Author: Andres-Papazian

RUSSIAN FM TO BRING MEDVEDEV’S PROPOSALS ON KARABAKH TO ARMENIA

news.am
July 7 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN.- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will arrive in Yerevan
on Thursday evening, a diplomatic source told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

During his meetings with Armenia’s leadership Minister Lavrov will
present Russian President’s approaches to resolution of the Karabakh
conflict.

Later Russian FM plans to visit Baku as well.

The meeting of Armenian, Azerbaijani held on the initiative of Russian
leader Dmitry Medvedev took place in Kazan on June 24. The sides
failed to agree on Basic principles of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement despite the calls of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states
Russia, U.S. and France.

In a statement issued after the meeting the presidents noted “the
achievement of mutual understanding on a number of issues. Solution
of these issues contributes to creating conditions for the approval
of the basic principles.”

Speaking at a press conference in Kiev last week Armenian leader
said that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and the OSCE mediators
confirmed their intention to intensify mediatory efforts despite the
failure of Kazan talks.

Unsuccessful talks in Kazan are not indicative of end of the peace
process on the whole, he added.

“During a phone conversation Russian President Medvedev informed me
he had sent his views of the problem in written form. I think we will
soon receive it to see how to move forward,” Sargsyan said.

From: A. Papazian

WORLD BANK TO PROVIDE $200 MILLION ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA

news.am
July 7 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN.- The World Bank expressed readiness to allocate $200 million
financing to Armenia for 2012-2013, said country manager of Yerevan
WB office Jean-Michel Happi.

The World Bank Group has presented today its Progress Report on
the Country Partnership Strategy for Armenia for 2009-2013, he told
journalists on Thursday.

According to Happi, due to WB assistance the duration of drinking water
supply increased from 17.4 hours a day in 2008 to 21.5 hours a day in
2011, while the bacteriological safety increased from the baseline 93%
to 98%. WB also made investments in the fields of road construction,
irrigation system and healthcare infrastructure.

From: A. Papazian

AMBUNDA TO FIGHT IN ARMENIA?

Namibia Sport

July 7 2011
Namibia

Namibia’s WBO Africa bantamweight titleholder, Paulus “The Rock”
Ambunda has been named as a possible opponent for IBO bantamweight
world champion Vic Darchinyan.

According to reports on the internet, the fight has been provisionally
set for September 3 in Armenia.

Nestor Tobias, Ambunda’s trainer, however said that the fight had
not yet been agreed on, although he conceded that they were still
in negotiations.

“That fight is still unconfirmed, we have not yet agreed on that
fight,” Tobias said.

“They contacted me about the possibility of a fight but we still need
to sort things out,” he added.

The 35-year-old Armenian is a former WBA, WBO and IBF world champion,
in the super flyweight and flyweight divisions, and is currently the
IBO champion.

He has a record of 40 fights, 36 wins, 3 losses and one draw.

Tobias said he was not worried about the record of Darchinyan, who
is popularly known as the Raging Bull.

“The record is just numbers, besides he used to be a good fighter
but he is losing more fights lately,” Tobias said.

“Ambunda is young and still going strong and so I think he would
stand a good chance,” he continued.

The 30 year old Ambunda is unbeaten after 15 fights and his most
recent fight was against Tanzanian Emilio Norfat which he won on a
12th round knock out.

Darchinyan’s last fight was in April this year when he beat Yonnhy
Perez in Los Angeles, United States by a technical knockout in the
second round.

From: A. Papazian

GEORGIAN PATRIARCH HAS NOTHING AGAINST ARMENIANS, DISAGREES WITH SAAKASHVILI’S DECISION

epress.am
07.07.2011

His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos Patriarch of All
Georgia, is urging Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to use his
power to veto the legislative amendments on the status of religious
associations approved by parliament earlier this week. However, as
it is already known, the legislative amendments have been signed by
the president and are already in effect.

“The primary responsibility for this rests with the president, and I
wish that he, as well as the country, feels at ease. I hope all will
be well,” said the Patriarch, reports Georgia Online.

According to him, the new law on the status of religious associations
is so important and also dangerous that prior to approving it,
deputies should’ve have thought through what it would lead to in 10
or 100 years.

His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II also said that his remarks have
nothing against Armenians and, despite talk on the contrary, Georgians
and Armenians always have been and will remain brothers.

“When the Armenians were in trouble, we always helped, and they helped
us too when times were hard for us. It’s just that this law is so
complex and responsible that it can be used for malicious purposes.

Therefore, everything must be considered. When people say why does
the church interfere in affairs of the state, I want to say that it
is not only a state affair, it is a matter that concerns the whole
of our nation, the church and especially the state,” he said.

The Patriarch said that the divergence of views on this issue in
recent days also strains the relationship between the religions,
which is to be avoided.

“The Georgian people have always harbored small nations. We defended
the Armenians, the Russians, the Azeris and the Jews. The Jews
themselves said that Georgia is the only country where there has
never been any anti-Semitism,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

NEW ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN AGREEMENT

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 17:16:13 – 07/07/2011

The foreign minister of Armenia has invited his Russian counterpart
to Armenia for an official visit. Lavrov may also visit Baku. He is
going to propose something new regarding Karabakh. That could be a
new agreement.

Armenia and Russia are likely to sign a series of new bilateral
agreements, the press release of the foreign ministry notes.

What will the new agreements be about if the heads of two states
confess Armenia and Russia have no problems? The Russian military bases
have unlimited functions regarding the defense of Armenia. The Russian
bodyguards which are part of the Russian Federal Service of Security
guard the borders of Armenia up to the last check point of the only
international airport of Armenia. Russia owns the infrastructures of
Armenia, gas, railways, communication, most industrial assets.

Russian investments in Armenia total 3 billion dollars, Nalbandyan
announced on July 6. He noted that about 1500 enterprises with
Russian capital operate in Armenia. On these days an Armenian-Russian
intergovernmental commission meeting will take place in Rostov to
discuss new projects, namely in transport, energy, communication
and IT.

With what else is Russia likely to bind Armenia to keep it revolving
along the Russian orbit only? Yesterday the CSTO Secretary General
Nikolay Borduzha visiting Armenia repeated Medvedev’s statement that
Armenia is Russia’s partner with all the ensuing consequences.

Notably, Sergey Lavrov said in a press conference with Nalbandyan
that the OSCE held monitoring of the line of contact and the report
is evidence that the rate of incidents is falling, which is positive.

Perhaps he ascribes the decline in the rate of incidents to Russia’s
efforts, as if reacting to someone’s reproaching.

Meanwhile, Catherine Ashton presented a report on the Karabakh
conflict to the Council of Europe, stating that the settlement of
the Karabakh issue has strategic importance for the EU. Therefore,
she thinks, the sides must double their efforts to reach agreement
on the Basic Principles till the end of 2011.

Dwelling on the meeting of presidents in Kazan, Catherine Ashton said
unfortunately no progress was reported and no compromise was reached
in the negotiations. However, Ashton said, the sides must continue
to seek for a diplomatic settlement.

The EU supreme representative also said likely to visit Azerbaijan
and Armenia to discuss the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

From: A. Papazian

STATEMENT ABOUT AN ATTEMPTING OF ARSON ON SHIRAK BRANCH OFFICE OF THE A.D.SAKHAROV HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTING CENTER

hetq
23:02, July 7, 2011

On July 6, 2011, in the morning at about 5 o’clock, some unknown
persons broke the glass through metal bars Shirak branch Gyumri
office window of the A.D.Sakharov Center for human rights protection
in Armenia, and ignited the window and window path with liquid fuel.

People living near the office saw the fire and called the fire service,
they took their own measures to extinguish a fire after which the fire
was extinguished. It was found out that significantly damaged some
of the property of the office training hall and the hall as a whole,
the repair cost of which exceeds 600,000 drams.

We all, undersigned organizations representatives of civil society
express concern over the attack and arson connected to this, we
condemn this attack and sauce of makers and implementers, noting
that this is not the first time, when these methods are used for
trying to intimidate or punish human rights protection defenders and
non-governmental organization.

The police must make every effort to discover the direct doers and
the men who ordered this crime, to ensure adequate publicity about
the process of the case as soon as possible.

We urge the authorities to condemn such violence and to assist the
Sakharov human rights organization and the office in Gyumri to continue
its normal activity.

Hope that Sakharov human rights organization and the office in Gyumri
will quickly overcome temporary difficulties, remaining so consistently
in protection of human rights, as they have been for 15 years.

1.Journalists’ Club “Asparez” 2.”Shirak Centre” NGO 3.”Biosophia”
NGO 4.”We Plus” Social NGO 5.”Khoran Ard” NGO 6.”Unison” NGO 7.”Arena
of Education” NGO 8.Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor office,
9.”Rights Information Center” NGO 10. “Arevamanuk” Center for Children
and adolescents care

11. Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression

12. Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development

13. Protection of Rights without Borders NGO

14. Yerevan Press Club

15. Community Initiatives and Advocacy Center NGO

16. “Victims of state needs” NGO

17. Transparency international anticorruption center

18. “Meghvik” NGO

19. Open Society Foundations-Armenia

20. “Full Life” NGO

21. Civil Society Institute NGO

22. “European integration” NGO

23. “Sacred land” BNGO

24. “Arax Center” BNGO

25. “Ani” disabled children NGO

26. Children society youth initiatives support center NGO

27. “Flora” Christian association of young women, NGO

28. “Azatan” community center of Azatan

29. “Million and half +1 Armenia Diaspora” Shirak Branch

30. “Agat” NGO, for women with special needs

31. “Likidon” art and moral-psychological development NGO

32. “Ajakic” NGO

33. “Leadership” NGO

34. “Health Center’~R rehabilitation NGO

35. “Aren” NGO

36. “Geophon” NGO

37. Gyumri young family supporting “Noyemi” NGO

38. “Gyumri development foundation” NGO

39. “Women developing center” NGO

40. “Gyumri Union of disabled people” NGO

41. “Guarantee” NGO

42. “Third Nature” NGO

43. “Fallen soldiers’ family” NGO

44. “Stability and progress” NGO

45. “Consultant” NGO

46. “Women for the future” NGO

47. “Women for the development” NGO

48. “Community Development and Social Support Center” NGO

49. “Armenian Karitas”

50. Armenia invalids “Pyunik” union Shirak branch NGO

51. “Meghvik” community development foundation NGO

52. “New generation” NGO

53. “Sirarpeni” NGO

54. “Gyumri progress” civil society development center

55. “Experimental cultural center” cultural analysis and development
NGO

56. Goris Journalists’ club “Radius”

57. “Association of Women with University Education” NGO

58. “Aarhus center of Dilijan”

59. Ecotourism Association

60. “Protection of consumers’ rights” NGO

61. Helsinki Committee of Armenia

62. “Yerevak” NGO

63. Helsinki Association

64. Community Union of Noyemberyan

65. Aarhus Center of Ijevan

66. “5th floor Art Group” NGO

67. “Center for Strategic Litigations” NGO

68. International Union of Black Sea NGOs (IUBS NGO)

From: A. Papazian

3RD MEDICAL CONGRESS HOSTS ARMENIA, ARTSAKH, DIASPORA DOCTORS

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 7, 2011 – 13:50 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On July 7-9, Yerevan State Medical University will
host the 3rd international medical congress, with over 600 doctors
including those from Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora participating.

As the congress chairman Derenik Dumanyan stated at the opening of
the event, for the first time in congress history, medical experts
from Russia are present.

The event will feature 179 scientific reports, covering over 20
sectors of healthcare.

The congress dedicated to 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence
aims to activate cooperation between Armenian, Artsakh and Diaspora
doctors.

The 3rd International Medical Congress of Armenia was organized
with the support of the ministries of Health, Diaspora, Education,
Science and sponsored by VivaCell-MTS.

From: A. Papazian

YEREVAN TO HOST ACTION TO SUPPORT VAHAGN CHAKHALYAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 7, 2011 – 16:24 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On July 8, the House of Chamber Music will host a
social event to support Javakhk activist, political prisoner Vahagn
Chakhalyan.

The event will focus on discussion of Javakhk-related issues, Yerkir
Union reported.

3 years have passed since the arrest of Chakhalyan, who was charged
with deforcement, storage of weapons, organization of riots. Multiple
violations in legal procedures on Chakhalyan’s case were reported by
Armenian social organizations and Georgia’s Ombudsman.

From: A. Papazian

GEORGIAN LAWMAKERS PASSED HASTY DECISION, SAYS GEORGIA’S RELIGIOUS LEADER

Tert.am
07.07.11

Georgian Patriarch Ilia II suggests that parliamentary debate on the
bill stipulating provision of legal entity status to several religious
units in the country be suspended.

“I consider it important to hold up the procedures of passing the
law in the second and third readings in the Georgian parliament and
carry out public debates on this issue, at least by television, so
that to shape a single public opinion in consensus with the Orthodox
Church, as most population of the country are Orthodox Christians,”
his statement says.

He also said this issue is of paramount importance, determining the
main principles of state structure.

In addition, Ilia II stated that the Georgian Orthodox Church never
came out against and always supported the idea of granting status to
other religions acting in Georgia, according to Interfax.

Georgian parliament introduced amendments to Civil Code on July 1,
granting the status of legal persons of public law to 5 religious
units – Armenian Apostolic Church, Roman Catholic Church, the Muslim
community, the Jewish community and the Baptist church in Georgia.

From: A. Papazian

PRESERVATION OF NATIONAL IDENTITY IS THE MAIN PROBLEM OF JAVAKHK
Sona Hakobyan

“Radiolur”
07.07.2011 17:22

“The problems of Javakhk have been discussed since 1990, while none
of them has been solved ever since,” President of the Javakhk People’s
Movement Norik Karapetyan told a press conference today.

According to him, preservation of the Armenian national identity is the
main problem of Javakhk today. This includes the issues of language,
church, as well as social-economic problems.

The Georgian authorities have long been trying to change the
demographic picture of Javakhk. According to the leader of the “Virk”
Party David Rstakyan, the authorities have undertaken the construction
of a Georgian school in Akhalkalak, which means that they have a
program of sending Armenian children to the Georgian school.

He says, however, that the positive moves should not be ignored. David
Rstakyan noted that the Armenian Church was granted a legal status
after the Armenian Catholicos visited Georgia; some social-economic
problems were solved under the pressure of world powers.

From: A. Papazian