Author: Hunanian Jack

"POMEGRANATE SEED" THEATRE FESTIVAL DUE OCTOBER 24-NOVEMBER 1

Panorama.am
16:12 19/10/2009

Stage 2 of "Pomegranate seed" children’s republican 9th theatre
festival is due in Yerevan October 24-November 1, festival’s president
Hasmik Karapetyan told Panorama.am.

The festival is dedicated to Hovhannes Tumanyan’s 140th anniversary
and the opening is to take place in Tumanyan Museum, then it will be
underway in Metro Theatre. As the organizer of the festival said,
23 junior theaatre groups are to perform. 35 groups have submitted
a participation bid, though 23 have been chosen. For 12 of them this
is the pilot participation, H. Karapetyan said.

CLOCK TOWER RIGHT ON TIME FOR 2010

Hurriyet Daily News
Oct 19 2009
Turkey

After nearly a year since restoration work began, Dolmabahce Palace
has lit up its newly renovated clock tower.

The restoration work began in December 2008 and was completed in
June by the Italian Association for Restoration, Assorestauro,
in cooperation with the Italian Trade Organization and the Turkish
Directorate for National Palaces.

In light of Istanbul’s upcoming position as the 2010 European Capital
of Culture, the Directorate for National Palaces has initiated many
restoration projects emphasizing the city’s architectural heritage.

"Istanbul’s selection as Capital of Culture has given us the perfect
opportunity to work together, bringing the latest technology and best
practices from Italy to Turkey’s mosques and palaces," Italian Trade
Commissioner Roberto Luongo said at the formal opening ceremony on
Friday. Several Italian companies that specialize in restoration and
lighting will contribute to "new projects and jointly work to maintain
the quality of the historical sites," Luongo said.

During the initial stages of the project, Turkish staff members were
trained in the methods and materials used by Italian firms. The
latest technology, including photogrammetry and 3D laser-scanning
systems, were implemented in the project and the lighting designs
were overhauled. A representative of Assorestauro pointed out, "The
lamps illuminating the tower were placed strategically in order to
highlight the eclectic motifs on the tower."

Turkish Parliament deputy Nevzat Pakdil and Secretary General Ali
Osman Koca, Italian Ambassador Carlo Marsili and Italian Trade Center
Ambassador Umberto Vataniye cut the ribbon after giving speeches at the
Treasury. The ceremony was marked by a 10-minute musical performance
accompanied by the ringing of the clock tower’s bells.

The tower was commissioned by Sultan Abdulhamit II, built by the
Armenian court architect Sarkis Balyan in 1895 and stands today as
a monument to Ottoman modernization efforts.

AZERI PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE ARMENIA-TURKEY PROTOCOLS

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.10.2009 18:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Azerbaijani Parliament will debate the protocols
signed between Turkey and Armenia, Trend Azeri news agency reported.

"I and my counterparts returning from Turkey will put forward
proposals to prevent discussion of the signed protocols at the Turkish
Parliament," Member of the Azerbaijani Parliamentary Security and
Defense Committee, Zahid Oruj said.

Oruj said appeal to the Turkish Parliament will depend on the
discussions. "Azerbaijan is engaged in certain diplomatic activities.

I believe we can use different tools of influence," the parliamentarian
said.

Oruj added that they will not only discuss the policy pursued to
repair relations between Turkey and Armenia, but will also the
regional issues.

"We should calculate Azerbaijan’s advantages and losses in these
processes, because the balance of forces in the region is important for
Azerbaijan’s future. Views will be exchanged on the issue," he said.

U.S. AND TURKISH PRESIDENTS DISCUSS THE NORMALIZATION PROCESS OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

ARMENPRESS
Oct 19, 2009

WASHINGTON, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS: U.S. and Turkish Presidents
Barack Obama and Abdullah Gul during the Saturday phone-conversation
discussed the normalization process of Armenian-Turkish relations,
the situation in Afghanistan, and a number of other issues, press
service of White House reported.

The heads of the two countries pointed out the historic progress
achieved in the normalization process of the ties between Armenia
and Turkey. Obama and Gul referred to the situation in Afghanistan,
and U.S. head expressed gratitude for the Turkish contribution to
its stabilization.

The presidents attached importance to the "stable cooperation" on
purpose of regulating the situation in Cyprus and "of strengthening
the situation stabilization in Bosnia and Herzegovina".

NAGORNO-KARABAKH: WAR NOT OVER, SAYS ALIYEV

Tert
Oct 19 2009
Armenia

Azerbaijani fundamental position is simple. The conflict must be
settled within Azerbaijani territorial integrity. Armenian armed forces
"must be withdrawn from the occupied territories. Our compatriots must
return to native lands," said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev,
AzerTaj state news agency quotes as reported by Azerbaijani news
agency Trend News.

No other point of view is considered beyond this position. Azerbaijan
has repeatedly voiced its position on this issue, Aliyev said.

He said that presently, the conflict has not been solved yet.

Azerbaijani President said that at present, Azerbaijani economy can
not be compared with Armenian one. "We excel it in all spheres. We
have very broad political opportunities. Our international positions
are strong. But economic potential is several times higher.

"Regarding with military strength, I would like to stress again that
Azerbaijani Army is the strongest one in the region. We intensify
our military strength. To tell the truth, it needs huge funds. But
we must do it as we live in war terms.

"The war has not finished yet. Its first stage has been completed. We
must be ready for releasing our native lands from occupiers any
moment," Azerbaijani President said.

Interfax, Russia
Oct 16 2009

Armenian-Russian JV to start exploring uranium fields in Armenia in 2009

YEREVAN Oct 16

The Armenian-Russian Mining Company plans to start drilling operations
in Armenia in exploring uranium fields before the end of 2009,
Armenian Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisian told
Interfax.

Weather in the Syuni region in southern Armenia, where the drilling is
planned, is so far good enough for such operations, Movsisian said.

If the company does not manage to start the drilling this year, it
will do this next year, he said.

It is difficult to say so far when uranium extraction could be started
in Armenia, Movsisian said. Preliminary estimates show that uranium
deposits in Armenia are sufficient for refueling the Armenian Nuclear
Power Plant and for exports, he said.

Rosatom chief Sergei Kiriyenko said earlier that additional
exploration of uranium fields in Armenia would be finished in 2010.

Specialists estimate uranium deposits in Armenia as varying from
10,000 to 60,000 tonnes. Uranium extracted in Armenia should be
processed at an international uranium enrichment center in Russia’s
Angarsk.

The Armenian-Russian Mining Company was registered in Armenia on July
16, 2008. The joint venture’s authorized capital is 92.241 million
drams (about $300,000) divided into 300 common registered shares, each
party holding 150 shares.

The Armenian-Russian Mining Company acquired a five-year license to
explore uranium fields in Armenia in April 2009.

ARMENIA NEEDS INTERNATIONAL LAW EXPERTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2009 20:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia needs international law experts, RA National
Academy of Sciences President Radik Martirosyan said at round table
discussions in Yerevan. Radik Martirosyan gave high assessment to
Russian Armenians’ Union activities, especially noting research center
opening, held on the initiative of RAU Head Ara Abrahamyan.

In his turn, RA Writers’ Union Chairman Levon Ananyan noted that RAU
keeps supporting the union and participate in contests’ organization,
adding that in 2012 the union will celebrate the 500th anniversary
of Armenian literature. Ananyan also announced that the contest of
foreign Armenian writers will take place in Los Angeles, with Diaspora
representatives invited to present their works.

ARMENIANS IN ARGENTINA RELEASED A STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2009 14:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties has always
been a key issue for Armenians worldwide. Following Turkish President’s
last year’s visit to Armenia for watching soccer match between Armenian
and Turkish national teams, those relations acquired a new impulse,"
Armenian Cultural Union of Argentina says in a statement addressed
to PanARMENIAN.Net.

"As descendents of Armenian Genocide victims, Argentinean-Armenians
are for establishment of normal and good neighborly ties between
countries," says the statement.

ARMENIANS MUST REMEMBER

News.am
20:51 / 10/15/2009

"We are facing a challenge of building relations with Turkey. All
depends on what basis we lay. We should remember who we deal with. The
Genocide continues — the murder of Hrant Dink, Gurgen Markaryan,
Sumgait, Kirovabad and Baku events are the witness. Armenians should
always remember they have right for Hay Dat — as the world will not
respect us as a nation if we leave the scene," the renowned Armenian
artist Sos Sargsyan said during his visit to Stepanakert, NKR.

NKR President Bako Sahakyan and NKR Minister of Culture met with
Sargsyan to discuss a number of cultural and social-political issues.

DID SUPERPOWERS INTERVENE?

4/razmik-zohrabyan
04:49 pm | October 14, 2009

Parliaments of Armenia and Turkey may delay the ratification of the
Protocols till next spring, thinks deputy chairman of the Armenian
Republican Party (HHK) Razmik Zohrabian.

Turkey’s parliament will be the first to sign the Protocols.

The HHK representative couldn’t predict the outcome of the
Armenian-Turkish football match. "It is more unpredictable than the
Armenian-Turkish relations," he joked.

Razmik Zohrabian welcomed Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian’s
posture during the signing ceremony. "Nalbandian displayed his will
and didn’t yield to Turkey’s fraudulence."

Regarding the opening of the Armenian-Turkish frontier, Razmik
Zohrabian said: "The frontier opening is necessary for Armenia
and its people. As for me, I can suffice with a piece of bread and
cheese. Armenia’s economy will boost after the border opening as
we shall compete with Turkish economy. Though we are a small nation
we can follow Japan’s example which proved the whole world that the
country is economically unmatched for superpowers."

Asked whether the frontier is being opened under the pressure of
superpowers, Razmik Zohrabian answered: "It is not excluded. I wouldn’t
say that superpowers are almighty but the history has shown that the
strong have always dictated their will to the weak. If Armenian were
a mighty country it would have 340 000 square km as was during Tigran
the Great’s rule and not 29 000 square km."