Author: Tavakalian Edgar

RA PARLIAMENT VICE-SPEAKER IS NOT SURE OF ARMENIAN FIRST PRESIDENT’S PARTICIPATION IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

ArmInfo, Armenia
Sept 25 2007

ArmInfo. "I am not sure that the first President of Armenia Levon
Ter-Petrosyan will take part in 2008 presidential election",
vice-speaker of the Armenian Parliament, member of the Supreme
Body of ARF "Dashnaktsutyun" Vahan Hovhannissian said at today’s
press-conference in "Pastarq" club.

He said that if L. Ter-Petrosyan decides to take part in the
presidential election, the strategic issues will be topside. As
V. Hovhannissian said, a lack of objectivity is available at present,
the example of which is L. Ter-Petrosyan’s statement during the festive
reception in the "Armenia-Marriott" hotel, where he called the present
power representatives Mafiosos and the country’s administration system
– fully corrupted. "We always talked of the corruption and monopoly
available in the country, however, we did not deny the progress over
the last 10 years either", V. Hovhannissian said.

"AN UNPRECEDENTED ECONOMIC GROWTH IN JANUARY-AUGUST"
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
25/09/2007

According to the Chief of the National Statistical Service

The economic growth of Armenia grew 13,6 percent in January-August of
this year, according to the Chief of the National Statistical Service
Stepan Mnatsakanian.

The index is unprecedented according to him.

The picture is the following in each sphere: 1,7 percent of growth in
the sphere of industry, the percentage is 0.9 percent without power
production, and 8.2 percent without diamond production.

Agriculture grew by 7 percent. The biggest growth is recorded in the
spheres of construction (19,6 percent) and services (19,7 percent). The
retail trade growth is 10,9 percent.

In the first eight months of this year 0,8 percent deflation is
recorded, according to Stepan Mnatsakanian. And to the question how to
understand that index of deflation, when the prices of bread, butter,
oil, etc. grew, he answered the rises in prices would be reflected
in the indexes of September.

It’s worth to mention that compared with June the deflation of August
is 1,5 percent, which influenced the total index of deflation.

The average wages rose by 21,5 percent to AMD 73,6 thousand. The
average wages in public sector rose to AMD 54 thousand, in private
sector – AMD 91,8 thousand.

Foreign trade rose by 51,4 percent to USD2 billion 659 million. Export
rose by 23,2 percent to USD733 million, import – by 46,7 percent to
USD1,9 billion.

According to the above-mentioned indexes, the foreign trade negative
balance continues to deepen: it is USD1,2 billion at present.

ARCHBISHOP BEGINS ARMENIA VISIT
Martha Linden, PA

Press Association Newsfile
September 20, 2007 Thursday 2:46 AM BST

The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams begins a week-long
visit to Armenia, Syria and Lebanon today.

Dr Williams will begin his tour in Armenia, where he will visit a
range of significant religious and national sites, as well as holding
discussions with the Armenian government.

The visit to Armenia comes after an invitation from the Catholicos,
His Holiness Karekin II, who heads the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Lambeth Palace said Dr Williams’ visit to Syria and Lebanon would be
shorter and forms part of his continuing personal engagement with
Christian churches in the Middle East, and with leaders of other
faiths in the region.

The visit takes place at the invitation of the Anglican Bishop of
Jerusalem, Suhail Dawani, whose diocese covers these countries,
and is being arranged in collaboration with the Middle East Council
of Churches.

In Syria, as well as meetings with Christian leaders and the local
Anglican community, the Archbishop will meet with the Grand Mufti of
Syria and the country’s President, Dr Bashar Al Asad.

Hürriyet, Turkey

Sunday, September 23, 2007 03:08

Orhan Pamuk vs. Salman Rushdie

Two of the most renowned names in literature, Salman
Rushdie and Orhan Pamuk, are to have a battle of words
in New York.

Salman Rushdie provoked violent reactions from the
Muslim world with his famous book, The Satanic Verses.
The Nobel Prize-winning Orhan Pamuk created much
controversy with his claims regarding the so-called
Armenian Genocide. Both have received death threats.

The conservation is part of a larger annual literary
festival run by the New Yorker, a leading American
weekly magazine, being held between 5-7 October in New
York.

Armenian FM highly estimates level of Armenian-French relations

ARKA
20/09/2007 21:30

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian adopted mayor of Nice
Senator Jacques Peyrat.

"During the meeting Minister Oskanian highly estimated the level of
Armenian-French relations and said that he was satisfied with the
well-organized the Year of Armenia in France and the interest of
French society in Armenia’s history, culture and civilization," the
Ministry’s press service told ARKA. Oskanian noted that only in Nice
40 big events were organized.

Talking about the political relations of both countries, Peyrat
pointed out the importance of close cooperation between the city and
region authorities of Armenia and France. He noted that about ten
cities of Armenia and France are sister cities and they implement
joint programs on the most centralized level.

The sides positively estimated the cooperation agreement that Yerevan
State University and University of Nice Sofia Antipolis signed today.
They expressed confidence that this will take the bilateral relations
to a new stronger level.

The Year of Armenia in France was launched on September 21, 2006 ? the
Day of Armenia’s Independence, and finished on July 14, 2007 ? the
Bastille Day. Within the Year of Armenia over 850 cultural, economic
and charitable events were held in 165 French cities.

ARMENPRESS

FIRST SECTION OF SARALANJ RING ROAD READY

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS: The first
section of a new Saralanj ring road which authorities
say will be of key importance for easing the burden of
traffic in downtown Yerevan, has been inaugurated
today.
The ceremony was attended by Armen Gevorkian, chief
of president Robert Kocharian’s staff, Harout
Sasoonian, deputy chairman of the U.S.-based Lincy
Foundation, Yerevan mayor Yervand Zakharian and other
officials.
The first section is a 56 meter long and 11.5
meters wide overpass. It will relieve heavy traffic
from a section of nearby Azatutyun Avenue.
This road, when finished, will stretch from Heratsi
street near the Medical University in downtown Yerevan
up to Komitas Avenue.
Construction of this road will proceed in three
stages and will be over in 2008. Its construction is
funded by the Lincy Foundation.
According to Eduard Bezoyan, head of the office
supervising the road construction, the road will be a
speedy highway with no traffic lights. He said 90
percent of earth work is behind. The new road will
also have a 170 meter long tunnel.
The cost of this project is $15 million. The
deficit that has been caused by Armenian dram’s
appreciation will be covered by the government.

PRESS RELEASE
The Armenian Volunteer Corps
Contact: Seta Iskandarian
9 Tpagrichneri St.
Yerevan, Armenia 375015
Tel: (374 10)54 00 37
Email: [email protected]
Web:

September 21, 2007

New Leadership at the Armenian Volunteer Corps

Yerevan, Armenia – Opening a new page in its history, the Armenian Volunteer
Corps announces the appointment of Seta Iskandarian, an AVC volunteer and
Birthright Armenia alumni (2005), as its new Executive Director in Yerevan.
Seta will follow in the footsteps of former director Anoush Tatevossian
(AVC/Birthright Armenia 2004) who is back in the U.S. after a successful
tenure with AVC, to pursue a graduate degree in Communications at the
University of Southern California.

"AVC achieved many milestones over the last year and a half" says Anoush,
adding "I eagerly await the growth which is yet to come under the direction
of Seta." For her part, Seta looks forward to strengthening the quality of
internships for a growing number of participants, and expanding the out of
Yerevan opportunities for year round volunteers. "I am very happy to take on
this new role as the executive director of AVC at such a critical point in
Armenia’s history as an independent nation. Our AVC volunteers and alumni
network have become a part of everyday life and society in Armenia. I hope
to help strengthen this growing network and see its expansion flourish to
new levels in the future."

One of her focuses, as a Venezuelan-American diasporan, is to move towards a
more global outreach program for diasporans from around the world to give
back to their homeland. Board member Alex Sardar adds that "volunteerism is
the essence for building a stronger civil society, and the Armenian
Volunteer Corps has made great headway as an exemplary institution."

Founded in 2000, The Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC), a registered non-profit
foundation in Armenia, provides skilled Diasporan Armenians with the unique
opportunity to live and work in Armenia for service terms as short as 1
month, to as long as 1 year.

AVC aims to help Armenians in the Diaspora and Armenia reap the benefits of
working together for the common goal of building a strong country and
nation. Since 2001, AVC has assisted scores of volunteers in finding
fulfilling placements in schools, non-profit organizations, churches, and
businesses. AVC volunteers gain new insight into their own identity, growing
and developing personally and professionally, while sharing in the exciting
process of nation-building.

AVC strongly believes that the exchange of ideas, values, and experiences
between Diasporan and homeland Armenians provides for their mutual growth
and understanding, and that the connection of human, informal, and capital
resource of Armenians worldwide is the best way to help rebuild and
strengthen our homeland.

For those interested in learning more about the Armenian Volunteer Corps,
please visit

www. armenianvolunteer.org <mailto:; or email
[email protected]

###

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I DELIVERS A LECTURE TO GERMAN STUDENTS

His Holiness Aram I delivered a lecture on September 17 to a group of
university students from Germany. The students majoring in theology,
oriental studies and church history represented several German universities.
The purpose of their visit was to get closely acquainted with the Christians
of the Middle East. They were accompanied by several of their professors.

The theme of the Pontiff’s lecture was the "Christianity of the Middle East
in the face of new challenges." After a brief historical overview of
Christianity in the Middle East, the Catholicos focused on the contemporary
life of the churches in the region, their major concerns and challenges. In
this context, His Holiness spoke in detail about the following issues:
church unity, reorganization of Christian witness, reinforcing religious
education, reform of social service, migration of Christians, and ecumenical
movement.

Following the lecture, the guests asked questions both about Christianity in
the Middle East and the Armenian Church, focusing particularly on the
Catholicosate of Cilicia.

A documentary entitled "Mission of Faith" was shown after the lecture.

##
View photo here:
tos/Photos34.htm#2
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

ARARAT APPEARED IN A SORRY PLIGHT

A1+
[12:50 pm] 19 September, 2007

Armenian legendary team Ararat faces serious problems. The team lost
the three final meetings of the Armenian Football Championship. Ararat
missed 16 goals and kicked one goal. At the 20th tour Ararat was
beaten by Mika 1:4.

The team administration did not to comment on the recent events.

Varujan Esmikezyan, the managing director of the club, promised A1+
a few days ago to comment on the team’s failures later as they were
holding discussions.

Currently, he is out of reach.

According to some verified sources, some of the footballers are going
to quit the club. Their intention is determined by Varujan Sukiasyan’s
resignation in July. The incoming coach Dushan Mihich was unable to
provide friendly atmosphere in the club.

Some of the team footballers state the administration is not concerned
over their victory at the championship as provided the team wins,
they will have to pay the footballers the promised money. While
the discord continues in the club, Ararat’s rivals better their
results. Ararat will likely be left out of the best trio.

It is difficult to say how long the team’s failures will
last. Obviously, the champion of the current championship will become
Pyunik, the Armenian champion over the past six years.

LEVON ARONYAN LOST TO BORIS GELFAND OF ISRAEL

armradio.am
19.09.2007 13:42

Armenian Grand Master Levon Aronyan lost to Boris Gelfand of Israel
in the fifth round of the World Chess Championship underway in Mexico.

Vishvanatan Anand of India and Alexander Grishchuk of Russia
defeated Pyotor Svidler and Alexander Morozevich respectively. Peter
Leko-Vladimir Kramnik game ended in a draw.

After five rounds Vishvanatan Anand is leading with 3.5 points.

Vladimir Kraminik, Alexander Grishchuk and Boris Gelfand have 3 points
each and share the 2nd to 4th places. Peter Leko, Levon Aronyan and
Alexander Morozevich share the 5th to 7th places with 2 points. Pyotor
Svidler is the last with 1.5 points.