Author: Chavushian

OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN ON NOVEMBER 6

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.11.2009 21:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Co-Chairs of OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov
(Russia), Bernard Fassier (France), Robert Bradtke (US) and Personal
Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office Anjey Kasprzik are arriving
in Yerevan on November 6.

Mediators are expected to meet with RA President Serzh Sargsyan and
FM Edward Nalbandyan.

They will discuss issues concerning upcoming meeting between Armenian
and Azeri leaders.

LOS ANGELES TO HOLD ARMENIAN FOREIGN LANGUAGE WRITERS FORUM

Aysor
Nov 3 2009
Armenia

Armenian writers will participate in the Third Forum of Armenian
Foreign Language Writers held at the University of California in
Los Angeles on November 6-8. Armenian delegation involves Levon
Ananyan, Edward Militonyan, Levon Khechoyan, Artem Harutyunyan,
and Aram Arsenyan.

The First Forum was launched in 2005 in Armenia, the Second Forum –
in 2007 in Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

"We will have three-day forum discussing role and place of foreign
Armenian-born writers in Armenian culture. They, indeed, provide great
works," told journalists chairman of Armenian Writers’ Union Levon
Ananyan. He announced that the Fourth Forum will be held in Russia,
in 2012.

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN RECEIVED DEPUTY HEAD OF RUSSIA’S FEDERAL AGENCY FOR CIS AFFAIRS, EXPATRIATE COUNTRYMEN AND INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN COOPERATION IGOR MOROZOV

Frid ay, 30 October 2009

Greeting the guest, the head of the Armenian government said to
be aware of the Expo Russia-Armenia 2009 exhibition which opened
yesterday, and stressed the need for enhanced cooperation between
the Agency and Armenian companies.

Igor Morozov briefed the Prime Minister on his agency’s efforts
with a special focus on the activities carried out by the Fund of
Innovations. Both sides highlighted the cooperation in the field of
physics. They referred to those projects of mutual interest concerning
high technologies, nanotechnologies and nuclear physics, as well as
to furthered interaction between "RosTechnologies" on the one hand,
and the RA Ministry of Economy and the State Scientific Committee,
on the other.

APA, Azerbaijan
Oct 31 2009

Armenian President’s daughter marries

[ 31 Oct 2009 14:11 ]

Baku – APA. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s daughter is going to
marry. APA reports quoting the Armenian media that Satenik Sargsyan
will marry the nephew of the wife of Armenian Constitutional Court
chairman.

The nuptials will take place in Surb Gayane church, the wedding party
in `Ojag’ restaurant at 18.00 today. Oligarchs, officials, foreign
guests and others will participate in the wedding.

The guests will mainly present jewelries to the newly-wed. Chairman of
Armenia’s Central Bank decided to present a silver cup worth $5,000.

22-year-old Satenik Sargsyan graduated from Yerevan State University.

GENERAL MANAGER OF VIVACELL-MTS: PRICES OF DATA TRANSMISSION IN MOBILE COMMUNICATION TO DROP ALONGSIDE WITH DECLINE IN WHOLESALE INTERNET PRICES

ArmInfo
2009-10-29 18:24:00

ArmInfo. The prices of data transmission in mobile communication to
drop alongside with decline in wholesale internet prices, General
Manager of VivaCell-MTS Ralph Yirikian told journalists during the
opening ceremony of 3G communication network in 47 populated areas
of Armenia. "To provide mobile data transmission today, we acquire
internet from providers inside Armenia. The decline in internet value
will be followed by a drop in mobile internet prices, and consumers
will benefit from this. We have an idea of building such a network
to expand our opportunities though it is early to speak of the work
schedule",- Yirikian said.

To recall, VivaCell-MTS is the 80% branch of MTS OJSC in Armenia.

DAY OF SHAME: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH POLITICAL PRISONERS MARKED IN ARMENIA

Tert
Oct 30 2009
Armenia

October 30 is the International Day of Solidarity with Political
Prisoners (historically noted in the USSR) and since there are still
17 political prisoners in Armenia, Armenian National Congress (ANC)
activists, together with ANC representatives and former political
prisoners, held a protest in front of the Republic of Armenia
prosecutor’s office building.

Demonstration participants were chanting, among other things,
"We demand!", "Freedom!", "Fight, fight till the end!". There were
also numerous posters in their hands. When ANC youth began to use a
megaphone and beat drums, police officers on the other side of the
street, who were gradually increasing in number, approached the group
and told them to stop beating drums and using a megaphone.

Republic of Armenia former foreign minister, ex-political prisoner
Alexander Arzoumanyan, who was participating in the action, said today
is our nation’s day of shame, since there are political prisoners in
an independent Armenia.

"It seems to me that we should remember this day as a nightmare left
over from the Soviet Union-era, and we should be proud that after
building statehood we don’t have such problems, but I mark this day
with shame because our friends are still in prison. We must fight as
long as there is even one prisoner imprisoned for his political views.

That is all of our shame," Arzumanyan said.

Committee on political prisoners and persons subjected to political
persecution of the Republic of Armenia coordinator Vardan Harutyunyan
said that this day is officially emphasized in Russia every year.

BETTER ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT INFORMATION THROUGH FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LEGISLATION REFORM

armradio.am
28.10.2009 17:46

An OSCE-supported public event focusing on a package of draft
amendments to Armenia’s legislation on freedom of information was
held in Yerevan today.

The package of proposed amendments was developed by the
non-governmental organization Freedom of Information Centre of Armenia
(FOICA), the National Assembly and the Ministry of Justice, in close
collaboration with civil society and international organizations.

The event follows a series of round table discussions aimed at
soliciting opinions and recommendations on the draft package from
several target groups, including civil society, media and government
agencies.

Armenia’s law on Freedom of Information adopted in 2003 was considered
progressive by several local and international organizations. However,
to ensure full-fledged implementation of the law several shortcomings
need to be addressed. The proposed amendments, for example,
include provisions that establish a unified procedure for providing
information, without relying on sub-legislative acts.

"Free access to information is a precondition for building a democratic
and pluralistic society, as it helps promote good governance,
transparency and accountability of the state institutions.

We are glad to support the reform of legislation on freedom of
information that will hopefully result in the adoption of amendments
paving the way for better access to government-held information,"
said the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Sergey Kapinos.

"We hope that this joint initiative of the National Assembly,
the Government and our NGO will help resolve a number of crucial
problematic issues. Sub-legal acts regulating procedures for providing
information would no longer be needed; submission of electronic
requests, as well as payment for information provision, would be
streamlined," added Shushan Doydoyan, the President of the FOICA.

ARMENIA, LEBANON INTERESTED IN RAISING THE BILATERAL RELATIONS TO A NEW LEVEL

armradio.am
27.10.2009 17:59

Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Ashot Kocharyan had a meeting with
the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Fouad Siniora. Prime Minister Siniora
congratulated the Armenian Ambassador on appointment and wished him
success in carrying out his diplomatic mission.

The parties attached importance to the necessity of raising the
Armenian-Lebanese relations to a new level. Special emphasis was laid
on the development and expansion of the trade-economic relations,
the reciprocal visits of high-level delegations and the necessity to
resume the activity of the intergovernmental commission.

The interlocutors noted that the legal field and the potential existing
in different spheres provide an opportunity to further deepen the
mutually beneficial cooperation.

Reference was made to the latest developments in the normalization
of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

ARMENIAN WRESTLERS WIN 11 MEDALS AT INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT AFTER STEPAN SARKISSIAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.10.2009 18:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The international wrestling tournament named after
Stepan Sarkissian, attended by more than 100 wrestlers from Armenia,
Russia, Georgia, Ukraine and Iran, ended in the Armenian city of
Vanadzor.

Armenian fighters have won 11 medals including 2 Gold and 3 Silver. As
the head coach of the Armenian wrestling team Araik Baghdatyan told a
PanARMENIAN.Net, this is an unprecedented result. Last year Armenian
wrestlers were awarded anly five medals, and no gold one.

"This tournament has revealed new names among the Armenian fighters.

17-year-old Walter Margaryan, who has received the Silver and Emin
Gevorgyan, who was fighting for second place with Edgar Enokyan –
their names deserve to be mentioned. Edgar Yenokyan was worthy of
a gold medal, but in the final match against the representative of
Georgia due to negligence of judges, he also took silver, " Mr.

Bagdatyan said.

According to the Armenian national team coach, the tournament named
after S. Sarkissian is a preparatory stage for Armenia for the upcoming
European Championship to be held in April 2010 in Baku.

"I do not know whether we take part or not. It depends on the decision
of our government. In late November, we will also participate in an
international tournament of "Governor of Krasnodar Cup" drawing,
and carry out educational and training camp in Tsakhkadzor," the
Armenian national team coach said.

In a tournament named after Stepan Sarkissian Zhirayr Hovhannisyan
(66 kg) and the Ossetian, who represented Armenia Vadim Laliev (84
kg) were awarded gold medals. Silver medals were given to Walter
Margaryan (60 kg), Hamazasp Hovsepyan (63 kg) and Edgar Yenokyan
(66 kg). Six representatives of Armenia, including Emin Gevorgyan
(66 kg) won bronze medals.

EU-ARMENIA MEETING TOOK PLACE IN LUXEMBURG

news.am
Oct 26 2009
Armenia

The Cooperation Council (CC) between the European Union (EU) and
the Republic of Armenia held its tenth meeting Oct. 26 chaired by RA
Foreign Minister Mr Edward Nalbandyan. Mr Carl Bildt was accompanied
by Mr Javier Solana, Mr Hugues Mingarelli, and Mr Diego López Garrido
also participated, the EU press release reads.

The parties discussed EU-Armenia European Neighbourhood Policy Action
Plan, EU-Armenia relations, rule of law, human rights and freedoms
and EU readiness to support Armenian democratic institutions.

CC welcomed the signature of Armenia-Turkey Protocols "relating to the
establishment of diplomatic relations and the development of bilateral
relations between the two countries, including the opening of the
border," the pres release reads. It also underlined that "the full
normalisation of bilateral relations between Armenia and Turkey would
be an important contribution to security, stability and cooperation
throughout this crucial region. The EU will continue to offer its
political and technical support to this process," the paper says.

"CC explored the state of play concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. The EU welcomed the intensified dialogue between Armenia and
Azerbaijan within the OSCE Minsk Group, which has enabled to narrow
the differences and indicated its willingness to support confidence
building measures to facilitate the process of resolving the conflict.

The plenary meeting of the CC was preceded by a joint ministerial
working breakfast between the EU and Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia
to discuss Eastern Partnership and prospects for deeper cooperation
between the EU and the three South Caucasian countries, as well as
Conflict Resolution.