Author: Hakobian Adrine

ARMENIA INVITES RUSSIA TO MINE URANIUM, BUILD N-REACTOR – PM

ITAR-TASS News Agency
September 25, 2007 Tuesday

Armenia has invited Russia to participate in uranium mining projects
in its territory and to build another unit of the Armenian nuclear
power plant, Prime-Minister Serzh Sarkisian told a news conference
in Moscow on Tuesday.

The invitation, Sarkisian said, is contained in the proposals he had
handed over to Russia’s newly-appointed Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov
at their talks earlier on Tuesday.

Both projects will be discussed in greater detail with the chief of
Russia’s atomic energy agency Rosatom, Sergei Kiriyenko, on Wednesday.

Among other things the Armenian and Russian prime ministers considered
ways of "using most effectively the Russian enterprises located
in Armenia."

"It was a great pleasure for me to learn that Viktor Zubkov has already
held a conference to identify ways of saddling those enterprises with
contracts. The lack of ground transport links between the two countries
is a serious obstacle, so the throughput of existing facilities is
to be increased first and foremost," Sarkisian said.

The Armenian prime minister pointed to his country’s great potential
in terms of providing building materials – such as cement and stone –
for construction projects in Sochi and elsewhere in Russia.

"The Russian side responded to all these proposals with understanding,
as they are mutually beneficial," Sarkisian said. "I am certain that
there exist vast opportunities and we shall be able to achieve within
months the frontiers we discussed earlier today."

The Armenian prime minister invited his Russian counterpart to pay
a visit to Armenia.

"A date is still to be agreed on through diplomatic channels, but I
believe that it will take place before long," he said.

ARMENIA PM TO BE FIRST FOREIGN PREMIER ZUBKOV WILL TALK WITH

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
September 24, 2007 Monday

A broad range of questions of Russian-Armenian cooperation in the
political and economic areas will be in the focus during the visit of
Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan to Moscow. This is Sarkisyan’s
first official visit to Russia in the capacity of head of the Armenian
government appointed in April. Sarkisyan will be the first premier
of a foreign state with whom new Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov
will hold talks.

Sarkisyan on Monday flew to Moscow at the head of the government
delegation to hold talks on various aspects of bilateral ties,
Meri Arutyunyan, the chief of the government press service, told
Itar-Tass. There are plans for his meetings with Moscow Mayor Yuri
Luzhkov, with head of the Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom)
Sergei KIriyenko, general secretary of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) Nikolai Bordyuzha, and secretary-general of the
Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) Grigory Rapota. The Armenian
prime minister will hold a news conference at Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

Serzh Sarkisyan, becoming Armenian premier, also holds the post of
head of the Armenian part of the Intergovernmental Commission for
Economic Cooperation between the Russian Federation and Armenia.

Cooperation of the two countries develops on a bilateral and
multilateral basis. Armenia, just as Russia, is for the strengthening
of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), is a member of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization.

Russia is Armenia’s main trading partner. Armenia’s direct commercial
ties with Russian regions develop successfully. Some 70 subjects of
the Russian Federation maintain bilateral economic ties with Armenia.

The volume of trade between Russia and Armenia has doubled and
will exceed 0.5 billion dollars by the end of the year, acting
transportation minister of the Russian Federation Igor Levitin said
last week. The head of the Russian part of the Intergovernmental
Commission for Economic Cooperation said that Russian investments into
Armenia’s economy increased. They amounted to 74 million dollars in
the first six months of 2007.

The lack of direct transportation between the two countries remains
the main hindrance to the development of Russian-Armenian economic
cooperation. The Abkhazian stretch of the railway between Russia and
Armenia is closed, and the bulk of freight is carried from Russia to
Armenia by the Black Sea via the Georgian port of Poti, and goes by
rail the remaining part of the way. Measures are taken to increase
the load on Port Kavkaz-Poti ferry service.

EDITOR OF "AZG" DAILY NEWSPAPER TAKES THIRD PRIZE IN CHESS CONTEST FOR JOURNALISTS

AZG Armenian Daily
25/09/2007

"De Facto" magazine in cooperation with the Chess Federation of Armenia
and the Administration of Kentron Community of Yerevan initiated a
chess competition for the mass media representatives. It was held in
accordance with the Swiss system by 7 tours.

Parouyr Hakobian, editor of "Azg" Daily Newspaper was among the 28
participants of the chess competition. He gained 5 scores and occupied
the third place with the prize of AMD 40000. Slavik Movsisian, having
gained 6 scores, became the winner of the competition. Vadim Mkrtchian
occupied the second place and was awarded AMD 70 thousand.

GLOBE EDITORIAL

Hardening of the Greenway

September 24, 2007

THE FIRST PARK parcel dedicated on the Rose Kennedy Greenway isn’t a
park in the conventional sense, but a plaza intended to serve as a
gateway to Chinatown and a venue for dragon dances and other festive
events. Chinatown residents wanted a plaza of decorative – but very
hard – concrete with two raised swaths of greenery. That’s what they
got when it opened Sept. 12.

A different kind of hardening is taking place farther to the north in
the central core of the Greenway, on a small parcel between the North
End and Faneuil Hall Marketplace. If the Armenian Heritage Foundation
gets its way, a memorial will be established that will be harder to
alter than all the concrete in the Chinatown park.

A neighborhood meeting in the North End Wednesday laid out the
difficulties of designing this space. Less than half an acre in size,
it is supposed to be the pedestrian link between the new wharf
district parks to the south, the existing Christopher Columbus Park,
the North End, Quincy Market, and the proposed Boston Museum to the
north.

People at the meeting were happy that plans for the parcel no longer
included a building, as originally envisioned several years ago. They
wanted green space, even though the North End will soon have the
benefit of two new parks facing Hanover Street just north of the
museum site. These are scheduled to open in October.

The Turnpike Authority is in charge of building all the Greenway
parks, mainly because it had control of the space as it oversaw
construction of the Central Artery tunnels, and because the City of
Boston ducked an opportunity to take over the greenway once the artery
was finished. In 2000, the Legislature ordered the authority to find a
spot for the Armenian memorial somewhere in Boston, and with North End
residents clamoring for a park on Parcel 13, it seemed a logical
choice, especially since the Armenian Heritage Foundation would pay to
build it.

But in June, Ian Bowles, the state secretary of energy and
environmental affairs, said that the authority hadn’t followed the
proper procedures in selecting the foundation for the site, so the
community meeting was held last week as part of a new approval
process.

Based on remarks Wednesday, neighborhood residents like the memorial
concept, which would create a labyrinth in the center of the park
flanked by benches, a fountain, and an abstract sculpture
commemorating the Armenian genocide. Some thought it would be
attractive to children, others thought it would be a place for
reflection, and no one spoke in opposition.

Somewhere in Boston, there ought to be a remembrance of this act of
mass murder against Armenians in what is now Turkey. This need is
highlighted by the recent controversy over the refusal by the
Anti-Defamation League to acknowledge the genocide. (The national ADL
director changed his mind after protests by Armenian-Americans.) But
the issue of siting is another question. Parcel 13 is not the place
for this memorial.

As the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy suggests, an Armenian
memorial would set a bad precedent for any other groups that might
want to put their stamp on the Greenway. The conservancy, which will
take over maintenance of the parks in a few years, wants these open
spaces welcoming to everyone, not divided into enclaves.

There’s another reason to look twice at the proposal. For all the
support it has initially gathered, no one knows how the park on Parcel
13 will really be used, and how the Armenian Heritage Foundation
proposal will complement those uses. Will children play on the
labyrinth, or will it be just a shortcut from the North End to
downtown Boston? Will the proposed dodecahedron-shaped sculpture have
enduring appeal or come to be widely disliked?

How will the memorial fit in with the abutting Boston Museum, an
ambitious project to commemorate the history of eastern New England
that requires enormous amounts of fund-raising? And if that doesn’t
get built, what will replace it, and how will Parcel 13 jibe with this
alternative use? Once the foundation invests money and emotion into
this site, is it reasonable to expect it would welcome any changes?

Nobody was asking these questions at the meeting Wednesday. The
Turnpike Authority, the Boston Redevelopment Authority, and the
Mayor’s Artery Completion Task Force are trying to devise a compromise
that will let the foundation build the park, but deemphasize some of
the Armenian elements. Before they strike a deal, they all ought to
remember that Parcel 13 and all the surrounding open spaces are a work
in progress. No agreement should prohibit the park from a
reconfiguration years or decades in the future if changes will result
in a better Greenway.

The Chinatown Park, with its durable surface, seems set for eternity,
and it is well designed to serve as a formal meeting space for the
community. But perhaps at some point the neighbors will prefer a more
conventional park. In the 1980s, the city took jackhammers to Copley
Square to replace a hard, sunken pit with a greener space. Closer to
Parcel 13, Christopher Columbus Park was rebuilt seven years ago to
make it more inviting. Parks are meant to evolve, and there are no
open spaces in greater flux than those at the heart of the Greenway,
just where Parcel 13 is located. The Armenian genocide should be
commemorated unambiguously in Boston. Just not here.

(c) Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company

Source: /editorials/articles/2007/09/24/hardening_of_the_g reenway/

ARMENIAN WEIGHT LIFTER VICE WORLD CHAMPION

Panorama.am
12:09 22/09/2007

Armenian women weight-lifters will compete today at World Weight
Championship in Taliand.

Yesterday Gevorg Davtyan, Champion of Europe 2007 representing Armenia,
competed in 77kg category.

Davtyan managed to lift 164 kg ensuring small silver medal. In the
following 2 tries, Gevorg could not improve his result and was defeated
by Chinese Li Hongli.

Gevorg Davtyan lifted 198 kg in push exercise and was very close to
winning the title of world champion.

However, he won the second place with his 352 kg result and won the
title of vice world champion in weight lifting.

A1+

WILL `NATIONAL RENAISSANCE’ PARTY SPLIT?
[04:31 pm] 20 September, 2007

All problems concerning the `National Renaissance’ party will be
solved during the plenary session by the end of the year. Albert
Bazeyan, chair of the party’s political council informed about it
today. Reflecting on his resignation, he informed that if there was
anyone who was ready to take up the responsibility, he would resign
his commission. `But nobody wants to take up the responsibility’, he
said.

He complained why members of the party contacted with him through
media instead of ratifying an agenda and convening a session. He
pointed out that two-three members of the council made unrealizable
proposals but did not point any ways for their realization. Their
incredible proposals concern political activity.

Albert Bazeyan announced that he wanted to freeze his membership in
the `Republican’ party, but Simon Grigoryan and other members of the
council insisted on withdrawing from the party and founding a new one.

Bazeyan explained them that they would find enough support to found a
party and to convene sessions only and that financial support would
not be enough for carrying out political activities. Thus, Albert
Bazeyan found the best way of being active without spending money – to
join the `Armenian Liberal Democratic Party’ together with `Alliance’
party. According to him, half of the party was against that decision.

`The former RA Minister of Defense Vagharshak Harutyunyan did not sign
that announcement, which means that he either did not agree with that
or I don’t know’, said Mr Bazeyan. He informed that he only talked to
Mr Harutyunyan on the phone and the latter never expressed his
position towards the situation.

The other unrealizable suggestion of Simon Grigoryan referred to
nominating own candidate during the presidential elections. Bazeyan
finds such proposal unreasonable and added: `I will not run for
presidency, if Simon Grigoryan wants, let him do so’.

We should notice that 120-year-old programs of the `Armenia Liberal
Democratic Party’ do not satisfy Bazeyan. When we said that the head
of the `Armenia Liberal Democratic Party’ informed us that in case of
joining the party they should take an oath and accept the programs and
regulations of the party, Bazeyan said that he was against it, since
if you take an oath, you should be true to that, while one should not
take an oath in the political activities.

CHAPTER ON NAGORNO KARABAKH INCLUDED IN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT’S REPORT ON SOUTH CAUCASUS

Azeri Press Agency
[ 17 Sep 2007 19:37 ]

Member of European parliament Lydie Polfer will draw up a report on
the situation in the South Caucasus.

Information Center of the European Parliament in Brussels said that
a special chapter on Nagorno Karabakh conflict is expected to be
included in the report. The document will soon be made public.

Lydie Polfer (Luxemburg) is the member of European Parliament foreign
affairs committee, and the author of the declaration on financial
interests.

OPINION THAT HARMS HOVANISYAN AND DASHNAKTSUTYUN

Lragir.am
18-09-2007 13:54:42

Member of Parliament Larissa Alaverdyan, Heritage faction, hosted
at the Hayeli Club for a debate on September 18 was asked to comment
on the statement by the vice speaker of the National Assembly Vahan
Hovanisyan, Dashnaktsutyun, that the international organizations use
the Heritage party as a lever for pressuring on Armenia.

"Frankly speaking, I am a young politician. You had better ask him why
a party leader who is likely to be presidential candidate expresses
an unjustified opinion on another party. I think this opinion is not
only unjustified but also harms Dashnaktsutyun and Vahan Hovanisyan
particularly," Larissa Alaverdyan says.

By the way, Republican member of parliament Gagik Minasyan also
hosted at the Hayeli Club agreed with Ms. Alaverdyan. "I would prefer
to make no evaluations but when a politician makes a statement,
the same politician should explain the context of his statement,"
Gagik Minasyan said.

KARABAKH LIBERATION ORGANIZATION TO PROTEST AGAINST ARMENIAN’S VISIT TO AZERBAIJAN

Trend
14.09.2007 13:42:09

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend S.Ilhamgizi / The Karabakh Liberation
Organization (KLO) is preparing a demonstration in connection with
the visit of the Armenian delegation to Azerbaijan, Akif Nagi, KLO
Chairman said on 13 September.

The World Senior Wrestling Championship will begin in Baku on 15
September. Sportsmen from Armenia will also participate at this
international event and Azerbaijan has provided a guarantee for
their security.

KLO said that the occupant and terrorist country should not to be
allowed to attend the international event; it is the requirement of
the international standards. The non-obstacle tour of Armenians to
Azerbaijan means that Armenia is challenging the very country that
it showed aggression against.

"To protest against the Armenians’ visit to Baku on 15 September we
will be on stand-by at all flight arrivals into the airport. Should
the Armenians arrive, we will hold demonstrations in different cities
and try to avoid police interference," the KLO said.

Azad Rahimov, the Azerbaijani Minister for Youth and Sports, held a
meeting with Nagi to avoid KLO’s protest against Armenian’s visit and
spoke about the importance of the organization of an international
championship in the country. However, the Chairman of the KLO said he
will insist on this action as the Armenians’ visit to Baku contradicts
Azerbaijan’s national interests.

Delegations from Armenia also participated in a meeting of CIS Interior
Ministers in Baku last week and KLO attempted to hold a demonstration
but this was prevented by the police.

The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus began in 1988
due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia has
occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven surrounding Districts. Since 1992, these
territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time
the active hostilities ended. The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
( Russia, France and USA) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.

The KLO was established in Baku on 28 January 2000, with the objective
of a public struggle for the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh. KLO
unites representatives of intelligentsia, refugees and internally
displaced persons (IDPs), old and young people as well as former
military soldiers.

YEREVAN BRANDY COMPANY TO RECOMMENCE "OLD ERIVAN" WINE PRODUCTION IN FALL 2007

ARKA
13/09/2007 11:14

YEREVAN, September 13. /ARKA/. At the beginning of October 2007,
Yerevan Brandy Company (YBC) will recommence production of the "Old
Erivan" wine.

The YBC Executive Director Cedrik Retailleau said that this new
production of the factory will be produced within the YBC policy on
expanding and changing their range of goods.

"At one time this wine was recognized and approved by consumers who
look forward to its return to the market," he said.

According to Retailleau, the wine will be produced from the Armenian
"Areni" grapes, and the production of this product will be implemented
together with one of the hugest wine producing companies "Vedi Alco".

"As the Company occupies with the production of brandy types, we need
the assistance of a company that specializes in wine branch," he said.

YBC press secretary Zara Nazaryan told ARKA that the production of
the wine "Old Erivan" was stopped in 2005 because of the shortage
of grapes.

The YBC was founded in 1887. The modern factory complex has existed
since 1953. In June 1998, the YBC entered the Pernod Ricard group, an
international corporation that owns a number of famous trade marks of
alcoholic beverages and ranks the third in the production and sales
of alcoholic beverages. The Company Pernod Ricard obtained the YBC
on the international tender for $30mln. ($1 – AMD 340.10).