Month: March 2007

The Conference of ARF’s Hay Dat Committees

Yerkir.am
March 16, 2007

The second conference of ARF’s Hay Dat Committees was held in Yerevan
on March 12. 85 representatives of Hay Dat Offices, ARF structures and
youth and student unions from 27 countries participated in the
conference.

The conference is aimed at reflecting on ARF Hay Dat’s strategy and
the tasks the Hay Dat Committees and Offices are facing in the context
of the international developments and the challenges Armenia is
facing.

The accomplishments and problems in Armenia’s domestic and foreign
fronts were presented to the conference participants. Member of ARF’s
Bureau Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Vahan Hovhannissian
congratulated the participants on the occasion of adoption of dual
citizenship. Hovhannissian noted that one of ARF’s greatest
accomplishments in Hay Dat activities is that it managed to work in an
organized manner, a task that is rather difficult to accomplish.

Hay Dat Offices have managed to represent the Armenian nation that was
deprived of a state for decades because the Soviet Armenia did not
deal with Hay Dat issues. The Soviet Union was representing Armenia,
and this representation did not derive from the interests of the
Armenian nation and the latter was deprived of an opportunity to
struggle for its national life. This, according to Hovhannisian, meant
that issues of national importance could only be raised by the segment
of the Armenian nation that lived in the free world. And this was done
through the ARF.

Hay Dat Committees were established with the support of ARF. In the
beginning of the XX century an opinion dominated that every segment of
the nation should deal with its own issues. `It is clear that this
approach was introduced by our enemies. We have observed the
unfortunate consequences of this approach,’ Hovhannissian stated
adding that because of this extreme approach only the Western
Armenians are tasked with pursuing the Armenian cause.

The other extreme that is equally dangerous is that Hay Dat Offices do
not have any value since there is the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. Hovhannissian believes this approach is completely wrong. The
work of Hay Dat Offices has doubled because Armenia’s interests are
now represented autonomously.

The Republic of Armenia manages to work in a better organized manner
appreciating the strength and support of the Diaspora. `All political
forces in Armenia should realize that we have common interests, the
interests of the entire Armenian nation. Local interests should not be
mixed with pan-national interests. Pan-national interests connect
Armenia to the Hay Dat,’ Hovhannissian stated. Hay Dat Offices are
Armenian foreign policy’s main support.

Member of ARF’s Supreme Body, Minister of Education and Science Levon
Mkrtchian presented a report on the balance of power in the region,
the problems and tasks of the Hay Dat Committees.

Minister Mkrtchian believes the comprehensive national security
concept adopted in Armenia has some influence on the country’s foreign
policy line and creates the necessary foundation for strengthening and
further development of the independent national state. Our common
vision of building a Free, Independent and United Armenia has a great
political and moral significance, Mkrtchian believes.

Armenia’s foreign policy is aimed at one specific goal ` strengthening
of our fifteen-year-old independence and consolidating its
accomplishments. `The factor of balance of power in the region is very
important from this perspective,’ Mkrtchian said. Armenia has always
been at the locus of clashes and conflicts and our nation has suffered
greatly because of this.

`There have been very few instances throughout our history when we
lived in a situation of balance and a dialogue of civilizations rather
than clash of civilizations. These short periods became times of
revival of our nation and restoration of our independence and
statehood,’ Mkrtchian said.

According to Mkrtchian, the balance of regional powers is of crucial
importance and it can be defined on three levels ` civilization,
political and national. The civilization level is universal in its
contents. From this perspective our nation’s role as a nation and
state of universal civilization value is important.

`From civilization perspective, Armenia is unique in that different
civilization values clash and merge here,’ Mkrtchian said adding that
our nation is the unique Christian nation that has been perceived as a
`friend’ in the Muslim world and has managed to preserve its ties with
the European value system despite the fact of living at the border of
the Muslim world. This makes the Armenian nation a very important
factor in terms of preserving the civilization balance.

On the second, political level we should strive to achieve a balance
of interests, Mkrtchian believes. `Deep political interests clash in
this region and uni-polar accumulation of power has never been
beneficial for our nation,’ Mkrtchian said.

The third, national level will help us to survive and preserve our
unity and conciliation despite being spread throughout the
world. Balance in national issues is the guarantee of our internal
balance, Mkrtchian believes. Having survived in different situations,
living in many countries throughout the world, the Armenian nation
needs to ensure balancing mechanisms within itself, on the national
level in order to minimize the contradictions in our life.

`This is what determines Armenia’s policy that is considered to be a
policy of complementarism. If we analyze the last ten years of this
policy we can see that success was achieved at all three levels,’
Mkrtchian stated adding that due to its foreign policy Armenia has
managed to established friendly relations with countries with which
there were no relations at all.

Mkrtchian believes one of the most important principles for Armenia is
that the country’s relations with another state are never determined
by its relations with a third state. Mkrtchian believes we establish
the value system that allows us to go forward taking into
consideration the national interests. By clearly representing our
issues, the Hay Dat Offices and Committees manage to accomplish
significant success being anchored on their basic values.

Problems of Diaspora press

Yerkir.am
March 16, 2007

Editors of several Diaspora periodicals were hosted at the Urbat
(Friday) club last week. Editors of Asbarez from the US West-Cost,
Azad Or from Greece, Azdak from Lebanon, Horizon from Canada, Aliq
from Iran and Hayreniq from US East Cost presented the history of
their newspapers commenting also on the issues relevant for the
Armenian communities in their regions.

Majority of Diaspora Armenian periodicals are published in difficult
social, political, financial and language situation. Editor of
Asbarez daily newspaper Vache Brutian says every issue of the
newspaper is published after some struggle.

The Armenian community has undergone some demographic changes because
of emigration. The differences of language-thinking and mentality have
resulted in a difficult situation. `We speak the same language but we
do not understand each other,’ Brutian says adding that their goal is
to unite the Armenians and eliminate the intolerance. No other
entities support Asbarez in accomplishing this difficult task.

A similar situation exists in the US East Cost. Editor of Hayreniq
newspaper Khazhak Mkrtichian says that their community is not
homogenous either. Some people are interested in Armenia and the
issue of Genocide recognition while others complain that the newspaper
writes more on Armenia than on their problems and concerns. Hayreniq
cannot satisfy the interests of all segments of the Armenian community
because for that the newspaper would have to be published on
50-60pages.

Because of financial difficulties Hayreniq newspaper has a very small
staff and cannot hire professional journalists which has an impact on
the quality of the newspaper. The only newspaper among the
above-mentioned ones that manages to gain some profit is the
Canada-based Horizon newspaper.

One of the main issues raised by most of the editors is the decreasing
role of the Armenian language which affects negatively the sales of
the newspapers. The newspapers are forced to publish annexes in
foreign languages. Hayreniq publishes the English-language Armenian
Weekly newspaper that is distributed to the US Congressmen.

Editor of Azad Or newspaper Hripsime Harutyunian notes that the young
generation of Armenians in Greece have problems with the Armenian
language. This is why a Greek-language annex is published twice a
month that is aimed at the young people. Azad Or newspaper aims at
ensuring a connection between Armenia and the community in Greece
publishing articles on Armenia, Artsakh, Javakhq and Caucasus.

The language problem is not very acute in the Armenian community in
Iran because it is closer to Armenia and the Eastern Armenian. Aliq
newspaper published in Iran is the only Armenian newspaper. Editor of
Aliq Derenik Melikian says this fact is very obliging and this is why
the newspaper tries to cover as many topics as possible to satisfy all
readers’ interests. Aliq’s primary goal is to objectively present the
political situation in Iran. `We are presenting the truth and this is
why we enjoy Iran’s warm attitude,’ Melikian says.

The Diaspora Armenian periodicals are aiming at raising various issues
relevant for Armenia and Hay Dat to the international levels.

Editor of Lebanon-based Azdak newspaper Shahan Gantaharian says the
newspaper aims at daily coverage of the community’s problems. Azdak
used to be a magazine but later became a daily newspaper because of
the great demand for daily information. This year Azdak newspaper will
celebrate its 80th anniversary.

The journalists also discussed issues related to dual
citizenship. `Every Armenian has the right to become a citizen of his
country. This right was not ensured in the past. Adoption of dual
citizenship corrected this historical mistake,’ editor of Azbarez
Vache Brutian says. Dual citizenship can be a signal unifying the
whole Armenian nation.

`It is a matter of principle and symbolism for us to have the right to
belong to our homeland,’ editor of Azat Or newspaper Hripsime
Harutyunian says. ` The issue of voting or being elected is of
secondary importance today.’

Answering the question what dual citizens can bring to Armenia editor
of Hayreniq newspaper Khazhak Mkrtichian stated, `No one asked me in
the US how can you be useful to the country if we grant you
citizenship. Now I am asked this question in my homeland¦ It so
happened that I was born in Syria and lived there without a homeland,
just like you lived difficult years with no electricity and no
water. Then you got electricity and water, so I should also get
citizenship to restore justice.’

Commenting on the often manipulated question, `Where were you when we
were surviving through the dark and cold years in Armenia?’ editor of
Horizon newspaper Vahagn Garagashian answers, `History shows that the
Diaspora Armenians have always supported Armenia in difficult times.’

Editor of Aliq newspaper Derenik Melikian says, `Armenia will get more
population’. Melikian believes the very fact that the Turks oppose
this law should indicate to us that we are on the right track.

By Meri ALEKSANIAN

Controversial Armenian magazine out after break

Arminfo
15 Mar 07

Yerevan, 15 March: Cartoon lion Banifatsi next to former commander of
the NKR [Nagornyy Karabakh republic] Defence Army Samvel
Babayan. Saddam Hussein, executed on the eve of 2007, and Hrant Dink,
the editor of the [Istanbul-based bilingual Armenian-Turkish] Agos
weekly, killed by a Turkish nationalist. This "salad" appears on the
issue of the Armenian magazine Forbes, which was published after a
three-month break and under a new title of Demker (Faces).

Elizabet Petrosyan, CEO of the Demker, LLC, (formerly Forbes-Armenia),
told a news conference today [15 March] that the reason for changing
the title was "too direct" associations with the well-known American
magazine Forbes. In addition, the artificial politicization of the
magazine’s first issue which made it scandalously famous was the
reason why the editor-in-chief, Petros Gazaryan, was sacked. Elizabet
Petrosyan will be fulfilling the duties of the magazine’s editor for
the time being. In addition, after the "noisy" debut in December
[2006], the editorial staff decided to review its policy. Petrosyan
said that the focus would be on economic topics but not politics.

"Unfortunately, business and politics are closely interlinked in
Armenia. For now, we cannot completely drop political topics,
especially in the run-up to the [12 May] parliamentary
election. However, unlike the first issue of the magazine, the focus
will be on the analysis of the political situation in the country as
well as on opinion polls about the forthcoming election," Petrosyan
said. Articles written by local politicians in their own manner will
also be published in the magazine.

Petrosyan was positive about the future of the magazine in the
Armenian market. The latest issue was published in 2,000 copies, and
the circulation will only increase in the future.

Petrosyan also said that Demker would continue to cooperate with its
counterparts from the US-based Forbes. She said, however, the
partnership with the Russian analogue of the publication has been
terminated for good.

Apparently, the recent statements by the Forbes-Russia
editor-in-chief, Maksim Kashulinskiy, were the reason for the
unequivocal conflict between the two publications. Kashulinskiy has
said that the Armenian Forbes had nothing to do with either the
Forbes-Russia or the Forbes-USA. Petrosyan, however, once again
refused to comment on that statement, saying only that Kashuliskiy "is
not authorized to make this kind of statements."

The first issue of the Armenian Forbes, published on 15 December 2006,
was a real New Year scandal, because it published the list of the 10
wealthiest individuals in Armenia, and representatives of the top
political and business circles were among them.

From: [email protected]
Subject: 41 PACE observers to monitor the elections on May 12

41 PACE observers to monitor the elections on May 12

ArmRadio.am
19.03.2007 17:36

The composition of the observation mission to monitor the
parliamentary elections in Armenia was determined at the sitting of
the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Press Secretary of the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan Vahagn
Muradyan told Armenpress that a delegation comprised of 5 people will
visit Armenia April 10-13 to monitor the political situation in the
pre-election period. The delegation will include George Colombie, the
Rapporteur on Armenia of the PACE Monitoring Commission.

A delegation comprised of 41 observers headed by Dutch MP Leo Platvoet
will arrive in Armenia two days prior to the elections to monitor the
election process itself.

Itâ??s worth mentioning that five local and two international
organizations have submitted applications to the Central Electoral
Commission to observe the elections. The OSCE is expected send about
340 observers.

Levon Aronyan defeated Peter Leko of Hungary

ArmRadio.am
19.03.2007 18:00

Armenian Grand Master Levon Aronyan scored 1.5:0.5 in the match
against Hungarian Peter Leko in the second round of the `Amber’
International Chess Tournament held in Monte Carlo (Monaco). Gaining
3.5 points he currently shares 1st-2nd places with Vladimir Kramnik of
Russia. Ukrainian Vasili Ivanchuk comes 3rd with 3 points. Vishvanatan
Anand of India and Alexander Morozevich of Russia occupy the 4th and
5th places with 2.5 points. Teymur Rajabov of Azerbaijan occupies the
11th place.

The financial fund of the tournament totals 216 thousand euros.

Massis Weekly Online

VOLUME 27, NO. 8 (1308)
SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2007
——————-
– Israel Parliament Rejects Armenian Genocide Bill
– Memorial in Glendale Honors Dink, Captivates Audience
– Lower Learning: Students Say Bribery in Universities is ?Normal?
– Armenian Community Meets With Leader of Liberal Party Of Canada
– Elizabeth Manasserian Conveys Goals As Candidate For GUSD Board
——————–

– Israel Parliament Rejects Armenian Genocide Bill

JERUSALEM — Israel?s parliament on Wednesday rejected a motion
recognizing the Turkish mass killings of Armenians dating back to 1915
as a genocide.
?Stop ignoring and rejecting the catastrophe of another people,? MP
Haim Oron, who submitted the motion, told the plenum before the vote.
?We refuse to accept the turning of a blind eye to the Armenian
genocide,? the opposition left-wing Meretz party MP said. ?We owe this
vote not only to the Armenian people, we owe it to ourselves,
especially in a period where we are struggling to prolong the memory?
of the Nazi Holocaust of six million Jews during World War II.
The motion was nevertheless rejected by parliament in a vote of 16
against 12, with a low turnout by MPs. It would have needed a second
ratification if it had passed.
The issue of the Armenian massacre has been raised several times in
the past in Israel?s Knesset, but there has never been an implicit
vote branding it as genocide. If approved, Israel would have joined a
growing list of countries which have recognized the killings as
genocide. It would have marked April 24, the day when the massacres
started in 1915, as Armenian genocide memorial day.
Israel has close diplomatic ties with Turkey ? one of the few Muslim
countries with which it has relations ? and has in the past steered
clear of the recognition issue.
Oron told AFP he had been under heavy pressure from Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert?s office and the foreign ministry to withdraw his
motion. ?I have been under a lot of pressure, but that is something
any MP must face,? Oron said. ?Turkey has been exerting its pressure
everywhere. This is their right. But they can not set the agenda of
the Israeli parliament.? Government spokeswoman Miri Eisin said that
Israel ?did not intend to place itself at the forefront of this issue,
which is being handled by the international community.?

– Memorial in Glendale Honors Dink, Captivates Audience

GLENDALE, CA – A memorial honoring the legacy of assassinated
journalist Hrant Dink along with the participation of a multitude of
Armenian organizations, drew hundreds to the Glendale Civic Auditorium
on March 11 featuring various speakers, video presentations and
cultural performances.
Master of Ceremonies, Armen Hovannisian, Vice Chairman of the Armenian
Bar Association, introduced Dink as a pioneer who was ahead of his
time and a martyr for free speech fighting for the rights of Armenians
and other minorities in Turkey despite criticism from his colleagues
and those who opposed his ideas. Video clips of Dink were shown to the
audience as his life, beliefs and his hope for the future of democracy
in Turkey were expressed in his own words.
A somber musical performance of ?Groonk,? which happened to be a
favorite of Dink, played by the Wings of Passion duduk ensemble set
the tone for the evening which included many tears and sighs from the
audience made up by members of clergy, public officials, community
leaders, professors, Armenian American activists and supporters of the
Armenian Cause. The Zvartnots group performed a dance adorning gowns
resembling Khatch Kars.
Edvin Minassian of the Organization of Istanbul Armenians presented
the more personal, human side of Dink and his brief encounter with the
free speech advocate during his last visit to the U.S. in late October
to early November of last year. He read a famous quote deeply
inspirational to Dink which states, ?I?d rather die standing on my
feet than live on my knees.? The profound statement laid an imprint on
Dink as he carried out his day to day actions bearing this quote in
mind which he first learned of during his recent U.S. visit.
Also during his brief visit, Dink was interviewed on the Pari Louys TV
program hosted by Stepan Partamian where he discussed issues dealing
with his personal life to his thoughts on how recognition of the
Genocide should be dealt with from the bottom up as opposed to the top
down methodology.
His grassroots approach in educating Turks versus State recognition
and the implementation of Genocide resolutions were what set Dink
apart from other advocates of the Armenian Cause. His controversial
approach to the sensitive issue often ostracized him from his
colleagues. Only after his untimely death were his ideas viewed in a
different light.
A photo featuring Dink holding a Freedom of Speech Award given to him
by the Armenian Bar Association was displayed as Frank Zerunyan,
Chairman of the ABA and Council Member of the Rolling Hills Estates
talked about how Dink was so incredibly proud to receive that award;
it was the first honor received from an American-Armenian organization.
He stated that the significance of the award was monumental to Dink
because it symbolized his perseverance and served as a reminder to him
that those who falsely accused him of being anti-Turk had a lot to
learn about democracy and the open dialogue and exchange of ideas no
matter how divergent the ideas or the people voicing them may be.
An emotional Simon Acilacoglu, Chairman of the Organization of
Istanbul Armenians shared his personal experience at Dink?s funeral as
video clips from CNN Turk were being shown to the audience. ?I saw his
lifeless body as his face was cleansed with holy water at the church
where his family watched in grief,? said Acilacoglu. ?There was a dove
sitting on his casket during the entire procession. It refused to fly
away and was consequently removed by someone so that mourners could
resume placing soil on the casket,? he added. It was mentioned that
Dink often compared himself to a dove during the last few turbulent
years of his life where he was under constant attack for his ideals.
The evening ended with a moving speech made by Consul General of
Armenia, Armen Liloyan, who reminded the audience that The Republic of
Armenia has and always will welcome dialogue with its neighbor Turkey
despite the hesitation displayed by the Turkish government. He
believes dialogue is key in settling the Armenian Question but
remained skeptical of Turkey?s willingness to cooperate with Armenia.
?How can Turkey punish the killer of Hrant Dink when they have yet to
recognize the Genocide of 1.5 million Armenians?? he stated.
A special note of gratitude is extended to the following organizations
for their active participation and involvement in making the event
possible: The Organization of Istanbul Armenians, Armenian Bar
Association, Armenian Assembly of America, Nor Serount Cultural
Association and the Armenian Council of America.

– Lower Learning: Students Say Bribery in Universities is ?Normal?

By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

Is there corruption in Armenia?s institutes of higher learning? Ninety
percent of university students seem to think there is.
The Sargis Tkhruni youth union of the Social-Democratic Hunchakian
Party has made an attempt to define the drastic picture of corruption
in universities and has surveyed 2,000 students. 1,821 of those
surveyed said corruption in universities is wide spread, and that the
lower the dollar exchange, the higher the cost of bribing professors
and examination board panels.
The survey was conducted among 2,000 students at all state-run higher
schools of Yerevan, which makes five percent of all students at
state-run higher schools. A questionnaire including 11 questions was
used as the method for gathering information.
Only students at the Department of Law and Culture of the Yerevan
State University refused to fill in the questionnaire. The
Agricultural Academy scored 96 percent on the corruption index, with
83 percent of interviewees saying they have personally given bribes
for grades. Students there report that success on a ?pass-fail? exam
can cost up to $20 and a good mark on a graded exam costs from $20-50.
Ninety percent of Academy students surveyed said bribing is ?normal?.
According to the survey, medical school is the second most corrupt,
with 89 percent, where 74 percent say they?ve personally paid bribes.
At Mkhitar Heratsi Medical University, students say they have paid up
to $1,000 for good marks. ?They don?t take money from those who learn,
but take from those who don?t. That is, those who have entered the
university with a bribe, graduate it with a bribe. I know a student in
my group who paid $900 or $1,000 for the last re-take exam not to be
expelled,? says Naira, a fourth year student, who asked not to mention
her last name.
Next in the level of corruption is the State Engineering University,
where 85.5 percent of the interviewed acknowledge corruption. ?The
most awful thing is that the bribe giving and taking is a normal thing
for 80-90 percent of the surveyed. But the lack of understanding in
the villainy of the phenomenon makes the fight against it almost
impossible,? says the head of the research group Anahit Sargsyan.
She says the students seem to have adjusted to the situation and are
skeptical whether the university officials would do anything to
correct the problem. In fact, students are concerned that if they
raise the issue they, themselves, might be expelled.
According to the survey the lowest level of corruption is recorded at
the arts universities ? with 18, 14 and 13.5 percents at the Academy
of Fine Arts, the Conservatoire and the State Institute last 20 days,?
says the head of the Sargis Tkhruni youth union Narek Galstyan.
Upon initiation of the survey, the youth union invited student
councils of the institutions for cooperation, which the greater part
of them denied. The chairpersons of the economic and medical
universities strictly prohibited any kind of interviews in their
institutions.
?We were directly told we were prohibited [from interviewing] and that
was it. But of course we managed to interview 250 students of the
medical university just at the entrance and found out that the student
councils had many things to hide,? says Sargsyan. The last letter the
youth union has received was written by the rector of the Medical
University Gohar Kyalyan, where she strongly condemned and questioned
the impartiality of the sociological survey.
?The letter says there is no corruption at the medical university. But
everyone knows there is. The problem should be accepted and should be
fought against. There is a need to stop the policy of making the
institutions of higher education places of worship and many things
will change,? says Galstyan.
All ArmeniaNow attempts to talk to the rector of the Medical
University throughout the week failed.
?I have always welcomed the activity of youth organizations, this
survey is especially welcome, as at last students have risen to their
feet to raise their voice and defend their rights,? says Minister of
Education and Science Levon Lazarian.
At Yerevan State University, corruption ? as defined by the survey ?
is 42 percent. Rector Aram Simonyan says the figure is troubling. ?I
do not deny there is corruption in our higher education institutions
including our university. Moreover, at the moment we have students
complaining of corruption on the side of some lecturers.
We fight it, but it?s unrealistic to eradicate it in one day,? says
Simonyan. Asked for a solution to bribery in education, 93 percent of
interviewees say increasing teacher salaries is the answer, while 87
percent say inner discipline should be stricter.

– Armenian Community Meets With Leader of Liberal Party Of Canada

The Congress of Canadian Armenians held a reception in Montreal on
March 6, 2007 to honour Stephane Dion, the new Leader of the Liberal
Party of Canada. The event was a resounding success, with over 100
invited people present including many of the leaders and prominent
members of our community.
Mr. Dion, who has been a firm advocate for the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide and a friend and consistent supporter of the
Armenian community and of Armenian causes, was presented with a plaque
naming him an ?honourary Armenian?. At the end of his speech, he
expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome that he received, and
he read a brief statement of friendship in Armenian. He also had an
opportunity to circulate, talking to people about their concerns and
answering their questions.
In his comments, Mr. Dion said he is in favour of opening a Canadian
Embassy in Armenia, and he would like very much to see Armenian
candidates getting elected to the House of Commons. This event was
part of a series organized by the Congress of Canadian Armenians, to
meet with the leaders and key members of the major political parties
of Canada.
The Congress of Canadian Armenians is comprised of the following
participating organizations (in alphabetical order): AGBU Alex
Manoogian School, AGBU Montreal Chapter, Armenian Democratic Liberal
Party, Holy Cross Church of Laval, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church
of Montreal, S.D. Hunchakian Party, Society of Armenians from
Istanbul, Tekeyan Cultural Association

– Elizabeth Manasserian Conveys Goals As Candidate For GUSD Board

By Christine Aghakhanian

She has been a loud voice in the Glendale community for many years and
now Elizabeth Manasserian, after participating and taking leadership
roles in numerous civic, academic and professional organizations, is
running for the elected position of Glendale Unified School District
Board Member.
Her heavy involvement in the academic sphere of the City and her
innate ability to relate to parent?s concerns is what differentiates
Manasserian from her opponents running for the two-seat position. ?I
have an active relationship with students, teachers and parents of
GUSD,? said Manasserian. ?My sons are currently enrolled in the
Glendale schools. Having said that, I think it is vital for any school
board member to have children, or to have children in the schools that
the candidate is looking to serve as a School Board Member.?
Being the first Armenian PTA (Parents Teachers Association) President
at Wilson Middle School, Manasserian experienced first hand, the
opportunities that exist for Armenian students and the importance for
an Armenian candidate to voice their concerns. She took on the
leadership role of PTA President for selfless reasons. Her main
concern were the students and the parents and having their needs
addressed by the school and the district. Manasserian proved that, by
having a record breaking support from Armenian parents along with
parents of other ethnic groups creating a unity in the school community.
?As I attend varieties of different school functions on various school
campuses, I see the Armenian youth making great and phenomenal and
academic strides,? she stated. ?By supporting good, well rounded
Armenian candidates, Armenians? voices will be heard. Placing me as a
school board member is giving a representation and a voice. Better
yet, I have already been creating a better understanding of who we are
a s Armenians. It is not always about fighting back, rather showing
the good.?
The three main areas of focus in Manasserian?s campaign are safety in
schools, class size reduction and child obesity including the
promotion of proper nutrition and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. She
believes school safety is one of the most paramount challenges facing
the school board today. Her business background, she says, will enable
her to make important budgetary decisions in helping generate funds
that schools are currently lacking, which in turn, will lead to a
lower teacher to student ratio hence creating smaller classrooms. As a
member of the Glendale Healthy Kids, Manasserian is confident that
through teacher and parent education, the growing problem of obesity
among youth can become a thing of the past.
Among other organizations, Manasserian has been active in various
Glendale organizations such as the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce,
PTA, Educational Foundations and Board of Realtors to name a few. ?It
is important that the candidates be a part of the greater whole and
our great Glendale community,? she said. ?That is what I became, not
just one thing, But I am a part of the community at large. It made me
well rounded and exposed me to different areas of the city. This
knowledge will create more resources for me to bring to the Board as a
School Board Member.?
It has become her goal and top priority to have Glendale schools lead
the nation in academic excellence. She plans on working to implement
areas of funding, partnerships and mentoring programs to reach this
goal. Creating an enjoyable and enriching environment for teachers
through various educational programs is also on Manasserian?s agenda.
?We need to make our children?s schools competitive with the nation so
our children may compete equally or with an advantage,? she said. ?I
want Glendale to become the model school for this nation.?
Having strong relationships within the community is key to
Manasserian?s success as a community leader. She plans on bringing the
influence she has gained through her involvement with various groups
to the GUSD Board. She believes this is an essential quality for a
candidate to possess in order to be heard and to be an effective
leader capable of creating change. Additionally, she believes, her
background as an engineer will help the school board gain support for
the highest standards of technology in schools and her experience in
the commercial real estate industry will be utilized in areas of
budgeting, and finance. ?I am doing this for no other interest than
what I can offer to our children, with your vote on ballot three I
will do just that.?
For more information about Manasserian?s campaign, visit

—
Massis Weekly Online
MassisWeekly.com
1060 N. Allen Ave, Suite 203
Pasadena, CA 91104
Tel. 626.797.7680
Fax. 626.797.6863

Stars and Stripes, DC
March 18 2007

Military officials worry about fallout if U.S. passes genocide
resolution

By Charlie Coon, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, March 19, 2007

STUTTGART, Germany – Military officials are worried about the fallout
if Congress passes a symbolic resolution to recognize the deaths of
up to 1.5 million Armenians in Turkey as `genocide.’

The Turkish government claims the deaths, which mostly occurred from
1915 to 1918 during World War I, were not genocide but part of civil
war, disease and famine as the Ottoman Empire was falling apart.
Armenians, who originate from Armenia on Turkey’s eastern border,
want the deaths acknowledged for historical and moral purposes as
atrocities and genocide at the hands of Turks.

Post-empire Turkey, a moderate, Muslim-majority nation and NATO
member since 1952, hosts Incirlik Air Base, home to 1,500 U.S. troops
and an important cargo and refueling hub. A resolution could sour
Turkish public sentiment toward the U.S., possibly leading to
restrictions regarding Incirlik and Turkish air space.

`I’m worried about the potential impact to our operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan,’ said Maj. Gen. Robertus Remkes, director of strategy,
policy and assessments at the U.S. European Command.

House Resolution 106, introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and
backed by House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., among others,
could come to a vote in April.

A number of nations have already recognized the deaths as genocide.
France passed a similar resolution in October, which the Turks viewed
as an insult, and it sparked threats of Turkish boycotts and
sanctions against France.

`If you see Turkish public opinion going away from the West, where do
you see it going?’ Remkes said.

Remkes made his comments as weeklong meetings in Germany were
concluding between mid- to senior-level officers from the U.S. and
Turkish militaries.

The meetings, which took place in Stuttgart, Heidelberg and Ramstein,
were to strengthen ties among the officers, whose jobs are to prepare
their respective generals for high- level discussions and decisions.
The meetings with their Turkish counterparts were pleasantly frank,
according to Air Force Lt. Col. Jordan Thomas, the planning
directorate’s Turkey desk officer.

`We didn’t agree on everything, but we walked away saying, `Yes, we
understand you,” said Thomas, adding that the next round of talks
will be held in Turkey.

A number of analysts agree that the resolution, if passed, could
damage relations between the U.S. and one of its most important
allies in the volatile region.

`Some 60 percent of all U.S. military equipment destined for Iraq
goes through the territory or airspace of Turkey,’ according to a
February article by F. Stephen Larrabee and Suat Kiniklioglu of Rand
Corp.

`If this route to Iraq were restricted or closed entirely, the
ability of the United States to effectively combat the insurgency and
violent militias in Iraq would be impaired.’

Philip Gordon and Omer Taspinar of the Brookings Institution wrote in
August that the U.S. and Europe must do what they can to ensure that
Turkey sees itself as aligned with the West.

`An Armenian genocide resolution would certainly trigger a tremendous
nationalistic backlash in Turkey and a deep rift with the United
States,’ they wrote.

But Schiff, who like Pelosi has a large Armenian constituency in his
congressional district, has said the long-tried resolution needs to
finally be passed.

`How can we take effective action against the genocide in Darfur if
we lack the will to condemn genocide whenever and wherever it
occurs?’ Schiff said when introducing the bill.

=104&article=44427

Focus News, Bulgaria
March 18 2007

Iran’s President to open new gas pipeline in Armenia

18 March 2007 | 21:50 | FOCUS News Agency

Yerevan. Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will open a new gas
pipeline in Armenia, RIA Novosti reported citing local newspapers.
Iran’s head of state is due to arrive at the border zone with
Armenia, in the Eastern Azerbaijan province, where an official
ceremony on the opening of a new gas pipeline will be held. The
construction of the 141-kilometer gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia
will total about USD 210 – 220 million.
From: Baghdasarian

American Chronicle, CA
March 18 2007

The three Europes
Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis

Within a few days, European Union’s 27 member states’ leaders will
meet in Berlin to feast in commemoration of the signature of the
Treaty of Rome, on 25 March 1957. The German presidency wants to push
ahead with two projects, a ringing declaration about the European
values and a resuscitation of the quasi-defunct European Constitution
project. What is true and what is possible for the European Union in
the years ahead?

European Union: a great achievement

The progress of the European Economic Community was sterling indeed;
the early 6 members (France, Germany, Italy and the Benelux) became
gradually 9 (Denmark, Ireland and the UK) in 1973, 10 (Greece) in
1981, 12 (Spain and Portugal) in 1986, 15 (Finland, Sweden and
Austria) in 1995, 25 (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary,
Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Malta and Cyprus) in 2004, and
27 (Bulgaria and Romania) in 2007.

The expansion was not horizontal but vertical as well. The early
Customs Union turned out to become an Economic Union, as the single
market is still a work in progress. It became – partly – a monetary
union, with the introduction of the Euro (currency in use in 13 of
the member states so far, in Andorra, in European micro-states such
as Monaco, San Marino, Vatican, as well as in Montenegro and Kosovo).
It formed a political union evolving around the European Parliament
that is the Ovidian metamorphosis of the `Common Assembly’ of the
European Coal and Steel Community (first established in 1952), with
members elected since 1981. The European legislators expanded beyond
the economy, on social affairs, environment, and welfare, gradually
unifying the member states’ legal systems. Common policy is in the
making, and has so far covered home affairs, security and justice;
common foreign and defense policy seems to be a most problematic
field but steps have been made so far in this direction too. European
policy making left already an impact on global issues as diverse as
Lebanon, Congo and Indonesia.

European Union: a biased project

1. A wrong economic and political model

Can we truly consider as success the materialization of the
aforementioned? It depends. Most of Europeans however do not! The
European economy has been the victim of highly ideologized French
dirigisme, and the political prospect of a European federal state is
fully rejected by numerous states across the continent. The French
and Dutch referenda gave a lethal hit to the incredible and
extraordinary manipulation of European History as stipulated in the
disreputable Preamble of Giscard d’ Estaing’s `constitution’.

2. European peoples: misinformed and disoriented

European peoples have long been fed with panaceas and welfare state
myths; not only will these myths lead to an unpleasant awakening but
they are deeply immoral and racist of nature. The German – French
economic model collapsed in front of the booming American
consumerism, and the rise of great markets in China, India and soon
in Brazil. The European myth composers had not taken the rise of the
Global economy into consideration, and their answer has been to raise
barriers, forming the legendary European fortress.

3. European Union: immoral to themselves and to others

The disastrous situation of the African continent is precisely due to
this European attitude of protectionism. Furthermore, Europe has been
formed through immoral negotiations, whereby the economically weak
had to accept the directives of the economically and politically
powerful tandem `France / Germany’, ignoring the consequences for
them and for the entire continent; they only needed European funds!

4. Any nation building project imposes debates on the National
Identity.

For 50 consequent years, there has never been a serious debate about
the European Identity. This only would be enough to let many realize
that the project was biased. In the beginning, Europe `meant’
Continental Europe; we have not yet forgotten Charles de Gaulle’s
comical reactions to Britain’s candidacy! After France rebelled in
May 68 against that paranoid, `democratic’ dictator, Europe got rid
of the French anti-British exclusivity; under Pompidou, Britain
joined the 6.

However, few analyzed how for a significant part of the French
establishment, Germany was a natural partner of France and the
European project, and Britain was not! It was left to be believed as
a curiosity of an old statesman. Quite unfortunately, it was not!

Later on, Europe `signified’ Capitalist Europe, as the Iron Curtain
still divided the continent. The project consisted in sheer rejection
of a part of the continent only because of undemocratic practices. It
sounds correct and moral, but it was not! Why? Simply because the
antidemocratic practices of the Socialist bloc were not viewed as
such by sizable populations of the Western European countries, namely
the followers of the Communist parties, more particularly in Italy,
France, Greece, and elsewhere. Let’s go back to 1973. Why should one
consider Franco’s Spain as `European’ and Soviet Union as `non
European’?

Spain was not accepted in the European Union until the country became
a fully fledged democracy, but this is not the main point; no matter
what sort of political establishment, monarchical or democratic,
Japan would never be considered as a European country. This says it
all; what mattered in the 60s, the 70s, the 80s, and what matters now
is still the same.

Irrespective of regime, what country can/must/is to be considered
European and what country cannot/must not/is not?

This clear cut question was never a matter of preoccupation among
European statesmen, politicians, legislators, intellectuals and
academia. Why Europeans avoid the basic question for their identity
and future may take volumes to analyze, but within the limits of the
present article we will try to eschew the past and foresee the
future.

The First Europe – A Berlin / London axis for a Universal Europe

A European re-launching that goes beyond past dramas. A Berlin –
London axis replaces the God damned Paris – Berlin ineptia. European
administrations and legislators understand that the angular stone of
all democratic ideas and concepts is the Right of Peoples to Self
Determination. The unconditional recognition of Kosovo as an
independent state triggers the welcoming of Transnistria and the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to Europe and therefore to the
International Community.

Ukraine, Turkey and Russia as accepted as indispensable member states
of the European Union, and a Great Chart is prepared to identify
Europe as the continent of coexistence of numerous religions,
Judaism, Christianity in all its denominations, Islam, and various
pre-Christian religious systems, along with the faiths of the 20th
century immigrants, Singh, Hindus, Buddhists and Africans. Europe is
defined as equally East and West, and a European integration plan is
made to provide all the states of the European continent the means to
achieve economic and political unification with the European Union.

All the minorities on European soil are officially recognized a such,
and offered the necessary tools for linguistic, educational,
cultural, and religious survival. The existing `unique’ national
languages are therefore abolished in countries with minorities,
whereby the languages of minorities are promoted to the level of
national language.

Vicar of the economic liberalism, European Union abolishes all sorts
of barriers, and acknowledges the European responsibility for crimes
perpetrated by the colonial practices of several European countries
on African, Asiatic and American soil. Reunified, and with its
various populations well integrated, Europe cancels permanently any
chance of disputes, wars and conflicts either on European soil or
elsewhere. With the Euro in use from Vladivostok to Lisbon, the
European stock exchanges unified, and the liberalization process
completed, Europe can enter into discussions with North America in
view of an advanced global integration.

This Universal Europe has slim chances to become a reality.

The Second Europe – A pale and immoral power center at Brussels

With Chirac and Blair bidding farewell, with the German governmental
coalition ailing, with Romano Prodi unable to bring forth imperative
changes, and with Zapatero having lost his momentum, the European
statesmen prove for one more time that they are political dwarfs and
intellectually miserable. Without any vision, they try to find a way
to sign a minimal constitution that defines nothing, let alone the
European Identity, they do their best to perpetuate the problems of
Kosovo, Macedonia, Voivodina, Sandjaq, Thrace, Transnistria and
Cyprus. Georgia remains explosive in its opposition to Russia,
Armenia is supported against Turkey, and Belarus is kept in the
quarantine; Ukraine is declared as non European country, and the
negotiations with Turkey end in a definite divorce. It becomes known
that the Western Balkans were never European, and so they are offered
special status.

Fortress Europe rejoices with the African genocides and starvation,
with the American failure in Iraq, and with the Chinese
socio-economic collapse; an over heated economy would end like this,
sooner or later. With Iran as nuclear power, Afghanistan and Somalia
out of control, and the rise of Islamists in parts of Africa, the
traditional colonial diplomacies shape the European Union’s policy
turning Palestinians against Israelis, Moroccans against Algerians,
and Muslims against Christians in Lebanon, Syria, Nigeria, Abyssinia
and Iraq.

Europe itself is devastated by the social unrest, political clashes
between religious and secularists, and regional wars, Albania against
Montenegro, Turkey against Cyprus and Greece, Kosovo against
Macedonia, Moldova against Transnistria, etc. To keep Islamic
extremists happy, Dante is banned. The treaty of Rome is still valid,
and Brussels bureaucrats are happy with American isolationism. Euro
was never accepted by more than 17 countries, and the anti-Euro
parties in Italy represent the majority. Last but not least, Europe
pays a very high political price for its dependence of Russian
energy, and in this way Moscow lives in the days of a state
capitalist tyrant who proved to be worse than Stalin. In a world of
conflicts, Europe or a part of it still survives.

The Third Europe – The religious – political axis Berlin / Moscow

The political dwarfism of the European legislators was definitely
unbearable. Several parties across Europe realized that speaking of
Islam on European soil meant European disfiguration. They went on
specifying that Europe or Germany could not be victimized forever
because of the mistaken policy of a ruler who governed Germany only
for 12 years (1933 – 45). They identified the European values as
those of the Catholic Christianity and they made a pact with
representatives of Orthodox Eastern Europe. They rejected secularism,
gay marriages and parental adoption, abortion and nudism. Specifying
that the Family is a Value, they demanded the end of civil marriages.
They rejected that England could ever be European, and they demanded
apologies for the Irish Genocide as they demanded the same from
Turkey for the Armenian Genocide.

In the beginning, they formed a 20% minority party in most of the
European countries, but when the clashes with the Islamic extremists
started, they got moment and rose to power. A great leader made a
pledge for a new Europe, and brought together the Roman Pope and the
Patriarchs of Constantinople and Moscow. Europe was reunified first
at the religious level, and then at the political. The entire
continent with the exception of England and Scandinavia turned around
the German – Russian axis and a war was undertaken in the Middle East
to kick the Turks and the Muslims out, and to bring Constantinople
and Jerusalem under Christian control again. The clash with America
was therefore unavoidable. The old lesson of the Horatii and Curiatii
was never learnt!

The three Europes stand before us; and it is up to us to choose as
early as possible!

(This article was earlier published in:
)

http:/ / p?articleID=22351

Fars News Agency, Iran
March 18 2007

Iran and Armenia to Open Gas Link Monday

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iran and Armenia will inaugurate a new gas
pipeline between the two neighbors tomorrow.

The move is part of Tehran’s strategy to add new export markets.

Iran plans to deliver 1.1 billion cubic meters of natural gas to
Armenia this year through the pipeline, the volume rising to 1.5
billion in 2013 and 2.3 billion in 2026, Reuters quoted the website
of Iran’s oil ministry as saying on Saturday.

The deal was initially approved by Iran and Armenia over a decade ago
but was not finalized until 2004 because the issue of financing the
$200 million pipeline to Armenia was stalled.

Armenia’s gas and power markets are dominated by Russian firms.

Armenia is due to pay for the gas by exporting electricity to Iran.

Iran has the world’s second largest gas reserves after Russia.

"It is expected that in 20 years a total amount of 36 billion cubic
meters of natural gas will be exported to Armenia and it is possible
that this amount reaches 47 billion cubic meters," the ministry’s
website said.

The 141-kilometre long pipeline cost $210-$220 million to build, it
said, adding Armenia contributed $120 million. The two countries’
presidents will attend tomorrow’s ceremony at the border.

Iran exports only modest volumes of gas, mainly to neighboring
Turkey, but it will soon start exporting large volumes to Pakistan
and India via a pipeline between the three countries also known as
IPI ‘Peace Pipeline’.