Author: Andres-Papazian

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF ADULTS KICKS OFF IN YEREVAN
Liana Yeghiazaryan

“Radiolur”
16.06.2010 16:52

The General Assembly of European Association for the Education of
Adults (GA-EAEA 2010) and International Conference on Youth and Adult
Education and Lifelong Learning kicked off in Yerevan today.

The event is initiated by Adult Education and Learning NGO, which
aims to bring together experts, international and local organizations
working in this field to discuss development directions, long-term
goals and achievements as well as exchange professional experience.

“Only recently we have started paying attention to this type of
education, while international experience shows that the education of
adults allows ensuring retraining of the workforce in line with the
requirements of the international labor market. Besides, it provides
an opportunity to our compatriots to improve their skills and enjoys
great demand among the society,” said Armen Ashotyan, the Minister
of Education and Science of Armenia.

GA-EAEA 2010 in Yerevan provides European participants with a unique
chance to get to know Armenia, to establish and develop contacts
with international partners. The event will also enable the European
participants to learn about Armenian education processes and establish
a stable channel for information and experience exchange for ensuring
long-term cooperation.

From: A. Papazian

RICHARD GIRAGOSIAN: ARMED FORCES OF ARMENIA AND NKR ARE THE MOST POWERFUL IN THE REGION

armradio.am
16.06.2010 17:33

The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
convened a roundtable discussion today focusing on the regional balance
of power, with presentations on defense reform and civil-military
relations in Turkey and Azerbaijan, as well as a look at these issues
in Georgia and Iran.

ACNIS Director of Administration Dr. Karapet Kalenchian presented a
brief introduction of the issues of defense reform and the military
balance of power in the South Caucasus, which he said “demonstrated
the significance of discussing and analyzing the latest developments
in regional security.” Dr. Kalenchian added that the “current dynamic
nature of defense reform and civil-military relations in Turkey and
Azerbaijan represented a challenge to Armenia’s national security,
calling for greater attention and study.”

Levon Hovsepian, an expert on Turkey from the Institute of Political
Research in the Presidential Administration, then presented a detailed
study of the issues of defense reform and civil-military relations
in Turkey. Hovsepian, who recently published a book on the Turkish
military, began with an analysis of the evolution of Turkey’s defense
and security policy and continued by adding that “Turkey has become a
security state” in many aspects. He also stressed that Turkey was now
seeking to build its “soft power” and become “a security provider”
in the region, but was also “conducting defense reform in line with
its attempt to join the European Union.”

ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian presented an analysis examining
recent trends in the broader region, with a focus on the status of
defense reform in Azerbaijan. Most notably, he stressed that despite
Azerbaijan’s inflated defense spending, the real test was how they use
the money, adding that “the Azerbaijani armed forces remains at the
heart of corruption.” He also added an assessment of the Azerbaijani
and Georgian armed forces.

ACNIS Senior Analyst Manvel Sargsian closed the event by noting that
military force was only one of the crucial elements for the balance
of power, adding that “other factors, such as democracy, the rule of
law, and political stability were equally important.”

From: A. Papazian

D. BABAYAN: PEACE-KEEPING FORCES CAN BE PLACED ONLY IF ALL THE ISSUES ARE FINALLY SETTLED

Panorama.am
16/06/2010

Information on possible placement of Russian peace-keeping forces
in Karabakh in August has nothing to do with the reality, Adviser to
Artsakh President, political expert David Babayan told Panorama.am.

Note that several Russian media spread information that Russian
peace-keeping forces might be placed in Karabakh in August. “This is
a piece of disinformation spread by an analyst or a center. I think,
the source has Azerbaijani origins,” D. Babayan said.

“It would be enough to recall Russian PM Vladimir Putin’s statements
made in Turkey, where he particularly said that neither Russia nor
any other observers can make pressure on the sides and the process
should develop in a regular manner, the sides should reach agreement
themselves. Placement of troops is beyond this philosophy,” Babayan
said.

According to him, peace-keeping forces can be placed only if all the
issues are finally settled.

“Karabakhi-Azerbaijani issue is the only conflict worldwide when the
sides themselves have been keeping peace since 1994. This is a big
achievement as it shows that sides can live independently and can
preserve peace and stability without any mediation. I don’t think
the situation could change now,” Babayan said.

The Nagorno-Karabakh (armed) conflict broke out back in 1991, when,
subsequent to the demand for self-determination of the Nagorno-Karabakh
people, Azerbaijani authorities attempted to resolve the issue
through ethnic cleansings, carried out by Soviet security forces
(KGB special units) under the pretext of the implementation of the
passport regime and by launching of large-scale military operations,
which left thousands dead and caused considerable material damage. A
cease-fire agreement was established in 1994. Negotiations on the
settlement of the conflict are being conducted under the mediation
of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen (Russia, USA, France) and on the
basis of their Madrid proposals, presented in November, 2007.

Azerbaijan has not yet implemented the 4 resolutions of the UN
Security Council adopted in 1993, by continuing to provoke arms race
in the region and openly violating on of the basic principles of the
international law non-use of force or threat of force.

From: A. Papazian

CSTO TROOPS WILL BE DEPLOYED IN KYRGYZSTAN, SAYS ARMENIAN ANALYST

Tert.am
16.06.10

Given the chaotic situation in Kyrgyzstan it can be assumed that
the Collective Security Treaty Organization troops will enter the
country, though it is still unknown what resources CSTO has for that
operation, politologist and head of Mitq analytical centre Hrant
Melik-Shahnazaryan told a press conference today.

“In all probability the accent will be put on Uzbek troops which
are interested in it too. And CSTO may become the very concealing
method that will prevent Uzbekistan’s, even Russia’s intervention in
Kyrgyzstan,” said he, referring to the bloodshed in the Kyrgyz town
of Osh.

In his words it is already clear that the country’s interim government
is unable to control the situation in the country alone and has for
that reason asked for help from Russia which shifted the issue into
the CSTO field.

According to Melik-Shahnazaryan CSTO will in any way find a way to
cope with the situation in Kyrgyzstan.

From: A. Papazian

COURT OF APPEAL REJECTS HAK CLAIM

Tert.am
16.06.10

Armenia’s Court of Appeal has rejected a complaint lodged by Armenian
National Congress (ANC) which required that the claim made by prepared
by HAK and jointed by Armenian citizens against raising of gas tariff
be examined in written form, HAK lawyer Vahe Hovsepyan told Tert.am.

Earlier more than 7,000 people had signed a petition prepared by HAK
that required annulling a decision that allowed raising gas tariff
from April.

The Administrative Court had ruled that the case must be examined in
written form i.e. there would be no court hearing. HAK brought this
case at the Court of Appeal in anticipation that the Court would
assign a court hearing – but yet to no avail.

Months ago Public Services Regulatory Commission of the Republic of
Armenia had presented some counterarguments over HAK’s claim.

According to Hovsepyan they will in the coming days come up with
objections to these counterarguments.

From: A. Papazian

CATHOLICOS ARAM I TO BEGIN CANADA VISIT THURSDAY

Asbarez
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

MONTREAL-His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
will begin his Pontifical Canada visit in Montreal with a meeting
with the community at the Sourp Hagop Armenian Apostolic Cathedral
at 7:30pm on Thursday, June 17.

Key public visits for the Pontifical visit of His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos, for Montreal and Laval are:

“Nor Dsaghig” Children Choir concert, Sourp Hagop Armenian Apostolic
Cathedral at 7:30pm on Friday, June 18 Meeting with Armenian students
and youth, Montreal Armenian Community Centre, Friday, June 18, 9pm to
10pm Meeting lunch with community religious leaders, Saturday, June
19 at noon Meeting with Armenian organizations, Armenian Community
Centre, Saturday, June 19, 8:30pm to 10:30pm Divine Liturgy, Sourp
Hagop Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in Montreal, Sunday, June 20, 11am
Benediction groundbreaking ceremony of the monument in memory of the
Armenian Genocide in Laval, Sunday, June 20, 2pm (corner of boul.

Daniel-Johnson & autoroute 440 est).

>From June 21-23, His Holiness will participate at the Religious
Leaders Summit of the G8 Nations to be held in Winnipeg.

>From June 24-27, His Holiness will be visiting Toronto, where G8
meeting of the world leaders will take place. During His stay, His
Holiness will be meeting with politicians, diplomats, as well as with
religious leaders.

The key public visits for Toronto:

Meeting with Toronto community, St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church,
on Thursday, June 24, 2010 at8pm.

Meeting with community’s religious, political leaders and Armenian
organizations, Toronto Armenian Community Centre, Friday June 25,
6pm to 7:30pm Dinner meeting with Armenian students and youth,
Toronto Armenian Community Centre, Friday June 25, 8pm to 10pm.

Unveiling of the Georgetown Armenian Boy’s Farm, Saturday, June 26
at noon Official Banquet on Saturday, June 26, 8pm to 10:30pm Divine
Liturgy, St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, Sunday June 27, 11am Born
in 1947, in Beirut, Lebanon, Catholicos Aram I studied at the Armenian
Theological Seminary in Antelias, and the Ecumenical Institute of
Bossey in Geneva, Switzerland, before receiving His M.Div. from the
Near East School of Theology. He received jointly His S.T.M. from
the American University of Beirut and the Near East School of Theology.

His Holiness later obtained His PhD from Fordham University in New
York and also holds several honorary degrees. His major areas of
specialization are philosophy, systematic theology, and Near Eastern
church history.

Catholicos Aram I was ordained a celibate priest in 1968, and obtained
the title of Vartabed (Doctor of the Armenian Church) in 1970. In 1979,
after serving as Locum Tenens for one year, He was elected Primate of
the Armenian Orthodox Community in Lebanon and received His Episcopal
ordination the following year.

In 1975, he was elected as a member of the Faith and Order Commission
of the WCC, and in 1983 as a member of its Standing Committee. At
the Vancouver Assembly (1983), His Holiness was elected as a member
of the Central Committee of the WCC.

At the Canberra Assembly (1991), he was elected Moderator of the
Central and Executive Committees of the WCC, the highest position
of this global fellowship of churches, which comprises more than 350
churches from different confessions, cultures, nations and regions. He
is the first Orthodox and the youngest person to be elected to the
position of Moderator. After serving as Moderator for seven years, His
Holiness was unanimously re-elected at the Harare Assembly (1998). The
re-election of His Holiness, which was based on his “strong leadership,
firm commitment, theological knowledge and administrative experience”,
was unprecedented in the history of the WCC.

In June 1995, His Holiness was elected Catholicos (Head of the Church)
by the Electoral Assembly of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia (35
clergy and 115 lay representatives), and was consecrated a week later.

Since becoming Catholicos, His Holiness has reorganized and revitalized
the work of the Church, particularly in the areas of theological
and Christian education, has increased the number of publications,
has improved communication with other churches and religious leaders,
has augmented the scope of cultural activities, and promoted peace
and justice, and human rights internationally.

For further information on dates and locations, please contact Dania
Ohanian at 514-856-1200 or [email protected]

From: A. Papazian

EYES ON ISTANBUL COURT FOR MERGER OF CAGE PLOT WITH POYRAZKEY

Today’s Zaman
June 15 2010
Turkey

Retired Adm. Ali Feyyaz Ogutcu, whose name is frequently mentioned as
“the president” in the alleged military Cage action plan, was arrested
in February.

Thirty-three suspects, all retired and active duty naval officers,
are set to appear before a judge as part of the trial into an alleged
Naval Forces Command plan, the Cage Operation Action Plan, at the
Ä°stanbul 12th High Criminal Court. In the first hearing today,
the court is expected to announce whether it will merge the Cage
indictment with an indictment into the Poyrazköy munitions.

The Cage plan is a suspected Naval Forces Command plot to undermine
the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) by assassinating prominent
non-Muslim figures in Turkey and putting the blame for the killings on
the party. The plan was intended to intimidate the country’s non-Muslim
groups, which was expected to increase internal and external pressure
on the ruling party. In turn, weakening public support for the party
was intended to eventually lead to a military takeover.

Prosecutors overseeing the Cage investigation believe the plot
was to be put into operation through the use of a large cache of
munitions buried in Ä°stanbul’s Poyrazköy district. The munitions
were discovered by police in April of last year on land owned by
the Ä°stek Foundation, which belongs to former Ä°stanbul Mayor
Bedrettin Dalan. The discovery was made as part of an investigation
into Ergenekon, a clandestine gang whose suspected members are
currently standing trial on charges of having plotted to overthrow
the government.

The 65-page Cage indictment says the naval plot team was coordinated
and led by retired Adm. Ahmet Feyyaz Ogutcu. The document points
to Vice Adm. Kadir Sagdıc and Rear Adm. Mehmet Fatih İlgar as
the “number two and number three men” behind the plot. The two
were interrogated in February by Ä°zmir prosecutors as part of the
Ergenekon probe. The indictment calls for jail sentences of up to 15
years for the three admirals on charges of membership in a terrorist
group. It also seeks lengthy prison terms for 30 other defendants on
similar charges.

The Poyrazköy indictment demands life sentences for five naval
officers — Lt. Col. Ercan Kirectepe, Lt. Col. Mustafa Turhan Ecevit,
Maj. Eren Gunay, Maj. Emre Onat and retired Maj. Levent BektaÅ~_ —
on charges of “attempting to destroy Parliament and the government.”

In April of this year, the Cage plan indictment was added to the case
file of the 2007 Malatya murders, in which three missionaries were
brutally killed at a Christian publishing house.

The Cage plan called the killings of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant
Dink, Catholic priest Father Andrea Santoro and three Christians in
Malatya an “operation.”

The Cage plan also contained a frightening planned act of terror
against young students visiting the Rahmi M. Koc Museum. According to
the plan, several blocks of TNT and other explosives placed at the
bottom of a submarine exhibited at the museum were to be detonated
while a large group of students was visiting the museum.

After the discovery of explosives in the submarine, a military
investigation found that the explosives had been forgotten by
commandos. Ergenekon prosecutors, however, decided that the findings
of the military investigation were too weak to ease concerns over the
discovery of explosives at a museum. The prosecutors examined the
submarine at the museum and reached the conclusion that it was not
possible for the commandos to forget such a large amount of explosives
in a submarine.

Cage documents noted that the explosion was to occur on a day when
the museum was visited by a large group of students. “Materials to
be planted at the museum have reached operators. We should increase
the number of visitors to the museum. C.G. will tell us when the
visitor numbers at the museum are at their highest. We should increase
publicity and activities [about the museum] in schools. Students are
the most important elements of this project. We should confirm the
day of the operation,” read one of the documents.

The Cage action plan was signed by Lt. Col. Kirectepe and was to
be put into operation by a team of 41 members of the Naval Forces
Command. The action plan would be implemented to lend support to the
suspects arrested so far as part of the Ergenekon investigation, render
ineffective alleged psychological warfare waged by the AK Party and its
supporters (against the military), change the course of the agenda in
Turkey, boost the morale of the junta within the Naval Forces Command
and win the appreciation and support of the public. The blame for
each of the assassinations by the junta would be put on the AK Party.

From: A. Papazian

ASSYRIAN GENOCIDE MONUMENT TO BE DEDICATED ON AUGUST 7

Assyrian International News Agency AINA

June 15 2010

The Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) — Australia Chapter is pleased
to announce the commencement of the third phase of its plan to erect
the genocide memorial at Fairfield, Australia, honouring the memory
of the victims of the Assyrian genocide committed by the Ottoman
government during WWI (1914-1918). The construction of the Assyrian
monument started on 23 May 2010, and the unveiling will be on the
Assyrian Martyrs Day, 7 August 2010.

The foundation work of the monument was completed on Saturday, 12 June,
and the 1.2 meter-high base was completed on Tuesday, 15 June 2010. The
Assyrian Universal Alliance started preparing for the construction
of the Assyrian genocide monument as soon as the official agreement
was made between the AUA and the city of Fairfield. We expect the
project to be completed by the end of July and be ready for the
official opening ceremony on the 7th of August.

A special two-day program is organised by the AUA to unveil the
monument and commemorate the Assyrian genocide and martyrs day. The
unveiling will commence at 11:00am at Bonnyrigg Park followed by a
seminar on the Assyrian genocide where a documentary film will be
screened at the Assyrian Social Centre that illustrates the horror of
genocide. The film will show the vicious extermination carried out by
the Ottoman Turks against Assyrians, Armenians and the Pontic Greeks
during which nearly 750,000 Assyrians were systematically butchered.

The Assyrian Universal Alliance is extending an open invitation to
all Assyrians around the globe to attend this important memorial
ceremony, sharing this historic moment with us. We will also be
pleased and honoured to see participation by non-Assyrians as a
measure of support for the Assyrian nation’s demand for justice,
and the condemnation of genocide in general.

Assyrian Universal Alliance

From: A. Papazian

THE STATE FLAG DAY IN ARMENIA

Aysor
June 15 2010
Armenia

Today for the first time Armenia celebrates the Day of the State
Flag of the Republic of Armenia. The RA flag has been accepted by
the Supreme Council in 1990 on August 24, and on June 15, 2006 the
“Law on the RA Flag” was adopted.

The feast dedicated to the Day of the RA Flag is to be held through
several events, however the most important event will be the procession
organized by the “Menq” fund. It will kick off today at 19:00, in
front of the Government building. The civic parade will pass through
the Nlabandian street, Sayat Nova avenue, the French Park which is
situated next to the Opera house and Mashtots avenue, then through
the Amirian street will again enter the Republic Square.

As we were told from the “Menq” fund, the event dedicated to the
State Flag of the Armenian Republic will be held in Yerevan area as
it is the first time that it is organized.

“The inhabitants of the regions can also join the events that take
place in the capital city. In the upcoming years the geography of
the events will be enlarged,” the organizers mention.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA ANNOUNCES 4 GOLD WINNERS OF ARAM KHACHATURIAN COMPETITION
Armen Hareyan

HULIQ.com
June 15 2010
SC

Instead of two gold winners, the international jury in Armenia
announced that four people have become the Gold medal winners of
Aram Khachaturian classical music competition annually taking place
in the capital Yerevan.

Today at the competition’s final stage there were announced the winners
in the violin and cello classifications. About 59 young musicians
from 21 countries participated in the 8th competition named after
famous Armenian composer Aram Khachaurian, more known to western
world with his Sabre Dance from the ballet Spartacus and the Violin
Concerto. The jury itself was very prestigious and representative.

There were professional musicians in the jury representing nine
countries. The jury was very demanding. For example, it did not give
the third place to anyone in the cello competition.

This year musicians were competing in two categories: cello and
violin. In Cello competition the first and second places were shared
between two musicians each. Luca Magariello (Italy) and Eugine
Ramiantsev from Russia became the winners and shared the gold medal.

The silver medal was also shared between two people. Hasmik vardanyan
from Armenia and Samuel Lutsker from Germany shared the second place.

No one received the bronze

In violin competition jury did not give any silver medals. Instead
two people shared the gold and two others the bronze medals. Phillip
Brett from Australia and Tigran Harutiunyan from Armenia shared the
3rd place in violin competition. Lia Hakopova from Russia and Jaroslav
Nadzirski from Poland became the winners of the gold medal.

Thus it made four people becoming the winners of the 8th international
music competition named after Aram Khachaturian, instead of two.

All of the winners will have excellent promotion opportunities with
two top world class Orchestras, besides winning a $15,000 financial
prize. The winners will have the opportunity to have a concert solo
appearance with the Mariinsky Theatre orchestra under Valery Gergiev
and the Moscow State Academic Symphonic Orchestra under Pavel Kogan.

All of these concerts will take place in Armenia during the two
orchestra’s scheduled trips to Armenia.

This evening the winners performed the violin and cello concertos of
Aram Khachaturian in Yerevan. After which the award giving ceremony
took places.

The Aram Khachaturian competition has been taking place since 2003.

Until now musicians were competing in two categories: violin, cello.

Starting next year composers and pianists will also be able to
participate in this already prestigious classic music competition. The
board of the directors of the Aram Khachaturian Music Competition
includes such names as the Mrs. Rita Sargsyan, the wife of the
president of Armenia, Valery Gergiev, the artistic director of
Mariinsky Theatre and the chief conductor of London symphonic orchestra
and Pavel Kogan who directs the Moscow State Academic Orchestra.

From: A. Papazian