Author: Badalian Vardan

17 ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS TO BE FINED OVER EXPIRED PRODUCTS

Tert.am
04.11.11

Department of trade and services at Yerevan Municipality has named
17 organizations that will be fined for selling goods with expired
preservation data.

The fines will be at an amount fifty- or one hundred-fold of a
minimum salary.

The violations were reveled during an inspection in 40 shops.

The officers of the Department of trade and services reported to
acting Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan that dairy, meat products,
raw materials and soft drinks were predominant among such goods.

Taron Margaryan instructed the relevant officers to continue their
activities and keep the sale of foodstuffs under attention.

EXPERT: VAN EARTHQUAKE FURTHER SLOWS ARMENIA-TURKEY NORMALIZATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 4, 2011 – 16:56 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Earthquake in Van further slowed Armenian-Turkish
normalization process, shifting the focus of international community,
Armenian expert said.

As Hakob Chakryan told a news conference in Yerevan, no changes should
be expected regarding Armenian-Turkish normalization process due to
current pre-election period in Armenia.

Dwelling on Ragip Zarakolu~Rs recent arrest, the expert noted that
Turkey~Rs policy of Kurds~R oppression will remain unchanged.

On October 28 human rights activist and director of the Belge
Publishing House Ragip Zarakolu was arrested for his alleged
involvement with the outlawed Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK),
the alleged urban wing of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers~R Party (PKK).

Ragip Zarakolu is known for his research studies on Genocide in Ottoman
Empire and human rights activity in support of national minorities
in Turkey.

7.2 magnitude quake hit Van province on October 23, followed by about
300 tremors of magnitude 6.

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Telephone: 323.302.9488

The Western Prelacy Scores Early Victory against the Getty Museum in
Lawsuit involving Armenian Genocide-Era Looted Art

On November 3, 2011, the Superior Court in Los Angeles handed
Plaintiff, the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America, as the U.S. representative and assignee of the Catholicosate
of the Great House of Cilicia, an early and well-fought victory in an
action seeking the return of the culturally significant and symbolic
Canon Tables of the Zeyt’un Gospels, which were commissioned by
Catholicos Constantine I and created by the finest Armenian medieval
illuminator T’oros Roslin in 1256. Nearly a year and a half after
the complaint was filed, the court denied in its entirety the Getty
Museum defendants’ demurrer, which sought to dismiss the action.

The lawsuit, originally filed by the Western Prelacy in June 2010,
BC 438824, named as defendants the J. Paul Getty Museum and the J.
Paul Getty Trust. The complaint accuses defendants of purchasing art
which was stolen from the rightful owner, the Catholicosate of
Cilicia, during the gravest days of the Armenian Genocide, 1915-1923.
The Canon Tables were purchased by the Getty in 1994.

The Zeyt’un Gospels is said to have supernatural powers of
protection. On the eve of the Genocide, it was paraded through the
streets of Zeyt’un in an attempt to create a spiritual firewall
around the city to protect its citizens from harm. Unbeknownst to the
Catholicosate of Cilicia, during the tragedy of the Genocide, the most
beautiful pages from the Gospels were surgically cut away from the
manuscript and ended up in the United States. The Zeyt’un Gospels
minus the Canon Tables are currently located at the Matenadaran, the
Museum of Ancient Manuscripts in Yerevan, Armenia. The Western
Prelacy wants the Canon Tables returned and reunited with the rest of
the manuscript.

In addition to asserting that the Western Prelacy’s claims were
time-barred under California law, the Getty defendants also asked the
court to strike down as unconstitutional a recent amendment to the
California Code of Civil Procedure, Section 338(c)(3), which provides
that a claim against a museum, gallery, auctioneer or dealer for the
recovery of looted art must be brought within six years of the
plaintiff’s actual discovery of: (1) the identity of the work of
fine art; (2) the whereabouts of the art; and (3) information showing
claimant has a claim for a possessory interest in the art. All actions
under Section 338(c)(3) must be brought before December 31, 2017. The
judge, Honorable Abraham Khan, rejected defendants’ assertions that
early dismissal was appropriate based upon statutes of limitations and
declined to entertain defendants’ constitutional arguments based
upon due process and violations of the first amendment.

This is what is hoped to be the first of many victories for the
Western Prelacy and for Armenians in a long overdue movement to
repatriate Genocide-era looted property to its rightful owners.

PRESS RELEASE
The Paros Foundation
Tel: 310-400-9061 US or (091) 426 120 Armenia
Email: [email protected]

THE PAROS FOUNDATION LAUNCHES INITIATIVE TO COMMEMORATE THE
CENTENIAL OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WITH PAROS 100 FOR 100

Yerevan, Armenia-Today, The Paros Foundation, based in Berkeley,
California, launched a new initiative called the Paros 100 for
100 Projects for Prosperity. Paros 100 for 100 will facilitate the
implementation of 100 charitable projects in Armenia funded
primarily by the Diaspora community working with local
non-governmental organization (NGO) partners.

“As the international community mobilizes to solemnly commemorate
the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, the staff and volunteers
of The Paros Foundation, along with our NGO partners, stand ready
to implement 100 projects over the next three and a half years to
help strengthen the Armenian Nation and improve the lives of our
brothers and sisters in Armenia.” Said Peter Abajian, Executive
Director of The Paros Foundation. “Our people annually remember
what we lost, this effort aims to memorialize those losses by
empowering those who live.”

The Paros 100 for 100 project is focused in four broad categories.
These categories are:
Development–projects providing people the opportunity to work
and care for their families and those projects contributing to the
development of civil society, transparency and a stronger
democracy in Armenia.
Education–projects that help schools, children and ensure the
intellectual development of future generations including Genocide
education.
Cultural–projects that strive to promote and preserve Armenia’s
rich heritage and culture.
Humanitarian–projects impacting the lives of the elderly, children
and people with disabilities.

Individuals, families, groups and organizations are invited to
participate through sponsoring a project, submitting a potential
project for inclusion, and even volunteering. To facilitate the
sponsorship of the Paros 100 for 100, a new section on The Paros
Foundation website was launched today detailing projects which are
available for sponsorship, and inviting the community and NGOs in
Armenia to submit their own projects or ideas. The website address
is . The site will be continuously
updated as additional projects are added and projects become
sponsored and implemented.

“Directly supporting a project that contributes to the development
of Armenia, and helps improve the lives of its citizens has never
been easier. People can quickly identify a project area, obtain
additional information and determine the benefits of the specific
project all within a matter of a few clicks on the website. I
encourage the community to visit the website frequently to view
newly listed projects and progress on existing projects.” Said
Abajian. “All project sponsors will be invited to participate on
Paros Foundation led trip to Armenia in April, 2015 to commemorate
the centennial of the Armenia Genocide and to visit several of the
Paros 100 for 100 projects.”

About The Paros Foundation
Officially launched in 2006, The Paros Foundation has identified
and partnered with six organizations in Armenia (The Paros Chamber
Choir (), Unison NGO (), Vanadzor Arts
School (), Manana Youth Center
(), Vanadzor Museum of Fine Art ( )
and the Ghoghanj Children’s Center ().)
These organizations serve as leaders in their respective fields of
children, people with disabilities and the arts. Foundation support
comes in the form of organizational operating funds, office space
and organizational resources and mentoring. The mission is to help
these modest size projects manage their growth and attract more
financial, human, and physical resources to their respective causes.

Donations to The Paros Foundation are tax-deductible to the fullest
extent allowed by law. The Paros Foundation is a 501(c)3 Private
Foundation.

To learn more about the Paros 100 for 100 please visit
“” or contact The Paros
Foundation at (310) 400-9061 US or (091) 426 120 Armenia, or via
email at “[email protected]”.

YOUTH MOVEMENT WARNS AGAINST CORRUPTION IN EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Tert.am
05.11.11

A youth movement has said it will take measures to eliminate in
educational institutions if the relevant authorities fail to do so.

In statement released on Saturday the movement called United Youth
League, said corrupt has taken an official form in Armenian educational
institutions.

“Today corruption is taking place not only in a secret way, but has
also in a legal way started to strengthen its roots in our society,”
read the statement.

Further, it said that those students in private universities who fail
their exams and are required to try for a second time are obliged to
pay money except of the tuition fee.

“The United Youth League is going to gather facts and propose a
solution to the problem,” the statement added.

“The above-mentioned issue is being proved by a document signed by
the Rector of Anania Shirakatsi University Mr [Seyran] Afyan,” read
that statement.

Further, the movement proposed three possible solutions to the
issue: to fire such officials, to conduct inspections in educational
institutions and publish the results on TV and media or to make
reforms in the sphere of education.

“If this issue is not resolve the United Youth League will try through
its own measures solve it,” the statement concluded.

19TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INTELLIGENCE CELEBRATED AT THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE
Alisa Gevorgyan

“Radiolur”
05.11.2011 15:45

The 19th anniversary of formation of the Department of Intelligence
of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia was celebrated at the
Ministry of Defense.

The event was attended by Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan,
Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Colonel General Yuri
Khachaturov, high-ranking servicemen, Military Attaches accredited
in Armenia.

Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan and Chief of the Department of
Intelligence, Major General Arshak Karapetyan congratulated the
intelligence officers.

Arshak Karapetyan said in his speech that the power of any army
greatly depends on the military intelligence. “Armies, which possess
exact information and adopt correct decisions usually win the war,”
he stated.

DM Seyran Ohanyan noted that “a number of acts of sabotage have
been prevented in the recent years thanks to Armenian intelligence
officers.”

U.S. BACKS AWAY FROM SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN’S CENTRAL BANK

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 5, 2011 – 11:22 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Despite weeks of tough warnings, the Obama
administration has backed away from its calls to impose new and
potentially crippling economic sanctions against Iran in retaliation
for an alleged plot to kill Saudi Arabia’s ambassador on U.S. soil,
according to diplomats and American officials.

Though U.S. officials had declared that they would “hold Iran
accountable” for a purported plot, they now have decided that a
proposed move against Iran’s central bank could disrupt international
oil markets and further damage the reeling American and world
economies.

The softening position illustrates how concern over the weak economy
has hobbled the administration when it comes to combating what
officials describe as Iran’s efforts to attack U.S. interests in the
Middle East and elsewhere.

U.S. officials and foreign diplomats added that the likelihood that
other governments would strongly resist such a step also helped push
the central bank measure from consideration and diplomatic discussion.

The pivot to more limited tactics has surprised some other governments
that expected bold action after the administration warned that it
would not tolerate Iranian terrorist plots on American soil. Some
diplomats said it may be difficult for U.S. officials to persuade
other governments to scale back their business with Iran when the
United States was being so reticent.

Rather than pursue sanctions against Iran’s central bank, U.S.

officials now say they will seek to persuade some of Tehran’s key
trading partners – including the Persian Gulf states, South Korea
and Japan – to join the U.S. in enforcing existing sanctions. The U.S.

will also add a few more narrowly focused sanctions, they said,
Los Angeles Times reported.

MEMPHIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TO PERFORM ARMENIAN FOLK TUNES

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 5, 2011 – 13:08 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s conductor-less,
style-mixing Opus One concert series takes on the crunk music of Al
Kapone in its season opener on November 10.

“I think the idea is to reach out to the more pop-oriented community
and mix the classical and pop genres,” said Sam Shoup, who arranges
pop music for the Opus One concerts. “The interesting thing is you
have symphony patrons and pop patrons getting exposed to genres they
wouldn’t normally hear.”

Classical pieces on the one and a half hour program include Beethoven’s
Fifth Symphony, a chamber arrangement of Shostakovich’s Eighth
Quartet and an as yet untitled memorial piece commissioned for Opus
One and written by MSO cellist Jonathan Kirkcey. The piece is based
on Armenian folk tunes, Memphis Daily News reported.

US LAWMAKERS CALL UPON OBAMA TO STOP THE $11 MILLION WORTH WEAPONS DEAL WITH TURKEY

armradio.am
05.11.2011 12:09

Congressmen Howard Berman, Nita Lowey, Eliot Angel, Brad Sherman, Steve
Israel, Shelley Berkley and Adam Schiff have proposed a resolution,
asking President Barack Obama to stop the $11 million worth weapons
deal with the country, Turkish media report.

As an argument to justify their proposal, they pointed out to Turkey’s
negative stance on Israel, Armenia and Cyprus, countries which are
considered the allies of the United States.

The congressmen expressed concerns over the country’s continuing
threats to Israel, its blockade policy against Armenia, and the
occupation of Cyprus. They asked Washington to give more attention
to those problems instead of selling weapons to Turkey.

MICHA ALOYAN ” L’ARMENIE EST MA PREMIERE PATRIE…MAIS JE RESTERAI EN RUSSIE ”
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 5 novembre 2011

Micha Aloyan (52 kg) qui remporta sous les couleurs de la Russie
le titre de champion du monde de boxe amateur a Bakou (Azerbaïdjan)
en septembre dernier a declare dans le mensuel ” he ” que sa première
partie est l’Armenie et la seconde la Russie. ” On m’a invite plusieurs
fois a disputer mes combats sous les couleurs de l’Armenie mais je ne
suis pas pret a me separer de ces hommes qui travaillent avec moi a
Novosibirsk. Oui l’Armenie est ma première patrie, mais c’est ici que
j’ai debute la boxe et je ne me prepare pas a trahir les personnes
qui m’entourent ” dit Micha Aloyan, qui est l’un des favoris pour
le titre olympique l’an prochain a Londres. Il ajouta ” l’Armenie
est ma première partie. C’est la-bas que je suis ne et frequenter
l’ecole. La Russie demeure ma seconde patrie. Mais je suis fier de
representer la Russie sur un ring. Je me sens bien ici en Russie “.