Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ISSUES OF REGIONAL SECURITY TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Feb 5, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The second international conference
"Countries of Caucasus and the Middle East – Possible Partners
in the Process of Formation of Regional System of Security" with
the participation of political scientists and experts from Russia,
Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Austria, China, other countries will be
held in Yerevan on February 7-8. Among the conference participants
are Prof. Hans Kehler (University of Innsbruck, Austria), Vyacheslav
Igrunov (director of International Research Institute of Humanity
and Politics, Russia), Bao Yi (leading specialist of Institute of
Eastern Europe, Rissia and Central Asia of the Academy of Social
Sciences of China), Cemal Usak (Secretary General of "Platform
for Intellectual Dialog, Turkey), Zulfugar Farzaliev (journalist,
Azerbaijan), Mohamed Shakir (Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs),
Prof. Gokhan Bacik (University of Fatih, Turkey), Georgi Petrosian
(Minister of Foreign Affairs, NKR) and others.

At the opening event to be held in the Armenia Hotel, speeches of
welcome of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and the conference
organizer – the chairman of the World Armenian Congress (WAC), UNESCO’s
Ambassador of Good Will Ara Abramyan will be read. After the opening
speech of the first deputy chairman of the WAC Aram Sargsian, other
participants will make reports to be followed by the discussion "New
Generation of National Elites on the Way to Integration in the Global
Processes" (moderator Dr. Hans Kehler – one of the world’s leading
experts in economics). Then the works will be presented by sections:
"Peaceful Way of Solution of Inter-State Disputes Does not Have
Alternatives" (moderators: Ruben Safrsatyan, director of East Studies
Institute of the RA National Academy of Sciences and Prof. Vladimir
Zakharov of Moscow State Institute of International Affairs), "From
Regional to Global Security System, from Interbloc Cooperation to
Stable Peace" (moderator Hans Kehler), and "Realization of Integral
Forms of All-Regional Economic, Socio-Cultural, Inter-Civilized
Projects – Safe Basis for Realization of Peaceful Initiatives"
(moderator Garnik Asatryan, head of the Iranian department of Yerevan
State University).

At the final plenary session on February 8, the Conference Declaration
will be discussed and adopted. Its draft in particular reads:
"Indicating the geopolitical realities, which have formed in the
region as a result of non-homogeneity of historical, political,
ethnic-cultural peculiarities of development of peoples in Caucasus
and the Middle East, the representatives of the interntional conference
participants Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Egypt, China, the
NKR, Russia, Turkey state: Caucasus and the Middle East is a region
of nonintegrated interests. <…> However, the similarity of unsolved
problems of territorial, religious, economic, socio-cultural nature
and the urgency of formulation of a unifying all-regional idea of
peaceful and constructive development of the regional countries give
the conference participants the right to assert that the regional
leaders’ and social elites’ awareness of the danger of continuation
of a policy not in line with geostrategical goals, as well as their
political will allow to conduct discussion of the principles of
building the region of Caucasus and the Middle East as a new single
geopolitical whole.

The absence of aspiration to achieve a baseless dominating position
over neighbors must become a precondition for starting negotiations. As
a task for taking the first step on the course to the integration
process, the conference participants consider the development of
"Declaration" by authorized representatives of the regional countries
– with presentation of general problems, examination of the potential
and prospects of integration, as well as integration-related threats
and risks, and modelling of the options of solution of all-regional
problems.

Defining regional security as a general system of inter-civilized
relations, the conference participants take the view that the regional
concept of security in the form of army poliical blocs does not
correspond to global challenges and the parameters of development
of security and stability in the region. <…> We proceed from the
fundamental principle that global security directly depends on the
level of good-neighbourly relations of regional countries <…>.

The conference participants appeal to the heads of states, parliaments,
governments, political organizations and NGOs of Caucasus and the
Middle East to present the ideas and proposals laid out in the
Declaration’s text to their societies for discussion. We hope to
launch a constructive dialog in the name of implementing a program
of stable peace and development in Caucasus and the Middle East".

ARMENIA’S PARLIAMENT APPROVES 2008 PROGRAM OF SUPERVISORY CHAMBER

ARKA News Agency
Feb 5 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, February 5. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Parliament approved the program
of activities of the Supervisory Chamber of Armenia’s Parliament for
2008. In 2008 the Supervisory Chamber is to tighten supervision of loan
programs implemented by the country’s ministries and state agencies,
the Chairman of the Chamber Ishkhan Zakarian said. Particularly,
supervision will be exercised over 31 of 33 loan programs in the
country’s ministries, Zakarian reported.

He also pointed out that in 2008 the Chamber also plans to supervise
the programs that remained beyond control during the last 4-5 years.

Among the fields to be supervised are healthcare, agriculture, urban
planning, transport and communication, as well as performance of the
Police and the State Customs Committee, regional administrations
of Siunik, Gegharkunik and Ararat regions, prefectures of Kentron
(Center), and Nor-Nork and Davidashen communities of Yerevan.

"In 2008 full control will be exercised over use of lands in the
National Park of Lake Sevan, over legalization of illegal construction
and liquidation of joint stock companies with government share,"
Zakarian said.

CBA BOARD RAISES REFINANCING RATE BY 0.25%, FIXING IT AT 6%

Noyan Tapan
Feb 4, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, NOYAN TAPAN. At the sitting held on February
4, 2008, the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) Board raised the CBA’s
refinancing rate by 0.25%, fixing it at 6%.

NT was informed by the CBA press service that 2.4% inflation was
registered in Armenia in January 2008 on December 2007, as a result
of which the 12-month inflation made 6.6%, remaining at the level of
late 2007.

The CBA Board takes the view that the high inflation environment,
which formed in global market, is still remaining and creates no
bases for weakening inflation pressures in the domestic economy. At
the same time, developments of the domestic environment will continue
to be conditioned by high rates of private consumption, also being
impacted by the tax and budgetary policy with an expanding effect,
which is expected in 2008. In the opinion of the CBA Board, the
indicated inflation pressures will remain throughout 2008, and it
will be possible to mitigate inflation expectation and keep inflation
within the target level only by gradually tightening the monetary
and credit conditions in Armenia.

5 ARMENIAN PLAYERS TO PARTICIPATE IN "MOSCOW OPEN" INTERNATIONAL CHESS
TOURNAMENT

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. "Moscow Open" international chess
tournament will be held in Moscow for the second consecutive year on
February 2-10. Armenian chess players Vladimir Hakobian, Karen Asrian,
Artashes Minasian, Zaven Andriasian and Elina Danielian will
participate in the tournament.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
February 1, 2007
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
E-mail: [email protected]

SUPPORT GROWS FOR DINK RESOLUTION
Lawmakers’ Statements Mark the First Anniversary of his Assassination

Washington, DC – A congressional resolution condemning the murder of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink (H. Res. 102) continues to gain
strength, as five House Members added their support to the measure in
recent days.

Within the course of a week, Congressmen Jerry F. Costello (D-IL),
Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Edward Markey (D-MA), Ed Royce (R-CA), and Paul
Ryan (R-WI) joined the growing list of cosponsors, bringing the total
number of supporters to 49.

A human rights defender, Dink was prosecuted under Article 301 of the
Turkish penal code for his writings on the Armenian Genocide. He was
murdered on January 19, 2007 in broad daylight outside of his office at
Agos newspaper in Istanbul, Turkey.

To mark the one-year anniversary of his death, Representatives Joe Baca
(D-CA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Scott Garrett
(R-NJ), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Ed Royce (R-CA),
and Adam Schiff (D-CA) made statements before Congress expressing their
remorse and reiterating the importance of acknowledging the truth of the
Armenian Genocide.

"Hrant Dink was a man who called for tolerance, peaceful dialogue, and
greater civil rights for all Turkish citizens. He was a fierce defender
of freedom and believed all people have equal rights under the law,"
said Crowley, who introduced H. Res. 102 shortly after Dink’s murder. "I
hope my colleagues will join me in honoring the memory of Hrant Dink and
continue to urge the repeal of Article 301."

"In order to uphold our democratic values, it is imperative that America
demonstrates its commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms to
the rest of the world," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
"Article 301 is part and parcel with Turkey’s ongoing campaign to deny
the historical truth of the Armenian Genocide. We will continue to push
for passage of H. Res. 102."

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

###
NR#2008-012

Statements can be found on the Assembly’s website at the following
links:

Representative Joe Baca (D-CA):
_2008/Hrant_Dink_-_2008/Congre
ssional_Materials/M ember_Statement__Baca__D-CA___House_-_January_28__ 200
8.pdf

Representative Michael Capuano (D-MA):
_2008/Hrant_Dink_-_2008/Congre
ssional_Materials/M ember_Statement__Capuano__D-MA___House_-_January_2 8__
2008.pdf

Representative Joseph Crowley (D-NY):
_2008/Hrant_Dink_-_2008/Congre
ssional_Materials/M ember_Statement__Crowley__D-NY___House_-_January_1 7__
2008.pdf

Representative Scott Garrett (R-NJ):
_2008/Hrant_Dink_-_2008/Congre
ssional_Materials/M ember_Statement__Garret__R-NJ___House_-_January_28 __2
008.pdf

Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA):
_2008/Hrant_Dink_-_2008/Congre
ssional_Materials/M ember_Statement__Lofgreen__D-CA___House_-_Jan_23__ 200
8.pdf

Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ):
_2008/Hrant_Dink_-_2008/Congre
ssional_Materials/M ember_Statement__Pallone__D-NJ___House_-_Jan_22__2 008
.pdf

Representative Ed Royce (R-CA):
_2008/Hrant_Dink_-_2008/Congre
ssional_Materials/M ember_Statement__Royce__R-CA___House_-_Jan_22__200 8.p
df

Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA):
_2008/Hrant_Dink_-_2008/Congre
ssional_Materials/M ember_Statement__Schiff__D-CA___House_-_January_28 __2
008.pdf

DARCHINYAN FIGHTING FAME IN PHILIPPINES

Bulletin Wire
January 30, 2008 Wednesday

They will bay for his blood on Saturday but Filipino fight fans are
lavishing rock star treatment on Australian boxer Vic Darchinyan in
the lead-up to his world super flyweight title eliminator against
local hero Z Gorres.

An amazed Darchinyan said he was getting far more recognition in Cebu
City than in his adopted home of Sydney.

Prior to losing his IBF and IBO flyweight world titles to Nonito
Donaire last July, the Armenian-born slugger was fast becoming the
scourge of Filipino fighters.

Before leaving Australia last Saturday, Darchinyan joked he might
be public enemy number one in the Philippines after beating three of
their other boxers.

So far, the only think it looks like Darchinyan will be killed with
is kindness.

"I can’t believe how they are treating me very well, they are very
good," Darchinyan told AAP.

"Everyone is recognising me. Even in the car, I was sitting in the
middle of the back seat, cars are passing us and they can see me and
recognise and start following us.

"They are recognising me here much more than in Australia."

Darchinyan’s manager Elias Nasser said his fighter had been in huge
demand for autographs and photos.

"He’s like a rock star. It’s unbelievable, he gets stopped every step
he takes," Nasser said.

"There are groups of people taking photos of him. At a media workout
he signed about 250 autographs.

The Filipinos hospitality extended to putting a boxing ring and a
couple of punch bags in the gym of the hotel and casino complex where
the fight will be held.

"I’m very fit, I’m sharp, my speed is very good, I’m very strong,
I feel great, I’m ready for everything," Darchinyan said.

Nasser said Darchinyan was running 10km on a treadmill just over two
hours after arriving in the Philippines.

"Vic is absolutely and unbelievably hungry, I truly think that he
will stop Gorres," Nasser said.

Darchinyan completed his sparring last Monday in a light session with
his stablemate Hussein Hussein, who will challenge Donaire in Dubai
on April 4.

That card will also feature big-punching, Sydney-based Filipino Ranee
Ganoy, who will fight Julio Diaz in an eliminator for the IBF number
two lightweight rating.

Donaire will be at Saturday’s promotion, which also features unbeaten
Australia junior lightweight champion William Kickett in a contest
against Filipino Romeo Jakosalem.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BACKS COOPERATION WITH BOTH RUSSIA, NATO

Mediamax
Jan 30 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 30 January: An Armenian presidential candidate, who is
also a deputy speaker of the parliament and member ofthe [Armenian
Revolutionary Federation] Dashnaktsutyun party bureau, Vahan
Hovhannisyan, said in Yerevan today that heconsiders as righteous
Yerevan’s choice of the "multi-layer" model of security provision.

Vahan Hovhannisyan said this today at his meeting with journalists
in the Information Center on NATO in Yerevan.

The Information Center on NATO sent out invitations to all the nine
presidential candidates with a proposal topublicly present their
approaches to the issue of security provision in Armenia.

Vahan Hovhannisyan noted that Armenia has the opportunity to expand
cooperation with Russia within the framework ofthe Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO), as well as with NATO. The presidential
candidate noted that Armenia keeps to a constructive stance, trying
not to gamble on contradictions but find common interests.

Vahan Hovhannisyan noted that the absence of diplomatic relations
between Armenia and Turkey undoubtedly influencesthe public perception
of NATO in Armenia. The presidential candidate also noted that
"in Soviet times we perceived NATO as a defender of the free world,
however, after the collapse of the USSR, when our eyes opened, we
realized that byno means all the member states of the alliance are
as free and democratic as we considered them to be".

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WESTERN DIOCESE E-NEWSLETTER
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Diocesan News
—————–

PRIMATE PAYS OFFICIAL VISIT TO GREEK ORTHODOX METRIPOLITAN OF SAN
FRANSISCO & PATRIARCHAL ATHENAGORAS ORTHODOX INSTITUTE

On Wednesday, January 30, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate of the Western Diocese, was the honored guest at a reception
and luncheon hosted by His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos, the Head
of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco.
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ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE STATED THAT THE TEAM OF THE EX-PRESIDENT "RECEIVED HUGE FINANCING FROM OUTSIDE"

Mediamax
January 30, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. "Levon Ter-Petrosian does everything to destabilize
the situation in the country", Armenian presidential candidate, Leader
of "National Unification" Party (NUP) Artashes Geghamian stated in
Yerevan today.

Mediamax reports that, speaking today at the meting with the youth,
Artashes Geghamian stated that the team of the Ex-President has
received "huge funding from outside and tries to justify in every
possible way the upcoming failure of its Leader during the presidential
elections".

According to him, "the participation of Levon Ter-Petrosian in the
present election campaign is the project of Robert Kocharian and is
directed to the establishment of an atmosphere of fear in the country".

Leader of NUP stated that the return of the Ex-President and
his company to power will have catastrophic consequences for the
country. "Those people are avengers, and not creators, and they intend
to continue the interrupted robbery of the country", Geghamian stated.

TER-PETROSIAN DEFENDS KARABAKH STANCE
By Astghik Bedevian

Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
Jan 30 2008

Former President Levon Ter-Petrosian brushed aside on Wednesday
accusations of defeatism leveled against him by President Robert
Kocharian and reaffirmed his stated commitment to seeking a compromise
solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Campaigning in the eastern Gegharkunik region, the opposition candidate
said he will make peace with Azerbaijan and ensure continued Armenian
control over Karabakh if he wins the upcoming presidential election.

Reacting to Ter-Petrosian’s harsh anti-government rhetoric at the
weekend, Kocharian renewed his allegations that his predecessor is
ready to place the disputed region back under Azerbaijani rule. He
said Ter-Petrosian would go so far as to disband Armenia’s armed
forces in order to "get chummy with Azerbaijan."

"If he takes cooperation of peoples and good neighborhood as
chumminess, that is the expression of his cultural level, his state
of mind," Ter-Petrosian shot back at a campaign rally in Vartenis,
a small town near the eastern shore of Lake Sevan.

"Yes, I am stating that the land which has been Armenian for 3,000
years will remain Armenian for another 3,000," he said, referring to
Karabakh. "That achievement has to be formalized by an international
treaty, after which we will cooperate and establish good-neighborly
relations with Azerbaijan.

"Because our main conduit to the outside world is Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani railway used to handle 85 percent of Armenia’s external
cargo turnover."

Ter-Petrosian was forced to step down ten years ago by his key cabinet
members, including then Prime Minister Kocharian, for advocating
a phased settlement of the conflict with Azerbaijan that would
indefinitely delay agreement on Karabakh’s status. Kocharian and his
allies stood for a so-called package peace deal that would formalize
Karabakh’s secession from Azerbaijan and settle all sticking points
at once. The Kocharian administration now appears to have agreed, in
principle, to international mediators’ most recent peace plan which
is very similar to the one advocated by Ter-Petrosian in 1997 and 1998.

Verbal attacks on Kocharian and Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian
were again the central theme of Ter-Petrosian’s speeches in the
unemployment-stricken area. He again charged that their decade-long
rule has been "based" on vote rigging and the 1999 terrorist attack
on the Armenian parliament.

"Imagine Robert Kocharian’s rule continuing for another ten years in
the form of Serzh Sarkisian," he told hundreds of people rallying in
Vartenis. "This is such a nightmarish prospect which I wouldn’t wish
even to my enemies."

"Take back the victories which were stolen from you in [the
presidential elections of] 1998 and 2003. This is your victory. Take
care of your victory," added outspoken ex-president.

"Yerevan is with us," claimed one of his top allies, Hanrapetutyun
party leader Aram Sarkisian. "We’ve won there. We only have to prevail
in the regions."

Ter-Petrosian, who himself had been accused of rigging elections
while in power, attracted visibly strong voter interest during his
latest campaign trip, with hundreds of people attending his rallies
in Vartenis, the nearby town of Martuni and several local villages.

In two of those villages, opposition supporters slaughtered sheep
and danced to folk music as they greeted Ter-Petrosian.

While the number of people listening to his speeches was relatively
high, not all of them were Ter-Petrosian supporters. "He destroyed
what we had. How can we be happy?" said one man, recalling Armenia’s
economic meltdown of the early 1990s.

"I had no job here during his rule and I have no job now," said
another. "Nor will I have one under the next president."