Author: Tambiyan Samvel

Bulgaria’s Ambassador hands his credentials to President Kocharyan

armradio.am
15.01.2008 14:30

The newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
Republic of Belarus to Armenia Thodor Marinov Staikov presented his
credentials to RA President Robert Kocharyan, President’s Press Office
reported.

Robert Kocharyan noted that the Armenian-Bulgarian relations have good
bases, which is a good precondition for the new Ambassador to enlarge
the framework of cooperation with his active work.

The Ambassador conveyed the greetings of Bulgarian President Georgy
Prvanov to Mr. Kocharyan and said that he is ready to do his best for
the development of Armenian-Bulgarian relations.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Jan 15 2008

Erdoðan: Iraq operations may be extended if needed

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan said yesterday that his
government may seek an extension of its parliamentary mandate to
attack the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq
when the current authorization expires in October.

His remarks came in Madrid at a meeting with members of the Spanish
media hosted by the Spanish Europa Press agency. The meeting — which
took place ahead of today’s landmark meeting of the UN Alliance of
Civilizations initiative, in which Erdoðan will be participating —
was aired live on Turkish news channel NTV.
Turkey has massed up to 100,000 troops, backed by warplanes,
artillery and tanks, near its border with Iraq. Parliament approved a
resolution on Oct. 17 providing the legal basis for cross-border
operations against the PKK over a 12-month period.

"We hope our fight against terrorism ends quickly, but I can’t say
when it will end. If it doesn’t end, we will ask Parliament for the
authorization to continue," Erdoðan said.

Turkey claims the right under international law to carry out
cross-border operations and has been receiving intelligence from the
US, its NATO ally, to pinpoint PKK targets. The US and the EU, like
Turkey, classify the PKK as a terrorist organization. In addition to
air and artillery strikes, Turkish commandos have staged limited
raids into Iraqi territory. But commentators say a full-scale
invasion is unlikely, despite the troops amassed along the border.

Ankara blames the PKK for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people since
1984, when the terrorist organization began its fight for an ethnic
homeland in southeastern Turkey.

`Article 301 amendment soon’

During the meeting with Spanish media, the prime minister pledged
that within a month his government would propose an amendment to
Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), which has been widely
considered a stumbling block for freedom of expression in Turkey.

Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Þahin had originally said the article
would be sent to Parliament last week, but divisions within the
government over the scope of the change — which is opposed by
powerful nationalist parties — have caused delays.

The EU, which Ankara hopes to join, says the article stifles free
speech and must be changed. It has been used against dozens of
writers and journalists, including slain Turkish-Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink and Nobel Prize for Literature laureate Orhan Pamuk.

`Meeting with Merkel, Sarkozy in May’

While reiterating Ankara’s objection to any option short of Turkey’s
full membership in the EU, Erdoðan said he would meet with the
leaders of Germany and France — which oppose Ankara’s bid to join
the EU — in May to discuss future relations between the EU and
Turkey. Erdoðan had already said last week that the meeting would
take place in Germany, but he had not given a date. Turkey rejects
outright the idea of any privileged partnership that would replace
full membership in the 27-nation bloc. French President Nicolas
Sarkozy proposes membership in a "Mediterranean Union" instead of
Turkish EU membership.

15.01.2008

Today’s Zaman Ankara

Levon Aronyan in the lead

armradio.am
14.01.2008 10:56

Defeating ex-World Champion, Bulgarian Vesellin Topalov in the first
round and Boris Gelfand of Israel in the second round, Armenian Grand
Master Levon Aronyan is in the lead in the Curus International Chess
Tournament underway in Wijk aan Zee, Holland.

Grand Master Gabriel Sargsyan, who plays in Group B, played a draw with
Sergey Movsisyan of Slovenia and Smets of the Netherlands. He currently
shares the 7th to 10th places with one point. Six players have 1.5
points.

Lragir, Armenia
Jan 11 2008

THE BALLOON OF THE ARMENIAN ECONOMY

In an interview with the ARKA news agency the president of the
Central Bank revealed, maybe unintentionally, the misery of the
Armenian economy, although against the background of glamour.
However, Serge Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan need not reproach Tigran
Sargsyan in this pre-election stage for thoughtless judgments.
Firstly, Tigran Sargsyan is one of the few officials who could be
accused of anything except thoughtless judgments. With the ability to
think and to judge – the court of law is not meant – Tigran Sargsyan
differs from other representatives of the public administration.
Simply the activities of this system have created a situation when in
saying something you unintentionally reveal the balloon of the
Armenian economy, the most dangerous thing about which is that it is
blown from the outside.

If at least we blew the balloon of our economy, we would know the
degree we need and we would not blow it too big to burst, and our
facial expression would not turn into horror and fear, like the face
of the child who blows a balloon with a feeling of joy and pride as
it grows big, which turns into fear in a wink when the balloon
bursts, usually without a warning. Meanwhile, if our economy is blown
from the outside which Tigran Sargsyan confirms, saying that
remittances exceed one billion dollars, and will continue to grow
with a progressive dynamics, it is possible that they will go too
far, even not intentionally but out of mentality to which Tigran
Sargsyan also refers to. He says it is typical of the Armenian
mentality to invest more money in Armenia as they start earning more
abroad. The point is that this money is invested in households and
spent on daily expenses. In other words, when this type of investment
is moderate, it has a positive effect, but as soon as it is too big,
it may lead to cataclysms on the monetary market. The president of
the Central Bank must be aware of this. He must be also aware of the
losses of our citizens and producers due to the depreciation of the
dollar with the same progressive dynamic as the growth of the
remittances. And their growth is claimed to be one of the main
reasons for the depreciation of the dollar and the revaluation of the
dram.

And since, according to Tigran Sargsyan, we deal with the almighty
mentality, it is clear that even if an extra one dollar of the
remittance were destructive for Armenia, the relative living abroad
would nevertheless send it to the relative living in Armenia, because
he will take care of his relative rather than the state or the
society. Such is mentality and nothing can be done about it. In other
words, they will continue blowing the balloon. We only need to close
our ears not to go deaf or stop the blowing. However, in case of
stopping people will not afford to buy, which means the growth of the
economy based on imports and services will stop. And every reader
without any knowledge of economy can understand the consequences. In
that case, we will not be lost, and the country will not collapse, of
course, because the benefactors of our times will lend a hand to the
society. However, it is not clear who will lend a hand to our
benefactors, from whom or where they will draw immense profits
through raising prices and depreciating the dollar to give the crumbs
to the society.

JAMES HAKOBYAN

RPA TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO CONCLUDE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN THE VERY FIRST ROUND

Mediamax
January 11, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) "will do
everything possible for the presidential elections be concluded on
February 19, in the very first round".

Mediamax reports that Deputy Chairman of RPA, MP Galust Sahakian said
this in Yerevan today. He stated that "RPA is going to use all its
political capital and hold successful elections".

According to him, a deposit of successful elections "is the regular
meetings with the electors in the regions of the country and the
establishment of close contact with the population, since a few
speeches on TV cannot establish the atmosphere of confidence, which
is formed due to direct contact with the people".

Deputy Chairman of RPA expressed opinion there will be a winner of
the presidential elections, "but there will be no beaten candidates,
since the second and the third places will be important for the
further career of the politicians".

HEIKKI TALVITIE PRAISED OSCE MG ACTIVITIES

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.01.2008 16:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I am one of those interested in a peaceful
resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

A step forward is needed to settle it," said Heikki Talvitie, the
former EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus.

The Finnish diplomat praised the activities carried out by the OSCE
Minsk Group. "Soonest resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
is essential for regional stability. It’s very hard to foretell the
date a peaceful agreement will be signed, since the process is long
a complicated. But Armenia and Azerbaijan expert every effort to
resolve the conflict," he said, APA reports.

‘MOTORCYCLE DIARIES’ WRITER OPTIONS ‘APPLES’
By Josh Getlin

Los Angeles Times, CA
Jan 10 2008

Getting Micheline Marcom’s "Three Apples Fell From Heaven" to the
big screen is a labor of love.

The Book "Three Apples Fell From Heaven" by Micheline Marcom

The Buyer Jose Rivera

The deal Jose Rivera, Oscar-nominated screenwriter ("The Motorcycle
Diaries"), options Micheline Marcom’s "Three Apples Fell From Heaven,"
a powerful novel about the Armenian genocide.

The players Marcom is represented on literary rights by Sandra
Dijkstra at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency and on film rights
by Liza Wachter at the Rabineau, Wachter, Sanford & Harris Literary
Agency. Rivera is represented by United Talent Agency and Rick Berg
of Code Entertainment. The novel was published by Riverhead Books.

The back story Sometimes in Hollywood it’s not who you know but how
well you know them. Although Rivera and Marcom were represented by
well-connected industry players, their recent book-to-film deal was
driven more by a personal relationship. Soon after Marcom’s novel
was published, she met actress and producer Sona Tatoyan at a Los
Angeles reading.

Tatoyan, like Marcom, is of Armenian descent, and she became
passionate about the highly praised book. She gave a copy of it to
her then-boyfriend (and now husband), Rivera, who had a similar
reaction. As their friendships deepened, the screenwriter became
convinced that the book was not just a potentially great film, he
saw it as the Armenian community’s equivalent to "Schindler’s List."

But adapting the novel would not be easy. Marcom’s dream-like text
shifts back and forth in time, with a profusion of characters. One
of the most unforgettable segments is the interior monologue of an
Armenian infant who is left with other children under a grove of trees
during his family’s death march from its ancestral village. "A lot
of authors are accused of writing novels that feel like screenplays,"
Rivera said. "But you can’t say that about Micheline.

She wrote a literary gem. And it’s a challenge for a filmmaker."

Rivera was deeply committed to the project, so much so that he wrote
a screenplay based on an oral agreement with Marcom; the two signed
an option deal only when his agents began hunting for a director.

Both see the process more as a labor of love than a legal
arrangement. "It felt, and still feels, like Jose’s screenplay has
been a collaboration between the two of us," Marcom said. "But there
are two different creative worlds here, and I’m not involved in the
film one all that much. In the end, he’ll have to follow his own muse."

A test of democracy

Jan 5th 2008
>From Economist.com

A big election in Georgia

THE presidential election in Georgia on Saturday January 5th is a
landmark in the history of the ex-communist world. Mikheil Saakishvili,
a charismatic figure who has by turns dazzled and disappointed his many
admirers at home and abroad, is battling both to be re-elected and to
shore up his credibility as a reformer and friend of the West.

The conduct of the election will be an important bellwether for another
embattled cause: the principle of fair, pluralist democracy in a part
of the world where it has suffered. Last month’s parliamentary
elections in Russia were denounced as grossly unfair by the few
international observers who were allowed to watch. The parliamentary
elections in Kazakhstan, last August, disappointed even those who wish
the country well. Georgia’s neighbours present a dismal spectacle: in
Azerbaijan, to raise a voice against the regime, especially in the
media, is to risk a long jail term; in Armenia, the opposition has
little access to the airwaves.

As leader of the `rose revolution’ which overthrew an incompetent
regime in 2003, Mr Saakishvili had presented himself as a shining
alternative to authoritarianism. But his Western friends were bitterly
disappointed in November, when harsh force was used to break up a
peaceful demonstration. Mr Saakashvili attempted to restore his good
name by calling a swift election, with a pledge to conduct it fairly
and openly. He is, on balance, the favourite to prevail over his six
rivals, and he may do so in the first round. (If no candidate gets more
than 50% there will be a run-off on January 19th.) But in this
paradoxical poll, a strong showing by the opposition’proving that Mr
Saakashvili really is prepared to buck the authoritarian trend’would
provide badly-needed reassurance about the state of Georgian democracy,
and a boost to the president’s moral authority.

Insiders in the Saakashvili camp insist that they have made the contest
as open as possible by inviting 1,000 foreign observers, and by giving
the opposition far more air time than it could expect in most
post-Soviet states. But the days after the polls close will be tense as
the opposition considers its reaction to the declared results.

Mr Saakashvili’s leading adversary is Levan Gachechiladze, a
businessman representing nine opposition parties, who will certainly do
well in Tbilisi. In the capital disappointment with Mr Saakashvili’s
high-handed personal style is especially keen’and was so even before
the November crackdown. But the campaign’s biggest dramas have been
provided by a flashy tycoon, Badri Patarkatsishvili, who’like his
erstwhile associate, the Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky’spends a lot
of time in Britain. Mr Patarkatsishvili pulled out of the race after
the government released video and audio material that seemed to show
him offering massive rewards to a Georgian bureaucrat for overturning
the election result and `neutralising’ the interior minister, Vano
Merabishvili.

But on January 3rd, Mr Patarkatsishvili’who claims that his life is at
risk from Georgia’s current masters’insisted that he was re-entering
the race. The president’s camp says it expects a narrow victory for Mr
Saakashvili in the first round, with at least one poll showing that 46%
of those sure to vote were backing the incumbent, with more votes to
come from the undecided. For the president, winning on the first round
would be an extraordinarily good result.

Whoever wins will face some tricky problems. The spring summit of NATO
is likely to dash Georgia’s hopes for a `membership action plan’
leading to full participation in the defence club. With presidential
election fever raging in Moscow, the risk of fresh provocations from
the Kremlin (such as trouble in the Russian-backed statelets which are
legally part of Georgia) will be great. And the feud between Mr
Patarkatsishvili’s business empire and the government is bound to rage
on. Salford, a private-equity firm which has invested around $750m in
the ex-communist world, has threatened to haul Georgia before an
international commercial court following the seizure of assets during
the events of last November. These included a broadcasting station, a
bank, a beverage company and an amusement park, all associated with Mr
Patarkatsishvili. Only about 40% of the money which Salford has
invested in Georgia belonged to the tycoon, the fund’s managers insist;
they complain that good-faith investment has been snarled up in a local
political vendetta.

As Georgia’s young democracy is discovering, open economies and open
political systems can have all kinds of inconvenient consequences. But
as the experience of many other post-Soviet states can demonstrate,
abandoning those principles can have pretty bad effects too.

Contra Costa Times, CA
Dec 5 2007

Denial of transplant fuels push for reform

Case is perfect example of need for changes in health care, advocates
say

By Susan Abram
MEDIANEWS STAFF

Article Launched: 01/05/2008 03:00:49 AM PST

They all still mention her name — family and friends, health care
professionals, even presidential candidates — evoking her story as
an example of health insurance gone awry in the United States.
The case of Nataline Sarkisyan of Glendale, whose insurer recanted
its denial of a liver transplant just hours before her death, is at
the center of the national controversy about health insurance and how
to reform the system.

Some, including high-profile attorney Mark Geragos, who is
representing Nataline’s family, believe the public outcry, as well as
the threat of a civil lawsuit against CIGNA Health Care, will spark
changes in policies and procedures within the insurance industry.

"One of the reasons why we’re pursuing an investigation is that the
only thing that will shake them up is a penalty," he said.

But others say the insurance industry will be guided by its financial
bottom line rather than by public anger over the case or civil
penalties.

"Unfortunately in this case, I’m not convinced a lawsuit, even a
successful one, would change the underlying business process," said
Gerald Kominski, associate director for the Center for Health Policy
Research at UCLA.

"There may be changes made to the timeliness of the decisionmaking,
but an insurer is always within their ability to make determinations
on whether or not a specific treatment is considered experimental."

Nataline had been treated for recurrent leukemia since age 14 and had
hoped to receive a liver transplant after doctors at UCLA Medical
Center said the procedure to extend her life.
Dr. Jeffrey Kang, CIGNA’s chief medical officer, released several
statements saying the insurer denied authorization after consulting
with two independent experts who said the transplant would not be
effective or appropriate.

After Nataline’s case was publicized by her family over the Internet
and taken up by the California Nurses Association as well as the
Armenian community, CIGNA reversed its decision.

By that time, the teen’s family had removed her from life support,
and she died just hours after.

Within the insurance industry, public demand and political backing
can play a big role in decisionmaking, said Mohit Ghose, spokesman
for America’s Health Insurance Plans, a trade group that represents
major insurance companies.

While he said he wasn’t familiar enough with Nataline’s case to know
how it will impact policy, he noted that public outcry doesn’t always
mean consumers receive the best in health care.

In the 1990s, several states forced insurance companies to cover a
certain breast cancer treatment. Years later, it was determined that
the treatments were useless, Ghose said.

"One of the things that we have seen in our industry is there has
been a great deal of attention to public demand," Ghose said. "That
is important because it keeps us out of the courts. It’s an
unfortunate situation that we are paying 10 percent more because of
the failed liability system."

Both Kominski and Ghose said what does help is for consumers to file
complaints against insurers who deny treatment, medications, or who
pull coverage altogether.

Filing complaints "absolutely does help," Kominski said.

"What we’ve seen is changes in requirements for HMOs, for example,
regarding the availability to provide translators. That is directly
in response to consumer complaints."

During the past several years, the California Department of Managed
Health care has compiled consumer complaints against HMOs, which
includes access to care, benefits and coverage, claims and financial
issues, enrollment, coordination of care, attitude and service of
health plan, and attitude and service of health care provider.

The agency said complaints have declined slightly, from 4,186 in 2005
to 4,025 in 2006.

But those complaints that stem from coordination of care, which would
include such procedures such as liver transplants, have gradually
increased, from 590 in 2005 to 628 in 2006.

Christianity Today, IL
January 2008, Vol. 52, No. 1
Jan 4 2008

Justice Delayed
Security worries stall recognition of Armenian genocide.

Denise McGill | posted 1/04/2008 09:20AM

Last October, the U.S. Congress caused an international firestorm by
considering a resolution that labeled the killing of Armenians by
Ottoman Turks "genocide." But the resolution stalled on the House
floor, averting a diplomatic crisis between the U.S. and Turkey.

The incident serves to spotlight complexities in American-Turkish
relations that are compounded by long-standing appeals for justice.
In 1915, 2 million Armenian Christians lived in the land that is now
Turkey. By 1925, at least 1 million Armenians were dead, and most of
the others had fled. The reason for the great loss of life is a
matter of acrimonious debate, reverberating all the way to Capitol
Hill nearly a century later.

Karekin II, pontiff of the Armenian Apostolic Church based in the
Republic of Armenia, is spiritual leader to perhaps 7 million
Armenians worldwide. In October, he toured America to drum up support
for the House resolution.

Many scholars say Armenians were victims of the first 20th-century
genocide. But most Turks, descendants of the Ottomans, disagree.
Their historians say the Armenians were casualties of World War I,
not genocide victims.

As Congress considered the resolution, Turkish opposition was fierce
and swift. Protesters marched on American consulates, while the
Turkish government, a NATO member state, warned that passage of the
resolution would forever change Turkey’s relationship with the U.S.

Backlash Feared Inside Turkey

Today, Armenian communities flourish around the world, with perhaps
500,000 Armenians in the United States alone. The Republic of
Armenia, established in 1991, is delicately nestled between regional
powerhouses Turkey and Iran. But a mere 70,000 Armenian Christians
remain in Turkey, the birthplace of Armenian identity some 5,000
years ago. The Armenian Apostolic Church formed here in A.D. 301.

Mesrob Mutafyan, patriarch of the Armenian Church in Turkey, opposes
the genocide resolution on the grounds that it may fuel a backlash.
"Who is most vulnerable?" he asks. "The minorities inside. It harms
our relations with the majority in the country." He spoke with
Christianity Today during an interview near Istanbul.

Ethnic Turks and Armenians have an uneasy coexistence. The Armenian
Church in Turkey has an estimated 40,000 regular attendees, and
Turkish Armenians have a well-deserved reputation as the world’s most
church-attending people group. But there are only 48 churches and 25
ordained priests. The government closed all Christian seminaries in
1969.

The government has also removed traces of Armenian culture from
locations vacated during World War I. That has sometimes meant
destroying Armenian churches and cemeteries. In a famous case last
year, Armenians restored a church in eastern Turkey, but were not
allowed to put a cross on top or to hold services.

Security is a constant worry. Mutafyan has received many death
threats. The government assigned him a bodyguard for a time, and
incidents decreased. The church hires security forces to protect its
20 elementary schools.

"Turks are usually hospitable people," says Mutafyan. "On the other
hand, ultranationalism in Turkey is rising and there are those who
are afraid that minorities may be targeted."

The pontiff Karekin II, on his U.S. trip, downplayed any risk to
Armenians in Turkey. Karekin told CT, "Truth cannot be a hostage to
the extremists."

Traditional Churches Growing

The patriarch Mutafyan, 51, has broad shoulders and a trim, graying
beard. The spiritual leader of the Armenian community exudes
authority and warmth in a single glance. Often quoted in Turkish
media, he is a man of few, carefully chosen words. He is widely
popular for his charm and intellect, and for his ability to navigate
the political high wires of his public station.

Mutafyan received guests, including CT, recently at his residence on
an island outside Istanbul. In English, he volunteers that he
completed his undergraduate degree in Memphis. "There are Christians
there who don’t even drink Coca-Cola," he says jokingly. Once he’s
determined that none of his guests are from Memphis, he orders Cokes
for everyone.

But his demeanor turns grave as he looks over new photos of a
vandalized church. More than buildings, his first priority is the
spiritual development of his flock.

Mutafyan had a pivotal religious experience as a teenager. He was
strongly influenced by his father, a devout believer. The young
Mutafyan chose celibacy, not required for Armenian clergy, and threw
himself into ministry. Indeed, he is credited with bringing a
spiritual renewal among Armenians in Turkey.

Under the previous patriarch, Kaloustian, then-bishop Mutafyan
started discipleship groups for prayer and Bible study some 20 years
ago. Today, small groups are key to growth among Turkish Armenians.

Mutafyan spends much time petitioning the government to grant permits
to restore church ruins and allow religious training. "Where do we
send students?" he asks. It’s expensive to train leaders overseas.
His church receives no outside funding. "Our church fries in its own
pan."

Mutafyan disputes the claim that he tiptoes around the genocide
issue. "I have said many times that the ruling Committee of Union and
Progress [Turkish government in 1915] took the wrong decision of
punishing all Armenians in the Ottoman Empire," says Mutafyan. "Many
perished in the Syrian Desert." He believes the goal should be
changing citizens’ attitudes toward their neighbors. The Republics of
Armenia and Turkey share an international boundary but have no open
border crossings. "I hope that Turks and Armenians would try to be
more empathetic," he says.

That would be a small start. In the meantime, Armenians in Turkey
will continue to bear the brunt of public declarations made on the
world stage. "The more there are difficulties," says Mutafyan, "the
more people are driven to church." And when they do come, their
patriarch prays they will be ready for God to transform their lives.

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