As reported by the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly), H. Res. 252, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, has crossed a threshold with the bi-partisan support of 100 cosponsors.

“Reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide took another step forward today,” stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.

“As we mark Genocide Prevention Month throughout April and the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, support continues to build for unequivocal U.S. affirmation. By affirming the Armenian Genocide, we further the cause of genocide prevention,” added Ardouny.

On April 3, 34 members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues sent a letter of strong support to the Appropriations Subcommittee on State Foreign Operation's Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Ranking Member Kay Granger (R-TX), requesting that "U.S. assistance to Armenia and other aid related provisions that contribute to peace and stability in the Caucasus region," be continued in the Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Bill.

“The people of Armenia continue to face the devastating impact of Turkey and Azerbaijan's dual blockades, illegal actions that, according to World Bank estimates from several years ago, cost Armenia roughly $720 million annually. Compounding the impact of these blockades is the approximately $680 million loss to Armenia's economy, in the form of increased transportation costs, higher prices, and lost investment, that resulted from the recent Russia-Georgia conflict.

The meeting between the top diplomats of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Moscow on Friday afternoon followed active efforts by international negotiators to ensure options were open for continued negotiations between the two neighboring states.

Foreign ministers Edward Nalbandyan and Elmar Mammedyarov were meeting for the first time since the two countries’ presidents held talks in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, on June 6. The sides then sounded optimistic about the future of the negotiating process around the Nagorno-Karabakh issue mediated by the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Beginning next year the seedling nursery of the Armenian Tree Project located in the village of Margahovit, Lori province, about 120 kilometers from Yerevan, will provide 1 million trees every year.

The saplings grown on the land lot in 12 hectares will be planted both in the neighboring forests and be given to various communities to organize tree planting on the spot.

A senior governing party member has countered the assertions that authorities in Armenia are worried over the opposition rally planned for August 1, noting that “the rally season in Armenia is over.”

At the same time, Eduard Sharmazanov, a senior lawmaker and spokesman for the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), said any clash or provocation would run against the public interest.

“Today, it is necessary to wage a political struggle by means of civilized, normal political debates. But of course, every political force should decide for itself what tactics it wants to adopt,” Sharmazanov told reporters on Monday.

Armenia’s former consul general to St. Petersburg, Russia, on Tuesday leveled scathing criticism at the authorities for what he described as a “weak foreign policy”, saying that its consequences might prove “fateful” for the country.

“I’ve been in politics for a long time now and I don’t remember a time when Armenia would be in such an embarrassment in terms of its foreign policy,” says Ruben Hakobyan, who currently heads the Akunk center of political analyses.

President Serzh Sargsyan called on one of the earliest Armenian diasporas in the world to “cast their views back to Armenia” as he visited an Armenian community in the extreme south of Ukraine earlier this week.

Along with His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, and several government members Sargsyan on Tuesday attended in the Crimea the celebrations of the 650th anniversary of the foundation of the Armenian Holy Cross (Surb Khach) Church that has undergone major renovations due to the efforts of local Armenians and assistance from Ukrainian authorities.

“The Republic of Armenia bears certain responsibility before the Armenian community. And Armenia in its turn needs you, we want you to keep your views focused on Armenia, we assure you that each of you have a place and things to do in Armenia. You have a home in Armenia,” Sargsyan said addressing Crimean Armenians, as quoted by his press service.

Research centers of Norway and Sweden say 45,000 tons of sulfur dioxide accumulate on the territory of Armenia every year with 25,000 tons being from mining industry exhaust.

“We have almost totally used the resources of mining in Armenia, but the state continues to promote whatever is left to give foreign investors an even broader field to exploit the mines of Armenia and spoil nature,” says Vahagn Israelyan, geodesist at the National Academy of Sciences pointing to the exploitation of gold mines in Zod and Drmbon as well as the Teghut mine.

The numbers of Armenians choosing the Georgian Black Sea coast of Kobuleti, Ureki and Batumi as holiday locations for the past few years continues to have an effect on Armenian tourism.

The number of Armenian citizens who spent their summer vacations in Georgia in 2007 ranged between 40,000 and 50,000 as compared to 30,000-40,000 a year earlier.

The reason, say representatives of travel agencies, is that it is cheaper to stay on the Black Sea coast than to vacation on Lake Sevan or other popular Armenian destinations.

The first three months Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s leadership have seen the former Central Bank chairman emerge as a new voice against Armenia’s old problem of corruption.

Amid praise from the progressively minded, and charges of “showing off” from the perennially malcontent, Sargsyan has repeatedly spoken of his aim to clean up the system of bribery and shadowy deal making.