Author: Chatinian Lara

INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY INTO CONDITIONS IN WHICH ARMENIAN SOLDIER CROSSED BORDER TO AZERBAIJAN: ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY

Today.Az
cs/53876.html
July 17 2009
Azerbaijan

"Armenian defense ministry is investigating the reasons behind
soldier’s leaving military unit," Armenian defense ministry
spokesperson Seyran Shahsuvaryan said.

"The investigation is under into conditions in which he crossed border
to Azerbaijan," Shahsuvaryan said.

19-year-old soldier of the regiment 549 of the Armenia army Karen
Arturyunyan crossed border to Azerbaijan on July 15 in the area of
the Gadabay region due to torture in the Armenian army.

FLESH, BONES AND HORROR AT IRAN PLANE CRASH SITE
by Hiedeh Farmani

Agence France Presse
July 15, 2009 Wednesday 4:07 PM GMT

Relief workers scoured farmlands Wednesday seeking human remains amid
the debris of the crashed Iranian airliner while shocked relatives
looked on, hoping that at least the remains of their loved ones might
be found.

But the news the rescuers brought back was bleak.

"There is not a single piece which can be identified. There is not
a single finger of anybody left," said one relief worker, standing
next to a body bag filled with human flesh.

The Caspian Airline Soviet-era designed Tupolev Tu-154 plane caught
fire mid-air and crashed Wednesday morning into farmlands in the
village of Janat Abad in Iran’s northwestern province of Qazvin,
just minutes after it took off from Tehran for the Armenian capital
of Yerevan.

All 168 people, including 153 passengers and 15 crew members, on
board were killed in the worst plane crash in Iran in years.

The impact of the crash caused a vast crater which was littered with
debris, shoes and clothing.

"When I arrived at the site, I was literally walking on bits and
pieces of flesh," Fatemeh, a 15-year-old girl told AFP.

Grey-haired Arlen Stepanian was crying as he waited for relief workers
to find something to help identify his two dead daughters who were
aboard the plane.

One daughter, Shogher, had told him minutes before take off that the
plane was facing a problem.

"They were going with their friends on holiday. I had not seen them
for a week. Shogher talked to me from the plane and said the flight
was delayed as there seemed to be a problem with the plane," Stepanian
told AFP.

He said he received her call at 10:52 am (0622 GMT). The plane took
off from Tehran’s international Imam Khomeini airport at 11:33 am
and crashed 16 minutes later.

"Their mother is at home. She is in a total shock," he said, waiting
near the massive crater from which smoke was still rising hours after
the disaster.

Dozens of policemen and relief workers were preventing relatives from
getting right up to the crater, but the scene even from a distance
was one of horror and devastation.

Many relatives poured out their anger at Caspian Airlines, saying
its planes could not be trusted.

"I hate these planes. With so much travel between Iran and Armenia,
there have to be better planes," said Alex, 24, an Iranian of Armenian
origin who lost around dozen friends and relatives in the crash,
including children.

Another man who was mourning the death of his sister-in-law too
claimed the airline used faulty planes.

"I travel a lot to Armenia, but I never fly on a plane. I don’t trust
them," said the man, whose sister-in-law perished while on her way
to meet her daughter studying in an Armenian university.

"Have you every flown in a Caspian plane? Its seats are all rickety."

As he spoke, several local villagers were seen carrying away broken
parts of the plane, while some took pictures of each other holding
the debris.

"I was driving my tractor when I saw a big fire in the sky," said
18-year-old farmer Ahmad.

"There were burnt parts scattered across the ground and I followed them
and arrived at the crater. You could not believe your eyes. Nothing
was left, but just a big hole with fire coming out of it."

YERKIR UNION
EUrope
Mail: [email protected]
Web:

ARMENIA
Contact: Robert Tatoyan
Mobile: +374 94 36 17 93
Email: [email protected]
Web:

On July 22, 2009 the Court of Appeal of the Republic of Georgia will
begin consideration of the case of Vahagn Chakhalyan, Javakheti Armenian
political activist sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment on politically
motivated charghes.
The first court hearing is going to be held at 11:00.
Address of the Court : Tbilisi, Digomi, 7a G. Robakidze Ave.,

Yerkir Union of NGOs for Repatriation and Settlement
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

SARGSYAN-AHMADINEJAD PHONE CONVERSATION

armradio.am
16.07.2009 11:04

The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan spoke on the phone with the
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

President Sargsyan offered his condolences to the President of Iran
on tragic death of many Iranian citizens resulted from the June 15
plane crash.

In his turn, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad extended his condolences to his
Armenian colleague. The Presidents of the two countries agreed to
coordinated actions of the relevant structures of the two countries,
which will be probing into the causes of the crash and undertaking
necessary steps.

ILHAM ALIYEV SUFFERS FROM ALTERNATING PERSONALITY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.07.2009 18:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The speech Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
delivered at Chatham House is another passage of his bellicose
rhetoric, said Major General Hayk Kotanjyan, director of the institute
of strategic studies at the RA Ministry of Defense.

"Aliyev’s statement on Azerbaijan’s readiness to resume hostilities
targets the international community on the threshold of the meeting
with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. His speech contradicts world
leaders’ calls for peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict. It
disavows his signature to Moscow Declaration, which affirms settlement
of the conflict through the right of nations to self-determination
and principle of territorial integrity," he said.

"Aliyev threatens a new war despite warnings of world powers,
specifically after last year’s tragedy in South Ossetia. The
explanation may possible be sought beyond political logics. In
psychology, the phenomenon is described as alternating personality,"
Maj. Gen. Kotanjyan said.

July 15, 2009

U.S. Embassy Yerevan
Evelina Arabyan, Press Assistant
1 American Avenue
Yerevan, Armenia 375082
Phone: (374 10) 494 200 ext.4591
Fax: (374 10) 464 735
E-mail: [email protected]

The Government of the United States of America is pleased to announce
the open competition for the Junior Faculty Development Program (JFDP).
The program is funded and managed by the Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State (ECA) and
administered by the American Councils for International Education
(ACTR/ACCELS), an international non-profit organization leading the
development and exchange of knowledge between the U.S. and Eurasia.

The JFDP provides university instructors with a semester-long
opportunity to expand their knowledge and expertise in their academic
field by attending classes and working with faculty members at
universities in the United States. Individuals may apply for fields in
the humanities and social sciences.

To qualify for a JFDP Fellowship, an applicant must hold a university
degree, be currently teaching at an institution of higher education,
have at least two years of teaching experience at an institution of
higher education and have a mastery of the English language.
Participants in the JFDP will be selected through an open, merit-based
competition. Please visit ACTR/ACCELS website
(http:/) or contact the American Councils Yerevan
office (1/1 Baghramyan, telephone 010 56 00 45) for more information
about the JFDP program.

The application deadline is 17:00, August 7, 2009.

Sam Nazarian named to airport commission

LA Observed (Los Angeles, CA)
July 15, 2009

By Kevin Roderick

Nightlife and hotel impresario Sam Nazarian is Mayor Villaraigosa’s
choice to fill the Chris Essel opening on the Board of Airport
Commissioners. A release from Villaraigosa is going out this
afternoon, but his name actually went over yesterday to the City
Council’s Trade, Commerce and Tourism committee, from a council file
dated July 13. [The council file cover page misstates the date as June
13.] The mayor’s release is after the jump.

LOS ANGELES – Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today appointed Sam Nazarian
to the Board of Airport Commissioners, where he joins a seven-member
commission that governs Los Angeles World Airports.

`Sam’s record of entrepreneurship and management is exactly what LAWA
needs to take Los Angeles air travel into the 21st century,’ Mayor
Villaraigosa said.

`His experience will add great value to our team at the airport as we
continue to implement the LAX Master Plan, improving safety and
convenience.’

`I am deeply honored to accept this appointment and would like to
thank Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for this opportunity to work closely
with him and the entire City Council of Los Angeles,’ Nazarian
said. `I share their same vision for LAWA in continuing progress to
make it one of the greatest airports in the world. In a time where the
challenges of global travel continue to rise, it is crucial to
continually improve our vital gateway to the world.’

Nazarian currently serves as founder and Chief Executive Officer of
SBE operating groups, which include hotel, restaurant, nightlife and
real estate divisions. He is also Chief Executive Officer of
Bolthouse.Vox and Element Films, where he directs acquisition and
development of film production.

Raised in Los Angeles, Nazarian has an extensive record of
entrepreneurial success in the region. In 1998, he founded Platinum
Wireless, a telecommunications business specializing in Nextel
software distribution. W n Southern California.

In 2001, Nazarian established 3Wall Development and successfully
distributed his family’s assets into real estate holdings across the
market, securing partnerships with the country’s leading developers
and investors. 3Wall soon became one of Southern California’s largest
owners of multi-family housing.

Nazarian founded SBE only one year later. With a collection of over 10
hotels, restaurants and nightclubs, SBE quickly became one of the
country’s most acclaimed corporations. Since its creation, SBE has
also acquired properties in Santa Monica, Florida and Las Vegas,
including the legendary Sahara Hotel & Casino on Las Vegas
Boulevard. Now with thousands of employees, SBE has secured
partnerships with other leading brands under the direction of
Nazarian. SBE’s Element Films has also enjoyed wide success with an
ability to develop, produce and market own titles. Nazarian has been
executive producer of several celebrated projects and has secured
partnerships to create many more films in the future.

In 2006, Nazarian was named one of the `Top 100 Most Powerful People
in Southern California’ by the Los Angeles Times’ Magazine. He was the
youngest executive named on the list. In addition, Nazarian also
serves as a member of the Southern California Institute of
Architecture’s Board of Directors. Nazarian studied at New York
University and the University of Southern California.

09/07/sam_nazarian_named_to_air.php

RUSSIA, ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO HOLD A SUMMIT ON KARABAKH IN MOSCOW

ArmInfo
2009-07-15 17:09:00

ArmInfo. Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan will hold a summit on Karabakh
in Moscow.

Russian media report with reference to Russian President’s Assistant
Sergey Prikhodko that the trilateral meeting of the Russian, Armenian
and Azerbaijani presidents dedicated to Nagorno-Karabakh problem will
take place in Moscow on July 18.

The Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations will be followed by a trilateral
meeting of the presidents with participation of Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev.

ARMENIAN CLERIC MAY JOIN BAKU EVENT

AzerNews Weekly
July 15 2009
Azerbaijan

Armenian Catholicos Garegin II will be invited to Azerbaijan, the
Caucasus Clerical Office (CCO) chairman, Sheikhulislam Allahshukur
Pashazada has said.

Pashazada said Baku will host a meeting of the CIS Inter-religion
Advisory Council next April, and the Armenian cleric would be among the
invitees to the event. "If he wants to, he may come and participate."

The Sheikh noted that he has been holding meetings with Garegin II
since 1988, and certain documents have been signed in the process.

"If proposals are made in the future to arrange another meeting, we
will look into them. Possibly, the Russian Patriarch will organize
our next meeting soon," Pashazada said.

PYUNIK HOLD DOMINANT DINAMO

UEFA.com
ucl/fixturesresults/round=2000025/match=2000287/re port=rp.html
July 14 2009

FC Pyunik and NK Dinamo Zagreb played out a goalless draw in the
first leg of their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round tie
despite a number of chances for both teams.

Bright opening The Armenian and Croatian champions both started
brightly despite soaring temperatures in Yerevan. The visitors came
with the greater reputation and looked more dangerous early on but it
was Pyunik who forged the first real opportunity when Markos Pizzelli
found himself through on goal following Dejan Lovren’s mistake, only
for goalkeeper Tomislav Butina to save his shot. At the other end,
Dinamo were reduced to attempts from distance by solid defending,
yet Edvard Hovhannisyan still had to react quickly to parry a wicked
Milan Badelj effort after 32 minutes.

Pyunik pushed back The home side’s No1 then denied Sammir from close
range shortly after the restart, before Butina had to stretch himself
to deny Pizzelli. With Dinamo dominating possession, Pyunik played on
the counterattack and came close to scoring through captain Sargis
Hovsepyan on 73 minutes, with a last-ditch tackle ultimately ending
his run. Substitute Miroslav SlepiÄ~Mka and Igor BiÅ¡can then went
close for Dinamo in the closing moments, leaving their opponents the
chance to spring an upset in Zagreb next week.