Author: Kajoyan Gevork

AZERI AIRWAY COMPANY REFUSES TO TRANSPORT PASSENGER WITH ARMENIAN FAMILY NAME

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 12, 2011 – 17:27 AMT

Azerbaijan Airlines airway company refused to transport a passenger
with an Armenian family name.

The incident, involving the citizen of Russia Yuri Manasyan, occurred
at Domodedovo airport on April 28. An employee of the Azerbaijani
air company refused to sell him a ticket, referring to a special
instruction from Baku which is not to be questioned.

When asked if the refusal was linked to Manasyan’s Armenian family
name, the employee answered positively.

Manasyan intends to file a complaint to Russian Agency for Health
and Consumer Rights (Rospotrebnadzor).

Moscow representation of Azerbaijan Airlines refused to provide
comments, noting the right of every company to refuse transportation,
Infox.ru.

SHOUSHI CAN BECOME THE CITY OF OUR DREAMS

Massis
Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

In a statement issued on May 9th for the 19th anniversary for the
liberation of the ancient fortified citadel of Shoushi in Artsakh,
the Hunchakian Party of Armenia congratulated and expressed the pride
and joy that Armenians around the world sense towards this monumental
event’s anniversary.

The Hunchakian party statement continued on to attests the strategic,
as well as, historical importance of the liberation of Shoushi, not
only as the first significant victory of the Armenian side in their
endeavor towards the liberation of Artsakh, but also as a historical
step for Armenians to once again, for the first time in centuries,
reclaim their ancestral lands.

Yet, the statement emphasizes that “19 years have passed, and we
must document that we have yet been able to transform this tremendous
victory of Shoushi, into a victory of everyday life; by building and
populating this once magnificent capital city and a bustling epicenter
of Armenian civilization, and declaring to the rest of the world that
it belongs to us.”

The Hunchakian Party, however, is confident that despite the 19 years
of inertion, Armenians now have a historic opportunity to make the
City of Shoushi into a city which inhabitants desire. “Shoushi can
become the city of our dreams by building its infrastructure and
revitalizing its urban, as well as commercial centers, to the envy
of many modern cities worldwide. It is the duty of each and every
one of us to support the construction of our dream city.”

MEDALS FOR THE INTELLECTUALS OF DIASPORA
By Marietta Makarian

AZG DAILY
12-05-2011

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan took part in the solemn
closing ceremony of the Global Summit of Women in Istanbul. The
three-day summit brought together nearly 1,000 women from 82 countries,
including First Ladies, 35 women ministers, businesswomen, public and
political figures and representatives of international organizations.

The RA Minister of Diaspora had meetings with representatives of
the Istanbul-Armenian community. Hranush Hakobyan visited the Holy
Virgin Church of Peshiktash, the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church
of Ghalatia and the St. Stepanos Church of Yeshilgyugh and met with
members of the churches’ boards of trustees, also had meetings in
Yesayan and Central schools.

The minister had a meeting with journalists of the Istanbul-Armenian
“Marmara” and “Agos” newspapers, as well as Radio Liberty and “Armenia
Now” and answered their questions.

In the evening, the patriarchate organized a solemn reception in
honor of the RA Minister of Diaspora. During the reception, artists
and intellectuals were awarded medals of the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

Editor-in-chief of “Marmara” newspaper, prose writer Rober Hatejian
received the “Gold Medal”; Marlen Tekirtagltchan, Verzhin Shaptch,
Erol Sarafian and Ara Kuler received the “Arshil Gorky” Medal;
Karo Mafian, Mazhak Toshikian, Alis Manukian, Nshan Tchalktchian
and Artashes Akoshian received the “Komitas” Medal; Inga Saraslan,
Arman Vardanian, Vard Shikaher, Zareh Khrakhuni and Mgrdich Markosian
received the “William Saroyan” Medal.

HAMSHENI ARMENIANS OF KYRGYZSTAN TO MOVE TO KARABAKH

news.am
May 11 2011
Armenia

Hamsheni Armenians of Kyrgyzstan are to move to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Ruslan Karabadjakov, the leader of Hamsheni Armenian community in
Kyrgyzstan, visited Armenia for further elaborations on the project
of relocation. Karabadjakov will also travel to Karabakh (Artsakh)
to find the most appropriate place for the dwelling of 200 Hamsheni
Armenian families, reports Yerkramas.

‘We belong here, in Armenia. For 250 years our fate drove us from
place to place, from Ajaria to Central Asia. Eventually, we decided
to shelter on our own land,’ said Karabadjakov.

The initial plan is to shelter 200 Hamsheni Armenian families in
Martakert region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The project will be funded until Hamshenis will find the means of
supporting themselves.

COURT SETS DEADLINE FOR PROPERTY TRANSFER IN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM CASE
by Emil Sanamyan

Published: Wednesday May 11, 2011

Deadline is May 23; Assembly motion for new trial is denied

National Bank of Washington building (center) and four structures to
the left reverted to the Cafesjian Foundation. PQLiving.com

Related Articles Armenian Genocide museum and memorial in Washington
by 2015

AAA leaders continue to hold up Armenian Genocide museum

Cafesjian Family Foundation Responds to AAA’s “Statement on the
Armenian Genocide Museum Case”

Cafesjian Foundation prevails in Genocide Museum lawsuit

Washington – The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
has entered its final judgment in the Armenian Genocide museum and
memorial case, ordering on May 9 that all of the properties assembled
for the project revert to the Cafesjian Family Foundation (CFF)
by May 23. The order comes following the court’s initial ruling in
favor of CFF made on January 26.

Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly also denied the motion for a new trial
filed by the Armenian Assembly of America, the losing party.

“I welcome the court’s concluding verdict that finally frees us all
to build this long-awaited museum and memorial about the fact and
ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide,” CFF chairman Gerard L.

Cafesjian said, commenting on the verdict.

“Thankfully, this case is finally over,” said John B. Williams,
counsel for CFF. “The properties have to be transferred to CFF in the
next two weeks. That is what we have all been fighting for. We hope
that the Assembly leadership will be willing to amicably resolve the
few loose ends that remain.”

CFF board member Ross Vartian reiterated the call to the leadership
of the Armenian Assembly to “cease blocking the project and instead
to abide by the May 9 ruling ordering the transfer of all properties
to the CFF no later than May 23, 2011.”

“Further delay serves no constructive purpose,” Vartian added in a
comment for The Armenian Reporter, which is published by Mr.

Cafesjian.

Key elements of the final verdict

The judge ordered the “transfer the property to CFF in accordance with
D.C. law by no later than May 23, 2011.” And further that the transfer
take place “without any reimbursement requirement and without regard
to any tax consequences that might result from the transfer.”

The latter clause is significant since the AAA was seeking to further
delay the property transfer by claiming that hypothetical property
appreciation could possibly have tax consequences.

The Court also asked a magistrate judge to determine the exact amount
of compensation due to Mr. Cafesjian for legal fees he paid as he
was forced to defend himself against what were proved in court to be
groundless accusations.

The court will further probe the issue of whether AAA acted in bad
faith by delaying production of documents until the eve of trial. The
court also noted the “the damning contents of many of the[se]
documents.” If the judge is not satisfied by AAA’s explanation, she
may order payment of additional expenses incurred by Mr. Cafesjian
as a result.

The court determined that AAA leadership was not acting in violation
of court orders when it recently moved the collections of the Armenian
National Institute – intended for the future museum and memorial –
from the premises to an off-site storage facility.

Denying motion for new trial

The court also denied the motion for a new trial filed by AAA as it
“failed to present a valid basis for ordering a new trial.”

With an affidavit filed by Van Krikorian, the motion alleged that
the court was biased in favor of Mr. Cafesjian because of the judge’s
shared interest in art and alleged connections with former president
Bill Clinton.

“Based on Van Krikorian’s declaration, it appears that the filing of
the motion was motivated by the fact that [AAA] received a largely
adverse decision from the Court rather than by the sudden discovery
of an alleged bias” in favor of Mr. Cafesjian, the judge wrote in
the memorandum opinion.

The court also noted that the motion “does not state that the
declaration of Van Krikorian was submitted in good faith” as is
required.

The court called the conspiracy theory concocted as part of their
motion as “entirely speculative.”

“The causal connection between the Court’s rulings and its alleged
interest is far too attenuated to warrant recusal,” the court
concluded.

Going forward

Speaking from the steps of the future site of the museum and memorial
on April 24 Ross Vartian stressed that “CFF pledges to relaunch this
project with the participation of all interested organizations and
individuals.”

“We will do so in common cause and urgent purpose,” Vartian said.

“Together we will complete this first ever museum and memorial in the
Diaspora dedicated to this crime against humanity by April 24, 2015.

Our martyrs and survivors deserve nothing less.”

To view May 9, 2011 memorandum opinion
outlining the final judgment in the case visit

To view May 9, 2011 memorandum opinion
denying the motion for a new trial visit

To view January 26 memorandum opinion
with the original court ruling visit

SOUTH FLORIDA COMMUNITY COMMEMORATES GENOCIDE

Armenian Weekly
Wed, May 11 2011

BOCA RATON, Fla.-Last week, hundreds of members, friends, and human
rights activists from the South Florida Armenian American community
commemorated the 96th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at Florida
Atlantic University (FAU).

(L-R) Rev. Fr. Vartan Joulfayan, Dr. Mary Johnson, Dr. Rose Gatens,
and V. Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian.

This year’s observance culminated the month-long display of the
21-panel Armenian Genocide exhibition on loan to FAU Libraries from
the Florida Holocaust Memorial Museum in St. Petersburg, Fla. The
exhibition displayed the systematic murder of 1.5 million Armenians in
Ottoman Turkey during World War I. The panels showcased photographs,
quotes from witnesses, and the history and legacy of the genocide.

“It was truly inspirational to see South Florida Armenians from three
generations come together to honor their fallen ancestors of the
1915 Armenian Genocide,” said Arsine Kaloustian-Rosenthal, Florida
Armenians public affairs director. “The importance of remembering,
the sharing of stories between families, and of course the FAU exhibit
itself, stands in the face of genocide denial and advances the cause
of genocide prevention,” she said.

Armenians around the world commemorate the genocide on April 24,
when in 1915 Ottoman-Turkish authorities rounded up, arrested,
and murdered over 200 Armenian intellectuals in Istanbul. Over 1.5
million Armenian men, women, and children perished in 1915-23 in what
historians widely recognize as genocide.

Dr. Mary Johnson, senior historian with Facing History and Ourselves,
and curator of the Armenian Genocide exhibit, served as master of
ceremonies. Johnson opened the program with special thanks to Dr. Rose
Gatens, the director of the FAU Center for Holocaust and Human Rights
Education. Johnson spoke about her experiences teaching the Armenian
Genocide and the consequences of its denial.

“The response of the Armenian community to the exhibition on the
Armenian Genocide at Florida Atlantic University was incredible,”
Johnson told FLArmenians.com. “Visitors not only examined the panels
and the narrative of the history, but talked about the exhibition and
its implications for today. This ensures that the historical event
will be remembered and future generations will continue to tell the
story,” she said.

On behalf of St. David Armenian Church, Garen Kalender, Rita Vartanian,
and Kaliana Maronian presented traditional Armenian poetry.

Albert Mazmanian offered remarks while his daughter Natalie recited
her self-composed poetry. A musical interlude was offered by local
talents from St. Mary’s Armenian Church, with Sage McBride (violin)
and Marineh Alikhnyn (piano) performing the famous Armenian composition
“Groung” by Gomidas. A short screening from the upcoming film “Orphans
of the Genocide” was also presented by south Florida film producers
Bared Maronian, Bedo Der-Bedrosian, and Paul Andonian.

“Having the commemoration program and exhibition at FAU Library was
a wonderful opportunity to teach others about the origins and the
history of the Armenian Genocide, a major crime against humanity
committed by Ottoman Turks at the dawn of the 20th century,” said V.

Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian. “We pray that the time will come when
justice will be served and Turkey will acknowledge its history,”
stated Fr. Berberian.

V. Rev. Fr. Berberian of St. David Armenian Church and Rev. Fr. Vartan
Joulfayan of St. Mary Armenian Church offered the memorial service
for the victims of the genocide. The South Florida Armenian Genocide
Commemoration was held under the auspices of St. David Armenian Church
of Boca Raton, St. Mary Armenian Church of Hollywood, the Armenian
Assembly of America, the Armenian National Committee, and the Knights
of Vartan.

SURP GIRAGOS DIKRANAGERD CHURCH RECONSTRUCTION FUNDRAISING BANQUET, MAY 21, 2011, TORONTO, CANADA

Dear friends,

We are forwarding info about the reconstruction of the biggest
Armenian church in the Middle East and the May 21 Toronto benefit
banquet. This project is not merely the construction of a historic
church, but the first reconstruction of an Armenian church in Turkey
as an Armenian church after being destroyed in 1915 (not as a state
museum like in Van, Akhtamar), and it is the first Armenian church in
Turkey to re-claim its lands and properties, after losing them in
1915.

If you are in or near Toronto, we hope you can attend the May 21 event
with excellent food, music and entertainment, but even if you cannot,
we request that you consider supporting this project, which has
significant historic and political implications. When this project is
completed, the church will become a historic monument and evidence to
past Armenian presence, as well as a future Armenian pilgrimage
centre. The reconstruction is almost 65% complete, and more than half
of the funding already secured, with one third of the funding from
non-Armenian sources.

You can make your tax deductible donation to the Toronto Holy Trinity
Armenian Church (Surp Giragos Project), which will transfer the funds
to the Surp Giragos Foundation Board of the Istanbul Armenian
Patriarchate for the reconstruction project. If you wish to be a
sponsor, we will include the names of personal or corporate sponsors
in the banquet program for $500 or more donations. The Board has also
decided to place the names of all donors, without exception and
regardless of the amount, on a plaque on one of the church walls, as a
$50 donation from a youth or pensioner is equally significant and
meaningful as a $50,000 donation from an affluent individual. You can
send your cheques to the address below.

Thanks so much, and please call us anytime if you need more details.

Raffi Bedrosyan

Surp Giragos Church Reconstruction Committee

40 Strathearn Blvd.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5P 1T1

tel: 416 587 5083

email: [email protected]

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN MEETS PRESIDENT OF THE OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

armradio.am
11.05.2011 17:56

President Serzh Sargsyan received the President of the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly, Petros Efthymiou.

The interlocutors attached importance of Armenia’s cooperation with
different international structures, including the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly, specially emphasizing the joint work towards implementation
of reforms in the fields of security, freedom of press and the
police system.

According to President Sargsyan, the Parliamentary Assembly is a good
platform for using the potential of political forces and politicians
of the OSCE participating states in the activity of the organization.

Petros Efthymiou noted that the Parliamentary Assembly embodies
important OSCE values – peace, security, friendship and cooperation.

“The organization is working diligently, committed to those
principles,” he added.

President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly hailed the activity of
the Armenian delegation in the organization.

KOCHARYAN AND WORN-OUT WEAPONS
Interview by ARMAN GALOYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 16:44:20 – 11/05/2011

Interview with Republican Member of Parliament Rafik Petrosyan,
Deputy Chairman of NA Standing Committee on Human Rights

Would you comment on the latest report of the CoE Human Rights
Commissioner Hammarberg which noted that Armenia should make additional
steps for human rights protection?

These are common phrases, and we also say for ourselves that the state
of human rights needs to be improved. I think these statements are
too general because Hammarberg says the protection of human rights
needs improvement but does not point out specific areas.

He noted that although some of those detained for March 1 have been
released, there are still people who have deprived of their freedom,
and he is concerned about it.

The Criminal Code of Armenia provides a number of remedies to release
those people. It is disease, pardon, release on serving one third
or two thirds of the sentence. We have learned from the press that
the Public Council is going to appeal to Serge Sargsyan to free those
people. As a lawyer I can say that the Criminal Code does not provide
for release based on a petition by the Public Council or NGOs, unless
the convict solicits pardon. Necessary grounds should be created
in the law. Therefore, the president has instructed the minister of
justice to work out certain approaches.

You mean if Hovik Abrahamyan appeals to Serzh Sargsyan to release
Sasun Mikaelyan, does it contradict to the law?

Our law does not have such a provision, but it does not contradict
to the Constitution. The Constitution provides that whatever is not
illegal is permitted, therefore perhaps Hovik Abrahamyan appealed
being guided by this norm.

Will Serzh Sargsyan meet Hovik Abrahamyan’s request?

It is hard to say. Serzh Sargsyan should decide himself. But if Hovik
Abrahamyan appeals, then may meet his request.

Hammarberg dwelt on the revelation of March 1 and considered the
steps as insufficient.

Earlier Hammarberg had said he would help. A fact-finding group was
set up on his proposal, he promised to send independent international
experts to participate in the fact-finding mission. After a lot of
requests from our side, only one expert came to help the group.

Do you blame Hammarberg for the failure to reveal March 1?

He says one thing, but does not keep his promise whenever action
is concerned. In this context, yes, he is also to blame. As to the
proceedings, nobody has ever stopped the investigation, and Serzh
Sargsyan instructed to intensify the proceedings. However, the Special
Investigative Service must continue the investigation

The opposition described Robert Kocharyan’s recent statement as a
testimony of the accused to the case of March 1. Will these statements
be useful for the investigation?

Robert Kocharyan told what had happened. He said he had not ordered
to use old and worn-out weapons, etc.

Who had ordered then? Who is responsible?

The police chiefs, police officers are responsible who should not
have used those arms. But they could not have used something else
because that was all they had at hand. Only now they started acquiring
new weapons.

Is it possible that the former Chief of Police Haik Harutiunyan and the
head of the National Security Service Gorik Hakobyan will be blamed,
they are responsible?

It has been confirmed that there are to blame for the use of those
weapons. It has been confirmed that the use of those weapons resulted
in grave consequences. However, the leadership of the police has
already been punished, they have been dismissed. As for the NSS, Gorik
Hakobyan did not give an order to the police, the NSS does not have a
function of protecting public order, it is the function of the Police.

As the deputy chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Human Rights,
are you concerned about the criticism of Armenia by international
organizations, the US department of state, the CoE, every secondary
and tertiary European official?

I am not concerned about that very much because there are countries
“worse” than Armenia where every day journalists are killed and human
rights are violated. Thank God, no journalist has been killed in
Armenia in the recent years. Besides, international evaluations stem
from subjective approaches. When our president visited Iran and met
with Ahmadinejad, the U.S. started criticizing us. Everything stems
from subjective interests.

RA VICE PRIME MINISTER MEETS UAE FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER

ARMENPRESS
MAY 11, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS: During the working visit to the United
Arab Emirates, Armen Gevorgyan, RA vice prime minister, territorial
administration minister, met UAE Foreign Trade Minister Sheikha Lubna
Al Qasimi.

An official from the press and PR department of the RA Territorial
Administration Ministry told Armenpress that Minister Armen Gevorgyan
expressed gratitude to Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi for the invitation
to partake in the UAE first annual investment conference and said he
welcomes the initiative.

The sides noted that they are satisfied with the fact that practical
steps are being undertaken for the deepening of the relations. They
emphasized the importance of conducting the first session of
Armenia-UAE Inter-Governmental Cooperation Committee, as well as
the second round of the business forum between the two states. The
developments in the bilateral relations since the November, 2010
visit by Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi were discussed as well.