OSCE MG HOLDING CONSULTATIONS IN VIENNA TODAY
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.07.2007 16:15 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group are holding
consultations in Vienna today, OSCE Spokesman, Mr Martin Nesirky told
a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. The Co-chairs are expected to issue a
statement upon the outcomes of the meeting.
The mediators will discuss the results of the latest negotiations
with Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian.
GLOBAL GOLD CORPORATION PROPOSES $1.5 MILLION ANNUAL INVESTMENT IN ECOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEAR HANKAVAN DEPOSIT
arminfo
2007-07-11 08:33:00
American Global Gold Corporation is ready to propose the Government
of Armenia $1.5 million annual investments in the strengthening of
the ecological infrastructure near Hankavan molybdenum deposit. This
amount exceeds the summary annual expenses for ecology by all the
mining enterprises in the country, Chief Geologist of the GGC Armenian
Office Henrik Lazarian says in an interview with ArmInfo.
The investment will be spent on forestation and relief
purification. Under the programme for 2007, GGC is engaged in
additional appraisal of the central part of Hankavan deposit in
accordance with the requirements of the international standard
(Canada, USA, Australia) i.e. dense drilling for reliable reserve
assessment. Simultaneously, the corporation carries out additional
appraisal of the hydro-geological situation for future development of
Marmarik-Hankavan river network base level. The constriction sites
for the processing plant and a tailing dump are specified taking
into account the ecological peculiarities of the area. H. Lazarian
said Hankavan deposit was explored early in 50s up to 1962. The
approved reserves were registered as unbooked. In that period of
time, the capacities of Kajaran integrated plant were growing and
Agarak mining and processing integrated plant was activated. The
USSR was supplied with molybdenum and was not ready for additional
capital investments. With the geological situation changing in Armenia,
Hankavan deposit became a valuable industrial facility. GGC reappraised
the deposit through mining and drilling, drew a detailed large-scale
geological map, prepared a techno-economic study of deposit development
conditions and appraised the reserves.
The chief geologist says the reserves are estimated at some 108-110
million tons, including 43-44,000 tons of ore and 63,000 tons of
molybdenum, which can ensure a profitable development of the deposit
and manufacture of 5 million tons of ore annually. All these works
were carried out as of September 1 2006. Moreover, Hankavan deposit
is surrounded with gold occurrences which are poorly appraised and
may be of industrial interest, Lazarian said.
It is noteworthy that under the company’s business-plan, $54.6 million
is to be invested in the exploitation of Hankavan copper and molybdenum
deposit, Kotayk region, Armenia, and 570 jobs will be created by
2009. GGC plans to pay $2.05 million for salary and $5 million taxes
to the state budget annually. GGC has been engaged in Hankavan deposit
since the beginning of 2004 and has invested in it over $2.5 million.
RA FM TO MEET WITH OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TODAY
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
July 10 2007
July 10 RA FM Vardan Oskanian will meet with OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs
on the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict settlement in Paris.
According to RA MFA Press Office, Vardan Oskanian will arrive in Paris
from San Francisco, where he participated in ArmTech2007 congress.
Latest meeting of OSCE MG Co-Chairs and RA FM was held on June 9,
before the meeting between RA and AR presidents in St. Petersburg.
Then an agreement was reached to hold a new meeting between OSCE
MG Co-Chairs and the two countries’ FMs to prepare a current
Kocharian-Aliyev meeting, PanARMENIAN.Net reports.
DINK’S MURDER WAS ‘PLANNED BY A BIGGER NETWORK’
Spiegel Online, Germany
July 9 2007
Spiegel Interview With Turkish-Armenian Editor Etyen Mahcupyan
Etygen Mahcupyan, the editor-in-chief of the Armenian-Turkish weekly
Agos, spoke to DER SPIEGEL about the trial of the alleged killers of
his predecessor Hrant Dink.
Etyen Mahcupyan replaced murdered journalist Hrant Dink as
editor-in-chief of the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos.
The Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was gunned down on Jan. 19
this year. Now, six months later, the trial of his alleged killer and
17 other suspects has started. The trial is being carried out behind
closed doors because the accused gunman, Ogun Samast, is a minor.
Dink was hated by ultranationalists for describing the mass killing
of Armenians in the early part of the 20th century as genocide. He was
prosecuted for his comments under Article 301 of Turkey’s penal code,
which bans insults to Turkish identity.
Critics have accused the authorities of failing to act on reports of a
plot to kill Dink. Two of the suspects, Yasin Hayal and Erhan Tuncel,
even claim they were working for the security forces. The current
case is seen as an important test of whether the Turkish judiciary
is capable of investigating claims of official negligence.
DER SPIEGEL spoke to Etyen Mahcupyan, Dink’s successor as
editor-in-chief of the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos about the trial.
SPIEGEL: The trial against Dink’s alleged 17-year-old murderer and
his accomplices has started. But now the investigation is to be
continued. Were there other people involved?
Etyen Mahcupyan: This type of attack must have been prepared by a
bigger network than just the gang that is currently on trial. There
had to be political connections, people who pulled strings, paid
money or laid the ideological groundwork. So far only two members of
the nationalist Great Unity Party (BBP) have been charged.
SPIEGEL: One of the accused claims that they were controlled by a
group within the police force.
Mahcupyan: A number of police officers knew what was going to happen.
But they didn’t prevent the murder. Were they acting of their own
accord, or did someone give them orders? That is unclear.
SPIEGEL: What was the perpetrator’s motive?
Mahcupyan: There is a link here between ultra-nationalism and criminal
gangs. The aim was probably to cause unrest in the election year
with the intention of torpedoing Turkey’s chances of joining the
European Union. Presumably a whole series of attacks was planned,
but the public reaction was too strong to go ahead with them.
SPIEGEL: In general, politically motivated crimes are seldom solved
in Turkey. Will it be different this time?
Mahcupyan: In the past the judges were usually afraid to take risks.
None of them wanted to expose the links between the military, the
government and the judiciary. But in this case there is the potential
to really get to the bottom of things. The judges are flexible and
are working with the lawyers.
SPIEGEL: You are Dink’s successor as editor-in-chief at Agos. Are
you and your colleagues still being threatened?
Mahcupyan: Yes, but that is the usual hatred that we have to face.
The Armenian community and their patriarch often receive threats from
the nationalists as well.
SPIEGEL: Dink was pulled up before judges on several occasions because
of his articles. Have you also been hampered in your work?
Mahcupyan: Not at the moment, but if it were politically desired then
someone could find an old article and file charges. I have already
been put on trial for allegedly insulting state institutions.
Interview conducted by Annette Grossbongardt
/world/0,1518,493362,00.html
RISING AND FALLING
Bad Left Hook
6408
July 8 2007
Boxing is a sport that features constant change, from one fight to
the next, and sometimes even completely outside of the ring. The
status of one fighter can be altered simply because of the result of
a fight he’s not even in, and he can become the top dog in a weight
class just because someone else lost.
Today, let’s take a look at some of the recent developments, and see
who’s rising and who’s falling in the aftermath. You can probably
guess how our friend on the right is faring right now.
Vic Darchinyan saw his reputation take a big hit on Saturday night
with his first career loss, as he was cleanly knocked out on a massive
counter left hook by lightly-regarded Nonito Donaire.
Darchinyan beat Donaire’s older brother, Glenn, last year via technical
decision, and held a grudge afterward because he didn’t get the chance
to knock Glenn Donaire out. But constantly seeking the KO shot is
what did Darchinyan in in Bridgeport. Nonito Donaire was too fast and
way too confident. Darchinyan has now admitted (after his unfortunate
post-fight interview, which it can be reasoned he shouldn’t have been
giving in the firs tplace) that he was trying too hard to "load up"
on his punches. The Armenian ex-champ is an exciting and alluring
fighter because of his unorthodox style, but even though he looks
like a video game character responding to the R2 command often enough,
he was even more overstated on Saturday, and it cost him his perfect
record, and delayed any move to the super flyweight division. He’s
also going to have to adjust now, because Donaire clearly exposed
Darchinyan’s weaknesses. His defensive lapses have always been
an issue, but now his line of previous opposition will come into
question. Was Darchinyan simply a coddled fighter? A rematch of this
fight is probably very likely, because it was such a shocking upset —
no doubt the 2007 Upset of the Year thus far — that Vic almost has
to be allowed to get his revenge. I don’t know that he can do it.
BAHCELI REACTS TO THE CASE
Sabah, Turkey
July 8 2007
Devlet Bahceli has reactions against the lawsuit of Erdoðan. He said
that the Turkish community has condemned him.
Bahceli holds meeting in Konya
The MHP leader Devlet Bahceli talked against the government in the
Konya meeting.
During his speech, Bahceli claimed that the AKP government has brought
nothing good to Konya in these 4.5 years. He stated that it will be a
devastating thing for Turkey if Konya collapses because of its being
the grain source of Turkey. He also blamed the government for selling
Petkim to Armenians, who blame Turks for having done holocaust.
Bahceli claimed that the government attacked the Constitutional
Court’s decision while they have to respect it, blaming them for
acting according to their benefits.
–Boundary_(ID_x7BjStdwBHzV7Oe5q2udOw)- –
ARF PARTICIPATES IN SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING
Yerkir.am
July 06, 2007
ARF press service reported that a Socialist International council’s
meeting was held at the International Labour Organization’s headquarter
in Geneva on June 29-30. Over 400 representatives from 120 political
parties participated in the meeting.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation was represented by ARF Bureau
member Mario Nalbandian and ARF Supreme Body of Armenia representative
Armen Rustamian.
SI president George Papandreou from the Greek party PASOK and many
other spoke at the opening ceremony.
The SI council discussed the conflicts in the South Caucasus region
among other conflicts, like Iraq, Israel-Palestine, Lebanon, Western
Balkans, Columbia, Nepal.
Armen Rustamian was the chief reporter on this issue, who was followed
by Azerbaijani Socialist Democratic Party co-chairman Araz Alizade
and Poland’s Left Democratic Alliance member and European Parliament
member Tadeus Ivinsky.
The SI council’s meeting also discussed global climate and energy
issues.
The Commission for a Sustainable World Society was elected.
The meeting adopted resolutions. The resolution on the South Caucasus
conflicts was mainly based on Armen Rustamian’s report.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Mario Nalbandian and Armen Rustamian
had several meetings with the participants of the meeting.
AGO MISSION DISCUSSED NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT AT FOREIGN MINISTRY OF AZERBAIJAN
Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan –
July 6 2007
Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend K.Ramazanova / The issue of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement was one
of the topics discussed at the meeting of the mission of AGO Group
at the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan. "The Deputy Foreign Minister
of Azerbaijan, Araz Azimov, informed us of the recent changes in
the process of peaceful talks," reported the Head of the mission,
Per Sogren, after meeting at the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan.
According to him, Azimov also reported of the recent meeting between
the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia which took place in June in
St. Petersburg. In addition, Sogren stressed that the mandate of the
AGO Group does not include the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement,
but monitoring the obligations undertaken by Azerbaijan and Armenia
before the Council of Europe.
Touching up on the appeals of 87 inmates in Gobustan Prison of
Azerbaijan, Sogren said that the agenda of the mission does not
include visiting the prisoners.
ARMENIAN ELECTIONS MOVE FORWARD WITH HELP FROM U.S. GROUP
NewsBlaze, CA
b/newsblaze/TOPSTORY/Top-Stories.html
Source: U.S. Department of State
July 7 2007
Partnership for a Better Life
The international community is giving Armenia its first positive
marks for an election since the country gained independence in 1991 –
for National Assembly elections held in May.
The U.S.-based nongovernmental organization IFES has worked closely
with several government and community entities in Armenia to help
move the country closer to achieving its goal of having elections
that meet international standards.
The road to fair and free elections in Armenia with help from IFES
began when the organization established its presence in the country
in 1996, providing wide-ranging election assistance to the country’s
legislators, national and local electoral commissions, candidates,
observers, nongovernmental organizations and voters.
In October 2005, IFES began a three-year project funded by the U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID), targeting key segments
of Armenia’s electoral system and ways to improve voter registration,
voter information and election administration.
The new voter registry system began with amendments to the electoral
code. Then, the police and its Passport and Visas Department helped
make the registry a reality with IFES assistance for the registry’s
design.
Together, IFES and department officials considered how best to meet
international norms, create a sustainable system, choose the right
technology and promote public acceptance. Finally, Armenian officials
installed computer equipment funded by USAID and verified voter lists.
IFES also produced more than 60,000 copies of posters and leaflets
with nonpartisan messages which were distributed nationwide.
The success of the voter information campaign could be seen at every
polling station on election day. Local television stations ran public
service announcements produced by IFES that encouraged voters to
participate in the election and follow correct procedures. It was
important that voters know they could lose their votes because of a
technicality if they did not follow new rules. The voter education
products also helped combat public apathy.
IFES also sought to raise the level of transparency and fairness in
the process by training more than 50 of Armenia’s election officials,
who then trained more than 17,000 of their colleagues. The training
focused on organizational details, precinct arrangement and the
responsibilities of each commission member – the kinds of details
that often mean the difference between a credible election and one
that is challenged.
Some trainees had excellent knowledge of the law but could not
communicate the knowledge properly. The lessons helped them develop
communication skills through discussions, debates and presentations.
IFES also helped develop training materials that were placed on tables
at every polling site in the country and quick-reference sheets for
polling officers and election managers.
Finally, in collaboration with local disability groups, IFES helped
construct several new ramps allowing voters in wheelchairs greater
access to polling sites. In addition, Armenia introduced special
ballot guides for voters with visual impairments.
IFES formerly was the International Foundation for Election Systems.
More information about IFES is available on the organization’s
Web site.
For more information on how U.S. development aid changes lives,
see Partnership for a Better Life.
ARMENIAN APRICOT HAS BECOME A SYMBOL OF FRIENDSHIP, DAVID LOKIAN SAYS
Noyan Tapan
Jul 6, 2007
YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian Apricot First International
Conference started on July 6 in Yerevan on the initiative of the RA
Ministry of Agriculture and the RA National Academy of Sciences. David
Lokian, the RA Minister of Agriculture, said that the goal of holding
the conference is to ensure the apricot’s scientific and marketing
advertising abroad, as well as to assist businessmen in apricot
exporting.
In the Minister’s words, the Armenian apricot has become Armenia’s
invitation card, a symbol of friendship, and the cooperation of the
RA Ministry of Agriculture with many countries starts with planting
apricot gardens in the given country. "Today there are such gardens
in China, in Thailand, Iran and Syria," D. Lokian said. He mentioned
that this geography should be expanded, presenting our country’s
"best brand" to the whole world.
Samvel Avetisian, the RA Deputy Minister of Agriculture, said that
holding of such events will create new possibilities for the promotion
of apricot exports. "Currently apricot export potential makes 10-20
thousand tons in average, and up to 30 thousand tons can be exported
in favorable years, which also satisfies the domestic demand," the
Minister said. In his words, 1000-1500 hectares of new gardens have
been planted in Armenia since 2000.
Currently their total area is nearly 11 thousand hectares.
A business forum under the title "The Phenomenon of Armenian Apricot"
will be also held, a film "The Apricot’s Significance and Its History"
will be shown, trips to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Ashtarak’s
Surb Tsiranavor Church, as well as visits to apricot gardens and
processing factories will be paid for within the framework of the
two-day conference.