Author: Andres-Papazian

Aysor, Armenia
June 9 2010

Artsakh President hosts All Armenian Hayastan Foundation legates

Artsakh President Bako Sahakian hosted on June 8 delegation of the All
Armenian Hayastan Foundation with organisation’s Executive Director
Ara Vardanian on the head, a spokesperson to the Presidential
Administration said.

Parties discussed a range of issues, related to the Foundation’s
activities in Artsakh and the annual telethon.

President Bako Sahakian stressed the necessity to keep the high level
of activities and their performing in time. He also pointed at the
importance of the wide covering of the programs that are being
implemented in Artsakh, out of the Republic especially among Armenian
Communities abroad.

Among attendants were Prime Minister of Artsakh Republic, Ara
Haroutyunian and some other senior officials.

From: A. Papazian

Aysor, Armenia
June 9 2010

Bako Sahakya was told about the outbreak of infectious epidemic

On 8 June President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan convoked a
consultation dedicated to the outbreak of infectious epidemic in the
Kashatagh region.

Head of the State Hygienic and Epidemiological Inspection of the
Artsakh Republic ministry of health Ofelia Haroutyunyan and chief
infectiologist of the Republic of Armenia, head of the republican
infectious hospital Ara Asoyan delivered corresponding reports on the
situation and the carried out preventive measures.

The Central Information Department of the Office of the NKR President
reported that the Head of the State expressed gratitude for operative
response of the health institutions and underlined that necessary
measures should be taken to eliminate the hearth of the infection and
render proper aid to the patients in the shortest time possible. The
President noted that the process would be under his immediate control.

Premier of the Artsakh Republic Ara Haroutyunyan and heads of the
concerned bodies partook at the consultation.

From: A. Papazian

Jewish American Support for Turkey Declining

Wed, Jun 9 2010
By:Armenian Weekly

Chilling Account of Anti-Armenian Lobbying by Jewish American Groups

WASHINGTON – On June 8, the Washington Times published a revealing
article about the deterioration of Jewish-Turkish relation and the
role Jewish American organizations played in supporting Turkish
interests, killing Armenian genocide legislation, and undermining
Armenia’s economic livelihood in the U.S. Congress.

The article by Eli Lake, titled `American Jewish community ends
support of Turkish interests on Hill,’ begins with a chilling account
of how the Armenian Genocide Resolution was killed in 2000:

In October 2000, the government of Turkey had a problem.
House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert had promised to bring a resolution
commemorating the Armenian genocide to the floor for a vote, a move
that Ankara said would be a slap in the face to a NATO ally.
The Turks called up Keith Weissman, a senior researcher from the
American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and asked him to intervene.
Mr. Weissman said in an interview this week that AIPAC lit up the
phones and managed at the last minute – with the help of the State
Department – to persuade President Clinton himself to write a letter
to Mr. Hastert saying a vote on the resolution would cause strategic
damage to U.S. interests.
The last-minute push worked. Mr. Hastert removed the resolution from
the floor, and the full Congress has yet to take up the matter to this
day.

According to Barry Jacobs, the American Jewish Committee’s former
director of strategic studies in the office of government and
international affairs, `The major Jewish organizations decided in 2008
that the question of the Armenian genocide resolution was so sensitive
we would no longer take public and private positions to oppose it.’

The article also notes how `In Congress, the Jewish organizations
lobbied for an oil pipeline from the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to
the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, a pipeline that bypasses
Turkey’s rival Armenia entirely.’

The author notes that the support for Turkey by Jewish-American
organizations is in decline. He quotes Morris Amitay, the former
executive director of AIPAC who has also represented Turkey, as
saying: `If someone asked me now if I would try to protect Turkey in
Congress, my response would be, `You’ve got to be kidding.”

From: A. Papazian

news.az, Azerbaijan
June 9 2010

‘The failure to reach an agreement was a major problem in past two years’
Wed 09 June 2010 | 11:05 GMT Text size:

Natik Aliyev, Taner Yildiz News.Az interviews Adnan Vatansever, Senior
Associate, Energy and Climate Program, Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace.

Azerbaijan and Turkey have signed a package of agreements on gas
supplies to Turkey. How would you comment on this agreement?

The failure to reach an agreement was a major problem in the past two
years. So, this must be good news for both sides.

The Nabucco Gas Pipeline consortium has welcomed the agreements signed
by Azerbaijan and Turkey on terms for the transit of gas via Turkey to
Europe. Do you think that all problems about Nabucco project will be
solved?

The disagreements on the details of gas contracts with Azerbaijan was
a major obstacle. So, this is a major positive step. But, there are
several problems remaining. First, the relations between Ankara and
Baku may experience new tensions, if Ankara decides to renew its
“rapprochement” with Armenia. Currently, its prospects have been left
unclear. Second, realizing Nabucco requires much more efforts than a
gas deal between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Questions about filling the
full capacity of the pipeline need to be resolved. Also parties will
need to work on the details of sales agreements between suppliers and
buyers.

Russian Prime-minister Putin commenting this agreement said that there
is no competition between the Azerbaijani and Russian supplies to
Turkey. Is it really so or Russia may worry about enhancing of
Azerbaijan’s role as a gas supplier?

Nabucco and Russian gas are competing for the same market –
Europe/Turkey, and demand growth in both markets has become uncertain.
One may probably say that there is “space” for both players in these
markets, but only in the longer-run. In the short and medium-term,
they will compete for the same market.

What consequences could be after Turkey’s decision to freeze energy
cooperation with Israel?

It will hardly have any significant consequences. This is because the
economic viability of the proposed projects was highly questionable.
Moreover, Putin has also indicated that Israel might be able to
develop its own gas reserves that will deem the gas export projects
via Turkey unnecessary.

Do you think that political and energy problems between Turkey and
Israel may harm Azerbaijan, the main Turkish partner in energy
delivers to the world market?

Not really, as Turkey hopes to maintain its transit role for
Azerbaijani oil and gas.

Aliyah Fridman
News.Az

From: A. Papazian

The Messenger, Georgia
June 9 2010

Armenia’s economy depends on Russian market

By Messenger Staff Wednesday, June 9
Armenia should continue its economic cooperation with Russia as this
is the best way to develop, stated Chairman of the Armenian
Flourishing Party Gagik Tsarukian on June 5. He said that Russia has
always been Armenia’s devoted friend and Armenia’s export earnings
depend mainly on the Russian market.

Tsarukian said that everything should be done by the country’s
officials to increase bilateral relations between the two countries.

From: A. Papazian

Today, Azerbaijan
June 9 2010

Azerbaijani MP: Armenian government does not know what to do with
updated Madrid principles

09 June 2010 [15:40] – Today.Az

“Armenia is not able to carry out an independent foreign policy, and
it is being fully controlled by major powers and the Armenian
Diaspora”, Azerbaijani MP Tahir Rzayev said, speaking about why
official Yerevan still is not able to give an answer on the updated
Madrid principles proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group.

Rzayev believes, that Yerevan answer depends on the will of sponsors
of Armenia and the Armenian diaspora.

“Armenia has supported the basic principles of Madrid, but keeps
silent about the updated principles. The authorities of the country,
not knowing what to do, are torn between their powers in search of an
answer to the latest proposals of OSCE Minsk Group”, the MP said.

Armenia tries to buy some time, it still continues to pursue its
aggressive policy against Azerbaijan lands. Europe understands this,
and international organizations have begun to exert pressure on
Armenia. In this situation, Armenia is looking for new options and
formulas”, Rzayev pointed out.

According to him, at the same time, no hopes for Armenia to open
borders with Turkey, without the settlement of the Karabakh problem,
and the emergence of conflict between Ankara and Baku.

/Day.Az/

URL:

From: A. Papazian

Aysor, Armenia
June 9 2010

iDuduk made available for purchase

Apple has added new feature to i-Phone music collection. Welcome
iDuduk App familiarizing customers with one of the oldest and most
popular ethnic woodwind instruments of all time.

The Duduk, an Armenian woodwind instrument, has been revolutionizing
the music industry for film, television, and the world music scene in
general, thanks to artists such as Peter Gabriel, Michael Brook, and
others.

Here are some facts as followed. It is believed that no other musical
instrument is able to convey the emotions of the Armenian people so
honestly and eloquently as the Duduk, for it is purely Armenian, born
in the early eons of Armenian history. Because of its evocative and
colorful timbre and warm sound, the Duduk has become part of everyday
life in Armenia. Today, no festive occasion, wedding reception or
family feast is complete without a Dudukist (a Duduk-player).

The Duduk is a cylindrical wooden flute with thousands-year history
behind it. A form of oboe hand-made almost always of apricot wood, the
Duduk is strictly Armenian. Traveling Armenians have taken it to
Persia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, the Middle East, and as far as the
Balkans, where derivatives are played.

Key Features of iDuduk?¢ LT are listed below:

¢In the Blow Mode, blow into your microphone to play music
¢In the Press Mode option, simply play by pressing down the holes (for
iPod Touch users as well)
¢Press down individual holes to change pitch within one octave
¢The Blow Mode includes 9 notes including the open blow middle C
¢The Press Mode includes 8 notes D-Dorian
¢In the Duet Mode, use the `Dum (Drone) slider to choose a pitch to
harmonize and enrich your melody.

In the info section on top right corner, one can find out more about
the recording Duduk virtuosos such as Djivan Gasparyan, Vache
Hovsepyan, Ararat Petrosian, the Duduk quintet – featured in the
Gladiator, the Last Temptation of Christ soundtracks and many other
blockbuster hits, said on the App Comments page.

iDuduk LT is available on the App Store at itunes.apple.com. Find more
on youtempo.com in the iDuduk section.

From: A. Papazian

Protesters shout and whistle in front of government

A1Plus.am
05:13 pm | June 09, 2010 | Social

The number of citizens protesting against a bill on opening
foreign-language schools in Armenia is increasing outside the
government building.

The protesters today met deputies hurrying to a NA sitting with shouts
and whistles.

“My mother lived in Iran but she did not know Persian. When I asked
her why she did not speak the language, she said that in villages they
had been forbidden to speak a foreign language not to pass the infants
through mother’s milk. If illiterate peasants realized the simple
fact, why shouldn’t our government officials do the same? I fear that
in the future, the mothers will breast-feed their children with a
lullaby in a foreign language,” said Iranian Armenian Khoren Aramuni
who participated at the protest.

Protester Armine Pujikyan says she has no expectations from the
National Assembly though she is determined to struggle till the end.

“Recently, I constantly heard Russian words and phrases but I wasn’t
concerned since I knew that my mother tongue was not endangered and
was protected by the state. But if the bill is adopted, we shall
encounter a new conflict, like the one we witnessed in the 80s,” she
said.

ARF-Dashnaktsutyun MP Hrayr Karapetyan assured A1+ that their party
would vote against the bill.

Freelance deputy Victor Dallakyan claims that the bill conflicts with
the country’s constitution.

“Education cannot be exposed to experiments. I think that the
government should elaborate a concept to develop the sphere of
education and science. The most important question today is which
country we long for – a country of casinos, brothels or a democratic
republic based on high technologies. Only after answering these
questions, should we clarify what citizens Armenia needs to have.”

From: A. Papazian

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF REPUBLICAN ARMENIANS BACKS RAMANI FOR ASSEMBLY

asbarez
Monday, June 7th, 2010
GLENDALE

The National Organization of Republican Armenians (NORA) announced
their support for Sunder Ramani to become the next Assemblymember
in the 43rd District. This important announcement reflects the ever
growing Armenian-American backing Ramani has received and the extensive
list of prominent supporters who have rallied to his cause.

Carlo Ghalian, a representative from NORA, said, “As an organization
dedicated to informing and educating the American-Armenian community
about Republican values and policies, the National Organization of
Republican Armenians is proud to support Sunder Ramani in his bid to
represent the 43rd Assembly District in the upcoming Special Election
run off.

NORA recognizes Ramani’s extensive community involvement prior to
declaring his candidacy to represent the 43rd assembly district. “As a
dedicated family man, an immigrant, and an entrepreneur, he shares much
with the members of our community. Just as importantly, he has served
this community long before he sought to represent it,” stated Ghalian.

Sunder Ramani claimed, “I am honored to have received NORA’s important
backing. If elected, I promise to work my hardest to represent the
outstanding members of this district.”

“We do not doubt that he will take to Sacrament the same can-do
attitude that he has exhibited for years and are certain that he will
do all of us proud as our next Assembly representative,” continued
Ghalian.

Ramani’s impressive list of endorsements include the USA Armenian
Life Magazine, the Armenian National Committee – Western Region,
which offered Ramani an open endorsement and other prominent
Armenian-American leaders which include: former Governor George
Deukmejian, Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian, former Glendale Mayor Rafi
Manoukian, former Glendale Mayor Bob Yousefian, Presidential advisor
Ken Khachigian, Glendale School Board President Greg Krikorian,
former LA County DA Robert Philibosian, Alice S. Petrossian – Chief
Academic Officer of the Pasadena Unified School District, Dr. Armine G.

Hacopian – Clerk and Board Member of Glendale Community College Board
of Trustees, Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian and longtime
community leaders and benefactors Armen Hampar and Richard Mushegain
of the Armenian Assembly of America.

Sunder Ramani who is #210 on Page 9 of the Ballot for the June 8th 2010
Special Runoff Election is a small business owner and former chairman
of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce. He is a longtime community leader
in Burbank and Glendale and currently serves on the boards of the
Glendale Educational Foundation Advisory, Burbank Chamber of Commerce
Board, Burbank Community Foundation, Burbank Healthcare Foundation and
Burbank Rotary. Sunder serves on the board of the National Federation
of Independent Business both in Washington D.C. and Sacramento. He
founded a consulting firm that focuses on business development for
small business enterprises.

From: A. Papazian

RAMANI WELCOMES ANCA-WR OPEN ENDORSEMENT IN 43RD ASSEMBLY DISTRICT RACE

Asbarez
Monday, June 7th, 2010
GLENDALE

As a testament to Sunder Ramani’s staunch support from the
Armenian-American community, the Armenian National Committee Of
America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) has issued an open endorsement
in the 43rd Assembly District Special Election thus confirming that
it considers Sunder Ramani a worthy and qualified representative of
this district. The ANCA-WR is one of the largest and most prominent
Armenian-American advocacy organizations in the district.

“Mr. Ramani has a solid understanding of the needs of this district
and will be a strong voice in Sacramento. Mr. Ramani will bring
a fresh perspective to Sacramento and personally understands and
respects the diverse nature of the 43rd Assembly District, having
come from an immigrant family. We are confident that he will be an
effective advocate for the Armenian American community in the years
to come.” Leonard Manoukian, ANCA Glendale Co-Chair.

Sunder Ramani remarked, “I am proud to have strong Armenian American
support across the political spectrum. Once elected, I will work
tirelessly to fight for better education for our children, for more
jobs here at home and for the rights of Armenian-Americans.”

Manoukian said, “During these difficult times, we need a tried
and tested problem solver who’s has the experience, knowledge and
relationships that Sunder Ramani brings to the table. In this election,
Sunder’s years of community service are unmatched as are his abilities
and qualifications. Seeing what he has accomplished in private life,
I can only look forward to what he can achieve for all of us as an
exemplary Legislator.

“The support I have received from the Armenian American community
has been phenomenal from former Gov. Deukmejian to current Glendale
Mayor Ara Najarian,” said Ramani.

Ramani’s impressive list of endorsements include the USA Armenian
Life Magazine, Armenian National Committee – Western Region and other
prominent Armenian-American leaders which include: former Governor
George Deukmejian, Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian, former Glendale Mayor
Rafi Manoukian, former Glendale Mayor Bob Yousefian, Presidential
advisor Ken Khachigian, Glendale School Board President Greg Krikorian,
former LA County DA Robert Philibosian, Alice S. Petrossian – Chief
Academic Officer of the Pasadena Unified School District, Dr.

Armine G. Hacopian – Clerk and Board Member of Glendale Community
College Board of Trustees, Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian and
longtime community leaders and benefactors Armen Hampar and Richard
Mushegain of the Armenian Assembly of America.

Sunder Ramani who is #210 on Page 9 of the Ballot for the June 8th
2010 Special Runoff Election is a small business owner and former
chairman of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce. He is a longtime
community leader in Burbank and Glendale and currently serves on
the boards of the Glendale Educational Foundation Advisory, Burbank
Chamber of Commerce Executive Board, Burbank Community Foundation,
Burbank Healthcare Foundation and Burbank Rotary. Sunder serves on
the board of the National Federation of Independent Business both
in Washington D.C. and Sacramento. He founded a consulting firm that
focuses on business development for small business enterprises.

From: A. Papazian