Author: Talalian Arpi

KOCHARIAN: ARMENIA-EU RELATIONS TO BECOME MORE COORDINATED NEXT YEAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.12.2006 15:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with
EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby,
reports the RA leader’s press office. The parties discussed the
EU-Armenia relations, specifically the Action Plan within the European
Neighborhood Policy. Robert Kocharian emphasized that relations with
the EU will be transformed to a more coordinated level next year. In
his words, presently, efforts to mark priorities of the Action Plan
for the next year and clarify the mechanisms of work with the European
Commission are exerted. The interlocutors also referred to the latest
developments within the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement and
conduction of the constitutional referendum in Karabakh. Besides,
they touched upon the forthcoming parliamentary election.

IRNA, Iran
Dec 15 2006

Isfahan’s Armenians cast their votes
Isfahan, Dec 15, IRNA

Isfahani Armenian like other citizens cast their votes in Friday
elections in Iran.

The Isfahani Armenians in all revolutionary stages and events of the
country have had an active participation and they have also dedicated
a number of martyrs and war disabled during imposed war.

The Armenians, like other religious minorities living in the Isfahan
province, have always had an active participation in the elections to
determine their country’s fate.

Around 8,000 Christians live in Isfahan province.

Iranian Armenians have a deputy in the majlis (Parliament).

ARMENIANS OF ABKHAZIA HAVE MANPOWER PROBLEMS

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 14 2006

On December 14 the Friday Club hosted the representatives of the
Armenian community of Abkhazia, who presented the present state of the
community. Their words made a controversial impression because although
the secular and spiritual leaders state that after the war, especially
in the recent years, the economic state has improved in Abkhazia,
which affects the local Armenians as well, they nevertheless point
to a number of problems, which need a complex and fundamental solution.

The Armenian member of the Abkhazian parliament Galust Trapizonyan says
the Armenians who count 60 thousand are the second among the Abkhazian
population of 230 thousand. However, they have few representatives to
the system of public administration of Abkhazia: three representatives
to the parliament with 35 members, three deputy ministers, three
deputies of governors and one minister. Galust Trapizonyan admits
that the number of Armenians in the public administration system
are not equivalent to the number of the Armenian community in
Abkhazia. However, he says, it is the fault of the Armenian community,
who are not active enough. After the war the Armenians had more
representatives to the Abkhazian government, Trapizonyan says, but
the economic conditions forced a lot of people to leave Abkhazia.

Galust Trapizonyan says the community has a manpower problem and the
reason why the Armenians have few representatives in the government
is that there are no professionals who would represent the Armenian
community in the government. The assistance of the Armenian government
may help to fill in this gap, which provides a quota in Armenian
universities for Armenian students from Abkhazia. But there are two
problems. First, most young people who come to study here do not go
back. Second, many young people cannot come at all because they cannot
afford air tickets, accommodation and food in Armenia, if they have
no relatives in Armenia. Yet there is another problem. The quotas
include teacher training, while Galust Trapizonyan says although
there is a lack of teachers in the Armenian community, there is lack
of other specialists as well. Therefore, a lot of Armenian young
people prefer to go study in Russia because it is cheaper and there
is a wider range of quotas for the young people of Abkhazia.

Due to this reality fewer Armenians study in the Armenian schools
than the Russian schools in Abkhazia because they prefer to continue
their education in Russia. However, Galust Trapizonyan says there is
considerable assistance from Armenia, especially considering that the
Armenian community of Abkhazia did not get any assistance from abroad
until 1999. Now they are getting assistance from Russia because 92
percent are citizens of Russia, and benefits and pensions are paid
under the Russian laws.

The representative of the Armenian community also says that they are in
close cooperation with the Armenian communities of Russia. But several
years ago, for instance, when they took a step towards setting up
relations with the Union of Armenians of Russia, they got a negative
answer – you are an unrecognized state. Galust Trapizonyan says this
attitude of Armenians towards Armenians surprised them.

"Now that the situation has changed, they already want, but we
are reluctant," says Galust Trapizonyan, mentioning that they want
to increase the number of their members by including 60 thousand
Armenians of Abkhazia, but they do not want to be used as amount.

YEREVAN 21ST IN THE LIST OF MOST EXPENSIVE CITIES

ArmRadio.am
13.12.2006 15:22

Yerevan – the capital city of Armenia – is the 21st in the list of
30 most expensive cities for foreigners. These are the results of the
research published by the CA International consulting agency, Novosti
Armenia reports referring to the saint-petersburg.ru web edition.

The top five of the most expensive cities of the world includes
Harare (Zimbabwe), Luanda (Angola), Oslo (Norway), Moscow (Russia)
and Kinshasa (Congo).

When making the rating, experts of the ECA International took into
consideration 125 different economic factors like the cost of luxury
goods, consumer goods, restaurant menus, etc. in more than 250 cities
of 113 countries.

ARMENIAN PHOTOSITE IS 3 YEARS OLD

Yerevan, December 11. ArmInfo. The opening of photo exhibition devoted
to the 3 years’ anniversary of the Armenian Photosite ()
will be hosted in the State Puppet Theatre, on December 11, 5:00pm. The
ceremony of awarding the winners of "Panorama" photo-competition
will be held during the exhibition. The mentioned competition was
organized thanks to the joint efforts of the Armenian Photosite,
Yerevan.ru and AG Print Company.

Armenian Photo-site is a virtual space for participation of
professional and armature photographers. Participants of the
site are being provided an opportunity to solve their issues of
self-identification and self-recognition effectively. The site provides
a virtual space for searching and finding new rules and expressions of
photography. The main criterion of the site is a high artistic level
of the works presented there. In spite of its young age (3 years)
there are about 300 participants.

WHERE IS ZHIRAYR SEFILYAN?

A1+
[05:09 pm] 11 December, 2006

"At this moment Zhirayr Sefilyan is being taken to the airport in
order to banish him from Armenia", announced leader of the party
"Homeland and Honor" Garnik Margaryan immediately after the discussion
of the Anti-criminal movement. As for who gave him the information,
Mr. Margaryan avoided saying anything.

The initiative "Protection of Liberated Lands" considers this
information probable, although they can neither confirm, nor refute it.

By the way, there is a flight Yerevan-Halep today which is usually
used by those who leave for Beirut.

If Zhirayr Sefilyan is going to be sent to Beirut by this flight,
he must leave today at 11:25 p.m. The Press Center of the National
Security Service refuses to answer any telephone calls.

GEORGE BUSH: "THE USA SUPPORTS THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN"

Today, Azerbaijan
Dec 12 2006

Azerbaijan Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to U.S
Yashar Aliyev presented his credentials to the President of the USA
George Bush.

Yashar Aliyev said that the U.S. cooperation is highly appreciated in
Azerbaijan in the ceremony where President George Bush, the officials
of protocol department and nine newly appointed ambassadors attended.

"We have always felt the U.S. support in the establishment and
strengthening of sovereign country. Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev
during his visit to White House in April stressed that our countries
share the same values," he said.

The Ambassador Yashar Aliyev stressed that he believes that the U.S.,
the co-chair country of OSCE Minsk Group and one of leading countries
of the world will try to settle Armenia-Azerbaijani problems and
Nagorno Karabakh Conflict. President Bush noted, that he’s glad to
meet new ambassador in Washington and highly estimates the friendship
with Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan that established State Oil Fund for distributing the
oil incomes of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan can be example for some other
countries. We support economic and political reforms in Azerbaijan,"
he said.

George Bush emphasized the important role of Azerbaijan in fighting
against terrorism and pointed out that Azerbaijan is strong partner
of the U.S.

US will support Azerbaijan’s cooperation with NATO and EU.

The American President stressed that Azerbaijan and Armenian conflict
continues to break the stability in South Caucasus and called for
the sides to settle the problem peacefully and to look for the ways
of building confidence between these countries.

"The USA supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Being the
three co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group we will try to continue our work
with leaders for regulating the conflict soon."

URL:

20 PERCENT OF CENTRAL BANK’S DECISIONS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 8 2006

According to Article 88.3 of the Constitution, the Central Bank
deals with inflation, and afterwards it is set down that the Central
Bank conducts a monetary and loan policy. "One of the functions of
the Central Bank is to control the inflation. The Central Bank is
supposed to conduct a monetary and loan policy. In other words, in
Armenia it is vice versa," stated the former prime minister of Armenia
Hrant Bagratyan on December 8, mentioning that it is impossible to
find another such country, while in Armenia 20 percent of the Central
Bank’s decisions are unconstitutional. "A totalitarian regime has been
established in the banking system." This allows Bagratyan to suppose
that the Constitution was adopted "hastily, everyone included several
chapters on their own." He thinks that serious problems are emerging
in the banking system, the ways of solution are there but are not used.

For instance, when the president of the Central Bank says the dollar
amount that comes to Armenia is large, which causes the depreciation
of the dollar in Armenia, the dram revaluates, the government or the
minister of finance should say, "you do not pay salaries, we pay, and
it is harmful for the budget, it is harmful for the economic growth."

The budget of the country with a 10 percent economic growth should
grow by 30 percent, states the former prime minister. Or if the dollar
amount is large, why does the Central Bank sell stocks in drams and
reduce the dram amount. "It should have sold in dollars."

Or if the dollar amount is large, why was the gold sold in dollars?

"Nobody demands account for their actions. Statements are OK, but
there are facts. There is no response. There is only a brazen smile.

How about our children?" says Hrant Bagratyan and proposes: "Columbus
discovered America, he discovered gold, the gold came to Spain, and
everything became expensive. If an annual 1.3 billion dollars comes,
you can put it somewhere and develop. We have 21 banks but we lack
systems of development."

"The Central Bank has other rights to sell stocks. It appears that
the head of state trusts the president of the Central Bank, gives
everything to him," says Hrant Bagratyan. He suggests changing the
entire structure of the Central bank rather than replacing separate
peope. "We need a fresh breath."

PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

December 11, 2006
___________________

BISHOP VICKEN AYKAZIAN ELECTED TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL BOARD
OF DIRECTORS

By Florence Avakian

A leader of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) has been
elected to a position leading the renowned organization Habitat for Humanity
International.

Bishop Vicken Aykazian, diocesan legate and ecumenical officer, was elected
to the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity International during a
gathering in Manila, the Philippines, on October 25, 2006. He was chosen
because of his continuing involvement with Habitat for Humanity.

In addition to joining the board, Bishop Aykazian was also appointed
chairman of the Europe and Central Asia Area Committee of Habitat for
Humanity International’s Resource, Development, and Communication Committee.

Working throughout the world, Habitat for Humanity International has offices
in more than 100 countries. "It builds a house every 19 minutes," Bishop
Aykazian said.

During the first week of June 2006, the organization led the "Home Builders
Blitz," bringing together more than 1,000 professional home builders from
130 communities to construct more than 400 affordable homes in partnership
with low income families. It was one of Habitat’s largest intensive
efforts.

Recently, for the first time in its six years of existence in Armenia,
Habitat for Humanity joined the Armenian Church to initiate the His Holiness
Karekin II Work Project, an annual drive to build homes in Armenia for needy
families. This year, the first for the project, saw the building of 37
homes in Gavar near Lake Sevan.

Among the 106 volunteers, made up mostly of Armenian citizens, were several
teams from different parishes of the Diocese of the Armenian Church in
America. Playing a major role in this endeavor were His Holiness Karekin
II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and Bishop Aykazian,
who joined the group during some of the workdays. In 2005, Catholicos
Karekin II took part in a similar work project in Michigan.

Habitat for Humanity International, founded in 1976, is a non-denominational
Christian, non-governmental, non-profit housing organization that has been
instrumental and active in helping more than one million people all over the
world to have a decent and affordable home.

— 12/11/06

CIS WAS SOLE ALTERNATIVE TO SOVIET UNION – YELTSIN

Itar-Tass
07.12.2006, 11.02

MOSCOW, December 7 (Itar-Tass) – Russia’s first president Boris Yeltsin
believes that the transformation of the former Soviet Union into the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was inevitable.

He said in an interview with Rossiskaya Gazeta published on Thursday
that that at the beginning of 1991, the "economic situation in the
Soviet Union was close to a collapse", triggering a political crisis
in the country.

A string of bloody conflicts flared up in the once stable and
unshakable Soviet Union: the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, the gruesome
events in Tbilisi and in the Baltic republics.

"Union authority every time made mistakes, now not acknowledging
apparent facts and now using excessive force", which "could not but
lead to a crisis of trust between the national republics and Moscow".

"It became apparent to the Kremlin that the Soviet Union cannot be
held within the old framework. And then the decision was made on the
establishment of a new Union treaty with new, broadened powers of
the republics within the USSR," Yeltsin said.

The treaty most likely would have been signed if it were not for the
putsch in August 1991 that "buried all accords on the establishment
of a new union," he said.

"Creating the CIS, leaders of the republics tried to mitigate the
consequences that the residents of the former Soviet Union could
experience from the collapse of the state."

Yeltsin stressed that "thanks to the establishment of the CIS, global
shocks, potential wars between the former republics, financial and
humanitarian catastrophes were avoided".

"I still believe that the creation of the CIS was the sole alternative
to an inevitable and uncontrollable collapse of the former Soviet
Union. And I now express gratitude to all who signed our treaty on
the creation of the CIS for shown responsibility to history and their
peoples," Yeltsin said.

He admitted that he is nostalgic for the gone USSR.

He added "it should not be forgotten that people had a very hard time
in the recent years of the USSR, both materially and spiritually. All
have somehow forgotten now what are empty counters, what it is like
to be afraid to tell your thoughts that run counter to the ‘general
line of the party’. But this must not be forgotten on any account".