Author: Hunanian Jack

ARMENIAN PREMIER: SERIOUS PROBLEMS REGISTERED WHEN IMPLEMENTING THE BUDGETARY EXPENSES 2008

ArmInfo
2009-02-26 12:30:00

ArmInfo. Investigations of the Audit Chamber of Armenian National
Assembly showed that serious problems have been disclosed in the matter
of ensuring effectiveness of the budgetary expenses 2008, Armenian
Prime Minister, Tigran Sarkisyan, said in the government today. The
premier discussed the problem of fulfillment of the expenditure
budget with chairman of Audit Chamber of the parliament. He said
that the Audit Chamber will help the government to hold audit in
the spheres where there are high risks of ineffective using of the
budgetary funds. "We have serious reserves, and the expenses may be
more effective. If high risks are preserved in these spheres even after
holding if audit, these expenses simply should not be implemented. In
such a way we shall be able to get serious savings in the budget 2009",
– Sarkisyan said.

He charged all the ministries and departments to submit expenditure
reports to the Audit Chamber over a week. "If over a week the Audit
Chamber does not get reply, we shall be forces to appeal to other
methods", – Sarkisyan said.

FOOTBALL TEAMS CAST A DRAW FOR ARMENIA 2009 CUP

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.02.2009 14:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia 2009 Cup qualifying draw was cast today
in FFA headquarters. Armenia 2009 Cup follows the Olympic system,
hosting only major league teams. The Cup Tournament will commence
from ¼ final. The tournament will be both hosting and visiting the
matches except the final one. Rivaling teams were determined as a
result of the draw.

The tournament opens on Mar. 17 with Pyunik- Kilikia match. The
rival of the winning team will be determined after Unils -Gandzasar
match. Second semifinal participants will be determined after
Banants-Ararat and Mika-Shirak matches. The final game will be held
on May 9, 2009.

Armenia 2009 Cup Calendar

¼ final: Pyunik – Kilikia – 17.03 (3 p.m.) Kilikia – Pyunik – 07.04
(4 p.m.) Ulis – Ganzasar – 17.03 (3 p.m.) Gandzasar – Ulis – 07.04
(4 p.m.) The winners will become first participants of 14.04 and
21.04 semifinal matches

¼ final: Banants – Ararat – 18.03 (3 p.m.) Ararat – Banants –
08.04 (4 p.m.) Mika – Shirak – 18.03 (4 p.m.) Shirak – Mika – 08.04
(4 p.m.)

Yerevan time is indicated.

The winners will become first participants of 14.04 and 21.04
semifinal matches.

Upon Armenia 2009 Cup participation draw, major and minor league
draws were held to determine the teams’ tournament standings.

Major league tournament standings:

1. Shirak (Gyumri) 2. Mika (Ashtarak) 3. Banants (Yerevan) 4. Ulis
(Yerevan) 5. Kilikia (Yerevan) 6. Pyunik (Yerevan) 7. Gandzasar
(Kapan) 8. Ararat (Yerevan)

Minor league tournamne standings:

1. Impulse (Dilijan) 2. Shirak-2 (Gyumri) 3. Pjunik-2 (Yerevan)
4. N. Artsakh (Goris) 5. Gandzasar-2 (Kapan) 6. Banats-3 (Yerevan)
7. Shengavit (Yerevan) 8. Mika-2 (Yerevan) 9. Banants-2 (Yerevan)
10. Pjunik-3 (Yerevan)

ARMENIANS IN TURKEY REACT TO DOCUMENTARY

HYE-TERT
3.asp?Id=31514&DilId=1
Feb 24 2009
Turkey

At least don’t force our children to watch that DVD, pleaded the
Armenian citizens of Turkey in a letter with nearly 500 signatories
to Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. They were complaining about a
six-part documentary called, "Sari Gelin – Behind the scenes story
of the Armenian question" that was sent to primary schools by the
National Education Ministry to be shown to the students.

"Sari Gelin" is, of course a folk tale shared for centuries by
Armenians, Turks and other indigenous people of Anatolia. The folk
song, Sari Gelin (Mountain Girl or Blond Girl) or Sari Gyalin in
Armenian echoed in Istanbul streets when tens of thousands of people
accompanied the coffin of Hrant Dink, the Armenian journalist slain
under still obscure conditions, to his final resting place two years
ago. Although the murderer of Dink, an 18-year-old lumpen kid from
the Black Sea area, was captured, collusion of Turkey’s security
authorities in the killing is being publicly debated today.

Producers of the documentary probably gave this title to their work
to create the impression that it was an attempt to erase animosities
between Armenians and Turks. But the effect was the opposite.

"Considering the way how the documentary in question deals with the
issue, it is certain that it will fan the feelings of hatred and
hostility through expressions of violence and discrimination rather
than providing knowledge in historical subjects and thus increase the
already existing animosities against the Armenians in the society,"
the letter said.

Since June 2008, the DVDs of the documentary were being distributed to
the schools by the Education Ministry, including the Armenian minority
schools. In January, the ministry asked the school administrations
to report by February 27 how the documentary was received by the
students. In the same circular letter the ministry revealed that the
documentary was prepared on the initiative of the Headquarters of
the Turkish General Staff.

The documentary includes historical footage allegedly showing armed
Armenian bands raiding Turkish villages in Anatolia during World War
I. It also shows bodies of Turkish diplomats slain by the Armenian
ASALA terror organization in the U.S. and Europe since the 19’/70s.

"Because of this practice, the greatest harm will be done to
the Armenian children who are going to school with their Turkish
friends. Those who have not lived it cannot judge how much damage can
be caused to the children’s psychology, how deep wounds it may open
when in a crowded classroom such accusations are made and the gaze
of others concentrate on singled out (Armenian) students," said the
letter addressed to Prime Minister Erdogan.

Strong negative reaction followed the letter by Turkey’s Armenian
citizens against the showing of such a documentary to children aged
between 7 and 15.

The documentary "teaches" the children how to hate the Armenians,
said Zubeyde Kilic, the president of Egitim-Sen, (Union of Workers in
Education Sector). She added that unless the showing of the documentary
is suspended immediately, her organization will take legal action
against it.

The History Foundation that has been conducting research on human
rights and anti-discriminatory measures in education also reacted
strongly against the documentary. "It is more a propaganda film than a
documentary," said the foundation in a written statement. "It spreads
seeds of hatred and antagonism. It fans the already existing feelings
of enmity against the Armenians," the statement emphasized.

Newspaper columnists also criticized the film for its "racist"
approach and its dangerous influence on the minds of young children.

After the public reaction, the Education Ministry came up with an
explanation that the video was distributed to the schools not to be
shown to the students but for the teachers "to train themselves in
historical issues." The ministry’s announcement also said that it
was suspending the distribution immediately.

Mustafa Oymak, the press officer of the Education Ministry said the
film was sent to the local ministry officials in the provinces who
in turn were supposed to report back their evaluations. He likened
the documentary to "other such activities of the ministry to support
education like film against cigarette smoking and preventive measures
against tuberclosis."

AKP Also Distributed the DVD

The director of the documentary, Ismail Umac, announced that the
governing party AKP also distributed DVDs of the film before the
general elections in July in 2007. The youth branch of AKP in Istanbul
ordered 75,000 copies and these were given out as "presents" to mainly
young people. Umac also claimed that the Headquarters of the Turkish
General Staff had nothing to do with the production of the film.

A 70-Minute Version Distributed Abroad

The documentary was also edited down to 70 minutes and dubbed
in English, French, German and other Western languages and
distributed abroad according to the producers. They also said that
for objectivity’s sake, they have also incorporated interviews with
foreigners, mostly Armenians abroad, who describe the events in 1915
as an Armenian genocide by the Turks.

ONE LOSES, THE OTHER WINS

A1+
[03:56 pm] 23 February, 2009

Representatives of Armenian IT companies say the world economic crisis
has greatly affected the sphere of Information Technologies. They
say the crisis will still continue deepening.

President of the Union of IT Enterprises (UITE) Hovhannes Avoyan
says the global financial-economic crisis largely affects great
companies. The closure of Lycos Company is a brilliant example. The
Company wasn’t sure to surmount the crisis.

During a recent meeting of IT leaders the invitees confessed that
the crisis makes them review their strategy. To overcome the crisis
they propose a close cooperation with the state. Two enterprises have
already been involved in state programmes. By the turn of the year,
the UITE is expected to have about 40 member companies.

Unlike the USA and Europe where the sphere suffers a decline, it is
more or less stable in Armenia, observe IT specialists.

On the other hand, the crisis opens new opportunities, says
Mr. Avoyan. "It is more preferable to open a new company or improve
the older one as the sphere avails companies with new competitive
conditions and facilitates their further work. Besides, it enables
to recruit qualified specialists," says the UITE President.

Investments to the Internet sphere are more profitable in Armenia as
social networks, Internet attractions and games enlarge day by day. "As
a result of the crisis, more and more people are made redundant and
they seek consolation in the Internet. Generally Internet services
are getting modern," adds Mr. Avoyan.

Director General of the Synopsis Armenia Company Hovik Musaelyan says
the global financial-economic crisis has not affected their company.

"Over the past four years our company has made an investment of
700 million dollars. In the given conditions one is a winner, the
other – a loser. Nevertheless, the achievements in the IT sphere
are obvious. Our Company has no shortage of orders, and none of
the employees has been fired. Under the conditions of such a crisis
the field of Information Technologies could even develop. However,
companies should be able to invest in new tools and technologies,
otherwise the company will have no future," Hovik Musaelyan said.

SCULPTOR NIKOLAY NIKOGHOSYAN AWARDED SAINT MESROP MASHTOTS ORDER

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.02.2009 18:10 GMT+04:00

On February 20, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan signed an edict to
award Saint Mesrop Mashtots Order to sculptor Nikolay Nikoghosyan on
his 90th birthday.

The sculptor was awarded for his contribution to the development
of sculpture and applied arts and strengthening of Armenian-Russian
cultural ties.

‘TURKEY TO KEEP MILITARY TIES WITH ISRAEL’

PRESS TV
Feb 23 2009
Iran

Military projects between Israel and Turkey are in process.

A senior Turkish official says a recent rift between Tel Aviv and
Ankara will not affect the two sides’ joint military projects.

Turkey’s Undersecretary for the Defense Industry Murad Bayar denied
media reports that Tel Aviv has rejected arms orders from Ankara after
relations between the two sides stained over the Israeli invasion of
the Gaza Strip, the Turkish daily Hurriyet reported.

"Turkey and Israel have mutual benefits in these projects. The
projects are carried out within such framework," the daily quoted
Bayar as saying at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference
(IDEX-2009) in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.

The remarks were made after media reports citing Israeli officials said
that Tel Aviv was mulling over rejecting an arms request by Ankara.

Relations between the two sides began to strain after Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly slammed Israel over its
offensive against the Gaza Strip.

The tension escalated after Israeli Ground Forces Commander Avi Mizrahi
said Erdogan, who criticized Israel’s military campaign on Gaza,
"should first look in the mirror".

He accused Ankara of "committing a massacre of Armenians, as well
as suppression of the Kurds". The remarks drew harsh reactions from
Turkish officials and forced the Israeli side to express regret
and apologize.

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

PRESS RELEASE

February 20, 2009
Contact: Haig Hovsepian

LA Kings and ANC-WR Team Up to Make Armenian Heritage Night a Success

LOS ANGELES, CA – On Monday, February 16th the Los Angeles Kings hosted
Armenian Heritage Night during their game with the visiting Atlanta
Thrashers. The event, organized with the Armenian National
Committee-Western Region (ANC-WR), also marked the occasion of the first
visit to the King’s home ice of Thrasher’s defenseman, Zach Boghosian.
Boghosian,
a 2008 National Hockey League first-round draft pick is the first Armenian
American to be drafted to play in the NHL. Over a thousand Armenian
Americans joined with other faithful Kings fans at the Staples Center to
celebrate the occasion and raise awareness about the vibrant Armenian
community.

"Hundreds of Armenian Americans participated in the event to support their
hometown team and at the same time take pride in one of their own blazing a
trail of success at the highest levels of American sports," said Haig
Hovsepian, ANC-WR Community Relations Director. "This speaks to the heart
of our community’s drive to make a positive contribution and become leaders
across the spectrum of American society," he added.

In the days prior to the event, Boghosian commented about the Armenian
Heritage Night event on the official Thrasher’s team blog website. In his
post he discusses his heritage including his family’s surviving the Armenian
Genocide which brought the family to New York early last century.

"It’s pretty special for the Kings to have Armenian Heritage Night while I’m
playing there. My grandparents are Armenian and that part of my background
is really important to me, because even though I’m not from there it’s
always good to go back to your roots and understand where you came from,"
noted Boghosian in the posted blog.

Joining the ANC-WR for the occasion was the newly appointed Consul General
of the Republic of Armenia to Los Angeles, Krikor Hovanessian who was
recognized by the LA Kings during the first period of the game. In addition
to several shots of the many Armenian flag waving fans in the stands, the
evening included a photo montage of prominent Armenian Americans shown on
the arena’s "jumbotron" screens over center ice as well as an introduction
of the Armenian National Hockey Team which joined in on the night’s
celebrations.

Several Armenian community personalities and organizations including Asbarez
Daily Newspaper and Horizon Television were also in attendance and helped
make the evening a resounding success. Fans were treated to an exciting
game in which Boghosian earned three assists and the hometown Kings sent the
offense driven game into overtime by scoring the tying goal with only
seconds left in regulation time. Though the Thrashers won in game 7-6 in
the overtime shootout, it was an exciting evening for all on many levels.

Following the game, Armenian Heritage Night continued with a party at Club
Nokia, across from the Staples Center at which the ANC-WR hosted a table
providing the latest news on Armenian American issues as well as information
about how to get involved. Several of the young hockey fans asked more
about volunteer opportunities and the ANC’s internship programs. In
addition to the ANC, the night was flavored with various tastes of the
Armenian community including Armenian beer and Armenian artists, including
hip-hop performer R-Mean and DJ Vick One from Power 106, who mixed American
and Armenian sounds to entertain the crowd.

Several Armenian Americans in attendance expressed pride in having their
culture introduced to a broader spectrum of the American community and
expressed their gratitude to the Kings organization for hosting the event
and players, several of whom joined the fans for the post-game party. A
portion of the proceeds from the event were generously donated to the
ANC-WR.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and most
influential Armenian American Grassroots advocacy organization in the
Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated
organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances the concerns of the
Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

###

TURKEY HALTS CONTROVERSIAL ARMENIA DOCUMENTARY DISTRIBUTION TO SCHOOLS

Hurriyet
sh/domestic/11038029.asp?gid=244
Feb 19 2009
Turkey

Turkey’s Education Ministry has halted the distribution of a
controversial documentary about the Armenian issue to all elementary
schools after its move incited fierce reactions among academics and
intellectuals. (UPDATED)

The ministry had distributed "Sarı Gelin — The True Face of the
Armenian Question," a documentary film developed by the General Staff,
to all schools around the country, requesting that all students see
the film and asked school directors return a "conclusive report"
to the related administration by Feb 29, 2009.

The ministry said in a statement Wednesday that the film was sent to
schools for the benefit of the teachers, not the students.

There was no directive suggesting watching of the documentary was
compulsory in schools, it added. "But some schools used the film
inappropriately," the statement said.

Academics have criticized the documentary for reflecting the official
ideology of the Turkish Republic on the 1915 incidents and undermining
the claims of an alleged Armenian "genocide".

Some 500 Armenians and intellectuals sent an open letter to the prime
minister protesting the ministry’s move, daily Radikal reported on
Wednesday. The letter requested the exemption of Armenian schools and
Armenian students, who attended classes with Turkish students, from
watching the documentary in order to "prevent them feeling guilty,
ashamed and excluded from the others".

TURKEY WATCHES CLOSELY U.S. POLICY ON ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.02.2009 13:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S. President Barack Obama has told Turkish
President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan he hopes to
strengthen ties with their country and expressed support for Turkey’s
growing relationship with Iraq, the White House said on Monday.

Obama spoke to the two men by phone earlier in the day.

"In both calls, the leaders discussed a number of current issues,
including U.S. support for the growing Turkish-Iraqi relationship,
the importance of cooperation in Middle East peace efforts, and the
U.S. review on Afghanistan and Pakistan policy," the White House said
in a statement.

Turkey has repeatedly attacked hideouts of Kurdish rebels in the
northern mountainous region of Iraq.

The White House said Obama emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Turkey
alliance and expressed his desire to work on a "broad agenda" of
mutual strategic interest.

"The President emphasized his desire to strengthen U.S.-Turkish
relations and to work together effectively in NATO," the statement
said, the IHT reports.

Meanwhile, the statement issued by the Turkish government says that
Turkey watches closely the U.S. policy toward Armenia and Middle East
and "hopes for a fair approach that will not damage the U.S.-Turkish
relations."

CHILDREN SUFFER BLOOD CANCER – LEUKEMIA

Panorama.am
13:27 17/02/2009

The World Health Organization reports that during the recent years
the rate of cancer raised, but the experts also note that the rate
of child’s cancer has not been raised either in Armenia or in other
countries, said Grigor Badalyan of the Ministry of Health.

According to him, in 2003 5951 cases of child cancer have been
registered, and in 2007 – 7294. Child cancer differs from adult
cancer. Child cancer develops faster, hence the parents should not slow
the speed and start the treatment. Children have more opportunities
to be 100% cured than adults, said G. Badalyan. According to him,
most children suffer blood cancer – leukemia.