Author: Karapetian Hovik

ARMENIA MAKES CHEAP PR CAMPAIGN: AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTRY

TREND News Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug 14 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr.ÊRamazanova / Khazar Ibrahim, the
Press-Secretary of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, stated that the
Armenian attempt to promote ‘development’ in the Azerbaijani occupied
territories is a cheap publicity stunt, commenting on the information
about recent visits of American, Canadian, French, Austrian, German,
and Russian citizens to Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Armenian sources reported that about 2,000 foreign citizens visited
the conflicted area between January and July 2007. This figure is up
60% more than the same period in 2006.

"The visit of foreign citizens to Nagorno-Karabakh is being
implemented through the support of the Armenian Diaspora. They cannot
demonstrate development in the Azerbaijani occupied territories,"
the Press-Secretary of the Ministry stated.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began
in 1988 due to Armenian claims to Azerbaijani territories. Since
1992, Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijani land including the
Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding Districts. In 1994,
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time
the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
(Russia, France, and USA) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.

–Boundary_(ID_khmaWqm9sp7AcfU1hpgX SA)–

PRESS RELEASE
Date: August 10, 2007
Armenian National Committee of Ohio
P.O. 419, New York, NY 10108
Contact: David Krikorian
Tel: 513-289-5265

OHIO MAYORS RALLY IN SUPPORT OF GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
Mayors Michael B. Coleman of Columbus, Frank G. Jackson of
Cleveland, and Mark Mallory of Cincinnati Issue Proclamations in
Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide

OH- Shortly after becoming the 40th US State to recognize the
Armenian Genocide by proclamation of Governor Ted Strickland,
Mayors Michael Coleman, Frank Jackson, and Mark Mallory issued
proclamations in remembrance of the Armenian Genocide reported the
Armenian National Committee of Ohio.

The strongly worded proclamations all note the importance of
genocide recognition and the significant role that Ohioan Armenians
play throughout the state. ANC of Ohio’s David Krikorian an Ohio
activist has been instrumental in working on having the various
Mayors issue proclamations remembering this historical fact.

Earlier this year, while at a bookstore in Oakley, Ohio, Krikorian
found a book called "Martyred Armenia and the Story of My Life,"
1920, written by Krikor Gayjinkian, an Armenian priest who fled to
Cincinnati, Ohio during the Armenian Genocide, and recounted his
stories of the massacres that took place towards the Christian
Armenians by the Muslim Turks. "With their proclamations, the fine
mayors of Ohio’s largest cities have set an example for all Ohioans
to recognize genocide where and when it happens no matter the
political fallout. It is this kind of leadership that can end the
cycle of genocide which started with the Armenian Genocide and
continues to this day with the genocide in Darfur," commented
Krikorian.

In his proclamation, Mayor Cleveland dedicated the week of July 22-
28th in honoring and remembering the genocide of the Armenians,
coinciding with ANCA’s second "Call for Justice" campaign in which
thousands of activists from across the nation participated in
calling their member of Congress urging support of the legislation.
The success of the two call in days added tremendously to the
support and awareness of the resolution.

Ohio’s Congressional delegation has a strong record of support for
Armenian Genocide legislation with Representatives Dennis Kucinich
(D-10), Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-11), Betty Sutton (D-13), Steve
LaTourette (R-14), Tim Ryan (D-17), and Zack Space (D-18) having
already cosponsored H. Res 106. Newly elected Senator Sherrod Brown
(D) is a cosponsor of the Senate version of the initiative,
S.Res.106.

Currently over 225 U.S Representatives are signed on to H. Res.
106, and over 30 Senators signed on to S. Res. 106.

The Armenian National Committee of America is 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.
####

Photo Caption:
Mayor Frank Jackson of Cleveland, OH surrounded by Ohio activists

Issued Proclamations, available upon request
Mayor Michael B. Coleman of Columbus
Mayor Frank G. Jackson of Cleveland
Mayor Mark Mallory of Cincinnati

Office of the Mayor
City of Columbus, Ohio
Citation of Recognition

WHEREAS, the Mayor of the City of Columbus, Ohio has the
responsibility to recognize occasions of outstanding significance;
and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide was conceived and carried out by the
Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923 resulting in the murder of 1.5
million Armenian men, women and children and the expulsion of the
Armenians from their ancestral homeland of more than 2,500 years;
and

WHEREAS, the first Armenian American communities in Ohio were
formed in Cleveland and Cincinnati during the very early part of
the 20th century; and today, vibrant Armenian American communities
flourished in all four corners of Ohio.

WHEREAS, Armenian Americans throughout Columbus are joined by all
those devoted to ending the cycle of crimes against humanity; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Michael B. Coleman, Mayor of the City of
Columbus, Ohio do hereby recognize April 24, 2007 as:

Columbus Day of Remembrance 92nd Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, 1915-1923

And urge all member of our community to join in recognition of this
significant occasion.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the
Great Seal of the Mayor of the City of Columbus, Ohio, to be hereto
affixed this 24th day of April 2007.

Signed
Mayor Michael B. Coleman

Proclamation
City of Cincinnati

City of Cleveland
Mayor Frank G. Jackson
In Recognition of Armenian Genocide Recognition
July 22nd-28th

WHEREAS, On behalf of the citizens of the City of Cleveland, I am
honored to offer this proclamation designating July 22nd-28th as
Armenian Genocide Recognition week in the City of Cleveland; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide, conceived and carried out by the
Ottoman Empire from 1915-1923, resulted in the deaths of 1.5
million men, women, and children and the deportations of an
additional one-half million individuals from their ancestral homes,
resulting in the elimination of a more than 2,500 year presence of
Armenians in their historic homeland; and

WHEREAS, recognizing the suffering of the Armenian people
underscores one of the major affronts to basic human rights and
human dignity in modern times, and preserving the memory of the
Armenian Genocide is an essential component in the worldwide effort
to avert and abolish contemporary and future genocidal actions and
other such atrocities and

WHEREAS, the people of the City of Cleveland embrace justice, and
human dignity, and feel a moral responsibility to uphold
fundamental human values, and to focus attention on human rights
abuses, ethnic cleansing, and genocide.

THEREFORE, I, Frank G. Jackson the 56th Mayor of the City of
Cleveland, do hereby offer this Proclamation designating July 22nd-
28th as Armenian Genocide Recognition week in the City of Cleveland.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand and caused the Corporate
Seal of the City of Cleveland to be affixed on this 22nd day of July
in the year 2007.

Signed
Mayor Frank G. Johnson

Proclamation
City of Cincinnati
Be it Proclaimed:
WHEREAS, beginning in 1915, under the direction of the Ottoman
Empire, the Armenian Genocide was carried out; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide resulted in the deaths of nearly 1.5
million Armenians, and hundreds of thousands of deportments; and

WHEREAS, the loss of life and denial of justice resulting from the
Armenian Genocide should be a lesson to all in how precious life
is; and

WHEREAS, the rich settlement of Armenians that began in Cleveland
has spread to every corner of Ohio, contributing to all aspects of
Ohio Society; and

WHEREAS, by remembering the Armenian Genocide, we acknowledge the
pain and suffering endured by those affected, and firmly assert
that these types of injustices should never happen again; and

NOW, Therefore, I Mark Mallory,
Mayor of the City of Cincinnati to hereby proclaim

April 24, 2008
As "Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day" In Cincinnati

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused this
seal of the City of Cincinnati to be affixed this 30th day of July
in the year of Two Thousand and Seven
Signed
Mayor Mark Mallory

‘UNITY FOR SELF-DETERMINATION’ OPPOSITIONAL PARTY TO TAKE PART IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IF COMMON TEAM OF DEMOCRATIC FORCES IS FORMED

arminfo
2007-08-10 13:32:00

‘Unity for Self-determination’ oppositional party will take part
in the forthcoming 2008 presidential election if a common team of
democratic forces is formed, leader of this party Paruyr Hairikyan
said at today’s press-conference.

He is sure that a presidential contender should be a representative
of a definite team and his victory at the election will be that of
the whole team. P. Hairikyan thinks that the number of participants
will grow at the following meetings, however, this is the case when
the number is of no importance. The key is to achieve specific results
as consequence of negotiations.

ARMENIA NOT TO SPARE EFFORTS TO SETTLE KARABAKH CONFLICT

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.08.2007 14:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Despite the fact that no progress was reached during
the St. Petersburg meeting between Armenian and Azeri presidents,
we shall continue our positive participation in this sensitive and
important process -the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,"
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated. "The Armenian side
will not spare efforts to settle the conflict. We shall assist in
establishing enduring peace in the region," the RA FM told in an
interview to the Iranian-based Armenian newspaper "Huys".

ATOM EGPYAN’S ARARAT TO BE SCREENED AT 10TH ISTANBUL BIENNALE

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.08.2007 19:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Atom Egpyan’s Ararat, the film about the Armenian
Genocide, will be screened at 10th Istanbul biennale. The biennale
was initiated by the Istanbul Culture and Art Fund. 100 art workers
from 35 states will take part in it. Over 150 projects of various
creative groups will be represented, Haberler.com reports.

Ararat was shown by Kanal Turk TV channel with some deletions in
April 2006.

COOPERATION AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT AND ALROSA

Noyan Tapan
Aug 06 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 6, NOYAN TAPAN. An agreement on cooperation was signed
on August 6 between the Armenian government and ALROSA CJSC, one of
the world’s leading companies engaged in gold and diamond mining. NT
was informed by the RA Government Information and PR Department that
on the same the delegation headed by the company’s chairman Sergei
Vybornov was received by the prime minister of the RA Serge Sargsian.

S. Vybornov informed S. Sargsian on further programs of ALROSA and
their intention to expand the company’s activity in and implement
new and big investment projects in Armenia, taking into account the
existing experience of cooperation with Armenian diamond cutting and
jewelry companies, the availability of qualified specialists in our
country, as well as Armenia’s favorable legislative and investment
environment. ALROSA, which has been operating in Armenia since 2002
under an intergovernmental agreement, in the words of S. Vybornov,
aims to develop mutually beneficial cooperation in the gem and jewelry
sector of Armenia.

S. Sargsian said that the Armenian government is interested in
promoting the cooperation and in ALROSA’s investment projects. He
welcomed the entrance of big comapnies into Armenia with the aim of
carrying out serious and long-term activities, and underlined that
the Armenian government is willing to assist such companies with
their work in Armenia. In his words, the agreement signed between
the government of the RA and ALROSA is an evidence of this.

Newspaper examines prospects for Russian "return" to Afghanistan

Gazeta, Moscow
1 Aug 07

[Article by Nadezhda Kevorkova: "Afghan Sadness" – Taken from the HTML
version of source provided by ISP]

Nikolay Bordyuzha, the general secretary of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO) yesterday [ 31 July] made a suggestion,
which is quite hard for the West to refuse and which has already evoked
a response in the world. Talking after a Moscow-Beijing video bridge
devoted to "the role of the CSTO in guaranteeing the regional security
of the treaty member countries", the former head of the presidential
administration stated that the CSTO was ready to cooperate with the
antiterrorist coalition headed by America, which operates in
Afghanistan. It is not a matter of dispatching a military contingent
but of aid to Hamid Karzai’s government in the form of finance, weapons
and investment projects. But these words also mean that Russia wants to
return to Afghanistan.

Like thirty years or so ago, "Afghan sadness" has emerged because of
rivalry with the West. The USSR openly opposed it and Russia is
following the principle of "if you cannot prevent it, head it". First
at the G8 summit and at the informal meeting with George Bush, Vladimir
Putin suggested they jointly use the Gabalin radar station. Russia is
not in a position to really change the West’s plans on aircraft defence
issues, a Far East settlement, the status of Kosovo or the situation
around Iran and North Korea. However, in offering its help Russia has
nothing to lose and it could gain a great deal in Afghanistan where the
coalition’s troops have got as firmly bogged down as the Soviet troops
did.

Afghan Sadness

Russia Wants to Return to Afghanistan

Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are
members of the CSTO, in addition to Russia. "If we ignore the situation
in Afghanistan, we will again get problems in Central Asia for long
years ahead. So we are planning to put efforts into stabilizing the
situation in Afghanistan," Bordyuzha stated. "There can be no question
of any military participation by the CSTO countries in the
antiterrorist coalition."

Nikolay Bordyuzha reproached the world community for its passivity,
noting that the process of Afghan settlement should not include only
proving the Afghan army with weapons and the central authorities with
financial aid and investment projects -that is, all that the CSTO is
prepared to provide. The West, for example, should engage more actively
in police operations and fighting drugs trafficking.

In parallel with the general secretary of the CSTO, Konstantin
Kosachev, the head of the State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee, spoke
about Afghanistan yesterday. Commenting on the situation which has
developed in connection with the Taleban having seized South Korean
citizens, he stated that "the situation in Afghanistan is unfortunately
becoming degraded so the current format for the operation is starting
to lose prospects and is starting to exhaust itself". "It is my
conviction," Kosachev stated, "that the situation requires wider
discussion including, with the participation of countries which are not
involved in the operation. In particular, Russia". After all our
country is, in his opinion, "perceived by ordinary people as an ally".

In Conjunction with China

Does yesterday’s surge in official figures’ interest in Afghanistan
mean that Russia is prepared to return there, not only as an investor,
sponsor and supplier of weapons but also to send in its military
advisers? Dmitriy Oreshkin, the head of the Merkator analytical group,
does not rule out such a prospect. "The interests of the
military-industrial complex and a desire to compete with the Americans
lie behind such statements. Afghanistan is virtually the only place
where we are in a position to do this," he stated to the Gazeta
correspondent.

If the CSTO general secretary’s statements really are only the first
ball directed at the southern borders and others thrown by a higher
status hand will follow it, then everything is ready for this. There is
a potential and very strong ally -China. Nikolay Bordyuzha announced
that in the next few days or weeks a protocol would be signed on
cooperation between the CSTO and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO), which includes China in addition to Russia and the Central Asian
countries. Moreover, one of the components of this protocol will be
joint work on the "post-conflict construction" of Afghanistan. Let us
note that military cooperation between the CSTO and Afghanistan is
already underway. On 14 May, Bordyuzha stated that the Afghan
leadership had sent a four-page document to his organization’s
secretariat with a list of matters on which he expected help. As the
general secretary reported at the time, it was a matter mainly of
supplying and repairing military hardware as well as preparing staff
for the security structures.

But in general, military cooperation between the current Afghan
authorities and the CSTO has a longer history. Back in the 1990s,
Russia provided different kinds of military aid to the Northern
Alliance forces, who were fighting the Taleban. According to some data,
things even went as far as aircraft from Ahmad-Shah Masud’s army being
permitted to base themselves on the territory of neighbouring
Tajikistan. So in conjunction with China, Russia is now quite capable
of gradually taking the initiative in Afghanistan in its own hands. If
losses in the anti-terrorist coalition contingent are reduced, this
will lead to a real improvement in Russia’s image in the West.

Afghans are Waiting

There is another argument in favour of returning to Afghanistan -the
liking of the local inhabitants, apart from those who work with the
Americans. The reason for this is the way of dealing with the
population, which has wiped out negative memories of the Soviet
occupation. The difference is obvious both to the minister and to the
trader and to the refugee. From the point of view of the Afghans,
Soviets are brave soldiers who have generously built schools, plants
and hospitals, outside the combat situation they did not fear contact
with locals and did not consider them second-class citizens. Westerners
communicate via a gun sight, use harsh methods against women and
children and have not started up a single real humanitarian project.

There are still several tens of thousands of specialists who obtained
their education in the USSR and Russia and many people who understand
the Russian language. This is an extremely large lobby, which supports
Russia’s return to Afghanistan at various levels. Against the
background of American defeats and their lack of clear policies, Russia
is gaining points in the eyes of the local population and America is
losing them. For example, Russia has written off Afghan debts to the
Soviet Union, the Americans have not.

The Gazeta special correspond met representatives of the ruling and
opposition coalitions in April 2007. They all, to a man, expected
Russia to return with humanitarian, construction, road, foodstuffs and
industrial programmes.

Sibghatullah Mujadadi, the first president of the Islamic State of
Afghanistan, substantiated the government’s firm intention to develop
relations in all spheres in an interview with Gazeta (20 April edition).

Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry has immediate plans to make extensive
purchases from Russia, after all the Afghan army has Russian weapons
any way.

Shaker Kargar, the former vice-president and currently one of the
opposition leaders and a parliamentary deputy, thinks that the strategy
of Russia’s return should begin with humanitarian programmes and
Afghanistan’s military department has to purchase weapons from its
great northern neighbour however much Karzai’s Western partners want to
move the army to NATO standards.

Karzai’s position is extremely shaky in the country; he and his allies
have still not succeeded not only in defeating the Taleban but also in
getting the negotiations process going. In the opinion of those Gazeta
spoke to in the parliament and ministries, the less successful Karzai
is, the more active leaders in Afghanistan who have maintained business
contacts with Russia become.

Kabul Today

Sibghatullah Mujadadi remarked that the Russians departed from a Kabul
where construction had been completed and it now lies in ruins. It is a
huge single-story city in which there is no electricity, asphalt,
running water or sewerage system -nothing. Villas are being built in
some areas but for the most part there are clay shacks stuck to the
slopes of hills. The only thing they have is kerosene lamps.

Explosions occur in the city with a frequency of around once a week -at
police departments, army checkpoints and parliament. The Taleban have
acquired the halo of fighters against the occupiers in the eyes of the
Afghans. They are on the offensive not only in a number of provinces
but are also doing okay in Kabul. It is impossible to control this city
using the methods of the American troops and Karzai’s army has
sympathies with the Taleban.

This is unlikely to impede the return of Russian businesses since, in
contrast to the Americans; the Russians have a reasonable reputation
among the Taleban and the former Northern Alliance. Both sides have
identical weapons -Kalashnikovs -and both have a large number of
graduates from Russian higher educational establishments.

MORE MARRIAGES REGISTERED, LESS DIVORCES GRANTED

ARMENPRESS
Aug 2, 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS; Judging from the statistics, the number
of registered marriages in January-June 2007 rose 6, 2 percent from
a year ago to 8,669.

According to Garik Hayrapetian, UN Population Fund Armenia Office
representative, the number of marriages in post-Soviet Armenia reduced
almost 3 times. He said despite an insignificant rise the figures
are not satisfactory yet.

In 1990 when Armenia’s population was 3.5 million, about 28,000
marriages were registered annually, while in 2006 with 3.2 million
population only 16,500 marriages were registered.

The marriage age of Armenian males rose 2.5 year to 25.5 years and
that of women rose 1.6 years to 22.3 years. According to the same
statistics, the number of granted divorces in January-June 2007
reduced 9.5 percent from a year ago to 1,376.

U.S. PROVIDES MILLION OF FIELD EQUIPMENT TO PEACEKEEPING BATTALION OF RA MINISTRY OF DEFENSE

Noyan Tapan
Aug 1, 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 1, NOYAN TAPAN. On July 27 and 31, approximately
3 million dollars of NATO interoperable military equipment for the
Armenian 12th Peacekeeping Battalion was delivered to the Armenian
Ministry of Defense.

The U.S. field equipment was provided as part of an 8 million dollar
plan by the U.S. Foreign Military Financing program to assist
the Armenian government to achieve its goal of developing a NATO
interoperable Peacekeeping Battalion by 2009.

According to the information spread by the U.S. Embassy in the Republic
of Armenia, with the arrival of additional shipments in coming
weeks, the battalion should be fully equipped with U.S. and NATO
interoperable equipment before the end of the year, thereby easing
its logistical requirements regarding equipment re-supply during
deployment. The Armenian government currently provides troops to the
stability and peacekeeping operations in Kosovo and Iraq. Lieutenant
Colonel Doug Peterson, the Chief of the U.S. Embassy’s Office of
Defense Cooperation, commented that this event marked the largest
shipment of U.S. military equipment for the Peacekeeping Battalion
to date. Desert uniforms and clothing, boots, backpacks, protective
masks, field equipment, medical supplies, cold weather clothing,
and maintenance equipment are included in the shipment. Peterson also
mentioned that the U.S. military assistance in 2008 will be directed
towards the creation of a new Armenian Peacekeeping Brigade, plus
continued assistance to the Armenian field hospital that was provided
by the U.S. government this past January.

FORMER ARMENIAN PRISON CHIEF ARRESTED FOR ‘KIDNAPPING’
By Emil Danielyan and Ruzanna Stepanian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
July 31 2007

A former head of Armenia’s prisons and detention facilities has been
arrested on charges of kidnapping and holding to ransom an Armenian
man in Moscow.

Law-enforcement authorities confirmed late Monday that Samvel
Hovannisian, who headed a Justice Ministry department running the
Armenian penitentiary system until June last year, was detained
on Friday. Officers of a special police unit tasked with combating
organized crime searched his Yerevan apartment shortly afterwards.

Sona Truzian, a spokeswoman for the Prosecutor-General’s Office told
RFE/RL that Hovannisian was formally charged Monday under an article
of the Armenian Criminal Code that deals with kidnappings committed
by an "organized group" of individuals.

The law-enforcement agency detailed the accusations leveled against
him in a written statement on Tuesday. The statement said Hovannisian
was behind the June 27 kidnapping in Moscow of a man identified as
Rubik Simonian. It said Simonian was set free on July 6 after paying
a $300,000 ransom to a "representative" of the former prison chief.

The statement revealed that Hovannisian was arrested on a tip-off from
Ara Abrahamian, a prominent Russian businessman of Armenian descent.

Citing unnamed law-enforcement sources, the daily "Aravot" reported
that the investigators believe Hovannisian led a racketeering ring
that also comprised several Russians and Georgians. The paper said
they are cooperating with law-enforcement authorities in Russia and
Georgia as part of the inquiry. It also quoted the sources as saying
that Hovannisian has pleaded guilty to the accusations.

The Prosecutor-General’s Office confirmed that there are other suspects
in the case, saying that "measures are being taken to identify and
track down all of the individuals who committed the crime and to
clarify all circumstances of the incident."