Author: Zaminian Bedik

LANGUAGE CURB SQUEEZES SYRIAN BUSINESS

Asia Times Online
Aug 20, 2009
Central Asia

DAMASCUS – Twelve years after opening an electronics shop in Damascus,
Khaled has been forced to change its name.

In place of Roussil, a Kurdish word meaning "sun disc", he was made
to pick an Arabic name. Patrols from the capital’s municipality told
him that they would close his store if he refused to do so. He gave
in and chose an Arabic word.

"This is not a wise decision … we use the names that we feel
comfortable with," said Khaled, who declined to give his last
name. "Why this fanatical attachment to the Arabic language?"

In an effort to consolidate the use of Arabic in Syria, the authorities
decided recently to enforce a years-old ruling that lays

FLAG OF GEORGIA TO BE REMOVED FROM FACADE OF CIS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE’S HEADQUARTERS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
18.08.2009 18:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The flag of Georgia, stopped its membership in the
Commonwealth of Independent States on August 18, will be removed
from the facade of the headquarters building of the CIS Executive
Committee in Minsk.

"Georgia formally withdrew from the Commonwealth of Independent
States. The national flag of that country will be removed on Tuesday
from the facade of the CIS Executive Committee in Minsk by the end
of the day," the representative of the Board said.

He also noted that from Tuesday Georgia will not participate in
the agreements with limited composition, which can involve only
Commonwealth countries but remains a member of the 75 contracts
in the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States, whose
membership in the Commonwealth is optional," the representative of
the CIS Executive Committee said, Georgia-online reports.

TURKISH FOREIGN MINSTRY RESPONDS TO ACNIS DIRECTOR RICHARD GIRAGOSIAN

politics&pid=14946
13:36:37 – 18/08/2009

In a statement released on August 14, the Turkish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs responded to ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian’s
recent comments to journalists in Yerevan regarding the state
of Turkish-Armenian diplomatic engagement. Citing Giragosian by
name, the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a clarification on recent
Armenian media reports that quoted the ACNIS Director’s comments on
Turkish-Russian relations.

According to an official statement posted on the website of the Turkish
Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 14, Giragosian was quoted
by the Armenian media as saying that a "secret agreement" between
Turkey and Russia was signed granting Russia access through Turkish
airspace to resupply the Russian base in the northern Armenian city of
Gyumri. The report was also widely disseminated, as the Azerbaijani
"Trend" news agency printed a statement on August 15 released by
the Turkish Embassy in Baku that refuted the "information about
arms shipments to the Russian military base in Armenia via Turkish
airspace." The Turkish Embassy in Baku released an official statement
to the Azerbaijani media claiming that "such information is a step
towards breaking friendship and fraternity of Turkey and Azerbaijan."

Although the Armenian media report was partially inaccurate, ACNIS
Director Giragosian did reveal that "Turkish and Russian officials
are currently negotiating a bilateral accord that would provide the
Russian military access to the Gyumri base through Turkish airspace
and territory in the event of an agreement to open the closed
Turkish-Armenian border."

Most interestingly, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Burak Ozugergin
criticized Giragosian’s comments in an interview with the Turkish
"Hurriyet" daily newspaper, stating that "it’s an obvious provocation
aimed at breaking friendly relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan."

As the official Turkish spokesman did not deny the essence of
Giragosian’s comments, his comments sparked heated calls by leading
Turkish opposition newspapers demanding that Turkey should immediately
break off negotiations with Russia. The "Milliyet" daily newspaper,
for example, argued that "Russian arms supplied to Armenia will
be used against Azerbaijan," adding that "assisting (the) Russian
military base is out of the question."

In subsequent comments on this issue, ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian
noted that "the fact that the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs felt
compelled to officially respond to my comments reported in the Armenian
media only reveals the lack of trust inherent in Turkish-Russian
relations and further demonstrates the weakness of Turkish foreign
policy regarding its engagement of Armenia." He also said that the
incident "questions the sincerity of Turkey’s earlier promises to
forge new relations with Armenia, including a commitment to end
its blockade of Armenia and to address the legacy of the Armenian
genocide." Giragosian explained that "the burden is now on Turkey,
as the international community is now becoming increasingly impatient
with what appears to be Turkey’s indecisiveness and lack of good will
toward Armenia."

Giragosian also stressed that "even if Turkey decides to reopen the
border with Armenia and to extend diplomatic relations with Armenia,
such moves should not be misinterpreted as any kind of gift or
reward to Armenia, as such minimal steps merely represent the basic
requirements for civilized countries." He concluded by reiterating the
fact that "although there is still at least some degree of optimism,
it is Turkey that is in danger of missing a strategic opportunity to
move forward with Armenia."

News.am

Diaspora Ministry calls to invest in Javakhk
18:15 / 08/15/2009

Armenian Deputy Diaspora Minister Stepan Petrosyan found an easy way
to struggle against Javakhk Armenians’ migration. He called Armenian
businessmen to make investments in Javakhk as employment is the
region’s main problem. `There is no problem of Armenian’s
preservation, but migration problem, that is economic problem as
well,’ he stated.
Ministry does its best to involve Javakhk Armenians in cultural and
educational programs.
As to the ban of Georgians authorities to book’s supply to Javakhk,
Petrosyan said that the issue is raised at the Education and Foreign
Ministries as it is intergovernmental relations related issue. `We
hope the problem will be solved. There is no Armenian literature in
Georgia. What is the ban aimed at?’ he underlined.

MUSICIANS FOR PEACE FESTIVAL TO BE HELD ON THE SHORE OF LAKE SEVAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
11.08.2009 20:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Musicians for Peace festival on the shore of the Lake
Sevan will gather 75 young musicians from Armenia, Georgia and England
on August 28 . The festival is aimed to develop cooperation between
international organizations and local musical groups, as well as to
present modern entertainment resources and rich cultural traditions
of Armenia to international community and world tourism market.

In the neighborhood of the Sevan-based "Miami" resort area Armenian
rock and blues performers, including Forsh, "D minor", "Cross roads",
"Reincarnation", "Dorians" and "Bambir", the Georgian Group "String"
, "Backur", "Smile" and "Jumbalend", as well as the "Amtista" from
the UK.

The festival is organized by the "Forsh and Friends" company with
support of the ministry of economy of Armenia.

"SERGEY PARAJANOV’S WORLD" EXHIBITION LAUNCHED IN ST. PETERSBURG

Panorama.am
14:45 10/08/2009

"Open Cinema" St. Petersburg film festival is dedicated to Sergey
Parajanov. All the guests and people of the capital are given exclusive
opportunity to watch famous artist’s films. Parajanov’s museum in
Yerevan provided things belonging to the famous film maker.

The hall of Petropavlov’s castle, where "Sergey Parajanov’s World"
exhibition is under way, has hardly hosted so many visitors.

Parajanov is Armenian art worker born in Tbilisi. He studied in Moscow
and worked in Kiev. His first film – "Shadows of forgotten ancestors"
produced in 1964 brought glory and fame to him. Famous "Granate’s
color" film has been also produced by famous Parajanov.

R. YIRIKIAN "THE SNOWBALL WILL GROW"

Aysor.am
August 07, 2009

The 99% of the VivaCell MTS company are our compatriots. Within the
last 4 years the company has gathered a big amount of work experience,
and now it is the time of making use of it",- told the journalists
Ralph Yirikian, the General Manager of VivaCell MTS CJSC.

He mentioned that the education got by the students in the higher
educational institutions is "theoretic" that’s why they have decided
to involve them in the working process.

On May and July of this year by the invitation of several educational
institutions of the capital and far regions R. Yirikian gad met
with students and professors of different faculties presenting them
themes concerning the success strategies of business development,
technological development of cell networking, marketing strategy and
other themes. Many institutions have asked VivaCell MTS Company to
organize the practice of their students there.

"The practical knowledge gained by the students, together with the
theory will help them to take up decisions in their future plans", –
said R. Yirikian and mentioned, – "We will not be satisfied by this
only and will not stop, it is like a snowball, which will grow."

R. Yirikian informed that they will continue visiting the educational
institutions in capital and in the regions. Answering the question
of 0D Aysor.am he said that at present there are 20 students in
VivaCell MTS that are getting practical skills, then the group will
be changed and for around 2 months 50 practicing students will have
the opportunity to get skilled in the Company.

Huseyn Tajbashkh, the rector of Cavendish University told that in
the result of cooperation with VivaCell MTS they will add one more
subject in their studying list; cooperative society.

"It is very important as the work of the higher educational
institutions is being visible in the job markets. If the job market
demands professions the educational institutions should have the
professions. These kind of activities are needed for development
and reforms of the higher educational institutions", – stated Vardan
Sargsyan, the rector of Yerevan State Economic University.

THE RA MINISTER OF DEFENCE RECEIVES THE AMBASSADOR OF BRAZIL IN ARMENIA

p;p=0&id=946&y=2009&m=08&d=05
05.0 8.09

On the 4th of August the RA Minister of Defence Seyran Ohanyan
received the newly appointed ambassador of the Federative Republic
of Brazil in Armenia Mrs. Marsela Nikodemos. Congratulated the
diplomat on taking the post, the Minister of Defence hoped that the
Armenian-Brazilian relations will be strengthened and will include
new spheres of cooperation.

Underlining Armenia’s intentions to expand the cooperation with
Latin-American states, especially with Brazil in spheres of common
interest, Seyran Ohanyan suggested organizing visits of experts to
both countries. It was stated, that the accreditation of the military
attaché in Armenia will contribute greatly to the development of
defence cooperation.

FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA REJECTS ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS REPRESENTATIVE’S PROPOSAL TO ORGANIZE PUBLIC DEBATES ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH

ArmInfo
2009-08-03 15:36:00

ArmInfo. Former foreign minister of Armenia Vartan Oskanian rejected
the proposal of David Shahnazaryan, representative of the Armenian
National Congress, to organize public debates on Nagorno-Karabakh. To
recall, Shahnazaryan came out with this proposal at a recent
press-conference.

Replying to this proposal, the former Armenian foreign minister
and present head of Civilitas Foundation, Vartan Oskanian told Radio
Liberty that "he has no problem debating anyone". "I’m happy to debate
any issue, but that debate must serve a purpose", he said. Oskanian
thinks that the opposition’s invitation to debate should be directed
to the administration, to those conducting negotiations today. "Of
course we can sit and talk about history, about the past, about the
last 17 years. Civilitas convenes such discussions. Perhaps in the
coming months it will be possible to convene one on the topic of
Nagorno Karabakh and all those who wish to participate can come and
do so. But right now, there would be no purpose to my debating the
opposition. Their fundamental target should be today’s government",-
he said.

When told that the opposition considers the former president and
the former foreign minister responsible for the peace process,
Oskanian stressed that each authorities are responsible for their
term in office.

OSCE MONITORING MISSION CONDUCTS MONITORING AT CONTACT LINE

Panorama.am
16:52 31/07/2009

The office of the personal representative of the OSCE Chair-in-Office
applied to the leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic asking their
support to hold a monitoring on 4 August in the contact line of NKR
and Azerbaijani armed forces in Martakert region at Talish rural
community, NKR MFA reports.

According to the source, the monitoring from the NKR side will be
conducted by OSCE office coordinator Imre Palatinus (Hungary) and
Vladimir Chuntulov (Bulgaria). The personal representative of the
OSCE Chair-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk will hold the monitoring from
Azerbaijani side.

Monitoring mission will be accompanied by the representatives of the
NKR Foreign and Defense Ministries.