Author: Toganian Liana

THEY DIDN’T WANT TO SPOIL THE "COSMETIC APPEARANCE"

A1+
06:53 pm | May 08, 2009

Politics

"You could reveal the perpetrators of the March 1 events within a month
if you weren’t subjected to political pressure," leader of the New
Times Party (NZhK) and member of the parliamentary commission looking
into the events of March 1-2, 2008, in Yerevan City, said to Vahagn
Harutyunyan, senior investigator of the Special Investigative Group.

He reminded that the former Chief of Police Hayk Harutyunyan blamed the
Investigative Group for concealing the circumstances of the murders.

"The reason is the group’s malfunctioning," Hayk Harutyunyan said at
the Commission’s previous sitting.

Vahagn Harutyunyan gave an ironical smile in reply and noted that
the aim of the fact-finding group was to distort the existing facts.

Note that recently the fact-finding group sent to the parliamentary
commission its conclusion on the circumstances of police officer Hamlet
Tadevosyan’s death, who, according to the official data, was killed
from a bomb thrown by a demonstrator. The fact-finding group found
out that the preliminary investigation was conducted wrongly, and
Hamlet Tadevosyan died in the result of a bomb explosion in his hands.

Vahagn Harutyunyan confirmed that the officer had really died of a
bomb but it is still unknown who threw the bomb and whether it was
a bomb or something else.

Vahagn Harutyunyan called it "an unidentified explosive of the
investigation."

Vigen Adamyan, a senior judicial doctor, said they were unable to
identify the grenade as they were prohibited to "spoil the cosmetic
appearance of the body."

Let’s remind that Hamlet Tadevosyan had been wounded in the leg,
and the victim’s "cosmetic appearance" couldn’t be spoiled anyway.

"Surely, the preliminary investigation was conducted with apparent
shortcomings," said Vahagn Harutyunyan. "However, they will not affect
the unbiased investigation of the criminal case."

The Commission Chairman, Samvel Nikoyan, wondered why Tadevosyan’s
flak jacket hadn’t been examined. Vahagn Harutyunyan’s reply was
rather impressive.

It is too bad that bullet-proof vest wasn’t sent to an examination,"
said Vahagn Harutyunyan smiling.

OBAMA SEEKS 38% CUT IN AID TO ARMENIA

armradio.am
08.05.2009 10:43

Despite a 9% increase in overall foreign aid spending, President Barack
Obama called for a 38% cut in aid to Armenia, a 20% increase in aid to
Azerbaijan, and the abandonment of the longstanding Armenia-Azerbaijan
military aid parity agreement in favor of Baku, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).

"President Obama, despite his promise to maintain U.S. assistance to
Armenia and his campaign commitment to help foster Armenia’s growth
and development, has called for a thirty-eight percent cut in aid to
Armenia," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "His
proposal to sharply reduce vitally needed assistance to Armenia,
even as he is increasing overall foreign aid spending, is all the
more disappointing in light of the urgent economic challenges facing
Armenia."

President Obama’s budget calls for $30 million in U.S. aid to Armenia,
down 38% from the FY09 allocation of $48 million. Under his proposal,
funding for Azerbaijan would increase 20% from $18.5 million to $22.12
million. The complete international affairs budget proposed by the
White House is $53,872,901.

In Foreign Military Finance spending, President Obama has requested
$4 million for Azerbaijan and only $3 million for Armenia, while funds
for International Military Education and Training (IMET) represent an
even starker break in the parity agreement struck between Congress and
the White House in 2001, with $900,000 being proposed for Azerbaijan
and $450,000 for Armenia.

The Foreign Operations Subcommittees of the House and Senate
Appropriation Committees will now review the President’s budget and
each draft their own versions of the FY 2010 foreign assistance

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN RECEIVED DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIAN MEDICAL PROJECTS FRANCE-BASED ORGANIZATION DR NORBERT AVETYAN.

Sat urday, 2 May 2009

Discussed were issues concerning the establishment of a cancerology
institute in Yerevan by the Development of Armenian Medical Projects
France-based organization, to be implemented under the nuclear therapy
center program.

The Prime Minister noted that health care development and the
establishment of a nuclear therapy center are among the government’s
priorities and his government endorses the idea of launching an
institute of cancerology in Yerevan as part of said program. Tigran
Sargsyan advised that the representatives of Mr. Avetyan’s organization
have been invited to participate in the proceedings of a coordination
task force enabling discussion of issues concerning the creation of
the above-stated institute.

Dr Avetyan said as soon as an arrangement is reached over the
project, his organization will have best European equipment and
methodologies imported into Armenia. Local specialists, too, will
have the opportunity of working at the Institute and taking training
courses in France on a regular basis.

According to Dr Avetyan, several foreign investors are prepared to
invest into this project at this point of time.

Reiterating the importance of this program to our country, the Prime
Minister assured of his government=E 2s readiness to extend every
possible support under this program once an investment program and
a time-table are produced by the French side.

SERZH SARGSYAN IS LEAVING FOR NKR

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2009 20:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA President Serzh Sargsyan will leave for NKR at
the end of week. RA President will participate in commemorative events
for victory in Great Patriotic War, NKR Defense Army formation day
and Shushi liberation anniversary, RA President Press Service reported.

Daily Telegraph, Australia
May 3 2009

Australia’s newest stealth fighter

By James Hooper
May 03, 2009 12:00am

IT is lunchtime on Thursday and Vic Darchinyan is cutting through the
busy Martin Place crowd with the swagger of a world champion, all
bling and bravado.

He might only stand 166cm, but with a $40,000 diamond-encrusted ring
on his left hand and a heavy golden boxing glove dangling around his
neck, you can’t miss him.

Or so we thought. If this were Danny Green or Kostya Tszyu, there
would be cameras whirring and a mob lined up for autographs. But for
Darchinyan, it’s a different story. Despite recently making the short
list for the prestigious Laureus world sportsman of the year award, he
is just another face lost in the hustle and bustle of cafes, buskers
and business people.

After a few minutes, a lone well-wisher rushes to congratulate the
IBF, WBA and WBC super-flyweight title-holder. Darchinyan smiles and
thanks him. No one else does so much as a double-take. It’s some
reception for a fighter on the cusp of greatness. Consider
this. Darchinyan holds multiple titles, has amassed more than
$5million and is one of the hottest properties for US television
giant, Showtime.

In his native homeland of Armenia, or neighbouring Russia, he is feted
by politicians and sponsored by oil barons. By rights, when you stack
up the six world titles from his 34 professional fights – this
wrecking ball is entitled to be strolling around on his own planet.

Yet, in Sydney, he’s so far under the radar he hardly registers a
blip. "You know, it doesn’t bother me,” Darchinyan said. "I can walk
around in Sydney and not so many people know who I am, but when I’m
overseas it’s another story. In Armenia or Russia, everybody wants a
piece of me.

"Even in the States, the same. Yes, Australia is my home and I love
it. But if people don’t recognise me, it’s OK. I’m happy.”

If the Australian public could see inside Darchinyan’s private
gymnasium at Chiswick, this story could have a totally different
slant. The image of a 56kg pocket rocket bench-pressing double his
body weight would be enough to command respect from the most hardened
gym-junkies.

Not since Marrickville Mauler Jeff Fenech has an Australian boxer
tried to win belts in three weight divisions. This is Darchinyan’s
next challenge. Stepping up from super-flyweight to bantamweight, he
will meet IBF title-holder Joseph Agbeko in Miami on July 11.

Nicknamed "King Kong”, Darchinyan will need every ounce of dynamite
in his left hand to knock out Agbeko. If the Aussie southpaw wins,
entry into boxing’s hall of fame beckons.

From there, the fighters Darchinyan wants to face is scary. Filipino
Manny Pacquiao and Mexican Israel Vazquez, who are regarded as two of
the best in the business, head the list.

If Darchinyan meets and beats these guys, the rest of Australia will
have to take notice.

Even in the tough school of Martin Place on a Thursday afternoon.

story/0,22049,25419870-5001023,00.html

ARMENIAN NAIRIT RESTARTS PRODUCTION OF RUBBER

Interfax
April 28 2009
Russia

Armenian Zavod Nairit, owned by Rhinoville Property Ltd, has resumed
production of rubber after shutting down in November 2008, General
Director Vaan Melkonyan told journalists on Tuesday.

The company plans to increase rubber production to design capacity
of about 900 tonnes a month by May 5-10, producing about 6,000-6,500
tonnes by year-end.

Nairit will export 99% of output, mainly to Europe. The shutdown
in November was prompted by falling demand following the onset of
the global financial crisis, he said. Production has been restarted
now because energy costs are substantially lower in the spring and
summer period.

Global demand for rubber amounts to 400,000 tonnes a year, he said.

Nairit can produce about 8,000-10,000 tonnes a year under the current
acetylene production scheme.

Rhinoville Property Limited, a company set up by Polish Samex, American
Intertex and Russian Evrogaz, owns 90% of Nairit shares. The Armenian
state has 10%.

TURKISH SECURITY COUNCIL, DISCUSSES ARMENIA, AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ

Anadolu Agency
April 28 2009
Turkey

Ankara, 28 April: In a meeting held on Tuesday [28 April], the
Turkish National Security Council (MGK) stressed that "joint history
of Turkish and Armenian nations should be evaluated with an objective
and scientific approach that is supported by undisputable proofs and
documents and is free of all pre-conceived notions".

The MGK discussed Turkey’s would-be additional contributions to the
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

In a statement issued after today’s meeting, the MGK said that issues
pertaining to Turkey’s security were discussed and a will to continue
the fight against terror in democracy and a setting under the rule
of law was stressed.

"We have evaluated our relations with Iraq and discussed in details
the fight against terrorist incidents stemming from north of Iraq. The
issue of Turkey’s energy needs was discussed from political, strategic
and diplomatic perspectives. We welcome with pleasure the early
elections that took place in the [self-declared] Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in a peaceful atmosphere," the MGK also said.

US CONGRESSWOMAN: "1915 EVENTS ARE NOT GENOCIDE AND AMERICAN SCIENTISTS CONFIRM THAT"

APA
April 30 2009
Azerbaijan

Washington – APA. Member of US House of Representative from Ohio Jean
Schmidt will make an official complaint against the Armenian, who
libeled her for non-recognition of false "Armenian genocide". Schmidt
decided to complain to the Ohio election committee against her former
rival in November 4 2008 elections David Grigorian, APA reports
quoting Milliyyet newspaper. Grigorian accused Schmidt in receiving
of blood money from Turks to deny the "genocide". Schmidt said it
was not correct to call the 1915 events as genocide. "I never voted
for the "Armenian genocide" resolutions at the Congress. I always
consider that it is not a problem of the Congress. I support the
idea of establishing the independent international commission of the
experts to resolve this issue once for all".

Schmidt reminded that US influential scientists also confirmed that
it wouldn’t be correct to use "genocide" word for the tragic events of
1915. Famous historian Bernard Lewis and Norman Itzkowitz of Princeton
University, Stanford Shaw of the University of California, Justin
McCarthy from Louisville University, Guenter Lewy and Brian Williams
from the University of Massachusetts, David Fromkin, Boston University,
Avigdor Levy, Brandeis University, Michael Gunter of Tennessee Tech
University, Pierre Oberling, Hunter College, Roderick Davidson,
George Washington University, Michael Radu, Foreign Policy Research
Institute and military historian Edward J. Erickson are among them.

Schmidt said supporters of her election campaign had no relations
with the government of Turkey and she had the documents confirming
that. She said Grigorian violated election laws deliberately and she
demanded the election committee to take penal sanctions against him.

CAUCASUS 2008 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE KICKS OFF IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.04.2009 14:45 GMT+04:00

Last year was remarkable for four election campaigns, one war, two
declarations and one football match in Caucasus, Director of Freedom
House Europe Vladimir Shkolnikov said at Caucasus 2008 international
conference organized by Caucasus Institute in Yerevan.

Caucasus Institute Director, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan
noted that Caucasus annual conferences are among the few if not the
only proof of regional unity.

Head of the EC Delegation to Armenia Mr. Raul de Luzenberger said
that during 2008, many important events took place in South Caucasus,
and beginning of 2009 is very promising.

"South Caucasus experienced a war. It is sad. But we eyewitnessed
a historical step made towards normalization of relations between
Armenia and Turkey. Eastern Partnership initiative for South Caucasus
countries, Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus was also accepted in 2008,"
he said.

HAYASTAN ALL ARMENIAN FUND OPENED A REPRESENTATION IN SYRIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.04.2009 21:09 GMT+04:00

Hayastan All Armenian Fund has opened a representation in Russia, thus
expanding the scope of its activities. This is our 16th representation
, Hayastan All Armenian Fund Press Service reported. Broadening the
scope of its activities is one of the Fund’s priority tasks. Acting
Director Ara Vardanyan who has conducted several meetings in Syria
says that a new representation will soon be opened in Russia.