Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG MINISTER’S ONLY ADORNMENT?

news.am
Nov 20 2009
Armenia

17:10 / 11/20/2009The international community does not take Armenia’s
representatives’ seriously because of their "miserable looks", Galust
Sahakyan, Head of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) faction, told
a press briefing, commenting on a new "acquisition" of RA Minister
of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan – a Volkswagen Touareg.

"We must properly appear before the international community," Sahakyan
said, without explaining how the new car can help the same Armen
Ashotyan to "properly appear before the international community."

He may have meant that, "to be taken seriously", Minister Ashotyan, as
well as other Armenian officials, must "appear before the international
community" with their expensive cars in the background.

It turns out that Armenian officials must be "accompanied" by their
own cars during their business trips abroad at the taxpayers’ expense!

Well, if this is the only way for Armenian officials to look
"presentable", Armenian taxpayers are ready to "sacrifice" for that.

Minister Ashotyan himself stated that the car, its cost being U.S.

$70,000 and up, was presented to the RA Ministry of Education and

"EDUCATION – DEVELOPMENT BY COOPERATION" TWO-DAY CONFERENCE OPENS TODAY IN YEREVAN

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 20, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS: "Education – Development by
Cooperation" two-day conference opened today in Yerevan the goal of
which is to expand cooperation in the implementation of reforms in
the education sphere, involving potential of interested organization.

Representatives of international, donor organizations and NGOs are
participating in the event.

Armenian Education and Science Minister Armen Ashotyan said that this
conference will coordinate the programs which are and will be carried
out in the education sphere as well as will expand the involvement
of the civil society in working out the education development policy
and its implementation.

According to him, during these two days the conference will turn into
a fair of ideas as a result of which joint programs will be worked
out to be implemented in near future.

Chairwoman of the NA’s European Integration standing committee Naira
Zohrabyan, highlighting the international cooperation in the education
sphere, noted that it is a serious opportunity for Armenia to ensure
qualitative growth.

She said that within the framework of the EU’s "Eastern partnership"
programs the committee is highlighting not only political but also
the humanitarian component.

"In the NA we are always ready to support the educational reforms in
the political and legislative field," N. Zohrabyan said.

Armenian deputy foreign minister Arman Kirakossyan welcomed the
participants of the conference and expressed hope that such conferences
will create basis for coordinated activity with the international and
local organizations carrying out programs in the education system,
exchange of international experience.

Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Armenia Raul
de Luzenberger and head of the Armenian office of the World Bank
Aristomene Varudakis were present at the conference.

KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT NKR’S DIRECT INVOLVEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.11.2009 20:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "In his statement, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov confirmed
the negotiation format applying to post-Soviet conflicts," FM Edward
Nalbandyan told today Parliament’s Q&A session, answering Heritage
faction leader Armen Martirosyan question.

In case of encouraging the statement at the current stage, it will be
possible to definitely say that current MG format satisfies Armenian
side whereas Azerbaijani side constantly criticizes it.

With regard to NKR’s direct involvement in conflict settlement
process, FM Nalbandyan said that Armenia raises the issue at all
meeting with OSCE MG Co-Chairs. "Besides, Armenia constantly insists
on the impossibility of drafting a final agreement or achieving any
solution without NKR’s direct involvement," Armenian FM stressed.

ALIYEV PREFERS PEACEFUL MEANS, BUT ALSO PREPARED TO USE MILITARY FORCE

Tert
Nov 18 2009
Armenia

We wish to settle the Karabakh conflict by peaceful means, since
we don’t want war, but perhaps doing that by peaceful means is not
fruitful, said Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev yesterday, reports
Azerbaijani news agency ANS Press.

"During the year, negotiations have taken place 7-8 times. There’s
certain progress. But we are unable to reach the fundamental resolution
of the issue," said Aliyev.

According to Aliyev, international agencies have approved necessary
decisions and resolutions, but those are not being implemented:
in this case, the meaning of those resolutions is lost.

Aliyev once again referred to the amounts secured for the army:
"Large sums have been invested in building up the army. Our army is
becoming stronger. We are carrying out negotiations, but, along with
that, we must also be prepared to free our lands by military force
if necessary."

ARMENIA’S MINISTER OF LABOR RESIGNS

Aysor
Nov 18 2009
Armenia

Armenia’s Minister of Labor and Social Affair, Gevorg Petrosyan, has
resigned, told Aysor’s correspondent spokesman of Prosperous Armenia
Party, Baghdasar Mgeryan. The resignation is caused by poor health
and lack of experience, said spokesman.

It was also announced that chairman of Standing Parliamentary
Commission for Human Rights, a party’s member Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan
will be nominated on the post.

NEXT MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS TO BE HELD IN MUNICH AT THE END OF THE WEEK

APA
nov 18 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Viktoria Dementieva – APA. The next meeting of Azerbaijani and
Armenian presidents will be held in Munich at the end of the week,
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said in the parliament, APA reports
quoting Panorama.am website.

Nalbandian said France, the co-chairing country of OSCE Minsk Group,
had stated on behalf of the co-chairing countries that the next
meeting of the presidents would be held in Munich.

DMITRY MEDVEDEV: PROGRESS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS EXAMPLE OF RUSSIA-EU COOPERATION

news.am
Nov 18 2009
Armenia

Russia and the European Union (EU) have to look for ways of stabilizing
the most complicated situation in the South Caucasus, RF President
Dmitry Medvedev stated at a news conference on the results of the
Russia-EU Summit in Stockholm today.

"Frankly speaking, we hold different positions on this issue,
which must be admitted. Differences remain, but it is not a basis
for dramatizing the situation. On the contrary, we should make our
points of view draw nearer," the Russian leader said. He pointed
out positive examples of Russia’s cooperation with EU in settling
regional conflicts.

"We particularly discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process taking
place between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Positive changes have been
registered. It is an example of how we can or could have cooperated
but for the well-known aggression last year," Medvedev said.

As regards Russia’s relations with the Transcaucasian states, President
Medvedev stated that everything happened so "we are too sensitive to
various words or hints at what is going on in our countries."

"I think that the wisdom of state policy is not in pinning labels.

Rather, it is coming off winners from difficult situations. But the
winners are those determined to develop relations despite problems. I
think we have succeeded," Medvedev said.

Le Monde, France
15 novembre 2009 dimanche

Le génocide arménien sur la scène turque

par Guillaume Perrier (Diyarbakir, Turquie, envoyé spécial)

Ce n’est qu’une pièce de théâtre. Une sorte de fable poétique
explorant les tourments de l’identité arménienne. Sauf que, grâce Ã
elle, pour la première fois, jeudi 12 novembre, dans la ville kurde de
Diyarbakir, au sud-est de la Turquie, le génocide de 1915 a trouvé sa
place sur une scène du pays. Le Proverbe turc et le Concert arménien,
écrit et interprété par Gérard Torikian et mis en scène par Serge
Avédikian, deux artistes français d’origine arménienne, prend pour
toile de fond le massacre des Arméniens et leurs relations avec les
Turcs. Torikian jongle avec les personnages et les allégories, passe
d’un pianiste arménien qui joue la Marche turque à un pacha ottoman
qui fait marcher les Arméniens vers la mort.

Il égratigne avec humour, mais sans ménagement, le déni du génocide. "
Il faut agir résolument. Il faut éliminer les éléments non turcs de la
population (…), déclare froidement l’officier ottoman. Plus tard,
nous dirons que rien ne s’est passé. Et celui qui dira le contraire,
on le fera taire. "

" Prendre la place de l’autre "

Les détails les plus crus apparaissent à travers l’histoire d’un
berger turc qui nie farouchement les sévices infligés à un agneau
arménien. Mais, à la fin, deux marionnettes antagonistes ouvrent le
dialogue. " J’ai toujours pensé que le seul moyen de sortir de cette
pathologie qui frappe les Arméniens et les Turcs était de prendre la
place de l’autre. C’est un désir de dialogue, mais surtout, pour moi,
il n’y a pas d’autre moyen d’avancer ", explique Torikian. Le public
de Diyarbakir, où vivait, avant le génocide, une forte communauté
arménienne, a été particulièrement réceptif à la démarche : les Kurdes
ont, eux aussi, été les victimes du déni de l’Etat turc. Trois autres
représentations seront proposées à Istanbul, lundi 16 et mardi 17.

La pièce a pu être jouée en Turquie grâce à l’engagement d’Osman
Kavala – mécène atypique d’Istanbul et fondateur de l’ONG Anadolu
Kültür -, qui a ouvert un centre d’art à Diyarbakir et développe des
projets culturels en Anatolie. C’est aussi le signe du changement qui
secoue la société turque, faisant tomber les tabous historiques. Les
deux pays ont signé en octobre des accords diplomatiques prévoyant la
réouverture de la frontière commune, fermée depuis 1994. Une brèche
est déjà ouverte.

UN PERMANENT COORDINATOR IN ARMENIA KONSUELO VIDAL AWARDED RA FOREIGN MINISTRY COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL

Noyan Tapan
Nov 13, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian received UN Permanent Coordinator in Armenia, UNDP Permanent
Representative Konsuelo Vidal on November 13, on the occasion of
completion of her mission in Armenia. E. Nalbandian highly evaluated
the work K. Vidal did in the four years of her tenure and thanked
her for supporting Armenia’s development programs. The RA Foreign
Minister attached importance to programs implemented by various UN
agencies in Armenia.

K. Vidal, in her turn, expressed gratitude for UNDP-Armenia excellent
partnership stressing that she leaves Armenia with warm memories.

According to the RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department,
E. Nalbandian awarded K. Vidal Foreign Ministry commemorative medal on
the occasion of the completion of UN Permanent Coordinator’s mission
in Armenia.

AMBASSADOR OF BULGARIA TO RA CONVEYS TO RA NA SPEAKER INVITATION TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO SOFIA

Noyan Tapan
Nov 12, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. On November 12, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria to RA Todor Staykov
conveyed to RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamian the letter of President
of Bulgarian National Assembly Tsetska Tsacheva, in which the latter
invites her Armenian counterpart to pay an official visit to Sofia.

According to the RA NA Public Relations Department, H. Abrahamian
accepted the invitation. Visit’s time will be clarified through
diplomatic channels.

Then H. Abrahamian and T. Staykov discussed a wide range of issues
related to development of bilateral relations. They, in particular,
attached importance to the work of the Intergovernmental Commission,
as well as paid special attention to expansion of trade and economic
contacts. In that context the sides agreed on the necessity of
organizing an Armenian-Bulgarian business forum in the near future.

During the meeting the interlocutors also touched upon the impact
of the global financial-economic crisis on Armenia’s and Bulgaria’s
economies and normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations without
preconditions.