Author: Khondkarian Raffi

RA-TURKISH PROTOCOLS PRO-TURKISH RATHER THAN PRO-ARMENIAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.10.2009 13:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Current discussions are held over Protocols
rather than RA-Turkish relations’ establishment," Head of Modus
Vivendi center, Ara Papyan said. According to him, any statement on
unacceptability of closed borders is a digression from the essence of
the problem. He added that RA-Turkish Protocols are legal documents,
in which the unacceptability of even one point renders the whole
document unacceptable.

"Based on the fact that Protocols contradict RA Constitution and
restrict our efforts towards Armenian Genocide recognition, I am
opposed to their conclusion," Ara Papyan stated.

RICH GOLDMAN: ARMENIA IT REGIONAL LEADER

News.am
12:57 / 09/30/2009

Armenia has sufficient resources for being a key player in the IT
field, Rich Goldman, CEO of Synopsys Armenia, told reporters.

He pointed out that Armenia is the regional leader in the field
of high technologies, the presence of a number of world-famous IT
companies in Armenia being evidence thereof. Mr. Goldman expressed his
satisfaction with the fact that both the Armenian President and the
Government encourage and assist the development of the IT sector. He
stressed that SYNOPSYS appreciates these steps.

Mr. Goldman also addressed the presentation of annual awards by
the company. He pointed out that this year’s awards ceremony is to
be held in Armenia on November 16, 2009. The company is presently
trying to reach an arrangement with the winner of last year’s
contest (a well-known IT company) about its participation in the
ceremony. According to Mr. Goldman, the contest winners will receive
the awards from RA President Serzh Sargsyan.

As regards the impact the global crisis had on the company, Rich
Goldman said that SYNOPSYS overcame the crisis as a strong company
with larger profits than the previous year. He pointed out that the
global crisis had a considerable impact on the IT sector worldwide,
with a decrease of about 38% in profits recorded.

ARTHUR ABRAHAM: TAYLOR IS A GREAT CHAMPION, BUT HE WILL NOT BEAT ME IN FRONT OF MY HOME FANS

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.09.2009 22:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "This is the perfect place to get in shape. I have
been here countless times. The fresh air, the beach, the sea – it is
perfect. We have great facilities and everything we need to prepare. It
is good to get out of Berlin. There are too many distractions in the
weeks before a fight," he said.

With regard to upcoming competition against Jerman Taylor, he noted
"Taylor is a great champion. He is a legend. But he will not beat me
in front of my home fans in Berlin. I have analyzed him closely. He
was winning against Carl Froch on points but then he was caught. He is
very strong and I am sure it will be a spectacular fight," Fightnews
quotes Abraham as saying.

Edward Nalbandian meets with a number of countries’ Foreign Ministers in New York

NOYAN TAPAN
SEPTEMBER 28, 2009
YEREVAN

NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 28, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian, who is in New York on a working visit, on September 26, had
meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Russia, Austria, Switzerland,
Serbia, Kazakhstan, Australia, Canada, and Iran.

A number of bilateral, regional and international issues
were discusssed at the meeting with RF Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov. E. Nalbandian informed his Russian counterpart of the details
of steps undertaken in the direction of normalization of relations
between Armenia and Turkey.

At the meeting with Foreign Minister of Serbia Vuk Jeremic both sides
expressed satisfaction with the recent activization of cooperation in
various spheres, which became noteable for Serbian President’s official
visit to Yerevan at RA President’s invitation. V. Jeremic thanking
Armenia for its balanced approach in the issue of Kosovo presented the
process of discussion of the issue of Kosovo at the International Court
of Justice and Serbian side’s expectations. E. Nalbandian, in his turn,
informed him about the last developments in the normalization process
of Armenian-Turkish relations and the Nagorno Karabakh settlement
negotiations.

At the meeting with Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev
Edward Nalbandian expressed Armenia’s readiness to assist Kazakhstan’s
chairmanship in OSCE next year. The interlocutors in detail discussed
the development ways of Armenian-Kazakh cooperation, confrontation
of work at international organizations and OSCE activity.

Ways of expanding the cooperation, Armenia-European Union relations and
possibilities of the two countries’ cooperation within that framework
were discussed at E. Nalbandian’s meeting with Foreign Minister of
Austria Schpindel Eger. At S. Eger’s request the Armenian Foreign
Minister presented the normalization process of Armenian-Turkish
relations and its prospects, as well as the latest developments in
the Nagorno Karabakh settlement negotiations.

An interested discussion on practical steps and ways aimed at promoting
cooperation between Armenia and Australia took place at the meeting
with Foreign Minister of Australia Stefen Smith. The Ministers
exchanged thoughts over current problems in international relations
and a number of issues and discussed the possibility of deepening
cooperation within the framework of UN. S. Smith attached importance
to Australian Armenian community’s contribution in various spheres
of country’s life mentioning that it can be a kind of a bridge for
expanding cooperation between Armenia and Australia.

Issues regarding cooperation between Armenia and Canada at
international organizations were discussed at the meeting with
Foreign Minister of Canada Lorens Kannon. The normalization process
of Armenian-Turkish relations was also touched upon.

According to a report by the RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information
Department, the same day the Armenian Foreign Minister met with
Foreign Minister of Iran Manouchehr Mottaki. The issues on the agenda
of bilateral relations and the regional developments were touched
upon. At Iranian Foreign Minister’s request E. Nalbandian presented
the normalization process of Armenian-Turkish relations. The Iranian
Foreign Minister informed the Armenian Foreign Minister of the latest
developments of Iran’s nuclear program.

During the negotiations with the Foreign Minister of Switzerland
Micheline Calmy-Rey E. Nalbandian touched upon issues of expansion
of cooperation spheres between the two countries. He said that the
office of the Swiss diplomatic representation opened in Yerevan can
play a serious role in that issue. The Armenian Foreign Minister
thanked his Swiss counterpart for assisting the normalization process
of relations between Armenia and Turkey.

AZERBAIJAN INTENDS TO PUT FORWARD CANDIDACY FOR UN SECURITY COUNCIL NON-PERMANENT MEMBERSHIP IN 2012-2013

Today.Az
28 September 2009

Azerbaijan backs efforts to establish an independent and sovereign
Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, Azerbaijan’s Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said during a speech at the meeting of
foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Conference in New
York, the Foreign Ministry said.

"The situation in Palestine and the issue of Jerusalem remain a
topical issue for the Islamic community and members of the OIC must
show a unified position in this regard in the international community,"
Mammadyarov said.

"Azerbaijan backs efforts of the Palestinian people to establish an
independent and sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital".

"We must be ready to respond to such challenges as the fight against
extremism, as well as terrorism and religious fanaticism," Mammadyarov
said.

He said Azerbaijan intends to continue to cooperate with the
Organization of Islamic Conference, and has applied to host the OIC
summit in 2014 in Baku.

Azerbaijan also hopes that the OIC member states which are represented
in the UN Security Council would support Azerbaijan’s candidacy
for non-permanent membership in the Security Council in 2012-2013,
he added.

Non-permanent membership of Azerbaijan will be discussed at the
meeting of the 66th session of UN General Assembly in 2011.

Mammadyarov said that the decisions and resolutions of the OIC on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have been very useful for the formation of
approach by the international community, as well as the UN General
Assembly and Security Council on the issue of occupation of Azerbaijani
territory by Armenia.

Azerbaijan supports resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under
international law, UN resolutions and the OIC and OSCE documents,
and hopes for continuing support by the OIC, Mammadyarov said.

Yerevan Theater for Young Audiences to participate in international
festival in Tbilisi
26.09.2009 17:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Tbilisi will host the first International Theater
Festival from September 26 to October 19. The event will bring
together participants from Armenia, UK, Azerbaijan, Korea, Germany,
Lithuania, Croatia, France, Sweden and Poland.

The program includes 16 performances, including Hakob Ghazanchyan’s
`Exemplary prison’.

`The festival’s budget is $1 million,’ chairman of Armenian theater
workers Hakob Ghazanchyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter

Tert.am

Fight Against Corruption and Not a Word About Oligarchs: Human Rights
Defender
14:26 ¢ 26.09.09

Armenia’s biggest problem is a group of authorities who have seized
the stated and centralized political and economic interests in their
hands, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center consultant
Amalia Kostanyan stated today, referring to the organization’s Global
Corruption 2009 Report.

`We look forward to the new anti-corruption strategy, which was to
have been accepted two years ago,’ Kostanyan said, adding that the
previous strategy, `according to governing authorities, was completed
very effectively in 2007.’

The Transparency International consultant stated that one of the main
drawbacks of the new draft policy is the absence of `the fight against
oligarchs.’

The human rights defender considers the biggest drawback of the
strategy is that political corruption is inadequately addressed. `It
seems that members of parliament, who don’t attend parliamentary
sessions regularly, are to blame for political corruption in Armenia,’
she said.

According to Kostanyan, the topic of financing political parties and
election is addressed more adequately in the report. `However, what is
happening during our elections, the intertwining of political and
economic interests, the misuse of administrative, human, financial
resources and mass media, of course, are not addressed at all.’

ArmenTel to keep on opening departments for corporate clients in sales
and service offices

2009-09-25 10:11:00

ArmInfo. ArmenTel will keep on opening departments for corporate
clients in the sales and service offices, Sales Director of ArmenTel
CJSC (Beeline brand) Gennnady Kalgashkin told ArmInfo. ‘Beeline is
moving towards both mass and business segment and takes active steps to
improve the quality and assure serviceability, that is proved by
opening of the first such a department in the Northern Avenue in
Yerevan. This is just the beginning, and in the near future you will
know about opening of new jobs for service of corporate clients in
Yerevan and the regions’ big towns’, G. Kalgashkin said.

According to Kalgashkin, such a decision-making has been conditioned by
the growing flow of clients to the Beeline offices. ‘We have already
opened several express centers – service points in the center of
Yerevan to improve the service quality and reduce the queueing time.
Today, we may say that we have solved this problem by 50% and, as we
can see, the people appreciated that. We shall further keep on working
in this direction’, G. Kalgashkin added.

Currently, ArmenTel numbers 61 sales and service offices and 6 express
centers.

Adam Schiff: True reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey will occur
when Turkey acknowledges the Armenian Genocide

armradio.am
25.09.2009 13:28

Armenian Council of America (ACA) representatives met with Congressman
Adam Schiff and discussed recent developments on the Armenian Genocide
resolution, US-Armenia relations, Armenia-Turkey relations; and the
Obama administration’s policies toward Armenia and Artsakh.

The ACA delegation commended Congressman Schiff for his continued
stance and insistence on the reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide,
democracy in Armenia, the sovereignty of Artsakh, and his apprehension
towards the Armenia-Turkey protocols.

Specifically, the Congressman reiterated his position on the protocols,
stating, `While I welcome what may be an important step in the
rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey and hope that the upcoming
talks result in a swift opening of full diplomatic and commercial
relations between Ankara and Yerevan, as well as a reopening of the
border, I have serious concerns about some provisions of the protocols
accompanying the announcement.’

`In particular, I was deeply disappointed to see that the protocols
call for the creation of an historical commission to review the events
of 1915-23. This is a thoroughly discredited idea; there is no dispute
among scholars that the Armenian people were the subject of genocide
during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire and an histor
ical commission is another effort to obfuscate the truth,’

`Turkey cannot be allowed to re-write this tragic part of its history
as a price for normal relations with Armenia. To do so means
acquiescence in a charade that demeans the memory of so many victims.

`True reconciliation between the Armenian and Turkish peoples will
occur when Turkey acknowledges the genocide that was committed by the
Ottoman Empire against Armenians from 1915 – 1923. The Armenian
Genocide, the first genocide of the 20th Century, resulted in the
deaths of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children and the sorrow
that the Armenian people carry in their hearts cannot be healed by
diplomatic relations alone,’ he added.
The Congressman also expressed congratulations to the people of Armenia
on the eighteenth anniversary of Armenia’s independence and continued
his commitment to ensuring that the United States government does all
that it can to help Armenia build governmental institutions and civil
society with the goal of helping democracy flourish.

The ACA delegation updated the Congressman in their continued efforts
helping the Congressman in strengthening; US-Armenia relations,
democracy in Armenia, the development of Artsakh and advocacy for a
just and truthful representation of the Armenian Genocide. The
delegation presented the Congressman with a copy of `The Morgenthau
Story’ DVD which they have been distributing to members of the U.S.
House of Representatives and the Senate. The Congressman thanked the
ACA for their efforts and diligence.

EBU WINS EURO 2012 RIGHTS
by Kevin McCullagh

Sportbusiness.com
24/09/2009 – 08:09

The European Broadcasting Union has acquired media rights for the
Euro 2012 football championships in a deal with UEFA covering 36
European territories.

The territories exclude the ‘big five’ of the UK, France, Italy,
Spain and Germany, and some other European markets.

In 29 of the territories EBU free-to-air broadcasters will show at
least 27 of the tournament’s 31 matches live, along with magazine and
highlights programmes. The broadcasters have also acquired internet,
mobile and radio rights.

The territories covered in this part of the deal are: Albania,
Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, FYR Macedonia, Finland, Georgia, Greece,
Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova,
Montenegro, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia,
Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey.

In the seven other territories – Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Hungary,
Israel, Kazakhstan, Portugal and Slovakia – the EBU will help UEFA
find an appropriate broadcast partner.