Author: Dabaghian Diana

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: OSCE MG RECENT PROPOSALS REMARKABLE FOR REAL PERCEPTION OF SITUATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.11.2006 17:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recent proposals made by the OSCE Minsk
Group on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement are remarkable
for real perception of the situation, since they base not only on
two separate principles of territorial integrity and the right to
self-determination but also on their comparison, Armenian National
Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian said at a meeting with Polish Senate
Marshal Bogdan Borusewicz, reported the RA NA press office. In his
words, such approach is more flexible for the search of solutions
admissible for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh.

When touching on the Russian-Georgian relations Tigran Torosian
remarked that Armenia is interested in the soonest resolution of the
problems and alleviation of tension. He also stressed the importance of
balanced approach of the EU and other European structures. The sides
also noted that Armenia incurs losses because of the Russian-Georgian
opposition.

POLISH MARSHAL IN THE PARLIAMENT

A1+
[04:05 pm] 06 November, 2006

RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan has had a private conversation with
Bogdan Borusevich, the Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland.

The NA Speaker found the visit of the Marshal important within the
framework of the policy of integration into the European structures. He
mentioned that it is the priority of the foreign policy of Armenia,
and Poland has considerable experience having become member of the
EU only two years ago. Referring to the relations with the NATO,
Tigran Torosyan mentioned that the Individual Partnership Action Plan
is being realized in Armenia, and the two countries can cooperate in
this respect too.

Bogdan Borusevich, who is in Armenia for the first time, expressed
readiness to support Armenia in deepening relations with the EU and
the NATO. The Marshal found it important that the 2007 Parliamentary
elections should be held up to democratic standards as the development
of Armenia depends on it greatly. Mr.

Borusevich also found the peaceful settlement of the conflicts
important for the stability and development of the region.

The Marshal of the Polish Senate also invited his Armenian colleague
to Poland on official visit.

PROPOSAL TO BAN FRENCH MOVIES AND BROADCASTS ON TRT

Turkish Daily News, Turkey
The Corridor
Nov 5 2006

We heard of many proposals to hurt France after its parliament passed
a bill criminalizing denial of the Armenian genocide. Some called for
a boycott of French goods, while some singers canceled their shows
in France. Some more interesting proposals have come in the past
few weeks. CHP deputy from Yozgat Emin Koc noted that Radio France
International (RFI) had stopped its broadcasts in Turkish and asked
the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) to counter this
by suspending its French broadcasts. In a parliamentary question he
submitted, Koc asked State Minister Beºir Atalay whether RFI could
be told that the broadcasts would be suspended until they reinstated
the Turkish broadcasts. He didn’t stop there.

"Which French movies has TRT purchased for this year? Is it considering
broadcasting them on its channels? What are you considering doing
about countering the genocide allegations?"

Meanwhile, the Supreme Council of Radio and Television (RTUK)
recommended that TRT should boycott media products coming from France.

No one objects to protest actions that are within sensible limits.

However, limitations imposed on the arts, literature, cinema and
culture are defined as censorship, and that is a bit beyond what we
should deem acceptable. Tomorrow, someone may come up with an idea to
ban Edith Piaf, Victor Hugo, Francoise Sagan, Montaigne, Pierre Loti,
Montesquieu, Stendhal, Jean Paul Sartre, Moliere or Emil Zola. What
if we are called to prevent our children from reading Jules Verne?

Will we accept that too?

–Boundary_(ID_tCsbeBULo+czmjiEqN50Ag)–

RA GOVERNMENT TO APPROVE ARMENTEL’S PURCHASE BY VYMPELCOM

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.11.2006 13:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian government will approve the bargain
sealed by Greek OTE and Russian VympelCom on the sale of 90%
stocks of ArmenTel telecommunication company, Secretary of the
Security Council at the RA President, Defense Minister, Co-chair
of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Economic Committee Serge
Sargsyan said November 6. "We should get acquainted with the terms
of the bargain and the price," he remarked. When commenting on the
opinion that the number of companies conveyed to Russia is increasing
Minister Sargsyan emphasized that the growth of Russian capital in
the Armenian strategic strictures is not dangerous because Russia
has never abused the economic instruments, reports IA Regnum.

PRESS RELEASE
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research
395 Concord Avenue
Belmont, MA 02478
Tel.: 617-489-1610
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
Contact: Marc A. Mamigonian

LECTURE AT NAASR ON ARMENIAN DIASPORAN COMMUNITIES OF NORTH AMERICA

Dr. Isabel Kaprielian-Churchill will give a lecture entitled "The
Armenians in Canada and the U.S.: A Borderless Diaspora" on Thursday,
November 9, at 8:00 p.m., at the National Association for Armenian
Studies and Research (NAASR) Center , 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA.

Dr. Kaprielian-Churchill is the author of Like Our Mountains: A
History of Armenians in Canada, published last year by McGill-Queen’s
University Press. This is the first comprehensive history of the
Armenian diaspora in Canada spanning a period of 100 years from the
founding settlements in the late 19th century to the devastating
earthquake in Armenia in 1988. Like Our Mountains examines the
economic, social, religious, political, and cultural life of Armenian
settlers focusing on different cities during different waves of
immigration.

Two Communities Share Deep Ties

She will discuss the history of both the American and the Canadian
Armenian communities that she has examined in such remarkable detail in
this major work of scholarship, which was awarded the Clio prize by the
Canadian Historical Association for the best book on Ontario history
in 2005. The two diasporic communities historically have had close
ties in all aspects of community development and Kaprielian-Churchill
will deal with them each in her lecture.

Having received a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in 1984,
Kaprielian-Churchill taught at the University of Toronto and at
Ryerson and York Universities before moving to Fresno. In 2001 she
was promoted to full professor. She has published extensively on
immigration and ethnic history, emphasizing issues related to refugee
survival and settlement as well as to family and social networks
of immigrants in Canada. Her writings are rooted in vivid personal
accounts and the quest for retaining identities in times of upheaval
and change.

Admission to the event is free. The NAASR Bookstore will open at
7:30 p.m. The NAASR Center and Headquarters is located opposite the
First Armenian Church and next to the U.S. Post Office. Ample parking
is available around the building and in adjacent areas. The lecture
will begin promptly at 8:00 p.m.

More information about the lecture is available by calling
617-489-1610, faxing 617-484-1759, e-mailing [email protected], or writing
to NAASR, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478.

Referendum on Nagorno-Karabakh constitution to be held on December 10

Interfax. Russia
Nov 3 2006

STEPANAKERT. Nov 3 (Interfax) – President of the breakaway republic
of Nagorno-Karabakh Arkady Gukasian has signed a decree on holding
a referendum on the Nagorno-Karabakh draft constitution, which is
scheduled to take place on December 10, the administration of the
Nagorno-Karabakh president told Interfax.

In an earlier referendum on December 10, 1991, 99.9% of voters cast
their ballots in favor of independence.

NKR FM MET WITH INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT CATHERINE BARNS

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 3 2006

November 2 the NKR FM Georgy Petrossian met with an independent
consultant, Consortium Initiative’s consultant on strategic issues
Catherine Barns on the latter’s initiative. The meeting was held at
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Permanent Representation in the RA.

In the course of the meeting Catherine Barns took an interest in
the NKR FM’s estimation of the Consortium Initiative activity being
implemented in Karabakh and the organization’s further programs.

The NKR FM took a favorable view of the organization’s activity in
the Nagorno Karabakh and underscored such program’s success depended
on the Azeri party’s stand.

The NKR Permanent Representative in the RA Karlen Avetissian and
Consortium Initiative Eurasian programs manager Dessislava Rusanova
also participated in the meeting.

DRAFT LAW OF ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT ON WAGES OF HIGH-RANKING PUBLIC
SERVANTS OF ARMENIA

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 3 2006

Armenian government presented a draft law for parliamentary discussion
on wages of high-ranking public servants of the country, Pavel
Safaryan, First Deputy Finance and Economy Minister of Armenia,
said at the parliamentary hearings of the budget 2007 today.

He said that the executive body proposed to re-consider wages of
high public servants from 1 July, 2007. It should be done by a new
parliament that will prevent unnecessary speculations on the subject.

Wages of this category will be decided upon depending on the minimal
wages. The minimal salaries will be increased as well as salaries of
high public servants.

The Minister reminded that in 2007 the minimal wages will grow by
5 ths AMD and will make up 20 ths AMD. Previously, in 2006, the
government slightly touched upon this question and as a result,
salaries of public servants significantly grew up whereas salaries
of heads of ministries and departments remained unchanged.

If the question is not reconsidered, the wages of ministerial workers
will be higher than salaries of ministers. Salary of the head of
ministerial machinery will make up 204 ths AMD, salary of deputy
minister – 180 ths AMD. The executive body is concerned that public
servants will have higher salaries rather than ministers, and so,
amendments will be made.

12 NGOs WIN GOVERNMENT GRANTS TO ADVOCATE DANGERS OF SMOKING

Armenpress
Nov 02 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: The Public Dialogue and Developments
Center has revealed today the names of 12 non-governmental
organizations, which were recognized winners of a competition for
government grants to advocate dangers of smoking.

This was the second tender for government grants to this end held
by the Public Dialogue and Developments Center, picked up by the
government to organize and steer these competitions. The first tender
held earlier this year was won by 10 non-governmental organizations.

One of these organizations, the Association of Pediatricians and
Psychologists, will hold a 90-minute march on November in downtown
Yerevan 4 titled ‘No to Smoking.’ The World Health Organization
(WHO) estimates that 63.7 percent of Armenian men are smokers – the
highest rate in Europe. By comparison, an estimated 60 percent of men
in neighboring Georgia and 31.2 percent in Azerbaijan are smokers. The
number of smoking women also increases, the bulk of them in Yerevan.

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN: LONDRES CRITIQUE LA PROPOSITION DE LOI FRANCAISE

Agence France Presse
2 novembre 2006 jeudi 5:38 PM GMT

Un ministre britannique a juge jeudi que la proposition de loi
francaise penalisant la negation du genocide armenien n’etait "pas
la meilleure facon de progresser" sur ce thème.

"En creant des lois sur ces evenements historiques, aussi epouvantables
soient-ils, il y a un risque de les transformer en questions politiques
d’actualite, et franchement, c’est ce qui se passe en France",
a estime le ministre aux Affaires europeennes Geoff Hoon.

Les deputes francais ont adopte le 12 octobre un texte rendant passible
de prison la negation du genocide armenien de 1915-1917.

Cette proposition de loi doit maintenant etre debattue par le Senat
(la chambre haute du parlement francais).

"Personnellement, je ne crois pas que cette proposition soit
necessairement utile", a insiste M. Hoon.

–Boundary_(ID_+J07W48iVoZ6DLiL3Rj82Q)–