Author: Chalian Meline

PRESS RELEASE
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Buiding 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Hasmik Grigoryan
Tel: +(3741) 56 01 06 ext. 105
Fax: +(3741) 52 15 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

17 September, 2008

Hayastan All-Armenian Fund Launches the Ditavan Administration Building
Reconstruction Project

Yerevan, September 17, 2008 – Hayastan All-Armenian Fund is pleased to
announce the launch of the Ditavan administrative building reconstruction
project in Tavush Marz early in October. The project, with the total cost of
56 million AMD, is sponsored by Armen and Nadia Ekskerjians from Argentine.

Ditavan community is located about 19 km from the regional center. It has
120 families living in it.

The two-storey administration building was built in 1960s. Currently it is
in deplorable condition and in dire need of repair. The community
administration building includes the library, the computer room, the
veterinarian’ office, as well as the entertainment room.

Within the project, the whole building will be fully renovated and
furnished. The project is scheduled to finish in April 2009.

Gasification of the community is on the way, too. This project is also
funded by Armen and Nadya Ekserjians. As soon as we get a positive
conclusion of the project expert assessment, tender will be announced for
the construction works. The village is looking forward to an alternative
source of cheap electricity.

"We believe that the number of projects we implement in the Tavush cluster
will serve to the great benefit of the people living in these poor villages
and make their life more worthwhile", says the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Executive Director Ara Vardanyan.

###

Hayastan All-Armenian Fund

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: "ARMENIA POSITIVELY ASSESSES TURKISH PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO YEREVAN"

Today.Az
olitics/47547.html
Sept 15 2008
Azerbaijan

Foreign minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan met on Saturday with
US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group on Karabakh issue Matthew Bryza.

"Armenia positively assesses the visit of the Turkish President, which
is a serious stimulus for the start of a dialogue", said Nalbandyan.

Speaking of the Turkish initiative of creating the Caucasus Stability
and Security Platform, the Foreign Minister said that Armenia welcomes
steps aimed at strengthening trust and developing cooperation in
the region.

During the meeting, the sides discussed the process of the peaceful
resolution of the Karabakh conflict, regional issues and issues of
the Armenian-Turkish relations.

By request of the visitor, Minister Nalbandyan presented results of
his two-day visit to Georgia.

The sides also touched upon some other international and regional
problems.

WHAT WILL TER-PETROSSIAN SAY?

A1+
[03:08 pm] 15 September, 2008

The Armenian National Congress holds a mass-meeting near the
Matenadaran at 6:30 p.m. on September 15. The action is aimed at
restoring the constitutional order in the country.

Armenia’s First President Levon Ter-Petrossian is supposed to make
an addressing speech at the rally.

Note, the City Hall has sanctioned the rally.

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 13 2008

Presidents of Armenia and Turkey Go in Large Political Risk: OSCE
Minsk Grqoup Co-Chairman

13.09.08 12:02

The Presidents of Armenia, Serj Sarkisyan and Turkey, Abdullah Gul,
went to large political risk and displayed bravery, said the American
Co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno-Karabakh Settlement,
Matthew Bryza, commenting Gul’s recent visit to Yerevan and Turkey’s
initiative to establish Platform of Stability and Security in
Caucasus, Novosti Armenia reports.

According to him, the initiative of Turkey is very constructive. `I
welcome improvement in the relations between Armenia and Turkey,’ said
Bryza.

The President of Turkey, Abdullah Gyul, arrived in Yerevan at the
invitation of the Armenian President, Serj Sarkisyan, to watch the
match between the football teams of the two countries. During the
visit, the State Heads discussed the possibilities of establishing
bilateral relations

Diplomatic relations are absent between Armenia and Turkey, and the
Armenian-Turkish border has been closed since 1993.

Turkey makes a number of pre-conditions for establishing bilateral
relations, in particular Armenia’s giving up the policy of
international recognition of `genocide’ of the Armenians in the
Ottoman Empire during the years of the First World War, Armenia’s
recognition of borders of Turkey.

American Co-chairman of the OSCE emphasized that it needs to complete
the work on the base principles of conflict solution, despite that the
relations between Armenia and Turkey change.

`This is good that the relations between Armenia and Turkey are
improved because, in my view, such openness improves the climate and
means that Armenia can be more opened in the negotiations. Maybe I
make a mistakes, but I hope for this,’ said Bryza.

MATT BRYZA ARRIVED IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.09.2008 16:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S. Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matt Bryza
has arrived in Yerevan, RA MFA media relations division head Tigran
Balayan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

The U.S. diplomat is scheduled to meet with Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian on September 13, he said.

Mr Bryza will also visit Baku and Tbilisi.

KAREN TCHOUGOURIAN WOWS MELBOURNE SENIORS WITH HIS PIANO VIRTUOSITY
By Maura O’Neal

Advocate Weekly

S ept 11 2008
MA

Photo: Karen Tchougourian Classical pianist Karen Tchougourian is so
popular at EPOCH Assisted

PITTSFIELD – When Karen Tchougourian, an accomplished classical
pianist, performs for the residents and guests of EPOCH Assisted
Living at Melbourne, he brings no sheet music.

Yet, for more than an hour each month, he dazzles the audience with
complicated classical pieces he has successfully played in high-level
competitions around the world.

Born and raised in Yerevan, Armenia, Tchougourian has been playing
the piano since the age of 7. He has played in major venues from his
native Yerevan to Carnegie Hall in New York City. His competitive
efforts have paid off with top prizes in the Mozart International
Competition, the Schumann Piano Competition and the Arkansas State
University Piano Competition, among other awards.

Through his piano virtuosity and humble comportment, Tchougourian
has established a fan club of sorts among the residents at EPOCH of
Melbourne, where he has been playing nearly every month for more than
two years. (His next performance is Oct. 3.)

"I love to just watch him play. His hands are so graceful," said
Gertrude Treat, a resident at EPOCH.

Tchougourian’s performances have taken on a special importance
for residents of Melbourne. They look forward to his concerts, and
Tchougourian himself has noticed how audience members are rejuvenated
and energized after an afternoon’s performance.

Unwilling to name a specific performance that was especially memorable,
Tchougourian

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Advertisement

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said he strives to make every performance special. If he isn’t moved by
every performance, he doesn’t feel like his audience will be, either.

"It’s a two-way street," he said. "As much as the residents enjoy it,
I get a kick out of it myself, too."

To keep his performances fresh, Tchougourian improvises on popular
songs from the East and West.

"I’m open to many styles and try to mix a variety of styles into my
performances," he said. He blends classical pieces with Broadway
standards and his own arrangements of popular music from many
different eras.

Tchougourian challenges himself to learn one or two new songs for
each performance, but also recognizes that audiences enjoy hearing
some familiar pieces as well. Treat has requested "Jesu, Joy of Man’s
Desiring" several times, and Tchougourian always happily obliges.

As far as arriving to play with no sheet music, Tchougourian explained
with a soft laugh, "So far I haven’t had any problems remembering
the songs. I just have a hard time thinking what to play next."

Many EPOCH residents would be pleased if Tchougourian performed more
than just once a month.

"I wouldn’t miss a performance for the world," said resident Irving
Zinberg, for whom a birthday performance was especially memorable. "It
was his usual, excellent piano playing. I was very grateful for the
birthday gift." That gift? Tchougourian played an Armenian song –
Zinberg’s birthday request.

Zinberg and Treat are certainly not alone in their
sentiments. Tchougourian plays to near-capacity crowds in EPOCH at
Melbourne’s great room, where he tickles the ivories of the majestic
grand piano, located just beneath a wall of large bay windows that
open up to the breathtaking Berkshire landscape behind him.

"When Karen performs, the music fills the atrium and flows from our
great room throughout the first floor. Even if you’re not in the room,
you’re surrounded by this beautiful music," said Diane Weinstein,
executive director of EPOCH at Melbourne. "It’s wonderful."

Karen Tchougourian will play at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, at EPOCH
Assisted Living, 140 Melbourne Road, Pittsfield. The public is
invited and the concert is free, but reservations are requested. Info:
413-499-1992.

GENERATION CHANGE OF THE LEADERS
Lilit Poghosyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
10 Sep 2008
Armenia

RAFFI HOVHANNISYAN, already an ordinary member of "Heritage"
parliamentary faction, responds to our questions

"Why did you decide to resign from the post of Head of the faction
just the same way as you laid down the functions of the Head of the
party? Is it really because of the lack of time?"

"There is no problem in terms of laying down functions. My colleagues
are very kind to refer to my being very busy. Of course, there are
some personal considerations. For instance, I treat the activity of
our parliamentary delegations very seriously, on the level of both
the plenary sessions and the committees. There is a series of lectures
in the International Academy of Diplomacy etc.

But the main reason that was not reflected in yesterday’s press reports
is that I do believe in the idea of a regular succession, i.e. the
change of generations. If the given society, state or party wants
to have prospects, it should never stick to one individual. That’s
why after the last session, the administration made a decision to
continue the collegial administrative activities under the leadership
of Anahit Bakhshyan.

Yesterday’s decision of our party reflects not only my personal
considerations but also the commitment of "Heritage" party to be always
ready for=2 0a succession of generations as a small and modest unit
of our society and political life. I believe Armen Martirosyan is
a young, promising and intelligent leader and is capable of heading
the party. Moreover, the other factions also have young and promising
leaders who should be given the opportunity to move forward. And it
is necessary to project this model onto the panorama of the whole
society."

"What is your attitude towards the Republican’s decision on replacing
Tigran Torasyan with Hovik Abrahmyan?"

"To the best of my knowledge, it is the party’s interim decision
that is subject to a final approval. When the final decision is made,
we will express our attitude and viewpoint. One thing is clear: such
decisions, whether concerning the replacement of the human recourses
or the contents of the activities, should not be the result of shadow
and corridor discussions; they should reflect public political
processes. Society should be aware why such decision was made and
what the underlying arguments are.

I hope this is not a successive small trick such as a ‘castling’
of posts, change of the ratio of forces and so on. As a citizen,
I anticipate to hear the answer to those questions."

"Are you going to participate in the PACE fall session or is the
decision to resign as a member of the delegation final?"

"No, I haven’t resign ed as a member of the delegation. I have
temporarily terminated my participation in the activities of the PACE
plenary session for well-known reasons. I hope I will be given the
opportunity to continue my participation till the 21st of September.

I believe some steps will be made and should be made. If we speak
about bold and courageous steps, such boldness, brevity and courage
should first of all be seen inside Armenia while solving internal
social problems. Perhaps it is a fantastic expectation, but I believe
that I will have additional grounds to revise my decision before
September 21."

"Did you also impose conditions on the Council of Europe, saying that
you will not participate in the activities of the Parliamentary Council
unless the latter demonstrates faithfulness to the high criteria it
has defined?"

"I never speak to anyone in the language of preconditions. When PACE
Chairman Mr. Pyutch came to Armenia, I had a private meeting with him
and spoke about the gaps in the spheres of democracy, equality and
rule of law observed both in Armenia and the organization led by him.

I want to participate in those activities, but not as a separate
‘star’ because I consider that modest though it is, my participation
is also important. I am ready to participate, but as a representative
of a country which not only realizes its national interests and
searches for solutions with20the neighbors but also meets the
democratic standards required for the Republic of Armenia and not
Europe. Abdullah Gul’s visit served as a good example for us. And we
are required to demonstrate the same generosity and mutual respect
inside the Armenian statehood, in relation to our citizens."

ARMENIA TO ADJUST FOREIGN POLICY IN WAKE OF GEORGIA CRISIS

ArmInfo News Agency (in Russian)
Sept 10 2008
Armenia

Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan has said that Armenian foreign
policy may be adjusted in connection with the South Ossetia events.

Speaking at the National Assembly on 10 September, the foreign
minister said that considering the changed situation in South Ossetia,
a breakaway region of Georgia, some aspects of the current foreign
policy may be changed, Arminfo said. No details of the possible
changes were reported.

On Turkey’s initiative concerning the creation of the Caucasus platform
of stability and security, Nalbandyan said that Armenia has received
a preliminary document in this regard. The document’s main principles
are establishing trust, stability, security and cooperation in the
region, he said.

"Naturally, Armenia has a positive view on all these
principles. However, we must have a substantial discussion on Turkey’s
proposals and on ways of implementing them," Arminfo quoted the
minister as saying.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS A MENTALITY TO BE CULTIVATED AT SCHOOL

Noyan Tapan

Se p 9, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The 50th anniversary of foundation
"Khosrov Forest" and "Shikahogh" state preserves and "Dlijan" national
park was celebrated at an event in Yerevan on September 9. In the words
of the RA minister of nature protection Aram Harutyunian, the necessity
of preserving the biodiversity and the role of specially protected
areas in this issue was conceived in Armenia long ago. The specially
protected areas currently occupy about 309 thousand ha which makes
up nearly 10% of Armenia’s territory. Forest ecosystems occupy 54%
of these areas. The minister said that 60% of the Armenian flora and
fauna, including the majority of rare, endemic species and those on
the verge of extinction, as well as genetic resources are protected
in the indicated areas.

According to A. Harutyunian, the 2003-2010 national program of state
strategy and measures for development of the specially protected
areas of Armenia’s nature aims to expand these areas and solve their
problems. "In the environmental protection sphere, it is necessary
to continue persistent practical work on improving the system of
specially protected areas in nature for the purpose of sustainable
development of our country," the minister stated.

The RA prime minister Tigran Sargsian said that most seruous
environmental protection problems exist in Armenia which can be
solved only by joint efforts. "Unfortunately, the society does not yet
pay attention to environmental problems. Relying on its supervisory
functions only, the state fails to solve these problems," the prime
minister noted, adding that environmental protection is a mentality
to be cultivated in people at school.

During the festive event, a number of employees of the sphere were
handed letters of thanks of the RA prime minister and the minister
of nature protection, gold departmental medals and souvenirs.

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL GROUP THAT WITHDREW 80 MILLION DRAMS FROM CASH MACHINES RENDERED HARMLES AS RESULT OF COOPERATION OF VTB ARMENIA BANK AND RA NSS

Noyan Tapan

Se p 8, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. An international criminal group
that withdrew about 80 million drams (265 thoousand USD) from Armenian
cash machines by means of forged plastic cards was rendered harmless
in late August as a result of cooperation of VTB Armenia Bank and the
RA National Security Service (NSS), the director general of VTB Armenia
Bank Valery Ovsyannikov said at the September 8 press conference.

According to him, the forgers were revealed by the employees of the
bank’s security unit and then were arrested by NSS officers "hot on
their trail".

As for the recent arrest of two employees of VTB Armenia Bank, V.

Ovsyannikov said that he can speak about their guilt only after the
court ruling. "Not all is definite in these issues: any person from
outside may come and write an application that I stole money or took
a bribe," he added.