Month: October 2008

CHRISTIANS FLEE IRAQ, AUTHORITIES ACCUSE AL QAEDA

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.10.2008 15:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Nearly 600 more Christian families have fled the
northern Iraqi city of Mosul over the past week, amid threats by
Muslim extremists to convert to Islam or risk death, an official in
Nineveh province said Monday.

Last week, Iraq’s Ministry of Immigration and Displaced Persons said
1,424 Christian families had fled Mosul. Nineveh Deputy Gov. Khasro
Goran said the number has since risen to 2,000, based on the most
recent figures from Nineveh’s office of Immigration and Displaced
Persons.

Fourteen Christians have been slain in recent weeks in Mosul, which
is about 260 miles north of Baghdad. On Friday, Iraqi security forces
arrested four men in Mosul in connection with anti-Christian attacks.

Iraqi authorities believe al Qaeda in Iraq is behind the
violence. Mosul is one of the last Iraqi cities where al Qaeda in
Iraq has a significant presence and routinely carries out attacks.

Iraqi security forces continue to patrol the city daily – particularly
the city’s Christian neighborhoods – and violence has decreased as
a result, Goran said. Despite this, more families have fled and very
few families have returned, he said.

Authorities said the attacks may have been prompted by Christian
demonstrations ahead of provincial elections earlier this month.

Hundreds of Christians took to the streets in Mosul and surrounding
villages and towns, demanding adequate representation on provincial
councils, whose members will be chosen in the local elections.

Iraqi leaders have expressed concern about the anti-Christian attacks.

A meeting held Monday in Mosul included Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister
Rafei al-Isawi, Nineveh Gov. Duraid Kashmoula, local military leaders,
prominent Christian leaders and other provincial officials.

The officials reviewed the latest developments in the city and called
on Christian families to return to their homes.

During the meeting, al-Isawi announced that the Iraqi government has
an intelligence report showing al Qaeda in Iraq is behind the killings
and displacement of Christians, according to Goran.

An employee of Iraq’s spy service was wounded Monday morning when a
bomb attached to his car by insurgents detonated in eastern Baghdad,
killing two bystanders, an Interior Ministry official said.

The Monday morning blast occurred in Maysaloun Square in eastern
Baghdad, and killed a husband and wife inside an adjacent taxi,
the official said, CNN reports.

RUSSIA HAS MUCH TO GAIN FROM MEDIATING CONFLICTS IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.10.2008 16:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia should maintain uninterrupted contact with
Armenia after the tragic events in South Ossetia, said Konstantin
Zatulin, director of the Institute of CIS Studies.

"It’s important to assess the advantages and disadvantages of the
situation. Armenia has unsettled problems and is interested in
Russia’s mediation for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict resolution. By
the way, Russia has much to gain from mediating conflicts in South
Caucasus. With their successful resolution, it will fix its positions
as major regional player," he said, Komsomolskaya Pravda reports.

ARMENIAN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS LAUNCH WIMAX NETWORK IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.10.2008 16:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ COMSTAR – United TeleSystems JSC ("Comstar" or
"the Group") (LSE: CMST), the largest integrated telecommunications
provider in Moscow and 67 Russian cities, announced that it has
launched a wireless broadband network based on the 802.16e standard
WiMAX technology in Armenia and introduced the Comstar brand in the
local market.

President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia and Dmitry Medvedev participated
in the opening ceremony today, Comstar’s press office told
PanARMENIAN.Net.

The creation and commercial launch of the wireless network using the
3.6-3.8 GHz frequency range was implemented by Cornet-AM, an Internet
service provider in Armenia, and a part of Comstar Group. The WiMAX
network, which currently comprises 24 base stations, covers the
capital of Armenia, Yerevan, as well as 18 Armenian cities. Airspan
Networks (US) was chosen by Comstar as a provider of equipment for the
WiMAX network. Base stations are connected via proprietary and rented
fiber-optic lines, as well as through radio relay channels, with the
backbone based on Cisco’s equipment. The Group intends to expand the
coverage zone and the backbone in the future. The total investments
in the project amount to US$ 4.6 million in 2007-2008. The volume of
further investments in the project will depend on the results of the
launch and overall development of the telecommunications market.

Comstar’s WiMAX network in Armenia is used to provide a broad
range of telecommunications services, including digital telephony,
broadband internet access, data transmission, conferencing and virtual
private networks (VPN) for corporate subscribers. Cornet-AM currently
provides services to corporate subscribers, and Comstar intends to
start servicing residential subscribers and offer voice services
in the future. Earlier this year, Cornet-AM applied to the Public
Service Regulation Committee of the Republic of Armenia to obtain
numbering capacity of 60 thousand telephone numbers. In addition,
Cornet-AM has the license to provide inter-city and international
connection services for its residential subscribers. Upon the receipt
of the requested numbering capacity, Comstar will be able to provide
the fixed-line local and long distance telecommunications services
in a package with allocated telephone numbers.

Sergey Pridantsev, President and Chief Executive Officer of Comstar
UTS, commented: "The national WiMAX network is a unique project for
Armenia, and one of the first projects of its kind worldwide. The
network deployment enables us to offer modern communications
services in the country and helps to improve the life quality of
its population. Some of the citizens will be offered telephony
services and broadband internet access at their homes for the first
time ever. The launch of this project enables us to truly become a
national telecommunications operator in Armenia."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BAGHDASSARYAN, SIMMONS DISCUSS ARMENIA-NATO COOPERATION FOR 2009-2010

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.10.2008 16:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Secretary of the Armenian National Security Council
Artur Baghdassaryan met Tuesday with NATO’s Special Representative
for South Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simmons and the delegation
led by him to discuss the Armenia-NATO cooperation, the RA President’s
press office reported.

The NSC Secretary briefed on activities of the commission formed to
coordinate interaction with European and Euro-Atlantic structures.

The officials also referred to the IPAP implementation and cooperation
plans for 2009-2010.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT GIFTED YEREVAN BRANDY FACTORY NAME CASK

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.10.2008 16:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Armenian
leader Serzh Sargsyan attended Yerevan Brandy Factory today, the RA
President’s press office told PanARMENIAN.Net.

Familiarizing himself with the production process and history of the
factory, Mr. Medvedev lingered at the Peace Cask with brandy produced
in 1994, symbolizing the year of conclusion of the ceasefire agreement
between parties to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and supposed to be
opened on the day of its final resolution.

With respect to the custom, the Russian President was gifted a
name cask.

RUSSIA, IRAN AND QATAR AGREE TO FORM AN OPEC-STYLE GAS CARTEL

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.10.2008 17:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ World gas powers Russia, Iran and Qatar pledged
on Tuesday to strengthen cooperation and Tehran said there was a
consensus to form an OPEC-style grouping, comments likely to worry
Western consumer nations.

Iran’s Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari said he and Qatar’s Energy
Minister Abdullah al-Attiyah and Chief Executive Alexei Miller of
Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom agreed to establish a high-ranking
natural gas committee.

Unlike Nozari, Miller did not refer to a "gas OPEC" at a joint news
conference but said the three sides had set up a "major gas troika"
that would help implement joint projects.

Russia, Iran and Qatar are ranked the first, second and third biggest
holders of natural gas reserves in the world and together boast more
than half of the global total.

"We have made major decisions," Nozari said after talks in the Iranian
capital. "There is a demand to form this gas OPEC and there is a
consensus to set up gas OPEC."

Major gas exporters have met informally for several years at the annual
Gas Exporting Countries Forum, a grouping including also Venezuela,
Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, Indonesia and Libya.

Iran wants to turn it into a more formal organization akin to the
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, the 13-member
cartel which makes output decisions that can sway the oil price.

Europe and the United States have warned against such a gas export
body, saying it could pose a danger to global energy security and
create room for price manipulation.

Gazprom has previously played down the idea of a gas OPEC, saying
it was not feasible. But Miller told Tuesday’s news conference:
"We have decided to be in close contact and we can say that today a
major gas troika was formed."

Some analysts say any gas OPEC could be expected to share insights on
upstream contract terms with investors rather than act on restricting
gas supply as the oil OPEC does.

"Surely this gathering of gas exporting countries is to give assurances
over gas supply to the world," said Miller, whose country is the
world’s largest natural gas exporter, Reuters reports.

SUPPORT OUR FRIENDS FROM CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE

Armenian Reporter
=1F6BF3B2-3FF3-752C-24F67A24E8854A08
October 21, 2008
Armenia

The Armenian Reporter and USAPAC endorse candidates for the U.S. House
of Representatives from California.

Almost all of the members of California’s congressional delegation
are responsive to Armenian-American concerns. Several members of
Congress from California have taken a leadership role in addressing
issues that matter strongly to Armenian-American voters.

This is not surprising. Representing a state that is home to
the largest concentration of Armenian-Americans, they have many
opportunities to meet Armenian-Americans and become familiar with their
concerns. In fact, two members of the California delegation, Anna Eshoo
and Jackie Speier, are themselves Armenian-American. Many California
members of Congress have Armenian-Americans on their staff. And,
of course, they seek the votes, the campaign contributions, and the
volunteer help of California-Armenians.

While the responsiveness of the California delegation is not
surprising, it should not be taken for granted. Our community has
become increasingly involved – and assertive – in the political
process, and Armenian-Americans have taken years to cultivate
relationships with elected officials.

The Armenian Reporter and the U.S.-Armenia Public Affairs Committee
(USAPAC) jointly urge Armenian-Americans to support our friends in
the California delegation. In two cases, we urge Armenian-Americans
to oppose members who have opposed or withdrawn their support of House
Resolution 106, which affirms the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide.

In our endorsements, as always we have given special consideration
to members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Affairs. We have
considered candidates’ interest in and support of Armenian-American
issues, including co-sponsorship and support of H. Res. 106. We have
also noted where members signed a letter to the secretary of state,
urging her to condemn Azerbaijan’s threats of war against Armenia
and Karabakh. (See the print version of this editorial in pdf form.)

â~H~Z3. Dan Lungren. Though not a member of the Armenian Caucus,
Mr. Lungren co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

4. No endorsement. We thank retiring Representative John Doolittle
for his support.

â~H~Z5. Doris Matsui, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs,
co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z6. Lynn Woolsey, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs,
co-sponsored H. Res. 106. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, she voted for H. Res. 106 in committee.

â~H~Z7. George Miller, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian
Affairs, co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z8. Support Nancy Pelosi Ms. Pelosi is a member of the House Caucus
on Armenian Affairs and co-sponsored H. Res. 106. As Speaker of the
House, Ms. Pelosi has been a true friend of the Armenian-American
community. For her strong support of the Genocide resolution a
year ago, she endured harsh criticism from the many establishment
figures who had agreed to be mouthpieces of the Turkish lobby. We
are particularly grateful to her.

â~H~Z9. Barbara Lee, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs,
co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z10. Ellen Tauscher, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian
Affairs, co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z11. Gerald McNerney. Though not a member of the Armenian Caucus,
Mr. McNerney co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z12. Support Jackie Speier An Armenian-American who was elected
earlier this year to complete the term of the late Rep. Tom Lantos,
Ms. Speier is a strong advocate of issues of concern to the
Armenian-American community. Her position is consistent with the
leadership role she took as a member of the California Senate and,
earlier, of the California State Assembly. Ms. Speier is a member of
the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs and co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z13. Pete Stark, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs,
co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z14. Support Anna Eshoo An Armenian-American, Ms. Eshoo has long
been a strong advocate of issues of concern to the Armenian-American
community. Ms. Eshoo is a member of the House Caucus on Armenian
Affairs and co-sponsored H. Res. 106. She signed a letter to Secretary
Rice about Azerbaijani threats.

â~H~Z15. Michael Honda, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian
Affairs, co-sponsored H. Res. 106. He signed a letter to Secretary
Rice about Azerbaijani threats.

â~H~Z16. Zoe Lofgren, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs,
co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z17. Sam Farr. Though not a member of the Armenian Caucus,
Mr. Farr co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z18. Dennis Cardoza, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian
Affairs, co-sponsored H. Res. 106. He signed a letter to Secretary
Rice about Azerbaijani threats.

â~H~Z19. Support George Radanovich Mr. Radanovich is a vocal member
of the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs and was one of four original
co-sponsors of H. Res. 106. He signed a letter to Secretary Rice
about Azerbaijani threats. Rep. Radanovich has also helped initiate
a congressional letter in support of additional U.S. assistance to
Armenia in the wake of Georgia crisis.

â~H~Z20. Support Jim Costa.

Mr. Costa is a vocal member of the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs
and co-sponsored H. Res. 106. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, Mr. Costa voted for H. Res. 106 in committee. He signed
a letter to Secretary Rice about Azerbaijani threats. As a member of
the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Costa voted for H. Res. 106
in committee. He signed a letter to Secretary Rice about Azerbaijani
threats.

â~H~Z21. Devin Nunes, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs,
co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z22. Kevin McCarthy. Though not a member of the Armenian Caucus,
Mr. McCarthy co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z23. Lois Capps, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs,
co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z24. Elton Gallegly, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian
Affairs, co-sponsored H. Res. 106. As a member of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, however, he voted for the resolution in
committee. He also signed a letter to Secretary Rice about Azerbaijani
threats.

â~H~Z25. Buck McKeon, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs,
co-sponsored H. Res. 106. Mr. McKeon signed a letter to Secretary
Rice about Azerbaijani threats.

â~H~Z26. David Dreier, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian
Affairs, co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z27. Support Brad Sherman Mr. Sherman is a vocal member of the
House Caucus on Armenian Affairs and co-sponsored H. Res. 106. As
a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Sherman
worked actively for the H. Res. 106 passage in committee and voted
for it. He signed a letter to Secretary Rice about Azerbaijani
threats. Mr. Sherman is passionate advocate for U.S. aid to Armenia,
most recently in the wake of Georgia crisis, and support for Karabakh’s
right of self-determination.

â~H~Z28. Support Howard Berman Mr. Berman is a member of the House
Caucus on Armenian Affairs and co-sponsored H. Res. 106. As a member of
the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Berman voted for H. Res. 106
in committee. Mr. Berman now chairs the committee.

â~H~Z29. Support Adam Schiff Mr. Schiff is a vocal member of the House
Caucus on Armenian Affairs and is one of the original co-sponsors of
H. Res. 106. He signed a letter to Secretary Rice about Azerbaijani
threats. A passionate advocate for Armenian issues, Mr. Schiff is a
member of the key Foreign Operations Subcommittee and earlier this
year crossed party lines to vote to zero out U.S. military aid to
Azerbaijan.

â~H~Z30. Henry Waxman, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian
Affairs, co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z31. Xavier Becerra, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian
Affairs, co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z32. Hilda Solis, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs,
co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z33. Diane Watson, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian
Affairs, co-sponsored H. Res. 106. As a member of the House Foreign
Affairs Committee, Ms. Watson voted for H. Res. 106 in committee. She
signed a letter to Secretary Rice about Azerbaijani threats.

â~H~Z34. Lucille Roybal-Allard, a member of the House Caucus on
Armenian Affairs, co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z35. Maxine Waters. Though not a member of the Armenian Caucus,
Ms. Waters co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

O36. Oppose Jane Harman, Ms. Harman, who co-sponsored H. Res. 106,
publicly and privately worked against the adoption of the resolution.

â~H~Z37. Laura Richardson. Though not a member of the Armenian Caucus,
Ms. Richardson co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z38. Grace Napolitano, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian
Affairs, co-sponsored H. Res. 106. She signed a letter to Secretary
Rice about Azerbaijani threats.

â~H~Z39. Linda Sanchez, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian
Affairs, co-sponsored H. Res. 106. As a member of the House Foreign
Affairs Committee, Ms. Sanchez voted for H. Res. 106 in committee.

â~H~Z40. Support Edward Royce Mr. Royce is a vocal member of the House
Caucus on Armenian Affairs and co-sponsored H. Res. 106. As a member of
the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Royce voted for H. Res. 106 in
committee. He has spoken out frequently in support of Armenian issues.

41. No endorsement.?

â~H~Z42. Gary Miller, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs,
co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z43. Joe Baca, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs,
co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z44. Ken Calvert, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs,
co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z45. Mary Bono Mack. Though not a member of the Armenian Caucus,
Ms. Bono Mack co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z46. Dana Rohrabacher. Though not a member of the Armenian Caucus,
Mr. Rohrabacher co-sponsored H. Res. 106 and as a member of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, voted for H. Res. 106 in committee.

â~H~Z47. Loretta Sanchez, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian
Affairs, co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z48. John Campbell. Though not a member of the Armenian Caucus,
Mr. Campbell co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z49. Darrell Issa, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian
Affairs, co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z50. Brian Bilbray. Though not a member of the Armenian Caucus,
Mr. Bilbray co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

â~H~Z51. Bob Filner, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs,
co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

52. No endorsement?. We thank retiring Representative Duncan Hunter
for his support.

â~H~Z53. Susan Davis, a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs,
co-sponsored H. Res. 106.

–Boundary_(ID_vpnGMFKdfi1errbYjACRAA)–

"I AM ARMENIAN AND WE ARE A NATION OF FIGHTERS"
by Seda Stepanyan

Armenian Reporter
October 21, 2008
Armenia

David Nalbandian at a press briefing in Yerevan. Photolure

Yerevan – David Nalbandian said these words during a press conference
in Yerevan on October 2. The professional tennis player, who is
ranked 7th in the world, arrived in Armenia on the invitation of
Argentinian-Armenian investor Eduardo Eurnekian. On October 2,
Mr. Nalbandian gave master classes to young Armenian tennis players
and then played a friendly exhibition game with Armenia’s top lawn
tennis player Harutyun Sofyan.

The renowned tennis player said that he always dreamed of coming to
Armenia but there was never enough time because of his extremely tight
schedule. He will be in Armenia for three days but hopes that he will
be able to travel to his "first" homeland more often after finishing
his career in professional tennis. "I have two homelands and Armenia
is the first one. I am proud to be able to be here" said Nalbandian.

During the press conference, Mr. Nalbandian recalled that he won his
first championship at 12 years old and devoted his victory to his
family, which included his father Norberto (deceased), mother Alda,
and two older brothers Dario and Javier, who also play tennis.

KARABAKH TALKS PLANNED

News in Brief
The Moscow Times
22 October 2008
Russia

YEREVAN, Armenia — President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday that he
would host peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which appear
willing to negotiate a settlement of their 20-year conflict over the
disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Medvedev’s announcement follows a statement by a U.S. diplomat that
the United States also would step up efforts to help settle the
conflict.

"MIKA" WON RUSSIAN CHAMPION

Panorama.am
20:11 21/10/2008

After the fourth round of Europe Chess Club Armenian "MIKA" club has
won Russian "Ural" which was the favorite of the tournament. "MIKA"
won its Russian competitor by 3,5:2,5 point.

Levon Aronyan and Arman Pashikyan won their rivals, Georgian Baadur
Jobava has been defeated, and Magnus Carlsen, Boris Gelfand and
Gabriel Sargsyan ended in draw.

After the fourth round Russian "Economist", German "Baden-Baden"
and Armenian "MIKA" are the favorites of the tournament.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress