Author: Frangulian Shushan

ARMENIA, SYRIA INTERESTED IN BOOSTING ECONOMIC COOPERATION
Karen Ghazaryan

"Radiolur"
18.06.2009 13:59

The Presidents of Armenia and Syria attended the opening ceremony
of the Armenian-Syrian business forum at the Government’s House
of Receptions.

President Serzh Sargsyan welcomed the participants of the forum and
wished them productive activity.

Addressing the forum, the Armenian President said: "The Armenian-Syrian
friendship is based on firm grounds. Under the conditions of the
current political and economic realities our countries are building
warm and dynamically developing relations of new quality, where the
levels of political and economic collaboration should tend to be on
an equal level."

According to President Sargsyan, the friendly and brotherly feelings
of our peoples for each other, as well as the bilateral political
relations do not correspond to the current level of trade-economic
cooperation. "This forum is a good opportunity to get acquainted
with each other’s achievements in the trade-economic field, to
establish business ties. I do believe that a great potential exists
in the scientific-technical, agricultural, energy, urban development,
tourism, trade and financial sectors, and our today’s task is to set
realistic objectives targeted at the utilization of that potential,"
the president said.

Serzh Sargsyan ascribed a great role to the Syrian Armenian communi
ty. He asked them to use their opportunities and business ties to
reveal the trade-economic potential of our country and present the
production of both countries to each other.

President Sargsyan assured that any new endeavor, and project targeted
at the intensification of economic ties would be supported by the
Armenian Government.

ACCORDING TO EXPERTS, STRIVING FOR NORMALIZING ITS RELATIONS WITH TURKEY ARMENIA HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN VERY DANGEROUS GAMES

Noyan Tapan
June 17, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Under lack of national ideology and
ignorance of Turkish ethnophsychology Armenia-Turkey rapprochement is
beneficial for Turkey and dangerous for Armenia. Psychologist Albert
Nalchajian said at the June 17 press conference. In his words, being
influenced by the West, the Armenian political upper links are not
guided by the state interest in this issue.

A. Nalchajian also said that supporters of making relations with
Turkey more active call for forgetting the enmity, while the Turks
do not forget the past and treat the Armenians with disdain.

Political scientist Levon Shirinian attached importance to existence
of a strong state, which will make possible creation of a national
ideology.

According to the political scientist, striving for normalization
of relations with Turkey, Armenia has been involved in very
dangerous games. In L. Shirinian’s conviction, the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border is rather economically beneficial for Turkey,
which strives for developing its eastern regions. Besides, opening
the border will contribute to implementation of pro-European policy,
as well as forcing Russia out of the South Caucasus. According to
political scientist’s prediction, as a result of border’s opening
the Russian military base and frontier troops will be withdrawn from
Armenia, after which the country will be subjected to unprecedented
pressure by Turkey. Armenia will have to concentrate its military
potential on the Armenian-Turkish border and can leave Artsakh
unprotected.

According to L. Shirinian, history confirms that the Armenian
Cause cannot have international security guarantees, as the Western
countries pursue their own interests in this issue. The only variant
of resisting possible Turkish aggression, according to him, is having
a strong state and mighty army.

ReliefWeb (press release)
June 14 2009

Armenia: Homeless in Yerevan

Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR)
Date: 12 Jun 2009
Special Report: Karabakh Refugees

A decade and a half after the fighting ceased, many refugees are still
waiting for proper housing.

By Gegham Vardanian in Yerevan (CRS No. 497, 12-June-09)

In a gloomy ex-hostel, built for students at Yerevan’s chemistry
technical collage but used by refugees from Azerbaijan, 120 families
are still waiting for some kind of decent accommodation.

Amazingly, considering that whole families are crammed into rooms of
just 12 square metres, and are forced to share a toilet with up to 50
people, often this is better than the facilities they have had in the
past.

Some 360,000 of the half-million Armenians who fled Azerbaijan because
of the Karabakh conflict, which ended exactly 15 years ago, ended up
in Armenia, and accommodation for them is still scarce.

Maria Aslanian, a 96-year-old, has lived with her two sons
â?? 67-year-old Viktor and 62-year-old Vladimir â??
in one such room for ten years. With its three beds and cupboard,
there is barely room to stand up.

"There was a time when we had absolutely nowhere to live. For four
months we had to sleep outside, in the snow and the rain. It’s good
that they gave us this place," said Maria, as she sat playing
backgammon with Viktor.

Just down the hall was her neighbour Laura Melkonian, who has lived in
the former student hostel in the Charbakh district of the Armenian
capital for 18 years already. She spent years complaining about the
toilets, but has just learned now to accept them as they are.

"Water drips out of the ceiling, it pours out of the plaster, and we
have to go in there with an umbrella. Who knows, maybe one day the
ceiling will fall down completely? But what can we do? It is a public
toilet, which 50 people are using," she said.

She has more space than many of her neighbours, since her husband has
left her to move to Russia, and she lives only with her 13-year-old
son.

She has separated out a little kitchen area with a curtain, but it is
so small that only her arms can fit inside it. "I am thinking maybe I
should leave the country and become a refugee from Armenia," she
mused.

Gegham is the editor of the website of Internews and a
participant in IWPR’s Cross Caucasus Journalism Network.

0SID/MUMA-7SZ8ZU?OpenDocument

Turkey-Armenia relations not limited to South Caucasus
13.06.2009 12:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said
progress must be reached in the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict to stabilize the South Caucasus.
`All sides interested in resolution of the conflict should work to
that end,’ he said. `We want to further normalize bilateral ties as a
part of our good neighbor policy.’
The minister said the Turkey-Armenia bilateral relations are not
limited to the South Caucasus, but they impact Turkey-U.S. relations
as well. "This is not right. Our relations with Armenia must not
influence our relations with the United States," he said, TrendNews
reported.

ARMENIA IS INTERESTED IN BILATERAL RELATIONS

A1+
04:44 pm | June 11, 2009

Official

On June 11 the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, had a
meeting with the Foreign Minister of Estonia, Urmas Paet, currently
in Armenia on an official visit.

Greeting the Estonian Foreign Minister and his delegation, Edward
Nalbandian expressed appreciation for the dynamically developing
bilateral relations and underlined that Armenia was interested in
deepening and reinforcing the mutually beneficial cooperation with
Estonia.

Urmas Paet also hailed the friendly relations established between the
two countries and noted that Estonia intended to take steps towards
development of multifaceted cooperation with Armenia.

The parties attached importance to the effective cooperation between
the Foreign Ministries of the two countries and agreed to hold the
next political consultation in Yerevan this autumn.

Touching upon the steps taken to promote the economic relations,
Ministers Nalbandian and Paet noted that the Armenian-Estonian economic
forum that kicked off in Yerevan today would create new opportunities
for the cooperation between Armenian and Estonian businessmen.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Estonia discussed the process
of cooperation between Armenia and the European Union and the steps
to be taken in that field. Reference was made to issues related to
the EU’s Eastern Partnership Program.

At the request of the Estonian Minister, Edward Nalbandian presented
the latest developments in the Karabakh conflict settlement and the
process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations. Reference
was made to a number of regional and international issues.

ARMENIA AND BELARUS

A1+
09:08 pm | June 09, 2009

Politics

The biannual debate on "the state of human rights in Europe", addresses
by Irish President Mary McAleese and Slovenian Prime Minister Borut
Pahor, and debates on Belarus and Armenia are among highlights of
PACE’s summer session in Strasbourg on 22-26 June.

Parliamentarians are also due to decide on the creation of a "partner
for democracy" status within the Assembly, aimed at the parliaments
of countries neighbouring Europe, and will consider a challenge to
the credentials of the Ukrainian delegation. There has also been a
request for an urgent debate on the election process for the Secretary
General of the Council of Europe.

ACCIDENT AT THE GAS STATION

A1+
12:47 pm | June 09, 2009

Regions

On June 8 at 5:55 p.m. an accident took place at the gas station
belonging to "PSHSVS" located on Ter-Gabrielyan Street in Gyumri.

A firefighting crew left for the scene and it turned out that the
cooling system’s water tube valve had burst from being under pressure
and damaged the gas pipeline tube, which led to a gas outflow.

A fire did not break out and there was no explosion, as reported by
the Armenian Rescue Service.

SERZH SARGSYAN: ARMENIA HIGHLY APPRECIATES ENHANCED TIES WITH US

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
09.06.2009 18:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia highly appreciates enhanced ties with United
States, emphasizing the efforts and resources invested in spheres of
developing economy, strengthening nationality and ensuring stability
in the region, RA President Serzh Sargsyan said during the meeting
with Philip Gordon, US Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasian
Affairs. Congratulating the diplomat on his new appointment, President
characterized his visit as a proper occasion for discussing further
development of Armenian-American relations. In his turn, Philip Gordon
said it was his first foreign visit after assuming the new post. With
regard to Armenian-Turkish relations, he noted that Ankara attaches
great importance to further extension of Armenian-American ties,
focusing particularly on regional development issues.

Parties also focused on Armenian-Turkish ties normalization process,
noting its historic importance and mutual advantage. Touching upon
Karabakh settlement process, President Sargsyan introduced the history
of the problem, reiterating Armenia’s commitment to peaceful decisions
and Madrid proposals, RA President’s press service reports.

HIGH-RANKING OBAMA OFFICIAL REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE GENOCIDE
By Harut Sassounian

AZG Armenian Daily
10/06/2009

Armenian Genocide

Pres. Obama continues to disappoint the Armenian-American
community. After breaking two promises in a row on key Armenian issues
— not acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and proposing reduced
U.S. aid levels to Armenia — he appoints Philip Gordon Assistant
Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.

Dr. Gordon, a former Director of the Brookings Institution —
a think thank partially funded by Turkish sources — has written
several pro-Turkish books and articles. He has been an opponent
of congressional acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide and a
critic of Greek Cypriot leaders rather than the occupying Turkish
forces. Gordon served in the Clinton administration as Director for
European Affairs at the National Security Council. During the last
presidential campaign, he served as head of the Europe team in Obama’s
group of foreign policy advisers.

During his confirmation hearing by the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee at the end of March, Gordon was grilled by Sen. Robert
Menendez (D-N.J.) on his views on Armenian and Cypriot issues. Several
Senators pointed out that Gordon’s answers contradicted Pres. Obama’s
campaign promises. Little did the Senators know that a few weeks
later the President himself would not keep his word on these
issues! Sen. Menendez submitted over two dozen questions which were
to be answered by the nominee in writing after the hearing.

Sen. John Ensign (R-Nevada) wrote a scathing letter to Gordon
on April 7, expressing his dismay that the nominee, during his
confirmation hearing, had used the word "tragedy" to refer to the
Armenian Genocide. Sen. Ensign demanded to know if Gordon’s position
on the Armenian Genocide was consistent with those of Pres. Obama,
Vice President Biden, and Secretary of State Clinton all of whom, as
Senators and presidential candidates, had strongly acknowledged the
Armenian Genocide. Furthermore, referring to the early termination
of the career of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans for saying
Armenian Genocide, Sen. Ensign asked if Gordon would "discourage
Ambassadors or other Foreign Service personnel from using the term
‘Armenian Genocide.’" Sen. Ensign, not satisfied with Gordon’s
answers, surprised everyone by placing a hold on his nomination,
temporarily blocking his approval by the full Senate. However, just
as surprisingly, Sen. Ensign lifted his hold, paving the way for
Gordon’s Senate confirmation.

In the meantime, Gordon answered in writing all 28 questions sent
to him by Sen. Menendez, even though his responses were evasive and
non-responsive. Regardless of the nature of the question, he mindlessly
repeated the same answer over and over again, using just about every
word in the dictionary, except "Armenian Genocide," to describe the
mass killings of Armenians.

Only one of Gordon’s answers was particularly revealing, as he put
the blame for the Armenian Genocide on the "officials and soldiers of
the Ottoman Empire," thus inadvertently acknowledging that it was a
state sponsored genocide. Here is the verbatim text of that particular
exchange: Sen. Menendez: "Who was responsible for the death of over
1.5 million Armenians during WWI?"

Philip Gordon: "This administration, like those before it, does not
deny the facts — 1.5 million Armenians were murdered, starved, or
deported by civilian officials and soldiers of the Ottoman Empire,
some of whom were sentenced to death for committing these crimes. The
United States mourns this terrible chapter of history and recognizes
that it remains a source of pain for the people of Armenia and of
Armenian descent, and all those who believe in the dignity and value
of every human life."

Gordon also disclosed to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that
the Brookings had received a total of $700,000 from the following
Turkish sources 2006-2008: — $200,000 from the Turkish Industrialists
and Businessmen’s Association; — $190,000 from Sabanci University;
— $150,000 from the Eksiogullari Group (construction company); —
$100,000 from the Dogan Yayin Holding Company (media-entertainment
conglomerate); — $30,000 from Nurol Construction and Trading Company;
— $30,000 from Hedef-Alliance Holding (Pharmaceutical Company).

A large number of pro-Turkish officials, such as Philip Gordon, can be
found throughout the American government. Some of these Turkophiles
are leftovers from the cold war era. Others, motivated by personal
gain, serve in the government for a while, and then go to work at
Washington Think Tanks, some partially funded from Turkish sources,
or end up as lobbyists for Turkey.

Armenian-Americans will continue to face great resistance in their
lobbying efforts from pro-Turkish elements in Washington — regardless
of which party is in power and who is president — unless they can
expand their political influence beyond Congress into the Executive
Branch, Think Tanks and the media.

Amesbury News, MA
June 6 2009

In downtown Amesbury, new business is booming

By Pamela Canning
Fri Jun 05, 2009, 01:46 PM EDT

Amesbury, Mass. –

A period of reduced economic activity. That is the definition of
recession, which we are reminded of daily. But the country’s current
financial woes don’t appear to be scaring new businesses from opening
up in downtown Amesbury. Whether it’s jewelry, clothing or a coffee
shop, new ideas and new energy are becoming a reality in this eclectic
town.

Just ask Aram Zemanian of Zemanian Jewelers.

In January 2008, Zemanian moved his business from the Jewelers
Building in Boston to 40 Main St. in Amesbury. Asked why he chose
Amesbury, he responds with enthusiasm.

`I began thinking of the North Shore and started checking out
Amesbury, which is an up-and- coming town,’ he says. `The town is
simply beautiful.’

A grandson of two grandfathers who survived the Armenian Genocide,
his work ethic is simple.

`Honesty and trust is needed in my business. I do all of my work in
house and have built a work area enclosed in glass so that the
customer can see what I am doing,’ he says. `I understand that it
takes a while to build up trust.’

`Many of my Boston clients have followed me to Amesbury and they
enjoy coming here and walking around,’ he adds. `A playground is
needed in the town. I see many mothers walking with their children
and it would be nice to have a central place to meet.’

Another new business owner, Nancy White of Real Bodies ‘ Clothing from
Bali, started her business in 1998 in Milford, N.H., and moved it to
Amesbury in December 2008.

Real Bodies ‘ Clothing from Bali is just that: the designs are made
for a normal-sized women and they are made in Bali. White frequents
Bali at least once a year to check on her crew.

`We make all of our clothes and have even made fabrics when needed,’
White says.

`We batik many of our creations, and each image on our pieces
symbolizes something significant,’ she adds. (Batik is a fabric
design process using wax and dyes.)

`As soon as I drove into Amesbury I realized what an amazing town it
was,’ says White.

`Amesbury has really chosen me. I was told Amesbury was looking for a
women’s clothing shop and I was just drawn here,’ she continues.

White is a strong advocate for the Sustainable Business Network,
which emphasizes the importance of local businesses.

According to its Web site, `The Sustainable Business Network of
Greater Boston (SBN) is an organization of business leaders committed
to changing the way the world does business. SBN has 20 years of
experience in bringing business leaders together along with others
interested in topics such as business ethics, the multiple-stakeholder
model, and sustainable workplaces to share information and take
action. Today, we are building on that history in a new, intense
effort to make significant progress toward a sustainable world.’

White believes strongly that businesses cannot only survive but can
thrive collectively during this time.

`I stand by the motto, `Live Free or Die.’ Working together,
supporting each other in a collaborative way, is what I am all about,’
White says.

Deb Pagley, owner of the gift shop Park Place and also president of
the Amesbury Downtown Business Association, makes it very clear why
businesses are opening up in Amesbury.

`The owners of the buildings, being rented, are offering fair and
reasonable rents,’ she says. `I left Newburyport three years ago
because the rents became too high and it was clear I was being pushed
out.’

`Businesses also feel they are on the fringe of something big here in
Amesbury,’ Pagley adds. `We are a family and we are not being
smothered by chain stores.’

`We are also surrounded by people in key positions who care about our
town and want businesses to be successful,’ Pagley says.

Pagley, who is also involved in the Sustainable Business Network,
notes that if a consumer spends 10 percent of his or her annual total
budget in their hometown, the businesses will be able to sustain
themselves.

Stefanie McCowan, executive director of the Amesbury Chamber of
Commerce, is optimistic and sincere in her wanting the best for these
people she has come to admire.

`The positive vibe coming from the Chamber and the ADBA is also
fueled by the business owners. We all want the same thing ‘ success
for each other and our town,’ says McCowan.

Other new recent additions to the local business community include
Davis Jack’s Restaurant at 36 Main St., Plum Island Coffee Roasters at
32 R Elm St. Amesbury (and 54 R Merrimac St., Newburyport) and Trend
Setters Boutique at 85 Main St., opening the middle of June.

And the Trendsetter’s Boutique is opening on Main Street in the old
Bob’s Shoe storefront, according to Pagley. Grand opening will be
Saturday, June 27, with a `sneak peak’ June 25 and 26, from 10 a.m. to
5 p.m. The shop will offer new and gently used clothing and
accessories, on consignment.

`Now that the Chamber and the ADBA are working closely together again,
there is a beautiful game of telephone going on. No one is left out of
the loop and everyone’s opinion is valued,’ McCowan says. `It’s
unfortunate that other cities and towns have trouble with this concept
as it clearly works.’