Author: Chakrian Hovsep

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
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PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

AGBU Announces New European Structure Led by Alexis Govciyan

During its recent fall meeting in New York, the AGBU Central Board
decided to establish a new structure, headquartered in Paris, France,
for conducting its operations in Europe. The new initiative follows
trends across the continent of consolidating entities within the member
states of the European Union.

As an important force in the global Armenian community, AGBU Europe will
ensure that the organization maintains a pan-European perspective that
serves all communities under its umbrella, while staying dedicated to
AGBU’s central mission of promoting the Armenian heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian programs.

Appointed to head AGBU Europe is Alexis Govciyan, who is a leading
member of the French-Armenian community and a former Chairman of AGBU
Paris.

Commenting on the new European structure, Berge Setrakian, AGBU
President, said, "We are working to ensure that European Armenians
continue to play a vital role in the development of AGBU programs for
the perpetuation of our culture and identity. The new initiative will
reinforce the link between Armenia and the Western world, recognizing
that Europe is an important conduit for Armenia’s relationship with the
diaspora. We are encouraged by Alexis’ passion as an advocate for the
European-Armenian community. His involvement assures us that he will be
able to extend the mission of AGBU to emerging Armenian communities
across Europe."

The new AGBU Europe structure with be effective January 1, 2008. A
special conference from February 1-3, 2008 will take place in Brussels,
Belgium. All established and emerging AGBU communities in the member
states of the European Union will participate in the gathering.

Established in 1906, AGBU is the world’s largest Armenian non-profit
organization. Headquartered in New York, AGBU preserves and promotes the
Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural, and
humanitarian programs, annually touching the lives of some 400,000
Armenians around the globe. For more information on AGBU, please visit

LITHUANIA IS READY TO PROVIDE PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA IN PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF ARMENIA-NATO IPAP

Noyan Tapan
Nov 12 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Receiving the delegation led
by Lithuanian Defence Minister Juozas Olekas on November 12, RA
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian expressed satisfaction with the high
level of cooperation between the two countries in military-political
sphere. Noyan Tapan was informed about it by the RA Foreign Ministry
Press and Information Department.

J. Olekas said that the visit’s main goal is to discuss reforms in
military-educational, peacekeeping, defence spheres. He emphasized
Lithuania’s readiness to convey Lithuanian experience in the process
of implementation of Armenia-NATO IPAP and to provide technical
assistance.

The interlocutors also discussed regional problems, touched upon the
latest developments in the Nagorno Karabakh negotiations process.

2008 PLAN OF COOPERATION BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND LITHUANIAN DEFENCE MINISTRIES SIGNED

Noyan Tapan
Nov 12 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. 2008 military cooperation plan
between Armenia and Lithuania was signed at the November 12 meeting
of RA Defence Minister Mikayel Haroutiunian and Lithuanian Defence
Minister Juozas Olekas, who has arrived in Yerevan on an official
visit. Noyan Tapan was informed about it by the RA Defence Ministry
Press Service.

During the press conference held after the meeting, M. Haroutiunian
said that at the meeting, thoughts were exchanged about bilateral
issues, regional problems and a number of issues of bilateral interest,
in particular, about the issue of peaceful settlement of regional
conflicts.

Touching upon cooperation between Lithuanian and Armenian Defence
Ministries, M. Haroutiunian said that parties’ consistent policy in
this issue will become a basis for further cooperation for the sake
of the two countries’ interests.

HEAD OF BULGARIAN HELSINKI COMMITTEE KRASIMIR KANEV: IT IS EASIER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN ARMENIA TO VISIT JAIL THAN FOR THEIR COLLEAGUES FROM SWITZERLAND TO VISIT SWISS JAIL

arminfo
2007-11-12 12:20:00

ArmInfo. A seminar "Efficient Experience of Using the Optional
Protocol to the Convention against Torture" (OPCAT) was held today in
the "Marriott- Armenia" Yerevan Hotel. The seminar was organized by
joint efforts of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia and the Institute
of Open Society the international public organization.

As Special Representative of CoE Secretary General to Armenia
Bojana Urumova said, the optional Protocol to UN Convention against
torture envisages creation of a system of regular visits to jails
by independent experts for prevention of tortures and other kinds
of rough treatment. Coming into force of the optional Protocol to
UN Convention against tortures in June, 2006, establishes a new
international basis for strengthening and extension of the system of
visit to jails. Establishment or appointment of national preventive
mechanisms (NPM) in each member-state of the Convention is a key to
the new global system of visits to jails, B. Urumova said. Head of
the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee Krasimir Kanev, who also took part
in the seminar, emphasized that Armenia may serve a model even for
many western states as regards holding of a relevant monitoring and
openness of jails for representatives of public organizations. "It
is easier for the human rights activists in Armenia to visit a jail
than in Switzerland", K. Kanev said.

To note, Armenia joined the UN Convention against Tortures and ratified
and Optional Protocol to it in 2006.

VARTAN OSKANIAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SITTING OF THE OSCE COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS

armradio.am
12.11.2007 15:47

RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian will participate in the 15th
sitting of the OSCE Council of Foreign Ministers to be held in Madrid
November 29-30.

The meeting will take place upon the invitation of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos.

The Foreign Ministers of 56 member states will discuss the work done
last year, and will suggest new approaches on security policy. The
assembly will sum up the activities carried out throughout Spanish
presidency in order to pass the OSCE chairmanship to Finland.

MFA Spokesman Vladimir Karapetyan told Armenpress that the meeting
of Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers is not excluded, but
the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have not voiced any suggestion yet.

The mediators are now trying to organize separate meetings with the
parties and to suggest new formulations on non-agreed questions.

Reproduction on full or in part is prohibited without reference to
Public Radio of Armenia.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Turkish army ready for operation in northern Iraq
10.11.2007 15:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The armed forces chief, General Yasar Buyukanit,
said the military is ready and waiting for the government to order the
cross-border operation

"A short time after our units are given a task, they will be able to
carry it out. That is the point at which we are. We are now waiting
for the order that will come from the government," Cumhurriyet quoted
Buyukanit as saying.

`23 previous operations produced no effect with an exception of three
major ones carried out in 1992, 1995 and 1997.

The trans-border operation has several aspects, including political
and diplomatic, according to him. `We are dealing with its military
aspect,’ he said.

`Terrorism has transformed into a global phenomenon. One operation
can’t neutralize the PKK but can inflict a serious damage,’ he said,
Vesti reports.

ARE CONDITIONS AT BAKERIES SATISFACTORY?
Anahit Danielyan

KarabakhOpen
09-11-2007 13:07:50

We have already informed about the monitoring of major bakeries of
Stepanakert by a group led by the head of the Oversight Service of
the prime minister Carlen Petrosyan. The monitoring checked four
parameters: weight, quality, price, and conditions.

The monitoring results suggest that the weight of loafs complies with
the regulations. As to quality, the specimens of bread were sent to
laboratory and the results will become known later. With regard to
price, the monitoring concluded that the price of bread is up because
the price of flour is up. "The price of bread is stable. The rumors
that someone is benefitting from raising the price of bread are not
true. The price of flour went up by 10-15 percent, the price of bread
went up by 6-7 percent," Carlen Petrosyan says.

The monitoring group included journalists as well. Most of them
visited at least three bakeries. Experts say the sanitary and hygiene
conditions were not satisfactory. However, the conclusion of the
group released later ran that the bakeries mostly comply with the
regulations. Carlen Petrosyan also said drawbacks had been detected
in some bakeries which should be eliminated.

In answer to our question when the next monitoring will be held and
whether breaches will be punished, Carlen Petrosyan said the Oversight
Service is not empowered to monitor but can turn to other services with
a request to monitor. "We will certainly give them time to overcome
drawbacks, we then will check and inform about the results," Carlen
Petrosyan said.

Despite the official conclusion, the public is not sure that quality
bread is baked in the capital in. At least of the three bakeries I
visited only one bakes bread which is fit to eat.

CHRISTINE EGERSZEGI-OBRIST: WE CONTRIBUTE TO DEVELOPMENT OF STATES WHICH CHOSE DEMOCRATIC WAY OF DEVELOPMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.11.2007 17:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met today
with Christine Egerszegi-Obrist, the President of the Swiss National
Council, the RA MFA press office reported.

During the meeting the Minister gave a high estimation to the
efficient activity of the Armenian-Swiss parliamentary group and
thanked Switzerland for assistance in implementation of rural
development programs in Armenia.

Vartan Oskanian presented the priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy,
relations with neighbors, Karabakh talks and Armenia’s vision of
normalization of relations with Turkey.

For her part, Ms. Egerszegi-Obrist commented on the purpose of her
visit to Armenia and said Switzerland contributes to development of
the states which chose democratic way of development.

PRIME MINISTER CONDOLES OVER DECEASE

A1+
[11:32 am] 05 November, 2007

RA Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian conveyed condolences over the
decease of renowned Albert Yavurian.

It is a great sorrow and loss for us. Yavurian was one of the greatest
cameramen of the 20th century who had made a real revolution in the
Soviet cinematography.

He was able to ignore theatrical stereotypes.

He never feared to portray the reality by his camera.

Time was too severe to him but people assessed his work in due time.

I bow before the great master’s talent and mourn with Yavurian’s
family, relatives and friends over his death.

RUSSIAN BUSINESSMEN WILL STUDY INVESTMENT CLIMATE IN ARTSAKH

KarabakhOpen
05-11-2007 13:40:42

President Bako Sahakyan met with Russia-based Armenian businessmen,
civil society and cultural activists in Moscow, the General Information
department of the NKR President reported.

The president of the Union of Armenians of Russia Ara Abrahamyan
proposed setting up a monitoring group to study the investment climate
in Artsakh and come up with definite proposals.

President Bako Sahakyan said it is necessary to shift the bilateral
relations to a new level.

So far the Russian business has not been present in Karabakh. The
Russia-based Armenians give considerable assistance but it is mainly
confined to humanitarian and social programs. Perhaps the only
exception is Levon Hairapetyan who beautifully combines charity and
business in the village of Vank, Martakert.