Author: Nargizian David

Armenpress

FIFTH ARMENIAN SHIFT OF PEACEKEEPERS TO LEAVE FOR IRAQ
IN MID-JANUARY

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS: The fifth shift
of a small non-combat Armenian peacekeeping contingent
will fly to Iraq in mid-January next year, a
spokesperson for the Armenian defense ministry said,
adding that the date of the fourth shift’s return will
become clear after the New Year holidays.
The spokesperson Seyran Shahsuvarian said the
platoon comprises 30 truck drivers, 10 sappers, 3
medics and two officers.
When asking in early December the Armenian
parliament to extend the presence of the Armenian
contingent in Iraq for another year defense minister
Serzh Sarkisian said the peacekeeping mission in Iraq
promotes enhancement of international standing of
Armenia and its armed forces.
He said Armenia could not stay aside of
international integration processes in defense, adding
that the participation of the Armenian contingent in
the peacekeeping mission in Iraq provides additional
levers for protecting national interests in relations
with international organizations.
Sarkisian argued that Armenia’s two other South
Caucasus neighbors Azerbaijan and Georgia have 151 and
864 servicemen in Iraq respectively, but ‘unlike
Azerbaijan and Georgia, Armenian troops are non-combat
and do not participate in military actions’.

ANKARA WARNS US OVER ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL

Zaman Online, Turkey
Dec 28 2006

Faced with the possibility that the U.S. Congress will consider a
proposal with regard to the alleged Armenian genocide, Spokesperson
for the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Namik Tan asked the U.S.

Administration to continue its long-lasting balanced and constructive
policy.

At a weekly press conference Tan discussed news reports indicating
that with the Democrats in control of both houses of Congress,
the U.S. legislative body would consider a proposal on the alleged
Armenian genocide. Tan noted that Turkey was following the efforts of
the Armenian lobby to exploit the political situation in the United
States with great concern.

Noting that bilateral relations between Turkey and the United States
were multidimensional and strategic, Tan further said: "The U.S. has
always been constructive and right minded vis-a-vis those kinds
of efforts. We believe that the U.S. administration will continue
the same approach. The relations between the U.S. and Turkey are so
important that they transcend those insignificant issues." Asked about
the recent remarks made by Armenian authorities, Tan recalled that
any concrete results from those efforts largely depended on Armenia’s
flexible and constructive approach to resolve the regional problems
in compliance with the international legal rules and regulations.

EU invitation letter insufficient

Tan noted that Turkey requested information from Azerbaijani
authorities concerning the allegations made by Armenian-origin Turkish
citizen Burak Bedikyan that he was maltreated and not admitted into
Azerbaijan. Spokesperson Tan also noted that the European Union’s
invitation letter to initiate negotiations in the field of industry and
establishments has arrived in Ankara. Tan stressed that the letter did
not meet Turkey’s expectations, as an invitation to start negotiations
in four chapters was anticipated.

TURKEY FEELS REGRET OVER EFFORTS OF ARMENIAN LOBBIES TO EXPLOIT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS, TAN

Anatolian Times, Turkey
Dec 28 2006

ANKARA – "Turkey follows with regret the efforts of the Armenian
lobbies (seeking to win votes) to exploit political developments in
the United States," Turkish Foreign Affairs spokesman Namik Tan told
a weekly news conference in Ankara on Wednesday.

Asked to comment on a bill on so-called Armenian genocide, claimed
to be discussed at U.S. Congress and on the recent statements of the
Armenian executives, Tan said, "we have observed that there were
expectations of the Armenian circles about adoption of so-called
Armenian genocide after the elections held in the United States
in November."

Tan said relations between Turkey and the United States were "multi
dimensional" and "strategic", and indicated that the relations included
comprehensive topics.

"The United States has been pursuing a commonsensical approach so
far. We believe that U.S. administration will maintain the relations
with the same understanding. Relations between Turkey and the United
States have importance beyond this small expectations," he added.

-STATEMENTS OF ARMENIAN EXECUTIVES-

Commenting on the statements of Armenian executives on establishment
of diplomatic relations (without any precondition) with Turkey,
Tan recalled that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had
earlier asked Armenian President Robert Kocharian to establish a
joint committee of Turkish and Armenian historians to investigate
1915 incidents.

Tan said a tangible progress could not be made so far because of the
negative approach of Armenia towards the proposal in question.

"We think that the joint committee would be a mechanism that eliminates
difference of interpretations as regards to 1915 incidents and assumes
the function of confidence building measures between Turkish and
Armenian peoples," Tan stated.

"Turkey believes that the committee will contribute to the
normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. Turkey is
decisive in restoration of peace, stability and tranquility in line
with its traditional foreign policy principles," Tan said.

Tan also said yielding a result from the efforts depended on a more
flexible approach from Armenia (to overcome bilateral and regional
problems) and Armenia`s acting in line with international laws.

ARMENIAN POLITICIAN: BAKU PARTNERSHIP WITH TURKEY AND GEORGIA THREATENS TO TURN INTO FRIENDSHIP AGAINST RUSSIA

18:18 12/28/2006

One should not expect coolness in Azerbaijani-Russian relations, leader
of the Armenian opposition National Unity Party Artashes Geghamyan
said commenting on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s CIS policy,
refusal from the Russian gas and the decision to suspend broadcasting
of two Russian TV-channels since 2007.

"Azerbaijan just wants to put a good face on things and try to sell gas
to Georgia bypassing Russia. However, it failed, and Baku decided to
resort to economic blackmailing threatening to decrease oil supplies
to Russia. At the same time, the strategic partnership between Turkey
and Georgia is fraught with the danger of turning into friendship
against Russia. The gas issue is nothing but fuss on the eve of the
new year. Ukraine tried to boost a similar situation and create a
pseudo-economic crisis on the eve of 2006. The same thing is with
Belarus, it is also indignant at raising the price for Russian gas.

However, it will bring no good," the Armenian politician
believes. "Russian President Vladimir Putin’s well-considered policy
is adequate and realistic, and all Russia’s actions are based on
its intention to become a WTO member. And WTO membership requires
establishing market relations in the energy market and refusal from
selective pricing. If the selective principle had not been applied to
the strategic partner of Russia – Armenia, why should it be applied
to Georgia, Azerbaijan or Moldova," Geghamyan rhetorically asked.

BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS DISTURB THE SCHEDULE OF FLIGHTS AT "ZVARTNOTS" AIRPORT

ArmRadio.am
27.12.2006 15:19

>From December 26 the working schedule of the international "Zvartnots"
airport has been disturbed because of the abrupt aggravation of
weather conditions.

Press Secretary of the General Board of Civil Aviation Gayane Davtyan
told ArmInfo correspondent that the schedule of 10 out of 12 flights
was disturbed.

Today the Amsterdam-Yerevan and Moscow-Yerevan planes landed at
"Zvartnots" airport. Aleppo-Yerevan and Yerevan-Moscow planes of
Armavia landed at Tbilisi airport. Gayane Davtyan reported also that
the airport of Gyumri is ready to receive the planes, but there have
been no landings at Gyumri airport during the past two days. She
informed that the planes of the British Airways and Austrian Airways
can land at "Zvartnots" airport despite the bad weather conditions,
since these air companies have allowed their pilots to land under
conditions of bad visibility.

ARMENIAN POLITICIANS DISPLAY THEMSELVES THEIR TRUE WORTH IN RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN CONFLICT, ALEXANDER ISKANDARIAN BELIEVES

Noyan Tapan
Dec 26 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Worsening of relations among Russia
and other CIS countries, as a result, negatively influence on Armenia
as a rule.

Alexander Iskandarian, the Caucasus Media Institute Director,
politician expressed such a confidence at the December 26 meeting
with journalists. In his words, straining of the Rusian-Georgian
relations was not an exclusion, either.

Russia, using the gas factor, breaking off the communication with
Georgia, simply "forgot about Armenia" and ignored interests of
Armenia. A.Iskandarian mentioned that Armenian politicians and
statesmen displayed themselves their true worth, stating that they
will not lead a partial policy in the Russian-Georgian conflict:
worsening of the relations with Georgia would be too dangerous for
Armenia, and Russia has been and remains the strategic partner of
Armenia. "It is difficult to say for me which is the out-post in
the Armenia-Russia relations: if Russia more needs Armenia, or the
opposite," he mentioned.

In A.Iskandarian’s words, Russia and Armenia are not able yet
to relate as two independent countries as only 15 years passed
after the USSR fall, and the Armenian people’s psychology did not
change. The politician added that today as well the Russian culture
has irreplaceable meaning for Armenians. "I know speak in Russian,
and all the Armenians understand me. But if I spoke in Persian,
almost nobody would understand, whereas Armenians had not been under
the power of Persia less than of Russia," the Caucasus Media Institute
Director mentioned.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN ON MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH

musicOMH.com, UK
Dec 26 2006

System Of A Down. It’s been quite a year for System Of A Down.

With the release of Mezmerize, (the first of a two disc release),
in May, they have managed to stay on the top of the Billboard charts
in the United States.

With this follow up release to Toxicity, and Steal This Album,
multitasking front man Serj Tankian’s operation have proven to be
amongst the most innovative and original bands to emerge in decades.

Serj Tankian, System’s charismatic frontman, though frantically busy
with SOAD, still manages to play an active role with Axis of Justice,
the organization he started with Audioslave’s Tom Morello. AXIS has
been a huge political force in the Los Angeles community, and has been
instrumental in raising social/political awareness of many different
causes around the world.

In addition, of late, Tankian, narrated a powerful documentary,
called Armenia, A Country Under Blockade, that was recently featured
at the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival. He and the rest of
the band have been extremely outspoken and proactive about getting
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Though Serj has been inundated by the press, he was still gracious
enough to answer a few questions for musicOMH.com…

musicOMH.com: First and foremost, congratulations on your success with
Mezmerize. I know you’re not one to pay attention to record sales. But
still, the fact that it has been in the top of the Billboard charts
for 2 months now, that has to be a good feeling?

Serj: It doesn’t suck.

musicOMH.com: Tell me how the experience of touring(once again)
has been for you?

Serj: It’s been good. We just did 5 weeks of festivals and headliners
in Europe, and about to embark on the U.S. run in August. It’s been
pretty fun. We keep it to a month max between breaks so as to remain
fresh for our fans and keep on having fun with it.

musicOMH.com: I’ve really enjoyed listening to all of Mezmerize,
but the track that really stood out for me, was Question, a song you
wrote about death. What is your belief about the afterlife?

Serj: As you well know we don’t talk about specifics of our lyrics to
the press so that people can internalise what they feel listening to
a song. Death is life, and life is death, depending on how you live
it. It’s good to die every moment to the past, so you can live in
the present.

musicOMH.com: What will the video for Question entail?

Serj: Question was shot mostly in a theatre setting. The video is
based on a dream Shavo, the director, had, and we collaborated on
the treatment. It looks really beautiful and is one of my favorite
System videos since Spiders.

musicOMH.com: Are you still planning to release the follow-up disc,
Hypnotize, in the next couple months? Hopefully all the SOAD fans
have had enough time to process Mezmerize by then, right?

Serj: Yes, sometime in November.

musicOMH.com: Will Daron have as much vocal contribution on Hypnotize
as well?

Serj: Yes.

"Death is life, and life is death, depending on how you live it."

– Serj Tankian gets deep…

musicOMH.com: It’s nice to see a band that seems able to share in
the vocals, music and lyrics. There doesn’t seem to be huge egos here.

Correct?

Serj: We don’t have roles in our band. We do what the song requires.

If it requires strings, we do that, guitars, we do that, Daron’s
vocals, that, Serj’s vocals that. When I bring songs in I have the
music and lyrics done. Daron now does the same, except still leaves
lots of space for me and the rest of the band to do our thing as well.

musicOMH.com: I ran into you while we were both voting. And I couldn’t
help but wonder what you were thinking and feeling when Bush won again?

Serj: A democracy without its citizens knowing the truth is not a
true democracy.

musicOMH.com: I think many Americans feel frustrated with the way
our country is being run right now. But feel helpless as to what they
could possibly do? What would you say to them?

Serj: I wouldn’t say anything to them. I want to hear what they would
say to me.

musicOMH.com: I also heard that you recently narrated a documentary
called Armenia – A Country Under Blocakge. Tell me a little about that.

Serj: A good friend of mine, the director, asked me to narrate it. It
deals with the specifics of the illegal economic blockade of Armenia
by Turkey.

musicOMH.com: I commend you on your tireless efforts with regards to
the Armenian Genocide. Do you feel some progress has been made?

Specifically how?

Serj: Yes. Within the last year Canada, Poland, and a handful of
other countries have formally recognized the Armenian Genocide and
the truth is spreading and Turkey’s having a harder time lying to
the world about it.

BAKUR KARAPETIAN: AZERBAIJAN’S SOWING ENMITY TO ARMENIANS IN AZERBAIJANI CHILDREN DOES NOT BODE WELL FOR THEMSELVES

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The story "Heavenly Walnut"
in Russian by Bakur Karapetian, Chairman of the Shushi Foundation,
writer and publicist, was recently published in Moscow. The writer
presents the Artsakh war, relations between Armenians and Azerbaijanis,
trying to show that the two peoples can live peacefully side by
side. During the December 20 presentation of the book in Yerevan, the
author said that although this story was written for schoolchildren,
adults will also benefit from its reading so that they will correctly
bring up their children. "Today Azerbaijani children have a deep
hatred against Armenians, and sowing such intolerant and hostile
moods does not bode well for these children and the future of their
country," the writer noted. In his words, the fates of the two peoples
depend on the education abd upbringing of their children, on whether
they will be able to keep pace with rapid development of the human
civilization. B. Karapetian said that in the 1990s he sent an open
letter to the Azerbaijani president Heydar Aliyev, in which he wrote
that after the displacement of the Armenian population of the North
Artsakh in 1988-1991, the Armenian khachkars, gravestones, churches and
monasteries of the historic Artsakh are destroyed with permission of
the Azerbaijani authorities. "These values are considered as universal
cultural heritage, so I asked Heydar Aliyev to forvid any vandalism to
them," the writer said. B. Karapetian informed those present that he
intends to apply to the current president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
with an open letter. Besides, he wants to create a website to include
works of Armenian and Azerbaijani writers.

HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF ARMENIA GRADUALLY TO PASS TO
EUROPEAN CREDIT SYSTEM

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The gradual introduction of the
European Credit system to the higher educational institutions’ sphere
is the logical continuation of the educational reforms implemented
in Armenia. RA Minister of Education and Science Levon Mkrtchian
informed journalists about this at the December 22 conference held at
the Yerevan State University, in which the rectors of the Armenian
higher educational institutions took part. In the Minister’s words,
the introduction of the credit system to the higher educational
institutions should be implemented stage by stage, as the abrupt
passage would certainly bring to mess and lowering of the education
quality. As the Minister said, this process is in different stages
in 40 countries which have joined to the educational agreement of
Bologna. In Armenia it is still in the initial stage. The test
of the credit system has been implemented in the country’s four
universities (Yerevan Engineering, Yerevan State, Yerevan Economic
and Agrarian Universities) for several years. In the L.Mkrtchian’s
words, the above mentioned universities should pass their experience
to others. "To announce at once that we pass to the credit system is
wrong, especially when the process of Bologna itself doesn’t bind any
term or immediate passage. All these steps should not be abrupt and
the educational peculiarities of the given country should certainly
be taken into consideration," mentioned L. Mkrtchian. The credit
system first was introduced to the Engineering University of Armenia
in the educational program of study for master’s degree on the line
of two professions (computing systems and informatics and engineering
management) since 2002. Later, it was tested in the educational sector
of study for bachelor’s degree among foreign students. At present
800 students are included in the credit system. Beginning September
this year, the university’s whole educational sector of study for
bachelor’s degree will pass to teaching by the credit system. The
introduction of that system to the other three universities was
implemented only on the line of a few professions of departments of
study for master’s degree. Corresponding structures have been created
in all the universities, which will be engaged in implementation of
educational-methodical plans and organization works.

WEST WILL TRY TO HAVE INFLUENCE ON PROCESS AND OUTCOME OF ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.12.2006 16:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Undoubtedly, the West will try to have influence on
the electoral process in Armenia, but much will depend on how long and
how will continue Russian-Georgian opposition and what the outcome of
it will be, said President of CAR Ara Abramian during an interview to
The Novoye Russkoye Slovo. In his words, despite West’s indisputable
military and economic attraction, Russia has more supporters in
Caucasus and especially in Armenia. "It is not accidentally that
all the political leaders in Armenia stand for close relations with
Russia. It concerns first of all to the first leaders of Armenia, to
President Kocharian and Defense Minister Sargsyan, who, by the way,
also occupies the post f Co-Chair of intergovernmental Council on
economic cooperation between Armenia and Russia," he stressed.

Alongside, he confirmed that he has close and good relations with
Republican leadership. "I appreciate Serzh Sargsyan as an effective
leader of the Armenian army, as a professional political leader,
and I am being imposed some of his business characteristics.

But the decision to support any of the parties in the elections,
probably we will make in January on the Great Council of CAR, after
we examine the political programs of leading parties, their ways to
solve the problems," said Abramian.