Author: Frangulian Shushan

NATURAL GAS PRICE HIKES DISCUSSED

Panorama.am
19:37 30/08/2007

The Russian Gazprom organization has started discussions in
pre-Baltic and Commonwealth states concerning price hikes of natural
gas. Lithuania has already been informed of a possible increase of 40%,
meaning 280 dollars for one thousand cubic meters of gas. Negotiations
for Latvia and Estonia will start in October, and for Ukraine in
November. A possible increase of 15-40% above these agreed prices is
seen for Belarus.

Negotiations with Ukraine, which pays 180 dollars per thousand cubic
meters, are contingent on the future agreed-on price of natural gas
coming from Central Asia, which could reach 180 dollars. Negotiations
with Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan are foreseen for
October. Belarus, Russia’s second largest customer, currently pays 100
dollars for one thousand cubic meters, also awaits a large increase
in price.

On Monday, Russia’s ambassador in Belarus, Aleksander Surikov, the
price of gas there would be 125-150 dollars.

For Armenia, the price of blue fuel will not change in 2008. Sergey
Kuprianov, press secretary for the president of Gazprom, says that the
price of natural gas for Armenia will stay at 110 dollars until 2009.

"This has been agreed upon in an contract with "Hayrusgasard," in
which an increase of participation with Russia is guaranteed. This
company will take part in the construction of the fifth block of the
Hrazdan power station," Kuprianov pointed out.

Armenia Fund USA, Inc.
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 301
New York, NY 10038
Tel: 1-212-689-5307
Fax: 1-212-689-5317

e-mail: [email protected]

Armenia Fund 2001-2006
1992-2007: Celebrating 15 years of nation-building in Armenia and Karabakh

NEW YORK, New York – The year 2007 marks the 15th Anniversary of Armenia
Fund, a pillar organization created after Armenia’s independence and
mandated with the vital task of uniting all Armenians around the world to
direct efforts toward development and revival of the nation. For 15 years,
the Fund, with its international affiliates across the globe, has touched
countless lives in Armenia and Karabakh. Combining aid, development and
direct investment, Armenia Fund has engaged Armenia’s leaders, its people
and the worldwide Diaspora to promote education, create jobs, improve public
health and develop infrastructure, among other critical humanitarian needs.
Today, Armenia Fund’s contributions to social and economic prosperity of
Armenia and Karabakh are unprecedented.
The 15th Anniversary of Armenia Fund is a celebration of the past, present
and future of the Armenian people. It is a celebration of overcoming
challenges by working together. Above all, it is a celebration of humanity,
courage and hope.

Armenia Fund 2001-2006: Building Sustainable Foundations for the Future

"Build a New Horizon" dubbed Armenia Fund’s 2005 International Thanksgiving
Telethon. It was, however, more than just a slogan. The campaign was a call
of confidence for new directions that the organization was taking to better
address pressing needs of development in Armenia and Karabakh.

Armenia Fund was established out of a need to meet day-to-day challenges of
newly independent Armenia. The organization’s proactive approach to
development that ranged from providing shelter for those left without home
to rebuilding schools and water supply systems of vulnerable communities
gradually expanded its mission, reach and impact.

Having completed over 250 humanitarian and development projects by 2003,
Armenia Fund brought regional development and investment in economic
revitalization at the forefront of its activities. Years 2003-2006 were most
decisive: the Fund adopted a policy to go "beyond bricks and mortar" and
focused on long-term solutions for sustainable economic growth. The Fund
also expanded its cooperation with different like-minded organizations and
self-governing entities in Armenia and Karabakh. By 2004, over 100 such
non-governmental organizations were working with Armenia Fund, further
enhancing civil society involvement in Armenia’s day-to-day social and
economic life.
The year 2005 was full of bold initiatives, and, most importantly, marked a
major shift from funding separate large-scale infrastructure projects to
investing in regional development. Over years, Armenia Fund had successfully
completed over a dozen landmark projects – be it in public health, education
or economic infrastructure. The two major highways linking the region at
most important crossroads, or the state-of-the-art Armine Pagoumian
Polyclinic and Diagnostic Center of Stepanakert, which has the unique
distinction of being the only medical facility in the region that the
population can rely on in case of medical emergencies and for preventive
care, all have had a measurable impact on improving daily lives of the
people in Armenia and Karabakh.

With such viable infrastructure in place, the economy of Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh still needed a boost to reduce poverty in the country and
open new roads toward sustainable economic growth. This is why Armenia Fund
launched the Rebirth of Artsakh Regional Development Program in 2005. The
main components of this comprehensive plan – agriculture, housing, medical
facilities, roads and schools, were designed to invest in the economy of
rural areas. Since the economy of Karabakh is so much dependent on
agriculture, the Agricultural-Initiative provided critically needed support
to subsistence farmers to help them move from mere existence to
self-sufficiency and economic mobility.

Starting in 2006, Agricultural Development Associations (ADAs) were
established throughout the Mardakert and Hadrut regions of Karabakh. These
set up facilities to own, maintain and operate various types of farm
equipment and provide mechanized services to farmers to work the land at
affordable rates. The ADAs provided technology packages including access to
farm equipment (tractors, harvesters, haying) along with other support
elements such as fertilizer, plus training in farm management and animal
husbandry.

The unique success of Armenia Fund’s Agricultural Initiative was widely
recognized throughout Armenia and Karabakh, and currently efforts are made
to replicate the same cluster model development in other regions. By 2006,
Armenia Fund had set the stage for a new development approach and a broader
vision for eradicating rural poverty.

"Growing up" with Armenia since its independence, Armenia Fund has developed
into a structure that is now not concerned with Armenia’s day-to-day
survival. Today, the Fund is called upon to respond to urgent economic needs
of a dynamic country where development needs to reach to every segment of
the society, and where each undertaking needs to be turned into a renewed
opportunity and investment in the people.

Over the past 15 years, Armenia Fund has invested more than $170 million in
sustainable development in Armenia and Karabakh. This makes the Fund the
largest contributor to critical infrastructure projects in all aspects of
social and economic activity. Securing long-term development solutions, the
Fund has had an outstanding impact on the lives of countless citizens of
Armenia and Karabakh. Armenia Fund has evolved over the years into an
organization that has an unprecedented track record of affecting change. In
recognition to its development work, Armenia Fund was accredited to the
United Nations in spring of 2006, as one of the most credible international
organizations working in Armenia and Karabakh.

To recognize and thank the Diaspora for its 15 years of continuous support
to Armenia and Karabakh, Armenia Fund will hold a 15th Anniversary Gala
Banquet at the United Nations on October 6, 2007. Join Armenia Fund as it
celebrates the tenacity of the Armenian people and strength of the Armenian
Diaspora!

TURKISH ENVOY SAYS ISRAEL COULD BE HURT BY GENOCIDE DEBATE

Jewish Telegraphic Agency, NY
.html
Aug 29 2007

The Anti-Defamation League’s reversal last week of its position on
the Armenian genocide has set off a flurry of diplomatic activity in
Turkey and Israel.

Officials in Ankara and Jerusalem, in coordination with American
Jewish leaders, were working this week to contain the fallout from
the ADL’s statement, which recognized the World War I massacres of
Armenians by Ottoman Turks as "tantamount to genocide."

Jewish leaders warned that recognizing the genocide, as Congress is
now considering, could undermine American strategic interests in the
Middle East and Turkey’s robust military and economic partnership with
Israel. Also deemed at risk was the security of Turkish Jewry, which
sent a letter earlier this year opposing a congressional resolution
on the matter.

Nabi Sensoy, Turkey’s ambassador in Washington, told JTA that his
government was strongly opposed to any congressional action, but that
the Turkish Jewish community had nothing to fear in any case. Sensoy
was less sure that Turkey’s relations with Israel and the United
States would survive a resolution unscathed.

"I cannot really dismiss that if this resolution does pass that there
will be certain impacts on certain relationships," Sensoy said.

"There is no doubt about it."

Of those raising the specter of reprisals against Turkish Jewry,
Sensoy said, "I’m very disturbed to hear this kind of remark coming
from anywhere. They seem to be forgetting the history of Turks and
Jews, which goes back at least 500 years. We’ve always had the best
of relations between Turks and Jews and the Turkish Jewish community
is part and parcel, and an integral part, of the Turkish community."

On Sunday, the ADL released a second statement reiterating its support
for a joint Turkish-Armenian commission to investigate the matter
— a move Turkey supports — and its opposition to a resolution in
Congress. Foxman also wrote to Turkey’s prime minister, Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, "to express regret for any pain we have caused to you and
the Turkish people in these past few days."

In Turkey, those steps were seen as backtracking. Erdogan said the
ADL had rectified its "mistake," according to the Turkish Daily News.

Sensoy said he felt the ADL had reversed itself again and that its
current position reflected a more "balanced situation."

"We are expecting the American Jewish organizations to be neutral about
this," Sensoy said. "Although we’re aware of the fact that this is a
very sensitive issue for the Israeli people and the Jewish community,
what we have to seek is the truth."

Armenian National Committee
Glendale Chapter

Armenian National Committee – Glendale Chapter Announces New Internship Program

Glendale, CA – The Armenian National Committee –
Glendale Chapter (ANCG) announced last week the launch of its new
internship program, which will begin this coming fall. The eight-week,
part time leadership program will be aimed towards driven high school
seniors, college students, and recent college graduates who are
interested in gaining an in-depth understanding of Armenian-American
issues as well as advocacy efforts on the local level.

In addition to networking withother leaders, candidates will
participate in bi-weekly workshop series featuring a variety of guest
speaks, including public officials, ANC leadership, and specialists
from the community. Moreover, interns will partake in joint projects
with fellow interns as well as individual sessions.

"The ANC-Glendale Chapter Internship Program is designed to provide
participants with the tools they need to translate their ideals into
action for improving their own communities," said Elen Asatryan,
Executive Director of ANCG. "It’s a unique opportunity which will
allow interns to build strong networks, while working for the Armenian
cause," added Asatryan.

The 2007 Fall Session of the ANCG

Internship Program will begin on October 15 and run through December
14th. Applications for the internship program are available through
the ANCA website at click on the Capital Gateway link
or by contacting ANCG at (818) 243-3444. Applications must be
postmarked by Friday,
September 21, 2007 to be considered for the Fall 2007 Session. After
applications are reviewed, those deemed qualified will be invited for
an interview.

For more information, or to
request applications, please contact the ANC-Glendale Chapter offices at (818)
243-3444 or [email protected].

The Armenian National Committee –
Glendale Chapter defends the rights, advances the interests, and promotes the
well being of the city’s Armenian American community.

ANC-Glendale advocates for the
social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the city’s Armenian
American community and promotes increased Armenian American civic participation
at the grassroots and public policy levels. It is the voice of this vibrant community,
which advances and enriches Glendale.

GEORGIAN COMPANY COMMENCES TALKS ON GOLD PRODUCTION IN OCCUPIED AZERBAIJANI LAND

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug 27 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend E.Huseynli / Georgia’s ‘Madneuli’
Company which is part of the Financial-Industrial Group ‘Industrial
Investors’ of Russia commenced talks with the Government of Armenia
regarding exploitation of the gold field ‘Soyudlyu’ which is located
in Azerbaijan’s occupied district of Kalbajar, the consultant of
the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, Arif
Iskandarov, reported to Trend on 27 August.

According to him, recent discussions on the exploitation of the
gold field were held in Anglia. The talks were headed by Georgia’s
‘Madneuli’ Company. Over the recent 40 years, the ‘Madneuli’ Company
has been called as one of the leading elements of the Georgian
economy and one of the leaders of the metal mining and processing
industry. Some 97.25% of the shares of ‘Madneuli’ was purchased
by the Stanton Equities Corporation of Anglia which is part of
Financial-Industrial Group ‘Industrial Investors’ of Russia. In
addition, ‘Madneuli’ holds talks with gold processing company
Ararat which functions in Armenia. The Financial-Industrial Group
‘Industrial Investors’ also includes Indian companies. Earlier the
gold field ‘Soyudlyu’ was exploited by the Canadian First Dynasti
Mines (FDM). Over the recent four years, the company produced nearly
13 tons of gold from the field.

FDM was planning to invest $12mln to gold-mining in Armenia by the
end of 2007. However, the Canadian company suspended its activity due
to a financial scandal with the Armenian Government. FDM invested $
22.1mln in gold-mining in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The sum of investment of the Canadian company in geological research
work in Armenia and Azerbaijani occupied territories made up $4mln.

The Armenian Government is holding negotiations with the International
Corporation of the World Bank and other foreign banks to draw new
investments in gold-mining.

Some 73% of gold fields of Soyudlu are in the occupied territory of
Kalbajar. Despite, the exploitation of the field was suspended in
1992; the American specialists commenced geologically research work
here in 1996.

More than 40 tons of gold were found in the field. A contract of
$63.3mln was signed between the Industry and Trade Ministry of Armenia
and FDM for mountain minerals mining in September 1997.

FDM assets belong to Sterlite Gold LTD, headed by Markus Randolf. In
1998 FDM purchased 50% of stocks of the Armenian company of Ararat
Gold Recovery Company and commenced gold mining. First Dynasti Mines
acquired the rest half of the stock and became full owners of the
Armenian company in 2002.

Khazar Ibrahim, the Press-Secretary of the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry, has stated that currently the Azerbaijani Embassy in Georgia
holds investigations on the issue.

AN INVESTIGATION TEAM IS WORKING AT THE PLACE WHERE THE PROSECUTOR OF ARMENIA’S LORI REGION WAS MURDERED. THE TEAM INCLUDES EMPLOYEES OF THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE, POLICE AND NATIONAL SECURITY SERVICE

arminfo
2007-08-25 12:56:00

The Prosecutor of Lori region, third rank State Counselor of Justice
Albert Ghazarian was murdered near his house in Vanadzor, at 0:20am
on August 25, when returning from work, Armenian Prosecutor General’s
press secretary Sona Truzian told ArmInfo. A.Ghazaryan was shot four
times. He died of one blunt and three perforating wounds in the region
of his back, shoulders and neck.

The operational investigative group of the Armenian Prosecutor
General’s Office, headed by acting Prosecutor General Mnatsakan
Sargsyan, arrived at the place of the murder. The group found four
bullets of Makarov handgun there.

The investigation department of the Armenian Prosecutor General’s
Office instituted a criminal case under Article 104 of RA Criminal
Code, an investigative group was set up, which includes experienced
employees of the Prosecutor General’s Office, Police and National
Security Service. All the necessary measures are being taken to
disclose the crime as soon as possible.

Albert Ghazaryan graduated from the Law Faculty of the Yerevan State
University in 1974. He has held the post of Prosecutor of Lori region
of Armenia since March 28, 2006.

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug 23 2007

Azerbaijani President: Azerbaijan Prepared to Liberate Occupied Lands
Any Time

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr S.Agayeva / Azerbaijani army is strengthening
day and by day and is prepared to liberate its lands occupied by the
Armenian armed forces, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on 23
August in a public meeting in Hajigabul District of Azerbaijan.

The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus began in
1988 due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia
has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including the
Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding Districts. Since
1992, these territories have been under the occupation of the
Armenian Forces. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire
agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The Co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France and USA) are currently
holding peaceful negotiations.

`We take every measure to increase the military efficiency of our
Army,’ the President said. Defense expenses increase in Azerbaijan
and currently the military budget of the country is equal to public
budget of Armenia.

"At present it is impossible to imagine someone attacking on
Azerbaijan,’ Aliyev stressed.

The head of state once more stated the position of Azerbaijan, which
is keen on peaceable resolution of the Armenian -Azerbaijani
conflict.

Hajigabul with the population of 63,000 people is located in 113km of
Baku.

On his arrival, the President participated in the ceremony by laying
the first brick for the Children’s Medical Centre. Nearly 23,000
children live in the district. According to the projects the centre
will be supplied with modern equipment which will be unique in the
district. The construction will be complete within a year.

Ilham Aliyev’s visit to the region of Azerbaijan began on the morning
of 23 August. In Neftchala district, the President visited several
social facilities within the district. After Hajigabul, the President
plans to visit the Alat settlement.

uruknet.info, Italy
Aug 24 2007

Embarrassments of ‘Save Darfur’
Xymphora

August 23, 2007

Now that there is going to be an African peacekeeping force sent to
Darfur, you would think that the ‘Save Darfur’ crowd – the Zionists
who wish to ‘save’ Darfur by sending American and British troops to
Sudan to remove the Islamist government and kill Muslims – would shut
the fuck up. We’ve already covered the first set of embarrassments,
the false claim that various real humanitarian organizations
supported the ‘Save Darfur’ Campaign, a lie rendered even more lovely
by the fact that the ‘Save Darfur’ campaign advocates the kind of ‘no
fly zone’ which would make the delivery of humanitarian aid by the
real aid organizations impossible. It has also been noted that the
campaign has millions of dollars, not one cent of which has actually
been used in providing aid to human beings. The embarrassments
continue:

Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority has criticized the campaign
for exaggerating the number of deaths in Darfur. Besides fudging the
numbers, they misleadingly state that all the dead people are as a
result of being slaughtered on the orders of Sudanese President Omar
al-Bashir, who is, of course, the real target of the campaign.

The Israelis themselves can’t even follow the party line. They are
now turning back refugees from Darfur. Even better, from the
Guardian (emphasis in red):

"Ephraim Zuroff, of the Nazi-hunting Simon Wiesenthal centre, said
the Jewish people could not be expected to right every wrong just
because of their past. ‘Israel can’t throw open the gates and allow
unlimited access for people who are basically economic refugees.’
Asylum seekers found sanctuary from mass murder by going to Egypt, Mr
Zuroff said, and the desire to enter Israel was ‘motivated primarily
by the difficult living conditions and bleak economic prospects in
that country’."

But what if they intended to go to Israel all along, based on
Israel’s offer to take in Darfur refugees, but had to go through
Egypt to get to Israel? The Zionists can’t have it both ways:
either there is a refugee-producing cause in Darfur, or there is not.

Perhaps the worst part of this evil campaign is that the conspirators
are attempting to sanctify their motives by claiming that it is part
of the special mandate of the Jewish people to look after the
politically oppressed due to the special – or unique, if we might
follow the trials and tribulations of the ADL over the Armenian
genocide, an issue connected, of course, to the relationship between
the Jewish Billionaires Club and the Turkish Deep State (a connection
which also explains why Waxman won’t hold a hearing on the
allegations of Sibel Edmonds) – Jewish experience with violent
political oppression.

AZG Armenian Daily #153, 25/08/2007

Theology and Politics

BARTHOLOMEW PATRIARCH IN TURKISH COURT

Universal Patriarch of the Greek Church of Constantinople Bartholomew
is under threat to be sentenced to one year of imprisonment. The
matter is that his statement about universal status of the Greek
church was considered illegal and he was invited to the Court to give
explanations.

Bartholomew had stated that since the 6th century AD the Patriarch of
Constantinople has had ecumenical status, i.e. had supremacy over the
rest of the churches in the world. A certain Bujidar Zipov, formerly
monk at a Bulgarian church, addressed the law enforcement authorities
to raise a criminal case against the Patriarch. Zipov took for
background the June 26 verdict of the Turkish Court prohibiting the
Greek Church of Constantinople and the Patriarch to use the Universal
title.

We can only add a suggestion that in fact Zipov is a marionette of the
Turkish authorities, who use any opportunity of provocation against
the Greek Church.

Panorama.am

19:40 24/08/2007

They aren’t leaving their positions

The Armenian presses have recently reported that personnel changes are
planned at National Television and National Radio. Concerning this,
Armen Andreasyan of National Television announced that `basic changes
are not planned in personnel at both National Television and National
Radio. Especially, not true are rumors about the letting go of Armen
Amiryan, Armen Arzumanyan, and Harutyun Harutyunyan. Talk of such
changes don`t correspond to reality.’

The radio chief also stated that planned program changes at National
Radio will be announced by Armen Amiryan, Armen Arzumanyan, and
Aleksan Harutyunyan at press conferences planned for September 3, 10,
and 17.

Source: Panorama.am