Author: Kanayan Tamar

JAPANESE FIGURE SKATING TEAM TO TRAIN IN ARMENIA FOR 2014 WINTER OLYMPICS

15:16 AMT, February 28

YEREVAN. – The National Olympic Committee of Armenia (ARMNOC) hosted,
in capital city Yerevan, Japan Figure Skating Federation President
Hidehito Ito and Federation Manager Tatsuro Matsumura.

First, the Japanese guests visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial
and laid a wreath in memory of the Genocide victims. Next, they
toured the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex, inspected
its skating rink and, as a result, they were greatly impressed,
ARMNOC media department informs.

Before long, Japan will send a huge skating delegation to Armenia.

Aside from skaters, Armenia also will host scientific-medical sports
teams and news reporters from Japan.

In their view, the climatic conditions of Armenia are very suitable
to prepare for the 2014 Winter Olympics to be held in Sochi, Russia

ARMENIA’S FOREIGN TRADE GROWS 21.7% TO $422.5 MILLION IN JANUARY 2013

YEREVAN, February 28. /ARKA/. Armenia’s foreign trade turnover amounted
to more than $422.5 million in January 2013 after growing 21.7%,
compared with the same month a year before.

According to the report available on the website of the National
Statistical Service of Armenia,

The country’s exports totaled $112.4 million in January 2013 – 54.6%
year-on-year growth, and imports $310.2 million – 13% year-on-year
growth.

As a result, adverse balance of the foreign trade stood at $197.8
million.

According to preliminary statistical reports, adverse balance of
Armenia’s foreign trade turnover in FOB prices (a shipping term which
indicates that the supplier pays the shipping costs, and usually also
the insurance costs, from the point of manufacture to a specified
destination, at which point the buyer takes responsibility) amounted
to $150 million.

Basic metals and articles made of them dominated Armenia’s exports in
January 2013. Their total cost was $29.6 million – 24.6% year-on-year
growth.

Mining industry, with its $28.8 million and 21.9% year-on-year growth,
dominated the country’s exports as well.

Exports on “ground, air and water transportation facilities”
totaled $15.6 million in January 2013 (67.2% year-on-year growth),
final products of the food industry $15.4 million (75.2% growth),
precious and semiprecious stones, precious metals and articles made
of them about $11.1 million (10.9% growth).

Mining industry’s products dominated also imports. Their total cost was
$94.8 million in Jan 2013 (23% year-on-year growth), machinery about
$34.5 million (19.8% growth), final products of the food industry
$30.8 million (2.4 times), and articles of “ground, air and water
transportation facilities” group $20.9 million (25.3% decline).

($1 – AMD 409.02). -0- 18:23 28.02.2013

THE TRUTH MUST BE TOLD: OPEN LETTER TO CHRISTIAN ARMENIAN LEADERS

Dear Shepherds:

Armenians are proudly known throughout the world as the first country
to embrace Christianity. Since then, Armenians have made a handful of
good decisions but none that have pierced the soul of humanity. We now
stand at a fork in the road where we are given the opportunity to act
as salt and light; to set the tone for future generations of our great
people that we are ~Vonce again~V a nation that seeks righteousness.

Please stand with us ~V as we stand with you ~V to shine light into
the darkness of the corruption plaguing our homeland. The only time
Jesus got violent was when he was cleansing the temple from the money
changers ~V we need your spiritual leadership to rid our government
of a similar evil.

Encourage your faithful congregation to join our rally and
demonstration, and show that we can call evil evil, and good good. As
found in scripture (Luke 19:40) ~SAnd Jesus answered and said unto
them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones
would immediately cry out.~T We need your support, because Christianity
is not something we are born in, but something that we do. As the
disciple James (James 2:20) says ~Sfaith without works is dead.~T
Let us choose salt and light, not darkness.

~SIf My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and
pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will
hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.~T –
2 Chronicles 7: 14

Please lead us in the coming weeks while we march and protest the theft
of an honest vote in Armenia~Rs most recent Presidential election. Let
me know if you have any concerns so that we can work together for
righteousness sake.

In Him,

Ara Manoogian

Ara K. Manoogian | February 28, 2013

FRENCH FM CONDEMNS BEATING OF TWO AZERBAIJANIS IN PARIS

Trend, Azerbaijan
Feb 28 2013

The French Foreign Ministry condemned the act of violence that took
place on Tuesday in the National Assembly of the country, resulting
in the beating of two Azerbaijanis.

“France believes that resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
is only possible through the dialogue. France, as a Co-Chair of the
Minsk Group reaffirms its commitment to the promotion of dialogue
between Azerbaijan and Armenia”, the statement of the French Foreign
Ministry released by the French Embassy in Azerbaijan on Thursday said.

The two Azerbaijanis – the head of the House of Azerbaijan Mirvari
Fataliyeva and Vusal Huseynov were beaten by representatives of the
Armenian community at the French National Assembly during an event
titled ’25 years after Sumgait: the present situation and future
prospects for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh’, organized by the
Armenian community in France.

The Azerbaijani Embassy sent a note of protest to the French Foreign
Ministry and a letter to the president of the country’s National
Assembly in connection with the incident.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry recently issued a statement condemning
violence against Azerbaijani citizens in France .The letter expressed
hope that relevant the authorities will take action on the issue and
that the country’s law enforcement agencies will promptly investigate
the crime and bring the culprits to justice.

The parliamentary group of friendship of the National Assembly of
France with Azerbaijan condemned the incident involving the beating
of two Azerbaijanis in Paris.

MERKEL – ERDOGAN MET WITH THE LEADERS OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES IN TURKEY

Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT)
Feb 27 2013

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his official guest German
Chancellor Angela Merkel have met the leaders of religious communities
in Turkey.

The Mufti of Ankara M.Hakkı Ozer, the Fener Greek Patriarch
Bartholomew, Armenian acting Patriarch Aram AteÅ~_yan ,Chief Rabbi
Yitzak Haleva , the Metropolit of the Assyrian Mor Gabriel monastery
Samuel AktaÅ~_, the acting Patriarch of the Assyrian Catholic Church
of Turkey and a member of the Executive Board of the Protestant
Churches Association of Turkey Umut Å~^ahin attended the meeting at
the official residence of the Prime Minister.

The meeting lasted about one hour and twenty minutes.

FRENCH MFA CONDEMNS AZERBAIJANI PROVOCATION AT A CONFERENCE DEVOTED TO EVENTS IN SUMGAIT

20:42 28/02/2013 ” SOCIETY

Yesterday, in one of the halls of the National Assembly of France a
conference titled “25 years after the Sumgait events: present situation
and future prospects for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh” was held.

“We regret this incident and condiment that act that took place
on 26 February at the National Assembly. France believes that the
only possible way to long-term settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict is through dialogue and once again confirms its obligation
as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group to this end in front of Armenia
and Azerbaijan,” according to “AFP”, said the spokesman for the French
Foreign Minister Philippe Lalliot.

Yesterday, in one of the halls of the National Assembly of France
a conference titled “25 years after the Sumgait events: present
situation and future prospects for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh”
was held. The conference was marred by the Azerbaijani provocation.

At the end, the attendees stood to honor the memory of the victims
killed during Sumgait pogroms and kept a minute’s silence. Two
Azerbaijani provocateurs, a girl and a young man, refused to stand
up and to honor the Armenian victims in Azerbaijan and started to
shout anti-Armenian slogans. On the photos, published in “Nouvelles
d’Armenie”, it is obvious how the Azerbaijani tries to provoke a fight
and attacks the audience. Azeri press disseminated false information
about beating and causing serious injuries, right up to fracturing, to
provocateurs. In the photos, published in the same Azerbaijani media,
it is clearly visible that there is no serious damage caused to both.

Moreover, participants of the provocation give contradicting evidence
about the incident: at first they say the girl was beaten together
with the guy, then they say she managed to leave the room.

French Parliament Member Valerie Boyer made a statement on the incident
that took place on the eve of February 27, the incident that took place
in one of the halls of the National Assembly of the country. The MP
addressed to French President Francois Hollande and call on taking
up relevant diplomatic actions to eradicate any propaganda campaign
on denying on ethnic grounds.

Here is the full statement made by Valerie Boyer:

“Carrying out propaganda of denial and multiplying acts of
anti-Armenian provocations, in particular, supporting criminals accused
of implementing violence against the Armenians (Safarov’s case) Aliev
regime encourages the incidents similar to that recorded during Feb
25 event commemorating the 25th anniversary of Sumgait pogroms of
28-29 February 1988. This was an event during which we paid tribute
to memory of victims, and it became a scene of one more Azerbaijani
provocation, proving once again that Baku’s intentions have nothing
to do with Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.”

A year ago I visited the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) in order to
get acquainted with that ancient Armenian land, which for many years
has been the victim of a forgotten ethnic confrontation. The current
Socialist government is completely indifferent to this conflict.

Moreover, in 2012, President Hollande received Aliyev with a broad
smile on his face.

Our country must raise this issue in order to protect the Convention
for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. On the
eve of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide that took place
in the Ottoman Empire in 1915 we should put an end to persecution
against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh because of their origin.

I address to French President Francois Hollande with a call to take
relevant diplomatic steps to end any denial of propaganda on French
land. I address to Claude Bartolone with a call to include on National
Assembly’s agenda my bill the purpose of which is to introduce into
the domestic law of the Framework Decision of 28 November 2008 on
combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by
means of criminal law and which criminalizes the denial of the Armenian
Genocide. Oil can not buy neither the memory nor the human rights.”

Source: Panorama.am

SARGSYAN SHOULD TAKE PATH OF OFFICE REJECTION FROM YSU TO BAGHRAMIAN 26

Thursday,
February 28

“He who puts pressure on the student, the citizen should abandon his
position in university,” the Heritage Party leader Raffi Hovannisian
said during the rally in Liberty Square today.

R. Hovannisian noted that the third Armenian President – as a former
president – should abandon his position in Yerevan State University.

“He is not the incumbent president anymore. If he is a suitable
candidate, we will examine together the issue of his serving as
Chairman of YSU Board of Trustees. He should take the path of
rejection of his office from University to Baghramian 26,” Raffi
Hovannisian declared.

“The victory is ours, and they must recognize it,” he said, meaning
external forces.

R. Hovannisian urged people to be active in Liberty Square and not
in front of their computers.

TODAY, 19:53

Aysor.am

OC ARMENIAN COMMUNITY DECLARES ‘UNITY IS OUR STRENGTH’

Wednesday, February 27th, 2013

A scene from the community gathering

The ARF “Armen Karo” Gomideh invited all of the executive boards of
all of the Armenian community organizations and institutions in Orange
County, the majority of which attended and only a few were unable
to be present due to scheduling conflicts. Over 50 representatives
participated in this historic gathering.

Reverend Nareg Pehlivanian opened the meeting with a traditional
Armenian prayer after which ARF “Armen Karo” Chairman, Garo R.

Madenlian, welcomed the participants to their second home and explained
that there are no “odars” here, only fellow Armenians and friends,
all from the same community and working for the same cause, each
within its own mission statement but all leading to the same end.

He went on to explain the importance of coordinating efforts and openly
communicating with one another to strengthen the community, work for
“Hai Tahd,” and encourage the youth to get involved, especially in
light of the aggressive propaganda campaign being implemented by the
Azeris in the U.S. and in OC.

Each attendee introduced themselves and the organization they
represent. The meeting then discussed a framework to better communicate
via emails and coordinate events and activities to better support
each other, including the creation of a master calendar for the
community. All agreed to commemorate the Armenian Genocide together
as one community, the task of organizing the event will be entrusted
to the ANCA Orange County chapter again this year, with everyone’s
participation. There were numerous suggestions, including one to start
a committee to plan events in Orange County to commemorate the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in 2015.

Presentation were made during the event

Nora Injeyan, a member of ANCA OC and AYF “Ashod Yergat” chapter,
introduced a power point presentation identifying the various
Azerbaijani and Turkish organizations actively working in the U.S. and
in Orange County. She highlighted the recent Azerbaijani efforts to
commemorate Khojaly as a massacre of Azeri civilians by Armenians, the
increased lobbying efforts by both Azeri and Turkish organizations
and their respective networks, and the Gulen movement’s charter
school agenda to shape American public opinion. She also informed
the attendees about the Azeri Student Association at UCI and their
upcoming lecture on campus about Khojaly. There were many questions
and answers after the presentation, during which the ARF Chairman
informed the organizations that they are monitoring the situation
and are formulating a plan of action. He went on to emphasize the
importance of presenting a unified front on such national issues,
to which all were in agreement.

ANCA OC and AYF “Ashod Yergat” member, Shant Meguerditchian
introduced the ANCA professional internship program and asked for
everyone’s participation and support to locate and secure Armenian
professionals that would host interns. He went on to explain how
each business or professional hosting an intern will also designate
an Armenian organization for the intern to volunteer with, thus
creating a connection to the community in addition to gaining
valuable professional experience. Dick Hamparsumian explained that
the Orange County Armenian Professional Society had also been working
on establishing such a program. The two will discuss joining forces
in the near future to work together on this important endeavor.

The final agenda item was about the difficulties in encouraging
Armenian youth to remain actively involved in the community and work on
national issues. The discussion revolved around identifying solutions
to keeping the youth connected and engaged. Some of the suggestions
included that in addition to the AYF, Homenetmen should be a vehicle
to keep people connected to the community via athletics and scouts,
especially if they are beyond the AYF age range. The ARF Chairman
explained that the new Homenetmen Sartarabad executive is full of
younger and energetic members, such as new chairwoman Naro Sabunjian,
who are actively working on this issue and expressed his confidence in
them. AYF “Ashod Yergat” chairwoman, Hrache Novruzyan, explained that
AYF had previously tried to hold a youth summit but was unsuccessful
due to scheduling difficulties. She went on to state that in the near
future the AYF will be inviting all the Armenian youth organizations in
Orange County to a similar meeting to discuss these issues, organize
the youth, and collectively implement a plan of action. She asked for
everyone to support the AYF Youth Summit by encouraging participation.

Many attendees commended the ARF for taking such an important first
step to further unify the Orange County Armenian community, to organize
and coordinate efforts, to provide information and a forum to share
ideas, and to encourage everyone to work together. All wanted this
positive atmosphere to continue to develop and requested similar
meetings in the future.

Prior to adjourning the meeting, the representatives unanimously
adopted “Unity is Our Strength” as the motto for 2013 and each vowed
to be guided by this principle during the year. After the meeting
many continued to discuss activities, events, and various partnership
opportunities over coffee and pastries.

Participating organizations: AGBU, ANCA OC, AGM Armenian School
Board and Principle, Armenian Center Management Board, ARF Armen
Karo Gomideh, AYF Ashod Yergat, AYF Advisor, AYF Juniors Advisor,
ARS Karni, ARS Sevan, Hamazkayin Siamanto, Homenetmen Sartarabad,
Fortry Martyrs Church Board, OC Armenian Professional Society.

– See more at:

ARMENIA’S AGRICULTURE MINISTRY NOT DISCUSSING RENT OF SYUNIK PASTURES TO IRAN

YEREVAN, February 28. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Ministry of Agriculture is not
discussing the issues related to the rent of pastures in Armenia’s
Syunik region to Iran, agriculture minister Sergo Karapetyan said
Thursday at the government briefing.

Earlier Iranian mass media reported that an agreement is expected
to be signed during the visit of head of Syunik region of Armenia
to Eastern Azerbaijan province of Iran. Under the alleged document,
Syunik region was to lease pastures for some 5,000 cow head from the
province of Eastern Azerbaijan in exchange for agricultural equipment
produced in the province.

“This issue should be discussed on the government level. Today, there
is no matter like that. If we receive a proposal, we will review it,”
the minister said.

He also noted, in compliance with Armenia’s legislature, a foreign
country can rent territories in Armenia.

Iranian ambassador to Armenia, Mohammad Reisi, denied earlier in
February Armenia and Iran agreed on the pasture renting.

According to Armenian ministry of agriculture, there are 1.118 million
hectares of pasture, but only their 30 percent are used effectively.

-0- – See more at:

ARMENIA’S AMBASSADOR WELCOMES CANADIAN AUTHORITIES’ SUPPORT FOR MINSK GROUP FORMAT

15:47, 28 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. The Ambassador of the Republic of
Armenia to Canada Armen Yeganyan had a meeting with the leader of
the Government in the House of Commons of Canada Peter Van Loan. The
Department of Press, Information, and Public Relations of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia informed “Armenpress”
that during the meeting the interlocutors discussed a number of issues
regarding the bilateral parliamentary relations.

Ambassador Yeganyan discussed the Khojaly events, presenting true
facts. Among other things he laid a heavy emphasis on the fact that
Azerbaijan is using the tragedy to carry out false propaganda.

Armenian Ambassador welcomed Canadian authorities’ support for the
settlement of the Artsakh conflict within the framework of the OSCE
Minsk Group. At the end of the meeting the Ambassador of the Republic
of Armenia to Canada Armen Yeganyan said that Armenia and the people
of Armenia are grateful to the Canadian Parliament and Government
for recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

– See more at: