Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

Ministry of Diaspora and Handyuc team sign memorandum on creation of
pan-Armenian portal

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The RA Ministry
of Diaspora and Hanguyc team on September 8 signed a memorandum, under
which the sides will contribute to the creation of a pan-Armenian
portal of national significance. Being aimed at preserving the Armenian
identity, the portal will become an important tool for regulating
Armenian information flows, Information and PR Department of the RA
Ministry of Diaspora reported.

The Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobian attached importance to the
use of high technologies for unifying the Armenians scattered around
world, and to the full use of the nation’s potential for the purpose of
strengthening the Homeland. In this respect she pointed out the
necessity of certain programs, in particular those related to the use
of Armenian in the Internet, making translations from other languages,
as well as translations from Western Armenian into Eastern Armenian and
vice versa. She said that the Armenian people can be informed about any
project, news, problem through the Internet and expressed her
satisfaction with the availability of Internet tools which enable to
regulate information flows from Armenia to the Diaspora and in the
opposite direction. "I am convinced that we will have an Armenian
Google, but as the minister of Diaspora I dream of having an Armenian
CNN," she noted, adding that the establishment of an Armenian search
system will contribute to the creation of all-Armenian television. "It
is time for our powerful high-tech organizations to unite and solve
numerous problems related to preservation of the Armenian identity,"
she underlined, noting that 3rd forum ArmTech 2009 will be held in San
Francisco on November 6-10, an event of great signifiance for the
organization of experts’ repatriation.

The purpose of the memorandum is to unify the Armenians around
Armenia’s independent statehood by encouraging Homeland-Diaspora
cooperation.

The Ministry of Diaspora and Hanguyc team () will also
help with the establishment of an Armenian Internet search system that
will later assume the role of a national local regulator by uniting all
Armenian websites into a single system and reducing the gradually
increasing outflow of money in this sphere.

The sides will also carry out work on the creation and active
development of an Armenian Internet with Armenian contents, thanks to
which Armenians living in Homeland and Diaspora will have the
opportunity to be in constant contact via various means of
communication and overcome the existing time, linguistic, distance and
other barriers. This network may form a basis for a virtual "Armenian
world" which will include a number of professional networks allowing to
consolidate the intellectual, cultural and scientific potential of
Armenians living in various countries and use the joint activities of
the professional network’s members for the welfare of the nation.

The memorandum was signed by Head of the Ministry’s Information and PR
Department Tigran Harutyunian on behalf of the Ministry and by the team
head Mher Abrahamian on behalf of Hanguyc.

Public sector has to participate in RA-Turkish rapprochement discussion
12.09.2009 16:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Both Armenia and Turkey are currently conducting
internal political discussions on normalization of RA-Turkish
ties. Both political and public sector in RA have to take active
participation in discussions, Stability Social Movement Co-Chair
Sargis Harutyunyan told PanARMENIAN.Net at news conference in Yerevan.

`Political forces are conducting discussions over rapprochement and I
believe that in near future RA President will assemble all political
forces in RA to discuss the issue,’ Stability Co-Chair noted, adding
that it would be right for RA President to meet public sector
representatives.

According to Sargis Harutyunyan, protocols on RA-Turkish rapprochement
should be submitted to RA parliament for ratification after such
discussions.

SUREN SURENYANTS: ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES "SERIOUSLY LACK INTELLECTUAL POTENTIAL"

PanARMENIAN.NET
11.09.2009 20:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian authorities seriously lack intellectual
potential, Republic party’s political board member Suren Surenyants
told a news conference in Yerevan. Commenting upon FM Edward
Nalbandyan’s recent press conference, speaker stressed that Foreign
Minister was justifying himself in front of journalists instead of
explaining the essence of Armenian-Turkish relations.

Turkey, unlike Armenia, pursues rather flexible diplomacy, Surenyants
noted, adding that the quality of Armenian authorities’ work is a major
task for all Armenians vs. United States or Turkey. "Authorities’ work
should to create a quality complying with international standards,"
he stressed.

SUKHOI SUPERJET 100 ARRIVES IN ARMENIA FOR HIGH-ALTITUDE TESTS

Interfax
Sept 10 2009
Russia

The third prototype of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ 100) aircraft
landed at Shirak airport in Gyumri, Armenia, on Thursday, Sukhoi Civil
Aircraft said in a press release obtained by Interfax-AVN on Thursday.

SSJ 100 will undergo an inspection of its takeoff and landing
characteristics and its ascending characteristics in high mountainous
conditions, the company said.

"These tests should demonstrate whether the aircraft is capable of
performing safe takeoffs and landings with an option of executing a
go- around in difficult conditions. Also, the tests will assess the
aircraft’s main systems and characteristics of its main and auxiliary
engines," the statement said.

Armavia, an Armenian airline company, will become the first foreign
operator of the Sukhoi Superjet 100. The first planes are due to be
supplied in late 2009.

ARMENIA CAUSES SHOCK WITH VICTORY OVER BELGIUM IN FOOTBALL WORLD CUP

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.09.2009 01:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia caused a shock with their first victory in
World Cup qualifying Group Five as goals from Hovhannes Goharyan and
Sargis Hovsepyan saw off Belgium.

Armenia ended Belgium’s World Cup hopes when they beat the visitors
2-1 on Wednesday.

Prior to this evening’s game in Yerevan the hosts had only taken one
point from seven previous games in the group and still remain a point
behind Estonia in the fight to avoid the wooden spoon.

Bayern Munich defender Daniel van Buyten pulled one back for Belgium
in second-half stoppage time but it was not enough to prevent the
1986 World Cup semi-finalists’ miserable campaign sinking to a new low.

Belgium made the better start and Standard Liege forward Igor de
Camargo was the first to go close before the hosts carved out their
first opportunity in the 17th minute.

Goharyan played in Arman Karamyan who advanced through on Jean-Francois
Gillet, and the goalkeeper did enough to turn his close-range effort
onto the post.

The chance gave Armenia confidence and BATE Borisov forward Goharyan
put them in front six minutes later when he fired in a rebound after
Gillet had parried Henrykh Mkhitaryan’s shot.

The home team could have added a second before the break, with captain
Hovsepyan missing the best of the chances they created between scoring
the opener and the half-time whistle blowing.

Pyunik player Hovsepyan made amends in style by doubling Armenia’s
lead five minutes into the second period.

Belgium finally stepped up their efforts but Van Buyten and Tom de
Sutter missed good opportunities to halve the deficit. Gevorg Kasparov
did brilliantly to save a close-range header from De Camargo in the
86th minute before Van Buyten scored right at the death, too late to
rescue even a point.

It was an incredible result for Armenia, who had only scored three
goals in their previous seven qualifiers.

HEIFER ARMENIA 10 YEARS OLD

NOYAN TAPAN
SEPTEMBER 10
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. A conference titled Safe and
Prosperous Armenian Village was held in commemoration of 10th
anniversary of Heifer program in Armenia at Erebuni Plaza Business
Center on September 10.

Within this period in virtue of Heifer Armenia’s activities, networks
of youung agronomists, leavers of youth clubs, leaders of village
communities and NGOs cooperating with Heifer were created and now act.

Only in 2009 fiscal year, within the framework of Heifer Armenia
program (2008 July 1-2009 June 30) 365 families got aid and 496
family got donations. At the end of the fiscal year 5327 families
were included in the acting programs of the Heifer Armenia program.

Heifer International is a non-profit, humanitarian organization which
provided assistance to (animals, plants, knowledge and other resources)
to 7 million vulnerable families in more than 125 countries during 65
years of its work. What makes Heifer unique is the practice known as
"passing on the gift (POG)," when, particularly, the families getting
the animals agree to pass on the first offspring or an appropriate
equivalent to another family in need.

EU PROCESS IS RETURN TO CULTURAL ORIGINS FOR TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.NET
09.09.2009 15:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish State Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU
Talks Egemen Bagis said on Tuesday that the EU process is a return
to cultural origins for Turkey.

The 17th EU Reform Follow-up Committee meeting was held in the northern
province of Trabzon with the participation of Bagis, Interior Minister
Besir Atalay, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Justice Minister
Sadullah Ergin.

Speaking to reporters during the gathering, Bagis said that reforms
on human rights, democracy and rule of law are important elements of
Turkey’s EU membership process.

"However, these reforms should not be solely considered within the
context of EU membership," Bagis said, noting that such reforms aimed
at improving the living standards of Turkish citizens.

"EU process is in fact a return to our cultural origins. While we
are proceeding on the way to EU, we are also returning to ourselves,"
Bagis said, Today’s Zaman reported.

AZERBAIJANI NATIONAL JUDO TEAM IS IN YEREVAN

Aysor
Sept 9 2009
Armenia

The Azerbaijani national judo team is in Yerevan, attending the Youth
European Championship being held in Yerevan on September, 11.

In accordance with the agreement signed between the Armenian and
Azerbaijani sides, all the necessary conditions of staying of
Azerbaijani sportsmen in Yerevan are provided. Any incidents that
caused discontent of Azerbaijani delegation were not observed.

"Azerbaijani athletes were transferred from the airport to hotel
"Congress" where Turkish and Israeli teams are also accommodated. The
athletes are provided with everything," representative of Armenia’s
Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs said to "Aysor" correspondent. He
also noted that Azerbaijani representatives are guarded by Armenia’s
national secure service.

"Everything is done in order Azerbaijanis as well as other
participants felt comfortable in the City of Yerevan and prepared
for the Championship," the Ministry representative said.

The interviewee also recalled that organization of the tournament
had started 2 years ago. A committee headed by PM Tigran Sargsyan was
created. All organizational work was under control of International
Judo Federation whose members were satisfied with preparations for
the tournament.

Necessary conditions for journalists are also provided. In Karen
Demirtchian Sport/Concert Complex, where the Championship will be held,
the special rooms equipped with the necessary means of communication
are prepared for media.

CANADIAN ARMENIANS OPPOSED THE PROTOCOLS

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 8 2009
Armenia

Representatives of Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsunyun
(ARFD), Social Democratic Hnchakyan party (SDHP) and Ramkavar-Azatakan
party of Armenia (RAPA) in Canada protested against the issued
Protocols, "Horizon" weekly of Canadian Armenians reports.

As a result of the mentioned parties’ meeting in Armenian Centre of
Toronto the following statement was released: "Provisions in the
Protocols indicate preconditions set forth by Turkey and conflict
interests of Armenia and Armenians on the whole. The project obviously
tends to prevent the restoration of historical rights and rupture
Armenians. Ratification of the Protocols by the countries’ parliaments
will be a handicap for Armenians to claim land laws as well as
recognition of Genocide (at that all achievements on the international
level will be jeopardized). In Addition, the possibilities of Armenia
to negotiate on Karabakh peace process will be limited.

This project arising out of its authors’ interests is full of
dangerous consequences for century-long struggle of Armenians for
independence. We, participants of the meeting call Armenian Government,
National Assembly and Armenian nation to refuse the project will all
preconditions and pursue the policy of preconditions’ exclusion in
normalization of bilateral relations. Turkey’s preconditions refer
to the rights of all Armenians. Today is the day of Armenian will
triumph."

SECOND ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARIAN’S CHIEF BODYGUARD DIES

Noyan Tapan
September 7, 2009
Yerevan

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Grisha Sargsyan, the cheif bodyguard
of the second Armenian President Robert Kocharian, died of a heart
attack on the morning of September 7. He held the post of head of
the State Protection Service and had the rank of Major General.