PRESIDENT MET WITH PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF OSCE CIO
KarabakhOpen
24-04-2008 14:22:34
The NKR President Bako Sahakyan met with the personal representative
of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk.
The information department of the president reports that the
interlocutors discussed the situation at the line of contact between
the armed forces of Karabakh and Azerbaijan, as well as the talks
for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
TAJIKISTAN, BELARUS, ARMENIA MAY BECOME EDB MEMBERS THIS YEAR – CEO
Interfax, Russia
April 22 2008
Tajikistan, Belarus and Armenia may become members of the Eurasian
Development Bank (EDB) established by Russia and Kazakhstan.
Tajikistan has already applied to join the bank, EDB CEO Igor Finogenov
told journalists. After all required procedures are completed,
Tajikistan will become a shareholder in the bank, which may happen
this fall, Finogenov said.
The EDB is working on certain projects in Tajikistan. For example,
the bank is involved in building a cotton processing plant and funds
the construction of the Sangtuda Hydropower Plant.
Kyrgyzstan might join the bank as well, after Tajikistan, Belarus
and Armenia become its shareholders, Finogenov said.
UNEMPLOYMENT FALLS, WAGES RISE IN ARMENIA DURING Q1
by Venla Sipila
Global Insight
April 23, 2008
There were at a total of 74,700 unemployed in Armenia in the first
quarter of this year, ARKA News reports, quoting data from the
country’s National Statistical Service. This result marks a fall
of 12.7% compared with the first quarter of 2007. In addition,
official data for the period show that the average nominal monthly
wage reached around 86,500 dram (some $280US), surging by 25.5%
in annual comparison. Development of compensation in the private
and public sectors of the economy are diverse. Indeed, wages in
publicly financed organisations averaged 60,600 dram, rising by 17.6%
year-on-year (y/y), while private sector wages gained 27.4% y/y and
reached an average of 109,200 dram.
Significance:The newest labour market data indicate further
strengthening. The Armenian unemployment rate at the end of last year
stood at 6.7%, falling from the year-ago result of 7.2%, while a total
of 75,000 unemployed were registered as jobseekers as 2007 drew to a
close (see Armenia: 18 January 2008: ). The now reported annual rise
in wages over the first quarter exceeds the growth rate for 2007 as
a whole (see Armenia: 28 February 2008: ). The rise in real wages in
early 2008, however, is likely to have been clearly more modest due to
rapid inflation. The falling trend in unemployment and growth of wages
are likely to continue, but these developments going forward are likely
to take place at a more moderate pace than recently, as growth of the
booming economy is finally expected to cool somewhat. However, figures
on the officially registered unemployed need to be interpreted with
caution, as the proportion of the unemployed registering as jobseekers
is still low, mainly because the very modest level of unemployment
benefits only provides weak incentives to register. The beginning
of 2006 saw the implementation of new labour market legislation, and
this has led to an increase in the reported number of people taking
part in employment programmes. However, it is still likely that the
true unemployment rate is higher than the official figures signal.
PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: nian.htm
"THE GENOCIDE COMMITTED AGAINST ARMENIANS IS A GENOCIDE AGAINST HUMANITY"
SAYS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
Two newly published works on the Armenian Genocide were presented to the
public on Monday in the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s "Gulbenkian" hall in
Antelias. Members of the Cilician Brotherhood, the President of Haygazian
University Reverend Dr. Paul Haydostian, the director of the Lisbon-based
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s Armenian Department Dr. Zaven Yegavian,
intellectuals as well as Armenian and foreign book-lovers attended the
event, over which Catholicos Aram I presided.
Lebanese Armenian intellectual and Seminary lecturer Sarkis Giragossian
delivered the opening remarks highlighting the importance of such an event
on the eve of Genocide commemoration day on April 24. On the first of the
two new volumes, Giragossian said it was like a reference of the writings of
those Armenian who witnessed the Genocide first hand. The book is a
collection of letters, written in the immediate years following the horrors
of the Genocide and communicated between relatives taken away from each
other, both in search of lost family members and to recount the tragedies
that befell upon them. The book is a republication of "Tsayn Darabelots"
("The voice of the Tortured") published originally in 1922 in London.
The second book is written by Lebanese intellectual Dr. Saleh Zahreddine in
Arabic and entitled "The Armenian Church and its role during the 1915
Armenian Genocide". Mentioning all the Arab and particularly Lebanese
intellectuals who had raised their voice in support of Armenians through
their writings, Giragossian upheld the value of Dr. Zahreddine’s work and
the message of Arab friendship that flows from it.
During his speech Dr. Zahreddine expressed his gratitude to Catholicos Aram
I for his support and to all those who helped him in publishing the book.
Stressing the friendship ties between Armenians and Arabs, he praised the
role of the Armenian community of Lebanon in strengthening the sovereignty
of Lebanon.
In his concluding remarks, the Pontiff talked about the message the two
volumes convey. Placing the issue of the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide in a new context, the Catholicos said: "The Genocide committed
against the Armenian nation is a Genocide against humanity. The voice of
torture, wherever it is, is not only the voice of pain, but also the voice
of resentment for the sake of justice. The Armenian nation demands justice
today, demands its rights everywhere. This morning we paid our respects to
our martyrs in Dzidzernagapert in Armenia, at the same time renewing our
holy pledge towards their legacy."
Concerning the content of the two books, His Holiness said, in reference to
the first volume, that it is not possible to read it without highly charged
emotionalism, especially "when memories were still so fresh and in their
writings to their relatives survivors described in terrorizing words the
events that occurred during the Genocide period."
Praising Dr. Zahreddine, the Catholicos said his book "is also proof of the
important role the Armenian Church played in the life of the Armenian
nation, particularly in its role to guide people from death to life again,
to rebirth and reorganization."
"Every time we remember the Genocide, we always say and will continue to say
that in Turkey Armenians experienced death and in the Arab world, they
opened up to life again. In Turkey, they were pursued as enemies, in the
Arab world they were welcomed as brothers and sisters," he added.
The Catholicos also praised Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Zaven and Ingrid Yegavian who,
upon his request, had agreed to fund the publication of "Tsayn Darabelots",
dedicating it to the memory of all the victims of the Yegavian and
Tchamkerten families. The second book has been published by the "Richard and
Tina Carolan" Fund.
##
View the photos here:
tos/Photos254.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the books
published in the Printing House of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer
to the web page of the Catholicosate,
The Cilician Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is
located in Antelias, Lebanon.
Armenian Youth Federation- Western Region
104 N. Belmont, Suite 206, Glendale, CA 91206
Tel. (818) 507-1933 *Email: [email protected]
News Advisory- April 24, 2008
ARMENIAN YOUTH FEDERATION – WESTERN REGION
PROTEST IN FRONT OF TUKISH CONSULATE
Activists to Demand That the Government of Turkey End its Campaign of Denial
of the Armenian Genocide
WHERE: The protest shall take place in front of the Turkish Consulate which
is located at 6300 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90048.
WHEN: The protest shall take place on Thursday, April 24, 2008 from 4pm to
6pm.
WHO: The Armenian Youth Federation is organizing its annual protest in front
of the Turkish Consulate. Thousands of Armenian Americans and Human rights
Activists are expected to be actively protesting their serious
disappointment with the denialist policies of the American and Turkish
governments. In 2007, approximately 10,000 attended this event.
*PROMINENT ELECTED OFFICIAL*: Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi shall
appear at the protest to address attendees.
WHAT: The year 2008 marks the 93rd anniversary of the genocide committed
against the Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish Empire. The Armenian Genocide
is the first genocide of the 21st century and is not yet properly
acknowledged and accepted by the American and Turkish governments. April 24,
1915 marks the day that the Turkish government kidnapped all the
intellectual Armenians and slaughtered them as it embarked on its systematic
annihilation of the Ottoman Empire’s Armenian population.
WHY: The Turkish government has attempted to place a "gag rule" on the
United States Congress as evidenced by its heavy-handed opposition to H.
Res. 106 (The Armenian Genocide Resolution, which passed the House Committee
on Foreign Affairs on 10/10/07). The ongoing genocide in Darfur today is a
testament to the need for clear and unequivocal acknowledgement of the crime
of genocide. The protest shall strive to raise awareness regarding the
denialist policies of the American and Turkish governments and how these
policies enable and embolden perpetrators of genocide to both commit and
deny this crime. The protest not only mourns the death of the 1.5 million
Armenians massacred from 1915-1923 but it also tries to educate others about
past and present genocides.
NERSES YERITSIAN APPOINTED RA MINISTER OF ECONOMY
Noyan Tapan
April 22, 2008
YEREVAN, APRIL 22, NOYAN TAPAN. By RA President Serge Sargsian’s April
21 decree Nerses Yeritsian was appointed RA Minister of Economy. Noyan
Tapan was informed about it by the RA President’s Press Office.
COE, OSCE WELCOME AGREEMENT TO CHANGE RECENTLY-AMENDED ASSEMBLY LAW IN ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.04.2008 17:44 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and
Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission
welcomed the agreement reached with leading Armenian state
representatives to make changes to the recently-amended assembly law.
"We see this agreement as another step in the long-standing cooperation
between the Armenian authorities, the ODIHR and the Venice Commission
on the legislative regulation of public assemblies," said Ambassador
Christian Strohal, ODIHR Director.
"The Venice Commission and the ODIHR look forward to receiving
the drafts of the new amendments and stand ready to review them in
light of relevant international standards," added Gianni Buquicchio,
Secretary of the Venice Commission.
In a legal opinion published on 28 March, the ODIHR and the Venice
Commission raised serious concerns about the amendments to the Law
on Conducting Meetings, Assemblies, Rallies and Demonstrations which
were passed shortly after the violent events of 1-2 March.
During a visit to Yerevan on 15-16 April, a delegation from the ODIHR
and the Venice Commission met Tigran Torosyan, Speaker of the National
Assembly, Gevorg Danielyan, Minister of Justice, and presidential
adviser Gevorg Mheryan.
It was agreed to repeal or change the amendments introduced to tighten
provisions for peaceful assemblies, in particular with regard to
spontaneous gatherings. These changes would bring the law closer to
its original content, which had been assessed positively by the ODIHR
and the Venice Commission.
Based on the agreement reached, new amendments will be drafted
and submitted to the ODIHR and the Venice Commission for another
review. ODIHR and Venice Commission experts suggested that sufficient
time be allowed for public discussion of the amendments, reported
the press unit of the OSCE Yerevan Office.
RA AND NKR PARLIAMENTS’ SPEAKERS FOR FURTHER STRENGTHENING OF INTERPARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION
DeFacto Agency
April 18 2008
Armenia
YEREVAN, 18.04.08. DE FACTO. The heads of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
and RA Parliaments Ashot Gulian and Tigran Torosian spoke up for
the necessity to further strengthen interparliamentary cooperation
between the NKR and Armenia.
According to the information received at the NKR National Assembly
Press Office today, the speakers stated it on April 17 in the
course of a meeting held in Stepanakert, where the RA Parliamentary
delegation had arrived last Thursday to participate in the meeting
of the Interparliamentary Cooperation Commission to be held today.
Ashot Gulian and Tigran Torosian discussed the ways and means
of ensuring regular mutual visits of both states’ parliamentary
delegations within the frames of interparliamentary cooperation in
other formats.
The meeting’s participants also considered the issues on the agenda
of the Interparliamentary Cooperation Commission’s meeting, in part,
those referring to the Karabakh conflict settlement process, bringing
legislation in line with the European standards and granting dual
citizenship.
ARMENIA THANKS LANKA
Ceylon Daily News
April 19 2008
Sri Lanka
Foreign Minister of The Republic of Armenia Vartan Oskanian thanked Sri
Lanka for not supporting the non-binding resolution "on the situation
in occupied territories of Azerbaijan".
Oskanian in a letter to Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said.
"I write to thank you for not supporting the non-buinding resolution"
on the situation in occupied territories of Azerbaijan" passed the
UN General Assembly with 39 votes last week.
Although an overwhelming majority of UN Member States did not support
Azerbaijan, the existence of this resolution has emboldened the
Azerbaijanis.
We sought to block this process from the introduction of the agenda
item to the vote on the resolution earlier this month. We asked that
countries follow the lead of the mediators.
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (France, the US and Russia) voted
against the resolution, because we knew that Azerbaijan would use
such language to reject the compromise approach of the negotiation
process and insist instead on their one sided solution, citing the
text of the resolution.
The consequences of this resolution will do lasting damage if
appropriate responsive measures are not quickly taken. Combined
with Azerbaijan’s confidence in their increased military capacity,
the existence of this resolution will aggravate the adversarial
environment and further debilitate a combustible region.
We believe that the international community must clearly signal to
Azerbaijan that they cannot be guided by this resolution and cannot
renege on the commitments expressed in the negotiating document on
the table. Thanks you again for your readiness to support the peace
process".
ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES 168,750 EUROS TO SHOW DOCUMENTARY ABOUT ARMENIA ON WORLD TV CHANNELS
ARKA
April 18, 2008
YEREVAN, April 18. /ARKA/. Armenian Government has allocated 168,750
Euros from its reserve fund to the Ministry of Trade and Economic
Development to make a documentary about Armenia and to broadcast it
on world TV channels.
The Government assigned the Acting Minister of Trade and Economic
Development Nerses Yeritsian to ensure signing of the respective
agreement with "Buzz Business", the government press service
reported. The agreement is to be agreed upon with the Minister of
Justice Gevorg Danielian. It has been also instructed to cooperate
with the country’s Ministry of Culture in script-writing.