Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

PAN ARMENIAN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CENTER HELD CONGRESS

Panorama.am
15:27 19/07/2008

Today the congress of Pan Armenian International Youth Center has been
conducted. The Minister of Defense, the Consultant of the President
and representatives of Armenian show business have been present at
the congress. To the question of Panorama.am whether they were members
of the center they answered that they were invited to take part.

The Chairman of the center Andranik Nikoghosyan made a speech and
presented the story of establishing the center and its activities. The
center has been established after the presidential elections and
considering those 100 days of their foundation the members of the
center had meetings with the Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians,
the President of NKR and other high ranking officials.

The Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan said that the future of the country
is in the hands of youth and looking at the representatives of young
generation he said he is sure Armenian will have bright future.

LABORATORIES TO CHECK QUALITY AND TYPE OF SEEDS

Panorama.am
16:56 17/07/2008

The Ministry of Agriculture fulfills a project of developing barley
and wheat planting. The objective of the project is to develop planting
of barley and wheat and to get such level that seeds are not imported
from foreign countries, said Samvel Avetisyan, the deputy minister
of agriculture.

According to the deputy minister the very first steps are already
done as seeds are being produced in different scientific centers of
Armenia. After that the farmers should be trained to take care of
the seeds and get rich harvest.

According to Avetisyan the seeds which are imported in these years
have bad quality very often. To handle the problem special laboratories
should be established to check the quality and type of those seeds.

ARMAN BABAJANIAN WILL NOT BE RELEASED

A1+
18 July, 2008

On July 18 over thirty Armenian citizens crowded near the
Penitentiary Department of the RoA Ministry of Justice with posters,
"Freedom of Speech," "Free Armenia," "Free Political Prisoner Arman
Babajanian." Meanwhile the Interdepartmental Independent Commission
on pre-term release was considering the preterm release of Arman
Babajanian, editor-in-chief of Zhamanak Yerevan daily. The application
on Babajanian’s pre-term release had been submitted to the Commission
by the administration of the penitentiary institution.

The commission features representatives of the President’s Personnel,
Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office, Police, Advocates’ Chamber,
penitentiary institutions and a psychologist.

After the closed sitting member of the Advocates’ Chamber Georgy
Gyulkhanian told "Zharangutiun" MP Zaruhi Postanjian that five out
of the six members had voted against Babajanian’s release.

"Most likely, only the representative of the Ombudsman’s Office
voted for Babajanian’s release as the Office had announced its stance
beforehand," said Zaruhi Postanjian.

"Shame on you!" shouted the protesters the moment the commission
members were leaving the building.

"Is Babajanian a real criminal? There are two criminals in this
country-Serzh Sarkissian and Robert Kocharian. Why don’t you imprison
them?" wondered a woman-protester.

Babajanian’s mother called at that moment to learn the commission’s
decision.

"We can appeal the decision at the Constitutional Court and we are
going to," Zaruhi Postanjian tried to console the woman.

Reminder, Arman Babajanian was sentenced to a 3.5 years of
imprisonment. He was charged with an evasion of compulsory military
service. The previous two applications on Babajanian’s pre-term
release were turned down.

ARAZ MAMEDOV: "CULTURE IN AZERBAIJAN IS NOT ONLY ON THE LOW LEVEL, BUT ALSO DEGRADING"

Today.Az
July 18 2008
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with Araz Mamedov, producer of the Night of the Ad
Eaters in Azerbaijan and founder of Flexible Solutions company.

– As is known, the next festival of the Night of the Ad Easters,
whose official producer in Azerbaijan is you, will be held in Baku
in late this year. Which country is the world fashion-maker in the
world of ad production?

– Thanks for an interesting question. Frankly speaking, I find
it difficult to give an exact answer. Advertising is a product of
consumer culture. The higher the consumer culture is, the higher the
demand of ads. On the other hand, economic development and economic
freedom of any country influence the development of advertising both
as an art and an industry, as advertising is one of the main tools
in the competitive struggle of market participants.

I think there are several centers, conditioning ads development. One
of them is, undoubtedly, the United States, where there is the most
developed consumption society, free market and developed film industry.

The second center is Europe or the EU countries. Among the EU countries
I would especially single out Netherlands, Great Britain and France.

The third center is Chine and India. I would not draw a line between
these countries, advertising of these countries has national features,
but at the same time assimilates the best characteristics of global
advertising.

The forth center of visual ads are the Latin American countries. I
would like to single out Mexico and Brazil here. So, advertising is
best developing and make laws in the economic centers of the world.

– Which ads are of especial demand in the world?

– Advertising can be commercial and noncommercial (social). Today
special accent is made on social advertising. There are social problems
in the world and in each country and social advertising is an effective
method of reminding of them and mobilizing public forces for their
settlement. Thus, I think this advertising segment has not exhausted
its potential and social problems in the world have a tendency to
grow. Therefore, I think such advertising would be of special demand.

– How do you assess quality of Azerbaijan produced ads?

– Let’s assess it together. Not on bare words but reasonably. Let’s
start with the level of consumer culture, which is a part of social
culture. Social culture is not only on a low level, but it is rapidly
degrading. This is promoted by many factors but the key ones are low
quality of education and pop-message brain washing via mass media.

Another element, influencing advertising development is free and
competitive market. Here, something is also out of order. I will not
speak of problems of monopoly. But in the context of the discussed
question, if exactly, the quality and level of our advertising, it is
a crucial factor. Therefore, we have great many of ads of festivity
houses and banks, as there is competition in these two sectors,
which breeds the need for advertising.

The third factor is a production base. Where and who in Azerbaijan
can make a high quality audio-visual product? There are no schools
and no specialists and no work is carried out in this direction.

Azerbaijani advertising reminds me of Azerbaijani football, which
consists of legionaries and local ones do not comply with the world
level.

– Yes, the picture is pessimistic. Let’s be optimistic and ask:
what can become a smash brand of Azerbaijan via advertising, which
would raise the inflow of tourists, willing to see this "Eighth
world wonder"?

– I am not an expert in the sphere of advertising, but I think tourists
should be attracting with something unusual. It is now difficult to
cause admiration of a rich tourist, but nevertgeless, in our case
this task is possible to fulfill. Thus, our "friendly" neighbors
offer the tourists follow the way of Noah and taste ancient Armenian
fruit-apricot and the logotype of their tourist is pomegranate. At
the same time the video materials of Armenia advertising is filled
with ancient Albanian temples. Why not use the same brand and attract
tourists from Europe and America, who would be happy to spend their
dollars to touch Gemi Gaya? On the whole, among artifacts, related
to Noah, there are only two Ararat mountain and Gemi-Gaya, which were
hit by Noah’s ark and both bear no relationshup for Armenia.

But this requires huge work, restoration of infrastructure and
logistics and only then invitation of foreign guests. For example,
I have an American friend, whose hobby is such an extremal sport as
kite-serving. He states that there is the best combination of wind
force and wave height in Azerbaijan. He visits Khizi region with
foreign friends once a week to spend time on his favorite sport. Why
not use it for attracting tourists-extremals?

– It is a reasonable question. Which goods and services can Azerbaijan
promote to the markets of Near and Far abroad countries via correct
advertising?

– It is a good question, but it is a sphere of foreign economic
policy. We have much to offer, for example, black caviar, pomogranate
juice or fig jam. Though, only oil and gas are priority now, while
agriculture and local production are not able to meet even the internal
needs. Thus, let’s return to this issue when we have no oil.

– Good answer, a diplomatic one. Do you think professional advertising,
plus professional PR campaign, will improve the image of the country?

– Sure. Only professional, coordinated and purposeful with application
of due medias and communication channels. If advertising or PR do
not comply with an exact plan, it is not worthy of spending money,
as it will be senseless.

– And the resuming question: are the local ministries and departments,
responsible for creation of the positive image of Azerbaijan in
the world and for creation of conditions for raising the number of
tourists in the country, aware of the importance of such works?

– Do we have a ministry or a state committee on agitation or
propaganda? Each ministry or department settles its problems in this
sphere independently and not the best way, therefore, it is possible
in Azerbaijan to come across a billboard, which reads "Good way"
or a booklet in English, full of grammar mistakes and nonsense.

ANCA EASTERN REGION ENCOURAGING VOTER REGISTRATION FOR NOVEMBER ELECTION

DE FACTO
2008-07-16 17:34:00

With the 55th Presidential and 111th Congressional elections quickly
approaching this November, the Armenian National Committee of America,
Eastern Region (ANCA-ER), is working to promote voter registration
outreach, and online and in-person education to help strengthen
Armenian American voices on issues of concern to the community.

"Armenian Americans can play a powerful part in making their vote
count.

With regular participation in local and national elections, the
strength and voice behind the Armenian cause can only continue to
grow," commented Ani Hagopian, outreach coordinator for the Armenian
National Committee of America, Eastern Region.

Encompassing thirty-three states, the ANCA Eastern Region embodies a
significant number of Armenian Americans and draws attention towards
efforts being made to enhance the Armenian voice. Zori Eurdekian,
2008 ANCA Leo Sarkisian Intern, recently sent out ANCA congressional
questionnaires to hundreds of potential congressional candidates and
incumbents in hopes of establishing a strong database to demonstrate
how each candidate stands on issues important to the Armenian American
community. The ANCA questionnaire is a tool for activists that allow
each community to help determine ANCA endorsements and support for
particular races.

Drawing attention to Armenian Genocide recognition, foreign aid
to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, and the genocide in Darfur, the
questionnaire responses are shared with ANCA activists and will be
available through the ANCA website this coming fall.

Sources indicate the 2008 presidential and congressional elections
are said to be the election in which technology will play the biggest
role yet.

Knowing the importance of the Internet in this election, the ANCA
provided opportunities on its website for people to register to vote,
allow access to past meetings and events activists have had with
representatives and senators, and even review Congressional "Report
Cards" of their human rights and Armenian related activity over the
last two years.

"First time voters will be an imperative part of this election; we
want to make sure that they know they have the opportunity to learn
where candidates stand on important issues and be able to have the
ability to register to vote at their fingertips," Hagopian says.

In addition to Internet accessibility, the ANCA will also have tables
set up at the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) 75th Annual Senior
Olympics, which takes place in Detroit, Michigan from August 30 to
September 2, 2008.

CONSTRUCTION 2008 4th INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS HELD IN TSAKHKADZOR

5576

TSAKHKADZOR, JULY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The Construction 2008 4th
International Congress was held on July 11-14 in Tsakhkadzor with the
participation of 120 representatives of 70 companies of Armenia,
Nagorno Karabakh, Russia, and Turkey, unions and state sector
structures.

Norayr Nazinian, the Director of the Master Center for International
Integration Support, the congress organizer, said before the opening of
the event’s July 12 first plenary sitting, that the RA Ministry of
Urban Development, the official sponsor of Construction 2008, on the
very eve of congress opening refused to present a report without any
explanations.

At the beginning of the sitting Arevik Avanesova, Master’s Deputy
Director, presented the statistical data characterizing the advance
rates of construction sphere development. Gurgen Minasian, the
Executive Director of the Union of Builders of Armenia, the official
sponsor of the congress, presented the greeting speech of Union
Chairman Gagik Galstian. Ashot Baghdasarian, the Chairman of the Union
of Designers of Armenia, another sponsor, presented the situation in
the sphere of design due to the lack of legislation in the sphere.

Ashot Muradian, the Head of the Real Estate Land Survey State Committee
Staff attached to the RA government, said in his speech that the
structure keeps in the focus of its attention simplification of the
state registration system of newly built entities. Arsen Abrahamian,
the Deputy Director General of Artsakh Investment Fund, presented
apartment construction programs implemented with use of mortgage
financing mechanisms in NKR. And Hamlet Hakobian, the Chairman of the
Ecoperlit company, touched upon the problems of buildings’ heat
protection sphere and the necessity of fulfilment of the proper norms.

Then Construction 2008 continued with two round tables. The subject of
the first of them was "the role of construction companies’ modern
production, meterial-technical bases in branch’s development," of the
other "the main problems of raising the quality of construction
production and ways of their solution." The presentations of
Eurostan-Uyut, Polyplast Novomoskovsk, and Makon companies concluded
that day’s schedule of the congress.

Section sittings, as well as round tables on the subject "the main
problems of environment designing" and "urban development programs:
issues of stating value of real estate on newly-built buildings’
market" were held on July 13.

It should be mentioned that the official sponsor of the Construction
2008 4th International Congress was also the Republican Union of
Employers of Armenia.

110.8% CONSUMER PRICE INDEX IN NKR IN JAN-JUNE 2008

ARKA
July 11

The consumer price index was 110.8% in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
(NKR) in January-June 2008 as compared with the corresponding period
last year.

The index of prices for food products (with alcoholic beverages and
tobacco) was 116.9%, for nonfood products 102.8%, for services 103.8%.

The NKR Statistical Service reports that the consumer price index
was 105.2% in the NKR in Nagorno-Karabakh in June 2008 as compared
with December 2007.

The index of prices for food products (with alcoholic beverages and
tobacco) was 105.1%, for nonfood products 106.3% and for services
104.8%.

Prices for a number of food products rose: a 116.1% rise in prices
for baked goods, 111% for meat products, 107.5% for fruit, 106.6%
for tea, coffee, cacao, 104.2% for vegetable oil. On the other hand,
the prices for dairy products fell by 19.1%, for eggs by 16.9%,
for vegetables and potatoes by 7.9%.

In June 2008, a consumer price index of 113% was recorded in the NKR
as compared with June 2007.

Turkish Press, Egypt
July 10 2008

M.F.A. Spokesman On Armenian President’s Statements
Published: 7/10/2008

ANKARA – Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Burak Ozugergin
said on Thursday that the ministry had been evaluating the proposal of
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan who invited Turkish President
Abdullah Gul to Armenia for a soccer match between Turkey and Armenia.

Turkey and Armenia will play a qualifier on September 6th, 2008 for
the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Referring to the statements on normalization of Turkish-Armenian
relations, Ozugergin said Sargsyan earlier made statements for a fresh
start to bilateral relations.

Turkey will host Armenia on October 14th, 2009 for a European
Qualifying Group 5 match.

Spain, Belgium, Estonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are the other teams in
Group 5.

OSCE PA RESOLUTION MENTIONS NEITHER ARMENIA NOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.07.2008 14:29 GMT+04:00

The OSCE PA resolution on formation of commissions of historians
with a purpose to normalize relations between the OSCE member states
doesn’t mention either Armenia or the Armenian Genocide.

"Armenian media was misinformed by the Turkish propaganda machine,"
member of the Armenian delegation to OSCE PA Armen Ashotyan told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"The OSCE PA committee focused on the problems of transparency. In
particular the committee on human rights and democracy considered
normalization of relations between the organization’s member
states. The author of the resolution is a Czech but not a Turkish
parliamentarian. The resolution calls on the OSCE countries’
parliaments to resolve bilateral problems via formation of commissions
of historians and experts with participation of thirds states. Not
only Armenia and Turkey experience problems. Similar problems exist
between Poland and Ukraine, France and Germany, etc. I have proposed an
amendment to explain that formation of such a commission is impossible
due to Turkey’s ongoing blockade of Armenia and my explanation was
accepted. The Armenian delegation wonders why Turkish parliamentarians
have distorted the contents of the resolution. It’s all the more
upsetting after we succeeded in establishing normal relations with
the Turkish parliamentarians," he said.

Earlier, Alaattin Buyukkaya, head of the Turkish delegation to the
OSCE PA, said that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) adopted Turkey’s motion which
says that past events like genocide should be recognized only after
historians carried out a detailed research in all kinds of archives.

"Adoption of the Turkish thesis by the OSCE is a significant
achievement against the Armenian allegations. Also, the Turkish
thesis regarding the events of 1915 was adopted for the first time
on an international platform. Armenia was the only among 56 OSCE
member states to vote against the motion," he said. "The motion says
that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly encourages formation of joint
commission of historians and experts from the third countries in case
of a research into political and military archives to scientifically
and impartially enlighten a disputed period in history in an effort to
serve transparency and common understanding among the member states."

PRESS RELEASE
Haigazian University
From: Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director
Mexique Street, Kantari, Beirut
P.O.Box. 11-1748
Riad El Solh 1107 2090
Tel: 01-353010/1/2
01-349230/1

Haigazian University’s 48th Commencement Exercises

On Friday, July the 4th, 2008, Haigazian University graduated a record
number of 157 students, in the First Armenian Evangelical Church
courtyard, Beirut.

The ceremony honored 150 students from the faculties of Business
Administration and Economics, Humanities, Sciences, and Social and
Behavioral Sciences with the BA and BS degrees, and 7 students with the
Masters degree.

Among the 1200 invitees, were present Minister of Higher Education, Dr.
Khaled Kabbani representing the President of the Republic, Minister of
Administrative Affairs, Jean Oghassabian representing the Prime
Minister, and MP. Hagop Pakradounian presenting the Speaker of the
Parliament, in addition to deputies Pierre Daccache and Dr. Yeghia
Jerejian, the Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon, H.E. Roupen Kharazian,
university representatives, diplomats, clergy, members of the Board of
Trustees, parents, relatives, and fellow students.

The ceremony started as Faculty and Graduates marched through the crowd
of parents, relatives and friends in a remarkable processional march
"Pomp and Circumstance" by Sir Edward Elgar, followed by the Lebanese
National Anthem, and the Invocation by Rev. Robert Sarkissian, Vice
Chair of the Board of Trustees.

The University President, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian welcomed the audience
and acknowledged the special guests on the stage. In his trilingual
speech, Haidostian stressed on the role Haigazian University and its
sister institutions are playing to counter the negative tides of our
days. "Key words in our world include development, advancement,
openness, inclusiveness and globalization. And yet, loneliness, stress,
lack of trust, racism, violence, disorientation, injustice and
dissatisfaction characterize the modern human situation…The young
generations deserve all the chances, all the support, and all the
guidance we could give," Haidostian said.

Haidostian reiterated the role of education, and its direct effect on
the quality of peoples’ lives. "All people in the world realize how
important it is to prepare young people who not only have received
formal education, but also informally enjoy a positive sense of mission,
a dynamic that builds, uplifts, shares, and harmonizes. After all,
quality of life and quality of education are inseparable," Haidostian
noted.

The guest speaker of the ceremony was the Minister of Economy and Trade,
Mr. Sami Haddad, who tackled the issue of the human capital of Lebanon.
"Lebanon’s great wealth is its people, or what economists refer to as
human capital. And it is the noble role of enhancing the knowledge of
our youth, sharpening their skills and challenging their intelligence
that our elite educational institutions, such as Haigazian University,
are fulfilling so well," Haddad explained.

Talking of economy, Haddad highlighted the important sectors of the
Lebanese economy, such as the banking sector, the medical services, the
educational system, and the agricultural and industrial sectors. "The
future of the Lebanese economy lies in high value added industries and
not ordinary ‘staple’ products that can only compete on the basis of
price. High value added industries tend to employ large numbers of
qualified people like the students who are graduating today from this
esteemed university," Haddad elaborated.

Afterwards, Registrar Roubina Artinian and Deans Fadi Asrawi and Arda
Ekmekji presented the graduates who received their degrees from
President Haidostian.

In their valedictorian addresses, Nayiri Kalajian, speaking in English,
considered that the aim of education should not only be knowledge, but
action. "Let us serve our community purposefully, for it is through our
service that we will realize our strengths to face the challenges that
will confront us," Kalayjian said. Whereas valedictorian Mirvat Al
Ammouri, speaking in Arabic, considered that the aim of education is to
raise the standard of living of people, thus improving the status of
humanity in general.

After singing the Alma Mater, the ceremony concluded with the
Benediction given by the President of the Union of the Armenian
Evangelical Churches in the Near East, Rev. Meguerdich Karageozian.

The class of 2008, threw their caps and walked heads high with a unique
recessional, "Trumpet Tune in C", by Henry Purcell, while celebratory
balloons flew high in the skies.