Author: Ophelia Vardapetian

ARMENIA’S GRAPE HARVEST TO GROW FROM 200THND TONS IN 2006 TO 220THND TONS IN 2007

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 7 2007

YEREVAN, August 7. /ARKA/. Armenia’s grapes harvest is expected to grow
from 200thnd tons in 2006 to 220thnd tons in 2007, Garnik Petrosyan,
chief of Armenia Agriculture Ministry’s plant-cultivation unit,
said in an interview with ARKA News Agency.

He said that grapes gardens areas are being increasingly enlarged
in Armenia.

Petrosyan said that grape-processing enterprises will buy about
120thnd tons of grapes this year.

Vafa Guluzade explains amendment to US Department of State’s human rights
report with presidential elections

ANS
23.04.2007

Azerbaijan’s diplomacy suffered a great defeat before Armenians.
Political scientist Vafa Guluzade explains amendment to US Department
of State’s human rights report for 2006, where it doesn’t recognize
Daqliq Qarabaq as occupied Azerbaijani territories with forthcoming
presidential elections. Political scientist Vafa Guluzade told ANS
correspondent he didn’t want to comment on the issue: `Don’t involve
me in the issue, US Embassy to Azerbaijan made clear its position, I
think that’s all’. When asked why, `It is trifle issue, it American
policy has already practiced it. The embassy’s statement means
more’-he avoided the question. Later he linked the issue to 2008
presidential elections: `It seems forces in power in US doesn’t want
to hurt Armenian Diaspora in America. That’s why; they made this
amendment to get them on their side. But we should not take it
seriously. They always do so to get Armenians on their side before
presidential elections in US. They say they will recognize `Armenian
genocide’. After elections, nominee forgets his promise to Armenians
and doesn’t recognize `genocide’-V.Guluzade advised not to take matter
so seriously. Armenians accused Kocharyan government of
behind-the-scenes bargaining with Azerbaijan, predicted the issue
would betabled in UN Security Council and be resolved in favor of
Azerbaijan. Armenian government was pessimistic about the then
developments. Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in his
March 12 statement: `US position is clear. I think it is wrong step,
but the report is already published and one can do nothing about
that’. But developments in past half a month changed everything. US
Department of State didn’t consider Armenia occupant at all and thus
Azerbaijan diplomacy lost its past 5-6 years achievements. 5-6 years
ago US stressed`Armenian armed forces, not Armenia occupied Daqliq
Qarabaq and these forces usually were considered Daqliq Qarabaq’s. Now
Azerbaijan diplomacy has fallen behind that and occupation is at all
out of question, the case only is `keeping under control’. The issue
has taken so sharp turn that Azerbaijan government canceled Washington
visit of Azerbaijani delegation to hold bilateral security
consultations. Azerbaijan’s diplomacy suffered a great defeat.

A1+

`I WANT TO PRIVATIZE MY HOUSE WITHOUT GIVING BRIBE’
[03:35 pm] 16 March, 2007

The events with the Kozern residents taught a good lesson to the
residents of Miasnikyan; they have decided to make documents and
legalize their houses as soon as possible.

The inhabitants fear that they will soon be deprived of their own
places and lands. The residents have applied to the State Cadastre
Committee since 1998 to get a right to property but they have been
refused on groundless motivations.

The resident Norik turned to the cadastre twice in 1998 but he got the
following answer, `The territory is in the red zone. You cannot
privatize the place, as the houses in the zone are illegal and will be
pulled down’.

`Five houses of the district are privatized whereas the other five are
not. These are semi-detached houses. How can we understand their
step?’ wonders Mr. Norik.

The inhabitants demand to recover their violated rights and to mark
their property in accord with the cadastre prices of 1998.

Samvel Lazarian, head of the `Community and Right’ NGO, represents
the interests of the district dwellers. He says that by 2009 the
district had been involved in the zone of alienation, but the RA
President hasn’t ratified it yet.

Everything will be cleared up within 10-15 days. `We are unaware of
their plans and don’t know what they will build instead of our
houses. No matter what they build, they must keep the public informed
of their plans’, says Samvel Lazarian.

To note, a highway will be laid Miasnikyan district. The residents
are ready to vacate the territory provided they receive the
corresponding compensation. But they will arouse an action of protest
in other cases.

Under the decision of the RA Prime Minister an interdepartmental
commission will be set up to deal with the issues of Kozern,
Miasnikyan and to consider the order of privatization and the sum of
compensation.

ARA ABRAHAMIAN: ARMENIA SHOULD COOPERATE WITH DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF RUSSIA
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 20 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. There is no problem of political
or economic character in relations between Armenia and Russia. Ara
Abrahamian, Chairman of the Union of Armenians in Russia, Chairman of
the World Armenian Congress (WAC), said this at the November 20 meeting
with journalists at the Union of Writers of Armenia. In his words,
“Armenia should cooperate with different countries of the world, but
not at the expense of Russia, not to the detriment of its relations
with Russia.” According to A.Abrahamian’s observations, the West
wishes to create an atmosphere to contribute to “Armenia’s stepping
back from Russia.” “We should realize, whether it proceeds from our
interests to step back from Russia,” he declared. In A.Abrahamian’s
words, to break off contacts is easy, but to establish is difficult
and before renouncing Russia it is necessary to discuss the new
partners’ proposals.
Commenting upon the fact of Armenians’ murders committed lately
in Russia, A.Abrahamian said that they do not have an emphasized
anti-Armenian character: “They kill Armenians not for their
national belonging, but due to the color of their hair and other
circumstances.” He assured that five minutes after each incident he
is informed about the details, discusses the formed situation with
Armenian lawyers, gets in touch with representatives of law enforcement
bodies and tries to draw their special attention to the incident.
Touching upon the murder of Artur Haroutiunian, Head of the Union
of Armenians in Murmansk, A.Abrahamian said that it is still early
to draw a conclusion and they should wait until the law enforcement
bodies disclose those guilty. He did not exclude that the murder can
be connected with A.Haroutiunian’s business activity.

ARONIAN BEATS SWIDLER AT CHESS 960 CHAMPIONSHIP
Armenpress
YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS: Armenian grand master Levon Aronian
beat his Russian rival Pyoter Swidler in two rounds of the “Chess 960”
World Championship conducted in German town of Mainz.
Chess 960 (originally called Fischer Random Chess) is a chess variant
created by grandmaster Bobby Fischer (who was world chess champion
from 1972 until 1975). It was originally announced on June 19, 1996,
in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Fischer’s goal was to create a chess
variant in which chess creativity and talent would be more important
than memorization and analysis of opening moves.
His approach was to create a randomized initial chess position,
which would thus make memorizing chess opening move sequences far
less helpful. The championship consists of 8 rounds, the next two
ones will be conducted today.

Ecumenical News International
News Highlights
14 July 2006
Iranian soccer player voted ‘Christian star’ of World Cup
Warsaw (ENI). The only Christian player in Iran’s national soccer
team has been named “Christian star of the World Cup” in a poll
undertaken by a Dutch ecumenical Christian group. Andranik
Teymourian, a 23-year-old midfielder, received 31.3 per cent of
votes in the online contest, organized by Gristelijk, a group of
Protestant and Roman Catholic teachers and lecturers, out of a
shortlist of 11 leading Christian soccer players. [238 words,
ENI-06-0564]
ENI News Highlights contain summaries of ENI articles published
today.
This summary may be copied or re-posted provided the information
printed below is retained.
Individual paragraphs may be reproduced provided ENI is
acknowledged as the source.
ENI Online –
Ecumenical News International
PO Box 2100
CH – 1211 Geneva 2
Switzerland
Tel: (41-22) 791 6088/6111
Fax: (41-22) 788 7244
Email: [email protected]

Today, Azerbaijan
June 23 2006
Mikhail Zabelin: “The biggest Russian Diaspora of the South Caucasus
is in Azerbaijan”
23 June 2006 [09:38] – Today.Az
“The biggest Russian Diaspora in South Caucasus is in Azerbaijan. At
present, 170 thousand Russian live in Azerbaijan, 2 thousand
in Georgia, 5 thousand in Armenia.” Russian community leader in
Azerbaijan, Milly Majlis member Mikhail Zabelin has told.
He stated that better part of the Russians living in Georgia and
Azerbaijan are militaries, their family members, and Malaccans. The
parliamentarian said that the opinion “In what state attitude is
well to Russians cooperation will be of priority in that country”
is not implemented. Reminding Russian politicians calling Armenia
fore post of Russia, Mikhail Zabelin stated that the country where
Russians do not live can’t be fore-post of Russia.
“Tolerance is in high level in Azerbaijan, though official status
was not given to the Russian language, this language remains being
communication language. Number of published books in Russian language
increases, Russian sectors function like in the previous times.”
Expressing attitude to the opinion of existence Russian military base
in Armenia, the community leader stated that this base is necessary
for Armenia not Russia, APA reports.
URL:

POTENTIAL FOR PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT NOT EXHAUSTED
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 8 2006
Yerevan, March 8. /ARKA/. The potential for a peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has not been exhausted, Speaker
of the Ra Parliament Artur Baghdasaryan stated at his meeting with
Bryza Matthew, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs. Speraker Baghdasaryan stated that positive changes
in this process are possible for the negotiations to prove a success.
In his turn, Bryza Matthew emphasized the importance of settling the
conflict for the entire region.
The sides also discussed the EU New Neighborhood program and the
possibilities of developing Euroatlantic cooperation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NAGORNO-KARABAKH TO HOLD FIRST POPULATION CENSUS
Armenpress
Oct 17, 2005
STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 17, ARMENPRESS: The chief of Armenia’s national
statistical committee, Stepan Mnatsakanian was in Nagorno- Karabakh
on October 15 to discuss with its president, Arkady Ghukasian, a set
of issues on holding a population census.
Authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh are planning to conduct the first ever
population census, since it declared independence from Azerbaijan,
between October 18-27, which they believe ‘will become another
step towards consolidation of Karabakh’s independence. According to
Ghukasian, the census returns will help the government to design its
projects and forecast social-economic developments.
A special government commission, headed by a deputy prime minister,
was established to conduct the census. The last population
census in Karabakh was held in 1989, when it had a population of
192,000. Armenians made 76% and Azeri 23%, with Russian and Kurdish
minorities.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EXCHANGE OF UKRAINIAN EXPERIENCE WITH ARTUR BAGHDASSARYAN
A1+
| 15:48:55 | 13-10-2005 | Official |
October 13 RA National Assembly Chairman Artur Baghdassaryan received
newly appointed Ukrainian Ambassador to Armenia Alexander Bozhko.
During the meeting A. Bozhko noted that he will keep the development
of interparliamentary ties in the limelight of his diplomatic mission.
According to the Ambassador, Armenia and Ukraine have chosen the
European path and have a big potential for interaction, in part,
Armenia’s legislative experience can be useful for Ukraine on the way
to the World Trade Organization, while the Ukrainian experience will
help Armenia in the process of constitutional reform.
The Ambassador also presented the current situation in Ukraine.
Alexander Bozhko stressed the importance of carrying out the
constitutional reforms. At that the RA NA Speaker noted that the
referendum has been already fixed for November 27 and there are all
the preconditions to advance in strengthening democracy.
The parties also touched upon issues of mutual concern.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress