Author: Torgomian Varazdat

PRESS RELEASE
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research
395 Concord Ave.
Belmont, MA 02478
Tel.: 617-489-1610
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

LECTURE BY PROF. RUSSELL AT NAASR ON ARMENIAN-SLAVIC FOLKLORE CONNECTIONS

Prof. James R. Russell, Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies at
Harvard University, will give the first lecture of NAASR’s fall 2008
series on Thursday, September 11, at the National Association for
Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) Center, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont,
MA. Prof. Russell’s lecture will be entitled "The Rime of the Book of
the Dove: Zoroastrian Cosmology, Armenian Heresiology, and the Russian
Novel." The lecture will be a "Roman Jakobson Memorial Lecture" in
honor of the pioneering linguist, Slavicist, folklorist, and one of the
intellectual giants of the 20th century, NAASR Founding Member Prof.
Roman Jakobson (1896-1982).

The spiritual ballad or poem, or Coleridgean "rime," the Book of the
Dove (Rus. Golubinaia kniga, Stikh o golubinoi knige) exists in a number
of transcribed oral variants, most of which were collected in northern
and northwestern Russia-emanating most likely from the region of Great
Novgorod. The poem relates the deep secrets, that is, the ones that
concern cosmology. It has been called the "pearl of the Russian
mythological epic."

Russian Text with Armenian and Iranian Sources

Many aspects of the Book of the Dove suggest an Iranian source, and in
the Byzantine period the route of transmission would have been Armenia,
most likely via oral teachings transmitted by itinerant preachers and
minstrels, of the adherents of heterodox sects that flourished in
Armenia at that time.

In this lecture, Prof. Russell will take a subterranean (and, at times,
submarine) journey through the dark world of medieval Russian folklore
and Armenian and Iranian religion and spirituality, with detours through
the visionary poetry of Grigor Narekatsi and the groundbreaking novels
of Vladimir Nabokov.

Prof. James R. Russell has been the Mashtots Professor of Armenian
Studies at Harvard University since 1992. His books include Bosphorus
Nights: The Complete Lyric Poems of Bedros Tourian, Armenian and Iranian
Studies, The Book of Flowers, An Armenian Epic: The Heroes of Kasht,
Zoroastrianism in Armenia, and Hovhannes Tlkurantsi and the Medieval
Armenian Lyric Tradition.

Tribute to Roman Jakobson, a NAASR Founding Member

With Prof. Russell’s lecture-one of numerous examples of his
explorations of Armenian and Slavic linguistic, cultural, and literary
connections-comes an opportunity to pay tribute to a predecessor at
Harvard who looked at similar issues. Roman Jakobson is considered the
father of modern structural linguistics, the founder of phonology, and
one of the leading Slavi-cists of his time. A founder of the
pre-revolution Moscow Linguistic Circle and later the famed Prague
School of Linguistics, his work has been a profound influence on all who
have followed him, including Claude Levi-Strauss, Roland Barthes, Paul
Ricoeur, Gilles Deleuze, and Jacques Lacan.

Among Jakobson’s interests, albeit not one for which he is well known,
was medieval Armenian literature and Armenian folklore. Jakobson
received his bachelor’s degree at the Lazarev Institute of Oriental
Languages in Moscow (established in the early 19th century by the
Armenian Lazarev/Lazarian family), where he learned Armenian and became
interested in Armenian affairs.

Jakobson was the Samuel Hazzard Cross Professor of Slavic Languages and
Literatures at Harvard when NAASR was developing in the 1950s and NAASR
Chairman Emeritus Manoog S. Young recalls meeting Jakobson through Prof.
Richard N. Frye, also a NAASR founding member. He took a keen interest
in NAASR’s early development and the growth of Armenian Studies and
participated in the first ever NAASR symposium in June 1955 on "Armenian
Studies and Research-Problems and Needs." He also spoke at NAASR’s
second anniversary symposium in 1957, giving a talk on "The Importance
of Ancient and Medieval Armenian Literature." In 1964, Prof. Jakobson
gave a NAASR-sponsored lecture at Harvard on "Slavic and Armenian
Questions in the Middle Ages."

Admission to the event is free. The NAASR Center is located opposite
the First Armenian Church and next to the U.S. Post Office. Ample
parking is available around the building and in adjacent areas. The
lecture will begin promptly at 8:00 p.m. More information about the
lecture is available by calling 617-489-1610, faxing 617-484-1759,
e-mailing [email protected], or writing to NAASR, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont,
MA 02478.

SARGSIAN’S INVITATION FOR SOCCER MATCH

Turkish Press
Aug 29 2008

President Serzh Sargsian of Armenia said that recent developments
regarding Turkey-Armenia relations entailed leaders of the two
countries to take important decisions.

President Sargsian reiterated his invitation to President Abdullah Gul
to Yerevan to watch the 2010 Word Cup qualifying group match between
Turkish and Armenian national soccer teams on September 6th. He said
that the match would create a significant opportunity to develop the
bilateral relations.

STRIKERS ARE FORBIDDEN TO CHANT "LEVON" AFTER 10

A1+
[02:54 pm] 29 August, 2008

Sit-down strikers have been forbidden to sing or vociferate in Northern
Avenue after 10 p.m. Yesterday evening after long talks with police
officers member of the Armenian National Congress Levon Zurabian
urged the sit-down strikers to obey the police order stipulated by
the Administrative Code.

At first the police ordered "to keep silent" after 8 p.m. After the
strikers asked for the legal document confirming their demand the
police suddenly remembered that the law prohibits making a noise
after 10 p.m.

Strangely though it may seem the police seem to forget about the law
in other cases, for instance, loud music is heard in capital cafes
even after midnight.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE ‘WHITE BOOK’ ON INTER-CULTURAL DIALOGUE WILL BE PRESENTED IN ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
Aug 26, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS: The White Book of the Council of
Europe on inter-cultural dialogue will be presented in Armenia on
October 8-9. The book won the approval of the Council of Europe
foreign ministers when they met earlier this year on May 7.

Gayane Durgarian, a press officer for the Armenian ministry of culture,
told Armenpress that concurrently Armenia’s culture policy will be
presented within the frameworks of the Council of Europe Compendium
Program. The gathering will also discuss ways of strengthening
rmenia’s culture cooperation with the Council of Europe.

Gabriella Bataini-Dragoni, head of the Council of Europe directorate
in charge of education, culture, heritage, sport and youth issues,
will arrive in Yerevan at the invitation of Armenian culture minister
Hasmik Poghosian to take part in the event.

RECOGNITION OF ABKHAZIA’S AND SOUTH OSSETIA’S INDEPENDENCE TO BECOME EXTRA ATGUMENT IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT TALKS, ARMENIAN POLITICAL EXPERT THINKS

arminfo
2008-08-27 13:02:00

ArmInfo. Creation of military bases at the territory of Abkhazia
and South Ossetia will become the next step of Russia, the leader
of Globalization and Regional Cooperation Analytical Centre Stepan
Grigoryan told journalists today and added that Russia will make a
miliatry and strategic contract with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

He also said that recognition of independence of South Ossetia and
Abkhazia seems to be beneficial for Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh
though, for instance, in Ossetia the situation differs from the
Karabakh conflict. ‘One should take into consideration that before
beginning of the last South Ossetian conflict many Georgians were
living in that republic and about 30% of the Ossets living in South
Ossetia did not want the republic to leave Georgia, whereas there is
no such problem in the NKR’, – he said.

‘Taking into consideration this and other differences among
the conflicts at the CIS territory, nevertheless we can say that
recognition of Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s independence by Russia
will become extra atgument in Karabakh settlement talks’,- Grigoryan
concluded.

INTERVIEW WITH VIVACELL GENERAL MANAGER RALPH YIRIKYAN

ArmInfo
2008-08-26 17:49:00

ViVa Cell intends to invest approximately USD 60 mln in its
infrastructure

What is the volume of investments into VivaCell infrastructure planned
for the current year? Is MTS Group participating?

We intend to invest approximately USD 60 million. This entire amount
is to be covered solely by VivaCell, without any participation from
other sources.

Being a part of MTS group, we are happy to be able to maintain our
network by our own efforts, as well as to expand and improve, which
is indispensable to keep pace.

Which are the leading directions for investments?

Expanding our telecommunications network is on top of the
priorities. Our ambition is to be available for the whole Armenian
population. If there’s a point on the map where we are not reachable,
we consider it as a challenge. We give major attention as well to
keep up the quality of connection at the appropriate level; we also
invest in upgrading our hardware and software. Besides, we are focused
to accomplish our own 3G network. We also pay major consideration to
staff management and trainings.

When is 3G due to be launched? What are the designed location and
the expected structure and number of the subscriber base?

We plan to finish deploying the network by the end of the year, or
within the first two months of 2009 utmost. At the first stage we
plan to enable the capital Yerevan and two major cities of Gyumri and
Vanadzor. As for target market, we have expectations from the business
sector, yet the 3G in Armenia is relatively new, thus the network will
probably serve business centers and their roundabouts. But the service
is hihgly probable to be attractive for non-business subscribers. Last
but not least, the demand of the new service will be determined by our
tariff policy, which we haven’t yet planned. As soon as we do that,
we’ll be able to speak extensively and precisely.

Will you heed the existing market prices?

To define the most reasonable tariff package, we study the experience
of telecom operators abroad, as well as the demand rates. Our prices
may exceed the existing ones, be lower or equal to them. There is a
certain competition in the market, but our tariffs will be modified
not only by the prices of our competitors, but also by the quality
of our services and the demand for them.

Which are your technical partners in building up 3G?

At present we collaborate with Alcatel and Ericsson. There are several
other telecom equipment providers, but their names are rather not to
be revealed for a while – we’ll announce them as soon as the system
is effective.

Do you follow expanding your GPRS network?

We have already shifted to a more advanced EDGE standard. Here we go
on expanding, as the demand is evident.

President of MTS Mr. Melamed spoke about possible cooperation with
Comstar-OTS in the field of Internet services. Is it active now?

There are no negotiations at the moment, but we don’t exclude any
option for collaboration, if it is mutually profitable.

What’s the current stage of the rebranding campaign? Will VivaCell
be substituted by MTS, or you will retain your original trade mark?

Our rebranding campaign is a gradual one. Now it is undergoing
co-branding, as we expose VivaCell and MTS logos together, which
will lead eventually to MTS logo and brand alone. During co-branding,
we will try to migrate the qualities of VivaCell, its attributes and
public perception, into the new brand of MTS. To evaluate our next
steps in that direction we will undertake several market surveys and
studies to find out which brand is more favored by our customers,
and their opinion will be very valuable to us. The final decision
on whether to change the brand or to migrate fully from co-branding
to the MTS brand will in many ways depend on this. The duration of
the co-branding campaign is not limited – it may last from a few
months to more than a year. It all depends on when the opinion of
our subscribers will be fully clear to us.

Generally, which brand is more likely to be successful in Armenia –
an Armenian or a foreign one?

It is the quality of s ervice and products which support the
brand. There are foreign brands highly favored by Armenian customers,
and there are ones they definitely reject.

Does one need to carry on corporate social responsibility programs
to achieve brand success?

Those programs are valuable, as they asisst in gaining confidence and
popularity in the world of business, and among the population. Still,
they are important, but not crucial. The main thing is to make evident
the work which is carried out to support the brand in the market. If
a company makes it clear that it fulfills all its commitments,
leading a transparent and honest business with everybody – be it a
customer, a market partner or a supplier – the brand is supposed
to be successful. It was not for nothing that VivaCell gained
the reputation it has today – it is the inevitable result of our
commitment, achievements and consistency.

Average cell phone usage per capita in Armenia has been behind of that
in most of CIS countries – less than 200 minutes per month. What is
the current situation?

Among VivaCell customers this index has exceeded 200 minutes and
still tends to grow – we consider it in our budget drafts. I wouldn’t
like to indicate the exact number we will reach by the end of the
year – it would mean to undertake a commitment, which might not
be accomplished. But I assure you that by the end of=2 0the year
the figure will be over 200. Also, the average will not be backed
by Yerevan only, as we’ve got large numbers of active users in the
regions too.

What is the mobile penetration rate today in Armenia?

If we take the whole number of the subscribers of both operators
as 2,2 mln and consider the population as 2,8 mln, then we’ll
get the percentage of 78,5%. Along this, it is widely known that
certain groups of people hardly become mobile phone users – little
children and the elderly people, as well as the population that is
categorized below the poverty line. Together they make about 15% – 20%
of the population. Thus, practically the saturation point is clearly
within sight. But it is possible to surpass the practical limit –
and exceed the threshold of 100%. You know that a considerable number
of subscribers utlize several SIM-cards or dual ones.

Do you think that the third operator will be at first partly employed
the same way?

It is possible, because it’s natural. The initial period is always
a trial one – we made it the same way. The difference today is
there’s a larger scale of possibilities to subscribe to more than
one operator. And, though narrow, there still remains a gap between
potential clients and actual ones. Most of them are inclined to
use a cell phone, but have doubts about financial reasonability. We
set affordable tariff packages for them, which helps them to make a
turnaround in their point of view.

Does it imply that the new entrant also will set low-cost prices for
a start?

We cannot anticipate what the strategy of the third operator will be,
however and regardless of everything VivaCell was and will always be
offering state of the art services with competitive prices.

Who is more likely to fulfill the vacancy – a giant enterprise or a
relatively modest one? There are both kinds on the list…

It is difficult to make predictions now. But one thing is obvious –
as soon as the third operator steps in, the choice for the customer
will grow and each customer will have more varieties and options
to choose from. The whole economy will benefit, and not only the
telecommunication field. The new entrant will launch a large promo
campaign, import new equipment, build its infrastructure and create
new jobs. For all that large sums will be spent, custom duties will be
paid, then the company will become a regular taxpayer, its employees
will pay income tax. To conclude, new operator will spend many efforts,
but everyone will benefit.

What are your plans for charity programs before the end of the year?

Let me correct you. What we do is not charity, but Corporate Social
Responsibility. When, for example, we help repairing a hospital or a
kindergarten, it is an expression of a responsibility20and obligation
that we feel as a corporate citizen towards the society we live in,
the society which keeps our business going. One needs to understand
– no one is going to help the country the way its people will. We
Armenians are responsible to build a future for our country – and
the responsibility is ours alone.

Thank you

ARMENIA SURPRISE TURKEY IN YEREVAN: TURKEY 1 – ARMENIA 2

uefa.com
21/fixturesresults/round=15084/match=300345/report =rp.html
Aug 20 2008
Switzerland

Last-gasp goals from Karlen Lazarian and Henrik Mkhitaryan denied
Turkey a move to the top of qualifying Group 2.

Aerial presence

With Turkey needing three points to leapfrog the Czech Republic
and take pole position in the race for the UEFA European Under-21
Championship play-offs, the visitors did their best to exploit the
physical presence of Mehmet Batdal, aiming a series of crosses at the
tall striker. Batdal had one effort ruled out for offside, while at
the other end Gevorg Kazaryan and Ogannes Goaryan missed good chances
before Onur Recep Kıvrak made a great save to deny Artur Stepanyan
from close range just before the interval.

Shock winner The keeper foiled Mkhitaryan in a one-on-one situation
after half-time, and it looked like Armenia would pay for their
profligacy as a blunder from full-back Mikheil Simonyan left Turkey
in a great situation, with Abdullah Durak breaking the deadlock on
70 minutes. However, to the delight of a 12,000-strong crowd at the
Hrazdan Stadium in Yerevan, Lazarian finished from a Goaryan free-kick
one minute from time, with Mkhitaryan atoning for his earlier miss
in added time by beating Onur for a shock winner.

–Boundary_(ID_dM7N0fRzuqprz9pgU5jXdg)–

Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

August 19, 2008
Contact: Ani Garabedian

ANC-WR Extern Spotlight: Araz Parsgehian

Los Angeles, CA – As an extern with the Armenian National Committee
Western Region’s 2008 Summer Internship and Externship Program (ANC-WR
IEP), Araz Parseghian has been working with ANC’s Professional Network
(ANC-PN) to organize a professional panel for current and former
interns to learn about career options in Public Media and Government
Affairs. Since the start of the program, Parseghian has developed a
variety of skills and gained vast experience in his challenging and
government-oriented work.

"I have enjoyed meeting people who have great concern about Armenian
issues and working with them to help ensure that the Armenian American
community’s voice is heard," said Parseghian. "This Externship has
broadened my networks and allowed me to apply my knowledge within the
Armenian American community."

In the past several weeks, Parseghian has been working closely with
the ANC-PN by revamping their website and planning several events for
them. In addition to assisting with the Interns’ voter registration
drive, Parseghian has taken the lead in expanding outreach for the
Internship-Externship Program.

Parseghian received both his Bachelor of Science in Business
Management and his MBA from Woodbury. He currently works for a bank
and as well as being an entrepreneur.

Prior to his Externship, Parseghian volunteered at the ANC-WR on
several occasions. While volunteering for the organization, Parseghian
learned about the Internship-Externship Program and was eager to take
on the challenge.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in
the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States
and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances
the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.

EU-RUSSIA ‘BUSINESS AS USUAL’ IMPOSSIBLE, LITHUANIA SAYS
Andrew Rettman

EUobserver.com
Aug 19 2008
Belgium

The TV Tower memorial in Vilnius where Soviet forces killed 13
civilians in a 1991 uprising – Lithuanian memories are raw (Photo:
wikipedia)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – The EU should consider diplomatic sanctions
against Russia and speed up Georgia and Ukraine’s EU and NATO
integration to show Moscow that "muscle-flexing" does not work,
Lithuanian foreign minister, Petras Vaitiekunas, said in an interview
with EUobserver.

"We cannot and will not pretend that the EU will continue doing
‘business as usual’ with Moscow. This aggression has damaged the
EU-Russian partnership," the minister said on Tuesday (19 August), as
Russian tanks remained parked 45 kilometres from the Georgian capital,
Tbilisi, despite a Franco-Russian agreement for troops to pull out.

Print Comment article The Russian army launched a massive ground,
air and naval assault on Georgia on 7 August after Georgia fought back
against Russian-backed rebels in its breakaway South Ossetia region.

Germany, France and Italy have refused to strongly condemn Russian
actions so far, with Germany warning against isolating Russia via rash
diplomatic moves. But former communist EU states such as Lithuania
have lined up on Georgia’s side.

Mr Vaitiekunas said there will be a "substantial discussion" of
potential EU sanctions at an EU foreign ministers meeting on 5
September and predicted the EU will find common ground despite its
internal east-west divide.

"The EU should evaluate whether it is possible to continue in an
unaltered way the post-PCA talks [negotiations on a new EU-Russia
treaty], visa dialogue or other cooperation activities," he explained.

"We have seen some disagreements between EU member states on many
occasions, including the Georgia issue. Still, it does not create a
deep rift."

In the short-term, he urged the EU to take part in an "international
monitoring and peacekeeping force" to be deployed in a "clearly
specified time and territories," and to push for the "return of
refugees and displaced populations, alongside humanitarian action."

The UN estimates the recent conflict has created 150,000 new refugees,
amid reports that South Ossetian paramilitaries have burned ethnic
Georgian villages in South Ossetia to stop Georgian people from
coming back.

A previous war in the 1990s saw some 200,000 ethnic Georgians flee
from another Russian-backed separatist province, Abkhazia, with Russia
last week indicating it will help the separatists keep Georgians out
of Abkhazia and South Ossetia for good.

Frozen conflicts

In the longer-term, the Lithuanian foreign minister – who was in
Tbilisi for the duration of the recent five-day war – said the EU
must speed-up Georgia’s integration with the EU and NATO to show
Russia it cannot sabotage pro-western governments in its near-abroad
by military means.

He also urged greater EU engagement in Ukraine, Moldova and Azerbaijan,
to reduce the risk of South Ossetia-type scenarios in other disputed
regions: Russian-backed separatist movements also exist in Ukraine’s
Crimea peninsula, Moldova’s Transdniestria province and Azerbaijan’s
breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region.

"NATO refusing to grant a MAP [Membership Action Plan] for Georgia and
Ukraine at the Bucharest summit made a principle mistake. We can say
that it partly led to the situation that we have in Georgia today,"
Mr Vaitiekunas said, after France and Germany blocked the MAP move
at a NATO meeting in Romania in April.

"By giving a MAP to Georgia and to Ukraine we [would] clearly show
to Russia how unhelpful it is to even try flexing its muscles," he
added. "The [EU] visa facilitation issue for Georgia will have to
be raised further, as well as a preparation of a comprehensive Free
Trade Agreement."

"The EU and NATO should be much more involved in the resolution of
frozen conflicts, especially in Nagorno-Karabakh and Transdniestria,
in order to reach peaceful solutions."

NEW STAGE OF CSTO EXERCISES BEGINS IN ARMENIA

Interfax
Aug 19 2008
Russia

The third stage of command post exercises of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO), Rubezh- 2008, is beginning in Armenia on
Monday, the organization’s secretariat told Interfax-AVN.

"This is the continuation of comprehensive joint exercises. The first
stage was held at the beginning of July in Armenia and the second at
the end of July in Moscow. The exercises will end on August 22 at a
firing range in Armenia," a CSTO spokesman said.

Yerevan will also host a meeting of the CSTO Council of Defense
Ministers on August 21.

Rendering military and military-technical assistance to Armenia in case
of an act of aggression against is being refined during Rubezh 2008.

Earlier CSTO officials said that the scenario of the exercise is
theoretical but takes into account the current military-political
and military-strategic situation in the region.

It is the first time Rubezh exercises are held in the Caucasus,
not in Central Asia.

In line with the Collective Security Treaty aggression against a
member-state shall be regarded by other member-states as aggression
against them all.