Author: Kanayan Tamar

SWITZERLAND CAN HOST ABRAHAM VS. FROCH BOUT

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 5, 2010 – 15:14 AMT 10:14 GMT

Arthur Abraham vs. Carl Froch bout may head to Switzerland. The camps
of the two super middleweights are in a tug of war over the venue.

Their fight takes place in the third stage of the Super Six Boxing
Classic on August 21. Froch wants the fight in Nottingham. Abraham
wants the fight in Germany.

The contract terms of the Super Six gives each boxer the power to
prevent a fight from taking place in the opponent’s home country.

Froch has refused to fight in Germany, and Abraham doesn’t want to
fight in Nottingham. Switzerland has been bought up as a neutral
location to stage the event. The fight contract for Abraham-Froch
calls for a venue in "Europe." The cities of Basel and Zurich are
being discussed for the fight, boxingscene.com reported.

ARMENIA-TURKEY RAPPROCHEMENT WAS DAVUTOGLU’S STUMBLING BLOCK: AMBERIN ZAMAN

Tert.am
05.05.10

During Ahmet Davutoglu’s first year in office as Turkish Foreign
Minister Ankara had many serious achievements in its foreign
policy, but the only failure he had was perhaps the Armenia-Turkey
normalization, writes famous Turkish jounalist Amberin Zaman in local
Turkish daily Haberturk.

"Casting a look at Davutoglu’s one year in office, it should be said
that … no other foreign minister has received so much appraisal. He
is a real intellectual. … The only bad mark in Davutoglu’s diary was
the way of the Armenia-Turkey normalization drawn by Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan. There is no mention of Azerbaijan and Nagorno
Karabakh in the Protocols. If there was an aim to make Armenia take
steps over Karabakh through the Protocols, then we saw the result:
Armenia froze the Protocols," writes Zaman, adding that Armenia will
make no concessions unless the issue of Karabakh’s status is resolved.

Further pointing what she calls "reliable sources" Zaman mentions that
during a recent meeting in Washington Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan presented to the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan a
proposal package which mentioned those regions adjacent to Karabakh
that the Armenian troops should withdraw from, which took the Armenian
delegation aback.

"Much in the same way as we do not withdraw from the Cyprus or reduce
the quantity of our troops, Armenia holds those regions for talks
and will hardly withdraw [its troops] from there unless the status
of Nagorno Karabakh is eventually defined," concludes Amberin Zaman.

RENEWABLE ENERGY – SYRIA INVESTING IN SOLAR AND WIND POWER

Global Arab Network
01005035732/Energy/renewable-energy-syria-investin g-in-solar-and-wind-power.html
May 3 2010

Syria is working on investing and developing solar and wind energy
to meet the increasing demand on energy in light of the population
growth and the economic, industrial and agricultural expansion,
reports Syrian State Agency.

Syrian Ministry of Higher Education has launched many programs on
renewable energy to be studied at the faculties of electrical,
mechanic and technical engineering and in the institutes and
postgraduate programs.

Research and training energy centers have been established in Damascus,
Aleppo, Tishreen and al-Baath universities.

Syrian institutes and research centers have conducted many studies
on new types of renewable energies and the required infrastructure
to invest them.

In a statement to SANA, Head of the Higher Institute for Applied
Sciences and Technology Wael Khansa said "we conducted research on
producing biodiesel from consumed frying oil and the results were
good. Now we are studying the possibility of carrying out this
project."

The Institute worked on drawing a sunlight map in cooperation with
Armenia. The project aims at linking the sunlight map in Syria and
Armenia to invest solar power and use it in heating and cooling water,
Khansa said.

He added that an international conference on renewable energy would
be held regularly every two years to exchange scientific researches
and experiences.

Researchers who participated in the International Conference on New
and Renewable Energy said that Syria is rich in natural resources
that could be invested to generate new types of energy.

Wind energy MARAFEQ, member of CHAM Holding Group, and VESTAS,
headquartered in Denmark and the largest Wind Energy Company in the
world, signed here Sunday a strategic partnership to develop wind
energy in Syria.

The partnership includes the submittal of a joint pre-qualification to
the Public Establishment for Electricity Generation and Transmission
for the development of the first wind energy project in Syria.

The project includes the construction and operation of a wind farm
with generation capacity of 50-100 MW at two sites; Al Sukhna and Al
Hijana, south of Damascus.

The wind farm will be built and operated in partnership between public
and private sectors, on Build-operate-transfer (BOT) or build- operate-
own (BOO) basis, with a time span expected not to exceed 2 years.

MARAFEQ is to develop the said project, VESTAS is to provide the
project with necessary technology, and the Kuwait AL KHARAFI Company
is to be responsible for the project Engineering, Procurement and
Construction.

Hani Azzouz, Chairman of MARAFEQ pointed out that the said project
" will be pursuit parallel to the currently developed projects by
MARAFEQ including Nasserieh and 2 wastewater treatment plants in
Aleppo and Hasakah."

Mahmoud Al Khoshman, MARAFEZ Chief Executive Officer, said: " Syria
has a considerable wind energy potential in a variety of locations
promising to offer clean energy needed to meet the increasing demand
for electricity in Syria in an environmentally friendly manner,"
in line with the Syrian Government strategic vision as to achieve
sustainable development in Syria.

For his part, Fariz Al-Ekhwan, chairman of the Syrian-Danish Business
Council, described the project as a " great start for the recently
established Syrian-Danish Business Council which strives to encourage
business cooperation between Syria and Denmark."

CHAM Holding Group is committed to investing in development projects
in Syria in all of its areas of business including infrastructure
development, property investment and development, tourism and
hospitality, finance and banking, transportation, healthcare, education
and manufacturing.

VESTAS is the world leader in wind technology, with a history of
technological innovation and over 30 years of experience in developing,
manufacturing, installing and maintaining wind turbines.

VESTAS has 38,000 MW of installed capacity worldwide representing 20 %
of the global wind market.(SANA)

IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE RUNNING YEAR 16 APPLICATIONS FOR RECEIVING A RIGHT OF ASYLUM IN ARMENIA REGISTERED

ARMENPRESS
MAY 3, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS: In the first semester of the running
year 16 people have applied to the Migration State Agency of the
Armenian Ministry of Territorial Administration for receiving a
right of asylum in Armenia. Ruzanna Petrosyan, chief specialist
of the Asylum Issues Department of the Migration State Agency told
Armenpress that the 6 of the applicants are from Iraq, the others –
from Iran and African states.

Vahan Hovhannisyan: Armenian-Turkish process awakened Armenian mentality

May 1, 2010 – 14:02 AMT 09:02 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

The ARF Dashnaktsutyun never opposed normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations, an ARFD Bureau member said.

`It’s a long process consisting of three stages. First, it should be
establishment of diplomatic relations and opening of the border.
Second stage could imply discussion of urgent problems. Then, the
sides would be able to sign some agreements,’ Vahan Hovhannisyan said
during a meeting with Villeurbanne Mayor Jean-Paul Bret.

`Turkey managed to combine all these stages in one and it was
Armenia’s diplomatic failure. We are hopeful that our diplomats will
correct this mistake,’ he said.

At the same time, Mr. Hovhannisyan noted that the Armenian-Turkish
process awakened Armenian mentality. `Political forces speak not only
of the necessity of recognition of the Armenian Genocide but also of
compensation for its consequences,’ he said.

Mr. Bret said for his part that dragging out the process of
ratification of Protocols on normalization of relations, Turkey has
badly damaged its international image. `Turkey seems to screen its
secret policy by these Protocols,’ he said.

He also informed that a delegation led by him will be visiting Nagorno
Karabakh on May 2 and 3, while a meeting with Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian is scheduled for May 4.

EU WILL AIM TO SUPPORT PEACE EFFORTS SETTLING NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Bernama Malaysian News Agency
.php?id=494401
April 29 2010
Malaysia

BAKU, April 29 (Bernama) — The European Union (EU) will aim to
step up its support to ongoing peace efforts towards settling the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Commissioner for Enlargement and European
Neighbourhood Police Stefan Fule, Azerbaijan news agency AzerTaC
reported Thursday.

The Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place
from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small ethnic enclave of
Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the mostly
ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia
against the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Addressing the European Parliament on the results of his recent trips
to South Caucasus countries and Ukraine, Fule said: "Throughout my
trip to the South Caucasus, I felt the presence of regional tension
and the effects of armed conflict which have so dramatically impacted
on people’s lives.

"I appreciated in particular the possibilities to speak to internally
displaced persons in Georgia and in Azerbaijan".

He added that the conflicts have haunted the South Caucasus for a
long time, and some actions needed to be taken urgently to stop it,
so that South Caucasus can stable, secure and prosperous again.

Touching upon the Association Agreements with the South Caucasus
countries FUle said the negotiating directives for them will be
"presented for formal adoption at the Foreign Affairs Council on
May 10.

This will pave the way for the EU side to prepare for the launch
of negotiations.

"These agreements will allow for close political association between
each of the partners in the South Caucasus and the EU, building on
common values and shared principles".

He said closely linked to the Association Agreements, the EU`s offer to
establish deep and comprehensive free trade areas is also an immensely
important opportunity for those South Caucasus countries that have
fulfilled the preconditions.

Such agreements of economic integration will provide access to the
EU market of 500 million consumers and will help increasing trade
flows and investments, Fule added.

COUNTY’S OLDEST BOY SCOUT SPENT 4 DECADES IN ORGANIZATION
Anne Kallas

Ventura County Star
dest-boy-scout-spent-4-decades-in/
April 28 2010
CA

Ventura County’s oldest Scout, as far as anyone knows, is 100-year-old
Rex Mugar, whose life has mirrored the organization he has been
so closely tied to, and whose Camarillo Springs home is full of
memorabilia from a lifetime of Scouting.

Mugar was born Sept. 19, 1909, in Boston to Virginia and Charles Mugar.

"My father and mother took us children on a vacation to California
in February. It was pretty cold in Massachusetts. I was 8 years old
and we took a long train ride in a Pullman car west to Los Angeles,
where there was short-sleeve weather and orange blossoms. The vacation
bug blew away my dad and he was very much interested in moving to
California," Mugar said.

His parents had immigrated to the United States from Armenia. Mugar
was one of five children. He has two sisters still living.

The family moved west, and after about a year of searching, Mugar’s
father found a place in the San Joaquin Valley.

Growing up outside Modesto, Mugar took an interest in the Boy Scouts,
which was relatively new.

"There was a troop in town and I joined it. I enjoyed the relationship
with other young men and the leaders," Mugar said. He was an avid
Scout, earning his Eagle rank in 1925. After graduating from Modesto
High School, Mugar first went to Modesto Junior College and then to
UCLA, where he studied business administration, sociology and English.

He stayed in touch with friends from Boy Scouts, and at age 24 was
named Scout executive in charge of the Yosemite Area Council.

After eight years, be became a deputy regional Scout executive,
overseeing all of the Western United States.

Mugar served 40 years as a Boy Scouts executive and continued as a
volunteer after his retirement.

He married Margaret Mary Wells on Jan. 19, 1935, in Sacramento. The
couple remained happily married until her death Sept. 11, 2007. The
Mugars had four children; all enjoyed scouting.

Mugar said he was pleased he had been able to contribute to the growth
of the organization over the years.

"I believe in Boy Scout values. As everything else in life evolves,
so does the Boy Scouts movement, and it has kept pace with the present
day," he said. "I want to think it’s done that only in the best way.

It’s kept pace with the good things in life: family, friends, education
and service.

"Scouting is only part of the story. One part is to be reverent to
God and country. We don’t tell them to choose a religious preference,
but it just must be under God."

Mugar moved to Ventura County 34 years ago after visiting friends and
finding a place near Camarillo Springs that suited him, his wife and
son. Mugar credits Scouting with keeping him sharp mentally even as
age-related issues have made walking almost impossible.

"My Scouting experience is part of the reason I have my marbles. If I
had not had this experience I don’t think I could be as well mentally,"
he said.

He still misses his wife, who had Alzheimer’s.

"Without that girl I never could have achieved what I did. Not because
she pushed me, but that she sustained me as a professional," he said.

DISTANCE BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY TOO FAR TO BE TRAVELLED IN ONE GO

EurAsia Review
ce-between-armenia-and-turkey-too.html
April 28 2010

The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, last Thursday addressed
the nation in a sombre but calm tone, to announce that the process
of normalisation of relations with Turkey that he had initiated
soon after taking office in 2008 was being suspended. Sargsyan was
accepting a reality that has been obvious for a number of months,
namely that despite the political will in the leadership in both
Armenia and Turkey to normalise relations, the distance separating the
two countries was too long for the journey to be travelled in one go.

Neither Turkey nor Armenia are yet ready to take the last historic
step that would see the two countries establish diplomatic relations,
and the border opened. Admittedly, Sargsyan went further to stick
his neck out in this process than did Turkish Prime Minister Tayib
Erdogan, and so for the moment Armenia feels it has occupied the
"moral" high ground in this affair, at least with the international
community. Washington, Moscow, Brussels and other capitals rushed to
heap praise on Sargsyan for stopping short of declaring the process
dead. In his speech Sargsyan was even able to find words to praise
Turkish President Abdulla Gul, who many see as being the main Turkish
architect of the reconciliation process.

Today, Armenia, and Armenians in the diaspora, mark the 95th
anniversary of the 1915 events in Anatolia, described by Armenians
and many others as the "Armenian Genocide". It is an anniversary that
raises emotions on both sides. Its significance and implications have
become deeply embroiled not only in the politics of modern day Armenia
and Turkey, but also in the internal politics of the United States
and a number of European countries, where diaspora organisations,
lobbyists and interest groups are engaged in acrimonious exchanges.

Many people died in Anatolia in 1915 and the quicker their memory can
be remembered by everybody in a dignified way that unites rather than
divides the better for all Armenians and all Turks. One hopes that
by the time of the 100th anniversary in 2015 this would be possible.

Much will depend on when the Armenia-Turkey dialogue process can be
resumed. Both sides can build on the distance that they have already
travelled. Domestic political factors in the two countries create
serious obstacles for both sides. However the biggest obstacle that
emerged over the last year was the opposition of Azerbaijan to the
process moving separately from negotiations on the resolution of
the Karabakh conflict. Armenia rejects the linkage, whilst Turkey
now accepts that that is the case. Those who reject the connection
argue that Armenia-Turkish relations are complex enough without adding
Karabakh as a further complication on top of them. However there is
a case to argue that introducing such a connection may not in the
end be such a bad thing. It has introduced a sense of urgency in the
Karabakh negotiations that some say is long overdue.

The international community needs to remain fully engaged in supporting
both Armenia and Turkey and Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the
problems between them. The journey is long, but it does not need to
be endless.

LINKS is a British non governmental organisation working for the
peaceful resolution of conflicts and in support of democracy and
sustainable development in societies in transition, through dialogue
and innovative initiatives.

RA PRESIDENT RECEIVED CHAIRMAN OF NUCLEAR SAFETY COUNCIL

news.am
April 27 2010
Armenia

RA President Serzh Sargsyan received Chairman of the Presidential
Council on Nuclear Energy Safety Adolf Birkhoffer (Germany).

Sargsyan appreciated high his efforts into ensuring secure operation
of Armenian nuclear power plant, RA Presidential press service informed
NEWS.am. RA President stressed nuclear security is in the limelight of
the world community’s attention. The April 12 Global Nuclear Security
Summit proved that, Sargsyan said.

Birkhoffer hailed positive RA Government’s activities headed by
President Serzh Sargsyan within last years towards the security
upgrade of nuclear power plant functioning.

The officials discussed issues related to the further activities of
NPP exploitation and construction of a new power unit.

CHAVUSHOGLU WILL ‘LEAD THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NAGORNO KARABAKH PERSONALLY’

Tert.am
13:22 27.04.10

A Turkish national and President of the Parliamentary of Assembly of
the Council of Europe Mevlut Chavushoglu said at a press conference
in relation to the spring session of the organization that he would
personally lead the Subcommittee on the Nagorno Karabakh issue.

"As soon as the members of the Subcommittee are known, I will
personally lead it as PACE President," said Chavushoglu, adding he
would discuss the issue with both heads of delegations of the two
countries.