Author: Vardanian Garo

Trend, Azerbaijan
July 31 2009

Armenia rejects Turkish preconditions

Armenia rejects Turkish preconditions linking normalization of
bilateral relations to the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
with Azerbaijan, President Serzh Sargsyan said on Thursday, according
to ITAR-TASS.

"We extended a hand to Turkey despite historic problems, in
particular, the genocide of Armenians in 1915 by the Ottoman Empire,"
he told young representatives of Armenian Diaspora on Thursday.

"Despite the difficult path we proposed to the Turkish leadership to
establish diplomatic relations without any preconditions, to open
roads and then discuss the issues we consider necessary," Sargsyan
said.

"Armenia and Turkey negotiated for a year and agreed two documents,
however after that certain political forces in Turkey attempted to
advance preconditions and link the establishment of diplomatic
relations with Armenia to the Karabakh problem and
Armenian-Azerbaijani relations," he said.

"We realize that Turkey is a big country, we realize its role in the
region and in the world. However we are an independent state and they
cannot speak to us by the language of ultimatums. Any such step causes
a back reaction", Sargsyan said.

VIVACELL-MTS AND ARCS SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
31.07.2009 17:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today VivaCell-MTS and Armenian Red Cross Society
(ARCS) joined hands to address humanitarian challenges faced by
the state and society. The two Organizations signed a Memorandum of
Understanding for this purpose during a press conference at Armenian
Red Cross Society Headquarters.

"Because we care!" is a motto that united the two organizations.

The long term cooperation between the ARCS and VivaCell-MTS will
start with a very vital cause, the fight against the HIV virus, the
millennium’s merciless evil. Realizing the importance of awareness
in prevention of the virus, the two organizations come together to
raise population’s awareness on HIV/AIDS prevention. The activities
will involve a wide range of educational events: information materials
distribution, public events, etc.

"We owe our society the right to know. With knowledge and awareness
we can better prevent and fight any disease. Awareness and prevention
are each and every one’s responsibility and tolerance is required
when dealing with HIV cases. Because we care we are here today,"
VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian stated.

Before signing the memorandum, leaders of both organizations’ passed
blood test for HIV analysis.

SITUATION AROUND NKR HASN’T CHANGED SINCE 1994

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
31.07.2009 21:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Situation around NKR hasn’t changed since 1994,
"National Self-determination" Association Leader Paruyr Hayrikyan
told a news conference.

On a positive side, he noted that NKR issue is being discussed on
an international level, which will serve as a guarantee for fair
resolution of the issue.

According to Hayrikyan, Armenian authorities are inert in NKR conflict
settlement, continuing with the policy line pursued by first RA
authorities. Should anyone else come to power, he’ll need to apply
significant efforts to amend the situation.

The only way to resolve the issue, Hayrikyan believes, is for
Armenia to refuse participation in negotiations, with further
involvement of NKR. Armenia only has to assume NKR safety guarantor
responsibilities, "National Self-determination" Association Leader
added.

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ADDRESS TO JUSTICE MINISTER

Panorama.am
14:19 30/07/2009

Human Rights Watch organization addressed open letter to Armenian
Justice Ministry expressing deep concern about Arman Babajanyan’s
health condition. The address to Justice Minister Gevorg Danielyan
says: "We are writing regarding Arman Babajanyan, whose prison
term, three-and-a-half-year, is discharging. We have learned that
Mr. Babajanian has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, which is
affecting his eyesight and requires urgent medical intervention. We are
very concerned about his health and therefore ask for your immediate
intervention."

ARMENIAN NATIONAL SECURITY SERVICE: AZERBAIJANI STRUCTURES TRYING TO FUEL TENSION BETWEEN PARTIES TO KARABAKH CONFLICT

ArmInfo
2009-07-30 14:52:00

ArmInfo. Armenian National Security Service has disseminated a
statement on Azerbaijan’s attempts to politicize the issue of captives.

The NSS Press Center reported that Azerbaijani mass media have
raised another wave of anti-Armenian propaganda taking advantage of
the Armenian soldier’s falling prisoner on July 15 2009. A certain
Azerbaijani military expert says that "hunger and the prospects
to get over to Europe" allegedly led the Armenian soldier to that
step. The so-called "expert" even takes the liberty to advise Armenian
soldiers to cross over to the Azerbaijani party by entire battalions
and regiments to easily get to Europe from Azerbaijan.

Another statement addressed to the Armenian Armed Forces published
by 1news.az is above imagination. Thus, "prospering" Azerbaijan
makes advices to Armenian soldiers on how to cross over the mined
territories, yield themselves prisoners to further move to Europe
and Northern America for better life. "It is noteworthy that 8
Azerbaijani soldiers have yielded themselves prisoners crossing to
border to Armenia over the last years. Six of them were resettled
in third countries with the support of the ICRC and UNHCR and two
are still in Armenia refusing to repatriate. Armenia has never
made these facts a subject for speculations or politicization like
the Azerbaijani "experts" try to do. All this shows that certain
Azerbaijani structures try to fuel tension between the parties to the
Karabakh conflict, to create tense atmosphere directly threatening to
the efforts by international mediators in the Karabakh peace process,"
the NSS reports.

PUPILS OF ARMENIAN SCHOOL OF SPAIN TAKE PART IN "HOLIDAY IN THE NAME OF PEACE" PROJECT

Noyan Tapan
July 29, 2009

MADRID, JULY 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. It is already the fifth
year that the pupils of Armenian Ararat Union’s school of Spain take
part in the "Holiday in the Name of Peace" project organized by Mislata
International Humanitarian Union (AHUIM) within the framework of which
every year excursions to Acuarama and Terra Mistica (Mysterious World)
are held.

The organizer of the event AHUIM every year invites children suffering
from various diseases from Sahara to Spain who not only have their
holiday in this country but also get the necessary treatment which
seem to be impossible in their countries. Armenian children are also
included in this project thanks to the exact social-cultural policy
and permanent relations of Ararat Armenian union with other unions.

According to the Union, 14 best pupils took part in the excursion to
Acuarama and returned with unforgettable memories.

HEADS OF CSTO MEMBER STATES TO GATHER FOR NON-OFFICIAL SUMMIT JULY 31-AUGUST 2

ARMENPRESS
July 27, 2009

ASTANA, JULY 27, ARMENPRESS: Heads of CSTO member countries will
gather for a non-official summit July 31-August 2 in Cholpon Ata
town of Kazakhstan, situated on the shore of Issik-Kyul Lake, press
secretary of the Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry Ilyas Omarov said.

During the summit the participants will exchange thoughts towards
urgent international issues, activity of the establishments and
increase of the level of its efficiency.

The leaders of the states will also refer to global international
issues – including improvement of European security architecture,
global financial crisis, restoration of post-conflicting Afghanistan
etc. .

BIOACTIVE FOOD SUPPLEMENTS PRODUCED OF BRANDY PRODUCTION WASTE IN ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-07-28 12:29:00

ArmInfo.A company producing bioactive food supplement "Gelioton"
of brandy production waste has opened in Armenia – BE-VIT LLC.

BE-VIT LLC Marketing Director Vahe Tunyan told ArmInfo the company
was created in early 2009. "The authorized capital was not large –
less than 1 million drams. However, it was established independent
of any SME support programs. To create the company we used a credit
on market conditions", he said. The production will total early 10
million drams in 2009. The company is cooperating with local brandy
producers for provision of raw materials.

The first lot of the product has already been introduced in the
market. The product is not exported yet. The company plans to use
the supplement in bread and juice production.

5 SCHOOLS FROM ARMENIA ARE TO TAKE PART IN PRE-ELECTORAL ROUND OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEST "INNOVATIVE SCHOOLS" OF "MICROSOFT"

ARMENPRESS
JULY 27, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 27, ARMENPRESS: Five schools from Armenia are to take
part in pre-electoral round of the international contest "Innovative
Schools" of "Microsoft" Company. Coordinator of the program "Partners
in Educational Sphere" of the "Microsoft" Armenian office Kristine
Gyonjyan told Armenpress that the Armenian round has already finished,
20 schools had initially presented applications, 5 of which have
been elected – Yerevan educational complex "Seminary after Anania
Shirakatsi", the physics-mathematics special school after A. Shahinyan
subordinated to Yerevan State University, Yerevan educational complex
"Mkhitar Sebastatsi", Vanadzor’s N 10 school, Abovyan’s N 10 school
after V. Hambardzumyan.

The educational centers having passed the international pre-electoral
round, will get the opportunity of working out a new educational
model on the basis of IT during a year. According to K. Gyonjyan,
the succeeded models will serve as examples for different schools of
the world and are possible to be applied in a number of countries,
including – Armenia. The one of the 5 schools which will be will be
elected from Armenia, will be clear only on September 15.

For taking part in the "Innovative Schools" contest 30 schools from the
world are selected annually to use their whole potential in working
out flexible and trustful models, convey their experience and worked
out models to other schools of their countries and region.

A memorandum of mutual understanding on "Partners in Educational
Sphere" was signed December 3 2008 between the Armenian Education
and Science Ministry and "Microsoft" Company intending to
extend cooperation in 3 directions – "Innovative School",
"Innovative Teacher" and "Innovative Pupil". Meetings
and discussions are periodically organized between the
sides on purpose of arranging the joint works efficiently

ASHTARAK KAT COMPANY IS CONDUCTING FAIRY DRUM ACTION

ArmInfo
2009-07-24 12:18:00

ArmInfo. Ashtarak Kat company is conducting a Fairy Drum action

PR Manager of Ashtarak Kat Tatevik Gabazyan says that, in order to take
part in the action, one should collect 100 labels of Yo-Yo ice-cream
and register them at the company’s office. The labels will take part
in a draw to be held on the first Sundays of Aug and Sept. The holders
of the losing labels may still hope to get the grand prix is Notebook.

Ashtarak Kat was set up in 1995 on the basis of a cheese plant in
the village of Agarak, Aragatsotn region.