Author: Andres-Papazian

VARDAN OSKANIAN: THERE IS NO SENSATION IN MY CONVERSATION WITH LEVON ZURABYAN

Mediamax News Agency
Dec 17 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Former Armenian Foreign Minister, member of
“Prosperous Armenia” parliamentary faction Vardan Oskanian commented
on the fact of the secret recording of his private talk with the
coordinator of oppositional Armenian National Congress Levon Zurabyan
today.

Vardan Oskanian wrote on his Facebook page the following, Mediamax
reports:

“There is no and there can’t be any sensation in my conversation
with Levon Zurabyan. As Armenian citizens, MPs and political figures,
we have the right to meet in any place and talk on any topic.

The only sensation here is that the MPs elected by the people
are prosecuted and the state resources are used for tapping their
conversations.

On this occasion, I would like to note three aspects:

1. What was done, is absolutely unacceptable and illegal. I think
the law enforcement agencies should be consistent in this issue and
call for responsibility the persons who recorded and disseminated
the conversation.

2. People who organized the tapping and disseminated it, ignore the
state image and authority of Armenia.

3. It’s obvious that some mix the protection of interest of the state
with protection of interests of the current authorities”.

From: A. Papazian

PRO-ARMENIAN ROBERT MENENDEZ MAY BE ELECTED AS CHAIRMAN OF U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

APA, Azerbaijan
Dec 17 2012

Baku. Victoria Dementyev-APA. If John Kerry is elected as the new
Secretary of State, pro-Armenian Senator Robert Menendez may be elected
as the chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the
source at the committee told “RIA Novosti” news agency, APA reports.

The source said that if the chairman-in-office is elected the
Secretary of State, Robert Menendez will be the real candidate for
the vacant post.

Note that, 59-year old Pro-Armenian Menendez actively supports the
draft legislation on the imposition of sanctions against Iran. He is
one of the senators who opposed to the appointment of Matthew Bryza
as an ambassador to Azerbaijan.

From: A. Papazian

ATP GREENS ANOTHER 75 COMMUNITIES

December 17, 2012

YEREVAN–During the winter of 1992 while visiting Armenia,
philanthropist Carolyn Mugar saw that thousands of trees were being
cut for fuel, and families desperate to heat their homes were even
burning their own furniture to stay warm. She committed to preventing
further deforestation by founding Armenia Tree Project (ATP) in 1994.

Nurseries were established in Karin and Khachpar villages, and the
Community Tree Planting (CTP) program emerged to plant high quality
fruit and decorative trees at urban and rural sites throughout the
country.

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ATP’s CTP program planted another 28,383 trees at 75 sites throughout
Armenia and Artsakh this fall. Students are pictured here planting
trees at Yerevan School No. 190 on Nov. 14.

This fall, ATP’s CTP program planted another 28,383 trees at 75 sites
throughout Armenia and Artsakh. “ATP’s SEEDS (or Social, Economic,
and Environmental Development for Sustainability) program is wrapping
up its reforestation programs in northern Armenia, so the total
number of trees planted by ATP will be even higher by end of year,”
explained CTP Program Manager Arthur Harutyunyan.

“It’s remarkable to think that since 1994, ATP’s programs have reached
327 cities, towns, and villages out of a total of 915 in the entire
country. In all of these places, we have greened 931 sites,” noted
Harutyunyan. “Of course we hope that, through the ongoing commitment of
our supporters in the diaspora and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, that we will eventually reach every city and village.”

ATP uses a stringent site selection process in order to ensure
the highest possible survival rate for these trees, which averages
nearly 80 percent at CTP sites. “When a community requests trees, we
visit the site and inspect the soil conditions and the availability
of irrigation water,” explained Harutyunyan. “More importantly, we
determine the level of interest and commitment of the local community
to the trees. This provides an indicator for the care that these
trees will receive.”

Several high-profile plantings were completed this fall in partnership
with Synopsys Armenia, HSBC Bank, and the US Peace Corps. ATP has been
planting trees with HSBC Bank Armenia since 2007, and the company
recently sponsored the planting of another 124 trees in the Vahakni
District of Yerevan.

As part of a Synopsys program to plant “one tree for each employee,”
hundreds of employees joined their families to plant 1,000 evergreens
at the State Engineering University and the Synopsys Armenia Education
Department grounds in Yerevan.

“Since Synopsys first established a presence in Armenia in 2004, it has
strived to be a good corporate citizen here. We have contributed to
the progress of Armenian society by helping to improve the country’s
educational system and by implementing other assistance programs. The
planting of these trees is particularly significant, because their
growth symbolizes our sustained investment in Armenia,” said Synopsys
Armenia CEO Rich Goldman.

Another notable event was a series of plantings dedicated to the 20th
anniversary of the U.S. Peace Corps in Armenia. ATP donated 40 trees
for planting in the communities of Argel and Karashamb. “Twenty trees
were provided for each location to mark the Peace Corps milestone,”
Harutyunyan said. “The trees were planted at the school in Argel and at
Karashamb Community Center by schoolchildren, Peace Corps volunteers,
and the local community. Another volunteer requested trees for the
school in Nshavan Village, so we provided another 40 ash trees to
celebrate this special occasion.”

ATP’s mission is to assist the Armenian people in using trees
to improve their standard of living and protect the environment,
guided by the desire to promote self-sufficiency, aid those with the
fewest resources first, and conserve the indigenous ecosystem. ATP’s
three major programs are tree planting, environmental education,
and sustainable development initiatives. For more information, visit
the web site

From: A. Papazian

2 ARMENIANS BOXERS REACH U23 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS FINALS

European Olympic Hopes 19-22 Boxing Championships 2012 are ongoing
in Russia, with Armenia’s Koryun Soghomonyan (49 kg) beating Russia’s
Vasiliy Egorov 15:12 to make it to the finals.

Aram Avagyan (56 kg) scored an 18:15 win against Azerbaijan’s Javid
Chalabiyev to vie for a gold medal.

Narek Abgaryan (52 kg) will face off against Russia’s Vasiliy Vetkin
on Dec 17 evening.

From: A. Papazian

BURBANK TEACHERS ENDORSE ARMOND AGHAKHANIAN

Monday, December 17th, 2012 | Posted by Contributor

Armond Aghakhanian

BURBANK-The Burbank Teachers Association has endorsed Armond
Aghakhanian for Burbank School Board in the upcoming 2013 Election.

“As a new parent and a university professor, Armond can see the
perspective of all parents in the community and has a vested interest
in the quality of education that we provide for our students,” said
Lori Adams, President of the Burbank Teachers Association.

“Armond brings many new ideas to the table as well as the perspective
of newcomers to our community and various political representatives.”

Adams continued. “We look forward to working with Armond on many new
projects that will enhance our curriculum as well as the finances of
the District in the future.”

Armond Aghakhanian is a professor at Burbank’s Woodbury University.

For the past five years he has taught courses in business, management,
organizational leadership and government. Armond also serves the
community on the Burbank and Greater East Valley Boys and Girls Club
Board of Directors, the City of Burbank’s Community Development Goals
Committee and as a member of Burbank Noon Kiwanis Club. In 2010 Armond
was honored with “President’s Volunteer Service” Award.

“I am honored to have the support of Burbank’s classroom teachers
in this election,” said Armond. “I know that working together we can
meet the challenges facing our school district and ensure that every
child who attends Burbank’s schools receives the education they need
to obtain the skills they need to pursue their dreams and succeed
in life.”

Armond earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from
California State University Northridge and a Master’s of Business
Administration from Burbank’s Woodbury University. He is currently
a Doctoral candidate at Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of
Education and Psychology.

Armond Aghakhanian and his wife, Dr. Gayane Gasamanyan are residents
of Burbank. They just celebrated their son’s first birthday.

Visit armond2013.com for more information.

From: A. Papazian

UN SYSTEME DE COMMANDE MODERNE INTRODUIT POUR LES CHEMINS DE FER ARMENIENS
Stephane

armenews.com
mardi 18 decembre 2012

Pour la première fois un système de commande moderne des stations
de chemin de fer a ete introduit en Armenie a annonce le service de
presse de la compagnie des Chemins de fer du Sud Caucase.

Le système est installe dans la station de Spitak, mais permettra de
gerer des operations dans plusieurs stations immediatement.

Actuellement, seules les stations de Spitak et Archut sont connectees
au nouveau système de commande, avec les stations d’Haghpat et
d’Akhtala attendu pour les rejoindre vers le 20 decembre. La
surveillance generale doit etre effectuee de Spitak.

Dans l’ensemble, le nouveau système aidera considerablement a ameliorer
la securite du trafic, empecher des risques aux cheminots et elever
l’efficacite du contrôle du trafic.

mardi 18 decembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

France 24
dec 16 2012

Abraham defends world title with technical knock-out

AFP – World super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham defended his
WBO belt on Saturday with an eighth round technical knock-out win over
France’s Mehdi Bouadla in Nuremberg.

Abraham, 32, defended his World Boxing Organisation belt for the first
time since his unanimous victory over compatriot Robert Stieglitz in
August which crowned him world champion for the second time.

The win over Bouadla was the 36th of his career and the 28th knock-out
in his 39th fight as the bout was stopped after two minutes 11 seconds
of the eighth round by referee Mark Nelson.

“I am really pleased to have fought in Nuremberg, I started my career
here,” said Abraham.

“You can’t have a better feeling than to fight here in front of 10,000
fans. He fought hard until the end.”

Having previously defended his IBF middleweight title 10 times between
2005 and 2009, Abraham had few problems against the 30-year-old
Frenchman.

“Abraham was as strong as I expected, he deserves to be champion,” said Bouadla.

This was his fifth defeat in 30 professional fights against 26 wins,
11 by knock-out.

The champion opened by putting together some good combinations in the
first two rounds.

After catching Boudla with a strong right in the fourth, Abraham
finished the round by pinning the challenger to the ropes and the
Frenchman was left with a bloody nose.

Berlin-based Abraham kept up the pressure and landed several
right-left combinations towards the end of the fifth.

Abraham dropped the tempo in the sixth round and Bouadla made a bright
start to the seventh round, but Abraham launched a fierce assault with
90 seconds left, landing a huge right hand.

The referee called the ring doctor to look at a cut over the
Frenchman’s right eye at the end of the round, but Bouadla was allowed
to box on.

But with blood streaming down his face, Abraham rocked him repeatedly
with a rain of blows before Nelson stepped in towards the end of the
eighth round to stop the fight.

From: A. Papazian

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Dec 14 2012

Prosecutor’s office says probe into Ã-zal’s death to continue

14 December 2012 / EMRULLAH BAYRAK, ANKARA

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, which is investigating
the suspicious 1993 death of former President Turgut Ã-zal, has
announced that its investigation will continue, dismissing worries
that the case into the death of the former president will be dropped
soon due to the statute of limitations.

`As the Council of Forensic Medicine [ATK] stated [in its recent
autopsy report], an immediate autopsy had not been carried out on the
body of the late president [following his death] and samples of tissue
and blood had not been taken from him either. Therefore, the exact
cause of Ã-zal’s death has not been determined,’ the office announced
on Thursday, adding that the ongoing investigation would continue in
light of findings in the ATK report and other pieces of evidence so
that the mystery surrounding the exact cause of Ã-zal’s death will be
cleared up.

According to official records, Ã-zal died of heart failure in 1993 at
the age of 65. However, the real cause of Ã-zal’s death is a matter of
contention. There have long been rumors that Ã-zal did not die of
natural causes but was poisoned. His remains were exhumed in October
as part of an investigation into his death and a series of toxicology
tests were performed on his internal organs and tissues. A recent
autopsy report, drafted by the ATK, was submitted to the Ankara Chief
Public Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday.

The office shared details from the report with the press on Thursday.
According to the autopsy report, there were no clinical and laboratory
findings that suggested that Ã-zal had been poisoned or that
radioactive material was present in his body.

The level of heavy metals, including cadmium, found in the autopsy
samples are in line with the tissue levels of the normal population,
as well as with the postmortem tissue level, the prosecutor’s office
said, noting that the late president did not die from exposure to
heavy metals.

However, previous media reports said Ã-zal’s body had traces of
insecticides, pesticides and radioactive elements. The ATK discovered
dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), which is commonly used as an
insecticide and was banned in Turkey in 1980, and
dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), a DDT breakdown product that
causes serious damage to the liver after being absorbed by the body,
in the former president’s remains. Ã-zal’s remains also contained
americium and polonium. Forensic experts said the former president’s
body was weakened by these two radioactive chemical elements in the
long run, and with the use of DDT his death was accelerated. The
speculation is that the DDT might have entered Ã-zal’s body through
food or drink.

The case into Ã-zal’s death faces the risk of being dropped due to the
statute of limitations expiring on April 17, 2013 — on the 20th
anniversary of the former president’s death — if the prosecutor
investigating the death does not file an indictment by then.

The autopsy report continues to draw strong reactions from various
circles which find Ã-zal’s death suspicious.

Halil Å?ıvgın, who served as minister of health in the Ã-zal-led
government, said the ATK report was supposed to clear the shroud of
mist surrounding the suspicious death, but on the contrary, it has
confused people. `The death of Ã-zal should not be covered up. It
should be illuminated for the future of Turkey,’ he said.

According to Ä°dris Baluken, the parliamentary group deputy chairman of
the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), suspicions are
stronger than ever that Ã-zal was poisoned to death. `We believe that
Ã-zal was killed due to his political courage to solve the country’s
problems,’ he noted.

There have long been rumors that Ã-zal was murdered by members of the
`deep state’ — a shadowy group within the Turkish establishment of
the day. Ã-zal, known for his reformist policies that paved the way for
a more democratic and liberal Turkey, was working to solve the
long-standing Kurdish and Armenian issues at the time he passed away.
The late president had reportedly angered his enemies in the deep
state with his efforts to end the two issues and his moves to create a
Turkic union with Central Asian states.

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Mersin deputy Ali Ã-z said samples of
tissue taken from Ã-zal’s remains may be sent to laboratories in other
countries for new toxicology testing because the ATK’s autopsy report
did not satisfy people’s conscience. `The ATK uses contradictory
statements in its report. The autopsy report has failed to clear up
the question marks over Ã-zal’s death,’ he stated.

;jsessionid=9026CC50826A21FE56BA068398A3B18B?newsId=301151&columnistId=0

From: A. Papazian

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
Dec 14 2012

Armenia is determined to continue large-scale reforms, Edward Nalbandian says

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said
that Armenia is determined to continue implementing large-scale
reforms meeting European standards.

Nalbandian said this during his meeting with the Foreign Ministers of
Poland, Sweden and Bulgaria Radoslaw Sikorski, Carl Bildt and Nikolai
Mladenov, Mediamax was informed in the press service of the Armenian
Foreign Ministry.

The Minister attached importance to the cooperation within the Eastern
Partnership initiative.

It was registered during the meeting that there is rather good
progress in a number of areas of Armenia-EU cooperation and the
intention to deepen and develop the cooperation within the Eastern
Partnership was reiterated.

The sides pointed out the importance of making joint efforts to
complete the negotiations on Armenia-EU Association Agreement
including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement till the
Eastern Partnership Summit due to be held in Vilnius in November 2013.

“We completed the negotiations on visa regime facilitation and we’ll
sign the relevant agreement in a few days. It’ll give Armenian youth,
students, artists, businessmen, sportsmen and representatives of other
spheres a good opportunity to enter European Union countries more
easily”, noted the Armenian Foreign Minister.

From: A. Papazian

ITAR-TASS, Russia
December 15, 2012 Saturday 07:04 PM GMT+4

Armenian President Sargsyan to run for re-election

YEREVAN December 15

The Republican Party of Armenia has nominated its chairman and
incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan as its candidate in the upcoming
presidential elections scheduled for February 18, 2013.

The decision was made at the party’s 14th Congress on Saturday, December 15.

Sargsyan has been the president of Armenia since 2008.

The congress delegates voted unanimously for his nomination. In his
remarks at the congress, Sargsyan expressed “confidence that together
we can garner the support of our people and continue to bear
responsibility for the development of Armenia in the next five years”.

From: A. Papazian