Armenian Revolutionary Federation Activists Hand Letter To OSCE Yerevan Office (Video)

Nikol Aghbalyan Student Union of the ARF -Dashnaktsutyun today held a protest march to the OSCE Office in Yerevan against the statement of the President of the OSCE Minsk Group’s Co-Chair countries and provocative actions of Azerbaijan..

The marchers handed a letter to the Head of the Military-Political Department, Gregor Mikhailski, expressing their indignation over the recent statement of the OSCE co-chair countries.

Arthur Ghazaryan, a senior representative of the ARF -Dashnaktsutyun, says the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries, France, the Russian Federation, and the United States, were inadequate in their assessments.

“In our letter we note that Azerbaijan has regularly violated the truce since the ceasefire agreement of 1994 and has always dodged responsibility,” Ghazaryan said blaming all countries that turn a blind eye to Azerbaijan’s diversion.  Read more... (220 words)

Armenian President’s Prize To The Chairman Of Intel Corporation (Video)

President Serzh Sargsyan today handed in the presidential prize for outstanding contribution to the filed of Information Technologies to Craig Barrett, Chief Executive Director and Chairman of the Board of Intel Corporation.

“The importance of development of Information Technologies is really very high. Ensuring the accessibility of information and knowledge, the raise of the level of common literacy are perhaps among the most significant achievements, and the Information Technologies make a real revolution in these two spheres,” President Sargsyan said.

“The establishment of this prize pursued an aim of drawing the attention of Armenian youth to Information Technologies,” the President said, adding that “We are an independent, bright and initiative nation. We have all that is most significant for the filed of Information Technologies, i.e. brains and talent. We have an inexhaustible potential of development in this sphere.”  Read more... (179 words)

Armenia’s Ministery of Education and Science Decided To Open 11 Foreign-Language Schools (Video)

On June 23, RA Parliament continued discussing the draft amendments to the RA Laws on Language.

“But for the investors who promised to ensure high-quality education in Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan would not feel the need of educational amendments,” Heritage MP Anahit Bakhshyan said.

Head of ARF-Dashnaktsutyun faction Vahan Hovhannisyan said knowledge is not valued in Armenia.

“Your knowledge does not secure a dignified place for you in the society. But if you have money and a pistol in your pocket you are honoured. Insolence makes your neck thicker, increases your rating and enlarges your criminal circles,” he said.

And here a question is raised: does the society need the education their children are going to receive in “elite” schools?  Read more... (222 words)

Sargsyan Questions International Reaction To Latest Karabakh Fighting (Video)

The Armenian leader spoke on Tuesday to an audience at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a leading think tank, in Berlin as part of his three-day official visit to Germany. In his speech he also addressed problems of regional concern and answered questions on the June 18 clashes in Karabakh that Yerevan says was a major provocation of Azerbaijan aimed at scuttling the current peace process.

Answering questions after his speech, Sargsyan said that very often “the unclear approach of many institutions, including European ones, their fear that if they try to mention those responsible for concrete cases, they will disrupt the negotiating process” impedes progress in the issue.  Read more... (435 words)

Armemian President Sargsyan meeting Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel (Video)

President Serzh Sargsyan today had a meeting with Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel during his official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany.

Issues related to development of bilateral relations and the realization of opportunities for cooperation in multifaceted formats were discussed.

The RA President noted that the high-level bilateral meetings promote political dialogue and provide the opportunity to deepen cooperation with Germany in all spheres. Serzh Sargsyan said that Armenia views the cooperation with Germany as an important component for European integration.

The parties touched upon the development of trade-economic relations, noting that the presence of nearly 80 German companies in Armenia serves as a good basis for expanding cooperation in the sphere of investments.  Read more... (312 words)

Flash Mob With Tricolor Brain Against Foreign-Schools in Armenia (Video)

National Neo-conservatism Movement is organizing a flash mob at midday against a Government-backed bill that will allow re-opening of foreign-language schools in Armenia if adopted.

The participants of this campaign will start a march from the Government Building. The last leg of the march will the monument of Saint Mersop Mashtots near Matenadaran – a museum repository of hundred of manuscripts located in downtown Yerevan.

According to a release issued by the movement the participants of this flash mob will be holding trays with flags of foreign countries in them. On top of those flag there will be brains painted in red, blue and orange – the three colors of the Armenian national flag.  Read more... (172 words)

Serzh Sargsyan Comments on The Latest Azeri Attack in Karabakh (Video)

“Provocations are always inadmissible, however, this inhumane action was all the more unacceptable, since it occurred a few hours after the trilateral meeting held at Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s initiative,” Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan told reporters in Saint Petersburg, commenting upon the intrusion of the Azeri armed group into the territory of Artsakh last night.

“This fact is evidence that the co-chair countries have something to think about,” Sargsyan added stressing that “if unpunished, bellicose statements and provocations can result in this kind or of consequences or even worse ones. I think such behavior was also disrespectful towards the Co-Chairs.”  Read more... (180 words)

Four Armenian Soldiers Killed In Karabakh Fighting (Video)

Armenia accused Azerbaijan on Saturday of “doing everything” to scuttle the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process after four Armenian soldiers were killed in the worst Armenian-Azerbaijani truce violation reported in more than two years.

“As a result of measures taken by the Armenian side, the enemy’s advance was stopped,” the ministry said in a statement. “The enemy retreated, leaving a killed soldier and weapons on the battlefield.”  Read more... (814 words)

A Special Session of the Armenian National Assembly In The Evening? (Video)

The National Assembly is not able to start its session due to intervals.

Before the first vote, the deputies of “Heritage” faction asked for a 20-minute break after the government denied the faction’s suggestions for the law on “Television and Radio”, as head of “Heritage” faction Stepan Safaryan told “A1+”.

“We had included many fundamental issues, for instance, providing equal conditions for television stations and Public Television. There were only 1 or 2 insignificant changes and that forced us to protest,” Stepan Safaryan told “A1+”.

In addition to that, the parliament will put the executive of the government’s 2009 budget up for a vote. “Heritage” also noticed many flaws and facts that didn’t correspond to reality and that was a reason for complaints.  Read more... (295 words)