Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN RECEIVED THE PRESIDENT OF EURASIA FOUNDATION

armradio.am
15.11.2007 13:40

President Robert Kocharyan received the President of the Eurasia
Foundation Horton Bibi-Senter, President of the Eurasia Partnership
Foundation George Zarubin and Eurasia Partnership Foundation
Representative in Armenia Gevorg Ter-Abrahamyan.

The President of the Eurasia Foundation informed Mr. Kocharyan about
the launch of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation activity in Armenia,
which is considered to be the successor of the Eurasia Foundation.

Noting that ever since 1995 the activity of the Eurasia Foundation
in Armenia has been directed at the development of civil society,
local self-government, communities, small and medium businesses, the
President of the Foundation said the new Office will continue the work,
attaching greater importance to the development of local capacities
and ensuring the elaboration and accomplishment of a greater number
of investment programs on the local level.

Robert Kocharyan welcomed the objectives of the Foundation and
expressed willingness to cooperate.

The interlocutors spoke about the democratic processes in Armenia,
Noting that democracy envisages consistent and patient work and
formation of political culture, RA President said the political,
economic and local self-governance reforms in the country are called
to reinforce the fundamental bases of democracy.

GAS CONNECTIONS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGHOUT ARMENIA WITHIN NEXT YEARS

ARKA News Agency
Nov 14 2007
Armenia

YEREVAN, November 14. /ARKA/. Gas connections will be accomplished
throughout Armenia within a couple of next years, Armenia’s Minister of
Energy Armen Movsisian said at the session of the Armenian Parliament.

In the last four years about 400,000 subscribers got connected to the
gas network with the total number of subscribers reaching 480,000,"
the Minister said. In the next years, gas connection will be provided
to some 600-650,000 subscribers. Movsisian also said that the gas
communications under competence of ArmRosgasprom Armenian company
are not being dismantled in the country.

As of November 1, 496,297 subscribers are connected to the gas network.

ArmRosgasprom Closed Joint Stock Company enjoys the monopoly for
delivery and distribution of the Russian natural gas on the domestic
market of Armenia. The gas is supplied via Georgia.

The company was founded in 1997. Currently its capital totals
$398.8mln. The shareholders are "Gasprom" Open Joint Stock Company
(57.59%), Ministry of Energy of Armenia (34.7%) and "Itera" oil-gas
company (7.71%).

TURKISH PRIME MINISTER: OUR RELATIONS CAN NOT BE NORMALIZED IF ARMENIA RAISES ISSUES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES IN THE PARLIAMENTS OF THE THIRD COUNTRIES

arminfo
2007-11-14 14:28:00

ArmInfo. Our relations can not be normalized if Armenia raises issues
between the two countries in the Parliaments of the third countries,
Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in an interview
with Azerbaijani APA news agency.

Expressing regret once again because of the fact that US House
Committee on Foreign Affairs approved the bill on the Armenian genocide
in October this year, Erdogan said US government’s decisive move to
prevent the House of Representatives from putting the unjust and
groundless bill on the agenda is praiseworthy. According to him,
the recent processes show that some members of the Congress, who
supported the bill, also understand anxiety and fair arguments of
the Turkish party. ‘In this regard, I would like to underline that I
believe the members of the Congress will act with the responsibility of
Turkish-American friendship and that we will continue our activity for
preventing the adoption of the bill, which may damage our relations
with the USA’, – Erdogan said and recalled that Turkey put forward
constructive proposals for revealing historical truths. ‘We offered
Armenia to establish a joint historical commission for investigating
the events of 1915, to search the archives in Turkey, Armenia and
third countries and inform the international community about the
results. We will not forget that instead of accepting our proposal,
which we believed will establish friendship and cooperation in the
region, Armenia pursues purposeful policy, directed towards the
adoption of the bill, both behind the curtains and openly’, – he
said. According to him, the fact that Armenia supported decision
of US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee ‘does
not coincide with neighborhood policy’. Maybe the fact that it is
already for ten years Turkey continues Armenia’s blockade coincides
with neighborhood policy. ‘We are taking several steps unilaterally,
but do not see its response. Can we hope in normalizing relations
in such a situation? Our relations can not be normalized if Armenia
raises issues between the two countries in the Parliaments of the
third countries’, – Erdogan said.

NETHERLANDS BANK TO ASSIST WITH CREATION OF POSTAL BANK IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Nov 13, 2007

YEREVAN, MOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Having an experience of ensuring the
activities of a system of postal banks, the Netherlands Bank is raedy
to provide technical and advisory assistance to Armenia for creation of
a postal bank. The President of the Netherlands Bank and the Chairman
of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision Dr. Nout Wellink said
at the November 13 press conference that in the Netherlands, this
system formed as a result of the process similar to the one that is
starting in Armenia.

N. Wellink attached importance to the initiative of Haypost Trust
Management company (Netherlands) to form a postal bank in Armenia – in
terms of creating extra tools for directing the Armenian population’s
savings into the banking system. To recap, about a year ago the Dutch
company assumed the management of Haypost for 5 years. Haypost Trust
Management was created by Postfinance company (Netherlands). It is
envisaged that the Dutch side together with several international
organizations will found a Postbank with the capital of 5 billion drams
(about 14 million dollars) in Armenia.

According to the Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA)
Tigran Sargsian, the creation of a postal bank is a new phenomenon
in Armenia. He explained that the country’s banking legislation is
envisaged for regulation of activities of "all-purpose" banks. In
his words, it is necessary to clarify the relations to be established
between Haypost and Postbank and the agreements to be signed between
the sides. Haypost has about 900 branches, which, according to
T. Sargsian, are likely to provide such services as money transfers,
deposit attraction, and sale of insurance policies and other financial
products. "The question is whether the postal bank can fully supervise
these functions and be a supervising agent of the CBA at the same
time," T. Sargsian said.

He informed those present that Haypost invited qualified experts from
various countries, and the reforms of Haypost are being prepared in
cooperation with them. T. Sargsian added that consumers will see the
results of Haypost’s reforms in a year.

U.S. SHOULD NOT RISK LOSING TURKEY AS VALUABLE ALLY
By Abbie Tingstad, Daily Bruin; SOURCE: UCLA

University Wire
November 5, 2007 Monday

Turkey is typically overshadowed in the press by its Middle Eastern
neighbors, but it has recently dominated headlines and newscasts.

Turkish officials have expressed an overwhelmingly negative reaction
to the proposed U.S. House of Representatives’ resolution to condemn
the Armenian genocide by the Ottoman Empire, which began in 1915.

There is no doubt that the recognition of genocide worldwide serves
as an important collective warning against future offenses. But was
the timing right in this case?

The House definitely made a diplomatic leap in the wrong direction and
the concerns President Bush expressed last week raise a valid point:
"With all these pressing responsibilities, one thing Congress should
not be doing is sorting out the historical record of the Ottoman
Empire."

Addressing the killing of Armenians during WWI in this highly visible,
political way is a cause best championed another day. Turkey is a
valuable ally, both because of its geographical location and its
political climate in the current worldwide campaign for stability in
the Middle East.

Furthermore, Turkey will necessarily be called to resolve this issue
in the near future as it continues to gain worldwide importance and
seek membership in the European Union.

Turkey lies at the geographical crossroads between East and West. In
many ways, the country has much more in common politically with the
West than with its Middle Eastern neighbors, founded as it were on
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s campaign for a modern, secular state.

Turkey, a NATO member, has continued to serve as a strategic ally for
the United States in the Iraq war, in particular through maintaining
thousands of U.S. Air Force personnel at Incirlik Air Base and holding
key supply routes open across the Turkey-Iraq border.

Given the widespread unpopularity of western politics and culture
in the Middle East, it seems highly imprudent to now antagonize a
key ally.

This is not to say that the Armenian genocide issue should not be
raised — it absolutely must be addressed — but at the right time
and through the appropriate diplomatic avenues.

Inevitably, as Turkey continues to develop importance politically
and economically, it will have to tackle issues of human rights.

House members anxious to address the concerns of their
Armenian-American constituents will likely not need to be patient
for long.

Turkey continues to actively seek European Union membership, a process
that will surely provide opportunities for U.S. commentary.

This will then hopefully be perceived as encouragement for Turkey to
conform to the European Union and western ideas about human rights.

THREE NOMINEES FOR THE POST

A1+
[10:59 pm] 12 November, 2007

Today the National Assembly nominated three women for the NA Deputy
Speaker.

To remind: the former deputy speaker Iskhan Zakarian was designated
Chairperson of the NA Supervisory Chamber.

The Prosperous Armenia (BHK) proposed Arevik Petrossian, the Chairwoman
of the NA Standing Committee on Human Rights Protection and Public
Issues. BKH Secretary Aram Safarian spoke of Arevik Petrossian’s
merits, educational and professional background and work experience.

Immediately after Safarian’s speech, OYP Secretary Heghine Bisharian
went up to the tribune and named HHK member Hranush Hakobian,
the Chairwoman of the NA Standing Committee on Science, Education,
Culture and Youth Issues. She has a great experience in the sphere
of parliamentarism, Ms Bisharian said.

Heritage Party Leader Raffi Hovannissian nominated Heritage member
Anahit Bakhshian.

As a RA citizen and a respected teacher she devoted all her life to
Armenia’s future well-being. She finds it her mission to educate a
whole generation of pupils, Raffi Hovannissian said.

Presently the candidates are making speeches.

Immediately afterwards the NA will conduct a secret ballot.

CHAIRMAN OF THE NETHERLANDS BANK ARRIVED IN ARMENIA

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
Nov 12 2007

Yerevan, November 12 /Mediamax/. Chairman of the Netherlands Bank
Nout Wellink arrived in Armenia for an official visit.

As Mediamax was told in the press service of the Central Bank of
Armenia, Nout Wellink will hold meetings with the President, the
Prime Minister and the Head of the Armenian CB.

The Chairman of the Netherlands Bank will participate in "Armenia
as the financial center of the South-Caucasus region" round-table,
which will be held in the CB.

ARMENPRESS

GOOD YEAR FOR AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT HEAD SAYS

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS: Head of an
agricultural ministry department, Garnik Petrosian,
said today although late spring frosts `decreased’ the
overall amount of expected apricot, plums and cherries
by 36,000 tons, late ripening fruits-apples, peach,
pears and others- are abundant.
He said overall 235,000 tons of fruits have been
gathered, more than in 2006. Wine-growers have
gathered over 220,000 tons of grape, by 20,000 more
from a year ago.
He said some 70,000 tons of grape will have been
procured by 23 big and small local wineries. Some was
sold and the rest is being stored for winter sales.
According to him, a total of 700,000 tons of
vegetables have been gathered so far. Some 800,000
tons are supposed to be gathered overall.
Armenians sold this year 900 tons of apricot, 500
tons of cherry, 2000 tons of grape and 500 tons of
peach to Georgia and Russia.
Petrosian said Armenian framers have gathered also
437,000 tons of grain crops and 570,000 tons of
potato.

TURKEY MOVES TO AMEND SPEECH LAW

Story from BBC NEWS:
europe/7081747.stm
Published: 2007/11/06 23:04:09 GMT

The Turkish government says it will change a controversial law
restricting freedom of expression.

Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said a new bill would be put before
the Turkish parliament in the coming days.

The law being reviewied, Article 301, bans perceived insults to
Turkish identity or the country’s institutions.

It has often been invoked by nationalists against those who argue
the Ottoman empire committed genocide against Armenians.

"Several drafts have been prepared in line with proposals by civic
groups.

The cabinet will discuss them at first opportunity, select one and
submit it to parliament," Mr Sahin told Anatolia news agency.

The infamous Article 301 must be repealed or amended without delay
Ollie Rehn EU enlargement commissioner

He did not give details of how the law would be reformed.

Earlier on Tuesday the European Commission said restrictions on freedom
of expression were blocking Turkey’s progress towards EU membership.

"It is not acceptable that writers, journalists, academics and other
intellectuals… are prosecuted for simply expressing a critical but
completely non-violent opinion," EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli
Rehn said.

"The infamous Article 301 must be repealed or amended without delay,"
he added.

Nobel-winning novelist Orhan Pamuk and Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant
Dink were both prosecuted under the law for their comments on the
mass killings of Armenians.

Hrant Dink was shot dead outside his Istanbul office in January 2007
and his murder revived a debate about the law.

Many said his prosecution under Article 301 made him a target for
radical nationalists.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS SENDS LETTER OF CONDOLENCE ON OCCASION OF ALBERT YAVURIAN’S DEATH

Noyan Tapan
Nov 6, 2007

ETCHMIADZIN, NOVEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II, on hehalf of the Supreme Spiritual Council and Mother
See’s Congregation, sent a letter of condolence to the relatives and
friends of famous artist Albert Yavurian.

The address, in particular, read: "The late Albert Yavurian is loved
and appreciated by our people as a talented film cameraman and artist,
who with his patriotic films made a great contribution and left
a lasting trace in the history of Armenian cinematography. Albert
Yavurian’s films were also highly evaluated by foriegn viewers when
being introduced at various international film festivals and contests.

We personally knew Albert Yavurian as an honest and pious person
having a great love for native traditions, who bore the dream of our
country’s bright future in his soul.

We pray to the God asking him to accept the soul of the deceased with
his love and endless mercy and to give his consolation and solace to
you and all mourning souls."