Author: Jabejian Elizabeth

SYRIA PRESIDENT’S SUPPORTS ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

Aysor
Sept 15 2009
Armenia

CNN Turk agency reports that Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad will
visit Turkey on September, 16, being invited by PM Tayyip Erdogan. The
day before the visit Syria’s President received Turkish journalists.

Mr. Assad offered an opinion that Ankara’s policy over current
problems would have a positive influence not only on state but also
on whole region.

Syria’s President noted that his country was in antagonism, too, with
Kurdistan Workers’ Party. "Nonetheless if 1500 fighters who hide in
mountains of northern Iraq, lay down their weapons, then Syria will
accept them," Mr. Assad said.

He also referred of Armenian-Turkish relations and welcomed the
measures in this direction: "This question is not only in Syria’s
Armenians interests but also in those of ours. If relations between
the two countries improve then tensions in neighbor countries will
also come down. That is why we need decisions of such kind."

ARMENIAN VICE PRIME MINISTER UNDERSCORES COOPERATION WITH FINLAND IN THE SPHERES OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENTAL AND TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATION

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 10, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS: Finland, having a rich experience
in local self-government and territorial administration is one of
the best in the world in these spheres. Here as well reforms of the
local self-governmental bodies are in process and more clearly – small
communities are uniting. Armenian vice prime minister, territorial
administration minister Armen Gevorgyan and Finn ambassador to
Armenia Petri Salo referred to the Finn experience in this sphere
during today’s meeting.

Public relations department of the ministry told Armenpress that
especially now when Armenia is in the round of implementation of
administrative reforms, when the enlargement of communities and
inter-community units are being discussed by the public the cooperation
with Finland is highly underscored.

The necessity of uniting of small communities is agreed not with
the dictation of global financial-economic crisis but with ensuring
more effective administration as they face difficulties in health,
social-economic and other affairs. The government of Finland encourages
communities with small population who willingly go to uniting.

Vice prime minister noted that Armenia today is solving the same issues
only in other economic and geopolitical conditions. He expressed hope
that with different mechanisms and within different programs quite
effective and long-lasting partnership may be established.

55.5% DECREASE IN ARMENIA’S CONSTRUCTION SECTOR

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 10 2009
Armenia

12:04 / 09/10/2009This January-July, 177.856 billion AMD construction
was carried out in Armenia – an annual decrease of 55.5%.

The RA Statistical Service reported that 18.246 billion AMD (10.3%)
construction was funded from the state budget. Organizations funded
69.93 billion AMD construction (10.3%), with 7.81 billion AMD (4%)
construction work carried out on international loans.

Also, 2.5% of the construction work was carried out on a World Bank
loan, with 0.8% on an EBRD-extended loan.

ARMEN MARTIROSIAN ELECTED ZHARANGUTIUN PARTY BOARD CHAIRMAN

NOYAN TAPAN
SEPTEMBER 10
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. By a decision made at the
Zharangutiun (Heritage) party Board’s September 9 sitting, member of
the NA Zharangutiun faction and of party Board Vardan Khachatrian,
Zharangutiun representative in the Central Electoral Commission
Zoya Tadevosian, and Movses Aristakesian were expelled from the
party. The latter after official acceptance of party founder Raffi
Hovannisian’s putting down his deputy mandate is the pretender for
the vacant mandate.

A change of the Board Chairman also took place at the sitting that
ended in the midnight: Board member, NA deputy Armen Martirosian
was elected instead of Anahit Bakhshian, who had resigned. Armen
Martirosian had headed the parliamentary faction before. Styopa
Safarian was elected new head of the faction.

The three party members expelled from the party, as well as
R. Hovannisian were not present at the sitting. It should be also
mentioned that Zoya Tadevosian and Movses Aristakesian expelled from
the party held an action of protest with their supporters near the
party office on September 10 but there was no one in the party office.

According to some publications, the sitting held the day before is
the continuation of the fermentations that emerged lately. It was
mentioned that party’s pro-governmental wing in that way decided to
get rid of all members of party’s leading body having opposition views.

According to party Spokesperson Hovsep Khurshudian, rumors about
a conflict between radically disposed members and time-servers in
the party are "just an aspersion." According to his commentary, the
three members expelled from the party were splitting the party and
the issue of expelling them had matured long ago.

THREE ARMENIAN BOXERS BREAK THROUGH TO 1/4 FINAL OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN MILAN

PanARMENIAN.NET
09.09.2009 09:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Three Armenian boxers has broken through to 1/4
final of world championship in Milan.

In the 1/8 final Azat Hovhannesyan defeated Italy’s Alessio di Savino
while Andranik Hakobyan beat Ireland’s Darren O’Neill.

On September 9, Azat Hovhannesyan will fight Mexico’s Oscar
Valdes. Andranik Hakobyan will try a fall with Moldova’s Viktor
Kotyuzhankky.

Hovhannes Danielyan will fight Mongolia’s Serdamba Purevdorj.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN LEAVING FOR CROATIA

armradio.am
07.09.2009 11:02

The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, is leaving for Croatia
today at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Croatia,
Stjepan Mesic.

On the first day of the visit the Presidents of Armenia and Croatia
will have a face-to-face meeting followed by negotiations in an
extended format. Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Stjepan Mesic will
give a joint press conference to sum up the results of the talks.

In the evening of September 7 the delegation headed by President
Serzh Sargsyan will leave for Zagreb, where the Presidents of the two
countries will participate in and deliver speeches at the opening of
the Armenian-Croatian business forum.

President Sargsyan will have meetings with the Chairman of the National
Assembly of Croatia, Luka Bebic, and Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor.

Serzh Sargsyan is expected to visit historical and cultural sites. The
delegation headed by President Sargsyan will return to Armenia on
September 8.

Press TV, Iran
Sept 7 2009

Armenia to stage traditional Iranian plays

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:05:40 GMT
Font size :

Two traditional Iranian plays are slated to be staged at Armenia’s
2009 edition of International Performing Arts Festival.

Hossein Jamali will stage Romeo and Juliet and Poor Lear, both of
which are inspired by William Shakespeare’s famous tragedies.

Romeo and Juliet will be performed in the traditional genre of Naqali,
which is a form of story telling based on body language and passionate
verbal performance.

According to Fars News Agency, Jamali will also stage his Poor Lear in
Shabih Khani genre in which the drama is conveyed wholly or
predominantly through music and singing.

Iranian theater director and actor Majid Rahmati will be the solo
performer of the 40-minute Romeo and Juliet and Poor Lear will be
performed by a group of three actors and two actresses.

The 7th HIGH FEST International Performing Arts Festival Welcome will
be held from Oct. 1 to 10, 2009, in Yerevan, hosting artists in the
genres of drama, comedy, mime, movement, circus, street performances,
puppet/marionette, fingers theatre, as well as dance and music.

TE/HGH

Some 30 loans refinanced by Armenian national mortgage company

YEREVAN, September 4. /ARKA/. Armenian National Mortgage Company has
refinanced some 30 loans totalling $150 million, David Harutyunyan,
Armenian prime minister’s assistant, said at a press conference on
Friday.

The company intends to refinance another 60 credit agreements worth
$300 million, he said.

National Mortgage Company, universal credit organization, registered on
June 16, 2009, started operating on July 13.

Its initial capital amounts to AMD 5 billion.

In addition, the cabinet ministers earmarked AMD 12 billion for the
financial and banking system.

Earlier, Armenian Central Bank Chairman Arthur Javadyan said that
preliminary limit was set at AMD 12 million, but it was decided later
to raise it up to AMD 20 million.

The company cooperates with six banks ` Armbusinessbank, Araratbank,
Anelik Bank, Armeconombank, Artsakhbank and Areximbank (Gazprombank’s
group).

The number of organizations cooperating with the company is expected to
double soon. ($1 = AMD 376.08). M.V. –0–

TURKISH PARTY LEADER URGES ARMENIAN PRESIDENT NOT TO VISIT TURKEY FOR FOOTBALL MATCH

Today.Az
Sept 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Leader of Turkish Democratic Party and former speaker of the parliament
Husamettin Cindoruk criticized the government for its agreement with
Armenia, Haberturk reported.

Cindoruk said during the iftar dinner in Eskishehir that the government
made surprise statement about initialing of two protocols with Armenia.

"We harm Azerbaijan with which we share the same language, religion
and roots. Azerbaijan is our blood brother. Armenia has occupied 20
percent of Azerbaijani lands. There are graves of Karabakh war victims
in Baku. What will happen if president of Armenia, which occupied a
part of Azerbaijan’s territory, comes to Bursa football match? let
him not come. Is there any use harming Azerbaijan for that?!"

Cindoruk said they had no problems with Armenians. "Armenians live
in comfort in Istanbul. Our problem is the Armenia’s enmity and
aggressive actions against Azerbaijani Turks".

EAFJD CONSIDER PROTOCOLS AS DANGEROUS MOVE FROM ARMENIA’S PREVIOUS POLICY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
04.09.2009 16:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A close examination of the protocols on normalization
of the Armenian-Turkish relations clearly reveals that the purview
of these documents – historically unprecedented between the two
neighboring states – goes far beyond the mere "normalization" and
border-opening issues being discussed between Armenia and Turkey
over many years. These protocols embrace, in a fundamental way,
the full scope of unresolved issues between Turkey and the Armenian
people worldwide, including those involving the legitimate rights of
the European Armenian communities. This is written in the European
Armenian Federation (EAFJD) statement sent to PanARMENIAN.net.

"Through the protocols, and mobilizing immense resources of
international pressure, Turkey has indeed imposed its preconditions,
which Armenia had categorically rejected so far.

The European Armenian Federation considers these protocols a dangerous
retreat from Armenia’s time-honoured policy of welcoming normalization
of relations with Turkey, but without any pre-conditions. The
Turkish government’s pre-conditions violate the core principles of
international law as they involve acceptance by Armenia of the terms
and conditions of old and illegitimate treaties long pre-dating the
existence of independent Armenia," the statement says.

According to the statement, protocols involve the abandonment by
Armenia of all efforts toward the international recognition of
the Armenian Genocide. They also involve complete capitulation
by Armenia to Azerbaijan’s terms in the Karabakh negotiations, as
re-iterated by Minister Davutoglu on the very day, i.e. September 1st,
of the announcement of the protocols. Furthermore, the tri-lateral
announcement fails to recognize the fact that the people of Nagorno
Karabakh and the communities of the Armenian Diaspora – therefore
the European Armenians – are legitimate parties to any "political
consultations.

"Turkey should not be permitted to abuse these bilateral negotiations
"packaging away" its historic national liabilities in border-opening
agreements with Armenia, its economically vulnerable neighbour. The
international community must reject Turkey’s most recent practice
of imposing its policy of denial of the Armenian genocide through
such biased bilateral deals. And the Swiss government should be more
vigilant in its assessment of the moral implications of its mediation
initiative given Turkey’s questionable record in all these issues,"
stated Hilda Tchoboian, the chairperson of the European Armenian
Federation.

"For decades, the European Armenian communities fought all forms
of genocide denial, advocated for the right to self-determination
of the people of Nagorno Karabakh, and defended the heritage of
the Armenian people in all of its aspects, having by their side the
unwavering support of the European society to their Just Cause. Today,
we reaffirm our commitment to defend the legitimate rights of our
People with the same determination," concluded Hilda Tchoboian.