Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIAN SUNDAY SCHOOL OPENS IN BLAGOVESHCHENSK, RUSSIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 6, 2010 – 16:53 AMT 11:53 GMT

The first Armenian Sunday school in Amur region of Russia opened
in Blagoveshchensk.

Armenian language and history will be tutored at school, ready to
welcome both Armenian and Russian students.

The Sunday school was named after the creator of Armenian Alphabet
Mesrop Mashtots, Yerkramas reported.

Official statistics lists over 4000 Armenians in Amur region;
unofficial statistics reports their number to reach 10000.

From: A. Papazian

NA SPEAKER HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN RECEIVES NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF TURKMENISTAN TO ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS: Armenian National Assembly Speaker
Hovik Abrahamyan received today newly appointed ambassador of
Turkmenistan to Armenia Ata Serdarov. Press service of the National
Assembly told Armenpress that congratulating the ambassador on the
appointment, Hovik Abrahamyan expressed hope that his work will
contribute to strengthening and expansion of mutually profitable
relations. As member of the parliament, he expressed readiness to
support in formation of a legislative field necessary for efficient
development of bilateral relations.

NA Speaker attached importance to development of inter-parliamentary
ties between the legislative bodies of the two countries, noting
that he is ready to assist in activation of those ties. Ambassador of
Turkmenistan Ata Serdarov assured that he will use his knowledge and
experience for strengthening and developing of Armenia-Turkmenistan
relations.

An Armenia-Turkmenistan parliamentary friendship group works in
the Armenian parliament; the NA Speaker attached importance to
establishment of a parliamentary friendship group in the parliament
of Turkmenistan as well.

From: A. Papazian

RA PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN MEETS WITH OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2010
YEREVAN

RA President Serzh Sargsyan met today with the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs – Ambassadors Igor Popov of Russia, Bernard Fassier of
France and Robert Bradtke of the United States – and Anjey Kasperchik,
personal representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office. The Minsk
Group Co-Chairs and Anjey Kasperchik had held meetings earlier in
Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

The Presidential press service told Armenpress that the OSCE
Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office presented the results of the meetings, held in Baku
and Stepanakert. The speakers reaffirmed the commitment to peaceful
settlement of the issue and mentioned that the frequent diversions and
cases of violation of the ceasefire regime have a negative influence
on the process of negotiations.

From: A. Papazian

EVENT IN COMMEMORATION OF ROBERT SAHAKYANTS TO BE ORGANIZED AS PART OF REANIMANIA FESTIVAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 9, 2010 – 19:21 AMT 14:21 GMT

Famous Armenian animator Robert Sahakyants’ son, David Sahakyants
said that retrospective screening of films by Robert Sahakyants will
be organized during ReAnimania festival to mark the 60th anniversary
of the animator.

David Sahakyants added that a statuette will be created this year to
award Robert Sahakyants prize.

“We have already prepared the statuette. Its design is unique and
includes the heritage of Robert Sahakyants. Unfortunately, we have
established Robert Sahakyants prize in a week after his death. It
will be awarded annually to a foreign animator,” said Director of
ReAnimania festival Vrej Kassouny.

Referring to the event in commemoration of Robert Sahakyants as part
of the festival, Kassouny said that the festival organizers have done
their best for its organization. “We are well aware of the fact that
he did not like festivals, as he preferred to work rather than to
speak,” noted Kassouny.

The event in commemoration of Robert Sahakyants will be held on
September 10.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA RANKS 98TH OUT OF 139 COUNTRIES IN GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS REPORT
Anna Balyan

“Radiolur”
09.09.2010 18:13

The Economy and Values Research Center has published the Global
Competitiveness Report 2010-2011, where Armenia ranks 98th out of 139
countries as compared to last years 97th position out of 133 countries.

The Global Competitiveness Report’s competitiveness ranking is based
on the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), developed for the World
Economic Forum (WEF). The GCI is based on 12 pillars of competitiveness
and provides a comprehensive assessment of country competitiveness.

The rankings are calculated based on both publicly available data
and the Executive Opinion Survey, a comprehensive annual survey
conducted by the World Economic Forum together with its network of
Partner Institutes in the countries covered by the report.

“Armenia is progressing, but a little slower than other countries,”
Director of the Center Manuk Hergnyan said. According to him, progress
has been registered in the fields of healthcare, education. At the
same time, significant deterioration was registered in Armenia’s
ratings on macroeconomic stability line and the level of financial
market development.

From: A. Papazian

RA DEFENSE MINISTRY: AZERBAIJANI UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE HAS NOT ENTERED EVEN NKR’S AIRSPACE, LET ALONE ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 9, 2010 – 17:56 AMT 12:56 GMT

Head of the Public Relations and Press Department at the RA Ministry
of Defense Vardan Avetisyan refuted information, according to which
Azerbaijani unmanned aerial vehicles were allegedly freely flying over
Karabakh and even entered into airspace of Goris, while the Armenian
air defense was unable to shoot down them.

In reality, according to Avetisyan, two months ago Azerbaijan tested
its unmanned aerial vehicle near Artsakh’s airspace. As soon as the
NKR air defense detected and drew a bead on it, the aircraft has left
this territory.

Avetisyan added that after the Azerbaijani unmanned aerial vehicle’s
detection, the NKR air defense was put on an alert.

From: A. Papazian

PHOTO EXHIBITION ‘THE STOPPED INSTANTS OF ARMENIA’ OPENED IN YEREVAN

ArmInfo
2010-09-09 15:16:00

ArmInfo. A photo exhibition “The stopped instants of Armenia” of
Ashot Poghosyan and Rouben Bagdishyan, participants in a number of
international contests, was opened at the Yerevan State University on
September 9. The exhibition organized with the support of the Students’
Council of the Yerevan State University demonstrates the latest works
of the photographers with the images of amusing instants from everyday
life of various corners of Armenia and Karabakh.

When opening the exposition, Ashot Poghosyan pointed out that
popularization of Armenian culture all over the world should become
a priority task for each Armenian being more or less related to arts.

“It is wrongful that most of young Armenian photographers are looking
for the ways of personal fulfillment by means of photographing naked
or semi-naked girls at best”,- said Poghosyan. He added that the
exhibition will last till September 16; afterwards it will be held
at other universities and rural culture houses.

Rouben Bagdishyan said that he tries to present the well-known place
of Armenia to the public in anew way. “Actually, trifles are of great
significance in photo art. When photographing, I first and foremost try
to show these trifles, which are very often hidden from inattentive
looks”,- he said. Both photographers thanked Rafael Hovhannisyan,
member of the YSU Students’ Council, for his personal contribution
to holding of the exhibition.

President of the All-Armenian International Youth Center Andranik
Nikoghosyan came out with a statement: “Your initiative is a
very successful attempt to popularize the wonders of our ancient
Motherland. It is impossible to deny that alongside with the
efforts aimed at creating a positive opinion about our country among
foreigners, very often we ourselves have no idea of the treasures
hidden behind the inaccessible peaks of our small country. Your photos
demonstrate these treasures in the best way”.

Rouben Bagdishyan (1987) and Ashot Poghosyan (1989) have already
become participants in authoritative international photo expositions,
including World Press Photo and World Photo View. At the Ukrainian
photo exposition “Ukraine through the easy of foreigners” in 2009
Rouben Bagdishyan gained the first place.

From: A. Papazian

TWO UPCOMING MONDAYS IN ARMENIA WILL BE NON-WORKING DAYS

ArmInfo
2010-09-09 15:01:00

ArmInfo. The Government of Armenia announces September 20 (Monday)
a non- working day on occasion of the Independence Day celebrated
in Armenia on September 21, which is also a non-working day. David
Sargsyan, Head of the Government Staff, presented the given draft
decision of the Government on Thursday.

Instead, the upcoming Saturday, September 11, is announced a working
day. D. Sargsyan recalled that next Monday, September 13, is also
a non-working day because of the religious holiday in Armenia,
Commemoration of the Faithful Departed Day (Merelots). In fact,
Saturday September 18, is announced a working day.

From: A. Papazian

ARA AVETISYAN: ARMENIA’S SECONDARY VOCATIONAL EDUCATION REFORMATION PROCESS TO BE CONTINUED

ArmInfo
2010-09-09 15:04:00

ArmInfo. Armenia’s basic and secondary vocational education reformation
process will be continued, Deputy Education and Science Minister of
Armenia Ara Avetisyan said at today’s press-conference.

In particular, he indicated the successful course of implementation of
the programme for repair and technical reequipment of 12 establishments
of this profile. According to Avetisyan, they will fully meet the
European standards due to EU financial assistance. “We pay special
attention to cooperation with the business sector, as due to this,
establishments of the secondary vocational education will be able to
graduate competitive specialists”, Avetisyan emphasized.

As for educational reforms, he said the programme of creating senior
schools will go on in the republic. As it was noted, attention will
be paid not only to provision of schools with the required material
and technical base. “Only highly-qualified personnel will teach in
these schools”, the deputy minister emphasized.

He also said a programme of reformation of preschool establishments
has started in the republic.

From: A. Papazian

LEADERSHIP OF ARMENIAN UNIVERSITIES DEPRIVED OF LICENSES MAKING USELESS EFFORTS TO RETURN THEIR STUDENTS

ArmInfo
2010-09-09 15:05:00

ArmInfo. Leadership of the Armenian universities that were deprived
of licenses is making useless efforts to return their students.

Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Armenia Ara Avetisyan told
media on Thursday that some universities applied to the ministry for
a 10-day term for correction of all inaccuracies to continue their
activity. However, the violations revealed during inspections were
too gross.

“In such cases we cannot just make notifications,” A. Avetisyan said.

The licenses of private higher educational establishments will be
revoked gradually.

“All the students of the given universities will be given
an opportunity to continue their education at other high
educational establishments,” he said. The number of the students
of pseudo-universities exceeds 2000, which is higher than last year
(1109).

In 2010 inspections were launched at 28 universities. In fact,
a series of violations were revealed, including dissatisfactory
level of educational programs and lack of proper laboratories. In
fact, licenses of 7 higher educational establishments were revoked:
Armenian-Russian Modern Humanitarian Institute, Juridical Institute
(Myud), Armavir University “Ararat”, International University AIU Aria,
Institute “Vanevan,” “University Cavendish” and Artashat University. In
addition, the licenses of a number of faculties of another 6 private
higher educational establishments were revoked.

From: A. Papazian