YEREVAN (Yerkir)-Armenian Presidential Candidate Vahan Hovannesian was campaigning in Gegharkunik province Thursday where he spoke with residence from the towns of Vardenis, Vardenik, Mardounik and Gavar about the need to develop Armenia’s rural provinces. If elected, he pledged to address the negative consequences of the country’s reckless and unbalanced privatization. "The level of development [...]

PARIS (Combined Sources)–French President Nikolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated their objection to Turkey joining the European Union Thursday during the "Lets Build Our Future Together" conference held by the Ruling French Union for a Popular Movement party. "I would like to be accepted as a friend of Turkey. However, I have to [...]

GLENDALE–The Armenian Relief Society of Western USA, Inc. has established the United Iraqi Relief Fund Committee, a community based organization charged with aiding Armenia’s in Iraq. The creation of the Iraqi Relief Fund was commended and blessed by Western Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, as well as the Armenian Catholic [...]

GLENDALE–Some fifty reporters and community leaders gathered at the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region headquarters Wednesday for a press conference announcing the ANCA endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic Presidential primary. Speakers at the press conference included Obama supporters, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA, 29th district), Los Angeles City Council President Eric [...]

YEREVAN (Yerkir)-Armenian presidential candidate and Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau member Vahan Hovannesian Wednesday told the NATO information office that Armenia’s current relations with NATO should be strengthened. Hovanessian stressed that NATO and other international organizations should include Armenia-Turkish relations, as well as containing Azerbaijan’s recent escalation of military rhetoric on their respective agendas. In other [...]

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–The election-observing mission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe met with Armenian President Robert Kocharian Wednesday where the head of the delegation, John Prescott, expressed his hopes that the upcoming presidential elections will be yet another step forward for Armenia on its road to democracy. "We are resolute to [...]

YEREVAN (Armenpress)–The Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe put into official circulation Friday a Motion for a Resolution titled "The State of Cultural Heritage in Turkey" and a Motion for a Recommendation on "The Present State of Armenian Cultural Treasures in Turkey." Cosponsored by more than 25 members of parliament, representing 21 European countries [...]

YEREVAN (Armenpress)–President Robert Kocharian Wednesday discussed Armenia’s readiness to cooperate with the European Union with ambassadors of a number of EU member countries. Relations between Armenia and the EU have become more coordinated in recent years and the Armenian government is committed to ensuring that reforms continue, he said. The Armenian authorities have the political [...]

GLENDALE-The Armenian National Committee of America Wednesday announced its endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama for the Presidential primaries during a press conference Wednesday at the ANCA-WR Map Room attended by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Los Angeles City Councilmember Eric Garcetti, among others. The ANCA said that Obama was the Democratic candidate best positioned to [...]

YEREVAN (Yerkir)–Armenian Presidential Candidate Vahan Hovannesian and his campaign manager Armenian Revolutionary Federation of Armenia Supreme Body Representative Armen Rustamian Tuesday lead a procession of students from the ARF Nigol Aghbalian Student Union to the grave of prominent ARF revolutionary Aram Manoukian to commemorate the 89th anniversary of his death. The ceremony for the [...]

ANKARA (Guardian Unlimited)-A Political science professor who criticized the legacy of Turkey’s revered founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was given a 15-month suspended prison sentence Monday. One of the founding fathers of the Turkish liberal movement, Atilla Yayla was convicted of insulting the soldier-statesman by a court in the western port city of Izmir. The academic, [...]

STEPANAKERT (Armenpress)-The clearing of all the land mines in Karabakh will take between 5 to 6 years, according to Valon Kumov, the outgoing director of Halo Trust, a British NGO that has been helping local authorities remove mines left over from the Karabakh War. Nagorno-Karabakh Prime minister Aram Harutunian met Monday with Kumnov and his [...]

BAKU (Armenpress)-The South Caucasus are a major intersection in the world and it is important for the European Union that the region continues along the path of stability and reform, said the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana during an interview with Azerbaijani Trend News Agency "It is therefore [...]

YEREVAN (Armradio)–The initial planning conference for NATO’s Cooperative Longbow/Lancer 2008 military exercises to be held in Armenia kicked off in Yerevan on Tuesday. The exercises, which will take place in the fall, are being organized under the framework of NATO’s Partnership for Peace Program. The conference features 110 specialists from 20 countries including Turkey. [...]