Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Company "ArmenTel" modernizes order of recharging accounts of easy
card subscribers

ARKA
20/09/2007 21:37

Telecommunications Company "ArmenTel" stated a new order of recharging
accounts of prepaid EASY CARD mobile communication subscribers.

The Company’s public relations department told ARKA that the new order
gives an opportunity to the subscribers to recharge the accounts not
only through card payment (scratch recharge cards), but also in the
service centers of POS-terminals. Making the payments within the
specified ranges, the validity period of the balance is extended by
the days correspondingly.

When paying from 100 to 400 drams the validity period is extended by 3
days, from 401 to 700 drams – 5 days, from 701 to 1000 drams – 10
days, from 1001 to 2500 drams – 31 days, from 2501 to 5000 drams – 61
days, from 5001 to 10000 drams – 122 days, from 10001 to 20000 drams –
244 days, from 20001 and more drams – 300 days.

"ArmenTel" Telecommunications Company is the monopolist landline
telephone network and one of the two mobile operators in Armenia. The
Russian company "VympelCom" (BeeLine brand) holds 100% of shares. As
of 2006, the company has 452ths mobile subscribers and 608.5ths
landline telephone subscribers.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Political scientist: Armenian community of Tbilisi doesn’t possess
political power
20.09.2007 15:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `The Armenian community of Georgia doesn’t represent
a political and cultural power,’ expert at the Caucasus Media
Institute, historian and political scientist Sergei Minasyan said in
an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.

`The story originates from 1918-20, when the Republic of Armenia was
proclaimed. The second stage came in 1930-40, when the existence of
Soviet Armenia whipped up the outflow of Armenians from Tbilisi.
During the third stage, in 1950-60 (the period of civil war) many
Armenians fled Georgia. Presently, the Armenian community of Tbilisi
numbers some 90-140 thousand. The population of Javakhk is certainly
not counted here,’ he said

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

September 20, 2007

PRELATE WRITES IN SUPPORT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
Archbishop Oshagan sent a letter to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House
of Representatives, this week thanking her for her support of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution and urging her to bring the legislation to the floor of
the House of Representatives. The Prelate said, "By bringing this
legislation to the floor of the House of Representatives, where it already
enjoys the support of a clear majority, you will-at long last-provide the
opportunity for the democratically elected representatives of the American
people to vote their conscience on this anti-genocide resolution." His
Eminence wrote of the pain of denial and the importance of the genocide
resolution. "As a servant of humanity, who is active in helping to end the
genocide in Darfur, I turn to you to help ensure that the precedent of the
Armenian Genocide’s denial no longer serves to embolden tyrants who would
consider genocide as a tool to achieve their evil ends."

BREAKING NEWS..
The speech that Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan was to deliver today
(September 20) at a conference at Georgetown University in Washington, DC,
was cancelled due to "logistical" problems.
Patriarch Mutafyan’s participation in the event was being heavily criticized
by leaders of the Armenian community. There has been speculation that the
visit of the Patriarch, right before a possible vote in the House of
Representatives on the Armenian Genocide Resolution, was orchestrated by
Turkish lobbyists.

PRELATE WILL ATTEND THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF
NEW EXTENSION OF ST. GREGORY IN NORTH ANDOVER
Archbishop Oshagan will join the parish of St. Gregory the Illuminator
of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts, on Saturday evening,
September 22, to celebrate the opening of the church’s new extension. The
Prelate will preside over the evening service and requiem service for the
founders of the church.

50th ANNIVERSARY OF ST. STEPHEN’S CHURCH (WATERTOWN)
This Sunday, September 23, Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Watertown,
Massachusetts, where he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy, deliver the
Sermon, and ordain acolytes on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the
Church. A reception and program will follow the church services at the
Armenian Cultural and Educational Center.

VICAR WILL VISIT ST. STEPHEN CHURCH (CONNECTICUT)
Bishop Anoushavan will preside over the Divine Liturgy and deliver the
sermon at St. Stephen Church in New Britain, Connecticut, this Sunday,
September 23.

REGIONAL CLERGY MEETING
The clergy serving the New England area will meet on Monday, September
24, at St. Asdvadzadzin Church in Whitinsville. The meeting will be presided
by the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, with the participation of the Vicar,
Bishop Anoushavan.

VICAR WILL REPRESENT THE PRELATE AT
ANC BANQUET THIS SATURDAY
Bishop Anoushavan will represent the Prelate at the first annual banquet
of the Armenian National Committee (Eastern Region) at the Waldorf-Astoria
in New York City. Ambassador John Evans, former Ambassador to Armenia, will
receive the ANCA Freedom Award.

UNITED KINGDOM AMBASSADOR VISITS ARAM I
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, received the
Ambassador of the United Kingdom, Mrs. Frances Guy and her political
adviser, on September 14. The Pontiff and the Ambassador discussed issues
related to Lebanon and the presidential elections, as well as a number of
ecumenical issues and the upcoming visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury to
Antelias.

CATHOLICOS ARAM I DELIVERS LECTURE
TO STUDENTS FROM GERMANY
His Holiness Aram I delivered a lecture, "Christianity of the Middle
East in the Face of New Challenges," on September 17 to a group of
university students from Germany. The students majoring in theology,
oriental studies and church history represented several German universities.
The purpose of their visit was to become better acquainted with the
Christians of the Middle East. The students were accompanied by several of
their professors.

TOMORROW IS 16TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE
Tomorrow, September 21, is the 16th anniversary of the independence of
Armenia.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR CHRISTIAN EDUCATORS
A conference for Sunday school teachers will take place October 26-28 at
the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard, a Coptic Orthodox Retreat Center in
Charlton, Massachusetts. The theme of the conference is "Prayer-Personal and
Communal," and will feature presentations by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian,
Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, Ph.D., Dn. Shant Kazanjian, and Dr. Mary Olson. A
modest fee of $60 covers all expenses including lodging for two nights, five
meals and refreshments.

NEW SERIES OF BIBLE STUDY AT THE PRELACY
A new five-part series of Bible studies ("from Jesus’ meals with sinners
to the Lord’s Supper") will take place at the Prelacy beginning on October
16 and continue on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, from 7:15 to
8:45 pm. Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of the Armenian Religious Education
Council (AREC) will conduct the Bible studies. For information and
registration, send email to [email protected] or telephone
212-689-7810.

IN CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE.
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
designated 2007 as the Year of the Armenian Language. In celebration of this
year-long tribute, each week we will offer an interesting tidbit about the
Armenian language and literature:
Linguists Heinrich Hubschmann (1848-1906) and Antoine Meillet (1866-1936)
were pioneers in the study of the Armenian language. The best-known Armenian
linguist is Hrachia Adjarian (1876-1953), who devoted much of his life to
the study of Armenian and who is recognized and memorialized through the
"Adjarian Linguistic Institute," in Armenia. Adjarian is the author of the
monumental Armenian Root-Word Dictionary (Hayeren Armatakan Bararan),
originally available only in manuscript form with more than 8,000 pages. In
the 1970s the University of Yerevan published this important work in four
volumes. Adjarian provides the meaning and use of the root words, as well as
the grammar and etymology. Adjarian is also the author of the History of the
Armenian Language (2 volumes) and Comprehensive Grammar of the Armenian
Language, (six volumes).

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, September 20, are: Isaiah 2:1-6; Hebrews
12:18-27; Matthew 21:12-17.
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In
the days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as
the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the
nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, "Come, let us
go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he
may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion
shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He
shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they
shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning
hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they
learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the
Lord! For you have forsaken the ways of your people, O house of Jacob.
Indeed they are full of diviners from the east and of soothsayers like the
Philistines, and they clasp hands with foreigners. (Isaiah 2:1-6)

BAREGENTAN OF THE HOLY CROSS OF VARAK
This Sunday, September 23, is the Baregentan of the Fast of the Holy
Cross of Varak. Monday through Friday are fasting days leading up to next
Sunday, September 30, when the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak will be
celebrated.

AUTUMN BEGINS SUNDAY
The official beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere begins
Sunday morning, September 23, with the fall equinox, when day and night are
approximately the same length. Henceforth our daylight hours will diminish
until the winter solstice in December.

THE QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Reacting to a statement (concerning the controversy about the Armenian
Genocide) made by Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation
League, the mayor of Newton, Massachusetts, David Cohen said: "Whenever I
saw the word Armenian, in my mind I substituted the word Jewish. And
whenever I saw the word genocide, I substituted the word Holocaust. And I
said, would I be satisfied if this were the response of my leaders? And the
answer was no! In order for Newton to be satisfied and continue with the
NPFH [No Place For Hate], the National ADL has to do the right thing,
recognizing the Armenian genocide and advocating for its recognition as they
would any other genocide."

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

September 22-23-St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, Choir
Reunion. Rehearsal and dinner for all St. Stephen’s choir members past and
present.

September 23-50th Anniversary commemoration of St. Stephen’s Church,
Watertown, Massachusetts. Archbishop Oshagan will celebrate the Divine
Liturgy and ordain acolytes. Commemorative program and reception will follow
at the A.C.E.C.

September 23-"Change Your Thoughts; Change Your Life!" presented by the
Education Committee of St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, at 1:15 p.m.
following church services. Participating: Carlo Bayrakdarian, M.D.,
"Management of Sleep Disorders"; Edmond Gergerian, M.D., "Anxiety Disorders
Management by Emotional Freedom Techniques"; Samvel Jershmaridian, Ph.D.,
"Psychology for Better Living"; Elize Kiregian, M.A., "Skills in Critical
Thinking." For information: 718-224-2275.

September 25-Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts, 4th annual golf outing at Juniper Hill Golf Course,
Northboro, Massachusetts. Registration at 8 am. Tee off at 9 am. $125
includes golf cart, dinner and prizes. For information 508-852-2414.

September 27-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, 5th Annual Golf
Outing at River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey. Registration
begins at 11 a.m. and tee time at 1 p.m. For information, 201-943-2950.

September 29-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, 50th
anniversary banquet at Pleasant Valley. For information
or 508-234-3677.

September 30-Sunday School Reunion. St. Stephen Church, Watertown,
Massachusetts. Current and former teachers and students are invited to
attend this reunion following the Divine Liturgy. Light lunch served.
Reservations required. 617-924-7562.

October 7-St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut, 82nd Anniversary
banquet, Marriott Hotel, Rocky Hill, Connecticut.

October 7-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, "Hello Ellis
Island," the latest production of The Way We Were Troupe, hosted by the
Ladies Guild, 1 pm. Lunch served. For information 201-943-2950.

October 14-St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City, Celebration of the
Year of the Armenian Language. Cultural program and Book Fair following the
Divine Liturgy. For information 212-689-5880.

October 14-St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 50th anniversary
commemorative lecture, 3 p.m. Guest lecturer Dr. Abraham Terian, Professor
of Armenian Patristics at St. Nersess Seminary, New York.

October 16 to December 18-"From Jesus’ meals with sinners to the Lord’s
Supper," a five part Bible study at the Armenian Prelacy will begin on
October 16 and continue on the first and third Tuesday of the month, from
7:15 to 8:45 pm. Conducted by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of the Armenian
Religious Education Council (AREC). For information and registration, please
send e-mail to [email protected] or call 212-689-4481.

October 18, 19, 20-Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Annual Food
Festival and Bazaar.

October 19 & 20-Annual fall fair/bazaar, St. Gregory Church of Merrimack
Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts, in newly renovated Jaffarian Hall.

October 21-St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, celebrating the
20th anniversary of the ordination of Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, under the
auspices of the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan. For information
or 215-482-9200.

October 26-28-National Conference for Christian Educators, a conference for
Sunday School teachers at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard, a Coptic
Orthodox Retreat Center, in Charlton, Massachusetts. Theme: "Prayer-Personal
and Communal." Presentations by Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielian, Dn. Shant Kazanjian, and Dr. Mary Olson.

November 2-3-Golden Jubilee Annual Bazaar, St. Stephen Church, Watertown,
Massachusetts.

November 11-37th anniversary of St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley and
ordination of Nishan Dagley to the office of acolyte and stole bearer.
Presided over by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the
Prelacy.

November 11-St. Stephen Church, Watertown, Massachussetts, 50th anniversary
commemorative concert, 4 pm., church hall.

November 10-11-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, annual
"Armenian Fest," at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island. For
information 401-831-6399.

November 11-Greater Worcester Armenian Chorale and Armenian Children’s
Chorus, 7th annual gala concert and dinner, Armenian Church of Our Saviour
Cultural Center. Advance tickets only. Barbara Baljian, 508-799-6972.

November 17-Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, 43rd Anniversary
Banquet.

December 1-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual
church bazaar. For information or 508-234-3677.

December 9-St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 50th anniversary
dinner dance, Marriott Hotel, Burlington. For information, (617) 924-7562.

December 23-St. Stephen’s Day Celebration, Watertown, Massachusetts. The
Golden Jubilee celebration will come to a close with a commemoration of the
church’s patron saint, the first deacon and martyr, St. Stephen.

June 27 to July 6-St. Gregory of Datev Institute, Summer Christian Studies
Program for youth ages 13-18 at St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson,
Pennsylvania, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council.

Visit our website at

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT OPPOSITION UNDER FIRE AFTER KEY VOTE
By Emil Danielyan

Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
Tuesday, September 18, 2007

The two opposition parties represented in the Armenian parliament
are facing embarrassing accusations of secret collaboration with the
government after effectively acquiescing to the reappointment of the
country’s top prosecutor. The National Assembly overwhelmingly voted
on September 13 to endorse President Robert Kocharian’s decision to
extend Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepian’s tenure for six more years.

Only three members of the 131-strong legislature voted against his
candidacy, raising fresh questions about the opposition credentials
of the Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) and Heritage parties led by
former parliament speaker Artur Baghdasarian and the U.S.-born former
foreign minister Raffi Hovannisian respectively. Orinats Yerkir
and Heritage were the only opposition parties that cleared the 5%
threshold for winning parliament seats in the last general elections
held in May. The main political allies of Kocharian and Prime Minister
Serge Sarkisian won the polls by a landslide.

Two-day parliamentary debates on Hovsepian’s reappointment were a
mere formality as Sarkisian’s Republican Party of Armenia (HHK),
which controls most parliament seats, made it clear right from the
beginning that he will back Kocharian’s decision. A figure close to the
president, Hovsepian, 54, has been more than a senior law-enforcement
official since being first named prosecutor-general in 1998. He was
forced to step down in the wake of the October 1999 terrorist attack
on the Armenian parliament but was reinstated by Kocharian in the
job five years later.

Kocharian needed a parliamentary approval of Hovsepian’s continued
tenure in accordance with the 2005 reform of the Armenian constitution.

Over the past decade, Hovsepian has developed extensive business
interests, being widely linked with a number of lucrative companies. He
has also displayed growing political ambitions, so much so that at one
point he was viewed as one of Kocharian’s potential successors. He
became even more visible after getting, with strong government
assistance, hundreds of thousands of people to collectively perform
a traditional Armenian circle dance around the country’s highest
mountain in May 2005.

The soft-spoken and bespectacled prosecutor has furthered his political
agenda through an ostensibly apolitical organization uniting prominent
natives of Aparan, a mountainous district in central Armenia where he
was born and grew up. The so-called compatriots’ union transformed
itself into a political party last year and was expected to be a
major contender in the May elections. However, Hovsepian decided not
to enter the fray shortly before the vote as a result of an apparent
behind-the-scenes deal with Sarkisian. The latter was anxious to
make sure that the Aparan clan does not stand in the HHK’s way and to
ensure its support for his presidential bid. Sarkisian has clearly been
willing to give it something in return, as evidenced by Hovsepian’s
reappointment and the earlier appointment one of his deputies, Gevorg
Danielian, as justice minister.

Hovsepian will thus remain one of the leaders of Armenia’s vicious
and corrupt law-enforcement system that continues to operate in
utter disregard of human rights. Mistreatment of criminal suspects
and witnesses remains the norm, despite being illegal and running
counter to Yerevan’s international obligations. The most recent torture
scandal relates to the ongoing criminal investigation into the August
26 murder of the chief prosecutor of Lori region, Albert Ghazarian. The
investigation is being led by the Office of the Prosecutor General.

One of the theories circulating is that the crime was masterminded
by Samvel Darpinian, the mayor of the regional capital Vanadzor,
who was at loggerheads with Ghazarian. Several employees of a local
restaurant owned by an arrested nephew of Darpinian claim that they
were beaten by investigators to extract false testimony implicating
the mayor’s extended family in the shooting. Hovsepian pledged to
investigate the torture claims in the face of a mounting opposition
and media outcry. Few believe that any law-enforcement official will
be punished as a result, though.

Ghazarian’s assassination was the latest high-profile killing, which
occur regularly in Armenia. Most of them have yet to be solved. In
addition, law-enforcement authorities have been under fire this year
over the prosecution and imprisonment of several prominent government
critics on dubious charges.

Opposition lawmakers asked Hovsepian tough questions before the
September 13 parliament vote. But in the end, most of them chose
not to oppose his confirmation, leading more radical opposition
politicians and commentators to wonder whether Orinats Yerkir and
Heritage are really in opposition to the ruling regime. "In essence,
the parliamentary opposition complied with the majority’s decision,"
the Haykakan Zhamanak daily editorialized on September 15.

"This type of opposition is ready to fight as long as it is not up
against a representative of the regime," scoffed another pro-opposition
paper, Chorrord Ishkhanutyun.

Ex-speaker Baghdasarian was already mistrusted by many other opposition
forces and civil society members, despite attracting considerable
interest from the United States and European governments with his
pro-Western statements. Heritage’s Hovannisian risked facing similar
mistrust even before the parliament vote due to his ambiguous and
contradictory actions.

Hovannisian, for example, charged after the May elections that his
party had won three times more votes than were shown by the Central
Election Commission (CEC). However, the party’s representative to the
government-controlled body, Zoya Tadevosian subsequently voted for the
reelection of Garegin Azarian as CEC chairman. Furthermore, Tadevosian,
endorsed the official results of an August 26 repeat parliamentary
election in a central Armenian constituency, which was denounced as
"fundamentally unfree and unfair" by Hovannisian. The latter contested
the vote to try to win Heritage an extra parliament seat. He won less
than 4% of the vote, according to the official results.

A Heritage legislator insisted that the vote was deeply flawed during
the Armenian government’s September 12 question-and-answer session
in parliament. "The CEC received no complaints, your representative
accepted everything, and the chairman of your party filed no appeals
in connection with that," countered Sarkisian. "I can’t understand
what the matter is. Should I once declare that you lost?"

(Haykakan Zhamanak, Chorrord Ishkhanutyun, September 15; Aravot,
September 13)

PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN RECEIVED THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF LINCY FOUNDATION

armradio.am
18.09.2007 17:48

President Robert Kocharyan received the Vice-President of the Lincy
Foundation Harut Sasunyan.

The interlocutors discussed the process of implementation of the
programs under the financing of the Lincy Foundation. They exchanged
views on a number of issues related to Armenia-Diaspora relations,
and questions American Armenians are interested in.

ONLY ONE PERSON RUNS FOR MAYOR OF STEPANAKERT

KarabakhOpen
17-09-2007 19:23:37

The electoral commissions of NKR continue registering candidates for
the local elections. The NKR CEC told Karabakh-open.com 150 were
nominated for the head of 116 communities and 552 for the local
councils as of 16:00.

There is only one nomination for the post of mayor of Stepanakert –
Vazgen Michaelyan.

The nomination of candidates will continue till September 19.

"A MATTER OF HONOUR"

A1+
[05:47 pm] 17 September, 2007

The New Times Party (NZhK) condemns the September 15 attack on
Hovhannes Galajyan, the editor-in-chief of "Iskakan Iravunk" newspaper.

We call on the law-enforcement bodies to find and to punish the
criminals. It is a matter of honour for Prosecutor General Aghvan
Hovsepyan to expose the wrongdoers, the NZhK statement runs.

The incident was criticized and condemned by the Heritage Party and
the Armenian Democratic Party.

Heritage Statement on the Brutal Beating of Hovhannes Galajian The
Heritage Party and its parliamentary fraction deplore the vile act
committed, on September 15 against Hovhannes Galajian, editor-in-chief
of Iskakan Iravunk weekly. Galajian was attacked by two assailants
and beaten with metal bars near his place of work.

Regrettably, violent crimes committed against journalists are becoming
more commonplace. These actions take place more frequently during the
pre-election season and remain unexposed for the most part, whereas
their architects and perpetrators continue to enjoy liberty. This
particular malicious act might not have ocurred had our relevant
state bodies uncovered in the past the numerous encroachments upon
the free expression of thought and the right to receive information,
and if certain halls of power and high-level officials had not backed
the criminals and thus obstructed solution of the crimes.

Today, Larisa Alaverdian, Stepan Safarian, and Armen
Martirosian-members of Heritage’s parliamentary group-visited Hovhannes
Galajian, who had just undergone surgery and is still being kept in the
intensive care department at St. Gregory the Illuminator Hospital. On
behalf of the Heritage Party and its parliamentary delegation, the
MPs conveyed their solidarity with the journalist and fellow citizen.

Condemning this heinous crime, the Heritage Party and parliamentary
group call on the Republic’s law enforcers to reveal the motives
behind, and the executors of, this grave felony. The legitimacy,
dignity, and reputation of the Armenian state, authorities, and all
of us depend on the full disclosure of this transgression and the
bringing of its engineers to justice. The promise of democracy for
Armenia demands no less.

Hürriyet, Turkey
Sunday, September 16, 2007 01:14

US Diplomat sends seven messages to Turkey

Nicholas Burns, the third ranking official at the US
state department, has said that Turkey-US relations
have reached a `critical juncture’. Burns, who said
`we should work together’ on the issues of Iran and
energy, made several challenging remarks to Ankara
during a recent speech in Washington, DC.

Gül and Erdoðan reliable
`Turkey is critical for us, an indispensable ally,
with her commitment to secular democracy. Prime
Minister Erdoðan and President Gül are reliable. They
have kept promises they have made to us in the past.
Turkey is an important portal for energy sources to
reach Europe. We support Turkey’s accession to the
European Union. `

Work with us against Iran
`The energy agreement between Iran and Turkey bothered
us. It is beneficial for both the US and Turkey to
keep Iran, which supports the Taleban and wants to
possess nuclear power, under control.’
Six months for PKK

`The PKK is a terrorist organisation. Our good faith
should not be underestimated. I hope that solid steps
will be taken against the PKK within the next six
months.

Open priests’ school
`The Fener Greek Patriarchate is of ecumenical status.
The US recognises Patriarch Bartholomeos as a friend.
A priests’ school should be opened in Heybeliada.’

Open borders with Armenia
`Normalize relations with Armenia. The
Turkish-Armenian border should be opened. We are
opposed to the passing of the Armenian bill in
Congress. In the case of this bill passing, those in
Turkey who seek to keep a dialogue between the
Armenians and the Turks will be silenced.’

Lift article 301
`Article 301 of the Turkish penal code, used even
against Nobel prize-winner Orhan Pamuk, should be
lifted.’
Cyprus
`We are working for the UN to start a new venture in
Cyprus.’

CONTRACT SIGNED BETWEEN MCA-ARMENIA AND ï~^"HAYJRNAKHAGITS INSTITUTEï~^" CJSC

armradio.am
14.09.2007 12:45

Millennium Challenge Account ï~^- Armenia announced the award of a
consulting contract to ï~^"Hayjrnakhagits Instituteï~^" CJSC for
the design and construction supervision of a project that will
rehabilitate six main irrigation canals (Artashat, Low Hrazdan,
Armavir, Talin, Arzni-Shamiram, Shirak) of the MCA-Armenia Irrigated
Agriculture Project Infrastructure Activity. The contract was signed
by MCA-Armenia CEO Ara Hovsepyan and ï~^"Hayjrnakhagits Instituteï~^"
Director Yuri Javadyan.

According to the contract, ï~^"Hayjrnakhagits Instituteï~^" should
develop preliminary designs for the six main canals and final designs
for ancillary structures, prepare two-phase bidding documents
for the construction firm that will carry out the rehabilitation
work, collect baseline data for an environmental and social impact
assessment and supervise construction activity during the canalsï~^’
rehabilitation stage.

In total, these six main canals serve around 120.000 hectares
of farmland which is more than half of area served by Water User
Associations.

The contract value is USD 1,500.000. The duration of work will be
46 months.

After the Soviet era, due to the lack of maintenance, irrigation
canals deteriorated. Water losses increased, which led to a worsening
of irrigation of thousands of hectares of land. MCA-Armeniaï~^’s
program will rehabilitate around 200 km of main canals which will
reduce water losses by up to 50%.

–Boundary_(ID_CFMMLToy7jqTJJEMJYXd6A)–

LEVON ARONYAN PLAYED A DRAW WITH ALEXANDER MOROZEVICH

armradio.am
14.09.2007 14:16

September 13 the first round games of the World Chess Championship
were held in Mexico. All four games, Kramnik-Swidler, Anand-Gelfand,
Gishuk-Leko and Aronyan-Morozevich, ended a draw.

In the second round Levon Aronyan will compete with Vishvanatan Anand
of India. They played five games against each other, four of which
ended a draw, and Levon Aronyan defeated the rival in one game.