Author: Nalchajian Markos

AZERI ANALYST: STRATEGIC BALANCE IS CHANGING IN SOUTH CAUCASUS NOT TO RUSSIA’S BENEFIT

Regnum, Russia
Nov 13 2007

The fact that Russia is going to fulfill its obligations ahead of time
and withdraw its troops from Georgia by the end of 2007 can be only
welcomed, well-known Azerbaijani political analyst Rasim Musabekov
told a REGNUM correspondent commenting on the ahead-of-schedule
withdrawal of Russian equipment and troops from the military base in
Batumi and moving it to Gyumri (Armenia), according to a statement by
Chief Commander of the Russian Land Forces, General Alexei Maslov, in
order to "bring up to strength the 102nd Russian military base there."

According to Musabekov, the Russian leadership comprehended that
they have to withdraw the troops from Georgia anyway and there is no
sense in delaying the process. "But the fact that most equipment and
personnel are moved from Batumi to Armenia makes me sorry and even
concerned," he said reminding that apart from that Russia suspended
the CFE Treaty in its territory. "I think that suspension of the CFE
Treaty in its territory will cause questions and steps towards NATO,"
the analyst believes. In this connection, Rasim Musabekov says that
Russia in no way can be interested in the arms race, which became
possible now in neighboring countries. He reminds that before Russia
dropped out from the CFE Treaty, the United States cut short almost
three times its presence in Germany and Germany itself reduced its
Armed Forces almost twice. He added that recent Russia’s steps cannot
but cause adequate response throughout Europe.

Going back to the subject of increasing strength of the 102nd military
base in Gyumri and change of the military situation for Azerbaijan
in this connection, the political analyst noted that no matter how
actively Russia strengthens its base, it will not give any advantage
in South Caucasus to it, even if one considers the Russian and
Armenian forces together. "Two Russian divisions deployed in Batumi
and Akhalkalaki were a kind of fulfilling the role of support for the
Armenian army and now they won’t. So, anyway, the strategic balance
will change not to Armenia and patronizing it Russia’s benefit,
despite the evident increase of the 102nd Russian military base in
Gyumri," the analyst believes. According to him, Azerbaijan, in its
turn, has an opportunity to increase its military potential and at
least make them equal to the general military potential of Armenia.

HRANT DINK POSTHUMOUSLY HONORED WITH AAA DISTINGUISHED HUMANITARIAN AWARD

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.11.2007 14:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ More than 400 Armenian Assembly supporters from
across the country gathered at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on November
3rd to pay tribute to one of the most prominent Armenian voices in
Turkey, the late Hrant Dink. Dink’s widow Rakel was on hand to accept
the Assembly’s Distinguished Humanitarian Award posthumously bestowed
upon Dink.

Mrs. Dink, who traveled from Turkey to accept the award, delivered
a moving and thought-provoking speech, recalling that her husband
fought tirelessly for Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. He was searching
for a way to help both Armenians and Turks heal and move forward
while acknowledging the truths of history, Mrs. Dink said, speaking
in Armenian.

She then noted that past events or traumas can only be overcome
by understanding and forgiveness, and that her husband was always
"telling people to empathize with others, to try to understand and
share their pain. He did this with "enormous courage, perseverance,
excitement and love," she said.

Mrs. Dink also discussed efforts in the U.S. to reaffirm the Armenian
Genocide. She noted that the U.S. lawmakers who are considering the
Armenian Genocide resolution all know the truth, but that they are
simply putting politics before ethics.

EMPLOYEES OF 6th DETACHMENT OF POLICE HOLD CHECKINGS IN SUPERMARKETS DEMANDING DOCUMENTS REGARDING PRODUCTS RECEIVED FROM BJNI FACTORY

Noyan Tapan
Nov 12 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The employees of the RA Police
6th detachment on struggle against organized crime hold checkings in
Yerevan’s supermarkets demanding documents regarding receipt and sale
of the Bjni mineral water. Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed
about it by a reliable source.

It should be mentioned that the employees of the same detachment
confiscated all computers and registers of the Bjni factory on
November 5, in consequence of the which the factory does not operate
at present. It is noteworthy that the factory’s owner is Khachatur
Sukiasian, the Chairman of the Sil Concern, a deputy of the National
Assembly.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
November 9, 2007
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY HONORS HRANT DINK’S LEGACY AT 35TH ANNIVERSARY GALA
IN CALIFORNIA

Beverly Hills, CA – More than 400 Armenian Assembly supporters from
across the country gathered at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on November
3rd to pay tribute to one of the most prominent Armenian voices in
Turkey, the late Hrant Dink. Dink’s widow Rakel was on hand to accept
the Assembly’s Distinguished Humanitarian Award posthumously bestowed
upon Dink.

Mrs. Dink, who traveled from Turkey to accept the award, delivered a
moving and thought-provoking speech, recalling that her husband fought
tirelessly for Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. He was searching for a
way to help both Armenians and Turks heal and move forward while
acknowledging the truths of history, Mrs. Dink said, speaking in
Armenian.

She then noted that past events or traumas can only be overcome by
understanding and forgiveness, and that her husband was always
"telling people to empathize with others, to try to understand and
share their pain. He did this with "enormous courage, perseverance,
excitement and love," she said. [The English version of Dink’s speech
is attached.]

Mrs. Dink also discussed efforts in the U.S. to reaffirm the Armenian
Genocide.  She noted that the U.S. lawmakers who are considering the
Armenian Genocide resolution all know the truth, but that they are
simply putting politics before ethics.

Assembly Board of Trustees President Carolyn Mugar presented the
Assembly’s Distinguished Humanitarian Award to Mrs. Dink.  Reflecting
on the life and work of the slain editor, Mugar noted that Hrant Dink
was: "an Armenian hero whose life inspired, and whose martyrdom shook
millions of people around the world."

"As a true intellectual, Hrant Dink believed in the innate goodness of
people and the ultimate power of that goodness over the darker aspects
of human character. He was a passionate believer in the power of
conviction and was an outspoken opponent of extremism and violence in
all forms," Mugar continued.

Prior to the award presentation, guests watched a touching video which
offered a glimpse into the private life Dink shared with his loved
ones. Also that evening, information was provided regarding the
newly-established International Hrant Dink Foundation which, among
other things, seeks to advance dialogue between different cultures,
provide scholarships to students in need, and establish an Armenian
research institute in Turkey.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues.  It is a 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt membership organization.

###

NR#2007-131

Editor’s Note: To read the English version of Rakel Dink’s speech
please click on the following link:

es/PRESS_RELEASES_2007/PDFs_for_releases/Rakel_Din k_Remarks.pdf

***The Armenian version will follow.

Photograph can be viewed on the Assembly’s Web site at the following
links:

aaainc/images/PRESS_RELEASES_2007/2007-131_Photo_1 .jpg

Caption: L to R: Board of Trustees Member Richard Mushegain, Board of
Trustees Treasurer Edele Hovnanian, Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair
Hovnanian, Rakel Dink, Anna Hovnanian, Board of Trustees Member Peter
Vosbikian and Board of Trustees Counselor Van Z. Krikorian at the
Assembly’s 35th Anniversary Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on
November 3rd.

s/PRESS_RELEASES_2007/2007-131_Photo_2.jpg

Captio n: Board of Trustees President Carolyn Mugar presents Rakel Dink
with the Assembly’s Distinguished Humanitarian Award honoring her
husband, the late Hrant Dink.

es/PRESS_RELEASES_2007/2007-131_Photo_3.jpg

Capti on: Clockwise: Life Trustees Irene and Peter Vosbikian, Anna
Hovnanian, Dink’s nephew Haycan Dink, Rakel Dink, Board of Trustees
Chairman Hirair Hovnanian, Anahid Harutyunyan Chairman of the
Constitutional Court Gagik Harutyunyan and Armenia’s Consul General
Armen Liloyan.

ERDOGAN ASKED ITALIAN PREMIER TO SHUT DOWN PKK OFFICE, SAYS REPORT

AKI
09.11.07 15:33

( AKI ) – Turkish media reports say that prime minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan asked his Italian counterpart Romano Prodi to close down
an office of the Kurdish rebel group PKK (Kurdistan Worker’s Party)
in Italy.

While the talks between the two leaders this week focused on messages
of friendship and ways to boost bilateral ties, the Turkish daily
Milliyet said that behind the close door sessions, Erdogan also asked
Italy to shut down a PKK office.

However the paper did not give the details about where this PKK office
is located and under what name it functions.

The Kurdish rebel group has been blamed for a spate of attacks on
Turkey that prompted Ankara to threaten a cross-border offensive
against its bases in northern Iraq. Washington has urged Turkey to
exercise restraint.

During his two-day visit to Italy, the Turkish prime minister said
that the PKK is a terrorist organisation that must be eliminated and
he referred to the furstration that Ankara felt in not getting the
support to deal with the Kurdish rebel group.

Both the United States and the EU have labelled the PKK a terrorist
organisation, but Erdogan said some European nations have captured
leaders of the group only to release them and allow them to return
to Iraq.

Turkish officials have also said in the past that the PKK operated
under different names in many European countries and they criticise
the European officials who are slow to shut these groups down.

They claim that these PKK offices operate as "Kurdish cultural centres"
in European cities. Turkish officials say these offices are used for
laundering money for the PKK and raising funds for the organisation.

For his part, the Italian prime minister Romano Prodi said Rome will
continue to cooperate with Ankara in the fight against terrorism and
also praised Turkey for the moderation it has shown until now.

In his meeting with the Italian prime minister, Erdogan also stressed
that his government is committed to changing the controversial
article 301 in the Turkish penal code, which criminalises "insulting
Turkishness"

Article 301 has often been invoked by nationalists against those who
argue that the Ottoman empire committed genocide against Armenians
around the time of World War I.

Nobel-winning novelist Orhan Pamuk and murdered Turkish-Armenian writer
Hrant Dink were both prosecuted under the law for their comments on
the mass killings of Armenians.

In his speech at the Italy-Turkey Business Council in Rome, Erdogan
also thanked Italy for "continuously supporting" Turkey in its EU bid.

"You get to know us very well, that’s why you supported us," said
Erdogan. "Thank you for that," he said. He also invited Italian
businessmen to invest in Turkey.

ARMENIA TO BE FULLY SUPPLIED WITH HIGH-QUALITY SEEDS OF GRAIN CULTURED PLANTS IN 2011

Noyan Tapan
Nov 8, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia is not supplied with
high-quality seeds, and the RA ministry of agriculture is taking
steps in this direction, the head of the ministry’s plant growing
development and plant protection department Garnik Petrosian said at
the November 8 press conference.

According to him, private economic entities are mainly engaged in
seed growing in Armenia, and they need serious assistance. With this
aim the ministry has prepared the 2007-2011 program on development
of seed growing, which has been approved by the government.

The department head informed those present that this year farms engaged
in seed production have received subsidies of about 36 million drams
(about 107 thousand dollars). In 2008, this amount will be increased,
with the total annual cost of the program making about 105 million
drams. At the end of the program – in 2011, the country will be fully
supplied with high-quality seeds of grain cultured plants.

It was mentioned that 60 tons of "super elite" autimn sowing wheat
seeds and 15 tons of spring sowing barley seeds will be imported
under the same program this year.

FROM MOSCOW TO PARIS TO TAKE PART IN TELETHON

KarabakhOpen
08-11-2007 09:56:37

The delegation led by NKR President Bako Sahakyan left Moscow for
Paris to participate in the preparation for the annual telethon of
Armenia Foundation, the General Information Department of the NKR
President reports.

In Paris, the president has already met with the representatives of the
Armenian community in France. Bako Sahakyan emphasized the importance
of promoting relations between Artsakh and the Diaspora, underlining
that the Armenian community in France could have an important role
in setting up relations between Artsakh and European organizations,
as well as in the cultural life of the country.

On the same day the president met with the French co-chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier.

CB ANNOUNCED A COMPETITION AMONG THE ARMENIAN MEDIA FOR THE BEST COVERAGE OF ISSUES OF CONFIDENCE INCREASE TOWARDS THE NATIONAL CURRENCY

Mediamax
November 7

Yerevan, November 7 /Mediamax/. The Central Bank of Armenia announced
a competition among the Armenian media for the best coverage of issues
of reduction of the dollarization level and the increase of confidence
for the national currency in the course of 2007.

As Mediamax was told in the press service of the Armenian CB,
representatives of newspapers, news agencies, TV- and Radio Companies
may participate in the competition.

The deadline for submission of materials: 17:00 of November 10.

The results of the competition will be summed up on November 22,
within the framework of the events, dedicated to the 14th anniversary
of putting the Armenian dram into circulation.

The winners of the competition in each nomination (newspapers, news
agencies, TV and Radio) will receive 150 thousand drams each.

INTERDEPARTMENTAL CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN HIGH-RANKING REPRESENTATIVES OF MINISTRIES OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF JAPAN AND ARMENIA HELD IN TOKYO

Noyan Tapan
Nov 6, 2007

TOKYO, NOVEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Armen Bayburdian, the RA Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs, was in Japan within the frameworks of
the "Encouragement of Cooperation in the 21st Century" program at
the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan between
October 29 and November 4.

During the visit to Tokyo Armen Bayburdian met with Koike Masakatsu,
the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. Issues concerning
Armenian-Japanese political, economic, and cultural bilateral
cooperation were discussed during the meeting of the Deputy Ministers.

Armen Bayburdian also met with Ueda Yoshihisa, the Deputy Chairman
of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, and Sumio Edamura,
the Head of the Armeniam-Japanese Association (the first Ambassador
of Japan accredited in the Republic of Armenia).

Armenian-Japanese interdepartmental consultations were held
during the visit between Armen Bayburdian and Chikahito Harada,
the Director-General of the European Affairs Bureau of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of Japan. The cooperation between Armenia and
Japan within the frameworks of international organizations, problems
concerning the retraining of Armenian specialists financed by the
JICA program, as well as the work of Japanese experts in Armenia,
and the further process of the grant programs given to Armenia by
the government of Japan were discussed during the consultations.

According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the Press
and Information Department of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Armen Bayburdian gave a lecture on the subject "The foreign policy
of Armenia under the light of the challenges of small states" in the
Institute of International Affairs of Japan.

OSCE OFFICE TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE ON PROPERTY RIGHTS PROTECTION IN ARMENIAOSCE OFFICE TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE ON PROPERTY RIGHTS PROTECTION IN ARMENIA

armradio.am
02.11.2007 17:43

The results of a campaign to inform the public about their property
rights is the focus of a press conference organized by the OSCE Office
in Yerevan on Monday.

The press conference will summarize the results of the information
campaign launched in May 2007 to inform the public about the latest
developments in the area of property rights protection and highlight
the most effective mechanisms of promotion and protection of these
rights. In particular, the conference will focus on cases referred
to the European Court of Human Rights, and on the approach of state
authorities to the new sites slated for demolition.

The speakers include: Sedrak Baghdasaryan, Chairman of local
non-governmental organization, Victims of State Needs in the Protection
of Democracy; lawyer Artur Grigoryan; Vachagan Hakobyan, Head of
NGO Protection of Property Rights; Larisa Alaverdyan, Deputy of the
National Assembly and Executive Director of NGO Fund Against Violation
of Law; Avetik Ishkhanyan, Chairman of the Armenian Helsinki Committee;
and Silvia Pogolsa, Human Rights Officer at the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

The event is organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and NGO Victims
of State Needs in the Protection of Democracy.