Author: Andres-Papazian

Russia draw blank in Armenia

YEREVAN, March 26 (RIA Novosti)

Russia remained top of Euro 2012 qualifying Group B after a 0-0 draw
with Armenia in Yerevan on Saturday.

The Vazgan Sargsyan Republican Stadium was packed to capacity for the
clash between the two former Soviet republics and with Armenia having
beaten 2010 World Cup surprise package 3-1 in an earlier group game in
Yerevan, many home fans were hoping for a similar upset.

But despite several close calls for both defenses, neither side was
able to break the deadlock. Russia went close with shots by Chelsea’s
Yury Zhirkov and Zenit St Petersburg’s Alexander Kerzhakov. Arsenal’s
Andrey Arshavin appeared to pick up a minor injury and was substituted
in the final minute.

Russia now have 10 points after five games, with Armenia in second
place on 8 points having played an equal number of games. Slovakia and
the Republic of Ireland both have seven points after 4 games.

Russia’s next qualifying match is on June 4, at home to Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

Artsakh, Armenia to cooperate in banking sector

March 26, 2011 – 17:41 AMT 13:41 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

On March 26, the President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan met
with the president of the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia
Arthur Javadyan.

Issues related to cooperation of the two Armenian states in banking
area were discussed during the meeting, Central Information Department
at Artsakh President’s Office reported.

From: A. Papazian

ARFD: amendments to Armenian Electoral Code `victory of biomass’

March 25, 2011 – 15:37 AMT 11:37 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

Head of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary group Vahan Hovhannisyan
has labeled the adoption of legislative changes to the Armenian
Electoral Code as a `victory of biomass. ‘

`The package of amendments proposed by Dashnaktsutyun found no
counterarguments but those who had numerical superiority managed to
win,’ Hovhannisyan said.

On March 25, the Armenian National Assembly passed the
coalition-proposed amendments to the RA Electoral Code with a 70-0
vote and 1 abstention. At the same time the parliament voted down the
opposition’s bill supposing amendments to the Code.

From: A. Papazian

Armenian leader presented with football, autographed by Russian squad members

March 26, 2011 – 18:09 AMT 14:09 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

On March 26, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met with the delegation
of Russia-Armenia parliamentary friendship group and representatives
of United Russia party’s Molodaya Gvardiya movement, who arrived in
Armenia to attend Armenia vs. Russia football match.

At the meeting, the Armenian leader stressed the importance of
parliamentary cooperation, also thanking Russian parliamentarians for
promotion of friendship between the two nations.

As President Sargysyan specifically stressed, the Russian
parliamentarians’ visit concurred with the match between the national
teams of Armenia and Russia, which, as he noted, will turn into a
celebration of Russia-Armenian friendship.

The members of Russian delegation presented Armenian leader with the
football, autographed by Russian squad members, emphasizing that
friendship will win, whatever the outcome of the game is, presidential
press service reported.

From: A. Papazian

Azerbaijan to demonstrate 75 types of defence products at IDEF-2011 exhibition

March 26, 2011 – 17:55 AMT 13:55 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

Azerbaijan will be represented in IDEF 2011 10th International Defense
Industry Fair due in Istanbul, Turkey on May 10-13.

The defence products of Azerbaijan produced in enterprises of Ministry
of Defence Industry will be demonstrated in the private stand.
Besides, invitations have been sent to Ministry of Defence, State
Border Service and Internal Troops to attend the exhibition.

438 producer companies from different countries of the world have been
registered to attend the exhibition. Most of these companies are
Turkish companies. Other companies are from Germany, Italy, England,
USA, France, Republic of South Africa, Bulgaria, China, Russia and
other countries.

According to Ministry of Defence Industry, Azerbaijan will demonstrate
75 types of defence products at IDEF-2011 exhibition, APA reported.

From: A. Papazian

Artsakh President meets chairman of Armenian Defence Ministry’s public council

March 26, 2011 – 20:05 AMT 16:05 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

On March 26, the President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan met
with the chairman of the public council adjunct to the Ministry of
Defence of the Republic of Armenia Gegham Harutyunyan.

Issues related to cooperation between the two Armenian states as well
as their domestic and foreign policies were discussed during the
meeting.

Special attention was paid to deepening the army-society relations. In
this context the President welcomed the initiative of holding meetings
in different military units considering it demanded and urgent.

Bako Sahakyan underlined that such arrangements should be organized
periodically and be of a continuous nature.

Artsakh Republic defense minister Movses Hakobyan and other officials
partook at the meeting, Ventral Information Department of Artsakh
President’s Office reported.

From: A. Papazian

Police chief visited hunger-striking Raffi Hovannisian

16:08 – 26.03.11

Armenia’s Police Chief Alik Sargsyan visited the oppositionist Raffi
Hovannisian who is on a hunger strike for the 11th day on Liberty
Square now.

Sargsyan asked Hovannisian how long he was planning to go on hunger
strike and urged on him to make sure not to cause much damage to his
health.

`Are you going to stay for long? Just make sure you don’t cause harm
to your health,’ said Sargsyan.

Further, Sargsyan asked him whether he is having any problems with the
police officers, to which Hovannisian answered that `everything is all
right.’

Alik Sargsyan also asked whether the tent set up there was any warm
and Hovannisian responded in a half-jokingly: `It’s a luxury room.’

Asked by Tert.am why the police officers would not initially allow
Hovannisian’s supporters to set up a tent there, Sargsyan said he was
worried that the Liberty Square might turn into a makeshift tent camp,
if he would allow then.

`[But] after meeting the MPs [of the Heritage party] I allowed setting
up the tent. All my worries were to make sure that square does not
turn into tents, so that all the people would not decide to take their
tents from home and come and sit here,’ Sargsyan explained.

Alik Sargsyan also said other citizens are also making attempts to
hold campaigns with tents on the Liberty Square, but he prevents them
all.

`When Raffi Hovannisian is campaigning, we all understand it,’ adding
that he sees no reason why the Liberty Square should be turned into a
tent camp.

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

Annual increase in foreign volunteers’ number to Armenia reported

March 26, 2011 – 16:48 AMT 12:48 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

On March 26, the president of youth clubs federation Atom Mkhitaryan
and the US Peace Corps regional office manager Hovhannes Stepanyan
hosted discussions, titled What’s Volunteering and Why to Become a
Volunteer.

`The number of foreign volunteers to Armenia is increasing annually,’
they told a news conference.

`In 2008, 48 European volunteers arrived in Armenia. By 2010, their
number increased by 52. At present, there are 98 volunteers, involved
in US Peace Corpse programs,’ Mkhitaryan said.

`Volunteering is very prestigious in our country. I’ve been in Armenia
for 22 months already. It’s a good country, yet it’s a pity young
people in the regions have so few distractions,’ an Alaskan volunteer
Nicholas Hutchings told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Volunteers in Armenia are involved in the following spheres: community
issues, foreign language training, medicine and environmental
protection.

From: A. Papazian

Taraf: not ASALA but `deep state’ killed Turkish ambassadors

March 26, 2011 – 16:03 AMT 12:03 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

Some of Turkish ambassadors, whose murder was ascribed to ASALA secret
army, were killed by the order of the `deep state’, a representative
of the `deep state’, former special operations police officer Ayhan
Carkin stated.

Carkin, who was detained by the Istanbul’s organised crime department
officers, urged to reveal archives of ASALA-related cases. `Reveal
them, and you’ll make sure that some of ambassadors were killed by the
`deep state’,’ Taraf quoted him as saying.

The deep state is alleged to be a group of influential anti-democratic
coalitions within the Turkish political system, composed of high-level
elements within the intelligence services (domestic and foreign),
Turkish military, security, judiciary, and mafia.

From: A. Papazian

Expert: Turkey must cooperate with Iran and Russia on normalization with Armenia

March 26, 2011 – 16:02 AMT 12:02 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

Turkey’s foreign policy must become more Russia, Iran and Turkic
states-oriented, the former president of the Turkish Historical
Society, Nationalist Movement Party’s parliamentary candidate stated.

As Yusuf Halacoglu stressed, it’s time for Ankara to officially
renounce the EU bid. `I can’t understand why Turkey is insisting on
becoming a part of the EU, while Europe is clearly going through a
regress, probably having to face a collapse in 10 years’ time. Turkey
must be reasonable, attempting to form a new union with Russia, Iran
and Turkic states,’ the expert said, adding that Turkey would do right
to cooperate with Iran and Russia concerning normalization of ties
with Armenia, Sondakika reported.

From: A. Papazian