Author: Andres-Papazian

PRESS RELEASE
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Buiding 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Hasmik Grigoryan
Tel: +(3741) 56 01 06 ext. 105
Fax: +(3741) 52 15 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

11 August, 2010

Yerevan, August 11, 2010 – On August 9 the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
unveiled the newly constructed and furnished gym of the Daniel Sahakyan
School, in time for the forthcoming school year. Also known as the No. 2
School, the campus is located in the city of Spitak, in Armenia’s Lori
Region.

Eighty percent of the gym-construction and -furnishing project, which cost
U.S. $272,000, was underwritten by the France-based Hope for Armenia
organization, through the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s French affiliate. The
remainder of the financing was provided by the Spitak Municipality. At 288
square meters, the new gym features a complement of modern amenities such as
locker rooms, a shower room, a coach’s office, and restrooms.

The festive opening ceremony was attended by a delegation from the Hope for
Armenia organization, led by Rev. Rene Levonian, president of the
Evangelical Church of Armenia. Other guests included Lori governor Aram
Kocharyan, Spitak mayor Gagik Sahakyan, Marseille mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin,
and Hayastan All-Armenian Fund executive director Ara Vardanyan.

The guests received an enthusiastic welcome from the school’s students and
principal, Melanya Matevosyan, who conveyed her gratitude to the project’s
benefactors. “I thank you all so much for providing our schoolchildren with
this wonderful gym,” she said in her remarks.

The honor of cutting the red ribbon was given to Jean-Claude Gaudin and Ara
Vardanyan.

“I think it’s very important that our benefactors are here with us today,
that they have personally witnessed the high quality of the gym project,”
Vardanyan said in his address. He went on to add: “I am certain that soon we
will launch a string of new initiatives in Lori. We have already presented
the blueprints to our benefactors, and currently we’re awaiting their
approval.”

Also delivering remarks and conveying their thanks were Governor Aram
Kocharyan, Mayor Gagik Sahakyan, Rev. Rene Levonyan, and various
benefactors.

In 2000 the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund built and furnished the No. 2
School’s new wing, which can accommodate 300 students. The project was
initiated by the fund’s French affiliate.
# # #
Hayastan All Armenian Fund

From: A. Papazian

YURA HOVSEPYAN SAYS ARMENIA MUST BUILD ITS POLITICAL GUIDELINE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT TURKEY’S BEING MORE NATIONALISTIC

ARMENPRESS
August 10, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS: With the Sever Treaty the Ottoman
Empire – the current Turkey – recognized Armenia’s independence and
was obliged to accept the borders decided by the legal decision of
the US President Woodrow Wilson. Historian, docent of the YSU History
Chair Yura Hovsepyan said today at a news conference that according to
the Wilson’s decision Erzrum, Van, Bitlis and Trabzon were passing to
Armenia and through Trabson Armenia was getting an entrance to the sea.

The historian said the Sever Treaty did not become a reality for
few reasons – the treaty was signed by the sultan government and at
the moment of signing it was not the real authority as the “Milli”
nationalistic movement headed by Mustafa Kemal had already started.

The second reason is that the Armenian army did not have at that time
enough strength to control the territories considered Armenia’s by
Wilson’s decision. And the third reason is that the big states which
were able to provide troops and money for liberating those territories
had not done it.

“We may go through the path offered by my colleague Ara Papyan
and strive for the recognition of the Armenian borders by the world
according to the Sever Treaty, but in my opinion, in this case Turkey
may bring forward the Kars Treaty,” he added.

Speaking about the impact of the Sever Treaty on the current political
situation Hovsepyan said Armenia must take into consideration that
Turkey has become more nationalistic and build the political guideline
stemming from it. The historian said Armenia needs well-prepared
international right specialists.

From: A. Papazian

ASHOT MELKONYAN SAYS SEVER TREATY STILL POSSESSES GREAT LEGAL POWER

ARMENPRESS
August 10, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS: None of the parties signed the
Sever Treaty has annulled it; hence that Treaty cannot be recognized
invalid. “Turkey has always been afraid of the Sever Treaty, as big
states have always used that as a levy toward it,” Director of the
History Institute of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences Ashot
Melkonyan said today at a press conference. August 10 is the day of
signing of the Sever Treaty.

Ashot Melkonyan noted that during the years of the Soviet Union it
was not spoken about the Sever Treaty, and it was looked upon as
an ordinary paper, but it is not so. “The Sever Treaty is a very
important document. The implementation of that treaty will condition
the victory of the historical justice,” the director of the History
Institute of the National Academy of Sciences said.

A. Melkonyan also referred to the issue on recognition of the
Armenian Genocide saying that in contrast to other genocides, we
have been deprived of our homeland. “Turkey, implementing a policy
of Pan-Turkism, deprived the Armenian people of the homeland, so,
speaking today of compensation, which the big states have already
once ratified, is quite fair,” he noted.

From: A. Papazian

RASHID PETROSYAN ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE CEC OF THE NKR

ARMENPRESS
August 10, 2010
STEPANAKERT

August 9 the new Central Electoral Commission of the NKR in accordance
with the Electoral Code called a session the agenda of which included
the issues on election of the chairman, deputy chairman and secretary
of the commission.

As a result of the open voting Rashid Petrosyan has been elected the
new chairman of the NKR CEC. Yeghishe Arzumanyan and Raya Nazaryan have
been re-elected deputy chairman and secretary of the CEC respectively.

From: A. Papazian

RA DEFENSE MINISTRY EXPECTS PROPER RESPONSE FROM INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO RUDE VIOLATIONS OF HUMANITARIAN LAW

ARMENPRESS
August 10, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS: Several Azerbaijani mass media,
especially the APA, 1news.az and day.az websites, published today an
interview with Armenian soldiers, who are in Azerbaijan, and posted
their photos.

An official from the press and PR department of RA Defense Ministry
told Armenpress that the Azerbaijani side, using the information
for evident propaganda purposes, violates rudely the famous norms
of the international humanitarian law. The Azerbaijani side violated
especially the 13th and 27th articles of the Geneva Second and Third
Conventions respectively. The articles define that the persons, who
are under sponsorship or protection, must always be protected from
the curiosity of the society.

Accordingly, the Azerbaijani side should not have presented those
persons to the society and should have prevented the posting of
the photos. The fact that the protected persons agreed to meet
with representatives of mass media, does not imply that the heads
of corresponding bodies were relieved from their responsibilities,
because the Article 8 of the Geneva Convention (IV) says ‘protected
persons may in no circumstances renounce in part or in entirety the
rights secured to them by the present Convention, and by the special
agreements referred to in the foregoing Article, if such there be’.

RA Defense Ministry calls the attention of the world humanitarian
organizations, especially the World Red Cross Committee, and expects
proper response to the activities of the Azerbaijani side.

From: A. Papazian

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN RECEIVES HEAD OF UNHCR YEREVAN OFFICE

ARMENPRESS
August 10, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS: Speaker of the RA National Assembly
Hovik Abrahamyan received today head of the Yerevan Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Damtu Desalein.

Congratulating him on the appointment the NA Speaker wished him
successes in the responsible and humanitarian activity. Hovik
Abrahamyan highly assessed the continuous support extended by the
office to the Armenians refugees from Azerbaijan and to Iraqi-Armenian
refugees.

Press service of the National Assembly told Armenpress that the head
of the UNHCR Yerevan office expressed gratitude to the NA Speaker
for warm reception. He noted that the efficient cooperation with the
office has started still by the time when Hovik Abrahamyan was deputy
prime minister and minister of territorial administration, and as a
figure who is well aware of the issues of the sphere contributed to
adoption of the new law “On Refugees and Asylum”. D. Desalein expressed
gratitude for the adoption of the law and for continuous cooperation.

NA Speaker, expressing readiness to expand and activate the
cooperation, proposed to set up a working team to improve the
corresponding legislative field. The head of the Armenian parliament
proposed to implement a technical support program in collaboration
with the National Assembly, especially that the parliament has wider
opportunity to refer to the issues of refugees.

The interlocutors attached importance to the mutual cooperation
of the Armenian National Assembly and UNHCR Yerevan office,
to inter-parliamentary cooperation and to participation of the
parliaments in solution of issues.

From: A. Papazian

THE SESSION OF THE COMMISSION FOR COORDINATING THE REPAIR WORKS OF NA SESSIONS’ HALL HELD

ARMENPRESS
August 10, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS: On the assignment of NA Speaker
Hovik Abrahamyan a commission and a working team for coordinating and
controlling the capital repair and technical equipment works of the
sessions’ hall of the Armenian National Assembly has been set up in
May 2010.

The commission is comprised of Urban Development Minister Vardan
Vardanyan, Head of the NA working staff Gegham Gharibjanyan, Deputy
Head of the presidential working staff Vigen Sargsyan, Chairman of
the NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and
Sport Affairs Artak Davyan, head of the NA Prosperous Armenia Party
Gagik Tsarukyan, head of the NA faction of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation Vahan Hovhannisyan, head of the NA faction of the Orinats
Yerkir Party Heghine Bisharyan, head of the NA Heritage faction
Stepan Safaryan, chief architect of Armenia, Deputy Minister of
Urban Development Narek Sargsyan, chief architect of Yerevan Samvel
Danielyan, Chairman of the Armenian Architects’ Union Mkrtich Minasyan
and architect Anahit Tarkhanyan.

Press service of the National Assembly told Armenpress that the
session of the commission was held today, chaired by Chairman of
the commission, NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan. The NA Speaker noted
that the works are under his constant control, and all the efforts
are exerted to accomplish them in time and with quality. Architect
Anahit Tarkhanyan briefly presented the future look of the hall and
the architectural solutions.

In the concluding speech Chief Architect of Armenia, Deputy Minister
of Urban Development Narek Sargsyan noted that the repair works of
the hall are running without delays, and the selected architectural
solutions will afford an opportunity to have a hall corresponding to
international standards.

At the end of the session the members of the commission, headed by
NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, walked around in the sessions’ hall of
the parliament, got acquainted with the running works.

From: A. Papazian

VAHRAM MIRAKYAN: THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR RECENT INCIDENTS IN ARMENIAN ARMY ARE BEING IDENTIFIED AND PUNISHED

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 10, 2010 – 18:33 AMT 13:33 GMT

Military service-related incidents occur even in major superpowers’
armies; however, foreign media does not demand the country’s Defense
Minister to commit suicide, information policy expert Vahram Mirakyan
stated.

As he stressed at August 10 news conference in Yerevan, Azeri media
is turning negative responses and generalizations of Armenian media
as a weapon in its anti -Armenian propaganda.

“Those responsible for recent incidents in Armenian army are being
identified and punished,” the expert noted. “Possibly, military
enlistment office or commanding officer are responsible for the
incident. However, it’s absurd to accuse the whole institution.

Resignation or suicide of Armenian Defense Minister, demanded by
some Armenian media, is not a way to resolve the problem, especially
given that Seyran Ohanyan is always open to suggestions,” Vahram
Mirakyan stated.

Vahram Mirakyan also spoke of military psychology as the developing
sphere in Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

EXPERT: ARMENIA HAS ROOM FOR DEVELOPING TOURISM

ARKA
August 10, 2010
YEREVAN

Armenia has an incredible capacity for developing tourism, President
Emeritus at IFTTA (International Forum of Travel and Tourism Advocates)
John Downes said Friday in Armenia, at an informal meeting where
tourism-related legislation was discussed.

“It can be said that Armenia is one of Europe’s unsolved mysteries,
and this mystery should be solved,” he said.

He said that to solve this mystery it is necessary to properly organize
tourism here, differentiate this area and improve services.

The expert thinks that legislative reforms can contribute a great
deal to this process.

Downes thinks that Armenia, using the world experience, should change
laws in accordance with European standards.

He also advised Armenian officials to pay greater attention to the
travel agencies which boost the country overseas.

Armenia hosted 230,000 tourists in the first half of 2010 (11.2%
year-on-year growth).

From: A. Papazian

YEREVAN HOSTS YOUTH ACTION TO MARK TREATY OF SEVRES 90TH ANNIVERSARY

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 10, 2010 – 18:11 AMT 13:11 GMT

Yerevan hosted Hayazn youth association~Vorganized action to mark
the 90th anniversary of the Treaty of Sevres.

The participants addressed letters to U.S., French and Italian
Ambassadors to Armenia.

~S90 years ago today the Treaty of Sevres was signed. We believe that
the Treaty will be implemented in years to come. We believe in our
victory,~T association member Armen Lazarian stated.

From: A. Papazian