Author: Boshkezenian Garik

Panorama.am

16:58 25/12/2007

ENVIORNMENTAL PAYMENTS GO UP BY 30 PERCENT

The incomes to the state budget on environmental
payments have gone up by 30 percent as against the
last year. The actual incomes made up 8.5 billion
drams in the year 2007. This was informed by Nature
Protection Minister Aram Harutunyan who summed up the
results of the year. In his words, the growth is due
to environmental payments which are determined by the
Law on Rates of Nature Protection Payments.

The minister underscored the air pollution management,
its improvement and reduction of corruption risks.
`Starting from this year, the cars which do not have
air pollution stabilizers are banned for import,’ he
said, also saying that several legislative acts are
adopted in the sector.

Source: Panorama.am

The Genocide Education Project
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 264-4203
[email protected]
www.GenocideEd ucation.com

Contact: Sara Cohan ([email protected])

GENOCIDE EDUCATION POPULAR TOPIC AT NCSS 2007 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
7/12_22_2007.htm

San Diego, CA, December 22, 2007 – The Genocide Education Project
presented a workshop for social studies educators and distributed lesson
plans and genocide studies curriculum at the December 3-5 annual
conference of the National Council for Social Studies Annual Conference
(NCSS), in San Diego, CA. The conference was attended by more than four
thousand teachers and education professionals from around the country.

`Every year, this conference is a valuable opportunity for The Genocide
Education Project to make vital, face-to-face connections with teachers
from the broadest range of school districts." said Raffi Momjian,
Executive Director of The Genocide Education Project. "We discuss the
importance of teaching about the Armenian Genocide in the context of
world history, and we directly provide the instructional materials to
teach the subject effectively.’

The conference organizers devoted significant time to the subject of
genocide, hosting eight different workshops on various genocide-related
themes, several including the Armenian Genocide. The Genocide Education
Project presented a packed audience of teachers its newly-launched
"online classroom" called Genocide and the Human Voice: Nicole’s
Journey. Momjian, Education Director, Sara Cohan, and UC Berkeley
student volunteer, Shant Hagopian, administered a booth where The
Genocide Education Project’s materials, including brochures, CD-ROMs,
and lesson plans on the Armenian Genocide were distributed without
charge to educators.

Cohan noted the increased interest within the educational community in
teaching more about the problem of genocide. `One reason for the growing
attention to genocide education is the ongoing genocide in Sudan against
the people of Darfur. The genocide began in 2003, has taken at least
400,000 lives and displaced 2.3 million people. Educators are leaving
behind the mantra `Never Again’ and embracing the realization that
genocide happens too often. We need to teach young people about patterns
of genocide and how they happen, if we want the genocide in Darfur to be
the last genocide of the 21st century.’

In its October 24th issue, the prominent education publication,
Education Week, reported on the upward trend of genocide education. The
article, `Genocide Claiming a Larger Place in Middle and High School
Lessons,’ which discussed the work of The Genocide Education Project,
began by citing the passage of the Armenian Genocide resolution in the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The media coverage of the resolution
this fall brought the issue of Armenian Genocide recognition and the
problem of genocide denial into the spotlight, and teachers took notice.

Education Week also highlighted the work of 8th grade history teacher,
Ronald Levitsky, who teaches various cases of genocide to his 8th
graders in Illinois and was the 2006 recipient of The Genocide Education
Project’s Aharonian award. The Aharonian Award recognizes teachers who
creatively and effectively incorporate the Armenian Genocide into their
curriculum.

The Genocide Education Project is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3)
organization that assists educators in teaching about human rights and
genocide, particularly the Armenian Genocide, by developing and
distributing instructional materials, providing access to teaching
resources and organizing educational workshops.

####

[Picture Caption] Educators at The Genocide Education Project’s NCSS
2007 Booth

PRESS RELEASE

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Sylvie Keshishian, Director of Public Relations
Tel: (212) 686.0710 ext.160 Fax: (212) 689.1934
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

December 21, 2007

_____________________________

ARCHISHOP KHAJAG BARSAMIAN, PRIMATE OF THE DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF
AMERICA (EASTERN): MESSAGE TO THE FAITHFUL OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH

In this joyous time of year, as we celebrate the wondrous birth of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ, we look to our Creator with thanksgiving for all
His blessings. We ask the Lord to watch over our loved ones, and we depend
on His guidance in our lives.

In the Armenian tradition, the Order of Home Blessing is a formal way to do
so.

For centuries, our ancestors would eagerly await this opportunity for the
priest to visit their homes particularly every Christmas and Easter, because
the Home Blessing is the family’s prayer for God’s powerful Right Hand to
guide and shelter them at all times. Our forefathers placed such
significance in this tradition because inviting the priest into the home
signified the family inviting the presence of Christ to reside in that home
at all times.

During the ‘Order of Home Blessing,’ each member of the household gathers
around the priest as he burns incense and blesses bread, salt, and water,
the three essential life-giving elements of a home provided to us by the
Lord. The priest then places a wafer (nushkhar) next to them, signifying
Christ’s presence in the home. He then recites the Gospel and blesses each
member of the family.

As part of our ‘Church and Home’ theme, we continue last year’s effort to
bring the presence of the Lord into the heart of each Armenian family
through the beautiful ceremony of Home Blessings. We urge you to call your
Pastor and request a Home Blessing. What better way to experience the
presence of Christ in our daily lives, than to take the time to look to Him
for guidance and protection in our own homes? A Home Blessing is a
wonderful opportunity to experience the rituals of our Armenian Church
firsthand, and for your Pastor to get to know you and your family as well.

May the blessings of the Lord be upon you and dwell in each of your homes,
and may the peace of the Christmas season be with you all both now and
throughout the year.

###

AMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

National Assembly of RA
Dec 20 2007
Armenia

On December 19 Mr. Tigran Torosyan, President of the National
Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, received Mrs. Marina Dolgopolova,
Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to Armenia.

Mrs. Dolgopolova conveyed to the NA President the joint invitation
of the presidents of the two chambers of the Belarusian parliament –
to be in Minsk on an official visit in 2008. The Ambassador, who had
been in office in Armenia since 2003, highly assessed the reforms and
the great volume of legislative works in Armenia that was carrying
out and is carrying out the National Assembly, especially after
the constitutional amendments in 2005 in the context of complying
the Basic Law with the legislation. She stressed that the budget of
2008 in the aspect of solving the social problems already creates
bases for turning from the poverty reduction to the establishment
of welfare. Within that framework Mrs. Dolgopolova stressed the
role of the ruling Republican Party, noting that it assumed the
responsibility of the fulfillment of the reforms and carries out
successfully its programmes. The Ambassador also highly evaluated the
inter-parliamentary relations that are displayed with bilateral ties
and cooperation in international structures.

The President of the National Assembly Mr. Tigran Torosyan thanked
for the invitation and expressed willingness to visit Belarus after
presidential elections. The NA President ensured the high level of
the Armenian-Belarusian inter-parliamentary relations and expressed
confidence that the visit will be effective and will contribute to
the development of the relations. Mr. Torosyan asked the Ambassador
to convey his gratitude and New Year congratulations and best wishes
to the speakers of the Belarusian parliament and the people.

MATENADARAN’S RICH MANUSCRIPTS FUND BEING REPLENISHED

Noyan Tapan
Dec 19 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The rich manuscripts fund of
Mesrop Mashtots Matenadaran-Institute of Old Manuscripts continues
to be replenished with medieval Armenian manuscripts. As Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed by Hrachya Tamrazian, Matenadaran Director,
one of the manuscripts is a lost manuscript of the 17th century and
the other a masterpiece of miniature painting and manuscript art,
14th century’s ancestral Gospel of the Proshians, which was donated
to the St. Paul-Peter Church in 1922.

However, when the church was destroyed in 1937, only some parts of the
Gospel remained. In the future their traces were also lost. However,
the parts of the lost Gospel have been found in Moscow lately. Thanks
to Moscow-based Hrant Poghosian and his friends it became possible
to purchase the old manuscript and to return it to Armenia.

According to H. Tamrazian, noticeable activity is observed lately in
the respect of discovery and donation of manuscripts.

At present more than 17 thousand manuscripts in Armenian and Arab
languages are kept in Matenadaran depositories.

DISCUSSION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS BY EUROPEAN STRUCTURES IMPORTANT FOR ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Dec 19 2007

YEREVAN, December 19. /ARKA/. Armenia attaches importance to the
discussion of Armenian-Turkish relations by the European structures,
Speaker of the RA Parliament Tigran Torosyan stated at his meeting
with EU Special Representative in the South Caucasus Peter Semneby,
who is in Yerevan to take part in the parliamentary hearings on
Armenian-Turkish relations.

"Armenia attaches importance to the discussion of the problem at
European structures in the context of European values and European
integration, as, with specific principles being set, neither side can
accuse European structures of being biased," Torosyan said. According
to him, the principles must be clearly set and accepted by the sides
through statements.

Moreover, they must be applied in practice.

"The road travelled by the European Union is evidence that tolerance
and dialogue is the basis for resolving disagreements. Armenia’s
position is in harmony with the principles. Armenia is aware of the
problems that have to be put aside for some time and of the necessity
for cooperation in other matters and, through the creation of an
atmosphere of mutual confidence and understanding, contributing to
the resolution of the problems," Torosyan said.

He pointed out that Turkey is setting preconditions, which specifically
concern the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, Armenian Diaspora thereby considering it possible to
establish cooperation only after the issues have been settled.

"It is natural that the preconditions should be unacceptable for
Armenia, as Turkey is raising issues related to a third state,
Azerbaijan, in the context of Armenian-Turkish relations. Besides,
Ankara is unable to resolve its psychological problems related to the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide and continues Armenia’s blockade,"
Torosyan said. He stressed that these steps do not by any means fit
the European system of values.

The RA Parliament has held hearings on problems and prospects of
Armenian-Turkish relations.

The hearings were attended by representatives of a number of Armenian
and international organizations, political parties, as well as by Peter
Semneby. A Turkish representative declined the Armenian Parliament’s
invitation.

CANDIDATES’ APPROACHES OVER NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT WILL BE DECISIVE IN RA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, ARMAN MELIKIAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 17 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The candidate, who has no approaches
of his own over the Nagorno Karabakh settlement, is doomed to failure
in the forthcoming presidential elections. Arman Melikian, the former
Adviser to the NKR President, a candidate for presidency in the RA
presidential elections, expressed such an opinion in his interview
to Noyan Tapan correspondent.

He considers that the approaches being the basis of the negotiations
today do not permit the parties to make a mutually acceptable
decision. In particular, mediators’ proposals do not take into
consideration the interests of more than 500 thousand Armenian
refugees. A. Melikian offers a new basis for Nagorno Karabakh
negotiations, the principle of recognition of human rights. "I think
refugees and internally displaced persons, be they Armenians or
Azeris, should not be made to suffer once more by moving from one
place to another again. I consider that the liberated territories
should be given to Azeri Armenian refugees by the ownership right,
as the latters’ property has entirely remained in Azerbaijan," he said.

As regards Azeris living in Karabakh, they, according to A. Melikian,
did not undergo ethnic cleansings and left Karabakh, as Azerbaijan
had launched operations against NKR. According to him, there were no
Azeris in the populated areas the NKR formations entered: "They left
not under the pressure of Armenian forces, but by the instigation of
the very Azeri authorities."

A. Melikian considers that the current negotiations format is
distorted: one of the conflict parties is NKR and it should be
represented in the negotiations process. Besides, he believes that the
1989 decision of the Armenian Supreme Council on reuniting Karabakh
with Armenia, by speculating which Azerbaijan tries to present Armenia
as an aggressor country, should be considered as invalid.

According to A. Melikian, the opponents of recognition of Karabakh
independence by Armenia assert that for instance, Turkey gained nothing
from the recognition of the independence of Cyprus. A. Melikian
considers that Turkey’s interest was the following: it builds its
relations with the other non-recognized Turkish state on legal
bases and has its troops there on legal bases. He considers that by
recognizing Karabakh’s independence, Armenia at least to the same
extent can gain in the issue of its relations with NKR, getting rid
of many ungrounded accusations.

RA DEFENCE MINISTER TO LEAVE FOR MOSCOW ON TWO-DAY VISIT ON DECEMBER 19

Noyan Tapan
Dec 17 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. A delegation led by Mikayel
Haroutiunian, the RA Defence Minister, will leave for Moscow on a
two-day working visit on December 19. Noyan Tapan was informed about
it by the Press Service of the RA Defence Ministry.

WORLD BANK: LIFE IS MORE EXPENSIVE IN ARMENIA THAN IN AZERBAIJAN

Panorama.am
16:09 18/12/2007

Armenia is ahead of Azerbaijan by 4 points in terms of expensiveness
and is behind of Georgia by 1 point.

This was announced in the "International Comparison Program Preliminary
Global Report Compares Size of Economy" of the World Bank where 146
countries are compared in terms of consumer prices in the year 2005.

Russia’s indicator is 45, Kazakhstan – 43, Georgia -41, Armenia –
39, Byelorussia – 36, Azerbaijan and Moldova – 35.

Life is cheaper in Ghrghzstan, Tajikistan, Ethiopia, Gambia and
Bolivia. If the indicator is 100, it means the expensiveness of the
country is equal to USA. The average level of prices is 81.

WINNERS GET AWARDED: 2 DAYS IN AGHVERAN

Panorama.am
16:11 18/12/2007

Today gifts were handed to pupils and teachers at the National Academy
of Sciences that won at the republican Olympiads and international
Olympiads in the academic year 2006-07.

Minister of Education Levon Lazarian mentioned that 30 schoolchildren
participated in international Olympiads during the academic year
2006-07. They brought 1 silver, 1 bronze and 3 honor certificates
in mathematics, 2 silver, 2 bronze medals and 1 honor certificate in
chemistry, 1 bronze medal, 1 honor certificate in physics, 1 silver,
1 bronze medal and 1 honor certificate in informatics, 1 first class
diplomat in astronomy, 2 third class diplomas and 4 honor certificates
in natural sciences. The minister informed that the winners are
awarded with 2-day holiday trips to resort town of Aghveran.