Author: Kafian Jirair

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN HAS WORKING MEETING WITH EMERGENCY MINISTER MHER SHAHGELDIAN

ARMENPRESS
JULY 11

President Serzh Sargsyan had a working meeting today with Emergency
Minister Mher Shahgeldian.

The presidential press service told Armenpress that the minister
reported to the president on the ongoing and impending reforms of
the sector which are designed to upgrade the entire system.

It said the president underscored consistent work in several
directions. He particularly, instructed to continue modernization of
anti-hail systems, formation of insurance system for emergency cases
by studying and application of international experience.

TER-PETROSSIAN: "CLEAN THE AUGEAN STABLE!"

A1+
11 July, 2008

"I have come here to erect bridges and not to burn them. Burning
bridges is easier," said Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sarkissian
while addressing the fifth conference of the Zharangutiun (Heritage)
Party on July 11.

The Armenian Premier highly appreciates the role of the only
opposition force, the Zharangutiun Party, in the country’s political
life. "The party acquires extra responsibility for its supporters,
extra-parliamentary opposition and the country," he said.

"Armenia needs a strong opposition, strong leadership, strong society
and strong country," noted Tigran Sarkissian. He reiterated Serzh
Sarkissian’s appeal made on February 26 and called for solidarity.

Tigran Sarkissian says their aim is to build up a lawful and democratic
state; therefore it is necessary to lay the stress on dividing rather
than on uniting points.

He urges not to allow the common aims to be wasted in the furnace of
disagreement and turn into a subject of political speculations. "It
is time for solidarity and cooperation," he said.

Today’s conference was attended by the leaders of the opposition,
Armenia’s Human Rights Ombudsman Armen Harutiunian and member of
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutiun Bureau Hrant
Margarian, Commander of a Shushi Special Battalion Zhirair Sefilian
and many others.

Tigran Sarkissian’s speech was followed by Zhirair Sefilian’s
address. Hardly had Sefilian started when Armenia’s first President
Levon Ter-Petrossian entered the hall. He shook hands with Raffi
Hovannissian, Vardan Khachatrian, Anahit Bakshian, Zhirair Sefilian,
Tigran Sarkissian and other delegates of the conference.

In his speech Levon Ter-Petrossian viewed the role of the Zharangutiun
Party in the context of the political situation and the popular
movement. Ter-Petrossian highly appreciated the party and said without
the Zharangutiun the attainments of the popular movement both in the
pre-election and post-election periods would be modest.

He highlighted the great work carried out by the Zharangutiun with
regard to the March 1 unrest and the protection of political prisoners’
rights. "The party struggles against this bureaucratic regime on its
own," he said.

Levon Ter-Petrossian also highlighted the role of the parliament
faction of the Zharangutiun. He feels sorry that the party has to
work in a parliament where the majority are criminals, like in all
other institutions of public administration.

Ter-Petrossian’s speech was frequently interrupted by warm and loud
applauses.

Then Levon Ter-Petrossian unexpectedly addressed Prime Minister Tigran
Sarkissian who was sitting in the front row. "Criminal prevails
in each institution of public administration, therefore I extend
my compassion to you because you have inherited a heavy heritage,
and it is your duty to clean out the Augean stable."

The first president also noted that Tigran Sarkissian is a professional
economist and is well aware of the problems the country faces today.

The first President also spoke of the Popular Movement and the Congress
of Supporting forces.

The Armenian PM had to listen to Ter-Petrossian’s speech to the
end. Tigran Sarkissian seemed a little confused: he could neither
leave the hall nor listen to the authorities’ misdeeds over the past
ten years. He departed immediately after Ter-Petrossian’s speech.

New York Times Blogs, NY
July 8 2008

Thousands Back Kevorkian Candidacy

By Mike Nizza

A nationally-known figure is mounting a challenge for a House seat,
and an aide to the incumbent is cracking wise? `It looks like
Congressman Knollenberg is running against death and taxes,’ Mike
Brownfield, the congressman’s campaign manager, told The Detroit News
today.

It’s funny because it’s about Jack Kevorkian, the Michigan doctor who
took the euthanasia debate into his own hands by helping terminally
ill people end their lives. What he did in one of his 130 cases got
him 8 years in prison for second-degree murder.

About 10 months after his release, he decided to enter elective
politics with a vow to bring `honesty and sincerity instead of corrupt
government in Washington.’ The move sparked national headlines and
much local doubt, but he hit the pavement anyway to collect signatures
for a petition to get on the ballot as an independent.

On Monday, a local elections official gave Mr. Kevorkian the green
light, thus inserting him into a tight race between Mr. Knollenberg,
the Republican incumbent, and Gary Peters, his Democratic rival. But
the biggest name in the race was immediately labeled a `a very minor
factor’ by one political guru talking to The Detroit News.

Electoral prospects notwithstanding, more than 3,200 people in the
district backed his candidacy. What kind of people signed on the
dotted line for Jack Kevorkian? The Oakland Press found several
enthusiastic supporters, but not many people who were tepid: the
debate was divided between `wholehearted support and wholehearted
condemnation.’

Those who passed on the chance to sign the petition did so in a
friendly way, except for one man who reportedly threatened the
80-year-old candidate in June while covering a petition sheet with a
big X.

In a test of his sway with the local police, Mr. Kevorkian obtained
the man’s license plate number and filed a police report. Instead of
springing into action, though, officers gave him a lecture on
priorities. `We aren’t going to be doing anything with it,’ a police
official said. `It’s a minor crime. We have major crimes to
investigate.’

Arts & Culture
05.07.2008

COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENTARY ON MT. AGRı IN PRODUCTION
ERSAN TEMÄ°ZEL

The National Association of Nature and Cultural Documentaries (DogaBel)
is preparing to shoot the most comprehensive documentary film to date
about Mount Agrı, also known as Mount Ararat..

Director Dr. Serkan Yılmaz said their first aim in shooting
documentaries and taking photographs was to help preserve nature and
biological diversity. Noting that their documentaries shed light on
projects aimed at preserving and improving the condition of natural
areas, Yılmaz said their most current project will reveal Agrı in all
its aspects. At the end of the project, he added, a book of photographs
of the mountain will be published alongside the documentary.

Yılmaz said Agrı was considered a blessed place by all three
Abrahamic religions and that many people believe Noah’s Ark came to
rest on the top of the mountain when the great flood ended. Remarking
that no comprehensive documentary has so far been made on the mountain,
even though it is very well known across the world, Yılmaz said:
"The mountain’s biological diversity is not known adequately, even
though it is visible from Iran, Nakhchivan and Armenia. In contrast
to what most people think, Mt. Ararat is not a single peak; there
is the Great Agrı Mountain, with a height of 5,137 meters, and the
Small Agrı Mountain, with a height of 3,896 meters. So DogaBel’s
documentary and photography book will be the first of its kind."

The documentary, sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry
and Igdır Governorship, will finish in July 2009, Yılmaz said, adding
that Agrı is home to many animals whose names are not even known by
most people. "For instance, the nocturnal, semi-aquatic rodent coypu,
native to South America — and particularly Chile — also lives on
Mount Agrı. We have finished the segment of the documentary on this
rodent, which is called ‘water monkey’ in Turkish."

–Boundary_(ID_0z77uLuDmKFIzExIC8k d5A)–

UNITED NATIONS SCREENS "SCREAMERS" IN TOKYO

armradio.am
04.07.2008 17:38

"Screamers," the documentary about genocide in the last century, with
music by the Grammy award-winning rock band ‘System of a Down,’ was
featured last week at the United Nations Refugee Film Festival 2008 in
Tokyo, sponsored by UNHCR and Japan for UNHCR, Business Wire reported.

UNHCR called the festival a "vital component of UNHCR’s year round
action plan to raise awareness of the plight and triumph of the world’s
33 million refugees and internally displaced persons. A select array
of films from across the globe gives voice to seldom-heard stories
of hope, despair, and resilience. In line with World Refugee Day’s
theme for this year, the festival draws attention to the human side
of refugees."

"We included ‘Screamers’ in the festival this year because it looks
at the history of genocide and what is happening in Darfur–through
the eyes of history," says Festival Director Kirill Konin.

"Film is an important medium to introduce the many aspects of the
lives and circumstances of refugees across the world, and through this
entertainment vehicle, create better awareness and understanding,"
said Angelina Jolie, UNHCR’s Goodwill Ambassador.

"Screamers" examines the repeating pattern of genocide, from the
Armenian genocide, to the Holocaust, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, up
to Darfur today. After its theatrical release in the US and Canada,
the documentary was screened in the U.S. Congress, British Parliament
and European Parliament to raise awareness about Darfur and genocide
education. Sony BMG has recently launched "Screamers" DVD.

Director Carla Garapedian, who has made documentaries about Afghanistan
and Chechnya, led discussion sessions at the UNHCR Festival for
"Screamers" as well as "Letter to Anna," about the murder of Russian
journalist Anna Politkovskaya, directed by Eric Bergkraut, and "Kite
Runner," the uplifting story of truth and redemption in Afghanistan,
directed by Marc Foster. Director Steve Thomas was on-hand to discuss
his film "Hope" about the journey of an Iraqi refugee family to
Australia.

"We must remember history," said Garapedian. "After the Armenian
genocide, the U.S. opened its doors to thousands of refugee survivors
from Ottoman Turkey, including my family. If they hadn’t done that,
I wouldn’t be here."

SPORT: ALL EYES ON SPAIN AS ARMENIA PREPARES FOR AN ENCOUNTER WITH EUROPE’S BEST
Suren Musayelyan

ArmeniaNow.com
04 July, 2008
Armenia

Football

Armenia will be tested by another reigning champion in the forthcoming
World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign. This became clear after Spain
managed to pull off the European title by beating the mighty Bundes
Team in the Euro-2008 final last weekend.

This will be the third time since Armenia joined international
football that its national team will play in the same qualifying
group with either a reigning European or world champion. The records
show, however, that on all previous occasions Armenians lost to the
reigning champions. In 1996-1997, as part of the qualifying campaign
for the 1998 World Cup, Armenia played against reigning European
champions Germany and in 1998-1999, in qualification for Euro-2000,
Armenia played reigning world champions and future European title
winners France.

The match against Spain in Albacete on September 10 will follow a
tough opener against Turkey in Yerevan, a match that has an equally
off-the-pitch importance for Armenians, who have had troubled relations
with their western neighbor over the past centuries.

Pyunik-Kilikya

While Armenia’s main national team will play its first-ever
competitive game against Turkey, it has already played against
the Spanish team in the past. In two qualifying campaigns Armenia
suffered four defeats with an aggregate score of 0-10. Remarkably,
Spain’s victory in Yerevan four years ago allowed La Furia Roja to
win qualification for Euro-2004, but only just.

Spain is known to have a large following in Armenia and according to
local bookmakers and specialists, many Armenians favored the Spaniards
in their final against Germany last Sunday.

Meanwhile in national league football news, the administration
of Armenia’s longstanding champion Pyunik fired head coach Armen
Gyulbudaghyants this week finding that the champion of the last seven
seasons has been underperforming. A1 Plus reports that assistant
coach Vardan Minasyan, who also helps the national team’s head coach,
will now take charge. Under Minasyan Pyunik already won one of its
overall 10 championship titles in 2004.

Pyunik have been distinguished by their unstable play so far this
season. The team is currently in fourth place after losing its two
last games.

"Very little time remains before the start of the Champions’ League. We
should pull ourselves together and get prepared well for the test
and show as good a play as we can," A1 Plus quoted Minasyan as saying.

FC Pyunik will start their Champions League campaign in the 2008/2009
season against Anortosis (Cyprus). The first match between the teams
is scheduled to be played in Cyprus on July 15 or 16, the second-leg
match will be in Yerevan July 22/23. If Pyunik manage to overcome the
first stage, they will face Rapid Vienna (July 29/30 and August 5/6)
in the second qualifying round.

Ararat and Banants learned their opponents in the first qualifying
round of the UEFA Cup. The Yerevan clubs will play Bellinzona
(Switzerland) and Salzburg (Austria), respectively. The first-leg
matches of these teams are scheduled for July 17 and the return games
for July 31.

(More details of the draw are available on the UEFA’s official website
).

Meanwhile, Armenia has already suffered a loss in a European club
tournament this year.

FC Mika Ashtarak failed to progress to the second round of Intertoto,
a competition for European clubs to win slots in the main UEFA Cup
tournament, as the Armenian club played a goalless draw in Tiraspol,
Moldova. The first-leg match between the two teams in Yerevan had
ended 2-2 making the Moldovan club the winner on aggregate on the
away goals rule.

(Sources: A1 Plus, Football Federation of Armenia; )

Chess

GM Tigran L. Petrosyan will fill the vacancy in the Armenian National
Team after the untimely death of GM Karen Asryan. This was the decision
made by the Armenian Chess Federation.

The Armenian Men’s Team will appear for the Dresden Olympiad 2008
in November with the following composition: GMs Aronyan, Hakobyan,
Sargsyan, Art. Minasyan, T. L. Petrosyan.

The Armenian Women’s Team will be represented by WGMs Danielyan,
Lazarian, Aghinyan, WIMs Galoyan, S. Andriasyan.

According to the latest FIDE rankings (as of July 1), three Armenian
chessmen are among the 100 top players of the world.

Levon Aronyan is in the 12th position with a rating of 2737. Vladimir
Hakobyan (2673) and Gabriel Sargsyan (2660) are in the 45th and 61st
positions, respectively. Vishy Anand from India tops the rankings of
men with a rating of 2798.

Two women grandmasters representing Armenia are among the top women’s
players of FIDE. Elina Danielyan is 16th (2495) and Lilit Lazarian
is 40th (2436). Judith Polgar of Hungary tops the rankings with a
rating of 2711.

In the 137-nation rankings list Armenia is in the 11th position with
an average rating of 2614. Russia is top of the rankings, with Ukraine
and China following in the second and third.

‘INGO-ARMENIA’ IC LAUNCHES REGULAR COMPETITION FOR THE BEST WORK ON INSURANCE

ArmINfo
2008-07-03 17:33:00

‘INGO-Armenia’ insurance Company is getting ready to hold the
regular competition for the best work on insurance, the Company’s
Director Levon Altunyan told ArmInfo. As he said, there are no
restrictions for participation in the annual competition, however,
taking into account the previous experience, the level of the authors’
professional preparedness will be considered for correct assessment of
the works. L. Altunyan also said that several requirements are made
to the entries: non- standard solution of the problem under study,
new ideas and recommendations and, first of all, availability of the
own approach to the problem solution.

Changes are envisaged in the competition commission’s staff as well. As
the company’s director said, the expert staff will include the leading
insurance specialists from Russia and Armenia, and summing-up of the
competition will be held in January. He added that the competition
winners will be awarded cash prizes, and the author of the best work
will get a 15-day trip ticket to Paris.

‘INGO-Armenia’ Insurance Company has been acting in the insurance
market of Armenia since 1999 being today one of the leaders among
11 acting insurance companies. To note, according to the data of
Ranking of Armenia’s insurance companies, prepared by the Agency of
Rating Marketing Information (ArmInfo) upon the results of 1Q, 2008,
"INGO-Armenia" took the first place among the acting IC with the
volume of premiums to 405.8 mln drams. Moreover, it took the leading
position on insurance of vehicles, cargo carriage, property, general
responsibility, medical insurance and insurance from casualties, as
well as the fourth place by the volume of premiums from insurance of
those leaving for abroad.

SERZH SARGSYAN: ARMENIAN DIASPORA REPRESENTATIVES MAY BE USEFUL FOR THEIR HISTORIAL MOTHERLAND ONLY BEING USEFUL FOR THE COUNTRY THEY WERE BORN AND HAVE ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES

ArmInfo
2008-07-01 13:11:00

Armenian Diaspora representatives may be useful for their historical
Motherland only being useful for the country they were born, grown
up, educated and established themselves, President of Armenia Serzh
Sargsyan said in an interview with Russian ‘Vesti’ TV program when
commenting on his meeting with representatives of Armenian Diaspora
in Russia including leading figures of Russian politics, culture and
other spheres as Artur Chilingarov, Armen Jigarkhanyan and others.

The president said he told the representatives of Armenian Diaspora
in Russia that in their case to be a good Armenian means to be a
good Russian.

The potential of Armenian Diaspora is used less than by 10% ‘and
it was not accidental that I said during by presidential campaign
that our largest resource is human resource including Diaspora’,
the president said.

He recalled that on October 1 the newly established Ministry for
Diaspora will launch activities in Armenia in order to fully use
the potential of Armenian Diaspora. ‘We are proud of our Diaspora’,
the president outlined.

SUDAN CARGO PLANE CRASHES KILLING 7 CREW

Reuters
June 27 2008
South Africa

KHARTOUM, June 27 (Reuters) – A Sudanese cargo plane crashed in
bad weather on Friday killing seven of the eight crew north of the
southern town of Malakal, an aviation official said.

The survivor was recovering in hospital, said Abu Bakr Jaafar, head
of the Civil Aviation Authority. Earlier this month a Sudan Airways
passenger plane caught fire in Khartoum killing 30 people.

"The crew were three Sudanese, four Ukranian and one Armenian,"
Jaafar said. The plane was travelling from Khartoum to the southern
capital Juba.

The cause was unclear but Jaafar said the survivor told them all four
engines of the Antonov 12 plane failed after being hit twice by what
appeared to be lightning. The plane belonged to the Juba Cargo Company,
he added. (Reporting by Opheera McDoom; editing by Stephen Weeks)

PENNINGTON: ARMENIA IS LUCKY THAT MARIE YOVANOVITCH WAS NOMINATED TO SERVE AS THE U.S. AMBASSADOR

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.06.2008 14:32 GMT+04:00

"We are very pleased that we have a great nominee. We look forward
to her coming and she will do a fantastic job," Mr. Pennington said
in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.

"Of course in our system, as you are aware, there is this Senate
approval as required of the nomination and the process will start
Thursday on the hearing. We are hopeful that the process will go
without significant problem and that Senate will approve Ambassador
Yovanovitch and that will happen quickly. We think Armenia deserves to
have a fully represented U.S. mission here that includes an ambassador
but of course the Senate has its own business to do and I can’t predict
the outcome, but we are hopeful that it will be positive and that we
will have an ambassador soon. No one will be happier that I will be
to see her to come," he said.

"If the story with Ambassador Hoagland is repeated again, I think it
would be negative for both the United States and the U.S.-Armenian
relationship but that is not in our hands, that’s in the Senate’s
hands and we’ll see how it comes out," Mr. Pennington added.

On March 28, 2008, Pres. Bush nominated Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch
to serve as America’s next Ambassador to Armenia. Previous nominee
as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, Richard Hoagland, was subject to two
legislative holds by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and was ultimately
withdrawn by the Administration, following the nominee’s statements
denying the Armenian Genocide.