Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

BUSINESS DELEGATION OF SAINT PETERSBURG PAYS VISIT TO ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Oct 29, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. An agreement on cooperation was
signed on October 29 between the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen
of Armenia (UMBA) and the Information and Business Center of Saint
Petersburg that has operated in Yerevan for two years. The UMBA
chairman Arsen Ghazarian and the center head Hamlet Minasian signed
the document.

The sigining of the agreement took place within the framework of a
three-day visit of a delegation of Saint Petersburg’s businessmen
and administrative workers of the economic sector. The delegation
arrived in Armenia on October 28. It is led by the head of Saint
Petersburg’s Vasilevskiostrovski district Alexander Isayev and
composed of businessmen engaged in such sectors as tourism, mechanical
engineering, and mining industry.

During a meeting with UMBA representatives held before the signing
ceremony, A. Isayev said that the international financial crisis has
not left a negative impact on the development of Saint Petersburg’s
economy, which is evident from the fact that the tax revenues have
not declined as compared with last year. According to him, there was
no decline in the number of tourists to Saint Petersburg either.

The RA deputy minister of economy Vahe Danielian spoke about Armenia’s
economic development, saying that the country is proceeding along
the path of developing a knowledge-based and innovation economy.

The CEO of UMBA Gagik Makarian said that business links between
Armenia and the second largest city of Russia are almost absent,
and the sides have the problem of getting information about each
other’s opportunities.

An Armenia – Saint Petersburg business forum will be held on October
30, during which face-to-face talks will also be organized with
Armenian businessmen. The Russian businessmen plan to visit some
Armenian enterprises.

TURKISH MFA: ANKARA FEELS RESPONSIBLE FOR REGIONAL PROBLEMS RESOLUTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.10.2008 18:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Georgian-Russian conflict and the subsequent
recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia’s independence by
Russia arouse concerns, Deniz Cakar, Head of Department, NATO and
Euro-Atlantic Infrastructure and Logistics at the Turkish MFA, said
during during Black Sea security program regional workshop that opened
in Yerevan today.

"Feeling responsible for resolution of regional problems, Turkey
thinks it should seek for ways to mediate tensions between Georgia and
Russia. It is also essential to take measures for establishment of
trust and stability in the region. For this purpose, Turkey offered
a Caucasus stability and cooperation platform meant to develop
communications and enable dialog between the countries engaged,"
she said.

HOVIK ABRAHAMIAN READY TO ASSIST NA AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON EVENTS OCCURRED ON 1-2 MARCH

Noyan Tapan
Oct 29, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The goal of the October 29 meeting
of RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamian with the NA Ad-hoc Committee on
the Events Occurred on 1-2 March 2008 was to be informed about the
work done during the four months of committee’s activity, obstacles,
and possible assistance.

Committee Chairman, RPA faction Secretary Samvel Nikoyan informed
the NA Speaker that all technical issues have been solved so far with
the assistance of both former NA Speaker Tigran Torosian and current
NA Speaker.

However, he expressed discontent that the committee is mercilessly
criticized from all sides."

S. Nikoyan said that the committee has separated study of the events of
March 1 morning and those occurred near the Embassy of France. There
are all proper documents on the morning events, and the committee
is ready to present its conclusion. However, in connection with the
creation of the fact-finding group and taking into consideration the
fact that new circumstances can come up the committee preferred to
refrain from presenting its conclusion for the present.

S. Nikoyan said that currently the main task of the committee is to
study the death circumstances of the 10 victims. However, according
to him, no complete information was given by law enforcement bodies
in response to all their questions. Working groups have been created
in the committee at present to study the circumstances of death of
each victim, and the committee is also ready to listen to witnesses
for that purpose.

It was also mentioned that though the committee is not empowered
to invite former high-ranking officials, nevertheless it expects
to receive explanations from the first and second RA Presidents,
opposition leaders, high-ranking officials.

H. Abrahamian assured that he is ready to assist the committee within
his powers. He also said that he had talked to the Chief of the RA
Police, and the latter expressed readiness to meet with the committee
and to provide all materials interesting them.

LAUSD MAY PICK ARMENIAN LIAISON
By George B. Sanchez

Los Angeles Daily News

Oct 28 2008
CA

The Los Angeles Unified School District could appoint its first-ever
official liaison to the Armenian community by next week.

The district’s personnel commission is looking at the issue after
a public outcry from the Armenian community over the decision to
cut eight parent-community facilitators in local District 2, which
covers part of the San Fernando Valley. Among those laid off is Shakeh
Ayvazian, who worked with Armenian families in the East Valley for
four years.

Nearly 6,500 LAUSD students come from homes where Armenian is the
primary language, according to a district survey. More than half of
those – 3,338 students – are in local District 2.

Nearly two dozen people urged the commission at its meeting Monday
to create an Armenian-speaking parent-community facilitator position
to help with meetings and family issues.

Board member Tamar Galatzan wrote a letter in support, stating
that the district has a duty to help families overcome language and
cultural barriers.

"Given that there are 3,338 Armenian students and parents within local
District 2, the absence of such position would create a huge void,"
Galatzan wrote. "In addition, the district would be sending a message
to the Armenian community that their needs are not important."

The commission postponed its vote.

Only a representative for the California School Employees Association
asked to wait for more information before the three-member commission
votes.

Liza Go, the union representative, said she is not against creating
the position, but asked that district officials review reports on
recently laid-off facilitators as well as the legality of the layoffs
before a new position is created.

Alma Pena-Sanchez, superintendent for local District 2, said the
union’s concerns were unrelated to the new facilitator, which she
said she would fund with her own discretionary money.

Currently, parent-community facilitators aren’t required to speak a
language other than English, though more than half of all facilitators
are bilingual.

District officials considered using an Armenian translator to serve
as a parent facilitator, but translators are not expected to respond
to immediate issues nor do they have established relationships with
the Armenian community, according to a district report.

THE PRINCIPAL TOOL OF REVEALING THE TRUTH
S. Haroutyunyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
28 Oct 2008
Armenia

Whether the parliamentary opposition (represented by the ‘Heritage’
faction) and the pro-Levon public (represented by the ‘congressmen’)
are making attempts to confess from the outset that they refuse to
cooperate with the authorities in the frameworks of the fact-finding
group?

DAVID HAROUTYUNYAN, Head of the NA Committee on State and Legal
Affairs and leader of the Armenian delegation in the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), presents his comments in
response to the questions of "Hayots Ashkharh".

"Making predictions is, in general, an ungrateful job. Especially
with regard to the issue whether the parliamentary opposition and
the leader of the extra-parliamentary opposition will send their
representatives to work in the fact-finding group.

Anyway, I think that the participation of the opposition will be very
important. Moreover, it is very essential for them to realize the
importance of their own participation in those activities. Especially
considering the fact that the international community anticipates
the opposition to send its representatives.

The group that we now have was set up as a result of very active
and intensive discussions in which we also involved international
experts who are highly experienced in the activities of the formation
of similar structures. And they all definitely hold the viewpoint
that the independent fact-finding structure is the principal tool
for revealing the truth.

As to what results this structure will attain and what facts it will
eventually submit to the committee depends on the process. Refusing
to participate in the activities of the committee from now on is the
same as to announce that they do not agree to its opinion from the
outset, regardless the fact what that opinion will be. Such approach
is ineffective. But as I already said, I do hope that the opposition
will eventually have its participation in the activities of the group."

"Should, nonetheless, the radical opposition again guide itself by
the tactics of boycott, won’t the activity of the fact-finding group
become an end in itself?"

"Be it as it may, the group has to be set up. It cannot be doomed to
idleness from now on. I am very happy that the Human Rights Defender
is also going to be involved in its activities. I consider this a
very important factor.

Regardless everything, I consider the establishment of the fact-finding
group useful, and I am sure that its activities will be effective."

ARMENIA HAS CHANCE TO BECOME FOCAL STATE IN THE REGION

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.10.2008 13:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ With Turkey brisking up activities in the South
Caucasus, Georgia, which has already lost Abkhazia and South Ossetia,
will have to defend its territorial integrity, NKR political scientist
David Babayan wrote in a peace of opinion titled "Global, regional
and local levels of latest political transformations in the South
Caucasus," obtained by PanARMENIAN.Net.

"The developing idea of pan-Turkism may incite the 500-thousand
Azeri minority of Georgia to secede and join the "elder brothers,"
Turkey and Azerbaijan. Under the circumstances, much will depend on
Armenia and Armenian-inhabited Javakhk. At that, Armenia may become
a key guarantor Georgia’s consolidation."

Armenia stands a good chance to become focal state in the region,
according to him.

"Viability and self-sufficiency of our nation and statehood depends
on the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora link. In this context, the key role
belongs to Artsakh and its future. Artsakh is one of the most important
constituents of security of Armenian people and statehood. But
for Karabakh, Armenia will lose Zangezur. Any breach in Karabakh’s
security will inevitably affect the future of the Armenian people,"
Babayan wrote.

COAF TO HOST FIFTH ANNUAL "SAVE A GENERATION" AWARDS DINNER OCTOBER 24

Armenian Reporter

October 22, 2008
Armenia

A history of improving the lives of Armenian children

Nicholas Kristof, who will be honored on Friday.

New York – On Friday, October 24, friends and supporters of the
Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) will come together at Cipriani
42nd Street to celebrate and reaffirm the organization’s mission
of providing support and self-sustaining resources to the youth of
Armenia. The fund has focused on improving the lives of thousands of
children in six rural villages in Armenia.

During the dinner, COAF will honor Nicholas Kristof, the New York Times
columnist, and will celebrate the generous and sustained support of
the Feinberg family.

Mr. Kristof, who will accept the 2008 Save a Generation Humanitarian
Award, has long been concerned with international human welfare. He
has written for the Times since 1984; in 1990 he and his wife, Sheryl
WuDunn, were the first married couple to win a Pulitzer Prize, for
their coverage of China’s Tiananmen Square democracy movement.

Mr. Kristof won a second Pulitzer in 2006 for what the judges called
"his graphic, deeply reported columns that, at personal risk,
focused attention on genocide in Darfur and that gave voice to the
voiceless in other parts of the world." As a humanitarian and as a
writer, Mr. Kristof has always been on the front lines of advocacy
and outreach; he is highly regarded for bringing attention to
international human rights abuses and his writing regularly focuses
on global poverty, health and gender issues, and climate change.

Cynthia and Larry Feinberg and their children Samantha, Harrison, and
Jackson have been longtime friends of COAF and will be the recipients
of the 2008 Save a Generation Benefactor Award. Their deep commitment
to COAF was embodied by their daughter Samantha’s selfless donation of
the gifts she received for her 11th birthday to COAF. Their continued
support on key educational and healthcare initiatives will be honored
at the event.

Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Andrea Martin returns to serve
as emcee for the evening. Ms. Martin is best known for her feature
films Wag the Dog, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Stepping Out, All Over
the Guy, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and Cannibal Girls, for which she
won the Best Actress Award at SITGES, the international horror film
festival of Spain. Ms. Martin is of Armenian descent and a longtime
advocate of COAF’s work.

The 2007 Awards Dinner, which honored Sherry Lansing and Henry and
Daniel Sahakian and family, was attended by more than 350 guests and
raised a record $3.5 million to continue and expand the efforts of
COAF. In the last year, the funds were combined with the resources of
partner organizations to make significant progress in the villages of
Argina, Dalarik, Karakert, Lernagog, Miasnikian and Shenik. Successes
have included the reconstruction of healthcare facilities, literary
enrichment through newly formed libraries, the complete training of
over 50 schoolteachers and caregivers, provision of psychological
assistance and counseling through the COAF-supported psychosocial
program for over 230 families, the opening of newly renovated and
refurbished schools in Dalarik and Shenik (which enroll over 800
children), and the establishment of a new community sports complex
in Shenik – a resource that is enjoyed by over 250 families.

Proceeds from the awards dinner will be used for COAF to continue in
its campaign to create productive and safe educational facilities,
improved overall health care, sanitary living conditions, and a
revitalized local economy for communities in rural Armenia.

VIOLENCE BEFORE THE HOLOCAUST

Worcester Telegram
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
MA

During a visit to Worcester, scholar Donald Bloxham will take
the Holocaust out of the realm of the unique and discuss it in the
context of Europe’s history of violence in the first half of the 20th
century. Mr. Bloxham will make his presentation at 4 p.m. tomorrow in
the Rose Library at the Cohen-Lasry House at 11 Hawthorne St. on the
Clark University campus. The talk is free and open to the public. It
is sponsored by the Clark University Modern History Colloquium and The
Strassler Family Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Mr. Bloxham
will examine ways in which the Holocaust fits and does not fit into
broader patterns of genocide and ethnic cleansing.

Mr. Bloxham is a professor of history at the University of
Edinburgh. At 34 years of age, he is the youngest full professor
in the United Kingdom. Mr. Bloxham’s 2007 book, "The Great Game
Genocide: Imperialism, Nationalism, and the Destruction of the Ottoman
Armenians," won the Raphael Lemkin Award presented by the International
Association of Genocide Scholars.

FOCUS News Agency – Sofia, Bulgaria
21 October 2008
Medvedev announces Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict talks

Yerevan. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday he hoped to host
talks between his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts to resolve a
simmering conflict over the Nagorny Karabakh region, AFP reported.
"I hope that in the near future a meeting between the three presidents will
take place to find a solution to the problem" of the disputed territory,
Medvedev said at a news conference with Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian
on a visit to Yerevan. "I hope it will take place in Russia."
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at daggers drawn since Armenian separatists
took control of the disputed territory, which lies inside Azerbaijan, in a
war in the early 1990s.
Soldiers from the two sides in the conflict regularly exchange fire,
contributing to instability in the volatile Caucasus region, where a war
took place in August between Georgia and Russia.
Sarkisian said Armenia was ready for talks on the basis of principles worked
out at international negotiations in Madrid last year, which he said meant
the people of Nagorny Karabakh have the right to self-determination.

ARMENIA ADOPTS DEFINITE PATH OF COOPERATION DEVELOPMENT IN THE SPHERES OF DEFENSE AND SECURITY WITH ALL THE INTERESTED COUNTRIES

ARMENPRESS
Oct 20, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Defense Minister Seyran
Ohanian received October 19 delegation headed by Commander of the
NATO North regional land troops General-Lieutenant Roland Cater.

Press secretary of Armenian Defense Ministry Seyran Shahsuvarian told
Armenpress that the minister greeted members of the delegation, saying
that Armenia adopted definite path of development of cooperation in
the spheres of defense and security with all the interested countries.

During the meeting S. Ohanian spoke about the importance of currently
held military exercises, which are means of cooperation with partner
countries. Afterwards the Minister thanked the delegation particularly
R. Cater for contributing to the improvement of partnership with
Armenian Armed Forces, which will also contribute to the effective
participation of Armenia in peace keeping activities and have its
share in the arena of international security.

At the end of the meeting R. Cater thanked Seyran Ohanian for works
which have been done by him.

On the same day Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian received
the delegation headed by special representative of NATO Secretary
General in South Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simmons.

The minister greeted the guest and referred to the reforms held in
the defense sphere and particularly in military education sphere.

S. Ohanian also noted that the review of defense strategy will be
primary in the sphere of reforms.

During the meeting the sides also referred to the military exercises
and stated that they pursue the aim of promotion of regional
cooperation.

S. Ohanian also added that the withdrawal of Armenian peace keeping
troops from Iraq has no political background: the statement of Iraqi
authorities that they are able to control the situation in the country
contributed to it.