Author: Andres-Papazian

TURKISH PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES ARMENIA ON 20TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY

Interfax
Sept 21 2011
Russia

Turkish President Abdullah Gul has sent a congratulatory message to
Armenian President Serzh Sargsian over the 20th anniversary of the
republic’s independence.

The Armenian president continues to receive messages over the
independence anniversary, his press office told Interfax.

“The Armenian president has received congratulatory messages from
Pope Benedict XVI, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Turkish President
Abdullah Gul, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, and United
Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon,” the press office said.

There are no diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA PREZERVES MILITARY BALANCE WITH AZERBAIJAN-EXPERT

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 23, 2011 – 15:54 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia doesn’t have to purchase the same amounts of
weaponry Azerbaijan does, having offensive purposes in mind, according
to a military expert.As David Jamalyan told a news conference in
Yerevan, “with its limited resources, Armenia can’t afford to purchase
the same bulk of weaponry as Azerbaijan.”

“To preserve the military balance, Armenia adheres to “asymmetric
response” strategy. “Armenia’s task is to neutralize the strong
sides of the adversary with less means,” the expert said citing as an
example Armenian air defence forces which succeeded in neutralizing
Azeri advantage in aviation.

“Azeri aviation has become incapacitated. Possible use of Azeri
air force in Karabakh is highly restricted because of the missile
defence system,” the expert noted expressing hope for strengthening
of Armenian air defence forces in future.

From: A. Papazian

ARMAVIA OFFERS 4 PERCENT DISCOUNT FOR ONLINE BOUGHT TICKETS

/ARKA/
SEPTEMBER 23, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, September 23. / ARKA /. Armenia’s national air carrier
Armavia has announced a 4% discount for tickets bought via its
official website at The company’s press service
said the previously announced discount was 3%. The new offer came
into force from September 21.

The company said it accepts Visa, Master Card, JCB, Diners Club cards.

Armavia was established in 1996 and conforms with IATA international
requirements. It operates more than 100 flights per week to more than
40 destinations in 20 countries.

From: A. Papazian

RECEPTION DEDICATED TO RA INDEPENDENCE DAY IN GREECE

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 23, 2011
YEREVAN

Within the framework of the events conducted within the framework
of 20th anniversary of RA independence, a jubilee reception was held
September 21 at Intercontinental Hotel, Athens.

Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry press service told Armenpress that
heads and members of the Greek parliament and government, foreign
ambassadors accredited in Athens, representatives of international,
cultural and non-governmental organizations, high-ranking servicemen,
businessmen, journalists, and numerous representatives of the
Greek-Armenian community structures were present.

The hymns of Armenia and Greece sounded at the beginning of the event.

Welcoming the guests, Armenian Ambassador to Greece Gagik Ghalachyan
briefly presented the achievements and successes of Armenia during
the past 20 years and the necessity of more strengthening of Armenia,
referring to Armenian-Greek relations and Armenian-Greek community.

From: A. Papazian

AGRICULTURE: SPECIALIST SAYS DESPITE HAIL AND DROUGHT THIS YEAR IS MORE PRODUCTIVE COMPARING TO LAST YEAR
Hrach Berberyan

ArmeniaNow
23.09.11 | 15:29

By Gohar Abrahamyan

Hrach Berberyan, president of Agrarian-Rural Union of Armenia NGO,
met the media today and spoke about this year’s harvest and assessed
it as a generally good year as compared to 2010, despite hail and
lengthy droughts.

Territories lacking irrigation suffered loss of wheat crops; however
the new elite seeds sown in soil where proper irrigation was available
(five percent of total arable lands) gave around four to six-ton yield.

Although Berberyan appreciates the government-initiated measure of
importing high quality grain seeds, he believes that some prior sample
experiments would have been due.

“These grain varieties might give good yield this year, but prove
unable to adjust to our climatic conditions, so it would make sense to
select the best for our climate among the imported 1,000 grain seed
varieties,” says Berberyan, adding that wheat crops will be rich in
the coming years due to renewal of seeds.

As compared to last year, this also saw a rich apricot harvest.

“Some 24-25,000 tons of apricots were harvested this year in Armenia,
20,000 of which from Ararat region only,” says Berberyan. Last year’s
total harvest did not exceed 20,000 tones.

Reflecting on grape crops, Berberyan said that this year’s grapes
are inferior quality.

“We expected a good grape harvest in summer; however we are now dealing
with mass grape diseases and will harvest only some 150-160 thousand
tons of grapes.”

According to Berberyan, the market prices have been largely affected
by increased cost of diesel fuel and fertilizers.

“Despite the agriculture ministry’s statement early this year that the
prices for fertilizers would drop for 20 percent, they have instead
increased for 30,” says Berberyan.

From: A. Papazian

TURKISH HISTORIANS DENYING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ARE CORRUPTED, SCHOLAR SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 23, 2011 – 16:53 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkish scholar, professor at Clark University in
Massachusetts Taner Akcam said that Turkish historians denying the
Armenian Genocide are corrupted.

During a conference in Bucharest, prof. Akcam said he received phone
calls from anonymous sources that scientists were corrupted to deny
the Genocide.

Earlier, in one of his articles he wrote that “Turkey, which wants
to get involved in the region as an intervener on behalf of freedom
and democracy, is going to be a reminder of its past crimes against
humanity.”

From: A. Papazian

HARUTYUN KHACHATRYAN JURY MEMBER AT “MESSAGE TO MAN”

Aysor.am
Friday,September 23

“Message to Man” 21st International Film Festival will take place
on September 23-30, in Saint Petersburg. Harutyun Khachatryan, Film
director, Founder and the General Director of GOLDEN APRICOT IFF,
is invited to be as an international jury member. Festival Jury is
consisted of 5 members. The other jury members are: Gianfranco Rosi
(Italy), Antonio Delgado (Spain), Mariusz Frukacz (Poland), Vitaliy
Manskiy (Russia).

Harutyun Khachatryan’s films “Kond” and “White Town” have been screened
at “Message to Man” 1st International Film Festival in 1989, and in
1993 the film “Return to the Promised Land” has won 3 prizes at the
same festival.

The Festival President is Alexey Uchitel, a Russian prominent film
director.

The Festival Founder and Director is Mikhayil Litvyakov, a prominent
documentarist.

From: A. Papazian

ERDOGAN: ISRAEL IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 23, 2011 – 10:29 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed
the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday and said that the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict was the main hindrance to world peace,
Ynetnews reported.

Israel, he said, flouts the United Nations’ authority. “It has failed
to abide by 89 biding UN resolutions and has ignored hundreds of
others… This is a blow to the sense of international of justice.”

He urged the international community to “heal the bleeding wound
that is the human tragedy suffered by the Palestinian people,” and
“show Israel that it is not above the law.”

“Turkey’s support of the blockade of Gaza~E This is a natural extension
of Turkey’s commitment to regional stability,” he said.”

He further blasted Israel’s aggression in the raid on the Gaza-bound
Marmara in 2010, and reiterated Turkey’s demands for an Israeli
apology restitution and lifting of the Gaza blockade.

Turkey, he added, “is a trustworthy and sought after in the
international arena… we will not give up on our principles and
policies.”

“The Israeli leadership must understand that nothing can replace
peace. You must read the Middle East’s political map and understated
that the situation cannot go on. Those who defend Israel must
understand that real security can only come with peace.” Erdogan said

He also spoke at length of Ankara’s aid to Somalia and urged the
global body to bolster global humanitarian efforts worldwide.

Ergodan also made a bid for Turkey’s seat in the UN Security Council
in 2015-2016 and asked for the member-nations’ support.

From: A. Papazian

DIYARBEKIR MAYOR WANTS ARMENIANS BACK

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:16:41 – 23/09/2011

On September 21, 2011, the members of the French branch of Yerkir
Union, currently in Diarbekir in the framework of the Mesopotamia
Social Forum, met with the Mayor of Diyarbekir, Osman Baydemir.

During the meeting, the possibility of implementing joint social
and cultural projects were discussed. The Mayor presented concrete
proposals stating willing to develop and broaden cooperation in
all directions.

The Mayor, who is a Kurd, said he is ready to accept the successors
of those Armenians who were forced to leave those lands adding that
the successors of the Armenians, one they return, will enjoy all the
rights equally with the Kurdish people.

He stated that the Armenians left the city after the slaughters in
1914 and “we were left alone and isolated and got poorer”.

From: A. Papazian

YEREVAN STREETS CLOSED AS POLICE SEARCH FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO COMMITTED A ‘SERIOUS CRIME’

epress.am
09.23.2011

Police officers fitted with bullet-proof vests and automatic rifles
were stationed on several streets in the Armenian capital this
morning. Patrol service officers were likewise equipped, and a few
streets were closed to traffic.

In response to a query by Epress.am, head of the public relations
department at the Kentron (“Central”) police station Armen Malkhasyan
said, “Operative activities are being carried out with the aim of
nullifying the threat posed by individuals suspected of a grave
[serious] crime.”

No other details were provided at this time.

According to our sources, early this morning a group of armed
individuals fled the scene of a crime and the search for these
individuals continues until now. Unconfirmed reports indicate that
law enforcement officials were able to catch one of the criminals.

Witnesses informed Epress.am that there was an automobile collision
on Myasnikyan Ave. in the vicinity of the zoo. Police have gathered
and it is reported that there was a dead body at the scene.

From: A. Papazian