Author: Badalian Vardan

ADB WORKING OUT COUNTRY PARTNERSHIP STRATEGY FOR ARMENIA

10:19, 04 Nov 2014

President Serzh Sargsyan today received the Vice President of the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) Wencai Zhang, President’s Press Office reported.

The President praised the ADB’s cooperation with Armenia and its
activities aimed at developing Armenia’s infrastructure and ensuring
steady economic growth. Serzh Sargsyan thanked the bank for supporting
Armenia for many years and said that Wencai Zhang’s visit bore witness
to the firm relationship between Armenia and the ADB.

Wencai Zhang expressed satisfaction with the fact that the bank has
been collaborating with Armenia since 2005 and underscored that the
ADB was working on the Country Partnership Strategy for Armenia for
the upcoming 5 years and was ready to support the development of
priority spheres in Armenia, including infrastructure (transport,
energy, road construction, urban development, water supply), as
well as state-private sector cooperation, local technical assistance
capacity building, promotion of regional collaboration, encouragement
of investments, export stimulation and development of an innovative
and knowledge-based economy. Noting that it was his first visit to
Armenia, Wencai Zhang underlined that he was impressed with Armenia,
a country with great development potential. He also expressed the
bank’s readiness to organize an investment forum in Armenia which
will give Armenia’s economy the opportunity to attract new foreign
investments and will stimulate realization of primary projects.

At the meeting the parties attached great importance to the works of
the North-South Road Corridor and exchanged views on Armenia’s economic
development opportunities following its accession to the Eurasian
Economic Union. Wencai Zhang congratulated President Serzh Sargsyan on
Armenia’s accession to the treaty and expressed the opinion that it can
provide ample opportunities for the development of Armenia’s economy.

UK SUPPORTS NORMALIZATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

Trend, Azerbaijan
Nov 3 2014

3 November 2014, 15:52 (GMT+04:00)

The UK believes that the previously signed Armenian-Turkish protocols
should be implemented, the British Minister of State for Europe David
Lidington said Nov. 3, Armenia Today news agency reported.

Speaking at a news conference in Yerevan, Armenia, Lidington added
that the protocols will allow moving forward.

He said the UK supports the normalization of relations between Armenia
and Turkey.

At the same time he said it is positive that the Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian participated at the Turkish president’s
inauguration.

On Oct. 10, 2009 the FMs of Armenia and Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu and
Edward Nalbandian signed protocols on normalization of relations
between Turkey and Armenia.

However, the protocols have not been ratified by the countries’
parliaments.

The diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed
in 1993.

The break in relations, as well as, the closing of borders between
Turkey and Armenia in 1993 was due to Yerevan’s claims over
recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide in the world and
Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani lands.

ARMENIA WILL TRY TO FEED SCHOOL PUPILS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE STATE BUDGET

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Nov 3 2014

3 November 2014 – 8:42pm

Next year, the Armenian government plans to finance school meals
program from the state budget, the head of the Ministry of Education
of the country Armen Ashotyan said, reports news.am.

According to him, the implementation of this pilot project has already
started in some regions.

203.4 million drams (about $ 495 thousand) will be allocated for
these needs.

This money will go to cover hot school meals or, where the provision
of hot meals is impossible, children will receive cakes, milk, yogurt
and juice.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Berdj Karapetian

November 3, 2014
(818) 426-1178

NEWS ADVISORY

Glendale City Council to Vote on Initiating Negotiations on Property to be
Site of Armenian American Museum and Memorial Monument

When: Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Where: Glendale City Council Chambers, 613 E Broadway, 2nd floor,
Glendale, 91206

The Glendale City Council will consider on Tuesday, November 4, 2014,
a motion to enter into an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with the
Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of Western USA (AGCC) for the
ground lease of a 1.7 acre property located to the south of the
Glendale Civic Auditorium and across the street from Glendale
Community College.

The AGCC’s announced in September plans to build an Armenian American
Museum and Educational/Cultural Center in Glendale. The AGCC has
requested the City for the right to enter into exclusive negotiations
for the ground lease of the property.

`The 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide presents an
opportunity to transform the experience of the survivors of the
Armenian Genocide and generations of Armenian Americans into a vehicle
for preserving liberty and equality in a democratic society,’ stated
AGCC-WUSA Co-Chair Garo Ghazarian.

The Native American Museum, La Plaza De Culturas Y Artes, the
California African American Museum, the Chinese American Museum, the
Japanese American National Museum, the Skirball Cultural Center, the
Museum of Tolerance at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the Italian
American Museum of Los Angeles, the Korean American National Museum
and several other museums based in Southern California every year
educate thousands of youngsters and visitors in the rich ethnic and
cultural diversity of the region.

The Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of Western USA helps guide
and coordinate events and activities to observe the 100th Anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide.

The representatives of the following organizations and institutions
serve on the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee – Western USA:
Armenia Fund – Western Region USA; Armenian Assembly of America;
Armenian Bar Association; Armenian Catholic Church; Armenian Council
of America; Armenian Cultural Foundation; Armenian Evangelical Union
of North America; Armenian General Benevolent Union – Western
District; Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region;
Armenian Relief Society – Western USA; Armenian Rights Council;;
Armenian Youth Federation; Ignatius Foundation; Nor Or Charitable
Foundation; Nor Serount Cultural Association; Organization of Istanbul
Armenians; Unified Young Armenians; Western Diocese of the Armenian
Church of North America; Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church.

###

Berdj Karapetian

GAREGIN NZHDEH’S STATUE TO BE PLACED WITHOUT SWORD (VIDEO)

13:36 | November 3,2014 | Social

Yerevan Municipality’s decision to install a statue to the great
Armenian statesman Garegin Nzhdeh near one of the Government buildings
in the center of the city has provoke uproar in different circles.

Many think that the statue should be placed in the square named after
the great political thinker, which is in Shengavit district in Yerevan.

Sculptor Levon Tokmajyan, a member of the Artistic Commission of the
Yerevan Municipality Council, is concerned about the artistic value
of the statue rather than its location.

“We went and found the solution in situ; the statue faces the street
with its back turned to the square,” he said.

The Municipality Council has already approved the decision to place
the statue in Kentron administrative district of Yerevan.

Initially it was decided that the statue would have a swords in its
hand, but now they decided to erect the statue with a folded hand.

But Levon Tokmajyan did not like that option.

The sculptor says he does not like the statues placed in the country
in the last 20 years.

KARABAKH IS PREPARING TO ATTACK

Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 04 November 2014, 00:04

The Azerbaijani foreign minister Mammedyarov has announced in an
interview with APA agency that the foreign ministers of Armenia and
Azerbaijan may meet in December under the aegis of the OSCE Minsk
Group. Mammedyarov also said something interesting. He said soon the
need for another Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting may arise.

This statement is also interesting because on October 27, after
the Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting in Paris mediated by Francois Hollande
the French president’s administration announced that agreement was
reached on the Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting in September 2015 in New York,
during the UN General Assembly.

If during the October 27 meeting in Paris agreement has been reached
to meet in New York in September 2015, it indicates some agreement
on the processes of the upcoming year, and it was at least taking
into account that no meeting would be needed over the next year.

And the need for a Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting arises or may arise for
two main reasons: either major agreement on settlement or maintenance
of the ceasefire and alleviation of tension.

If they agree in Paris to meet in New York in a year, it means that
the no breakthrough or escalation is “envisaged’ over the next year at
least from the side of the U.S. and France. Evidence to this is the
Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting initiated by the United States during NATO
Wales Summit during which Secretary Kerry announced that violation
of the ceasefire is unacceptable.

Hence, if the United States and France are outlining a new meeting
one year later in New York, it means they are not planning a meeting
earlier. So who or what can arouse the need for a Sargsyan-Aliyev
meeting?

Mammedyarov’s statement about such necessity is worrying because it
may mean a statement on Azerbaijan’s likelihood to cause escalation
on the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact that will necessitate a
new Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting.

For Baku, escalation at the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact
remains the only point of contact with the international community.

Baku is suffering losses due to the falling prices of oil. At the same
time, Azerbaijan’s expectation did not come true, and after Armenia
refrained from association with the European Union, the West did not
automatically move the bid on Azerbaijan. There were two essential
factors: first, the commitment of the Georgian government to the
Association Agreement and, second, the war of Russia against Ukraine
which changed the nature of the geopolitical processes and influenced
the Euro-Atlantic approaches and plans relating to the Caucasus.

It seems that everything turned upside down for Baku which has an
advantageous position. In addition, not only for Baku but also Turkey.

At the same time, the Islamic State was linked to Turkey and
Azerbaijan.

The process of normalization between Iran and the West also influenced
the geopolitical importance of Baku. Baku was hence forced to place
an order of another batch of weapons worth billion with Moscow and
allowed Rogozin to announce in Baku that Moscow and Baku are uniting
against the West. Apparently, however, even blackmail could not bring
its importance back for the West.

The only term of Baku’s international political “importance” is the
issue of Artsakh and regular escalations. Baku would not have dared,
of course, but it obviously enjoys Russia’s support, and Rogozin’s
statements in Baku were Moscow’s confessions. During the war in
August the Russian pro-Kremlin political scientists announced that
the escalation was Moscow’s response to the West for Ukraine.

After the developments in Ukraine the West made efforts to not shift
the escalation to the Caucasus and to not cause a military aggression
of Russia in the Caucasus. Nevertheless, the Russian-Azerbaijani
attempt was made. It is not accidental that it coincided with the
visit of CSTO Secretary General Borduzha to Yerevan, and the August
escalation culminated immediately after the visit. The Armenian armed
forces did defend Armenia and Artsakh, then there was the meeting
in Sochi during which Putin called Aliyev to be patient. Obviously,
the call for patience had been caused by the failure of the first
military adventure with the expectation of the second attempt.

Mammedyarov’s statement that the need for a new Sargsyan Aliyev
may arise soon is obviously evidence to a planned second attempt
of military adventure thanks to which Russia will try to keep in
sight the process of movement of the negotiation process towards the
Euro-Atlantic environment.

At the same time, it is not ruled out that with his statement
Mammedyarov is simply trading off this attempt or, in other words,
hinting to the West that steps should be taken to prevent them.

Baku’s state is not enviable. The next military adventure may cost
Aliyev a high price because the United States has hinted clearly in
Newport that war is unacceptable. Of course, Russia is obstinate,
and it is not easy to give it up. Perhaps, therefore, Aliyev has
decided to get off the train, disclosing Russia’s plans, expecting
the West to thwart them.

The China Post, Taiwan
Nov 2 2014

Canada’s new human rights museum shares oral histories

By Michel Comte, AFP
November 2, 2014, 12:01 am TWN

WINNIPEG, Canada–A new museum in Canada’s western prairies has
amassed a unique collection of personal stories from genocide
survivors, human rights defenders and others, and wants to share them.

Dedicated to the 60-year-old notion of human rights, a singular but
intricate ideal, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg,
Manitoba will open its doors on Nov. 11.

It was conceived by now-deceased mogul Izzy Asper, who once controlled
CanWest Global Communications Corp, one of the world’s largest media
empires.

Over the past 15 years, the project has attracted both praise and
protests, mostly from groups disappointed that their stories would not
be included.

A third of the museum’s staff including curators quit ahead of its
grand opening, complaining that its content had been sanitized, while
administrators struggled with staggering cost overruns and funding
shortfalls.

But since the museum started previewing a handful of its 11 galleries
in September, the criticism has faded.

“We’re not a collections-based museum. Our main focus is to tell
stories,” spokeswoman Maureen Fitz said.

“But there are more stories than we can tell.”

“Most rights museums commemorate specific events,” she added. “Our
focus is on human rights as an aspirational idea, using the stories of
defenders, victims and others to illustrate it.”

250,000 Visitors

The CA$351 million (US$312 million) museum designed by American
architect Antoine Predock is one of the most anticipated works of
architecture in Canadian history.

Built of polished concrete, basalt rock, limestone and alabaster
wrapped in a wall of glass that “weaves light through darkness,” it
seeks to frame how an expected 250,000 visitors each year will think
about human rights by “offering multiple perspectives from different
angles, which is also important in exploring human rights,” Fitz
explained.

The site in downtown Winnipeg was chosen for the city’s legacy at the
crossroads for labor rights, suffrage, minority language rights and
indigenous people’s land rights in Canada.

Visitors are presented with interactive videos, photographs and text
chronicling Canadian and world history’s “dark and bright spots” as
they meander up a 23-story spiral pathway.

There are 181 oral histories of survivors of mass atrocities and
people who fought rights violations.

Displays cover the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide and other
atrocities recognized by Ottawa, and identify patterns in them.

Tales are told of the First World War internment of Ukrainians, of the
Japanese immigrant steamship Komagata Maru being turned away from
Canadian shores in 1914, and of the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike.

Along the path, visitors can probe a smattering of artifacts,
including a ballot box from Nelson Mandela’s 1994 presidential run,
wedding photos of gay couples, and the dress worn by Mareshia Rucker
to the first racially integrated prom at the Wilcox County school in
the U.S. state of Georgia last year.

CTK National News Wire, Czech Republic
October 31, 2014 Friday 1:26 PM (Central European Time)

Prague not to seek mafia boss Saghoyan’s extradition from Armenia

Prague Oct 31 (CTK)

The Justice Ministry will not ask Armenia for the extradition of the
arrested Russian-language mafia boss Andranik Soghoyan who was
sentenced to 22 years in prison in absentia for ordering a murder in
the Czech Republic, ministry spokeswoman Katerina Hrochova told CTK
today.

The Czech Republic could transfer the penal proceedings to Armenia,
where the thief in law or “vor v zakone” Soghoyan could be tried
again. However, since an appellate review in the case was filed with
the Czech Supreme Court, it is not probable, Hrochova added.

“Since Soghoyan is an Armenian state citizen and Armenia does not
extradite its citizens, his extradition to the Czech Republic is out
of question. This is why the Justice Ministry has not asked the
Armenian authorities for his detention to enable his extradition to
the Czech Republic,” Hrochova said.

The Armenian police detained Soghoyan in Yerevan on Thursday on the
basis of information that he was wanted by the Czech authorities.

Soghoyan was to start serving the prison sentence in the Czech
Republic on September 1, but he did not. This is why the Prague City
Court issued a European warrant for his arrest, which, however, does
not apply to Armenia.

Court spokeswoman Marketa Puci said the court had started preparing an
international arrest warrant in mid-October, too, but this procedure
would last longer.

The Czech Republic and Armenia also discussed the possibility of
Soghoyan serving the prison sentence in his homeland. But Armenia said
this was not possible without a bilateral agreement, Hrochova said.

The only possibility is to transfer the whole penal proceedings to
Armenia where the case would be investigated from the beginning. The
Prague City Court would have to ask for it. However, the Justice
Ministry does not expect the court to do so at the moment, Hrochova
noted.

According to the indictment, Soghoyan ordered and organised the murder
of an Armenian businessman in 2007, but the hired assassin killed a
wrong man and stabbed another one by mistake.

The lower level court acquitted Soghoyan twice in the past, but the
case was repeatedly returned to it by the appeals court. The final
verdict for Soghoyan was meted out in October 2013, but at that time
he was abroad as the courts released him from custody.

Some media in Yerevan have reported that Soghoyan has been living in
Armenia for several years, while others say he arrived in Yerevan a
few days ago only.

Soghoyan, dubbed Zap in the Armenian underworld, was allegedly
detained in Armenia once before, but the police released him since
they lacked the respective documents from the Czech Republic.

hol/dr/rtj

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Nov 2 2014

Reopening of Turkey-Armenia border will develop each other’s economies

November 02, 2014, Sunday/ 00:39:59/ OSMAN Ã`NALAN / ISTANBUL

A number of business chambers, think tanks, civil society
organizations and journalists believe that the opening of the
Turkish-Armenian border will help the economic development of the
people living in Armenia and the eastern provinces of Turkey.

A group of Turkish and Armenian journalists and bloggers who travelled
across Turkey and Armenia via Georgia between Oct. 13 and 26 in order
to gain firsthand insight into their neighbors say the closed border
between Turkey and Armenia is negatively affecting relations between
the two countries, advocating the reopening of the border, which will
improve the process of normalization.

While hosting the Armenian and Turkish journalists, Fethiye Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (FTSO) President Akif Arıcan said trade is one
of the main signs of peace between countries. Speaking to the group,
Arıcan said opening the border will help the Turkish-Armenian
normalization process. Trade between Armenia and Turkey is conducted
via Georgia or Iran, Arıcan added. When asked by an Armenian
journalist about direct trade between the two countries, Arıcan said
FTSO may ask the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges
(TOBB) to initiate this process with the Turkish government.

Giving a presentation on “Support for the Armenia-Turkey Normalization
Process,” Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV)
Managing Director Güven Sak said there are good steps taken toward
normalization, which is very important for the economic development of
the eastern provinces of Turkey. As soon as diplomatic relations
between the two governments improve, the Caucasus region can be a good
environment for businessmen of Turkey to access China via Armenia and
Azerbaijan, Sak added.

According to the study `Armenian-Turkish Business Relations through
the Eyes of Business Opinion Leaders’ in 2011, trade between the two
countries takes place through a roundabout way via Georgia and Iran.
The invoice is issued in Georgia as companies in Turkey are not
authorized to make an invoice with an Armenian address. In addition to
large-scale merchandise and products, shuttle trade is quite a visible
activity between Turkey and Armenia. There are no records in official
Turkish statistical publications regarding trade with Armenia.
According to unofficial estimates by the Turkish side, trade volume
between the two countries is $150-200 million.

According to data from the National Statistical Service of the
Republic of Armenia as of January 2011, imports from Turkey to Armenia
amounted to $98 million while exports from Armenia to Turkey amounted
to $551,000.

The most profitable import items from Turkey to Armenia in 2009 were
metals and items made of metal, various types of textile, wood and
wood items, soap, cleaning and hygienic items, lotions and other
cosmetic items, aluminum and aluminum items, electrical machinery and
appliances, recording devices and their parts, glass and glassware,
furniture and ceramics.

The most profitable import items from Armenia to Turkey were aluminum
and aluminum items, raw hide and processed leather, railroad
equipment, textile and clothing items, except machine and hand
embroidery and tapestries.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with
Azerbaijan after Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of
Azerbaijan in 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region. In 2009,
the Zurich Protocols to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia
were signed but not ratified, and the border remains closed.

Opening closed Armenia-Turkey border may help stability in
conflict-prone South Caucasus

Commenting on Turkish-Armenian economic relations to Sunday’s Zaman,
Richard Giragosian, director of the Regional Studies Center (RSC), an
independent think tank in Yerevan, told Sunday’s Zaman that opening
its closed border with Armenia would constitute a new strategic
opportunity for Turkey to galvanize economic activity in the
impoverished eastern regions of the country, which could play a key
role in the economic stabilization of the already restive
Kurdish-populated eastern regions, thus meeting a significant national
security imperative of combating the root causes of Kurdish separatism
and countering the appeal of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) with
economic opportunity.

Giragosian claims that the opening of the closed Armenian-Turkish
border can not only bring about a crucial breakthrough in fostering
trade links and economic relations but may also serve as an impetus to
bolster broader stability and security throughout the conflict-prone
South Caucasus.

According to a Eurasia Partnership Foundation’s Caucasus Research
Resource Centers (CRRC) public survey with around 2,000 respondents in
Armenia in 2010, 45 percent of Armenians see no problem doing business
with Turks. The same survey also found that only 34 percent of
Armenians approve of friendship with Turks.

Laurel Dickranian Karabian

OBITUARY | OCTOBER 31, 2014 10:37 AM
________________________________

Dickranian School Benefactor

LOS ANGELES — Laurel Dickranian Karabian, passed away on October
19. She was 60.

She was born in Beverly Hills, to Archie and Eleanor Dickranian.

She attended Beverly Hills High School and graduated cum laude from
Pomona College where she majored in Renaissance studies. She earned
her MBA in fine arts management at the UCLA Anderson School of
Management.

Her love of music took her to San Francisco, where she worked as the
associate director of development for the San Francisco Symphony. She
moved back to Los Angeles to take a position with the Los Angeles
Philharmonic as the director of development. Later she worked as an
independent consultant providing management and fundraising services
for arts and community organizations.

Beyond music, Karabian was a huge advocate for and passionate about
the arts and education. She was appointed by former Gov. George
Deukmejian to the California Arts Council. She was a member of the Los
Angeles County Arts Commission, served as a board member of the
Armenian Library and Museum of America, and was the founding president
of the Los Angeles chapter of the Armenian International Women’s
Association. In addition, she contributed her expertise to many other
volunteer organizations.

She enjoyed going to the opera, theater, ballet, and symphony with her
family and friends. She loved to travel and had a particular love for
Italy, and spent many summers in Venice. There, she continued to learn
Armenian, which was her fourth language, including French and Italian.

As much as she loved to travel, many of her happiest times were at her
family’s home in Malibu and at her apartment in San Francisco.

She and her husband were benefactors of the Arshag Dickranian Armenian
School, which had been founded by her parents. Her daughter, Madeline,
attended the school from nursery through the eighth grade.

She is survived by her daughter Madeline and her husband former
California State Assembly Majority Leader Walter Karabian, and his son
Benjamin. She is also survived by her sister Cindy (Ken) Norian.

Services were held Monday, October 27, at St. Leon Armenian Cathedral
3325 N. Glenoaks Blvd. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to
Arshag Dickranian Armenian School, 1200 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los
Angeles, CA 90038.

(Editor’s Note: An abbreviated version of this obituary appeared on
the front page of last week’s Mirror-Spectator.)