Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIAN ENTREPRENEURS READY TO EMPLOY SYRIAN ARMENIANS

YEREVAN, November 21. /ARKA/. Heads of some 30 Armenian companies
functioning in various areas have expressed readiness to employ
Armenians who have fled their homes in Syria because of civil war.

Syrian Armenians seeking jobs met today with employers under the
auspices of the Armenian economy ministry.

Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan thanked those companies who have
expressed willingness to help these jobseekers. “I urge those companies
which haven’t done this so far to employ at least one Armenian from
Syria,” she said.

Hakobyan said that before the war Syrian Armenians had high-paid jobs
or own businesses. She welcomed these entrepreneurs decision and said
that it is necessary to provide Syrian Armenians with jobs which can
initially ensure at least food and accommodation to them.

The minister said that about 3,000 Syrian Armenians are seeking jobs
now, and 160 people have already found jobs.

Sona Harutyunyan, chief of the state employment agency, on her side,
said that the agency has included Syrian Armenians its top-priority
list of jobseekers.

“Under these programs, Syrian Armenians can enjoy some preferences –
for example, we are ready to pay up to 50% of the employee’s salary,
but no more than the floor wage (35,000) to the employer, if the
employee works ineffectively,” she said.

The economy ministry’s officials told the jobseekers that they may
open businesses in Armenia and that the government will provide
preferences to them, particularly in free economic zones.

The government recently made 12 decisions to provide some preferences
to Syrian Armenians.

The companies which expressed willingness to employ Syrian Armenians
are Giza (waterproofing and technical surveillance), Armmobil
(guarding activity), Ani-Has (offers premises for catering), Profile
(construction), Armenian Programs (development, introduction and
servicing of banking and accounting systems), Uyut Service (service
for motor vehicles), R&V Comfort (importing and selling construction
materials and architectural design), Media Group (advertising), SDCM
(IT services in structural financing) and Yerevan Jewelry Plant.

Now 200 Syrian citizens attend Armenian universities and 500 Syrian
kids attend kindergartens.

According to Armenia’s state migration service, 32 families from
Syria live now in 28 rooms in boarding houses. About 350 families
rent apartments and other 50 live in their relatives’ houses.

The Armenian community in Syria numbers at various estimates 100,000
people. The largest community is in Aleppo (60,000). Armenians also
live in Damascus, Latakia and other cities. Clashes between government
troops and armed opposition in Syria have forced many Armenians to
flee their homes there. -0-

From: A. Papazian

ANDREI SOROKIN WAS HOSTED IN YEREVAN MUNICIPALITY

18:06, 21 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS: Yerevan Major Taron Margaryan had a
meeting with the head of Armenian office of Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe Andrei Sorokin. As Armenpress was informed
from the informational and public relation department of Yerevan
Municipality, greeting the guest the Major presented the prospects
of Yerevan’s development and the programs aimed at the reforms of
urban management.

“During these years of cooperation different programs have been
implemented with the support of OSCE office concerning urban
management, international consulting services among them. I am sure
that our cooperation will be long lasting and will bring to the
implementation of new projects” Taron Margaryan said.

Head of OSCE office in Armenia expressed his willingness to discuss
and implement projects of bilateral interest and highlighted that the
mission of the organization was to assure security, peace, democratic
principles in general, as well as in the framework of pre-electoral
and electoral process.

Congratulating the Major on the first anniversary of him being in
office Andrei Sorokin wished him working success in such an important
and responsible mission.

Interlocutors have discussed other issues concerning the experience
exchange and further development of the interaction.

From: A. Papazian

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO EXAMINE FUTURE OF MINING IN ARMENIA

Armenian Weekly
November 21, 2012

Experts to Assess Armenia’s Socio-economic Policy Choices

YEREVAN-National and international experts will gather in Armenia’s
capital on Nov. 30 for a one-day conference examining mining and
socio-economic policy in Armenia.

Organized by the American University of Armenia (AUA), the event aims
to assess the choices available to the country as it seeks to balance
economic gains with environmental and public health. The conference
will be live-streamed online at from 9:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m.

“Over the past decade, the Armenian government has made mining a
priority for Armenia’s economic growth. However, no serious public
debate has occurred to examine policy choices available to Armenia
regarding mining,” said Alen Amirkhanian, of AUA’s College of Science
and Engineering. “With this conference, we hope to begin this critical
public discourse, bringing together experts from across the world
to present their analyses and discuss socio-economic policy choices
available to Armenia.”

The keynote speaker of the conference, Dr. Saleem Ali, is the director
of the Center for Social Responsibility in Mining at the University
of Queensland, Australia. Ali will talk about the international
experience of using mining as a tool for socio-economic development.

He will also address the pitfalls that countries like Armenia should
avoid.

Three panel discussions will enable national and international experts
to discuss the socio-economic impact of mining in Armenia. The first
panel will examine whether mining can play a key role in Armenia’s
economic growth, while the second panel will focus on mining’s impact
on Armenia’s environmental and public health. The event’s last panel
will explore whether Armenia’s legal and institutional framework on
mining fosters socio-economic development.

These issues will be discussed against the larger backdrop of a growing
unease both inside and outside Armenia on mining’s potential benefits
and risks to the country’s social and economic development, as well
as to the preservation of its natural and environmental resources.

Thus far, the social, environmental, and health concerns have been
overshadowed by the more practical argument that Armenia does not have
many choices and mining will be the growth engine of its emerging
economy. In the past two decades, however, there have been many
constructive developments in the international arena around mining.

The industry as a whole has improved its practices, while
international organizations and governments have adopted standards
for environmentally cleaner and socially more equitable mining.

“Such constructive developments are almost always spurred by good
public policy and grassroots pressure,” explained Amirkhanian. “These
global developments set standards from which re-emerging economies
like Armenia can learn.”

The AUA conference aims to serve as a model for constructive and
high-impact public policy debates in Armenia. The day-long event is
open to the public.

From: A. Papazian

SCHOLARS FROM TEN COUNTRIES TO DISCUSS INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW DEVELOPMENTS IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
16:49 21.11.2012

A conference entitled “International humanitarian law: problems and
perspectives of development,” jointly organized by the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Armenia and the
Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University (RAU) is starting on 22 November
2012 in Yerevan.

“During the five years of its existence, the Conference proved
to be a sustainable forum where young researchers could discuss
contemporary challenges of international humanitarian law (IHL),
suggesting interesting solutions to very complex problems”, says
Maria Teresa Dutli, ICRC Regional Legal Advisor, who chairs a section
in this Conference. “Initially addressed to researchers from former
Soviet states, today the conference brings together participants from
other countries as well. This tendency towards expansion indicates
growing interest among young researchers towards topics related to
international humanitarian law.”

During the conference, participants will discuss issues such as
new methods of warfare from IHL perspective, cyber warfare and
IHL, legality of non-lethal weapons, challenges of prohibition of
conventional weapons and protection of cultural property.

“The conference helps discussing humanitarian challenges posed by
contemporary armed conflicts and the prevention of their dangerous
consequences”, Head of the International and European Law Chair at
the RAU, Arman Dilanyan said. “It has become a traditional forum
for young researchers from different countries to meet and analyse
those problems.

Participants to the conference come from Georgia, Belarus, Russia,
Iran, Armenia, Moldova, Ukraine, Turkmenistan and Poland. Sessions
will be chaired by Deputy Minister of Justice Aram Orbelyan, Head of
International Treaties Division at the Constitutional Court Vladimir
Vardanyan, as well as Nicolas Koumjian, Senior Appeals Counsel at the
Special Courtfor Sierra Leone, Euhen Tsibulenko, IHL expert from the
Tallinn School of Law and Sergey Sayapin, Legal Advisor from the ICRC
Delegation in Tashkent.

The ICRC has been maintaining partnership relations with leading
universities in Armenia since 2000 to foster respect for international
humanitarian law and encourage its teaching and research among
academic circles.

From: A. Papazian

AN ARMENIAN YOUNG MAN HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED NEAR ALEPPO: REISIAN

17:36, 21 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. An Armenian has been kidnapped on
Ghamishli-Aleppo road. The Press Secretary of the Armenian National
Prelacy in Aleppo Jirayr Reisian informed “Armenpress” about this. In
addition he said that Armen Jukjukian was forced to get out of the
bus near Aleppo and kidnapped.

According to Reisian presently they are doing everything for the
release of the Armenian young man. It’s noteworthy that Armen Jukjukian
was the only Armenian in the bus topped by the rebels.

There is no information yet whether there are other people kidnapped
besides the Armenian from Aleppo or not.

As to the Situation in Aleppo, Reisian stated that nothing essential
changed. From time to time one can hear shooting from far away, but
the situation in the central districts is calm. Notwithstanding they
are always expecting unpleasant surprises from the snipers.

Among other things Jirayr Reisian spoke about the situation in Kessab.

He noted that the Government is taking all necessary measures to
restore electricity and civil telephone service in the region.

Member of “Emergency Unit of the Syrian-Armenians” Raffi Avetisyan
informed the Armenian portal of the Middle East “Azat Hay” that in
accordance with the present information the clashes in Syria lasting
about 20 months caused the death of 40 Armenians and the injuries of
66 people of Armenian origin. There are also 7 kidnapped Armenians,
and 2 missing servicemen. More than 200 houses have been damaged.

From: A. Papazian

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web:

BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for Sunday, November 25, First Sunday of Advent, are:
Isaiah 36:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Luke 12:13-31.

Someone in the crowd said to him: `Teacher, tell my brother
to divide the family inheritance with me.’ But he said to him,
=80=9CFriend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?’ And he
said to them, `Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed;
for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.’

Then he told them a parable: `The land of a rich man produced
abundantly. And he thought to himself, `What should I do, for I have
no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, `I will do this: I will
pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all
my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample
goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God
said to him, `You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of
you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is
with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich
toward God.’

He said to his disciples, `Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will
wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than
clothing. Consider
the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse
nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than
the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your
span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that,
why do you worry about
the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor
spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed
like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which
is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more
will he clothe you=80’you of little faith! And do not keep striving
for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep
worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all
these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead,
strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as
well.(Luke 12:13-31)

For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here
().

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

This Sunday, November 25, is the first Sunday of Advent (from the
Latin adventus, meaning `coming’). Advent is a season of penitence,
anticipation and preparation. Advent serves as a reminder of the
original anticipation of the birth of Christ, as well as the waiting
of Christians for Christ’s return. Ideally, it should be a time of
quiet reflection and meditation. In modern times the period leading to
Christmas is far from calm, and is more accurately described as
frenetic. It is a good
time to pause and reflect on the proper observance of the birth of our
Lord and Savior.

In the true spirit of Christmas remember that this time of the year,
although filled with joy for most, can be lonely and sad for many
people. Reach out to an elderly person living alone, someone who is
ill, or someone who is mourning the loss of a loved one.

INTRODUCTION OF THE `DRAM’

AS ARMENIA’S CURRENCY (November 22, 1993)

The first independent Republic of Armenia (1918-1920) used Russian
rubles as currency. The Armenian banknotes, which kept `rubli’
(Õ¼Õ¸Ö=82Õ¢Õ¬Õ«, ruble) as the name of the currency, were designed by
painter Arshag Fetvadjian (1866-1947). They were under printing in
Europe when Armenia became a Soviet republic in December 1920
and were never put into circulation.

After the second independence, the Central Bank of Armenia was created
on March 27, 1993. The new Armenian monetary unit was called dram
(Õ¤Ö=80Õ¡Õ´); the name, which means `money’ in Armenian, was also the
name of the silver coins in circulation during the Armenian kingdom of
Cilicia (1199-1375). Interestingly, the word Õ¤Ö=80Õ¡Õ´, pronounced
tram, designates `money’ in Western Armenian; Eastern Armenian uses
the word Ö=83Õ¸Õ² (pogh) to designate `money.’ Pogh was also the name
of a certain type of copper coins in the Armenian state of Cilicia.

The devaluation of the Russian ruble (which initially continued as the
currency in the former Soviet Union following the collapse of the
state) prompted the replacement of old currency by new one, and a
flood of worthless old Russian rubles into Armenian forced the
introduction of the dram, earlier than anticipated, on November 22,
1993. The initial value was 1 dram = 200 Russian rubles, while 1
American dollar equaled 14 drams. The high inflation of the period
1993-1994 in Armenia depreciated the dram to a value of 1 U$S = 100
AMD. It reached 420 drams per dollar in March 1995 and stabilized
afterwards (450 AMD per dollar in 1997). On November 19, 2012,
the exchange rate was 407 dram per American dollar.

The banknotes issued in 1993-1995 were put out of circulation in
2005. Their value went from 10 to 5,000 drams. This old series, which
today only has a historical value, featured different national
symbols: for instance, the 10 dram note showed the Yerevan Central
Train Station and the statue of David of Sassoun (across the station)
on the obverse and Mount Ararat
on the reverse, while the 5000 dram note exhibited the pagan temple of
Garni on the obverse and the head of goddess Anahit kept in the
British Museum
on the reverse.

A new series of banknotes, currently in circulation, was issued
starting in 1998. The first six values, from 50 to 20,000 drams (the
notes of 50, 100, and 500 were later put out of circulation and
replaced by coins), featured six figures of twentieth century Armenian
culture and an image related to them: Aram Khachaturian, Victor
Hambardzumian, Alexander Tamanian, Yeghishe Charents, Hovhannes
Tumanian, and Avetik Isahakian. The 50,000 dram banknote was issued in
2001, on the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in
Armenia, and featured the cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. The highest
value, 100,000 dram, pictured King Abgar V of Edessa, who according to
tradition received the painting (portrayed alive) of Jesus Christ from
St. Thaddeus

()

FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET OUR ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY
IN SYRIA WHERE CONDITIONS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT.

THE NEED IS REAL.

THE NEED IS GREAT.

DONATIONS TO THE FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF CAN BE MADE ON LINE.

TO DONATE NOW CLICK HERE () AND
SELECT SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF IN THE MENU.

The Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief is a joint effort of: Armenian
Apostolic Church of America (Eastern Prelacy); Armenian Catholic
Eparchy; Armenian
Evangelical Union of North America; Armenian Relief Society (Eastern
USA, Inc.); Armenian Revolutionary Federation.

THANKSGIVING TELETHON

Armenia Fund’s 2012 Telethon is dedicated to helping =80=9COur
Villages,’ with improvements for infrastructure, education,
health care, and community life.

This is the 15th International Armenia Fund Telethon that has been
responsible for many projects to improve living conditions in Armenia
and Artsakh.

Tune in on Thanksgiving Day and enjoy Armenian entertainment, music,
and news. The telethon will be broadcast from 11 am to 11 pm
(EST). Information about the broadcast schedule and channels is on
Armenia Fund’s web site (
()).

Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web
site.

To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add [email protected] to your address book.

Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
credit Crossroads as the source.

Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected]

From: A. Papazian

PRESS RELEASE
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Building 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Hasmik Grigoryan
Tel:? +(3741) 56 01 06? ext. 105
Fax: +(3741) 52 15 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Yerevan, November 21, 2012

Telethon 2012 to air on November 22

The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s 15th annual Telethon will be televised live
from Los Angeles on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, from 8 AM to 8 PM PST.
The event will be simulcast across the globe through cable, satellite, and
the Internet (armeniafund.org). The Telethon will also be carried live in
Armenia, on the local networks H1, Armenia, Shant, and Yerkir Media.

To be held under the slogan “Our Village,” Telethon 2012 aims to raise
support for constructing community centers in villages throughout Artsakh as
well as providing urgent relief to the Syrian-Armenian community.

In addition to the Telethon (the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s flagship
fundraising event), the organization holds various fundraisers in Armenian
communities across the world. These events, which include phoneathons and
gala dinners, are designed and administered by the fund’s affiliates
worldwide, in accordance with the wishes and objectives of local Armenian
communities. This year, fundraisers have been held in the United States,
Canada (Montreal and Toronto), France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium,
Holland, Greece, Sweden, Great Britain, Austria, Australia, Argentina,
Brazil, and Russia (Moscow). Funds raised through all 2012 events will be
added to the proceeds of the Telethon, and the grand total will be announced
prior to the conclusion of the event.

Those who wish to donate may choose from several methods of giving to
support the work of the fund.

They can make a donation:

1 By calling + 37410 526474 for credit-card processing. Accepted cards
include Visa, MasterCard, ArCa, American Express, Discover, and Diners Club
International.

2 Through wire transfers to any of the fund’s bank accounts, the numbers of
which will be provided by the fund’s Executive Board to donors at their
request.

3 Online at donate.himnadram.org

From: A. Papazian

TURKOLOGIST: ON THRESHOLD OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’S CENTENNIAL, TURKEY MAY RESORT TO ANY TRICKS, EVEN TO CREATION OF FICTIONAL GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN ARMENIA IN EXILE

arminfo
Thursday, November 22, 14:28

On the threshold of the Armenian Genocide’s centennial, Turkey
may resort to any tricks to prevent a new wave of international
recognition of Armenian Genocide. Artak Shakaryan, turkologist,
Candidate of Science in History, made such statement in a press
conference, Thursday. It is already obvious that Ankara is going to
work intensively with the Armenian Diaspora relying on every possible,
and sometimes unknown and marginal structures.

He thinks that Turkey perceives the Armenians of Diaspora as successors
of the Ottoman Empire’s subjects. If official Yerevan denies the
rumors of possible secret talks with Ankara, Turkey will demonstrate
the work with Diaspora to the world.

“So, a few days or months before April 24 2015 Turkey may declare that
it has achieved mutual understanding with the Armenian party meaning
a marginal organization of Diaspora. In addition, as a result of such
talks Turkey may create a fictional government of Western Armenian in
exile. And one beautiful day that fictional government may announce
that it has no territorial claims to Turkey,” Shakaryan said.

In this light, he thinks that official Yerevan must mobilize all its
resources to neutralize the threats of Turkish lobby on the threshold
of the Armenian Genocide centennial.

“The situation is dangerous. Although Armenia announced that a state
commission has been set up to coordinate the events for the Armenian
Genocide centennial, it is not clear to the public what particular
steps the given structure will make for efficient international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. I think that the Armenian Foreign
Ministry, Diaspora Ministry and all the other competent agencies must
work intensively with Diaspora to avoid any scenarios of Turkish’s
lobby. It is inadmissible neglecting that threat,” Shakaryan concluded.

From: A. Papazian

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN: AZERBAIJANIS HAVE A RIGHT TO RETURN TO INDEPENDENT KARABAKH

arminfo
Thursday, November 22, 13:54

ArmInfo-Turan: Former-foreign minister of Armenia and Leader of
Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian arrived in Baku to address the 7th
International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) scheduled
for Nov 22-23.

Talking to journalists, Hovannisian said: “Residents of Nagorno
Karabakh have a right to self- determination and I hope that we
will manage to achieve peace and restore relations. I think it will
happen when the parties realize that they are responsible for the
entire region. Nagorno-Karabakh residents have a right to speak of
their identity and that right should be respected. Identity should be
respected also when it comes to cultural heritage of the parties. At
the same time, sharp statements and allegations do not contribute to
peaceful resolution of the conflict,” he said.

“I understand the problems of 700,000 Azerbaijan refugees and the
rights of 400,000 Armenian refugees expelled from Baku and Sumgait.

All them have a right to return to their lands, including Azerbaijanis
to the independent Nagorno Karabakh and Armenians to Turkey. I am
here to seek a solution to the conflict. This is my first visit to
Baku and I hope I can visit an Armenian church and meet those few
Armenians that still live in Baku,” Raffi Hovannisian said.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict broke out on February 28 1988 in the
Azerbaijani Sumgait with massacre of Armenians as a peculiar response
of Azerbaijanis to the peaceful demand of the Nagorno-Karabakh
autonomous Region, part of the Azerbaijani SSR, to unite with the
Armenian SSR. This resulted in other pogroms of Armenians in Baku,
Kirovabad and other regions of Azerbaijan populated with Armenians.

In 1991 Azerbaijan unleashed war against peaceful populations of
Nagorno-Karabakh, expulsing ethnic Armenians from the territory of
Azerbaijan. Dozens of thousands of peaceful residents on both parties
were killed in the military actions, and hundreds of thousands were
left homeless and have become refugees. In 1994 in Bishkek in mediation
of the OSCE MG, the NKR, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a Protocol on
Ceasefire that is observed more or less so far. Since 1992 the OSCE
Minsk Group represented by co- chairs from Russia, U.S. and France has
been mediating in resolution of the conflict unleashed by Azerbaijan
in 1988. At present the peace process is based on the Madrid Principles
suggested by the OSCE MG in 2007 in Madrid and renovated in 2009.

From: A. Papazian

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS MOTIVATED BY FOREIGN INTERESTS IN ARMENIA

tert.am
22.11.12

The political parties’ activities in the run-up to the presidential
election in Armenia are linked to external factors, according to
Ashot Manucharyan, a former member of the Karabakh committee.

At a news conference on Thursday, the politician said that the existing
disagreements between President Serzh Sargsyan and the leader of the
Prosperous Armenia party (PAP), Gagik Tsarukyan, reflect the conflict
of political interests between the United States and Russia.

“Unless we find the right formula, Armenia will find itself in an
extremely complicated situation,” he said.

Manucharyan said Russia plays a major role in uniting several political
forces (including the Prosperous Armenia, the opposition Armenian
National Congress etc) in an attempt to create a counterbalance to
the ruling Republican Party which he thinks receives a backing by
the western powers’.

“It is the United States and Russia, not Sargsyan and Tsarukyan that
come in clash with each other in Armenia,” he said, ruling out the
possibility of what he called a secondary political force.

“No one can be weak, a secondary force,” Manucharyan noted. “The
situation was the same a fortnight ago, with the authorities being
relatively stronger. So, Russia tried to develop balanced policies
in such circumstances.”

Manucharyan stressed the importance of the people’s role in trying
to overcome the existing crisis (as was the case in the 1988, when
the nation stood up for independence despite the Soviet government’s
decision to appoint a leader).

“Independence was a higher value then, because there was a nation whose
opinion could not but be considered by the authorities. Moscow could
not do anything at all, without taking that into account,” he added.

As for Moscow choice of a possible leader (whether it will be a member
of ANC or PAP), Manucharyan said the Russian authorities affairs are
not subject to comments.

From: A. Papazian