AZG Armenian Daily #191, 07/10/2006
Neighbors
AZERBAIJAN GETS READY FOR ELECTIONS AND PROHIBITS DOESN’T ALLOW TO
BROADCAST BBC, LIBERTY AND VOICE OF AMERICA RADIO STATIONS
Azerbaijan is likely to prohibit broadcasting BBC, RFE/RL and Voice of
America radio stations in its territory. Turan agency informed that
the representatives of Azeri ANS TV, Anten TV and the Azeri State
Radio were invited to the Azeri Public TV and Radio Council. There
they where were warned that the broadcasting of BBC and Voice of
America is illegal and they need to have a special license for
that. Though the experts stated that the Azeri legislation doesn’t
prohibit re-broadcasting, generally, this approach is characterized
as illogical, and these media representatives may be punished.
Perhaps, the only logical point in all this is that any freethinking
and independent mass media is prohibited in the information field of
Azerbaijan. This approach may be conditioned by the coming elections.
By Aghavni Harutyunian

RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY GIVES POSITIVE RESPONSE TO UN ANTI-CORRUPTION CONVENTION AT
AZG Armenian Daily #191, 07/10/2006
Home
In 2003, UN General Assembly adopted the Anti-Corruption
Convention. 140 UN member states signed the convention. Armenia joined
this list last year. Yesterday, the convention was discussed at RA
National Assembly. RA Justice Minister David Harutyunian stated that
the ratification of the convention will be another step for development
of the legislative field of Armenia. It will also help apply new
measures for anti-corruption struggle. The convention’s regulation
includes many issues: aversion of corruption, legal and criminal
prosecution of corruption and others. Besides, Armenia’s participation
in the convention envisages a number of legislative initiatives,
which will soon be submitted to RA National Assembly. In general,
the deputies gave positive evaluation to the convention. The document
is likely to be ratified in the course of the coming four days.
By Nana Petrosian

A1+
“RUSSIA IS ARMENIA’S OUTPOST”
[07:49 pm] 06 October, 2006
Because of the tension in the relations of Russia and
Georgia Armenian businessman suffer heavy losses. In
particular, according to Hrayr Karapetyan, the head of
the ARF Dashnaktsutyun faction, they pay 2500 USD more
in order to transport 20 tons of luggages by the Poti
port instead of Verin Lars. What does co-chair of the
Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Committee Vahan
Hovhannisyan do in order for the Russians not to
ignore the interests of Armenia? Asked this question
by “A1+” Hrayr Karapetyan agreed that we must work
upon that issue.
One of the journalists asked to comment on the
announcement of leader of the RF Liberal Democratic
party Vladimir Zhirinovsky according to which Armenia
is the 9th okrug of Russia and its outpost. Member of
the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Spartak Seyranyan found it
difficult to find a politician in Russia who would
have time to comment on Zhirinovsky’s statements and
said he is not going to do it either. Nevertheless, he
wasn’t able to resist the temptation of saying “I
would say that Russia is our outpost in the North; now
let them comment on my words”.
As for the information about Hrayr Karapetyan having
appropriated 5 million USD, he advised the journalists
to turn to the Office of the RA Public Prosecutor and
learn whether a criminal case has ever been initiated
against him. “It is a fairy tale”, Mr. Karapetyan
added.

TOROSYAN MAKES “CROWD”?
A1+
[08:06 pm] 06 October, 2006
Answering the question of “A1+” if he isn’t sorry that his son
sacrificed the post of deputy mayor but wasn’t elected head of
Ajapnyak community, head of Republican faction Galoust Sahakyan noted,
“Instead he was ‘baptizes’ as a politician”. Besides, according to
Galoust Sahakyan, minor things can be sanctified for the sake of big
business. As for the announcement of present community head Artsrun
Khachatryan (“I will not allow any member of the Sahakyan family to
be nominated”), he said, “I pity that kind of people”.
The journalists asked Galoust Sargsyan who according to him must be
the first in the proportional list of the Republican party – Andranik
Margaryan or Serge Sargsyan. Mr. Sahakyan tried to avoid answering
the question saying that haven’t discussed that issue yet.
“And still, who do you think must be the first? ” the journalist
insisted. Galoust Sahakyan was forced to say that according to the
order, the list must be topped by the head of the party. “Do you
mean to say Serge Sargsyan will be the second? ” – “Yes”, he said
directly. “And what about the third? “. “Two is a company, three is a
crowd”, Sahakyan joked and said that according to him Tigran Torosyan
must be the third.

A. KHALATYAN HAS BEEN SUFFOCATED (new information)
A1+
[08:24 pm] 06 October, 2006
The preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated in
connection with the murder of A. Khalatyan is still under way.
According to the statement made by the office of the Public Prosecutor,
the investigation revealed that the murder was committed by RA citizen
R. Sargsyan who agreeing with his cousin H. Hovnikyan and friend T.
Mirzoyan tried to appropriate A. Khalatyan’s flat by fabricating
documents.
After making the necessary documents, T. Mirzoyan and R. Sargsyan
took A. Khalatyan to Avetisyan street in order to make the payment
after which they killed him and took the body to village Zar.
On their way there noting that A. Khalatyan was still alive
H. Hovnikyan suffocated him.
The police have been given a task to find and arrest H. Hovnikyan
and R. Sargsyan.

AMERICAN EXPERT SAYS USA SUPPORTS SERZH SARGSYAN FOR THE SAKE OF STABILITY
Panorama.am
13:05 06/10/06
Richard Kirakosyan, an American expert, delivered a lecture at
War and Peace Reporting Institute upon the invitation of Armenian
International Economic Research Group. In his words, USA and Russia
have common wish to see stability in Armenia and Defense Minister
Serzh Sargsyan’s candidacy is prefered in this sense.
Washington does not see serious opposition in Armenia.
“No matter what dreams Arthur Baghdasaryan has, he is not
Sahakashvili,” Richard Kirakosyan said. U.S.
Administration has reconsidered its attitude to revolutions and
supports phase-to-phase approach to democracy building, so to say,
evolutionary democratic reforms.
Kirakosyan said the main challenges for Armenia are from within,
i.e., corruption and social-economic polarization between the capital
and regions.
Speaking about oligarchy, the expert said USA had the same problem in
30s of the last century. In time, many businessmen, like Rockefeller,
were obliged to obey the law and president Roosevelt was persistent
and successfully combated oligarchs.
The expert said, that in the Armenian reality, the oligarchs have a
mandate of a deputy and can negatively affect the reforms. However,
Kirakosyan said, “there are also businessmen among them who need
transparency and rule of law.” /Panorama.am/

UWP URGES PARLIAMENTARIANS TO SERIOUSLY ENGAGE IN LEGISLATIVE WORK
Panorama.am
18:10 06/10/06
Gurgen Arsenyan, leader of United Working Party (UWP) block, told a
briefing today that the government has submitted amendments to the Law
on Budget according to which 5% inflation is envisaged instead of 3%
(plus, minus 1.5 %)
“The government wants to make this amendment because the cost of life
has gone up by two,” UWP thinks.
Grigor Ghonjeyan, UWP block member, said inflation is more important
that the exchange rate.
Ghonjeyan said the government wants to set maximum 6.5% and minimum
3.5% inflation rate. He said the parliamentarians are going to be
very active in this discussion because the currency exchange rate
has been an issue for a long time.
Arsenyan called upon the parliamentarians to seriously engage in
legislative work in order to make timely discussions of next year
budget.
Arsenyan confessed that they sometimes vote instead of their colleagues
from UWP if they leave the hall for 1 minute and ask them to vote
instead of them.
/Panorama.am/

PRESS RELEASE
Saint Sarkis Armenian Church
38-65 234 Street
Douglaston NY, 11363
Contact: Edward Barsamian
Phone: 718-224-2275
Fax: 718-224-8793
E-mail: mailto:[email protected]
Web:
Saint Sarkis Armenian Church launches fall lecture series
The Saint Sarkis Cultural Committee will present an afternoon lecture
and art exhibit aptly named “Tribute to Aivazovsky” on Sunday October
15 at 1:00 PM, following church services.
The featured speaker will be Mr. Karnig Alajajian, who in addition to
his talent as actor with Hamazkain New York Theatrical Group, also is
a quite accomplished painter. And… he likes to paint …Aivazovsky,
and he does so masterfully.
Mr. Alajajian will speak about the life and work of the Armenian born
painter, and illustrate his lecture with some of his paintings.
Following are a few “juicy morsels” from the fascinating biography
of the artist, Hovhannes (Ivan) Aivazovsky, leaving the “main course”
to Mr. Alajajian.
Aivazovsky was born to an Armenian family in the city of Theodosia in
the Crimea (The Artist’s ancestors were called Aivazian. His father
called himself Haivazosky. The Artist and his brother decided to call
themselves Aivazian or Aivazovsky. Some of the Artist’s work bears
the signature Hovhannes Aivazian, in Armenian).
This is what the great Armenian painter Martiros Saryan had to say
about Aivazovsky:
Aivazovsky’s Art is the art of Man and Humanity; it is the denunciation
of oppression and despotism. He is the artist of the first for freedom,
and the true advocate of Mother Nature.
It will be a very informative and culturally satisfying afternoon
and there will be light refreshments.
There will also an opportunity to purchase selected paintings, and 50%
of the proceeds will benefit the Church.
Free Admission
For information kindly contact the church office 718-224-2275

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:
October 5, 2006
ACNIS Celebrates Twelve Years of Leadership With a Public Accounting
Yerevan–Today the Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS) marked its 12th anniversary of public service and award-winning
policy research. On the occasion and in the presence of the Center’s
professional staff, political scientists and analysts, media representatives
and others, its officials presented an open report on ACNIS’s
accomplishments to date.
ACNIS public affairs specialist Lilit Sarukhanian greeted the invited guests
with opening remarks. “Today we will neither delve into academic discussions
nor make geopolitical and domestic analyses; we will simply congratulate one
another and jointly celebrate the birthday of our and your Center,” she
said.
Next to congratulate everyone involved in the process was ACNIS director of
administration Karapet Kalenchian. “Twelve years, clearly, is not a long
time, but if we consider that our independent country is just fifteen years
old, then that amount seems not quite as short,” Kalenchian noted. He also
underscored that the fruits of ACNIS’s analytical mind are primarily aimed
at unveiling and scrutinizing the developments taking place in, and the
challenges faced by, Armenia and its neighborhood, previewing potential
geopolitical scenarios and, in light of all these, planning a comprehensive
strategy.
ACNIS director of research Stiopa Safarian likewise offered his heartfelt
words, and continued with a brief accounting of ACNIS’s twelve-year track
record. “Our policy deliberations and analyses, whose key attribute is their
transparency, have treated a vast range of realms and topics including
global and regional developments; environmental and educational policy; the
rights of the former residents of Yerevan’s Northern Avenue and Biuzand
Street; conflict management and the Mountainous Karabagh process; the
macroeconomic reality of Armenia and the family business; the nation’s
minorities; and other societal imperatives,” Safarian said. In his words,
the ACNIS-based National Public Opinion Service, which was launched a couple
of years ago, has already conducted more than twenty professional public and
expert surveys throughout Armenia, with their results publicized around the
world in multiple languages.
“It is beyond any doubt that the Center’s founder, owing to his distinction
and the prominence of his reputation, could have turned ACNIS into a one-man
show, a phenomenon which we see around us very often. Instead, he built this
institution from the bottom up, refusing to interfere with or put
limitations on the independence and individuality of the human mind, and by
his own example encouraging comprehensive, cutting-edge thinking and a free
competition of concepts and options,” Safarian continued. He concluded that
ACNIS has humbly served the highest interests of Armenia, its liberty and
political culture, and every good idea that has arisen from the depths of
society.
The invited guests and public participants then joined their ACNIS
colleagues in a festive reception and a round of well wishes.
Founded in 1994 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors, ACNIS serves
as a link between innovative scholarship and the public policy challenges
facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the post-Soviet world. It also
aspires to be a catalyst for creative, strategic thinking and a wider
understanding of the new global environment. In 2006, the Center focuses
primarily on civic education, conflict resolution, and applied research on
critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the state and the nation.
For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or 27-48-18; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected]; or visit

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  (374 10) 517 163
Fax:  (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website: 
October 7, 2006
Pontiff of All Armenians Awards
the Order of “St. Sahak and St. Mesrop” to Tom Samuelian
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
has decorated Tom Samuelian with the Order of “St. Sahak and St. Mesrop”. 
The award is one of the highest honors bestowed by the head of the Armenian
Church on faithful sons and daughters who have greatly contributed to the
literary, scholastic and cultural life of the Armenian Nation.
The event took place on August 30 in the Pontifical Residence on the grounds
of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and began with welcoming remarks by
Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian of the Catholicosate of All Armenians.  His Grace
Bishop Sion Adamian, Primate of the Diocese of Armavir, presented the
biography and works of Mr. Samuelian, noting that his creative efforts have
accompanied his life from a very early age.
His Excellency John Evans, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
the United States of America to the Republic of Armenia, thanked His
Holiness for paying such a tribute and honoring an exemplary citizen of the
United States and a true son of Armenia.  The ambassador stated that “Tom is
a man within whom the worlds of knowledge and practical life are unified”.
Academician Rafael Hambardzumian presented his thoughts, highly evaluating
the virtues and dedication of Mr. Samuelian, noting that “Our literature,
culture and science have always progressed due to individuals like Tom.  He
is one of the brightest and best representatives of our people.”  Mr.
Hambardzumian also expressed his gratitude to His Holiness for recognizing
individuals within the spheres of science, culture and the arts in such a
high manner.
As the Hover Chamber Choir sang the church hymn “Etchmiadzin”, the
Pontifical Encyclical of the Catholicos of All Armenians was brought into
the hall and read by Bishop Adamian.  In the encyclical, His Holiness
Karekin II highly commends the manifold and multifaceted works of Mr.
Samuelian, who for decades has willingly brought his service to the parishes
of the United States, taught Armenian language classes in Philadelphia,
Boston and New Jersey, and actively participated in the progress of national
and ecclesiastical life of the Armenian American communities.
The encyclical states in part, “…your readiness to contribute your
abilities to the strengthening and progress of our homeland, and your kind
motivation to always see the national and church life of our people bright
and prosperous, directed your paths to Armenia, where you continue to enrich
your nation-helping and church-building legacy under the blessings of our
Lord.  Happiness envelopes our Pontifical soul, that your fidelity to our
national values and traditions is manifested in your achievements and
accomplishments, in service to our Christ-loving people, homeland and Holy
Apostolic Mother Church.
“We reflect with pleasure on your academic, literary and creative labors. 
Due to your years of diligent work, your scholarly essays, books,
dictionaries, textbooks and translations are available for the reader. 
These have truly earned you the recognition and title of ‘intellectual’. 
Through your translations, non-Armenians and English-speaking Armenians now
have the opportunity to know literary monuments such as the ‘Book of
Lamentations’ by St. Gregory of Narek, ‘Refutation of the Sects’ by Yeznik
of Kolb, and others…”
Following the reading of the Encyclical, His Holiness Karekin II decorated
Mr. Samuelian with the Medal of St. Sahak – St. Mesrop.  Mr. Samuelian, in
his remarks, expressed his deep gratitude to the Pontiff of All Armenians
for honoring him in this manner.
The event concluded with the message of His Holiness Karekin II.  Recalling
the words of Catholicos of All Armenians Vasken I of blessed memory, His
Holiness stated, ” ‘On the path of searching for God, I found Holy
Etchmiadzin and my Homeland…’  Searching for God has been the way of life
for our nation and people.  Our parents, holding the hands of their children
in their palms, have always led them to church, so that the child, from the
earliest of years, would learn to walk on the road that leads to God, to
search for God and to find God through His unending mercy.  For they
realized and recognized the great sacred mystery that the guarantor of
Armenian identity, existence and being is found within God.”  His Holiness
noted that this was the same in Tom Samuelian’s case as well, who on his
path of searching for God, found Armenia and became a worthy child of our
nation.
His Holiness extended his blessings to all assembled, thanked the Hover
Chamber Choir for their musical presentations throughout the evening and
once more commended the dedication, love and faithfulness of Tom Samuelian
to the Armenian Church and Nation.
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