Author: Khondkarian Raffi

PanARMENIAN.Net

German Marshall Fund: Turks attitude towards NATO,
Russia, Iran and China grew cooler
07.09.2007 19:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The giant research conducted by
German Marshall Fund revealed that Turkish people who
started to look at the external world with suspicion
in recent years isolated themselves from the world
even more in 2007.

The annual survey of the Fund of the U.S. also showed
that 58 per cent of Europeans, including 74% of
Turkish people regarded U.S. leadership in world
affairs as "undesirable" and only 36% thought it
"desirable".

The Transatlantic Tendencies 2007 survey applied by
German Marshall Fund to a thousand people in 12
countries including Turkey has revealed that Turks get
more and more isolated from the world day by day.
Although Turkish public has a status of candidate for
EU membership, Turks’ hopes for accession to EU fell
from 54% to 40% in 2006. Turks’ feeling of warmth
towards EU is measured as 26 degrees this year against
52 degrees of 2004.

Turks’ attitude towards NATO, Russia, Iran and China
grew cooler. Attitude towards Palestinians warmed from
7% to 42%.

German Marshall Fund authorities stated that Turks
have moved away from the international political
issues and became introvert; and linked the opposition
to the U.S. in Turkey to the issues of `continuation
of PKK problem, Bush administration and Iraqi war.’

According to the authorities, the reasons for the
cooler attitude towards Europe are the difficulty of
EU negotiations and the existence of anti-Turkey
leaders, APA reports.

RUSSIAN SILHOUETTE: FOR ARMENIANS

Panorama.am
20:50 08/09/2007

At 7:30 PM in the Russian House the semi-finals of the seventh
international "Russian Silhouette" competition for young models will
take place. This news was revealed today at a press conference by
the local representative of the "Russian Silouette" benevolent fund
at the Ateks fashion center.

Of the 70 Armenian designers participating in the competition, only
27 made it to the semi-finals. Two or three designers will reach the
finals, and will present their work in Moscow on November 11. There
they will compete with designers from Commonwealth and pre-Baltic
countries. The main prize winners will be given the opportunity to
gain experience at well known Russian and overseas fashion institutes
and academies.

In the semi-finals, each designer must present 5 garments, as well
as the idea behind each garment, its structure, and color scheme.

"This types of competitions are important for Armenia, as it will
improve our designers’ tastes. We are trying to raise a generation
of educated designers.

Designers who have their own small brands, and orders, are
participating," said Mikael Danielyan, artistic director of the Ateks
fashion center.

The young designers’ competition was started in 1999 by the
"Russian Silouette" benevolent fund. The competition takes place
in 150 Commonwealth and pre-Baltic countries. About 3,000 designers
participate in the competition every year.

WHO GIVES DOCUMENTS TO SECOND-HAND DEALERS?

A1+
[05:50 pm] 05 September, 2007

On September 5, over 150-200 employees of Erebuni "Universam"
(self-service store) assembled near the RA Government. They wanted
to meet the prime minister.

The employees are indignant at the fact that they are asked to produce
acts of purchase and sale at every step, they are merely second-hand
dealers.

They buy clothes from wholesales and earn 300-500 drams from each
goods.

"We can hardly keep ourselves going and suffice our bare needs. They
deprive us of our daily bread and want us to starve," said Margaret
Asataryan.

The tradespeople pointed out that most of them had taken credits to
conduct trade. Now they don’t know how to repay the debts.

"Every day we pay 1840 drams per a square meter territory. Besides,
we pay 5000 drams to the pension fund every month. We can be fined
any moment as we don’t have acts of purchase and sale," said Anahit
Grigoryan.

Today the strikers were met by Manuk Topouzyan, the Head of the RA
Government personnel. But they were displeased with Topuzyan’s answer.

The employees are going to gather near the Government building
tomorrow.

OUTGOING AND RETURNING LABOR MIGRANTS SUPPORTED THROUGH RURAL RESOURCE CENTERS

armradio.am
05.09.2007 11:38

Six local organizations and one inter-community union will establish
Migration and Return Resource Centers in rural communities of Armenia
with support from Eurasia Foundation (EF) to provide services to
outgoing and returning labor migrants in the Lori, Armavir, Kotayk,
Syunik, Tavush and Gegharkunik regions of Armenia.

Each resource center will provide legal consultations; information
on employment opportunities in Armenia, on registration procedures
in Russia, and on the risks of illegal migration; and training for
returnees on entrepreneurship. Some resource centers will receive
additional support for visits to establish partnerships with Russian
NGOs serving labor migrants for the exchange of information and lessons
learned. Through the establishment of these resource centers, Eurasia
Foundation hopes to decrease the level of illegal labor migration
from Armenia’s regions, to help protect the rights of labor migrants
while they are abroad, and to assist returnees as they reintegrate
into local communities.

The Foundation will also provide training to develop the capacities
of each partner organization to gather and analyze data on local
trends in local migration and on the experiences of labor migrants
while abroad. This information will help the resource centers better
serve potential labor migrants and work with policy makers to develop
improved mechanisms for protecting migrants’ rights. Through a series
of network meetings between these resource centers and government
representatives, EF will promote information exchange on issues
related to labor migration.

Partner organizations include: The Resource Center of Charentsavan,
Armavir Development Center, Yerevak NGO, Hope and Help NGO in Vanadzor,
Sisian Communities Union, Goris Youth Union, and Martuni Women’s
Community Center. These organizations were selected through an open
competition that was publicly announced in June 2007.

BAKO SAHAKYAN RECEIVED NKR PRESIDENT’S CERTIFICATE

armradio.am
04.09.2007 15:17

Today NKR President’s certificate was handed to Bako Sahakyan at the
NKR Central Electoral Commission, Mediamax reports.

In his speech Bako Sahakyan assured that he will continue the process
of democratization of the socio-political life of Nagorno Karabakh
and the formation of civil society.

Let us remind that Bako Sahakyan won in the presidential elections
of July 19, getting 85.12% of the votes.

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Adrin Nazarian

September 4, 2007
818/240-6330

Assemblymember Krekorian to Host Burbank Block Party

BURBANK, CA-Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (D-43) will host the Burbank
Community Block Party this Saturday, September 8th from 11:00 a.m. –
4:00 p.m., along San Fernando Blvd., between Olive and Angeleno Streets,
in Downtown, Burbank.

The City of Burbank, along with the local Boys and Girls Club, will
co-sponsor this community and informational event.

"This will be a fun-filled day, featuring refreshments, talented
entertainment, an ‘adopt-a-pet’ area for children, and many booths
representing the State of California and non-profit organizations, as
well as the City of Burbank and the Burbank Boys and Girls Club,"
Assemblymember Krekorian said. "Visitors can get information about
their activities, as well as get a sense of why Burbank is such a
special place in which to live, work and raise families."

The event will feature over 70 organizations and approximately 80
booths. "We expect a sizable crowd all day, especially families,"
Assemblymember Krekorian said, "and participating booths should be very
well patronized. I anticipate a big turnout for a very enjoyable
community event."

For more information about the Block Party, call Assemblymember
Krekorian’s District Service Office at (818) 240-6330.

# # #

Adrin Nazarian
Chief of Staff
Office of Assemblymember Paul Krekorian
620 N. Brand Blvd. Suite 403
Glendale, CA 91203
(818) 240-6330
(818) 240-4632 fax
[email protected]

AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER TO MEET WITH OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS IN BRUSSELS
Corr Trend S.Agayeva

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 3 2007

On 3 September the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov is
scheduled to meet with Yuriy Merzlyakov and Bernard Fassier, the OSCE
Minsk co-chairs on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
from Russia and France in Brussels.

The co-chairs are expected to tour Yerevan and Baku in mid September.

The meeting will clarify the necessity of a meeting between the foreign
ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Azerbaijani foreign minister
stated in talks with journalists earlier.

Since 1992 the Armenian Armed Forces have occupied almost 20% of
Azerbaijani lands, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven districts
surrounding it. In 1994 Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire
agreement.

Mammadyarov is holding meetings with mediators during a conference
held in line with the European Union’s New Neighborhood Policy.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: "PAST YEARS CLEARLY SHOWED VIABILITY OF NKR"

Noyan Tapan
Sep 3, 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Robert Kocharian, the President of
the Republic of Armenia, has sent a message of congratulation to the
people of Nagorno Karabakh on the occasion of the Day of the Republic
of Nagorno Karabakh. The message, the text of which was provided to
Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s Press Office, runs as follows:

"Dear compatriots,

I congratulate you on the occasion of the Day of the Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh.

We celebrate the 16th anniversary of the independence of Artsakh
re-affirming the strive of people for living under free and democratic
conditions. The past years clearly showed the viability of the Republic
of Nagorno Karabakh and the decisiveness of the people in building
a free, safe and productive state.

Numerous Armenians, who dreamt to see a free and prosperous Artsakh,
died the death of a hero on this difficult way. Today we bow our
heads in front of their memory.

Once again I congratulate you on the occasion of the Day of
Independence. I am sure that the programs implemented in Karabakh will
bring forth a new quality of life and improve the living standard of
people to a considerable extent with the newly-elected President at
the head."

Armenian National Committee of Australia
The Peak Public Affairs Committee of the Armenian-Australian Community
259 Penshurst Street, Willoughby NSW 2068 ~ PO Box 768, Willoughby NSW 2068
Tel: (02) 9419 8264 ~ Fax: (02) 9411 8898
Email: [email protected]

1 September, 2007

PRESS RELEASE

MINISTER JOE HOCKEY REAFFIRMS SUPPORT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

SYDNEY: Australia’s Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations,
the Honourable Mr. Joe Hockey reaffirmed his commitment to advocate for
recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Federal Government of Australia,
during a meeting with the Armenian National Committee of Australia last
week.

Mr. Hockey declared: "My support for Armenian Genocide recognition is
unwavering."

ANC Australia President, Mr. Varant Meguerditchian welcomed the Minister’s
reaffirmation and leadership on this important issue, stating: "Affirmation
of the Armenian Genocide is a fundamental step toward ensuring that similar
crimes are not repeated."

As the Federal Member for North Sydney, Mr. Hockey has been a longstanding
supporter of the Armenian community and Armenian Genocide recognition. His
recent comments follow a 2005 visit to the Republic of Armenia where he laid
a wreath at the ‘Tzitzernagapert’ Genocide Memorial Monument in memory of
the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Considered to be the first genocide of the twentieth century by historians
and academics, the systematic slaughter of an estimated 1.5 million
Armenians between 1915 and 1923 by the Ottoman Government has been
recognised by prominent legislative bodies; among these are the governments
of Germany, Canada, France, Russia, Argentina, the Netherlands and Belgium.

In 1996, the Parliament of NSW became the first legislative body in
Australia to recognise and condemn the genocide of the Armenians.

[end]

Contact: Haig Kayserian
Communications Officer
P: 0403 317 903
E: [email protected]

The Armenian National Committee of Australia is the peak public affairs body
of the Armenian-Australian community. ANC Australia advances the concerns of
the Armenian-Australian community.

Armenian National Committee of Australia
259 Penshurst Street, Willoughby NSW 2068

PO Box 768, Willoughby NSW 2068

T: (02) 9419 8264 | F: (02) 9411 8898
E: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] | W: <;

The Armenian National Committee of Australia is the peak public affairs body
of the Armenian-Australian community. ANC Australia advances the concerns of
the Armenian-Australian community.

NKR celebrates Republic Day

armradio.am
01.09.2007 13:25

"Dear Compatriots,

I congratulate you on the 16th anniversary of the independence of the
NKR.

Today is a holiday of pride, self-reliance and unity. Sometimes more is
done at a certain point of history than during long decades. Golden
chapters are being written in the history of Armenia based on the fact
of creation, defense and development of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

The young republic of Nagorno-Karabakh is taking well-advised steps on
the way to statehood building, democratic development and economic
strengthening. The Republic of Armenia has always been and will
henceforth be the guarantor of development for the NKR and security for
the people of Artsakh.

Today we bend our heads before the memory of those Armenians whose
dedication and self-sacrifice gave birth to this holiday. I am
confident that an independent, prosperous and internationally
recognized Nagorno-Karabakh will be the best tribute to their memory.

I congratulate you once again on this nice holiday and express
conviction that your unfailing aspiration to living in freedom and
democracy will defy any challenges whatsoever.