Author: Vasilian Manouk

ARMENIA GOING TO JOIN ISAF OPERATION IN AFGHANISTAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.01.2008 17:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Implementation of the Armenia-NATO Individual
Partnership Action Plan was continued in 2007, says the annual report
issued by the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Armenia uses the IPAP tools for reformation of the defense system
and security as well as honing of skills of interaction with the
allies. Armenia participates in NATO peacekeeping operations in Kosovo
and intends to enlarge its contingent," the document says.

"Armenia also intends to join the ISAF operation carried out by NATO
in Afghanistan," it says.

THOSE WHOM GOD DOES NOT PUT ON TRIAL SHOULD WORRY
Hakob Badalyan

Lragir
Jan 7 2008
Armenia

Judging by the preliminary result issued by the central election
commission of Georgia, the question of the presidential election
of this country has been solved, and the ex-president Mikhail
Sahakashvili who had resigned and appointed an early presidential
election was reelected president of Georgia. What will happen
afterwards depends on the consistency, stubbornness and good sense of
the Georgian opposition. In fact, however, it is the internal affair of
Georgia. For Armenia, it is important not to have stability shattered
in this country. It would have produced undesirable consequences for
us, which will impact transport routes, Javakheti and the Armenian
community of Georgia. Instability in Georgia would create complications
of those problems, which would add to Armenia’s problems which does
not need them at all.

Apparently, however, instability in Georgia is not on the geopolitical
agenda of the world. Moreover, the early presidential election was
a move toward overcoming the danger of instability.

Consequently, it is hardly possible that in Georgia the opposition will
manage to repeat the surge which it had launched in early November,
holding lasting mass protests to prevent which Sahakashvili had to
sacrifice his democratic image. Meanwhile, the impression is that
the purpose of this mess was to have 52 percent Sahakashvili as the
CEC of Georgia officially reported, instead of 65 percent. Many may
think Russia backs all this, which does not want to have a strong
president in Georgia, especially if it is Sahakashvili whose office
was marked by a stubborn and consistent anti-Russian stance. However,
this perception is rather primitive than simple, and therefore it is
not even superficial but hazy.

In reality, Sahakashvili was "demoted" by the West. The grounds
for this supposition started to outline when during the surge of
mass protests of the opposition in Georgia no word of support or
encouragement for Sahakashvili was heard from the West. Moreover,
when the Georgian president solved the problem "to repress or not to
repress", and ordered the police to attack, the West condemned this
move, leaving no alternative to the Georgian president and pushing
him to hold an early election because if it could be avoided before
violence against the protestors, after it the early election was
inevitable. The question occurs why the West needed to corner their
favorite Sahakashvili, especially if it was going to recognize the
result of the election which was held on January 5. The point is
that after his first election where Sahakashvili got 95 percent he
behaved defiantly not only toward Russia but also the West, except
for the United States.

He uttered rather hard descriptions of the heads of European
organizations, calling them corrupt bureaucrats. Naturally, the reason
why the Georgian president felt so confident was his 95 percent. It is
clear that with such statements outside the Georgian president became
more self-confident and autocratic at home. The first warning came
during the visit of Bush when allegedly an attempt was made against
him, by the way by an Armenian. Most part of the society again chose
the easy way of tracing back to Russia. However, it is ingenuous to
think that the special services protecting Bush at more dangerous
and complicated places fell asleep in Georgia and failed to notice
the terrorist with a grenade come too close to Bush.

No. He had approached as much as it was needed.

Perhaps Sahakashvili had misunderstood the hint. He had thought that
an anti-Russian stance is enough to get limitless support from the
West, and if he does outside what he should do, inside he can do what
he wants. It turned out that he cannot. Simply it is not known when
patience will start wearing thin. However, it is Sahakashvili’s and
Georgia’s problem, and it is only necessary to be more attentive
because if they treat the "beloved son" so, what not they can do
with others. Although it is said that God puts those on trial whom
he loves. In this case, however, those whom God does not put on trial
should worry.

PRESIDENT OF TURKEY IN WASHINGTON
By H. Chaqrian

AZG Armenian Daily
08/01/2008

Turkey-USA

In late evening January 5 President of Turkey Abdullah Gul left for
Washington on a 5-day visit. According tom CNN the Turkish president
was invited to Washington by George Bush. The previous official
visit of a Turkish President to the USA had taken place in 1996,
twelve years ago.

According to the visit schedule, Gul is to meet with US Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Defense
Minister Robert Gates.

It is supposed that Abdullah Gul shall discuss the issues of Iraq and
Iran with Secretary of State Rice and the issue of PKK with President
Bush. The presidents of USA and Turkey are also to consider the
questions connected with the issues of Cyprus, Kosovo, the Armenian
Genocide, etc.

On January 9 Abdullah Gul is to arrive in New York, where he is to
meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Mun. The next day the President
of Turkey is to have a meeting with representatives of the Jewish
organization of America, so as to focus their attention on the problem
of recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

On January 11, having finished the visit, Gul is to return to Ankara

WHO WILL AMERICAN AZERBAIJANIS SUPPORT IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS?

Azeri Press Agency
Jan 7 2008
Azerbaijan

APA’s US bureau learns opinions of Diaspora organizations

The Azerbaijanis living in the US will also actively participate in
the presidential elections in November. APA’s US bureau learnt the
opinions of heads of Diaspora organizations in the United States.

Tomris Azeri, the president of American Azerbaijan Society says they
have been meeting and attending fund-raising activities of all the
candidates, volunteering in their campaigning offices.

"We have been sending a questioner to all the candidates asking them
to explain their stance on Azerbaijan. We got close to Senator McCain
in 2000 election year, we’ve attended his fund-raising events. Mayor
Guiliani knows ASA, we have letters from him acknowledging our Republic
day and Independence day. We’ve met him several times. In fact at ASA
we are very much hoping that in 2008 republican presidential election
ticket we will see McCain/Guiliani. I have personally attended Hillary
Clinton fund-raising event. Turkish community in NY has very close
relations with his campaign. Iowa caucus was the first step in US
presidential election process, well organized campaigns got Obama and
Huckabee elected, ASA is preparing a letter to send to both of these
winners. Hearing about Senator Obama being close to Armenians does
not bother me at all. We can also be close to him, if we could only
learn how to attend their meetings and fund-raising events. In order to
advance and organize our efforts to define and clarify the Azerbaijani
situation we feel, we must meet and talk with our representatives and
get involved in the election process. ASA will be very much involved in
2008 US presidential election process, as we have been for many years.

Adil Baqirov, the vise president of "Worldwide Strategic Partners"
International Research Institute told APA’s US bureau that the
primaries have started in the U.S., which is a complex process of
selecting the most popular Republican and Democratic presidential
contenders that goes on in every state.

"The result would be those parties nominating their most popular
representative for President during their respective summer 2008
conventions. The first state for primaries traditionally is Iowa,
followed by New Hampshire. The results of Iowa were not surprizing and
predicted by pollsters. For Republicans, Mike Huckabee came in first,
Mitt Romney second and Fred Thompson third, whilst Rudy Giuliani only
came in sixth. For Democrats, Barack Obama came in first, John Edwards
came in second and Hillary Clinton third. What does all this mean
for Azerbaijani-Americans and for Azerbaijan, which is a strategic U.S.

ally? So far, not too much, because the first states where primaries
are held are too small to make real differences in the U.S. political
process – that states that matter are the large states with large
population, such as New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas,
Florida, especially California (the largest population), and a few
other states. Half of the Republican candidates, such as Rudy Giuliani
(#6), Duncan Hunter (#7) and Mike Huckabee (#1) (although when he was
Governor of Arkansas, Mr. Huckabee did issue a proclamation about the
"Armenian genocide"), are friendly and understanding towards issues
facing Azerbaijani-Americans and ally nation of Azerbaijan, although
other candidates, such as Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson and John McCain,
have less definitive and in some cases potentially unfriendly stances.

However, only Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huchabee have a realistic chance
from among the Republicans, hence their views and opinions are most
important. Meanwhile, neither Barack Obama (#1) nor especially John
Edwards (#2) can be viewed as very friendly or understanding towards
issues facing Azerbaijani-Americans, and the strategic U.S. ally which
is Azerbaijan. Although Sen. Obama is among a handful of presidential
candidates who actually visited Azerbaijan, he does strongly support
Armenian claims. Meanwhile, former Sen. Edwards’ national campaign
manager (chief of staff [apparatin sadri]) is the former Congressman
David Bonior (D-MI), who was very close with the Armenian lobby and
played a devastating role in spearheading the enactment and maintaining
of the notorious Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act of 1992,
and even introduced a House Resolution 86, which was supposed to
place even greater restrictions on Azerbaijan than the Sec 907. Also,
Sen. Edwards is the former running mate of Sen. John Kerry in 2004,
who was an ardent supporter of the Armenian lobby, and one of the
fathers of Section 907 and other anti-Azerbaijani and anti-Turkish
resolutions. Neither can anything positive be said of other Democratic
candidates, such as Con. Dennis Kucinich (#8) and Sen. Joe Biden
(#5), who are all supporters of the Armenian lobby. Although,
Sen. Hillary Clinton (#3) and Gov. Bill Richardson (#4) are friendly
and understanding towards issues facing Azerbaijani-Americans and
ally nation of Azerbaijan. Like in case with Republican candidates,
only Hillary Clinton and less so Barack Obama seem to have a realistic
chance from among the Democrats," he said.

"As is known, the Azerbaijani, and more widely, Turkic communities of
the United States, depending on their party affiliation, have always
supported Mayor Giuliani and Senator Clinton, and thus, hope that they
would win the nomination of their respective parties. Meanwhile, Mayor
Giuliani will not win the next primaries, in New Hampshire, Michigan
and South Carolina, but is expected to win Nevada, California, Florida,
New Jersey, New York, and other important states, thus gathering the
most votes and winning the Republican Party’s nomination. Likewise,
Sen. Clinton might win or be #2 in the next primaries in New Hampshire
and South Carolina, but is expected to win after that in Michigan,
Nevada, Florida, California, New Jersey, New York, and other states,
and winning the Democratic Party’s nomination.

Finally, whilst Hillary Clinton is the perceived favorite to win the
U.S. Presidential elections in November 2008, polls show that either
Giuliani or McCain from among the Republicans can defeat her. Since
McCain is highly unlikely to secure the Republican Party’s nomination,
the choice of the Republicans will be Giuliani," Adil Baqirov said.

Javid Huseynov, the president of American Azerbaijan Council said
the primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire were definitely indicative
of the current voter trend in those states.

"And although the impressive showing by Senator Obama in both
states came as a surprise, his lead in these two states was already
predicted, for example, by the CNN Election Center. So at this point
it would be premature to make generalizations about a nationwide
voter trend. According to the Newsweek magazine, for example, Iowa
voters tend to change their votes in last moment and during the 2004
Democratic primaries, Howard Dean was in the lead, yet, in the end,
John Kerry was nominated as the party candidate based on nationwide
results.

In my opinion, the fate of candidates will be decided in the upcoming
primaries of both parties in such important and populous states as
California, New York, Texas and Florida. The same CNN Election Center
predicts big lead for Senator Clinton over Senator Obama at 56% vs.

22%. Of course, one should not underestimate the appeal of young and
energetic Senator Obama and his absolute popularity among younger
generations of Americans. Just as an example, he has a huge lead
over other candidates in Facebook social networking polls. But most
Americans at this point are looking for a big change, and they’re
unlikely to entrust that change to younger and less experienced
Senator Obama. One should also not underestimate the popularity of
former President Clinton and his support for the former first lady’s
election campaign, which will definitely have an influence on both
Democratic and Republican voter choices.

Similar situation exists in the Republic camp, where Mike Huckabee’s
lead in Iowa and Mitt Romney’s lead in the State of Wyoming with a
population of 500,000 is likely to have very little impact on larger
voter bases in California, with a population of nearly 37 million, for
instance, where Republican candidates like Mayor Giuliani and Senator
McCain are likely to have a considerable lead. It is still difficult
to make particular conclusions at this point, but in my opinion
Giuliani-Clinton runoff in November elections may not be unlikely.

Obviously, Azerbaijan cannot be the primary issue in general U.S.

election politics at this point. However, the foreign policy programs
of the candidates in regards to South Caucasus and Caspian region,
and on the issues of primary interests of Azerbaijan will obviously
reflect on the choices and votes of Azerbaijani-Americans. I was
pleasantly surprised, for instance, to find out about the attention
Mike Huckabee pays in his foreign policy summary to Azerbaijan and
Turkey, appreciating their importance in regional energy security. On
the other hand, we all know about the one-sided stance that Senator
Obama has taken on the issue of claims of Armenian Genocide and
accusations against Turkey, which should probably be noted by the
Turkish American voters. It nevertheless is important to reach out
to Senator Obama in addressing vital community concerns, because
even if he is not nominated in current elections, he is very likely
to reappear in future elections as a strong and more experienced
Democratic candidate," he said.

GUL DEPARTS FOR WARM ENCOUNTER WITH BUSH

Today’s Zaman
Jan 7 2008
Turkey

President Abdullah Gul’s meeting with his US counterpart, George
W. Bush, which will take place at the White House tomorrow, is likely
to be the warmest meeting between the leadership of the two NATO
allies following several years of discontent on the Turkish side due
to US inaction against the presence of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’
Party (PKK) in northern Iraq.

President Gul’s visit to Washington comes two months after a meeting
between Prime Minister Erdoðan and US President Bush on Nov. 5.

Praise and appreciation for US efforts have recently replaced
complaints due to intelligence assistance provided by the United
States for Turkey’s ongoing air strikes against the PKK in northern
Iraq. The US intelligence is the fruit of Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdoðan’s visit to Washington in November. During the
Nov. 5 meeting at the White House, Bush defined the PKK, listed as a
terrorist group by much of the international community, as an "enemy
of Turkey, of the United States and of Iraq." The president of the US,
which has long turned a blind eye to Turkish calls for action against
the PKK in Iraq, then also vowed to provide real-time intelligence
that the Turkish military could use to strike PKK targets.

Gul departed yesterday from Ankara for an official five-day visit,
upon an invitation by Bush. He will be accompanied by his spouse,
Hayrunnisa Gul, as well as Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, Energy and
Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler and Economy Minister Mehmet
Þimþek. Ahmet Davutoðlu, the chief foreign policy advisor to the
prime minister, and Rear Adm. Alaattin Sever, the head of the General
Staff’s Intelligence Department, will also accompany the president
during his visit.

Ahead of his meeting with Bush tomorrow, Gul will have talks with
US Vice President Dick Cheney and US Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice. Gul and Bush will address a joint press conference before a
luncheon that will be hosted at the White House. Gul will also meet
with US Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday.

Only days before his departure for the US capital, Gul had praised
the US cooperation against the PKK, saying that it befits the spirit
of relations between the allies.

"Things are going well at the moment. Intelligence is being shared.

Now there is a cooperation befitting our alliance. Both of us [Turkey
and the US] are satisfied. This is how it should be. We could have
come to this point earlier," Gul told reporters late last month.

Although the turmoil in Iraq and the fight against all kinds of
terrorism will have a large part in the talks between Gul and Bush,
the Middle East peace process and the political crisis in Pakistan,
where Gul paid an official visit in early December, will also be
highlights of the talks between Turkish and US officials. Soon after
hosting Gul, Bush will kick off a Jan. 8-16 tour of the Middle East
that aims to provide fresh impetus to the peace talks with an eye to
creating an independent Palestinian state before Bush leaves office
in January 2009.

The two presidents will find an opportunity for covering a number of
issues, including the Palestinian conflict, Iran’s nuclear program and
the situation in Lebanon and Afghanistan before Bush’s visit, which
will take him to Israel and the Palestinian territories for three days.

But the main focus of Gul’s meetings will be Turkish-US ties. The
Turkish side is expected to raise the issue of efforts in the US
Congress to pass a resolution recognizing Armenian claims of genocide
at the hands of the Ottoman Empire and ask the US administration to
continue with its efforts to prevent the resolution from being passed.

After talks with top members of the US administration, Gul will meet
with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on Wednesday evening in New York
and discuss prospects to restart UN-led efforts to reunite Cyprus. He
will also meet with former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
and Richard Holbrooke, a former US assistant secretary of state,
as well as representatives of Jewish American groups, including the
influential Anti-Defamation League. Gul is also expected to meet
representatives of Mesk-hetian Turks living in the US. The last time
a Turkish president visited Washington was in 1996, during the term
of former President Suleyman Demirel.

–Boundary_(ID_H288BT0BnZGI94XFj37Nfw)–

EX-PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA PUBLISHED HIS PRE-ELECTION PROGRAM

Mediamax
January 7, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Ex-President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosian
published his pre-election program, with which he will enter the
presidential elections of February 19 of 2008. Mediamax reports
that the 16-page document is titled "Pre-election program or quiet
thoughts". The full version of the program of the Ex-President is
placed on Levon Ter-Petrosian noted in
the foreword of the program that he has decided to step aside from
the standard forms of structured pre-election programs.

Armenian Youth Federation of Australia
259 Penshurst Street, Willoughby NSW 2068
PO Box 238, Willoughby NSW 2068
E: [email protected]| W: <;

Hamazkaine Shant Chapter Presents.
PUBLIC LECTURE
‘Armenia Through the Ages’
By International Guest Speaker,

Professor James Russell
DETAILS
DATE: Friday, 11 January
TIME: 7pm
VENUE: Armenian Cultural Centre – 259 Penshurst Street, Willoughby
Coffee and Tea will be served

James Robert Russell – PROFILE
James Robert Russell is a scholar and professor in Ancient near eastern,
Armenian and Iranian studies. He is a linguist who specializes in the
languages of the Near East and is an authority on the Armenian and Iranian
languages. His specialty lies in the folklore and Mythology of the Armenians
and Iranians.
He is the <; Mashtots Professor of
Armenian Studies in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and
Civilizations at < y> Harvard
University and has occupied this post since 1993.

A1+

NSS REFUTES
[05:05 pm] 26 December, 2007

The National Security Service of Armenia (NSS) refuted
Levon Ter-Petrossian’s statement that the police had
exerted psychological press, intimidation and threats
on Ter-Petrossian’s team.

`The statements do not correspond to reality. The
National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia
is a non-political structure. All efforts to engage
the Service into home policy are doomed to failure,’
the NSS statement runs.

`First page of unread book’ was passed

27-12-2007 12:59:22 – KarabakhOpen

Yesterday the National Assembly passed the budget bill on second
reading. After the minister of finance Spartak Tevosyan presented the
bill, the parliament factions read their conclusions.

The conclusion of the Democratic faction, which was presented by the
leader of the faction Vahram Atanesyan, was substantial and conceptual.
Along the positive and progressive points Vahram Atanesyan drew
attention to a number of drawbacks and imperfections of the budget
bill. The leader of the faction said hopefully their proposals will be
taken into consideration next year, therefore they decided to vote for
the bill. He mentioned that there were greater expectations from the
government, which had pledged economic reforms, but the faction
understands that the government did not have enough time to present
separate programs, and the budget addresses the most urgent issues.

With regard to boosting of funds for social programs and public
administration Vahram Atanesyan said the target groups of entitlement
programs must be more distinct. The Democratic faction hopes that the
government will focus on increase of employment in the private sector
to balance public jobs. Vahram Atanesyan said the country needs to rise
to a level of economic self-sufficiency to protect our political
achievements from the impact of negative changes in the external
environment, and meet the challenges of regional economic competition,
which is not addressed sufficiently by the budget bill 2008, although
the government program marked it as a priority. He also underlined that
the budget bill should have assigned more importance to the middle
class as a key factor for political and economic development.

The conclusion of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun-Movement 88 faction was
positive. The leader of the faction Armen Sargsyan emphasized that the
bill reflects the strategic and tactical goals, in addition, the
proposals of the faction had been adopted. Armen Sargsyan said the
faction votes for the bill and underlined that if the faction voted
against the previous budget bills, something was wrong with the bills,
whereas the stance of the faction is the same.

The leader of the Hayrenik faction Arthur Tovmasyan compared this
budget with the previous budget and discovered progress toward social
and economic development. `When Ara Harutiunyan was appointed prime
minister, many said he is an unread book. Now we are reading the first
page of this book, which is very nice,’ Arthur Tovmasyan started his
figurative speech.

The budget bill 2008 was adopted almost unanimously ` with only one
nay.

Panorama.am

18:48 27/12/2007

`HOW TO BECOME PRESIDENT’

Today the ceremony of `Become President’ computer game
took place. This is the first Armenian educational
computer game. `Let’s play democracy and make it
reality’ said Armen Ohanyan, the coordinator of the
project, and continued that the game is unique in its
type, as it informs the player about the principles of
the democratic policy of Armenia.
`The target audience is the pupils of tenth form and
the students, or else those who do not have rights to
elect, yet. When playing they will get acquainted with
the presidential elections’ campaign, process and
direction. The game itself could be interesting for
others,’ he said. The game is rather difficult and
complicated.

According to Gideon Duhast, the deputy ambassador of
Great Britain in Armenia the game is created
especially for the Armenian youth, those who should
get the heritage of today’s democracy.
`The competition was announced at the beginning of
summer. Harutyun Alaverdyan and Hrant Ter-Abrahamyan
won the competition and the game was structured on the
basis of their script. Political expert Khachik
Galstyan is the member of the author’s board, and he
himself structured the political direction of the
game,’ said Anush Beghloyan, the executive director of
Armenian PR Association. The authors of the game said
that the game is typical mirror of the reality, as the
slogans, ideologies are real not invented.

Note that the game has its online variant:
and the following organizations
supported to the realization of the game: The embassy
of Great Britain in Armenia, APRA association, Smart
systems, imatrix graphics studio.

Source: Panorama.am