RESTORED ART SCHOOL OPENED IN ARMENIAN TOWN OF ARMAVIR
PanARMENIAN.Net
23.10.2009 18:55 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On October 23, restored Art School opened in
Armenian town of Armavir. The opening was attended by RA Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan. School students presented a concert program
in opening celebration.
The school, tutoring 345 students, has dance, music and art
departments.
AMD 163 billion was allocated for school repair, which was completed
within 2-year period.
GERMANY WELCOMES ARMENIA-TURKEY NORMALIZATION PROCESS
news.am
Oct 23 2009
Armenia
The newly appointed German Ambassador to Armenia Ambassador Hans-Jochen
Schmidt presented his credentials to RA President Serzh Sargsyan.
The RA presidential press office reported that the Armenian leader
congratulated the Ambassador on commencing his mission in Armenia
and his predecessors left a rich legacy of Armenian-German cooperation.
The Armenian President expressed the confidence that Ambassador
Hans-Jochen Schmidt will make a great contribution to the bilateral
relations.
The Armenian leader pointed out the importance of developing relations
with Germany, one of Armenia’s major trade partners. Germany’s
assistance to Armenia is the second largest after that of the United
States. Armenia and Germany are implementing numerous technical
and financial programs, a maintaining high-level political dialogue
and actively cooperating within the European Union. The sides also
maintain active cultural contacts.
The German Ambassador stated Germany will continue its active
assistance to Armenia, and he will spare no efforts for the development
of Armenian-German cooperation.
The sides exchanged views on developing bilateral ties and on regional
problems. Ambassador Hans-Jochen Schmidt stated German welcomes
the Armenia-Turkey normalization process as an important step to
consolidating security, stability and cooperation in the region.
‘TURKEY WILL OPEN BORDER IN FEBRUARY,’ SAYS EUROPEAN INTEGRATION CHAIR KAREN BEKARYAN
Tert
Oct 22 2009
Armenia
"The Armenian-Turkish border will open in February," said European
Integration NGO chair Karen Bekaryan at a press conference today.
Bekaryan explained his forecast, in the first place, by events about
to take place in Turkey: the election, in particular.
In Bekaryan’s opinion, if the Armenian-Turkish process fails or it
reaches its final end, Turkey will face such pressure from outside
that its governing party’s positions inside Turkey will be weakened.
And that, according to the analyst, is not advantageous for Turkey’s
leadership; particularly, on the threshold of the upcoming election.
Apart from that, Bekaryan believes that on the threshold of the
election, Turkey wouldn’t want to see the Kurdish issue raised in
its country, so it will be obliged not to ruin the Armenian-Turkish
process.
"The ratification process will be faster than normal," said the
European Integration chair.
Referring to the Armenian side, Bekaryan stated that if the Armenian
side would like to see an outcome from the current process, it must
work consistently every day, because this is a sensitive issue for
all those involved.
ARMENIA HAS 76 OPERATING SMALL HYDROPOWER PLANTS
/ARKA/
October 21, 2009
YEREVAN
Seventy-six small hydropower plants were operating in Armenia as
of October 1, 2009 with the total capacity of 97 megawatt, Abgar
Budaghian, head of a Public Services Regulatory Commission’s (PSRC)
department in charge of investment programs, said to ARKA.
He said all these plants generate 337 million KWh electrical power
a year and besides, 68 licenses have been granted for construction
of new plants with the aggregate capacity of 157 megawatt which will
generate 552 million KWh a year.
The majority of them are being built in the north-eastern province
of Lori and southernmost province of Syunik, rich with hydro potential.
MOSCOW TO HOST A MEETING OF ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI MPS
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.10.2009 19:46 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At the initiative of Russia’s State Duma the meeting
of Azerbaijani and Armenian deputies will take place in Moscow. As
a source in Russia’s parliament told PanARMENIAN.Net, the settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, situation in the region and other
issues will be discussed at the meeting.
According to the source, the event should confirm the fact that
Russia does not intend to leave the Caucasus region and intends to
continue its policy aimed at establishing regional stability and
conflict resolving.
The meeting will be attended by the ambassadors of Armenia and
Azerbaijan to Russia Armen Smbatyan and Polad Bul Bul oglu, as well
as the representative of the President of Russia on international
cultural cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoi.
RA DEFENCE MINISTER RECEIVES AMBASSADOR OF CHINA
Noyan Tapan
Oct 20, 2009
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Defence Minister Seyran Ohanian
received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s
Republic of China to RA Hun Tzu on October 20. S. Ohanian thanked
China’s political and military leadership for the humanitarian aid
provided to Armenia in September within the framework of fulfillment
of agreements signed in 2006-2008.
According to a report by the RA Defence Ministry Press Service,
S. Ohanian emphasized that cooperation between the two countries
based on high political dialogue continues developing in military,
public, economic and cultural spheres.
NEW EDUCATIONAL COMPLEX WILL BE CREATED IN SHOUSHI
NKR Government Information and Public Relations Department
October 16, 2009
Today, the NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutynyan has met with
representatives of All Armenian Fund "Hayastan" and French benefactors
Haroutyun and Hermine Aydabiryan, Armenians by nature. A concerned
talk connected with the issue of reorganization of the Shoushi school
after Mouratsan took place. It is anticipated that on the basis of
this educational hearth an educational complex, which will cover the
main flows of the high and vocational schools will be founded. The
Prime Minister and the benefactors noted that the new establishment
must have all modern educational conveniences, provided with facilities
and specialists, a hostel and gymnasiums inclusive. By A.Haroutyunyan’s
words, the establishment will be of republican importance and will have
a priority in replenishing the economy of the NKR with handicraftsmen.
Financing of the project will be, for the most part, conducted by
Hermine Aydabiryan’s relative Eznik Mozlyan’s bequeathed means. It
is anticipated that the French branch of All Armenian Fund "Hayastan"
will assume financial patronage over the establishment.
The Minister of Education and Science V.Khachatryan gave his
clarifications on the issue discussed during the meeting.
HRAZDAN HPP 5TH UNIT TO BE PUT IN SERVICE
Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Oct 20 2009
Armenia
Hrazdan HPP 5th power unit will be put into service in June 2010. It
is a unique station, as a new unit 480 MW is being built adjacent to
the old unfinished 300 MW power unit. We plan to exploit both power
generating units. Indeed, it is a novelty," ArmRosGazprom Company
Board Chairman Karen Karapetyan stated at the Oct. 20 interview with
the journalists.
According to him, this was never done before. There are many similar
power generating units of 300 MW around the globe, that need to be
updated. Shortly after the launching of the Hrazdan HPP fifth power
generating unit, ArmRosGazprom can initiate the exchange of experience.
The preparation steps of the reconstruction and updating program of the
Hrazdan HPP 5th power unit was completed in 2008. New effective and
competitive heat and power engineering capacities of 480 MW will be
available on the energy map of Armenia next year. ArmRosGazprom will
have an opportunity to be involved in the Armenian energy delivery
sector, Karapetyan said.
ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AND NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF GEORGIA DISCUSS COOPERATION ISSUES
ARMENPRESS
Oct 19, 2009
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan received today newly appointed ambassador of Georgia Gregori
Tabatadze on the occasion of handing the copies of his credentials.
Armenian Foreign Ministry press service told Armenpress that
congratulating the ambassador on the appointment, minister Nalbandyan
expressed hope that he will have an important contribution to the
consolidation and development of mutually beneficial Armenian-Georgian
cooperation.
The interlocutors, highlighting the implementation of achieved
arrangements, discussed a wide-range of issues on economic, political
and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
Minister Nalbandyan and the ambassador exchanged thoughts on expansion
of legal-agreement field and referred to regional issues.
Sunday’s Zaman , Turkey
Oct 18 2009
Armenian journalist Hakob Chaqrian: recent rapprochement between
Armenia and Turkey may disturb some circles
Hakob Chaqrian from the AZG, a daily published in Armenia, says the
protocols signed between Turkey and Armenia in Zurich bear serious
political risks for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an and Armenian
President Serzh Sarksyan. Chaqrian further said: `The move may disturb
some circles.
Both leaders may become targets of fanatic nationalist groups; they
have to be careful.’
Chaqrian, who came to Turkey to watch the soccer game between the
Turkish and Armenian teams in Bursa, spoke to Sunday’s Zaman. The
Armenian journalist stressed that the Armenian diaspora, eager to
prevent close ties between the two nations, actually put the future of
their native country in jeopardy.
Chaqrian, a former academic at the then-USSR Academy of Science, is a
renowned scholar on the Seljuks. Chaqrian, who returned to his
homeland after the collapse of Soviet Union, fights for normalization
between the two countries. Noting that the Armenian diaspora feels
uncomfortable with the recent moves, Chaqrian stresses that some
countries, including Russia, are uneasy about the developments.
How would you interpret the recent moves to maintain close ties
between the two nations?
We are witnessing pretty historic and delicate steps; both countries
are leaving the Cold War era behind. When it acquired its independence
in 1991, Armenia was aware that it had to establish good relations
with Turkey. It should be noted that the legendary leader of the
Turkish nationalists, Alparslan TürkeÅ?, established diplomatic
relations with Armenian back then. However, following the remarks by
President Turgut Ã-zal, who said after the occupation of
Nagorno-Karabakh that there would be nothing if a few bombs were
dropped on Armenian lands, Armenia felt it had to look for other
protectors, and Russia has become that protector. Turkey’s negative
attitude moved Armenia towards Russia.
How’s the Russian response to current developments?
I do not think Russia is pleased with them; even though they raise no
objections to the recent moves between Turkey and Armenia I do not
think they will allow Armenia to maintain close relations with Turkey
as they did in the case of Georgian-Turkish rapprochement. The current
delicate balance in Caucasus requires this.
Who else is bothered by this rapprochement?
The Armenian diaspora is disturbed by it because they will have no
material at hand, and they actually admit it. Georgia is also partly
uncomfortable. It is worried that it will no longer be an asset for
Turkey.
Do you think that nationalist and fanatic groups may rely on
provocative action in both countries?
Absolutely, they will; both Sarksyan and ErdoÄ?an have taken serious
risks. Both leaders may become the targets of radical groups. They
have to be careful. [But] both leaders will consolidate their
positions if this process goes smoothly. I think Sarksyan will face
some difficulties for a while, but in the end the peace lovers will
win. I hope the same happens in Turkey as well.
Nationalists in Nagorno-Karabakh attacked the Parliament in the past¦
It was a whole different incident. Turkish people thought Karabakh
nationalists did this but the incident had nothing to do with the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
Is it possible that the nations will achieve peace after these moves?
I believe that conciliation between the two nations will take quite
little time. If this process goes this way, the nations will achieve
peace and a common understanding after a 90-year-long disagreement.
The problems may be overcome in a decade. Both nations need time. We
have to be patient; we should not expect that the issues will be
resolved overnight.
Do you think both nations need to reset their minds and memories?
To me, this should not be an option; clearing the memories will do
nothing but freeze the issues. Some may reinvent or revisit these
issues some time later. For this reason, the issues have to be
discussed; there are many countries that have done this. They now have
good ties.
What was the primary incentive and motivation for such a sudden
consensus to take steps toward rapprochement?
I am an Armenian born in Turkey; Turkey is going through a rapid
transformation. The republic had four untouchables when it was
founded: Kurds, Armenians, [Mustafa Kemal] Atatürk and the activities
of the General Staff. It was impossible for the intellectuals and the
writers to disagree with the established and imposed facts and
arguments in respect to these issues. It was a crime to make reference
to the Kurdish issue; being critical of Atatürk was an offense. The
activities of the military were immune to investigation. You had to
call the genocide the so-called or alleged genocide. There are no
longer lawsuits against writers who do not do so.
So the current process is a result of this transformation?
No, I wish it was. This process is the result of work required by
international actors; both parties agreed to resolve their problems
after international pressure because the Caucasus is an extension of
the Middle East. The international system is concerned about chronic
problems in this region. I would rather see resolution of the
bilateral problems via deliberate and voluntary moves by the parties
instead of international pressure; but it did not happen. Yet,
regardless of who initiated the process, what has been done so far is
proper and right.
What are your views with respect to the genocide issue?
Some bad and embarrassing incidents took place on this soil in 1915;
it is not possible to achieve a resolution by denying this. Nobody
would benefit from reluctance to deal with this problem. Everybody has
to face their past. Armenians did not just evaporate in these lands.
Do you think the diaspora will cease its support for Armenia because
of the recent moves?
They already have. Armenia has been unable to receive support from the
diaspora in recent years. The financial and material support provided
by the diaspora has already been reduced by 80 percent because of the
financial crisis. Currently, Armenia relies on the support of the
diaspora in Moscow; others provide no support. Armenia has to survive
by a reliance on its own resources from now on.
Does Armenia’s survival depend on the opening of the border?
This issue is actually exaggerated. The diaspora does not want the
opening of the border; we are able to connect to the world via the
Georgian border, but this cannot go on this way.
It seems that the determination to keep the border closed has been
quite a cost and burden for Armenia?
I think both countries are losing because of the continuation of this
situation where the issues remain unresolved. Armenia is not the only
party that loses. If both parties were able to sustain the close ties
established in 1991, oil and natural gas pipelines would have been
installed appropriately and feasibly. There would have been no delays
in the construction of these lines.
18 October 2009, Sunday
ERCAN YAVUZ BURSA