Author: Maral Takmazian

IMF EXECUTIVE BOARD APPROVES THREE YEAR, US$13.6 MILLION POVERTY REDUCTION AND GROWTH FACILITY ARRANGEMENT FOR REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

US Fed News
November 18, 2008 Tuesday 3:46 AM EST

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
has approved a three year, SDR 9.2 million (about US$13.6 million)
arrangement under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) for
the Republic of Armenia to support the government’s economic program
through 2011. The decision will enable the Republic of Armenia to
draw an amount equivalent to SDR 1.31 million (about US$1.9 million)
from the IMF immediately.

Following the Executive Board’s discussion, Mr. Murilo Portugal,
Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, stated:

"After the successful conclusion of its third PRGF-supported
program in May 2008, Armenia’s economic performance has remained
very strong. High growth has been maintained and has contributed
significantly to the marked reduction in poverty. Inflation has
increased in the wake of rising international food and fuel prices
and growing domestic demand pressures, although it remains lower than
in other CIS countries. Adherence to prudent macroeconomic policies
and the progress made in structural reforms has helped to achieve
these results.

"The worsened global macroeconomic outlook has increased uncertainty,
but Armenia is in a strong position to withstand the impact of the
global economic downturn. A gradual deceleration of growth in Armenia
may help dampen inflationary pressures. It may also contribute to
reducing the external current account deficit, which has increased
on the back of rising imports and sluggish exports, despite strong
remittance inflows. Medium-term prospects, although highly uncertain,
remain benign in view of favorable investment opportunities.

"Continued sound fiscal and monetary policies remain key to maintaining
macroeconomic stability. Prudent policies are necessary to reduce
the current macroeconomic imbalances. Current challenges highlight
the need to strengthen policy frameworks. The floating exchange
rate regime continues to be the best option for Armenia, and the
authorities are encouraged to complete the transition to full-fledged
inflation targeting. At the same time, building capacity for fiscal
policy analysis will help strengthen the budgetary process and enhance
fiscal policy credibility, increasing its effectiveness as a demand
management tool. In addition, the authorities must be prepared to
adjust swiftly to a rapidly changing economic environment. A weakening
external environment might also increase Armenia’s financing needs
and possibly call for an early review of the situation.

"Improving external competitiveness requires a renewed push for
structural reforms. Focus should be on enhancing productivity,
improving the business environment, and boosting domestic
competition. In this regard, the completion of the unfinished
tax policy and administration reform agenda is particularly
important. These reforms would significantly reduce the cost of doing
business, particularly in the export sector, and contribute to leveling
the playing field, ultimately promoting private sector development,"
Mr. Portugal said.

ANNEX

Recent Economic Developments

Armenia is poised for another year of double-digit growth, but
inflation and external imbalances have been growing. Notwithstanding
the temporary trade disruptions during the Georgia conflict, annual
real GDP grew by 10.4 percent in the nine months to September 2008, and
is projected to remain around 10 percent this year, assuming continued
strong activity in construction and services. Annual inflation remained
high through September at 11.3 percent, but dropped to 8.6 percent
in October on the heels of falling food prices, remaining lower than
in some neighboring countries.

While inflation was driven mainly by the global spike in food and
energy prices (including the elimination of a natural gas subsidy
last May), demand pressures have played an increasing role. Indeed,
rising wages, persistently large foreign exchange inflows, rapid
credit growth, and a sharply widening current account deficit have
raised concerns about overheating. But the downward risks from the
global economic downturn could help unwind accumulated macroeconomic
imbalances.

Budget execution in 2008 has been prudent. Tax collection has been
well above expectations, driven by a surge in VAT revenue partly
associated with high import growth. The overall deficit remained lower
than projected through September 2008, at 0.5 percent of projected
annual GDP.

Monetary policy has been tightened to address rising inflationary
pressures. To limit the second-round effects of higher food and energy
prices, the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) raised the repurchase rate
gradually from 4.5 percent in June 2007 to 7.75 percent in September
2008, but left the rate unchanged since, in response to the uncertain
external economic environment.

Despite large private transfers, the current account has continued to
deteriorate. Imports have surged on the back of high international
food and energy prices and buoyant demand, while export performance
has been disappointing. With appreciation pressures dampened by rising
import demand, the dram/dollar exchange rate has been broadly stable
since December 2007. International reserve coverage dropped somewhat,
but remains adequate, at about 3 ? months of imports.

Program Summary

Armenia’s PRGF-supported economic program builds on the authorities’
Sustainable Development Program (SDP). The main goals of the new
program are to sustain and broaden economic growth, and further reduce
poverty, consistent with SDP priorities.

Appropriate fiscal and monetary policies will underpin the
macroeconomic objectives of the program. Its main focus will be on
strengthening the fiscal and monetary policy frameworks and their
coordination, while deepening productivity-enhancing structural
reforms, and improving governance. In particular, reforms in tax
policy and tax administration will be essential for the success of
the program.

Strengthening the policy frameworks will require, among other things,
strengthening the institutional and analytical capacity at the Ministry
of Finance, and adopting a Forecasting and Policy Analysis System for
inflation targeting at the Central Bank of Armenia. The current global
crisis highlights the need to minimize Armenia’s vulnerabilities by
stepping up efforts to diversify production and reduce dependence on
remittances. In view of increasing global risks, Armenia’s external
financial requirements may increase as well, possibly calling for
higher access than under the current PRGF arrangement.

Armenia: Selected Economic and Financial Indicators, 2003-09.

CAPTAIN KIDD’S TREASURE: WOOD DISCOVERED, "LIVING MUSEUM" IN THE WORKS

Indiana University
/9265.html
Nov 17 2008
IN

Editors: At 2 p.m. EST broadcast news stations in Indianapolis can
receive around 20 minutes of expedition footage via the IU video
link. For additional assistance, contact Dave Rust at 812-855-7019 and
[email protected]. For a Spanish translation of this news release,
visit Press
inquiries related to "Shipwreck! Captain Kidd" press kits, DVDs or
photos, contact Dara Klatt at National Geographic Channel, 202-912-6720
and [email protected]. The documentary airs on Nov. 18.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The U.S. Agency for International Development
has awarded Indiana University $200,000 to turn the Captain Kidd
shipwreck site and three other underwater preserves in the Dominican
Republic into no-take, no-anchor "Living Museums," where cultural
discoveries will protect precious corals and other threatened biology
in the surrounding reef systems under the supervision and support
of the Dominican Republic’s Oficina Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural
Subacuatico (ONPCS).

Close up of Captain Kidd shipwreck teak keel with holes for hull
fasteners.

Print-Quality Photo The news comes just months after the unexpected
discovery of teak wood on the Captain Kidd site, a discovery that
IU archeologists say confirms that this is the Cara Merchant, the
ship Captain William Kidd commandeered and then abandoned in 1699
as he raced to New York in an ill-fated attempt to clear his name of
piracy charges.

"When we removed a cannon this summer for future identification, we
exposed the keel of the ship," said Charles Beeker, director of the
Office of Underwater Science in IU Bloomington’s School of Health,
Physical Education and Recreation. "I’m just shocked that the keel is
still there but the reason it’s probably there is because it was teak,
which is resistant to decomposition."

Beeker and archaeologist Geoffrey Conrad, director of the William
Hammond Mathers Museum at IU Bloomington, have been conducting
underwater and land-based archaeological research in the Dominican
Republic for 12 years, exploring the era when the Old World and New
World first met.

Much of their work is focused in the area of La Isabela Bay, the site
of the first permanent Spanish settlement established by Christopher
Columbus. The Taino were the first indigenous people to interact with
Europeans. An expert in the creation of underwater preserves, Beeker
already has helped create three preserves in the Dominican Republic to
allow divers to explore cultural artifacts, such as cannons recovered
from shipwrecks. While there last year on a research mission related
to Columbus’ ships, Beeker and his team were asked by the ONPCS to
examine a shipwreck site discovered by a prominent local resident.

Fritz Hanselmann preparing to recover one of the Captain Kidd
"great guns."

Print-Quality Photo To their surprise, they found an untouched
shipwreck — primarily piles of carefully stacked cannons — resting
in less than 10 feet of clear waters just 70 feet off the coast of
Catalina Island.

Once the discovery was assessed, however, the archaeological team
and ONPCS were faced with the urgency of protecting the site
from looters. The announcement last December of the discovery
brought worldwide attention to the shipwreck but also enacted some
protections. The ONPCS licensed Beeker, a recognized marine protection
authority, and his IU team to study the wreckage and to convert the
site into an underwater preserve, where it will be accessible to
the public.

"This ship is very important to Dominican maritime heritage and it
merits protection," said Francis Soto, ONPCS Technical Director.

The new USAID award, titled "Living Museums in the Sea: A Network
of Underwater Archaeological Preserves in Southeastern Dominican
Republic," will protect the cannons, ship keel and other items. Its
primary goal, however, is to provide protections for stands of
threatened elkhorn coral, rare pillar coral, and other biological
resources in the surrounding reef systems.

"People often ask if we found treasure. We’ve always considered the
ship the treasure," Beeker said. "The USAID award is unique because
it combines biodiversity with protection of cultural resources. The
preserves will provide a treasure of sorts for people to enjoy for
hundreds of years."

The award, which becomes effective this December, provides funding
for two years, with the expectation that the IU team will focus on
protecting the Captain Kidd site. The work will include archaeological
and biological inventories of the site, which Beeker expects to be
open to the public by December 2009 in time for the 310th anniversary
of the ship’s loss. Underwater interpretive slates will be translated
into five languages to reflect the anticipated international appeal
of the sites.

"Interpretation is very important to this project, as one of our main
goals is to educate the general public not only about the shipwreck,
but also as to the fragility of the surrounding marine life and
their ecosystem," said Fritz Hanselmann, research coordinator with
the Office of Underwater Science.

The Captain Kidd site, which will feature the stack of cannons
and anchor parts, is the only pirate ship ever discovered in the
Caribbean and one of only three discovered in the Americas. In
addition to recreational uses, the preserves also will be available
as a scientific field resource for students and professionals in such
fields as underwater archaeology, marine biology, ecology and geology.

Below are some developments since the discovery was announced last
December.

The USAID award funds efforts to turn the Captain Kidd site and
three existing underwater preserves into no-take, no-anchor "Living
Museums." The four sites will be called the proposed La Romana-Bayahibe
Regional Preserve Network.

National Geographic Channel will air a documentary on the discovery
and study of the ship, including the excavation of the teak
wood. "Shipwreck! Captain Kidd" premieres Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 9
p.m. EST as part of its "Expedition Week" programming.

Researchers discovered teak wood after chiseling under the cannon
that would be raised for the purpose of future identification. Samples
sent to two laboratories for analysis identified the wood in September
as teak. Teak was used by shipbuilders in West India, where the Cara
Merchant was built. Beeker said the wood analysis confirms that the
ship is Captain Kidd’s Cara Merchant. The ship, according to archival
records, was built in Surat, West India. The trade networks had not
expanded to be completely global, so few but the Spanish traded in
the Caribbean. "Indian Merchants were trading with England, but they
were not in the Western Hemisphere," Hanselmann said. "So it’s a rare
instance in the historical record of a ship built in India having
been in the Caribbean. If you couple the historical record with the
archaeological record and the results of the wood analysis being teak,
that allows us to fill in more pieces of the puzzle as to what this
ship is and where it came from."

Archival research identified the correct name of the ship, the
Armenian-owned Cara Merchant. Several variations of this name had
also been used.

IU researchers have met with tourism industry officials, business
owners and several research-oriented non-governmental organizations
to discuss the use and protection of the sites. The support of local
dive shops and hotels is critical to monitoring and protecting the
preserves.

Besides being made from teak, the ship construction could involve
rabbetted joints, similar to tongue-and-groove construction. Beeker
said he knows of no other 17th century ships like this that have been
found, adding to the historical significance of the find.

Beeker also serves on the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory
Committee for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He
can be reached at 812-855-5748 or [email protected]. Conrad can
be reached at 812-855-5340 and [email protected]. Hanselmann can be
reached at 812-855-5748 or [email protected]. To learn more about
the Underwater Science program visit

Francis Soto can be reached at 809-685-9072.

For additional assistance, contact Tracy James, University
Communications, at 812-855-0084 and [email protected].

IZMIR REVISITED BY A DESCENDANT OF THE ASIA MINOR CATASTROPHE
By Catherine Tsounis

Hellenic News of America
Nov 13 2008
PA

"When are you going to write about Izmir (Smyrna as Greeks still refer
to the Ionian city)", asked Despina, my daughter. "I met a medical
student from Indiana whose parents are Greek Macedonian/Turkish Moslem
from Izmir. She wants to read about your impressions."

It is now 86 years after the Asia Minor Catastrophe of Smyrna. The
Greeks in Chios have still not gotten over the loss of Tseme
(Cesme). Macedonians still talk about their ancestral homes. These
families are third and 4th generation born Greeks. The loss of a way
of life remains.

My grandfather, Christos Dimitrios Pappas (Papantonakis) was born in
Kato Panagia, in Tseme. Smyrna is a state in Turkey that encompasses
the province of Tseme (Cesme).The municipality of Tseme had komopoli
(small cities) such as Kato Panagia.

He knew he had an ancestor who was a priest because of his surname,
Papantonakis. He was probably of Cretan background. "My mother was
from Tseme, of a Cretan family from Sfagia, tracing back to 1776",
according to John Basil, of Long Island. "Many Cretan families found
refuge in Smyrna’s shores during its tumultuous freedom struggle that
lasted until 1912."

After the 1774 naval battle of Tseme in the Russo-Turkish War, the
Greek population increased. The first immigration wave was from Crete,
Peloponnese, Evia, Chios and Psara. Eighty percent of the population
of Tseme after 1774 was Greek. They did not have any written records,
because of the Asia Minor Catastrophe. A family’s history was from
oral tradition and by analyzing the roots of names.

Christos Papantonakis’ father (my great-grandfather) fell in love with
a girl from a Maltese family in the neighborhood of Kordelio. They
married with the condition that they would raise their children in
the Greek Orthodox faith. A true romance that can be summed up in
Glykeria’s Greek traditional song "Ti se meli senane, apo pou ime
ego (What does it matter where I am from)…I come from Kordelio to
Athens to marry you." Christos was a giant of a man for his time:
6 ft. 1 inch, a blonde, before premature baldness, with hazel eyes,
born in approximately 1888. His childhood recollections included
going secretly to worship at a Catholic Church that infuriated his
father. His Mother died young, leaving him an orphan in the care of
his older sisters, Cleopatra and Athena, who were Greek Orthodox nuns
and a brother who immigrated to Alexandria, Egypt.

Christos was educated to chant religious hymns. According to family
tradition, he chanted in the Cathedral of Smyrna and two local churches
before becoming a cook in the Merchant Marine prior to W.W. I. Our
grandfather obtained his American citizenship papers before 1915. At
that time the requirements included having an employment sponsor, a
certain amount of years in the USA, passing an American test written in
English and having literacy skills. Christos Papantonakis was a focused
person who set a goal of American citizenship through knowledge.

In 1915, he went to Chios to marry. He met Despina Gagas, a vivacious,
brunette teenager with light blue eyes, from his hometown of Kato
Panagia. Christos married her without a dowry on August 15, 1915 in
the Metropolitan of Chios. It was a love match as was his parents.

Old photos show he wore European, cosmopolitan attire. No evzone
dress! He often said he was from "Smyrna that was the Paris of the
Middle East. I knew how to swim because I lived by the sea." He was
a champion swimmer who saved a drowning man at Rockaway Beach of
the 1930’s. Our childhood in 19’s Astoria, New York was marked with
an emphasis on Greek language, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
that was built by patrioti, Archimandrite Polizoides, rebetika and
remembering our Asia Minor roots.

I recently decided to go back to Smyrna to see the truth. Argyro, of
Sunrise Tours in Chios, arranged a tour with several teachers from
Kardamyla for a two day tour of Tseme (Cesme), Smyrna (Izmir) and
Ephesus. I wanted to understand the Greek perspective, traveling in
a Greek speaking group. Our guide, Ali Papazoglou, was a Greek-Moslem
from the island of Kos, who lived in Kordello, Izmir. We took a ferry
boat from Chios City to Modern Day Cesme. Because I had an American
passport, I was allowed through Turkish customs quickly. Our bus trip
through the state of Izmir showed a rich, fertile land that looked
like the islands of Limnos and Kos. Extreme police security was
present in a mall we stopped at, with very expensive prices. I could
not understand why persons from Athens would shop in Turkey. They
have better products and prices in Athens.

Along the road, guide Ali showed us the Cathedral of Tseme province,
known as Agios Charalambos, the town of Alatsata, Karaburum and
other Greek places of one hundred years ago. Ali gave us the Greek
perspective by mentioning the names and history of areas that now had
Turkish names. The entire tourist group from Athens was emotionally
moved. One of our Greek tourists crossed himself when the ruins of a
particular Greek Church was shown. Others would become enthusiastic
looking at a Turkish Mosque, at the site of a former Greek Orthodox
Church. All I saw was what it is today: a Turkish landscape devoid
of anything Hellenic. Meanwhile, I was totally astounded by what was
taking place before my eyes. No mingling in the streets. We stayed
on the bus, moving along a modern, high speed throughway. Travel in
Greece is one hundred percent more enjoyable, because of freedom and
intermingling with the citizens who all know English.

When we reached Izmir, Ali said "Kordelio is still a cosmopolitan
community as it was under the Greeks. There are still some aristocratic
homes standing. The Greeks had a philosophy: live for today and do
not worry about the past or future." Finally we reached the harbor
where the massacre took place. Ali said "this is it." A pin could
have dropped and all would have heard it in this tourist bus. The
two day tour with Sunrise Tours of Chios was memorable because of
this unique Greek guide who tried to help us envision an Asia Minor
before 1914 and 1922.

When I returned to Chios City, Argyro of Sunset Tours purchased the
books Mika Asia Explorer and Stefanides, Chios and Smyrni travel
guide. In these Modern Greek books, I pieced together the rich
history of Kordelio. The suburb is at the northern tip of the gulf of
Smyrna. Its Greek name was Peraia that means to cross over to the other
coast. Kordelio received its name from the twelfth century monastery of
"Moni Kordoleontos". The suburb lied in the municipality of Karsigiaka.

The community of Kordelio in 1888 had five thousand inhabitants. Half
were Greeks from Mytilene, Chios, Samos, Ikaria, Mani. The other fifty
percent were Armenians, Catholics, Protestants and Cretan Turks. In
1921, The Greek Command of Smyrna counted seven thousand, five hundred
Greeks, three hundred Turks, 200 Armenians, one hundred and fifty
Israelites, eight hundred and fifty Levantines (Franco-Catholics),
Serbs and other nationalities.

Most of the residents of Kordelio had their businesses in Smyrna. There
were many farmers, gardeners, cattle stock farmers, fishermen and
grocers. There were three Greek Orthodox churches. In the center were
Agia Anna, St. John Prodromos and Agia Marina. They belonged to the
Metropolitan of Ephesus. Kordelio became the second headquarters of the
Metropolitan. They had a boy’s and girl’s school, two kindergartens,
theaters, cafenia, movie houses, clubs and athletic organizations. The
enchantment of Kordelio is legendary in Greek culture and is in
folk songs. The refugees from Kordelio have a settlement outside
Thessaloniki. "My great uncle was Chrystosomos Hatgistavrou, the
Metropolitan of Ephesus," said Demetrios Hatgistavrou, of East Hampton,
Long island. "His eyewitness account entitled, ‘A Report prepared For
the Patriarch of Constantinople by Metropolitan of Ephesus Chrystosomos
Hatgistavrou’ shows the massacre of every Christian in Ionia (Western
Asia Minor)."

Christos Demetrios Papantonakis of Kato Panagia, with roots in Kordelio
and Kato Panagia, Smyrna, was a Nabisco factory worker in New York
City during this turbulent era. . "He was a quiet, low key person
who enjoyed reading all about his Hellenic culture," according to his
cousin, Daisy Lainis. The tall, quiet spoken man was considered a hero
for saving his wife’s family by helping them immigrate to the United
States from their refugee quarters at the Frourio (Fortress) in Chios
during the 1914 persecution and cataclysmic 1922 catastrophe. The
simplest persons in a time of tragedy accomplish acts that determine
the future of generations.

JERUSALEM: POLICE CALLED IN ORTHODOX CLERICS SCUFFLE AT BASILICA OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE

Catholic Culture
Nov 10 2008

Israeli police were forced to intervene on Sunday as Greek Orthodox
monks clashed with Armenian Apostolic clerics inside the Church of the
Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The ugly melee– in which punches were
thrown by clerics wearing full vestments, and candles and tapestries
were thrown to the floor– came after an alleged violation of the
detailed agreement among the different Christian groups that vie for
control over the basilica.

THE SUFFERINGS OF THE OPPOSITION’S DEFEATISM

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
07 Nov 08
Armenia

After L. Ter-Petrosyan’s recent interview on the Moscow Declaration
signed by the Armenian, Azeri and Russian Presidents, a strange
liveliness is being observed in the pro-opposition camp.

Conducting meetings, discussions and interviews, different
representatives of the leader of the Armenian National Congress advance
three fundamental theses standing in stark contrast to one another.

1. They claim that the "final stage of the NKR conflict settlement"
is close; it is inevitable and irrefutable. And they support their
argument by L. Ter-Petrosyan’s prediction that the United States will
"very probably" achieve the solution of the issue in December.

2. The Moscow Declaration is being subjected to harsh criticism.

"Embellishing" the theses proposed by L. Ter-Petrosyan in his recent
interview, his allies are searching in the Declaration the non-existent
"traces" of the resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly, the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and other anti-Armenian
documents concerning the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

3. They advance the thesis on the necessity of signing the document
which is allegedly going to be imposed on us by the superpowers.

After reiterating the above mentioned, the National Congress arrives
at the following false conclusions.

1. There is no possibility for delaying the discussion of the issue
since Russia, the European Union and the United States, which are
in fierce rivalry with one another in the South Caucasus, are making
haste to impose upon the parties the settlement principles introduced
in Madrid on November 29, 2007.

At this point, there is one factor that is being ignored. The given
principles also imply the deployment of international peacekeeping
forces in the Karabakh conflict zone. And this is equivalent to the
establishment of political-military control in the entire territory of
Transcaucasus. The following question comes up: if the mediators are
having an acute and unyielding rivalry over the issue of determining
the role of the superpower in the region rather than clarifying the
principles of the settlement, to what extent is it proper to rule out
the possibility of delaying the solution of the issue and who is it
advantageous to?

Moreover, if the struggle of the superpowers bears such an acute and
unyielding character, maybe this should drive us to the conclusion
that there is "no possibility for not delaying the settlement"?

1. We lose the game. That’s to say, they impose on us a document
which contradicts the interests of the Armenian people.

Let’s imagine for a moment that it’s really true. What goal,
in that case, will the consolidation of the pro-opposition forces
(the so-called Armenian National Congress) pursue? Such goal seemed
to consist in arousing anxiety among the Armenian people, raising
the spirit of their resistibility, ruling out the possibilities of
defeat and forming national consensus that would enable us to resist
the possible pressures. Whereas such pessimistic assessments are
followed by a defeatist conclusion.

2. Adopting an obviously defeatist attitude, the radicals are convinced
that "there is no alternative to solving the problem".

That’s to say, persisting in their statements that the game is lost,
and the anti-Armenian solution of the problem cannot be delayed,
they simultaneously insist that it is necessary to put up with those
realities.

Vahan Papazyan, who was a Foreign Minister during the tenure of L.

Ter-Petrosyan, also tried to support the same idea in an interview
entitled "Whose Self-Determination is Being Discussed?" "In comparison
with other documents, I see that Armenia has considerably weakened
its positions. We have made more concessions now than we did 10 years
ago," the Ex-Foreign Ministers says. Mr. Papazyan also adds that
"It’s better to have some document than not to have anything at all."

That’s to say, the settlement rather than its content is deemed
important.

Let’s now compare the entire chain of such strange questions with the
theses proposed by Armenian President Serge Sargsyan in an interview
to the French "Le Monde" newspaper (the interview was given in Paris
on the same day).

a) Armenia is ready not to hamper the process of the negotiations;
however, it is not ready to make considerable concessions.

b) Armenia’s attitude continues to be based upon the three principles:
the NKR’s right to self-determination, a land border with the Republic
of Armenia and international guarantees for security.

c) The Moscow Declaration is not a clearly defined plan; however,
it reiterates the necessity of a "political solution" (i.e. ruling
out the possibility of war) and an "international guarantee"
(i.e. ensuring security).

Thus, it is obvious that the official Yerevan does not agree to any of
the three theses proposed by the defeatist pro-opposition activists,
so admitting the necessity of proceeding with the Karabakh settlement
talks, it at the same time refuses to make any concessions with regard
to any of the fundamental issues.

So, what’s the reason that L. Ter-Petrosyan and his co-thinkers arouse
so much panic and disseminate unfounded malicious joy? They realize
that in case the authorities, the people and the whole statehood
suffer a failure in the Karabakh settlement process, they will have
the opportunity of re-raffling the game lost in the February 2008
presidential campaign.

HOW TO CHEAT THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE
Kima Yeghiazaryan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
29 Oct 2008
Armenia

To Participate And To Flee

After the decree, on setting up a fact-finding group, signed by Serge
Sargsyan on October 23, for the last five days the representatives
of Armenian National Congress have been waiting for the decision of
their leader, with bated breath and dumbly.

Strange as it may seem "heritage" party, which is not considered
the member of the congress, is also waiting for Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s
decision, because they don’t seem to hurry in expressing their position
on whether or not they are planning to participate in the works of
the fact-finding group.

Of course they reason it by saying that it is up to the administration
to take a decision on this issue, but it is evident that "Heritage"
is hanging back, waiting for Levon’s decision. And only after his
decision will "Heritage" express its final stance.

Before that of course the representatives of both the congress and
"Heritage" party have already managed to express their objections
regarding certain points of the decree, not daring to utter a word
regarding their final decision.

But hardly will Ter-Petrosyan come to a decision so swiftly. Though
the terms mentioned in the decree will most probably make him take
a decision before November 4.

So, Levon Ter-Petrosyan didn’t find a better place to discuss this
and many other issues, than "Yerablur", where he visited on "October
27". On his third visit to Panteon and Yerablur, from 1999, he managed
both to "mourn" the deaths of the victims and to spontaneously convene
an open-air press conference.

Whereas not only did he answer the various questions (beginning from
the establishment of the fact-finding group up to the possibility of
holding extraordinary demonstrations) of the journalists just near
the gravestones, but he also hold a spontaneous consultation with
the members of "Heritage" party. Such is their habit – to hold civil
functions on the day of the Genocide, to convene a press conference
in Yerablur, etc…

We thought the fact of convening this urgent press conference was
conditioned by publicizing his decision. But it turned out that there
was no decision. The leader of the revolutionaries was hesitating. The
fact that COE Commissioner for Human Rights Tomas Hammarberg
immediately responded to the initiative to set up a fact-finding group
and welcomed and appreciated the President’s decision couldn’t help
"sobering" Ter-Petrosyan. Especially because it was at his and his
companions’ demand that the issue was included in the PACE resolution.

This time Ter-Petrosyan will have to take such a decision, which won’t
be difficult to digest for the Council of Europe, because the latter
expects, only and only a positive answer from the revolutionary leader.

After boycotting the works of the NA Interim Committee, after ignoring
the demand-proposals made by the Council of Europe to start a dialogue
with the ruling power, if he behaves the same way this time he will
really appear in a very ridiculous situation. But still what pretext
can he find to justify his refusal to send his own representatives
to work in the fact-finding group? The day before Ter-Petrosyan
announced that two of their demands "have not been satisfied by the
ruling power". According to the decree the group subordinates to the
working interim committee, which means it is not independent. It is
not "transparent" as well, because the elucidation of the works is
strictly banned. Not considering the Human Rights Defender as a third
party, he complained that international experts are not involved
in the works of the group, because in his view the latter must be
the "third party". Whereas it is twice mentioned in the decree: "To
involve specialists in the fact-finding group, including international
experts."

As to the fact of the "subordination" – what else could they do?

Should they ignore the works implemented by the interim committee by
now, only to satisfy the revolutionaries? Or what "transparency" do
they speak about? Everyday overflow of the information? To give the
revolutionaries the chance to make a concert from this information
and reach the dissolution of the group?

With all this Levon Ter-Petrosyan has many times mentioned: "It’s
ok. We can make use of the small chances that we possess, if we
participate in the works of the group." He has appeared between the
devil and the deep sea.

Not to appear in a shameful situation in front of the Council of
Europe, most probably he is looking for an "optimal" solution. It is
really illogical to oppose the proposal made by himself. Most probably
this time he will take a positive decision to show the Europeans that
they also want "to be helpful". This is the delusion that they are
going to create.

But it is not excluded that after some time he will call back his
representatives from the fact-finding group, with the whole "luggage"
of information, which the revolutionaries will swiftly spread all
over the country, thus trying to discredit the activity of the group.

Meanwhile by using the information at hand as a subject for
the demonstrations, they will try to liven up their dead
movement. Everything is possible from those who provoked "March 1".

BILLS VOTED DOWN

A1+
[07:03 pm] 20 October, 2008

Today the National Assembly refused to put the draft bills on reviewing
the restraint of detained or wanted MPs and annulling the decisions
on the NA agenda. The bills were proposed by the Heritage faction.

"As the vote was open the deputies showed their true selves and true
colours. It was an excellent exam for our parliamentarians," Heritage
Party MP Zaruhi Postanjian said to A1+.

To note, only 77 of the 113 registered deputie s participated in the
vote. The bill was voted down with 15 votes in favour, 32 against
and 30 abstentions.

It is due to mention that the ex Speaker of the National Assembly,
Tigran Torossyan, who used to urge his fellow collagues to support the
Prosecutor General’s mediation to change the restraint by detention
today voted for the draft bill.

The bill was also supported by Victor Dallakyan, Hakob Hakobyan,
Michael Vardanyan, Ara Nranyan, Armen Abrahamyan, Melik Manukyan and
the Heritage faction.

"Today the National Assembly stood a good chance to correct its
mistake. We tried to help our deputies to find a way out of this
cul-de-sac, but they disregarded our advice. They think the harder
they press, the better for them," said Zaruhi Postanjyan.

Today the National Assembly rejected the involvement of draft
amendments to the laws on "Electoral Code," and "Meetings, Assemblies,
Marches and Demonstrations" in the NA agenda.

"The amendments aimed to enhance democratic institutes but they were
all rejected," noted Zaruhi Postanjyan.

Note, the amendments had been proposed by the Heritage Party.

BAKU: KARABAKH STATUS AND LACHIN CORRIDOR ISSUES NOT COORDINATED YET

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.10.2008 14:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Official Baku announced that both Azerbaijan and
Armenia still fail to agree on the key issues in the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement process.

"The status of Nagorno Karabakh and Lachin corridor as well deployment
of peacekeeping forces have not been coordinated yet," said Novruz
Mammadov, Head of the International Relations Department at the
Azerbaijani President’s Office.

"When in Yerevan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that
Baku and Yerevan managed to agree on several principles. The statement
caused a stir, like other statements of the kind made by the sides
earlier. The point is that the conflict is being resolved step by
step and the agreements achieved earlier can be implemented only in
case the positions on key issues harmonize," he said.

"It is not easy to disclose the coordinated points and there is no need
to do so, since it can damage the ongoing process, according to him.

"The issues under discussion are most important ones. Their
coordination will affect other provisions," Mammadov said, Trend
reports.

NIZAMI BAHMANOV: "THE CO-CHAIRS’ VISIT TO KHANKENDI AND MEETING WITH THE SEPARATISTS WERE OFFERED BY MERZLYAKOV"

Azeri Press Agency
June 27 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Lachin Sultanova-APA. "Under these circumstances Azerbaijani and
Armenian communities of Nagorno Karabakh have no role in the process
of negotiations", Chairman of Public Union "Azerbaijani Community of
Nagorno Karabakh" Nizami Bahmanov told APA.

He considers that the co-chairs’ visit to Khankendi and meeting with
the separatists were offered by Merzlyakov.

"Merzlyakov follows Kazimirov’s tradition. Russia attempts to involve
Armenian community of Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiations as a third
party", he said.

Bahmanov also said that the public union sent a protest to the
co-chairs.

"The presidents hold negotiations on the settlement of the conflict and
give instructions to the foreign ministers. There will be a need for
the role of the communities, when the occupied lands are liberated,
people return to their lands and the issue on status is discussed",
he said.

NEW ALBUM OF GUITARIST GENE ESS TO BE RECORDED IN JUNE WITH PARTICIPATION OF TIGRAN HAMASIAN

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 13, 2008

PARIS, MAY 13, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Guitarist Gene Ess and
his quartet will be recording a new album in June. This new work will
feature the 2006 Thelonious Monk Piano Competition 1st place winner
Tigran Hamasyan on piano. At twenty-one, pianist Tigran Hamasyan
has already done much to launch his name into the world of emergent
young lions. After winning the prestigious Thelonious Monk Jazz Piano
Competition in 2006, he studied in the United States before returning
to Paris, where he recorded his first album, New Era. Tigran will be
joining Gene Ess, Harvie S, and Tyshawn Sorey for these New York dates.