Author: Chatinian Lara

ARMENIA-EU COOPERATION IS A REALITY TODAY

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.06.2007 15:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia is a crossroad between the East and
West. It’s a bridge uniting Europe and Asia.

So, stability in the country is much desirable, Greek President
Karolos Papoulias said at a meeting with the students and teaching
staff of the Yerevan State University.

Armenia has demonstrated a Europe-oriented foreign policy and today
the Armenia-EU cooperation is not a wish but reality, according to
him. "Now Armenia will have to strengthen positions in Europe what
will result in tighter economic and technical cooperation while
political dialogue will become more constructive," he said.

"It’s time to pass from opposition to cooperation in some issues. Let’s
take Germany and France, for example. Cooperation will prevent
appearance of new dividing lines in the regions where interests of
superpowers clash," he said.

"History is not always merciful. However, sometimes the offended
should demonstrate mercy for offenders, if they acknowledge their
guilt. Germany has managed to change and it became the leader of
European economy in a short period of time," the Greek President said.

However, Mr Papoulias noted the necessity to review the EU policy in
the South Caucasus, where the struggle for energy carriers creates
a dangerous situation. "The European Union should take action for
stability in the region and make the region exemplary for future
generation," he underscored.

When commenting on the commonness of interests of Armenia and
Greece, Mr Papoulias said both states stand for closing in Russia-EU
relations. "Russia is a superpower and it can make its contribution
to the world stability," he said.

Yerevan State University rector, Dr Aram Simonian, who was also
present at the meeting, handed a gold medal to the gust and conferred
him the title of YSU honorary doctor, IA Regnum reports.

VARDAN OSKANIAN AND ABDULLAH GUL DISCUSSED ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS AND KARABAGH SETTLEMENT

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
June 27 2007

Armenian-Turkish relations and the course of the Karabagh conflict
settlement were discussed at a meeting of RA and Turkish FMs Vardan
Oskanian and Abdullah Gul. The meeting was held within the frames of
the summit of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
(BSEC).

According to the information DE FACTO received at RA MFA Press
Office, the sides, in part, had discussed the BSEC agenda and
future plans. Touching on the issue of bilateral relations, Vardan
Oskanian again reaffirmed Armenia’s stand on the issue referring to
normalization of relations with Turkey without preconditions.

Speaking of Karabagh talks, the Turkish minister noted his country
was interested in rapid and just settlement of the conflict.

MATCHES BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND AZERI NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAMS NOT TO TAKE PLACE

Noyan Tapan
Jun 25 2007

HEERENVEEN, JUNE 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Regular sitting of UEFA Executive
Committee took place on June 23 in the city of Heerenveen, Holland. One
of the issues on the agenda regarded matches bewteeen Armenian and
Azerbaijani national football teams scheduled for September 8 and
12. A decision not to hold these matches and not to give any points
to the sides was made at the sitting.

Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by the Press Service of the
Football Federation of Armenia that the latter will not appeal against
that decision.

ARMENIA NOT TO APPEAL UEFA DECISION

A1+
[02:22 pm] 25 June, 2007

The UEFA Executive Committee decided to cancel the EURO-2008
Armenian-Azeri matches.

On 25 June Ruben Hayrapetyan, the President of the Armenian Football
Federation, came forth with a statement today, saying that "we were
deprived of the best opportunity to observe the game of our national
team, which is strengthening day by day." I accept the UEFA and FIFA
regulations and I think only serious arguments and momentous facts
could make the organization make such an unprecedented decision.

AZG Armenian Daily #118, 23/06/2007

Azeri Hysteria

AZERIES SPREAD MISINFORMATION ABOUT ARMENIANS BURNING FIZOULI REGION

"The Armenians are burning grasslands in Fizouli region," such a
misinformation spread the Azeri mass media sources. Moreover,
according to the Azeries, the Armenian armed forces opened fire on the
dwellers of several villages of the region, and, as a result, a big
fire blew. It turned out that the wind spread the fire and 100
hectares of grassland were burnt.

It’s worth mentioning that according to the conclusions of the
European structures, the fire was caused by the weather conditions.

By Aghavni Haroutiunian

Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
June 24 2007

Defence key to Darchinyan theory of evolution

Winsor Dobbin
June 24, 2007

VIC Darchinyan jetted out of Sydney to complete preparations for the
sixth defence of the IBF flyweight title – but he wants more from his
boxing career, and soon.

Darchinyan defends his IBF and IBO belts against Filipino Nonito
Donaire in Bridgeport, Connecticut on July 7, but it is likely to be
his final outing in the division.

Darchinyan, unbeaten in 28 fights with 22 KOs, has beaten most of the
legitimate flyweight threats, and WBC champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam
is reluctant to face the Armenian-born puncher.

Darchinyan has his heart set on a bout with WBC super-flyweight
champion Christian Mijares or former flyweight titleholder Jorge
Arce, who has also moved up in weight. After that he’d love a crack
at multiple world champion Manny Pacquaio, who is campaigning at
super-featherweight – five divisions above where Darchinyan is now.

"I’m the No.1 flyweight and if I don’t get the chance to unify the
title then I have to move up," he said.

"I wouldn’t just beat Mijares, I’d knock him out. No one in the lower
divisions can match my power. In the future, I’d love to take on
someone like Pacquaio and prove my point."

First, Darchinyan has to see off Donaire – which is not a task he
sees as too daunting. "It’ll be over in two rounds," he said. "I’ll
send him to the same place [the hospital] I sent his brother Glenn.

"He moves more than his brother and he’s faster, but I’ll catch up
with him within a couple of rounds. I like all my wins to be KOs."

Trainer Billy Hussein agrees with his fighter’s analysis. "All these
guys line up to fight Vic, shoot their mouths off and say they have a
plan," he said. "As soon as they feel Vic’s power their plans go out
the window. He’s unstoppable. Up to 126 pounds [57 kilograms] or even
130lbs, no one can stay with him."

Darchinyan has been sparring regularly with former IBF
junior-lightweight champion Gairy St Clair, who attests to his
strength. "Vic’s one of the hardest punchers I’ve seen," St Clair
said.

One problem Darchinyan must face is that he left his last opponent,
Victor Burgos, in a coma, although he has now recovered.

"That was one of the hardest times of my career," he said. "Every day
I was ringing America to find out how he was. Now, though, it is in
the past. I’m not thinking about it, I’m focusing on the future.

"I’ve a lot left to achieve and I want to be regarded as one of the
best in the world pound-for-pound."

St Clair, meanwhile, starts to work his way back up the boxing tree
when he faces Filipino Robert Oyan for an IBF regional belt at
Concord RSL on Friday night.

MARKET OF RATING ACTIVITIES FORMS IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Jun 22 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The entrance of Global Rating Group
into the Armenian market is more than important as it opened AmRating
agency in the country. So not only Armenian financial organizations but
also enterprises of other sectors have got the opportunity to receive
a rating from an Armenian rating agency, while AmRating will have a
relative advantage over the agencies not having their subdivisions in
Armenia. Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) Tigran Sargsian
expressed this opinion on June 22 at the press conference held on
the occasion of assigning a rating to Araratbank by Global Rating.

To recap, three Armenian banks have already received ratings from
Fitch and Moody’s rating agencies. Armenia as a state has also recived
a rating from these agencies.

Responding to NT correspondent’s question, T. Sargsian noted that the
entry of OMX AB company, a stock exchange operator, will be conducive
to the formation of a rating market in Armenia because in this case the
companies to have received a rating will have greater opportunities
for listing thier shares in line with international standards on the
stock exchange.

The CBA chairman explained that in determining the price of their work,
rating agencies take into account the living standard in the country
where the entity to be rated is operating. It is the rating agency that
offers the entity to receive rating. On the other hand it is expedient
that in order to increase the trust of investors and customers, the
economic entity use services of several rating agencies as it was
done in case of Armenia. He added that the possibility of Armenia’s
being asigned rating of Standarten & Poors is now under discussion.

MONASTERIES OF SANAHIN BEING DESTROYED

A1+
Alaverdi "Akjun+3" TV Channel
[04:49 pm] 19 June, 2007

Monasteries of Sanahin preserved from 10-12 centuries are under
danger. The flora growing on the roofs of the monasteries is destroying
the historical building.

They have not been cleaned for nine years and trees are already
growing on the roofs. Specialists are needed to clean the roofs since
any casual action might cause the final ruin of the complex. The
Monasteries of Sanahin are supposed to be protected by UNESCO.

All-Armenian Catholicos visited Sanahin last year but still no works
are carried out to restore the Monastery. Thousands of tourists visit
Sanahin to enjoy architectural and scientific as well as cultural
importance of the Monastery.

PASSENGERS IMPORT PORK FROM GEORGIA DESPITE OF STATE BAN

Panorama.am
17:19 19/06/2007

Armenian veterinaries are actively fighting against African Plague,
Grisha Baghyan, veterinary department head at the agriculture ministry,
told Panorama.am.

"We are making disinfections at the check borders and send back live
pig or destroy pork," Baghyan said.

Armenia as well as Russia have banned import of pork from Georgia
since June 1 due to disease discovered among pigs in Georgia called
"African plague."

However, Baghyan also said sometimes people import pork in packs for
everyday consumption. He said yesterday 4 kg of pork was discovered
with one passenger.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: ARMENIA VIEWS IPAP AS A MEANS OF DEVELOPING ITS POLITICAL DIALOG WITH NATO

Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. During the June 20 meeting of
the Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanian and the Special
Representative of the NATO Secretary-General in the South Caucasus,
Ambassador Robert Simmons, the interlocutors exchanged ideas about
implementation of the Armenia-NATO cooperation’s Individual Partnership
Action Plan (IPAP).

Noting that he will participate in the sitting of the IPAP Armenian
commission on June 22, R. Simmons appreciated Armenia’s efforts to
implement the IPAP, as well as the mission of Armenian peacekeepers
in Kosovo. He spoke about developments related to regional security,
NATO-Russia dialog, peacekeeping operations of NATO, the results of
the recent Brussels meeting of foreign ministers of Euro-Atlantic
Partnership Council (EAPC) states, as well as events to be organized
soon within the framework of NATO.

V. Oskanian said that the IPAP is a comprehensive document and includes
all possible spheres of cooperation with NATO. At the same time, IPAP
is viewed as a most important means of developing and strengthening
the political dialog with NATO, as well as a mechanism of promoting
bilateral cooperation with NATO member states.

NT was informed from the RA MFA Press and Information Department that
at the request of the ambassador, V. Oskanian presented the recent
developments in the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict.