Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ARONIAN AND MOVSESIAN – SECOND HORIZONTAL

Panorama.am
14:32 02/02/2009

Yesterday "Corus Chess 2009" chess tournament finished in
Netherlands. The winner of the tournament became Ukrainian Sergey
Karjakin. Note that before the final round six chess players competed
for the first horizontal – Levon Aronian, Leinier Dominguez, Magnus
Carlsen, Sergey Karjakin, Sergey Movsisyan, Teimur Radjabov. Finally
only Sergey Karjakin managed to defeat his rival and become a
winner. Levon Aronian, who competed with Jan Smeets ended his game
in draw.

After the final round the final standing is as followed – 1. Karjakin
(8 points), 2-4. Aronian, Radjabov, Movsesian (7.5 points),
5-6. Carlsen, Dominguez (7 points), 7. Kamski (6.5 points), 8-10
Van Welly, Smeets, Wang Yue (6 points), 11-14. Stellwagen, Ivanchuk,
Adams, Morozevich (5.5 points).
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN UNIBANK’S BRANCH NETWORK TO GET ONLINE

ARKA
Feb 3, 2009

YEREVAN, February 3. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Unibank plans to launch
an online branch network in March, with its Abovyan, Artashat and
Echmiadzin branches getting online in January.

Currently, the bank’s head office, as well as its 12 Yerevan-based
and seven regional branches are connected to a common database.

"Thanks to the online system, our clients can make deals in any branch
inside the system, irrespective of the initial address of the service,"
Unibank’s press service says.

The bank believes the online system is particularly advantageous for
customers using money transfer services. The bank allows clients to
get transfers through Unistream in any branch connected to Unibank’s
online system, no matter what address the sender has mentioned.

Unistream money transfers’ turnover reached $802mln in Armenia last
year – 22% year-on-year rise. The bank started to introduce the online
branch network system last July.

Established in 2001, Unibank offers a full range of banking
services via its head office and 30 branches in Yerevan and Armenian
regions. The bank’s liabilities rose 53.7% to 59bln 319mln drams
in 2008, with its total capital reaching 8bln 822mln drams (25.8%
year-on-year increase). Unibank’s assets rose 49.4% to 68bln 141mln
drams. As a result, the bank earned 1bln 729mln worth net profit
last year.

U niastrum Asset Management LLC is the 50% shareholder of the
bank, with the rest of the shares owned by Eviainvest LLC resident
company.
From: Baghdasarian

Diamonds.net, NY
Feb 1 2009

Diamond Output in Armenia Drops

Between January and November 2008, Armenia produced 96,086 carats of
diamonds, according to the country’s National Statistical Service,
constituting a drop of 13.8 percent from one year ago. Diamond output
reached $42.8 million (AMD 13.1 billion), a decrease of 14.3
percent. During the 11-month period, 768.1 kilograms of jewelry were
produced in Armenia, a 51 percent decline from the 1,562.4 kilograms
produced in the same period of 2007. *

cleID=25134
From: Baghdasarian

Arab Monitor, Italy
Feb 1 2009

Turkey’s opposition divided over Prime Minister Erdogan’s performance
in Davos

Ankara, 31 January ` Several opposition parties in Turkey, namely
those concerned about Turkey’s relations with the European Union and
its military alliance with Israel, criticized Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan’s behaviour at the Gaza session during the forum in
Davos, fearing it will damage Turkey. Mustafa Ozurek, chairman of the
Republican People’s Party, said Erdogan’s outburst of anger, rather
than the content of his words, would cause a setback in Turkey’s
capacity to act as mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian and the
Israeli-Syrian negotiations. Deniz Bolukbashi, a parliamentarian from
the Nationalist Movement Party, also criticized the Prime Minister for
his allegedly impulsive and uncontrolled behaviour, while Zeki Sezer,
chairman of the Democratic Left Party, although slamming the Israeli
President Shimon Peres’ speech as that of a warmonger, also voiced out
his concern that Erdogan’s abrupt walk-out on the conference session
was likely to rule out the possibility that Turkey assesses itself as
mediator in the region.

However, other opposition leaders showered Prime Minister Erdogan with
praise for his behaviour at the crucial Gaza session in Davos. Devlet
Bahceli, chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party, released a
written statement in which he conceded that Prime Minister Erdogan’s
outburst of anger might have been improper, but his storming out of
the session was right, explaining: `The rhetoric and the approach of
both the moderator and the Israeli President in the session towards
Erdogan, who represents the Republic of Turkey, is an act of arrogance
that is unacceptable by our nation". He added: "Therefore it is now
time to show a national stance on the issues such as fight against
terror and protecting the Turkmens (in Iraq) as well as in the
relations with Armenia against the so-called genocide claims, with the
Greek Cypriots in the fight for the identity of Turkish Cypriots, with
the European Union against the list of concessions and impositions and
with the U.S. for the regional threats and coercions".

news=26082&lang=en
From: Baghdasarian

Glendale News Press, CA
Jan 30 2009

Election races are finalized

Deadline passes for City Council, school board, treasurer and clerk
candidates.

By Jason Wells
Published: Last Updated Friday, January 30, 2009 10:34 PM PST

CITY HALL ‘ Five citywide electoral races attracted 25 candidates by
Thursday, the deadline to file campaign statements and qualifying
voter signatures with the city clerk.

County elections officials had yet to verify the signatures of
registered voters who had signed the required candidate petitions, but
the final deadline produced the first firm look at the number of
people who were committed to the April 7 election, including 12
candidates in the City Council race.

Four challengers are running against incumbents Greg Krikorian,
Joylene Wagner and Chuck Sambar for seats on the Glendale Unified
School District Board of Education. Only one challenger had filed for
the Glendale Community College Board of Trustees race, which has a
filing deadline of Feb. 3.

In the race for city treasurer, only former Mayor Rafi Manoukian, who
lost his reelection bid in 2007, filed papers to challenge Ron
Borucki.

Only City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian enters the official campaign season
unopposed.

`I would like to think that is a statement of job performance over the
last four years,’ he said, adding that he would continue to expand
accessibility to City Hall and the electoral process.

With just two months to go in the municipal election season,
candidates said the pace of fundraisers, meet-and-greets and public
campaigning was sure to pick up in the coming weeks.

Local city employee and teacher unions already had meetings scheduled
with many of the candidates Friday and into this week, while other
traditional players, such as the Armenian National Committee Glendale
Chapter, had already completed endorsement interviews with several
City Council candidates.

But despite the majority of council candidates waiting until the last
minute to turn in their required forms, the number of those who were
actively campaigning was comparatively small.

Most challengers said they were still finalizing platforms and
campaign strategies. And even among those who had, many had yet to
venture beyond their core group of supporters, especially in terms of
fundraising.

`We expect to hit that wall soon,’ City Council candidate Bruce
Philpott said Friday.

The main contributing factor to the slow unfolding of the campaign
season, candidates said, was the harsh fundraising climate.

Borucki said he was `slowly but surely’ putting his team together for
a campaign that had so far relied on his core supporters, but the
worsening recession has made the cost of running an even more dominant
factor this season.

`Fortunately, people talking to each other is very inexpensive,’ said
Christine Walters, a school board candidate and president of the
Glendale High School PTA.

Laura Friedman, who stepped down as chairwoman of Design Review Board
No. 2 last month to focus on her City Council campaign, has been the
only City Council challenger to mount a major ground offensive,
attending about six in-home meet-and-greets a week for the past two
months.

And last week, Mayor John Drayman introduced her at a fundraiser at
the upscale restaurant Palate.

`My goal is really to get my message and ideas out to the public,’ she
said. `I’m not really thinking about what other people are doing.’

Beyond the revving campaigns of other challengers, Friedman will soon
be contending more directly with the incumbents, who plan to enter the
field armed with campaign offices, media strategies and years of
political experience.

Councilman Bob Yousefian said his newspaper advertisements, mailers
and campaign signs were nearly complete and was planning fundraisers
for later in the election season after holding a town hall-style
meeting with potential voters two weeks ago.

`It’s not my first day on the job,’ he said.

Councilman Ara Najarian planned to open his campaign office later this
week.

February will also bring a bevy of public candidate debates, starting
with a forum hosted by the Unified Young Armenians on Sunday at the
Central Library.

So far, there are five City Council forums scheduled through March,
and many candidates said they would use as many as possible to get
their messages out.

`I’ve got nothing to hide,’ said Michael Teahan, a council candidate
and former president of the Adams Hill Homeowners Assn.

THE CANDIDATES

CITY COUNCIL

Aram Kazazian

Lenore Solis

Laura Friedman

Bruce Philpott

Vartan Gharpetian

Chahe Keuroghelian

Edward Lafian

Aramazd Stepanian

Michael Teahan

Frank Quintero*

Bob Yousefian*

Ara Najarian*?

CITY CLERK

Ardy Kassakhian*

CITY TREASURER

Rafi Manoukian

Ron Borucki*

GUSD BOARD

Hasmig Asianian

Naira Khachatrian

Christine Walters

Eric Sahakian

Joylene Wagner*

Chuck Sambar*

Greg Krikorian*

GCC TRUSTEES

(filing period ends Feb. 3)

Ann Hazel Ransford

Armine Hacopian*

Anita Gabrielian*

?

* denotes an incumbent

Source: City clerk’s office
From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
Jehovah’s Witnesses Office of Public Information
25 Columbia Heights
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Contact: David Semonian
Tel: +718-560-5600
Fax: +718-560-5619
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

January 25, 2009

Progress in Armenia but still no genuine alternative civilian service
for conscientious objectors

YEREVAN, Armenia-Eight years ago today, Armenia joined the Council of
Europe on the condition that within three years the country would adopt
a law on alternative civilian service and in the meantime would pardon
all imprisoned conscientious objectors.
As of January 1, 2009, more than 80 conscientious objectors who
are Jehovah’s Witnesses were in prison for their conscientious refusal
of military service. Many more are expected to face trial in the coming
months. Although the government of Armenia has organized nonmilitary
work assignments, alternative service is under military control and
supervision. Thus the law, as well as its implementation, fails to meet
the criteria laid down by the Council of Europe. Therefore, the
alternative service law in its present form is not an option for
conscientious objectors. This has been confirmed by the OSCE Handbook on
Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Armed Forces Personnel, which
states that "alternative service should be performed under a purely
civilian administration, with no involvement by the military authority."
Nevertheless, representatives of Jehovah’s Witnesses have
welcomed the opportunity to explain their position to officials in the
Justice and Defense Ministries, the General Prosecutor’s Office, and
high-ranking military officers. The constructive dialogue has resulted
in progress on a number of issues.
Following an instruction from the Defense Minister, Seyran
Ohanyan, military commissariats are issuing registration cards and
passports to released prisoners. Previously, released prisoners were
refused these documents until they reached the age of 27. Denying them a
passport prevented the young men from registering their place of
residence, traveling outside of Armenia, obtaining certain employment,
and even from getting married.
Another positive development is that the Deputy
Prosecutor-General, Mr. Aram Tamazyan, agreed that those awaiting trial
for refusing military service would no longer be held in pretrial
detention. Currently no conscientious objector is being held in pretrial
detention.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are encouraged by recent progress as a result
of the willingness of government representatives to listen to the
Witnesses’ concerns. They also appreciate the religious freedoms they
enjoy in Armenia. So far, over 360 conscientious objectors who are
Jehovah’s Witnesses have been sentenced in Armenia. Having a genuine
alternative service totally outside of military supervision will
consolidate the fundamental religious freedom in Armenia. When Armenia’s
law on alternative service complies with European standards, the
remaining obstacles should be resolved.

Contacts
Western Europe: Paul Gillies
Phone +44 20 8906 2211
United States: David Semonian
Phone +718 560 5600

From: Baghdasarian

ZIYAD SAMEDZADE: "LIVING CONDITIONS IN NAGORNO KARABAKH AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC WERE BETTER THAN IN OVERALL AZERBAIJAN BEFORE THE NAGONO KARABAKH CONFLICT"

Today.Az
politics/50355.html
Jan 28 2009
Azerbaijan

Before 1986 NKAO outstripped the average republican level on industrial
growth rates, said academician Ziyad Samedzade, chairman of the
standing economic commission of Milli Medjlis, vice president of
the International Economists Union, regarding the state of Nagorno
Karabakh before the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan arose.

If the overall republican level in Azerbaijan was 178.7%, said he,
adding that by the per capita volume of industrial production NKAO
was a leader among other regions of the country.

"The coverage of families with stationary phones in NKAO made 42%,
while in overall Azerbaijan this indicator was 31.1%. In 1986 the
monetary per capita incomes in NKAO topped 1113.5 roubles which is
97.8 rubles higher than in the whole Azerbaijan.

This figures prove that living conditions in Nagorno Karabakh
Autonomous Republic were better than in overall Azerbaijan before
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict", said Samedzade.

"Now let’s pass to the state of today: Nagorno Karabakh, occupied by
Armenia and not recognized by anyone, can not be compared with the
least developed region of Azerbaijan. That is the price of occupation
of Nagorno Karabakh by Armenia, that is a price of the evil policy
of Armenian separatists", concluded the academician.
From: Baghdasarian

‘EVERYONE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY’ SAYS AUSTRALIA AMBASSADOR TO YASS

Yass Tribune
ws/general/everyone-has-a-role-to-play-says-austra lia-ambassador-to-yass/1417415.aspx
Jan 28 2009
Australia

Everyone has a role to play. That was the theme of the address by
Australia Day Ambassador to Yass, Mr Stepan Kerkyasharian.

"Everyone has a role to play, everyone of us is an ambassador for
Australia," Mr Kerkyasharian, former head of SBS Radio and Chairman
of the Ethnics Affairs Commission of NSW, told the gathering in
Coronation Park on Monday.

"Australia is a shining light of democracy, unique among all nations,"
Mr Kerkyasharian began in his speech. "Sons and daughters have crossed
seas to defend the rights of Australia. These rights are part of out
psyche – things like mateship and giving people a fair go.

"People of all cultures, backgrounds, religions and creeds; every
immigrant represents a new beginning, because they know Australia
exemplifies all the good in the world," he said.

Of Armenian heritage, Mr Kerkyasharian migrated to Australia in
1967. He’s proud to call the Great Southern Land home and honoured
to be an Australia Day Ambassador.

"It is a real privilege for me to celebrate Australia Day in Yass. So
much of the image of our fine nation is not in the big cities, but
rather in country towns like Yass."

The Order of Australia Medal recipient paid respect to the traditional
occupiers of the land and called for people to remember Australia’s
past. "Indeed it is appropriate we pay our respects to original
owners of this land," he said. "Today Australia is a proud democracy
whose history is not just two centuries old, but tens of thousands
of years old."
From: Baghdasarian

DAVIT HARUTYUNIAN RE-ELECTED PACE VICE-PRESIDENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.01.2009 18:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) today re-elected Lluis Maria de Puig as its President. PACE
also elected its Vice-Presidents.

Head of the Armenian delegation to PACE Davit Harutyunian was
re-elected to the post of Vice-President.

As a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter came to know from the office of the
Armenian delegation, the Assembly elects Vice-President for a 2-year
term by a number quotas received.

The Parliamentary Assembly’s 315 members and their substitutes are
elected or appointed by national parliaments from among their own
members. Each country has between 2 and 18 representatives, depending
on its population. National delegations are constituted to ensure a
fair representation of their parliamentary political parties or groups.

The Assembly meets quarterly for a week in plenary session in
the Chamber of the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg. Sittings are
public. It also holds a spring meeting in one of the member states.

It elects its president from among its members, traditionally for
three consecutive one-year terms. The President, Vice-Presidents (19
at present), the Chairs of the five political groups and the Chairs
of the ten committees form the Bureau of the Assembly.

It also elects the Council of Europe’s Secretary General and Deputy
Secretary General, the Secretary General of the Assembly, the judges
of the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe
Commissioner for Human Rights.
From: Baghdasarian

INDUCTION OF YOUNG ADL MEMBERS IN DETROIT

AZG Armenian Daily
27/01/2009

Diaspora; Armenians of Detroit, USA

On September 6, a group of young members joined the Armenian
Democratic Liberal Party (ADL) Detroit Arshak Chobanian Chapter. Their
official induction took place on Saturday, January 10, at a special
reception. Many members had braved the snow to attend this reception,
which was opened by remarks from Hagop Alexanian, chairman of
Chobanian Chapter.

A short video documentary was presented featuring the ADL history
and activities since its inception. The documentary was prepared
by Dr. Harutune Arzoumanian and narrated by opera singer Ara
Berberian. Following the video presentation, the chairman pinned the
ADL insignia on each new member’s lapel.

ADL District Committee Co-chairman Edmond Azadian surprised Alexanian,
fellow member of the District Committee by presenting him the District
Committee’s Distinguished Membership plaque.

While the members enjoyed the lavish buffet dinner, prepared by the ADL
Ladies Group, Azadian delivered a lecture outlining the ADL ideology,
traditions and future political challenges.

The youth group has already planning its activities, which will mainly
focus on political issue and lobbying projects.
From: Baghdasarian