Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

ACCORDING TO LEVON ZURABIAN, ARMENIA USES VOTE IN PACE TO JUSTIFY ANTI-POPULAR ACTIONS INSIDE COUNTRY

NOYAN TAPAN

Ju ly 3

Why does Armenia need a vote in PACE if the authorities use it not
for recognition of Karabakh independence, but only for justification
of their own anti-popular actions inside the country?

Levon Zurabian, a representative of the National Movement, asked such
a rhetorical question at the July 3 press conference.

According to him, the Armenian delegation in PACE used its whole
potential only for retaining the power in their own country. Making
many proposals and achieving rather serious changes in draft Resolution
N 1620, the delegation, according to the speaker, did not strain any
effort during the discussion of the resolution regarding Azerbaijan,
therefore formulations absolutely inadmissible for the Armenian people
appeared in the resolution. He said that the loss of the vote "will be
a very serious slap in the face of the Armenian authorities," which
isolating them on the international arena, will make them undertake
serious changes to restore democracy in the country.

Touching upon the rally planned to be held on July 4 near Matenadaran,
L.

Zurabian stated that if the policemen try to hinder its holding,
they will carry out illegal actions. He said that though Mayor’s
Office has not responded to their application, according to the law On
Holding Meetings, Gatherings, Marches, and Demonstrations that came
in force from July 26, unless a decision is made within 72 hours,
the organizers have a right to hold the rally within the framework
of the submitted application.

WISSOL TO CONTINUE GREEN INITIATIVES

The FINANCIAL
0/06/2008 17:14
Georgia

Throughout the whole hot summer season Wissol plans to continue its
Unleaded Future campaign with green initiatives by the coast of the
Black Sea. So wait for surprises and the ‘Green Inspector’ to find
you on the beach.

Pirveli Card holders will benefit the most so while packing your
suitcase don’t forget to grab the first cumulative discount card for
physical clients in Georgia that awards for loyalty. The FINANCIAL
talked to Nino Dgvepadze, the Marketing Director of Wissol Petroleum
Georgia, to know more about the surprises the company promises for
the summer season.

Q. On June 5 Wissol joined the World Environment Day celebration
and started its grand campaign Unleaded Future, what activities are
planned to continue the campaign?

A. Our green initiative will cover the whole Adjara seaside. In
addition we will surprise our card holders as well but I’ll keep the
details secret for a while longer. The card will be useful not only
during your travels but all over the Adjara region.

As for the World Environment Day celebration this year it was dedicated
to the problem of climate change. Wissol Group, one of the biggest
business groups in Georgia, is the leader in the energy sector. Thus
it acknowledges the importance of contributing to the development of
society at large and implements policies and projects that affect
and concern all of the stakeholders. The organizer of the Marathon
and bicycle race was Wissol Petroleum Georgia in cooperation with the
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) representation in Georgia
and with the patronage of the Ministry of Environment Protection and
Natural Resources.

The project partners included: Renault, CENN, REC, World Vision and
the American Chamber of Commerce in Georgia (AmCham). Media partners:
Rustavi 2, Kviris Palitra, The FINANCIAL newspaper, The Georgian
Business Week, GBC, Georgia Today, Georgian Times, Autobuild, Focus
and Names ( Sakhelebi).

Levan Pkhakadze, one of the founders of Wissol and the Deputy
Chairman of the Supervisory Board, took part in the bicycle race
inspiring others to join. World Vision’s David Womble and students,
journalists, representatives from international organizations, the
Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources and others
took part in the race.

In compliance with Wissol philosophy environmental issues are one
of the top priorities for the company. We strongly believe that no
company can state to be socially responsible without accepting its
responsibility to the health and safety of its customers, employers
and the community in which it operates. This is the reason why Wissol
made the strategic decision to import the highest quality Italian fuel
to the Georgian market notwithstanding high transportation costs. We
work to supply stable environmentally less polluting products to the
market that means the fuel we import is unleaded and all the components
correspond to modern European standards. Our partner is SGS laboratory
which has equipment of the highest standards and professional staff
to make sophisticated quality tests of our fuel after it crosses the
border. In 2006 International certification body SGS granted the ISO
9001:2000 quality management certificate to Wissol for its outstanding
quality management processes. It is very important to state that only
importing quality products without applying sophisticated quality
control procedures does not mean that the end-customers are getting
the same quality that was started with. A Quality Control laboratory,
the right procedures and permanent control of oil terminals and the
reservoirs at stations are decisive to ensuring that the quality you
get from the source reaches the customers. These are the milestones
the company stands on.

Q. Wissol was general sponsor of the Caucasus Cup in bicycle racing,
how active is the company in sport development in the country?

A. Yes, Tbilisi hosted the Caucasus Cup in bicycle racing on 10-13
June, where two Georgian teams, Turkish, Azeri and Armenian teams
were racing for victory.

Wissol took the strategic decision to intensify its commitment to
sport development in Georgia and encourage healthy lifestyle in the
country. Thus the company started building two rugby stadiums and
one cycle track last month in the Dighomi district and acquired
the legendary rugby club Kochebi as well. Established in 1959 at
the Polytechnic Institute by the legendary Jak Aspetian, Rugby Club
Kochebi has been winner of the Georgian National Rugby Championship
three times since the independence of the country, is three times
winner of the sevens rugby National Championship and one time winner
of the Georgian Rugby Cup.

Q. What are the key social responsibility issues that the company is
focused on?

A. Wissol contributes to the development of the country through
paying taxes to the State Budget. In the meantime it acknowledges the
importance of contributing to the development of society at large,
thus implementing policies and projects that affect and concern all
stakeholders.

We value the trust our customers have placed in us and work to
safeguard this trust through permanent market research and customer
satisfaction surveys. We work to identify and respond to the needs
and demands of our customers by offering service products innovations
to the Georgian market.

ARMENPRESS

CIS INTERIOR MINISTERS COUNCIL DISCUSS FIGHTING AGAINST CYBER TERRORISM

YEREVAN, JUNE 28, ARMENPRESS: The CIS Interior Ministers Council
convened today in Batumi, the capital of Georgia’s autonomous republic
of Ajaria.

The gathering’s participants are discussing establishment of a CIS
hot line to fight against cyber terrorism and organized crime.

The opening speech was made by Georgian Interior Minister Ivane
Merabishvili, who thanked all for being able to take part in the
Council’s meeting.

The chairmanship of the Council was passed by Azerbaijan to Georgia.

BORIS NAVASARDYAN: LEGISLATIVE REFORMS ON ACTIVITY OF NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TV AND RADIO SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT IN ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2008-06-27 16:35:00

Legislative reforms on activity of National Commission on TV and Radio
should be carried out in Armenia, Chairman of the Yerevan Press Club
Boris Navasardyan said during the discussion on Resolution 1620 passed
at PACE on June 26.

According to him, one should work out proposals on this issue as soon
as possible. "We demand that the members of the National Commission
on Television and Radio resign voluntarily, this way they will
contribute to the reforming process in this sphere. Certainly, this
is not an assessment of their work", Navasardyan stressed. Touching
upon implementation of the demands of PACE Resolution "On Functioning
of Democratic Institutions in Armenia", Navasardyan said: "Everybody
says that Armenia failed to implement the resolution completely,
why wasn’t Armenia punished then?" He also pointed out that European
structures take complex decisions with respect to Armenia, taking
into consideration Armenia’s neighbor Azerbaijan as well. Navasardyan
thinks that in January Europe’s position on implementation of the
resolution’s demands will depend on how the presidential election
in Azerbaijan will be held in October 2008. He added that to gain
specific results, both the opposition and the authorities should
intensively participate in carrying out the tasks set by Europe.

OPEN LETTER TO GREEK PM
Eleni matheou

Hellenic News of America
June 26 2008
PA

Dear Prime minister,

We the undersigned: Hellenes of Diaspora, Hellenes of Greece,
Armenians, Assyrians and other descendants of the historical peoples
of Asia Minor; and, Philhellenes from many nations, are writing to
express our shock and outrage that your Administration is seeking, in
an arbitrary action of doubtful legality, to delete the word "Genocide"
as a response to annoyance expressed by Turkish regime officials.

Three years ago, Law 2645 passed unanimously by the Parliament and
subsequently ruled constitutional by the Council of State, calls
for the recognition of September 14 as a day of Remembrance of the
Genocide of Hellenism in Asia Minor.

Respectfully we urge you, NOT to remove the word "Genocide" in trying
to respond to demands by the authoritarian Kemalist regime presently
ruling the Turkish people.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN INTERESTED IN EUROVISION 2009?

armradio.am
25.06.2008 12:31

After Armenia received its best result ever this year with Sirusho, the
world-famous rock band System of a Down has shown a keen interest in
representing the country in Russia next year, independent correspondent
Jean Eckian informed.

However, the soloist of the American band, Serj Tankian, has openly
stated in a recent visit in Finland that this will be under one
condition: if they will be able to use Eurovision as a way to make
the much-debated Armenian Genocide issue known. "Eurovision would be
an excellent way to make this theme known. We must seriously think
of this." Tankian said.

System of a Down is very politically active and are noted for the
liberal political views expressed in their songs, tackling myriad
subjects including the War on Drugs, religion, drug use, and especially
censorship. They have actively campaigned to get Turkey to recognize
the Armenian Genocide and the subject is reflected in their songs.

RUSSIAN, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS TARGET $1 BLN IN BILATERAL TRADE

RIA Novosti
June 24 2008
Russia

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisyan said annual trade between Armenia
and Russian should pass $1 billion in a couple of years.

"Trade has significantly increased, but I suggest that in a year or two
this figure will be valued not in millions of dollars, but billions,"
said the Armenian leader, who is in Moscow on a three-day visit.

"It is a good aim, let’s work on this together," Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev said.

Last year, trade between the two countries reached $800 million,
and Medvedev said Russian investors had poured $1.2 billion into
Armenia’s economy.

Armenian National Committee of Canada
Comité National Arménien du Canada
130 Albert St., Suite/Bureau 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel./Tél. (613) 235-2622 Fax/Téléc. (613) 238-2622
E-mail/courriel:national.office@anc-canad a.com

PRESS RELEASE

June 13, 2008

Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian

Hon. Jason Kenney Honoured with ANCC Man of the Year Award

Ottawa–Hon. Jason Kenney, Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and
Canadian Identity, received the Armenian National Committee of
Canada’s (ANCC) "Man of the Year" award at a June 11 reception held by
the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia and the ANCC to celebrate the
90th anniversary of the independence of the First Republic of
Armenia. The ceremony was held at the National Press building.

Members of Parliament, the diplomatic corps, journalists,
intellectuals, NGOs and prominent members of the Canadian-Armenian
community attended the milestone celebration of one the most proud
chapters of Armenian history.

After playing the national anthems of Canada and Armenia, master of
ceremonies Tina Soulahian invited Dr. Girair Basmadjian, president of
the ANCC, to deliver the opening remarks.

Dr. Basmadjian said that he considered the establishment of the first
republic in 1918, after 600 years of occupation by the Ottoman Empire
as `a resurrection of a nation that was condemned to annihilation
three years before that date–a resurrection that proved to be the
precursor for a rapid establishment of all the necessary institutions
of a sovereign state.’

Commenting on the current state of Nagorno-Karabagh, Dr. Basmadjian
drew a parallel between Nagorno-Karabagh and Kosovo. He said: `Because
of the decisions taken by the free world regarding Kosovo, we dare
think that international policy makers have realized the importance of
the principle of self-determination over the territorial integrity of
sovereign states.’

Arman Akopian, charge d’affaires of the Republic of Armenia in Canada,
lamented the loss of the first republic which ` lasted only
two-and-a-half years and was eventually destroyed by the invading Red
Army.’ Akopian said that he valued the achievements of the First
Republic which `managed to create a new spirit of freedom and liberty
and eventually became a powerful and highly cherished symbol that
remained an inexhaustible source of hope and aspiration for several
generations in Armenia and in Diaspora. When in 1991 Armenia, for the
second time during the 20th century, fully restored its independence,
there was no debate about the state symbols, and the proud tricolour
flag of the First Republic was once again raised over the Parliament,
said Akopian.

Aris Babikian, the executive director of ANCC, said Hon. Kenney is `a
man whose energy, commitment and principled stand on human rights has
made him a legend in many segments of our civil society. He is also a
man who has changed the face of multiculturalism and has played a
central role in shaping government of Canada’s policy vis-a-vis
addressing the injustices which have befallen on our Native people’s
and on many multicultural groups.’

Babikian said that cherished this year’s Man of the Year Award winner
for his `strong faith and moral fortitude’ which `not only shaped his
future and his political career, but has also shaped and touched
everyone’s life who has worked and associated with him. His
humanitarianism, straight talk, sincerity are other remarkable aspects
of the man.’

Dr. Basmadjian presented the award to Hon. Kenney. In his acceptance
remarks, Hon. Kenney said he `was moved by this honour. One of the
most important things to me in my political vocation is human
rights. This is because I was influenced in this direction by the
teachings of John Paul II with respect to the inalienable nature of
human dignity … when one looks at the history of the Armenian
people, one sees an amazing, ancient, centuries-old fight for human
dignity for basic human rights against wave after wave of oppression.

`They struggled to survive against the currents of history. A struggle
which began three millennia ago, but which found its true identity and
rooting in the conversion of the Armenian nation as the first
Christian people."

Casting a long glance at Armenian history, Hon. Kenney said: `We see
in all of Armenian history, from that time in the Armenian kingdom to
today in the modern Armenian republic and in the breadth and dynamism
of the Armenian Diaspora across the world, an amazing story of the
human spirit. A story of struggle against adversity and emerging
against the often unjust, cruel and violent currents of human history.

`Tonight we commemorate the 90th anniversary of the first modern
Armenian republic…We know that that the republic itself was
something of a miracle. 1918, just three years, just a flash of time
after the great calamity, the genocide of 1915, a nation was born from
its ashes, a state was born from destruction of the 1915 calamity.’

The 2008 Man of the Year award winner added: `The idea that the
Armenian people did not give up after the indignity of what happened
to them in 1915, after having been marched through the desert and
rounded up and treated as animals, to have maintained their human
dignity in the face of violence and oppression is a story which must
be of an inspiration to anyone at any time.

`The Armenian community perhaps more than any other is a community
that understands the importance of memory and we, the government of
Canada, the people of Canada, as we saw today with the historic
apology [to native Indian], understand the importance of memory and it
is the importance of memory, which led to the Parliament and
eventually, the government of Canada and Prime Minister Harper to
acknowledge the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide.’

The honoree concluded his remarks by `thanking the Armenian National
Committee of Canada, all of those who do such great work to promote
Canada-Armenia relations today. I accept it [the award] on behalf of
all of those colleagues who’ve worked so hard on these issues and we
rededicate ourselves to that cause. We thank the Armenian community
for its contribution to Canada and for being a voice for human
dignity.’

The Man of the Year award miniature sculpture of famous Armenian
composer and priest Gomidas is the work of Canadian-Armenian Artist
(will add the name).

****

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of
issues.

Regional Chapters/Sections régionales
Montréal – Laval – Ottawa – Toronto – Hamilton – Cambridge – St. Catharines – Windsor – Vancouver

ARMENIAN TV CHANNELS OCCUPY AIR SPACE IN NEAR-BORDER VILLAGES OF AZERBAIJAN’S GAZAKH REGION

Azeri Press Agency
June 23 2008
Azerbaijan

Gazakh. Nazaket Mashadialigizi, Ilhama Isabalayeva-APA. Armenian TV
channels have occupied the air space in near-border Gushchu Ayrim,
Mazam and Farahli villages of Azerbaijan’s Gazakh Region. Local
channels except AzTV are not available in near-border areas. Armenia
installed TV transmitter in near-border area three years ago and
doesn’t allow the Azerbaijani TV channels to air in the above-mentioned
villages.

Local residents can watch the local TV channels via satellite
antennas, but the waves of Armenian transmitters enter into their
airs too. Broadcasting of Azerbaijani TV channels are breached
in the evenings particularly. Local residents said despite that
they did not know Armenian language they understood that Armenians
conducted serious TV propaganda on Nagorno Karabakh. They show their
flag over Shusha at the end of advertising spots. Deputy Head of the
Gazakh Regional Executive Authority Farman Hagdaliyev told APA local
bureau they repeatedly appealed the relative organizations on this
problem, but no concrete measures have been taken yet. Nagdaliyev
said mobile communication was weak in near-border areas of Azerbaijan,
but Armenia’s Armencell is quite stronger there. Even Armenians send
message "Welcome to Armenian land" via mobile phones.

Technical director of Teleradio production enterprise of the Ministry
of Communication and Information Technology of Azerbaijan Mikayil
Abbasov told APA that his organization organized only AzTV and
Republican radio broadcasting over the territory of the republic. He
said they had installed transmitters for AzTV broadcasting in all
three villages – Gushchu Ayrim, Mazam and Farahli of Gazakh Region
and thee was no problem in this field. Regarding to other local
channels, Abbasov said they should purchase and install transmitters
for improving of quality of their broadcasting. "According to the
instructions of International Telecommunication Union, wave of one
channel in near-border area can cover 300 km territory. Therefore
Armenian channels enter into our air space and our channels into the
Armenian space".

Senior Adviser of the Ministry of Communication and Information
Technologies Gulam Abdullayev told APA that they would investigate
Armencell activeness in the territory of Gazakh Region.

METROPOLITAN DIARY
Shooshan Danagoulian

New York Times
June 23 2008
NY

A few years ago in May, my husband and I, newlyweds, were heading
to Kennedy Airport to our honeymoon. It was to be a trip around the
world, visiting our families in Armenia, Malaysia and Taiwan. It was
also our last trip out of New York, as the last leg of the journey
would take us to our new home in Philadelphia.

With our suitcases packed, we waited for the van service we had
ordered. It never showed up. With some time to spare, we decided to
head for the subway. After two stations, all trains stopped because of
an incident on the tracks. We were both tired, sore and frustrated. By
then, we were running late, and as we hailed a cab, we were hoping
for miracle to ferry us through the midafternoon Manhattan traffic.

I noticed that the cabdriver was Armenian. Excited, I told the driver
that I was also Armenian, and that the flight we were trying to catch
would take us to Armenia, so that I could introduce my husband to my
homeland. Thrilled, the driver promised to get us to the flight on
time, and delighted us with stories of the many years of his marriage
as we swiftly maneuvered through traffic.

We made it to the flight, and went on to have a spectacular and
adventurous honeymoon. What a memorable cab ride! What an amazing
way to say goodbye to New York!