Author: Chakrian Hovsep

Eurasia Partnership Foundation
Isabella Sargsyan Communications Officer
56 Zarobyan Street
Yerevan 0009, Armenia
Tel.: (374.10) 58.60.95 x 303
Fax: (374.10) 58.60.96
Skype: bekaisa

Sayat Nova Choir and Kardeþ Türküler to Perform in Yerevan December 12

Yerevan, Armenia- The Istanbul-based Sayat Nova Choir and Kardeþ Türküler
musical ensemble will perform at the Aram Khachaturyan Concert Hall in
Yerevan, Armenia at 7:00 pm on Friday, December 12. The concert is part of a
cultural exchange between Armenia and Turkey organized by Eurasia
Partnership Foundation and made possible by funding from USAID. The groups
will also perform in Vanadzor at Charles Aznavour Culture Palace on December
13.

In Yerevan Sayat Nova and Kardeþ Türküler will perform together Turkish,
Armenian, Kurdish, Georgian, Arabic, Gypsy and Laz songs including the
well-known Ov Hayots Ashkharh, Krunk, Bingyol, Ya Hawa, Kamancha, Medet,
Cilicia, Ella Ella, Demme and others.
 
Kardeþ Türküler came into being in 1993, as a concert project by the
Boðaziçi University Folklore Club which aimed to interpret folksongs of
peoples living in Turkey in their original languages. First they preformed
Turkish, Kurdish, Azerbaijani and Armenian songs. Later, the Kardeþ Türküler
project broadened its repertoire to include songs from other cultures such
as Laz, Georgian, Circassian, Roma, Macedonian and Alevi. The last album of
Kardeþ Türküler, "Bahar" (Spring), was released in 2005. More information on
Kardeþ Türküler can be found on their website:

The Sayat Nova Choir came into existence on April 24, 1971 under the roof of
the Holy Yerits Mangants Church. Apart from performing as a choir, to the
group also studies and interprets Armenian folk music. The Sayat Nova Choir
formed its own orchestra in 1992 and now has over 60 permanent members.
Since 2004, the choir is conducted by Melikcan Zaman, a former chorister of
the Sayat Nova Children’s and Juvenile Choir. More information on Sayat Nova
can be found on:

"This is a unique concert by a unique group. What started as a students’
volunteer exercise in the national and ethnic music of Turkey became one of
the leading bands in traditional ethnic music and dance not only in Turkey
but also outside its borders.  The concert will give its Armenian audience a
chance to experience traditional music from the many ethnic minorities that
live in Turkey and will enrich Armenia’s knowledge of Turkey today. We
believe cultural dialogue between a variety of nationalities which live in
these two countries will complement the dialogue going on between the two
countries on the official and non-official levels.," says Gevorg
Ter-Gabrielyan, Eurasia Partnership Foundation Country Director in Armenia.

The Aram Khachaturyan Music Hall is located at 46 Mashtots Avenue.  Concert
tickets are available free of charge from the Box Office of the Aram
Khachaturyan Music Hall, as well as from concert manager Arman Padaryan, by
phone at (091) 43-24-80. In Vanadzor invitation tickets are available from
organizers by phone at (0322) 2-04-88. 

EDITORIAL STAFF OF AGOS CONTINUES RECEIVING THREATS

Noyan Tapan

Dec 10, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. After Hrant Dink’s murder
the circulation of the Agos weekly of Istanbul has increased
abruptly. Bagrat Estukian, the editor of newspaper’s Armenian
department, reported at the December 10 press conference. According
to him, the newspaper was published in the circulation of 3000-3500
copies during Hrant Dink’s lifetime, immediately after his murder for
some time the newspaper was published in a ten-fold and at present
in a three-fold more circulation.

B. Estukian said that the editorial staff of Agos is still receiving
threats of death, extermination. According to him, the local policemen
provide employees’ security. "However strong control is unbearable
for a person loving freedom. Even Hrant, who knew about those threats,
did not hire bodyguards, did not carry arms," he said.

In B. Estukian’s opinion, the trial on the case of Hrant Dink’s murder
is constantly deliberately dragged out, and everything is done so
as not to disclose crime’s authors. "As if it is enough that they
have caught the criminal, who has confessed his guilt," B. Estukian
confessed. According to him, H. Dink’s murder shocked the Turkish
society very much, everybody made sure that Dink was killed because
of being Armenian. B. Estukian also said that though for H. Dink’s
family it is dangerous to live in Turkey, they also cannot renounce
their principles and mission like Hrant.

It was also mentioned that the 4 pages of the 24-page Agos weekly
published since 1996 are published in Armenian.

MILITARY ELITE LOST THE BATTLE TO THE RUBLE
by Vladimir Mukhin

DEFENSE and SECURITY
December 8, 2008 Monday
Russia

IN THE NORTH CAUCASIAN MILITARY DISTRICT OFFICERS WILL BE REDUCED BY
66.67%; Vladimir Putin reported that only the officers and warrant
officers whose service term expired in 2009 and officers drafted
for two years after graduation from military departments of civil
higher educational institutions (if their contract term expired)
would be dismissed from the army. Vacancies will be reduced too. No
other reductions are planned. This statement differs from what the
military commanders are doing.

Vladimir Putin reported that only the officers and warrant officers
whose service term expired in 2009 and officers drafted for two
years after graduation from military departments of civil higher
educational institutions (if their contract term expired) would be
dismissed from the army. Vacancies will be reduced too. No other
reductions are planned. This statement differs from what the military
commanders are doing.

Large-scale reductions of officers will take in the most combat ready
and capable military district of the Russian army. Whereas in the
Armed Forces in general the quantity of officers will be reduced by
50% by 2012, in the North Caucasian Military District the quantity
of officers will be reduced by 66.67%. Deputy Commander of the North
Caucasian Military District, Lieutenant General Alexei Verbitsky,
announced this recently. Such plans cannot be explained from the
standpoint of common sense. It was commonly known that during the
difficult days of fighting against Georgian aggressors in South Ossetia
in August, it was officers of the North Caucasian Military District
who provided the tasks set for the troops. Now it turns out that the
backbone of the army, its elite deployed in the most explosive region
is not needed by anyone.

In any case, General Verbitsky does not say which military posts
will be reduced although like other military commanders he states
that in the course of reforms the quantity of combat ready units and
overall strength of the North Caucasian Military District will not
change. This means that, first, the strength of the military units
will be increased on account of a part of reduced of professional
servicemen and, second, reduced posts of officers and warrant officers
will be occupied by sergeants.

An officer of the Defense Ministry wishing to remain anonymous reports
that a mass reduction of officers in the North Caucasian Military
District where the quantity of professional servicemen who die is the
biggest is explained, although this may sound blasphemous, is explained
by purely financial problems. For killed officers the state has to pay
significant insurance and social benefits and needs to grant housing
and benefits to families of the deceased. The situation with soldiers
and sergeants in similar cases will be simpler. Hence, incumbent
top-ranking officials of the Defense Ministry decided to reduce the
quantity of officers’ posts in the North Caucasian Military District.

Some commanders say that ignoring the role of officers in the
south of the country during conduction of reforms in the army may
lead to big problems. Lieutenant General Yury Netkachev said, "The
current conscript and contract soldiers including sergeants do not
comply with the required level. They are insufficiently educated,
do not have due motivation for service, are often ill-disciplined
etc. They will hardly substitute officers. In conditions of the North
Caucasian Military District this is harmful in general. However, the
formation of soldiers’ ranks there continues according to regional
and mono-ethnic principle. The majority of soldiers and sergeants in
units of the North Caucasian Military District are people from the
North Caucasus where the level of economic development is low. If
this trend continues degradation of the army is inevitable."

A significant reduction of the quantity of officers is only one
of the novelties to be tested in the North Caucasian Military
District. Another initiative is increasing the quantity of
general-purpose military formations not only on the territory of Russia
but also in other Caucasian states. Verbitsky reports that in the North
Caucasian Military District, "we will form 11 combined-arms brigades of
permanent readiness." According to him, the 58th army (headquartered
in Vladikavkaz) will be reorganized into an operational command and
two mechanized infantry brigades of permanent readiness will be formed
on the basis of the 20th mechanized infantry division (headquartered
in Volgograd). The general says that three Russian bases: in South
Ossetia (Tskhinval and Dzhava), in Abkhazia (Gudauta) and Armenia
(Yerevan) will be included into the North Caucasian Military District.

He also says that brigades and units of permanent readiness will be
formed according to three principles: under contract, according to
draft and according to mixed system where there are 80% contract
servicemen and 20% conscript soldiers. Meanwhile, according to
reports from the local level, so far the North Caucasian Military
District manages to form only the units manned with conscripts without
problems. Situation with recruitment of contract servicemen is not
very favorable. In the 42nd mechanized infantry division there are
problems with contract soldiers from Dagestan. In some units they
form majority, which according to commanders has a negative impact
on their combat capability. There are also problems at the military
bases being formed in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Recruiting residents
of North Caucasus there, military registration and enlistment offices
promised salaries of 50,000 rubles per month to them. Now it turns out
that contract servicemen there will earn slightly more than 15,000
rubles per month. Many of the recruited professionals terminated
their contracts or deserted.

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN’S CONGRATULATION ON HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

armradio.am
10.12.2008 14:44

The President of Parliament of the Republic of Armenia, Hovik
Abrahamyan, issued a congratulatory message on the occasion of the
Human Rights Day. The message states:

"In 1948 the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights and ever since 1950 December 10th has been celebrated
as Human Rights Days.

Both the world and people have changed over the past 60 years,
however, the human rights and freedoms formed in the times of Greek
philosophers, have mostly stayed unchanged. The notion formed in
France 219 years ago, in 1789, has acquired a new and more complete
meaning today, preserving the most essential, the idea that from the
very birth people are bestowed with basic rights, which should be
guaranteed by the state.

After gaining independence the Constitution of the Republic of
Armenia also consolidated the human rights and freedoms. After the
constitutional reforms the Institute of the Human Rights Defender was
established in Armenia, and in a short while the National Assembly
appointed a Human Rights Defender whose supreme duty is to defend
human rights and freedoms in Armenia.

After the constitutional reforms the Standing Committee on Defense
of Human Rights and Public Issues was established at the National
Assembly, having the task to provide support and information to the
citizens in20the sphere of defense of human and citizens’ rights
and freedoms.

Offering my congratulations on the Human Rights Day, I want to ensure
that the laws and agreements targeted at the defense of human rights
and freedoms will remain in the focus of attention of the National
Assembly. Special attention will be paid to their accomplishment,
since no matter how ideal the laws are, it’s possible to improve the
life with correct implementation of laws."

VLADIMIR KAZIMIROV: AZERBAIJANIS AND ARMENIANS NEED TERMINATION OF CENTURY-LONG ANTAGONISM AND CONFRONTATION AND NOT NEW BLOODSHED

ArmInfo
2008-12-10 13:22:00

ArmInfo. ‘Azerbaijanis and Armenians need termination of a century-long
antagonism and confrontation and not a new and more tragic bloodshed’,
deputy Chairman of the Association of Russian Diplomats, Head of
the mediatory mission in 1992-1996, authorized representative of
the Russian president for Nagorno Karabakh, OSCE MG participant and
co-chairman from Russia Vladimir Kazimirov writes, in the article
"Signature is high and the bottom is double. Who is ready to set
aside peaceful solution in Karabakh?"

published in "Vremya Novostey" newspaper yesterday.

‘At OSCE member-states’ foreign ministerial meeting, which finished on
December 5 in Helsinki, OSCE MG cochairmen (Russia, USA and France)
called on the Karabakh conflict parties to confirm adherence to
its peaceful settlement. I would seem why to be repeated? In fact,
the presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia have already signed
November 2 Moscow Declaration penetrated with an unambiguous adjustment
for recovery of the situation, security and stability in South Caucasus
and peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. There is no
high signature than the presidential one. What forced the ministers
to repeat the call as if responded by the presidents? The August
events in Caucasus made to think those why rather often came out
with threats to settle this conflict by force. The signature under
the Moscow Declaration hindered Baku to resume a militant rhetoric,
however, not for long.

In an interview with the Italian TV company at late November, President
of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev tried to prove that the Declaration ‘does
not deprive Baku of the right to settle this conflict in a military
way’. This is a very interesting interpretation of the international
document and the own signature under it! Whether peaceful settlement of
the conflict rules out the military way? Is it possible to contribute
to recovery of the situation, security and stability in the region
by such kind of ‘explanations’? The real price of each signature is
cognized, especially as many arguments of Baku in this conflict are
far not indisputable.

It is impossible to hide that Nagorno Karabakh had become a subject
of dispute long ago. However, it is not so easy to reduce everything
to the ‘Armenian aggression’ at late 20th century as the background
and dynamics of the conflict is much more difficult. Azerbaijanis
and Armenians need termination of a century-long antagonism and
confrontation and not a new and more tragic bloodshed. The Moscow
Declaration marks a way to liquidation of wars between them it requires
more serious approach (and not signatures with a double bottom), that
is, non-alternative political settlement of the conflict in Karabakh’,
the article of V. Kazimirov says.

THE US GOVERNMENT AND KURDS
by Jaff Sassani

OpEdNews
/KURDISTAN-THE-US-GOVERNMEN-by-Jaff-Sassani-081203 -764.html
Dec 7 2008
PA

The US Government has been involved with the Kurdish nation’s case
since President Wilson’s famous declaration of the "program for
world peace".

The number of Kurds in the Middle East and Asia is estimated to be
between 40-50 million, the largest ethnic group in the world with no
country of their own. They have been led by tribal leaders, religious
tribal Islamic Sheik leaders, Socialists, Democrats and Communists. At
the end of each war they were defeated because of many reasons some
of which we will explained below, however the number one reason for
their continued failure is that the Kurds always fight without a plan.

The Kurdish nation is one of the original Aryan (Iranian, Eranshahr)
nations in the region. They formed the first organized Empire in
today’s Iran called the Medes Empire. In the year 647 – 3 B.C. the
Medes, Cimmerians and Mannaeans revolted against Esarhaddon, the
King of Assyria, under the leadership of Kashtaritu (Khshathrita). It
is probable that Kashtaritu is the same person whom Herodotus calls
Phraortes, the son of Deioces (Dayukku). Kashtaritu ruled until the
year 652 B.C. From 652 until 625 the Medes were ruled by the Scythians
or Sakas. In 615 the tribes of Media united under the leadership of
Cyxares (Huvakhshathra), attacked the Assyrian Empire and entered
Kerkuk (Arrapkha). In the year 612 B.C. the Medes together with the
Babylonians occupied Nineveh, and with the occupation of Hrran in 610
B.C. the Assyrian Empire fell. The Medes Empire ended when another
Aryan (Iranian) leader (Cyrus the great) from the royal family
changed the name of the Empire to the Achaemenids Empire (559 –
330 B.C.) after his father’s family name.

The people in the Kurdistan region are called Kurds today. They are one
of the original nations within the Aryan (Iranian) nations, like the
Persian from the Pars region, the Azeri from the Azerbaijan region,
and the Tajik from the Tajikistan region. They have historically had
the power to lead or be part of the leadership within the Aryan nations
just like any of the other Aryan branches. They were the rulers during
the Sassanid Empire before the Islamic Arab army conquered the land
of the Aryan people. The Sassanid Empire went back to the idea of a
united Aryan nation as it was before the Medes and the Achaemenids
Empires. For example they called citizen "Eranshahr" not pars-Ian and
they adopted the flag of blacksmith Kawa or Kavah as their own flags.

They led the Iranian people after Islam too. For example the Safavid
dynasty, Afshar dynasty and Zand dynasty. They have even had political
power in modern days like Dr. Karim Sanjabi who was the opposition
leader to the Shah of Iran after the death of Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh,
the Prime Minister of Iran, and the leader of the Democratic movement
in Iran. The PM was later overthrown by the CIA in favor for the Shah
Mohammed Reza Pahlavi of Iran dictatorship in 1953.

The US Government’s policies are wrong in the region. They never
followed President Woodrow Wilson’s program. We hope the new
administration will follow the "program for world peace" instead of
continuing the dirty games and wrong policies of the past.

We asked for equality with the European people in our article "The
New Administration Should Treat Iranians as It Does Europeans". There
are many articles about the Kurds in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria and
the world, especially about the Iraqi Kurds in Kurdistan. The US
Government is dealing directly with the Kurds in Iraq. They have been
following the wrong policies in the region for a long time. They are
only helping dictators in the region. Those dictators could be the Shah
of Iran, Generals of Turkey, Barzani and Talibani of Kurds, Maliki
of Iraq, Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and the ruler of Pakistan. We
do not understand the US Government’s policy in the region. They are
spending billions of US tax payer money in the region and the region
continues to deteriorate with no gain for either side.

The types of people they support in the area are akin to an Iraqi
mafia. The mind set of the leaders in Iraq is one of personal gain
without regard to the general population. We hope the readers will
understand what kind of the people the US Government is helping to
fight the terrorist organizations in the Middle East. Many writers
like Dr. Michael Rubin and others wrote about the corruption in the
Kurdistan region of Iraq, but the administration has taken no action
at all.

We want to point out the plan of Vice President Elect, Joe Biden,
and the tape "From Turkey to Iran" by Ambassador Peter Galbraith’s,
to advise the new administration with regard to the Kurds’ problems
and its solution in the region.

We ask Mr. Ambassador, as he is known to be one of the advisers to
Mr. Barzani according to media reports: How logical it is to ignore
the rights of 20-30 million Kurds in Turkey and 10-15 million Kurds in
Iran in favor of Mr. Barzani? Mr. Barzani and his partner Mr. Talibani
currently have control of 5 million Kurds in Iraq to rule and abuse
instead of showing humanity and justice for all Kurds.

We hope the newly elected President Obama won’t take this kind of
advice and make the same mistakes as many American administrations
have done since "President Woodrow Wilson’s program for world peace".

The Armenian and Kurdish genocide in Turkey should be recognized
instead of following the wrong and dirty games in practice today. The
US Government should follow the right approach to help Turks, Kurds,
Armenians, Persians and other nations in the region for peace and
stability instead of war and more war.

We are proposing the creation of an Aryan (Iranian) Economic Union
(AU) as we said before. We want to be treated as the European people
are treated. This Economic Union could integrate the Aryan and Turks as
one united people for peace and economic stability. Russia, EU, Israel
and the USA will be benefited by doing business with the proposed AU.

We are one hundred years behind in technology compared to Russia,
EU, Israel and the USA. We are a very good market with natural
resources. If we get help by the powers above it can be more beneficial
for our people and the people in those countries, instead of war
and instability.

We hope that the American people will encourage the new administration
to be on the side of good. We hope that the American people and
its elected Government will be our friend and partner for peace and
justice in the Aryan and Turk land in the Middle East and Asia Regions.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

REQUIEM SERVICE IN MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS
OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN ARMENIA 20 YEARS AGO

A Requiem service was held in the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in
Antelias on December 7 to mark the 20th anniversary of the devastating
earthquake that hit parts of Northern Armenia on December 7, 1988 and pray
for the souls of its victims.

The celebrant spoke about the dreadful event that sent shockwaves through
the Armenian nation globally. He observed that this natural disaster became
an extraordinary occasion for demonstrating national unity, when Armenians
around the world hurried to assist their compatriots in need with a strong
sense of national belonging. He also referred to the humanitarian assistance
provided by the international community, which showed, he added, that
regardless of color, ethnicity or religion, human beings remain true to one
another and care for each other especially in time of need.

His Holiness Aram I, the clergy and the believers attending the Mass prayed
for the souls of the victims, asking the Almighty to protect our nation and
all of humanity from such disasters.

##
PO Box 70 317 Antelias-Lebanon. E- mail: [email protected] ///
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

ARKADY TER-TADEVOSYAN: MOSCOW DECLARATION MEANS NOTHING FOR AZERBAIJAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.12.2008 17:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian side made many mistakes during and
after the war and Azerbaijan made the most out of them, according to
major general Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan, commander of NKR armed forces,
the author of Shushi liberation plan.

"The declaration means nothing for Azerbaijan," he told reporters
in Yerevan.

During the November 2 meeting, the Presidents Dmitry Medvedev of
Russia, Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia and Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan
signed a declaration envisaging resolution of the Karabakh conflict
on the basis of principles and norms of the international law.

"Those who think that the declaration rules out resolution of
hostilities are mistaken. We should understand that Azerbaijan position
in the talks bases on hypocrisy and lie," the major general said.

SOUTH-CAUCASIAN RAILWAYS LAUNCHES RAPID CONTAINER TRAINS RUNNING BETWEEN ARMENIA AND GEORGIA

ARKA
Dec 3, 2008

YEREVAN, December 3. /ARKA/. South-Caucasian Railways has launched
rapid container trains running between Armenia and Georgia, Alexander
Kuznetsov, director general of South-Caucasian Railways CJSC, said
on Tuesday.

He said that the company is planning to transit the whole shipment
into container transportation.

Kuznetsov said that South-Caucasian Railways has already launched
rapid container trains running between Yerevan and Georgian ports of
Poti and Batumi.

He said that shipment is carried out on condition of parity between
Armenia and Georgia.

"We have no objective to compete with road haulage, but we received
and sent two thousand railway container shipping operations in November
alone", Kuznetsov said.

He thinks this result can be doubled under good management.

The director general said that the company is now preparing necessary
facilities and modernizing equipment for shipping containers.

South Caucasus Railroad fully owned by the Russian Railways is the
operator of the Armenian Railways under a 30-year concession agreement
signed on February 13, 2008.

The Armenian Railways Company is in charge of 805 km of Armenia’s
1,125-km-long railways. Since 2001, the company has been operating at
a profit. 3mln tons of cargoes were transported through the Armenian
Railways in 2007 against 2.7mln tons in 2006.

MINISTER OF DIASPORA DISCUSSES IN U.S. WAYS OF DEEPENING ARMENIA-ARTSAKH-DIASPORA LINKS

Noyan Tapan

Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Minister of Diaspora Hranish
Hakobian on November 26 had meetings with representatives of the
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), the Union of the Armenian
Evangelical Churches and the Union of Iranian Armenians of Los Angeles
in the U.S.

During a dinner given by the AGBU, at which the President of
the NKR Bako Sahakian and the Head of Artsakh diocese Pargev
Martirosian were present, discussions on deepening and developing
Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora links took place. As NT was informed by
the Press and Information Department of the Ministry of Diaspora,
Hranush Hakobian presented the ministry’s major strategic tasks set
by the Armenian president, underlining the necessity for implementing
joint Armenia-Diaspora programs with the aim of performing these
tasks. Issues related to development and implementation of youth
programs, organization of higher educational practice of Diasporan
students at various institutions in Armenia, extension and development
of the activities of Saturday and Sunday schools, as well as giving a
new quality and spirit to Diaspora-Armenia relations under "Ari Tun"
("Come Home") project were discussed.

At the meeting with members of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical
Churches, the minister of diaspora spoke about the prospects of
strengthening and devloping Armenia-Diaspora links, at the same time
expressing a high opinion about the educational and charity programs
implemented by the Armenian Evangelical Church. In her speech Hranush
Hakobian stated that any Armenian body of the Diaspora – any religious,
cultural or party structure – is a direct partner of the ministry. She
attached importance to the development and implementation of programs
in cooperation with Diasporan structures in the spheres of education,
culture, economy, information, etc.

The NKR president Bako Sahakian attended the meeting with
representatives of the Union of Iranian Armenians, during which
the minister pointed out the well-organized character, activity and
vitality of Iran’s Armenian community, expressing confidence that
the Iranian Armenians retain these good traditions in the U.S.

During all the meetings, interesting and comprehensive discussions on
the strengthening and development of Homeland-Diaspora links were held,
while the minister called on the meeting participants to take an active
part in Telethon 2008, underlining the ideas of unity of this event.