Author: Badalian Vardan

U.S. AMBASSADOR AND ARMENIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER VISIT MCA-ARMENIA PROGRAM SITES

Tert.am
Sept 16 2009
Armenia

On September 16, U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, Republic of Armenia
Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan, Republic of Armenia Minister of
Agriculture Gerasim Alaverdyan, and Aragatsotn and Kotayk’s regional
governors, along with other Armenia and U.S. delegation members, held
a joint working visit to the Arzni-Shamiram main canal section, which
was restored under the Millenium Challenge Account-Armenia Program,
states a press release issued by MCA-Armenia.

The project site represents a test area used to determine engineering
and construction best practices to be used during subsequent main
canal rehabilitation works.

The Arzni-Shamiram canal is one of six main canals within the Armenian
main canal network that will be rehabilitated under the MCA-Armenia
Program’s Irrigated Agriculture Project (IAP).

As per MCA-Armenia’s statement, to date over 30,000 farmers in more
than 300 communities in Armenia have received training in water
management technologies and higher value agriculture within the
Agriculture project of the Program.

LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN BORDER
Marianna Gyurjyan

"Radiolur"
16.09.2009 16:40

Expert Vahe Sargsyan today expressed concern over the legal aspects
of the Armenian-Georgian border. "The ground for the demarcation of
the current Armenian-Georgian border, i.e. the agreement signed on
November 6, 1921, should be considered invalid," the expert said,
adding that the agreement has not been internationally recognized,
since both states have not constituted part of the Soviet Union for
the past 20 years.

"Independent Georgia has rejected the agreement of November 6, 1921,
and Armenia has not ratified it. Demarcating the border on the basis
of that treaty would mean we are not aware of the historic facts and
international law," Vahe Sargsyan noted, adding that this ignorance
will result in giving our own lands to Georgia.

The expert suggests demarcating the Armenian-Georgian border on
the basis of the report-proposal submitted at the Paris Assembly
of February 24, 1920, according to which "the demarcation of the
Armenian-Georgian border should be carried out between two states. If
the two states are unable to implement the demarcation, the Supreme
Council of the League of Nations should be commissioned to solve the
issue and carry out the demarcation, taking into consideration the
demographic situation."

The expert reminds that Javakhk and part of North Lori are mostly
populated by Armenians.

"Our political scientists and diplomats misunderstand a number
of points. With their steps they do not only decrease the area of
Armenia, but also leave our compatriots to the mercy of fate," Vahe
Sargsyan said.

JOURNALISTS WRITING ABOUT HRANT DINK MURDER UNDER PROSECUTION

BIAnet
minorities/117045-journalists-writing-about-hrant- dink-murder-under-prosecution
Sept 14 2009
Turkey

Head of the Police Intelligence Department Akyurek filed a complaint
against journalist Kemal GöktaÅ~_ after he has already taken
journalist Nedim Å~^ener to court. Both pressmen published books
about the Hrant Dink murder, voicing their critical concerns about
the handling of the case.

Erol ONDEROÄ~^LU [email protected] Istanbul – Ankara – BÄ°A News
Center14 September 2009, Monday An investigation has been started on
journalist Kemal GöktaÅ~_ from Vatan newspaper on the grounds of his
book "The Murder of Hrant Dink – Media, Judiciary, State". Previously,
also journalist Nedim Å~^ener was tried because of his book "Dink’s
Murder and the Lies of the Intelligence Agency". Both books deal
with the background of the murder of Hrant Dink, assassinated
editor-in-chief of the Armenian-Turkish Agos Newspaper, in 2007.

GöktaÅ~_ told bianet that he testified on 9 September before
prosecutor Ä°smail Onaran in the context of the investigation launched
upon Akyurek’s complaint. Ramazan Akyurek is head of the General
Directorate of the Police Intelligence Department.

After Å~^ener also GöktaÅ~_ is put on trial

Akyurek declared that he was not related to the Dink case and accused
GöktaÅ~_ of "attempting to influence" the case.. Albeit, Akyurek’s
lawyer Nurullah Albayrak stated in a petition dated from 20 June 2009:
"Although my client is involved in this secret issue, he still has
not received a copy of the report prepared by the Prime Ministry
Inspection Board".

Albayrak claims that GöktaÅ~_ is talking about Akyurek in his book,
quoting page 147. He argues that the journalist put his client under
suspicion when he said that "further question marks emerged when
Akyurek’s statement before the Turkey National Assembly’s (TBMM)
Human Rights Sub-Commission on the Hrant Dink Murder was combined
with Tuncel’s defense".

Adittionally, despite Akyurek’s reports the following contents
of the book are included in the indictment: protection of Tuncel
(p. 218/219); after the murder the government "did not show political
determination to reveal the criminal organizations within the state"
(p. 289); Akyurek "did not move a muscle" to protect Dink (p. 302).

GöktaÅ~_ found out about the investigation by coincidence

The journalist got to know about the investigation by coincidence when
he appeared before the Ankara Court to make a statement regarding a
different issue. GöktaÅ~_ then was under charge of "violating the
investigation’s confidentiality" because he had reported about a
statement made in the context of the Ergenekon case.

Akyurek had sent GöktaÅ~_’s notification about the investigation
to Nedim Å~^ener’s address in Bakırkköy. The mistake was noticed
because Å~^ener refused to sign the notification.

More than 2 years ago on 19 January 2007, around the time when Erhan
Tuncel was made a secret agent, Aykurek was Police Chief of the city
of Trabzon (eastern black sea cost) and requested a trial against
GöktaÅ~_ on the grounds of "attempting to influence a fair trial"
(Penal Code 288), "insulting public officials" (Penal Code 125) and
"influencing the judiciary" (Press Law 19).

To quote from a report and to publish a document is obviously a crime

Akyurek also considers it a crime that GöktaÅ~_ quoted from the
report prepared by the Prime Ministry’s Inspection Board. Furthermore
he claimed that GöktaÅ~_ tried to associate him with a McDonald’s
bombing and with the Dink murder while he had already stated he had
not been involved in the latter case.

Suc duyurusunda Trabzon Emniyet Mudurlugu’nun cinayetten bir yıl önce
Ä°stanbul polisine Yasin Hayal’in Dink’e yönelik eylem yapacagının
bildirildigi belgenin de "yasa geregi gizli" nitelikli oldugu da
savunuldu.

In the criminal report it was also claimed that the document from
the Trabzon Police Department informing Yasin Hayal from the Istanbul
police about a planned action against Hrant Dink one year before the
Dink murder was "confidential by law".

Journalist Nedim Å~^ener, currently trialed under charges by Akyurek,
Muhittin Zenit, Fatih Sarı and Ali Fuat Yılmazer, is facing a
possible prison sentence of 32.5 years.

TURKEY’S FM TO MEET POLITICAL LEADERS TO INFORM ON FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES

PanARMENIAN.NET
11.09.2009 20:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is set to
begin informing the Turkish parliament about current foreign policy
issues. According to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),
Davutoglu will meet with the Speaker of Turkish parliament Mehmet
Ali Sahin and the leaders of Turkish political parties in order to
update them on the current issues in Turkish diplomacy.

Issues such as Turkish-Armenian relations, recent developments in
the Caucasus and other current foreign policy issues will be high on
Davutoglu’s agenda while talking with Turkish leaders.

Ahmet Davutoglu requested appointments from political party leaders,
Anatolian Agency reported.

MEETING OF RA PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF CROATIA TAKES PLACE IN ZAGREB

NOYAN TAPAN
SEPTEMBER 9, 2009
ZAGREB

ZAGREB, SEPTEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. On the second day of his official
visit to Croatia, on September 8, RA President S. Sargsyan met
the President of the National Assembly of Croatia Luka Bebic in
Zagreb. The interlocutors once more affirmed their political will
to push forward the Armenian-Croatian relations in bilateral and
multilateral formats. Serzh Sargsyan and Luka Bebic attached importance
to establishment of interparliamentary groups of friendship in the
two countries and cooperation at the interparliamentary international
structures.

S. Sargsyan presented to the President of the Croatian Parliament the
latest developments of his initiative aimed at normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations and the current stage of the settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

According to the RA President’s Press office, S. Sargsyan visited
the observatory of Zagreb, got familiarized with the new Sevan device
for astrological observations created with the assistance of Yerevan
Institute of Physics and learned about the programs jointly implemented
by the astrophysicists of Armenia and Croatia. He also visited the
Museum of Zagreb history, summer residence that has become a museum
of great politician and statesman Tito on Veliki Brijun Island and
the wine vault built by Tito several decades ago.

The same day in the evening, the delegation headed by the President
of Armenia returned to Yerevan.
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From: [email protected]
Subject: Meeting of RA President and President of National Assembly of Croatia
takes place in Zagreb

Meeting of RA President and President of National Assembly of Croatia
takes place in Zagreb

ZAGREB, SEPTEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. On the second day of his official
visit to Croatia, on September 8, RA President S. Sargsyan met the
President of the National Assembly of Croatia Luka Bebic in Zagreb. The
interlocutors once more affirmed their political will to push forward
the Armenian-Croatian relations in bilateral and multilateral formats.
Serzh Sargsyan and Luka Bebic attached importance to establishment of
interparliamentary groups of friendship in the two countries and
cooperation at the interparliamentary international structures.

S. Sargsyan presented to the President of the Croatian Parliament the
latest developments of his initiative aimed at normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations and the current stage of the settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

According to the RA President’s Press office, S. Sargsyan visited the
observatory of Zagreb, got familiarized with the new Sevan device for
astrological observations created with the assistance of Yerevan
Institute of Physics and learned about the programs jointly implemented
by the astrophysicists of Armenia and Croatia. He also visited the
Museum of Zagreb history, summer residence that has become a museum of
great politician and statesman Tito on Veliki Brijun Island and the
wine vault built by Tito several decades ago.

The same day in the evening, the delegation headed by the President of
Armenia returned to Yerevan.

ARMENIAN-AMERICAN COOPERATION IN DEFENSE SECTOR CONTINUES TO EVOLVE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
09.09.2009 17:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian received a
delegation from the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies
U.S. Department of Defense at the National Defense University, which
included former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Michael Lemon, Dr. Roger
Kangas, and the Colonel, Professor Anne Moysan.

During the conversation, the Armenian Defense Minister noted that
the Armenian-American cooperation in the defense sector continues
to evolve in matters of military education, military medicine, mine
clearance and awareness of military training.

During the meeting the importance of cooperation in security and
defense with the US National Defense University was stressed. The
officials discussed the possibility of joint conference on "Security
challenges in responding to natural disasters" together with the
Institute for National Strategic Studies, RA Ministry of Defense.

2009-2010 GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS REPORT OF WEF

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 8 2009
Armenia

Armenia held 97th position in the 2009-2010 Global Competitiveness
Report. The rankings of 133 states are calculated from publicly
available data and the Executive Opinion Survey of World Economic Forum
together with Partner Institutes network. The indexes are derived
from the April 2009 survey of Armenian entrepreneurs. Global crisis
consequences are not considered as Armenia was affected in the course
of 2009.

Armenia registered high macro-economic stability (53rd position) and
the worst commodity market efficiency (116th position). The latter
is a consequence of market monopoly.

Armenia’s other drawback’s are customs’ procedures, unfavorable
environment for venture capitals, insufficient level of business
education and state purchase policy on technological commodities.

ARFD AGAINST REFERENDUM ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
08.09.2009 15:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau representative Hrant
Markarian doesn’t consider it necessary to conduct a referendum
on Armenian-Turkish protocols. "I believe neither referendum nor
documents’ ratification in RA Parliament are the right solution,"
Hrant Markarian told a news conference in Yerevan. According to him,
tradition of free and fair elections has not yet been formed in
Armenia. Besides, Dashnaktsutyun representative emphasized that, it
would be more correct for RA President to consult with RA’s political
forces. "Parties should come to an agreement on the issue as a result
of consultations, trying to disregard mutual disagreements existing,"
Markarian said.

FRANKY VERCAUTEREN: MATCH AGAINST ARMENIA IMPORTANT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
08.09.2009 09:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Belgium must bounce back from their weekend defeat
by Spain when they face Armenia in midweek, according to head coach
Franky Vercauteren.

The Diables Rouges caused Spain all kinds of trouble in the first
encounter between the two teams around a year ago, but they were
thrashed 5-0 on Saturday evening by the reigning European champions.

As a result, the Belgians are no longer in the race for qualification
for the 2010 World Cup, but Vercauteren still expects his men to do
their utmost in the upcoming match against Armenia.

"The match against Armenia is important for the future of Belgian
football. We kind of expected a loss against Spain, but a bad result
against Armenia is unacceptable. We have to think of our reputation,"
Vercauteren told Sporza.

"I don’t think that we have internal problems between the Anderlecht
and Standard Liege players. You do not need to be best friends in a
team, but you have to be willing to fight for each other. The players
are professional enough to realize that," he said, goal.com reports.

REMOTE DIAGNOSTICATION SESSION TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.09.2009 20:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Remote diagnostication session will be held in
Armenia during Digitec Expo 2009 due from October 2 to 4.

A patient in Gyumri will undergo an ultrasonography, the results of
which will be transmitted to the doctors in Digitec Expo 2009 pavilion
in Yerevan.

The event will also feature a conference on start-ups management,
Armrobotics competition and discussions of internet-services.