Author: Jabejian Elizabeth

OSCE MG APPRECIATES LAST CONSULTATIONS IN PARIS AS "VERY PRODUCTIVE"

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.02.2007 13:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Consultations in Paris were very productive,"
stated OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov commenting
on the last meeting of Co-Chairs held February 15-16 in French
capital. He underlined the Co-Chairs met in Paris also with Armenian
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. Merzlyakov said this meeting too
was very useful.

The diplomat expressed regret for Elmar Mamedyarov’s absence. Asked
why he did not meet with Azeri President’s personal representative
in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict negotiations Araz Azimov, who was
participating in the international energy conference in Paris, Yuri
Merzlyakov answered that first; there wasn’t any request, and second;
according to the information of American Co-Chair Matthew Bryza,
Araz Azimov did not participating in the conference.

Commenting on Azimov’s statement that "Armenia steps back from its
stance on uncoordinated issues", Yuri Merzlyakov underscored "the Azeri
side really had put certain questions, but the Armenian side did not
give particular responses to them": "Those questions, from which as
if Armenia steps back, have not been discussed in a such level that
we could speak about deviation. That’s why to say that Armenia steps
back, I think, is not quite right. We have not discussed them yet in
order to agree with his opinion that Armenia steps back".

Yuri Merzlyakov one more time stressed uncoordinated issues in the
talks are of not only technical character, adding that A. Azimov’s
statement itself is an evidence that, perhaps, it is not only
technique.

The Russian diplomat underlined mediators as before, are trying to
organize a meeting between the FMs of Azerbaijan and Armenia at the
beginning of March, APA reports.

LEVEL OF LAKE SEVAN RISES BY 1.9 METERS DURING LAST 4 YEARS

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. During the last 4 years the level
of Lake Sevan rised by 1.9 meters. RA Minister of Nature Protection
Vardan Ayvazian informed about this at the February 16 press
conference. In his words, it is expected to raise the level of Lake
Sevan by 6 meters in several years.

The Minister mentioned that at present the cleaning of the lakeside
territories is one of the most important problems. In 2007 it is
expected to clean 160 hectares territory (92 hectares were cleaned in
2005 and 123 hectares in 2006).

V. Ayvazian informed that this year the fishing will be prohibited in
the lake for the purpose of replenishing the lake with whitefish.

PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

February 16, 2007
___________________

CATHOLICOS ELEVATES ECUMENICAL LEADER

By Jake Goshert

At the direction of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, Bishop Vicken Aykazian was elevated to the rank
of Archbishop during a ceremony at New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral on
Sunday, February 11, 2007.

"Elevation to the rank of archbishop is recognition of past success —
tending to the spiritual needs of the faithful, nurturing and growing the
church, and spreading the word of Christ’s eternal love. It is also
recognition of the path ahead — the innate skills and qualities that guide
each of us," said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern), who presented Archbishop Aykazian with
the Pontifical Encyclical on behalf of the Catholicos.

COMMUNITY LEADER

Archbishop Aykazian serves the Diocese in a number of ways. For the past
few years he has been the visiting pastor of the Armenian Church of Atlanta,
a position he will maintain even with his increasingly busy schedule of
other activities.

"As our parish Shepard in Atlanta, he has been absolutely phenomenal,
helping us get on our own feet," said Armen Karapetian, parish council
chairman from Atlanta, who spoke to the 250 people gathered for a reception
honoring the newly elevated Archbishop in the Cathedral’s Haik and Alice
Kavookjian Auditorium. "When I first looked at him, there was such a
tremendous light and an aura around him. I felt such a kinship. The work
he does in Atlanta, guiding us and helping us, has been amazing."

Along with his pastoral duties, Archbishop Aykazian serves on the board of
the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), the Diocesan-affiliated international
air organization. He served as the organization’s representative in Armenia
shortly following the nation’s independence.

He was recently selected to serve on the board of Habitat for Humanity
International. One of the people instrumental in bringing Archbishop
Aykazian into the Habitat organization, Dr. Ken Benson, president Habitat
for Humanity of Michigan, spoke about the successes the organization has had
in Armenia thanks to Archbishop Aykazian’s efforts.

"He is concerned about poverty, for the needs of poor people around the
world," Dr. Benson said, noting that the efforts in Armenia could be
building 500 homes per year within the next three years. "We will do that
every year until all those people put out of their homes because of the
earthquake have a true home. And if it wasn’t for Archbishop Aykazian, this
would not have begun."

Though his work with Habitat for Humanity helps Armenia, Archbishop Aykazian
said his focus is on helping the poor globally.

"You can see love on the faces of people taking ownership of a house," he
said. "But I’m not going to work only for Armenians. I’m going to work for
others, in other countries, who have the same problems we have."

ECUMENICAL LEADER

Archbishop Aykazian is most noted for his role as an ecumenical leader as
diocesan legate and ecumenical officer. He serves as president-elect of the
National Council of Churches (NCC) and on the executive committee of the
World Council of Churches.

This work allows the Armenian Church to join its sister churches in tackling
some of the world’s problems.

"We as the Armenian Church can do more with others. It is not possible to
do everything alone," he said. "Maybe along we can succeed in something for
some people, but to achieve goals throughout the world, you have to be a
part of a group fighting together."

He noted the ecumenical efforts to battle poverty and sickness, to promote
peace, and fight for the end of genocide.

"We cannot talk only about our Genocide, if there are other genocides taking
place in the world," he said. "We alone cannot do it all — fight genocide,
poverty, promote peace. But with the help of the National Council of
Churches and other churches, we can achieve a lot."

Kevork Toroyan, who chairs the Legate Committee for the Diocese, agrees that
working on such lofty goals seems daunting. But, he told those gathered for
the reception, Archbishop Aykazian has helped steer such efforts thanks to
his Christian values.

"Under his leadership we are going to see a lot of progress on the various
problems facing the world at large," Toroyan said. "When the Primate said
he would head this ecumenical effort, I asked if Bishop Vicken was the right
man. I’ve found out that yes he is the right man."

LIFE OF SERVICE

In describing Archbishop Aykazian, the emcee of the night, Tavit Najarian,
said "everybody I talked to about Archbishop Aykazian had the following
attributes assigned to him: compassionate, generous, a consensus builder, a
man of boundless love."

Archbishop Aykazian was born in Siirt, Turkey, in 1951 and studied at the
Holy Cross Armenian Seminary in Istanbul and then the Armenian Patriarchate
of Jerusalem. He was ordained as a priest in 1971 and as a bishop in 1992
by His Holiness Vasken I, Catholicos of All Armenians, in the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin.

He has served the church as primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
Switzerland; a preacher at Armenian churches in Istanbul; and as an
assistant to Archbishop Shnork Kaloustyan, Armenian Patriarch of
Constantinople.

"Archbishop Vicken is a very dear, personal friend of mine. In fact, we
were both ordained together in 1971 at the St. James Cathedral in
Jerusalem," the Primate said during the elevation ceremony. "I have served
beside him, watched him serve his parishioners, and seen him represent our
beloved Armenian Church around the globe. I am honored to be here today to
present him with this Pontifical Encyclical on behalf of His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians."

— 2/16/07

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese, and Archbishop Vicken Aykazian listen as Fr. Papken Anoushian,
pastor of the St. Thomas Church of Tenafly, New Jersey, reads the Pontifical
Encyclical from His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, elevating Archbishop Aykazian to his new rank.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Archbishop Vicken Aykazian listens as Archbishop
Barsamian speaks about his successful ecumenical and pastoral work during a
service in New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral on Sunday, February 11,
2007, during which Archbishop Aykazian was elevated in rank by the direction
of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians. (Photo by JK Hovannes)

PHOTO CAPTION (3): Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical
officer of the Eastern Diocese, is presented with the Pontifical Encyclical
from His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, elevating him to the rank of Archbishop during a service in New
York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral on February 11, 2007. (Photo by JK
Hovannes)

PARTICIPANTS OF SITTING OF CIS MEMBER-STATES’ COORDINATION COMMITTEE FOR ANTI-AIRCRAFT DEFENCE AFFAIRS ARRIVE IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Feb 14 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Delegation led by army General
Vladimir Mikhaylov, Chairman of CIS member-states’ Coordination
Committee for United Anti-aircraft Defence System Affairs, arrived
in Yerevan on February 14. The delegation will participate in the
sitting of Coordination Committee for anti-aircraft defence affairs
attached to CIS member-states’ Defence Ministers’ Council and in the
training-methodical gathering.

"We accepted with gratitude the Armenian side’s invitation to hold the
Committee sitting in Yerevan," the head of the delegation said in his
press briefing at Erebuni airport. V. Mikhaylov stated that sittings
of Coordination Committee for Anti-aircraft Defence System Affairs
are held twice a year in anti-aircraft defence system member-states.

Monitoring of martial positions dislocated in Armenia, including
monitoring of 102th Russian military base, will be held within the
framework of Yerevan visit. 2007 programs and results of activities
done in the second half of 2006 will be also discussed.

Answering Noyan Tapan correspondent’s question, V. Mikhaylov said that
technical reequipment of 102th military base is gradually implemented,
repairs of technical equipment are done and there is a prospect of
purchasing new equipment.

The delegation led by General Mikhaylov left for Tsitsernakaberd
memorial complex to pay a tribute of respect to the memory of 1915
Armenian Genocide victims.

COURT DECLINES RUBEN TOROSIAN’S LAWSUIT TO RECOGNIZE BARGAVACH HAYASTAN’S STATE REGISTRATION ILLEGAL

Noyan Tapan
Feb 15 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. On February 15, Yerevan Kentron
and Nork-Marash communities’ first instance court presided over
by judge Samvel Tadevosian with speeded up procedure examined and
declined the lawsuit of Ruben Torosian, Chairman of Human Rights-96
Party. The claimant required to recognize as illegal giving of state
registration certificate to Bargavach Hayastan (Prosperous Armenia)
Party by RA Justice Ministry’s Juridical Persons’ State Register.

R. Torosian said in his interview to journalists that the court should
have informed him in advance and not at the court sitting about the
speeded up examination of the lawsuit. In his words, he submitted the
lawsuit due to Bargavach Hayastan’s not having regulations and the fact
that the party had not convened a constituent meeting until the day of
the court sitting. R. Torosian said that he is going to apply to the
Appeal Court to appeal against the decision of first instance court.

How the old corporate tortoise wins the race
By Jonathan Guthrie
FT
February 15 2007 02:00

Spirits were high among a group of insolvency practitioners – sorry,
"recovery professionals" – with whom I dined last week. It was like
raving it up with a group of undertakers during a dangerous epidemic.
The corporate pallbearers expected this year to be remunerative,
thanks to higher interest rates and globalisation-fuelled
competition. "Old So-and-So went under on Tuesday," said one man,
charging our glasses. "Young Whatsisname is running out of road too,"
said his colleague, ordering another bottle.

In both business and life it is futile to ask, as the funeral service
psalmist does: "Lord, let me know mine end, and the number of my
days." But longevity calculators on the internet at least allow one to
guesstimate the length of one’s mortal coil. I, for example, have a
good chance of making it to 79. Anything else will be gravy for me
and an extra penance for my family, assuming that I grow even
crabbier.
The calculators offset negatives – a 60-a-day fag habit, for example –
against such positives as descent from a breed of Armenian shepherds
famed for living into their hundreds. Assiduous Googling failed to
uncover a similar service for company owners troubled by intimations
of corporate mortality. That left me wondering what the formula for an
elixir of eternal youth would be for a business.
Reports of the untimely demise of the typical enterprise, are, to
start with, exaggerated. A commonly heard urban myth is that "most
businesses fail in their first two years of trading". But the
Department of Trade and Industry says about 80 per cent of
VAT-registered businesses are still going after two years, falling to
70 per cent after three. If anything, the DTI numbers overestimate
failures by including the higher-earning self-employed, a proportion
of whom cancel VAT registrations every year when they take salaried
jobs.
Experian, the data company, says that only about 3 per cent of new
ventures are subject to insolvent liquidation or go into
administration in their first three years. That figure seems
improbably low, but Experian suggests that many failures are concealed
in the 200,000 yearly company dissolutions. Here, owners shut up shop
having failed to make decent profits, but avoid insolvent liquidation
or administration.
The conclusion is clear. Wannabe entrepreneurs should bravely hum the
prog rock anthem "Don’t Fear the Reaper" when detractors gloat over
their likely failure.
I can meanwhile offer some tips on corporate immortality. First, if
you owna business in Peterborough, flee. Switch off the lights, lock
up and escape while there is yet time. According to a 2004 report by
R3, which represents insolvency practitioners, the Fenland city is a
graveyard for businesses, along with tracts of the north-west.
London is the safest place to base a company, even if living in some
of its inner suburbs requires reckless courage and Kevlar
undergarments. Follow the money, in other words.
Second, you will stay in business longer the more cash you have to
waste. Experian pinpoints undercapitalisation as the main reason for
business failure.
To me, that sounds like self-justification from Dodo Plc, which would
have continued making losses even with an extra £1m to piddle into the
prevailing westerlies.
Third, both Experian and R3 emphasise the importance of a strong
market, though it is in the nature of markets to wax and wane
unpredictably. Fourth, the DTI found that finance and business
services companies survived better than hotels and restaurants.
Jaded bankers fantasising about running a little bistro in Oxford,
take note.
Some high-profile collapses reflect the obsolescence of chosen
business models. The centuries-long survival of some smaller
businesses is less remarked on. Their persistence hints at models that
are tougher than those of fly-by-nights that flourish for decades or
mere years.
Typically, survivors have niches that are hard for newcomers to
penetrate. An example is Timpsons, a 142-year-old store chain whose
staff re-sole shoes and cut keys. John Timpson, its chairman, says:
"No one else has made money out of [this] and that is a good barrier
to entry."
Niches that depend on freehold property ownership are probably the
easiest to defend. An example is the landlord of my office, Calthorpe
Estates, which is modernising the chunk of Edgbaston it has owned for
300 years. It belongs to a trust whose single beneficiary – currently
the splendidly named Sir Euan Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe – is
determined by primogeniture. Endless division of shares in a founding
family has spelt the end for many private businesses.
The Aberdeen Shore Porters (est 1497), a haulage and storage company,
avoided the problem by structuring itself as a kind of friendly
society. Its executive titles still include "deacon", "horsemaster"
and "keybearer".
Long-lived businesses can seem quaint, like the long-lived tortoises
of the Galapagos Islands. These trundle grumpily over the rocky
terrain, snorting disgustedly at day trippers and attempting to mount
one another with a dull clonking of shells. They appear less
ridiculous when you reflect that they can outlive the average human by
70 years. There are worse things to be than a Galapagos
tortoise. Dead, for example.

NATIVES OF CAUCASUS SHOT AT AN ARMENIAN IN MOSCOW

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.02.2007 18:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An Armenian was assaulted in Moscow. The incident
took place at 9.50 a.m. in Rusakovsky street. Two unknown, presumably
natives of Caucasus, shot at the Armenian and fled. The injured man
was taken to hospital. The police are after an old black Mercedes in
which the assassins are supposed to have escaped, report Russian media.

GARNIK ISAGULIAN: NOTHING THREATENS NATIONAL SECURITY OF ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Feb 12 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Nothing at present threatens the
national security of Armenia: all the political processes taking
place in the region and republic are in the focus of attention of
the RA NSS. Garnik Isagulian, the RA President’s Advisor for National
Security, head of the "National Security" party made such a statement
at the February 10 press conference. In his words, neither the draft
on dual citizenship being discussed, nor pre-electoral moods may
become a threat for the country. G.Isagulian refused to comment upon
the position of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation concerning the
dual citizenship and upon the fact that only that party in the ruling
opposition speaks unequivocally for adoption of the mentioned law. He
also refused to comment upon the information given to journalists by
RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian that the Security Council did not
convene sittings continually for few months. "I do not know who gave
you such an information, but I am not an information bureau for you,"
G.Isagulian said. He added that his party will not take part in the
2007 parliamentary elections either by proportional or by majoritarian
systems. And in his words, he "has not made a decision yet" about
being involved in lists of other parties.

ARMENIA MAY REFUSE TO EXPLOIT AN-24 PLANES

ArmRadio.am
12.02.2007 10:51

Armenia may refuse from exploiting An-24 airplanes despite the fact
that three out of five planes are equipped with security systems,
corresponding to the requirements of the International Organization
of Civil Aviation.

Head of the Flight Security Department of the General Board of
Civil Aviation of Armenia Serob Karapetyan told Armenpress that the
countries exploiting An-24 planes – Ukraine and Russia – have applied
to the European Aviation Safety Agency with the request to carry out
validation of these planes, which will enable to certify the jets in
compliance with European standards of flight security.

However, in case of An-24 there is no issue of certification connected
with the structure of the plane.

THE ROAD TO SCHOOL

A1+
[12:37 pm] 12 February, 2007

The pupils and teachers of village Poqr Ayrum have to walk a long
way every day in order toe reach school.

The problem is that Mets Ayrum and Poqr Ayrum are considered one
village, as they have one district municipality, one school, one
kindergarten and one hospital which are all located in Mets Ayrum. But
the distance between the villages is three kilometers.

The greatest problem of the village is the absence of transport. There
is only one railway, Alaverdi-Chochkan, which passes by Poqr Ayrum. But
the morning bass passes through the route Chochkan- Mets Ayrum-
Poqr Ayrum. This problem has existed for the last 5-6 years.

The issue has often been raised during the elections of local governing
bodies. Head of the village Papik Aroushanyan who was elected in 2006
promised to solve the problem as soon as possible.

He made an agreement with a driver of a route taxi.

The village municipality allotted 30 thousand AMD monthly. For that
sum, the teachers and pupils of Poqr Ayrum are allotted a route
taxi every morning in order to get to school. Nevertheless, in the
afternoon they have to solve the problem of getting home on their own.