Author: Kamalian Hagop

MATCH TO BE REFFED BY ISRAELI REFEREE

A1+
[01:13 pm] 14 October, 2008

On October 15 the Israeli referee team headed by Asaf Asaf Kenan will
hold the Bosnia-Armenia selective match to be held in Zenitsia on the
sidelines of the 2010 world football championship. Ezra Bason and Abed
Alramili will help Kenan, while Meir Levi will be the fourth referee.

The UEFA Swiss delegate will be Guido Cornella and the chief of
the referees is Gheorghe Constantin from Rumania. Asat Kenan, 40,
has been an international referee since 2003. Throughout the past
years, Kenan has held 17 international matches. He has mainly been
the arbiter of club matches and one national team match.

The Bosnia-Armenia match will take place in the "Beliano Polie"
stadium in Zenitsa, which seats an audience of 25,000. The Zenitsia
team "Selik" and the Bosnian national team will go one-on-one in the
match to begin at 11:15 p.m. Yerevan time.

REPRESENTATIVE OF ARTSAKH ARFD: IN ISSUE REFERRING TO ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS TURKEY SHOULD NOT PROPOSE PRELIMINARY CONDITIONS

DeFacto Agency
2008-10-13 15:12:00
Armenia

STEPANAKERT, 13. 10. 08. DE FACTO. "Turkey’s proposal concerning the
establishment of Caucasian platform is immediately connected with
Karabakh issue. As a whole, in the issue relevant to Armenian-Turkish
relations Turkey should not propose preliminary conditions, one of
which refers to Karabakh issue", a representative of Artsakh ARFD
Bureau David Ishkhanian stated in the course of the hearings entitled
"Situation in the South Caucasus: Perspectives of NKR’s Recognition"
held at the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Parliament.

"We do not mind establishing relation with Turkey, however, Turkey
should not be in the lead of the region", David Ishkhanian added.

According to DE FACTO own correspondent in Stepanakert, a
representative of ARFD Bureau David Ishkhanian called the hearings
substantial and interesting. However, in his opinion, the hearings’
subject is premature. "Political events are rapidly developing,
consequently, I believe that Armenian-Turkish relation should have
become the parliamentary hearings’ subject", David Ishkhanian noted.

At that he added that parliamentary hearings prompted the necessity of
more serious attitude to the process of NKR’s recognition in current
borders. "Hearings on this subject should be initiated in the near
future", the representative of Artsakh ARF Bureau noted.

To note, the hearings were initiated by the NKR National Assembly’s
Permanent Commission for External Relations. Ashot Gulian, the NKR
NA Chairman, Georgy Petrosian, the NKR FM, Shavarsh Kocharian, the RA
Deputy FM, and the representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh’s parliamentary
and outer parliamentary forces partook at the hearings.

ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH RECEIVED BY ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

Athens News Agency
September 29, 2008 Monday

YEREVAN (ANA-MPA – A. Kourkoulas) Shortly before his departure from
the Armenian capital on Monday, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I
was received by Armenian President Serzh Sargsian, who stressed the
importance he attached to the Armenian Orthodox Church and preserving
Armenia’s national identity.

Patriarch Bartholomew on Saturday began an official visit to Armenia,
where he took part in ceremonies of the Armenian Orthodox Church.

ARMENIA EXPECTED TO HAVE DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH OF GDP THIS YEAR TOO

Noyan Tapan

Oc t 8, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia is expected to have a
double-digit growth of GDP this year too – thanks to the high activity
in the construction sector, is said in the section on Armenia of
Grant Thornton company’s International Business Report 2008, which
was presented on October 8 by Gurgen Hakobian, Armenian representative
of the company.

By the report, based on the high food import prices and international
oil prices, as well as on the great domestic demand it can be
expected that in late 2008 the consumer price index will make about
7%, exceeding the announced inflation index of 4%. Nevertheless,
according to G. Hakobian, this index is lower as compared with those
of neighboring countries, and it is expected that in 2009 it will
decline and remain within the announced limits. This year’s budget
will have a deficit in the amount of 1.2% of GDP, as a result of
which the real appreciation of foreign currency will become possible.

It is noted in the report that in the majority of the 34 countries
studied, enterprises of the private sector are optimistic about
the prospects of the year. It is the fifth year that India tops
the table as a country which is most optimistic about the economy,
while Japan is at the bottom due to its pessimism. The enterprises of
Armenia’s private sector are more optimistic about the results of 2008
than last year. The level of optimism concerning profitability has
exceeded the world average, while the level of optimism about export
is slightly lower than the world average. The index of real growth
of the employment was lower in Armenia than was forecast in 2007.

As regards the importance of the factors decisive for international
investments, the size of an economy and its development potential are
important for Armenian as well as international entrepreneurship. The
number of exporting enterprises in Armenia (34%) is below the
world average (39%) and the 2007 index of 36%. The number of
importing enterprises makes 72% in Armenia, exceeding the world
average of 39%. Two thirds of Armenian businessmen see their
rivals in the domestic market. This index exceeds almost two-fold
the world average. Enterprises of Armenia’s private sector (83%)
and international businessmen (70%) consider the quality of products
and services as their greatest competitive advantage. 75% of Armenian
enterprises consider human resource and skilful workforce as the main
competitive advantage – as compared with the world index of 55%.

It is noteworthy that surveys are conducted by Grant Thornton’s
representatives in various countries. The company operates in more than
100 countries. An increasing number of countries is being involved in
surveys with every passing year. It is the second year that Armenia
has participated in studies.

ARMENIA TO LOSE POSITIONS

Panorama.am
18:07 09/10/2008

In 134 countries of the world Armenia occupied 97th horizontal by
the index of competitiveness losing its positions by 4 horizontals,
said Manuk Yergnyan, the head of "Economy and values" research center
when presenting the annual report of World Economic Forum. According to
him in the indexes of Armenia no serious changes gave been registered.

According to this index of competitiveness Moldova is on 95th
horizontal from the CIS countries, Tajikistan is 116,

Azerbaijan has also lost its positions and currently is in the 69th
horizontal (in previous year 66). The index of Georgia has remained
unchangeable – 90th horizontal.

Considering the labour market effectiveness, Armenia is in better
positions, occupying 45th horizontal.

Mr. Yergnyan said that the data of World Finance Market and the
political conditions in Armenia are not considered in the assessment.

MUBARIZ AHMEDOGHLU: "WEST WISHES TO DRIVE RUSSIA OUT OF THE CAUCASUS FOREVER"

Today.Az
08 October 2008 [16:03]

Russia is not aware which policy it conducts in the Caucasus, while the
West has done an open attempt to take the Caucasus away from Russia",
said Mubariz Ahmedoghlu, head of the center of political innovations
and technologies at a press conference by results of September.

"West wishes to drive Russia out of the Caucasus forever", said
Ahmedoghlu.

He considers that religion also interferes with the political
issue. The political scientist considers that the goal is to drive
Orthodox Christians out of the region.

"West wants only Catholicism to be present in the Caucasus", said
the political scientist. As for the financial losses after the war
between Russia and Georgia, Ahmedoghlu noted that Armenia also tries
to benefit from this issue.

"Georgia which was the direct victim of this war, said it lost
$170,000,000, while Armenia, which did not take direct participation,
announced that it lost $680,000,000.

This figure was confirmed by official Washington, which allocated the
due amount to Armenia. It means that West decided to provide financial
assistance for Armenia to get rid of Russia", said Ahmedoghlu.

He said West is confident that Russia must lose more than it gained
from war with Georgia. The political scientist noted that the most
loyal expert in Russia mentions $35-40 bln, while the most radical
$450 bln.

Armenian Genocide Museum of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-383-9009, Web:

PRESS RELEASE

October 8, 2008
CONTACT: Carole Karabashian
Phone: (202) 383-9009
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM OF AMERICA ANNOUNCES MAJOR RESEARCH LIBRARY
DONATION

Washington, DC – Two donors, who presently wish to remain anonymous,
have gifted the Armenian Genocide Museum of America (AGMA) with an
exceptional collection of books and other printed material focused on
the Armenian Genocide and its documentation.

The collection of several thousand rare and out-of-print books and other
documents is slated for transfer to the AGMA in time for the opening of
the museum in 2010. AGMA will include a complete facility to support
ongoing research at the museum.

The remarkable collection contains many valuable items including maps,
photographs, and other historical evidence reflecting acquisitions,
research, and exploration across numerous archives.

In making their gift to AGMA, the two donors stated: "Indeed, the very
raison d’être of this collection is that everyone needs to know that
there is a massive amount of documentation on what happened to the
Armenians. At the same time, there is also ample testimony that they
were able to overcome the attempt to annihilate them and to recover from
such unprecedented adversity. And, all this with a great deal of help
from the U.S.A. What better place to show this than in Washington, DC?"

The donors hope that the gift will serve as an incentive for others to
contribute relevant works as well. Collection development is a major
objective of the AGMA library. Accepting the donation, AGMA Trustee and
Building and Operations Committee Chairman Van Krikorian, said: "We are
thrilled to receive this astounding gift of an entire library of
specialized publications concentrating on the Armenian Genocide. The
donors’ monumental achievement in creating this collection and
tremendous generosity in choosing the AGMA as the home for the
collection represent a true match made in heaven."

Krikorian went on to say: "This collection of works ranging in their
coverage from the mid-1800s to the present has personal meaning for a
variety of reasons. First, this specialized Armenian Genocide
collection is destined to constitute the foundation of the museum
library. Second, the donation of this entire pre-existing collection,
along with our own Assembly and ANI materials, and in light of the help
we are getting from the Near East Foundation and the Armenian Genocide
Museum in Yerevan, and others, immediately puts AGMA out front in
Washington for running the type of research center that we plan and need
to support the museum, its exhibits and activities. Our donors have
established a standard of sharing with this extraordinary donation in
the same community-minded spirit of Anoush Mathevosian, Hirair
Hovnanian, and the Kechejian family, which we hope others will emulate."

The library donors are scientists with advanced degrees, one with
Armenian roots and the other with no such roots but with a fervent
interest in human rights, peace, and social justice. The gift is being
made in memory of the parents of one of the scientists. They were from
the same small mountain village in the Kharpert region of Armenia. One
was a Genocide survivor; the other was a "gamavor" or volunteer from
America who served in the Armenian Legion or Legion d’Orient.

This special collection will significantly expand the holdings of the
Armenian National Institute (ANI), which has been serving as the
research facility of the AGMA. ANI is already the beneficiary of the
oral history project conducted by the Armenian Assembly of America in
the 1980s, which also sponsored in the 1990s, the first comprehensive
collection of 37,000 pages of U.S. documents from the National Archives
issued on microfiche with a 476-page guide to the documents, both
published by Chadwyck-Healey, Inc. Over the years, ANI has also
acquired important archival holdings from around the world.

The Armenian Genocide Museum of America is an outgrowth of the Armenian
Assembly of America and the Armenian National Institute (ANI), catalyzed
by the initial pledge of Anoush Mathevosian toward building such a
museum in Washington, DC.

#####

NR#2008-09

AMERICAN EXPERTS COME LATE BUT THEY ARE NOT LATE
Gevorg Harutyunyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
08 Oct 2008
Armenia

Yesterday the NA temporary committee investigating March 1-2
developments held a session and together with the three American
experts watched some recordings. After the session the correspondent of
"Hayots Ashkharh" daily had interview with Samvel Nikoyan.

"Mr. Nikoyan it was the first participation of the American experts
in the session of the committee. What facts did you introduce?"

"Firstly we introduced the work implemented by the committee, the
facts that we have managed to attain regarding March 1 developments. We
watched the recording of the events that took place in the Theatrical
Square on March 1, in the morning, later we watched the video,
which the journalist of "Haykakan Jamanak" daily had given to the
committee. And, by the way, not only did we bring the attention of the
American experts to certain episodes of the before mentioned recording
which mildly speaking give rise to doubt, but also informed them that
we have already appealed to the bodies that carry out the inquest and
the expert services to estimate the factual value and the assertion
of the before mentioned recordings.

Together with the American experts over again we studied the conclusion
of the Forensic Expertise Center. Particularly we have introduced
all the details about the t en victims, the reasons of death and
the injuries."

"According to NA decision before October 25 the temporary committee
must represent the results of their activity. How can the American
experts help you? Why are they so late?"

"I don’t think they are late. Especially because we have invited
experts from many other countries, but the thing is this issue has
become a matter of discussion only in the US Embassy in Armenia. So
it took lots of time to solve all the organizational issues. But we
are short of time and we are really in a hurry. This is the reason
why we think that the American experts are late.

In the near future we will start collecting factual data regarding
the death circumstances of the ten victims. We strongly believe that
both society and the National Assembly will demand clarifications
regarding the reasons of those people’s death.

At the moment it is difficult to say whether or not we are satisfied
with the results of our work, because we haven’t yet got the answers
of many expertise. Once we receive all the proper documents, we will
speak about the progress."

"Did the American experts express any opinion after watching the
recording?"

‘They are serious people and they will hardly express any opinion
immediately after watching photos or videos. They must firstly analyze
the information.

We asked the m if they would do expertise of the photos and the
recordings to see whether or not they coincide with the reality. They
said they must first discuss that possibility. Besides that they must
also decide where and in what conditions can they do it.

I must record that our law enforcement structures and the police
allocated recordings of two minutes duration. In my view they simply
don’t have other ones. Better if they had other videos but didn’t give
them to us, but the fact that they don’t have any proper recordings
is very bad.

The police didn’t record the illegal demonstrations and protest marches
preceding March 1 developments. It is really bad because these facts
are very necessary for us, for the police, for the prosecutors and
society.

We must clarify many details regarding the videos that we possess,
because there are lots of speculations around those videos. It is
not yet clear who has recorded those videos."

"By the way the place of the pro-oppositional vice-chairman of the
committee is still vacant. Do you think they do it intentionally?"

"Not only is it intentional but also very regrettable. The absence
of the opposition makes the activity of the committee very difficult.

Non-participation is a political decision. Had they cooperated with the
committee, people could have expected to get certain clarifications
to their questions. And that would ha ve mitigated the internal
political tension. It is a pure political decision, because today
not everyone wants to know the truth. And these people say that the
committee doesn’t have any desire to be impartial.

Are they impartial? Why hasn’t any radical witness come and told the
committee what they have seen?"

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Monday, October 6, 2008

AGBU Young Professionals Break New Ground – Networking Never Felt This
Good

The only Armenian network of its kind spanning five continents, the
AGBU Young Professionals (YP) make Armenian communities around the
world thriving, better places in which to live, through civic
involvement and international cooperation bound by one common mission
– to promote the Armenian identity and heritage.

Inspiring their peers to get involved and stay involved, the open-door
policy of the AGBU Young Professionals has garnered them a worldwide
reputation for promoting a sense of community and belonging for young
Armenians ages 22 to 40.

Proof positive, the AGBU YP Network swelled to 22 groups with welcome
additions abroad in Brazil, Australia, and Germany, while stateside,
Washington, D.C. and Fresno, California joined the fold. Discussions
are also underway to establish even more groups in South America and
the Middle East by year’s end.

Substantive and impactful, the YP Network sponsored over 90 cultural,
educational and social events in 2007 with over 5300 YPs in
attendance, representing 20% of AGBU worldwide activity. Sharing the
fruits of their labor, the groups also donated nearly $41,000 back to
the community, with 70% of the funds earmarked for worthwhile AGBU
projects in Armenia and Karabakh. The total amount of funds raised
since the network’s inception has surpassed $135,000, of which over
$60,000 was brought in by the fundraising powerhouse, the Young
Professionals of Greater New York.

As the AGBU Young Professionals continue to build momentum around the
world, groups are identifying novel ways to mobilize and attract their
peers by promoting their professional lives and interests. Some key
examples include the professional development seminar series organized
by YP Toronto on contemporary topics such as identity theft, real
estate and retirement planning, and the establishment of professional
Special Interest Groups by YP Paris and YP Yerevan.

Other YP Groups elect to give back by contributing towards the good
work of their AGBU Chapters and the well-being of their
communities-at-large, as witnessed by YP Plovdiv’s administrative
support of the local AGBU student scholarship program, the sponsoring
of a fundraiser by YP Los Angeles and YP Orange County in California
to benefit the AGBU Generation Next Mentoring Program, and YP Tehran’s
visit to the Akunk Center, a facility for Armenian children with
mental and physical diseases.

Additionally, the YP Network is exploring ways to harness its
collective power through the release of a new logo and web platform on
Meetup and Meetup Alliance (), adoption of
a project to support the career development needs of youth in Armenia
and promotion of international cooperation and understanding through a
videoconferencing series with the largest Armenian diaspora in the
world – Russia.

Los Angeles & Moscow Connect in Cyberspace

On July 19, 2008, the AGBU Young Professionals of Los Angeles (YP LA)
collaborated with SIVAM, a peer organization based in Moscow, Russia,
on a ground-breaking Internet videoconference.

With participants from the two largest Armenian diasporas assembled,
the YP LA Publicity Chair Narine Zardarian based in Pasadena,
California and SIVAM Coordinator Isabella Gushchyan based in Moscow,
Russia facilitated the online videoconference exchange that compared
and contrasted the Armenian-American and Russian-Armenian experiences,
stimulating inquiries about key cultural differences and the sharing
of anecdotal accounts.

"Videoconferencing with professionals in Moscow made me realize that
there is an emerging global Armenian identity," said Zardarian. "It is
an identity that transcends geographic boundaries, dialects and other
affiliations, but simply appeals to one’s inner core as an Armenian."

To learn more about the AGBU YP Network or how to establish an AGBU YP
Group in your community, please visit , email
[email protected] or contact one of our 22 YP Groups worldwide in –
ARMENIA: Yerevan ([email protected]); AUSTRALIA: Sydney
([email protected]); AUSTRIA: Vienna ([email protected]); BRAZIL,
São Paulo ([email protected]); BULGARIA: Plovdiv ([email protected]),
Sofia ([email protected]); CANADA: Toronto ([email protected]); ENGLAND:
London ([email protected]); FRANCE: Paris ([email protected]);
GERMANY: Cologne ([email protected]); IRAN: Tehran
([email protected]); LEBANON: Beirut ([email protected]);
SWITZERLAND: Zurich ([email protected]); USA: Boston, MA
([email protected]), Detroit, MI ([email protected]), Fresno, CA
([email protected]), Greater New York, NY ([email protected]), Los
Angeles, CA ([email protected]), Orange County, CA
([email protected]), Philadelphia, PA ([email protected]), San
Francisco, CA ([email protected]), Washington
D.C. ([email protected]).

For more information on AGBU and its other worldwide programs, please
visit

Armenian National Committee of Massachusetts
47 Nichols Avenue
Watertown MA 02472
617-926-1918
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
October 1, 2008

Contact: 617-347-2833

Blue Cross Blue Shield Defies Watertown Town Council Unanimous Call
to Cut Ties with Controversial ADL Program

— Disregards Armenian American Community Concerns

WATERTOWN, MA -Despite a unanimous vote by Watertown officials last
week and hundreds of letters from Massachusetts residents, Blue
Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts (BCBSMA) announced its plans to
support the Anti-Defamation League’s "No Place for Hate" program,
despite that groups ongoing opposition to Armenian Genocide
recognition, reported the Armenian National Committee of
Massachusetts (ANC-MA)

BCBSMA’s intentions were revealed on September 26th in what
appeared to be form letters sent to individuals and organizations,
who had expressed concerns about the healthcare giant’s dubious
affiliation. "It had been our understanding that the ADL recognized
the terrible events perpetrated against the Armenian people between
1915 and 1923 as genocide," read the BCBSMA’s email. "Therefore, in
response to the letters and emails we received, and because Blue
Cross Blue Shield firmly believes there should be no ambiguity on
this issue, senior executives met directly with representatives of
the ADL to ask for clarification. At that meeting, our CEO asked
the ADL leaders about the organization’s "official" position. He
was assured that the ADL unequivocally recognizes the killing of
more than one and a half million Armenians as genocide."

The ADL’s promises rang hollow to the Watertown Town Council and
the ANC MA. BCBSMA Senior Vice President for Public, Government and
Regulatory Affairs Jay Curley, during his presentation to the
Watertown Town Council last week, admitted that the ADL’s
assurances were only verbal and that his organization was
"disappointed" with the tone and tenor of the communication from
ADL leader Abe Foxman. For more information on the Watertown
decision read:
.php?prid=3D1595

In July of this year, Foxman had traveled to Turkey to smooth over
relations with the Turkish government by reiterating the ADL’s
opposition to Armenian Genocide legislation in the U.S. Congress.
According to a July 4th article by Herb Keinon in the Jerusalem
Post, Foxman urged President Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan to
strengthen relations with Armenia today, in hopes that "it will
place the historical issue in the background and be much easier to
deal with." Foxman went on to lecture the Armenian American
community on genocide recognition efforts, stating that pressure to
use "certain words they want us to use is not going to help one
Armenian."

"Foxman’s verbal assertions to the BCBSMA fly in the face of his
statements in Turkey just three months ago, where he dared not
properly characterize the Armenian Genocide as ‘genocide’, lauded
the ADL’s opposition to Congressional legislation on the issue, and
went so far as to advise the unrepentant perpetrators of Genocide
on how to sweep history under the rug," stated Ara Nazarian of the
ANC MA. "The Watertown Town Council and Massachusetts
Municipalities Authority saw through Foxman’s charade. We expect
the BCBSMA to do so as well."

On September 29th, the ANC MA responded to the BCBSMA’s letter,
stating: "We are very disappointed that Blue Cross Blue Shield has
decided to turn a blind eye to what is clearly genocide denial by
the Anti-Defamation League."

"The Armenian community has struggled against genocide denial for
ninety-three years. The entire community is united in its
determination to see justice prevail in this matter."

The complete text of the ANC MA letter to BCBSMA is provided below.

For more information visit

#####

Complete Text of ANC MA letter to BCBSMA:
September 29, 2008

We are very disappointed that Blue Cross Blue Shield has decided to
turn a blind eye to what is clearly genocide denial by the Anti-
Defamation League.

Even assuming you were given assurances by the New England Regional
ADL that the organization acknowledges the Armenian Genocide, these
comments were made privately and verbally and, as such, are not
official and have no standing in the public arena. In addition, the
verbal assurances differ greatly from the only two official public
statements the ADL has made in this regard.

Furthermore, what the NE ADL asserts is simply not pertinent to the
issue. No Place for Hate is a registered trademark of, and is
owned and operated by, the national ADL.

It is true that the New England regional tried to persuade the
national ADL to issue an unequivocal statement recognizing the
Armenian Genocide at its national meeting last November. They
failed. The entire organization determined to let stand the August
2007 statement – which, as you know, does not meet international
standards for genocide recognition – as its official position on
the Armenian Genocide.

The Boston Globe reported that New England leaders were satisfied
with the outcome, quoting regional board chair James Rudolph as
saying, "I feel comfortable with it."

Nothing has changed since that time.

The Armenian community has struggled against genocide denial for
ninety-three years. The entire community is united in its
determination to see justice prevail in this matter.

We are saddened that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has
chosen to side with a genocide denier and not with human rights.

Sincerely,
Sharistan Melkonian
Armenian National Committee of Massachusetts