Author: Andres-Papazian

Looking Ahead to Homenetmen Navasartian Weekend

Friday, June 25th, 2010
by Asbarez

2009 Navasrtian Closing Ceremony

The community-wide event of the Navasartian Games and its accompanying
celebrations, including the Victory Ball and championship tournaments
will culminate with the four-day festival and closing and the closing
ceremonies on the weekend of July 1 to 4 at Birmingham High School
(17000 Haynes St., Van Nuys, CA 91406).

This occasion, which brings together thousands of Armenian athletes
and community members from near and far, will certainly provide for
yet another memorable experience.

Athletic Games
While the numerous tournaments that comprise the Navasartian Athletic
Games began on May 8, they will soon conclude with the championship
games scheduled during the weekend of July 1 to 4 at Birmingham High
School.

Competitions for some sports, such as swimming and track and field,
have already concluded; however, the final games for others, such as
tennis and soccer, are still to be held at Birmingham High School.

In addition, since a large number of athletic teams constitute the
basketball tournaments, these games will also be held at California
State University, Northridge, as well as the gymnasiums of the
Glendale `Ararat’ Chapter and Pacific Community Center.

Volleyball games will take place at the `Rose and Alex Pilibos’
Armenian School on Friday, July 2 starting at 6 p.m. and Saturday,
July 3 starting at 10 a.m. Championship games for this sport will be
on Sunday, July 4th at Birmingham High School’s main gymnasium.

Table tennis tournaments, which also attract a large audience, will be
held in the Multi-Purpose Room of Birmingham High School from July 1
to 4. On a daily basis, each chapter’s athletic director will receive
a list with tournament times and division schedules.

The chess tournament will take place on Saturday, July 3 at 9:30 a.m.
in Birmingham High School Teacher’s Cafeteria. The tournament is
separated into the following three divisions: Under 12; Under 17; and
18 & Over. The participation fee is $10.00 per person.

Navasartian’s Four-Day Festival
This year, the four-day festival celebrating the Navasartian Athletic
Games will commence on Thursday, July 1 at Birmingham High School from
4 p.m. to midnight. The same hours will be observed on Friday, July 2.
Extended hours for the festival are 8 a.m. to midnight on Saturday,
July 3 and Sunday, July 4.

Navasartian’s lively setting will enjoy renowned Armenian singers
Karnig Sarkissian, performing on Thursday and Saturday evening, and
Harout Pamboukjian, performing on Sunday. Fireworks shows will
illuminate the skies on Thursday and Saturday evening as well.

Additional performances by well-known Armenian artists include singers
Joseph Krikorian, Antoine Bezdjian, Koko Hayitian, Hoy Lari, Ara
Shahbazian, Arno, Paul, Artin Bedrossian, Harout Hagopian, Robert
Chilingiran, Sahag Sislian, Hratch Bogharian, Sash, and Viza. The Knar
band will accompany all artists.

As always, a children’s section with arts and crafts will be in place
assuring much entertainment and enjoyment. Furthermore, the various
Homenetmen chapters will have their own booths for the sale of
delectable Armenian food.

Admission
Admission to the Navasartian festival on Thursday, July 1, Friday,
July 2 and Saturday July 3 is $6 for adults and $4 for children. On
Sunday, July 4, adult ticket prices are $7 and children’s are $5.

Closing Ceremonies
The 35th Annual Navasartian Athletic Games will officially conclude
with the closing ceremonies scheduled for Sunday, July 4 at 4 p.m. at
Birmingham High School. with the Honorary Presidency of George
Jamgochian, Homenetmen scouts and athletes will participate in the
annual march, including presentation of trophies for winning athletic
teams.

The Navasartian festivities will continue after the closing ceremonies
with lively Armenian music and celebration.

For additional information regarding the Navasartian Games, please
visit: navasartiangames.com. For questions, e-mail
[email protected] or contact Homenetmen’s Regional
Headquarters at (323) 344-4300.

From: A. Papazian

Armenian American in race for Maryland Delegate seat
by Emil Sanamyan

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Published: Friday June 25, 2010

Hrant Jamgochian.

Bethesda, Md. – Hrant Jamgochian is seeking to become first Armenian
American to serve in the Maryland House of Delegates. His campaign
will kick-off on June 27 at Jamgochian’s home at 6010 Ryland Drive in
Bethesda.

In a recent interview with The Armenian Reporter Jamgochian described
his more than a decade-long track record of health, environmental and
Armenian-American advocacy that makes him well-positioned to win the
Democratic Party primary set for September 14.

“Much of the new federal health reform law will be implemented at the
state level,” Jamgochian said. “And with my experience and training I
am uniquely quaified to ensure that Maryland takes advantage of every
opportunity in the new law.”

Jamgochian, 37 currently serves as the director of health policy for
United Way Worldwide, where he works with the organization’s 1,200
state and local affiliates to help improve the health of all
Americans. Previously he worked as director of congressional and state
relations at the American Pharmacists Association and before that at
the American Psychological Association. He is also active on
environmental issues, currently serving on the local Sierra Club
executive committe.

If elected Jamgochian would also draw on the experience of his years
of Armenian American advocacy. Working at the Armenian Assembly of
America from 1997 to 2002, he helped to advance human rights through
advocating for Armenian Genocide affirmation while promoting U.S.
foreign policy through engagement with Armenia and Karabakh.

He remains active on Armenian American issues and his campaign has
received early endorsements from area Armenian Americans, including
veteran issues advocate Annie Totah and Maryland businessman Aris
Mardirossian, who serve as Honorary Co-chairs for his campaign.

Jamgochian is also a member of the Maryland Mayflower Society being
13th in descent from William Bradford and 8th in descent from
Revolutionary War Veteran Samuel Wheat through his maternal line.

A member of the Maryland, Washington, DC and Supreme Court Bars,
Jamgochian received his J.D. from the Catholic University of America
and his LL.M. from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Getting the message out

After a late resignation by one of the incumbents in the district, who
left to serve in the Obama Administration, several other candidates
joined Jamgochian who is working hard to get his message out to some
48,000 registered Democrats in Maryland’s 16th.

Candidates are now aiming to step up their fundraising ahead of the
August 14 filing deadline for contributions. Key endorsements, such as
those from the Washington Post, Montgomery Gazette, Progressive
Maryland, Sierra Club and other groups are likely to be based on how
well candidates fundraise and rally voters.

The next two months will be busy for Jamgochian, as he plans to
network with voters via mail, social-networking sites, as well as by
knocking on doors and handing out flyers at metro stops and various
area events.

“I see myself as the inclusive candidate, one with a diverse
background and set of life experiences, who has the unique perspective
and commitment to represent everyone in my diverse district well. At
the same time, I know how much it means to so many in our community
who would love to see the first Armenian American elected in Maryland
and encourage everyone to support our campaign,” Jamgochian said.

Contact the Jamgochian campaign via ,
e-mail [email protected], facebook
, twitter
or by telephone (301) 493-5740.

From: A. Papazian

Russian, Armenian police to brace up against economic crime – Interior Minister

YEREVAN, June 26 (RIA Novosti)

Police in Russia and Armenia should take additional measures to
prevent economic crimes, Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev
said on Saturday.

“Our countries’ economies are under the criminal influence, so the
amount of work [to be done] here is large,” Nurgaliyev told a meeting
with the Armenian Interior Ministry.

Nurgaliyev said the issue is the more important now that the global
economic recession shows no signs of easing.

He said around 430,000 economic crimes were detected in Russia in
2009. In the first quarter of 2010, the figure had already reached
127,000, he added.

“This direction [of police work] needs more attention. We should
establish a package of additional measures to effectively protect
economic projects which fall under the criminal influence,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

Georgian Authorities Restart Policy of Relocation Adjar Eco-Migrants to Javakhk

[ 2010/06/25 | 16:48 ]
politics

The authorities in Georgia have once again started to relocate
eco-migrants from Adjara to Javakhk. According to the Georgian press,
14 families from the Khulo region of Adjara were recently given houses
in the village of Gorelovka in the Ninotsminda (formerly Bogdanovka)
region. Around 50 families, relocated from the mountainous regions of
Adjara, currently reside in Gorelovka
().

The policy of relocating Adjars to regions in Georgia populated by
Armenians is a clear move to change the ethnic and demographic profile
of the country. This process is in direct violation of article 16 of
the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National
Minorities (which Georgia signed on 22 December 2005). This states
that signatory states should avoid steps that would lead to a change
in the demographics of the population in regions where ethnic
minorities reside.

The Yerkir Union has appealed to the Armenian authorities as well as
diplomatic bodies in Georgia to respond immediately to this attempt by
the Georgian authorities to violate the rights of the Armenians of
Javakhk and to cease the process of relocating ethnic Adjars to this
region.

From: A. Papazian

St. Petersburg proposals are acceptable to Armenia, Gagik Melikyan says
26.06.2010 15:06

Lusine Vasilyan
`Radiolur’

Member of the Republican faction Gagik Melikyan is confident that the
proposals presented in Saint Petersburg are acceptable to the Armenian
side. According to him, progress has been registered in two directions
– consolidation of the principles of the right of peoples to
self-determination and non-use of force.

The Republican MP expressed confidence that these very proposals
disappointed Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. `The subversive act
that followed the meeting and the latest statements of the Azeri
President are attempts to conceal the defeatist moods,’ Gagik Melikyan
said.

`I’m sure that the proposals of the Armenian side found support with
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and were disapproved by President
Aliyev of Azerbaijan, and we saw the results of it,’ Gagik Melikyan
stated.

According to Gagik Melikyan, the response of the internationals
structures to the incident of June 18 was inadequate.

From: A. Papazian

`Bridge Artsakh-2010′ Second Economic Forum kicks off in Stepanakert

armradio.am
26.06.2010 14:01

On 26 June President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan
partook at the `Bridge Artsakh-2010′ Second Economic Forum, Central
Information Department of the Office of the NKR President reported.

President Bako Sahakyan welcomed the participants of the `Bridge
Artsakh-2010′ Second Economic Forum and wished them successful and
efficient work.

`Holding this important event in Artsakh, which has already become a
kind tradition, is very much promising. I express my gratitude to the
event’s organizers and initiators. It is a good opportunity to learn
about the economic potential and development prospects of our
republic, discuss issues of mutual interest in a warm and immediate
atmosphere and introduce Artsakh to the outer world.

Every effort directed to developing bilateral ties and contacts with
Armenian and foreign partners, establishing mutually beneficial
cooperation is rated high in Nagorno Karabagh. We are open for such
cooperation and are ready to discuss any constructive suggestion.
Favorable conditions for successful realization of investment programs
and further developing entrepreneurship have been created in our
country. Such undertakings also add evidence to that.

I hope that practical discussions and efficient dialogue will be
extended within the frameworks of the forum that will be useful for
business circles of Artsakh and other countries,’ Bako Sahakyan said
in his opening remarks.

From: A. Papazian

Rashid Nurgaliyev: Russian, Armenian police to take additional
measures against economic crime
26.06.2010 13:46

Lilit Muradyan
`Radiolur’

Police in Russia and Armenia should take additional measures to
prevent economic crimes, Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev
said on Saturday.

“Our countries’ economies are under the criminal influence, so the
amount of work to be done here is large,” Nurgaliyev told a meeting
with the Armenian Police in Yerevan.

Nurgaliyev said the issue is the more important now under the
conditions of the global financial-economic crisis.

He said around 430,000 economic crimes were detected in Russia in
2009. In the first quarter of 2010, the figure had already reached
127,000, he added. In Armenia the number of economic crimes reached
1073, 281 cases were registered in the first half of 2010.

“This direction of police work needs more attention. We should
establish a package of additional measures to effectively protect
economic projects which fall under the criminal influence,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

Hilary Clinton to visit Armenia

armradio.am
26.06.2010 11:45

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit Ukraine, Poland,
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia July 1-5, the State Department said on
Friday.

Announcing Clinton’s trip, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley
said the United States had “invested a great deal of energy” to try to
improve relations and said the visit showed U.S. commitment to try to
resolve their (Armenia-Azerbaijan) disputes.

The Armenian Ministry of Foreign affairs has confirmed Secretary
Clinton’s visit. `US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton will visit
Yerevan in early July. The details of the visit will be announce din
the near future,’ Head of Media Relations Department of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs Tigran Balayan told `Radiolur.’

From: A. Papazian

Ackerman recommande vivement au Centre Woodrow Wilson d’annuler sa
récompense au Ministre turc des Affaires Etrangères

USA

samedi 26 juin 2010, par Stéphane/armenews

Le représentant Gary Ackerman (D-CA), un membre de la Commission des
affaires étrangères de la Chambre et avocat de la reconnaissance du
génocide arménien, a critiquer le centre Woodrow Wilson d’honorer le
Ministre turc des Affaires Etrangères Ahmet Davutoglu.

Le législateur de New-York, dans une lettre a noté que la politique de
Davutoglu “abonde en illégalité, irresponsabilité et hypocrisie” et
“est en contraste pointu avec le legs de Woodrow Wilson”. Sa lettre a
aussi exprimé son” anxiété et inquiétude “quant à la décision du
Centre, notant que” la Turquie continue à non seulement nier le
génocide arménien, mais aussi en criminaliser sa reconnaissance en
Turquie. “Il a continué en citant l’occupation en cours par la Turquie
de Chypre, son blocus de l’Arménie et son appui au régime génocidaire
au Soudan.

From: A. Papazian

Sevak Sarukhanyan : l’Iran est près de devenir une puissance nucléaire

ARMENIE

samedi 26 juin 2010, par Stéphane/armenews

L’Iran est confiante qu’aucune sanction sérieuse ne peut être
appliquée contre cela a déclaré l’expert de la Fondation Noravank
Sevak Sarukhanyan lors d’une conférence de presse. Il a ajouté que `
la position fondamentale de l’Iran pourrait indiquer que le pays est
près de devenir une puissance nucléaire. ‘

Selon l’évaluation de Sevak Sarukhanyan, la possibilité d’une guerre
est maintenant minimale, mais il est difficile de dire ce qui arrivera
dans l’avenir. Il a dit ` l’Arménie ne sentira pas l’influence des
sanctions si une est appliqué contre l’Iran, puisque l’Arménie et
l’Iran coopèrent dans des sphères où aucune sanction ne va être
appliquée. ‘

`Si les sanctions doivent être appliquées, l’Iran temporairement
perdra simplement sa fiabilité comme pays de transit pour l’Arménie, ‘
a dit Sarukhanyan.

` En cas de déstabilisation de l’Iran l’Arménie dépendra entièrement
de la Géorgie comme itinéraire de transit, ce qui pourra provoquer un
changement dans la politique géorgienne ‘ a-t-il exposé.

From: A. Papazian