News Digest: March 18-24
GLOBAL CONNECTIONS: A research conference titled “Armenia and Armenians within the Context of World Culture” will be held in Krasnodar on April 25, reported Yerkramas, a newspaper for Armenians in Russia. The event has been organized by the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Kuban State University, the North Caucasian History Institute and the Armenian community of Krasnodar. A collection of speeches will be published after the conference, which is timed to mark the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire.
PASSAGE TO ARMENIA: The visit of a business delegation from India, led by Armenia’s Honorary Consul in Bombay Harshad Mekhta, demonstrates the desire of both countries to strengthen cooperation, Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Bayburdyan stated. The Armenia-India business conference in Yerevan was attended by 36 representatives of Armenian companies and departments and 18 Indian entrepreneurs. India’s Ambassador Rina Pandei noted that trade turnover between the two states had grown by 50 per cent in recent years. She said that expansion of economic cooperation will be discussed at a sitting of the Armenian-Indian Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Development in Yerevan later this year.
HYE FIDELITY: The Armenian community in Turkey plans to start radio broadcasts in Armenian this year. The editor-in-chief of the Agos Armenian newspaper, Hrant Dink, says that the community has collected $300,000 for the project. “The fund-raising campaign started 10 years ago. The Armenian community has its schools and newspapers. Now we are working to create Armenian radio in the country. We have submitted an application to the Supreme Council on Radio and Television of Turkey,” he said.
MARKET NEWS: Bagratashen market on Armenia's border with Georgia has closed down at the request of the Georgian side, which is insisting on its reconstruction, Minister of Finance and Economy Vardan Khachatryan told Parliament on March 22. The Minister said that measures are being taken to rebuild the market; however, no works have been carried out on the part of Georgia so far. Negotiations with the Georgian party are under way to reopen the market. Moreover, Armenia is ready to cover part of the cost.
SHARP SHOOTER: Armenian photographer Ruben Mangasaryan was a prize winner in the “Press Photo” competition on March 17. He was one of 15 winners in five categories for a contest that attracted more than 5,000 entries. Other winners came from Iraq, Poland, Great Britain, China and Austria. Prizes will be presented in Warsaw, Poland, on May 9.