Author: Vasilian Manouk

NATO TO CONTINUE INTEGRATION POLICY TOWARD BLACK SEA COUNTRIES

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.10.2008 13:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ NATO focuses on individual capabilities of the
Black Sea countries and wants to see these countries stronger, more
democratic and in position to resolve their defense problems, a NATO
official said.

"NATO not only cooperates with the countries of the region but also
integrates them into the Alliance. Our doors are open for the countries
wishing to join us. An intense dialogue was launched with Ukraine and
Georgia to prepare them for NATO membership," Jaroslaw Skonieczka,
director for Euro-Atlantic Integration and Partnership in NATO’s
International Staff, said during during Black Sea security program
regional workshop.

"Nevertheless, this is a long process and the recent events in Georgia
bewildered NATO," he added.

"We intend to support reforms in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan and
continue integration policy toward these states," Mr. Skonieczka said.

CONFERENCE DEVOTED TO ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

"Noravank" Foundation
30 October 2008

On October 28 in "Noravank" Foundation was held a conference on
"Armenian-Turkish relations" participated by guests and foundation
co-workers. The conference was organized on the occasion of Fethiye
Chetn’s republication of the book "Grandmother." The book was first
published in 2006 (translated by the "Noravank" Foundation expert,
senior lecturer of Yerevan State University’s Department of Turkology,
PhD Ruben Melkonyan). The conference was honored by the participation
of Fethiye Chetin and the brother of "Akos" newspaper’s chief editor
Hrant Dink – Yervand Dink.

The Foundation Director G.Harutyunyan briefly represented how the
idea of the book came true, than Ruben Melkonyan introduced the
honorable guest Fethiye Chatin. The latter one mentioned that she
was very surprised to find out that her grandmother, Hranush, was
an Armenian, which made her make a tour into the past and find the
world-spread relatives. In the end Fethiye Chetin, who is a lawyer
by profession and at the same time the lawyer of Hrant Dink’s family,
took the pen and wrote this exciting story.

She also mentioned about great changes in Turkey. According to her in
her country are discussed such problems which nobody deared to voice
in the past, there are also braked taboos, in particular – Armenian
ones. The author of the book thinks that hostility between Armenian
and Turkish nations is conditioned by their not knowing each other.

By the end of the meeting the conference participants asked a lot
of questions to the author of the book which witnesses about the
subject’s up-to-datedness and great interest to it.

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710
Fax: (212) 779-3558
Web:
Email: [email protected]

Members of the United Nations community and individuals living in the
New York metro area are invited to participate in the annual Orthodox
Prayer Service at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, 630 Second Avenue,
New York, NY, on Thursday, October 30 at 6:30 p.m. The service will be
followed by a reception hosted in the Haik and Alice Kavookjian Hall
by His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern).

His Excellency Ambassador Negash Kebret, permanent representative of
the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United Nations,
will speak after the service and Raffi V. Balian, a member of the
Diocesan Legate’s Committee, will serve as master of ceremonies.

This unique annual service and reception is a tradition started in
2001 that offers Orthodox Christians ` Armenians, Copts, Ethiopians,
Greeks, Indians, Russians, Syriacs and others – an opportunity to come
together for worship and to learn more about each other’s culture and
heritage by engaging with representatives from the United Nations. The
evening is organized under the auspices of the Standing Conference of
Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas and the Standing Conference
of Oriental Orthodox Churches.

For Armenian-Americans, the event has been particularly important as
it builds upon the community’s relationship with the United Nations at
a time when increased attention is drawn to the geopolitical situation
in the Middle East and Armenia.

Please call Maral Serce to R.S.V.P. at 212-686-0710.

SARGSYAN-MEDVEDEV-ALIYEV MEETING EXPECTED IN MOSCOW

armradio.am
29.10.2008 12:24

According to a preliminary agreement, on November 2 the President
of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and the President of the
Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev will hold a meeting in Moscow
with participation of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry
Medvedev, President’s Press Office reported.

The agenda of the meeting will include issues connected with the
Karabakh conflict settlement.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN VISITED ARTSAKH

armradio.am
27.10.2008 13:18

October 24-25 President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan paid a working
visit to the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

October 25 President Sargsyan participated in the solemn ceremony of
putting into commission the new apartment houses built for the staff
of the NKR Defense Army in Stepanakert and Ivanyan village.

Later the Presidents of Armenia and Artsakh attended the military
maneuvers of the Defense Army of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

Following the military exercises, The President of Armenia, the
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Serzh Sargsyan visited defense
positions. Here the President gave an interview to the Public TV.

WPS Agency, Russia
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
October 22, 2008 Wednesday

COMMAND BODIES OF THE UNITED AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM OF THE CIS WILL HAVE A
COMMAND STAFF TRAINING

A command staff training for command bodies and officers on duty of
the united air defense system of the CIS will take place on October 23
under the supervision of Colonel General Alexander Zelin, Commander of
the Russian Air Defense and chair of the coordinating committee for
air defense issues of the council of defense ministers of the CIS
member states.

Air defense forces on duty based in Kazakhstan, Siberia and European
part of Russia, Belarus, Armenia and some other CIS countries will
take part in the training. Command bodies will be trained in
interaction with regard to aircraft trespassing the state borders of
the CIS countries. Combat readiness of the air defense forces on duty
will be checked by control targets.

More than 50 airplanes and helicopters including Russian AWACS
airplanes will take part in the training.

Source: Website of the Defense Ministry of Russia, October 20, 2008

Translated by InterContact

RA NA PROLONGS ACTIVITY PERIOD OF NA AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON EVENTS OCCURRED ON 1-2 MARCH BY 4 MONTHS

Noyan Tapan
Oct 22, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. On October 22, the RA National
Assembly with 84 votes "for," 5 "against" and 1 "abstained" adopted
a draft decision On Making an Amendment to the decision On Creation
of a NA Ad-hoc Committee on the Events Occurred on 1-2 March 2008 in
Yerevan and Their Reasons.

According to it, Committee’s activity period was prolonged by 4 months,
up to February 25, 2009.

The four members of the Committee authoring the draft turned down
the proposal of independent deputy Viktor Dallakian on stipulating
the order of creation of a fact-finding group by the decision.

V. Dallakian, three members of the Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction
present at the sitting and independent deputy Rustam Gasparian voted
against the draft. Independent deputy Hakob Hakobian elected from
the Tavush region was abstained.

UNDERGROUND PARKING LOTS BEING CONSTRUCTED TO DEAL WITH PROBLEM OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN CENTER OF YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Oct 20, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Despite the fact that new transport
nodes have been built in central parts of Yerevan in recent years,
the streets are still full of traffic. The Head of the Construction
and Improvement Department of Yerevan Mayor’s Office Frunz Basentsian
said at the October 20 press conference that the underground parking
lots being constructed in downtown Yerevan will enable to deal with
the problem of traffic congestion.

The construction of underground parking lots in Liberty Square has
already begun with funds of Renco organization (Italy). According to
F. Basentsian, the 3-story parking facility is enviaged for 500 cars
and will be operated by means of modern automated systems. Electronic
panes will be installed at 4 crossroads in Mashtots, Sayat Nova,
Terian and Tumanian Streets, which will allow drivers to look for
places to park their cars. The construction work will be completed in
18 months. F. Basentsian said that after the end of the construction,
the parking facility will become the property of the mayor’s office.

With the aim of easing traffic congestion in central streets of
the city, it is also envisaged building underground parking lots
in Shahumian, Sakharov, Aznavour, and French Squares and near the
Erebuni Hotel and the Republican Stadium.

The department head announced that all the stones of the pedestals of
dismantled Monuments to Hovhannes Tumanian and Alexander Spendiarian
(both monuments were set up in Liberty Square in 1957) have been
numbered and transported to the production basis of Yercitylight
company under the jurisdiction of Yerevan mayor’s office.

TURKISH CC SAYS AK PARTY INVOLVED IN ANTI-SECULAR ACTIVITIES

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.10.2008 15:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s constitutional court has ruled that key
members of the ruling AK Party, including Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the
prime minister, have been involved in anti-secular activities. Friday’s
ruling was related to a case which sought to ban the party on charges
it was seeking to throw out the country’s secular system, in favor
of an Islamist regime.

The judge said the AK Party carried out anti-secular activities and
exploited religion for political gains. However, he found no evidence
that the AK Party was trying to incite violence and only fined the
party for undermining Turkey’s secular principles.

"It needs to be accepted that the party became a focus of anti-secular
activities due to its move to change some articles of the Turkish
constitution," the court said referring to an AK Party-driven attempt
to lift a ban on the wearing of Muslim headscarves at universities.

In a setback to the AK Party, the constitutional court in June
overturned an amendment to lift the restriction, saying it violated
Turkey’s secular constitution.

The court’s unexpectedly harsh criticism against Erdogan, who remains
Turkey’s most popular politician according to recent opinion polls,
is likely to renew tensions at a time when it is fighting to limit
the impact of a global financial crisis.

The court dismissed in July the prosecutor’s case to have the AK
Party closed down and to bar Erdogan and other leading members from
party activity for five years.

The AK Party has been locked in a battle with Turkey’s powerful
secularist establishment, including judges and army generals, since
it first came to power in 2002. Secularists say the party is seeking
to bring back religion to public life, contrary to the constitution.

The AK Party, which won a sweeping re-election last year, denies it
has any Islamist agenda, Al Jazeera reports.

TURKEY WILL GO THROUGH GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS WITH MINIMUM DAMAGE, TUZMEN

Anatolia News Agency
Oct 9 2008
Turkey

ATLANTA (A.A) -Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said Wednesday
that Turkey would go through the global economic crisis with minimum
damage based on its stock exchange and size of businesses that were
not too big.

Speaking at an NGO in Atlanta, Tuzmen stressed that Turkey must pursue
trade focusing on "high price, high quality and high technology".

"Last year, foreign capital worth 22.2 billion USD entered Turkey,"
Tuzmen said.

Touching on Turkish-US commercial relations, Tuzmen stressed that
Turkish exports to the US dropped recently as the Turkish lira gained
value and competition from the Far East increased.

"Nevertheless, Turkey and the US pursue similar ideals globally. These
are peace, democracy, freedom, welfare and the fight against terror,"
Tuzmen said.

Tuzmen inaugurated the "Year of Turkey" at the Kennesaw State
University in Atlanta.

Speaking at the ceremony, President of Kennesaw State University
Daniel Papp said that they wanted their students to get to know Turkey,
a country with which the US had close relations.

The "Year of Turkey" will be celebrated at Kennesaw State University
with various activities and it will end in May 2009.

Tuzmen later visited the headquarters of Coca Cola company in Atlanta.

In reference to Muhtar Kent, the CEO of Coca Cola, Tuzmen said that
"it is highly pleasing to see a Turk in a high position as Kent."

Kursad Tuzmen attended a dinner hosted in his honour by the US
Southeast Turkish-American Chamber of Commerce (TACC).

Answering a question at the dinner, Tuzmen stressed that unless the
issue of Upper Karabagh is resolved, Turkey will not develop commercial
relations with Armenia.