Author: Basmajian Ani

UAE FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVING IN ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
04.12.2009 16:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr.

Mohammed Anwar Gargash will be visiting Armenia from December 5 to 7.

Mr. Gargash is scheduled to meet with Catholicos of All Armenians,
His Holiness Karekin II, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, President
Serzh Sargsyan, Vice Prime Minister, RA Minister of Territorial
Administration Armen Gevorgyan and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

The meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister is scheduled for December
5. Thereafter, parties will sign a memorandum of understanding
between UAE National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking and RA
Anti-Trafficking Commission. The ceremony will be followed by a joint
ministerial news conference.

THE RA PRESIDENT RECEIVED VLADIMIR STRELTSOV

Aysor
Dec 4 2009
Armenia

Today President Serzh Sargsyan received Deputy Head of Frontier Service
of Russia, Lieutenant General Vladimir Streltsov, who introduced the
new Head of the Frontier Department of the Russian Federal Security
Service in Armenia, Viktor Vlasov, the press office of the Armenian
President informs.

President Sargsyan highly appreciated the consistently reinforcing
military cooperation between Armenia and Russia and attached importance
to the continuation of efforts in that direction. President Sargsyan
said the Frontier Service is one of the important factors of defense
of our country’s border and one of the key components of the allied
Armenian-Russian relations.

"We are satisfied with the activity and professionalism of the border
guards," the President said and said that "good relations and mutual
understanding has been established with the border guards, which
provides an opportunity to find quick and effective solutions to
arising questions."

ARAM SAFARYAN: ARMENIA WILL NEVER LEAVE NAGORNO-KARABAKH

news.am
Dec 4 2009
Armenia

15:28 / 12/04/2009Aram Safaryan, Secretary of the Prosperous Armenia
Party (PAP) parliamentary faction does not share the opinion that
the three principles of settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
have for the first time been set in Athens – territorial integrity,
nations’ right to self-determination and non-use of force. "Such a
statement was first approved last December, at a sitting of the OSCE
Foreign Ministers’ Council. The Council’s statement confirmed that
the settlement must be based on the three fundamental principles of
the Helsinki final act. I think that this is evidence of positive
expectations within the OSCE – the OSCE mediators make a positive
appraisal of the negotiation process over the last year," he said.

Safaryan, however, is concerned over the fact that, on the one hand,
Azerbaijan puts its signature to the statement and welcomes the
atmosphere within the OSCE, but, on the other hand, keeps on making
bellicose statements thereby trying to convince the international
community that a military settlement of the conflict is quite real. "I
think the other signatories to the document should be concerned over
the fact even more than Armenia," Safaryan said.

In its turn, the Armenian Opposition political forces find the
principle of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity is incorporated in the
statement, which implies self-determination of Nagorno-Karabakh’s as
part of Azerbaijan. Responding to NEWS.am’s question concerning the
justifiability of this argument, Safaryan said that "it is entirely
impossible, as it is common knowledge that Nagorno-Karabakh is not
part of Azerbaijan."

"The question is whether Armenia and Azerbaijan will be able to come
to terms, which would be incorporated in international documents. I
disagree with the opinion that Armenia may, some day and under
pressure, agree to leave Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. It
is impossible. It is deception or self-deception," he said. In this
case, what do the Co-Chairs mean by Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity?

"They mean the territorial integrity that will suggest to Azerbaijan
that Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence has no alternative," Safaryan
said.

ARMENIA TO SEND 40 TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN

Ynetnews
Dec 3 2009
Israel

Armenia is pledging to send a small contingent of troops to Afghanistan
early next year, its first deployment as part of the international
coalition.

The head of the country’s peacekeeping brigade, Col. Artur Simonyan,
said Thursday the troops are expected to be sent in February to
Afghanistan, where they will serve with the German contingent. Also
Thursday, Georgia’s defense minister reiterated a promise to send
some 900 troops to Afghanistan by next spring to take part in NATO
operations there.

CONTROVERSY SURROUNDS PLANS FOR URANIUM MINE IN ARMENIA

Asbarez
Dec 3rd, 2009

The mountains of Armenia’s southern region of Syunik.

GHAPAN, Armenia (Eurasianet)-A protest movement against a planned
Russian-Armenian uranium mine in southern Armenia appears to be
picking up steam, with discussions underway with three political
parties about a partnership.

The mine, a 50-50 joint venture between Armenia and Russia, will be
located in the mineral-rich region of Syunik, already the home to
two copper and molybdenum mining operations.

Soviet-era studies indicated that Armenia could contain up to
approximately 60,000 tons of uranium. With uranium prices at roughly
$97 per kilogram, that means the Syunik mine could create considerable
revenue for Armenian state coffers.

Yerevan plans to export the uranium to Russia, where it would be
enriched for nuclear fuel to be used in Armenia’s nuclear power plant.

Exploration work in the field is already underway. Deputy Minister of
Energy and Natural Resources Areg Galstian stated at a late October
conference on Armenian-Russian energy cooperation.

The Armenian-Russian Mining Company holds a five-year permit for
exploration of uranium ore in Syunik. Company data indicates that
exploration is taking place in southern and northern Syunik.

But local residents, including inhabitants of the nearby regional
capital, Kapan, and the mining town of Kajaran fear the consequences.

Expressing concern about chances for a spike in cancer rates and
genetic mutations once uranium mining starts, the head of the Greens’
Union of Armenia, Hakob Sanasarian, called the project "a disaster
for both the local and the national population."

The director of a local Karabakh War veterans’ rights group agreed.

"If they start mining uranium, we will fight using all possible
methods," Khoren Harutiunian declared. "We will even block the roads."

Discussions are being held with three prominent political parties
about an alliance to block the mine, Harutiunian said. He declined
to identify the parties involved in the discussions.

The anti-mine movement also plans to start a letter-writing campaign
to government officials this week; some 2,000 Kapan residents have
already joined the protest, they claim.

Geochemist Sergei Grigorian, a member of the National Academy
of Sciences who is overseeing the geological survey of the Syunik
uranium deposits for the Armenian-Russian Mining Company, called the
outcry misplaced.

"[T]his is … caused by some misunderstanding because what we do
now is safe," Grigorian said. "The mining work should be organized
so that they will not cause any environmental problems."

The Soviet-era figures about Armenia’s estimated uranium deposits
could be 10 times higher than what exists in reality – a situation
that could impact the Company’s plans for Syunik, he continued.

Nonetheless, he underlined, Armenia requires fuel for its nuclear
power plant and must secure its own supplies.

"[W]hat if we can no longer get uranium from Russia?" Grigorian asked.

"We need to have some culture of mining. … We cannot just sit
and starve."

If the project proceeds on schedule, work on the surface of the
mine site will start in 2010, and holes will be drilled to reach
the uranium ore deposits, he said. But environmentalists question
Grigorian’s assurances on the environment. "It’s up to an international
independent expert group to decide whether [the uranium mining] is safe
or not," affirmed Inga Zarafian, chairperson of the non-governmental
organization EcoLur.

Grigorian stresses that public discussions have been held to explain
to some 1,000 local community members how the mine will operate and
safety standards maintained.

The head of the Lernadzor community administration, however, contends
that public discussions are not enough. "How can I support such
activities if all this results in is people wanting to leave the
village?" asked Stepan Petrosian. "I don’t know even whether I should
finish building my house or not. Will my grandchildren ever live here?"

For now, that question remains unanswered, but the fear about the
mines hangs on. One activist pledged: "We will fight till the end."

GOVERNMENT OF ARMENIA REVISES DRAFT BUDGET 2010

ArmInfo
2009-12-03 14:30:00

ArmInfo. The government of Armenia revised the draft budget 2010
towards increase and submitted its final version to the parliament
for approval. The draft budget changed was introduced by Finance
Minister of Armenia Tigran Davtyan and approved at the government
session on Thursday.

According to the minister, the budget was formed mainly in July-August,
and the macro- economic situation in the country has lately improved –
Armenia could receive additional foreign financial resources. Moreover,
the budget grew in view of change of the urrency rate. As T. Davtyan
said, the budget deficit will make up 193 bln drams or 6% of
GDP, against the earlier planned 183 bln drams or 5,6% of GDP. The
government will return to the budget deficit of the pre-crisis period –
about 3% during the next several, he said.

The budget revenue 2010 will make up 742 bln drams against the earlier
planned 676 bln drams, as well as the tax revenue will make up 570
bln drams or 17,7% of GDP against the previous 16,6%. The minister
also said it is expected to receive additional expenditures to 25
bln drams from Millennium Challenges American Corporation, to be
allocated for irrigation and water supply, moreover, they have been
included in both the budget revenues and expenditures. It is scheduled
to receive additional 19 bln drams of tax revenue due to stiffening
of the tax administration.

Budget expenditures 2010 will make up 935 bln drams against the
previous 859 bln drams. The big expense items include return
of extra-payments on VAT to exporters to the sum of 18 bln drams,
return of the Soviet deposits to the population to 1,7 bln drams. It is
scheduled to direct additional 5 bln drams for construction of schools,
etc. According to the minister, the key macroeconomic indicators
in the draft budget did not change. Forecast on GDP growth by 1,2%
to 3,214 tln drams has been mainly laid in the country’s financial
document. Deflator index will make up 2% of GDP, and the average
annual inflation – 4% -1,5%.

PRESS RELEASE
Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR)
Press Office
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
email: [email protected]
web:
blog: farusa.wordpress.com
_________________________

H is Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, will preside over the FAR
Tribute Gala to honor Dr. Edgar M. Housepian
This January, as the
Fund for Armenian Relief continues to celebrate 20 years of providing
strength
and opportunity to the people of Armenia, the organization will honor
one of
their noble and extraordinary founders, Dr. Edgar M. Housepian.
A tribute committee
chaired by Dr. Tavit Najarian was formed to organize the commemoration
on
January 15 at a gala held at Cipriani Wall Street in lower
Manhattan. Those who
attend will be blessed with the presence of His Holiness Karekin II,
the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, who will preside over the event.
Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), highlighted
the occasion. "Let me say how
deeply grateful we are that His Holiness Karekin II will be gracing us
with his
presence on this special occasion," he said. "For the past ten years,
since his
pontificate began, Vehapar has been the symbol of everyone’s hopes and
aspirations for Armenia, and he has been the major force in realizing
countless
humanitarian and spiritual objectives among the people of our young
republic.
It is so fitting to have our Catholicos among us, presiding over us,
as we
honor a visionary figure, Dr. Edgar Housepian, and honor, too, the
past and
future of the Fund for Armenian Relief."
The son of two
notable members of the Armenian community, Dr. Housepian had an
extraordinary
career as a prominent neurosurgeon at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical
Center. Now
retired, Dr. Housepian is the vice chairman of FAR’s board of
directors and the
chair of FAR’s Medical Committee. He also carries on humanitarian work
as the
Special Advisor for International Relations at Columbia-Presbyterian
Medical
Center.
When, in 1988, the
earth shook Gyumri and Spitak to their cores, Dr. Housepian took it
upon
himself to mobilize an all-out relief effort. Together with the late
prominent
builder and philanthropist Kevork Hovnanian and Archbishop Torkom
Manoogian, he
gathered supplies needed in the earthquake ravaged region and flew to
the
motherland to witness the impact of the disaster firsthand.
They saw the tragedy
and knew that its impacts would last much longer than after the news
faded from
the headlines. Armenia would need continued assistance from its
brothers and
sisters in the Diaspora. It was from this realization that the Fund
for Armenian
Relief was born.
Initially
functioning as a relief organization, over the past 20 years FAR has
fully
supported Armenia through its transition to a market democracy since
the fall
of the Soviet Union. FAR is now one of the most effective development
organizations
in Armenia, as well as a proud partner of the international community
and the
Armenian people.
A true visionary,
Dr. Housepian has helped to lead the organization as it has developed
life changing
programs in education,
child protection, social services, and, in particular, medical
education.
Dr. Housepian is a
strong proponent in this realm. He spearheaded FAR’s Continuing
Medical
Education (CME) program, which gives Armenian physicians the
opportunity to
continue to enhance and refine their skills. He is also responsible
for
rebuilding the National Medical Library, the primary resource for
Armenia’s
medical community.
In another step
toward fostering sciences and the arts in Armenia and thwarting the
brain
drain, Dr. Housepian also helped to establish the Armenian National
Science and
Education Fund (ANSEF), which provides grants to Armenians engaged in
environmental and scientific research, archeology, and education, who
would
otherwise have to leave their home country to pursue their work. ANSEF
has
since raised over one million dollars for such research in Armenia.
"This valued undertaking remains
a shining example of his dedication to the preservation of Armenia’s
reputation
and prominence as a center of excellence in scientific research and
innovation," said Dr. Najarian, the
co-founder of ANSEF.
"Through his activities at FAR,
Dr. Housepian has touched the lives of so many in Armenia in his
modest and
dignified mien," continued Dr. Najarian.
He also cited the following quote by the English poet Samuel Taylor
Coleridge to define Dr. Housepian; "He is the best physician who is
the most ingenious
inspirer of hope."
Through everything –
even the heartbreak, destruction and debris of the earthquake and the
war – Dr.
Housepian has always retained a belief in the resilience and strength
of the
Armenian people. For this, he continues to dedicate himself to
providing opportunity
and hope to the motherland.
Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian also expressed his deep
feelings about Dr. Edgar Housepian.
"In spite of all his
tremendous accomplishments as a world-class neurosurgeon, Dr. Edgar
Housepian
remains a quiet and private man. I know he prefers to keep to the
background,
and perform his duties quietly and unassumingly," he said. "But he is
truly the
best that our community represents – and he carries forward a legacy
of service
he inherited from his parents. As we honor him on January 15, we will
also be
paying tribute to the remarkable achievements of the Fund for Armenian
Relief,
which has focused the compassion of people like Dr. Housepian toward
Armenia,
and has allowed them to share their expertise with the people of our
homeland."

And for this, he is
beloved by so many.
"Edgar Housepian is a truly unique individual," said
FAR Board Chairman Randy Sapah-Gulian. "Not only is he a distinguished
surgeon,
family man, and humanitarian, he is a source of inspiration and a
model for all
who wish to make a difference in this world. I can think of no better
individual to recognize and honor."
Mr. Sapah-Gulian also extolled the fortune of having His Holiness
Karekin II host
the evening. "It
is indeed a remarkable privilege and a great honor that the Catholicos
will preside
over a most auspicious event," he said. "This will be a very special
evening,
one in which we will all be able to truly see how the selflessness and
passion
of one man can impact the well being of our most beloved Armenia."
Funds from Dr. Housepian’s anniversary gala will support the
Dr. Edgar M. Housepian Medical Education Fund, which will continue to
establish
Armenia as an international center for medical education and research,
and will,
in essence, give the Armenian people the tools they need to succeed.
# # #

About FAR
Since its founding in response to the 1988 earthquake, FAR has served
hundreds of
thousands of people through more than 220 relief and development
programs in Armenia
and Karabagh. It has channeled more than $265 million in humanitarian
assistance
by implementing a wide range of projects including emergency relief,
construction,
education, medical aid, and economic development.

For more information on FAR or to send donations, contact us at 630
Second Avenue,
New York, NY 10016; telephone (212) 889-5150; fax (212) 889-4849;

e-mail [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]].

— December 2nd, 2009

Fund for Armenian Relief | 630 Second Avenue | New York | NY | 10016

‘OSCE CO-CHAIRS WORK TIRELESSLY TO SUPPORT ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN,’ SAYS OSCE CHAIR-IN-OFFICE

Tert.am
16:08 ~U 01.12.09

The dialogue on European security can be meaningful only if it is
tied to concrete progress, the foreign ministers of the 56 OSCE
participating States heard at the start of the 17th OSCE Ministerial
Council in Athens today, reads the OSCE official website.

Greek President Karolos Papoulias, welcoming the ministers and
high-level representatives at the opening session, said, "The Athens
Ministerial provides us all with an important opportunity to send out
a clear message of unity on the need for enhanced dialogue complemented
by joint action."

During his speech, OSCE Chair-in-Office, Greek Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister George Papandreou underscored the importance of talks
on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk
Group, which is co-chaired by France, Russia, and the United States.

"The co-chairs of the Minsk Group have worked tirelessly to support
the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan as they approach the time to
take difficult decisions aimed at resolving their differences. Here
in Athens, we must leave no doubt that this process enjoys the solid
support of the entire OSCE community," said Papandreou.

More than 45 ministers are attending the two-day Ministerial Council.

The OSCE Foreign Ministers will adopt decisions and give political
guidelines on a wide range of topics in the politico-military,
economic and environmental and human dimensions of security.

NORTHERN CYPRUS REPRESENTATIVE: TURKEY WILL BE BY AZERBAIJAN’S SIDE

news.az
Dec 1 2009
Azerbaijan

"Azerbaijan is obviously concerned with the signing of the
Turkish-Armenian protocols. Yet it can be sure that Turkey will never
accept the things that are inadmissible for Azerbaijan", representative
of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in Azerbaijan Zeki Gazioghlu
has said.

He said Turkey will be by Azerbaijan’s side like in case with Northern
Cyprus.

"All the governments rely on their people in their activity, therefore,
Azerbaijani people have nothing to worry about", Gazioghlu added.

ARTHUR ABRAHAM, VIC DARCHINYAN AMONG BEST BOXERS IN THE RING WEEKLY LIST

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.12.2009 12:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A weekly boxing list was compiled by The Ring
magazine. This week 10 best active fighters from the former Soviet
Union or Soviet satellite states were ranked:

1. Arthur Abraham, Armenia: 31-0, 25 KOs
2. Vitali Klitschko, Ukraine: 38-2, 37 KOs
3. Wladimir Klitschko, Ukraine: 53-3, 47 KOs
4. Tomasz Adamek, Poland: 39-1, 27 KOs
5. Lucian Bute, Romania: 25-0, 20 KOs
6. Zsolt Erdei, Hungary: 31-0, 17 KOs
7. Vic Darchinyan, Armenia: 32-2-1, 26 KOs
8. Sergiy Dzinziruk, Ukraine: 36-0, 22 KOs
9. Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, Poland: 42-2-1, 31 KOs
10. Yuri Foreman, Belarus: 28-0, 8 KOs