Author: Mamian George

TURKEY ALTERS STAND ON ARMENIA?

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
27.07.2009 11:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s Chief EU Negotiator, Egemen Bagis said
the reconstruction of the Armenian Church on Akhtamar island will be
accomplished before Serzh Sargsyan’s arrival in Turkey.

"We will finish the reconstruction before the Armenian President’s
arrival and inaugurate a cross on the Church," Bagis said. "All
religions are respected. If Europe puts no bans on opening mosques,
so why should we do so? Besides, this church will attract Armenians
here, what will help develop tourism."

BIOGRAPHIES OF 200 FAMOUS ARMENIANS OF CENTURY IN ONE BOOK

NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY
JULY 27, 2009
MARSEILLES

MARSEILLES, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
Biographical Center cultural company (it is an NGO) founded in 2003,
in the city of Marseilles, France, published the book entitled
"Outstanding Armenians of the 21st Century, Contribution in Modern
Civilization." Robert Bakhtchadjian is the initiator of the Armenian
Biographical Center and the author of the mentioned book.

In his words, the goal for creation of the center and publication of
the book was to represent famous individuals, scientific and cultural
figures of the Armenian origin to the world. The book involving
about 200 biographies is bilateral (in Armenian and English) and was
published with a print run of 400 copies.

"I often felt necessity of such a volume before starting this
work. I often felt regret that both compatriots and foreigners
both in Homeland and Diaspora are not aware of famous Armenians’
activity," R. Bakhtchadjian mentioned in the interview to Noyan
Tapan correspondent.

He explained that the biographies were formed based on the answers
given to the forms presented by the Armenian Biographical Center. In
the case, when the form was not filled, data of open information
sources were used. The source which has been used is specially notified
at the end of each biographic article.

The book entitled "Outstanding Armenians of the 21st Century,
Contribution in Modern Civilization" is the first volume of the
series of books. The book will be spread in Armenia, Diaspora, given
to foreign libraries according to the demand and interest.

Robert Bakhtchadjian was born in 1957, in Gyumri. He gratuated from
the Chemistry Faculty of Yerevan State University in 1979, then
he was engaged in scietific activity at the RA NAS Institute for
Chemical Physics. He continued the scientific activity in 1996, at
the National Center for Scientific Researches of France and University
Aix-Marseilles III. The Ph.

Doctor’s degree got by R. Bakhtchadjian in 1986 in the Soviet Armenia
considered in France equivalent to the Doctor’s degree (1997). Results
of his scientific workings out were used by foreign authoritative
companies of chemical industry.

Different spheres of Armenian reality are in the circle of R.

Bakhtchadjian’s interest. R. Bakhtchadjian touched them upon in
different periodicals of Diaspora.

IRANIAN-ARMENIANS PROTEST OUTSIDE AIRLINE OFFICE

Tabnak news website
July 23 2009
Iran

Conservative Tabnak news website reported on 23 July that a number of
Iranian-Armenians have staged a protest outside the Caspian Airline’s
office against the "information dissemination procedures and neglecting
the families of the victims of the Tupolev air crash [on 15 July].

The report said that non-Armenian citizens also joined the protest
asking the Ministry of Roads and Transport to announce the findings
of investigations and identify the party at fault.

Tabnak quoted the editor of the Armenian Alik publication in Tehran,
Dernik Malikian, as telling the BBC: "The families who had lost their
dear ones in the air crash had decided to stage a protest outside
the Caspian Airline office and to voice their criticism."

According to Malikian, "The protesters wanted to know the reason of
the crash" adding that "the Caspian Airline or the Ministry of Roads
and Transport had not even expressed their regret or voiced condolence
with the families of the victims."

AS OF JULY 24, AMNESTY USED TO 691 PERSONS

Noyan Tapan
July 24, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. As of July 24, RA National Assembly
decision N-152-4 On Granting an Amnesty was used by RA courts in total
to 691 persons on 407 criminal cases. Noyan Tapan was informed about
it by RA Cassation Court Spokesperson Alina Yengoyan.

ISSUES OF UN-ARMENIA COOPERATION DISCUSSED AT MFA

armradio.am
23.07.2009 14:40

On July 23 the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian,
received UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia Consuelo Vidal. Issues
related to the activity of the UN Office in Armenia were discussed.

Edward Nalbandian hailed the activity of the UN in Armenia and the
programs it implements. The Minister attached importance to the
development and adoption of the program for 2010-2015, guaranteeing
the Ministry’s support for implementation of its objectives.

Mrs. Vidal expressed gratitude to Minister Nalbandian for the support
of the Armenian government agencies to the activity of the UN Office,
which has been greatly appreciated by the UN Headquarters.

The interlocutors discussed the provisions of the "2010-2015 United
Nations Framework for Development Assistance." Consuelo Vidal
emphasized the importance of the coordinating role of the MFA in
the development of the program, the participation of all interested
agencies and non-governmental organizations.

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN: "IT IS NECESSARY TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIAN-ITALIAN TRADE-ECONOMIC COOPERATION"

National Assembly of RA
July 23 2009
Armenia

On July 22 RA President of the National Assembly Mr. Hovik
Abrahamyan received the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of Italy to Armenia Mr. Bruno Scapini.

Greeting the guest the Head of the Armenian Parliament congratulated
him on the occasion of the beginning of his diplomatic mission in
Yerevan and expressed hope that the tenure of Ambassador Scapini
would promote the activation of bilateral cooperation. Mr. Abrahamyan
highlighted the development of cooperation of Armenia with Italy,
one of the leading members of the European Union, and expressed hope
that Italy would contribute to the realization of Armenia’s aspiration
for Euro integration.

The interlocutors agreed that it was necessary to pay special attention
to the development of Armenian-Italian trade-economic cooperation
promoting the contacts of the businessmen of two countries.

Noting already recorded success of economic mutually beneficial
cooperation they agreed that it was necessary to increase the efforts
in order to use the existing big potential.

The interlocutors also discussed the perspectives of activating
contacts between the two countries’ parliaments and the programmes
of cooperation in the sphere of culture. During the meeting they also
touched upon the peaceful settlement of Artsakh core issue, regulation
of Armenian-Turkish relations and issues of the establishment of
peace and stability in the South Caucasus region.

Concluding the talk Mr. H. Abrahamyan wished success to Ambassador
Scapini in his endeavors and productive activity for the benefit of
the Armenian and Italian friendly peoples.

SARKISIAN SAYS ADVANCES DISCERNED IN CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

AzerNews Weekly
July 21 2009
Azerbaijan

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian said Tuesday advances are observed
in the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh, though with difficulty.

The statement was made in his meeting in Yerevan with Swedish Foreign
Minister Carl Bildt, who led the European Union delegation on a visit
to the South Caucasus states.

Sarkisian recalled discussing basic principles of the conflict
resolution with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev last week. He said
the remaining issues will be considered at further meetings, and,
based on that, an agreement will be drafted on a peaceful settlement
of the long-standing dispute.

Besides ways of reaching a fair solution to the Garabagh problem,
the Armenian leader and the Swedish minister focused on a number of
regional issues.

A delegation of the EU troika, headed by Bildt, the bloc`s chairman,
has paid visits to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. During the
meetings in Baku, discussions centered on a wide range of issues,
including economic cooperation, the Eastern Partnership program,
energy, security issues, and human rights.

269 HIGH SORT COWS IMPORTED TO THE REPUBLIC FROM AUSTRIA

ARMENPRESS
July 21, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS: 269 cows of "Holshtinyan", "Simental" and
"Shwits" high sorts have been imported to the Republic from Austria
within the frames of the project "Development of Milk-breeding and
Cow-husbandry" financed by the state budget. In the upcoming days
120 of them will be rented to the "Shahumyan Agro-Service", and 149 –
to the "Arzni" LLC.

Armenian Agriculture Ministry told Armenpress that the above mentioned
animals, which give over 30-35 kg milk averagely (3 times more than
"Armenian Grey" cow), have a genetic potential and are adapted to
the Armenian climate.

A special account has been opened in the central treasury of the
Armenian Finance Ministry to collect the rents for the cows. In case
of implementing the obligations intended by the contract and paying
the rent the cows become the possession of the farmer in 4 years. The
project, which will continue till 2015, is aimed at radically improving
the milk cow-husnandry in Armenia.

Within the frames of the mentioned project, which has been operating
since October of 2007, 1065 cows have been imported to the Republic,
which have given birth to about 400 healthy calves.

IN ACNIS DIRECTOR’S OPINION, PRESENT DEVELOPMENTS OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS LIKE THEATRE

Noyan Tapan
July 22, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The present developments of the
Armenian-Turkish relations are like a theatre. Director of the Armenian
Center for National and International Studies Richard Giragosian
expressed this opinion at the Hayatsk club on July 21. In his words,
the main reason for the created situation is that Turkey has not
oriented yet what it wants and what to do while Armenia is ready for
regulation of relations. "Turkey is surprised: it underestimated
the reaction of Azerbaijan and overestimated its personal power,"
the analyst said.

It was also mentioned that there is a great possibility of settlement
of the Armenian-Turkish relations. In R. Giragosian’s words,
if the Armenian-Turkish border is even not opened the important
thing is that it has already been opened in people’s thoughts as
Turk intellectuals paid visits to Armenia and there were active
discussions on the Armenian Genocide, moreover, there were more
active ones in Turkey. In the speaker’s words, it is necessary
"for further reconciliation but will also decide the future if our
neighbour becomes a normal country, recognizing the historic issue
of the genocide or loses that possibility."

RICHARD GIRAGOSIAN: THE PERFORMANCE WILL BE OVER IN NOVEMBER
Anna Nazaryan

"Radiolur"
21.07.2009 14:50

"The performance will be over in November after the football match
between the national teams of Armenia and Turkey and the meeting of the
Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev,
Richard Giragosian, Director of the Armenian Center for National and
International Studies (ACNIS), told a press conference today.

Richard Giragosian considers that the meetings between the Armenian and
Azerbaijani Presidents have revealed something very important: there
is pressure from Russia, EU and the United States, but a pressure to
establish Armenian-Turkish relations. Although these are two different
processes, they are interconnected.

What developments are expected after the football match in October
preceded by another meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan?

According to Richard Giragosian, Turkey does not know what it wants,
but there will be certain pressures. Therefore, "there is a great
possibility that the relations will be normalized, but it will bring
no relief." "Even if the borders are not opened, it doesn’t matter.

The borders of mind are already open," Richard Giragosian said.

(ACNIS) Director considers that Karabakh’s participation in the
talks is the only way for resolution of the Karabakh issue. As for
the Madrid Principles, some provisions ar e good for Armenia, others
are not. "However, we should not neglect the danger," he said.

One should expect real threats from Moscow in case of Russia-US
rapprochement, the analyst considers, adding that the treachery of
friend sis the most dangerous.

Richard Giragosian assessed Ilham Aliyev’s threat to resume war as
an alarm to the whole world, since the statement was made in London,
not Baku.