Author: Nalchajian Markos

IRAN ESTABLISHES A TRADE CENTER IN ARMENIA

Fars News Agency, Iran
Nov 18 2006

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iran is scheduled to found a trade center
in its northern neighbor, the Republic of Armenia, an official from
the country’s Trade Development Organization said.

The deputy director of Iran’s Trade and Development Organization
for Logistics and Management Development Afghahi pointed to the
significance of the Armenian market and enthusiasm of Iranian
traders for conducting business activity in that country, and added,
"In addition to the inclination of Iranian and Armenian businessmen
to increase exchanges, the historical background shared by the
two nations, existence of the Armenian minority in Iran and the
importance of the two countries’ relations, specially with regard to
the establishment of stability in the region, have all encouraged our
organization to give top priority to the expansion of exports to the
Armenian market, specially in technical and engineering grounds."

He said Iran-Armenia trade exchanges, currently standing at $200 mln,
show an increase of $10 mln compared to that of the last year, adding
that Iran-Armenia trade balance amounts to $140 m in favor of Iran
at present.

As regards the present conditions in the Armenian market, he said
that Armenia’s total imports amount to $1.8 bln meaning that Iran’s
exports to Armenia constitute 9% of the latter’s total imports.

AUSTRIA ASKS FOR PAUSE IN TURKEY’S EU NEGOTIATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.11.2006 13:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Austria, whose public is largely against Turkey’s
possible membership to the European Union, has asked for a pause in
Turkey’s EU entry talks. Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik
spoke to press on Monday prior to the EU Foreign Ministers meeting in
Brussels. "If there is no important move between now and December,
it might be wise to agree on a time-out to reduce tensions," she
said. Plassnik was largely alone in this opinion as other EU Foreign
Ministers did not support such a move. The French and German ministers
admitted that it would of no use to give a time-out in Turkey’s
EU negotiations and even Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Yiorgos
Lillikas said that even they did not want a pause in negotiations with
Turkey. Maltese Foreign Minister Michael Frendo said there would be a
"major crisis" if Turkey did not fulfill its commitments on giving
access to Cypriot shipping but also added that he was against a full
suspension of negotiations, reports Zaman.

CO-CHAIRS HOPE TO AGREE ON BASE PRINCIPLES CONCERNING NAGORNO GARABAGH CONFLICT

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 16 2006

"OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs hope that Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents will meet soon," Russian co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov said,
APA reports quoting to RIA "Novosti".

He said that they expect the meeting to be realized within the CIS
presidents’ summit in Minsk on November 28. He said that the co-chairs
made speech in the OSCE Standing Council. Russian diplomat said that
there are great opportunities to come to an agreement on the settlement
of Nagorno Garabagh conflict.

"The sides should at least agree on base principles of the future
peace treaty," he said.

The Russian diplomat said the elections of 2007-2008 approach and the
election campaigns make negative influence on the negotiations. Asked
if the settlement of Kosovo conflict will influence the settlement
of Nagorno Garabagh conflict the diplomat said that the settlement
of Kosovo conflict will more or less influence the conflicts in the
OSCE space, as well as Nagorno Garabagh conflict.

GREAT SURPRISE ON ARMENIAN POLICY

Turkish Press
Nov 16 2006

Turkey has been getting prepared for a great surprise regarding its
Armenian policy. Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul
said that they could move so-called Armenian genocide allegations to
the international judiciary. "Accusations can be the biggest problem
for next 10 years," he noted.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]

ARMENIAN CAUCUS REPS. PELOSI & HOYER ELECTED TO
DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP POSTS
House Republicans Also Select Leaders

Washington, DC – House Democrats and Republicans followed the Senate
this week in selecting their leadership for the next Congress.
Armenian Caucus Member Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was unanimously
selected as House Speaker while her Caucus colleague, Rep. Steny Hoyer
(D-MD), was elected Majority Leader.

Pelosi and Hoyer, both cosponsors of pending legislation (H. Res. 316)
to reaffirm the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide, will be the
first Caucus Members to serve in those positions when Congress convenes
in January.

"We congratulate the new leadership team for the upcoming Congress,"
said Assembly Board of Trustees Executive Committee Member Annie Totah,
who has had a longstanding working relationship with Pelosi and Hoyer.
"Representatives Pelosi and Hoyer have been steadfast in their support
of Armenian issues, and the Assembly looks forward to working with
them in their new leadership roles to advance issues of concern to
the Armenian-American community."

On the Republican side, Ohio Congressman John Boehner was elected
Minority Leader, while Congressman Roy Blunt (R-MO) will keep his
position as Whip. The lawmakers are not cosponsors of H. Res. 316 or
H. R.3361, a bill that would bar assistance for a railroad bypass
of Armenia. However, Armenian Caucus Member Rep. Thaddeus McCotter
(R-MI), a cosponsor of the Genocide resolution and rail bill, was
elected as the Republican Policy Committee Chairmanship, while fellow
Caucus Member Eric Cantor (R-VA) was chosen as Chief Deputy Whip.

"The incoming leadership provides new opportunities on Armenian issues
from affirmation of the Armenian Genocide to economic development,"
said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "We look forward to
working to ensure a secure, prosperous and democratic Armenia."

The Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issue. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

####

NR#2006-101

Photograph available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following link:

/2006-101-1.JPG

Caption: Newly-elected House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) with
Assembly Board of Trustees Executive Committee Member Annie Totah at
the Assembly’s National Conference and Banquet in March 2006.

Milliyet: Turkey Knows What Happened in 1915

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.11.2006 16:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Milliyet Turkish newspaper launched publication of
a series of articles in order to find out the opinion of the Armenian
Diaspora on the Armenian Genocide. Interview with French parliament
member Patrick Devedjian was published first.

"Everyone knows that those who lived on this land experienced hard
times in summer of 1915. For 90 years people are examining who is
right or who is stronger," observer Temelkuran writes. In his opinion
Turkey is the only state that doesn’t discuss this subject. "We are the
children of those who spoke about it a bit. We all know that unpleasant
things happened that summer but cannot name the events. The East was
in mourning.

The elders showed houses and said that they were built by Armenian
stonemasons. On the whole we know what happened and this is the voice
of soul. That is why I decided to talk with the Armenian Diaspora. I
was warned that Patrick Devedjian is strict and he is the author of the
bill on Genocide. However the conversation proceeded in a civilized
and exciting atmosphere. Moreover, I was surprised when he spoke of
the Genocide with tears in his eyes. He said he was against the bill
but after the destruction of the monument to the Armenian Genocide
victims in Lyon he understood that the law is essential since it will
ensure the security of French Armenians," he continues.

In the opinion of the French parliamentarian Turkey can change
under a strong pressure only. Armenians are waiting for 90 years,
he added. "This is a deep wound for the Armenian people and the pain
is intolerable," Devedjian told Milliyet, reports Yerkir.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Nov 17 2006

CHAIRMAN OF CAUCASIAN MUSLIMS’ OFFICE MEETS WITH CHAIRMAN OF SAUDI
ARABIA’S GENERAL ORGANIZATION FOR SOCIAL INSURANCE
[November 17, 2006, 12:26:23]

Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims’ Office, Sheikh ul-Islam
Allahshukur Pashazade met with visiting Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s
General Organization for Social Insurance Suliman Al-Humaid and his
accompanying delegation.

Allahshukur Pashazade welcomed the level of cooperation between
Azerbaijan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He said Azerbaijan was the first former Soviet republic to join the
Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Mr. Pashazade noted Islam strengthened in Azerbaijan after his country
regained its independence.

Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims’ Office recalled the meeting between
the nationwide leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and
Saudi Arabia’s late King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, adding it marked
a new era in the bilateral ties between the two countries.

Allahshukur Pashazade expressed his gratitude to Saudi Arabia for
supporting Azerbaijan’s efforts towards peaceful solution to its
conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Suliman Al-Humaid conveyed to Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade
sincere greetings from the King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Abdulaziz
al-Saud.

The Saudi guest said his country views Azerbaijan as a fraternal
country and welcomes the fact Azerbaijan has managed to preserve its
religious values and traditions in face of difficult period.

Mr. Al-Humaid described Azerbaijan as one of the region’s leading
countries.

Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Azerbaijan Ali Hasan Jafar and Ambassador
of Azerbaijan to Saudi Arabia Tofiq Abdullayev were also present at
the meeting.

Armenian Library & Museum of America, Inc.
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Phone: 617-926-2562 ext. 3
Fax: 617-926-0175
Contact Person: Mariam Stepanyan
Website:

November 13, 2006

Press Release: For Immediate Release

THE WORD OF GOD: Armenian Illuminations

Featuring Herra Karagozyan’s Collection

In celebration of the 1600th anniversary of the Armenian alphabet,
the Armenian Library & Museum of America (ALMA) will be exhibiting
a unique collection of 30 artworks of ornamental letters inspired by
medieval illuminations. The plates, originally drawn by master-restorer
Herra Karagozyan, represent samples of ornamentations drawn from the
thousands of manuscripts housed in the Mesrop Mashtots Matenadaran, the
Institute of Ancient Manuscripts in Yerevan, Armenia. The collection
on exhibit enables the visitors to view the evolution of the art of
ornamentation from 9th to late 15th centuries in Armenia.

The development of ornamentation in Armenian manuscripts emerged
with the creation of the Armenian alphabet in the 5th century
and the development of written literature. The tradition started
gradually: initially, ornamentations appeared on the title pages of the
manuscripts, and later, in "khorans", in margins, and in the details
of dominical and plot-oriented miniatures and on surrounding areas.

Zoomorphic, floral, and geometrical motifs, as well as heavenly
bodies and architectural structures were predominantly used in
Armenian ornamentation. The art of illuminations flourished in the
12th-14th centuries in the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Of all schools
of illuminations, the Cilician school is unique in the brilliance of
ornamentations and opulence of colors, including the application of
gold leaf to the manuscripts. Manuscripts became one of the original
places for the practice of Armenian fine art. The forms and colors of
these ornamentations were lasting creations of talented illuminators,
who were gifted with infinite imagination, limitless creativity,
and subtle taste.

One such contemporary artist was the celebrated miniature artist and
manuscript restorer Herra Karagozyan. A student of the famed Lidia
Durnova’s school of art restoration and reproduction in Yerevan,
Karagozyan was considered one of the most talented modern restorers,
particularly due to her fine perception of colors, keen artistic
taste, skillful drawings, and extraordinary attention to detail. Her
renditions of medieval manuscripts and frescos were difficult to
differentiate from the originals. Karagozyan worked for decades as a
restorer in the Matenadaran, and her works have been exhibited at the
National Art Gallery of Armenia and in Matenadaran. She worked on the
restoration and reproduction of the manuscripts of Gndevank and Haghpat
monasteries in Armenia and the St. Khach and St. Nshan monasteries
in the Crimea. Herra Karagozyan also participated in the restoration
of the frescoes painted by Hakob Hovnatan in the Echmiadzin Cathedral.

The exhibit of this unique art collection will be on display at
ALMA’s Terjenian-Thomas Gallery through January 31, 2007. Museum is
open to public on Thursday 6-pm, Friday and Sunday 1-5pm and Saturday
10am-2pm. For more information please contact ALMA offices 617.926.2562
or visit the website

MAN KILLED WHILE STANDING NEAR FREEWAY CALL BOX

(CBS) North Hollywood
Nov 12, 2006 5:21 pm US/Pacific

A man using a freeway call box in North Hollywood was fatally struck
at the split between the Ventura (101) and Hollywood (170) freeways,
according to the California Highway Patrol and a media stringer
service.

Eprem Kniazian, 56, was standing next to a call box on the northbound
side of the freeway when a vehicle struck him, north of Vineland
Avenue, according to CHP Officer David Porter.

Four separate accidents occurred in the same general area since
midnight, Porter said. The man’s vehicle was disabled and stopped on
the right shoulder.

The 26-year-old woman who fatally struck him, was arrested on suspicion
of drunk driving and felony vehicular manslaughter following the
accident.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities were notified
of the crash at 3:52 a.m.

(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material
may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The
Associated Press contributed to this report.)

–Boundary_(ID_knaAgZwWYRrvaYoFYlXrKw)–

United Press International
Nov 10 2006

UPI Energy Watch
By ANDREA R. MIHAILESCU
UPI Energy Correspondent

Gazprom secures pipeline deal with Iran, Armenia

Russian gas giant Gazprom has acquired control of the
Iranian-Armenian gas pipeline, in move industry experts say is an
attempt to secure its leverage on the European gas market.

In 2005, Gazprom inked an agreement in which Armenia would pay only
$110 per cubic meter of gas, which is approximately half the market
price, in return for Gazprom taking a 45 percent stake in the
ArmRosGaz joint venture, which controls both Armenia’s domestic gas
distribution network and the soon-to-be-completed gas pipeline from
Iran, The Times of London reported.

Armenian and Gapzrom officials met last week to discuss Gazprom’s
interest in raising its stake in ArmRosGaz to 58 percent by
purchasing an additional $119 million of shares in the company.

With a control over the Iran-Armenian pipeline, Gazprom would be the
first to supply Iranian gas to Europe. The pipeline could have become
a rival source of gas for Western Europe, which is increasingly
dependent on Gazprom.

Alexander Medvedev, deputy chairman of Gazprom, told The Times: "It’s
a profitable project for us. We hope to use the joint venture to
become involved in extraction and development, and possibly help
supply gas through the joint venture to Western Europe, as well as
Pakistan and India."