Author: Toneyan Mark

NEW DEPUTY MINISTER PRESENTED TO THE MFA STAFF

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2009-02-02 17:55
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

On February 2, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic Georgy Petrossian presented the newly-appointed Deputy
Foreign Minister Vardan Barseghyan to the NKR MFA staff.

Earlier Vardan Barseghyan held the office of the NKR Permanent
Representative to the USA. The decree on appointing him the NKR Deputy
Foreign Minister was signed by NKR President Bako Sahakyan on January
31, 2009.

ARMENIANS RESPOND TO APOLOGY

Hurriyet
sh/domestic/10904739.asp?scr=1
Feb 2 2009
Turkey

ISTANBUL – The apology campaign initiated by a group of Turkish
intellectuals has inspired Armenians to launch a similar initiative to
apologize to the Turks for murders committed by the Asala organization
in the 1980s.

Dr. Armen Gavakian from the Macquarie University in Sydney, who is
also co-chair of the Turkish-Armenian Dialogue Group, is behind the
initiative. The statement will be opened for signatures next week,
Gavakian told daily Radikal. "Through this campaign we will show
that we support our Turkish friends’ campaign with all our heart,"
he said. The petition will read: "I apologize to the Ottomans and
Turks for murders committed in the name of the Armenian people and
I empathize with the feelings and pain of the Ottomans and Turks."

Gavakian said Turks’ "I apologize" campaign inspired him to launch
a similar effort. "This was a great initiative that was proof of
nobility since it is hard to face one’s past, whether as an individual
or a nation Ã~I I hope the Armenians can show the same courage as
the Turks and face the skeletons in their own closet," he said.

"My conscience does not accept the insensitivity and the denial of the
‘Great Catastrophe’ that the Ottoman Armenians were subjected to in
1915. I reject this injustice and for my share, I empathize with the
feelings and pain of my Armenian brothers and sisters. I apologize
to them," said the Turkish campaign’s petition signed by more than
30,000 people so far.

–Boundary_(ID_yB7MgNdTbVqVCbRMnlJqnQ)–

SYDNEY ARMENIANS NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE TO TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.02.2009 14:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Reports on an apology campaign allegedly to be
launched by Armenian intellectuals of Sydney are untrue, head of
the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office
Director Kiro Manoyan told PanARMENIAN.Net.

"During an online discussion, Sydney University professor Armen
Gakavian expressed an opinion which was later ascribed to the entire
Armenian community," Mr. Manoyan said.

Gavakian presumed that the campaign launched by the Turkish
intellectuals should be followed by a similar move on the Armenian
part.

"Certainly, his offer caused indignation of the other participants
of the discussion," Mr. Manoyan said. "Some of the Turkish campaign
initiators hoped that Armenians will follow their example and apologize
for the national liberation struggle in the Ottoman Empire during
World War I. It’s outrageous because the Armenian Genocide can’t be
equaled to the resistance Armenians put up during those years."

Radikal Turkish newspaper quoted Armen Gakavian as saying that
"Armenia should apologize to the Turkish nation for killing several
thousand of Turks in the early 20th century."

U.S. scholar Denis Papazian is reported to support the initiative.

"FRANCE TELECOM" TO MAKE MORE INVESTMENTS

Panorama.am
14:14 03/02/2009

The Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan received the General
Director of "France Telecom" (Orange Armenia) Bruno Dutois, reports
the public relations department of the Government. The Ambassador of
France to Armenia Serge Smesow, the director-owner of "Grand Tornton
Ami" company Arman Pinarbasi were also present at the meeting.

According to the source, the Prime Minister mentioned that Armenia
needed another experienced and professional communication company to be
established in the country. The General Director thanked for organizing
and guaranteeing a tender correspondent to the international standards
and for creating beneficial conditions for business development.

The Director of the company said that it is planned to invest another
70 million USD to cover not only the capital city but the regions also.

ARMENIAN INTERESTED IN COOPERATION WITH FRANCOPHONIE STRUCTURES

armradio.am
02.02.2009 12:40

Adviser to the Foreign Minister of Armenia on Issues of Francophonie,
Ambassador Christian Ter-Stepanyan had a meeting with the Secretary
General of the International Organization of the Francophonie,
Abdou Diouf.

Christian Ter-Stepanyan presented to the Secretary General the steps
Armenia has taken after becoming an associate member of the OIF in
the direction of deepening cooperation in this framework. During
the meeting the parties attached importance not only to the close
cooperation immediately with the International Organization of the
Francophonie, but also the consistent participation in the activity
of Francophonie structures. In this regard, Abdou Diouf axpressed
appreciation for the fact that Armenia has already applied for becoming
an associate member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie.

During the meeting Christian Ter-Stepanyan reconfirmed Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian’s invitation to Abdou Diouf to
visit Armenia.

AHMADINEJAD SEEKS SECOND PRESIDENTIAL TERM

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.01.2009 14:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will run for
president again in June

Ahmadinejad’s rivals on June 12 could include moderate politician
Mohammad Khatami, whose presidency from 1997 to 2005 was marked by
improving ties with the West that have since deteriorated.

Analysts say Ahmadinejad’s prospects may largely depend on retaining
the support of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s top
authority who has often publicly praised the president and whose
views influence millions of loyalists, Reuters reports.

Yerevan Is Satisfied With The Results Of Sargsyan-Aliyev Meeting In Zurich

Regnum

Jan 28 2009
Russia

The Armenian side assessed the Zurich meeting as positive and
constructive, a REGNUM was informed at the press service of the
President’s Administration according to results of Sargsyan-Aliyev
meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, on January 28.

The meeting of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and the
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was attended by the Foreign
Ministers of two countries Edward Nalbandyan and Elmar Mammadyarov, as
well as OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (USA) Mattew Bryza, Yuri Merzlyakov
(Russia), Bernard Fassier (France) and Personal Representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk. Then within an hour the
Presidents’ had a tête-a-tête meeting, which was again followed by
broad negotiations. The sides shared viewpoints on the present stage
of the negotiation process over the Karabakh issue. Following the
results of the meeting the Presidents of both countries instructed the
Foreign Ministers to continue the negotiations within the framework
of the Minsk group Co-Chairs. An agreement was reached concerning
the Co-Chairs’ forthcoming visit to the region.

After the meeting Serzh Sargsyan left for Davos to participate in
the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum.

It is worth mentioning that this was the third meeting of the both
Presidents. Previous two took place in Saint Petersburg and Moscow. An
agreement concerning the meeting in Zurich was reached within the
framework of the Minsk group Co-Chairs visit to the region on January.

–Boundary_(ID_Ldf60b/Szbk6QZMicqsFEQ)–

YERVAND AZATIAN: TEKEYAN CULTURAL UNION HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE AND BUSIEST BRIDGES LINKING DIASPORA WITH HOMELAND

Noyan Tapan

Jan 27, 2009

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian government values highly
all the initiatives of Tekeyan Cultural Union (TCU), the RA prime
minister Tigran Sargsyan stated when receiving TCU reprsentatives on
January 27. He expressed satisfaction at the 2008 Vahan Tekeyan annual
award-giving ceremony held at TCU the day before. In his words, these
annual awards are important in terms of preserving Armenian identity
and at the same time they are aimed at developing Armenian culture,
science and art both in Armenia and the Diaspora.

The vice chairman of TCU in the U.S. and Canada, foreign member of the
RA National Academy of Sciences Yervand Azatian underlined that Tekeyan
Cultural Union has been one of the most active and busiest bridges
linking the Diaspora with homeland since Armenia’s independence.

According to the RA Government Information and PR Department, Yervand
Azatian, the chairperson of the Armenian General Benevolent Union
(AGBU) in Switzerland Talin Avagian, the chairman of TCY branch in
Philadelphia Babken Mkrtchian and the chairman of "Tekeyan Center"
Foundation Vardan Uzunian received letters of acknowledgement of
Armenian prime minister. During the meeting T. Sargsyan congratulated
them and handed the awards to them.

PRESS RELEASE

January 26, 2009

American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 5th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Telephone: (510) 987-9452
Fax: (510) 208-3576
Contact: Gaiane Khachatrian
E-mail: [email protected]

Dr. George Chilingarian honored by Republic of Armenia and American
University of Armenia

Dr. George Chilingarian, noted petroleum engineer, petroleum geologist,
chemist and expert on environmental aspects of oil and gas production, was
presented with a special medal from the Ministry of Science and Education of
the Republic of Armenia at a lovely luncheon hosted in the home of Dr.
Haroutune and Mrs. Sona Armenian on Sunday, January 25, 2009. Numerous
friends of Dr. Chilingarian and supporters of the American University of
Armenia (AUA) gathered to watch Consul General Armen Liloyan of the Republic
of Armenia present the medal thanking Dr. Chilingarian for his contributions
to AUA and to the country of Armenia.

Professor Chilingarian is a member of the Armenian Academy of Sciences, and
he has collaborated with Armenian scientists in studies on the geology of
the Armenian plateau. His work has received recognition by Armenia’s
Ministry of Education and Science. Dr. Chilingarian had traveled to Armenia
in October 2008 to attend the dedication of AUA’s Paramaz Avedisian Building
(PAB), and was to receive his medal at that time, but due to an emergency he
was called away and had to return to the United States before the medals
were presented.

Dr. Chilingarian, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of USC’s Viterbi School
of Engineering, was also thanked by AUA’s President, Dr. Haroutune Armenian,
for his generous contributions to the university, including the naming of a
faculty office at AUA’s new PAB building. President Emeritus of AUA Dr.
Mihran Agbabian introduced Dr. Chilingarian, noting the many USC faculty and
graduates who were in attendance to recognize Dr. Chilingarian at the
luncheon.

———————————————— ——–

The American University of Armenia Corporation (AUAC) is registered as a
non-profit educational organization in both Armenia and the United States
and is affiliated with the Regents of the University of California.
Receiving major support from AGBU, AUA offers American-accredited
instruction leading to the Masters Degree in eight graduate programs. For
more information about AUA, please visit

GENERAL STAFF LOOKING FOR SOURCE OF RUMORS ON ALLEGED DELIVERIES OF WEAPONS TO ARMENIA

WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
January 21, 2009 Wednesday
Russia

The Russian Foreign Ministry denounced the rumors on arms deliveries
to Armenia. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov phoned his Azerbaijani
counterpart Elmar Mamedjarov to discuss the matter.

Lavrov informed Mamedjarov that the General Staff and the Interior
Ministry were running an investigation and said that no munitions
had been handed to Armenia in 2008, not even by the 102nd Russian
Military Base in the Armenian Gyumri.

The ministers decided to continue the talks pending clarification of
the matter.

The scandal between Azerbaijan and Russia was created by reports in
the Azerbaijani media on the alleged transfer of $800 million worth
of Russian merchandise to Armenia. The Russian Ambassador in Baku
was summoned to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry where explanations
were demanded. The Russian Defense Ministry called the reports
"disinformation" and so did Armenia.