Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Taipei Times, Taiwan
April 14 2006

Globe trotting ?? Armenia

Famous for its hospitality, Armenia is a unique nation at the
crossroads of Europe and Asia. Some even speculate the Garden of Eden
was located here. Come take a closer look at Armenia.

A closer look 說?Ã`_?¡

Armenia is a land-locked country located in Eurasia’s Southern
Caucasus mountain range. The terrain is mountainous, summers are hot
and dry (reaching 36oC) and winters are snowy and as cold as -10oC.
The long autumns are marked by colorful foliage.

Armenia has been a center of civilization since antiquity, and people
have been living there and trading tools and metals since at least
6,000BC. The Armenian Empire was one of the strongest in the region
during it’s heyday around 50BC, but the country has also been invaded
and conquered by Greeks, Romans, the Ottoman Turks, Russia and
others.

Christianity is central to the country’s identity (over 93 percent
are church members). Armenia was the first nation to make
Christianity the state religion in 301, and legend holds that an
early Armenian leader, Hayk, was a great great grandson of Noah.

Ottoman Turkey ruled Armenia until the end of World War One, when the
victors drew new borders. Turkey rejected Armenian borders and fought
the Turkish-Armenian War in 1920, taking half of the territory. The
Soviet Union invaded what was left and Armenia did not regain
independence until 1991.

Since independence, Armenia has switched to a market economy and
seeks parliamentary style democracy, but elections are not yet
considered fair by international observers.

Favorite Armenian sports include soccer, chess, boxing and hockey.
The cuisine, influenced heavily by Russia and the Middle East,
features stews, breads, fish, grilled meat and pastries.

A LOOK AT CONTEXT
1. The foliage on the trees in autumn is bright orange, yellow, brown
and green though simply green in the summer.
Foliage means . . .
a. tree branches.
b. tree roots
c. plant or tree leaves.
d. tree trunks.

2. Since antiquity, Daoism has been a strong influence in China.
Antiquity means . . .
a. the modern era.
b. ancient times.
c. any time period.
d. a future era.

3. You cannot bring plants, wild animals or soil across the border
into another country.
A border is …
a. the line that divides two countries.
b. a line that cuts through a capital city.
c. something illegal to carry.
d. a kind of wild animal.

4. The government used to own all companies, but now we have a market
economy and the companies are privately owned.
A market economy is . . .
a. an economy where the government runs industry.
b. an industry which the government
takes taxes from.
c. a company with close a relationship
to the government.
d. an economy where private individuals
run industry.
ANSWERS: 1. c 2. b 3. a 4 . d

WHO KNEW 你’m`¹嗎
Armenian weddings have some unique practices. The process starts when
the man and his family visit the woman’s house to ask her father’s
permission to wed. If the father agrees, the man gives his future
bride a promise ring and her family begins planning for the
engagement party, which her family must organize and pay for. The two
families will then celebrate with a bottle of Armenian cognac. At the
engagement party, a priest prays with the couple and blesses them,
and the couple exchanges wedding rings that are worn on the right
hand. After about one year, the formal wedding takes place, where the
rings are switched to the left hand. Planning and paying for the
wedding is the groom’s responsibility, unlike traditions in most
European countries.

WHAT TIME ?»?Ý`ß – ¡?ôêy
The time in Armenia is currently three hours behind Taiwan. If it is
3:15pm in Taipei, it is 12:15pm in Yerevan.

ABOUT ARMENIA
Size: 29,800 km2; or about 80 percent of Taiwan’s size
Location: Eurasia
Border countries: Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Iran
Capital: Yerevan
Population: Around 3.2 million
Languages: Armenian
Government: Unitary republic
Currency: Armenian Drams; NT$1 = about 11 Armenian Drams

FLAG ? ?ø

The Armenian constitution says that the red sybolizes the Armenian
Highland, the peoples’ struggle for survival, maintaining the
Christian faith and Armenia’s independence and freedom. The blue
represents the will to live under peaceful skies. The orange
represents the talent and hard-working nature of the people.

ives/2007/04/14/2003356662

A PELLET BOMB DISCOVERED ON THE TERRITORY OF MEDICAL COLLEGE IN STEPANAKERT

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
April 13 2007

Today a pellet bomb has been discovered on the territory of the
Medical College in Stepanakert.

According to the information DE FACTO got at the Rescue Service under
the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic government, the Colleges’ students and
teaching staff had been evacuated, the building had been cordoned
off. The specialists have decided to destroy the bomb on the spot.

The bomb has been on the territory of the College since the Karabagh
war, 1991-1994, when the Azeri aviation made air raids on the capital
city of NKR – Stepanakert, the Rescue Service’s employees stated.

EVENING FOR MENTIONING 92nd ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO BE ORGANIZED IN CONGRESS OF STATE OF WISCONSIN

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2007

WASHINGTON, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
National Committee of America Wisconsin Office, with a group of
members of the state, will organize a reception on April 24, 2007 to
mark the 92nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. This event will
take place at the Congress of the state of Wisconsin.

As the Armenian National Committee of America states, besides it,
a requiem liturgy will be celebrated in four Armenian churches of
the state of Wisconsin on late April 24.

The event annually organized by the Armenian National Committee of
America Wisconsin Office gives possibility to the American Armenian
community to express gratitude to the parliament of the state and
to the Senate of the state for adopting a resolution concerning the
Armenian Genocide, by which April 24 is every year marked as "the
day of mentioning the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide in the state of
Wisconsin." According to the same source, these events make a part of
efforts on increasing awareness in the issues relating to Armenia and
Armenians as well, particularly in the issue of the Armenian Genocide.

Resolutions recognizing the historic fact of the Armenian Genocide were
adopted in the state by the lower chamber (Assembly) of the Parliament
on March 2, 2000, and by the Senate of the state on March 7, 2002.

KHOSROV HAROUTIUNIAN: "GO, VOTE AND DO NOT LET ANYBODY USE YOUR VOTE"
Editor: Eghian Robert

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. "2 of the 4 candidates for
deputy registered at No10 electoral district are Khachatur
Sukiasian’s employees and let Sukiasian explain why he competes
with his employees," Khosrov Haroutiunian, the Chairman of the
Christian-Democratic Union, also to be voted at the mentioned electoral
district, said at the April 12 meeting with journalists.

In his words, the Christian-Democratic Union does not participate
in the electoral struggle by the proportional electoral system not
for the reason that there is fear that voters mistrutfully relate to
their ideology, but simply realistically taking into consideration
"the fact of the elections’ bolting resources." The party prefered
to cetralize its modest possibilities to support candidature of its
head in the case of being voted of who the party ideology will also
be presented at the NA.

In Khosrov Haroutiunian’s words, the guarantee of success of the coming
elections is the voters’ active participation. And it is first of all
demanded from the candidates to inspire confidence and call on going
to vote. "I say to my voters: go, vote, and if you do not trust me,
vote against me, but go, do not let anybody use your vote, vote the
one who will pass your voice to the parliament."

MAN HIMSELF SHOULD PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS, GALUST SAHAKIAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. A man himself should be the protector
of human rights. He should understand his rights and not be afraid
of protecting them. Galust Sahakian, Head of RA NA RPA faction,
gave assurance at the April 11 press conference, commenting upon RPA
Board Chairman, Prime Minister Serge Sargsian’s statement voiced
in his interview to Financial Times newspaper that human rights
are subordinate to economic problems. "Poverty is cowardice: until
the social problems are solved a man cannot protect his rights and
mediated protection of rights cannot be efficient," G. Sahakian stated.

"Poverty is evil and first of all we should fight this evil," he said.

Besides, in G. Sahakian’s words, this does not mean that "we should
only be engaged in sausage production." In his words, parallel with
solution of social problems RPA will strive for creating bases for
development of democracy in the country, "the highlight of which are
human rights."

GEORGIAN POLITICAL SCIENTIST: KOSOVO VARIANT MAY BE USED FOR KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2007 14:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Conflicts in Georgia have very little opportunities
for separatism, member of the Republican Party of Georgia, political
scientist Paata Zakareishvili stated to the PanARMENIAN.Net
journalist. He said, there is something similar between Kosovo and
Abkhazia but there are more differences here. "Really, if Pristina
wants to declare independence, she will do it without asking
anyone. The same concerns all conflict zones. But if we compare the
Kosovo conflict with the "frozen conflicts" in CIS, look what we will
see. There are 2 million Albanians in Kosovo and very few Serbians. And
in Abkhazia the native population is half as much than the two main
nations – Armenians and Georgians," Zakareishvili said. He also
stressed Albania supports Kosovo, Armenia – the Nagorno Karabakh,
but nobody backs Abkhazia. "Russia is out, it has its interests
there. The Kosovo variant may be used for Nagorno Karabakh, but it is
a very long process – settlement of all conflicts. As to the South
Ossetia, this case is much difficult. There exists North Ossetia,
which has pro-Russian stance, and Tbilisi has normal relations with
Vladikavkaz, two main roads via North Ossetia – the Rokski pass and
"Verkhni Lars" – join the South Caucasus with Russia," the Georgian
political scientist said.

OAK PARK LIBRARY BOARD CANDIDATES
Ellizabeth Guillette

Wednesday Journal, IL
April 11 2007

BACKGROUND: An Armenian born in Tehran, Guillett received her BA in
English and French Literature from the National University of Iran,
and her MS in Library Science from Simmons College in Boston, and
became a citizen of the United States. She has worked in academic and
corporate libraries in Massachusetts, Maine and Illinois, arriving in
Oak Park in 1994. She is a member of Special Libraries Association,
Oak Park Women’s Exchange, Oak Park Conservatory, and the Oak Park
Stitch & Bitch Club. She is a volunteer at the Economy Shop and the
Oak Park Conservatory. She lives in south Oak Park.

PRIORITIES Guillette lists her top three priorities as:

Sound fiscal management New funding initiatives Creative technological
solutions.

[the rest omitted]

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ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN PARTNERSHIP NOT LIMITED ONLY BY MILITARY-POLITICAL INTERESTS, SERGEY IVANOV SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. "Armenia is our strategic partner,
and it is not limited only by military and political interests," First
Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Sergey Ivanov said at the April 11
briefing, responding the question if Armenia is the out-post of Russia.

"As for the Russian military bases existing in Armenia, they present
interests of both Armenia and Russia," S. Ivanov mentioned. In
his words, those bases are not aimed against a third country and
effectively guarantee security of the two countries.

In RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsian’s opinion, misunderstanding of the
same issue became a cause for speculations. "That man said that word,
he wanted to say something good, in that case it came to his mind,
the whole fault was in it," S. Sargsian said.

To recap, Sergey Mironov, the Chairman of the Council of Federation
of the RF Federal Assembly stated once paying a visit to Armenia that
Armenia is the out-post of Russia in the South Caucasian region.

FIRST MEETING OF NEWLY-CREATED "SHANGHAI CLUB OF ARMENIA" TAKES PLACE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 10 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. "The creation of the Shanghai Club
of Armenia (SCA) is aimed at destroying the monopoly of 2-3 persons
in Armenia on national security, foreign policy and organization
of alternative approaches to national security." Tigran Khzmalian,
representative of the club, film-maker, stated this at the first
meeting of SCA on April 10.

In the words of another representative of the club, academician of
the RA National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Rafael Ghazarian, at the
current stage the major goal of the SCA is to inform the Armenian
society about the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and its
attraction for Armenia.

It was mentioned at the meeting that SCO can become an alternative
version for Armenia’s integration into the international community,
and the participation of Armenia in this organization does not pose
a threat to its national originality. In the opinion of club members,
from the civilization point of view, Armenia has much in common with
member states of the SCO such as China, Russia, Iran and others.

Director of the Institute of Literature of the RA NAS A. Eghiazarian
noted that the creation of the Shanghai Club of Armenia will promote
the formation of the eastern vector of the Armenian policy and is
not directed against European integration of Armenia.

Former minister-coordinator of production infrastructures of the
RA Vahan Shirkhanian, heads of the "Homeland and Honor" Party, the
Democratic Party of Armenia and the Social-Democratic Party "Hnchak"
– Garnik Margarian, Aram. G. Sargsian and Lyudmila Sargsian, as well
as representatives of the Iranian embassy in Armenia took part in
the meeting of the SCA.

AZERBAIJAN HOPING TO HOST 2016 SUMMER OLYMPICS

Sporting News
April 9 2007

MASALLY, Azerbaijan — Azerbaijan wants to host the 2016 Summer
Olympics, President Ilham Aliev said Monday.

"A few years ago we would not have thought of this, but today
the country’s sports potential and the growing economic might of
Azerbaijan allows us to do so," said Aliev, who was in Masally to
open a sports complex.

Azerbaijan has built 11 Olympic-grade sports facilities since 2000
and is building or planning 14 more, Aliev said.

The nation receives revenue from abundant oil and gas resources from
the Caspian Sea, but is locked in a dispute with neighboring Armenia
over Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous area controlled by Armenian
forces since the end of a six-year war in 1994.

Bid cities must submit a letter of interest to the International
Olympic Committee by Sept. 15. The host city will be chosen in 2009.

Other expected bidders are Chicago, Rome, Tokyo, Madrid, Spain and
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP)

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