Author: Kalashian Nyrie

BAKO SAHAKIAN MEETS WITH MINSK GROUP’S FRENCH CO-CHAIR

Noyan Tapan
Nov 7, 2007

PARIS, NOVEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. NKR President Bako
Sahakian is in France in these days for the purpose of taking part
in the organization work of the annual telethon organized on the
initiative of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund.

According to the information provided by the General Information
Department of the NKR President’s Administration, Bako Sahakian met
with the OSCE Minsk Group French Co-chair, Bernard Fassier on November
6 in Paris. The interlocutors discussed issues related to the current
stage and prospects of the Nagorno Karabakh negotiations process.

The same day the NKR President met with the representatives of the
Armenian community of Paris. The meeting took place in the reception
hall of Paris Surb Hovhannes Mkrtich Mother Cathedral.

The NKR President presented Artsakh’s home political, socio-economic
situation, as well as issues related to the Nagorno Karabakh settlement
to those present. Touching upon the necessity to expand and deepen
Artsakh-Diaspora relations, Bako Sahakian emphasized the role of the
Armenian community of France in the work with European structures,
as well as in Artsakh’s cultural life.

Edvard Nalbandian, the RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
to France, Vahe Aghabekiants, the Executive Director of the Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund, and Petros Terzian, the Head of the Fund’s French
branch, were also present at the meeting.

SOCIOLOGICAL MESS PERPETUATES: NOW THE BRITISH HAVE COME

Lragir.am
08-11-2007 13:05:24

There is a British polling agency which is called ComRes. It is said
to be so influential, that even the international authoritative media
turn to this agency for polls, such as BBC. Even the director of the
agency Andrew Hawkins stated November 7 in Yerevan that they are an
authoritative organization and they are responsible for the results
of their polls. The reason why he arrived in Armenia was to present
the results of the poll they conducted in Armenia as the presidential
election is drawing nearer. The poll was conducted from October 25
to 31, the respondents were 2000 voters of different social classes,
age, sex and work. Inaccuracy is 2.2 percent.

The results of the poll suggest that Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan
is ahead of all. For instance, the respondents were asked who
can best solve the internal and external problems. According to
ComRes, 28 percent of voters think Serge Sargsyan can solve them
best. 20 mentioned Arthur Baghdasaryan, 19 percent mentioned Raffi
Hovannisian. Levon Ter-Petrosyan ranks 8 with 6 percent. Geghamyan,
Vazgen Manukyan and Tigran Karapetyan are ahead of him.

The two candidates of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun come last.

Among the fortifiers of the economy, Serge Sargsyan is again the
first with 33 percent. Raffi Hovannisian is already the second
with 22 percent. 21 percent mentioned Arthur Baghdasaryan. He is
followed by Geghamyan, Vazgen Manukyan, the two candidates of the
ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Levon Ter-Petrosyan with 7 percent. Tigran
Karapetyan is the last with 7 percent.

Serge Sargsyan leads the list of the resolvers of the Karabakh issue
with 45 percent. Raffi Hovannisian comes next with 11 percent, Arthur
Baghdasaryan has 9 percent, Geghamyan has 8 percent, Vahan Hovanisyan
has 6 percent, Vazgen Manukyan has 6 percent, Levon Ter-Petrosyan
has 5 percent, Armen Rustamyan has 3 percent, Tigran Karapetyan has
2 percent.

The next issue which ensured the first place for Serge Sargsyan
as suggested by the results of the poll is the recognition of the
Genocide. According to ComRes, 34 percent think Serge Sargsyan can
solve this problem. 20 percent trusts Raffi Hovannisian, 9 percent
Arthur Baghdasaryan, 8 percent Geghamyan, 7 percent Vahan Hovanisyan,
6 percent Vazgen Manukyan, 5 percent Armen Rustamyan, 5 percent Levon
Ter-Petrosyan, and 3 percent Tigran Karapetyan.

ComRes asked the respondent which candidate can best solve the problem
of the danger of war. It turned out that Serge Sargsyan can. 40
percent think so. Raffi Hovannisian ranks 2 with 11 percent, Arthur
Baghdasaryan is the next with 9 percent, Geghamyan has 8 percent,
Vazgen Manukyan has 7 percent, Vahan Hovanisyan has 5 percent, Levon
Ter-Petrosyan has 5 percent, Armen Rustamyan has 3 percent, Tigran
Karapetyan has 2 percent. The picture is the same with regard to
the security of Armenia. The only point is anti-corruption efforts
when Serge Sargsyan is not a leader. Serge Sargsyan and Arthur
Baghdasaryan are given 20 percent. Raffi Hovannisian is the second
with 17 percent. He is followed by Geghamyan, Vazgen Manukyan, Vahan
Hovanisyan, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Tigran Karapetyan and Armen Rustamyan.

As to the question who you would vote for if the voting were this
Sunday, 38 percent said they would vote for Serge Sargsyan, 13
percent would vote for Raffi Hovannisian, 12 percent would vote Arthur
Baghdasaryan. Geghamyan is given 8 percent, Levon Ter-Petrosyan is
given 6 percent. Vazgen Manukyan is given 5 percent, Gagik Tsarukyan
is given 4 percent, Tigran Karapetyan and Vahan Hovanisyan are given
4 percent each, and Aram Karapetyan, Stepan Demirchyan and Armen
Rustamyan have 1 percent each.

The director of ComRes Andrew Hawkins says they have conducted similar
polls in the U.K. and France at different times but there were not
so many candidates, and no candidate had such advantage as Serge
Sargsyan. Hawkins also said who had ordered the poll – PR Association
and the CS Media Company owned by Cafesjian and the owner of Armenia
TV the Sargsyan family.

They collaborated with the Armenian Sociological Association the head
of which is Gevorg Poghosyan. Gevorg Poghosyan had earlier conducted a
poll with the Gallup Institute, and the results of his poll suggested
that Serge Sargsyan ranks four among other likely candidates, after
Raffi Hovannisian, Gagik Tsarukyan and Vardan Oskanyan.

OSCE CONDUCTS MONITORING ON ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI CONTACT LINE

Panorama.am
16:38 06/11/2007

According to media sources, today a military contact line monitoring is
being carried out on the North-East section of Armenian-Azerbaijani
border upon the mandate of the personal representative of OSCE
chairman-in-office.

>From the Armenian side, the monitoring is implemented by assistants to
personal representative of OSCE chairman-in-office, Miroslav Vimetel
and Antal Sherdiks. Peter Ki and Zhaslan Nurtazi will monitor the
contact line from the Azerbaijani side.

CE SECRETARY GENERAL’S VISIT TO ARMENIA GOOD OCCASION FOR DISCUSSION OF ARMENIA-CE COOPERATION

ARKA
Nov 5, 2007

YEREVAN, November 5. /ARKA/. CE Secretary General Terry Davis’ visit
to Armenia is a good occasion for the discussion of the Armenia-CE
relations and execution of Armenia’s commitments to the Council of
Europe (CE), RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan told reporters.

The press and information department, RA Foreign Office, reports
that the sides discussed the May parliamentary elections in Armenia
and the preparations for the forthcoming presidential election. They
stressed the importance of the CE’s assistance to Armenia in drafting
the RA Code and improvement of Armenia’s election laws and processes.

The sides also discussed the organization of the CE Secretary
General’s visit to Nakhichevan to collect the information on the
state of Armenian cultural heritage there.

The sides discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT TO COMPRISE 16.9% OF 2008 TAXES

Panorama.am
20:41 03/11/2007

The proportion of taxes of the 2008 state budget coming from the
gross domestic product will be 16.9%.

This was revealed following budget discussions by vice-minister of
finance and economy, Bavel Safaryan.

This year, the figure stands at 15.7%. In his words, the amount of
income from taxes will be 22 billion dram, with transfers at 35.8
billion dram. The income of the 2008 budget is planned to be 744
billion dram, as opposed to this year’s 616 billion dram.

In his turn, the head of the government tax service, Armen Alaverdyan,
said that taxes will contribute 573 billion dram to the nation’s
income. Alaverdyan also reminded that due to changes in tax laws
businesses using the simplified system of taxes will be decreased by
8-10 thousand.

TERRY DAVIS WELCOMES ARMENIA’S WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT THE DELEGATION OF COE EXPERTS

armradio.am
05.11.2007 15:23

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis welcomes the
willingness of the Armenian authorities to receive the CoE experts to
be sent to the region to study the state of cultural and historical
monuments.

"I welcome Armenia’s approach, which has nothing to conceal. The
experts will study and find out to what extent the accusations of
Azerbaijan are grounded. With the leadership of Azerbaijan I will
discuss the issue of Armenia’s accusations of destruction of Armenian
monuments in that country. Experts are not politicians, they will only
give assessment to the state of monuments," the Secertary General said.

Let us remind that connected with the demolition of Armenian
monuments in Old Jugha (Nakhijevan) Armenia had applied to the
Council of Europe, asking to send an observation mission to assess
the situation. Azerbaijan, in turn, claimed that the mission must
visit Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, as well.

On August 29 Azerbaijan prevented the visit of the PACE delegation
headed by British MP Edward O’Hara to the region.

RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian informed that an agreement was
reached to organize the visit of the mission in the near future.

Armenian National Committee of Illinois
1701 N. Greenwood, Glenview, IL 60062

PRESS RELEASE
Date: November 3, 2007
Contact: Nairee Hagopian
Tel: 312-615-7698

REP. MARK KIRK REAFFIRMS PLEDGE TO SUPPORT
U.S. REAFFIRMATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

CHICAGO, IL ` Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL) re-affirmed his pledge
to support the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.106, at a recent
Chicago area reception in his honor hosted by the Armenian National
Committee of Illinois (ANC of IL) on Saturday, October 20, 2007.

Speaking at the reception, Kirk told guests that he has always
supported Armenian Genocide recognition, dating back to his early
days serving in the U.S. military, his time as a Congressional
staffer, and as an elected member of Congress. He stressed that he
would continue to encourage his colleagues to support the adoption
of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, and thanked the ANC of
Illinois for its civic activism and for the support it has extended
to him throughout his political career.

Recently, in a floor speech, he stated: "As a defender of human
rights, America must formally recognize the genocide Hitler once
dismissed so easily. From 1915 to 1923, the Ottoman Turks
systematically annihilated more than 1.5 million ethnic Armenians.
There is no other way to describe this organized campaign of murder
than as genocide."

Among those present at the event was ANCA national Chairman Kenneth
Hachikian, who thanked Congressman Kirk for his dedication and
support for issues regarding human rights, the Armenian Genocide,
and U.S.-Armenia relations. Hachikian also reported on the
successful 27 to 21 House Foreign Affairs Committee vote in support
of the Armenian Genocide Resolution earlier in the month.

Following the event, ANC of IL Chairman Ari Killain stated: "Our
community is very fortunate to have a elected official such as
Congressman Kirk who has taken the moral high ground regarding
human rights and recognition of the Armenian Genocide."

The Armenian National Committee of Illinois is part of the largest
and most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively
advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.

Congressman Mark Kirk’s full October 10, 2007 floor speech is
provided below.
#####
Photo Caption:
Congressman Mark Kirk (center) surrounded by ANC activists L to R
Vasgen Aivazian, Claud Ohanesian, ANC of IL Chairman Ari Killian,
Nairee Hagopian, and Greg Bedian

Madame Speaker, for more than ninety years, Armenians were denied
recognition for the Genocide of 1915.

We promised in 1945 to never forget the Holocaust, to never again
let such atrocities be committed. But the world could forget the
first genocide of the 20th Century. In fact Hitler used the
world’s denial of the Armenian Genocide as justification for his
invasion into Poland and the ensuing ethnic cleansing of Europe’s
Jewry. In a speech he gave in late August of 1939, Hitler stated,
"I have placed my death-head formation in readiness¦with orders to
send to death mercilessly and without compassion, men, women, and
children of Polish derivation and language¦Who, after all, speaks
today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"

Unfortunately, former Members of Congress ` both Democrats and
Republicans ` are seeking to once again bury this issue to appease
Turkey. We remember Turkey well ` a formerly strong NATO ally. In
2003, the U.S. Army requested permission to transit our ally’s
territory. Turkey said no ` a decision which cost the lives of
American service men and women. Former U.S. House Majority Leader
Dick Gephardt, once an ardent supporter of Armenian Genocide
recognition, is now registered with the Justice Department as a
foreign agent of the Turkish government. Like other former
Members, he is lobbying against the bill he cosponsored in multiple
congresses.

As a defender of human rights, America must formally recognize the
genocide Hitler once dismissed so easily. From 1915 to 1923, the
Ottoman Turks systematically annihilated more than 1.5 million
ethnic Armenians. There is no other way to describe this organized
campaign of murder than as genocide.

The Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.106, is currently being
considered in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. I hope
H.Res.106 passes the Committee, and I encourage Speaker Pelosi to
bring this important legislation to the floor so that we may
finally provide the Armenian community with the recognition and
justice they deserve.

LEVON ARONYAN AND VLADIMIR HAKOBYAN HEAD THE LIST OF BEST ARMENIAN CHESS PLAYERS

armradio.am
02.11.2007 17:33

The Chess Federation of Armenia has issued the rating list of Armenian
chess players. Levon Aronyan heads the list with 2741 points. Vladimir
Hakobyan is the second with 2713 points. Gabriel Sargsyan comes third
with 2673 points.

The fourth is Smbat Lputyan with 2633 points, the fifth is Karen
Asryan with 2623 points.

Levon Aronyan currently ranks 9th in the world rating list of chess
players with 2741 points. Vishwanathan Anand occupies the top position
with 2801 points.

ARMENIAN PREMIER, RUSSIAN MINISTER DISCUSS MILITARY COOPERATION

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
Oct 30 2007

Yerevan, 30 October: Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan said
at a meeting with Russian Defence Minister Anatoliy Serdyukov in
Yerevan today that multi-faceted cooperation between Armenia and
Russia "unequivocally meets the national interests of Armenia,"
the government press service told Mediamax today.

Sargsyan said that the Armenian government is ready to make every
effort to develop and expand bilateral relations.

Serdyukov expressed confidence that his visit to Yerevan will
facilitate the development of military cooperation between Armenia
and Russia.

They also discussed ensuring regional security and stability.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: IT IS A PITY THAT LEVON TER-PETROSIAN TRIES TO RETURN TO POLITICS, FILLED WITH MALICE

Noyan Tapan
Oct 31, 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian National Movement,
coming to power, received in essence a normal situation, and in 1998 it
handed over to the current President’s administration a state having a
collapsed economy, numbered among the poorest countries of the world
by international institutions. RA President Robert Kocharian, during
the October 31 interview to journalists, gave such an evaluation to
the situation in Armenia under Levon Ter-Petrosian. "It is a pity that
Levon Ter-Petrosian tries to return to politics, filled with malice,
the very malice destroyed ANM in its time," he said.

Touching upon the general thought expressed by the first President
at the October 26 rally, which, in Robert Kocharian’s opinion,
is formulated "it was good in our time and it is bad now," the RA
President mentioned that ANM came to power in August 1990, when
Armenia was one of the USSR republics having the most developed
industry and rather developed agriculture, Armenia became one of the
poorest countries in the world within 3-4 years. At the same time,
the President said that Armenia was to incur some losses after the
collapse of the USSR, as he evaluated, they did not exceed 15-20
percents during the first two years. According to R. Kocharian, in the
future the losses were to have been compensated with new programs,
use of new approaches in the issue of investments, as it was in the
Baltic countries, in Belarus, partly, in the Ukraine. "Industry was
just destroyed in several years in Armenia," he said.

Comparing the indices of 1997 and today’s indices, the RA President
noted: "Today’s budget is the same, a little bigger than the GDP of
that time. I think it is people, who understand the subject even if
a little, should speak about economy," he said.