Armenian FM to visit Kuwait and UAE
news.am
November 17, 2012 | 17:24
YEREVAN.- Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian will visit
Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on November 19-20.
During his visits Armenian FM will hold meetings with countries’
leadership, Foreign Ministry informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.
Earlier KUNA agency reported that a number of cooperation agreements
will be signed during the visit.
Bako Sahakyan sent a condolence letter to the family of Artsakh
national liberation movement veteran Vigen Hayrapetyan
15:30, 17 November, 2012
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMNEPRESS: President of Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic Bako Sahakyan sent a condolence letter to the family of
Artsakh national liberation movement veteran, honored citizen of
Stepanakert Vigen Hayrapetyan on 17 November. As Armenpress was
informed at the Central information department of the office of
Artsakh president, the letter runs as follows:
`We learned with deep sorrow and pain about the death of deserved son
of our nation Vigen Hayrapetyan.
Vigen Hayrapetyan enjoyed great respect both in Artsakh, Armenia and
the Diaspora. He had a great contribution in the establishment of the
Artsakh Republic, being among the pioneers of the Karabagh Liberation
Movement. He chaired the February 20, 1988 historical session of
Nagorno Karabagh People’s Deputies and read out the September 2, 1991
NKR Proclamation’s Declaration.
The contribution of Mr. Hayrapetyan in the development of education is
invaluable too. He educated and brought up a number of generations,
fostering love for knowledge and the Motherland.
The state estimates high the contribution of Vigen Hayrapetyan,
awarding him with the `Grigor Lusavorich’ order, various medals, state
awards as well as the honorary title of Honored Pedagogue of the NKR.
On behalf of the people, authorities of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic
and myself I express my deepest condolences and support to all the
relatives and friends of the deceased. In this time of sorrow we are
with You and share with You the pain of the irretrievable loss.
The bright memory of Vigen Hayrapetyan will always remain alive in our hearts.’
Armenia not opposed to appearance of Turkish capital at its market
YEREVAN, November 16. / ARKA /. Armenia is not opposed to appearance
of Turkish capital at its market, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan said Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said today as
met with members of the Club of Chief Editors from the Commonwealth of
Independent States, Baltic countries and Georgia.
He said Armenia is interested in investments. Experience has proven
that investors are very rational people, he said answering ARKA News
Agency’s question, and that is why Armenian and Turkish businessmen
effectively cooperate, while the two countries authorities fain to
engage in a political dialogue.
Sargsyan said that the state ought to remove political obstacles to
let people trade with each other, make investments and develop
economic ties.
`Both Armenia and Turkey will take advantage of this,’ he added.
There are no diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey. The
border between the two countries was closed in 1993 at Ankara’s
initiative.
Relations between Armenia and Turkey remain tense because of Ankara’s
biased stance on Karabakh problem and its painful reaction to
Armenia’s efforts to obtain worldwide recognition of the fact of
Armenian Genocide.
Thaw in Armenian-Turkish relations began in 2008 on Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan’s initiative.
On October 10, Armenian and Turkish foreign ministers signed the
protocols on establishment of diplomatic ties between the two
countries and development of bilateral relations. The protocols had to
be ratified by the two countries’ parliaments, but on April 22, 2010,
the Armenian president, seeing that Turkey was dragging its feet,
signed a decree ceasing the process of ratification. He said Turkey
was not ready to continue the process. The ratification process
remains frozen. -0-
Hit-and-run kills driver at Armenian motorway
news.am
November 17, 2012 | 14:26
YEREVAN. – The driver of a VAZ 2107-model vehicle ran over, on
Armenia’s Gyumri-Yerevan Highway, Albert Sargsyan – who was born in
1978 – , the driver of a Daewoo Matiz which was parked on the side of
the road, and who was standing next to his automobile, and,
subsequently, the VAZ 2107 crashed into the aforesaid car, on Friday
at around 5pm, the Police press service informs.
As a result, Sargsyan died on the spot, whereas VAZ 2107’s two
passengers were taken to Ashtarak city Medical Center. Driver of the
vehicle left the scene of the incident.
But it was found out that the driver of the said VAZ 2107, which was a
taxi, is Artik city resident Aghasi Torosyan – who is born in 1958 – , and
he turned himself in to the Police at 10:25pm.
A criminal case is opened and an investigation is launched into the incident.
Armenia’s Rule of Law party backs Serzh Sargsyan, not the Republican
Party, rep says
tert.am
13:25 – 17.11.12
The Rule of Law party backs Serzh Sargsyan and not the Republican
Party of Armenia, secretary of Rule of Law party’s faction Mher
Shahgeldyan told the reporters on Saturday.
`It is not being spoken about backing a party we are backing Serzh
Sargsyan,’ he said, adding that the claims that the Rule of Law party
is RPA’s shadow does not correspond to reality. `We have stated our
position and remain loyal to the political course we have chosen,’
Shahgeldyan said.
He said very often their political activity coincides with the RPA’s
only within the coalition framework. `But we have our own
accentuations and approaches and it does not mean that we think in the
same way,’ he said.
Asked to bring an example when the party’s approach differed from the
RPA’s, Shahgeldyan stressed the accepting of Prosperous Armenia
party’s proposal to hold political consultations.
`We met during the consultation while the Republican party refused to
do it,’ he said.
The party’s representative said accepting the meeting proposal and
refusing the presented issues are not the same thing. `The Rule of Law
has always been for passing to 100% proportional system and according
to us, it is necessary to view the opportunities after presidential
elections. As to the parliamentary system of government, we think it
is untimely and does not correspond to our party’s principles as we
have security issue like Karabakh conflict, unstable region. In this
regard we need centralized system of government,’ he said.
Asked why they agreed to meet knowing what issues were going to be
discussed, Shahgeldyan said it is a mechanism of inter-party
communication.
The party’s representative said they have received meeting proposal
from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) as
well and will meet with them today.
The Rule of Law has not yet decided whether to join the Armenian
National Congress (ANC) initiative on convening extraordinary sitting
or not.
KHOSROV RESERVE: WHO WILL BE THE NEW DIRECTOR?
ENVIRONMENT | 16.11.12 | 11:30
Three nominees are running for the position of Director of “Khosrov
Forest” State Reserve – Manuk Manukyan, Gabriel Poghosyan and
Garnik Shaboyan. Ecolur, an informational NGO, says there isn’t any
information available on their activities or professional background.
The position of Khosrov state reserve is one of the most discussed
topics in environmental society after its director and several
employees were dismissed last October following illegal hunting cases.
The cases were reported by the group of the environmentalist activists,
who found in the forest the evidence of the illegal hunting- remains
of killed animals listed in the Red Book of endangered species and
traces of bonfires and barbecue parties. The activists have applied
to police and a criminal case was launched.
The Khosrov Reserve is a conservation area in the Ararat region of
Armenia and hunting animals is punishable with a fine of up to $7,000.
1115 CHILDREN LIVE IN ARMENIAN ORPHANAGES – STATISTICS
November 16, 2012 – 18:02 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – 1115 children currently live in orphanages across
Armenia, said the head of Social Statistics Department at National
Statistical Service, citing official data. As Ms. Nelly Baghdasaryan
told a news conference, 267 children were left in orphanages in
2011. 121 kids were adopted, 62 of them locally, and the rest by
foreign citizens. Briefing those present on beggar children-related
statistics, Ms Baghdasaryan noted that in 2002 their number reached
111. At present, total number of adolescents reaches 15, including
3 beggar children in Yerevan, 3 in Armavir province, 7 in Lori
province, 2 in Shirak province, according to Police-provided data.
Ms Baghdasaryan, however, found it hard to explain the reason behind
a decrease in the number of beggar children.
0
WE ARE HONORED TO BE THE FIRST COUNTRY TO RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: JORGE ORRICO
17:03, 16 November, 2012
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The President of the Chamber of
Representatives of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Jorge Orrico
and the Uruguayan Delegation visited Tsitsernakaberd memorial hill
dedicated to the everlasting memory of the victims of the Armenian
Genocide. As reports “Armenpress” Jorge Orrico highlighted: “We are
honored to be the first country to recognize the Armenian Genocide.”
The President of the Chamber of Representatives of the Oriental
Republic of Uruguay Jorge Orrico stated: “Notwithstanding the fact
that current political situation is complicated and there are some
disagreements regarding Nagorno Karabakh, we are willing to cooperate
in a number of spheres for the maintenance of peace. Uruguay is
a country of peace and we make efforts to help other countries to
acquire peace on the basis of the principles of the international law,
for instance on the principle of the right of self-determination of
the nations and sovereignty.”
Summing up Jorge Orrico said: “This is not a diplomatic answer; this
is a realistic answer, because we must possess reliable information
regarding the situation. We came here to cooperate for peace.”
The President of the Chamber of Representatives of the Oriental
Republic of Uruguay Jorge Orrico arrives in Armenia on November 12
at the invitation of the Speaker of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan.
Uruguay was the first country in the world to recognize the Armenian
Genocide on May 27, 1965. The diplomatic relations between the Republic
of Armenia and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay have been established
on May 27, 1992.
RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE IN ARMENIA SUMMARIZES TRAINING YEAR RESULTS
November 16, 2012 – 17:37 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – Servicemen at Russian military base in Armenia have
had 25% more shooting practice in 2012 against last year’s results,
a representative of Southern Military District said.
As he noted, 400 shooting practice sessions, over 40 tactical
exercises, a war game were held at highland training complexes of
Alagyaz and Kamkhud.
The Distinct representative further stressed participation in joint
Interaction – 2012 Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
military drills among the most significant events in 2012 military
training.
As he also noted, intelligence units had twice participated in 2-week
alpinist training sessions at Armenian Armed Forces’ Pambak mountain
center, RIA Novosti reported.
ARF-D FOCUSES ON IDEAS, NOT INDIVIDUALS, SAYS MEMBER
TERT.AM
16.11.12
The opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun (ARF-D)
has reiterated its stance on the 2013 presidential campaign, saying
that the party will give more attention to the ideas rather than the
personality of future candidates.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Artsvik Minasyan of the ARF-D
faction in parliament said they may endorse the incumbent president
if he accepts their seven-clause platform.
“We center on the personality, but the experience over the course of
history has come to prove that the policies aimed to oust or support
an individual have caused our failures as they never help save the
people,” he said, calling for measures to reform the system.
“The regime we have today compels corruption and gang rule, so ousting
the president will not change the system,” he said.
Asked whether the ARF-D is going to propose an idea or an individual
in the presidential polls, Minasyan said that they have proposed
a platform.
“If we speak openly today, the authorities have the highest chance
to adopt those clauses. In case they commit themselves to reforms
and struggle, distinguish business [from politics] and eradicate
monopolies, such authorities will deserve an applause. But they won’t
do anything …” he said.
As to whether all this means the party will back President Serzh
Sargsyan’s candidacy next year, the Dashnak lawmaker again referred
to their seven-clause platform. “If the president agrees and the
society accepts, why not?”