Author: Jagharian Tania

IRAN EXPECTED TO RESPOND TODAY TO CRUCIAL INTERNATIONAL OFFER REGARDING ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAMME

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.10.2009 11:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran is expected to respond today to a crucial
international offer regarding its nuclear programme, amid concerns
among world powers that it will not accept a deal to transfer about
two- thirds of its current stock of low-enriched uranium to France
and Russia.

Iranian media again signalled yesterday that Tehran would be seeking
changes to a draft plan drawn up by the International Atomic Energy
Agency, a move that could force the deal to unravel if its demands
were seen as excessive by world powers.

In an interview with the Financial Times, David Miliband, Britain’s
foreign secretary, said the offer, if it were accepted by Iran,
would not resolve many concerns over its nuclear programme, such as
allegations that it has sought to militarise the programme in the past.

"But it is an important test, and it’s an important benefit for Iran
because the fabricated enrichment would return to Iran for medical
use. So it’s a potential to show a win-win."

"Acceptance of the medical isotopes deal is not a full answer to the
concerns. But it’s an important component of bringing discipline and
I suppose respect, and space for this issue to be addressed properly."

These developments came as a bill that would give the Obama
administration power to impose sanctions on a range of companies
involved in providing Iran with petrol cleared a key congressional
committee.

THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN SCHOOL CELEBRATED IN TBILISI

Aysor
Oct 28 2009
Armenia

On October 27 in Tbilisi in the State Dramatic Theatre after Petros
Adamyan was celebrated the 70th anniversary of Armenian Public
school N104.

On the ceremony were introduced the congratulatory massages of Armenian
and Georgian Ministers of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan and
Nika Gvaramiya and the RA Diaspora’s Minister Hranush Hakobyan.

The ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in Georgia Hrach Silvanyan,
Deputy Minister of Georgian Minister of Education and Science Irina
Kurtadze, the head of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese Vazgen Mirzaxanyan
made greeting speeches.

The adviser of the Georgian President and the editor of the newspaper
"Georgia" Van Bayburd, the deputies of Georgian-Armenian community
and some guests were present at the ceremony.

Ambassador Hrach Silvanyan gave the highest award of the Minister of
Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia, the "Golden Medal",
to the director of the Armenian public school in Georgia Karine
Manukyan. Many teachers of the school received thanks giving letters
and diplomas from the Ministers of Education and Science of Armenia
and Georgia and the Minister of Diaspora of Armenia, the department
of information and press of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia informs.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT LIKES TOYOTAS

news.am
Oct 27 2009
Armenia

The RA Government has spent around 2bn AMD on Toyota cars. According
to some information, the real owner of the Toyota Yerevan Company is
Sedrak Kocharyan, son of Armenia’s second president Robert Kocharyan,
though the company is officially the property of Samvel Mairapetyan,
Robert Kocharyan’s companion.

The Gyumri-based Asparez club reported that the RA government spent
a total of 2.659bn AMD on cars last year, with 1,931.710m AMD (72.6%)
spent on 241 Toyota cars.

In 2007, the RA Government spent around 1bn AMD on Toyota cars – 56.6%
of the funds intended for this purpose. Most of the cars were purchased
for the RA Police (200 cars), RA Presidential Administration and RA NA
Administration. A number of other government agencies ordered Toyota
cars as well. The government purchased cars worth a total of 230m AMD
from the company owned by Karen Shahmuradyan – 8.8% of the funds. Over
20% of the funds were spent on cars purchased from other companies.

The RA Prosecutor General’s Office "remains faithful" to its taste.

Just as last year, it has purchased only Volkswagen cars from the
Eurowagen Company. Evil tongues claim RA Prosecutor General is co-owner
of the company.

ARMENIAN-TURKISH NORMALIZATION NOT TO BE LINKED TO GEORGIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.10.2009 18:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian-Turkish reconciliation has no bearing on
Georgia, Georgian political scientist Paata Zakareishvili said.

According to him, the process cannot negatively affect either Georgia
or the entire region. "Normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties marks
a new era in region, both in economic and political terms," Georgian
expert finds.

Commenting upon ex-Economy Minister Vladimir Papava’s recent statement
on Turkish-Meskhets’ possible return to territories of Javahk, he
noted that, "Turkish Meskhets’ return will not in any way affect
Georgian regions. The process started long ago, and no one has so
far suffered from that."

Georgia’s former Economy Minister Vladimir Papava, currently a senior
employee in Strategic and International Research Center. told Trend
News that Armenian-Turkish process should be viewed as regional issue
as it may entail problems in Samtskhe-Javakheti. He also noted that
after Armenian-Turkish rapprochement Georgia will have no argument
that Turkish-Meskhets’ return will create ethnic problems in region,
causing fears among Armenian population.

TURKS REVEL IN THEIR GLORY DAYS
Thomas Seibert

The National
rticle?AID=/20091027/FOREIGN/710269894/1135
Oct 27 2009
UAE

The Panorama 1453 Museum cleverly depicts the Ottoman assault on
Constantinople. Kerem Uzel / NarPhotos ISTANBUL // With the roar of
battle filling the air and scenes of fierce fighting all around him,
Ismail Uysal said he could not have been happier.

"I wish I could have been there," Mr Uysal, a 22-year-old university
student, said during a visit to the Panorama 1453 History Museum
in Istanbul. The centrepiece of the museum is the inside of a dome
covered with a 360-degree painting depicting the successful Ottoman
assault on what was then Constantinople on May 29, 1453. A lifelike
display of the battleground with cannons, carts, arrows and dug-outs
between the visitors’ ramp and the painting as well as sound effects
with battle cries, war drums, horses and explosions are also part of
the exhibition.

"It was an important day," Mr Uysal said about the fall of
Constantinople that ended the thousand-year reign of the Christian
Byzantine empire and turned today’s Istanbul into the capital of the
Muslim Ottomans, then an emerging new power which went on to conquer
much of south-eastern Europe and the Middle East. "That is how our
ancestors came here, came to Istanbul," Mr Uysal said.

Wide-eyed admiration for the Ottoman era of the sort expressed by
visitors in the Panorama museum is often found in conservative circles
in Turkey. Some observers say an uncritical admiration for the past,
fuelled by a one-sided way of teaching history in state schools,
makes it difficult for modern Turkey to understand and deal with
problems that present themselves in today’s world.

The museum, which is close to the historic city walls, provides a
romantic view of the decisive battle. The painting, covering 2,350
square metres, shows Ottoman soldiers, directed by Sultan Mehmet II
on a white horse, storming the city walls of Constantinople. "The
conquest of Istanbul was as much a technological marvel as it was
an epic story of uncommon valour," Kadir Topbas, Istanbul’s mayor,
wrote in a brochure for the museum.

"What happened here has great significance for me as a Turk and
a Muslim," said one visitor, Mutlu Karabas. Close by, excited
schoolchildren were following their teachers around the visitors’
platform, pointing out battle scenes to each other.

One day last week, the museum, which has attracted tens of thousands
of visitors since it opened at the start of the year, was filled with
schoolchildren, tour groups and individual visitors. Many expressed
awe at what their ancestors did.

"This is my ninth time here but I feel the same way every time,"
said Derya, a 23-year-old accountant who gave only her first name. "A
museum like this was long overdue. It was overdue for us to take
possession of our history."

Derya led a friend, Tugba, around the display, and both women said the
museum made them appreciate the importance of the day Constantinople
fell to the Ottomans. "It was a day that makes you proud," Tugba said.

"Here you feel even more like a Turk."

School education in Turkey encourages strong nationalistic views. Sara
Nur Yildiz, a US-trained historian at the Orient Institut in Istanbul,
a German research institution, and a former teacher at the liberal
Bilgi University in the city, said Turkish schools use a "non-critical"
approach. "They teach people to be proud to be Turkish," she said.

That view of history is sometimes expressed in academic circles as
well. "There are black pages in the history of every nation," Mehmet
Celik, a historian, told a panel at Atilim University in Ankara last
year, according to the university’s website. "But in the history of
the Turkish nation, there is not even one black page."

But Turkey needs to face the fact that not all of its past was golden,
critics say. One of them is Selahattin Demirtas, a leading member of
the Party for a Democratic Society, or DTP, Turkey’s main Kurdish
party. Referring to nationalist protests against recent agreements
between Turkey and its longtime foe Armenia to normalise relations, Mr
Demirtas told parliament last week that the country had to take a close
look at the reasons why so many people still saw Armenians as enemies.

A distorted view of events that led to the death of several hundred
thousand Armenians at the end of the First World War had been built
into history books in schools, Mr Demirtas said. The official version
of history taught in schools played up the fact that Armenian rebels
had killed Muslim Turks during the war but treated Turkish aggressions
against Armenians "as if they had not happened", he said.

SERZH SARGSYAN TO VISIT KUWAIT

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.10.2009 21:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Deputy FM Arman Kirakosyan and his Kuwaiti
colleague Khaled Al-Jarallah discussed issues concerning RA President’s
upcoming visit to Kuwait. Consultations focused on possibilities of
economic cooperation, particularly signing of bilateral agreements.

Arman Kirakosyan briefed on Armenia’s policy with neighbors, as well
as Armenian-Turkish normalization. In his turn, Kuwaiti official
introduced his Armenian counterpart to his country’s cooperation
with Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, RA Foreign Ministry’s press service
reports.

BAKO SAHAKYAN: THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHOUSHI IS A MATTER OF HONOR

armradio.am
26.10.2009 16:32

President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan delivered a
speech at the meeting with Armenian entrepreneurs and philanthropists
of Russia. The President stated, in part:

"Respected compatriots, Dear friends, Ladies and gentlemen

I am happy to have this opportunity today to meet you, to welcome
and express my deepest respect to everybody.

Our meetings in Moscow have already become traditional, which is not
accidental at all. Russia has been ally and friend of the Armenian
people for centuries and you being its citizens serve as a unique
bridge between your two homelands, live and work with the idea of
providing help to them.

People gathered in this hall have always assisted to the prosperity
and well-being of Artsakh, they consider the problems of their remote
Motherland and the pain of their native people as their own. You have
preserved the sense of patriotism alive. This very sense performed
miracles in the battlefield and I am confident that it will encourage
us nowadays because the challenges we face in times of peace are no
less important and require quick and efficient response.

The restoration and development of the ancient Armenian town of Shoushi
that for centuries had been political, spiritual and cultural center
of Artsakh is among such urgent issues. We intend to restore the
historical glory of past Shoushi, make the town modern, flourishing
and developed. And the fact that you are here is the best evidence
certifying that for each of you the development of this homeland
particle, its present and future is of utmost importance and you are
ready to contribute your mite to this important process.

The restoration of Artsakh’s old capital is of crucial importance
for the independent Armenian statehood. Historically Shoushi played
various roles not only for Artsakh but also in the life of the
entire Armenian people. In the XVIII-XIX centuries it was one of
the military, political, economic, cultural and education centers of
the Transcaucasus.

At the beginning of the 20th century there were tens of factories,
educational and cultural centers functioning in the town, 22 newspapers
were being published in Armenian and Russian languages, Shoushi had
close economic connection with the major cities in Russia, Europe
and the Middle East. Shoushi has also given a great constellation of
scientists, art workers, military and political figures.

The most tragic period in the history of the town was the beginning
of the 20th century. In 1905 the first massacre of Armenians was
organized in the town, hundreds of innocent people fell victims to it.

In 1918-1920 Shoushi was the center of the Artsakh liberation movement
and the capital of self-governing Nagorno Karabakh. In 1920 the town
was destroyed and the Armenians were expelled.

During the Artsakh war Shoushi was turned to one of the main
Azerbaijani military bases spreading death to capital Stepanakert
and adjacent Armenian settlements.

May 9, 1992 was a turning point both for Artsakh and for the entire
Armenians. Shoushi was liberated and this heartened the world-spread
Armenians. It was our second great victory after Sardarapat. It was
both a military and moral victory.

The liberation of Shoushi awaked in the sub-consciousness of our
people self-confidence in our own strength, as well as resoluteness
in building free and independent statehood. This great victory was
Pan-Armenian in its nature. The entire Armenian nation partook in
the liberation of Shoushi, the world Armenians provided material and
moral assistance to Artsakh and prayed to God asking for restoration
of historical justice.

The NKR authorities consider the development of the town of Shoushi and
the whole region as an issue of great strategic importance. For this
very reason we are planning to move some state organs and structures
to Shoushi, including the judicial system, the ministry of culture
and youth affairs, some sub-divisions of the Defense Army, the union
of writers, Artsakh branch of the State Agricultural University of
Armenia and some other bodies. We are confident that these measures
will give a new impetus to the development of the town.

Various funds and organizations as well as individual philanthropists
play a substantial role in the development of Shoushi. Our people
are very much grateful to them.

Dear friends, a great deal of work such as construction and
reconstruction of dwelling houses, educational centers, health care
units, cultural centers roads, water supply system and other objects
should be done in Shoushi.

The development of Shoushi is a matter of honor. The thriving of
the town will demonstrate the world our cohesion and united will in
defending national values, developing and strengthening sovereign
and independent state, further cementing the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora
trinity. I am confident that together we can effectively solve this
very problem too and gain another common victory."

IRAN WELCOMES SIGNING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS

ARMENPRESS
Oct 26, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS: Solution of any dispute, settlement of
any conflict in the region will bring only peace and all the countries
will benefit from it, Iranian ambassador to Armenia Seyed Ali Saghayan
told Armenpress, welcoming the signing of protocols between Armenia
and Turkey.

"Iran welcomes the sensible and courageous step of Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan to go to normalization of relations: in spite of
different pressures he dared to display such an initiative," the
ambassador said.

According to him, important states of the region – Iran, Russia
and Turkey must promote that the achieved protocols – without
pre-conditions – be implemented.

The ambassador is sure that the issues existing in the region may
be solved with the efforts of the states of the region and not
outside of it, with advices of foreign states. "We hope soon to see
greater stability which will serve in favor of the all peoples,"
the ambassador noted.

Tert, Armenia
Oct 24 2009

Armenian-Turkish Negotiations Spark Armenian Recognition in Turkish-Armenians
14:43 ¢ 24.10.09

The Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, His Beautitude Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, welcomed attempts
to improve Armenian-Turkish relations. The Patriarch’s address
emphasized the necessity of peaceful dialogue, which will make it
possible to treat one other in a more tolerant and forgiving way.

`The Protocols signed between Armenia and Turkey are particularly
significant for the Armenian community in Turkey. The Armenian
community in Turkey is inclined towards the optimistic solution of the
diplomatic process that has begun, that all the steps will be directed
toward the improvement of relations between the two countries. We hope
that Armenia’s and Turkey’s leaderships will not give up in the
improvement of the two countries’ relations, based on the sincerity of
their wishes, since the [two] neighbours’ further peaceful cooperation
depends on it,’ noted the Patriarch in his address.

His Beautitude Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian also stated that Archbishop
Aram Ateshian, the Grand Sacristan of the Holy Mother of God Armenian
Cathedral and the Vicar General of the Armenian Patriarchate of
Constantinople, presented his position during Armenian president Serzh
Sargsyan’s and Turkish president Abdullah Gul’s visit to the Turkish
city of Bursa, where the qualifying football match between the two
countries took place on October 14, 2009.

According to official sources, approximately 70,000 Armenians live in
Turkey, the majority of whom have changed their Armenian last names to
Turkish. Nevertheless, the number of ethnic Armenians, many of whom
converted to Islam in order to avoid deportation during the Armenian
Genocide, greatly exceeds official numbers. Until today, the majority
of Hemshin Armenians (those who converted to Islam) have been
negatively referred to as `Ermeni’ (that is, Armenian). However, after
the start of Armenian-Turkish negotiations, an inclination in
recognizing their Armenian identity was evident among young Hemshin
Armenians. Take for instance, the first film on the topic which was
made by Hemshin Armenian filmmaker Ozcan Alper and includes the
Hemshin Armenian dialect; it was screened at this year’s Golden
Apricot International Film Festival in Yerevan.

After the improvement in Armenian-Turkish relations, Armenians living
in Turkey hope that the issue of electing head of clergy will also be
resolved, since it’s been a long time that the Turkish government has
allowed the Armenian community to conduct elections to appoint a new
Patriarch or his successor. His Beautitude Archbishop Mesrob
Mutafian’s health is in serious condition after undergoing numerous
surgeries and experiences of attempts on his life by `Erkenegon’
terrorists.

It is important to note that Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople,
along with the Armenian Patriarchate of Jersualem, is one of the
Armenian Church’s autonomous Patriarchates.

/24/armenianchurch/

California Governor Congratulates the Armenian Festival of Orange County

The Armenian Festival of Orange County
PO Box 3136
Laguna Hills, CA 92654-3136

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Tom Kalajian
Email: [email protected]
(949) 309-2900 Ext 17 | (888) HYE-FEST (493-3378)
Contact: Paul Aslanian
Email: [email protected]
(949) 309-2900 Ext 11 | (888) HYE-FEST (493-3378)

Thursday, October 22, 2009

California Governor Congratulates the Armenian Festival of Orange County

Laguna Hills, CA (Thursday, October 22, 2009) – Celebrating its fifth
consecutive successful year, the Armenian Festival of Orange County was
honored with the presence again this year of the Chief Deputy Director of
the Office of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ms. Lisa Kalustian.
On behalf of the Governor, Ms. Kalustian presented Festival Executive
Director, Paul Aslanian, with personal letter of congratulations.

Ms. Kalustian read the Governor’s letter to the guests under the large main
tent where hundreds of guests were assembled. All showed their appreciation
for the Governor’s continued support and acknowledgement of the Armenian
people who play a large role in the multicultural diversity of California.

Dated September 13, 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger wrote, "It is a pleasure
to extend my greetings to all who are attending the fifth annual Orange
County Armenian Festival. California is the fantastic place it is today
thanks to our rich diversity of cultures and customs, and today’s colorful
celebration is certain to add to that heritage.

"As you come together to enjoy the festivities, I express my gratitude to
you and to all of California’s Armenian-Americans for your hard work, your
dedication to promoting Armenian history as well as the many other ways you
strengthen our Golden State.

"On behalf of your fellow Californians, I thank you for your efforts to
serve in your communities, and I wish you continued success in the future."

Over 4,000 guests of varied backgrounds attended the festival to enjoy
continuous entertainment, cultural presentations, cooking and dance classes,
professional dance groups, two live bands and delicious food, all at
affordable prices and presented again in a park-like setting in the
beautiful Community Center of upscale Laguna Hills, California.

The Armenian Festival is a pan-Armenian federal and California tax-exempt
organization under the provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section
501(c)(3), open to all Armenian organizations who want to participate in a
non-denominational, all-inclusive community celebrating the culture, values,
history and heritage of the Armenian people.

The 6th annual Armenian Festival of Orange County is actively engaged in the
planning stages, will be held at the same Laguna Hills location, and is
scheduled for the weekend of September 11th and 12th, 2010. Festival
organizers are accepting applications for vendor booths, volunteers,
sponsors. The festival’s Statement of Core Values and Mission Statement are
published on its web site. All Armenian organizations based in Orange
County are again welcome to participate, showcase their unique contributions
to the Armenian community and to raise funds for their charitable
activities. More information and on-line applications are available at
<; . Information
is also available by telephone toll-free at 888-HYE-FEST (888-493-3378) or
locally at 949-309-2900.

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