Author: Nadirian Emma

Ottawa Citizen, Canada
January 24, 2008 Thursday
Final Edition

Politicians must not allow ‘homelandism’

Ozay Mehmet, The Ottawa Citizen

Canada is an amazing democracy, but it is deficient in one major way.
It lacks a national ministry of education.

Our education system is Balkanized with separate provincial
educational jurisdictions, each having its own standards and
curricula. This is partly historical and partly religious, reflecting
the power sharing that existed in 1867 when the Canadian
Confederation was established.

As a result, local activists and ethnic lobbies are sometimes able to
impose their own versions of history on the silent majority. That
explains why now the Toronto and District School Board has fallen
into the hands of Armenian lobbies, hell bent on rewriting history
from an Armenian perspective.

In recent years, genocide studies have become very popular, and
Armenian nationalists have joined the bandwagon. Using the fake
Hitler quote ("Who still remembers the Armenian massacres?") and
other documents such as the notorious forged Andonian telegrams,
these Armenian activists have been having a field day at the expense
of Turkish-Ottoman history.

So now, the Turkish Canadian community of Toronto is up in arms. They
came by the hundreds to a Toronto school board meeting on Jan. 16 to
voice their anger. The trustees were caught unaware. "We never
expected so many to show up" said one official. The meeting had to be
moved to an auditorium in order to accommodate everyone.

What happened in Toronto is a repetition of what took place at the
Ottawa school board 18 years ago. At that time, thanks to the
opposition of the Turkish Canadians in our national capital, the
Armenian module was rejected.

It is hoped the same thing will happen in Toronto. But unfortunately
that would not solve the problem, as Canadian schools may yet turn
into ethnic battlegrounds unless a sane method is discovered to
contain "homelandism," politicians pandering to ethnic lobbies
pursuing nationalist ideologies imported from some homeland overseas,
sometimes resorting to terrorism in pursuit of national causes.
Opportunistic politicians are ready to ignore these dangers for the
sake of a few votes.

Ozay Mehmet, Ottawa
Professor emeritus,
Carleton University

ARMENPRESS

UNDP AND USAID TO HELP ISAHAKIAN VILLAGE CARRY OUT
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

YEREVAN, JANUARY 25, ARMENPRESS: The UNDP and USAID
will join efforts to help the village of Isahakian,
located close to Armenia’s border to Turkey in Shirak
province, implement rural development programs.
As a result of a series of meetings and discussions
with the community’s people the priorities have been
defined. According to the UNDP Armenia Office, the
villageers listed as their priorities restoration of a
12 km long drinking water pipeline and a 10 km long
natural gas network. They would like also to see their
community road to be repaired and want also to
establish a seeds fund.
The community has pledged to make its own input
into implementation of these projects.
The village of Isahakian, located on the left bank
of Akhurian River is the native village of a prominent
Armenian poet Avetik Isahakian. It has 251 households,
1,225 people and the residents are engaged in farming
and cattle breeding. The home of the poet has been
preserved.

NO CONCRETE SCHEDULES ARE GIVEN IN PRE-ELECTION PROGRAMS OF FOUR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES, ECONOMIST SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Jan 24, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. No concrete schedules are given in
the economic part of the pre-election programs of four candidates
for the RA presidency, which allows these candidates to avoid
responsibility. The director of the National Center of Applied
Economics Sergei Bagratian expressed this opinion at the January 23
press conference. He gave, in particular, an analysis of the economic
sections of the pre-election programs of four candidates.

All these programs envisage a rise of salaries and penshions but
almost nothing is said about development of a specific industrial
sector. According to S. Bagratian, only Levon Ter-Petrosian attaches
importance to development of high technologies, although it is
considered one of the priorities of the government strategy.

One of the innovations in the program of the RA prime minister,
presidential candidate Serge Sargsian is implementation of
second-generation reforms.

However, it is not indicated in detail what reforms should be made. It
is not stated either what kind of changes are envisaged for business
development. S. Bagratian said that according to the pre-election
program of this candidate, the economic development rates will remain
the same.

The program of another presidential candidate, Vahan Hovannesian,
attaches importance to the role of the state in economic policy and
to increasing the involvement of the population in the economy.

The presidential candidate Artashes Geghamian has compared Armenia’s
economic development indices in various years, as well as with
the respective indices of neighboring countries. According to him,
Armenia’s economic devlopment is proceeding slowly as compared with
neighboring countries. For example, in 2006, a billion dollars was
invested in Azerbaijan over 6 weeks, whereas 450 million dollars was
invested in Armenia in a year.

The novelty of the pre-election program of Levon Ter-Petrosian is
proposals to continue the use of simplified tax, to ensure an even
distribution of the tax burden and the legality and transparency
in organization of auctions. S. Bagratian pointed out that the
pre-election program of this candidate attaches special importance
to compulsory insurance of agricultural produce and elimination of
the monopoly on the import of goods.

In the opinion of S. Bagratian, 70% of the pre-election programs
should be well-grounded, while 30% should be related to the person
of the given presidential candidate.

ARMENIAN CAPTIVE TO BE CONVEYED TO HOMELAND

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.01.2008 17:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian captive Hambartsum Mnatsakanyan will be
conveyed to Armenia. As RA Defense Minister’s Spokesman, Colonel Seyran
Shahsuvaryan told PanARMENIAN.Net, the transfer will take place at
the Ijevan-Ghazakh sector of the Armenian-Azeri border on January 25.

SERGE SARGSYAN’S ELECTION PROGRAM ENVISAGES STABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH TRENDS

ARKA News Agency
Jan 23 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, January 23. /ARKA/. The election program of the presidential
nominee of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), RA Prime Minister
Serge Sargsyan envisages stable economic growth trends,Chairman
of the National Center of Applied Economics Sergey Bagratyan told
reporters, referring to an examination of the economic component of
Serge Sargsyan’s election program.

He pointed out that the program contains a comparison of the GDP
growth, exports and investments in 2000-2006 with the corresponding
indicators expected in 2006-2012.

"Under the program, the rates of development for the indicators
recorded during the two periods are identical," he said. Bagratyan
added that identical coefficients are applied to almost all the
figures indicated in the program for both 2000-2006 and 2012.

According to him, the most important novelty revealed as a result of
the examination is the readiness for the second stage of reforms.

However, Sargsyan’s election program does not contain any clearly
stated proposals for any specific steps as part of the second stage
of reforms," he said.

According to the election program of Serge Sargsyan on his official
website, the second stage of reforms will create better conditions
for business and investments in Armenia. According to the document,
economic management must not be an obstacle to business development,
but must facilitate the creation of equal conditions for development
and risk reduction.

The presidential election is to be held in Armenia on February 19.

The RA Central Electoral Commission (CEC) officially registered nine
presidential candidates: the Chairman of the Country of Law Party,
ex-speaker of the RA Parliament Artur Baghdasaryan, Chairman of the
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan,
Armenia’s first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Chairman of the
National Unity Party Artashes Geghamyan, Chairman of the National
Democratic Union Vazgen Manukyan, Vice-Speaker of the RA Parliament
Vahan Hovhannesyan, Chairman of the People’s Party Tigran Karapetyan,
Chairman of the National Accord Party Aram Harutyunyan, and the
former advisor to the President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Arman Melikyan.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Jan 17 2008

OSCE MG co-chairs hope to resume monitoring at contact line between
sides to Karabakh conflict

YEREVAN, January 17. /ARKA/. The Co-Chairs of OSCE Minsk Group hope
to resume the regular monitoring at the contact line between the
sides to the Karabakh conflict, the OSCE MG Co-Chair from Russia Yury
Merzlyakov said in Yerevan in commenting the break of the monitoring.

`The monitoring was suspended because both parties started
interpreting the procedure of organizing the monitoring in a
different way,’ Merzlyakov said.

According to him, the issue was solved during the last visit of the
Co-Chairs to the region, but later the sides kept on maintaining
their interpretations of the monitoring procedure.

Merzlyakov said that the Special Representative of OSCE Acting
Chairman Andjey Kasprshik applied to the Co-Chairs for the second
time asking them to interfere in the situation. Consequently, the
Co-Chairs visited the contact line and `asked the sides not to bring
up arguments, but conduct monitoring’.

`Up to the end we were not sure how efficient the initiative will be,
but both sides were constructive and this time they understood the
basic principles, and we hope that the same will happen later on,’
Merzlyakov said.

The French Co-Chair of OSCE MG Bernard Fassier, in his turn,
expressed hope that yesterday’s monitoring of the contact line
between the sides to the conflict will serve a starting point for
resumption of monitoring on regular basis. He said that about 30
people died in the incidents at the contact line in 2007.

`This is unacceptable, as it is somehow a break of the cease-fire
regime. We believe nobody should become a victim of any processes,’
Fassier said.

The Special Representative of OSCE Acting Chairman Andjey Kasprshik
said that the next monitoring of the contact line is expected to be
carried out at the end of the month. Yet, the issue needs to be
clarified and agreed on in respective agencies, Kasprishik said.

The monitoring of the contact line between the armed forces of
Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan toward Aghdam, near Yusifjanlu
settlement found no violation of the cease-fire regime. N.V. -0–

US Fed News
January 18, 2008 Friday 1:38 AM EST

REP. CROWLEY COMMEMORATES LIFE OF HRANT DINK, CALLS FOR FREEDOM OF
PRESS IN TURKEY

WASHINGTON

Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y. (7th CD), issued the following news
release:

On the eve of the one-year anniversary marking the murder of Hrant
Dink, US Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-Queens and the Bronx) spoke on
the House Floor commemorating his life and dedication to
Turkish-Armenian reconciliation. Crowley also used this opportunity
to reiterate his calls for the Turkish government to immediately
repeal Article 301 of the Turkish penal code.

Hrant Dink founded the bilingual weekly newspaper Agos in April 1996,
to foster a dialogue and encourage understanding between the
Turkish-Armenian community and the larger Turkish population. He
served as its editor until Jan. 19, 2007, when he was shot dead
outside of Agos’ main office in downtown Istanbul.

"Today, I join the Turkish and Armenian communities in mourning the
one-year anniversary of the loss of Hrant Dink," Crowley said. "Hrant
Dink was a man of conviction and principle who fought for tolerance,
understanding, and greater civil rights for all of Turkey’s citizens.
He was a fierce defender of freedom of the press and speech because
he believed that everyone should have the right to know the truth
about their past, and his murder was an act of cowardice and
senselessness."

Journalists and the media community around the world recognized and
honored Hrant Dink for his courage and principles, and he was awarded
the prestigious Bjornson Prize for Literature for his publications on
the Armenian genocide. Hrant Dink’s support for human rights and
outspokenness of injustices in Turkey against ethnic Armenians won
him notoriety with authorities, who prosecuted and convicted him in
court for insulting "Turkishness" in Turkey under Article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code.

Congressman Crowley introduced legislation (H.Res.102) in the U.S.
House of Representatives, condemning Mr. Hrant Dink’s assassination
as well as urging the Government of Turkey to repeal Article 301 of
the Turkish penal code, which prohibits free speech and is used to
silence critics.

Congressman Crowley said, "It is time for the government of Turkey to
repeal Article 301, which is an outright attack on the fundamental
right to freedom of speech. Turkish authorities should do everything
in its power to stop acts of intolerance, intimidation and violence
against individuals who exercise this fundamental right."

5 OUT OF 9 NOMINATED CANDIDATES TO RUN FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS FOR
FIRST TIME

YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA CEC on January 18 will discuss
the issue of registration of all nine candidates nominated for the
February 19 presidential elections. The candidates for presidency are
the RA Prime Minister, the RPA Chairman, Serge Sargsian, the NA
Vice-Speaker, an ARFD Bureau member, Vahan Hovhannisian, the first RA
President, an ANM member, Levon Ter-Petrosian, the first RA Prime
Minister, the NDU Chairman Vazgen Manukian, the former NA Speaker, the
OYP party Chairman and the current leader of the party’s parliamentary
faction, Artur Baghdasarian, the leader of the National Unity party,
Artashes Geghamian, the Chairman of the People’s Party, the head of the
ALM holding, Tigran Karapetian, the Chairman of the National Consent
party, Aram Haroutiunian, the former NKR Foreign Minister, non-partisan
Arman Melikian. With the exception of L. Ter-Petrosian, who is a
candidate for presidency by the principle of self-nomination, the other
candidates have been offered by their parties.

It should be mentioned that the forthcoming elections are the fifth
presidential elections to be held since Armenia’s independence, 1991.
Five out of nine nominated candidates, S. Sargsian, V. Hovhannisian, A.
Baghdasarian, T. Karapetian, and A. Melikian run for presidency for the
first time. V. Manukian has the biggest experience of running for
presidential elections among the candidates. He ran for presidency in
three out of four presidential elections, in 1996, 1998, 2003, at that,
in 1996 he competed with the President of that time, L. Ter-Petrosian
as a united candidate of the opposition. L. Ter-Petrosian and A.
Geghamian were candidates for two elections: the first in 1991 and in
1996, the second in 1998 and in 2003. A. Haroutiunian was a candidate
for one presidential election, in 2003.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext. 202
Fax: +37410. 565601
Email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

11-01-2008

The European Parliament adopted the resolution on a more effective EU Policy
for the South Caucasus

The European Parliament resolution on a more effective EU Policy for the
South Caucasus passed on January 17, 2008 with several paragraphs referring
to specifically Armenia and the Nagorno Karabakh Conflict.

The resolution refers extensively to the need to resolve regional conflicts
as well as transport and energy issues, and economic cooperation.

The resolution affirms that "a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict — a conflict which exacerbates relations between Armenia and
Azerbaijan — and of Georgia’s internal conflicts in Abkazia and South
Ossetia, is essential for stability in the EU neighbourhood, as well as for
the economic and social development of the South Caucasus region."

Referring to the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the resolution states that "the
project bypasses the existing and fully operative rail line in Armenia;
urges the South Caucasus republics and Turkey to pursue effectively policies
of regional economic integration and to refrain from any short-sighted and
politically motivated regional energy and transportation projects which
violate ENP principles of sound development."

Further, regarding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict specifically, the European
Parliament "notes that the contradiction between the principles of
self-determination and territorial integrity contributes to the perpetuation
of the unresolved post-Soviet conflicts in the South Caucasus region;
considers that this problem can be overcome only through negotiations."

Finally, the Parliament "calls on key actors in the region to play a
constructive role in resolving unresolved post-Soviet conflicts in the
region and to take steps to normalise its relations with neighbours;
reiterates its call upon Turkey to engage in serious and intensive efforts
for the resolution of outstanding disputes with all its neighbours, in
accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and
other relevant international conventions, and including a frank and open
discussion on past events; reiterates its call on the Turkish and Armenian
Governments to start the process of reconciliation for the present and the
past, and calls on the Commission to facilitate this process while taking
advantage of the regional cooperation realised within the ENP and Black Sea
Synergy policy; calls on the Commission and the Council to address the
opening of the Turkish border with Armenia with the authorities of those two
countries."

ARMENIA BEATS TURKEY 13:1

A1+
[12:17 pm] 18 January, 2008

After a clear-cut victory over the Republic of South Africa, the
Armenian under-20 hockey team beat Turkey 13:1 within the framework
of the World Hockey Championship.

During the first match Armenia already enjoyed a privilege over its
contender. The team had scored four goals.

Abraham Palezian, Petros Jamkochian and Smbat Deterdarian stood out
among the Armenian hockey players scoring three goals each.

It is due to mention that our team won over Turkey during a 2007
tournament as well.

Presently, Armenia and Australia top the fixture list.

Armenia will compete with New Zealand on January 20.