Author: Kalantarian Kevo

VIVACELL-MTS AWARDS STUDENTS, INSTRUCTORS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION EFFORTS

Tert.am
18:43 29.09.11

VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of “Mobile TeleSystems” CJSC, summed up
the environmental essay competition held among the students of all
universities of Armenia.

At the event in the Yerevan Zoo Armenia’s leading mobile operator
awarded 12 students from 4 universities and their instructors for
their efforts against purely consumerist attitudes towards the Nature
and the propagating the necessity of having a clean environment.

>From the outset Armenia’s leading mobile operator has adopted a
responsible approach that is based on the understanding that the
Company’s mission cannot be limited to its main activities alone.

VivaCell-MTS’ desire to see Armenia, and the Earth in general,
free from hazards, was one of the decisive steps to make the dream
come true.

The new management culture envisages projects, including broadcasting
of videos on environmental topics, creation of eco-clubs in cooperation
with the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural
Assets, participation in tree planting events as efforts towards
the preservation of forests, support to the initiative of recycling
the flowers brought to the Genocide memorial into paper, general
sponsorship of the environmental festival, encouraging efforts to
make the voice of children calling for nature protection heard by
the adults through a series of photo exhibitions, and many more.

The competition of essays on environmental issues announced among
the students of all universities of Armenia was another step in this
direction. Upon the completion of the contest 12 students from four
universities and their instructors received special awards.

VivaCell-MTS awarded them participation certificates, gifts and prize
sum of AMD 300,000 per person.

“One needs to be clean before his or her conscience and the Nature
by trying to look at the world from the point of view of the next
generation. It is important to realize that prevention is the best way
of problem-solving and that philanthropy starts with the ability to
value the general well-being. In the frames of the suggested topic you
have managed to look at the reality from that angle; this means that
our 5-year-long environmental campaign does serve its purpose. You
look at life from the point of view of defending everyone’s rights.

Keep up living by this principle,” said VivaCell-MTS General Manager
Ralph Yirikian.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN MEETS ARMENIAN AND FRENCH BUSINESSMEN

armradio.am
29.09.2011 18:03

In the evening of September 28 Armenian and French Presidents Serzh
Sargsyan and Nicolas Sarkozy attended Charles Aznavour’s concert at
Olympia Concert Hall dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s
independence.

This morning Serzh Sargsyan had a working dinner with Armenian and
French businessmen.

“The centuries-old Armenian-French friendship rests on common religious
and cultural similarities. The similarities are so deep that the
geographic position has never been an obstacle for the continuous
reinforcement of friendship,” President Sargsyan said in his address.

“Invaluable is the role in the development of independence Armenia.

Armenia has always attached great importance to the deepening of
relations with France, and our today’s meeting is called to contribute
to this. France is a large trade and investment partner for Armenia.

French investments in Armenia totaled about $700 million as of July
2011. 155 Armenian-French joint ventures are registered in Armenia. We
have successful examples of French investments in almost all spheres –
telecommunication, production of drinks, banking, pharmaceuticals,
healthcare, tourism, agriculture, light industry,” the President
stated.

The President called on French businessmen to launch active cooperation
with Armenian counterparts.

WHAT LIST WILL SARGSYAN BRING?
Hakob Badalyan

Lragir.am News

17:06:31 – 29/09/2011

Upon Serzh Sargsyan’s departure for the West, reports appeared in
the Armenian press that after his return Serzh Sargsyan will start
a reshuffle.

Are these changes related to his visits or is it just a matter of
timetable? After all, it is logical that Serzh Sargsyan needs a
reshuffle for pre-election purposes, especially that these steps are
expected by the public, though several earlier changes convinced the
public that they are not effective in terms of their effect on the
quality of life, at least as of now.

Where did Serzh Sargsyan go and who did he meet? First he attended
the 66th session of the General Assembly in the United States, met
with Ban Ki-moon, received an immigrant medal, a basketball shirt and
dedicated the new building of the Armenian consulate in Los Angeles.

Sargsyan did not happen to “come across” President Obama,
Vice-President Joe Biden, and even Secretary Clinton. He only met an
official of the State Department.

Perhaps, the message of this U.S. “demarche” was “we have said what
we wanted to say and we are waiting for your actions” or “WikiLeaks
said what we wanted to say and now we are waiting for your actions.”

Apparently, the United States told Sargsyan more without a meeting
than it would have told him in a short or long talk.

Then Serzh Sargsyan visited France where he met with the country
leadership, including President Sarkozy who is going to visit Armenia
in a few days. Sarkozy said he looks forward to his visit. Is it for
the sake of politeness or did Sarkozy say something to Serzh Sargsyan
and is now looking forward to a reply in Yerevan?

After France, Sargsyan will leave for Poland where he will participate
in the EU Eastern Partnership summit. Poland is east but the east
of the West so there Sargsyan will be inside the Western curve. The
EU EPP has a considerable importance in this curve, the principle of
which was a few days ago finalized by Stefan Fule in a meeting with
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan in Brussels. He said the more reforms,
the more money. Meanwhile, Armenia needs the money because a new wave
of crisis is maturing in the world.

So, Serzh Sargsyan will be told something important in Poland, some
names will be mentioned whose owners will experience the process of
reforms personally. Of course, it is not ruled out that in Moscow
they will tear and throw away the list with the names made by the
West. But the point is that Serzh Sargsyan needs this list because
this list will be the formula of the new government. If he is able to
rid of some officials, he will get a chance to form a real government
and pass the next elections. If not, the same officials will take
him through these elections on their hands but then they will decide
where to put Serzh Sargsyan down and on what conditions.

By the way, most people may wonder whose names are on the list. It
is possible that there is no name on the list, there are only photos,
not of who, but of what.

EUR-OPA SITTING GETS UNDERWAY IN YEREVAN
Karen Ghazaryan

Radiolur
29.09.2011 15:15

The sitting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the
European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement (EUR-OPA) kicked
off in Yerevan today. This is the first time the sitting is held in
the South Caucasus. The event has brought together representatives of
the Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations, as well as experts from
CIS states. Representatives of Azerbaijan and Turkey were also invited
to participate in the sitting, but they did not accept the invitation.

Participants of the sitting discuss a broad range of issues related to
civil defense, reduction of major hazard risks, climate changes. The
Armenian side attaches importance to our country’s participation in
international initiatives.

The European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement was set up in
1987, Armenia joined it in 1993. “Armenia is situated in a seismically
active zone, therefore we must always be ready,” Minister of Emergency
Situations Armen Yeritsyan told “Radiolur.”

There are no big and small countries during disasters, the Minister
said, adding that “Armenia can be as useful to other countries,
as they can be useful to Armenia.”

According to the Assessment of the Executive Secretary of the European
and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement Eladio Fernandez-Galiano,
Armenia is situated in a region, where almost all kinds of disaster
happen. That is why the country has gained great experience in risk
assessment and fighting natural disasters. He added that “Armenia’s
experience could be useful to other countries.”

REAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN ARMENIA CLOSER TO 45-50%

epress.am
09.29.2011 14:34

According to figures released by the RA Ministry of Labor and Social
Affairs, 247,500 Armenia citizens are looking for work. This figure
is noted in the draft “2012 State Program to Establish Employment,”
which is included in the agenda of today’s cabinet meeting, reports
local daily Haykakan Jamanak (“Armenian Times”).

The document states that only 88,300 of these job seekers are
registered in the territorial agencies of the State Employment
Service. However, experts assert that official figures don’t reflect
the full reality since unofficial studies have shown that more than
500,000 “economically active” people are unemployed.

If we proceed from official figures of Armenia’s population, the above
figure comprises more than 30% of “economically active” residents. But
considering that official population figures are likewise distorted,
the real level of unemployment in Armenia is closer to 45-50% of the
population. This indicator places Armenia in the “leading” positions
in the world in terms of unemployment.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH WILL RETALIATE ADEQUATELY TO AZERBAIJAN’S OFFENSIVE ACTION: PRESIDENT

ARKA
Sep 28, 2011

YEREVAN, September 28. / ARKA /. Nagorno-Karabakh president, Bako
Sahakian, has warned today Azerbaijan against adventurism, saying
the republic is ready to retaliate to any offensive action of Baku.

Speaking at a special meeting of the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic)
University held to mark the 20-th anniversary of Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic Mr. Sahakian said Nagorno-Karabakh has always supported a
peaceful settlement of the conflict, but ‘if Azerbaijan increases the
scale of shelling on the line of contact we may resort to other ways
of retaliation.”

The Karabakh president said the border has been protected for 17 years
and every year there are periods of intense firing. The department
of information and propaganda of the NKR Defense Army said Monday
in a statement that ceasefire breaches e on the line of contact by
Azerbaijani troops have increased dramatically. In September the
Azerbaijani side has made more than 6,000 rounds at the positions of
the Karabakh defense forces, violating the cease-fire 900 times.

According to Sahakian, Azeris violate the ceasefire on special days,
mostly festive, like during the celebration of the 20th anniversary
of the proclamation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on Sept. 2.

“But our response has been and remains the same – when they strike
at us, we will not keep silent, and the enemy will always receive an
adequate response,” said Sahakian.

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh broke out in 1988 after the
predominantly Armenian-populated enclave declared about secession
from Azerbaijan As Azerbaijan declared its independence from the
Soviet Union and removed the powers held by the enclave’s government,
the Armenian majority voted in 1991, December 10, to secede from
Azerbaijan and in the process proclaimed the enclave the Republic
of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Full-scale fighting, initiated by Azerbaijan, erupted in the late
winter of 1992. International mediation by several groups including
Europe’s OSCE’s failed to bring an end resolution that both sides
could work with. In the spring of 1993, Armenian forces captured
regions outside the enclave itself. By the end of the war in 1994,
the Armenians were in full control of most of the enclave and also
held and currently control seven regions beyond the administrative
borders of Nagorno-Karabakh. Almost 1 million people on both sides
have been displaced as a result of the conflict. A Russian- -brokered
ceasefire was signed in May 1994 and peace talks, mediated by the OSCE
Minsk Group, have been held ever since by Armenia and Azerbaijan.

ANALYSIS: ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT NEEDS DIASPORA SUPPORT AS BADLY AS EVER
By Naira Hayrumyan

ArmeniaNow
28.09.11 | 11:53

Photo:

President Serzh Sargsyan met with Diaspora in Los Angeles.

On a recent visit to the United States, Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan tirelessly repeated a mantra that others before him have
established: the potential of the Diaspora in addressing pan-Armenian
problems is not being used fully. The president called on Diaspora
Armenians to come to Armenia and make investments – even if they
don’t like the current leadership.

If Sargsyan had any doubt of his government’s popularity among the
approximately seven-million Diaspora, signs of Diaspora discontent
were evidenced when the highly-influential Armenian Revolutionary
Federation’s Western US central committee initially refused to attend
a reception in honor of Sargsyan.

In an statement prior to the president’s visit, ARF said Sargsyan’s
presence would “cast a shadow on the idea of independence and denigrate
the struggle of our people for the restoration of justice.”

Later, nevertheless, the ARF accepted the invitation, but did not
retract its statement.

Before Sargsyan left for the United States, Yerevan hosted a
pan-Armenian forum to discuss prospects for deepening cooperation
between Armenia and its Diaspora. But the “highlight” of the forum
was the speech by Catholicos Aram I, of the Great House of Cilicia
(the second of four branches of the Armenian Apostolic Church),
who accused the Armenian authorities of depopulating the country and
carrying out criminal policies.

Both statements have evoked a broad response both in Armenia and
Armenian communities abroad. It became obvious that many in the
Diaspora do not approve of the policies of Armenia’s current leadership
and that is being seen as a reason why the Diaspora potential is not
being used to the full in developing Armenia.

Meanwhile, the Diaspora has no institutional bodies of influence on
the policies of the Armenian leadership, even on issues of pan-Armenian
concern. Over the 20 years of independence Armenia has failed to set up
a Diaspora body that could make decisions on matters of all-national
importance, issues that cannot be resolved without the Diaspora’s
involvement. (While the Sargsyan government established a Ministry of
Diaspora, that institution’s influence or participation in Diaspora
life has been primarily symbolic and has concerned itself more with
cultural affairs.)

The Armenian nation faced one such issue in 2009 when the leadership
of Armenia initiated a rapprochement with Turkey. In the Diaspora,
which was formed as a direct result of the genocidal policies of
Turkey and which has serious territorial and material claims to Ankara,
the decision of the Armenian leadership caused a mighty storm.

Views were expressed that the Armenian authorities have no right to
speak on behalf of the entire Armenian people and that relations with
Turkey are that very issue that concerns the entire nation.

Then, Sargsyan was compelled to tour major cities of the world that
have large Armenian communities. In many cities including Paris,
Beirut and New York, he was met with protests. ARF Dashnaktsutyun,
which wields influence among a considerable part of Diaspora Armenians,
had left the ruling coalition in Yerevan.

Then it became clear that there is no single institution that could
play at least an advisory role in making pan-Armenian decisions.

Will Armenian American businessmen lend an ear to Sargsyan’s appeal and
make investments in Armenia? One of the features of Armenians in the
U.S. is their pragmatism, and before they make sure changes are taking
place in Armenia, the investment climate is improving and the Diaspora
is not seen in Yerevan as a cash cow, they are unlikely to do so.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TER-PETROSYAN AND ROBERT KOCHARYAN?

Tert.am
12:13 28.09.11

The people will elect their president in Armenia, Hovhannes Sahakyan,
an MP the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), said at a meeting with
Hmayak Hovhannisyan, Chairman of the Union of Political Scientists
of Armenia.

He particularly touched on Armenia’s response to the reports on the
Medvedev-Putin “castle.” Sahakyan pointed out a number of external
factors that may have their impact. However, “the people will make
their choice at the next two elections.”

As to whether Robert Kocharyan will resume vigorous political
activities, Sahakyan said that said: “We know that, in one of his
speeches, when he was not president any more, Robert Kocharyan said
he would return to the political arena when he announced his return.

Since he has not so far made an announcement, making any forecasts
is a thankless business.” According to him, official reshuffle in
Russia will not have any impact on Armenia’s domestic political life.

In his turn, Hmayak Hovhannisyan voiced the opinion that the latest
developments in Russia are evidence of that state’s viability.

Russia’s all enemies are “the circles holding some negative
expectations for the future” ~V they hope for a serious confrontation
between the two persons atop the pyramid of power in Russia, which
would cause will Russia to share the fate of the USSR.

As regards an impact the Putin-Medvedev “castle” may have on
Armenia’s political life, Hovhannisyan said: “If the Armenian National
Congress views its political prospects in the context of possibility
of Serzh Sargsyan being in need of it as a factor to neutralize
Robert Kocharyan’s activities, and is able to enhance its role in
Armenia’s political life, it will find itself in a situation similar
to that Russia’s liberals found themselves in. They actually hoped to
intensify their activities due to Medvedev-Putin confrontation.” The
expert noted that the latest developments in Russia will force the
Armenian president to decide in favor of a particular course. “Two
courses are available in Armenia now ~V Levon TerPetrosyan’s and
Robert Kocharyan’s. It has to do with the Nagorno-Karabakh problem,
which is the result of victory,” Hovhannisyan said. If Serzh Sargsyan
accepts Ter-Petrosyan’s ideas about Nagorno-Karabakh, Robert Kocharyan
will turn into a “core of opposition” in Armenia. Another option is
Serzh Sargsyan’s following Robert Kocharyan’s course.

In response, Hovhannes Sahakyan said that the Armenian president is
pursuing a clear policy and has no need of guidelines.

Tert.am

12:13 ~U 28.09.11

The people will elect their president in Armenia, Hovhannes Sahakyan,
an MP the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), said at a meeting with
Hmayak Hovhannisyan, Chairman of the Union of Political Scientists
of Armenia.

He particularly touched on Armenia’s response to the reports on the
Medvedev-Putin “castle.” Sahakyan pointed out a number of external
factors that may have their impact. However, “the people will make
their choice at the next two elections.”

As to whether Robert Kocharyan will resume vigorous political
activities, Sahakyan said that said: “We know that, in one of his
speeches, when he was not president any more, Robert Kocharyan said
he would return to the political arena when he announced his return.

Since he has not so far made an announcement, making any forecasts
is a thankless business.” According to him, official reshuffle in
Russia will not have any impact on Armenia’s domestic political life.

In his turn, Hmayak Hovhannisyan voiced the opinion that the latest
developments in Russia are evidence of that state’s viability.

Russia’s all enemies are “the circles holding some negative
expectations for the future” ~V they hope for a serious confrontation
between the two persons atop the pyramid of power in Russia, which
would cause will Russia to share the fate of the USSR.

As regards an impact the Putin-Medvedev “castle” may have on
Armenia’s political life, Hovhannisyan said: “If the Armenian National
Congress views its political prospects in the context of possibility
of Serzh Sargsyan being in need of it as a factor to neutralize
Robert Kocharyan’s activities, and is able to enhance its role in
Armenia’s political life, it will find itself in a situation similar
to that Russia’s liberals found themselves in. They actually hoped to
intensify their activities due to Medvedev-Putin confrontation.” The
expert noted that the latest developments in Russia will force the
Armenian president to decide in favor of a particular course. “Two
courses are available in Armenia now ~V Levon TerPetrosyan’s and
Robert Kocharyan’s. It has to do with the Nagorno-Karabakh problem,
which is the result of victory,” Hovhannisyan said. If Serzh Sargsyan
accepts Ter-Petrosyan’s ideas about Nagorno-Karabakh, Robert Kocharyan
will turn into a “core of opposition” in Armenia. Another option is
Serzh Sargsyan’s following Robert Kocharyan’s course.

In response, Hovhannes Sahakyan said that the Armenian president is
pursuing a clear policy and has no need of guidelines.

ERDOGAN: TURKEY IS SLAVE TO 5 PERMANENT SEAT HOLDERS

Tert.am
11:47 28.09.11

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has given an exclusive
interview to the British Times on the sidelines of the UN General
Assembly’s meeting in New York.

The premier addressed the Turkish Israeli relations, the Palestinian
issue, the US-Turkey relations, the Arab Spring and the developments
in Syria.

Erdogan expressed discontent with the Middle East Quartet (Russia,
US, EU and UM) dealing with the Palestinian issue, accusing the latter
of not being sincere.

“If the Quartet was so willing to resolve this issue, they would have
imposed certain issues on Israel today. Until today, the UN Security
Council has issued more than 89 resolutions on prospective sanctions
related to Israel, but they’ve never been executed,” he said.

Erdogan further stressed the importance of reforms in the United
Nations.

“I’d like all the parties involved to be sincere and stand behind
those resolutions. And that is actually also where a need for reform
is needed in the UN. What’s the deal with these permanent-seat-holding
members in the Security Council? They should be eliminated. The entire
world is literally a slave to the decisions of these five permanent
seat holders [Russia, US, China, Great Britain, France],” he added.

As for the situation in Syria, the Turkish PM ruled out any possibility
of preserving friendship with the country’s president, Bashar al-Assad.

“Assad told me “we only have about 83 political offenders in prison.”

But actually there are thousands and thousands. Those individuals
have never been involved in violent attacks or uprisings. They’ve been
unfortunately incarcerated based on their faith or their expressions,”
Erdogan noted.

He further criticized French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German
Chancellor Angela Merkel for keeping Turkey for preventing Turkey’s
EU integration process.

When [former French President Jacques] Chirac or [former German
Chancellor Gerhard] Schroder were there, Turkey would be involved in
all of the European leaders’ summits. But when [current Chancellor
Angela] Merkel or [French President Nicolas] Sarkozy took over their
offices, the ambience changed dramatically. Despite their attitudes,
we were determined to continue this path toward EU membership,”
the Turkish PM said.

TER-PETROSIAN IS TO BLAME FOR CURRENT SITUATION, SAY GERMAN AMBASSADOR

asbarez
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

German Ambassador to Armenia Hans-Jochen Schmidt

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)-The current socio-political and economic
complication in Armenia are the legacy left by former president
Levon Ter-Petrosian, said Hans-Jochen Schmidt, the German Ambassador
to Armenia during a conference Tuesday organized by the Civilitas
Foundation.

Speaking at a conference entitled, “Assessing Independence in
Armenia and the Region,” the German envoy said that Ter-Petrosian
must personally accept responsibility for what happened during his
term from 1994 to 1997.

“I often hear how the first president criticizes elections and the
current authorities during opposition rallies. I asked one of his
advisors what he thinks about elections from 1994 to 1997 and he
responded by saying that I have wrong information,” said Schmidt.

The German envoy, however, said opposition criticism is justified,
because there is an oligarchic state in Armenia, “But he has to
remember that the foundation for such phenomena was established during
his administration.”

While saying that it was a positive step for the Ter-Petrosian’s
Armenian National Congress to be granted the right to hold rallies
at Liberty Square, but added that “I think that from a political
standpoint asking to hold rallies solely in Liberty Square is naive.

If people want to assemble, they can do so anywhere and in any square.”

On the foreign policy front, the German envoy said the “outside world”
cannot force any decision on Armenia.

“The EU also takes steps in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
as well as the normalization of relations with Turkey, but they can’t
force anything,” he said.

Schmidt said the most important step in Armenia-Turkey relations is
the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries,
after which discussions on other issues can begin.

“What’s important is that the parties understand that by establishing
diplomatic relations, no one is doing anyone a favor; it is a normal
process,” he said.

Schmidt also commented on last week’s military parade dedicated to
the independence anniversary, saying he was impressed by the display.

“I liked the fact that the parade showed that Armenians have certain
capabilities, and if others are interested in war, the Armenian state
will provide an adequate response,” explained the Ambassador.

He called it a stabilizing factor for the region, saying that the
capabilities displayed at the parade signal that Armenia is able to
develop the expertise needed to stabilize any situation.