Month: May 2008

AZG Armenian Daily #084, 03/05/2008

Diaspora

DETROIT TEKEYAN HOSTS OUTREACH ARMENIA FORUM

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Approximately 200 people attended
the Outreach Armenia Forum hosted by the Tekeyan
Cultural Association on Saturday evening, April 12 at
the AGBU Alex and Marie Manoogian School here.

Spearheaded by Edmond and Nora Azadian, the forum was
an effort to familiarize the community with the
numerous non-political organizations which are
extending financial aid and services to Armenia and
Karabagh.

There are many organizations in the community
sponsoring projects in Armenia, but many were unaware
of the others’ activities. This was an opportunity to
view and recognize communitywide support to Armenia.

Nora Azadian extended her appreciation to Edgar
Hagopian for hosting the initial meetings of the
various organization chairs at his World of Rugs
Showroom, Leslie Balian Bush for her technical
assistance and the entire committee for their help in
presenting the forum.

Contributions of 20 charitable organizations and
individuals were featured and recognized. Each
representative briefly outlined the mission,
objectives and history of their organization during a
Powerpoint presentation. A few of the organizations,
such as the AGBU and Knights of Vartan have long
histories, while others were developed following the
earthquake and Armenia’s independence to alleviate new
problems, encourage self-sufficiency and strengthen
ties with the diaspora.

All of the humanitarian and research projects
represented were well received by the audience. In
closing, Master of Ceremonies Edmond Azadian
introduced Hagopian, who commended the participants
for their commitment to Armenia. Hagopian added, "We
are fortunate that the Diaspora has prospered and it
is now our obligation and privilege to provide aid to
sustain our ancestral homeland."

A lavish reception chaired by Taleen Hagopian
followed, where guests mingled with representatives of
the featured organizations.

By Lucy Ardash

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANOTHER TWO CASES ON MARCH 1 EVENTS SENT TO COURT

Noyan Tapan
May 1, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The Northern Criminal Court on April
23 received a criminal case, by which Edik Khachatrian is accused of
keeping ammunition belonging to the owner of the Vanatur Restaurant
Sasun Mikaelian (city of Hrazdan) in the yard of the restaurant’s
fish-farm from October 2007 to March 1, 2008. NT correspondent was
informed about it by spokeswoman for the RA Cassation Court Alina
Yengoyan. By the indictment, in order to hide the crime traces,
E. Khachtrian had thrown the boxes full of ammunition into the lake
near the yard.

The court of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash communities on April
29 received a criminal case, by which Masis Aivazian is charged with
violence against a representative of authorities. According to the
indictment, on March 1st, at about 7:30 am he together with a group
of persons near North Avenue "committed violence, not dangerous for
life or health, by hitting policemen with the hand and foot".

EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC POLICIES OF ARMENIA ARE NOT IN KEEPING WITH EACH OTHER, ECONOMIST EDWARD AGHAJANOV SAYS

Noyan Tapan
May 1, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The structure of the population’s
employment in any country depends on the economic structure of the
given country but in Armenia the employment and economic policies are
not in keeping with each other, economist Edward Aghajanov expressed an
opinion at the May 1 press conference. According to him, the intention
of the Armenian authorities to create a knowledge-based – innovation
economy should result in a change of the structure of employment and
labor in the country: the appropriate specialists are needed for the
country’s innovation economic development.

"Is there a speciality, is there a higher educational institution in
Armenia that prepares personnel for 21st century’s economy?" he asked.

In his words, the problem of obsolescence of knowledge currently exists
in the world. "The world is developing rapidly, with knowledge becoing
obsolescent in parallel with this," he remarked. In this respect,
45-55-year-olds have difficulty in finding a job. E. Aghajanov
said that the most successful solution to the problem was found
in the U.S. where a postgraduate education system was introduced,
which allows persons of the indicated age group to "refresh their
knowledge". No policy in this direction is conducted in Armenia.

Besides, according to E. Aghajanov, there is a problem of legalization
of jobs and salaries in Armenia. "Our country is unique in that 85
workers keep 100 pensioners, and this happens in the case when a
very low level of unemployment as compared with other countries –
7.1% is registered here," he said, adding that problem is in hidden
salaries and workers. He pointed out that in Armenia jobs are created
only through small business.

As for the minimum consumer basket, E. Aghajanov said that according
to official statistics, the average monthly salary makes 76,992 drams
(about 250 USD) in Armenia, which cannot ensure the minimum consumer
basket. Thus, in his words, a working man may also be poor.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL TEAN OF GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLING TO TAKE PART IN INTERNATIONAL RATING COMPETITION IN ROME

Noyan Tapan
May 1, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian national team of Greco-Roman
wrestling left for Rome on April 30 in order to participate in an
international rating competition there. The following wrestlers:
Roman Amoyan (55 kg), Khosrov Melikian (60 kg), Armen Julfalakian
(74 kg), Denis Forov (84 kg) and Arman Geghamian (96 kg) will compete
for the right to take part in the Beijing Olympics.

The last rating competition for Greco-Roman wrestlers will be held
in Novi Sad (Serbia) on May 20-22.

SERGEI MOVSISIAN REPRESENTING SLOVAKIA IS IN GROUP OF LEADERS AT EUROPEAN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
May 1, 2008

PLOVDIV, MAY 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Games of Round 9 of the European Chess
Championship were held on April 30 in Plovdiv (Bulgaria).

7 chess players earned 7 points each out of possible 9 and are
in the group of leaders, including Sergei Movsisian representing
Slovakia. Armenian player Valdimir Hakobian shares 8-9th positions
with 12 participants who earned 6.5 points each.

In women’s tournament, 5 players earned 7 points each and share 1-5th
positions. Lilit Mkrtchian and Elina Danielain have 6 points each
and share 11-22nd places.

FIRST EVENT DEDICATED TO 75th ANNIVERSARY OF ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY HELD AT SYNOPSYS ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
May 1, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Education-science-production cooperation
between State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA – "Polytechnic")
and Synopsys company will be contagious for many, while the RA National
Assembly is ready to encourage and assist with Synopsys’ initiatives,
the speaker of the NA Tigran Torosian during the April 29 festive
event dedicated to 75th anniversary of SEUA. The event was organized
by Synopsys Armenia CJSC – Armenian subsidiary of Synopsys company,
world leader in electronic automated design.

In the words of Rich Goldman, Vice President for Strategic Market
Development of Synopsys and CEO of Synopsys Armenia, SEUA is a
very important university for Armenia and one of the most famous
universities which prepared a great number of qualified engineers
and political figures.

"We are proud of having such good relations with SEUA. It is obvious
that this university will make a great contribution to the the
country’s building," he said.

General manager of Synopsys Armenia Hovik Musaelian in his turn
stated that over the 75 years of its existence, SEUA has implemented
its major mission by ensuring an efficient "university-production"
cooperation. According to him, although Synopsys cooperates with nearly
500 universities worldwide, the company management has repeatedly
noted that the cooperation with SEUA in Armenia is unique by its
nature and significance. The fact that an interdepartmental chair
"Microelectronic Systems and Chips" functions at SEUA shows that
the company has established quite serious cooperation with the
university. About 300 students study at the chair. Nearly 30% of
Synopsys Armenia’s employees are SEUA graduates.

The RA minister of economy Nerses Yeritsian also attached
importance, from the viewpoint of economic development, to the
successful experience of cooperation of Synopsys and SEUA by
education-science-business link. In his words, it is based on this
link that a knowledge-based economy should be built in Armenia. The
state will increase financing of sceintific developments and research,
and the financing experience of Synopsys will be used for calculation
of allocations for this purpose.

Rector of SEUA Vostanik Marukhian said that the event organized by
Synopsys Armenia launches a series of events dedicated to the 75th
anniversary of "Polytechnic", and the fact of holding this event at
Synopsys Armenia shows that the cooperation of SEUA and Synopsys, which
began four and a half years ago, is bearing fruit. In this respect he
considered it imporatnt that some graduates of SEUA interdepartmental
chair "Microelectronic Systems and Chips" now teach at the university,
which contributes to rejuvination of the teaching staff.

ARTSAKH WOULD LIKE TO SET UP RELATIONS WITH IRAN

KarabakhOpen
02-05-2008 12:32:11

"Relations with Iran have special importance in developing
international relations. It should be noted that so far such relations
have encountered problems for different reasons. There are also
preconditions for the development of economic relations between the two
countries. As to the political aspect, Iran already has experience of
a mediator," said the advisor to the NKR foreign minister A. Puluzyan.

In answer to the question what possibilities of promoting relations
with Iran there are, he said the best basis for the development of
relations is the common border. The adviser to the minister says
so far no realistic projects on the use of the border the length of
which is 80 km have been offered.

A. Puluzyan thinks there are considerable prospects for economic
cooperation and investments. Among the factors the adviser noted the
Armenian community in Iran which counts 150 thousand, and which has
a considerable potential for investments.

The adviser also underlined that the Iranian culture is present
in Artsakh.

Evidence to this is the Iranian monuments, mosques in Shushi, Aghdam
and other cities of Artsakh which Azerbaijan ascribes to itself. "We
focus on the preservation of the monuments of Iranian culture. We
also know that the Armenian monuments in Iran are preserved by the
government. It may be a good basis for friendly relations between
the two countries. The NKR government has made efforts to preserve
and restore the Iranian monuments.

This fact should be viewed in the context of the efforts of Azerbaijan
to present the Karabakh conflict to the Conference of Islamic Nations,
for instance, as a religious conflict. However, we can prove that
we have friendly relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran," said
A. Puluzyan.

KARABAKH DID NOT RESPOND TO THE STATEMENT OF THE ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT

KarabakhOpen
02-05-2008 12:32:42

In Karabakh they did not even notice the statement on the settlement
of the Karabakh conflict which the Armenian parliament passed. At
least, neither the official nor the party newspapers mentioned the
statement. As to comments by political and other figures, in Karabakh
they have forgotten about it.

Meanwhile, such a statement should have caused a clash of opinions
or at least public discussions.

There may be several conclusions.

1. The statement has no political importance and was adopted out of
home political aims and conjuncture.

2. The political and information environment of Karabakh does not
respond to events even if they relate to the Karabakh settlement. It
is possible that it has lost reflexes typical of an organism.

3. The link between Armenia and Karabakh has broken, and the events
in Armenia do not "reach" Karabakh.

4. The ties between the governments of Armenia and Karabakh are so
close that decisions simply are not discussed.

CANAR MEETING IN MONTREAL AND PRELACY 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

armradio.am
02.05.2008 11:07

This year’s annual CANAR (Canadian Armenian National Assembly
Representatives) meeting will be marked with the celebration of the
50th anniversary of North America Prelacies over a period of four days,
beginning on Thursday, May 8, 2008.

The celebratory weekend will begin with the official opening of the
CANAR meeting, which will be followed with a special presentation
by Vazken Terzian dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Armenian
Prelacy in North America at 7pm at the Sourp Hagop Armenian Apostolic
Church.

On the same night, an art exhibit and sale, featuring the works of
artists from Armenia and local artist Vatche Arakelian, will take
place at the Montreal Armenian Community Centre’s Aharonian hall.

In honour of the 40th anniversary of the ordination as a celibate
priest of His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of the
Armenian Prelacy of Canada, a night of liturgical hymns will be held
at the Sourp Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church on Friday, May 9, 2008.

The celebratory banquet for the 50th anniversary of the Armenian
Prelacy in North America will be held in the HMEM GAMK gymnasium on
the evening of Saturday, May 10.

His Eminence, Archbishop Hagopian will preside over Divine Liturgy
and will read the encyclical sent by His Holiness Aram I Catholicos
of the Armenian Catholicosate in dedication to the 50th anniversary
of the Prelacy.

PLANNING CONFERENCE OF THE COOPERATIVE LONGBOW/LANCER 08 MILITARY EXERCISES TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
02.05.2008 12:36

May 14-16 the planning conference of NATO’s Cooperative Longbow/Lancer
08 military exercises will take place in Yerevan, Mediamax reported.

The Cooperative Longbow/Lancer 08 exercises will take place in Armenia
in September and will become the most large-scale military exercises
NATO has ever conducted in Armenia.

The Initial Planning Conference of the military exercises took place
in Yerevan at the end of January. 110 experts from 20 countries
participated in the conference.

Addressing the conference, Chief of Staff of Allied Land Component
Command Heidelberg, Brigadier General Claudio Verchellotti informed
that more than 1 000 servicemen will participate in the military
exercises. He noted also that that the military exercises to be held
in Armenia are one of the most important events NATO plans to hold
in 2008.