Author: Andres-Papazian

JUNE 20 IS WORLD REFUGEE DAY: 44 MILLION PEOPLE ARE NOW DISPLACED WORLDWIDE
Artak Barseghyan

“Radiolur”
20.06.2011 19:00

The UN General Assembly, on 4 December 2000, adopted resolution
55/76 where it noted that 2001 marked the 50th anniversary of the
1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and that the
Organization of African Unity (OAU) had agreed to have International
Refugee Day coincide with Africa Refugee Day on 20 June.

The General Assembly therefore decided that, from 2001, 20 June would
be celebrated as World Refugee Day.

This year the UN refugee agency, in its 60th year marks World Refugee
Day with a rich and varied programme of events in locations worldwide
and the launch of a new global awareness campaign.

UNHCR has started rolling out the multimedia “One” campaign. Over
the next six months it will increase awareness about the forcibly
displaced and stateless by telling their powerful personal stories.

The campaign carries the message that “One Refugee without Hope is too
Many.” Every day, millions of refugees face murder, rape and terror.

We believe even 1 is too many.”

“44 million people are now displaced worldwide, 37 million were
displaced by conflict,” Representative of the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees Damtew Dessalegne told a press conference in Yerevan today.

According to Mr. Dessalegne, about 10 million refugees are under
UNHCR’s care. UNHCR implemented programs worth $32 mln in Armenia
between 1994 and 2010. According to him, today it continues supporting
the most vulnerable layers.

82 884 people have been granted citizenship of the Republic of
Armenia since 1996. Today there are about 3 thousand people with
refugee status in Armenia, who mostly fled from Azerbaijan 20 years
ago. Mr. Dessalegne hopes they will also apply for RA citizenship
in the near future.

From: A. Papazian

The program of peasant crediting will continue

15.06.2011 | 12:57 | | Noyan Tapan | Economy

(Noyan Tapan – 15.06.2011) During the last two months, RA government
undertook such called program of peasant crediting. It took the
currency risks of the banks and the compensation of 4-6 percentage
point of interest charges. As the president of RA Central Bank Arthur
Javadyan said during the press conference on June 14, during the last
two months loans of 7.5 billion drams (over 20 million dollars) were
given to 12000 peasant households. The average amount of one loan is
625000 drams, (over 1, 7000 dollars). The loans are privileged, one
begins to pay a percent six months later, by the way due to the
support of the government a peasant gets 10 (and in 15 percent poor
communities a peasant gets 8) percent loan. Main sum payment also
starts 6 months later. The deadline of the loans is up to two years.

A. Javadyan said that this program will continue, and the second phase
is envisaged to start at the end of August. Though it isn’t envisaged
that these loans should be reformulated, but for every elemental
disaster softer loans will be given in order to pay the former one. It
was noted that the loans are given to agricultures also by other
programs. This year the sum of those programs reached 65 billion
drams, but last year during the same period it was for 47 billion
drams. Particularly, at the end of this year 20 million euro loan is
expected from the German bank KfW

From: A. Papazian

Sud Ouest, France
Vendredi 17 Juin 2011
P. ATLANTIQUES PAYS BASQUE EDITION

Une nounou d’Arménie

par M. B.

ESPELETTE

C’est un temps fort qui aura lieu ce soir, à la salle du patronage,
dès 20 heures. Pierre Anhoury, auteur d’un livre documentaire sur
l’incroyable destin de Virginie-Jija Mesropian et Philippe Der
Khatchadourian, accueillera le public afin de parler du génocide
arménien.

Lorsqu’elle avait 94 ans, Pierre Anhoury a eu l’idée d’aller visiter
sa nounou, Virginie-Jija, alors à Montréal dans la famille de sa
tante. Caméra en main, il a filmé en continue ce récit du passé, les
souvenirs aussi vifs que d’antan. Deux ans plus tard, le livre et le
CD sortaient après de minutieuses recherches historiques menées par
Claire Mouradian, directrice de recherches au CNRS et spécialiste de
la question.

L’illustration a été confiée au dessinateur Charles Berbérian, ami
d’enfance de pierre. Virginie -Jija avait 6 ans en 1915, lors du
génocide arménien. Elle vivait à Erzeroum, dans une maison confortable
auprès de ses parents, Mesrop et Hanam et de ses trois frères. Après
avoir été chassés, avec pour seul biens ce qu’ils ont pu charger sur
un cheval, Virginie assistera au massacre des siens.

« La grande vie »

Virginie revit au présent ce terrible instant. Sa vie ensuite
inspirerait tout cinéaste. Recueillie par un Turc, gouverneur, elle
suivra la famille dans ses pérégrinations. Au Liban, alors qu’elle
commence à prendre ses repères, elle est séparée de sa famille
d’accueil par un soldat en permission qui se doute qu’elle est
Arménienne.

Amenée dans un grand collège français, réquisitionné pour les
orphelins de guerre, Virginie continuera son chemin jusqu’au jour de
1935 où elle sera embauchée dans la famille Anhoury, les
grands-parents de Pierre. « C’était la grande vie pour moi, j’avais
été embauchée pour deux mois en Egypte Je devais rester soixante-huit
ans chez les Anhoury » précise Virginie. Pierre ajoutera : « Je lui
voue une reconnaissance immense, elle m’a toujours encouragé. Elle a
marqué mon enfance par sa gentillesse et sa confiance. » Virginie est
décédée le 24 octobre 2003.

L’entrée est gratuite.

From: A. Papazian

Genocide Commemoration Day to be marked in Israel?

June 19, 2011 – 15:04 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On Sunday, June 19, Knesset legislative committee
will discuss a bill on Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day.

In case the bill is adopted, the Commemoration Day will be introduced
in mandatory school program.

The initiator of the draft law, member of Knesset Aryeh Eldad urged
Jewish people for more sympathetic attitude, MIGnews reported.

From: A. Papazian

Andrei Sakharov’s widow, Armenian-born human rights activist Yelena
Bonner dies at 88

June 19, 2011 – 15:38 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Yelena Bonner, an Armenian-born human rights
activist and widow of Nobel Peace Prize winner Andrei Sakharov, has
died, her daughter said early Sunday, June 19. She was 88.

The 88-year-old Bonner died of heart failure Saturday afternoon in
Boston, according to her daughter, Tatiana Yankelevich. She had been
hospitalized since Feb. 21, Yankelevich said.

Bonner grew famous through her marriage to Sakharov, the Soviet
Union’s leading dissident, but she carved out her own reputation as a
tireless human rights campaigner in the face of relentless hostility
from Soviet authorities.

After Sakharov died in 1989, and the Soviet Union collapsed two years
later, Bonner continued to champion human rights. She edited her
husband’s memoirs, which were released in 1997.

Bonner’s remains will be cremated and eventually buried in a Moscow
cemetery alongside her husband, mother and brothers, AP reported.

From: A. Papazian

Fatah delegation in Armenia to boost UN bid for statehood

June 19, 2011 – 17:49 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A Fatah delegation arrived in Armenia on Sunday,
June 19, to strengthen support for the recognition a Palestinian
state, Ma’an News Agency reported.

Nabil Shaath, coordinator for international relations, led members of
Fatah’s Central Committee in meetings with a number of Armenian
officials and leaders of political parties. The visit is part of
preparations to obtain international support for UN recognition of a
Palestinian state in September. Bilateral issues were also discussed.

In addition to Armenia, Shaath will also visit Moldova, the
Philippines, Mexico, and Colombia in order to boost a UN bid for
statehood in September.

Spain has recently said it is in favor of a Palestinian bid at the UN,
although the issue has divided European nations, with Germany opposed
to recognition and France uncertain.

From: A. Papazian

World

Iranian President discuss with Azerbaijani, Armenian leaders situation
in region

YEREVAN/BAKU, June 19 (RIA Novosti)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad talked by a phone with his
Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts, Ilham Aliyev and Serzh
Sargsyan, and discussed the situation in the region, bilateral
relations and fight aganst terrorism.

“During a conversation [with Sargsyan], held at the initiative of
Ahmadinejad, strengthening of bilateral relations and enhancing of
cooperation in various fields of mutual interest were discussed,”
Armenian president’s press service said. “The two sides also discussed
the situation in the region.”

In the conversation with Azerbaijani leader Ahmadinejad exchanged
opinions “on bilateral relations, regional security and fight against
terrorism,” Aliyev’s press service said.

Ahmadinejad was expected to pay a one day official visit to Armenia on
the invitation from Sargsyan, where the sides will sign a number of
bilateral agreements. However, the visit was postponed.

Iranian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said
Ahmadinejad will pay a visit to Armenia in the nearest future, when
all the papers are expected to be signed will be ready.

From: A. Papazian

GEORGIE
Le Catholicos Karekin II est intervenu en Géorgie pour la libération
de Vahagn Chakhalyan

Le mercredi 15 juin 2011, lors de sa visite au Djavakhk dans la ville
d’Akhalkalak, le Catholicos de tous les Arméniens, Karekine II, a
rencontré les parents de Vahagn Chakhalyan, leader politique du
Djavakhk.

Le Catholicos Karekin II a informé les parents de Vahagn Chakhalyan
qu’il connaissait ces problèmes et qu’il est intervenu auprès du
Patriarche de l’Eglise orthodoxe géorgienne, Ilia II, pour sa
libération.

Le 21 juillet 2011, cela fera 3 ans que Vahagn Chakhalyan est
emprisonné. Il a été condamné à 10 ans de prison ferme suite à de
fausses accusations et à un procès tronqué, pour ses actions en faveur
des droits des Arméniens du Djavakhk et de Géorgie.

Le 9 juin 2011, une pétition signée par 1200 Arméniens du Djavakhk
avait été adressée au Catholicos Karekin II pour qu’il intervienne
lors de sa visite officielle à Tbilissi auprès du Patriarche Ilia II
et des officiels de Géorgie pour la libération de Vahagn Chakhalyan.

Union Yerkir

dimanche 19 juin 2011,
Sté[email protected]

From: A. Papazian

Interfax, Russia
June 17 2011

Russian-Armenian treaty on military base extended

MOSCOW. June 17

Russian-Armenian treaty on military base extended
The Russian State Duma ratified Protocol 5 for the Russian-Armenian
Treaty on the Russian military base in Armenia on Friday.

The treaty was signed in March 1995 and Protocol 5 was signed in August 2000.

The protocol extends the treaty from 25 to 49 years. The treaty can be
automatically extended for five-year periods unless one of the parties
notifies the other in writing at least six months prior to the
expiration of the treaty of its intention to withdraw from it.

The Russian military base in Armenia protects the interests of the
Russian Federation and ensures the safety of Armenia along with the
Armenian Armed Forces. To achieve the goals stated in the protocol,
Russia provides Armenia with modern and compatible weapons and
military and special equipment. Military-technical assistance is being
provided to Armenia with the money provided from the Russian Defense
Ministry funds.

av eb

From: A. Papazian

Newstrack India
June 18 2011

Kim Kardashian’s ’tilting secret’ to correct her ‘too Armenian’ nose!
Washington , Sat, 18 Jun 2011 ANI

Washington, June 18 (ANI): Kim Kardashian has found an easy way to
stop her nose from looking “too Armenian” in pictures- tilting down
her face.

The reality TV star – who is of Armenian descent on her father’s side
– was turned down for cosmetic surgery on her hooter, but has learned
to alter her expressions to minimise the facial feature.

“I went to a plastic surgeon to see if I could get my Armenian nose
corrected and he said he wouldn’t do it as I didn’t need it,” Contact
Music quoted her as saying.

“But in some photographs it looks a little too Armenian, so you’ll
notice that I always keep my face tilted down to stop the shadows,”
she added. (ANI)

From: A. Papazian