Author: Tumanian Talar

ABOUT 19.6 THOUSAND NEW JOBS CREATED AT SMES IN 2007, THEY ACCOUNT FOR 41% OF GDP

Noyan Tapan
Jan 24, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. Consistent work has been done in
Armenia for development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the
RA minister of trade and economic development Nerses Yeritsian said
at the January 24 press conference.

According to him, SMEs should become a driving force of prodictivity
and economic growth. "Armenia has the opportunity to increase the share
of small and medium enterprises’ production in GDP to up to 60%," the
mnister said, adding that SMEs with rapid growth of production which
are likely to enter international markets will help achieve this index.

By preliminary estimates of the ministry, the share of SMEs in GDP
grew from 40.3% in 2006 to about 41% in 2007, exceeding twofold the
1999 level. The number of newly founded SMEs made over 14 thousand,
thanks to which about 19.6 thousand new jobs were created, 52.8%
of which or 10.3 thousand jobs were created in marzes.

The share of SMEs in the country’s exports made over 17%, while the
number of employees of SMEs made up nearly 35% of the total number of
the employed persons. The SMEs receiving state assistance (of a total
of 400 million drams) transferred taxes, duties and other compulsory
payments of more than 604 million drams (about 1.8 mln USD) to the
state budget.

"HERE, THERE AND YONDER": THE RECENT WORKS OF MISSAK TERZIAN AT HAIGAZIAN UNIVERSITY

AZG Armenian Daily
25/01/2008

Culture

On Friday the 18th of January 2008, under the high patronage of the
Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon, H.E. Dr. Vahan Der Ghevontian,
opened the painting exhibition of Missak Terzian, at the Haigazian
University Art Center, Matossian Gallery, amidst a big crowd of
diplomats, religious leaders, artists, and media representatives and
art appreciators.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, Haigazian University President,
Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian welcomed the audience and explained the new
vision of the recently renovated gallery.

"Named after the late Arthur Matossian, spouse of Maggie Matossian,
founder of the University’s Women’s Auxiliary, Beirut Chapter, and
longtime member its Board of Managers and Trustees, the Matossian
Gallery operates under the supervision of a committee who’s vision
is to promote various forms of art, and to enrich the Center with
an artwork collection, offered as a gift by exhibiting artists",
stated Haidostian.

Ambassador Der Ghevontian delivered a short speech, congratulating
Haigazian University for its leading role in promoting culture,
as well as the artist for his creativity and the splendor of his
work. Der Ghevontain added that the Embassy of Armenia is always
ready to sponsor and collaborate in such activities, thus encouraging
cultural interchange between the two countries, Lebanon and Armenia.

Terzian, expressed of his pride and gratitude towards Haigazian
University, for giving him the opportunity to introduce his recent
works in the University’s Art Center.

Terzian shared with the audience the spirit of his exhibition, "Here,
There and Yonder", stating that it represents the reality of the
Lebanese and the Armenian people, who, due to wars, are spread apart
in various regions of the world. Basically these two populations are
here and there and yonder.

"It is my wish to see Lebanon free, independent and stable,
the Lebanese people and families reunited in their country, as my
paintings of the different regions of Lebanon are united under one
roof", Terzian concluded.

In his 52nd exhibition, Missak Terzian is exhibiting 50 oil and
acrylic paintings of various sizes, in addition to limited editions
of original lithographs.

Missak’s (as he signs his paintings) favorite theme is the "Couples",
presented in an abstract and semi-abstract style. After 25 years
of his career, Missak reintroduces the different Lebanese heritage
regions. The Citadels of Byblos and Sydon, the Ruins of Baalbeck,
the Waterfalls of Jezzine, and the Pigeons Grotto of the Rock of
Raouche were the highlights of this exhibition.

It is worth noting that right after this exhibition, Artist Misak
Terzian will feature his works in the Jacob Javits Convention Center,
Artexpo, in New York City, from February 28 till March 3, 2008.

P.S. The exhibition runs till Tuesday the 29th of January 2008, from
10:00 a.m till 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. including Sundays

RUSSIAN STATE DUMA PRESIDENT TO VISIT ARMENIA

armradio.am
23.01.2008 16:58

On January 28 the President of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly
of the Russian Federation Boris Gryzlov will arrive in Armenia on an
official visit.

January 28 Mr. Gryzlov is scheduled to have meetings with the Speaker
of the National assembly of Armenia Tigran Torosyan and RA Prime
Minister Serge Sargsyan.

January 29 the President of the Russian State Duma is expected to
meet with RA President Robert Kocharyan.

In the framework of Boris Gryzlov’s visit to Armenia, inter-party
cooperation agreements will be signed between the "United Russia"
Party and the Republican and Prosperous Armenia Parties

BOZTEPE TO HEAD TURKISH-US GROUP
Elýf Ozmenek

Turkish Daily News
Jan 23 2008
Turkey

The move by one of Ankara’s most influential lobby groups in the
United States to elect a businessman as its president has given
political circles hope for change in the association that has been
overshadowed by corruption scandals and personal power struggles.

The Federation of Turkish American Associations’ (FTAA) president for
the new term, Kaya Boztepe, has previously held executive positions
in giant U.S. companies JC Penney, Fadded Glory and Wal-Mart. He won
108 votes whereas his closest competitor received only 44.

Some 151 delegates representing 31 Turkish American Associations all
over the U.S. voted in the FTAA presidential elections. But quarrels
between the candidates and the old administration from time to time
marred the voting process.

In the past arguments among FTAA members have been reflected in
the press, especially last year when Ankara was working to prevent
a bill on the alleged Armenian "genocide" passing from the House
of Representatives. An ugly fight broke out between former FTAA
President Ata Erim and president at the time Attila Pak. Erim, in
a press release, said that he would take Pak to court because of
personal attack in a corruption allegation. The fight received a lot
of negative reaction from the American-Turkish community.

In his opening remarks Boztepe gave a message of unity. He drew
attention to the negative image that FTAA has had for several years
and asked the association’s members to work together for the benefit
of the Turkish community.

"FTAA will have a new and transparent fiscal management policy and we
will soon apply for a not-for-profit organization status in the U.S.,"
Boztepe said.

By itemizing the organization’s spending and publishing it monthly,
FTAA will never have to hide behind corruption allegations, he added.

"I will work to unite the American-Turkish community, disenchanted by
the federation because of inner conflicts among FTAA members," said
Boztepe, adding that one of the first tasks he plans on undertaking
is to establish a database for the American-Turkish community as the
association has been criticized for years not being able to establish
an accurate database for Turks living in the U.S., and for failing
to provide a strong network.

Political circles say that Boztepe, an accomplished businessman,
will bring the change necessary to the FTAA. His political background
and business experience will help the FTAA a great deal, said many
delegates after casting their votes.

Boztepe’s political career began in 1984. He founded the Turkish
American Youth Association in New York and became its first
president. In later years Boztepe worked at the FTAA’s executive
board and became the most elected assembly representative. He was
one of the founders of TRTV, the first Turkish TV in the tristate area.

But Boztepe has also enjoyed a very successful career as a
businessman. He is one of the first people in the U.S. who promoted
organic textile products in big retail stores such as Wal-Mart. In
1999 at Wal-mart Boztepe brought a group of the firm’s executives to
Turkey and introduced them to Turkish organic cotton products.

In 2003 Boztepe founded his own company, Eco Green, and played an
instrumental role in introducing Turkey to the U.S. organic textile
market. By merging Eco Green with Cote de France, Boztepe managed to
get Turkish organic textile products into giant U.S. companies like
Macy’s and Target.

"If he could do what he promised Turkish lobby will take a new and
strong turn in the U.S.," many experts have said.

–Boundary_(ID_Snk5Ff7o6KsrwJEF7n2QaQ)–

THOUSANDS REMEMBERING DINK DEMAND JUSTICE

Today’s Zaman
Jan 21 2008
Turkey

Thousands gathered on Saturday in front of the Agos weekly newspaper
in Ýstanbul to commemorate its former editor-in-chief, Hrant Dink,
on the first anniversary of his death and called for all those behind
the murder to be brought to justice.

Dink was shot dead in front of the same building on Jan. 19, 2007,
by an ultranationalist teenager named O.S. Those participating in the
ceremony started gathering in front of Agos, located on Halaskargazi
Street in the central Beyoðlu area, in the early morning hours carrying
banners reading "For Hrant, For Justice."

Flowers were laid and candles lit on the street, while a huge picture
of Dink covered part of the building where he had worked.

Turkish and Armenian versions of the song "My Brave, My Lion Is
Lying Here" as well as other Turkish and Armenian folk songs Dink
loved were played during the ceremony. The demonstrators sounded
an Armenian woodwind instrument known as the duduk at 2:58 p.m.,
the time of the shooting.

Nineteen people, including two leaders of an ultranationalist group,
are currently on trial for Dink’s murder at a court in Istanbul. But
those higher up who may have abetted the murder or covered up for
fellow police continue to act with impunity, despite widespread
evidence of tampering with the investigation.

"We are on the street where they tried to clean his blood with soap,"
Dink’s widow, Rakel, said in an emotional address from a window in
the newspaper’s office.

"You are here for justice today. A scream for justice rises from your
silence," she stated.

The murder of Dink one year ago triggered widespread anger and shock
in Turkey and caused massive crowds to take to the streets, chanting
"We are all Armenians, we are all Hrant Dinks."

Turkish Penal Code (TCK) Article 301, under which Dink was convicted,
had been blamed for his death since it made him a target for
ultranationalists. Article 301, which criminalizes the ambiguous
concept of denigrating "Turkishness," has proven itself to be a major
obstacle to freedom of speech.

Dink was convicted for an article he penned in Agos expressing his
views on the mass killings of Armenians at the hands of the Ottomans
in 1915. The Armenians say the killings amounted to genocide, while
Turkey denies it.

On Saturday Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Þahin told journalists that
work on changes to the infamous Article 301 has been completed. Þahin
said the proposed amendment to the article will be submitted to
Parliament as a draft for debate in a general assembly session.

In response to criticism that the Dink investigation and trial were
moving very slowly, he stated that such trials could not be completed
overnight and that patience was needed. He said the prosecutors were
being very diligent in their investigation. "Such important trials
may not always be completed in a year; you have to understand that,"
he said.

Meanwhile, a religious ceremony was held in the Armenian Church of
Mother Mary on Sunday to commemorate Dink. His widow, Rakel, daughters,
Sera and Delal, son Ararat, his brother, Orhan Dink, Mayor of Þiþli
Mustafa Sarýgul and members of Ýstanbul’s tiny Armenian community
attended the service led by Zakeus Orhanyan.

–Boundary_(ID_9TUg3xYIT2ZoCYdxHk/QjQ)- –

ARONIAN BEATS AZERI GM

A1+
21 January, 2008

Armenian Grand Master Levon Aronian beat Temur Rajabov, Azerbaijan,
in the seventh round of the Corus International Chess Tournament
underway in Wijk aan Zee (Holland). The outcome of the meeting was
not surprising as it was not the first time the Armenian GM had won
over Rajabov.

In the eighth round Aronian played a draw with another Azeri GM
Shahriyar Mammadyarov.

World Champion Vishvanatan Anand won over Polgar and Topalov in the
last two rounds.

After the first eight rounds Norwegian GM Magnus Carlsen leads the
tournament with 5.5 points. Levon Aronian and Vladimir Kramnik share
the second place with 4.5 points each. Yelanov and Gelfand conclude
the list with 2.5 points.

Aronian will compete with Yelanov on January 22.

To note, the Armenian GM has already competed with the favourites. He
stands a good chance to win the tournament as his next rivals are
comparatively weaker.

Lragir, Armenia
Jan 17 2008

CO-CHAIRS EXPLAINED THERE IS NO TRAP

Despite the cold weather we got a warm welcome, said the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs in a news conference on January 17 who presented
details of their regional visit. The U.S. co-chair Matthew Bryza
underlined that the purpose of their visit was to learn about the
opinion of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents about the proposal
on the basic issues of the peace agreement they had offered in
Madrid.

Bryza emphasized that they did not expect this visit to be final on
the way to agreement but he noted that there are points in common
between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the basic issues.
The Russian and French co-chairs silenced the points which were not
agreed on, saying that it is the issue under negotiations and as long
as there is no agreement, it cannot be revealed. Meanwhile, Matthew
Bryza said the presidents are on the same track, and are making
efforts to reach agreement on the basic principles possibly soon.
Therefore, the co-chairs think the presidents should take their time
to be aware of each letter of the document on the basic principles.
By the way, the French co-chair Fassier said during their regional
visit they offered some explanations to the presidents concerning the
proposal of Madrid. Fassier says they told the presidents there are
no ambiguous points and traps for the parties in the proposal.

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 19 2008

Issues on Peaceful Settling of Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict to be
Reflected in EU Report
19.01.08 08:59

Azerbaijan, Baku, 19 January / Òrend corr. K. Ramazanova / The issues
on peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be
reflected in the first report of the European Union (EU), about the
fulfilment of the obligations to EU by Azerbaijan, Ingrid Angela
Gossinger, the new coordinator of the European House in Baku, said to
Trend on 18 January.

`The report will reflect all the priority fields and specific actions
taken by the EU and Azerbaijan in 2007, including those on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,’ Gossinger said.

The action plan on the EU-Azerbaijan New Neighbourhood Policy was
signed on 14 November 2006. It is intended for 2007-2013.

The priority directions in the action plan for Azerbaijan are:
strengthening of democracy in the country, improvement of the
business and investment climate, support to long-term economic
development, improvement of the economic and transport cooperation
between EU and Azerbaijan, as well as strengthening of cooperation in
the border management.

According to Gossinger, besides Nagorno-Karabakh, the report will
also reflect the issues on democratic and legislation norms,
improvement of the business and investment climate, fight against
corruption, the human rights and freedom, energy and transport.

The third round of the negotiations between Azerbaijan and the EU on
the action plan, within the framework of the European Neighbourhood
Policy, will take place on 4 February, during the visit of the EU
Troika to Azerbaijan. The opening ceremony of the EU representation
in Azerbaijan is expected to take place during the visit.

Saroyan in black and white
By Felicia Cousart Matlosz / The Fresno Bee
January 20, 2008

For all his fame as a writer, William Saroyan also cut a compelling
figure on film. In photographs, to be exact.

The dashingly handsome face of his youthful days aged into the
countenance that many Fresnans remember from the writer’s later years
in his native city. The longish hair. The drooping, walruslike
mustache. The long, wide sideburns. The deep, piercing eyes. The
serious look of an artist.

It’s that familiarity that makes a photo exhibit of Saroyan in Armenia
an interesting insightful slice of the writer’s life. The 40-plus
black-and-white photos, displayed on the first and second floors at
City Hall, were taken by Boghos Boghossian.

They are from 1976 and 1978, when Saroyan visited his ancestors’
homeland. Boghossian, an award-winning photographer who was born and
lives in Armenia, went with him everywhere. Saroyan once wrote to
Boghossian: "For my friend, one of the great poets of the camera in
the world."

But more than just photographs, this exhibit — called "Saroyan As
Captured Through the Lens of Boghos Boghossian" — melds the two
Saroyan treks with the writer’s own words. The curator of this
display is Varoujan Der Simonian, who enjoys photography as a
hobby. He is president of the Armenian Museum of Fresno and is
executive director of the Armenian Technology Group, a Fresno-based
nonprofit group that provides support for Armenian farmers.

Both organizations are presenting this exhibit, one of many events
marking the centennial year of Saroyan’s birth in Fresno. (Art
exhibits on City Hall’s first and second floors are coordinated by the
Fresno Arts Council.)

What does Der Simonian hope that visitors take away from this show?

"The human personality of Saroyan, his character," Der Simonian
says. "While he is in a crowd or away from Fresno, he is able to
recall moments of his life that have touched him and that he has
written stories of. It’s the sensitivity of the man, which probably
has not been so clear."

On the first floor, for example, is a page of short excerpts from the
story "Return to the Pomegranate Trees." Saroyan writes about the
pomegranate trees that a relative planted near Fresno, and that he
helped tend as young teenager in 1919 and 1920. Twenty-five years
later, he takes his 5-year-old son Aram for a drive and searches for
the trees. They are gone: "The whole place was taken over again by the
little burrowing animals, the horned toads, and the jack rabbits."

The two drive to Sanger, where Saroyan shows Aram a pomegranate tree
and hands him a fruit that’s not quite ripe. They return to San
Francisco, and Aram keeps the small fruit. More than a month later,
they visit Fresno, and Aram wants to drive out to the land where his
father tended pomegranate trees. Once there, the boy glances around
and wordlessly and carefully places the fruit on the ground.

Now look at the photo, one of Der Simonian’s favorites in this show,
taken in 1976. Saroyan, dressed in a light-colored jacket and a dark
shirt, is looking upward, his left hand holding a small
pomegranate. "Look at his eyes. His mind is not there," Der Simonian
says. "It’s sad. It’s beautiful. … You can see the feelings in his
eyes. People, hopefully, can relate to it."

Another photo shows a completely different side of Saroyan. Der
Simonian titled it "Sam, the Highest Jumper of Them All." The 1978
shot shows a smiling Saroyan between two other authors, his arms
around their shoulders, his feet gleefully lifted off the ground.

Der Simonian says the exhibit will travel to other parts of the state
after Fresno.

The exhibit came about when Der Simonian and Boghossian met last
summer. Der Simonian knew of Boghossian and his work and had been
introduced to him through mutual friends. When Der Simonian saw the
extent of Boghossian’s photos of the Fresno writer, Der Simonian asked
whether he could put together a show. The photographer agreed and also
approved the approach of how each shot would be titled.

The pictures not only present contemplative photos of the writer but
also document how he was followed like a rock star by crowds of
college students and other admirers.

Larry Balakian, chairman of the William Saroyan Centennial Committee,
says it’s interesting how Saroyan is seen interacting with not just
writers but other artists in these photos, taken only a few years
before his death in 1981. He also says the comments he’s heard about
the exhibit have been "absolutely tremendous."

"It certainly takes you back to that period," Balakian says. "It makes
you feel like you’re there."

The reporter can be reached at [email protected] or (559)
441-6428

More information
If you go
What: "Saroyan As Captured Through the Lens of Boghos Boghossian"
Where: Fresno City Hall, Tulare and P streets
When: Through Jan. 31, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Free
Details: (559) 243-5880
Visit:

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Jan 18 2008

Commission passes vetoed articles of foundations law without any
change

The New Anatolian / Ankara
18 January 2008

Designed to enable the country’s non-Muslim religious minorities to
regain their property rights, the controversial niine articles of the
Foundations Law which was vetoed earlier by former President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer has been approved at the parliamentary commission
without any change on Wednesday.

Deputy Prime Minister Hayati Yazici said the properties confiscated
by the Turkish state after 1974 will be given back to owners after
the law becomes effective. He said the value of those will be paid in
case it was sold. Political opposition parties in Parliament strongly
criticized the decision of the commission.

In late 2006, the law was passed at the Parliament after months of
fierce debate. Former President Ahmet Necdet Sezer partially vetoed
the bill and sent the "foundations law" back to Parliament for
revision. In his partial veto, Sezer declared that nine provisions of
the law were incompatible with the Turkish constitution, the 1923
Lausanne Treaty or existing Turkish laws.

The bill would have permitted minority religious foundations to
reclaim dozens of valuable properties confiscated by the Turkish
state over the past 33 years. Essentially, the law enabled minority
foundations to reclaim their confiscated properties from the state,
including even those registered under the names of saints during
Ottoman times, when they were established by imperial edict without a
formal charter.

But it failed to address the sticky issue of restitution, significant
for a number of properties that have been re-sold to a third party
after government expropriation. It also ignored certain properties
such as cemeteries and minority school assets that are not under any
foundation.

The same year with the Turkish peace operation to Cyprus in 1974
which left the island divided into a Turkish Cypriot north and Greek
Cypriot south, Turkey’s Court of Cassation ruled that minority
religious foundations were "foreign" organizations and thus could no
longer buy and sell property. The state then proceeded through
lengthy court proceedings to confiscate dozens of valuable Greek,
Armenian and Jewish properties acquired since 1936, when the state
had required a formal declaration of their immovable assets.