Author: Talalian Arpi

ARMENIA’S 2009 TOURIST NUMBERS STAGNATE
Kristine Aghalaryan

20 09/08/12 | 13:24

Economy

Today, Mekhak Apresyan, who heads the Tourism and Regional Development
Department at the Ministry of Economics, reported that 207,729 tourist
visited Armenia during the first six months of 2009; a rise of only 1%
over last year.

He said that in 2008 there was an average 20-25% growth in the tourist
sector. "Compared to the international numbers that have experienced
a drop of almost 3 %, Armenia is doing OK but the rates of growth
here have decreased," Mr. Apresyan stated, pointing to the economic
crisis as the main culprit.

Initial forecasts for growth in the tourism sector in 2009 had been
pegged at 7-10%, or around 600,000 foreign visitors. On average,
each tourist spends an average of $800 weekly while in Armenia

Records show that most tourists hail from Russia, Georgia, EU
countries, Iran and the United States.

Most Armenians travel to neighboring countries, Georgia, Turkey and
Bulgaria, for their vacation.

EXPERT: GEORGIA TRIES TO MOVE CLOSER TO TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
17:02 / 08/11/2009

Ashot Melkonyan, the director of History Institute of the Armenian
National Academy of Sciences, considers Javakhk Armenians need
spiritual food rather than material values. Javakhk cannot be a
dividing line, but a bridge between Armenia and Georgia. Melkonyan
stated at the press conference under "Gold Apricot on wheels in
Javakhk" heading.

He said: "Javakhk can never be viewed as enemy, though Georgia
considers it a region of separatism. Georgia is facing the threat
of democratic explosion and its interests should correspond to those
of Armenia.

Georgia tries to get closer to Turkey and Azerbaijan which is
disastrous both for Armenia and itself.

Georgians are wary of Armenia, as Georgia is pro-NATO, while Armenia
– pro-Russian.

STANLEY JORDAN DREAMT TO BE IN YEREVAN

Aysor.am
11.08.2009, 16:27

Suzzan Bridestan, the responsible for the cultural events in the
U.S. Embassy to Armenia, today at the press conference expressed her
happiness about Armenia hosting Stanley Jordan and his band.

"Here we have hosted many musicians, dancing groups during the last
years. It provides us the opportunity to appreciate and value each
other. The musical programs are extremely exciting, as music plays
really very great role in culture",-she said, mentioning that they
are going to invite Stanley once more as the excitement was more
than expected.

This is Stanley Jordan’s first visit to Armenia. He convinced that
he is very happy because his dream came true.

And he has dreamt about visiting Armenia since 1988, when the terrible
earthquake struck Armenia. The guitarist mentioned that he had always
wanted to recover the Armenians, who suffered the earthquake.

The band had a concert in "Malkhaz" jazz club yesterday evening.

"We had great time. The musicians accompanying us were unique. I am
very impressed. It is very important to produce jazz in an artistic
way, and also all this is should be realized as an amusement. I had
a chance to meet one of the musicians, Vahagn Hayrapetyan, in the
USA long ago. I was giving an interview in the radio station, when
Vahagn with another musician came to radio, as they liked what I was
telling. At our meeting I could not even imagine how talented he is",
-added Jordan.

Edi Baratini, playing percussion instruments, is also impressed with
Armenia. He mentions that he has got many American-Armenian friends,
and he has always felt that they are alike. He also liked Armenian
air and atmosphere.

It is also great honour for Jick Boner, the bass guitarist, to be
introduced to a new culture.

"My first acquaintance with Armenia was in 1991, when my son was
born. At the moment he was coming into this world, we were listening
to Jivan Gasparyan. That music was coming out of my soul", -mentioned
Boner, hoping that the present will enjoy their music.

KAREKIN II CALLS RUSSIA THE SECOND HOME STATE FOR ARMENIANS

Interfax-Religion
11 August 2009, 12:59

Moscow, August 11, Interfax – Patriarch-Catholicos Karekin II of
All Armenians considers Russia the second home state and prays for
its prosperity.

"A large Armenian community is living in Russia today. We think your
country to be our second native land," Catholicos Karekin II said in
an interview published Tuesday by Rossiyskaya Gazeta daily.

According to Karekin II, Armenians always remember that "during hard
times, Russians have always been the first" to give us a helping hand.

"I follow both internal and external life of Russia and pray for
Russia to always remain a strong nation. I pray that the Russian people
live in prosperity. What is good for Russians, is good for Armenians,
I personally treat these things as one," Karekin II highlighted.

PRIMATE CELEBRATES DIVINE LITURGY; ORDAINS SUB-DEACONS IN LA VERNE

ebrates-divine-liturgy-ordains-sub-deacons-in-la-v erne/
Aug 07 2009

On Sunday August 2, 2009 His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate, assisted by Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Diran Avagyan, Deacons
and Acolytes, celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon
at the Armenian Church of La Verne. During the liturgy the Primate
ordained Armen Biberian and Shant Papazian as Sub-Deacons of the
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church.

During the reception held after the church service, the Primate
presented the "Armenian Spirit" Award to Mr. and Mrs. Minas and
Vergine Markarian; Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis and Sylva Katchiguian; and
Shant and Tigran Papazian.

Rev. Fr. Diran Avagyan, Parish Priest, also presented the following
individuals with ‘certificates of acknowledgement’ for their service
in the church: Rosine Aprahamian, Margo Manougian, Lucy Semikian,
Sona Tavoukjian, Serpouhi Teshikian, and Angel Zirbijian.

Armenian political scientist finds MG Co-Chairs’ recent statement provocative

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
12.08.2009 14:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Since 2006, media has made a habit of discussing
statements made by OSCE MG Co-Chairs, trying every time to get at
the heart of their reasons and purposes, political scientist Sergey
Shakaryants told a news conference in Yerevan.

"I wonder if MG Co-Chairs have authorized any of mediators to speak
on behalf of all others," Armenian political scientist said.

"It’s the fourth year I have been asking, ‘why seven regions?’ "
Shakaryants said, adding that some of regions are not fully controlled
by RA Defense Ministry.

"Besides, Armenian side insisted on Lachin’s having a certain
status, since the territory does not form part of security zone,"
the speaker said.

Even if they speak about returning regions, their number cannot exceed
four or five, because Co-Chairs clearly stated that Kelbadjar’s issue
should be dealt with separately, political scientist stressed.

"If Armenia makes no response to Co-Chairs’ statements, new concessions
may be imposed on us in future," Sergey Shakaryants noted.

"YERKIR UNION" CLAIMS GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES PLANNING TO "NEUTRALIZE" CHAKHALYAN

27/
2009/08/10 | 12:00

Diaspora Politics

Based on what it claims to be credible sources, the "Yerkir Union"
states that the Georgian authorities are preparing to physically
liquidate or neutralize Javakhk-Armenian activist Vahagn Chakhalyan.

The "Yerkir Union" backs up its claim by stating that on July 31,
2009, Chakhalyan was transferred from the Tbilisi Gldani #8 detention
facility to the #2 prisoner compound in Rustavi, where conditions to
carry out such an act are more conducive.

The statement says that full responsibility for such a plan rests
with Georgian President Saakashvili and Georgian Foreign Minister
Vano Merabishvili.

The "Yerkir Union" calls on the Georgian authorities to ensure the
safety of Chakhalyan by returning him to his former detention facility
and urges Georgian Public Rights Defender Sozar Subari and the foreign
diplomatic corps to pressure the Georgian authorities on the matter.

ELECTRONIC EDUCATION TOOLS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL STUDENTS IN ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
06.08.2009 19:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Thanks to the RA National Centre for Educational
Technologies, which implements the project on initiating "Activities
towards Disseminating Electronic Manuals for All Armenian Schools",
electronic-educational manuals are from now on available to all
students in the country. The project was launched by OSI Cooperation
Foundation’s Armenian branch.

Within project frameworks, the 14 educational manuals available on
the electronic database of the Algorithmic Languages chair of YSU
Applied Mathematics faculty were replenished with new copies. Their
complete packages were delivered to Armenian schools.

Thanks to the project, all schools now have electronic libraries
which provide access to the 14 electronic-educational manuals.

The manuals can be downloaded from the resource catalogue page of the
portal available at , RA Education and Science Ministry’s
official Web site reports.

ARA BADALYAN APPOINTED ASSISTANT TO SECRETARY GENERAL OF CSTO

ARMENPRESS
Aug 6, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 6, ARMENPRESS: Ara Badalyan has been appointed
assistant to the secretary general of CSTO with the decision of the
Armenian government. A. Badalyan will work in the Secretariat of CSTO
in Moscow.

With the September 5 2008 decision of the CSTO Council the place
for assistant to the secretary general of CSTO has been provided to
Armenia on quota basis.

THREE FACTORS OF ILLEGALITY

LRAGIR.AM
15:00:42 – 07/08/2009

Candidate of juridical sciences and a lawyer Hrayr Tovmasyan dwelt on
the question concerning the lack of a legal field and non-observation
of rules in the Armenian society.

Tovmasyan stated that due to the lack of statehood during centuries,
the conception of right disappeared from people’s mind. According
to Tovmasyan, there are three factors, which brought to this
situation. These are national, sovietic and transitional. The national
factor is that people think that nothing depends on them, that they
cannot change anything.

According to Tovmasyan, the Armenian laws may be divided into three
groups. The first group is composed of laws taken from European
countries. The second group is composed of laws adopted for political
populism. And the third are laws adopted by the civil needs.

Armenia needs a professional parliament. But people are not attentive
at electing parliamentary members. This is the reason why casual
people enter in the parliament who cannot fulfill parliamentary
functions. There is no institution, which supports the parliament now,
stated Hrayr Tovmasyan.