Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ARMENIA APPROVES EXPANSION OF NUCLEAR PLANT

Agence France Presse
Oct 27 2009
France

Armenia’s parliament on Tuesday approved plans for the construction of
a new reactor unit at the ex-Soviet republic’s controversial Metzamor
nuclear power station.

Lawmakers voted in favour of plans to build a new 1,200-megawatt
unit with a projected cost of four to five billion dollars (2.7 to
3.4 billion euros). Officials have said they expect the new reactor
to be completed by 2017.

Energy Minister Armen Movsisian told lawmakers the new reactor would
allow Armenia to increase electricity exports, a key source of revenues
for the landlocked and resource-poor country.

"Armenia’s neighbours in the region have an energy deficit and Armenia
is the only country that can produce electric power, not only for
its own needs, but also for export," he said.

"It must be emphasised that we are not talking about the construction
of a new nuclear power plant, but about the construction of a new
power unit," he added.

Armenia relies on the Soviet-built Metzamor plant, 30 kilometres
(18 miles) west of the capital Yerevan, for 40 percent of its
electricity needs.

Its current 407.5-megawatt power unit was brought online in 1976. The
plant is operated by an affiliate of state-owned Russian power
group UES.

The European Union has pleaded with Armenia to shut down the ageing
plant, which is in an area prone to earthquakes, and in 2004 offered
to provide 100 million euros in compensatory aid.

But Armenian officials say the country cannot afford to do without
the plant, which also provides electricity for export to Iran.

The nuclear plant was shut down temporarily in 1988 because of a
major earthquake, but resumed operating in 1995 to help stave off a
national energy crisis.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA DEFEATS SPAIN AT EUROPEAN CHESS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.10.2009 09:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia defeated Spain 3:1 in the 6th tour of
European Chess Team Championship.

Armenian chess players share the 3rd position with Georgians and
Russians. In the 7th round, they will play vs. Azerbaijan, the leaders.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN FINANCE MINISTER CONSIDERS DRAFT BUDGET REALISTIC

Tert
Oct 28 2009
Armenia

"Our situation is no longer bad," Republic of Armenia Minister of
Finance Tigran Davtyan started his press conference today in this way.

The basis for such optimism are September’s macroeconomic indicators
and the budget’s performance (including data for October).

In particular, operative data prove that there is a little progress
in respect with budget revenue collection as compared to the previous
months. More important is the fact that, according to the finance
minister, the situation has become more foreseeable: in terms of tax
collection, economic dynamics and the budget’s performance. It allows
the minister of finance to confidently state that "the 2010 draft
budget submitted to the national assembly is realistic and based on
a serious foundation."

As to how MPs will respond to this statement, discussions beginning
on Friday at the National Assembly will tell.
From: Baghdasarian

ANC STATEMENT ON ANNIVERSARY OF OCTOBER 27, 1999 EVENTS

Tert
Oct 27 2009
Armenia

Armenian National Congress circulated a statement on the anniversary
of October 27 events. The statement, in part, reads:

"Ten years ago, on October 27, 1999, an unprecedented… and
horrible crime took place in Armenia, to find parallels of which is
difficult not only in Armenian, but also in world history. During a
parliamentary session, National Assembly (NA) Speaker Karen Demirchyan,
Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, NA Deputy Speakers Ruben Miroyan and
Yuri Bakhshyan, MPs Henrik Abrahamyan, Mikael Kotanyan and Armenak
Armenakyan, and government member Leonard Petrosyan were shot.

"[What took place on] October 27 is not a terrorist act committed
solely against individuals, well-known politicians-government workers,
or the country’s high-ranking officials. The crime itself, with its
consequences all the more, became one of the darkest days in Armenia’s
history, a decisive point in the political course since independence:
democracy was shot down, the result of Armenia’s last democratic
election was obliterated.

"The act of October 27 was a terrorist usurpation of power realized
through a state coup. With that, terrorism, as such, became the
administration’s main tool in maintaining and reproducing authority
in the future: directed not only against individuals, but also against
the entire public.

"The act of October 27, is not a completed act, a murder against
people, state officials, but a continuous terrorist act-in-process,
a treachery against Armenian statehood, against Armenia’s state
security and so far continues to bring about disasters that are fatal
for the nation.

"Neither uncovered nor sentenced, the consequences of October 27 not
only are not recovering, but the crime still continues today with
more disastrous and fatal for the nation episodes that materialize
more with time. [For instance,]

the barbarism of April 12, 2008, ï~@­ the March 1 beatings and
slaughter of peaceful demonstrators, ï~@­ the Zurich shameful denial
of the Armenian Genocide, ï~@­ the Nagorno-Karabakh issue on the
brink of ruin.

"The crime of October 27 will be remembered as the darkest page
of Armenia’s history, even if at one point its consequences are
eliminated."
From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJANI MASS MEDIA MISQUOTE TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER

ArmInfo
2009-10-27 13:44:00

ArmInfo. Azerbaijani mass media misquoted Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu, having confirmed its reputation once again.

The matter concerns the Turkish foreign minister’s interview with
Al Jazeera during his visit to Pakistan. In particular, the mass
media of our highly respected neighbours disseminated an information
according to which Davutoglu allegedly said that there is no hope
for the Protocol to be ratified by the parliament without a positive
progress in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

However, according to the Turkish sources, the minister has just
said that: ‘the Turkish government would not make an imposition on
the parliament for adoption of the protocols signed with Armenia.

However, a positive development in the Azerbaijani- Armenian
dispute will have a positive impact on the ratification
process’. Davutoglu also said that the Protocols would positively
affect the stability in South Caucasus, particularly the settlement
of the Azerbaijani-Armenian dispute, and the end of occupation of
Azerbaijani territories. ‘However, if things go wrong and if hopes
fade for a positive development (in the above mentioned issues), our
members of parliament may be in a tendency not to approve the protocol,
and therefore we have to work for a positive scenario’, Davutoglu said.

Davutoglu said there was need for political and psychological ground
to get a vote in favor of the protocol from the parliament, and there
should be progress in peace talks for that positive vote.

As we see, Davutoglu made no cardinal statements, as the Azerbaijani
media presented. Moreover, he did not emphasize that ‘there is no
hope for the Protocol to be ratified without a positive progress in
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement’. Misquotation has come into
general use of our neighbours far ago, however, it was not difficult
to understand that if the minister actually made such a statement,
it could be considered as direct pressure on the Parliament, saying
nothing of the fact that it would be an ambiguous advancement of
proposals, while EU, where Turkey strives to enter amain, would hardly
consider this statement as display of democracy.
From: Baghdasarian

THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COUNTRY HEADED BY THE ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN VISITED TODAY "YERABLUR" PANTHEON TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF STATE AND POLITICAL FIGURES ASSASSINATED OCTOBER 27, 1999 IN THE ARMENIAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

ARMENPRESS
Oct 27, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS: The leadership of the country headed
by the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan visited today "Yerablur"
pantheon to pay tribute to the memory of state and political figures
assassinated October 27, 1999 in the Armenian National Assembly.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan,
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Secretary of the National Security
Council Arthur Baghdasaryan, Chairman of the Armenian Constitutional
Court Gagik Harutyunyan and other officials put flowers and wreaths
on the tombs of Commander Vazgen Sargsyan, Andranik Ozanyan.

Victims of the 1999 October 27 assassination became Armenian NA Speaker
Karen Demirtchyan, Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, Vice-Speakers of
the NA Yuri Bakhshyanm Ruben Miroyan, members of parliament Michael
Kotanyan, Armenak Armenakyan, Henrik Abrahamyan, Minister of Operative
Issues Leonard Petrosyan.

Today a memorial dedicated to them will open in the court of the NA.
From: Baghdasarian

MINISTER NALBANDIAN TO MEET MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS IN LUXEMBURG

armradio.am
26.10.2009 10:49

The Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, is leaving for
Luxemburg today to participate in the 10th sitting of the Armenia-EU
Cooperation Council.

Minister Nalbandian is expected to have a number of bilateral meetings
in Luxemburg, Press and Information Department of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs reported.

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Yury Merzlyakov of
Russia, Bernard Fassier of France, and Robert Bradtke of the United
States, will also travel to Luxembourg to meet Armenian Foreign
Minister Nalbandian and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Mammadyarov.

They will address plans for their next trip to Baku and Yerevan
in November and preparation for discussion of the Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement at the OSCE Ministerial Council in December 2009.
From: Baghdasarian

In chase of sensation, foreign media ‘organize’ for Armenian prime
minister a car accident on a tractor

2009-10-24 17:13:00

ArmInfo. In chase of sensation, foreign mass media, including the
Russian ones, made a mountain out of a molehill and "organized" for
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan a car accident on a tractor.

According to ArmInfo correspondent’s data, the prime minister that was
present at the opening ceremony of the Third Universal Exhibition
PanArmenian Expo-2009 at Demirchyan Sport and Concert Complex in
Yerevan, expressed a desire to personally get behind the wheel of a
tractor presented at the exhibition. The car was in a narrow
territory, and on the turn slightly touched on the metallic fence. The
tractor and the prime minister didn’t suffer though this incident
allowed journalists to turn this case into a serious incident, even
into a car accident. To note, this is not the first case when the
Armenian prime minister personally familiarizes himself with the goods
and services presented at industrial exhibitions.

To recall, about 160 companies from Armenia, Russia, the USA, Iran,
Syria, etc. are taking part in the exhibition PanArmenian Expo-2009.
The organizers of the forum are the Armenian Chamber of Commerce and
Industry and the Armenian Diaspora Ministry. The general sponsor is
the South Caucasus Railway CJSC.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN WOMEN’S CHESS TEAM WINS

Aysor
Oct 23 2009
Armenia

In round one of 17th Team Chess Championship in Novi Sad, Serbia,
Armenian women’s chess team won 2.5:1.5 over Italy’s team.

Lilit Lazarian-Olga Zimina set was crucial and Lilit Lazarian’s
victory became a fateful. Elina Danielyan, Lilit Galoyan and Nelly
Aginyan played in a draw with Elena Sedina, Marina Bryunello and
Eleonora Ambrosi.

Thus, Armenian women’s team after the first round has 2 points and
together with 12 other teams becomes one of the leaders. Next round
Armenian team meets with Slovenian team.

Olga Zimina – Lilit Lazarian, 0:1

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. c3 f6 7. Bd3
fxe5 8. dxe5 Ndxe5 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. Qh5 Nf7 11. Bxh7 Bd7 12. Nf3 Qf6
13. Ng5 Bd6 14. h4 e5 15. Be3 Kf8 16. O-O-O c6 17. f4 exf4 18. Rhf1 g6
19. Nxf7 gxh5 20. Nxd6 Qxd6 21. Bxf4 Qe6 22. Be5 Ke7 23. Bxh8 Qh6 24.

Rd2 Rxh8 0:1.

Elina Danielyan – Elena Sedina 0,5:0,5

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6
hxg6 8. g3 Nbd7 9. Bg2 Bb4 10. Qb3 a5 11. Bd2 O-O 12. a3 Bxc3 13. Bxc3
Qc7 14. Rc1 Ne4 15. O-O a4 16. Qa2 Nxc3 17. Rxc3 Qa5 18. Rb1 Nb6 19.

c5 Nc4 20. Re1 b6 21. Bf1 bxc5 22. Bxc4 cxd4 23. exd4 dxc4 24. Qxc4
Rab8 25. Re5 Qa7 26. Rc5 Rxb2 27. Rxc6 Rd8 28. Rc8 Rb8 29. Rxd8 Rxd8
30. Qc5 Qb7 31. Rc4 Qb1 32. Rc1 Qd3 33. Rc4 Qb1 34. Rc1 1 / 2: 1 / 2.

Lilit Galoyan – Marina Brunello 0,5:0,5

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1
c6 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O Nxc3 12. Rxc3 e5 13.

Bb3 e4 14. Nd2 Nf6 15. Qb1 Bg4 16. Rfc1 Rae8 17. Bc2 Be2 18. Ra3 a6
19. b4 Bb5 20. Re1 g6 21. Qb2 Qd6 22. h3 Re7 23. Qc3 Rfe8 24. Qc5 Qd8
25. Bb3 Nd5 26. Bxd5 cxd5 27. Rc1 b6 28. Qc2 Qd6 29. Qb2 Rc7 30. Rxc7
Qxc7 31. Rc3 Qd6 32. Qb3 Bd3 33. Qa3 Kg7 34. Qb2 Rb8 35. a3 h5 36. Qc1
Bb5 37. Qc2 Bd3 38. Qc1 Bb5 39. Qc2 Bd3 1 / 2: 1 / 2.

Eleonora Ambrosi – Nelly Aginyan 0,5:0,5

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3
cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. g3 a6 11. Bg2 Qc7 12. O-O Nxd4 13.

Bxd4 b5 14. Ne2 Nb6 15. b3 a5 16. a3 Bd7 17. Kh1 a4 18. Bxc5 Qxc5 19.

b4 Qe7 20. Nd4 Rac8 21. Rf3 Nc4 22. Qf2 f6 23. exf6 Rxf6 24. Re1 Rcf8
25. Bf1 Qd6 26. Bxc4 dxc4 27. Re5 h6 28. Qe3 g5 29. Kg2 gxf4 30. Rxf4
Rxf4 31. gxf4 Rf6 32. Qe4 Kg7 33. Kf2 c3 34. Qg2 Rg6 35. Qe4 Rf6 36.

Qg2 Rg6 37. Qe4 Rf6 38. Qg2 1 / 2: 1 / 2.
From: Baghdasarian

RECITATION CHILDREN-YOUTH FESTIVAL SECOND STAGE BEGINS

National Assembly
Oct 23 2009
Armenia

In the framework of the program of "Open Doors of the National
Assembly," under the patronage of Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan, President of
the National Assembly, Recitation Children-Youth Republican Contest
-Festival was held, which was dedicated to the Armenian National
Poetry. 2000 students of 11-16 ages from Armenian provinces Javakhk
and Nagorno Karabakh have already participated in the first stage of
the festival.

On October 20, with participation of Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan, President
of the National Assembly, the second stage of the festival began. 28
representatives of the Ararat, Artashat and Masis schools recited
Charents, Isahakyan and Sevak. 6 students of 11, 13 and 14-16 ages
of Ararat province were recognized as winners. The participants and
winners were awarded with books and flowers. Ararat province winners
will participate in the closing stage of the festival, which will be
held in December.
From: Baghdasarian