Author: Varosian Antranik

GOVERNMENT TO MAKE DECISION ON ARMENIAN BROADCASTING

Today’s Zaman
04 October 2009, Sunday

Work on a bylaw allowing private television channels to broadcast
in languages other than Turkish, an important leg of the Kurdish
initiative, has been completed, and private organizations have
petitioned the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK), requesting
permission to broadcast in a variety of languages.

One of these requests seeks permission to broadcast in Armenian,
a matter that has been left to the government to decide on.

The regulation on broadcasting in languages and dialects traditionally
used by Turkish citizens in their daily lives was sent to the Prime
Ministry for final review. Following the decision to launch TRT 6,
a state-owned channel that broadcasts in Kurdish 24 hours a day, the
government decided to grant private stations the right to broadcast
in other languages as well.

Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arınc, who is responsible for RTUK and
the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), said that after
launching Kurdish-language broadcasting, TRT will begin broadcasting
in Arabic and French next year. "We are going to launch an Arabic
channel, followed by a French and English channel as well as a tourism
and documentary channel in Ä°zmir and a TRT music channel in Ankara
and Ä°stanbul," he added.

As one of the most important changes introduced by the democratization
package, the bylaw will remove the time restriction on programs
broadcast in Kurdish on private television stations. The legislation
requires Turkish subtitles during news reports. A previous piece of
legislation required Turkish subtitles during all programs, but this
would have burdened private stations with additional expenses and
led to problems.

One of the most interesting requests submitted to RTUK was a petition
to broadcast in Armenian. Never having encountered such a request
before, the board will make a decision based on the government’s
stance on the issue. If the request is accepted, the board will hav
will take place.

The government is expected to inform RTUK of its decision after
evaluating the request at a Cabinet meeting. If the Cabinet approves
the request, RTUK will order a demographic study on the region of
the broadcast. If the region has a dense Armenian population, then
permission will be granted to broadcast in Armenian. The majority of
Turkey’s Armenian population lives in Ä°stanbul. Their numbers are
close to nil in other parts of Anatolia.

The newly designed legislation does not grant unlimited freedom to
private television stations with regards to broadcasting in different
languages and dialects. In other words, not everyone will be able
to broadcast anywhere, any time and in any language. Broadcasts in
different languages will be allowed in specific regions, and studies
will be conducted to determine the languages and dialects spoken by
the viewers and listeners in those regions.

RTUK will reach a decision over the request to broadcast in Armenian
taking into consideration the rights to be potentially granted by
the new legislation.

The issue is expected to arise in the upcoming days when Parliament
discusses protocols signed with Armenia. RTUK sent a letter to seven
private media organizations requesting that they provide missing
forms or other documents they might not have yet turned in but that
are required as part of the application process. This letter alone
is a strong indication that the board will allow private channels to
broadcast in native languages.

While previous legislation put a time restriction on private radio and
television broadcasting, the new legislation to go into effect as part
of the democratization package will remove the time limit. There are
reports that a request to broadcast in Armenian had not been made
before because of the time restriction. Private channels will be
required to broadcast at least 50 percent of their daily program in
Turkish. This percentage can be adjusted at RTUK’s discretion. Kurdish
broadcasts, which began on a weekly basis in 2004, a vailable around
the clock. Aside from TRT, there are 14 other television stations,
predominantly based in other countries, that broadcast in Kurdish
nonstop. Of these 14 channels, four are directly controlled by the
outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Only TRT 6 is available via Turksat satellite service. All other
Kurdish television stations are available via Hotbird satellite
service, which provides wider coverage. Kurdish stations that
broadcast via satellite are Roj TV, Mesopotamia TV (Me-TV), MMC TV,
Newroz TV, northern Iraqi-based Kurdistan TV, Zagros TV, Kurdsat TV,
Gali Kurdistan, Peyam, the Iranian-based Sahar TV, Rojhelat TV, Komala
TV and the Europe-based Kurd1 TV. If Turkey allows local television
stations to broadcast in Kurdish, competition is expected to increase
in this field. There are expectations that at least three national and
four local stations will provide around-the-clock Kurdish broadcasting.

RTUK will set up a new department to monitor private Kurdish-language
broadcasting. Like TRT, RTUK will hire 19 employees who know and
can translate the Kurmanji dialect of Kurdish and Zaza, a related
language. The subject of hiring new personnel to keep track of
broadcasts in Armenian will also be brought to the agenda. Staff from
TRT will be transferred to RTUK to deal with Armenian broadcasts.

RTUK had granted permission to 15 organizations to broadcast in
different languages and dialects under the previous legislation. In
Diyarbakır, RTUK allowed GUN TV to broadcast in Kurmanji, Söz TV to
broadcast in Kurmanji and Zaza, and Cagrı FM to broadcast in Kurmanji
and Zaza. In Å~^anlıurfa it allowed Medya FM to broadcast in Kurmanji
and in MuÅ~_ it allowed MuÅ~_ FM7 to broadcast in Kurmanji. In 2006,
Söz TV decided to stop broadcasting on its own.

Organizations that were previously not granted permission because
they did not meet the necessary conditions and are currently awaiting
approval under the new legislation include Mina Media for Kurmanji,
EmtaÅ~_ Media for Kurmanji, Batman à uel Radio and Television for
Kurmanji and Zaza, Polo TV for Kurmanji and Zaza, Genc Ä°mparator for
Kurmanji, Gun IÅ~_ıgı Communication for Armenian, Laz, Kurdish and
Greek and Siirt Metropol for Kurmanji and Arabic.

ERDOGAN: IF WE HAD MISTAKES IN THE PAST, WE SHOULD PUT THEM ASIDE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
05.10.2009 13:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
addressed his ruling AK Party’s congress and explained goals of the
democratic development which he described as a national unity and
fraternity project.

"No one can have the right to ostracize another in this country. People
of this country do not know what deportation means. If we had mistakes
in the past, we should put them aside and take our way," he said,
Yeni Safak reported.

International Monetary Fund

IMF Survey Magazine: Countries & Regions

REGIONAL ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

Caucasus, Central Asia Feel Crisis Impact, But Set for Modest Upturn

IMF Survey online

October 3, 2009

The global crisis has severely impacted the Caucasus and Central Asia
(CCA), with growth for the region projected to drop from 6.6 percent
in 2008 to 1.5 percent in 2009, IMF Middle East and Central Asia
Department Director Masood Ahmed said.

Ahmed told a press conference in Istanbul that CCA policymakers have
responded to the downturn by easing fiscal and monetary policies and
strengthening social safety nets. The international community has also
provided assistance to the region. For some countries, however,
additional donor support will be needed to contain the adverse impact
of the crisis, he said.

`The region as a whole should see a modest recovery in 2010, although
the energy importing low-income countries in the region still face a
difficult year ahead,’ said Ahmed, speaking ahead of the IMF-World
Bank Annual Meetings.

Solid growth for energy exporters

CCA countries differ substantially in terms of per capita GDP, which
ranges from US$795 in Tajikistan to US$8,500 in Kazakhstan. Half of
the region’s countries are exporters of gas and oil (Azerbaijan,
Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan), while the others are
importers (Armenia, Georgia, the Kyrgyz Republic, and
Tajikistan). This key difference largely accounts for the disparity in
the outlook across countries.

Most CCA energy exporters have weathered the global downturn
reasonably well and are projected to record solid growth in 2009,
owing to long-term energy export contracts, supportive policies, and
in some cases limited linkages to international markets. One exception
is Kazakhstan
ell as being hit by lower oil prices, and is likely to see GDP
contract by about 2 percent in 2009, with recovery in 2010 held back
by lingering problems in the banking system.

In contrast, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are projected to
register robust growth in 2009, supported mainly by public spending
made possible by ample public savings accumulated during the boom
years. With global energy demand increasing again, these countries are
expected to grow strongly in 2010, according to IMF projections.

Energy importers face worsening living standards

The region’s four energy importers, on the other hand, are facing a
marked slowdown in growth and deteriorating living standards mainly as
a result of a sharp drop in remittances (Charts 1 and 2) from Russia,
which is also in recession and has had to shed jobs previously filled
by CCA workers.

These countries are being hit to varying degrees. Armenia, which
experienced a strong construction boom and exceptionally fast growth
in recent years, is likely to suffer a contraction of more than 15
percent in 2009. Georgia has also been seriously hit by the slowdown
in foreign direct investment that had fueled its growth in recent
years. In contrast, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan are faring
better, helped by bumper harvests.

Donors, including neighboring Russia and China and the World Bank,
have stepped in to help CCA’s energy importers weather the crisis. The
IMF is providing assistance through the concessional Poverty Reduction
and Growth Facility (in the case of Tajikistan) and under the IMF’s
Exogenous Shocks Facility (the Kyrgyz Republic). Armenia and Georgia
both have IMF Stand-By Arrangements.

`Official support is critical in helping the countries implement
counter cyclical fiscal policies to tide them over the crisis,’ Ahmed
stressed, noting that this support should help bring about a gradual
recovery for CCA’s energy importers in 2010.

Policy response

Governments and central banks in the region have responded to the
impact of the g
ssible, CCA countries should continue to pursue fiscal policies that
support growth and keep social protection a priority, the IMF
says. The energy importers will need additional donor support on
concessional terms to prevent a buildup of unsustainable debt levels,
while the energy exporters should use part of their anticipated uptake
in revenue from rising energy prices to push ahead their structural
reforms agenda.

Because financial sectors across the region are under stress, notably
in Kazakhstan, restoring financial health remains a priority. The
region’s vulnerabilities in this sector call for close monitoring of
CCA financial systems as well as enhanced supervision and crisis
preparedness.

The IMF also recommends that countries in the region continue to
preserve exchange rate flexibility or move towards flexible exchange
rate regimes over time to maintain competitiveness and discourage
speculative capital flows.

The IMF will release a detailed forecast, Regional Economic Outlook:
Middle East and Central Asia, on October 11.

Comments on this article should be sent to [email protected]

WORK TO RELAUNCH NAIRIT PLANT STARTS TWO DAYS AGO

NOYAN TAPAN
OCTOBER 1, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Work to relaunch Nairit chemical
plant started two days ago after the completion of repairs carried out
following the accident at the plant’s chloroprene section on May 14. NT
correspondent was informed by Nairit spokeswoman Anush Harutyunian
that the first output of the plant will be ready in 15-20 days.

To recap, after the accident, repairs were carried out both at the
damaged section and the whole plant, with about 150 thousand dollars
being spent on this work.

NEW LEGISLATIVE YEAR KICKS OFF

Hurriyet Daily News
Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The Kurdish and Armenian initiatives begun by the ruling Justice and
Development Party, or AKP, government will remain among the top agenda
items of the Parliament

With the start of the Parliament’s new legislative Thursday, the
Kurdish and Armenian initiatives begun by the ruling Justice and
Development Party, or AKP, government will remain among the top agenda
items for Parliament.

The body will be preoccupied with a heavy agenda in the new year
after it opens with an address from President Abdullah Gul.

The Parliamentary General Assembly convenes at 3 p.m. and will
be chaired by Speaker of Parliament Mehmet Ali Å~^ahin. In his
address, Gul is expected to mention the Kurdish initiative and
Turkey’s relations with Armenia, highlighting the importance of the
normalization of relations between the two countries. Å~^ahin, who will
chair the general assembly for the first time as the speaker tonight,
will also hold a reception marking the opening of the new legislative
year. The invitation cards normally carry the name of the couple who
made the invitation, yet this year’s cards included only Mehmet Ali
Å~^ahin’s name, and not that of his wife.

It is also remains to be seen whether the Chief of General Staff and
the military commanders will attend the opening ceremony. Military
commanders have not attended the opening of Parliament since 2007
– except a session in which U.S. President Barack Obama made an
address during his visit to Turkey. Sources attribute the absence
of the military in the parliament to the presence of the pro-Kurdish
Democratic Society Party, or DTP, in the body.

Parliamentary authorization for cross-border operation

The fate of the Kurdish initiative will be determined by a
parliamentary decision. The discussions on whether the parliamentary
sessions on the Kurdish move should be open or closed sessions were
clarified when Turkish Prime Minister R at they would be ‘open.’ The
Kurdish initiative is expected to be discussed in Parliament on
opening day. Interior Minister BeÅ~_ir Atalay, the coordinator of
the government’s Kurdish initiative, will provide information on the
issue while the opposition parties also plan to share their opinion
on the matter.

Among the issues to be handled by Parliament in October is the
arrangement that allows children to be tried for throwing stones at
police or chanting illegal slogans in favor of the outlawed Kurdistan
Workers’ Party, or PKK, at street demonstrations. Such matters will
also be discussed in connection with the decisions of the European
Court of Human Rights, or ECHR.

Parliament will also discuss the authorization that is set to expire
on Oct. 17 that has permitted the military to conduct cross-border
incursions into northern Iraq for a period of one year. The decision to
extend for another year is not expected to be approved by Parliament
until Oct. 6. Furthermore, the assembly will also discuss the laws
that will be presented before Parliament in relation to Kurdish
initiative during this period.

Armenian move

The parliament’s second top priority agenda item is the Armenian
initiative. The protocols initialized by Turkey and Armenia are
expected to be brought to Parliament for discussion this month. The
AKP plans to discuss the issue in Parliament ahead of the national
football match between Turkey and Armenia on Oct. 14.

Presidential election

The adjustment law to the constitutional amendment that stipulates the
election of the president by public vote or referendum also remains
on the agenda for the upcoming month. The amendment clarifies the
methodology and timetable of the election.

Flood disaster

The main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP’s, demand to
discuss the flood disaster in Istanbul in Parliament will also be
brought up in the coming weeks.

Budget and economy laws

The Parliament will handle some laws that include economic arrangements
concerning the budget in Oct Commercial Law as well as a draft on
the Code of Obligations.

Okay’s situation

The CHP, meanwhile, will conduct the election for the post of deputy
leader for the parliamentary group. It is not certain whether the
current parliamentary group deputy leader Hakkı Suha Okay, whose
brother’s name has been associated with drug crime, will announce
his candidacy for the post again.

MINISTER NALBANDIAN MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AMERICAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY

armradio.am
30.09.2009 10:59

Within the framework of the visit to New York, the Foreign Minister
of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, had a meeting with representatives of
American Armenian organizations.

During the meeting with representatives of the Armenian communities
of New York and New Jersey, Minister Nalbandian presented the issues
on the agenda of the Armenian foreign policy and the ways of their
resolution. He presented the details of the settlement of the Karabakh
issue and the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

During the meeting with the Executive Director of the Armenian General
Benevolent Union, Perch Sedrakyan, the Armenian Foreign Minister
discussed issues related to the organization’s activity in Armenia
and the Diaspora. The interlocutors exchanged views on the process
of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

Edward Nalbandian met also with the leadership of the Armenian Assembly
of America to discuss issues related to US-Armenia relations, the
process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and the
latest developments in the Karabakh settlement process.

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: THE PROCESS OF NORMALIZATION OF ARMENIA-TURKEY RELATIONS PROMISES TO BEAR FRUIT

armradio.am
29.09.2009 10:50

On September 28 the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian,
made a speech at the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly. The
full text of the Minister’s statement is presented below:

"Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to warmly welcome you, Dr. Treki, on your election as
President of the 64th session of the General Assembly and express
our readiness to work with you to achieve the ambitious agenda that
is ahead of us during this session. I would also like to extend our
thanks to the outgoing President, Mr. Brockmann for his hard work
during the previous session.

Mr. President,

Each new session of the General Assembly provides an opportunity to
share with each other our achievements and concerns, and join our
efforts in moving the global agenda forward.

We are going through a truly challenging period.

This year we were all devastated by the impact of the financial
crisis. The crisis did not leave a corner of the world or an economic
sector untouched.

Many countries in the world experienced unprecedented economic decline
seriously challenging the hard-earned advancements and the prospects
for reaching the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Armenia was not void of the dramatic effects of the on-going financial
=0 Acrisis. However, the Armenian government did its best to safeguard
the socially vulnerable. No cuts in the budget were made in the
social sector.

Mr. President,

We believe that our endeavors must be guided, first and foremost,
by the need to mitigate human costs of the crisis in order to avoid
serious consequences on human security. We believe that an equitable
global recovery requires full participation of all countries,
irrespective of their size and level of development, in shaping
appropriate responses to the crisis. And we have to come together here,
in this universal body, to take decisions that help us overcome the
past and build future because there are still painful gaps between
our people’s dreams and prospects.

United Nations funds, programs and agencies, in accordance with their
respective mandates, have an important role to play in advancing
development, in accordance with national strategies and priorities,
to achieve the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals.

We understand that these goals for which the deadline set is the year
2015, will require enormous efforts to achieve. The General Assembly
will continue to address this issue during its sixty-fourth session,
and Armenia is ready to contribute to the process of preparing for
a high-level meeting in September 2010.

Mr. President,

We embarked on the process of UN reforms in order to reflect the
present world in this fora=2 0and to enhance its capabilities and
effectiveness in addressing modern challenges. Armenia commits
itself to strengthening the institutional capacities of the United
Nations, supports the UN reform processes and is ready to bring its
contribution.

We were successful in agreeing on several vital decisions, creation
of Peacebuilding Commission and Human Rights Council among others. We
aspire to further advance the human rights protection in conformity
with the obligations of member-states, and we see an honest discussion
on outstanding issues and sharing of experience on how to overcome
them within the Human Rights Council as a true path to success in
this respect.

We regard the principles of Prevention of Genocide and Responsibility
to Protect as the key principles, cornerstones of the overall human
security system. In this respect we commend the report of the Secretary
General on "Implementing the Responsibility to Protect", which charts
a course for the United Nations to prevent genocide, war crimes,
ethnic cleansing through bolstering the capacities of the Organization.

As it is rightly stated, in the Report, genocides do not happen all
of a sudden. The instigators propagate intolerance and hatred, setting
grounds for violence. As survivors of genocide, we, Armenians welcome
all efforts to prevent and combat racist and xenophobic attitudes. We
have been and will be doing everything to provide for a continuous
advocacy for prevention of genocide. The international community
must be vigilant over the development of such situations and events,
and demonstrate its ability to act timely to prevent future tragedies.

Mr. President,

We consider the goals of disarmament and non-proliferation major
elements of global and regional security systems. We must shoulder
the responsibility and work not only towards non-proliferation
and elimination of nuclear weapons but also towards elimination of
militaristic aspirations of some states. It is totally unacceptable
when the threats to resolve the conflicts through military means
are made on the highest level, and those are left unabated by the
international community.

The NK peace process, which is mediated by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group, is moving forward. The Presidents and the Ministers of
Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan meet regularly to discuss
the principles of a comprehensive resolution of the conflict. Armenia
is convinced that in order to create an opportunity for progress in
the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict, the parties
should commit to refrain from steps that could hamper dialogue and
the peace process.

On the international arena, Azerbaijan consistently misrepresents the
essence of the Nagorno Karabagh problem, like two days ago in this
forum, trying to smother ethnic cleansings and its policy of violence
against the people of Nagorno Karabagh. The international community
recalls the Azerbaijani open aggression, large-scale hostilities
and war against Nagorno Karabagh, also with the help of mercenaries,
closely linked to terrorist organizations. These ultimately claimed
lives of tens of thousand of civilians.

We believe that there is a serious basis for the settlement
of the Nagorno Karabagh problem, if the provisions contained
in the Declaration signed by the Presidents of the Republic of
Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation on 2
November 2008, in Moscow, and also in the Declaration of the Foreign
Ministers of the Co-Chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group issued in
Helsinki on 4 December 2008, and in the Declaration adopted by the
Foreign Ministers of all 56 OSCE member states on 5 December 2008,
are implemented. According to these documents, the parties must
commit themselves to the peaceful settlement of the problem through
negotiations, based on "Madrid Principles" of the Co-Chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group.

The Basic Principles, around which negotiations are held currently,
are anchored on the benchmark codes of the international law as
incorporated in the Charter of this Organization, the Helsinki Final
Act and other relevant international documents. The international
principles of Non-Use or Threat of Use of Force, the Self-Determination
of Peoples and Territorial Integrity are equally viable. Some
have long attempted to downplay the importance of t he notion of
self-determination of peoples as a second-rate principle in the
system of international law, and inferior to that of "territorial
integrity". I have to disappoint the advocates of double standards:
self-determination is an unconditional clause of the international
law; it is about liberty, freedom of any people to choose its future
and fate, and to defend its collective rights whenever those rights
and that future are jeopardized. If self-determination was inferior
to territorial integrity there would have been only 52 member states
in the UN, instead of 192 present.

Mr. President,

Trust and accountability among neighboring states are guarantees
for sustainable cooperation and durable security in the region. We,
in the South Caucasus, have yet to report on that. Our region,
in fact, is among the most sensitive hot spots on the world’s
political map overloaded with almost a full set of security threats
and challenges. The region is devastated by conflicts and interstate
tensions, dividing lines and economic blockade.

Closed borders and ruptured ties have become the norm of life. However,
a courageous act and a courageous response hold the promise of changing
the situation to the better.

The process of the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations
that started by the initiative of the President of Armenia Serzh
Sargsyan last September, known as "football diplomacy," promises to
bear fruit 0D despite all difficulties.

Over the past year with the help of our Swiss mediators and other
international partners we have advanced towards opening one of the
last closed borders in Europe and normalization of our relations
with NO preconditions. We wish to be confident that the necessary
political will can eventually leave behind the mentality of the past,
and we hope that the wisdom and courage will prevail to make the last
decisive steps.

We have been most encouraged by the support of the international
community.

We are well aware of the fundamental and positive implications of
the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations and of the opening
of the border for the security and stability of the region.

Mr. President,

We must reinforce the bridges between UN member-states, working
out mutually beneficial and comprehensive security and cooperation
schemes. And our common objective should be the shaping of an
environment that is safe and prosperous for all.

To meet the political, economic, environmental and social challenges,
we have to put our efforts, resources and political determination
together.

Only together we can withstand these challenges and push ahead the
international development agenda.

Thank you, Mr. President."

YEREVAN TO HOST 5TH INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH FESTIVAL ON OCTOBER 15-19

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.09.2009 16:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On October 15-19, Yerevan will host the 5th
International Children’s and Youth Festival.

Program includes 65 films from 27 countries. It is also planned to
organize several jubilee events and meetings with well-known Armenian
cinematographers.

Festival will be attended by outstanding representatives of
art, including producer, General Director of Mosfilm studio Karen
Shahnazarov, Head of Rolan Bykov foundation and Chair of International
Children’s and Youth Festival Armen Medvedev, USSR People’s Actress
Natalia Belakhvostikova, Honored Artist of Russian Federation,
piano player Levon Oganezov, art director of "Yeralash" children’s
film magazine Boris Grachevsky, actor Vladimir Naumov, director,
scenario writer Tigran Keosyan, producer, director, scenario writer
and General Director of Gold Vision agency David Keosyan etc.

Festival will be organized by the donations of Rolan Bykov
foundation for Development of Cinema and Television for Children and
Youth. Festival sponsor is RA Ministry of Culture.

New York Times

Ester Keshishyan, Raffi Hodikian

Published: September 26, 2009

Ester Keshishyan, the daughter of Aykanush and Gevork Keshishyan of
Glendale, Calif., was married there Saturday to Dr. Raffi Hodikian,
the son of Aida and Merujan Hodikian, also of Glendale. The
Rev. Vazken Atmajian performed the ceremony at St. Mary’s Armenian
Apostolic Church.

Mrs. Hodikian, 26, an interior designer, worked until July as a
consultant for store design in New York. She graduated from the
University of Southern California and received a master’s degree in
interior architectural design from Pratt Institute.

Her father is a sculptor whose work was shown in April 2008 at the
Royal Gallery in Glendale. Her mother works in the Glendale office of
the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services, where she
screens applicants for eligibility.

Dr. Hodikian, 30, is an internist with the Southern California
Hospitalist Network; he see patients at hospitals in Glendora, Calif.,
and the surrounding area. He graduated from the University of
California, Los Angeles, and received a medical degree from Rosalind
Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago, Ill.

His mother is a day care provider at Cloud Preschool in La Crescenta,
Calif. His father is a medical technologist at Medex Laboratory
Services in Glendale.

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am

Azerbaijan – next target for Russia
14:58 / 09/25/2009

`Russia has already ruptured Georgia and intends to replace the
incumbent president of the country. If Russia achieves its goal in
Georgia, it will target Azerbaijan next’, said US expert on
post-soviet countries, member of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations
Jiri Valenta during his visit to Baku, APA news agency reports.

According to the expert, Russia’s decision on Abkhazia and South
Ossetia would boomerang it. Valenta said Russia was interfering with
the internal affairs of its neighbors and therefore the world should
take up firm position towards Russia.

The U.S. expert touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and stated
that years ago ex-Russian President Boris Yeltsin told of intention to
stop this conflict, but power structures prevented him from doing so,
APA news agency informs.