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31 Mar 2008
Armenpress, March 31
Fourteen Armenian athletes have already qualified for the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The first qualification was won by shooter Norayr Bakhtamian. Five qualifications were won then by Armenian weightlifters in an international tournament in Thailand. Boxers won their qualifications in tournaments in Chicago, USA and Italy.
Two qualifications were won in Azerbaijan by wrestlers Arman Adikian and Yuri Patrikeev.
Two more qualifications were won in Brazil by judoist Armen Nazarian and lance thrower Melik Janoyan. A qualification was won also by another judoist Hovhanes Davtian, but it yet has to be confirmed officially.
Armenian athletes expect to win more qualifications at Europe's wrestling championship in Tampere, Finland. Experts say a total of 20-25 Armenian athletes may win the right to fight at the Games in China.
28 Mar 2008
www.armradio.am, March 28
The night of March 30 (the last Sunday of March) at 2 a.m. the pointers
of the clock should be drawn an hour forward, marking the start of
"summer time."
RA Deputy Minister of Trade and Economic Development Garnik Badalyan told Armenpress that the "summer time" was created artificially to make more efficient use of the sunny days and ease the overload of the energy sphere.
The current working time in our republic is the "winter time," which
comes into force on the last Sunday of October.
27 Mar 2008
Armenpress, March 27
Levon Aronian of Armenia won the Amber Blindfold and Rapid Chess Tournament in France's Nice with one round to spare in the blindfold after settling for two draws with Vladimir Kramnik of Russia Wednesday.
The Armenian took his overall tally to 13.5 points in all and remained 2.5 points ahead of nearest rivals Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria, Peter Leko of Hungary, Magnus Carlsen of Norway and Kramnik, who all have 11 points apiece.
In the blindfold, Morozevich shares the lead with Aronian on 5.5 points.
26 Mar 2008
Armenpress, March 26
Haypost, Armenia's national postal operator, will issue this year some 20 different stamps. Astkhik Martirosian, head of Haypost's press and marketing service, told Armenpress that one of the stamps will be issued in cooperation with UNICEF. It will be dedicated to the International Day of Children's Protection, marked on June 1.
Haypost plans to issue 50,000 stamps and part of the proceeds from their sale will be transferred to UNICEF. In the second half of the year Haypost will issue 100,000 stamps dedicated to 29-th Olympic Games.
Other stamps will be dedicated to prominent Armenian writers and researchers, as well as national heroes. Haypost plans also to issue stamps jointly with Bulgaria and Argentina.
21 Mar 2008
Armenpress, March 21
Days of Armenian Poetry will be held in neighboring Georgia early in June, Levon Ananian, chairman of the Union of Armenian Writers, told Armenpress.
He said an anthology of Armenian poetry in Georgian will be released in June. Last year an anthology of Georgian poetry in Armenian was published here as part of Days of Georgian Poetry in Armenia.
Levon Ananian said also the fourth congress of Armenian Writers will be on July 6-13 in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Concurrently an exhibition of contemporary Armenian literature will open in Yerevan.
He said many Diaspora Armenian authors are expected to attend the congress.
21 Mar 2008
The Haghartsin Monastery Complex will enjoy major renovation and infrastructure upgrade thanks to a princely donation by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
www.armradio.am, March 21
On March 17, an agreement specifying construction and renovation activities was signed between the Armenia Fund and the H.H. the Sheikh, represented by Mr.Varouj Nerguizian, an active member of the Armenian community of the United Arab Emirates, and a close advisor to the Prince.
The project includes renovation of the access road to Haghartsin, the installation of a water supply system, as well as the building of power transmission and gas supply systems.
Construction and renovation will begin in April 2008. The 6 km road connecting the monastery to the main road will be upgraded and asphalted. Some sections of the road will be widened to provide space for tourism support services. Parking and lighting will be added. Modern water, power and gas supply systems will facilitate the maintenance and operation of the monastic complex.
“Haghartsin is an architectural marvel, a favorite tourist spot, and a religious center. This extremely generous, thoughtful and unexpected gift will go a long way towards cementing the friendship and mutual respect between the people and rulers of Sharjah, and the Armenians. We all believe in the value of safeguarding the old, while we upgrade and renew the monuments of our heritage so that they continue to be a part of our life and culture for centuries more,” said Vahe Aghabegians, Executive Director of the Armenia Fund.
Mr. Nerguizian, General Manager of Bank of Sharjah, was entrusted with the successful completion of this project after H.H. the Sheikh’s official visit to Armenia two years ago when he first saw and was impressed by the beauty and history of the monastery. His Highness, who had received the Medal for Human Rights from UNESCO in 2003, has an extensive track record supporting cultural and educational causes throughout the Emirates and elsewhere.
“We are grateful to His Highness, Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohamed Al Qasimi. Among the Armenia Fund’s many programs and many donors, this project and this particular expression of generosity will be remembered and used as an example of the potential that our historic monuments represent. Even as we renovate them for their cultural and spiritual value, the community surrounding the complex will enjoy the economic advantages of a welcoming, operating center. Armenia appreciates the Sheikh’s vision” said Mr. Aghabegians. Mr. Nerguizian confirmed that H.H. the Sheikh will attend personally the official ceremony marking the completion of the renovation works of the Haghartsin Church Complex.
19 Mar 2008
www.armradio.am, March 19
Sirusho representing Armenia at Eurovision Song Contest 2008 will perform 14th at the first semifinal due on May 20.
According to the Head of the Foreign Relations Department of Public TV Diana Mnatsakanyan, representatives of 19 countries will perform in the first semifinal. Azerbaijan, Russia and Greece were provided with the opportunity to choose under which number they would like to sing.
The second semifinal will take place on May 22 and will feature representatives of as many countries. From this group of countries, Macedonia, Portugal and Denmark were given the opportunity to choose their numbers.
According to Diana Mnatsakanyan, the staging of Sirusho’s “Qele-Qele” song has already been introduced to the organizers of the Eurovision .
19 Mar 2008
Armenpress, March 19
A poster of the Armenian nature protection ministry was awarded first rate award of an international competition announced to mark the 20-th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol.
The Armenian National Ozone Protection Center, an affiliation of the ministry, that designed the poster, received $500 award and a letter of appreciation from the UNDP.
17 Mar 2008
www.caps.am, March 17
In support of one of its major goals, to enhance the competitiveness of Armenia’s tourism industry, the USAID-funded CAPS project is facilitating the establishment of high quality training capacities for local tourism business associations.
As an effort towards the implementation of this goal, a ‘Training of Trainers’ program was organized in October-November 2006 jointly with the AED HICD project for the Armenian Guides Guild (AGG). The course was delivered by trainers from the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA), which offers internationally-recognized tourist guide training programs. As a result, 5 AGG trainers gained WFTGA Part II certification, qualifying them to deliver training courses in Armenia and prepare tourist guides according to WFTGA standards. In August 2007, two of these certified trainers delivered a 10-day course organized together with the Dilijan National Park to 11 tourist guides in Dilijan, of which 7 successfully completed the course.
Then, to ensure capacity to continue such training in Armenia, CAPS facilitated the participation of 2 AGG trainers in the final stage of the WFTGA training program; which involves the acquisition of the WFTGA Part III trainer’s qualification. Part III Certification creates the opportunity to establish the first ever tourist guides trainers’ training school in Armenia to deliver courses pertaining to WFTGA standards for local and international students. The selection of the Part III Certification candidates was based on WFTGA eligibility criteria (completion of WFTGA Part II training, English or German language skills) and availability of the trainers. The two selected AGG trainers attended the training organized in February 2008 at the WFTGA Training School in Nicosia, Cyprus.
The training program consisted of workshops, hands on sessions, and presentations. The participants were also asked to develop a walking tour route as an assignment of the test. As a result, both AGG representatives successfully passed the test and became the only two tourist guides with the WFTGA Part III trainer’s qualification in Armenia and the South Caucasus.
"The training provided us with an exceptional chance to upgrade our knowledge to the best standards, as well as enhance our experience", says Margarita Navoyan, one of the participants in the final Part III certification program.
This is an important program for the future of Armenia’s tourism industry. CAPS assistance in the introduction of WFTGA standards in training tourist guides in Armenia will lead to improved local tourism training capacities matching international standards, delivery of more efficient services by business associations and higher quality tourist guiding services; thus contributing to the enhancement of tourism in Armenia in general.
11 Mar 2008
Azg Daily, March 11
On the initiative of the Ministry of Culture on March 10-17 theatrical week titled "2007-X" is being held. Eight experimental author performances, staged in 2007, will be presented to the audience. After the performances open, discussions will be led. In May the theatrical week will be held in Gyumri, Vanadzor and Meghri. 10 Mar 2008
www.panorama.am, March 10
In "Eurovision-2008" held in May Sirusho is going to present "Kele-Kele" song in Belgrad. On 8 March public TV organized life broadcast show and 86.5% of the audience voted for this current song. The composer of the song is Arthur Ter-Hovakimyan.
Note that the TV audience were given a chance to select from four
different songs, the author of which is Sirusho herself. Sirusho was
recognized as the best singer of the year National Award Ceremony.
This is the third times Armenia takes part in this international
competition. In 2006 Andre presented Armenia with the song "Without
Your Love" and gained the eighth place. Last year Hayko presented Armenia in Eurovision with the song "Anytime You Need" and gained the eighth place.
03 Mar 2008
Arka, March 3
510, 287 tourists visited Armenia in January-December 2007, which is a 33.5% increase against the level of 2006, the country’s National Statistical Service reported.
According to the report, 467,574 people left the country for tourism purposes in the period under review – 38.7% increase against 2006.
24.8% of tourists in Armenia were from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), including 18.3% - from Russia and 4.4% from Georgia. Tourists from EU countries constituted 37.1% of the overall number of tourists in Armenia in the period (from France – 12.1%, from Germany – 6.7% and from Great Britain – 6.4%).
According to the statistics, 21% of tourists visiting Armenia in January-December 2007 were from the USA, 5% - from Iran, 0.9% - from Turkey and 1.9% from Canada.
The National Statistical Service reports that of 58,500 tourists in Armenia who stayed in hotels officially over 22,000 tourists arrived on business visits, 11,700 people –for vacation, 16,000 – for education and 130 people – for medical treatment.
According to tourism operators, 11,300 people left Armenia, including 3,700 people who departed on business visits, 3,200 – for vacation and 4,300 people – for other purposes.
03 Mar 2008
Arka, March 3
The Municipality of Yerevan is getting ready for the 2790th Anniversary of the Armenian capital, said David Gevorgian, head of the public relations department, Yerevan Municipality.
Foreign delegations will visit Armenia on this occasion.
The city of Yerevan is the 13th Armenian capital, founded by Argishti the First, King of Urartu, in the southeastern part of the Armenian Plateau in 782BC. The foundation stone of Yerevan has been preserved and is now in Erebuni Museum.
Yerevan was proclaimed the capital of the first Republic of Armenia on May 28, 1918.
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