Author: Babajanian Karo

THE 5TH PANARMENIAN GAMES ARE A SUCCESS

Chessbase News
Aug 24, 2011

24.08.2011 – For those not from that corner of the world, the idea
of PanArmenian games may sound strange. The underlying purpose is a
peace effort to reconnect Armenians and Armenians in diaspora with
their country of origin, most notably those living in the independent
but not officially recognized (thus not on official maps) state of
Nagorno-Karabakh. Here is an illustrated report by Liane Aghabekyan.

Two winners from Yerevan

By Liane Liana Aghabekyan

Last week, from August 13th to the 21st, the 5th PanArmenian games were
held in the Armenian capital, Yerevan. More than 3200 athletes from
125 cities in 30 countries, including athletes from Nagorno-Karabakh,
met to compete in ten different sports competitions.

Besides the joy of competition it was to visit a great opportunity
for many participants to see old friends again, from their own home
or the home of their ancestors.

The idea for the PanArmenian games comes from the diplomat Ashot
Meliq-Shahnazaryan and the purpose is to renew the connection of
Armenians in the diaspora with their country of origin. The most
obvious example being the Armenian inhabitants of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, a de facto independent but unrecognized state established
within the borders of Azerbaijan. One reason why you will look for
it in vain on any maps or atlases you may have.

The first games were held in 1999, now they are carried out every four
years. The motto of the 5th PanArmenian games was “sporting unity.” In
a grand opening celebration in Vazgen Sargsyan stadium, the athletes
were greeted by the Prime Minister of Armenia and other officials.

The opening ceremony [photos]

The chess tournament

Although the actual PanArmenian games highlight classic sports such
as basketball, volleyball, football, futsal, tennis, and swimming,
with such a chess manic country it could hardly be without a chess
discipline as well. Since the goal was not to have the numerous GMs
and IMs duking it out, the upper threshold of the participants was
much lower

Final standings with original spelling

Rk Name Rtg Club / City Pts TB1 TB2 1 Apresyan Zohrak 2185 Yerevan
6.0 29.5 31.0 2 Virabyan Gor 2160 New Hadjer 6.0 28.0 30.0 3 Petrosyan
Manuel 2188 Shushi 6.0 26.0 28.0 4 Tigran Gasparyan 2195 Yerevan 5.5
29.5 33.0 5 Rafael Bakunts 2193 Yerevan 5.5 29.5 32.5 6 Ter-Karapetyan
poor 2060 Tbilisi 5.5 27.0 29.0 7 Deruni Perch 2123 Istanbul 5.5 26.0
29.5 8 Diloyan Ara 1873 Gyumri 5.5 25.5 28.0 9 Pluzyan Aram 2143
Vanadzor 5.0 30.5 34.5 10 Ter-Akopian Bagrat 2049 Moscow 5.0 27.5
30.5 11 Free Tavakalyan 1876 Charentsavan 5.0 27.5 30.5 12 Botoyan
Smbat 2216 Armavir 5.0 25.0 26.5 13 Garik Martirosyan 1671 Chambarak
5.0 24.0 26.5 14 Arthur Gharagyozyan 2233 Byureghavan 5.0 23.5 26.0
15 Misha Gasparian 0 Akhalkalaki 5.0 23.5 25.5 16 Spertsyan Kamo 0
Volgograd 5.0 21.5 24.0 17 Dennis Aslangil 0 Istanbul 5.0 19.0 21.0
18 Interviews Michael 2325 Rostov 4.5 31.0 33.0 19 Karen Hovhannisyan
2050 Gyumri 4.5 29.5 32.5 20 Tatevosian Kalust 1772 Ashtarak 4.5 25.5
29.0 21 Karamyan Vartan 2068 Goris 4.5 25.5 28.0 22 Vartan Melkonian
2230 Yerevan 4.5 25.5 27.5 23 Karamyan Levon 2090 Yerevan 4.5 24.5
27.5 24 Search Kamo 1975 Gaban 4.5 23.0 26.0

View photos and standings at

ARMENIA TO HOST ROCK AND JAZZ ROCK MUSIC FESTIVAL

news.am
Aug 24, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Yerevan will host Summer Music Festival-2011 on August
26-28. Bands from Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Georgia, U.S. and
Armenia will participate in the festival, the organizer of the
festival, head of Vibrografus Company Vardan Grigoryan told the
journalists on Wednesday.

“We want Yerevan to become a city of music. We are specialized in rock
and jazz rock. Thus, groups of these music directions will be invited,”
said the organizer not specifying details of the festival’s budget.

The festival is expected to become annual. The program will most likely
include classic music in the future. Armenia will be represented by
“Dogma”, “Bambir”, “Beautified project”, “VO.X” and other groups.

“ARMENIA MUST RETURN THE TERRITORIES OF AZERBAIJAN”

Toda,Az
Aug 24, 2011
Azerbaijan

Armenia must return territories of Azerbaijan it occupied, and give
up its aggressive policy, said speakers of the conference dedicated
to Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh held at the
Italian Institute of International Affairs.

The event entitled “future of negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh”
brought together a number of professors, including head of the
institute Ettore Greco and deputy director Nathalie Tocci and others.

The speakers stressed the fact that the aggressive policy of Armenia
against Azerbaijan displaced over a million of Azerbaijanis from
their homes.

They condemned Armenia`s shattering ceasefire frequently, and
destroying cultural and historic monuments, which is contrary to
international legal norms and principles.

ARMENIAN MOD VISITED CONTACT LINE BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI TROOPS

news.am
Aug 24, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenian Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan visited one
of military units of Fourth Army Unification of the Armed Forces,
where he got acquainted with the conditions of soldier’s service.

Addressing the servicemen Ohanyan spoke about the reforms being
carried out in the Army, as well as soldier-officer relations, MOD
press service told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“In any difficult situation we succeed thanks to soldiers who bravely
use the full extent of their capabilities. Every commander must
appreciate and respect the courage of his subordinate,” said Ohanyan.

Afterwards, the MOD visited the contact line between Armenian and
Azerbaijani armed forces, spoke with soldiers protecting the border
and got acquainted with the conditions of service.

YERKIR: YEREVAN MAYOR ORDERS TO INSTALL VIDEO CAMERAS IN CITY HALL

news.am
Aug 24, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Mayor of Yerevan Karen Karapetyan ordered to install
video cameras in all cabinets of Yerevan Municipality aimed to make
employees’ activities more transparent.

The process of installing video cameras is still in progress, but some
employees complained about new regulations. It is not surprising,
since it is known that many people here are quite far from the city
management. Instead, they are shrewder in carrying out their “plans”
Yerkir newspaper writes.

ARMENIAN MISSION TO UN REPLIES TO AZERBAIJAN’S FALSE DOCUMENT

news.am
Aug 24, 2011
Armenia

Armenia’s representation at UN issued an official letter on August
17 in response to a document circulated by Azerbaijani mission and
addressed to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The letter draws attention to unprecedented number of violations of
ceasefire regime in the line of contact between the armed forced of
Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh. This proves Azerbaijan’s violation
of previous arrangements accepted during the trilateral meeting of
Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani leaders regarding additional efforts
to maintain ceasefire and confidence-building measures.

The letter indicates that Azerbaijan is permanently circulating
letters with false information in the UN, trying to distort reasons
of conflict and carry out anti-Armenian propaganda.

Despite Azerbaijan’s non-constructive stance, Armenia adheres to
peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict based on the principles
of the international law.

TIGRAN SARGSYAN: VOYAGE OF “ARMENIA” SAILING VESSEL EXPANDS GEOGRAPHY OF ARMENIAN WORLD

ARMENPRESS
August 24, 2011
YEREVAN

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received today the crew of
“Armenia” sailing vessel, headed by leader of the expedition Zori
Balayan.

Governmental press service told Armenpress that hosting the guests
in the government building, the Prime Minister congratulated the crew
on successful accomplishment of the voyage.

The Prime Minister noted that he has followed all the rounds of the
navigation. “We are happy that what we planned has been brought to
life: we have had many meetings with representatives of Armenian
Diaspora, visited Armenian historical cultural centers in many
countries. According to the Prime Minister, the crew of “Armenia”
vessel has expanded the geography of the Armenian world with its
voyage, revealing forgotten new corners, where Armenian life and
spirit had been present for many centuries.

The Prime Minister expressed hope that the participants of the voyage
will sum up the results of their voyage by documentary materials. Zori
Balayan told Tigran Sargsyan about the navigation process, the
difficulties they confronted, and achievements. According to him,
the voyage was very important especially in regard to preservation
of Armenian identity in Diaspora, calculation of Armenian cultural
merits throughout the world.

“Armenia” sailing vessel started its round-the-world voyage May 28,
2009, from Valence, Spain. The vessel has crossed 23 countries,
42 thousand miles, which is almost 82 thousand km.

ISSUES ON EXPANSION OF ARMENIAN-CHINESE RELATIONS IN ALL DIRECTIONS DISCUSSED

ARMENPRESS
August 24, 2011
YEREVAN

During today’s meeting in Peking Armenian Vice Prime Minister
Armen Gevorgyan and First Vice Minister of Chinese State Council Li
Ketsyang discussed issues on expansion of bilateral cooperation in
all directions.

Both parties pointed out the positive dynamics of development of
bilateral relations, expressing confidence that thanks to the joint
work they will manage to give a new impetus to Armenian-Chinese
cooperation.

The governments of the two countries have implemented an enormous
work for creating a basis for mutual cooperation and development of
friendly ties. The cooperation of the two countries in international
organizations was highly appraised. The interlocutors also referred to
the recent mutual visits of high-ranking delegations, which contributed
to notable activation of relations.

Expressing gratitude to his counterpart for continuous technical
support of China to Armenia, Armen Gevorgyan said that the ambulances
received at the beginning of summer already serve their purpose,
and Yerevan municipality already waits for implementation of the
program on allocation of passenger buses.

At the meeting the Armenian and Chinese Vice Prime Ministers expressed
readiness to exert efforts in expansion of Armenian-Chinese friendly
relations. Armen Gevorgyan invited his counterpart to Armenia.

CHECKPOINTS ON ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN BORDER TO BE COMPLETELY RECONSTRUCTED

news.am
Aug 25, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Checkpoints Bagratashen, Gogavan-Privolnoye and Bavra on
the Armenian-Georgian state border will be completely reconstructed.

During the Aug. 25 session the Armenian government made a decision
on the establishment of competitive commission for the construction
work, headed by Chairman of Armenian State Revenue Committee Gagik
Khachatryan.

Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan ordered to prepare
regulations for the tender and technical problems in the shortest
possible timeframe.

“We will build modern customs points or complexes, which will include
all services provided by the state,” the premier said.

He also stressed a modern customs office will be constructed in
Armenia’s Meghri city in the near future

TALKS BETWEEN ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION FRUITLESS-EXPERT

news.am
Aug 25, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – The dialogue between the Armenian authorities and
oppositional Armenian National Congress will not produce significant
results, political scientist Suren Zolyan told reporters on Thursday.

According to him, the sides have nothing to negotiate. “The negotiating
parties are aware their positions are quite different and unacceptable
to each other. For this reason they should have had a 5-minute decision
and end the debate,” he noted.

The dialogue between Armenian authorities and ANC started on July 18.

The next round of talks is scheduled for August 26.