Author: Nahapetian Samvel

ARMENIA IS AT A DISADVANTAGE, EXPERT SAYS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
15.07.2009 16:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia is at a disadvantage, according to Ruben
Hakobyan, director of the center of political studies.

"The fact is Azerbaijan and Russia are developing relations
rapidly. Signature of a gas agreement is an important factor here,"
he said.

Hakobyan also underscored that Turkey’s freely expresses wish to join
Karabakh talks due to the dialogue with Armenia.

"Presently, Armenia is fighting against Azerbaijan and Turkey alone,
what can have a negative effect on the Karabakh conflict resolution,"
he said.

DURING THE FIRST SEMESTER OF THIS YEAR THE EDUCATION AND SCIENCE MINISTRY GETS 1,543 APPLICATION-COMPLAINTS INSTEAD OF 2,475 OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR

ARMENPRESS
JULY 15, 2009
YEREVAN

During the first semester of the running year the Armenian Education
and Science Ministry has got 1,543 application-complaints.

Head of the general department of the Secretariat of the Ministry
Gyulnara Hovhannisian told Armenpress that during the same period last
year the Ministry has got 2,475 application-complaints. According
to G. Hovhannisian it is conditioned by the circumstance that
the beginning of the last year was the pre-election period of the
Presidential elections and the residents handed their letters to Serzh
Sargsian who visited different provinces of the republic. The letters
were addressed to different Ministries among which the letters to
the Education and Science Ministry was a great amount.

The majority of the application-complaints addressed to the Ministry
are connected with the university affairs, particularly with the
entering the University, tuition fee of the student, restoration of
his/her rights, entrance examinations or retaking the exams.

People have applied to the Ministry also for entering a school,
changing the school and complaints against the headmasters of schools.

G. Hovhannisian noted that very often people also apply for being
employed as the Ministry supports the teachers to be employed in the
bordering schools; in this issue the Ministry cooperates with the
Governor’s offices.

SESSION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF "MILLENNIUM CHALLENGES FUND -ARMENIA" HELD TODAY

ARMENPRESS
July 14, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 14, ARMENPRESS: Session of the board of directors of
the "Millennium Challenges Fund-Armenia" state non-trade organization
was held today chaired by the Chairman of the Board, Armenian Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

The board of the directors discussed the issue of the further steps
of the "Millennium Challenges – Armenia" on the suspension of the
sub-project of restoring rural roads.

Public relations department of the Armenian government told Armenpress
that the board of the directors approved the suspension of the
contracts. Armenian Prime Minister noted that the unaccomplished
works intended by the contract will be brought to a logical end after
receiving relevant financial means by the Armenian government.

The council discussed and approved the plans and steps to be
implemented on re-settling the self-flow systems of Aygezard,
Shenik and Mantash within the frames of the rural sub-project of the
"Millennium Challenges – Armenia".

The board discussed the information of the expenses on
asphalt-concreting and cement-concreting works, as well as other
professional reports and current issues.

A number of important issues were raised by the representatives of
the Council of Beneficiaries on the implementation the "Millennium
Challenges" project, around which a discussion was extended and
relevant assignments were given.

ARMENIA – PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN HELD A FAREWELL MEETING WITH THE AMBASSADOR OF THE RF TO ARMENIA

President.am
July 13 2009
Armenia

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan held a farewell meeting with the
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation
to Armenia Nikolay Pavlov.

The President of Armenia expressed gratitude to Nikolay Pavlov for
efficient work during his tenure. Serzh Sargsyan said that Russia is
a brotherly country for Armenia, strategic ally and major economic
partner.

Hailing the current level of the Armenian-Russian relations, President
Sargsyan said that the existing potential provides opportunities for
more and work should be done to fully utilize that potential.

Serzh Sargsyan underlined also the high level of political dialogue
and its regularity, noting that it allows to provide swift and proper
solution to the issues which foster further development of cooperation.

Ambassador Pavlov said that he was leaving Armenia with warm feelings
and expressed gratitude for the assistance provided during his term
in office.

President Sargsyan wished the Russian diplomat all the best in his
future tenure and expressed hope that his friendly ties with Armenia
would be maintained.

SERGE SMESSOW: FRANCE HAS MANY FRIENDS IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
July 14, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The main interest of France in the South
Caucasian region is to see a stable and peaceful region. Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France to
the Republic of Armenia Serge Smessow mentioned it at the July 13
meeting with journalists. It is not in vain that France is one of
the three co-chairing countries of the OSCE Minsk Group on the issue
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, and President of France
Nicolas Sarkozy directly participated in steps aimed at overcoming
the crisis during the days of the 2008 Russian-Georgian crisis. The
Ambassador emphasized that France is one of the initiators of the
European Neighbourhood Policy program within the framework of the
European Union.

S. Smessow estimates the statement of Presidents of the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairing countries Medvedev, Obama and Sarkozy on the
issue of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement as encouraging
at the highest level to continue the negotiation process to find a
reasonable solution for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The President
of his country came out against Turkey’s membership to the European
Union, he said, emphasizing that France is not the only country that
has doubts about Turkey’s membership.

The Ambassador estimates the Armenian-French relations as excellent,
splendid: those develop both in political and in economic spheres. The
cooperation also develops at the level of the two countries’ regions,
marzes, cities, communities. The existence of the French University in
Armenia is a peculiar expression of that cooperation. The long-standing
relations between the two peoples coming still from the Middle Ages
furthered the cooperation. He reminded that France is one of the
countries that gave shelter to Armenians rescued from the Genocide,
there is an Armenian community of about half-million in France.

The Ambassador also stated that some receptions will be organized
at the Embassy on the occasion of the national holiday of France,
the storming of the Bastille which is celebrated on July 14: France
has many friends in Armenia and it is impossible to limit themselves
to one reception.

THE IRAQI COMMUNITY IN ARMENIA SENDS LETTER OF APPRECIATION TO IRAQI GOVERNMENT AND FOREIGN MINISTRY

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
y.aspx?newsid=7005
July 10 2009
Iraq

The Iraqi community in Armenia expressed their appreciation to His
Excellency the Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and Foreign Minister
Hoshyar Zebari, for their concern and care for their citizens in
various countries around the world. The socio-cultural organization of
the Iraqi Armenians in the Republic of Armenia expressed in a letter
sent to the Foreign Ministry the community’s thanks and appreciation
for the initiative of the Foreign Ministry in sending a special envoy
from the Iraqi Embassy in Moscow to the Armenian capital, to see the
conditions of Iraqis there.

The letter expressed the keenness of the national Government and the
Foreign Ministry on giving care to its citizens anywhere, at any time.

The community requested Mr. Hoshyar Zebari Foreign Minister to re-open
the embassy in the Armenian capital Yerevan to facilitate the community
affairs expressing their cooperation with any Iraqi official efforts,
for the well-being of the new Iraq.

USA TO GIVE ARMENIA AID OF MILLION

Noyan Tapan
July 13, 2009

WASHINGTON, JULY 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Senate
Appropriations Committee adopted the foreign aid bill of (FY) 2010. The
latter envisages million aid for Armenia which is million less than
the sum of the last fiscal year. According to the Azg daily, which
cites the information of the Armenian Assembly of America, the bill
also envisages million for Azerbaijan.

"The USA assistance contributes to the overcoming the blockade by
Turkey and the AAA will continue its work in the Senate and House of
Representatives to gain guarantees for allocating greater assistance
to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh," Bryan Ardouny said.

SERZH SARGSYAN VISITS EMBASSY OF FRANCE ON OCCASION OF NATIONAL HOLIDAY OF FRANCE

Noyan Tapan
July 14, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Serzh Sargsyan visited
the Embassy of France on July 14 on the occasion of the National
Holiday of France and congratulated Embassy’s staff wishing France
further development and its people prosperity.

According to the report of the RA President’s Press Office, S. Sargsyan
thanked France for extending a helping hand to the Armenian people
at a fatal moment, for warmly receiving a considerable part of the
Armenian people, creating a possibility for development and mentioned
that being citizens of France enjoying full rights they are also
loyal to their Armenian identity.

S. Sargsyan also attached importance to the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide by the force of the law by France in 2001.

HRANUSH HAKOBIAN CALLS GREEK ARMENIAN COMMUNITY FOR TAKING ACTIVE PART IN ALL-ARMENIAN EVENTS

NOYAN TAPAN
JULY 13, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 8, RA
Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobian received members of the ARFD
Greek Central Committee, Orofasma company representative Kevork
Kolanian, JH Biotech company marketing manager Vahan K. Bezdikian,
writer and translator Sargis Aghabatian.

Representatives of the Greek Armenian community informed the Minister
that Armenians migrating from Armenia joined the community in the
past years. It was mentioned that three Armenian schools work in the
Athens region, while there are none in the northern regions of Greece,
and children from thousands of Armenian families are deprived of the
possibility of learning the Armenian language. The way of solving the
problem is opening of one-day Armenian schools. Four one-day schools
already work in the northern regions of Greece, where teaching is
also done in Eastern Armenian. It is planned to open one more school
by September 1.

The list of textbooks Armenian schools of Greece need was introduced
to Minister H. Hakobian. They attached importance to RA government’s
solving the issue of transporting textbooks from Armenia to the
Diaspora in as efficient ways as possible.

According to the RA Ministry of Diaspora Press and Public Relations
Department, the Minister proposed introducing the list of the cities
and schools of Greece, where it is expedient to open one-day Armenian
schools or Armenian Language and History of Armenian People will
be taught at those schools. Besides, it was proposed making active
the preparatory work in Greece for All-Armenian Forums of Lawyers,
Bankers, and Financiers to be held in 2009 in Yerevan and to ensure
maximum participation of Greek Armenian specialists of the mentioned
spheres in those events.

Minister H. Hakobian also called for starting cooperation between the
Greek Armenian community and the Hayern Aysor electronic newspaper of
the RA Ministry of Diaspora, which will give a possibility to present
community’s organizations and prominent figures in the newspaper. She
expressed willingness for the community to take part in the Ministry’s
program Come Home in 2010. The Minister called the Greek Armenian
community for being represented to the maximum extent at the One
Nation, One Culture regular festival to be held in 2010 and said that
the Ministry undertakes steps for that event, unlike the past years,
to be held during the whole year.

Representatives of the Greek Armenian community assured that they will
do their best to support implementation of the programs H. Hakobian
mentioned.

Touching upon community’s cultural initiatives, the guests said that T.

Altunian state ensemble of song and dance will perform concerts in
November in Greece and A. Spendiarian’s Anush opera is planned to
be staged at Athens Opera Theater in 2010 May with participation of
Armenian musicians.

Minister H. Hakobian added that legislative solutions of giving
certain powers to the authoritative Diasporan organizations should be
found. These powers regard granting proper guarantee certificate to
Diasporan Armenians who want to be granted citizenship of Armenia,
but have no document certifying their being Armenian, to those who
wish to adopt a child in Armenia, and other issues. In H. Hakobian’s
opinion, giving such powers to Diasporan organizations will contribute
to strengthening of Diasporan Armenian-Diasporan organization-Armenia
contacts.

US DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE: ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROCESS SHOULD NOT BE TIED IN WITH NEGOTIATIONS ON KARABAKH

ArmInfo
2009-07-13 13:57:00

The USA keep on thinking that the process on normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations should not be tied in with the negotiations
on Karabakh, deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said at a joint
press-conference with Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan
in Yerevan.

On behalf of the USA, J. Steinberg welcomed the steps of the Armenian
authorities towards establishment of diplomatic and economic relations
with Turkey and emphasized that normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations will be useful for the whole region.

In his part, E. Nalbandyan marked the role of the USA in the
Armenian-Turkish dialogue. He emphasized the readiness of Armenia for
settlement of relations and opening of borders without preconditions
and added that "we expect practical steps by Turkey".