Author: Boshkezenian Garik

OSCE AND BRITISH COUNCIL ORGANIZE COURSE FOR FEMALE CANDIDATES IN ARMENIA ON ELECTION CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT

armradio.am
19.09.2008 16:33

How to run an election campaign, manage media relations and give
political speeches are among the topics of an OSCE-organized two-day
course for women that started today in the southern Syunik province
of Armenia.

The course, jointly organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the
British Council Armenia, targets women from Syunik who are running
in the local elections.

A British consultant is teaching the course, which aims to help
participants enhance their lobbying and public speaking skills as well
as their ability to better formulate and communicate their messages
to voters and the media.

"Lack of confidence is an obstacle for women to run effective campaigns
and lobbying efforts," said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, Head of the
OSCE Office in Yerevan. "We hope that this training course will
boost the participants’ confidence and promote networking among
women interested in becoming active in local politics. In the end,
we hope that more women are elected to local bodies."

This course is part of an OSCE Office project aiming to empower women
in Syunik in the economic and political fields. The OSCE Office opened
a Programme Presence in the Syunik city of Kapan in 2006.

A similar course was held earlier this week in Yerevan. The training
in the capital, which targeted women representing Armenia’s leading
political parties, was part of a British Council "Wo/Men in politics"
project financed by the British Embassy Yerevan.

RICE: U.S. AND TURKEY TO BUILD FOUNDATION FOR COOPERATION IN CAUCASUS

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.09.2008 13:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The United States and Europe are solidifying ties
with neighbors, the U.S. Secretary of State said.

"We are working as a wider group, including with our friends in
Finland and Sweden, who have been indispensable partners throughout
this recent crisis. We are backing worthy initiatives, like Norway’s
High North policy," Condoleezza Rice said in her address to the German
Marshall Fund.

"We are working to resolve other regional disputes, such as Nagorno
Karabakh, and to build with friends and allies like Turkey a foundation
for cooperation in the Caucasus. And we will not allow Russia to wield
a veto over the future of the Euro-Atlantic community – neither what
states are offered membership, nor the choice of states that accept
it. We have made this particularly clear to our friends in Ukraine,"
she said, the State Department’s press center reported.

"The United States and Europe are deepening our cooperation in pursuit
of greater energy independence – working with Azerbaijan, and Georgia,
and Turkey, and the Caspian countries. We will expand and defend open
global energy in the economy from abusive practices. There cannot be
one set of rules for Russia, Inc. – and another for everyone else,"
Secretary Rice said.

TURKISH MASS MEDIA WORKS UNDER RESTRICTIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.09.2008 15:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The mass media in Turkey, including the
Armenian-language press, works under certain restrictions, Ara
Kochunyan, editor-in-chief of Zhamanak Istanbul-based Armenian-language
newspaper, told a news conference in Yerevan.

"We do not use the term ‘genocide’ in our newspaper not because we deny
this fact. This is a very sensitive issue in Turkey. Our newspaper
publishes various versions of the 1915 events and the readers make
conclusions," he said, adding that terminology is given a back seat
in the issue.

"The Armenian community of Istanbul is in an awkward position. On the
one hand, we are Turkish citizens. On the other hand, we are the heirs
of the victims of the 1915 events, when several dozens of thousands
of people was all that has remained from a 200-thousand Armenian
community. We have to keep it in mind," Kochunyan said and added,
"Each editor has his "inner censor."

Zhamanak was based in 1908 and is one of a few Armenian-language
newspapers in the Diaspora.

YEREVAN MAYOR PAYS OFFICIAL VISIT TO SOFIA AND DELHI

Noyan Tapan

Se p 17, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. On September 9-15, a delegation
led by Yerevan Mayor Yervand Zakharian visited the capital cities of
Bulgaria and India.

In the capital city of Bulgaria, Sofia, where Yerevan Mayor was
at the invitation of his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borisov, the
solemn ceremony of unveiling of the Khachkar monument given to Sofia
by Yerevan Mayor’s Office took place on September 10 at Yerevan Park
with the participation of Yerevan and Sofia Mayors.

Y. Zakharian’s and B. Borisov’s official meeting took place after
the solemn ceremony, during which an agreement On Friendship Between
Yerevan and Sofia was signed.

Y. Zakharian invited Sofia Mayor to take part in the festivity of
2790th anniversary of Yerevan, which will take place on October 10-11.

Yerevan Mayor met with representatives of the Bulgarian Armenian
community on September 10 at the RA Embassy in Bulgaria.

According to the report of Yerevan Mayor’s Office Information and
Public Relations Department, on September 12-15, the delegation led
by Y. Zakharian at the invitation of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila
Dikshit visited the capital city of India.

Within the framework of the visit Yerevan Mayor had meetings with
Delhi Chief Minister and Delhi Mayor Arti Mehra. Cooperation prospects
between the capital cities of the two friendly countries were discussed
during the meetings.

Yerevan Mayor and Delhi Chief Minister signed a Memorandum On Mutual
Consent, which outlines cooperation in the spheres of economy, health,
education, science, urban development, and information technologies.

The official ceremony of opening of Armenia Street took place on
September 13 at the park in front of the building of the RA Embassy
in Delhi. Delhi and Yerevan Mayors made speeches during the ceremony.

The delegation led by Yerevan Mayor returned to Yerevan on September
15.

NEW UN CHAIR CALLS GEORGIA AGGRESSOR

Kommersant
Sept 17 2008
Russia

Georgia committed an act of aggression and violated the UN Charter when
it invaded South Ossetia, Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann stated on September
16 at his first press conference as chairman of the UN General
Assembly, reports Inner City Press. The 63rd General Assembly of the
United Nations began today at it New York headquarters. Brockmann spoke
about the need to reform the UN Security Council at a closed session,
saying that some of the members of the Security Council are a threat
to world peace because of their inability to overcome their passion
for war.

Brockmann criticized the United States in a conversation with
a representative of another permanent member of the Security
Council. He said the veto in the council had "gone to the head"
of the U.S. and given it the idea that it can do anything it wants
without consequences. There are ten regularly changing members of the
council and five permanent members with vetoes. The permanent members
are China, the U.S., Great Britain, France and Russia. The structure
of the council has not changed since 1945. At a closed session of
the 62nd General Assembly, it was decided to begin negotiations on
expanding the Security Council no later than in February 2008.

Brockmann is a former foreign minister of Nicaragua, a Catholic priest
and a winner of the Lenin Prize. He was elected chairman of the General
Assembly for one year as a representative of Latin America and the
Caribbean Basin, whose turn it is to chair this assembly. Nicaragua
is the only country besides Russia to recognize the independence of
South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Other countries, such as Armenia, Belarus
and Venezuela, have expressed support for Russia’s recognition of
the republics, but not recognized them themselves.

GRAND SLAM INTERNATIONAL CHESS SUPERTOURNAMENT ENDS IN SPAIN

Noyan Tapan

Se p 16, 2008

BILBAO, SEPTEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The Grand Slam international chess
supertournament ended on September 13 in the city of Bilbao, Spain. In
the last, 10th round Levon Aronian was defeated, gained 13 points and
shared the 2-3rd places with Magnus Carlsen (Norway). Veselin Topalov
(Bulgaria) became the winner of the tournament with 17 points.

TURKEY WARMS TO ARMENIA

Canberra Times
September 15, 2008 Monday
Australia

The pace of the thaw taking place between Turkey and Armenia is nothing
short of breathtaking. Much attention has been focused on Turkish
President Abdullah Gul having attended a football match in Armenia’s
capital, Yerevan, at the invitation of his Armenian counterpart,
Serzh Sarkisian, but the two sides are moving beyond symbolism.

A deal has been struck under which Armenian power stations will supply
electricity to Turkey, and state-run Turkish Radio Television has
signed a cooperation pact with Armenia 1 TV.

Gul has even professed full confidence that the issue which caused
Turkey to close its border with Armenia in 1993, the latter’s war on
Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, can be resolved with
relative ease.

It is depressing to compare all this with the lethargy that typifies
intra-Arab cooperation. Arab governments are incapable of joint
action. They talk about unity, but they connive against one another
with neither mercy nor shame and regard one another’s citizens as
hostile aliens.If successful, Turkey’s charm offensive will show how
soft power can undo the complications wrought by the harder variety.

"THE MINSK GROUP IS A SUITABLE FORMAT FOR KARABAKH CONFLICT"

AZG Armenian Daily
16/09/2008

Karabakh conflict

Similar opinion expressed US Permanent Representative to NATO
Kurt Volker while speaking of NATO’s possible participation in the
settlement of the "frozen" conflict.

The diplomat at the same time announced that the improving relations
between Armenia and Turkey will have a positive influence on Karabakh
conflict and the whole region as well.

"Establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey and
open borders will have a positive influence on the whole region. The
solution of the available issues will contribute to the development
of regional cooperation and integration of the region into the world
economy", he said.

U.S. USES ISRAEL TO ATTACK IRAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.09.2008 15:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert summoned Defense
Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni for an urgent
consultation on Iran Wed. Sept. 10, as the USS Theodore Roosevelt
aircraft carrier headed out to the Mediterranean for missions "in
support of maritime security."

Its arrival will bring the number of US aircraft carriers in the
Mediterranean, Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea to four, compared with
two Russian warships. Most of the Russian fleet in the region is
concentrated in the Black Sea whence it has easy and rapid access to
Middle East waters.

The Roosevelt will be followed by its strike force, which includes
the guided missile cruiser Monterey, the guided missile destroyers
Mason and Nitze, with 7,300 sailors and marines aboard, and the attack
submarine Springfield.

Sources report that the USS Ronald Reagan carrier and its strike group
began engaging in assault and support missions for US and NATO forces
in Afghanistan on Aug. 28.

The Iwo Jima carrier group, whose decks carry 6,000 sailors, air
crews and marines, supports the US Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean
and Fifth Fleet in the Gulf with a massive amphibious capability.

The USS San Antonio amphibious transport dock ship is the first vessel
of its class to be deployed in the region as a platform for supporting
Marine movements and operations ashore.

The USS Peleliu carrier patrols the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. It is
escorted by vessels carrying a large Marine contingent.

Monday, Iran launched a three-day naval-air-missile exercise to
practice defense tactics for its nuclear sites, DEBKAfile reports.

Meanwhile, Alaska Governor and Republican vice presidential nominee
Sarah Palin told ABC News that nuclear weapons under the control of
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would be "extremely dangerous to everyone
on this globe." She called for a hands-off approach to Israel if it
decided to strike Iranian nuclear facilities.

"We cannot second-guess the steps that Israel has to take to defend
itself," she said.

BOX: DARCHINYAN LANDS BIG TITLE UNIFICATION BOUT
by Adrian Warren

AAP Newsfeed
September 10, 2008 Wednesday 1:37 PM AEST

Australia’s Vic Darchinyan has landed the biggest bout of his boxing
career – a super flyweight unification match against Mexican maestro
Cristian Mijares in Las Vegas.

Darchinyan’s manager Elias Nassar said he clinched the deal for the
November 1 bout early today.

IBF champion Darchinyan will attempt to win the WBA and WBC titles
currently held by the 26-year-old Mexican southpaw.

Mijares has a record of 36-3-2 with 15KOs and is unbeaten in his last
26 contests stretching back six years.

The Mexican is acknowledged by the prestigious Ring Magazine as the
leading super flyweight in the world.

Darchinyan, 32, who has a record of 30-1-1 (24KOs) has also held the
IBF and IBO flyweight titles and the IBO super flyweight championship.

The Armenian-born Darchinyan will be fulfilling one of his major aims
as he has frequently sought a prestigious unification bout.

He is currently in Armenia but, according to Nassar, resumed training
a week and a half ago.

Darchinyan, who is also a southpaw, suffered his only professional
loss last year to Nonito Donaire of the Philippines.