Author: Andres-Papazian

U.S. Rep. Schiff plans to reintroduce Armenian Genocide resolution

May 7, 2011 – 09:48 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

Under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and
joined by the Armenian Assembly, a community briefing featuring
Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) was held at St. Gregory the Illuminator
Armenian Church in Pasadena, California.

Taking place at St. Gregory’s Geragos Hall, Honorary Chairman Mark
Geragos provided opening remarks. Before introducing Congressman
Schiff and reviewing his extensive record, the Assembly’s Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny thanked St. Gregory’s Parish as well as the
Assembly’s Southern California Regional Council (SCRC) Members.

In his remarks, Congressman Schiff touched on a wide-range of issues,
including affirmation of the Armenian Genocide and the continued
efforts in the House of Representatives, President Obama’s April 24
statement, funding for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan’s
continued war rhetoric, and the recent California Court decision
regarding insurance-related claims dating back to the Armenian
Genocide era.

Looking ahead, Congressman Schiff highlighted several legislative
initiatives, including the reintroduction of the Armenian Genocide
resolution, as well as legislation to address Turkey’s ongoing
blockade of Armenia, and the protection of Church property and
minority rights in Turkey.

“On behalf of St. Gregory’s Parish and the Armenian Assembly’s
Southern California Regional Council, we applaud Congressman Schiff’s
ongoing commitment and dedication to Armenian Issues,” stated Richard
Mushegain, Chairman of the St. Gregory Parish Council and the
Assembly’s SCRC.

From: A. Papazian

Armenian Genocide Monument desecrated in Sydney

May 7, 2011 – 09:56 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) condemned
the vandalism of the monument dedicated to the victims of Armenian
Genocide in Ryde City, Sydney.

The monument, which stands in memory of the 1,500,000 innocent
Armenian men, women and children who perished at the hands of the
Ottoman Turkish government, was discovered to be vandalized just a
week after the annual Ryde City Council Armenian Genocide
commemoration.

The vandals had completely removed the plaque and the foundation stone
on which it rested. The only remnant of the memorial at Meadowbank
Park in Ryde City is the bed of flowers which surrounded the monument.

John Alexander MP, whose Federal electorate of Bennelong is home to
both the memorial and the largest Armenian population in Australia,
immediately condemned the destruction labeling it “unAustralian”.

“The vandalism of this plaque and headstone that commemorates the
deaths of the 1.5million victims of the Armenian Genocide can only be
described as unAustralian,” he said. “Australia is a great country
built on the values of inclusion, acceptance and respect for all
cultures. The Armenian community make a wonderful contribution to our
local community and have an absolute right for these dark pages in
their history to be remembered forever more.”

ANC Australia Executive Director Varant Meguerditchian said: “The
defacement of the Armenian Genocide monument is a modern day
manifestation of the hatred that was the root cause of the Armenian
Genocide.”

He continued: “We encourage other elected officials to join Mr
Alexander in condemnation of this hate crime and appeal to our law
enforcement authorities to spare no effort in bringing these
xenophobic criminal vandals to justice.”

The destruction of the Armenian Genocide monument in Ryde City is not
the first of its like in Australia. The same monument was subject to
vandalism in April of 2009, while just last year, the monument erected
in memory of the victims of the Assyrian Genocide in Fairfield City
was destroyed only months after its unveiling.

From: A. Papazian

French Armenians demand explanation from Senators who blocked Genocide bill

May 7, 2011 – 10:45 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

The Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF)
has condemned the French Senate’s failure to pass the bill on
criminalization of the Armenian Genocide denial.

`No legal remedy was found to stop the policy of denial which is
fervently spread by Turkish websites. The result of May 4 hypocritical
vote was achieved through efforts of the majority party,’ the CCAF
said in a statement.

`To favor Turkey, the government and President of France infringed the
interests of French Armenians, who are mostly heirs of the Armenian
Genocide survivors. The CCAF calls on all French citizens of Armenian
descent to make relevant conclusions after such perfidious behavior,’
it said.

From: A. Papazian

U.S. sanctions can’t hamper Iran-Turkey relations, envoy says

May 7, 2011 – 10:50 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

Sanctions imposed on Iran will do nothing to slow the country’s
growing trade and economic ties with Turkey, the Iranian envoy said,
suggesting that the Turkish government will not give in to pressure
from Washington.

`We have been facing embargos for the last 33 years. We have increased
our bilateral trade volume to $11 billion with Turkey and to $23
billion with the European Union. These embargos have no meaning,’
Iranian Ambassador to Turkey Bahman Hosseinpour told a group of Ankara
bureau chiefs at a dinner, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

`The Turkish government has already announced that it will only abide
by the UN sanctions. Do you think Turkey listens whatever the U.S.
says? No, it does not,’ said Hosseinpour.

Trade volume between Iran and Turkey could go up to $16 billion at the
end of this year, ambassador said, noting that the figures from the
first three months of 2011 have already shown a 70 percent increase.
`The number of Iranian tourists to Turkey could also go up to 2.5
million, as the number of Turkish investors in Iran increases,’ the
envoy said.

`The groundbreaking ceremony of the joint customs gate at Esendere
will take place in two months’ time. Similarly we will also begin
joint investments on oil fields,’ Hosseinpour said. `This relationship
between Turkey and Iran is irreversible,’ he added. `It may slow down
but won’t be reversed.’

From: A. Papazian

Armenian, Artsakh President discuss cooperation in Stepanakert

May 7, 2011 – 10:51 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

On May 7, Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan met in Stepanakert
with President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan to discuss a wide range of
issues related to the cooperation between the two Armenian states.

The two men emphasized that continuous strengthening of relations is
one of the pillars of state building both in Artsakh and Armenia and
guarantee of their sustainable development. They also touched upon the
Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement and regional processes.

Artsakh Prime Minsiter Ara Haroutyunyan and Vice Premier, Finance
Minister Spartak Tevosyan participated in the meeting, reported the
Central Information Department of the Office of the Artsakh Republic
President.

From: A. Papazian

Armenians of Cyprus to pilgrimage to Sourp Magar monastery

May 7, 2011 – 10:57 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

The Armenian community of Cyprus is returning to the historic Sourp
Magar (St. Makarios) monastery for the fourth time this year as a
pilgrimage to one of the holiest shrines of the Armenian Apostolic
church.

The medieval monastery, that lies at the top of the Turkish-occupied
Kyrenia mountain range, has fallen victim to looters since the war in
1974 and all but the walls remain intact.

The annual pilgrimage, taking place on May 8, 2011, is jointly
organized by the Office of the Armenian Representative, Vartkes
Mahdessian, and the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus, in close cooperation
with the United Nations. Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian will officiate.

Several hundred Armenians from Cyprus and abroad take part in the
pilgrimage celebrated on the first Sunday of each May, as had been
done for more than a century. The official commemoration mass took
place at the Sourp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Church in Nicosia on Sunday,
May 1, 2011, The FinancialMirror reported.

From: A. Papazian

Nanor Krikorian Memorial Scholarship recipients announced

May 7, 2011 – 11:15 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

Four Armenian-American college-bound and two current university
students will receive a helping hand with tuition and books this year,
as the Armenian Youth Federation – Western US announced last week the
recipients of its annual `Nanor Krikorian’ Memorial Scholarship,
Asbarez reported.

The recipients are: Tro Panossian from Notre Dame Preparatory High
School, Christina Mehranbod from Redondo Union High School, Daniel
Markarian from St. Francis High School, Hoory Minoyan from Rose and
Alex Pilibos High School, Verginie Touloumanian from Woodbury
University, and Kyle Dinkjian from Bentley College in Walthan,
Massachusetts.

`We’re proud of our young Armenian-American intellectuals and look
forward to their many accomplishments in both the Armenian and global
community as they make their way through college and beyond,’ said Gev
Iskajyan, a member of the AYF’s Educational Council.

In its ninth year, the AYF Nanor Krikorian Scholarship has assisted
many young, talented, and aspiring Armenian-American students to
further their education. The first place winner for high school
receives $1000, second place takes $500, and two third place winners
receive $250 each. The two college winners receive $500 each. Winners
are chosen based on an essay about how their majors and future plans
will benefit the Armenian community, as well as academic standing,
community involvement, and financial need.

`We believe in our youth, we believe in our future, and we will
continue to invest in our people and community,’ said Narbeh Sahagian,
another member of the Educational Council involved in the selection
process.

From: A. Papazian

Socialist party to reintroduce Armenian Genocide bill to French parliament

May 7, 2011 – 11:29 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

Member of French Socialist party Francois Pupponi is going to
reintroduce a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide
to the National Assembly after the Senate blocked the vote on the
previous one.

`The only way to recharge our struggle is to reintroduce a similar
bill to the National Assembly,’ Pupponi said, quoted by Nouvelles
d`Arménie. `France is country which recognized the Armenians Genocide
and Holocaust. So, it must not allow denial in its territory.’

From: A. Papazian

Young Armenian musicians to be featured at AMAA benefit concert

May 7, 2011 – 13:36 AMTPanARMENIAN.Net – Nearly 9,000 children in
Armenia and Karabakh, who attend summer camps organized and sponsored
by the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), will once
again benefit from the proceeds of a Spring Concert to be presented in
New York City by the AMAA’s Armenia Summer Camp/Christmas Committee.

Since 1992, the AMAA operates two overnight summer camps in Armenia
and Karabakh, and 46 day camps in various towns throughout Armenia and
Karabakh. These camps not only enrich the lives of the campers
spiritually and physically, but provide them relief from hot summers
with a week in the country. Considering that most of the campers come
from impoverished households, the AMAA does not charge any fee.

The tenth Annual Spring Concert, featuring Natalie Zabel
Aroyan-Soprano and Hayk Arsenyan-Piano, Nazig Tchakarian-Violin,
Aleksandr Nazaryan-Viola and Amber Docters van Leeuwen-Cello in a
piano string ensemble, will take place on Sunday, May 15 at 2 pm at
the Armenian Evangelical Church in New York City. The AMAA’s Armenia
Summer Camp/Christmas Committee has partnered with members of the
Armenian Evangelical Church of New York in the planning of this event.
A reception to meet the artists will follow the concert in the church
hall, according to the Armenian Reporter.

From: A. Papazian

Amatuni Virabyan: Karabakh war archives to be kept secret for a long time

May 7, 2011 – 12:06 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

The archives on the Karabakh war, specifically those referring to
military operations will be kept secret for a long time, according to
the director of National Archives of Armenia.

`It’s an international practice norm. Some documents regarding the
Great Patriotic War are still classified as secret in Russia,’ Amatuni
Virabyan told a press conference in Yerevan.

He also said that National Archives continues efforts to collect more
documents and photographs on the Karabakh war. `Armenian citizens can
pass the documents and photographs they have to the National Archives,
where they will be safe,’ Virabyan said.

From: A. Papazian