Author: Kajoyan Gevork

MESROBIAN HOLDS 38TH COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

asbarez
Tuesday, July 10th, 2012

Mesrobian commencemnet ceremony

PICO RIVERA, Calif.-Thirty-five Mesrobian School students from
elementary, middle and high school received their graduation diplomas
at the school’s 38th Commencement Exercises held on campus the
previous Sunday, June 17. The students celebrated their graduation
ceremonies under the auspices of Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian and in the presence of community representatives, faculty,
family and friends.

The commencement program opened with remarks by the mistress of
ceremonies, school’s administrative assistance Maral Annie Asik. Asik
emphasized the improvements achieved during the academic year,
congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to face the future
with optimism. She then invited the principal, Seto Boyadjian, Esq.,
to recognize the services rendered by the school’s Parent Faculty
Club and its chairperson Tania Kasakian. Boyadjian thanked the club
members and invited Kasakian to accept the plaque of recognition for
her efforts and hard work. Kasakian expressed her thanks, congratulated
the students and promised to continue the good work for Mesrobian.

Prelacy Board of Regents and School Board messages were delivered
respectively by Houri Keuroghlian and Berch Papikyan, who congratulated
the students, indicated the school’s achievements, and promised
support for further excellence.

The graduating 5th grade elementary address was delivered by Sevana
Chalian in English and Ani Khachigian in Armenian. On behalf of the
graduating 8th grade, the middle school address was delivered by
Knar Baghdassarian in English and Taleen Tatarian in Armenian. For
the senior graduating class the valedictorian address was presented
by Aram Ghoogasian and the salutatorian address by Nvair Ozonian.

The keynote speaker for the event, Dr. Armen Chalian, delivered a
powerful message outlining the mission of Mesrobian School and its
expectations from its students. Chalian, who is a Mesrobian alumnus,
reminded the graduating students to take pride in their Armenian
roots and follow in the footsteps of the leaders who led the Armenian
liberation struggle and brought independence to Armenia.

In his address the Principal marked that this was the year
of academic improvement at Mesrobian School. He outlined the
school-wide improvements achieved through the coordinated efforts of
the administration, faculty and volunteer parents, who were united
with the vision of providing our children with the best educational
experience possible. Mr. Boyadjian thanked all individuals and
organizations who assisted the school; he extended special gratitude
to Prelate Mardirossian, the Prelacy Executive Council, UCLA Dream
Fund and the ARF Dro Gomideh who lent their invaluable moral and
financial support to Mesrobian. Addressing the graduating students,
Boyadjian congratulated them and wished them all the best in their
endeavors. He concluded by asking them, “never forget your roots,
never detach from our collective history, never forgo our cultural
heritage, and above all never hesitate to help our national cause.”

Then followed the presentation of diplomas to the graduating 5th,
8th and 12th grade students. The presentation ceremony was led by the
Prelate’s representative father Muron Aznikian, Principal Boyadjian
and the respective homeroom teachers of each grade.

The 38th Commencement exercises of Armenian Mesrobian School concluded
with the message and benediction by father Aznikian.

2015, TURKEY, FRANCE

Today’s Zaman

July 10 2012
Turkey

YAVUZ BAYDAR

In the aftermath of the Sarkozy era, which Turkey’s foreign minister,
Ahmet Davutoglu, has described as “a nightmare,” the shaping of
policies between Ankara and Paris will be very significant.

France may be — hopefully — brought to a new way of thinking,
recognizing that a different approach to Turkey will reinforce its
power status in the EU, while Turkey with the President Francois
Hollande administration may find a friendly counterpart benevolent
enough to resolve some key problems between the two nations.

The most significant issue that has stood between the two capitals,
pouring poison into relations, is the tragic fate of the Ottoman
Armenians in 1915. Former President Nicolas Sarkozy was personally a
driving force inflicting blows on the open wound, coldly calculating
Turkey’s reaction, and insisting on a law in France criminalizing the
denial of the Armenian genocide. He was doomed to fail, and by forcing
the French constitution in the wrong direction, he did. The question
remained: What did he care less about, the pain of the Armenians
worldwide, freedom of speech, or the Turks’ desire to join the EU?

Probably each one mattered less than the next.

The new era in France under Hollande is sending mixed signals, while
Turkey continues to conduct a slow-motion search for ways to deal with
that horrific part of its past. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius
declared after meeting with Davutoglu that there would be no attempts
to enliven the “denial law” bid. However, other sources suggest that
President Hollande is not in total agreement with this stance. He
is in touch with some influential diaspora organizations in France,
and has pledged that the issue will remain on France’s agenda.

Taken equally in relation to both countries, if Hollande’s stance is
as reported, it spells trouble, notably for the simple reason that
what Sarkozy tried to do only complicated things, pushing Turkey
into defensive mode, as under Justice and Development Party (AKP)
rule it is in constant search mode. Lessons of that period are clear:
If you mean well for Turkey, this is absolutely no way to show it.

Hollande is smart enough to understand this, but he also knows that
many of his prominent comrades in the EU — in both the Socialist and
Green camps — have remained rather firm that the positive aspects
of the AKP revisiting the past far outweigh its negatives. In other
words, it is not who will be punished for the denial of genocide that
matters as much as how the Turkish state will be helped to come to
terms with apology, regret or whatever the appropriate response may
be in relation to the crimes committed by the military junta of the
late Ottoman Empire. Awareness of this shows the difference between
cynicism and friendly commitment.

The search mode of Ankara is undeniable. Davutoglu reaffirmed it
during his Paris visit. On his way back, he deeply explored the issue
by sending signals to Paris. Here is what he said:

“How I wish that the protocols [between Turkey and Armenia] had been
implemented! But … it was the balance in the Caucasus that prevented
it. If Armenia had been able to withdraw from only one ‘region’ of
the seven it occupies in Nagorno-Karabakh, the border would be open. I
had persuaded [Azerbaijani President Ilham] Aliyev. Azerbaijan would
also have opened its border then. I still regret it badly, because
we were all on the verge of success. I had asked [Armenian President
Serzh] Sarksyan: ‘Withdraw from only one and Yerevan will be the most
beautiful city in the region. It is an advantage to be a neighbor to
Turkey.’ He could not because of internal obstacles. But the issue
is still on the table and conditions for implementation can rise again.

We are searching; we know that this will lighten the burden of [the
100th anniversary of the killings of Armenians in] 2015.”

The foreign minister continued: “Second, we are searching for a
new language of communication. We are establishing new, different
relations with the diaspora. We have to sit down and talk. Our aim
is to break the ice. Now there is and will be somebody who sits down
before the Armenians and listens to them. I am not a foreign minister
who keeps telling them that ‘no, nothing happened in 1915.’ Third,
we are preparing for new messages regarding 2015. We are searching
for a new language around the term ‘fair memory.’ I am also working
on a new book on Ottoman history. I do not call it genocide, but say
nothing when somebody else says it is.”

These are not brand new thoughts expressed by Davutoglu. If anything,
it is an example of the search mood, but would be meaningless if
Sarkozy’s methodology were to continue in Paris.

The key lies in cooperation between “new” France and “new” Turkey. As
has been demonstrated by Alain Juppe, French minister of foreign
affairs from 2011 to 2012, both governments can facilitate explorative
talks about a commission of independent historians with the aim of
guiding Turkey to finding peace with the events of 1915. After all,
France is the most trusted “protector power” of Armenia in Europe,
and has profound relations with Turkey. A different mode would indeed
help us all overcome nasty obstacles, and the decades-long festering
of buried shame and denial.

ELIF SAFAK HONORED AT FRENCH EMBASSY

Hurriyet
July 11 2012
Turkey

The French Ambassador to Ankara Laurent Bili has presented the
“Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters” (Chevalier dans l’Ordre
National des Arts et des Lettres) to Turkish writer Elif Þafak
for her contributions to intercultural dialogue and human rights,
intellectual studies, and freedom of thought.

At the ceremony held at the French Palace, Bili noted that the
“Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters” was a very significant
award and was given to those who make contributions to literature
and art in France and throughout the world.

In his speech, Bili told Þafak that “the personal cosmopolitan route,
the arduous and humanist discipline, interblended with Sufism and
Ottoman culture has doubtlessly affected your works.”

Bili mentioned Þafak’s earlier works “Pinhan,” which brought her the
“Great Rumi Award,” and “Þehrin Aynalarý” (Mirrors of the City), a
book published in 1999 that told of the historic interaction between
Islam and Judaism.

He also said that Þafak’s “Baba ve Pic” (The Bastard of Istanbul)
bewitched many people throughout the world, including France.

It was the bestselling book in 2006 in Turkey.

“Because of the sections of the book about the ‘Armenian Genocide,’
a case was opened against the book. Happily, the claim was given up,
but I know how deeply you were affected. Those hard times didn’t
discourage you from working on the subconscious of Turkish public,”
the ambassador said.

After his speech, Bili presented the award to Þafak.

Þafak said she believed she had a special readership and that she
received many letters from them. “The award is so precious, authorship
is an isolated profession, but awards help me have a connection with
the outside world,” she said.

AN AYFER’S LETTER TO AUTHOR OF ‘FORGOTTEN FIRE’

July 11, 2012

The following letter was sent to author Adam Bagdasarian by AYFer
Rachael Minassian on Dec. 5, 2011.

Dear Mr. Bagdasarian,

I am writing to tell you that your book Forgotten Fireis by far the
best book that I have ever read. So few books are written about the
Armenian Genocide, and it pains me that the United States doesn’t
recognize the mass killing. Because the United States is allied with
Turkey, the initiators of the genocide, they cannot commemorate the
millions that lost their lives. As an Armenian, I can really relate
to the book.

The cover of ‘Forgotten Fire’ As I read the story, I was filled with
anger over the injustice of the massacre. Not only did the book open
my eyes to something awful and inhumane, but it also instilled in me
a love and pride for my heritage that had been weak. I feel a strong
connection to the persecuted Armenian family in the story. Throughout
the novel, rape, poison, starvation, exhaustion, and disease all
contribute to the book’s intensity. I thought that every event in
the plot was full of power and emotion, but there was one part in
particular that really stood out to me: When Armenouhi poisons herself
in order to keep from being raped and murdered, I felt a raw and
clenching pain in the pit of my stomach. She is the sister of the main
character Vahan Kenderian, and I felt like I knew her personally. My
eyes filled with tears when Vahan and the remainder of his family
see her dead body in a pile of manure. She had been tossed aside as
if she was garbage, something that had never been of any importance.

Though the book has an excellent, enrapturing plot, the ending is
tragic. Before Vahan knew it, darkness had crept upon and shrouded his
life. The entire family of Vahan, a mere teenage boy living in Armenia,
had been killed mercilessly. He was alone and helpless in a country
divided, and he was left to fend for himself. As quick as a wink, his
comfortable and pleasant innocence had been taken away. He even had
to witness everybody he cared about die a painful and terrible death.

I can’t say that Vahan’s struggles made me like Armenian food more. I
can’t even say that I’d willingly listen to Armenian music. I don’t
know if I’ll ever grow to prefer these things, but I do know one
thing: I now appreciate the close bond among all Armenians. I used to
think of the relaxed atmosphere at our church as strange, since the
Catholic churches that I had visited were much more formal. I never
understood why two Armenian people who met at random could chat for
hours. After I read this book it made sense to me. When we were in
trouble, we relied on each other to help us out. Fellow Armenians took
in Vahan and gave him temporary homes. They protected him from harm
and discovery. Now, there are so few of us that we’ve learned to love
and accept each other with all of our flaws. Every Armenian function
is like a family party because of our great affection for our own
people. I also appreciate what I have and the place I live in because
of this book. It brought to my attention that happiness is as fragile
as a china plate perched on the edge of a shelf; it could shatter at
any moment, so we must enjoy and relish it while it lasts. Because of
my passion for the book, I was even able to convince my parents to
read it. I consider this a feat because the only material they ever
read is the newspaper. My mother is pure Armenian, while my father is
only half. Needless to say, they were both moved deeply by the novel.

They were extremely impressed by the courage and tenacity displayed
by Vahan, and at times I would come into my mother’s bedroom to find
her crying silently while reading the novel. I know that if I had been
in Vahan’s position, I wouldn’t have been able to keep myself alive.

Unlike most of the works I’ve read, I will not forget this story. It
made a big impact on my view of life, and its message has branded me
permanently. In particular, the lessons of cherishing your family
and loving one another will always stay with me. Every time I get
upset with my mother, father, or sister, I think of Vahan’s family
and how they would’ve given anything to get back to simpler times. I
have also joined the Armenian Youth Federation in hopes of connecting
with fellow Armenians. Since reading the book, I know that I will
never give up in the fight for recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Respectfully, Rachael Minassian

FORUM: TURKS HAVE BEEN BRAINWASHED CONCERNING GENOCIDE
By Bruce Matzkin

New Haven Register

July 11 2012
CT

My favorite pizza place near my office was being renovated recently, so
I went to another I’d driven by hundreds of times, but never visited.

While waiting for slices, I thought I detected Turkish being spoken
by the employees: a young woman, a middle-aged man and an older
woman. I asked if they were speaking Turkish, and the young woman
confirmed this.

As tactfully as possible, I asked about their views on the Armenian
genocide, since it was in the news in France: A new French law outlawed
denial of the genocide.

The young woman clearly was puzzled by my question. After a brief
exchange in Turkish, the man and older woman both said, in broken
English, “It’s all political.”

Seeking clarification, I asked bluntly: “Do you believe there was a
genocide of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks?” The young woman replied,
after more Turkish with the others: “It didn’t happen. It’s just a
political thing against Turkey.”

I thanked them for the pizza and left.

I know relatively little about the Armenian genocide. I’ve read
a number of books – including “Ambassador Morgenthau’s Story,” by
the U.S. ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, and “Black Dog of Fate,”
by Peter Balakian. I have seen Atom Egoyan’s amazing film, “Ararat,”
and have generally been alert to news of various countries’ efforts
at official recognition of the genocide.

I don’t recall if I had heard of the Armenian genocide prior to
marrying a remarkable Armenian woman, but my interest in learning
about it certainly had its genesis then.

I do know it is a well-documented fact that the Young Turk government,
which ruled the Ottoman Empire – the precursor to modern Turkey –
before and during World War I, orchestrated the first modern genocide
when it attempted to obliterate the empire’s Armenian population,
culture and history.

How do I know this? The same way everyone knows there was an American
Civil War, and the same way that everyone alive 50 years from now
will know about the Jewish Holocaust – from historical documentation.

Also, I have visited Tsitsernakaberd in Yerevan, where hundreds of
world leaders, including American presidents, have planted personalized
signs in memory of what occurred.

Outside Turkey, the Armenian genocide is a nearly universally accepted
fact by disinterested historians. In Turkey, it is a crime to even
mention the idea there was an Armenian genocide.

Only political considerations have prevented recognition of the
genocide from becoming law in the United States. President Barack Obama
tactfully avoided the issue in 2009, telling the Turkish parliament:
“I know there’s strong views in this chamber about the terrible events
of 1915. … It’s really about how the Turkish and Armenian people
deal with the past.”

Turkey’s obstinate refusal to come to grips with its history blinds it
to the truth, accepted by other countries. The denial is continuation
of the crime itself.

Indeed, from what I read and believe, concomitant with Turkey’s
official policy of denial is the continued disappearance from Turkey
of signs that there ever was a vast and vibrant minority Armenian
culture, including vandalism and destruction of Christian Armenian
churches from that era.

Germany and the United States have moved on from their own dark
histories of genocide and slavery only by acknowledging and condemning
that which made their histories dark. Rwanda has taken action to move
past 1994’s 100-day genocide by recognizing it as such and holding
accountable those with responsibility.

With technology and communication assuring witness to any modern
genocide, it is only the Armenian genocide that remains in dispute,
although not seriously so. And, there is nobody alive to hold
accountable, removing that sticky issue as an excuse.

Although what we know about history and most current events is what
we read, hear and see in the media, what I learned while waiting for
pizza slices I could never have appreciated from just reading about
it. In 2012, the citizens of a free and democratic country have been
brainwashed by their own government, and even those living in the U.S.
remain indoctrinated.

ARMENIA AND RUSSIA TO DEEPEN THE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF CSTO

ARMENPRESS
11 July, 2012
YEREVAN

Yerevan, July 11, Armenpress: Armenia is one of the most active members
of CSTO: organization which is very effective in developing military
and military-technical cooperation between Armenia and Russia.

The Chairman of the Federation Council Assembly of the Russian
Federation, Valentina Matviyenko, mentioned about this in the
briefing with the president of the National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan,
Armenpress reports.

~SThere is an absolute understanding between Russia and Armenia within
the framework of CSTO, as well as a will to actively cooperate in
the institution~T, Matvienko noted.As to the decision to suspend the
Uzbekistan membership in CSTO Matvienko mentioned that the country
hasn~Rt practically participated in CSTO activities. ~SIt wasn~Rt
a partnership, but a formal representation~T, the president of the
Federal Council outlined. To her word each independent state is to
determine its involvement in this or that international institution.

Hovik Abrahamyan stated that Armenia highly appreciates the cooperation
with the CSTO. ~SThat format is acceptable to us, and we will
strengthen our cooperation in daily work~T, Hovik Abrahamyan concluded.

During the visit Valentina Matvienko and the delegation members will
also meet with the president of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan
and His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of all Armenians.

DOLLAR STILL LOSES VALUE IN ARMENIA AT RAPID PACE

news.am
July 11, 2012 | 16:13

YEREVAN. – The US dollar’s exchange rate continues to lose ground in
Armenia’s financial market, and it is weakening as quickly as it was
gaining strength in the country.

The primary reason for the American currency’s weakening is the
growing demand for the Armenian Dram (AMD) during the agricultural
season and the increasing number of tourists.

So, the US currency’s average exchange rate against the Armenian
Dram comprised AMD 413.35/$1, at NASDAQ OMX Armenia stock exchange on
Wednesday, and this is a 0.41-percent-or a 1.71-point-fall from the
previous trading session on Tuesday. Furthermore, the day’s trading
closed at AMD 413/$1.

And the total sales were $4.5 million.

The dollar’s buying exchange rate dropped all the way to AMD 412/$,
in Armenia’s cash foreign currency market, and it is sold at AMD 414/$.

WILL TER-PETROSYAN CHANGE TRADITION?
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:48:54 – 11/07/2012

The issue of candidates for the 2013 presidential elections is
becoming more urgent in social and political discussions. Different
groups of the society are trying to predict or analyze who will run
in the election and what will change from one nomination or another.

In this sense, it is perhaps worthwhile to record an interesting
observation for Armenia. 5 presidential elections have been held so
far. 2013 will be the sixth.

In all the five elections the main candidate who lost or the official
runner up never ran in the next elections, or run but without any
significant result.

In 1991, for example, Ter-Petrosyan’s main opponent was Paruyr
Hairikyan. In 1996, his opponent was Vazgen Manukyan, while Hairikyan
supported Manukyan.

In 1998, Robert Kocharyan’s opponent was Karen Demirchyan, while Vazgen
Manukyan did not have any importance in the Kocharyan-Demirchyan
race, and in the second round he did not orient his voters towards
any of them.

In 2003, Karen Demirchyan was not alive. He was killed on 27 October
1999. It is difficult to tell whether he would run for president in
2009 if he allied with Vazgen Sargsyan in 1999.

In 2003, Robert Kocharyan’s main opponent was Stepan Demirchyan.

In 2008, Stepan Demirchyan did not run but only supported
Ter-Petrosyan. But perhaps it is beyond doubt that even if
Ter-Petrosyan was not there, Demirchyan would not be a competitor.

Moreover, in the 2007 parliamentary elections, his party lost the
election.

Will Ter-Petrosyan run in 2013? Will he change the tradition of
being a presidential candidate in two consecutive elections, let
alone attempts to win the second round?

The answer to this question depends on whether Ter-Petrosyan will be
the joint candidate against Serzh Sargsyan or a joint candidate of
at least ANC, ARF and PAP.

FRANCE AT GOOD TERMS WITH TURKEY AGAIN: A LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE?
Karine Ter-Sahakian

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 11, 2012

Coming to power, Socialists began to rectify the history they believed
had been wrong.

The situation turned out to be an expected one: Francois Hollande
preferred relations with Turkey to the Armenian issue. At a meeting
with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu French Foreign Minister
Laurent Fabius declared: “As to events of 1915, we will not demonstrate
the position of ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy’s administration.”

PanARMENIAN.Net – The new Foreign Minister of France is an interesting
personality, and his career may come to illustrate many of his
statements, both already voiced ones and those yet to come. So,
Wikipedia says:

Fabius, born in Paris, is the son of Louise (née Strasburger-Mortimer)
and André Fabius. His parents were Jewish and converted to
Catholicism, and Fabius was raised an assimilated Catholic. Has two
sons with his former spouse Francoise Castro.

After his studies at National School of Administration Fabius became
an auditor for the Council of State.

Member of the Socialist Party (PS) since 1974, he was first elected to
the National Assembly in 1978. He quickly gained entry to the circle
of Francois Mitterrand, the leader of the party.

When Mitterrand was elected president of France in 1981, Fabius was
nominated Minister of the Budget. In 1984, a government shake up by
Mitterrand led him to be appointed Prime Minister.

He advocated a new kind of French socialism which accepted the market
economy. The Fabius Government’s inability to prevent both rising
unemployment and inequality arguably contributed to the defeat of the
French Socialists in the 1986 legislative election, which led Fabius
to step down as prime minister.

Fabius was the leader of the defeated no camp in the vote that took
place among the members of his party on December 1, 2004, to decide
the stance that the party would take on the impending Referendum on
the European Constitution. He went on to lead the rebel faction of the
party advocating a no vote in the 2005 Referendum, and was seen as the
spearhead of the whole no campaign in France. After the no vote won,
the party leader gave an assurance that he could remain in the party
though he was dismissed from the party’s National Executive Committee.

Fabius was a candidate in the Socialist Party’s primary election
to be the party’s candidate in the 2007 presidential election, but
finished third.

He had once been in a relationship with Carla Bruni, now wife of
Nicolas Sarkozy. On May 17, 2012, Laurent Fabius became Foreign
Minister in the government of Jean-Marc Ayrault, appointed Prime
Minister by President Francois Hollande.

It would be totally wrong to link the statement of the French Foreign
Minister with his parentage or even the wish to “take revenge”
on ex-leader Sarkozy. Everything is much simpler. Coming to power,
Socialists began to rectify the history they believed had been wrong.

Actually, this is common for all socialist parties. Yet in this case,
the French Socialist Party went obviously wrong, failing to consider
all consequences of this statement on the Armenian Genocide. The
thing is not only the Armenian community in France which itself is a
serious factor already. In fact, Socialists followed Turkey’s tastes,
and France can hardly be viewed as a superpower now.

A country that went to change a crucial priority of its policy, namely
the protection of human rights for the sake of weapon supply and
dubious support of Turkey in Syrian issue, is automatically becoming
a Turkish ally, will all successive consequences for Armenians.

In his “The Grand Chessboard – American Primacy and Its Geostrategic
Imperatives” book U.S. politician and sociologist Zbigniew BrzeziÅ~Dski
says:

“France is much weaker than Germany economically, while its military
establishment (as the Gulf War of 1991 showed) is not very competent.

It is good enough to squash internal coups in satellite

African states, but it can neither protect Europe nor project
significant power far from Europe. France is no more and no less than
a middle-rank European power.”

This is what Francois Hollande and his cabinet come to prove.

According to Turkish media reports, tensions were high in
French-Turkish ties due to the bill criminalizing denial of the
Armenian Genocide. As Nicolas Sarkozy lost the battle at the recent
presidential vote, hopes emerged that the former bilateral relations
would be resumed. Davutoglu will give a lecture on “French-Turkish
relations in the changing international and regional environment” in
French Institute of International Relations in Paris. Also, the Turkish
foreign minister is quoted as saying: “If France wants to contribute
to the settlement of the Armenian issue, we are ready to work jointly.”

Basically, France appeared to be more sincere than the U.S., which
pledges to recognize the Armenian Genocide every four years and then
well forgets its promises. Besides, on January 18, 2011 the French
National Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing the
fact of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1923. The
bill was endorsed by then president Shirac and became official paper.

The thing is that the failed bill criminalizing the denial of the
Armenian Genocide is for some reason considered to be a bill on
Genocide recognition.

If developments follow the same path, Laurent Fabius may further
declare that EU is ready for Turkish accession. Meanwhile, Francois
Hollande promised the Armenian community to get back to the much
debated denial bill…

ARMENIA EXPORTS AROUND 10,900 TONS OF FRUITS, VEGETABLES SO FAR THIS YEAR

news.am
July 11, 2012 | 11:31

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s farms and processing companies have started
signing contracts on the purchase of this year’s fruit, vegetable
and grape harvests.

And 4,346 such contracts are signed as of July 3, the Agriculture
Ministry press service informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

And as of Tuesday, 10,879.8 tons of fruits and vegetables have been
exported from Armenia so far this year, as compared with the 6,983.62
tons in the same time period last year.

A total of 16,884.03 tons of fruits and vegetable were exported
in 2011.

Also as of Tuesday, Armenia’s fruit and vegetable processing companies
have purchased 5,648.7 tons so far this year, whereas 3,058.8 tons of
fruits and vegetables were purchased in the same time period last year.