Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIA ESTABLISHED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH FOUR COUNTRIES LAST YEAR

Source: Panorama.am
13:33 24/01/2013

Armenia established diplomatic relations with four states last year,
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian told reporters, summing
up the year 2012.

In 2012, the Armenian President made 17 foreign visits, leaders of
three countries, as well as the Presidents of the Council of Europe
and the European Commission visited Armenia.

The Armenian parliament speaker made five foreign visits, parliament
speakers of three countries visited Armenia. The Armenian Prime
Minister visited five countries, Prime Ministers of two countries
visited Armenia.

The Armenian Foreign Minister made 44 foreign visits, 27 Foreign
Ministers and heads of international organizations visited Armenia.

Edward Nalbandian described the mutual visits as efficient. Armenia
made new friends as well as strengthened its position and authority
in the international arena, he concluded.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF JERUSALEM HAS GREAT EXPECTATIONS FROM NEWLY ELECTED ISRAELI PARLIAMENT ON RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

20:23, 23 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS: Armenian National Committee
of Jerusalem has great expectations from newly elected Israeli
Parliemant. Representative of the Committee Hakob Sevan noted in the
interview with Armenpress that despite it was early to speak about
concrete expectations therefore it was a crucal step that “Meretz”
party, presenting resolution on the recognition of Armenian Genocide,
doubled its power in Knesset.

“Almost 50 new people appeared in Knesset; a lot of them are advocating
Armenia. Their entrance to Knesset is a very positive phenomenon; works
will be carried out with other deputies of Parliament in two months. We
should take into consideration the changes that elections made in the
political map of Israel. Armenian National Committee of Jerusalem is
also going to cooperate with them,” Sevan said adding, in any case
they had positive expectations from the newly elected Parliament.

Elections for the 19th Knesset were held in Israel on 22 January 2013.

Originally, public debate over the Tal Law nearly led to an early
election in 2012, but this was aborted at the last moment after Kadima
briefly joined the government. The elections were later called in early
October 2012 after failure to agree on the budget for the fiscal year
2013. On 22 January 2013, exit polls showed Likud-Beitenu projected
to get 31 seats and Yesh Atid 19 seats.

EUROPEAN EXPERTS STUDY ARMENIAN CHESS TEACHING EXPERIENCE TO IMPLEMENT IT IN EU

12:06, 24 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANAURY 24, ARMENPRESS. The Yerevan State Pedagogical
University after Khachatur Abovyan hosted the members of the European
Chess Union board. Rector of YSPU Ruben Mirzakhanyan welcomed the
foreign guests and introduced the activity of one of the largest
educational institutions in the Republic of Armenia. After, he
spoke about the implementation of “Chess” subject in the educational
programs.

The Yerevan State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovyan
informed “Armenpress” that the rector laid a heavy emphasis on the
fact that annually more than 4000 students have opportunity to study
chess alongside with the main profession and lecture in the schools.

Among other things Ruben Mirzakhanyan was glad to announce that Armenia
is the only country in the world to teach chess in the whole schools
providing general education.

In turn, the President of the European Chess Union Silvio Danailov
stated that he is glad for visiting one of the leading chess countries
of the world – Armenia. The President of the European Chess Union
stated: “We are like inexperienced pupils, who follow your success
in this realm and want to acquire experience to teach this subject
in the EU member-states.”

L’ARMENIE DEMANDE QUE LA MOSQUEE BLEUE SOIT INSCRITE A L’UNESCO

Le Ministère armenien de la Culture a recemment demande que la Mosquee
Bleue, egalement connue comme la Mosquee Gok, qui est situe au centre
de la capitale de l’Armenie d’Erevan, figure sur la liste du patrimoine
mondiale de l’UNESCO.

Cette information a ete reprise par le journal turc Zaman.

jeudi 24 janvier 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

GEORGIA’S VICE PM REMOVED FROM POST

tert.am
23.01.13

Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania has been dismissed from
the office of deputy prime minister. According to Georgia Online,
the information is placed on the Georgian government’s website.

Alasania though will preserve the post of the defense minister.

Earlier today Alasania stated that he had a “hard conversation”
with Georgia’s PM Bidzina Ivanishvili.

“I am for the country with presidential system of governance under
strong parliamentary control. It is the main dispute we have with our
partner party. I think people are to decide the issue. It is early
to speak about it. Our coalition [Georgian Dream] has not conducted
such discussion but as far as the presidential elections are close we
have exchanged viewpoints in our Free Democrats party to understand
whether we are going to nominate a candidacy or not,” he said.

ARMENIAN ACTIVIST VAHAGN CHAKHALYAN TO BE RELEASED IN HALF AN HOUR

January 24, 2013 | 17:44

Armenian activist Vahagn Chakhalyan to be released in half an hour

YEREVAN.- Armenian activist, political prisoner Vahagn Chakhalyan
will be released under an amnesty in half an hour, the president of
Javakhk union, Armenian MP Shirak Torosyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Shirak Torosyan said relatives of Chakhalyan have gathered near the
penitentiary building.

Vahagn Chakhalyan has been in prison for five years. In 2009 he was
sentenced to 10 years in jail charged with organization of events
violating public order, possession of weapons and hooliganism.

CIS CULTURAL DELEGATION TO VISIT MATENADARAN

18:12, 23 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS: Delegation of CIS Interstate Fund
for Humanitarian Cooperation will visit Mesrop Mashtots Institute
of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran) on January 24 in order to get
acquainted with its exhibitions. Afterwards meeting with Armenian
Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan is scheduled in scientific
conference hall. Issues concerning cultural cooperation within CIS
as well as new possibilities and prospects will be discussing during
the meeting.

As Armenpress has been informed from press secretary of “Yerevan-
World Book Capital” program Nune Aleksanyan, the issue of declaring
Gyumri the next CIS cultural capital will be highlighted during the
meeting. At the end of the meeting journalists will be provided
with opportunity to raise their questions to the members of the
delegations. Outstanding intellectuals, journalists, actors and
athletes as Irina Rodnina, Levon Oganezov, Dmitry Kharatyan, Mikhail
Shvidkoy, Elena Stepanenko, Evgeniy Petrosyan and others are the
members of the delegation arrived in Armenia.

AZERBAIJAN’S STEP IS WAR CRIME
Aida Avetisyan

“Radiolur”
18:24 23.01.2013

Azerbaijan’s cabinet on Friday issued document on the use of airspace,
which allows the government of Azerbaijan to declare certain areas
“banned zones and limited zones,” hence allowing the government to
randomly shoot down aircraft it deems in violation of Azeri airspace.

Expert of Azerbaijani studies Sargis Asatryan describes this step of
Azerbaijan as a ‘war crime.’ He’s surprised at the reaction of the
international structures, which accept the situation as adequate.

Sargis Asatryan said the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ behavior
is strange, adding that “Azerbaijan spends huge sums to raise its
standing in international structures and slam Armenia.”

The expert said Azerbaijan’s steps lead to the escalation of the
situation. According to him, Armenia should be active in international
organizations. It must be active in the propaganda war and must
declare that Azerbaijan threatens the civilian aircrafts.

REPORT ON POLITICAL PRISONERS IN AZERBAIJAN AND EUROPE PRESENTED

News.Az
Tue 22 January 2013 15:02 GMT | 15:02 Local Time

Journalist and human rights activist Eynulla Fatullayev presented
a report on political prisoners and human rights in Azerbaijan
and Europe.

As part of the PACE winter session journalist and human rights activist
Eynulla Fatullayev presented a report on political prisoners and
human rights situation in Azerbaijan and Europe, APA reports.

Despite the fact that E. Fatullayev called the discussion of the
resolution due to the political prisoners in Azerbaijan a positive
fact, he said there are political prisoners in other member-states
of the structure: “I was surprised to see the preparation of such
reports. I came to the conclusion that today there are up to 30
alleged political prisoners in Azerbaijan. This list is contained in
a resolution prepared by Christoph Strasser because 45 people were
released by the decisions of the court and the presidential decrees”.

E. Fatullayev noted that international organizations have recently been
politicizing the human rights issue: “Why to annoy the Azerbaijani
government by adoption of this resolution, creating new tensions
between the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan? For us it is important
to attain the release of these 30 people, and I believe that this is
possible thanks to the cooperation. The acceptance of the resolution,
of course, will not lead to positive results. We know that all
the resolutions and decisions of PACE are recommendations and are
optional, so I oppose this resolution. I will be a supporter of the
initiative in the case international organizations create a special
investigation group for reporting on political prisoners in Turkey,
Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, and other countries and will include their
names in the lists. Association of this topic only with Azerbaijan
means an open politicization of the issue of human rights”.

ARMENIA-IRAN RAILROAD AND NORTH-SOUTH ROAD CORRIDOR OPEN UP NEW OPPORTUNITIES – SERZH SARGSYAN

news.am
January 23, 2013 | 13:23

YEREVAN.- Armenian President said the railroad connecting Armenia
and Iran as well as North-South transport corridor will open up new
opportunities for country’s external communication.

Serzh Sargsyan met with voters in Meghri within the framework of his
campaign events in Syunik Region in Armenia’s south.

Addressing residents of Meghri, Sargsyan called them “protectors
of Armenia’s southern gates”, Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent
reported. He thanked the locals for “protecting Armenia with your
peaceful work.”

Development of transport communication amid blockade by two neighboring
states is a key challenge for Armenia.

“After a large-scale preparation we have launched road construction of
North-South road corridor. It is a time-consuming project, we plan to
finish construction in 2017. The new highway, meeting international
requirements, will connect us with two neighboring states – Iran and
Georgia,” presidential candidate said.

Speaking about advantages of highway, he said the government would
spare no effort to implement the project.

He touched upon Iran-Armenia railway project stressing an agreement
had been signed several days ago.

“I want to thank Islamic Republic for efficient cooperation on this
and other projects,” President said, adding that Armenia values friends
who extend a helping hand in a difficult period for the country.