Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

GROUP SCULPTURE TO THE MEMORY OF THE ARMENIANS OF CONSTANTINOPLE

Aysor.am
18.08.2009, 19:50

The information and public relations department of the RA Government
informs that today the RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan visited the
studio of sculptor Levon Toqmajyan.

The Prime Minister has been accompanied by the RA Minister of Culture
Hasmik Poghosyan and the Mayor of Yerevan Gagik Beglaryan.

The sculptor Levon Toqmajyan has presented to the prime minister
the group sculpture to the memory of the Armenian intellectuals of
Constantinople who became the victim of the Armenian Genocide realized
in Ottoman Empire. The sculpture is called "Alarm".

Tigran Sargsyan has got acquainted with the primary variant of the
work. The group sculpture is dedicated to the 95 anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide and is being realized by the governmental support.

MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY ARMENIAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION HAS 600-700 MEMBERS

Noyan Tapan
Aug 18, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. 1.5-2 thousand
of nearly 45 thousand students of Moscow Lomonosov State University
(MSU) are Armenian, 600-700 of which are members of the MSU Armenian
Student Association (ASA). According to Anna Sahakian, the Head of
the Association’s Public Relations Department, one of ASA’s goals is
to acquaint Armenian students of MSU and of other universities with
Armenian culture, Armenian language, and history of Armenian people.

According to A. Sahakian, the Association organizes reviews of
Armenian films, lectures on Armenian people, Armenian language every
week. Besides, meetings with Armenian historians, in particular,
Turkologists, politicians and prominent figures of other spheres are
periodically organized. S. Sahakian made it more clear saying that
ASA strives for constantly informing Armenian youth of Moscow about
developments in the Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azeri relations for
"us to be able to quickly respond to the events by forming a view of
our own and protecting it for the sake of our country."

She said that ASA’s members always take part in the action of protest
organized on April 24, Commemoration Day of Armenian Genocide victims
in front of the Embassy of Turkey in Russia and in the commemoration
event being held near the Armenian church.

The Association also organizes Armenian students’ participation in
MSU’s cultural events. One of the last events was joint concert program
of Armenian, Kazakh, and Azeri students, within the framework of which
ASA members also presented the Armehian national cuisine. They also
mark Armenian national holidays, New Year, Tearn Yndaraj, Vardavar,
organize events, where works by Armenian composers and poems are
performed.

The head of Association’s Public Relations Department expressed
willingness to deepen information contacts with the RA Ministry of
Diaspora, which will give a possibility to quickly inform Armenian
students of Moscow about events organized by the Ministry. ASA also
cooperates with a number of organizations functioning in the capital
city of RF.

WASHINGTON TIMES: ARMENIA TO START INTEGRATION INTO NATO AND EU AS SOON AS THE BORDER WITH TURKEY OPENS

ArmInfo
2009-08-14 20:00:00

ArmInfo. Opening of the Armenian-Turkish border may contribute to
Armenia’s integration into NATO and EU, the article "Armenia May
Win from Improvement of Relations with Turkey", published in the
Washington Times, says.

The Article author thinks if the border is opened up, Armenia could
potentially work toward NATO and EU integration and could become a
major transit country for energy trade like it’s northern neighbor
Georgia.

If the Turkish border reopened, landlocked Armenia would have greater
access to trade through ports on the Mediterranean and Black seas,
and would be less dependent on transit through Russia. Apart from
its turbulent relationship with Turkey, however, Armenia’s domestic
politics have been an obstacle to strengthening its ties with the West.

In June, the U.S.-funded Millennium Challenge Corp. cut $64
million from an aid program aimed at repairing Armenia’s crumbling
roads. "inconsistent with the eligibility criteria that are at the
heart of the MCC program."

To recall, the Company Board of Directors made a decision at June
10 session on suspension of financial assistance to Armenia for
construction and restoration of rural roads. As the Company Executive
Director said,

JERMUK 2009. ARONIAN YIELDED LEADING POSITIONS

Panorama.am
16:12 14/08/2009

After the fifth round of FIDE "Grand Prix" tournament the ranking
table is led by Peter Leko and Vassily Ivanchuk who have 3.5 points
on their account. Armenian GM Levon Aronian yielded his position and
shares 3-5 horizontal with Rustam Kasimjanov and Boris Gelfand.

Ivan Cheparinov, Pavel Elianov, Dmitry Yakovenko and Sergey Karjakin
have 2.5 points and share 6-9 horizontals.

The other Armenian GM attending the tournament Vladimir Hakobian has
2 points.

Note that 14 August is announced short holiday for the chess players.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS ARMENIAN JUDO FEDERATION

Panorama.am
17:50 13/08/2009

The Government of Armenia made a decision to dispose 20 million AMD
to the Armenian Judo Federation for organization and implementation
of Judo Europe Youth Championship in Yerevan on 10-14 September,
Government’s press service reports. Ministry of Sport and Youth
Affairs will get the money in the third trimester of the year.

ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN "HOSTILE FRIENDSHIP"
Hayk Aramyan

ments&pid=14933
11:39:15 – 15/08/2009

According to the politician, the head of the Armenian centre of
national and international studies, Richard Giragosyan, the opening
of the Armenian and Russian border is in Russia’s interests. The
Armenian economy is ruled by Russia. These are Russian and Turkish,
and not Armenian and Turkish relations. The politician Manvel Sargsyan
expressed the opinion that Turkey initiated the deepening of its
relations with Turkey, where there is no Armenia. Turkey has never
had any wish to negotiate with Armenia.

The Armenian and Turkish negotiations exist in the framework of
the Russian and Turkish rapprochement. And this rapprochement is
impossible without the Armenian factor because Armenia does not have
to hinder it with its problems. And in order not to hinder, it has
to be forced to make steps, which contradict the interests of Armenia
and the Armenian people, which we witness in the last moths.

"The Armenian and Russian friendship of centuries" is a complicated and
historically interesting phenomenon. Russia, in order to be established
in the Caucasus and in the adjacent areas, has always used the Armenian
factor. Russia has never hidden that Armenia is just a castle for it
to control the whole region. There is an interesting historical fact:
when Russia leaves the region, the territory of Armenia increases and
becomes more powerful. And when Russia comes back into the region,
it takes place on account of the Armenian territories. This proves
the whole history of the Russian and Turkish relations, the agreements
signed in result of the Russian and Turkish 6 wars.

The same happened in the beginning of the century. When Russia had to
yield from the region, the republic of Armenia, despite its terrible
state, managed to survive and even broaden its territories. When
Russia came back, it happened by giving Karabakh and Nakhichevan to
Azerbaijan, an agreement with Turkey was signed, which provided for
yielding a part of the Eastern Armenia to Turkey. We may also recall
the fact unknown for many, when in 1923 Turkey was almost destroyed,
when Greek troops occupied Ankara, and Russia provided Turkey with
weapons and troops and saved it. Not accidentally, Vladimir Lenin is
mentioned as a saint in Turkish mosques.

And the most recent example is the Karabakhi conflict. Until Russia was
in the region, its troops eliminated all the Armenians in Martakert,
Shahumyan, Gardman and other Armenian areas. When the USSR collapsed
and Russia did not have the previous power in the Caucasus, Armenia
restored a part of its damages.

In the present moment, Russia and Turkey have serious problems
with the West; they try to establish strategical cooperation, which
will include the Caucasus and the Central Asia. Naturally, in this
Russian and Turkish regular commerce, the Armenian topic cannot be
avoided. The facts are evident. By the order of Russia, the Armenian
government agreed on demands without informing the Armenian society
on the Karabakhi issue and on the Armenian and Turkish relations. It
is natural that Russia is to solve its issues with Turkey on account
of Armenia, because there is no other object of trade.

Here is a "friendship of centuries". But no one has to blame Russia,
but we have to think to put this friendship on mutually expedient
basis. This will be a surprise for Russia, because such a thing in 300
years of "friendship" never happened and the concept of the Armenian
interest may seem strange to Russia.

Hence, Armenia has to seek to become a partner from the object of
trade and has to present political initiatives, which will enable to
come out of this situation. Of course, the qualities of the Armenian
current administration do not inspire hopes that it is possible
in the nearest future. And by that time, we have to set hopes on
disagreements between Russia and Turkey with the West. But this is
not a long lasting guarantee.

"OHIO US HOUSE CANDIDATE ISSUES PRESS RELEASE ON SIBEL EDMONDS …
By Brad Friedman

Brad Blog
8/12/2009 12:07PM

Sibel Edmonds’ ‘Revealing’ Testimony

David Krikorian campaign notes Google’s removal of ads by Turkish
lobby group denying Armenian genocide

Announces open-to-public preliminary hearing tomorrow in his Ohio
Election Commission case against Ohio Rep. Jean Schmidt…

As we continue to wait for the release of the video/transcript of
long-gagged FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmonds’ deposition last Saturday,
the campaign of David Krikorian, Ohio’s Democratic candidate for the
U.S. House seat in the 2nd Congressional district, has just issued a
press release relating to it. (Complete release posted below.) In the
statement, they re-iterate some of the information which The BRAD
BLOG covered during our live-blogging of the event over the weekend,
including Edmonds’ allegations under oath that "the Turkish Lobby in
the United States was under the direction of the Turkish Government
and engaged in operations including bribery, espionage and blackmail
with certain members of the US House of Representatives to further
its objectives in the United States including one of which is the
denial of the Armenian Genocide."

Some of those current and former House reps, such as Dennis Hastert
(R-IL), Dan Burton (R-IL), Bob Livingston (R-TX), Dick Gephardt (D-MO),
and Stephen Solarz (D-NY), were said to have been specifically named
during the 5-hour-long deposition. One female Representative, said to
be a Democrat and still serving in the House, was described, but not
named, as having been "hooked" by Turkish agents into participating in
a lesbian affair which is said to have been videotaped for potential
blackmail use against the sitting Congresswoman….

Krikorian’s statement also repeats his allegations against his
opponent, Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH), that she "took more money from
the Turkish lobby in the 2008 election cycle than any other member of
the House or Senate and has already booked thousands in contributions
from the Turkish lobby in 2009 despite there being almost no Turkish
people or interests in Ohio’s 2nd congressional district."

He goes on to allege that "Jean Schmidt has displayed a pattern of
taking money from groups in exchange for pushing their agendas."

Edmonds’ testimony arose out of a "false statements" complaint filed
by Schmidt against Krikorian, who is of Armenian descent, in the Ohio
Election Commission over his claim that she has accepted "blood money"
from Turkish interests who deny the 1915 Turkish genocide of ethnic
Armenians. Edmonds herself is a Turkish-born U.S. citizen. Schmidt
is the co-chair of the Congressional Turkish Caucus.

A preliminary hearing in the case will be conducted by the Ohio
Elections Commission in Columbus tomorrow. It will be open to the
public, beginning at 9:30am, according to the Krikorian press release.

The press release also cites a , highlighting a complaint from the
Turkish Coalition of America (TCA), against Google, charging that
they inappropriately removed ads which deny the Armenian Genocide. Fox
quotes "a person familiar with Google’s policies" likening the ads to
"a Nazi group that said the Holocaust is a myth."

On Saturday, Krikorian told The BRAD BLOG, during a break in Edmonds’
testimony: "From my opinion, if I’m some of the current members of
Congress, I’d be very very worried about the information that’s going
to come out of this. There are current members of Congress that she
has implicated in bribery, espionage. It’s not good. It’s crazy, it’s
absolutely crazy. For people in power situations in the United States,
who know about this information, if they don’t take action against it,
in my opinion, it’s negligence."

RICHARD GIRAGOSIAN SAYS MISSION IN KOSOVO HAS NO LINK WITH NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Panorama.am
16:21 12/08/2009

Tina Kaidanow’s appointment on the position of the Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs is of great
importance, Richard Giragosian, Director of Armenian Center for
National and International Studies said. Note that most probably
Kaidanow will hold American co-chairing of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Richard Giragosian told Panorama.am that the new deputy assistant’s
experience for the current position is going to be beneficial. New
Deputy Assistant’s appointment follows Kaidanow’s rich experience in
post-conflict regions, and peace keeping efforts.

"Having mission in Kosovo does not necessarily mean that there is
some link between Kosovo and Nagorno-Karabakh," Mr. Giragosian said.

Regarding Matthew Bryza’s appointment as the U.S. Ambassador to
Azerbaijan, Giragosian said that taking into account the developments
in the region, especially in the OSCE Minsk Group, the role of
U.S. Ambassador has significant notion. "Bryza’s appointment has
another significant notion also, as he is aware of the regional
developments and has contacts. It’s worth mentioning that Bryza’s
appointment is a natural rotation and the continuation of America’s
diplomatic strategy," he said.

ARMENIA ACTIVELY PREPARES FOR EUROPEAN YOUTH JUDO CHAMPIONSHIP

armradio.am
11.08.2009 16:02

On September 11-13, 2009 European Youth Judo Championship will be held
in Yerevan, Armenia. Discussion focused on organizational issues, and
relevant department Heads were given recommendations, RA Government’s
press service reports.

To remind, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan is the president of
the Committee.

VIVACELL-MTS: COMPANY’S MARKET SHARES REMAINED ON THE LEVEL OF 81% DURING THE SECOND QUARTER

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
12.08.2009 12:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian mobile operator VivaCell-MTS company’s
losses for the second quarter of 2009 comprised AMD 2 billion 912,9
million, which is a 1289,1% increase in comparison with the same
period last year, and 23.1% increase – in comparison with the first
quarter of the current year, the company says in its official report.

In the above-mentioned period, company’s operation income comprised
$9.2, having increased by $1.8 million in comparison with the first
quarter, and $5.4 million – in comparison with the same period of
last year.

VivaCell’s gains in the same period comprised AMD 19 billion 534,1
million, having increased by 3.4% in comparison with the same period
of 2008 and 9.5% – in comparison with the first quarter of 2009.

ARPU annual average income (per subscriber) in the second quarter
comprised AMD 3169,2, having decreased by AMD 1162 in comparison with
the same period of last year.

According to MTS reports, company’s market shares remained on the
level of 81%.