Author: Kafian Jirair

CHAIRMAN OF ARMENIAN SOCIAL INSURANCE FUND CALLS NECESSARY PENSION DISTRIBUTION TERM LIMITATION

arminfo
2007-08-06 17:00:00

The limitation of pension distribution term is a measure of necessity;
Chairman of the Social Insurance Fund of Armenia Vazgen Khachikyan
said commenting on pension distribution term restriction to 15 days
at VTB Armenia Bank branches.

He said the legislation provides for pension distribution within
the following months. At the same time, the Fund has achieved the
establishment of a month term. V. Khachikyan said pensions are
distributed within 3 days to meet schedule. At the same time he is
surprised that Haypost offices distribute pensions within 7 days and
VTB Armenia Bank branched demand prolongation of the term.

As regards regulation of the pension distribution through VTB Armenia
Bank regional branches, V. Khachikyan said the bank is a business
structure and has a right to extend or cut its branches. "A citizen
chooses the structure to get his pension from," he said. However,
some pensioners prefer receiving pensions just from the branches of
the above bank to avoid monthly 200-500 AMD hidden charges by regional
social service employees.

To recall, The A.D. Sakharov Armenian Human Rights Protection Center
NGO intends to apply to the European Court to assert the right of
public organizations to protect the infringed rights of Armenian
pensioners at Armenian courts. Pensioners were deprived of their right
to receive pensions on any day convenient to them yet in 2006 after the
State Social Insurance Fund of Armenia and VTB Bank Armenia agreed on
limitation of the pension distribution term to 12 days. Over 525,000
pensioners currently reside in Armenia. The number of the employed
is 1 million 80 thousand people.

FORTY FIVE DRIVERS FIRED BECAUSE OF SMOKING

Panorama.am
18:55 06/08/2007

Forty-five mini bus drivers have been sacked in the course of this
year because of smoking. Citizens have made about 350 calls at hot
line 39-16-53 announced by municipality. All drivers were punished,
Karen Yedigaryan, Director of Yerevantrans, told a briefing today.

In his words, drivers who are dismissed for smoking cannot work in
the same field. As the first warning, drivers are notified followed
by a fine of 25,000 drams and a dismissal.

CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION TO BE LED BY REPRESENTATIVE OF RA PRESIDENT

Noyan Tapan
Aug 06 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The newly-composed Central Electoral
Commission assumed its competences on August 6. Garegin Azarian,
the representative of the RA President, was elected Chairman of the
Commission, Haroutiun Shahbazian, a representative of the "Bargavatch
Hayastan" (Prosperous Armenia) party, was elected Deputy Chairman
of the Commission, and Abram Bakhchagulian, a representative of the
Republican Party of Armenia, was elected Secretary of the Commission
in the maiden sitting, which took place on the same day. The latters
were the only people nominated for the above-mentioned posts.

It has been the third time since 2003 that Garegin Azarian was
elected Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission. He was born in
1961. He has graduated from the Polytechnical Institute of Yerevan
(University of Architecture, at present). He is an engineer-electrician
by profession and a second-class justice advisor.

Haroutiun Shahbazian was born in 1976. He has graduated from
the Yerevan State University of Economics. He is an economist by
profession. He worked in the municipality of Yerevan, in the RA
Ministry of Energy, and in the "Multi-Group" concern. He was the Head
of the "Gagik Tsarukian" charitable fund before being appointed member
of the Central Electoral Commission.

Abram Bakhchagulian was born in 1977. He has graduated from the
State University of Economics of Armenia. He has been a candidate of
economics and is teaching in the same university. Between 2003 and 2005
he worked as assistant to the RA Prime Minister. He was the Deputy
Chairman of the former personnel of the Central Electoral Commission
between 2005 and 2007. He has been a member of the Republican Party
of Armenia since 2002.

It should be mentioned that according to the amendments of the RA
Electoral Code, the first sitting of the Central Electoral Commission
was conducted by Hamlet Abrahamian, the Secretary of the former Central
Electoral Commission and a representative of the ARF Dashnaktsutiun,
who was the oldest member of the Commission. He wished success to the
newly-elected management "in this very difficult but, at the same time,
thankless task."

EXTRA: CONFUSION PREVAILS IN RESULTS OF BY-ELECTIONS

Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Germany
August 5, 2007 Sunday 8:15 PM EST
Beirut

DPA POLITICS Lebanon Elections EXTRA: Confusion prevails in results
of by-elections Beirut A pro-government candidate easily won a seat
in the Lebanese Parliament, based on initial reports late Sunday,
but confusion remained over the outcome of a second key by-election.

Unofficial results showed Mohammad Amin Itani won by a large margin
the Sunni Muslim seat in a Beirut district vacated by the June

13 assassination of parliament member Walid Eido.

But the result of a heated race to win the Maronite Christian seat in
the Metn region, left empty after the assassination of Pierre Gemayel
in November 2006, was still unclear as both candidates claimed their
victory.

Hardline Christian leader Michel Aoun, an ally of the opposition
led by the Shiite militant movement Hezbollah, announced that his
candidate had won the election.

A few minutes later, Lebanese former president Amin Gemayel claimed
victory for himself in the seat and declared, "There was a major
forgery in areas controlled by the Armenians (allies of Aoun), and
we demand the elections to be repeated in this district."

The vote in the Christian Metn district is a prelude to the upcoming
presidential elections between the ruling coalition and the opposition,
weeks before Parliament was due to elect a Maronite head of state to
replace the current pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud in November.

In the Metn area, former Amin Gemayel is seeking his slain son’s
seat on behalf of the ruling party, against candidate Camille Khoury,
loyal to Aoun.

"I call on the people of Metn to vote for the late Pierre Gemayel,"
Amin Gemayel said Sunday.

For the last week, tensions have been high in Metn, and several clashes
have been reported between Aoun and Gemayel supporters in the area.

Amin Gemayel and his anti-Syrian camp have accused Damascus of
masterminding the assassination of his son and several other anti-
Syrian politicians in the last two years.

The anti-Syrian ruling majority believes that Syria through its allies
in Lebanon is trying to reduce their numbers in parliament to regain
influence over Lebanon. Damascus has denied such allegations.

Shortly after the announcements by the Christian candidates, their
supporters started gathering in the Jedidah area in Christian East
Beirut, where ballots were being counted.

The rival factions were facing each other, and tensions were high as
the Army tried to prevent violence and separate the two groups.

CHEMICAL PLANT IN VANADZOR CONCLUDES FIRST EXPORT AGREEMENT

Armenpress
Aug 06 2007

VANADZOR, AUGUST 6, ARMENPRESS: A chemical plant in Armenia’s
third-largest town of Vanadzor has reached an export agreement, the
first after it resumed its work after standing idle for years. The
agreement was signed recently by Alexander Snegirev, chief manager
of the chemical plant and Varoun Seigal, president of an Indian Sigel
Trading Corporation.

Under this agreement the Armenian plant will ship to India 6,000 tons
of carbide.

Regional governor Aram Kocharian, (Vanadzor is the administrative
center of northeastern province of Lori), told Armenpress that the
plant’s management is working hard now to resume production of ammonium
and melamine.

MATTHEW BRYZA: IT WOULD BE SHAMEFUL IF MINSK PROCESS STOPPED

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.08.2007 13:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Any resolution on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
must be compromise. After the June meeting between the presidents
of both countries in St. Petersburg it was not clear if the sides
want to search for a compromise solution. But then I felt that the
leaders still intend to continue works in the framework of the Minsk
process," US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs, OSCE Minsk Group American Co-Chair Matthew Bryza
stated in Baku. He said, "it would be shameful if the Minsk process
stopped after so many years. We need to use the remaining time before
elections in order to finish the formation of basic principles. Those
principles must be in the framework of the Helsinki act, which will
lead to a peaceful resolution".

Speaking about the latest consultations with OSCE MG Co-Chairs in
Moscow the American mediator underlined, "Yesterday my colleagues
expressed interesting ideas, which have emerged after the
St. Petersburg meeting.

There are only a few complicated moments in this process, which need
to be solved and which can be resolved. Only decision of leaders
is necessary. The Minsk Group can only offer, but the sides are
to decide".

As to Co-Chairs’ visit to Nagorno Karabakh via Azerbaijani territory,
he said, "It is purely a technical issue". "We need to consult
with experts on security issues. Only after consultations it will
be possible to speak about it," the American diplomat said. Bryza
one more time stressed that the Minsk Group countries recognize "the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan", APA reports. "The territorial
integrity is one of the principles, which is reflected in the Helsinki
act. The other two principles are non-use of force and the right to
self-determination and not independence. Self-determination may mean
a lot. The difficulty for al of us -leaders of conflicting countries,
Co-Chairs and nations, is to find a compromise on these issues. But
I believe it is possible to find them. We are close to them. Both
sides must sacrifice something in order to get something," Matthew
Bryza underscored.

EBRD HOPES FOR COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA’S PRIVATE SECTOR

ARKA News Agency
Aug 3 2007
Armenia

YEREVAN, August 3. /ARKA/. European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development hopes for cooperation with Armenia’s private sector,
Michael Weinstein, head of EBRD Yerevan Resident Office, said Friday
at a news conference.

He said that the EBRD is manly focused on former Soviet Union
republics, Caucasus, Central Asia and Mongolia.

Weinstein also said that activity enlargement in Armenia is a part
of the bank’s strategy, since growing economy creates greater demand
for financial means, credits and investments.

He said the bank’s key focus is private sector development, for which
90% of EBRD financing for Armenia was allocated.

Weinstein said that EBRD also hopes for enlargement of cooperation
with Armenian banks and non-banking sector.

He said that the EBRD participation in Armenia’s non-banking sector,
particularly in network of supermarkets show intensive development
of this business.

The head of EBRD Yerevan Office hopes that the bank’s work in Armenia
will be more successful in 2007 than in 2006.

"We’d like to embrace also other sectors of financial market – leasing
and factoring – and provide support to stock exchange development",
Weinstein said.

Armenia joined EBRD on December 7, 1992 with EUR 10 million.

The EBRD holds 25% of Armeconombank’s shares + 1 share from Dec 2004.

EBRD is also among Hytex Plastic CJSC, Shen-Concern CJSC Tamara Fruit,
Licvor companies and Star supermarkets network shareholders.

The bank has invested $15mln in these companies.

In 2006, the EBRD-provided financing in Armenia reached the record
high – about EUR 40mln. Twelve projects were implemented in 2006.

The bank’s credit portfolio in Armenia exceeds $100mln now.

KARSH RETURNS `IN SPIRIT’ TO CHATEAU LAURIER SUITE
Isobel Warren is a Newmarket-based freelance writer

Toronto Star, Canada
8
Aug 2 2007

Hotel pays tribute to Canada’s famed photographer who was a resident
for 18 years

Aug 02, 2007 04:30 AM Isobel Warren Special to the Star

OTTAWA-"When the famous start thinking of immortality, they call for
Karsh of Ottawa," a writer once commented.

Now the legendary photographer is close to immortality himself.

His iconic portraits – Winston Churchill, Pierre Trudeau, Albert
Einstein, British royalty and international stars of politics and
culture – hang in permanent collections in major galleries worldwide.

Many are also prominently displayed in Ottawa’s Fairmont Château
Laurier where Yousuf Karsh and his wife, Estrellita, lived for
18 years.

Mrs. Karsh recently returned to the Château to unveil a collection
of Karsh photos in Suite 358, now designated the Karsh Suite.

A visit from Mrs. Karsh is cause for celebration, "like welcoming a
long-absent family member back home," said Château general manager
Claude Sauve.

"Over the course of our history, the Karshes truly became part of
the Fairmont Château Laurier family."

Mrs. Karsh agreed.

"It was a wonderful apartment; we loved being there," she said. "And
more than anything, we loved being in the Château."

The couple moved to Boston in 2000 and Karsh died there in 2002. He
was 93.

The Karsh Suite is a memorial but not a museum. It is rented just
like any other room in the hotel though the price tag ($1,800 a night)
tends to set it apart.

For business travellers, the spacious drawing room adjoining a
dining-cum-boardroom plus kitchen, bedroom, two bathrooms, loads
of cupboards and a prestigious address at Sussex and Wellington
are appealing.

The Château was built in 1912 but the section containing this and
three other "presidential suites" dates from 1929.

Exquisite wood and plaster mouldings accent each room and frame the
living room fireplace.

The wondrously archaic kitchen ("they didn’t do much cooking,"
explained a Château staffer) boasts its original leather floor –
10-centimetre tiles of forest green and tan – and a massive antique
refrigerator.

A modern whirlpool tub dominates the bathroom alongside a daunting
marble-lined shower with three tiers of jets.

A collection of rare Karsh books, a DVD special of the artist’s work
and many other personal touches complete the decor.

The collection includes portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Karsh, a solo picture
of Mrs. Karsh, Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, George Bernard Shaw,
Barbara Ann Scott, Shirley Tabb, Grey Owl and Karen Kain.

"The Karsh Suite is the actual suite in which the Karshes lived,"
Sauve explained.

"It is our way to commemorate both Mr. Karsh as one of Canada’s
national treasures, and Mr. and Mrs. Karsh for their patronage to
Fairmont Château Laurier over the years."

Yousef Karsh was born in Armenia and came to Canada with his family
when he was 16, working with his uncle, a portrait photographer,
in Sherbrooke, Que. After he opened his Ottawa studio, then-prime
minister William Lyon Mackenzie King discovered him and sent visiting
dignitaries his way for portraits.

His 1941 photo of Winston Churchill is said to be the most reproduced
photographic portrait in history.

He was the only Canadian in the 2000 International Who’s Who list of
the 100 most notable people of the last century – 51 of whom Karsh
had photographed.

Karsh’s studio, on the Château’s sixth floor from 1973 to 1992,
is now a guest room.

His photographic equipment was donated to Ottawa’s Museum of Science
and Technology.

The National Archives preserves more than 300,000 Karsh items,
including negatives, prints, transparencies, manuscripts and
audiovisual materials.

–Boundary_(ID_2xJMtDaXYwvia66D3yvCEA) —

ELDAR SABIROGLU: ARMENIANS COMMIT INHUMANE ACTIONS REGARDING AZERI CAPTIVE SAMIR MAMMADOV

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug 2 2007

"Armenian press and security agencies commit inhumane actions regarding
captured Azerbaijani soldier Samir Mammadov," spokesman for Azerbaijani
Defense Ministry Eldar Sabiroglu told journalists, APA reports.

He said that Armenians spread different rumors all over the world.

"They say Samir Mammadov renounces his citizenship, does not want to
return to Azerbaijan, and even refuses his parents. Later it became
clear that all this is a lie," he said.

Eldar Sabiroglu said that Valeri Suleymanyan Armenian recently
trespassed on Azerbaijan does not want to return to his country and
mentioned that two civilians had taken this step before.

"Both of them refused to return to their countries and now live in
another country. Their life was in danger. We have information that
their families are treated badly. Valeri Suleymanyan also wants to
be sent to a third country," he said.

Underlining that Armenians intensively violate ceasefire Sabiroglu
said Azerbaijani side is obliged to open response fire.

"Our positions are fired in different hours of the day.

Unfortunately, Armenia does not obey international norms.

International organizations are appealed concerning it, they monitor
the situation, there is silence during the monitoring but later
ceasefire is again violated. This is a kind of maneuver. Azerbaijani
army does not succumb to their maneuvers," he said.

Commenting on death of soldiers in the army Eldar Sabiroglu said that
some accidents happen unexpectedly therefore it is difficult to take
preventive measures.

"I think that there is nothing to worry. We are taking measures to
prevent such cases. We are sorry for such cases," he said.

Eldar Sabiroglu said by Defense Minister Safar Abiyev’s order soldier’s
trainings are suspended, limited and sometimes are held by 11.00 and
after 17.00.

"The soldiers do not train in hot hours of the day, fans are used
in barracks. There is no problem in this field. Some soldiers got
sunstroke before the minister’s order, but such cases have not been
observed for 4-5 years," he said.

Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected] /

PRESS RELEASE
August 2, 2007

Contact: Haig Hovsepian

Tel: (818) 500-1918

ANC-WR To Honor U.S. Senator Robert Menendez At 2007 Annual Banquet

— Federal Legislator Took A Stand in Blocking Nomination of Genocide Denier
Richard Hoagland

"It is well past time for American diplomacy to drop the euphemisms, the
wink-wink, nod-nod brand of foreign policy that overlooks heinous atrocities
committed around the world." U.S. Senator Robert Menendez

Los Angeles, CA – On occasion, an elected official in Washington, D.C. rises
so far above the fray and serves the interests of justice, liberty and
freedom, that it makes all Americans proud beyond belief. United States
Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, who has placed a legislative hold on
genocide denier Richard Hoagland’s nomination to serve as America’s next
Ambassador to Armenia, is just such a remarkable elected official.

The Armenian National Committee-Western Region will be honoring Senator
Robert Menendez with its highest honor, the prestigious ANC-WR Man of the
Year Award this fall. The honor will be bestowed upon Senator

Menendez at the organization’s annual banquet on September 30, 2007 in Los
Angeles, California.

"We are proud to be honoring Senator Menendez," commented ANC-WR Executive
Director Andrew Kzirian. "The Senator from New Jersey acted with
distinction and guts when he placed a hold on Richard Hoagland’s nomination.
Preventing a denier of genocide from serving as Ambassador to Armenia is
sound public policy. Because sending a genocide denier to Yerevan would
have represented a setback to U.S.-Armenia relations, and a retreat from our
nation’s historic commitment to genocide prevention worldwide," Kzirian
emphasized.

In a statement released when he placed the hold on Richard Hoagland last
year, Senator Menendez said that, "the State Department and the Bush
administration are just flat-out wrong in their refusal to recognize the
Armenian Genocide. It is well past time for American diplomacy to drop the
euphemisms, the wink-wink, nod-nod brand of foreign policy that overlooks
heinous atrocities committed around the world. If there is any sincerity
behind the Bush administration’s rhetoric about ‘liberty on the march’ – if
‘never again’ is to be more than a bumper sticker slogan – then American
diplomacy should consist of nothing less than unvarnished honesty with our
friends and enemies alike. And we must call genocide by its name."

An internet poll of Armenian Americans taken last year found that 97%
opposed the Hoagland nomination. Ninety-four percent of the respondents said
that they "strongly agreed" with the Senate’s opposition to his nomination.
An additional 3% noted that they "somewhat agreed" with this opposition. One
percent reported that they "somewhat disagreed" with opposing Hoagland, and
2% indicated that they "strongly disagreed" with the opposition to his
confirmation.

For well over a decade, Robert Menendez has been a good friend of the
Armenian-American community in the State of New Jersey. From ensuring that
the United States honestly addresses the issue of the Armenian Genocide to
advocating the right of self-determination for the people of
Nagorno-Karabakh, Senator Menendez has championed truth, justice, and the
principles of freedom so cherished by the Armenian American community. As a
mark of his longstanding respect on Armenian issues, in 2005
then-Congressman Menendez joined hundreds of Armenian Americans at a
reception in New Jersey honoring His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the
Great House of Cilicia.

During the 109th Congress [2005-2006], Senator Menendez received nationwide
attention after making history by placing a hold on the appointment of
Ambassador designate to the Republic of Armenia, Richard Hoagland. The
Armenian American community has overwhelmingly expressed its concern
regarding Hoagland’s testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
in which he used language denying the Armenian Genocide qualified as such.
Throughout 2006, the Armenian National Committee of America led a nationwide
campaign to call attention to this matter and demand that the State
Department remove the Hoagland nomination, offer a complete explanation
surrounding the controversial firing of former Ambassador John Marshall
Evans, and clarify the Turkish Government’s influence in the removal of
Ambassador Evans.

When the new 110th Congress began in January 2007, the Bush Administration
once again nominated Hoagland to serve as US Ambassador to Armenia without
addressing any of the concerns outlined by the ANCA and the Armenian
American community. Once again, Senator Menendez placed a hold on the
nomination.

When asked about his motivation for doing so, Senator Menendez stated, "I
believe that the United States, Armenia, and all who are committed to human
rights should support an ambassador to Armenia who recognizes the genocide
that took place there more than 90 years ago."

In February of 2007, the Armenian National Committee of New Jersey honored
Senator Menendez at a ceremony hosted in Rockleigh, New Jersey. More than
two hundred Armenian National Committee of New Jersey supporters and friends
were present for the occasion during which the Senator was granted the
ANCA-Eastern Region Man of the Year award. The program was attended by many
Armenian American leaders from the New York metropolitan area, various
Church leaders, and Vahan Hovhannisyan, Deputy Speaker of the Republic of
Armenia’s Parliament.

Robert Menendez grew up the son of immigrants in Union City, New Jersey. He
has served as a school board member, a mayor and a state legislator. In
1992, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He
became the highest-ranking Hispanic in Congressional history and the
third-highest ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives when his
colleagues elected him the Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus in 2002.
He was appointed to the United States Senate by New Jersey Governor Jon
Corzine and sworn in to the Senate on January 18, 2006. In November of that
year, he was elected by the people of New Jersey to serve a full six-year
term as United States Senator. He currently serves on the Senate Committees
on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Energy and Natural Resources; Budget;
and Foreign Relations. Senator Menendez is also the Chairman of the
Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic
Affairs, and International Environmental Protection.

Every year close to 1,000 ANC advocates and friends from California,
Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Washington, and from elsewhere across the
Western United States join prominent Members of Congress, statewide
officials and state legislators for the ANC-WR Annual Banquet. For
more information contact Felicia Garver at the ANC-WR office at (818)
500-1918.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the
Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated
organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances the concerns of the
Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.