Author: Andres-Papazian

FIGHT OVER ARMENIAN MUSEUM FLARES AMID CHARGES OF BIAS

Michael Doyle
Published: 03-14-2011

WASHINGTON – A rancorous legal fight over a proposed Armenian Genocide
Museum and Memorial is flaming up once more amid claims that a federal
judge might have been biased in her decision-making.

In an unexpected twist, the Armenian Assembly of America last week
demanded a new trial to reopen the long-running dispute over the
proposed museum. The Armenian Assembly contends that the original
trial judge was too close to the wealthy retired businessman who
prevailed in the museum lawsuit late last year.

Bizarrely, the fight now turns on the judge’s and the businessman’s
apparently shared passion for modern glass art.

“The undisclosed common interest and relationship may have biased
the outcome of the bench trial,” attorney Richard Chaivetz declared
in the Armenian Assembly’s latest legal filing.

An attorney for retired businessman and philanthropist Gerard Cafesjian
called the bid for a new trial frivolous.

“The motion is baseless,” attorney John B. Williams said.

The dispute involves plans for a 50,000-square-foot Armenian genocide
museum, slated for construction on a former bank site several blocks
from the White House. The museum would commemorate the events of 1915
to 1923, when by some accounts more than 1 million Armenians died at
the hands of the Ottoman Empire.

A separate Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute already exists in
Armenia’s capital city, Yerevan. Its director, Dr. Hayk Demoyan,
will speak March 21 in Fresno.

The proposed U.S. museum got rolling in the mid-1990s with several
large donations and pledges, including major assistance from
Cafesjian. He made his fortune with West Publishing, which produces
legal books.

The Armenian Assembly ultimately accused Cafesjian and his allies of
mismanaging museum planning. Cafesjian, in turn, felt he was poorly
treated, and a series of suits and countersuits effectively scuttled
the museum.

In January, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued a
190-page ruling that largely sided with Cafesjian and ordered the
museum property returned to the Cafesjian Family Foundation. So far,
that hasn’t happened.

A Clinton administration appointee, Kollar-Kotelly has served on the
federal bench since 1997. After the judge issued her museum decision,
Armenian Assembly attorneys say, they discovered her common artistic
ground with Cafesjian.

In 1999, the attorneys say, Kollar- Kotelly, her husband and Cafesjian
provided a joint gift to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. That
gift was the purchase of Vestment II, a glass piece produced by an
artist whom Cafesjian also intended to feature at the Armenian museum.

A date hasn’t yet been set for the judge to rule. Williams predicted
Kollar-Kotelly would dismiss the motion.

© 2011 The Associated Press.

From: A. Papazian

WICHITA SHARING COMMUNITY POLICING WITH ARMENIANS

The Associated Press.
03-14-2011

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – The Wichita Police Department is showcasing its
community policing program to some visiting counterparts from Armenia.

Five Armenian police officials and their interpreters are touring
Kansas as part of an exchange program with the U.S. State Department
called Partnership for Peace.

The officials were scheduled to tour several locations Monday in
Wichita. The agenda included a visit to the Colvin Neighborhood
City Hall, a neighborhood tour and a visit to the Old Town Community
Policing Office.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

From: A. Papazian

ARMENTEL COMPANY AND GAFESJIAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS ANNOUNCE THE START OF THE FIRST EASTER CREATIVE PROGRAM

arminfo
Monday, March 14, 12:23

ArmenTel Company and Gafesjian Center for the Arts have announced the
start of a new Easter, spring and revival creative program for teens
(12-17). Participation in the program is free of charge. Seminars will
be held on weekends at Gafesjian Center for the Arts till April 10
inclusive. Acknowledged specialists and artists are invited to hold
seminars and creative programs: Arman Davtyan (Nur), ethnographer
Sona Tashchyan, designers Lilit Avetyan, Lilit Stepanyan  and Lusik
Aguletsi. The major goal of the creative seminars is to create new
ideas and new interpretation of ancient symbols.

“Like our other educational programs Easter creative program will help
our young visitors think of the dialogue of the past and the present,
traditions and innovations. Working with famous artists, esigners,
ethnographers will become a unique creative experience for them,”
says Acting Executive Director of Gafesjian Center for the Arts
Vahagn Marabyan.

“I am very pleased to see ArmenTel- Gafesjian Center for the Arts
cooperation commends with such an interesting and bright creative
program for teens. I am sure that boys and girls who will participate
in the program will get a new vision and impression of folk symbols,
develop their views and take with them good memories,” says Igor
Klimko, ArmenTel CJSC Director General.

ArmenTel CJSC (Beeline brand) is the subsidiary of VimpelCom Group.

The VimpelCom Group consists of telecommunications operators
providing voice and data services through a range of wireless, fixed
and broadband technologies. The Group includes companies operating
in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia and
Armeniaas well as Vietnam and Cambodia, in territories with a total
population of about 345 million. The Group companies provide services
under the “Beeline” brand. VimpelCom was the first Russian company to
list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). VimpelCom’s
ADSs are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “VIP”.

Gafesjian Center for the Arts was founded in 2009. It is one of
the most famous museums of contemporary art in Armenia. The Museum
exhibits the works by Armenian and foreign artists, including from
the personal collection of Gerard Gafesjian, American businessman
Armenian by origin, the founder of the Center.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA’S BANAVAN RESIDENTS ARE IN THE WAY OF HRAZDAN IRON FIELD MINERS

PanARMENIAN.Net
March 14, 2011 – 17:21 AMT 13:21 GMT

Residents of Banavan community in Armenian town of Hrazdan are being
persuaded to sign documents relinquishing their homes. Instead,
they’re offered lodgings till new houses are built for them, reads
a letter obtained by PanARMENIAN.Net

Banavan community is located at a distance of 1,4 km from Hrazdan
iron field. On January 12, Fortune Oil Chinese company invested USD 24
million to purchase 35% of Bounty Resources Armenia Limited company’s
shares. Bounty Resources Armenia Limited controls 3 irons fields in
Armenia, including that in Hrazdan.

Hrazdan’s iron ore has high quality, containing 40% iron. According
to current plan, iron mining at Hrazdan will launch in 2014, with
the annual output estimated at 1,5-2,0 tons.

From: A. Papazian

AROUND 36,000 ARMENIAN SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN MATH KANGAROO COMPETITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
March 14, 2011 – 13:52 AMT 09:52 GMT

On March 17, Armenia will host Math Kangaroo international competition,
which will bring together 36,000 students from 920 schools of Armenia,
as well as 608 students from 13 schools of Artsakh.

The competition is held in Armenia for the third time. It is held in
two languages – Armenian and Russian.

Math Kangaroo is an International Competition in Mathematics, making
effort to encourage students to master their mathematical knowledge,
give them confidence in their ability for comprehending mathematics,
help them understand how mathematics applies in nature’s laws and human
activities, develop their ability to derive pleasure and satisfaction
through intellectual life and show that mathematical education is
significant in every part of the world.

Math Kangaroo is organized in Armenia by Ayb educational fund under
the aegis of the Armenian Ministry of Education and Science.

From: A. Papazian

180-PAGE ASSESSMENT REPORT PRESENTED
Lena Badeyan

“Radiolur”
14.03.2011 18:21

The EU Advisory Group assesses the development of Armenia-EU relations
as generally positive. During today’s sitting of the Armenian National
Security Council members of the Advisory Group presented a 180-page
assessment report on the completion of the first stage of reforms
in Armenia.

Secretary of the Armenian National Security Council specially
emphasized the development of Armenia-EU relations in the political
field, which was greatly enhanced by the effective activity of the
EU Advisory Group.

“The deepening of political cooperation between Armenia and the
European Union is especially important. The creation of the special
subcommittee on justice, freedom and security was also essential. In
2010 we started reforms in the judicial-legal system of Armenia. We
adopted a serious program of reforms in the police system. This year
we intend to adopt the national program of human rights, which is one
of the important stages of our cooperation. We have also taken serious
steps towards facilitation of visa regime with EU member states and
signing of readmission agreements,” Arthur Baghdasaryan said.

From: A. Papazian

EXPECTATIONS FROM THE PRIME MINISTER’S VISIT TO BRUSSELS
Anna Nazaryan

“Radiolur”
17.03.2011 18:31

Agreements on cooperation in economic and cultural spheres will be
reached during Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s forthcoming visit
to Brussels, professor at the Political Science Department of the
Yerevan State University Narek Galstyan told a press conference today.

The Armenian Prime Minister will leave for Brussels tomorrow, where
he is expected to meet his Belgian counterpart, the Speaker of the
Belgian Senate and other officials. Tigran Sargsyan will make a speech
at the Foreign Relations Committee of the European Parliament.

“Judging from the delegation to accompany the Prime Minister, I think
agreements will be reached on cooperation in the fields of economy
and culture,” the political scientist said.

Expert Andreas Ghukasyan does not expect signing of any contracts.

“With this visit Armenia shows its willingness to start association
talks with the European Union and the visit marks the start of the
process,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA, PARAGUAY INTERESTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF BILATERAL TIES

armradio.am
14.03.2011 17:01

On March 14 the newly appointed Ambassador of Paraguay to Armenia,
Marcial Bobadilla Guillen (seat in Moscow), presented the copies of
his credentials to Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

Congratulating the guest on appointment, Minister Nalbandian wished
him success in his mission and voiced hope that the accreditation of
the first Ambassador of Paraguay to Armenia would contribute to the
deepening of the Armenian- Paraguayan ties, creating a firm basis
for their further development.

Ambassador Guillen said his country is interested in the establishment
of cooperation with Armenia, and his appointment is an evidence of it.

He assured that he would do his utmost to contribute to the development
of bilateral ties.

Minister Nalbandian welcomed the proposal of the Paraguayan side
to hold consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the two
countries. An agreement was reached on signing a corresponding
memorandum in the near future.

During the meeting the interlocutors discussed issues related to the
deepening of bilateral relations in different spheres, and attached
importance to the development of cooperation within international
organizations, particularly the UN.

From: A. Papazian

ALABINA TO HAVE CONCERT IN YEREVAN

Tert.am
14.03.11

Famous singer Alabina will have a solo concert in Yerevan on March
30 and will perform of her old hits, as well as new songs.

According to organizer Nur Promotions Company, the concert will take
place at the big hall in Karen Demirchyan Complex in Yerevan at 7pm.

Alabina’s albums have been sold in millions so far.

In 2005 she released her fifth album recorded in France, US and
Turkey. Despite the success of that album she took a pause in 2007
to deliver her twins.

Her “Yahad” recorded in 2009 won the Year’s Best Song nomination at
the Apple Music Awards that took place in New York.

Currently Alabina works on a new album.

From: A. Papazian

HERITAGE PARTY DECIDES TO HOLD EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS

Tert.am
14.03.11

At its extended meeting on Sunday, the members of the opposition
Heritage party council decided to hold an extraordinary congress.

According the party’s statement, the decision was made due Armenia’s
current situation, requiring “urgent solutions”.

The party members have decided to take all possible measures to change
the entire government system in Armenia. They also advanced certain
priorities, such as the elimination of monopolies, strengthening of
justice measures, dismissal of officials pursuing personal interests,
disclosure of illegalities related to the March 1, 2008 political
disorders etc.

The party also urges for calling back the Armenia-Turkey protocols
from the National Assembly’s agenda, recognizing the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic and so on.

“In the light of such challenges, a decision was made to call an
extraordinary congress on a date specified by the party’s board chair,”
says the statement.

From: A. Papazian