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06/02/2006
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Armenians Gather to Celebrate Independence Day 2) Kocharian And Aliyev to Discuss Karabagh Conflict in Bucharest 3) ANC-PAC Endorses Congressman Adam Schiff 4) Reception Bids Farewell to Outgoing Consul General Giragossian 5) Turkey Shells Autonomous Kurds in Iraq 6) Armenia Close to Victory in Chess Championship 7) Busted! 8) 'Son of The Community:' Paul Krekorian Receives Numerous Endorsements in His Bid to Represent Largest Armenian Community 9) Jackie Speier Has Edge over Rivals in Democratic Primary 10) Candidates off to Washington for 2006 Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship 11) California Teachers and Pediatricians Support Proposition 82 12) Professor Richard Hovannisian Spreads Genocide Awareness 13) Element Band Wins 'Best Newcomer Album' at Armenian Music Awards 1) Armenians Gather to Celebrate Independence Day --Over 7000 attend festival in Little Armenia LOS ANGELES (Glendale New Press/Armenian Youth Federation)--In a sign of their growing political clout, thousands of Armenians and Armenian Americans were joined Sunday by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for a street fair to celebrate Armenia's first independence day on May 28, 1918. The fair, held in the Little Armenia section of Hollywood along Hollywood Boulevard between Vermont and Alexandria avenues, featured 45 vendor booths selling everything from shish kebabs and lavash bread, to Armenian arts and crafts and portraits featuring traditional Armenian costumes. More than 7,000 people turned out for the event, organized by the Armenian Cultural Foundation (ACF) in cooperation with the Armenian Youth Federation-Western Region (AYF-WR). The festival was cosponsored by Los Angeles Council President Eric Garcetti, whose Council District 13 encompasses Little Armenia. It was the first time the event was held in Little Armenia, said Bo Patatian, media liaison for the Armenian Youth Federation. "We wanted to have it in a central place, and since 65% of the residents in this area are Armenian, there is no better place for this event to fit in," Patatian said, adding that previous Armenian Independence Day festivals have been held at Glendale High School and in Pasadena. Armenians are blessed with two independence days, Patatian said. The first, in 1918, marks the date on which the Armenian National Council declared the country's independence from Ottoman Turkey and the old Russian Empire. That first Armenian republic, however, was short-lived; in 1920, the country was absorbed into the former Soviet Union. "The real independence day is September 21, 1991," Patatian said, referring to when the modern Armenian state was born after the collapse of the Soviet Union. "But this first date still has a very important emotional connection to our people." Among those celebrating Independence Day in Little Armenia Sunday was Glendale Unified School District Board member Greg Krikorian. "This is the day on which Armenians first claimed independence, after surviving the genocide and stopping the Turkish armies," said Krikorian, who was also joined at the fair by Burbank Unified School District Board member and 43rd Assembly District candidate Paul Krekorian. "Being here today with so many different families, friends and neighbors is an emotionally moving time, a time to be thankful for what we have here in this country, to be thankful for our families, a chance to get together and enjoy life." The highlight of the festival was a special visit by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Mayor Villaraigosa congratulated the Armenian nation on its first independence and thanked the Armenian community for their contributions to the City of Los Angeles. Following his remarks, the Mayor joined the crowd to participate in the traditional Armenian `shoorch bar' dances and sample traditional Armenian cuisine. "This is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate not just the independence, but the fact that Armenians play such an important role here in Los Angeles, being part of the largest Armenian population outside of Armenia," said Villaraigosa, whose city officially declared the Hollywood neighborhood Little Armenia in 2000. "We appreciate all the contributions they have made and continue to make to our city." Other guests at the event included Kevin DeLeon, candidate for California's 45th State Assembly District, and Ed Ebrahimian, General Manager for LA's Bureau of Street Lighting. A representative from the Consulate of Armenia in Los Angeles was also present to join the celebration. Speakers that day included Vicken Sossikian from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Haroutioun Gojoayan from the Armenian Diplomatic Corps. The event was organized to celebrate Armenia's first independence day. After 600 years of Ottoman Turkish oppression, Armenia became independent on May 28, 1918. The republic established on this date set the foundation for today's independent republic. It is important for the Armenian community to remember the significance of May 28th. On this day, we not only celebrate the independence of Armenia, but also 3000 years of history and culture. We are grateful to the City of Los Angeles for allowing us to celebrate this occasion on the streets of Little Armenia', said Nora Ounjian, event coordinator. 2) Kocharian And Aliyev to Discuss Karabagh Conflict in Bucharest YEREVAN (RFE/RL/Armenpress)--Armenian President Robert Kocharian will fly to Romania's capital Bucharest on Sunday to attend a summit of Black Sea nations and hold talks on Karabagh with his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev. Romania, which initiated the summit, views regional dialogue as a key factor for ensuing regional stability and creating favorable conditions for economic development in the region, said a statement released by Kocharian's press office. Kocharian's office confirmed on Friday that the meeting with Aliyev, the second in four months, will take place on the sidelines of the high-level forum on Monday. The Armenian and Azeri Presidents will start their talks in the presence of their Foreign Ministers, the Minsk Group co-chairs, and the OSCE's current chairman in office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht. `The two heads of state will then continue their conversation in a tête-à-tête format,' the statement said. The press service said that Kocharian is expected to deliver a speech at the summit. He is also scheduled to have a meeting with Romania's president Trayan Basescu and other bilateral meetings. 3) ANC-PAC Endorses Congressman Adam Schiff LOS ANGELES--The Armenian National Committee Political Action Committee (ANC-PAC) moved this week to formally endorse Congressman Adam Schiff, who is running for re-election to represent the people of California's 29th Congressional District. First elected in November of 2000 after the most costly House race in US history, Adam Schiff is widely acknowledged as a chief architect of Congressional efforts to appropriately recognize the Armenian genocide. In 2003 Congressman Schiff was awarded the ANCA-Western Region's prestigious Freedom Award for his pioneering efforts on advancing the Armenian Cause. In the 109th Congress, Representative Schiff has been an outstanding advocate of securing formal US recognition of the Armenian genocide. In June of 2005 the Congressman secured a commitment from House International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde (R-IL) to hold a markup of a resolution (HCR 195) which calls for recognition of the Armenian genocide. Three months later, the Schiff measure and a similar bill by Congressman George Radanovich, were both overwhelmingly adopted by the House International Relations Committee. These Armenian genocide bills are currently pending in the House, awaiting the Republican Congressional leadership to bring them to the floor for a vote. "Congressman Schiff is an effective advocate for his constituents," commented ANC-PAC Chairman Leonard Manoukian. "It is clear to the Armenian community that Adam's energetic efforts to have the US Congress recognize the Armenian genocide are bringing us closer to the day when our nation will come to terms with the truth. The ANC-PAC encourages all Armenian American voters to cast their vote for Representative Schiff so that he can continue to fight for our community in the halls of Congress," Manoukian added. Congressman Schiff is a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and he represents the largest Armenian American population in the United States. The Congressman is a member of both the House Judiciary and International Relations committees. California's 29th Congressional District includes the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City. Adam Schiff was born on June 22, 1960 and is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School. Adam and his wife Eve have two children, a daughter, Alexa Marion and a son, Elijah Harris. The ANC-PAC is a non-partisan federally registered political action committee established to support campaign committees for Members of Congress who share the values of the Armenian American community. The ANC-PAC is at the forefront of efforts to ensure that the voice of the Armenian American community is clearly heard in our nation's capital. The ANC-PAC continues a century old tradition of Armenian Americans being engaged with the public policy issues facing national political leaders, both in the US Congress and the White House. 4) Reception Bids Farewell to Outgoing Consul General Giragossian A farewell reception for outgoing Consul General of the Republic of Armenia, Gagik Giragossian, and his wife Marina was held Wednesday at the "Karapetian" Hall of St. Garabed Church. The reception was organized by the Western Prelacy, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, and hosted by benefactor Mrs. Ashkhen Pilavjian. In attendance were members of clergy, Central Executive Council member Mr. Khajag Dikijian, ARF Bureau member Dr. Viken Hovsepian, members of the previous and newly elected Prelacy Executive Council, representatives of the ARF Central Committee, Board of Trustees Chairmen from Prelacy parishes, representatives of Armenian organizations, Ladies Auxiliary members, members of the press, and Prelacy friends and donors. The reception, emceed by Archpriest Vicken Vassilian, began with a prayer by the Prelate and clergy members and included an artistic program by tenor Suren Hazarian, accompanied by Professor Levon Aprahamian on the piano. During the reception, remarks were made by Chairman of the previous Executive Council Hrair Balian, Chairman of the newly elected Council Dr. Garo Agopian, and ARF Central Committee representative Hovig Saliba, who expressed their sentiments towards the Consul General and his gracious wife, and also their best wishes to the couple and their family as they return to Armenia. In his closing remarks, the Prelate emphasized that from his very first day in office, the Consul General became a part of the Prelacy family and has since that time maintained a close association with the Prelacy. The Prelate assured that the Consul General will remain in the hearts and memories of the Armenian community of Los Angeles as a close friend, and that we now have a new friend in our homeland, Armenia. His Eminence commended Giragossian's efforts in maintaining fruitful relations with members of our Western Region, and before concluding his remarks, offered the blessings of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, to the Giragossians, after which he presented the couple with a gold medal of the Catholicosate's symbol, along with a book of the lost treasures of Cilicia. Following the Prelate's remarks, Giragossian expressed his heartfelt thanks for this honor and gratitude for the close collaboration he had with the Prelacy during his term in office, stating that he will return home with these fond memories in his heart. The reception closed with the Prelate reciting "Bahbanich" and the collective singing of "Mer Hayrenik." 5) Turkey Shells Autonomous Kurds in Iraq ANKARA (UPI/Reuters)--The Turkish military shelled Thursday Iraq's Kurdistan region. The barrage came a day after a group of Kurdish and American officials, including a US general, inspected Iraqi Kurdistan for evidence of purported illegal cross-border Turkish military operations. Ali Auni, an official from the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party, said a 50 year old shepherd was wounded in an attack in northern Iraq. "Yesterday morning at 11:00 AM Turkish forces shelled the village of Zawita and some other Kurdish villages," he said, referring to an area near the border. Turkish officials were not immediately available for comment, but last month a Turkish Government official dismissed a similar allegation as "total fabrication." Ankara habitually launches a spring offensives against fighters of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in the southeast of Turkey near the border with Iraq. Iraqi security forces have recently been trying to stop PKK fighters based in mountainous and mainly Kurdish northern Iraq from crossing over the border into Turkey. The Turkish Government has asked US and Iraqi forces to help pressure PKK units based inside Iraq. After a recent increase in PKK attacks Turkey has sent 40,000 extra troops to reinforce the 220,000 already in its Kurdish areas, representing the biggest military build-up in years. Turkey and Iran are wary of the autonomy that Iraqi Kurds have established since the war in Iraq in 2003 and are concerned that it might provoke more unrest among their own large Kurdish populations. 6) Armenia Close to Victory in Chess Championship TURIN (Armenpress)As of Press time, the Armenian men's chess team was leading with 32 points in the 11th round of the 37th World Chess Olympiad being held in Turin, Italy. Grand master Levon Aronian and Karen Asrian beat their rivals, and Gabriel Sargsian and Vladimir Hakobian drew. The Armenian chess players have already gained 32 points and are likely to win the Championship on Sunday, June 4. The women's team currently has 19 points in the Tournament. 7) Busted! Yup, caught in the act, red (in this case black-ink) handed. I committed an error in my article last week. I neglected to insert the term `vice-` in front of `chair' when stating that an individual holding such a prominent position with the Armenia Fund had no business supporting a State Assembly candidate running against the Armenian community's `hometown' favorite, Paul Krekorian. I regret any inconvenience this may have caused. Aside from the wry observation that now, with my streak of perfection broken, I'm free to make more mistakes, I'll also gleefully point out someone else's mistake. Misery loves company and this one's a lulu. Coincidentally and ironically, it's that of the Quintero campaign, Krekorian's opponent! In the wee hours of Wednesday May 31, 2006, an alert Burbank ANC activist noticed what appeared to be a simple e-mail redundancy. One message sent twice. On closer examination, it turned out to be the Quintero campaign trying to cover its tracks. (See the two e-mails in accompanying boxwhere it reads `sent... by ...'). Anyone visiting the site would be `amazed' to find that Voters Against Election Fraud has only uncovered one case, the same as that cited by Quintero, of `fraud' in all of California. You know how scrupulous California politicians are right? President Richard Nixon, Representative Randy `Duke' Cunningham, State Senator Alan Robbins... Now add this fact about the website--it is privately registered. Who's behind it remains hidden. Kind of odd, don't you think, for an organization whose very name speaks to the need for openness? The obvious conclusion is, Quintero set up the bogus website as a way of discrediting Krekorian with the same unsubstantiated mud slinging Quintero indulged in last week. You'll recall he accused the Krekorian campaign of fraud based on `evidence' that could just as easily indicate that the culprit was the Quintero campaign itself. But, providentially, someone erred and sent out the email under the Quintero campaign banner first. So, even in sneakiness, they're incompetent. Now as a voter, forget about Armenian interests in developing political power, one is faced with an easy choice. Vote for the guy who makes baseless fraud accusations only to be caught engaging in fraud days later. Or, vote for the squeaky clean guy. Hmm, I wonder... But meanwhile, on Armenian cable TV, at least one of Quintero's Armenian supporters has seen fit to cite certain comments from my piece last week, deeming them inappropriate. Again, hmm, a paragon of propriety, someone (totally in line with any citizen's rights though it is) who for whatever reason is working against our community's interests has the nerve to condemn critiques of those defending a candidate who is clearly less than a glowing example of integrity. While I'm flattered at being read, next time, I'd appreciate being asked for an Armenian translation of what I've written so the nuances are not lost or mutilated. I'd be happy to provide it. In the interest of fairness even toward those opposed to my perspective, I also appreciate the absence of being named--it allows focus on what's being said rather than who's saying it. However, using my commentary as part of a legitimizing springboard to deception-by-half-truths rankles. Most arose in the context of attempting to discredit `those who today are advocating supporting the Armenian candidate' (this is an approximate quote representing the spirit of what was said). I'll address three of these misdirecting representations. Pointing out the fact that ANC (again, not directly named, and similarly for the other examples) endorsed Quintero five years ago is irrelevant, since he was already not endorsed just ONE year ago in his second run for Glendale Council, a fact that was omitted. A false claim was made that ANC did not endorse George Deukmejian in his first run for governor in 1982. The correct information is--it was a dual endorsement for him and Tom Bradley. The latter had actually advised ANC to go `with your man only.' But his stalwart and forthcoming support for Genocide recognition and being the ONLY one willing to do the opening remarks in J. Michael Hagopian's 1975 documentary film `The Forgotten Genocide' earned his spot on the ANC slate too. Finally, it's ANC's non-endorsement of Bill Paparian in his current congressional run on the Green Party ticket. I guess the fact that he's running unopposed in the Primary Election of his party is irrelevant. The ANC has only infrequently made endorsements in primary races--this too must be irrelevant. See the pattern? Pick something that's true. Count on your audience's lack of complete information or short memory. Go into full-mislead-mode. Let's not omit the cream of electoral idiocy, its royalty, who on the night of May 31, through their late night cable TV show were busy providing misdirection too. It wasn't enough to cost a competent Armenian a seat on the Glendale school board last year. Now they've jumped on the Quintero bandwagon. They got creamed in last year's election. So, like many sore losers, they're claiming fraud in that election and trying to have their lies accrue to this year's election. It's absurd, but there seems to be no bottom to the depths they're willing to sink. How credible are they? They pretend to be experts on public schools issues. However, one of them was so out of line in disregarding school policy that a ban on entry to most school district property was enforced for a period of time. Possibly related to this prohibition is an incident in which another parent received advice from this `consultant' not to attempt to resolve a problem with the school principal. Rather, the parent was told she should go directly to the newspaper with her grievance. Want more? Go to and see the kind of big money interests--energy, alcohol, gaming, prison guards, pharmaceuticals, etc. this guy is supported by. Or take a look at who's been paying for all those fancy, glossy mailers, coming to your mailbox two and three per day touting St. Frank. Those of his supporters getting pieces into the local papers portraying him as some latter-day Robin Hood, standing up for the interests of the downtrodden should check these facts out. To top it all off, Quintero was heard to decry the intrusion of so-called `independent expenditures' on the electoral process. But that's what these groups are doing for him. (At a rate nearly triple what Krekorian has received in such support--largely from unions). The duplicity is astonishing. There seems to be a fairly well organized effort to disenfranchise the Armenian community. Here's how. Quintero's campaign has written a letter to the Registrar of Voters, the election official in Los Angeles County, asking that all absentee ballots (VBMs) be segregated, that is, not counted with the rest. Given that at least 40% (by a recent count I heard) are Armenians' votes, this is clearly an effort to muddy the waters and give Quintero an early lead. Then, if the final count, including VBMs, gives Krekorian the election, the former will cry foul, and actually seem reasonable (can you say Florida 2000?). This is where the game initiated last week, and referenced above, was leading. In addition, having Quintero's Armenian lackeys sow discord, doubt, and division among the relatively new voters comprising the otherwise unified Armenian voting community can lead to disinterest, disengagement, and finally non-voting--Quintero's desired result. What's really interesting is, some of the same people who have advocated, `vote for the Armenian candidate regardless,' and cried foul when a non-Armenian was supported over an Armenian, now are talking out the other side of their mouths. ANC and credible others have not adopted an `Armenians only' position. Rather, their approach has been to support the best candidate from the perspective of Armenian interests and who is most likely to win. Paul Krekorian becomes the obvious choice in the case of the 43rd. Be sure to vote. Be sure to vote for Paul if you're in the district. Email #1 From: Voters Against Election Fraud [mailto:votersaef@hotmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 10:05 PM To: [name withheld for privacy] Subject: Latest Information on Paul Krekorian's Voter Fraud Scam See the latest articles on Paul Krekorian's absentee ballot scam. Please visit This email was sent to [name withheld for privacy], by Quintero for Assembly P.O. Box 251150 Glendale, CA 91225 United States If you do not wish to receive future e-mail from Quintero for Assembly, please click here Email #2 From: Voters Against Election Fraud [mailto:votersaef@hotmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 10:21 PM To: [name withheld for privacy] Subject: Latest Information on Paul Krekorian's Voter Fraud Scam See the latest articles on Paul Krekorian's absentee ballot scam. Please visit This email was sent to [name withheld for privacy], by Voters Against Election Fraud 2170 E. O'Keefe Mountainvew, CA 90743 United States. If you do not wish to receive future e-mail from Voters Against Election Fraud, please click here. 8) 'Son of The Community:' Paul Krekorian Receives Numerous Endorsements in His Bid to Represent Largest Armenian Community By Taline Ghazarian LOS ANGELES--At a press conference Wednesday, representatives from various Armenian American organizations announced their endorsement of Paul Krekorian for State Assembly in the Democratic Primary for the 43rd District, which includes Glendale, Burbank, North Hollywood, and Los Feliz. As one of the most hotly contested primaries being held Tuesday, June 6, the race to fill the seat vacated by Dario Frommer has Burbank School Board President Paul Krekorian pitted against Glendale City Councilman Frank Quintero. The winner of the primary in this predominantly Democratic district will most likely win the general election in November. According to the Los Angeles Times, "It is Krekorian who is best prepared for the role." Krekorian has been a leader in the area for many years, having served on the Democratic Central Committee, various educational advisory boards, and as counsel to the LA Police Commission after the 1992 riots. As President of the Burbank School Board, Krekorian stabilized its budget, introduced measures to improve curriculum and help the environment, and implemented programs that increased academic performance. Due to his extensive experience and demonstrated abilities, Krekorian has been endorsed by the Armenian National Committee Political Action Committee, California Teacher's Association, the Los Angeles Times, the LA Weekly, Congressmen Frank Pallone and Brad Sherman, and the Armenian community at large. This race has special significance to Armenian Americans, who represent approximately 20 percent of voters and are the largest ethnic group in the district. "Armenian voters have the power of making their voices heard," said Stepan Boyajian of the Armenian National Committee of Burbank. "It is the duty of every Armenian American to vote on June 6." As an activist within the Armenian community, Krekorian sits on the board of the committee charged with disbursing assets recovered in a lawsuit against the New York Life Insurance Company, which have been wrongfully withheld since the Armenian genocide of 1915. He is also a member of the Armenian Film Foundation and an advocate of Armenian students' rights in the public school system. "While others may seem like friends of the Armenian community, Paul Krekorian is a son of the community," added Boyajian. Come Tuesday, Krekorian will be relying on this community to give him the opportunity to serve them once more, in the State Assembly. If they elect him, the Armenian community will be represented not by just a supporter, but by one of its own. 9) Jackie Speier Has Edge over Rivals in Democratic Primary LOS ANGELES (Daily News/Combined Sources)--All three Democrats vying for the party's nomination for lieutenant governor insist they won't emulate the man who now holds the office, fellow Democrat Cruz Bustamante. The position may be historically impotent, they acknowledge, but they promise to actually do something meaningful with the office, unlike Bustamante, who all but disappeared from the scene. And while all are sincere in this idealistic belief, State Senator Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, seems the most likely to live up to it. Recognizing that the lieutenant governor is a regent of the University of California and a trustee of the California State University system, she promises to be both a champion and watchdog for California higher education. Speier's rivals seem less well-focused. State Senator Liz Figueroa, D-Fremont, talks about seeking the office to be a role model for the state's children. And term-limited Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi speaks about using the post to fight global warming and other important issues--noble goals, to be sure, but hardly within the purview of the lieutenant governor's responsibilities. With financial scandal in the UC and a chronic lack of funding for community colleges, the state could use a higher education ombudsman. And it's a realistic, important role a Lieutenant Governor Speier could fill. "Jackie Speier has taken on some of Sacramento's most powerful forces--banks, insurance companies, prison guards, University of California administrators, even legislative leaders--in her crusades for the public interest," says The San Francisco Chronicle about this courageous public servant. The LA Weekly called her `a true talent in the state Senate, fighting to protect financial privacy, making prescription drugs more available to seniors, and demanding scrutiny of sweetheart state contracts.' Aside from the LA Weekly, Speier has been endorsed by The Armenian National Committee - Political Action Committee, The Los Angeles Daily News, Senator Dianne Feinstein, State Senator Jack Scott, the Sierra Club, and the California Democratic Club. 10) Candidates off to Washington for 2006 Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship GLENDALE--The Armenian National Committee of America Western Region (ANCA-WR) is pleased to announce that four candidates from California will be participating this summer in the prestigious Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship Program in Washington, DC. The Leo Sarkisian Internship Program provides young Armenian American leaders from the across the US the opportunity to learn first hand about the inner workings of the American political system. Now in its 23rd year, the program operates out of the ANCA headquarters in Washington, DC and runs for eight weeks. This year's participants from the Western United States include: Meri Davtian, a University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) junior studying Mass Communications, and minoring in Political Science and Armenian Studies; Vache Thomassian, a UC Berkeley junior majoring in Legal Studies and a member of the AYF Orange County Chapter; Babken Der Grigorian, a UCLA junior studying Political Science and a member of the AYF La Crescenta Chapter; and Berj Parseghian, a UC Santa Barbara junior studying Political Science and a member of the AYF Pasadena Chapter; Talar Kivork, a UCLA junior studying English and Political Science and a member of the San Fernando Valley AYF Chapter. Certain proceeds from the Aram Karamardian Memorial Fund--designated to be utilized solely to fund internships--will help to defray costs of this year's internships in Washington, DC. Along with additional participants from the Eastern Region and Canada, interns will be working at the ANCA national headquarters in Washington, DC, where they will focus on specific projects and participate in an intensive lecture series geared toward advancing their community development and activism skills. In response to the growing number of applicants to the Leo Sarkisian Internship, the ANCA-WR will hold a Western-Region internship program modeled after the Leo Sarkisian Internship program in Washington. Like its counterpart program in Washington, the internship will provide candidates the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the political arena and to develop advocacy skills by experiencing first-hand the workings of politics and public affairs at the state and local level. The eight week intensive program will include a weekly lecture series featuring ANCA activists, staff, community leaders, and media and government officials. The ANCA Leo Sarkisian Internship Program is the cornerstone of the expanded ANCA Capital Gateway program, designed to provide university students and recent graduates with opportunities to intern or find career positions on Capitol Hill or at other US government agencies in Washington, DC. For more information visit the ANCA website For more information on these and other ANCA programs log on to or call the ANCA-WR office at (818) 500-1918. 11) California Teachers and Pediatricians Support Proposition 82 California's kindergarten teachers and pediatricians are backing Proposition 82--the Preschool for All initiative--in the June 6 statewide primary election. The California Kindergarten Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics call Prop 82 a historic opportunity to provide a head start on learning to all four year olds in California. Prop 82 will guarantee a free, high-quality preschool education for every four year old in California. It will provide trained, credentialed teachers in every classroom and increased efforts to involve parents. By sending more children to quality preschools, Prop 82 will strengthen our schools and improve education for all our kids. A statewide poll of California kindergarten teachers by Peter D. Hart Research last year showed that 95 percent believe children who have been to preschool are better prepared for school. `As a kindergarten teacher, I can tell which kids have gone to preschool because I see the difference first hand,' said Armando Argandoña, President of the California Kindergarten Association and a kindergarten teacher in Los Angeles. `Preschool gives kids a head start on learning and prepares them socially and academically for kindergarten.' Studies show that children who go to quality preschool read earlier and learn faster. But only 20 percent of our children actually go to quality preschools. According to a recent survey by Fight Crime, Invest in Kids California, the average cost of part-day private preschool in Los Angeles County is $3783. That's more than one year of college tuition at a California State University campus, and it puts preschool out of reach for too many families. `Preschool is one of the best investments we can make in our children's future,' said, Dr. Robert Black, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, California. `Research has shown that preschool helps kids stay on track in school and reduces the need for remedial and special education. Preschool can also help families access preventative health and developmental screenings to keep children healthy.' A 2005 study by the RAND Corporation found that the benefits of a universally available preschool program in California would greatly outweigh the costs. Economists estimated that every dollar invested in quality preschool would generate $2.62 in savings to California's schools, criminal justice system, and through increased tax revenue to state and local governments. In Los Angeles County, RAND economists estimated preschool could prevent 3,245 kids from dropping out of high school and reduce the number of juvenile arrests by 9,650 per year. Despite the benefits of preschool, programs often have long waiting lists. A 2005 study found that 73 percent of publicly-funded preschools--which are supposed to serve children from low-income families--in Los Angeles County have waiting lists. If passed by voters on Tuesday, Prop 82 will fund public, private, and nonprofit preschools, as long as they meet specified quality standards, including well-trained teachers. Parents will be able to choose the program that best fits their needs. Prop 82 includes strict accountability measures to protect taxpayer dollars. According to the Legislative Analyst, all revenues would be used for the new preschool program and Prop 82 provides audits and criminal penalties, including possible jail time, for misuse of funds. Preschool for All has no cost for 99.4 percent of California taxpayers. Californians are coming together to support Prop 82. The initiative has been endorsed by an unusual alliance of business groups and labor organizations, along with early childhood educators, seniors, and civic leaders. The California Police Chiefs and the California State Sheriff's Association--and more than 100 individual police chiefs, sheriffs, and district attorneys--are backing Prop 82 because of preschool's proven effect on reducing crime. The initiative is also supported by dozens of elected officials, including Senator Dianne Feinstein, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. For more information on Prop 82, visit: <;www.yeson82. com. 12) Professor Richard Hovannisian Spreads Genocide Awareness LOS ANGELESProfessor Richard Hovannisian, Holder of the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History at UCLA, has since late March and throughout the month of April continued raising awareness of the Armenian genocide and its legacy. During this period, he traveled to Salt Lake City, Yerevan, Worcester, San Francisco, and Lyon, France, to deliver lectures, work with teachers, and participate in international symposiums on human rights and genocide. Utah to Armenia At the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Utah, Dr. Hovannisian spoke on March 27 about `The Armenian Genocide: Premeditation or the Radicalization of War,' in which he assessed the somewhat conflicting historiography about the decision-making process and perpetration of the Genocide. Hovannisian spent considerable time discussing a recent University of Utah Press-published volume by Professor Guenther Lewy, which is aimed at disqualifying the Armenian `tragedy' as genocide and builds on arguments of deniers and the Turkish Government. Hovanissian gave examples of factual errors in the seemingly-balanced book and how the author takes out of context what is actually stated in the sources he cites. Although Lewy insists that he has `no ax to grind,' he has in fact previously written volumes that discount the enormity of the Gypsy annihilation during World War II and the treatment of the American Indians during US colonial expansion. After Utah, Hovannisian went to Yerevan in late March and early April to serve as the co-chair of the international jury reviewing and ranking works on the Armenian genocide. This competition, organized by the All-Armenia Fund through a grant from the Boghossian Brothers, is meant to further research on the Armenian genocide by rewarding the most effective work on the topic. Two presidential prizes, each carrying a monetary gift of $10,000, were awarded for the best submission from a resident of Armenia and one from abroad. The jury selected Verjine Svazlian of Armenia for her work on oral history and the collection of the woeful songs of exile that were sung in Turkish by Armenian women deportees (now also published in Turkey), and Edgar Hilsenrath of Germany for his `Story of the Last Thought,' a powerful novel about the Genocide and memory, which has been translated into several languages. Genocide Education Immediately after returning to Los Angeles, Hovannisian was the keynote speaker on April 5 for Glendale Unified School District workshop on teaching about the Armenian genocide. The teachers, according to Sara Cohan, Education Director of Genocide Education Project which coordinated the event, were deeply moved and impressed by the `smooth and thoughtful' presentation and `compelling overview' of the Armenian experience. Hovannisian previously participated in similar teacher workshops coordinated by Facing History and Ourselves, Inc., in Los Angeles, Montebello, Santa Barbara, Los Gatos, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Brookline, Worcester, New York City, Annandale-on-Hudson, Long Island, Memphis, and West Palm Beach. Professor Hovanissian and Dr. Vartiter Hovannisian then traveled to Clark University in Worcester on April 19-20 to take part in the celebration of the successful completion of the fundraising campaign for the Kaloosdian-Mugar Chair of Armenian Genocide Studies and Modern Armenian History. This is the only position in Armenian Studies in the United States that carries the word `Genocide' in its title, with the first chair holder being Dr. Simon Payaslian, a graduate of UCLA's Armenian History program. During a dinner for major donors hosted by President and Mrs. Bassett at their residence, the Harrington House, Hovannisian delivered a congratulatory message and challenge to attract and support students to the program. Then, following an engaging public lecture by Professor Payaslian on his recent book, `United States Policy toward the Armenian Question and Armenian Genocide,' he reflected briefly on the issue of pragmatism versus humanitarianism in foreign policy. Hovannisian was also the keynote speaker at the Bay Area's commemoration of the Armenian genocide in San Francisco City Hall on April 25. Following the greetings of Mayor Gavin Newsom and remarks in Armenian by Dr. Antranig Kasbarian, Hovannisian addressed the large gathering on the theme of universalizing the Armenian experience as a way of integrating it into collective human memory. He noted the progress made toward that goal in recent years and the challenges that still have to be met in the struggle of the Armenian people for international recognition and condemnation of the crime and for acts of contrition and restitution by the perpetrator. Lyon, France From San Francisco, Dr. Hovannisian traveled to Lyon to participate in an international symposium on April 28-29 under the honorary presidency of Mary Robinson, former president of the Irish Republic and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The conference was organized by `Le Collectif Reconnaissance,' an alliance of fifteen human rights groups, with support from a variety of French academic institutions, municipal and regional administrations, and the French Senate and Ministry of Culture. The primary themes of the conference were devoted to Genocides and Crimes against Humanity; The Consequences of Genocides; and The Prevention of Genocides: Obstacles and Dynamics for Action. Each of the three themes was further divided into particular topics. Opening addresses were made by Jules Mardirossian, president of `Le Collectif Reconnaissance,' and Jean-Jack Queyranne, former president of the Rhone-Alpes Region. For the session on the political consequences of genocide, Dr. Hovannisian was asked to speak on a topic that appeared in the program with the lengthy French title, `The Crime and Its State Denial Are the Foundations of the Successor State That Oppresses the Survivors and Nourishes Antagonisms: The Example of the Armenian Genocide and Kemalist Turkey.' In his presentation, Hovannisian traced the patterns of denial from the very beginning of the Genocide in 1915 through the forced exodus of the survivors and appropriations of Armenian goods and properties by the Kemalist regime in the 1920s. He analyzed the efforts of the Turkish state to deceive and to suppress memory of the crime, a campaign that has gone through several distinct phases and now continues into the twenty-first century. General and specific aspects of genocide and its prevention were addressed by the twenty-five conference participants, who included, among others, Roger Smith of the United States, Yair Auron of Israel, and Sevane Garibian, Janine Altounian, and Kevork Kepenekian of France. A powerful visual display, mounted under the direction of Daniel Meguerditchian, incorporated the crimes committed against the Armenians, Ukrainians, Jews, Gypsies, Cambodians, Tibetans, and Rwandans and other African peoples. While in Lyon, Professor Hovannisian also visited the newly-dedicated Armenian memorial in the heart of the city at the Place Bellecour. Designed by architect Leonardo Basmadjian, the monument includes thirty-six aesthetically-placed columns and a ground-level, gold-lettered stonework with a trilingual commemorative inscription in French, English, and Armenian: `In the memory of the 1,500,000 Armenians, who were exterminated by the `Young Turk' government during the years 1915-1918, and of the victims of all genocides and crimes against humanity.' 13) Element Band Wins 'Best Newcomer Album' at Armenian Music Awards LOS ANGELES--Element Band, one of the hottest emerging Armenian bands, received the "Best Newcomer Album of The Year" award at the 2006 Armenian Music Awards on May 25, for their CD "Yev O Phe" that debuted in March. Since its release, "Yev O Phe" has garnered a diverse mix of listeners that span three generations and successfully transcended the diverse musical tastes prevalent in Armenian culture. The arrangements are bold with the sounds of flamenco, tango, and Rembetika wafting in and out of performances of traditional Armenian songs, which are never forsaken to foreign sounds. Refusing to compromise Armenian melodies, Element nevertheless complements them with the use of the accordion, bouzouki, mandolin, classical guitar, violin, and the purity of the band's vocalists to serve up a compelling combination of fiery Mediterranean and hauntingly raw Armenian. Just as the Armenian alphabet incorporated the two additional letters o and phe during the Middle Ages to better incorporate European sounds, Element's Armenian compositions that incorporate the sounds of Europe and the Mediterranean, while remaining untethered, simply free... to be uniquely Armenian. Element Band can be heard in concert on Friday, June 16 at 8:00 PM at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. For tickets or information, call (818) 343-4757 or (818) 342-6624. Visit <;www.elementband .com for additional information. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.