Author: Jilavian Emma

NEW HEAD OF SHOUSHI REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION WAS INTRODUCED

NKR Government Information and Public Relations Department
May 21, 2009

Today, the NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan has introduced
Georgi Hairiyan, the newly appointed head of the Shoushi regional
administration, to the staff. Expressing gratitude to the former leader
Vardan Gabrielyan, A.Haroutyunyan emphasized his efficient activity
at the post of the administration head and has expressed confidence
that passing to new work he will go on serving to Artsakhi state in
his best way.

With respect to the new administration head, the Prime Minister noted
that G.Hairiyan, though young, already is a skilled statesman and
will successfully implement his experience while settling problems
of Shoushi and the region. There are a lot of deeds in this ancient
Armenian town and for desired results’ achievement rally of efforts
is needed, the Prime Minister stated.

Black Sea Economic Forum to be held in Salonika on June 14
23.05.2009 14:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The regional forum devoted to the current economic
situation and medium-term perspectives of the Black Sea region is due
on June 14 in Salonika (Greece). The organizer of the event is the
Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB).
The forum is dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Bank’s activity
in Black Sea region.
Central Bank Presidents from 11 BSTDB member states and top figures
from international financial institutions will be invited to the forum
to deliver reports.
The event will be held in Macedonia Palace Greek hotel.
Currently, the bank’s biggest shareholders are Russia and Turkey (each
possessing 16.5% of shares). Other shareholders include Romania (14%),
Bulgaria and Ukraine (each possessing 13.5%), Azerbaijan (5%), Albania
(2%), Armenia and Moldova (each possessing 1% of shares) and Georgia
(0.5%),
The bank was founded in 1998 by Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey and
Ukraine. BSTDB funding programs in both state and private sector aim
to promote economic development.
The bank has been operating since June 1, 1999. BSTDB Headquarters is
based in Salonika, Greece. The bank’s authorized capital comprises SDR
1 billion.
The bank is headed by managers and directors’ boards, president, 3
vice presidents and a Secretary General. Each shareholder country has
representatives in Managers and Directors’ Boards.
Armenian representatives in Managers’ Board are Finance and Economy
Minister Vardan Khachatryan and Vice Minister David Avetisyan. In
Directors’ Board, Armenia is represented by Central Bank Vice
President Arthur Djavadyan and Head of MFA Foreign Economic Relations
Department Nerses Lazarian.
To make bank operations more efficient, BSTDB has elaborated 2
strategies: sector strategy (energy and small and medium enterprise)
and country strategy (for each shareholder state.)

SHE WAS BEATEN TO DEATH

A1+
03:24 pm | May 22, 2009

Society

On May 21, the body of Yerevan citizen Yulia Grigoreva, 1967, was found
in an unfinished garage at the intersection of Atenk and Leningradian
streets with traces of violence.

Yulia Grigoreva turned out to have been murdered by her husband Onik
H., 1964. The latter beat his wife to death during a quarrel on May 20.

Onik H. is arrested.

An inquiry is in progress.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Karine Abalyan
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

May 22, 2009
___________________

SHUSHI DANCE ENSEMBLE TO PERFORM AT THE CONSECRATION OF ST. VARTAN
CATHEDRAL’S NEW BRONZE ENTRY DOORS, ON MAY 31

The Shushi Armenian Dance Ensemble of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral
will perform at the consecration of the cathedral’s new bronze entry
doors on Sunday, May 31.

The cathedral’s new doors – a project more than 30 years in the making
– will be consecrated by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern).

The day will begin with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at 10:30
a.m. Services will be followed by a procession to the cathedral plaza
for the unveiling and consecration of the doors.

The Shushi Dance Ensemble, under the direction of Seta
Paskalian-Kantardjian, will perform after the consecration.

A reception and program will follow in the Haik and Alice Kavookjian
Hall, honoring benefactors who made the doors possible and recognizing
dignitaries and organizations who helped realize the Diocesan Complex.

Also, a special photo and art exhibit will be on display in the
adjacent Guild Hall, chronicling the fabrication of the doors. The
reception and program are open to the public.

The bronze doors depict in three-dimensional relief the baptism of
Armenia’s King Drtad III by St. Gregory the Illuminator. That
development marked Armenia’s conversion to Christianity, making it the
first nation in the world to do so.

Fundraising for the doors project began decades ago with efforts led
by the St. Vartan Cathedral Guild. Funds lay dormant for a while, as
the cathedral (and the community itself) turned its attention to other
matters. But recently, a sizable contribution from the Dadourian
family – descendants of one of the original benefactors of the
cathedral – allowed the project to move forward.

A committee comprised of cathedral dean Fr. Mardiros Chevian,
Fr. Garabed Kochakian, Yeretzgin Yefkin Megherian, and Michael
Haratunian designed the doors, conceived the artwork, and guided the
engineering. Fabricating the doors was a labor of love for Setrak
Agonian and his International Creative Metal firm.

St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral is located at 630 Second Avenue, at 34th
Street, in New York City. For information on the consecration,
contact the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) at
(212) 686-0710.

–5/22/09

* * *

PHOTO CAPTION

The Shushi Armenian Dance Ensemble of St. Vartan Cathedral will take
part in the consecration of the cathedral’s new bronze entry doors on
Sunday, May 31, in New York.

# # #

CROATIA’S PRESIDENT VISIT MEMORIAL TO THE VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

ArmInfo
2009-05-22 12:28:00

ArmInfo. Today Croatia’s President Stepan Mesic visited the Memorial
to the victims of Armenian genocide. After the wreath laying ceremony
he also visited the Genocide Museum. To recall, S.Mesic arrived in
Yerevan yesterday with a two-day official visit.

POLITICAL SCIENTIST: ARMENIA IS CONCERNED WITH THE FACT THAT EXTERNAL FORCES PRESS ON IT TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE

Today.Az
cs/52460.html
May 21 2009
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with political scientist Rasim Agayev.

– The Armenian side claims that Turkey has signed the "road map", in
pursuit of their interests, to avoid mentioning of the word "genocide"
by U.S. President Barack Obama in his speech on April 24, and that,
having achieved it it has sharply changed its policy on this issue. Is
that so?

– Yes it is. The diplomacy of Turkey towards Armenia began to emerge
long before Obama got into the president’s chair. This is a well-known
diplomacy, including the "football", which is not dictated by who is
a US president today. It is based on the strategic directions of the
Turkish policy related to its policy of integration with the European
Union and the understanding by the Turkish political leadership and
the establishment and, in general, the Turkish society in general that
the Armenian issue, as well as Kurdish one, can be settled. It can
not be left for later because it impedes the realization of short-and
long-term Turkish plans. That is what is at stake.

In this regard, in April, it was a tactically correct step in activize
this direction, the Turks were tactically interested in doing something
like that the day before Obama’s visit and in connection with the fact
that Armenians as usual have strengthened the information pressure
on Turkey and the American public opinion. And this pressure was to
be neutralized.

However, Turkey is well aware of its strategic course, which was
consistent with the policies of America, with the policy of Europe, who
consider this geopolitical foothold as very important for the further
development of global processes and solutions to global problems.

– Do the statements Prime Minister Erdogan made in Baku mean that
there has been put an end to the continuation of negotiations towards
a warming of relations with Yerevan?

– No, the things are not like that. Nothing has been decided and Obama
could not solve the two most serious problems that accumulated over
decades by his only statement. So I think that is an imaginary view,
since the course, which Turkey chose together with Azerbaijan, has
also a political dimension. That is due to activation of Turkey and
Azerbaijan the international public opinion realized who hinders the
solution of these problems. That is the matter.

Turkey is ready to normalize relations with Armenia, and Azerbaijan
is also ready. That is, they have initiated the peace process which
can move forward only under Yerevan’s consent. But Armenia is not
ready for a peaceful solution of the issue, Armenia would like to
rattle its weapons, would be willing to continue to exert pressure
on the two countries under support of Europeans, Americans and
Russians. Armenia’s trouble is that they can not understand that
Europe, America and Russia sympathize with and help support her,
but in this case the value of the entire region where the interests
of external powers are concentrated at this time outweigh the value
they attach to Armenia. Therefore, they hint to Armenia that should
not be abut anymore. This is what Armenia is concerned with.

– At what stage is now the situation around the "road map" between
Ankara and Yerevan? Does the use of this document continue?

– The road map is, in fact, a protocol of intent. This document,
which is already attached to the process. If any agreement is reached,
it may well be used for work.

VICE PRESIDENT OF VIMPELCOM: WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN COOPERATION WITH TURKISH TELECOM MORE THAN TURKISH TELECOM ITSELF

ArmInfo
2009-05-21 15:39:00

The cooperation with Turkish Telecom cannot interest VimpleCom more
than Turkish Telecom itself, VimpelCom OJSC Executive Vice President
for Business Development in CIS Dmitry Pleskonos told journalists in
Yerevan, Thursday.

He recalled that in 2008 negotiations were held with the Turkish
company on optical fiber network connection, but later they were
suspended. "We really needed additional external channels of internet,
but at the moment the Georgian direction is quite enough for us. We
are not against negotiations, but we do not intend to force them",-
Pleskonos stressed.

To recall, earlier ArmenTel stated the possibility of creation of an
external channel via the Turkish territory within the framework of
cooperation with one of the largest telecommunication companies of
Turkey – Turkish Telecom. The companies received the relevant permit
to create a joint channel. However, later the talks were suspended. At
present ArmenTel has 2 channels of external internet communication
via the Georgian territory. Another channel from Iran is used as a
reserve one. The Fibernet company also has an external communication
channel in Armenia.

TURKEY GOING TO RENDER ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA?

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
21.05.2009 14:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey does not oppose opening of the border with
Armenia, according to chairman of youth union of Mush (Turkey).

"Turkey can’t but support Azerbaijan in Karabakh issue. This is
the state position numerously expressed by Prime Minister and
President. If Armenia renounces Karabakh it will be good for the
entire region. Borders will open and Turkey will render economic
assistance to Armenia," Salih Yuce told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Asked whether Turkey behaves correctly by interfering into the Karabakh
process, Yuce said "Turks and Azerbaijan are unanimous on the issue."

Meanwhile, flows of Azeris in the regions bordering on Armenia (Kars,
Erzrum and Igdir) have increased recently. So, provocations in the
regions are not ruled out in case of normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations.

AYDIN MORIKYAN DIED

A1+
06:01 pm | May 19, 2009

Renowned journalist, public figure and editor of various pivotal
periodicals of independent Armenia Aydin Morikyan died this morning
at a premature age.

Morikyan has been founding editor of the "Hayastani Hanrapetutyun"
official newspaper until 1997. In 1995-96, he was Deputy Minister
of Information and was editor of the "Hayatsk Yerevanits" magazine
in 2000-2002. He has also been editor of the "Orran" and "Zhamanak
Yerevan" newspapers.

Aydin Morikyan had a serious illness for the past couple of years
and died at 51 years of age However, his illness did not depress him.

Aydin fought against illness, injustice, lies, falsifications and
evil against mankind until the last day of his life. He was one of
the unique journalists who received a highly academic education at
the Lomonosov State University of Moscow.

Not only did Aidin Morikyan educate some generations of journalists,
but authored school textbooks, which are used by those who are pursuing
their career in journalism.

Aydin Morikyan has also participated in the Karabakh movement and
was Deputy of the Supreme Council and the National Assembly in 1990
and 1999 respectively. He was an intellectual man of principle and
an overall good Armenian.

Aydin Morikyan will remain a guide for all those who have had the
opportunity of knowning him. "A1+" expresses condolences to Aydin
Morikyan’s family, friends and relatives.

NAIRA ZOHRABIAN: ELECTIONS SHOULD NOT BE TURNED INTO MILITARY OPERATIONS

Noyan Tapan
May 19, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. According to Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA) and Bargavach Hayastan (Prosperous Armenia) responsible figures,
one should not politicize the clash between representatives of RPA
and BH parties’ electoral headquarters that happened on May 18 at
Yerevan Achapniak community’s Silikian district.

According to RPA Vice-Chairman Galust Sahakian, the incident of
Achapniak is not connected with the elections, therefore it cannot
have a negative impact on the elections. As to RPA’s relations with
BH, according to him, RPA "is solidary" with its coalition partner
"and respects BH very much."

Naira Zohrabian, a responsible figure for BH agitation, assured
that BH "has never violated any law of free competition." In her
words, BH even at the level of headquarters’ employees has never
been the first to initiate any attack and will not do it henceforth,
either." N. Zohrabian also stated that they call all parties running
for the elections for keeping correctness and understanding that
"election, be it state or local self-government, should not be turned
into military operations."

It should be mentioned that according to publications in press, the
dispute in words that happened between RPA and BH representatives
the day before turned into a fight, in which RPA members mainly
suffered. Achapniak Prefect, RA Prosecutor General’s brother Ruben
Hovsepian also suffered slightly. According to eye-witnesses, BH
leader Gagik Tsarukian, employees of Prosecutor’s Office and Police
arrived at the scene of action after the incident. The latters kept
the district under control till late night.