Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIAN NATIONAL ARMY DAY MARKED IN GREECE AND LOS ANGELES

PanARMENIAN.Net
January 31, 2011 – 21:14 AMT 17:14 GMT

On January 28, Los Angeles hosted a solemn reception dedicated to
the Armenian National Army Day under the auspices of the RA Consul
General in Los Angeles and Armenian community structures.

The event brought together heads of the Armenian community structures,
veterans of the World War II and Karabakh war.

Armenian Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan also participated in
the event.

Besides, a solemn reception and exhibition telling about the history of
the Armenian-Greek military cooperation was organized in the Military
Museum of the Greek Defense Ministry on January 28.

Greek officers were awarded with the RA Defense Ministry’s medals
for contribution to the Armenian-Greek military cooperation, the RA
MFA press service reported.

From: A. Papazian

GEVOR KHATCHIKIAN WINS IBO YOUTH SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE

PanARMENIAN.Net
January 31, 2011 – 21:39 AMT 17:39 GMT

Dutch-Armenian Gevorg Khatchikian captured the IBO youth super
middleweight title in the Netherlands by defeating Alaudin Murtazaliev
(Russia) in a 10 round unanimous decision, hyefighters.com reported.

From: A. Papazian

MKRTICH MINASYAN SAYS MEASURES ON STREET TRADE BAN DIRECTED TO CREATION OF ENVIRONMENT FOR CIVIL TRADE

ARMENPRESS
JANUARY 31, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS: The measures on street trade ban
are directed to the creation of an environment for civil trade,
according to Mkrtich Minasyan, ARP deputy.

He said today at a meeting with journalists that the health of
Armenia’s people must not be endangered for the solution of 2000-3000
persons’ issue.

‘The city authorities propose new conditions for trade – small markets
– as a variant of solution of the issue. The municipality undertakes
concrete steps in that direction,’ Mkrtich Minasyan said.

Vazgen Safaryan, chairman of the Union of Domestic Commodity Producers
(UDCP) of Armenia, said he welcomes the initiative for civil trade;
however he mentioned that another approach must be available.

‘The fact that people organize their trade in street because of
financial difficulties must be taken into account. Those people
are unemployed and try to meet their needs in that way,’ Vazgen
Safaryan said.

As to the issues of local producers, Vazgen Safaryan mentioned that
steps must be undertaken for the development of the sphere. He says
free economic zones must be created.

In 2010 the exportation volume made 1 billion USD, and importation
volume – 3.7 billion USD.

‘The government maps out a concept for the promotion of exportation and
it is quite important. We will present to the authorities our proposals
on industry development in the near future,’ Vazgen Safaryan said.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN MEDICINE PRODUCTION DOES NOT CONCEDE TO THE FOREIGN ONE

ARMENPRESS
JANUARY 31, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS: The product of Armenian medicine
companies does not concede to the one imported from abroad, Director of
“GXP” Center of Excellence Aram Ghazaryan told Armenpress. He noted
that the medicine of Armenian production is more available than that
imported. “The available price is conditioned by our low working force
and other peculiarities”. The row material of our national product
is imported from abroad, the industrial process is only realized in
Armenia,” Mr. Ghazaryan noted.

According to Aram Ghazaryan, there is a free economic competition
in the market of medicine, as that sphere is still in a round of
consolidation. “In the initial round our main goal was competitiveness
increase, which would enable to enter new markets. We did not have
a state accepted standard for proper industrial activity, that is we
could not have body which would take control over us and would give
a corresponding certificate,” he said, adding that now the situation
is other, and the medicine of Armenian production is exported to
CIS countries.

According to the Director of “GXP” Center of Excellence, there are
numerous issues in the sphere of pharmacy which must be solved round
by round. “Currently we will carry out works to improve the situation.

Connected with the import of the medicine, we intend to introduce the
standard of proper delivery activity, and at the moment there is an
agreement with RA Ministries of Healthcare, Economy and Justice,”
he said. As a result of the implemented steps, Armenia will have
an integral system of quality oversight – production of medicine,
preservation and delivery in Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

PARLIAMENTARIANS FIND A JOINT FIGHT IS NECESSARY IN FOREIGN POLITICAL FIELD

ARMENPRESS
JANUARY 31, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS: 2011 will be a year of rearrangement
of forces in political field, member of NA Armenian Revolutionary
Federation Lilit Galstyan said today at a press conference. According
to her, the Federation will try to bring the society together over
ideological merits before parliamentary elections 2012, keeping a
stable political situation at the same time.

Speaking of setting up a subcommittee on Nagorno Karabakh conflict
at the PACE, Mrs. Galstyan said that the Armenian delegation has done
its best to suspend its re-establishment. She said that irrespective
of our inner political visions, a joint fighting is now necessary
in the foreign facade. “We should give adequate response to any step
directed against our country,” Mrs. Galstyan noted.

Member of the NA Republican faction Manvel Badeyan is of the opinion
that twofold standards are typical of European structures. “For
example, the European Union tries to apply punitive measure against
Belarusia, while it ignores the activities of ‘angelic’ Azerbaijan”,
the parliamentarians stated, advising all the political forces to
act jointly at least in the foreign facade.

From: A. Papazian

SOCIOLOGIST: ARMENIAN REPUBLICAN AND PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTIES TO BE 1ST AND 2ND IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

ARMENPRESS
JANUARY 31, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS: The results of the upcoming
parliamentary elections will be conditioned by party alliances and by
the foreign political situation, Chairman of the Armenian Sociological
Association Gevorg Poghosyan said today at a meeting with journalists.

According to him, their organization has implemented a social polling,
which has involved 1000 people from all provinces and Yerevan. The
sociologist did not publicize the numbers, as the client, who is a
European company, did not wish to publicize the data.

“We have conducted the polling in December-January, and according to
our data, in the upcoming parliamentary elections the first two places
will be occupied by the Armenian Republican and Prosperous Armenia
Parties, the third and fourth places – by the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, Armenian National Congress and Peoples Party,” Mr.
Poghosyan said.

According to him, the electoral campaign has not started yet from the
viewpoint of the elector, and the centralization of the constituency
will start 1-2 months before the elections. “The attitude of our
population toward the electoral process is mainly stable,” Mr.
Poghosyan pointed out, adding that the sociology, nevertheless, is
not an exact science and the data can be changed before the electoral
period. According to the sociologist, the political activeness in
Yerevan is considerably higher than in provinces.

Referring to the talks, according to which Tigran Karpetyan can
take the votes of the Armenian National Congress, Mr. Poghosyan did
not exclude it, and speaking of staff changes taking place in the
leadership, he noted that they can positively refer to the reputation
of the ruling parties, particularly, of the Armenian Republican Party.

From: A. Papazian

GEORGIA TO RECONSTRUCT ST. GEVORG CHURCH

ARMENPRESS
JANUARY 31, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS: The fates of many Armenian churches
situated in the territory of Georgia have become a matter of
concern for world wide Armenians and the main topic of discussion in
Armenian-Georgian relations. Armenpress news agency spoke with the
deputy culture minister Arev Samuelyan about the issues connected
with the Armenian churches in Tbilisi.

– The most important project on the restoration of the Armenian
churches in the capital of Georgia is the Mughni’s St. Gevorg Church.

How did it happen that the church appeared on the edge of collision?

– In midst of November of 2009 as a result of heavy precipitations St.

Gevorg Church bowed and stones of the church fell down on the roofs
of irregularly built houses near the holy place becoming the reason
of their damage. Luckily, people were not inside and no one suffered.

>From the very next day Armenia and Georgia started dialogue and an
agreement has been reached according to which Georgia assumes the
full reconstruction of the church. As a result of studies of reasons
of the collision it was found out that in five-meter depth there are
springs of water which being fed by the heavy precipitations created
a lake underground which on its turn brought to a collision.

– What historic past Mughni’s St. Gevorg church has and in what phase
are the restoration works?

– St. Gevorg church was built in the first half of the 13th century
and presents a huge historic-cultural value not only for Armenians but
for Georgian people as well because it is one of symbols of Tbilisi.

In this period it was renovated twice but during the soviet years it
was turned into a store like many other churches.

Currently the renovation works are in the initial phase. During the
cleaning works that launched from June of the past year, archeological
layers and Christian establishments were found that were not fully
taken up and studied. That is why the reconstruction works have been
postponed. Now the Georgian side is trying to find additional financial
means to bring to an end the studies of the neighboring territory.

– Has the Armenian side presented any suggestions or remarks during
this period?

– The draft project that was presented to the Armenian experts
underwent certain changes and in the already changed variant was
adopted January 20 2011. One of the main presented demands was the
demounting of the neighboring houses and re-settlement of the people
but this issue must be solved not through an agreement between the
ministries but by the Tbilisi City Hall.

– Are there other Armenian churches in Georgia that are under the
limelight of the Armenian Ministry of Culture?

– The expenditures intended for the projecting works of Tbilisi’s St.

Nshan church have been approved by the 2011 Georgian state budget. So
this year the draft projecting of the St. Nshan church will be
implemented. Norashen is also under our limelight though the situation
here is not so clear.

It is very important to draw the attention of Armenian philanthropists
and businessmen on this issue as the Armenian side cannot always
present demands and abstain from the financing.

From: A. Papazian

ROBERT HOVHANNISYAN – RA CHESS CHAMPION

ARMENPRESS
JANUARY 31, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS: Nineteen year-old Grand Master Robert
Hovhanisyan has won the title of champion in the 71st tournament
of the national chess championship wrapped up in Yerevan. Grand
Masters Samvel Ter-Sahakyan and Zaven Andriasyan have occupied the
2-3rd places with 7 points. Nineteen year-old Robert Hovhannisyan is
considered one of the most promising grand masters of Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

LEVON ARONYAN WINS BRONZE

ARMENPRESS
JANUARY 31, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS: Armenian grand master Levon Aronyan
and Magnus Karlsen gained 8 points each at the “Tata Still” traditional
international chess tournament in Dutch Weik-an-Zee sharing 3-4th
places. With additional standards Levon Aronyan bypassed Magnus
Karlsen taking the third place and gaining bronze medal.

The winner of the championship became grand master Hikaru Nakamura
from the USA, the second comes Vishvanatan Anand of India.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJAN VIOLATES CEASE-FIRE REGIME 165 TIMES JANUARY 23-29

ARMENPRESS
JANUARY 31, 2011
STEPANAKERT

STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS: During the past 7 days the
situation on the contact-line of the Karabakhi-Azerbaijani armed forces
was tensed. Press and information department of the NKR Defense Army
told Armenpress that during the January 23-29 period the Azerbaijani
side violated the cease-fire regime165 times.

After the response fire the enemy stopped.

From: A. Papazian