Author: nina hovnanian

Panorama, Armenia
Sept 17 2011

Armenia and Honduras set diplomatic relations

Armenian permanent representative to the UN Karen Nazaryan had a
meeting on Friday with his compatriot – permanent representative of
Honduras Marie Flores, press service of Armenian Foreign Ministry
reported.

According to the source the representatives of Armenia and Honduras
have signed a treaty to set diplomatic relations between the two
states.
The envoys have particularly stated that cooperation in education,
culture and tourism can be held.

Harutyun Yenokyan makes it to Wrestling World Championships 1/16 finals

September 17, 2011 – 18:08 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian freestyle wrestler Harutyun Yenokyan (96
kg) scored 3:1; 4:0 wins over Angula Matheus Shikongo of Namibia in
Istanbul-hosted FILA Wrestling World Championships 1/32 finals.

In 1/16 finals, Yenokyan will face off against Mausam Khatri of Inda.

Narek Sanosyan (60 kg) lost 13:2 in a 1/16 finals fight vs. Tim
Schleicher of Germany. Hajimurad Nurmagometov suffered a 3:2 loss in
1/32 finals.

FILA Wrestling World Championships 1-5 places winners will qualify for
2012 London Olympics.

Bako Sahakyan and Eduardo Ernekyan discuss issues on implementation of programs

17:15, 17 September, 2011

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS:

On 17 September President Bako Sahakyan received Á famous
philanthropist from the Diaspora Eduardo Ernekyan and members of his
entourage that arrived in Artsakh the same day.

Central Information Department of the Office of the Artsakh Republic
President reported that issues related to realization of different
programs in Nagorno Karabakh were discussed during the meeting. A
special attention was paid to the problems of agricultural, financial,
high technological and civil aviation spheres. It was reciprocally
noted the importance of using the potential of the Diaspora for the
development of Artsakh.

The NKR president handed in to the family of the philanthropist the
“For Service in Battle” medal, posthumously awarded to his brother
Andranik Ernekyan for medical assistance shown to servicemen during
the defense of the Artsakh Republic and in connection with the 20th
anniversary of the NKR’s proclamation.

Premier Ara Harotyunyan and other officials partook at the meeting.

Ter-Petrossian, Kocharian won’t attend Sept 21 celebration

September 17, 2011 – 17:16 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Former Armenian Presidents Levon Ter-Petrossian and
Robert Kocharian won’t attend Armenia’s independence 20th anniversary
celebration on September 21.

As the 2nd President’s spokesman Victor Soghomonyan told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, `Several days ago Kocharyan left Armenia on
private business and won’t be able to attend the celebratory events.’
Soghomonyan chose not to reveal further details.

Reportedly, the 1st Armenian President, Armenian National Congress
(ANC) opposition bloc leader Levon Ter-Petrossian won’t attend the
celebration either. PanARMENIAN.Net was unable to obtain any comments
from ANC representatives, who left telephone calls unanswered.

As announced earlier, Ter-Petrossian and Kocharian received official
invitations to participate in the state dinner, military parade and
celebratory concert dated to September 21.

Heritage will remain on the highway, the leader of the party says

12:29, 17 September, 2011

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS:

“Entering parliament was not an end in itself for us”, leader of the
“Heritage” party Raffi Hovhannisyan told a news conference today.
According to him, the “Heritage” is meeting the representatives of the
civil society outside of the electoral logic. In response to the
question in what format the party will participate in the elections
Hovhannissyan said it is early to speak about it.

Touching upon the parliamentary activity of the “Heritage”
Hovhannissyan said the party must start its active work. “Heritage
will remain on the highway”, the parliamentarian said.

Speaking about the 20th anniversary of independence the first foreign
minister of Armenia said the main achievement is the right to rule the
own fate. “The generation of independence enters the arena. It is our
second and main achievement”, Hovhannissyan said.

USA to increase volumes of assistance to the RA government

13:33, 17 September, 2011

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS:

Economy Minister Tigran Davtyan and Director of the USAID Armenia
Office Jatinder Cheema signed documents today on making changes in the
agreements between the governments of Armenia and the USA on providing
assistance for the more competitive and diversified private sector and
improvement of healthcare and social services. The documents have been
worked out by the American side aimed at increasing the volume of
assistance making it 8 million 310 thousand and 8 million 791 thousand
respectively.

Economy ministry press service reported that the agreements were
signed August 6 2010 intending provision of assistance to the
government of Armenia for formation of more competitive and
diversified private sector as well as increase of the efficiency of
healthcare and social services.

No Disability for Cancer Patient, Says New Review Board

HETQ
13:12, September 15, 2011

Remember the August 29 Hetq story (Destitute Breast Cancer Patient
Stripped of Medical Pension) about cancer patient Ofik Evoyan and her
struggle with the Lori Medical Examing Board regarding her disability
pension?

Arman Daghbashyan, who heads the committee, had argued that the woman
is sick but not disabled and took away her $33 monthly pension.

Well it seems that the woman’s case came to the attention of the
Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs who issued a directive to review
the matter.

Present at the review were Ofik Evoyan; Lara Paremouzyan, the Hetq
reporter who wrote the original article; Harutyun Mikayelyan, an
oncologist at the Alaverdi Medical Center; A. Pazikyan, who heads the
Polyclinic Department at the National Oncology Center; and officials
from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

To make a long story short, this new administrative review has
reaffirmed the original finding – that Mrs. Evoyan’s past medical
history in no way hinders her physically and thus she is not eligible
to be registered as `disabled.’

OSCE MG member state deputies to discuss Karabakh issue with
Azerbaijan’s activists

September 18, 2011 – 18:28 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – By the end of the current year for the first time a
meeting will be held between OSCE MG member state countries’ deputies
and Azerbaijan’s voluntary group activists.

In an exclusive interview to SalamNews, Farhad Badalbeyli, `national
diplomacy’ member, People’s Artist of Azerbaijan, Rector of the Baku
Academy of Music said that Azerbaijan will be represented in the
meetings by head of `Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno Karabakh’ NGO
Bayram Safarov, Rector of Baku Slavic University Kamal Abdulla,
Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Russia Polad BülbüloÄ?lu and himself.

According to Badalbeyli, preparatory works for meetings are underway.
`I have always said that national diplomacy must be brought to life by
officials and weighty figures of foreign states,’ he said.

Iran-Armenia close ties benefits regional security: Ahmadinejad Political Desk

18 September 2011 16:25

TEHRAN – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that improved trade
relations between Tehran and Yerevan is in favor of regional security
and peace.

Ahmadinejad made the remarks during a meeting with Armenian Foreign
Minister Eduard Nalbandian which was held in Tehran late on Saturday.

He commented on the untapped potential of both countries for the
enhancement of relations and said trading with neighbors is always the
best trade which helps improve security and establish peace in the
region.

He regarded bilateral relations as friendly and cordial and said there
is no obstacle in the way of developing ties between the two countries
in all spheres.

`We can expand the existing relations up to three times bigger,’ he added.

He pointed to the Collaborative and constructive plans which are on
the agenda of the meetings between Iran and Armenia and said the plans
can deepen bilateral ties.

He went on to say that Iran wants all countries in the world live
together in peace and justice, and whenever a disagreement occurs, it
would be resolved through dialogue.

Elsewhere in his remarks Ahmadinejad said technical and financial
problems, which stand in the way of implementing the agreements signed
between the Islamic Republic and Armenia, should be resolved as soon
as possible.

In the meeting, Nalbandian also conveyed the greetings of the Armenian
President Serzh Azati Sargsyan to Ahmadinejad and submitted his
written message to the Iranian president.

During his remarks, Nalbandian said the value of trade between the two
countries has been increased by more than 38 percent and reached about
270 million dollars.

He also said that Armenia always appreciates Iran’s stance on the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue, which has dragged on since ethnic Armenian
forces took control of the region during a war in the early 1990s.

Both Azerbaijan and Armenia claim the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh,
which is mainly populated by Armenians but located in Azerbaijan, and
Turkey has sided with Azerbaijan in the dispute.

Iran had earlier extended an offer to mediate between Armenia and
Azerbaijan in the dispute.

Armenia’s Areni to host wine festival on September 7

September 18, 2011 – 18:16 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia’s village Areni on September 7 will host
Areni Wine Festival.

This year the organizers promise participants more sorts of wine and a
variety of competitions .

Nune Manukyan, Areni Fest Foundation director told a PanARMENIAN
reporter, that a competition, addressed to tourists, will be held
within the festival, `In the competition called Armenia through your
eyes’ the attending tourists will present labels for wine, drawn by
themselves. The best one will win a prize.’

In addition, this year a separate competition of home-made wine will
be held. The winner will be selected by the participants. At the same
time the best wine factory will be selected by the professional jury,
which includesf professional sommelier Serzh Ghukasyan, invited from
France.