Author: Andres-Papazian

MONUMENT TO LEGENDARY ARMENIAN GENERAL ANDRANIK TO APPEAR IN SOCHI

Russia-InfoCenter

Nov 9 2010

A monument to the legendary general Andranik Ozanyan, a participant
of the Armenian national-liberation movement against Turkey in the
early 20th century, will be set up in Lazarevsky District of Sochi.

Commander Andranik is the national hero of Armenia and Bulgaria,
one of the most active participants of liberation struggle of the
Armenian people against the Turks in Western Armenia (nowadays the
territory of Turkey) of the early 20th century.

The idea of establishing the monument belongs to the Armenian
community of the Lazarevsky District, many representatives of which
are descendants of the Armenians rescued by General Andranik in days
of the Genocide of Armenians of 1915-1923 in Ottoman Turkey.

The author of the monument is the People Artist of Armenia sculptor
Marat Minasyan. The monument that weighs several tons will be around
4 meters high.

It took creators almost 4 years to complete the monument, which was
financed from public donations.

From: A. Papazian

KARABAKH CONFLICT STARTS RESEMBLING PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI CONFRONTATION

news.am
Nov 9 2010
Armenia

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is beginning to resemble confrontation
between Israel and Palestine, Michael Gunter, professor of Political
Science at the Tennessee Technological University, told APA.

According to him, Abkhazia and South Ossetia are secondary problems
and they cannot be compared with the Karabakh conflict.

Gunter expressed confidence that the conflict should be resolved in
the near future. As to developments in the South Caucasus, he noted
that the region attracts attention by its oil resources.

“The South Caucasus region is mainly important for global affairs
only for its oil resources. The U.S. maintains a keen interest, but
realizes that it remains a distant third power when compared to the
proximity of Russia, Iran, and Turkey. Still given that the U.S. is
in many ways the world’s only super power, by definition it remains
interested in all global regions especially the South Caucasus because
of its oil,” the American professor said.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN RECEIVED A DELEGATION HEADED BY THE GOVERNOR OF ROSTOV REGION OF RF VASILI GOLUBEEV

president.am
Nov 9 2010
Armenia

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan received a delegation headed by the
Governor of Rostov region of the Russian Federation Vasili Golubeev.

The President of Armenia stressed the high level of the Armenia-Russian
relations and noted with satisfaction that the agreements reached by
the two Presidents during the state visit of President Medvedev to
Armenia were being successfully implemented.

President Sargsyan spoke, in particular, about direct ties and
cooperation between the regions of the two countries, noting that
the visit of the Governor of Rostov region to our country was one of
those examples.

According to Serzh Sargsyan, regions of the Russian Federation due
to their economic opportunities and potential for cooperation in
different areas could be reliable and good partners for the Armenian
regions. He also highlighted the role of many Armenians residing in
the RF regions for the enhancement of cooperation between the regions
of the two countries.

The Governor of Rostov region Vasili Golubeev assessed his meeting and
discussions in Armenia as efficient and said that certain agreements on
cooperation in different areas have already been reached. He expressed
confidence that cooperation between Armenia and Rostov region in the
areas of agriculture, industry, science, tourism and other areas could
be very promising. The Governor stressed the importance of conducting
in Armenia Days of Rostov region, in the framework of which the
region’s capabilities and the entire potential of cooperation would
be presented.

From: A. Papazian

OPPOSITION RALLY STARTED IN YEREVAN

news.am
Nov 9 2010
Armenia

On November 9, at 6:30 p.m. local time supporters of the oppositional
Armenian National Congress (ANC) started a rally in Yerevan.

Opposition gathered in the square adjacent to the Institute of Ancient
Manuscripts “Matenadaran”. The action of protest has been organized on
the occasion of the EU-Armenia Civil Society Seminar on the Right to
a Fair Trial and Independence of the Judiciary, to be held in Yerevan,
November 9-10.

A NEWS.am correspondent reports the ANC leader, Armenia’s first
president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Chairman of the People’s Party of
Armenia Stepan Demirchyan, Chairman of the Republic Party Aram
Sargsyan, as well as the leaders of the smaller parties forming the
ANC are standing on the platform.

Addressing the attendees, head of Armenian National Movement (ANM)
Aram Manukyan stated today’s action is supposed to show the inferiority
of Armenian judicial system, depending on authorities and carrying
out their instructions. According to him, this miserable picture
emerged during the domestic political crisis in February 2008, when
the judicial system became a tool of political repressions.

Manukyan said 4 ANC young activists are still in the police
department. They were brought to police during ANC picket in Yerevan.

He called on the authorities to release the activists till the end
of the procession.

From: A. Papazian

SOLAR LIGHTS ANCIENT ARMENIAN CHURCH
Pete Danko

EarthTechling

Nov 9 2010

The 1,000-year-old Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross, on the Turk
island of Akdamar, is a place of worship once more – largely due
to the Turkish desire to heal ancient religious and ethnic wounds,
but in part thanks to solar power.

A cultural landmark on the island in Lake Van, the Armenian Cathedral
hadn’t held services since the early 1900s, when ethnic cleansing led
to the destruction of most Armenian churches in eastern Turkey. It
was restored in 2006 and opened as a museum in 2007. Diesel powered
the lighting for the museum, but only for three hours a day, and at
the prohibitive cost of 25,000 Euros a year.

But the solar potential for the site was obvious: the surrounding
province has among the highest sunlight values in Turkey. “In
combination with the cool island climate, the location offers ideal
conditions for the operation of a solar-power generating system,”
the Japanese solar company Kyocera, which did the installation,
said in a press release.

With the solar system in place – providing on the order of 25,000
kilowatt hours per year – the Turkish government granted permission
to hold services at the cathedral every year, an event the Financial
Times said symbolized “Turkish efforts to overcome its troubled
history with ethnic and religious minorities.”

From: A. Papazian

ALMOST ALL ARMENIAN SCHOOLS TO BE UNITED IN AN INTERNET NETWORK

news.am
Nov 9 2010
Armenia

Almost all Armenian schools will be united in a single Internet network
by the end of 2011 , Areg Grigoryan, director of the National Center
of Educational Technologies, told NEWS.am-Innovation, noting that
644 schools are already connected.

“Another 300 schools will be connected by the end of 2010 ,” he said,
adding that 137 m budget funds have been allocated for the program.

Next year about 450 schools will join the network as well. “School
network is an internal Internet connection which will enable schools
to exchange information and participate in different forums. The
system will also provide an opportunity for implementation of online
educational programs,” Grigoryan said.

From: A. Papazian

U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA TO PRESENT SYNOPSYS IN ARMENIA WITH A STATE DEPARTMENT AWARD

news.am
Nov 9 2010
Armenia

On November 10, Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch will present Synopsys
in Armenia with an award from Department of State Under Secretary for
Economic, Energy and Business Affairs Robert D. Hormats in recognition
of their status as one of twelve finalists for the Secretary of
State’s prestigious 2010 Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE).

Synopsys was recognized for the software and programming company’s
promotion of U.S. and foreign investors by showcasing Armenia as
a potential informational technology (IT) hub; its collaboration
with universities on IT training programs; and its reduction of
pollution levels in Armenia by planting hundreds of trees to counter
recent deforestation. Synopsys was chosen from a record number of 78
nominations submitted by American ambassadors around the world. ACE
finalists are international business leaders who recognize the vital
role that U.S. businesses play abroad as good corporate citizens. The
presentation will take place at Synopsis offices in Yerevan at 3:00pm.

The Secretary of State has awarded the ACE since 1999 to recognize
U.S. businesses for advancing good corporate citizenship, innovation,
and democratic principles. The Department of State is committed to
working with business to further these best practices worldwide and
to recognize efforts to improve lives at home and abroad. The 2010
ACE winners will be announced at the annual ceremony hosted by the
Secretary of State later this fall.

From: A. Papazian

ABDULLAH GUL’S REMARKS OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH TIES AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY

Panorama
Nov 9 2010
Armenia

Abdullah Gul of Turkey who departed for London to get “Chatham House”
award delivered a speech at center of Islamic studies in Oxford
University, Turkish “Sabah” writes. The topic focused “Islamic
world, democracy and development” followed by President answering
to the questions of scientists and students. To the question when
Armenian-Turkish border would be opened and ties between the two
states normalized, President Gul answered Ankara poured much efforts.

“Regional frozen conflicts should not be abandoned since they may
become chronicle. Otherwise they may blast so suddenly,” Gul said
reminding of Georgia’s experience. Turkish President underscored that
today’s situation of Caucasus region is beneficial for neither party,
since those conflicts should be set through dialogue. Gul stated
Ankara can’t close eyes upon Karabakh “occupation.”

“We must cooperate over peace in Caucasus. And we do that.”

Panorama.am recalls that Turkey has traditionally rejected the mass
killings of 1,5 million Armenians carried out early in the 20th century
and took the criticism of the West painfully. The Armenian Genocide
has been recognized by lots of states. It was first recognized
by Uruguay in 1965. Later Russia, France, Italy, the Netherlands,
Germany, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland,
Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Canada, Venezuela, Argentina and the US 42
states did the same. The Armenian Genocide has been recognized also
by Vatican, the Council of Europe, the World Council of Churches.

From: A. Papazian

GUL EVADED QUESTION ON PRECISE TERMS OF BORDER OPENING

news.am
Nov 9 2010
Armenia

Turkish President Abdullah Gul delivered a speech at Oxford University
and answered questions of the students and professors.

Asked about terms of the Armenian-Turkish border opening, Gul
noted that regional problems should not remain unresolved, as they
can explode as it happened with Georgia, Zaman reported. “Current
situation in the Caucasus is not to the interests of any side. We
should clear the way to tackle the problem,” he said.

President Gul stressed that his country recognized Armenia on the
first day of its independence. “Despite Turkey’s move, there has been
number of problems between the states and Turkey steps up efforts to
resolve them. That is the reason Turkey is using ‘silent diplomacy’,”
he stated, adding that they are working to ensure stability in the
Caucasus.

President Abdullah Gul visited London to get the Chatham House award
for efforts on Armenian-Turkish reconciliation.

From: A. Papazian

MOST LIKELY ARMENIAN CITIZEN MISSING IN AZERBAIJAN IS ARTHUR BADALYAN

news.am
Nov 9 2010
Armenia

Armenian citizen considered missing was identified.

Armen Kaprielyan, head of a working group at the Armenian Commission
on POWs, Missing Person and Hostages, told NEWS.am that a missing
person, his name is kept secret, most likely is a citizen of Haghartsin
village of Tavush region, Armenia. “I suppose it is Arthur Badalyan
who disappeared under mysterious circumstances on May 9, 2009 near
Movses village located near the border,” Kaprielyan said.

Armen Kaprielyan has repeatedly raised the issue, but Azerbaijan did
not confirm any information and moreover avoided talks on Badalyan’s
case. “I am not sure but I think this person is Badalyan,” he added.

As NEWS.am reported earlier, one of these days Azerbaijan will hand
over to Armenia an Armenian citizen that has been considered missing
for a long period.

Ashot Astabatsyan, ICRC Yerevan, told NEWS.am that the ICRC got the
information on an Armenian citizen from Azerbaijani authorities. An
ICRC visited him on November 5.

As to when the Armenian citizen will be handed over to the Armenian
side, Astabatsyan said that the ICRC has not yet received a relevant
request. The ICRC is willing to assist the handover as soon as they
receive a request.

From: A. Papazian