Author: Kanayan Tamar

AZG Armenian Daily #065, 05/04/2008

National Interests

DEAR FELLOW ARMENIAN AMERICAN: DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF
ARMENIAN AMERICANS SERVING IN THE U.S. CONGRESS.

That’s right.

Today, the only Armenian in the U.S. House of
Representatives is Anna Eshoo, a great friend who
proudly shares both Armenian and Assyrian heritage.

In just one week, this could change. For the better.
With your helping hand, we’ll soon have a second:
Jackie Kanchelian Speier, a long-serving California
State legislator who is running in an April 8th
special election to fill the San Francisco seat once
held by the late Tom Lantos.

You can make the difference.

Your secure on-line donation today to Jackie’s
campaign will make sure she beats her competition,
wins her seat in Congress, and arrives in Washington
with the strongest possible support from the Armenian
American community. A powerful message to our friends
and foes alike.

With the vote just 7 days away, your financial support
is more vital than ever, so please take a moment right
now to give as generously as you can.

You will be proud you did.

Proud to see a gifted and courageous daughter of our
ancient people sworn in as a member of the world’s
greatest democratic body, and even prouder when she
stands up in the U.S. Capitol to fight hard – as she
has for years in California – for the views and values
you and your family hold closest to your hearts.

So please send a secure on-line donation right now and
join with good people from around the country in
writing a new chapter in the legacy of Armenian
American contributions to the richness and diversity
of civic life in the United States.

The Armenians in San Francisco are working hard –
volunteering, raising funds, and getting out the vote.
On April 8th, they will cast their votes for Jackie
Kanchelian Speier. You can cast yours today by sending
your secure on-line donation.

Every dollar makes a difference, so please give what
you can. Whether it’s $500, $100, or even $25, every
donation makes a difference.

Thank you and warmest wishes to you and your family,
Roxanne MakasdjianANC-PAC ActivistP.S. Please take a
look at Jackie Kanchelian Speier’s record of strong
leadership on Armenian issues: Jackie Kanchelian
Speier on her Armenian heritage: "I attribute my
ability to withstand adversity and survive in the
political arena to my Armenian blood," Jackie has
explained. She was referring to the 1978 Jonestown,
Guyana mass murder during which Congressman Leo Ryan
was killed and Jackie, his young staff aide, was shot
five times. "As I lay on the tarmac shot several times
and left to die… I think my ability to survive can be
attributed to my Armenian heritage. As you know,
Armenians are known for their ability to withstand
atrocities greater than anyone can imagine."

Jackie Kanchelian Speier on her Armenian family and
the Armenian Genocide: "Growing up, I remember my
mother sharing stories about her relatives who were
killed during the Armenian Genocide. And I have read
over and over and over again Ambassador Henry
Morgenthau’s telegram to the Secretary of State, dated
July 16, 1915: ‘Deportation of and excesses against
peaceful Armenians is increasing and from harrowing
reports of eye witnesses it appears that a campaign of
race extermination is in progress under a pretext of
reprisal against rebellion.’ We are told by some to
forget the Armenian Genocide. We have a Secretary of
State that says, ‘Get over it.’ But we will not forget
and we will not get over it. We demand justice,
because we know as students of history that our world
is more dangerous to everyone if it is allowed to
dismiss the Armenian Genocide. We demand justice
because we cannot allow the murder of a nation with
impunity. If the US is to be the leader of the free
world, we need to lead on this issue, not follow the
Turkish government’s immoral attempts to bury the
truth."

ALEKPER MAMEDOV: AZERBAIJAN WILL ONLY GET CHANCE OF RECLAIMING TERRITORIES OCCUPIED BY ARMENIA THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF TIES WITH WEST AND ACCESSION TO NATO

Day.Az
April 3 2008
Azerbaijan

Ilya Faynzilberg’s interview with Alekper Mamedov

Azerbaijan must seek closer ties with NATO

[Correspondent] Alekper muallim [form of address], what do you think
about the implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan
signed by Azerbaijan and NATO and the cooperation under the Partnership
for Peace programme?

[Mamedov] I am convinced that Azerbaijan will only get a chance of
reclaiming territories occupied by Armenia through the development
of ties with the West and accession to NATO. One can cite Turkey
as an example of the positive impact of accession to NATO in terms
of the army’s combat potential and the country’s influence on
the international stage. Moreover, by joining NATO Azerbaijan will
reiterate its aspiration to endorse Western values, to democratize the
country and to build a society where the protection of the rights of
every citizen, the freedom of speech and equal protection of the law
for everyone regardless of his or her position are sacred principles.

Unfortunately, we still have problems in these areas and it is too
early to speak of Azerbaijan’s accession to NATO. It is, however,
necessary to step up the work in this director because otherwise the
other two states of the South Caucasus could join the organization
before we do.

[Correspondent] Unfortunately, we have all witnessed Russia’s extremely
nervous and often aggressive reaction to Ukraine’s and Georgia’s rapid
advancement towards NATO membership. In your opinion, is it possible
that Russia will turn equally aggressive towards Azerbaijan when the
prospect of our country’s accession to NATO becomes more realistic?

Russia exerting pressure on former Soviet republics

[Mamedov] Such unfolding of events cannot be ruled out and is actually
quite likely. Russia has imperialist ambitions and has always hoped
to restore its influence in the entire post-Soviet area.

Naturally, Russia’s ambitions have become much bigger now that the
revenues from the export of energy resources have increased and the
country resorts to "gas blackmail" against Europe more and more often.

Moreover, the Russian leadership has endorsed the "ideology of a
besieged fortress" and this is the reason why NATO’s expansion to the
East is interpreted as a threat to Russia by the Kremlin. This view is
fundamentally wrong. At least the NATO Charter does not say anything
about the organization’s plans to take any kind of action against
Russia. On the other hand, the Charter says that all member-states
of NATO are obliged to aid a member-state whose territorial integrity
comes under threat.

This contradicts Russia’s plans as it intends to continue exerting
pressure on the former Soviet republics by enflaming ethnic and
international conflicts. We have witnessed these kinds of moves
by Russia in Nagornyy Karabakh, the Dniester region, South Ossetia
and Abkhazia. It is possible that Russia will attempt to capitalize
on the failure to resolve the Karabakh conflict to exert pressure
on Azerbaijan when the decision on our country’s accession to NATO
is made.

But we need to prepare for these kinds of provocations and to make a
final choice in favour of Western values in general and integration
with NATO in particular because Russia will never stop supporting
Armenia, which means that we should not expect Russia to promote a
fair settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

Need for civil control over army

[Correspondent] As we know, establishment of institutions that
exercise democratic and civil control over the army is one of the
conditions for a country’s accession to NATO. What has Azerbaijan
done in this respect?

[Mamedov] It is true that establishment of institutions that carry out
democratic and civil control over the army is among the provisions
of the Individual Partnership Action Plan signed by Azerbaijan and
NATO. It has to be noted that the Defence Ministry has done its best
to obstruct the implementation of this provision of cooperation with
NATO in the past.

However, the calls voiced by our public and the work carried out by
the NATO leadership have led to some positive changes in this area.

Various options for the resolution of the problem are being put forward
at present. Specifically, the OSCE has drawn up a plan whereby the
local NGOs that are working on the army’s problems are to form an
association that would exercise civil control over the armed forces
"under the umbrella" of Milli Maclis. There is, however, a danger
that the Defence Ministry which, in my opinion, does not want real
professionals and truly independent military experts to exercise
control over the army could form a number of similar NGOs in order
to ensure that an individual loyal to the ministry is elected as the
coordinator of the organization.

This would exclude the possibility of establishing genuine control over
the army. There is also a risk that the NGOs working on the problems
of Azerbaijan’s integration with NATO will be primarily concerned
with obtaining the grants allocated for the civil control over the
army instead of concentrating on real efforts to resolve the problem.

I would therefore suggest that the OSCE undertake to act as a
coordinator of the dialogue between the truly independent NGOs that
work on military problems and the state bodies, helping them to do
their work and exercise civil control over the army. This is the only
way of ensuring that the problem is resolved in a manner that meets
the demands and interests of Azerbaijani public.

BACCALAUREATE STUDENTS OF ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL SCHOOLS OF LEBANON TO PASS JOINT TRIAL EXAMS

Noyan Tapan
April 3

The Evangelical Coordinating Committee of Lebanon every year organizes
Joint Trial Exams for Baccalaureate and Brevet students of all Armenian
Evangelical Schools. The main aim of these exams is to acquaint the
student to the method of the governmental exams. Another important
reason for having these exams is to give the student an objective
evaluation of his/her work.

The questionnaires of all the subjects are prepared by all the teachers
of the schools, while the papers are graded anonymously. This year,
the Trial Exams have already started to take place on the 31st of March
at Armenian Evangelical College. They will end on the 4th of April.

TER-PETROSYAN AND GEBELS

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
April 01, 2008

According to EDUARD SHARMAZANOV, we have activists whose thoughts
reflect the ideology preached in Italy and Germany in the late ’20s
and early ’30s of the past century.

"Particularly, if we compare Gebels’s 1928 speech delivered in Munich
and 1933 speech delivered in Berlin with L. Ter-Petrosyan’s speeches
delivered on the Theatrical Square, we’ll see that the principles
are almost the same. Both he and L. Ter-Petrosyan consider that those
who refuse to join their movement are scum and those who do not share
their ideology are traitors," he announced yesterday.

ZULEYKA BAZHBEUK-MELIKIAN: THEY SAW AND APPRECIATED ME IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
March 31, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Frankness,
clarity and intimate emotions prevail in paintings of
Zuleyka Bazhbeuk-Melikian, daughter of famous artist Alexander
Bazhbeuk-Melikian. A personal exhibition of this female painter opened
at the National Picture Gallery of Armenia last week.

77 works created by this Georgia-based painter in various years, from
the 1960s to "Appointment" painted recently, are on display in three
halls of the exhibition. Among these works are still life pictures,
landscapes, portraits and compositions. Armenian colors have given
a unique Armenian quality to Zuleyka’s canvases.

This is the first personal exhibition of Zuleyka in Yerevan. "I have
taken part in several group exhibitions in Yerevan but a personal
exhibition is something quite different. All responsibility is on one
painter, and you should be able to organize and present your works
in such a way that everything will be clear and understandable to
visitors." In her words, the impressions were very strong. "Everybody
was so delicate and tender; everybody was so attentive and impressed. I
am quite satisfied with this exhibition because my greatest wish has
been fulfilled: they in Armenia saw and appreciated me as a painter
with an original and distinctive style."

However, Zuleyka has another dream: to hold a personal exhibition
at the Union of Painters of Armenia and to publish a catalogue and
an album in Yerevan. "Of course, it will happen later. After a bit
of work. I want to paint more and to express the best feelings in my
soul – the whole humanity needs such feelings today," Ms Zuleyka said.

She started to paint at the age of 20. In her words, at first she liked
literature, then she grew fond of music but later she started painting
and it was the beginning. "At first I used to work continuously,
10 hours a day.

Father said that while being by his side, I have my own handwriting
and distinctiveness. It is wonderful: I do not copy anyone but I
paint as an individual," Zuleyka recalls.

Paintings of Zuleyka Bazhbeuk-Melikian are kept at state and private
picture galleries in various countries, including Russia, Germany,
Bulgaria, etc.

As a creative personality, she attaches importance to one thing: to
express her inner state in her paintings: "When I fail to do what I
want to, I paint in my soul, then I erase it. However, when this state
is over, the most important thing, which a painter has to convey to
a canvas, remains deep inside – it is a state when motions of your
hand and what you want to say are in harmony with each other. This
is most essential, these are my feelings and colors that complete
each other and appeal to everybody."

In the opinion of Zuleyka, it is important to be a true
artist. Influence is not so essential because the painters, poets
and musicians who have created universal values do not belong to
one nation. They are universal and belong to everybody – people
like Arshil Gorki, Sarian and Bazhbeuk-Melikian. "I am sure that
they cease belonging to a nation, they belong to the world and
humanity. In this respect we should have culture like the one which
France has developed over centuries for non-French artists living in
this country," she said.

"I love both Armenia and Georgia. Both countries are native to me:
in one I was born and grew up – it is all my life, while my roots
and my land are in the other country."

At the conclusion of the interview, the painter said that she has a
great desire to paint the unique, divine snow-covered mountains and
dark clouds of the road from Tbilisi to Yerevan. "I worship Armenia
and its inimitably colored nature."

She wished that there would be peace and quiet, infinite harmony of
soul and nature in Armenia.

FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIA’S ECONOMY IN 2007 GREW BY 73,7%

arminfo
2008-04-01 12:46:00

ArmInfo. Foreign investments in Armenia’s economy in 2007 grew by 73,
7% to $1337.0 mln, as compared with 2006, RA National Statistical
Service reports.

According to the source data, direct foreign investments (DFI) over the
reporting period grew by 43,3% to $669.8 mln. The portfolio investments
made up $0.14 mln and reduced by 1,4%. Other investments (available
funds and deposits, as well as other liabilities) totaled $667.1 mln
and grew 2,3 times. Foreign investments in the real sector grew by
34,6% to $845.4 mln, including DFI grew by 34% to $582.3 mln. Russia
leads on foreign investments – $449.4 mln and FDI – $293.2 mln,
which grew 2,1 and 1,9 times, respectively, as compared with the last
year. Foreign investments from Lebanon made up $134 mln and FDI –
$82.8 mln, which grew 2,1 and 72,5 times, respectively. Investments
from Germany totaled $55.3 mln, (completely FDI) and grew by
15.6%. Investments from the USA made up $33.4 mln and FDI – $25.7 mln
under growth by 2,4% and 3,8%, respectively. Investments from Argentine
totaled $26.5 mln and FDI – $18.2 mln under fall by 57,6% and 45,9%,
respectively. 30,9% of foreign investments and 25,7% of FDI over the
reporting period were attracted to the area of communication. 38,3%
of FDI – to the production and distribution of electricity, gas,
hot water and steam, and 10,7% – to the mining industry.

PENNINGTON: KARABAKH PEACEFUL RESOLUTION POSSIBLE IN FRAMEWORK OF OSCE MG ONLY

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.03.2008 16:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The U.S. is interested in a peaceful resolution of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, U.S. charge d’affairs Joseph Pennington
told a news conference in Yerevan.

"The U.S. administration views resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group only," he said.

Mr Pennington refrained from further comments.

"Ambassador Bryza, who is more competent in the issue will arrive in
Armenia soon," he said.

Earlier, Matthew Bryza voiced hope that the statement by Azeri Deputy
Foreign Minister Araz Azimov on intention to press for dissolution of
the OSCE MG "doesn’t reflect the position of the Azeri top leadership."

TROUBLED ARMENIA: PROTESTS CONTINUED

Economist
d/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10925842
March 27 2008
UK

Armenia is still teetering, and war clouds are gathering

IN HIS Easter service Karekin II, spiritual leader of Armenian
Christians, exhorted his congregation to be "one flock, with one
shepherd". For diplomats present the prelate’s words were laced
with meaning. Might he be urging Armenians to rally behind the
president-elect, Serzh Sarkisian?

Over a month after Mr Sarkisian, the prime minister, declared victory
in the February 19th presidential election, his future is uncertain.

Trouble began when thousands of protesters led by his rival, Levon
Ter-Petrosian, took to the streets, claiming that Mr Sarkisian stole
the vote. The protests turned bloody when eight people were killed
on March 1st. Emergency rule was imposed, although it was lifted as
promised on March 21st. But later that day hundreds of riot police
intervened when a largely female crowd tried to hold a vigil in memory
of the dead.

Opposition supporters are being arrested in droves. One activist
alleged that his car was torched because he backed a pro-opposition
news channel, Gala. A hastily crafted law to bar political gatherings
has been approved by parliament. Such tactics are calculated to stifle
opposition for good. But can they?

Some Western diplomats fret that Armenia’s strife might tempt a
bellicose Azerbaijan to try and regain control of the disputed enclave
of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Azeris are said to be spooked by Kosovo’s
successful campaign for independence and fear that Nagorno-Karabakh
might win international recognition. Ominously, Azerbaijan threatened
to pull out of international peace talks after America, Russia and
France voted against a UN resolution calling for the withdrawal of
Armenian forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding region. This
follows some of the deadliest border skirmishes between Azeri and
Armenian forces in years.

Mr Sarkisian is due to be sworn in on April 9th. He "needs to win
the confidence of the Armenian people, so that we may unite before
this threat [from Azerbaijan]," says one official. The surest way
to do that would be to order an independent investigation of the
March 1st events, declare an amnesty for recent political detainees,
and form a cabinet untainted by graft, suggests Anahit Bakshian,
an opposition member of parliament.

The Americans are threatening to freeze millions of dollars in aid.

Armenia should "pull itself together and get back on a democratic
path," says Dan Fried, of the State Department. Or Armenia "may go the
Belarus way," says Mrs Bakshian. Yet few believe that this is what Mr
Sarkisian would choose. Although a nationalist and no liberal, he has
presided over record growth and a sharp reduction in poverty. A chess
player and veteran of the Karabakh war in the 1990s, Mr Sarkisian
has kept close ties with Russia even as he has courted the West.

Mikhail Baghdassarov, a businessman and ally of Mr Sarkisian, believes
he will usher in young Western-trained technocrats and make the
market-friendly governor of the central bank, Tigran Sarkisian, prime
minister. Mr Ter-Petrosian vows to keep his supporters on the streets
until the election is overturned. There is a whiff of revenge about
his campaign, but his fiery talk of justice and freedom has inspired
Armenians. "Until this election I wasn’t interested in politics. Levon
gave us the feeling that we can shape our own destiny," says a young
Armenian painter. "No amount of repression can take that feeling away."

HEAD OF GEORGIAN ARMENIAN DIOCESE AND ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO GEORGIA VISIT SAMTSKHE-JAVAKH ON OCCASION OF EASTER

Noyan Tapan
March 26, 2008

AKHALKALAK, MARCH 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The head of
the Georgian Armenian diocese Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian and the
Armenian ambassador to Georgia Mr. Hrach Silvanian on March 22 visited
Samtskhe-Javakh province with the aim of celebrating Easter together
with Armenians of Samtskhe-Javakh .

In Akhaltsikhe the guests were met by the vicar of Samtskhe-Javakhk
monk Babgen Salbian, the deputy governor of Samtskhe-Javakh Samvel
Hoveyan, the deputy chairman of Akhaltsikhe regional assembly Aram
Poghosov and representatives of local youth organizations.

The guests went to Surb Grigor Lusavorich Church where priest Manuk
Zeynalian celebrated a liturgy, at the conclusion of which the head
of the Georgian Armenian diocese gave his commandment and blessing
to the Armenians of Akhaltsikhe. Then Ambassador Hrach Silvanian
welcomed the believers.

Following the liturgy, the guests were invited to festive Easter
supper.

In the evening the delegation members went to Akhalkalak.

According to the press service of the Georgian Armenian diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, on March 23 Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian and
Hrach Silvanian visited the Akhalkalak regional department where they
were met by the chairman of the regional assembly Khachatur Aivazian,
the chairman of the regional department Harutyun Hovhannisian and
heads of the region’s educational and cultural bodies.

During the meeting the regional heads presented the socioeconomic,
construction and road construction programs of this year. The Armenian
ambassador to Georgia Hrach Silvanian welcomed the achievements of
the region and Georgian government’s notable investments for regional
development. The head of the diocese and the ambassador accompanied
by regional heads visited the newly-built gymnasium and the milk
processing plant under construction in Akhalkalak. Then they went
to Surb Khach Church of Akhalkalak where priest Narek Ghushchian
celebrated an Easter liturgy.

The liturgy was followed by the blessing of easter eggs, sweets
and wines.

During the second half of the day the delegation members accompanied
by heads of Akhalkakal region visited Ninotsminda. In the yard of
Surb Sargis Church they were met by priest Armash Poghosian, deputy
of Georgian parliament Henzel Mkoyan, the chairman of the regional
assembly Stepan Yeranosian, the chairman of the regional department
Suren Mosoyan and heads of regional cultural and educational
bodies. Monk Babgen Salbian, Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian and the
Armenian ambassador addressed Armenians who gathered in Surb Sargis
Church, saying words of congratulation. Then the guests accompanied by
regional heads went to the regional administration department where
they were informed about the 2008 activity program. The ambassador
appreciated the work of local government bodies and expressed a hope
that it will gradually be possible to overcome the socioeconomic,
educational and cultural problems with the assistance of Georgia’s
government. The guests went to see a newly-built gymnasium in
Ninotsminda.

The visit of the head of the Georgian Armenian diocese and the Armenian
ambassador to Samtskhe-Javakh ended late evening in Ninotsminda. This
visit caused great inspiration among the population of Samthkhe-Javakh.

ARMENIA DISSUSSES EXPANSION OF COOPERATION WITH WB

ARKA
March 27, 2008

YEREVAN, March 27. /ARKA/. RA Minister of Finance and Economy Vardan
Khachatryan held a meeting yesterday with World Bank Country Director
Donna Dowsett-Coirolo, who paid a visit to Armenia.

The press service of the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy reports
that the sides discussed a number of issues of mutual interest.

The sides discussed the implementation of programs of developing
Armenia’s economic sectors.

Giving a high mark to the recent progress in Armenia’s cooperation
with the World Bank, the sides discussed the possibility of launching
new programs of expanding the cooperation.

Since 1992, when Armenia established cooperation with the World Bank,
the latter has allocated a total of $1.1bln under 48 programs. -0–