Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

ACCORDING TO CBA FORECASTS, INFLATION TO MAKE 4.1% IN 2007

YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the forecasts of the
Central Bank of Armenia (CBA), inflation will make 4.1% in December
2007 on December 2006, whereas it made 5.2% in December 2006 on
December 2005.

NT was informed from the CBA press service that the CBA forecasts that
in 2007 the euro’s smooth appreciation will continue, and the exchange
rate of the euro will make 1.35 USD in late 2007. These forecasts are
made based on the US state budget and current account deficits, which
are at quite a high level. Besides, the difference between the
interest rates of the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank
will continue to decrease in favor of the euro. Oil prices are
expected to reach 80 USD for a barrel instead of the current price of
61 USD.

International financial terms will be stricter in 2007 in connection
with a rise of interest rates by the central banks of almost all
developed countries. The exception will be the US economy where a
decline in interest rates is expected in the first half of 2007 under
conditions of low economic growth and high but already declining
inflation. The structer terms will result in some reduction of capital
inflows into developed countries, as well as Armenia.

As for grain prices, it is noted that inflation risks have somewhat
weakened in connection with good harvests in Russia and a small
reduction of grain exports from this country.

In 2007, a slow-down in the economic growth rate is expected in
Armenia compared with the previous years: the capital construction
growth rate will decline, the growth rates of construction and
services will be the same, some growth is expected in industry. At
the same time in the gross demand structure, a decline in the growth
rate of domestic demand and an increase in export growth rate are
expected in 2007. Out of the components of domestic demand, the real
growth rate of private expenditures will decline in parallel with an
increase in the real growth of state expenditures. As in the previous
years, it will be conditioned by a continuous growth of the
population’s incomes and a considerable inflow of remittances. Private
investment growth rate will remain high, mainly in such sectors as
house construction, transport and communication, energy, metallurgy,
mining and chemical industries.

Export growth is expected in 2007 through industry growth and solution
of structural problems in the diamond cutting sector. Real import
growth rates will remain the same as compared with last year under
conditions of a slow-down in the growth rate of dollar prices of
imports and the forecast demand.

In 2007, the labor market indices will continue their behavior as
displayed in the last five years. Particilarly, the level of
unemployment will continue to fall, especially in the construction and
service sector, due to an increased labor demand. As the above
mentioned sectors are the main ones to secure GDP growth and these
sectors do not require a large productivity growth, the salary growth
in the economy will continue exceeding the productivity growth
indices. As a result, some inflation pressures will appear in the
consumer market.

Remittances (their growth rates will a bit decline) will also have an
extending impact on inflation.

A slight extending impact of the tax budgetary policy on the gross
demand is expected in 2007, mainly due to an extending impact of
expenditures.

Dramization registerted in the last two years is expected to continue
in 2007 as well because of a number of measures aimed at dramization
of the economy.

Financial intervention growth tendencies will continue in 2007, which
will manifest themselves in a growth of the dram multiplicator and
dramization coefficients. At the same time there will be a decline in
dollarization of the economy.

The high growth rates of the economy’s crediting will also be
maintained this year, which is conditioned by considerable profits of
banks last year, as well as by implementation of big credit programs
in 2007 at the expense of authorized capital replenishment resources –
in particular, considerable mortgage crediting.

PanARMENIAN.Net

ANCA Criticizes R. Hoagland’s Re-Nomination as US Ambassador to Armenia
11.01.2007 14:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA),
today, voiced its opposition to President Bush’s re-nomination of
Richard Hoagland. In a letter circulated today on Capitol Hill, ANCA
Chairman Ken Hachikian called on US Senators to prevent Hoagland’s
approval – stressing that, " A genocide denier must not – and should
never – represent America in Armenia, a nation that rose from the
ashes of genocide." He also reminded recent poll of Armenian Americans
shows that 97% oppose the Hoagland nomination.

The Hoagland nomination faces bipartisan opposition and was ultimately
blocked by a parliamentary "hold" placed by Senator Robert
Menendez. In written statements, offered in response to questions
posed to Richard Hoagland during his confirmation hearing, he went far
beyond the bounds of the Administration’s already deeply flawed
policy, actually calling into question the Armenian Genocide in 1915
as a historical fact. The day before Robert Menendez, after Hoagland’s
re-nomination by President George Bush, again blocked his approval as
US ambassador to Armenia.

GEORGE BUSH ASKS TO APPROVE AMBASSADOR TO YEREVAN A DIPLOMAT WHO DOES NOT RECOGNIZE GENOCIDE

Yerevan, January 10. ArmInfo. Yesterday, the President of USA George
Bush has introduced again the candidacy of Richard Hoagland for the
post of Ambassador of USA to Armenia for consideration of the Congress
despite his public refusal to recognize the murders of Armenians in
the Ottoman Empire during the World War I as an Armenian Genocide. The
democrats could block his approval in the post of Ambassador in the
previous Senate staff.

The senators from the Democratic party of USA, Harry Read, a Leader
of democrats in the Senate, and Robert Menendez had earlier asked the
State Department to take the candidacy of Hoagland off the voting. In
June, 2006, during the hearings on his approval on the post of
Ambassador, Hoagland refused to call the extermination of Armenians a
Genocide. It is considered that the previous Ambassador, John Evans,
had lost his post just because of using the word "Genocide", during
one of receptions, with respect to the events of the beginning of XX
century. Washington considers that even a discussion of the Genocide
issue in the Congress seriously harms the country’s relations with
one of the key partners in the Near East and in Asia Minor.

THE LOS ANGELES TIMES ABOUT HOAGLAND NOMINATION

ArmRadio.am
09.01.2007 10:48

An article titled "Armenian Genocide Question Hits Home" by Maura
Reynolds was published in January 7th issue of The Los Angeles Times,
the full text of which is presented below:

"Nearly two years ago, John Evans did something no US ambassador to
Armenia before him had done: He used the word "genocide" – in public
– to describe the deaths of about 1.2 million Armenians at the hands
of Ottoman Turks.

It has long been a sore point with Armenian Americans that the US
government does not refer to the killings that began in 1915 as
genocide, and Evans’ use of the word did not signal a change in that
policy. It did set off a slow-boiling controversy that eventually
cost him his job.

Now, the issue is preparing to boil over again, setting up a clash
between the Democratic-controlled Congress and the Republican White
House. The dispute has stalled the confirmation of Evans’ successor and
strained US relations with Turkey, a key US ally in the Middle East.

"Based on what I’ve seen, this is headed to a confrontation," said
a senior Democratic congressional aide. "It’s an issue that’s a
flashpoint of controversy for both parties."

It started at UC Berkeley, in February 2005, soon after Evans took
up his ambassadorship.

"I will today call it the Armenian genocide," Evans said, according
to a transcript by one of the groups attending the gathering hosted
by the university’s Armenian studies program.

Evans’ comments floored – and pleased – his audience, even though he
made it clear that he was articulating a personal view, not US policy.

"I recall being surprised at that moment," said Stephan Astourian,
executive director of Berkeley’s Armenian Studies program, who
organized the session.

Though Armenian Americans and others consider Evans’ statement an act
of courage for which he has been unfairly punished, policymakers call
it a misjudgment that could fuel anti-Western sentiment in Turkey.

Historians have long used the term "genocide" to describe the murderous
campaign against the Armenians in Turkey. Nearly the entire population
of Armenians was executed, starved or forced into exile on the orders
of the ruling Young Turk Party. Outside Turkey, there is little debate
over the facts or the use of the word "genocide."

In Turkey, however, official history has long disputed the use of
that term.

As a result, American officials have used all sorts of others –
"mass killing," "massacres," "atrocities," "annihilation"- but have
stopped short of "genocide."

"We have never said it wasn’t genocide," explained a senior State
Department official, who agreed to discuss formation of US policy in
detail on condition he not be further identified. "We just haven’t
used that word."

State Department officials believe that Turks will come to their own
acceptance of the term from internal debate.

"That debate needs to happen, but it needs to be a Turkish debate,"
the official said. "It has been our view that our position of
encouraging that debate – and not allowing Turks an easy out to say,
‘This is foreign pressure’ – is more effective."

Most Armenian Americans and many members of Congress disagree,
arguing that the US government should call the killings "genocide."

In a short interview, his first since leaving the State Department,
Evans declined to discuss his motives in making the genocide statement,
but said that "it wasn’t a slip of the tongue."

"I knew it was not the policy of the United States" to use the word
"genocide," Evans said.

"Ninety years is a long time," Evans added, referring to the decades
since the genocide began. "At some point you have to call a spade
a spade."

In the months after Evans’ remark, the State Department made clear
its displeasure. By July 2005, "it was absolutely crystal clear" that
he would be forced out, he said. Still, it took more than a year more
for him to leave.

"Evans was a career foreign service officer, and you do not go
after a career foreign service officer lightly," said a second State
Department official.

Evans left Armenia in September and formally retired from the State
Department last month.

Meanwhile, the American Foreign Service Assn., the organization that
represents US Foreign Service officers, granted Evans its 2005 award
for "constructive dissent" by a senior diplomat. But weeks later,
the group rescinded the prize, arousing suspicion that the State
Department had intervened.

Foreign Service Assn. officials who agreed to discuss the matter said
they took back the award after learning that Evans apparently did
not first go through internal channels of dissent before publicly
stating his views.

"Ambassador Evans’ action – admirable as it was – did not fit the
category of ‘constructive dissent,’ " the group said in a statement.

State Department officials said they felt blindsided by Evans’
genocide remarks.

The unanswered questions about Evans’ departure have stalled the
nomination of a successor.

In May, President Bush nominated Ambassador Richard Hoagland, who
most recently served as ambassador to Tajikistan. But in September,
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) put a parliamentary hold on Hoagland’s
nomination, blocking it until the end of the congressional session,
when the nomination expired.

Some Armenian Americans took issue with Hoagland, complaining that
in written responses to questions from the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, he was dismissive of the Armenian genocide. Last month,
Menendez and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) demanded the
administration send over a new nominee.

Bush will have to decide whether to renominate Hoagland. The
administration appears to be standing behind him, and complains that
he has been turned into a scapegoat over Evans’ dismissal.

"Senators can say that our policy on the Armenian massacres is wrong,
but it’s wrong to punish the president’s nominee for adhering to
the president’s policy," said the senior State Department official,
adding that some of Hoagland’s opponents had "twisted" his responses
on the genocide.

"He’s being tarred as a [genocide] denier," said the senior State
Department official. "And the only reason it’s being done is that
they are angry about Evans for the wrong reasons."

Not all Armenian Americans oppose Hoagland’s nomination. The Armenian
Assembly of America has said that although it opposes administration
policy, it would support Hoagland. And the Armenian government has
said that policy on the genocide issue should take second place to
more immediate problems, including diplomatic relations with Turkey.

The Republic of Armenia became an independent state after the breakup
of the Soviet Union in 1991, and today has a population of about
3 million.

To both Democrats and Republicans, support from Armenian Americans
is important. There are an estimated 1.4 million Armenian Americans,
with the largest population center in Glendale.

In the end, Democrats now in control of Congress may need to decide
between pragmatism and principle.

"To the extent that Armenia goes without a US ambassador, that’s
a bad thing by anyone’s standard," said a Democratic staffer
involved in the confirmation process. "We’re 1,000% supportive of
the Armenian community on the genocide issue. But in this case, the
[State Department] policy is going to be very tough to change, and I
don’t think holding up an ambassador is going to get them to change
their policy."

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
January 8, 2007
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
Email: [email protected]

RE: ND Lawmakers Introduce Bill Recognizing April 24 as Genocide
Remembrance Day

Washington, DC — The Armenian Assembly today, commended North Dakota
State Representatives Lyle Hanson (D-Jamestown) and Joe Kroeber
(D-Jamestown) and State Senator David Nething (R-Jamestown) for
introducing House Concurrent Resolution No. 3003, which proclaims April
24 as a day of remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.

The bill, introduced in Legislative Assembly of North Dakota, notes that
"the killing of the Armenian people was accomplished by the systematic
destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and
cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of noble
civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years."

With the passage of this bill, North Dakota will join some 40 other
states who have already affirmed the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

###

NR#2007-005

Editor’s Note: Attached is the full text of House Concurrent Resolution
No. 3003:

Sixtieth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 3003

Introduced by Representatives Hanson, Kroeber and Senator Nething

A concurrent resolution proclaiming April 24 as a day of remembrance of
the Armenian genocide.

WHEREAS, 1,500,000 men, women, and children of Armenian descent were
victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and
thereafter; and

WHEREAS, the United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry
Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts
of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinement of persecutions
and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the
daily misfortunes of these ‘devoted people.’"; and

WHEREAS, the killing of the Armenian people was accomplished by the
systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of
art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a
noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian genocide has been acknowledged by several
countries and international bodies; and

WHEREAS, each year Armenians throughout the world honor those who
perished from 1915 to 1923, and all the world’s people should
commemorate the Armenian genocide because it stands as an ugly testament
to man’s inhumanity to man; and

WHEREAS, it is essential to raise awareness about the Armenian genocide
not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but also
because learning more about this unconscionable tragedy will help better
understand the necessity of eliminating hatred from our own communities;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF NORTH
DAKOTA, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN: That April 24 is proclaimed as a
day of remembrance of the Armenian genocide.

Armenpress

KOCHARIAN PAYS HOMAGE TO FREEDOM FIGHTERS

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: President Robert
Kocharian visited today the Yerablour cemetery in a
Yerevan outskirt to pay homage to many heroes fallen
in the Karabakh war, who were laid to rest in this
cemetery.
President Kocharian was accompanied by prime
minister Andranik Margarian, foreign minister Vartan
Oskanian, parliament chairman Tigran Torosian and
other senior government offiicals.
Kocharian and his entourage laid flowers to the
grave of General Andranik, late prime minister Vazgen
Sarkisian and to the monument erected in memory of the
perished freedom fighters.

The message of the Catholicos of All Armenians Garein II on New Year’s Eve

ArmRadio.am
31.12.2006 00:13

Dear pious people,

>From the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin we greet you who are in
Armenia and Diaspora blessing you with Father’s love.

We are on the threshold of the New Year when we throw a glance back to
the passing year hoping for the better in the future.

At this moment we deliver our prayer of gratitude to the Lord for
granting us with the opportunity of creating our life in peace and
moving forward towards new achievements on the welfare of our sacred
motherland.

We passed the year 2006 with the hope for joint and prosperous future
for all Armenians. With the help of God we overcame all the
difficulties and temptations, we achieved great summits and we must
still pass a long way towards the welfare we have dreamed for many
centuries and we must spare no efforts to make that dream come
true. The successes we registered in Armenia and Diaspora became
possible through the joint and hard efforts, as well as deep and
sincere love of our people towards the Motherland. With great
inspiration we celebrated the 15th jubilee of the Independence of
Armenia and Artsakh. The ` Armenia-Diaspora’ Conference was held in
our Motherland, the festive events were held in Russia and France
devoted to Armenia, series of serious and constructive plans and
projects were brought to life. The people of Atrsakh held the
Referendum of Nagorno Karabakh with deep belief and confidence.

The year 2006 was also significant for our Church. Many reconstructed
and newly built churches opened their doors before all Armenians in
and abroad. The cooperation with Sister Churches was also efficient
aimed at establishing peace and love among the peoples of the world.

Glory to the Lord, who endowed us with hope and belief for the best.
The new Year is coming so let us take and create only the best, the
pleasant and perfect and make the life as nice as possible with the
help and the good will of our Father.

At this sacred moment of New Year eve we deliver our prayer to the God
for our compatriots spread all over the world and to the soldiers
serving in the Armenian Army. We deliver the prayer for the sick and
prey to God to bestow them with health and patience.

Dearest religious and pious compatriots,

Let the belief be stable and powerful in our hearts, and let all our
activities be brought to life successfully for God’s sake and for the
sake of our Motherland and Saint Chrch. God bless us, our country and
the world and let the New Year be a year of happiness, prosperity and
joy.

Happy New Year!

PRESIDENT SUMS UP THE ECONOMIC YEAR

ArmRadio.am
26.12.2006 12:34

The past year was among the most productive ones, registering over 13
percent growth. This was how President Robert Kocharyan assessed the
economic overview or 2006 during the traditional meeting with more
than 60 representatives of business circles of the republic. The
President said that in most part the economic growth was ensured
due to the development of construction, trade and service sector,
which enabled to completely secure budget execution and increase the
budget revenues with about 17 billion AMD, President’s Press Office
informs. "The economic growth of the past two years enables to form
a socially targeted budget. The expenditures are annually rising in
the social, healthcare and educational spheres, salaries are also
steadily growing. Next year we’ll accomplish also the large-scale
"Millennium Challenge" and "Linsi" programs, said Robert Kocharyan. As
a guarantee of successful economic development the President emphasized
the continuation of reforms in all spheres.

Turning to the possible risks in the activity of the executive
authority in a pre-election year, the President said economy will face
no problems. "The executive will work more coordinately to have the
pre-election moods exert no influence on the economic activity. I see
no other risks for business and it is realistic to suppose that our
country will uphold the pace of development in the course of the past
six years. Adherence to reforms should find its expression not only in
speeches, but also in the activity of the Government. I’m interested
in your success and we regard you as partners in the development
of the Republic of Armenia. If this was not the case, we would not
register the success we achieved during the past years, and this is
the outcome of our joint work, for which I express gratitude to you,"
said the President.

Congratulating the upcoming New Year and Christmas, Robert Kocharyan
wished them good spirit and great revenues, and reminded about the
necessity of timely and complete accomplishment of tax obligations.

INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES VISITED CAPTIVE AZERBAIJANI SOLDIER

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 27 2006

Yerevan representatives of International Red Cross Committee visited
Samir Mammedov Nazim, Azerbaijani soldier taken captive on Dec 24 by
Armenian, IRCC Baku office told APA.

The representatives were interested in detention conditions and
physico-psychological state of the detainee. Samir Mammedov was drafted
from Berde registration office last year. He was taken captive in
neutral area in Kazakh-Ijevan border on Dec 24.

ARMENIAN YOUTH FEDERATION AND THE UNITED HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL TO FAST AT THE LA TURKISH CONSULATE

ASBAREZ
12/23/2006

Los Angeles, CA–The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) and the United
Human Rights Council (UHRC) in a joint collaboration will hold a fast
in front of the Turkish Consulate from January 2nd-6th. The fast,
titled "Fast for Remembrance," aims to raise awareness about the
Armenian Genocide, phases of the genocide and the genocides that
followed.

Beginning January 2 at 9am and concluding on January 6 at 5pm,
a group of youth activists will give up all food in order to bring
attention to the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turkey,
a crime still denied by subsequent Turkish governments.

"Our ancestors were forcefully starved for weeks while being beaten,
tortured and raped. We are willing to fast for a few days in order
to try to educate others about what our people went through during
the Armenian Genocide" said Soseh Esmaili, a Fast for Remembrance
organizer and faster.

"As a member of the UHRC, I understand how important it is to
educate people about the Armenian Genocide and all genocides. The
cliche, ‘history repeats itself’ is true. Due to the fact that the
perpetrators of the Armenian genocide went unpunished, it showed future
genocide perpetrators that it is ok to try to wipe out an entire race
because there will be no repercussions for it," said UHRC member,
Marie Ghanime.

January 6 will not only mark the end of the fast, it also marks the
day that Armenians worldwide celebrate Christmas.