Author: Khondkarian Raffi

ARMENIAN RULING PARTY SPOKESMAN HAILS COALITION GOVERNMENT PLANS

Mediamax
February 28, 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 28 February: The spokesman for the [ruling] Republican Party
of Armenia (RPA), Eduard Sharmazanov, stated today that by offering
cooperation to the opposition, the elected president of the republic,
Serzh Sargsyan, proved that "he puts the future of Armenia above his
own ambitions".

Speaking at a news conference in Yerevan today, Eduard Sharmazanov
stated that "the most productive way for Armenia is to form a coalition
government", Mediamax reports.

According to him, the leaders of the Dashnaktsutyun and National
Unity parties have expressed their readiness to discuss cooperation
with the RPA. The RPA representative also said that the coalition
with Dashnaktsutyun has already proved its productiveness.

Eduard Sharmazanov added that the formation of a coalition government
is being discussed by the Orinats Yerkir Party as well.

"For us power is not an end in itself, but a means of solving problems
facing Armenia, and all constructive forces should close ranks for
that," Eduard Sharmazanov stated, noting that "if there is discord
between representatives of various political forces, they should not
be personal, but ideological ones".

RA POLICE WARNING

AZG Armenian Daily
29/02/2008

Post-election

Armenian Police made a statement that says, "Despite numerous warnings,
presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosyan and his supporters have been
holding unsanctioned rallies, processions and sit-down strikes for
7 days. RA Police appeals to the demonstrators to stop the unlawful
actions, not to violate the public order and disturb the citizens’
peace, and not to break the natural activity of Yerevan. The Police is
full of resoluteness and intends to protect the constitutional order
and public security in the country within the authority stipulated
by the law".

EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN TODAY FOR DISCUSSING THE POST-ELECTION SITUATION

Mediamax
February 27, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Special Representative of the European Union in
the South Caucasus Peter Semneby will arrive in Yerevan today for
discussing the post-election situation.

Mediamax reports that it is planned that Peter Semneby will hold a
number of meetings with the representatives of Armenian authorities
and the opposition.

ELECTED PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA: "THE MOST UNACCEPTABLE FOR ME IS THE BEHAVIOR OF CERTAIN BATTLE FRIENDS OF MINE"

Mediamax
February 26, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Elected President of Armenia Serzh Sarkisian
stated today that "the most unacceptable for me is the behavior of
certain battle friends of mine, who were misled by the Satan by its
promises and slander".

Mediamax reports that Serzh Sarkisian said this during today’s rally
at the Republic Square.

"Duplicity, unfounded claims, ungrounded demands – all those phenomena
are unacceptable for me. Although with pain in my heart, I always,
not doubting for a second, have been putting and will continue putting
in their place the people, who trespass all the limits, who have lost
the sense of reality, irrespective of the battle way they have behind,
the ranks they have been conferred and the awards. Armenia’s interests
are above everything else", Serzh Sarkisian stated.

Armenian National Committee
47 Nichols Avenue
Watertown MA 02472
617-926-1890
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE:
February 26, 2008

For information contact:
617-347-2833

Massachusetts Armenian American Community Urges State Agency to End
its Endorsement of ADL’s No Place for Hate Program

Watertown, MA – Massachusetts Armenian American organizations today
urged the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) to end its
endorsement of the Anti Defamation League’s (ADL) No Place for Hate
program.

In an open letter, over thirty Armenian American organizations from
across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts called on the MMA to rescind
its `endorsement of the No Place for Hate (NPFH) program due to the
ADL’s refusal to unambiguously acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and
its continued active opposition to US recognition of the Genocide.’
See full text of letter below.

The letter praised the MMA for urging the Anti Defamation League last
September to `remain true to its own mission and fully and
unequivocally acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and express support
for U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide’ but declared that `as
human rights organization and especially as an organization that
sponsors tolerance education programs in our communities, the ADL is
expected to speak with absolute moral clarity about genocide and its
denial. As it stands, the ADL’s August 21 statement with its
convoluted and irresolute language remains the ADL’s official
statement on the Armenian Genocide.’

The Armenian American community letter to the MMA comes just one month
after the MMA held its annual meeting and elected a new board of
directors.

`Despite repeated calls, the ADL has refused to recognize the Armenian
Genocide, and as such, has lost the moral authority as a human rights
organization, stated Herman Purutyan, Massachusetts state chair for
the Armenian Assembly of America. `We urge the Massachusetts Municipal
Association to join our communities and sever its ties with the No
Place For Hate program, as long as the program is tainted by Genocide
denial."

`The MMA took a principled stand in September by calling on the ADL to
do what so many of us hoped it would: unequivocally acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide and end its active opposition to Congressional
affirmation of the Genocide,’ stated Sharistan Melkonian of the
Armenian National Committee. `The ADL sadly fell short of its
responsibilities as a human rights organization and we now look to the
MMA to do the only right thing: end its endorsement of a program
sponsored by an organization which engages in genocide denial.’

According to the MMA’s website, the No Place for Hate program was
created by the Anti Defamation League in partnership with the
Massachusetts Municipal Association `to provide communities with a
solid framework for promoting an inclusive environment while fighting
all forms of hate and bigotry.’

Last September the MMA passed a resolution calling on the ADL to
`support the Congressional [Armenian Genocide] Resolution.’ In a
letter to local No Place for Hate communities the MMA stated that it
had `issued a strong and unequivocal statement on the importance of
recognizing the Armenian Genocide and supporting passage of the
Congressional Resolution.’ The letter also affirmed that the MMA
`called on the national ADL organization to do the same’ and concluded
by stating that it would `review and monitor this matter, recognizing
that while progress has been made,’ the MMA would `re-evaluate our
official sponsorship of NPFH after the national ADL determines whether
to adopt this position.’

Background

The ADL has for many years refused to acknowledge that the systematic
massacre of 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1923 was
genocide. To make matters worse, the ADL has actively engaged in
efforts to oppose Congressional affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.

Only after intense pressure which started in Watertown Massachusetts
last summer did the national ADL issue a statement on August 21, 2007
which referring to the events of 1915-1918, declared, `The
consequences of those actions were indeed tantamount to genocide.’
Aside from the fact that the Armenian Genocide began in 1915 and
continued through 1923, the statement was not a full, unequivocal
acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide.

Not only was the qualifier `tantamount’ inappropriate, but the use of
the word `consequences’ circumvented the international legal
definition of genocide by avoiding any language that would imply
intent, a crucial aspect of the 1948 UN Genocide Convention
definition.

The ADL convened its national meeting in New York City in early
November at which time the issue of the Armenian Genocide was
discussed.

Upon conclusion, a one sentence press statement was issued that `The
National Commission of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today, at its
annual meeting, decided to take no further action on the issue of the
Armenian genocide.’

F or complete information about the ADL controversy surrounding the
Armenian Genocide visit

####

Open Letter from the Armenian American Community
to the Massachusetts Municipal Association

February 26, 2008

Massachusetts Municipal Association
One Winthrop Square
Boston MA 02110

Dear Chairman Tobey and Members,

We write to you in light of the November 2007 decision of the
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) `to take no further action’ regarding its
policy on the Armenian Genocide and respectfully urge you to rescind
your endorsement of the No Place for Hate (NPFH) program due to the
ADL’s refusal to unambiguously acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and
its continued active opposition to US recognition of the Genocide.

Last September the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Municipal
Association (MMA) wrote to the ADL asking the ADL to remain true to
its own mission and fully and unequivocally acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide and express support for U.S. recognition of the Armenian
Genocide.

Upon conclusion of its National Commissioners meeting in early
November, however, the ADL issued a one sentence press statement
declaring that, `The National Commission of the Anti-Defamation League
(ADL) today, at its annual meeting, decided to take no further action
on the issue of the Armenian genocide.’

As a human rights organization and especially as an organization that
sponsors tolerance education programs in our communities, the ADL is
expected to speak with absolute moral clarity about genocide and its
denial. As it stands, the ADL’s August 21 statement with its
convoluted and irresolute language remains the ADL’s official
statement on the Armenian Genocide.

While the achievements of the NPFH program and the hard work of its
members should be applauded, their work has been compromised by the
policies of the ADL which has failed to live up to the standards not
only of its own mission to `secure justice and fair treatment for all
citizens alike’ but also of a human rights organization by its
position on the Armenian Genocide. In addition, by not distancing
itself from this position and instead publicly stating that their
position is now one and the same with that of the National, the New
England ADL has disappointingly retreated from the principled position
it took in August.

The Belmont Human Rights Commission said it best: `ADL and the No
Place for Hate program emphasize that the `tip of the pyramid of
hatred’ is genocide. How can we, in good faith, ask our community to
work at the base of this same pyramid while the No

Place for Hate sponsor is actively working against congressional,
international recognition of the Armenian genocide?’ (September 6,
2007)

We respectfully ask that you rescind your endorsement of the No Place
for Hate program due to the ADL’s refusal to unambiguously acknowledge
the Armenian Genocide and continued active opposition to US
recognition of the Genocide.

Sincerely,

Armenian Assembly of America
Armenian Church of the Holy Translators (Framingham, MA)
Armenian Church of the Martyrs (Worcester, MA)
Armenian Church of Our Savior (Worcester, MA)
Armenian Democratic Liberal Organization
Armenian General Benevolent Union
Armenian General Benevolent Union Young Professionals
Armenian Independent Broadcasting of Boston
Armenian Mirror Spectator Weekly
Armenian National Committee
Armenian Relief Society Cambridge Shushi Chapter
Armenian Relief Society Worcester Knar Chapter
Armenian Relief Society Lola Sassouni Chapter
Armenian Relief Society Lowell Lousintak Chapter
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
The Armenian Weekly
Armenian Youth Federation Worcester Aram Chapter
Armenian Youth Federation Greater Boston Chapter
First Armenian Church (Belmont, MA)
Hairenik Weekly
Hamazkayin Boston Chapter
Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church (Belmont, MA)
Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church (Worcester, MA)
Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church of Greater Boston (Cambridge, MA)
Homenetmen Greater Boston Chapter
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research
North Andover Sasoun Armenian Youth Federation
Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives
Social Democratic Hunchakian Party
St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley (North Andover, MA)
St. James Armenian Apostolic Church (Watertown, MA)
St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church (Watertown, MA)
Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church (Chelmsford, MA)
Tekeyan Cultural Association Boston Chapter

"REGRESS RECORDED IN RA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN TERMS OF FREE IDEOLOGICAL COMPETITIVE STRUGGLE," CHAIRMAN OF YEREVAN PRESS CLUB BELIEVES

Noyan Tapan
Feb 25, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The Yerevan Press Club and "Team"
Research Center have carried out an observation of the coverage of the
RA 2008 presidential elections in broadcast mass media of Armenia in
two stages by the assistance of the Open Society Institute. As Boris
Navasardian, the Chairman of the Yerevan Press Club, mentioned at
the press conference held on February 25, irrespective of the fact
that the coverage of mass media has been balanced in terms of the
time and attention given to the candidates, not all of them provided
equal conditions in terms of contents.

Boris Navasardian mentioned that according to the observation of the
Yerevan Press Club, RA presidential candidate Serge Sargsian has been
covered by almost all the media mainly in a positive context. And the
materials covering the campaign of Levon TEr-Petrosian were mainly
in a negative context.

In the words of Boris Navasardian, campaigns in Armenia last at least
6-7 months for the past years and this in case when, all in all,
1 month and 28 days are envisaged by law. Here, according to him,
an inadmissible situation is created, when propaganda without any
rules and regulation is taking place for months. Touching upon the
Public TV and Radio, Boris Navasardian mentioned that the latters
worked as partial media made political during the previous months.

In the estimation of the Chairman of the Yerevan Press Club, not
progress but regress was recorded in these elections in terms of
the development of the culture of public policy, free debates, and
free ideological competitive struggle. He reminded that numerous
TV companies, as well as radio waves have tried to organize debates
between the candidates, which, however, have failed.

SYNOPSYS ARMENIA GENERAL DIRECTOR TO TAKE PART IN CEREMONY OF PROCURVE ACADEMY OPENING IN RUSSIA

ARKA
Feb 25, 2008

YEREVAN, February 25. /ARKA/. Rich Goldman, vice-president of Synopsys
Inc and general director of Synopsys Armenia is to take part in the
ceremony of ProCurve academy opening in Russia on Tuesday as part of
Moscow-Bavaria MB-JASS 2008 (Joint Advanced Student School).

Moscow officials and representatives of sponsor firms – MB-JASS,
Commercial Business Group, ProCurve Networking by HP, EMEA and Siemens
will attend the ceremony.

JASS Moscow-Bavaria Student School will be launched on Tuesday on
the initiative of Moscow State Electrical Engineering Institute and
Munich Technical University. University professors and students from
Belarus and Armenia will take part in the school’s work as well.

The school’s work will be carried out in three directions – biomedical
engineering, including computer modelling and image processing;
nanotechnologies and nanomaterials in electronics; telecommunication
technologies and chip design for telecommunication. About 40 students
from Bavarian, Moscow, Belarusian and Armenian universities will
speak at the school.

Synopsys Inc appeared in Armenian market in October 2004 after Leda
Design and Monterey Arset merged into Synopsys Armenia. Synopsis has
invested $360 million to Armenia for two years.-

Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Feb. 25, 2008

Iran ready to export gas to Armenia

Tehran, Feb 25, IRNA

Iran’s National Gas Company spokesman on Monday declared Iran’s
readiness to export natural gas to Armenia.

Abdollah Ghanbarzadeh said that Iran-Armenia gas pipeline is now
completed and that gas will be supplied upon Armenia demand.

The pipeline has a capacity to carry 10 million cubic meters daily,
but, according to the agreement one million cubic meters of Iranian
gas will be supplied a day.

Armenia will supply three kw electricity to Iran a day in return for
the gas.

Agreement to build the pipeline to Armenia was signed by two
countries 12 years ago, but, a delay occurred over disagreement on
the gas price and the payment guarantee.

However, the final agreement on electricity and natural gas was
signed by Iran and Armenia three years ago.

THE CASE FOR CLARITY

Economist.com
Feb 21st 2008

Why does the EU support independence for Kosovo?

WHY is the West giving Kosovo independence when it refuses to recognise
Transdniestria, South Ossetia and Abkhazia? These three places are
nominally independent–at least in their own eyes–and have been so
for many years.

At first sight it seems a clear case of Western double
standards. Kosovar Albanians don’t want to be under Serbian rule
any more than the Abkhaz feel Georgian or the Transdniestrians like
Moldova. They have established their status by force of arms, and
entrenched it over ten years of quasi-independence. Is not the real
story just an American power-play in Europe, punishing Serbia and
rewarding the only pro-American Muslims in the world?

Nobody would deny that such political calculations have influenced
decision-making. But the real difference is another one. Kosovo wants
to join the European Union. That much is at least clear, however
badly run Kosovo may be at the moment, and however much gangsterism
and ethno-nationalism have flourished there under the haphazard
stewardship of the so-called international community. Kosovo does
not want to join, say, Turkey in a new "Ottoman Caliphate". Nor is
it even interested in forming a "Greater Albania".

That makes a big difference. Transdniestria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia
do not subscribe to the Euroatlantic vision of multilateral security
and law-governed political freedom. The main priority of the ruling
elites there is self-enrichment, followed by at least a rhetorical
commitment to closer integration with Russia (a goal that the Kremlin
endorses in theory but seems remarkably cautious about in practice).

The West is reluctant to say so bluntly, but that makes a
difference. The EU is sending thousands of lawyers, prosecutors and
police officers to Kosovo, in what might be termed the continent’s
most ambitious colonial adventure for decades. That "soft imperialism"
creates at least a chance of success for Kosovo’s independence.

All this may yet be derailed. Bosnia is falling apart again; Macedonia
still looks fragile; and Russia could not ask for more fertile soil for
mischief, with Europe divided and indecisive. But it is worth a try.

Contrast that with Transdniestria or Abkhazia. Imagine that Russia and
a bunch of other countries–Belarus, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Venezuela,
say–decided to go ahead and recognise these breakaway statelets. It is
almost laughable to imagine what such outside supporters could offer
to promote the rule of law and good government. Would Hugo Chávez
of Venezuela offer policemen? Would Russia provide prosecutors,
or Uzbekistan start teaching Abkhaz civil servants about e-government?

This is the weakness at the heart of all the Kremlin’s foreign-policy
efforts in the countries of the former Soviet Union. It offers a
great deal for elites. Some enjoy lavish hospitality and lucrative
directorships.

Others get intelligence co-operation and sales of advanced weaponry.

But Russia has much less to offer from the public’s point of
view. True, it offers passports, and a Russian passport is not
worthless.

But the survival of the Soviet-era propiska system means that this
does not confer the prized right to live and work in Moscow. Even
the Kremlin’s most loyal allies can’t offer that to their citizens
as a quid pro quo.

(Admittedly, Schengen and American visas can still be shamefully hard
to come by, even for citizens of ex-captive nations that are loyally
Euroatlantic in outlook).

What the EU will not say, but thinks privately, is this: We are
supporting Kosovo’s independence because of the chance that it
will become more like us, and hence a better neighbour. We oppose
independence for Transdniestria et al because it would make them more
like Russia, and therefore worse for Europe.

–Boundary_(ID_UMU81y15lBMniDYPzf4bMw)–

GROWTH OF OPERATIONS CARRIED OUT THROUGH PAYMENT SYSTEMS AND WITH PAYMENT INSTRUMENTS REGISTERED IN ARMENIA IN 2007

Noyan Tapan
Feb 21, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. By examining the indices
characterizing the payment and settlement sector, the Central Bank of
Armenia (CBA) concluded that there was a growth of operations carried
out through the payment systems and with payment instruments in 2007.

According to the CBA press service, the total amount of cashless
payments made 9 trillion 263 bln drams or about 27 bln 78.5 mln USD
in 2007 in Armenia (their number made 3,583,223), with the amount
of payments through the CBA payment systems making 8 trillion 787
bln drams, while their number – 1,401,461. The amount of cashless
payments made through the CBA payment systems in 2007 increased by
82.5% or 3 trillion 972 bln drams, while their number – by 33% or
348,122 payments as compared with 2006.

The average daily amount of money transfers carried out through the
CBA payment systems made about 34 bln drams, while their number made
5,474. The average daily amount of money transfers grew by 15.5 bln
drams, their number – by 1,360 as compared with 2006.