Author: Andres-Papazian

AYF CAMP HAIASTAN ENJOYS BROAD BASED SUPPORT
by Joshua Tevekelian

Mon, Nov 22 2010

2010 Camp fundraiser party

FRANKLIN, Mass.-On a normal summer day between early July and
mid-August when most people are trying hard to protect themselves from
the oppressive humidity that grips central Massachusetts, there is a
campground in a small town 45 miles west of Boston that is thankful
for every sunny day, humid or dry. The staff is thankful for every
camper, the Board of Directors thankful for every supportive parent,
and the community is thankful for every effort of the many that have
brought the camp to life over the last 60 years.

Camp Haiastan is nestled in Franklin, Mass., a town that has served
the Armenian community worldwide and a place that many Armenian
children fondly claim is their “home away from home”. An oasis of
cultural and educational experiences for those wanting to get in
touch with their ethnic roots, the camp has been a mainstay in the
Boston area, reaching children from all over the world and creating
lifetime bonds that have spurned a commitment and loyalty unlike
other camping institutions. This loyalty and commitment has been
illustrated and proven through the numerous “house parties” that the
camp initiated in 2010 with the assistance of a unique network of
appreciative supporters.

The house parties of 2010 were specifically geared towards building
an endowment fund for the future of Camp Haiastan. The Board of
Directors reached out to its greatest supporters to help kick off
the fundraising for the endowment campaign with the hope that it
would security to the camp and ensure its future operation. The call
went out, and the response was immediate and positive. In 2010, Camp
Haiastan, with the help of many, was able to host seven house parties,
including venues in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island,
and Pennsylvania. Additional parties are being planned for this fall.

As of September 2010, Camp Haiastan has raised more than $60,000
to bolster its endowment campaign. Thanks to the generosity of our
host families, the gatherings have been well attended, informative,
and have allowed the camp to disseminate important and relevant
information about its needs and operations.

Special thanks are extended to our host families Will and Nikki
(Berberian) Whittlesey, Greg and Carol (Boloian) Minassian, Michael
and Susan (Shahtanian) Guzelian, Mark and Susan (Shamlian) Pogharian,
Cordsel Technologies and Friends, Armen and Mary (Karakelian)
Boyadjian, Robert and Kim (Chantikian) Kachikian, and Jason and Nora
(Manjikian) Simonian.

The camp is grateful for all of the grass roots support it receives
from the community and realizes that the challenges are many as it
continues to grow its operation and strive to provide our youth with
a safe, educational, and fun camping experience. “Through community
support and continual growth of our endowment fund, we hope to further
exemplify the commitment we as a community and a people have towards
furthering the goals of not only the AYF, but the aspirations of
Armenians all over, be it educational, cultural, or simply social,”
says Michael Guzelian, Board chairman. “It’s a large undertaking,
but one that we know will pay huge benefits for many years to come.”

If you or anyone you know is interested in assisting the camp in
growing its endowment fund through a donation or the hosting of an
event, you can contact the camp’s executive director Roy Callan at
(508) 520-1312. Camp Haiastan is a 501(C)3 charity and relies of the
generosity of the community for support. Your individual support is
greatly appreciated and of the utmost importance.

From: A. Papazian

NATO SUMMIT APPROVES DECLARATION DENOUNCED BY ARMENIA
Emil Danielyan, Sargis Harutyunyan

22.11.2010

Portugal — General view of delegates attending a working session on
the second day of the NATO Summit in Lisbon, 20 Nov 2010

The leaders of NATO~Rs 28 member states singled out Azerbaijan~Rs
territorial integrity as the guiding principle of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict~Rs resolution in a weekend declaration denounced by Armenia
but welcomed in Azerbaijan.

A senior Azerbaijani official on Monday portrayed that as further
proof that Armenia is an ~Saggressor state.~T Leading Armenian
opposition groups were also quick to pounce on what they called a
serious diplomatic setback for Yerevan.

The wide-ranging declaration adopted at a NATO summit held in
Lisbon on Saturday, says: ~SWe remain committed in our support of
the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, and will also continue
to support efforts towards a peaceful settlement of these regional
conflicts, taking into account these principles.~T

Portugal — A family picture after the NAC (North Atlantic Council)
meeting in Lisbon, 19Nov2010

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian boycotted the summit in protest
against this general reference to unresolved ethnic disputes in the
former Soviet Union. His spokesman, Armen Arzumanian, warned on Friday
that it will complicate international efforts to broker a peaceful
solution to the Karabakh conflict.

Arzumanian argued that United States and another key NATO member,
France, advocate a Karabakh settlement based on territorial integrity
and two other internationally recognized principles: peoples~R right
to self-determination and non-use of force. A combination of these
principles is at the heart of a framework peace accord put forward
by the U.S., Russian and French co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.

NATO officials have still not reacted to Sarkisian~Rs dramatic move.

Armenia was represented at the summit by Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian.

The two ministers attended only a session of the summit devoted to
the situation in Afghanistan. Nalbandian did not mention Karabakh in
his speech at that meeting.

The Azerbaijani government did not officially react to the Lisbon
declaration. Still, the deputy executive secretary of the ruling Yeni
Azerbaycan Party, Mubariz Gurbanli, hailed it as ~Squite significant.~T

Portugal — Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev arrives with his wife
Mehriban to attend the NATO Summit in Lisbon, 19Nov2010

~SThe adoption of this document is an open message to circles
infringing on Azerbaijan~Rs territorial integrity, and it confirms
that Armenia is an aggressor state,~T Gurbanli told the APA news
agency. He called it a ~Ssuccess for our diplomacy.~T

Representatives of Armenia~Rs leading opposition forces likewise
described the NATO declaration as a serious blow to the Armenian
position on the Karabakh conflict. ~SThe Armenian side failed
to make sure that all three principles, notably the principle of
self-determination, are included in this document,~T said Vladimir
Karapetian, the foreign policy spokesman for the Armenian National
Congress (HAK).

~SThis means a serious change in NATO~Rs attitude to the conflict
because in all its statements issued for over ten years, NATO had
echoed the positions and approaches of the OSCE Minsk Group,~T
Karapetian told RFE/RL~Rs Armenian service. ~SNow NATO has its
own approach and this could have very serious consequences for the
conflict~Rs resolution.~T

Giro Manoyan, a senior member of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), said the declaration shows the Sarkisian
administration has failed to boost Armenia~Rs standing in the West
despite his policy of rapprochement with Turkey. ~SThe fact is that
that standing is not quite high because they just don~Rt listen to
our views,~T he told RFE/RL.

Manoyan added that Yerevan should retaliate by formally annulling
the Western-backed Turkish-Armenian normalization protocols signed a
year ago. ~SThis is yet another occasion for Armenia to withdraw its
signature from the protocols with Turkey so that they start treating
us seriously in NATO,~T he said.

A parliament deputy from Sarkisian~Rs Republican Party of Armenia
(HHK) insisted, meanwhile, that the NATO support for Azerbaijan~Rs
territorial integrity is not a setback for Yerevan. Gagik Melikian
argued that both the U.S. and France stand by the Minsk Group~Rs
existing peace plan that upholds the Karabakh Armenians~R right to
self-determination.

~SI don~Rt consider this a diplomatic defeat,~T Melikian told a news
conference on Saturday. ~SOn the contrary, I consider this yet another
important and positive step on the path to our diplomatic victory.~T

Portugal/Armenia – Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian (L) meets with
his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov on the sidelines of
NATO summit in Lisbon, 20Nov2010

The two opposition figures disagreed on practical implications of the
NATO document. Manoyan suggested that it will not have a ~Sfundamental
impact~T on the Karabakh peace process, while Karapetian predicted
that Baku will toughen its stance ahead of the December 1-2 OSCE
summit in Kazakhstan~Rs capital Astana.

The mediating powers and Russia in particular hope that Sarkisian and
Azerbaijan~Rs President Ilham Aliyev will bridge their differences
over the peace formula proposed by the Minsk Group co-chairs in time
for the summit.

In an apparent effort to nudge the conflicting parties closer to
a long-waited peace deal, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
hosted fresh talks between his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts
in Moscow on Monday. Official sources in the three countries gave no
details of the meeting.

Nalbandian and Azerbaijan~Rs Elmar Mammadyarov already had a brief
conversation on the sidelines of the Lisbon summit.

From: A. Papazian

SCPEC CONTROLS MAJOR MARKETS DURING PRE-XMAS INCREASE OF FOOD PRICES

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 22, 2010 – 18:54 AMT 14:54 GMT

Armenia’s State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition
(SCPEC) is investigating reasons for the upsurge of cheese prices
in Armenia.

“We received preliminary results of the investigation, however
there’s no sense in revealing them until the process is finalized,”
SCPEC chairman Artak Shaboyan stated at the seminar on protection of
economic competition.

Dwelling on the pre-Xmas increase of food prices, the chairman said
that SCPEC is controlling major markets to take adequate measures in
case any abuse is reported.

From: A. Papazian

PUBLIC TELEVISION OF ARMENIA DENIES THE COUNTRY’S INTENTION TO FILE COMPLAINT AGAINST AZERBAIJAN TO EUROPEAN BROADCASTING UNION

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 22, 2010 – 19:12 AMT 15:12 GMT

The Councillor of Public Television of Armenia Director General,
the leader of Armenian delegation to Eurovision Diana Mnatsakanyan
denied allegations on the fact that Armenia intends to file a complaint
against Azerbaijan to European Broadcasting Union.

As she noted, Azerbaijan hasn’t purchased the rights for broadcasting
of Junior Eurovision. “We’re unsure if the contest was aired on
Azerbaijani television. So we will not be able to file a complaint
until discovering the actual facts. To the best of my knowledge,
Azerbaijan takes no interest in the contest. The allegations that
the broadcast was cut off were merely posted on Azeri forums.”

According to some Armenian media reports, the issue of Azeri
violations of Eurovision song contest rules will be raised at European
Broadcasting Union meeting in Geneva.

The broadcast of 2010 Junior Eurovision has been interrupted in
Azerbaijan as soon as the contest winner was announced.

The interruption was reasoned by the victory of Armenia’s
representative Vladimir Arzumanyan, who is from Karabakh, Yerkramas
reported.

Azerbaijani music lovers have not managed to enjoy Arzumanyan’s
performance as the contest winner.

On November 20, Armenian participant of 2010 Junior Eurovision,
Vladimir Arzumanyan won the contest, gaining 120 points for his song
– Mama.

From: A. Papazian

FILM SERIES ON ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF FRANCE TO BE CREATED

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 22, 2010 – 21:19 AMT 17:19 GMT

On November 22, Armenian Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan met with
the newly-appointed Ambassador of France to Armenia Henri Reynaud.

Giving high assessment to the policy of France in Armenian Genocide
recognition issue, Hakobyan suggested organizing joint events important
both to Armenian and French people.

The Diaspora Minister proposed creation of film series about
representatives of Armenian community of France.

From: A. Papazian

WHAT DID PATRICK DEVEDJIAN DO TO BOTHER FRENCH PRESIDENT?

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 22, 2010 – 19:45 AMT 15:45 GMT

French President Nicolas Sarkozy avenged me for blocking the way
for his son Jean on political scene, said Patrick Devedjian in an
interview to Le Monde.

The former Minister under the Prime Minister in charge of the
Implementation of the Recovery Plan was deprived of ministerial post,
as well as the position of head of the structure of Hauts-de-Seine
ruling party.

On October 15, the President put forward groundless accusations in
opposing Jean at intraparty elections, Devedjian said. As he noted,
in 2011 Sarkozy will re-run for the head of Hauts-de-Seine General
Council.

In 2009, Le Progres newspaper reported that friendly relations between
Sarkozy and Devedjian were threatened because of the President’s son.

From: A. Papazian

AZERI MEDIA INTERPRETS GERARD DEPARDIEU’S WORDS OUT OF CONTEXT

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 22, 2010 – 21:52 AMT 17:52 GMT

Renowned French actor Gerard Depardieu called on his compatriots to
participate in donation campaign organised by Hayastan All Armenian
Fund.

The appeal of the French actor was posted on YouTube video-sharing
website, where he said, “dear friends, I urge you to contribute to
humanitarian actions of Hayastan All Armenian Fund.”

According to earlier reports of Azeri media, the actor denied calling
for financial support to Karabakh authorities within the framework
of Hayastan All Armenian Fund program.

Azeri media may be unaware that the Fund is engaged in organisation
of humanitarian programs to support Armenia and Artsakh.

This year, Fund activities are aimed at improvement of water supply
in Martuni, Hadrut, Askeran and Berdzor.

As freelance French journalist Jean Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net the
funds raised as of today this year are ten percent more than in 2009,
when France collected 1.3 million euros.

From: A. Papazian

SERVICEMAN SUSPECTED OF COMPLICITY IN DEATHS OF 4 SOLDIERS AT NKR ARMED FORCES FRONTLINE DETAINED

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 22, 2010 – 22:05 AMT 18:05 GMT

A serviceman, suspected of complicity in the deaths of 4 soldiers at
NKR armed forces frontline, was detained in Artsakh. An accusation
against the soldier, whose identity is being kept secret, was not
yet brought.

4 soldiers were killed and 4 injured in the incident that took place
on the night of November 19 at the frontline of Nagorno Karabakh armed
forces. Levon Yesayan, 19, Nerses Galoyan, 20, Narek Sahakyan, 20,
and Nver Sargsyan, 19, were killed. Sargis Melkumyan, 19, Khachik
Aleksanyan, 18, Masis Grigoryan, 19, and Manvel Azroyan, 19, were
wounded. Investigation is going on, reported the press service of
the NKR defense army.

From: A. Papazian

RAISING EFFECTIVENESS OF ARMENIA’S SOCIAL POLICY KEY ISSUE IN GOVERNMENT’S AGENDA

Tert.am
19:33 22.11.10

The government today hosted a discussion with representatives of a
World Bank (WB) delegation headed by Chairman of WB Yerevan Office
jean-Michel Happie, Armenian Governmnent’s press service reports.

The participants discussed possibilities of increasing the
effectiveness of Armenia’s social policy.

From: A. Papazian

MONTHLY NOMINAL SALARY IN ARMENIA AVERAGES AMD 106,204

ARKA
NOVEMBER 22, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 22. /ARKA/. Monthly nominal salary in Armenia
averaged AMD 106,204 by late October after growing 7.8% over ten
months of this year, compared with the same period a year earlier,
National Statistical Service of Armenia reports.

In October it went 1.8% up, compared with September.

Monthly salary in state-owned organizations averaged AMD 85,289 –
4.1% higher than that of Jan-Oct 2009. In October, it rose 1.1%,
compared with September.

Average salary at private companies amounted to AMD 133,312 in Jan-Oct
2010 – 8.5% higher than that of Jan-Oct 2009. In October, it rose 2.3%,
compared with September. ($1 = AMD 360.59).

From: A. Papazian