Author: Nahapetian Samvel

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".

Trend, Azerbaijan
July 10 2009

Turkey’s position is important in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement: state top official

Azerbaijan, Baku, July 10 /Trend News, A.Huseynbala/

The head of the Azerbaijani presidential administration’s department
believes the position of Turkey as a giant country of the region is
important in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.

"We support Turkey’s initiatives on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement. Turkey’s position is important as a giant country of the
region," the Head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration
International Relations Department Novruz Mammadov said in his
interview with the ruling New Azerbaijan Party’s (NAP) Web site on
July 10.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding
districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in
1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the
U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Mmmadov said other countries also perceive importance of Turkey in the
region. "Recently, The United States needs Turkey’s support more to
succeed in the Eurasian processes. Therefore, Turkey’s initiatives
concerning the regional conflicts, including the Nagorno-Karabakh
problem solution must be appreciated," the head of the department
said.

WORLD BANK TO FINANCE SECOND CREDIT PROGRAMME TO $25 MLN ON REFORMATION OF EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

ArmInfo
2009-07-10 16:14:00

ArmInfo. Parliament of Armenia has started discussing the agreement
between the Armenian government and the World Development Association.

According to Education and Science Minister Armen Ashotyan, who
introduced the document for ratification on behalf of the president,
the agreement was signed on June 5, 2009, and aims at implementation
of the second programme on reformation of the country’s educational
system. The total cost of the programme make sup 17 mln SDR ($25
mln). The credit has been provided on standard terms – for 40 years at
0,75% per annum and delay of payments – the first 10 years. Primarily,
the funds will be directed to improvement of the situation in the
general secondary schools and bringing it in conformity with the
Bologna process provisions. The second programme will be a continuation
of the first one to be completed in autumn, 2009. Bringing of the
educational system in conformity with European standards has been laid
in the basis of the programme. The second programme, in accordance with
the first one, is somewhat extended in the frames and covers not only
the secondary school but also the pre-school education. Implementation
of the programme will allow to increase the number of the children,
that will contribute to solution of the problems of the socially
unprotected=2 0 population strata. Reforms of the legislation are
also envisaged within the frames of the programme to be completed
in 2017. The second component of the programme – assistance to the
higher and professional education, that proceeds from the Bologna
process requirements. Besides extension of the potential of HEEs and
special educational establishments, the programme aims at rendering
of technical assistance to them and extension of the opportunities,
that will allow to increase not only the quality of education but also
to make it available. It is also scheduled to implement some pilot
programes in 2010 concerning advanced training of students, and in 2014
– receive the first results of these programmes. In the conditions
of the economic crisis, implementation of the programme will allow
to preserve the country’s educational system, бthe minister said.

TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JULY 10

worldbulletin.net
Friday, 10 July 2009 08:59

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish
press on July 10, 2009. The World Bulletin does not verify these
stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

THAT MAP HAS NOT CHANGED

The U.S. Congress Research Center has not taken into consideration
Ankara’s objections to a Turkey map in a Kurds report. The report,
released on June 3, 2009, showed the Southeastern and Eastern Anatolia
of Turkey, and a part of Iran, Syria, Armenia and Azerbaijan as a
"Kurdish soil".

The report said the U.S. strategy was to convince the Kurds that
they would gain control of Kirkuk. The report also said that Turkey,
who fears that the Kirkuk issue might cause independence of Kurds,
sees itself as the protector of Turkmens in the region.

EU MEMBER STATES APPROVE TO START THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FREE TRADE TREATY WITH ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
JULY 9, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 9, ARMENPRESS: The EU member states approved to start
the negotiations on the free trade treaty with Armenia, during the
"Herankar" program of Shant TV Channel on July 7 the Armenian Economy
Minister Nerses Yeritsian noted stressing that the EU Free Trade Treaty
will create serious infrastructures and open up great opportunities
for Armenian entrepreneurs.

"Penetration into the markets opens up opportunities of quality
assessment. The entrance in such markets becomes more severe if a
corresponding quality is not ensured. The positive results will be
possible to feel also during the process of final signing of the
treaty," the Minister said.

According to him through the inter-state commissions an attempt is
made to study and understand the potential of other markets to make
the penetration of Armenian products in these markets easier.

Since January 1 this year Armenia has been making use of the EU
Generalized System of Preference (GSP+) trade regime. The states which
make use of the system are provided with opportunity to export nearly
6,400 sorts of products to the EU market on zero or considerably
reduced customs dues.

The Minister assured that the world financial-economic crisis will
not reflect on the implementation of serious economic projects in
the state. It will only make certain delays but also will provide
certain time period for the best preparation to them.

There is a progress in all the presupposed projects. Particularly a
concrete project is being discussed for the construction of North-South
highway with the Asian Development Bank the results of which will be
known in September-October.

The idea of Gyumri techno-park and the venture capital enters a final
round within the frameworks of WB project. In 2010 concrete works will
start in that direction. Certain projects have already been financed
in Gyumri and according to the Minister it is a great success. Two
prominent laboratories have been co-financed the first 23 graduates
of which will enter the field in the nearest future.

At the end of this year the concepts of the Gyumri techno-park or
techno-town will be presented to the public in an electronic variant
and the funding sources will be clear.

GAZPROM UNDERMINING NABUCCO

Messenger.ge
July 9, 2009

It has become evident recently that Moscow is very aggressively
undermining the NABUCCO project. The Kremlin is trying its best to
prevent NABUCCO obtaining a sufficient supply of natural gas.

The EU and NABUCCO-promoting countries wants to involve as many states
as possible in the project to make it viable, and are therefore
desperately looking for countries which can supply enough natural
gas for the project to be successful. Moscow on its side is doing
its best to influence potential suppliers in the contrary direction
by offering them better prices for their gas.

The agreement on NABUCCO’s construction, which should have been signed
at the beginning of July, has been delayed for a fortnight. Meanwhile
Azerbaijan has signed an agreement to sell a certain amount of natural
gas to Gazprom at a very high price and Gazprom has expressed its
readiness to take more gas. The Azeri side seems quite satisfied with
this deal, as it has killed two rabbits with one shot: on the one hand
it has pleased Russia, from whom it expects a solution to the Karabakh
conflict, and on the other hand it has shown Turkey that it can sell
its gas for a better price if Turkey does not continue defending
Azeri interests during its normalisation of relations with Armenia.

Today Ankara buys Baku’s gas at a very cheap price and no new tariffs
has been negotiated yet. Turkey pays USD 120 per 1,000 cubic metres
for it, whereas Gazprom is ready to buy Azeri gas at USD 350 for
1,000 cubic metres. Gazprom is also ready to buy the entire Azeri gas
production at the same price, because this is a political price not a
market one. Moscow is ready to pay that price to strangle NABUCCO and
remain the sole supplier of Europe, with the ultimate aim of taking
control of European markets and thus influence European policy by
permanently blackmailing it.

A big multiplayer game is taking place, and it is difficult to predict
in which direction it will develop. However one thing is obvious:
the side which wants to win should timely make appropriate and very
radical efforts to achieve its goal.

DEREK SHIRINIAN: "I AM PROUD OF MY ARMENIAN AND GREEK ROOTS"

NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY
JULY 9, 2009
ATHENS

ATHENS, JULY 9, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. American Armenian
musician Derek Shirinian did not have any opportunity to deal with
Armenian culture and customs in his childhood because he grew up in
the city of Santa-Cruz, California, where only two Armenian families
live. "I did not grow up among Armenians but when we moved to Los
Angeles, Burbank, there were a lot of Armenians and I was surrounded
by the representatives of my nation for the first time in my life,"
the musician said.

The Greek Azat Or newspaper wrote that the mother of the musician is
Greek, "I am also proud of my Greek roots. The Armenians and Greeks
have a lot of similarities. My family influenced my decision of
choosing a profession. My parents hired a music teacher when I was
only five. We had a piano at home and they encouraged me to play."

The well-known musician, pianist of the internationally famous group
Planet-X Derek Shirinian became famous in the world of music playing
clavier instruments in Dream Theatre group. After working five years
at that group he left it and in 1999 with drummer Virgil Donati and
guitarist Tony Mackalpain released his first Planet-X disk. With the
same musicians he founded the Planet-X group, the name of which he
took from the disk’s name.

Shirinian said about that: "When I wrote the music of my first disk,
it seemed that I did a work which was beyond my powers. That music was
uncommon, I came to the bounds of my powers, I was infatuated with
music so much that it seemed that I was in an unknown, mysterious
planet, that is why I chose the name Planet-X.

Besides this group, Shirinian with his exceptional piano
peformances cooperates with famous musicians. "Every musician has his
instrument. No matter how much I like guitar or any other instrument
mine is the clavier instrument," the musician said.

Derek Shirinian said about inspiration, "Everything which is beautiful
can inspire me, an art work, a beautiful woman, strong music. I take
the best from life and return in the way of music."

The musician took part in the events dedicated to the 80th anniversary
of Djivan Gasparian. "I am happy to know the great master of duduk
(Armenian national pipe). I got acquainted with him with the help of my
friend. He knew that I had written a work devoted to my grandmother and
suggested inviting Djivan to play that work. Djivan wept when he saw
my grandmother’s photo. My grandmother had fought against the Turks and
had a photo in a military uniform," he said going into the details, "I
am an Armenian of the third generation born in America. My grandfather
Armenak moved from Sebastia to the United States’ Utah state in 1916. I
was the first from our family to be in Armenia." Derek Shirinian is
going to record a new album which will have a real "derek" direction.

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: RIGHT OF DECIDING ARTSAKH STATUS BELONGS TO NAGORNO KARABAKH PEOPLE

NOYAN TAPAN
JULY 9, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues related to the preparation for
the coming meeting of the Armenian and Azeri Presidents were discussed
at the July 8 meeting of OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Yuri Merzliakov,
Bernard Fassier, Matthew Bryza, and Personal Representative of the
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk with RA Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian.

Touching upon the format of negotiations held within the framework of
the Minsk Group, E. Nalbandian mentioned the necessity of Artsakh
side’s complete participation in the negotiations process as a
guarantee of peaceful process’ efficiency.

The Co-chairs regretted to say that they were not able to visit
Stepanakert this time due to the unfavorable weather.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, after
the meeting, at correspondents’ request commenting upon Azeri Foreign
Minister’s statement on providing autonomy to Nagorno Karabakh as part
of Azerbaijan, said that the Azeri Foreign Minister is not authorized
to decide the issue of Artsakh status, the right of deciding that
issue belongs to the Nagorno Karabakh people.