ARMENIA IN THE 123RD PLACE
A1+
[05:32 pm] 17 January, 2007
Today the FIFA made public the list of the football national
teams. Armenia continues in the 123rd place.
Although on January 14 our team tied with Panama, the results of that
game are not calculated yet.
This is the FIFA top ten: Brazil, Italy, Argentina, France, Germany,
England, the Netherlands, Portugal, Nigeria, the Czech Republic.
Channel 1, Tbilisi,
10 Jan 2007
GEORGIAN MINISTER SAYS RAILWAY WILL BE BUILT DESPITE US OPPOSITION
[Presenter] Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili has commented
on a statement by Matthew Bryza, the US deputy assistant secretary of
state [for European and Eurasian Affairs]. [Passage omitted] Bryza
had said that America was opposed to the construction of the
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku railway because it would bypass Armenia. He
added, however, that it was up to investors to decide whether or not
to go ahead with the project. He said that if Georgia, Turkey and
Azerbaijan wanted to build a railway, no-one would be able to stop
them doing that, however America would not support the project.
The project is expected to be funded by Azerbaijani and Turkish
companies.
[Bezhuashvili] Congress has decided that American banks will not fund
this project. We are aware of that. Naturally, it is the United
States’ sovereign right to finance or not to finance a project. There
are other resources for this project. Therefore, the railway will be
built using other resources. That is it. This has always been known.
This project will be implemented. It is an important project for us.
It is also important for Turkey and Azerbaijan. Generally, it is
important for opening a corridor through which cargoes will be
transported from Central Asia and China to Europe.
ARMENIAN LOBBY OF USA INTENDS TO PRESSURIZE US PRESIDENT THROUGH CONGRESS
Yerevan, January 11. ArmInfo. By January 15, the Armenian lobby
in the USA intends to present a resolution to the US House of
Representatives appealing to President George Bush to use the word
"Genocide>, Kiro Manoyan, the head of the representative office in
Armenia and a member of the ARF Dashnaksutsyun Party, said at the
"Urbat> discussion club, Thursday.
To remind, at the latest elections to the US Congress, the Democratic
Party gained the majority of seats in the House of Representatives.
In K.Manoyan’s opinion, this allows to hope that the situation in
the American parliament will change in the Armenian lobby’s favour.
WHITE HOUSE REPEATEDLY OFFERED HOAGLAND’S CANDIDACY AS US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
10.01.2007 13:28 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US President George Bush again offered to nominate
Richard Hoagland as US ambassador to Armenia. The Associated Press
reports that on Monday the White House repeatedly declared about
Hoagland’s nomination on the post of US ambassador to Armenia,
despite the Democratic Party’s demand to withdraw his candidacy, since
Hoagland has refused to call ‘genocide’ the massacres of Armenians
during World War 1, RFE RL reports. It is worth mentioning, that
97% of Armenian Americans support opposition to the confirmation of
Richard Hoagland as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, according to a new
internet poll conducted by the Armenian National Committee of America
-Western Region (ANCA-WR) over the past two weeks in nineteen Western
U.S. states. 94% of the respondents said that they "strongly agreed"
with this opposition. An additional 3% noted that they "somewhat
agreed" with this opposition. One percent reported that they "somewhat
disagreed" with opposing Hoagland, and 2% indicated that they "strongly
disagreed" with the opposition to his confirmation. This viewpoint is
aligned with the policy position of the Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA). It is worth reminding that on September 7, 2006
thanks to Senator Robert Menendez’s efforts Hoagland’s candidacy was
blocked in the Senate. On December 1st of last year the New Jersey
legislator joined with Majority Leader Harry Reid in calling on the
Administration to offer a new candidate for this post. The negative
attitude towards Richard Hoagland’s nomination is connected with his
outright denial of the Armenian Genocide in response to questions
posed during and after his June 2006 confirmation hearing before the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
AZERI FM SET TO ATTEND NEXT ROUND OF TALKS ON BREAKAWAY KARABAKH
RIA Novosti, Russia
Jan 10 2006
BAKU, January 10 (RIA Novosti) – Azerbaijan’s foreign minister will
participate in the next round of negotiations with the Armenian
foreign minister on the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a
Foreign Ministry spokesman said Wednesday.
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, which lies within Azerbaijan,
some 270 kilometers (170 miles) west of the capital Baku, first
erupted in 1988 when it declared its independence from Azerbaijan,
and moved to join Armenia.
Over 30,000 people were killed on both sides in fighting between 1988
and 1994, and over 100 died following a 1994 ceasefire.
Nagorno-Karabakh remains under Armenian military control, and tensions
between Azerbaijan and Armenia have persisted as a result.
The meeting between Azerbaijan’s FM Elmar Mamedyarov and Armenia’s
Vardan Oskaryan is scheduled for January 23 in Moscow.
Residents of Nagorno-Karabakh overwhelmingly voted in a referendum on
the republic’s Constitution last month to reaffirm the predominantly
Armenian region’s independence from Azerbaijan.
More than 100 international observers and journalists from Russia,
France, the United States, Italy, Israel, Serbia and other countries
monitored the referendum.
Azerbaijan dismissed the referendum as a farce.
The United States, the European Union and other international
organizations, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE), said no country will recognize the referendum’s
results.
The Azerbaijani leadership is determined to restore its control over
the separatist region.
FOOTBALL: FA CUP THIRD ROUND: ANDRANIK GAMBLE SHOWS PROMISE
by Richard Rae, Keepmoat Stadium
The Guardian (London) – Final Edition
January 8, 2007 Monday
Doncaster Rovers 0
Bolton Wanderers 4
Davies 8, Teymourian 22 49 Tal 33
Andranik Teymourian, according to Sam Allardyce, is one of those
players on whom it is worth a canny Premiership manager taking the
occasional punt. "It’s a very minimal risk, because if it doesn’t
work out you can always sell a player like him back to a club in his
home country. You might lose a few bob but no more than that," said
Bolton’s manager dispassionately after watching the Armenian-Iranian
midfielder score two fine goals.
On this evidence Allardyce will not be making Andranik – who prefers
to be known by his first name – available for a return to his country
of origin yet, though whether the 23-year-old will cut it at the top
level remains to be seen.
The same could be said of Doncaster, well placed in League One, whose
commendable determination to play passing football on the perfect
surface in their fine new stadium allowed the manifestly superior
technique of Bolton’s foreign legion full rein. Andranik, Idan Tal,
Ricardo Vaz Te and Stelios Giannakopoulos took full advantage and the
result was never in doubt from the moment Giannakopoulos set up Kevin
Davies for an eighth-minute opener. Andranik got the second with a
powerful shot, Tal the third in a similar manner before half-time,
and Andranik the fourth just after the interval, bursting on to
Davies’s measured pass to finish decisively.
Allardyce signed him in August after being impressed during the World
Cup. "I’d never heard of him previously but I saw him live once and
our scouts watched him in the other games, so when a circular arrived
from his agent making him available at a very reasonable fee – a few
hundred thousand euros – we took the chance," said Allardyce.
"He’s very fit – his test results were fantastic – he’s got a great
work rate and you saw today he also has good skill with a very strong
shot, but he’s still very much on a learning curve and it may be next
season before he might be ready to cope with the pace and strength
of the Premiership."
Doncaster’s manager, Sean O’Driscoll, was left to reflect on the
lessons learned by his team. "They put out a strong side," he said.
"He’s got a bench with (Gary) Speed and (Nicolas) Anelka on it,
so I’ve got no complaints. We’ve come through without any injuries
and we’ve learned a lot as a team and as individuals, so it’s been
positive for us."
Man of the match Andranik Teymourian (Bolton Wanderers).
PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 10) 517 163
Fax: (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website:
January 7, 2007
"The Savior came to free man from the snares of evil, from the bonds of sin
and death, and with His Divine strength, to restore him to blessed heavenly
glory. Christ brought new life to the world – a life of the reborn,
restored soul, through which man was to proceed toward God."
– His Holiness Karekin II
The Feast of Holy Nativity in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
On January 6, the worldwide Armenian Church celebrated the Holy Nativity and
Theophany of Jesus Christ. At dusk on January 5, following Evening
Services, a special Candlelight Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother
Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin
II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. With the
participation of the members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin and
hundreds of faithful, His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Bozabalian celebrated
the liturgy.
Following the liturgy, the Catholicos of All Armenians proclaimed the good
news of the Nativity and Theophany throughout the sanctuary: "Christ is
Born and Revealed! Glad tidings to you and us." The courtyard of the
Mother See was filled with the light of candles, which the faithful carried
to their homes to illuminate their hearths with the life-giving light of the
Lord’s Nativity.
On the morning of January 6, His Holiness Karekin II celebrated a Pontifical
Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin on the occasion of the
Holy Nativity and Theophany of Christ. Under the singing of church hymns,
the festive procession of deacons, priests and bishops led the Armenian
Pontiff to the Mother Cathedral to celebrate Divine Liturgy and deliver his
message to all Armenians dispersed throughout the world on the occasion of
the holy feast.
In his message, His Holiness exhorted the faithful to become new again, live
with love and trust in God: "The arrival of the Savior was proclaimed to
all; but it was not in all hearts that the birth of the Savior of the world
was accepted with joy. With the intent of assassinating the Newborn Jesus,
Herod massacred the infants of Bethlehem. Yes, even the incarnation and
birth of the Son of God was accompanied by worship and murder, the realities
of peace and war, which beginning with Abel and Cain, have taken parallel
paths throughout the course of human history. The Child born in the manger
in Bethlehem came to change that course in the world with the establishment
of the New Covenant and the shedding of His blood. Christ said, ‘This is my
blood of the covenant, which is poured out for the many.’ (Mark 14:24).
"The call to man to restore and improve, however, did not completely put an
end to the old man, nor the existence of old understandings, and evil did
not disappear from the earth. Today as well, underneath the nature of new
man often works the old. Along with the pious worship of Christ by the
shepherds and magi, the evil acts of Herod also remain. The modern world,
characterized by developing conditions, possibilities and abilities of life,
is yet not healed of miseries, calamities and wars; it is not free of
falsehood, jealousy and hate. Man ascended to the universe, but how far has
he risen in his inner spiritual world? The progress of science has
benefited the welfare of life, but how much also have the weapons of war
advanced? Indeed, modern scientific and technological accomplishments,
democracy, the rights and freedom of individuals and nations, – ideologies
proclaimed as supreme values – have remained inadequate to provide answers
to the issues and challenges facing mankind. They will continue to remain
inadequate if God does not live within us, if God does not work in our
lives, if importance is not placed on faith, holiness and the spiritual…
Efforts aimed at peace, justice and philanthropy will be in vain, if we do
not first appeal for God’s beneficent Will and saving grace; if we do not
fulfill the divine commandment to love one another.
"The apostle says, ‘Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away;
as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For
our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect.’ (I Corinthians
13:8-9). All of mankind’s knowledge is incomplete, and has changed
throughout time and will continue to change; but it is love which never
ends. Love is always constant – it is perfect, ‘it is not irritable or
resentful, it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right’. All of
us, nations and peoples, have one holy and life-giving inheritance – the
love of God for us, His creation. God loves us all, regardless of race,
nationality, creed, sex or age. The testimony of this perfect love is the
revelation of the Savior on earth. Only by being led with that same spirit
of love shall mankind be new, and renew the world in the process. We
Christians have the promise and belief that ‘if any one is in Christ, he is
a new creation’." – stated His Holiness.
In his message, the Catholicos of All Armenians also conveyed his fraternal
greetings to the spiritual heads of sister churches and the incumbents of
the hierarchal sees of our Apostolic Holy Church: His Holiness Aram I, His
Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, and His Beatitude Archbishop Mesrob
Mutafian. His Holiness also expressed his Pontifical blessings and love to
the devoted ranks of clergy and all Armenians dispersed throughout the
world.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness offered the service of
Blessing of the Waters in commemoration of the baptism of Jesus Christ in
the Jordan River. The Godfather of the Cross this year was renowned
composer Tigran Mansurian. In addition to thousands of faithful, present
for the Divine Liturgy were: Mr. Tigran Torosian, President of the National
Assembly (Parliament) of the Republic of Armenia, State Ministers of the
Republic of Armenia, high-ranking state officials, members of the Supreme
Spiritual Council, and foreign diplomats and representatives accredited to
Armenia.
Following church services, the annual Christmas reception was hosted by His
Holiness in the Pontifical Residence.
Прав&# 1086;
Выбо ра, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
Dec 30 2006
Armenia to Establish Diplomatic Relations with Turkey and to Open
Frontiers
30.12.2006
Turkey has received proposal from Armenian government, being out of
important projects realized in the region, on establishing of
diplomatic relations and opening of frontiers.
Letter of Defense Minister of Armenia, Serge Sarkisyan, published in
`The Wall Street Journal’ reads: `We intend to establish diplomatic
relations with Turkey not bringing up genocide as principal
condition’. Saying that `we want to look at the future’, Armenian
Minister hoped that Turkey’s talks with European Union opens such
opportunity for Yerevan. At the same time, he stressed that remaining
the issue of the so-called `genocide’ in agenda is necessary from the
point of view of memory on past and prevention of such crimes against
humanity. Serge Sarkisyan also said: in case Turkey opens its
frontiers Armenia will be closer to Europe from geopolitical point of
view, and we don’t want to be enemies with Turkey forever.
Political observers of Turkey said that this proposal is backed by
Armenian lobby of America and Europe, and basic proposal is that
Armenians want to exploit railway Kars-Akhalkalaki-Gumru.
BİA, Turkey
Dec 29 2006
Courts Pressure Translators Too
Publisher Zarakolu’s trial for "insulting the Republic" by publishing
books of two Armenian writers took a twist when the judge postponed
the case to include the translators. In two other incidents
translators were tried in freedom of expression cases.
BIA News Center
18/12/2006 Erol ONDEROGLU
BİA (Istanbul) – Publisher Ragip Zarakolu’s case where he’s
tried with 13.5 years imprisonment for "insulting the republic, its
institutions and Ataturk" by publishing two books of Armenian
writers, continued on December 14.
The judge postponed the case, ordering the translator of the books to
be brought to court. This is seen as another attempt to try
translators in freedom of expression cases.
Shafak and Tirman’s translators
Zarakolu stands trial because of publishing Prof. Dora Sakaryan’s
"The Memorials of an Armenian Doctor" and George Jerjian’s "Reality
Will Set Us Free".
Prosecution demands 7.5 years in prison for "insulting and ridiculing
the Republic and the State" of the first case and 6 years for
"insulting Turkishness and the armed forces" for the latter.
Translators Lutfi Taylan Tosun and Aysel Yildirim are being
prosecuted alongside Aram Publishing House owner Fatih Tas for the
Turkish language copy of John Tirman’s book "Spoils of War: The Human
Cost of America’s Arms Trade".
Writer Elif Shafak’s translator Aslı Bicen was also tried when
her book "Father and Bastard" put onto court with the claim of
"insulting Turkishness".
Zarakolu’s cases will continue in March 15.(EO/EU)
NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC ADOPTS 2007 STATE BUDGET
Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
Dec 27 2006
Yerevan, 27 December: The parliament of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic
(NKR) approved the 2007 state budget today. During the voting, 22 MPs
voted for the adoption of the budget, while nine voted against it,
Mediamax reports.
The revenues of the NKR state budget will total 31.72bn drams [86m
dollars] and expenditure 33.58bn [92m dollars]. The budget deficit
will total 1.986bn drams [5.5m dollars].