Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

PanARMENIAN.Net

CSTO to work for Eurasian Shengen Zone in 2008
11.01.2008 14:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Collective Security Treaty Organization will
elaborate a plan of so-called Eurasian Shengen Zone in 2008, CSTO
Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha said.

`The purpose of the `Eurasian Shengen’ is unobstructed travel as well
as commodity and service turnover within the CSTO and EurAsEC
territory,’ he said.

Presently, the CSTO brings together Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the Russian News
Service reports.
From: Baghdasarian

MANUK GASPARIAN WAS ENTIRELY DEDICATED TO IDEA OF SERVING PEOPLE

YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The famous public and political
figure, chairman of "Democratic Way" party, deputy of the RA National
Assembly of second and third convocations Manuk Hovhannes Gasparian on
January 10 died siddenly at the age of 58.

"It was a man, who struggled against lie, falsification, hyporcacy,
injustice, evil and unlawsfulnes till the last moment of his life, in
the hope that democracy will finally triumph, good will prevail in
Armenia and smiles and dignity will be again on the faces of people,"
is said in the report of the "Democractic Way" party’s board. It is
stated that Manuk Gasparian was "entirely dedicated to the idea of
serving the people and he dreamed of seeing our country really
independent and democractic and the Armenians cheerful, smiling,
dignified, prosperous, free and happy".

Manuk Gasparian was born on September 16, 1949, in the village of
Qasakh of Aparan region. In the same year the family moved to Yerevan.
In 1976, M. Gasparian graduated from the Moscow Construction
Engineering Institute, in 1989 – from the Belgorod Institute of
Consumer Cooperation. After serving in the Soviet army, in 1971 – 1990
he worked in Armenia’s ministry of trade as chief accountant. In 1990
he founded Orion LLC and was its chairman until 1999. In 1997-1999, he
held the position of the head of the financial unit of Yerevan’s
Kanaker-Zeytun municipality. In 1999 he was elected a deputy of the RA
National Assembly. In 1993-2003, he was a member of the National
Assembly Standing Committee on Financial, Credit, Budgetary and
Economic Issues and of "The People’s Voice" deputy group. In 2003-2007,
he was an independent deputy and member of the National Assembly
Standing Committee of Foreign Relations. In August 2005. M. Gasparian
together with a group of supporters founded the "Democratic Way" party
and was its founding chairman.
From: Baghdasarian

HOVHANNESIAN: WE HAVE WILL AND DETERMINATION TO LEAD OUR NATION’S MARCH TO NEW ARMENIA

Yerkir
11.01.2008 13:01

Yerevan (Yerkir) – ARF presidential candidate Vahan Hovhannesian made
his election program public.

Below is the text of the program’s introduction.

Dear citizen of the Republic of Armenia,

Our country has to enter an entirely new stage of its development. The
government, political, economic and public realities that were formed
since independence and until now do not ensure necessary progress any
more. The external and internal challenges that our state faces, the
challenges that are dictated by the necessity for development as well
as the disaccord between the Constitution and the real life require
serious and large-scale system changes. We have to create prerequisites
for a strong and stable development. We have to give a new and a fresh
breath to all the sectors of life. An Armenian should fully trust
his and his family’s future, has to participate in shaping that future.

By nominating my candidacy, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation is
participating in the presidential race driven by this determination.

We are organized, we have a will and determination to lead our people’s
historic march towards New Armenia, towards a free and fair society. We
believe in the creative potential of a fair country and free citizen.

The wrongful understanding of liberal ideas and their extreme
implementation, the ignoring of a social state, the diminution of the
state’s role in regulating free market have resulted in the current
economic system where the state is ruled though economic groups. They
have monopolized the most lucrative sectors of the economy, have
established an economic system wish lacks competition and serves only
their own interests.

The monopolies have ceased to be only an economic phenomenon. They
have decisive influence on all the fields of the society from state
and constitutional system to the values of the society. Spending
vast funds and using the huge administrative resources, this group
is periodically reproducing itself, halting the development of the
political system. Groups of wealthy people who have political power
often put themselves above the law and ignore the state order of the
country, violate human rights and freedoms, halt the establishment
of democratic traditions and culture and during elections, and by
exercising pressure and buying votes they direct the financially
dependant voters.

Uninterested in implementation of effective business methods, by
making the economic activities come out of control, they are brining
the social gap to threatening size, excluding any possibility of
reaching a social solidarity.

They are making the social life stagnate and stop the country’s
progress.

I will exclude hate and enmity in the internal life of Armenia. My
principle is not to confront others but prove that we are more
sustainable and fair.

My view is directed towards the future.

My goal is to build a Fair country of Free citizens through system
changes and the help of healthy forces. Armenia’s independence and
sovereignty are absolute values for me. Only by bringing our efforts
together we can have a homeland for us and for our children that our
ancestors dreamed of.

I have the determination to reach that goal. I need your votes
and trust.

Sincerely, Your old friend Vahan Hovhannesian
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA SETS FORWARD THE FACTOR OF SUMGAIT

Lragir
Jan 9 2008
Armenia

The 20th anniversary of the Armenian massacres in Sumgait, an
Azerbaijani city, will be marked in 2008, on which the foreign policies
of Armenia will focus, stated the Armenian foreign minister Vardan
Oskanyan on January 9, noting that Sumgait is highly important because
the military component of the settlement of the Karabakh conflict
originated there where the first attempt of ethnic cleansings took
place there, and led the people of Karabakh to the irreversibility
of the idea of self-determination.

Vardan Oskanyan noted that on the 20th anniversary Armenia will bring
up the issue of Sumgait more actively to explain to the international
community why Karabakh cannot return to Azerbaijan.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S ROAD INFRASTRUCTURES TO BE COMPLETELY REHABILITATED BY 2012

ARKA News Agency
Jan 10 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, January 10. /ARKA/. The road infrastructures of Armenia
are to be completely rehabilitated by 2012, Armenia’s Minister of
Transport and Communication Andranik Manukian said at the government
briefing in presenting the list of motor roads of general use. Road
marking, safety fences and traffic sings are to be brought in line
with international standards, he said.

Manukian pointed out that currently contractors are not responsible
for the road marking, whereas after the government decree they will
be held responsible for the quality of the work done.

The Minister said that Armenian roads should be equipped in line with
advanced international standards and give comfort to drivers.

Manukian reported that the new road marking will be made with
reflecting paints to lighten the traffic under the conditions of
bad visibility.

Developed roads are important for sustainable economic development
as they reduce the transportation costs, the Minister said.

Under the state budget of Armenia for 2008 5.6bln Drams is to be
appropriated for road building. ($1=307.15Drams).
From: Baghdasarian

BY PRELIMINARY DATA, 2 MILLION 311 THOUSAND 917 VOTERS INCLUDED IN REGISTER OF VOTERS OF REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Jan 9, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 9, NOYAN TAPAN. In accordance with the schedule
of main measures on preparation and holding of the February 19
presidential elections, the RA police on January 9 submitted the
register of voters to the Central Electoral Commission (CEC). By
preliminary data, the register includes 2 mln 311 thousand 917 voters,
NT correspondent was informed by the spokeswoman for CEC Tatev Ohanian.

The register of voters of the Republic of Armenia (by polling stations)
will be placed on the CEC’s website by January 10, the lists of voters
will also be submitted to the chairmen of the district electoral
commissions and put up at the election centers. After eliminating the
revealed inaccuracies and correcting the lists, the police will make
public the total number of voters included in the national registration
journal on the day preceding the voting day – February 18.
From: Baghdasarian

Oneida Dispatch, NY
Dec 31 2007

Best-selling author and poet recognized
12/31/2007

Professor Peter Balakian accepts the Movses Khorenatsi Medal, one of
Armenia’s highest civilian honors.

HAMILTON – As a young student, Colgate University professor Peter
Balakian’s curiosity about his family roots led him on a personal and
intellectual journey. Balakian has spent decades unraveling his
Armenian ancestry and, in the process, educating the world about the
atrocities of the Armenian genocide.

Now, the Armenian government is recognizing Balakian, the Constance
H. and Donald M. Rebar Professor in the Humanities and professor of
English at Colgate.

During a ceremony in November at the embassy of Armenia in
Washington, D.C., Balakian was awarded the Movses Khorenatsi Medal.
The medal – one of Armenia’s highest civilian honors – is presented
to individuals for their prominent contributions in the fields of
culture, arts, literature, education and humanities.
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"I feel honored that President Kocharian has honored me in this way
and I hope that my work will contribute to an ongoing body of
knowledge about the Armenian genocide," Balakian said.

Ambassador Tatoul Markarian lauded Balakian’s literary
accomplishments along with his active position and leadership on
Armenian issues.

"His books preserve for us and the entire humanity the record of the
tragedies, the challenges and the perseverance of the Armenian people
in the most tragic chapter of our millenniums-old history," the
Ambassador said.

Balakian is the author of eight books including ‘The Burning Tigris:
The Armenian Genocide and America’s Response,’ which was a New York
Times Notable Book and Best Seller.

His award-winning memoir, ‘Black Dog of Fate,’ chronicles the sudden
awareness of his ethnicity – "the story of a boy growing up
bewildered by some of the ambiguous signals he’s receiving from his
elders who are trying to repress the trauma of the past."

In his remarks, Balakian discussed the remarkable resilience of the
Armenian people and stressed education as the key to progress.

"It is gratifying to be able to say in 2007 that we have educated
significant chunks of Europe, North America and the Middle East about
who we are and what our history has entailed," he said. "If you asked
Armenians in 1970 if we would have transmitted our history into
popular consciousness, into the curriculum, into the news of the day,
I think they would have dismissed you as a dreamer."

Balakian was also recently awarded the Emily Clark Balch Prize for
poetry from The Virginia Quarterly Review. The prize honors the
single best poem or group of poems published during the previous year
by the magazine.

The professor’s poems "World Trade Center/Mail Runner ’71," "World
Trade Center/Mail Runner ’73," and "World Trade Center/Black
Holes/’74" appeared in the summer 2007 issue and will be part of
Balakian’s book of poems he is currently working on.

The prize comes with a $1,000 cash award.

id=19158058&BRD=1709&PAG=461&dept_id=6 8834&rfi=6
From: Baghdasarian

Global Insight
December 31, 2007

EBRD Pledges Funding for Armenia’s Araratbank

by: Dragana IgnjatoviÄ

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced
on Friday (28 December) the extension of a $5US-million credit line
and a $1US-million limit to Araratbank, a privatively owned Armenian
bank set up in 1991. The loan, which comes under the EBRD’s Trade
Facilitation Programme and the Armenian Multi-Bank Framework II, will
be complemented by a technical co-operation grant for institution
building.

Significance:The EBRD loan is intended for lending to small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which should address one of the
major constraints on Armenia’s economic growth, whose potential
remains constrained by problems in accessing medium- and long-term
finance. The loan should also bring about more competition among
local banks and more choice for local customers. The goal of the EBRD
in granting funding to the Araratbank and many other Amernian
banks–such as Anelik Bank, which received a $2US.5-million
SME-designated loan in 2006–is to help the Armenian banking sector
develop its long-term lending activities, especially in the country’s
underdeveloped regions.
From: Baghdasarian

December 31, 2007

Edwards: Leave insurers out of health care reform discussions

By TONY LEYS
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

Spencer, Ia. – John Edwards is using a recent medical tragedy to
illustrate why he thinks the president can’t include health insurers
in health-care reform discussions.

The story involves Nataline Sarkisyan, 17, of California, whose
doctors said she needed a liver transplant. Administrators of her
insurance company refused to pay for it.

"The doctors pleaded, the nurses pleaded, and finally, Americans
started literally picketing and walking outside their offices,"
Edwards told about 260 people here today. "And they finally gave in,
and notified the family that they’d pay for it. But then a few hours
later, she died. Because it was too late."

The candidate paused for a second to let this sink in. Then his voice
rose in indignation. "And people say to me that as president of the
United States, they want me to sit at a table and negotiate with these
people? Never. It will never happen."

Edwards’ universal health-care plan is similar to those of his main
Democratic rivals, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. But he is
positioning himself as the one who would be most willing to fight
health-insurers and drug companies, which he says stand in the way of
real changes.

The former North Carolina senator has vilified the leaders of such
companies, saying they’re only interested in ever-fatter profits. "How
much money do they need? I mean, really."

He did not name Sarkisyan, but he added her to a list of people who he
contends are having their lives destroyed by greedy corporations. He
includes workers whose jobs have been shipped overseas, veterans who
are homeless and families living in poverty.

"The very richest are getting much richer," he said. "The big
companies are making more money than ever. But at what price? At what
price? The promiseof America being available for children. That’s the
price. The destruction of the middle class in this country. That Ã-s
the price."
From: Baghdasarian

PM Serge Sargsyan’s congratulation on New Year’s Day

armradio.am
31.12.2007 20:26

Dear Compatriots,

For the past several years, as I was the Minister of Defense, I used to
visit our soldiers on duty at frontier posts on the 31st day of each
December in order to thank them for service and extend New Year’s
congratulations. Now, this has become a tradition to me.

Another good tradition is the New Year’s address to the nation by the
head of government. Today, I have decided to join these two traditions
and extend my Season’s greetings from the frontier where night and day
Armenian soldiers do watch over our peace and where Homeland starts and
finishes.

The year 2007 is going away. It entered into our history as a period of
peace, development and strengthened democracy. We can today push ahead
with confidence and think of new programs aiming the future. Our
citizens shall be the focus of these programs. We are striving to
ensure that economic growth affects the well-being of each of them,
there is less poverty, our life is not limited to everyday problems and
all our children are happy.

We managed to keep up the pace of development throughout the year.
Today we have a clearer and more optimistic vision of our country’s
future day. I am proud that together we are opening up this new chapter
of independence, development and progress in our history: our statehood
is being increasingly strengthened thanks to our combined efforts and
we are moving ahead as a State and a society on the way to maturity.

Indeed, success raises enthusiasm. Nevertheless, I assure you that I am
well aware of the problems facing our country and our citizens ` far
more aware than expected. And you may rest assured that none of these
problems seems to be unsolvable.

Dear Compatriots,

New Year has some meaning for all of us. New Year is a holiday of
dream. At this point, we are unanimous and united by a single goal:
each of us wishes the New Year to bring peace and prosperity to us. I
wish that the New Year’s joy and happiness prevailed in our homes all
the way through the coming year. We are a large family called Armenia.

New Year is another opportunity to think of new programs, and we are
determined to do everything to ensure that our people have merited
employment, young people are given high-quality education, our citizens
are in good health and the elderly feel the State’s permanent support.

In the year ahead, we will continue moving forward closer to the
Armenia of our dreams, to the Armenia of ever new achievements. So,
onward to new Armenia! May this year bring us accomplishment of dreams!
May all of us be blessed with robust health and much success!

Be happy!

A Happy New Year and a Merry Christmas!
From: Baghdasarian