Clinton gets N. Korean deal to free captured journalists Aug 5, 2009
Seems like they suspect munitions were being flown from Iran to Hezbollah by way of Armenia. One never knows, does one. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
Former Armenian Diplomat, Attorney are Among Five Charged in Scheme to Allow Illegal Immigrants to Stay in United States Jul 29, 2009
LOS ANGELES, July 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The former Armenian Consul in Los Angeles and a Beverly Hills immigration attorney are among five people arrested last night and this morning on federal criminal charges that allege they obtained and sold to illegal aliens documents called "letters of refusal," which allowed those illegal aliens to avoid deportation ... According to the criminal charges that led to this week's arrests, the five defendants sold official letters of refusal from the... (PR Newswire)
Ex-Armenian consul arrested in L.A. document probe Jul 29, 2009
LOS ANGELES (AP) ---- A former Armenian consul, a consular employee and an immigration attorney have been arrested following a two-year investigation into an alleged document scam aimed at helping immigrants avoid deportation, officials said Tuesday. Norair Ghalumian, who served as consul in Los Angeles from 1999 to 2003, and four others are accused of obtaining and selling letters to immigrants facing deportation to help block their removal to Armenia, Immigration and Customs Enforcement... (North County Times)
Xinjiang riots confound Islamists Jul 28, 2009
Many observers noted the irony that a state which many believe has yet to accept its own genocide against Armenia during World War I is casting stones at China with the slogan of genocide against Uyghurs. The only non-Turkic Muslim country where some noise was drummed up immediately after the Xinjiang mayhem was Indonesia. (Asia Times Online)
Judge: Terror shield law doesn't apply to officers Jul 25, 2009
All 168 people aboard the Caspian Airlines aircraft bound for Yerevan, Armenia, on Wednesday were killed. The radio's report quoted chief investigator Ahmad Majidi as saying one of the two recovered boxes was damaged. (Fresno Bee -- Nation)
Airlines Face Traveler Crash Fears Jul 24, 2009
On July 15 a Russian-made Tupolev () TU-154 operated by Caspian Air crashed while heading to Armenia, causing 153 fatalities. Investigations into both accidents are ongoing. (BusinessWeek)
HIV travel ban may be lifted for infected visitors Jul 18, 2009
The rule puts the nation in the company of a dozen countries that deny entry to HIV-infected people including Armenia, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Moldova, Oman, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Sudan. Its like a rogues gallery, Saag said. (MSNBC -- Health)
Viswanathan Anand looking to set Mainz on fire Jul 17, 2009
The Mainz field consists of Anand, Levon Aronian (Armenia), Arkadij Naiditsch (Germany) and Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia. Anand's main rival will be Levon Aronian. (India Times, India)
Iran plane crash: 'not a single finger of anybody left' Jul 16, 2009
A passenger aircraft bound for Armenia has crashed in north-western Iran killing all 168 people on board. The Caspian Airline Soviet-era designed Tupolev Tu-154 plane caught fire mid-air and crashed into farmlands in the village of Janat Abad in Iran's north-western province of Qazvin on Wednesday morning, just minutes after it took off from Tehran for the Armenian capital of Yerevan ... "I hate these planes. With so much travel between Iran and Armenia, there have to be better planes," said... (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Plane nose-dives in Iran, killing all 168 aboard Jul 16, 2009
The Tu-154M jet had taken off from Tehran s Imam Khomeini International Airport yesterday morning and was headed to the Armenian capital, Yerevan ... The plane was carrying 153 passengers and 15 crew members, Jafarzadeh and Arsen Pogosian, deputy chairman of Armenia s civil aviation authority, said ... Most of the passengers were Iranians, many of them from Iran s large ethnic Armenian community, as well as 11 members of Iran s national youth judo team. (Boston Globe)
Black boxes found after Iran plane crash Jul 16, 2009
The Caspian Airlines Tupolev-154 caught fire in mid-air en route to Armenia and plunged into farmland on Wednesday, killing all 153 passengers and 15 crew in the worst air disaster in Iran in years. Text Size. (India Times, India)
Australian siblings in Iran plane crash Jul 16, 2009
A passenger aircraft bound for Armenia has crashed in north-western Iran killing all 168 people on board ... The flight had been en route to Armenia when the plane caught fire mid-air and plunged flaming into farmland, killing everyone on board ... In Yerevan, the deputy head of the Armenian civil aviation organisation, Arsen Pogossian, told a press conference that of the 153 passengers aboard, 147 were Iranian, of whom 31 were of Armenian origin. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Middle East Jul 5, 2009
But if Washington really wants this critical ally - and its strategic location - the US must tread carefully on certain issues, none more so than the question of Armenia. - Patrick Wrigley (Apr 8,'09). (Asia Times Online)
Church to pump gas, and help pay for it Jun 17, 2009
The church s pastors, Darryl and Darlene Rhodes, travel each year to the Republic of Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine and other countries to hold ministry conferences in conjunction with Global Advance, based in Texas. When it comes to ministry, relieving oppression takes many forms, including the oppression of today s gasoline prices. (Park Hills Daily Journal, MO)
Russia-Belarus Relations Sour Over Milk Ban Jun 16, 2009
The organization which has been dubbed Russia's answer to NATO consists of Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and, supposedly, Belarus, and was formed to tackle drug trafficking from Afghanistan and international terrorism. "Economy serves as the basis for our common security," Lukashenko said in a statement. (Time.com)
Santana springs surprise Jun 5, 2009
Goalkeepers: Brian Baloyi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Rowen Fernandez (Armenia Bielefeld, Germany). Defenders: Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Morgan Gould (SuperSport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth, England), Bryce Moon (Panithinikos, Greece), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Innocent Mdledle(Orlando Pirates). (iAfrica.com)
Summer Fun events 2009 Jun 4, 2009
Armenian Picnic: Johnson Park, 6200 Northwestern Ave. (Highway 38), Caledonia ... Traditional Armenian foods, delicacies and music ... Armenian Fest: Racine on the Lake Festival Park, 5 Fifth St., Racine. (Racine Journal Times, WI)
First Baptist Church Women’s Ministry presents ‘All About Weddings’ May 29 May 18, 2009
This will be a way to recreate our special day and have some fun at the same time, said Marie Armenia, First Baptist Women s Ministry leader ... Life can be stress filled for women, whether they are single or married, Armenia said ... If you are interested in being a wedding gown model or if your business is connected with weddings and you d like to be part of the wedding fair, contact Marie Armenia at or call (931) 388-2655, Ext. (Columbia Daily Herald, TN)
Is The Karabakh Peace Process In Jeopardy? May 17, 2009
Just one week ago, it seemed as though Armenia and Azerbaijan were closer than they had been for years to resolving the Karabakh conflict ... He said those claims reflected bias toward Armenia, which Azerbaijan consistently says was the "aggressor" in the Karabakh conflict ... He further accused Armenia of adopting an "unconstructive approach" during the Prague meeting. (EurasiaNet.org)
PC software piracy touches $2.7 bn May 13, 2009
The highest-piracy countries are Armenia, Bangladesh, Georgia, and Zimbabwe, all over 90. According to an economic impact study of software piracy conducted and published by IDC last year, in India, reducing software piracy by ten percentage points over a four year period could generate an additional 43,000 new jobs, $3. (India Times)
An odd yet delightful musical pairing May 12, 2009
But what came in between selections from Uruguay, France, Germany, Denmark, Egypt and even Armenia underscored the international appeal of the tango ... A program of songs in Spanish, French, German, Arabic and Armenian (her first language) evidently poses no linguistic problems for her. (Globe and Mail -- Entertainment)
EU launches 'Eastern Partnership' May 9, 2009
The Eastern Partnership Initiative was launched in the Czech capital late on Thursday after being signed by representatives of the EU, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine ... In other developments, diplomats said the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, who met separately on the margins, had made serious progress on resolving their long-standing dispute over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, our correspondent says. (BBC News -- Europe)
Talisker Players, Burgess combine for rich program May 9, 2009
The six others, from Armenia, France, Sicily, Italy and Sardinia, were scarcely less engaging. Special to The Globe and Mail. (Globe and Mail -- Entertainment)
Difficult frontier May 7, 2009
The EU's "Eastern Partnership" initiative aims to forge closer ties with countries that Russia still sees as part of its sphere of influence - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. It was proposed last year by Poland and Sweden, not only to boost the EU's fairly ineffectual "neighbourhood" policy, but also to act as a counterweight to the Mediterranean Union, launched with great fanfare by France last year to bring countries like Morocco and Egypt closer to the EU.. (BBC News -- Europe)
Summit to draw ex-Soviet republics closer to EU May 7, 2009
The six ex-Soviet republics to whom the partnership would apply are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine countries with widely differing relationships both with Moscow and the West. Particularly problematic are Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)
A month of military exercises in Georgia, criticized by Russia as a "provocation," overshadow ties between Russia and NATO, which have been on the mend as the two sides last week resumed formal contact.• NATO begins exercises in Georgia May 7, 2009
Kazakhstan, Latvia, Estonia, Moldova, Serbia, and Armenia were reported to have already pulled out of the war games ... MOSCOW, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Armenia will not participate in the NATO-led military exercises in Georgia, Russian news agencies reported on Tuesday, citing the Armenian Defense Ministry ... "Due to the current situation, Armenian troops will not take part in NATO's exercises in Georgia," the ministry was quoted by Itar-Tass and RIA Novosti as saying in a statement. (Xinhuanet, China)
Georgia says brief mutiny has ended May 6, 2009
Among the countries to back out was Armenia, which is dependent on Russia for its economic survival. Four other former Soviet republics Estonia, Latvia, Kazakhstan and Moldova and Serbia also had decided to pull out, the Russian newspaper Vedomosti reported today. (Globe and Mail -- International)
Georgia fingers Russia May 6, 2009
The mutiny led neighbouring Armenia to pull out of the NATO exercises, due to start on Wednesday. Officials said the uprising at the Mukhrovani base 25 kilometres outside Tbilisi lasted several hours. (iAfrica.com)
Lukashenko spurns EU invitation May 2, 2009
The EU wants to develop closer energy and trade links with Belarus and five other ex-Soviet states: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Mr Lukashenko received a personal invitation last month from Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg in Minsk. (BBC News -- Europe)
No through road Apr 28, 2009
Cold War haunts Armenian border ... Armenia has been commemorating the 1915 mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks - and a Cold War-style closed border remains a symbol of that deep scar ... The Armenia-Turkey border, laced with barbed wire, has been shut since 1927 - except for a very short period at the beginning of the 1990s. (BBC News -- Europe)
West traps Russia in its own backyard Apr 28, 2009
The summit will launch the EU's new "Eastern partnership" policy involving six former Soviet republics - Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia - with the barely disguised intention to increase Brussels' influence in these countries at the expense of Moscow. The EU has no plans to offer the former Soviet republics membership, but at the same time would like to take them under its wings politically. (Asia Times Online)
Belarus gets EU summit invitation Apr 18, 2009
The other countries invited to the partnership summit with the EU are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Moldova tensions. (BBC News -- Europe)
In Turkey, Obama says US not at war with Islam Apr 7, 2009
US president discussed Armenian massacre, democracy, and EU membership ... Obama also tackled the one issue that again could derail Turkish-US relations: how to deal with the 1915 massacres of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire ... In his election campaign, Obama said hed call the killings of the Armenians genocide. (Christian Science Monitor)
Obama woos Turkey but will it woo back? Apr 7, 2009
And now it's involved in a historic effort to open its border with Armenia even as the two countries still bitterly disagree whether the 1915 massacre of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire constitutes "genocide" or not. At the same time, the US is uniquely positioned to assist Turkey. (Christian Science Monitor)
Obama wraps up in Europe Apr 7, 2009
" Obama also sent a fresh olive branch to Iran, backed dialogue between Israel and Syria and promised a new initiative within months to improve healthcare, education, and trade with the Islamic world. Easing bilateral relations He also attempted to ease bilateral relations with Turkey that were bruised by former president George W. Bush's decision to invade Iraq, and portrayed his hosts as a pivotal player in the troubled region. Obama renewed his support for Turkey's bid to join the European... (iAfrica.com)
The Genies give a big hand to a tiny film Apr 4, 2009
It only made it onto commercial screens in Toronto for three weeks, but that was long enough for the $126,000 movie to catch the eye of Atom Egoyan, who was so impressed with Poole's acting chops that he cast him in his recent feature Adoration and also invited the actor to Armenia last July to take part in an experimental short film. I think This Beautiful City was a million bucks less to make than any of the other nominees, says Poole, who has a producer credit on the film and co-stars with... (Globe and Mail)
It's cheese season Apr 2, 2009
Motal cheese: The mountains in the Gegharkunik and Kotayk provinces in the west of Armenia are home to many shepherds and their Armenian goats with long hair and arched horns. The shepherds milk the goats once a day from spring to late autumn and immediately coagulate the warm milk with calf rennet. (iAfrica.com)
Iran views: Obama message Mar 21, 2009
Turkish children drawn into Armenia row. Pink elephant is caught on camera. (BBC News -- Africa)
Benefit fraud pair sent to jail Mar 21, 2009
Turkish children drawn into Armenia row ... Turkish children drawn into Armenia row. (BBC News -- UK)
E.U. continues to reach out to Belarus Mar 17, 2009
That means the Belarussian president could be invited along with the leaders of the European Union and Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan ... Instead of being in Minsk to meet her, he had organized a visit to Armenia on short notice. (International Herald Tribune)
Obama look-alike becomes celebrity Mar 15, 2009
In an interview with an Azerbaijani television channel, Asif said he dreamt of meeting Obama one day to tell him about Azerbaijan and his view of its dispute with Armenia over Nagorny Karabakh. Mustafayevs village is in the Gabala region, which hosts a Russian anti-missile radar monitoring the Middle East. (India Times)
Area exchange students attend conference in Florida Mar 12, 2009
Ildiko Zsoldos from Serbia, attending IMS, and Armen Sahaykan from Armenia, attending Mid-Prairie, were selected because of their exemplary involvement in the World Link program to participate in the Better Understanding for a Better World (BUBW) conference held February 11-15 in Orlando Florida ... Sixty-three students participated in this conference from 24 different counties including: Armenia, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi-Arabia, Tunisia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Germany,... (Kalona News, IA)
Belarus president cancels EU meeting Mar 12, 2009
Lukashenko on Wednesday left for Armenia, where he will meet President Serzh Sargsyan, a trip that is believed to be the cause for the postponement of the EU meeting ... The timeframe of the Armenian visit was decided Monday, according to the official Web site of the president of Belarus. (International Herald Tribune)
Arms Trafficker Sentenced to 22 Years for Plot to Smuggle Shoulder-Fired Surface-to-Air Missiles, RPGs and Other Weapons Mar 7, 2009
In February 2005, Solomonyan and Spies provided the CI with digital photographs of military weapons in Armenia that they proposed to import into the U.S. for sale to the CI. These photographs, which the FBI determined were taken in late February 2005, included such weapons as surface-to-air heat- seeking anti-aircraft missiles, an anti-tank guided missile and launcher, a mortar launcher, recoilless anti-tank guns and fully automatic AK-74 and AK-47 assault rifles. The FBI arrested Solomonyan,... (PR Newswire)
