Author: Karabekian Emil

ARMENIAN STUDENTS PROTEST ELECTION
By Avet Demourian

Associated Press
February 22nd, 2008

YEREVAN, Armenia — About 3,000 students marched to the chief
prosecutor’s office in the Armenian capital on Friday in continuing
opposition protests against alleged election fraud.

The opposition claims Tuesday’s presidential vote was rigged and
demands a recount.

Election officials said Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian – the favorite
to succeed outgoing President Robert Kocharian – won the election with
53 percent of the vote. Opposition candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian had
21 percent, according to the official results.

On Thursday, activists set up about a dozen tents on a central
Yerevan square and about 2,000 opposition supporters maintaned a
vigil overnight in an effort to launch round-the-clock protests. An
estimated 25,000 protesters rallied in Yerevan on Thursday.

Students holding banners that read "Sarkisian, Go!" delivered petitions
to the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Central Election Commission
on Friday demanding that it take action against election violations.

Government opponents have said the election was marred by widespread
violations and violence targeting opposition activists who monitored
the vote.

Election observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe said there were concerns about the vote count, but issued
a generally positive assessment.

PAPER TRANSFERS AMONG ARMENIAN BANKS GROW 3.4FOLD IN 2007 ON PREVIOUS YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Feb 21, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The paper payments made by Armenian
commercial banks in 2007 made up 25.74% of the total amount of bank
payments and 0.43% of the number of such payments (their amount grew
3.1fold, the number – 1.2fold as compared with 2006).

According to the press service of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA),
the average daily number of paper payments through the CBA made 174
transfers of 8.5 bln drams or about 24.85 mln USD (the average daily
amount of transfers increased by 4 bln drams as compared with 2006),
while the average amount of a transfer grew by about 35 mln drams on
2006 and made 49 mln drams.

73 paper transfers of 35.7 bln drams were made among commercial banks
of Armenia in 2007, their total amount grew 3.4fold.

RPA: RE-COUNT OF VOTES PROCEEDS IN COMPLIANCE WITH LEGISLATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.02.2008 18:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Re-count of votes proceeds in compliance with
legislation, said Eduard Sharmazanov, a spokesman for the Republican
Party of Armenia.

"Some candidates question the outcomes of the election. Serzh
Sargsyan’s election staff condemns any distortion of the election’s
results. Our candidate stated that all those guilty will be handed
punishment in the framework of the law," the RPA statement said.

Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan won the presidential election with 52,
86% of votes.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: "KARABAKH MOVEMENT WAS EXPRESSION OF LEGAL DEMAND"

Noyan Tapan
Feb 20, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. On the occasion of the 20th
anniversary of the Karabakh movement Robert Kocharian, the President
of the Republic of Armenia, addressed a message to the people of the
Republic of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh on February 20. The message
runs as follows:

"Dear compatriots,

Today is a memorable day: the 20th anniversary of the Karabakh
movement.

That movement is the newest stage of the struggle for the
self-determination of the people of Artsakh, which made our national
awakening significant.

The Karabakh movement was an expression of a peaceful and legal
demand. It was reversed by massacres, evictions and large-scale
military activities.

Under the conditions imposed on us it turned into a national-liberation
war of self-defence.

The Artsakh war for liberation gave numerous heros and demanded
irretrievable victims. However, it also tempered the will of our
people and deepened the conviction of the absence of the alternative
for independence.

The independence of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh is no longer
only a means for preserving the national identity, but also the only
real guarantee for peacefully developing in one’s own land.

Any other status differing from independence is strage for the
generation of the contemporaries of the movement. The Republic
of Nagorno Karabakh has recorded serious achievements in state
construction. They are the strong-groundedness of state structures,
the strengthening of democracy, as well as the growth and productivity
of economy.

Once again congratulating on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of
the Karabakh movement, I express my sincere gratitude to all those,
who have done and are doing everything for the progress of Artsakh. I
wish peace, prosperity and new achievements in the state construction
of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh."

France seeks to renew ties
Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Turkish Daily News
Feb 19 2008

French Secretary of State for External Commerce, Herve Novelli,
visited Turkey this week in an effort to revive economic ties between
the two countries, or at least express his government’s good will
for trade relations, despite recent tensions over Turkey’s European
Union candidature and France’s persistence over recognition of the
"Armenian Genocide." Novelli ws in Istanbul on Monday, Ankara today,
and Mersin tomorrow accompanied by a delegation of French entrepreneurs
representing 41 companies of which 17 are small and medium enterprises
(SMEs). The visit comes as the minister’s attempt to encourage
French businesses to invest in Turkey, both geographically close
and emerging. "Exchanges like these comfort me and confirm that
our relations hold a lot of opportunities despite some ‘clouds’
in our bilateral history," said Novelli in Istanbul on Monday at
a luncheon organized by the French Chamber of Commerce in Turkey,
attended by the French Ambassador of France in Turkey, Bernard Emie
and nearly 180 representatives of the French and Turkish business
communities. "It is when things are delicate that we have to illustrate
our persistence in these ties…. We have important debates that are
valuable and important.

The hope of Turkey to enter the EU is strong and deems respect. The
view that Turkey could have a privileged relationship with the
EU should not be discredited. The two countries should renew their
relations," he said. On Monday, commenting on the French parliamentary
move to recognize the "Armenian genocide" as such, Novelli said,
it is not the place of parliament to decide what took place in
history. The minister vowed to help French companies invest in Turkey,
and invited the Ambassador of France to Turkey to organize a delegation
of Turkish businessmen who would like to learn more of the investment
opportunities available in France. "I propose that we intensify our
economic ties and define a concrete plan of action that involves more
exchanges between Turkish and French businessmen," he said. "Despite
our political differences, there is a will to work together… I’m
for amelioration and acceleration of our work together." French
exports to Turkey in 2007 reached 5,100 million euros. France is
Turkey’s 6th largest importer and third foreign investor. Nearly 260
French entreprises are established in Turkey, compared to the 15 in
1885. Turkey is a major supplier to the French market and holds 4,750
million euros making it France’s 7th largest supplier after China,
the United States, Russia, Japan, Switzerland, and Norway.

An amusement park in Gaziantep

Last week the Municipality of Gaziantep and French amusement park
building company Loftus signed a contract for Turkey’s first ever
amusement park. The project is worth an estimated 10 million euros
and will be complete in January 2009, Yann Tranlong, chairman and CEO
of Loftus told the Turkish Daily News on Monday. "It’s a region that
needs something like this," said Tranlong. "We couldn’t have done it
were it not for the committment, openness and professionalism we saw
on the part of the city of Gaziantep," he said.

Foreign Minister of Armenia expressed hope that the "elections will proceed well"

February 19, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian expressed
hope today that "the elections will proceed well, and we will have
a legitimate President".

Mediamax reports that the Armenian Foreign Minister stated that the
elections consist of three stages – the pre-election process, the day
of voting and the day after the elections. "On the day of elections
the people will state their will, and the next day we will open a
new page and will all congratulate the winner", Vartan Oskanian stated.

Armenian Foreign Minister noted that he voted today "for the continuous
security, peace and development of Armenia".

According to the Minister, he would like the elections to be concluded
in one round, however, "the decision will be made by the people,
and we should be ready for the second round as well".

11.2 % of voters attended polling stations by 11 a.m.

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.02.2008 13:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 265.533 voters (11.2 %) have attended polling
stations by 11 a.m., CEC Spokesman Hamlet Hambaryan said.

The Central Electoral Committee will go on the air every three hours
during the day and every hour after midnight.

According to the RA Police, 2 328 320 voters may participate in the
elections. The Armenian Central Electoral Committee has registered
13 428 observers, including from 39 local and 6 international
organizations.

The preliminary results will be announced on February 20 no later
than 8 p.m. The final outcomes of the elections will come in 7 days

Washington Times, DC
Feb 17 2008

U.S. Turks aim to change image

By Svitlana Korenovska
February 17, 2008

A Washington-based organization is spearheading a drive to correct
what it sees as common misconceptions about Turkey, hoping to change
how Americans see the massacre of Armenians in World War I and
educate them about Turkey’s role in rebuilding Iraq.

The Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) already has
organized meetings in 11 cities and will continue to tour the United
States with meetings and lectures in an additional 19 cities.

The program, inspired by ATAA President Nurten Ural, aims to teach
Turkish Americans how to be more active citizens and how to defend
and promote themselves in American society.

According to a Turkish Embassy registry, there are about 150,000
Turks living in the United States. ATAA puts the number at 250,000,
counting ethnic-Turkish immigrants from countries other than Turkey.

The assembly, representing more than 60 leading Turkish-American
organizations across the country, sees its main goals as explaining
Turkey’s account of the Armenian massacres and overcoming common
prejudices against Turks.

The effort by the Turkish-American assembly will have to counter a
strong Armenian lobby in the United States. Several U.S. cities –
especially in California, Michigan and Massachusetts – have large
Armenian populations with considerable political influence. One
estimate put the number of Armenian Americans at 1.5 million.

The Armenian lobby won a significant victory in October when, despite
an appeal from President Bush, the House Foreign Affairs Committee
passed a resolution describing the killing of Armenians by Ottoman
Turks as genocide.

As many as 1 million Armenians died at the hands of the Ottoman
Empire during World War I, according to the Armenians, who describe
the deaths as genocide. Turks acknowledge that large numbers of
people died, but they object to the use of the word genocide.

"We are seeking dialogue with Armenian Americans. Rather than
monologue on the Armenian perspective, we want broad and deep debate
regarding all the facts and the law," said Gunay Evinch, the
president-elect of the ATAA.

"I would like to be clear that in no way does the Turkish-American
community or Turkey deny the massacres of Armenians," Mr. Evinch
said.

"We also call for sincere attention to the 1.1 million Muslims and
Jews who perished during the Armenian Revolt, 1885-1919, in the same
area of eastern Ottoman Anatolia and under the same conditions under
which Armenians died. The truth we seek is the complete truth."

The organization also wants Americans and their government to better
understand what Turkey is doing to help the United States in Iraq.

The ATAA points out that Turkey has made large donations to Iraq for
humanitarian purposes and construction work, while helping with
military training and in establishing a dialogue among Iraq groups
and factions.

Mr. Evinch said he worries that the image of Turkish Americans will
be hurt by television shows that depict people of Turkish heritage as
Islamic terrorists.

"There wasn’t one [event] in American history, let alone European
history, when we had Turkish people engaged in Islamic terrorism," he
said.

217/FOREIGN/44180980/1003

"KAMURJ 2008" 5th INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM OPENS IN TSAKHKADZOR

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The 5th international economic forum
"Kamurj 2008" ("Bridge 2008") with the participation of about 300
participants from seven countries opened in Tsakhkadzor on February 16.

The plenary sitting of the forum was dedicated to the subject
"International Economic Cooperation. Priorities, Trends, Dominating
Power". Prior to giving a report on prospects of Armenia’s economic
development, the RA minister of trade and economic development Nerses
Yeritsian proposed that "Kamurj 2009" be dedicated to issues of
increasing the competitiveness of our country in the world economy. In
his words, the forum is organized at a high level, due to which
"Kamurj" is associated with world econimic forums held in Davos
(Switzerland). Speeches were made by Sergei Petrov, deputy governor of
Stara Zagora region (Bulgaria), Yan Visner, chairman of the Union of
Czech and Moravian Production Cooperatives (UCMPC), Vladislav Ashmarin,
head of the innovation activity department of the Moscow government,
Anahit Simonian, head of the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO) programs in Armenia, and Nikolay Murashov, head of
the department of industry (Kaliningrad region) of the RF ministry of
economy. The speakers presented the structures headed by them and
addressed the opportunities of cooperation with them.

At the conclusion of the plenary sitting, the chairman of the Union of
Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia (UMBA) Arsen
Ghazarian handed a gold medal of the union to Norayr Nazinian, director
of "Master" internation integration assistance center, an organizer of
"Kamurj," for the center’s contribution to development of economic
links between Armenia and foreign countries, implementation of
investment programs and assistance to Armenian enterprises and on the
occasion of the 5th anniversary of "Master". Besides, the chairmen of
UMBA and UCMPC signed an agreement on cooperation between these unions.

The participants of "Kamurj 2008" continued their work at the round
tables on the following subjects: "Armenia as a Financial Center",
"Small and Medium Business. Prerequisites for Development", "Transport
and Logistics. Problems and Prospects". The conference "Investment
Attractiveness of the Region. Competitiveness, Diversification and
Efficiency" took place. Round tables on the subjects "Information
Society, Past and Present. Development Strategy of Information and
Communication Technologies" and "Construction Industry. Definition of
Processes and Methods, Development Prospects" will be held on the last
day of the forum – February 17.

The UMBA and the international integration assistance center "Master"
are the organizers of "Kamurj 2008". The event is being held with the
assistance of the RA ministry of trade and economic development, the RA
foreign ministry, the Central Bank of Armenia and the Armenian
Development Agency.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Armenian, Ukrainian FMs discuss GUAM draft resolution on frozen conflicts
15.02.2008 18:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Within the framework of Special Session of the EU
and Black Sea Economic Cooperation Foreign Ministers Meeting in Kyev,
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met with his Ukrainian
counterpart Vladimir Orgyzko.

Pleased with the level of bilateral cooperation, the officials
stressed the necessity of encouraging economic relations and commodity
turnover.

Mr Ogryzko briefed on priorities of Ukraine’s foreign policy,
specifically the process of integration into European structures and
relations with NATO.

The Ministers also referred to developments in Kosovo, regional
conflicts and GUAM draft resolution on frozen conflicts that was
submitted to the UN General Assembly, the RA MFA press office
reported.