between
federal and state governments in the US Constitution, state officials
act independently of the United States Government. “The United States
Government had no control over his schedule, nor did Simitian consult
with the Embassy about his travel plans,” APA quoted him as saying.

On October 3, Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs blacklisted
the senator for his visit to “occupied territories” of Azerbaijan
“without prior coordination with Azeri authorities.”

From: A. Papazian

PASSAGEWAY FILLED WITH WATER

06:44 pm | Today | Social

For two days, the underground passageway located in front of school
N 20 after John Kirakossian on Charents Street has been looking like
a basin.

The nearly one and a half meter high passageway is flooded and the
water disposal systems are clogged.

The residents of the area and schoolchildren say this always happens
when it rains.

One of the citizens living on Charents Street, Mrs. Armenuhi said
the passageway often becomes impassable, but the corresponding bodies
either don’t pay any attention or clean the passageway with delay.

Most schoolchildren are forced to cross the road and put their lives
at risk because the passageway is filled with water often.

From: A. Papazian

POLICE MUST PUT AN END TO UNSANCTIONED ANC RALLIES – RPA MEMBER

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 4, 2011 – 14:57 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Police must put an end to non-stop unsanctioned
rallies of Armenian National Congress (ANC) opposition bloc, according
to ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary group leader.

As news conference in Yerevan, Galust Sahakyan characterized the
recent 24/7 rallies as a violation of law, however, “the police are
abiding with ANC protest action to avoid tensions”.

The politician referred journalists to Armenia’s Law on Police for
description of the police authority in above-mentioned cases.

The MP did not exclude the possibility of repetition of March 1,
2008 events in case the rally was dispersed. “It’s really up to ANC
leader Levon Ter-Petrosian,” he said.

During the September 30 rally, Ter-Petrossian announced 7-day-long
round-the-clock protest actions, with ANC supporters putting up tents
at Liberty Square.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA TO ADOPT A NATIONAL STRATEGY OF FIGHTING ORGANIZED CRIME
Karen Ghazaryan

“Radiolur”
04.10.2011 16:55

“Statistics shows that organized crime rate tends to increase all over
the world. Armenia does not stay out of this statistics, therefore
we must be able to apply effective mechanisms,” Secretary of the
National Security Council of Armenia Arthur Baghdasaryan said at the
sitting of the interdepartmental commission that works out a program
of raising the effectiveness of the fight against organized crime.

“Fighting organized crime is a public priority,” Arthur Baghdasaryan
noted, adding that the National Security Council will consider and
approve the national strategy of fighting organized crime by the end
of the current year. This is part of Armenia’s commitments before
the international community.

“The adoption of this important document may be followed by
corresponding legislative changes, if necessary,” Arthur Baghdasaryan
said.

The process of elaboration of the program has been coordinated by
Deputy Chief of Police Arthur Osikyan. Presenting the details of the
document, he said that all bodies directly or indirectly involved in
the fight against organized crime, including the National Security
Service, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministries of Justice and
Finance, have participated in the process. The remarks by EU experts
have also been taken into consideration.

From: A. Papazian

RUBEN TOVMASYAN SAYS ANC’S POLITICAL ACTIVITY NOT DESIRABLE IN THE CURRENT SOCIAL CONDITIONS

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 4, 2011
YEREVAN

In the current social conditions such political activity is not
desirable, leader of the Communist party Ruben Tovmasyan told a news
conference today, referring to the rallies organized by the Armenian
National Congress.

Speaking about the format of participation in the coming parliamentary
elections, Tovmasyan said they are not going to make an alliance with
any of the political forces as their ideological basis in today’s
field is unique.

“As of the moment we do not have the necessary 8 million AMD”, he
said, voicing hope that before the elections they will acquire the
necessary sum for the campaign and will enter the parliament.

From: A. Papazian

NATO’S POSITION IN THE KARABAKH CONFLICT ISSUE UNCHANGED

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 4, 2011
YEREVAN

NATO’s position in the Karabakh conflict issue has not changed,
Romanian ambassador to Armenia Crina Prunariu told a news conference
today. She noted that NK issue is of prior significance for the region.

Though the conflict settlement is important, NATO, as the ambassador
noted, has many times stated that this issue is beyond the circles
of its authorities. “No one is indifferent toward the issue. It may
be a topic for dialogue between Russia and North Atlantic Alliance”,
Prunariu said, noting that Russia has quite strong sources to ensure
peace in the process. The ambassador explained it with Armenia’s
being member of the CSTO.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA REFUSES TO ATTEND MEETING OF PACE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Trend
Oct 3 2011
Azerbaijan

The Armenian delegation did not attend the next meeting of the ad hoc
committee on Nagorno-Karabakh, the head of the Azerbaijani delegation
to the Assembly Samed Seyidov told reporters.

“The Armenian delegation did not attend the next meeting of the ad hoc
committee on Nagorno-Karabakh. We have long discussed this and decided
to inform the Bureau about non-participation of the delegation at the
meeting. All have seen that Armenia violates the unanimous decision
of the PACE Bureau and does not attend the meeting,” Seyidov said.

A meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations to PACE had been
scheduled for Monday.

In 2005, PACE adopted a resolution establishing the ad hoc committee on
Nagorno-Karabakh. However, in connection with the death of chairman –
Lord Russell Johnson, the ad hoc committee suspended its activities.

Subsequently, the Bureau decided to restore its activity.

From: A. Papazian