Author: Jidarian Alex

RA NA NOT TO DISCUSS PROTOCOLS UNLESS THEY’RE RATIFIED BY TURKISH PARLIAMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.12.2009 13:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The National Assembly of Armenia will not discuss
the protocols on normalization of relations with Turkey unless they
are ratified by Turkish parliament, RA NA Speaker said.

"Attempts to link Karabakh conflict settlement process to normalization
of the Armenian-Turkish relations are ungrounded and unacceptable,"
Hovik Abrahamyan said when commenting on yesterday’s statement by
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

"If the Turkish parliament doesn’t ratify the protocols we will take
retaliatory measures," he said.

IRANIAN ARMENIANS ORGANIZE EVENT DEDICATED TO 61ST ANNIVERSARY OF UN CONVENTION ON GENOCIDE

Noyan Tapan
Dec 23, 2009

TEHRAN, DECEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A program
dedicated to the 61st anniversary of the UN Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide took place at the
Vachik Gharabegian Hall of Ararat organization on December 19. Alik
newspaper reported that the event was organized on the initiative
of the Armenian embassy in Iran and under the patronage of Head of
Tehran’s Armenian diocese Archbishop Sepuh Sargsyan.

Speeches were delivered by the Armenian Ambassador to Iran Grigor
Arakelian, the UN Resident Coordinator in Tehran Sunil Narula, and
the Chairwoman of Tehran’s Diocesan Coucil Aida Hovhannisian.

The artistic part of the program included works of Armenian and foreign
composers performed by pianist Julietta Vardanian and Yerevan-based
Komitas Quartet’s cellist Aram Talalian. The Ararat organization’s
Ararat Chorus (conductor Arax Khachatrian) also gave a performance.

The closing remarks were made by Archbishop Sepuh Sargsyan.

An exhibition featuring photos of the Armenian monuments, which
were created in Western Armenia and do not exist anymore, opened in
the hall.

MIKHEIL SAAKASHVILI: "ONLY WAY FOR SOLUTION TO THE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT IS DIRECT NEGOTIATION BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA WITHOUT MEDIATORS"

APA
Dec 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Tbilisi – APA. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili sees the way
of solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict through the direct
negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia without participation
of mediators.

Saakashvili told Russian Echo Moskvi Radio that he doesn’t share
optimist statements by the European diplomats about the solution to
the conflict. "First I heard the statements like "we are very close to
the solution to the conflict" for many times and I always guessed that
they tried to represent dreams as the truth. This is very difficult
problem and main key-holder of the problem is Russia. Of course,
there are objective problems such Armenia and Azerbaijan. But all
problems have only solution recipe – direct negotiations between the
countries and observing the norms of international law in the processes
of negotiations and settlement, as well as securing the people returned
to their homeland and respecting the sovereignty of the countries".

Mikheil Saakashvili said probability of the worsening the situation
always existed while there was no change in the situation. "The
countries should start direct negotiations, establish dialogue between
the peoples to change the situation positively. Turkish-Armenian
negotiations could be an example for that and of course, these
negotiations should be coordinated with Azerbaijan. But in any case,
the dialogue is a good way and has positive progress. If the people
begin to establish dialogue and commercial relations, it means that
there are some prospects. If there are no mine fields and thorny wires,
the people can solve their problems sometimes without participation of
their governments. But we are face-to-face with the situation now. I
wouldn’t call this situation "status-quo". It needs to be more careful
to avoid complication of the situation".

ARMENIA AND CHINA HOLD CONSULTATIONS

news.am
Dec 23 2009
Armenia

Armenia-China foreign ministries’ political consultations were held
in RA foreign office. The Armenian delegation was headed by Areg
Hovhannisian, the Head of African, East Asian and Pacific Ocean
Countries Divisions at RA Foreign Ministry, whereas Chinese one –
by Zhang Xiao, Chinese FMA European-Central Asian Affairs Department
Deputy Director-General.

The sides discussed bilateral relations, issues on cooperation in the
frames of international organizations, conduction of Armenian-Chinese
intergovernmental commissions’ regular session, organization of
Shanghai Expo 2010, as well as cultural and educational matters,
RA Foreign Ministry press service informed NEWS.am.

The officials also made a point of the completion of Shangxi-Nairit
Armenian-Chinese joint plant construction and operational issues.

RA Deputy Foreign Minister Karine Ghazinyan also received Chinese
delegation.

"ARTSAKH SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED FOR ITS CULTURE"

Aysor
Dec 23 2009
Armenia

"In the process of recognition of the Nagorno Karabkh should mainly be
involved a lot of cultural and social organizations, as Artsakh first
of all should be recognized by the culture and the ethnography", –
assures Bakur Karapetyan , the chairman of the "Shushi" non profit
fund and the "Movement For Justice".

To realize this goal B. Karapetyan has initiated the "Zizi Kar" or
"Country of Treasures" scenario of the film that consists of 2 parts.

By his words he has gathered national stories about Artsakh (Nagorno
Karabakh), and has created a scenario of documentary and feature film.

"The film lasts 2 hours and half", – explained B. Karapetyan and
informed that he doesn’t know yet when and how he can give birth to it.

B. Karapetyan states that for the film to be shot finances are
needed but he hasn’t applied to anyone yet. Anyhow he informed that
he has got a "fellow film director who has a studio in the USA and
the corresponding technologies and has agreed to shoot a film".

ARMENIAN CHESS PLAYERS PREPARING FOR WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
21.12.2009 19:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian national chess team will take part in
the World Team Chess Championship due in Bursa, Turkey¸ on January
4-13. Armenian sportsmen are now conducting their last training
session in Tsahkadzor.

The Armenian national chess team headed by coach Arshak Petrosyan
consists of 6 chess players: Levon Aronyan, Vladimir Hakobyan, Gabriel
Sargsyan, Arman Pashikyan, Tigran Petrosyan and Tigran Kotanjyan.

Apart from the Armenian team, the championship also bring together
chess players from Israel, United States, Russia, Brazil, China,
Egypt, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Greece.

ARMENIAN CHURCH OF HOLY CROSS ON AKHTAMAR ISLAND WILL START FUNCTIONING IN SEPTEMBER, VAN MAYOR SAYS

armradio.am
21.12.2009 17:26

The Armenian Church of Holy Cross on Akhtamar Island will start
functioning from September 2010.

"The first service will be held on September 12. After opening, the
church will become a pilgrimage shrine for Armenians living across
the world," Van Mayor Munir Karaoglu said.

"Van will become one of Turkey’s tourism centers. After opening of the
border with Armenia, Iranian tourists will also have an opportunity
to arrive, as our current border with Iran lies though mountains,"
he said, Hurriyet reports.

Armenia to host conference on gender equality issues
19.12.2009 18:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An international conference devoted developing
gender equality in Armenia will take place in the resort town of
Tsahkadzor from December 21 till 23. Reports during the conference
will be delivered by representatives from RA Academy of Sciences,
Ministry of Justice, foreign organizations and NGOs as well as
journalists and experts.

The conference is aimed at determining ways of developing gender
equality in Armenia and studying the gender equality policy and
strategy of United Nations and European organizations. At the end of
each day, reports will be discussed and interim results will be summed
up. Conference is organized by the Association of Women with
University Education in conjunction with Cooperation for Open Society
organization.

TendersInfo
December 9, 2009 Wednesday

Armenia : Negotiations on development of Yerevan Subway frozen

The negotiations on development of the Yerevan Subway with the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Asian
Development Bank have been frozen.

As it was expected, the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development planned to provide the Yerevan Subway with 15 million
euro, of this 5 million as a grant. The Asian Development Bank’s funds
were allocated to the new stations building at Achapnyak Community and
it was planned to build a new exit to Sayat-Nova Street and Abovyan
Street from the Eritasardakan Station.

The spokeswoman of the Yerevan subway Ninelle Vardanyan told Aysor s
correspondent that the agreements at best may be signed in 2010
January, or 2010 February. She said the main reason for the suspension
is the financial and economical crisis. This year has nullified all
our plans casting to the winds them all. We expect the next year will
be more advantageous, she added.

TULARE COUNTY MUSEUM DEBUTS ARMENIAN EXHIBIT

Porterville Recorder
-44073-county-armenian.html
Dec 17 2009
CA

THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER

Tulare County’s Museum of Farm Labor & Agriculture will debut its
newest exhibit this weekend: "The Armenian Experience in Tulare
County."

The public event takes place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 19 at Mooney
Grove Park in Visalia. Admission to the park and museum is free
Saturday.

"We chose to showcase the Armenian community for our first ethnic
exhibit not only because of their many significant agricultural
contributions to our region, but also because the Armenian community
of Yettem is unique; it is the only community in the United States
that bears an Armenian name," said Cathy McGowan, curator, in a
press release.

The new Tulare County Museum of Farm Labor & Agriculture opened in
November. The 17,000-square foot structure showcases the cultural
heritage of the people who farmed the valley during the past
half-Millennia.

Saturday’s festivities will include traditional Armenian foods
and music.

The exhibit will continue through early summer.

Museum staff is seeking volunteers to prepare future exhibits focused
on the African-American, Hispanic and Dust Bowl migrant populations.

For more information, contact Tulare County Museum 733-6616.

Contact The Recorder newsroom at 784-5000, Ext. 1050.