Author: Felekian Ara

ARMENIA’S EX-FM SORRY FOR SIGNER OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 22 2009
Armenia

The former Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian sometimes
feels envy, but not for Armenian diplomacy. "But I do for Turkish
diplomacy. I would never dare put a document like that on the
negotiating table. I would not sign it, and I am not envious of the
person that is to do it," Oskanian stated at a discussion organized
by the Civilitas Foundation.

Speaking of the initialed Armenian-Turkish Protocols, Oskanian said:
"Reading the Protocols one arrives at the conclusion that someone
and somewhere wrote them with Turks’ participation and then imposed
on the Armenian side or the Armenian side was actually involved in
working them out being convinced that Armenia’s further existence
and development depends on the reopening of the Armenian-Turkish
border." According to him, it is not the signing of the documents that
is unacceptable – they might be acceptable with a sentence or a couple
of phrases removed. Oskanian also reminded the attendees that more than
190 countries have territorial problems. "A fourth of them in Europe,
but they have embassies, mutual trade, and diplomats, respecting one
another, continue negotiating and discussing different interpretations
of historical facts and territorial claims," Oskanian said.

He took Georgia as an example. "In our region we did not recognize
the border with friendly, brotherly Georgia. "Only now are the two
states demarcating the frontier. Georgia and Azerbaijan did not
recognize the common border, and demarcation is not in progress,
but they have diplomatic relations," Oskanian said.

He is surprised at the fact that Armenia’s incumbent authorities
either fail to see the real state of affairs or are unwilling to
admit their different meaning. "For fifteen years Turkey has been
maintaining the blockade, hoping for Armenia to grow economically and
politically weak. It has never happened nor will. Rather, it is they
that have to get out of the complicated political situation they have
found themselves in. They need to reopen the border and seem to have
found the way of doing it thanked to us. It is they that are under
Europe’s powerful pressure because of the ‘admission schedule’. They
need to reopen the border because they have urgent economic problems in
their eastern regions. It is they that are experiencing great fear of
the progressing process of international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, which died down under the USA’s pressure. Finally, it is
they need to reopen the border to underline their decisive role in
the region. Despite all that, it is our authorities that are making
concessions to speed up the process. If the authorities initially
failed to show foresight not to get into the present situation,
they must at least find a way of saving the situation now."

DMITRY MEDVEDEV CONGRATULATED PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA SERZH SARGSYAN

RIA Oreanda
Sept 21 2009
Russia

Moscow. OREANDA-NEWS . September 21, 2009. Dmitry Medvedev
Congratulated President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on the country’s
national holiday – Independence Day.

The congratulatory message reads, in part: I am happy to see that the
close and friendly relations between Russia and Armenia, characterised
by mutual understanding, respect and trust, continue their steady
development.

I am sure that by deepening the strategic partnership between our
countries we will foster social and economic progress in Russia
and Armenia and serve the cause of peace and stability in the
Trans-Caucasus.

We will take all steps necessary to continue developing our bilateral
political dialogue and our business and humanitarian cooperation.

WASHINGTON MAN ANGERED BY OBAMA AS HITLER POSTERS, ARRESTED

WCBD
Sept 18 2009
WA

A picture depicting President Obama as Hitler brings brings back
emotional memories for an Armenian immigrant living in Washington
state.

Now, he says he’s facing an assault charge, because he tried to put
a stop to the use of that image.

Henry Gasparian was walking through downtown Edmonds, Washington,
where two people had signs and literature depicting President Obama
as Adolf Hitler.

"I said, ‘Never come up to me with that kind of stupid things,"
said Gasparian. "I don’t want to see picture of killer, a demon,
to be used for someone’s political career."

During World War Two, Gasparian was a boy living in Armenia as Hitler
began his campaign of extermination.

"I have some relatives who were killed. My other uncle came home
without a leg."

Gasparian said he tried grabbing some of the people’s pamphlets.

They shoved, he shoved and then he walked away.

He’s now charged with fourth degree assault.

The protesters were supporters of Lyndon LaRoche, a perennial
presidential candidate and staunch opponent of the president.

ARMENIAN PIANIST PLAYS IN FRESNO

Fresno Bee
Sept 17 2009
CA

This is called planning ahead: Almost 10 years ago, Andreas Werz –
the artistic director of the Philip Lorenz Memorial Keyboard Concerts
series – traveled to Yerevan, Armenia. There he hung out with Aram
Gharabekian, conductor of the Armenian Chamber Orchestra, who asked
Werz whether he’d like to tag along at an audition of an astounding
young pianist.

Werz agreed, and after listening to the 12-year-old girl play, he
was impressed. Her name: Nareh Arghamanyan.

"That’s how I heard her for the first time," Werz says.

Fast forward to today. Arghamanyan, now 20, is the opening artist
for the new season of the highly regarded Keyboard Concerts series
at California State University, Fresno.

In 2008, Arghamanyan was the first-prize winner at the 2008 Montreal
International Music Competition.

When Werz heard about the honor, he knew she’d be a great pianist
to bring in for the series, which prides itself both on presenting
well-known veteran performers and up-and-coming artists.

Arghamanyan is a graduate of the esteemed Vienna Music Conservatory and
has already appeared in major venues in the United States, Russia,
Germany, France and Switzerland. A recent review in the Salt Lake
Tribune declared that she "is destined to have a major international
career."

Her performance is co-sponsored by Fresno State’s Armenian Studies
Program.

Arghamanyan will perform works by Mendelssohn, Schumann, Rachmaninoff
and Tchaikovsky/Pletnev.

For Werz, the concert will remind him of a talented girl that he
heard a long time ago, half a world away.

"I wasn’t going to forget her," he says.

CONCERT INFO Nareh Arghamanyan, 8 p.m. Friday, Fresno State Concert
Hall. Tickets: $18, $12 seniors, $5 student.

ARMENIAN FREESTYLE WRESTLING TEAM START AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN DENMARK SEPT. 21

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
18.09.2009 09:37 GMT+04:00l

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Presently in Minsk for a training, 7 Armenian
freestyle wrestlers under supervision of chief coach Araik Baghdatyan
will depart for Moscow and then for Denmark to participate in world
championship due from September 21 to 23.

The team includes Migran Jaburyan (55kg), Arthur Arakelyan (60kg),
Zhirayr Hovhannesyan (66kg), Suren Markosyan (74kg), Harutyun Yenokyan
(84kg), Edgar Yenokyan (84kg) and Ruslan Basiyev (120kg).

ARMENTEL OPENING SERVICE OFFICES OF NEW TYPE

ArmInfo
2009-09-18 13:52:00

ArmInfo. ArmenTel has opened service offices of new type, says the
company’s press release. Alongside with the existing sales and service
offices, payphones were replaced by Beeline express-offices in the
very heart of Yerevan, Vanadzor and Gyumri, where clients cam buy
SIM-cads or account recharge cards, refill balance or make a call. The
project launched in Armenia is the first in its type for the whole
Vimpelcom group. "The new format of offices with Beeline brand is
a symbol of successful integration of the company’s businesses and
allows reorganizing a small pay phone into a service point with
a broad spectrum of services. Thanks to express-offices, we are
settling an important task i.e. we provide maximum freedom of choice
to our clients. One can make just a call, and the other can use our
communication permanently. Everyone will find a proper solution at our
universal offices of new format," says Dmitry Pleskonos, VimpelCom CJSC
Executive Vice President, Business Development in the CIS. "Development
of the Armenian market of communication services is at the stage when
an operator must not avoid experiments and must offer its clients
new formats of service to become the winner. Express officers of new
format will effectively replenish the sales network and make Beeline
service more conformable to our subscribers," says Igor Klimko,
Director General of ArmenTel CJSC. AT present ArmenTel has 61 sales
and service offices and 6 new express-offices in Armenia. The number
of express- offices will be increased and the spectrum of services will
be extended shortly. Armentel CJSC is a subsidiary of VimpelCom CJSC.

VICTOR KRIVOPUSKOV: HISTORICAL RELATIONS OF RUSSIA AND ARMENIA NOT SUBJECT TO BUSINESS TRENDS

ArmInfo
2009-09-17 16:32:00

ArmInfo. Historical relations of Russia and Armenia are not subject
to business trends, says Victor Krivopuskov, the Adviser at the
Russian Embassy in Armenia, the President of the Armenian-Russian
Friendship Association (RODSA) in response to ArmInfo’s question if
Russian influence in the region will weaken if the Armenian-Turkish
border is opened.

He said the statements by Russian and Armenian officials give no
reason for thinking about such possibility. In addition, Krivopuskov
highlighted the existence of joint ventures, investments and tranches,
the 102nd Russian military base and the Russian frontier-guards on
the Armenian border as a high level of cooperation of the two states.

As regards normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey, V.

Krivopuskov said Russia welcomes this process. "One should not forget
that Armenia is waging complementary and multi-vector policy. We
can see today the right development. The most important is to avoid
prevalence of one of the vectors over others," he said.

RIGHT-WING ARMENIANS STAGE HUNGER STRIKE AGAINST TALKS

Hurriyet Daily News
Sept 16 2009
Turkey

Supporters of a nationalist Armenian party start a hunger strike
in Yerevan to protest the normalization talks between Turkey and
Armenia, demanding the resignation of the foreign minister. If the
necessary precautions are not taken, they will demand the resignation
of President Sarkisian as the next step, says one of the organizers

FOTOALTI: A nationalist Armenian woman holds a placard reading ‘No
concessions to the Turks,’ in a protest against the normalization
talks.

A right-wing Armenian party has launched a sit-in and hunger strike
in Yerevan in protest of the normalization talks between Turkey
and Armenia as the government plans to launch political talks on
establishing ties with Turkey after decades of hostility.

Nearly 50 members of the nationalist Armenian Revolutionary Federation,
or Dashnaktsutyun, protesting outside the foreign ministry on Tuesday
said the protocols threatened Armenia’s national interests. They
demanded the resignation of Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
due to his role in normalization talks.

Turkey and Armenia last month agreed on steps toward establishing
full diplomatic ties – a first for the neighbors. The countries will
hold six weeks of domestic debate over the accords, which were drawn
up under Swiss mediation, before they are submitted for ratification
by their parliaments.

Settling a century of animosity between the two sides would help foster
stability in the southern Caucasus, through which Caspian oil flows
to European markets. It may also boost Turkey’s chances of achieving
European Union membership and improve predominantly Muslim Turkey’s
relationship with the United States, where Congress has considering
labeling the 1915 killings of Armenians as "genocide."

Armenia claims up to 1.5 million Armenians were systematically killed
in 1915 under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey denies this,
saying that any deaths were the result of civil strife that erupted
when Armenians took up arms for independence in eastern Anatolia.

Turkey also closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with
ally Azerbaijan over Yerevan’s backing of ethnic Armenian separatists
in the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Committee offer

Chanting "No concessions to the Turks!" protesters said they
would remain outside the ministry throughout the six weeks of
consultations. Protesters said they were especially concerned that
the deal calls for the creation of an intergovernmental commission
to examine the two countries’ historical grievances.

The normalization protocols contain grave threats to Armenia’s national
interests, said Tatul Harutyunyan, one of the main organizers of the
hunger strikes, adding: "A historian committee offer will certainly
be the first pre-condition of the Turkish side. Nevertheless, we will
not allow Turkey to make the genocide issue a debate topic."

Turkey has long suggested that a committee of Turkish and Armenian
historians re-examine the events of 1915 and could open ways for
Turks and Armenians to come together by using archives in Turkey,
Armenia and other countries. But Armenian leadership has rejected
the overture, dismissing it as a political maneuver.

Demanding an apology

While giving implicit support to the normalization talks, Harutyunyan
said Turkey should give up denying the "genocide" and issue an official
apology. "We do want the resignation of Nalbandian because he is
the one who has signed the agreements with Turkey. If the necessary
precautions are not taken, we will demand the resignation of [Armenian
President Serge] Sarkisian in the next step," Harutyunyan told Hurriyet
Daily News & Economic Review.

Meanwhile, Sarkisian will meet with the leaders of Armenia’s political
parties on Thursday, his spokesman Samvel Farmanian said, as part of
internal consultations agreed upon under a deal with Turkey.

"These consultations will be one of the important steps in the public
discussion on normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations," he said. "As
the president has promised, these questions, which are of national
importance, are becoming the subject of a wide public discussion."

Nationalist Dashnaktsutyun left the coalition government in April
to protest the normalization talks. Sarkisian’s Republican Party, or
Hanrabedgan Gusagzsutyun, holds the majority in the parliament with
64 out of 131 seats. Harutyunyan predicted that the protocols would
not be approved in the Armenian parliament. "Like the all Armenians
across the country, the MPs of Hanrabedgan Gusagzsutyun are worried
about our national interests."

A nationalist Armenian girl holds a placard saying ‘No Concessions
to the Turks,’ in a protest against the normalization talks.

CASPIAN ISSUES WERE DEBATED IN AKTAU BEHIND CLOSED DOORS: EXPERT

Today.Az
/55582.html
Sept 14 2009
Azerbaijan

Director of Russia-based Center for Post-Soviet Studies Aleksei Vlasov
spoke in an interview with Day.Az.

Day.Az: Why Iran was not invited to the Aktau meeting. Was it because
Caspian Sea status was not discussed at the meeting?

Aleksei Vlasov: I think despite one reason included in public
statements, in fact there are probably some hidden factors, which are
designated primarily in the quartet format. There is no doubt that
officials said that the Caspian issue was not discussed and so the
absence of Iran had nothing to do with the desire of the quartet to
address the serious issue of the Caspian Sea without participation
of Tehran.

But I think that after all, the Caspian Sea issues were debated in
Aktau behind closed doors and purpose of these closed discussions
was that the troika (Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan) would persuade
Turkmenistan to create a new configuration of the negotiations on
the Caspian issue. I think this was the task for the heads of state.

Q: There is suggestion that the Aktau summit was a kind of preparation
for the upcoming negotiations on the status of the Caspian Sea. Given
the dissatisfaction by Iran, what one can expect from the upcoming
meeting of presidents of the Caspian littoral states?

Q: First, I think prior to the summit every effort will be made to
show Tehran that in fact there were no questions regarding the status
of the Caspian Sea that can be solved without Iran. There is a need to
sweeten this meeting by information so as not to engage with Iran in
excess confrontation. Steps in this direction are already being made
at official level. I think a strong information impetus will be given
to rapprochement. But more important is a proposal to address these
issues within the overall approach and whether it will be format of
the Caspian economic cooperation organization or some other model.

For now, two main points are important for Moscow, one – enter other
Caspian littoral states in mode of one-sided dialogue within an
organization and second point – to prevent interference by outside
forces with the solution of the Caspian issues. And in fact, and in
another case, Iran can be persuaded that such a dialogue format is
more acceptable.

Q: The option of building Nabucco pipeline through Armenia is not
considered currently. In Armenia there is an opinion that the cost
of the project can not be "Armenian genocide" and the independence
of Nagorno-Karabakh. May Armenia change this position taking into
account the importance of Nabucco?

A: Both initiators of the Nabucco project and Russia and Armenia are
in a very difficult situation for various reasons at a moment when
the fate of this project would be decided. The issue of Armenia it
exists in the context of the Nabucco project, more precisely, in a
particular route of the project. But here the position of Armenia in
Yerevan and attitude to participate in this project is not the main
thing. That is why for now Yerevan is limited to fairly vague and
not very specific terms.

Armenia’s involvement with Nabucco project will be skeptically
perceived in Moscow. On the other hand, there are certain economic
preferences that Armenia would like to receive. Hence the desire to
wait until the situation around the Nabucco will unfold further. Again,
I stress that the Armenian issue in the Nabucco exists. But it is
not crucial or decisive for the fate of this project.

INHERITED ARREARS: BROTHER OF FORMER SHIRAK REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR LEAVES VILLAGE WITH 13 MILLION DEBT
Yeranuhi Soghoyan

2009/0 9/14 | 18:38

For years on end, it has been the custom of local community
leaders to rack up debts and then take flight, leaving the burden
of responsibility on their hapless successors. In the 2008 local
self-government elections, 104 community mayoralties were contested
out of 119 communities in Shirak Marz. As a result of the elections
results, some 28 communities witnessed a change in leadership.

"If we take a good hard look, it is the taxpayer who suffers;
especially the rural resident. There is no real penalty when community
leaders fail to collect the required amount of taxes," says Shirak
Regional Administration Finance Department head Hovsep Simonyan. He
cites the example of the former mayor of the community of Azatan who
accumulated some 21 million AMD in municipal debt. Then there is the
mayor of Akhourik who left some 18 million in debt to his successor
or the 24 million debt passed on in Metz Sepasar. It will be up to
the newly elected leaders in these and other communities to collect
enough in taxes to pay off the liabilities.

A new mayor was also elected in the community of Saratag in
2008. Former mayor Rostom Manoukyan, the brother of former regional
administrator Romik Manoukyan, left 13 million in debt to Misha
Ghrzoyan and took all the accounting paperwork with him as well
for the 6 years he was in office, including project expenditure
statements. Current Mayor Misha Ghrzoyan complains that, "Now the
regional administration is demanding the financial statements for
projects undertaken during those 6 years. But there is nothing here
to show."

Municipal accountant Silva Hakobyan backs up the mayor’s statement,
pointing out that whatever figures they had were taken by the regional
administration. A water pipe had been constructed during the six
year tenure of Rostom Manoukyan at a cost of 700,000 AMD. An equal
amount was allocated for road repair work as well, and 400,000 went
to repairs of the community health clinic. "I am at a loss to say
what really was accomplished with the money. All I can point to is
a cheap door that was hung at the clinic located on the first floor
of the municipality building. We also come across an expenditure of
40 million in the books but it beats me where the funds went to. All
in all, the finances are in a mess," Mrs. Hakobyan says.

"Where did the 40 million go?"

Mayor Ghrzoyan is also baffled. The 40 million was specifically
earmarked for a educational facility; or some type of musical, sport
and art school. "True, I inherited the job. But I wasn’t the one who
OK’d the expenditures. Thus, I can’t say where the 40 million was
spent. All I know is that at least one school could have been built
for that amount," Misha Ghrzoyan states.

The former mayor has become the owner of the old collective storage
building that was sold off at auction for 80,000 AMD. "That building is
at least worth $10,000. About 2-3 years ago I found out that the place
was up for auction and I decided to participate. Would you believe
it? I bought the place for 20,000 AMD. Later that same evening I got
a call from the former head of the Compulsory Enforcement Service who
requested that he return my check otherwise they’d fire him," recounts
Mayor Ghrzoyan. His auction receipt was returned and the transaction
was nullified. The building later went on auction again and this time
it was purchased by former Mayor Rostom Manoukyan for 80,000 AMD.

An employee at the Regional Administration commented that Saratak
residents are quite a thankless lot since they don’t appreciate
anything that former Regional Administrator Romik Manoukyan did for
the community where he was born. In Saratak, where half the residents
are relatives of the Manoukyan brothers, would appear to differ,
otherwise they wouldn’t have voted in Misha Ghrzoyan during the 2008
municipal elections. This was the response of most Saratak residents
"Hetq" spoke to in the village.

>>From November, 2008, till September 1, 2009, the Saratak Municipality
was able to collect 7.7 million of a 13 million AMD loan. Half the
village is heavily in debt. For example, Hovhannes Ayvazyan hasn’t
paid his land taxes since 1998. With penalties and interest, the
balance has grown to 1 million AMD and now Mr. Ayvazyan refuses to
pay at all. The mayor, having no other recourse, threatened to take
him to court and the man said, fine.

Over the phone, Hovhannes Ayvazyan told us that the former community
leaders were to blame. "They are the ones at fault for my being so deep
in debt today," he argued. "Even if I wanted to pay, where will I get
that kind of money? Let them make some kind of an offer otherwise I’ll
complain to the regional administration. Let them come and check if
I actually owe all that. I won’t pay. Let Ghrzoyan take me to court."

The pride of Saratak is the village school, also attended by children
from the neighboring community of Lousakert. The kindergarten also
accommodates 42 youngsters, allowing their parents to work in the
fields and perform other agricultural endeavors.

Public works program helps some

This year, 25 local families were given the opportunity to participate
in the "Public Works for Pay" program, for which they received monthly
wages of 45,000 AMD. The program tackled the village’s drinking water
problem and solved it. Resident Karapet Minasyan worked on the water
project and had no complaints. "The job lasted one month and they
paid me 2,200 AMD daily. For that one month 25 men from the village
had work. We did a good job and we now have water to drink from the
faucet. Imagine, for the past 15 years we had to carry water from
the well back home," Mr. Minasyan recounted.

We were told at the municipality that the "Public Works for Pay"
program gave a 1.5 million grant to the village and that the
municipality also kicked in 1.115 of its own money. What remains is
for the local roads to be repaired on the municipality’s paltry budget.

In addition to paying off the municipal debt, Mayor Ghrzoyan is
attempting to carry out some visible public work projects of his
own. For instance, the municipality has installed a system of local
street lights at a cost of 1.3 million from its own budget.

A general rule of thumb is that if the community mayor isn’t a
go-getter then the community suffers as a result. Local leaders
are changed only when the residents’ cup of patience has runneth
over. If the former mayor remembers anything related to the time he
was in office it is that he is owed some back pay. They told us at
the regional administration that many’s the time when a community
leader is voted out of office, only to turn up at their doorstep a
week later with a petition for back pay owed.

For example, there’s the case of the former mayor of Garnarij. He
threatened to go to court over back pay owed him. The case never made
it to the courts however. He went to his successor and demanded the
money. He got 300,000 for his troubles.