Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

DATEVIK HOVANESIAN TO PARTAKE IN ANNUAL FESTIVAL

A1+
[11:03 pm] 12 November, 2007

The annual international festival CITYJAZZ is scheduled from November
29 till December 2 in Moscow and St.Petersburg. The event is organized
by "ArtMania" agency.

Every CITYJAZZ festival is a significant event both for musicians
and for the audience. For the public this festival is an opportunity
not only to meet real jazz and world music stars, but also a chance
to see brand new band and to understand modern trends in music. And
for musicians – festival participants – festival stage is a place
for energetic improvisations and driving jam-sessions. People who
organize CITYJAZZ festival have the enthusiasm of the first man on
the moon and we are glad to present musical projects many of which are
"first time in Russia" shows.

Three nights in Moscow and one night in St. Petersburg will
be dedicated to jazz and world music performed by real stars! The
festival will feature Datevik Hovanesian /USA/, Ivan Smirnov /Russia/
Avishai Cohen Trio /Israel/.

Datevik Hovanesian and her Trio (USA)

Datevik Hovanesian – "the Queen" of soviet time jazz, "Russia Ella
Fitzerald"- and today she remains one of the brightest stars in jazz
mainstream. In her creative work one can find a lot of elements of
Armenian folk music. Datevik Hovanesian performed in America, Europe,
Australia. Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall greeted her gigs with
astonishing applauses.
From: Baghdasarian

LITHUANIA’S DEFENSE MINISTER TO VISIT ARMENIA

armradio.am
09.11.2007 17:07

November 12 the delegation headed by Juozas Olekas, the Minister of
National Defense of Lithuania, will arrive in Yerevan on an official
visit.

After the welcome ceremony, the Defense Ministers of the two countries
will hold a meeting, will sign a cooperation plan for 2008 between
the Defense Ministries of Armenia and Lithuania and will give a joint
press conference.

In the framework of the visit the delegation will have official
meetings with RA President Robert Kocharyan, Prime Minister Serge
Sargsyan, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and the Chairman of the
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defense, Security and Domestic
Affairs Arthur Aghabekyan.

Members of the delegation will visit the National Museum of Armenia,
the Military Institute after Vazgen Sargsyan and Matenadaran. The
delegation will visit Tsitsernakaberd to lay a wreath of flowers at
the memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI ISSUE ON THE AGENDA OF TURKISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES

Lragir.am
09-11-2007 15:25:43

Recep Tayyib Erdoghan, the Turkish prime minister, is going to visit
Azerbaijan next week to take part in the 11th congress of friendship,
brotherhood and partnership of Turkish speaking nations. During
this event the urgent issues of the Turkish-speaking countries will
be discussed, including the Armenian and Azerbaijani issue and the
Armenian resolution at the U.S. House.

Over 550 delegates from 30 countries of the world will participate
in the congress. The Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev will also
participate in the opening of the congress. The congress will be
held in Baku. The ex-prime minister of Turkey will participate in
the congress which will last from November 17 to 19.
From: Baghdasarian

"ONLY 200 THOUSAND DOLLARS IS NEEDED FOR BUILDING SUN POWER STATION IN ARMENIA," ACADEMICIAN PARIS HERUNI SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Nov 9, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Only 200 thousand dollars is needed
for finishing the construction work of the sun power station in
Armenia, which was interrupted as far back as ten years ago. Author
of "Arev" project, Director of the RA NAS Radiophysics Institute,
Academician Paris Heruni informed the journalists about this at
the November 9 press conference. In his words, at present work of
getting energy from the sun is done in the world, but the government
of Armenia is indifferent to this project.

Whereas, according to the academician, many rich people abroad offer
big sums for that project.

P. Heruni also touched upon the ancient observatory "Karahunj" near
Sisian, which today is paid no attention to. In his words, the state
should undertake measures for organizing the preservation of that
territory. P. Heruni said that once he made up a project directed to
the preservation of "Karahunj", for the implementation of which 2.5
million dollars is needed.
From: Baghdasarian

BAKO SAHAKIAN AND BERNARD FASSIER DISCUSSED KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.11.2007 17:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Nagorno Karabakh President Bako Sahakian met in
Paris with OSCE Minsk Group French Co-chair Bernard Fassier, the NKR
leader’s press office reported.

The parties discussed the current stage of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement process.

The NKR President is in France to participate in preparations for
annual telethon of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund. Yesterday he met
representatives of the Armenian community of Paris. Presenting the
political, social and economic situation in Artsakh, he noted the
importance of deepening Artsakh-Diaspora relations.
From: Baghdasarian

"SAAKASHVILI COMMITTED A POLITICAL SUICIDE"

A1+
[08:32 pm] 08 November, 2007

"Saakashvili committed a political suicide by using force on the
peaceful demonstrators and completely destroyed his distorted image
of a democratic leader", said David Shahnazaryan in the interview with
"A1+".

He strictly condemned the incidents in Georgia.

"It is an unprecedented phenomenon – to close down two TV stations,
imposed emergency in the country, to ban dissemination of information
and make it the authorities’ monopoly is nonsense. He committed a
suicide indeed". David Shahnazaryan considers that Saakashvili should
have started a dialogue and shown flexibility "while he behaved as a
rude authoritarian leader". Similar developments of happenings were
predicted by David Shahnazaryan when Saakashvili came to power. "When
he came to power I said to the Armenian and Georgian mass media that
despite democrats came to power, the democracy had not won in Georgia".

In Mr Shahnazaryan excluded that the opposition was accused of
allegedly being led by secret Russian services: "I know some of
opposition leader, they are my friends, they are Georgia’s decent,
honest citizens, they are true democrats and I exclude that they may
be headed by foreign powers".

Even the US State Department excluded this version.

David Shahnazaryan explained Saakashvili’s accusations of foreign
political powers: "Saakashvily tries to use anti-Russian policy to
solve the inner problems in the country".

According to David Shahnazaryan, the incidents in Georgia will
negatively reflect on the region. "It may be a very bad precedent for
us, since it gives Kocharyan an opportunity to say that if democrat
Saakashvili uses force, then I can also do the same.

It may cause additional reigning of the RA authorities". The incidents
in Georgia promise that elections in Georgia may not be democratic,
legal, free and fair.

Anyway, David Shahnazaryan ensures that a political society is being
formed in Georgia: "But on the other hand there is a serious danger
that Georgia may become the country of permanent revolution".
From: Baghdasarian

UN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE AND ARMENIA’S MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS TO COOPERATE IN SPHERE OF GENDER EQUALITY

ARKA
Nov 7, 2007

YEREVAN, November 7. /ARKA/. UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia
Consuelo Vidal and Acting Director of the National Institute of
Labor and Social Research of the Ministry of Social Affairs Gyulnara
Hovhannisyan signed a cooperation agreement on providing gender
equality and increasing woman’s role in the country, the Ministry’s
press service told ARKA.

Hovhannisyan pointed out the importance of the provisions envisaged
in the agreement. She said that the agreement was signed within the
program which was launched together with the International Development
Agency of Sweden’s Government in 2004.

According to the document, the Institute together with the UNDP will
implement research and conduct seminars for civil servicemen about
the modules of gender issues and legal basis of women’s participation
in politics.

The National Institute of Labor and Social Research is responsible
for the elaboration of issues on gender policy and human
rights. The Institute participates in the process of coordination
and implementation of the national program on woman’s role and its
increase in the society in 2004-2010.
From: Baghdasarian

DIRECTOR OF "RURAL FINANCING FACILITY" PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION OFFICE: THANKS TO IMPLEMENTATION OF WORLD BANK AND IFAD PROGRAMS, CREDITING OF ARMENIA’S AGRICULTURE HAS BECOME ATTRACTIVE FOR BANKS

Noyan Tapan
Nov 6, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The implementation of the World
Bank’s and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
credit programs on development of Armenia’s agriculture has contributed
to the fact that crediting of agriculture has become attractive for
Armenian commercial banks, the head of the Rural Financing Facility
programs implementation office – state institution of the RA ministry
of finance and economy Ara Muradian expressed this opinion during a
talk with NT correspondent.

He reminded that crediting under the IFAD’s program started in late
2005, while crediting under the WB’s program – in late 2006. According
to him, prior to that, only ACBA Bank used to provide large credits
to agricultural enterprises in Armenian marzes, whereas other banks
considered agriculture as a risky sector. In his words, it is also
thanks to efforts of the Rural Financing Facility that the situation
has notably changed now. According to data of the Central Bank of
Armenia (CBA), the total amount of credit resources provided to
agriculture by Armenian commercial banks from their own resources in
2006 exceeded by about 11 billion drams (more than 3.3 million USD)
the respective index of the previous year. Besides, the indicated
banks opened about 30 branches in marzes in 2005-2006, with their
main activities being crediting of agriculture and the adjacent
sectors. "By promoting the crediting of water canals, agricultural
enterprises, other infrastructures, we have made agricultural
investment attractive. This is the only way of solving the problems
related to the proportional development of our country. I am sure
that 2007’s results will show that agricultural crediting has grown,"
A. Muradian pointed out.

He said that the mechanism of providing group credits has been tested
through the Rural Financing Facility during the credit programs’
implementation when larger than needed credits were provided to
two milk processing enterprises for the purchase of a high-capacity
conveyer – on condition that by the quarantee of these enterprises,
credits will be provided to 40-50 milk supplying farms (not having
credit security) with the aim of increasing the number of milk-giving
animals. "Thanks to this mechanism, a whole border village, which
had never received loans before, has become a beneficiary of the
Rural Financing Facility program implementation office," A. Muradian
said. He added that such mechanisms allowing a whole village to become
a beneficiary of the rural crediting system have been used in foreign
countries, including post-Soviet ones (Moldova), for a long time. In
Armenia, the rural cooperation movement had just started developing.
From: Baghdasarian

FresnoBee.com

Nazik Kotcholosian Messerlian
11/03/07 22:21:26

Age: 74

Occupation: Retired school teacher.

Hobbies: My grandchildren, who are the centerpiece of my life. They are
the fragrant flowers of my beautiful bouquet, the sounds of my daily
symphony concerts.

Bee reader since: Early 1960s.

How many letters: 15 since 2001.

Favorite topics: Political corruption, injustice.

Why do you write? I write when human rights and dignity are denied,
truth is distorted and human suffering is ignored for personal or
political gains. Specifically, I write about the Armenian genocide of
1915 by the Turks.

Excerpt from recent letter: "The genocide was real — my parents
witnessed it. Thus, those who question or deny well-documented absolute
realities, the genocide and the Holocaust, are puppets or puppeteers in
the play called ‘Lie For Gain At Any Cost.’ Where art thou, sweet
justice?"

Reaction to letters: Appreciation, compliments and encouragement.

Topic that doesn’t get enough attention: In-depth factual information so
the reader can formulate his own opinion and not be told what to
believe.

Education: Armenian elementary school, German Oberschule, Sanger High
School, Fresno State with credentials in education and music.

Family: Husband, Vartkes; sons Hrair, Vahe and Aram; daughter Arpi;
grandchildren Gregory, Karina, Zareh, Sevag, Armen, Aram, Haig, Nareg
and Raffi.

Political philosophy: Undistorted truth must be the focal point in the
makings of political agendas; a multipolitical consortium that
even-handedly serves and protects all the people without discrimination;
government officials must be elected on their merits of intellect,
knowledge and leadership and not by the power of money.

— Compiled by Pam Rowse
From: Baghdasarian

PanARMENIAN.Net

Disappointment in Saakashvili regime growing, Russian expert says
03.11.2007 13:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `The Tbilisi rally proved the strength opposition to
the Saakashvili regime. The process which has lasted for two years is
conditioned by serious mistakes Saakashvili and his supporters
made. The President has solved no task since he came to power,’ said
Alexander Skakov, expert on Transcaucasia at the Russian institute of
political studies.

`Georgia has no economy as such. There is no developed industry or
agriculture. The problem with Abkhazia and South Ossetia is resolved
yet. In this case the situation is even worse than it used to be. The
country is on the brink of war. Georgia is the only state where Prime
Minister was assassinated. Definitely, disappointment in the
Saakashvili regime is growing,’ he said.

`Revolution will hardly take place in the near future but if
Saakashvili keeps on making the same mistakes it will inevitably lead
to shift in power,’ he added.

According to him, Georgia tends to authoritarian regime. `Georgia has
advanced in authoritarianism deeper than Azerbaijan and Armenia,’ Mr
Skakov said, Km.ru reports.
From: Baghdasarian