Author: Andres-Papazian

A SALUTE TO OUR MILITARY VETERANS
by Tom Vartabedian

November 5, 2012

If I could, I’d honor every single military veteran who ever served
this country in battle.

It wouldn’t matter which war-Japan, Germany, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia,
Iraq, or Afghanistan. To me, one bloodshed or emotional scar is as
bad as another.

These are my true heroes, not the baseball players earning megabuck
salaries and the football elite catching million-dollar touchdowns.

Most of the ones I would salute are the anonymous and the unheralded
who look for no ceremonial tributes-quiet heroes whose deeds are
better left unsaid than undone.

As the fight in Afghanistan proceeds to a bitter end while another
in Syria and Libya seems to be escalating, it’s time for all of us
to pause and reflect upon all those putting their lives at risk for
the well-being of this country.

It was staggering to see our consulate invaded in Libya and innocent
victims put to death. We owe them and their families a debt of
gratitude on this Veterans’ Day. It’s a time for not only those who
wear a military uniform but others who continue to make the ultimate
sacrifice.

As I look to Hollywood, I see military films being transfixed upon
our viewing public. The real war is no play act. It’s a blood-and-guts
war that can aim its target on my son or your daughter. When a soldier
or Marine dies, I tend to take it very personally as an American. We
all should.

It’s incumbent upon each and every one of us to pay homage. One way
would be to fly the American flag from your home or business. Another
is to attend a Veterans’ Day parade in your municipality.

In my city, people like American Legion guru John Kazarosian take
no hiatus in organizing parades and getting the youth involved. It
wasn’t enough for him to serve the U.S. Navy with admiration. Truth
is, he and others are still serving the ranks, long after discharge.

The pity of it all is that no enough loyalists come out to watch a
Veterans’ Day parade. Most people treat the holiday as a day to catch
a few more winks, enjoy a couple beers over the barbeque, and maybe
wax the car. Only a dedicated few will come out to attend the ceremony.

I find it particularly troublesome to see public apathy at a time
like this. On this Veterans’ Day, let us all take a moment to reflect.

Let us count our blessings to be living in a homeland where peace
and security reign.

Let us applaud the fact we can worship any faith to our heart’s
content, vote for whom we please, raise our children in a relatively
safe environment, and give them the educational opportunities they
richly deserve.

America owes much of her success to the immigrant. Large countries
as well as small have contributed their share in making this country
a haven for the refugee. Our military veterans have preserved that
allegiance with honor, dignity, and extreme patriotism.

Much too often, we pay tribute to the men in our military. So,
here’s a vote of gratitude to the women who have served their time
without fanfare. At a time when women were frowned upon to enlist,
many from this city took the ultimate step.

This past Labor Day found me in Boston covering the Armenian Youth
Federation (AYF) Olympics for the Weekly, a job I’ve handled for the
past 42 years as a labor of love. That’s not the story.

Two men were seated at a table, enjoying the festivities, when a
conversation ensued. One was from California, the other from nearby
Springfield. Upon introducing themselves formally, they discovered
a close tie with one another.

Seems both men served with the army in Korea. Not only that, they
were members of the same platoon at Fort Devens, stationed in the
same barracks. They occupied the same bunk bed-one on top and the
other below.

Now, here they were 60 years later inside a dance hall.

“I still have my draft card,” said one, pulling out his wallet.

“So do I,” said the other, extracting his. A bit worn around the edges
but very much valid. In the midst of all the commotion, here were two
octogenarians from the same military mold hugging emotionally. After
being shipped to the front lines that year, they lost touch with one
another until fate reunited them on this evening.

The next time you see a military veteran, shake their hand. Show them
a little respect. Above all, thank them for the service they rendered.

Most of them probably wouldn’t want the recognition. But nobody
deserves it more.

From: A. Papazian

IL GRUPPO DI SBANDIERATORI DI RITORNO DALL’ARMENIA

Arezzo
5 nov 2012
Italia

A distanza di appena quattro mesi dalla prima trasferta in Armenia,
gli Sbandieratori di Arezzo hanno fatto nuovamente volteggiare le
loro bandiere in questo piccolo lembo di Asia.

Grazie infatti al rinnovato impegno da parte dell’Ambasciatore d’Italia
in Armenia, dott. Bruno Scapini, il gruppo aretino tra il 10 e il 16
ottobre ha avuto modo di dare spettacolo sia nella capitale Yerevan,
in concomitanza dell’incontro di calcio Armenia-Italia dello scorso
12 ottobre, sia nell’ambito di un tour che ha toccato le principali
localita dell’Armenia centro-settentrionale.

In particolare, gli Sbandieratori, dopo una prima esibizione nella
capitale Yerevan, sono stati invitati, il giorno precedente la partita,
ad un incontro in Ambasciata con il Presidente della FIGC, Abete, e
con il suo omologo armeno. Gia il mattino seguente il Presidente Ugo
Coppini e il vice Presidente Pierfrancesco Pedone tenevano, sempre
presso l’Ambasciata d’Italia, una conferenza stampa alla presenza
delle principali testate giornalistiche. Poi il gruppo, su invito
del Presidente Abete e col beneplacito del C.T. Prandelli, ha avuto
modo di farsi fotografare, in un clima scherzoso, con i calciatori
azzurri. Ma è in occasione della partita della Nazionale che gli
Sbandieratori di Arezzo, nei loro tradizionali costumi, insieme ad
uno sparuto gruppo costituito da una cinquantina di tifosi italiani,
hanno sostenuto, con inni e colpi di tamburo la nostra nazionale,
ininterrottamente, per tutti i 90 minuti di gioco.

Il giorno seguente ha avuto inizio il tour vero e proprio: con Ugo
Coppini in rappresentanza dell’Associazione Sbandieratori di Arezzo e
sotto la direzione tecnica di Giacomo Romanelli, in quattro giorni la
squadra si è esibita in sei diverse localita riscuotendo consensi e
manifestazioni di simpatia da parte della popolazione armena. Ancora
una volta infatti gli alfieri aretini hanno tenuto alto il nome di
Arezzo, della Toscana e dell’Italia in un paese a noi lontano, ma
con interessanti affinita culturali.

In particolare a Spitak e Gyumri, citta che nel 1988 furono
maggiormente interessate dal terremoto e dove si distinsero per
efficienza i soccorsi italiani, l’accoglienza da parte degli Armeni
è stata ancora più calorosa.

Nel corso dell’ultima serata a Yerevan, l’Ambasciatore Bruno Scapini
ha poi nuovamente invitato i ragazzi aretini presso la sua residenza
per un incontro con il Ministro italiano della Difesa, Ammir. Di Paola,
in quei giorni in visita nella capitale armena.

Alla trasferta hanno partecipato: Ugo Coppini, Presidente; Giacomo
Romanelli, Direttore Tecnico; Francesco Benincasa, Alessio Della
Giovanpaola, Alessandro Peruzzi e Francesco Ricciarini, per le
chiarine; Alessio Dionigi, Pieralberto Faralli, Omar Hussein e Luca
Nocentini, per i tamburi; Fernando Bianchini e Giacomo Nucci, per la
parte acrobatica; Yuri Cacchiani, Lorenzo Callegari, Luca Caneschi,
Syrus Casini, Daniele Fabbriciani, Giacomo Guelfi, Matteo Marcantoni,
Jacopo Nardoianni, Federico Nicchi, Pierfrancesco Pedone, Lorenzo
Polendoni, Giovanni Venturi, per gli sbandieratori.

From: A. Papazian

LITHUANIAN AMBASSADOR TO AZERBAIJAN: “I DO NOT THINK THAT A LITHUANIAN ACTOR’S VISIT TO NAGORNO KARABAKH WILL HAVE SERIOUS IMPACT ON OUR RELATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN”

APA
Nov 5 2012
Azerbaijan

“We would like to see more Azerbaijani investors in Lithuania”

Baku. Anakhanim Hidayatova-APA. “The relations between Azerbaijan and
Lithuania have good groundwork, the sides have signed more than 20
agreements between governments and agencies,” Lithuanian Ambassador
to Azerbaijan ArtŔras Žurauskas said in his interview to APA.

Ambassador said the political relations between the two countries
were strong enough.

“Cultural-humanitarian cooperation, mutual relations in the sphere of
tourism are developing. Business and economy are special directions of
our relations, special attention must be paid to the opportunities of
development in these spheres. Azerbaijan and Lithuania can cooperate
in the spheres of transport, power engineering, ecology. Construction
boom is observed in Azerbaijan. Lithuania’s construction industry is
perfect and can compete with Turkey. Moreover, we would like to see
more Azerbaijani investors in Lithuania,” he said.

In his interview, the ambassador also commented on the note of
Azerbaijan to the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding
the participation of a music group from Lithuania in the festival held
by Armenian separatists in the occupied Azerbaijan’s Nagorno Karabakh
territory: “I do not think that a Lithuanian actor’s visit to Nagorno
Karabakh will have serious impact on our relations with Azerbaijan. It
doesn’t mean that we don’t recognize the occupation fact. The creative
person’s visit doesn’t reflect the official position of Lithuania. The
citizens of Lithuania have the law “On freedom of movement” and the
borders are not closed. We do not hold anyone by force, the citizen
himself decides where to go and what may follow. Everyone in Lithuania
knows that if someone visits the Azerbaijan’s occupied territories,
his or her entry to Azerbaijan will be automatically prohibited. I
would like to note that this visit was not organized by government
agencies and we explained our position to our counterparts in Baku.

From: A. Papazian

GOOGLE TO TRY TO CORRECTLY SPECIFY NAMES OF AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES

Trend
Nov 5 2012
Azerbaijan

Google has said it will try to indicate the names of Azerbaijani
territories correctly, Google vice president Vinton Cerf told
journalists in Baku, answering the question about wrong description
of Azerbaijani territories as Armenian.

“We will try to give a correct description of these areas,” Cerf said.

Some of the territories of Azerbaijan were described as the territory
of Armenia on Google maps. Corrections were made after the protests
of Azerbaijan.

From: A. Papazian

SOCIAL HOUSING SCHEME IN ARMENIA
By Gayane Lazarian

Ground Report
Nov 5 2012

New impetus to provide free accommodation to young adults coming out
of children’s homes.

The Armenian government has pledged to catch up on a commitment to
provide accommodation for over-18s who were brought up in children’s
homes.

By law, the state has a duty of care to children’s home residents
after they leave as young adults, including the provision of rent-free
accommodation. A past scheme suffered setbacks, and the queue for
housing has been steadily lengthening by at least 30 a year to reach
over 300, according to the labour and social affairs ministry.

Lilit Avetisyan left a children’s home in the eastern town of Gavar
in 2006, and has been waiting for state housing ever since.

“I’ve been in the queue for an apartment since 2007, but I don’t
believe I’ll ever get one,” she said.

Avetisyan is still living in temporary accommodation provided by
the Our Home charity in Echmiadzin, under an arrangement originally
intended to last only until she finished studying for a degree.

“My deadline [to leave] passed in 2010. That’s two extra years I’ve
been living here,” she said. “I work in a print shop and earn about
40,000 drams a month [around 100 US dollars]. I can’t even consider
renting a flat on that money.”

While some like Avetisyan are housed by charities, others simply stay
on at children’s homes beyond the age of 18.

Nikolai Nalbandyan, head of the Gavar home, says four of the residents
are too old to be there.

“They aren’t on the register, but they have nowhere they can go,
and we can’t throw them out onto the streets,” he said.

Under a government programme launched in 2003 to provide homes for
former children in care, 149 out of the 503 people deemed eligible
were given flats in the first five years. But the scheme was halted
in 2008 after the national audit chamber raised concerns, alleging
that more than 1.2 billion drams, or around three million dollars,
had been embezzled.

“The people running the programme not only pocketed the money, they
also economised by buying cheap, useless housing,” Anahit Bakhshyan
of the opposition Heritage Party said. “Shameless officials got rich
on this money and they still haven’t been punished.”

The Armenian government has now launched a new programme under which
it will fund the construction of purpose-built blocks, instead of
buying existing apartments as it did under the old scheme. The homes
will be available to pensioners, disabled people and war veterans as
well as those brought up in care.

Tenants will live rent-free for ten years, and will then be charged
the market rate, or allowed to buy the property if they can afford it.

Anna Mnatsakanyan, head of a state programme to assist adults who
grew up in children’s homes, described the initiative as a “social
housing fund”.

Apartments have already been provided in the town of Maralik in the
northwestern Shirak region, where the state took over and converted
a number of half-complete buildings.

Anahit Gevorgyan, head of the department for disabled and elderly
people at the labour and social affairs ministry, told IWPR that the
59 apartments in Maralik had provided accommodation for 103 people,
including 27 from children’s homes.

“At the moment, we are working with the municipal government to
provide these former children’s home residents with work,” she added.

The new residents include Artur Karchikyan, a 21-year-old who is one
of three former residents of the Gavar home now living in Maralik.

“The main thing for me is to get a flat, no matter where,” he said.

“The next thing is to find work.”

Several more apartment blocks in various parts of Armenia are scheduled
for completion by the end of this year.

Tigranuhi Karapetyan, head of the Our Home group, said placing these
young adults in accommodation and leaving them to get on with life
was insufficient.

“They give them somewhere to live and say, ‘There you are, go and
live there’. But if a fisherman is to catch fish, you give him a rod,
not a fish,” she said.

Karapetyan said it was important for these young people to live in
an environment where there was a normal social mix including families.

In addition, she said, “The state must also provide them with work,
so that they can live independently and pay their way.”

Gayane Lazarian is a reporter for ArmeniaNow.com.

Source: IWPR

From: A. Papazian

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF NATO REAFFIRMED THE FULL SUPPORT OF ALLIANCE TO THE EFFORTS OF THE OSCE MINSK GROUP

20:12, 5 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Edward Nalbandian hosted James Appathurai NATO Secretary General’s
Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia. Armenpress
reports referring to Armenian MFA.

Greeting the guest Armenian Minister positively evaluated the records
of Armenia-NATO cooperation, highlighting the annual “NATO week”
in Armenia. During the meeting interlocutors referred to a number
of the issues connected with the cooperation between Armenia and
North Atlantic Alliance mainly of the cooperation in the framework
of Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP). Special representative
of NATO James Appathurai highlighted that Armenia and NATO have
developed excellent relations over the past years. Armenia is a
steadfast contributor to NATO operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo. In
addition he has noted that Armenia is actively engaged in political
discussions amongst NATO Allies and NATO Partners.

Foreign Minister presented to the guest the latest developments of
the NKR conflict settlement process. Special representative of NATO
reaffirmed the complete support of the alliance to the efforts of
OSCE Minsk Group aimed to the peaceful settlement of the conflict.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN POLITICAL PARTIES’ SITUATION ‘SORRY PLIGHT’ – EXPERT

TERT.AM
05.11.12

The importance of outside support for Armenia’s political elite
and political parties, and relevant secret agreements, is the
specific feature of the processes preceding the 2013 presidential
campaign, Manvel Sargsyan, an expert Armenian Center for National
and International Studies, told Tert.am.

The reasons for the lack of information from political forces is
“work in other directions,” he said.

The reason is that the political forces do not expect anything from
their own society and are seeking to get the necessary resources from
the outside.

Asked if the conditions in question might suggest the presidential
election results, Manvel Sargsyan said: “What results? Under the
circumstances, if anyone is running for presidency, this one is
the president. If Serzh Sargsyan did not run for presidency, Gagik
Tsarukyan would be elected.”

Armenia’s political parties’ situation is a “sorry plight.”

A country where more than 20 political parties have to carry out their
activities the mechanism of free elections is ineffective, he said.

The expert claims to be among the political analysts that believe
that Armenia’s civil society should rise against the entire political
system.

“Civil movements could change this situation,” Manvel Sargsyan said.

Asked if Armenian political parties’ potential has been exhausted,
and civil society is the alternative, the expert said: “Society has
never exhausted its potential. In this situation, a new party can by
no means be formed and exist.”

As regards differences between political parties and civil society,
Manvel Sargsyan said that the former are political forces the latter
are “the citizens.”

Similar situations were in many other countries. Different political
parties had agreements with the ruling party. The situation continued
for decades until a civil movement emerged, which proved able to
“break the machinery and create election mechanisms.”

As regards civil society’s activity – whether it will nominate its
own presidential candidate, propose an election supervision mechanism
or take any other actions – the expert said that different ways are
possible, which is of secondary importance, however.

More important is presenting an ultimatum to the incumbent authorities.

Manvel Sargsyan believes that some results would have been produced
if the popular movement had not had a party leader in 2008.

The reason for “no changes” in Armenia is that people hope for a
fusion of parties. However, they split instead.

From: A. Papazian

ASSEMBLY BOARD MEMBER ANNIE TOTAH PRESSES KEY ISSUES

November 5, 2012 – 19:26 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – In meetings with Members of Congress throughout
the year, Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) Board Member Annie
Totah continues to press key issues, reported the Assembly.

During a meeting with Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), Totah discussed the
importance of the Armenian Genocide resolution and urged the Senator
to cosponsor this important human rights legislation. Introduced by
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) along with Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), S.

399, the Armenian Genocide resolution is currently pending before
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Upon introducing the Bill, Senator Menendez told the Assembly: “Only
when history’s darkest hours are acknowledged and understood can we
truly learn from the lessons of the past and build a peaceful future.

With the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide approaching in
2015 and few survivors remaining, we must strengthen our resolve to
unequivocally affirm the Armenian Genocide.”

A spokesman for Senator Kirk stated: “The Armenian Genocide is
well-documented and formally recognized by 11 NATO allies and
the European Union. This resolution accurately characterizes the
events of 1915-1923 as a genocide, honors the memory of the victims,
and strengthens America’s moral leadership on human rights and the
prevention of mass atrocities around the world.”

When meeting with Congressman Steny Hoyer, House Democratic Whip and
fellow Marylander, Totah, along with Executive Director Bryan Ardouny,
emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Armenia relationship, as well as
the Assembly’s concerns regarding the ongoing conflict in Syria and
the importance of protecting Syria’s minority Christian population,
including its vibrant Armenian community.

In addition to discussing Armenian matters, Totah also recently had
the opportunity to talk about issues impacting her home state with
John Podesta, former White House Chief of Staff to President Bill
Clinton, Maryland State Senator James Rosapepe, and Terry Lierman,
former Chief of Staff to Congressman Hoyer.

“Coming off of our successful 40th Anniversary Gala in California,
the Assembly will continue to press forward for the betterment of
the Armenian people,” said Totah. “I want to thank our many friends
in Congress and know that by continuing our important work, we will
reach our goals and aspirations.”

From: A. Papazian

HAYPOST REOPENS 3 RENOVATED POST OFFICES IN ALAPARS, BJNI AND SOLAK VILLAGES

hetq
18:12, November 5, 2012

Today the official reopening ceremony of completely modernized
post offices in Alapars, Bjni and Solak village, Kotayk province,
took place.

Each modernized post office is capitally renovated. The new image
developed for HayPost is reflected in every post office, which is
completely refurnished and rebranded according to the new image. Along
with construction and exterior design works, the labor standards
and infrastructure have been also updated and changed; new computers
and equipment that meet current programs have been installed. Postal
offices are equipped with modern security systems and video recording
equipment.

The modernized post offices began providing services with modern IT
technologies, state-of – the-art software and on-line connection to
the head office, which allow providing faster and efficient postal,
financial and commercial services to the residents of the villages.

Haypost CJSC reports that the opening ceremony was attended by the
heads of communities, Haik Avagian, Acting CEO of Haypost CJSC, the
management and employees of HayPost CJSC, residents of the communities.

From: A. Papazian

THE DELAY OF FLIGHTS FROM STEPANAKERT AIRPORT CONNECTED WITH SECURITY ISSUES
Lusine Avanesyan

“Radiolur”
18:25 05.11.2012
Stepanakert

The delay of the operation of Stepanakert Airport is connected with
security issues, but not dictated by Azerbaijani threats, NKR Prime
Minister Ara Harutyunyan said during the meeting with the students
of the Yerevan State University.

“The runway should be designed so as to exclude the planes from
entering Azerbaijan’s air space. The air defense forces must be able to
ensure the secure flights of the aircrafts,” the Prime Minister said.

According to the Prime Minister, the delay of flights from the
Stepanakert Airport is connected with the willingness to ensure
flights corresponding to international standards. All requirements of
the International Civil Aviation Organization are being taken into
consideration, he said. “We are working on the details to guarantee
full security,” Ara Harutyunyan said.

The opening of Stepanakert airport is of economic and social
significance rather than military-political. The air route will help
solve a number of issues. The first results are expected in the field
of tourism.

From: A. Papazian