Author: Garo Vardanian

PIERRE BALIAN: THE DAY OF THE SHORT PROGRAM, I WAS SUFFERING FROM MUSCLE CRAMPS

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.10.2009 21:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Representing Armenia for the first time in Nebelhorn
Trophy tournament (Obersdorf), single skater Pierre Balian held final
position in tournament list. In an interview with a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter he accounted for that by poor health condition.

"The day of the short program, I was suffering from muscle cramps in
my legs that was very severe. I was not completely healthy and did
the best I could given the circumstances," he said.

In U.S. junior and adult championships, Balian held 8th and 18th
position respectively, Earlier, he trained under coaches Irina
Rodnina and Alexey Mishnin. Figure skaters usually end their career
at age 25-27. Balian, already 25, is expected to represent Armenia
in 1-2 years.

ORINATS YERKIR SUPPORTS GOVERNMENT’S POSITION ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.09.2009 21:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In a Parliament session held today, Orinats Yerkir
faction’s Secretary Artsrun Aghajanyan expressed full agreement and
support to RA Government’s position on Armenian-Turkish relations.

He also said that Orinats Yerkir positively estimates and expresses
support to President’s steps towards normalization of bilateral ties.

ACCORDING TO MEMBER OF HERITAGE PARTY, TURKEY’S PRECONDITIONS OBVIOUSLY SEEN IN ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS

Noyan Tapan
Sep 3, 2009

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The provisions of the intitiated
protocols between Armenia and Turkey do not pose any danger to the
national and state interests of Armenia. Member of the Republican
Party of Armenia (RPA), deputy of the National Assembly Gagik Minasian
expressed this opinion at a press conference on September 3. In his
words, the protocols are in harmony with all the goals that Armenia
has been pursuing for years.

"We are now at the start of the final stage of the Armenia-Turkey
normalization process. After being signed, these protocols must be
dicsussed and ratified by the parliaments. Problems may arise at each
stage, and it will take efforts to ocercome them," G. Minasian said.

According to member of the National Assembly "Heritage" faction
Vardan Khachatrian, he would not say that the indicated protocols
are documents not posing dangers. He noted that as a result of the
protocols and the negotiations around them, Turkey has achived one
of its most desired goals.

"We should admit that Turkey has assumed a serious role in the
Karabakh conflict settlement – especially given the fact that Turkey
has repeatedly stated that the success of the process aimed at
opening the border is related to the Karabakh problem’s settlement
in accordance with the version it wants," V. Khachatrian said.

In his words, despite the claims of the Armenian side, the
preconditions of Turkey can obviously be seen in the protocols. In
his opinion, these issues would not have arisen, if the absence of
any preconditions had been clearly indicated in the protocols.

ACTIVE IRANIAN FOREIGN DIPLOMACY COULD GUARANTEE A SIGNIFICANT BREAKTHROUGH IN THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT – MOHSEN REZAEI

Today.Az
/52960.html
June 8 2009
Azerbaijan

Mohsen Rezaei says an active Iranian foreign diplomacy could guarantee
a significant breakthrough in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement,
Press TV reported.

"Iranian foreign policy in the region must be strengthened. If so it
could ward off regional disputes and ongoing wrangling," the Iranian
presidential hopeful said in a campaign speech on Saturday in Tabriz —
the provincial capital city of Iran’s East Azarbaijan province.

He said given Iran’s historical sphere of influence and current
capabilities, it should have been able to prevent the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and the resultant Armenian occupation of the small ethnic
enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and
7 districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are currently
holding the peace negotiations.

Rezaei said that if elected president, he will promote a diplomacy
rooted in peace and amicability vis-a-vis regional crises and seek
to bridge divisions among regional states so that they will pin their
hopes on Tehran as a mediator rather than Washington.

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN RECEIVED A CREDIT AGRICOLE DELEGATION CONSISTING OF JEAN-LUC PERROT

Thurs day, 26 March 2009

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received a Credit Agricole delegation
consisting of Jean-Luc Perrot, responsible for the Bank’s European
affairs and director general of Credit Agricole Consultant, director
general of the National Federation of Credit Agricole Joseph d’Oser,
ACBA-Credit Agricole JSC Board members Ives Couturier and Philippe
de Sibeins.

Greeting the guests, the Prime Minister said that the delegation’s
visit, especially seen against the background of the global financial
and economic crisis, will give a positive impulse to the development
of bilateral cooperation. According to Tigran Sargsyan, as it
defied successfully the first tide of the global crisis, Armenia’s
banking system proved to be stable and reliable which gives us certain
encouragement in that it will be able to withstand the challenges ahead
in cooperation with Credit Agricole and other international partners.

Jean-Luc Perrot and other members of the delegation expressed
satisfaction at the mutually advantageous cooperation between Credit
Agricole and our country over the past fifteen years leading to the
launching of ACBA- Credit Agricole JSC which is at the forefront of
Armenia’s banking system today. They noted that bilateral cooperation
will be continued in spite of the negative impact of the ongoing
global financial and economic crisis.

As a pledge for successful cooperation, the delegation members pointed
out to the sustained position of the Central Bank of Armenia with
respect to other banks operating in our country and went on to stress
that the cooperation between Credit Agricole, ACBA-Credit Agricole
and the CBA is marked by full harmony of efforts.

At the end of the meeting, on behalf of the Armenian government, Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan expressed appreciation to the management of
Credit Agricole and all those having contributed to the development
of bilateral cooperation. The Prime Minister expressed hope that the
ongoing cooperation will be continued with as much success in future.

NEW AMBASSADOR OF ISRAEL PRESENTS COPY OF HIS CREDENTIALS TO ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

Noyan Tapan

Feb 11, 2009

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian foreign minister Edward
Nalbandian on February 11 received the newly-appointed ambassador of
Israel to Armenia Shemi Tzur (residence in Jerusalem), who presented
a copy of his credentials to E. Nalbandian. During a talk, the sides
attached importance to the activation of political dialog between
the two countries, the extension of the legal and contractual field
and deepening the trade and economic relations.

NT was informed by the RA MFA Press and Information Department that
the interlocutors discussed the February 10 parliamentary election
in Israel, the situation in the Middle East, the Artsakh problem
settlement process, and the prospects of regulating Armenian-Turkish
relations.

YOUNG ARMENIAN WEIGHTLIFTERS GAIN 3 GOLD, 9 SILVER, AND 6 BRONZE MEDALS IN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan

Se p 22, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. European Weightlifting Youth
Championship finished on September 20 in the city of Durres,
Albania. Among representatives of Armenia Sevak Sahakian (105 kg,
Kasakh) took the second place with 327 kg result in biathlon and
received a silver prize. He recorded 171 kg result in snatch and 201
kg in clean and jerk.

Superheavyweight Ruben Alexanian also received a silver prize (Ararat,
187 kg + 225 kg = 412 kg).

Aghvan Melikian (Gyumri, 153 kg – 192 kg = 345 kg) received bronze
medal in the competition of 85 kg weight category sportsmen. Aram
Andrikian (Sevan) was the 3rd in the same weight category, in clean
and jerk, 191 kg.

Armenian David Bekjanian in the Russian national team received gold
medal in 105 kg weight category.

Thus, Armenia’s weightlifting youth national team received 18 medals
in European Championship (3 gold, 9 silver, and 6 bronze). In the
competition of 197 participants of 32 countries the Armenian team
took the second honorary place with 550 points. National teams of
Russia (604 points) and Albania (485 points) took the first and third
prize places.

Kosovo was elected the 49th member-country at the conference of
European Weightlifting Federation held in days of the championship.

EXPERT MIKHAIL ALEXANDROV: "VICTORY OF ARMENIAN OPPOSITION WOULD MEAN CHANGE OF THE POLITICAL COURSE AND, AS A RESULT, LOSS OF NAGORNO KARABAKH"

Today.Az
July 16 2008
Azerbaijan

"The victory of opposition would mean change of the direction in the
Armenian political course, orientation for the West, and, as a result,
loss of Nagorno Karabakh and collapse of the military and political
alliance with Russia", considers chief of Caucasus Department of CIS
states Institute Mukhail Alexandrov.

"Though it was not envisioned in the announcements of the opposition,
but the key difference in the approaches of the sides to the issue on
Nagorno Karabakh proves tht Levon Ter-Petrosyan and its surroundings
intend to change the direction of the foreign political development",
said Alexandrov at the Novosti international press center in Yerevan.

He noted that Russia was closely watching the presidential elections
in Armenia and reckoning on preservation of the foreign political
course, therefore, the events in Armenia caused serious concerns,
which were not peculiar of the society, however.

"Though the election campaign in Armenia was widely covered by Russia
mass media, no one mentioned the tragedy of the situation and that
the global interests are staked on in case opposition wins", said
the Russian expert.

Alexandrov voiced satisfaction that situation in Armenia has calmed
down and there are no more mass protests and clashes in the society,
"though separate outbursts are still observed".

"The new leadership has consolidated its position and I do not think
any dramatic events are possible", noted Alexandrov adding that
"preservation of the authorities is what satisfied us".

PACE SHARES RESPONSIBILITY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS WITH RA AUTHORITIES, DAVID SHAHNAZARIAN SAYS

NOYAN TAPAN

Ju ly 2

By postponing the fulfilment of conditions set before Armenia with
a new resolution N 1620 until January 2009, PACE has a goal to
discuss the issue of Armenia after the presidential elections to
be held in Azerbaijan. David Shahnazarian, a representative of the
National Movement (NM), expressed such an opinion at the July 2 press
conference. He represented the National Movement in Strasbourg together
with Hovhannes Igitian. According to him, the Council of Europe
continues showing a "balanced" attitude to Armenia and Azerbaijan,
and an estimation to the presidential elections in the two countries
will be given at the same sitting.

D. Shahnazarian affirmed that PACE shares responsibility for existence
of political prisoners in the country and other human rights violations
with the Armenian authorities. He attached importance to the amendment
made to draft resolution N 1620 at opposition’s suggestion, according
to which the issue of political prisoners will be discussed already
in September.

According to D. Shahnazarian, the activity of Armenia’s parliamentary
delegation was aimed at changing the imperative demands in the new
draft resolution into advisory ones. Being busy with these problems,
the delegation did noy pay attention to the resolution regarding
Azerbaijan.

While, according to D. Shahnazarian, the most dangerous provision
for Armenia was in the very resolution, which mentioned that no
democratization process can be implemented in Azerbaijan until that
country’s territorial integrity is restored.

LORD RUSSELL JOHNSTON: "FINDING SOLUTION TO NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT IS NOT WITHIN THE MANDATE OF OUR COMMITTEE"

Azeri Press Agency
April 18 2008
Azerbaijan

Strasbourg. Fuad Gulubeyli -APA. "We have once more discussed the
meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations at the session
of PACE Sub-Committee on Nagorno Karabakh", Lord Russell Johnston,
British Parliamentarian and head of the PACE Sub-Committee on Nagorno
Karabakh told APA correspondent exclusively.

He announced the reasons of postponing the meeting until the January
session. "We have decided to postpone the meeting until the next
January for two reasons. The first reason related to the current
situation in Armenia, because this problem has not been solved yet
and there is no favorable environment for the meeting in June. It was
alternatively suggested to hold meeting at the October session, but
presidential elections in Azerbaijan will take place on October 15 and
it was the second reason for the postponement of the meeting. Heads of
delegations of both countries decided to meet later in next January. It
will give us additional time for the necessary preparation for the
meeting. I think it is important that both sides agreed on the date
of the meeting. I will meet with Armenian newly-elected president
later in May". Lord Russell Johnston said he had no intentions to
visit Nagorno Karabakh region. "It would be no correct to relate
next January meeting to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict only. It is
not our main goal. Finding solutions to the conflict is not within
the mandate of our committee. We desire to assist the members of the
parliaments of both countries to establish and develop the relationship
and to achieve the objective atmosphere for the dialogue between the
parliamentarians of both countries".