Author: Virabian Jhanna

ACQUITTED BUSINESSMAN POISED FOR FRESH ARREST
By Ruzanna Stepanian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 2 2007

An Armenian businessman acquitted in a landmark court ruling is
expected to return to Yerevan Wednesday to face fresh arrest and
prosecution on fraud charges which he says were trumped up in
retaliation for his allegations of high-level government corruption.

Gagik Hakobian, the leading shareholder in the Royal Armenia coffee
company, and its deputy director, Aram Ghazarian, were cleared of
any wrongdoing by a Yerevan court last July after spending nearly
two years in prison. Prosecutors challenged the sensational acquittal
at the higher Court of Appeals which opened hearings on the case in
late August.

Hakobian left Armenia to undergo medical treatment in Spain shortly
after his release and has failed to attend any of those hearings. The
Court of Appeals ordered law-enforcement authorities to locate and
again arrest the businessman, dismissing his assurances that he will
return to the country after completing the treatment.

Hakobian told RFE/RL last week that he will fly back to Yerevan on
October 3. His defense attorney, Ashot Sargsian, confirmed this on
Tuesday. Sargsian said his client will do so despite realizing that
he will be arrested again and could eventually be sentenced to 12
years in prison, a punishment demanded by the prosecutors.

"They will put on a show at the airport," the lawyer told RFE/RL.

"The moment he arrives here by plane he will be handcuffed and taken
away … This is the kind of country we live in."

The prosecutors and the State Customs Committee claim that Royal
Armenia illegally avoided paying more than 1 billion drams ($3 million)
worth of taxes and import duties. Hakobian and Ghazarian flatly deny
the charges which they say stem from their refusal to engage in a
scam that would have benefited two senior customs officials. The two
men publicly and repeatedly voiced those allegations in the months
leading up to their arrest in October 2005.

Pargev Ohanian, a Yerevan district judge who presided over their
first trial, effectively sided with Royal Armenia, rejecting the
charges brought by prosecutors as unfounded. The verdict is widely
linked with disciplinary proceedings subsequently launched against
Ohanian by a government-controlled body monitoring Armenian courts.

The Council of Justice, another, more powerful judicial body, is to
decide by next week whether to ask President Robert Kocharian to fire
the judge or sanction him otherwise.

Meanwhile, Armenia’s human rights ombudsman, Armen Harutiunian,
petitioned the Court of Appeals last week to scrap its arrest warrant
for the Royal Armenia owner. Harutiunian had declined to intervene
in the high-profile case until then.

"Kudos to [the ombudsman] for appealing against the arrest," said
Sargsian. "But will he be consistent in fighting for Hakobian’s
release after his petition is rejected? We’ll see."

SLUSH FUNDS ARE BEING RAISED
James Hakobyan

Lragir, Armenia
Oct 1 2007

The Armenian economy is going through a recurrent stage of a total
rise of prices. Almost everything is getting considerably expensive.

Logically, in this period when less than 5 months are left until the
presidential election, the rise of prices does not seem logical because
it might cause social protests. In reality, however, a thought-out and
calculated combination has been launched. Everyone knows that almost
all the branches of the Armenian economy are monopolized. In other
words, the economy is divided among a few major businessmen. These
businessmen also have to cover the costs of the election campaign of
the government’s candidates. The peculiarity of the current period is
that the presidential election is held a very short period past the
parliamentary election. Meanwhile, in the parliamentary election those
businessmen spent both on the government and for their own election
purposes. In other words, they spent tens or even one hundred million
dollars when a few months later they again have to spend. Meanwhile,
they now have hardly a few months to get that money back and accumulate
more for new costs. In other words, now the consumers are squeezed
twice, for the past and the future. This squeezing will last until
December because in January the contrary order will be given to the
market – to cut the prices.

When the pre-election fund of the government will have been accrued,
and the government will be set on the populist mode. Something
similar took place last year. An unjustified and illogical rise in
prices in December, which the fair economic competition committee
suddenly started to attend to in January. The prices were made stable
in January and were even pushed down. However, the major businesses
had already accumulated slush funds by that time.

Most probably, the same scenario is being performed now. The businesses
will be accumulating until New Year. After New Year the fair economic
competition commission will wake up. And naturally the government’s
candidate will wake it up, most probably Serge Sargsyan, who will
probably voice concern regarding the rise of prices, and will say it
is necessary to make efforts to define and prevent the unjustified
tendency of the rise of prices. These efforts will be taken right away,
and the prices will go down four to six weeks before the presidential
election, considering that the consumers who will become voters in
six weeks will appreciate the government’s effort. In addition, the
same will probably happen to the exchange rate of the dollar. It will
probably start going down towards New Year, and after New Year the
dollar will start revaluating when the oligarchs will have collected
so much cheap dollars from people that it will be enough o hold two
presidential elections. As to what will happen to prices during the
four years following the presidential election, it should not be even
tried to imagine now, not to shatter the country’s demography.

312 ARMENIANS ARE OVER 100

AZG Armenian Daily
02/10/2007

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has delivered his address in
connection with October 1, the International Day of Elderly.

In his address the Secretary General has spoken about issues of social
state, pensions and healthcare of elderly people.

It’s worth to mention that in Armenia 12,7 percent or 408 thousand
of the population are over 65, and 312 – over 100, and two of them
are 112 years old.

LEBANON THE ONLY ARABIAN STATE THAT RECOGNIZED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.10.2007 14:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The Azerbaijani lobbyists in Arab states are
attempting to represent the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as a collision
between Christians and Muslims. This anti-Armenian campaign is a
menace for us," RA Ambassador to Lebanon Vahan Ter-Ghevondyan told
a news conference in Yerevan.

Armenia devotes little attention to the Arab world, according to him.

"Baku is winning the information war and this can have a negative
impact on Armenia’s relations with the Arab world. The opinion of over
a billion people following Islam cannot be neglected. Disappearance
of Armenian communities in the states surrounding Armenia is
inadmissible," the Armenian diplomat underlined.

He also reminded that Lebanon is the only Arab state that recognized
the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

Boyajian plans mayoral run
Ex-Fresno council member unveils agenda
By Matt Leedy / The Fresno Bee
09/27/07 23:44:30
Quick Job Search

Former Fresno City Council Member Tom Boyajian wants to return to City
Hall — this time as mayor.

He will formally announce that he’s running for mayor this evening at
his Tower District home. Boyajian, 62, confirmed Thursday that he will
become the third mayoral candidate in the race, joining current Fresno
City Council Members Jerry Duncan and Mike Dages.

Boyajian, a private attorney, represented west-central Fresno on the
council for eight years before being termed out in January. He gained
widespread popularity in his district by frequently visiting
neighborhoods and working to repave streets, fix sidewalks and cover
up graffiti.

Mayor Alan Autry terms out of office in about 15 months. And there
will likely be a crowded June ballot of candidates hoping to replace
him. If no one wins more than 50% of the vote, the top two
vote-getters will meet in a November 2008 runoff.

Among those considering joining the mayoral race are Council Members
Henry T. Perea and Larry Westerlund and Ashley Swearengin, chief
operating officer for the Regional Jobs Initiative, which works to
improve the local economy.

During Boyajian’s two terms on council, and especially in his last two
years, he often voted against the majority of his council
colleagues. He was the only council member, for example, to oppose a
plan last year to beef up the Fire Department using a $10.8 million
budget surplus.

However, he joined council colleagues in a unanimous vote in 2003 to
fine owners of dilapidated, vacant buildings that contribute to
neighborhood blight. He also pushed to have a grant writer hired for
the Public Works Department.

If elected mayor, Boyajian said, he would try to streamline the city’s
permitting process, making it easier for businesses to get started and
expand. Duncan made the same campaign promise when he announced his
candidacy Wednesday.

Boyajian also said he would improve morale in City Hall by hiring more
competent and passionate managers.

Improving the Valley’s air quality also will be on Boyajian’s campaign
platform. He wants to direct more of Fresno’s residential and retail
growth to the city’s core and discourage urban sprawl. The goal, he
said, is to cut down the amount of time Fresnans drive
pollution-producing cars.

For the same reason, Boyajian said he’ll push plans to have a
high-speed bullet train in California that stops in Fresno.

The reporter can be reached at [email protected] or (559) 441-6208.

03.html

September 28, 2007

PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Website: <;

PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER DIVINE LITURGY AT
HOLY MARTYRS CHURCH

On Sunday, September 30, the Armenian Church will celebrate the
Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak. On this occasion, H.E. Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian will preside over Divine Liturgy and deliver the
sermon at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino. Secretary of State of Canada the
Honorable Jason Kenney, who has been a staunch supporter of Armenian issues
and an advocate of official Genocide recognition, will attend services.

PRELATE TO ATTEND ANNUAL BANQUET OF ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE WESTERN
REGION

The annual banquet of the Armenian National Committee will take
place on the evening of Sunday, September 29 at the Universal Sheraton,
where Senator Robert Menendez, Mr. Hacob Shirvanian, and Prime Minister of
Canada the Honorable Stephen Harper will be honored. The Prelate will
deliver the invocation.

On Saturday evening, a fundraiser is scheduled to take place in
support of Senator Menendez at benefactress Mrs. Ashkhen Pilavjian’s
residence. The event is organized by the Armenian National Committee. The
Prelate will attend and convey his blessings.

PRELATE TO ATTEND A.R.S. FUNDRAISER

The Centennial Committee of the Armenian Relief Society has
organized a fundraising banquet to take place on the evening of Friday,
September 28, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Vahe and Georgette Kradjian.

The Prelate will attend and convey his blessings and
encouragement of the organization’s charitable endeavors.

DELEGATION FROM THE ARMENIAN ECCLESIASTICAL BROTHERHOOD VISITS THE PRELACY

On the afternoon of Thursday, September 27, a delegation from the
Armenian Ecclesiastical Brotherhood, visited the Prelacy. The delegation
included Brothers Haroutiun Chaprazian, Khachig Simonian, and Toros
Jeghelian. Pastor of St. Mary’s Church Rev. Ardag Demirjian was also in
attendance.

The delegation conveyed their best wishes to the Prelate and
congratulated him on the achievements of the Prelacy, as well as informed
him of plans to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their center, the
foundation of which was blessed by the Prelate.

The Prelate commended the spiritual mission of the Brotherhood
and expressed his support of their endeavors.

PRELATE REPRESENTED AT AGBU ART EXHIBIT

The Armenian General Benevolent Union has organized a three-day
art exhibit featuring the works of young Armenian artists, the opening of
which took place on the evening of Thursday, September 27, at Boyajian Hall
in Pasadena.

Christian Education Co-Director Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian
attended and conveyed the Prelate’s blessing.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF
ORIENTAL ORTHODOX BISHOPS

On the morning of Tuesday, September 25, the Council of Oriental Orthodox
Bishops of the Western United States held their regular meeting at the
Western Diocese in Burbank with the participation of H.E. Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, H.E. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate,
H.G. Bishop Serapion of the Coptic Orthodox Church, members of the Syriac
Orthodox Church representing H.E. Archbishop Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan.

Following prayers by the Bishops and clergy members the meeting
convened during which the possibility of future joint projects was discussed
and the yearly program formulated. After hearing the reports of the Sunday
Schools and youth group subcommittees the Council decided to organize an
educational gathering for students of Oriental Orthodox Sunday Schools, a
one-day educational youth gathering, and Divine Liturgy and spiritual
gathering for Oriental Orthodox Bishops and clergy to be held in January of
2008, at Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello, hosted by H.E. Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian and the Holy Cross Board of Trustees.

PRELATE ATTENDS RECEPTION FOR
REPRESENTATIVE FRANK PALLONE

On the afternoon of Saturday, September 22, a reception took place
in support of Co-Chair of the Armenian Caucus Representative Frank Pallone.
The Prelate attended the reception, which took place at Carousel Restaurant
in Glendale, during which he commended Representative Pallone for his
support and wished him success in his future endeavors.

TURKISH POLICEMEN ON TRIAL OVER PICTURES OF DINK’S KILLER

Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
AFP
Sept 28 2007

Two Turkish policemen went on trial Friday for their role in a scandal
which saw security forces pose for pictures with the suspected murderer
of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, the Anatolia news agency
reported.

The trial in the northern city of Samsun is the first time that members
of the security forces have been brought before a court over the
January 19 murder, which the police are accused of failing to prevent.

The charges followed a complaint from Dink’s family that police
protected the self-confessed killer, 17-year-old Ogun Samast, when
he was captured in Samsun a day after Dink was shot dead in Istanbul.

Footage and photos leaked to the media at the time showed officers,
some of them in uniform, posing with Samast as he held a Turkish flag,
unleashing accusations that some officials may secretly approve of
the murder. Eight police officers were given disciplinary sanctions
at the time, but only Metin Balta, the deputy head of the terrorism
department, and Ibrahim Firat, a police chief in the same office,
have been charged over the incident.

Balta is accused of "abusing his office by allowing acts unbefitting
state officials and leading to the impression that there was sympathy
for Samast’s action," Anatolia said. He could be sentenced to between
six months and two years in jail if found guilty. Firat risks a prison
sentence of one to five years on charges of "violating the secrecy of
the investigation" by leaking the images to the media, Anatolia added.

The police are also under fire for failing to prevent the murder
despite having received intelligence of a plot to kill Dink being
organized in the northern city of Trabzon, the home of Samast and
most of his suspected associates.

Dink, 52, a prominent member of Turkey’s tiny Armenian minority, was
gunned down outside the offices of his bilingual Turkish-Armenian
weekly Agos, in central Istanbul. Although he campaigned for
reconciliation, Turkish nationalists hated him for calling the
massacres of Armenians under Ottoman rule during World War I genocide,
a label that Turkey fiercely rejects.

Samast has admitted to shooting Dink because he was an "enemy of the
Turks," according to prosecutors.

ROBERT SIMMONS: THE SECOND PHASE OF IPAP ENVISAGES CARRYING OUT SERIOUS REFORMS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 28 2007

"Azerbaijan has adopted the second phase of Individual Partnership
Action Plan (IPAP) signed with NATO. The document covers two years,"
Robert Simmons NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for
the Caucasus and Central Asia, told journalists, APA reports.

Robert Simmons noted that some positive steps have already been taken
for the implementation of the second phase of IPAP.

"The second phase of IPAP unlike the first one has very serious goals
and envisages carrying out serious reforms," he said.

Noting that they visited Armenia, the special representative underlined
that Nagorno Karabakh was not debated in Yerevan.

VARTAN OSKANIAN ON THE LETTER BY FORMER SECRETARIES OF STATE

Lragir, Armenia
Sept 28 2007

Statement by Vartan Oskanian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Armenia on the Letter by Former Secretaries of State to
US Speaker of the House Pelosi on House Resolution 106.

It is with dismay that I read the content of the letter signed by
former US Secretaries of State urging Speaker of the House Nancy
Pelosi to derail H. Res. 106.

It is quite unfortunate that eight experienced diplomats would buy
into Turkish manipulation. There is much to disagree with in that
letter, especially about the purported dangers of such a resolution.

I will only address the insincere claim that such a resolution would
"damage efforts to promote reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey."

I regret to say that there is no process in place to promote
normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey. Expressing
concern about damaging a process that doesn’t exist is disingenuous.

Armenia has always been ready to have normal relations with its
neighbor. Yet, every initiative that would lead toward normalization
has been rejected by Turkey. Instead, it continues to place
pre-conditions. Turkey makes offers that are simply invitations for
open-ended talk, without serious commitment to arriving at minimal,
ordinary relations between neighbors. Even their call for a historical
commission to discuss painful, historic events is not serious, given
their prohibitive penal consequences for open speech and discussion
and the adversarial environment Turkey has created by maintaining
closed borders with Armenia.

RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN UNIVERSITY, SYNOPSYS-ARMENIA SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 24 2007

YEREVAN, September 24. /ARKA/. The Russian-Armenian (Slavonic)
University (RAU) and the IT-company Synopsys-Armenia have signed a
cooperation agreement.

According to RAU Rector Armen Darbinian, the agreement will open
a new page in the cooperation with Synopsys-Armenia. He believes
RAU-Synopsys-Armenia cooperation will enhance the education level
of students.

"Experienced specialists in information technologies play an essential
role in the development of the sphere in Armenia," Darbinian said.

President of Synopsys Dr. Chi-Foon Chan said the main target of the
company’s activities is training programs for young scientists.

According to him, young specialists are innovators, and the cooperation
will help to train highly experienced specialists.

Dr. Chi-Foon Chan pointed out that graduates of the RAU are the
intellectual power of Armenia. "In the near future, the university
will give outstanding scientists who will have their own investment
in the country’s development," he said.

The President of Synopsys informed that on the basis of the agreement
with the RAU, an interuniversity chair "Scheme and Systems of
Microelectronics" will be established soon.

According to the agreement, Synopsys-Armenia will develop 50 university
programs on computer-aided design (CAD) for the RAU.

Dr. Chi-Foon Chan said the RAU’s young lecturers (under 30) will
pretend to a Synopsys grant named after the famous Armenian scholar
Anania Shirakatsi.

"The main purpose of the initiative is to arouse interest in teaching
among young scholars," he said.

The Synopsys Inc. entered the Armenian market in October 2004 after
signing an agreement on Leda Design’s and Monterey Arset’s fusion into
the Synopsys-Armenia Company. For the last two years the company’s
technical investments in Armenia have totaled $360mln.