Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN HOSTS PRESIDENTS OF ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES FROM DIFFERENT STATES

18:05 16.10.2013

President Serzh Sargsyan received today the Presidents of the Academies
of Sciences from different states, who have arrived to Armenia to
participate in the celebrations dedicated to the 70th anniversary of
the RA National Academy of Sciences.

The President of Armenia welcomed the renowned scientists to Armenia,
expressed gratitude for their participation in the events dedicated to
the jubilee of the establishment of the Armenian National Academy of
Sciences. Serzh Sargsyan hailed glorious activities of the 70-year
old National Academy of Armenia and underscored that for decades
our scientists have been bringing their considerable input to the
development of science as well as social and economic advancement of
Armenia. He expressed hope that scientists of the RA NAS will continue
their important work with dedication, every year augmenting their
ranks with young scientists without whom, according to the President
of Armenia, science doesn’t have prospects for development.

The President conditioned current achievements of the Academy also
by the active international cooperation. He said that it would
be difficult to imagine development of science corresponding to
contemporary demands without such cooperation. The President stressed
the importance of cooperation in the bilateral format as well as in
the framework of international programs and different organizations.

The pan-European Association of the National Science Academies,
which unites over forty countries including Armenia, is one of the
best examples of such cooperation.

At the meeting, the President of the RA NAS Radik Martirossian
expressed gratitude to the President of Armenia for the constant
attention of the state, for the assistance and encouragement extended
to the scientists, especially the young ones.

Presidents of the Academies present at the meeting conversed with
President Sargsyan about the current challenges existing in the area of
science, possibilities to address them and the prospects of scientific
development. They too stressed the importance of the active cooperation
of the Academies, and at the same time highly valued their efficient
and years-long cooperation with the Armenian Academy of Sciences. The
scientists spoke with admiration about state assistance provided to
the RA Academy of Sciences, appreciation of the scientists’ work and
efforts aimed at the development of science in Armenia.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Serzh Sargsyan invited the celebrated
scientists to participate and honor with their attendance the official
ceremony of awarding RA Presidential awards in the area of information
technologies for 2013 which was to be held at the Presidential Palace
right after the President’s meeting with the scientists and to use
the opportunity to communicate with the gifted Armenian schoolchildren
and students and tell them the words of encouragement.

The scientists accepted with pleasure the offer of the President to
take part in the event.

From: Baghdasarian

ARCHAEOLOGISTS DISCOVER ANCIENT ARCHIVES IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF GREATER ARMENIA

by Karina Manukyan

Wednesday, October 16, 16:54

Archaeologists have discovered ancient archives during the excavation
in Artashat, the capital city of Greater Armenia.

Pavel Avetisyan, Director of the Institute of Archeology and
Ethnography of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, has told
ArmInfo that during the previous excavations two archives dating back
to I and II centuries BC were found. The third archive has been found
this year near an ancient bathhouse of the Roman type.

The archive contains exclusive information about the late period of
the capital Artashat.

Artashat, the capital of Greater Armenia, was founded in Ararat Valley
by King Artashes. Historians mention various dates of its foundation.

Most of the experts say that Artashat was founded in 176 BC. Romans
called Artashat an Armenian Carthage and considered Hannibal to be
its founder.

From: Baghdasarian

DISAPPOINTING ITALY HELD BY ARMENIA

Four Four Two, Australia
Oct 16 2013

By Omnisport EditorialOct 16 2013 08:24 Italy finished off their
FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign with a disappointing 2-2 home draw
with Armenia.

Yura Movsisyan gave the visitors the perfect start in the fifth minute,
only to see Alessandro Florenzi equalise with a header midway through
the first half.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan gave Armenia the lead for a second time in the 70th
minute, before substitute Mario Balotelli preserved Italy’s unbeaten
record in Group B six minutes later.

With qualification already assured, Cesare Prandelli made nine changes
from the side that drew 2-2 in Denmark on Friday, with Pablo Osvaldo
and Riccardo Montolivo the only men to keep their place.

Armenia coach Vardan Minasyan made two alterations from the 2-1 home
victory over Bulgaria, as Varazdat Haroyan and Artur Yedigaryan came
in for Artur Sarkisov and Kamo Hovhannisyan.

Movsisyan gave the visitors a dream start in the fifth minute as
the Italians surrendered possession on the edge of their own box,
the striker clipping the ball over the lunge of Davide Astori before
drilling the ball low and hard across Federico Marchetti into the
corner.

Osvaldo had a chance to equalise six minutes later after turning
smartly in the box, but the Southampton forward curled his left-footed
shot wide of the post.

Ten minutes later, he wasted an even better chance after Lorenzo
Insigne struck a post from 25 yards, the ball rebounded kindly for
the forward, but his tame effort was straight into the arms of Roman
Berezovsky with the goal gaping.

The equaliser was not long in coming however, Florenzi nodding home
Insigne’s delightful chipped cross from six yards in the 24th minute.

Insigne was proving the hosts’ main threat and almost put his side in
front in the 35th minute, deceiving Hrayr Mkoyan with a quick turn in
the box before curling his shot narrowly wide of the right hand post.

After a quiet opening to the second half, it was Insigne who posed
the danger once again in the 58th minute, driving into the box before
bringing a good save from Berezovsky at his near post.

The Napoli man was in the action again three minutes later, running
on to Balotelli’s pass on the edge of the box, but he scuffed his
effort and the goalkeeper made a comfortable save.

With 20 minutes to go, Mkhitaryan headed Gevorg Ghazaryan’s left wing
corner in off the crossbar and suddenly Italy’s record of never having
lost a home World Cup qualifier was under threat.

However, their blushes were spared somewhat as Balotelli ran on to
Andrea Pirlo’s pass and hooked the ball in.

Haroyan should have claimed a famous winner for his side with 10
minutes to go, but the defender sent his free header over from
eight yards.

Balotelli dragged a shot marginally wide in stoppage time as both
sides had to settle for a draw.

,disappointing-italy-held-by-armenia.aspx

From: Baghdasarian

EXPERIMENTAL ITALY SUFFERED AGAINST ARMENIA

Soccerly
Oct 15 2013

Mario Balotelli came off the bench to save Italy’s blushes in a 2-2
draw with Armenia which threatened to end in the hosts’ first defeat
of a successful World Cup qualifying campaign on Tuesday.

Four-time champions Italy had qualified for Brazil 2014 with two
games to spare but four days after a 2-2 draw away to Denmark,
Cesare Prandelli’s men looked to be heading for a first Group B
defeat until Balotelli’s late leveler. Armenia, who were battling
for a possible runner-up finish, started brightly and took a shock
lead at the San Paolo.

Two minutes after pouncing on a mistake by Davide Astori, Armenia
striker Yura Movsisyan intercepted an Alberto Aquilani back pass
towards Astori to run through on goal and beat number two Italy ‘keeper
Federico Marchetti. Alessandro Florenzi leveled for the hosts when he
found a gap in the Armenia defense to coolly head Lorenzo Insigne’s
cross from the left past Roman Berezovskiy on 24 minutes.

A largely experimental Italy were creating plenty up front, but
leaving gaping holes at the back. Marchetti was given warning again
when Henrikh Mkhitaryan burst past Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci
only to send his effort across the face of goal and the Italy keeper
then had to smothered Aras Ozbiliz’s effort.

Insigne was the first Napoli player to represent Italy at the Serie
A club’s home ground in 23 years and came close to capping that
achievement with a stunning goal at the end of the half. He left his
marker behind with a cool backheel flick which he drove towards the
far post, only for his effort to go just wide, then saw a spectacular
volley go just off target.

Balotelli replaced Pablo Osvaldo ten minutes after the restart and
did well to set up Insigne, with Berezovskiy parrying the Napoli
forward’s effort.

Italy’s defense finally collapsed in the 70th minute when Henrikh
Mkhitaryan powered a header past Marchetti and saw the ball bounce
off the crossbar and goalline to give Armenia a 2-1 lead.

Prandelli replaced Aquilani with Giuseppe Rossi on 70 minutes to hand
the Fiorentina striker his first cap since October 2011.

Minutes later Balotelli turned on Andrea Pirlo’s weighted pass from
midfield to beat Berezovskiy and hand Italy a lifeline. Balotelli sent
a rasping drive just wide of the Berezovskiy’s goal on 82 minutes and
had the ball in the net minutes later after heading home Insigne’s
cross, only for it to be chalked off for an infringement moments
earlier. In the final minute of injury time Balotelli had the fans
on their feet when he held off several defenders on a long run into
the area, only to see his angled shot go under Berezovskiy and inches
past the keeper’s far post.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA HOLD ERROR-PRONE AZZURRI

Football Italia
Oct 15 2013

By Football Italia staff

Alessandro Florenzi and Mario Balotelli had to fight back twice for
Italy’s 2-2 draw with Armenia, which concludes World Cup qualifying.

The Azzurri were already qualified for the World Cup, but a win would
guarantee top seed status in the Finals draw. Now they’ll have to
wait for South American results.

Gigi Buffon was rested and Daniele De Rossi injured, while the
experiments continued in defence. Lorenzo Insigne started in his
hometown stadium, the San Paolo in Naples, but there were only two
remaining from the XI that drew 2-2 with Denmark on Friday. Cesare
Prandelli’s men are unbeaten in their last 39 European and World Cup
qualifiers, winning 11 on the trot at home. They won 3-1 in Armenia
in October 2012, the only previous meeting between these nations.

Armenia had the chance to go second in the group during this final
match and nearly scored after three minutes when Yura Movsisyan
pounced on a Davide Astori error on the edge of the box.

It was only a warning, as moments later Movsisyan intercepted another
poor Alberto Aquilani backpass for Astori and ran into the box via
a huge gap in the defence, placing his angled drive across Federico
Marchetti.

Dani Osvaldo horribly wasted a good opportunity by curling well wide
from 12 yards after a Riccardo Montolivo through ball, but Karlen
Lazarian blasted over when the Italy defence was again torn apart
with no protection from the midfield.

Insigne got down the left with good work only for Aquilani to balloon
off target from the edge of the box. The first Napoli player to
represent Italy at the San Paolo in 23 years had a fantastic scoring
opportunity, as his snapshot from the edge of the area cracked against
the upright and the goalkeeper somehow kept it out, blocking Osvaldo’s
follow-up.

Italy equalised with a well-worked move. Osvaldo harried a defender
into giving up possession, Insigne chipped a cross up and Roma’s
Alessandro Florenzi rose above Robert Arzumanyan to nod in at the
near post. It was the 22-year-old’s debut senior Italy goal at the
fourth cap.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan burst past Leonardo Bonucci only to drag his shot
across the face of goal, while Marchetti smothered an Aras Ozbiliz
effort.

Insigne almost scored an absolutely stunning goal in his home town,
as he had his back to goal down the left when he left a defender for
dead with a backheel flick and immediately smashed an angled drive
inches past the far post. Moments later he attempted a spectacular
volley from Ignazio Abate’s cross that wasn’t far off target.

Before the break Insigne fired at the goalkeeper, while Marchetti
had to sprint off his line to clear from a weak Abate backpass.

Mario Balotelli replaced Osvaldo and immediately set up Insigne for
a shot parried at the near post, then the Napoli starlet returned
the favour for a scuffed finish into the goalkeeper’s arms. Insigne
didn’t get a clean shot away from another Balotelli assist, so it
bounced off the chest of Roman Berezovski.

Italy were in control, but Armenia remained dangerous on the counter
and restored their lead with an utterly avoidable goal. Marchetti
didn’t control a harmless pass and let it out for a corner, then was
uncertain as it was curled in and Mkhitaryan’s header went in off the
underside of the bar. It bounced back out, but had clearly crossed
the line.

Giuseppe Rossi replaced Aquilani for his first Italy cap since October
2011, forming a 4-2-3-1. It was Balotelli who got the Azzurri back
on level terms, as he ran on to a Pirlo through ball and swept in
off the top of the upright with the inside of his right foot.

Moments later, Balotelli’s free kick from 30 yards was palmed out for
a corner and he had the ball in the net from an Insigne cross, but
only after clearly shoving his marker. The defence remained shambolic
and Montolivo had to clear a Mkhitaryan header in the six-yard box.

Insigne tested the goalkeeper in the final minutes and in stoppages
Balotelli surged forward alone from his own half only for the finish
to shave a coat of paint off the far post.

Italy 2-2 Armenia

Scorers: Movsisyan 5 (A), Florenzi 24 (I), Mkhitaryan 70 (A), Balotelli
76 (I)

Italy: Marchetti; Abate, Astori, Bonucci, Pasqual; Aquilani (Rossi
73), Pirlo, Montolivo; Florenzi (Candreva 60), Osvaldo (Balotelli
54), Insigne

Armenia: Berezovski; Mkoyan, Haroyan, Arzumanyan, Hayrapetyan
(Hovhannisyan 63); K Lazarian, A Edigaryan (Pizzelli 89); Ozbiliz
(Sarkisov 78), Ghazaryan, Mkhitaryan; Movsisyan

Ref: Oliver (ENG)

From: Baghdasarian

4 MEN ACCUSED OF SETTING FIRE TO HAYSTACKS IN AN ARMENIAN VILLAGE WERE GRANTED AMNESTY

10.15.2013 20:04 epress.am

The Armavir District Court of First Instance, presided over by Judge
Vahe Khalatyan, today found the four men accused of disorderly conduct
and intentionally damaging another’s property (in this case, setting
fire to a haystack) guilty on all charges.

Aram Mughalyan and Robert Piloyan were sentenced to 2.5 years in
prison, while Gagik Araqelyan and Artur Klyan were sentenced to 1 year
and 1 month for setting fire to haystacks belonging to Norapat village
resident Siaband Khudoyan. However, all four defendants were granted
amnesty and were released from the courtroom. The accused and their
attorneys claim there were incidents of torture and violations in the
case. As a sign of protest, Mughalyan had gone on a hunger strike at
the end of September, refusing also to drink water for 4 days.

The accused have said that they did not set fire to the haystacks,
while the victim, Siaband Khudoyan made a statement three times in
January, each time saying that he had not suffered any damages. Only
six months later did he speak of damages.

After being released, Mughalyan (pictured) told reporters that he was
expecting this ruling, judging from the investigation. “If there was
no amnesty, they would’ve placed me on probation, since after such a
commotion they couldn’t imprison us, because this case is absurd. It’s
like catching an innocent man, locking him up for half a year, and
saying, you should be grateful,” he said.

Asked he plans for the near future, Mughalyan said now he will be
more active and will fight more: “The country did this for me; let’s
see what I can do for the country.”

He added that he’ll consult with his attorney and most likely he’ll
appeal the guilty verdict. Robert Piloyan and Gagik Araqelyan also
intend to appeal.

“I didn’t need to be released under amnesty; I need to be acquitted. I
can’t say why we were framed, since I wasn’t even at the scene of the
incident. I wonder where the scene of the incident is [actually],”
said Araqelyan.

From: Baghdasarian

THE HUFFINGTON POST: NEW ENTREPRENEURIAL INITIATIVE BRINGS TINY ARMENIA TO FOREFRONT OF WORLD IT INDUSTRY

09:28 ~U 15.10.13

ONEArmenia and its latest venture, the Shift::Tech initiative bring
tectonic change to Armenia, one project at a time.

Ad executive and entrepreneur Patrick Sarkissian founded ONEArmenia
in 2012 in order to take advantage of that country’s remarkable brain
power and cultural strength and to help to save a young generation
of Armenians from the corruption and negativity prevalent in all
post-Soviet Republics. Armenians, who have been around for some three
thousand years, are wont to go on about their sometimes glorious
past and the many great entrepreneurs and artists that they have
produced over the centuries. But the collapse of the USSR, a war with
Azerbaijian, a frightening Earthquake and blockade by Turkey have left
many in the Republic of Armenia morose. Emigration has surpassed one
million (out of four million) souls. Corruption is rampant.

“Enough looking backwards!” might be an apt motto for Sarkissian and
his colleagues at ONEArmenia. In a remarkably short period of time,
Sarkissian has brought together like-minded entrepreneurs and cultural
workers including hospitality entrepreneur James Tufenkian who produces
gorgeous oriental carpets and has opened a chain of top-rated hotels
across the country. The idea behind

ONEArmenia is to use crowd sourcing and crowdfunding–modern
fundraising tools–in order to raise money for much-needed projects
in the humanitarian, environmental and tech fields. Each project
donation is completely vetted to produce zero percent corruption–a
most attractive feature to potential investors, young and old.

Of the organization’s many projects, its Shift:: Culture has been
particularly enticing. The project received submissions from all over
the globe, both within Armeniua and from its far-flung diaspora. The
winner, the Epsidon Theater Group, took an old Armenian story by
the great writer Nar-Dos called “He and I” and transformed it into
a vibrant, contemporary rock opera. The project was so successful
and the enthusiasm for it so great that Sarkissian then launched
ONEArmenia’s current undertaking SHIFT:: Tech. As the “shift” in both
titles suggest, the idea is to shift traditional ways of thinking both
in and outside Armenia about the Republic and the possibilities it
affords. “Armenia is a country with 99% literacy and 36% unemployment,”
Sarkissian explains: “I wanted to bring attention to Armenia’s highly
successful IT sector which has already produced hundreds of millions
of exits (export dollars).”

Shift:: Tech is an open call to develop a mobile app in Armenia
for the world market. Armenia is already considered a high-tech hub
for the former CIS countries and the Caucasus. In fact the world’s
premiere, full-featured mobile photo editor, Picsart, Inc., for
example, was founded there and already has over 77 million users. It
was developed and produced in one of the many small offices which
now dot the country’s capital Yerevan, which are reminiscent of
Silicon Valley’s early days when people put together giants like
Apple inside small crowded garages and the like. Armenia’s booming
IT sector, considered to be virtually corruption-free, accounts
for no less than 20% of the country’s annual GDP. Not surprisingly,
start-ups are popping up all over the country. Says David Bequette,
OneArmenia’s in-country director: Armenia’s potential is not up for
debate…it doesn’t need to look any farther than the Internet for
an environment where the talents of its young engineers, programmers,
designers and software developers can truly take flight.”

SHIFT:: Tech’s winning entry will be voted on by a peer review
committee that includes some industry powerhouses, including Alexis
Ohanian, Co-Founder of Reddit and Hipmunk, Matthew Brimer, co-founder
of General Assembly and Yoav Kutner, the Co-Founder of Magento and
Oro CRM. “SHIFT:: Tech offers enough support for the winning team of
developers to focus their time and efforts exclusively on an app idea
and make it a reality by building a functioning, viable product for
a big global marketplace”, said Nigel Sharp, founder of LionSharp
Solutions–a leading creative technology start-up: “Awareness of
the technology possibilities will improve and hopefully inspire
more people to utilize Armenia’s impressive engineering and mobile
development capabilities.”

The First Place winner will be given the opportunity to work with
Social Objects, a leading mobile app development start-up in Yerevan,
in order to turn their abstract idea into a unique and important
contribution to the software sphere and to society as a whole. In
addition to having a world-class development team build their app,
part of the $25,000 in-kind grant will go to marketing and taking
the app to market. Following official OneArmenia policy, a portion
of profits from the project will be reinvested to help fund another
key OneArmenia sector –namely its community projects. It’s a win-win
proposition, no matter which way you look at it.

From: Baghdasarian

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN’S SECOND FAILURE IN BRUSSELS

Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan is visiting Brussels where he attends
the conference of Armenians in Europe will address the European
Parliament. He will also meet with the EP deputy president Jacek
Protasiewicz.

Hovik Abrahamyan wished to meet with the EP president Martin Schultz
but the latter refused, and instead he will meet with the 13th of
his 14 deputies.

Brussels has a crucial importance to Hovik Abrahamyan’s
“presentation”. His first attempt was in December, during the
“presentation” of his relative Gagik Tsarukyan. However, after the
meetings in Brussels Tsarukyan returned to Yerevan and refused to
take part in the presidential election. He did not pass the test.

Hovik Abrahamyan is now trying to organize his “presentation” but he
seems to have failed again.

The Armenian government has no independence and sense of
responsibility, as well as internal legitimacy. Domestic issues
are resolved through “elections”. However, this kind of system needs
external legitimacy. Hence, it is highly important to Hovik Abrahamyan
and other presidential aspirants to be bidden for and handled. The
representatives of the system cannot imagine another way out.

As to those “abroad”, in Armenia they have to deal with exotic
officials so they try to avoid meetings with them, and even commit to
their personal issues. Their experience relating to Serzh Sargsyan
is enough for them to understand the nature and qualities of the
Armenian government.

12:52 15/10/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

From: Baghdasarian

Titizian, Oshagan to Headline Homeland and Diaspora Panel at ANCA Grassroots

Friday, October 11th, 2013

L. to r.: panelists Maria Titizian and Dr. Hayg Oshagan and moderator
Dr. Talar Chahinian

Dr. Talar Chahinian will add her expertise as moderator

BY PATRICK BAIRAMIAN

LOS ANGELES – Who are you? Oh, an Armenian-American? Well, what does
that even mean? Are you Armenian, or American? Which country do you
identify with? Both? But hold on – let’s not harp on an identity
crisis here – let’s talk about it. If we’re Armenian – American, then
what’s the next step in life? Where is your place? We’re glad you
asked.

Well, you’ll get answers to those questions and more once you attend
the `Homeland and Diaspora’ panel hosted at this year’s ANCA
-Grassroots. This dynamic panel discusses what we (the
Armenian-American Diaspora) have done so far to preserve our roots in
the United States and abroad, and what we need to do tomorrow, next
week and next year to keep the global web of Armenians tenacious and
resolute. And, who better to have as a panelist on such a forum than a
true visionary bridging the gap between the Diaspora and the Homeland,
Maria Titizian.

Titizian currently works as an editor at CivilNet.TV in Yerevan. Prior
to joining CivilNet, she was the Director of the Hrayr Maroukhian
Foundation in Yerevan, Vice President of Socialist International, and
also represented the Armenian Revolutionary Federation at the
Socialist International Women. While in Armenia she has worked in the
private sector, as well as in the NGO sector, including being a key
gender expert for several programs. She has worked as a writer,
editor, and translator and continues to be a regular contributor to
Asbarez newspaper. She has served as President of the ARF’s Women’s
Committee, was a founding member of the Women’s Coalition of Armenia,
and served on the board of the Women’s Forum of the National
Democratic Institute. Prior to moving to Armenia in 2001 she worked at
the Zoryan Institute for Contemporary Armenian Research and
Documentation, served as Constituency Assistant for a Member of
Parliament of Canada, worked on numerous national campaign elections
and served as president of the Armenian National Committee of Toronto
and later as member of the board of ANC Canada.

Joining Titizian on the Homeland and the Diaspora Panel is the man
with a plan to connect and give a voice to the underrepresented
communities of the world, starting with his home state of Michigan,
Dr. Hayg Oshagan. An Associate Professor and Director of the Media
Arts and Studies Program in the Department of Communication at Wayne
State University, Oshagan is also the founder and Chairman of New
Michigan Media, the network of ethnic media in Michigan, whose board
is comprised of the largest Arab, Jewish, Asian, Latino and
African-American publishers in the state. An Armenian immigrant from
Beirut, Lebanon, Oshagan earned his B.A. from the University of
Pennsylvania, his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin in
Madison and has taught at Stanford University and at the University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor. He has been editor of the Armenian Review, as
well as a member of a number of boards including Michigan Governor
Snyder’s Global Michigan Commission, and the Board of Directors of the
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, where
he was also Chair of the Commission on the Status of Minorities.

To top it all off, Dr. Talar Chahinian will be moderating this dynamic
panel. Chahinian, the fresh voice of the community, holds a Ph.D in
Comparative Literature from UCLA and lectures in the Department of
Comparative World Literature at California State University, Long
Beach. Her research interests include world literature,
transnationalism, politics of literary history, Western Armenian
language, and questions in trauma, aesthetics and representation. She
contributes regularly to the online journal, Critics’ Forum, and
directs the Saroyan Project, which works to enhance Armenian language
instruction in Chamlian Armenian School in Southern California. She is
the assistant editor of the Armenian Review and a member of the ARF
Western Region Central Committee.

`We’re thrilled to have Grassroots come back for the continuation of
what we hope to be a long standing tradition of the ANCA Western
Region. For that reason, we want to include as much benefit to all
participants as we can to make it worth their time, and energy,’ says
ANC-WR Executive Director, Elen Asatryan; and we couldn’t agree more.
So, when is this dynamic event taking place?

When?
November 29 – December 1st – a great way to wrap up the Thanksgiving
holiday and usher in the holiday cheer of the Christmas and New Year’s
season.

How Much?
The regular price is $79 per ticket, BUT – if you book now, you can
get the Early-Bird Special price of $59 by visiting
ItsmySeat.com/ANCAWR and adding in promo code GR10 or by calling
626.869.7328.

What does the price get you?
Access to 3 day Grassroots conference full of interactive panels and workshops
All reception events, including:
Welcome Reception (Friday)
Breakfast (Saturday, Sunday)
Lunch (Saturday)
Sunday Luncheon
ANCA Professional Network Cocktail Social (Saturday evening)
Grassroots Mementoes
Knowledge, Networking, and a chance at Inspiration

Where?
Loews Hollywood Hotel
1755 N Highland Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028.
Hotel Accommodations 1-855-563-9749
Book Now and Save – $159/night

From: Baghdasarian

Turkish journalist group chair reveals his mother was Armenian

15:18 12.10.2013

Armenian, Turkey

The head of a journalists’ association in Turkey, has revealed that
his mother was an Armenian, who was left `in front of an Alevi
family’s door’ by Armenians during the 1915 incidents in his recently
published book, adding that his relatives had reacted strongly to this
revelation, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Ahmet Abakay, a journalist and the head of the Contemporary
Journalists’ Association, told his mother HoÅ?ana’s story in his book
entitled `HoÅ?ana’s last words,’ in which he said that he was told by
his mother that she was an Armenian only weeks before she died.

Abakay said his mother HoÅ?ana told him her story, which she kept
secret for her entire 82-year-long life, with one condition; that he
should not tell it to anyone as long as she was alive.`My mother told
me about her story 13 years ago and soon after, she died. I could
write this only 10 years later, because I hesitated. I hardly wrote
it, bursting into tears when writing all of the chapters and I was
stuck. I did not imagine that it could get that sentimental for me to
write it. My mother was left at some people’s door like an innocent
kitten and that idea filled me with grief,’ Abakay told the Hürriyet
Daily News, adding that his mother was one of the Armenian babies left
to the Turkish families, with fears for their lives due to the
saddening 1915 incidents.

`My mother made me promise not to tell her story to my wife, daughter
or her sisters, as long as she was alive. I told this issue to my
inner circle after I lost my mother, to learn whether there are other
secrets that we are not told. But my sister told me not to reveal this
on the grounds that I am a journalist and she recalled what happened
to Hrant Dink [Armenian-Turkish journalist murdered by a gunman in
broad daylight in 2007 in Istanbul]. A majority of my relatives could
not accept their [new] identity,’ Abakay said. Some relatives denied
the story, while others claimed that his mother was too old to be
aware of what she was saying. Abakay said he received fierce reactions
from some of his family members over his revelation in his book.

`My uncle’s children told me `how dare you call our aunt Armenian and
insult our family’s honor. You will remove the Armenian part from your
book, otherwise we will pull it off the shelves,” said Abakay.

Abakay said his mother used to talk about one of her sisters left with
Armenians in the past, but she had never talked about it in detail.
Later on he learnt that she was from the southeastern province of
Erzurum’s AÅ?kale district. `I want to research my identity but I doubt
whether I can go any further. Now, I am content that I have received
my identity back.’

From: Baghdasarian