Author: Badalian Vardan

Novinite.com, Bulgaria
Feb 14 2010

Miss Universe Canada: Bulgaria Means So Much to Me

Views on BG | February 14, 2010, Sunday

Bulgaria-born Alice Panikian is of an Armenian origin. She has been
crowned Miss Universe Canada 2006 and ranked sixth among the finishers
in Miss Universe 2006.

Following is Eurochicago interview with her.

What is your most memorable moment from the competitions?

Alice: The Miss Universe 2006 competition was the most memorable part
of the pageant experience for me. I felt honored to be given the
chance to represent Canada, the country I have called home for the
past 19 years. Meeting the 85 other contestants was such a remarkable
experience as well. I learned so much about the contestants as well
as the countries they represented. Though it was a high-stress time
for everyone involved, I enjoyed the fast-paced life, participating in
the events as well as the thrill of being on stage.

Please tell us a little about yourself, what were you doing before the pageant?

Before entering the Miss Canada pageant, I was modeling. I love to
travel so modeling gave me the opportunity to do that at a young age.
I was also going to York University where my major was English and
Communications.

Did your life change after the contest, what will you be doing now?

My life has changed dramatically because of the contest. My dream is
to be involved in broadcast journalism. Because of the competition, I
was able to network with many people in that industry and it was an
opportunity for me to get a lot of exposure. I am currently still
studying broadcast journalism in Toronto and I will be graduating in
the spring. I hope to be involved in broadcasting very soon in some
capacity, whether it be hosting or writing.

What advice would you give the thousands of girls, who wish that they
were in your place?

The best advice I can give to any young woman who wants to compete in
a pageant is to always be herself. The things that make each of us
unique are the things that are most memorable. Embracing yourself for
the person you are, having confidence and not conceding to the
pressures of outside forces are all important to achieving success not
only in pageants, but in all areas of life.

What role did your Bulgarian mother play in your successes?

My mother is, and always has been, my number one supporter. She was
the one who raised me, and because of her I am the person I am today.
She is the reason behind all of my success.

Have you been to Bulgaria and what does Bulgaria mean to you?

I was born in Bulgaria and I have been back several times. Bulgaria
means so much to me. Not only it is my heritage, but also, most of my
family still lives there. I have many relatives and friends in
Bulgaria, so of course it remains a huge part of my life.

What do your friends know about Bulgaria and what do they associate it with?

Many of my friends are from Eastern Europe as well so they have either
been to Bulgaria or they know about it. They know it is next to the
Black Sea. They know about ancient cities like Plovdiv as well as the
beautiful mountains we have. Bulgaria is known for many things and
each time I meet someone who has been there, they always have
something different to share with me.

Do you have anything from Bulgaria in your home, like a souvenir or
memory from Bulgaria?

We have pictures/paintings of Koprivstiza and Plovdiv, books,
Bulgarian music (CDs), martenizi, embroidered things, many photos, and
other small souvenirs.

Do you use Bulgarian cooking recipes? If so, what is your favorite one?

I like Bulgarian cuisine a lot, especially baniza, red peppers and
cabbage rolls stuffed with rice, tarator, ljuteniza, and French fries
with shredded feta cheese (Bulgarian cheese). During my visits in
Bulgaria I like to eat kebabcheta, and lukanka.

Are you familiar with some of the Bulgarian traditions and do you
celebrate Bulgarian holidays?

We celebrate the National holiday of Bulgarian culture, language, and
literature on May 24, (I was born May 23rd), March 1st Baba Marta,
Christmas (Budni Vecher and Koleda) and Easter (Velikden).

What are your future plans and dreams? What do you hope to accomplish?

One day I hope to be the host of my own television show. Because I
love to travel so much, I would love my show to be about travelling to
different destinations and experiencing the best that each country has
to offer. I also love to write and I have always wanted to write a
novel. Once I find the time, I hope that I will achieve that goal.

Is there anything you would like to tell the Bulgarian people and Bulgaria?

I am proud to be born in a country with such rich history, and to be a
descendant of such strong spirited people as the Bulgarians. I think
of Bulgaria and Bulgarian people often and wish them the best!

What are you expecting for the upcoming Valentine’s Day?

I plan to spend it with someone special.

A question for the mom: What is the most special and strong quality in
your daughter?

Svetlana Panikian: My daughter is a very compassionate, intelligent,
sincere, warm, and outgoing person. Also, she is a loyal friend and
likes to help others.

To the mom and daughter: Would you be willing to come visit us in
Chicago? What about in Bulgaria?

We hope to be able to come and visit at the first opportunity in the
future. At the moment I am in the process of finishing my degree in
journalism.

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PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN VISITED ARTEXPO-2010 EXHIBITION
Alisa Gevorgyan

"Radiolur"
12.02.2010 17:30

President Serzh Sargsyan visited ARTEXPO-2010 exhibition today.

ARTEXPO-2010 is being organized for the second time at the initiative
of the Ministry of Culture and presents the latest developments in
the Armenian modern art.

The exhibition provides opportunities for cooperation and establishment
of working relations for all the interested organization and structures
functioning in the area of culture.

The President of Armenia toured the exhibition, observed last year
works of over fifty enterprises engaged in different arts and culture
activities and familiarized with their achievements and future programs

OUSTING OF KIND OF CITIZEN

8.html
13:35:47 – 11/02/2010

Samvel Partamyan: designer-publicist, teaches at the University
of Architecture

During our previous interview, you said we have to find our place
under sun in this region.

Now, some political processes are solved or are near to their
solution. Now we can say if our government and the opposition are
completed and whether they correspond to the internal and external
challenges.

We may say that the government is completed as much as it could. More,
it already started showing its continuance and its qualities. A series
of surprises in the foreign policy – Armenian-Turkish relations,
principles of Madrid refreshed the public’s political context and
became a reason for dialogues and revision of stereotypes.

As to home political challenges, the government tried to preserve its
rough and unceasing behavior adopted after March 1 as much as home
and foreign pressure let it to. Perhaps, the only home political
new initiative is the governmental religious-moral initiative in
contradiction to real morality, justice, human rights and freedom
of speech.

But this completeness of the government makes evident new vulnerable
sides, the decrease of self-confidence. The motive "no one can harm
us" became ambiguous.

Who managed to "get rid of" the government?

You know it is possible to ignore the society for a long time, but to
use power without the support of the public is impossible. The power
stopped being the only representative of the state. The equality
between state and power stopped existing, this perception is split
within the Diaspora too. Not accidentally, today main questions are
asked not the government but the opposition. And now I think the
point is not about the opposition but the society which is to realize
that the opposition is the model of the government in a dynamic
phase which is not defended by means of the power. In other words,
opposition is power which can be modeled and still created. Now the
attention of the public is to be focused on the creation of the model
of the opposition as a future government.

New forces, new initiatives and new discussions. You are participating
in them too. What can they change in our life? Are now times of birth
of ideas?

Birth of ideas is a permanent process. Crises promote the
modernization of the public. But the life of the public does not
need to be accelerated too much. Today’s opposition is a result of
public initiative and demand. Today we live in the possession of
the government dangerous for the public and a state not defending the
security of the public. For example, all of us know that the government
will try to preserve its reproduction but the society, the interested
part of it, is ready to sacrifice its cultural and moral values for
the sake of its ideas and values, like Nikol Pashinyan did on March
1. I think ousting of this kind of citizen is taking place and the
current opposition is the fight of such kind of people.

What developments do you see in the world?

I think, regardless political processes that can contain surprises,
the future of Armenia is really in the hands of the Armenian people who
have to be participants of the creation of a new political structure,
a new government.

In reality, the model of my imagination is the one of human rights,
freedom of speech, equal possibilities. These are not abstract
concepts. These are necessary conditions for the development of the
society and for the country’s security.

Interview By Siranuysh Papyan

ANTI-TRAFFICKING DISCUSSIONS LAUNCHED IN YEREVAN

Aysor
Feb 12 2010
Armenia

The project and discussions concerning "Development of a comprehensive
anti-trafficking response in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia" project,
which is organized by the International Labor Organization (ILO),
launched today in Yerevan.

The project is being financed by the European Commission and is
implemented by the ILO. The official partners are the OSCE Armenian
Office, international center of Migration Policy and the International
Organization of Migration in Georgia.

The reporter of Aysor.am informs that Nver Sargsyan will make a speech
on trafficking in the word.

The discussion is aimed at presenting the results and works implemented
by the ILO in the frameworks of the project.

According to the ILO international report 12.3 million people are
included in the hard labor and the amount of the unpaid job is 21
milliards dollars.

RA PRESIDENT VISITED TATE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART IN LONDON

news.am
Feb 10 2010
Armenia

February 9, RA President Serzh Sargsyan visited Tate Museum of Modern
and Contemporary Art in London and attended the opening ceremony of
the exhibition dedicated to Armenia-born American painter Arshile
Gorky.Serzh Sargsyan familiarized himself with the renowned painter’s
works. Prominent public figures, connoisseurs of art and Armenian
community representatives were also present at the ceremony.

"This was Gorky’s first exhibition within the last 26 years," RA
former Premier, former Ambassador and business leader Armen Sargsyan
told NEWS.am correspondent.

"Few nations enjoy such reception at Windsor Castle and I am happy to
organize the event in honour of Serzh Sargsyan together with my good
friend Prince Charles. We concur on lots of issues, particularly art,"
he emphasized.

"Being an Armenia assumes self-sacrifice. Everybody should help
its homeland with money, time, whatever he can," entrepreneur Vache
Manukyan told NEWS.am correspondent. He considred a prirority the
contrubution to providing employment opportunities.

"I would not like to interfere in politics as a businessman, however I
reckon Armenia and Turkey should establish dialogue, even if there is
5% chance of success. At least, we will be able to say we tried. The
process is very complicated, and I do not say it will certainly bring
about effective results. We should try, as the time to solve conflicts
with yells has passed," Manukyan noted.

BEELINE WARNS ABOUT POSSIBLE CONNECTION FAILURES

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.02.2010 13:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ ArmenTel CJSC (Beeline trademark) has warned about
possible connection failures in Kentron community of Yerevan from 2
to 5 pm on February 9, 2010.

The company apologizes for the inconvenience caused by network
improvement works.

ArmenTel CJSC is part of VimpelCom group of companies that unites
telecom operators in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia, Vietnam and Cambodia, offering their
voice and data transmission services under Beeline brand. ArmenTel
is the oldest telecommunications operator in Armenia. The company
offers mobile telephony services of SM 900/1800 and 3G (UMTS)
standard, landline telephone connections, as well as broadband
internet services through most modern technologies, CDMA and ADSL,
all over Armenia. In 2008, ArmenTel launched the first 3G network in
Armenia that significantly improved the data transmission speed as
well as the connection quality.

ARMENIA, SYRIA INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING BILATERAL COOPERATION

Armradio.am
09.02.2010 16:48

On February 9 the Foreign Minister of Syria, Walid Muallem, received
the delegation headed by Arman Kirakosyan, the Deputy Foreign Minister
of Armenia.

During the meeting the parties discussed a broad range of issues
related to Armenian-Syrian bilateral relations in political,
trade-economic, scientific-educational and cultural spheres. The
Foreign Minister of Syria underlined that the reciprocal high-level
visits give new quality to the mutually beneficial cooperation between
the two friendly countries.

The Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister noted, in turn, that Armenia
attaches great importance to the development of relations with Syria
and it is evidenced by the opening of an Honorary Consulate in Der Zor.

The same day the consultations between the Ministries of Foreign
Affairs of Armenia and Syria took place at the Syrian MFA.

CAGE ACTION PLAN RELATED TO DINK MURDER

BIA Net
6-cage-action-plan-related-to-dink-murder
Feb 9 2010
Turkey

In the 12th hearing of the Dink murder trial the joint attorneys
requested to investigate the "Cage Action Plan" with regard to the
murder. The lawyers furthermore demand thorough investigations into
all aspects of the case. International observers emphasized the
importance of a forceful handling of the case.

CLAIM FOR JUSTICE: Families of Murdered Intellectuals Follow up Dink
Murder Case DINK MURDER CASE: Secret Witness of Dink Murder Still
not Heard Cage Action Plan The 12th hearing of the Dink murder trial
was also concerned with the so-called "Cage Action Plan" which was
supposedly worked out as a coup plan by the Naval Forces, targeting
non-Muslims and aiming to charge them of their religious beliefs. The
joint attorneys demanded to investigate whether such a plan had de
facto been organized.

The lawyers requested an investigation into the plan regarding the
sentences "It works out. Kadir Pasha should take over the coordination"
on the first page of the document. Furthermore, the investigation
should determine to whom the initials at the bottom of the plan
belong. The lawyers also demanded to find out who is entitled to
issue the according directives for such an investigation.

"The ones who did not prevent the murder should be interrogated"
The joint attorneys requested the interrogation of members of all
security institutions who did not take precautions to protect Dink’s
life, who paved the way to the murder and turned a blind eye to it.

These institutions are namely the National Intelligence Organization,
the Istanbul Police Directorate, the Trabzon Police Directorate,
the Trabzon Gendarmerie Command and the Intelligence Office Branch
of the Police General Directorate.

Investigation of people who showed Dink as a target A further request
regarded an investigation into a group of people that played a vital
role in the process of showing Dink as a target, a group that filed
the same sort of complaints to launch court cases against Dink and
that organized attacks against Dink and his lawyers when they came
to court hearings.

"The people concealing evidence should be investigated" Moreover, the
joint attorneys demanded to investigate "those persons who attempted to
manipulate the process after the murder of Dink in order to assist the
real perpetrators to get away; those persons who hid and fraudulently
altered evidence and who prepared forged documents".

Who deleted footage of security camera?

Regarding the deleted records of the security camera installed by
AKBANK in the area where the murder happened, the lawyers requested
to investigate by whom the footage of the morning of 19 January 2007
was deleted and how.

Facilities of Ergenekon Case should be provided to Hrant Dink Case
As in the previous hearings, yesterday’s session was again attended
by several international observers.

Paris Bar Association Board Member Vincent Noiré observed the 12th
hearing of the Dink murder trial and commented: "At this stage of the
case it becomes clear that this murder comprises a collective crime.

The truth will be revealed if all requests of the joint attorneys
are accepted".

"Democrats all over the world expect justice" Paris Bar Association
Armenian Lawyers and Jurists Association (AFAJA) Vice President
Alexandre Aslanian made a brief press release following the morning
session. He said, "The state carries the responsibility to protect
all of its citizens regardless of origin or faith. Democrats all over
the world are watching this case and expect justice to be delivered
to full extend".

Aslanian argued that the same facilities applied in the Ergenekon
Case should be applied to the Dink Case as well:

"Considering the facilities provided to the Ergenekon prosecutors, the
same will power could be applied to the Dink case in order to reveal
the full strain of events. The Paris Bar Association is determined to
observe every hearing whether this difference will be removed or not.

A case concerned with the murder of an Armenian citizen should benefit
from the same facilities as provided to Zekeriya Oz, the prosecutor
of the Ergenekon investigation".

Elsa Vidal form the European Desk of the international Reporters
Without Borders (RSF) organization commented: "The actual power of
the Judiciary should be allocated exclusively to the solving of this
political murder. If this struggle is not handled with full efforts,
it will open the door to other killings to come such as the recent
murder of journalist Cihan Hayırsevener from Bandırma.

CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS ON NKR-AZERBAIJAN CONTACT LINE

news.am
Feb 9 2010
Armenia

February 8-9, a number of ceasefire violations was registered on the
contact line of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijani armed forces.

Azerbaijani side fired at Karabakhi positions from different arms,
including sniper rifles in the directions of Horadiz, Levonarkh,
Karakhanbeyli, Jraberd and Talish settlements, NKR Defense Ministry
Press Service reports.

The enemy was silenced after the retaliation fire.

HEAD OF ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES GENERAL STAFF ON A TWO-DAY VISIT TO NAGORNY KARABAKH REPUBLIC

ArmInfo
2010-02-08 13:08:00

ArmInfo. Head of Armenian Armed Forces General Staff Lt. General Yuri
Khachaturov has paid a two-day visit to the Nagorny Karabakh Republic
as part of the RA-NKR Ministry Cooperation Program.

ArmInfo correspondent to Stepanakert reported that accompanied with
NKR Defense Ministry Movses Hakobyan, Lt. General Khachaturov visited
a number of military units of the NKR Defense Army and got first hand
view of the army building and the situation on the contact-line of
the NKR and Azerbaijani armed forces. Lt. General Khachaturov also
attended demonstration exercises of the NKR Defense Army and shared
his impressions with the NKR Defense Army Command.