Aysor, Armenia
Dec 26 2009
President awards Nazik Avdalyan with a Medal
Armenia’s President Serge Sargsyan awarded world champion Nazik
Avdalyan with the Medal for Service to the Fatherland 2nd Class, a
spokesperson for the Cabinet said.
Head Coach of Armenian women’s national weightlifting team Artashes
Nersisian and Coach for weightlifting junior sports school of Ararat
region Garnik Alexanian are awarded with the Movses Khorenatsi Medal.
Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute obtains new, exceptional materials
Panorama.am
16:51 26/12/2009
The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute has obtained new and
exceptional museum valuaes that highly contribute to the Genocide
studies and the museum exhibit collection. The materials were acquired
due to the charities and the financial support of the museum’s
friends.
Hundreds of magazines and newspapers, original photos, cards, medals,
stamps, as well as an exceptional collection (38 samples) of original
photos of the Armenian culture monuments made by late 19 -century
Russian photographer D. I. Yermakov have been acquired.
Note that the Museum opened its doors to visitors in 1995, as 80 years
since the Armenian Genocide was marked.
TIGRAN SARGSYAN: ARMENIA ENTERS THE YEAR 2010 "PREPARED"
Hasmik Dilanyan
"Radiolur"
25.12.2009 18:15
The year of 2009 was full of difficulties, but Armenia proved capable
to finish it with minimal losses, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian stated today that the global
financial-economic crisis revealed the weaknesses of the Armenian
economy.
"The year 2009 demonstrated that Armenia is late as to reforms in
the real sector, and we should diversify economy and establish more
auspicious atmosphere to attract foreign investments," the Prime
Minister told a press conference today.
Tigran Sargsian noted that despite the crisis, the government fulfilled
its social commitments fully and has no internal debts.
The Prime Minister did not rule out that a second wave of the global
financial-economic crisis could be expected next year. "However,
Armenia enters the year of 2010 being "prepared," he said.
WHY DID PM JOIN REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARMENIA?
Tert.am
25.12.09
RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan finally presented an explanation as
to the reason why he recently joined the Republican Party of Armenia
(he was previously not a member of any political party).
"I have always appeared on behalf of that political team, which was
providing guidance to the president of the Republic. The convention
was the best time to register the facts, and we, the president and I,
affirmed that reality," said the prime minister.
For over two-and-a-half hours, Tigran Sargsyan responded to questions
by journalists, who near the end, even inquired about the PM’s
childhood dream. It turns out that the prime minister, as a child,
wanted to become a KrAZ truck driver.
TURKEY WANTS ‘PEACE’ WITH ARMENIA AND AZERIS
EuroNews
Dec 25 2009
France
Turkey’s foreign minister says peace between Ankara, Azerbaijan and
Armenia is "close" after a meeting with his Azeri counterpart.
Ahmet Davutoglu said: "I think an impetus was created recently, and
all sides, not only Azerbaijan and Armenia but also the Minsk group
have to do their best to accelerate this process. If you compare the
last eight months with the last seventeen years, I can say that we
are really very close to a resolution. So it is time to eliminate
all the obstacles preventing peace."
The Minsk group or the OSCE Organisation for Security and Cooperation
in Europe is mediating in peace talks between the three nations over
the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh.
During negotiations earlier this year, Turkey pledged to open its
border with Armenia – a move which angered the Azeris.
But diplomats hope that a new mood of conciliation can bring an end
to two decades of enmity among the three countries.
FUNDRAISER FOR JAVAKHK ORGANIZED IN CALIFORNIA
NOYAN TAPAN
December 25, 2009
Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES, DECEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Members from
AYF chapters in Burbank and Glendale on December 18 volunteered with
the Armenian Relief Society to prepare for a much-anticipated holiday
fundraiser dedicated to helping the children of Javakhk. Asbarez
reports that the fundraiser known as the "Javakhk Piggy Bank Drive"
is organized every Christmas season by the ARS Javakhk Fund. The
campaign mobilizes schoolchildren from local Armenian schools to raise
money for the organization’s various humanitarian and youth-oriented
projects in Javakhk.
"We are always happy to help the Armenian Relief Society since their
humanitarian effort helps Armenians most in need, be that in Armenia
or the Diaspora," said Nanor Aghamalian, a member of the Glendale AYF
"Roupen" chapter.
In the words of Chairperson of the ARS Javakhk Fund Committee Haigoush
Kohler, "the Piggy Bank Project’s aims are two-fold. Other than the
aim to raise money to provide humanitarian assistance in the region,
the project also seeks to help educate our youth, those attending
Armenian day and Saturday schools, about the needs of the children
living in Javakhk".
MOVEMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE NEEDS NEW IMPETUS: ARFD REP.
ArmInfo
2009-12-25 15:12:00
ArmInfo. Movement for international recognition of Armenian Genocide
needs new impetus, Armen Rustamyan, representative of ARFD Supreme
Body, Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for Foreign Affairs,
told media on Friday.
"I have recently returned from the USA where I had meetings with the
congressmen and Philip Gordon, Assistant Secretary for European and
Eurasian Affairs, and informed them of our stance i.e. Armenian-
Turkish negotiations must not hinder international recognition of
Armenian Genocide or depend on the Protocols on normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations," he said.
The recognition of Armenian Genocide by the US Congress will become
the best evidence of understanding of the Armenian stance by the USA,
especially when there are all the prerequisites for that, specifically
understanding of Armenia’s viewpoint.
With recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the USA two problems will
be settled: it will become clear that recognition of the Genocide
is not an anti-Turkish campaign and it will help preventing future
genocides. In this context, already in early 2010 the US House
Committee on Foreign Affairs will intensify discussing of the H.Res
252 on the Armenian Genocide.
Submitted to the House on March 17 2009 the Resolution has already
been supported by 135 congressmen. A similar resolution 316 submitted
to the Senate has 10 supporters.
Genocide of Armenians has been recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France,
Lithuania, the Lower Chamber of Italian Parliament, the majority of
American States, the Greek, Cyprian, Argentinean, Belgian Parliaments,
the Parliament of Wales, the National Council of Switzerland, the
House of Commons of the Canadian Parliament and Polish Seim. Turkey
denies the genocide of 1,5 million Armenians in 1915-1923.
ARMENIA WON’T RATIFY RELATIONS DEAL BEFORE TURKEY, SAYS SPEAKER
Hurriyet
Dec 24 2009
Turkey
The head of Armenia’s parliament said Thursday that it would not ratify
a landmark deal on ties with Turkey before the Turkish parliament does,
accusing Ankara of setting new conditions on the agreement.
"The National Assembly of Armenia will start discussions on the
ratification of the protocols only after their ratification by the
Turkish parliament," Speaker Hovik Abrahamian told journalists.
He accused Turkish officials of trying to link the ratification to
Armenia’s conflict with Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh
region and the question of whether World War I-era killings of
Armenians under Ottoman Empire constituted "genocide."
"These are not fair steps, as initially this was a question of
normalizing relations without preconditions," Abrahamian said.
Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols in October on establishing
diplomatic ties and re-opening their shared border in a deal hailed
as a historic step towards ending decades of hostility stemming from
the World War I-era killings.
But Armenia in recent weeks has expressed growing frustration over
Turkey’s failure to ratify the protocols, with President Serge
Sarkisian earlier this month threatening to walk away from the deal
if Ankara "drags out" the process.
Turkish officials have repeatedly said the agreements will not be
ratified without progress in Armenia’s dispute with Azerbaijan over
Nagorno-Karabakh.
Backed by Yerevan, ethnic Armenian separatists seized control of
Karabakh and seven surrounding districts from Azerbaijan during a
war in the early 1990s that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in a show of solidarity
with Azerbaijan – with which it has strong ethnic, trade and energy
links – against Yerevan’s support for the enclave’s separatists.
UKRAINIAN EMBASSY IN AZERBAIJAN OFFERS ITS APOLOGIES FOR TV CHANNEL INTER’S MISTAKE
Azerbaijan Business Center
Dec 24 2009
Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Broadcasting of pro-Armenian film by Ukrainian
private TV channel Inter caused discontent of the government of
Ukraine.
Today Ukrainian ambassador to Azerbaijan Boris Klimchuk said that the
documentary broadcasted by Inter absolutely did not reflect Ukraine’s
position in the issue of Nagorno Garabagh conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan.
"Unfortunately Inter diverges from principles of understanding
of that non-simple situation formed around the conflict. Inter is
an independent TV company, and the Ukrainian government does not
bear responsibility for materials it broadcasted. We, however, are
displeased with the broadcasted documentary. Ukraine’s stand on the
conflict is unchangeable. We come forward for its fast settlement
on the basis of norms and principles of international law. Relevant
conversation has been held with the TV channel’s management. They
made a mistake and we offer our apologies for it," the ambassador said.
Then film prepared and broadcasted by the Ukrainian TV channel distorts
essence of Garabagh conflict and brings arguments of only Armenian
party. The Azerbaijani Embassy in Ukraine handed over the note of
protest to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of this country.
SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAYS TO GIVE DISCOUNTS IN CONNECTION WITH NEW YEAR
Noyan Tapan
Dec 24, 2009
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. South Caucasus Railways (SCR)
CJSC does not plan any changes in its tariffs next year, Director
General Shevket Shaydullin said at the December 24 press conference.
At the same time he said that the company has announced discounts
in connection with New Year. "The use of discounts has enabled us
to make the field more attractive, and starting from 3 January 2010
some companies intend to begin cargo transportation. It is mutually
profitable. We also give a 22% discount to passengers in the period
of December 31 to January 10," S. Shaydullin said.
According to him, about 30 enterprises and over 1.9 thousand jobs have
been created during their company’s operation in Armenia. The company
pays attention to the level of salaries of their employees. In 2009,
the salaries of leading specialists rose by 23.4%, while the average
salary has reached 116 thousand drams. S. Shaydullin said that in
2001 the company will use a new system of salary payment and plans
to raise salaries by over 20%.