Author: Felekian Ara

NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF NIGERIA HANDS OVER HIS CREDENTIALS

ARMENPRESS
Oct 28, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 28, ARMENPRESS: Newly appointed ambassador of Nigeria
to Armenia Mohammadu M. Abubakar Chika (residence in Tehran) handed
over today his credentials to Armenian President Serzh Sargsian.

Press service of Armenian president told Armenpress that the president
congratulated the diplomat on assuming his new mission and expressed
assurance that his appointment will be the basis of development of
Armenian-Nigerian relations.

Serzh Sargsian noted that it is necessary to exchange multilateral
information between the two countries to clarify the possible
spheres of cooperation. He also stressed the importance of forming
legal-agreement field which is necessary for cooperation.

During the meeting the sides referred to the issues of boosting
cooperation between Armenia and Nigeria in international institutions,
particularly within.

HOUSING PROBLEMS OF 6,985 FAMILIES TO BE SOLVED BY 2013

Noyan Tapan
Oct 20, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTPOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Holiday of City was celebrated
in Gyumri, the second largest city of Armenia, on October 18. The
implementation of an urban development project was launched on the
same day, thanks to which 2,300-3,000 apartments as well as service
facilities will be built in Gyumri’s Ani and Mush districts. The
progam’s executives presented the project, which will be implemented by
Glendale Hills company – the winner of a tender, to Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan who visited Gymri.

The RA minister of urban development Vardan Vardanian said that as
a result of the project, the "disaster zone" will be transformed
into a zone of "development and proper life". According to him, since
Armenia’s independence, the housing conditions of more than 60 thousand
homeless families have been improved with state budgetary resources,
funds of the Lincy Foundation, "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund and other
foundations, but the problem has not been solved completely. The
minister noted that the problem was one of the key issues included
in the pre-election program of Serzh Sargsyan and one of the first
tasks of S. Sargsyan as the newly-elected president. Based on it, the
Armenian government developed and approved the concept of solving the
housing problems of the families left homeless by the earthquake. Under
the concept, it is envisaged solving housing problems of 6,985 families
by 2013, including 4,420 families in Shirak marz, 2,403 in Lori marz,
149 in Aragatsotn marz, 13 families in Tavush marz, with the total
dwelling space of 600 thousand square meters to be constructed.

According to the minister, construction work to be done in Mush
and Ani districts will finish in 2010. Tenders were also announced
for apartment construction in rural communities of Lori and Shirak
marzes, and construction work will start in these communities by mid
November. About 40 billion drams will be allocated from the state
budget for construction work in Gyumri, and a total of 80-82 billion
drams will be spent on restoration of the earthquake zone.

The RA deputy minister of urban development, Chief Architect of Armenia
Narek Sargsian said that the project’s implementation will allow to
develop the center of Gyumri as a tourist zone, also developing the
traditional handicrafts such as blacksmith’s work, carpentry, carpet
making and others, and finally to achieve those features and colors
that existed in Gyumri before the earthquake.

The mayor of Gyumri Vardan Ghukasian informed reporters that the city
has a population of 200 thousand, whereas before the earthquake its
population made 350 thousand. In his words, the budget of Yerevan
makes 125 billion drams, that of Gyumri amounts to 3 billion 200
million drams. According to him, among the city’s problems are
asphalt laying, construction of cultural facilities, job creation,
small and medium business development, planting of greenery, and
street lighting installation.

ARMENIAN ECONOMY HAS TOO MANY WEAK POINTS TO RESIST GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS: ACADEMICIAN

ARKA
Oct 24, 2008

YEREVAN, October 24. /ARKA/. Armenia’s economy has too many weak points
to resist the global financial crisis, according to Abel Aghanbekyan,
head of the Business Management Doctor Program, member of the Russian
Academy of Sciences.

"Armenia has not felt the painful influence of the global financial
crisis yet, but transfers to Armenia will significantly reduce in a
couple of months," he said at a roundtable on the influence of the
global tailspin on Armenia’s economy.

According to the Central Bank of Armenia, non-commercial transfers to
the country reached $668.7mln as of end-June 2008 – 32.98% ($164.8mln)
year-on-year growth. Net inflow rose 46.8 % year-on-year to $555.9mln
($378.7mln in January-June 2007).

Another weak point in Armenia’s economy is that Armenian imports are
considerably lower than exports, Aghanbekyan said.

According to the latest statistics, Armenia’s foreign trade
turnover rose 7.2% year-on-year in January-September 2008 to
$383.7mln. Exports went down 1.8% to $813.8mln, while imports rose
38.3% to $3,023.2mln. As a result, red ink of the foreign trade
turnover amounted to $2,209.4mln.

Aghanbekyan underlined the gap between urban and village construction,
saying almost 88.8% of house construction is consolidated in Yerevan,
while more than 50% of population lives in regions.

The academician stressed the importance of reducing rampant
urbanization.

SOON TURKEY SHOULD PROVIDE WAY OUT TO SEA

Panorama.am
20:40 21/10/2008

According to the international convention on the countries which do
not have way out to sea, such countries have rights to get way out
to sea from their neighbor countries, announced Vahan Hovhannisyan,
the head of ARF fraction and added that countries which are bordered
by seas are to provide such opportunities to the other countries
without any additional tariffs.

V. Hovhannisyan said that both Turkey and Georgia have signed under
that convention, but unfortunately Armenia is not a part to that
convention. But the ARF deputy said that when the National Assembly
of Armenia applies for joining that convention Turkey and Georgia
will have to implement their rights.

THE PACE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN ARMENIA IS SUFFICIENT

armradio.am
22.10.2008 17:52

The pace of economic growth in Armenia is satisfactory, and if it
is maintained during the coming seven years, the GDP of the country
can double, Cheick Sidi Diarra, UN Under-Secretary-General and High
Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing
Countries and Small Island Developing States said during today’s
press conference with the Minister of Economy of Armenia Nerses
Yeritsyan. He welcomed the 10% economic growth and noted that few
countries register similar indices. 100% of Armenian children attend
school, the level of literacy reaches 97-98%.

According to the UN Under-Secretary-General, those are brilliant
indices.

The social indices are also sufficient: the average life expectancy
is high (77-78), mother and infant mortality has decreased. Armenia
has a Diaspora, which makes great efforts for the development of the
country. To be competitive, it is necessary to build a state based
on knowledge. According to his assessment, Armenia’s aspiration to
be in the field of contemporary leading technologies will help the
country to rapidly develop the economy. Having a rich human capital
and technologies, the country can find solutions for overcoming the
factor of no access to the sea, thus serving as a good example for
similar countries.

RA Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsyan assured that Armenia is
committed=2 0to the UN development goals. By developing the field
of information telecommunication, the country will try to become
progressive and exemplary in the sphere. The Minister noted that
innovation should become the property of every Armenian citizen. The
way to that lies through knowledge and freedom of speech, which the
government has consolidated in its programs and strategies.

ARMENIAN-AMERICAN ACTIVISTS: COME OUT IN FORCE

Armenian Reporter
October 21, 2008
Armenia

Winning the presidency, a Senate seat, or a seat in the House of
Representatives is an expensive proposition. The 2004 elections cost
the candidates and their parties some $4 billion. Looking at the
sums involved, many Americans conclude that anything they may have
to offer is but a drop in the bucket, and they sit the campaigns out.

That’s a shame, because the election season offers us wonderful
opportunities to participate in the political process, to build
relationships, and to make a difference.

Volunteering In specific races our individual contributions can have an
important impact. And the collective contribution of Armenian-Americans
can have an even greater impact. By focusing on races where a candidate
relies on our help, or where we know we can make a difference, we
can be the most effective.

The collective impact of thousands upon thousands of Armenian-Americans
participating in election campaigns is felt by candidates. A lack of
participation would be equally palpable.

Donating money is part of it. Some of us can afford to donate the
maximum allowable by law. Others can afford $100 or less. Whatever
the amount, each act of donating adds to the credibility of
Armenian-American advocacy efforts.

Each of us has a role to play in our local races for senator and
representative, as well as the presidential election. There are
also a handful of candidates who have emerged as national leaders in
Armenian-American advocacy. We need to show them our financial support.

We can – and ought to – do more than that. Money can buy campaign ads
on television, but nothing beats the personal touch; nothing beats
people talking to their neighbors and their friends.

Every campaign is looking for volunteers.

It can be as simple as putting up a lawn sign. Or it can involve
long hours as a phone bank. A volunteer can host a tea at home for
friends to discuss the election. A volunteer can hand out flyers,
or go door to door on Election Day, making sure voters vote.

Building relationships Election season is also a good time to build
personal relationships with candidates for office and their close
associates. The candidates are out there, looking for the voters. Alone
or with some friends, we can attend a fund raiser, or schedule an
appointment with a candidate. We can let the candidate hear from us
personally the importance of Armenian issues.

Plan to get out and vote And in the end, voting is the most important
right to be exercised in this democracy. The states are making it
increasingly easy to register to vote, and to vote by absentee ballot.

If you’re not registered to vote, now is the time to register.

If you think you may be away on Election Day – November 4 – or may
have difficulty getting to the polls, or simply prefer not to go,
you can generally vote by absentee ballot.

SWISS COURT FINES THREE TURKS FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.10.2008 14:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The District Court of Winterthur, Switzerland,
imposed a fine on three Turks for denial of the Armenian Genocide. Ali
Mercan was obliged to pay 4500 Swiss francs. Hasan Kemali and Ethem
Kayali will have to pay 3600 Swiss francs each.

On 30 June, 2007, the three men joined a Turkish nationalist
meeting organized by Dogu Perincek, the leader of Turkish Workers’
Party. During the meeting they declared that the massacre of the
Armenians was not Genocide, but an international lie orchestrated by
France, U.K and Russian tsarists.

The defendants have ten days to appeal the court decision.

Dogu Perincek is the first person to be convicted by a court of
law for denial of the Armenian Genocide. On 9 March 2007, he was
found guilty by a Swiss district court of conscious violation of
Swiss laws against genocide denial with a racist motivation and was
fined CHF 12,000. The case was a result of Perincek’s description of
the Armenian genocide as "an international lie" at a demonstration
in Lausannecon 25 July 2005. The verdict was confirmed by the Vaud
cantonal appeal court on 19 June, and by the Federal Supreme Court
of Switzerland on 12 December 2007.

EUROPE BADLY INFORMED OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH

DeFacto Agency
2008-10-21 15:30:00
Armenia

YEREVAN, 21.10.08. DE FACTO. Europeans are quite superficially informed
of Nagorno-Karabakh and a conflict with Azerbaijan, David Babayan,
the head of the Central Department of Information of the Office of
NKR President, told a DE FACTO correspondent.

As it has already been reported, the Karabakh delegation headed by
David Babayan, the head of the Central Department of Information of
the Office of NKR President, and Eduard Atanesian, NKR Deputy FM,
participated in the Round table within the frames of the conference
held in Brussels initiated by AGBU European department. It should
be noted that it was the NKR officials’ first invitation to the
international forums for the last 10 years. The discussions were
devoted to the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh in the context of
the European Union’s policy in the South Caucasus region.

According to David Babayan, the dialogue with Karabakh representatives
has been established, and the visit’s principal goal – to familiarize
the European structures with NKR’s stand – has been achieved.

Unfortunately, David Babayan stated that, though Caucasus was a
region Europe was interested in, the interest was shown only from
the viewpoint of integration.

In the course of the visit to Belgium Nagorno-Karabakh’s delegates met
with the deputies of the European Parliament and the representatives
of Brussels’ Armenian organizations.

PRESS RELEASE
Haigazian University
From: Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director
Mexique Street, Kantari, Beirut
P.O.Box. 11-1748
Riad El Solh 1107 2090
Tel: 01-353010/1/2
01-349230/1

Haigazian University Celebrates the Naming of the "Derian
Armenological Library"

Beirut, 17/10/2008- On Friday, October 13, Haigazian University named
its Armenian Library as the "Derian Armenological Library", in honor of
Mrs. Anahis Derian and her late husband Henry, from Pasadena,
California. They had donated $500,000 to the University, on the
occasion of its 50th anniversary, back in the year 2005.

The ceremony, attended by prominent Armenian officials, intellectuals,
editors, publishers, and friends of the library, opened with the
unveiling of the Henry & Anahis Derian memorial plaque by the President
of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, the
Rev. Megrdich Karagoezian, University President Rev. Dr. Paul
Haidostian, and University Librarian Ms. Sonia Sislian.

Sislian welcomed the audience and gave a brief overview of the Derian
Armenological Library.

"Founded in 1955 by the special efforts of Rev. Dikran Kherlopian, the
Derian Library holds one of the richest collections in the Armenian
Diaspora, including a number of rare books, and a selection of the 18th
and 19th century publications", Sislian said.

She added that the Derian Library constitutes an Armenian research
center, which serves not only students, but many scholars, editors, and
researchers from around the world. "The library also includes the
private collections of prominent Armenian intellectuals, like Siran
Seza, Kersam Aharonian, Dr. Antranig Manouguian, and Krikor Bogharian",
Sislian concluded.

Bibliographer, scholar, and school principal, Mr. Jirair Tanielian
shared with the audience his experience of more than 20 years as the
librarian of the Armenian Library. "Many important delegations,
historians, and prominent Armenian figures passed from here, especially
after the University decided to render the Library public", Tanialian
noted. "At a time of severe political divisions, the Armenian Library
witnessed the regroupment of Armenians of different political parties
and ideologies, something that was impossible to find elsewhere",
Tanielian explained.

In his closing word, President Haidostian expressed his special
gratitude to Mrs. Derian, and noted that while Henry Derian had passed
away a year ago, Mrs. Anahis Derian had sent a kind message apologizing
for not being able to attend the event and that she was in prayer for
the Haigazian University community. Haidostian stated that the ceremony
is the celebration of three inspiring realities:

1. The Derians’ generosity and benevolence that arises out of a
deep Christian spirit;
2. The Derians’ meaningful input to the vibrant Lebanese community;
and,
3. The Derians’ choice of associating their name with what is
Armenian, in this case, the Armenological Library.

Afterwards, the audience enjoyed a tour in the "Derian Armenological
Library", and had a look at its latest acquisitions from Turkey and
Armenia.

The ceremony concluded with cutting a celebratory cake on this special
occasion.

HUARTES FUND GRANT FITNESS CENTER
Steve Galluzzo

Palisadian-Post
October 15, 2008
CA

Eileen and John Huarte (right) are joined by Sound Body Sound Mind
founders Cindy and Bill Simon during last Tuesday’s fitness center
dedication at Grant High School in Van Nuys.

Palisadian John Huarte and his wife Eileen, in conjunction with Sound
Body Sound Mind, provided funding for a state-of-the-art fitness
center at Grant High in Van Nuys and attended the grand opening last
Tuesday morning on campus at the school’s McKee Gym.

John won the Heisman Trophy as a quarterback at the University of
Notre Dame in 1964 and was a backup to Len Dawson when the Kansas
City Chiefs won Super Bowl IV in 1970.

"Eileen and I had a wonderful time at the dedication ceremony," said
Huarte, who has lived in the Huntington Palisades since 1993. "The
interesting addition that Grant High is doing is keeping the fitness
room open after school and well into the evening. They would also
like parents to make use of the facility. They now also have stadium
lighting and are trying to help a neighborhood that is desperate to
have a safe zone for students and their families."

Joining the Huartes at the ceremony were fellow Palisadians Bill
and Cindy Simon, who established Sound Body Sound Mind in 1999–a
comprehensive physical fitness program geared towards promoting
self-confidence and healthy lifestyle choices among high school
students in the greater Los Angeles area.

In partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD),
Sound Body Sound Mind provides each participating high school
with state of the art exercise equipment, funding for professional
development and the necessary tools to monitor student progress at
each facility.

"The Simons are hoping that with my name and support we may be able
to attract additional pro athletes to adopt schools," added Huarte,
who said he chose Grant High as a tribute to legendary Notre Dame
Coach Ara Parseghian because the school has a high percentage of
Armenian students. On hand to share the moment with Huarte and his
wife were their three daughters, Mariah, Bridget and Monica and
granddaughter Coco.

Also in attendance were Grant Principal Linda Ibach and LAUSD physical
education specialist Chad Fenwick.

After three uneventful seasons in South Bend, Huarte earned the
starting job and passed for 2,062 yards and 16 touchdowns his senior
year, setting 12 school records and leading the Fighting Irish to a
9-1 record and the national championship in several polls.

"Our only loss was in the last game at USC," Huarte told the
Palisadian-Post in 2005. "We were up 17-0 at halftime but they came
back to beat us, 20-17."

But there were no losers, only winners at last Tuesday’s dedication.