Author: Kamalian Hagop

US SEEKS TO OFFSET RUSSIAN ENERGY DOMINANCE
by Kerry Sheridan

Agence France Presse
August 29, 2008 Friday 1:58 AM GMT

Washington will seek to boost alliances and offset Russian energy
dominance when Vice President Dick Cheney visits Georgia, Azerbaijan
and Ukraine next week, a White House official said Thursday.

In light of rising tensions with Russia over its conflict with
Georgia, Cheney’s trip is part diplomatic mission, part effort to
boost alternate pipeline routes that would reduce Europe’s dependence
on Russian oil and gas.

Cheney’s tour, which includes a security conference in Italy and
talks with Turkish leaders, also comes as Washington mulls scrapping
a US-Russia civilian nuclear cooperation pact, while France has warned
of possible EU sanctions over Moscow’s actions in Georgia.

The vice president aims to send "a clear and simple message that the
United States has a deep and abiding interest in the well being and
security of this part of the world," said his assistant for national
security affairs, John Hannah.

The visit, parts of which were planned before the outbreak of
hostilities between Georgia and Russia on August 8, marks the first
time Cheney will set foot in either Tbilisi or Baku, Hannah said.

However, the trip has "clearly taken on increasing importance," he
added, after Russia’s nod this week to the independence of breakaway
regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia, a move which drew international
scorn.

"Russia’s actions in recent weeks have clearly cast grave doubts on
its intentions, its purposes," Hannah said. "They merit and demand
a unified response from the free world."

President George W. Bush’s decision to dispatch Cheney for talks
to include discussions on advancing NATO membership for Ukraine and
Georgia, is the clearest sign yet of US concern that its strategic
interests in the region — especially in oil — could be at serious
risk.

The strategic Black Sea region is the common thread in these former
Soviet republics, and where major powers have played out power
struggles ever since oil was found around the Caspian Sea in the
early 20th century.

An administration official said Russia’s military action in Georgia
has given fresh urgency to the planned Nabucco pipeline, which would
bring natural gas from Turkey to Austria.

"The level of confidence and trust that people have in Russia’s overall
reliability has been put in serious question by what’s happened,"
the official said on condition of anonymity.

"The United States has had a priority for quite some time in trying
to lead an effort to encourage this diversification of energy
infrastructure and pipelines and supplies, particularly to Europe,
of gas," he said.

"These recent events … reinforce the sense that that basic strategy
is important and critical, and one that has to be pursued, if anything,
with greater energy by us and by our European partners."

The official also pointed to comments by British Foreign Secretary
David Miliband, who in Ukraine on Wednesday highlighted the need to
"re-balance the energy relationship between Russia and Europe."

"We need diverse, secure and resilient gas supplies. Europe needs to
act as one when dealing with third parties like Russia," Miliband said.

Another key oil pipeline is the BTC (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan) which passes
from Turkey through Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. An attack in
Turkey in early August claimed by the Kurdish rebel PKK underscored
the vulnerability of the BTC line.

"The transit route through Georgia previously thought to be relatively
secure and reliable is now seen as vulnerable and threatened by
regional hostilities," said Edward Chow, of the Center for Strategic
and International Studies (CSIS).

US oil giants ExxonMobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips also have major
stakes in Caspian sea oilfields, Chow noted.

With its broad opening on the Black Sea, Ukraine is a key strategic
US ally in the region, and Russia’s main concern, according to Stephen
Larrabee of the Rand Corporation.

"Georgia’s entry into NATO wouldn’t have major strategic consequences
for Russia. Ukraine, on the other hand, is a very different matter,"
Larrabee added.

If Ukraine joins NATO, Russia would not only be forced to remove its
ships based in Crimea; it also would see dashed its hopes of founding
a Slavic union with Ukraine and Belarus, he said.

What’s more, Russian and Ukrainian defense industries are closely
linked. Crimea, a peninsula attached to Ukraine in 1954 under Nikita
Kruschev, is two-thirds Russian speaking.

NAGORNYY KARABAKH CONFLICT: POTENTIAL FOR REVENGE IN THE LIGHT OF THE US-RUSSIAN CONFRONTATION
by Vuqar Masimoglu

Azeri Press Agency
Aug 27 2008
Azerbaijan

How will the recent events in the South Caucasus affect the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict settlement? This question has become particularly
urgent after both houses of the Russian parliament recognized Georgia’s
separatists regions as independent states.

The main damage from the recent military conflict has been caused
not to Georgia but to the existing public opinion with regard to
the "frozen conflicts" in the former Soviet Union. The former Soviet
republics’ belief in the possibility of solving the "frozen conflicts"
militarily has diminished after Russia’s latest steps. This can be
felt in different comments, overviews, interviews and news on the
Georgian events. Is it true that the military settlement of the
"frozen conflicts" has been removed from the agenda? In fact, this
wording of the question is incorrect and it should be put as follows:
"Is the resolution of conflicts in the former Soviet Union possible
without considering Russia’s will?"

It is known who this question is addressed to. The West should
respond this question. In order to answer this question in the
affirmative, the USA and the European Union should achieve progress
in the resolution of at least one of the "frozen conflicts" in the
former Soviet Union. The West has restricted the opportunity to
choose conflicts in Georgia for revenge. Russia has taken concrete
steps in regard to South Ossetia and Abkhazia and has demonstrated
that it could resort to a military confrontation to protect its own
interests. Hence, the West will have to choose between the Dniester
and Nagornyy Karabakh conflicts if it wants to change public opinion
in its favour. The first option is less likely and if we take into
account that US interests in the South Caucasus are superior to those
in Moldova, Washington’s choice of Nagornyy Karabakh for the revenge
is more likely. This is one of the scenarios of how the processes in
Georgia might affect the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

How can the USA realize the plan for revenge? First, Washington may
reject the use of double standards on the Nagornyy Karabakh problem
and totally support Azerbaijan. In contrast to the Georgian-Abkhaz
and Georgian-Ossetian conflicts, the USA’s position in the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict is as vital as Russia’s. At the same time, by
contrast to Georgia, Washington has the opportunity to fight on equal
footing with Russia in Azerbaijan. Namely, by contrast to Abkhazia
and South Ossetia, the USA has the opportunity to influence both
sides in the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. Therefore, if the struggle
over interests in the South Caucasus becomes aggravated, the USA may
take revenge in Nagornyy Karabakh.

So far, the USA has been hesitating to intensify the confrontation in
the South Caucasus and has been interested in maintaining the status
quo. Yet, the situation is dictated by Moscow not by Washington and
the USA has to consider alternative options. US Vice-President Richard
Cheney’s scheduled visit to Azerbaijan shows that Washington intends
to delegate to Azerbaijan the main role in its plans. Richard Cheney
may spend the same amount of time on discussing the resolution of
the Nagornyy Karabakh problem as on ensuring the security of energy
corridors.

NOT FOR NAUGHT: STRATEGIES TO TAKE NOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR HEIRS DON’T FORGET YOU OR YOUR VALUES
By Robert Powell, MarketWatch

MarketWatch
Aug 27 2008

BOSTON (MarketWatch) — Surely it’s impossible to remember each and
every person who has ever lived. But that’s what most of us want. We
want to be remembered. We want our memory, our principles and values,
and our legacy to live on long after we have passed on. The trouble
is very few of us know how to do that.

To be sure, the wealthy can have hospital wings and concert halls
named in their honor. Those of more ordinary means might start a
charitable walk or a book drive in memory of loved ones. Others might
simply create scrapbooks.

Years ago, after my mother died, I read "Transcending Loss," a book
that helped motivate me to keep her memory alive. My mother was
of Armenian descent, her mother having come to America as a young
girl, a survivor of last century’s first genocide. I volunteered to
serve on the board of a small nonprofit that preserves the visual
and oral histories of Armenians, essentially a mini-version of the
Shoah Foundation. That organization, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph
Archives, is now digitizing its collection of photographs, in effect
preserving the memories of thousands of Armenians, some of whom might
otherwise be forgotten, including my mother and grandmother.

In recent years, other books — "The Ultimate Gift" is perhaps the
most memorable one — and other organizations — AARP most recently —
have weighed in on the subject. Here’s what experts have to say about
making sure you don’t die twice.

Worry less about how, and more about why The first order of business
is to think about why you want to create a legacy. Then tackle the
how. "Creating a lasting legacy that will succeed you for generations
to come is not an easy process, but one that provides tremendous
rewards for those successful," said Todd Fithian, chief executive of
The Legacy Companies.

Document your life story Almost to a person, experts suggest that you
document, in writing and by audio/visual means, your life story. That
story should include all life’s plot points, but it should also address
your values and the things for which you really want to be remembered.

In "The Ultimate Gift," Jim Stovall tells the story of Red Stevens,
a self-made man who died and left behind a most unusual will and
legacy. In the book, one of Red’s heirs, great-nephew Jason, has to
pass a series of tests to get his share of Red’s estate. But those
tests are less about getting a slice of Red’s fortune and more about
getting a different sort of gift, Red’s values and life lessons. In
short, Jason gets Red’s views on work, learning, money, friends,
dreams, giving and gratitude. By the end of the book, we are certain
Red’s legacy will live on.

"We can cripple our children and grandchildren if we give them the
fruits of our lifelong labor without the lessons we have learned along
the way," Stovall wrote in an email message. "Money can be either
good or bad but it creates responsibility for those that hold it. If
we give our children the money without the responsibility attached
to it, we are giving them a loaded gun without instruction in how to
handle it safely. I believe this teaching should be a lifelong process,
not just some paperwork that accompanies the last will and testament."

If you are overwhelmed by the prospect of writing a life story, use
one of the many toolkits that are available. AARP offers some, as does
"The Ultimate Gift" Web site. Or consider hiring a professional. Many
financial advisers are being trained, by the likes of Fithian and
Mitch Anthony of Financial Life Planning, to document their clients’
life stories for the benefit of loved ones.

For those who don’t like the prospect of putting pen to paper, or
finger to keyboard, or hiring a financial adviser, Fithian recommends
hiring a writer or videographer to record your life story.

Actions speak louder than words It’s one thing to write your life
story. But another effective way to create a legacy is to show your
loved ones what’s important to you by your actions. For instance, I
serve on the boards of several non-profits as part of my desire to show
my children that it’s important to give back to one’s community. Those
kind of life lessons will create lasting memories, Fithian said.

Hold informal family meetings Documenting your life story is an
ambitious project, one seemingly so overwhelming and ambitious that you
might never write word one. So, what’s the next best thing? Fithian
recommends holding informal family meetings in which you talk about
your life, your motivations, your traditions. You can hold these
meeting when families gather for the holidays. "Talk about what the
family stands for and what’s important to you," Fithian said.

Tell stories For those who don’t want to hold even informal family
meetings, others suggest taking any and all opportunities with loved
loves to tell a yarn or two. Amy Goyer of AARP advises passing on
your life’s lesson not by lecturing, but by sharing stories. Likewise,
she suggests addressing tough topics through stories. "There are many
subjects that are difficult to talk about, especially for children,"
she wrote in a recent article. "Don’t be afraid to talk about fears
and challenges through stories about making choices and what happens
as a result."

Set up a donor-advised fund or private foundation Consider setting up
a private foundation (if you’re rich enough) or a donor-advised fund
in which your loved ones can donate money to causes that are important
to you and that get to the heart of what you stand for. Creating a
mission statement for the fund or foundation is a must.

Fast forward Imagine for a moment that you failed to help your heirs
keep your memory alive with a book, video/audio recording, or by
other means. If that’s the case, consider reading a book such as
"Transcending Loss." That kind of book tells survivors how to turn
their grief into lasting memories. Reading such a book might inspire
you to act now. Indeed, people talk about creating lasting memories
all the time, Fithian said. Trouble is, many people don’t approach
the task with any urgency. Fithian’s advice: "Don’t procrastinate."

Resources "The Ultimate Gift" Web site offers a template that helps
you tell your story.

See this AARP article on "Make Your Family Stories Come to Life."

Center for Digital Storytelling Web site offers resources.

Robert Powell has been a journalist covering personal finance issues
for more than 20 years, writing and editing for publications such
as The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and Mutual Fund
Market News.

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, UK
August 22, 2008 Friday
1ST Edition

Vergine is telling a rich mix of tales …;
Story telling

by VAL JAVIN

STORYTELLER Vergine Gulbenkian’s fascination with traditional tales
began with her own Armenian origins.

But once she had researched stories from the rich Armenian oral
tradition Vergine turned her attention to other cultures.

She will be sharing that rich mix of tales when she appears at
Huddersfield Public Library in the autumn.

Vergine has called her show Cradle Of Life and in it she threads
together three stories from very different parts of the world.

In the show at the library in the centre of Huddersfield on October 21
expect lullabies, incantations, repeated themes and factual
observations.

The stories themselves are linked by the timeless themes of
motherhood, birth, death, listening and sacrifice.

Her tales will include the Mesopotamian story of the birth of mankind
and the Flood, the Tibetan story of the wrathful mother goddess Palden
Lhamo and the Celtic story of Ceridwen and the birth of Taliesin.

Vergine has taken her storytelling skills to major venues in London,
including the South Bank Centre, the Battersea Arts Centre, the
British Museum and the Barbican Centre.

She has also visited museums, schools and storytelling clubs around
Britain. Armenian folk songs are an integral part of her performances.

The show, which begins at 7.30pm, is suitable for adults and children
over 12. Tickets are pounds 4 (pounds 3 concessions), including
refreshments from the library on 01484 221959 or 221960.

BOXER HRACHIK JAVAKHIAN CONTENTS HIMSELF WITH BRONZE MEDAL AT BEIJING
OLYMPIC GAMES

BEIJING, AUGUST 22, NOYAN TAPAN. On August 22 Armenian boxer Hrachik
Javakhian (60 kg) was defeated by Olympic champion, Russian Alexey
Tishchenko in the semi-final at the Beijing Olympic Games and had to
content himself with a bronze medal.

This is the 6th bronze medal of Armenia’s Olympic delegation. Thus, the
Armenian sportsmen have finished their participation in the 29th Summer
Olympic Games.

ARA ABRAHAMIAN: CULTURE IS ONE OF MOST IMPORTANT LINKS CONNECTING DIASPORA WITH MOTHERLAND

Noyan Tapan

Au g 20, 2008

MOSCOW, AUGUST 20, ARMENIANS TODAY. The President of the World
Armenian Congress and the Union of Armenians in Russia, UNESCO Goodwill
Ambassador Ara Abrahamian sent a message to the participants of the
3rd All-Armenian Festival "One Nation, One Culture". The message reads:

"Dear compatriots!

On behalf of the World Armenian Congress, the Union of Armenians
in Russia and myself, I warmly greet the participants of the 3rd
All-Armenian Festival "One Nation, One Culture".

This already traditional festival is an important event that aims to
promote the unification of the Armenians scattered around the world,
as the fate has willed it.

It is well-known that like faith, culture has always been a common
element that has united the Armenians, regardless of their political
views and social conditions. Today culture also serves the purpose of
preserving and developing national identity, language, literature,
traditions and other national values passed on from one generation
to another.

Culture is one of the most important links that connects the Diaspora
with our motherland – Armenia and contributes to survival of our
people living in various countries.

The festival is also significant in that it is held under the high
patronage of president of the Republic of Armenia.

I wish the festival participants success and creative achievements
in the name of further development of our national arts."

EVENT DEDICATED TO 105th ANNIVERSARY OF ARAM KHACHATRIAN’S BIRTH HELD AT ARMENIAN EMBASSY IN NEW DELHI

Noyan Tapan

Au g 20, 2008

NEW DELHI, AUGUST 20, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. A musical event
dedicated to the 105th anniversary of the world-famous composer Aram
Khachatrian’s birth was organized at the Armenian embassy in New Delhi.

The event was opened by the Armenian ambasasdor to India Ashot
Kocharian who presented the details of Aram Khachatrian’s biography
and creative life.

Then some works of the great composer were performed by the musicians
invited from the Russian Cultural Center in New Delhi: female pianist
Svetlana Rodoshkevich and flutist Mikhail Ushenin. In particular,
such works by Khachatrian as his "Nocturne", waltz for "Masked Ball"
drama by Lermontov, and excerpts from ballets "Gayane" and "Spartacus"
were performed.

According to the RA MFA Press and Information Department, the event
was attended by officials of the Indian foreign ministry, heads of
the diplomatic missions in New Delhi, representatives of NGOs, art
critics and musicians.

INCORRECT INFORMATION, RELEASED BY ARMENIAN COMMUNICATION OPERATOR, CORRECTED: AZERBAIJANI GSM-OPERATOR AZERFON

Trend News Agency
Aug 20 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 20 August / Trend Capital / Azerfon CJSC, a mobile
operator in Azerbaijan (trade mark Nar Mobile) succeeded to correct
the false information placed by Armenian operator on the internet
website for mobile operators –

The information about Azerfon and Armenian operator signed a roaming
deal, which was placed by Armenian operator in internet-website,
was removed after Azerfon sent a claim letter to GSMworld offices in
the United States and Britain.

Information is placed on the reference-
/roa_azaf.shtml

AZERFON was licensed by the Ministry of Communications and Information
Technolo gies of Azerbaijan Republic in December 2005 to provide
mobile services throu ghout the territory of Azerbaijan. AZERFON
Company launched its commercial activities on 21 March, 2007 under
brand name Nar Mobile.The trademark Nar was created as a symbol of
the relationship between Azerbaijan’s rich cultural herita ge and
modern life. At the present, more than 500.000 subscribers use the
network of Nar Mobile.

DO WHITE PEOPLE REALLY COME FROM THE CAUCASUS?
By Derek Thompson

Slate

Aug 19 2008

How Caucasians got their name.

Russia continues to occupy the former Soviet state of Georgia, despite
agreeing to a cease-fire last week. "The Caucasus is a difficult
and complicated place," one Russian political scientist told the
Financial Times, referring to the small mountainous region between
the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea that comprises Georgia, Armenia,
and Azerbaijan. Wait, do white people really come from the Caucasus?

It’s highly unlikely. There are scholarly disagreements about how
and when some of our dark-skinned ancestors developed lighter skin,
but research suggests humans moved across the Asian and European
continents about 50,000 years ago. Some anthropologists think that
natural selection would have favored lightening mutations as humans
moved away from the equator and faced a diminished threat from
ultraviolet exposure. In this case, it’s possible that light skin
would have evolved in many places independently.

So why do we call white people Caucasians? The term was popularized by
the German scientist Johann Friedrich Blumenbach, who in 1795 divided
the human species into five races: Caucasian, the "white" race;
Mongolian, the "yellow" race; Malayan, the "brown" race; Ethiopian,
the "black" race; and American, the "red" race. He considered the
Caucasians to be the first race on Earth, consistent with the common
conception of the Caucasus as a place of human origin. The Bible
describes Noah landing his ark at a place called Mount Ararat, which
was thought by Europeans of Blumenbach’s time to be on the modern
Turkish-Armenian border. (Ararat is still the name of the largest
mountain in Turkey.) In Greek mythology, Zeus chained Prometheus to
a rock in the Caucasus.

CHAIRMAN OF COURT OF APPEAL AT CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY

Panorama.am
20:05 14/08/2008

The Chairman of the Court of Appeal of Armenia Hovhannes Manukyan
has held a course at Chapman University, USA, reported the press
secretary of the court Alina Yengoyan. 25 Judges of Duke of Orange,
Armenian American lawyers took the course. The initiative to organize
such course belongs to Mr. and Mrs. Karon and Silvi Dertsakianns.

The course has been conducted in Donald R. Kennedy hall. The
participants were given a chance to ask and received answers on
the legal reforms conducted in Armenia, the Constitutional reform,
criminal legislation, struggle against corruption.