Month: December 2008

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Adrin Nazarian
December 2, 2008
(818) 512-4045

Krekorian Named Assistant Majority Leader of State Assembly

SACRAMENTO, CA – Speaker of the Assembly Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles)
today appointed Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) to serve as
the Assistant Majority Floor Leader of the State Assembly. The post is
the third-ranking leadership position in the Assembly after the Speaker
herself.

"In his first term in office, Paul Krekorian quickly proved himself to
be an especially effective legislator and a strong leader among the
members of the Assembly," said Speaker Bass. "As the Assistant Majority
Leader, he will play a key role in all major policy initiatives and in
our resolution of the state’s budget challenges, and he will continue to
be a trusted and highly valued advisor to me."

Krekorian, together with Majority Leader Alberto Torrico, will be the
Speaker’s principal representatives on the Assembly Floor. As Assistant
Majority Floor Leader, Krekorian will help to lead all floor debates in
the Assembly on behalf of the Democratic Caucus, and he will provide
policy and political guidance to the Speaker. Krekorian’s
responsibilities will also include expediting the Assembly’s proceedings
through the parliamentary process and promoting harmony among the
Assembly’s 80 members.

"Our state is facing enormous challenges, and how we respond to those
challenges will affect the course of history," said Krekorian. "I
believe that our challenges create opportunity, and I am eager to assist
the Speaker in shaping the Assembly’s legislative agenda and developing
a reasoned response to California’s economic and fiscal crisis. I’m
proud that she has entrusted me to serve in her top leadership team
during these turbulent times."

The announcement comes on the heels of several other recent appointments
for Assemblymember Krekorian. The Speaker also announced that Krekorian
will serve as the first Chairperson of the newly-created Select
Committee on Renewable Energy, through which Krekorian will continue to
lead the Assembly’s effort to meet at least 33% of California’s
electricity needs from renewable resources like solar and wind.
Krekorian is also replacing the Speaker as a member of the California
Film Commission.

Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) represents the 43rd Assembly
District, including the cities of Burbank and Glendale, and the Los
Angeles communities of Atwater Village, Los Feliz, North Hollywood,
Silver Lake, Toluca Lake, Valley Glen, Valley Village and Van Nuys. For
more information, please visit:

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UNDP AND ITALIAN GROUP OF EXPERTS UNFOLD ARMENIAN HERITAGE RESTORATION PLANS AT ARMENIAN CYPRIOT COMMUNITY GATHERING

Gibrahayer
Wednesday 3 December, 2008

… During the Ottoman period the church was restored several
times. One is recorded in 1688. In 1788 the Baptistery was
built. Finally in the second half of XIX c. many works are
documented. In 1858 the pointed arches that support the north side
of the porch were constructed. Two years later the bell tower was
built. The collapse of the central part of the porch may have been
the reason for the restoration of the works.

To this period date the most significant changes to the interior of
the church to adapt it to the Armenian creed. The hirdbay flooring
was raised from the level of first and second bay. The altar was put
on the uppermost part: it was composed of a masonry block in which
were reused marble slabs coming from ancient monuments, like the
Mirabel’s family slab. The front of this higher part of church’s
floor had decorated tiles. In the first bay the women gallery was
built. Women’s entrance was from the west entrance, while men’s
entrance from the northern gate (see M. de Mas Latrie 1846 report) …

SUSAN PATTIE AT PRIO’S 3RD CONFERENCE IN NICOSIA
Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra

Gibrahayer
Dec 3, 2008

On Friday and Saturday, 28 and 29 November 2008, PRIO organised its
3rd Annual Conference titled "One Island, Many Histories: Re-thinking
the politics of the past in Cyprus". Amongst the various speakers,
one name was very familiar: Dr Susan Pattie, the author of the
brilliant book on the Gibrahay community titled: Faith in History:
Armenians Rebuilding Community (Washington: Smithsonian Institution
Press: 1997). Pattie was one of the four speakers of session 7 (Ledra
Palace Hotel), where she spoke on "Imagining Homelands: Poetics and
Performance among Cypriot Armenians".

Pattie started with a personal story: when she first arrived in Cyprus,
at the age of 10, it was night. She woke up at Ledra Palace, facing
the most beautiful sunrise, and seeing a palm tree for the first time
in her life!

Proceeding to her topic, she identified that theatrical plays
and musical performances help promote nationalism and the idea
of ethnicity, as the performance of history becomes part of their
narrative. There are three main categories of Western Armenian poetry
and music. First, poetry and music about the origins, the bravery and
the pride of the Armenians, with powerful symbolisms carried through
the Ararat Mountain, the Christianisation of Armen ia by Sourp Krikor
Naregatsi, the battle of Avarayr, and the invention of the Armenian
alphabet by Sourp Mesrob Mashdots.

The second category of poetry and music speaks about the Genocide;
here, we have accounts of the deportations, of the sacrifices for the
collective, and of the horri fic slaughters, as well as narrations
of the survivors, who speak about their survival tales and the help
they received. Poetry and song-making prevent people from forgetting,
they electrify the audience, and they re-ignite grief and anger,
even if the word "Turk" is not mentioned. The third category is
about the Dispersion; this poetry speaks about the displacement,
the Diaspora, the new homelands, and the sense of feeling "foreign"
in a new home. It also speaks about the new multi-lingual reality in
which Western Armenians now live in, and the important attachment
they must feel about their homeland and their motherland. Finally,
it speaks about the dichotomy of feeling grounded and at the same
time being a part of your new country.

MINISTRY OF DIASPORA TO DEAL WITH ISSUES RELATED TO PRESERVATION OF ARMENIAN HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL MONUMENTS ABROAD

Noyan Tapan

Dec 3, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. By February 2009, the Armenian
government will approve the concept of working with the Diaspora,
the RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobian stated at the December
3 sitting of the National Assembly when responding to a question
of the member of "ARF" fcation Bagrat Sargsyan. Accoridng to her,
the preliminary version of the concept was discussed with the prime
minister and submitted to all the parties.

As regards the preservation of Armenian historical and cultural
monuments abroad, H. Hakobian said that the ministry deals with such
issues in case of availability of an application of the Armenian
community of the given country. She said that the day before she met
with the head of the Georgian diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church
and discussed the problems related to Armenian churches in Tbilisi,
in particular, Surb Norashen Church. In her words, these problems will
be soon discussed in Tbilisi with the participation of the Armenian
prime minister.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION PUTS FORWARD NEW INITIATIVE RELATED TO EASTERN PARTNERSHIP

Noyan Tapan

Dec 3, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Commission has
put forward an initiative related to the Eastern Partnership. The
initiative envisages a change in the European Union’s relations with
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. According
to a press release of the EU Office in Armenia, the Partnership
presupposes raising considerably the level of political involvement,
including signing new agreements on cooperation, long-term integration
into economy of the EU, and the opportunity for citizens to travel
easily in the territory of the EU. Extended measures of energy security
for all the interested sides, and additional financial assistance
are envisaged as well.

The new partnership includes measures to support 6 countries with
their socioeconomic development, and 5 important initiatives.

The European Commissioner for External Relations and European
Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner said that it is the time to
open a new page in EU’s relations with the Eastern neighbors. According
to her, the events taking place in Eastern Europe and the South
Caucasus have an impact on the security and stability of the EU. "Our
principle is that the progress should be in line with reform programs
of our partners, and this new package also offers more intensive
assistance to reach the envisaged goals," she said.

The Commission proposes establishing closer bilateral relations
with these countries and working out a new framework of multilateral
cooperation. The new major points of the initiative are the following:

– new agreements on cooperation, including comprehensive agreements
on free trade with all those who want and are ready to assume the
obligations proceeding from the agreements,

– EU-funded comprehensive programs to strengthen administrative
capacities of the partners,

– gradual integration with EU economy,

– encouraging the partners to develop a free trade network among each
other, which as a long-term goal may result in joining the economic
community of the Neighborhood,

– signing "pacts on movement and security", which will facilitate legal
trips to the EU, at the same time making the fight against corruption,
organized crime and illegal migration more efficient.

The above mentioned pacts will include the provisions on the
modernization of refugee shelters in line with EU standards and the
creation of integrated structures of border control, but the most
important goal is to ensure travels without an entry visa through
the territories of the partner states:

– the Commission should examine the opportunities of movement for work
purposes – with the prospect of opening the labor market of the EU,

– additional financial support, etc.

The Commission proposes launching the initative during the summit of
the Eastern Partnership in the spring of 2009.

CONTACTS BETWEEN PARLIAMENTS OF ARMENIA AND ITALY HAVE GREAT DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL

Noyan Tapan

Dec 3, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The contacts between the parliaments
of Armenia and Italy have great development potential. RA NA Speaker
Hovik Abrahamian said on December 3, receiving Ambassador of Italy
to Armenia Massimo Lavezzo Cassinelli. He invited the Chairmen of
Italian parliament’s two chambers, Senate and Camera, to Armenia
on an official visit, expressing confidence that the development of
interparliamentary relations will also contribute to strengthening of
trade and economic and scientific-cultural contacts between the two
countries. H. Abrahamian also proposed discussing the possibility of
signing an interparliamentary cooperation agreement or a memorandum
during the visit.

According to the RA NA Speaker, European Union member country Italy can
greatly contribute to Armenia’s integration to Europe. Touching upon
Renco Italian company’s activity in Armenia, H. Abrahamian attached
importance to entrance of other Italian enterprises to Armenia and
said that Armenia’s tax sphere is favorable for investments and
development of foreigners’ business.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA NA Public
Relations Department, expressing gratitude for inviting the Chairmen
of Senate and Camera to Armenia on an official visit, Massimo Lavezzo
Cassinelli committed himself to convey the invitation and to clarify
visit’s terms.

CRIMINAL CASE OPENED IN CONNECTION WITH ABUSE OF OFFICIAL AUTHORITY BY OFFICIALS OF LIQUIDATION COMMISSION

Noyan Tapan

Dec 3, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Having examined the materials
sent by the RA Ministry of Economy concerning the activity of the
liquidation commission of Kanaz OJSC, the Department for Protection
of State Interests of the RA Prosecutor General’s Office opened a
criminal case under Article 308 of the RA Criminal Code (abuse of
official authority), according to the website of the RA Prosecutor
General’s Office.

During the alienation of property of Kanaz OJSC in 2004-2007, the
officials of the liquidation commission used their official positions
in their personal or group interests and contrary to official
interests and did not perform their official duties, as s result
of which they caused damage of 85,439,184 drams to the state. In
particular, at the action held on January 26, 2006, the liquidation
commission sold 25% of Kanaz OJSC’s shares of 108,636,184 drams in
ArAl CJSC to the founders of ArAl CJSC – Alumtec (50% of whose shares
belonged to the chairman of the liquidation commission) and Farazgam
CJSC at an obviously low and unfounded price of 23,197,000 drams,
causing damage of 85,439,184 drams to the state.

The criminal case has been sent to the Main Investigation Department
of Police for investigation.

CBA ISSUES COMMEMORATIVE COIN "15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN DRAM"

Noyan Tapan

Dec 3, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA)
issued a commemoraive coin dedicated to the 15th anniversary of
putting the national currency – the Armenian dram into circulation
on November 22, 1993.

According to the CBA PR Service, the coat of arms of the Republic of
Armenia is depicted on the obverse of the coin. There is a shield
with the coats of arms of Armenia’s historic kingdoms and a gilded
covering in the center of the coat of arms. The coat of arms of the
RA is surrounded by a circle.

There is an inscription "Republic of Armenia" between the circle and
the edge, and the date "2008" is inscribed below.

The logo of the CBA is depicted in the center of the reverse. The
sign of the Armenian dram is placed in the center of the logo,
below which the nominal value is inscribed in two lines "5000" and
"DRAMS". The logo is surrounded by a circle. "15 YEARS of ARMENIAN
DRAM" is inscribed between the circle and the edge.

The coin was designed by the member of the Union of Artists of Armenia
Harutyun Samuelian. It was minted at the Mint of Austria. Its nominal
value is 5,000 drams, metal – silver (partly gilded), weight – 168.1 +-
3 grams, diameter – 63+-0.1 mm, the number of issued coins – 500.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA-INDIA BUSINESS FORUM HELD IN NEW DELHI

Noyan Tapan

Dec 3, 2008

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. An Armenia-India business
forum took place in the hall of the Federation of Indian Chambers
of Commerce and Indistry (FICCI) in New Delhi on December 1-2. The
forum was organized on the initiative of the Armenian embassy in India.

At the plenary sitting on December 1, speeches were made by the FICCI
Deputy Secretary General Rajan Kohli, the First Deputy Minister
of Agriculture of the RA Samvel Avetisian, the Armenian Amassador
to India Ashot Kocharian, the Deputy Minister of Economy of the RA
Mushegh Tumasian, the Indian Ambassador to Armenian Mrs. Rina Pandei,
the Head of the Indian MFA Eurasian Department Divyab Manchanda,
the Head of the Export Development Unit of the Armenian Development
Agency Sergei Amatuni, the President of Agri Machinery Group Rajiv
Kumar, the President of Oriental Software Ltd. Amarnat Bhat, and the
Chief Designer of Avia Infotel Company Samvel Muradian. They pointed
out the importance of the business forum and presented in detail
the dynamics of development and deepening of bilateral relations,
the agricultural, economic and IT sectors of the two countries and
their investment policies.

A film on Armenia was demonstrated.

According to the RA MFA Press and Information Department, separate
meetings of Armenian and Indian businessmen took place. A number of
Armenian companies of IT industry, textile industry and food processing
sector represented Armenia at the forum.

Within the framework of the business forum S. Avetisian and M. Tumasian
had meetings with the Indian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
E. Ahamed and the Secretary of Textile Ministry A. K. Singh. They
exchanged ideas on foundation of an Indian information center
in Armenia and creation of a garden of Armenian apricot-trees in
India, and the agenda of the regular sitting of the Armenian-Indian
intergovernmental commission to be held in Yerevan in 2009. During the
meeting at the textile ministry, the sides outlined the prospects of
bilateral cooperation in the textile, food processing and agricultural
sectors.

On December 2 the Armenian delegation visited Noida’s free economic
zone of export promotion where the delegation members familiarized
themselves with the operation and products of IT, textile and
engineering enterprises.

GOVERNMENT CANNOT ASSESS YET POSSIBLE SCALE OF IMPACT OF GLOBAL CRISIS ON ARMENIAN ECONOMY

Noyan Tapan

Dec 3, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Despite a decline in exports and the
withdrawal of Russian capital from the country, the global economic
crisis has not yet affected Armenia, the RA minister of finance Tigran
Davtian said when responding to a question of deputy Samvel Sargsyan
at the December 3 sitting of the RA National Assembly.

In his words, Armenia avoided the impact of the first stage of the
crisis – the financial crisis as the country’s financial system has
not yet integrated into the global system, and besides, it is quite
small. As regards the economic crisis, it has just begun and today
it is impossible to assess the time and scale of its impact on Armenia.

The finance minister said that the government has taken some steps
to soften the impact of the crisis. In particular, it was decided
to allocate a sum equivalent to 50 million dollars with the aim of
assisting small and medium business. Besides, negotiations are being
conducted with the World Bank on doubling the financial assistance
to Armenia. According to T. Davtian, the matter concerns a sum of
about one billion dollars.