Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

ARMENIA APPROVES NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
February 8, 2007 Thursday 3:24 PM MSK

Armenian President Robert Kocharian signed on Thursday a decree
approving the country’s national security strategy, the president’s
press service told Interfax.

This strategy states the underlying values and priorities of the
Armenian national security, in particular its independence and
sovereignty, and it ensures the safety of the Armenian nation and
its desire for peaceful co-existence with the neighboring countries.

Also, the strategy emphasizes the need for deeper democratic reforms
and Armenia’s commitment to democratic values and standards.

In the area of foreign policy, the strategy strengthens the need
for equal cooperation with all of the world’s biggest powers. The
national security strategy names Russia and Georgia as Armenia’s
strategic partners.

TURKISH CITY GRAPPLES WITH NATIONALIST VIOLENCE AFTER MURDERS
by Nicolas Cheviron

Agence France Presse — English
February 8, 2007 Thursday 11:16 AM GMT

The Black Sea port of Trabzon is searching its historic soul after
after two murders blamed on ultra-nationalists, that have rattled
Turkey and raised political tensions.

A 16-year-old boy was jailed last year for shooting an Italian priest
as he knelt in prayer in the city’s Santa Maria Catholic Church. The
murder was widely linked to the publication of cartoons of the Prophet
Mohammed in Europe.

The January 19 killing of ethnic-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink,
whose alleged 17-year-old assailant and seven accomplices all come
from Trabzon has heightened anxieties.

On top of the murders there was the bombing in 2004 of a McDonald’s
restaurant and the near lynching of five leftist activists mistaken
for Kurdish militants.

The city’s lively commercial streets and stone buildings are reminders
of the past glories of what was once Trebizond, a booming Silk Road
trading city, far from any thoughts of nationalist-fuelled violence.

With a sizeable university, an ever-popular football club and a flow of
tourists from Russia and Caucasus countries, the city of 300,000 people
displays no signs to brand it a place isolated in misery and ignorance.

Pelitli is an impoverished suburb where Dink’s alleged murderer, Ogun
Samast, a jobless high-school dropout, met with friends in Internet
cafes to discuss what they saw as rising threats to Turkey’s unity.

Mayor Omer Kayikci was at pains to explain what drove the youths
to violence.

"Of course, there is unemployment, but this has never before caused
trouble in the streets or led to the formation of gangs," he said.

Some intellectuals and officials who gathered here last week to discuss
why Trabzon is producing violence suggested that the city reflected
rising nationalism across Turkey, fuelled by what is perceived as
humiliations by the European Union and US designs to subdue the
Muslim world.

Dink was hated by nationalists for branding as genocide the mass
killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire. It is one of the
most controversial episodes in Turkish history and the EU has urged
an open debate.

Suleyman Gunduz, an MP from the ruling Justice and Development Party,
drew attention to the fact that Trabzon was the city that lost the
largest number of soldiers to a two-decade Kurdish insurgency in
the southeast.

Local people, he added, are also wary of a possible campaign to revive
what was the ancient Greek Kingdom of Pontus in their region.

The violence can also be blamed on mafia-style groups involved in
drug-trafficking and prostitution in the city who "are hiding behind
the banner of nationalism," lawyer Omer Faruk Altuntas said.

But human rights activist Gultekin Yucesan said the real problem lies
with "gangs within the state who are responsible for Dink’s murder."

The "deep state" is a term used to describe members of the
establishment, mostly the security forces, who are prepared to act
outside the law to eliminate what they see as threats to Turkey’s
unity.

Dink’s killing gave ammunition to those who believe the "deep state"
exists, after a video emerged showing policemen posing for pictures
with the assailant after his capture in the northern city of Samsun.

The media said the pictures were a show of support for the murder.

The Istanbul’s intelligence chief was dismissed Monday following
accusations that the police failed to follow up on a tip-off last
year about a plot to kill Dink being organised in Trabzon.

In the Santa Maria Church, the members of a small Roman Catholic
congregation that held a memorial service Monday for the slain priest,
Father Andrea Santoro, were reluctant to join the debate.

Underscoring their sense of anxiety, a worshipper pointed at the tall
walls surrounding the 19th-century building: "This is not a church,
it is a fortress," he said. "People are tough here."

ARPI VARDANIAN: U.S. SHOULD RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Noyan Tapan
Feb 08 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. "The world leader U.S. should
not be two-faced, but should recognize the fact of the Armenian
Genocide." Arpi Vardanian, Regional Director of Armenian Assembly of
America (AAA), reported this at the February 8 press conference. She
stated that Resolution N 106 on recognition of the Armenian
Genocide introduced to U.S. Congress is currently supported by 161
Congressmen. A.Vardanian said that last year an analogous number
of Congressmen supporting the draft Resolution on Armenian Genocide
was registered only on the threshold of its adoption. In her words,
currently the Armenian lobbyist organizations continue working in the
direction of increasing the number of "sponsors" of draft Resolution in
Congress. Among factors which can have a positive impact on adoption
of Resolution N 106 A.Vardanian named results of Congress elections
in 2006 November: "The fact that democrats took majority of seats in
Congress has a positive impact for Armenians, as democrats have always
supported us." Besides, in her words, in the recent years in U.S.
they have started to more often speak about genocides and not only
Armenian Genocide. "Everybody understands that unless measures
are undertaken, threats of new genocides can emerge," AAA Regional
Director said. She also pointed to the fact that such well-known
American publications as New York Times, Boston Globe and others
stopped using words "the so-called Armenian Genocide."

A.Vardanian explained such change in the position of well-known
publications by active work of Armenian lobbyists. In her opinion,
resolutions condemning Hrant Dink’s murder being considered at House
of Representatives and Senate will also contribute to increase of
chances of adoption of Resolution N 106.

Michigan People: A lifetime behind the mike
By Tom Markowski / The Detroit News

Detroit News Online
February 3, 2007

HIGHLAND PARK — Television captured the imagination of America in
the 1950s, and Greg Byndrian was a willing captive.

He remembers spending weekends in front of the television while
growing up in Highland Park, watching sporting events, enthralled by
the play-by-play.

Long before Byndrian graduated from Henry Ford Elementary to Highland
Park High, he had found a calling.

As a high school freshman in 1959, Byndrian began announcing Highland
Park varsity basketball games on the school’s radio station, WHPR-FM.

In a sense, he has never left.

Throughout high school, college and then as an employee of the school
district, Byndrian continued broadcasting Highland Park games until
the station discontinued athletic broadcasts in 1981.

At that point, he shifted gears and became the public-address
announcer for every home game in football, basketball and, for a
time, wrestling.

"It is in my blood," said Byndrian, 61, a Detroit resident. "I love
doing it because I feel like I’m giving back to Highland Park. I was
given the opportunity to do something so rare."

This is Byndrian’s 48th season as the school’s radio/public-address
announcer, although he said announcing never has been part of his job
as the school district’s public-information officer.

"It was self-imposed," he said.

Doing homework

Byndrian takes tremendous pride in his work. So, he doesn’t just show
up and start talking into a microphone. He arrives early, studies the
rosters and makes sure to learn the proper pronunciation of every
player’s name.

Obviously, Byndrian is a fan. He has an encyclopedic memory of
Highland Park’s athletic history, but he knows the competition —
good and bad — too.

He’s seen some lean years on the football field, although that’s
changed lately with the resurgence of the program.

But it’s on the basketball court where the Polar Bears have gained
their greatest popularity. And Byndrian has been there to tell the
stories, from Bobby Joe Hill (Texas Western) to Terry Duerod
(University of Detroit) to Renardo Brown (West Virginia) to Glynn
Blackwell (Illinois) to Lyman DePriest (Connecticut).

Give him a chance and Byndrian will recite scores, highlights and
circumstances of games from decades ago.

He recalls Hill leading the Polar Bears to a Class A quarterfinal in
1960 and semifinals in ’61. There was the Brown-led ’82 team that was
24-0 before being upset by Harper Woods Bishop Gallagher in the
regional final. And the ’84 Blackwell-led team that lost to Flint
Northwestern in a state semifinal.

But ’75 was Highland Park’s year to shine. Highland Park defeated
Flint Northwestern, 85-76, in the state final at Crisler Arena. But
the game everyone remembers most is the quarterfinal against
previously unbeaten Berkley, led by Bruce Flowers (Notre Dame).

Duerod scored 43, and Highland Park rolled, 84-55.

"It was an epic," Byndrian recalled. "It was a week in Highland Park
like no other. The media built it up all week. It was standing room
only (at Calihan Hall) and there were thousands outside trying to get
a ticket. Duerod went 20-of-27 from the field and he shot from
downtown and uptown."

Byndrian plans to do his job as long as he can.

"What keeps me going is the enthusiasm," he said. "It’s the
student-athlete. It keeps me in touch, keeps me involved."

THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO PROCESS OF EDUCATIONAL REFORMS IN ARMENIA, LEVON MKRTCHIAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 07 2007

ASHTARAK, FEBRUARY 7, NOYAN TAPAN. "There is no alternative to the
process of educational reforms in Armenia and unless we take this way
we will miss the opportunity to be considered an educational state
we were in the years of Soviet Union." RA Minister of Education and
Science Levon Mkrtchian expressed such an opinion at the February
7 meeting with teachers’ collective of village of Kosh, Aragatsotn
region. In his words, the system of general education will play a
decisive role in success of reforms. Therefore, the Ministry has
started discussing the problems of educational reforms at regional
schools.

L.Mkrtchian said that the biggest shortcoming of policy of senior
school’s reform is lack of publicity. For this purpose once a month the
Ministry will inform the public about the problems of the system. In
the Minister’s words, the main problems of schools are heating,
housing conditions, retraining of teachers, etc. By the way, the
Minister – member of ARFD Supreme Body considers it inadmissible when
school headmasters unexpectedly move from one party to another. In
L.Mkrtchian’s words, "the latters should not mix up their party
problems with the educational proces, which is always done."

CHIEF OF ISTANBUL SECURITY BOARD’S INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT DISMISSED

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Feb 06 2007

ISTANBUL, FEBRUARY 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Ahmed Ilan
Guler, Head of Istanbul Security Board’s Investigation Department,
was dismissed in the evening of February 5 as a result of the
investigation in connection with the murder of Istanbul’s Agos
newspaper’s editor-in-chief Hrant Dink. According to some information,
the latter was dismissed due to not doing his duties properly. "Only
I am to blame for this. I have not provided this information to higher
bodies," according to Milliyet newspaper, Guler declared.

To recap, Black Sea University student Erhan Tuncel arrested on the
case of Dink’s murder, who according to some information, had worked
as an informer for police since 2004, had informed Trapison Security
Board about the attempt to commit a crime against Hrant Dink as early
as in 2006 February and the employees of Trapison Security Service
informed Istanbul Security Board about it.

ARMENIA’S INFLATION NOT TO EXCEED 4% IN 2007 – CENTRAL BANK

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
February 5, 2007 Monday 04:01 PM EST

The Central Bank of Armenia will guarantee no more than 4-percent
inflation in 2007, the bank’s chairman Tigran Sarkisyan said on
Monday, pointing to "a high economic growth in the country and the
strengthening of the national currency".

He reaffirmed that the average inflation rate in Armenia had amounted
to 2.5 percent over the past eight years. This is one of the lowest
indicators among former Soviet republics.

Last year’s inflation in Armenia was 5.2 percent, and inflation band
is 1.5 percent.

In 2006, the Armenian national currency dram strengthened by 9
percent. In 2005, the average dram-to-U.S. dollar rate was to 457. In
2006 the rate totaled 416.

In 2007, the Armenian Central Bank is going to implement "new currency
regimes" harmonized with inflation, Sarkisyan said. While drafting
state budget revenues and expenditures, authorities will take into
account the national currency exchange rate fixed a month before the
drafting start, he added.

It is expected that the Armenian stock exchange will became private
in order to develop the national stock market, Sarkisyan said.

SOLDIER CAPTURED, RELEASED BY ARMENIA DETAINED IN AZERBAIJAN

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
February 5, 2007 Monday 12:00 PM MSK

Azeri law enforcement agencies have detained a soldier, Private Vusal
Garadzhayev, who was recently released from Armenian captivity.

"The investigative department for grave crimes at the Military
Prosecutor’s Office launched a criminal case on charges of treason
and violation of rules of combat duty," the press service of the
Military Prosecutor’s Office told Interfax on Monday.

Garadzhayev, born in 1988, was drafted last year. He was captured
on December 7, 2006 at the contact line separating Armenian and
Azerbaijani forces in the Agdami district of Azerbaijan. He was
released on December 23, 2006.

The prosecutor’s office has been probing the reasons for Garadzhayev’s
surrender to Armenia.

Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates
Feb 4 2006

Turkish foreign minister flies to US to meet Rice

4 February 2007

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey’s foreign minister flew to the United States
on Sunday for a meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.

Abdullah Gul’s trip is aimed at establishing common ground between
the two NATO allies on subjects including the Iraq war and the fight
against Kurdish rebels.

During his meeting with Rice on Tuesday, Gul was also expected to ask
the US administration to block a resolution, introduced in January by
Democratic and Republican lawmakers, to urge the US government to
recognize as genocide the mass killings of Armenians at the end of
World War I.

Turkey has adamantly denied claims by scholars that its predecessor
state, the Ottoman government, caused the Armenian deaths in a
genocide. The Turkish government has said the toll, allegedly as high
as 1.5 million, is wildly inflated, and Armenians were killed or
displaced in civil unrest during the disarray surrounding the
empire’s collapse.

Gul said he would also meet with new UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
in New York on Friday.(AP)

PanARMENIAN.Net

Turkey calls on Azerbaijan to prepare for war
03.02.2007 14:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `I should say with regret that the OSCE Minsk Group
is one of the most inactive organizations engaged in international
mediation,’ said Nevzat Yalcintas, the head of the Turkish delegation
to the OSCE. In his words, it’s hard to resolve the problem existing
between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Turkey’s representative is convinced
that Azerbaijan should be ready for war. `Speaking in modern language,
if do not want cessation of territories and want peace, prepare for
war.

Azerbaijan should be ready to protect its territories. Certainly, the
current situation may incline to a peaceful settlement, that is to the
main goal of the OSCE MG. However, is the problem is not settled
peacefully Azerbaijan should get ready for any development,’ the
Turkish deputy said.

At that he expressed surprise over the fact that Azerbaijan and Turkey
have not concluded a security agreement yet. In his words, the
agreement should be signed as soon as the international situation is
favorable for it, reports APA.