Author: Badalian Vardan

RECEPTION IN BEIJING ON THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIA’S INDEPENDENCE

armradio.am
22.09.2011 17:20

The 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence was celebrated in
China. The event was attended by high-ranking officials of China,
heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Beijing, representatives
of business circles and mass media.

Armenia’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China Armen Sargsyan
noted in his opening speech that “the path the Armenian nation has
passed after gaining independence and the experience in the field of
state-building allow the coming generations to build a more powerful
Armenia.

Ambassador Sargsyan referred to the high level of Armenian-Chinese
relations, and stressed the importance of the assistance rendered to
Armenia from the very first day of independence.

SEVAN CAN BE A DISASTER

04:26 pm | Today | Social

NGOs and activists from social internet networks decided to join and
to declare a new S.O.S. Sevan campaign. On 20 September the first and
foremost measures to be taken to save Lake Sevan were discussed at the
Aarhus Center in Yerevan. The situation of the lake was determined as
highly critical. “I can declare we don’t have “lake Sevan” freshwater
reservoir any longer. If somebody wants to drink this water, let them
try and we’ll see what will happen to them,” said Gagik Sukhudyan, who
held the position of “Sevan” National Park Director from 1981 to 1992.

Under him, even in the late 70’s, when logging process in Sevan
acquired threatening nature, such pollution was not observed.

The main threats for the lake are as follows: – change in water
composition, – fish extinction, – lake pollution with garbage, sewage
and industrial wastes, – illegal operation of mining companies –
GeoProMining Gold, Gegamet Plus, Mika Cement which violates Article
10 of RA Law “On Lake Sevan”.

– absence of control , – imitation activities of official bodies
and improper waste of funds – budget, grant and loan (particularly,
the loan allotted by the World Bank in the amount of 16 million USD
for “Reducing Poverty and Preserving Lake Sevan Ecosystem” program)
designed to preserved Lake Sevan Ecosystem.

The main reason for concern is that neither Nature Protection Ministry
as represented by “Sevan” National Park, nor Urban Development,
Territorial Administration, Energy and Natural Resources and
Agriculture Ministries, nor any committees and councils put any
efforts to save the lake.

The laws are violated and nobody bears responsibility for that. There
is certain impression that top officials consider Sevan as a source
for getting profit.

The discussion participants worked out an action plan and decided to
call on everybody who is not indifferent to the fate of Sevan.

There is no Armenia without Sevan. Let’s join and not allow a group
of people to grab and to leave to our next generation a toxic apple
instead of 34 billion freshwater.

PHOTO EXHIBIT TO FOCUS ON “ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE DIASBLED”

hetq
12:52, September 22, 2011

There will be a photo exhibition to raise awareness of the issue
of public accessibility for persons with disabilities on Friday,
September 23, at the Aram Khatchaturian statue near Yerevan’s Opera
House from noon to 6pm.

Organized by the Unison NGO, the exhibit is part of the “Unrestricted
Movement-A Right for All” project supported by Counterpart
International and USAID.

TEHRAN HOSTS THE 43RD ARMENIANS OLYMPICS

Press TV
Sept 22 2011
Iran

850 Armenian athletes from across the country are taking part in
the 43rd Armenian Olympics in Tehran; this annual event is held in
eight fields including soccer, basketball, track and field, chess,
swimming, tennis, table tennis and billiard.

Iran’s Armenia Olympics is not international but regional countries
like Armenia, Lebanon and Syria can join the games if they wish.

The level of the games is very high; the rivals are moving neck
and neck. The Armenians Olympics is aimed at finding new talents in
Armenian sports and encourage the youth to turn to sports. Although
this year we did not have any participant from other countries we
hope that with a rise in the budget we will be able to make this
Olympics international.

This Olympics provides a good ground for Armenian athletes to join
Iran’s national teams as a result Armenian female basketball players
have become an inseparable part of Iran’s national basketball team.

Iran’s Armenian athletes have great potentials and talents and
fortunately they have been successful at national and international
competitions; now with the establishment of Iran’s Ministry of Sports,
we hope to pay special attention to the Armenian athletes.

In the past couple of years Iran’s Armenian teams have achieved
great successes at different international competitions like the
World Armenian Games.

Although Iran’s Armenia Olympics is an sports event, Iran’s Armenian
use it as an opportunity to spend time together in joy and happiness.

‘ARMENIA HELD MILITARY PARADE UNDER NOT ITS OWN FLAG’

news.az
Sept 22 2011
Azerbaijan

The parade held in Armenia proved that this country is an outpost
with a formal independence.

The statement came from Arif Pasha, former commander of Lachin
regiment, retired Colonel, while commenting on a recent military
parade held in Yerevan.

‘There had been much talks about formal independence of Armenia
before. We have seen that states usually hold parades under their
own flag. But we did not see this in a parade held in Armenia. The
country became a laughing stock to the world public,’ Pasha said.

Pasha said this would cause a political tension in Armenia and
exacerbate the situation in the country even further.

‘The Armenian people made it sure once again that their country is not
independent. This is a terrible factor for any country that holds a
parade under a flag of a different country,’ the retired Colonel noted.

RUSSIA RESTATES POSITION ON KARABAKH

news.az
Sept 22 2011
Azerbaijan

Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich has restated Russia’s
position that it does not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent
state.

Lukashevich’s remarks were published as a comment on the 18 September
local elections in Karabakh, published on 22 September on the Russian
Foreign Ministry website.

“Russia is making active mediation efforts to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem in close collaboration with its partners
co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group – the United States and France. We
will continue to help the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides to reach
a compromise to untie the Karabakh knot as soon as possible,” the
comment said.

“I confirm support for the principles of territorial integrity and
the non-use of force alongside the other fundamental principles and
norms of international law.

“As is known, Russia does not recognize the ‘Nagorno-Karabakh republic’
as an independent state. We think that the holding of elections in
Nagorno-Karabakh cannot influence the process of peaceful settlement
of the conflict,” the comment concluded.

The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 when Armenia made
claims on the Azerbaijani territory. Later, in a bitter war Armenian
armed forces occupied a swathe of Azerbaijani territory, including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. Despite
a ceasefire in 1994, no long-term peace agreement has been reached.

The de facto authorities of Karabakh held elections to local government
bodies on 18 September.

KARABAKH BLEEDING WOUND FOR TURKEY TOO -TURKISH SPEAKER

news.az
Sept 22 2011
Azerbaijan

Speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament Ogtay Asadov is paying an
official visit to Turkey.

Azerbaijani embassy in Turkey reported that Ogtay Asadov and the
delegation led by him first visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, laid wreath, signed
the memory book and acquainted with War of Independence Museum.

Following this, Ogtay Asadov and the delegation visited Turkish
parliament. Speaker of the Turkish parliament Cemil Chichek and speaker
of the Azerbaijani parliament Ogtay Asadov had one-on-one meeting,
following this, meeting was held between the delegations.

Speaker of the Turkish parliament Cemil Chichek spoke about the close
relations between the two countries, said these relations are special
and underlined the importance of improving them.

Ogtay Asadov spoke about the historical roots of the friendship and
brotherhood relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey, importance of
Heydar Aliyev’s words “Turkey and Azerbaijan are one nation, two
states”, development of the relations between the two parliaments,
Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan concerning Nagorno Karabakh problem,
Azerbaijan’s constructive efforts towards the resolution of Nagorno
Karabakh problem and said the development of the relations between
the two countries in all spheres will create two strong states.

Cemil Chichek underlined that Nagorno Karabakh problem is the bleeding
wound of not only Azerbaijan, but also of Turkey and said Turkey will
continue to support Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani delegation got acquainted with the Museum of Anatolian
Civilizations.

Speaker of the Turkish parliament Cemil Chichek will give a reception
in honor of the Azerbaijani delegation. The visit continues.

ARMENIAN PM URGES FACEBOOK USERS TO WRITE ONLY IN ARMENIAN LETTERS

ArmeniaDiaspora.com
Sept 22 2011

Share inShare.0Epress.am — Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan,
in a post on his Facebook page, urged all those posting comments in
Armenian to refrain from using Latin letters and do so using only
the Armenian alphabet.

“I realize that many of our compatriots, especially those abroad,
cannot write in the Armenian alphabet because they don’t have Unicode.

However, I urge everyone to write only in Armenian letters whenever
possible,” he wrote.

Note, Tigran Sargsyan’s statement has already attracted 195 likes
and 18 comments, only one of which is written in Latin letters and,
in fact, criticizes the PM’s proposal.

Article source:

ARMENIA’S NEIGHBORS “FORGOT” ABOUT RIGHT OF NATIONS TO SELF-DETERMINATION

news.am
Sept 22 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – The Armenian delegation’s message at Euronest was that
Armenia is not prepared to make any compromises, ARF Dashnaktsutyun
Party MP Lilit Galstyan said, during a press conference on Thursday,
reflecting on the fact that no final report was approved during the
Euronest first plenary session held in Strasbourg, France. This is
because the Armenian delegation was against certain formulations
made in the document that was circulated in the political commission
of Euronest.

In Galstyan’s words, the objections were on the points where Armenia’s
neighboring countries, having adopted international law’s principle
of territorial integrity had “forgotten” about the equally important
principle of the right of nations to self-determination.

“We obstructed the passage of a resolution where solely territorial
integrity was to be stipulated,” the MP noted.

Republican Party of Armenia MP Hovhannes Sahakyan stated that this
is one of those unique cases when, having relations with a large
organization, “we were able to pursue our nation’s objective and
interest, and to obligate.”

Prosperous Armenia Party MP Vahe Enfiajyan stated that the Armenian
delegation spoke in favor of preserving the world’s cultural values and
showing them the attention they deserve. Azerbaijan, on the other hand,
was speaking about territorial integrity and occupied territories.

“The Armenian delegation was united and consolidated,” he added.

Heritage Party MP Stepan Safaryan said the compromised version posed
no threat to Armenia, but was not supported by Azerbaijan, and, as
a result, no view was adopted in Euronest’s Energy Security Commission.

Euronest’s first session in Strasbourg had brought together MPs
from the European Parliament and 5 member states of the Eastern
Partnership Project.

DREAMING OF INDEPENDENCE IS NOW UNDIGNIFIED AND UNACCEPTABLE FOR OUR PEOPLE – ARMENIAN FM

news.am
Sept 22 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian
marked the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence at Gavar city
of Gegharkunik Region.

During the celebratory event organized in Gavar, Nalbandian presented
to several staff members of Gegharkunik’s administrative, educational,
social, cultural, and healthcare establishments the high state
awards and Armenian President’s and Prime Minister’s certificates in
connection with the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence.

In his remarks, Nalbandian said: “I congratulate you all in connection
with this perhaps short anniversary, in terms of years, but very
huge celebration: 20th anniversary of independent Armenia. And this
is our biggest achievement because dreaming of independence will
now be considered undignified and unacceptable for our people,
since dreaming of independence means not having it. The past 20
years gave us the important standing as a trustworthy partner in the
international platform, and this [standing] is yet another greatest
accomplishment of our independence. And so, long live Armenia,
our free and independent Motherland!,” Armenian MFA Press Service
informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.