Author: Jalatian Sonya

TV REPORTS ARMENIAN MANEUVER IN AGDAM

ANS TV, Azerbaijan
Sept 14 2007

[Presenter] The Armenian armed forces have started a large-scale
manoeuvre near the [Armenia] occupied village of Uzundara in
Azerbaijan’s Agdam District. Tanks, heavy artillery and aircraft are
involved in the manoeuvre. Our regional correspondent has the details.

[Sahin Rzayev, over phone] The Armenian armed forces started a
manoeuvre in the occupied part of Agdam District at about 1030 [0530
gmt] today. The manoeuvre are observed mainly near Uzundra village.

Artillery guns, I mean Grad missile systems, and tanks are firing at
various targets. Helicopter gunships of the opposite side [Armenia]
air force are also involved in the exercise. Thus, at about 1920
[1420 gmt] yesterday two helicopters of the Armenian air forces flew
over the occupied villages of Xidirli and Cullu. Helicopters have
been firing at various targets in areas close to the front line since
the manoeuvre started today. Despite this happens at a long distance,
the movement of Armenian heavy hardware in areas close to the front
line can be observed [from the Azerbaijani territory. Firing sounds
can be heard in all residential areas in the Azerbaijani-controlled
section of Agdam District. Smoke and dust caused by blasts can be seen
in areas close to the contact line. The manoeuvre lasted intensively
for about one hour from 1030 [0530 gmt]. During this period, sounds
of continuos firing from large-calibre weapons were heard. Firing
can be heard right now as well.

[Presenter] Thank you, Sahin. That was Sahin Rzayev’s report on the
Armenian armed forces’ manoeuvre in the occupied village of Uzundara
in Azerbaijan’s Agdam District. The [Azerbaijani] Defence Ministry
has confirmed the report. The Armenian side is making an illegal use
of the occupied areas. A large amount of weapons and munitions is
being kept there and exercises are being carried out. The ministry
added that international organizations should react seriously to this.

[APA news agency, in Azeri 0630 gmt 14 Sep 07, reported at an
Azerbaijani soldier had been killed in a cease-fire violation incident
in the Karabakh conflict zone on 13 September; at 0742 gmt 14 Sep
07 Arminfo quoted the chief of the general staff of the Karabakh
separatist army, Levon Mnatsakanyan, as saying that all types of
defence technologies were used during manoeuvres and it were taking
place in four phases]

ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Toll Free: (866) 965-TREE
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
September 24, 2007

Leitner Family Support Links ATP With Yale Forestry School
By Jason Sohigian

When Armenia Tree Project pursued a partnership with Yale University’s
Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry, the organization first contacted
James and Sandra Leitner because they were active supporters of the school
and sponsored expeditions for students to work with the Green Belt Movement
in Kenya. In fact, when Sandra Leitner was meeting Nobel Peace Prize
laureate Wangari Maathai for lunch at Yale, she made a point of telling the
Green Belt Movement founder all about ATP’s programs in Armenia.

Jim has degrees in Economics and Russian Studies and he supports Yale’s
forestry school because of its international environmental focus, and also
because he knew that forestry programs were more challenging to fund than
more traditional areas such as law and economics. "These are people who are
not always well paid, but they are trying to make the world a better place,"
Jim explained. It was a similar interest that attracted them to ATP and its
reforestation programs in Armenia.

Last year, ATP received a $100,000 grant from Conservation International to
work with Yale to develop a sustainable forestry manual for Armenia. This
two-year program is intended to give ATP the resources and training to teach
people in Armenia about using forests in a more sustainable manner,
protecting the resource for future generations.

Jim and Sandra Leitner of New Jersey were instrumental in creating the
relationship between ATP and Prof. Chadwick Oliver, director of the Global
Institute of Sustainable Forestry, and the program has been off to a strong
start. Yale graduate student Zachary Parisa spent this past summer in
Armenia working with volunteers and Armenian forestry students to complete
an inventory of the forests between Dilijan and Margahovit Village, where
ATP is working in northern Armenia.

In addition, the Leitner Family increased their generous support of ATP to
$25,000 in 2007. "We learned about ATP’s founding by Carolyn Mugar after the
trees were used for fuel in Armenia during the embargos related to the
Karabagh war. We thought it was important to replace the trees that were
utilized for that purpose," emphasized Sandra. "We stayed involved after
seeing all the important work being done by ATP to improve the lives of the
Armenian people through preservation of the environment."

"We feel that all aspects of ATP’s mission are inextricably intertwined and
equally important. The combination of programs in tree planting,
environmental education, and poverty reduction address both the immediate
and long-term needs and interests of the country and people," she explained
further. "We were delighted to attend the concert for the organization’s
10th anniversary at Garni Temple in 2004, but it has been ATP’s consistent,
diligent, and growing work that led us to increase our commitment. There is
more to accomplish and thus a greater need for support."

Jim is a member of Yale University’s Investment Committee and the
President’s Council on International Activities at the university. Earlier
this year, Jim and Sandra were awarded the St. Gregory the Illuminator Medal
of Honor by Catholicos Karekin II.

Sandra–whose maiden name is Shahinian–has long-standing ties to the
Armenian community, and her paternal grandparents were great patriots and
believers in the nation of Armenia. "Their first trip back to Yerevan in the
1960’s had an impact on me as a child," noted Sandra. "Partly due to their
influence, I spent my junior year of college at Yerevan State University,
learning Armenian and deepening my connection to the Armenian nation which I
still feel today."

Sandra grew up immersed in the Armenian community, and her family’s
connection with St. Leon Armenian Church in Fair Lawn, New Jersey goes back
to 1990. "We derive great satisfaction from our volunteer work with other
families who have an interest in preserving the church for the next
generation and encouraging their children to stay connected to the church,"
stated Sandra. "We are in the midst of a building campaign to add an
education and sports complex to help accomplish that goal."

Sandra was elected to the Diocesan Council of the Eastern Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America in May. Jim and Sandra are the proud parents of
three children–Allegra, Evan, and Olivia–who are, respectively, students
in law school, college, and high school. The Leitners also support human
rights programs at Fordham Law School and the Yale School of Nursing. "It is
important to us to try to leave the world a better place," they concluded.

Based in Watertown and Yerevan, Armenia Tree Project has made enormous
strides in combating desertification in the biologically diverse but
threatened Caucasus region. Over 1.5 million trees have been planted and
restored, and hundreds of jobs have been created for Armenians in seasonal
tree-regeneration programs. For more information, visit the Web site

PHOTO CAPTION: James and Sandra Leitner have been supporting Armenia Tree
Project for more than 10 years, and they played an instrumental role in the
organization’s relationship with Yale University’s Global Institute of
Sustainable Forestry

PanARMENIAN.Net

Sargsyan: Armenians’ dream about independent country came true 16 years ago
21.09.2007 17:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `Armenians’ dream about independent country came
true 16 years ago. September 21, 1991 we opened a new stage of
Armenian history,’ reads the congratulatory message of RA Prime
Minister Serge Sargsyan on occasion of Independence Day.

`We won the war, we overcame the crisis. We recorded high economic
growth, modern institutes, developing social and political environment
and big potential.

Hardships still exist. We have homeless families, poverty, corruption,
and encroached rights. We were sad, we struggled against these
phenomena but we always loved our state. This is a sober love, which
demands further development of our state through our diligence,
tenderness and devotion.

I do believe that our future achievements will serve for the glory of
the Republic of Armenia,’ the message says.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Artsakh will develop under Bako Sahakian’s presidency, Kocharian says
20.09.2007 18:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with
NKR President Bako Sahakian, the RA leader’s press office
reported. Once again congratulating Bako Sahakian with election NKR
President, Robert Kocharian wished him every success at the post. He
voiced assurance that Artsakh’s economic and political development
will be given a new impetus and the existing problems will be
resolved.

Panorama.am

21:06 20/09/2007

"Bee Line" vs. "Armentel" and "Vimpelcom": Soon in
court

On September 25 the case of "Bee Line" vs. "Armentel"
and "Vimpelcom" reaches the Economic Court of Armenia.
"Bee Line," which has operated in Armenia for around
15 years, considers that "Armentel" and "Vimpelcom"
have violated its rights, using its name and symols in
ways that sometimes are confusing, all of which it
considers unlawful. "Bee Line" demands the two firms
cease their illegal activities, especially since the
two firms are well aware that the symbols of "Bee
Line" belong only to that organization, and beside
that know that using them are illegal and in general
not allowed and can confuse consumers. Representatives
of the "Harutyunyan and friends" firm, who are
representing "Bee Line," expect that "Armentel" and
"Vimpelcom" will cease their illegal activities once
the case is concluded.

Source: Panorama.am

Montreal Gazette, Canada

Family activities, museums and more

The Gazette Published: 3 hours ago Family

– Jungua. Descendants of the Dragon continues at TOHU, 2345 Jarry
St. E., for a two-week run. The show features the Shaolin Kung Fu
Monks and the Imperial Acrobats of China. The artists will execute
traditional martial arts and circus skills that reach back almost
2,000 years. Call 514-376-8648 or visit (KG)

– Open-air art is on display in the streets and squares of Old
Montreal until Oct. 14. The event is called Artegonia and features
graffiti art on concrete blocks and displays of black and white and
colour photographs. Other activities include visits to Old Montreal
galleries, musical performances, literary readings and more, tomorrow
and Sunday, performances by hip hop DJ’s and dancers. (KG)

The Shrine Circus is a circus with animals, a fact which may not
appeal to everybody. The circus comes to the Galéries des Sources,
3237 Sources Blvd. (at Highway 40), today to Sunday. Tickets cost
$15. (KG)

– To mark the International Day of Peace, there is a Peace Picnic on
the esplanade of Place des Arts (Place des Arts métro station), today
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring your lunch. Last year more than 3,500
peace-day events took place in 200 countries, including the 192 member
nations of the United Nations. (KG)

Armenians celebrate 16th anniversary of independence. Tomorrow from
11 a.m. features food stands with Armenian specialties, flag-raising,
3 p.m., gala evening of song and dance, 8 p.m. at École Armen Quebec,
Gundjian Hall, 755 Manoogian St. in St. Laurent. Plus, an outdoor
Sunday mass at 10:30 a.m., followed by a picnic and barbecue. Cost for
both days is $10.

Ecomuseum, 21125 Ste. Marie Rd., Ste. Anne de Bellevue. Open daily
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 514-457-9449.

Granby Zoo and Amazoo Water Park in Granby of the Eastern
Townships. Weekends to Oct. 8. For prices and times, call 450-372-9113
or 1-877-472-6299 or visit

La Ronde, Montreal’s amusement park, on Île Ste. Hélène. Weekends and
holiday Mondays until Oct. 28. For prices and times, phone
514-397-2000 or visit the website

Parc Safari in Hemmingford. Open Thursdays to Sundays and Oct. 6 to 8
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Directions from Montreal: Highway 15 south,
Exit 6, follow the blue signs. Call 450-247-2727 or visit

Museums

Canadian Centre for Architecture, 1920 Baile St. Naoya Hatakeyama:
Scales, opens Thursday. Lessons from Bernard Rudofsky, until
Sept. 30. Open Wednesdays to Sundays. Also: Family Activities:
Architecture of the World, as part of Montreal Architectural Heritage
Campaign. Explore cultures near and far through architectural
highlights such as a Japanese pagoda, the Roman Coliseum, a Russian
church, a Miami street scene, Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lecture:
Hatakeyama in conversation with Hubertus Van Amelunxen, curator of the
Tangent series, Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Paul Desmarais
Theatre. 514-939-7026.

Centre d’histoire de Montréal, 335 Place d’Youville. Who Set Fire to
Montreal 1734: The Trial of Angélique, held over until Feb. 10. Open
Tuesdays to Sundays. 514-872-3207.

RECALL SINS OF REPUBLICANS AND GIVE FORCEFUL RESPONSE

Lragir.am
19-09-2007 16:35:19

What will the ARF Dashnaktsutyun be doing in case Serge Sargsyan
decides to retrieve the Dro or Vahan Hovanisyan +30 case to make
the party more obedient? These are the cases by which the leaders of
Dashnaktsutyun had been condemned, and have not been dismissed yet,
and the leaders were released due to a "change of the situation". The
reporters asked this question to Armen Rustamyan, the representative
of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun’s Supreme Body, on September 19 at the Friday
Club. They meant that Serge Sargsyan was the minister of security then.

"They can recall, we also have a lot to recall. Let them recall. We
have openly presented our biography, our past to people, and everyone
knows everything," Armen Rustamyan says. People can see and understand
everything. "Unfortunately, however, they cannot see their role in
it." This is our problem, Armen Rustamyan says.

Hence, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun also has a lot to recall. In this case,
it is interesting why the party does not recall and remind. Is
there any arrangement not to remind? "We do not want to kindle
vicious passions by reminders, to launch compromising actions which
will damage respect for debate. They will not lead us anywhere,"
Armen Rustamyan says. According to him, they do not wish to hold an
election with such methods.

"We have something important to tell. But if they start accusing us,
let the innocent cast the first stone on us. Who is the one with
crystal purity, feet in the clouds, an angel who will cast a stone
on us, and we will acknowledge that we are to blame for the problems
of people? If Dashnaktsutyun is responsible for all the problems,
does it mean you are innocent? No. This is a wrong approach. And,
believe me, if they accuse us of anything, we will have twice as many
accusations," Armen Rustamyan says. He says if they have to respond,
the response of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun is going to be forceful.

PRESS RELEASE
Christian Outreach for Armenians Church
125 S. Louise St
Glendale, Ca 91101
Contact: Bertha Topalian
Tel: 818-242-9214
Fax: 818-242-921
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Glendale Presbyterian Church Jointly With Christian Outreach for Armenians
Church Presents:

AN ART EXHIBITION

By Zepur Karamanoukian

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2007

4:30-6:30p.m.

A CONCERT THE SAME DAY 7:00-9:00p.m.

Special Appearance by

Salpi Keleshian, Garo Sulahian

Harut Khachaturyan

COAC Choir

Art Exhibition will remain open

Sunday September 30, From 9:00am-5:00pm

Admission Free

125 S Louise St., Glendale, CA 91205 (818) 242-9213

THE ENERGY MATRIX
By Tulin Daloglu, a freelance writer.

Washington Times, DC
September 18, 2007

In the eyes of President Bush, for he believes he has made the right
decision to invade Iraq, his speech on Thursday did not acknowledge
any change in strategy.

"The success of a free Iraq is critical to the security of the United
States," he said. "A free Iraq will counter the destructive ambitions
of Iran." But Mr. Bush’s ongoing belief in the mission stands at odds
with the perception of reality in Iraq on both sides of the Atlantic.

So it was interesting to hear Nicholas Burns, undersecretary of
state for political affairs, discuss the importance of Turkey to
America’s future in the Middle East in a speech at the Atlantic
Council just hours before president’s speech. "There is really
nothing more important at this point in time… as we Americans,
in our government, look out at the world and see Turkey is this
critically important country to our interests in the greater Middle
East region," Mr. Burns said.

"One glance at the map demonstrates why it is so important
to strengthen the ties between our two countries," Mr. Burns
continued. "Turkey is influential in the Balkans, in the Black Sea, the
Caucasus, and in the greater Middle East. In this vitally important arc
of countries where so much of our foreign policy attention now lies,
Turkey is the vital link." At the event, former U.S. ambassadors to
Turkey asked questions that were more telling than Mr. Burns’ official
message – proof that the relationship between the two countries has
literally reached "a critical juncture," as Mr. Burns said, and that
the former ambassadors are concerned that Turkey may continue to drift
away from the U.S. "Why now?" asked Mark Parris, former ambassador to
Ankara. "Because so many of the American interests you have described
are by no means new."

Mr. Parris reminded the room about the statement of strategic vision
that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and then-Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul adopted in July 2006. "We – practitioners – know that
words ultimately don’t cut it," Mr. Parris said. "The vision statement
of two years ago covered all the same ground. It has largely remained
words… If I were a Turkish politician with the U.S. approval ratings
at 9 percent or so, I would be looking for good arguments as to why at
this point in the relationship Turkey has an interest in re-engaging
with an administration which has 16 months in office."

Because, Mr. Burns replied, the U.S. government is standing up to
say Turkey is "our indispensable ally in the Middle East." Mr. Burns
talked about the U.S. support to build the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline and the South Caucasus gas pipeline, which makes Turkey an
energy corridor. "Turkey is a key connector in the energy question –
oil and gas from Caucasus and Central Asia to the West," he said. "We
share a common interest in preventing the domination by one country of
the oil and gas sources and pipelines for western Europe and for all
of our allies who live in that region." Evidently, he was positioning
against Turkey’s emerging alternatives with Russia.

Mr. Burns stressed the need for cooperation on Iraq and Iran. "The
U.S. has the most powerful presence in Iraq and we’re the most powerful
country focused on Iran today," he said. "The future of peace and
security in the Middle East depends on the right decisions by Turkey,
the U.S. and other countries concerning both." Mr. Burns also noted
that the United States is troubled that Turkey recently committed to
a memorandum on energy cooperation with Iran. "Now is not the time
for business as usual with Iran," he said. Former Ambassador Marc
Grossman responded: "But Turks were waving their hands and asking:
Is there anyone who cares about this energy corridor in the U.S.?"

The U.S.-Turkey relationship will not improve until the U.S. takes
bold, visible action against the Northern Iraq strongholds of Kurdish
separatist terrorists, the PKK. While the U.S. takes immense care
not to offend the Iraqi Kurdish leadership, Turks are dying. Turkey
has lost more people than any coalition partner in Iraq – on its own
land – as a result of the cross-border PKK terrorist attacks. The
Pentagon has admitted that the PKK uses American weapons originally
given to Iraqi security forces.

The U.S. House is on the path toward passing a resolution declaring
the Armenian tragedy at the end of World War I a "genocide." Turks see
the U.S. inaction against PKK terrorism and support for a "genocide"
resolution as an affront to their alliance that threatens Turkey’s
national security interests.

In addition, few Turks believe their country will ever be accepted
as a full member of the European Union.

Given the challenging realities in Iraq and in the region, Turks
are signaling for the first time that although they have not
moved away from a Euro-Atlantic alliance, they are searching for
an alternative. Mr. Burns will be visiting Turkey this week. Yet,
time will show whether what Mr. Burns promised – that "[w]e must take
bold steps to restore the primacy of Turkey as a strategic partner"
– will make a difference.

ARMENIANS’ FIRST VICTORY

A1+
[01:32 pm] 17 September, 2007

Armenian wrestlers’ failures continue at the Baku World Wrestling
Championship. Roman Amoyan’s defeat was followed by Khosrov Melikyan’s
defeat (60 kg) at the first round.

The latter was beaten by Ukrainian Armenian Suren Gevorgyan.

Only Armenian wrestler Arman Adikyan (66 kg) won at the first round
beating his Japanese rival Masaki Imuroy 8:2.

Arman’s next rival will be Kantabek Bagaliev from Kirgizia.