Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIA VIEWS RUSSIA AS RELIABLE PARTNER – OFFICIAL

ITAR-TASS, Russia
June 25, 2013 Tuesday 08:17 PM GMT+4

– Secretary of Armenia’s National Security Council Artur Bagdasaryan
said “Russia is a long-term, stable and reliable partner” for Armenia.

He said so after talks with Russian Security Council Secretary
Nikolai Patrushev.

“We’re a small country for showing too large ambitions, so
Armenia pursues a balanced policy, giving priority to intensifying
Russian-Armenian cooperation. For our country, the number one task
is Armenia’s security, and the Russian Federation is one of the main
guarantors of this security, on which agreements have been signed,”
the Armenian official said.

WHERE DOES MY ARMENIA STOP AND MY DIASPORA BEGIN?

By Gegham Mughnetsyan
June 26, 2013

Gegham Mughnetsyan (photo by Karineh Minissian)

I was born in Armenia (in Gyumri to be exact) when the Soviet Empire
was taking its last breaths and Armenian independence was only months
away. I belonged to a generation that had to grow up in a period of
political, economic, and cultural change, which only brought confusion
about who or what was to blame for that gloomy, endless transition.

Fifteen years later, I found myself a world away in Glendale, Calif.,
in pursuit of a life that promised better opportunities for my parents,
my two brothers, and me. Aside from having to learn the language
and the customs of this strange land, we found ourselves conflicted
about our “Armenian-ness” in the land of the diaspora; many of our
peers did not speak Armenian nor had ever been to Armenia, yet they
considered themselves equally Armenian. Unlike them, my childhood
was not spent at Homenetmen or youth camps, my mother did not make
choreg, I did not go to Sunday School, May 28th was not that special,
my grandparents were not genocide survivors, and April 24th was not
a day of protest but rather a day off when we’d gather around the
television and watch “Mayrig.”

For our peers who were born in the diaspora, Armenia was the “promised
land” where everyone spoke Armenian and one could see Mount Ararat
from their window. For us, Armenia was and is a collection of memories
from a childhood spent in cold winters, with a shortage of everything
from drinking water to textbooks to electricity-always in a state of
constant need and of less and less hope…

I have been grateful to this country for all that it has given to me
and my family. I have found “little Armenias” in church groups and
student organizations, and have kept those Armenias close to my heart.

I have walked in Little Armenia (Glendale) and chanted “1915 never
again,” I have donated to the Armenia Fund, attended banquets, danced
while Harout Pamboukjian sang. Yet, I still constantly find myself
outside of the diasporan structure.

I have looked at the diaspora’s efforts and been critical of how it is
not a unified force. I’ve been equally critical of how Armenia treats
the diaspora as an ATM machine that exists solely to provide monetary
resources with as little involvement in Armenian affairs as possible.

Today, after having graduated from Berkeley, where in my capacity as
the president of the Armenian Students’ Association I got to meet with
Armenians from different “stages” of the diaspora, I am at crossroads.

As a member of the first generation of so-called “Stantsis,” who were
born in independent Armenia and left to pursue opportunities thousands
of miles away, I find myself equally distant from both directions. And
I’m trying to figure out where my Armenia stops and my diaspora begins.

Gegham Mughnetsyan was born in Gyumri, Armenia, in 1991. He moved
to the United States in 2006 and settled in Glendale, Calif.,
with his family. In May 2013, he graduated from the University of
California, Berkeley with a B.A. in peace and conflict studies. His
honors thesis was titled, “The United States’ Foreign Policy toward
Nagorno-Karabagh.”

CHAMLIAN SHARES TECHNOLOGY TRAINING IN NEVADA

Tuesday, June 25th, 2013

Saro Nazarian conducts workshop in Las Vegas

GLENDALE-On Friday, May 31, Chamlian Armenian School’s Eastern Armenian
Department Teacher and Chairperson, Saro Nazarian, embarked on a
two day trip to Las Vegas, Nevada to conduct training on technology
integration in the classroom for the Armenian Relief Society (ARS)
Nevada “Shoushi” Chapter’s Saturday School teachers.

For the past three years, Nazarian has trained Chamlian’s Armenian
language teachers on the use of the SMART Board Technology. St.

Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees,
Dr. Vartkes Arzoumanian, was informed about this program through
the media, and contacted Chamlian’s Administration to arrange for a
similar training for the Church’s Saturday School classes.

Through the training, Nazarian exposed the teachers to the basics of
the SMART Board, and how it can be incorporated into the Armenian
curriculum using various Armenian internet sites and YouTube
documentary videos. With an interactive white board, a computer
interface and a touch screen, the SMART Board is an excellent tool
for teachers to further engage students in the learning process. The
SMART Board also serves as an important teaching tool to meet the
needs of students with varying learning styles.

“The integration of technology in education is essential,” states
Chamlian Armenian School’s Principal, Vazken Madenlian. He adds,
“Chamlian has done a lot of work in this regard. We would like to
help any Armenian school in that regards and share our resources
and experience.”

Chamlian Donates to Sister Schools Chamlian Armenian School
continuously strives to do its part in helping various community
organizations. The school recently donated nine HP LaserJet
printers to two of its sister schools, as well as various Armenian
organizations. The printers will be used for administrative purposes
to facilitate the operation of their facilities.

“We believe in the importance of cooperation amongst various community
entities,” states Principal Vazken Madenlian, adding, “This is one
way we can contribute to the betterment of the various organizations
who have always been there for us. We are happy to be able to help.”

CONTROL CHAMBER REPORT SENT TO PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE UPON PARLIAMENT SPEAKER’S REQUEST

21:19 ~U 27.06.13

The Armenian Control Chamber’s 2012 report has been sent to the
Prosecutor General’s Office from the National Assembly.

Sona Truzyan, a spokesperson talking to our correspondent, said
that the document was submitted to them by the demand of Speaker
Hovik Abrahamyan. It is under the proceeding of the State Interests
Protection Committee.

It comes after a recent debate over the report revealed budget
overspendings in the procurement and development sectors.

Asked by Tert.am why the document had not been submitted earlier,
a spokesperson for the Chamber, Anna Vardanyan, said, “The Control
Chamber is a collegial body [whose president] Ishkhan Zakaryan never
makes decisions individually. The question has to be discussed at
the Control Chamber’s session, which is going to take place soon.”

Armenian News – Tert.am

ECTHR WILL GIVE LEGAL ASSESSMENT OF SAFAROV CASE – ECTHR PRESIDENT

June 27, 2013 | 16:49

Speaker of the Armenian parliament Hovik Abrahamyan met with the
President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) Dean Spielmann.

Despite the differences, member states of the Council of Europe share
common European values, while ECtHR is a pillar protecting the values,
Abrahamyan said.

He underscored role of the ECtHR in protection of human rights of 47
member states. Abrahamyan stated that during its presidency Armenia
will continue the ECHR’s efforts aimed at enhancing implementation
of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The official noted that Armenia will continue to support all the
reforms envisaged by the Interlaken and the Brighton Declaration.

Speaking about the Safarov case considered by the Court, Hovik
Abrahamyan said it is not only the problem of Armenia but the entire
international community.

“Armenia expects the European Court will consider the issue from
purely legal viewpoint and will give an adequate legal assessment,
which will be of considerable importance for prevention of such
unacceptable acts,” he said.

In his turn, Dean Spielmann informed of his upcoming visit to Armenia
to participate in an international conference. He hailed the work of
four Armenian lawyers in the European Court, hoping that their number
will grow.

Commenting on the Safarov case, Spielmann noted that the European
Court has experience of solving sensitive cases and will give a
legal assessment.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

INTEL INTRODUCES INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN ARMENIAN SCHOOLS

YEREVAN, June 27./ARKA/. Intel company is rolling out the advanced
information technologies in about ten Armenian schools within the
framework of its Corporate social responsibility, Unicomp director
Armen Baldryan told ARKA Thursday.

Unicomp CJSC is an official partner of Intel in Armenia.

“As a part of its CSR, Intel is committed to develop appropriate
information technologies for schools, besides, many technological
programs, developed jointly with Microsoft, are delivered to schools
for free,” Baldryan said.

According to him, Intel is implementing pilot projects targeted at
adapting high-tech to educational process in such Armenian schools as
Mkhitar Sebastatsi, Anania Shirakatsi lyceum, and the schools located
in Lori, Shirak, Aragatsotn regions.

“These schools received nearly 60 computers to open computer classrooms
as a part of this pilot project,” he clarified.

Based upon the efficiency of the pilot project, a large-scale project
may be unleashed.

“The research made in other countries demonstrated the academic
performance rose by 30% due to high-tech. Students with low academic
performance got involved into educational process because they got
interested in technology,” he noted.

According to Baldryan, Intel doesn’t have any business interests in
equipping schools, the goal of its project is to create an effective
technological model for Armenian schools.

“Due to information technologies, students can continue studying
outside schools, thus they ensure regularity of education process.

School education requires new approaches, students should be interested
in studying using new technologies. Of course, technologies are
just tools for education, they can’t replace a teacher, school,
educational environment, but on the other hand, technologies improve
the educational environment,” he noted.

Armenia should step up with the global tendencies to offer competitive
products, he added. Baldryan said Intel offers a lot of programs
which can solve the issues of distance education, as well as some
other projects which should be united into a single complex within
an educational system.

“We need to solve the problem of Armenian translation of the content
in many programs, and if there is Armenian content, it can be used not
only in Armenia, but also in Armenian schools abroad,” he clarified.

U.S.-based Intel Corporation was established in 1968. It
produces a broad spectrum of electronic devices and computer
components, such as micro processors, chips, etc. Its head
office is located in Santa Clara, California.-0- – See more at:

IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH SOLUTION WITHOUT KARABAKH’S FULL PARTICIPATION IN TALKS – ARMENIAN OFFICIAL

June 28, 2013 | 15:04

Deputy Speaker of the Armenian parliament Eduard Sharmazanov on
Friday met with his Greek counterpart Ioannis Tragakis during hsi
trip to Athens.

The sides discussed issues related to integration with the European
Union. Noting that Greece will assume presidency of the EU starting
from January 2014, Tragakis reiterated his country’s readiness
to support Armenia’s efforts aimed at strengthening and expanding
relations with the Union.

Eduard Sharmazanov spoke about security in the South Caucasus,
assuring that Armenia is ready to live in peace with all nations.

Deputy Speaker presented the current stage of negotiation process on
Karabakh, stressing that it is impossible to reach solution without
Karabakh’s full participation in talks.

Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh support exclusively peaceful resolution of
the conflict which is in line with the approach of the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs. Eduard Sharmazanov shared his concerns over Azerbaijan’s
belligerent rhetoric, noting that it is damaging the peace process.

In his turn, Ioannis Tragakis said Greece supports peaceful resolution
of the conflict.

The sides discussed issues related to cooperation between the states
and development of inter-parliamentary contacts. They also touched
upon development of bilateral trade, while Ioannis Tragakis informed
of an Armenian-Greek business forum scheduled for this September.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

SWISS JOURNALISTS’ WORKS ON ARTSAKH WIN TOP PRIZES AT INT’L CONTEST

June 28, 2013 – 16:59 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Swiss journalists Andreas Schneider and Meinrad
Schade, who visited Artsakh in 2011, won top prizes at the
international contest Eastern Report Network.

Schneider’s article about people of Artsakh rebuilding their country,
published in Reportagen, won in best text category while Schade scored
a win for best photos made in Artsakh.

Following the award ceremony, Schade shared impressions of his visit
to Artsakh, describing it as a well-established state. As he noted,
the photos made in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic will be included in a
collection of pictures Before and After the War to be released in 2014.

The international contest hosted journalists from Germany, Switzerland
and Austria.

ARMENIAN DESIGNERS TO HOLD CHARITY EVENT TO HELP 4-YEAR-OLD BOY

JUNE 28, 13:42

YEREVAN. – Armenian designers will launch a charity event called
“‘Fashion Can Do More” to raise funds for treatment of a 4-year-old
boy.

On June 29-30 a selling exhibition will be held. The guests can
purchase designer clothes and help 4-year-old Vahe Melkonyan who is
suffering from acute leukaemia.

Designers Gayane Soghomonyan, Lusine Kostanyan, Aram Nikolyan, Ani
Iskandaryan and others will participate in the action.

NEWS.am STYLE

PARUYR HAYRIKYAN: EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT MASTERMIND OF ATTEMPT ON MY LIFE IS NOT REVEALED

14:51 28/06/2013 ” SOCIETY

Chairman of National Self-Determination Union, former presidential
candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan, who was wounded in a shooting attack on
January 31 in Yerevan, appeared at today’s press conference accompanied
by security guards.

“Everybody knows that the mastermind of the attempt on my life is
not revealed yet,” he told reporters.

He reiterated that Russian imperialism and KGB (Committee for State
Security) ordered the attempt on his life. Hayrikyan stressed that he
does not say that the force that ordered the attack has any connection
with the current Russian authorities.

“The attack was directed not against me but against you,” he added.

Source: Panorama.am