Author: Toneyan Mark

AZERIS STILL UNCERTAIN AS TO WHAT CULTURE THEY BELONG TO

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
22.06.2009 18:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Our problem is that we perfectly see what Azerbaijan
is doing, but keep our mouths shut, and close our eyes to everything,"
Armenianhouse.org electronic library’s director Karen Vrtanesyan told
today a press conference, commenting upon Azeri media reports. While
Armenian side views it as a noble gesture, Azerbaijan considers it
as a sign of weakness.

"Any other country would have filed complaint against Azerbaijan. But
what are we doing? We are just laughing, avoiding to see the reality,"
Mr. Vrtanesyan said. Azerbaijani society uses hatred for Armenians
as a tool in the process of its formation, Vrtanesyan said, adding
that Azeris themselves are still uncertain as to what culture they
belong to. "Over the past 100 years, they were unable to decide who
they were. First they called themselves Caucasian Tatars, then Turks,
and later – Azerbaijanis. Now they are called Azeris."

In his turn, Military psychologist David Djamalyan added the
following, "In 2005, Region journal conducted survey to find out
whether Azeris hated Armenians more or vice versa. The results were
quite predictable. If we believe that Turks or Azeris will ever change
while we will not, then we engage ourselves in self-deception."

"Azeris’ style and attitude to Armenians reminds me of Nazi
Germany. Likewise Germans who accused Jews of everything, Azeris accuse
us Armenians in order to justify themselves. How can we live with a
neighbor who builds his state based on hatred for us," Vrtanesyan said.

"We are not against free countries, and are not against their being
our neighbors. Let them build their state, but not at our expense,"
Djamalyan stated.

RA PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN PARTICIPATED IN TOYOTA-YEREVAN AUTOMOBILE SALES CENTER OPENING

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.06.2009 16:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today RA President Serzh Sargsyan participated
in Toyota-Yerevan automobile sales & service center opening. RA
President looked round the exhibition hall and discussed company’s
activities with Toyota-Yerevan representatives, RA Presedent’s Press
Service reported.

State Committee for Coordination of Celebrations of the 500th
Anniversary of Armenian Print meets at Khnko Aper library

2009-06-21 10:13:00

ArmInfo. The State Committee for Coordination of Celebrations of the
500th Anniversary of Armenian Print met at Khnko Aper library today.
The meeting was led by the chairman of the committee, President of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.

The press service of the President quotes Sargsyan as saying that
recently the Government has been actively financing the repair of
libraries with over 1.200bln AMD allocated for the overhaul of the
National Library and National Children’s Library. The total cost of
this program is 2.5bln AMD. Sargsyan instructed the Ministry pf
Culture, the Ministry of Science and Education and the National Academy
of Sciences of Armenia to draft a complex program of technical
modernization of the National Library of Amrenia and Khnko Aper
Library.

iloubnan.info , Lebanon
June 19 2009

Pakradounian optimistic for reconciliation with Murr

iloubnan.info – June 20, 2009, 10h04 – updated

BEIRUT ` Tachnag secretary general Agop Pakradounian told LBC channel
on Saturday that he was optimistic regarding reconciliation with MP
Michel Murr. He confirmed that the party’s ties with MP Murr would be
back on the right track because `it wasn’t possible that 50 years of
historic alliance disappear just because of elections’. He added that
Murr had the right to contest the results of counting polls in
Armenian ballot boxes and vice versa. Pakradounian, though, admitted
he was not satisfied of the electoral results, hoping the 2 members of
the Armenian bloc could realize national achievements.

SOME OPERATIVE INDICES OF NKR MATERIAL PRODUCTION IN JANUARY-MAY 2009

NKR Government Information and Public Relations Department
June 19, 2009

Industry: In January-May, 2009, industrial production at a cost of
11283.4 mln drams at factual prices was produced in the Republic. In
comparison with January-May, 2009, the index of physical volume
of the industrial production formed 123.7 percent. The structure
of industrial production proper to main types of the economic
activity is as following: mining industry-34.2 percent, reprocessing
industry-37.2 percent, electricity, gas, and water production and
their distribution-28.6 percent.

During the accounting period the volume of consumer goods production
formed 2208.9 mln drams increasing by 126.5 percent in comparison
with the same period in the previous year.

In January-May 2009, realization of ready-made goods at factual
acting prices formed 11406.5 mln drams, and the realization level –
101.1 percent.

Agriculture: In January-May, 2009, 1215.8 tons (live weight) of animal
and bird meat was realized in the Republic, 13077.6 tons of milk,
8381.5 thousand eggs were produced.

Construction: In January-May, 2009, construction works at cost of
10732.5 mln drams against 6089.2 mln drams in January-May 2008,
were realized in the Republic.

PREMIERE OF NEW PRODUCTION OF SPENDIARIAN’S "ALMAST" OPERA TO BE STAGED IN YEREVAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
19.06.2009 17:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Premiere of a new production of Alexandr
Spendiarian’s "Almast" opera will be staged in Yerevan-based National
Opera and Ballet Theatre after Spendiarian on June 27, 28. Conductor
Yuri Davtyan, stage director Georgy Isahakyan, artist Vyacheslav
Okunev, dance director Vilen Galstyan, choirmaster Karen Sargsyan
and many other professionals have worked for two-act opera, written
by Spendiarian in his last year. Famous poem of Hovhannes Tumanian
"Conquering of the Drum Castle" is at the base of the script. The
opening night of "Almast" was in 1930 in Moscow, and in 1933 "Almast"
was first staged in Yerevan. Particularly "Almast" was performed at the
unveiling ceremony of the National Opera and Ballet Theatre years ago.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA SARGSYAN MET NATO DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL BISOGNIERO

US State News
June 18, 2009 Thursday 9:46 AM EST

BRUSSELS, Belgium, April 28 — The Republic of Armenia’s mission to
NATO issued the following news release:

NATO Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero,
paid a visit to Armenia on 28 April, 2009. He met with President
of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, Chairman of the National Assembly Hovik
Abrahamyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan and Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan. Topics discussed
included regional security, the relations between NATO and Armenia,
the updated IPAP, and Armenia"s progress in defence reforms and
democratic institution building. The President of Armenia reiterated
that the European direction continues to be one of Armenia’s foreign
policy priorities and cooperation and interaction with NATO is one
of its key components. Armenia’s cooperation with the Alliance in the
framework of PfP program was described by S. Sargsyan as a pillar of
Armenia’s national security policy.

Ambassador Bisogniero noted that this was the first high level visit
since 2004 which comes to testify to the importance NATO attaches to
its relations with Armenia. He emphasised that NATO was satisfied
with the progress registered in different areas of cooperation
with Armenia. The Deputy Secretary General of NATO praised defence
reforms and Armenia’s contribution to peacekeeping operations. He
encouraged to further advance cooperation in the fields of the
fight against international terrorism, civil emergency planning. The
sides concurred that the Individual Partnership Action Plan was a
good instrument to discuss issues of common interest and to achieve
the goals that the sides agreed upon. In the context of improving
regional security, the President of Armenia stressed the importance
of peaceful resolution of the existing conflicts. C. Bisogniero
welcomed the ongoing Armenian-Turkish political dialogue and the
progress registered so far. With regard to the NK conflict, he noted
that though NATO is not directly involved in the settlement process,
it follows the developments carefully and would welcome any effort
directed at the peaceful resolution of the conflict. The two sides
agreed that the conflict should be resolved with due account of all
fundamental principles of international law and that one particular
principle cannot overrule the others. The President of the National
Assembly assured that the Armenian Associated Delegation to the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly will continue to actively participate in the
discussions held in different committees and sub-committees. Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan conveyed Armenia’s interest in further
developing relations with NATO. He emphasized that the Government of
Armenia appreciated the assistance received from NATO and individual
member states. Tigran Sargsyan noted that the recently established
Ministry of Emergency Situations would help address more effectively
the goals outlined as priorities in the area. Prime Minister also
presented government’s steps aimed at mitigating and overcoming the
negative impact of the global financial and economic crisis. Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian stressed that Armenia intended to strengthen
and develop mutually beneficial cooperation with NATO within the
framework of Partnership for Peace program. Armenian Foreign Minister
attached high importance to Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership
Action Plan as an effective format of cooperation. E. Nalbandian
also emphasised that Armenia would continue its cooperation with
NATO in the fields of peacekeeping, fight against international
terrorism, emergency situations and on other issues that the sides
would identify as of common interest. Claudio Bisogniero praised
the development of cooperation with Armenia and the successful
implementation of IPAP. Deputy Secretary General touched upon the
results of NATO Strasbourg/Kehl Summit. At the meeting with the
Minister of Defence S. Ohanyan, Ambassador Bisogniero particularly
stressed the importance of developing relations with Armenia in the
field of military cooperation. In that regard the priorities are to
achieve full interoperability of the peacekeeping brigade, to overhaul
the military education system and develop capabilities for long term
planning. Minister Ohanyan gave a positive assessment to the expert
assistant by NATO aimed at the implementation of defence reforms, in
particular to conduct SDR, to strengthen the mechanisms of civilian
control of the Armed Forces.For more information please contact:
Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:- [email protected]

MONASTERY OF TATEV TO BECOME A TOURISM CENTER

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
18.06.2009 17:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ One of the main goals of the National Competitiveness
Foundation (NCF) is improving the quality of tourism services
and attracting as much tourists as possible. Another goal of the
foundation is to transform the Armenian Tourism Development Agency
(ATDA) in the National Tourism organization, Armen Hovhannisyan,
a representative of NCF said at the third forum "Competitiveness of
the Armenian Tourism Industry".

According to him, the program on rehabilitation of the Tatev monastery
complex is elaborated under auspices of NCF and will be completed
by 2012-2013.

The program is aimed at restoring the monastery complex and turning
it into the center of historical sites. It is projected to create
educational and research center in the region of Syunik which will
help to develop spiritual, scientific, and educational life.

Development of tourism industry and agro-business in the region
are among the goals of the program. It is also projected to create
facilities of basic services both within the monastery complex and
in the neighborhood to ensure sustainable development of Tatev’s
population. The only cableway is projected to be stretched via Vorotan
gorge to ensure easy access to Tatev.

"We don’t want waste words, that is why we start our activities today
and we are able to fulfill them," representative of NCF said.

Over the last year ATDA issued some 13.300 brochures and disseminated
them abroad, participated in some tourism related events in Italy,
France, Japan, representative of ATDA Susanna Azoyan informed the
forum participants.

According to her, ATDA has already representatives in Italy and
France. "Road Show" program is projected to implement, and Italian
tour operators will show different options of promotion of Armenian
products on the international markets.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SAYS THE ARMENIAN-SYRIAN BUSINESS FORUM IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GET AQUAINTED WITH EACH OTHERS ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE TRADE-ECONOMIC SPHERE AND TO ESTABLISH BUSINESS LINKS

ARMENPRESS
June 18, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS: An Armenian-Syrian business forum was
held today in the Reception House of the Armenian Government. Armenian
and Syrian Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Bashar al-Assad, head of
the Armenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Martin Sargsyan, Head
of the Syrian Trade Chamber Union Ghassan al Kalaa as well as more
than 160 businessmen from the two states were present.

Greeting the participants of the forum M. Sargsyan noted that the visit
of Syrian President to Armenia was a pleasant and proper occasion to
once more assess the relationship and economic links between the two
states and to discuss the prospects of their development.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan welcomed the participants of the
conference wishing them a fruitful activity. According to him, the
Armenian-Syrian relationship have firm bases, in the conditions of
present economic and political realities the two states construct warm
and dynamically developing relations of a new quality with which the
levels of political and economic cooperation must aim to equalize.

According to him, this aim is not merely a kind wish; the Armenian
entrepreneurs are seriously represented in the Syrian business
circles. Armenian President considers one of the most important
means of realization of the mentioned aim to be the existence of
mutual political will to foster links between the entrepreneurs
of the two states and create a more favorable environment for the
entrepreneurship.

President Sargsyan noted that during the visit of B. al Assad an
agreement of encouragement of investments and mutual protection
has been signed which is another step made towards the boosting of
trade-economic relations.

Stressing the importance of his visit to Armenia the Syrian President
noted that this is a good opportunity to get acquainted with the
economic and political condition of this state.

"The Armenian nation has always expressed its gratitude to the Syrian
people for supporting them in the last century. All of us also felt
that during these two days," B. al Asad said.

"The long-term projects with which the businessmen of the two states
can make investments are also very important. The only barrier between
Armenia and Syria is the absence of land communication.

During the intercourse with S. Sargsyan we spoke about this issue. The
regulation of relations between Armenia and Turkey is very important;
it will contribute to the development of economies of Armenia as well
as of Turkey and Syria," B. al Assad said.

B. al Assad also stressed the importance of smoothening of visa terms
especially for the businessmen and tourists. According to him there
are numerous issues but we must exert all our effort to overcome them.

GARNIK HAYRAPETYAN: WE’RE DOING OUR BEST TO DEVELOP KICKBOXING IN ARMENIA’

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
17.06.2009 15:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Kickboxing Federation are conducting active work
towards development of kickboxing in Armenia. A number of kickboxing
schools have opened in Armenia to this purpose.

According to RA Kickboxing Federation President Garnik Hayrapetyan ,
RA Kickboxing Federation and Defense Ministry will launch a program
on introduction of kickboxing into RA Armed Forces.

Hayrapetyan also noted that RA Kickboxing Federation planks to kick
off series of friendly tournaments in July.

"We plan to invite Iranian, Russian. Ukrainian, Georgian and European
teams to our tournament.s A prize fund of AMD 1000 000 will be
established. Each tournament will include 5 rounds.

Tournaments aim to develop professional kickboxing in Armenia."

On June 15-20 Yerevan will host RA Kickboxing Championship, in August
Armenian Kickboxing Team plans to participate in CIS Kickboxing
Championship in Yalta.