ROBERT AVETISIAN APPOINTED NKR RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE IN U.S.
NOYAN TAPAN
Feb 4, 2009
STEPANAKERT
Under NKR President Bako Sahakian’s February 4 decree Robert Avetisian
was appointed NKR Resident Representative in the U.S. Noyan Tapan
was informed about it by the NKR President’s General Information
Department.
ISSUES ON CREATION OF QUICK RESPONSE COLLECTIVE FORCES DISCUSSED AT CSTO SESSION
ARMENPRESS
Feb 4, 2009
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS: Joint session of the councils of
foreign ministers, defense ministers and secretaries of security
councils of the CSTO member countries took place today in Moscow with
the participation of the Secretary of the Armenian National Security
Council Arthur Baghdasaryan, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan and
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan.
Foreign Ministry press service told Armenpress that at the session
chaired by the acting chairman of the CSTO Foreign Ministers Council,
Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandyan the participants discussed
the pace of implementation of agreements reached at the non-official
summit in Kazakhstan and particularly issues connected with the
creation of quick response collective forces.
The foreign ministers of the CSTO member countries, defense ministers
and security councils referred also to the organizational issues of
the establishment.
After summing up the results of the session, E. Nalbandyan presented
the results of the session to the mass media
ALL THE WAYS LEAD TO STEPANAKERT
Azat Artsakh Daily
30 Jan 09
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
Last week co -chairmen of the Minsk group of OSCE
Yu. Merzljakov(Russia), Bernard Fasie (France) and Matthew Bryza(US)
visited Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. As ,on the eve of the visit,
the negotiators have informed the representatives of mass-media,
during the meetings with the sides of the conflict, basic theme of
negotiations will be discussions about base principles of conflict
settlement. We must confess,this time, co -chairmen of the Minsk
group of OSCE were selfish in their comments and did not give
press-conference, as they usually did it in Baku and in Yerevan after
the meetings with azeri and armenian presidents and foreign ministers.
In the conditions of availableness of quite miser information,it’s
difficult to judge if negotiators succeeded to coordinate base
principles,after which, by confidence of Yuri Merzlyakov, it would be
possible to work over preparation of the draft of the treaty. Till now
it’s only known about a result from regional visit of co -chairmen
of the Minsk group of OSCE. Both Azeri and Armenian presidents
expressed their agreement to meet again, which as it’s supposed,
can take place on January 28th in swiss Davos,within world economic
forum,where, by the words of Merzlyakov, will continue the process
of coordination of base princ iples. Before the day, on January 27th,
the meeting of armenian and azeri foreign ministers will take place in
Zurich.It’s necessary to say, that the majority of the representatives
of expert and politological communities are not optimistic with the
results of above-mentioned meetings, connected with the possibility of
diplomatic breakthrough in Karabakh conflict settlement. But today we
would like to speak not only, that’s, correctly speaking, not about
possible result of swiss meetings of armenian and azeri presidents
and foreign ministers. The speech is about another matter. As it’s
known, before start of international negotiators today’s visit, it
was declared, they will visit Stepanakert after Baku and Yerevan. The
negotiators themselves confirmed this intention,too, and loquacious
Matthew Bryza even emphasized the importance of NKR participation in
negotiation process. Nevertheless, the program of visit changed and
co -chairmen of the Minsk group did not appear in Stepanakert. As
we knew from reliable sources, the negotiators refused to visit
Stepanakert because of the bad weather. Even helicopter was ready
for co-chairmen, by which three co-chairmen were preparing to visit
Nagorno Karabakh, but because of the bad weather, the travelling did
not take place. Perhaps, negotiators considered it senseless driving
a car by snow- covered mountain roads.
It’s possible,that the reasons for refusing to visit Step
anakert, are really objective, nevertheless, they direct us at some
reflections. Certainly,Yerevan-Stepanakert road is really, difficult to
pass ,especially in winter. Ã~@s a metaphor, we should constant, that
the way leading to peace is always difficult and full of obstacles. So,
from those, who decided to overcome this way, is required definite
efforts and discomforts. May be sacrifice, too. But we don’t want to
think about them, because the people of NKR gave not less victims
and were not less tested through on the way leading to peace. Not
begging the merits and their efforts in the case of reaching the
arrangement and establishing of peace in the region,nevertheless,
we must remark, it was required a little sacrifice from them, their
favour in total. But we must confess, that the matter concerns
more wide theme,than american-european diplomats’ non-adaptation
to discomfort. The matter is that in the situation, when contrary
to internationally adopted documents, Nagorno Karabakh practically
is deduced from negotiation process, such attitude towards Karabakh
side most of all inspires Azerbaijan for undertaking destructive and
even agressive actions. Certainly the negotiators insisted repeatedly
that their meetings and consultations with the representatives of
high authorities of NKR confirm the participation of Karabakh side in
conflict settlement process. But we confess, that it’s indirect and
not direct particip ation about necessity and importance of which is
permanently declared by official Stepanakert. And when negotiators
declare about inavoidableness of including Nagorno Karabakh in
negotiations, no practical steps are undertaken for fulfiling the
idea, when they visit NKR not during all their regional visits, in
this case , accidentally, they stimulate Azerbaijan in the question of
strengthening of the latter’s extremely amoral,illogical,irrational
position. In order not to be naked, let us quote the president of
Azerbaijan that he made one of the previous days."The signing of
Maindorf declaration shows that the sides of the conflict are these
states, and there is no another side of the conflict.
I’m sure that the signing of joint declaration from the side of
the head of Armenia as the side of the conflict will bring end to
the attempts of including Nagorno Karabakh in the process",- on
January 16th Ilham Aliyev declared at the sitting of the Government
spicing it with information about increasing of military expenses
of Azerbaijan until 2.3bn of US dollars. Again and again I want to
remind both Aliyev and co-chairs of Minsk group of OSCE, that without
participation of Nagorno Karabakh any decision concerning conflict
is impractible. And paraphrasing well known proverb, to add. All the
ways lead to Stepanakert. However inconvenient the roads are…
–Boundary_(ID_SKJ+u3d68JHX4NoOhsgXFg)–
OSCE PA PRESIDENT: "I AM CONCERNED WITH SO-CALLED FROZEN NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT"
Azeri Press Agency APA
Jan 30 2009
Azerbaijan
Baku. Victoria Dementieva-APA. OSCE PA President Joao Soares (Portugal)
recently discussed his priorities for the coming year, APA reports.
"But I am also concerned with the other so-called frozen conflicts,
such as Nagorno-Karabakh. Goran Lenmarker is following this situation
closely, and we hope that we can take initiatives at the parliamentary
level as far as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, involving Azerbaijan and
Armenia, is concerned," he added. We are also paying close attention
to Transdniestria. I will go to Moldova and Transdniestria in the
beginning of February.
LEVON ARONIAN LEADER IN CORUS INTERNATIONAL SUPERTOURNAMENT
Noyan Tapan
Jan 29, 2009
WIJK aan ZEE, JANUARY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. January 29 is a rest day in the
Corus International Supertournament going on in Wijk ann Zee. Levon
Aronian (Armenia) beat Gata Kamski (U.S.), Michael Adams (England)
in the 9th and 10th tours, respectively, and personally headed the
tournament table with 6.5 points.
Three tours have remained until the end of the tournament.
ARMENIA TO SEEK EXTERNAL LOAN TO SECURE ECONOMIC STABILITY
by Venla Sipila
World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
January 26, 2009
Armenia is hoping to boost its external finances with new bilateral
and multilateral loans. Indeed, quoting a government representative,
Interfax reports that the country hopes to receive a total of $1US
billion in external loans from Russia, the World Bank, the Asian
Development Bank Enhanced Coverage LinkingAsian Development Bank
-Search using: News, Most Recent 60 Days Company Profile (ADB), and
the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). It was
reported that loan negotiations with Russia have been ongoing since
late December. The Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin had confirmed
that talks are ongoing, but did not confirm the amount being considered
for the credit. In addition, Armenian authorities were reported to
be negotiating with China on the possibility of obtaining a loan of
$2US billion. The Armenian government hopes to use the credits to
stabilise the economy during the next year to 18 months.
Significance:After a prolonged period of double-digit growth, the
Armenian economy is now sharply cooling. While the direct impact of the
global financial crisis on Armenia has been modest, as its financial
sector is still relatively undeveloped and thus rather isolated, the
indirect effects of the financial turmoil and international economic
downturn are more notable. Indeed, the Armenian economy remains
very dependent on investment and remittance inflows, and the outlook
for these has recently sharply weakened as global liquidity remains
very tight, at the same time as Armenia’s current-account deficit
is deep. In addition, the already relatively poor export prospects
have further worsened, together with the global growth outlook. Given
Armenia’s reasonably good reform progress, its chances of receiving
concessional credits from international financial organisations
remain good. On the other hand, given the increased external risks,
developments in the Armenian external liquidity gap and the potential
deteriorating impact of these on the sovereign’s creditworthiness at
the moment necessitate close monitoring.
NEW BOOK HONOURS GEORGETOWN’S PAST; LAUNCH ON WEDNESDAY
Independent and Free Press
nment/article/63806
Jan 22 2009
Canada
It was almost 90 years ago that the first of the 100 orphan boys,
survivors of the Armenian genocide, got off the Radial Line train at
the Georgetown stop (now the TD Bank on Main St. S.) and were marched
two by two down Main St. to their new home in Canada.
The farm at the end of the road, which is now Cedarvale Park, was
bought specifically for them by the Armenian Relief Society with the
Canadian government’s blessing with the hope that the country would
gain more farmers. The original dormitory built for the boys is still
there, and so is the farmhouse.
These "Georgetown Boys" and their descendents never forgot their
journey here or what they had left behind. They also never forgot
the town and the country that welcomed them. It is a story that
could disappear from the history books, but thanks to author Marsha
Forchuk Skrypuch, it seems unlikely that it will be fading any time
soon. Skrypuch is an award-winning writer whose books are well-read
in schools around the country and in the U.S.
Her first book on the subject, Aram’s Choice tells the story of the
boys’ journey from Armenia to Canada, while Call Me Aram, the second,
is set completely in Georgetown (readers will recognize local landmarks
and landscape in the illustrations), and describes unique trials that
the boys had to face.
Skrypuch chose Georgetown to launch her latest book as she is
well aware of the loyalty that their family members have for this
community. Every time there is an event here about The Georgetown Boys,
the family members drive hours or fly in from faraway U.S. cities
to remember and reminisce about their fathers and grandfathers,
the times they shared and their hardships. This time will be no
exception. Family members of the boys are expected to attend the
national book launch for Call Me Aram on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
Skrypuch will be spending the day in town and in two locations. She’ll
be speaking to schoolchildren at the Cedarvale Community Centre in
the afternoon about the Armenian genocide, the writing of the book
and Georgetown’s role in receiving the boys.
She will also be on hand to meet and talk with the public at The
Freckled Lion Bookstore on Main St., from 4-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m..
For more information, you may call The Freckled Lion at 905-873-1213
or e-mail at [email protected].
YOUNG ACTIVISTS INSPIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN POLITICS
By Eva Wolchover
The Boston Herald
January 21, 2009 Wednesday
Young political activists say the excitement generated by Barack
Obama winning the White House is living on past the ballot box,
and changing the way they view politics.
"I think a percentage of these volunteers and activists will stay
involved in politics, higher than anyone expected," said Jirair
Ratevosian, 28, of Boston, co-chairman of Armenian Americans for
Obama and Biden. "People still feel that they’re a part of it. And
people want to stay involved because the rest is yet to come. The
work hasn’t even started."
Obama won 66 percent of voters aged 18 to 29 in November.
Some 54.4 percent of Americans under age 30 voted – just one percentage
point lower than the all-time high for youth voter turnout in 1972 –
and young voters constituted 18 percent of the overall electorate.
The election seems to have struck a galvanizing chord, said Obama
fund-raiser Alan D. Solomont.
"The era of the baby boomer is over," he said. "There is a new
generation that is more interested in politics, that has a greater
belief that government can be a solution to our problems, that is
less idealistic and more pragmatic and that is more comfortable in
a diverse world."
Student activist Emily Cunningham, 18, a senior at Cardinal Spellman
High School in Brockton, agrees.
"I think young people generally are more excited about politics"
said Cunningham, who plans to work with the new administration as a
leader of STAND, a national anti-genocide organization.
The Obama team’s extraordinary success in utilizing the Internet to
recruit volunteers is likely to continue to attract young people, said
Larry J. Sabato of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics.
"Obama had loads of young people on his voter file," Sabato said. "He
can certainly communicate with them."
The candidate "was able to inspire younger people because he came
down to their level – to social networking sites, like Facebook.com
and Myspace.com," Ratevosian said, citing the new, interactive
change.gov and whitehouse.gov sites as savvy ways to continue to
court young supporters.
SARAH, ANI ENTER FUJAIRAH SEMIFINALS
The News International
Jan 23 2009
Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Sarah Mahboob Khan and her partner from Armenia Ani
Amiraghyan marched into the semifinals of the girls doubles by
upsetting the third seeds of the tournament, Laura Deigman (Great
Britain)/Veruska Monique Van Wyk (South Africa), in straight sets 6-3,
6-4 in Fujairah (UAE) circuit.
In the semifinal, they will meet and play against the top seeds Noor
Abbes and Ons Jabeur, both of Tunisia.
In the singles, however, it wasn’t a good day for the Pakistani
players. In the girls singles pre-quarter-final, Sarah Mahboob Khan
played a magnificent four hours marathon match against Panoria Tsekoura
(Greece) but lost the cliff hanger in a tough three sets 5-7, 6-2, 4-6.
A couple of unforced errors by Sarah in the first and the last sets
and the same number of lucky shots by Panoria turned the match in
favour of the Greek.
Second seed Natasha Afridi also lost a well contested match to Aarzoo
Malik (India) 2-6, 5-7.
In the boys singles competition, Waqas Mallak (Pak) lost to Alp
Golcuklu (Turkey) 5-7, 2-6, but with partner Vishwesh Sinha (India)
beat Khaled Al Hassani/Faisal Bastaki (UAE) 7-5, 2-6, 10-8 (super
tie-break) and qualified for the boys doubles semifinals.
COMMEMORATION CEREMONIES FOR SLAIN JOURNALIST
Hurriyet
Jan 19 2009
Turkey
ISTANBUL – Slain Turkish- Armenian journalist Hrant Dink will be
commemorated on the second anniversary of his murder.
A group who called themselves "Hrant’s Friends" have long been calling
for people to gather in front of the weekly multilingual newspaper
Agos in central Å~^iÅ~_li, where Dink was killed.
"We will gather together as citizens who believe in the fraternity of
people regardless of any differences in religion, language, race,
gender and political views," the newspaper advertisement of the
group stated. The group will meet at 2.30 p.m. under the slogan,
"For Hrant, for justice." Dink was the editor-in-chief of Agos.
Singer Å~^evval Sam will perform a Peace Concert on Jan. 22 at Taksim
Ghetto in commemoration of Dink. Sam will perform songs in several
languages including Armenian, Turkish, Kurdish, and Syriac.
Meanwhile, a group of around 100 people in the central Anatolian
province of EskiÅ~_ehir gathered Saturday to commemorate Dink and
set white pigeons free. The group gathered in Porsuk Avenue. "Every
death is early, but yours is much earlier for us," said Zeynep Ekici,
the spokesperson of the EskiÅ~_ehir Peace Assembly on behalf of the
group. The nongovernmental organization EskiÅ~_ehir has been in the
media in recent weeks for a banner placed at its gate that read,
"Armenians and Jews cannot enter, but dogs can." Dink, before his
death, wrote in a column that he felt as worried as a pigeon, but
despite his worries, he knew that people of Turkey did not touch
pigeons. Dink was shot to death days after the column was published,
on Jan. 19, 2007.
–Boundary_(ID_Keoll97Gc79FNwpOM9GCJg)–