RA MFA WILL TAKE ITS BEST EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH PEACE AND STABILITY IN NKR
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.09.2009 21:58 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA MFA will take its best efforts to establish
peace and stability in NKR, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
told a news conference in Yerevan.
"Today is a notable day. It’s been 18 years since NKR gained
independence. I wish peace in NKR, and RA Foreign Ministry will spare
no efforts to reach it," RA FM stated.
SUMMER INSPIRATION – KOTAYK REGION
PanARMENIAN.Net
31.08.2009 16:34 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Within the framework of the Summer Inspiration
project, VivaCell-MTS has organized its regular exhibition contest
in Kptayk region.
"The gifted young children this project reveals in the regions give
us a stimulus to appear with new initiatives to promote their talents
for the sake of our common brighter future. The more energy, effort,
and knowledge we invest in them today, the more payback we will get
tomorrow," said VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.
The Summer Inspiration project started on August 19 in Vanadzor,
Lori region, and has already been held in Aragatsotn, Armavir,
Ararat, Vayots Dzor, and Syunik regions, with the events to follow
in Gegharkunik, Shirak, and Tavush in the nearest future.
Summer Inspiration project aims at revealing and promoting the
creativity of young children talents in the regions of Armenia. The
vivid imagination of a child is the theme for the contest. The
children’s artwork is judged on originality, clear expression,
and reflections of cultural traditions in the work of art. Art is
presented in a variety of mediums including folk dance, singing,
painting, needlework, acting, craft and photography.
The artworks should be associated with VivaCell-MTS or display
VivaCell-MTS brand logo.
Aysor, Armenia
Aug 29 2009
Game of Vruzhan Hkobyan ended in draw again
In the 2nd round of the 10th international chess tournament taking
place in Montréal, Canada Varuzhan Hakobyan representing USA
ended in draw playing with Vinay Bhatti representing the same
country. The point shared also Onshichku and Shulman, Kovalyov and
Rusel Ruzmon. Sebastien Mazze took the advantage with the whites over
Alexander Miseneenko, Arkadi Nardich over Mark Blyuvshtein, Etienne
Bakro over Sergey Tavyakov.
Varujan Hakobyan (USA) ` Vinay Bhat (USA) 0.5:0.5
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Cc3 Cf6 4.e3 e6 5.Cf3 Cbd7 6.Dc2 Fd6 7.Fd3 0-0 8.0-0
dxc4 9.Fxc4 b5 10.Fe2 Fb7 11.Td1 Db8 12.e4 e5 13.dxe5 Cxe5 14.Cd4 b4
15.Cf5 Fc5 16.Ca4 Fxf2+ 17.Rxf2 Ceg4+ 18.Fxg4 Cxg4+ 19.Re1 Dxh2 20.De2
Tad8 21.Fg5 f6 22.Fe3 h5 23.Rf1 Fc8 24.Ce7+ Rh7 25.Fg1 Dh1 26.Txd8
Txd8 27.Cxc8 Ch2+ 28.Rf2 Cg4+ 29.Rf1 Ch2+ 30.Rf2 Cg4+ 31.Rf1 Ch2+
1/2:1/2:
3rd round
Sergey Tivyakov (Holland) ` Sebastian Maze (France)
Tomas Rusel-Rozmon (Canada) ` Etienne Bakro (France)
Vinay Bhat (USA) ` Anton Kovalyo (Argentina)
Yuri Shulman (USA)- Varuzhan Hakobyan (USA)
Mark Blyuvshteyn (Canada) ` Alexander Onishchuk (USA)
Alexander Moseenko (Ukraine) ` Arkadi Naydich (Germany)
FURIOUS REACTIONS FOR THE AZERI VOTING PROBE
oikotimes.com
Aug 28 2009
EBU announced they will examine the voting probe during the next
Reference Group meeting set for September 11th in Oslo, the official
website announced moments ago. "It is totally unacceptable", says
EBU spokesman after several voters interrogated by the police for
voting Armenia. The voting should have been clear, fair and anonymous
while everyone have the right to vote for their own favourite, the
statement concluded.
Meanwhile the news about the voting interrogations are circulating
all over the world with almost all media and newspapers referring
to this undemocratic procedure. Could this mean penalties for the
state broadcaster?
ALL FOREIGN DELEGATIONS SHOULD ENTER NAGORNO-KARABAKH FROM AZERBAIJAN – MP
Interfax
Aug 25 2009
Russia
Any visiting foreign delegation of experts should cross into the
self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno- Karabakh from Azeri territory,
head of Azerbaijan’s PACE delegation Samed Seidov told journalists.
"Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized by all international organizations,
including the Council of Europe, as an integral part of
Azerbaijan. That is why each visit to Nagorno-Karabakh should
take place from our territory," Seidov told journalists on Tuesday,
commenting on an itinerary for a Council of Europe mission’s upcoming
visit to inspect the condition of monuments in Azerbaijan’s occupied
territories.
"Attempts to enter [Nagorno-Karabakh] from the territory of Armenia
or using any other methods are unacceptable to Azerbaijan," the Azeri
MP said.
Azerbaijan wants to promote cooperation with the Council of Europe
in all issues, but only if "each mission and each rapporteur respect
Azerbaijan’s legislation and obey international law," he said.
"They should not enter Azerbaijan from the territory of certain
forces after being exposed to someone’s initially biased ideology,"
Seidov said.
Negotiations are still in progress regarding a possible date for
the aforementioned Council of Europe delegation’s visit to Nagorno-
Karabakh, he added.
TURKISH DIASPORA PREVENTS U.S. CONGRESS FROM ADOPTING RESOLUTION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Today.Az
ss/54961.html
Aug 25 2009
Azerbaijan
The political organization of Washington DC and U.S.-based Turkish
Diaspora organizations are not accepting seriously the Armenian
initiatives to put "Armenian genocide" on agenda of the U.S. Congress
and that of the local human rights organizations, one of leaders of
the Turkish Diaspora in California Karahan Mete said.
For example, during the last several months Armenians tried to
submit three resolutions on the so-called "genocide" to California
local Congress, but U.S.-based Turkish organizations (TCCA, Turkish
Defense Fund, ATAA, TAAF, PAX Turcica, TAAC, Turkuaz, TADF) managed
to prevent it, Mete said.
He said the State of California where Armenian and Greece Diasporas
are dominant is the center for Armenian’s anti-Turkish activities.
Close relationship between Turkish Diaspora and Senator Darrel
Steinberg helped to hinder implementation of draft resolution number
AJR 14, which was dedicated to the issue of "Armenian genocide",
and was aimed to keep the "Armenian genocide" on agenda, Mete said.
The Turkish Diaspora also prevented Armenians’ another resolution
number SB 234, which was aimed to propaganda the "Armenian genocide"
issue in California’s schools.
The first version of this resolution meant that any Armenian could
go to a school and talk about what happened in 1915 to his relatives,
Mete said.
But in the last version (revised by the Turkish Diaspora) only those
ones who participated in 1915 events can do these kinds of lectures
at schools.
"And as nearly none of the participants are alive it seems impossible,"
told Mete.
The third draft resolution still remains on California Senate’s
agenda under the number AB 961, and it is aimed to prohibit the
cooperation between local government and organizations which are
working with Turkey.
The Turkish Diaspora is working hard in Washington DC on dismissing
the discussion of "Armenian genocide" in the U.S. Congress during
the upcoming fall session.
Besides the Turkish organizations, the Congressional Caucus on Turkey
also works closely with this issue, Congressman Ed Whitefield (Co-Chair
of the Congressional Caucus on Turkey) office said.
According to Congressman Whitefield’s office, in an open editorial
about U.S.-Turkey relations the law-maker says that with Turkey’s
record as such a steadfast ally to the U.S. during troubled times
it would be a dangerous misstep to unnecessarily risk alienating
the Turkish people. Yet, efforts are, once again, afoot in the
U.S. Congress to label the deaths of ethnic Armenians during the
final days of the Ottoman Empire in World War I as genocide.
He said "This sort of proclamation, which bears no legal effect,
would almost certainly be seen as a slap in the face to Turkey and
a harpoon to U.S. relations with the country".
According to Congressman, the "Armenian genocide" issue remains a
matter of debate by historians, making it foolish, arrogant, and
dangerous for politicians to make historical claims for political
points".
Ed Whitefield also adds that with the two countries (Turkey and
Armenia) already working in step to resolve their differences and
advance their relationship, U.S. involvement in the situation appears
unnecessary and intrusive.
ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT LIVES IN GRAND STYLE
Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Aug 25 2009
Armenia
In the first half of this year, budget revenues totaled 359bln AMD, and
on-budget expenditures 426.5bln AMD, thereby ensuring the respective
67.1% and 70.3% of the RA Government-specified 10-month program.
The press service of the RA Ministry of Finance reported that the
annual budget was thus executed 39.9% and 47.6% respectively.
In the fist half of 2009, budget revenues decreased by 55bln
AMD (13.3%) as compared with the corresponding period last
year. Specifically, budget revenues taxes and duties registered a
decrease of 61.5bln AMD (18.1%). Official grants exceeded 2.7bln AMD
(a decrease of 3.1%).
During the period under review, compulsory social insurance payments
and other budget revenues registered an increase of 1.7bln AMD and
4.8bln AMD or 3.2% and 31.5% respectively. Foreign donor provided
a total of 242.5bln AMD to Armenia as credit funds. Specifically,
the Russian Government provided 185.1bln AMD, and the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) 57.4bln AMD.
WAR ON WIKIPEDIA PAGES GOES ON: AZERBAIJAN VS. ARMENIA
Today.Az
s/54933.html
Aug 24 2009
Azerbaijan
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, is very popular around the world. But
the errors or deliberate distortions of many articles related to
Azerbaijan, especially the Karabakh conflict, have become frequent.
Many of us is aware that Wikipedia is an open encyclopedic online
resource which contains all kinds of information and the continuously
expanding articles on various subjects.
Day.Az continue to receive letters every day which note regular errors
in Wikipedia.
Information about Azerbaijan is frequently deliberately distorted.
It is very easy to recognize mistakes. For example, anyone who types
‘Armenia’, ‘Karabakh’, ‘Artsakh’, ‘Karabakh ‘conflict in the Wikipedia
search box, will see deliberate errors about Azerbaijan’s history,
traditions and Karabakh conflict.
For example, typing the word ‘Armenia’, visitors will see the following
information: "Armenia is a state in the Caucasus. It borders with
Artsakh in the south-east." Once you type ‘Karabakh conflict’, the
page, among other false information about the conflict, includes
also the following inscription: "The territory of Nagorno-Karabakh
was within the province of Artsakh in ancient times."
If you write the word ‘Artsakh’ you will read the following:
"Artsakh is the name of 9th province of Greater Armenia (historical
region between the rivers Kura and Aras). It covers present-day
Nagorno-Karabakh and the outlying regions."
One can encounter dozens of similar mistakes in Wikipedia.
In fact, there is no information war on Wikipedia pages. Admittedly,
many drive necessary information from the free encyclopedia. Armenians
also, being aware of this, refer to sources profitable for them and
misinform the international community.
We call on all Azerbaijani citizens and those who are aware of
the truth to correct the mistakes related to Azerbaijan’s history,
geography, Karabakh conflict and traditions.
It is noticeable that thank to efforts by Day.Az and its readers,
Mehaphone, MTC, National geographic, Mail.ru and other famous companies
have corrected mistakes concerning Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
Experience shows that errors are corrected. The main thing is to act!
SAHVARSH KOCHARYAN: ARMENIA DRAWN INTO CONFLICT
Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Aug 24 2009
Armenia
It is the self-declared Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) and Azerbaijan
that are principal parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The
latter is trying to resolve the problem by force. As regards Armenia,
it was drawn into the conflict, RA Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh
Kocharyan stated in his interview with Ekho Moskvy.
"It is the accomplished fact of Karabakh’s self-determination that
is the root of the conflict, which caused Azerbaijan to launch a
strongarm policy against Karabakh," Sh. Kocharyan said.
As regards the possibility of the conflict being settled by force, he
expressed hope that, despite regular threats issued by the Azerbaijani
leaders, they will be wise enough not to repeat blunders. Should
Azerbaijan resume hostilities, Armenia will behave just as it did
in 1990s. In that case, Sh. Kochzryan said, Azerbaijan will only
contribute to the NKR’s international recognition.
As to what the mediators mean by the expression of free will by
the Nagorno-Karabakh people, which is one of the Madrid Principles
– the possibility of an independent state or forms of autonomy as
part of Azerbaijan – Kocharyan said: "The mediators are well aware of
international law to mean what the people themselves actually mean. It
is free will, with people themselves to decide. This is what the Madrid
Principles mean." He also stressed that the Nagorno-Karabakh people
have decided the issue twice: during a referendum in the Soviet times,
and during a constitutional referendum 15 year ago. "In this case,
the mediators propose one more referendum as a compromise. Naturally,
they are not going to impose their will on the people. It is up to
the people to decide," Sh. Kocharyan said.
Speaking of the roles played by each of the mediators, Sh. Kocharyan
pointed out that one has the impression that the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs have synchronized their actions. The recent statement
made by the Russian, French and American Presidents is evidence
thereof. "If anyone is to blame for the conflict remaining unsettled,
it is the conflicting parties, not the mediators. To be more precise,
it is Azerbaijan’s unconstructive position," Kocharyan said.
The National
Musaffah industrial zone to get ‘Art Hub’
Matt Kwong
Last Updated: August 23. 2009 2:38PM UAE / August 23. 2009 10:38AM GMT
The Basement Gallery is one of several in Dubai’s Al Quoz industrial
area. Lauren Lancaster / The National
ABU DHABI // A creative arts centre in the Musaffah industrial zone is
expected to ease the capital’s shortage of cheap studio space for
emerging artists.
Groundwork has already begun on the 650-square-metre warehouse dubbed
the Art Hub, which is due to open next year and is the brainchild of
Tini Meyer.
An artist of German and Spanish descent who paints and experiments
with conceptual art, Ms Meyer, 26, said the site would accommodate
dozens of musicians, calligraphers, sculptors, jewellers, painters,
designers and more.
It would mirror a similar initiative in the Al Quoz industrial area of
Dubai, in which galleries have sprung up next to factories and in
converted warehouses.
`I want to turn Art Hub into somewhere that artists will be proud to
work,’ Ms Myer said. `We are trying to create a platform for artists.’
A major challenge in the city, she noted, was for artists to find
quality studio space at low rents.
`A studio is a workshop, but it is also a strong selling point,’ she
said. Musaffah is only a 10-minute drive from the bridges off the
island, and `people who want to buy art will make the effort if they
know they are going to find a dozen or so artists all producing their
works on site’.
The Art Hub would include private and `live-work’ studios each
measuring about 80sq m and with kitchenette and bathroom.
A community studio centre would be open downstairs, and would have a
lounge area and cafe.
Art teachers might also be able to rent out space for classes.
`We might have independent movie nights, or jamming sessions where
people can practise and hang out, so that would be free,’ Ms Meyer
added.
A rent structure should be finalised after Ramadan, but one idea is to
charge casual or `hobby artists’ by the day.
`If somebody wants to come and paint for a day, they’d probably have a
few easels at their disposal and then just pay a fee.’
Ahmed al Yafei, the chairman of Osan Properties, is developing the Art
Hub in collaboration with Ms Meyer. When she approached him seeking
help, he originally offered her a small corner of an old Musaffah
paint factory to use as a studio.
`But I always believed in the concept of big ideas – that good ideas
will not work unless it’s massive,’ Mr al Yafei said. `I was building
a project in Musaffah and I thought instead of making it a normal
building, why not convert it into the requirements of the Art Hub?’
He envisages `a franchise’ of Art Hubs sprouting in Saadiyat island
and even in other emirates.
Ms Meyer, who will serve as the centre’s creative director, is
interviewing other artists to assess their needs from the facility.
Linda Stephanian, 28, an Armenian-Iranian sculptress and the manager
of the Ghaf Art Gallery, has been waiting for something like the Art
Hub since her arrival in Abu Dhabi in 2006.
Most of her artist friends, she said, were forced to make room to work
in their homes. Ms Stephanian works with air-hardening clay and
papier-mché in her kitchen and says the restricted space limits the
scale of her creations.
`My works are mostly small because of the space. If I have bigger
space, I’ll go for bigger sculptures.’
Ms Stephanian has looked for space in Musaffah before, but could not
find anything smaller than a whole warehouse.
`I couldn’t find a small space, but if [Art Hub] is affordable, I
would definitely be looking for a studio there,’ she said. `I think it
will be really well accepted here since I know maybe eight or 10
artists here who can’t find affordable studio space to rent.’
Given Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become the cultural capital of the UAE,
such a facility would be `a wonderful move’, said Taha al Hiti, who
runs Al Arjun Art Gallery on Al Najda Street. `Lots of artists will be
benefiting from that project and I’m sure lots of great work will come
from it.’
Mr al Hiti, 38, an Iraqi-born architect and calligrapher, works from
home, but said: `If I was a full-time artist and I lived through my
artwork, I would definitely get a studio there.’