Author: Maghakian Mike

GEORGIA’S ST. GEVORG ARMENIAN CHURCH WILL BE RESTORED: GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR

Tert.am
14:59 ~U 11.03.10

"A week ago, I met with the Catholicos of All Armenians and discussed
the issue of St. Gevorg [Armenian] church in detail," said Georgian
Ambassador to Armenia Grigol Tabatadze at a press conference today.

In his words, the two countries’ culture ministries are engaged in
talks on restoring the church.

"This church will definitely be restored. The Armenian side’s
insistence that nothing is being done in this regard is untrue,"
said the ambassador.

Tabatadze confirmed that Armenian churches in Georgia are not
overlooked, and as an example, he noted this year’s January 6 mass
in the Echmiadzin Cathedral in Tbilisi, Georgia.

"That was, for us, a very gratifying and pleasant example," he said

ASSOCIATION OF CREDIT COMPANIES OF ARMENIA SUGGESTS CREATING EQUAL CONDITIONS ON THE COUNTRY’S CREDIT MARKET

ArmInfo
11.03.2010

ArmInfo. The Association of Credit Companies of Armenia, chaired
by CEO of Aregak Universal Credit Company Maryam Yesayan, suggests
reforming the legislation on credit organizations, particularly,
creating equal conditions for credit companies and commercial banks
in paying VAT and fees for opening branches.

Unlike credit companies, commercial banks in Armenia are exempt from
paying fees for their branches and VAT for their services.

The Association also suggests changes to the law on financial
ombudsman, paricularly, allowing it to have its member in the Council
of Financial Ombudsman and reconsidering the amount of annual payments
to the Office of Financial Ombudsman. "The agreement of the Central
Bank to consider our problems inspire certain optimism," says Yesayan.

During a meeting today the Association elected new chairman, CEO of
Nor Horizon Universal Credit Company Khoren Kerobyan.

KARSI-AKHALKALAKI RAILWAY ISSUES

The Messenger
March 11 2010
Georgia

The Karsi-Akhalkalaki railway connecting Turkey to Azerbaijan via
Georgia which is under construction was initiated and financed
by Turkey and Azerbaijan. The appropriate agreement was signed on
February 7, 2007, but some controversies between the two countries
have delayed its implementation. Now however it seems Turkey is
facing some complications and the railway construction might proceed
more intensively.

Armenia was against this project from the very beginning and the
so-called football diplomacy sessions, at which the Presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan visited each other’s countries to watch
football matches, have made reopening the borders between Armenia and
Turkey possible. The construction of Karsi-Akhalkalaki almost stopped
completely in 2009 in consequence, however current developments show
that Azerbaijan still needs this railway and Turkey has also realised
the necessity of it, even only as a bargaining tool with Armenia.

The Ministry of Economy of Georgia states that 30-35% of the work on
the Georgian segment is finished but an extra two years are needed to
complete all of it. Georgia is therefore on standby while the major
players clarify their positions.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF FRENCH SENATE MEET

ArmInfo
2010-03-11 10:28:00

ArmInfo. The visit of Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan to France
is going on.

As the presidential press service reports, S. Sargsyan met Chairman
of the French Senate Gerard Larcher on March 10. The president
especially emphasized the role of the Armenian and French Parliaments
in development of bilateral relations. He highly appreciated the
activity of the Armenian and French parliamentary friendship group,
as well as the current level of cooperation in interparliamentary
structures. In his turn, G. Larcher expressed readiness to henceforth
assist in tightening of bilateral relations. At request of the French
Senate chairman, S. Sargsyan presented the approaches of Armenia
to the negotiation process on the Karabakh conflict settlement,
as well as to solution of regional problems and normalization
of the Armenian-Turkish relations. The president of Armenia also
met Chairman of the National Assembly of France Bernard Accoyer in
Paris. Upon completion of the official visit to France, S. Sargsyan
met representatives of the Armenian community. To note, the delegation,
headed by Armenia’s president, will be back to Yerevan tonight.

CURRENT GOVERNMENT IS IN NO CONDITION TO FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION: DEMIRCHYAN

Tert.am
14:53 ~U 10.03.10

"These authorities are in no condition to fight against corruption,"
said People’s Party of Armenia leader Stepan Demirchyan during a press
conference today and turning his attention to the recent incidents
of high-ranking officials being fired.

All of this bear a "declarative" nature, he said. "One must begin from
the highest ring. It’s just imitation, nothing more," said Demirchyan.

The People’s Party leader also added that corruption in the country
is growing every day.

RESOLUTION 252 MUST SUBMITTED TO U.S. CONGRESS FULL VOTE BEFORE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.03.2010 15:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs
hearings on the Armenian Genocide resolution 252 congressmen stressed
the importance to recognize the Armenian Genocide right now, Koryun
Nahapetyan, Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) member told a news
conference in Yerevan jointly held with MP from RPA parliamentary
group Artak Zakaryan.

According to Koryun Nahapetyan, U.S. congressmen reaffirmed their
commitment to universal values. The decision of the U.S. House
Committee on Foreign Affairs is first and very important step in the
legislative process, since other steps are not possible without it,
he said.

"On the day following the Committee’s vote, we met with the chairman
of U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs Howard L. Berman to discuss
the next steps," he said. According to Nahapetyan, Berman couldn’t
yet make any predictions.

Koryun Nahapetyan expressed hope that the resolution will be included
in the House of Representatives plenary agenda before the U.S.

Congress elections. "111th Congress will be acting before November
2010. By that time the Armenian Genocide resolution must be included
in the agenda of the plenary session of the House of Representatives,"
RPA member said.

According to him, the Armenian Genocide recognition will not damage
the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation. "The processes are still ongoing
and the outcomes of events may lead to different situations, " Artak
Zakaryan said.

On March 4, US House Foreign Affairs Committee’s passed a resolution
recognizing and commemorating the Armenian Genocide. The resolution
was passed by a vote of 23-22.

Resolution 252 must be submitted to a full vote in the U.S. Congress
before the November elections.

The resolution affirming the U.S. record on the Armenian
Genocide (H.Res.252) was formally introduced in the U.S. House of
Representatives by Reps. Adam Schiff (D.-CA), George Radanovich
(R.-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D.-NJ), and Mark Kirk (R.-Ill) in 2009.

It currently has 137 co-sponsors.

NIKOL PASHINYAN TO SPEND 3 YEARS IN PRISON

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.03.2010 13:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Courts of Appeal upheld the verdict of
the first instance court to Haykakan Zhamanak editor-in-chief Nikol
Pashinyan but applied amnesty and halved his jail sentence.

Thus, Pashinyan will spend 3 years in prison, instead of 7. His lawyer
Lusine Sahakyan labeled the court ruling as "shameful and illegal."

Earlier, the first instance court of Kentron and Nork Marash community
of Yerevan found Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper editor-in-chief Nikol
Pashinyan guilty of organization of disorders under article 225.1 of
the RA Criminal Code and sentenced him to 7 years in prison. At that,
judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan acquitted Pashinyan on charges on violence
against a public agent (article 316.1)

Nikol Pashinyan has been the editor-in-chief of Haykakan Zhamanak
newspaper since 1999. After March 1-2, 2008 disorders, he was wanted
by the police. On July 1, 2009 he yielded himself to authorities
and was detained. On January 10, he ran for parliament from the 10th
constituency but did not succeed.

Bleacher Report
March 7 2010

WEC 47: Bart Palaszewski Submits Karen Darabedyan, Armbars The Armenian

Last night at WEC 47, Bart Palaszewski stood across the cage from a
hungry young fighter in Karen Darabedyan and overcame a first round
onslaught to get the submission victory.

Stifled and out-struck for a majority of the first round, Palaszewski
seemed to play the sheep to Darabedyan’s wolf in the cage.

Just as Darabedyan had told Bleacher Report in an exclusive interview
, the Armenian student of Gokor Chivichyan came out and capitalized on
the stand up war, introducing Palaszewski to a barrage of fists and
overwhelming assaults.

Once the fight went to the ground, more of the same abuse came the
direction of `Bartimus’ Palaszewski.

It wasn’t until the last minute of the first round where Palaszewski
found the opportunity to take Darabedyan’s arm and hyperextend it to
the point where he was forced to tap with just 20 seconds left until
the end of the stanza.

With the win, Palaszewski stops what could have been a meteoric rise
for the young Armenian fighter.

As a veteran of the sport, and just 26-years-old, Palaszewski has
solidified himself as durable advisory to anyone willing to test his
grit and determination to compete at a high level.

Darabedyan even recognized the toughness of his opponent prior to the fight.

`He’s experienced and guys like this are pretty hard to break,’ said
Darabedyan of the veteran, Palaszewski.

The opportunity to climb the ranks is now in his hands and a shot at
WEC spotlights are on the horizon.

This would be Palaszewski’s second consecutive win in the WEC, one
more decisive finish could put him in the mix for more than just the
opening fight of the main card.

For Darabedyan, it is only the second loss in his young career, so the
defeat would not be something to stop him from continuing his growth.
His domination of Palaszewski on the feet show just how aggressive of
a striker the 23-year-old can be and with time and patience, he can
make some big things happen in the WEC’s 155-pound division.

Both of these fighters have a number of years to go before their
careers are over. Barring career ending injuries, don’t be surprised
if later down the line a Palaszewski-Darabedyan rematch will be a
hyped main event for the WEC or another organization.

358402-wec-47-bart-palaszewski-submits-karen-darab edyan-armbars-the-armenian

Hillary Clinton `Like a Blond Condeleezza Rice’: Hugo Chavez

13:03 – 06.03.10

Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez mocked Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton on Friday as a "blond" version of her predecessor, reports
Reuters.

Visiting Latin America this week, Clinton said the Obama
administration’s policies toward the region were helping blunt the
criticism of the United States by leftist leaders like Chavez.

"To me, she’s like Condoleezza Rice … a blond Condoleezza," said the
Venezuelan, referring to former U.S. president George W. Bush’s
secretary of state, with whom he exchanged frequent harsh words at
long-distance.

Citing comments by Clinton in Brazil, Chavez said she was proving to
be equally aggressive. "She comes to Brazil to provoke us, to try and
divide us from our brothers."

Tert.am

DAVUTOGLU: US INTERFERENCE COMPLICATED THE NORMALIZATION PROCESS

14:29:25 – 05/03/2010
ahos17061.html

Turkey’s foreign minister on Friday demanded a clear stance from the
United States on the Turkish-Armenian normalization process after a
congressional panel approved an Armenian genocide resolution.

`We don’t want to go through this crisis every spring,’ Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu said in a press conference Friday.
‘That is why we introduced the normalization of the relationship with
Armenia. We thought that this would begin to settle things, and we
really did not expect this kind of backlash.’

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs passed
a resolution calling for the U.S. administration’s official
recognition of the killings of Armenians in 1915 during the Ottoman
Empire as genocide.

`It made Turkey uncomfortable that the U.S. administration did not
show its strength in this regard,’ DavutoÄ?lu said. ‘We’re expecting
them to increase their efforts hereafter.’

`We will not be pressured by these decisions,’ he added

`It is not for other parliaments to judge our history. Turkey is
capable of dealing with these issues alone. It is a matter of national
honor,’ he said.

DavutoÄ?lu said Turkey’s aim was to improve relations with Armenia, and
normalize the relationships between Turks and Armenians. He asked for
support to create a stable Caucasus region and a long-term vision for
peace.

`I know Obama has a vision of peace,’ he said. ‘We also expect Obama
not to perpetuate or exaggerate this crisis in April.’

Obama is expected to make a speech to the American Armenian community
on April 24. On that date last year, Obama effectively avoided the
confrontation by replacing the term genocide with the Armenian word
for great tragedy.

`The question to America is simple: `Do you or do you not support the
peace process between Turkey and Armenia?” DavutoÄ?lu asked. `Because
if you don’t then come out and say so we can align our policy
accordingly.’ Hurryiet daily news reports.