Author: Nahapetian Boris

The Library of Congress
H.RES.106
Title: Calling upon the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the
United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning
issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in
the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide, and for other
purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] (introduced 1/30/2007) Cosponsors
(211)
Related Bills: S.RES.106 COSPONSORS (30)
Latest Major Action: 1/30/2007 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred
to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Rep Tancredo, Thomas G. [CO-6] – 4/19/2007 (withdrawn – 6/27/2007)

ARMENIA’S COMMUNICST PARTY TO DECIDE ON PARTICIPATING IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN AUTUMN

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 26 2007

YEREVAN, June 26. /ARKA/. The Communist Party of Armenia (CPA) will
decide on its participation in the forthcoming presidential election
this autumn, CPA First Secretary Ruben Tovmasyan told reporters.

"The Communist Party’s congress this autumn will make a decision
on the party’s participation in the elections – whether the party
will nominate its own candidate or we will support another political
figure," he said. According to Tovmasyan, the CPA has many worthy
members that can run for presidency.

The presidential election is to be held in Armenia in the first
half of 2008. Among the prospective presidential candidates are RA
Prime Minister, Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA),
Chairman of the Country of Law Party Artur Baghdasaryan, Chairman of
the National Democratic Union Vazgen Manukyan, Chairman of the New
Times party Aram Karapetyan, Chairman of the Marxist Party of Armenia
David Hakobyan and Chairman of the People’s Party of Armenia Tigran
Karapetyan.

PRESIDENT OF FOOTBALL FEDERATION OF ARMENIA REGRETS ABOUT CANCELLATION OF ARMENIA V AZERBAIJAN EURO QUALIFIERS BY UEFA

arminfo
2007-06-25 13:25:00

President of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) Ruben
Hayrapetyan regrets that UEFA has cancelled two Euro 2008 Group A
matches between Armenia and Azerbaijan. As a result, both countries
lose the six qualifying points available. "It was decided to award
both associations zero points for the matches, UEFA said in a statement
following a meeting of its executive committee in the Netherlands.

It is noteworthy that it was an unprecedented decision by UEFA. Thus,
2 of 8 teams participating in the Euro 2008 Group A matches are now
in unequal conditions with the remaining teams. This allows thinking
that the decision by UEFA was political.

"I regret about the decision, at the same time trusting and admitting
the regulations of UEFA and FIFA. I think that only tangible
and essential factors and arguments could be a basis for such an
unprecedented decision.

It’s a pity that we are now deprived of an opportunity to enjoy the
entertaining and strengthening game of our team," the FFA President
says in a statement received by ArmInfo, Monday. At the same time
Hayrapetyan mentions that together with the Government of Armenia
they did everything possible in order that these matches take place.

PM AT ODDS WITH BUREAUCRATS OVER FOREIGN POLICY

CTV.ca, Canada
/CTVNews/20070625/public_servants_070625/20070625? hub=Politics
June 25 2007

During a closed-door roundtable with Toronto media, Prime Minister
Stephen Harper said his hard line on foreign policy is being undermined
by Canadian bureaucrats and diplomats.

The Toronto Star obtained a recording of the prime minister made at
a June 15 roundtable with ethnic-Toronto media.

Harper complained at length about the reluctance of public servants
to defend his stance on foreign policy, the newspaper reported.

Specifically, Harper’s comments came in response to questions about his
2006 decision to recognize the deaths of about 1.5 million Armenians
in Turkey in 1915 as genocide.

"What is not acceptable, and it does happen on occasion, is for
a public servant to say, `That may be the position of the elected
guys, but that’s not the position of the government,’" Harper said
in the meeting.

The head of the union representing Canada’s foreign service said he
was "shocked" about the prime minister’s comments and that Harper
had not made any formal complaints in the past.

The move was touted as a significant departure from previous
governments and so angered the Turkish government that it recalled
its ambassador to Canada and pulled out of a May 2006 joint military
exercise.

Turkey has long upheld a position of denial, saying the mass killings
were not a systemic genocide, but part of broader ethnic clashes as
Armenians sided with Russia during the First World War.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry issued a stern statement in April 2006
stating it "regretted" Harper’s remarks over the killings that occurred
more than eight decades ago.

"Statements concerning disputed historic events by foreign parliaments
or governments nearly a century later will not change the nature of
what happened in reality," the statement said.

"Such statements do not contribute to the environment of
dialogue between Turkey and Armenia, and have a negative effect on
Turkish-Canadian relations," it added. "The stagnation of relations
between the two countries after the Canadian Parliament’s decision
… is the clearest example of this."

In 2004, the House of Commons voted 153 to 68 to adopt the Bloc
Quebecois motion which stated, "This House acknowledges the Armenian
genocide of 1915 and condemns this act as a crime against humanity."

During the June 15 roundtable, Harper compared his struggle with public
servants and garnering support for foreign policy to the difficulty
of captaining a massive ship making a tight turn.

Harper said shifting Canada’s foreign policy takes great force and
requires ample amounts of time.

"Canada’s recognition of the Armenian genocide, frankly, was a major
change in policy for the foreign service of Canada, not an easy one
to understand," he confided. "It has been difficult for some people."

Harper said it’s difficult for public servants to become accustomed
to a new government’s policies when it has defended the previous
government’s stance for years.

"That’s difficult for them because they tend to believe in what
they’ve been doing," he said.

"All I can say is this: The way we overcome this is to provide very
strong direction."

ARMENIAN RAILROAD IS PUT OUT TO TENDER

Lragir.am
25-06-2007 16:34:21

On behalf of the Armenian government the ministry of transport and
communication put out the Armenian Railroad Company to tender for
concession. According to the ministry, in the preliminary stage,
which is in September, the eligible candidates will be chosen, and
later on tender will be held.

The concession will be signed for a term of 30 years. In 20 years it
will be possible to prolong the concession for another 20 years. The
measurements of eligibility are: the highest pay for concession,
maintenance of the infrastructure to enable other operators licensed
by the Armenian government to use it, release of a report on network,
and financial data on the costs of the infrastructure.

The tender is open to legal persons of the Republic of Armenia and
foreign countries.

FORMATION OF RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEES COMPLETED

YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The new Armenian government is likely to
submit the program of its activities to the National Assembly on June
25, the RA National Assembly speaker Tigran Torosian said at the June
22 press conference.

According to him, the formation of the NA standing committees was
eventually completed the day before, with 12-15 deputies being included
in each of the 9 standing committees. The NA delegations in
international organizations have not been formed yet. Taking this fact
into account, it was decided to send the deputies – members of the
previous convocation NA’s delegations in PACE and OSCE PA for
participation in the work of the PACE to start on June 25 and the work
of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to start in late July.

The chairman of the NA Standing Committee of Foreign Relations, ARF
faction member Armen Rustamian and RPA faction member Hermine
Naghdalian have already left for Strasbourg in order to participate in
the work of the PACE. In T. Torosian’s words, the PACE Bureau’s report
to be presented at the summer session will contain a section on the May
12 parliamentary elections in Armenia but it is envisaged to hold a
discussion without adopting a resolution.

The head of the previos NA delegation in the OSCE PA, vice speaker of
the parliament, ARF faction member Vahan Hovhannisian, and probably RPA
faction member Samvel Nikoyan will participate in the work of the OSCE
PA.

T. Torosian who headed the previous NA delegation in PACE, said that it
is an important international organization for Armenia. Although
another deputy will head the delegation to be formed soon, the NA
speaker will keep this deputy in the center of his attention and assist
him.

T. Torosian stated that as previously, the parliament’s work will be
open to reporters. In his words, the new building behind the main NA
building, which is being constructed and will be put into operation in
the summer of 2008, will improve the working conditions of both
deputies and reporters. The autumn session to start in September 2008
will be held in the reconstructed hall of sittings.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 23 2007

Armenians violate ceasefire in Terter

[ 23 Jun 2007 11:37 ]

Armenian armed forces continue violating ceasefire, Azerbaijani
Defense Ministry’s press service told the APA.

Divisions of Armenian armed forces from their positions in the
north-west of the Jerabert village of Terter region fired on the
opposite positions of Azerbaijani armed forces by machine and
submachine guns. The enemy was silenced by response fire. No
casualties are reported. /APA/

IT IS ENVISAGED TO BRING ARMENIAN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM INTO CONFORMITY WITH FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF THE BOLOGNA PROCESS BY 2010

Noyan Tapan
Jun 22 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The national workshop on the subject
"Institutional reforms in higher education within the frameworks of
the Bologna process" started on June 21 in Yerevan. It is held by
the International Institute of Educational Programming jointly with
the UNESCO’s office in Moscow and Yerevan State University. Issues
concerning, in particular, the provision of higher educational
quality, institutional reorganizations and university management,
as well as those regarding the development of the marking system
of the professorial and teaching staff will be discussed during the
workshop. In addition to the Armenian specialists, representatives
of educational institutions from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus will
make reports during the workshop.

Alexandre Grigorian, the provost of the Yerevan State University,
mentioned that great measures are being taken in Armenia for investing
the Bologna process in its higher educational system. In his opinion,
it is envisaged to bring the RA Higher Educational System in conformity
with the fundamental principles of the Bologna process by 2010.

Ara Avetisian, the RA Deputy Minister of Education and Science,
believes that this process will make it possible to provide the
labour market with professional personnel of qualified higher
education. In his opinion, the Bologna process is in the practical
stage of investment in Armenia. "The two-degree higher education is
already a reality in Higher Educational Institutions, new programs
and a credit system have already been invested in graduate and
post-graduate institutions, and new mechanisms for quality organizing
and estimating are being invested," the Deputy Minister said.

PRESS RELEASE
UN Department of Public Information
Contact: Information Officer Armine Halajyan
Yerevan Office (Armenia)
Tel.: (374 10) 560 212
Fax/Tel.: (374 10) 561 406
Mobile: (374 91) 20 37 25
Press Release

Date: 21 May, 2007

`Milk Collection And Marketing Units’
Innovative solutions to sustainable community development

YEREVAN, June 20, 2007 – Today during a press conference at the UNHouse,
the United Nations Development Programme, Center for Agribusiness and
Rural Development and Ashatarak Kat Closed Joint Stock Company signed a
Memorandum of Understanding to establish three (3) Milk Collection And
Marketing Units in Tavush marz.

The goal is to establish milk collection and marketing units in
Varagavan, Tovuz and Nerkin Karmiraghbyur located in Tavush marz to
assist local dairy farmers from nearly 10 neighboring villages to
organize milk collection and distribution processes and contribute to
the sustainable growth of the marz.

The Units will be located in physical premises provided by the
community, which will be renovated according to the international food
safety standards and equipped with contemporary testing and cooling
equipment. Image Centers will be operated by community based
organizations (cooperatives) and supported by large dairy producer/s.

The UNDP Resident Representative Ms. Consuelo Vidal told the audience
that `the Milk Collection And Marketing Units will serve local
communities of Tavush marz and more than 200 farmers will benefit from
them’. She also added that `Partnership with private companies like
Ashtarak Kat help ensure the sustainability of the economic development
activities, such as this centers, leading to poverty reduction through
the creation of new jobs and business opportunities in this case, in the
dairy sector.’

During the event Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy Anthony Godfrey
said: "The U.S. government is happy to support, through CARD, this joint
initiative with UNDP aimed at strengthening private initiative in the
agricultural sector."

Within the scope of this Memorandum the parties agreed to share the
following responsibilities:

The UNDP `Performance Budgeting at the Local Level’ and `Global Compact
Armenia’ Projects will renovate the buildings for the milk collection
centers provided by the communities in Varagavan, Tovuz and Nerkin
Karmiraghbyur and provide two (2) milk collection trucks to organize the
milk collection in the communities.

The Center for Agribusiness and Rural Development (CARD) will install
milk collection and testing equipment. In addition, CARD will provide
technical assistance to the local farmers to establish and operate legal
entities such as the cooperatives that will be formed.

Ashtarak-Kat Closed Joint Stock Company will buy te collected milk from
the Milk Collection And Marketing Units

Global Compact Armenia is a project of the UNDP that creates new
opportunities for and facilitates the establishment of strategic
partnerships with the private sector by using the Corporate Social
Responsibility and responsible corporate citizenship concepts and the
power of collective action.

* * *
UNDP is the UN’s global development network. It advocates for change and
connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people
build a better life. We operate in 166 countries, working with them on
their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As
they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our
wide range of partners.
* * *

UN DPI is the UN’s Department of Public Information. It disseminates
first-hand information about the United Nations global events. Local DPI
offices assist UN Country Teams to disseminate their information to
wider public audiences.
* * *

EXHIBITION OF ARAM DOVLATIANS’ WORKS IN ABU DHABI

AZG Armenian Daily
20/06/2007

With the patronage of the Armenian Ambassador to UAE Vahagn Melikian
and French Ambnasador to UAE Patrice Paoly, exhibition of the works
of an Armenian Painter Vahagn Melikian was organized at the Culture
Fund of Abu Dhabi, May 29 – June 9.

The exhibition was officially opened by vice-director of the Fund
Zaki Nousiyba. Representatives of a number of foreign diplomatic
missions in Abu Dhabi and of the Armenian community were present to
the opening ceremony.

The 35 paintings of Vahagn Melikian, represented on the exhibition,
tell of various periods and various layers of the ancient Armenian
culture. The exhibition was thoroughly illustrated by the local and
press and left good impression on the major part of the visitors.