A.R.F. Shant Student Association
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 306
Glendale, California 91206
Tel: 818-243-1890
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE
December 5, 2006

ENCINO, CA – On Sunday, December 10th at 6pm, the community is
enthusiastically invited to a historic Book Presentation to celebrate
the translation of the "Houshamatyan" of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF) Album-Atlas Volume I into English.

The event is sponsored by the ARF Western United States Central
Committee and the Armenian Youth Federation Central Committee.
The ARF Shant Student Association (ARF Shant) and numerous community
organizations will be participating in the event, which will take
place at Avedissian Hall located at 5300 White Oak Avenue in Encino,
California.

The Book Presentation will feature a dynamic program consisting of
musical performances, poetic recitals, and addresses by renowned
speakers. Popular singer Razmig Mansourian will perform a set of
revolutionary songs.

Author Aram Saroyan will be amongst the speakers invited to make
remarks at the event, which will be attended by descendants of
Krisdapor Mikayelian and Rosdom along with Simon Zavarian’s brother
Vassil.

Copies of the English translation of the Houshamatyan ARF Album
Atlas, Volume I, signed by Editors Mr. and Mrs. Hagop Manjikian,
will be available for a $75 donation.

For further details, please visit the ARF Shant’s website at
or contact the ARF Central Committee at (818)
243-1890.

The mission of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation "Shant" Student
Association (ARF Shant) is to bring a higher level of political and
cultural awareness to Armenian students within American Universities
and institutions of higher learning. The ARF Shant’s goal is to work
side by side with the Armenian Student Associations and other Armenian
Student organizations to further the Armenian Cause.

—

PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-10) 52-35-31
Email: [email protected]
Web:

OSCE Ministerial Adopts Ministerial Statement on Nagorno Karabakh

On Tuesday December 5, the 14th Ministerial Meeting of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe concluded in Brussels. Key on
the OSCE agenda this year were OSCE reforms. The OSCE Ministerial
Council adopted a decision on strengthening the effectiveness of
the OSCE, as well as other decisions on terrorism, organized crime,
small arms and weapons of mass destruction, economic and environmental
matters, and human rights, particularly on combating trafficking in
human beings. On regional conflicts, Nagorno Karabakh was the only
conflict around which there was agreement.

The Ministerial Statement on Nagorno Karabakh began, "We are
encouraged that negotiations in 2006, facilitated by the Co-Chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group and supported by the OSCE Chairman in Office,
have brought the sides closer to agreement on the basic principles
for the resolution on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict." The Statement
also referred to the recent OSCE Mission to the region to observe
fires and their affects. "We call on the sides, with the assistance
of the international community, to extend co-operation to conduct
an environmental operation to suppress the fires in the affected
territories and to overcome detrimental consequences. These measures
can constitute significant steps toward restoring confidence between
the sides. The OSCE is available to assist," it said.

The Armenian delegation at the Conference was headed by Armenia’s
Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian. He noted that the
Statement fairly reflects the current status of the negotiations and
welcomed the OSCE’s continuing commitment to helping the sides secure
a lasting resolution.

In his annual speech at the Ministerial, Minister Oskanian focused on
OSCE reforms, including that of ODIHR, and the importance of the OSCE’s
field missions. Of course, he also spoke about Armenia’s development,
and the progress of the Nagorno Karabakh negotiations process.

On Nagorno Karabakh, the Minister said, "No one wants a lasting
settlement to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict more than we do. The last
meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan gives us
hope that agreement may yet be found even on those principles around
which we still don’t see eye to eye. We know that a lasting solution
will depend on the security and status of the people of Nagorno
Karabakh. That is how this conflict began – when their security was
violated, and their right to self-determination trampled over. The
principles under discussion seek to satisfy the right of the people
of Nagorno Karabakh to self-determination while at the same time
eliminating the consequences of the conflict. We anticipate that
indeed Azerbaijan will find the will to acknowledge and respect the
right of the people of Nagorno Karabakh to determine its own future,
its own status, its own security arrangements."

He continued, "In just a few days, Nagorno Karabakh will hold a
referendum to adopt a Constitution. During this decade and a half,
they have built political institutions, through elections they
have selected their own authorities and developed a legislative
framework. They recognized the need for a basic law, and recognized
that a referendum is the only acceptable way to collectively adopt that
basic law. For the international community to dismiss their democratic
aspirations and blame them for choosing to behave democratically
is counterproductive. Azerbaijan claims that exercising a vote is
an obstruction to the peace process. It can’t be further from the
truth. What really obstructs the process is their overreaction to
Karabakh’s democratic activities, their refusal to engage Nagorno
Karabakh in peace talks, their repeated militaristic calls and their
persistent efforts to sidetrack the Minsk Group negotiations process."

In the margins of the OSCE Ministerial, the Minister held bilateral
meetings with US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried, the
Foreign Minister of Luxembourg Mr. Jean Asselborn, the State Minister
of European Affairs of Ireland Mr. Noel Treacy, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Estonia Mr. Urmas Paet, the Foreign Minister of
Hungary, Dr. Kinga Goncz. The Minister also held meetings with the
Mr. Bernardino Leon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Spain
which will assume the chairmanship of the OSCE in 2007, and Mr. Manuel
Lobo Antunes, the State Secretary for European Affairs of Portugal,
which will assume the Presidency of the European Union in the second
half of 2008.

Minister Oskanian also met with Mr. Goran Lennmarker, President of the
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Ambassador Christian Strohal, Director
of ODIHR and Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, the Secretary General of
the OSCE.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA WELCOMES HOUSE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION TO
BLOCK U.S. SUBSIDY FOR ARMENIA RAILROAD BYPASS

— Rep. Crowley Leads Efforts to Secure
Final Adoption before Congress Adjourns

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives, as part of its
efforts to resolve outstanding legislation during an end-of-year
"lame duck" session, today adopted legislation that includes a
provision protecting U.S. taxpayers from funding an unnecessary and
costly proposed railroad between Turkey and Georgia that would, if
built, circumvent Armenia, reported the Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA).

"Armenian Americans welcome today’s action by the U.S. House of
Representatives and look forward to the Senate’s final approval of
the measure and, of course, its signature into law by the
President," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We
appreciate this principled stand by Congress against Turkey and
Azerbaijan’s efforts to institutionalize their illegal blockades of
Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh."

On March 8th of this year, responding to a question on the railroad
bypass from Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA) during a hearing of the
International Relations Committee, Assistant Secretary of State
Daniel Fried asserted that, "The proposed railway would bypass
Armenia and thus not be beneficial to regional integration. We have
no plans to support such a railway financially. The Administration
has not allocated or expended any federal agency funds or otherwise
provided financial support for the intended project."

The House action brings the measure – the Export-Import Bank
Reauthorization Bill – in line with the Senate’s version, adopted
earlier this year, and sets the stage for its final adoption this
week. Once finalized by both houses of Congress, the law will go
to the President’s desk for his signature.

Commenting on today’s action, Congressman Joe Crowley (D-NY), who
navigated the measure through the legislative process, noted that,
working in cooperation with Representatives Ed Royce (R-CA) and
Brad Sherman (D-CA), he was pleased to have been able to "assist in
promoting stability in the Caucasus region, help in ending long
standing conflicts, and save U.S. taxpayers the responsibility of
funding a project that goes against U.S. interests."

The Senate, during its final day in session before the November 7th
mid-term elections, passed the measure by unanimous consent as part
of its reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank. On September
21st the Senate Banking Committee, during its consideration of the
Export-Import bill, had agreed to add the railway language, offered
initially as an amendment by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), to the
larger measure. The Menendez Amendment was ultimately accepted as a
"manager’s amendment" by Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL)
and Ranking Democrat Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) and unanimously approved
by the panel.

The U.S. House, this July, adopted the railway language as part of
its version of the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Bill,
following a successful effort within the Financial Services
Committee, spearheaded by Representatives Joseph Crowley (D-NY),
Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Ed Royce (R-CA), to amend this text to the
EXIM measure. Both versions are based on the South Caucasus
Integration and Open Railroads Act of 2006 (S. 2461 / H.R. 3361),
introduced in the Senate by Rick Santorum (R-PA) and in the House
by Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), the Co-Chairman of the Armenian
Caucus.

The proposed new Caucasus rail line – at the urging of Turkey and
Azerbaijan – would circumvent Armenia. Promoters of the project
have sought, even at the planning stages, to secure U.S. financing
for this undertaking, prompting Congressional friends of Armenia to
preemptively block such attempts. In October of 2005, the European
Commission voiced official opposition to the proposed Caucasus
railroad bypass of Armenia. A formal statement by the Commission’s
Directorate General for Transport and Energy noted that its
construction was both unnecessary and inefficient in light of the
existing railroad connecting Kars, Gyumri, and Tbilisi.

The bill text concerning the Armenia railroad bypass reads as
follows:

SEC. 11. PROHIBITION ON ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP OR PROMOTE CERTAIN
RAILWAY CONNECTIONS AND RAILWAY-RELATED CONNECTIONS.

Section 2(b) of the Export-Import Act of 1945 (12 U.S.C. 635(b)) is
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(13) Prohibition on Assistance To Develop or Promote Certain
Railway Connections and Railway-Related Connections.–The Bank
shall not guarantee, insure, or extend (or participate in the
extension of) credit in connection with the export of any good or
service relating to the development or promotion of any railway
connection or railway-related connection that does not traverse or
connect with Armenia and does traverse or connect Baku, Azerbaijan,
Tbilisi, Georgia, and Kars, Turkey.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the
official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank’s
mission is to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and
services to international markets.

The full text of Congressman Crowley’s remarks are provided below:

#####

Congressman Crowley Statement
Export Import Bank Reauthorization
December 6, 2006

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Export-Import Bank
Reauthorization

This bill will strengthen the Export-Import Bank’s abilities to
allow American companies to compete in the global market as we try
to increase our exports, increase our global competitiveness and
create more and better paying jobs in the USA

This is a bill about exporting products not jobs

Additionally, I am happy to say that both the Senate and the House
versions of this bill include language that I co-authored
pertaining to the nation of Armenia, a great U.S. ally.

My language, done with Congressmen Ed Royce and Brad Sherman,
prohibits the Export-Import Bank from funding any railway projects
from Azerbaijan, through Georgia and Turkey, which specifically
bypasses Armenia. I am very pleased that this language was
included in the final version of this legislation.

This language will assist in promoting stability in the Caucasus
region, help in ending long standing conflicts, and save U.S.
taxpayers the responsibility of funding a project that goes against
U.S. interests.

For over 10 years, Armenia has fought a blockade, imposed on them
by the countries of Turkey and Azerbaijan. These two countries
continually exclude Armenia from regional development.

Exclusion of one country in regional projects only fosters
instability

Besides possibly creating a regional crisis, this project, if
funded by the Export-Import Bank could cost taxpayers millions. I
do not believe that U.S. taxpayers should be funding a project that
goes against U.S. interests.

I am pleased this good language was added to an already good bill.

Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support the Export-Import
Reauthorization.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA CAPITAL GATEWAY PROGRAM BEGINS FOURTH YEAR
OF OPENING DOORS FOR YOUNG ARMENIAN AMERICANS

— Hovig Apo Saghdejian Memorial Fund Fuels Growth of Program

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America’s Capital
Gateway Program – the innovative Armenian American job placement program
now approaching its fourth year of operations in the nation’s capital –
continues to provide recent college graduates with opportunities to
launch successful careers in Washington, DC.

In addition to being granted access to the full use of ANCA facilities,
those who are accepted into the program are provided free housing in
downtown Washington, DC, as well as training, networking, and job
placement support as they seek full-time government, public policy, and
media-related job opportunities in the nation’s capital.

Officially inaugurated in May 2003 – with the support of the Cafesjian
Family Foundation – the Capital Gateway Program has benefited
tremendously over the past three years from the generosity of donors
committed to creating public service opportunities for young Armenian
Americans. The leading financial contributor to the Program has been
the family of Hovig Apo Saghdejian, a 23-year old youth leader and
community activist from Fresno, California, who lost his life in 2004 in
a tragic car accident. His family established the Hovig Apo Saghdejian
Memorial Fund in Hovig’s memory. These funds are held in perpetuity,
with all their income being used to finance the participation of young
Armenian Americans in the Capital Gateway Program.

The current Hovig Apo Saghdejian Fellow is Hovig Shirikian, who is
interning with California Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) as a
stepping-stone for a Washington career in public policy. After learning
about the Capital Gateway Program before graduating from the University
of California at Santa Barbara, Shirikian decided to apply for the
program and come to Washington, DC to pursue his interest in political
advocacy. "I wanted to come to DC because that is where the action is,"
says Shirikian. "I wanted to learn first-hand how things are run and
gain experience that will be respected no matter where I decide to go in
the future." Past Hovig Apo Saghdejian Fellows have included: Ani
Bedrosian, Andrew Gregorian, and Vasken Kassakhian.

Other current participants include Taline Ghazarian, Rita Garabedian,
and Antranik Boyadjian. The program recently helped Ghazarian, a
graduate in Sociology from UCLA and former English-section editor for
the Asbarez Armenian Daily Newspaper, land an internship with
Congresswoman Diane Watson (D-CA). She hopes to use the position to
learn more about the inner workings of Congress and gain a foothold in
the policy-making arena. "It’s really interesting getting a first-hand
look into how government works and figuring out your particular niche in
it," said Ghazarian.

The program has also provided opportunities for Rita Garabedian, a
native of Kenner, Louisiana. After graduating from the University of
New Orleans with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History,
Garabadian came to DC to find work as a Congressional staffer. She is
currently serving as an intern for Representative Albert Wynn (D-MD 4)
while continuing to explore full-time staff positions. She believes the
recent shakeup in the House of Representatives could provide her a
unique opportunity to fill a position with one of the many new members
of Congress. "I feel very fortunate to be here on the Hill at such an
exciting moment," Garabedian commented. "Both job-wise and politically,
there are a lot of encouraging prospects."

Antranik Boyadjian, a university student from France, has come to
Washington, DC to volunteer at the ANCA office. Robert Khatchadurian,
who recently graduated from the program, has secured a consulting
position with Booz Allen Hamilton. These exceptional individuals add
their names to a growing list of participants who have taken advantage
of the unique opportunities offered by the Capital Gateway Program.

Additional information about the program is available on the ANCA
website –

#####

Sunday, December 03, 2006
***************************************
WORK IN PROGRESS
*************************************
Identifying oneself with a fraction of mankind — be it race color or creed, or nation, tribe, and party — means drawing a curtain on the rest and adopting a propaganda line; and as we know by now, for every propaganda line there will be a counter-propaganda line with all the familiar results – contradictions, conflicts, assertions of superiority, intolerance, and hatred leading to war, massacre, and atrocities. I see this clearly today but for a long time my “betters” did their utmost to make me an unthinking robot who will swallow their venom, ignorance, prejudices, and unsettled scores, and feel as though I were discharging my patriotic duty and acting in the name of a noble cause, as opposed to satisfying some imbecile’s lust for power.
*
No one (except perhaps the Pope of Rome) dares to assert infallibility, because doing so would mean provoking ridicule; but everyone argues as if he were infallible in his judgment. The hardest thing for a dogmatist, fanatic, and patriot is to say, “You were right and I was wrong”; and the hardest thing for a self-assessed smart person is to say, “You are smarter than I am.”
*
Some may describe what I have been doing “masochistic self-examination,” others “deconstruction,” which may not be the same as destruction but shares something with it. But then, all creation begins with destruction.
*
When we argue perhaps our real goal is to assert some kind of superiority – if not in IQ than in wisdom or patriotism. But suppose we were to come right out at the beginning of an argument and say, “What I think is right because I am smarter and wiser than you”: would anyone believe us?
*
If you think my views are unorthodox or anti-establishment or radical in any way, allow me to quote a passage from a recent commentary (September 30, 2006) by Rev. Frank Morgan, a local faith columnist who died last week at the age of 92: “Don’t claim to have all the truth and don’t claim that other faiths are lesser faiths than your own. And be very sure that if your thinking about God and His will has not changed since you were in public school, then you really need a spiritual refit.” And from another commentary (June 15, 1991): “I believe the Bible to be the greatest and surest guide to faith and life. I am also convinced that if you take it literally, you will lose that guide. It [the Bible] is a story of people’s growing understanding of God and His will for us. We still have a long way to go.” In other words, none of us can claim to be a finished product because we are works in progress.
*
On the subject of having a long way to go: I remember to have heard an old story about a man who went all over the world in search of something or other, only to come back home and discover it in his own backyard.
*
Before we engage in an argument, we should ask ourselves: “Is my central concern love or hatred? And worse, is it hatred in the name of love? What is it that motivates me, tolerance or intolerance, arrogance or humility?” If you can’t answer these questions clearly and unequivocally, it only means one thing: you are in deep sh**!
#
Monday, December 04, 2006
*****************************************
ON PRIDE
*************************
“I am proud to be the offspring of a persecuted nation,” writes a reader, thus proving that one can be or pretend to be proud of anything, including degradation. Speaking for myself, I can’t say I am proud of anything, and I have every reason to suspect no one who has ever been persecuted, really persecuted, can be proud of it.
*
We were persecuted because we were defeated. We were defeated not because God made our enemies strong and us weak but because they were united and we were divided. We were divided because our wheeler-dealers parading as representatives of God on earth and leaders of men failed to unite us. To say we are proud of being the offspring of a persecuted nation amounts to bragging about being divided, defeated, massacred and scattered to the four corners of the world like unwanted, uninvited, and useless autumn leaves. I have heard of people bragging about their success. Leave it to Armenians to brag about their failures.
*
“I am glad we never had an Ataturk,” I read elsewhere. As a matter of fact we had several potential Ataturks, among them General Antranik and Nejdeh, but we also had many more mini-sultans and crypto-commissars who excel in only one endeavor – obstructing the path of all those who attempt to achieve solidarity. This minor detail is not stressed in our textbooks because that would amount to admitting incompetence. I say these things not to gloat over our failures but to point out the simple fact that only after we admit failure we may aim at success. To be satisfied with our incompetence and failures also means to perpetuate them.
#
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
*******************************************
ON GOD, ETC.
*****************************
Like most of my fellow Christians I was brought up as a believer. In my teens I lost my faith. Today I am no longer sure what to believe. I can say the same about so many other things, including my Armenian identity and everything that is connected with it. Lucky are those who are born, raised, and grow old with certainties, which they never question, doubt, or lose.
*
I agree with Descartes who once said the only way to reason and make sense is to assume that everyone, including an army of invisible cunning demons, were out to deceive you. One of my very few certainties is this: if I ever see the light and regain my faith, it will not be a belief in the god of our priests, televangelists, imams, and mullahs.
*
I don’t mind admitting that I tend to simplify complexities, but my simplifications are more akin to counter-simplifications: I simplify to expose the simplifications of meaningless clichés and slogans of propaganda, which are simplifications twice removed from reality, and not so much lies as absurdities whose ultimate aim is to remove us from the demands that life makes on us.
*
As long as we say to our leaders “You are our best and brightest,” they will never try harder, and even as we sink into oblivion they will continue to brainwash a new generation to brag about our genius for survival. And if you were to accuse me of always seeing the dark side of things, allow me to remind you that (one) optimism thrives in insane asylums, and (two) it was optimists who said if we rise against a tottering empire (with the blessing of the Lord and the support of the West) we will recover our historic lands and live happily ever after. What they didn’t know or refused to consider is that the Good Lord may or may not care what happens to His Chosen People (which we may or may not be), and the mighty West may be too divided (very much like us) to be in a position to help us, or for that matter, itself. Our revolutionary heroes were too naïve and simple-minded in their simplifications to know what Herzen knew nearly a century before they went into action, namely that “nature and history are full of the accidental and the senseless, of muddles and bungling.”
#
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
******************************************
ASSERTIONS AND CONTRADICTIONS
*************************************************
Confronted with an assertion, I think of its contradiction and if I see any merit in it, I know the assertion to be full of holes. The roots of some of the most important ideas are not to be found in life or reality but in contradictions. Hating the enemy comes naturally to all of us, but only a revolutionary of genius could come up with the idea of loving the enemy. For centuries kings were thought to be representatives of god on earth, until someone had the brilliant idea that they may well be representatives of the devil, and as such they deserved to be “strangled with the guts of the last priest.” Closer to home, the loudmouth dupe who preaches Armenianism and practices Ottomanism.
*
I look forward to the day when the English language will acquire a new verb – “to iraq” (pronounced I rock), meaning to make a royal mess of things in the name of god, freedom, progress, justice, and everything else that is good in life. After Saddam sodomized Iraq, Bush iraqed it. But when it comes to iraqing things, no one can beat our “best and brightest.”
*
The first four words from god’s memoirs: “Big mistake – creating man.”
*
To those who brag about being fluent in more than one language, I say: “What’s the use of speaking seven or seventy-seven languages if you are going to make an ass of yourself in all of them?”
*
A nation needs heroes willing to die in its defense, yes, certainly! But what a nation needs even more are leaders who value peace over war, especially wars they cannot win.
#

NICOLAS BURNS: WE HAVE ELABORATED A FUNDAMENTAL APPROACH, WHICH WILL HELP RESOLVE THE CONFLICT

ArmRadio.am
05.12.2006 13:05

"A fundamental approach has been elaborated with Armenian and
Azerbaijani leaders, which promises to settle the conflict," US Under
Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicolas Burns declared during
the OSCE Ministerial meeting in Brussels, Mediamax agency reports.

The American diplomat said that "the OSCE must urge the leaders of
Armenia and Azerbaijan to turn these ideas into a n agreement."

Nicolas Burns noted that the unsettled Karabakh conflict "hinders
the return of hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced persons.

"This conflict keeps Armenia and Azerbaijan in a "no war no peace
situation, " their borders remain closed, the alienation between
ever friendly populationsgrows," the US Under Secretary of State for
Political Affairs declared.

PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN RECEIVED THE HEAD OF THE EUROPEAN DELEGATION IN ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
05.12.2006 13:55

President Robert Kocharyan received today the newly appointed Head of the
European Commission Delegation in Armenia, Ambassador Per Eklund. The President
congratulated the diplomat and underlined that connected with the
ratification of the Action Plan EU- Armenia relations have entered an important
practical phase.

Noting that the Action Plan is an all-embracing document, Robert Kocharyan
said that the Armenian side anticipates the assistance of the European
Commission, as well as active work with EU member states. "We view the program as a
serious opportunity to continue the systematized reforms and we’ll try to
make best use of it," the President stated.

The parties agreed that the Action Plan will serve as a good basis for
further deepening of EU -Armenian relations during the coming five years.

SYRIA BACKS THE PROCESS OF PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT

ArmRadio.am
05.12.2006 15:37

The Arab Republic of Syria backs the process of peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Syrian Chargé d’Affaires ad interim
Mukhlis Faraun noted in a press conference today that the Arab people
understand very well how dangerous the consequences can be if attempts
are made to resolve the question in a non-peaceful way.

"It would be better if the question was settled this or next year
before the emergence of new problems in the region," said Mukhlis
Faraun, reminding the statement made by the Chief Mufti of Syria
during his visit to Armenia, according to which "Syria will spare no
effort to make its contribution to the process of peaceful settlement
of the conflict."

–Boundary_(ID_DQNi3XmOih9tF+0C5u FTkQ)–

MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGIES OPTIMIZE IT-SECTOR OF ARMENIA

Lilit Aslanyan, ArmInfo, December 5.12.06.

Official opening of the Office of Armenian representation of the
world-known MICROSOFT Corporation was held in May, 2006. Though
not so much time has passed ever since, however, the Corporation has
definitely succeeded in Armenia within this half a year. In particular,
it has completed the works for localization of Windows XP, carried
out by Bi Line Company, enlarged the circle of partners, enabled the
country’s IHE to enrich the information bases, developed a number of
programs. ArmInfo correspondent asked its Chief, Grigor Barseghyan,
to give particulars of activity of the Armenian Office.

It is known that the educational programs are one of the priority areas
of the Microsoft activity in Armenia. What are works the Corporation
had already carried out in this area?

Within the last 10 years, the Microsoft Corporation has been working
with the educational community, explaining the important role of IT in
education and assisting in getting an access to IT and the knowledge
for their use. The corporation demonstrates a readiness to cooperate
with the Governments, the state and non-state organizations, the
learners and teachers as to provide conditions for the use of huge
opportunities, laid in IT.

We also invite all the specialized chairs and faculties of the
Armenian IHE to subscribe to the MSDN Academic Alliance Program,
which is a part of the Microsoft initiative in education. Two IHE
in Armenia, the American University of Armenia and the Mehrabyan’s
Medical University, already use this program.

The advantage of this Program is that it gives an access to the
teachers and students to the modern development software, to servers
and platforms of the Microsoft Corporation. One of the peculiarities
of the Program is that it enables the teachers and students to install
the licensed products of Microsoft in their PCs as well, with the
aim of study and use for scientific researches and developments. The
Microsoft Academic Open License, an efficient and flexible program,
is also accessible in Armenia today. It enables to get permanent
licenses for Microsoft software at prices lower than those for the
commercial software. The state and private Institutions of Higher
Education, the secondary and specialized secondary educational
institutions, the refresher courses and the institutes of advanced
training, the training centers, which have licenses for educational
activities, the administrative education management agencies, the state
scientific-research institutions, the hospitals and teaching hospitals,
the public libraries, the museums and charitable organizations can
make use of its advantages.

At present, we prepare proposals to the RA Government for cooperation
in education for the purpose of implementing more scaled joint
projects.

What about the partner environment of Microsoft?

More progress is observed in this sphere. Thus, if the Corporation,
at the first stage of its activity, had only one certified partner
in Armenia in the person of one of the biggest Internet-providers
of Armenia, Arminco, the number of our partners now is much
greater. Dom-Daniel, Unicomp, LANS, X-Art, MTD-Group, Smart Systems,
Armenian Software Companies now cooperate with Microsoft. The Bi Line
Company comes out as an official distributor of the Corporation in
Armenia. The support of partners is carried out by special partner
programs, trainings, seminars and conferences.

We have recently signed a contract on a three-year cooperation with
the Armenian cell operator, the VivaCell Company, negotiations with
several other big Armenian companies are underway. We bring all our
technologies, software products, complex solutions to our clients
through the partners.

The first IT-month in Armenia with participation of Microsoft has been
recently summed up. In your opinion, what has this project given to
the country’s IT-sphere and how much important it is to Armenia?

In fact, we have participated in this project, its seminars,
conferences, presentations. The Vice President of the Corporation in
the Central and Eastern Europe, Mr. Vahe Torossyan, also took part in
the event. The Microsoft displayed a special activity in the Digitec
exhibition, in the framework of which the Corporation has presented
its own stand. As for the role of IT-month in Armenia, it has been
held with a great success, however, besides serious achievements,
it enabled to reveal some deficiencies of the sphere and to outline
the ways of its improvement. In my opinion, we have not to confine
ourselves to only one month per year. The events, devoted to IT,
should have a continuous character, since one can achieve more
noticeable results only in case of persistent laborious work. Both
the authorities, businessmen and a wide public in whole are to be
involved in this process.

Weather the IT influence on the country’s economic development will
become more noticeable in this case?

Unambiguously, but first of all, due to the own resources available,
rational investments and very literate policy of authorities
and business representatives, based on a successful international
experience. The IT industry enables the country’ s economy to use all
the existing resources more efficiently by vast productivity increase
that is more than urgent for Armenia. The purpose of the Microsoft
initiative is for the Corporation technologies and its partners’
solutions to enable, first of all, the citizens to receive different
services, have an access to the information by Internet, to learn
during the whole life and participate in a state administration and,
secondly, the private companies to increase the productivity and
competitiveness of enterprises, have an access to the state Internet
services, more efficiently cooperate with partners and consumers for
their business development. Third, the purpose of Microsoft is for
the technologies of the Corporation and the solutions of its partners
to enable the state bodies and elective persons to increase their
efficiency, rebuild the relations with the population and involve
all the citizens in political and other discussions, having attracted
their attention to strategic directions.

However, the strict observance of the intellectual property rights is
the necessary condition for IT development in the country. Otherwise,
we’ll not be able to stop the "brain drain" and create a favorable
investment climate for the foreign big IT Corporations.

It is known that the Bi Line Company localizes the Windows XP in the
Armenian language, by the Microsoft order. What is the next step of
the Corporation in Armenia?

Yes, during the Corporation financing, the Bi Line had already
completed the translation of the operating system Windows XP to be
shortly submitted to the consumers’ judgment. In my opinion, this is
a very important project since it enables the wide sections of the
population, especially in the distant and border regions of Armenia,
to join to IT achievements. The Bi Line Company has also started to
localize the most modern operating system, Microsoft Windows Vista,
and we intend to offer it to the Armenian users in the second half,
2007. Taking the opportunity, I invite all the persons interested to
take part in the project and make their contribution, having visited
a specially created website:

The issue of the Armenian version of Microsoft Office 2007 is also
not far off.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

289 OBJECTS IN YEREVAN TO BE WARNED SOON ABOUT STOPPING ACTIVITY BECAUSE OF DISTURBING POPULATION’S REST

Noyan Tapan
Dec 05 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. 6700 trade objects were registered by
the Yerevan Mayor’s Office in the sphere of trade and services. Karen
Gevorgian, the Chief of the Trade and Services Department of the
Mayor’s Office stated about it at the December 4 press conference. He
also stated that legal documents of all the objects were studied. A
commission formed of representatives of the Urban Development and
Nature Protection Departments of the Mayor’s Office and of district
head’s offices discusses at present the issue of correspondence of
all the registered objects to norms of urban development. According to
it, 152 ones from 368 stalls and pavilions were dismantled, 234 ones
must be modernized according to drafts affirmed at the architecture
department. It was mentioned that owners must care modernization
expenses. K.Gevorgian stated that the commission envisages to examine
soon the issues of regulation of trade objects in of Mashtots,
Abovian, Heratsi, Bagratuniats, Nzhdeh, Mantashian, Leningradian,
Isakov, T.Petrosian and a number of other streets as well.

It is envisaged to dismantle 300 ones from 700 stalls and pavilions
placed in those streets. Besides, 289 objects will soon be warned
about stopping their activity or promoting another activity in the
same place during two months.

In K.Gevorgian’s words, those are mainly night clubs, bread bakeries,
baths, dry-cleanings which are situated on the ground floors of
many-storied buildings or cellars, which disturb populations’ rest
and concerning which the Mayor’s Office got complaints.