Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ARMENIAN DEMOCRATS REJECT MIKE GATTO ENDORSEMENT

by Asbarez
Friday, November 2nd, 2012

GLENDALE-The California Armenian American Democrats (CAAD) held a
general meeting Monday, October 29, at the Pacific Park Community
Center in Glendale to discuss endorsements for the statewide
organization chartered by the California Democratic Party. Notably,
the membership overwhelmingly rejected the endorsement of Assemblyman
Mike Gatto, candidate for Assembly District 43 (AD 43) in Southern
California.

Dozens of members of CAAD crowded the room where the meeting was
being held. The importance of the meeting for the Armenian-American
community was highlighted by the number of video cameras recording
the proceedings. Allowing the cameras was approved by the executive
board, with the exception of CAAD Vice Chair, Juliet Minassian,
who voted against allowing the cameras.

Shortly after the start of the meeting, a proposal from a CAAD member
to have a special discussion on the AD 43 race was adopted. Three
individuals spoke on behalf of supporting Assemblyman and two spoke
against.

The first of three speakers for Gatto, a member of CAAD, was not sure
in which district Gatto was running and then mistakenly stated that
he is running against another Democrat, thus making it a difficult
decision.

The second speaker supporting endorsement, a former Gatto employee,
listed, in general terms, how the Assemblyman had been helpful to
the large Armenian-American community in his district.

The third speaker in favor of endorsement, Stacey Brenner, Gatto’s
fundraiser, also discussed with broad generalities why he should be
endorsed. She had not stated initially her role with the Gatto campaign
until a point for clarification was raised from the membership.

Opposed to the endorsement were two speakers who expressed general
and specific reservations about the endorsement and its wisdom. One
speaker focused on his personal experience with organizing a college
fair for high school students with the All-Armenian Student Association
(All-ASA) where Gatto had promised to be present but failed to show.

Gatto received far less than the 35 required votes to win CAAD’s
endorsement. The subsequent vote rejecting an endorsement of Gatto
had the concurrence of over 70% of the membership – a blow to an
incumbent Democratic candidate.

Failing to garner the endorsement of the two main Armenian-American
Democratic organizations – CAAD and the Southern California Armenian
Democrats – is sure to hurt Gatto in a district with a strong
Armenian-American population.

Minutes after the Gatto endorsement vote, the meeting was abruptly
adjourned by CAAD Chair Caro Avanessian at the suggestion of Vice
Chair Minassian although members had expressed the desire to continue
discussion on various topics. No explanation was given why the meeting
was ended.

Despite the resounding objection to endorsing Gatto, CAAD Chair
Avanessian posted his personal opinions on the group’s facebook
page, praising Gatto and referring ambiguously to “the same group
who unknowingly time after time vote against their own and Armenian
community [sic] interest…” It was not clear whether Avanessian was
suggesting that he knows what is in the best interest of the Armenian
community and of the people who voted against the Gatto endorsement
or what group he was talking about.

Having represented the Assembly district with the largest
Armenian-American population the last two years, Gatto has not received
the endorsement of any major Armenian-American organization during
his reelection campaign.

According to its Web site, the “California Armenian-American Democrats
(CAAD) is an independent, chartered organization of California’s
Democratic Party, formed: to provide a vehicle for systematic
participation in our Party’s decisions and direction; to urge our
community to participate in Democratic policies, thereby enhancing
our political and social well-being; and to cultivate new leadership
committed to working within the state’s Democratic Party.”

Election Day is November 6.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN COMPANIES TO PARTICIPATE IN BEIJING WINE & SPIRITS FAIR

news.am
November 02, 2012 | 15:52

YEREVAN. – Yerevan Brandy Company (“Ararat” brand), “Shahnazaryan”
Wine and Brandy House, and “Ararat” Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory will
represent Armenia at the China (Beijing) International Wine & Spirits
Fair, which will be held in the Chinese capital city, between Sunday
and November 6.

The event will contribute to the development of bilateral trade and
economic ties, and encourage the Armenian beverages’ introduction to
the Chinese market.

The Chinese market likewise is targeted by Armenia’s export-based
strategy, and thus the Armenian products will be represented in this
market as well.

In its turn, the Government of China has expressed a readiness to
provide assistance to the companies that are operating in this domain.

From: Baghdasarian

JAPAN SUPPORTS THE EFFORTS OF OSCE MINSK GROUP AIMED TO THE PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF NKR CONFLICT

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: Samvel Farmanyan, the leader
of Armenia-Japan friendly group, group members Artsvik Minsyan,
Manvel Grigoryan, Sedrak Saroyan and Levon Zurabyan had a meeting
with the extraordinary and plenipotentiary Japanese Ambassador to
Armenia Tikahito Harada on November 2. As Armenpress was informed
from the Press and Media Relations Department of NA, greeting the
Ambassador’s visit to the parliament, leader of the friendly group
Farmanyan noted that the visit of Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan to
Japan a few months ago had brought the relations of the two countries
to a new level.

Members of Armenia-Japan friendly group hoped that interparliamentary
relations of the states would develop and deepen as there were all
the needed factors for that. Using the opportunity Samvel Farmanyan
made an invitation for Japanese parliamentarian colleagues to visit
Armenia which Tikahito Harada readily accepted.

Samvel Farmanyan expressed gratitude for the Japanese humanitarian
aid with which Armenia was provided after the disastrous earthquake
in 1988.

In his tern Japanese Ambassador thanked Armenian government for the
kind treatment and support after devastating earthquake and tsunami
in Japan.

During the meeting interlocutors referred to the number of regional
issues. Mr. Farmanyan highly evaluated Japan’s balanced position on
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement and noted that the presence of
Japanese Embassy would be very important from that viewpoint.

When speaking about NKR settlement issue Japanese Ambassador Tikahito
Harada underlined that Japan supports the efforts of OSCE Minsk Group
aimed to the peaceful solution of the conflict. The case of Gurgen
Margaryan’s murder has been also discussed during the meeting, and
Ambassador hoped that Armenia would restore the diplomatic relations
with Hungary.

From: Baghdasarian

CATHOLICOS OF THE HOLY SEE OF CILICIA HOSTED THE REPRESENTATIVES OF ARF-D BUREAU

ARMENPRESS
1 November, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of
the Holy See of Cilicia hosted the representatives of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun under the leadership of
its chairperson Hrant Markarian.

As the Catholicos of Antelias informed “Armenpress” during the meeting
various issues regarding Armenia-Diaspora relations, Armenians of
Syria and the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide have been
under discussion. The necessity of standing up to the challenges by
PanArmenian efforts and the inner union have been emphasized during
the meeting.

From: Baghdasarian

TSARUKYAN REMOVED FROM LIST?
James Hakobyan

Comments – Thursday, 01 November 2012, 15:18

The coalition memorandum signed on 17 February 2011 features the
RPA-PAP relations. According to the memorandum, the PAP is supposed
to support Serzh Sargsyan during the upcoming presidential election.

The Republican Party evokes this memorandum to the PAP every now and
then, while the latter has announced through ~Spersonal opinions~T
that no such memorandum is in place now.

While the PAP and RPA are trying to figure out whether the document
exists and whether the signature of the PAP leader is ~Svalid~T,
it should be advisable to get another document which is no less
important for public and state developments.

It is the famous list relating to March 1 which the Armenian National
Congress drafted and circulated. The list includes names of oligarchs
whose bodyguards were deployed against demonstrators. The second on
the list of the Congress was the PAP leader Gagik Tsarukyan.

And now, since the authenticity of the signature of the PAP leader
on the coalition memorandum is discussed, it would be interesting
also to hear within the ANC-PAP office romance about whether Gagik
Tsarukyan~Rs presence on the list is still valid.

Has the Congress removed Gagik Tsarukyan~Rs name from the list of
oligarchs responsible for March 1 or not?

The ANC which is working out projects of salvation jointly with the
PAP does not seem to ever recall this crime against the state of
which the Congress used to accuse Gagik Tsarukyan.

After all, the society should be explained thoroughly how a person
accused of a crime against the nation and the state could become a
source of salvation after four years.

And if Tsarukyan~Rs name has appeared on the list for no reason,
then, the ANC should apologize to him. This is the business of the
Congress and Tsarukyan, of course, but the ANC should apologize to
the society because it was or it is being misinformed.

From: Baghdasarian

URBAN POPULATION DECREASED BY 7.5%

Thursday, 01 November 2012, 16:43

According to the preliminary results of the 2011 census, the current
population of Armenia has dropped by 130,823 and the permanent
population by 194,157 people.

According to preliminary data, 36.7% of the population is rural,
63.3% is urban. 55.5% of the population lives in Yerevan.

The urban population has decreased by 154,866 people or 7.5%, and
the rural population by 39,291 or 3.4%.

The final results of the 2011 census will be published in 2013.

From: Baghdasarian

YEREVAN HOSTS A CONFERENCE ON “THE MUSIC LIBRARIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY”
Lilit Muradyan

“Radiolur”
16:28 01.11.2012

A three-day conference titled “The music and music libraries in the
21st century” dedicated to 300th birth anniversary of Sayat-Nova
kicked off at Khnko Aper Library today. The forum is held within the
framework of the events dedicated to the 500th anniversary of Armenian
printing and the proclamation of Yerevan as World Book Capital 2012.

The conference has brought together scholars from the United States,
Australia, Italy, Great Britain and Switzerland.

“The three-day conference of music libraries organized with the
framework of celebration of the 300th anniversary of Armenian printing
is a resolute step towards a developed and valued library, towards
music,” President of the Armenian Association of Libraries Ruzanna
Tonoyan said in her opening remarks.

According to her, the conference is an exceptional opportunity to
call the attention to culture and libraries. “It can help raise the
role of libraries and the work of librarians,” she added.

“The conference dedicated to Sayat-Nova’s 300th birthday evidences
that in this changing world of digitalization and digital libraries
we must succeed to combine the maintenance of universal values with
the modern scientific achievements. Music libraries should change in
the digitalized world and the melodies must be disseminated through
the Internet,” she said.

Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan said the forum provides another
opportunity to speak about Sayat-Nova.

Organizers say the three-day conference will contribute to the
development of music libraries, popularization of musical values
and will help disclose the creative potential of the new generation,
thus contributing to the rise of the role of national music.

A number of events will be organized on the sidelines of the
conference, including an exhibition on “Armenian musical literature,”
book presentations, film screenings and a concert featuring Armenian
and foreign singers.

From: Baghdasarian

DEVELOP HUMAN RESOURCES TO SUPPLY IT IN U.S.
Siranuysh Papyan

Interview – Friday, 02 November 2012, 14:09

Interview with Ashot Khachatryan, president of Armsoft Company
Mr. Khachatryan, during the meeting of government the prime minister
alarmed the shortage of IT specialists. An annual 15-20 growth is
reported but there is a shortage of labor, there is an instruction
to train specialists. Is the issue of human resources urgent for the
IT sphere?

According to the department of statistics of the Prime Minister’s
office, the growth is 10.6%, not 15-20%.

Training is the first thing that comes to one’s mind but it will not
resolve the problem. Let’s look how the problem of water supply was
solved. Ten years ago we had running water for 2 hours a day. Today
almost everyone has 24 hour running water although the amount of water
supplied to Yerevan has not increased. After installing water meters
the water board has found and replaced all the leaking pipes, users
have replaced all the leaking faucets. If water supplied to Yerevan
increased without cutting losses, we would still have running water
for two hours a day.

The same goes for human resources. If we develop human resources today,
we will supply the IT sphere of the United States, not Armenia.

Hence, the solution should be prevention of brain drain.

This is not the only reason of the shortage of human resources. The
second important reason is the quality of human resources. If we
count how many students study in the IT departments of universities,
we would have more human resources than needed, even with the outflow.

The problem is that the majority of graduates does not have the
required competency and does other jobs. As a result, the major
IT companies are creating their own study departments, and smaller
companies train recruits for a long time.

It is necessary to establish a close cooperation between the
universities and IT companies. The companies must enable their leading
specialists to teach in universities. There must be a serious attitude
to internship of students.

In another interview you mentioned that the government should focus
on human resources in IT, add their number, ensure their education etc.

Yes, but I mentioned it in my second point, in my first point I
mentioned the favorable business climate in the broadest scale. The
broadest includes such factors that determine success of a business
and retention of human resources.

I will give an example. A good programmer who gets 2-3 thousand
dollars a month wants to take his kid to a park. There are no parks.

If he succeeds getting a bench in between cafes, he has to hear
Russian criminal songs from the cafes. And he knows that in Yerevan
green areas are 3% compared with 30-40% in European cities. They
go home. It is impossible to watch TV because they only show soap
operas or an illiterate member of parliament preaching morale. One
can continue this list endlessly. This situation is already taken
for granted and is gradually pushing people out of their country.

Unqualified personnel leave the country to earn their living, while
qualified personnel leave to seek well-being.

I am not commending those who leave but it should be kept in mind that
not everyone struggles. Most people want a quiet and dignified life
and go where they can get it. So our country must give people a chance.

Mr. Khachatryan, does it require political will?

I am a businessman, I know what problems businesses face, what they
need for development, what employees want. I know their emotions,
needs, desires. Frankly speaking, I don’t know what the government
should do for it.

You say political will. If it is needed not to accept bribes or not
to cut trees, then yes.

We saw that the authorities will not do it themselves. They need to
be pushed. Now people force them by leaving. I would like them to
stay and push by staying and we already can see the results.

From: Baghdasarian

CIVILTAS FOUNDATION: GOVERNMENT’S POLITICAL HARASSMENT MUST END!

hetq
15:44, November 2, 2012

Yesterday, the Deputy Director of the National Security Service
Investigative Unit, Mikayel Hambartsumyan, was interviewed on State
Television, on the criminal case involving the Civilitas Foundation
and its founder, Vartan Oskanian.

The interview was evidence, yet again, of a baseless investigation.

During the entire interview, Hambartsumyan set aside his professional
responsibilities and attempted to present a distorted reality by
manipulating facts and presenting information selectively. We find it
unacceptable that an investigator charged with prosecuting a criminal
case is forced to divert from his professional responsibilities and
carry out a PR campaign.

The Civilitas Foundation Board reasserts that during the time period
when a portion of the Huntsman funds, intended for the Civilitas
Foundation, were in Vartan Oskanian’s account for the purpose of
allocating to the Civilitas Foundation at his discretion, and as
necessary, the Board was aware of the existence of the funds and the
allocations. The Board has never had any concerns or issues with the
availability of funds when they became necessary in order to carry
out activities defined by the organization’s Bylaws.

At the time that the criminal case was opened (May 25, 2012),
approximately one-third of the funds held by Vartan Oskanian had
been transferred to the Civilitas Foundation’s account, based on
Civilitas’s needs, and the remainder, including accrued interest,
remained under Mr. Oskanian’s discretion.

If there are still those who doubt that all this is the result of
a political directive, we wish to point out that harassment and
persecution of the Civilitas Foundation and Vartan Oskanian began
in 2009. We have not made public statements about these events,
because, unlike Armenia’s government, we are concerned that the
negative perceptions of our country are not aggravated. However,
today, as the authorities undertake actions which exceed all limits,
we are obliged to mention several actions.

In 2009, one of the Civilitas Foundation’s first supporters became
the subject of direct pressure and was convinced to step back from
a significant multi-year donation.

In 2009, Vartan Oskanian was elected to the Board of one of Armenia’s
commercial banks. The bank’s majority stockholders were threatened
with bankruptcy if they did not remove Mr. Oskanian from the Board.

Near the end of 2009, at the height of the Armenia-Turkey protocols
process, when Vartan Oskanian (and Civilitas analysts as well)
spoke out about the problems inherent in that process, the Civilitas
Foundation was in the midst of implementing a project in Armenia’s
southern Meghri region, in the border villages of Shvanidsor and
Alvank. The $240,000 project, supported by the Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation, involved water distribution systems and
local governance mechanisms. As a result of the Armenian government’s
direct interference, the Swiss Foreign Ministry put a stop to the
project, Civilitas had to return unspent funds, and thus future
projects with the same agency, intended to benefit Armenia’s border
villages, also came to an end.

The harassment has spread to the Civilitas staff as well. First,
Civilitas staff members were followed home, for the purposes of
intimidation. Then, three Civilitas staff members who lecture at three
different institutions of higher learning were not invited back this
academic year, and their contracts were not renewed. Yerevan State
University did not renew its contract with journalist/analyst Tatul
Hakobyan, who had taught at the Journalism Department for years. The
same university and the Pedagogical University as well, did not renew
their contract with Lilik Stepanyan, who taught television journalism
at those institutions. And a private university as well, AUAJ, with
no explanation, did not extend the contract of Albert Manaseryan.

So many odd ‘coincidences’ are hardly possible. The Civilitas
Foundation Board expects that such intolerance and persecution
will stop.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY TO DISPUTE HUNGARY’S DECISION ON SAFAROV CASE

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 1, 2012 – 21:25 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – RA Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan met with the
delegation of Hungary’s Armenian community headed by the community
leader Sevan Sargsian.

Minister Hakobyan welcomed the steps the community took following
the Azerbaijani axe-killer Ramil Safarov’s transfer to Baku.

The community representatives noted their intention to dispute
Hungarian government’s decision on Safarov extradition, proving that
the latter runs counter to the country’s legislation. Sevan Sargsian
noted Hungarian authorities’ reluctance to discuss the Azeri murderer’s
case following the transfer, thus causing serious problems for the
Armenian community, whenever it tries to raise the issue.

Armenian Genocide 100th anniversary programs were further discussed.

From: Baghdasarian