Author: Jilavian Emma

THE FINANCIAL TIMES: THAW IN ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.11.2008 15:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A thaw emerged in relations with Armenia after
the presidents of the two countries pledged to find a political
settlement to their 15-year conflict over the breakaway enclave of
Nagorno Karabakh, The Financial Times reports.

"Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, and his Armenian
counterpart, Serzh Sargsyan held talks about Nagorno Karabakh at
a meeting outside Moscow this weekend hosted by Dmitry Medvedev,
the Russian President.

The three men signed a declaration agreeing to intensify diplomatic
efforts to resolve the dispute over Nagorno Karabakh and to develop
confidence building measures in the region.

Western diplomats said the war in August between Russia and Georgia
appeared to have given impetus to diplomatic efforts to resolve the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Azerbaijan has grown prosperous amid an oil boom, and has stepped up
defense spending recently. However, the country has abandoned threats
to retake Nagorno Karabakh by force since the war in Georgia.

Armenia is willing to consider returning to Azerbaijan some territories
surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh captured during the war, but insists
that the autonomy of Nagorno Karabakh itself is not negotiable,"
the article says.

G. GHARIBJANIAN TO TAKE PART IN THE WORKS OF 32nd SESSION OF BSEC PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

ARMENPRESS
Nov 3, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Armenian deputy foreign minister
Gegham Gharibjanian left today for Kishinev where he will take part
in the works of 32nd session of Parliamentary Assembly of Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (BSEC) on November 4.

Press service of Armenian Foreign Ministry told Armenpress that the
deputy will deliver speech during the session

BARACK OBAMA REAFFIRMS PLEDGE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

ArmInfo
2008-11-03 16:46:00

ArmInfo. With just days left to the crucial November 4th presidential
elections, the Obama-Biden campaign reaffirmed its commitment to
Armenian Genocide recognition and a strong U.S.- Armenia relationship,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

A statement titled "Barack Obama: Supporting U.S.-Armenia Relations,"
relayed to Armenians for Obama Chairman Areen Ibranossian earlier today
as well as the ANCA, affirms that "The Armenian Genocide, carried out
by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulted in the deportation
of nearly 2 million Armenians, and approximately 1.5 million of those
deported were killed. Barack Obama believes we must recognize this
tragic reality and strongly supports a U.S.-Armenian relationship that
advances our common security and strengthens Armenian democracy." The
statement goes on to note "Barack Obama strongly supports passage of
the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106) and will
recognize the Armenian Genocide."

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE

November 02, 2008
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY ENCOURAGED BY NAGORNO KARABAKH PRINCIPLES SIGNED BY
PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN AND RUSSIA

Washington, DC – Earlier today, the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
signed a joint declaration with respect to the Nagorno Karabakh peace
process, which took place under the auspices of Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev in Moscow, along with the U.S. and French Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Co-Chairs Matt Bryza and
Bernard Fassier, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).

This marks the first time since the 1994 truce, which established a
cease-fire that such an agreement has been signed by the parties. The
core of the document commits the parties to the OSCE peaceful political
process. Medvedev stated that this "will facilitate the improvement of
the situation in the South Caucasus and establishment of stability and
security in the region."

In the wake of the August 2008 conflict in Georgia, decreasing oil
prices, global financial instability and the intensified Karabakh
negotiations under the leadership of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan,
this is an important development. Azerbaijan’s initial reaction to the
outbreak of hostilities in South Ossetia was to call for a similar
attack against the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

The joint declaration is significant because it marks a break from
Azerbaijan’s recalcitrant stance and increased war rhetoric, including
President Ilham Aliyev’s recent statement that "the war is not over,
only the first stage has ended and we are ready to liberate our lands at
any moment." The recommitment to the OSCE framework rules out a military
solution as repeatedly espoused by Azerbaijan and will hopefully mark an
end to Azerbaijan’s war rhetoric, which also resurfaced in mid-October
during and after the Presidential election in Azerbaijan.

"The Armenian Assembly commends President Serzh Sargsyan and his
Administration for securing a public, legal commitment from Azerbaijan
to adhere to the OSCE process," stated Hirair Hovnanian, Assembly
Chairman of the Board of Trustees. "The Assembly has consistently
believed that whatever the final outcome to the peace process is, that
it must be acceptable to the people of Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia, and
President Sargsyan has called for active public debate based on the
interests of the Armenian people. The brave people of Nagorno Karabakh
have fiercely defended their homeland and have made the ultimate
sacrifice. Under President Sargsyan’s steady hand, Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh have stood firm in the face of adversity as Azerbaijan sought
to purge our people from our ancestral homeland, and inexplicably
continues its saber-rattling rhetoric," continued Hovnanian.

In the late 1980s, Nagorno Karabakh began its peaceful and legal
movement for independence pursuant to Soviet law. Azerbaijan’s solution
was to attempt to eliminate the problem by wiping out the Armenians of
Nagorno Karabakh and in Azerbaijan, including progroms in Sumgait and
Baku that targeted Armenians, Russians and Jews. A cease-fire was
brokered in 1994, of which since that time, there have been numerous
proposals put forward to resolve the conflict, including the 2001 "Key
West" talks, which Armenia accepted and Azerbaijan backed away from. A
proposal in 2007 was leaked to the media and only served to embolden
Aliyev’s bellicose actions, whose country used windfall oil profits to
finance a massive military build up and continues its attempt to isolate
Armenia through pipeline by-pass routes and other means. For a
comprehensive summary of the historical issues with respect to Nagorno
Karabakh, please follow the link below to "Nagorno Karabagh – A White
Paper."
/aaainc/pdf_2008/Nagorno_Karabakh_-_A_Whi
te_Paper .pdf

Any resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict must take into account
the facts on the ground, ensure the legitimate safety and security needs
of Karabakh’s citizenry, as well as the right to self-determination. The
Assembly has been critically involved with the Nagorno Kabarakh movement
from the beginning. The Assembly notes that the opposition in Armenia
had suspended its activities to allow for this development to take
place, as well as developments with respect to Turkey-Armenia relations.

The Assembly also recalls the support of the United States for the
fundamental rights and the aspirations of the people of Nagorno Karabakh
and for a peaceful and fair settlement as evidenced by passage of
S.J.Res. 178 in the U.S. Senate, as well as, other statements and
actions taken by the U.S. Congress over the last 20 years, including
passage of Assembly-initiated Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act,
which restricted assistance to Azerbaijan until it ceased its hostile
and offensive actions, as well as humanitarian assistance to help the
people of Artsakh rebuild after the devastating effects of the war that
was thrust upon them by Azerbaijan. In addition, to help facilitate the
peace process, the U.S. Congress consistently allocated funds for
confidence building measures (CBMs) among the parties, which were
routinely rejected by Azerbaijan. Instead of pursuing CBMs, the
Azerbaijani military desecrated a centuries old Armenian cemetery in
Julfa. The Christian cemetery dated back to medieval times and was
filled with scores of historic stone monuments engraved with ancient
crosses of historic Armenian design.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

###

NR # 2008-079

Editor’s Note: For a comprehensive summary of the historical issues with
respect to Nagorno Karabakh, please follow the link below to "Nagorno
Karabagh – A White Paper."
c/pdf_2008/Nagorno_Karabakh_-_A_Whi
te_Paper.pdf

PanARMENIAN.Net

Ali Babacan: Turkey to do everything in its power to normalize
situation in the region
01.11.2008 16:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ali Babacan voiced
optimism that long-running disputes between Turkey and Armenia, and
Armenia and Azerbaijan can be resolved and that Turkey is determined
to push forward in the interests of regional peace.

"These two tracks could move fast because there is good political
will," Babacan said at a meeting of the World Economic Forum in
Istanbul.

"Imagine a region in which you have totally new relations between
Azerbaijan and Armenia, and Armenia and Turkey. The consequences for
trade, for communications, for transport, for energy and the
opportunities are huge, so we will do our best to normalize the
situation as soon as possible," Babacan said.

Babacan said Friday that the recent events in Georgia increased the
incentive and need for regional cooperation and said that Turkey was
ready to use its perceived position as a "balancing power" to
contribute to peace and stability, ANS Turkish TV channel reported.

News Chief, FL
Nov 1 2008

How much does God love His Christians?

BY GUY FISHER
Guest columnist

"Think what great love the Father has lavished on us!" (1 John 3:1)

First, God revealed that He loved the world (kosmos: all human beings)
so much that He gave His uniquely born Beloved Son as a sacrificial
offering for all (1 John 2:2). This meant that Jesus Christ would bear
the wrath of God on the cruel Tree to make atonement for our sin.

Anyone who responds in faith to Jesus Christ is instantly transformed
from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son. (John
3:16; 5:24).

Next, God reveals that He loves true Israel with an everlasting
love. Indeed, a primary reason for which the Son of God came into this
world as the Son of Man, was to manifest Himself, in person, to Israel
as their Messiah and King.

Christ declared: "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel… to
confirm God’s covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." (Matthew
15:24; Romans 15:8). These promises, hundreds of them, will be
literally fulfilled at His second advent.

Then, God revealed that He loves with an unconditional and eternal
love (agape) all those who put their faith in His Son. All who become
members of His body are "blessed with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenlies, and are given everything necessary for life and
godliness…" (Ephesians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:3).

This endowment is given to every believer in the Church Age, bar
none. This is God’s genuine equality which only grace
provides. Provided, but sadly little exploited by us to the full,
because we fail to seriously "grow in the grace and knowledge of
Christ … and thus become mature."

The edified believer basics in God’s love promise which pledges: "He
(God, the Father) who spared not His Son … will He not with Him give
us all things … All things are yours … so that in all things at
all times, having all we need, we will abound in every good work."

These are foundational doctrines. God’s gifts and promises stagger
us. "We are loved by God the Father and kept (secure) in Jesus Christ
by Him" (not ourselves!). Lets travel a step further.

First, a brief preface: Almighty God is one God, manifested in three
persons. All three persons: Father, Son and Spirit are perfect in
truth, purpose, agreement, fellowship and love toward each other.

Listen to the Son: "I always do those things which please the Father
… I and the Father are one … If you have seen Me, you have seen
the Father."

Listen to the Father: "Jesus Christ is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am
well-pleased … the Son of my love … My chosen One in whom my soul
delights."

How much does the Father love His Son? It is immeasurable, but
perfect, unconditional, unchanging and eternal. No one can ever
discover any deficiency in that perfect love.

Now, attention! How much does God love those who put their faith in
His Son? Listen closely, this will overwhelm. On the eve of His
betrayal and murder at the hands of men, the Son prayed to His
Father. Zero in on this incredible revelation.

"You (Father) have loved them (those who believe in Christ) even as
you have loved Me." If this doesn’t send a spiritual lightning bolt
cascading through your soul – you’ve been on pabulum, instead of solid
food!

"Wake up, 0′ sleeper!" (Ephesians 5:14). God tells us that He loves
those who trust in His Son even as He loves His Beloved Son! This is
not a matter of feelings, experiences or signs and wonders. It is
simply faith in facts!

The Apostle John puts it like this: "Not that we loved God, but that
He loved us! And, so we know and rely on the love God has for us!" We
do not rely on self for anything. God teaches endlessly, that the one
trusting in self is a fool.

This glad truth totally dismantles the Armenian notion of salvation
insecurity. Such a thought contradicting God’s unconditional and
eternal love is unworthy of the least of His saints.

Our Lord now reveals the outcome of simply believing His Word. Listen
to this promise! If we but simply believe His promise, we "will have
the full measure of His joy within us." This is a breathtaking truth.

"But," the weak believer asks, "It is not working for me. I don’t
rejoice all the time. I still worry, doubt, fear for the family,
country, economy, future. Why is my faith so weak?"

Our Lord gives the reason and the solution for this common
malady. What is the master key which unlocks the door to abundant
life, joy and gratitude?

"I gave them your Word (in order for believers) to have the full
measure of my joy within them." This is the key to set us free from
self’s weaknesses. "If you continue in my Word, you will know the
truth, and be set free!"

Failure to experience the treasures of God’s endowment is always due
to neglect of His Word. (Beware: Wrongly dividing His Word by applying
Christ’s message for another Age, say the Age of Law (Mosaic) or the
Age of the future Kingdom, instead of the Mystery doctrine of the
Church Age will cause endless confusion.)

First, God "gave them eternal life." Then follows, "Sanctify (set
apart from self to God) by thy truth. Your Word is truth (doctrinal
absolutes)."

This is always the solution to every problem. "My people are destroyed
because of the lack of knowledge (of sound doctrine)." "The
complacency of fools (not listening to all my Words) will destroy
them. But, listen, and you will be kept safe." This is reiterated
countless times in countless ways.

What more could we ask for? "Increase my faith, Lord!" Again, the
identical cure is prescribed. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by
the Word of God." This is the church’s ("the pillar and foundation of
the truth") priority! Everything else of value flows from this: Grace
and Truth!

Our Lord commands: "Man shall live (not merely read), but live by
every Word of God. There are more than 770,000 words in God’s
completed Book. We’d better get crackin’!

"The Lord direct your hearts into God’s love" (1 Thessalonians 3:5)

Guy Fisher is a retired pastor and a resident of Lake Wales.

NEWS/811010344/1022/LIVING?Title=How_much_does_God _love_His_Christians_

Wireless News
October 28, 2008 Tuesday

Comstar Deploys Airspan equipment in Armenian WiMAX Network

Airspan Networks,a provider of WiMAX-based broadband wireless access
networks, announced that an official ceremony was held in Yerevan, the
capital of Armenia, to launch Comstar’s nation-wide, WiMAX
communications network powered by Airspan equipment.

At the ceremony, Comstar’s CEO presented Airspan’s MiMAX Q-Series USB
devices to Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev and President of
Armenia, Serge Sarkisyan.

Comstar, an integrated telecommunications provider in Russia and CIS,
has deployed Airspan’s WiMAX equipment to create a combined fixed and
mobile network. The network, which currently comprises 24 base
stations, covers Yerevan and 18 additional cities, offering Armenian
residents and businesses high-speed Internet, VoIP, video conferencing
and mobile services.

During the ceremony, the Presidents of both States participated in a
real-time two-way video conference with a medical diagnostics center
and were briefed on a pilot deployment for mobile WiMAX in the city of
Armavir. Both the video link and the mobile deployment are enabled via
Mobile WiMAX links supported by Airspan’s EasyST indoor subscriber
stations.

Sergey Pridantsev, President and Chief Executive Officer of Comstar
UTS, said, "This national WiMAX network is a unique project for
Armenia, and one of the first projects of its kind worldwide. Airspan
was able to supply us with a superior solution to meet our
requirements, enabling us to deliver modern communications services
that help improve quality of life as well as bring telephony services
and broadband internet access to some homes for the first time ever."

"We are very proud to partner with Comstar in such a revolutionary
project," stated Anders Rendahl, Airspan’s Senior Vice President &
General Manager EMEA. "The attendance of the Presidents of Russia and
Armenia to this ceremony only highlights the importance of the
life-changing effects a network such as this can have on a country
like Armenia. We look forward to further expansion of the Comstar
network in 2009 and to continuing to help revolutionize fixed and
mobile communications in this important and growing economy."

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
October 31, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

OBAMA REAFFIRMS PLEDGE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

— ANCA Welcomes latest Obama-Biden Statement Calling for Strong
U.S.-Armenia Relationship

WASHINGTON, DC – With just days left to the crucial November 4th
presidential elections, the Obama-Biden campaign reaffirmed its
commitment to Armenian Genocide recognition and a strong U.S.-
Armenia relationship, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).

A statement titled "Barack Obama: Supporting U.S.-Armenia
Relations," relayed to Armenians for Obama Chairman Areen
Ibranossian earlier today as well as the ANCA, affirms that "The
Armenian Genocide, carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to
1923, resulted in the deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians,
and approximately 1.5 million of those deported were killed. Barack
Obama believes we must recognize this tragic reality and strongly
supports a U.S.-Armenian relationship that advances our common
security and strengthens Armenian democracy." The statement goes on
to note "Barack Obama strongly supports passage of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106) and will recognize
the Armenian Genocide."

"The ANCA welcomes further reaffirmation of Barack Obama’s strong
commitment to issues of concern to the Armenian American community,
including proper recognition of the Armenian Genocide and fostering
a strong U.S.-Armenia relationship," stated ANCA Executive Director
Aram Hamparian. "ANCA chapters and activists across the U.S. will
continue, in these last days, to work hard for the Obama-Biden
ticket and the candidacies of the large number of Senators and
Representatives who have supported Armenian American concerns."

The Obama-Biden statement comes amid a flurry of reports in the
Turkish press regarding a meeting that supposedly took place over
the last several days between a senior Turkish official, Ahmet
Davutoglu, and a representative of the Obama-Biden Campaign, after
which Davutoglu called into question Obama’s commitment to this
core human rights issue.

Last week, the ANCA formalized its longstanding support for Barack
Obama with an official endorsement of the Obama-Biden campaign for
the Presidency of the United States. The ANCA had first endorsed
Sen. Obama in January, 2008, leading up to the critical super-
Tuesday primary elections.

To read the ANCA endorsement of the Obama-Biden ticket and review
all supporting documents of his candidacy, visit:
tes/102408_election.php

As always, the ANCA welcomes feedback on its service to the
Armenian American community. Please forward your thoughts and
suggestions about the 2008 Presidential election by email to
[email protected].

The complete text of the latest Obama-Biden campaign statement is
provided below.

#####

BARACK OBAMA: SUPPORTING U.S.-ARMENIA RELATIONS

The Armenian Genocide, carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915
to 1923, resulted in the deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians,
and approximately 1.5 million of those deported were killed. Barack
Obama believes we must recognize this tragic reality and strongly
supports a U.S.-Armenian relationship that advances our common
security and strengthens Armenian democracy.

Recognition of the Armenian Genocide: Barack Obama shares with
Armenian Americans a principled commitment to ending genocide. That
starts with acknowledging the tragic instances of genocide in world
history. As a senator, Obama has stood with the Armenian American
community in calling for Turkey’s acknowledgement of the Armenian
Genocide. He criticized the Secretary of State two years ago for
the firing of the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, after he
used the term "genocide" to describe Turkey’s slaughter of
thousands of Armenians starting in 1915. Obama wrote that the
Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a
point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an
overwhelming body of historical evidence.

Barack Obama strongly supports passage of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106) and will recognize the
Armenian Genocide.

Genocide Prevention: The U.S. and the entire global community must
remember the past and learn from these crimes against humanity to
make sure that they never happen again. Sadly, genocide persists
today and threatens our common security and common humanity. In
Sudan, we are witnessing many of the same brutal tactics –
displacement, starvation, and mass slaughter – that were used by
the Ottoman authorities against Armenians in 1915. Obama has been a
leading voice urging the Bush administration to take stronger steps
to end the genocide in Sudan. He traveled to the United Nations to
meet with Sudanese officials, visited refugee camps on the Chad-
Sudan border, pushed for the deployment of a robust multinational
force for Darfur, and urged divestment from companies doing
business in Sudan.

Commitment to Armenian Americans: Barack Obama has a strong record
on issues of concern to the 1.5 million Americans of Armenian
heritage in the United States. As president, Obama will maintain
our assistance to Armenia, which has been a reliable partner in the
fight against terrorism and extremism. An Obama administration will
help foster Armenia’s growth and development through expanded trade
and targeted aid. He will also strengthen the commercial,
political, military, developmental, and cultural relationships
between the U.S. and Armenian governments. Obama will continue his
active engagement with Armenian American leaders on the full range
of issues of concern to the Armenian American community to build
upon the enduring ties and shared values that have bound together
the American and Armenian peoples for more than a century.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Armenia attaches importance to Russia-NATO Council revival
31.10.2008 15:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Head of Armenia’s mission to NATO Samvel Lazarian
attended a round table discussion on Russia-NATO relations initiated
by EastWest Institute in Brussels on October 28, the RA MFA press
office reported.

Addressing the attendees (diplomats, representatives of analytical
centers and media), Samvel Lazarian attached importance to revive the
Russia-NATO Council.

Interfax News Agency, Russia
Oct 27 2008

Yerevan recognizes OSCE Minsk Group as format for Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement

YEREVAN Oct 27

Armenia favors a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
on the basis of Madrid principles, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
said.

"The Armenian side recognizes the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group as a format for the Nagorno-
Karabakh settlement, and OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing nations as
mediators," Sargsyan told EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby as cited by the president’s press service on
Monday.

Semneby welcomed this initiative and Armenian resolve to settle its
relations with Turkey.

The EU should contribute to better relations between the two
countries, Semneby said.