Month: December 2008

GEORGIA RECRUITED U.S., TURKISH, UKRAINIAN AND CZECH HIRELINGS FOR AUGUST ATTACK

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.12.2008 13:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Alexander Bastyrkin, head of the Investigation
Committee at the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation,
announced that Georgia recruited U.S., Turkish, Ukrainian and Czech
hirelings for the August attack on South Ossetia.

"Involvement of UNA-UNSO Ukrainian nationalistic organization in
hostilities was proved. Presence of foreign hirelings on the Georgian
army was confirmed by evidence of numerous witnesses questioned after
the tragic events," he said, RIA Novosti reports.

On the evening of August 7, 2008, Georgia launched a ground- and
air-based military attack on South Ossetia’s capital, Tskhinvali,
killing over 1.5 thousand civilians.

Tbilisi also planned a concentrated blow on Abkhazia.

DOES AZERBAIJAN INTERFERE IN ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS?

AZG Armenian Daily
23/12/2008

Armenia-Turkey-Azerbaijan

"Offi cial Baku does not interfere in Armenian-Turkish relations",
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Khazar Ibrahim announced,
according to "Armenpress".

"Firstly, the Turkish officials have already expressed their attitude
to the issue. On the other hand, we have announced many times that
Azerbaijan does not interfere in the issues available between two
independent states", he told the journalists commenting on the
Turkish intellectuals’ initiative to apologize to the Armenians for
the Genocide committed in 1915.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN ECONOMIC GROWTH – 7,2 PERCENT
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
23/12/2008

Rate of growth decreased

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, the Armenian
economic growth in January-November of this year was 7,2 percent
compared with the same period of last year.

GDP was AMD 3 trillion 290 billion. It’s worth to mention that almost
all the indexes of November decreased (compared with October). It’s not
a secret that it is conditioned by the impact of the world economic
crisis on the main economy branches of Armenia (mining industry,
construction, etc.).

Mainly, 1,6 percent of growth in construction is recorded. The growth
rate in the sphere of services remained high – 13,3 percent.

Industry increased by 2,9 percent (1,6 percent without energy). Here
we should mention about the forced truancies in 3 big mining industry
plants (Alaverdi, Agarak and Kapan conglomerates).

Electric energy production increased by 5 percent.

Gross agriculture output had a little growth in January-November –
0,1 percent, the retail trade turnover – 6,2 percent.

External trade turnover increased by 27,6 percent to approximately
USD 4 billion 992 million.

Export volumes decreased by 4,5 percent to USD 1 billion 7 million.

Import increased by 39,5 percent to USD 3 billion 985 million. It’s
worth to mention that the growth rate of import decreased by 10
percent in November (compared with October).

The negative balance of export-import was USD 3 billion 978 million.

The average monthly nominal wage in Armenia was USD 89 thousand (in
the private sector- about AMD 111 thousand, in the public sector –
about AMD 63 thousand).

The average growth in wages is recorded 18,8 percent compared with
the same period of last year.

NATIONAL ARCHIVE ANTICIPATES DIGITALIZING 25 DOCUMENTARY FILMS

AZG Armenian Daily
23/12/2008

Culture

According to "Armenpress", necessary French equipments have been
acquired; tests are carried out at present.

The French specialists arrived in Yerevan and got acquainted with
the works.

According to the Director of the National Archive Amatuni Virabian,
in the coming three years all the documentary films of the Archive
will be digitalized.

At present, they are digitalizing the feature films of the Archive.

150 films have already been digitalized by "CS FILMS".

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CATHEDRAL IN RESIDENCE OF PRINCE

A1+
[01:27 pm] 23 December, 2008

The holy table and basin of the newly built St. Stepanos cathedral
were blessed in the Nerkin Getashen district of the Gegharkunik
diocese. The construction of the cathedral was undertaken by the
children of the Aveyan family of the district.

The cathedral is located in the territory of the Kot city, which used
to be the residence of the prince of Gegharkunik. The Kot settlement
was an important junction from the Ararat field to Artsakh and the
roads leading to Partav. The authors of the last century remembered
the ruins of the seven churches of which the biggest and most notable
is St. Virgin Mary (or Kotavank).

After the blessing ceremony, a song and dance celebration took place
with the initiative of the village council and benefactors.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NO GAS FOR THE VILLAGE

A1+
[12:35 pm] 23 December, 2008

Villagers of the Mets Ayr district of the Lori Marz will solve the
heating issue with firewood this year. The gas tubes made it to the
middle of the village, but no further. The villagers waited for a
long time for the constructors, who never came to the village.

The government has conceded 29,080,000 drams for the gasification
program. According to head of the village Grandpa Arushanyan, the
work remained incomplete because the money wasn’t enough and the
constructors left.

There was another reason for the incomplete work. The district had
to make a 15% investment in the construction (4,362,000 drams). They
only made the five percent investment.

"The only issue now is the remaining 10%, which we are unable to give
due to the low budget of the district," says village head of Mets
Ayrum Grandpa Arushanyan. The village head plans on finding sponsors
to solve the issue. Grandpa Arushanyan believes that the government
will make concessions if the district makes investments and the work
will be completed.

GENOCIDE PREVENTION PROJECT LAUNCHED

armradio.am
23.12.2008 10:39

The Armenian National Committee of America, Eastern Region (ANCA-ER)
welcomes the launching of Genocide Prevention Project (GPP), a newly
created organization working to expand the outreach and mobilization
of advocacy action during times of mass atrocity and genocide.

"The ANCA is very enthusiastic about the launch of Genocide Prevention
Project as an invaluable tool to help end the cycle of genocide,"
said ANCA ER Executive Director Karine Birazian. "We look forward to
working with their New York headquarters to expand the anti-genocide
constituency in the United States, as part of the effort to end the
Darfur genocide and prevent future crimes against humanity."

Originally launched in 2007 under the banner "Dream for Darfur," GPP
activists called on 2008 Olympics host country, China, to encourage
Sudan to end atrocities committed against the people of Darfur. The
effort drew international attention, spotlighting the ongoing genocide
in the region, which has already cost some 400,000 lives. Following
the Olympics closing ceremonies, GPP expanded its efforts and began
work with survivors and the anti-genocide constituency on a wide rang
of genocide prevention efforts.

"The best way to stop genocide is to prevent it from happening," said
Jill Savitt, Executive Director of the Genocide Prevention Project. "We
are organizing survivors of past genocides, and their descendants=2
0and friends, to call on the global community to adopt a prevention
framework – pro-active diplomatic activity at the earliest stages of
conflict. We will use Genocide Prevention Month next April to educate
and motivate a civic response calling for an end to genocide and mass
atrocity crimes."

GPP’s website, includes information
on past genocides from Armenia to Rwanda, information on the genocide
in Darfur as well as the special feature – "30 Days of Action in
April," which provides ways for the international community to join
the movement and show their support for genocide prevention. The
organization also released a letter from genocide survivors marking the
60th Anniversary of the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment
of the Crime of Genocide, which called for the international community
to prevent genocide, mass atrocities and protect civilians under
attack. Amongst the signatories were Armenian Genocide survivors
Adriyan Bagciyan, Arsalos Dadir, Onorik Eminian, Hingeni Evernsel,
Perouz Kalousdian, Charlotte Kechejian and Alice Shnorhokian.

TURKEY’S PRESIDENT FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST CHP DEPUTY, WHO CLAIMS THAT GUL’S MOTHER IS OF ARMENIAN ORIGIN

armradio.am
23.12.2008 12:25

President Abdullah Gul has filed a lawsuit against Republican People’s
Party (CHP) deputy Canan Arıtman, who claimed that Gul’s mother is
of Armenian origin. "Arıtman, who has political motivations, caused
doubts about the performance of the president, who has non-political
responsibilities," the petition states, Hurriyet Daily reports.

The defendant’s claim, which is based on racism and discrimination,
is a heavy assault on the client’s personal and family values,
honor and reputation." The 1 YTL lawsuit petition submitted by the
president’s lawyer, Omer Kucuközcan, refers to Arıtman’s claims.

On Dec. 17, Arıtman attacked the campaign initiated by a group of
intellectuals to apologize for the Armenian massacres of 1915, which
Armenians claim constituted genocide.

"The false scientists signing it should apologize to Turkey," she
said, claiming that Gul — because of his "ethnic origins" — was
rubberstamping the campaign. "We see that the president supports
this campaign. Abdullah Gul should be the president of the entire
Turkish nation, not just of those sharing his ethnicity. Investigate
the ethnic origin of the president’s mother and you will see."

The petition states that Gul stands at an equal distance from all
citizens in his cur rent position and that in his previous duties as
a Deputy, Foreign Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Prime Minister
and President, he expressed his ideas openly at the national and
international platforms on the topic and on Turkish-Armenian relations.

"My client’s views have been distorted and it was suggested that he
has ethnic ties on his mother’s side, as if he stands closer to a
part of society because of that," the petition states.

The petition also states that according to the news reports, CHP head
Deniz Baykal has been uneasy about Arıtman’s statements.

–Boundary_(ID_eCcF+5aD9KLAS8ntHP4WVA )–

IRAN’S NATIONAL SECURITY SECRETARY TO VISIT ARMENIA IN 2009

armradio.am
23.12.2008 13:25

On December 23 Secretary of the National Security Council of Armenia
Arthur Baghdasaryan received the delegation headed by Deputy Secretary
of the Supreme Council of National Security of the Islamic Republic
of Iran Ali Bagheri.

The parties discussed a broad framework of issues related to the
deepening of relations between Armenia and Iran, stressing the
importance of considering those issues in the context of both regional
and international relations. The parties agreed that the two countries
have a great potential for cooperation.

Reference was made to the construction of the Armenia-Iran railway,
an oil pipeline, as well as Tehran’s participation in the construction
of the Yerevan-Batumi highway.

The interlocutors underlined the necessity of raising the strategic
level of Armenia-Iran relations.

Arthur Baghdasaryan and Ali Bagheri emphasized the importance of taking
practical steps towards accomplishment of the agreements reached and
noted that it could be greatly promoted by the establishment of a
special committee between Security Councils of Armenia and Iran.

Arthur Baghdasaryan invited his Iranian counterpart to pay an official
visit to Armenia. The visit will take place in 2009.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA DM: IRAN’S BALANCED POSITION IMPORTANT FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE KARABAKH ISSUE

armradio.am
23.12.2008 14:52

On December 23 the Defense Minister of Armenia, Seyran Ohanyan,
received the delegation headed by the Deputy Secretary of the Supreme
National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of

Iran Ali Bagher accompanied by the Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of Iran to Armenia Seid Ali Saghaian.

At the beginning of the meeting the Minister welcomed the guests,
expressing hope that the frank bilateral discussions will once again
confirm the positions of Armenia and Iran on regional questions and
issues of regional cooperation.

During the meeting the Minister noted that the relations established
between the two countries, the centuries-old friendship and the
historical-cultural similarities provide enough ground for the
deepening and development of ties in the future.

At the end of the meeting the parties exchanged views on a number
of issues related to regional security and stability, determined the
programs for the near future.

Turning to the issue of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
the parties stated that Iran’s balanced position is of great importance
for the peaceful resolution of the issue.

The parties stated that the existing multifaceted cooperation stems
not only from the interests of Armenia and Iran, but also the region,
as a whole.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress