Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

CHUCK HAGEL: BOTH OBAMA AND MCCAIN STRONG ADVOCATES OF RELATIONS WITH TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.10.2008 15:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Both Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama
and his Republican rival John McCain would be strong advocates of
the United States’ relationship with Turkey if elected president,
a leading Republican senator said Monday.

"Each (Obama and McCain) has a very special appreciation of relations
with Turkey. Each would be a strong advocate of this relationship,"
said Chuck Hagel, a senator from Nebraska.

Hagel was a speaking at an event at the Senate to mark his new book
"America: Our Next Chapter." It was held by the American Friends of
Turkey and the Turkish Coalition of America, two groups seeking to
boost U.S.-Turkish ties.

Serving in the Senate for 12 years, Hagel has been a prominent figure
in the Republican Party. He has also been very close to Turkey.

Two years ago his name was among potential Republican presidential
candidates, but since then he has fallen out with President George
W. Bush and the party leadership over major disputes on Iraq and
other matters.

As a result Hagel, known as a maverick, has been alienated by the
Republicans, announcing earlier this year that he would not seek a
new term in the Senate elections in November.

Meanwhile, he has moved closer to Obama, sharing similar views on
Iraq and other international matters.

Obama has praised Hagel a lot, counting him among a number of
Republicans he would like to work with in his administration, if
elected president.

Hagel’s name has been already floated as a potential defense secretary
in an Obama cabinet.

Asked if he would vote for Obama, Hagel said he had stayed out of
the race between the two candidates, who are both his colleagues in
the Senate.

"Both are very good friends of mine. Both are good and honest men
and would be competent presidents. The good news is that the new
president will be my friend," he said, the Turkish Daily News reports.
From: Baghdasarian

FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA THINKS IT IS ‘ABNORMAL’ THAT DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN YEREVAN AND ANKARA ARE NOT ESTABLISHED YET

ArmInfo
2008-10-28 13:48:00

ArmInfo. It is paradoxical that in the 21 st century one can come
across the situation when there are no diplomatic relations between
Armenia and Turkey, French Ambassador to Armenia Serge Smessoff told
ArmInfo correspondent.

He also added that France encourages the dialogue between Armenia and
Turkey and the initiatives connected with establishment of contacts
between the parties. ‘France has joined the countries which are
pleased by the fact that Armenian president adopted a decision to
invite his Turkish counterpart to Yerevan as well as with the fact
that Abdullah Gul accepted the invitation. Now we hope the dialogue
will continue’, – Serge Smessoff said. He also thinks it is "abnormal"
that diplomatic relations between Yerevan and Ankara have not been
established yet. He also said Armenia is doing everything possible for
establishing relations with Turkey. As for Turkey, French diplomat
thinks it was not politically easy for this country to agree its
president to visit Armenia. ‘Nevertheless if Abdullah Gul agreed to
this step, it means he had serious reasons for that. Let’s see how
the situation will develop in future and we shall undoubtedly support
this dialogue’, – Serge Smessoff concluded.
From: Baghdasarian

ACCORDING TO RAFIK PETROSIAN, FACT-FINDING GROUP WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON MARCH 1-2 EVENTS

Noyan Tapan
Oct 23, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. If the Special Investigation Service
is not able to give answers to questions on the March 1 events, the NA
Ad-hoc Committee on Events Occurred on 1-2 March all the more is not
able to answer them as it does not have either intellectual ability
or proper powers. Rafik Petrosian, a member of the NA RPA faction,
stated at the October 23 press conference.

According to him, a fact-finding group need to be created as quickly
as possible for that purpose, which will function by the principle of
parity, equal presence of opposition and power representatives and
one representative of the RA Ombudsman. According to R. Petrosian,
only that parity principle will help the group to have an unbiassed
approach in the work. He expressed the hope that the fact-finding
group can work more efficiently than the Committee.

At the same time R. Petrosian said that members representing coalition
forces in the Ad-hoc Committee act by the dictate of their parties,
and the right of decisive vote belongs just to them, as the opposition
has refused to take part in Committee’s work.

By the way, the journalists reminded R. Petrosian that it is the
parliament that decided to give the right of decisive vote to the
coalition, and the opposition refused to take part in Committee’s
work just due to being deprived of the vote.
From: Baghdasarian

BANK VTB (ARMENIA), ARMENIAN WATER AND SEWERAGE COMPANY AWARD FOUR BEST SUBSCRIBERS

ARKA
Oct 24, 2008

YEREVAN, October 24. /ARKA/. Bank VTB (Armenia) and Armenian Water
and Sewerage Company awarded four most honest subscribers of the
company Thursday.

The winners of the competition are Hripsime Zhamgaryan from Gavar,
Arevik Davtyan from Echmiadzin, Ruben Choloyan from Biureghavan and
Grigory Harutiunyan from Kapan. They received 300,000 Drams each.

Bank VTB (Armenia), in its run, presented plastic cards to the winners.

General Director of Armenian Water and Sewerage Company Patrick Lorain
said that the action of the company and the bank is to encourage
honest subscribers making payments on time and to spur non-payers to
make regular payments against the water supplied.

Lorain expressed his gratitude to Bank VTB (Armenia) for cooperation
and urged all the subscribers of the Armenian Water and Sewerage
Company to pay for the services on a regular basis.

General Director of Bank VTB (Armenia) Valery Ovsiannikov, in his
turn, said that the bank is often carrying out similar actions with
its clients. The bank will continue cooperating with Armenian Water
and Sewerage Company, he said.

"SAUR" S.A. French company won the tender for management of Armenian
Water and Sewerage Company in 2004. Armenian Water and Sewerage Company
have 4 territorial branches with their central offices in Sevan,
Abovyan, Sisian and Artashat. The company is providing services to
265,000 subscribers in 286 villages and 37 cities of the country. The
price for water supply service provided by the company is 140 Drams
per cubic meter (including VAT).

Bank VTB (Armenia) (Armsavingsbank before June 20 2006) joined the
VTB Group in April 2004. Currently the bank VTB is the full owner of
Bank VTB (Armenia) closed joint stock company.

Authorized stock of Bank VTB (Armenia) is 13.9bln Drams. By
October 1, the bank’s own capital had totaled 23.2bln Drams,
assets 98bln Drams, credit portfolio 74bln Drams and liabilities to
clients 38bln Drams. The bank’s net profit totaled 2.4bln Drams in
January-September. ($1=309.11Drams).
From: Baghdasarian

RESULTS OF OCTOBER 19 ELECTIONS TO LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT BODIES DISPUTED IN SEVERAL COMMUNITIES OF LORI AND TAVUSH MARZES

Noyan Tapan
Oct 21, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The results of the October 19
elections to local self-government bodies were disputed in several
communities of Lori and Tavush marzes. The district electoral
commissions that include these communities received applications with
the request to recount the votes.

NT correspondent was informed by spokesperson for the RA Central
Electoral Commission Tatev Ohanian that there were applications from
candidates for the council of aldermen in the city of Spitak to recount
the results in all the 9 election centers, from candidates for the
council of aldermen in the city of Vanadzor to recount the results
in 7 election centers, and an application to recount the votes in
one election center was received from a person empowered to act for
a candidate for the head of Mets Ayrum community. The results of the
voting in all the 10 election center in Dilijan, 4 in Berd and 7 in
Ijevan will also be recounted based on similar applications.

As a result of the recounting made on October 20 based on the
application of a person empowered to act for a candidate for the head
of Odzun rural community in Lori marz, the election was invalidated
and a revoting with the participation of the same candidates will be
held on November 9.
From: Baghdasarian

CONCERT TO BENEFIT STUDENTS IN ARMENIA
By Robert S. Hong, [email protected]

San Gabriel Valley Tribune
10/22/2008 10:51:28 PM PDT
CA

HELP FOR STUDENTS: The Verdugo Youth Orchestra will be performing
Nov. 1 at the "Love Armenia" benefit concert. (Courtesy Photo)PASADENA
– A host of local and international artists will light up the night
Nov. 1 to raise money for education.

The "Love Armenia" benefit concert, put on by the Nor Serount Cultural
Association of Pasadena, will bring together a bouquet of musicians
and dancers at the First Church of the Nazarene.

The cultural association, which celebrates Armenian culture and the
arts, is trying to raise money for students in Armenia who may not
have the chance to get a higher education.

"A lot of Armenian students – they don’t have the money to go to
college, and we are trying to get money to help them pay for tuition,"
said Vahe Atchabahian, an association member, who is helping put on
the program.

He has teamed with city activist Nat Nehdar and several musicians,
singers and dancers to organize a concert with mass appeal, he said.

Among featured artists will be international concert pianists Vatche
Mankerian and Yin Yin Huang, recording artist Razmik Mansourian,
and The Verdugo Youth Orchestra.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the church, 3700 Sierra Madre
Blvd. General admission is $20; seniors and students get in for
$12. Children under 12 are free.
From: Baghdasarian

MINISTER NALBANDIAN PARTICIPATES IN THE SITTING OF BSEC FMS

armradio.am
23.10.2008 11:13

RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian is in Tirana, Albania, to
participate in the 19th sitting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of
the member stated of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization.

Minister Nalbandian is expected to make a speech at the sitting.

During the sitting of the Council of Foreign Ministers Armenia will
assume presidency of the Organization.
From: Baghdasarian

PRIME MINISTER VISITED BERKADZOR COMMUNITY

NKR Government Information and Public Relations Department
October 23, 2008

On October 22, the NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan visited the
community Berkadzor of Askeran region and got acquainted with the
local problems at spot. The most vital problem of the community is
dwelling deficiency. The Prime Minister informed that beginning from
2009 construction of new dwellings at the expense of state means,
which will be rendered to separate social groups of population included
into state programmes, will be started.

An issue of a new school construction for the community was also
discussed and the Premier has assured that its construction will
start in 2009 and in 2010 the community will have an up-to-date
educational hearth.

The Prime Minister promised to assist in equipping of the village
club; at the same time he had assigned the builders-specialists to
study perspectives for club’s further exploitation and to submit a
valid proposal.
From: Baghdasarian

SERZH SARGSYAN: WE ATTACH MUCH IMPORTANCE TO INTERACTION OF OUR COUNTRIES WITHIN CSTO, CIS AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL STRUCTURES

ArmInfo
2008-10-21 15:24:00

ArmInfo. , President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said at today’s
joint press- conference in Yerevan with the Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev. He also said that key issues of the international
policy were discussed during the meeting with the Russian president,
among which: assurance of global and regional stability, as well as
prospects of joint counteraction to new challenges and threats. For
his part, President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev emphasized that Russia
is ready to tighter interaction with Armenia within the frames of
CSTO, the chairmanship of which passed to Armenia started October. ,
the Russian president emphasized.
From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CALLS FOR CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM COEXISTENCE,
CONDEMNS THE VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN IRAQ

Condemning attacks on Christians in certain parts of Iraq, particularly in
the city of Mosul, His Holiness Aram I called on the Iraqi authorities to
exert all influence to stop the hostility. The Armenian Pontiff stressed
that Christians and Muslims have lived together for centuries in the Middle
East and in Iraq with mutual respect and love. Considering the current
situation as unacceptable, His Holiness pointed out that the Middle East is
the cradle of Christianity; Christians are equal citizens in all the
countries in the region and should be included in all community and
government structures. "We are confident that the Iraqi government will
revert to the necessary measures to prevent these irresponsible acts against
Christians," he said.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora also condemned the developments during
a telephone conversation with the Iraqi President, calling for utmost
attention to Christian-Muslim coexistence.

His Holiness issued his statement in Geneva, where he is participating in an
international Christian-Muslim conference. He also called upon the World
Council of Churches to express its position on this issue with a similar
condemnation.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Baghdasarian