Author: Emil Lazarian

Armenpress

ARMENIAN JEWELERS HOLD 10 PERCENT OF THE WORLD MARKET

YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS: In an exclusive
interview with Armenpress Gagik Abrahamian, president
of the International Association of Armenian Jewelers
(IAAJ) and chairman of board of directors of Armenian
Diamond Factory and Armenian Jewelry Factory said the
International Association of Armenian Jewelers,
established 10 years ago, has now representations in
the USA, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Armenia.
‘The main objective of the Association is to use
the available resources and experience of Diaspora
Armenian jewelers to the benefit of development of
this sector in Armenia,’ he said adding that he was
the first representative of Armenia to have been
elected its president in 2006 election held in
Switzerland.
"This and the transfer of the Association’s head
office from Europe to Armenia are evidences of the
growing trust in Armenia-based businessmen," Mr.
Abrahamian said.
He said another goal of the Association was to
bring together Armenian goldsmiths and jewelers from
across the world and to create a broad network of
Armenian businessmen dealing with diamond and jewelry,
a task which he said was fulfilled.
The Association is actively advertising Armenian
jewelers across the globe, organizes international
fairs. He said after a consultation with president of
Armenia and approval of the government it was decided
to create tax and customs free zones during
international fairs held in Armenia. He said the first
international diamond and jewelry exhibition in
Armenia will be held late in 2007
According to him, the amount of annual diamond and
jewelry businesses handled by Armenians is about $7.5
billion, which make 10 percent of the relating world
turnover. Armenian jewelry items are sold to USA, Hong
Kong, Belgium, Switzerland, Russia and other
countries. He said investments are coming from many
countries indicating that Armenia’s diamond and
jewelry factories produce products which are
competitive in the world market.
At the end of his interview Mr. Abrahamian praised
Armenia’s investment legislation and environment and
also commended the work of a business development
council affiliated with prime minister of which he is
also a member.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 12 2007

Written question presented to the PACE Committee of Ministers

[ 12 Jan. 2007 19:09 ]

Ganira Pashayeva presented a written question to the Committee of
Ministers of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, she
told APA.

The written question on the Actions of the Leadership of Armenia
Undermining the Armenia-Azerbaijan Ongoing Peace Forces reflects the
referendum on December 10. The written question says that this act is
in direct violation of the Constitution of Azerbaijan, as well as
relevant norms and principles of the international law and endangers
the ongoing peace process.
`The so-called referendum and its results are null and void. It
shouldn’t mislead the international community, which is well-informed
of the occupation and ethnic cleansing carried out by the Armenian
armed forces against all non-Armenian population in the Nagorno
Karabakh region and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Future
constitutional document envisaging a self-rule for the population of
the Nagorno Karabakh region can only be elaborated through the legal,
democratic and peaceful process with a full, equal and direct
participation of the entire participation of the region, including
both Armenian and Azerbaijani communities. The `referendum’ conducted
by the Armenian side despite numerous warnings of international
organizations, including the Council of Europe, European Union and
OSCE, damage the ongoing peace process. We deem the sending a letter
of congratulations on the occasion of the `referendum’ by President
Robert Kocharian as a destructive step which harms the process of
diplomatic negotiations aimed at peaceful resolution of the conflict.
As stated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs, `conducting such a
referendum is particularly unhelpful at the moment when the OSCE
Minsk Group-meditated negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan
appear to be on a constructive path’. Armenian leadership has
consciously chosen to ignore relevant decisions of the international
community, including the PACE resolution 1416, and impede the peace
process by pre-empting its outcome
Expressing its deep concern over the potential negative impact of the
abovementioned in terms of broader regional security, Ganira
Pashayeva asked the Council of Ministers:
– Whether discussing the steps undertaken in the context by the
leadership of the republic of Armenia and providing adequate legal
and political assessment of its obvious detrimental consequences is
in place?
– Why does the Council of Ministers refrain from making use of
effective mechanisms at its disposal to influence the government of
Armenia to abstain in the future from actions that prevent lasting
peace in the region from being achieved, including its continued
non-compliance with the PACE Resolution 1416 (2003)?’, the documents
reads. /APA/

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Reuters AlertNet, UK
Jan 12 2007

Armenian children continue Christmas celebrations
12 Jan 2007 07:12:54 GMT
Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)

Theater performances by children marked a beginning of a series of
Christmas celebrations to cover 20 communities of Tavush region,
Armenia. The participants aged 10-16 were from local theatrical
groups that belong to Armenian Evangelical Church, who partnered with
the WV Tavush Area Development Program (ADP) to give the children in
remote and rural areas a nice opportunity to enjoy Christmas time.

The performances are educational to teach children how to love and
support each other. One of them tells about a clown who treats his
friend unfairly but has to repent afterwards.

‘I liked the play very much. It teaches us to be kind, to love and
not to be naughty,’ said 10-year-old Ani Mirzoyan from Azatamut
village, Tavush region.

‘Theatrical shows are not common for rural areas and children miss
them much throughout the year,’ said Karen Tsovyan, Christian
Commitments Committee member from Tavush ADP.

The performances were imbued with Christmas spirit, music, humor, and
prayers. The young audience was nicely surprised at the end with the
appearance of Dzmer Pap (Santa Clause) who brought presents for
children.

‘Christmas is my favorite holiday when your dreams come true. I wish
all the children could be healthy, successful and live in peace,’
said Hasmik Yaylayan, 11, who came with her mother to watch the
performance.

‘The performances were designed so that they could be understandable
for children of different age groups. They aimed to inculcate love,
respect, and goodness in children as well as make them understand the
message of Christ ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ said
Karen Tsovyan.

The performances had a great success as the auditoriums in each
community were full of people. Happy smiles and laughter of children
were strong evidence of that.

The theater performances are not over yet and will continue to amuse
children until the 13th of January which is also celebrated in
Armenia as New Year’s Eve according to Julian calendar and sum up the
Christmas season.

Christmas celebrations took place in all ADP offices of Armenia
bringing joy and hope to many children from poor families. Along with
many other Christmas Gifts, over 4000 children received Youth Bible
Curriculum textbooks developed and printed by WV Armenia Christian
Commitments department.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Les Echos, France
12 janvier 2007 vendredi

Les Temps forts de l’année de l’Arménie

Jusqu’au 14 juillet 2007, l’Arménie et la France célèbrent leur
amitié multiséculaire à travers une série de manifestations
culturelles inaugurée par un concert de Charles Aznavour, à Erevan,
le 30 septembre 2006, en présence de Jacques Chirac.

L’exposition Les Douze Capitales d’Arménie, du 15 décembre 2006 au 18
mars 2007, à la Conciergerie, à Paris, vise à mettre en valeur le
patrimoine architectural arménien à travers photos et objets
provenant des collections du Musée national d’histoire d’Erevan.

Livre arménien, cinq siècles de trésors, à la BNF, 58, rue de
Richelieu, toujours à Paris, du 28 janvier au 25 mars 2007, dévoile
une cinquantaine de manuscrits précieux et imprimés anciens.

Avec Armenia Sacra, le Louvre présente, pour la première fois de son
histoire, une exposition entièrement consacrée à l’art arménien à
partir des collections du Musée national d’histoire d’Erevan et du
Catholicossat d’Etchmiadzine, du 17 février au 15 mai 2007.

Arménie, la Magie de l’écrit, à la Vieille Charité, à Marseille,
rassemblera un ensemble de manuscrits, livres anciens, tapis…,
prêtés par l’Arménie, Venise, Vienne, Jérusalem, du 23 février au 6
mai 2007.

Aïvazovski, la poésie de la mer, au Musée national de la marine du
Trocadéro, présente l’oeuvre de ce grand peintre mariniste
romantique, dont Delacroix fit l’éloge, du 7 février au 4 juin 2007.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

USA WISHES KARS-AKHALKALAKI RAILWAY TO PASS THROUGH ARMENIA: OSCE MG
AMERICAN COCHAIRMAN

Yerevan, January 12. ArmInfo. The USA wishes the Kars-Akhalkalaki
railway to pass through Armenia, OSCE MG American Cochairman Mathew
Bryza said, commenting on the USA refusal to finance the
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku railway construction project passing over
Armenia, Day.az reports.

According to Bryza, the USA have always assisted the projects aimed at
the strengthening of transport communications. "We try to develop all
the projects which unite all the countries in the East-West corridor",
he said, having added that it would be profitable to the United States
for the railway, which connects Turkey and Azerbaijan, to pass through
the territory of Armenia. As for the construction of a new line by
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, M. Bryza said the USA cannot object
but do not support this project. Bryza expressed hope such a transport
diagram, to include all the region countries, will be shortly carried
out at last.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

World: UN Program Aims To Plant One Billion Trees
By Jeffrey Donovan

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Friday, January 12, 2007

January 12, 2007 (RFE/RL) — In the simmering debate over what to do about
global warming, alternative energy sources have center stage.

There’s solar, wind, fuel cells, nuclear, and more. Many of these seem like
viable alternatives to fossil fuels and were part of the sweeping proposals
unveiled on January 11 by the European Commission.

But some experts have a simpler, more direct way to combat global climate
change: planting trees.

"To plant a tree for future generations is a simple gesture, yet a strong
symbol of sustainable development," Prince Albert II of Monaco said in a
statement on the UN website. "The 2007 aim of Plant For The Planet — The
Billion Tree Campaign is to create an unprecedented mobilization in favor of
the environment."

Prince Albert II is the patron of an initiative begun this year by the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) called The Billion Tree
Campaign. It’s goal is to at least 1 billion trees in 2007 in a bid to help
stem climate change.

Deforestation accounts for more greenhouse-gas emissions per year than does
the world’s transport sector. That’s because trees act as "sinks" for the
environment — they naturally absorb carbon dioxide, a by-product of the
burning of fossil fuels and the main greenhouse gas blamed for global
warming. And that carbon dioxide is released when forests are cleared by
burning.

Inspiration From Kenya

The initiative was inspired by 2004 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari
Maathi, the founder of Kenya’s Green Belt Movement, which has planted more
than 30 million trees in 12 African countries since 1977.

When she first began her project, Maathi wanted to address the consequences
of deforestation on Kenya’s rural population. People no longer had firewood,
and topsoil and water resources were being depleted by from deforestation.

So Maathi, as she tells UNEP’s website, started a campaign to plant trees —
an effort that eventually restored workable land to thousands of rural
people around Africa.

"We humans are only part of this ecosystem," Maathi said. "And when we kill
part of this system, we are killing ourselves. That’s what we have to
understand: that this ecosystem must remain as it is, it must be sustained.
Because in its survival, depends our own."

Just A Beginning

UNEP admits its goals remain modest compared to the world’s needs. It says
millions of hectares and billions of trees have to be planted to stabilize
soil and water resources and to meet fuel-wood needs.

An area roughly twice the size of Ukraine, or 130 million hectares, would
have to be planted just to make up for the loss of trees over the last
decade. UNEP says that would take 14 billion trees a year for 10 years. That
is, each person on Earth would have to plant two seedlings a year and care
for them.

So far, the Billion Tree Campaign says more than 75,000 trees have been
planted this year, but that it has received pledges for another 150 million
to be planted.

Hope In Armenia

That’s only a dent in the goal of 1 billion trees, but it’s a beginning that
is certain to grow if more organizations like the Armenia Tree Project step
forward.

That nongovernmental organization has made perhaps the most significant
pledge to date — a promise to plant 500,000 trees this year in Armenia.

The UNEP website offers plenty of practical advice to would-be planters,
including what types of trees to grow and a step-by-step guide to planting.

1/03aabbe9-35f0-418f-b588-94865c7b51e7.html

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
January 10, 2007 Wednesday 10:51 AM EST

Armenian, Azerbaijani FMs likely to meet in January

The Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers are likely to meet in
Moscow in January to discuss settlement of the Karabakh conflict,
Itar-Tass learned at the embassies of the two countries on Wednesday.

The Armenian delegation “intends to adhere to its former line,” the
embassy noted. “Our principled stand is that the people of Karabakh
should be given the opportunity for self-determination on the basis
of international law,” an embassy official said. “Armenia pursues
the same goal as the Minsk group of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe under whose auspices the question is being
tackled, namely, promoting the early solution of the problem in
accordance with the norms of international law,” he said.

The Azerbaijani embassy has merely confirmed that the Moscow meeting,
scheduled for January 23, was being prepared.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SERGEY PARAJANOV’S PIECES TO BE EXHIBITTED IN FRANCE
By Aghavni Haroutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
11/01/2007

Within the framework of Armenia’s year in France, yesterday, on
the birthday offamous film director Sergey Parajanov, his pieces,
including scatches for his films, graphic works, as well as collages
were exhibitted in Toulouse. The next similiar exhibition will
launch in Paris, in February. The exhibition will also include the
retrospective sessions of Parajanov’s films.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MOUNTAINS OF GARBAGE COLLECTED AT COMMUNITIES AFTER NEW YEAR

Panorama.am
18:07 10/01/2007

The garbage collected in the community yards of Yerevan has become a
New Year "jewelry." Public officials promise to collect the garbage
during this week. "It snowed, it was freezing. We went out to clean
the snow and did not have time for garbage," Sergey Alexanyan, utility
department head of Nor Nork community, says. "You are right. Three
to four times more garbage is collected," he told Panorama.am.

Levon Mnatsakanyan, utilities department chief specialist of the
municipality, said 150 cars are used for garbage collection these
days. He also promised to clean the communities soon.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGIA IN SHORT OF ELECTRICITY

Panorama.am
19:37 10/01/2007

"At the moment, electricity is not supplied to Georgia," Lusine
Harutunyan, press secretary of energy ministry, told Panorama.am,
also saying Georgian application issued to Armenian on December 21
for purchase of electricity has not been approved yet.

"They have not approved it today but may do so tomorrow," Harutunyan
said.

Georgia has signed an agreement with Azerbaijan on supply of
electricity late 2006.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress