Author: Nalbandian Eduard

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SIGNS A NUMBER OF LAWS

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian President Robert
Kocharian on December 27 signed the RA Law on Order of State
Compensation of Revenue Losses of Community Budgets as a result of the
Use of the RA Laws, as well as the laws on making amendments and
additions to the RA Criminal Code, the RA Code of Administrative
Infractions, the RA Law on State Duty, and the RA Law on
Reconstruction of the City of Gyumri. NT was informed about it from
the RA President’s Press Service.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES DRAFT LAW ON MAKING AMENDMENT AND
ADDITIONS TO RA LAW ON SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. At the December 28 sitting, the
Armenian government approved the draft law on making an amendment and
additions to the RA Law on Social Security Cards. The draft aims to
bring the laws ensuring the use of social cards into line with the
October 4, 2006 Decision No SDO-649 of the RA Constitutional Court –
to secure the exercise of the rights of citizens who reject social
cards and the normal acticity of the social card system by suggesting
alternative solutions to such citizens. It was noted at the sitting
that in accordance with the above mentioned decision of the RA
Constitutional Court, it is envisaged to allow citizens, who reject
social cards, to present a certificate about not having a social card
instead of their social cards in each case when it is required. NT was
informed from the RA Government Information and PR Department that by
the same decision the government approved the draft law on making
amendments to the RA Law on State Benefits and the draft law on making
amendments and additions to the RA Code of Administrative Infractions.

DEFENSE MINISTER: ARMENIA’S NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY GOOD DOCUMENT

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Dec 27 2006

YEREVAN, December 27. /ARKA/. Armenia’s National Security Strategy is
a good document, Secretary of National Security Council and Minister
of Defense Serge Sargsyan told the Public TV yesterday.

According to him, the Strategy underwent thorough examinations,
including those made by international centers. Scientific circles
held relevant discussions.

‘As a result, Armenia has a good document that will become a political
action program for the authorities. Evidently, the Strategy will
shortly be of benefit to the population and to the country as a whole,"
the Minister said.

According to him, officials could be of different opinions on a
particular subject, before the Strategy was developed, which was
unacceptable.

Now the Strategy will ensure a consensus of opinions, and a
mini-strategy will be elaborated for each sphere, Sargsyan said.

On December 1, 2006, Serge Sargsyan presented Armenia’s National
Security Strategy in the Armenian Parliament. The Minister pointed
out it has been elaborated on the basis of democratization principles
and complementary foreign policy.

The Interagency Commission for coordinating the elaboration of the
National Security Strategy gave its final approval to the document
on December 15, 2006.

The Strategy is expected to be adopted in May 2007.

EU IS LIKELY TO SET UP CLOSER CONTACT WITH NAGORNO KARABAKH

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
23 Dec 2006

During his recent visit to Armenia the EU Special Representative
for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby stated that the EU is likely
to set up direct contact with Nagorno Karabakh. He thinks that a
more active approach of the EU would be helpful to the efforts for
the settlement of the conflict. It is important for us to listen to
and set up contact with all the parties of the conflict, he said,
regretting that the contact has not been sufficient so far.

During the news conference after his meeting with NR President Arkady
Ghukassian Peter Semneby assured that the international community and
the EU do not have a negative attitude towards the democratic process
in Nagorno Karabakh. He stated that they acknowledge the high-level
democratic culture in Karabakh, which is positive. Meanwhile, he
said they cannot accept some basic principles connected with the
referendum, namely the referendum determines questions, including the
status of Nagorno Karabakh, which must be settled through negotiations,
the EU representative thinks. Peter Semneby did not visit Stepanakert
because in the period of the referendum it might give rise to different
interpretations. He said he is likely to visit Stepanakert soon, and
expects a productive visit. According to him, it would be difficult to
set up relations in conflict areas and settle the conflicts without
the support of the international community. Peter Semneby hopes
that the past few weeks of successful talks will continue during the
upcoming election. In answer to the question of a news reporter if
the model of Kosovo could be applied to other conflicts, he said in
the case of Kosovo the international community and the UN Council for
Security took the initiative. Emphasizing that the self-determination
of nations underlies the law of nations, the EU official said Kosovo
is a singular case.

OFELIA KAMAVOSSIAN.
23-12-2006

Prime Minister to Depart for Ahskhabad for Saparmurat Niyazov Funeral

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.12.2006 16:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian delegation led by Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan will take part in the funeral of Turkmenistan’s
President Saparmurat Niyazov, "We are leaving for Ashkhabad on December
23 or 24," the Premier told a news conference. Niyazov’s funeral is
due on December 24, reports newsarmenia.ru.

Turkmenistan’s President Saparmurat Niyazov died on December 21 night
at the age of 67. He had been unchanged leader of Turkmenistan over
20 years.

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 N. Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, CA 91204
Tel: 818 500 1918
Fax: 818 246 7353
Email: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
December 22, 2006
Contact: Lerna Kayserian
Tel: 818 500 1918

ANCA-WR, Rep. Brad Sherman and SCREAMERS Director Carla Garapedian
Call For Action To End Cycle of Genocide

Variety Magazine’s Use of terminology "so-called Armenian Genocide"
Blasted by Congressman and Community Leaders

ENCINO, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western
Region (ANCA-WR), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and "SCREAMERS" film
director Carla Garapedian called for action to end the cycle of
genocide from the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to the Genocide going
on in Darfur today. They also condemned Variety Magazine, which
covers the movie industry, for supporting the Government of
Turkey’s on-going Armenian Genocide denial by casting doubt upon
the historical facts of the Genocide.

Rep. Sherman spoke of the pressing need to stop the on-going
genocide in Darfur in order to break the cycle of genocide that has
been plaguing our world over the last century. The Congressman,
who will be spearheading efforts on an Armenian Genocide resolution
in the House of Representatives next year, noted why the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide is essential if the world is
to end the global cycle of genocide. He said it was "Hitler who
proclaimed, who today remembers the Armenians?" In answer to
Variety Magazine casting doubt upon the historical facts of the
Armenian Genocide with their use of the terminology "so-called
Armenian Genocide," he ridiculed the publication by saying that
there are also people who still believe O.J. Simpson is innocent.

The call to action was made at a press conference organized by the
ANCA-WR outside the Laemmle Theatre in Encino, California, where
the new documentary movie SCREAMERS will begin showing on December
22nd. The movie provides a comprehensive examination of how
genocide was first used by Turkey as a state policy in 1915 in
order to kill 1.5 million Armenian citizens which Hitler later used
as a blueprint for the Holocaust. Since then genocide has been
repeated in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and now Darfur. The film
looks at the issue through the eyes and music of the Grammy award-
winning rock band System of a Down, based in Los Angeles, whose
members are all grandchildren of Genocide survivors. Covering the
press conference were various members of the media including FOX
News, regional media outlets and Armenian community media.

"Genocide recognition should never be a currency for better
economic relations or more arms deals with other nations," stated
Carla Garapedian, director of SCREAMERS. She emphasized that by
seeing SCREAMERS, people will send a clear message to the whole
nation that this is an issue that they care about and that genocide
in our time can and must be stopped.

Nishan Bostanian, spokesperson for the San Fernando Valley ANC,
thanked Rep. Brad Sherman for his leadership role in fighting for
justice for the martyrs and survivors of the Armenian Genocide and
his role in helping bring attention to the genocide taking place in
Darfur. Bostanian stated that when the 110th Congress convenes in
January of 2007 the San Fernando Valley ANC looked forward to
working closely with Rep. Sherman in his efforts with Speaker
Pelosi and other key members of Congress to pass a resolution on
the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest
and most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.

###

PHOTO CAPTION: Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) with SCREAMERS Director
Carla Garapedian and ANCA San Fernando Valley Chairman Nishan
Bostanian.

Today, Azerbaijan
Dec 22 2006

ICRC Nagorno Karabakh Office chief: "We can mediate in hand over of
the soldier"

22 December 2006 [10:43] – Today.Az

"International Committee of red Cross Khankendi office supports the
sides, interested in hand over of the soldier," ICRC Nagorno Karabakh
Office chief George Drndarski said while showing his attitude to hand
over of the hostage Azerbaijani soldier Vusal Garajayev.

Drndarski noted that, the office got information about the hostage
soldier on December 8.

The representatives of the committee visited the soldier for the
first time on December 9.

Up to now the representatives of the committee visited the soldier
for five times and gave him the opportunity to correspond with his
family. His family sent three, and he four letters to his family, all
letters were delivered to the addressees.

"All information is kept in secret. The committee will mediate in
hand over of the soldier, if both sides agree and the soldier wants
to return," he said.

ICRC Baku office noted that the fourth letter of Vusal’s family will
be given to the soldier in few days.

As APA reports, Vusal Garajayev Mammad was drafted from Balaken
Military Registration Department and taken as a hostage on December 7
in Aghdam territory. The official sources inform that the soldier got
lost.

URL:

GAS RESERVES ARE ENOUGH AS YET FOR UNINTERRUPTED SUPPLY OF ARMENIAN CONSUMERS

Yerevan, December 20. ArmInfo. The gas reserves, stored in the
Abovyan underground gas storage (UGS), are enough as yet for
uninterrupted supply of the Armenian consumers, the Director General
of "ArmRosgasprom" CJSC, Karen Karapetyan, said, commenting on the
situation, developed as a result of accident on the main gas line
in Georgia.

According to Karapetyan, gas consumption in winter time vastly
increases in Armenia and if Georgia does not take urgent measures to
eliminate the accident consequences, the gas consumption in Armenia
will be limited. To recap, as a result of snow avalanching in Georgia
December 16, the main gas line, by which Armenia receives the Russian
gas, was damaged. At present, the hydrocarbon raw material enters the
Republic through a backup branch in a volume that is three times less
than the necessary one. The missing volumes are filled up due to a gas,
stored in the Abovyan UGS.

BOOK ABOUT ARTSAKH WAR HERO DAVID SARAPYAN ISSUED

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.12.2006 17:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The presentation of the book titled "David Sarapyan:
Life, Creation, Struggle." Took place in the RA House of Writers
today. The book contains the works by David Sarapyan, one of the
brightest representatives of the territorial army, who was fighting
within Tigran Mets detachment and heroically died for the independence
of Artsakh. He would become 40 these days, but he died at the age
of 26.

According to General Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan (the Commander), David
Sarapyan was gifted rare military and human features. "He was a
fantastic and brave soldier who rated the love to Homeland above all,"
the General said.

For his part head of the Artsakh hierarchy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan said, "He is one of the pillars
of our victory, one of the corner stone in the temple of the Armenian
nation."

EXHIBITION DEVOTED TO 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN SCULPTOR HAKOB GYURJYAN’S BIRTH OPENED IN NATIONAL LIBRARY

Yerevan, December 19. ArmInfo. An exhibition devoted to the 125th
anniversary of Armenian sculptor Hakob Gyurjyan’s birth opened in
the National Library, Tuesday.

The exhibition demonstrates works of literature with images of his
sculptures. Hakob Gyurjyan created sculptures in various genres. The
exhibition will last till the end of this week. Hakob Gyurjyan was
born in the city of Shoushi, on December 17, 1881. He worked in Moscow
and Paris where he visited Roden’s studio. The sculptures of Gogol,
Tolstoy, Shalyapin are the most famous among his works. In 1958, his
wife presented some of his works to the National Library of Armenia.