Author: Kanayan Tamar

Sitting of the Armenian-Belarusian Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation
Committee to be held in Yerevan

armradio.am
11.02.2012 14:09

The sitting of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee on Cooperation
between the National Assemblies of the Republic of Armenia and the
Republic of Belarus will be held in Yerevan.

The Belarusian delegation led by Viktor Guminsky, Co-Chair of the
Committee, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Belarus
will visit Armenia February 13-16 to participate in the sitting.
Members of the delegation will have meetings with Armenian National
Assembly Speaker Samvel Nikoyan and the Deputy Speaker Edward
Sharmazanov.

The sitting of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee will be held on
February 13. Within the framework of the visit members of the
Belarusian delegation will have meetings with members of Armenian
delegations in different international organizations, as well as with
the heads of a number of agencies. They will visit the Tsitsernakaberd
Memorial Complex and will lay a wreath at the monument to the victims
of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

Gente Veneta, Italia
10 febbraio 2012

Baviera, Armenia, Terra Santa: i prossimi pellegrinaggi diocesani

L’ufficio Pellegrinaggi della Curia patriarcale ha definito il
programma dei viaggi religiosi proposti per il 2012, confermando le
destinazioni e i periodi già resi noti tramite `Il Mosaico’,
supplemento a GV. Ora sono disponibili anche le quotazioni, che
saranno peraltro definitive solo più avanti, dipendendo anche da
eventuali oscillazioni del costo dei carburanti e del cambio
dollaro/euro. Ecco i tre pellegrinaggi proposti, che saranno
presieduti dal vicario episcopale mons.

Orlando Barbaro.

I luoghi di Papa Benedetto XVI, in Baviera dall’8 al 13 maggio (6
giorni e 5 notti con bus gran turismo da Venezia), per riflettere sui
messaggi lanciati dal Papa alla Chiesa di Venezia dopo un anno dalla
sua visita, ripercorrendo le strade della sua formazione umana e
cristiana e del suo servizio di pastore e di teologo. Si visiteranno
fra l’altro Altoetting, `cuore religioso della Baviera’ grazie alla
statua miracolosa della `Madonna Nera’; Marktl am Inn, luogo di
nascita del Papa; Ratisbona, nella cui università insegnò il giovane
Ratzinger; Freising, che vide maturare la sua attività pastorale;
Monaco, dove Ratzinger fu arcivescovo; e Traunstein, dove abitò fin da
bambino. Quota in camera doppia (minimo 25) 670 euro, supplemento
singola (secondo disponibilità) 150 euro. Iscrizioni e acconto (150
euro) entro il 29 febbraio; saldo entro il 20 aprile.

L’Armenia, prima nazione cristiana, dal 19 al 26 agosto (8 giorni con
volo da Venezia alla capitale Erevan), per tornare alle origini delle
comunità cristiane continuando l’itinerario di approfondimento della
fede e della cultura delle civiltà orientali seguito negli anni scorsi
fra Grecia, Turchia, Egitto, Romania, Russia ecc. Il pellegrinaggio
prevede la scoperta di spettacolari scenari naturali lungo un percorso
fra antiche città, costellato di innumerevoli monasteri paleocristiani
e medievali. Quota in camera doppia (min. 30 max. 40) 1.300 euro,
supplemento singola (secondo disponibilità) 290 euro. Iscrizioni e
acconto (300 euro) entro il 15 marzo; saldo entro il 15 luglio.

La terra di Gesù, dal 18 al 25 ottobre (8 giorni con volo speciale da
Verona), itinerario classico e tradizionale in Terra Santa, dove ogni
anno la Chiesa di Venezia, camminando sui passi di Cristo, incontra le
comunità che discendono dai primi cristiani e vivono la loro fede fra
mille difficoltà. Quest’anno, in particolare, le strade di Gesù
saranno percorse alla luce dell’icona di Emmaus, prescelta come
simbolo significativo dell’anno pastorale in Patriarcato di Venezia.
Quota in camera doppia (hotel `tre stelle’) 1.100 euro; supplemento
camera singola (secondo disponibilità) 245 euro. Iscrizioni e acconto
(250 euro): fino ad esaurimento posti, entro il 15 marzo; saldo entro
il 15 settembre.

L’organizzazione tecnica dei pellegrinaggi è stata affidata al tour
operator Girardi Viaggi di Asiago. Le iscrizioni si ricevono
direttamente dall’ufficio Pellegrinaggi della Curia (calle degli
Albanesi, Castello 4264) il lunedì, mercoledì e venerdì dalle 10 alle
12; è consigliabile preannunciare telefonicamente, anche per bloccare
i posti (che sono limitati): 041.2702421. Per maggior comodità dei
fedeli di terraferma, le iscrizioni si potranno ricevere anche a
Zelarino (Centro Pastorale card. Urbani) il martedì dalle 17 alle 19,
previa telefonata al n. 340.7810231.

Nei prossimi numeri di Gente Veneta verranno pubblicati i programmi
dettagliati dei tre pellegrinaggi, insieme ad ulteriori notizie e
anticipazioni sui viaggi.

Venezia.net, Italia
10 febbraio 2012

`Venezia e gli Armeni’, Ciclo di incontri in Marciana

Mercoledì 15 febbraio 2012
Antisala Libreria Sansoviniana
Ingresso libero

Il secondo appuntamento nell’ambito del ciclo di incontri che la
Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana di Venezia, organizza in occasione della
mostra `Armenia. Impronte di una civiltà’, si svolgerà mercoledì 15
febbraio, alle ore 17.00 e avrà per titolo `Venezia e gli Armeni’. Gli
incontri, che fanno parte delle `Giornate armene in Marciana’, sono
dedicati ad approfondire singole tematiche della storia, dell’arte e
della cultura armene e si svolgeranno nell’Antisala della Libreria
Sansoviniana (Piazzetta San Marco 13/a, Venezia), con ingresso libero
fino ad esaurimento dei posti disponibili.

L’incontro di mercoledì prossimo proporrà una riflessione storica
sulla presenza degli armeni a Venezia, dagli inizi della fondazione
della colonia armena nel secolo XIII fino alla mostra ospitata nei
musei di Piazza San Marco. Si seguiranno le tracce di mercanti,
editori, inventori, interpreti e intellettuali per arrivare al cuore
della comunità armena tra Calle degli Armeni e il Monastero di San
Lazzaro.

L’appuntamento sarà introduttivo anche al recital teatrale `Gli Armeni
in Goldoni’ in programma per lunedì 20 febbraio (due repliche: ore
18.30 e 21.00 – nella medesima sede – nell’ambito della Carnival
Culture Night, che proporrà brani tratti dalle commedie di Carlo
Goldoni nei quali compaiono personaggi armeni. La Redazione

APA, Azerbaijan
Feb 11 2012

Matthew Bryza: The Armenian lobby can not weaken the close relations
of the US with Azerbaijan and Turkey

[ 11 Feb 2012 10:36 ]
Former ambassador announces one of the possible causes of his recall

Baku. Anakhanim Hidayatova – APA. Azerbaijan remains one of the most
strategic countries for the US, former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan
Matthew Bryza said in his interview to the Hurriyet Daily News.

Matthew Bryza said it has nothing to do with Baku that he was not
confirmed as ambassador.

Former ambassador considers that one of the causes of his recall is
the upcoming presidential election in the US.

Diplomat underlined that the Armenian lobby can not weaken the close
relations of the US with Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Matthew Bryza, who ended his diplomatic mission in Azerbaijan, left
Baku on January 3.

Trend, Azerbaijan
Feb 11 2012

Matthew Bryza: Sides of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict close to breakthrough

11 February 2012, 11:25 (GMT+04:00) Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 11 / Trend
E.Kosolapova /

Azerbaijan and Armenia are close to a breakthrough in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, former U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan
Matthew Bryza said in an interview with Turkish Hurriyet Daily
newspaper.

“There is a huge progress (in negotiations), and the sides are
extremely close to a breakthrough,” Mr Bryza said.

He stressed there are a couple of core, key details that can only be
agreed upon if the sides make a very difficult and risky political
decision.

Mr Bryza also noted such decision won’t be made until the sides feel
they receive political support from the U.S. and France.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France and the U.S. – are
currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPING CONTINGENT TEMPORARILY WITHDRAWN FROM KOSOVO

Mediamax News Agency
Feb 8 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan said
today that the Armenian peacekeeping contingent has been temporarily
withdrawn from Kosovo.

The Minister recalled that the Armenian contingent served in Kosovo
under the Greek command and was withdrawn “due to some problems,”
Mediamax reports.

The details will be reported later.

ARMENIAN ATTORNEY GENERAL AND US AMBASSADOR DISCUSS UPCOMING ELECTIONS

news.am
February 10, 2012 | 18:52

YEREVAN. – Armenian Attorney General Aghvan Hovsepyan received on
Friday the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern and discussed
issues on developing mutual cooperation, Attorney ‘s Office press
service informs.

Hovsepyan spoke, in particular, on implemented works on the upcoming
parliamentary elections by the law enforcement agents. He stressed
the preventive measures towards reduction of election frauds to the
minimum are necessary. Besides, the Attorney ‘s Office intends to
organize public discussions.

Parties also touched upon measures taken for the fight against
crime, stressing importance of Armenia’s ability in fighting against
transnational and latent crimes.

SHAHBAZYAN: 2011 CENSUS SHOWS EMIGRATION AND INFLATION INCREASE

February 7, 2012

Commenting on the findings of the National Statistical Service’s last
census, ARF-D Parliamentary Faction’s Secretary Artashes Shahbazyan
said that during the last year nearly 50.000 people left Armenia.

“It’s quite clear that the emigration rate has grown in comparison
to previous years” he said reminding that these are the state’s data.

Furthermore, he stated that the inflation was at 4.8%, the highest
for the last seven years and put an emphasis on the 3.6% inflation
increase between the last and the month before that.

HOVHANNESYAN: ARMENIA’S REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS LOST ITS POLITICAL FORCE

February 10, 2012

During today’s press briefings at the Parliament, the Head of ARF-D
Parliamentary Faction Vahan Hovhannesyan said that the adoption of the
law “On Private Guard Activity” was very important and reminded that
it was the ARF-D that first introduced it around 2000 concerned about
the unacceptable accumulation of these services around the rich elite.

ARF-D’s proposition got always rejected by the government but now,
since Armenia’s Republican Party (HHK) is one of the authors the law
was adopted, he argued.

Asked to comment on the repetition of the voting procedure that took
place yesterday in the Parliament, Hovhannesyan pointed out that
this isn’t the first incident of this sort and added that atrocities
have taken place. “This means that the ruling political force isn’t
really a force but rather it forces itself to power. It doesn’t
have the ability to convince. Obviously, it’s not even in a position
to organize its own faction’s voting attendance” said Hovhannesyan
citing the fiasco caused by the ARP ally, Prosperous Armenia Party’s
withdrawal from the February 6 voting. The ARF-D MP believes that if
ARP and its leaders think that the adoption of a single law is more
valuable than the state’s image, the Parliament’s as well as their
own dignity and if they use any means to justify their purpose then
they will always do so. “If you spit on and bypass the law why should
I trust you in conducting fair elections?” wondered Hovhannesyan.

WOLVES AND JACKALS ATTACK NAGORNO-KARABAKH

news.am
February 10, 2012 | 16:33

STEPANAKERT. – Nagorno-Karabakh government will allocate measures to
regulate population of predator animals this year.

AMD 18 million ($46,315) is intended to reduce number of wolves and
jackals, which threaten the agriculture and population, governmental
PR department informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The Wednesday’s session stressed that the problem exists in the
capital as well.