Author: Varosian Antranik

PRESIDENTS OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA DEMONSTRATE ANALOGOUS POSITION ON BASE PRINCIPLES OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT: US CO-CHAIR OF OSCE MINSK GROUP

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 17 2008

Ilham Aliyev- the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Robert Kocharyan- the
Armenian President, demonstrate an analogous position on the base
principles of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement, Mathew Bryza, the US Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group,
said on 17 January in Yerevan, Novosti Armenia reports.

"Despite that we do not expect to reach to a concluding agreement
during this visit of the co-chairs to the region, we see that the
presidents of the two countries demonstrate an analogous position
on the base principles of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement,"
he said.

He stated that the time does not play a significant role in the
process of reaching a single position on the base principles between
the Heads of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"We do not want to establish the false dates for signing the agreement,
but prefer to provide the necessary period to the presidents to widely
analyze each proposal, sentence or the letter," he said.

Bryza spelled out that it needs to expect as long as, both the
presidents move in a correct direction.

In his turn, the French Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Bernard
Fassier, said that taking into consideration the positions of the
two sides, the mediators felt the necessity to present the several
explained concrete items.

"We explained to both the sides that our proposals do not contain
traps or ambiguity for anybody. They are the best proposals which
our countries may suggest, to reach on a compromise in resolving the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," he said.

MERZLYAKOV: THIS YEAR OUR VISITS TO KARABAKH WILL BE MORE OFTEN THAN BEFORE

KarabakhOpen
16-01-2008 12:43:38

After the meeting with the NKR President Bako Sahakyan on January 15
the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs held a news conference.

"The results are very good. If you remember, in our previous visit we
promised to visit more often. We were able to arrive this time. We
wanted to do this very much because we needed to share some ideas
about the talks with Bako Sahakyan. We had a useful exchange of ideas,
and we promised that this year our visits will continue and will be
more frequent," said the Russian co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov.

He said their purpose is not to reach agreement on the document of
Madrid because this document includes the proposals of the co-chairing
countries on the basic principles of settlement, and systemizes
and formalizes them. He says they were put down and extended to the
sides. "We discussed the basic issues with Bako Sahakyan, and it was
very useful. However, he was aware of them and nothing was new to him,"
the Russian co-chair continued.

The French co-chair Bernard Fassier said the aim of the visit is
to get to know the stance of the sides. "However, we explained and
discussed all the issues relating the settlement, both the situation
in Azerbaijan and the relations among the countries of the region. Our
goal was not to reach a definite result," Bernard Fassier added.

With regard to the possibility of reaching agreement in 2008 Bernard
Fassier reminded that the co-chairs have described the current year
as deciding.

"Both sides have good will, which allows hoping for a breakthrough
in reaching agreement on the basic principles this year. If it were
possible before the Armenian election, it would be fine but not so
easy," Bernard Fassier said.

Yuri Merzlyakov says there are favorable conditions for reaching
agreement on the basic principles of settlement, and the sides are
willing. He also says there are difficulties. "There are few issues
which were not agreed on but it is becoming more difficult to reach
an agreement because some of them are important for the sides. For
the time being, it is difficult to reach mutual agreement. But we
will continue," the Russian co-chair added.

CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENCY SERGE SARGSIAN PROMISES TO FIGHT BRIBERY AND
CORRUPTION AND TO CONTINUE RAISING PENSIONS

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The reforms of the second generation
will have a direct impact on the well-being of the whole people. This
was mentioned in RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsian’s preelection program.

It was mentioned that an efficient manpower market is needed to provide
people with a job, which will give a possibility to disclose
unemployment’s structure and will enable to implement target retraining
programs. Creation of efficient, competitive scientific and educational
system meeting the requirements of time is considered as important in
the program.

According to the program, medicine will be affordable for everybody.
The quality of medical services will be essentially improved thanks to
introduction of new, high technologies in the health sphere. Steps will
be undertaken to make Armenia a health center in the region. Country’s
resort centers (Jermuk, Arzni, Dilijan, Aghveran) will be modernized
for that purpose.

The candidate for presidency considers raising salaries as a very
important social problem in consideration that pension will be
considerably higher than poverty limit. Parallel to it the work on
introduction of multi-level pension system will continue, including
introduction of accumulation pension system. "Our population should
learn to economize. The young generation should assume responsibility
of secure old age by taking part in the pension security accumulation
system," the program mentioned.

It was also mentioned that it is impossible to implement the second
generation reforms without formation of an efficient government system.
In particular, it is envisaged to introduce the electronic government
system, which will ensure rendering of state services at state
government and local self-government institutions through Internet by
reducing the contact between a state official and a citizen to minimum
and considerably reducing corruption risks. According to the candidate,
fighting bribery and corruption will be one of the pivotal issues of
his policy. "Solution of problems connected with corruption, shadow
economy, unequal competition conditions is in the sphere of efficient
management and requires harmonious change of government technologies,
means and methods," the program mentioned.

According to the program, disproportionate territorial development is a
serious obstacle for country’s socio-economic development. It is
supposed to move some functions from Yerevan to other regions for
improving this situation. Prevention of migration of population from
remote and border regions is also considered important. The necessity
of a complex approach to the issue of development of the whole
territory of Armenia, elaboration of a national program of territorial
development under the concept State-Private Partnership was mentioned.

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 15 2008

Karabakh Problem to be in Centre of Attention of Armenian President –
Serj Sarkisian’s Program
15.01.08 17:50

The Karabakh problem will be the centre of attention to the Armenian
president, states the election program of the presidential candidate
Serj Sarkisian, the Armenian Prime Minister, which is on his official
internet site.

According to the document, settling of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem
should be based on following principles: international recognition of
the right of the `people’ of Nagorno-Karabakh for self-determination
and creation of conditions for enabling rights; provision of security
to the `Nagorno-Karabakh Republic ‘ and its population; availability
of a common border between Armenia and the `Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic’, Novosti-Armenia reported.

`For each wise man it is clear that any more or less complicated
process, especially settling of a conflict, cannot be implemented at
once. That needs several stages,’ the program says.

The agreement between the sides of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
should include a solution of all issues and the mechanisms to enable
implementation of the solutions, the document says.

Baptist finished military service in Karabakh army

14-01-2008 13:39:12 – KarabakhOpen

Gagik Mirzoyan, a Baptist, has finished military service in the
Karabakh army without taking an oath. He got a military ID card where
nothing is mentioned in the line of `oath’. On September 5, 2005 Gagik
Mirzoyan from the village of Chailu, Martakert born in 1986, refused to
take an oath after 9 months of service, was tried in accordance with
Article 364 of the NKR Crime Code and sentenced to one year.

Gagik Mirzoyan explains that the Bible prohibits swearing.
Nevertheless, he was willing to continue his military service in the
NKR Army of Defense without taking an oath.

The Civic Action Center NGO had appealed to the NKR president asking to
pardon Gagik Mirzoyan and `considering his sincere willingness to serve
in the army (of which the members of the human rights organization
became convinced during the regular talks with the prisoner during the
monitoring of penitentiaries), acquit him and enable him to continue
his military service’. Gagik Mirzoyan was released and continued his
service.

The U.S. State Department’s annual report on religious freedom for 2007
included Karabakh as well. The special status of the Armenian Apostolic
Church in Nagorno-Karabakh was mentioned in the document. `During the
reporting period, in the occupied region of Nagorno-Karabakh–a
predominantly ethnic Armenian area over which the Government of
Azerbaijan had no control–officials reportedly released jailed Baptist
conscientious objector Gagik Mirzoyan and transferred him to a military
unit to complete the remainder of his military service,’ runs the
report. `Also in the occupied region of Nagorno-Karabakh, Jehovah’s
Witness and conscientious objector Areg Hovhanesyan remained in jail
after being sentenced in 2005 to 4 years in prison for evading military
service, a sentence he did not appeal,’ runs the report.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES GEORGIA’S SAAKASHVILI ON RE-ELECTION

Kavkas-Press
Jan 8 2008
Georgia

Tbilisi, 8 January: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan on 7 January
congratulated [former Georgian president and presidential hopeful]
Mikheil Saakashvili on the victory [in the 5 January] presidential
election.

"I cordially congratulate you on your re-election. I am convinced that
you will continue to implement the reforms that are directed towards
the reinforcement of stability, democracy and the continuation of
economic reforms," [Kocharyan’s] congratulatory letter reads.

"Armenia considers that it is necessary to strengthen good neighbourly
relations, the development of regional cooperation and the preservation
of peace which is a guarantee for maintaining stability in South
Caucasus. I wish you success, good health and the fulfilment of the
tasks you have set for yourself," the letter reads.

ARA ABRAHAMIAN SENDS NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE TO DIASPORAN ARMENIANS

Noyan Tapan
Jan 7, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The chairman of
the World Armenian Congress Ara Abrahamian sent a New Year’s message
to the Diasporan Armenians. The message in particular reads:

"Dear compatriots of the Diaspora.

On behalf of the World Armenian Congress and myself I wish you Happy
New Year and Merry Christmas.

We lived yet another year that became a new stage on the path of
strengthening the Diaspora’s links with Homeland and our unification.

We state with satisfaction that last year the Diasporan Armenians
took the most active part in assisting Armenia with its economic
development, increasing the welfare of the country’s population
and promoting its education, science and culture. The Diaspora also
made a great contribution in the international field, first of all
to international-legal recongnition of the genocide of Armenians in
the Ottoman Empire.

We take pride in the fact that the World Armenian Congress and many
other organizations of the Diaspora took an active part in this work.

Diasporan Armenians may be sure that in the new year 2008 the political
and economic development of our historical Homeland will gather
momentum and the links between Armenia and the Diaspora will expand
further. The 2nd assembly of the World Armenian Congress to be held
in Yerevan in the autumn of 2008 will be dedicated, in particular,
to these issues.

Dear compatriots, I wish all of you and your relatives good health,
success, prosperity and happiness this year".

Untitled DocumentPRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

JANUARY 3, 2008

CHRISTMAS 2008

Krisdos dzunav yev haydnetsav
(Christ was born and made manifest)

Orhnyal e haydnootyoonn Krisdosi
(Blessed is the manifestation of Christ)

"A wonderful and great mystery is revealed on this day; the shepherds sing
with the angels who announce the good news to the world. A new King is born
in the city of Bethlehem; O you people, bless him, for he became flesh for
our sake. He whom heaven and earth cannot contain is wrapped in swaddling
clothes, without being separated from the Father, he rested in the holy
manger."
Hymn of Censing for the Nativity from the Armenian Liturgy.

NATIVITY AND EPIPHANY 2008
This Sunday, January 6, is Christmas, the day Armenians celebrate the
birth and baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. Check the schedule of your local
parish for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.
The Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, will celebrate the Divine Liturgy on
Christmas Day at Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey. On
Christmas Eve, His Eminence will preside over Christmas Eve services at St.
Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York. .
The Vicar, Bishop Anoushavan, will celebrate the Liturgy on Christmas at
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City. Following the Liturgy and
Baptism service, His Grace will go to the Armenian Old Age Home in Flushing,
New York, where he will visit the residents and join them and the home’s
administrators for dinner.
* * *
The Armenian Church has remained faithful to the original January 6th
date for the celebration of the Nativity and Baptism, which all of
Christendom celebrated. Rome changed the date of the birth to December 25
(and kept January 6th as the date of baptism) in 336. This date gradually
became accepted by all except by the Armenian Church and in Jerusalem where
they continued to celebrate Christmas on January 6th, until they were
coerced and forced to adopt the December 25th date. In the Holy Land the
Orthodox churches still use the old calendar, which has a difference of
twelve days.
On Christmas Eve, the Liturgy is preceded by readings taken from various
books of the Bible that cite the birth or the coming of the Messiah. The
third chapter from the book of Daniel is read by a deacon and three young
persons, representing Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego-the youths who refused
to worship graven images and kept their faith in spite of threats of death
by fire. This service is called "Candlelight Service," (Jrakalouys) and
parishioners would return home carrying lighted candles to announce the
birth of Christ. Traditionally, following Christmas Eve service, choir
members would go from house to house singing hymns dedicated to the Nativity
and Epiphany
On January 6, following the Christmas Divine Liturgy, a special ceremony
of the Blessing of the Water (Churorhnek) takes place commemorating the
Baptism and manifestation (Epiphany) of Christ. During the early centuries
the baptism ceremony took place-with great splendor-on the shores of a
river. In modern times, especially here in the United States, the Blessing
of the Water service takes place in the church immediately following the
Divine Liturgy. Prayers are said, passages from the Gospel are read, and the
dove-shaped vessel containing Holy Oil (Muron) is ceremoniously brought
forward and the officiating clergyman pours the Muron into the basin of
water at the altar. The priest dips the cross into the blessed water while
reciting special prayers. A member of the congregation serves as the
Godfather-a coveted honor. At the conclusion of the ceremony the faithful
come forth to kiss the cross and take a small portion of the blessed water
home.

MONDAY, JANUARY 7 IS MEMORIAL DAY (MERELOTZ)
In the tradition of the Armenian Church the day following each of the
five major feasts (Nativity, Easter, Transfiguration, Assumption, Holy
Cross) is a memorial day, when the faithful go to the cemetery to have the
graves of their loved ones blessed and offer prayers for the souls of the
departed.

PRELATE’S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE & HOME BLESSING
On Sunday evening, January 6, Archbishop Oshagan will host his annual
Christmas open house at the Prelacy in New York City, from 6 to 9 pm. The
traditional home blessing ceremony will take place.
The Armenian tradition of home blessing has unfortunately greatly
diminished in recent times. During our childhood it was considered essential
to have our home blessed during the Christmas and Easter holy days. During
the ceremony the priest blesses bread, water, and salt-all considered to be
essential to life. It is customary to burn incense, echoing the words of the
psalmist, "Let my prayer be counted as incense before you," (Psalm 141).
The priest usually places a wafer (nushkhar) with the bread, water and salt.
The wafer can be distributed amongst family members, or can be kept with
staples such as flour, rice, salt.
"Oh Christ our God, guardian and hope of all your faithful, protect and
keep in peace your people under the protection of your holy and venerable
cross; and especially this family, their home, the bread, the salt and the
water. Save them O Lord, from visible and invisible enemies and make them
worthy to glorify you with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always,
forever and ever. Amen."
The Benediction from the Armenian Blessing of Homes Ceremony

CATHOLICOS ARAM BRINGS NEW YEAR AND CHRISTMAS
GREETINGS TO THOSE IN NEED
As he does each New Year, Catholicos Aram I and a number of members of
the Cilician Brotherhood shared the joy of the New Year and Christmas with
various segments of the Armenian community. His Holiness visited the
children who reside in the "Birds’ Nest," a home for orphans. The Birds Nest
is under the sponsorship of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, and His Holiness
recently appointed a new Board of Trustees to oversee the orphanage along
with the director, Very Rev. Fr. Yeghishe Manjikian.
During the holiday season the Catholicos visited the Home for the
Elderly in Bourdj Hammoud. The elderly residents expressed their happiness
by singing and reciting poems and offered words of gratitude to the
Catholicos for remembering them.
Also on the list of visits was the Azouniyeh National Sanatorium, where
the Pontiff expressed the good cheers of the New Year and conveyed the
joyous news of the birth of Christ. His Holiness also visited those
residents who were sick and confined to their beds.
Some members of the Cilician Brotherhood paid a visit to the "Roumye"
prison where they performed a short religious service for the inmates and
gave Holy Communion to those wishing to receive it.

BLESSING OF MURON
The Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia announced that His Holiness
Catholicos Aram I will consecrate the Holy Muron (Holy Oil) on June 7, 2008.
The Holy Muron, symbol of the grace of the Holy Spirit, is traditionally
blessed every seven years. Only the Catholicos can consecrate the oil which
is then distributed to the various dioceses for distribution to the
parishes. The oil consists of 48 different herbs, flowers, and oils which
are combined in a special vessel and mixed with some of the old Muron, thus
creating an unbroken chain with the past. The Muron Blessing is expected to
attract a large number of pilgrims from various parts of the world. More
details will be forthcoming.

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING
An international gathering of youth is being organized by the Holy See
of Cilicia. His Holiness Aram I is inviting the youth, 18 years and older,
to attend this gathering which will include a one-week pilgrimage to Der
Zor. Details will follow.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
The complete listing of Bible readings for 2008 is on the Prelacy web page.

Bible readings for today, January 3, the fifth day of the Fast of the
Nativity, are: Hebrews 12:25-13:6; Luke 21:20-33.
"When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its
desolation has come near. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains,
and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must
not enter it; for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that
is written. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing
infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and
wrath against this people; they will fall by the edge of the sword and be
taken away as captives among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on
by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the
earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the
waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the
world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the
Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these
things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your
redemption is drawing near."
Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as
soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer
is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know
that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not
pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass
away, but my words will not pass away."
Luke 21:20-33.
For listing of the entire week’s Bible readings click here.

AT THE BOOKSTORE.
In the Land of Blood and Tears: Experiences in Mesopotamia during the
World War (1914-1918), by Jacob Kunzler. This book is a translation (from
the original German) of the memoirs of Jacob Kunzler, who together with his
wife Elisabeth worked in a mission hospital in the city of Urfa. Kunzler, a
Swiss missionary and physician, witnessed how the Young Turk regime carried
out genocide against the Armenians. The Kunzlers later became head of the
Near East Relief orphanage in Ghazir, Lebanon, where thousands of Armenian
orphans were protected by Jacob and Elisabeth Kunzler, who were
affectionately called "Papa" and "Mama" by the children.
This English translation is edited by Ara Ghazarians, who also wrote the
Preface. A Foreword by Vahakn N. Dadrian and an Introduction by Hans-Lukas
Kieser, the editor of the German edition, bring added value to this volume.
This soft cover edition is $25, plus shipping and handling. Contact the
Prelacy Bookstore by email, [email protected] or by phone
212-689-7810.

Come Into My Kitchen: Old-World Armenian Recipes and International
Favorite Cuisines, by Dorothy Arakelian. This is a nice collection of
recipes from Dorothy Arakelian, whose children have long encouraged her to
produce a cookbook of her treasured recipes. Her mother, Dekranouhi
Ajdaharian, was well-known in Philadelphia for her outstanding culinary
talent. Many of the recipes in this book are those that were handed down
>From mother to daughter; others are the author’s own favorites.
Come Into My Kitchen, is $31.99 (hard cover), plus shipping and
handling.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THESE AND OTHER ITEMS AT THE BOOKSTORE VISIT THE
PRELACY’S WEB SITE () OR CONTACT THE BOOKSTORE BY
EMAIL, [email protected] OR BY TELEPHONE, 212-689-7810.

A BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO ALL

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is
Christ the Lord.
(Luke 2:10-11)

Calendar of Events

February 10-Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts, Annual Membership Meeting. Snow date: February 24.

February 24-Annual Membership meeting, St. Gregory Church (North Andover,
Massachusetts).

March 2-Musical Armenia, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York City,
featuring Aleksandr Nazaryan on viola and Karen Tchougourian on piano.

June 7-Blessing of Holy Muron in Antelias, Lebanon. Details will follow.

June 27 to July 6-St. Gregory of Datev Institute, Summer Christian Studies
Program for youth ages 13-18 at St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson,
Pennsylvania, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council. For
more information click here.

July 19-"A Hye Summer Night 3," dance hosted by Ladies’ Guild of Sts.
Vartanantz Church and ARS Ani Chapter, Providence, Rhode Island. For details
401-434-4467.

August 15-17-International Gathering of Youth and Pilgrimage to Der Zor,
organized by the Catholicosate of Cilicia. Details will follow.

October 25-Gala celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America under the jurisdiction of the Great
House of Cilicia and the 110th anniversary of the establishment of the
Armenian Church of America. Marriott at Glenpointe, Teaneck, New Jersey.
Details to follow.

Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web site.

To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox, add
[email protected] to your address book.

Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please credit
Crossroads as the source.

Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about their
major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected]

Holocaust survivor U.S. Rep. Lantos to retire

02 Jan 2008 19:28:54 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON, Jan 2 (Reuters) – Rep. Tom Lantos, who chairs the U.S.
House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee and is the only
Holocaust survivor elected to the Congress, on Wednesday said he has
been diagnosed with cancer and will not seek re-election in November.

The 79-year-old California Democrat, who was born in Hungary and twice
escaped Nazi labor camps, said he will serve the remainder of his 14th
term, which ends in January 2009.

In announcing he has been diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus and
would end his House career at the end of his term, Lantos reflected on
his life.

"It is only in the United States that a penniless survivor of the
Holocaust and a fighter in the anti-Nazi underground could have
received an education, raised a family and had the privilege of serving
the last three decades of his life as a member of Congress," Lantos
said.

Shortly after Lantos came to Congress in 1981, he pushed for
legislation granting honorary U.S. citizenship to Swedish diplomat
Raoul Wallenberg. That came nearly four decades after Wallenberg
protected Lantos and other occupants of an apartment building from Nazi
arrest.

Throughout his congressional career, Lantos was an outspoken critic of
international human rights abuses.

Lantos helped win passage in 2002 of a congressional resolution
authorizing the U.S. attack on Iraq that unfolded the following year.
More recently, Lantos has been critical of the "U.S. involvement in the
civil war in Iraq."

When Democrats gained majority control of the House a year ago, Lantos
used his new position as chairman of the foreign affairs panel to
conduct oversight of the Iraq war, including a high-profile hearing
last September on progress from the U.S. troop increase.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a fellow Californian, called Lantos "one of
America’s leading experts on foreign affairs and most effective
advocates for human rights both at home and abroad." She added, "As the
only Holocaust survivor ever elected to Congress, he has used his
position to fight for those whose voices have been silenced by hatred
and oppression."

(Editing by Vicki Allen)

LEVON MKRTCHIAN: 2008 TO BE TURNING FOR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The educational reforms being
implemented in Armenia will become complete in the complex program on
the Development of Education until 2015 to be presented to the
government in the near future, where all the program reforms being
implemented from general education up to the special one will be
included. This statement was made by Levon Mkrtchian, the Minister of
Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia, at the brief press
conference held at the end of the year on December 25. In the words of
the Minister, this document is a guiding principle for the sphere of
education as it has a tendency towards continuous reforms and if "we
are able to lead it as far as 2020-2025, Armenia will become a country
rendering scinetific educational services in the region."

Levon Mkrtchian touched upon the most pitiful, that is the pre-school
problem of the sphere of education, which has not received financing
from the budget so far. According to him, this system lives on local
self-government bodies and is in a state of neglect: "it has no state
control, there are no building conditions at all." And the reform
problem of the senior school is an urgent one at present in the sphere
of general education, which will resolutely eliminate the school-higher
education institution barrier. 30 test senior schools will open in all
the regions of Armenia in 2008, 4 out of which in Yerevan.

According to the Minister, 2008 will be turning for the sphere of
education of Armenia as the results of the holding of centralized final
and higher education institutional examinations will finally become
clear: "in case of holding them with success, we will smoothly pass
from school to higher education institution and the corruption risks
will be reduced." Levon Mkrtchian mentioned that in 2008 school-leavers
will take centralized examinations in a number of subjects, including
the foreign language, mathematics, the Armenian language and literature.

Touching upon the "Days of Azerbaijan" cultural undertaking held lately
in the Mkhitar Sebastatsi educational complex, the Minister mentioned
that the name and contents of that event do not correspond to each
other, since "days are usually held in friend countries and under this
circumstance the event was more dedicated to the search for
conciliation ways."