Author: Jilavian Emma

"WE HAVE THE DRAFT, THE REST IS IMMATERIAL"
by Anna Satjan

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
December 13, 2006 Wednesday

Draft National Security Concept presented to the parliament of Armenia.

Draft National Security Concept was presented to the parliament of
Armenia on December 1. Discussing it, most lawmakers agreed that
the document had some shortcomings but was more or less a success
all the same. US, Russian, and European structures the document
had been forwarded to for evaluation praised it too. Presenting the
draft document, Serj Sarkisjan of the National Security Council made
an emphasis on what he believed its central clauses. Here are some
excerpts from Sarkisjan’s speech.

"Armenia is ready for compromises in the Karabakh conflict resolution
as long as certain principles are honored. They include unacceptability
of vertical relations between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh,
existence of a land border between Karabakh and Armenia, international
guarantees of Karabakh’s participation in global processes, and
guarantees of non-renewal of the war and safety of the population…"

"Armenia aspires for betterment of relations with Turkey through
establishment of contacts. Armenia wouldn’t put up with any preliminary
conditions put forth by Turkey… The Concept demands acknowledgement
of genocide by Turkey as restoration of historic justice and guarantees
of no more encroachments on Armenia…"

"The Concept attaches considerable importance to relations with
the diaspora whose representatives are playing a certain part in the
political and social lives of their respective countries. The diaspora
may serve as a bridge facilitating Armenia’s bilateral relations with
other countries, one that promotes the principles of democracy and
development of commerce and tourism…"

Source: Novoye Vremya (Yerevan), December 5, 2006, EV

U.S. CONGRESSMEN WELCOME REFERENDUM IN NKR

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.12.2006 15:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Co-Chairmen of the Congressional Armenian Caucus,
Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), were joined today
by Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and George Radanovich (R-CA)
in congratulating the citizens of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
(Artsakh) on overwhelmingly approving a pro-independence constitution
in a popular referendum held on December 10th, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA)

In a December 11th letter to Artsakh President Arkady Ghoukasian,
the two Caucus leaders welcomed the adoption of the first-ever
constitution as a key milestone in Nagorno Karabakh’s political and
democratic progress

Commenting on the referendum, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) stated,
"I congratulate the people of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
for reaffirming their commitment to freedom, peace, economic
development, and regional stability by democratically adopting a new
constitution. By establishing a market economy, holding free and
fair elections, and promoting human rights, the people of Nagorno
Karabagh have shown that they deserve an independent state free from
the oppressive Azerbaijani regime."

ARMENIA IS ONE OF THE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE A SMALL EXTERNAL DEBT
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
13/12/2006

In 2006 it will be 1 billion 261 million dollars

New economic bonds will be put out on January 16 next year, which
are designed for natural persons. The guest of Economic Journalists’
Club Arshaluys Margarian, head of external debt regulation department
at Finance and Economy Ministry, said 2 days ago. He noted that their
reimbursement deadline would be from 3 months till 25-30 years. But
the first putting out will be for 9 months or 1 year term. They will
be sold not by auction but by direct sell during a month.

To the basic subject which interested people about bonds profit
Arshaluys Margarian responded that they are a little low of bank
middle deposit rate. Now the rate is 7-7.5. Why low? As it is known,
the public bonds are out of competition and they have low profit
but they are guaranteed. Arshaluys Margarian stated that the first
edition would be in the amount of 100-150 million drams and then he
touched upon the main subject of the press conference about external
and internal debts service.

"We have the best credit portfolio", assured Arshaluys
Margarian. Credits acquired from the International Financial
Organizations are for 30-40 year deadline and they have 10 years
privileged term and almost without any rate. It does not make a serious
overload on the budget and Armenia is counted as one of the countries
with small external debt.

The GDP-the external debt correlation was 22 percent last year,
this year it will be 21 percent, next year 17 percent.

In 2006 according to 9 months results the Armenian external debt
is 1 billion 168 million dollars. In Arshaluys Margarian’s words,
it will be 1 billion 261 million dollars by the annual results. It
is expected that the external debt will increase till 1 bln 369 mln
dollars. Here are amounted the sums which the International Financial
Organizations according to the accepted decision is giving to Armenia.

How is the reimbursing of the external debt getting on? According
to Arshaluys Margarian, in 2006 Armenia has liquidated 16.8 million
dollars or 7 billion drams of the credit sum and 9 million dollars or
3.7 billion drams of rates. Next year it is expected to pay off 17.2
million dollar or 6.2 billion drams of the credit sum and 10 million
dollars or 3.6 billion drams of rates. The head of public debts
regulation department said that the greatest paying off would be in
20250-2026 years. Taking into consideration the study results made by
international organizations, he said that even at the worst (economic
recession till 2.5-3 percent, diminution of export and increasing of
import) Armenia would remain a country that has a small external debt.

As for to the internal debt it is 58 billion drams.

Only this year it became 7 billion drams.

HAPPIEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE
Susanna Balayan

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
11 Dec 2006

The recent concert of the chamber orchestra of Artsakh was dedicated
to the 85th anniversary of the famous composer, professor of Yerevan
State Conservatoire Edward Mirzoyan. Therefore, the program included
the pieces by the composer. The concert took place in a cheerful and
warm atmosphere thanks to the conductor and director of the orchestra
Gevorg Muradian and, of course, the fact that Edward Mirzoyan was
present in the hall. The composer expressed his gratefulness from
the stage. "This concert is one of the happiest moments of my life,"
he said. Speaker Ashot Ghulian awarded him the special memory medal
devoted to the 15th anniversary of the independence. The idea to
celebrate the anniversary of the outstanding composer was Gevorg
Muradian’s. "I think we passed this test. It was very exciting that
Mirzoyan heard the performance sitting in the hall. He has traveled
in the world but this concert is special for him because his works
were played in Artsakh. That’s why he was so excited, " said Gevorg
Muradian.

TURKEY SETS 1.5 TERMS FOR ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.12.2006 17:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Turkey has 1.5 terms for opening the
Armenian-Turkish border and normalization of relations between the two
states, these being the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
and formation of bilateral commission of historians on the events of
1915," Mensur Akgyun, head of the Foreign Policy program from TESEV
(Turkish economic and social studies foundation) stated in Yerevan. In
his words, Ankara enjoys special relations with Azerbaijan and would
not like to sacrifice them for normalization of relations with Armenia.

The Turkish political scientist remarked that presently the Turkish
public doesn’t deny the ‘tragedy of 1915.’ "I think that those events
do not match the Convention on Genocide adopted in 1948. Historians
should make out what really happened. The issue needs compromise,"
he said.

He considers that the Armenian-Turkish relations are not widely
discussed in Turkey. "Nevertheless Turkey should put an end to this
story by recognizing or not recognizing the events of 1915. We cannot
struggle against the whole world over the issue," he underscored
adding that Turkey is likely to appeal to the Hague International
Court to clarify the problem.

"Irrespectively of the court decision the issue will be removed from
the agenda," Mensur Akgyun said.

MEMORY EVENING DEDICATED TO GAREGIN NZHDE HELD IN KRASNODAR

Noyan Tapan
Dec 08 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The memory evening dedicated to
prominent Armenian military-political figure of XX century Garegin
Ter-Haroutiunian (Nzhde), the 120th birthday anniversary of who is
marked in 2006, was held on December 6 in Krasnodar. Representatives
of the Armenian intellectuals, clergymen and students of the capital
of Kuban took part in the event organized by the Pashkovsky Armenian
community of Krasnodar, with the information assistance of the
"Yerkramas" (country) newspaper of Armenians of Russia. The report
dedicated to Garegin Nzhde’s life and activity was accompanied by show
of photo and video materials. A discussion took place after the main
report, after which the gathered people made a decision to found a
Historic Club attached to the Pashkovsky Armenian community, within
the framework of activity of which events, connected with different
periods of the Armenian people’s history, will be regularly held.

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER INTENSIFIES TELEPHONE DIPLOMACY BEFORE SUMMIT
By Suleyman Kurt, Ankara

Zaman, Turkey
Dec 7 2006

Ankara’s diplomatic efforts continue as the EU leaders summit
approaches. The summit is critical for Turkey as the EU leaders are
going to make a decision about the future of Turkey’s accession talks.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul had telephone conversations yesterday
evening with German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier,
Finnish Foreign mMnister Erkki Tuomioja and Czech Foreign Minister
Cyril Svoboda.

Gul told them that the European Union should, "think big and act
strategically," in making a decision on Turkey.

Gul’s telephone diplomacy attracts attention particularly after the
"deadline recommendation" made by French President Jacques Chirac
and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Conspicuously, Abdullah Gul contacted his German counterpart whereas
he did not call his French counterpart.

Additionally, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan shared his
opinions only with the German leader.

Although this issue is associated with Ankara’s policy of "maintaining
relations at a low level" in the aftermath of the Armenian genocide
bill’s passage in the French National Assembly, spokesman for
the foreign ministry Namik Tan said: "Of course our meetings will
continue. The EU issue is another matter."

PRESS RELEASE
Mousa Ler Association of California
P. O. Box 4358
Glendale, CA 91222
Contact: Hratch Kadian
Tel: (818) 415-0762
Web:

Mousa Ler Association of California has organized a
cultural event to express the community’s gratitude
and appreciation to AGBU for its assistance of Musa
Daghian refugees in 1915. The event is free of
admission charges, and it will take place on Saturday,
December 16, 2006 at the Glendale Central Library (222
E. Harvard Street, Glendale, CA).

AGBU is one of the world’s largest non-profit Armenian
organization established in 1906 in Egypt, for the
preservation and promotion of the Armenian identity
and heritage. It has helped the Genocide survivors and
has touched the lives of millions of Armenians for a
century. In particular, it has played a crucial role
in the lives of the people of Moussa Ler during their
four years as refugees in Egypt, where, following
their heroic resistance against the Turkish Army in
1915, they were transported by the French Navy. During
this period, the AGBU was instrumental in providing
educational and social assistance to over 4000 Moussa
Lertsy refugees. It was through the benevolence of the
AGBU that the ~SSisvan~T school was established under
tents for the educational needs of the youth. The AGBU
also lent a hand of assistance to the people of Moussa
Ler upon their return to Moussa Ler in 1919. The AGBU
assistance continued during the early years of Ainjar.

The Moussa Ler Association of California would like to
express its gratitude and appreciation to the AGBU, by
organizing a cultural event that will be held on
Saturday, December 16, 2006 at 8 PM in the Glendale
Public Library (222 E Harvard St). An exhibit of
photographs depicting the lives of Moussa Lertsies in
Egypt and a presentation by Dr. Vahram Shemmassian of
California State University at Northridge (CSUN) will
highlight the evening.

We would like to invite the public to attend this
event and participate in expressing our deepest
gratitude and appreciation for all the assistance and
leadership the AGBU has shown to the Armenians all
over the world, and especially to the people of Moussa
Ler.

For more Information Please call Hratch Kadian at
(818) 415-0762

CHAKHALYAN RELEASED ON PROBATION

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 5 2006

"The Republic of Armenia is the homeland of all Armenians. I have
always stated and I am repeating that I have never and I will never
break the law but I will be struggling that the representatives of
the law act in accordance with it, because the law is for everyone,"
stated Vahagn Chakhalyan, a member of the United Javakheti Democratic
Alliance and the chair of the Javakheti Youth Sport and Culture
Society, during his trial on December 4.

The witnesses, Vahagn Chakhalyan’s mother Gayaneh Chakhalyan and friend
Gurgen Shirinyants, who arrived in Yerevan with Vahagn Chakhalyan
on October 10, said it is impossible to cross the Georgian-Armenian
border illegally, and if it is impossible to record false information
at the customs office, the car was registered at the customs office.

The witnesses said the target of this assault and arrest was Vahagn;
they wanted to keep Vahagn away from Javakheti. The court gave
Chakhalyan a 1.5 year probation sentence.

ARMENIA FOR FIRST TIME TO TAKE PART IN PARIS INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXHIBITION

Noyan Tapan
Dec 06 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia for the first time will
take part in the Salon Mondial Du Tourisme international tourism
exhibition to take place on 2007 March 15-18 in Paris. Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed about it by Susanna Azoyan, Director
on Marketing of Tourism Development Armenian Agency. In her words,
the Tourism Development Armenian Agency will provide its visitors
exhaustive information about Armenia’s tourism abilities and Armenian
travel companies will present their tour packages. S.Azoyan said that
Armenian tourism abilities have been already presented to French
specialists at the Armenian-French Economic Forum held on November
23 in Marseilles. In her words, the French side has inquired about
the policy carried on by Armenia in the sphere of tourism and its
investment abilities. "French businessmen wish to make investments
in Armenia especially in the sphere of winter tourism and they are
interested whether there is another place for tourism development
in Armenia except Tsakhkadzor," the representative of the Tourism
Development Armenian Agency said.