Author: Vardapetian Ophelia

UNIVERSITATEN HALLE UND JEREWAN WOLLEN KOOPERIEREN UNIVERSITATEN HALLE UND JEREWAN…

Ad-Hoc-News (Pressemitteilung)
20.10.2008
Germany

Vertrag soll am Mittwoch unterzeichnet werden

Halle (ddp-lsa). Die Martin-Luther-Universitat Halle-Wittenberg
(MLU) und die Staatliche Universitat Jerewan wollen enger
zusammenarbeiten. Eine Delegation der halleschen Universitat mit Rektor
Wulf Diepenbrock an der Spitze startet am Dienstag zu einer viertagigen
Reise in die armenische Hauptstadt Jerewan, wie die Universitat
am Montag mitteilte. Dort soll am Mittwoch ein Kooperationsvertrag
unterschrieben werden.

Armenuhi Drost-Abgarjan vom Orientalischen Institut der MLU
sagte: "Bereits jetzt wenden sich viele offentliche wie private
Einrichtungen an uns, wenn es um Handschriften und Kulturgegenstande
aus dem christlichen Orient geht, aber auch um Beratung bei
Kooperationsbeziehungen.’

Der Kooperationsvertrag sieht gemeinsame Forschungsprojekte und
Tagungen ebenso vor wie den Austausch von Lehrenden und Studenten. Er
bezieht sich auf die Gebiete Orientalistik, Armenologie, Germanistik
und Theologie. Im Fachbereich Germanistik ist die Einrichtung eines
Sprachlabors an der Partneruniversitat geplant. Einbezogen sind gleich
drei geisteswissenschaftliche Fakultaten der Martin-Luther-Universitat,
naturwissenschaftliche Fachbereiche sollen folgen. An der MLU
soll der internationale Masterstudiengang "Armenian Studies"
entstehen. Beziehungen zu Armenien pflegt die hallesche Hochschule
bereits seit dem 19. Jahrhundert. In der jungeren Vergangenheit wurden
sie intensiviert.

Die Staatliche Universitat Jerewan feiert 2009 ihr 90-jahriges
Bestehen. Sie umfasst 22 Fakultaten und hat derzeit rund 13 000
Studenten.

ARMENIA’S AVERAGE MONTHLY WAGE RISES 20.2% IN JAN-SEP 2008

ARKA
Oct 21, 2008

YEREVAN, October 21. /ARKA/. Armenia’s average monthly wage rose 20.2%
year-on-year to 88,581 drams in January-September 2008, the RA National
Statistical Service reports.

The monthly wage of government-financed organizations reached 63,022
drams as of September 2008 – 19.9% year-on-year rise and 4.1% increase
compared to August 2008.

The salary of private organizations rose 18.9% year-on-year to 109,300
in January-September 2008 (1.1% increase between August and September).

Armenia’s average monthly wage rose 2% between August and
September. ($1 – 307.14 drams).

ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS BASE ON PRAGMATISM AND CENTURIES-OLD FRIENDSHIP

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.10.2008 14:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia and Russia enjoy sincere friendship, RA
President Serzh Sargsyan during today’s joint news conference with
his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.

"Friendship can’t be imposed. Relations with Russia are developing
thanks to mutual trust. These relations never impeded Armenia’s
cooperation with other states," he said.

According to Dmitry Medvedev, the Armenian-Russian relations base on
pragmatism and centuries-old friendship.

ARA ABRAHAMYAN TO START SERIOUS INVESTMENT PROGRAMS IN ARMENIA NEXT YEAR

armradio.am
17.10.2008 16:22

The Armenia-Russia relations have a centuries-old history and continue
developing, which is evidenced by the forthcoming visit of the Russian
President, Dmitry Medvedev, to Armenia. President of the Union of
Armenians of Russia and the World Armenian Congress Ara Abrahamyan
told a press conference today that Armenia has a number of joint
projects with Russia. It is expected to implement the Russia-South
Caucasus-Armenia business program, which will be discussed in the
near future. "By participating in such business programs we shall
endorse Armenia’s access to the world market," he said.

Ara Abrahamyan said to be pleased with the fact that the Armenian and
Russian authorities have established friendly relations between our
countries, to which the Union of Armenians of Russia and the World
Armenian Congress contribute.

Speaking about the call of President Serzh Sargsyan to Diaspora
businessmen to make investments in Armenia, Ara Abrahamyan noted
that about 10 Russian Armenian businessmen have responded to the call
and are going to make serious investments in Motherland in the near
future. "In this regard RA President Serzh Sargsyan takes serious and
practical steps, which all the businessmen welcome. Starting from
next year I will start my investment activity and will construct a
five-star hotel in Yere van and a canning factory in Yeghegnadzor,"
Ara Abrahamyan assured.

Ara Abrahamyan considers that a rather serious situation has been
established in the South Caucasus, and it is necessary to assume
correct foreign policy, where the Armenian authorities will need the
assistance of influential Diaspora figures. He welcomed the fact of
the visit of the Turkish President to Armenia and expressed hope that
it will yield results.

Turning to the Armenian Genocide, Ara Abrahamyan informed that
they have conducted a serious analysis and suggested the Armenian
authorities to apply to the International Court of Justice for
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

He attaches great importance to the development of relations with
the United States. According to Ara Abrahamyan, the newly created
Ministry of Diaspora should try to assemble Armenians from different
countries of the world for the sake of Armenia’s development.

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN RECEIVED A DELEGATION LED BY HEAD OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOREIGN RELATIONS GENERAL DIRECTORATE ENEKO LANDABURU

_centre_8/official_news_en.php?&date=122409720 0
Thursday, 16th of October, 2008

The delegation comprised Sesary Bardinsky who is responsible for
Armenia with the European agency, Victor Andres Maldonado, Head of
South Caucasus and Central Asia Department and Raul Lutzenberger,
Head of EU Delegation in Armenia.

Eneko Landaburu said that the EU States and South Caucasian countries
inclusive of Armenia have ushered in a new era of cooperation. The
Head of EC Foreign Relations General Directorate offered to build up
a new framework for multilateral collaboration well above maintaining
the ongoing ties of cooperation. Mr. Landaburu said to be confident
that the European Union and the Government of the Republic of Armenia
share in the same values and that a prompt shift to a new level of
relationship should to be made in order to push ahead on the path
of stability, democracy and progress. In turn, the head of the RA
government expressed determination not only to continue implementing
the standing agreements, but also to proceed to new proposals.

According to Eneko Landaburu, the European Union wishes to stand by
Armenia and other South Caucasian States during the modernization
process by establishing a dialog with Western Europe and South
Caucasus. The EU is prepared to assume a more active role in the
region as this is supposed to boost democracy in South Caucasus.

Next, the parties discussed the negative effect experienced by
Armenia’s economy due to the well-known standoff between Georgia
and Russia, as well as the eventual EU assistance in the light of
the arrangements reached with the World Bank and the International
Monetary Fund.

In conclusion, the interlocutors touched upon regional security issues.

THE CHILDISH GAMES OF THE OPPOSITION
Lilit Poghosyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
14 Oct 2008
Armenia

You Can’t Come To Power By Playing Mom-Dad

Director of the independent center of sociological studies "Sociometer"
Aharon Adibekyan responds our questions.

"It is too early to speak about colored or flowered revolutions in
Armenia during the coming 1-2 years. Because there are no objective
reasons for that. No matter how some try to operate the subjective
reasons, to create tension by means of provocative actions, they have
always failed in it and will always fail. Anyhow there are certain
objective problems around which the developments can theoretically
serve as a signal for similar manifestations.

The first one is the settlement of Karabakh conflict, which, in the
context of the general regional developments, can be the only realistic
solution to the created situation. As you know politics is the art of
possibility. Which means the solution can be on the plane of mutual
concessions and pragmatism other than false dreams and illusion,
which leads to a deadlock.

If in the near future the two sides reach an agreement a question
will naturally come out, to what extent is that mutual concession
acceptable for society. Considering the fact that Serge Sargsyan,
the bearer of the top power in the country has direct connection with
the heated Karabakh struggle and has taken ma ny important decisions,
the stance of Karabakh people will be more essential. If the proposed
settlement gives rise to serious counteraction in Karabakh this fire
can shift to Armenia.

The second pivotal issue is to what extent can the government manage
to fulfill their promises. Which means – to improve the country’s
economic situation, to raise the incomes of those who are nourished
from the budget – the salaries of the state employees, the pensions,
and allowances, to fight corruption and shadow. Thus creating favorable
conditions for the flow of investments."

"What do you think the radical society must do? To wait until the
social-economic sphere deteriorates? Or to wait until we reach an
imposed "agreement" in Karabakh issue?"

"The best thing that they can do is to raise their own authority. For
example they can have a role in the same Public Council. Secondly
they can be active in the elections of Self Governmental Bodies. The
European experience displays that if the opposition has really got
a potential and authority they must try to be a success at list on
this plane, to convince their electorate that they have certain weight.

Thirdly, they must shift from the field of total rejection into the
constructive one. In our case the activity of the radical opposition
reminds of childish games – "give back my toys otherwise I will
not p lay with you", or "if I’m not the "dad" I will not play with
you". This is not constructive."

"Ter-Petrosyan promised to "sincerely" introduce the future tactics and
strategy of the "movement" during the forthcoming meeting. Do you think
the revolutionary activists will hear something new from their leader?"

"It is the most primitive form of street democracy. Levon Ter-Petrosyan
is well aware that similar things are usually done during inter-party
or "group" negotiations, rather than meetings. In such cases they
must organize discussions, appear with their personal approaches
and programs, "make an inventory" of their personal powers and
opportunities. It must be done behind the closed doors, around the
negotiation tables. In case of reaching an agreement they elaborate
a united platform and a program of joint actions, after which they
can address the public and introduce their strategy and tactics. In
this case we haven’t got such example. Our opposition continues to
hold demonstrations, firstly on advocacy purposes.

Secondly it is a function aimed at demonstrating to overseas that we
are here and we will continue our struggle. Similar mode of action
hasn’t brought anyone to power.

Armenia is not the country of colored or flowered revolutions. We
lack lots of preconditions for that and the preconditions become le
sser and lesser.

Ter-Petrosyan must know from his own experience that in our
reality the power reproduces itself from inside, because once their
companions-in-arm other than the street opposition have seized power
from them. And if they want to come to power by means of a coup d’état
they must become part of them. How to do that? This is another topic."

–Boundary_(ID_FzXd/2B2h1vB9a9w0tagA A)–

HOLY PLACE CAN ALSO REMAIN VACANT

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
15 Oct 2008
Armenia

Attempts are being made to use us as tools

"It turns out that a holy place can also remain vacant. Everything
in our reality acquires some sense.

I definitely welcome the protest rally organized by Dashnaktsoutyun
during President Gul’s visit to Armenia. But Mr. Gul used even this
fact to his own benefit. CNN and BBC made the Turkish President
a hero, by praising his brevity for overcoming the historical and
psychological complex and not refusing the invitation, knowing in
advance that a vehement protest was going to be organized.

Another manifestation of the same phenomenon is that Tanner Akchami,
one of the hundreds of people who write about the Genocide, was
awarded the Nobel Prize. The same Mr. Gul too, may be awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize some time in future should he recognize the fact of
the Armenian Genocide. It turns out that the legal successor of the
Genocide perpetrator may be awarded a prize for confessing his crime.

Our people should be ready for the tricks of the immoral world in
order not to get heartbroken. In fact, Turkey may use us as a tool
for obtaining a visiting card to Europe," Gevorg Poghosyan, Head of
the Armenian Sociological Association says.

"ARMENIANS IN IRAQ ARE NOT UNDER THREAT"

Panorama.am
19:03 15/10/2008

The situation in Mosul city, Iraq is calmed down and 40 Armenian
families living in the city and the Armenian Church are not under
threat, said Tigran Balayan, the head of public relations department
of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia. "We are in contact with the church
and we know that the Government sent military forces to defend local
people," said T. Balayan.

Remind that on Sunday Armenian businessman Farkes Batul was murdered
in the aftermath of extremists’ attack.

CONSERVATION RESEARCH: STUDY RESULTS FROM YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY PROVIDE NEW INSIGHTS INTO CONSERVATION RESEARCH

Ecology, Environment & Conservation
October 3, 2008

"The turtles of the Caucasus are poorly studied, and basic data
on their geographic distribution in some Caucasian regions are
poorly collated, hard to access, or entirely lacking. We present a
comprehensive review of turtle localities in such a region, Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh), based on literature records,
personal observations, and museum specimens," scientists in Yerevan,
Armenia report.

"The compiled data for the 3 native species (Emys orbicularis,
Mauremys caspica, and Testudo graeca) show that their distributions
in this region are restricted to 3 areas of low elevation. In the
northeast, turtles can be found in the Kura River drainage. In the
south and west, turtles can be found in the Arax River drainage. The
distributions of species within these areas vary, with E. orbicularis
being the most restricted by elevation. We note that the 3 regions here
form part of an important transect from the interior Arax drainage
(in the Ararat region of western Armenia) to near its confluence
with the Kura drainage (in southern Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh)
to the Kura drainage sensu stricto (in northeast Armenia)," wrote
M. Arakelyan and colleagues, Yerevan State University.

The researchers concluded: "Future studies of turtles in these
areas will play an important role in understanding the historical
biogeography of Caucasian turtles."

Arakelyan and colleagues published their study in Chelonian
Conservation and Biology (The geographic distribution of turtles
in Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh). Chelonian
Conservation and Biology, 2008;7(1):70-77).

For more information, contact M. Arakelyan, Yerevan State University,
Dept. of Biology, Alek Manukyan 1, Yerevan 375025, Armenia.

Publisher contact information for the journal Chelonian Conservation
and Biology is: Chelonian Research Foundation, 168 Goodrich St.,
Lunenburg, MA, USA.

TSARUKIAN FIRED SAMVEL ALEXANIAN

A1+
[07:31 pm] 14 October, 2008

Armenian Olympic Committee president Gagik Tsarukian announced today
that NA deputy Samvel Alexanian is no longer the president of the
Armenian Wrestling Federation and former chief police officer-turned
RA president bodyguard chief Hayk Harutyunian will no longer occupy
the post of president of the Armenian Boxing Federation.

The year is not over yet; however, the Armenian Olympic Committee and
the Sports Ministry held a meeting today with heads of the federations
and trainers of Armenia in the hall of the Physical Education State
Institute to report on the work completed.

Gagik Tsarukian was only satisfied with the weightlifting federation,
but he feels that there is a need for radical changes in other
sports. Tsarukian gave the federation leaders ten days to present
proposals for the changes, yet he also announced today that Samvel
Alexanian will no longer head the wrestling federation, Hrant Yenokian
is no longer the freestyle trainer, Hayk Harutinian will not be the
chief trainer of the boxing federation, while chief trainer of the
boxing team Rafael Mehrabian retired.

Gagik Tsarukian also complained about a number of sport
schools. Tsarukian believes that if the sport school doesn’t win
at least one bronze medal in four years, then it’s time to change
the director.

Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Armen Grigoryan also made a
speech and mentioned that the six medals won during the Olympics were
a sign of progress compared to the previous Olympics, but there were
some shortcomings and if no work is done, it will be very difficult
to achieve success in the next games.