Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

SARKISIAN ALLY SWORN IN AS MAYOR OF YEREVAN

an-ally-sworn-in-as-mayor-of-yerevan/
Jun 11, 2009

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)-Gagik Beglaryan, a key ally of President
Serzh Sarkisian, was sworn in as Mayor of Yerevan on Wednesday despite
allegations by local and international observers that the May 31
elections in Yerevan were marred by widespread fraud and misconduct.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Armenia’s other opposition
groups have rejected the official vote results as fraudulent, alleging
widespread vote buying, use of "administrative resources" by the
governing parties and voter intimidation by government-connected
individuals.

The inauguration ceremony took place at a special session of Yerevan’s
newly elected municipal less than a week after the Central Election
Commission (CEC) released the final results of the polls. According
to them, Sarkisian’s Republican Party of Armenia won 47.4 percent of
the vote, giving it 35 of the 65 seats in the Council of Elders.

The Armenian National Congress, which won 13 seats in the council,
has refused to participate, effectively cutting the number of seats
in the council to 52.

Under Armenian law, the top candidate of a party or bloc winning
more than 40 percent of the vote shall automatically become
mayor. Beglarian, who headed the Republican Party’s electoral list
and has run the Yerevan municipality since March, was thus declared
mayor by the municipal council on Monday.

Beglarian accepted a mayoral necklace from one of the councilors
and took an oath of office in the presence of President Sarkisian,
the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Garegin II,
and other dignitaries.

Putting his right hand on a law on local self-governance in Yerevan
enacted last December, he pledged to respect Armenia’s constitution,
laws and decisions taken by the Council of Elders.

President Serzh Sarkisian, who spoke at the inauguration, insisted
that the elections in Yerevan marked a significant step forward in
Armenia’s democratization.

"I wish you to live up to the expectations and hopes of the voters
and not let down your supporters and us in the first instance,"
Sarkisian said. He noted that Beglarian will have "much fewer levers
to make decisions single-handedly" than his presidentially appointed
predecessors had.

"But that doesn’t mean that the mayor’s role and share of
responsibility will decrease," continued Sarkisian. "And for that we,
Yerevan residents, expect a new work style."

That, according to the president, means fulfilling "every pledge,"
respecting laws, and "loving Yerevan residents with heart and soul." "I
believe that Mr. Beglarian can be such a mayor," he said.

Sarkisian further stated that the May 31 polls showed that the
Armenian authorities "can and must organize good elections in which
vicious phenomena will be rooted out one by one." He said they must
therefore ensure that future elections are judged by Armenians and
the international community to "greatly or fully correspondent to
international standards."

"The constitutional right to form a government by means of elections
must become an undisputed principle in our value system," he added.

The inauguration and Sarkisian’s remarks come a day after an
announcement by the US Millennium Challenge Corporation that it has cut
nearly one third of a $235.6 million aid program for Armenia because
of the government’s deteriorated human rights record and democratic
practices. The $67 million project to reconstruct and repair about
1,000 kilometers of Armenian rural roads, had already been frozen
following a harsh government crackdown on the Armenian opposition
sparked by the disputed presidential election of February 2008.

ARMENIA LOST THROUGH THE FAULT OF FULLBACKS

A1+
12:37 pm | June 10, 2009

Sports

"Armenia lost to Turkey 2:5 as the Armenian team lacks high-class
fullbacks," Chief Coach of Armenia U-21 Flemming Seritsle.

"Out of four defensemen only Karen Khachatryan plays in the main
team. Others don’t play in Armenian teams. As you know the Armenian
championship is far from being the strongest," notes Mr. Flemming.

Asked whether the choice of the goalkeeper Edward Hovhannisyan was
wise, Mr. Flemming said: "Both Edward and I thought that he was ready
for the match. I think that he cannot be blamed for the goals. The
defence was to be more careful."

The Danish coach was much discouraged with the defeat of the Armenian
team.

"All footballs feel sorry for the match outcome. But I must also
give an appraisal of the boys who didn’t give up and competed till
the last moment."

EBRD TO EARMARK 180 MILLION EURO FOR ARMENIA’S 2009-2010 ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

ARKA
June 9, 2009

YEREVAN, June 9. /ARKA/. EBRD is prepared to invest over 180 million
Euro across various sectors of the Armenian economy over the next
two years, according to EBRD’s latest strategy for Armenia.

Serving as a roadmap for EBRD’s activity, the strategy for 2009-2010
focuses on areas that will help the country alleviate the effects of
the economic downturn.

Although Armenia is not directly exposed to the turmoil on the
global capital markets, the crisis will reach the country through
diminishing remittances and declining exports. Armenia’s fledging
prosperity is likely to be severely tested in the difficult years
ahead, and the country’s best hope for weathering the crisis lies
in further developing its small and medium enterprises, EBRD says in
its statement.

Under these circumstances, EBRD will uphold its commitment to support
private micro, small and medium-sized enterprises by providing
necessary financing for the development of this sector through local
partner banks.

At the same time, EBRD vows staunch support to Armenian banks
by offering credits for on-lending, and by introducing such new
products as energy efficiency loans. EBRD will selectively pursue
equity participation in Armenia’s leading banks and will encourage
consolidation of the banking sector.

In the public sector, EBRD will also support projects w hich promote
transition and sector reform.

EBRD strategy notes that progress in structural reform in Armenia
has slowed down in recent years, and that significant challenges
need to be addressed to promote an investment-friendly environment
in the country. The Bank has identified a number of important issues
that need to be addressed, including diversification of the Armenian
economy, improving the competitiveness of export-oriented production,
promoting competition and limiting monopolies, tackling corruption,
strengthening the financial sector and promoting commercialisation
of public infrastructure.

To maximise the benefits of its investments in Armenia, the Bank will
maintain policy dialogue with local authorities in order to advance
structural and legislative reforms in the country, which will also
increase Armenia’s investment appeal among potential investors.

Over the past four years, EBRD’s investment in Armenia has more than
quadrupled and reached 125 million Euro across 43 projects. EBRD’s
pipeline for next two years in Armenia includes over 30 projects,
for investments in excess of 180 million.

EBRD is the largest single investor in Armenia. To date the Bank has
committed over 240 million Euro in 64 projects in all major sectors
of the economy.

Owned by 61 countries and two intergovernmental institutions, EBRD
is supporting the development of market economies and democracies
from Central Europe to Central20Asia.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Karine Abalyan
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

June 8, 2009

_______________________________

SPORTS CHAMPIONS

Best Overall Team: St. Leon Church, N.J.

Sportsman of the Tournament: Eric Halejian

Basketball: First Place, St. Leon Church, Fair Lawn, N.J.

Second Place, Holy Martyrs Church, Bayside, N.Y.

Third Place: St. Vartan Cathedral, New York, N.Y.

Volleyball: First Place, St. James Church, Watertown, Mass.

Second Place, St. Leon Church, Fair Lawn, N.J.

Third Place: St. Mary’s Church, Washington, D.C.

Tennis: Women’s, Oksona Manoukian

Doubles, Amy Ishkanian and Scott Herdemian

Chess: Ari Terjanian

Tavloo: Eric Ashbahian

Ping Pong: Hayk Arustamyan

_______________________________

MORE THAN SPORTS ON OFFER AT ACYOA SPORTS WEEKEND

More than 250 participants arrived at the IBM Dolce Palisades Center in
Palisades, N.Y. on the evening of Friday, May 22 for the launch of this
year’s ACYOA Sports Weekend.

In addition to athletic competitions, which were held at the nearby St.
Lawrence Community Center and at the newly-built Education and Recreation
Center at St. Leon Armenian Church in Fair Lawn, N.J., the program featured
a film festival, guest speakers, dance workshops conducted by the Antranig
Dance Ensemble, and a virtual athletics tournament using the Wii video-game
technology.

On Saturday, May 23, Eric Hachikian spoke to participants about his
documentary, "Voyage to Amasia," which was inspired by the life of his late
grandmother, Helen Shushan. The film tells the story of Hachikian’s family
during the Armenian Genocide and incorporates a piano trio composition
Hachikian performed at Carnegie Hall in 2005.

Linda Yepoyan, executive director of Birthright Armenia, encouraged young
people to volunteer in Armenia, describing the opportunities available at
various business, government, and cultural centers throughout the country.

On Saturday evening, ACYOA members traveled to Manhattan to enjoy the music
of Robert Chilingirian at the Hudson Terrace. A nighttime New York City
scene served as a sparkling backdrop for the reception and dance.

On Sunday, May 24, the Rev. Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian celebrated the Divine
Liturgy, with Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presiding.

The Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, dean of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary,
delivered the day’s sermon, reminding participants of Christ’s love and
forgiveness and asking them to help share the Good News with other
Armenians.

"Too many people just have not heard the word of God," Fr. Findikyan said,
stressing that it’s all the more critical to ensure the preservation of the
Armenian Church by training a new generation of young men to serve as
priests in the Armenian-American community.

"We need to be working together to find those people who are going to serve
the church full-time, and especially those young men who are going to take
the courageous step to come forward and do the best job there is in this
world," he said.

As sports competitions drew to a close on Sunday, ACYOA members gathered for
a banquet to honor the weekend’s champions and to applaud the many people
who worked hard to organize this year’s events.

"I’m very pleased with the outcome of this weekend," Archbishop Barsamian
told participants at the banquet.

Following a farewell brunch on Monday, May 25, ACYOA members departed for
their home parishes.

Participant Taleen Kachigyan, of St. Leon Church, said she enjoyed taking
part in the varied activities offered throughout the weekend.

"The ACYOA is really great," she said, "Because it brings all your Armenian
friends closer together."

The weekend was organized by a regional committee, co-chaired by Alex
Derderian and Lydia Kurkjian. Other committee members include Deanna
Cachoian-Schanz, Talar Camcikyan, Michael Givelekian, Jim Ishkhanian, Anita
Jayawant, Alex Lerian, Jon Pelaez, Vrej Pilavdjian, Christine Royland, and
Aleen Tovmasian. The Rev. Fr. Shnork Souin served as the spiritual advisor,
and Maria Derderian as the advisor-at-large.

###

PHOTO CAPTIONS

Photo 9: A basketball game underway at the ACYOA Sports Weekend in
Palisades, NY.

Photo 10: A basketball game underway at the ACYOA Sports Weekend in
Palisades, NY.

Photo 11: Linda Yepoyan, executive director of Birthright Armenia, speaks
about volunteering in Armenia.

Photo 12: A dance workshop conducted by the Antranig Dance Ensemble.

Photo 13: Altar servers assist in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

Photo 16: A chess competition underway at the ACYOA Sports Weekend.

Photo 17: Participants play ping-pong as part of Sports Weekend activities.

Photo 18: A tavloo competition was one of many contests taking place during
the ACYOA Sports Weekend.

Photo 19: The newly-built Education and Recreation Center at St. Leon
Armenian Church in Fair Lawn, N.J., welcomed Sports Weekend participants.

Photo 20: Lydia Kurkjian; Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the
Eastern Diocese; and Alex Derderian pose for a group photo at Sunday’s
banquet. Lydia Kurkjian and Alex Derderian co-chaired the Sports Weekend
regional committee.

PRIEST FOUND DEAD AT JERUSALEM’S HOLY SEPULCHER

Agence France Presse
June 9 2009
France

JERUSALEM (AFP) — A 34-year-old priest was found dead on Tuesday at
the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where most Christians
believe Jesus was crucified and buried, officials said.

The cleric, thought to be an Armenian, was found at the bottom of
a flight of stairs and appears to have fallen, a police spokesman
told AFP.

"The priest fell down and passed away," Micky Rosenfeld said. "His
death was not the result of a criminal act."

The Holy Sepulchre, considered by most Christians to be their faith’s
holiest site, is uneasily shared by six denominations, including
Greek Orthodox, Armenians and Roman Catholics.

"The Armenians are in a state of shock," said Father Fergus Clarke,
the senior Franciscan monk at the church, who spoke with the dead
man’s colleagues shortly after the incident.

"They tried to revive him but unfortunately it was too late," he said.

Tensions among the various denominations are not uncommon, erupting
most recently last November when a brawl broke out between Greek and
Armenian monks after a mass at the church.

ACCORDING TO HANRAPETUTIUN PARTY REPRESENTATIVE, MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IN CONTEXT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT IS ARTSAKH PEOPLE’S SECURITY

NOYAN TAPAN
JUNE 8, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict cannot
be solved through negotiations until Armenia and Azerbaijan renounce
the formulation "Karabakh is ours." Suren Sureniants, a member of
the Hanrapetutiun (Republic) party Political Board, expressed such
an opinion at the June 5 press conference. According to him, if today
the Armenian side rejects the document proposed on the basis of Madrid
principles, a more unfavorable proposal on settlement will appear in
10 years. S. Sureniants added that a variant much more favorable for
the Armenian side was on the negotiations table 10 years ago, and
history showed that the more time passes the worse the variants become.

In his words, Nagorno Karabakh problem’s settlement is a necessity, as
Armenia cannot develop in a blockade. And, as S. Sureniants emphasized,
concessions are compulsory in the context of problem settlement. "For
me, the most important is Nagorno Karabakh people’s internationally
guaranteed security and Karabakh’s being Armenian. After all,
we liberated the seven territories proceeding from local people’s
security," he mentioned.

US AIM TO RESTORE DIALOGUE WITH IRAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
08.06.2009 11:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The State Department said Tuesday U.S. ambassadors
abroad have been authorized to invite Iranian diplomats to embassy
events celebrating the July 4 U.S. Independence Day holiday. The
overture is a break from nearly 30 years of U.S. diplomatic practice.

Officials here depict the gesture as another step in an effort by
the Obama administration to restore dialogue with Iran, with which
the United States has not had formal diplomatic relations since the
country’s Islamic revolution in 1979. State Department Spokesman
Robert Wood, confirming a report by the New York Times, said the
State Department late last week cabled U.S. chiefs of mission around
the world authorizing them to invite Iranian diplomats and other
officials to traditional July 4 embassy receptions. Wood said the move
is in keeping with the new administration’s stated commitment to seek
direct contact with Iran, including taking a seat at the table with
other major powers in talks with the Tehran government on its nuclear
program: "Our policy is to try to reach out to the Iranian government
and people. The President and the Secretary [of State] have made very
clear that this is what we want to do," he said. "And certainly there
are going to be other opportunities to reach out to Iran. We again
still wait for Iran to reach back. And what I’m specially referring
to is Iran informing us of whether they’re going to respond positively
to Javier Solana’s invitation to attend the next P5+1 meeting."

The P5+1-the five permanent U.N. Security Council member countries and
Germany-have offered Iran incentives to suspend uranium enrichment
and return to negotiations over its nuclear program, which U.S. and
European officials believe is at least partly weapons-related.

The Bush administration had refused to take a direct role in the
talks unless Iran, which denies nuclear weapons ambitions, first
halted enrichment. The new administration has said it is prepared to
be a full participant. Iranians had not been invited to U.S. embassy
events since the American mission in Tehran was seized by protestors
in 1979 and some 50 U.S. officials held hostage for more than a
year. U.S. diplomats have over the years been allowed to interact
with Iranian counterparts in social situations, though spokesman Wood
said a long-standing policy barring substantive discussions on such
occasions remains in effect despite the State Department’s July 4
overture, VOA News reported.

Human Rights organizations calls on Armenia’s president to proclaim
amnesty
06.06.2009 17:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ International Federation for Human Rights and Civil
Society Institute call the president of Armenia for the release of all
political prisoners.
As it is mentioned in the claim, on May 28, 2009 the President of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan called on political parties and on the
newly-created public council to submit their recommendations on the
necessity and conditions for an amnesty to his Cabinet and ask the
National Assembly to adopt a decision on amnesty. A number of
protesters were arrested and detained on various charges in the wake
of the 1st-of-March events, when the President declared a state of
emergency.
In the claim, President’s words are quoted; "If it turns out that
there is a comprehensive need matured among the society, I’ll use my
Constitutional right and ask the National Assembly to adopt a decision
on amnesty" – the Armenian President reportedly stated.
The International Federation for Human Rights and the Civil Society
Institute have repeatedly called upon the Armenian authorities to
release all political prisoners, including those deprived of their
liberty in relation to the events of 1 and 2 March 2008.
"Our organizations would like to renew their call and encourage the
President of Armenia to release all political prisoners and prisoners
of conscience in Armenia, including three members of Parliament who
supported the opposition and protested against the results of March
2008 presidential elections," says the claim.

ECOLOGY PROTECTION MARCH TOOK PLACE IN YEREVAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
05.06.2009 19:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Youth group on protection of Teghut reserve organized
a march on June 5, the World Environment Day. The purpose of the
event was to attract attention to ecological problems in Armenia.

Group members said the Armenian government is an accomplice in
eliminating natural recourses. "We should openly speak of ecological
problems in our republic," they said.

CONSTRUCTION WORK OF NEW POWER UNIT OF YEREVAN TPP PROCEEDS ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE

Noyan Tapan
June 5, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The construction work of the new power
unit of Yerevan Thermal Power Plant (TPP) is proceeding according to
the schedule, and the degree of construction work implementation is
assessed at 68%, RA Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen
Movsisian told reporters during the June 3 visit to Yerevan TPP with
the aim of familiarizing himself with the construction process of
the new power unit.

In his words, all building and assembly work has to be completed
by October, after which the work on putting the TPP in order will
start. The completion of construction work and the launching of Yerevan
TPP is scheduled for April 30, 2010. A. Movsisian said the equipment
was mainly imported, with heavy and big equipment being imported
by Mria plane with the greatest aircraft capacity in the world. By
an agreement, all equipment, including machinery of over 240 tons,
will be brought into Armenia by mid July.

The overall intsalled capacity of the power plant will make 271.8
megawatts, including electric capacity of 242 megawatts, and TPP
efficiency of 68%. It will consume natural gas 2-2.3 times less for
generation of 1 kwh of power compared to other thermal power plants
in Armenia. The control of Yerevan TPP: its launching, connection
to the network, loading and stoppage will be fully automatic. Its
maintenance staff will make about 50 persons. Under the program it
is envisaged training of new experts at Alstom, Fuji and SEC companies.

The minister said that the global financial crisis has not had and
will not have any impact on construction of the power unit.