Author: Chilingarian Babken

ECONOMIST PREDICTS HIGHER US DOLLAR EXCHANGE RATE

Panorama.am
18:25 13/03/2007

The exchange rate of US dollar may go up to 360-380 drams in April-May,
Edward Aghajanov, an economist, made a forecast today.

The economist believes the exchange rate will go up artificially. "It
will be done for the purpose of making the election campaign cheap
or at no cost for some people," he said. After the parliamentary
elections, the exchange rate will sharply go down, he said. "Our
economy is in an absurd condition.

Everything is possible in our country," the economist believes.

"KARABAKH-IN FRONT OF PRESIDENT’S CHAIR"

A1+
[06:21 pm] 14 March, 2007

"Robert Kocharyan must dismiss office for state treachery and a series
of brutal crimes. He must bear full responsibility for his deeds",
"Impeachment" Alliance claims.

"Robert Kocharyan has sold Karabakh to preserve his post" Nikol
Pashinyan, member of "Alternative" Public-Political Initiative
announced today at the "Armat" Club.

"In its annual report on human rights protection the U.S. State
Department qualified Karabakh as a territory occupied by Armenia. This
implies that the USA deems the Karabakh issue as Armenia’s demand
towards Azerbaijan. On the other hand, the USA didn’t take notice of
the fact that no one participated in the November 27 constitutional
referendum", he says.

"The U.S. officialdom once claimed to recognize the territorial
wholeness of NKR and Azerbaijan. Later they announced that the NKR
status must be specified during the negotiations," says Mr. Pashinyan.

Pashinyan thinks that the international community, namely the USA,
seek to transfer the Karabakh conflict to the UNO Security Council.

Alternative Initiative is worried as it is already 10 days the
U.S. State Department has made an announcement whereas it has found
no response among the RA official circles. "We find it strange that
RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan calls it a misunderstanding an
error whereas this is a real matter of concern", adds Mr. Pashinyan.

PRESS RELEASE

March 2007

American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 5th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Telephone: (510) 987-9452
Fax: (510) 208-3576

Contact: Gaiane Khachatrian
E-mail: [email protected]

American University of Armenia Receives US Accreditation

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) has accredited the
American University of Armenia. The American University of Armenia (AUA)
received the maximum of seven years initial accreditation from WASC’s
Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities. WASC is one of
six regional associations recognized by the United Stated Department of
Education that accredit public and private universities and colleges.

"We are extremely proud of achieving WASC accreditation," said AUA President
Haroutune Armenian. "This is an unprecedented event in the history of
Armenian higher education and US accreditation opens new doors for the
University. Accreditation will increase regional and Diaspora interest in
higher education in Armenia and will create new lifelong linkages to
Armenia," continued President Armenian.

Armenian Minister of Education and Science Levon Lazarian explained, "The
accreditation of the American University of Armenia by the Western
Association of Schools and Colleges will exert considerable influence on
Armenia’s educational system. AUA is a University that underwent the very
complex procedure of Western accreditation and it provides the assurance of
quality at international standards. This success is the result of AUA’s
consistent work and self-analysis of many years."

AUA was established in 1991 with support from the Armenian Government, the
Armenian General Benevolent Union, and USAID and from its founding has been
an affiliate of the University of California. The University offers
graduate degrees in the health sciences, political science and international
affairs, industrial engineering, computer and information sciences, teaching
English as a second language, business management, and law.

Accreditation indicates that AUA has undergone a period of intensive and
comprehensive self-study followed by on-site evaluations of institutional
performance and educational processes, that AUA operates at a high level of
quality consistent with WASC Commission standards, and that it has
sufficient resources to support existing and planned programs at a
satisfactory level of quality.

According to AUA Provost and Vice President Lucig Danielian, "As a young
institution that carries the traditions of Western higher education to
Armenia and its region, the American University of Armenia has the important
responsibility of attaining the highest possible standards in education and
academic management. The process of accreditation provides us with the
opportunity to achieve the high standards that we seek."

AUA began the WASC accreditation process in 1998 and was supported
throughout with grants from the US State Department. Three teams of
distinguished American university academics and administrators visited
Armenia to evaluate AUA during the different stages of the accreditation
process.

ARMENIAN DIASPORA REP SAYS US STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT "INCORRECT"

Arminfo
13 Mar 07

Yerevan, 13 March: Aram Hambarian, [the executive director of
the Armenian National Committee of America] of the ARF [Armenian
Revolutionary Federation] – Dashnaktsutyun has dismissed as incorrect
the recent US State Department report on Armenia.

Speaking at a news conference in Yerevan today [13 March], Hambarian
said that the report’s provision regarding "the occupation of Nagornyy
Karabakh and adjacent regions by Armenia" is the result of Azerbaijan’s
constant "claims" of "occupation." He said that Armenia’s task was
and is a bit different: to maintain the current status quo, solve
the issue of Nagornyy Karabakh’s status and social issues. This way
or another, the State Department’s report is incorrect, he said.

VIVACELL ANNOUNCES OF UNDERTAKING LARGE-SCALE UPGRADES TO ITS NETWORK

Arminfo
2007-03-13 16:40:00

VivaCell announces that it is undertaking large-scale upgrades to
its network to enhance its services and capacity. As the Company’s
press-service told ArmInfo, due to the upgrading works, it is possible
that in the period from March till the mid of April, subscribers will
encounter short term difficulties when making and receiving calls,
and sending SMS.

In order to minimize to the greatest extent possible the inconveniences
to subscribers, the upgrade will be carried out during low traffic
period and after midnight.

Our customer care staff will always be at our subscribers’ service
to provide with any assistance which may be needed.

VivaCell seeks understanding of all subscribers for possible
inconveniences.

PRO-KURDISH PARTY CHAIRMAN SENTENCED TO SIX-MONTH IMRPISONMENT FOR USING "HONOURABLE OCALAN" EXPRESSION

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 07 2007

ANKARA, MARCH 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The judge of one of the
courts of the Turkish city of Diarbekir made a decision on sex-month
imprisonment towards Ahmed Turk, the Chairman of the "Democratic
Turkey Party." The reason is that Turk used the "honourable Ocalan"
expression when speaking about Abdullah Ocalan, the Chairman of the
Labour Party of Kurdistan considered a terrorist party in Turkey.

As Turkish Daily News states, the judge emphasized that Turk
obviously expressed words of praise addressed to Ocalan and that it is
"incoherent for a party head whose words influence on the society."

To recap, Ahmed Turk stated during the event organized in the hall
of the Diarbekir theater on January 18 of the current year: "During
this period of time when we do everything for the arms keep silence
and issues are solved with peaceful means, it it noticed that the
society’s anxiety more deepens on the occasion of the policy of
isolution carried on against Ocalan."

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
March 9 2007

Turkish PM Erdogan: Turkey is giving all possible support for
Azerbaijan in its fair fight

Friday , 09 March 2007

Turkish Prime Minister Recap Tayyip Erdogan interviewed by Azeri news
source APA:

– How do you evaluate the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan?
What about the reality of the ‘one nation, two countries?’

Relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey are growing in all spheres on
the basis of deep-rooted and culture-pushed brotherhood. One of the
architects of these relations, the great leader Heydar Aliyev said
Azerbaijan and Turkey are one nation in two independent states. This
slogan came true. The world feels jealous of Azerbaijan and Turkey’s
sharing both the grief and the happiness.

The two countries are enjoying high-level political, economic,
military, cultural, commercial and other relations. The mutual
confidence and joint activities strengthened and consolidated our
relations and we created a healthy foundation for this cooperation.
We observe that Azerbaijan’s energy wealth, fast developing economy,
effective reforms in democracy and human rights elevate it to its
deserved summit. Implementation of Baku-Tbilissi-Ceyhan and
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum projects shoulder-to-shoulder with Brother
Azerbaijan and Neighbor Georgia will be followed by execution of
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad project. Azerbaijan is very determined
towards this issue.

Turkey have to date favored Azerbaijani people in sad and happy days
and will do its utmost afterwards.

– Armenia continues to occupy 20% of Azerbaijan’s territory.
Stipulating that Armenia should withdraw from Azerbaijan’s lands and
some one million of displaced Azeri people should return to their
native land, Turkey said it would have relations with Armenia after
that. Armenia’s giving up baseless ‘genocide’ and territory claim is
one of the stipulations Turkey made. If Armenia gives up the false
claims, can Turkey close eyes to occupation of Azerbaijan’s lands and
Karabakh conflict?

You know what stance Turkey has taken on Armenia’s aggression against
Nagorno Karabakh and 7 neighboring regions. Within its potential,
Turkey is giving all possible support for Azerbaijan in its fair
fight. Turkey supports termination of the occupation violating the
international laws. We will not leave Azerbaijan alone.

If Armenia gives up its current policy and takes a friendly stance,
it will take a significant step toward the normalization of the
relation. It seems to me, this move will lead to the settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and improve relations between
Azerbaijan and Armenia.

– There are cool relations between Turkey and the European Union? Is
it possible that the attempt to develop all-round relations with the
Turk republics becomes the priority? In this case, how real is it to
create Turk Common Market?

First of all, I would say the relations between Turkey and the
European Union are not alternative or rival to the ties between
Turkey and other Turkic states.

We enjoy historical, ethnic and cultural relations with Turkic
states, and Asian geography has always been one of the priorities in
Turkey’s foreign policy. Turkey was the first to recognize the
independence of Azerbaijan and Turkic states in Central Asia and has
done its best to backed strengthening of their independence,
sovereignty, territorial integrity, political-economic integration
into the international arena, as well as their political, economic
and military infrastructure.

Summit of Heads of Turkish speaking countries is the platform
bringing together the Turkish countries. The last summit held on
November 17, 2006 in Antalya was the indicator of the importance
Turkish speaking countries attach to the solidarity ad mutual
understanding.

Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipelines and
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars-Akhalkalaki railway project are building up
strategic bridge between Central Asia’s Turk Republics, Azerbaijan
and Turkey.

These countries that celebrate the 15th anniversary of their
independence have become the members of international community and
took their merit places in the world. Our cooperation covered all the
levels of our societies within these 15 years. I have no doubt that
all sides show political will to develop the relations on the basis
of respect, equality and common advantage.

APA

TURKEY ASKS ISRAELI BUSINESSMEN FOR HELP IN COUNTERACTING TO ADOPTION OF ARMENIAN RESOLUTION IN CONGRESS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 07 2007

ANKARA, MARCH 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Turkish State Minister
of Trade Kursad Tuzmen asked Israeli businessmen for help in the issue
of hampering adoption of the resolution on recognition of Armenian
Genocide in U.S.

Congress. "Now we expect your support in this issue," the Turkish
Minister declared at the seminar under the title "Turkish-Israeli
Economic and Trade Cooperation."

According to the New Anatolian Turkish newspaper, Tuzmen said that
relations between his country and Israel come not only from early
past. "Turkey is the country, which after U.S. receives the greatest
number of Israeli tourists," he declared.

To recap, trade circulation between the two countries amounted to
2.1 bln USD in 2006.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: TURKISH GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO EXPORT ITS POLICY OF GENOCIDE DENIAL

Noyan Tapan
Mar 06 2007

WASHINGTON, MARCH 6, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
being in U.S. on a working visit met with US Assistant Undersecretary
of State and US Minsk Group co-chair Matthew Bryza on March 5. The two
discussed the issue of Nagorno Karabakh peaceful settlement and the
upcoming meeting of the ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, in Geneva,
on March 14, together with the co-chairs of the Minsk Group. According
to the report submitted to Noyan Tapan from RA Foreign Ministry Press
and Information Department, later in the day, with the co-chairs of
the Congressional Armenian Caucus, Minister Oskanian outlined the broad
US-Armenia agenda, and ways in which Congress can play a role. During
the meeting, the Genocide issue was also discussed. In referring to
the pending Genocide reaffirmation resolution, the Minister explained,
"The Armenian government, in contrast to the leadership in Ankara,
does not seek to lecture elected American officials on this core human
rights issue. Sadly, the Turkish government continues to export its
policy of genocide denial, seeking to impose upon the US and other
nations the very intolerance that inspired Section 301 and led to
the murder of journalist Hrant Dink. This should not be tolerated
by any individual or any country. The Armenian government has faith
in the American democratic process and respects the integrity of US
Congressional decision-making." During his visit, the Minister also
met with representatives of Armenian advocacy groups in Washington
and shared thoughts on current issues.

PERINCEK DUE TO ZURICH

Turkish Press
March 6 2007

IP CHAIRMAN PERINCEK: -"WE ARE GOING TO SUBVERT THE LAW PUNISHING
THE DENIAL OF THE GENOCIDE LIE"

ISTANBUL – Workers Party(IP) Chairman Dogu Perincek went to Zurich to
attend the trial of the lawsuit filed against him for the remarks he
had uttered rejecting the Armenian genocide allegations in Switzerland.

Speaking to the press at the Ataturk International airport before
leaving for Zurich, Perincek reminded they were being tried for
having said that the Armenian genocide was an international lie and
said their program in Zurich was between March 6th and 9th.

Stating that they were being tried for telling the truth, Perincek
said, "this is an `inquisition trial`. They have resurrected the
"`Middle Age` in Europe. They are on a witch hunt. We are going to
subvert the law punishing the denial of the Armenian genocide lies."

"We have violated the law for the past three years, and the end for
this law is near. Swiss Minister of Justice Blocher has been stating
for six months that the law would be subverted. A commission was
founded in Switzerland to do this," said Perincek.

Perincek indicated that they were getting the fruits of "the right
attitude and a firm stance."

Stating that they were taking along 90 kg of documents in Russian and
Armenian, Perincek said they would submit these documents to the court.

Perincek said these documents were taken from Russian Archives
and included reports and other documents written by Armenian prime
ministers, commanders, historians and statesmen between 1918 and 1950.

Perincek noted that when the authorities read these documents,
Turkey`s righteous claims would prove to be true and said, "in these
documents, Armenian prime ministers and commanders say `we have been a
fool for imperialism and a consequently took up arms. Turkey defended
its country. Carried out the fight for a righteous cause. We have to
bear the consequences."

Perincek said a group of 164 people including academicians, retired
generals, unions` officials and representatives of the NGOs were
travelling to Lausanne in the leadership of the first President
of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Rauf Denktas tomorrow to
support him.