Author: Torgomian Varazdat

"PEACE AND SPORT IMAGE OF THE YEAR" AWARD TO THE PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND TURKEY

armradio.am
05.12.2008 14:45

During the "Peace and Sport Awards" ceremony in Monaco the "Peace and
Sport Image of the Year" Award for the best image of fraternization
through sport was awarded for a photograph of the historic handshake
between the President of the Republic of Turkey Abdullah Gul and the
President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, during the qualifying match
for the Football World Cup between Turkey and Armenia, the Sports
Features Communications reported. Thanks to football, this moment
marked the end of nearly two decades of diplomatic silence.

H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco presented the award jointly to
Armen Grigorian, Armenian Minister of Youth and Sport, and to Mahmut
Ozgener, President of the Turkish Football Federation, who exchanged
long greetings on stage, creating a moment of intense emotion amongst
spectators.

Joel Bouzou and David Tomatis, CEO of Sportel, acclaimed the photograph
as "a symbol of hope for two communities whose history has been marked
by hostility and pain."

In a letter sent to Peace and Sport, the Armenian President Mr
Sargsyan proclaimed himself "deeply moved to hear the Grand Jury’s
decision to attribute the Peace and Sport Image of the Year Award to
his handshake with Turkish President Mr Gul." He added that he was
convinced that "Sport is one of the best ways to overcome differences
between nations".

ARMENIA WILL NEED $3 BILLION TO RAISE THE ASEISMIC STABILITY OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS
Hasmik Dilanyan

"Radiolur"
03.12.2008 14:58

Armenia was the first country to adopt aseismic construction norms
in post-Soviet period. Before that the norms accepted in the Soviet
Union led to the disastrous consequences of the 1988 Spitak earthquake.

Twenty years have passed. Rector of the Crisis Management Academy
Hamlet Matevosyan recalls those dreadful December days from the
distance of time.

"It was a very hard situation, we faced many difficulties. Everything
was destroyed, relatives of the victims did not want to leave their
houses."

"However, earthquake is not dangerous when the high-rise buildings
are aseismic," Director of the National Survey for Seismic Protection
Alvaro Antonyan told "Radiolur." He added that more than $3 billion is
needed to raise the aseismic stability of the buildings constructed
in Soviet times. This is, however, more than the annual budget of
the Republic of Armenia.

"Rather we lay the emphasis on substituting the old buildings with
new ones. Here the question refers to capital Yerevan, which is two
densely populated," Alvaro Antonyan said. Asked whether the newly
constructed buildings are aseismic, he gave a positive answer, not
ruling out, however, that in some cases the laws may be ignored.

Over the recent years it has become fashionable to add new=2 0stories
on the roofs of high-rise buildings. This is another source of
danger. Who gives the permission to the citizens? Alvaro Antonyan
assured the NSSP does not give any permission and noted that it is
given by construction companies. To fill the gap the NSSP has several
times come forth with a legislative initiative, but in vain.

ARMENIAN EMBASSY PARTICIPATES IN THE CHRISTMAS CHARITY BAZAAR IN ATHENS

armradio.am
02.12.2008 17:30

The 9th International Christmas Exhibition and Sale was held at
the HELEXPO exhibition center of Athens of November 29-30. It was
organized by the "Friends of the child" charity union, wives of the
Ambassadors accredited in Greece and female Ambassadors. All in all,
33 Embassies participated in the event.

Like the previous years, the Armenian Embassy of Greece brought its
contribution by allocating the sum gathered from the sale of Armenian
goods to the programs of the "Friends of the child" union.

"CONFLICTS SHOULD NOT BE PASSED ON TO THE GENERATIONS"

AZG Armenian Daily
03/12/2008

Armenia-Turkey-Azerbaijan

"Anka ra is interested in continuation of the diplomatic steps towards
settlement of all the conflicts", Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan
announced during his visit to Baku. "We discuss Armenian-Azerbaijani
and Armenian-Turkish relations as a complex", Babacan said at
a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar
Mammadyarov commenting on the possibility of opening the borders
with Armenia. According to him, Baku and Ankara regularly exchange
information on the meetings.

"Issues of the Genocide, land claims and Karabakh conflict will
be settled in a joint format. These issues are inseparable", said
the diplomat.

"Russian-Georgian relations were also discussed at the meeting with
Mammadyarov", Babacan added.

NKR Prime Minister Met with Culture Employees

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department

November 28, 2008

On November 27, the NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan met with
employees of the NKR Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs. L.Hakobyan,
the NKR Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs and the Deputy Minister
G.Grigoryan were present at the meeting. Attaching importance to the
role of culture in the deal of state construction and spiritual
development the Prime Minister emphasized that the sphere of culture
was and remains in the center of the country’s leadership’s attention.
Introducing red tape and bureaucratic problems of the sphere, in
particular, in ensembles, which take a great deal of artistic
directors’ creative time, the Prime Minister presented his own version
of the problem’s solution- to unite all ensembles in all its’ genre
variety into one whole noncommercial organization and to appoint a
common manager, coordinating activities of the ensembles included in
it. The Prime Minister added that it will allow, at the same time, to
increase salaries of ensemble members.
After the Prime Minister’ brief report, directors-artistic managers
of pop-folk ensemble "Vernatun", State Dance Ensemble, pop, chamber and
other state ensembles presented their viewpoints and proposals then the
Premier expressed gratitude to meeting participants and announced that
all their proposals and considerations will be taken into account.

EU DOESN’T COMPEL COUNTRIES TO EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.11.2008 15:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Some 10 years ago, South Caucasus countries were
far away from the European Union, according to the head of delegation
of the European Commission to Armenia.

"At that time, we created a new vision for cooperation with eastern
partners and launched the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), although
it was not an easy move," Mr. Raul de Luzenberger said during ‘European
Union and South Caucasus – A Security Partnership?’ international
conference in Yerevan today.

"Despite various differences between EU members and partners, there
is also much in common," he said.

"We offered our partners to use our experience in democracy and
security building. Each partner was offered a joint reform program. The
Action Plan is a package of proposals, implementation of which in
corpore can produce effect," Mr. de Luzenberger said, adding that
the EU compel countries to European integration and it’s up to the
partners whether they want to get close to Union or not.

HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND’S TELETHON 2008 TO START ON NOVEMBER 27 IN LOS ANGELES

Noyan Tapan

Nov 26, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s
Telethon 2008 will be held on November 27 in Los Angeles. This year
also the raised funds will be aimed at Armenian and Artsakh rural
development programs.

As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by Fund’s Public Relations
Department, more than 50m families, 40m out of which in the U.S.,
will have a possibility to follow telethon’s broadcasting all over the
world. It was mentioned that the amount of money raised as a result
of the telethon carried out since 1996 grows year by year. During the
17 years of its activity the Fund has implemented programs amounting
to over 185m dollars.

The general sponsor of Telethon 2008 is VivaCell-MTS, the sponsors are
Ardshininvestbank, Haypost, ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK, the information
sponsor is the Public Television of Armenia.

It should be mentioned that a promise of donation of 1.2m euros
was given in the European phonethon preceding the telethon, held on
November 13-16 in France, which exceeded phonethon’s previous year’s
index by 80 thousand euros.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website: 
November 26, 2008

His Holiness Karekin II visits Dhaka, Bangladesh

On Sunday, November 16, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, paid a one-day visit to the Armenian Church of
the Holy Resurrection, located in Dhaka, Bangladesh.  The historic church is
located in a district of the city – Armanitola, named after the large
Armenian community that once lived there.

The church and cemetery were established in 1781 by the Armenians of Bengal,
who were primarily merchants prominent in the jute, textile and silk
trades.  The community of Dhaka was closely linked to the other Armenian
communities of Bengal, including Calcutta (present-day Kolkata), Chinsurah
and Saidabad.

During his visit to the church and cemetery, His Holiness met with Mr.
Michael Martin, the last permanent Armenian resident of Dhaka, who has been
maintaining the church complex for the past few decades.  The trip to Dhaka
was made during His Holiness’ pontifical visit to India.

Accompanying His Holiness to Dhaka were Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian and the
Wardens of the Armenian Church Committee of Calcutta – Mr. Sunil Sobti and
Mrs. Susan Reuben.

##

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY CONGRATULATES ARMENIAN CAUCUS MEMBERS IN HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP

armradio.am
25.11.2008 12:55

The House Republican Conference met last week to select its leaders
for the 111th Congress, reported the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly).

Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA), a member of the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues and a cosponsor of H.Res. 106, the Armenian
Genocide resolution, was elected to serve as Republican Whip. As the
second highest ranking person in Republican Leadership, Rep. Cantor
is responsible for mobilizing votes, coordinating strategy and acting
as a liaison between rank and file Members and the leadership.

At the 2005 Armenian Genocide Commemoration event on Capitol Hill,
Rep. Cantor stated, "April 24th marks the anniversary of one of the
most horrible tragedies of the 20th century, the genocide that was
committed against the Armenian people by the Ottoman Empire. Over
the years many Armenian-Americans have helped to enrich and enhance
our Nation’s character; we have remained committed to peace in the
region and will continue to help Armenia with its economic prosperity
and strengthening of its democracy."

Minority Whip Cantor replaces outgoing Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO), who
voted against H.Res. 106 in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
in October of 2007.

Armenian Caucus Member and H.Res. 106 cosponor, Representative
Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), will also serve in the House Republican
leadership. Rep.

McCotter was re-elected as Chairman of the Republican Policy
Committee. In this role, McCotter will be responsible in crafting
winning policies that can help the Republicans regain control of the
House, which they lost in 2006.

In addition to cosponsoring H.Res. 106, McCotter also supported
H..Res.102, honoring the life and legacy of slain Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink and calling for the repeal of Article 301
of Turkey’s Penal Code that effectively punishes discussion of the
Armenian Genocide.

Representative Cathy McMorris (R-WA), cosponsor of the H.Res.106
and cosigner of the 2006 Armenian Genocide letter, will serve as
Republican Conference Vice-Chair.

Rounding out the other posts, Representative John Boehner (R-OH) won
re-election as Republican Leader and followed the Administration’s
opposition to H.Res. 106; Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), who voted against
H.Res.

106 in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, will serve as Republican
Conference Chairman; Rep. John Carter (R-TX) will be Republican
Conference Secretary and Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) will serve as
National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman.

"The new Congress and Administration will provide important
opportunities on a wide variety of issues. We look forward to working
with the incoming leadership, and in particular, Armenian Caucus
members and supporters Reps.

Cantor, McCotter and McMorris, especially as we gear up for our March
2009 Advocacy Conference," stated Bryan Ardouny, Executive Director
of the Assembly.

AZERBAIJANI DELEGATION COMES OUT WITH REGULAR ARTIFICIAL ACCUSATIONS TO ARMENIA AT CONFERENCE IN TBILISI

ArmInfo
2008-11-24 13:04:00

ArmInfo. International Conference, dedicated to the issues of
judicial-legal reforms in the South Caucasus countries, was held
in Tbilisi on November 19-20 with participation of delegations from
Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan under the auspices of these countries’
justice ministers. (Azerbaijan was represented by the first deputy
justice minister).

The delegation included representatives of the judicial authority,
the Bar and Prosecutor’s Office. The three countries’ ombudsmen were
also invited to the conference, which was conducted by Council of
Europe deputy Secretary General Maud de Boer-Buquicchio. Each party
at the conference presented a report on the course of implementation
of judicial-legal reforms. The issues of efficiency enhancement
and strengthening of independence of the South Caucasus countries’
judicial system were also discussed. After the conference, Maud de
Boer-Buquicchio met heads of the delegations and discussed some issues
of the prospects of implementation of judicial- legal reforms.

As the Justice Ministry spokeswoman Lana Mshetsyan told ArmInfo,
during the conference, the Azerbaijani party came out with statements
against Armenia and emphasized that "aggression by Armenia hinders the
Azerbaijan authorities to assure supremacy of law at the territory
of the". The Armenian party replied and explained in details that
Azerbaijan is trying to discredit Armenia every time at different
conferences speaking on a template and distorting the facts. Armenia’s
Justice Minister Gevork Danielyan also emphasized that both aggressive
actions and violations of international standards and principles were
made just by Azerbaijan, in particular, mass killing of people by
ethnic signs, disregard of the nation’s right for self-determination,
etc.

Now, he said, when the presidents of both republics take serious
steps on the way of general settlement of the conflict, such methods
of Azerbaijan on artificial aggravation of international relations
confirm that some Azerbaijani forces are not interested in civilized
methods of the problem solution. It was resolved that the statements by
the Azerbaijani delegation will not be included in the final document
of the conference. Only a reference will be made to the Azerbaijani
party’s special opinion. It has been emphasized in this special
opinion that aggression took place in the territory of Azerbaijan
and it rules out assurance of supremacy of the law.

At the suit of G. Danielyan a reference to the special opinion of
Armenia, where the above-mentioned arguments of the Armenian party
were given in details, was also included.