Author: Andres-Papazian

SHARMAZANOV: TURKEY’S ATTEMPTS DOOMED TO FAILURE

Aysor.am
Monday,January 31

Spokesman for RPA, Secretary of RPA parliamentary faction Eduard
Sharmazanov told reporters on January 31 that the start of year
2011 was active in the aspect of Armenia-Turkey relations and
Karabakh-Azerbaijan conflict.

“Cavusoglu managed to create a subcommittee at PACE, which, however,
cannot play a role in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement since the
Armenian side has repeatedly said that negotiations should proceed
within OSCE Minsk Group only,” Sharmazanov said.

In his words, on the threshold of the elections Turkey tries to assume
force and role by seeding nationalist moods but Turkey’s all attempts
are doomed to failure.

“Our position on NKR is exact. Armenian President stressed it in his
interview to the Ekho Moskvy Russian radio station. He reiterated that
the only way of solving the problem is to hold a new referendum or
to recognize the results of the 1991 referendum,” parliamentarian said.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA WELCOMES SOUTH SUDAN REFERENDUM

Aysor.am
Monday,January 31

“Armenia welcomes the South Sudan referendum. The preliminary
results of the referendum, which no doubt will not differ from the
final results, again stipulated that free self-determination is the
indivisible right of every people,” Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
told the Armenpress news agency, commenting upon the preliminary
results of the South Sudan referendum.

According to the Minister, this choice by the South Sudan people is
“the latest example of triumph of the self-determination right and
a right way of solving current problems” over 60 years, since the
establishment of UN.

“We hope South Sudan, choosing the way of mastering its own fate,
will succeed in establishment of independent statehood,” Edward
Nalbandian said.

From: A. Papazian

NKR DEFENSE ARMY: SITUATION ON CONTACT LINE STRAINED

Aysor.am
Monday,January 31

According to the NKR Defense Army report, the situation on the contact
line of Karabakh-Azerbaijan armed forces was still strained over the
past week.

“From January 23 to January 29, the enemy violated the ceasefire
regime over 165 times firing more than 1,000 shots at the Karabakh
positions, most intensively at eastern and northeastern sectors of
the contact line.

The enemy was silenced by response fire,” NKR Defense Army reported.

From: A. Papazian

11.7% GROWTH RECORDED IN ARMENIAN STATE BUDGET REVENUES IN 2010

PanARMENIAN.Net
January 31, 2011 – 16:21 AMT 12:21 GMT

The RA state budget revenues totaled over AMD 755.8bln, while
expenditures ~V more than AMD 856.8bln, what has secured fulfillment
of the annual planned indices of the state budget by 100.6% and 97.4%
respectively.

11.7% (AMD 79.4bln) growth was recorded in the state budget revenues
as compared with the same period in 2009. At the same time, the
tax revenues, state duties and social payments increased by 11.9%
(AMD 74.2bln), while 17% or AMD 7.3bln growth was recorded in other
revenues. The official grants reduced by 25.5% or AMD 2.1bln, the RA
Ministry of Finance reported.

In 2010 the state budgetary expenditures exceeded those of 2009 by 3.9%
or AMD 32.1bln.

The state budget was fulfilled with an AMD 101bln deficit from January
to December 2010, making 78.8% of the planned index for 2010 and 68.1%
of the actual index of 2009.

To finance the deficit, AMD 109.7bln and 8.7bln were allocated from
internal and external sources respectively.

From: A. Papazian

Vanik Minasyan: Army-society link deepening year by year
28.01.2011 15:32

Karen Ghazaryan
`Radiolur’

The link between the army and the society is reinforcing year by year,
says Vanik Minasyan, chief of the department on organization of
military-educational arrangements of the Ministry of Defense. The year
2011 will stand out for implementation of a new phase of military
reforms, many of which are targeted at reinforcing the ties with the
society.

`We would not be able to keep the army on the current level without
the active support of the society, without the devotion of all layers
of society,’ he said.

To deepen the trust in the army, a new stage of implementation of
defense reforms has already started, according to the Defense
Minister’s order.

‘We prioritize the work with the society and non-governmental
organizations and concrete steps have already been taken in this
direction,’ Vanik Minasyan said.

From: A. Papazian

Serzh Sargsyan reelected as President of YSU Council
29.01.2011 16:05

Alisa Gevorgyan
`Radiolur’

President Serzh Sargsyan today participated in the sitting of the
Yerevan State University Council. Elections of the President and
Secretary of the Council were on the agenda.

Seventy-two members of the Council unanimously voted to reelect Serzh
Sargsyan as President of the Council. David Hayrapetyan was elected
the Council’s Secretary.

From: A. Papazian

Yeghiayan, Yemenidjian honored at ArmenBar conference

Published: Saturday January 29, 2011

>From left: Vicken Simonian, Arda Yemenidjian and ArmenBar Chairman
Edvin Minassian.

Las Vegas, Nevada-Numerous attorneys, judges, law professors, and law
students flocked to the newly renovated, elegant Tropicana Hotel and
Casino in Las Vegas, as the Armenian Bar Association (ArmenBar)
presented an outstanding group of legal experts on January 15.

Vartkes Yeghiayan, who has gained acclaimed notoriety as a Genocide
reparations pioneer, and Arda Yemenidjian, a community leader and
philanthropist, received special recognition at a luncheon in their
honor.

“The quality of the speakers and the content of the lectures equaled
or exceeded any program offered in the legal community,” said Edvin
Minassian, Chairman of ArmenBar. “We were extremely proud to have been
able to present such a distinguished group of legal scholars to our
members, and honor two of the finest members of our community,” said
Minassian.

The event was held in the all new Tropicana Conference Center. The
Tropicana is undergoing a $180 million renovation under the direction
of new owner Alex Yemenidjian, and is on its way to re-establishing
its reputation as a premiere Vegas destination. The newly remodeled
guest rooms have received recognition as “Best in Class,” and were
given high marks by those in attendance. Features such as Nikki Beach,
The Las Vegas Mob Experience, and a state-of-the-art sports book are
just a few of the many new upcoming attractions at the hotel.

Yeghiayan was introduced at the luncheon by U.S. Army Brigadier
General and accomplished trial lawyer Mark MacCarley. He received the
coveted Lifetime Achievement Award, the group’s highest honor. Arda
Yemenidjian was introduced by Vicken Simonian, past Chairman of
ArmenBar, and received a Public Service Award. Both honorees were
given a standing ovation.

Garo Ghazarian, ArmenBar Vice-Chairman, and Dean of the Peoples
College of Law, was the Master of Ceremonies at the luncheon.. The
group was addressed by Chairman Minassian, Board members Hovanes
Margarian and John Lulejian and the Honorable Raffi K. Hovannisian.

Hovannisian is the founding father of ArmenBar, the first Foreign
Minister of the Republic of Armenia, and the first Diasporan Armenian
to become a member of the Armenian Parliament as the head of the
Heritage party. His words regarding the honorees and the organization
were thoughtful, inspirational and moving.

Preeminent attorney Yeghiayan was joined by law professor Michael
Bazyler, federal court international litigation expert Lee
Crawford-Boyd and Setrak Davuthan, a prominent community attorney for
Turkish Armenians. Two topics were presented as part of the program,
including “Legal Remedies, restitution or monetary compensation for
the dispossession of Armenians of pre-Genocide communal and private
property in their homeland” and “Current State of Legal Affairs
involving Armenians in Turkey.” Attorneys attending the event earned
four units of continuing legal education credits.

The legal remedies discussion was moderated by Yeghiayan and included
Bazyler, a Chapman University School of Law professor and
Crawford-Boyd. Bazyler is a leading authority on the use of the
American and European courts to redress genocide and other historical
wrongs.

Boyd is of counsel with the law firm of Howarth & Smith in Los
Angeles. She is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine Law School teaching
international law, complex litigation and human rights. As a
litigation consultant, she specializes in federal court complex cases
and international relations.

The panelists discussed the wide array of Genocide aftermath
recoveries, including lawsuits against insurance companies, European
banks, companies that employed slave labor, museums who hold looted
artwork and governments holding improperly seized land. Past and
current cases involving Holocaust and Genocide claims were discussed,
including legislation to extend the statute of limitations.

Also addressing the audience was Loyola law professor Stan Goldman.
Goldman teaches a class at Loyola, with Bazyler, on post-Genocide
remedies. He is the faculty advisor to the Loyola Armenian Law
Students Association.

The discussion regarding the state of legal affairs involving
Armenians in Turkey was delivered by Davuthan. He is a lawyer for the
foundations of the Armenian community in Istanbul. He led the
precedent setting legal effort for Armenian Foundations in Istanbul
before the European Court of Human Rights, successfully recovering
real property seized in 1936 from Samatya Surp (Saint) Kevork Armenian
Church Trust and the Surp Pirgic Yedikule Hospital Foundation.
Davuthan has represented the community in a diverse number of cases
including the rights of Turkish Armenians to elect a new Patriarch and
the rights of children of Armenian citizens to attend private schools
in Turkey.

He discussed these issues, and the challenges of litigating civil
rights cases for minority class citizens of Turkey.

Yeghiayan was responsible for initiating, and was lead counsel, in the
landmark case of Marootian v. New York Life. The class action lawsuit
sought to recover life insurance proceeds relating to victims of the
Armenian Genocide. The case resulted in a $20 million dollar
settlement, and touched off a series of cases involving recovery of
Genocide-related claims. He is currently involved in a case against
the Turkish government and two Turkish banks to recover $63 million
dollars for land improperly seized from Armenians during the Genocide,
including land which is currently occupied by the strategic Incirlik
airbase utilized by the U.S. military.

Arda Yemenidjian is the wife of Alex Yemenidjian, the former CEO of
MGM Studios and current owner of the Tropicana.Arda is one of the
first students of the Ferrahian high school in Encino, the first
Armenian school in California. She has been involved in the legal
field for many years, managing the Law Office of Terenik Koujakian,
her brother. She has been involved with a number of Armenian charities
and non-profit organizations, donating her time and resources to
worthy Armenian causes.

From: A. Papazian

Obama renominates Bryza for Senate approval, Menendez “disappointed”

Published: Saturday January 29, 2011

Senators Menendez and Boxer hear Bryza’s testimony last July. ANCA

Washington – President Barack Obama, in the wake of his controversial
last-minute “recess” appointment of Matt Bryza as Ambassador to
Azerbaijan in the final days of 2010, is now seeking formal Senate
support for extending the term of this contentious envoy’s service in
Baku, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). Sen.
Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) who previously place a hold on the
nomination, said he was “disappointed” by this decision.

The President’s recess appointment of Bryza, in the last days of the
111th Congress, came despite “holds” placed on his confirmation by
Democratic Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ). A
“hold” is a Senatorial privilege that effectively blocks the full
Senate from voting upon a presidential nomination. The President’s
push to get Bryza to Baku reflects a lack of concern on the part of
his Administration regarding Bryza’s unusually close and controversial
ties to Azerbaijani government officials, his deeply troubling track
record as a senior diplomat dealing with the Caucasus, and persistent
conflict of interest issues related to the Caspian energy industry.

“Armenian American voters are, once again, disappointed that President
Obama – having failed to honor any of his many pledges to Armenian
American voters – is now, over the strong objections of Senators from
his own party, pressing for Senate confirmation of his controversial
and deeply flawed recess appointment of Matt Bryza as Ambassador to
Azerbaijan,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We look to
Senators to stand up for U.S. interests, American values, and our
nation’s diplomatic credibility by doing everything in their power to
prevent the confirmation of this candidate.”

Upon learning of President Obama’s recess appointment of Bryza as U.S.
Ambassador to Azerbaijan at the end of December, Sen. Robert Menendez
(D-NJ) expressed concern, stating, “I am disappointed by the
Administration’s decision to recess appoint Matthew Bryza as U.S.
Ambassador to Azerbaijan without addressing the concerns raised by
Senators during his nomination hearing before the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee – chiefly his refusal to acknowledge the Armenian
genocide.”

Sen. Menendez continued, noting “This is a matter of respect for the
Armenian people. The Armenian genocide was one of the great atrocities
of modern history and it is unconscionable that we would send a
diplomat to the region who does not support recognizing what is
considered among historians to be the first modern genocide. It is my
fervent hope that Administration will adopt the comment made by
President Obama in 2008 that `the Armenian Genocide is not an
allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a
widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical
evidence’ as a tenet of U.S. foreign policy to be reflected in the
words and actions of our foreign service personnel in the region.”

Following his Senate confirmation hearing in July, 2010, Bryza was
asked to respond to several rounds of written questions from Senators
regarding his track record in the region. The holds by Senators Boxer
and Menendez came after reviewing his testimony, written responses,
and reviewing his diplomatic record, effectively blocking a vote on
his nomination by the full Senate.

In her remarks during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee vote on
his candidacy, Senator Boxer explained that she voted against the
Bryza nomination because he had not demonstrated the willingness or
the ability to meaningfully confront Azerbaijan’s aggression. “Despite
my appreciation for Mr. Bryza’s long service as a Foreign Service
Officer, I don’t believe he is the right person for this position,”
explained Senator Boxer. “What concerns me is that Mr. Bryza has
demonstrated a pattern of unwillingness to speak out forcefully in the
face of increasing Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno Karabakh.”

Senator Menendez, who has played a constructive role in reviewing the
Bryza confirmation process, noted that he had “serious reservations
about the U.S. ambassador nominee to Azerbaijan,” citing Bryza’s
inaction in the face of Azerbaijan’s desecration of the Djulfa
cemetery close personal ties to regional leaders, and therefore about
his ability to act as an unbiased representative of the United States
in Azerbaijan.

Even Senators voting in favor of Bryza expressed worries about his
nomination. The panel’s Chairman, John Kerry (D-MA), stated that he
appreciated the concerns raised by Senators Menendez and Boxer and
anticipated continued Senate scrutiny. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)
issued a statement following the vote, stating that he found concerns
raised by constituents and others “troubling, particularly Mr. Bryza’s
relationship with the Azerbaijan Government.”

From: A. Papazian

ARM Minister of Defence: `The commanders of all the sections of our AF
are not coward and retreating people’

29.01.2011 | 16:42 | | Noyan Tapan | Politics

YEREVAN, JANUARY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Today ARM Minister of Defence Seyran
Ohanyan received the military attachés who are accredited in the
Republic of Armenia. The Minister introduced the 2011 primary issues
of the Ministry of Defence approved by the ARM Government. He also
talked about the present defence policy, defence reforms, and answered
their questions.

Talking about the constant warlike announcements of Azerbaijan in the
negotiation process of Karabakh conflict, Seyran Ohanyan particularly
stated, `Azerbaijan is threatening, saying let’s solve the problem
quickly, otherwise I will start a war. We treat the issue as follows:
let us negotiate, in order to solve the problem without a war. You can
come and meet the commanders of all the sections of our AF – they are
not coward and retreating people’. Mr. Ohanyan also told the foreign
attachés that while realizing military cooperation with partner
countries Armenia does not sow enmity towards those neighbors, who can
endanger the balanced regional policy of the partner states.

According to the ARM MoD Department of Information and Public Affairs,
the foreign attachés and military representatives participating in the
meeting congratulated ARM Defence Minister on the Army Day and thanked
him for the reception.

From: A. Papazian

Anthology of Armenian American poetry published in Armenia

Published: Saturday January 29, 2011

Yerevan – Armenian-language book Armenian American Poets Writing in
English has been recently translated, compiled and prepared for
publication by David Gasparyan and Armenouhi Ghalachyan of Armenia.

The subject matter is partly taken from David Kherdian’s anthology
Forgotten Bread, First-Generation Armenian American Writers, from Aram
Saroyan’s Complete Minimal Poems and also Internet sources.

This book and others like it show the result of Armenia’s new policy
to explore literature written by Armenians in diaspora in the
languages of countries in which they live.Hranush Hakobyan has been
Minister of Diaspora Affairs since 2008 and has welcomed and supported
such works.

The translators provide an introduction with general background
information on the migration of Armenians to the diaspora throughout
their history and mentions the names of some outstanding poets in
countries such as Romania and Russia as well as America. The first few
Armenian-American poets and writers in America, such as Emmanuel
Varandyan and Leon Surmelian, whose fame developed with their prose
works, are characterized.

The rest of the book describes the first generation of
Armenian-American poets, most of them born in America with biographies
and pictures along with some of their work.

William Saroyan leads the list with a biography and a number of
photographs and poems, though he attained fame with his prose work. He
was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for the play The Time of Your Life. He
rejected the prize.

Leon Srabian Herald, born in historic Armenia, provides a number of
poems for this collection, many of them reminiscent of his old country
village and his nostalgia for it as he lived and wrote in America.

Khachig (Archie) Minassian, William Saroyan’s cousin, lived near his
cousin in Fresno. His short poems show momentary life impressions.

David Kherdian, born in Racine, Wisconsin, often writes poems about
his childhood in that city and about his father. His prose work and
his anthologies have also drawn much praise.

Diana Der Hovanessian, born in Worcester, Massachusetts, has
accomplished much with her translations of Armenian poetry into
English and her many books of poetry. A few of her poems appear in
this book.

Harold Bond, who lived in Melrose, Massachusetts, taught poetry
workshops at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education and published a
few volumes of poetry. They are well represented in this book.

Helene Pilibosian, born in Boston, Massachusetts, has explored her
Armenian identity in several books of poems, some of which are
presented in this anthology. In addition, Grady Harp’s review of
Histories Twists: The Armenians appears translated into Armenian. The
title of Kherdian’s book Forgotten Bread was taken from a line in one
of her poems.

Aram Saroyan, the son of William Saroyan, is very well represented in
this book by many pages dedicated to his work from his Complete
Minimal Poems. A poet and playwright, his work has drawn praise and
awards for its inventiveness and originality of expression.

The Armenian anthology has been privately printed in Armenia.

From: A. Papazian