Author: Andres-Papazian

AGBU 87TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RAISES 250,000 USD TO SUPPORT THE SYRIAN-ARMENIAN ASSISTANCE FUND

armradio.am
18:15 24.10.2012

Towards the end of the AGBU 87th General Assembly held in Armenia from
October 14-21, following the Union’s call to raise funds in support of
the Syrian-Armenian community, the AGBU delegates and guests raised
250,000 USD for this purpose during a farewell dinner organized on
October 20.

AGBU Central Board’s decision, dated August 3, 2012, had set aside a 1
mln USD emergency fund for the needs of the Syrian Armenians. Later,
AGBU issued a call to all Diaspora Armenians to launch a major
fundraising campaign to support the Syrian-Armenian community. The
Union’s call saw an overwhelming response by our compatriots from
all over the world.

In coordination with the Syrian-Armenian Emergency Committee,
which combines all local Armenian organizations, AGBU organizes its
relief activities in the AGBU Centers of Syria. In addition to its
humanitarian activities in Syria, AGBU also coordinates its efforts
with the Republic of Armenia’s Ministry of Diaspora to meet the urgent
needs of the Syrian-Armenians in Armenia.

“Syrian-Armenian Relief Coordination Center” operates in the office
space provided by AGBU. Syrian-Armenians, who have settled down in
Armenia, visit this Center every day and discuss matters of mutual
concern. The families in need are also provided with necessary
financial and logistical support.

From: A. Papazian

RARE FINDINGS DATING BACK TO THE 6TH MILLENNIUM B. C. HAVE BEEN DUG OUT IN MASIS HILL

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 24, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS. The excavation of 37 different
monuments has been undertaken by the National Institute of Archeology
and Ethnology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic
of Armenia and the results are satisfying. As the director of
the Institute Pavel Avetisyan mentioned in the conversation with
“Armenpress” not only excavations, but testing and research have been
executed in those ancient places. Excavations in 10 archeological
units are still being carried out. He said: “This year we have carried
out excavation in Masis hill nearby Yerevan, which is a monument
dating back to the Stone Age and probably the most part of the hill
was devastated during 1970s, but the layers are still safe. The
Armenian-American expedition has already discovered the constructions
with round plan and dug out a large amount of instruments from bones
and stones.”

According to Pavel Avetisyan among other things one unique finding has
been discovered and depictions on its surface tell us about the fact
that probably it belongs to the first half of the 6th millennium B. C.
Notwithstanding, this should be proved by an exploration.

As the Director of the National Institute of Archeology and
Ethnology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of
Armenia archeological works in Areni Cave are still in process,
although currently the expedition is more focused on the procedure
of settlement of the group.

Archeological excavations have been initiated in a number of Armenian
capitals of various periods like Yervandashat, Artashat, Armavir
and Dvin.

From: A. Papazian

OSKANIAN: YEREVAN AND STEPANAKERT SHOULD SIGN AGREEMENT ON NKR’S SECURITY GUARANTEES
By Naira Hayrumyan

ArmeniaNow
Analysis | 24.10.12 | 14:40

On his Facebook page Armenia’s ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs,
current member of the Prosperous Armenia Party Vartan Oskanian has
suggested that Armenia sign an agreement with Karabakh guaranteeing
the unrecognized republic security against outside aggreesion. At the
same time, Oskanian acknowledges that it can be done without formally
recognizing the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).

(Oskanian has regularly posted his views on different issues of concern
to Armenia online. His recent posts have been viewed from the prism
of his possible bid to stand for president in the 2013 ballot).

Oskanian’s suggestion is not new. It is something that the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF Dashnaktsutyun) has been suggesting for
years. Still, the ARF believes recognizing the NKR would be desirable.

However, the ruling Republican Party and Armenia’s Foreign Ministry
have consistently rejected all bills on formally recognizing NKR’s
independence that has been proposed by another parliamentary party,
Heritage, in the past few years.

Oskanian believes that in the current international situation Armenia
should be expressing its position more clearly. In particular, it
concerns the controversial extradition by Hungary of Ramil Safarov,
a confessed Azerbaijani murderer of an Armenian, to Baku, as well as
such issues as Turkey’s meddling in the internal affairs of Syria,
the escalating tensions between Turkey and Russia on the one hand
and of Iran and Azerbaijan on the other hand.

The former foreign minister accused his successor, Edward Nalbandian,
who is currently on a tour of Latin America, of “being on diplomatic
tours during the crucial moments for the region”.

Armenia has not been vocal in stating its positions on international
affairs, moreover, oftentimes official Yerevan does not want to
articulate its own claims. But at the level of public discussions
these issues become more and more urgent.

A number of Armenian experts, in particular political analyst Igor
Muradyan, believe that after the extradition of Safarov and his
glorification in Azerbaijan, an unprecedented favorable environment
has been created for Armenia to end the current negotiations on the
Karabakh conflict settlement and recognize the independence of NKR.

Experts believe that the international community would have treated
such a step with understanding. However, Yerevan has been inert and
slow in formulating its stance on the matter.

Meanwhile, Oskanian suggests moving from recognizing Karabakh right
to self-determination further to reaffirming its independence. He
says the two sovereign Armenian states should sign an agreement at the
presidential level on security guarantees to Karabakh. “At this moment
this, without NKR’s recognition, may become a message to Azerbaijan
that Armenia has taken the first step towards the recognition of
Karabakh’s independence,” said the former foreign minister. Oskanian
also suggests that the current president of Armenia withdraw the
Armenian-Turkish protocols from the Parliament.

Foreign policy is likely to become one of the key subjects in the
upcoming presidential campaign. This topic has never been discussed
in earnest during presidential elections before as it was patently
clear that Armenia would continue its foreign policy conditioned on
its strong reliance on Russia making it practically impossible for
authorities in Yerevan to take independent steps.

Now the situation is changing and discussions are centering around
what orientation Armenia is going to have in its foreign policy
and how pro-active it should be in carrying it out. In particular,
lately the expert community and civil society representatives in
Armenia have actively been discussing the controversial statement
by leading Russian pundit Mikhail Leontyev who argued that without
Russia Armenia would not exist in its current form. Despite the fact
that no reaction came to that statement at the level of the government
and political parties, the general tone of the discussion in Russia
revealed that Moscow was clearly concerned about Armenia’s looking
for foreign-policy alternatives.

From: A. Papazian

DEBRIS DUMPED IN THE VICINITY OF SPITAKAVOR CHURCH

02:34 pm | Today | Social

‘We shall not keep Silence’ youth initiative is seriously concerned:
the area surrounding Spitakavor Church in Vayots Dzor marz (province),
where the remains of Armenian statesman and political thinker Garegin
Nzhdeh are buried, is covered with debris.

During a pilgrimage to the church, members of the youth initiative
cleared the area but they were unable to eliminate the consequences
of the perennial indifference.

For more details watch the video

From: A. Papazian

ANCA ANNOUNCES 2012 CONGRESSIONAL ENDORSEMENTS

armradio.am
11:52 24.10.2012

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has released its 2012
Congressional grades and endorsements, throwing the Armenian American
community’s political and electoral strength behind House and Senate
candidates from across more than 30 states with proven track records
of support on issues of special concern to both Armenian Americans
and friends of Armenia.

“We are, once again, gratified to offer our Congressional endorsements
as a resource to help Armenian American voters make informed decisions
at the ballot box on November 6th,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. “With so many Senate and House races being hotly contested,
we encourage all Armenian Americans to go to the polls fully armed with
all the facts about each candidate’s words and – more importantly –
their real-world actions on Armenian American issues.”

The ANCA endorsements are based primarily on ANCA Congressional Report
Cards, a detailed review of each incumbent’s record across a broad
range of Armenian American issues. These Report Cards, prepared in
consultation with ANCA Regional offices and local ANCs across the
country, cover issues ranging from securing a just resolution of
the Armenian Genocide and forcing Turkey’s return of Armenian and
other Christian religious properties, to strengthening U.S.-Armenia
relations, defending Nagorno Karabakh’s independence, and increasing
U.S. aid and trade levels with Armenia.

Among the grading criteria were each Member’s willingness to advance
pro-Armenian American legislative initiatives (resolutions, letters,
etc.), including the Armenian Genocide Resolution, the Return of
Churches Resolution, and pro-Armenian provisions of the foreign aid
bill, as well as their support for Nagorno Karabakh. Other factors
include their membership in the Armenian Caucus, attendance at Armenian
civic and community events, and their support for human rights issues
related to Darfur and Cyprus.

The 2012 ANCA Report Cards include:

A point-by-point analysis of each incumbent’s support on key
legislation, Congressional “Dear Colleague” letters, participation and
leadership in initiatives and events held in the nation’s capital
and in local communities ~UCongressional Notes highlighting key
initiatives taken by individual House and Senate Members – from
Congressional speeches to other undertakings of special concern to
the Armenian American community.

A detailed accounting of Turkish and Azerbaijani Government lobby
efforts targeting Senators and Representatives during the 112th
Congress, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice Foreign Agent
Registration division.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT’S ECONOMIC POLICY NOT ANCHORED IN COMMON SENSE – OPPOSITION MP

news.am
October 24, 2012 | 12:42

YEREVAN. – The Armenian Government’s economic policy is anchored in
neither international track-record nor common sense, opposition ARF
Dashnaktsutyun Party MP Artsvik Minasyan stated Wednesday, during
the National Assembly discussions with respect to the bill on raising
the monthly minimum wage by AMD 2,500 (approx. $6.16).

As per Minasyan, the international record shows that it is necessary
to stimulate demand-also by way of raising salaries-to surmount
crises, but the Government is rather suffocating the demand instead
of stimulating it. “If you do not give equivalent remuneration, the
employee does not create the necessary value that is indispensable
for the employer and the state,” Minasyan noted.

He expressed a conviction that if the minimum wage is set up in
accordance with the budget for securing livelihood, Armenia will
achieve a growth in economy and employment and a rise in the living
standards.

From: A. Papazian

“SAFAROV’S EXTRADITION IS A SERIOUS CHALLENGE TO OUR ORGANIZATION’S SYSTEM OF VALUES,” THE PACE PRESIDENT SAYS

October 23, 2012 12:02

Naira Zohrabyan, a member of the Armenian delegation to the PACE, sent
a letter to Jean Claude Mignon, the President of the PACE, as early as
before the PACE fall session, in which, talking about the disgraceful
deal cut between Hungary and Azerbaiijan, she proposed amending the
Strasbourg Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, which
would allow preventing abuses of the convention. Hungary extradited
Safarov to Azerbaijan by abusing that convention.

Yesterday Naira Zohrabyan received PACE President Jean Claude Mignon’s
answer, in which the PACE President says, “As you know, I strictly
condemned Safarov’s extradition and I agree with you that this is a
serious challenge to our organization’s system of values and criteria.

As was intended, on October 4, 2012, the plenary session of the PACE
discussed this issue and as soon as on October 5, the PACE Bureau,
as you

know, made a decision to instruct the Committee on Legal Affairs and
Human Rights to prepare a report on measures to be taken to prevent
abuses of the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. I am
sure that the Committee’s report will make it possible to prevent
such things in the future,” the PACE President’s letter reads.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN PUPILS SUCCESSFULLY PERFORM AT INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMY OLYMPIAD IN SOUTH KOREA

tert.am
24.10.12

Armenian pupils have won one gold, one silver and two bronze medals
at International Astronomy Olympiad, Armenia’s Education and Science
Minister wrote on his Facebook wall.

“I have just received good news from South Korea, where International
Astronomy Olympiad is being held. Our students have performed
brilliantly, winning one gold, one silver and two bronze medals.

Wonderful result!” he wrote, congratulating and expressing gratitude
to the children for keeping Armenia’s rating high.

From: A. Papazian

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS: STUDENTS AT CILICIAN SCHOOL SAY THEY ENJOY YEREVAN, BUT DREAM OF RETURNING TO ALEPPO
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN

Education | 24.10.12 | 12:09

Students at Cilician school

By Julia Hakobyan
ArmeniaNow Deputy Editor

Every day Rozalia Mrjoian follows the news from Syria and is saddened
when she learns the tragedy in her homeland continues.

“Bad guys want to overthrow our president. They were told ‘Go and kill
people and you will get a visa for heaven’. They hide under bridges
and shoot the civilians. And they want to kill Armenians as well.

Because our president is in good relations with Armenians and Armenians
support him.”

Enlarge Photo This is the perception of war 10 year old Rozalia,
who is with her family in her third week stay in Armenia, having fled
here from bombing and fighting in Aleppo, their home city.

Rozalia is one of the students enrolled in the newly established
Cilician school in Yerevan, which provides education in Arabic
language for those Syrian Armenian children whose families have
temporarily migrated to Armenia to wait till the situation in Syria
is settled. (Another group of Syrian Armenian children are enrolled
in different schools throughout Yerevan and get education according
to local curriculum.)

The opening of Cilicia school was initiated by “Cilicia” charitable
organization (based in Syria) and supported by the Ministry of
Education and the Ministry of Diaspora, guided by the order of the
president Serzh Sargsyan to provide the Syrian Armenian children with
appropriate conditions to continue education.

The school is currently attended by 265 children, (grades 1-9) 30
more than when it opened two weeks ago. As director Nora Pilibosian
says the number of children increases each time a plane from Syria
arrives in Armenia.

“Things are much better now, children get used to the school. The
education is based on Syrian curriculum and hopefully, when they go
back, they won’t be behind in their schools,” says Pilibosian.

The Cilician school occupies 2 floors of the Nar Dos school N14
(which this year became a high school for local Armenians, which means
only pupils from 10-12 grades attend it). The UN office in Yerevan
will soon donate eight computers to the school; UNICEF will provide
children with winter clothes.

Most of the children in the school are fluent in (Western) Armenian.

They are joyful and affable, and though they speak of the hospitality
they have received in Armenia, almost all of them dream to return to
their homeland, Syria.

“We had to stand for hours in line to get bread. And it was very
dangerous to be in the street, because any moment one could be killed.

There were many people from our street who died from the shells”, says
Rozalia. “I cherish the day the war is over and I am back in Syria”

Her classmate, Sona Qaradanaian says she likes Yerevan, especially
churches and Mount Ararat.

“I saw Ararat once, when we visited Yerevan last year and I wanted
to see it again. I enjoy being here. My dream is to study good and
become a pediatrician. But still, most of all I want to be back home,”
says Sona.

Since the beginning of the conflict in March 2011 more than three dozen
Syrian Armenians have been reportedly killed in the ongoing conflict
in Syria, home to an estimated 80,000-strong Armenian community mostly
concentrated in Aleppo. In all, the conflict in Syria resulted in
the death of more than 30,000, most of which were peaceful residents.

Armenia was caught off guard by the migration of Syrian Armenians,
as the number reached more than 5,000. But according to the Ministry
of Diaspora, some 3,300 have already gone back, while others remain
in Armenia.

Families from Syria, who intend to stay, are trying to settle down
and solve the basic problems such as finding jobs and homes.

Hasmik Hejinian’s family is one of them. Hejinian, a mother of two
teenage daughters who attend Cilician school says they flee from
Syria to Jordan, where they were intended to stay.

“In July we came to Armenia for a short visit, and the decision to stay
here was accidental. Our daughters loved Armenia and said they want to
stay here and continue education. So, we decided to take some time,”
says Hejinian, who teaches Arabic language, mathematics and History
of Religion. (in Armenian) at the school. Each religion lesson begins
with the Lord’s Prayer.

“We are here and we feel secure,” the teacher says.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA MUST TAKE HARDER LINE IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

tert.am
25.10.12

Karen Bekaryan, Head of the European Integration NGO, believes that
Armenia should take a harder line in negotiations with Azerbaijan.

At a press conference on Thursday, he presented an analysis of the
latest international developments and the factors that may influence
the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

“We can now witness a number of developments in the center of Europe,
which has immediate impact on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process,”
Bekaryan said.

Among the factors are the relations between Great Britain and Scotland,
process of Catalonia’s getting the right to self-determination. “The
states came to realize long ago that such activities must not involve
tanks or military threats,” Bekaryan said.

With respect to the recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
(NKR) by Australia’s New South Wales Parliament, Bekaryan considers
it a significant step, but not a resolution of the problem.

The expert also spoke of the possible agenda of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani FMs’ meeting.

“At their meeting the three OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen are likely to
raise the issue of a presidential meeting. After the Ramil Safarov
incident, a number of issues are gaining more importance – the
problems of specifying investigation mechanisms, withdrawing snipers,
as well as of racism and xenophobia. The Ramil Safarov incident must
be transformed into a negotiation process,” Bekaryan said.

Armenia has much to say now, and Azerbaijan itself has “served”
the necessary evidence. Armenia can stress the fact of Azerbaijan
promoting a murderer and, in this context, raise the question as to
whether Azerbaijan does not sponsor snipers as well.

“It is natural that the Armenia sides raise the issue of additional
security guarantees for Nagorno-Karabakh, including legal guarantees.

Armenia should take a harder line in the negotiation process,”
Bekaryan said.

“Azerbaijan’s greatest expectation was Armenia’s withdrawal from the
negotiations. That would give Azerbaijan a chance to change the OSCE
Minsk Group format and the negotiation process. But they failed,”
Bekaryan said.

From: A. Papazian