Author: Chatinian Lara

LOOK WHAT THE BUNNY LEFT!
By Sheryl Marsh
Daily Staff Writer

The Decatur Daily, AL
April 16 2006

Why eggs during Easter?

While Easter is a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead,
the holiday has elements with pagan origins such as decorated eggs
and cute little bunnies.

For centuries people have used the egg as a symbol of fertility and
new life. That concept – like the bunny, which is another fertility
symbol of new life – predates Easter but has been assimilated into
the Easter celebration.

Children throughout the world will participate in Easter egg hunts
today, although many searched for eggs last week.

The egg hunt makes Easter a big day for small children; however,
grandmothers like Deborah Adams of Hartselle try to instill in the
little ones that Jesus is the main focus of the day.

She and her husband, Wayne, plan to have their four grandchildren –
Anna Grace Cobb, Mary Katherine Cobb, Tyler Cook and Kaleigh Baker
– today.

“After church we’ll hide Easter eggs for the kids, but that’s just a
part of it,” said Adams. “We teach them that the main reason we have
Easter is because of the resurrection of Jesus.”

Easter eggs were originally painted bright colors to represent
spring. They were also used in egg-rolling contests or given for gifts.

Ancient Egyptians, Persians, Phoenicians and Hindus believed that
the world came into being with a giant egg. Most cultures around the
world consider the egg a symbol of new life and rebirth.

The Rev. Richard Lawson, rector at St. John’s Episcopal Church, said
Americans share the belief of other cultures that the egg symbolizes
new birth or new life. A story is behind colored eggs.

“I remember a story being told of a Christian saint being before
a Roman emperor who denied Jesus’ resurrection,” said Lawson. “She
pointed to an egg that God changed into a colored egg as a sign of
Jesus’ resurrection.”

Various cultures have unique decorating methods.

Austrian artists create patterns through fastening ferns and small
plants around the eggs and then boiling them. This results in a white
pattern once the plants are removed.

Germany and other countries pierce the ends of eggs with a needle
and blow the contents into a bowl. Then, they dye the hollow eggs
and hang them from shrubs and trees during Easter week.

Armenians decorate using the same process, but decorate the eggs
with pictures of Jesus and the Virgin Mary as well as other religious
designs.

Americans dye eggs and decorate them with various designs.

Some cultures play egg games. Romans celebrate Easter by running races
on an oval track and giving eggs as prizes. Also, like Americans,
they hold Easter egg hunts.

Children join in a search Easter morning to find eggs the Easter
bunny hid while they were asleep. Older children help the younger
ones look for eggs throughout the house.

Easter egg hunts are a community celebration of the holiday. Eggs
are hidden in public places and all the children in the community
are invited to participate, similar to the way Americans hunt eggs.

Normally, Marsha Keeney of Decatur would help hide eggs for her
grandchildren outside, but this year they will do like the Romans
and hide them inside.

Keeney said they have not been in their new home long, and “we have
landscaping to do, so we’ll hide them inside the house.”

Easter bunny

The Easter bunny reportedly originated as pre-Christian fertility
lore in Germany in the 1500s. Like the egg, the rabbit, one of the
most fertile animals known, served as a symbol of new life during
the spring season.

German settlers introduced the Easter bunny to American folklore
after arriving in Pennsylvania Dutch country in the 1700s.

The children built nests in their homes, barns or gardens. Boys used
caps and girls used bonnets to make the nests. Later, Easter baskets
became a tradition as Easter caught on throughout the country.

Adams and other grannies look forward to such traditions each year.

“I started giving my girls Julie and Jennifer personalized eggs and
a bunny each year when they were little. I still do that for them
and for the grandchildren.”

Some information for this story came from “Easter on the Net.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PRESS RELEASE +++ PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Monday, April 17, 2006

Contact: Armen Carapetian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

DEIRMENJIAN’S DIVERSE BACKGROUND LANDS HIM SEAT ON LA HUMAN RELATIONS
COMMISSION

— ANCA Activist Chosen to Serve on Commission’s Advisory Committee

LOS ANGELES, CA – Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti has
appointed Raffe Deirmenjian to serve on the city’s Human Relations
Commission Advisory Committee that strives to promote positive race
and human relation in the increasingly complex and multicultural county
of Los Angeles, reported the Armenian National Committee of America –
Western Region (ANCA-WR).

Deirmenjian, a member of the West San Fernando Valley ANCA, has
worked diligently to have the Armenian Genocide included in the Los
Angeles Unified School District’s curriculum, and during a time of
racial conflict at local Grant High School, worked with students and
administrators to successfully settle the conflict. ANCA-WR Chairman
Steven Dadaian described Deirmenjian as an ideal candidate for the
position.

“Having worked closely within the ANCA, Raffe has the necessary
background in not only managing human relations, but also grasping
the ideals that help to overcome prejudice, bias, and other divisive
attitudes that can lead to inter-cultural tension,” said Dadaian.

The Commission teams with law enforcement, schools, cities,
community-based organizations, youth, academics, policy makers,
businesses and other leaders, to bring key players together to resolve
immediate inter-cultural conflicts.

“It’s rare to find a person with such a diverse background,” stressed
Dadaian who points to Derimenjian’s current position as a Second Vice
President of Wealth Management at Smith Barney, who also carries
education in political science and business marketing and has five
years of hands-on experience on Wall Street, coupled with consistent
and practical public policy experience within the ANCA. “He fits the
ideal profile to serve on this Commission whose mission is to lay the
groundwork for a long-term campaign to eradicate unfair practices,
while working within the system,” remarked Dadaian.

Also appointed to the Human Relations Commission Advisory Committee
were Vicky Ortega, Karen Hallock, Al Garcia, and Jose Roberto
Hernandez.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest
and most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns
of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

#####

WAITING FOR THE DRAFT LAW: THE CONCEPT NOTE RECEIVED POSITIVE FEEDBACK
By Karine Mangassarian

Yerkir.am
April 14, 2006

Last week, Levon Mkrtchian, leader of the National Assembly’s
Armenian Revolutionary Federation faction and ARF Armenia Supreme Body
representative Armen Rustamian presented at the National Assembly the
concept of the Law on Granting Dual Citizenship Status to Armenians
Abroad.

ARF had articulated its position on the issue during the constitutional
referendum. Armen Rustamian stated that the present concept note can
serve as the foundation for further establishment of the institute
of dual citizenship.

We asked several political leaders to comment on the concept note
and the concerns they had voiced during the constitutional referendum
campaign.

Before presenting the concept note Armen Rustamian stated that the
concept note has three main goals: organizing the world-spread Diaspora
around national goals, creation of new opportunities for strengthening
Armenia, and protection of the rights of Armenians in other countries.

Head of the parliamentary faction of the Republican Party Galust
Sahakian noted that his faction has read the concept note but does
not have any specific feedback yet.

“It was a result of a political consensus and during the referendum
campaign we supported elimination of the ban on dual citizenship. I
think when a draft law is elaborated based on this concept note our
faction will discuss it,” Sahakian said noting that his party has
discussed the concept note many times and believes the wording of
some provisions is not clear enough.

“There are some provisions that can be interpreted in different
ways but I think these uncertainties will later be eliminated. These
provisions deal with the right to vote and be elected, issues connected
with military service. The overall idea behind the law will be that
individuals with dual citizenship who exercise their rights and
fulfill their obligations in the homeland will have the right to
fully participate in these processes,” Sahakian said.

Chairman of the National Democratic Party, member of the National
Assembly Shavarsh Kocharian believes the concept note contains the main
provisions that currently exist in the international experience. “The
concept note indicates the main directions.

The final feedback will be possible only after the draft law is
elaborated. I want to stress one important issue that is in the center
of attention of our public. The concept note stipulates that only
individuals with dual citizenship who permanently live in Armenia
will have the right to vote.

This means that people with dual citizenship who do not live in Armenia
will not be able to participate in the elections in Armenia. The second
point I want to stress is that the right to be elected and the right
to occupy public posts can be limited, which I think is logical,”
Kocharian said adding that his party fully supports this limitation.

“We had presented our concerns in the text of the constitution we
had proposed. However, since the concept note contains provisions
on such limitations, I don’t see any reasons to worry,” Kocharian
concluded. Are there any suggestions that were not included into the
concept note? Commenting on this question Kocharian noted that once
the draft is elaborated further proposals can be made.

Member of the National Unity Party’s parliamentary faction Aghassi
Arshakian stated that the concept note is an attempt to settle the
concerns of the population regarding three main issues connected with
dual citizenship.

“These issues are military service, taxes and the rights to vote and
be elected. All of them are addressed in the concept note, in some
cases addressed adequately, in others not so well. When the draft
law is elaborated it will be possible to settle any disagreements
through discussions,” Arshakian said.

Secretary of Ardarutyun (Justice) Bloc’s faction Victor Dallakian
said he has important things to do and has no time to read the
concept note. He further stated that he is very skeptical of dual
citizenship. We have no reasons to disagree with Dallakian.

There are of course more important things to deal with. Parliamentary
elections are approaching and it is necessary to ensure that his
party gets some seats in the new parliament.

Member of Orinats Yerkir’s faction Mher Shahgeldian said he has read
the concept note but his position will be further clarified after
the note is discussed by his faction.

San Gabriel Valley Tribune, CA
Pasadena Star-News, CA
April 15 2006

Locals commemorate Armenian genocide
By Patricia Jiayi Ho Staff Writer

PASADENA – At Friday evening’s rehearsal, Tro Mgrditchian had to
stand on his toes to reach the microphone.

The 8-year-old had a tall task: He was playing the role of an
Armenian exile in an event held to commemorate the forced evacuations
and subsequent deaths of more than a million Armenians in 1915.

“That’s how I grew up and that’s how I want my son to learn about our
heritage,” said Tro’s mother, Shoghair.

The play is part of a 90-minute event organized by the Pasadena
Armenian Youth Federation and held later Friday at the Pasadena
Armenian Center.

Also included were poetry readings, traditional Armenian dance,
readings of survivor stories and a slideshow.

The program is intended to be more introspective than the protest
marches held annually on April 24, which call for the Turkish
government to acknowledge the genocide.

“That’s when we all go out and yell with our picket signs,” said
Razmig Jierian, 22, an organizer. Friday night’s event “is a
dedication to our ancestors. It’s sad and dramatic. I think we’ll
have everyone crying by the end.”

That genocide occurred is not a matter of fact for all – the Turkish
government opposes the term and attributes Armenian deaths during and
after World War I to civil war.

The massacre of more than a million Armenians is recognized as
genocide by the state of California but not by the U.S. government.

Part of Pasadena AYF’s goal is to make sure memories of the tragedy
are not lost between generations.

“We’re going to commemorate our ancestors the best we can, from our
youngest kids to our oldest adults,” said Jierian, a Pasadena-born
student at Cal Poly Pomona.

“We don’t know how far our family trees goes,” Jierian said. “Some of
our grandparents don’t even know their real names because it was
changed back then.”

About 80 people from the Pasadena AYF, ranging in age from 8 to 22
years old, are involved in the program.

“My parents, my grandparents, they’ve been talking about this
throughout my life,” said Tro Karkourian, 19, a student at Pasadena
City College. “I think about this all the time, but this month
especially.”

AZG Armenian Daily #069, 15/04/2006

Armenian Genocide

GENOCIDE MEMORIAL DOWNTOWN LYON

French President Expected to Take Part

With Turkey’s bid for the EU in mind, the Armenian
community of Europe has launched arrangements to
commemorate the 91st anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. The French city of Lyon will host the main
event: erection of the Armenian Genocide Memorial in
the central square.

Lyon will become the first city with an Armenian
Genocide Memorial in the central square. French
officials will also be present at the unveiling
ceremony. Hilda Chobanian from the Hye Dat European
Office informs that President Jacques Chirac of France
is also expected to be present. The French-Armenians
are looking forward to see the president condemning
the Armenian Genocide alongside the new memorial.

In order to put up the memorial the Armenian community
of France created a committee two years ago that
managed to get the consent of Lyon mayor for a
memorial site.

Hilda Chobanian also informed that a memorial will be
erected in a Marseilles borough too, and numerous
arrangements will be held in Sweden, Norway, Italy,
Germany and all over Eastern Europe.

By M. Hovsepian

KARABAKH WILL TRAIN ITS ARMY TILL LATE APRIL

Lragir.am
14 April 06

Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia, Armed Forces Headquarters
Chief, Lieutenant-General Michael Harutiunyan highly appreciated the
training of the defense army of Nagorno Karabakh during his meeting
with the NKR president. The press service of the NKR president
informed the news agency ARKA. `What I saw was impressive, however the
final assessment will be given after summing up the results of the
training,’ said Michael Harutiunyan. The defense minister of NKR
Seyran Ohanyan also participated in the meeting. The training of the
Karabakh army will last till late April.

FORMAT OF KARABAKH TALKS DID NOT CHANGE

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.04.2006 02:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is
and will be in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group, OSCE MG French
Co-Chair Bernard Fassier stated in Yerevan. In his words, the format
of the talks can simply be adapted to the current conditions.

“If we are not content with our activities, we have the right to
utilize everything that can help solve the NK conflict,” Bernard
Fassier said.

At that he remarked that the issue of deployment of peacekeeping forces
at the contact line, equally as EU and NATO joining the talks is part
of the concept of adaptation of the format of talks over settlement
of the NK conflict.

AZERI PAPER SAYS IRAN TO “HIT” AZERBAIJAN IF USA STARTS WAR

Azadliq, Baku
9 Apr 06

The Azerbaijani opposition newspaper Azadliq has detailed “three
issues” on which the Azerbaijani and US governments are to cooperate
in the possible US war against Iran. The paper looked into “principles
and interests” that the alliance between the two countries is based
upon. It added that if the USA starts war with Iran, the latter will
organize acts of sabotage in Azerbaijan. The following is text of
Qanimat Zahid’s report in Azerbaijani newspaper Azadliq on 9 April
headlined “Will Iran hit Azerbaijan” and subheaded “What is the USA
demanding from Azerbaijan?”; subheadings as published:

Azerbaijan is to cooperate with Americans on three issues in the
expected US-Iranian war, according to reports we have received from
diplomatic sources.

First, Azerbaijan is to open its air space for US warplanes.

Second, US warplanes are to use Azerbaijani military aerodromes and
be provided with fuel there.

Third, Azerbaijan is to agree to the deployment on its territory of
a limited contingent of US troops in order to serve the US air force.

As we see, the conditions are not that big. In fact, it seems necessary
to regard as somewhat ordinary the conditions put forward in exchange
for statements constantly made that “the USA and Azerbaijan are
strategic allies”. That is to say, the USA may start war with Iran
under the pretext of eliminating a danger capable of threatening its
strategic interests. In such a case, it may demand that its strategic
allies remain loyal to principles of alliance.

USA’s strategy of alliance with us

On the basis of what principles and interests is the USA’s strategy
of alliance with Azerbaijan built? It is important to clarify these
interests to see to which extent the USA’s and Azerbaijan’s strategic
goals match.

First, Azerbaijan needs to extract its strategic wealth – oil – in
maximum security and benefit from it. The USA has been guaranteeing
such security so far. It is another issue that the oil that is being
extracted in safe conditions has nothing to do with the Azerbaijani
people. It is also another issue how the Azerbaijani oil, which is
being extracted in completely safe conditions, and Azerbaijan itself
are divided between other parties guaranteeing security. Is it done
fairly or unfairly?

Second, Azerbaijan is to prevent Russia from completely taking
over the regional energy corridor and to protect US interests in
the corridor. This condition for strategic alliance has also been
observed by means of the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline. Hydrocarbons from Central Asia and the South Caucasus are
being exported via the “energy road” passing through Azerbaijan to
Europe – market of hydrocarbons which the USA manages to control.

Third, Azerbaijan’s existence on the basis of secular values and on
the condition of integration into Europe is to restrict Russia’s and
Iran’s influence on the South Caucasus.

USA’s behaviour within the framework of alliance strategy

We can see clearly that the USA needs the conditions and demands of
strategic alliance between the world’s superpower and Azerbaijan more
than Azerbaijan does. It is true that the USA has also taken specific
steps to reinforce these conditions. However, the positive impact of
these steps on Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani people still cannot be
seen. What are these reinforcing steps?

US companies have invested billions [of dollars] in Azerbaijan. Even
though the bulk of the investments fall to the oil sector, these
investments could have played an exceptional role for a clever
government in order to strengthen the state.

US public institutions have also spent large amounts of money towards
formation of democratic traditions in Azerbaijan. A clever government
could have been interested in the entrance to the country of these
“investments” which could be considered irreplaceable for the
strengthening of public mechanisms. Unfortunately, the Azerbaijani
government is not clever. What is more, the Azerbaijani government is
not working on political strategies ensuring the state’s interests. The
entire action strategy of this government is based on search for
ways of benefiting further and for longer from sources belonging to
the state.

The USA is also taking steps within the framework of its strategic
interests so as to ensure that totalitarianism in Azerbaijan does
not rise to a level that could disgrace the USA itself. Strategic
alliance with Azerbaijan’s current half-totalitarian society and
half-authoritarian government is for the time being continuing as it
has not disgraced the USA as much as it was thought.

Karabakh is not part of the Azerbaijani government’s strategic
interests

One of the important results of the US-Azerbaijani strategic alliance
for Azerbaijan could be success in making world’s powers accept
its fair position in the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict resolution. The
US government should have taken specific steps in exchange for its
strategic ally’s strategic demands. However, we are all observing
the fact that our strategic ally is not giving serious international
support to the Nagornyy Karabakh settlement. What is more, it is
not doing so for a very simple reason. The Azerbaijani government
does not seem to have informed its strategic ally of its vitally
important conditions at all. Azerbaijan has shaped its oil strategy
in such a way as to preserve the topicality of Heydarism with support
from US lobby organizations and potential lobbyists and also to have
Washington turn a blind eye to an even greater embezzlement of US
investments in and aid provided to Azerbaijan. The result is that
the Azerbaijani government does not expect of its strategic ally to
take steps for the sake of the Azerbaijani state, but to protect a
Mafiosi clan. Administrations that change one by one in the USA,
which is our strategic ally, are also involved in this work and
protect USA’s strategic interests.

On what “conditions” may Iran hit Azerbaijan?

The USA is now demanding that its strategic ally Azerbaijan honour, in
a standoff with Iran, commitments proceeding from alliance. Naturally,
the US government will succeed in this when necessary. These conditions
were mentioned at the beginning of this article. What steps may Iran
take against the USA’s strategic ally Azerbaijan if those conditions
are fulfilled? It would be interesting to recall these.

It is clear that Iran, which has rich experience in carrying out
terrorist attacks, will plan to carry out possible acts of sabotage
on Azerbaijani territory. Moreover, Iran will maximally mobilize its
network of agents in Azerbaijan and put it into operation. However,
putting all this aside, we can also list ways in which Iran could
hit conditions of alliance with our strategic ally USA.

Under the first condition: Iran may take measures to undermine security
in Azerbaijan’s air space. Iranian warplanes have invaded Azerbaijan’s
air space even in peace time.

Under the second condition: Iran’s state-of-the-art defence
missiles can operate within a range of 3,500 km. It would not be
particularly difficult for the Iranian armed forces to test these
arms in Azerbaijani aerodromes which are a few hundreds of kilometres
away. If we take into account the condition that US warplanes are
to be provided with fuel in Azerbaijan, we should expect that Iran
might hit our fuel sources as well. Therefore, security of onshore
and offshore oil fields may be undermined first.

Under the third condition, it is difficult to imagine military action
being carried out. The US limited military contingent might be hit
by the [Iranian] local network of agents.

Why care about the motherland? What matters is their own protection

If war does start, the Azerbaijani government should demand insurance
against these dangers from the USA, its strategic ally. Perhaps,
not for the sake of national and state interests but at least their
own interests. After all, oil and all other resources belong to these
authorities. They do not have to put forward conditions related to
Nagornyy Karabakh to the strategic ally because it is primarily the
multi-million population of Azerbaijan who needs this. But oil and
power! [as given].

We wonder if they will be able to demand security guarantees at least
on the basis of these factors.

ARMENIAN TABLE TENNIS PLAYERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 12:32

Table tennis team of Armenia will participate in the World Table Tennis
Championship to be held April 23 in Bremen, Germany. The chief trainer
of the team is Felix Sargsyan. The team comprises three players –
David Sargsyan, Murad Asatryan and Mesrop Ghukasyan. All thre sportsmen
are included in the top 1 000 of the best tennis player og the world.

Armenia currently ranks 71st in the international table tennis
rating list.

BERNARD FASSIER: WE WANT TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR KOCHARYAN-ALIEV MEETING

ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 14:50

During the coming weeks active discussions are expected around
Nagorno-Karabakh. The regional tour of the OSCE Minsk Group French
Co-Chair Bernard Fassier came to an end yesterday. Today he will have
consultation meetings with the Russian mediator Yuri Merzlyakov and
Deputy Foreign Minister Gennadi Karaskin in Moscow. The coming days
the visit of the US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann to
Yerevan and Baku is expected, on April 21 Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan will meet Yuri Merzlyakov in Moscow.

As it is known, on April 28 Ilham Aliev is leaving for Washington,
where he will be received by US president George Bush. Naturally,
one of the central topics of the meeting will be the Karabakh issue.

Late April or early May Bernard Fassier is expected to visit the
region. Early may the Co-Chars will hold a consultation meeting in
Moscow. However, the active discussions on the settlement issue and
the visits of the mediators to the region in no way speak about a
break in the negotiations process. Moreover, at this moment it is not
clear whether a new meeting between Kocharyan and Aliev will be held.

“We want to create opportunities for the meeting of the Presidents of
the two countries. Today I cannot indicate the date and place of the
meeting, since nothing has been set so far. It will be good if there
is an opportunity to have the meeting be held in June. If not, let’s
hope that such meeting will be held in July,” Bernard Fassier declared.