Author: Frangulian Shushan

Marat Khakov: Armenian-Turkish border can be opened within two days
25.09.2009 17:39

Karen Ghazaryan
`Radiolur’

The South Caucasus Railway plans to invest a total of RUB 1.2bn in the
Armenian railroad facilities, with RUB 1bn to be invested in the
infrastructure, Deputy Director General Marat Khakov told a press
conference today.

He said that the company plans to invest RUB 600m in the track
facilities annually during the following three years. A total of RUB
10m will be invested in the design and survey works. A technical
diagnostics center will be opened at the Masis station by next May.

According to Marat Khakov, over 27,000 passengers were served by the
Yerevan-Batumi train ` an increase of 40% as compared with the
corresponding period last year. Inland passenger traffic reached
465,000 ` an increase of 40%.

Khakov said that two overhauled locomotives will replenish the
company’s locomotive fleet this October. Railway communication between
Gyumri and Vanadzor will be resumed in a few months.

Khakov also addressed the three railway accidents at the Masis and
Noragavit stations, as well as at the Tumanyan-Shaghali crossing. In
the first two cases, it was `a human factor.’ As regards the third
case, Khakov said that Tumanyan-Shaghali is the most difficult section
that needs repairing.

The South Caucasus Railway Company has repaired a 5-km-long section and
0Aplans to repair a 10-km-long section before the end of this year. The
company replaced 60,000 sleepers and plans to replace 40,000 more.

Asked whether the company is ready for the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border, Marat Khakov said they discussed the issue at
the ministry of Transport and Communication last week.
According to the Deputy Director General, they are ready to open the
border within two days if they get a corresponding instruction from the
government.

IN OCTOBER MICROSOFT TO ANNOUNCE THE TERMS OF INNOVATION CENTRE OPENING IN ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-09-24 09:33:00

ArmInfo. In October of the current year Microsoft is going to announce
the terms of Innovation Centre opening in Armenia within the frames
of the 5th IT-forum DigitecExpo 2009, which will be held on 2-4
October in Yerevan, head of Armenian representation of Microsoft,
Grigor Barsegyan, told ArmInfo correspondent.

He also added that the budget of the innovation centre has been already
confirmed at $1,5 mln. He said that the government will provide the
building of the innovation centre with 300-400 sq/m, and Microsoft –
all the necessary equipment. "The innovation centre should be located
near universities as attraction of students of the IT sphere in the
education programmes of Microsoft is one of its main missions", –
Barsegyan said and added that at present they are negotiating with
the world partners of Microsoft – Hewlett – Packard, Intel, Cisco,
different telecommunication companies which want to take part in
development of this innovation centre.

Barsegyan also said that the purpose of the innovation centre is
raising of the level of professionalist of local IT specialists via
various training programmes. "The work of the centre will be defined
according to the priority directions of the government, in particular,
IT projects will be foreseen in the sphere of education, healthcare,
tourism, e-government, etc", – Barsegyan said.

TURKISH PREMIER SAYS INITIALED DEAL WITH ARMENIA TO BE SENT TO PARLIAMENT

armradio.am
24.09.2009 16:00

Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he believed
an initialed deal with Armenia could be brought to the Turkish
parliament soon.

"We have reached an important stage with the step we have taken with
Switzerland’s mediation, and I believe we can send the initialed
document to the parliament if we do not face any prejudice and if
steps are not taken by just thinking about the internal politics,"
Erdogan told a conference at the Princeton University in New York.

Erdogan said that the document would be sent on October 10 or 11.

The Turkish prime minister said that the president of Armenia could
visit Turkey for a World Cup qualifier between Turkey and Armenia in
October with comfort as the Turkish president visited Armenia for an
away match last year.

"Turkey will have neighborly relations with Armenia within the
framework of mutual respect," he also said.

Erdogan said there was need for a dialogue platform that would bring
together regional countries, and therefore Turkey proposed to set up
a stability and cooperation platform in the Caucasus.

The Turkish prime minister said Turkey aimed to make the region a basin
of peace, and wanted to solve Azerbaijan-Armenia, Turkey-Armenia and
Russia-Georgia problems through this platform, Today’s Zaman reported.

RUSSIAN DIVA ALLA PUGACHEVA ARRIVES IN ARMENIA

Panorama.am
15:49 23/09/2009

Tomorrow evening Yerevan will host diva Alla Pugacheva. It is supposed
that the Russian star will have a meeting with the President of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and other high ranking Armenian officials.

It is reported that not all the tickets are bought. Tickets costing
20-120 thousands remained to be sold. Note that the prices of the
tickets cost 2-120 thousand AMD. It turned out to be difficult to
define the number of unsold tickets.

ARMENIAN RELIEF SOCIETY ASSISTS ARMENIAN EDUCATION

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
15:17 / 09/24/2009

Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Central Executive Board allocated over
U.S. $ 500.000 to educational programs in Armenia and Diaspora for
2008-2009 academic year, Asbarez daily reports.

"Alongside our decades of continuous assistance to educational
efforts in the Diaspora, we are obligated to initiate similar
programs in Armenia – particularly in Nagorno Karabakh and Javakhk,"
Vicky Marashlian, the Chairperson of the ARS Central Executive Board
said. The latter has recently visited Javakhk and brought the project
for the first ARS Kindergarten in the region.

ARS Central Executive Board member Maida Melkonian stated: "ARS has
always given priority to the education of coming generations. In
this context, according to their ability, ARS entities functioning
in various countries give their utmost to meet their regional needs
in the realm of education."

Founded in 1910, ARS (headquarter in New York) has offices in 24
countries around the world and employs more than 18 thousand people.

"MIATSUM" ACTIVISTS HELD PROTEST NEAR PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
24.09.2009 00:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Miatsum" national initiative has today held a
protest action near presidential residence, to express its negative
attitude to Madrid Principles and recently signed Armenian-Turkish
Protocols, said one of protest organizers Zhirayr Sefilyan, former
commander of Shushi battalion.

To a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter’s question as to whether protesters had
any claims, Sefilyan gave a negative answer, saying that activists
would hold posters reading "He who cedes territories is a traitor",

Answering journalists’ question on reasons of conducting protest near
presidential palace, activist said that the chief culprit for current
process was President so all protests actions should be directed
against him.

Protest was not accompanied by any incidents. Policemen demonstrated
restrained conduct with the exception of one case when one of law
enforcers beat a female protester on the head while trying to seize
her poster.

Protest rally was attended by film director Tigran Khzmalyan,
Heritage faction MP Zaruhi Postanjyan, ANC political board member
Samvel Harutyunyan and renowned participant of Karabakh liberation
battle Alec Yenigomshyan.

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION For Justice & Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel/ Fax: +32 2 732 70 27/26
Website :Eafjd [1]

THURSDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2009

CONTACT: VARTéNIE ECHO
TEL. / FAX. : +32 (0) 2 732 70 27

A CONFERENCE AGAINST DENIALS IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD),
in association with the Centre Communautaire Laïc Juif (Jewish Laic
Community Centre) and IBUKA Mémoire & Justice (Ibuka Memory and
Justice Association), will hold a conference entitled Denial and
Democracy in Europe on October 6, 2009 in the European Parliament,
Brussels.

The conference will be held under the aegis of Mr Elmar Brok
(Christian Democrat, Germany), in light of the adoption of the
Framework Decision against Racism and Xenophobia by the European
Council in December 2008. Article 1 of the Framework Decision
prohibits genocide denial in the EU. It is now a requirement that EU
Member States incorporate the provisions of this Framework Decision
into their national legislations by 2010.

The conference will be an occasion for political leaders,
historians, experts, human rights workers, philosophers and others to
exchange their views and their concerns regarding the state of
genocide denial in Europe. Specifically, the speakers will explore
critical questions for Europe arising from increased genocide denial
within the EU as well as the potential benefits or drawbacks of the
Framework Decision.

The increase in genocide denial is evidenced by comments such as
those of the president of Iran regarding the Holocaust. More recently,
the Republic of Turkey has incorporated provisions into a recent
agreement with the Republic of Armenia that call for the
establishment of a committee of experts to revisit and review the
actuality of the Armenian Genocide.

Among others, the experts to take the floor on October 6 include Mr
Ralph Giordano, a Jewish journalist and essayist who survived to the
Nazi regime, Professor Yves Ternon, one of the main French historian
specialized on the 20th century genocides, Professor Mihran Dabag,
founder and director of Institute for Diaspora and Genocide Studies in
Bochum (Germany) or Mr Marcel Kabanda, the chairperson of Ibuka France

The detailed program of the conference is available hereafter. This
event will take from 2pm place room ASP 5G-2 IN THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT, BRUSSELS.

THE EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION RECALLS THAT REGISTRATION IS
MANDATORY AND IS TO BE COMPLETED ON ITS WEBSITE [4].
PROGRAM
DENIAL & DEMOCRACY IN EUROPE

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, BRUSSELS, ROOM ASP 5G2

TUESDAY 6 OCTOBER 2009, 3:00PM` 6:30PM

UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF ELMAR BROK, MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

2:30 ` 3:00 Registration of attendees

M. ELMAR BROK ` Welcome address

MRS HILDA TCHOBOIAN ` Introduction note of EAFJD

MR MARCEL KABANDA – Introduction note of IBUKA

MRS MICH̬LE SZWARCBURT РIntroduction note of CCLJ

KEYNOTE SPEECH

Mr Ralph Giordano
_Writer, Publicist, __Germany_

SPEAKERS

PROF. YVES TERNON
_Professor of History, __Paris_ IV- Sorbonne, France;
Expert in Genocides and Denials

PROF. MIHRAN DABAG,
_Founder and Director of Center for Studies of Diasporas &
Genocides, __Bochum__, __Germany_

MR GILLES KARMASYN
_Expert in Information Systems; Founder of __ [5]
(Pratique de l’histoire et dévoiements négationnistes), France_

MR MARCEL KABANDA
_President de IBUKA-France_

MR LAURENT LEYLEKIAN
Director of the _European Armenian Federation_

MR MANUEL ABRAMOWICZ
_Coordinator of __RésistanceS.be__, __Belgium_

_NOTE__: this program is provisional. The exact list of speakers and
their order may change. 15mn are assigned to each speaker to deliver
his/her speech, but the keynote speaker who has 20mn. _
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THE ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA MR. SERGE SARGSYAN ON THE OCCASION OF THE 18TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

President.am
Sept 21 2009
Armenia

Your Holiness,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Compatriots,

I cordially congratulate you on occasion of the 18th anniversary of
Armenia’s independence.

This is a holiday all the generations of the Armenian nation coveted
and sensed deep in their hearts. I emphasize: all the generations
without exception.

No matter where the battle was fought: at the River Aratsani, in the
fields of Avarayr or Dzirav, on the strongholds of Cilicia, under
the walls of Van, at Sardarapat or at Shushi, we were guided by the
same vision.

Regardless of whether we decorated manuscripts in monastic cells, or
casted letters of Mashtots to print books and journals from Vienna
to Calcutta, and from Echmiadzin to Venice, we were guided by the
same vision.

No matter whether the Armenian was a successful merchant whose private
fleet ranged the oceans, or a hungry and humiliated exile immolated
in the Der Zor Desert, he was guided by the same vision.

No matter how much territory we occupied on the world map, and even
when altogether swept away from the map, we were nevertheless guided
by the same vision: the vision of Independent Armenia that epitomizes
freedom, human and national dignity and, ultimately, the right and
historical ability to create good and beauty.

That is what makes this holiday great, precious and sacred for us.

Dear Compatriots,

This day 18 years ago, during the all-national referendum, millions of
hands reached out to ballot boxes to say "YES". Thereafter, we joined
hands to withstand big and small hardships, we overcame and continue
to overcame big and small challenges. However, the main choice is
already made. From now on independence is our fortune and destiny,
our onus and responsibility, our weapon and instrument, our might
and right, from now on, irrevocable and eternal.

What does Armenia preach after having reemerged on the international
political arena? Pure and simple concepts: peace, stability, good
neighborly relations, multilateral economic and other kinds of
cooperation in all spheres. We have been sufficiently patient and
wise to take that approach even towards those who for years have
attempted and still attempt to hinder our progress by all kinds of
blockades and Armenophobic propaganda.

What does Armenia preach to its offspring all over the world after
having resurrected from the genocidal hell? Pure and simple concepts:
unity, collective will and effort, the state’s determination to pursue
and protect the interests and goals of Armenians, filial love of and
dedication to the homeland of all Armenians, and a happy possibility
to build up the Armenia of our dreams by joint efforts. And Armenia
says them: "Welcome back to native home."

What does Armenia preach to its multinational citizens after
having delivered itself from the clutches of all types of tyrannies,
caliphates and empires? Pure and simple concepts: liberty, democracy,
a rule-of-law state, civil society, and the European system of values.

It also says that economic and other crises are transient, but homeland
is everlasting. Armenia’s able and hard-working citizens also can and
will overcome these obstacles on our way. We are grateful for the aid
provided nowadays to Armenia, however, our century-long experience
prompts us that the foundation of wellbeing is one’s own work.

What does Armenia preach to the ones who menace us with war? Pure and
simple concepts: we have more than once crossed swords with great and
powerful nations that once upon a time mastered the fate of the world,
but nowadays are mentioned only in history textbooks. And we say:
"We want no war, but we are ready for victory"; at the same time we
point out to the possibility of peaceful and political settlement of
the Artsakh problem.

Dear Compatriots,

I once again congratulate all of us on occasion of the great
holiday. The well-established, enhanced and virile Armenian state is
now a reality.

It is a faithful and loyal to its word ally for its allies, dependable
and loyal to its word partner for its partners, an opponent arguing
with weighty arguments against its opponents.

But above all, it is a sunlit land inhabited by hearty people for
its friends and guests.

It exists and will last as long as the sun shines, and will get
powerful enough to become the embodiment of the vision our great ones
from Khorenatsi to Tumanian, and from Komitas to Aram Khachaturian had.

Long live independence expressed and achieved by all-national will!

Long live the Republic of Armenia!

ITAR-TASS , Russia
Sept 20 2009

Tskhinval mounts mil parade on anniversary of republic’s proclamation

20.09.2009, 16.28

TSKHINVAL, September 20 (ITAR-TASS) – Tskhinval staged a military
parade on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of the proclamation of
the South Ossetian Republic. The parade involved units of the Defence
Ministry, the Border Service of the State Security Committee and South
Ossetian commandos.

South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity hailed the troops. He recalled
events that happened 19 years ago when `the Republic of South Ossetia
was proclaimed by the will of people’. `Born on September 20, 1990,
during grim days of armed confrontation, Republic Day became a turning
point in the latest history of our people.

`South Ossetia launched into a new life, the start of which was marked
by a chain of tragic and heroic events,’ the president emphasized.

Kokoity noted that `the very logic of events at the end of the 1980s
when Georgian nationalist forces unleashed an act of armed aggression
against peaceful Ossetian population, prodded South Ossetian people to
take the only correct decision on turning the autonomous region into a
republic’.

Along with the South Ossetian president, head of the breakaway
Dniester Republic Igor Smirnov, the Nagorno-Karabakh foreign minister,
the Nicaraguan ambassador to Russia and delegation members from
subjects of the Russian Federation hailed parade members from stands.

Festivities will continue on Sunday with a show of records and
achievements, a gala concert and fireworks.

ARMENIAN MEDIA OUTLETS ON ERECTING MEMORIAL OF ARMENIAN "GENOCIDE" IN ISRAELI CITY ARE FALSE

Trend
Sept 16 2009
Azerbaijan

The Armenian media outlets that the first memorial to victims of a
fictional Armenian "genocide" will be erected in the Israeli town of
Petach Tikva does not reflect reality,the official representative
of the City Hall of Petach Tikva, Hezy Hakak told Trend News over
telephone.

"This information is not true," said Hakak.

On Wednesday, PanARMENIAN.Net reported that the municipal authorities
of Petach Tikva agreed to erect a memorial for the victims of the
1915 Armenian "genocide".

Despite the fact that the issue of the Armenian "genocide" was
several times put on the agenda of the Israeli parliament, but the
Knesset rejected it. The Israeli government also does not recognize
the so-called Armenian "genocide" fact.