Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Vanadzor Chemical Plant waiting for new investor

by Marianna Lazarian

ARMINFO
Wednesday, September 3, 13:10

Idling Vanadzor Chemical Industry CJSC is negotiating with a new
investor for reactivation of the plant, Alexander Snegirev, Director
General of the Company, told ArmInfo.

He said that plant is idling for debts exceeding 4 bln drams. He said
these are debts for energy resources, to suppliers and arrears of
wages. The plant has 160 million arrears of wages, Snegirev said. “At
present, we are negotiating with the investor for the funds to pay
arrears of wages and reactivate the plant,” he said.

The plant has never worked consistently and regularly accumulated
debts. The company’s staff has been repeatedly rallying demanding
their wages lately. The last time, the workers held a protest action
in early August, when Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan visited the
plant. The prime minister said the plant is a private property and the
issue of wages is not within his competence. However, he promised, at
least, a month-salary to the workers. Quite recently, the workers
received salary for a month. It is noteworthy that the prime minister
could not name the owner of the company to reporters. So, it is not
clear where the funds were taken from to pay a month-salary to the
workers. A question arises as to whether the salary was paid from the
state budget and why the government redeems the debts of a private
company.

According to local media outlets, negotiations are held with a British
company for investments in Vanadzor Chemical Plant. Later, there were
reports on a Georgian investor. However, neither the new nor the
current shareholders of the plant are named.

It was reported earlier that in 2007, the shares of the Vanadzor
Chemical Plant were purchased for $25 million by Roding International
Limited, Russia. Recently, some media reported that the company’s
shares belong to a certain Galiana Kozlova.

From: Baghdasarian

Daily Sabah, Turkey
Sept 3 2014

ARMENIA’S FIRST TASK IS PEACE WITH AZERBAIJAN, ERDOÄ?AN SAYS

Daily Sabah

ISTANBUL ‘ Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey
will demand the fulfillment of promises given to Azerbaijan regarding
the region at the NATO summit to be held on Sept. 4-5. Erdogan, who
paid his second official visit as president to Azerbaijan in a show of
support for the neighboring country, arrived on Tuesday in Azerbaijan
for a two-day official visit where he held bilateral talks with his
Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev. Erdogan stated that the fulfillment of
promises is not a favor but a right for Azerbaijan. Erdogan told the
media that the two leaders held talks regarding the latest regional
and international developments along with further opportunities for
cooperation.

Erdogan pointed out that he and Aliyev compared notes over the
Nagora-Karabakh region under the scope of Azerbaijan’s indivisible
integrity. Erdogan will hold bilateral meetings with the heads of
state or government of the U.S., Germany, France, Spain, Italy and
Poland at the NATO summit.”

The issue that our brotherhood hit the top is, undoubtedly, the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue, so we brought this issue to the table as the
most important agenda topic,” ErdoÄ?an pointed out, vowing to show
Turkey’s continued support to Azerbaijan on all international
platforms. Reiterating that he will head to the NATO summit to be held
in Wales on Sept.5-6, ErdoÄ?an stated that Turkey will show its
determination over the Nagorno-Karabakh issue at the summit. “Let our
brotherhood walk to the future by strengthening,” he noted, and
stressed that relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey is the “legacy
of these countries ancestors.”

Later, ErdoÄ?an and Aliyev visited late Azeri President Haydar Aliyev’s
tomb. ErdoÄ?an, addressing the Azeri nation said, “You [Azeri people],
that even at the hardest time extended a helping hand to your brothers
[Turkish nation] [¦] are the architects of the unshakable relations
between our countries. Our relationship is based on such strong unity
and brotherhood.”

Highlighting that Turkey and Azerbaijan support each other on all
international platforms, Aliyev pointed out that they discussed ways
to enhance bilateral relations and keep those relations at the highest
level.Aliyev thanked his Turkish counterpart for supporting
Azerbaijan’s stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. “[Turkey’s support
on Armenian-Azerbaijani issue] is important to us [Azerbaijani
people]. Turkey always sides with Azerbaijan.

The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict is the biggest threat for the region.
Twenty percent of our land is under occupation. There are more than 1
million immigrants. The U.N. Security Council approved four articles
regarding the solution of the issue, but Armenia disregards these
verdicts and refuses to withdraw. This issue will be solved under a
legal framework,” added Aliyev. Regarding the 1915 Armenian incidents,
Aliyev, said that Azerbaijan always sides with Turkey. Azerbaijan
embassies and diaspora work in cooperation against the Armenian
government’s allegations.

On the eve of the 99th anniversary of the 1915 Armenian incidents,
ErdoÄ?an in April extended an olive branch to Armenia by releasing a
historic message related to the 1915 incidents in nine languages
including Turkish, Armenian, English and French. It was the first time
in the Republic of Turkey’s history that a leader delivered such a
message. Pointing out significant remarks in his message, ErdoÄ?an
said, “It is a duty of humanity to acknowledge that Armenians remember
the suffering experienced in that period, just like every other
citizen of the Ottoman Empire.”
He called for responsibility by saying, “The incidents of World War I
are our shared pain.

To evaluate this painful period of history through a perspective of
just memory is a humane and scholarly responsibility.”In April, as a
Turkish political tradition, ErdoÄ?an visited Azerbaijan directly after
the March 30 local elections resulted in a decisive victory for his
Justice and Development Party (AK Party). Meeting in Baku, the leaders
discussed various topics from large joint economic investments to the
Gülen Movement’s harmful actions in both countries.

In the meeting, ErdoÄ?an stressed that both governments should take
urgent steps to confront the movement and prevent it from spoiling
cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Aliyev confirmed that the
Azeri government is conducting an investigation into Gülenist
structures in his country.
The bilateral discussion between the two leaders, ErdoÄ?an brought a
file to the table focusing on Gülenists who infiltrated large joint
projects. As sources reported, the leaders agreed to take steps
against those infiltrators who could threaten the crucial and costly
projects. Both leaders acknowledged their confidence in one another
and the importance of close relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan.

From: Baghdasarian

EuroNews, EU
Sept 3 2014

Controversial topics at the 71st annual Venice Film Festival

Over the decades, the Venice Film Festival has earned a reputation for
tackling controversial, political and social issues head on… And this
year has been no exception.

The Cut

It was foreseeable that German-Turkish director Fatih Akin’s latest
film, ‘The Cut’, would cause a stir at the Festival.

The 1915 mass murder of the minority Armenians by the Ottomans is
still a hugely controversial subject, particularly in Turkey. Armenia
and a number of other states classify these events as genocide.

Akin said the way ‘The Cut’ was made meant that both groups could
“identify themselves with the hero of the film.”

“I tried to make a film where the part of the Turkish society who
acknowledge the Armenian genocide and those who deny it as a
genocide,” Akin said. “Both groups identify themselves with the hero
of the film; that was the purpose. And the dream was to reach a third
group, which are the Armenians: in Armenia, in Turkey and all over the
world… That they also, from the same film, they can grab something
that they can identify with. That the film somehow pleased these two
completely enemied groups.”

The film stars French-Algerian actor Tahar Rahim as an Armenian
blacksmith who travels the world in search of his two daughters. He
lost touch with them after the outbreak of systematic violence, which
would eventually claim the lives of an estimated 1.5 million
Armenians.

‘Far From Men’

It was a melting pot of cultures on the red carpet in Venice.
Danish-American actor, poet, musician, photographer and painter Viggo
Mortensen could be seen alongside Reda Kateb, a French actor with
Algerian origins.

The two star in ‘Far From Men’, French director David Oelhoffen’s
adaptation of the Albert Camus novel ‘The Guest’.

Set in the 1950s, at the beginning of the Algerian War, the film tells
the story of a French former army major (Mortensen) who is now
teaching in a remote part of the Atlas Mountains.

He is forced to take a life-or-death desert trek with an Arab villager
(Kateb), who has been accused of murder. Their journey together
enables them to overcome cultural distrust and they learn to rely on
one another. Pursued by vengeful settlers, the two men decide to
confront the unknown. Together, they fight to gain their freedom

Mortensen’s rise to fame came in the early 2000s with his role as
Aragorn in ‘The Lord of the Rings’. He also won critical acclaim for
three films he made with David Cronenberg.

Reda Kateb, who featured in Kathryn Bigelow’s ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ – a
film about the killing of Osama Bin Laden – was nominated five times
for an Oscar in 2013

‘Far From Men’ is in the official competition at Venice.

From: Baghdasarian

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 3 2014

Can Armenia expand presence on Russian markets?

3 September 2014 – 2:02pm
By Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza

Russia has opened the doors of its huge market to countries that were
not involved in exchange of sanctions between the West and Russia. The
countries, one of which is Armenia, have found new opportunities and
favourable conditions to make use of new commercial advantages and
stimulate exports.

A large group of entrepreneurs has taken part in recent talks in
Yerevan about organizing exports in the context of the new conditions.
Prime Minister Ovik Abramyan said that the government was ready to
provide all the necessary financial and organizing assistance to
businessmen willing to export products to Russia. Agriculture Minister
Sergo Karapetyan assured that Armenia could double exports to Russia:
“In various years since Soviet times, we have been exporting up to
70-75% of our fruit and vegetable products to Russia.”

Proper and timely use of opportunities will have a positive impact on
both the economy and the social sector of Armenia. The multi-faceted
nature of the commercial sector includes such important parameters as
correlation of exports and imports, the state of production and
financial potential, the level of investments, etc. In this aspect, it
is worth analyzing the readiness of Armenia for the new opportunities.

In the last two years, the level of investment in the country’s
economy has basically turned into foreign injections. One of the
reasons for that is imitation of reforms. The IMF has pointed out the
need for reforms. Another essential problem hindering an appropriate
and timely reaction to the new situation is imports exceeding exports
by about $3 billion. The great transcendence of imports over exports
is one of the key problems of the Armenian economy.

Samson Avetyan, an economist and founder of the Arrow Global
investment company, believes that the governmental debt of Armenia and
emigration have increased because the country imported more than it
exported in the past few years. “Armenia, in terms of exports, has no
diversity and, in this case, it cannot develop the agricultural sector
and the IT sector alone. If we want to export to Russia, we will need
big volumes. Quaere, do we have such volumes?” says Avetyan.

Gagik Makaryan, the head of the Union of Employers of Armenia,
supposes that processing factories are operating at a load of 50% or
25%. Some economists are confident that Armenia may boost production
of agricultural products but it needs infrastructure for processing,
storage and logistics. The volumes of canned food, juice and wine
produced in Azerbaijan can be tripled; consequently, Armenia will
become a major exporting state. However, other economists consider
such optimism hasty and unjustified. “Russia’s ban on imports of
European goods does not mean that Armenia has such amazing
opportunities to flood the Russian market with its products.
Approaches toward the issue could be more serious and realistic. We
should have thought about the problem of assisting national
manufacturers earlier, including in exports, instead of waiting for a
lucky chance, in other words, the response to sanctions by Russia
against the West, to use it,” speculates economist Vardan Bostanjian.

Armenia will probably make use of the benefits offered, although the
country was unprepared for the sudden favourable conditions.

From: Baghdasarian

Titizian, Kendirjian Move Into SARF Leadership Roles

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014

SARF Executive Committee’s newly-elected officers: Chairman John
Titizian (left) and Vice-Chairman Raffi Kendirjian

Reception Honors Zaven Khanjian

GLENDALE–The Syrian Armenian Relief Fund (SARF) Executive Committee
announced on Wednesday its election of new officers to head the
organization. John Titizian was elected Chairman and Raffi Kendirjian
was elected Vice-Chairman.

Zaven Khanjian, the outgoing Chairman of the Executive Committee,
presided over his last Executive Committee meeting on Aug. 30, when
new officers were elected. Since its inception in August 2012, in
response to deteriorating living conditions of Armenians in Syria,
SARF, under the leadership of Khanjian, raised and transferred to
Syria more than $1 million for use in humanitarian relief and to meet
immediate needs of Syrian Armenians. Khanjian had submitted his
resignation from the SARF Executive Committee due to his appointment
as the Executive Director/CEO of the Armenian Missionary Association
of America. Although this position requires him to relocate to New
Jersey, Khanjian pledged his continued support to SARF’s mission.

In his inaugural address to the Executive Committee, John Titizian
expressed his appreciation for the work performed by SARF during the
past two years, outlined his commitment to SARF’s mission and pledged
to continue the vigorous fundraising work undertaken by the Executive
Committee.

Outgoing chairman Zaven Khanjian (center) with the SARF Executive Committee

Raffi Kendirjian, in his part, stressed on the need to continue the
assistance to Syrian Armenians since the conditions in Syria have not
improved in the past two years.

The election of new officers of the Executive Committee was completed
with the re-election of Sona Madarian as Secretary and Meher Der
Ohanessian as Treasurer.

A reception to honor Zaven Khanjian was held at Kavar Restaurant on
August 20, with the participation of about 30 executive and supporting
committee members and press representatives.

On behalf of the SARF Executive Committee, Ara Arayon, the Vice
Chairman at the time, presented Khanjian with a memento, and Armenian
Relief Society of Western USA, Regional Executive Co-Chairperson
Rebecca Berberian presented Khanjian with a plaque in appreciation of
his efforts.

Many of those who were present, made heartfelt remarks about their
appreciation for Khanjian’s vision, dedication and leadership during
which SARF persevered despite many challenges, bringing and focusing
the efforts of various community organizations and the public and
raising funds for the Armenians of Syria. Khanjian reciprocated their
praise, and reaffirmed his desire to continue to help those in need.

SARF continues to accept contributions. One of the latest
contributions was a $10,000 donation from the proceeds of the “Bashde
LA 2014,” which was a concert held on July 12 at the Christian
Outreach for Armenians Center in Glendale, Calif.

Please continue to make your contributions to SARF by mailing your
check to: P.O. Box 1948, Glendale, CA 91209-1948; or donate online at

The following churches, charities and organizations came together to
form the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund in August 2012: Armenian Catholic
Eparchy in North America; Armenian Evangelical Union of North America;
Western Diocese of the Armenian Church; Western Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America; Armenian General Benevolent
Union; Armenian Missionary Association of America; Armenian Relief
Society of Western U.S.A.; Armenian Democratic Liberal Party; Armenian
Revolutionary Federation-Western U.S.A.; and Social Democrat
Hunchakian Party-Western U.S.A.

From: Baghdasarian

Daily Sabah, Turkey
Sept 4 2014

ALIYEV: ARMENIAN OCCUPATION CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

AA

BAKU — The armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the South
Caucasus region of Nagorno-Karabakh will be resolved within the
framework of international law, according to the President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. “The armed conflict over the occupation of
Armenia is the utmost threat in the region,” said Aliyev, at a joint
press conference Wednesday held together with Turkish President
ErdoÄŸan, during the latter’s two-day official visit to the country.

Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan but it has been under the
control of Armenian soldiers since the end of the Nagorno-Karabakh War
between 1988 and 1994. There are still ongoing military confrontations
between ethnic Azeris and Armenians in the region.

“Armenia holds control of 20 percent of our land. About one million
have been displaced as a result of this occupation,” Aliyev said.

“The United Nations Security Council adopted four resolutions
regarding the issue, but Armenia disregards them and does not withdraw
its forces from Nagorno-Karabakh. This issue will be resolved within
the framework of international laws.”

Aliyev thanked Turkey for its ever-lasting support to Azerbaijan’s
long-simmering case and said, “Turkey’s stand on this issue is very
important for us.”

From: Baghdasarian

Hindustan Times, India
Sept 4 2014

I feel responsible for this dark chapter in Turkish history: Fatih
Akin on The Cut

Gautaman Bhaskaran,
Hindustan Times Venice, September 04, 2014

Moviemaker Fatih Akin, born to Turkish parents, lives in Germany. His
latest work, The Cut, just screened at the 71st edition of the Venice
International Film Festival, which is now on. The final part of a
trilogy, called Love, Death and the Devil, The Cut tackles the 1915
Armenian genocide that took place in the Ottoman Empire and in which
1.5 million men, women and children died.

Akin’s hero in The Cut is Nazaret, played by that brilliant
French-Algerian actor, Tahar Rahim (A Prophet), who is separated from
his wife and two twin daughters and forced into back-breaking labour.
Years later, when World War I ends, Nazaret, travels from country to
country, continent to continent trying to find his lost family. His
journey takes him to Germany, Cuba, Malta and the US.

Moviemaker Fatih Akin, born to Turkish parents, lives in Germany. His
latest work, The Cut, just screened at the 71st edition of the Venice
International Film Festival, which is now on. The final part of a
trilogy, called Love, Death and the Devil, The Cut tackles the 1915
Armenian genocide that took place in the Ottoman Empire and in which
1.5 million men, women and children died.

Akin’s hero in The Cut is Nazaret, played by that brilliant
French-Algerian actor, Tahar Rahim (A Prophet), who is separated from
his wife and two twin daughters and forced into back-breaking labour.
Years later, when World War I ends, Nazaret, travels from country to
country, continent to continent trying to find his lost family. His
journey takes him to Germany, Cuba, Malta and the US.

The Cut is a very personal film for Akin, because “I feel responsible
for this dark chapter in Turkish history. Mind you the genocide
happened with Germany witnessing it. I am Turkish and I now live in
Germany, and these make me in some way responsible for the terrible
episode.”

What really disturbed Akin for many, many years was that nothing was
spoken about the genocide, nothing written, and people, including his
family, lived as if nothing ever happened in 1915. “Others may or may
not agree with me – and this includes my own father — but I call it
genocide. The greatest challenge for me, therefore, was to try and
make a movie that will convince my father. So The Cut is very personal
for me,” Akin avers.

Yes, but what about the young people in Turkey. Do they admit that it
was indeed a genocide? Do they at all care? “I think they do. A civil
movement began in 2007 following the murder of the Armenian
journalist, Hrant Dink, by a teenage Turkish nationalist, and a lot of
young people are part of this movement. They stage plays, write
articles, organise debates and discussions – all in to order to set
right a wrong. All this is pushing Ankara to agree that there was a
massacre of Armenians. My film can be seen as part of this movement,
although I am not a part of it. I have not spearheaded it in any sort
of way.”

Is there regret, even vague regret in Turkey? Akin says that there is
no regret – as of now – but there is reflection. “Everything begins
with reflection… This is human psychology. If there is a trauma,
reflection is the first step towards reconciliation and admittance and
solution.”

Akin adds, “We are a result of our past. We have to put our past in
order. Otherwise there will not be any peace in the present. This is
why there is so much of problem in the Middle East.”

For Akin, The Cut is not only about trying to use cinema as one step
towards helping people realise the horrendous crimes they could have
committed, but also a “personal journey” through the kind of movies he
loved, Westerns especially, and the directors he has always admired.
The work of Elia Kazan’s America, America, that of Sergio Leone (the
way he framed his shots) and those of Martin Scorsese have deeply
influenced his craft. “I wrote The Cut with Mardik Martin, who also
penned Scorsese’s Mean Street and the first draft of Raging Bull.
Martin is an Armenian.”

Akin researched for almost seven years for The Cut and found the
diaries of many Armenians who migrated to Havana in the early 1920s,
and the diaries contained elaborate details about death camps and
death marches. Armenian women and children were forced to walk without
food and water to the Syrian desert, and most of them died. Men were
conscripted into the army or had to do build roads with very little
nourishment.

From: Baghdasarian

Huffington Post
Sept 4 2014

Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Through War or Peace

Claude Salhani, Journalist and political analyst

Armenia and Azerbaijan, who are in a state of war despite a ceasefire,
have three options on how to approach the stalemated conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh, a dispute that lasted more than two decades.

Each option comes with a sour pill, as there is no magic solution. But
such is the reality of trying to find a peaceful resolution to a
bloody conflict.

The two sides can agree to disagree and continue with the status quo.
They can continue to exchange gunfire and mortar rounds on a daily and
nightly basis and to lob rhetoric and insults at each other. There are
both advantages and setbacks with this option. The advantage goes to
Armenia — at least in the initial stage — as it gets to keep all the
occupied lands — 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory — that it
grabbed when the Soviet Union broke up. This, however, is a very
shortsighted option, as it lays down the groundwork for a potential
military escalation down the road. At some point in time, Baku might
feel it has no other option.

Unwanted as it may be, a military confrontation might seem as the only
solution. Two new factors that Yerevan may want to consider: the
election of Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the Turkish presidency, and the
nomination of Ahmet Davutoglu to the post of prime minister. The two
men are staunch supporters of Azerbaijan and have vowed to support
Baku in its efforts to reclaim the occupied territories. Turkey has
closed its borders with Armenia in solidarity with Azerbaijan.

Armenia, in spite of its many domestic headaches and internal
economic, political and social ills may feel somewhat untouchable
while under Russian protection as it is currently. But that can change
at a moment’s notice if Russia becomes too preoccupied in another
conflict, such as in Ukraine. This would leave Armenia vulnerable and
out in the cold.

The second option is a military one and while Azerbaijan would
undoubtedly have military superiority, there are great risks involved
in embarking on a military campaign as the final outcome is always
unpredictable and could lead to a regional conflagration.

That leaves the third and only real viable option: dialogue and a
peaceful resolution. While this be the smartest solution to follow, it
will also be the most difficult, as it would involve having to talk to
one’s enemies.

A conflict by its very nature is usually not a pleasant experience.
And a conflict such as the one in Nagorno-Karabakh, that carries with
it heavy baggage in the form of hatred of the other, given the history
of violence and bloodshed that has tainted this land.

But in order for any dialogue to take place there needs to be a
starting point where the two sides can begin to meet and to exchange
their views. That is difficult to happen when the antagonists continue
to exchange fire along the line of separation and in strong worded
communiqués.

“The rhetoric that we have been hearing on both sides has not been
encouraging, as it only exacerbates and polarizes different
positions,” Irfan Siddiq, Britain’s ambassador to Baku told AzerNews
newspaper on Thursday.

“It increases hatred of the other and what we need in this time is
understanding of the other. I know this is a difficult thing to ask
for in this heated environment when people say why should we
understand people who kill our neighbors and take our land, but for
there to be any resolution that is what will be required, and its what
we have seen through history,” the ambassador said.

From: Baghdasarian

U.S. brings Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders together at NATO summit

by Emil Sanamyan
Published: Thursday September 04, 2014

Kerry with presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Official photo

Related Articles

Official: US-Armenia security cooperation will survive Russia-Ukraine crisis

Congress members charge Aliyev regime with Karabakh escalation

Karabakh death toll mounts in tit-for-tat attacks

WASHINGTON – Amid a deteriorating security situation in Ukraine and
the Middle East, Secretary of State John Kerry organized a trilateral
meeting with Ilham Aliyev and Serge Sargsyan, as the two attended the
NATO Summit in Cardiff, Wales on September 4, the Armenian president’s
officereported.

In what was the first such meeting since former Secretary of State
Colin Powell mediated between then presidents Heydar Aliyev and Robert
Kocharian, Kerry emphasized, yet again, that the Karabakh conflict
could only have a peaceful resolution and urged the sides to find ways
to reduce tensions.

In late July – early August, at least seven Armenian and seventeen
Azerbaijani servicemen were killed in direct combat, raids or sniper
attacks in Karabakh. Tensions reduced ahead of the trilateral meeting
with the Russian president Vladimir Putin on August 9 in Sochi. No new
fatal incidents have been reported on the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of
contact since then.

Meantime, tensions between Russia and the West over Russian military
operations in Ukraine have been escalating since February and are at
their worst since the 1980s. The fighting between Ukrainian forces and
pro-Russian rebels in the east of the country directly backed by the
Russian military have left close to 3000 people dead.

In such an environment, the on-again, off-again negotiations over
Karabakh might effectively return to the two-track approach that
existed before 1997, when Russia, on the one hand, and U.S. and
European states pursued separate, although occasionally overlapping,
mediation missions.

Media reports suggested that an Armenian-Azerbaijani summit may soon
be organized by the French president Francois Hollande.

NATO and Karabakh

In his remarks earlier in the day, the Armenian president called on
NATO to endorse the neutral language with regard to the Karabakh peace
process, developed by the Minsk Group co-chairs – France, Russia and
the United States – and resist lobbying from one of its members –
presumably Turkey – for language that leans more in favor of
Azerbaijan.

The latter approach, Sargsyan said, is tantamount to a “silent
approval of xenophobia, militaristic rhetoric and all future
provocations [on the Line of Contact], resulting in the loss of life,
which Azerbaijan is provoking with such ease and no regard for the
lives of its own soldiers.”

Sargsyan declined to go to the previous NATO summits held in Chicago
in 2012 and Lisbon in 2010, citing its statements that emphasized
“territorial integrity” in post-Soviet conflict resolution. But the
non-attendance was also seen as Armenia’s deference to Russia, whose
leader has also shunned them.

Tevan Poghosyan, a parliament member for the opposition Heritage party
who has long worked to promote Armenia-NATO ties, approved of the
president’s presence at the latest summit.

“Armenia must first of all be guided by its own interests, rather than
be looking out for the reactions of others,” Poghosyan told the RFE/RL
Armenian Service and pointed to the growing Armenian-NATO cooperation
over the last decade.

Last month, Armenia’s deputy defense minister David Tonoyan similarly
emphasized continued military cooperation with the United States,
while on a visit to Washington.

,96B516-3480-11E4-BF4900155D008B1E

From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
ARS of Western USA, Inc.
Regional Office
517 W. Glenoaks Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91202-2812
Tel: 818-500-1343
Fax: 818-242-3732
Email: [email protected]
Web:
FB:

Gars Chapter of Santa Monica Becomes the 17th ARS One-Day School

ARS Chapters operate one-day schools usually held on Fridays or
Saturdays. These schools teach reading, writing and speaking the
Armenian language, along with Armenian history and culture. The
programs may include music and dance classes, in addition to
incorporating art into the curriculum. At most schools, registration
continues following the initial registration period.

This year, the ARS Gars Chapter of Santa Monica, after 16 years of not
holding classes, will reopen the school on Friday, October 3, 2014, at
3:45p.m., at Lincoln Middle School in Santa Monica, Calif. The chapter
operated a Saturday School from 1986 through 1998.

The ARS Shoushi Chapter Saturday School classrooms in Las Vegas were
equipped with white boards to enhance the students’ learning
experience.

Below is the list of ARS school reopening dates and addresses (check
our website () for
details):

ARS Anahid Chapter ` San Fernando Valley

Back to School: Saturday, September 6, 2014; Hours: 10:00 a.m. –
1:00p.m.

Holy Martyrs Arm. Elementary & Ferrahian High School,5300 White Oak
Ave., Encino, CA 91316

ARS Ararat Chapter – Phoenix

Back to School: Saturday, September 6, 2014; Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00
p.m.

Armenian Center,13047 N. Cave Creek Rd.Phoenix, AZ 85022

ARS Arax Chapter ` Torrance

Back to School: Friday, September 12, 2014; Hours: 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Armenian Center, 2222 Lomita Blvd., Lomita, CA 90505

ARS Arpi Chapter ` Diamond Bar

Back to School: Saturday, September 27, 2014; Hours: 9:00 a.m. –
12:00p.m.

1414 Blenbury Dr., Diamond Bar, CA 91765

ARS Erepouni Chapter ` Oakland

Back to School: Friday, September 12, 2014; Hours: 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Trinity Lutheran Church,2317 Buena Vista Ave., Walnut Creek, CA 94597

ARS Gars Chapter ` Santa Monica

Back to School: Friday, October 3, 2014; Hours 3:45 p.m. ` 6:30 p.m.

Lincoln Middle School,1501 California Ave. Santa Monica, CA 90403

ARS Karni Chapter ` S. Orange County

Back to School: Friday, September 5, 2014; Hours: 6:00 p.m. to
8:30p.m.; School schedule: TBD

Christ Community Church of Laguna Hills,25382 Mackenzi St., Laguna
Niguel, CA 92653

ARS Lori Chapter – N. San Fernando Valley

Registration: Saturday, September 6, 2014; Hours 10:00 a.m. `
12:00p.m.

Back to School: Saturday, September 13, 2014; Hours: 10:00 a.m. –
1:00p.m.

17422 Chatsworth Street, Granada Hills, CA 91344

ARS Mayr Hollywood Chapter

Back to School: Saturday, September 6, 2014; Hours: 10:00 a.m. –
1:00p.m.

Rose & Alex Pilibos Armenian School,1615 N. Alexandria Ave.,
Hollywood, CA 90027

ARS Meghry Chapter ` North Hollywood

Back to School: Saturday, September 6, 2014; Hours: 9:30 a.m. –
12:30p.m.

Saint Paul Assyrian-Chaldean Catholic Church,13050 Vanowen St., North
Hollywood, CA91605

ARS Nairy Chapter ` Montebello

Registration: Saturday, September 13, 2014; Hours: 10:00 a.m. –
1:00p.m.

Back to School: Saturday, September 20, 2014; Hours: 10:00 a.m. –
1:00p.m.

Mesrobian Armenian School,8420 Beverly Rd., Pico Rivera, CA 90660

ARS Sepan Chapter ` Glendale

Back to School: Saturday, September 6, 2014; Hours: 10:00 a.m. –
1:00p.m.

Glendale Youth Center,211 W. Chestnut Ave. #201, Glendale, CA, 91204

ARS Sevan Chapter ` Orange County

Back to School: Saturday, September 6, 2014; Hours: 9:30 a.m. –
1:00p.m.

Ari Guiragos Minassian Armenian School,5315 W. McFadden Ave., Santa
Ana, CA 92704

ARS Shoushi Chapter ` Las Vegas

Back to School: Saturday, September 7, 2014; Hours: 10:00 a.m. –
1:00p.m.

St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church,2054 E. Desert Inn Rd., Las
Vegas, NV 89169

ARS Sophia Chapter ` Fresno

Back to School: Saturday, September 6, 2014; Hours: 10:00 a.m. –
12:00p.m.

Holy Trinity Arm. Apostolic Church,2226 Ventura St., Fresno, CA 93721

ARS Sosse Chapter – Pasadena

Back to School: Monday, August 18, 2014; Hours: 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Webster Elementary School,2101 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91104

ARS Talin Chapter ` La Crescenta

Registration: Saturday, September 6, 2014; Hours: 10:00 a.m. –
1:00p.m.

Back to School: Saturday, September 13, 2014; Hours: 10:00 a.m. `
1:00p.m.

La Crescenta Armenian Center,2633 Honolulu Ave., Montrose, CA 91020

For contact information, please check our website LINK
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Armenian Relief Society of Western USA, Regional Executive

Upcoming Chapter Events

Check out our upcoming chapter event details on our website
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ARS Anahid Chapter of San Fernando Valley, Calif. will hold a Mezza
Night on Friday, September 12, 2014, at 7 p.m., at Ferrahian High
School’s courtyard, 5300 White Oak Ave., Encino, Calif. Entertainment
is being provided by Arshag Khentirian.

The ARS Ararat Chapter in Arizona will celebrate Armenia’s
Independence Day by holding a Dinner Dance on Saturday, September 20,
2014, at 7 p.m., at Melikian Hall, 8849 E. Cholla St., Scottsdale, AZ
85260. Singer Gagik Badalyan will provide entertainment.

The ARS Araz Chapter in Burbank will host a luncheon on Sunday,
September 21, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the ARS Regional Headquarters, 517
W. Glenoaks Blvd. Glendale, CA 91202, in celebration of the addition
of six new members to the chapter.

The ARS Oakland Erepouni Chapter will hold an Art & Wine Program in
support of Armenian Genocide Centennial projects on Sunday, September
28, 2014, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., hosted by Dr. & Mrs. Roupen and Lara
Haroupian in Orinda, Calif.

The ARS South Bay Arax Chapter will be hosting a 50th Anniversary Gala
on Saturday, November 1, 2014, at the Double Tree Hotel, 21333
Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, Calif. Entertainment will be provided by the
Hosharian Brothers Band.

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517 W. Glenoaks Blvd. | Glendale, CA 91202-2812 US
Phone: (818) 500-1343 | Fax: (818) 242-3732
Website:
Email: [email protected]

From: Baghdasarian