Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

THE ART OF GIVING BACK
By K. Michelle Moran

AZG Armenian Daily
25/12/2007

DIA honors supporter Richard A. Manoogian

GROSSE POINTE PARK – Although they couldn’t personally make it to
the Detroit Institute of Arts, President George W. Bush and his wife,
first lady Laura Bush, wanted to offer their congratulations to Richard
A. Manoogian, for whom the museum named its American Art Wing Dec. 11.

So Laura Bush sent a message via video, in which she heartily thanked
the Masco Corporation executive chair for his contributions to the
DIA, the National Gallery and even the White House, where the Bush
family can admire some of the fine works Manoogian has acquired over
the years.

True to form, the modest business leader blushed as the first lady
sang his praises.

When it comes to tooting his own horn, Manoogian of Grosse Pointe Park
is basically Donald Trump’s antithesis. But the philanthropist, former
DIA board chair and current chair emeritus accepted the accolades –
albeit reluctantly – as hundreds of friends and members of the art
community gathered to celebrate the opening of the Manoogian Wing.

"I am humbled and even a bit embarrassed (by all of the praise),"
Manoogian said. "I normally shy away from being an honorary guest
… but my love for this institution overshadowed the reservations
I may have had."

The son of an Armenian immigrant who came to America in the 1920s,
Manoogian calls his family the "classic immigrant success story." His
father, Alex, founded the auto parts business Masco in 1929, after
working on the line at Ford Motor Company for several years.

Richard Manoogian, who earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from
Yale University, started working for Masco in 1958.

>>From his family’s humble beginnings, Manoogian learned the importance
of generosity.

"We’ve always believed that if you’re lucky enough to do well, you
should give back to the community and support others," he said.

Manoogian said he became involved with the DIA as a board member
in the 1960s because of a sense of civic responsibility. He wasn’t
an art collector then, but credits his work with the museum and its
curators with inspiring him to buy art.

"It was meeting collectors that got me excited about collecting,"
he said.

Since then, he and his wife, Jane, have assembled a remarkable
American art collection, which they regularly loan to institutions
around the country.

Manoogian has a hard time selecting a favorite artist, but does admit
that Albert Bierstadt’s 1878 oil, "The Shore of the Turquoise Sea,"
is one of his favorite paintings.

Manoogian’s longtime support of the museum made him a good choice
for the honor, said Kenneth Myers, curator of American Art at the
DIA. For the wing’s current installation, Manoogian loaned more than
20 paintings dating from 1650-1900, helping to tell the story of
American art from that period, Myers said.

Besides his staunch support, "he’s just a sweetheart," said DIA COO
Nettie Seabrooks.

"Richard has done so much for so many people, so many museums,"
Seabrooks said. "He’s got (artworks) all over the country."

Current DIA Board Chair Gene Gargaro of Grosse Pointe Shores, a Masco
vice president, said Manoogian is the reason he became involved with
the museum.

"We’re fortunate to have a number of important supporters, but he’d
be right there at the top," Gargaro said of his friend and colleague –
a sentiment echoed by DIA Director Graham Beal.

He may not relish the attention, but Manoogian hopes the publicity
encourages others to give to the museum, as well.

"I think institutions like the DIA are important to the community,
important to schoolchildren, important to our businesses and the
economic well-being of the area," he said.

Manoogian has three grown children who live in California, none of
whom followed their father into the family business or even into the
arts. He does have a 7-year-old grandson who may be taking a few cues
from him, though: Manoogian said the boy is already an avid collector,
albeit only of things he cuts out of magazines and frames.

HAYPOST SIGNS COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT WITH TRADE UNION OF COMPANY TENDING AT PROTECTION OF INTERESTS OF COLLABORATORS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 24 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. HayPost has recently signed
a Collective Agreement with the Trade Union of the company, which
tends to protect the interests of the collaborators. According to the
information provided to Noyan Tapan by HayPost, the new management and
human resource policy based on the principles concerning the protection
of the interests of collaborators, their professional retraining and
qualification, creation of favourable working atmosphere, increase
in work efficiency, introduction of new technologies and rendering
of high quality services, is stipulated in the agreement.

PRESS RELEASE
Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) – Yerevan Office
53-55 Pavstos Buzand Street, 0010
Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Inessa Grigoryan
Tel: (+374 10) 522076; 562068
Fax: (+374 10) 522076
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Children of Armenia Fund – New York Office
162 Fifth Avenue, Suite 900,
New York, NY 10010, USA
Contact: Tracy Mazza
Tel: 212 – 994 – 8234
Fax: 212 – 994 – 8299
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Square One Restaurants and the Children of Armenia Fund Join Hands to
Bring Holiday Baskets to Underprivileged Families

Armavir District, Republic of Armenia, December 25, 2007 ¾ As part of
the social component of its Participatory Integrated Rural Development
Program, the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) has partnered with Square
One Restaurants to distribute holiday food baskets to 368 vulnerable
families in the Model Cluster including elderly and low-income families.
"This is a perfect example of private-public partnership, and we are so
proud that it is formed in time to bring cheers to hundreds of families
for the holidays," stated Dr. Arpie Balian, COAF Country Director.

COAF’s Participatory Integrated Rural Development program is implemented
in the Model Cluster, including Argina, Dalarik, Lernagog, Karakert,
Myasnikyan and Shenik communities and benefiting a population of more
than 16,000. The program components include healthcare, social
assistance and development, education reform, infrastructure
rehabilitation and economic revival. Realized as part of its social
assistance program component, this year’s holiday gifts to the
underprivileged population included clothes, shoes, food and
miscellaneous supplies.

"This gift is just in time for the holidays," stated 82-year-old Marusya
Ghazaryan. "This is the third year that COAF is working in our village
and has changed our lives around. We don’t feel left out, abandoned or
isolated. Just seeing them in our village brings hope and belief in
tomorrow. This gift basket containing sweets, dried fruit and a variety
of nuts will help us celebrate the holidays in the old Armenian
tradition. I am so grateful."

Mr. Koryun Minasyan, Shenik Village Mayor, expressed his personal
gratitude for this specific project. "I am convinced that my colleagues
>From neighboring villages will agree with me that the Children of
Armenia Fund is always in the right place, at the right time. The
village government welcomes COAF’s efforts and all my staff is ready to
provide the necessary support and participation in the implementation of
other development projects. We are closing the year on much better
ground and looking forward to next year with a more positive attitude.
All of these improvements and little steps forward for our community
have been realized because of you!"

This partnership was also targeted to assist dozens of larger families
in meeting their daily needs. The feedback received from project
beneficiaries has been heart-warming. "We can’t but be thankful for
this continuous assistance," says Sanam Sahradyan, mother of seven
children from Lernagog. "We feel COAF’s supportive hand not only in the
community, but also in our personal lives, in providing us with reliable
health services and improving the standards of education for our
children."

# # #

Square One Restaurants is an eatery chain operating in Armenia,
currently with three locations in Yerevan and Zvartnots International
Airport, and serving up to 800 people everyday. The company was founded
in 2004 by Sam Samuelian and Stepan Panosian, Diaspora Armenians who
moved to Armenia 6 years ago. They founded the Square One Restaurant
chain with the vision of improving service and hygiene standards in the
restaurant industry in Armenia. Key staff of Square One Restaurants are
certified by the American National Restaurant Association Educational
Foundation for food safety and by the American Hotel and Lodging
Association as Hospitality Trainers. Additionally, Square One is a
longstanding partner of organizations such as the Ministry of Social
Affairs Unemployment Agency, the American University of Armenia Business
School and the American Chamber of Commerce in Armenia. Square One is a
founding member and president of the Armenian Restaurant Association.

ARAM G. SARGSIAN CALLS CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENCY FOR MUTUAL TOLERANCE

Noyan Tapan
Dec 21, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN. An unacceptable situation has been
formed on the threshold of the elections because of the conduct of
some candidates for presidency. This situation distinguishes itself
by irreconcilability and policy of compromising one another. Aram
Z. Sargsian, the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Armenia, stated
at the December 21 press conference.

According to him, both the current and the former authorities,
who today represent "the so-called opposition," are engaged in
counter-agitation.

A. Sargsian stated that this is the first presidential election in the
history of independent Armenia when "black PR" is used so actively. He
called candidates for presidency for not compromising one another
and media for trying to change the situation formed in the public
today. According to him, voters are tired of counter-agitation and soon
they may be absolutely indifferent to the election campaign and not
take an active part in the elections. A. Sargsian also criticized the
opinion being formed, according to which the main struggle will go on
between two main poles of political forces represented by S. Sargsian
and Levon Ter-Petrosian. According to him, the real picture will
become clear during the election campaign, when the candidates will
have a possibility to take part in discussions.

NINE NEW COUNTRIES JOIN THE SCHENGEN ZONE

armradio.am
21.12.2007 10:25

Celebrations have been held after midnight to mark nine new states
joining a European border-free zone.

The Schengen agreement, which allows passport-free travel across the
area, now embraces 24 nations.

Some 2,000 people celebrated with the EU anthem, Beethoven’s Ode
to Joy, and fireworks in the town of Frankfurt on Oder at Germany’s
border with Poland.

The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta,
Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia joined the zone.

HEAD OF ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO PACE SURPRISED AT STATEMENT OF HIS GEORGIAN COLLEAGUE

arminfo
2007-12-21 13:02:00

ArmInfo. Armenian delegation to PACE winter session in Paris did
not demand consideration of the territorial conflicts in Georgia,
Head of the Armenian delegation to PACE, a member of the Monitoring
Committee David Haroutunyan told ArmInfo in response to the statement
by Georgian parliamentarian, a member of PACE Monitoring Committee
Elena Tevdoradze that Armenia demanded consideration of the above
conflicts at PACE winter session in the presence of Abkhazian and
South Ossetic presidents.

First, Haroutunyan stressed, one of the issues on agenda of the
PACE Monitoring Committee in Paris was the Committee’s further
activity in direction of ‘frozen conflicts’ given the positive
assessment of Berlin Conference 2007 by the Committee. Particularly,
the Committee discussed the issue of organizing regular hearings on
the peaceful settlement of Nagorny Karabakh, Abkhazian, South Ossetic
and Transdniestrian conflicts. Second, the draft document prepared by
the Committee Secretariat contained a point that the Committee may
consider the expediency of involving representatives of the parties
interested in the peaceful settlement of the conflicts, including
public representatives. The Armenian party supported the given
approach and confirmed the expediency of inviting the conflicting
parties, which will have a positive impact on the dialogue and
create atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding. ‘To my regret,
Ms Tevdoradze distorted and changed my statements beyond recognition. I
think that such distortion does not meet the spirit of our countries’
friendly relations’, Haroutunyan said.

BETTER MAINTAIN STATUS QUO BUT DEMARK SPHERES OF GEOPOLITICAL INFLUENCE
Astsatur Antonyan, analyst

KarabakhOpen
21-12-2007 12:27:52

Some time ago the international mediators stated that the election
in Armenia may have the settlement slow down. Then everyone states
unanimously that it is possible and even necessary to sign with
Azerbaijan a document on the basic issues. In addition, mutually
excluding tendencies and statements are noticed inside the Armenian
establishment. President Kocharyan says it is not realistic to sign a
document before the presidential election, whereas the prime minister
and the main presidential candidate Serge Sargsyan says there is such
possibility. Certainly, the contrast of the opinions of the president
and the prime minister might be interpretational but it is clear that
it is far from the reality.

As to the Armenian political sphere, everything is clear. The
possibility of signing an agreement before the presidential election
in Armenia is hardly probable. Afterwards the candidate who will
lose the election will go on protest, a new government will be
appointed, and it may take 3-5 months. It should be added that
President Kocharyan leaves office at the beginning of April 2008. It
turns out that next time the process of settlement will cheer up in
September-October 2008. At that time, however, the presidential race
starts in Azerbaijan, and some time later in the United States.

Besides, the stances of the sides are too different. If the mediators
want to have some agreement signed, they naturally should insist
on compromise.

But what we witness is hardly a compromise. Azerbaijan continues
to voice their stance on the proposals. The press secretary of the
foreign ministry states that the talks continue based on the principle
of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and control over the occupied
territories, the return of Azerbaijanis to their homes, including in
Nagorno-Karabakh, who had undergone ethnic clearing by Armenia.

The Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar Mammedyarov set an
ultimatum to everyone who wants to visit Karabakh. He stated
that the representatives of international organizations visiting
Nagorno-Karabakh should cross the border from the Azerbaijani
side. Although he generously allowed the co-chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group mediating the talks over Karabakh sometimes to arrive in
Nagorno-Karabakh through Armenia considering their tough schedule.

In the light of this it becomes clear that hardly any fundamental
transformations in the regional and global aspects regarding the
settlement of the Karabakh issue are possible in 2008. Obviously, the
mediators also understand this. So how should the existing tendencies
be explained? It is possible that fearing the precedent of Kosovo the
international mediators want to establish an alternative to Kosovo
and show through Karabakh that after the recognition of Kosovo the
other unrecognized states will not be necessarily recognized.

The key issue is not the possibility or impossibility of recognition
but the period of time of this act. It is clear that the recognition of
Kosovo will improve relations between the West and the East. Therefore,
in parallel with the launch of the recognition of Kosovo it is
necessary to make efforts to settle another conflict. Apart from the
rest, it will help bring the stances of the queens on the geopolitical
chessboard closer.

In this sense, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is more convenient. With
regard to Kosovo there are more possibilities for multi-party actions
since Kosovo is within the geopolitical dominance of the West. The same
is in the case of Abkhazia and Ossetia, which are in the area of the
geopolitical dominance of Russia. If these cards are played, it will
kindle tensions in the relations of the great powers: they will be
recognized one after another. Both the West and the East understand it.

Nagorno-Karabakh is at the border of these areas, and there is no
distinct dominance of one bloc or another. Therefore, the "settling
of scores" will be aimed at seeking a new formula of coexistence of
the West and strengthening Russia in such key regions as the Caucasus
rather than the settlement of the conflict. It does not mean that the
conflict will be solved. The chance of the current status quo will
lead to geostrategic transformations in the South Caucasus after which
it will be possible to forecast who will benefit, the West or the East.

This uncertainty causes Azerbaijan to assume a radical position and
reject compromise. The logic is quite simple: a radical attract
attention, and the radical may draw dividends, such as a deeper
picture of developments underway and a more precise location of the
"queens". For the "queens", it is preferable to maintain the status
quo but define their spheres of geopolitical influence.

TURKEY: U.S. HELPED IN PKK ATTACK

CNN International
Dec 20 2007

ISTANBUL, Turkey (CNN) — Turkey’s ambassador to the United States
said Wednesday his country’s air strikes this week against Kurdish
militant targets in northern Iraq were the result of real-time,
actionable intelligence provided by the United States.

"No doubt this was possible because of information provided by the
United States of America," Nabi Sensoy told reporters.

Sensoy said the operations were "tangible results" of enhanced
cooperation between the two countries since a visit to Washington
last month by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during
which U.S. President George W. Bush promised the United States would
do all it could to help Turkey fight the threat posed by the Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK), including providing intelligence on PKK targets.

The PKK has spent two decades fighting for autonomy for Kurds in
southeastern Turkey, with some of its attacks staged from locations
in northern Iraq. The United States and European Union consider the
group a terrorist organization.

Responding to reports that Turkey didn’t give the United States enough
notice before the attack, he said the United States was informed by
the Turkish military about the operation and the two sides "are in
constant contact."

Although it will take time to assess the damage to the PKK and the
casualties, Sensoy said "there is no doubt" the PKK infrastructure
has been severely weakened.

"This is not a once and for all operation, but I think it has served
its purpose because all targets have been hit," he said. "The ultimate
target is the elimination of the PKK operation."

Iraq’s U.S.-backed government condemned the Turkish raids, saying they
"add insult to injury."

The head of northern Iraq’s Kurdish regional government boycotted
a Baghdad meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to
protest U.S. support for the Turkish attacks.

The United States has been pushing for tri-lateral cooperation with
the government of Iraq, but Sensoy said such cooperation "had not
produced any tangible results" to date.

Erdogan called Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on Tuesday,
Sensoy said. Zebari told Erdogan that the Iraqis understand Turkish
concerns about the PKK, and that the Iraqi government doesn’t want
the group on its soil.

"This shows we are all speaking the same language that the PKK must
be eliminated," Sensoy said.

But he blasted the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq,
which he said is not living up to its responsibility to crack down
on the PKK.

"The fact is that the PKK presence in northern Iraq could not have
survived in northern Iraq without some assistance of course," he
said. "The regional government must assume its responsibility.

Sensoy added that Turkey was "puzzled" by the Kurdish response to
Turkish concerns, because Turkey was "very helpful to Iraqi Kurds
during the first Gulf War."

"We didn’t get the cooperation we thought we deserved from the
Kurdish regional government," he said. "Our expectations have not
been fulfilled by the northern authorities so far."

He did note that there have been "some signs" of increased
responsibility by the KRG in recent weeks, possibly a result of
US pressure.

Turkey wants the KRG to stop giving logistical support to the PKK,
stop giving the group airtime on its broadcast networks and ban it from
creating "front parties" to take part in Kurdish elections, he said.

Sensoy said that the United States has promised to send an inspector
to northern Iraq to investigate charges that U.S. weapons were ending
up in the hands of PKK rebels.

Sensoy said that Turkish "resentment" toward the United States over
a perceived lack of support on the PKK issue and a House committee
vote declaring the Ottoman-era killings of an estimated 1.5 million
Armenians a "genocide," a sensitive topic among Turks, had subsided
and the two countries remain "friends and allies" that cooperate on
many issues.

He said Turkey was "very happy" with the current level of support from
the United States and was "relieved" the Armenian genocide resolution
didn’t pass the full U.S. House floor, which "diverted damage" to
U.S.-Turkish relations.

OSKANIAN COOLS TALK OF KARABAKH BREAKTHROUGH
By Anna Saghabalian

Radio Libert, Czech Rep.
Dec 18 2007

Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian on Tuesday declined to explicitly
endorse Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian’s upbeat statements on prospects
for a near-term resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Visiting Brussels last week, Sarkisian reportedly said he is confident
that Armenia and Azerbaijan can reach a framework peace accord on
Karabakh before the Armenian presidential election scheduled for
February 19. "I don’t think the presidential election should impact
on these negotiations," he told Reuters.

Commenting on the remarks, Oskanian only implicitly shared Sarkisian’s
stated optimism and said he is not aware of all the details of the
prime minister’s interview with the Western news agency. He said
he has to be always upbeat on peace prospects in his capacity as
Armenia’s chief Karabakh negotiator.

"All in all, I too am optimistic about negotiations," Oskanian told
journalists. "It’s good that the prime minister is also an optimist
like me."

Oskanian acknowledged that President Robert Kocharian has a "more
cautious" attitude on the possibility of a Karabakh breakthrough. "As
they say, a pessimist is an informed optimist," he joked.

Kocharian stated in October that the conflicting parties are unlikely
to agree on the basic principles of a Karabakh settlement, proposed
by international mediators, before next year’s presidential elections
due in both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Sarkisian was also quoted by Reuters as implying that the upcoming
presidential election will not hinder an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace
deal because he expects to win it. He stressed that peace proposals
made by the OSCE Minsk Group are "coming with my consent."

Oskanian, however, questioned the veracity of this remark, suggesting
that the Armenian premier only meant to say that he is familiar with
those proposals.

The Minsk Group’s U.S., Russian and French co-chairs presented
Oskanian and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov, with
the final, modified version of their existing peace plan during an
OSCE ministerial council meeting in Madrid on November 29. They
are expected to visit Baku and Yerevan next month in an apparent
last-ditch attempt to get the two sides to sign up to the proposed
settlement before the 2008 elections.

CONTEST AIMED AT ENCOURAGEMENT OF YOUTH PROGRAMS BEING HELD IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Dec 14, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. A youth contest "5165" is being
held on the initiative of the Armenian Young Women’s Association
(AYWA), the goal of which is to encourage the programs and initiatives
of the youth organizations functioning in the Republic of Armenia,
which contribute to the solution of youth problems. As Noyan Tapan
was informed by the Association’s office, the name of the contest
"5165" symbolizes the height of the Biblical mount Ararat.

Youth NGOs and groups, young journalists, businessmen can take part in
the contest. Programs, which were implemented during 2007 in social,
economic, public, culture, health, and human rights spheres should
be presented for taking part in the contest.

January 10, 2008 is the deadline of acceptance of bids.