Author: Navasardian Karapet

PanARMENIAN.Net

Ninth suspect in Dink murder arrested
23.02.2007 18:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Istanbul Court decreed on
arrest of Veysel Toprak, a ninth suspect in the murder
of Hrant Dink, the editor of Agos Armenian-Turkish
newspaper. It’s not clear yet what kind of accusation
were brought against him. Turkish media represents
Toprak as a close friend to another suspect, Yasin
Hayal, reports the RFE/RL.

Hrant Dink was shot dead outside his newspaper
premises January 19. All suspects arrested are
nationalists from Trabzon

ADOPTION OF RES. 106 WILL BE A BREAKTHROUGH IN THE INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF THE GENOCIDE

armradio.am
22.02.2007 16:45

The adoption of the Armenian Genocide bill in the US Congress will be
a historic turning point in the process of international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide, representative of the Supreme Body of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation Armen Rustamyan said at a press
conference today.

"The best opportunity exists today, since both the Democrats and many
pro-Armenian Republicans have joined the initiative," he said. Armen
Rustamyan expressed hope that the issue will enter the Congress agenda
prior to April 24 and there will be no obstacles, since House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi has always been the supporter of the Armenian Genocide
recognition.

Let us remind that Res. 106 is supported by 175 Congressmen
representing 34 US states.

According to Armen Rustamyan, the adoption of the bill will solve the
question of international recognition, since many countries will follow
the example of the United States. Moreover, the regional policy will
be reviewed, progress will be achieved in Armenian-Turkish relations.

YEREVAN STRENGTHENS CONTACTS WITH RIO DE JANEIRO AND SAN-PAOLO – YEREVAN CITY HALL’S DELEGATION MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN CARNIVAL IN SAN-PAOLO

arminfo
2007-02-22 10:52:00

The delegation of Yerevan City Hall headed by the Vice Mayor of
Yerevan Vano Vardanyan, had been in Brazil on February 12-18 with
an official visit. As the Department of Information and Press of
RA Foreign Ministry told ArmInfo, the delegation also included
the RA parliamentarian, the member of Interparliamentary group of
Armenia-Brazil friendship Vladimir Badalyan.

According to the information, on February 13, the Armenian delegation
was received by the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Cesar Maia, who was given
a letter of the Yerevan Mayor Yervand Zakharyan with an invitation
to visit Armenia.

The issues of strengthening the contacts between Yerevan and Rio de
Janeiro were discussed. Two Protocols on friendship and cooperation
between the two cities were signed. Cesar Maia confirmed his intention
to visit Armenia in September, 2007. An agreement has been reached on
conduction of a week of Armenian cinema in Rio de Janeiro, as well as
on organizing a photo exhibition devoted to Yerevan. On February 15,
the Armenian delegation visited San-Paolo where it met with its Mayor
Jilberto Kasabi. The prospects of the cooperation development between
the tow cities in science, culture, tourism and strengthening the
business relations were discussed during negotiations. An agreement
has been reached to organize mutual visits of business groups in
the near future, to develop and implement different trade-economic
programs. Jilberto Kasabi accepted the proposal of the Armenian side
to sign an Agreement on the development of cooperation in different
spheres with satisfaction. The Armenian delegation has also visited
the Armenian Consulate General in San-Paolo, the Armenian church of
Surb Gevork. The last day of the visit, the delegation members were
also present at the carnival in San-Paolo.

EU SPECIAL ENVOY: IT IS TIME TO ESTABLISH RELATIONS BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Arminfo
2007-02-21 11:16:00

Peter Semneby, the EU Special Envoy to South Caucasus, said during
the today press conference being held in Baku that it is time to
establish relations between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh and that
EU is presently doing its best to create bonds of trust between the
both parties. According to him, this issue was discussed with the
Azerbaijan Government during his visit to Baku.

Touching some statements concerning the fact that initiatives
within other international organizations may impede the peaceful
negotiations to resolute the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which were
sounded by the OSCE Co-Chairmen, Mr. Semneby said that he did not
consider that the activity of EU was intended against the work of
the OSCE Minsk Group. "EU backs the activity of the Minsk Group,"
he said. The EU Special Representative said that there had been
moments in the peaceful negotiations over the Karabakh conflict that
created optimism, however this optimism failed. According Mr. Semneby,
these are first off all: the last meeting between the Azerbaijan and
Armenian Presidents held in Minsk and that one between The Foreign
Ministers of the two conflict parties held in Moscow. "No advance have
been occurred since the above-mentioned negotiations, and I hope that
time will come when the issue is resolved and EU will certainly make
its contribution to this issue," he said.

The EU Special Envoy also expressed his attitude toward the Russian
position and weight in the resolution of the conflict. Russia plays a
very important role in South Caucasus. He expressed a hope that Russia
actions to be taken will coincide with its statements and purposes.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS TO LEAVE FOR FRANCE AND INDIA

Noyan Tapan
Feb 19 2007

ETCHMIADZIN, FEBRUARY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. His Holiness Karekin II Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians will leave for Paris on
February 17 where he will take part in the official opening ceremony
of the year of Armenia in France and the first diocesan deputies’
meeting. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Information Services
of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness will leave on a
Pastor visit for India on February 22. During the ten-day visit His
Holiness will be in the cities of Delhi, Calcutta, Madras and Bombay,
will visit the RA Embassy, have meetings with representatives of
the Armenian community. His Holiness will meet with the heads and
students of the Calcutta Philanthropical Academy. The Catholicos of
All Armenians will also visit Armenian sanctuaries, including one of
the most ancient Christian churches of the East, the Surb Hovhannu
Karapet Armenian Church of Chinsurah. Official meetings are also
envisaged during the visit. Archbishop Aghan Paliozian, the Australia
and New Zealand Armenian Diocese Primate, Friar Vardan Navasardian,
the Mother See monk, Priest Ktrich Devejian and Friar Hovnan Hakobian
will accompany His Holiness during the visit to India.

ARMENIAN-GERMAN TALKS TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN FEBRUARY 20

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Feb 19 2007

Germany’s FM Frank-Walter Steinmeier will visit Armenia February 20.

According to the information DE FACTO got at the RA MFA Press Service,
within the frames of the visit Germany’s FM will meet with the RA PM
Andranik Margarian.

German Foreign Minister will also hold a meeting with his Armenian
counterpart Vardan Oskanian. After the meeting a joint press conference
of the Armenian and German FMs will be held.

The same day Germany’s FM will visit the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial
Complex and lay wreaths on the Memorial.

CONGRESSMAN ZACK SPACE JOINED CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS ON ARMENIAN ISSUES

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.02.2007 13:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
Zack Space (D-OH) has joined the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues. Thus, the Armenian Assembly of America reports that the
total Caucus membership has reached to 147 members. "There are so
many critical issues facing the Armenian-American community, from
reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide to securing important technical
and development funding for the Republic of Armenia. We are looking
forward to working with Congressman Space to address these important
matters," said AAA Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.

La Tribune de Geneve
15 février 2007 jeudi
Édition Tribune de Genève

Petrosyan: «Pour l’amour de mon père»

Calcio

Boxe Il sera la vedette de la réunion de demain à la salle des fêtes
de Carouge.

Comme une impression, un feeling comme on dit. Hamlet Petrosyan
semble d’emblée posséder l’étoffer d’un champion. Digne et modeste,
il parle peu, mais bien. Il possède tous les atouts pour s’imposer
dans sa catégorie des superwelters. N’a-t-il pas devancé en son temps
Vargas et de La Hoya dans le ranking mondial?

Mais là n’est pas son problème. Il aime son sport, boxe et reste
toujours fier de son origine arménienne. Dans le coeur comme dans ses
luttes. L’homme est attachant et d’une rare sincérité. «Si tu veux
devenir champion du monde, tu dois le mériter. Par ta valeur, mais
aussi par ton travail» lance-t-il avec force.

Le mot est lché. Il veut non seulement reconquérir un titre
intercontinental perdu injustement selon lui mais viser beaucoup plus
haut.

Le voilà au pied du mur. Lui qui continue à s’entraîner à Toulon,
mais qui fait confiance à Giorgio Costantino pour peaufiner les
combats qu’il veut mener, pour faire aussi bien que ses potes de
Gumri, la ville de son enfance où l’on compte plusieurs champions
olympiques. Et il affirme encore: «Mon père vient de mourir. Je l’ai
tant aimé. Il voulait que je devienne boxeur comme mon frère
footballeur qui a joué au FC Zurich. Dans notre religion, on doit
respecter quarante jours de deuil. Cette période ne sera pas
accomplie vendredi. Mais je vais boxer pour l’honneur de mon père. »

Au bord des larmes, on le soutient. Avec tout le respect dû à son
adversaire, l’Ukrainien Matviechuk

Trois autres combats pros permettront de voir à l’oeuvre Kinigamaki,
M’Laïkia et Turelli.

Agence France Presse
17 février 2007 samedi 8:19 AM GMT

Réouverture temporaire du Musée arménien de France à Paris

Le Musée arménien de France, fermé depuis 1993, rouvre temporairement
pendant deux mois du 28 février au 22 avril pour l’exposition "Les
Chemins de l’Arménie", dans le cadre de l’année de l’Arménie en
France, indique le musée.

Le musée présentera gratuitement 500 pièces de sa collection privée,
constituée par différentes donations : art sacré (reliures
d’Evangile, encensoir, collier épiscopal) et art profane, représenté
par les objets domestiques (tabatières, vêtements, vaisselle), mais
aussi peintures et sculptures.

Créé en 1949 par Nourhan Fringhian pour "conserver la mémoire et la
richesse culturelle d’un peuple en diaspora", il a suspendu son
ouverture au public il y a quatorze ans pour une remise aux normes.

Le musée n’a jamais rouvert depuis, confronté à un manque de moyens
et à un problème de locaux – le musée occupe actuellement le
rez-de-chaussée du musée d’Ennery. Une date de réouverture n’est
toujours pas déterminée.

Le musée a prêté de nombreuses oeuvres au musée du Louvre, au musée
de Montmartre ainsi qu’au musée de la vieille Charité à Marseille.

(Musée arménien de France, 59 avenue Foch, Paris 16ème. Ouvert du 28
février au 22 avril 2007, du mercredi au dimanche, de 11h00 à 17h00.
Entrée gratuite).

TOTAL AMOUNT OF ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS INCREASES BY 77.58% IN ARMENIA IN 2006

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Most of payments made through the
payment systems of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) in 2006 was
through the electronic payment system. According to the CBA press
service, electronic payments of the system’s participants accounted for
80.62% of the total amount of payments and 95.84% of the total number.
The amount of electronic payments grew by 77.58% (by 1 trillion 696
billion drams or over 407 bln 653 mln USD) in 2006 on 2005, while their
number – by 22.11% (by 182,892 payments). Transfers related to stock
exchange operations made 1 trillion 456 billion drams. Electronic
payments by commercial banks accounted for 66.19% of the total amount
of these banks’ payments and 90.17% of the number of such payments. The
average daily number of money trasnfers through the electronic payment
system increased by 714 transfers to 3,943 transfers in 2006 on 2005,
while their amount grew by 6 bln 625 mln drams to 15 bln 165 mln drams.
The average daily amount of transfers related to stock exchange
operations made 5 bln 688 mln drams. The average amount of an
electronic transfer in the electronic payment system (without transfers
related to stock exchange operations) decreased by about 200 thousand
drams on the previous year and made 2.4 mln drams. The average daily
amount of transfers in the electronic payment system related to stock
exchange operations by commercial banks made 197 mln drams.