Author: Andres-Papazian

Rev. Vahram Melikyan: September 19 ceremony in the St. Cross Church of
the Akhtamar is a delayed and not complete step

YEREVAN, JULY 23, ARMENPRESS: Two representatives of the Holy See of
St. Etchmiadzin will participate in the September 19 Liturgy in the
St. Cross Church of the Akhtamar. Director of the Holy See press
service Rev. Vahram Melikyan told Armenpress that the turning of the
church into a museum rose a wave of discontent not only in the
Armenian Apostolic Church but also among the Armenians all over the
world. In 2007 the Turkish government restored and reopened the
Armenian St. Cross Church on the Akhtamar Island of Lake Van as a
museum. The opening ceremony was done without prayer that is why the
Holy See of St. Etchmiadzin did not participate in it.

`We are glad to see change in the attitude of the Turkish authorities
who allowed to conduct Holy Liturgy in the church once in a year. But
what must be done September 19 is a delayed and not complete step,’
Rev Vahram Melikyan said.

Historian, director of the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute Hayk
Demoyan described this ceremony as another staged show by Turkey. He
also expressed opinion that the opening of the church is an example of
violation of Treaty of Lausanne as it has not been allowed to place
cross on the dome of the church. At the same time on the walls of the
St. Cross Turkish flags and pictures of founder of Turkey Ataturk are
put.

In this respect the Holy See abstained from comments, only adding that
it is full of hope that the decision will be reviewed and the St.
Cross will operate fully serving the Armenian community. It would also
be natural if the church be provided to the Armenian Patriarchate of
Constantinople.

From: A. Papazian

Serzh Sargsyan awards winners of the `Best Athletic Family’

YEREVAN, JULY 23, ARMENPRESS: The final round of the 7th republican
contest – `Best Athletic Family’ took place today in Tsakhkadzor.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister
Arthur Petrosyan, governors and other guests came to watch the final.

The contest was conducted in two rounds. During the first one which
was conducted June 1-20 in different provinces of Armenia, Yerevan and
Artsakh 374 families participated against the 171 of the past year. In
the second – final round 72 families took part. This year’s
peculiarity of the contest was that it was conducted in two age-groups
– in the first group the children were 6-9 years old, in the second
one 10-13-year old.

The third place in the first age group took the family of the
Hovakimyans from the Ararat province, the second are the Grigoryans
from the NKR and the first ones are the Alexanyans from Shirak
province. In the second age group the third place was taken by the
Sahakyans’ family, the second are the Poghosyans and the first are the
Santrosyans’ all from Yerevan. Serzh Sargsyan handed them all diplomas
and 300, 400 and 500 thousands of AMD correspondingly.

Serzh Sargsyan congratulated the winning families and wished them to
always be healthy, active, flexible and strong. `Of course I
congratulate all the participants, and I have an impression that
everyone seems her/his family won and it is a very good atmosphere. I
wish every year the number of athletic families increase and in the
near future we will speak not of hundreds but thousands families as in
the healthy environment always healthy ideas born and we need it a
lot,’ the president noted. He wished all the families success.

Arthur Petrosyan welcomed the participants, noting that during the
recent period Armenia pays great attention to the development of
sport, a number of sports events are being organized promoting the
healthy livelihood. He said a number of sport institutions are being
renovated, a number of sports achievements are obvious.

The number of participant families increase from year to year. He says
it shows that sport has become an important element of the public
life. He assured that the ministry will do everything to develop
sports in Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

The Yerevan History Museum in the first half of the running year had
more than 6 000 visitors

YEREVAN, JULY 23, ARMENPRESS: The Yerevan History Museum in the first
half of the running year had more than 6 000 visitors. Director of the
museum Armine Sargsyan told Armenpress that the museum has no issue of
acquiring new materials, during the recent period every time new
materials are being received mainly as donations. The donations are
being made by Yerevan people, diaspora Armenians. They provide
different documents, photos, personal things. The museum cooperates
with archeologists and the materials found as a result of the
excavations in Yerevan are also being provided. The samples are being
presented both during temporary and permanent expositions. The museum
keeps 89 000 samples.

During this year various events have been conducted in the museum:
exhibitions dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the victory in the
Great Patriotic War, puppet exhibition on the International Day of
Protection of Children’s Rights were conducted.

In the coming future too the museum will carry out active work. Now
the program dedicated to the 2792 anniversary of establishment of the
Erebuni-Yerevan is being clarified. It is expected to exhibit works of
Japanese photographer Takuji Shimura dedicated to Yerevan.

From: A. Papazian

France to build 2 helicopter carriers Mistral for Russia

PARIS, JULY 23, ARMENPRESS: France will build two helicopter carriers
Mistral for Russia, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Friday.
He arrived at the naval shipyards of the company STX in Saint Nazaire
on the Atlantic coast, where these warships will be built. These
shipyards, which are badly in need of new contracts, employ 2,280
people and the same number of people work in the companies of
subcontractors, Armenpress reports citing Itar-Tass.

`Together with our Russian friends we will build these warships. The
contract is still under discussion, but the decision to build them is
obvious,’ the president told the shipyard workers.

Mistral is a cutting-edge multi-purpose warship produced in France.
Warships of this type can perform the functions of a helicopter
carrier, a dockship, a troop carrier, a floating hospital, a landing
ship and a command warship. The Mistral deck can deploy six
helicopters, and ten more helicopters are on standby in the hangar.
The Mistral can ship 60 off-road vehicles or 13 combat tanks and 450
fully equipped paratroopers and up to 900 people without weapons and
outfits. The dock compartment is designed for two aircushion landing
motorboats or four motorboats for the landing of tanks.

From: A. Papazian

Protocol on the 11th amendment to the Letter of Agreement on Narcotics
Control and Law Enforcement between the Governments of the USA and
Armenia signed

YEREVAN, JULY 23, ARMENPRESS: On July 23, 2010 the Armenian Prosecutor
General Aghvan Hovsepyan and U.S. Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch
signed a Protocol on the amendment to the Letter of Agreement on
Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement between the Government of the
United States of America and the Government of Armenia.

Press service of the Prosecutor General’s office told Armenpress this
is the eleventh amendment to the Letter of Agreement, under which the
U.S. Government will provide additional assistance to the Government
of Armenia in the amount of $2,875,284 for several assistance
programs.

This agreement is an important part of the continuing partnership
between the U.S and Armenia. The funds granted through the amendment
will benefit the Armenian people through a number of Armenian
institutions and bilateral projects: the forensic laboratory of the
National Academy of Sciences’ National Bureau of Expertises, the
Central Bank’s Financial Monitoring Center, a Resident Legal Adviser
from the U.S. Department of Justice, a legal socialization project
carried out by the NGO PH International, the American Bar
Association’s Rule of Law Initiative, assistance for victims of human
trafficking, and development of law enforcement in Armenia. Since the
signing of the original Letter of Agreement on June 11, 2001, the
United States has provided over fourteen million dollars of justice
sector assistance to the Government of Armenia through the Embassy’s
International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Section. Among the major
projects are the creation of an information system for the RA Police,
expansion of the Border Management Information System (BMIS) to all
Armenian border crossings, establishment of RA NAS National Bureau of
Expertises – a forensic laboratory for the use of all Armenian law
enforcement, renovation and curricula development of the Police
Training Center, technical assistance and computer hardware and
software for the Central Bank’s Financial Monitoring Center,
assistance for human trafficking victims, and support for judicial and
legislative reform.

From: A. Papazian

Strict security measures to be undertaken during the events in the St.
Cross Church of Akhtamar

YEREVAN, JULY 23, ARMENPRESS: The Turkish authorities are going to
undertake strict security measures during the events in the St. Cross
Church of Akhtamar in September, Ruben Melkonyan specialist in
Turkology, said today at a news conference, adding that for decades
Turkey has been committing a cultural genocide, eliminating and
distorting Armenian churches and monasteries. `There were about 2000
Armenian churches in Turkey until 1915, and now there are only 42,’
the expert said.

According to him, the liturgy in the St. Cross Church may become a
propaganda tool of Turkey and for preventing it the Armenian side must
display restricted attitude which, essentially, is taking place. It is
seen from the balanced stance of Etchmiadzin. It is possible that the
Mother See will be represented in a delegation headed by one of the
archbishops.

`In this situation the basic dividend the Armenian party may win is
the de jure status of the church,’ Melkonyan expressed opinion. Now
the church is considered a monument-museum but if a liturgy is being
conducted there it is necessary to clarify whether a liturgy may be
conducted in a museum.

R. Melkonyan also noted that during the years, destroying Armenian
cultural monuments, Turkey is violating the provisions of the Treaty
of Lausanne with which is committed to ensure protection of the
Armenian monuments.

From: A. Papazian

A. Nalchajyan, `Turks bring up millions of children with psychology of
an enemy’

YEREVAN, JULY 23, ARMENPRESS: `The upbringing of Turkish speaking
people is different; they traditionally bring up bandits, executioners
and murderers. Turks bring up millions of children with psychology of
an enemy,’ psychologist Albert Nalchajyan said today at a meeting with
journalists, referring to `Sare Gyalin’ (Fair-Haired Bride)
anti-Armenian film, which shows how the Armenians have allegedly
massacred the Turks.

`They try to show that the Armenian people are wicked and aggressive
and are worthy of this fate,’ the psychologist said noting the film
implements an all-Turkish propaganda. `This way of upbringing is
intended for keeping the true image of a Turk; the Turk is coward,
hypocritical and toady. This is a fight for preserving the Turkish
identity, and the part of which is hatred towards Armenians, as Turkey
has been formed on the bones of Armenians,’ political specialist Levon
Shirinyan said stressing that all the Turks hate and ignore the
Armenians.

`By saying a solution to the issue the Turks understand annihilation,’
the political specialist said. `The cultures of Turkish and Armenian
upbringing are radically different; we bring up a person and create
humanitarians. Among us there are people who have not yet understood
what a Turk presents himself and it is not right to treat him like
ordinary man. A snake conceals under the civilized and toady behavior
and in case of convenient situation he is ready to kill,’ the
psychologist said noting that the film is shown everywhere and will
have its influence. A. Nalchajyan said that no Turk says the whole
truth. `If we want to protect Armenia, we must have people who are
completely devoted to the national identity. It is of vital
importance,’ the psychologist said.

From: A. Papazian

`Second Additional Financing to the Program on Improvement of the
Vital Significance Roads’ loan contract signed

YEREVAN, JULY 23, ARMENPRESS: Armenia and the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development signed today `Second Additional
Financing to the Program on Improvement of the Vital Significance
Roads’ $40 million cost loan contract. The contract was signed by the
Armenian Finance Minister Tigran Davtyan and acting director of the WB
Armenia office Naira Melkumyan.

The program is directed toward restoration of the roads of vital
significance and creation of additional jobs in the road construction
sphere.

The loan is provided with the 25-year pay off term, the 10 years of
which in privileged terms, fluctuating interest rate.

The second additional financing was approved July 16 by the Board of
Directors of the World Bank.

Tigran Davtyan said that this contract is the continuation of the
programs carried out by the state in the road construction sphere. The
main goal is the restoration of the roads of communities and
provinces.

Naira Melkumyan presented the content of the program, spoke about the
main program and the previous financings. About 153-km roads have
already been restored – including the 35-km is in process intended by
the first additional financing of the program.

The first program exceeded the goals restoring additional 18-km of roads.

Melkumyan assured that by the end of the year construction of 50-km
long road is expected, the construction of the rest will launch in
spring.

From: A. Papazian

Seyran Ohanyan discusses a number of bilateral issues in Germany

YEREVAN, JULY 23, ARMENPRESS: Within the framework of the bilateral
cooperation between Armenia and Germany and at the invitation of the
German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg delegation headed
by the Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan was in Germany on an
official visit July 21-22.

Public relations department of the Armenian DM told Armenpress that
July 21 Seyran Ohanyan visited Koln’s St. Sahak-Mesrop church where he
met with the representatives of the Armenian community. Archbishop
Garegin Bekchyan welcomed the Armenian delegation. In his speech the
Armenian delegation presented the history of formation of the Armenian
Armed Forces, spoke about the issues Armenia is facing and the
achievements. He also answered to the questions of the representatives
of the German-Armenian community.

July 22 the delegation headed by Seyran Ohanyan headed to the German
Federal Defense Ministry in Bonn and met with the delegation headed by
Christian Schmidt, the German DM’ Parliamentary State Secretary.
During the meeting the interlocutors discussed issues on bilateral
cooperation, within the framework of NATO and International Security
Assistance forces. The parties pointed out the high level of
cooperation between the defense ministries of the two countries.

Highlighting the fact that the two countries joined the Afghanistan
mission, the parties expressed readiness to expand the circles of
cooperation. The two ministries mainly cooperate in the spheres of
military education, military medicine, military justice, military
governance.

On the same day the Armenian DM’s delegation left for Germersheim.
Accompanied by the German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg
Seyran Ohanyan visited General Hans-Graf-Sponeck-Barraks military
center where the Armenian peacekeeping contingent was taking
pre-deployment training for the mission in Afghanistan. During the
meeting with the Armenian contingent Seyran Ohanyan spoke about the
importance of participation of Armenia in international peacekeeping
missions.

At a press conference in the center the defense ministers of the two
countries presented their impressions over the discussions, spoke
about the high level conditions of the academy and positive tendencies
of development of bilateral relations.

Armenian defense minister invited his German counterpart to pay
official visit to Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

Vahan Hovhannisyan says Armenia must continue claiming opening of
Armenian-Turkish border

YEREVAN, JULY 23, ARMENPRESS: Armenia must continue claiming the
opening of the Armenian-Turkish border, as it has been closed by
Turkey illegally, head of the NA ARF faction Vahan Hovhannisyan said
today at a meeting with journalists. According to him, the closing of
the border is a way of conducting war.

`Armenia has serious legal levies here and must continue claiming the
opening of the Armenian-Turkish border. There are numerous
international conventions, particularly, the convention on the
countries, which do not have entrance to sea’, V. Hovhannisyan said.
According to him, the right solution in the current stage is the
recalling of the signatures of the Zurich documents.

He added that the regulation process of Armenian-Turkish relations has
reached a deadlock. `Turkey has distinctly said that it will not
ratify the protocols as long as there is no Azerbaijan-inclined
solution in the regulation process of the issue. In my opinion, we
must not put the stress on ratification of the protocols, but should
remember that our goal is opening of the border with Turkey, and the
protocols were just a way to open the border,’ V. Hovhannisyan said.

From: A. Papazian