Author: Kanayan Tamar

ACCORDING TO ROBERT SIMMONS, NATO DOES NOT WELCOME RHETORICAL STATEMENTS ON WAR RESUMPTION

Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Although NATO is concerned about
Iran’s nuclear program and the possible use of sanctions by the UN
Security Council in this connection, this cannot become an obstacle
to the development of economic relations between many countries and
Iran. The Special Representative of the NATO Secretary-General in the
South Caucasus, Ambassador Robert Simmons stated this at the June 20
press conference. "We understand Armenia’s state and the necessity to
seek new sources for the import of power bearing substances," he noted.

According to R. Simmons, NATO has good relations with all the
three South Caucasian states. At the same time he noted that the
security-related situation is different in these countries, and in its
relations NATO takes into account the interests of the given country,
including Armenia. R. Simmons reminded that Georgia intends to join
NATO, and the relations with Georgia are a bit different.

Speaking about the Karabakh problem, R. Simmons stated that NATO
does not want to be directly involved in the conflict settlement. "We
follow these developments but we have no intention to take an active
part in the negotiation process," he noted.

In his words, NATO welcomes the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs and hopes that negotiations will give a result. "We do
not welcome any rhetorical statements on war resumption: NATO is in
favor of resumption of the negotiations and their successful end,"
the ambassador said.

VARDAN OSKANIAN: "THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH AMERICA WITH RESPECT TO ARMENIAN-IRANIAN RELATIONS"

Noyan Tapan
Jun 19 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 19, NOYAN TAPAN. There is no problem with America with
respect to Armenian-Iranian relations. This statement was made on
June 19 by Vardan Oskanian, the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs. At
the request of journalists the RA Foreign Minister commented on the
statement of Anthony Godfrey, the US Charge d’Affaires to the republic
of Armenia, saying that "the USA is troubled with Armenian-Iranian
relations." The RA Minister of Foreign Affairs mentioned: "We have
dialogues with the USA concerning all kinds of questions: within
economic, political, and security frameworks, we discuss all kinds
of issues."

72% OF SURVEYED NAGORNO-KARABAKH CITIZENS HAPPY ABOUT THEIR PRESIDENT’S WORK

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 18 2007

YEREVAN, June 18. /ARKA/. Aharon Adibekyan, Sociometer Independent
sociological centre director, said Monday referring to the
public opinion poll conducted by the center that 72% of surveyed
Nagorno-Karabakh citizens were happy about their president, Arkady
Ghukasyan’s work.

"About 60% expressed appreciation of the president’s work, 12% gave
"completely good" mark. About 15% think otherwise – they gave a
bad mark to the presidential work and 10% "completely bad" while 5%
of respondents found it difficult to say anything.

The sociologist attached great significance to the support provided
by such a respected Karabakh leader to one of presidential candidates.

He said 700 people have been surveyed in Nagorno Karabakh ahead of
presidential elections.

Presidential elections are scheduled for July 19. Nagorno-Karabakh
Central Election Commission decided Thursday to register five
presidential candidates – Bako Saakyan, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
National Security chief; Masis Mailyan, deputy foreign minister; MP
Armen Abgaryan; Vanya Avanesyan, professor at Artsakh State University,
and Hrant Melkumyan, Karabakh Communist Party leader.

Date for launching election campaigns is already set. The Candidates
can start campaigning on June 20.

The presidential elections are scheduled for July 19, 2007.

Stabroek News, Guyana
June 17 2007

Chess with Errol Tiwari
Deep Junior defeats Deep Fritz

Sunday, June 17th 2007

The official handshake before the start of Game Six. Aronian drew and
qualified for Mexico.

Levon Aronian, Peter Leko, Boris Gelfand and Alexander Grischuk
emerged winners in their second round Candidates’ Matches and will
advance to Mexico City to play in the 2007 FIDE World Championship
tournament in September.

The four grandmasters will join current world champion Vladimir
Kramnik, al`ong with Viswanathan Anand, Alexander Morozevich and
Peter Svidler for a grand round robin tournament to contend for the
maximum title in chess: World Chess Champion.

The Mexico tournament will be a rigorous one, as it boasts the
strongest line-up of active players on the international circuit. The
battles will be fierce, moreso since seventy-five per cent of the
participants are about equally matched. Although Kramnik is the
current world champion, Anand is ranked the number one player in the
world because his rating points are higher. The more successes one
has in tournaments and matches, the higher one’s rating points are.

The grandmaster to watch coming out of the Candidates is Levon
Aronian. The Armenian grandmaster has demonstrated tremendous resolve
in scaling the walls of resistance to qualify for Mexico. Peter Leko
is the other favourite from the Candidates’ finals. How the two will
fare against Kramnik and Anand especially, is left to be seen. But
certainly excitement is assured in Mexico.

The preponderance of draws in the Candidates’ is misleading. Even
when draws were inevitable, grandmasters still searched painstakingly
for the win. This attitude of the players accounted for many
interesting games in the matches.

Computer World Champion Deep Junior meanwhile, defeated Deep Fritz by
four points to two in their six-game match. Junior won Games Three
and Four and the rest were drawn.

Chess experts have concluded that Junior proved to be more
knowledgeable in opening theory. While the opening book of Fritz was
more extensive, Junior played sharp, solid moves and began playing on
its own earlier. This is how the machine was able to win game three
by producing a novelty on move 27 which grandmasters had never seen,
and at which Fritz fumbled.

Junior and Fritz were calculating 20 to 30 million positions per
second in each game during their match.

On the local scene, it is evident that the standard of play has taken
a leap forward since January. Ronuel Greenidge has captured two
tournaments since he began playing, and like Loris Nathoo, Shiv
Nandalall and Learie Webster, is a strong contender for the title of
National Champion when the Championship is played at the end of the
year. Shazeeda Rahim has also improved her game and is playing more
strongly than before. She scored four points among some seasoned male
players in the tournament last Sunday.

Gelfand v Kamsky

This game was the fifth in the six-game match between Boris Gelfand
and Gata Kamsky. The score before the game was played was 2/ ½
points to 1/ ½ in favour of Gelfand. To stay in contention, Kamsky
had to win, or at least draw, to move on to play Game Six. It was
also Kamsky’s final game with the White pieces, so he had to do
something special here.

Kamsky chose the Moscow Variation of the Sicilian Defence but
faltered in his attempt to complicate things for his opponent.
Gelfand polishes him off nicely.

Kamsky,G (2705) – Gelfand,B (2733) Candidates’ Finals, Elista, Russia

Game Five.

June 11, 2007

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 g6 7.0-0 Bg7
8.d4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 0-0 10.f3 Rc8 11.b3 d5! Taking advantage of White’s
temporary weakness on the long diagonal. If Black delays, after Nde2
White has a space advantage known as the Maroczy Bind and Black
cannot break free easily 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 e6 14.Bh6 exd5 15.Bxg7
Kxg7 16.c5 Na6 17.Nc2 Nxc5 18.Qd4+ f6 19.Ne3 Ne6

20.Qh4 Rc5 21.Rad1 d4 Black has a clear extra pawn 22.Ng4 Rf8 23.Rfe1
Rh5 24.Qg3 Rd5 25.Rd2 Qd6 26.Qh4 h5 27.Nf2 g5! 28.Qe4 Re5 29.Qb1
Rxe1+ 30.Qxe1 Rd8 31.g3 Nc5 32.Qe2 a5 33.Qb5 b6 34.a3 Qe6! 35.Rb2 d3
36.b4 axb4 37.axb4 Nb3 38.Qa4 Nd4 39.Kg2 Nc2 40.Rxc2 dxc2 41.Qxc2 g4!
42.fxg4 hxg4 43.Kg1 Rd4 44.Qc7+ Kg6 45.Qc2+ f5 46.Qc3 Rc4 47.Qd2 Kh7
48.h3 gxh3 49.Nxh3 Qc6 50.Qe3 Rc1+ 51.Kf2 Qc2+ 52.Kf3 Rf1+ 53.Nf2+
Rxf2+ White Resigns! 0-1.

day_features?id=56522695

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Avec lui, on approche de la plénitude. Le prunier d’Arménie a beaucoup
voyagé et apprécié nombre de terroirs avant que son nom en arabe, al-barqûq,
renvoie à l’abricot de nos contrées. Ses rondeurs veloutées invitent à la
découverte de délices fondants. Sans plus attendre, suivons ses courbes, peu
avares de transformations. L’abricot glacera un jambon comme il s’enrobera
de lard pour l’apéritif ou garnira une terrine de poisson. Il craquera pour
des croquantes crevettes. Il aimera compoter ou faire fondre sa bonhomie
dans une marmelade. Au chapitre dessert, il en connaît un rayon : de la
tartelette ultra-rapide à réaliser au moelleux aux amandes, en passant par
un mini-clafoutis, un croquant, une tarte, un gteau safrané au sésame, un
far, un flan ou un bavarois. Il aura les oreillons à l’envers dans une tatin
au lait ribot. De la lavande il se régalera dans un délicat millefeuille et
un cake dit rustique, et se poêlera avec du romarin. De plus, il ne crachera
pas dans la soupe. Un rayon de soleil.

AMERICAN CONDUCTOR ALEXANDER TREGER TO HAVE TWO CONCERTS IN ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
14.06.2007 16:44

Famous American conductor Alexander Treger will give two concerts
I Yerevan.

The conductor told a press conference in Yerevan today that he will
conduct the "Serenade" Chamber Orhestra on June 15 and the State
Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia. The concerts will take place at
"Aram Khachatryan" big concert hall. Famous French pianist Vahan
Martirosyan will also perform during the concert on June 15.

"Four times I have been to Armenia and have given concerts with the
philharmonic orchestra. Every concert in Armenia is a great event for
me, since the State Philharmonic Orchestra is notable for exceptional
melodiousness and warmth. I get a great pleasure from working with
them," Treger said.

Alexander Treger is now the artistic director and chief conductor
of the "American Youth Symphony." He is a laureate of a number of
international awards and worked with the best orchestras of the world.

CLERGY TO MEET IN SWITZERLAND FOR REGULAR SESSION

Panorama.am
16:24 11/06/2007

Holy See St. Echmiadzin press services say "Faith and Order" interim
commission, World Church Council, will hold its regular session on
June 12-08 in Switzerland.

Archbishop Natan Hovannisyan will take part under the blessings of
Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin B.

The clergy will discuss clerical issues and will reflect on current
and future activities of the commission.

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
June 8 2007

Biography of Tigran Torosyan, President of the National Assembly of
the Republic of Armenia

He was born on April 14, 1956 in Yerevan. In 1973-1978 he studied at
the Faculty of Radio-Electronics of Yerevan Polytechnic (Engineering
University) Institute, at the same time in 1976-1978 – at the faculty
of Social Specialties. After graduating from the Institute he
received his degree as an engineer in electronic technical
engineering and technical translator (French language).

>From 1978 he started to work in Yerevan Scientific Research Institute
of Mathematical Machines first as an engineer, then leading engineer.
In 1988-1995 he worked as head of subdivision and leading scientific
associate.

In 1990 he defended his thesis and received his degree of Technical
Sciences PhD. He holds patents on 10 inventions and has written more
than 30 scientific works.

In 1995 he was engaged in the studies of Political Sciences. He has
written a monograph (Post-Soviet Transformation of the Social
System), more than two dozens of scientific and more than two hundred
analytical articles, which were published in Armenian and foreign
periodicals and collections. In 2006 he defended his thesis and
received doctoral degree of Political Sciences.

In 1996-1998 he was a member of the RA Central Electoral Commission,
in 1997-1998 editor-in-chief of the official newspaper of
Hanrapetakan/Republican party Hanrapetakan.

On May 30, 1999 he was elected as a deputy of the National Assembly
of the Republic of Armenia from Miasnutiun/Unity Alliance electoral
roll, which formed the Republican Party and Zhoghovrdakan/People’s
party. In 1999-2003 he was Vice President of the RA National
Assembly. In 2001-2003 he was the Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee on
Constitutional Amendments of the National Assembly.

On May 25, 2003 he was reelected from the proportional list of the
Republican Party of Armenia/RPA. And on June 12, 2003 he was elected
Vice President of the National Assembly. From 2003-2006 he is
Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on Matters of Integration in
European Structures of the National Assembly, head of the Armenian
delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

On June 1, 2006 he was elected President of the National Assembly of
the Republic of Armenia.

>From 2004 -2007 he is Vice Chairperson of PACE European Democrat
Group, from 2006-2007 – Vice Chairperson of the Committee on the
Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the
Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee).

He is a member of RPA faction of the National Assembly.

On May 12, 2007 he was elected as a deputy of the National Assembly
from the proportional list of the Republican Party of Armenia/RPA.

On June 7, 2007 he was elected President of the National Assembly of
the Republic of Armenia.

>From 1993 he is a member of RPA and the party board. In 1998-2005 he
is a Deputy Chairman of RPA board, from 2005 – RPA Deputy Chairman.

In 2006 he was honored with the medal For Services Rendered To
Fatherland of the Republic of Armenia, in 2007 -with the order Surb
Mesrop Mashtots of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

He is married and has à daughter.

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: I HOPE PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION WILL OVERCOME ALL COMPLEXES AND WILL COME TO NA IN SEPTEMBER

Noyan Tapan
Jun 07 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN. "Non-participation of Orinats Yerkir and
Zharangutiun opposition parties in the first session of newly elected
NA "is maybe in some respect a response to the pressures that different
opposition political forces not having passed to the parliament exerted
upon these two parties." NA Speaker, RPA Vice-Speaker Tigran Torosian
expressed such opinion on June 7, in his interview to journalists. In
his words, by not taking part in elections of ruling staff of NA during
the first session, the above mentioned two parliamentary forces will
be able to say to the extra-parliamentary forces that they "took a
step." He expressed the hope that Zharangutiun and OYP will overcome
all complexes and will come to the parliament in September.

NA Speaker also said that in the parliament of previous convocation
"the parties that chose illogical policy and did not take part
in parliament’s work are not represented at the parliament of next
convocation." "This means public attitude to such policy," NA Speaker
said meaning National Unity Party and Ardarutiun bloc representing
opposition at the parliament of previous convocation.

RPA VICE-CHAIRMAN TIGRAN TOROSIAN ELECTED AS SPEAKER OF NA OF FOURTH CONVOCATION

Noyan Tapan
Jun 07 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN. RPA Vice-Chairman, NA Speaker of previous
convocation, Tigran Torosian was elected as Speaker of NA of fourth
convocation by secret voting on June 7. According to the calculating
commission, 114 out of 130 MPs took part in voting. 112 MPs voted in
favor, 2 opposed.

Election of NA Vice-Speakers will be held from 13:45 to 14:45 in
the lobby next to NA sitting hall. According to NA Regulations,
NA Vice-Speakers are elected by majority of votes of deputies who
took part in voting. One candidate has been offered for each of
the above mentioned post: ARFD Bureau member, Vice-Speaker of NA of
former convocation Vahan Hovhannisian and member of Political Board of
Bargavach Hayastan Party, already former Chairman of State Committee of
Physical Culture and Sport under RA government Ishkhan Zakarian. The
latter was deputy of NA of first convocation (1995-99). RPA member
Mkrtich Minasian having offered two above mentioned candidatures
stated that the nominations are a result of political agreement.