ARMENIAN WINTER RESORTS AWAITING TOURISTS
PanARMENIAN.Net
09.11.2009 14:02 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian winter resorts are ready to welcome
tourists, according to Mekhak Apresyan, head of tourism department
at RA Ministry of Economy.
"Two ski routes were accomplished in Jermuk this year. Besides we
develop infrastructure and encourage downhill skiing in other northern
town of the republics," he said.
He assured that interest in Armenia’s winter resorts grows.
ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS DEMANDS TV AND RADIO COMPETITION BE RE-ESTABLISHED
Tert
Nov 6 2009
Armenia
Armenian National Congress circulated a statement recently which refers
to the situation of the press in Armenia, as well as to freedom of
speech: The statement, in part, says.
"The October 22 National Assembly hearings on the Digitalization of
TV and Radio Broadcasting and its Consequences proved once again that
efforts are made at the state level in Armenia to violate the right
to freedom of speech.
"With the amendments made to the Republic of Armenia Law on TV and
Radio on September 10, 2008, competitions for broadcasting licenses
became prohibited in Armenia till July 20, 2010. The Government
of the Republic of Armenia justified the initiative by saying that
digitalization of broadcasting was being introduced in Armenia.
"Considering the amendments to the RA Law on TV and Radio made in
September 2008 to be a means, by which, in essence, TV companies
that are outside the governing leaders’ control were deprived of the
opportunity to return to broadcasting through [fair] competition,
the Armenian National Congress condemns governing leaders’ continuous
activities in repressing freedom of the press and freedom of speech.
"ANC demands re-establishment of competition and freedom of press in
TV and radio, in accordance with the principles of market relations
and freedom of speech, as it is ensured by the obligations Armenia
assumes in the international arena. As a first step, it is necessary
to undergo an international audit on TV and radio frequency domain
as quickly as possible."
EAFJD CALLS UPON THE UK GOVERNMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
07.11.2009 12:18 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Internationally-recognised human rights lawyer
Geoffrey Robertson QC released a legal opinion slamming the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for having deliberately misled the
British Ministers, Parliament and People about the Armenian Genocide.
Taking ground on the declarative value of the 1948 Convention, Mr
Robertson categorically rejects the foundations of the official British
position which are deceitfully supported by the FCO and especially
the allegation according to which there is no written document
giving evidence of any governmental decision to exterminate the
Armenians. With the help of the jurisprudence from the International
Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and former Yugoslavia, Mr.
Robertson recalls that such documents are absolutely not required in
establishing the genocidal intent and that it is generally impossible
to provide these kinds of documents, even for the Holocaust.
On this point, the lawyer blasts the FCO’s manipulation which would
require "sufficiently unequivocal evidences", as a "meaningless"
concept forged to be never complied with and which encroaches the
clear principles of both the civil and criminal standard of proof.
Examining the FCO’s internal documents, Mr Robertson shows that by
appeasing the Turkish State’s campaign of denial, the genuine concern
of British diplomacy is "to evade truthful answers because the Truth
would discomfort" Turkey where UK has economical interests, Turkey
being "neuralgic" to the whole genocide issue.
Mr. Robertson ends his analysis by recommending the UK to end this
denial policy and by clearly calling upon it to recognise the Armenian
Genocide. Mr Robertson concludes "if these same events occurred today,
in a country with a history similar to Turkey’s in 1915, there can
be no doubt that prosecutions for genocide would be warranted and
indeed required by the Genocide Convention".
The legal opinion shows that in giving priority to economical
considerations, the FCO departed from its mission and severely warped
its objectives.
" If true, the United Kingdom must seriously discipline this
administration" stated Laurent Leylekian. "This is the international
credibility of UK as a State of Law which is challenged by this legal
opinion" he added.
Furthermore, this study is an outstanding disavowal of the official
British position about the Armenian Genocide.
"We call upon the British government to recognize the Armenian Genocide
and to clearly state that this recognition by Ankara is a condition
for the continuation of the negotiations between Turkey and the EU"
concluded Leylekian.
ARMENIAN MP WORRIED BY EUROPES APPROACH TO TURKEY TIES
AssA-Irada
November 4, 2009 Wednesday
Azerbaijan
An Armenian lawmaker has voiced concern over European politicians
approach to the normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations, saying they
link the process with the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh. The statement was made by Stepan
Safaryan, head of the opposition Heritage faction in the Armenian
parliament, who has held meetings with European institutions officials
in Brussels and Strasbourg, Armenia Today news agency reported.
Turkey and Armenia face decades of enmity. Turkey closed its border
with Armenia in 1993 due to Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani
territory and past genocide claims. On October 10, in Zurich, the two
governments signed two protocols to establish diplomatic relations and
reopen their borders, in a bid to normalize their strained relations.
However, the documents require ratification in both countries
parliaments. Safaryan claimed that Turkey is considered by Europeans
today as a rising sun of the region, and the door is open to it to
co-chair the OSCE Minsk Group, which is brokering settlement to the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. The lawmaker maintained that, by signing
the protocols with Armenia, Ankara aims to achieve a solution to
the Garabagh problem by next April and to impede recognition of the
alleged World War I-era genocide of Armenians in US Congress. Another
goal pursued by Turkey, he claimed, is turning into a regional leader.
For this reason Turkey will be delaying ratification of the protocols,
Safaryan alleged. Turkish officials have ruled out approval of the
documents in the Grand National Assembly before progress is made in
the Garabagh conflict.
FRANCE TELECOM’S AFFILIATE COMPANY START WORKING IN ARMENIA
ArmInfo
2009-11-05 15:46:00
ArmInfo. The third mobile operator of Armenia, Orange Armenia, an
affiliate company of France Telecom, started working today.
The management of France Telecom, headed by the Company Chief Executive
Didier Lombard, as well as Ambassador of France to Armenia Serge
Smessow were present at the grand opening of the Company’s Head Office
in the Northern Avenue in the center of Yerevan. As vice president
of France Telecom Olaf Swantee said, Orange Armenia will do its best
to promptly become the most friendly disposed operator of Armenia.
Orange Armenia is an affiliate company of France Telecom in Armenia.
The company obtained license for rendering of mobile communication
services in Armenia in November, 2008. In 2009, investments of Orange
in Armenia should make up about 80 mln Euro, in 2009 – 2011 – 150
mln Euro
"CULTURAL POLICY, POLICY FOR CULTURE" CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN
ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 2, 2009
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: "Cultural Policy, Policy for Culture"
conference will be held November 6-8 in Yerevan organized by the
Armenian Ministry of Culture with the support of UNESCO Yerevan Office.
An official from the Armenian Culture Ministry told Armenpress
that representatives from CIS countries will participate in the
event. The conference will give an opportunity to Armenian and foreign
cultural figures elaborate dialogue over core cultural-policy issues,
establishment of cooperation among different countries in the sphere
of culture.
ARMENIA-TURKEY RAPPROCHEMENT OPENS NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR NKR CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.11.2009 12:53 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "EU is confident Armenia-Turkey rapprochement will
open new possibilities for NKR settlement. RA-Turkey normalization
creates positive dynamics. In a situation where Armenian government has
to face a number of issues simultaneously, the normalization provides a
possibility to focus on further issues. I believe Armenian authorities
understand that status-quo on NKR can’t last forever," EU Special
Representative for the South Caucasus Ambassador Peter Semneby stated.
According to him, specific concessions are not to be discussed at
the moment. " Madrid principles specify solutions for both parties.
Concessions are made on both sides, and the most complicated issues,
such as Karabakh status, are put off. Still, both parties progressed
along the way of discussing solution mechanisms. Should a positive
atmosphere be created other issues will also be detailed on," Swiss
diplomat emphasized, Vremya Novostey reported.
Collegium Forum at the RA MoD Administrative Complex
30.10.09
On the 30th of October, 2009 a collegium forum was held at the RA MoD
administrative complex with Minister Seyran Ohanyan presiding. During
the forum matters concerning the anti-aircraft defence and the
aviation system were discussed.
During this forum the Deputy Chief of the RA AF GS, Major-General S.
Galstyan, chiefs of the anti-aircraft subdivisions of formations,
commanders of aviation detachments had speeches. In their reports they
touched upon some burning issues concerning the anti-aircraft defence
and the military aviation.
Summing up the work of the collegium forum, the RA Minister of Defence
Seyran Ohanyan talked thoroughly about the improvement of the
professional readiness of the staff of the arms of the service, about
the complex rearming and modernizing of the armament and the military
equipment, and about the effective organization of the fighting
readiness process. Also, appropriate orders were given to the
commanders.
RA MoD Department of Information and Public Affairs
EDWARD NALBANDYAN: ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS WERE NOT SIGNED UNDER THE PRESSURE FROM ‘ABOVE’
ArmInfo
2009-10-30 13:53:00
ArmInfo. All the countries of the world, except the one, have
expressed their support to signing of the Armenian-Turkish Protocols,
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan said at today’s joint
press-conference with his Belarus counterpart Sergey Martinov.
He also added that the Protocols were not signed under the pressure
from , and the officials, which were present at the signing ceremony
in Zurich, are intermediaries. ‘It was initiated by Armenia, and
together with Turkey we have come to these agreements. You know that
just in 30 minutes after signing the Protocols UN Secretary General
called both parties to ratify them and respect the arrangements made.
The European Union, France. Germany, Russia and many other countries
also supported this step, helping Armenia and Turkey to normalize
bilateral relations’, – Nalbandyan said.
‘Armenia takes decisions independently and makes steps for their
fulfillment’, – the minister said.
Nalbandyan reiterated once again that the process on normalization of
the Armenian-Turkish relations is not at all connected with Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict settlement. ‘This is not a statement made only by the
Armenian party, the OSCE MG co-chairs said it. Such is the position
of the world community too. This is again evidence of the fact that
these issues are not and cannot be connected with each other’, –
Edward Nalbandyan concluded.
I BELIEVE AZERBAIJANI, ARMENIAN FM’S MEETING IN ATHENS INEVITABLE: OSCE MG RUSSIAN CO-CHAIR
Today
57065.html
Oct 30 2009
Azerbaijan
"I believe meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers
Elmar Mammadyarov and Edward Nalbandian in Athens is inevitable,"
Russian co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov said.
"We usually attend the meetings of OSCE Ministerial Council, as
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict is dealt with by the OSCE,"
he said.
The Russian co-chair confirmed that they will visit the region next
week, but said the exact date and route of the visit has not been
specified yet.
Asked whether the co-chairs will propose a new meeting of presidents,
the co-chair said he can not divulge details.