Author: Boshkezenian Garik

GEORGIAN PATRIARCH MEETS THE ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR

armradio.am
04.12.2009 18:16

On December 3 the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II
received the Armenian Ambassador to Georgia, Hrach Silvanyan and
the leader of the Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Vazgen Mirzakhanyan.

During the meeting the interlocutors discussed in detail the status of
the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, the issue of preservation
and renovation of the Armenian monuments of Georgia, including the
churches.

His Holiness assured that the above-mentioned issues would be
effectively solved with joint efforts of the religious and secular
authorities of Georgia and emphasized the importance of development
of the Armenian-Georgian relations. He said he hopes to have an
opportunity to host His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians in the near future.

EC SECRETARY-GENERAL BACKS ARMENIA-TURKEY RAPPROCHEMENT

news.am
Dec 3 2009
Armenia

RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with EC Secretary-General
Thorbjorn Jagland within the framework of OSCE Ministerial Council’s
conference in Athens, Dec 1-2.

Nalbandyan congratulated Jagland on his appointment as CE Secretary
General and expressed confidence he will make a major contribution to
the fulfillment of the institution’s objectives, RA MFA Press Service
informed NEWS.am.

The officials also discussed Armenia-Turkey reconciliation. Thorbjorn
Jagland welcomed steps to the normalization of the bilateral
relations. The RA Foreign Minister invited Jagland to pay a visit
to Yerevan.

TURKISH EXTERNAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE TO APPROVE PROTOCOLS

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.12.2009 22:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan will discuss normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations during their meeting on December 7, RPA member Gagik
Melikyan said.

"Turkey will make an attempt to link the Karabakh issue to the
process, but in vain" the parliamentarian said, adding that the
Turkish parliamentary commission on external relations will approve
the protocols.

PURCHASE AND SALE TRANSACTIONS OF 3.45 MILLION DOLLARS CARRIED OUT AT NASDAQ OMX ARMENIA OJSC ON DECEMBER 1

NOYAN TAPAN
DECEMBER 1, 2009
YEREVAN

Purchase and sale transactions of 3.45 million dollars at the weighted
average exchange rate of 385.37 drams per dollar were carried out at
Nasdaq OMX Armenia OJSC on December 1. According to the press service
of the Central Bank of Armenia, the closing price made 385.3 drams.

ANC NOT TO COOPERATE WITH AUTHORITIES UNTIL THERE ARE POLITICAL PRISONERS IN COUNTRY

Noyan Tapan
Dec 1, 2009

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. "Slightly following the convention
of the Republican Party of Armenia I received an impression of the
Soviet Union Communist Party Congress," Armenian National Congress
representative, former RA Foreign Minister Alexander Arzumanian said
at a December 1 press conference. According to him, the speech of
RPA leader Serzh Sargsyan, which pro-governmental figures classed as
"epochal," seemed not to be about Armenia.

Speaking about the issue of starting a dialogue with the authorities or
coperating with them A. Arzumanian declared that no dialogue will take
place until there is even if one political prisoner in the country. He
mentioned that no hint of cooperation with the authorities was voiced
in first RA President, ANC leader Levon Ter-Petrosian’s last speech
but only an appeal was voiced instead of begging for legitimacy of
foreigners to try to gain the confidence of their own people.

As to the process of Armenia-Turkey rapprochement, according to A.

Arzumanian, it is conditioned by Armenia’s one-sided concessions in
the Nagorno Karabakh issue. According to his prediction, the Turkish
parliament will not ratify the protocols until it receives a promise
from Armenia on withdrawal of the troops from the regions adjoining
Nagorno Karabakh.

MARCHING IN YEREVAN DEDICATED TO HIV/AIDS

Aysor
Nov 30 2009
Armenia

On December 1 is the international day of fighting against AIDS. By
the initiation of some NGOs will be organized a peaceful marching
through the streets of Yerevan by involving the young volunteers. For
participating in the marching tomorrow at 16 pm in the park situated
near the Conservatory the young people will put on white clothes
on which will be sawn the red ribbons symbolizing the fight against
HIV/AIDS. In front of the clothes there will be numbers which will
express the number of the people who are infected with HIV/AIDS

Than the marching will move through Sayat Nova Street to Tertyan,
Tumanyan, North Avenue to Republic Square after which the participants
will move to Aznavoure Square.

At 18 pm there will be a screen in front of the Moscow cinema on which
there will be a counter. The volunteers will ask the passers-by to put
multicolor stones into the baskets in order to slow down the speed of
counter. The counter is symbolizing the increasing of the amount of
the people how are infected with HIV in Armenia and the stones will
symbolize the process of decreasing of the people.

During the marching there will be also performances which will last
for 1-2 minutes then the marching will be concluded in the hall of
the Moscow cinema at 19 pm by the presentation of the film called
"Who has never lived".

TURKEY READY TO RECEIVE HISTORICAL COMMISSION

news.am
Nov 30 2009
Armenia

The director General of the State Archives of Turkey Yusuf Sarinay
reported that the preparatory work is over and they are ready to
receive a historical commission to be formed under the Armenian-Turkish
Protocols.

A Turkish website reports that Yusuf Sarinay pointed out that Turkey
has a 700-year -long history of the Ottoman Empire, which is of
international importance.

"At present the information on over 30 countries is kept in our
archives. We have finished the preparatory work for receiving the
joint historical commission to be set up under the Armenian-Turkish
protocols," Sarinay said. He said that the agency has published
documents on the last years on the Ottoman Empire, including the 258
documents on Armenian riots.

NEWS.am reminds readers that in his interviews with international
media outlets, Turkish President Abdullah Gul repeatedly stated that
Turkey had opened its military archives. He proposed the formation
of a commission of historians and gave assurances that Turkey will
admit any expert opinion. It is noteworthy that the Turkish archives
containing the information on the Ottoman Empire have been examined and
"cleaned out" over recent decades. So, with the best will in the world,
any document on the Armenian Genocide can hardly be found.

Second stage of 5th Children’s and Youth Film Festival launches in Alaverdi
28.11.2009 18:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The second stage of Children’s and Youth Film
Festival launched on November 27 in Alaverdi, Armenia.

Emphasizing the importance of the festival, Nune Manukyan, Head of
Rolan Bykov foundation for Development of Cinema and Television for
Children and Youth, noted: `After 5 years of its existence, the
festival has became a tradition. The festival aims to develop
children’s interest cinema, offering a chance at viewing best youth
movies of the last years. It’s also important for children outside
Yerevan to be given a chance to participate in international
festivals.’

Starting November 27, Alaverdi cultural center will host the screening
of short and animation movies presented within October 15-19 5th
Children’s and Youth Film Festival frameworks in Yerevan. Movies’
screening is scheduled in all Armenian regions till the yearend.

EurAsEC anti-crisis fund to come into operation soon
28.11.2009 12:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan attended a meeting
of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC), where RA has observer
status. The Armenian delegation includes Finance Minister Tigran
Davtyan, Transport and Communications Minister Gurgen Sargsyan and
other officials.

Leaders of Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan were
also participating.

The agenda included implementation of decisions taken at the previous
session meeting, creation of joint economic development zone and
efforts to overcome the financial crisis. Besides, documents on
formation of a customs union between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus
were signed.

As to the EurAsEC anti-crisis fund, Armenia, as a cofounder, has
already ratified all documents relating to it.

ON THE WAY TO WORLD WAR TWO VICTORY 65TH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVITIES

Wednesday, 25 November 2009

Today the State Commission on Organization of Great Patriotic War
Victory 65th Anniversary Celebrations called its first session,
presided at by commission chairman, Republic of Armenia Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan.

"The festivities dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the victory had
in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 provide a unique opportunity to
pay tribute to those participants of World War Two who are still with
us, as well as to those who gave their lives for the glorious victory."

The meeting discussed the possibility of Armenia’s participation
in the CIS Heads of Government meeting-approved jubilee actions and
adopted a national program of festive events.

In conclusion, corresponding assignments were issued to the heads of
concerned State agencies.