Month: November 2006

PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-10) 52-35-31
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Foreign Minister Oskanian Signs Memorandum, European Neighborhood
Action Plan Enters into Force
The Seventh Armenia-EU Cooperation Council took place on the morning of
November 14 in Brussels. During this meeting, the European Neighborhood
Policy Action Plan was adopted and entered into force.
The Armenian delegation was headed by the Cooperation Council’s
Armenian Co-Chairman Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. The European
side was represented by the Finnish Minister of Trade and Development,
representing the EU Presidency, Germany’s State Minister representing
the upcoming German Presidency of the EU, EU Special Representative in
the South Caucasus and high-level European Commission representatives.
The Finnish Trade Minister, Paula Lehtomaeki, opened the Council
session by welcoming the Armenian delegation, expressing appreciation
of the work done by the Armenian side in completing the Action Plan,
and stating their readiness to move to implementation.
Minister Oskanian thanked the Finnish Presidency and the Commission
for their persistence in completing the Action Plan process. He said
this is truly a different document, with five distinctive elements. He
said, “It elevates the level of the relationship to a new qualitative
level; it is not a document of intentions, but a document of action,
because it is project-oriented; it reinforces our reform processes,
and as we’ve always said, reforms are our only assets, because our
development depends not on natural resources but human resources, and
therefore we need to provide the necessary conditions to develop that
resource; further, it allows us to go beyond cooperation and towards
integration in certain areas; finally, it will be a bottom-up process,
and just as we involved NGOs and civil society in the preparation of
the document, so we will involve them now in the implementation phase,
since the nature of the document and projects compels us to make this
a bottom-up process.”
The Council participants proceeded with the agenda items which included
political issues, internal reforms, human rights issues and energy
concerns. The Armenian side explained Armenia’s policy of energy
diversification and particularly, the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline.
The Council meeting was followed by the signing of a memorandum
recommending the adoption of the European Neighborhood Policy Action
Plan. Armenia’s Foreign Minister and the Finnish Trade Minister
participated in the signing.
The implementation process will provide an opportunity for deeper
integration, including in the EU internal markets. The Action Plan
proposes closer political, security, economic and cultural relations
with the EU. In the process of implementation, Armenia’s social,
political and economic systems will begin to resemble European
systems. The Action Plan assumes greater financial assistance,
a deepening of trade and economic relations, the harmonization of
economic legislation, continuing reduction of tariff limitations. To
provide aid and support in all these directions, a new European
Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument will provide, on the average,
25 million Euros annually during the five years of the agreement. This
support will also be directed at cross-border and regional cooperation.

Belated justice: Some Valley Armenians will share in an insurance settlement.
11/14/06
A small measure of justice will soon flow to some of the survivors
and descendants of victims of the genocide against Armenians carried
out by the Ottoman Turks in the latter days of World War I. The New
York Life Insurance Co. will issue checks as part of a settlement of
claims by the heirs of genocide victims who purchased life insurance
policies from the company many decades ago.
A number of the survivors live in the Valley, and will receive checks
ranging from $1,000 to $44,000, depending on the value of the original
policy.
The New York Life settlement totals $7.9 million. The sum was agreed
upon in 2004; it has taken a while to determine the names and the
validity of the survivors and their claims. A similar settlement –
for $17 million – was reached with a French life insurance company
last year.
Armenians in Armenia will receive $3.4million of the New York Life
settlement. Armenians in the United States will get $2.6 million,
and Armenians in France will share more than $650,000.
In addition, legal claims are being pursued against a pair of banks
in Germany that are believed to have sequestered millions of dollars
in deposits from genocide victims and never returned the money.
Such payments are perhaps more important for their symbolism than for
the actual dollar amounts the survivors and descendants will receive.
Simply paying such settlements is a powerful acknowledgment of the
validity of the claims of genocide survivors, something Turkey has
resisted mightily since the killings took place.
Turkey has been abetted in its denial by a U.S. government, led
by the State Department, that has, for geopolitical reasons, never
acknowledged the genocide itself – despite promises to do so from
several presidents of both parties and efforts by many in Congress
to see that the historical truth of the genocide is recognized.
That will be the big victory for the dwindling number of genocide
survivors and their descendants. In the meantime, it’s nice to be
able to savor some small triumphs in this decades-long battle for
recognition and justice.
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Armenia Fund, Inc.
111 North Jackson St. Ste. 205
Glendale, CA 91206
Tel: 818-243-6222
Fax: 818-243-7222
Url:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact ~ Sarkis Kotanjian
[email protected]
Jazz Singer Datevik Hovanesian to Perform Live at Annual Gala, Telethon 2006
Los Angeles, CA – Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region is proud to
announce that world renowned jazz singer Datevik Hovanesian and her
quartet will perform during Armenia Fund’s Annual Gala welcoming
President Ghoukasian of Nagorno Karabakh, as well as during the 9th
Annual International Telethon, which will be held on Thanksgiving
Day, November 23, 2006. The sold out Annual Gala will be held at the
Omni Los Angeles Hotel at the California Plaza on Sunday, November
19, 2006 at 7pm. Datevik and her jazz quartet join Armenia Fund’s
international effort to help raise critically needed funds for the
Hadrut Regional Development in Nagorno Karabakh.
Datevik was born in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia and comes from
a family of musicians. Her mother is Ophelia Hambartsumian, the
renowned diva of Armenian Folk and her father, Norair Hovanesian,
is an expert kamancha (folk string instrument) player.
Datevik made her first recording at the age of 11 with Harold Arlen’s
song “It’s Only a Paper Moon.” Thereafter, music and song became
her focal point and her life’s raison d’etre. While continuing
her musical education in the field of choir director, Datevik also
embarked on performance tours in Europe, the United States, Asia,
and Africa. She juggled participation in well-known jazz festivals
with solo performances, movies, and teaching. By 1979 this rising
song star had earned the title of “The First Lady of Jazz” in the
Soviet Union, which she maintained for nine consecutive years.
It was during that time that her solo albums – “Day Dream”, “Concerto
for Voice & Orchestra”, and “Doors” – were recorded.
In 1990, she was introduced to Mr. Pierre Sprey, president of
Mapleshade Record Productions. That meeting marked the beginning of
her musical career in the United States. Mr. Sprey opened the doors
of his studio to Datevik and facilitated for a recording session
with the wonderful and very talented pianist Larry Willis and his
quartet – the result of which was a beautiful album “Ballads from
the Sea”. Asked about her experience, Datevik states, “I consider my
Mapleshade studio experience with the magical music of Larry Willis
as one of the unforgettable highlights of my life”.
Some of Datevik’s biggest accomplishments of her career and most
important contribution to Armenian music have been in the last 16
years. Datevik has introduced a new genre of music called Ethnic Jazz,
by combining Armenian folk music and traditional jazz music. She
has accomplished this notably through the introduction of Komitas,
Sayat Nova, and Armenian traditional songs, in the medium of jazz,
to the new generation of Armenians and to people of all nationalities
and various backgrounds. Datevik is truly a cultural Ambassador
of Armenia. She has extensively traveled all over the world and
participated at prestigious jazz festivals. Since Datevik extensively
works with non-Armenian musicians, she has had the distinct opportunity
to introduce them to Armenian music and culture. Notable American,
Russian, and Australian musicians have adopted this type of music in
their compositions and concerts.
Her latest music CDs that include Armenian ethnic jazz music are
“Listen to My Heart” and “Stage to Stage”. When asked about Datevik,
legendary jazz producer George Avakian said, “The finest new voice I
have heard in a quarter of century”. Internationally known composer,
arranger and pianist Michel Legrand added, “Listen to the Heart of
Armenia, listen to Datevik”.
Armenia Fund’s 9th Annual International Telethon will be held on
Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2006 from 8am – 8pm PST. The live
telethon will feature guest appearances of celebrities and community
leaders, renowned Armenian performers, as well as Armenia Fund’s
long time donors and supporters. Proceeds from the Telethon will be
geared towards the fight against rural poverty — which includes
the reconstruction of a regional hospital with 5 new ambulances, the
construction of local village schools, waterways for irrigation and
drinking water purposes, and a comprehensive agricultural development
plan. The 12 hour live program will be webcasted on
on the day of the Telethon.
For further broadcast information, please visit
Armenia Fund, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation
established in 1994 to facilitate large-scale humanitarian
and infrastructure development assistance to Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh. Since 1991, Armenia Fund has rendered more than $160 million
in development aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Armenia Fund,
Inc. is the U.S. Western Region affiliate of “Hayastan” All-Armenian
Fund. Tax ID# 95-4485698

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Camp Nubar’s 2006 Summer Session A Huge Success
On August 14, 2006, AGBU Camp Nubar wrapped up its 42nd summer
season with 235 enthusiastic campers and 75 devoted counselors and
administrators. AGBU’s largest camp continues to lead the way in
providing high quality facilities and an extensive list of activities
for youth from around the world.
Ranked by the American Camp Association (ACA), the American Red Cross
and the American Academy of Pediatrics as a first-rate modern facility,
Camp Nubar is unique among Armenian camps.
Campers participated in a vast array of activities such as
horseback riding, ceramics, tennis, archery, swimming, basketball
and sailing. Alumni and guest instructors were invited to teach
in specialized areas of interest such as water-skiing, wilderness
survival and Armenian language and cooking.
To keep pace with the growing demand for modern and spacious
accommodations, Camp Nubar has undergone drastic renovation and
expansion efforts in the last several years. This year alone,
construction was completed on another Girl’s Camper Cabin, a
new Girl’s Counselor Cabin, a major expansion to the Director’s
Cabin/Administration Building, the renovation of a former Camper
Cabin into a Counselor Lounge, and the addition of an Alumni House
for visiting staff members.
Some highlights of the 2006 camp sessions included an Open House for
family and friends, a carnival, a banquet, and the traditional 3-day
event called “Color Wars” for campers. These highlights and the rest
of Camp Nubar’s activities help Armenian youth create valuable and
long-lasting relationships and memories.
Accredited by ACA (), AGBU Camp Nubar was founded in
1963 and continues to be a summer haven for Armenian youth from all
around the world. For more information on Camp Nubar, please call (212)
319-6383, visit or email [email protected].
For more information on AGBU and its youth programs, please visit

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Karabakh President Meets With AGBU Central Board Members
On November 7, 2006, the President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic,
Arkady Ghoukassian, met with AGBU President Berge Setrakian and
Board Member Michael Ansour at AGBU Central Office in Manhattan
for a discussion of the issues facing Armenians around the world,
and Karabakh in particular, today and in the years to come.
The meeting, which included the participation of Kevork Toroyan of
Armenia Fund USA and Vartan Barseghian, Permanent Representative of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the USA, covered matters related to AGBU’s
extensive programming in Karabakh and points of cooperation between
the world’s largest Armenian non-profit organization and the Republic.
Mr. Setrakian highlighted AGBU’s continuing support of Karabakh’s
civil society through projects that tackle the educational, cultural
and infrastructure difficulties facing the nation.
Since 2001, AGBU has initiated and financially supported a number of
projects in Karabakh, including the reconstruction of Alex Manoogian
Street in central Stepanakert, the construction of a housing
complex for war veterans and widows, the building of Stepanakert
Secondary School #7, the establishment and funding of the Karabakh
Chamber Orchestra and the Karabakh Repopulation Project, which has
rejuvenated two villages in the southeast Hadrut region and is poised
to reconstruct two additional settlements.
Mr. Ghoukassian was in the United States to participate in Armenia
Fund’s Thanksgiving Telethon, which annually raises millions of dollars
for various projects in Armenia and Karabakh. Proceeds from Telethon
2006 will benefit the region of Hadrut in Karabakh.
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City
with an annual budget of $34 million, AGBU preserves and promotes
the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and
humanitarian programs, annually serving some 400,000 Armenians in
35 countries.

Sunday, November 12, 2006
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I MAY HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE
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“You are consistently negative,” I am told again and again. “Try to be more positive.” They never tell me to be more honest, as if honesty were negative, and Turks and massacres positive.
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Some of my most faithful readers are hoodlums. Writers share this in common with bus drivers: they can’t choose their passengers.
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Jacques de Groff (b. 1924), French historian: “The mediocrity of leaders has at no time slowed down the evolution of mankind.” True, in so far as, by alienating the best and the brightest, mediocre leaders (whose number one enemy is excellence) promote the brotherhood of all men and thus accelerate the decline and ultimate demise of nations and tribes.
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If “a famous man is disgusting” (Ionesco), what could be more contemptible and repellent than a total mediocrity who thinks he deserves fame.
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When I first came to Canada, I met an Oriental carpet dealer who thought of himself as the uncrowned king of the Armenian community. Whenever he saw me he would ask, “Are you making any money?” He died bankrupt.
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Death is the first step of a long voyage, and if the voyage is into nothingness, so much the better.
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My choice of cheerful epitaph today: “Here lies a dog who barked up the wrong tree.”
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I would love the slums and gutters of my homeland more than the rivers, boulevards, and palaces of foreign capitals – if I had a homeland.
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Monday, November 13, 2006
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RIDDLES WITHIN
MYSTERIES
WITHIN ENIGMAS
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Unlike Christians, who believe in three gods (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), Muslims are convinced theirs is a better religion because they believe in only one God. It seems they find the concept of Trinity incomprehensible. So do I. So do most Christians. Which is why they call it a mystery. Religions call their contradictions mysteries.
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Father and Son I understand. What I don’t understand is the necessity of the Holy Spirit (also called, until very recently, Holy Ghost), the Gray Eminence of the Triumvirate. If Almighty God is at the top of the food chain, why does He need an assistant or a VP? As a Christian I never thought I believed in three gods, perhaps because I was told otherwise. It’s astonishing the degree of trust we place in our elders. What is even more astonishing is our lack of awareness of contradictions within us.
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To prove they are good Muslims, some Muslims don’t see anything wrong in behaving like bad Christians, and vice versa. And consider the case of the Armenian who in his effort to prove he is a good or even a better Armenian sees nothing remotely questionable in behaving like a hoodlum or a bad Turk. This to me is as incomprehensible as God or the concept of the Trinity.
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To understand man, psychologists have come up with many contradictory theories and explanations. To understand God, theologians have done the same, probably because the need to understand and explain is as strong in us as the instinct to survive in animals. But unlike animals, in order to survive we are willing not only to kill, but also to die; and to cover up that contradiction, to invent such noble-sounding concepts as heroism, self-sacrifice, martyrdom, and patriotism.
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To explain the concepts of good and evil, an African tribal chieftain is quoted as having said to C.G. Jung: “If I steal my enemy’s wives, it’s good. If he steals mine it’s bad.” We fool ourselves, or we allow our sermonizers and speechifiers to fool us (which is worse), if we think our motives are more civilized or noble.
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After witnessing a horrible crime in his own neighborhood, a Canadian is quoted as having said in today’s paper: “You read about all this negative stuff coming from the Middle East, but guess what, there is a lot of negative stuff happening in Canada that is unspeakable!” To which I can only say, “So what else is new?”
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Tuesday, November 14, 2006
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IS HONESTY ANTI-ARMENIAN?
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Somewhere along the line it seems we as a nation decided that it is. That once upon a time we valued honesty there is no doubt. Think of our folks songs, think of our liturgical music, think above all of our architecture, and I don’t mean the derivative neo-Hellenic style but that of our small, humble, severe churches, shorn of all ornamentation, whose impact is as straight as an arrow.
What happened to our composers, architects, and our creative impetus in general? The answer must be obvious: we concentrated all our efforts on entertaining and pleasing our masters. We were Romanized, Arabized, Ottomanized, and Sovietized. Sinan and Balian became more Ottoman than Turks. The only Armenian feature in Khachaturian is his reliance on Caucasian (which doesn’t mean Armenian only) folk tunes; his orchestration is more Russian (Tchaikovsky) and French (Ravel).
Saroyan’s characters may be of Armenian descent but their aim is not to express the Armenian voki (spirit, ethos, or duende) but to amuse the average American reader. When a critic of TIME magazine said something to the effect that Michael (PASSAGE TO ARARAT) Arlen’s Armenians and Saroyan’s fictional characters shared very little in common and that Saroyan’s Armenians were less authentic, Saroyan wrote an angry letter to the editor saying he had at no time distorted his fellow countrymen, only “stylized” them. Stylized them to what end, except perhaps to make them more accessible to his non-Armenian readers. This is not what Shakespeare does with his characters. This is not what great writers do in their fiction.
What do Odian’s fictional Armenians share in common with Saroyan’s? Absolutely nothing. Saroyan’s characters are cute, colorful, harmless. Odian’s are the exact opposite – mean, narrow, full of piss, vinegar and venom. Saroyan’s Armenians have been Americanized, Odian’s Ottomanized.
Had we presented a united front against our enemies and maintained our independence, we would now be bragging about our own Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, not to say, Dante, Dickens, and Dostoevsky…instead of Gulbenkian (who was Sultan Abdulhamid’s hireling) and Mikoyan (Stalin’s flunkey).
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Wednesday, November 15, 2006
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ASSESSING AN ASS
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Whenever people assess themselves they tend to emphasize the positive and cover up the negative, and after they fool themselves, they think they have been successful in fooling others.
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What is flattery? To say to a second-rater that he is first rate. To flatter someone means to imply that he is so bad that he needs to be propped up by lies.
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Sometimes asking questions is more important than answering them. But if you ask the wrong questions, don’t expect to get the right answers.
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The most effective way to expose a liar is by speaking the truth, not by speaking bigger lies.
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To my critics I say, even literary giants like Thomas Mann and Solzhenitsyn were powerless against the likes of Hitler and Stalin. If you are a competent judge and I am what you say I am – a minor scribbler – what’s the harm in what I have been doing? Unless you assess your fellow Armenians to be such gullible dupes that they will be taken in even by a mental masturbator.
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IS ARKADY GHUKASYAN CONSISTENT OR LAW-ABIDING?
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 14 2006
Let us forget about the NKR president running a third term, said Arman
Melikyan, adviser to NKR president on November 14 at the Friday Club
when the news reporters asked to touch upon this issue. “I contend that
Mr. Ghukasyan believes that there cannot be a third term. This is a
credo and this is a real political approach, which is not opportunistic
and is not affected by personal preferences. It was a decision which
stemmed from the public interest. In addition, it was not a choice
between staying or quitting. It was essential to state that the third
tern is unacceptable and harmful,” states Arman Melikyan.
He thinks that Arkady Ghukasyan’s move is a serious precedent for
other states in the post-soviet space. Appreciating this seriousness,
nevertheless, it is, difficult not to wonder whether Arkady Ghukasyan
is not running a third term out of his belief, or his credo means
nothing before the requirement of the law, which bars a third term
independent from credos.
“The law bars it, and he acted in compliance with the law. Therefore, I
said it was not a choice between staying or quitting, it was a belief
that he expressed because rumors appeared in the media that he is
likely to run a third term. There is the law. The belief is anchored in
the law and stems from this law,” says the adviser to Arkady Ghukasyan.
However, this circumstance arouses doubt. If Arkady Ghukasyan’s
credo stems from the law, the NKR Constitution may arouse other
credos for Arkady Ghukasyan, because the Constitution contains a
provision which provides legal basis for the nomination of Ghukasyan,
and if the parliament majority who support him did not vote down this
provision, it is probable that Ghukasyan’s credo will not change,
say for the sake of the interest of Karabakh, being convinced that
only his staying will save Karabakh.
“There will be a new law, and after all there can be many good laws,
but there may not be will to obey them always, and the decision cannot
change if a letter is changed,” says Arman Melikyan. He also says
the public poll on the third term conducted in Karabakh by policemen
on the order of the chief of the Police Isagulov is not evidence to
a possible change of the decision. Arman Melikyan says he does not
have such information, this is not official, and whatever is there,
is a bad favor.
“You see, there are many people around us who make bad favors, and
it is pointless to fight against each of them separately,” says
the adviser to the NKR president, who has perhaps advised Arkady
Ghukasyan not to fight against people who do bad favors. After all,
people will go and favors will stay.

DID THE PRIME MINISTER READ THE CONSTITUTION?
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 14 2006
One had a deja vue before the November 14 meeting of the National
Assembly. The members of parliament entered the National Assembly
traversing the lines of policemen. The people, who have become
homeless as a result of expropriation, gathered several meters from
the gate of the parliament building and the members of parliament. On
the eve these demonstrators had tried to talk to some members of
parliament for a couple of minutes, which was considered an attempt
of take hostages, and today the police simply did not allow them to
approach the gate of the National Assembly for the free movement of
the members of parliament. And they moved on. Without taking a look
at the people gathered over there. The demonstrators were amazed by
this attitude? “Who do these members of parliament fear? It’s them
who shoot one another, not us.”
It is not the first time these people protested. And this is not the
first day they came to the National Assembly. They come to demand that
the members of parliament elected by people vote against the bill on
expropration. So it is natural that they shouted abuse when they saw
the Republicans. Republican Member of Parliament Hermine Naghdalyan
was reproached most of all because on the eve she had promised to
the victims of expropriation to vote against the bill but then she
announced she would vote like her party, i.e. for the bill.
Instead, Khachatur Sukiasyan and Alvard Petrosyan got applause because
at least they are not for the bill. Member of Parliament Khachatur
Sukiasyan even made some proposals to improve the bill. His proposals,
as well as the proposals of other members of parliament and the NGOs
were rejected. In an interview with the Lragir the chair of Victims
of Expropriation Sedrak Baghdasaryan stated that we do not have a
parliament or a government but “a gang who have usurped government
offices and are making money ignoring the interests of people. We
have a minister of justice who does not think about justice and the
rights of people.”
The demonstrators demand the resignation of the prime minister,
and in answer to this the prime minister asks to show him the point
in the constitution which enables the demonstrators to demand the
resignation of the government. “According to the representative of
the political party of the prime minister Rafik Petrosyan, the prime
minister does not read the laws. Meanwhile, he is ashamed of referring
to the Constitution? Did he read the Constitution. I remind Article
1 of the Constitution especially for the prime minister: the Republic
of Armenia is a democratic republic. In other words, people can elect
and demand the resignation of anyone and at any time they want. Let the
prime minister know that he will not remain in this office forever. He
may have read the Constitution of an African state and since 2001
he has been robbing the people’s property. The Constitutional Court
barred expropriation in 1998. They do not care for the decision of
the Constitutional Court,” stated Sedrak Baghdasaryan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA, EU SIGN NEW NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
Regnum, Russia
Nov 14 2006
On November 14, Armenian-EU action program in framework of the
“new neighborhood” policy was approved and adopted at the seventh
Armenia-EU plenary session in Brussels, REGNUM correspondent reported.
Political issues, human rights’ protection, as well as energy problems
were discussed during the meeting. The Armenian side informed on the
efforts aimed at the diversification of energy sources in the country,
particularly, construction of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. Following
the session, an official ceremony of adopting the Armenia-EU action
plan took place. At the ceremony, Armenian FM Vardan Oskanyan and the
Finland’s foreign trade minister signed a relevant document. Realizing
the program suggests an opportunity for Armenia to proceed from
cooperation with the EU to a higher level of integration, including
the possibility to enter the EU’s domestic market and become part of
the EU’s policies and programs. The action plan suggests establishing
intensive political, economic, and cultural tiesbetween Armenia and
the EU.
The signed document gives Armenia an opportunity to realize a
comprehensive package of reforms before signing a new agreement of a
still higher status. Realization of the program will make Armenia’s
social, political, and economical systems more compatible to the
European ones. Special attention in the action plan is paid to the
Armenia-EU economic cooperation, particularly, additional financial
assistance, developing trade and economic cooperation, harmonization of
economic legislation, constant reduction of trade tariff limitations,
which is supposed to boost investments, exports, and economic growth.

NKR PRESIDENT’S MEETINGS IN DETROIT
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 14 2006
Issues related to the Karabakh conflict resolution, as well as
the prospects of socio-economic development of Nagorno Karabakh
were discussed during NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan’s metering
with Congressman Joe Knollenberg in Detroit, NKR President’s Press
Office reports.
Congratulating Joe Knollenberg on his reelection to Congress,
Arkady Ghukasyan expressed gratitude for the assistance in promoting
NKR interests. For his part, Joe Knollenberg, who co-chairs the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, expressed his willingness
to continue addressing NKR questions.
In Detroit NKR President had a meeting with representatives of the
Armenian community.
Turning to the situation of the Karabakh conflict settlement, Arkady
Ghukasyan declared that the people of Artsakh will not be frightened
by Azerbaijani militant statements. He underlined that NKR Defense
Army is able to show proper resistance to any infringement against
the freedom and independence of Nagorno Karabakh.