Author: Antonian Lara

ARTHUR ABRAHAM SAYS HE MADE ORAL’S COACH TO STOP RING

Panorama.am
17:46 22/07/2009

Undefeated IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham usually arrives
in Armenia after his every match to meet his family members, relatives
and friends.

After his victory over Turkish boxer Makhir Oral, Abraham held
negotiations with "Showtime" TV station to participate in the
tournament organized by them and only after that arrived in
Yerevan. The news conference was scheduled just in the airport but
because of tragic crash of Tehran-Yerevan aircraft it was postponed
and conducted only today in "Armenia Marriott" hotel.

"I wished so much to meet Armenian mass media representatives and
to share my feelings with you, as the match with Turkish Oral was
significant for me psychologically," Arthur Abraham said.

Arthur Abraham had undisputable privilege over the Turkish
boxer. Several times the rival got knockdown but it seemed Abraham
did not want to defeat his rival completely.

"Generally I want to defeat my rival just in the ring. When I do have
such chance I use it without waiting for another one. Oral is a strong
one, he did not want to be defeated. When his coach threw the towel in
the ring I showed it to him to say that it was useless to continue as
it could danger his health. I am not underestimating anybody. I made
my rival’s coaches to understand that they should stop the ring, as
I am in good relations with his coaches and I have trained with Oral
several years ago. I did not want to put his health under threat,"
Abraham said.

NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA HANDS HIS CREDENTIALS TO ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN

ARMENPRESS
July 21, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS: Today the newly appointed Ambassador of
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Armenia Ugo Jose Garcia Hernandes
(residence in Moscow) handed his credentials to the Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan.

Armenian presidential press office told Armenpress that congratulating
the diplomat on the occasion of taking the office Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan expressed hope that during his mission the Ambassador
will have his important contribution to the development of relations
of the two countries.

During the conversation following the ceremony of delivering
credentials, issues on the cooperation opportunities in different
spheres between Armenia and Venezuela and on the extension of the
required legal-agreement field have been discussed. A great importance
has been attached to the activation of bilateral cooperation within
the frames of international institutions.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan welcomed the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide by the Venezuelan Parliament 4 years ago.

TWO YOUNG AUSTRALIAN ARMENIANS AMONG VICTIMS OF TU-154 PLANE CRASH

Noyan Tapan
July 22, 2009

SYDNEY, JULY 22, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Two young citizens
of Australia, brother and sister Arin and Ani Apcarians were among
the victims of TU-154 plane crash flying from Tehran to Yerevan.

Arin, who was the elder, was a medical student at Westmead Hospital,
and Ani was studying child care and at the same time gaining volunteer
experience in that field at the Hamazkaine Toumanian Saturday School.

The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) joins
the Armenian community worldwide in honoring and remembering the
168 victims of the air disaster and joining the Armenian-Australian
community, which mourns especially over the loss of two young persons.

A memorial service for Arin and Ani Apcarian will be held at the
Armenian Apostolic Church of Holy Resurrection on 22 July evening.

PROCESS OF ACQUIRING ARMENIAN CITIZENSHIP GATHERS MOMENTUM

Noyan Tapan
July 21, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. 2,420 persons
acquired citizenship of the Republic of Armenia in the first half
of 2009, which was more than in the period from 1997 to 2007, Head
of the Passport and Visa Department of RA Police, Lieutenant Colonel
Norayr Muradkhanian announced.

He explained that the process of granting RA citizenship began in 1997
when the by-laws ensuring the application of the Law on Citizenship of
the Republic of Armenia (passed in 1995) took force. 1,735 citizens
received RA citizenship in 1997-2007. It was mentioned that in the
indicated period the institution of dual citizenship was not valid,
and those receiving RA citizenship were obliged to give up their
citizenship of the other country.

N. Muradkhanian added that dual citizenship was permitted after
the amendments to the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Armenia
were adopted in February 2007, while in November 2007 the Armenian
government approved a decision regulating the process of acquiring RA
citizenship. 1,554 persons received RA citizenship, including status
of dual citizen, in 2008.

N. Muradkhanian said that citizens of 23 countries, including 177 from
Russia, 34 from Uzbekistan, 21 from Turkmenistan, 38 from Iraq, 42
from Iran, 16 from the U.S, and 23 from Syria received RA citizenship
in recent years.

In 2007 there were no cases when an application for receiving RA
citizenship was rejected. 10 applications were rejected in 2008,
9 applications were rejected in the first half of 2009.

According to Head of the Department for Pardon, Citizenship, Awards
and Titles of the RA Presidential Staff Jemma Hakobian, decisions
on granting stay permits to 40-60 persons are now taken twice a
week. Decisions on granting RA citizenship to up to 600 persons are
taken twice a month.

ARMROSGASPROM: CONSUMPTION IN ARMENIA FALLS 4.2% TO 344.6 MILLION CUBIC METERS IN 2009

/ARKA/
July 17, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, July 17. /ARKA/. Gas consumption in Armenia fell 4.2% to
344.6 million cubic meters in 2009, ArmRosgasprom company reports.

Industrial companies consumed 116.8 million cubic meters in 2009 –
37.2% greater than their gas consumption a year earlier.

Energy sector’s gas consumption reduced 26.7% to 157.4 million
cubic meters.

According to ArmRosgasprom’s report, Armenia has received 938.8 cubic
meters of natural gas over six months of this year – 14.8% less than
the 2008 volumes.

At the fist half of 2009, 867.7 million cubic meters of gas were
utilized – 14% less than at the same period of the previous year.

ArmRosgasprom enjoys the sole right to import and distribute Russian
natural gas in Armenia.

The gas comes through Georgia’s territory.

ArmRosgasprom was established in 1997.

Russian Gasprom holds 80% of the company’s stocks.

The remaining 20% belong to Armenian Government.

MEETING IN THE INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL STRATEGIC STUDIES

p;p=0&id=918&y=2009&m=07&d=21
17.0 7.09

On the 17th of July, 2009 the delegation, which takes part in the
USA-Armenia Security Cooperation Planning Council, visited the RA
Ministry of Defence’s Institute for National Strategic Studies after
D. Kanayan.

In the delegation were the representatives of the Office of the US
Secretary of Defense, Defence Security Cooperation Agency, United
States European Command, United States Naval Forces Europe, US Air
Forces Command in Europe, Kansas Army National Guard.

The delegation was received by the chief of the INSS, counselor of
the Minister of Defence, Doctor of Political Sciences, Major-General
Hayk Kotanjyan. During the meeting Dr. Kotanjyan briefly but thoroughly
presented the whole process of the elaboration of the first RA national
security strategy, as well as the process of foundation and development
of the RA MoD Institute for National Strategic Studies, accompanied
with a slideshow. He thoroughly presented the structure of the INSS,
scientific activities and the prospects of development.

Major-General Hayk Kotanjyan highly appreciated the helpful and
active participation of the American colleagues in the process of
coordination of the interdepartmental elaboration of the RA national
security strategy. He also found it important that the guests were
ready to promote the cooperation with the INSS.

South Caucasus Railway intends to increase growth of long-distance
passenger flow by 18%

2009-07-18 16:01:00

ArmInfo. South Caucasus Railway (SCR) intends to ensure growth of
long-distance passenger flow at least at the level of 2008 – no less
than 18%, SCR Director General Shevket Shaydullin told journalists.

He pointed out that SCR is maximally trying to increase passenger
operations as this is the expenditure from proceeds and ticket sales.
"The measures taken allowed increasing the passenger turnover by 36% in
Jan-June 2009 as compared with the same period of 2008",- Shaydullin
stressed. He added that SCR is going to provide full complex services
with due regard for the price, quality, serving various categories of
population.

SCR CJSC is the 100% branch of Russian Railway OJSC. SCR is the
concessional manager of Armenian Railway CJSC. The term of the
concessional agreement is 30 years, and it may be prolonged for 10
more years.

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE VISITS DNEPROPETROVSK REGION

Noyan Tapan
July 17, 2009

KIEV, JULY 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenian Ambassador to
the Ukraine Armen Khachatrian visited the Dnepropetrovsk region in
the Ukraine on July 13-14 on the occasion of the events taken place
in the region’s Marganets city. To recap, at the beginning of July
in an argument on domestic ground an Armenian who is a resident of
Marganets struck a deadly blow with a knife to an Ukrainian police
officer, after which some anti-Armenian activities and a brawl started.

According to the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the
visit Ambassador Khachatrian had meetings with the authorities of
Dnepropetrovsk region and the city of Marganets, some representatives
of the legal bodies, and discussed issues regarding the inquest of
the case.

The authorities of the region and the city told RA Ambassador that
the accident happened on domestic ground and it was qualified as
a hooliganism.

According to the local authorities, the situation now has been calmed
down and is under the full control of the legal bodies.

The authorities of the region mentioned that the Armenian community
of the region is a model one and the Armenians enjoy the respect and
sympathy of the region’s authorities. RA Ambassador expressed his
gratitude for the steps taken by the authorities of the region and
city and for taking the situation under control to avoid the further
undesirable developments.

During the visit Armen Khachatrian had a meeting with representatives
of Armenian community of the city of Marganets and discussed the
situation of the city.

The RA Ambassador convened a press conference on the results of the
visit and during it presented the goal of his visit, meetings taken
place there, issues which were discussed and answered the numerous
questions of local reporters.

OSCE HEAD DENIES PRESSURE ON AZERBAIJAN AHEAD OF KARABAKH TALKS IN MOSCOW

ANS TV
July 17 2009
Azerbaijan

[President] OSCE Secretary-General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut,
who is paying an official visit to Azerbaijan, met President Ilham
Aliyev today. At the meeting, they discussed the current state and
prospects of the negotiations held within the framework of the OSCE
Minsk Group on a peaceful solution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict
over Nagornyy Karabakh.

Marc Perrin de Brichambaut has explained his visit to Baku on the
eve of a meeting of the presidents of the two countries over the
settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict [in Moscow on 17 July]
while he did not go to Yerevan as follows:

[Brichambaut, speaking in English with overlaid translation
into Azerbaijani] I have been visiting countries of the region at
different moments. The main goal of my visits has always been to boost
relationship and cooperation between OSCE missions and state agencies
in those countries. My visit was scheduled two months ago. The fact
that this visit is happening at the time of the next meeting on the
settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict is a coincidence.

The OSCE does not put pressure on its member countries. It establishes
cooperation with member states in order to build stability.

MADRID PRINCIPLES HALVED AND OBSCURE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.07.2009 17:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Trilateral statement by the leaders of OSCE MG
co-chair states, promulgation of Madrid Principles and agreement
on Nabucco signed in Ankara suggests that the decision on stepwise
political resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict was taken by
key regional actors and that the role of Armenia and Azerbaijan in
the process considerably decreased, an Armenian expert said.

"Nevertheless, Madrid Principles are halved and obscure. The first
provision envisages return of territories around Karabakh to Azeri
control. Does it mean that Azerbaijan will be granted the right to
deploy troops there? The provision on corridor is not understandable
either. Provision 4 does not clarify who will determine the status
of Nagorno Karabakh: one person or NKR people. The provisions on
peacekeeping forces and refugees are vague," Ruben Meghrabyan, an
expert at Armenian center of international and political studies,
told PanARMENIAN.Net.

This document may imply any solution: from formation of de jure
independent state up to de-Armenization of Karabakh, according to him.

"Armenia must be creative, cautious and cold-blooded. Upcoming
political battles will be a solidity test for the Armenian state
system, since the above mentioned provisions testify of fundamental
regional transformations," Meghrabyan said.