President Catholicos Aram I Con- makes a working visit to demns Attack on Baghdad the Nagorno Karabakh Assyrian Church PAGE 5 Republic Page 2 HIGHLIGHTS

Weekly Digest of the

November 9-15 2010 THEMA

“Quote of the week”

“In the event of a threat, we will be able...to solve the problem once and for all “

Serzh Sargsyan President of RA

Premier’s visit to Brussels completed

n November 13, Prime Minis- agreement, the interlocutors exchanged Oter -led delega- views on their vision of talks. The need tion wrapped up their one-day work- for stepping up reform in Armenia was Upcoming Events ing visit to Brussels. First, the Prime emphasized on either side. In conclu- Minister had a private meeting with sion, Tigran Sargsyan forwarded President deputy chairman of the European Peo- Serzh Sargsyan’s invitation for Mr. De November 16-17: President Serzh ple’s Party, member of the Europe- Gucht to visit Armenia at his convenience. Sargsyan makes a working visit to an Parliament Khayim Mayor Oreja. Next, Tigran Sargsyan welcomed the rep- Moscow The Prime Minister’s next meeting was resentatives of leading Belgian diamond- in the EU Commission where Tigran processing companies to his place of residence November 19-20: PM Tigran Sarg- Sargsyan met with EU high commis- in Brussels to discuss investment opportuni- syan will participate in EvrAzes sionaire for trade Karel De Gucht to ties and the government’s support for this discuss the current status and the out- sector. It was agreed that bilateral relations look of EU-Armenia trade relations. should be given an institutional character. The head of government gave details The Prime Minister’s working visit was of Armenia’s economic position and wrapped up with a visit paid to headquarters described the pace of reforms. The on- of “Armenia’s European Friends” organiza- going cooperation was said to enjoy a tion, where Tigran Sargsyan got acquainted solid institutional groundwork cover- with its activities, took part in a workshop USEFUL LINKS ing all those priority areas dealt with on Armenia’s home and foreign policies, at- • www.president.am by the government of Armenia. In this tended by EU special envoy to South Cau- • www.gov.am context, ’s assistance casus Peter Szemnebi, representatives from • www.parliament.am was emphasized as a pledge for success- a number of Armenian and foreign organi- • www.mfa.am ful reform and capacity building efforts. zations accredited in the Kingdom of Bel- • www.armenpress.am Stressing the importance of the EU- gium, as well as by scholars and analysts.N • www.panarmenian.net Armenia deep and comprehensive trade November 13, 2010 www.gov.am • www.matenadaran.am ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS

CHRONICA Headlines of President Serzh Sargsyan makes a working visit to the

Nagorno Karabakh Republic the week resident Serzh Sargsyan has left on a readiness of the troops, and the on- • november 9: Serzh Sargsyan: it is Pworking visit to the defense lines of our going works of army-building. important to establish direct ties be- country and the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The leaders of Armenia and Karabakh were tween regions of Armenia and Russia President Sargsyan and present at the mili- • AH the President of NKR tary exercises, con- • NOVEMBER 9: : Bako Sahakian, ac- ducted observation Armenian armed forces will con- companied by the RA of the defense area, tinue coercing into peace Minister of Defense and participated in the • AH Seyran Ohanian and opening ceremony of • NOVEMBER 10: U.S. Ambas- other high ranking of- the apartments built sador to Armenia awards Syn- ficials, visited defense for the military staff. opsys Armenia for corporate lines and observed Later, the Presi- citizenship, innovation and exem- first-hand combat dent of Arme- plary business practices in Armenia nia conducted a working meeting with the participation of the Army High Command. • AH November 13, 2010, www.president.am • NOVEMBER 10: Nalbandi- an v Murray in Paris Masters • AH Armenia’s local self-government is 14 years old • NOVEMBER 11: Armenia, NKR cal self-government system. develop cooperation in tax field A number of community heads were • AH handed Anania Shiarakatsi medals • NOVEMBER 11: Preliminary agree- conferred upon under a presidential ment on experimental cultivation of decree. Similarly, several local self- Syrian wheat in Armenia reached government experts were presented • AH with the President’s appreciation let- • NOVEMBER 12: Armenian ters for efficacious work and contribu- winemakers stored 135 thou- tion to the establishment and develop- sand tons of grapes in 2010 ment of communities in the Republic • AH rime Minister Tigran Sargsyan at- of Armenia. • NOVEMBER 15: Sasuntsi Dav- Ptended a gala meeting of the Arme- November 10 is marked as local self- it book published in Bulgaria nian Communities Union dedicated to government day in the Republic of Ar- • AH the 14th anniversary of Armenian’s lo- menia. November 3, 2010 www.gov.am of existing problems has no alternative. On the same day, the Armenian Foreign Min- The Visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Repub- ister had a meeting with Suresh Goel, the Di- lic of Armenia Edward Nalbandian to India rector General of Indian Council for Cultural Relations. In the course of the meeting, they n November 10 started the Arme- bandian, his visit to India is aimed at that. had a thorough talk on a wide range of issues Onian Foreign Affairs Minister Ed- Both sides underlined the necessity of related to the cooperation between two coun- ward Nalbandian’s official visit to India. intensification of political dialogue be- tries in the humanitarian spheres. The issues In New Delhi Minister Nalbandian met tween the two countries and in that con- related to the opening of the Indian Cultural with Mohammad Hamid Ansari, the Vice text they stressed the importance of the or- Center in Armenia, the cooperation between President of India, Chairman of the Upper ganization of reciprocal high-level visits. the MFA Diplomatic School of Armenia and House of Indian Parliament (Rajya Sabha). The Vice President of India and the Foreign the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Welcoming the Armenian Foreign Minister, Minister of Armenia discussed the steps under- intensification of educational exchanges, the the Vice President of India said that his coun- taken towards deepening of bilateral economic opening of chair for Indian researches at one try is ready to undertake efficient steps for and cultural ties, as well as opportunities of of the universities of Armenia and holding of development of comprehensive cooperation intensification of contacts between the Arme- Indian cultural year in Armenia was discussed. with friendly Armenia. Mohammad Hamid nian and Indian business people, further deep- In New Delhi Edward Nalbandian Ansari also added that Edward Nalbandian’s ening of interaction in the spheres of high tech- gave an extensive interview to the In- visit is a good opportunity to summerize the nologies, education, culture, agriculture and dian popular newspaper “Asian Age”. results registred in the bilateral relations, as healthcare and expansion of legal framework. The Vice President of India and the Foreign well as work out new projects of cooperation. Upon the request of the Indian Vice Presi- Minister of Armenia discussed the steps under- Minister Nalbandian expressed gratitude dent, the Armenian Foreign Minister pre- taken towards deepening of bilateral econom- for the warm reception and mentioned that sented the problems in the South Caucasus ic and cultural ties, as well as opportunities of the leadership of Armenia attaches great and Armenia’s position on their solution. intensification of contacts between the Arme- importance to the further reinforcement Edward Nalbandian and Mohammad nian and Indian business people, further deep- and expansion of relations with friendly In- Hamid Ansari exchanged views on sev- ening of interaction in the spheres of high tech- dia, one of the most important countries eral regional and international issues. The nologies, education, culture, agriculture and in the world. According to Minister Nal- sides stressed that the peaceful resolution healthcare and expansion of legal framework. November 11, www.mfa.am

2 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS RES PUBLICA RA government allows Jermuk International to postpone Monument in memory of the VAT payment Catholicos of All Armenians and natural juice production. The Vazgen I erected in Holy Echmi- plant will start operating in July 2011. adzin Armenian Deputy Minister of Econ- omy Karine Minasyan said that the plant will be supplied with mod- ern equipment, while investments as part of the program will amount to AMD 5bln, including AMD 2.8bln for purchase of the equipment. uring the November 11 sitting, “At least 120 new jobs with an aver- Dthe Armenian government al- age salary of AMD 120,000 will be lowed Jermuk International company created as part of the program imple- to prolong the term for VAT pay- mented by the company,” she said. ment in case of equipment import Karine Minasyan noted that the total at the amount above AMD 300mln volume of investments as part of the n November 11, Holy Echmiadzin host- as part of an investment program. program implemented by the govern- Oed a memorial inauguration ceremony. Under the investment program, the ment made AMD 30mln, as a result The monument was erected in memory of company envisages establishment of a of which 1,050 jobs will be created. the Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen I. modern plant in for soft drinks November 11, 2010 The monument was created on the ini- full story www.panarmenian.net tiative of co-chair of the Armenia-Russia Goran Bregovic: seeing so Mesecina. Perspectives XXI International interparliamentary cooperation commit- many of my fans in Armenia Music Festival was renamed into Yerevan tee, head of the Russian Commission for makes me feel proud of myself Perspectives International Music Festival Natural Monopolies, . aren Demirchyan Sport and Concert by request on European Festival Associa- The memorial is authored by the honoured art KComplex will host the concert of a fa- tion. The festival is held under the aegis of worker of Russia, sculptor Friedrich Soghoyan. mous Serbian musician Goran Bregovic Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, with the His Holiness Vazgen I (September 20, and Wedding and Funeral Orchestra on assistance of the Ministry of Culture. Goran 1908—August 18, 1994) was the Catholi- November 15. The concert will be held in Bregovicin (born 22 March 1950) is one of cos of the Armenian Apostolic Church be- the framework of Yerevan Perspectives 11th the most internationally known modern com- tween 1955 and 1994, in one of the longest music festival. “Seeing so many of my fans in posers of the Balkans. He currently splits his reigns of the Armenian Catholicoi. A native Armenia makes me feel proud of myself,” the time between Paris and Belgrade, where he of , he began his career as a philoso- musician told November 15 news conference settled down during the Yugoslav Wars. pher, before becoming a Doctor of Theology in Yerevan. As he noted, Alcohol concert pro- Bregovic has composed for such varied art- and a member of the local Armenian clergy. gram to be featured in Yerevan was no differ- ists as Iggy Pop and Cesaria Evora. He rose November 11 2010, www.panarmenian.net ent from ones performed in New-York, Paris to fame playing guitar with his rock band and London. The two-part program includes Bijelo dugme. Among his better known Minas Avetisyan’s frescos the most popular of the musician’s works: scores are Emir Kusturica’s films (Time of to be placed in Armenian Gas-Gas, Maki, Maki, Kalasnikov, Ederlezi, the Gypsies, Arizona Dream, Underground). government premises by November 15, 2010 www.panarmenian.net weekend

RA Minister of Finance: subsidized loans will reach vil- wo restored frescos, authored by the lagers soon Toutstanding Armenian painter Minas stitutions. As per a program approved by Avetisyan, will be placed in board room of the Armenian government, residents of Armenian government, Armenian Culture Armenia’s frontier regions have the op- Ministry official Sona Hautyunyan said. portunity to receive interest-free loans. As she told a November 9 news confer- However, the function was implemented ence, the public will be given a chance with serious omissions for two years. to see the frescos, entitled Meeting Thus, the Prime Minister instructed Ti- and By the Khachkar, the restoration gran Davtyan to submit a relevant deci- of which will be completed in a week. sion to the government on implementa- The restoration, performed by the Ital- tion of structural changes within 10 days. ian expert Fabrizio Jacobini, took about The Minister said that the head of this 4 months. The government allocated n November 11, Armenian Minister of department has been dismissed. “On No- AMD 20 million to restoration work. OFinance Tigran Davtyan said that the vember 10, I met with the structure lead- “The work is to be given some final Armenian Ministry of Finance has submit- ership and strictly instructed to take im- touches. With only slight amendments ted to the government an offer on imple- mediate measures so that the subsidies introduced, the works of the great mas- mentation of structural changes in the Min- reach certain villagers,” said Davtyan. ter fully correspond to their original istry’s department for financing agriculture. According to him, the proce- appearance,” Mr. Jacobini remarked. During the November 4 governmental dure for provision of loans to vil- November 11, 2010, www.panarmenian.net sitting, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran lagers will be simplified as well. Sargsyan criticized the activity of state in- November 11, 2010, www.panarmenian.net 3 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS PRO PATRIA Syria’s Armenian quarter northern Tehran Armenian inhabit- to help resolve Ka- ants in Majlis Yureg Vartan called rabakh issue Terian as one of luminaries which Iranian Armenian is proud of her. ranian President Mahmoud Ah- “The presence of luminaries like Te- Imadinejad has offered Tehran’s as- rian is a witness to Armenian ac- sistance in resolving the Nagorno- companiment with Iranians all Karabakh conflict, saying the issue through the history,” he added. should be resolved through dialogue. The message of the Iranian Arch- “We believe that the Karabakh is- bishop Sabuh Sarkisian on the oc- sue will be resolved through dialogue casion of Terian’s birth anniversary and the commitment of both sides to was read out at the ceremony as well. justice, and Tehran is ready to negoti- Born in an Armenian family in 1920 in ate with them within this framework,” Tehran, Alenush Terian graduated in Ahmadinejad said in a joint press con- 1947 from Tehran University Science ference with his Azerbaijani coun- Department and she began her career in physics laboratories of the same uni- versity and was elected as the chief of laboratory operations in the same year. She graduated in 1856 in atmospheric physics from Sorbonne University. She came back to Iran and she became an he 90th birth anniversary of the assistant professor in thermodynam- Tfirst Iranian female astronomer and ics physics at the University of Tehran. physics professor, Alenush Terian, was She studied solar physics observatory for celebrated at the Ararat Club in Tehran. 4 months by a scholarship of German gov- terpart on Wednesday. The ceremony was attended by some Ira- ernment and finally became the first fe- Ethnic Armenian forces took control nian MPs and over 100 Armenian peo- male professor of physics in Iran on 1964. over 16 percent of Azerbaijan during a ple to pay tribute to Iranian mother of In 1966 she became a member of the war with the country in the early 1990s. astrology and the establisher of the so- geophysics committee of Tehran Uni- The conflict left an estimated 30,000 lar observatory of the Institute of Geo- versity and in 1969 finally was elected people dead and one million dis- physics at the University of Tehran. as the chief of the solar physics studies placed before the two sides agreed At the ceremony, the Tehran MP Hassan in that university and began to work in to a ceasefire in 1994. However, a Ghafurifard made a short speech about the solar observatory which she was one peace accord has never been signed his acquaintance with Terian who was his of its founders. She was retired on 1979. and the dispute still remains unsettled. professor at the university. He said that she Photo: Mother of Iranian astronomy Ale- Ahmadinejad said the Iran and Azerbai- had visited her at the elderly house once. nush Terian blows out the candles on jan share the same views regarding all “She always said I have a daughter who her birthday cake during a celebration regional and international issues, add- named sun and the moon is my son,” at the Ararat Club in Tehran on Novem- ing that the “role of the two countries in he added saying that it is his honor ber 9, 2010. (Mehr/Majid Asgaripur) maintaining the stability of the region is that he is the guest of this celebration. November 11, 2010 www.tehrantimes..com unique,” Mehr News Agency reported. After that, the representative of The Iranian president referred to issues concerning the Caspian Sea and said, “We Armenia ready to solve Karabakh conflict 'once and for believe that all the littoral states should all' - president benefit from this sea fairly and justly.” problem once and for all," Sargsyan's press Pointed to the great political relations service quoted him as saying at military between Iran and Azerbaijan, Aliyev drills in Nagorny Karabakh. The exercises called for the expansion of economic were also attended by Bako Saakyan, the relations and said, “We believe we president of the Azerbaijani breakaway can use existing capacities to increase region. Sargsyan also said Azerbaijan's the volume of trade transactions.” leaders "are preparing their people for war The Iranian chief executive arrived in while we [are preparing our people] for the Azeri capital of Baku on Wednesday peace." Armenia will continue stocking up to attend the third meeting of the lead- on arms and developing its armed forces, ers of Caspian littoral states in order to he added. The Nagorny Karabakh conflict negotiate the legal regime of the sea and erupted in 1988, when the ethnic Armenian to discuss relations with Azeri officials. Armenia will never attack first, but is region claimed independence from Az- The Caspian Sea is the largest en- ready to solve the Nagorny Karabakh con- erbaijan and sought support from Armenia. closed body of water on earth by flict "once and for all," President Serzh It has been de facto independent since a area, variously classed as the world’s Sargsyan said on Monday. "In the event 1991-94 war that killed more than 30,000 largest lake or a full-fledged sea. of a threat, we will be able...to solve the people on both sides. November 15, 2010 www.presstv.ir November 15, 2010, www.en.rian.ru 4 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS DIASPORA

Armenia Fund Telethon to Air November 25 – Pro- gram to Benefit Water Projects in Artsakh clean – 88% of all diseases are related to tainted drinking water. Today, more than 100,000 acres of agri- cultural lands are dry due to the lack of irri- gation water and people in the villages are unable to grow crops and have incomes. Water is a serious economic engine and the driving force behind agriculture. Armenia os Angeles, CA — Raising funds for Fund?s pilot projects in the Tavush region Ldrinking water and irrigation projects of Armenia have proven that every $1 in- in Artsakh, Armenia Fund’s “Water is vested in improved water access yields an Life” International Thanksgiving Day Tel- average of $12 in economic returns. ethon will air live from Hollywood on No- In the alone the potential au- In a letter of condolences addressed vember 25, 2010, 8:00AM-8:00PM PST dience for the Telethon is around 55 mil- to Pope Benedict XVIth and the Syr- coast-to-coast and around the world. Air- lion households in the states of Arizona, iac Catholic Archbishop in Baghdad, ing for 12 hours, Telethon 2010 will reach California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mis- Catholicos Aram I condemned the every continent, entering Armenian homes souri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, blast and hostage taking that occurred through satellite, cable and the internet. Pennsylvania, and Washington. last Sunday at the Our Lady of Salva- The Telethon will bring together Armeni- In Southern California, the Telethon can tion Syriac Catholic Church in Bagh- ans from all walks of life regardless of their be viewed on KSCI Channel 18, KVMD, dad, and expressed his sorrow for the political or religious views and affiliations ARTN/Shant and USArmenia networks loss of more than 50 innocent lives. around one purpose: to bring life to Artsa- for full 12 hours. In the Glendale/Burbank/ Later, referring to the recent Vatican kh villages by giving them round-the-clock Pasadena/La Canada areas in addition to Middle East Synod he said: “ Christian access to clean drinking and irrigation ARTN/Shant (388) and USArmenia (386), unity and witness is an urgent priority water. The shortage of water is a serious the Telethon broadcast will also be shown today. Christianity has been an inte- problem in Artsakh affecting more than on AABC (384), HighVision (381) and gral part of the Middle East, the his- 70,000 people living in 200 villages. On Horizon Armenian TV (385) channels. tory and culture of the region. It has average, each family spends 40% of their The live 12 hour webcast can be viewed at existed with Islam in spite of all dif- daily lives carrying water from a source www.ArmeniaFund.org. ficulties. Christianity will continue 2-5 miles away. That water is not always November 9, 2010 www.masispost.com to dialogue and cooperate with Islam in order to build peace in the region.” Publications: Armenia and Armenians in International Thousands of Assyrian-American Treaties protesters, dressed in black, rallied he latest issue of the Armenian Review, the Mongols, the Mamelukes, and Cyprus. in Los Angeles, Detroit, Phoenix, Ttitled “Armenia and Armenians in Inter- Keith David Watenpaugh, in “The Origins Chicago and other cities across the national Treaties,” is a compilation of nine ar- of Armenian Genocide Denial and League US to condemn the killings and call ticles that, as suggested by the title, deals with of Nations’ Humanitarianism 1920-1922,” on the United States to provide bet- Armenian diplomacy, and specifically trea- examines the early days of ’s de- ter security for Christians in Iraq. ties, from the 4th century CE to the present nial of the Armenian Genocide, beginning One demonstrator in Chicago held day. These articles are some of the papers with its confrontation with the League of aloft a placard that read, “Save Iraq’s presented at a conference held at the Univer- Nations. “…The events of the Armenian Most Vulnerable Population.” Oth- sity of Michigan, Ann Arbor in March 2009. Genocide if acknowledged at all are situ- ers held of graphic photographs from The volume also includes three book reviews. ated in a broader structure of measures inside Iraqi churches after they’d In his article titled “Cilician Armenia and taken to defend the Turkish nation and the been attacked. An organizer, Nata- its Fifteen Peace Treaties (1185-1337),” proto-Turkish state against external threats sha Shino, said Christians are being Claude Mutafian focuses on the treaties or internal enemies,” writes Watenpaugh. forced to flee their homeland. The Chi- signed between Cilician princes and their Lusine Taslakyan discusses the various inter- cagoan says Iraqi Christians believe neighbors from the 10th-12th centuries. national environmental agreements signed by the U.S. can do more to protect them. Mutafian, who has specialized in the Me- Armenia, 18 of which are conventions. In 1993, According to the Metro Detroit, Andre dieval period and the Cilician Kingdom of Armenia ratified the UN Convention on Bio- Anton, one of the Chicago rally organ- Armenia, writes about the “extraordinarily logical Diversity (UNCBD); the UN Frame- izers, said that there will be another efficient diplomacy” through which Arme- work Convention on Climate Change (UNFC- rally in Washington, DC in order to nians “managed to keep a State for nearly CC) in 1992; the Kyoto Protocol in 2002; the get the attention of U.S. lawmakers. three centuries.” He divides this into four UN Convention to Combat Desertification historical periods and provides an overview (UNCCD) in 1994; the Ramsar Convention November 9, 2010 full story www.asbarez.com the de jure treaties between the Armeni- in 1993; and the Aarhus Convention in 2001. ans and their neighbors, the Seljuk Turks, November 9, 2010 www.armenianweekly. "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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