Author: Chakrian Hovsep

ARMENIA INTERESTED IN CONTINUING COOPERATION WITH OSCE

armradio.am
15.12.2008 18:59

On December 15 the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian,
received the OSCE Secretary General, Marc Perrin de Brichambaut.

Greeting the guest, Minister Nalbandian noted that as an OSCE member
state Armenia is interested in continuing the cooperation in all three
spheres of OSCE activity and in this regard attaches importance to
the reformation of the organization to make it more effective. The
Armenian Foreign Minister noted also that the European security
needs new architecture, which should take into consideration all the
existing concerns.

Summing up the results of the OSCE Ministerial meeting in Helsinki,
Edward Nalbandian and Marc Perrin de Brichambaut attached importance to
the consolidation of the provisions targeted at promoting cooperation
over the area of OSCE responsibility in the documents adopted as a
result of the meeting.

Speaking about the opportunities of settlement of the Artsakh issue,
Edward Nalbandian emphasized the role of the OSCE in the settlement
process and stressed the importance f the declaration of the OSCE
Foreign Ministers and the declaration of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair
countries on the Karabakh conflict resolution.

The interlocutors dwelt on the activity of the OSCE Yerevan Office
and the programs implemented by it. In this regard, Edward Nalbandian
noted that Armenia attaches importance to the existence of the OSCE
Office in Yerevan.

POLICEMEN DON’T SWING TRUNCHEONS AT PEOPLE

A1+
[08:43 pm] 15 December, 2008

The Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) ended in Athens a few
days ago. The forum featured 480 participants from 18 countries. The
forum aims at assessing media landscape and freedom of expression in
developing countries, find ways of protecting the right of speech and
journalists from violence. The forum was attended by President of A1+
Company Mesrop Movsesyan. The participants discussed different issues
and exchanged viewpoints.

"Alongside with Zimbabwe and Azerbaijan Armenia ranked the first on
the list. It is a great shame for us. But we couldn’t share a lot as
our means of struggle are not productive," noted Mr. Movsesyan.

Forum was held during the "mass riots" in Greece. Mesrop Movsesyan
drew parallels during the March 1-2 unrest in Yerevan and December 7
coup attempt in Greece. In both cases the disorders were stirred up
by injustice, said Mr. Movsesyan. On the whole, he was surprised at
the functioning and independence of the Greek Parliament.

"Laws work perfectly in Greece. The law bans police access to
schools. The authorities wanted to amend the law but thanks to the
opposition’s efforts the amendments were not even put to the vote. It
is due to mention that the opposition doesn’t form parliament majority
in Greece," he says.

Mesrop Movsesyan is impressed by the solidarity of the Greek
people. "The assassination of an Armenian youth united a whole nation
which is not the case with the Armenians. Even if we unite for a
common goal we don’t struggle till the end, till the final triumph."

He also noted that Greek demonstrators broke shop windows but none of
them robbed the shops. Just on the contrary, people beat the robbers
if they were such. Demonstrators simply wanted to set the shops on
fire. By the way they only targeted at the shops of well-off people."

Mesrop Movsesyan is also surprised at the dignified stance of local
policemen. "For the first time in my life I felt deep respect towards
these people. For the first time I saw a policeman carrying out
his main duty – keeping public order. They didn’t swing bludgeon at
innocent people. Instead of disclosing and punishing real criminals our
policemen settle accounts with suspects. Policemen should avert crimes
rather than punish people. I have seen no Greek policeman shooting
demonstrators. They only used tear gas to disperse the mob. The only
policeman shooting the 15-year-old youth dead is now in custody. Greeks
have showed their might, and now the government are ready to resign.

By Sarah Rainsford
BBC News, Istanbul

[Picture: Men stand besides the skulls and corpses of Armenian victims
of the Turkish deportation circa 1915]

An internet petition has been launched in Turkey, apologising for the
"great catastrophe of 1915" when hundreds of thousands of Ottoman
Armenians died.

Armenians and many international historians describe as "genocide" the
massacres and deaths during a forced deportation from eastern Turkey.

Turkey firmly denies that, saying those killed were just victims of war.

The petition – the first of its kind – was initiated by prominent
Turkish academics and newspaper columnists.

They say they want to challenge the official denial and provoke
discussion in Turkish society about what happened.

The petition is entitled "I apologise", and a short statement at the
top rejects what it calls the ignorance and denial in Turkey of what
the Ottoman Armenians suffered in 1915.

It then apologises for the pain that was caused.

It is a bold and original step in a country where writer Hrant Dink
was killed just last year for openly saying that the events of 1915
were genocide.

Sparking discussion

Nationalist politicians have condemned the move as an insult to the
Turkish nation, and the organisers have received abusive emails.

Turkey admits that many Armenians were killed but it denies any
genocide, saying the deaths happened during widespread fighting in
World War I.

The petition does not call on the state to apologise for what happened
and it deliberately avoids the highly controversial definition of
genocide.

But the Turkish academic who dreamed up the idea says he hopes it will
spark a proper discussion of what happened and promote empathy for
what the Armenians suffered.

Cengiz Aktar called it the responsibility of all Turks to think and
talk openly about how, and why, the Armenian people disappeared from a
land they inhabited for 4,000 years.

The petition’s authors say they have received many encouraging comments.

In the first few hours after the petition was launched, more than
1,000 people had signed their names beneath it.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA OFFERED CONDOLENCES TO PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS ON DECEASE OF COUNTRY’S EX-PRESIDENT

ArmInfo
2008-12-15 11:11:00

ArmInfo. President of Armenia Serzh Sagsyan offered condolences to
President of Cyprus on decease of the country’s ex-president Tassos
Papadopoulos.

As the Armenian presidential press service told ArmInfo, S. Sargsyan’s
message to president of Cyprus Dimitris Christofias says: ‘I knew
about decease of ex-President of Cyprus Tassos Papandopoulos with
deep sorrow. His contribution to the modern history of Cyprus as a
wise leader of the brother Cyprian people and a faithful son of his
Motherland is invaluable. His contribution to the cause of tightening
of brother relations between Armenia and the Republic of Cyprus is
great. In the name of the Armenian people and on my behalf I express
my deep condolences to the family of the deceased and to the brother
Cyprot people’.

BULGARIAN, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS DISCUSS POSSIBLE COOPERATION IN ENERGY SECTOR

BSANNA NEWS
Dec 11 2008
Ukraine

SOFIA, December 11. (BTA). President Georgi Purvanov and his Armenian
counterpart Serzh Sargsyan discussed possibilities for cooperation
in the energy sector. This emerged at a joint news conference after
their one-to-one meeting and talks between theofficial delegations.

Sargsyan started his official two-day visit to Bulgaria at Purvanov’s
invitation on Wednesday.

This is the third visit here by an Armenian state leader since 1995.

Purvanov stressed that "trust" and "pragmatism" are the key words
in the active political dialogue between all institutions of the
two countries. Purvanov confirmed that Bulgaria is ready to support
Armenia’s efforts for more active dialogue with the EU in the context
of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

The two countries have good traditions in the energy sector and
have serious intentions to develop nuclear power engineering,
Purvanov said. Sargsyan added that the two countries’ power plants
are of the same type. They want to build new capacity and have good
opportunities for cooperation in the exchange of experience and in
the plants’ operation.

Purvanov and Sargsyan stressed that bilateral economic relations are
lagging behind and should be invigorated.

The two Presidents discussed ways to solve the transport problem,
which would make it possible to promote economic ties and to step
up contacts between businesses. Economic contacts have been hindered
since 1993 when the border between Armenia and Turkey was closed due
to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Armenian President informed
Purvanov about the progress of his country’s negotiations with
Turkey. Sargsyan also talked about the process of regulation of the
conflict. He expressed satisfaction with Purvanov’s statement that
Bulgaria sticks to the EU position on the matter and is in favour of
a fair peaceful solution to the conflict.

The return of Bulgarian goods which used to be available on the
Armenian market is another area of cooperation highlighted by Sargsyan.

He presented a letter to Purvanov expressing the gratitude of the
Armenian people and State for Bulgaria’s help in the aftermath of
the devastating Spitak earthquake in 1988.

The two Presidents attended the signing of four bilateral documents:
a protocol amending the agreement on double taxation; a protocol
of intent between the two culture ministries on organizing Days of
Bulgarian Culture in Armenia in 2009 and Days of Armenian Culture
in Bulgaria in 2010; a working programme for 2009-2014 implementing
the memorandum of understanding between the Civil Service Council
of Armenia and the Bulgarian Ministry of State Administration and
Administrative Reform; and a cooperation agreement between the Armenian
National Archive and Bulgaria’s Archives State Agency.

Purvanov and Sargsyan launched into circulation a Bulgarian-Armenian
postal issue commemorating Peyo Yavorov and Andranik Ozanian, who
participated in the two countries’ national liberation movements.

Later on Wednesday the Armenian guest conferred with National Assembly
Chairman Georgi Pirinski, Parliament said in a press release. The
meeting was also attended by Chairman of the Bulgaria-Armenia
Friendship Group Roupen Krikoryan.

The participants in the meeting expressed satisfaction with the
development of two-way relations and the active dialogue between the
institutions, noting that a board base is available for ever more
active cooperation in all spheres.

Pirinski focused on the development of infrastructure and
communications in the region saying that they need to be built at
a European level. Pirinski said that this common goal of the two
countries needs committed effort for security and stability.

The relations between Bulgaria and Armenia are excellent and have deep
historical and civilizational roots, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev
and Sargsyan noted at their meeting, quoted by the government’s
information service.

The two officials discussed the opportunities to expand two-way
economic ties where cooperation in energy and in transport and
communications projects were singled out as priority areas. The two
also discussed the opening of a regular air service between Sofia
and Yerevan.

Stanishev and Sargsyan spoke about the global financial crisis and the
measures of the two governments in mitigating the negative effects from
it. Special attention was paid to the situation in Caucasus region.

IMPORTED POULTRY CHEAPER THAN LOCAL PRODUCT

Panorama.am
20:22 11/12/2008

The Minister of Agriculture Aramayis Grigoryan has had a meeting
with the Ambassador of the USA Marie Yovanovich, reported the press
department of the Ministry. The Minister and the Ambassador have
discussed a range of questions, in particular the import of poultry
into Armenia from America.

In this regard Panorama.am reporter has been informed by Alexander
Alexanyan of the Ministry of Agriculture that poultry from America
has been imported into Armenia after the poultry flue. In general
poultry is imported from Canada and Brazil also. Armenia does not
export poultry because of lack of roads.

Alexanyan said that there are 5 big firms which give good product. To
the question if there are firms in Armenia providing poultry
why Armenia has become poultry importing country, he answered:
"Our local product is more expensive that’s why imported product is
purchased well".

"JAVAKHK" AND "AKHALTSKHA" VOLUMES ISSUED
Alisa Gevorgyan

"Radiolur"
12.12.2008 15:19

"Javakhk" and "Akhaltskha" are the recurrent volumes published thanks
to the efforts of the "Organization for Studying Armenian Architecture"
non-governmental organization, which, according to the President of
the Organization Samvel Karapetyan, are the result of decades-long
activity.

"Javakhk" volume presents the detailed history of about 100 settlements
of the region. The book is rich in photos, maps and sketches.

"Akhaltskha" volume presents the history and historic monuments of the
settlements in Akhaltskha (Samtskhe) region at the Armenian-Georgian
line of contact. In this volume the authors told the history of
27 villages, which have been settled by Armenians at different
periods. Today the number of such villages is 15.

BAKU ANALYZING OUTCOMES OF HELSINKI TALKS ON KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.12.2008 16:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Official Baku is analyzing the outcomes of the
Helsinki meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers
on resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and discussions held
during the annual meeting of the OSCE ministerial council, Trend
Azeri news agency reports.

"We will announce our position on completion of the analysis," said
Novruz Mammadov, chief of international relations department of the
presidential office.

Mammadov said he has no information that Russia frustrated adoption
of a join resolution on Karabakh.

"I have read about it in media reports. But I can not say whether
it’s Russia’s official position. Everything will become clear after
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov comments on the matter. I don’t
think Russia will take a stance contradicting Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity," he added.

Russia needs resolution of the conflict in the framework of
Azerbaijan’s "territorial integrity", international law norms and
principles, according to him.

Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

December 11, 2008
Contact: Ani Garabedian

ANCWR’s Look Back at 2008

– Year of Firsts Sets Tone for Community Advocacy

LOS ANGELES – Over the course of the past year, the ANC-WR ushered in
new heights of progress and development in community efforts. A few
highlights of the year included record-breaking attendance for the
annual banquet, town hall meetings across the western United States,
the controversy surrounding Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch and the
further advancement of the ANC-WR Internship-Externship Program
(ANC-WR IEP).

Throughout most of the year, the Armenian American community eagerly
awaited the ANC-WR Annual Banquet. More than 1000 supporters gathered
on October 12, 2008 at this marquee event held at the Ronald Reagan
Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California to celebrate the
achievements of 2008. Public officials joined members of the community
in honoring Democratic Vice-President Elect Joseph Biden, Los Angeles
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, President Ronald Reagan and long time ANC
supporter Mrs. Ashkhen Pilavjian. Honorary chairs of the event
included Congressmen Adam Schiff, George Radanovich, Ed Royce,
Congresswoman Jackie Speier and several others.

During the course of the year the ANC-WR expanded its community
outreach and hosted town hall meetings throughout the western United
States; from Washington, to Oregon, to San Diego and several other
locales. ANC activists gathered to receive updates about various ANC
initiatives including House Resolution 106, the Senate hearings for
the newly appointed US Ambassador to Armenia, the US Presidential
Elections, congressional elections and various other issues. The
community learned more about how their local activism played a crucial
role and that their work has a vital, grassroots impact on the local
and national scene.

Most notably, the Annual Federal Issues Town Hall Briefing was held in
May in Los Angeles. This event focused on key developments in the
second session of the 110th Congress. The event featured
presentations by ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian and prominent political
expert and National Politics Editor for Politico Charles Mahtesian.

One of the most noteworthy developments of 2008 occurred on March 28,
2008 when President Bush nominated Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch to serve
as America’s next Ambassador to Armenia. President Bush’s previous
nominee as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, Richard Hoagland, was subject
to two legislative holds by U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) in
response to the nominee’s statements denying the Armenian Genocide.
President Bush ultimately withdrew Hoagland’s nomination in August
2007.

Initiated in the days leading up to the Senate confirmation hearing
for ambassador-designate Marie Yovanovitch, the AYF and ANCA launched
an innovative campaign using YouTube video messages to encourage U.S.
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to ask President Bush’s nominee frank
questions about the Armenian Genocide.

The ANC-WR helped support the ANCA in launching an online action
effort urging Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to
question Amb. Yovanovitch on issues including the Armenian Genocide as
well as Turkey and Azerbaijan’s ongoing blockades of Armenia and the
U.S. role in finding a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict that respects the right to self-determination of the people
of Artsakh. The online effort was combined with a postcard campaign to
key Senate Foreign Relations Committee members, urging them to take
action.

In 2008, the ANC-WR welcomed fourteen interns and externs to its
program, the largest class to date. Students from all over California
participated in this challenging program which helps shape and develop
various skills that will prepare participants for success and
leadership in their careers. Established in June 2006, the ANC-WR IEP
is a selective and intensive program that provides student leaders and
activists with an opportunity to participate in a program designed to
provide an in-depth introduction to Armenian American issues as well
as advocacy efforts on the federal, state and local level.

Looking back, 2008 was a year full of education, community outreach
and activity for the ANC-WR. The success of the ANC-WR is owed to the
dedication of its activists and the Armenian American community.
Thank you for your support and we look forward to a fruitful 2009.

The Armenian National Committee–Western Region is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in
the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States
and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances
the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.

Kirakosyan replaces Sukiasyan as Ararat coach
Friday 12 December 2008
uefa.com

Varuzhan Sukiasyan has stepped down as Ararat coach

Ashot Kirakosyan has been named as the new coach of FC Ararat Yerevan
five days after his predecessor Varuzhan Sukiasyan resigned following
his side’s defeat to FC Pyunik in a play-off for the Armenian title.

Differences of opinion

Kirakosyan had been working with Ararat’s reserve team and had
previously been in charge of FC Dinamo Yerevan and FC Dinamo-Zenit,
while he has also coached in Australia and Syria. Runners-up slot in
2008 represented the club’s best achievement since finishing second in
the 2000 campaign, and Ararat also won the Armenian Cup and competed
in the UEFA Cup this season. They earned a place in qualifying for
next season’s inaugurl UEFA Europa League, but Sukiasyan, who is also
coach of Armenia’s Under-21 team, nonetheless stepped down.