Author: Talalian Arpi

SAGSYAN PERSONALLY THANKES MEDVEDEV FOR USD 500 MILLION CREDIT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
04.06.2009 23:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today the meeting of the presidents of Armenia
and Russia Serzh Sargsyan and Dmitriy Medvedev took place in
St. Petersburg.

As the press service of the Kremlin reports, in the course of the
meeting Dmitriy Medvedev said: "We have had many meetings recently,
that is very useful for developing Armenian-Russian cooperation and
for deepening personal ties. They help to make relevant decisions
and today’s meeting, I believe, will give a stimulus to questions,
we will discuss.

We will speak about economy and the projects connecting our states,
humanitarian sphere, regional questions, we will exchange views
related to the most sensible and important topics. On the whole,
we will develop our partnership relations furthermore. " In his turn
Serzh Sargsyan expressed his gratitude for providing Armenia with a
USD 500 million worth credit, which can help the country to overcome
negative consequences of the crisis to some extent.

"We persistently look for ways which will enable the Nagorno Karabakh
people to live safely in their true motherland , to determine their
destiny by themselves," Serzh Sargsyan said.

We value our allied relationship in the framework of CSTO , we
firmly intend to deepent oeur relationship in political, military
and technological spheres," Serzh Sargsyan said.

MARCH 1 COMMISSION SUGGESTS THE PRESIDENT TO DECLARE AMNESTY
Lena Badeyan

"Radiolur"
04.06.2009 17:58

Fifty-four citizens are still in jail after the events of March 1
in Yerevan. The ad hoc commission of the National Assembly set to
probe into the events of March 1 and 2 in Yerevan decided today to
apply to the President of the Republic with a suggestion to declare
amnesty. The proposal was co-authored by Artsvik Minasyan from ARF
Dashnaktsutyun and Naira Zohrabyan from the Prosperous Armenia Party.

The suggestion of the President of the Republic, the calls of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the necessity
of launching a sound political dialogue among the society and the
approaches of the March 1 Commission made its members apply to the
President with a corresponding proposal. Co-author of the initiative
Artsvik Minasyan presented the essence of their request:

"Taking into consideration that the commission attaches importance to
easing the situation in jails, we consider that the amnesty should
be applied not only connected with the events of March 1 and 2, but
also in the context of general pardon as it has been done before on
the occasion of the 15th anniversary of independence and associated
with constitutional amendments."

THE MIRACLES OF ARMENIAN CUISINE
Ella Karapetyan

Baltic Times
06/
June 4 2009
Latvia

TASTE SENSATION: The ancient art of Armenian cuisine has spread
throughout the Baltics and can be sampled at traditional style
restaurants and cafes.TALLINN – Armenian cuisine is one of the most
ancient on Earth and its preparation techniques today remain almost
the same as 1500 years ago.

The traditional style cuisine is rich with dishes made of fruits,
meat of wild animals and different kinds of fish.

Armenian foods include small appetizers, grain and herb salads,
grilled meats, a large variety of soups, stews and flat breads.

Bread is a favorite in Armenian cuisine and usually found at the
table at every meal.

In fact it is hard to imagine Armenian cuisine without the traditional
lavash bread (unleavened wheat cake), which is loved the world over.

Wild rice and rice pilaf are also common in Armenia, as is skewered
meat, commonly known as shish kebab, which is fast becoming as popular
as hamburgers.

Armenian inspired restaurants and cafes have sprung up throughout
the world including the Baltics, which is home to a sizeable Armenian
Diaspora.

In Tallinn there are several restaurants serving authentic regional
food from the southern Caucasus region. However, for a total experience
of Armenian hospitality and atmosphere head to the Caravan Grill
Restaurant.

A popular choice amongst locals, tourists and the Armenian Diaspora,
"Caravan" is widely considered to be the best Armenian restaurant in
the city.

Here you can discover the true flavor of the Armenian national cuisine,
prepared by highly qualified Armenian cooks.

The menu includes delicious Western and Eastern inspired national
dishes both for vegetarians and the real gourmet.

Options include pork, mutton and lamb fillet shish kebab, as well as
a variety of warm appetizers such as kanatch lobi (bean pods stew).

The restaurant also offers a wide range of baked goods including the
Armenian style hatchapuri (salty pie of a salty dough with brynza
and cottage cheese); gata (sweet cake with filling) and pahlava cake
(sweet layer cake with nuts, honey, and raisins).

Armenians are also famous for their soups, which are essential everyday
meals for families. The most popular is khash, a clear broth made
from ham hocks and herbs.

Tradition holds that khash can only be cooked by men and eaten in
the early morning in the dead of winter when it is served with fresh
garlic and dried lavash.

Another well-known dish is gharsi khorovats – slivers of grilled meat
rolled up in lavash, similar to the Turkish doner kebab.

In fact Armenian cookery uses about 300 kinds of wild-growing herbs,
commonly used as seasonings or even a simple dish.

However, you won’t find many cookbooks on Armenian cuisine as most
recipes are handed down from parent to child. These recipes are
forever changing with the ingredients available.

Actually there are hundreds and hundreds of recipes in Armenian
cuisine, after all, Armenians can be considered among the biggest
gourmets in the world.

Nowadays they are trying to preserve these traditions – passed down
as part of their heritage.

VIOLATIONS AT ¹ 8/03 POLLING STATION RECORDED BY INVESTIGATIVE SERVICE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
04.06.2009

/PanARMENIA N.Net/ The recount of ballot is made by the RA Special
Investigative service in the presence of representatives of the RA
Central Electoral Committee, General prosecutor’s Office, mass media
and MP from the Heritage parliamentarian fraction.

According to a PanARMENIAN.net reporter, absence of the seal and
signature was recorded during opening of the package of the ¹ 8/03
polling station.12 envelopes were contained in the package without
obligatory seal and signatures of three members of the district
electoral committee.

Violations have been recorded during checking and comparing the number
of ballots in the package with the registered number of voted electors
in the legal book. The number of 1578 voters was recorded, while the
number of the ballots in the package was equal to 1606. The books of
registration of votes were not in the envelope, as the election law
requires. All 417 ballot papers in one of the envelopes were torn to
small pieces.

According to the representative of the Special Investigative service,
revealed facts can reflect falsifications, that is a serious violation
of the law.

On June 4 the Special Investigative service of Armenia for examination
of the facts of falsifications during the Yerevan City Council
elections carried out a public recount of ballots of the two ¹ 8/03
and 8/01 polling stations of Malatia-Sabastia community.

VIC DARCHINYAN: I WANT TO BE ONE OF THE BEST OF ALL TIME IN THE HISTORY OF BOXING

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
03.06.2009 17:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Undisputed super flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan
is looking to make boxing history by continuing to move up in
weight and win titles. He became the first man to unify the super
flyweight division and now he wants to win all of the titles at
bantamweight. His first test will come on July 11 against IBF puncher
Joseph Agbeko. After Agbeko, he wants more titles, whether it be at
bantamweight or at a higher weight.

"Maybe I will stay for a year at bantamweight and unify the titles,
but I want to move up and to win more world championships at different
weights," Darchinyan said to the AAP. "I want to go down in the history
of boxing. I want people to remember me, not only at the time while I’m
boxing, but after I retire, I want to be one of the best of all time."

Darchinyan knows that some people are actually predicting that Agbeko
will knock him out. Some are not convinced that Darchinyan will bring
his power up to bantamweight. Not only does Darchinyan proclaim that
his power will be there, he plans to be deadly with both hands.

"People are talking because I am moving up to bantamweight that
my power isn’t going to be enough, but that’s why I want to go to
America and be more focused on my training and show the world my
power is more than enough for bantamweight," Darchinyan said.

"Everyone knows I’ve got a lot of power in my left, now with all my
sparring I’m more focused on my right and I can feel my right hand
is very powerful now too and my sparring partners are saying that I
am punching harder with my right."

Darchinyan is taking no chances. He is leaving for the United States
ten days early.

"My preparation has been very good, I feel like I’m at the top and
ready, but there’s still five and a half weeks to go," Darchinyan
said. "I am going to take it a little bit easy and not push too much,
I don’t want to be over-trained. I’ve never spent so long in America. I
normally go one month before, but I want to focus on my fight."

ARMENIA, SYRIA INTERESTED IN EXPANDING COOPERATION

armradio.am
02.06.2009 17:46

President Serzh Sargsyan today received the Foreign Minister of the
Arabic Republic of Syria, Walid Al-Moualem.

According to President Sargsyan, Armenia attaches great importance
to the development of relations and expansion of cooperation with
Syria and its friendly people. Noting that many remember the visit of
Syria’s President Hafes Al-Assad to Armenia 30 years ago, President
Sargsyan said the President of the Arab Republic of Syria, Bashar
Al-Assad was going to arrive in Armenia in a fortnight. The Armenian
President and the Syrian Foreign Minister agreed that the visit would
open a new page in the relations between the two countries.

The Foreign Minister of Syria attached importance to the
intensification of the political dialogue between the two countries
and the deepening of cooperation in different fields, specially
emphasizing the necessity of expansion of trade-economic ties.

The interlocutors dwelt on issues of stability and security in the
South Caucasus, stressing the importance of solving the existing
problems through negotiations. President Sargsyan welcomed the balanced
position of Syria on sensitive issues of our region.

Walid Al-Moualem presented the process of settlement of the problems
existing in the Middle East.

NATO EXPERT TO SHARE EXPERIENCE WITH ARMENIAN JOURNALISTS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 19:06 GMT+04:00

On June 3 NATO information center in Yerevan will host a meeting
between NATO expert Yan Mulder and Armenian journalists. The expert
will provide detail information on how to organize Media activities
in emergency situations, including financial crisis circumstances

KAREN BEKARYAN: I’VE GOT AN IMPRESSION BAKU NOW FEELS OFFENDED BY THE WHOLE WORLD

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 19:06

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Some expectations are justified," Eurointegration
Social Organization Chairman Karen Bekaryan told a news conference.

"When speaking about the meeting between Sargsyan and Aliev, we
should ask ourselves exactly what our expectations are. If you expect
Armenian-Azerbaijani agreement or NKR conflict normalization package
to be concluded in St. Petersburg, your expectations are futile," he
stated, noting that we usually expect more than would be objectively
justified. "Objectively, we have the following: firstly, after Prague
meeting between Sargsyan and Gul, RA President stated that NKR issue
will not be discussed in Armenian-Turkish relations. Secondly, NKR
issue is a foundation stone in the normalization of Armenian-Turkish
ties."

"Negotiations should be considered progressing, only if negotiating
parties’ positions are firmly expressed, not only behind closed doors,
but to the public either.

I’m unaware as to the progress to be achieved in St. Petersburg, but
even the minimal progress will look more real than an imitation." He
also emphasized that Baku is in a very difficult situation at the
moment. "I’ve got an impression Baku now feels offended by the whole
world, especially Turkey, because of Armenian-Turkish negotiation
process. Baku does not believe in Erdogan’s statements – this is the
reason for frequent visits of Turkish representatives to Azerbaijan and
statements in support of Baku. But even this did not help quench the
hysteria, currently observed in Azerbaijan," the politologist stated.

NATO exercises in Georgia coming to an end
31.05.2009 14:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A month of NATO exercises in Georgia are coming to
an end.
About 700 soldiers from 13 countries have taken part in the NATO
exercises in Georgia, which culminate on Sunday with a field day of
maneuvers.
At the start of the exercise NATO set up a staff headquarters at the
Vaziani military base outside the capital Tbilisi. The first "command
post" exercise focused on coordinating NATO procedures in a
crisis-response situation. A second and larger exercise, based on
peacekeeping training, runs until 3 June.
Officials in the South Ossetia were quick to suggest NATO’s military
exercises had ulterior motives.
"We do not rule out that the NATO-led exercises in Georgia are
deliberately held in order to thwart the election in South Ossetia,"
Ossetian Foreign Minister Murat Dzhioyev said on Friday.
NATO has denied the exercises are aimed at Russia or Georgia’s
breakaway regions, either in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another
pro-Russian territory.
President Dmitry Medvedev has described the exercises as "dangerous"
because they are taking place in close proximity to South Ossetia
where Russian troops are stationed.
He also described them as "provocative" because they come so soon
after the brutal conflict between Georgia and Russia, BBC reported.

ANGELINA JOLIE STAR SET TO ADOPT ARMENIAN CHILD

Bild.de
nglish/home/regularieninhalte/celebrity-gossip-tic ker/top-celeb-news/2009/05/28/angelina-jolie-and-b rad-pitt-to-adopt-armenian-child.html
May 28 2009

ANGELINA JOLIE & BRAD PITT: Couple to adopt an Armenian child?

Angelina Jolie is reportedly looking to adopt again, and this time
she has her sights set on Armenia. According to sources, Brad Pitt is
keen to adopt a child from the Indian sub-continent, but Angelina has
already looked into the practicalities of an Armenian child, and has
been swayed by the relative lack of beaurocracy and red tape. Lena
Airapetyan, who runs the department for children in the Armenian
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, said: "They must provide full
information on biographies, annual profit, a guarantee that they can
take care of a child, and proof of a lack of previous convictions. If
everything passes smoothly, a child could be adopted within a month."