AZERBAIJANI FM MAY VISIT TURKEY
Trend
Nov 19 2009
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov is expected to pay an
official visit to Turkey in the near future, Turkish Ambassador to
Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilich told Trend News.
During the visit, the sides are expected to discuss bilateral relations
and the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
ISHKHAN ZAKARYAN: CORRUPTION "ONLY EXTORTION AND BRIBERY" IN ARMENIA
news.am
Nov 19 2009
Armenia
The RA Supervisory Chamber will release a report on the corrupted
field in Armenia, Head of the Chamber Ishkhan Zakaryan told a press
conference held jointly with Jacek PaweÅ~B Jezierski, Head of the
Supreme Chamber of Control of Poland. According to Zakaryan, "it is
difficult" to name the most corrupt fields in Armenia, as "corruption
is presently defined only as extortion and bribery" in Armenia.
His counterpart, however, was not afraid to name Poland’s most corrupt
fields – police and the health system. Although mass bribery has been
done away with in the fields – the employees realize it is a criminal
offence – Mr. Jezierski admits individual cases. The privatization
field is part of the risk group, he said. In some cases, certain
circles tried to pressure Parliament members into adopting laws or
amendments in the circles’ interests. The situation developed when
the Parliament was discussing the bill on gambling industry. The bill
was never adopted, and an ad hoc parliamentary commission is dealing
with the issue.
The Supreme Chamber of Control (Polish: Najwyższa Izba Kontroli,
usually abbreviated the NIK) is the supreme audit institution and
also one of the oldest state institutions in Poland, created under
the Second Republic on February 7, 1919, barely 3 months after the
restoration of Poland’s independence.
ARMENIA’S AMBASSADOR MEETS THE SPEAKER OF THE BELGIAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
armradio.am
18.11.2009 14:49
On November 17 the Armenian Ambassador to Belgium and the Netherlands
Avet Adonts met with the Chairman of the House of Representatives of
Belgium, Patrick Dewael.
The interlocutors expressed appreciation for the high level
of cooperation between the two countries and rated highly the
bilateral cooperation especially between the Foreign Ministries and
the Parliaments.
In the framework of bilateral cooperation, the Speaker of the Belgian
Parliament attached importance to the readmission agreement signed in
July 2009 and the continuity of the traditional economic cooperation.
At the request of Patrick Dewael, Ambassador Adonts presented the
current economic situation in Armenia, the latest developments in
the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and
the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.
Presenting the process of implementation of the Eastern Partnership
Program by Armenia, Avet Adonts emphasized the importance of the
assistance of EU member states, especially the presiding country to
the launch of the negotiations on the free trade agreement with the
European Union and the process of simplification of the visa regime
with EU member states.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives of Belgium assured the
above-mentioned issues would be in the focus of attention of the
Belgian authorities during the Belgian Presidency of the European
Union.
NKR FOREIGN MINISTRY CAUGHT ELHAN POLUKHOV IN MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.11.2009 18:40 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Elkhan
Polukhov has made his successive attempt to represent Karabakh in
the negative light. This time he accused Armenians of destroying of
Azerbaijani cemeteries, NKR Foreign Ministry says in a comment.
"It should be noted that unlike our neighbors who are to date
barbarously destroying Armenian monuments on territories under
their control, from the very first days of Azeri-imposed war, NKR
authorities took under their own protection all NKR-based Muslim
monuments, including Azerbaijani cemeteries, as can be witnessed by
several international and Azerbaijani delegations visiting Nagorno
Karabakh," says the statement. "This is what Polukhov is trying to
speculate. Unfortunately, such falsifications have been practiced
by Azerbaijani propaganda machine for a long time. Everybody still
remembers how Heydar Aliyev Fund, which is under the high patronage
of the Aliyev family, attempted to represent photos taken in Kosovo
as pictures depicting Khojalu events.
Polukhov’s statements can be assessed as a regular attempt to cast
a shadow on the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and distract international
community’s attention from Azeri-provoked vandalism against Armenian
monuments, particularly, destruction of Narimanov cemetery in Baku
under the pretext of building a highway, or the recent destruction
of khachkars (cross stones) in Old Jugha, Nakhichevan, which saw no
military operations.
To confirm the abovementioned, let’s quote an excerpt from U.S. State
Department’s recent report on religious freedoms. "Animosity toward
ethnic Armenians in the country forced most of them to depart between
1988 and 1990, and all Armenian churches, many of which were damaged in
ethnic riots that took place more than a decade ago, remained closed."
RA MINISTER OF LABOR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS RESIGNED
news.am
Nov 18 2009
Armenia
RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Gevorg Petrosyan handed in his
resignation papers. Khachik Galstyan, press secretary of Prosperous
Party of Armenia (PPA) leader Gagik Tsarukyan confirmed information
for NEWS.am.
Gevorg Petrosyan assumed ministerial post intended for PPA, coalition
member.
The official reason for resignation is Minister’s health problems,
which is weird. NEWS.am was the first to inform about impending
removal of Petrosyan. However, later, PPA faction secretary Aram
Safaryan told the agency reporters that the information is untrue.
RA EDUCATION MINISTRY INTENDS TO TIGHTEN SUPERVISION IN ARMENIA’S UNIVERSITIES
PanARMENIAN.Net
17.11.2009 17:12 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On November 17, RA Education and Science Minister
Armen Ashotyan met Ukraine’s Ambassador to Armenia Alexander Bozhko and
Ternopil National University’s Yerevan subsidiary rector S. Khudratyan.
At the meeting, RA Education Minister expressed the Ministry’s
intention to tighten supervision in Armenia’s universities as well
as foreign universities’ subsidiaries in Armenia, aiming to improve
educational standards.
In his turn, the Ambassador noted that 150 Armenian citizens study
in Ukrainian universities.
Armen Ashotyan briefed Ukraine’s Ambassador on goals of RA Education
Ministry -initiated conference due on November 20-21 in Yerevan. "We
plan to organize project fare to intensify collaboration with our
partners, as well as development and implementation of new programs,’
the Minister noted.
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS FOR DARABEDYAN
By Grant Gordon
Glendale News Press
Nov 17 2009
CA
Mixed martial arts: Darabedyan takes on former champ, while training
partner Gamburyan tries to climb to the top of title ladder.
One month is roughly the amount of time Karen Darabedyan has had to
prepare for the largest opportunity of his life, an opportunity he
gladly took, no matter the odds or the timing.
Wednesday night, he will step onto a World Extreme Cagefighting stage
for the first time and he will step into the cage against "Razor"
Rob McCullough, the WEC’s former lightweight champion, for a chance
at further notoriety, stardom, title contention and, quite simply,
an opportunity to make a name for himself in the world of mixed
martial arts.
"It’s my first time being in a big show like this, I just hope
everything goes my way," the 22-year old Darabedyan, a Glendale
resident and 2005 Glendale High graduate said of fighting at WEC 44,
which emanates from The Palms Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. "You
don’t get an opportunity like this too often, I’m pretty fortunate
to get this."
The Darabedyan-McCullough three-round lightweight (155 pounds) scrap
is one of four standout matchups scheduled for the live portion of the
televised card, which is headlined by a featherweight (145 pounds)
title fight between champion Mike Thomas Brown and challenger Jose
Aldo and also features a featherweight fight between Leonard Garcia
and Darabedyan’s training partner, Manny Gamburyan.
As with all WEC events, Wednesday’s card airs live on Versus, beginning
at 6 p.m.
Darabedyan (8-1) brings a well-rounded skill set that has seen him win
three fights by technical knockout, another by submission and four by
submission into a bout with the seasoned McCullough (17-5), whose known
for his stand-up skills, possessing a vaunted kickboxing background.
McCullough is 2-2 over his last four fights, with his victories
coming via split decision. His last fight, a split decision win
against Marcus Hicks on March 1, saw McCullough break his hand. The
first of those four fights was a TKO loss to Jaime Varner, in which
McCullough lost his title. With a wealth of experience, however,
McCullough is clearly the favorite.
Still, Darabedyan’s camp — he trains with the likes of current and
former Ultimate Fighting Championship competitors Karo Parisyan,
Gamburyan, Roman Mitichyan and Alberto Crane at the Main Event Sports
Club in Glendale under Roman Kalanteryan and at North Hollywood’s
Team Hayastan under Gokor Chivitchyan and Gene LeBell — is confident,
right along with Darabedyan.
"The main plan is just have him ready, get his cardio ready, he has
the rest," Kalanteryan said. "[McCullough’s] a great fighter, he’s
a very good fighter, but what we’ve got should be enough to get him.
"We’ve got plenty of tools."
Schooled in boxing, judo, karate and jiu jitsu, Darabedyan’s
well-rounded game has become an early trademark in his burgeoning
career, in which he’s won six straight fights, and a base for his
confidence going in.
"I’m pretty confident, even though he’s good," Darabedyan said. "I know
he’s tough, but I see myself winning, that’s the only reason I’m taking
this fight. I wouldn’t take a fight if I didn’t think I could win it."
McCullough’s original opponent was Anthony Pettis, but he was forced
to withdraw due to an injury, which opened the door for Darabedyan. It
was an opportunity too good to pass on for Darabedyan despite the
short notice and the caliber of opponent. It was a chance to fight
for the WEC, which is owned by Zuffa, LLC, which also owns the UFC,
on a televised card.
"It’s a huge opportunity, a lot of times it takes guys three or four
fights to get on the televised portion of the card," said WEC General
Manager Reed Harris.
The one glaring difference between the fighters is the aforementioned
experience factor.
McCullough has won nine fights by knockout, which is as many fights as
Darabedyan has fought period. And, while the big stage is nothing new
for McCullough, Darabedyan is admittedly nervous about this fight,
but he’s nervous for everyone of his fights, he said. Nonetheless,
it’s clearly a huge intangible leading up to the bout.
"Rob’s mentally tough," Harris said. "I think that’s the challenge
for Karen is can he be mentally tough. He’s got the skills, but Rob’s
got a lot of experience in that cage."
Added McCullough in an interview with "I definitely say
being the veteran of it gives me a little bit of an advantage. I
think due to the fact he’s never fought in a big show, he’s gonna
have a little bit of the big-show jitters. …I’ve seen him fight,
he’s a tough guy, so I’m planning on a really good matchup."
Darabedyan and local fight fans are also likely to have a vested
interest in Gamburyan’s tilt, which features a clash of former UFC
lightweights who dropped to the WEC’s featherweight division and are
both vying for contender status.
"At the level they’re fighting at right now, they’re in contention,"
said Harris, adding that the victor would likely be in line for a
title shot down the line. "Whether that’s the fight after this [one]
or the fight after that, I’m not sure."
Garcia already received a title shot, losing against Brown. A stand-up
fighter who’s developed a fan base due to his exciting, all-out style,
Garcia is 17-4 and 4-1 in the WEC.
The 11-5 Gamburyan, who’s 1-0 in the WEC, has a phenomenal judo
background and is regarded for his splendid ground game.
"My expectation is one of them is going to have to inflict his will on
[the other]," Harris said. "Whether that’s Leonard Garcia’s striking
and takedown defense or Manny’s takedowns and ground and pound,
one of them’s style is gonna win that fight."
Kalanteryan is quick to commend his fighter’s ground game, but as
Gamburyan’s striking coach, he’s also quick to add that his pupil is
comfortable anywhere the fight goes.
"If [Manny] gets someone to the ground, trust me, he’s not gonna get
up," Kalanteryan said. "Manny has a very heavy punch.
"Leonard has very strong striking skills, but we’re not that scared.
"This is gonna be a big fight. The win is very important because he’s
gonna be right next to the title. After this win, he’s gonna be right
next to the title."
Darabedyan and Gamburyan’s bouts will be back-to-back, with
Darabedyan’s bout scheduled to be the second of the live televised
card, preceding Gamburyan’s co-main event matchup.
LOOKING BACK AT THE MORGENTHAU LEGACY
By ANDREW KEH
New York Times
Nov 16 2009
At the end of this year, when Robert M. Morgenthau leaves his job as
Manhattan district attorney — the position he has held since 1975 —
it will be not just the end of an era for the prosecutor’s office,
but also the close of another chapter in the Morgenthau family’s
complex, century-long legacy of public service.
An exhibition that opens Monday at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in
Battery Park City examines the lives of three Morgenthaus: Robert,
now 90; his father, Henry Morgenthau Jr. (1891-1967), who was
secretary of the Treasury under President Franklin D. Roosevelt; and
his grandfather, Henry Morgenthau Sr. (1856-1946), who was ambassador
to the Ottoman Empire during World War I.
Titled "The Morgenthaus: A Legacy of Service," the exhibition features
objects and historical documents. "I hope it will encourage people
to be involved with public service," Mr. Morgenthau said of the
exhibition during a media preview on Friday morning.
Mr. Morgenthau said it was his grandfather who first encouraged him
to serve others, telling him: "I couldn’t get into public service
until I was 55. You don’t have to wait that long."
His priorities were further shaped, he said, by a near-death experience
while aboard the destroyer Lansdale during World War II. On April 20,
1944, the ship was attacked and sunk by an enemy torpedo.
As he treaded water in the Mediterranean Sea, unsure of whether he
and his crewmates would be saved, Mr. Morgenthau vowed to devote his
life to public service, he said.
"I made a lot of promises to the Almighty," Mr. Morgenthau said.
Mr. Morgenthau’s cap, medals and oar from his time in the Navy are on
view in the exhibition, alongside campaign materials from his failed
gubernatorial run in 1970.
Also on display is a note from Sonia Sotomayor, newly sworn in as an
associate justice of the United States Supreme Court, dated Aug. 25.
The message, handwritten in blue ink, reads: "Few can say they have
a friend and mentor like you. I was blessed the day we met. Thank
you for all your support."
Henry Morgenthau Sr., one of 12 children born into a Jewish family
in southern Bavaria, came to New York in 1866. He was appointed to
his ambassadorship in 1913, and is today credited with drawing needed
attention to the Armenian genocide.
A telegram written in 1915, by which he informed the secretary of
state that "a campaign of race extermination is in progress," is
prominently displayed in the exhibition.
Also displayed is correspondence that Henry Morgenthau Jr. had with
his staff and with President Roosevelt regarding the American response
to the Holocaust.
The Morgenthau and Roosevelt families became friendly while living as
neighbors in Dutchess County, N.Y., and President Roosevelt appointed
Henry Jr. as his Treasury secretary in 1934.
As evidence of the atrocities committed against Jews in Europe
began to emerge, many people, including Henry Jr. and his staff,
accused the State Department and the Allied powers of ignoring and
even suppressing information about the crisis.
Officials of the Treasury took it upon themselves to compose a report
that is said to have compelled President Roosevelt into action —
though historians still debate whether that action was sufficient.
On view in the exhibition is a copy of the staff’s original report,
titled "A Report to the Secretary on the Acquiescence of This
Government in the Murder of Jews." Henry Jr., the display shows,
changed the title before forwarding it to the president, out of worry
that his friend would find it offensive.
Three days after receiving the report, Roosevelt signed Executive Order
9417 (on loan at the museum from the National Archives) to create the
War Refugee Board, which, according to the display, saved the lives
of an estimated 200,000 European Jews.
Melissa J. Martens, one of the exhibition’s curators, called the
documents "cornerstones of America’s response to the Holocaust."
Ms. Martens said she and her co-curator, Karen Franklin, were given
broad access to the family’s trunks, bookshelves and closets to find
the diverse objects that ultimately made it to the exhibition.
Mr. Morgenthau is the chairman of the museum’s board of trustees, and
David G. Marwell, the museum’s director, acknowledged the strangeness
of creating an exhibition about his "boss."
But he explained that he relished the opportunity partly because it
gave the museum a rare opportunity to feature exhibits on the Armenian
genocide and Roosevelt’s policies during the Holocaust.
The exhibition will run through December 2010
CHAIRMAN OF NATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS FUND BOARD OF TRUSTEES, RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN ADDRESSED THE 13TH SESSION OF THE BOARD
Saturd ay, 14 November 2009
Chairman of National Competitiveness Fund Board of Trustees, RA Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan addressed the 13th session of the Board.
Board members were briefed on the outcome of RA government’s
anti-crisis efforts for 2009, those programs envisaged under FY 2010
State budget exercise, as well as on the Prime Minister’s impressions
of the Arm Tech – 2009 business forum. The head of government stated
in part:
"The concept of competition has been changed in the modern world. The
rules adopted by industrial societies can no longer work in
post-industrial competitive societies. Modern technologies can solve
many tasks, including social problems. By penetrating into the sphere
of social relationship, modern technologies are changing systems of
values in societies. This phenomenon should be the subject of serious
debates among us."
"Which is the right formula for ensuring a spasmodic development in
Armenia and rallying pan-Armenian organizations round it?" This is what
the Prime Minister proposed to discuss at the meeting. Tigran Sargsyan
evoked an idea voiced during the proceedings of the Arm Tech – 2009
congress, which reads as follows: "Today is the past, and the future
is tomorrow." "This makes us work faster and harder as the concept
of the Armenian world needs some refreshing," the Prime Minister said.
The meeting went on to discuss the agenda focusing on domestic and
worldwide economic development-related issues.
Irish National University professors Bob Kitchin and Mark Boyle,
as well as Munich-based sport and tourism experts Peter Gothwald
and Franck Daniel Ehrsam outlined such strategies as might be used
in cooperating with the Diaspora, as well as the possibilities for
turning into a new tourism product those sports events that can be
practiced in the highlands of Sevan region.
Other agenda items were the planning of design work for the
pan-Armenian network and the reporting on Pan-Armenian Bank’s program,
as well as an array of issues of current interest to the Fund.
SANCTIONS ON BELARUS EXTENDED FOR 1 YEAR
PanARMENIAN.Net
14.11.2009 10:55 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European Union will prolong a freeze on
restrictions against Belarus next week, but not lift the threat
entirely due to a lack of progress on political reform, says a
draft statement elaborated prior to Foreign Ministers’ meeting due on
November 16-17. Under the document, long-term freezing of sanctions was
made possible due to the release of Belarusian pro-opposition figures.
The threat of sanctions will not be scrapped entirely given Belarus’s
lack of progress on democracy, Reuters reports. The EU wants to see
electoral reform and movement on human rights, including an end to
crackdowns on political activity and the media.
As well as political reforms, the EU wants Belarus to impose a
moratorium on the use of the death penalty and move rapidly towards
its abolition.
European Union imposed a ban on issuing visas to 36 Belarusian
officials, including President Alexander Lukashenko. Later on, Union
observed electoral wrongdoings in the country during 2006 election.
However, in 2008, it suspended sanctions to promote reforms in former
Soviet republic.