Author: Antonian Lara

‘VIVACELL-MTS’ AND FPWC CREATE PEACE PARK IN FRONT OF ST. GRIGOR LUSAVORICH CHURCH

ArmInfo
2009-05-04 10:32:00

On May 2nd, 12:00 o’clock a big tree planting event took place near
St. Grigor Lusavorich Church, which symbolized the creation of the
Peace Park.

>From April 15th to May 2nd the Foundation for the Preservation of
Wildlife and Cultural Assets in the Republic of Armenia with the
support of VivaCell-MTS organized a series of environmental events
dedicated to the Earth Day.

In the framework of the Green Generation campaign tree planting and
garbage collecting events, children nature painting exhibitions
were implemented in different marzes of Armenia. The peak point
of the first series of events was the big Earth Day celebration in
Yerevan. Members of Government, Armenian Apostolic Church, Yerevan
Municipality and representatives of foreign missions in Armenia
(Head of OSCE Yerevan office Sergey Kapinos, Ambassadors of U.S.,
Germany, Poland and Great Britain to Armenia, UN RC / UNDP RR Consuelo
Vidal) and all those who’d like to join Armenia’s Green Generation
participated in the Yerevan event.

Protection and maintenance of natural environment in Armenia is one of
the causes to which VivaCell-MTS is committed as a corporate citizen.

Implementation of environmental awareness campaigns aimed at
behavior change is considered to be one of the most effective means
of environmental protection. This is the reason why VivaCell- MTS is
sponsoring and providing ongoing support to the environmental events
of national magnitude organized by FPWC.

AssA-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 30, 2009 Thursday

NEARLY 60% OF ABLE-BODIED ARMENIANS UNEMPLOYED – REPORT

58% of able-bodied population in Armenia is unemployed. As of April 1,
the number of jobless citizens has increased by 99,000 and 20.7% of
them are youths, according to the Kavkazskiy Uzel (Caucasus Joint)
website. Artak Simonian, deputy head of Armenias employment service,
has said unemployment is a pressing problem particularly in the South
Caucasus republics regions. The number of job-seekers in the country
has risen 10% in comparison with 2008. According to World Bank
estimates, 172,000 more people will be left without jobs in the
country of 3.5 million in 2009 and 2010. The number of poor people
will total 906,000. The WBs report also says that the Armenian
governments efforts to reduce poverty are inefficient.

Russian guards take up duties on Abkhaz, S. Ossetia borders

19:22 | 02/ 05/ 2009

ROSTOV-ON-DON, May 2 (RIA Novosti) – Russian border guards have started
their duties as part of a joint border-protection agreement concluded
between Russia and two former Georgian republics, a border service
spokesperson said on Saturday.

The border deals, which Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed with
the two republics at a ceremony in the Kremlin on Thursday, have been
condemned by NATO for being a "clear contravention" of a
French-brokered cease fire agreement.

"Border guard units…have started their duties on protecting the
borders in Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Sergei Livantsov said without
giving details of how many personnel were involved in the operations.

Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states
after a brief war with Georgia.

The border agreement comes at a time of heightened tensions between
Moscow and the military alliance, following planned NATO exercises in
Georgia due to start later in the week and the expulsion of two Russian
NATO envoys over spying claims.

The NATO exercises have been slammed by Russia despite reassurances
that they will not involve light or heavy weaponry. Some 19 NATO
countries and 1,300 troops are expected to participate, although
Serbia, Moldova and Kazakhstan have withdrawn.

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said earlier, "NATO’s plans to hold
exercises in Georgia…are an open provocation. Exercises must not be
held there where a war has been fought," and warned that the exercises
could have negative consequences for those who made the decision to
hold them.

NATO announced the expulsion of the two Russian diplomats, one of whom
is the son of Russia’s EU envoy Vladimir Chizhov, on Thursday. The move
follows a spy scandal involving an Estonian official, Herman Simm, who
was jailed for 12 years for handing over secret documents to Russian
intelligence operatives.

Russia’s foreign ministry called the move "scandalous" and added
"Naturally, we will draw our own conclusions about this provocation."

According to Nesterenko, the new borders agreements, "are designed to
strengthen security and stability in the region, and do not interfere
with the current search for acceptable formats of international
presence [in the region]."

Under the agreements, Russia will guard the Abkhaz and South Ossetian
borders, including maritime frontiers, until both republics form their
own border guard services. The agreements, for an initial five years,
can be renewed upon their expiration.

TIGRAN TAKES LEAD IN DUBAI OPEN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Khaleej Times
May 1 2009
UAE

DUBAI – Grandmaster Kotanjian Tigran of Armenia won against GM
Milanovic Danilo and became the sole leader with four points after
the fourth round of Dubai Open Chess Championship held at Dubai Chess
and Culture Club.

Nine players — GM Hossain Enamul of Bangladesh, GM Maletin Pavel
of Russia, GM Guseinov Gadir of Azerbaijan, GM Malakhatko Vadim of
Belgium, GM Jankovic Alojzije of Croatia, GM Pantsulaia Levan of
Georgia, GM Bachmann Axel of Paraguay, GM Arun Prasad S and Grover
Sahaj of India — shared the second spot with 3.5 points.

Results of Round 4: Milanovic Danilo (3) lost to Kotanjian Tigran
(4); Hossain Enamul (3.5) drew with Maletin Pavel (3.5); Gasanov
Eldar (2.5) lost to Guseinov Gadir (3.5); Malakhatko Vadim (3.5) bt
Brkic Ante (2.5); Arutinian David (3) drew with Ghaem Maghami Ehsan
(3); Mchedlishvili Mikheil (2.5) lost to Jankovic Alojzije (3.5);
Pantsulaia Levan (3.5) bt El Taher Fouad (2.5); Grover Sahaj (3.5) bt
Perunovic Milos (2.5); Miezis Normunds (3) drew with Ibrahimov Rasul
(3); Bachmann Axel (3.5) bt Ashwin Jayaram (2.5); Arun Prasad S (3.5)
bt Turova Irina (2.5); Laxman R R (3) drew with Neverov Valeriy (3);
Fedorov Alexei (3) bt Abdulov Orkhan (2.5); Aleksandrov Aleksej (3) bt
Lejlic Samir (2); Bocharov Dmitry (3) bt Zozulia Anna (2); Al Qudaimi
Basheer (2.5) drew with Safarli Eltaj (2.5); Gagunashvili Merab (3)
bt Mamedjarova Zeinab (2); Priyadharshan K (2) lost to Kotsur Pavel
(3); Girinath P D S (2.5) drew with Turov Maxim (2.5).

FOREIGN MINISTER RESPONSES TO PARLIAMENTARIANS’ QUESTIONS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
28.04.2009 22:57 GMT+04:00

Speaker of the RA National Assembly, Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan held a
meeting with Foreign Affair Minister Edward Nalbandian, heads of
standing committees and representatives of parliamentary factions,
RA NA External Relations Department reported.

The Speaker said that many questions of parliamentarians on recent
developments of Armenian-Turkish relations caused the necessity of
this meeting with FA Minster.

Mr. Nalbandian presented the details of the ongoing normalization
process and answered the parliamentarians’ questions.

ARNO BABABAJANYAN 8TH YOUNG PIANISTS CONTEST LAUNCHED IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.04.2009 17:16 GMT+04:00

8th Young Pianists contest launched in Armenia, under of RA Ministry
of Culture and Arno Bababajanyan International Fund aegis.

The contest aims at discovering talented young pianists, assisting
them in their studies and future career; helps prepare young musicians
for participation in international festivals.

In 2009 the contest hosted 67 young pianists from Armenia and NKR,
featuring 2 age categories: "under 12" and "13 to15", RA Ministry
of Culture PR Department Head Gayane Dugaryan told a PanARMENIAN.NET
reporter.

The awards ceremony on the closing evening will be held on Apr. 30
in Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall. Young Pianists contest has been held
once in 3 years, since 1986.

Interfax, Russia
April 24 2009

Genocide recognition not a pre-condition for stabilization – Sargsian

YEREVAN April 24

The process of international recognition of the Armenian genocide is
not aimed at the Turkish people, Armenian President Serzh Sargsian
said in his message on the occasion of the day of commemorating the
victims of the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

"We have repeatedly stated that the process of international
recognition of the Armenian genocide is not aimed against the Turkish
people. The recognition by Turkey of the Armenian genocide is not a
pre- condition for restoring our bilateral relations," the president
said.

On April 24 Armenian is mourning the victims of the 1915 genocide of
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. According to some estimates, over 1.5
million Armenians were killed in the Ottoman Empire in 1915. The
genocide was recognized by a number of countries but is denied by
Turkey.

Last Thursday the Armenian and Turkish ministers held a meeting
mediated by Switzerland, following which they made a joint statement
on stabilizing the relations between Yerevan and Ankara and on the
approval of a "road map." kk

Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City)
April 25, 2009 Saturday

Armenians march for recognition of genocide

Wendy Leonard Deseret News

Nearly every one of the estimated 5,000 Armenians living in Utah has
some link to what they believe was the first genocidal incident of the
20th century. Dozens marched at Utah’s federal building Friday, urging
awareness of their ancestral deaths and seeking some form of official
recognition from governments locally and around the world. "It’s
insulting to hear that my ancestors were rebels and terrorists," said
Zaven A. Sargsian, president of the Armenian Hyrenik Youth
Organization in Utah.

The University of Utah student said he’s long fought the push by
Turkish nationals to reframe the killing and deportation of more than
1.5 million Armenian people by the Turkish government. A current
resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives would recognize the
incident as genocide, instead of the civil casualty case that many are
calling it. "It’s inappropriate," Sargsian said. "You have to call it
what it is." As the record stands, during the night of April 23-24,
1915, Armenian political, religious, educational and intellectual
leaders in Istanbul ? the "cream of the crop," as Salt Lake City
resident Raffi Shahinian calls them ? were arrested, deported to the
interior and put to death. Soon after, Armenians remaining in Turkey
were deported and for years since then, the land-locked country has
been blockaded by Turkish officials. "As American-Armenians, this is a
moral issue, not a political one," Shahinian said.

"Our ancestors, grandparents and future generations will not forget
about how we suffered and it is time for the Turkish government to
confront its own historical responsibility." The Salt Lake
commemoration is held every year at this time and is dedicated to the
remembrance of those who lost their lives, as well as a demonstration
against the ongoing denial by the Turkish government and an appeal to
the U.S. federal government to recognize the events rightfully as
genocide. "It’s a part of history that is just not represented," said
Agnesa Bakhshyan, who is often mistaken for being Hispanic. She says
many of her peers and acquaintances aren’t aware of where Armenia is
located. Some of her family members were killed for keeping a record
of the 1915 incidents, long after the initial nation was
destroyed. "It’s still happening, yet there are states and nations
that don’t accept it even took place," Bakhshyan said. Red, blue and
orange Armenian flags, along with the Stars and Stripes, were carried
by those at the gathering, representing the citizenship they
claim. Others displayed posters demanding recognition for the
killings, claiming that genocide denial is an "official Turkish
government policy." Throughout the weekend, AHYO is sponsoring the
first Armenian film festival in Utah, with films produced in the U.S.,
France, Italy, Russia and Armenia that promote the awareness of
contemporary Armenian issues. Films are being shown from 3 to 10
p.m. Saturday, and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday at the University of
Utah Olpin Union Building theater. ?E-mail: [email protected]

AZERBAIJAN TO RAISE SOME ISSUES ON ARMENIA AT PACE SPRING SESSION

Trend
April 24 2009
Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe (PACE) will raise some issues on the latest developments
of the region and Armenia’s continuing aggressive policy in the
spring session.

"We do not want to divulge the issues to be discussed at the session at
the moment. Usually, when we inform about it, Armenia takes adequate
steps," Member of the Azerbaijani delegation to the PACE Gultakin
Hajibayli told Trend News on April 24.

The PACE spring session will take place in Strasbourg on April
27-30. The session’s agenda does not include any issues about
Azerbaijan.

Hajibayli said only a review report on the Azerbaijan referendum held
on March 18 will be made at the session.

"Under organization’s tradition, important reviews are developed on
the latest developments in the member countries after a previous
session. Azerbaijan held a referendum to amend and change the
Constitution after a winter session. A short report has been
made about the referendum and it will be distributed amongst the
PACE parliamentarians at the spring session," the Azerbaijani
parliamentarian said.

She said the report will not be largely discussed.

COMMEMORATIVE EVENT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS TO TAKE PLACE IN MONTEBELLO

Noyan Tapan
Apr 24, 2009

MONTEBELLO, APRIL 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The principal
event in observance of the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
will take place on Friday, April 24, 2009 at the Armenian Martyrs
Memorial Monument in Montebello, California.

According to the Armenian Genocide United Commemorative Committee,
a solemn Divine Liturgy service will take place before the monument,
immediately followed by a political rally and commemorative observance,
during which a number of public officials representing local, county,
state and federal governments will address the audience. After the
political rally, a requiem service will take place at the monument
under the direction of the clerical leaders of the three Armenian
Christian denominations. During both the Divine Liturgy as well
as the political rally, those in attendance will be able to place
flowers at the monument and pay their respects in memory of our 1.5
million martyrs.