Author: Tigranian Ani

EXPECTATIONS

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
03 Dec 08
Armenia

Matthew Bryza yesterday said that the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group hoped that during the Helsinki discussions they would manage
to elaborate measures towards strengthening confidence.

"The Helsinki discussions will be devoted to the finalization of the
principles of the Karabakh settlement process by the efforts of the
OSCE co-chairing countries, Azerbaijan and Armenia."

According to the American co-Chair, the leader of each country
underlines different elements of the fundamental principles. "The
Armenian President attaches special importance to the principle of the
right to self-determination, and the Azerbaijani President highlights
the principle of territorial integrity. Our work, as mediators, is
to help the parties sign an agreement that will consider all those
principles based on mutual consent. It’s not easy, but I am sure that
we can maintain the balance provided the leaders and citizens of both
countries are ready 1tp achieve a solution," Mr. Bryza said.

JOINT DECLARATION OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS AND DEPUTY MINISTER OF FRANCE, RUSSIA, AND THE UNITED STATES ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH

ArmInfo
2008-12-04 16:14:00

ArmInfo. The foreign ministers and deputy minister of OSCE Minsk
Group Co-chair countries – France, Russia, and the United States –
have come out with a joint statement on Nagorno- Karabakh.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry press-service quotes them as stating:
"We, the Foreign Ministers and Deputy Minister of the OSCE Minsk
Group’s Co- Chair countries – France, Russia, and the United States –
call on the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to build on the
positive momentum established during the meeting of the Presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Moscow on November 2, 2008. The Moscow
Declaration signed that same day opened a new and promising phase in
our shared endeavor to expand peace in the South Caucasus. In that
declaration, the Presidents reaffirm their commitment to advancing a
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the framework
of the Basic Principles developed by the Minsk Group Co-Chairs in
collaboration with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the basis
of their proposals advanced last year in Madrid. We call on the parties
to work with the Co-Chairs to finalize the Basic Principles in coming
months, and then begin drafting a comprehensive peace settlement
as outlined by those agreed principles. In keeping with the Moscow
Declaration, we call on the parties to work with the Co-Chairs to
develop confidence-building measures, beginning with pulling back
snipers from the Line of Contact to save lives of innocent civilians
and soldiers as our mediators already proposed to the sides at the
highest level during the last visit mid November. It is urgent for
the parties to work with each other, the Co-Chairs, and the Personal
Representative of the Chairman in Office to stabilize the ceasefire
through this and other measures. We reiterate our firm view that there
is no military solution to the conflict and call on the parties to
recommit to a peaceful resolution".

OPPOSITION STILL HAS A WORD ON MARCH 1

A1+
[08:08 pm] 02 December, 2008

"We still have materials and they will be used for objective revelation
when we are convinced that the goal-oriented investigation was
aimed at revealing the crime. There is no doubt that there will be
certain comments and revelations," told "A1+" former RA Minister of
Internal Affairs, member of the "Republic" political party council
Suren Abrahamyan.

He also gave an evaluation on the video released by the parliamentary
commission which, according to him, is a film prepared by the
administration with the confidential hearings of the opposition
organized by the National Security Service.

As for the allusions heard in the film claiming that Suren Sirunyan
informed head of the First President’s headquarters Alexander
Arzumanyan about the events and that they knew what was going on
nearby, Suren Abrahamyan said:

"That was simply transference of information on the facts and it was
the evaluation of that person. It is a waste of time to find criminals
here. If the administration doesn’t have anything to say and charges
people based on those kinds of facts, then that administration should
not be in power," says Suren Abrahamyan.

"They should have been kind enough to show the 5-6 hour-long scenes
that they claim to have so that people could give their evaluations."

As for the other allusion according to which the rally was not
unprompted but organized, Suren Abrahamyan advised the authors of
the film to read the term "unprompted rally" in the legislation.

AZERI CHESS PLAYERS UNDER PRESSURE

Panorama.am
17:22 01/12/2008

Zeiynab Mamediarova, who is the best chess player of Azerbaijan,
said that Azeri women chess players were under pressure as "enemious
character" against Armenians is sowed among them.

According to Azeri media, Mamediarova admitted that the most difficult
meeting in Dresden was the one with Armenians when they have been
crucially defeated by 4-0 points.

"The only reason of that defeat was the pressure on us. Armenians
did not have such feelings and they managed to get well prepared to
the game. Any game with Armenia is much spoken in our country and
everything is accepted not as it is to be," she said.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT: ARMENIA HOPES CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIFTH ENERGY BLOCK OF RAZDAN POWER PLANT TO END IN THE FIRST HALF-YEAR 2010

ArmInfo
2008-12-02 16:27:00

Arminfo. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said at today’s sitting
of Presidential Atomic Energy Council that Armenia hopes construction
of the fifth energy block of Razdan power plant will end in the first
half-year 2010.

He also added construction of the new block with a capacity 270
megawatt has been started at Yerevan power plant. This project is just
the first step of the programme directed to full upgrading of the
power capacities which are won out and outdated. Several important
decisions were made in the sphere of nuclear energy. In particular,
Armenian Energy and Natural Resources activity programme was endorsed
in November 2007. The programme was drawn out taking into consideration
national security strategy of the country. It stipulates construction
of the new nuclear power block in the republic. The project gained the
status of the priority national project and actions have been already
implemented in this direction. Armenia has initiated the process of
joining the project setting up of international uranium enrichment
centre in Angarsk. In October 2008 Armenia signed the agreement of
‘Universal partnership in nuclear energy’.

From: Sebouh Z Tashjian <[email protected]>
Subject: AGBU hosts thanksgiving dinner in honor of Argentine lawmaker

AZG Armenian Daily #222, 29/11/2008

Diaspora

AGBU HOSTS THANKSGIVING DINNER IN HONOR OF ARGENTINE LAWMAKER AND WIFE
IN PASADENA

PASADENA, Calif. ‘ A capacity crowd attended the Boyadjian Hall of the
Armenian General Benevolent Union’s Alec Manoogian Center in Pasadena
on Saturday, November 22.

The occasion was the customary Thanksgiving Dinner organized by the
Ladies’ Auxiliary Committee. The guest of honor was Sergio Nahabetian,
Argentina’s only Member of Parliament of Armenian extraction,
accompanied by his wife Susanna.

Also at hand was Paul Krekorian, the only member of California’s
Assembly in Sacramento of Armenian extraction.

The chair, Angel Karayan, made the welcoming remarks. She then asked
Haig Messerlian to introduce the guest of honor. Messerlian, who had
just returned from a working tour of the Armenian communities in
Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, took Sergio Nahabetian receives a
plaque from AGBU SCDC members Haig Messerlian and Vahe Imasdounian. to
the podium.

Messerlian said that Nahabetian comes from a family with a long
history of service to the Armenian community in Argentina. His father,
Nahabed, is one of the pillars of that community. He then paid tribute
to the hard work Nahabetian had embarked on in passing the resolution
to recognize the Armenian Genocide in Argentina.

Finally, he asked the guest of honor to come to the podium for his
remarks.

Nahabetian thanked everyone for the warm welcome he had received, and
then he gave a brief description of the composition of the Armenian
community in Argentina, pointing out that the Armenian General
Benevolent Union was the most sizeable and vibrant of all the sub
groups, with its state of the art school and center.

The honored guest also talked about his engagement in the Argentinean
political scene and encouraged every Armenian to get actively involved
in the political arenas of their local governments. "That’s how," he
continued, "we help not only our newly-independent homeland, but also
how we survive as minorities in our many adopted homelands throughout
the world."

Sergio Nahabetian and California State Assembly Member Paul Krekorian
Vahe Imasdounian, chairman of AGBU’s Southern California District
Committee, then presented him with a plaque commemorating his visit to
his "home, away from home."

He was also presented with a resolution from the California Assembly
by Krekorian.

Earlier that day, Sergio and Susanna Nahabetian had paid a visit to
the Armenian Monument in Montebello, and the following day they
attended the Divine Liturgy at the St. Gregory Armenian Church in
Pasadena, celebrated by Archbishop Barkev Mardirossian, the Primate of
Artsakh. Sergio Nahabetian, Haig Messerlian, Paul Krekorian and Vahe
Imasdounian Pediatrician and former chairman of AGBU’s Southern
California District Committee, Dr. Hovig Melidonian, was keynote
speaker. He gave a brief historical description of Thanksgiving and
then enumerated the different things we had to be thankful for during
these festive times.

Dinner was served following the singing of the Lord’s Prayer, led by
Elize Jevardian-Tashjian. Violinist Peniamin rendered musical
selections during the eventful evening.

By Kevork Keushkerian

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
November 27, 2008 Thursday

NEW BOOK ON KARABAKH PUBLISHED

Baku 27 November

A book entitled Karabakh eternal memory of our heritage by researcher
Aydin Mammadov (Karabakhski), has just been published in Baku. The
book reveals the past and the present of Nagorno-Karabakhs historical
monuments and archeological samples, many of which have been fully
destroyed by Armenian invaders. The book also contains over 300
pictures and photos of Karabakh monuments and sights. This new book on
Karabakh is supported by the Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture and
Tourism and is available in two languages Azerbaijani and English.

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PATIENTS NO LONGER HAVE TO PASS 700 KM TO RECEIVE CHEMOTHERAPY
[11:52 am] 28 November, 2008

In accordance with the decision of the Ministry of Justice, Kapan’s
medical centre has been rendering chemotherapy since March of
2008. Already twelve patients have received chemotherapy in Kapan.

People suffering from cancer no longer have to pass 700 km and go to
the capital to get treatment. They don’t have to pay extra money
either as the centre has all the required medicines.

The treatment is rather complicated. Doctors state that the patient
should be in constant care and should be regularly
examined. Nevertheless, local patients already receive chemotherapy in
the neighbourhood.

AZG Armenian Daily #221, 28/11/2008

Social

TELETHON 2008 TO KICK OFF TODAY IN LOS ANGELES

NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS: The annual telethon of the "Hayastan"
All-Armenian Fund will kick off today in Los Angeles at 20:00 pm local
time and will be live broadcasted by Public TV in Armenia.Press
service of the fund told Armenpress that in USA it will be shown by
Southern California’s "KSCI Channel 12", 24 hour Armenian-Russian TV
network in Los Angeles and "Horizon" Armenian TV channel. It is also
possible to follow the pace of telethon in
Internet site.The telethon will be conducted under "My Home Armenia"
slogan. This time the donated money will be directed towards the
implementation of "Rural Development Program".During the telethon
messages of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, His Holiness Catholicos
of All Armenians Karekin II addressed to the Armenians will be
voiced. President of Nagorno Karabakh Bako Sahakian is in Los Angeles
to participate in Telethon 2008.In parallel with the telethon, a
radiothon will kick off in Lebanon where the program of reconstruction
of Noyemberian regional hospital will be presented.Telethon has
already been conducted in Argentina during which donation amounting to
60,000 Canadian dollars has been made.

German technical cooperation company GTZ to open an office in Yerevan

2008-11-28 13:59:00

ArmInfo. Today Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sarkisyan received
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Germany to Armenia
Andrea Viktorin and director of GTZ Frank Tibitancl.

The premier said he is pleased with cooperation between the two states
and added Germany is the second after the USA big investor in Armenia.
Andrea Viktorin and Frank Tibitancl told Tigran Sarkisyan about an
intention to open GTZ office in Armenia, which will promote bilateral
cooperation.

Mr. Tibitancl mentioned importance of the new regional programme on
stimulation of private sector ‘Stimulation of business in South
Caucasus’. Within the programme the German party met representatives of
the state structures and private sector in Armenia to clear out
directions of future cooperation.

Armenian premier added the programmes directed to enhancing of economic
growth are priority for the government of Armenia. Any investment
programme, which will be implemented in Armenia in 2009, should be
discussed in similar way, Tigran Sarkisyan said.