Month: September 2013

MEMBERSHIP IN ANY ECONOMIC UNION IMPLIES CERTAIN LOSS OF SOVEREIGNTY – RUSSIAN ENVOY

21:10 ~U 19.09.13

Any country joining an international economic union partially concedes
its sovereignty to a supranational body, the Russian ambassador to
Armenia has said.

“That’s natural; there’s nothing criminal, horrific or tragic about
it. By acceding to the Customs Union, Armenia is not fully losing
its sovereignty. If problems need a collective solution, there has
to be a collective body to offer such a solution,” Ivan Volynkin told
a news conference on Thursday.

The diplomat said he hails Armenia’s decision to join the Eurasian
Customs Union. “That’s a good step, a right step in the right
direction.”

The ambassador said Armenia will become a full-fledge member of the
union after completing all the necessary procedures. But he did not
specify any timeframes.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DCFTA: EU DEMANDED INTRODUCING CUSTOMS BORDER WITH KARABAKH?

September 19, 2013 – 18:45 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The chair of the standing parliamentary committee
on foreign relations Artak Zakaryan neither confirmed nor denied the
reports that the EU-Armenia Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area
(DCFTA) envisaged introduction of a customs border with the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, Novosti-Armenia said.

However, he gave a reason behind the unreleased texts of the
Association Agreement and DCFTA: “in international practice,
the documents are not published during negotiations and before the
initialing. With the contents of the document likely to be reformulated
or amendments introduced, it’s unreasonable to publish a new paper
every time it’s done,” Zakaryan said.

“The document contained a number of clauses protecting Armenia’s
interests, However, there were also some paragraphs which technically
contradicted to the principles of the Customs Union, and now the
European side is unwilling to initial the document in the agreed form,”
the parliamentarian added.

According to Panorama.am, a member of the Republican Party of Armenia
execute body Gagik Minasyan believes that Armenia’s accession to the
Customs Union will lead to recognition of the NKR as the international
entity.

“This is the reason why Azerbaijan, wary of the danger of the NKR’s
de facto recognition, takes every effort to undermined integration
processes in the framework of the customs Union, involving Armenia,”
he said. The Armenia-EU ties have cooled down following President
Sargsyan’s voicing Armenia’s readiness to join Customs Union, with
further plans to be involved in formation of Eurasian Economic Union.

However, later the European Commission said that the Association
Agreement (including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area) with
Armenia can be compatible with economic cooperation with the members
of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

When in St. Petersburg to attend the G20 summit, European Council
President Herman Van Rompuy said that Armenia, Moldova, and, if
possible, Ukraine will hopefully sign the Association Agreement at
the Vilnius Summit in November 2013.

“This is a political agreement. The Agreement would allow Armenia to
go through comprehensive change both politically and economically.

Therefore, after getting the news about Armenia’s plans of joining the
Custom’s Union the EU expects to hear from Armenia what her further
plans are. We have not received official explanations from Armenia,
yet we don’t think this is a zero sum game and the same refers to
Ukraine. Some benchmarks will be necessary to meet. There are some
outstanding issues but we hope to see results in Vilnius. We are still
engaged with these countries and still expect to sign the Association
Agreements,” he said.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Stefan Fule, the European Commissioner for
Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, said that the European
Parliament is not going to initialize either the Associated Agreement
or the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with Armenia, as it’s
not compatible with membership in the Customs Union.

From: A. Papazian

CSTO RAPID DEPLOYMENT FORCE BEGINS DRILLS IN BELARUS

17:01, 19 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: The Interaction-2013 military
exercises of the Collective rapid deployment force of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) were officially kicked off at the
Osipovichsky firing range in Belarus on Thursday, CSTO press secretary
Vladimir Zainetdinov told Itar-Tass, as reported by Armenpress.

According to Zainetdinov, these drills are being held concurrently
with other military exercises, the Russian-Belarusian strategic
drills Zapad-2013. The Interaction-2013 exercises will drill skills
of the collective rapid deployment force in case of terrorist groups’
penetration into the territory of a member state of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization.

The drills involve over 600 servicemen, about 60 units of combat
hardware and up to 15 planes and helicopters from Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. The Russian armed
grouping makes a third of all participants in the drills. The
paratroopers will be represented by two operative groups, namely the
command staff and a tactical battalion of the 31st guards separate air
assault (peacekeeping) brigade, which includes an air assault company,
a self-propelled artillery squadron and a reconnaissance platoon. The
Russian Air Force is represented by six airplanes IL-76MD from Tver
and six helicopters of army aviation.

Earlier Armenpress reported that Armenia will participate in the joint
military exercises Cooperation 2013 of the Rapid Reaction Forces
of the Collective Security Treaty Organization with 50 officers
and servicemen. The participation in such exercises raises the
efficiency of any army. The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense
of the Republic of Armenia Artsrun Hovhannisyan noted that Armenia is
always ready to take part in the exercises and considers it to be quite
important. “We are participating in different military trainings every
year and it will be continuative”, – clarified Artsrun Hovhannisyan.

In 2012 the Cooperation 2012 was held in Armenia. The event was
attended by the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, the Minister of
Defense of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan, the head of the operative and
combat training department of the CSTO united staff Vladimir Ustinov,
other senior servicemen and the representatives of CSTO secretariat.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization was signed in 1992, May
15. Armenia, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan are among the CSTO member states.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

From: A. Papazian

BAREV YEREVAN BLOC DISTRUSTFUL OF CITY HALL’S TRANSPORT FARE POLICIES

16:57 19.09.13

The Yerevan city council’s opposition bloc has expressed unwillingness
to attend the debates devoted to the transport fares.

In a statement, the representatives of the Barev Yerevan (Hello,
Yerevan) bloc say they are not going to take part in the activities
of the commission expected to consider the transport fares in the
capital city.

The bloc says that the decision was made at a September 18 session.

The Barev Yerevan representatives argue that the municipality’s
earlier decisions to raise public transport were not proportional,
and were made in violation of the laws.

They further claim that a mayoral proposal for creating the commission
is neither justified nor well-worded in terms of specifying procedures.

They find that it would be more appropriate to discuss the issue on the
level of a temporary commission to be created by the Elders’ Council.

Barev Yerevan had earlier applied to the Administrative Court with
a demand for declaring the earlier decision on transport fare hike
null and void.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION TAKES PART IN IAEA GENERAL CONFERENCE

20:45, 19 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: On September 16 in Vienna began
its works 57th session of general conference of United Nations’
International Atomic Energy Agency.

“Armenpress” was informed from Armenian Foreign affairs ministry that
in the conference takes part Armenian delegation headed by the Minister
of energy and natural resources Armen Movsisyan. In the delegation are
included Deputy Minister of energy and natural resources Areg Galstyan,
permanent representative of Armenia in international organizations
located in Vienna, ambassador of Armenia in Austria Arman Kirakosyan
and other representatives of the sphere.

On September 17 with s speech performed head of Armenian delegation
Armen Movsisyan. The minister reverberated to various spheres of
cooperation between Armenia and International Atomic Energy Agency.

In framework of general conference Armenian delegation held meetings
with several high-rank officials from the organization as well as
delegations from other countries.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

OBITUARY: CHARLOTTE KECHEJIAN, 100

By Contributor // September 19, 2013 in Obituaries

Charlotte (Arsha) Kechejian, 100, of New York, passed away peacefully
on Sept. 10. She was born in Nigde, Turkey on Oct. 21, 1912 to the late
Setrak and Elmone Avakian. As a young child, she endured the horror of
the Armenian Genocide, including her father’s murder. Young Arsha lived
in an orphanage where her mother was a nurse. Over time, they made
their way across the desert of Syria, through Lebanon, then by ship
to France, and arrived at Ellis Island in New York when she was 10.

Charlotte Kechejian

Arsha was eager to learn and loved the New York Public Library,
where she expanded her English-language skills. Her mother re-married,
and Charlotte welcomed a brother, Charlie Genjian. She graduated from
Washington Irving High School in New York, and worked in retail.

When Charlotte was 19, she married the love of her life, the late
Oscar Kechejian, in 1932. Initially, they lived in Washington Heights,
and then moved to New Rochelle, where she raised her family. Shortly
after Oscar’s death in 1976, she moved to Fort Lee, N.J., and enjoyed
living near Charlie and watching her family expand with grandchildren.

Throughout her life, she was an active and loving mother, grandmother,
sister, neighbor, and friend.

In recent years, Charlotte took residence at the New York Armenian home
in Flushing. She was a vibrant member of the community and remained
an active voice to remember and recognize the Armenian Genocide. In
2010, Charlotte went to Washington, D.C. to testify at a hearing of
the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Armenian Genocide Resolution
252. With her testimony, the resolution passed.

As recently as April, she attended the 98th commemoration of the
atrocities in Times Square. With the 100th anniversary of the genocide
approaching, Charlotte offered interviews and first-hand accounts
of what happened. In March she told reporters, “I remember feeling
so tired and hungry, but my mother kept telling me to walk just a
little more.”

“I miss my father,” she added, shaking her head. “I miss him.”

Charlotte is survived by her three children, Edward Kechejian (Lynn)
of Florida, Madeline Magarian (the late Aram Magarian) of New York,
and Gregory Kechejian (Diane) of New Jersey. She is also survived by
six grandchildren, Eric Kechejian, Christine (Kechejian) Miles, Michael
Magarian, Paul Kechejian, Sarah Kechejian, and Lauren Kechejian, and
10 great-grandchildren. Charlotte is also survived by her brother,
Charles Genjian (Grace) of New Jersey, along with many nephews,
nieces, cousins. and friends.

Funeral services were held on Sept. 12 at the Armenian Church of the
Holy Martyrs in Bayside, N.Y., followed by the burial beside Oscar
at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to
either the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs (209-15 Horace Harding
Expressway, Bayside, NY 11364) or the New York Armenian Home (137-31
45th Avenue, Flushing, NY 11355).

AGENDA OF US CONGRESS PRO-ARMENIAN GROUP HAS BEEN DISCUSSED

19:39, 19 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: Ambassador extraordinary and
plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia in the United States of
America Tatul Margaryan on September 18 held a meeting with newly
appointed co-chair of pro-Armenian group in US Congress Michael Grimm.

“Armenpress” was informed from press service of Armenian foreign
ministry that ambassador Margaryan congratulated Grimm on occasion
of holding the co-chair post and wished successes in implementation
f his duties.

Congressman Grimm reconfirmed his commitment to continue his principal
position in issues relating to Armenia and Armenian nation. Ambassador
Margaryan and Congressman Grimm discussed wide range of issues included
in agenda of US Congress pro-Armenian group.

The interlocutors exchanged opinions on Armenia’s foreign policy,
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and regional issues.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN ACTIVISTS PLAN INDEPENDENCE DAY PROCESSION

17:40 19.09.13

A group of civic activists are organizing a pan-national procession
on September 21 in an effort to big together the different classes
of the Armenian society to celebrate the independence day.

At a news conference on Thursday, one of the initiators of the event,
Karen Tovmsyan, said they are first of all concerned by the President
Serzh Sargsyan’s somewhat unexpected decision about joining the
Customs Union.

“The statements which Serzh Sargsyan and the Armenian authorities make
vary from day to day. The Armenian authorities, which have not been
elected by the Armenian people, are very frivolous in their conduct.

The unelected president thinks it unnecessary to let the people know
what he is going to do with the country and its population tomorrow.”

Tovmasyan said the group is calling on people to take to the streets
on September 21 to reaffirm the choice which they made 22 years ago
for living independently in they own state.

“The country’s social situation is highly dependent on independence.

We, the Republic of Armenia citizens, are the master’s of this country,
and it is only for us to decide how we wish to live and with whom. We
even have independence fixed on paper, but it isn’t the reality,”
said the activist.

A STROLL THROUGH YEREVAN ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

Thursday, September 19th, 2013

BY CATHERINE YESAYAN

Saturday September 21, is Armenian Independence Day, which I’d say
holds a special place in the hearts of all Armenians. It certainly does
for me. The day signifies an important milestone, the realization of
a dream held for generations that suddenly and unexpectedly happened
22 years ago after the fall of the Soviet Union.

This year I’m going to celebrate Armenian Independence Day here in
Glendale, but last year I had the great opportunity to be in the
beautiful city of Yerevan. It was a crisp Friday morning, around 77F.

What I had always heard is definitely true: the best time to visit
Yerevan is at the end of September. Indeed, it was so enjoyable to
walk along the wide sidewalks. The city absolutely sparkled with
newly refurbished sidewalks and streets. Everything looked so fresh.

I had guests who were visiting Armenia. It was a perfect day to stroll
along the streets of Yerevan and show them all the sites. The mature
sycamore trees lining the main streets were shining in the sunlight
and everything looked so clean and effervescent. The tricolor flags
had been hoisted all over the city and along the streets just a few
days earlier. The sight of them made my blood boil.

We started from Freedom Square, where the Opera is. We took a few
pictures of the tricolor flags set in the center of the square and
waving gracefully in the wind. Then we proceeded to the Opera, where
I wanted to check at the box office about upcoming cultural events.

>From the Opera, we passed by a few cafes and then came to Swan’s Lake.

We took photos of the lake and the swans swimming there. Then we took
a few more photos of the abstract statue of Arno Babajanian playing
piano. I was full of pride – as if I owned the city.

>From Swan Lake, we made our way through the newly-constructed
pedestrian Northern Avenue to Republic Square where last-minute
preparations were underway for the evening celebration. A light show
and a concert were expected to bring thousands to the square.

Walking along Northern Avenue, we encountered a full throttle of
Independence Day spirit. There we met groups of young people, marching
with flags wrapped around their shoulders or hoisted in their hands.

They were chanting upbeat patriotic slogans, and the sound carried
across the street.

A scene from Yerevan on Independence Day

It was so heartwarming to see those kids, our next generation of
leaders, keeping the spirit of the Day alive. I had imagined they
had no idea how dear Independence Day was to us. For centuries,
under different rulers, we had strived to regain our independence,
and now we have it.

Most people were wearing either tricolor or orange shirts. Young women
were wearing fashionable tricolor headbands. Most carried small flags
in their hands. It seemed everyone in the city had come outside for
the celebration. I met some friends that had traveled long distances
to be there for the occasion.

We sat at a cafe to have a bite. My eyes traveled to all corners
of the street, soaking in the spirit of the day. Young artists were
painting tricolor tattoos on young peoples’ arms or faces. The charge
was 200 dram (50 cents). I regretted that I didn’t purchase one.

More than not having a tattoo, I regretted that we had missed standing
outside on Northern Avenue during early morning hours when the state
philharmonic orchestra and state academic choir had put together a
“flash-mob” concert. But, thanks to YouTube, we can still have the
pleasure of listening to it.

That’s how the laid-back city of Yerevan, last year, celebrated
Independence Day.

HACOPIAN LEADS NEW YEAR AT GCC

Thursday, September 19th, 2013

Dr. Armine Hacopian

GLENDALE-Glendale Community College starts the year with the most
senior board member, Dr. Armine Hacopian, as one of the five board
members at the helm.

Dr. Armine Hacopian was reelected to the GCC board for a fourth term
last April. Due to her hard work, commitment, educational, and career
choices she has served as an outstanding role model for students.

Hacopian came to the USA at the age of 16, in 1969, unable to speak
any English. She had always been an outstanding student, so she was
determined to not allow a language barrier to stop her from achieving
and accomplishing. By the end of her first year, she had already
decided that she would choose the field of education as a career
path, with the goal to help newcomers overcome challenges faced when
migrating to the USA. To this day she is following her passion of
helping others through education, as was the promise she made to her
ailing father.

Hacopian’s father experienced the acts of Genocide, first-hand, at the
age of five, as he watched the slaughter of his mother and father and
his extended family, while hiding in the shrubs. Paralyzed with fear,
he didn’t move for several days. He was found days later and rushed
to an orphanage, where, along with scores of other homeless children,
he was subjected to abuse. Needless to say he grew up without any
love or tenderness, nor education. Later he became self educated
in the art of photography, and through great effort and hard work,
he was hired as the official photographer of the Shah of Iran.

Therefore, he raised his children by instilling in them the belief that
education was critical for success in life. He provided encouragement
that his children needed to focus and shine in at least one area,
to have big dreams, and never to forget to help those in need. Armine
being one of his children, took this to heart and based her life on
this one piece of advice.

In honor of her father, Armine became a life long learner, she
continued many years of education beyond earning a BA. With two
MAs, six credentials, and a doctorate in educational leadership and
supervision, Dr. Hacopian has become one of the first Armenian-American
women to break down career boundaries by seeking an elected political
office for an institution of higher learning.

Hacopian has learned from her mother how to be dedicated to an
organization with unconditional love, as her mother (Anelka Shirvanian
Shadakhouni) has been one of the longest serving members of ARS for
more than fifty years. Hacopian has brought that unconditional love
and commitment to GCC.

Throughout her career, Dr. Hacopian has been extremely busy in
leadership roles, helping her community thrive by belonging to various
community service organizations. Being a board member of the League
of Women Voters, the goal to educate the community to become better
informed voters has been an on going passion. Currently, she also
serves on the Royal Canyon Property Owners Association where she has
brought joint concerns between GCC and the neighbors for discussions
and solutions.

She was one of the co-chairs who helped pass a $98million dollar
bond measure for capital improvements at GCC. Through her genuine
hard work, and with the support of her co-trustees, the Garfield
campus construction plan received an additional funding of two
million dollars. Her new effort will be towards focusing on the
new construction plan – which will start very soon at GCC – of the
Student Services Lab building, where many of the student services
will be housed, built with state funding.

During her career, Dr. Hacopian has been an outstanding teacher,
department chair, counselor, and coordinator of Even Start Family
Literacy program, through which she was able to work closely with Head
Start and provide parenting classes and mitigate domestic abuse as
a result. She also was an ESL specialist, helping teachers improve
their skills as they worked with students, whose primary language
was not English.

In addition, she has been on K-12 and college accreditation teams,
both internal and external. She has presented at numerous conferences,
focusing on motivation, diversity, education, and workplace sexual
harassment prevention and its impact on victims. Serving on doctoral
dissertation committees has been another recent commitment of hers.

She was a consultant for the Department of Affirmative Action of
La County, where she was able to train sexual harassment prevention
and understanding differences to the executives and upper management
teams. A trainer of trainers, she has been a sought after consultant
in the areas of career transitions, diversity understanding, and
sexual harassment prevention, communication and conflict management,
program reviews and leadership evaluations, and motivating employees
are just to name a few.

One of Dr. Hacopian’s experiences most dear to her heart was being a
co-founder of a private Armenian School in Glendale (currently named
Chamilian and Tufenkian Preschool). For more than twelve years, she
was a member of the Western Prelacy Board of Regents dedicating her
time and commitment to Western Prelacy Armenian schools in California.

Due to her extensive accomplishments, dedication and service, Dr.

Hacopian has been recognized by being awarded various prestigious
honors. Most recently she was honored by the California State Senate
as “Woman of the Year” (2012), the Commission on the Status of Women’s
“Woman of Courage, Jewel of Glendale” award (2013), and a Congressional
Recognition as “Woman of the Year” (2013), awarded by Congressman
Adam Schiff. Other honors include the Armenian Cultural Conference
“Woman of the Year” (1997), the Armenian-American Chamber of Commerce
“Business Woman of the Year” (2009), and the Armenian Educational
Foundation’s “Educator of The Year” (2003).

Since 2001, she has been the president of the Glendale Community
College Board of Trustees for three different terms and as the past
immediate GCC board president, she dedicated all her energy toward
leading the college through a very tough budgetary cycle, and hiring
a new superintendent/president.

The best recognition for Dr. Hacopian’s hard work is the fact that she
had no opposition this last April for her fourth term election. She
appreciates the community’s trust in her efforts to be an excellent
Glendale Community College Board Member.

In an interview, Dr. Hacopian indicated that her best accomplishment
was to be married to Vahe Hacopian, a long time board member in
the Armenian Educational Foundation. It is important to note that
Vahe and Armine met each other when they were both in the AYF “Mousa
Dagh” Chapter. They have two daughters who have each gone to AYF Camp
since age eight, attended Tufenkian Preschool and Chamlian. For six
weeks as part of their missionary work in Armenia, both daughters
participated in Armenia’s Land and Culture organization, where each
stayed in Armenia’s Gogaran and Sagmosavank villages and proudly
helped excavate these churches, keeping Hacopian’s father’s (Sako
Shadakhouni) dream alive.

The Hacopian’s have five grandkids who attend Tufenkian Preschool
and Chamilian Elementary School.