Garik Balayan awarded medal posthumously
13:52 14/06/2014 >> SOCIETY
On June 14, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Republic President Bako
Sahakyan signed a decree awarding posthumously Medal for Courage to
commander of the rifle battalion of the NKR Defense Army’s N division,
lieutenant colonel Garik Balayan for bravery shown while defending the
NKR state border, the press service of the Artsakh Republic President
reported.
Source: Panorama.am
From: A. Papazian
30 New Members Join ARF Ranks
Saturday, June 14th, 2014
30 joined the ARF ranks on Friday
MONTEBELLO–Thirty novices took an oath on Friday evening to join the
ranks of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation during a solemn
ceremony attended by ARF members from throughout the Western United
States.
Officiating the oath ceremony was veteran ARF member and community
activist Tirgan Sarkouni, who welcomed the novices, who had completed
a special indoctrination program that spanned over several months.
The mostly young new members were also welcomed to the ranks by ARF
Western US Central Committee Chairman Dr. Viken Hovsepian who called
on the new members to heed the call of the ARF and join in the just
pursuit of the Armenian Cause and elevate the national aspirations of
the Armenian Nation.
Also speaking at the ceremony was ARF Bureau member Hagop
Der-Khachadourian, who told the new members that they were now party
of a national movement to preserves the ideals of the Armenian Nation.
The oath ceremony preceded a community-wide celebration of the the
96th anniversary of Armenia’s Independence being held at the
Baghramian Hall and on the sidelines of the ARF Regional Convention,
which began Thursday evening.
From: A. Papazian
ARMENIENS D’IRAK
En Irak, les islamistes auraient attaqué l’église arménienne Sourp
Etchmiadzine à Mossoul
Les jihadistes, appartenant notamment à l’Etat islamique en Irak et au
Levant auraient lors du contrôle de la ville de Mossoul, attaqué
l’église arménienne Sourp Etchmiadzine (Sainte Etchmiadzine).
Information communiquée par l’un des responsables de la communauté
arménienne de la ville, Massis Chahinian. 65 familles arméniennes
avait fui Mossoul le 10 juin face à l’avancée des islamistes qui se
sont ainsi emparés de la deuxième ville d’Irak. La communauté
arménienne d’Irak, jadis nombreuse et prospère, compte aujourd’hui
entre 15 000 et 16 000 membres. Des Arméniens principalement installés
à Bagdad, Basra, Kirkouk et Mossoul. Face à l’avancée des djihadistes,
leur avenir reste compromis.
Krikor Amirzayan
samedi 14 juin 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com
From: A. Papazian
PRESS RELEASE
MEDIA CENTER in YEREVAN
30 Saryan str.
Tel: +37460 505 898
+37499 755 898
Email: [email protected]
Web:
June 13, 12:30 the Media Center will hold a panel discussion entitled
`Christian Ethics Lessons in Schools of General Education and
`Armenian Church History’ Textbook.’
The panelists include:
Hasmik Margaryan, Specialist at the Department of Armenian Studies and
Social-Cultural Disciplines of the National Institute of Education at
the Education and Science Ministry of Armenia;
Avetik Ishkhanyan, Chairman of Armenian Helsinki Committee;
Armine Davtyan, School Psychologist, Coauthor of `The content
analysis of `Armenian Church History’ textbooks and their impact on
the young generation’ study.
The panelists will share their thoughts on the compulsory discipline
of `Armenian Church History’ at Armenian schools of general education
and its impact on schoolchildren, as well as national minority
children’s rights and contents of `Armenian Church History’ textbook.
The final observations to Armenia’s 3rd and 4th periodic reports to
the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child propose `to review the
curriculum in order to ensure children’s right to the freedom of
conscience and religion and suspend the compulsory teaching of
`Armenian Church History.’
With respect to `Armenian Church History’ Discipline, Armen Ashotyan,
Education and Science Minister, stated that pro-Western NGOs will not
compel the Ministry to withdraw Christian ethics lessons from primary
schools.
From: A. Papazian
ANCA CALLS ON OBAMA TO STOP ATTACKS ON ALEPPO
Thursday, June 12th, 2014
#SaveAleppo
Requests Community Meeting to Discuss Rescue of Aleppo
WASHINGTON–Armenian National Committee of America Chairman Ken
Hachikian called upon President Obama to “forcefully intervene
on behalf of the defenseless and courageously struggling people
of Aleppo.”
“Aleppo is under siege by jihadist armies,” opened the ANCA letter.
“As I write to you, Aleppo is being brutalized by heavy and
indiscriminate rocket fire destroying homes, churches, schools,
medical facilities, and businesses. Age-old Armenian neighborhoods are
disappearing at the hands of Al Qaida-affiliated terrorists, America’s
avowed enemies, with the active support of Turkey. The people of
Aleppo are left without shelter, without food, without water and with
no means to defend themselves. They are held hostage between warring
sides and are relentlessly targeted for slaughter by extremist forces.
The Armenian American community cannot and will not accept U.S.
inaction in the face of the brutal destruction of Aleppo.”
The ANCA letter closed with a request that the President convene
“an emergency meeting of the broad-based leadership of the Armenian
American community, including our civic, charitable, and church
leaders, no later than next week to discuss the plan of action needed
for the rescue of Aleppo.”
The full text of the ANCA letter is provided below.
Dear Mr. President:
Aleppo is under siege by jihadist armies. As I write to you,
Aleppo is being brutalized by heavy and indiscriminate rocket
fire destroying homes, churches, schools, medical facilities, and
businesses. Age-old Armenian neighborhoods are disappearing at the
hands of Al Qaida-affiliated terrorists, America’s avowed enemies,
with the active support of Turkey. The people of Aleppo are left
without shelter, without food, without water and with no means to
defend themselves.
They are held hostage between warring sides and are relentlessly
targeted for slaughter by extremist forces. The Armenian American
community cannot and will not accept U.S. inaction in the face of
the brutal destruction of Aleppo.
Mr. President, this is no time for ordinary diplomacy. Whatever our
position on the Syrian crisis, we, as Americans, cannot stand idly
by while the people of Aleppo are being strangled to death. We ask
you to use all your powers to forcefully intervene on behalf of the
defenseless and courageously struggling people of Aleppo. The bombing
of this city by Al Qaida-affiliated forces must be stopped at once.
Aleppo must be saved. There can be no excuse for allowing this
slaughter to continue or for permitting the Armenian community to
bleed to death. The responsibility will be ours if we do not act now
to stop this crime.
For this reason, we respectfully ask you to work with the ANCA in
convening an emergency meeting of the broad-based leadership of
the Armenian American community, including our civic, charitable,
and church leaders, no later than next week to discuss the plan of
action needed for the rescue of Aleppo. Needless to say, our community
is already mobilized to work in partnership with your Administration
for an effective response to this imminent threat.
Sincerely, Kenneth V. Hachikian Chairman Armenian National Committee
of America
From: A. Papazian
WIKILEAKS EXPOSES DARK SIDES OF UKRAINE’S POROSHENKO, TYMOSHENKO
18:21 * 12.06.14
Two diplomatic cables made public by WikiLeaks Public Library on
US Diplomacy reveal that Ukraine’s president-elect Petr Poroshenko
served as an informant for United States’ State Department, the Voice
of Russia reports.
A confidential message from the US Embassy in Kiev dating back to April
29, 2006 mentions the now widely-known confectionary tycoon twice.
Back then Poroshenko reportedly handed to the US Embassy in Kiev
inside information on the plotting a coalition government in 2006,
Wikileaks say.
The message was intended for Ambassador John Herbst to update him
on how things stood in April 2006, Poroshenko describing himself
as an insider from the party Nasha Ukrayina (Our Ukraine), a bloc
associated with former President Viktor Yushchenko, passionately
welcomed by the western leaders.
The diplomat, however, questioned the authenticity of Poroshenko’s
message suspecting it to be part of backdoor games aimed at arresting
once Yushchenko’s allies – Yuliya Tymoshenko and Aleksandr Turchynov
until recently – acting Ukraine’s President.
Who is Poroshenko – the figure to use his might and power to wind down
the deadly standoff in the country’s southeast or a mere businessman
who skillfully pulls his strings – is still debated.
Other Wikileaks documents that came recently to light show that
Ukraine’s former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko might have cooperated
with mafia boss Seymon Mogilievich when she headed United Energy
Systems.
In a message to Washington dated April 14, 2006, US embassy to Kiev
said that Tymoshenko could have been associated with Ukraine’s crime
kingpin. The embassy referred to Internet news site Ukrainska Pravda
(UP) which reported about the illegal destruction of the Security
Service of Ukraine (SBU) files on Mogilievich upon order by then senior
Tymoshenko, who could have been thus deleting sensitive data on her
shady business with Mogilievich, as well as her illegal surveillance
of now president-elect Poroshenko.
Yulia Tymoshenko leapt to international fame in 2004 as she joined
the so-called Orange Revolution: Ukraine’s citizens took to streets
back then in Kiev backing Western-favorite Viktor Yushchenko in his
appeal against the results of a presidential election. She served two
terms as prime minister under President Yushchenko and narrowly lost
to Viktor Yanukovych in the 2010 presidential race. After he came
to power Tymoshenko got a seven-year prison sentence for allegedly
negotiating a Ukraine-Russia deal on conditions unfavourable for
Ukraine. She was released from jail by a parliament decree on February
22, just before the Maidan standoff reached its deadly climax.
It was reported earlier by Wikileaks that US diplomats called the
newly-elected president of Ukraine a “disgraceful oligarch,” with
his name mentioned no less than 100 times in the secret files. He is
generally pictured as an unpopular politician and in the first place
businessman who managed to gain strings in whatever government. Sheila
Guoltni, US deputy Ambassador to Ukraine, told the US Department of
State on May 26, 2006 that the image of Poroshenko was discredited by
“credible accusations of corruption” – the issue that at some point
led him to a row with ex Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
Armenian News – Tert.am
From: A. Papazian
SUCCESS FOR LIMERICK DEBUT NOVELIST
Limerick Post, Ireland
June 12 2014
Kathy Masterson | June 12, 2014
LIMERICK-born writer Martine Madden has reached no. 4 in the Irish
Times bestseller list. Her debut novel, ‘Anyush’ will be launched on
Thursday June 19 at 6pm in O’ Mahony’s Booksellers, O’ Connell St.
‘Anyush’ centres on the story of Anyush Charcoudian, a young Armenian
woman who lives with her widowed mother. It is a romantic novel set
against the backdrop of the Armenian-Turkish conflict of 1915.
The book has already received high praise from Donal Ryan, (author of
‘The Spinning Heart’) and writer and journalist Conor O Clery who
deemed it outstanding for a debut novel.
Writing was always something Martine wanted to pursue as she remembers
her father writing short stories about growing up in Limerick with
the use of a dictaphone in a reminiscent “Alice Taylor” style.
Ms Madden explained that with “Anyush” she did not want to write a
simple love story but to shed light on what she considered to be the
most important aspect of the book, the Armenian genocide.
She also said that she was vey much looking forward to the launch as
it means a lot to her to return to her hometown, Limerick; “Im excited,
it will be like a homecoming”.
From: A. Papazian
ARMENIA TO BUILD ROAD WITH LOAN FROM ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
CISTran Finance
June 12 2014
June 12, 2014 5:30 AM
By Lisa Barron
Armenia’s National Assembly ratified an agreement on Tuesday with the
Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a $100 million dollar loan agreement.
The loan will be used to finance the construction of the Talin-Lanjik
road, including consulting, pre-construction work and a feasibility
study of a 304 kilometer road section from Artashat to Kajaran,
Arka reports.
The Talin-Lanjik road will be part of the North-South transport
corridor project.
Artur Arakelyna, the deputy minister of transport and communications,
said that the government would announce a tender to choose a company
to construct the road following the ratification of the agreement.
The road is set to span 18.7 kilometers and will take two years to
build. Its endpoints will be in the Armenian town of Meghri in the
south and Bavra in the North, according to Arka.
Armenia’s main corridor road will be upgraded through the project,
which will boost trade and growth in the Caucasus and Central Asia
sub-regions through improved connectivity. Additionally, with the new
route, Armenia will be able to mitigate an Azerbaijani and Turkish
blockade.
From: A. Papazian
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA HONOR ARMENIAN SCOUTS WITH EAGLE SCOUT BADGE
Thursday, June 12th, 2014
Arthur Ter Zakarian, Aris Terteryan, and Daniel Shahgaldians
GLENDALE–The Boy Scouts of America bestowed upon Armenian-American
Scouts from Homenetmen Glendale “Ararat” Chapter the highest rank of
Eagle Scout in a ceremony on Sunday, June 8th, at Ararat Headquarters
in Glendale, California.
St. Francis High School Senior Arthur Ter Zakarian, and Clark Magnet
High School graduates Aris Terteryan and Daniel Shahgaldians, were
escorted on stage by an Honor Guard of Homenetmen Scouts, where they
were met by Scoutmaster Arto Kazarian. The boys gave speeches about
their journey to reach the Eagle Scout rank, which was followed by
the presentation of the Eagle Scout badge and handkerchief, and a
chance for the Eagle Scouts to present their strongest supporters
with a gift of appreciation on stage.
Congratulations and certificates of recognition were awarded to the
boys from Congressman Adam Schiff, Los Angeles City Councilmember
Paul Krekorian, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Member Mike
Antonovich, and California State Senator Kevin DeLeon.
The Eagle Scout rank is awarded to roughly 2% of the worldwide scouting
members. Homenetmen Glendale “Ararat” Chapter has within its scouting
alumni and leadership 12 Eagle Scouts, and one Silver Beaver attained
by current Scoutmaster Arto Kazarian.
ArthurTerZakarian Aris Terteryan and Daniel Shahgaldians wait to
light the ceremonial candles
Donald Tyndall, Chairman of The Advancement Committee, and father of
an Eagle Scout, said “I have been associated with Homenetmen since
2001; it’s been wonderful to see the program grow… The Eagle Scout
rank is the highest rank that any scout can reach. Any scout troupe
potentially has Eagle Scouts. It’s very common for some troupes
[to reach Eagle Scout levels], it’s very uncommon for other troupes:
some just never quite make it. Seeing any organization get up to the
highest peak is a wonderful thing.”
Training Committee Chair of Verdugo Hills Council and Merit Badge
Counselor, Pierre Landry, counseled all three of the boys awarded on
Sunday: “We tell the Eagle Scouts, you have to do it yourself, but
you can’t do it alone, and that’s so true of any boy that makes it to
Eagle. It’s because of the support from his parents, and also from
organizations like Homenetmen that provide the structure, support,
counselors and opportunities for these boys, so it’s the combinations
of all these supports that come together to help the boys reach Eagle.”
At a reception following the badge ceremony, the boys recounted what
this award meant to them. Arthur Ter Zakarian stated: “we have the
responsibility to help everybody else, everyone who hasn’t reached the
rank yet, and people in the community as well.” Aris Terterian said:
“We finished this journey, and we start our next journey. It’s up to
us to elevate ourselves, and elevate others and help others succeed.
That’s what we do.”
When asked which badge was the most difficult to attain, the three
boys recounted the process of achieving the Camping Badge. Arthur
explained, “We backpacked 67 miles over 11 days. After 10 days of
hiking and camping, on the last day we had to carry the most weight
we were going to carry the entire trip, one third of our body weight.”
Aris added, “It was raining, pouring actually, and lightning was going
on a few dozen yards away from us, and we’re carrying these dromedaries
of water, 10 liters per person, and all our food, for an 11 mile hike.”
Arthur added, “By the time we got there all the campgrounds were
taken so all that was left was a hillside, so of course, all the rain
was collecting on our site. When we were setting up our tents we got
soaked, and try setting up a tent in pouring rain!” They all chuckled
at their adventures.
When asked why they chose to become scouts, or try to qualify for
the Eagle Scout Badge, the boys all responded at the same time:
Arthur said, “it’s the experience,” Aris: “it’s getting through it,”
and Daniel stated almost wistfully, “I would do it all over again,”
to which his fellow Eagle Scouts responded, “definitely.”
From: A. Papazian
ARMENIA’S DECISION IN FAVOR OF EURASIAN UNION NEVER DEPRECIATES ITS WILLINGNESS TO EXPAND RELATIONS WITH EU – SERZH SARGSYAN
20:12 * 12.06.14
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and President Heinz Fischer of the
Republic of Austria today took part in the opening ceremony of an
Armenian-Austrian economic forum at the Austrian Federal Economic
Chamber. Prior to it, President Serzh Sargsyan had held a meeting
with the President of the Chamber Christoph Leitl, the presidential
press office reports.
The interlocutors placed great importance on taking further steps
to enlarge the Armenian-Austrian trade and economic collaboration
and assured that the Armenian-Austrian economic forum taking place
within the framework of the Armenian President’s visit will play a
vital role in stimulating contacts between the businessmen of the
two countries and promoting bilateral cooperation.
President Serzh Sargsyan and the President of the Austrian Federal
Economic Chamber Christoph Leitl stated with satisfaction that the
indicators of the bilateral trade circulation continue to gradually
improve. However, according to them, there is still a great need to
foster the trade and economic cooperation.
The Presidents of Armenia and Austria welcomed the Armenian-Austrian
economic forum and in their welcome speeches wished the forum
activities to be successful for the benefit of promoting economic
collaboration between the two countries.
Below is President Serzh Sargsyan’s speech at the Armenian-Austrian
economic forum
Distinguished Mr. President Fischer,
Distinguished Mr. Leitl,
Honorable businessmen,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am delighted that my visit to friendly Austria has been marked
by the organization of an Armenian-Austrian business forum. This
event is launched under the patronage of me and President Fischer of
Austria since we put special emphasis on strengthening the business
ties between our countries and promoting economic cooperation. I am
very happy that President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber Mr.
Leitl is also present here.
Such representative forums are not only a good way of stimulating
trade and economic relations, but also are an important platform for
mutual dialogue and mutual recognition. It is very crucial that the
participating Armenian and Austrian businessmen representing multiple
business spheres get to know each other well.
I welcome the fact that the trade and economic cooperation between
our countries is reinvigorating. As Mr. President mentioned,
until 2008 our volumes and indicators had been much better than
today, but fortunately, two years ago we again started to sustain
growth. The present growth rates give us a hope that we will exceed
those indicators in the foreseeable future despite my conviction that
it does not reflect our entire cooperation potential. I am confident
that there are numerous goods and services both in Austria and Armenia
which can have a high demand in the Austrian and Armenian markets. I
do not have even the tiniest doubt about it. The level of our bilateral
trade is low, and the types of circulated goods are limited.
Thus, I would like to urge both the participants of this forum and our
relevant state bodies to be proactive in giving birth to new economic
projects. In this regard, the Armenian-Austrian inter-governmental
commission the 6th session of which was held in Yerevan this April
has an important mission to carry out.
Over 30 Armenian companies are participating in this business forum
representing the spheres of electronics, information technologies,
pharmaceutics, agriculture and food recycling, tourism and financial
services. Of course, the presence of the latter ones is not an
accident: Armenia has managed to maximize its cooperation potential
in the mentioned spheres.
Armenia which, according to archeologists, has millennium-old
traditions of wine-making, and its jewelry making and carpet making
have become a national business card, today also holds a special
place on the international map of information technologies.
I think it is no coincidence that the Austrian government has included
Armenia in its country cooperation priority list. This speaks for
our mutual commitment to advance the collaboration. I am glad that
we already have positive cooperation experience between Austrian
Raiffeisen Bank and the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Armenia,
as well as between the Development Bank of Austria and Ameriabank. In
addition, owing to the cooperation between the Armenian company Aske
and the Austrian company Siemens VAI Metals Technologies, at present a
large scale metallurgical production has been initiated in Armenia. By
the way, the cooperation agreement was concluded two years ago during
Mr. Fischer’s official visit to the Republic of Armenia when we again
held a business forum in Yerevan.
The regular Yerevan-Vienna flights implemented by Austrian Airlines,
the elimination of entrance visa regime with the European Union
beginning from January 2013 and the facilitation of the EU visa
application procedure for Armenian citizens since January 1 this year,
as well as the document on cooperation in tourism signed during this
visit give new momentum to expanding business contacts and promoting
tourism. We can assure that there is a relevant legal and contractual
field underlying the economic cooperation between Armenia and Austria
which guarantees establishment of safe business ties.
Honorable colleagues,
Since its independence, Armenia has chosen the economic liberalism as a
development model, which implies effective functioning of institutions,
high level of public services and most importantly a transparent and
free business environment. For that purpose, extensive reforms have
been implemented and are implemented in Armenia with the assistance of
our European colleagues as well, especially in the spheres of taxation,
establishment and registration of enterprises and investor protection.
I would like to put special emphasis on one essential circumstance:
in the present interconnected and rapidly changing world trust is
among the most serious guarantees of economic cooperation. In order
to get to know each other better, we should strengthen humanitarian
ties which will lay down a firm foundation for enlarging our business
contacts as well. I would be glad to offer the relevant state bodies
to engage in organizing Austrian cultural events in Armenia and the
reverse, implementing specialist and student exchange programs and
intensifying scientific connections. This is very crucial.
Honorable ladies and gentlemen,
You know that Armenia has chosen the path of joining the Eurasian
Economic Union. It is in no way reduces our intention to advance our
relations with the European Union.
By granting a status of the Generalized System of Preferences Plus to
Armenia, the European Commission gives a serious impulse to Armenian
manufacturers. Concurrently, Armenia’s integration into the Eurasian
Economic Union opens up new prospects for European investors by
simplifying their penetration into the Eurasian market having 170
million consumers. Armenia is a leading CIS country in terms of
its economic freedom and application of market regulations. It is
proved by numerous ratings published by authoritative international
organizations. Our country holds the 41th place in the 2014 Index
of Economic Freedom, and in the “Doing Business 2014” annual report
Armenia is ranked 37th among 185 countries and is placed immediately
between France and Belgium.
I would be happy to invite Austrian companies to do business in
Armenia. Our country can become a useful platform for the well-known
Austrian food recycling companies Spitz and Darbo by offering healthy
and tasty agricultural raw materials, for the world-famous jewelry
company Frey Wille by offering qualified goldsmiths and granting
special privileges in free jewelry economic zone (by the way, there are
more than thousand famous jewelry companies in the world with Armenian
capital or owned by Armenians operating in all parts of the world,
almost in all countries and cities), for the mineral raw materials
recycling company Asamer Basaltic Fibers by offering a wide range
of natural stones, for the pharmaceutical companies G.L. Pharma and
Genericon Pharma who can take full advantage of free economic zones.
Be sure that your steps targeted at advancing the Armenian-Austrian
trade and economic relations are in the focus of our attention. We
understand that in developing economies long-term successes depend
on stimulating business activities, that is why in case of large
investments, especially in innovative technologies, we are ready to
enforce a special law on a given investment and give tax exemptions
and by this I refer to the corporate tax as well.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Concluding my speech, I wish you established long-term partnership ties
as a result of this forum taking place at the wonderful building of
the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber for the benefit of the friendly
Armenian and Austrian people.
Thank you.
I am grateful, Mr. President, for your participation and for finding
time for and showing interest in promoting business activities
between our two countries and of course, I am thankful to Mr. Leitl
for holding this event.
From: A. Papazian