Author: Nanijanian Alex

"HI-TECH" AND MINISTRY OF DIASPORA TO COOPERATE

Panorama.am
19:13 12/12/2008

The Minister of Diaspora H. Hakobyan received the President of
"Via-sphere" international company Tony Moroyan and the head of
Information Technologies funs Garegin Chugqaszyan, reported the
public relations department of the Ministry. During the meeting it
was discussed to stimulate the usage of hi-technologies which will
give an opportunity to include the specialists of Armenian Diaspora
into the project.

The Minister said that "Hi-tech" and the Ministry of Diaspora should
launch an active cooperation, in order the network and hi technologies
become everyday tools of the ministry and its activities.

ARMENIA: CNN GENOCIDE COVERAGE CONTROVERSY
By Simon Maghakyan

EuropeNews
/17056
Dec 8 2008
Denmark

Too short for Armenians and too long for the Turkish government, a
two-hour CNN documentary by Christiane Amanpour on genocide includes
a 45-second mention of the WWI extermination of Ottoman Empire’s
indigenous Armenian population.

Premiered on December 4, 2008, Scream Bloody Murder has made many
Armenian bloggers angry, leading them to recall Hitler’s rhetoric
for impunity, "Who, after all, remembers the Armenians?"

Armenia-based blogger, photographer and designer Arsineh had concerns
even before watching the documentary. Writing on Ars Eye View,
she says:

I’m preparing to watch the program for myself, but given this much
prior information, I have to ask. If you are going to cover the
epidemic of genocide, starting with the campaign to criminalize
genocide, continue to show the struggle so many have endured to
(as you titled your program) "SCREAM BLOODY MURDER" while the
world turned a deaf ear only to allow genocide to continue around
the world, shouldn’t you be talking about the biggest cover up of
genocide, the very one which inspired Lemkin to coin the word, the
very one which also inspired Adolf Hitler to follow through with the
Holocaust? Afterall, it’s this denial that scares CNN from ever using
the word "Genocide" in their reporting on related matters.

Today.Az, Azerbaijan
Dec 4 2008

Armenian Foreign Minister meets with OSCE PA rapporteur on Karabakh
issue – UPDATED

04 December 2008 [14:56] – Today.Az

The distorted comments voiced in Azerbaijan and attempts to ignore the
regulations, fixed in the Moscow declaration hinder the effective
negotiation process and progress", said Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbanduan speaking at the meeting with rapporteur of the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly on the issue of Nagorno Karabakh Goran
Lennmarker.

The sides discussed the recent development of the negotiation on the
resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

Stressing the importance of the Moscow declaration, Mamedyarov noted
that Armenia attaches a special importance to the parliamentary
diplomacy as the effective standard for discussing problems.

Goran Lennmarker in turn said that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
still supports the resolution of the Karabakh conflict only by way of
peaceful talks, reports the department of press and information of the
Armenian Foreign Ministry.

The working visit of the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan
to Helsinki started on December 3.

The first meeting of the Minister was held with OSCE Secretary general
Mark Peren de Brishambo, reports the department of press and
information of the Armenian Foreign Ministry.

The sides discussed issues of different spheres of the OSCE activity
and exchanged views on the reforms in the organization.

In this context, Edward Nalbandyan noted that Armenia attaches a
special importance to OSCE role in ensuring security and cooperation
in Europe and considers that the organization needs reformation for
the more effective reacting to today’s problems.

Minister Nalbandyan and ambassador Brishambo also discussed the format
of the working European security system.

The Armenian Foreign Minister noted that the European Security System
needs improvement and the organization member-states must join efforts
to make it more effective.

Nalbandyan and OSCE Secretary General also discussed the activity of
the OSCE Yerevan Office and raising its effectiveness.

During the meeting the OSCE secretary general voiced the intention to
visit Armenia.

/Tert.am/

URL:

WE DID THE RIGHT THING

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
03 Dec 08
Armenia

"They make announcements here, saying that we do whatever the President
dictates us to do. Yes we must do whatever the country’s President
tells us to do, because the President is the leader of a big party,
the coordinator of coalition forces and we must guaranty the important
role that he must play.

Or they ask us why didn’t we pass the bill submitted by Raffi
Hovhannisyan regarding the recognition of Nagorno Karabakh. We did the
right thing; when you come to power do what you want to do. Even if
you decide to cede Karabakh we will never do that," Galust Sahakyan
announced with indignation, yesterday.

RESTORATION OF ARMENIAN COMPLEX IN TURKISH-OCCUPIED NICOSIA FEASIBLE IN 30 MONTHS, EXPERTS TELL COMMUNITY
Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra

Gibrahayer
Wednesday 3 December, 2008

The Armenian community of Cyprus filled the Utudjian Hall of the
Armenian Prelature on Tuesday night, 2 December 2008, to listen to
the UNDP’s plan on the restoration of the medieval Armenian church
of Sourp Asdvadzadzin in occupied Nicosia. Present were the UNDP
Programme Manager for Cyprus, Jaco Cilliers, the project engineer
Stefano de Vito, and the project architect Paolo Vitti as well as
MP Vartkes Mahdessian and Father Momik Habeshian. The evening was
presented by the Chairman of the Diocesan Council Sebouh Tavitian.

In the beginning of the slide-show presentation, we were delighted to
see that this team of experts had previously undertaken the restoration
of many important monuments in Rome, Perugia, Sicily and Jerusalem.

The slide-show contained a wealth of historical information about the
church and the adjacent monastery, as well as architectural information
and pictures on the various stages at which the church building was
built. It also contained information on the Melikian mansion, which
is also scheduled to be restored in parallel with the church. This
feasibility study has taken about 18 months to complete, and it is
now ready to be put into use for the much-awaited restora tion of the
Armenian complex. While conducting the study, survey plans were used,
as well as pre-1963 photographs, which greatly helped the team to
discover what was built where, when, and for what purpose.

As the team informed us, the entire project will take about 18 months
to complete, and it includes the restoration of the old buildings and
their collapsed roofs, as well as the electrical illumination of the
complex. The ultimate goal is not to restore the church as i t was
in the 17th or the 18th century, but to restore what we have now and
to prevent the further decay of the buildings. The Melikian mansion
wall will be re-built, and a new entrance will be opened from the
north part of the complex, to allow a better view of the impressive
church and belfry. We were also prompted to keep in mind that the
programme may stop at any time, either due to lack of funding or due
to other reasons.

Let us hope that what the UNDP has planned for the last 4 years
will soon become a reality, and let us hope that once the project is
finished, all the Gibrahay community will pack the ancient church of
Sourp Asdvadzadzin for an unforgettable Badarak!

NKR PRESIDENT BAKO SAHAKIAN HELD MEETING IN MOSCOW

De Facto
Dec 3, 2008

STEPANAKERT, 03.12.08. DE FACTO. On December 1 President of the
Nagorno- Karabagh Republic Bako Sahakian arrived in Moscow. On
December 2 the Head of the State held a meeting with entrepreneur
and philanthropist Vitaly Grigoriants.

According to the information DE DACTO received at the Central
Department of Information of the Office of the NKR President, the
issues related to the realization of different investment projects
in Artsakh had been discussed at the meeting. Special attention was
paid to the issue of water supply and a new impetus will be given to
the activities in this sphere.

NKR finance minister Spartak Tevosian partook at the meeting.

INDUSTRY LOSES COFFEE PIONEER K. CYRUS MELIKIAN

AMonline.com
Dec 2 2008
WI

K.Cyrus Melikian of Haverford, Pa. recently passed away. He was 88. He
was active as chairman of Automatic Brewers & Coffee Devices Inc. in
Conshohocken, Pa. He is credited with inventing one of the first
coffee vending machines and long active in the vending and coffee
service industries.

He co-founded Rudd Melikian Inc. in Warminster, Pa., which became RMI,
which was sold Automatic Products ltd., which was acquired by Crane
Merchandising Systems.

He was the husband of Roxie Bozoian Melikian and devoted father
of Robert A. Melikian (Susan Hohnsbeen), Karen A. Melikian (Jay
Harrison), Michele Lockwood (Paul) and the late K. Cyrus Melikian
Jr. He was grandfather of Alexander, Hunter, Pearce, Anayis, Armen,
and Casey. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Mary Bozoian.

The family will receive guests Friday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. in
the Chadwick and McKinney Funeral Home, 30 E. Athens Ave. Ardmore and
after 10 a.m. Saturday morning Dec. 6, at St. Gregory the Illuminator
Armenian Apostolic Church, 8701 Ridge Ave., Phila., PA 19128, where
his funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Interment will be at George
Washington Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory
to Armenian Students Association, for benefit of the K. Cyrus Melikian
Memorial Scholarship, 333 Atlantic Ave., Warwick, RI 02888.

E. NALBANDIAN TO TAKE PART IN THE SESSION OF COUNCIL OF OSCE FOREIGN MINISTERS IN HELSINKI

ARMENPRESS
Dec 2, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian will pay a three-day visit to Helsinki December 3-5 to
take part in the session of council of OSCE Foreign Ministers.

Press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told Armenpress that
in Helsinki Edward Nalbandian will meet with OSCE Secretary General
Marc Perrin de Brichambaut.

Armenian Foreign Minister will also meet with Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammedyarov, OSCE Minsk group co-chairs Yuri Merzlyakov
(Russia), Bernard Fassier (France), Matthew Bryza (USA) and the
personal representative of OSCE chairman-in-office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

During the visit E. Nalbandian will also meet with Luxemburg Foreign
Minister Jan Asselborn, Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin, the
assistant to UN Secretary General on political issues Lin Pasko as
well as with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babajan.

As a chairing country of Collective Security Treaty Organization the
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian will organize a meeting
of foreign ministers of CSTO member countries in Helsinki.

FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA TO MEET HIS TURKISH, AZERI COUNTERPARTS IN HELSINKI

armradio.am
02.12.2008 10:53

The Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, will leave for
Helsinki on December 3 to participate in the sitting of the OSCE
Foreign Ministers.

In Helsinki Minister Nalbandian will meet with OSCE Secretary General
Marc Perrin de Brichambaut.

Minister Nalbandian is expected to meet his Azerbaijani counterpart
Elmar Mammayarov in presence of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs,
Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Bernard Fassier (France), Matthew Bryza
(USA) and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office
Andrzej Kasprzyk.

During the meeting Minister Nalbandian will have meetings with the
Foreign Minister of Luxemburg Jean Asselborn, the Foreign Minister of
Ireland Michael Martin and UN Deputy Seceratry General for Political
Issues Lynn Pascoe.

As the Foreign Minister of the country presiding over the Collective
Security Treaty organization (CSTO), Edward Nalbandian will organize
the meeting of the CSTO Foreign Ministers.

Minister Nalbandian is also expected to meet his Turkish coounterpart
Ali Babacan.

GEORGIA WELCOMES ARMENIA’S PARTICIPATION IN PRIVATIZATION OF GEORGIAN HYDROPOWER PLANTS

ARKA
Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, December 1. /ARKA/. Georgia has nothing to object to Armenia’s
participation in privatization of Georgian hydropower plants, Georgia’s
Deputy Minister Giorgy Baramidze told ARKA during an online interview
under the Independent Media and Civil Integration Project.

"We will only welcome the initiative, as our capital is never subject
to discrimination," he said, stressing the importance of liberal
principles in any business. "We believe a good owner is the one who
runs the company well, irrespective of his origin," Baramidze added.

The Independent Media and Civil Integration Project is supported
by the EU Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development,
the Region Center of Investigative Journalists (Armenia) and the
Journalists’ Rights Protection Committee (Azerbaijan).