Author: Khoyetsian Rose

PRESS RELEASE
ARPA Institute
18106 Miranda St. Tarzana, CA 91356
Contact: Hagop Panossian
Tel: (818) 586-9660
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

ARPA Institute presents the Lecture/Seminar: `Armenia’s Challenges &
Prospects in Foreign Policy"," by Dr. Nikola Schahgaldian, on
Thursday, January 31st, 2008 at 7:30 PM at the Merdinian School
auditorium.

The Address is 13330 Riverside Dr., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403.
Directions: on the 101 FWY exit on Woodman, go north and turn right on
Riverside Dr.

Abstract: The strategic geographical location of Armenia renders it as
one of the key nations in the Caucuses. Located in a relatively
unstable region its delicate foreign policy needs to be well
coordinated and flexible enough to address all the challenges and
attain its national objectives. The political tensions of the region
aggravated by the situation of multiple separatist states that are
currently seeking independence, Karabagh being one of them, further
complicates the foreign policy issues of Armenia. Dr. Schahgaldian
will discuss the political doctrine of Armenia, what it is not and
what it is, its significance and issues related to continuity, clarity
and limitations. The main objectives of the doctrine, namely
safeguarding freedom, territorial integrity and the constitution, and
issues related to the political aspects of its implementation and
priorities will also be analyzed. Foreign relations of Armenia with
five main players, including the leading super-powers, as well as the
Karabagh conflict will be addressed in some detail. Lecture in
Armenia & Q/A bilingual.

Nikola Schahgaldian has a B.A. from the American University of Beirut,
an MA from Fordham University, a Ph.M. and a Ph.D. from Columbia
University, NY, all in political science. He is currently a private
policy analyst. He was a visiting researcher at the AUB in Lebanon in
1972 and operations manager for the Long Island Press, NY
1974-76. During 1976-77 he was the editor of Menk quarterly in NY and
1977-79 consultant of the Armenian Reporter. He has served on the
Editorial Board of the Armenian Review for a number of years and as a
lecturer in the U. of Pennsylvania. He was a Political Scientist
during 1980-1992 in the RAND Corporation, in Santa Monica, CA. During
1992-1998 he served as a Senior Political Advisor to the President of
Armenia, 1994-2002 as Dean of the Political Science and International
Relations Department in the American University of Armenia,
Yerevan. He has authored numerous articles, reports and books on
international politics, the Middle East, the Islamic world and the
former Soviet Union.

For Information Please call Dr. Hagop Panossian at (818)586-9660 or
e-mail at [email protected]

VARDAN OSKANYAN: IF YOU WANT TO HOLD ON TO POWER OR TO COME TO POWER YOU SHOULD…

Lragir
Jan 9 2008
Armenia

One of the crucial events for Armenia in 2008, also primary for the
external policies, is the presidential election, stated the foreign
minister Vardan Oskanyan January 9, in his first news conference in
2008. According to him, if Armenia holds a free, fair and democratic
election, better than the parliamentary election which raised the
international reputation of Armenia, Oskanyan thinks, the reputation
will rise higher, and the upcoming five years will be years of
development for Armenia.

If they fail to hold such an election, if no step towards progress is
made, Vardan Oskanyan thinks Armenia will lose its reputation in the
world which it acquired after the parliamentary election in 2007. The
foreign minister thinks this loss of reputation is dangerous because
it will weaken the position of Armenia in international relations.

In this connection, Vardan Oskanyan says some forces are up for
instability in Armenia but the foreign minister declines to specify
which forces. He says he urges the forces which have or don’t have
an intention to destabilize the country and thereby solve their
own problems to give up those intentions. "If you want to hold on
to power or you want to come to power, there are democratic ways
for that," Vardan Oskanyan says, noting that otherwise efforts for
destabilization to hold on to power or to come to power will bring
about heavy consequences for both us and our children. Oskanyan says
he utters this as a foreign minister, knowing what complications will
occur in international relations if the election is not compliant,
and says as a citizen who and whose children live in Armenia he does
not want the country to undergo shock and the future of the country
to be endangered.

"It will be a major shock if someone considers different methods to
destabilize the situation to solve some political problems," Vardan
Oskanyan says, noting that he would not like to go deep into other
issues because it is not his competence. Although Vardan Oskanyan
is aware of the reality, nevertheless, in answer to the question of
reporters if the opposition is able to rig the election he says
yes because if there is a wish to take the track of fraud and
destabilization, the mechanisms are always found.

ELECTION BRIBE IN ARMENIAN MANNER

Lragir
Jan 10 2008
Armenia

On January 10 the Armenian government made several decisions aimed
at the well-being of certain people, apparently to affect their
consciousness as the presidential election is drawing nearer, if we
believe Marx that being determines consciousness.

In accordance with the decision of the government, the monthly
honoraria of people who were awarded the title "People’s" will rise
from 28 thousand to 40 thousand drams.

By another decision from January 1, 2008 the government will pay bonus
to doctors (20 thousand drams) and candidates of science (10 thousand
drams) employed in state-financed scientific and technical programs.

AGAIN THE ARMENIAN MENTALITY, THIS TIME REGARDING THE MONEY

Lragir
Jan 10 2008
Armenia

Judging by 2007, remittances are expected to grow by 40 percent
in 2008, stated the president of the Central Bank of Armenia Tigran
Sargsyan in an interview with ARKA on January 10. This index is almost
twice as high as the estimate of the Central Bank at 25 percent. Tigran
Sargsyan says the volume of remittances will exceed 1 billion dollars.

According to the president of the Central Bank, the volume of
remittances grows progressively, which is an objective reality
determined by mentality. The banker said, ARKA reports, two thirds of
Armenians live outside Armenia, and when their financial and economic
situation improves, they make more investments in Armenia.

"Therefore, for our nation, this is objectively positive," Tigran
Sargsyan says.

Besides, Tigran Sargsyan thinks that Armenia is the focus of economic
interests not only for its citizens but also Armenians worldwide,
and the establishment of a favorable climate for investments spurs
the influx of capital, development of tourism, demand for services.

"This is the objective reality which is a long-term tendency, and if
no cataclysms happen in the world, namely in Russia and the United
States from where most remittances come, and which have the biggest
Armenian communities, this tendency will continue," the president of
the Central Bank stated.

By the way, he mentioned that in 2007 the revaluation of the dram
against the dollar was 17 percent. According to him, in 2007 the
Central Bank bought 350 million dollars which is up by 40 percent
from 2006. Nevertheless, despite the intervention, the Armenian dram
continued to revaluate, Tigran Sargsyan says. At the same time, he
says this process has reduced inflation estimates and the potential
for inflation. Tigran Sargsyan also says considering the elasticity of
prices inside along with price shocks outside, Armenia needs efforts
to promote competition inside the country to keep prices of imported
goods low along with the revaluation of the national currency.

"GEORGIA’S TRADITIONS ARE REVOLUTIONARY"

A1+
09 January, 2008

Political scientist Alexander Iskandarian does not share the opinion
of international election observation missions according to which
Georgia’s elections were consistent with international standards
for democratic elections and the irregularities did not affect the
final outcome.

I think the assessment is preposterous as we speak of 2-percent
decisive votes which gives serious grounds for contemplations and
suspects. People publishing election results controlled the whole
elections process.

Iskandarian states that the election results were not publicizes in due
order. "People are invited to the president’s solemn oath before the
Central Electoral Commission officially reveals the election results,"
he says.

Iskandarian thinks Levan Gachechiladze, the candidate nominated by
the united opposition, has won the elections. Generally, elections
are less rigged in capitals as international observers mainly focus
on the capital electorate.

"Georgia’s elections will surely affect the Armenian ones as we are
neighboring countries. But the influence will not be that great as
the countries differ due to their political scenes and electoral
traditions. Georgia’s traditions are more revolutionary."

ARMENIAN CB LEAVES ANNUAL REFINANCING RATE UNCHANGED

ARKA News Agency
Jan 7 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, January 7. /ARKA/. At its sitting on December 29, 2007,
the Board of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) decided to leave the
annual refinancing rate unchanged – 5.75%.

The CBA press service reports that the CBA believes that external
inflationary pressures were maintained at the end of the 4th quarter
despite some price stabilization on the world food and oil markets.

Weaker internal influence on inflation was recorded as well, as high
rates of individual consumption were neutralized by a more restrained
fiscal policy.

The CBA Board members are of the unanimous opinion that external
inflationary pressure will be maintained this year. However, if no
external shocks occur, external influence on inflation will be weaker
than in 2007. As regards factors of internal influence on inflation,
they will also depend on budget expenditures in the context of the
expected high rates of increase in individual consumption.

The CBA reports that, in case internal and external inflationary
pressures are maintained during the next few months, the CBA Board
will have to be consistent in correcting interest rates.

1.5% inflation was recorded in Armenia in December 2007 compared to
November 2007. As a result, 6.6% annual inflation was recorded in
December 2007 – 1% higher than that the planned inflation (4±1.5%).

–Boundary_(ID_t+OdAoUen7F+hv7MRt4 qBw)–

VAZGEN MANUKYAN’S ELECTION HEADQUARTERS WAS SET UP

Lragir
Jan 8 2008
Armenia

On January 7 five political parties – National Democratic Party,
Alliance of National Democrats, Nation State, National Democratic
Union and Constitutional Right Union held a meeting at the office of
the NDU and the election program and headquarters of the presidential
candidate Vazgen Manukyan, the press service of the NDU reports.

At the same time, a political board including representatives of
five parties was set up, and the head of the election headquarters
was elected. The leader of the Nation State Party Samvel Shahinyan
will lead the election headquarters of Vazgen Manukyan, who will have
five deputies from each of the parties which have stated to support
Manukyan. The political board may include more political forces which
will state to support Manukyan.

MINISTERS TO REVIEW CONTROVERSIAL ARTICLE ON INSULTING TURKISH IDENTITY

NTV MSNBC
Jan 7 2008
Turkey

The European Union has cited Article 301 as an obstacle to free speech
and to Turkey’s becoming a member of the bloc.

ANKARA – The Turkish cabinet is to review draft amendments to a
controversial article of the Turkish Penal Code that critics say
limits freedom of expression.

On Monday, Turkish Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said he would
be submitting a bill amending Article 301 of the penal code to the
cabinet, which is expected to meet later in the same day.

Article 301 covers the crime of "insulting Turkishness" or denigrating
the Turkish identity. It has been used to prosecute some of Turkey’s
leading journalists and authors, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan
Pamuk, and Hrant Dink, a Turkish-Armenian journalist who was murdered
in January last year.

Though refusing to give details of the amendments to the legislation,
Sahin said he believed there could be a provision in the draft law
requiring the authorisation of the Justice Ministry for a prosecution
to be opened under Article 301.

Sahin said that, if approved by the cabinet, the amendments to the
law could be tabled before the Turkish parliament before the end of
the week.

City Hall of Stepanakert bought three new refuse collection vehicles

28-12-2007 11:25:12 – KarabakhOpen

The City Hall of Stepanakert bought three refuse collection vehicles on
the funds allocated by the NKR government.

The vice mayor Georgy Hairyan said in an interview with the Public
Television next year the City Hall will buy 3 versatile bulldozers.

According to the vice mayor, the City Hall will focus on the repair of
streets and roofs of blocks of apartments for which the government has
allocated 100 million drams.

The program of repair of apartments of families of killed freedom
fighters, as well as the houses damaged by shelling during the war will
continue through next year. The government will allocate 270 million
drams instead of this year’s 130 million drams.

Yashar Jafarli: "If we speak about problems in Azerbaijan, it would be
better to speak about problems of the army"

30 December 2007 [16:01] – Today.Az

Azerbaijani army is the largest and best-equipped one in the South
Caucasus, but there are a number of problems, as reported by Yashar
Jafarli, chairman of the Public Association of Retirees.

"Reforms in the army are closely connected with general reforms in all
spheres. These reforms are executed in the country like in the army as
an army is a social institution. If we speak about social and political
problems, problems in the sphere of democracy and protectionof human
rights in Azerbaijan, it would be better to speak about problems of the
army", Jafarli continued.

He considers that the leadership of the army should be blamed while
the Defense Minister is responsible for the situation in the army.

"Our country has lost over 3.000 soldiers since signing of the
ceasefire agreement in 1994. However, no one has been brought to
responsibility", the retiree said.

"Absence of due control by the executive and legislative powers, as
well as civil society, causes increase in the number of law offenses",
Jafarli said.

The expert considers that Azerbaijani army is the largest and
best-equipped one in the South Caucasus.

"As to the combat training, this is a debatable question which can find
solution only in case of war", the officer continued.

Jafarli noted speaking on the correspondence of Azerbaijani army to
NATO standards that NATO is a military-political bloc.

"Therefore, its standards are divided into two parts. On the one hand,
these are military standards, aiming to ensure mutual aid of the
coalition member-states in case of war. Other standard imply provision
of democratic rights and liberties, settlement of social problems and
others", he continued.

Jafarli admitted that reforms are conducted in the army with the
simultaneous study of experience of other member-states of NATO, Russia
and even Pakistan in this sphere,

"I have been a deputy chief of department of human resources under the
Ministry of Defense for 5 years, therefore, I am aware of the situation
with reforms in our country. For example, this year the whole staff of
divisions has undergone reforms in line with the NATO standards, while
the structures of the Defense Ministry and Joint Staff operate on basis
of the old system", the officer said.

Touching upon the cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO, Jafarli
recollected our country’s participation in such programs as
"Partnership for Peace" and assumed commitments.

"On the whole, NATO representatives positively assess the reforms
conducted in our army, but at the same time they point out a number of
problems. One of them is that our government does not inform the
community about the assumed commitments. Moreover, no one is informed
about programs in the framework of the plan of individual cooperation
between Azerbaijan and NATO (IPAP). This year Azerbaijan has completed
the first stage of the program but no one knows the details, as well as
the details of the first stage", Jafarli said.

He considers that the conducted reforms mainly refer the staff,
structural and technical changes.

"No political reforms are conducted. moreover, the Defense Ministry
does not execute hundreds of court decisions. For example, officers do
not have a right to ballot for parliamentary elections. This is a
direct violation of human rights".

He said the situation is also complicated with the war veterans,
invalids and martyrs’ families and others.

"No reforms are carried out in this sphere", he said.

He noted that there is a progress in the sphere of military training of
the youth.

"We have everything for catching up at least with Georgia: we have
funds, intellectual potential, military structures and NGOs dealing
with military issues. Our leadership says it is not necessary to
advertise war, but at the same time our powers do not exclude possible
armed resolution of the conflict. Thus, the military training is
necessary and due state programs should be adopted for it. I hope that
most problems in the military field will be settled in 2008, the year
of the 90th anniversary of our army", Jafarli noted.