Author: Ekmekjian Janet

THIRD PAN-ARMENIAN INDUSTRIAL FAIR OPENS IN YEREVAN

ARKA
Oct 23, 2009

YEREVAN, October 23, /ARKA/. Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian,
Finance Minister Tigran Davtian, Health Minister Harutyun Kushkian
and Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobian attended today the opening of
the Third Pan-Armenian Industrial Fair in Yerevan.

‘The main goal of this exhibition is to help Armenian businessmen
showcase their produces and find new partners and markets,’ Martin
Sarkisian, the chairman of Armenian Commerce and Industry Chamber
said in his opening remarks.

He said unlike the previous fairs this one can be watched on-line on
Internet. Speaking to journalists, he said the financial and economic
crisis did not have any serious effect on the exhibition because all
companies seeking to expand their exports are showing their goods
and services.

He said a business forum will be organized on the sidelines of the
exhibition on October 24 with participation of entrepreneurs from
15 countries, including Russia, India, Syria, Iran. The majority of
companies displaying their goods are small and medium sized, he said.

The Pan-Armenian 2009 Exhibition is organized by the Chamber of
Commerce and Industry of Armenia together with the ministries of
Diaspora and foreign affairs. Its main sponsor is the South Caucasian
Railway company.

The exhibition’s venue is the Karen Demirchian concert and sport
complex. It will close on October 25. The exhibition has attracted
over 160 companies. The first Pan-Armenian exhibition was held in 2003,
the second in 2006.

ARMENIA ARRESTS MAN SUSPECTED OF SPYING FOR AZERBAIJAN

Interfax
Oct 21 2009
Russia

Armenian security agencies have arrested Gevorg Airapetian, an Armenian
citizen, suspected of collaborating with Azeri special services,
the Armenian National Security Service told Interfax.

Airapetian has been indicted for high treason.

A foreign citizen who maintained communication between Airapetian
and Azeri special services has also been arrested, it said.

Airapetian is a retired lieutenant-colonel. He was discharged from
military service for breach of military discipline in 2007, the
National Security Service said.

Armenia arrests man suspected of spying for Azerbaijan (Part 2)

YEREVAN Oct 21

Armenian security agencies have arrested Gevorg Airapetian, an Armenian
citizen, suspected of collaborating with Azeri special services,
the Armenian National Security Service told Interfax.

Airapetian has been indicted for high treason.

A foreign citizen who maintained communication between Airapetian
and Azeri special services has also been arrested, it said.

Airapetian is a retired lieutenant-colonel. He was discharged from
military service for breach of military discipline in 2007, the
National Security Service said.

Meanwhile, the Azeri National Security Service described the report
on arresting an Armenian suspected of collaboration with Azeri special
services as absurd.

"This information is absurd and a cheap provocation on the part of
Armenia," Azeri National Security Service spokesman Arif Babayev
told Interfax.

"We do not know a man whose name is Gevorg Airapetian," Babayev said.

"We will not comment on another provocation by Armenia," he added.

AZERBAIJAN’S NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTRY DENIES ITS CONNECTION WITH ARMENIAN SPY

ArmInfo
2009-10-22 11:52:00

ArmInfo. Azerbaijan’s National Security Ministry denies its connection
with the Armenian spy Gevorg Hayrapetyan suspected of cooperation
with the Azerbaijani special services.

"Reports about the arrest of a person in Armenia engaged in espionage
in favor of Azerbaijan are nonsense", NSM Spokesman Arif Babayev said.

According to him, the National Security Ministry of Azerbaijan does
not know this man. "The information disseminated is a provocation",
Babayev said. As informed earlier, G. Hayrapetyan, a former serviceman,
Lieutenant Colonel, dismissed from the Armed Forces of Armenia in 2007
for breaking of the military discipline, is accused of cooperation
with the Azerbaijani special services. The officers also detained
a foreign citizen, through which Hayrapetyan contacted with the
Azerbaijani special services.

SERZH SARGSYAN – MAN OF THE WEEK

AZG DAILY
22-10-2009

International

RA President Serzh Sargsyan became the hero of the "European of
the week" program on the Radio France International (broadcasting
worldwide in 19 languages to 44 million audience).

Radio station aired a special program about the professional skills
of Serzh Sargsyan and his initiative on Armenian-Turkish relations’
normalization. The Radio France International called the RA President
the most pragmatic politician of the post-Soviet period.

The UK Conservative Party leader David Cameron, as well as French
President Nicolas Sarkozy and other high ranking officials were the
heroes of previous programs, news.am reports.

ARMENIAN CITIZEN THAT COOPERATES WITH SPECIAL SERVICES OF AZERBAIJAN ARRESTED

ArmInfo
2009-10-21 14:54:00

ArmInfo. Armenian National Security Service has arrested the former
serviceman which cooperated with special services of Azerbaijan

As press-centre of Armenian National Security Service reported, as a
result of operative measures an Armenian citizen Gevorg Hayrapetyan,
which was cooperating with special services of Azerbaijan, was
arrested. Hayrapetyan is a former serviceman, Lieutenant Colonel. In
2007 he was dismissed from the Armed Forces of Armenia for breaking of
the military discipline. A charge was brought against him by the first
part of 299 article of the Criminal Code of Armenia (treason against
the State via spying). A foreigner has been arrested within the frames
of the same criminal case, as he was a communication agent between
Hayrapetyan and special services of Azerbaijan. The investigation is
held by Investigation Department of Armenian National Security Service.

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN: "THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IS READY TO PROMOTE THE COOPERATION WITH THE WORLD BANK"

National Assembly
Oct 21 2009
Armenia

On October 20 President of the National Assembly Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan
received Head of the World Bank (WB) Armenian Office Mr. Aristomene
Varoudakis.

During the meeting RA NA President and the Head of the WB Office
discussed the possible programs of the fulfillment of the reforms and
the development of the professional and technical capabilities of the
National Assembly by the support of the international structure. The
interlocutors also touched upon the world financial-economic crisis
and its influence on Armenia’s economy.

Vice President of the National Assembly Ms. Arevik Petrosyan also
attended the meeting.

JUNIOR FENCING CHAMPIONSHIP OF ARMENIA STARTS OCTOBER 22

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.10.2009 16:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Junior championship of Armenia in fencing starts
October 22 in the Armenian village Byuregavan. "120-130 fencers from
Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor and Byuregavan will fight for the hampion
title," spokesman of the Fencing Federation of Armenia Artashes
Madoyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net journalist.

According to him, depending on the results of the championship,
the Armenian Youth Team will be formed to take part at the European
Championship from October 30 to November 5.

IMPORTS EXCEEDED EXPORTS ALMOST 5 TIMES IN JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2009

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.10.2009 16:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In January-September 2009, RA export volume decreased
by 41.5%, compared with 2008 results, to comprise AMD173.3 billion. In
the period indicated, imports decreased by 27.9% to comprise AMD
805.2 billion.

According to RA National statistic service data, in January-September
2009, RA foreign trade turnover decreased by 30.7% to comprise AMD
978.5 billion.

Foreign trade balance deficit comprised AMD 631.9 billion during the
period indicated.

‘LIONS VS. DONKEY, DONKEY WINS’: A VIDEO SCANDAL

Tert
Oct 20 2009
Armenia

What began as a tweet on Twitter and quickly disseminated on Facebook,
has now been picked up by blogs and published on Global Voices Online,
an online community of more than 200 bloggers around the world who
report on local news and events in a plethora of languages.

And what is this news of the day that has spread like wildfire in
social networking sites and online communities? A video posted on
YouTube of what is allegedly the private zoo of Armenian MP Gagik
Tsarukyan.

Tsarukyan, the head of the second largest political party in the
Armenian National Assembly, Prosperous Armenia, is also the head of
the Armenian National Olympic Committee.

The video shows a fight between three lion cubs and a donkey;
apparently, the donkey was placed in the lions’ cage for the amusement
of onlookers who many assume to be members of Tsarukyan’s entourage.

Near the end of the video, one can hear gunshots, though it’s not
clear whether those present are shooting at the donkey, the lion
cubs, or into the air. Regardless of who the shots were aimed at,
it is clear that the animals were ill-treated, to say the least.

The video was quickly removed after news circulated on Facebook (as per
YouTube,"This video has been removed due to terms of use violation"),
though links were re-posted and the video is now available on alternate
video-sharing sites, such as Dailymotion.

ARMENIA IS RECOGNIZED THE BEST IN WEIGHTLIFTING

Aysor
Oct 20 2009
Armenia

The European U23 Weightlifting Championship in Poland’s Vladyslavovo is
over. Two Armenian athletes became champions, Agasi Agasyan (Yerevan,
77 kg, 150 kg, 187 kg = 337 kg) and Ruben Alexanyan (Ararat, 181 kg,
235 kg = 416 kg).

Agvan Melikyan seeded third (Gyumri, 85 kg, 160 kg 94 kg = 354 kg)
as well as Vardan Davtyan (Yerevan, 94 kg, 160 kg, 199 kg = 359 kg).

Thus, three of eight Armenian weightlifter won gold, two athletes won
silver, and one athlete won bronze. Armenian team earned 587 points
and seeded first.

Russian (577 points) team seeded second, and Poland (538 points)
– third.