Author: Talalian Arpi

Economic News
January 16, 2008 Wednesday

Armenia Prepares for 20th Anniversary of December 7th

Yerevan. ">OREANDA-NEWS . January 16, 2007. The State Commission on
Preparation of Events Dedicated to the 20th Anniversary of December
7, 1988 Earthquake held its second session at the Office of
Government, presided at by commission chairman, RA Prime Minister
Serzh Sargsyan. Apart from commission members, the meeting was
attended by members of parliament representing the earthquake-hit
Shirak and Lori marzes.

Serzh Sargsyan mentioned that both the executive, individual members
of parliament and non- governmental organizations have done a large
amount of work towards the preparation of the program of actions
dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Earthquake. The Prime
Minister emphasized that commission members have shown diversified
approaches due to which the program was given a broader extent and
higher comprehensiveness. Serzh Sargsyan stressed that activities in
the disaster zone need clear scheduling in line with the financial
possibilities not only for 2008, but also for the years to follow so
as not to give rise to further discussions or re-scheduling in
future. People should know clearly when a specific problem can be
solved.

Appreciative of the draft of the jointly prepared action plan, the
commission members and the MPs in attendance of the meeting made some
proposals. In particular, it has been suggested to establish to task
forces to deal with the preparation of anniversary actions and the
design of a complex program for the rehabilitation of the disaster
zone respectively.

At the end of the meeting, as recommended by Prime Minister Serzh
Sargsyan, the commission approved those program activities
susceptible to be covered by State budget allocations.

The Commission Secretariat was told to collect the proposals of all
the stakeholders within a week’s period in order to summarize them
and endorse subsequently, as well as to carry out a more detailed
examination of resource-extensive and time-consuming activities and
submit them to the Secretariat before March 1, 2008.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Bryza cautiously optimistic about agreement between
Armenian and Azeri leaders
15.01.2008 15:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian and Azerbaijani
Presidents were submitted a document on the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict resolution, which can be admissible
for both sides, OSCE Minsk Group U.S. Co-chair Matthew
Bryza told reporters in Yerevan today.

`The Presidents are thoroughly examining the latest
document,’ he said.

`We were in Baku and met with President Ilham Aliyev
to discuss the proposals. Today, we met with Armenian
President Robert Kocharian. We also plan to visit
Stepanakert to have a complete picture of the
situation in Nagorno Karabakh and then will go to Baku
again. The parties have a good possibility to reach an
agreement,’ Amb. Bryza said adding that he hopes for
an oral agreement.

`We do understand that it will not happen tomorrow but
it can be possible several months later,’ he said.

At that he noted he is cautiously optimistic about the
possibility of an agreement between the sides.

AZG Armenian Daily #007, 16/01/2008

Economy

ABEL AGHABEKIAN TO MAKE A REPORT

Well-known economist, RA National Academy of Sciences
Member of Honor, Academician of Russian Federation
Academy of Sciences Abel Aghabekian is paying a 10-day
visit to Armenia.

On January 14, the Academician met with Armenian
economists, historians, and politicians in NAS.

Mr. Aghabekian spoke of innovation politics. He
mentioned that it is necessary to increase the
innovation technologies in GDP.

Answering the questions of the meeting participants,
A. Aghabekian told that he is going to meet with
Armenian businessmen to discuss in what
scientific-technical spheres to do investments

Translated by L.H.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Jan 12 2008

Turkey’s ethnic problems

by
MÜMTAZER TÜRKÖNE

Because ideological rivalry is staged via symbols in Turkey, words
and concepts matter. Nobody is willing to be labeled a minority and
the majority is reluctant to describe groups with this term.

The primary reason for this is that the term minority was used in the
international agreement in 1923 that established the Turkish Republic
to make reference to non-Muslims. Under the agreement, Jews, Greeks
and Armenians are considered minorities entitled to certain rights
and privileges. An international guarantee was provided for
minorities in the said agreement.
The insistence of the EU on recognition of the Alevis as a minority
points to the definition of minorities as outlined in the Lausanne
Treaty and the Kurds prefer to distance themselves from the term,
believi09ng that they might be subjected to the same treatment as the
non-Muslim groups in Turkey. The majority holds that the Kurds and
the Alevis do not constitute minorities because they are major
constituents of the Turkish nation, also noting that they are
entitled to the same rights. However, there are no discussions as to
whether having the same rights is sufficient for minorities to
preserve their unique characteristics and minority rights are being
discussed without proper reference to the concept of minority.

>From a perspective based on universal standards, there are two major
groups that could be considered minorities in Turkey; the Kurds, who
constitute a minority of language, and the Alevis, who feel they
belong to a different religious identity. However, from an insider
perspective, neither of them is a minority; Turkey’s minority problem
has its own characteristics. Currently, there are important
developments in regards to the status of Alevis in Turkey.

The AK Party’s gesture to Alevis

Alevism, which is based on devotion to the Prophet of Islam’s
son-in-law, Ali, is one of the most prevalent faiths in Turkey.
Alevism does not have a central homogenous set of teachings like
Sunni Islam. For this reason, they are having difficulties coming
around to a commonly shared faith system. There are remarkable
differences between local practices of Alevis in different parts of
the country. Their main commonality is devotion to Ali. Likewise, the
Karbala incident holds an important place in their faith. On this
special day, Alevis fast to mourn for Ali’s children who were
brutally killed.

This year, the Muharram fast became more popular then ever because of
the controversial move by the administration. Justice and Development
Party (AK Party) Alevi deputy Reha Çamuroðlu led the initiative; the
leading figures of the AK Party and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdoðan organized a dinner for the Alevis on their holy day. The
event was presented as a gesture of the AK Party to the Alevis. The
AK Party, which represents the Sunni majority, was trying to prove
that they are respectful of the Alevi faith. However, something
interesting happened; the AK Party’s attempt for social peace and
harmony was met with resistance. Some Alevis not only rejected the
invitation to participate in the event but also shunned those who
did. The prime minister encouraged the Alevis to maintain social
peace; he made a gesture to them for one of their special days;
however, some of the Alevis harshly reacted to the gesture for
insignificant reasons.This shows that the issue is actually intricate
and difficult to resolve.

Is Alevism a separate religion?

Turkey’s discussions on religion include whether the Alevi faith is a
separate religion. The Muharram fast is also popular among the
predominantly Shiite Iran. However, Alevis strongly react to Shiism.
Professor Ahmet Yaþar Ocak, who is renowned for his scholarly works
on Alevism, describes the Alevi faith as Turkish heterodoxy. Reha
Çamuroðlu is also an authority on the Alevi faith. His novel titled
"Ismael" narrates how the Alevi faith emerged. The competition
between the Iranian Shah Ismael and the Ottoman Sultan Selim had the
greatest impact on the formation of Alevism. In the novel, Çamuroðlu
notes that Alevism is a unique faith influenced by Shamanism and
other ancient belief systems.

The question over whether Alevism is a separate religion is relevant
to the discussions on secularism and the Alevi demands from the
state. Religious services are organized as public services in Turkey.
However, such services are based on Sunni Islam alone. The Religious
Affairs Directorate is a public institution that deals with the
mosques and the public servants who provide services at these
mosques. The institution provides funds from the central budget to
the mosques. Impartiality of the state vis-à-vis different beliefs is
seriously undermined by this situation because the Alevis do not
benefit from its services. There are different options for the
resolution of the problem. First, Alevis may be recognized as having
the right of representation in the Religious Affairs Directorate. The
second option is presented by Çamuroðlu and it proposes the
employment of Alevi clerics in the Culture and Tourism Ministry and
the administration of Alevi temples (cemevi) by the same ministry.

However, the problem still stands as a colossal one simply because
none of the proposals resolve the problem. Because Alevism is not a
homogenous faith, it is hard to find a dominant set of teachings and
religious authorities that will represent the Alevis. Second, the
state’s attempt to improve the conditions of the Alevis will
inevitably mean double standards vis-à-vis the other faiths.
Provision of religious services for the Alevis will mean that the
state will be much less secular.

The prime minister’s attempt was part of a social peace project. The
administration would extend warm messages to the Alevis and make the
polarization based on religious differences more manageable.
Obviously the result meets expectations. The attempt was seriously
protested by the Alevis. It seems that the religious hierarchy and
status quo among the Alevi community is the major reason for this
resistance. The Alevi leaders hold that rapprochement would seriously
undermine their dominant position. The Alevi leaders’ readiness to
describe the recent attempt as an assimilation project proves this.
Perhaps the government’s attempt was the right thing to do; it may
trigger insider discussions that will shake up the status quo.

The dinner was just a beginning. The dinner showed that the Alevi
question is not a minority issue but is an issue of power sharing
because those who refused to attend the event had no plausible
reasons for doing so.

12.01.2008

Gallup to conduct an exit poll on February 19

armradio.am
12.01.2008 13:01

The Gallup/Baltic Survey Ltd. Plans to conduct an exit poll in Armenia
during the presidential elections of 19 February, the US Embassy in
Armenia informs. Commissioned by the International Republic Institute
in 2006, the "Armenia National Study" is being carried out in Armenia
by the Vilnius-based Baltic Surveys Ltd. / Gallup Organization with the
assistance of the Armenian Sociological Association. It is common
practice to work with local organizations in carrying out such public
opinion polls.

A total of seven quarterly opinion polls have been carried out since
May, 2006. The most recent poll was taken in early December, 2007. An
eighth and final poll is scheduled for mid-January, 2008. Baltic
Surveys Ltd. / Gallup Organization is also planning to conduct an exit
poll during the presidential election on February 19, 2008.

To ensure anonymity and objectivity of the opinion poll, the Baltic
Surveys Ltd. / Gallup Organization uses a random sampling methodology
that is the mainstay of reputable Western polling organizations. IRI
has shared the poll results, including specific information on
respective political parties, with party representatives. The results
of all seven polls conducted since May 2006, including more general
information on the major political, economic, and social issues, are
free for public examination on the IRI website ().

RE-ELECTED, WITH SOME DIFFICULTY
by Ivan Preobrazhensky

What the Papers Say Part B
January 9, 2008 Wednesday
Russia

HIGHLIGHT: Georgia: election results and opposition protests; Mikhail
Saakashvili has been re-elected as president of Georgia. He got around
52% of the vote – that’s 44% less than in his first election.

The opposition is planning protests. The USA and the European Union
have recognized Georgia’s election as legitimate, while noting some
irregularities.

Mikhail Saakashvili has been re-elected as president of Georgia. He
got around 52% of the vote – that’s 44% less than in his first
election. The opposition is planning protests. The United States and
the European Union have recognized Georgia’s election as legitimate,
while noting some irregularities.

With vote-counting 95% complete, the Georgian Central Electoral
Commission (GCEC) reports that Saakashvili has 52% of the vote. The
runner-up is the united opposition candidate, Levan Gachechiladze
(25%); followed by Badri Patarkatsishvili (6.7%), Labor Party
leader Shalva Natelashvili (6.3%), David Gamkrelidze (3.91%), Georgy
Maisashvili (0.74%), and Irina Sarishvili (0.19%).

The opposition has called for a second round of voting and the
resignation of GCEC Chairman Levan Tarkhnishvili. Gachechiladze has
made election fraud allegations against Rustavi 2 Television, Mze
Television, and Public Broadcasting, claiming that they have denied
him the opportunity to address Georgian citizens in live broadcasts.

Imedi Television, the opposition channel that resumed broadcasting
on December 12, shut down again on December 26. The opposition is
promising hunger strikes and widespread protest rallies starting
January 13.

Observer opinions vary. The OSCE and the US Democratic Party’s National
Institute found some irregularities, but have recognized the election
outcome anyway. An observer mission from the International Expert
Center for Electoral Systems, consisting of observers from Britain,
America, and Israel, declined to recognize the Georgian election as
democratic: in some districts, voter turnout appeared to be over 100%.

The presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine were the first to
congratulate Saakashvili on his victory.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed concern about the fate
of democracy in Georgia. In an official statement from the White
House, this election was described as Georgia’s "first competitive"
election. It has also been recognized by EU High Representative for
Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana and by Slovenia,
currently chairing the EU.

Georgian political analyst Ramaz Sakvarelidze agrees: "In all of
Georgia’s previous election campaigns, there was always a favorite
with a rating over 80%." Eduard Shevardnadze got over 80% of the
vote in 2000, and Saakashvili got 96.27% in 2004. This time, as
Sakvarelidze notes, it’s impossible to predict whether there will be
a second round of voting until vote-counting is officially complete.

GCEC figures show that support for Gachechiladze was strongest in the
major cities, while Saakashvili performed best in the regions and in
districts populated by ethnic Armenians and Azeris, who usually vote
for the incumbent authorities. Sakvarelidze points out that most
voters regarded Gachechiladze’s call for a parliamentary republic
as irrelevant, while Saakashvili focused his campaign on the idea of
fighting poverty. Saakashvili promised to clean up his administration
team, raised pensions in late December, and abolished a number of
fiscal requirements – for example, small business are now allowed to
operate without using cash registers.

Two referendums were held simultaneously with the presidential
election: on rescheduling the parliamentary elections from autumn to
spring of 2008, and on NATO membership for Georgia. Judging by exit
polls, both got a positive response from Georgian citizens: over 60%
supported joining NATO. Irina Sarishvili, the only presidential
candidate who opposed NATO membership, maintains that about 15%
of this result was falsified.

Ivan Safranchuk, World Security Institute: "Georgia is hoping to be
invited to join NATO this April, at the NATO summit in Bucharest. The
final decision hasn’t been made yet, but an invitation is unlikely."

NATO has three main membership criteria: rearmament to meet NATO
standards, public support expressed via procedures that meet democratic
standards, and territorial integrity. The first criterion is easy for
Saakashvili, and he has already fulfilled the second; but the third
criterion is problematic. As Safranchuk points out, NATO wouldn’t
want to take responsibility for the problem of re-integrating Abkhazia
and South Ossetia.

The winner comments on Russia

At a press conference yesterday, Mikhail Saakashvili said: "I think
it’s time to start seeking ways of repairing our severely damaged
relations with Russia. It doesn’t matter who is responsible for the
current state of affairs." Levan Koberidze, head of the Union of
Georgian Winemakers, said on January 7 that some proposals will be
sent to Moscow soon, aimed at bringing Georgian wines back to the
Russian market.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

JANUARY 10, 2008

CHRISTMAS SERVICES AT PRELACY CHURCHES
Prelacy parishes report that an extraordinary large number of their
Faithful attended Christmas (Feast of the Theophany) services on Sunday,
January 6. In the tradition of the Armenian Church, the Christmas
celebrations continue for eight days, from January 6 to January 13, in
commemoration of the following events: the Birth and Baptism, the killing of
babes in Bethlehem, Annunciation, Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, and the
Naming of our Lord.

PRELATE’S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS
RECEPTION & HOME BLESSING
On Sunday evening, January 6, Archbishop Oshagan greeted a large number of
friends from the tri-state area at his annual Christmas reception at the
Prelacy headquarters in New York City, hosted by the Prelacy Ladies Guild.
His Eminence received the good wishes expressed by the attendees for a
fruitful and healthy New Year.
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, conducted
the traditional home blessing ceremony with the participation of area
clergymen, including Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis
Church in Douglaston, New York, and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian, pastor of Sts.
Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey.
Ambassador Armen Martirossian, Permanent Representative of the Republic of
Armenia to the United Nations, and Mrs. Martirossian joined the many guests
in expressing their good wishes to the Prelate for the coming year. Guests
enjoyed a lavish buffet of Armenian delicacies.

BLESSING OF MURON
The Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia announced that His Holiness
Catholicos Aram I will consecrate the Holy Muron (Holy Oil) on June 7, 2008.
The Holy Muron, symbol of the grace of the Holy Spirit, is traditionally
blessed every seven years. Only the Catholicos can consecrate the oil which
is then distributed to the various dioceses for distribution to the
parishes. The oil consists of 48 different herbs, flowers, and oils which
are combined in a special vessel and mixed with some of the old Muron, thus
creating an unbroken chain with the past. The Muron Blessing is expected to
attract a large number of pilgrims from various parts of the world.
This week His Holiness announced that during this same period the World
General Assembly of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia will
convene in Antelias beginning on June 3 through to June 5.

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING
An international gathering of youth is being organized by the Holy See of
Cilicia. His Holiness Aram I is inviting the youth, 18 years and older, to
attend this gathering which will include a one-week pilgrimage to Der Zor.
Details will follow.

CONFERENCE ON ARMENIAN CILICIA
An international conference dedicated to Armenian Cilicia will take place in
the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, January 13 to 19, under
the sponsorship of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia. The conference is co-organized by the Catholicosate and the
Mashdots Library in Yerevan, Armenia. His Holiness is scheduled to preside
over the conference and deliver the opening and concluding remarks. Scholars
>From all over the world will participate in the conference which will
feature papers and discussions on the culture of Armenian Cilicia.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, January 10 are: Hebrews 12:18-27; Luke 1:39-56.
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill
country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry,
"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why
has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon
as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.
And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what
was spoken to her by the Lord." And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on
the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call
me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his
name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He
has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts
of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and
lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the
rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his
mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to
his descendants forever." And Mary remained with her about three months and
then returned to her home. (Luke 1:39-56)
For listing of the entire week’s Bible readings click

FE AST OF THE NAMING OF OUR LORD
This Sunday, January 13, the Armenian Church commemorates the naming
(and circumcision) of our Lord Jesus Christ in accordance with the Hebrew
custom. The commemoration of this event (see Matthew 1:20-23; Luke 1:30-32;
Luke 2:21) comes seven days after the Feast of Theophany, which is the
eighth day of the octave of Theophany. This event of the naming and
circumcision of our Lord resulted in the tradition for newborn children of
Christians to be baptized eight days after birth-a tradition that is rarely
followed in modern times.

THIS WEEK AT THE BOOKSTORE.
This week we call to your attention two books-both published some years
ago-but the Bookstore now has a replenished supply.
David Anhaght, The Invincible Philosopher, edited by Avedis K. Sanjian.
David (Tavit) Anhaght is recognized as the founder of several branches of
Armenian philosophy, particularly logic. His philosophical writings have
been studied by generations of scholars, and in recent times he has received
intensive attention. David’s 1500th anniversary was commemorated in 1980
with a large international conference in Yerevan. In 1981 the Armenian
studies program at the University of California (Los Angeles) hosted a
symposium. This paperback volume reproduces the papers presented at UCLA.
Price, $20.00 plus shipping and handling.

Enlightenment and Diaspora, the Armenian and Jewish Cases, edited by
Richard G. Hovannisian and David N. Myers. This paperback volume focuses on
the comparative experience of Armenian and Jewish intellectuals and
merchants in receiving, reformulating, and then disseminating Enlightenment
values to their respective communities. Specialists examine the role of
commerce in spreading the Enlightenment as well as the tension between
Enlightenment and traditional religious authority and the Enlightenment’s
role in the development of national identity. This volume comprises papers
presented at a conference at UCLA in 1995. Price, $25.00, plus shipping and
handling.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THESE AND OTHER ITEMS AT THE BOOKSTORE VISIT THE
PRELACY’S WEB SITE () OR CONTACT THE BOOKSTORE BY
EMAIL, [email protected] OR BY TELEPHONE, 212-689-7810.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DAY
Next Wednesday, January 16, is Religious Freedom Day, by Presidential
Proclamation. Since 1993 Americans have been asked to "observe this day
through appropriate events and activities in homes, schools, and places of
worship." January 16 is the anniversary of the passage, in 1786, of the
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Thomas Jefferson drafted the
legislation and it is considered to be one of his greatest achievements. It
stopped the practice of taxing people to pay for the support of the local
clergy, and it protected the civil rights of people to express their
religious beliefs without suffering discrimination. The drafters of the U.S.
Constitution used Jefferson’s statute as a model in establishing the First
Amendment’s guarantee of religious freedom.

".no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship,
place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested,
or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of
his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess,
and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and that
the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil
capacities."
>From the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

Calendar of Events

January 27-Seminar for Sunday School teachers and staff of St. Sarkis
Armenian Church, Dearborn, Michigan, by Deacon Shant Kazanjian, director of
the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). Theme: Prayer-Personal and
Communal.

February 3-Seminar for Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church (Ridgefield, New
Jersey) Sunday School teachers and staff, conducted by Deacon Shant
Kazanjian, director of the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC).
Theme: Understanding the sacraments of Christian initiation according to the
tradition of the Armenian Orthodox Church: Baptism-Chrismation-Eucharist.

February 10-Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts, Annual Membership Meeting. Snow date: February 24.

February 24-Annual Membership meeting, St. Gregory Church (North Andover,
Massachusetts).

March 2-Musical Armenia, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York City,
featuring Aleksandr Nazaryan on viola and Karen Tchougourian on piano.

May 7-9-National Representative Assembly of the Eastern Prelacy, hosted by
St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts.

June 3-5-World General Assembly of the Catholicosate of the Great House of
Cilicia will convene in Antelias, Lebanon.

June 7-Blessing of Holy Muron in Antelias, Lebanon. Details will follow.

June 27 to July 6-St. Gregory of Datev Institute, Summer Christian Studies
Program for youth ages 13-18 at St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson,
Pennsylvania, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council. For
more information click

July 19-"A Hye Summer Night 3," dance hosted by Ladies’ Guild of Sts.
Vartanantz Church and ARS Ani Chapter, Providence, Rhode Island. For details
401-434-4467.

August 15-17-International Gathering of Youth and Pilgrimage to Der Zor,
organized by the Catholicosate of Cilicia. Details will follow.

October 25-Gala celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America under the jurisdiction of the Great
House of Cilicia and the 110th anniversary of the establishment of the
Armenian Church of America. Marriott at Glenpointe, Teaneck, New Jersey.
Details to follow.

Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web site.

To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox, add
[email protected] to your address book.

Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please credit
Crossroads as the source.

Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about their
major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected]

TURKISH-US RELATIONS WILL ALWAYS SURVIVE
Ilnur Cevik

New Anatolian
Jan 8 2008
Turkey

Turkey needs the U.S. and the U.S. needs Turkey. This will be the
case as long as geographically and strategically Turkey is where it
is and the U.S. is the world power. We should not over play areas
of discord while we should not go wild in rejoicing the current
positive atmosphere.

With President Abdullah Gul about to meet George W. Bush at the White
House there is a jubilant atmosphere that the relations between the
two countries which was about to collapse has suddenly been revived
and are now at a new peak.

Even foreign newspapers are talking about a situation where Turkey and
the United States were about to confront each other militarily and
that today we have arrived at a new junction where American support
against the PKK in northern Iraq has suddenly worked a miracle.

Some people feel we have come from one negative extreme to a very
positive new extreme.

All this is misleading and does not represent the true picture.

Turkey and the United States are natural allies and will remain so
as long as Turkey geographically and strategically remains where it
is today and the U.S. is the world power and the leading democracy.

There will be ups and downs but things will always sort out and
the two countries will at times compliment each other and at times
supplement each other according to the need.

But this also does not mean that we should promote the negative
aspects. We need to address the issues in a realistic manner so that
we have more ups than downs.

So we should not be overwhelmed with the current state of
Turkish-American relations claiming that we are now on top of the
world. That is really misleading.

The United States never gave up on Turkey and never will. The fact
that the Armenian genocide resolution was shelved and eventually Bush
helped Turkey against the PKK is proof to all this.

But it is wrong to think the Americans have turned their backs on
the Kurds of Iraq or that the Armenian resolution will not be revived.

The Americans will try to appease Turkey as much as possible but
there will come a point where they also have to pay some lip service
to the Iraqi Kurds without creating too much trouble for Turkey.

Besides this the strength of the Armenian lobby especially in an
elections year also has to be acknowledged. We should see all these
possible developments in the horizon and should act with understanding.

President Gul’s visit seems to be a "thank you" call on President
Bush for the massive helped he has extended to Turkey despite some
misgivings especially among the pro-Kurdish lobby in Washington. This
will also be an opportunity where Gul can make amends for the failure
of his government to pass a resolution to allow Americans to use
Turkish soil to invade Iraq.

This shows deep in the hearts of many in Washington there is a deep
respect for Turkey. There is also a vast awareness of the importance
of our country.

We should formulate our future relations on these realities and not
on sources of discord.

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Jan 1 2008

Armenian President stresses importance of Feb 19 election

01.01.2008, 15.42

YEREVAN, January 1 (Itar-Tass) – Presidential election scheduled for
February 19 will become a guarantee of stability over the next five
years if it is held at a proper level, Armenia’s President Robert
Kocharian said in a New Year televised address to the nation.

`There is no sense to speak about successes without stability,’ he
said, adding that he believes in Armenia’s prosperous future and in
the potential of its people.

The said the past year was one of the `most successful years’ in the
country’s recent history.

`The authorities focused on the strengthening of security, the
economy, the social sphere and democracy,’ Kocharian said. `Economy
continued growing at a fair rate, too.’

`This made it possible for us to earmark more finance for the
solution of social problems, the main of which is the elimination of
poverty,’ he went on saying.

`The combat capability of our Armed Forces and their ability to
defend our citizens’ peaceful life continued increasing,’ Kocharian
said.

Armenia gained more international prestige and its integration in
international associations increased as well, he said. `The May
parliamentary election showed maturity of Armenian society and its
encouraging attitude towards reforms we’re implementing’.

`All these achievements provide a guarantee that the year 2008 will
also be a success,’ Kocharian said, warning however that `much
everyday work is needed to overpower the existing challenges.’

In the first place, this concerns the standards of living. `Our
people deserve a continued improvement of life,’ he said. `Our
country and its citizenship must be a subject of pride for every
person of Armenian nationality.’

`Also, we must redouble efforts in helping our brothers in Nagorny
Karabakh /a much-troubled enclave of Azerbaijan populated by ethnic
Armenians and seeking state independence – Itar-Tass/ in building an
efficient statehood,’ he said.

‘A strengthening of the Armed Forces will remain an objective of
primary concern for us, since the country’s security is a crucial
element of our progress,’ Kocharian said. `We must always remember
all those who gave their lives for our peaceful and dignified
development.’

He urged Armenian communities worldwide to intensify their engagement
in the economic development of their historical homeland, as `this is
the best way towards retaining the Armenian diaspora’s ethnic
self-identity.’

This was Kocharian’s last New Year address to the nation in the
capacity of president. His second five-year term of office comes to
an end in 2008 and Armenian Constitution says he can’t run for
presidency another time.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND NATURE USE PAYMENTS OF 8.5 BILLION DRAMS
TRANSFERRED TO STATE BUDGET IN 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA state budget’s revenues at
the expense of environmental protection and nature use payments have
considerably increased in 2007 as compared with last year, the RA
minister of environmental protection Aram Harutyunian stated at the
December 25 press conference. He said that by preliminary data, actual
revenues from such payments made 8.5 billion drams (about 28.3 million
USD).

According to the minister, in 2007 the State Environmental Protection
Inspection conducted checkings of 1,802 economic entities and
registered 1,682 violations. 93.4 million drams was transferred to the
state budget as a result of punitive measures used by the inspection.

299 violations related to water resources protection were revealed, 147
acts on administrative fines of a total of 14.27 million drams and 17
reports on damage compensation of a total of 21.7 million drams were
drawn up.

353 violations related to atmospheric air protection were registerted.
182 acts on administrative fines of a total of 14.59 million drams and
37 reports on damage compensation of a total of 64.91 million drams
were drawn up.

90 violations related to preservation of the animal world were
revealed. 73 acts on administrative fines of a total of 2.67 million
drams and 38 reports on damage compensation of 6.76 million drams were
drawn up.

313 violations related to preservation of the plant world were
registered by the insepction. Acts on administrative fines of 15.1
million drams and reports on damage compensation of 74.45 million drams
were drawn up.