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TIPS FOR FAMILY FUN BY JANE KWIATKOWSKI

Buffalo News
October 08, 2009, 6:51 AM

1. Make a Halloween milk mustache! That’s just one workshop this
Columbus Day at Explore &More Children’s Museum in East Aurora, 300
Gleed Ave. Apple coring and sauce-making commence at 10:30 a. m. At
11:30, a 20- minute puppet show will teach kids ages 5 to 7 about
healthful foods. From 1 to 3 p. m. join the people from the "Got Milk"
tour for some chocolate milk fun. Admission is $5.

2. Celebrate the mellow cello with a young blood. Cellist Narek
Hakhnazaryan, a 20-year-old Armenian, will wow the Mary Seaton Room
this weekend with his powerful and colorful sound. Fresh from his
debut this summer with the Boston Pops, Hakhnazaryan is a veteran of
several international competitions. Catch his act for free, courtesy
of the Buffalo Chamber Music Society, at 3 p. m. Sunday in Kleinhans
Music Hall, 71 Symphony Circle.

3. Call it a preview of winter. "Ice Age III: Dawn of the Dinosaurs"
screens at

11 a. m. and 1:30 p. m. Saturday at the Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St.

in North Tonawanda. When Sid is abducted to an underground lost world,
will his friends be able to

rescue him? Find out for $3.

4. Do the Arachnid Eight-Step. Then dance your way through the world
of spiders, scorpions and harvest men from 1 to 2:30 p. m. Sunday
at Knox Farm State Park. Learn why we should not fear most of the
beneficial allies that make up the third-largest group of living
things on Earth. Call 826- 8895 to reserve your web at 437 Buffalo
Road, East Aurora.

[email protected]

PROTESTING THE PROTOCOLS
By Melanie Hicken

Glendale News Press
October 7, 2009 7:21 PM PDT

Stop The Protocols supporters chained themselves together and placed
tape on their mouths during hunger strike across the street from the
Armenian Consulate on Glenoaks Blvd. at Central Ave. in Glendale on
Wednesday. The group of about 32 protestors began their vigil Monday
night and will be there until Friday night. (Raul Roa/News-Press)
Activists want Turkey to recognize the 1915 genocide before signing
papers.

GLENDALE — As lunchtime neared Wednesday, 17-year-old Vana Aprahamian
hadn’t consumed anything but water for 35 hours. Her fast would
continue until Friday at midnight.

"I think the first day was the most difficult day," she said, speaking
barely above a whisper to save energy. "You don’t feel hungry any
more. You just feel weak."

Aprahamian is one of 32 protesters taking part in a 96-hour hunger
strike on Glenoaks Boulevard across from the Armenian Consulate to
protest protocols for new official talks between Armenia and Turkey.

The talks are a part of a "road map" agreed upon last spring for
normalizing diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia and
opening their shared border. The proposed deal still must receive
Parliamentary approval from both countries.

The two countries have long clashed over the mass killings of
Armenians in 1915 at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey refuses
to categorize the deaths as genocide and has strongly fought against
any formal recognition of the massacres.

The Armenian Youth Federation and members of the Stop the Protocols
campaign organized the strike to send a message to the leadership of
Armenia to not take part in the talks. In recent weeks, thousands
of Armenians have gathered in massive rallies, including one in
Pelanconi Park.

Protesters said they were most enraged about the proposed formation
of a historical commission to look into the validity of the Armenian
Genocide.

"If the protocols get signe e Armenian Genocide into question," said
24-year-old Berj Parseghian, a co-organizer of the strike. "And that
is not acceptable."

While the mass killings occurred in 1915, Parseghian said the youngest
generation of Armenians still feel personally affected by the genocide.

"We’ve seen our grandparents’ pain," he said.

Close to noon Wednesday, many of the hunger strikers huddled together
on a bright blue tarp covered in blankets. The hunger, they said,
left them exhausted and not wanting to move. Many clutched water
bottles in compliance with a doctor’s recommendation that all strikers
consume two liters of water a day.

"Everyone is really in slow motion right now," Parseghian said.

When not resting, the strikers assembled at various corners of the
intersection of Glenoaks Boulevard and Central Avenue standing in
front of large banners that read "hunger strike" as Armenian flags
waved to honking cars.

Every two hours they assembled in various demonstrations for passing
cars and pedestrians. They chained themselves together and donned
red tape on their mouths for a silent demonstration.

Co-organizer Patil Aslanian, 21, said the outpouring of support from
the community had kept them going.

Hundreds of people came out Tuesday night for a rally, and so
far dozens of people have stopped by at various times to provide
encouragement, she said. And other young people have joined the strike
as part-time strikers who will fast for at least 48 hours.

"The numbers keep growing and growing," she said. "The community is
really heated about the issue."

ALEXANDER ARZUMANYAN: OPEN BORDER DOESN’T IMPLY ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.10.2009 15:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The problem with recognition of the Armenian
Genocide emerged the day Armenia proclaimed the issue as priority of
its foreign policy, according to former Armenian Foreign Minister.

At that, Alexander Arzumanyan said that Armenian authorities should
support Diaspora’s worldwide campaign for Genocide recognition.

"Opening of the Armenian-Turkish border is a necessity, as it’s
abnormal to have closed borders in civilized world. But open border
doesn’t imply establishment of diplomatic relations," he said.

As to Armenia-Turkish protocols, he said that the provision on
formation of commission of historians arouses serious concerns.

PIERRE BALIAN: THE DAY OF THE SHORT PROGRAM, I WAS SUFFERING FROM MUSCLE CRAMPS

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.10.2009 21:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Representing Armenia for the first time in Nebelhorn
Trophy tournament (Obersdorf), single skater Pierre Balian held final
position in tournament list. In an interview with a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter he accounted for that by poor health condition.

"The day of the short program, I was suffering from muscle cramps in
my legs that was very severe. I was not completely healthy and did
the best I could given the circumstances," he said.

In U.S. junior and adult championships, Balian held 8th and 18th
position respectively, Earlier, he trained under coaches Irina
Rodnina and Alexey Mishnin. Figure skaters usually end their career
at age 25-27. Balian, already 25, is expected to represent Armenia
in 1-2 years.

WSJ, ICG AND ARMENIA’S SILENCE: A FAMILIAR FORMULA FOR A FAIT ACCOMPLI
By Ara Khachatourian

sj-icg-and-armenia%e2%80%99s-silence-a-familiar-fo rmula-for-a-fait-accompli/
Oct 7th, 2009

A constant has emerged in the suspense/surprise-filled processes that
have dominated our national agenda this past year. The Wall Street
Journal and the International Crisis Group have become harbingers of
sort for heralding a fait accompli for Armenia.

It was in late March that the Wall Street Journal reported on
the specifics of what became widely known as the "roadmap" to
Turkey-Armenia rapprochement. That report was immediately-if not
simultaneously-followed by a heavily biased report from a so-called
independent think tank known as the International Crisis Group.

Both foreshadowed a deal in mid-April that would pave the way for
the normalization of ties between Armenia and Turkey. Both reports
were also rife with hints at preconditions, including the need for
an immediate resolution to the Karabakh conflict, by way of alluding
to an agreement by Armenian and Azeri leaders about withdrawal of
Armenian forces from the liberated territories and the establishment
of a historic commission to study the Armenian Genocide.

Fast forward to October (the eve of a meeting between Serzh Sarkisian
and Ilham Aliyev on Thursday in Moldova and a previously announced
schedule for Armenia and Turkey to sign the protocols on Saturday)
and the Wall Street Journal prints an interview with Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who says that protocols will be signed
regardless of the outcome of the Moldova meeting and the ICG’s report
includes a multi-point assessment, which claims that Armenian and
Azeri leaders have already "broadly" agreed to a pullout and should
prepare their respective public for an eventual peace deal.

Erdogan also said the two processes – a resolution of the Karabakh
conflict and rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia – remain linked,
and that a positive outcome at this week’s talks, to be held in
Moldova, would help overall.

"This is perhaps the most important point – that Armenia should not
allow its policies to be taken hostage by the Armenian Diaspora,"
Erdogan told the Wall Street Journal.

Erdogan also reiterated earlier claims that an agreement has already
been reached on the withdrawal from five of the seven liberated
territories, with the fate of Lachin and Kelbajar, reportedly, still
up in the air.

On the heels of these reports also came an announcement late Tuesday
by Turkish President Abdullah Gul, inviting world historians to a
commission that is tasked to study the Armenian Genocide.

"There are all sorts of allegations about what happened a century
ago. It is clear that people who do not know what happened where or
how are not able to take decisions on this matter," Gul said in an
interview with Agence France Presse.

"What we hope is that historians, archive specialists study this matter
and we are ready to accept the conclusions of this commission. To
show that we are sincere, we even said that if a third country is
interested in this matter, if French historians, for example, want
to take part in this commission, they are welcome," he added on the
eve of a visit to France.

President Sarkisian has spent a better part of his week on Diaspora
tour telling his audiences in Paris, New York, Los Angeles,
Beirut and the Russian port city of Rostov that such a commission
is not stipulated in the protocols and assuring that whatever
historical discussion that is to take place, within the framework
of Armenia-Turkey ties, would be a discussion of post-Genocide
historical matters.

Gul’s statements are seen as a direct challenge to Sarkisian’s
assertions during his tour, which was met with angry protests
during all but one stop: the Russian city of Rostov. There, leading
Russian-Armenian organizations issued an announcement opposing the
protocols’ provisions that

If an agreement is to be signed on Saturday clearly there is a major
disconnect between the signatories.

While in Beirut, Sarkisian stressed that the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide is "not only a matter of the restoration of justice,
but also a major circumstance from the viewpoint of the security of
Armenia and the Armenian people." "It is a necessity," the president
stressed.

Furthermore, he underscored: "The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will
get a solution only when we see that we’ve got what our people have
struggled for since 1988."

Gul’s blatant denial of the Genocide also goes counter to President
Obama’s wide support for the protocols, since he urged Turkey in
March to come to terms with its own history and acknowledge the past.

At press time, official Yerevan had no comment.

It is precisely for these and other more overbearing reasons that
Armenia should immediately pull out of this process and not enter
into such a critical agreement so hastily.

"DECISION MUST BE MADE BY THE RA AND NOT BY DIASPORA"

10/7/edward-sharmazanov
04:57 pm | October 07, 2009

Politics

"Judging by the protests against Armenian-Turkish relations, one
gets the impression that in 1920 Kars was ceded by Serzh Sargsyan and
Republican Party," says Spokesman for the Republican Party of Armenia
(HHK) Edward Sharmazanov.

"Serzh Sargsyan and HHK have signed neither the Batumi, nor
the Alexandropol and Moscow Treaties," said the insulted HHK
parliamentarian.

The HHK Spokesman notes that Serzh Sargsyan signed the 1994 ceasefire
treaty which asserts Armenia’s glorious victory.

"HHK’s stands firm in its opinion on Armenian-Turkish Protocols
which will be signed in their present form. I assure you that Serzh
Sargsyan wouldn’t sign the Protocols if they conflicted with Armenia’s
interests.

Before Serzh Sargsyan’s pan-Armenian tour everyone knew that the
pre-signed documents wouldn’t be accepted unanimously. We are
well-disposed to all civilized concerns if they are within limits."

Obviously, both the Diaspora and Armenia protest against the
Protocols. What is the aim of Sargsyan’s visit if he ignores the wave
of protest?

In reply to A1+, Edward Sharmazanov said: "We surely take into
consideration the opinion of our Diasporan compatriots. But we must
realize that a political decision over Armenian-Turkish relations
must be taken by the Republic of Armenia, its president, National
Assembly and other state bodies."

The HHK Mp reiterated that the Protocols set no preconditions. "The
Genocide issue is not a matter of dispute. Moreover, the Karabakh
conflict has no linkage to normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties.

Edward Sharmazanov today made a most striking announcement:
"Recognition of the Armenian Genocide is our first and foremost
concern today. We have a neighbour who refutes the Genocide but the
most important is that Armenian authorities do not refute it."

SERGE SARGSYAN’S SPEECH IN BEIRUT

15440.html
13:15:08 – 07/10/2009

On October 6, in Beirut, Serge Sargsyan met with the Armenian
communities of the Near East, Egypt, Iran and Persian Gulf.

As the press office of the president reports, before the meeting, the
Head of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia his Holiness
Aram I visited him. Serge Sargsyan and Aram I dwelt on issues regarding
the pre-signed Armenian -Turkish protocols and Armenian and Turkish
relations.

Serge Sargsyan held a speech during a supper organized in connection
with his visit to Beirut. In his speech, he dwelt on the survival of
many Armenians after the genocide and on their strength which helped
them live and prosper all over the world. He said that today Armenia
and Armenians face many problems -economic, political and others. But
according to him, when we compare the decades, we see that we have
never had more convenient conditions.

Serge Sargsyan also said that he is there, in Beirut, because he
needs to listen to the worries of the Diasporian Armenians because
it really helps him in his work. As well as, he says he went there
to persuade them to trust Armenia. According to him, Armenia has
many friends in the world, but there are also those who have hostile
behavior towards Armenia and want to split Armenia from Karabakh and
Armenia from the Diaspora.

Serge Sargsyan stated that we need modern solutions perceivable for the
world and for the Armenian reality. He said sure that our collective
mind will find those solutions. He stated that today we have numerous
fronts of struggle and we are together-Armenia, Karabakh and Diaspora,
and with such a front, we are invincible and immortal.

EASTERN PARTNERSHIP NOT TO BE EFFECTIVE WITHOUT CONCRETE RESULTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.10.2009 19:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Eastern Partnership initiative is aimed at promoting
cooperation among 6 post-Soviet countries and establishing dialogue
among member states for strengthening security, Eastern Partnership
Czech coordinator Miloš Lexa told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter during
a news conference in Yerevan. "We realize that there is a conflict
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and such policy is aimed at trying
to find long-term solutions," European diplomat said.

Czech Republic, he said, viewed Eastern Partnership as a key
issue. "We’ll try to convince our EU colleagues that Eastern
Partnership will not be effective without tangible and concrete
results," Lexa said.

With regard to establishing minimal ties with unrecognized states,
he said the issue will not be put to discussion for now, since there
was no concrete response.

ARMENIA TO START NEXT YEAR TALKS WITH EU ON DEEP AND COMPREHENSIVE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

ARKA
Oct 7, 2009

YEREVAN, October 7. /ARKA/. A deputy economy minister Vahe Danielian
said today next year Armenia will start talks with the European Union
on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.

According to the ministry of economy, unlike the classical trade
regime, the free trade regime is more liberal offering a wide range of
pricing privileges. He said to qualify Armenia will need to improve its
legislations and bring them in conformity with European legislations.

The possibility of such an agreement is a key element of the EU’s
Eastern Partnership program that offers six former Soviet republics
much closer integration with the 27-nation bloc in return for political
and economic reforms.

Vahe Danielian said Armenia will have to completely revise its
standardization and metrology systems and remove other trade obstacles.

Danielian was speaking at an international seminar of development of
quality demand-based infrastructure in Armenia.

He said before Armenian businessmen could freely sell their produces
in Europe ‘We need to bring our metrology and standardization systems
in conformity with the European systems after we complete the talks
and sign the agreement.’ He said this means that Armenian goods will
not need to go through additional certification procedures and the
free trade agreement would give Armenian exporter s greater access
to the affluent European Markets free from tariffs.

Armenia and the EU began talks on free trade in 2007. The EU has long
been Armenia’s largest trading partner, accounting for 35 percent of
its external trade last year.

Trade turnover in 2008 was $1.94 billion. Until the end of 2008 Armenia
was subject to EU’s GSP trade regime paying lesser customs dues. On
January 1, 2009 Armenia shifted to GSP+ trade regime, which applies
to 6,400 names of goods with zero customs dues. Armenia has free
trade agreement’s with Russia, the United States, Canada and Japan.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN CONGRATULATES PUTIN ON BIRTHDAY

armradio.am
07.10.2009 19:01

President Serzh Sargsyan issued a congratulatory message on the
occasion of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The message reads:

"Dear Mr. Putin,

Accept, please, my sincere congratulations and wishes on your birthday.

Invaluable is your personal contribution to the development of the
Armenian-Russian strategic partnership. I’m confident that our joint
work based on mutual trust and respect will also contribute to the
development and deepening of traditional friendship between Armenia
and Russia.

Availing myself of the opportunity, I’d like to wish you health,
happiness and success in your state activity.