Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

“TOLMA” ARMENIAN NATIONAL DISH RECIPE BOOK TO BE RELEASED IN MAY

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 16, 2012 – 18:20 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Development and Preservation of Armenian Culinary
Traditions NGO plans to release a cookbook featuring 70 recipes of
“Tolma” national dish by the end of May.According to NGO chair Sedrak
Mamulyan, the recipes were contributed during Sardarapat-hosted
Tolma festival, with an NGO member Vahe Atanesyan having authored
the cookbook.

Tolma fest was held in July 2011 on the sidelines of Golden Apricot
film festival. The event hosted 20 chefs, with masters from Russia,
Iran, India and Georgia among them, who made the dish based on their
original recipes.

This year, Tolma festival was scheduled for July 11.

From: Baghdasarian

IMPRISONED AZERI ACTIVISTS ON HUNGER STRIKE AMID EUROVISION FUSS

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 16, 2012 – 18:43 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Twelve jailed Azerbaijani opposition activists
have started a hunger strike to coincide with the upcoming Eurovision
song contest, Azerbaijan~Rs Public Chamber opposition movement said
on Wednesday, May 15, RIA Novosti reported.

The protesters are demanding freedom for all “political prisoners”
in Azerbaijan who they say have been illegally arrested or convicted.

Eurovision will begin on May 22 and the finals will be held on May
26 in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku . The prisoners chose to make their
protest during the event to draw attention to their campaign.

The jailed activists were convicted for participation in an
unsanctioned opposition meeting in Baku on April 2, 2011. The
protesters, from several opposition parties and movements, demanded
democratic reforms and new parliamentary elections in the country. The
meeting was violently dispersed by local riot police.

Amnesty International rights group has called the twelve inmates
“prisoners of conscience.”

Public Chamber also plan to stage protest campaigns during Eurovision
in a bid to attract public attention to human rights violation in
Azerbaijan.

From: Baghdasarian

AGHJAYAN: INVESTING IN ANCA YIELDS DIVERSE, PROVEN RETURNS
by George Aghjayan

May 16, 2012

On May 20, the ANCA Endowment Fund will host its third telethon in
the past decade. By now, you have seen it on websites, read about it
in e-mails and the community press, and seen it on television and
social media sites. Hopefully you, in turn, are sharing the news
with your friends and family, confirming your donation commitment,
and planning to attend one of the many viewing parties nationwide.

The 2009 ANCA Leo Sarkisian Interns doing us proud.

Spreading the word about, planning to participate in, and donating to
this event may seem small and, in the busy lives we all share-balancing
work, raising children, taking care of parents, excelling in school,
maintaining our health, and nurturing our social network-something
that is easily forgotten or not prioritized.

But, it is also one of the greatest opportunities to invest in the
success of the community. Contrary to popular perception, it is not
merely a direct investment in issues, but rather a contribution to
the diversified foundation of issues, people, and presence.

We all know the issues. Justice for the Armenian Genocide, promoting
a stronger U.S.-Armenia relationship, as well as relationships with
the Armenian nation throughout the region, and building stronger
civic engagement among Americans of Armenian ethnicity.

The ANCA’s successes in raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide
are well known. These include its legal research revolving around
the continued protection of Armenian Genocide-related state laws,
the change in the climate on Capitol Hill from genocide denial to
affirmation deferral, and educating the current generation of public
officials (as well as Armenian Americans) about the ongoing academic
advances in the fields of genocide reparations and restitution.

The ANCA remains at the forefront, the American leader in ensuring
continued growth and expansion of the relationship between the U.S.

and the Republic of Armenia. From ensuring that public officials at
all levels are reminded of its disproportionately large contribution
to American-led and international peace-keeping missions throughout
the world to making sure humanitarian assistance is justly received
by Armenian communities throughout the region, the ANCA continues to
push the envelope.

However, its greatest success is the return on that investment in
the communities across this great country. America continues to be a
land of opportunity where civic engagement and public service is the
center of power. No matter what the “outside” influence, it is those
“inside” the Congress, state legislatures, county seats, and city
halls who shape and cast the final vote.

For over two decades, the ANCA has run the Leo Sarkisian Internship
in Washington, D.C., and through this and other internship programs
has sponsored hundreds of young Armenian Americans to come and
learn-through active engagement-the nuances of and challenges faced
by Hai Tahd.

Nearly 10 years ago, the ANCA started the Capitol Gateway Program.

This initiative seeks to evolve the ambitious Armenian youth
presence in Washington, D.C. from educating an ever-transient group
of students to a vibrant community of young professionals plugged into
all sectors. Dozens of recent college graduates and new professionals
have made the nation’s capital their new home, and in many cases the
nation’s Capitol their place of work, something that would not have
been feasible without the support of the ANCA.

These successes are the tip of an iceberg that is comprised of hundreds
of thousands of staff and volunteer hours, who, in turn, worked out of
offices, on campuses, and in community centers across the nation. It
is the result of efforts as big as organizing conferences that bring
together experts from around the world and as unsung as staying up
late nights writing and then putting together informational packages
for public officials, educators, the media, and our own supporters.

Yet there is so much more we can do. There is so much more we need
to do. The bar of success is ever moving. Greater success brings more
challenges by those who seek to marginalize or tear us down. Greater
success brings larger expectations, and rightfully so!

Armenians have a rich, multi-millenia culture about which they should
be proud. Armenians have contributed extensively to the U.S. though
their successful realization of the American Dream. But resting on
these laurels condemns us to history and eliminates our future.

Join me in supporting the 2012 ANCA Endowment Fund Telethon.

Contribute, get your family and friends to donate, and let us-all
together-watch this momentous event.

Together, with your support of the ANCA, we will continue to be a
leading force in writing the next chapter of the Armenian experience
in America.

George Aghjayan is chairman of the ANCA Eastern Region.

From: Baghdasarian

GERMAN MP ADVOCATES NATIONAL MINORITIES’ RIGHTS TO SELF-DETERMINATION

tert.am
16.05.12

Volker Beck, an MP from the Green Party of Germany, sees only a
peaceful way of settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

At a conference on democracy in Baku, Azerbaijan, he noted that the
problem must be resolved with due respect for national minorities’
rights to self-determination.

The German MP did not say a single word about territorial integrity,
which caused fit of hysteria in Azerbaijan.

From: Baghdasarian

PM Tigran Sargsyan extends congratulations to his French counterpart

armradio.am
16.05.2012 13:47

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan sent a congratulatory message to
Jean-Marc Ayrault on his appointment as Prime Minister of France. The
message reads as follows:

“Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

I sincerely congratulate you on appointment to the office of Prime
Minister of France and wish you every success in your mission of
high responsibility.

The long-standing ties of warmth and friendship between Armenia and
France have always been a strong prerequisite for high-level dialogue
in political, cultural and economic spheres.

I am hopeful that during your term in office, our two countries will
continue making active efforts at both bilateral and international
levels to the benefit of our two friendly nations.

Please accept, Mr. Prime Minister, the assurances of my highest
consideration.”

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S NEXT GOVERNMENT WILL BE PROVISIONAL – POLITICAL ANALYST

news.am
May 16, 2012 | 15:21

YEREVAN. – The Armenian body politic is still under the influence of
fear, and the citizen is unable to express his free will, political
scientist Andreas Ghukasyan stated during a press conference on
Wednesday, and stressed that the reason for this is Armenia’s being
an illegitimate state.

“In my view, this government will be provisional. Both the opposition
and the authorities have suffered a defeat. One was unable to bring
about change while the other is unable to solve the problems and form
a government on its own,” Ghukasyan noted.

He added that coercion became one of the tools during the parliamentary
elections, and he predicted that the next government will be
provisional, which is a defeat for the political system.

In Andreas Ghukasyan’s words, this notwithstanding, Armenia’s civil
society is gradually becoming more active.

The press conference’s other speaker, “Cooperation for Democracy”
Center Director Stepan Danielyan, noted that a total administrative
coercion was put to use during the elections.

“At the same time [, however,] these were the best elections since
[19]91,” he said, and added that he has a hunch that certain political
forces “send” special people “on a mission” to the society in order
to control its activeness.

From: Baghdasarian

ILHAM ALIYEV, “NAUGHTY SON” OF THE “NATIONAL LEADER”?
Karine Ter-Sahakian

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 16, 2012

Heydar Aliyev would never tolerate such unbridled anti-Armenian
sentiment which is now spread in Azerbaijan.

The 18 years of fragile ceasefire at the contact line between Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan never yielded the expected results: violations
of the ceasefire continue, Azerbaijan refuses to call off its snipers
and keeps on subversive activities. In addition, it keeps dubbing as
“provocation” everything happening in Stepanakert, from military
parade to elections.

PanARMENIAN.Net – Ten years ago, then leader of Azerbaijan, terminally
ill Heydar Aliyev said at his meeting with Robert Kocharian, then
president of Armenia: “The negotiation potential for direct meetings
between the presidents is not exhausted yet. We must resolutely –
I’m speaking on behalf of Azerbaijan – maintain the ceasefire regime,
reinforce it, proceed with the talks, and promote activities of the
OSCE Minsk Group. We must use all opportunities to assist the peace
resolution of this issue and continue our personal meetings. I believe
our meeting was very useful and interesting, and it once again comes
to prove that the format of presidential meetings with the mediators
can be pursued, and we can reach peaceful settlement of the conflict.”

These words belong to a person who is now honored as a “national
leader” in Azerbaijan and whose opinion must be taken into account,
according to logic.

At least the son, the current president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
should have remembered his father’s statement. Of course, it is clear
now that the senior Aliyev was not happy to advocate for peace back
then; he had to leave the country to his son at least in its current
state. To do this, he could have been cunning in telling what he was
expected to tell, instead of revealing the actual state of things. In
fact, he feared for his son.

Heydar Aliyev would never tolerate such unbridled anti-Armenian
sentiment which is now spread in Azerbaijan. He might have hated
Armenians no less than his son; still, he never afforded hate speech
naming them “number 1 enemy in the world”. The senior Aliyev was
shrewd in his actions, as a KGD boss should be. The current clumsy
moves of Azerbaijani rough propaganda stand no comparison with Heydar
Aliyev’s actions as first secretary of Azerbaijan’s Communist Party
Central Committee. It was the “national leader” who sparked mass
exodus of Armenians from Azerbaijan. Armenians had no opportunity
to get proper education and work, while those few who did succeed,
paid too much for this.

However, it should be noted that much has changed over the past
10 years, including the military- political situation in Southern
Caucasus. The only thing that still remains invariable is visits of
the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and their statements, which might as
well not be voiced. Similarly, their recent statement dos not differ
from the previous ones at all.

“The Co-Chairs continued their discussions with the sides on how to
implement the commitments made by Presidents Sargsyan and Aliyev in
their January 23 joint statement in Sochi, including to “accelerate”
reaching agreement on the Basic Principles as a framework for a
comprehensive peace settlement, to work on the mechanism to investigate
ceasefire violations, and to develop humanitarian contacts. The
Co-Chairs expressed their concern over recent incidents along the
frontlines, and urged the sides to exercise restraint and refrain
from retaliation. The Co-Chairs welcomed the sides’ reaffirmation of
their commitment to seek a peaceful settlement.

The Co-Chairs also discussed with the sides the development of
confidence-building measures in the military and people-to-people
spheres to enhance trust and strengthen implementation of the 1994
ceasefire. In addition, the Co-Chairs discussed the importance of
assessing and preserving at-risk sites of Armenian and Azeri cultural
and historical value, in order to protect the shared heritage of
the region’s peoples while negotiations continue toward a final and
lasting peace.

The Co-Chairs plan to continue discussions with the Foreign Ministers
of the two countries in the near future,” the May 14 statement of
the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs says.

It covered everything and did not say anything, at the same time. The
most “touching” part is the urge for restraint and preservation of
cultural heritage; a peak of cynicism, indeed.

Most likely, another meeting between Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev
will take place by summer; this means we will again face shooting
attacks on Armenian settlements; this is reality.

From: Baghdasarian

CORRUPTION REMAINS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR ARMENIA – EU

tert.am
16.05.12

The joint Document of the European Commission and EU High
Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on
implementation of the European Neighborhood Policy in Armenia in
2011 issued today reads that corruption remains a serious problem in
Armenia, Mediamax reports.

“Transparency International ranks Armenia in 129th place out of 183
(score 2.6 out of 10) in its Corruption Perceptions Index for 2011.

The authorities have regularly and publicly expressed their readiness
to fight corruption. However, despite the adoption of certain important
legal acts (e.g. the law on Procurement, and law on Public Service),
fulfilment of obligations from the Council of Europe Group of States
against Corruption (GRECO), OECD and other international bodies, as
well as the increased number of arrests and indictments of corrupt
officials, there have been no positive changes in the perception of
corruption by different segments of the Armenian population and the
government’s measures have not been sufficient to change it. What is
lacking is effective implementation.

The anti-corruption coordinating mechanism created in 2004 is
weak. No institutional support or resources have been allocated to
anti-corruption work by the government. In May, the National Assembly
adopted the law on Public Service. Starting from 2012, declarations
on income and property will be submitted only by high-ranking public
officials, as well as persons related to them. This law has several
shortcomings regarding the capacity and powers of the Commission on
Ethics of High-Ranking Public Officials”, the document reads.

From: Baghdasarian

50 PERSONNES SONT ENCORE HOSPITALISEES APRES L’EXPLOSION DES BALLONS AU MEETING DU HHK
Laetitia

armenews.com
mercredi 16 mai 2012

Plus de 50 personnes etaient encore a l’hôpital ce mardi 15 mai 2012
suite aux graves brûlures subies lors des explosions de centaines
de ballons a gaz au cours d’une reunion electorale organisee par le
Parti republicain d’Armenie le 4 mai.

Les ballonsse sont enflammes dans des circonstances qui n’ont pas
encore ete elucidees. Des dizaines de participants au meeting ont ete
blesses. Près de 154 personnes, la plupart d’entre elles membres ou
sympathisants du HHK, ont ete hospitalisees.

Un porte-parole du ministère armenien de la Sante a declare a RFE /
RL (Azatutyun.am) que 56 victimes sont encore a l’hôpital. La plupart
d’entre elles sont au service du traitement des brûlures a Erevan.

Un chef medecin, Hrayr Hakobian, a annonce que deux personnes sont
aux soins intensifs et ont des blessures de ” gravite moyenne “. Il
a affirme qu’elles pourraient avoir besoin de chirurgie plastique
plus tard.

La police armenienne a lance une enquete criminelle immediatement
après que l’explosion a perturbe la campagne electorale du HHK. Les
fonctionnaires de police ont suggere que les ballons ont ete
accidentellement brûles par une cigarette ou un briquet.

L’affaire penale a ete ouverte en vertu des articles du Code criminel
traitant de la manipulation negligente des matières explosives.

Personne n’a ete arrete jusqu’a present. Les enqueteurs ont effectue
plus de 100 tests medico-legaux et interroge environ 200 personnes.

Sergey Hayrapetian, un haut fonctionnaire du ministère armenien des
Situations d’urgence relatives a la securite incendie, a declare a
RFE / RL (Azatutyun.am) qu’il ne sait pas encore quel type de gaz a
ete utilise pour gonfler les ballons blancs qui portaient l’emblème
du parti HHK.

Les normes de securite exigent normalement que des ballons utilises
pour des evenements publics frequentes par un grand nombre de personnes
doivent etre gonfles a l’helium, un gaz inerte et qui ne brûle pas. Les
ballons achetes par le HHK auprès d’un fournisseur encore inconnu ont
ete apparemment remplis d’un gaz moins cher et facilement inflammable.

Dans un magasin a Erevan, des ballons remplis d’helium sont disponibles
pour 700 drams (1,8 dollar ) chacun. La gerante du magasin, Karine
Babajanian, a affirme qu’elle pouvait aussi vendre des ballons gonfles
au methane a moitie prix, mais elle ne le fait pas pour des raisons
de securite. ” Des explosions de ballons lors de mariages ou d’autres
fetes privees ne sont pas rares en Armenie.

Beaucoup de mariages ont ete perturbes par ce type d’incident “,
a declare Babajanian a RFE / RL.

Karen Avagian du parti HHK a rejete certains hypothèses au sujet
de l’achat de ballons a petit prix. Il a egalement insiste sur le
fait que le HHK n’est pas responsable de cet incident. ” Ces ballons
etaient en vente et personne ne savait ce qu’il y avait a l’interieur
“, a-t-il dit.

From: Baghdasarian

RUSSIA TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING CURRENT STATUS-QUO IN CAUCASUS – EXPERT

news.am
May 15, 2012 | 21:36

MOSCOW. – Russia will continue supporting the current status-quo in
the Caucasus for holding the Sochi Olympiad in peace, as well as not
to allow interference of the third party and to limit the U. S.

access, political scientist Vitaly Tretyakov said in an interview
to 1news.az.

“Russia’s incumbent President Putin cannot think otherwise regarding
the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process but of its status-quo and
everlasting talks. Anything is acceptable but no war. Even if a new
serious conflict emerges, Russia will support Armenia officially as
both states are within the CIS and unofficially due to psychological
point of view. At the same time, Russia does not want to make such a
choice, hence, permanent and everlasting talks are expected,” he said.

From: Baghdasarian