Author: Boshkezenian Garik

SHADOW ECONOMY AND RESTRICTED WAYS TO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS CAUSE MONOPOLY PHENOMENA IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Oct 7, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. The jubilee 30th two-day sitting of
the CIS Interstate Council for Antimonopoly Policy (ICAP) started in
Yerevan on October 7. Among the participants are heads and members of
not only the ICAP, but also antimonopoly bodies of Hungary, Austria,
Romania, and local representatives of the European Commission, OSCE,
AEPLAC, GTZ, World Bank, and USAID.

According to a report of the RA State Commission for the Protection
of Economic Competition, prior to ICAP’s sitting, the 13th meeting
of the staff for joint research on violations of the antimonopoly
legislation of CIS member states was held.

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan made a speech of welcome, in
which he said: "We are concerned about the current monopoly-related
phenomena in Armenia, which are caused by the shadow economy and the
restricted ways to international markets because export and import
operations through the territories of Georgia and Iran are expensive,
the small and medium business cannot afford it, so big players
remain in the field. Armenia’s georgraphical location also hinders
domestic competition". According to him, the anticrisis measures of
the government aim to diversify the economy, assist small and medium
enterprises, particularly by making loans accessible to them, and to
implement reforms in tax and customs administration.

Chairman of the RA State Commission for the Protection of Economic
Competition Ashot Shahnazarian said that the time dictates new
demands. He underlined the necessity for new approaches, which are
modern not only in the relations of competing departments, but also
for the public.

Chairman of ICAP Igor Artemev attached great importance to the
implementation of antimonopoly programs in CIS countries, saying:
"It is necessary to promote an exchange of experience and help each
other in the development of the antimonopoly policy".

A LOOK AT KEY SUSPECTS IN RWANDA’S GENOCIDE

Bureau News
Gaea Times (blog)
October 6th, 2009

A look at key suspects in Rwanda’s genocide

A look at some of the top suspects and convicts in Rwanda’s 1994
genocide:

— Idelphonse Nizeyimana: Former deputy intelligence chief accused
of orchestrating the killings of thousands of people. Police say he
was arrested Monday in Uganda on charges of genocide, complicity in
genocide, and direct and public incitement to commit genocide.

— Felicien Kabuga: Rwanda’s most wanted genocide suspect. A wealthy
businessman, Kabuga has been on the run since he is accused of helping
finance the genocide.

— Gregoire Ndahimana: Former mayor in Rwanda. He is in custody and
pleaded not guilty to planning the massacres on Tutsis who had sought
refuge at the Nyange Parish.

— Callixte Kalimanzira: A former interior minister in Rwanda. He has
been sentenced to 30 years in prison for tricking thousands of people
to hide on a hill, only to watch them get slaughtered by militias.

— Col. Theoneste Bagosora: Former director of Rwanda’s Ministry of
Defense. He is appealing a life sentence after being convicted of using
his position to direct Hutu soldiers to kill Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

— Augustin Ngirabatware: A former Rwandan minister accused of
diverting funds from international donors to murderous militias. He is
in custody, charged with genocide and crimes against humanity, and has
pleaded not guilty. Ngirabatware is the son-in-law of Felicien Kabuga.

GALUST’S MASTER AND GUARANTEE

hos15439.html
12:44:55 – 07/10/2009

The fact that for Galust Sahakyan our compatriots in the Diaspora
who are holding protest actions against Serge Sargsyan are lees is
absolutely natural and regular. What else could our compatriots be
for Galust Sahakyan? They could not be considered national heroes,
source of wisdom or courageous people with super modern thinking. Our
compatriots from the Diaspora do not provide Galust Sahakyan with
the abundance of his route lines, they do not protect the businesses
of Galust Sahakyan, his relatives and friends from the law and from
any civil value. Of course, all those who dare to say a wrong word
in address of the guarantee of his well-being and security Serge
Sargsyan. So no one needs to get surprised or angry with Galust
Sahakyan that he considers the Armenians of the Diaspora complaining
from Serge Sargsyan lees.

Moreover, Serge Sargsyan is even able to reprove Galust Sahakyan
because of his not being so active in his defense among the
Diaspora. The point is that Galust Sahakyan had to be in France
before Serge Sargsyan to disperse all the protesting Diasporian
Armenians gathered near the Komitas statue with a piece of wood in
his hand. "What happened to Galust Sahakyan that instead of him
the police officers have to defend Serge Sargsyan- the guarantee
of Galust Sahakyan’s welfare and security in Paris? Are the French
police officers to be trusted? And what if they do not fulfill their
task as it would do the Armenian policemen or Galust Sahakyan himself?"

This is really a serious mistake and perhaps a real opportunity for
Galust Sahakyan to bring up the issue on Artur Baghdasaryan’s fault,
on whom once Galust Sahakyan picked much, in the Security Council and
to discuss the reason why Galust Sahakyan was sitting calmly in Yerevan
knowing that those protesting against Serge Sargsyan are lees. Though,
no one knows whether he was sitting calmly. Maybe Sahakyan was very
much worried maybe he even saw a nightmare in the previous night,
say, how crows were howling at the sun near the Eiffel tower. How
can he guess that the dream predicted those people gathered near
the Komitas statue and Serge Sargsyan, who is surely Galust’s sun,
appeared under the wave of their shouts.

But Serge Sargsyan will surely forgive Galust Sahakyan. And his
question will not be brought up in the Security Council because Artur
Baghdasaryan will also forgive him. So as the Diasporian Armenian
whom Galust Sahakyan called lees only because they protested against
the president will forgive him. He is ours, our Galust Sahakyan and
what he says, he says for our sake, for us to feel good. What can he
do if nothing good comes out from what he says?

ASSESSMENTS OF AMERICAN-ARMENIANS AFTER THE NEW YORK MEETING OF ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

ARMENPRESS
Oct 5, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsian’s
All-Armenian tour is "unprecedented and is a new quality in the
Yerevan-Diaspora intercourse", said the participants of the New York
meeting of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsian within the frameworks
of his All-Armenian tour.

The opinions differed as to the protocols. The representatives of
Office for Armenian Cause and the Union of Armenian Relief were against
the protocols, opinions of other figures of Armenian communities
were positive.

Responsible for the East Cost office of the Union of Armenian
Relief Angel Manoukian is most of all bothered by the issue of the
Genocide. "Fair claim for the Genocide is the most important share
for the Armenian Mother," she said.

Member of the World Council of Churches bureau Vigen Aykazian
noted that he has no suspects that the issue of the opening of the
borders must be settled and is agree with the "viewpoint of the
unconditioned state". "On the whole I can say that it is good. But
there are points that need explanations especially when the issue of
historians is arisen."

"There were very hot discussions and they will probably be
continued. But this is a part of the process. It is important that
the Armenian President definitely pointed out that there will be no
regress in the Genocide issue and no concessions are intended in the
Karabakh issue," said the executive director of Armenian Assembly of
America Bryan Ardouni.

Head of the Council of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church Oskar Tatosian said that the majority of the Diaspora is still
silent; most people are for the development of Armenia and support
the initiative of the Armenian President.

Primate of the Eastern American Diocese of the Cilicia, Archbishop
Oshakan Choloian stressed the issue of participation of the Armenians
which is especially important for the clergymen.

Head of the Toronto branch of Armenian all-Armenian during the
meetings the aim of establishment of the sub-commission of historians
is discovered. "It is praiseworthy that it will discuss not the issue
of the Genocide but its consequences or the fate of the Armenian
monuments in Turkey," he said.

After the exchange of thoughts the New York meeting ended with the
concluding speech of the Armenian President.

The All-Armenian tour of President Sargsian continues. Next stop is
in Los Angeles.

MEMORIAL PLAQUE TO BE UNVEILED ON THE HOUSE, WHERE TUMANIAN REMAINED UNDER HOUSE ARREST

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.10.2009 19:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At the initiative of the Yerevan Museum of Armenian
poet and writer Hovhannes Tumanian on October 8 a memorial plaque will
be unveiled on the wall of the building, Abovyan street 1/1. Hovhannes
Tumanian lived a month in the spring of 1921 in this house.

"The greatest poet Hovhannes Tumanian lived in this house in spring
of 1921" will be written on the marble slab, authored by Samvel
Ghazaryan. Hovhannes Tumanian arrived in Yerevan only 5 times and
for a very short time. Between March 20 to April 19, 1921 Hovhannes
Tumanian stayed in Yerevan, and particularly he was placed under
house arrest. During this month Hovhannes Kajaznuni, Hamo Ohanjanian,
Vahan Minahorian and other Armenian social and political figures
visited Hovhannes Tumanian.

RA PRESIDENT TO VISIT HUNGARY

News.am
18:52 / 09/30/2009

September 29, 2009 RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan met with
his Hungarian counterpart Peter Balazs in New York.

Edward Nalbandyan and Peter Balazs discussed the preparatory works
of Serzh Sargsyan’s official visit to Hungary, RA MFA Press Service
informed NEWS.am. The officials exchanged opinions on mutual relations
and Armenia-EU cooperation with international organizations, South
Caucasus issues and EU current processes.

Edward Nalbandyan also had a meeting with Portuguese Minister of
Foreign Affairs Jaime Gama. The Ministers touched upon the economic
cooperation, cultural and tourism issues.

AZERBAIJANI NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS OPPOSE OPENING OF TOURIST ZONE IN GEYGEL LAKE

Azerbaijan Business Center
28.09.2009 15:18

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The Society of Steady Development fears emerging
of problems with ecology of Geygel lake after beginning of functioning
of tourist zone there.

Chairman of society Fikrat Javadov said that Azerbaijan has two
problems with drinkable water – trans-border rivers and Geygel lake.

"60-70% of all drinking-water is brought by rivers, flowing from
territory of neighboring states, where they are polluted. Now Geygel
lake is close territory, but earlier there was recreation area. The
issue concerning organization of tourist zone in the lake emerges
again, although there is not a tool today, protecting the lake from
pollution," F.Javadov said.

In accordance with data of the society, 2.2 times less water is
used per capita in Azerbaijan as compared to Armenia and 7 times in
comparison with Georgia among Caucasian countries.

PRESS OFFICE

Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

September 29, 2009

___________________

DIOCESE HOSTS DINNER FOR ARMENIA’S VISITING FOREIGN MINISTER NALBANDIAN

On Saturday, September 26, 2009, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) and the President of the
Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), hosted a dinner in honor of Dr. Edward
Nalbandian, the visiting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Armenia.

Minister Nalbandian was accompanied by Ambassador Tatoul Markarian,
Armenia’s Ambassador to the United States; Ambassador Garen Nazarian,
Armenia’s new Permanent Representative to the United Nations; and other
members of the Armenian delegation.

The dignitaries met with leaders of the Armenian American community in the
formal reception room of the Diocesan Center in New York.

In his opening remarks Archbishop Barsamian welcomed Foreign Minister
Nalbandian and his colleagues, who are in the United States to pursue the
delicate and sensitive issues surrounding recent Armenian diplomacy.

In greeting the guests, Oscar Tatosian, chairman of the Diocesan Council,
and Randy Sapah-Gulian, chairman of the FAR Board of Directors, stressed
that the entire Armenian American community has been following with serious
attention the initiatives of the Armenian government, in its effort to
"normalize" diplomatic relations with the Republic of Turkey.

"Armenians around the world express their views and concerns about it-and
that is natural, since so much is at stake. However, we hope that your
visit and meetings here will shed light on the protocols signed recently
with the Turkish authorities, and give more comfort to our communities in
supporting the realistic and future-oriented policies of the Armenia
government," said Mr. Tatosian.

Dr. Nalbandian thanked the Primate and dinner guests for a warm reception,
and acknowledged the Diocesan Center as a "bridge between Armenia and the
diaspora," where dignitaries from Armenia’s political, cultural, and
scientific arenas are always welcomed. "This is a house of all Armenians,"
he said, "and all visitors feel proud at this center."

The Foreign Minister proceeded to share his views on the most sensitive
aspects of the protocols, which have generated a great deal of reaction
around the world. He recounted in considerable detail the negotiation
process with Turkish counterparts, which eventually led to the signing of
the "groundbreaking" documents.

"In the course of the extensive public discourse around the protocols, some
allegations are being made that are either inaccurate and do not represent
reality-or, which is worse, [they] are distorting the essence and the letter
of the signed protocols," said the Foreign Minister.

According to Mr. Nalbandian, the entire negotiating process and the final
documents were generated at the initiative of the Armenian government, and
not imposed on the Armenian side, as some have claimed.

* Negotiations without any precondition

"The history of diplomatic relations proves that all sensitive issues
between countries could be better resolved at the negotiating table, in the
framework of mutual respect and trust," stated Minister Nalbandian in his
address to the guests at the Diocesan Center.

"We have never shied away from declaring on any possible occasion, from any
international podium, that Armenia does have unresolved issues with our
neighbor, including the recognition of the Genocide," he said. "We have
made it absolutely clear to our Turkish counterparts, and no preconditions
were ever discussed or agreed upon in the process of preparing the
protocols."

He continued: "The establishment of diplomatic relations between our two
states will set the start for a long-term dialogue between the diplomats and
representative authorities, during which the two countries will seek a
resolution to many historic, and new, bilateral problems."

An open and cordial question-and-answer session followed Mr. Nalbandian’s
formal remarks. Guest at the dinner, representing a cross-section of the
American Armenian community, raised their own concerns and asked the Foreign
Minister to clarify numerous matters that had been circulated about the
protocols.

On an admittedly sensitive subject, Mr. Nalbandian fielded every question,
and even shared intimate details about the documents and the processes and
negotiations behind their preparation.

"Some critics-either not deliberately, or with an obvious political
intent-are claiming to see things that are not in these documents, and have
never even been discussed in the negotiations," Mr. Nalbandian said.

"Contrary to what is being speculated, no one-sided concessions, no hidden
or open preconditions, were made by the Armenian side. The documents have
clearly stated what has been achieved at the negotiating table: All issues
of bilateral relations would become agenda items of further negotiations
between the two governments, after the diplomatic relations between Armenia
and Turkey are established, and the borders are open." said Mr. Nalbandian.

Following the meeting, Sarkis Jebejian, an international lawyer who attended
the gathering as a member of the Armenian General Benevolent Union’s Central
Board of Directors, said: "We applaud the initiative of the President of the
Republic of Armenian and the entire government to commence these
negotiations without any precondition."

Mr. Jebejian added: "The AGBU stands ready to assist the government in any
way necessary, and calls upon the entire diaspora to unite in support of
this complex and important mission."

# # #

PHOTOS ATTACHED

Photo1: Dr. Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic
of Armenia, visits the Diocesan Center on Saturday, September 26, 2009.

Photo2: Foreign Minister Nalbandian delivers his remarks about recent
developments between Armenia and Turkey.

Photo3: The Primate presents Foreign Minister Nalbandian with a gift on
behalf of the Diocese.

YEREVAN CITY MAYOR CALLS FOR KEEPING THE CITY CLEAN DURING CITY DAY CELEBRATIONS

/ARKA/
September 28, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, September 26 /ARKA/. Gagik Beglaryan, the Mayor of Yerevan
called on the heads of service providing organizations to keep the
city clean during the celebration of "Erebuni-Yerevan" festivity which
will take place on October 10 devoted to 2791 anniversary of the city,
informed the official site of Yerevan Municipality.

It says that during the meeting Beglaryan presented the details of the
forthcoming event, particularly measures of improvement of services
and arrangement of green zones. "I am sure that all of you want to
make your own contribution. That is why we cooperate with each other",
said Beglaryan.

Kansas City Sta
Posted on Sat, Sep. 26, 2009 10:15 PM

Pianist Nareh Arghamanyan opens Friends of Chamber Music’s season

By MICHAEL PETTENGELL
Special to The Star

When the subject is music, most of us are `hopeless romantics.’

Made to order is the upcoming season from Friends of Chamber
Music. It’s focusing on the work of Frederic Chopin, beginning Friday
with 20-year-old award-winning pianist Nareh Arghamanyan.

The best romantic composers blend strength and feeling seamlessly, and
Arghamanyan, an Armenian virtuoso who has been winning prestige and
competitions since age 8, is perfectly suited for such a task. Her
program includes Mendelssohn, Schumann, the evergreen Beethoven and a
Chopin Polonaise. The last is part of the series’ 200th birth-year
celebration of that angst-ridden composer, who was Polish by
nationality, French by temperament.

`I think Nareh Arghamanyan is one of the most exciting new talents,’
said Cynthia Siebert, executive director of the Friends of Chamber
Music. `She is certainly the young and up-and-coming pianist out
there.’

The pianist and Chopin are revolutionaries of a sort. Chopin blended
emotion and power in his reworking of traditional genre pieces,
turning them inside out. His musical strength belied the
stereotypically frail picture of him. Arghamanyan may look small as
she approaches the keyboard, but she surprises with her authoritative
touch and her ever inventive artistic intuition.

Like most prodigies, Arghamanyan was introduced to the piano early on,
and it was love at first touch.

`I was 3 years old,’ she said recently from California, where she was
beginning her U.S. tour, `and my mother showed me a toy piano and
said, `This is a toy ¦ you can play with this toy rather than go
outside and play.’ I was really amazed at the sounds that it
produced. And soon afterward I started playing piano for like six
hours every day.’

Arghamanyan’s ability to win piano competitions is nothing less than
astounding.

`I was really having fun with
I was all the time looking for another one or another opportunity to
compete or to play. It was the meaning of my life.’

Although one might think of concert performing as a kind of
nerve-racking experience, nothing is further from the truth for
Arghamanyan. In fact, it is there that she makes some of her most
meaningful discoveries.

`Every time I play a concert I discover something new and different
about the music,’ she said. `When I am playing a concert it is so
obvious to me, I discover new elements, new dynamics and new
voices. And sometimes I wonder why I never noticed these things before
¦ in all the hours of practice. But it comes only during the
concerts, when I am so obviously hearing more.’

She pondered this ability and added, `I cannot say what it is, maybe
the intensity of the performance.’

It might surprise and delight concertgoers to learn that they are part
of an ongoing creative process: `In concert, you might say that I am
kind of experimenting’ ‘ she laughed ‘ `because when I hear the
recordings of these concerts, they never sound the same.’

Siebert said Arghamanyan’s style was her forte.

`She is exquisitely talented, with such great attention to nuances and
detail,’ Siebert said, `not to mention the emotional quality she
brings to a piece. She will be hard to top this season.’

Said Arghamanyan, `For me the emotion and the meaning of the piece are
most important. You have to have the technical side, but that is only
a means to getting at the concept of the piece.’

For her, musical pieces take on an almost human aspect.

`Pieces have distinct personalities, and for pianists, we have to go
into all these different personalities and understand them ¦ so we
have to be very flexible and open to them.’

It is clear that the concert stage is what sustains Arghamanyan, and
she sees it as a means of communication.

`When I am playing I am trying to communicate with people with my
sound,’ she said. `It is that connection that I want them to tak
omething from the concert. And that, for me, would be a successful
performance.’

THE SHOW
Friends of Chamber Music’s Master Pianists Series kicks off with Nareh
Arghamanyan at 8 p.m. Friday at the Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th. For
tickets call 816-561-9999 or go to

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