Author: Harutyunian Christine

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN RECEIVED RF INTERIOR MINISTER

armradio.am
21.06.2008 12:05

President Serzh Sargsyan received the Minister of Interior Affairs
of the Russian Federation Rashid Nurgaliyev, who arrived in Armenia
to participate in the joint sitting of RA Police and RF Ministry of
Interior Affairs.

The President appreciated the high level of Armenian-Russian relations
and their stable development.

President Sargsyan welcomed the close cooperation established between
the law enforcement agencies of Armenia and Russia, considering it
one of the main components of bilateral relations. Serzh Sargsyan
expressed confidence that due to joint efforts the fight against
crime will be more effective.

The Russian Interior Minister briefly presented the framework of
issues discussed at the collegial sitting, underlining that those
are very urgent.

Expressing confidence that the successful cooperation with the new
Chief of Police will continue, Rashid Nurgaliyev said the cooperation
of law-enforcement bodies is getting more and more substantial.

Under the conditions of growing challenges, Serzh Sargsyan said the
operative exchange of information and experience becomes an imperative

"THE DECISION OF THE COURT IS A VICTORY FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION"

Azg Armenian Daily
20/06/2008

European Court of Human Rights

The decision of the European Court of Human Rights brings an end to
the long drawn-out saga about the refusal of the Armenian authorities
to award a broadcasting license to the A1+ television station", is
written in the statement by Terry Davis, Secretary General of the
Council of Europe, on the judgment by the European Court of Human
Rights on the case of Armenian television A1+.

"The decision comes after numerous calls from different bodies of the
Council of Europe have been ignored by the Armenian authorities. All
member states of the Council of Europe are legally bound to comply with
the European Convention on Human Rights. They should do so without
being reminded of their responsibilities by the European Court of
Human Rights. The decision of the Court is a victory for freedom
of expression. It should also serve as a lesson to all governments
inclined to arbitrary interpretations of Article 10 of the European
Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees this essential freedom".

CALIFORNIA AYF MEMBERS URGE SEN. BOXER TO CONFRONT GENOCIDE DENIAL DURING U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA CONFIRMATION HEARING

armradio.am
19.06.2008 10:49

Initiated in the days leading up to the Senate confirmation hearing for
ambassador-designate Marie Yovanovitch, the Armenian Youth Federation
Western Region (AYF) has launched an innovative campaign using YouTube
video messages to encourage U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to ask
President Bush’s nominee frank questions about the Armenian Genocide.

Sen. Boxer and her colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
will consider Yovanovitch’s nomination to be the next U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia on June 19th, at hearings scheduled for 2:15pm EDT. The
previous ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, was fired by President
Bush for speaking honestly about the Armenian Genocide.

"It is vital that the voice of Armenian American youth in California
be heard by Senator Boxer on this human rights issue," stated AYF
Central Executive Chairman Caspar Jivalagian. "We must be certain
that the next U.S.

Ambassador to Armenia acknowledges the acts of 1915 as Genocide and
we believe our video messages will accurately and effectively convey
our expectations," he added.

Advocacy efforts by the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) to "End the Gag Rule" on the Armenian Genocide have included
web faxes, a national postcard campaign to Members of Congress, and
an extensive ad campaign on key Congressional websites, including
The Hill, CQPolitics, and Politico. The ads are currently running
on RollCall.com. The video messages prepared by the AYF add a new
dimension to the grassroots efforts of the Armenian American community.

On March 28, 2008, President Bush nominated Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch
to serve as America’s next Ambassador to Armenia. President Bush’s
previous nominee as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, Richard Hoagland,
was subject to two legislative holds by U.S. Senator Robert Menendez
(D-NJ) and was ultimately withdrawn by the Administration, following
the nominee’s statements denying the Armenian Genocide.

As the Yovanovitch confirmation hearing approached, presumptive
Democratic presidential nominee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee
member Barack Obama restated his commitment to U.S. recognition of
the Armenian Genocide.

In a letter to ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian, Senator Obama wrote, "I
share your view that the United States must recognize the events of
1915 to 1923, carried out by the Ottoman Empire, as genocide. . . We
must recognize this tragic reality. The Bush Administration’s refusal
to do so is inexcusable, and I will continue to speak out in an effort
to move the Administration to change its position."

HAYK HARUTYUNYAN APPOINTED HEAD OF THE STATE PROTECTION SERVICE

armradio.am
19.06.2008 14:30

President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on
appointing Hayk Harutyunyan to the post of Head of the State Protection
Service of the Republic of Armenia, President’s Press Office reported.

DELEGATION HEADED BY RASHID NURGALIEV, MINISTER OF INTERIOR OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION, ARRIVES IN ARMENIA

NOYAN TAPAN
JUNE 19

The delegation headed by Rashid Nurgaliev, the Minister of Interior of
the Russian Federation and General of the Army, will arrive in Yerevan
on June 19 evening in order to take part in the proceedings of the
sitting of the united collegium of the Ministry of Interior of the
Russian Federation to be held in Yerevan in June 20. This information
was provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent by the Information and
Public Relations Department of the RA Police. No details are reported
with regard to the agenda of the sitting of the united collegium
as yet.

KARABAKH DID ITS CHOICE

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on June 17, 2008
Armenia

Independence Cannot Be A Matter Of Bargaining

Interview with NKR Foreign Affairs Minister Georgy Petrosyan.

"How would you comment on the announcement made by Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister regarding "certain nuances" of the stance of Armenia’s
new government?"

"There is no change in Armenia’s attitude. As my Armenian colleagues
have already announced Armenia’s stance has not changed in the issue
regarding Nagorno Karabakh.

The attitude of NKR regarding possible agreements has also not been
changed.

No document can be signed or implemented with Azerbaijan without the
agreement of the people of Nagorno Karabakh."

"Mamediarov says the peaceful settlement of the conflict is already
a mutual concession from the side of Azerbaijan. What is your
commentary?"

"Similar announcements are direct political-diplomatic blackmails
addressed to the mediators and Armenia. From the beginning official
Baku accounts on solving the issue by means of pressure, intimidations
and blackmail. By imposing its own scenario of the settlement of
Karabakh conflict not only does Azerbaijan jeopardize negotiation
process, but also puts at risk the stability and security of the
region."

"Azerbaijan has over again raised the issue of the final status of
Nagorno Karabakh, bringing the example of Tataristan as a model. What
is your standpoint regarding this issue?"

"Speaking about Tataristan’s model as a possible model of sovereignty
for Nagorno Karabakh Azerbaijani representatives don’t take into
account the fact that Tataristan is the subject of a federal state. If

Azerbaijan intends to be a federal state and to grant the status of a
federal subject to the national minorities, such as lezgies, tallish,
avaries, udies and others, we will only welcome this initiative;
but we don’t see us in that formation. Our independence can’t turn
into a matter of bargaining."

ASRIAN MEMORIAL: ARONIAN CATCHES LEKO IN THE FINAL ROUNDS

Chessbase News
d=4701
June 15 2008
Germany

15.06.2008 – The Karen Asrian Memorial rapid chess tournament in
Yerevan ended today with a clear victory for Armenia’s top GM Levon
Aronian, who defeated Michael Adams 1½:½ in the last two games;
while Peter Leko, who had been leading most of the time, lost ½:1½
to Alexander Morozevich. The draw average in this event was 65%. Final
report.

The "Chess Giants Yerevan 2008" rapid chess tournament was originally
scheduled to be held in Yerevan, Armenia, from June 9th to 15th,
2008. Due to the sudden and tragic death of top Armenian GM Karen
Asrian on June 9th, 2008, at the age of 28, the Armenian Chess
Federation decided to interrupt the event for a few days, and then
rename it to the "Karen Asrian Memorial". This will be the name it
will bear in the future. In addition, the rapid open scheduled to
have been played in parallel to the main tournament from June 12-15,
was cancelled.

Final report Before the last two rounds of mini-matches on the final
day Peter Leko was leading with 7.5/12 points, with Levon Aronian half
a point behind. In the first game of the day Leko, with the white
pieces, fell victim to an unusual Sicilian and a vicious attack on
his king, which was castled queenside. In the meantime Levon Aronian
played the following miniature against England’s top GM Michael Adams:

Aronian,L (2763) – Adams,Mi (2729) [E17] Karen Asrian Mem Yerevan ARM
(13), 15.06.2008 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.0-0
0-0 7.Re1 Na6 8.Ne5 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Nc3 c5 11.dxc5 Nxc5 12.Be3 Re8
13.Nd3 Ne6 14.Rc1 Ne4 15.Qa4 Bf6 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Red1

17…exd3? 18.Bxb7 Nd4. Adams was certainly not eager to get tied
down with 18…Rb8 19.Rxd3 Qe7 20.Rd7 Qf8 (yes, the queen has no
other squares) 21.Qxa7. 19.Bxd4 dxe2 20.Re1 1-0.

In the final games Leko conceded a 27-move draw with black against
Morozevich, while Aronian got his with black against Adams in 23
moves. The Armenian champ was the overall winner, followed by Leko
and then, half a point behind, Morozevich and Gelfand.

–Boundary_(ID_rQMYeVOxC/DPUU45Eyh98w)–

AAC CONSTANTINOPLE PATRIARCH GOES ON SICK LEAVE

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.06.2008 15:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Patriarch of Constantinople, His Holiness Mesrop
Mutafyan was operated on for his thyroid gland and will not perform
his duties for a certain period of time.

As PanARMENIAN.Net came to know from the Armenian community of
Istanbul, the Patriarch went on a 6-month sick leave. "The Spiritual
Council represented by Archbishop Aram Ateshyan and Shahan Ayvazyan
will assume his duties," the source said.

Archbishop Mutafyan has headed the Constantinople Patriarchate since
1998. If he is disabled, the Armenian community should elect a new
spiritual leader, according to the Turkish Constitution.

Afterwards, the candidacy is forwarded to the Turkish government,
which approves or rejects it.

ARDSHININVESTBANK OPENED 6TH BRANCH IN ARTSAKH

KarabakhOpen
17-06-2008 09:34:37

A few days ago a branch of Ardshininvestbank opened in Martuni. The
president of the board of the bank Karen Safaryan was present at the
ceremony. It is already the sixth branch of the bank in Artsakh. The
bank also has 49 branches in Armenia and a representation to Paris. The
branches employ 1100 people. In Artsakh the bank employs 70 people. All
the six branches of the bank in Artsakh have 4500 customers.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons Training and Social Integration Centre
to be opened in Yerevan

armradio.am
14.06.2008 11:00

Association Arménienne d’Aide Sociale , together with its partner
organisations, the French Armenian Development Foundation and Kamk ev
Korov NGO will open Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons Training and
Social Integration Centre in Yerevan on June 16.

This Centre will provide free legal assistance, psychological help,
literacy classes and gesture language trainings with the aim of
integration of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons in society.

This project is financed by the European Union and co-financed and
implemented by the Association Arménienne d’Aide Sociale (France).