Author: Ekmekjian Janet

IS RUSSIA’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AN IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIA?

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.08.2009 18:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The crisis has knocked the doors of Armenia, and we
appeased ourselves that it was not a threat to us, Vartan Bostanjyan,
MP from the Prosperous Armenia party, deputy chairman of the Standing
Committee on Economic Affairs told a joint press conference today.

Vardan Bostanjyan rather pessimistically commented on the current
situation: the country had to invest from abroad in anti-crisis
programs, rather than in economic development.

In his view, the positive tendencies in Armenia’s economy can be seen
already in 2010.

The former president of the RA Central Bank and now an advocate of the
Armenian National Congress Bagrat Asatryan in this regard said that,
at best, economic growth can be expected only in 2011 in Armenia.

ARMENIA VS CAUCASUS?
Naira Hairumyan

omments&pid=14953
13:27:48 – 19/08/2009

One of the Russian news agencies notorious for its political
provocations in the post-Soviet space has spread another
provocation. According to the news agency, Armenia may get the
possibility to set up two military bases in Russia to defend
transport and communication routes. The agency has learned this from
an anonymous source from the General Headquarters of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization. The locations are said to be Dagomis
(Krasnodar) and Dagestan.

Let us leave aside from whom the bases will defend communication in
Russia. The only thing to mention here is that if the given provocation
comes true, Russia may reach several aims at once, most importantly
directing the "anti-colonialist" energy of the highlanders against
the Armenians, as it was the case 200, 100 years ago when Russia
sent Armenian soldiers to fight against the peoples fighting against
the expansion of Russia. There are a lot of Armenian place names
in the North Caucasus which Russia settled with Armenians displaced
from different regions of historical Armenia. The highlanders still
remember that their Shamil was defeated and capitulated by the Armenian
soldier. The same is happening now.

Even if this is a trial balloon, Armenia must put an end to such
provocations at the highest level. Because the news agency may go
on to announce that the Armenian military base has caught "highland
insurgents" who threaten their communication route.

One of our noted political scientists has said that Yerevan is lucky
that Ankara does not allow Armenia to be used against Turkey. Yerevan
is unlucky regarding Moscow, Russia uses Armenia at full. And it is
not worthwhile to say what happened with the used ones.

THE PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECT "MEN AND WOMEN. REAL STORIES"

Aysor.am
19.08.2009, 17:36

The presentation of book project "Men and Women. Real Stories" took
place in Yerevan. The book is the continuation of booklets "Woman and
Civil Society", "The Conversation of Women". The project is taking
place in Georgia, 3-5 reporters from countries of South Caucasus
participate in the project with their articles and photos.

The head of the project is Tamara Balavadze, the editor of the book
is Galina Petriashvili. The book presents the series of stories
about everyday problems, joy, life and routine of people belonging to
different nationalities of the Caucasian area. Audio tapes, providing
audio diaries, are attached to the book.

This genre was used in Georgia as a Georgian-Abkhazian peacekeeping
program. Later the representatives of known or unknown countries from
South Caucasus joint us, – said Tamara Balavadze.

>From 2002 to 2006 by the radio station South Caucasus the audio diary
"The real stories" was broadcast. The genre of audio diary originated
in BBC in 90-s. It presents people’s talks about themselves. The
stress is put on people who are not in the view of mass media.

The authors of the project hope that this project will help people to
listen to each other, because for the inner conflicts in the Caucasus,
people living in the same area, got so indifferent.

"The mission of this book is to make people trust each other. This
can be one of the means to lead peaceful conversations through
intercultural communication. To ensure the cooperation between people
of South Caucasus who suffered war"-says the booklet.

RASIM MUSABAYEV: RUSSIA IS KEEN ON CAPTURING OUR ARMS MARKET

Milaz.info
12:26 18-08-2009

Milaz regularly interviews local experts on several pressing issues,
particularly matters concerning Azerbaijan-NATO cooperation. Interview
with Rasim Musabayov, a well-known political analyst, is below:

– How do you estimate the current level of cooperation between
Azerbaijan NATO?

– I would grade it at 3 on the 5-point scale.

– Do you think Azerbaijan fulfils military and political reforms
specified in cooperation plans agreed with NATO?

– I think military-technical and organizational issues are met but with
regard to political and legal aspects, they have not been completely
fulfilled and remain delayed.

– Today, Azerbaijani officials state that the country is pursuing a
well-balanced policy. Can we say this policy is really balanced?

– This policy is not balanced, it would be more accurate to call it
a diversified one.

– How do you see Azerbaijan’s recent inclination to military-technical
cooperation with Russia? Do you think this is in line with the
country’s military-political and economic priorities?

– Azerbaijan and Russia have before been in military-technical
cooperation as well. Azerbaijan-based manufacturing plants give
military hardware components worth of up to $20 million to Russia a
year. Gabala Radar is in Russian use. Rental plus payments for water,
electricity, gas and food supply may amount to $15 million to $20
million. In the past, Russia also used to supply Azerbaijan with a
range of combat equipment (armored infantry vehicle), spare parts, and
dual-purpose vehicles instead of these funds. The sides are discussing
the possibility of expanding military-technical cooperation. Russian
military industry complex is keen on entering our arms market because
we plan to upgrade and rearm our army and we have the capacity to pay
for this. This issue is hindered by Moscow’s support and free-of-charge
arms shipment for Armenia which continued to occupy our lands. In
fact, capturing our arms market could create an incentive for the
change of Russia’s position in the conflict (Nagorno Karabakh) and
positive influence on the settlement of this conflict.

– Azerbaijan’s Military Doctrine and Defence Outline have not been
adopted yet. What do you think delays these?

– The reason is that Azerbaijan doesn’t want to openly and explicitly
state the presence of military threats from the North – Russia, and
from the South – Iran. It would be an incomplete approach to point
to Armenia alone as the source of such a threat. I am of the opinion
that they don’t want to make public the Military Doctrine lest it
could lead to political complications.

– NATO’s new secretary general crossed out the probability of Georgia
and Ukraine’s soon membership. He is set to mainly focus on relations
with Russia and situation in Afghanistan. How do you see Azerbaijan
in this policy?

– In essence, NATO’s new policy in the issue of expansion is a
response to the careful policy pursued by Azerbaijan over the recent
years. Therefore, other than this, there is nothing new for us,
and there will be no need to make correction to the plans.

– How do you think the prospect of Gabala Radar will be? Do you have
outlook for the period after 2012 when the current lease expires. Who
will use this radar?

– Without all-encompassing and expensive upgrading, this radar
is old and makes no sense in terms of its use for its initial
purpose. Russia may aspire to keep this radar as its only militancy
presence in Azerbaijan. Moscow had understood that it wouldn’t be
capable of using it after 2012, therefore, suggested the joint use
of this radar with the United States. This offer still stands for
the future, but the likelihood is not that high. MILAZ

Milaz.Info is an Azerbaijan-based independent military news website

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Brad Pitt (Finally) Speaks About Moneyball

Screen Rant
August 14, 2009

by Jacob Waldman

Let’s run the bases real quick and recap the whole Moneyball
fiasco(cue the movie-montage):

Oscar winner Steve Zaillian spun a script from Michael Lewis’s book
about Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane’s successful attempt to
put together a baseball club on a budget. Sony picked it up, Brad Pitt
and Steven Soderbergh hopped on board, Soderbergh retooled the script
into something more along the lines of a documentary with `if it
didn’t happen in real life, it won’t happen on the big screen’ running
through its veins. Sony bucked, the head of Sony, Amy Pascal pulled
the plug the morning of the first day of shooting. There. Now we’re
all on the same page (for more details, go here).

Today we have new details on Moneyball’s current status and a few
words from its (almost) star, Brad Pitt.

So Soderbergh turned in this new script that was (allegedly) some kind
of bastardization of Sony’s original vision for Moneyball. At the
outset, the movie was reported to capture the essence of Billy Beane
and his frantic energy that revamped the professional baseball
recruiting process. The movie reportedly would’ve resembled something
akin to Major League, only based more in reality and without Charlie
Sheen (unfortunately). But once Soderbergh got his hands on it, what
was once a sure thing became a fakakta mess, so Pascal put the kibosh
on the project.

However, rumors are circulating that maybe it wasn’t Soderbergh and
Pascal’s difference of opinion after all that caused Moneyball to
strike out – maybe it was Pitt’s pits! You see, Brad Pitt is notorious
for a few things: having nineteen visible abdominal muscles, liking
`dahgs,’ buying kids in six packs, being able to rock an outfit that
would make the rest of us look like D.J. Qualls¦ and pulling out at
the last minute (of projects, that is).

Let’s look at his track record, shall we? The actor dropped out of The
Fou scenarios. So it wouldn’t be surprising to find that he once
again suffered the morning-of jitters and decided to leave the bride
at the alter, so to speak. Now mind you, this is all speculation
based on a few whisperings here and there on the Interwebs, but
still, it seems like a rumor worth considering.

Now consider this: new reports are surfacing that in fact, Pitt was
whole-heartedly behind the project, and still is. Pitt was rocketed
questions rapid-fire regarding Moneyball during a walk-by on a red
carpet. Granted, this isn’t the best time for an in-depth interview
regarding the outlook of future projects, however The Playlist reports
that Pitt spoke out about the project for the first time in public
since the whole fiasco went down. When asked if he thinks Moneyball
can recovered, or if it’s going the way of the dodo, Pitt responded
with:

`My gut says yes. It’s a weird climate right now. But we’re still
trying to re-mount it. I hope we get to do it soon.’

Wow, Pitt, you couldn’t be more vague if you were running for public
office (consider that option, pal). But still, it’s something, right?
What’s more, Soderbergh is off the project, but Pitt, Sony,
screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (who is writing a new draft of the script)
and producers Mike DeLuca are still trying to keep the film alive and
bring aboard a new director.

So whaddya think? Will the American public dig a flick about baseball
recruiting, starring Brad Pitt (especially if he doesn’t take his
shirt off)? Is there a large enough demographic that justifies making
a movie about one dude and his strategies for picking players? And, if
you could choose, who would you get to direct Moneyball? Does this
film have what it takes to – here it comes – hit a home run? ZING!

Source: The Playlist

ll-jake-21704/

WD Newsletter
3325 North Glenoaks Blvd. Burbank, CA 91504
Tel: (818) 558-7474 Fax: (818) 558-6333
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

Western Diocese e-Newsletter

His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the
Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, on
August 28-29, 2009, will ordain and consecrate Dn. Martin
Zakaryan to the Priesthood, in Palm Desert.

*The Calling Ceremony *for Dn. Martin Zakaryan will be held
on Friday August 28, 2009, starting at 7:30 PM, at the
Armenian Church of the Desert located at 38900 Vista Dunes,
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270.

*The Ordination and Consecration* to the Priesthood of Dn.
Martin Zakaryan will take place on Saturday August 29, 2009,
starting at 10:00 AM, at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in
Palm Deseret. Mr. and Mrs. Greg and Seta Tcherkoian are the
designate Godfather family for the Ordination to the
Priesthood rite of Dn. Martin Zakaryan.

St. George Greek Orthodox Church
74-109 Larrea St.
Palm Desert, CA 92260

A reception will be held after the completion of the
Ordination and Consecration to the Priesthood ceremonies at
the Armenian Church of the Desert, located at 38900 Vista
Dunes, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270. For more information please
contact the Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian at
(818)558-7474 or Varoujan Mkrtichian at (818)317-9094.

Dn. Martin Zakaryan will resume his graduate level
education at Claremont School of Theology following his
ordination and consecration to the Priesthood.

Upon ordination and consecration to the Priesthood, Dn.
Martin Zakaryan will begin his service at the Armenian
Church of the Desert as the new Parish Priest.

The Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North
America, providing spiritual guidance and leadership to the
Armenian Apostolic community, is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit,
tax-exempt organization comprised of more than 50 churches
in 16 western states. It was established in 1898 as the
Diocese of the Armenian Church encompassing the entire
United States and Canada. In 1927 the Western Diocese was
formed to exclusivly serve the western United States.

TURKISH MINISTER MET ARMENIAN TOURISTS IN VAN

News.am
13:38 / 08/15/2009

Turkish State Minister Cevdet Yilmaz and other officials visited
Akhtamar church once arrived in Van (Turkey), Turkish Cihan agency
reports.

The Minister stated the region is of great importance for tourism
development. Cevdet Yilmaz answered journalists’ questions, mentioning
that this church is vitally crucial for Armenians and looks more
attractive after restoration.

"This region is a historical and cultural preservation. Tourism
development is the main potential of Eastern Anatolia, that will be
strongly supported in this area," Minister said.

As to the question whether there is a possibility of services to be
held in the church, Yilmaz answered that there is no analysis on the
matter, and current conditions and legal status should be reviewed.

"Turkish Republic is a secular state and all religions are equally
distanced from the state. That is why we have a respect for all
religions and do not have any problems in this regard," Yilmaz
underlined.

While visiting Akhtamar, Minister met tourists from Armenia and spoke
with them in English. Tourists said they liked the island and thanked
the Minister for preserving it.

AZERBAIJAN IS A MERE TOOL IN TURKEY’S HANDS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
14.08.2009 20:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Perhaps, Azerbaijan lost the war with Armenia,
but Armenia has suffered a devastating defeat in the information war
" Vahan Shirhanyan , member of the "Hnchak" Social Democratic Party
of Armenia told reporters today.

According to him, Azerbaijani mass media won the information war due
to their work with Azerbaijani authorities.

"The Azerbaijani media have presented Armenia as an aggressor,"
Vahan Shirkhanyan said. However, he noted that Azerbaijan is not a
national country, but merely a tool in the hands of Turkey, because
Turkey coordinates the whole information war.

COME HOME PROGRAM: SECOND STAGE: AUGUST 10, 11

Noyan Tapan
Aug 13, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Visits to Khor
Virap, then Toumanian’s, Charents’ and Parajanov’s museums

The young people participating in the Come Home program of the RA
Ministry of Diaspora visited Khor Virap on August 10. The young
people reached the monastery at the moment when the priest carried
out the ceremony of christening, and the young people do not lose
the possibility to take a photo.

The program participants’ good mood was preserved also on the way from
Khor Virap to Artashat, in the center of the marz of Ararat. A concert
of Armenian songs and dancing was organized on the Ararat Regional
Governor’s initiative, in the yard near the Regional Council. The
Diasporan Armenian young people at once received the invitation to
dance under the sounds of Kochari and Ver-veri (Armenian national
dances). Milena who arrived from Tbilisi surprised with her dancing
in the style of rep. Recitation of the young people arrived from the
Czech Republic and Tbilisi was also impressive.

According to the hayernaysor.am electronic newspaper, August 11 was of
great cognitive meaning for the youth. The day started with the visit
to Hovhannes Toumanian’s museum. Some boyes and girls who were still
not aware of his holiness Armenian poet’s life and works listened
Director Narine Tukhikian’s and guide’s comments with interest. Some
of them stood for a long time in front of the view picturing the
village of Dsegh, some of them looked at the pictures on the walls
where heroes of the great poet’s tales were pictured.

Anna Sahakian from Moscow was especially interested in the room
moved from the Vernatun (Armenian literary study groop, collective
of writers in Tiflis) to Yerevan and kept with the same furnishing,
in the role of the Vernatun in the affair of development of the
Armenian intellectuals and literary life.

At eminent poet Yeghishe Charents’ museum all of the recited in unison
the poem entitled "Yes im anush Hayastani," (For My Sweet Armenia),
got acquainted with other works of the poet which became the soul of
the time, saw the room from the doors of which the policemen took
away and arrested Charents. And the Come Home program participants
uniterruptedly took photos at the Sergei Parajanov’s museum. The
represented 1400 exhibits, collages, pictures, hats, dools a part
of which the famous artist created during the years passed in the
prison, were a real discovery for Narek Aslikian who has arrived from
Moscow. Sorbonne University student, French Armenian Kewin Sevak
Kerteshian was too interested in collages: "I has only known about
Parajanov’s films entitled Colour of Pomegranate and Sayat-Nova, this
museum opened a new world before me," he said and it seemed that new
world was opened for all the participants.

INTELLECTUAL GAME ‘WHAT? WHERE? WHEN?’ RESTART IN ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
14.08.2009 17:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Television will restart its intellectual
game show entitled ‘What? Where? When?’, Armen Ashotyan , RA minister
of education and science of Armenia told press conference in Yerevan
today devoted to South Caucasus championship on intellectual games.

According to the minister, the government allocated money to purchase a
license to run this game. Minister of science and education recalled
that TV version of the game once was broadcast on Armenian TV and
enjoyed great popularity of the audience. According to him, the
game has greatly contributed to the intellectual development of the
Armenian society.

Vice-President of the ‘What? Where? When?’ Yerevan club Ara Avetisyan
mentioned that most likely the game will be broadcast in the Armenian
language, which is more understandable to local population.