Author: Jagharian Tania

ISSUES ON OVERCOMING FINANCIAL CRISES AND INVOLVING MEANS FROM INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS DISCUSSED

ARMENPRESS
Nov 18, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsian received today the representatives of World Bank Yerevan
office headed by the head of the office Aristomene Varudakis.

Public relations department of Armenian government told Armenpress
that the Armenian prime minister noted that the Armenian 2009 budget
draft has already been published, the program of events of Armenian
government for confronting the world financial crises has also been
presented to the Armenian parliament, where the necessity of conduction
of quick and combined actions is stressed.

The prime minister assured that the specialists of the World Bank
also stressed the importance of this approach in Washington.

According to Tigran Sargsian, Armenia could confront the first wave
of the world crises, but now the countries of the world are concerned
with the second wave of the economic crises and Armenia must also
prepare steps to smoothen its effect.

Tigran Sargsian offered the representatives of the World Bank to
discuss the implementation of the agreement reached during his visit
to Washington as soon as possible, which was connected with providing
an additional 250 million drams of credit to the sphere of small and
medium-sized business in Armenia.

The suggestion has been made taking into consideration the fact that
according to the World Bank procedures, the provision will finish
only in spring, 2009.

The prime minister pointed out that the Armenian program of crediting
of small and medium-sized business was considered the best in the
world by German KFW bank, and now there is an intention to implement
the succeeded experience by sharply increasing the sizes of crediting,
also taking into account the quite big demand.

Tigran Sargsian assured that the Armenian banks can and are ready to
distribute sums of great sizes. The Armenian prime minister informed
that based on Washington agreements he sent today a letter to the vice
director and the regional director of the World Bank looking forward to
the crediting of small and medium-sized business as soon as possible.

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian noted that negotiations
are held with other financial institutions as well to involve the
necessary financial means.

IU TO TURN KIDD SHIPWRECK INTO ‘LIVING MUSEUM’

Chicago Tribune
Associated Press
Nov 19 2008
IL

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana University archaeologists have won a
$200,000 grant to turn the wreckage of a ship pirate Captain Kidd is
believed to have commandeered and three other Caribbean sites into
"living museums" that also preserve sensitive coral reefs.

The funding comes two months after IU scientists announced that they
had found evidence confirming that a shipwreck off the coast of a
tiny Dominican Republic island is the ruins of a 17th century ship
Kidd once captured.

Charles Beeker, a scuba-diving archaeologist who teaches at IU, said
the grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development will help
safeguard the Kidd site, but its primary goal is to protect elkhorn
coral, rare pillar coral and other reef systems at all four sites.

Beeker and archaeologist Geoffrey Conrad, who directs IU’s William
Hammond Mathers Museum, have been exploring underwater and land-based
sites in the Dominican Republic for 12 years.

Last year, a local resident led them to a shipwreck resting in less
than 10 feet of clear waters off the coast of Catalina Island that
they now believe is a ship Kidd commandeered.

"People often ask if we found treasure. We’ve always considered
the ship the treasure," said Beeker, who has previously helped the
Dominican government open underwater parks that feature cannons,
jar fragments and other items recovered from shipwrecks.

In September, the IU scientists announced that they had found teak
wood at the Kidd site. Based on the fact that at the time teak wood
was rare and came only from India, the researchers said the find
confirms that the vessel is the ruins of the Cara Merchant.

Kidd captured and then abandoned that Armenian-owned ship in 1699 as he
raced to New York to try and clear his name of criminal charges. Kidd
failed to convince authorities of his innocence and was hanged in
1701 in London.

The Kidd site, which will feature the wreck’s stack of cannons
and anchor parts, is the only pirate ship ever discovered in the
Caribbean. Beeker said he expects it to open to the public by December
2009 in time for the 310th anniversary of the ship’s loss.

That site and the three others will be called the La Romana-Bayahibe
Regional Preserve Network. All will include underwater interpretive
slates translated into five languages.

The funding, which protects both biodiversity and cultural resources,
starts in December and runs for two years, with the expectation that
the IU team will focus on protecting cannons, ship keel and other
items at the Kidd site.

The three other sites, including a replicated shipwreck and an
artificial reef created by a ship that was intentionally sunk, are
also in the waters off the Dominican Republic. The other site holds
cannons and other items thrown from a ship that ran around about 1500.

Beeker said he and his colleagues have met with tourism industry
officials, business owners and other groups to discuss the use and
protection of all the sites. He said the support of local dive shops
and hotels is critical to monitoring and protecting the preserves.

YEREVAN DIDN’T RECEIVE PROPOSAL FOR A MEETING BETWEEN ARMENIAN, TURKISH, AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.11.2008 14:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Official Yerevan didn’t receive any proposal for a
meeting between Armenian, Azerbaijani and Turkish Presidents, the RA
Foreign Minister said.

"We were not informed about such initiative," Edward Nalbandian told
a news conference today.

Last week, the Azeri Press Agency quoted Turkey’s Ambassador to
Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic as saying that "a trilateral meeting between
Presidents of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Armenia is expected till the
yearend in Turkey."

Earlier, some Turkish media circulated reports that "Turkish President
Abdullah Gul is readying to take another bold step to contribute to
regional peace in the Caucasus by soon hosting a trilateral summit
with the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan."

MESSAGE DELIVERED TO OBAMA’S UNIVERSITY

Sabah
Nov 14 2008
Turkey

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan spoke at a conference held at the
university from which US President elect Obama Barack graduated,
Columbia University in New York, and stated; "We are expecting the new
US administration to pay close consideration to Turkey’s sensitivities
on certain vital issues."

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, delivered messages to the university
US President elect Barack Obama studied at. Erdogan stated that he
expects Obama to pay close consideration to certain sensitive issues
for Turkey, such as the Armenian genocide claims, and the struggle
against the PKK terrorist organization in northern Iraq.

COMPLIMENT FOR ORHAN PAMUK

For the first time ever, Erdogan mentioned the Nobel award winning,
Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk in a positive light. Erdogan also stated:
"I would like to express the excitement I feel in addressing you in
this cradle of education with more than 250 years of rich history
and rooted knowledge. I am sure that the new President elect Obama
Barack, having graduated from this very university, is a great
source of pride for you all. The fact that a Nobel award-winning
Turkish writer, Mr. Orhan Pamuk is a part of the educating staff is
just another reason for us to hold special importance for Columbia
University." Meanwhile, Erdogan, also called to congratulate the
37-year-old Turkish Professor Murat Gunel for receiving two million
dollars in grants from the United States government in order to further
research genes connected to cerebral hemorrhages. Erdogan, also made
a speech to the United Nations General Committee on "Peace Culture"
prior to his speech at Colombia University. During this speech he
touched on the importance of the struggle against terrorism and said;
"There should no longer be a division between good and bad terrorists,
and protecting terrorists of another country and supporting them
should be abandoned." Also touching upon the issue of freedom of
speech, he stated; "Cautious attention must be paid to the thoughts
put forth, as to how they may affect those from differing cultures,
for example this will be the only way we can change qualifying those
not like us as an ‘other’."

TURKISH PM EXPECTS OBAMA TO CONSIDER HIS COUNTRY’S SENSITIVITIES

Hurriyet
Nov 14 2008
Turkey

Turkey expects the new U.S. administration to take into consideration
Turkey’s sensitivities on matters which have vital importance,
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday.

"I sincerely congratulate Barack Obama and his team who won the
elections. Turkey and the United States, being two allies that have
very strong relations, supporting each other for more than half a
century," the Turkish prime minister said during his speech entitled
"Turkey’s role in giving a shape to the future" at Columbia University.

Erdogan said close cooperation between the two parties contributed
to the restoration of peace, security and prosperity in a region
extending from the Caucasus to Central Asia and from the Middle East
to the Balkans.

Preservation of a strategic partnership between Turkey and the United
States is not only important for the national interests of the two
countries but for global peace and stability as well, he added.

"Turkey and the United States experienced a negative period
regarding terrorist attacks stemming from the north of Iraq and
Armenian allegations regarding the 1915 incidents in 2007. However,
this period could be overcome through common political will and
endeavors. I am grateful for the support given to Turkey in this
respect. Further improvement of relations progressing on the basis of
strategic partners is very important for Turkey," Erdogan was quoted
by the Anatolian Agency as saying.

In addition to relations on politics and security, tangible steps
should be taken in diversifying economic, commercial, social and
cultural relations, he added.

"Turkey is resolved to maintain multilateral and close cooperation
with the new U.S. administration led by Mr. Obama. Naturally,
we particularly expect the new U.S. administration to take into
consideration Turkey’s sensitivities on matters which have vital
importance. This is also important not only for the bilateral relations
but also for peace and security," Erdogan said.

"It is important that Mr. Obama said U.S. support to efforts to deal
with terrorism would continue. We believe that cooperation and spirit
of solidarity between Turkey and the United States would continue to be
a landmark of strategic relations," the Turkish prime minister added.

PRIME MINISTER LEAVES FOR KISHINEV

Panorama.am
16:11 13/11/2008

Today, in the evening the Prime Minister of Armenia TIgran Sargsyan
and the delegation headed by him leaves for Kishinev, Moldova to take
part in the session of Heads of Governments of CIS member countries,
reported the public relations department of the Government.

BOGDAN BORUSEVIC: POLAND SUPPORTS RUSSIA’S POSITION ON KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.11.2008 14:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Poland stands for territorial integrity of Georgia
and supports Russia’s position on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
said Bogdan Borusevic, chairman of the Polish Senate.

"Poland does not criticize all Russia’s actions in the South
Caucasus. We welcome the latest meeting between the Presidents of
Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan and the document on inadmissibility
of use of force signed by them," he said, Interfax reports.

ASSISTANCE RENDERED TO ARTSAKH WAR INVALIDS

DE FACTO
Nov 14, 2008

STEPANAKERT, 14.11.08. DE FACTO. Assistance in the amount of 250,
000 drams has been rendered to the invalids, who lost their sight
during Artsakh war.

According to DE FACTO own correspondent in Stepanakert, assistance
has been rendered due to donations of Israelian and Melian, Armenian
philanthropists from Moscow.

The funds were allocated at the Kantegh society; assistance was
given by Hakop Apresian, Celibate Priest of the Artsakh Eparchy of
the Armenian Apostolic Church.

ARMENIANS CRITICIZED GONUL WITH A LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN

ArmInfo
2008-11-13 16:29:00

ArmInfo. A group of more than Turkish-Armenians, in an open letter
to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, have voiced their grievances
about remarks from Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul that defended the
deportation of Greeks and Armenians from Anatolia at the beginning
of the last century, describing his comments as "praising ethnic
cleansing and crime." Today’s Zaman reports Gonul, in a speech at
the Turkish Embassy in Brussels on the occasion of the anniversary
of the death of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk on Nov. 10, claimed that if
Greeks and Armenians were still living in the country, Turkey would
not be the same nation-state it is today. He also hinted that Armenia
is supporting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

"If there were Greeks in the Aegean and Armenians in most places in
Turkey today, would it be the same nation-state? I don’t know with
which words I can explain the importance of the population exchange,
but if you look at the former state of affairs, its importance will
become very clear," Gonul said. The group, in their open letter
published on a Web site, stated that Gonul’s remarks contradict the
Constitution, which says that anyone bound to the Turkish Republic
by the citizenship is called a Turk.

"It is very difficult to understand, if we are talking about a
Turkish nation, why the Armenians and Greeks [non-Muslims] cannot
be a part of this nation, when Kurds, Arabs and Albanians [Muslims]
can be? To what extent does this mentality, which underlines that
religious unity is required in order to be a nation, fit in with the
contemporary state of law?" the letter asked. The letter suggested
that the changes made by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK
Party) toward democratization were considered by intellectuals to be
"positive," but that the rivals of the AK Party claimed these changes
are just a disingenuous effort to get the financial support of the
European Union. "The reaction of the AK party to Gonul’s scandalous
remarks will be a very good indicator of the sincerity of the policies
[of AK Party]," the letter claimed.

PRESENTATION OF GAZAROS AGHAYAN’S TORK ANGEGH TRANSLATION TO BE HELD IN MONTREAL

Noyan Tapan

Nov 12, 2008

MONTREAL, NOYEMBER 12, ARMENIANS – NOYAN TAPAN. Presentation of
Gazaros Aghayan’s Tork Angegh translation will be held on November
16 in Monreal’s A. Aharonian Hall. Agop Hacikyan is the translator
and the author of the book. It is illustrated by Talleen Hacikyan
and versified by Edward F. Franchuk.