: agri- One Laptop Per culture will be priority Child in Nagorno- for KarabakhPAGE 5 in 2011 Page 3 ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS

Weekly Digest of the

January 25-31, 2011 THEMA

“Quote of the week”

“’s position is non-constructive on both the Karabakh con- flict settlement and the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations“

Edward Nalbandyan January 28 marks the 19th anniversary Minister of Foreign Af- of the Armenian Armed Forces fairs of RA

anuary 28 marks the 19th anniversa- erable contribution to the enforce- Jry of the Armenian Armed Forces. ment of the combat readiness of the Traditionally, the Armenian lead- troops, President is- ership – President Serzh Sarg- sued an order to award a group of Upcoming Events syan, Prime Minister Tigran Sarg- servicemen and freedom fighters with syan, Speaker of the RA National medals of the Republic of Armenia. Assembly , On January 27, at the Presidential Pal- February 11-13: Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohan- ace President Serzh Sargsyan congratu- wrestling team wil participate in yan – visits Pantheon. lated and handed state high awards to Grand Prix Wrestling Champion- In 1991, the RA State Defense Com- the servicemen and freedom fighters. ship in Istambul mittee was established as per a gov- President Sargsyan said that our na- ernmental decision. On December tion’s trust and respect toward the RA 5, was appointed Armed Forces are well deserved. “To as Defense Minister. On January put on shoulder straps and serve the 28, 1992, a historical decision on country is a task for a real man: to put Defense of the Republic of Arme- on shoulder straps and serve the coun- nia, i.e. establishment of the Arme- try with distinction is a honorable task,” nian National Army, was adopted. stressed the . January 28, 2011 He said that to be awarded the state’s USEFUL LINKS www.panarmenian.net high honors is a great reason for • www.president.am pride, and expressed confidence that • www.gov.am *** the servicemen who were awarded • www.parliament.am n the occasion of Army Day, today have also become a source of • www.mfa.am Oas well as for valor and per- pride for their commanders, subordi- • www.armenpress.am sonal courage in defending the nates, friends, parents and children. • www.panarmenian.net Motherland and for the consid- January 21-22, 2011 • www..am www.president.am ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS CHRONICA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s Headlines of congratulations on India’s National Day the week On January 26, Prime Minister Ti- gran Sargsyan, as the cradle of ancient • January 24: RA MFA: gran Sargsyan attended a recep- civilizations India has made a valuable there are not Armenian citizens tion held on India’s National Day at spiritual, intellectual, historical and cul- among victims at Domodedovo the Embassy of India in Armenia. tural contribution to the global cultural • AH On behalf of the Ar- heritage. Today’s • JANUARY 25: Armenian, menian government, India continues tak- Georgian military authori- the Prime Minister ing an important ties to establish cooperation congratulated those share in the global • AH present on the holi- developments. The • January 26: RA government day wishing peace, head of government to allocate AMD 4bln to Ministry prosperity, well-be- said to be convinced of Sport and Youth Affairs in 2011 ing and progress to that the preservation • AH the people of India. and development • JANUARY 27: Preservation of cul- According to Ti- of ties of friend- tural heritage among Armenian Cul- ship between the Armenian and Indian peoples is the duty of the two governments. ture Ministry priority tasks in 2011 Tigran Sargsyan thanked the government of India for the joint projects imple- • AH mented in Armenia, especially in the cultural and educational spheres. “We are • JANUARY 28: Armenian Min- convinced that President Serzh Sargsyan’s upcoming visit to India will help istry of Social Affairs, Ardshin- strengthen bonds between the two States,” the Prime Minister noted and expressed investbank agree on pension hope that the years ahead will be fruitful in terms of expanded bilateral relations. payment through credit cards Stressing that the two heads of State are intent on furthering trade and economic • AH exchanges, Indian Ambassador to Armenia Achal Kumar Malhotra noticed in turn • JANUARY 29: Robert Arzumanyan that Indian-Armenian ties have a 2000-year-long history. He further pointed out that signs contract with Jagiellonia FC the economy of India boasted a great deal of flexibility throughout the global cri- • AH with a 9 % growth index. “India is a democratic country which seeks to ensure • JANUARY 31: Tigran Petrosyan wins harmonious development and prosperity,” Achal Kumar Malhotra stated in part. Armenia’s rapid chess championship The reception was attended by intellectuals and representatives of diplomatic corps. January 27, 2011 www.gov.am AH The Minister suggests Edward Nalbandian: Turkey’s policy is not changes that will solve constructive many problems urkey’s position is non-construc- flict. The , France and Rus- “Ttive on both the Karabakh conflict sia have declared many times that the two settlement and the normalization of the Ar- are completely different processes and the menian-Turkish relations,” Armenian For- attempts to tie the two would harm both. eign Minister Edward Nalbandian said in a The Turkish side pretends not to notice and interview with Russia Today. “You know hear what the international community is nd the model of management of “Hay- that the Armenian President initiated the saying. The second precondition was the post” surely to be changed Armenian process of normalization of relations with recognition. When we A Transport and Communication Ministry in- Turkey. Yes, we started the process, held started the process, we said the recognition tended implementation of 15 events for the 2011 talks and signed two protocols, having of the Armenian Genocide was not a pre- (the number of events in 2010 was 8) of which agreed with the Turkish side that we were condition for the establishment of diplo- 7 in the transport field, and 8 in communica- taking the step without any preconditions. matic relations between the two countries. tion. And 4 issues have been considered prior However, after signing the protocols, Tur- We stressed that Armenia would never (no prior issues were set for 2010), RA Minis- key did not find enough strength to remain question either the fact of genocide, or the ter of Transport and Communication Manuk committed to one of the basic principles importance of its international recognition. Vardanyan said at a press conference yester- of international law, the principle of pacta We told this the Turkish side, the media- day. According to him, 14 programs at the total sunt servanda, which means that if there is tors, and all the countries involved in the amount of AMD 36.6bln will be implement- an agreement it should be followed. We normalization process. However, unfor- ed in 2011 due to funds of the state budget. signed the documents in presence of wit- tunately Turkey returned to the language Manuk Vardanyan specified the projects nesses – Switzerland, Russia, the United of preconditions it had been using before and events envisaged for the current year. States, France, representatives of the Euro- the start of the process, thus taking a non- Presenting tasks planned for the road-con- pean Union and the Council of Europe. Af- constructive position on both the process struction sphere he informed that 249km- ter that Turkey practically returned to the of normalization of the Armenian Turkish long road sections and 6 bridges will be preconditions it had been suggesting at the relations and the settlement of the Karaba- completely rehabilitated due to funds of the beginning of the process. “These precondi- kh conflict, since, as I have already men- state budget and attracted investments. Be- tions included the attempts to link the nor- tioned, the attempts to tie the two processes sides, AMD 5.5bln will be spent for works malization of Armenian-Turkish relations harms both,” Minister Nalbandian said. on maintenance and exploitation of roads. to the settlement of the Karabakh con- January 29, 2011 www.armradio.am January 26 2011, www.hhpress.am

2 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS RES PUBLICA RA President: Referendum Tigran Sargsyan: agriculture will be priority for only way to settle Armenia in 2011 Karabakh conflict tives of the Ministry, as well as mem- bers of the Public Council and rep- resentatives of relevant structures participated in the meeting, the RA governmental press service reported. Opportunities for enlarging cul- tivated areas in spring of 2011 were presented during the sitting. Summarizing the results of discus- sion, Sargsyan gave relevant instruc- he Armenian govern- tions to institutions, stressing the am sure the only way to settle the Tment discussed a program importance of permanent commu- “INagorno Karabakh conflict is the con- on improvement of agriculture. nication between heads of institu- duction of referendum there or recog- Armenian Prime Minister Tigran tions and regional administrations. nition of the results of the 1991 referendum Sargsyan, Minister of Agriculture “Agriculture will be a priority field in conducted in full compliance with the USSR and representa- 2011. And we should do our utmost to legislation and international right,” Arme- secure a growth in it,” noted Sargsyan. nian President Serzh Sargsyan stated in an January 26, 2011 www.panarmenian.net interview to Echo Moskvi radio station. “The issue may be regulated only through Representatives of Armenia’s IT field discuss tax and mutual concessions. I think I am not saying customs matters anything new as in 2007 the OSCE Minsk n January 25, 2011, Enterprise In- particular, suggested changes are to op- group co-chairs suggested us a document Ocubator Foundation (EIF) hosted a timize customs relations and procedures named “Madrid principles” and these princi- roundtable meeting of the members of for Armenian IT companies, and to make ples suppose that the settlement of the con- Investment and Entrepreneurship Work- amendments in Resolution No. 753 of the flict is possible through mutual concessions,” ing Group of the IT Development Support RA Government (November 27, 1998) Serzh Sargsyan said, explaining that the first Council of Armenia (IT DNC) to discuss to reduce tax payments for IT companies one of the principles is the territorial integ- legislative changes suggested by EIF and through full calculation of expenses versus rity, the second one the self-determination the Union of IT Enterprises of Armenia partial calculation. of the people and the third one non-usage (UITE) targeting tax and customs-related In result of the roundtable discussion slight of force and threat of force. According to laws and regulations. modifications were made to the proposed him, in 2007 after long thinking Armenia In an effort to bring up tax and customs legislative changes. It was decided to in- and agreed over these principles. issues that cause concern among IT com- clude these issues in the agenda of the next “But gradually Azerbaijan started comment- panies in Armenia, in October-December meeting of IT DNC which will be chaired ing these principles on its own way and when 2010, EIF and UITE had held a number by Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran it was spoken about the right to self-determi- of discussions with representatives of Ar- Sargsyan. nation, they were saying – yes, but as part menian IT companies, and had developed 26 January 2011, www.panarmenian.net of Azerbaijan. It is understandable that such suggestions on legislative changes. In self-determination may be called not only in- complete self-determination if it is possible to say so. And secondly as if the non-usage Al Pacino wins Screen Actors Guild Award of force functions in case when a state does not have occupied territories,” the president kian in “You Don’t Know Jack.” pointed out, adding that in such cases every It marked a trifecta for Pacino: He had time he wants to remind that in 1994 a treaty already won the Emmy and the Golden on ceasefire was signed the goal of which was Globe for the HBO movie. He was not the establishment of peace and the solution of present the accept the award. He was the issue. “No one has yet annulled the pro- competing in this category against John visions of the treaty,” Serzh Sargsyan said. Goodman, also in “You Don’t Know He also rated high the commitments of the Jack,” Dennis Quaid for “The Special parties on not resuming the military actions Relationship,” Patrick Stewart for “Mac- as during the recent 1,5-2 years the talks beth” and Edgar Ramirez for “Carlos.” about resuming the military actions have The awards - which dole out honors in both become common. “It is very bad, as when l Pacino won the Screen Ac- TV and film - are being held at the Shrine a leader or a common person is speaking Ators Guild Award for outstand- Exhibition Hall and telecast live simulta- about an issue for a long time at a certain ing performance by a male actor in a neously on TNT and TBS. A win in the moment he gets convinced in his words. TV movie or miniseries for his role feature film categories is especially cov- And if there are opportunities a big tempta- playing the controversial Jack Kevor- eted: It can be a precursor to Oscar gold. tion rises. But I am sure that it is possible January 31, 2011, www.panarmenian.net to avoid war,” the president pointed out. January, 27 2011 www.armenpress.am 3 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS PRO PATRIA Armenia will not have problems servicing external to Boost Exports of loans Energy to Armenia via New rmenia’s Finance Minister Vache claimed that there are different ways of Pipeline AGabrielian thinks that his coun- financing these projects and they will try has no problems in servicing its not necessarily consider the increase external loans. In 2010, the country’s of foreign debt. In 2013, Armenia external debt reached USD 3. 795 bln. will have to pay USD 500 mln for to This is 44.4% of the GDP. In the com- service its foreign debts. The Minister ing years the proportion will not in- insists that the country will not have crease and will not reach the critical any problems in doing so. Meanwhile, boundary of 50% of GDP. According inflation by the end of 2010 came to to the minister, from 2013 the level 9.4%. The minister predicts that by the of foreign debt will start to decrease. end of this year inflation will not be The Armenian government has an- more than 5.5%. Concerning the budg- ran and Armenia plan to construct a new nounced huge infrastructural projects et of last year, the budgetary revenues Ioil pipeline to increase energy supply being financed from abroad. These slightly exceeded the amount forecast. to the Caucasian state, Iranian Oil Min- include a nuclear power station and January 28, 2011 www.messenger.com.ge ister Massoud Mir-Kazzemi announced. the construction of the Iran-Armenian Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting railway line. However, the Minister with visiting Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisian Legal battle over Armenian genocide museum here in Tehran on Saturday evening, Mir- ends in philanthropist's favor Kazzemi said that the pipeline will begin from Iran’s Northwestern city of Tabriz nasty, long-running legal battle over a at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. and stretch toward the Armenian border. A proposed Armenian Genocide Memo- Cafesjian and his foundation had helped buy The minister added that the pipeline can rial and Museum has ended for now, with the former National Bank of Washington site help Armenia meet parts of its needs for a judge returning the valuable downtown and nearby properties for museum purposes. oil products from the Islamic Republic. Washington, D.C., property to a wealthy “While the court hopes that the properties He added that the two sides will finalize the philanthropist who said he was wronged. can be used for (the museum), the court volume and the value of the exports of oil The 190-page ruling by U.S. District Judge recognizes that the (foundation) is not le- products during a meeting in the near future. Colleen Kollar-Kotelly is a blow to the Ar- gally obligated to use the properties to Iran and Armenia have expanded coopera- menian Assembly of America and a victory build a museum,” Kollar-Kotelly noted. tion in power and gas swap in recent years. for retired businessman Gerard L. Cafesjian. Kollar-Kotelly quietly issued her opin- Iran mainly exports natural gas to Ar- Precisely what it means for the proposed ion Tuesday night, addressing the com- menia and imports power supplies museum’s future, though, remains unclear. plexity of a case that began nearly four from the Caucasian state through two “The museum will be built,” Cafesjian’s years ago and required a 12-day trial transfer lines with a total power trans- attorney, John Williams, said Thursday, and more than 450 exhibits to resolve. fer capacity of 220kw/ph at present. adding that Cafesjian is “going to reach out In sometimes pointed terms, Kollar-Kotelly In October, the two sides agreed to form a to the Armenian community and present questioned the veracity of some Armenian joint working group to explore way of ex- a plan for moving forward.” But in a sign Assembly trial witnesses, including some, panding their mutual cooperation in grounds of the difficulties ahead, the attorney for she said, whose “lack of memory seems to of water and renewable energy resources. the Armenian Assembly of America said be driven more by convenience than cogni- The agreement was made in a meeting be- he was “disappointed” and stressed that tion.” DeMarco stressed Thursday that the tween Iranian Minister of Energy Majid “we have to consider what the net ef- voluminous decision is still being reviewed. Namjou and Movsisian here in Tehran. fect” might be on the museum’s future. “The decision requires a great deal of thought January 30, 2011 www.english farsnews.com “We’re not ruling anything out,” attor- and analysis,” DeMarco said, adding that ney Michael DeMarco said Thursday. “everybody wants the museum to be built.” Under the ruling, the museum site several The proposed museum got its start in *** blocks from the White House will be re- the mid-1990s with several large dona- ran’s caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Akbar turned to the Cafesjian Family Foundation. tions and pledges. In 2000, the Arme- ISalehi met with Armenian Minister of Ener- A World War II veteran who turns 86 this nian Assembly bought the former Na- gy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisian, year, Cafesjian built the foundation with a tional Bank of Washington building Salehi stressed the importance of transit and fortune made by selling West Publishing, for $7.25 million. The Cafesjian Fam- said, “If regional countries are connected by a Minnesota-based legal publishing firm. ily Foundation provided a $2.5 million railway, we can have a vast railway network, Cafesjian will also gain control of a seat on the grant, and additional help with a loan. and our priority is neighboring countries.” museum board, which must now figure out Cafesjian also began buying property near a new game plan amid sharp disagreements. the bank, suggesting he might build an art “Iran and Armenia do not have any political The 50,000-square-foot Armenian Geno- museum. Instead, he donated these prop- problems and this provides good grounds for cide Memorial and Museum is supposed erties as well to the Armenian Assembly. expanding ties in different fields,” Movsisian to commemorate the horrific events of January 21, 2011 said, calling for the strengthening of relations 1915 to 1923 when, by some accounts, full story www.miamiherald.com between the private sectors of the two coun- more than 1 million died tries. January 29, 2011 full story www.presstv.ir 4 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS DIASPORA

Armenian American Poetry Newly Translated for One Laptop Per Child in Armenia Anthology Nagorno-Karabakh prose work. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for the play The Time of Your Life. He rejected the prize. Leon Srabian Herald, born in his- toric Armenia, provides a number of poems for this collection, many of them reminiscent of his old country village and his nostal- ast year saw the publication of gia for it as he lived and wrote in Lthe Armenian-language book America. Khachig (Archie) Minas- AH Armenian American Poets Writing sian, William Saroyan?s cousin, he Nagorno-Karabakh Republic will in English translated, compiled lived near his cousin in Fresno. His Tprovide one laptop per child as part and prepared for publication by short poems show mo- of a new private-public effort to promote David Gasparyan and Armenouhi mentary life impressions. education in information technology. Ghalachyan of Armenia. The sub- David Kherdian, born in Rac- As part of a deal signed Thursday between ject matter is partly taken from ine, Wisconsin, often writes po- Karabakh Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan David Kherdian?s anthology ems about his childhood in that city and Argentinian Armenian businessman Forgotten Bread, First-Genera- and about his father. His prose , every elementary school tion Armenian American Writers, work and his anthologies student in Karabakh will receive one laptop from Aram Saroyan’s Complete have also drawn much praise. computer loaded with educational software. Minimal Poems and also Internet sources. Diana Der Hovanessian, born in The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) pro- This book and others like it show Worcester, Massachusetts, has gram, developed at the Massachusetts In- the result of Armenia’s new pol- accomplished much with her stitute of Technology in Boston (MIT), icy to explore literature written translations of Armenian poetry into will furnish Karabakh’s elementary by Armenians in diaspora in the English and her many books of po- schools with laptop computers and con- languages of countries in which etry. A few of her poems appear nect them to the Internet through wireless they live. in this book. Harold Bond, who lived networks to be installed in their facilities. has been Minister of Diasporan Af- in Melrose, Massachusetts, taught Karabakh’s government welcomed the initia- fairs since 2008 and works in the poetry workshops at the Cambridge tive, spearheaded by Eurnekian, and pledged direction of welcoming books Center for Adult Education and to make telecommunications interconnec- from the many countries settled through- published a few volumes of po- tion available in all schools to enhance the out the difficult times of Armenian life. etry. They are well represented in educational impact of the OLPC program. The translators provide an intro- this book. Helene Pilibosian, born in To realize the project, Eurnekian asked the Ar- duction with general background Boston, Massachusetts, has explored menian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) information on the migration her Armenian identity in several to assist in the implementation by undertaking of Armenians to the diaspora books of poems, some of which the responsibility of providing the necessary throughout their history and men- are presented in this anthology. on-the-ground support to ensure its success. tions the names of some outstanding In addition, Grady Harp’s review “The world community sees Nagorno Ka- poets in countries such as Roma- of Histories Twists: The Arme- rabagh within the context of war and re- nia and Russia as well as Amer- nians appears translated into Ar- gional conflict. People fail to take note of the ica. The first few Armenian- menian. The title of Kherdian?s children who are born and live there,” said American poets and writers in book Forgotten Bread was taken Eurnekian, whos company manages Arme- America, such as Emmanuel Var- from a line in one of her poems. nia’s national postal service, Haypost, and andyan and Leon Surmelian, whose Aram Saroyan, the son of Wil- the Zvartnots airport in . “These fame developed with their liam Saroyan, is very well rep- children are entitled to the universal right prose works, are characterized. resented in this book by many of education and access to information.” The rest of the book describes pages dedicated to his work from “Through OLPC, I intend to bridge the gap the first generation of Armeni- his Complete Minimal Poems. and give the children of Karabakh the op- an-American poets, most of them A poet and playwright, his work portunity to receive the best education the born in America with biographies and has drawn praise and awards for its inven- world has to offer” Eurnekian said. “The pictures along with some of their work. tiveness and originality of expression. education of [Karabakh’s] school age chil- William Saroyan leads the list The Armenian anthology has dren is a priority for the Government and with a biography and a number been privately printed in Armenia. a significant part of the State’s resources is of photographs and poems, January 29, 2011 Lousapatz N 870, directed towards building and renovating though he attained fame with his schools,” Prime Minister Harutyunyan said. January 27, 2011 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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