Author: Jagharian Tania

SEEMED TO BE GUNSHOTS

A1+
01:41 am | June 01, 2009

Politics

An alarm was received today that there had been shots and one injured
at the Nor Nork 4th quarter district.

Head of the ANC headquarters at the Nor Nork 1st quarter district
Gurgen Yeghiazaryan told "A1+" that a group of terrified citizens
came to the ANC headquarters and quickly informed that somebody was
transferred to the hospital after receiving gun shots at the Nor Nork
4th quarter district.

"I sent people to our sub-headquarters to verify the information on
the scene, but it was not possible because there was nobody there,"
said Gurgen Yeghiazaryan, adding that they had tried to find out
from the Nor Nork hospital if the person with the gun shots had
been transferred there or not. It turned out that nobody had been
transferred to the hospital with gun shots.

Later, Republican Party press speaker Eduard Sharmazanov informed
that there had been no gun shots at Nor Nork connected with the
elections. "The elections are being held in a calm environment and
there is a large voter turnout. In general, we condemn any dispersion
of false information and senseless stir of emotions," said Sharmazanov.

COORDINATOR OF ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS: THE TIME AND CONDITIONS OF THE NEXT BATTLE WILL BE DEFINED BY US

ArmInfo
2009-06-01 19:02:00

ArmInfo. ‘As a result of yesterday’s election we have finally formed
as the leading force which will lead the people to the final victory’,
– coordinator of Armenian National Congress Levon Zurabyan said at
today’s rally of the opposition.

He also added yesterday’s election were the battle the rime and
conditions of which were defined by the authorities. But the time
and conditions of the next battle will be defined by us, Zurabyan
promised. He thinks that the authorities managed to create am awful
totalitarian system all the structures of which are functioning to
ensure falsifications. Even the army serve this purpose. ‘Nevertheless
we did not become weaker as a result of yesterday’s election. On the
contrary, we have become stronger and more united. Having organized
the election in such a way the authorities demonstrated to the whole
world that they can be spoken to only the language of violence’, –
Zurabyan said.

Fund for Armenian Relief Fellowship Alumni Association
Roubinyans 29, Yerevan, Armenia

phone:37410249677

Musical Support for Salzburg International Medical Seminars

Yerevan, May 29th, 2009

FARFAA-Salzburg Group together with the Yerevan State Medical
University and Youth Orchestra of Armenia ( conductor Sergey
Smbatyan) has organized a benefit concert for Salzburg International
Medical Seminars, Open Medial Institute Program , and its seminar
center – Schloss Arenberg , which was damaged in a filre recently. The
concert took place on May 29th , at the Main Conference Hall of the
YSMU.

The AAF/Salzburg Medical Seminars director Prof.W.Aulitzky arrived from
Vienna to join the benefit event.

The American Austrian Foundation’s Salzburg Medical Seminars program
participated over 10,000 physicians from countries in transition s,
over 450 physicians from Armenia. Over 1000 faculty members from the
leading USA medical institutions as NewYork Presbyterian Hospital, the
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center and others, have trained these physicians the newest advances
in all the medical specialities.

Schloss Arenberg is a conference center, where the Seminars take place
During the summer months the Schloss is home to cultural programs linked
to the Salzburg Music Festival and the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra.

On April 20th, 2009 a fire broke out on the roof of Schloss Arenberg,
where two welders had been doing some repairs. Fire fighters arrived
within minutes, but had difficulty accessing the burning wooden beams
under the copper roof. The fire was finally extinguished only in 12
hours . 180 Firefighters used 3,000 liters of water per minute to try
and put out the blaze, which coupled with the smoke damage totally
destroyed the building. Fortunately no one was seriously injured.

FARFAA-Salzburg Group with the alumni of Schloss Arenberg, YSMU and
Youth Orchestra of Armenia. extended their helping hands to the
Schloss Arenberg Center to support its rebuilding. Prof Aulitzky
announced that the Armenian Lounge will be opened in Schloss Arenberg
after its reconstruction.

The Youth Orchestra of Armenia was founded in November 2005, with the
efforts of the students of the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory.
Despite its recent formation, the Youth Orchestra of Armenia had already
the occasion to present Armenia with honour all over the world. Sergey
Smbatyan, violinist and prize-winner in international competitions, is
the chief coductor and artistic director of the orchestra.

W.A. Mozart, Komitas-Aslamazyan and E.Mirzoyan pieces were performed
with high level of artistry and sophistication, and twelve year old
piano soloist Anahit Arushanyan amazed the audience. YSMU has
sponsored the Youth Orchestra for performing the concert.

Open Medical Institute (OMI) is a program of the American Austrian
Foundation (AAF) whose main goal is to educate physicians and health
care providers from countries in transition and foster their
professional growth ()

FAR FAA is a non-for-profit organization of medical professionals, aimed
at improving the health care system of the community and advancing
medical sciences in Armenia

SIMON BAHCELI’S ARTICLE ON THE RENOVATION OF THE OLD SOURP ASDVADZADZIN CHURCH IN TURKISH-OCCUPIED NICOSIA FAILED TO REVEAL A NUMBER OF TRUTHS BY THE TURKISH-ORIGIN JOURNALIST
Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra

Gibrahayer
27-05-2009
Nicosia

Dear Gibrahayer readers,

I am writing this letter regarding Simon Bahceli’s article on the
renovation of the old Sourp Asdvadzadzin church in Turkish-occupied
Nicosia, in the interest of revealing a number of truths the
Turkish-origin journalist failed to write.

To begin with, Bahceli contacted me on 5 May, informing me on
his intend to write the article in question. We met on 8 May
and I personally took him to Dr. Antranik Ashdjian’s office, the
Armenian Prelature of Cyprus and Nareg Elementary School, devoting
a whole morning for him; it was also I who provided him with the
B/W photographs he used in his article, as well as a large amount of
historical information. Sadly, he neglected to include my name, or the
names of Dr. Ashdjian – with whom he spoke for about an hour -and Mr
John Guevherian, with whom he also spoke at the Arachnortaran. Also,
I stressed to him, in person, on the phone and over e-mail that it
is very important that also he speaks with the Representative, Mr
Vartkes Mahdessian, which I very much doubt he did.

Not only that, Bahceli failed to mention that we attempted to visit the
chu rch on 14 May, after claiming he20was told by the UN we could. Upon
arriving at the gate, the guard (an illegal Turkish settler) told us
we needed a permit to enter. Bahceli phoned the UN and the UN told
him to phone EVKAF, but unfortunately it was not made possible to
enter the church site. He did, however, wanted to take pictures of
the church, so we went behind the Melikian mansion, where we saw two
Turkish-speaking persons inside the compound, claiming to be bidders
for the restoration. Asking them how they got inside, they told him
they had entered through a passage. We went back to the guard to ask
him if he could let us in too, since they were obviously in, and to
my utter surprise and fury the guard, together with two trespassers,
told us that they entered the site by themselves, he couldn’t kick
them out, but he couldn’t let us in either…

Now, with regard to the article itself, an unsuspected reader will get
the idea that there was never a problem with the Turkish Cypriots,
and that Armenian Cypriots left only because they felt safely in
the Greek Cypriot side of Nicosia… However, there is more to that
story (simply ask Manoug Mangaldjian, he will tell it to you as he
remembers it). Moreover, I was there when the people were speaking
to Bahceli, and I know that much more was said. Not to mention the
complete absence of any reference to the Armenian Genocide monument,
for which everyone he spoke with made mention, including myself.

Another thing: southern Nicosia for the government-controlled parts
but simply Nicosia for the Turkish-occupied parts of Nicosia? The
use of this makes not only the journalist but also the newspaper,
Cyprus Mail, responsible for this illegality.

Historical inaccuracies are also observed: the Armenian presence in
the area is about 500-600 years old, NOT 1000 years, and the church
was re-built in 1308, not the 13th century.

Geographical inaccuracies also exist: the church compound is NOT
located in the Arabahmet, but in the Karaman Zade quarter; this is
not a simple mistake, as the Turkish pseudo-state calls the whole area
Arabahmet, in the same way it designates 3 of the 4 Turkish-occupied
Larnaca district villages as belonging to the so-called "LefkoÅ~_a
kaza" district and 1 to the so-called "Gazimagusa kaza". Upon our
conversations, I stressed to Bahceli this fact, which he blatantly
ignored. And one more thing: why would the church not hold that much
importance for the Greek Orthodox? A church is always a church.

Finally, again stressing his T/C outlook, it is Ottoman Armenians
NOT Anatolian Armenians he should refer to.

I am very upset for this whole thing, and I hope the newspaper never
allows such mistreatment of the truth again.

PlayBill
May 31 2009

Couples Test Limits in Ayvazian’s Make Me, Opening in NYC May 31

By Kenneth Jones
31 May 2009

Atlantic Theater Company’s world-premiere production of Leslie
Ayvazian’s relationships play, Make Me, with Anthony Arkin, Candy
Buckley, Jessica Hecht, J.R. Horne, Richard Masur and Ellen Parker,
opens May 31 after previews from May 20.

The production, directed by Atlantic associate artistic director
Christian Parker, plays to June 14 at Atlantic Stage 2 at 330 West
16th Street.

According to ATC, "In Make Me, six pent-up Americans in three
different relationships have reached the end of their ropes. In this
naughty comic fugue, Leslie Ayvazian explores what happens when the
rules are changed just at the moment when people think they are
perfectly comfortable and the lengths to which some will go to be
seen, heard and obeyed."

*

With this play, Ayvazian makes her Atlantic Theater Company debut. Her
acclaimed Off-Broadway play, Nine Armenians, won the John Gassner
Outer Critics Award, The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and the Kennedy
Center’s Roger L. Stevens Award. Her film credits include Showtime’s
"Every Three Minutes" starring Olympia Dukakis.

Parker most recently staged the New York premiere of Tina Howe’s play
Birth And After Birth. Other Atlantic credits include Jeff Whitty’s
The Hiding Place and 10X20, a festival of newly commissioned
ten-minute plays by writers previously produced at Atlantic for which
he directed plays by Tina Howe, Keith Reddin and Rolin Jones.

Make Me features scenic design by Anna Louizos, costume design by
Theresa Squire, lighting design by Josh Bradford and sound design by
Jill BC DuBoff.

Arkin appeared in Broadway’s I’m Not Rappaport and Off-Broadway’s The
Waverly Gallery; Buckley appeared in Broadway’s After the Fall,
Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cabaret and Ring Round the Moon and
Off-Broadway’s Shockheaded Peter, Valhalla and Communicating Doors;
Hecht most recently appeared in Julius Caesar on Broadway and in
Howard Katz; Horne returns to Atlantic following starring in the world
premiere of Ethan Coen’s Almost an Evening at Atlantic Stage 2 and The
Theatres at 45 Bleecker Street; Masur appeared in Broadway’s Democracy
and The Changing Room and Off-Broadway’s Dust, A Feminine Ending, The
Ruby Sunrise and Sarah, Sarah; and Parker’s New York City work
includes House/Garden, Plenty, Entertaining Mr. Sloane, Fen, The Heidi
Chronicles and more.

Ayvazian’s other plays include High Dive, her one-woman show about
turning 50; Rosemary and I, which was named a Susan Smith Blackburn
Prize finalist; Lovely Day, which premiered at City Theatre in
Pittsburgh; Footlights, a one-woman show about shoes; and one-act
plays Practice; Hi There, Mr. Machine; Twenty Four Years; Deaf Day and
Plan Day.

Make Me received workshop productions by the Cape Cod Theatre Festival
and the Adirondack Theatre Festival, both directed by Martha Banta.

Make Me will play Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Saturday and
Sunday matinees at 2:30 PM. All tickets are $45 and are available by
calling Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or by visiting

Visit

news/article/129698-Couples_Test_Limits_in_Ayvazia n’s_Make_Me_Opening_in_NYC_May_31

Assyria Times
May 30 2009

Assyrian Universal Alliance Congress Declaration

5/30/2009 0:39:00

The 26th World Congress of the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) was
held in Sydney Australia from 20 to 24th of May, 2009. About 50
delegates gathered from Iraq, Iran, USA, Armenia, Russia, Holand,
Japan, and Australia. The AUA delegates declared:

Assyrian Universal Alliance 26th World Congress
20-24th May 2009
Resolution

On Iraq

1. CALLS UPON AND DEMANDS that the Federal Republic of Iraq amend the
Iraqi Constitution and add the statement in its preamble `The
Assyrians are the Indigenous people of Iraq’.

2. COMMENDS the Federal Republic of Iraq for its efforts in improving
country security.

3. DEMANDS that the Federal Republic of Iraq implements and executes
further measures to prevent attacks against Assyrian people.

4. DEMANDS that the Federal Republic of Iraq publicly release the
results of its investigation into the Mosul Massacre of October
2008.

5. DEMANDS the Federal Republic of Iraq acknowledge and declare that
the Assyrians are the indigenous and original people of Iraq, and
as promulgated under article 110 of the Iraqi constitution, the
Assyrian people of Iraq are therefore entitled to an Assyrian
autonomous region encompassing the Assyrian ancestral lands,
located between the Greater Zab and Tigris rivers with
international borders to the north and west, as part of the Federal
Republic of Iraq.

6. COMMENDS the Federal Republic of Iraq for the assistance provided
for the displaced Assyrian Refugees and further demands that such
programs are adequately implemented.

7. DEMANDS that the constitution of Iraq contain a minimum guaranteed
quota for Assyrian representation, consisting of Assyrian
ethnicity, at all levels of government, based on the Iraqi census
of 1957, which on current official population count, amount to
2,500,000 or approximately 10 percent of the total population.

8. Pending the fulfillment of the amendment to the Iraqi constitution
as demanded in Resolution 7 herein, IN THE INTERIM DEMANDS that the
Federal Republic of Iraq reinstates article 50 of the provisional
election law as it was without reducing the number of originally
allocated seats.

9. DEMANDS that the Federal Republic of Iraq support, establish, train
and arm an Assyrian security force as part of Iraq’s national
security and police force to adequately and sufficiently maintain
the security of all Assyrian towns and villages, thereby protecting
them from all attacks and harassment.

10. DEMANDS that the Federal Republic of Iraq ensures the equitable
and/or proportionate distribution of all aid including any
reconstruction aid to Assyrians via the then current appointed
Assyrian representative in the local government.

11. DEMANDS that the Kurdish Regional Government of Iraq returns
and/or implements the return of all Assyrian lands and villages to
date occupied by non Assyrians to the Assyrians.

12. IS HOPEFUL and prays that Iraq will ultimately secure its full
independence as a democratic state without any foreign forces.

On Iran 13. COMMENDS the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran
for its efforts in strengthening ties between the Assyrians and the
wider Iranian community.

14. CALLS UPON the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to
formally recognize that the Assyrians are the indigenous people of
Iraq.

15. CALLS UPON the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to
support the demands set out in this Resolution in respect of the
Assyrian political rights of Iraq.

On Turkey 16. COMMENDS the government of Turkey in assisting in the
resolution of the dispute in respect of the Mor Gabriel Monastery in
Turkey.

17. CALLS UPON and DEMANDS that the government of Turkey provides
security to the Assyrians living in Turkey.

18. CALLS UPON the government of Turkey to adequately protect
Assyrians in Turkey from all persecution arising as a result of
the Assyrian practice of their religious and human rights.

19. DEMANDS that the Turkish government formally and officially
recognize the genocide of the Assyrian, Armenian and Greek People
during World War I.

20. CALLS UPON the government of Turkey to support the demands set out
in this Resolution in respect of the Assyrian political rights of
Iraq.

On Syria 21. COMMENDS the Syrian Arab Republic in its treatment of
Assyrian refugees of Iraq in Syria.

22. REQUESTS that the Syrian Arab Republic encourages and support all
cultural rights of the Assyrian People and Assyrian institutions
and organizations in Syria.

23. CALLS UPON the Arab Republic of Syria to support the demands set
out in this Resolution of in respect of the Assyrian political
rights of Iraq.

On Jordan
24. COMMENDS the government of Jordan in its treatment of Assyrian
refugees of Iraq in Jordan.

25. CALLS UPON the government of Jordan to support the demands set out
in this Resolution in respect of the Assyrian political rights of
Iraq.

On Lebanon
26. COMMENDS the government of Lebanon in its treatment of Assyrian
refugees of Iraq in Lebanon.

27. CALLS UPON the government of Lebanon to support the demands set
out in this Resolution in respect of the Assyrian political rights
of Iraq.

On Australia 28. EXTENDS its deep appreciation and gratitude to the
Australian government for supporting and assisting the Assyrian
Universal Alliance- Australia Chapter to successfully host the 26th
World congress of the Assyrian Universal Alliance.

29. CALLS UPON Australia, to support and support implement the terms
of this resolution to the extent that it pertains to the Assyrian
situation of Iraq.

30. As an interim measure, REQUESTS that the government of Australia
provide economic, educational and medical assistance to the
Assyrian refugees of Iraq currently living in impoverished and
disadvantaged circumstances in various countries outside Iraq.

31. CALLS UPON the government of Australia to support the demands set
out in this Resolution in respect of the Assyrian political rights
of Iraq.

ON USA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION
32. CALLS UPON the governments of the United States of America and the
European Union to support and support implement the terms of this
resolution to the extent that it pertains to the Assyrian
situation of Iraq.

33. As an interim measure, REQUESTS that the governments of the United
States of America and the European Union provide economic,
educational and medical assistance to the Assyrian refugees of
Iraq currently living in impoverished and disadvantaged
circumstances in various countries outside Iraq.

34. CALLS UPON the governments of the United States of America and the
European Union to support the demands set out in this Resolution
in respect of the Assyrian political rights of Iraq.

United Nations and International Communities
35. APPEALS AND CALLS UPON the United Nations and the international
communities to recognize that the Assyrian are the indigenous
people of Iraq.

36. APPEALS AND CALLS UPON the United Nations and the international
communities to treat the displaced Assyrians of Iraq within Iraq
in a fair and equitable manner and comparable to other displaced
people of Iraq.

37. APPEALS AND CALLS UPON the United Nations and the international
communities to treat the Assyrian refugees of Iraq outside of Iraq
in a fair and equitable manner comparable to other refugees from
Iraq.

38. CALLS UPON the United Nations and the international communities to
support the demands set out in this Resolution of the Assyrian
Universal Alliance in respect of the Assyrian political rights of
Iraq.

Yonathan Betkolia MP
Secretary General
Assyrian Universal Alliance

es/news/article.php?storyid=3378

ACCORDING TO ZHARANGUTIUN REPRESENTATIVE’S PREDICTION, POSITIVE CHANGES WILL BE MADE IN ARMENIA AFTER MAY 31 ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
May 29, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Positive changes will be made in Armenia
after the May 31 Yerevan Council of Elders elections, at that, in case
of any election outcome. RA NA Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction head
Armen Martirosian predicted at the May 27 meeting with journalists.

According to him, the opposition has won all elections in Armenia
since 1996, but it was not recorded officially. This time, if free
and fair elections are held, which is improbable, opposition’s
inevitable victory will bring positive results. If the elections are
held as always, under the circumstance of no elections in the near
future, President Serzh Sargsyan will have enough time to make real
changes. A. Martirosian is sure that the March 1 events will not recur,
as neither the authorities nor the people have sufficient resource
for it.

According to the deputy, talks that an amnesty will be announced
soon are circulated at NA, at that, among pro-governmental sector
representatives.

And though the recent statement of NA Speaker about it was presented
as a good wish, the process is becoming mature. He expressed the hope
that an amnesty will be announced one of these days, which will also
have a positive influence.

A. Martirosian considers that it will be politically more beneficial
if the amnesty is announced before Yerevan Council of Elders
elections. Though in that case the political prisoners on the March
1 case will not have been released yet and cannot go to ballot,
nevertheless, the fact of amnesty itself can discharge the strained
atmosphere in society.

Granting an amnesty will be also right in consideration of the expected
discussion of the issue of Armenia in PACE. A. Martirosian reminded
that the Monitoring Committee meeting will take place on June 5 and
the PACE plenary sitting on June 24. He said that this structure
attaches importance to the May 31 elections, and the Congress of
Council of Europe Local and Territorial Authorities will also observe
the elections.

A. Martirosian stated that Zharangutiun is going to control elections’
legality with all possible means. According to him, this time party’s
task is not supporting this or that political force, but protecting
fairness and legality.

"THREE CENTURIES OF ARMENIAN HERITAGE IN INDIA" TO BE PRESENTED IN NAASR

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.05.2009 16:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Dr. Omar Khalidi of the Aga Khan Program for
Islamic Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) will give an illustrated lecture entitled "Three Centuries of
Armenian Heritage in India" on June 4, at the National Association
for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) Center in Belmont, Mass,
The Armenian Weekly reports.

Though Armenians were in India from early times, their presence in
India is well-documented from the 16th century, after the establishment
of the important mercantile community in New Julfa in Persia. The
community grew in size and importance in the 17th and 18th centuries,
with many Armenians rising to positions of prominence.

Khalidi’s lecture will give an overview of India’s Armenian
Diaspora-its churches, cemeteries, and related art-in such locations
as Kolkata (Calcutta), Bombay, Delhi, Agra, Surat, Hyderabad, Madras,
Dhaka (in modern Bangladesh), and elsewhere.

Dr. Omar Khalidi has a Ph.D. in Islamic studies from the University
of Wales.

This lecture is the second talk given in memory of Arshag Merguerian
(1926-2005), an architect and active member and friend of NAASR for
nearly 50 years. The expenses for the lecture will be covered by
funds contributed to NAASR in Merguerian’s memory.

NO ACTIVE WORK WAS YET OBSERVED AT ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
27.05.2009 14:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "As of today, no active actions were observed at
Armenian-Turkish border by RF FSS Border Administration," Head of RF
FSS Border Administration in RA, Lieutenant General Sergey Bondarev
told at May 27’s news conference.

"Repair works over railway line from Gyumri to State border were
conducted last year by SCRW," he noted. Speaking of the possibility
of opening Armenian-Turkish border, Sergey Bondarev noted that
Armenian-Turkish relations is an internal business of the two
states. "We, the borders guards, are ready to fulfill any task
assigned to us. We’re ready to fulfill them in case of opening of
Armenian-Turkish border as well".

ISTANBUL HOSTS INT’L MEETINGS

Hurriyet
May 26 2009
Turkey

ISTANBUL – Turkey’s recent regional activities and its efforts to
improve ties with its neighbors continue in Istanbul this week,
with efforts to improve relations with Armenia and others for its
relations in the Arab world.

A workshop in Istanbul’s Conrad Hotel will question Turkey-Armenia
relations from all aspects. Organized by the Foundation for Political,
Economic and Social Research, or SETA, the workshop will take place
May 26 to 27.

The Turkish-Arab Relations Symposium starts Tuesday at the Marmara
University Sultan Ahmet Campus. More than 60 people will participate
in the three-day symposium, with 40 participants coming from the
Arab world. State Minister Mehmet Aydın and secretary-general of
the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Ekmeleddin Ä°hsanoglu,
will attend the opening.