Author: Jalatian Sonya

EUROBANK TO SEND 13,5 MLN EURO FOR FULFILLMENT OF PROGRAMME OF ECOLOGICAL REHABILITATION OF SEVAN LAKE

ArmInfo Agency, Armenia
Oct 3 2007

ArmInfo. Today, RA Parliament continued discussion over the
government-presented agreement between Armenia and the European Bank
for Reconstruction and Development about financing of the programme
of ecological rehabilitation of Sevan lake.

As Chairman of State Committee of water economy under RA Ministry of
Territorial Administration Andranik Andreasyan told parliamentarians,
the accredit agreement has been signed in April, 2007. The whole
programme is assessed of 12 mln Euro, 7 mln Euro of which have been
allotted as a credit and the rest 5 mln Euro as a grant. The Bank
will also allot 1,2 mln Euro more as a technical assistance for
financing of the work on development of estimates of the forthcoming
works. Thus, A. Andreasyan said, the whole programme will cost 13,5
mln Euro. The credit of 7 mln Euro has been extended for a period of
15 years with the beginning of repayment in 3 years with an interest
rate of Libor=1%. The credit will be extended by two tranches – of
5 mln Euro and 2 mln Euro. The programme envisages construction of
new purifying plants in Martuni and Gavar.

Moreover, it is scheduled to reconstruct the water channels of Jermuk
and Sevan. Thus, the problem of waste waters discharge into the lake
will be solved. Within the frames of the EBRD-financed programme,
one of the most important problems of the lake will be soled. The
project is pilot and, in case of its success, it will be continued
in other regions of the republic as well.

SURVEY: ISRAEL HAS NO RIGHT TO DENY ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2007 15:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ NEWSru.co.il web site has accomplished a survey
titled "Israel and Armenian Genocide." The survey proceeded in two
stages (August 27-28 and October 2). 561 people took part in the
survey, 509 of them answered all of the questions.

The topic of the survey was prompted by the Anti-Defamation League’s
recognition of the 1915 events in the Ottoman Empire as tantamount to
genocide. The statement found support among many Israeli politicians,
what led to tension in relations with Turkey.

The survey showed that the absolute majority (82,5%) agree with the
opinion that the Israeli people, who survived the Holocaust have no
right to deny tragedies of other nations. At that 72,4% think that
Israel should recognize the mass killings of Armenians in Turkey in
1915 as genocide.

43,8% of those surveyed said Israel should recognize the Armenian
Genocide even at expense of breaking off relations with Turkey. 35,2%
said it’s not the price for Israel to pay.

48% think it possible to convince Turkey in the necessity to
acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. 33,2% said it’s unreal.

Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide still remains one of the
obstacles for its accession to the European Union.

PRESIDENT OF TURKEY DEFENDS RIGHTS RECORD

Reuters
International Herald Tribune, France
Oct 3 2007

STRASBOURG: Abdullah Gul, the president of Turkey, on Wednesday
defended his country’s human rights record in a major European forum
but said much remained to be done, including action on a law that
has been used to restrict free speech.

The European Union, which Ankara hopes to join, has urged Turkey to
scrap the law, Article 301 of the country’s penal code, which makes
it a crime to insult Turkish national identity or state institutions.

"Nobody is in prison in Turkey today for expressing their ideas,"
Gul said before the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe
in Strasbourg.

"But there are many more things still to do."

Gul later told reporters he wanted to see Article 301 amended, noting
that it had caused much damage to Turkey’s image as it negotiates
for membership in the European Union.

Nationalist prosecutors in Turkey have used Article 301 against
dozens of writers, journalists and scholars, including Orhan Pamuk,
who received the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature, although cases rarely
end in convictions.

"Even though nobody has been jailed under this article, I would like
to see it changed," Gul said.

"Parliament is now open and I predict some regulations could be made
in connection with this issue."

In Turkey, the government, not the president, makes policy, but
Gul retains influence in the governing AK party, which he served as
foreign minister until Parliament elected him head of state in August.

So far, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s government has resisted EU
pressure to scrap or amend Article 301, saying it will proceed with
changes at its own pace.

Human rights campaigners say the law seriously discourages freedom
of expression and feeds a climate of intolerance exploited by
ultranationalists.

One of the few writers to have been convicted under the article was
the Turkish Armenian editor Hrant Dink. Because of his views on the
Ottoman Turkish massacres of Armenians in 1915, Dink was fatally shot
in January in Istanbul by a young ultranationalist.

Responding to questions from members of the European Parliament,
Gul defended Turkey’s treatment of its large Kurdish ethnic minority,
saying Kurds had achieved more freedoms in the past few years.

"We see cultural differences as an asset," he said, "but they cannot
justify separation." Gul was apparently referring to Kurdish rebels
fighting Ankara’s rule in a conflict that has cost more than 30,000
lives since 1984.

Gul said a new constitution being prepared by the government would
further bolster individual rights and freedoms in Turkey.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Sept 28 2007

Foxman: US Congress can’t debate `genocide’

The leader of a major US Jewish group that last month endorsed
Armenian claims of genocide at the hands of the late Otto-man Empire
said on Wednesday that the US Cong-ress was not the right venue to
discuss the issue.

"I believe this issue should not be debated at the US Congress or the
French National Assembly," Abraham Foxman, chairman of the
Anti-Defamation League (ADL), told reporters after a meeting with
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan in New York. He also said he
hoped Armenians would somehow respond to calls from Turkey to set up
a joint commission of academics to investigate what happened in the
past.
The ADL last month reversed its long-held policy and decided to call
events of the World War I era genocide, although it still says two
resolutions pending in the US Congress endorsing the genocide claims
would not help resolution of the disputes between the Turks and
Armenians. The policy shift angered Turkey, which categorically
rejects the genocide charges. Turkish authorities also appealed to
Israel and warned that passage of the resolutions in the US Congress,
which now seems even more probable because of the change of stance on
the part of the ADL, would harm not only Turkish-US but also
Turkish-Israeli ties.

Foxman said disputes between Turks and Armenians can best be settled
between the two countries, not via resolutions passed in parliaments.
"US congressmen are not historians. Therefore, they cannot judge what
happened in history," he said. Commenting on his meeting with
Erdoðan, he said it was very useful and asserted that "friendships
are not ruined because of words."

Erdoðan said at the meeting that the Armenian genocide allegations
had no basis and that they were not supported by any scientific or
historical document, according to a statement released by the Prime
Ministry after the meeting. "The prime minister said Turkey expected
the Jewish community in the US to continue their support, as it has
done to date," the statement said.

The meeting was attended by representatives from some 20 US Jewish
groups, including the Conference of Presidents, the Appeal of
Conscience Foundation, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee
(AIPAC), the ADL, the American Jewish Committee, the American Jewish
Congress, Bnai Brith International and the UJA Federation.

28.09.2007

SEZAÝ KALAYCI NEW YORK

ARMENIAN MP’S CONDITION GRAVE

ARMENPRESS
Sept 27 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS: Samvel Nikoyan, a senior member
of the Republican Party, denied today media speculations that Tigran
Arzakantsian, a Republican Party member and the owner of one of
Armenia’s largest brandy companies, shot and stabbed in the lobby of
the Metropol Hotel in Moscow, was in prime minister Serzh Sarkisian’s
official delegation that was visiting Moscow.

The Armenian businessman is said to be in critical condition. According
to reports from Moscow, he was attacked by two Caucasian- looking men,
who fled the scene.

Samvel Nikoyan said Arzakantsian’s condition, who underwent urgent
surgery at a Moscow hospital, will be depending on his" power of
resistance."

He said Arzakantsian happened to be in Moscow when Serzh Sarkisian
was visiting the Russian capital and joined the Armenian delegation
for a meeting with Armenian students majoring at Moscow universities.

Russian news agencies quoted several eyewitnesses as saying that the
fight broke out in the Metropol casino at about 4:00 a.m. Wednesday
"During the fight, one of the participants twice shot his opponent,"
Interfax news agency said quoting an eyewitness.

ROBERT SIMONS TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 25 2007

Today Robert Simons, special representative of the secretary of the
South Caucasus in NATO, will arrive in Yerevan, APA reports quoting
Panarmenian.

During the course of his stay Simons will meet with Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan, vice-defense minister Ara Nazaryan, and chairmen
of the NA permanent committees on European integration and defense
issues. During the meetings, the status of the individual program
between Armenia and NATO will be discussed, as well as Armenia-NATO
cooperation in general. One of the purposes of the visit is to
introduce a new office for the South Caucasus. We point out that
Jbignev Ribatsk, of Poland, was recently named in this position.

Simons will conclude his visit tomorrow. According to the same
source, he will then travel to Tbilisi. We remind that the officer’s
headquarters are in the Georgian capital city.

ZUBKOV, SARKISYAN TO DISCUSS POLIT, ECON COOPERATION TUE

ITAR-TASS News Agency
September 25, 2007 Tuesday

Russia’s new Head of Government Viktor Zubkov is to meet with his
first foreign guest — Armenia’s Prime Minister Serge Sarkisyan —
here on Tuesday.

Sarkisyan arrived in Moscow on Monday night for the first time as
Premier although he had visited the Russian capital repeatedly before
as Defence Minister.

A Russian government press service official has told Itar-Tass that
Zubkov and Sarkisyan are to discuss concrete areas of political and
economic cooperation.

Also on Tuesday, the Armenian Premier is expected to meet with
Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, RosAtom (Federal Agency for Nuclear Power)
chief Sergei Kiriyenko, Nikolai Bordyuzha, Secretary-General of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and Grigory Rapota,
Secretary-General of the Eurasian Economic Community.

Sarkisyan has retained the post of the leader of the Armenian side
of the Russia-Armenia intergovernmental commission for economic
cooperation. He is to relate the results of the upcoming talks at a
news conference, which is to be held at Itar-Tass.

The Armenian delegation includes Andranik Manukyan, Minister of
Transport and Communications, Nerses Yeripyan, Minister of Trade
and Economic Development, Mikael Arutyunyan, Minister of Defence,
and Gegam Garibdzhanyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Cooperation between the two countries develops on bilateral and
multilateral bases. Armenia, just like Russia, comes out in favour of
strengthening the Commonwealth of Independent States and is a member
of the CSTO.

Russia is Armenia’s main trading partner. Reciprocal trade turnover
has doubled and may run at over $500 million towards the year’s end,
Igor Levitin said in Yerevan last week. The leader of the Russian side
of the intergovernmental commission, stated that Russian investments
in the Armenian economy had grown as well to run at $74 million in
the first half of the year.

Armenia’s direct trade contacts with Russia’s regions develop
successfully: about 70 regions of the Russian Federation maintain
bilateral economic contacts with it.

DEFIANT JUDGE ‘NOT PUNISHED FOR LANDMARK RULING’
By Ruzanna Stepanian and Ruben Meloyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
Sept 24 2007

Justice Minister Gevorg Danielian insisted on Monday that a judge
in Yerevan is risking dismissal not because of his unprecedented
decision to acquit two businessmen controversially imprisoned by the
Armenian authorities.

A group of trial attorneys, meanwhile, voiced support for Pargev
Ohanian, a judge in the court of first instance of the city’s Kentron
and Nork Marash districts, saying that his ouster would deal a heavy
blow to judicial independence in Armenia.

The presidentially appointed Council of Justice will meet on Wednesday
to consider punitive measures against Ohanian which is sought by the
Judicial Department, another government-controlled body monitoring
the work of Armenian courts. The department claims that Ohanian broke
the law in his rulings on nearly two dozen criminal and civil cases.

In an interview with RFE/RL last week, the judge implied that he is
paying the price of his July 16 verdict that cleared Gagik Hakobian,
the owner of the Royal Armenia coffee packaging company, and one of
its top executives, Aram Ghazarian, of controversial fraud charges.

The two men had been arrested in October 2005 after publicly accusing
senior Armenian customs officials of corruption.

Speaking to RFE/RL, Danielian denied any connection between the
disciplinary action and what was a rare court ruling going against
the wishes of law-enforcement authorities and the National Security
Service (NSS) in particular. "This is a mere coincidence," he said.

"Whether or not the [July] ruling is unfounded will be determined by
further judicial proceedings [at the Court of Appeals.] That ruling
can be overturned."

Danielian claimed that Ohanian’s activities came under scrutiny months
before the sensational acquittal condemned by prosecutors.

"Nobody could predict then what the judge will rule [on the Royal
Armenia case,]" he said.

But several prominent lawyers strongly disagreed with this, saying
that the Armenian authorities fear that Ohanian’s verdict may have
set a dangerous precedent for other judges who normally endorse
accusations leveled by prosecutors.

"The majority of Armenian judges, including those with a 30-year
work experience, have never passed single not-guilty verdict,"
said one of them, Hayk Alumian. "In order to present rosy reports
to European structures, the authorities probably allowed courts to
hand down a few not-guilty verdicts a year. But as this case shows,
even those few acquittals are under strict control."

"The question is not Pargev Ohanian’s future on the bench," said
another attorney, Ara Ghazarian. "The question is whether or not
there is justice in the Republic of Armenia."

The freed businessmen, who may still be sent back to prison by
the Court of Appeals, insist that the fraud case against them was
brought by the NSS in retaliation for their refusal to engage in a
fraud scam with senior customs officials and its decision to publicly
expose widespread corruption within the Armenian customs. They say
the authorities feared that their example could encourage other local
entrepreneurs to challenge the reputedly corrupt government agency.

President Robert Kocharian reportedly expressed his displeasure with
the Royal Armenia men’s acquittal at a meeting with senior judges held
just days after Ohanian’s judgment. Under the Armenian constitution,
the president of the republic appoints and can fire virtually all
judges at the recommendation of the Justice Council.

While denying any pressure on Ohanian, Danielian chided the defiant
judge for implicitly alleging government retribution. "Ohanian should
defend himself not in the media but at the Council of Justice,"
he said.

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