Author: Ekmekjian Janet

SERZH SARGSYAN – MAN OF THE WEEK

AZG DAILY
22-10-2009

International

RA President Serzh Sargsyan became the hero of the "European of
the week" program on the Radio France International (broadcasting
worldwide in 19 languages to 44 million audience).

Radio station aired a special program about the professional skills
of Serzh Sargsyan and his initiative on Armenian-Turkish relations’
normalization. The Radio France International called the RA President
the most pragmatic politician of the post-Soviet period.

The UK Conservative Party leader David Cameron, as well as French
President Nicolas Sarkozy and other high ranking officials were the
heroes of previous programs, news.am reports.

ARMENIAN CITIZEN THAT COOPERATES WITH SPECIAL SERVICES OF AZERBAIJAN ARRESTED

ArmInfo
2009-10-21 14:54:00

ArmInfo. Armenian National Security Service has arrested the former
serviceman which cooperated with special services of Azerbaijan

As press-centre of Armenian National Security Service reported, as a
result of operative measures an Armenian citizen Gevorg Hayrapetyan,
which was cooperating with special services of Azerbaijan, was
arrested. Hayrapetyan is a former serviceman, Lieutenant Colonel. In
2007 he was dismissed from the Armed Forces of Armenia for breaking of
the military discipline. A charge was brought against him by the first
part of 299 article of the Criminal Code of Armenia (treason against
the State via spying). A foreigner has been arrested within the frames
of the same criminal case, as he was a communication agent between
Hayrapetyan and special services of Azerbaijan. The investigation is
held by Investigation Department of Armenian National Security Service.

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN: "THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IS READY TO PROMOTE THE COOPERATION WITH THE WORLD BANK"

National Assembly
Oct 21 2009
Armenia

On October 20 President of the National Assembly Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan
received Head of the World Bank (WB) Armenian Office Mr. Aristomene
Varoudakis.

During the meeting RA NA President and the Head of the WB Office
discussed the possible programs of the fulfillment of the reforms and
the development of the professional and technical capabilities of the
National Assembly by the support of the international structure. The
interlocutors also touched upon the world financial-economic crisis
and its influence on Armenia’s economy.

Vice President of the National Assembly Ms. Arevik Petrosyan also
attended the meeting.

JUNIOR FENCING CHAMPIONSHIP OF ARMENIA STARTS OCTOBER 22

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.10.2009 16:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Junior championship of Armenia in fencing starts
October 22 in the Armenian village Byuregavan. "120-130 fencers from
Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor and Byuregavan will fight for the hampion
title," spokesman of the Fencing Federation of Armenia Artashes
Madoyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net journalist.

According to him, depending on the results of the championship,
the Armenian Youth Team will be formed to take part at the European
Championship from October 30 to November 5.

IMPORTS EXCEEDED EXPORTS ALMOST 5 TIMES IN JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2009

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.10.2009 16:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In January-September 2009, RA export volume decreased
by 41.5%, compared with 2008 results, to comprise AMD173.3 billion. In
the period indicated, imports decreased by 27.9% to comprise AMD
805.2 billion.

According to RA National statistic service data, in January-September
2009, RA foreign trade turnover decreased by 30.7% to comprise AMD
978.5 billion.

Foreign trade balance deficit comprised AMD 631.9 billion during the
period indicated.

‘LIONS VS. DONKEY, DONKEY WINS’: A VIDEO SCANDAL

Tert
Oct 20 2009
Armenia

What began as a tweet on Twitter and quickly disseminated on Facebook,
has now been picked up by blogs and published on Global Voices Online,
an online community of more than 200 bloggers around the world who
report on local news and events in a plethora of languages.

And what is this news of the day that has spread like wildfire in
social networking sites and online communities? A video posted on
YouTube of what is allegedly the private zoo of Armenian MP Gagik
Tsarukyan.

Tsarukyan, the head of the second largest political party in the
Armenian National Assembly, Prosperous Armenia, is also the head of
the Armenian National Olympic Committee.

The video shows a fight between three lion cubs and a donkey;
apparently, the donkey was placed in the lions’ cage for the amusement
of onlookers who many assume to be members of Tsarukyan’s entourage.

Near the end of the video, one can hear gunshots, though it’s not
clear whether those present are shooting at the donkey, the lion
cubs, or into the air. Regardless of who the shots were aimed at,
it is clear that the animals were ill-treated, to say the least.

The video was quickly removed after news circulated on Facebook (as per
YouTube,"This video has been removed due to terms of use violation"),
though links were re-posted and the video is now available on alternate
video-sharing sites, such as Dailymotion.

ARMENIA IS RECOGNIZED THE BEST IN WEIGHTLIFTING

Aysor
Oct 20 2009
Armenia

The European U23 Weightlifting Championship in Poland’s Vladyslavovo is
over. Two Armenian athletes became champions, Agasi Agasyan (Yerevan,
77 kg, 150 kg, 187 kg = 337 kg) and Ruben Alexanyan (Ararat, 181 kg,
235 kg = 416 kg).

Agvan Melikyan seeded third (Gyumri, 85 kg, 160 kg 94 kg = 354 kg)
as well as Vardan Davtyan (Yerevan, 94 kg, 160 kg, 199 kg = 359 kg).

Thus, three of eight Armenian weightlifter won gold, two athletes won
silver, and one athlete won bronze. Armenian team earned 587 points
and seeded first.

Russian (577 points) team seeded second, and Poland (538 points)
– third.

CE CONGRESS CONTRIBUTES TO ESTABLISHMENT OF NEAR-BORDER COOPERATION BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

ArmInfo
2009-10-20 11:32:00

ArmInfo. Congress of the Council of Europe contributes to establishment
of near-border cooperation between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Acting President of the Chamber of Local Authorities of the Congress
of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (CLRAE)
Ian Micallef told ArmInfo that he has recently visited Baku where he
made a proposal to establish a near-border cooperation between the
national association representing the local and regional authorities
of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

According to I. Micallef, this proposal was prompted by representatives
of the Armenian delegation to CE Congress. Moreover CLRAE president
made a proposal directly by the Congress to join Turkey to this
cooperation and, possibly, clothe it with the authorities to
coordinate this work in the Caucasus. As I. Micallef said, this
initiative means that they shall start working through a dialogue on
the Nagorno Karabakh problem. However, he added that Azerbaijan yes
neither yet accepted nor denied this initiative.

According to CLRAE president, Azerbaijan is considering his
proposal, and he thinks they should work hard to attract Baku to this
cooperation. I. Micallef also said a number of ambassadors intend to
visit Armenia and Azerbaijan in the near future to understand how to
use a positive potential.

FM SPEAKER ANSWER TO NZHK

598.html
14:36:41 – 19/10/2009

Today,the Nor Zhamanakner party addressed a letter to the Armenian
foreign minister Edward Nalbandyan demanding to release the signed
Armenian and Turkish protocols. Responding to his application, the
Armenian FM Speaker Tigran Balayan stated such statements are the
result of not going into details of the essence. The signed protocols
were uploaded to the foreign ministry site on the next day of the
signing on October 11.

TURKEY TO PROTECT AZERBAIJANI PEOPLE’S INTERESTS: FM

Trend News Agency
Oct 19 2009
Azerbaijan

"We confide in Azerbaijani people," Turkish foreign minister Ahmat
Davutoglu said commenting removal of Turkish flag from the entry to
Martyr’s Alley in Baku, CNN Turk TV channel reported.

Turkey appreciates memory of martyrs of both people, he said.

There are forces willing to harm Turkey-Azerbaijan relations but
Azerbaijan will cope with it, he said.

‘Turkey-Azerbaijan elations are not merely relations between two
countries. Our further actions will excel previous ones. Appealing
to Azerbaijani people I would like to say that we will always protect
its interests," he said.