RA government tries IMF modifies economic to decrease corrup- forecast for tion risks in licensing PAGE 4 Page 3 ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS

Weekly Digest of the

October 1-6 2010 THEMA Armenian side raises problems “Quote of of of during the week” meeting between Nalbandian and Vashadze “We have managed to achieve radical changes in the public management, reduc- ing the number of licenses from 169 to 96 or by 40%,”

TIGRAN DAVTYAN RA FINANACE MINISTER

erevan hosted a meeting of Armenian “The President’s statement prompts the YForeign Minister Eduard Nalbandian and format of future cooperation. Consti- his Georgian counterpart Grigol Vashadze. tutions will not be amended,” he said. Upcoming Events The Ministers discussed the Armenian- Saakashvili voiced the idea of a confedera- Georgian relations, implementation of tion between Georgia and in July agreements reached between the Armenian 2010. OSCE Field Assessment Mission in October 11: President of and Georgian Presidents, cooperation in Karabakh-surrounding territories has no rel- Danilo Türk Visits Armenia the fields of transport and energy, tourism, evance to stipulations in draft resolution organization of business forums and col- submitted by Azerbaijan to UN General As- October 16: Armenia Celebrates the laboration within international organizations. sembly, despite Azeri assertions to the op- Day of Alphabet and Translation The two men exchanged opinion on ex- posite, Armenian Foreign Minister stated. panding the legal-contractual field, As Edward Nalbandian said during a joint news October 16: Official opening cer- the RA MFA press service reported. conference with his Georgian counterpart Gr- emony of Tatev Ropeway During the meeting, the Armenian side igol Vashadze, the mission belongs to OSCE, referred to problems of Armenians of with only a few UN experts on Refugee Is- Georgia, specifically, in the education- sues participating. “No other UN structure is al field and Armenian cultural heritage. involved in the mission,” Nalbandian stressed. Grigol Vashadze delivered a lecture at the “The mission aims to study general situation in diplomatic school of the RA MFA. Georgian- Karabakh conflict region. Two of the co-chairs USEFUL LINKS Azerbaijani relations are more than strategic – Robert Bradtke (USA) and Igor Popov (Rus- • www.president.am partnership, Georgia’s top diplomat said. sia) have been appointed a short while ago, so • www.gov.am “Mikheil Saakashvili’s statement on crea- they use the occasion to familiarize themselves • www.parliament.am tion of a confederation was not based on with the situation onsite,” the Foreign Min- • www.mfa.am emotion. He just described the essence ister stated, adding that the co-chairs will ar- • www.armenpress.am of bilateral relations,” Foreign Minis- rive in on the evening of October 6. • www.panarmenian.net ter Grigol Vashadze stated in Yerevan. October 4-6, 2010 www.panarmenian.net • www.matenadaran.am ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS

CHRONICA Headlines of the week EU concerned over increased instances of ceasefire • OCTOBER 1: Armenian delegation violation to participate in International Tel- Armenian President dis- ecommunications Union conference cussed a number of issues on Armenia-EU • AH relations with EU Special Representative • OCTOBER 1: Bambir Armenian for the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby. rock band’s song tops EuroVoice The parties also focused on regional issues, Music Contest popularity list including Karabakh conflict settlement. • AH Semneby expressed his concern over in- • OCTOBER 2: U.S. Ambas- creased instances of ceasefire violation on the sador to RA to meet Armeni- line of contact between NKR and Azeri armed an community in San Francisco forces, presidential press service reported. • AH September24 2010, www.panarmenian.net • OCTOBER 3: Armen Jigarkh- anyan awarded Order of Honor • AH Technical launch of longest ropeway scheduled for • OCTOBER 4: Georgian Foreign ctober 16 Ministry’s statement on ’s at- ccording to clarified data, the tempt to damage Armenia-Georgia Atechnical launch of the longest incorrect, Armenian expert believes ropeway leading to Tatev monastery AH will take place on October 16, 2010. • OCTOBER 4: International Science A range of events with partici- and Technology Center Executive Di- pation of Armenia’s officials rector awarded with RA NAS gold medal and guests is scheduled for this • AH day, the National Competitive- • October 5: Center for French- ness Foundation of Armenia told language material digitiza- a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. tion to be created in Armenia Several days after the official • AH launch, all visitors will be wel- • october 6: Catholicos of All come to take a ropeway ride. Armenians meets with French September 29, 2010 www.panarmenian.net Ambassador Serge Smessov

Vic Darchinyan: I’m happy I’m fighting in discusses de- fense issues with members of howtime Sports hosted a press Each of the participants in the ban- American-British group conference Thursday at The tamweight tournament has previ- rmenian Minister of Defense SConga Room, L.A. Live, to for- ously fought at least one of the ASeyran Ohanyan met with the mem- mally introduce and discuss Bantam- other fighters in competitive bouts. bers of joint American-British group for weight Tournament: Winner Takes “This is a great tournament. It has the revision of Armenian defence strategy. All that begins Saturday, Dec. 11. In interest of the fans. It has the interest of The parties pointed out signifi- attendance was Ken Hershman, Show- the fighters and once and for all you’ll cant progress in reforms conducted time Sports Executive Vice President know who the best really is. There are in defense sector, agreeing to con- and General Manager, the four world four great fighters. I have a lot of respect tinue consultations, Armenian De- class boxers who will participate in the for all of them. Agbeko fought a great fense Ministry press service reported. two-round, single-elimination tourna- fight and Darchinyan had concrete be- October 2, 2010 www.panarmenian.net ment to determine the best fighter at tween his ears, didn’t listen to his cor- 118 pounds – International Boxing Fed- ner and I believe cost himself the fight, Special equipment to be imported from to cleanse Sevan eration (IBF) champion Yonnhy Perez but Yonnhy finished the unfinished basin from trees (20-0-1, 14 KOs), former world cham- work of Vic by finishing Agbeko off,” pions (27-2, 22 KOs) Darchinyan’s promoter Gary Shaw said. evan National Park non-commercial or- and Vic Darchinyan (35-2-1, 27 KOs) “I’m happy I’m fighting in Mexico. My Sganization’s council hosted a sitting in and world-ranked rising star Abner style is a Mexican style, guys are com- Yerevan, headed by Armenian Territorial Mares (29-0-1) – and their promoters. ing to fight, coming for a show, so that’s Administration Minister Armen Gevorgyan. The semifinal matchups: Perez defends wha t I’m going to do. Mexicans love Creation of special workgroup to examine le- his title against Agbeko and Darchin- my style. I am not against them, I am not gal status of unregistered Sevan-adjacent con- yan and Mares vie for the World Box- against anyone. I’m just against my op- structions was agreed on. Water Master spe- ing Council (WBC) Silver Belt The ponent. It just happens Mexicans have cial equipment for cleansing Sevan basin from bouts are scheduled for 12 rounds. The been my opponents, which is good. water-covered trees was imported from Fin- winners of each semifinal will clash in Mexicans are good fighters,” fight- land. Companies in charge of territory cleans- the final in 2011 with the losing fight- news.com cited Darchinyan as saying. ing will be given a possibility to sell the trees, thus lowering the self cost of cleansing works. ers competing in a consolation fight. October 1, 2010 www.panarmenian.net October 2, 2010 www.panarmenian.net

2 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS RES PUBLICA : ‘At the end of the year the economic RA government tries to growth rate will be higher than 1.2%, defined by 2010 decrease corruption state budget bill’ risks in licensing Prime Minister said the Government overfulfils the most important index – tax incomes – which strengthens the state’s financial stability and raises the level of withstandability. ‘Economic forecasts change once every quarter. An economic crisis is registered when symmetric phenomena of past years are not registered and it becomes dif- ficult to make forecasts. It is evident that the world economy reflects on ccording to forecasts, at the end Armenia through investments, trans- of the year the economic growth fers, world market prices. Taking he Armenian government is A Tconsistently introducing e-gov- rate will be higher than 1.2%, defined this fact into account, reassessment ernance system to decrease corrup- by 2010 state budget bill, RA Prime of macroeconomic indices is being tion risks, what will allow creating Minister Tigran Sargsyan said at a made every quarter. The matter is that pre-requisites for improvement of a meeting with journalists during today’s our macroeconomic indices should competitive business environment, visit to ‘Masis’ station. He added that be balanced for that we could form decreasing a direct communication be- if not the unprecedented decline in enough reserves to ensure stability,’ tween public employees and citizens. the agricultural sphere, the econom- Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said. On October 4, Armenian Minister of ic growth rate would be higher. The October 1, 2010 www.armenpress.amt Finance Tigran Davtyan said that the Armenian government has approved Euronews gives first reaction to demand on return of a bill on introduction of amend- Ararat to Armenian ments to the RA Law on Licensing, Tax Code and 14 laws, under which the types of licenses and procedure he Presidency of the Forum of for their obtainment is reduced. TArmenian Association of Europe “We have managed to achieve radical (FAAE) sent a letter of appreciation changes in the public management, to the management of Euronews TV reducing the number of licenses from channel, hailing its true information 169 to 96 or by 40%,” said Davtyan. with respect to praying namaz by Turk- Besides, many complex licenses have ish nationalists on the ruins of Ani. been simplified, while enterprises Head of the FAAE Ashot Grigo- will be able to apply for licenses elec- ryan said that the TV channel noted tronically at www.e-gov.am/licenses. that organizes new provoca- At the first stage, the amendments will refer to simple licenses issued tions instead of lifting its blockade by the RA Ministry of Finance and of Armenia. Besides, the TV channel Ministry of Transport and Commu- made a clear hint, showing the terri- Grigoryan advised the Turkish authori- nication, as licenses for organiza- tories around Ararat, including Sur- ties to study the EU policy towards tion of gambling and taxi services malu province, in Armenia’s colors. nationalistic parties of those countries, are basically provided here. In six According to Grigoryan, it is the first which became members of the Euro- months, the new approaches will reaction of Euronews to the speech of pean family during the past 10 years. be applied in other fields as well. Slovakian politician Frantisek Mik- “As a response to Turkish nationalists, October 4, 2010 www.panarmenian.net losko at the European economic fo- we state that the Armenian lobby of rum, in which he demanded to re- Europe is going to intensify its strug- 80% of websites registered in turn Ararat mountain to Armenians. gle for the return of Armenian lands, Circle.am use foreign hosting FAAE noted that the more Ankara which were transferred by Bolsheviks 1% of websites, registered in Circle.am develops its nationalistic policy, the to Turkey without any grounds and ex- 5Armenian ranking system, are located severer EU’s reaction will be. Thus, planations,” reads the FAAE statement. within .am domain zone. .com zone has a October 4, 2010 www.panarmenian.net 29% share; .ru - 8%; .net - 3%, .info-3%, Armenia to increase elec- other domain zones -6%. According to a re- ably increased this year compared to 2009, port developed by Circle.am and Business 24 tric power export volumes project, 80% of Armenian websites use for- to Iran and they will continue growing also next year,” Movsisyan told journalists on October 5. As eign hosting, with only 20% of servers situ- rmenian Minister of Energy and Natural for Georgia, the Minister noted that currently ated in Armenia. A 2% decrease in Armenia- Resources Armen Movsisyan said that A Armenia does not supply electric power to it, hosted websites was observed in summer the volumes of electric power export from while its export in future depends on many fac- 2010 compared to spring results, proving the Armenia to Iran will be increased. “The vol- tors, including climate and precipitation in 2011. country is not up to facing foreign competi- umes of electric power export have consider- October 5, 2010 www.panarmenian.net tion. September 23, 2010 www.panarmenian.net 3 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS PRO PATRIA Turkish nationalists rally in Why I oppose Matthew IMF modifies economic Armenian holy site at Ani Bryza’s nomination as am- forecast for Armenia bassador to Azerbaijan he Sept. 24 editorial “A toxic hold,” “A he International Monetary Fund Ttoxic hold,” in criticizing Sen. Barbara T(IMF) on Wednesday modified Boxer’s and my opposition to the nomination downward Armenia’s 2010 growth of Matthew Bryza as ambassador to Azerbai- rate, from 4.8 percent to 4 percent. jan, cited an unsubstantiated comment from The modification was announced by a junior member of my staff as my position. IMF country representative in Arme- This was despite the fact that a Post edito- nia Guillermo Tolosa in Yerevan, ac- rial writer had a full conversation with my cording to the ArmInfo news service. foreign policy adviser and an official writ- The IMF predicted a 4.5-per- ten statement regarding my position, which cent growth for Armenia for 2011. was entirely consistent with my statement The IMF country representative also modi- before the Senate Foreign Relations Com- fied the prediction for the country’s 2010 in- mittee. The suggestion that my office “back- flation rate, from 6.2 percent up to 7 percent. he cathedral was conquered by Turk- pedaled” is incorrect. The Post is entitled The good news, however, pronounced Tish ruler Alp Arslan in the 11th Century to its own opinion, but not to its own facts. by the IMF official was that Armenia’s Turkish nationalists have said Mus- For the record, I stand by my position that budgetary deficit would drop, from ac- lim prayers inside the ruins of a his- Mr. Bryza is the wrong person for the job counting for 5 percent of the coun- toric Christian cathedral in a move and have made public my hold in the U.S. try’s GDP this year to 4 percent in 2011 likely to cause friction with Armenians. Senate on his nomination. That position and further down to 3 percent in 2012. Hundreds of nationalists travelled to has absolutely nothing to do with the ethnic According to the Armenian govern- the ruins of the 11th Century cathe- origin of his wife. It is based on informa- ment’s mid-term expenditure program for dral at Ani in eastern Turkey to com- tion that I believe raises concerns about Mr. 2011-2013, the country’s budgetary defi- memorate a Muslim victory there. Bryza’s ability to remain impartial toward cit would be reduced from 7.7 percent of The action is being seen as a response GDP in 2009 to 4.9 percent in 2011, 4. to the reopening of another historic Ar- 3 percent in 2012 and 4 percent in 2013. menian church last month in Turkey. Guillermo Tolosa said that Armenia’s Armenians from across the world came economy is recovering from the crisis. to hear Mass at the church in Lake Van. By August, Armenia’s inflation rate Continue reading the main story dropped to 1.3 percent, down from the Janu- Ani, an uninhabited archaeological site, ary-July average of 5 percent, according to was once the capital of a medieval Ar- the Armenian National Statistical Service. menian kingdom in the province of Kars. September 30, 2010 www.chinadaily.com.cn Devlet Bahceli, head of the Nation- alist Action Party (MHP), led the Armenian PM to Visit Tehran crowd saying prayers at the site. Late in October The party said it was following the ex- Azerbaijan and Turkey, including his op- Sargsian will be in Tehran on October 25-26 to ample of Turkish ruler Alp Arslan, who position to the recognition of the Armenian discuss bilateral ties and cooperation in meet- removed the cathedral’s cross and prayed genocide by Turkey and his close ties to in- ings with senior Iranian officials, including there following his capture of Ani in 1064. dividuals in both governments. Perhaps it President Ahmadinejad and First Vice-Presi- Turkish nationalists say Muslim prayers in- is not so unusual for a U.S. ambassador to dent Mohammad Reza Rahimi. side the cathedral The nationalists said they have acquaintances in regional governments, Earlier, Yerevan's Ambassador to Tehran Grig- were imitating one of their historic heroes but when those relationships affect the abil- or Arakelian had told FNA that the visit will On 19 September, Armenian worshippers ity of the individual to represent the inter- take place at the invitation of Rahimi. held a service at the island church in Lake ests of the , it is my preroga- The envoy added that the Iranian and Armenian Van for the first time in nearly 100 years. tive to withhold support of the nomination. officials are slated to explore avenues for the The church, on an island in the lake, Finally, at the core of my opposition to Mr. further expansion of and deepening of relations was damaged during the mass kill- Bryza’s nomination is respect for the Arme- between the two states. ing of Armenians during World War I. nian people. The Armenian genocide was one Meantime, Iranian ambassador to Armenia It was restored by the Turkish govern- of the great atrocities of modern history. We Seyed Ali Saqayan announced in September ment in 2007 and turned into a museum. should not be sending a top diplomat to the that a free trade agreement between Iran and Turkey allowed the Mass to take place region who does not support recognition of Armenia could be signed during the visit to Iran in the hope it would be seen as a ges- what is considered among historians to be by the Armenian premier. He pointed out that a ture of reconciliation but some de- the first modern genocide. Nor should The relevant document was drafted last year when nounced the move as a publicity stunt. Post label the Armenian National Commit- Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan visited Te- Some Christians did not attend the tee of America as “noxious” simply for de- hran, and said the two sides started working on service, complaining that the Turk- manding recognition of this historical fact. the draft shortly after Sargsyan's visit. ish authorities had refused to place Barbara Levy Boxer is a Senator from Cali- October 3, 2010 www.english.farsnews.com a cross on the roof of the building. fornia and a member of the Democratic Party. October 1, 2010 www.bbc.co.uk October 3, 2010 www.washingtonpost.com

4 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS DIASPORA In Search of My Armenian Poet The Mass at Akhtamar, and What’s Next experiences? Why wasn’t I forced to read Charents in grammar school? Nevertheless, the film soon began and it was very well di- rected. As the two hours quickly passed I be- gan to revere a man whose work I had never read. Thankfully the film also included ex- cerpts of his poetry. I won’t give any serious spoilers because I believe that this is a must see if you are interested in Armenian culture. Any real criticism that I have of the docu- mentary would be the focus on over com- or most Armenians before my generation, pensatory praises by Charentsian fanatics. ictory is in the realization of FCharents is a name of legend. Known as Rightfully so, Charents deserves every single “Vmad men’s dream…” This, writ- a genius poet, Charents was also a public ac- one. However it was mentioned in one scene ten in big Armenian letters along with a tivist and soldier during the First World War. that Charents had actually shot a woman who photo of Akhtamar Island’s Holy Cross Unfortunately very few members of my gen- had rebuffed his interests and spent 8 years Church, ran on the front page of the lo- eration only know him by his masterpiece in jail for it. Why was this man in so much cal daily newspaper Van Times on Sept. “Yes Im Massis Sarn Em Siroum” (I love my internal conflict? This was always a quickly 19, produced in cooperation with the Massis mountain). Even I had the barest in- bypassed topic and like a shadow, loomed Istanbul-based Agos weekly on the occa- troduction to this great literary treasure until over almost each interview. Everybody in sion of the Holy Mass ceremony in that a few days ago. On September 25, 2010 the the theater knew it existed but it was never church, which took place on the same ARPA film festival screened the documen- directly addressed. Though while that dark- day. Cheering headlines were common tary, “Charents: In Search of My Armenian ness could be very frightening and intrigu- on the front pages of other local news- Poet” at the Egyptian Theater. The film’s ing the director chose to leave it shrouded in papers, too. While newspapers like Se- director is Shareen Anderson, an award win- mystery. However, let me reiterate that this hriVan, Bolge, Prestij, and Vansesi were ning filmmaker based in South Africa. On documentary is still enchanting. Prior to see- presenting the event as “a contribution the day of the screening I was very excited ing it, Charents was only a famous Armenian to the world peace and a bright exam- at the opportunity to learn more about this writer. Now he’s been mythologized to the ple of tolerance,” other newspapers like prolific man. We soon shuffled into the un- likes of Sayat Nova, Hovannes Tumanyan DoguAnadolu were sinking deep into fortunately small theater where Professor of and Komitas Vartabed. This documentary details by criticizing their colleagues for and literature at UCLA, amplified my interest and doubled my rev- missleading the public by presenting the Anahid 16 Keshishian, gave a wonderful in- erence for his work. Through my personal Mass as a first after 95 years, and not 92 troduction about her experiences with Char- experiences, it seems that the diaspora hasn’t years?matching it with the date of the Ar- ents. She described her emotional journey come to know and hold dear this extraordi- menian uprising of Van in 1918, in an at- with this man as if they had been close rela- nary figure in Armenian culture. Thankfully tempt to fuel more historic hatred against tions; even though Charents had been killed “Charents: In Search of My Armenian Poet” “traitor Armenians.” In 1951, Yasar Ke- by the NKVD (the predecessor to the KGB) definitely changed that for at least one Arme- mal, a reporter of Kurdish origin, wit- in a Soviet prison sixty-seven years ago. I nian. I just hope that my fellow viewers in nessed the beginning of the demolition felt envious… Why hadn’t I had those same that theater felt the same way. plan on the island of Akhtamar while October 2, 2010 Lousabats N 854 visiting the region. He used his contacts Letter: Danny Tarkanian Thanks Armenian to stop the destruction of the site and raised awareness of it through his writ- Community ings. This is how a masterpiece of world he Armenian Weekly received the gave hope to Armenians all over America and Armenian medieval architecture was Tletter below from Danny Tarkanian, that our dreams were within our grasp. saved for today’s Mass ceremony. The who campaigned to win the Republican With the many critical issues facing Arme- church, however, was left in a dilapi- Primary for U.S. Senate in Nevada.I want nia today, resolution of the genocide, pro- dated and abandoned state until 2005, to thank everyone in the Armenian com- tocols and reduction in financial assistance when the Turkish government decided to munity who followed and supported my by the American government, I felt it was begin restoration efforts.In an interview campaign for United States Senator from time for our Country to have its first Arme- to the Armenian Weekly, the governor of Nevada. Since my college days, I have nian United States Senator. With the help Van, Munir Karaloglu, who followed the wanted to get into public service. I believe of so many in our community we almost event from a helicopter flying over the is- it is the noblest profession to which a per- made this a reality. I am forever grateful land, said that restoration was carried out son can aspire. Governor Deukmejian, the for all of your help and support. One of the by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism first Armenian governor in our country’s wonderful traits of our Armenian heritage of Turkey, and that it cost nearly $1.5 mil- history, has been my inspiration. He was a is the determination to persevere. We are lion. In 2007, it was finished and opened statesman in every sense of the world and not quitters and never will be. as a museum. during the ceremony. October 2, 2010 www.armeniaweekly.com October 1, 2010 full story www.asbarez.com "Armenia Highlights" is compiled in association with & DISCLAIMER: Views expressed in "Armenia Highlights" do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of Armenia.

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