Author: Kanayan Tamar

Trend, Azerbaijan
Sept 17 2011

Iranian FM warns NATO’s radar in Turkey

[17.09.2011 16:00]
Azerbaijan , Baku, Sept. 17 /Trend, D.Khatinoglu/

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi warns on installing NATO’s
missile defence system in Turkey, IRNA reported.

Salehi said to a press conference with his Armenian counterpart Edward
Nadbandian in Tehran that the West countries do not see the unified
policy amongst the region countries and decision of Turkey to allow
NATO’s missile defence system is doubtable.

US Defense Department has said an ‘early warning’ radar system
belonging to the Washington-led military alliance of NATO will become
operational in Turkey by the end of 2011.

Earlier, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Selcuk Unal announced the
country’s intention to host the apparatus on Sept. 2. Following
Ankara’s announcement, Russia criticized the plan and denounced NATO’s
efforts to advance eastward.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Turkey’s collaboration would mark
another step in the direction of the deployment “of the European
segment of a global US missile defense system.”

In September 2010, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen
proposed to develop a 200-million-euro (253-million-dollar) US-backed
missile system around Europe against possible attacks by “rogue
states.”

The NATO chief then named Iran’s nuclear program as one of the reasons
that justify the necessity of a missile system.

TendersInfo – Project Notices
September 16, 2011 Friday

Framework Program in Support of EU-Armenia Agreements

The objectives of the project are to assist the Armenian authorities
in preparing for the implementation of the Comprehensive Institution
Building (CIB) program; to ensure effective institution-building of
core institutions that are central to implementing the Association
Agreement, the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), and the
Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements; to support the relevant
institutions in complying effectively with the commitments set forth
in the EU-Armenia ENP Action Plan; and to assist the national
authorities to carry out the preparatory, supervisory, monitoring,
audit and evaluation work necessary for the timely and efficient
launch and implementation of actions.To achieve the above mentioned
objectives, the project will have the following components:Component
1: Preparatory Work for the Development of the CIB Institutional
Reform PlansComponent 2: Support to the Implementation of the CIB
Institutional Reform PlansComponent 3: Other Technical Assistance and
Twinning (Implementation of the EU-Armenia ENP Action Plan)The total
budget for this project is 19,100,000 Euros to be funded by the
European Union (EU).

country :Belgium

Mediamax, Armenia
Sept 17 2011

Raffi Hovhannisyan: If `Heritage’ focuses its whole potential on the
pre-election processes it will get even more parliamentary mandates

Saturday 17 September 2011 13:11

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Leader of “Heritage’ oppositional parliamentary
party Raffi Hovhannisyan expressed the confidence that “if “Heritage’
focuses its whole potential on the pre-election processes it will
enter the parliament with more mandates that it has today’.

Raffi Hovhannisyan noted that `however, it is not a super -goal for
`Heritage”, Mediamax reports.

According to him, it is not ruled out that more organized trips will
be arranged to regional countries and meetings with communities will
be held in Yerevan within coming months. However, `Heritage’ will
announce the decision on how and in what format they will participate
in the elections later on.

Raffi Hovhannisyan also touched upon the ANC-coalition dialogue noting
that the two items on the negotiation agenda are acceptable for
`Heritage’.

According to him, there is a need for early elections in Armenia. But
in any case the second point, `the holding of elections in compliance
with all the democratic standards and ensuring of complete equality’,
also should be realized.

Mediamax, Armenia
Sept 17 2011

Ruben Vardanyan awarded Saint Mesrop Mashtots Order

Saturday 17 September 2011 15:28
Yerevan/Mediamax/. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree
on awarding Ruben Vardanyan and Samvel Karapetyan, Russian businessmen
of Armenian descent, Saint Mesrop Mashtots Order.

The Director of `Troyka Dialogue’ and President of `Tashir Group’ are
awarded in connection with the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s
independence `for their considerable contribution to protecting
national interests and long-lasting and fruitful activities for the
sake of Armenia’.

Upon the Armenian President’s decree, Armenian author and writer of
political essays from Istanbul Roper Hattejyan is also awarded Saint
Mesrop Mashtots Order.

Architect Artur Meschyan is also awarded Saint Mesrop Mashtots Order.

back

President calls for more cooperation between Iran, Armenia

Tehran, Sept 17, IRNA – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad received
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian here on Saturday and told
him that more cooperation between Iran and Armenia is beneficial to
the region.

In the meeting, President Ahmadinejad, referring to existing
capacities in Iran and Armenia, said that trade with neighbors is
always good, because it is beneficial to expansion of security, peace
and friendship between neighbors as well as other regional countries.
According to the report of Presidential Office website, Ahmadinejad
described bilateral relations between Tehran and Yerevan historical,
deep and friendly adding that there is no limitation for development
of ties in all fields between the two countries.
Referring to constructive common programs on the agenda of both
countries, the president said Iran is interested that all nations live
together in peace and friendship and if there is any dispute between
them, it should be settled through negotiation.
He underlined that financial and technical problems in the way of
execution of signed agreements should be removed promptly and stressed
that communication lines and energy transfer lines are, as a matter of
fact, ties of friendship.
Edward Nalbandian, for his part, conveyed warm greetings and message
of Armenian president to his Iranian counterpart and said that there
are good and appropriate political and economic relations between the
two countries and added that trade exchange level between Iran and
Armenia has increased by 38 percent and it has reached 270 million
dollars annually.
In this direction, joint cooperation commission is trying to implement
signed agreements and in near future the 20th anniversary of
establishment of Tehran-Yerevan ties will be commemorated, said
Nalbandian.
The Armenian foreign minister continued that Armenia has always
appreciated Iran’s balanced stance on Karabakh and said that
Iran-Armenia railroad project, electricity transfer line from Iran to
Armenia, construction of Arras joint hydro-electric power plant and
transferring oil products pipeline are very big projects which will be
beneficial, not only for two nations, but for the whole region.

news.am, Armenia
Sept 17 2011

Delegation headed by Diaspora Armenian philanthropist Eduardo
Eurnekian arrives in Karabakh

September 17, 2011 | 17:48

STEPANAKERT. – President of Nagorno-Karabakh Bako Sahakyan met the
delegation headed by famous Diaspora Armenian philanthropist Eduardo
Eurnekian on Saturday.

The meeting discussed issued related to realization of different
programs in Nagorno-Karabakh, highlighting problems of agriculture,
finance, high tech and civil aviation.

The two sides stressed the importance of Diaspora potential for the
development of Artsakh.

The president dressed the philanthropist’s family with For Service in
Battle medal, posthumously awarded to his brother Andranik Eurnekian
for medical assistance delivered to servicemen during the defense of
Artsakh.

news.am, Armenia
Sept 17 2011

WikiLeaks opens new century of open politics and governing – Armenian opposition

September 17, 2011 | 14:40

YEREVAN. – WikiLeaks has opened a new century of more transparent
politics and governing, said the leader of opposition Heritage party
Raffi Hovannisian at a press conference on Saturday.

`This also implies that those speaking of high ideas would keep on
adhering to their words and deeds. One should never deem he can make
some confidential suggestion and keep it secret forever. All secrets
are revealed sooner or later.

Certain officials, both from the camps of opposition and authorities,
speak openly so that it becomes obvious they stand for private
interests rather than issues of national priority. I hope this will be
a good lesson for our leadership not to play games with foreign
diplomats and try not to gain dividends at the expense of our own
people,’ said Hovannisian.

Administrative Court Provided 20 Days to Nature Protection Ministry to
Prepare Explanations on NEMO Dolphinarium

arminfo
Saturday, September 17, 20:09

On 15 September the first hearing of the action brought by “Center
for Bird Lovers” and “EcoDar” NGOs against Nature Protection Ministry
of Armenia at the Administrative Court of Armenia.

In accordance with the lawsuit, the Ministry is accused of inactions
in regard with “Nemo” Dolphinarium and “Nerum” Company in Komitas
Public Park.

According to Ecolur, the dolphinarium was constructed in the absence
of positive opinion of the environmental expert assessment.
Nevertheless, despite all the public appeals to Nature Protection
Ministry that the dolphinarium was an illegal building, the Ministry
didn’t carry out necessary examinations either in terms of the
building, or in the terms of company documents.

However, the Ministry will most probably have to take these measures.
NGO Barrister Levon Ohanyan told EcoLur that Judge R. Hakobyan
provided Nature Protection Ministry 20 days to prepare explanations.
The first question is why the Ministry hadn’t required to carry out
the expert assessment of a building which is located in the square of
1250 square meters.

According to L. Ohanyan, the building was constructed when the old
standards for mandatory expert assessment were in force – more than
1000 square meters. New standards are 1500 square meters adopted only
in autumn 2010.

About 500 Representatives Of Armenian Communities From 50 Countries To
Attend Armenia-Diaspora Forum

YEREVAN, September 16. /ARKA/. About 500 representatives of Armenian
communities from 50 countries will travel to Armenia to attend
Armenia-Diaspora forum scheduled for September 19 in the Yerevan
Sports and Concerts Complex, Armenian Diaspora Ministry’s press office
reported on Friday.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Nagorno-Karabakh President Bako
Sahakyan will speak at the forum. Catolicos Karekin II, Armenian
Apostolic Church leader, and Aram I, Catholicos of Great House of
Cilicia, will bless participants of the event. The forum is to be held
as part of the program of celebration of the 20th anniversary of
Armenia’s independence.

Ministers, experts, journalists from Armenian communities worldwide,
representatives of political parties are expected to speak at the
forum. Interaction between Armenia and Armenian communities overseas
will be among key issues on the agenda.

Language and education, the youth’s problems, Armenian Genocide,
Armenia-Diaspora cooperation will be discussed here.

Before to wrap up the participants will sign a national declaration
calling for setting up a united front to ensure Armenia’s security, to
press for peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, also
for international recognition of the Armenian genocide and for
rallying around the Armenian Apostolic Church for preservation of
Armenian identity. -0–

Argentina’s deputy minister shares his country’s hail suppression
experience with Armenian peers

YEREVAN, September 17. / ARKA /. Argentina’s deputy minister of
agriculture, Lorenzo Basso, was quoted today by Armenian ministry of
agriculture as saying that his country’s experts will be glad to share
their experience in hail suppression with Armenian colleagues as he
met here with Armenian minister of agriculture Sergo Karapetian.

The ministry said in a press release that Mr. Basso spoke in detail
about hail suppression technology used in his country and made a
cooperation offer.

Karapetian was quoted as saying that given virtually similar climatic
conditions in Armenia and Argentina, the countries can work in almost
all areas. He singled out a cooperation in cattle growing, seed
production, viticulture and winemaking.

Karapetian also emphasized the role of he Armenian community in
Argentina in cooperation between the two countries, in particular,
highlighting the activities here in Armenia of an Argentinean-Armenian
businessman Eduardo Eurnekian.
According to the press release, under an earlier arrangement,
Argentine’s winemakers will arrive in Armenia to share experiences
with Armenian colleagues. -0-