Author: Jagharian Tania

"THREE CENTURIES OF ARMENIAN HERITAGE IN INDIA" TO BE PRESENTED IN NAASR

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.05.2009 16:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Dr. Omar Khalidi of the Aga Khan Program for
Islamic Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) will give an illustrated lecture entitled "Three Centuries of
Armenian Heritage in India" on June 4, at the National Association
for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) Center in Belmont, Mass,
The Armenian Weekly reports.

Though Armenians were in India from early times, their presence in
India is well-documented from the 16th century, after the establishment
of the important mercantile community in New Julfa in Persia. The
community grew in size and importance in the 17th and 18th centuries,
with many Armenians rising to positions of prominence.

Khalidi’s lecture will give an overview of India’s Armenian
Diaspora-its churches, cemeteries, and related art-in such locations
as Kolkata (Calcutta), Bombay, Delhi, Agra, Surat, Hyderabad, Madras,
Dhaka (in modern Bangladesh), and elsewhere.

Dr. Omar Khalidi has a Ph.D. in Islamic studies from the University
of Wales.

This lecture is the second talk given in memory of Arshag Merguerian
(1926-2005), an architect and active member and friend of NAASR for
nearly 50 years. The expenses for the lecture will be covered by
funds contributed to NAASR in Merguerian’s memory.

NO ACTIVE WORK WAS YET OBSERVED AT ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
27.05.2009 14:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "As of today, no active actions were observed at
Armenian-Turkish border by RF FSS Border Administration," Head of RF
FSS Border Administration in RA, Lieutenant General Sergey Bondarev
told at May 27’s news conference.

"Repair works over railway line from Gyumri to State border were
conducted last year by SCRW," he noted. Speaking of the possibility
of opening Armenian-Turkish border, Sergey Bondarev noted that
Armenian-Turkish relations is an internal business of the two
states. "We, the borders guards, are ready to fulfill any task
assigned to us. We’re ready to fulfill them in case of opening of
Armenian-Turkish border as well".

ISTANBUL HOSTS INT’L MEETINGS

Hurriyet
May 26 2009
Turkey

ISTANBUL – Turkey’s recent regional activities and its efforts to
improve ties with its neighbors continue in Istanbul this week,
with efforts to improve relations with Armenia and others for its
relations in the Arab world.

A workshop in Istanbul’s Conrad Hotel will question Turkey-Armenia
relations from all aspects. Organized by the Foundation for Political,
Economic and Social Research, or SETA, the workshop will take place
May 26 to 27.

The Turkish-Arab Relations Symposium starts Tuesday at the Marmara
University Sultan Ahmet Campus. More than 60 people will participate
in the three-day symposium, with 40 participants coming from the
Arab world. State Minister Mehmet Aydın and secretary-general of
the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Ekmeleddin Ä°hsanoglu,
will attend the opening.

RPA PLANS TO CREATE NEW JOBS AND ARFD TO PROVIDE DISABLED WITH JOBS BY THEIR PREELECTION PROGRAMS

Noyan Tapan
May 25, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
preelection program’s part Yerevan a City of Work mentions that if
the party wins the elections it will keep the problem of population’s
employment in the focus of its attention. "City development programs
will contribute to creation of new jobs for Yerevan residents,
ensuring civilized working conditions," the RPA program mentioned.

In order to make Yerevan a city of work RPA plans to work out and
implement programs with government’s assistance that will be aimed
at creation of new jobs, ensuring work of enterprises under communal
jurisdiction in the whole capacity. Besides, the party plans to create
favorable conditions for development of small and medium-sized business
and for making Yerevan a more attractive city for investments.

ARFD electoral program’s provisions also mention the necessity of
implementing active employment programs. "Programs of making disabled
people full members of community will be paid special attention," the
ARFD program mentioned. ARFD promises through privileges and financial
assistance to encourage employers that will provide disabled people
with a job.

NORWAY SUPPORTS OSCE MG FORMAT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
26.05.2009 14:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ambassador Hougue (residence – Moscow) submitted
his credentials to President Serzh Sargsyan. During the meeting,
Mr. Sargsyan reiterated Armenia’s interest in strengthening and
developing Armenian-Norwegian ties in both bilateral and multi-lateral
formats. The President said that Norway’s name for Armenians
is mainly associated with Great philanthropist Fridtjof Nansen’s
mission. "Armenia always remembers and highly appreciates Norwegian
people’s support after the earthquake in 1988," RA President stressed.

The Norwegian diplomat noted in his turn that his country attached
great importance to bilateral ties in different spheres and was ready
to undertake concrete steps in that direction. Parties stressed the
importance of further cooperation in economic-cultural and legal
spheres.

The newly-appointed Ambassador promised to do his utmost for the
development of bilateral cooperation. Parties exchanged views on
regional problems. Ambassador Hougue reiterated his country’s support
to Kharabakh settlement process within OSCE MG format, stressing
that negotiations are the only way to conflict settlement. President
Sargsyan highly appreciated Norway’s position on regional problems,
RA President’s Press Service reports.

AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER DOES NOT HEAR ANY NOTES OF CONSTRUCTIVISM FROM THE SIDE OF ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-05-25 11:58:00

ArmInfo. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov thinks that
Armenia began to have a negative pressure on the Karabakh settlement
peace process.

As Azerbaijani mass media reported, Mammadyarov said that in
St. Petersburg, the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will continue
to discuss those issues that continue to remain being on the agenda of
the peace settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. ‘I would very
much wish to hear the notes of constructivism by Armenia. Despite the
development of the new situation in the region, Armenia, unfortunately,
began to have a negative pressure on the peace process’, – he said.

He also added: ‘We have reached everything in the peace process with
the former administration of Armenia with the current administration
in Armenia, we have not achieved anything…. However, we have not
advanced even in the slightest from the date of coming into power a
new president in Armenia’.

ARMENIAN MONUMENTS IN TURKEY BEING TRANSFORMED INTO ‘OTTOMAN HERITAGE’

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
21.05.2009 12:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The ruins of ancient Armenian capital Ani will
probably have the fate Holy Cross Church on Ahtamar Island.

As a PanARMENIAN.Net corresponded reported from the scene, restoration
works are being carried out by Turkish specialists on the ruins of Ani.

According to RA Ministry of Culture spokesperson Gayane Durgaryan,
Armenia offered Turkey to send specialists but received no response
so far.

Presently, the foundations of temples and support pillars of the
Cathedral and city wall are being fortified.

MEETINGS

A1+
07:30 pm | May 19, 2009

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan met today with President of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan.

The Armenian PM attached importance to the steps taken by the
governments of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh aimed at bilateral
cooperation and mitigating the effects of the financial-economic
crisis.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the current economic
reforms taking place in Nagorno-Karabakh. The NKR President said that
the planning of joint programs with support from Armenian partners
has shaped a productive partnership and registered tangible results.

Participating in the meeting was NKR Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan.

NKR President Bako Sahakyan also met with Chairman of the RA National
Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan.

AMERIABANK (ARMENIA) INTRODUCING AUTOMATED BUSINESS PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM

Noyan Tapan
May 18, 2009

YEREVAN, May 18. /ARKA/. Ameriabank (Armenia), which received a new
international quality7 certificate ISO 9001:2008 on April 7, has
started introducing an automated system of business process control.

The Ameriabank Public Relations Service reported that the bank is
currently running about 70 business processes, which are monitored
and improved.

The Ameriabank specialist in quality was sent abroad to study the
programs of the leading companies –

ARIS, AllFusion (BPwin), Dialog Strategy (Corporate Express),
Business Studio.

The Ameriabank is a corporate investment bank offering corporate,
investment and retail services in one package.

Ruben Vardanyan is Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Artak
Anesyan is Director General. The Troika Dialog Group, one of the
largest Russian investment companies, is the bank’s strategic partner.

Certificate 01 100 051317, which certifies the conformity to the new
international quality standard ISO 9001:2008 was issued to the bank
by the international company TUV RHEINLAND GROUP (Germany).

Ameriabank was the first on the Armenian financial market to receive
an ISO 9001:2008 certificate. About a year ago the bank started
elaborating and introducing a quality management system in conformity
with ISO 9001:2008.

The CSP Middle East S.A.R.L. acted as advisor to the bank.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA: ANY ATTEMPT OF TURKEY TO INTERFERE WITH KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT PROCESS MAY NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE KARABAKH NEGOTIATING PROCESS

ArmInfo
2009-05-18 11:21:00

ArmInfo. Any attempt of Turkey to interfere with the Karabakh
conflict settlement process may negatively affect the negotiating
process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, President of Armenia Serzh
Sargsyan said during the meeting with EU Special Representative to
South Caucasus Peter Semneby.

In particular, the president emphasized one again that Armenia
sees the solution of the Karabakh problem only within the frames
of OSCE Minsk Group based on the Madrid proposals, according to
the principles of the right for self-determination and exclusion of
the use of force, fixed in the fundamental international documents,
as well as the provisions of the Helsinki statement of OSCE states’
foreign ministers. The president expressed readiness of Armenia to
normalize the relations with Turkey without preconditions within
the frames of the agreements reached. S. Sargsyan marked Armenia’s
adherence to the European values and emphasized that the "European
Partnership" summit in Prague is a successful start for attachment of a
new content and further extension of relations between Armenia and EU.

S. Sargsyan and P. Semneby expressed confidence that frequent
meetings and discussions indicate the extending agenda of EU-Armenia
interaction, as well as allow to quickly respond to the arising
problems and give the relevant solutions. Moreover, the parties highly
appreciated the balanced approaches to the Karabakh problem specified
in the final statement of the ‘European Partnership’ summit.