Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Fuller Center for Housing Armenia
Contact: Haykuhi Khachatryan
Yerevan 0033, Baghramyan str. 3rd lane, house 10a
Tel: (+374 10) 271 499

17 FamiliesRegain Their Happiness After More Than 20 Years In
Temporary Shelters

May 15 the Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Karekin II, RA
Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, as well as the president of
ARDA charitable foundation American Armenian philanthropist Mr. Steve
Lazarian with his family and other honorable guests participated in
the official ceremony of dedication of 17 houses in Taron 3rd district
of Vanadzor, built in the framework of cooperation between ARDA
charitable foundation, Vanadzor city municipality and Fuller Center
for Housing Armenia for families living in `domik’ district.

In June 2009 thanks to the trilateral partnership 16 families shifted
from metal containers to ecologically safe houses from Styrofoam
blocks. This year that number increased with more 17 happy families.

The idea of eliminating homelessness brought together ARDA foundation,
the Municipality of Vanadzor and Fuller Center for Housing Armenia. As
the result of this partnership the 33 families (almost 70 people) of
145 from Vanadzor metal containers’ district have already new built
homes.

The idea of this joint project belongs to the president of ARDA
foundation Steve Lazarian, who sees his mission and goal in supporting
families, who were forced to be homeless even before the earthquake of
1988 and since then, are living in metal containers without any
facilities. `I want this project to eradicate metal containers from
all the communities of Armenia. And I want all the Armenian families
could have simple and decent conditions where to raise their
children.’ said Mr. Lazarian.

Almost a year these families were working hard to build their own
homes for their children could move to the new homes as soon as
possible. `It is hard to believe that we are going to live under a
safe roof at last, we will have separate bedrooms and living room,
kitchen, bathroom….all this we use to see in the films only…so many
years of a life full of deprivations that sometimes I can’t believe
that it’s over’- said Marine Sarukhanyan one of the homeowners.

Many guests shared the happiness with the families who were waiting
for their home already more than 20 years, wishing that no more
disasters take the childhood of our children, the joy of our youth and
the peace of our elders.

Project description:

ARDA invested 50% and provided innovative technology and expertise;

Municipality of Vanadzor invested 35%, donated land, installed
infrastructure and landscaped the area;

Fuller Center for Housing Armenia invested 15% and provided volunteers
for construction of the houses.

Technology:

The homes are built using new for Armenia technology of polystyrene
foam block, which makes possible to complete construction in a month.
Such homes are ecologically clean, reasonably priced and, earthquake
resistant.

Armenian Relief and Development Association (ARDA), established in
1999 by the Armenian Gospel Mission to deliver humanitarian programs
to poor families, at

Vanadzor municipality involved in many home improvement projects in
cooperation with many organizations, at

The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, working to eliminate poverty
housing by providing long-term, interest-free loans and by assisting
with the volunteer work helping low-income families to build simple,
sustainable, affordable houses and renovate their houses, at

From: Baghdasarian

10 nouvelles moissonneuses batteuses pour le Haut Karabagh

HAUT KARABAGH

samedi15 mai 2010, par Krikor Amirzayan/armenews

10 nouvelles moissonneuses batteuses commandées en Iran viennent
d’arriver à Stepanakert, capitale de l’Artsakh (Haut Karabagh en
arménien). Ces engins aideront les agriculteurs de l’Artsakh dans la
récolte de blé. Le coût de chaque machine est de près de 52 000 euros.
Au terme d’un contrat signé entre le Haut Karabagh et l’Iran, le
remboursement s’effectuera sur dix ans.
From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Studies Program
Ingrid Peterson, Administrator
University of Michigan
1080 S. University, Suite 3633
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106
Phone: 734.763.0622; Fax: 734.763.4918
email: [email protected]

Armenian Studies Program Hosts Colloquium on Third Party Interventions
in Armenian History
International Panel of Experts Question Role Played by Great Powers in
Armenian/ Turkish Relations

ANN ARBOR, MICH., May 14, 2010- The Armenian Studies Program (ASP) at
the University of Michigan recently assembled an international panel
of experts to discuss the role of third party interventions in the
history of Armenia and its relations with Turkey. The panel, which
gathered all day on March 19, attempted to reevaluate the role of
third party humanitarian intervention in Armenian history, as well as
to critically reassess the role played by the Great Powers and
interventionist policies since the Treaty of San Stefano in 1878.

The panel included Dr. Aram Grigoryan, a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the
University of Michigan, Professor Michael Reynolds, Professor of Near
Eastern Studies at Princeton University, Mr Andranik Migranyan from
the Institute for Democracy and Cooperation, Professor Gerard
Libaridian, the Alex Manoogian Chair of Modern Armenian History at the
University of Michigan, and Professor Ron Suny, the Charles Tily
collegiate Professor of Social and Political History.

Dr. Arman Grigoryan began the panel with a discussion of the possible
theoretical and comparative frameworks for understanding third party
interventions, and he mainly focused on the work of political
scientists and scholars of human rights. His comments were followed by
the Michael Reynolds exploration of the parallels between the Armenian
case and the case of Kurds in Eastern Anatolia.
Gerard Libaridian commented on the evolving historiography and the
role of the treaty of San Stephano on the establishment of modern
Armenian politics. Andranik Migranyan commented on the role of the
United States and the Obama administration in crafting contemporary
political accords between Turkey and Armenia.
Ron Suny concluded by remarking on the interdisciplinary nature of the
panel and positioning the case of Armenia in a particularly rich and
changing historical context. Armenia today faces a conflict between a
global hegemon and a regional hegemon (mainly Russia), although
Armenia’s long term goals are focused on regional stability. How do
each of the others imagine the world around them? How do they imagine
threat?
The panel hoped that scholars would continue to pursue these critical
questions in the future. The proceedings of the colloquium are
available online. For more information, please visit:
x.html

Armenian Studies Program
The University of Michigan’s Armenian Studies Program promotes the
study of Armenian history, culture, and society. A member of the
University of Michigan International Institute, the program organizes
educational opportunities for students, faculty and the community.
For more information, contact the Armenian Studies Program at (734)
763-0622 or visit
University of Michigan International Institute
The University of Michigan International Institute houses 18 centers
and programs focused on world regions and global themes. The institute
develops and supports international teaching, research, and public
affairs programs to promote global understanding across the campus and
to build connections with intellectuals and institutions
worldwide. For more information, visit
From: Baghdasarian

TURKISH FM: DENIAL OF TURKEY-ARMENIA PROTOCOLS IS NOT IN INTERESTS OF TURKEY AND ARMENIA

Today
878.html
May 13 2010
Azerbaijan

Neither Turkey nor Armenia will win in case of suspension of
ratification of the Yerevan-Ankara protocols, Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu said in an interview with the Haberturk television
channel.

"Breaking the protocols is not in the interests of Turkey and Armenia,"
Davutoglu said.

The Turkish Milliyet newspaper wrote that Davutoglu will hold a
telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on
Thursday evening. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree
suspending the ratification of the Armenian-Turkish protocols on
normalizing relations between Yerevan and Ankara in April.

The president argued the temporary suspension of the ratification
of the protocols with "national interests". Turkish and Armenian
foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward Nalbandian signed the
Ankara-Yerevan protocols in Zurich Oct. 10.

Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey have been broken due
to Armenia’s claims of an alleged genocide, and its occupation of
Azerbaijani lands. The border between them has been closed since 1993.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN FM PARTICIPATES IN THE 120TH SESSION OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE

ARMENPRESS
MAY 12, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan participated May 11 in Strasburg in the 120th session of
the Council of Europe Ministerial Committee. Foreign Ministry’s press
and information department told Armenpress that delegations of the 47
member countries of the Council of Europe, five observing countries
and international delegations took part in the session.

The agenda of the session included different issues on the activity of
the Council of Europe – reforms in the Council of Europe, Council of
Europe-EU cooperation, increase of efficiency of the European Court
of Human Rights, etc.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan delivered speech at the
event in which he expressed support of Armenia to the reforms in the
organization, noting that Armenia will continue active participation
in the activity of the organization. Edward Nalbandyan also referred
to the Karabakh conflict and Armenian-Turkish relations.

The Armenian foreign minister’s Strasburg agenda was full of bilateral
meetings. After arriving to Strasburg the minister met with the
Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland. The
parties discussed prospects of reforms in the Council of Europe,
referred to regional issues. The interlocutors also spoke about the
process on normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and efforts
toward settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

At the meeting of Edward Nalbandyan and Foreign Minister of Slovenia
Samuel Zbogar the parties discussed issues on fostering bilateral
relations, expansion of the legal-agreement, boosting of trade-economic
ties.

The ministers also discussed the preparatory works for the visit of
the President of Slovenia to Armenia in October of the running year.

The parties also exchanged thoughts over issues in the South Caucasian
region.

Wrapping up the visit to Strasburg the foreign minister traveled
to Brussels.
From: Baghdasarian

"HERITAGE" WILL MEET WITH M. CAVUSOGLU

Aysor
May 12 2010
Armenia

The Secretary of the "Heritage" party Larisa Alaverdyan informed
the journalists that their party has made up a decision to meet with
the Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,
Mevlut Cavusoglu.

M. Cavusoglu will be in Yerevan for two days. He is said to have
meetings with the NA parties.

"The negotiations are losing policy. If you avoid the meeting it means
you are the weak part and you are losing," explained Larisa Alaverdyan.

L. Alaverdayn also mentioned that according to the information
she has got the ARF has decided not to meet with the PACE chairman
explaining that Chavushoghlu is not the representative of the PACE
but the representative of Turkey.

"We should allow him to return and say that those coalitions who
haven’t met with him were against the protocols on establishment the
Armenian – Turkish relations," Alaverdyan said.
From: Baghdasarian

KARABAKH ISSUE — TEST FOR TURKISH-RUSSIAN PARTNERSHIP: HURRIYET

news.am
May 10 2010
Armenia

"If in the 1990s someone was to suggest that Turkish-Russian relations
could one day reach a level of strategic partnership it would have
likely induced uproarious laughter to listeners," reads an article
by Cem Oguz posted in Hurriyet Daily News.

The author says that Russia has so far considered Turkey a rival
and traditional enemy. However, since Vladimir Putin came to power,
economic interests have prevailed in Russia’s foreign policy, with
geopolitical ambitions replaced by geo-economical aspirations.

According to him, Turkey’s foreign policy underwent certain changes
as well. Presently, Ankara "is paying special attention to the Russia
factor in its foreign policy conduct." The countries realized that
bilateral cooperation is a prerequisite for stability, particularly
in the Caucasus where key issue is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement. Cem Oguz notes that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is high
on the agenda of President Medvedev’s visit to Turkey.

"In any strategic partnership, a common strategic vision is an
essential prerequisite. For the Turkish-Russian partnership the acid
test will ultimately be the Karabakh issue," the author concludes.
From: Baghdasarian

3 ARMENIAN CHESS PLAYERS TO PARTICIPATE IN U.S. CHAMPIONSHIP

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 10, 2010 – 14:07 AMT 09:07 GMT

Grandmasters Varuzhan Hakobyan, Melikset Khachiyan and international
master Levon Altunyan will participate in the U.S. Chess Championship
to be held in Saint Lious, Missouri, from May 14 to 25.

The championship will bring together 24 chess players, 20 of whom
are grandmasters.
From: Baghdasarian

news.am, Armenia
May 8 2010

Aliyev should accept that lost war: Sharmazanov

15:43 / 05/08/2010Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s back out from
participation in unofficial CIS leaders’ summit in Moscow and Azeri
Foreign Minister’s reluctance to meet with OSCE mediators in Brussels
will be a fall-out for Baku. It will lead to greater isolation of
Azerbaijan started after the criticism against Washington and Moscow,
RPA faction secretary Edward Sharmazanov told NEWS.am.

He deems that hysteric behavior of Azeri officials shows that Baku’s
nerves are shot. `Every year on May 8 ‘ the day when liberation of
Shushi is celebrated, Azeri authorities make inadequate and nervous
moves. However, Aliyev and Azerbaijani establishment should realize
that outcome of war cannot be reversed by presenting demarches. Aliyev
has to give up loser’s complex and tell his nation there was a war, we
lost and should accept that,’ Sharmazanov said.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev refused to attend the unofficial
CIS leaders’ summit reasoning it by participation of RA President.
`The main reason for such a step is that the persons who participated
in the occupation of Shusha, leads Armenia,’ NAP Deputy Chairman Ali
Ahmadov told Trend.

In his turn Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mammadyarov refused to meet with OSCE
MG Co-Chairs in Brussels on May 11-12 due to tight schedule.

A.G.
From: Baghdasarian

"WE CAN’T BE HOSTAGE FOREVER"

A1Plus.am
07/05/10

May 8 is Land Defender Day, but before that, "A1+" asked two questions
to head of the Land Defenders Volunteer Union, former deputy minister
of defense, General-Lieutenant Manvel Grigoryan.

"A1+": Recently, there are discussions on why people who haven’t
taken part in the war are joining the LDU. Are they trying to solve
some problem by doing that?

Manvel Grigoryan: Land defenders are the Armenian nation. They are all
those who are living in the homeland and involved in nation-building.

If you only mean those who were on the border by saying participation
in the war, there were no more than 20,000 people like that. Half of
20,000 didn’t take part in combat. They were the reserve.

But aren’t the people who were fighting for us land defenders? If
Armenians didn’t live with the slogan "Everything for the border,
the front and Artsakh", how would we win the war? How would we win
the war if citizens of Gyumri or Spitak, who had just experienced
an earthquake, were left homeless and faced social issues, left the
country and didn’t stay and make a contribution?

Those who participated in the war were those who stayed and lived
in Armenia and Artsakh during the difficult years. Aren’t the people
overseeing the border land defenders? Aren’t the veterans of the Great
Patriotic War land defenders? Aren’t the intellectuals who fought
and still fight through writing, the doctors who have cured and
cure disabled freedom fighters called land defenders? I repeat-all
Armenians are land defenders. Do you want to see LDU as merely an
organization that is fading away? Isn’t that too much for Armenia?

Do you think the war is over and that there will never be a threat
of a war? We tend to differ in opinion. We are guided by the slogan
"If you want peace, get ready for war". We believe that Armenia must
be ready for war at any second. Land defenders are the best type of
Armenians. They defend the country and live for Armenia’s problems
24 hours a day. Today we are preparing such people.

"A1+": Is your position or the position of LDU the same for the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement and the normalization of
Turkish-Armenian relations? Are you still radical?

M. G.: What else can we do? First, we are against linking both issues.

We have nothing to concede when it comes to Artsakh. The Turks started
a war against us, we imposed peace and the border that would guarantee
the security of Armenia and Artsakh and violating that is dangerous.

To lose every piece of land means to give Azerbaijan an advantage and
expand the border with Azerbaijan. That requires additional human,
financial and technical resources. As far as relations with Turkey
are concerned, we are not against normal relations, if that issue is
not linked to Karabaj and if we don’t forget the history and don’t
renounce international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, as well
as the demand for condemnation and compensation.

We can’t forgive the Turks for what they did as long as they haven’t
realized that and until they haven’t repented and begged forgiveness.

I must tell you that it is mandatory for us to match our legislation
and economic policies so that we will not suffer any losses in the
case of opening the border with Turkey. We can’t stay hostage to
Turkey’s clever diplomacy forever.
From: Baghdasarian