Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ANDRANIK MESROBIAN: 1960-2011

Thu, Sep 29 2011

By: Betty Apigian-Kessel
Richly Lived, All Too Brief Life

There are times I wish I was a kid again, riding my blue and white
Western Flyer bike down the Prospect St. hill-no hands-feeling the
breeze on my youthful face, with not a care in the world. Instead,
I am beyond middle age and reminded of just how vulnerable we are as
humans. Death has come knocking and within the short span of a month,
two of my dear ungerouhis have borne the burden of burying their sons.

Early morning phone calls delivered the shocking and sobering news
that Andranik “Andy” Mesrobian, the son of Seta and the late Verdi
Mesrobian, had passed away on Sept. 14, just days before his 51st
birthday. A massive heart attack cut the handsome young man down in
the prime of his life, leaving his bride of only five years, Lynn
Darmon, a bereaved widow and her children, Alexandra and Daniel,
without their cherished dad.

Andy had been a member of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF),
attended the St. Sarkis Sunday School program, and become a member of
the church’s Boy Scout Troup, attaining the “Life Scout” status. Later
he served in the Navy during the Gulf War.

Andy and Lynn had successfully joined their Christian and Jewish faiths
to find marital bliss, and one marveled at how the khnamees (in-laws)
became a unified family. It is said that Andy was completely devoted to
his loved ones, making each of them the object of his direct attention.

Everyone in our circle has adult children, and we were filled with
dread at the unexpected news and how it would affect our long-time
friend Seta. The Lord had called Andy home because, as Rev. Fr. Daron
Stepanian of St. Sarkis Church stated, “He needed the assistance of
a good manager up there and Andy was His choice.” Andy’s life career
was as a project manager in computer technology.

You could feel the heaviness of Andy’s death at Dan Gark services.

Hundreds filled the funeral home. The faces of his peer group showed
their distress and disbelief. Shoulders sagged along with their
spirits, driving home the reality that their carefree youthful days
were truly far behind them. How could this happen to such a vital,
young, fun-loving man who, it was said, lived life fully and with
passion?

Close family friend George Mouradian, Andy’s former scout master,
spoke eloquently at Dan Gark services. With voice breaking, he said
Andy had been like a son to him, and told of his mischievous comedic
antics that were a cause for laughter among his fellow scouts.

Among the many floral tributes and photos on display, one item in
particular raised the bar of emotion-Andy’s boyhood scout shirt neatly
laden with badges and medals. There it was, on a hanger longing to
be hugged, the perfect memento of a mother’s perfect love for a child.

The celebrant recited a poignant saying that a mother should never
have to witness the burial of a child. “Let my heart be eaten by
jackals before my mother sees my death.”

Saturday morning the sanctuary of the church was filled with mourners
anxious to be present before Andy’s earthly presence departed. His
spirit had already risen to be with his father Verdi. The 85-year-old
and the 50-year-old would surely already be sitting down to a game
of tavlou. Der Hayr said, “The chain had been broken on earth but
that Andy was now with his father and all the ancestors who preceded
him to everlasting life. May God give strength and patience to those
left behind.”

It was appropriate that Der Daron told of the similarities of the
Armenian and Jewish people, both coming from ancient and cultured
legacies, and both suffering devastating histories.

“Der Voghormiah, Der Voghormiah, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.”

Tearful mourners rose as Andy’s casket began its final journey toward
the exit of the church he loved. The once-cloudy overcast day broke
into bright sunlight when Andy entered the foyer-a hopeful sign as
there always is at a funeral, reassuring loved ones to remain firm
in their faith that the Lord has promised resurrection and triumph
over death. “He is in a better place,” intoned the priest.

Noticeable was the massive bouquet of red roses, with “To Husband”
on the casket from his shattered young widow Lynn. Everyone understood
how the days ahead would be dark ones for her.

Andy was followed down the aisle by his longtime friends, now his
pallbearers, Michael Halajian, Vaughn Mouradian, Serop Almasian,
Mike Nranian, brother-in-law Paul Darmon, and family and friends.

Recognizing my anguish, Halajian later wrapped his arms around me
and reassuringly said, “We shall overcome this, too.”

Other survivors include Andy’s sister, Margaret (Edward) Lutz and son
Alexander, Anahit Mesrobian, and his in-laws William and Suzy Darmon,
and many family and friends.

Out of towners included loyal friends Patrick Keyorian from Chicago
and Kim (Krikorian) Tatoian from East Aurora, N.Y. Kim had remained
“one of the guys” since their early AYF days.

Andranik’s final resting place is near his father Verdi in Detroit’s
Woodmere Cemetery. Memorial tributes are for St. Sarkis Church and
Temple Beth Ahm. Funeral arrangements were by the Simon Javizian
Funeral Home.

From: Baghdasarian

DOCTOR SPEAKS OF GROWING NUMBER OF SURROGATE MOTHERS IN ARMENIA

Tert.am
18:06 29.09.11

The number of couples applying to surrogate mothers’ help is growing
in Armenia by every year. Since 1994, 400 babies were born in the
country thanks to this method.

At a news conference on Thursday, Georgy Okoev, the director of the
Scientific Research Center of Maternal and Child Health, said very
often the close relatives of the biological parent (mother or sister)
agree to become a surrogate mother.

“Money is no longer the issue as they help their loved one in that
way,” he said, adding that many choose relatives not only in order
to avoid expenses but also to ensure genetic compatibility.

The doctor said artificial insemination or surrogate pregnancy is
the best choice for couples suffering from infertility.

“Our laws do not prohibit having children through such methods. The
child is the bearer of the parents genes, so I think having an
offspring in this way is better than adopting a child,” he added.

The doctor said up to four embryos can be injected into the surrogate
mother’s womb. He further recalled that the first artificial
insemination in Armenia resulted in the birth of triplet babies.

“The parents may choose three or four babies simultaneously, or have
the embryo frozen for future until they decide to have a child,”
Okoev said.

From: Baghdasarian

CIVIL SERVANTS’ SALARY REFORM ENVISAGED IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 29, 2011 – 17:48 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Civil servants’ salary reform has been scheduled
in Armenia, with social insurance package to be provided, Armenian
Prime Minister stated.

As Tigran Sargsyan stated at September 29 governmental sitting, 2012
draft budget envisages additional financing from IMF, WB and EU as
well as increase in social expenditures.

“The package will include health insurance as well as possibility
for parents to cover their children’s education fee among other
privileges,” the PM said.

From: Baghdasarian

YEREVAN MAYOR RESPONDS TO TREE-CUTTING CALL

Tert.am
18:39 29.09.11

The Yerevan Municipality has responded to an alarm call of tree-cutting
in Teryan 62 address in Yerevan, the website of the Municipality
reported.

The Department of Nature Protection at the Yerevan Municipality
informed the Yerevan Territorial Department of the Nature Protection
Inspectorate and the Kentron (Centre) Police about the incident.

It also said that eleven trees had been cut, each having a body of
15cm in diameters.

This is the second such case in the same area.

An investigation is underway.

The website also said that Yerevan Mayor Karen Karapetyan instructed
the relevant bodies to plant new trees, instead of those cut, during
the autumn tree-planting.

From: Baghdasarian

WITNESSES TESTIFY TO HUSBAND’S ABUSE IN ZARUHI PETROSYAN TRIAL

epress.am
09.29.2011 17:34

The trial in which Yanis Sarkisov is accused in the murder of Zaruhi
Petrosyan will resume on Sept. 30.

During the last court session, Zaruhi’s neighbor, a minor only
identified by the initial E., testified that prior to her death Zaruhi
was always loathe and sad. Furthermore, E. continued, tne day before
her death her grandmother saw how Zaruhi’s husband was pulling her
and how the latter was bent over and hugging her abdomen.

Also heard in court were testimonies of two other witnesses who
are currently outside Armenia. They testified on how they witnessed
Zaruhi’s husband, Yanis, hitting his wife. One of the testimonies
stated that Zaruhi wanted to divorce Yanis and told the witness that
living with her husband has become intolerable due to his ongoing
abuse and brutal treatment of her.

During the trial, the defense motioned for subsequent court sessions
to be in camera (behind closed doors); however, this was overruled,
reports the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women in Armenia.

Recall, 20-year-old Petrosyan died on Oct. 1, 2010, as a result of
repeated psychological and physical abuse at the hands of her husband
(Sarkisov) and his mother. Her child, who is a minor, is currently
in an orphanage, under state care. Subsequently, a group of 7 local
NGOs formed the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women in Armenia
and are monitoring the case.

From: Baghdasarian

R. SIKORSKI: WARSAW SUMMIT TO FIX NEW PRETENTIOUS LANDMARKS

ARMENPRESS
10:20, 29 September, 2011

Sweden and Poland among EU member states came forth with an
initiative, which suggested an expanded cooperation with EU eastern
neighbor-countries – Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Moldova
and Belarusia. The summit of the Eastern Partnership will be held in
the upcoming days in Warsaw, capital of Poland. At the threshold of
the summit Polish Foreign Minister Radoslav Sikorski gave an exclusive
interview to Armenpress on the successes and issues of the Eastern
Partnership.

– Poland was one of initiators of the Eastern Partnership. In this
period of time what are the most tangible results of the initiative?

– Among the most tangible results of the Eastern Partnership is the
launching of EU negotiations on Association Agreements with Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova in 2010, EU Action Plan on visa
liberalisation for Ukraine and Moldova, in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

Consequently, both countries are on the way to visa free regime with
EU. Georgia started implementing visa facilitation agreement at the
beginning of 2011;

Among the achievements is that the EU raised financial support
for the EaP and the Eastern Partners. Additional funds are also
envisaged by 2013. Comprehensive Institutional Building Programmes
(CIB), supporting Eastern Partners, are being implemented (~@173mln
by 2013 for all Eastern Partners). European Investment Bank within the
Eastern Partners Facility and the EIB external mandate made available
[email protected] for Eastern European countries. The EaP multilateral path
of developing cooperation in specific areas was established along
with several flagship initiatives.

– In which ways can this initiative be mutually beneficial both for
Armenia and the EU?

– The Eastern Partnership offers the Eastern European countries an
ambitious project of gradual political and economic integration with
the EU, as well as an advanced mechanism offering specific support
in modernisation and transformation into full market-economies and
democracies, based on European values, standards and norms. As a
result of such cooperation, the EU enhances the stability, security
and prosperity of the entire continent.

– What does Poland expect from the Eastern Partnership Summit?

– The EaP Summit in Warsaw should bring additional impetus to the
initiative and set out new ambitious guidelines for its further
implementation. Poland expects that the Summit will reconfirm EU
readiness to acknowledge the European aspirations of Eastern Partners,
confirm the possibility of signing of EU-Ukraine Association Agreement
and Deep and Comprehensive Free trade Agreement (DCFTA), as well as
the launching of EU-Moldova and EU-Georgia negotiations on DCFTA –
this year, make visa-free regime goal achievable to all partners that
will meet necessary but clearly formulated EU conditions, open the way
for interested Eastern partners to full integration with EU internal
market and to establishing an economic area between the EU and partner
countries, deepen sector cooperation in the area of transport, energy
efficiency, energy security, agriculture, etc, facilitate Eastern
partners’ participation in EU agencies and programs (e.g. lifelong
learning programmes, including the Erasmus programme), confirm the
“more for more” principle under which partners involved intensely in
deepening cooperation with EU are to obtain additional EU support.

– How do you assess the pace of the negotiations of the association
agreement between Armenia and the EU? When will it be possible to
sign the agreement?

– The process of negotiations which started in July 2010 and the
current dynamic talks could be described as satisfactory.

Nevertheless, the most difficult chapters of the agreement, among
them the one on establishing the free trade zone, are still ahead. It
is clear that this process-with so many difficult regulations to be
implemented into the Armenian legislation-has to take more time.

Poland urges both the European Commission and Armenia to enhance
their efforts conduct the negotiations efficiently. In this regard,
the EU Comprehensive Institution Building Programme was prepared,
aiming at improving the capabilities of the Armenian administration.

– On 28-29 July the President of Poland visited Armenia. In what manner
did this visit contribute to the future development of Polish-Armenian
bilateral relations?

– It is important to remember that President Komorowski’s official
visit to Armenia was preceded by visits of Prime Minister Tusk and
Foreign Minister in 2010. These three events show Poland’s interest
in Armenia. From the political point of view, Armenia is a member
of the Eastern Partnership-we would like to see the success of your
pro-European efforts. Poland is also eager to enhance its economic
relations with Armenia-last year an intergovernmental agreement to
that effect was signed. During President’s visit it was announced that
a Polish company would provide new biometric passports and IDs for
Armenians. We hope that such a success will pave the way for other
companies to start business with our Armenian partners.

From: Baghdasarian

VAHAN HOVHANNISYAN: TURKEY TRIES TO KEEP ARMENIA IN A STATE OF “HOSTAGE”

ARMENPRESS
14:06, 29 September, 2011

The part of RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s speech at UN on the
Armenian-Turkish Protocols was positive, leader of NA ARF faction
Vahan Hovhannisyan told today a news conference. The parliamentarian,
nevertheless, thinks that Armenia must have withdrawn its signatures
from the protocols, as the entire process is in a frosted state now.

In his opinion, by recalling the Armenian-Turkish protocols to the
parliament, Turkey tries to keep Armenia in a state of “hostage”. “In
this short period of time that Turkey had withdrawn the protocols
from the parliament, Armenia must have made a right use and withdraw
its signature,” Vahan Hovhannisyan said.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA TO WORK OUT STRATEGY TO PREVENT DESTRUCTIVE SECTARIAN MOVEMENTS
Anna Balyan

“Radiolur”
29.09.2011 16:19

The Armenian National Security Council is working out a strategy to
prevent the activity of destructive sects in Armenia. For this purpose
it has set up an inter-departmental commission, which convened its
first sitting today chaired by Secretary of the National Security
Council Arthur Baghdasaryan.

Arthur Baghdasaryan noted that “ensuring religious security is one
of the priorities of the national security strategy.” “It includes
the prevention of phenomena that jeopardize the religious-cultural
identity of the Armenian people and the moral values, creation of
conditions for the religious-cultural development of individuals and
the society at large, preservation of the national identity.”

According to the Secretary of the National Security Council,
the strategy will in no way restrict the freedom of religion or
conscience, the fundamental freedoms of the man and the citizen and
will not demonstrate discrimination against any religious direction.

It will be aimed at preventing and restraining the destructive
movements and can be dangerous to the life of individuals, families,
the society and the democratic institutions, thus shattering the
bases of the state and the development of society.

In this context Arthur Baghdasaryan stressed the importance of
working out a strategy corresponding to European standards, noting
that European experts will participate in the process.

From: Baghdasarian

DEFENSE OFFICIAL: WE SHOULD BE READY FOR WAR
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan

ArmeniaNow
News | 29.09.11 | 14:59

First Deputy Defense Minister of Armenia David Tonoyan in his
interview to RIA Novosti Russian news agency stated that resumption
of hostilities in Nagorno Karabakh is “quite possible”.

“Under the given circumstances we consider it proper to view the
situation from security perspectives, supposing that active hostilities
can be launched any minute and, thus, be on stand-by, rather than
just guessing whether a new war might break out in Karabakh. In this
context it is important to stress another no-less important factor –
the cooperation between the armies of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh
are on the highest level,” said Tonoyan.

In the same interview Tonoyan confirmed the long speculated news that
an Armenian-Russian joint workshop would be operating in the region to
provide technical assistance and repair armored units and anti-aircraft
defense technologies, as well as a variety of Russian-production
helicopters and vehicles manufactured by Uralian Auto-Motor Plant
(UAZ).

He also stated that Armenia is planning to sell its domestically
manufactured unmanned aircrafts as well as other military-industrial
products.

“For several years now our research institutes and military-industrial
entities have been developing various kinds of unmanned aircrafts,
among them the most outstanding being the Krunk-25 model. All such
aircrafts are successfully used for reconnaissance and information
collection, and we believe that our production would be compatible
in the international market,” stressed Tonoyan.

For the first time Armenia demonstrated its drones during the
September 21 military parade devoted to the 20th anniversary of
Armenia’s independence.

From: Baghdasarian

TRYING TO BENEFIT FROM PUTIN’S LEGEND

Lragir.am News

13:29:07 – 29/09/2011

Ashot Manucharyan, a former member of the Karabakh Committee, said
in a news conference that the West openly supported the president
of Armenia.

“The West stated unambiguously that they have geopolitical interests
and are ready to renege on some of their principles declared earlier.

One shouldn’t be offended by the West. The world has always been a
predator, even ready to support a robbing system,” Manucharyan said.

As to Russia, Manucharyan notes that the change is a new issue for
the world and for Armenia. Everyone who has been working on Putin’s
legend is now trying to benefit from it.

Manucharyan thinks the main issue is what Putin is going to be, part
of the predator world or an expression of newborn Russia. “There is
only one law in the predator world, interests only,” he says.

From: Baghdasarian