Author: Kajoyan Gevork

Charging Through Black Friday to Join the Armenian Cause at ANCA Grassroots

Friday, December 6th, 2013

A capacity crowd filled the Loew’s Hollywood Hotel ball room at ANCA Grassroots

BY TALAR MALAKIAN

LOS ANGELES – Black Friday was embraced at the famous Loews Hollywood
Hotel on November 29 with a lively, bustling crowd of 500 people
shuffling through registration and check-ins, many scrambling over to
Sebu Simonian to have a picture taken with the award winning Capital
Cities’ star, others were hugging each other after several years of
separation anxiety.

But it was not the bargain deals and the latest incredible offers on
pricey goods, for which this group headed to the Loews Hotel. It was
also not for a star studded weekend of tourism following the
consumption of mass amounts of food after Thanksgiving Day.

Community members young and old, from across the country and the globe
headed to the Loews Hotel for a three-day conference about the most
recent developments pertaining to the Armenian Cause in the United
States, Armenia and globally.

The conference was hosted by the Armenian National Committee of
America Western Region and with full bellies and thankful hearts,
participants were ready to join a conference that showcased recent
accomplishments, certain failures, and the potential for a better
future through community activism, entertainment, political
leadership, modern social media developments, and global networks.

Representatives from ANCA, the ANCA-Eastern Region and ANCA Canada
were also part of the diverse audience at ANCA Grassroots.

On Friday night, registration began at 4 p.m. Participants were given
red reusable and environmentally friendly ANCA Grassroots bags with a
2013 Annual Report, a Program Book, a pen and a list of local
attractions including some of the best restaurants in Los Angeles. The
affordable cost of the conference provided seven incredible and
informative panels as well as one breakfast Saturday morning, one
luncheon Sunday, and two cocktail receptions, on Friday night and
Saturday night.

The `Film and the Arts’ panel lead by Capital Cities’ Sebu Simonian,
Emmy award winning filmmaker Bared Maronian, Genie and Gemini award
winning actress Arsinee Khanjian, world renowed comedian, actor and
writer Vahe Berberian, Filmmakers Edwin Avaness and Serj Minassians of
`Epic Denied,’ and Micheline Aharonian Marcom, acclaimed author of
`Three Apples Fell From Heaven’

The first discussion was a panel called, `Film and the Arts.’ Before a
stunning dark blue curtain backdrop with streaming symbolic, red, blue
and orange lighting, lead singer of Capital Cities, Sebu Simonian,
Emmy award winning filmmaker Bared Maronian, Genie and Gemini award
winning actress Arsinee Khanjian, world renowed comedian, actor and
writer Vahe Berberian, Filmmakers Edwin Avaness and Serj Minassians of
`Epic Denied’ and Micheline Aharonian Marcom acclaimed author of
`Three Apples Fell From Heaven’ discussed their experiences with
utilizing cinema, writing, art and music to spread awareness about a
variety of issues, but further, to reach a global audience through
creativity that speaks to the heart of issues plaguing the world
today, especially Armenian issues.

Vahe Berberian stressed the importance of cultural and linguistic
preservation through entertainment and engagement with audiences,
while all the panelists agreed that entertainment provided a platform
to reach an audience through speaking to the heart of stories that
matter and move them. Following the panel discussion was a cocktail
reception right outside the hall on the mezzanine floor, where
panelists and community members shared stories, shook hands, took
pictures, and had their forearms signed.

Early Saturday morning, participants were woken up not by the strong
coffee and fresh scones in the hall, but by a powerful panel called
`Homeland and the Diaspora.’

Panelists Dr. Hayg Oshagan, an Associate Professor and Director of the
Media Arts and Studies Program at Wayne State University, Maria
Titizian, an editor for Civilnet and Dr. Talar Chahinian, a professor
of Comparative literature at Cal State University Long Beach

Panelists Dr. Hayg Oshagan, an Associate Professor and Director of the
Media Arts and Studies Program in the Department of Communication at
Wayne State University and Maria Titizian, an editor for Civilnet and
Dr. Talar Chahinian, a professor of Comparative literature at Cal
State University Long Beach, had a heated discussion regarding
identity politics and cultural production in the homeland and in the
Diaspora, with a special emphasis on the various solutions to
preserving the Armenian identity, whatever that identity may be to
each of us.

Many participants asked questions and many were left wondering whether
repatriation to Armenia was the only way to preserve a truly Armenian
identity and a prosperous geographical homeland.

`The engagement in the Homeland and Diaspora panel was incredible.
Participants of all ages wondered what it meant to be an Armenian in
every sense of the word. The panel was political, cultural,
psychological and more importantly, a conversation that needed to
happen,’ said Asbarez English Editor and Grassroots Committee
Chairperson Ara Khachatourian.

Expert scholars Ruken Sengul, Dr. Henry Theriault and Dr. Biligin
Ayata lead the “Western Armenia” panel

Following the engaging panel on identity politics, was one just as
informative, called `Western Armenia,’ a term referring to the Eastern
part of the Ottoman Empire. Challenges facing the region especially
with regards to Kurdish and Armenian relations were discussed by
expert scholars Ruken Sengul, Dr. Henry Theriault and Dr. Biligin
Ayata. The panel was moderated by Khatchig Mouradian, a panelist
recognized from the 2011 ANCA Western Region Grassroots Conference.

After a lunch break at some of the best restaurants in a jolly,
Christmas-themed Hollywood and Highland Center, participants returned
for the panel called `Transnational Justice.’

Noted lawyers David Balabanian, Kate Nahapetian, and Edvin Minasian
and Garo Ghazarian in collaboration with the Armenian Bar Association,
explored the legal possibilities for Genocide reparations especially
with regards to the Armenian case of Genocide. Lawyers attending the
panel discussion received 1.5 hours of CLE credit. Chairman of the
Armenian Bar Association Garo Ghazarian began the panel with a moving
and passionate speech regarding the importance of legal justice in
international conflicts. At the end of the Question and Answer section
of the panel, someone from the audience even claimed he had paperwork
for a property in Western Armenia and requested one of the lawyers to
take his case in retrieving what was rightfully his.

The `Transnational Justice’ panel was lead by prominent lawyers David
Balabanian, Kate Nahapetian, and Edvin Minasian and Garo Ghazarian

`Amongst the many means by which to advocate for the Armenian Cause,
one of the most effective is to pursue justice through domestic and
foreign court systems. The purpose of this panel was to highlight such
ongoing efforts and to explore new legal options, and we are grateful
to our esteemed panelists from the Armenian Bar Association for a
thought-provoking presentation.’ said ANCA Western Region Chairperson
Nora Hovsepian.

The `Hye Votes’ panel followed `Transnational Justice.’ Since the last
Grassroots conference, a successful campaign led by the ANCA Western
Region HyeVotes initiative registered over 5,000 people in the Los
Angeles area to vote.

Moderated by HyeVotes Campaign Director and ANCA Western Region
Executive Director Elen Asatryan, elected officials and campaign staff
discussed grassroots activism, elections, and community organization.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian started off by inspiring
the crowd and empowering them to activism, as the first Armenian Los
Angeles City Councilmember. Jack Hadjinian of Montebello City Council
said he wanted to be a rockstar as a kid, before he decided to run for
office. Christine Jerian, Mayor Eric Garcetti’s External Affairs
Liaison, called on Armenian women to run for office as the only female
panelist. Glendale City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian talked about his
experiences with the UCLA Armenian Students’ Association and Turkish
lobbying on campus. Glendale City Treasurer Rafi Manoukian discussed
his extensive experience in local politics and Glendale City
Councilmember Zareh Sinanyan stressed the importance of service.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian, Montebello City
Councilmember Jack Hadjinian, Mayor Eric Garcetti’s External Affairs
Liaison Christine Jerian, Glendale City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian,
Glendale City Treasurer Rafi Manoukian, and Glendale City
Councilmember Zareh Sinanyan lead the “Hye Votes” panel, moderated by
ANCA Western Region Executive Director Elen Asatryan

`The Hye Votes panel was the culmination of the experiences of elected
officials, a reminder of how important it is to be involved in the
electoral process, and a celebration of the grassroots activism that
has been going on politically, especially in Los Angeles,’ said ANCA
Western Region Executive Director and Hye Votes panel moderator, Elen
Asatryan.

Immediately after the Hye Votes panel, `iZartonk’ panelists Vache
Thomassian and Paul Chaderjian emotionally charged the audience
through dedicating the panel to Allen Yekikian who conceived the
concept of iZartonk as a multii-platform media professional and
Armenian Youth Federation activist. Allen and his wife Sosse, Vache
Thomassian’s sister, moved to Armenia where they lost their lives
after repatriating to Armenia earlier this year.

The two panelists were joined by moderator and ANCA Grassroots
committee member Aris Hovasapian to talk about the Digital Revolution
and the changing face of community outreach through social media like
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube among many others. During the
panel, ANCA Western Region, local ANCA chapters, and community members
posted pictures and videos online. Many were emotional through
watching Allen Yekikian’s 2011 presentation, and many found themselves
ready to use social media tools as ways to engage.

Vache Thomassian and Paul Chaderjian lead the “iZartonk” panel,
dedicating it to Allen Yekikian who conceived the concept of iZartonk

The ANCA Western Region Annual Banquet that evening, was attended by
over a 1,000 community leaders, elected officials, and community
representatives. Following the Banquet was the `ANCA Professional
Network After Party’ included in the Grassroots Conference package, in
the Panorama Suite of the Loews Hotel. Panelists, elected officials,
and friends of all ages rubbed elbows, looked out at the twinkling Los
Angeles night sky and found themselves awed by the beauty of towering
skyscrapers from a wide set window running along the glamorous suite.

A fascinating luncheon called `The Hye Tad Global Initiative’ took
place Sunday afternoon, after a long night of fun and celebration.

On Sunday at noon representatives from Armenian National Committees in
South America, Europe, Armenia, Australia and the Middle East streamed
in through Google Hangouts video chat to discuss their advocacy
efforts in their respective communities.

International Hye Tad Director Giro Manoyan (Armenia), Dr. Khatchik
Der-Gougassian (South America), Vera Yacoubian (Middle East), Shahen
Mirakian (Canada), Kaspar Karampetian (Europe) and Vache Kahramanian
(Australia) remotely joined ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian and
ANCA-WR Board Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian who were in the ballroom for a
multi-faceted discussion about the Armenian Cause moderated by ANCA
Grassroots Committee chairperson and Asbarez English Editor Ara
Khachatourian.

International Hye Tad Director Giro Manoyan, Dr. Khatchik
Der-Gougassian, Vera Yacoubian, Shahen Mirakian, Kaspar Karampetian
and Vache Kahramanian joining remotely with ANCA Executive Director
Aram Hamparian and ANCA-WR Board Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian to lead the
“Hye Tad Global Initiative” panel, moderated by ANCA Grassroots
Committee chairperson and Asbarez English Editor Ara Khachatourian

Participants from the ANCA Western Region Facebook and twitter pages
engaged with the panelists, along with international communities
watching the online stream through the Asbarez website. A global
discussion through modern contemporary media breached geographical
barriers in a groundbreaking event where Armenians from everywhere
discussed leadership, the Armenian cause, and the future for Armenia
and the Diaspora in one room though thousands of miles away.

After hearing the panelists, and concluding with a community of global
conversation, the ANCA Western Region Grassroots conference touched
the lives of all the participants by making them uncomfortable with
the status quo, showing them the progressive ways communities are
changing and empowering people to be a part of the Armenian Cause as a
working body of various necessary organs, always developing, moving
forward, with the same values, integrity and passion for justice. The
ANCA WR Grassroots Conference will be back two years from now,
following the Armenian Genocide Centennial.

By then, it can be wholeheartedly said that the ANCA Western Region
has empowered people internationally, to charge forward, take justice
through the grassroots to a new level, and to remember always that
full bellies and giving thanks for panorama suites and informative
panels should actually mean giving more to the things that require
love, heart, and undivided attention, every day until the world is
flawless. Take a breath, pat yourselves on the back for coming, then
join the movement that is changing the world and mobilizing the
Armenian Cause.

The Armenian National Committee of America- 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 ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.

Armenian brandy tasting organized in London

December 07, 2013 | 19:50

Tasting of Ararat brandy was organized by the Armenian Embassy in UK
and Vice-President of the British-Armenian All-Party Parliamentary
Group John Whittingdale on December 4 in the UK House of Commons.

The event was attended by representatives of the House of Lords and
House of Commons, diplomats, as well as heads and representatives of
the Armenian organizations in UK.

Addressing the participants, Ambassador Armen Sargsyan presented the
history of Armenian brandy.

The event was sponsored by Tekeyan cultural center, Vinorium, the
official representation of Ararat brandy in UK , Nor Serund cultural
union and Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Turkish expert: Armenia is integral part of South Caucasus and we have
to consider and negotiate with it

19:50 07/12/2013 » INTERVIEWS

“Not only I call the Azerbaijani authorities partially dictatorial,
but also the other political analysts and experts,’ said the head of
the Turkish Center for Strategic Studies of the Caucasus Dr. Hasan
Oktay in the interview given to the Azerbaijani portal “Haqqin.az.”

Portal notes that Hasan Oktay denies his ties with the elite of
Erdogan, however, according to some members of the Nationalist Party
of Turkey, he and his Center are very close to the ruling circles.

Hasan Oktay noted that at the international symposium entitled “From
the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea – a strategic view” the recent
elections in all three South Caucasus countries were discussed. “At
the end it came out that the most undemocratic elections were held in
Azerbaijan. And no matter how much the authorities of your country
repeat that they were held democratically, the international community
has a basic opinion which says the opposite,” he said.

“Azerbaijan believes that all the problems, including problems with
democracy, are the results of unsettled Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijani
authorities want to assure the entire world that if tomorrow there are
breaks in Azerbaijan then they will be deposed: this is a wrong
approach. Such statements are made only by those leaders who do not
believe in themselves. Difference between the people and the
authorities of Azerbaijan is in this, when your people want more
freedom, and the government hinders it,” Hasan Oktay said.

The expert noted that between the people and the authorities of
Azerbaijan a big gap is formed, and it is observed by everyone in the
world. “Someone has to tell about this directly to the official Baku.
We do not need new Gaddafis, Assads, Saddam Husseins on the territory
of the Turkic world, thus we should always remind the Azerbaijani
authorities that the path they have chosen, is incorrect and does not
correspond to the interests of the Azerbaijani people, but to their
own ones. We really do not want to see the Libyan scenario repeated in
Azerbaijan in the future,” he said.

Answering the question of how strong do the Azerbaijani authorities
hinder the Turkish policy in the Caucasus, Hasan Oktay stated that
Ankara carries out a pragmatic policy, and it must, in the end, tell
Baku that the latter must come down from the heavens onto the earth
and accept the reality. Any step made by Turkey in connection to
Armenia and Karabakh, even if it is for the benefit of Baku, causes
panic among the Azerbaijani authorities. “Both the authorities and the
opposition of Turkey, are in Azerbaijani authorities’ trap too, and
thus, our entire foreign policy, in fact, is held hostage by Baku.
That’s how I regard Davutoglu’s refusal to visit Yerevan on December
12 and to attend the meeting of BSEC Council (yesterday Davutoglu
stated that he would leave for Yerevan “Haqqn.az”),” the expert noted.

Oktay is sure that Davutoglu should go to Armenia, as far as it is
also in the interests of Azerbaijan. Turkey on its part, is trying to
budge the solution of this problem, and the Azerbaijani authorities
should not hinder it. Azerbaijan should decide: either to declare
firmly of their intention to “liberate” the territory, or to abandon
them forever, or else to agree on the present status quo.
“Azerbaijan, however, does not hurry to develop and express its final
position on this issue,” the expert stated.

Hasan Oktay stressed that at the moment, Turkey carries out its policy
fully in accordance with the interests of Baku. “I think this is a
wrong approach, as Turkey as a large country, should take the
initiative in all matters, and not look back at Baku. And what did we
see immediately after the signing of the protocols in Zurich? Prime
Minister Erdogan arrived in Baku and delivered to your parliament with
a speech stating that Turkey will never take up steps which could harm
Azerbaijan. All these recent actions carried out by Turkey serve to
preserve the status quo in the region,” he noted.

“Whether we like it or not, Armenia is an integral part of the South
Caucasus, and we are forced to reckon with its existence.
This means that if we want changes then we have to find a way to come
to an agreement with it. If we begin to look back at Baku, then
everything will remain the same, which is not in the interests of
either Azerbaijan or Turkey. Karabakh conflict is one of the most
painful problems of the region. Therefore, we, together with Baku must
develop a new strategy to resolve this conflict. Either Azerbaijan has
to put the international community under pressure and to settle the
conflict peacefully, or it has to start a war for the liberation of
Karabakh. There is no third way out there,” said the expert.

According to Hasan Oktay, Turkey will not open its border with Armenia
on the centenary of the Armenian Genocide. The expert recalled
statement made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on May
16, when he stated that the border with Armenia will not be opened
until the Karabakh conflict is solved. “But my personal opinion is
that Turkey should open the borders,” Oktay said.

“We must open the borders unconditionally,” the Turkish expert stated,
noting that the Armenians “in the first place, have to change their
mentality and make peace with Turkey and Azerbaijan.”

Poverty rate highest in quake-affected Shirak region 25 years on – opinion

15:47 – 07.12.13

In an interview with Tert.am, Levon Barseghyan, a member of Gyumri’s
municipal council and the president of the Asparez club of
journalists, talked of the problems in the second largest city. He
focused particularly on the poverty rate, saying that it remains the
highest in Armenia 25 years after the devastating earthquake.

`The government records show the highest poverty rate in the Shirak
region and in Gyumri; every second person is poverty-stricken here.
What we say is that two in three are poor. If we guide ourselves by
the state data, half of the city’s population lives in poverty. We are
rich in spirit, of course, and generous, but the situation is hard in
terms of social conditions. More than 4,000 families are poor; we are
trying with great difficulty to ensure warmth in the [temporary
shelters],’ he said.

Are there expectations for job creation to change the living standards?

It’s over ten years I offered different government officials to
establish special tax, pension and loan regimes for our city and the
disaster zone before we manage to reduce the vulnerability here and
raise the socio-economic standards to the general level in Armenia.
And I don’t mean only the apartment building. The average poverty rate
is 35% in Armenia; in the Shirak region, it reaches 47%. The
unemployment rate is dramatically high here, with the migration being
incomparably higher compared to other places. I used to think and
still think that the state has a program to carry out.

What programs do you mean? Will you give more details?

The state is obliged to implement investment, economic and social
development projects so that we could upgrade the situation to the
average standards in Armenia.

For that, it is necessary to launch special loan, pension and tax
policies for this region. Certain taxes could be reduced here, for
instance; the profit tax could be completely eliminated and the
pension deductions reduced. After all, they could have an apartment
building project. These are very important conditions to direct the
money here; these are good tools to promote investments.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Twenty-five years after the devastating earthquake in Spitak

11:35 07.12.2013

December 7 marks the 25th anniversary of the destructive earthquake in
Spitak. The earthquake hit 40 % of the territory of Armenia, densely
populated region with 1 million people. The cities of Spitak,
Leninakan, Kirovakan and Stepanavan, as well as hundreds of villages
were totally or partially destroyed. Twenty-five thousand people were
killed, 500 thousand were left without shelter. 17% of the buildings
were destroyed, the work of 170 industrial companies was halted.

Immediately after the earthquake Armenians all over the world united
and offered comprehensive support to the Motherland. `SOS Armenie,’
`Aznavour for Armenia’ and tens of other organizations were created.
Many Diaspora Armenians rushed to Armenia, bringing food, clothes and
medicine.

Many of them – doctors, psychologists, constructors, architects –
stayed in Armenia and personally participated in the rescue works.

A number of countries of the world continued to support Armenia years
after the earthquake. Italians built a whole dwelling district in
Spitak, Norwegians built a hospital, which was named after great
humanist F. Nansen.

A school built by an Englishmen was opened in Gyumri. Prime Minister
of Great Britain Margaret Thatcher participated in the opening
ceremony.

Serzh Sargsyan awards Order of Honor to TV journalist Vladimir Solovyev

13:43 07/12/2013 » SOCIETY

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met prominent Russian TV journalist,
publicist and public figure Vladimir Solovyev on Friday.

Highly valuing great personal contribution of Vladimir Solovyev to the
development and strengthening of Armenian-Russian friendship, the
President awarded him the Order of Honor.

Vladimir Solovyev accepted the high state award with gratitude and
noted that he was very proud for being distinguished in such way.

The parties also spoke about the dynamically developing strategic
partnership between Armenia and Russia, steps aimed at further
strengthening the relations, including the Interregional Forum, which
took place recently as part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s
state visit to Armenia, which, according to the interlocutors, opens
new prospects for furthering relations between the two friendly
peoples, for the deepening and expansion of cooperation between
Armenia and Russia, the presidential press service reported.

Source: Panorama.am

REDUCING THE RISK OF 1988

Friday, December 6th, 2013

by Serouj Aprahamian

A coalition of organizations have come together under the auspices
of Oxfam in Armenia to overcome the potential risks posed by such
natural disasters as earthquakes.

BY SEROUJ APRAHAMIAN

Twenty five years ago, on December 7, 1988, a catastrophic earthquake
ripped through Armenia, decimating the town of Spitak and surrounding
areas. The quake left more than 25,000 people dead, 15,000 injured,
517,000 homeless, and $14.2 billion in economic damage.

But the horror of that day was just as much a result of human
negligence as it was natural causes. International experts concluded
that poor building construction, a lack of emergency planning, and
inadequate medical care were the main factors behind the earthquake’s
devastation.

This year, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the earthquake, a
coalition of organizations came together under the auspices of Oxfam
in Armenia to remember the victims of that tragedy and overcome the
potential risks posed by such natural disasters.

“I was only 13 years old and going to school in Gyumri when the
devastating earthquake took place,” says Zaruhi Tonoyan, Disaster Risk
Reduction (DRR) Program Officer for Oxfam. “I lost my sister that day.

We walked to school together but, unfortunately, never met again.”

Mrs. Tonoyan explains that many people, whether administrators or
students, simply did not know what to do back then. “By raising
awareness on disaster risk reduction, you automatically protect
yourself,” she stresses, “and I am thankful that, today, I can
contribute to making our communities less vulnerable to natural
disasters.”

On December 6, the Support to Communities NGO teamed up with Oxfam
to commemorate the earthquake anniversary with an emergency drill in
the Vayots Dzor community of Arpi. Working in conjunction with the
regional rescue department and volunteer community emergency groups,
the exercise involved the entire community in a mock earthquake
scenario. Residents directly played out how they would act during such
an emergency, carrying out evacuation plans, implementing first aid,
assisting trapped victims, and putting out fires.

They also worked with Oxfam on a local level, especially with women
and youth, to spread awareness and prepare communities to withstand
natural disasters. They have organized safety seminars in schools,
disseminated information, formed voluntary rescue groups, conducted
simulations and worked with local governments on risk assessments
and disaster management.

Other organizations such as the Armenian Young Women Association
(AYWA) and Foundation Against the Violation of Law (FAVL) have also
established green laboratories (houses) in ten communities throughout
Vayots Dzor province: Areni, Agarakadzor, Artabuynk, Arpi, Chiva,
Horbategh, Martiros, Getap, Yelpin, and Khatchik. These green labs
provide a source of non-traditional, resilient crops for local
communities to grow and withstand hazardous climatic conditions. A
culminating event will be held on December 12 to present their crop
yields and overview their activities throughout 2013.

Such climate adaptation measures are particularly important given
the scale of changes to the earth’s atmosphere. As a new report by
the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates, human
activity is leading to higher temperatures, rising sea levels, and a
greater frequency of meteorological hazards. For Armenia-a country
whose agricultural sector has been ravaged by hailstorms, floods,
and mudslides-such changing conditions pose dangerous risks.

Furthermore, experience has shown that inequality greatly exacerbates
the damage of disaster. The affluent tend to be protected from risks
while the less fortunate often bear the brunt of natural catastrophes.

It is for this reason that Oxfam and its partner organizations have
worked to address the needs of the most vulnerable populations,
including rural farmers, women, young people, and the elderly.

In any given year, Armenia faces a 20% chance of a major disaster.

This is due not only to its location on a major seismic belt but also
to its mountainous terrain. Taking preventive steps to make communities
resistant against such risks is both the morally and economically
right thing to do. Investing right now in proper infrastructure and
risk consciousness will pay off down the line when communities are
in less need of rebuilding and international disaster relief.

The 25th anniversary of the Spitak Earthquake should remind us all of
the importance of being resilient and prepared in the face of natural
catastrophe. If we truly want to commemorate that horrible tragedy,
we should not repeat the mistakes of 1988. We should support the
grassroots work being done to strengthen the capacity of communities
to deal with disaster risk in Armenia while advocating on the national
level to review policies and mainstream DRR procedures accordingly.

UN DEMANDS FROM AZERBAIJAN TO FULLY REALIZE HUMAN RIGHTS OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN SPITE OF THEIR “RIGHT TO RETURN”

Azerbaijan Business Center
Dec 6 2013

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Rashida Manjoo, UN Special Rapporteur on
violence against women, delivered the statement at the end of her
10-day mission to Azerbaijan.

She pointed out in her statement that during her mission she had the
opportunity to visit IDP settlements in Sumgayit and Qaradaq.

“The conflict in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region in 1992-1993,
which resulted in the occupation of 20% of Azerbaijani territory,
has had enormous consequences for the displaced communities. It is
estimated that approximately one million refugees and internally
displaced persons (IDPs) – Azerbaijanis from Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh – were forced to flee their homelands. Over half
were women and children. I share the concerns of the CEDAW Committee
(Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against
Women) as regards the vulnerable and marginalized situation of
internally displaced communities, especially women and girls, and
the challenges of their current living conditions”, – Manjoo said.

She noted that the Government of Azerbaijan had made efforts to
address access to education, employment, health care, psychological
support and housing.

“Despite such efforts, I witnessed and heard distressing accounts
of hardships and the challenges of living in camps, dormitories and
‘hotel’ accommodation. I also heard about the distress of women from
“martyr families” who are still waiting for the return of their missing
family members. The political sensitivities in respect of the issue of
the “right to return” of Azerbaijani IDPs, to their regions of origin
which are now under occupation, or any other considerations, should not
deter the Government from further ensuring that these citizens enjoy
the promotion and protection of the full range of human rights, while
they wait for the resolution of the peace process”, – Manjoo said.

Her report will be presented to the United Nations Human Rights
Council in 2014.

RUSSIA IS ARMENIA’S LARGEST TRADING PARTNER

The Voice of Russia
Dec 6 2013

The key point in the Russia-Armenia trade story now is the upcoming
accession of Armenia to the Customs Union and the Common Economic
Space. The move was agreed on in early September when presidents of
the two states made a joint statement, which has been making headlines
ever since.

This week Russian President Vladimir Putin has paid an official visit
to Armenia to discuss further steps in this direction.

Russia is the biggest foreign investor in Armenia and its largest
trading partner. In 2012, bilateral trade grew 22% to reach $1.2
billion. Most trade has been imports to Armenia. In the first half
of this year, trade turnover between the two states grew over 11%
year-on-year to around $600 million.

The three-member Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus
was founded in 2010. The plan is to expand it into a so-called
“Eurasian Union”, uniting post-Soviet states like Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. It has been also suggested that
the body could include some other countries, historically or culturally
close, such as Finland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Vietnam,
Mongolia, Cuba and Venezuela.

Yerevan had great expectations of the country’s participation in
Eurasian integration.

“Armenia is linked with the Customs Union countries by thousands of
threads, one-third of our exports go to Russia,” Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan said at a meeting on the parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe in Strasbourg in October this year.

Russia’s accumulated investments in Armenia have already exceeded $3
billion, or nearly half of Armenia’s foreign investment. Some 1,300
Russian companies operate in the country. Officials say several big
players are expected to enter the Armenian market soon, bringing here
a great amount of investments. By 2020, the trade turnover between
Russia and Armenia is expected to grow up to 15% annually.

Read more:

ARMENIAN CUISINE IN RICHMOND HEIGHTS

WKSU Public Radio / Kent State University
Dec 6 2013

Shish kabob, stuffed grape leaves, pomegranate wine and more to
celebrate a rich cultural heritage by WKSU’s VIVIAN GOODMAN

In The Region:

As many as 1.5 million people perished in the World War I atrocity
known as the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

Today the Armenian diaspora extends as far as Argentina and Australia,
but the largest populations are in Russia and the United States.

Ohio’s first Armenian Church was established in Richmond Heights in
1962, and it’s the site every fall of a delicious celebration.

That’s where we’re headed for today’s Quick Bite.