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News, 17 Aug, 2009.
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Fugitive MP’s family sues RA for financial damages. ARAVOT writes that the family of wanted pro-opposition MP Khachatur Sukiasian has sued the Armenian government in the European Court of Human Rights. His family is demanding compensation for financial damage inflicted upon the Bjni mineral water plant, which is owned by the Sukiasian family, estimated to be around 124m euros. (Bjni stopped operation in October 2008 due to a 13m-dollar fine imposed by a court. The plant was declared bankrupt and auctioned off, although the outcome of the auction was later annulled by a court.) / The topic was also reported on by RFE/RL http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/1800031.html
Ambassador and the Director of USAID in Armenia shown proposal for modernizing the country’s emergency aid system. ARKA reports that Health Minister Harutiun Kushkian met with Ambassador U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch and Director of USAID Armenia Jatinder Cheema on Friday in order to discuss the modernization of Armenia's emergency aid system. During the meeting, Sergey Khachatrian, head of the office in charge of the implementation of health programs and Ara Ter-Grigorian, head of the State Health Agency, presented information about a program designed to modernize the emergency aid system in Armenia. The Ambassador and Dr. Cheema were quoted as saying that USAID is paying a special attention to primary health in the country and that Dr. Cheema has extensive experience in providing technical assistance and organizing the training of medical personnel. The Embassy has promised to look into the presented program and consider the possibility of providing assistance.
U.S. Embassy to help organize Azeri Film Festival in Yerevan. An Armenian non-governmental organization plans to hold a festival of Azerbaijani films in Yerevan this October as part of its efforts to promote Armenian-Azerbaijani reconciliation. "The main purpose of our festival is to get the alienated citizen to discuss the number one issue facing our society," Georgi Vanian, chairman of the Yerevan-based Caucasus Center for Peace Initiatives (CCPR), told RFE/RL on Friday. "There is a demand for peace, which exists in every family but is frozen," he said. "We are trying to bring it out." According to Vanian, those filmmakers have consented to the screening of their movies in Yerevan, even though none of them is due to attend the unprecedented event, which is sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Armenia. / The full article is available at http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/1800025.html
Armenia-Turkey border opening means greater Armenian integration with NATO and the EU? In an opinion piece, the U.S. based "Washington Times" expressed its belief that if the Armenian-Turkish border opens, Armenia will move toward greater integration with NATO and the EU. In the article, which is titled “Armenia May Benefit from Normalization of Relations with Turkey,” the newspaper writes that if the border opens, Armenia may become an important transit country for the energy industry. The daily also opines that if the border opens, Armenia will become less dependent on Russia economically and strategically. Read the full article at http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:vArhKjdmqaAJ:www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/13/armenia-turkey-seek-better-relations/+Washington+Times+and+Armenia+and+Turkey+and+August+2009&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us/ Covered by ARAVOT
The U.S. has a “definite strategy” for the Caucasus? The United States has a definite strategy for the region, Republican Lernik Aleksanian told reporters at a news conference. According to him, the changing of the American OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair "would not result in a change of strategy." He opines that the U.S. is determined to reach the quickest settlement in both the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and other regional issues. He also notes that a reshuffling of the RA cabinet is to be expected, though not all of the ministers will be removed. "If one works badly, he might be replaced by another one. It sounds like something serious, but it is a merely technical issue. If a Republican Party MP is replaced by another, it cannot be considered a political change.” / PANORAMA, NEWS.AM
Russian MG Co-Chair to be replaced? ARAVOT writes that Spokesman for the Armenian Foreign Ministry Tigran Balayan, responding to rumors concerning the replacement of the Russian OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair, said that the MFA will not confirm or deny the rumors. The spokesman referred to a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry that said that Yuriy Merzlyakov will continue serving as Russia’s OSCE MG Co-Chair.
Survey says 25.4% of Turks see U.S. as an enemy state, 10.3% say the same for Armenia. According to an International Strategy Research Organization public opinion poll in Turkey, 23% of Turks consider Azerbaijan a friendly state, Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks second at 10.8%, the U.S. 8.5%, and Germany at 0.6%. The United States tops the list of Turkey’s enemies with 25.4% of the survey’s share, Israel is second with 15.6%, France 12%, Armenia 10.3%, Greece 7%, Russia 6.4% and Germany at 1.8%. The survey was held in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Bursa. (The article does not note the number of participants in the survey). / News.am
Daily highlights the problems faced by the ethnic Armenian media in Javakhk. ARAVOT reports on the problems faced by the ethnic Armenian media in the Javakhk region of Georgia. Rudik Avetisian, head of the Akhalkalaki-based TV channel in Javakhk, told the daily that the channel has been operating since 1979, though it does not currently have a license. The TV station is also lacking in professional staff. Another TV channel, ATB12, does have a license, but it experiencing difficulties in acquiring office space. The third, Parvana, broadcasts for only six hours a day. The only newspaper in the region, Javakhk, is published on an irregular basis.
Azerbaijani authorities allegedly interrogate citizens who voted for Armenians in Eurovision. Law-enforcement authorities in Azerbaijan have reportedly tracked down and interrogated local residents that voted for Armenia in this year’s Eurovision song contest. / The full article can be accessed at http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/1800027.html
Pension reform postponed as a result of the global economic crisis. HAYASTANI HANRAPETUTIUN quotes head of the State Service of Social Insurance of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Vazgen Khachikian, as saying that reforms in the Armenian pension system are to be postponed as a result of the ongoing global economic crisis.
Investigation of incident between human rights activist and Progressive Party head halted. According to ARAVOT, human rights activist Mikayel Danielian, who is the head of the Helsinki Association NGO, has denounced as a "theater of absurdity" the investigation of an incident in which he and Tigran Urikhanian, the head of the Progressive Party of Armenia, were involved. In the incident, which occurred about a year ago, Danielian was wounded by Urikhanian. The police halted the investigation on the grounds that both Danielian and Urikhanian "acted in self-defense."
European Elective Authorities Association to hold 18th annual conference in Yerevan. The 18th annual conference of the European Elective Authorities Association will take place in Yerevan from September 3-5. About 150 representatives from more than 28 countries and international organizations will take part in the conference. The primary theme of the conference will be the "Forensic Defense of Electoral Rights." The conference will also discuss the "Role of Courts in the Electoral Processes,” the "Restoration Mechanisms for an Active Electoral Right," and "International Experience in Applying Sociology to the Electoral Processes," among other topics. / ARMENPRESS |
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