Author: Andres-Papazian

ARTAK SHAKARYAN: ‘THE H. RES. 252 IS NEITHER THE START, NOR THE END OF OUR CLAIM’

ARMENPRESS
DECEMBER 24, 2010
YEREVAN

‘The H.Res.252 is neither the start, nor the end of our claim,’
Turkologist Artak Shakaryan said today in an interview with Armenpress.

He says Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the US House of Representatives,
would remain in the history of the US as the only political figure,
who acted against her political party, but stood for the protection
of the historical truth; however she did not do that.

‘Of course, it will be difficult to make such a resolution be adopted
at the next-convocation House, in which the Republicans will play
a major role, as the party is for close relations with Turkey. We
should realize that in this period the process is of more importance
to us than the result,’ Artak Shakaryan said.

He added that due to the resolution campaign, the issue of the Armenian
Genocide was in focus of the international mass media and thus more
people had the opportunity to learn about it.

‘The Armenian lobbying organizations of the US act in a wonderful
way with their resources. Their main and probably the only resource
is the Armenian voter,’ Artak Shakaryan noted.

From: A. Papazian

U.S. HAS 90 NUCLEAR BOMBS OF “B 61” VARIETY IN TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 24, 2010 – 16:52 AMT 12:52 GMT

A report prepared by the U.S. National Resources Defense Council
titled “U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe,” reveals that the U.S.
currently has 90 nuclear bombs of the “B 61” variety in Turkey,
all in the Incirlik Air Force base.

The report, put together by Hans Kristensen of the Defense Council,
is based on figures provided last February by the U.S. Air Force. The
report is being discussed in the Turkish Parliament (TBMM).

In further details from the report, of the 90 nuclear bombs found at
Incirlik, 50 are kept ready to be loaded onto American bomber planes,
while 40 are ready to be loaded onto Turkish planes.

CHP MP Sukru Elekdag, who is bringing the report to the attention of
the parliament, has pointed out to his government colleagues that,
following the Cold War, Greece had all the nuclear bombs being kept on
its soil taken away. Elekdag has noted also that Turkey’s allowance
of the U.S. nuclear bombs to be kept at Incirlik is an act which
could not be easily explained to its Muslim and Arab neighbours,
Hurriyet reported.

From: A. Papazian

AL-QAEDA THREATS AGAINST CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN IRAQ FORCE CELEBRATIONS TO BE CALLED OFF

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 24, 2010 – 18:13 AMT 14:13 GMT

As Christians across the world mark the Christmas holiday, many of
their brothers and sisters in the Middle East have been forced to
flee their homelands, where Muslim extremists have them in their line
of fire.

Threats issued by al-Qaeda against the Christian community in Iraq
have forced celebrations to be called off in some parts of the
country. The Chaldean Catholic archbishop, Monsignor Louis Sarko,
announced this week the cancellation of festivities in Kirkuk, with
the exception of daylight masses, out of “fear” following threats by
an al-Qaeda affiliate, the Islamic State of Iraq.

The groupclaimed responsibility for an Oct. 31 attack on a cathedral
in Baghdad in which 44 Christian worshippers, two priests and seven
security-force personnel were killed. It was the single worst attack
this year on Christians in the Middle East, the cradle of the religion
with about 20 million followers out of a regional population of 356
million, according to the Vatican.

Last week the U.N. refugee agency said thousands of Iraqi Christians
have taken flight since the Baghdad attack and that “churches and
NGOs are warning us to expect more people fleeing in the coming weeks.”

Amnesty International on Monday urged Iraq’s government to step up
protection of Christians “from an expected spike in violent attacks
as they prepare to celebrate Christmas.”

Egypt’s Copts, members of the Middle East’s largest Christian
community, are wary due to the killing of six of their number last
year on the eve of their Christmas, which they mark Jan. 7. Sectarian
tensions have risen in Egypt since November, when Muslims set fire to
homes owned by the family of a Christian man rumored to have flirted
with a Muslim girl.

In November, bloody clashes erupted in Cairo between Coptic protesters
and police after authorities refused to let the Christian group turn
a community center into a church. The rise of fundamentalist Islam,
sectarian violence and the perception that they are kept out of senior
public posts has exacerbated the Copts’ feeling of exclusion in Egypt.

Concerns for the region’s Christians have been repeatedly expressed
at the Vatican and were echoed again this week in Christianity’s
holiest city, Jerusalem, in a somber pre-Christmas address.

Jerusalem’s Latin Patriarch Fuad Twal, the region’s senior Catholic
cleric, expressed concern Tuesday about the plight of followers in Iraq
and the collapse of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Holy Land, meanwhile, prepared to mark Christmas on Friday in the
heart of a region troubled by the massacre and exodus of Christians
from Iraq as well as a stagnant peace process.

Christians from around the world – including, for the first time,
those from Arab countries that have no diplomatic ties with Israel –
flocked to Bethlehem to celebrate the holiday in the West Bank city
where Christ was born, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

From: A. Papazian

JAMES APPATHURAI: NATO WILL FURTHER DEVELOP ITS DIALOGUE AND BROADEN ITS COOPERATION WITH COUNTRIES OF SOUTH CAUCASUS

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 24, 2010 – 18:53 AMT 14:53 GMT

Newly appointed NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for
the South Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai said that one
cannot think of the security of the 28 NATO Member States without
thinking as well of the security of the wider Euro-Atlantic community
and that includes the South Caucasus.

“I expect that NATO will further develop its dialogue and broaden
its cooperation with the countries of the South Caucasus over the
coming period. In addition, NATO offers a number of wider frameworks
(Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, meetings of ISAF troop contributors
etc) giving the countries of the region a voice in multilateral
consultations on key security issues,” Appathurai said in an interview
with PanARMENIAN.Net

Appathurai expressed appreciation for the troops which Armenia
currently contributes to ISAF and the ones it intends to provide. He
added that NATO’s relations with Armenia are developing satisfactorily
and gaining in substance within the framework of the NATO-Armenia
Individual Partnership Action Plan. “Beyond the ISAF contribution
already mentioned, we focus together on defense reform and aspects
of broader security sector reform. We also have an ongoing political
dialogue on regional security and political issues. Next year, we
will discuss with Armenia the content of a new Individual Partnership
Action Plan, which will be an opportunity to widen the scope of our
cooperation,” said Appathurai.

The full text of James Appathurai’s interview with PanARMENIAN.Net
is available on Interviews division of Armenia and World section.

From: A. Papazian

SARDARAPAT: JAVAKHK MAY SUFFER THE FATE OF NAKHIDJEVAN

Lragir.am
24 Dec 2010

On December 23 at the Institute of History of NAS, discussions by
Sardarapat movement dedicated to the problems of Javakhk and social
activist, political prisoner Vahagn Chakhalyan were held.

Member of the initiative group Sardarapat Tigran Khzmalyan noted that
a serious challenge was thrown to Javakhk and Armenia. In the near
future Javakhk will either suffer the fate of Nakhijevan, or it will
be released as Artsakh.

From: A. Papazian

NO ACHIEVEMENT IN 2010 – S. DEMIRCHYAN

Aysor.am
December 24

Year 2010 was not a year of achievements, Chairman of the People’s
Party of Armenia Stepan Demirchyan told a news conference in Yerevan.

According to the speaker, our country faces socio-economic, moral
and psychological crisis.

“We had no progress in resolving our domestic problems. Emigration
increases, with 65,000 people leaving the country. According to some
surveys, 40 percent population wants to leave Armenia. So, the only
way out of this situation is holding free and fair elections,” S.
Demirchyan said.

According to the speaker, year 2010 was unfavorable for foreign policy,
either. In particular, in his words, the negotiations on the settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict were not beneficial.

To resolve the NK problem, S. Demirchyan prioritized restoration of
Nagorno Karabakh’s participation in the negotiations.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN MEETS BUSINESSMEN AHEAD OF NEW YEAR

armradio.am
24.12.2010 18:25

President Serzh Sargsyan held a reception for businessmen on the
occasion of the New Year and Christmas.

“The year 2010 stood out for the consistent steps towards overcoming
the consequences of the global financial-economic crisis. I mean not
only the activity of the Government, but also the joint efforts of
Armenian businessmen. We managed to stabilize the situation under hard
conditions and register certain economic growth,” the President said.

“The crisis made us be more cautious, but more daring at the same
time. It made us work out the largest strategic program in the history
of independent Armenia,” he added.

Congratulating the businessmen on New Year and Christmas, President
Sargsyan wished health, happiness, warmth and prosperity to their
families.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN PARTICIPATES IN THE SITTING OF THE YSU BOARD

armradio.am
24.12.2010 18:59

President of the Republic of Armenia, President of the Board of the
Yerevan State University Serzh Sargsyan today participated in the
year-end meeting of the Board.

The sitting discussed and approved the Rector’s report on the activity
of 2009-2010 academic year. The financial revenues and expenses for
2011 were determined.

President Sargsyan said certain work had been done, but the situation
could not be considered good and there was still much to do to be
able to be proud of the quality of education offered by the Yerevan
State University.

“I think we should try to meet average European standards. However,
I see certain progress,” President Sargsyan stated.

From: A. Papazian

MANUK VARDANYAN: HUGE WORK DONE IN THE FILED OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Liana Yeghiazaryan

“Radiolur”
24.12.2010 18:05

Unprecedented work was done in the field of road construction in
2010, Minister of Transport and Communication Manuk Vardanyan told
a press conference today. According to him, about 350km roads were
constructed or reconstructed in Yerevan0Sevam, Yerevan-Gyumri,
Goris-Tatev-Sevan highways.

“Today we can state with confidence that the inter-state and republican
highways in the country are in a proper condition,” the Minister said.

Speaking of the future programs, the Minister said: “Customs will be
applied to cars passing through Armenian territory that weigh more than
40 tones. A new transport security doctrine will be called to life. We
may possible construct a metro line that will reach Zvartnots airport.”

From: A. Papazian

NAIRIT STILL IN DEBT TO ELECTRIC NETWORKS OF ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 24, 2010 – 16:53 AMT 12:53 GMT

Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) CJSC Director General Yevgeni
Gladunchik said that Nairit chemical plant has not repaid its debt
to the ENA.

Nairit’s debt to ENA totals AMD 1bln, while not fines or penalties
are accrued for the delay, Gladunchik told a press conference.

“The sum is fixed and we expect the company to re-launch its
operation. In my opinion, Nairit will not face problems with repaying
its debt, when it operates,” he said.

From: A. Papazian