Author: Frangulian Shushan

Haykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan,
12 Jan 2007 p 2

Our sad end

Hayk Gevorkian

It is a negative historic event that Georgia has refused to buy
electricity from Armenia. It is for the first time that Georgia did
that and it will get electricity from Azerbaijan. This means that
Armenia is not Georgia’s energy partner any longer. This was not a
surprise and was unavoidable.

Armenia is slowly stepping on a path at the end of which there is
absolute isolation when we shall depend on everybody but nobody will
depend on us. And this means losing independence. The saddest thing
is that Georgia’s rejection of Armenian electricity was not a
purposefully organized international action against Armenia but a
natural process with its objective reasons. Georgians do not want to
buy our electricity because it is expensive, but its price is a
commercial secret although it is known that the price has doubled.

Last year Georgia bought our electricity at the price of 2.5-2.9
cents, and probably at present it became 5 cents. This is very
expensive, for this reason Georgia has preferred Azerbaijan which
does not demand money but they have made an arrangement whereby in
summer Georgia will supply electricity to Azerbaijan. This means that
their relations will become long-lasting. All this is the result of
raising the gas tariff.

The Razdan power plant’s gas supplies are subsidized only for
producing electricity for the domestic market, and it gets no subsidy
for producing electricity for export. But we should take into account
that Armenia pays 110 but not 230 dollars [per 1,000 cu.m.] for
Russian gas and in this case electricity produced in Armenia is not
competitive. One may guess what will happen in Armenia after 2008
when Russia sells its gas to us at 180 or 230 dollars. And the entire
Armenian economy is in a situation which has been developing rapidly,
according to the official statistics. Georgia’s refusal is just an
episode in the prospect of our state. This is not at all conditioned
by our geographical position. This is the result of the foreign as
well as domestic policy carried out by our state. And if our
authorities are sure that in case the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict
is not settled, time works in favour of us, if they say that we have
the most powerful army, if they are sure that one may construct a
strong and competitive state through fraud at referendums and
elections, through populism and total control over TV broadcasting,
in that case we shall have a sad end.

ZASTAVA NOT AWARDED THE LICENCE FOR EXPORT OF WEAPONS

EASTBUSINESS.ORG
January 4, 2007 Thursday 4:25 PM (Central European Time)

Dragoljub Grujovic, the General Manager of Serbian weapons manufacturer
Zastava Oruzje announced Wednesday that the Ministry of International
Economic Relations would not award this factory the licence for export
of arms to Armenia for technical reasons.

He said that he was notified by the Ministry that the permit would not
be issued Wednesday, because of the absence of one of the Ministers,
whose Ministry is also supposed to approve the exports to Armenia.

Grujovic said he believed that the factory will be issued a licence
the following day and pointed out that all the conditions for the
export of arms to Armenia, worth USD 2.64 million, have been met. He
also pointed out the significance of this deal for the continuation
of the investment cycle initiated at the factory.

In December, the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not approve
the export of arms to Armenia, which caused a protest of the company
s employees to be launched.

After the intervention of the President of Serbia, Boris Tadic,
Russian officials announced that Russia is not opposed to the export
of arms to Armenia and the realisation of this deal is now expected.

OVER HALF OF YOUNG AZERIS FAVOR MILITARY ACTION OVER GARABAGH

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 28 2006

52% of young people in Azerbaijan believe that the Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh conflict the country faces with Armenia should be settled
through military action, a recent study has found.

34% of those polled spoke in favor of a negotiated settlement,
according to the survey commissioned by the National Council of
Youth Organizations. It was held among 1,300 respondents in Baku,
Ganja and Sumgayit as well as ten regions of the country.

75% of Azerbaijani youngsters believe the situation in the country
has changed for the better in the past ten years.

29% of respondents see the future development of Azerbaijan in the
settlement of the Garabagh conflict, according to the study. The
same percentage of the poll participants cited the need to reduce
corruption level.

15% of the persons interviewed believe that young people should hold
administrative posts.

PRO-KOCHARIAN TYCOON A ‘HERO TO MANY ARMENIANS’
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
Dec 26 2006

Gagik Tsarukian, a government-connected millionaire businessman,
is the most popular and revered individual in modern-day Armenia,
according to a new U.S.-funded opinion poll released this month.

The findings of the poll commissioned by the U.S. Agency for
International Development are the latest indication of the former
arm-wrestler’s growing populist appeal that should make his Prosperous
Armenia a major contender in next spring’s parliamentary elections.

The survey was designed by the U.S. Gallup Organization and conducted
by the Armenian Sociological Association across the country from
November 10-19, with 1,200 randomly chosen people asked to answer a
long list of questions relating to domestic politics, foreign affairs
and the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

One of the questions read, "Of the prominent Armenian people and
characters in Armenian history and folk culture, who is most suitable
to be a national hero or leader in the present?" The late Prime
Minister Vazgen Sarkisian was the most frequently named figure, with
15 percent of those polled describing him as a national hero. He was
followed by two military leaders of the early 20th century and Karen
Demirchian, Soviet Armenia’s former leader who was assassinated along
with Sarkisian in the October 1999 terrorist attack on the Armenian
parliament.

Of all the living Armenians mentioned by respondents, Tsarukian had
by far the highest rating: 8 percent. Trailing him were opposition
leaders Artashes Geghamian (3 percent) and Artur Baghdasarian (2
percent) as well as President Robert Kocharian (2 percent).

Tsarukian had 4 percent support in the previous USAID-funded study
that was conducted in August. The apparent rise in his popularity may
well be the result of the recent upsurge in his ambitious party’s
election-related activities promoted by the Tsarukian-controlled
Kentron television and other channels loyal to Kocharian.

Tsarukian also emerged as the winner of a separate survey that was
carried out by another Armenian polling group, Vox Populi, among about
600 residents of Yerevan last week. Vox Populi said 13.5 percent of
them rated him "man of the year."

Prosperous Armenia now claims to be by far the largest political party,
boasting at least 240,000 members and over 400 offices in a country
of three million. Its publicity stunts have included provision of
large-scale agricultural aid, free-of-charge medical assistance and
other public services to low-income people across the country. Critics,
among them some leaders of Armenia’s two main governing parties,
regard this as a massive vote buying operation.

Parliament speaker Tigran Torosian, a leading member of the ruling
Republican Party, complained to a visiting Western ambassador last
month about the emergence of new parties led by "apolitical figures."

In an apparent reference to Prosperous Armenia, he said their electoral
success would deal a "blow to the multi-party system."

For his part, Vahan Hovannisian, a leader of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, suggested on November 24 that many Armenians are now
ready to sell their votes to the highest bidder.

"If a voter, who has lived in independent Armenia for 15 years,
knows everyone, has seen every politician on TV for umpteenth times,
read party programs … but has still not made up their mind, then
they are expecting money," he said.

Critics also point to a huge disparity between millions of dollars
spent on Prosperous Armenia’s election campaign and modest earnings
posted by Tsarukian-owned businesses. The largest of them is only
76th in the government rankings of Armenia’s 300 leading corporate
taxpayers, giving more weight to allegations that the tycoon is
grossly evading taxes.

Tsarukian, who is close to Kocharian, rounded on his detractors
at a meeting with thousands of Prosperous Armenia activists in
Yerevan’s Ajapnyak district late last week. "I would love to know
what they have contributed from their personal accounts," he said in
a speech broadcast by several TV stations over the weekend. "Have
they personally financed any good thing? Let them talk about that,
instead of hurting the people and slamming things done by others."

Kocharian publicly defended his reputed protege on December 15,
saying that it is wrong to attribute Prosperous Armenia’s expansion to
Tsarukian’s "benevolent actions." "There is demand in our society for
a new political force that comes up with a very understandable slogan,
‘We think about the people,’" he said.

ONE MORE FIRE AT NAIRIT PLANT

Yerevan, December 25. ArmInfo. One more fire took place at Nairit
Plant on Sunday.

The advisor of the Chief of the Rescue Service of Armenia, Colonel
Nikolay Grigoryan says that they were informed of the fire 9:38 AM.

Burning were two containers with ethanol – 300 tons each. The fire was
extinguished only today morning. 11 fire teams, three water carriers
and municipality waterers took part in the extinguishing.

This is the third fire at the plant in the last three months.

Strangely, all incidents took place on Sundays.

PRESS OFFICE
Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

December 22, 2006
___________________

GENOCIDE DEATH HONORED WITH DONATION TO FUND FOR ARMENIAN RELIEF

It is a unique number: 46732314673231. It binds Negdar Arukian to her
father and her grandfather. Today Negdar is using the number to improve the
lives of the next generation.

The digits are the New York Life insurance policy number of Negdar’s
grandfather Thomas Parounaghian. When she received a check through the
recent settlement of claims brought on behalf of victims of the Genocide,
she decided to donate the money to the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) to
help orphans in Armenia.

HISTORY OF LOSS

Though some of the details are lost with time, Negdar knows her grandfather
Thomas moved to the United States sometime before 1915. In America, he
worked as a merchant. He traveled back to his home in Arabkir, where he
asked his wife, Negdar’s grandmother to move back to America with him.

"She asked about life in America and he told her that in America husbands
and wives kissed and held hands on the street," Negdar said, recalling the
traditional family stories. "So she said ‘No way am I going to go there.’"

Instead, Thomas stayed in his village, where he and his wife had two
children, Negdar’s father Yeghishe and a daughter. It was there Thomas was
killed during the Genocide. Negdar’s grandmother and their two children
were sent into the desert.

The young family eventually found their way to Lebanon, before settling in
Ethiopia in 1927. Negdar was born in Ethiopia, moving to Montreal in 1977
before heading to America a few years latter, bringing her father with her.

He brought something with him as well, Thomas’s New York Life policy number.

"I don’t know how my father, through all that, through the Genocide, how he
kept that policy number with him, but some how he did," said Negdar of her
late father, who was too young to remember his father. "He wanted to look
into it, but at the time nobody wanted to help. Nobody wanted to find out
about this policy."

FUTURE OF HOPE

Eventually, Vartkes Yeghiayan, who was born in Ethiopia like Negdar, and
fellow Los Angeles lawyer Mark Geragos would take an interest in Thomas’ New
York Life policy number.

In 2004, as part of the historic legal settlement the team brokered, New
York Life agreed to pay $20 million to settle the suit on behalf of 2,300
unsettled claims. As a descendent of a policy holder, Negdar ended up with
about $5,000 after their settlement was divided between Thomas’ six
grandchildren.

"I felt so happy," Negdar said about the settlement. "Even if it was only
$5, I would have been happy. Because it was something my father wanted to
have taken care of. And though he’s not here, it was finally taken care of.
His daughter fulfilled his efforts."

Negdar, her husband Hratch, and two daughters, Arpi and Talin, decided they
didn’t need to buy extra Christmas gifts this year or plan a family vacation
with the money. Instead, they donated it to the Fund for Armenian Relief
(FAR), the preeminent aid and development organization operating in Armenia.

She asked that the money go towards FAR’s Homeless Children Center in
Yerevan, which works to save the souls of at-risk and runaway youth through
temporary housing, medical care, and social services.

"When I went to Armenia, I saw the orphanage. And my father was an orphan,"
Negdar said emotionally. "I had worked with FAR for a long time. I knew
when I gave the money to FAR, it would go where I wanted it to go."

For Negdar’s two daughters, the gift is just another example from their
parents of the importance of giving back to the community. Negdar, for
example, has been active for more than two decades in the Holy Martyrs
Church in Bayside, NY.

"I was not at all surprised by my mother’s decision. She is one of the most
generous and kind-hearted individuals I know, and I am very proud to be her
daughter. It will serve the right cause" said her daughter Arpi.

Since its founding in response to the 1988 earthquake, FAR has served
millions of people through more than 220 relief and development programs in
Armenia and Karabagh. It has channeled more than $270 million in
humanitarian assistance by implementing a wide range of projects including
emergency relief, education, medical aid, construction and job opportunity
development.

FAR, one of the preeminent relief and development organization operating in
Armenia, is dedicated to realizing the dream of a free, democratic,
prosperous, and culturally rich Armenia. It works towards a brighter future
by partnering with donors to make life a little better for our people. By
offering hope and more promising prospects in Armenia, Karabagh, and
Javakhk, FAR binds the Diaspora and the Armenian family together around the
globe.

For more information on FAR or to send donations, contact us at 630 Second
Avenue, New York, NY 10016; telephone (212) 889-5150; fax (212) 889-4849;
web ; e-mail [email protected].

— 12/22/06

# # #

QUESTIONING OF DEFENDANTS COMPLETED IN CASE OF FOREIGN CURRENCY
EXCHANGE OFFICES’ ROBBERIES IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The court of first instance of
Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash communities on December 21 finished
the questioning of the defendants in the case of robberies of two
foreign currency exchange offices in Yerevan. The fifth defendant Hayk
Sargsian also stated that the robberies were "naive and violent", and
the actions of the group should not be qualified as "banditry". He
said that he does not insist on his preliminary testimony which is
incorrect by 80%. Prior to the two robberies H. Sargsian went to
these foreign currency exchange offices to ascertain the situation –
the availability of money and the number of employees in the offices,
then he left to wait for other members of the group in a taxi. In his
words, he "knew very little about what had happened" after the first
robbery (which resulted in a victim), thus he rejected his preliminary
testimony, according to which he was better informed. After questioning
the defendants, the court started examining the written evidence and
documents. At the next court sitting on December 28, the court will
consider the conclusion of the forensic medical examination of the
victim Artur Mkrtchian in response to the petition of the lawyers,
who want to find out the causes of the victim’s death. According to
the defendants’ testimonies, the defendant Andranik Torosian fired
at A. Mkrtchian from a gun, while the defendant Sergei Movsisian hit
the victim with a knife.

NKR authorities convey serviceman Vusal Gharachayev to the Azeri side

ArmRadio.am
23.12.2006 15:04

At 12:55 today the authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
conveyed 18-year-old serviceman of the Azeri Army Vusal Gharachayev
to the Azerbaijani side.

The NKR State Committee on War Captives and Missing Persons told
Mediamax that the soldir was conveyed near ash-Gharvend village in
Aghdam region, with the mediation of the International Committee of
the Red Cross.

Vusal Gharachayev had crossed the border and had been arrested by
servicemen of the NKR Defense Army on December 17.

Archbishop Goriun Babian visits Sharjah – Dubai

Azad-Hye, Dubai
23 December 2006

On the second part of his visit to the United Arab Emirates, His Eminence
Archbishop Goriun Babian, the Catholicosal Representative of the Diocese of
Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf countries transferred to Sharjah, where he held
a meeting on the 13th November 2006 with the members of legislative and
executive bodies in Sharjah – Dubai. The meeting took place in the assembly
hall of the Saint Krikor the Illuminator Armenian Church in Sharjah. The
following two subjects were discussed:

1- The Council of the Armenian Community in Northern Emirates suggested
conducting the Temagan elections on 9th February 2007, considering that the
period from 17th January to 2nd February 2007 coincides with the school
year’s mid-term vacations.

2- Establishment of daily Armenian school:
Several weeks ago a decision was reached to hold a consultative meeting on
19th November 2006 with the participation of Archbishop Babian, members of
both legislative and executive bodies and Harout Ohanesian, the benefactor
of the Armenian weekly school of Sharjah. Unfortunately, due to
circumstances beyond personal will, the benefactor and several other members
will not be able to attain the meeting. It was therefore considered right to
postpone it to December (Archbishop Goriun will be visiting Sharjah again on
December to attend the 25th anniversary celebrations of the school).
Nevertheless, all the members insisted on conducting this meeting as soon as
possible in order to clarify several pending issues.

Holy Mass in Sharjah on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of the
inauguration and official blessing ceremony of the Saint Krikor the
Illuminator Armenian Church of Sharjah (1998-2006)

Until recently it was a tradition in Sharjah to celebrate the Name Day of
the Sharjah Church on the commemoration day of Saint Krikor’s entry to the
deep dungeon (moodn i virab). The sacrificial offerings (madagh) were
prepared on the same occasion. Considering that the above commemoration day
often coincides with the period of Greater Lent (Medz Bahk), and
specifically with the week that goes before the Palm Sunday (Dzaghgazart) –
during which the consumption of meat was a serious cause of contempt by the
believers – it was deemed therefore appropriate to detach the Name Day
celebration of the Saint Krikor Church from the sacrificial offerings day.
This first time experience proved to be very successful.

In the evening of 16th November 2006 special ceremony took place followed by
the blessing of the meat and salt. Soon afterwards the whole night
preparation of the madagh took place with the collective effort of 50
persons.

In the morning of the following day (17 November 2006) Archbishop Babian
performed the Holy Mass ritual with the presence of several hundreds of
Armenians from Sharjah – Dubai and nearby locations. It is worth mentioning
that thanks to the efforts of Der Aram Deyirmenjian a four-part mixed choir
was formed in Sharjah, which on this occasion performed composer Yegmalian’s
famous Divine Liturgy.

Archbishop Babian delivered a sermon on the subject of pilgrims and
pilgrimages in general and the offering of sacrificial meat and its meaning.
He referred to the centuries-long history of the Armenian Church which
reflected the history of the Armenian nation.

Following the Holy Mass a procession (consisted of the clergy and the
laymen) entered the community hall, where cauldrons were holding the
well-cooked madagh. Following the blessing of the madagh the believers sang
the semi-official anthem of Cilician Catholicosate "When the doors of hope
open" (Yerpor patsvin trnern huso).

Visit to the Ohanesian weekly school

During the visit to the Ohanesian weekly School Archbishop Babian expressed
his appreciation for the great job the Head of School Lorig Katerjian and
the rest of the education staff have been doing. He noted that the school is
experiencing increase in the number of students (160 this school year
compared to 125 in the previous year 2005-2006), covering all stages from
Kindergarten up to the eight grade.

Source: Excerpts from the report prepared by the office of the Diocese of
Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf Country, 22 November 2006. English translation
by Azad-Hye.

_______________________________________ _
Photos:
1- Preparation of the sacrificial offerings (madagh).
2- Blessing of meat and salt.
3- Sermon delivered by Archbishop Babian.
4- Believers follow the Holy Mass.
5- The procession moving towards the community hall.
6- Requiem service and blessing of the herisa (a special recipe prepared
from the madagh sheep or chicken roaster)
7- The ordained choristers.

See Armenian text and photos at:
Id=371daf93

ARMENIAN EXHIBITION LAUNCHES IN NOTRE DAME DE PARIS

AZG Armenian Daily
22/12/2006

Eduard Nalbandian, RA Ambassador to France, and Deputy Mayor of Paris
participated in the opening ceremony of Armenian exhibition in Notre
Dame de Paris on 19 December. RA Foreign Ministry informed that the
exhibition represents Armenia’s history, architecture of churches,
nature, art and culture, its rich heritage. The exhibition is organized
within the framework of Armenia’s year in France with the assistance
of the Mayor’s Office of Paris and Society Geographic. The exhibition
will be on till 25 March 2007.