Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIA IS CONTENT WITH THE MILITARY-TECHNICAL COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA

Mediamax, Armenia
Oct 28 2011

Photo: Press office of the Prime Minister RA Yerevan/Mediamax/.

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan expressed his content with the
course of military-technical cooperation between Armenia and Russia
today noting that it is of major importance in the relations of two
strategic allies.

The PM received the Deputy Director of the Russian Federal Service
for Military-Technical Partnership, Co-Chair of Armenian-Russian
Intergovernmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation
Konstantin Biryulin today.

The session of Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on
Military-Technical Cooperation, started on October 24, finished in
Yerevan today.

INTERNEWS GEORGIA: GEORGIAN MEDIA COVERAGES MAINLY FOCUS ON ARMENIANS, AND THE TONE IS OFTEN NEGATIVE

Panorama, Armenia
Oct 28 2011

Within the framework of the Heinrich Boll Foundation South Caucasus
Regional Office Project – Addressing Hate Speech in Georgia: A Litmus
Test for Human Rights and Social Tolerance, Internews Georgia is
conducting a monitoring of reporting on and usage of the hate speech
against ethnic, religious and sexual minorities in Georgian press.

On October 25 Internews Georgia published the first quarterly report
of the monitoring. This report represents the results of quantitative
and qualitative researches conducted during May-July 2011, Media.ge
reported.

8 national and 3 regional publications have been chosen for the
monitoring: Resonance, Alia and Kviris Kronika, Akhali Taoba, Versia,
Kviris Palitra, Asaval-Dasavali, 24 Saati, and Weekend, Prime-Time,
Batumelebi (Batumi), Samkhretis Karibche (Akhaltsike) and Akhali Gazeti
(Kutaisi).

During the monitoring period Asaval-Dasavali, Resonansi and Akhali
Taoba dedicated the largest space to coverage of ethnic, religious and
sexual minorities. According to the report, newspapers Asaval-Dasavali,
Versia and Alia Holding (newspapers Alia and Kviris Kronika) often
violate standards of journalistic ethics by publishing xenophobic
and homophobic statements.

The monitoring also demonstrated that among ethnic minorities, the
coverage was mainly focused on Armenians and the tone was often
negative. Regarding issues related to sexual orientation/gender
identity, incorrect use of terms by both journalists and respondents
and lack of awareness about the issue was noteworthy. In comparison
with ethnic and sexual minorities, religious minorities attract less
attention from the Georgian media, although Jehovah’s witnesses
is the minority group in relation of which hate speech is most
frequently used.

Additionally, an important trend has been outlined that with the
exception of a few newspapers there are several media outlets that
provide society with balanced materials based on ethical standards.

Newspapers like 24 Saati, Resonance, Batumelebi, Akhali Taoba, Kviris
Palitra, Prime-Time and Samkhretis Karibche are paying less attention
to minority issues, however in case of coverage articles are always
balanced and with no statements containing hate speech.

Along with that, according to the report, monitoring revealed that
there is a lack of analytical articles in the Georgian printed media
regarding sexual, religious and ethnic minorities.

The results of the monitoring clearly demonstrate that homophobic
attitudes towards minorities are often manifested. “This indicates
that the problem of tolerance and acceptance of differences is still an
acute problem in Georgia,” Internews Georgia’s quarterly report said.

RUSSIA’S MFA COMMENTS ON ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS’ JOINT TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH TURKISH COUNTERPART

news.am, Armenia
Oct 28 2011

Russian MFA advises not to transfer to the Armenia-Turkey relations’
normalization mediation platform the Russian and Armenian presidents’
telephone conversation, from Moscow, with the Turkish president.

Within the framework of his state visit to Russia, between October 23
and 25, Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan, together with his Russian
colleague Dmitry Medvedev, had a joint telephone conversation with
Turkey’s President, Abdullah Gul, and expressed his condolences over
the earthquake in Turkey.

In response to the question as to whether this telephone conversation
can be considered Russia’s attempt at mediation in the normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations, Russian MFA’s official representative,
Alexander Lukashevich, stated that during the call Medvedev and
Sargsyan expressed condolences to the Turkish president for the
terrible natural disaster and offered their assistance to the Turkish
people.

“I would not transfer that to the Armenia-Turkey relations’
normalization mediation platform,” Lukashevich noted.

SEN. FEINSTEIN VISITS MONTEBELLO, TALKS JOBS, MILLIONAIRE TAX AND ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Whittier Daily News, CA
Oct 28 2011

MONTEBELLO – Sen. Dianne Feinstein spoke Thursday about jobs,
immigration and partisan gridlock in Congress before an audience
about 200 people at the Quiet Cannon.

She told the group, made up mostly of members of the East Los Angeles
Rotary Club, that a portion of President Obama’s jobs plan involving
building up the country’s infrastructure will come before Congress
next week.

Feinstein is not hopeful it will pass.

The blame for the gridlock lays at the feet of “outliers” who are those
on the extreme right and extreme left not interested in compromise.

“When you elect outliers with only one agenda, you can’t move
forward,” said Feinstein, who became the first female Rotarian in
the San Francisco chapter. She still pays Rotary dues.

She called her 18 years on the judiciary committee ample time to look
at the Constitution.

“What you learn is how good democracy is, but it depends on enlightened
people,” she said.

“We used to be able to pass something by a simple majority,” she said.

“That’s the American way.”

Feinstein, who was first elected to the Senate in 1992, lamented that
there is now a super majority requiring 60 votes.

“It stops legislation,” she said.

Next week’s vote on the $35 billion infrastructure bill would mean
the creation of jobs to repair the nation’s bridges and roads.

Feinstein said the 138,800 jobs gained nationwide this year is more
than 2010.

“It’s a small positive sign,” she said.

But Feinstein warned that more definitely needs to be done to shrink
the country’s unemployment rate.

In Los Angeles County, it’s 12.2 percent.

“There are 3.9 million people who’ve exhausted their unemployment
benefits, nationally,” she said. “With these numbers, hopelessness
sets in.”

Feinstein also talked about the “dust up” in Congress earlier this
year about raising the country’s debt ceiling.

“We passed the Budget Control Act, which created a super committee,”
she said. “By Nov. 23, they have to come up with $1.2 trillion in
cuts over the next 10 years.”

She was not sure that a compromise could be reached.

“We need to come together to get something done,” Feinstein said.

She also took questions from the audience.

Educator Josefina Canchola asked the senator to stress the importance
of passing a federal Dream Act (Development, Relief and Education
for Alien Minors) to President Obama.

“Put in his ear to take executive action,” she encouraged.

The bill outlines a pathway for thousands of undocumented students
who graduate from U.S. high schools to gain legal immigrant status.

“We have invested in these children,” Canchola said.

“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Feinstein said about passing the
Dream Act. “It’s just tragic to waste these bright minds.”

Before the luncheon, Feinsten laid a wreath at the Armenian Genocide
Martyrs Monument in Bicknell Park.

It was unveiled in April, 1968 to honor the martyrs of the Armenian
Genocide perpetrated by the Turkish government from 1915 through 1921,
as well as to honor all victims of crimes against humanity.

‘GAR OO CHGAR’: KASBARIAN SPEAKS AT HMADS

Armenian Weekly
Thu, Oct 27 2011

OAKLAND GARDENS, N.Y.-On Wed., Oct. 12, as part of month-long events
dedicated to the creation of the Armenian alphabet by Mesrob Mashdots,
the Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School (HMADS) invited speaker Lucine
Kasbarian, the author of Armenia: A Rugged Land, An Enduring People,
to introduce her latest book, The Greedy Sparrow. Retold by Kasbarian
in English, the tale of the sparrow has been a part of the Armenian
oral tradition for centuries, and was first written down by Hovhannes
Toumanian.

Kasbarian came dressed in traditional Armenian garb and truly
captivated the students as she read from her book.

Kasbarian came dressed in traditional Armenian garb and truly
captivated the students as she read from her book and later talked
to them about immersion (“Yes, you can be both Armenian and American
in this world”), the preservation of our identity, and how unique our
ethnic rituals are. She asked, “How can we reclaim and preserve some
of our customs? Can we feel closer to our ancestors because of it? In
what way can we truly honor them?” By attending Armenian schools,
enjoying the instructions of their Armenian teachers, learning and
singing Armenian music, and going to dance classes, was the response.

She credited her great-grandmother and father for enriching her life
and introducing her to Armenian fables and folktales. The children
then heard her father’s voice on tape retelling the story of “The
Greedy Sparrow” in his Dikranagerd dialect.

Most fables begin with “Gar oo chgar” (or, “Once there was and was
not”), but they also carry a profound message or lesson that still
applies in modern times.

This heart-warming event concluded with the author signing copy after
copy of her book, while her numerous admirers waited impatiently.

In a special program to be held on Mon., Oct. 24, HMADS students will
honor Mesrob Mashdots, Sahag Bartev, King Vramshabuh and the Holy
Translators through songs and recitations from Missak Medsarents on
his 125th anniversary.

For more information about HMADS, the first Armenian elementary day
school on the East Coast, visit

AROUND 4500 ATTENDED OPPOSITION BLOC’S RALLY, SAY POLICE

Tert.am
23:41 28.10.11

Police said an estimated 4500 people attended the Friday rally
organized by the opposition alliance Armenian National Congress on
Liberty Square.

In a statement issued late on Friday, the police said that the rally
was followed by a march.

The police also said it maintained public order both during the rally
and the subsequent march.

ANDRANIK KHACHATRYAN WAS APPOINTED MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE OF THE ARTSAKH REPUBLIC

Noyan Tapan
28.10.2011

On 28 October President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan signed
a decree releasing Armo Tsatouryan from the post of the minister of
agriculture upon his own request.

On the same day Bako Sahakyan signed a decree releasing Andranik
Khachatryan from the post of the head of the State Committee of
Real Estate and Cadastre upon his own request and in connection with
transferring to another job.

According to another presidential decree Andranik Khachatryan was
appointed minister of agriculture, the Central Information Department
of the Office of the Artsakh Republic President informs.

SMALL HYDROPOWER PLANTS IN ARMENIA BACKED BY HIGH-RANKING OFFICIALS: ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAY

ARMINFO
Friday, October 28, 17:18

Small hydropower plants in Armenia are backed by high-ranking
officials, Inga Zarafyan, Head of EcoLur NGO, told ArmInfo.

“The statements saying that HPPs are built by some small companies
are not true. Local residents have named some high-ranking officials
from the government, parliamentarians, mayors, representatives of
the prosecutor’s office backing these projects,” she said.

Zarafyan believes the small HPP construction projects in Armenia are
anti-ecological and often have no environment impact assessment. “Our
water systems are extremely vulnerable. Impact on the rivers and water
resources must be minimal. Some European countries have restricted
the capacities for small HPPs to 5-10 MW, for instance, Norway. We
also had a restriction to 10 MW, but now the government has adopted
a decision to increase it to 30MW,” Zarafyan said. In addition,
she added, design engineers use 25-year old data. Despite all this,
the sector of small HPPs is developed under the banner of highly
ecological and renewable energy projects.

Zarafyan made a point of the growing burden on the rivers. Thus,
6 HPPs are at various stages of construction on the River of Getik,
Gegharkunik region. The distance between the HPPs is some 500-600
meters. They occupy 12km of water area amid the nearby agricultural
lands and the Dilijan national park.

“Small HPPs are built on similar projects without any environment
impact assessment and in specially protected areas, such as the River
of Tsav near Shikahogh reserve or on Trchkan Waterfall,” she said.

To recall, construction of a small HPP on Trchkan Waterfall was
launched on October 20 arousing discontent of green activists and
environmentalists. The waterfall is a hydrological natural monument
and any economic activity in its area is banned.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS CALLS FOR STRUGGLE FOR ARMENIA’S LIBERATION

Tert.am
19:49 28.10.11

In his opening speech at a rally the Armenian National Congress (ANC)
is holding in Yerevan, the ANC member Nikol Pashinyan called for
“struggle to the end.”

He calls to pay homage to the memory of the political figures killed
in a terrorist act in Armenia’s Parliament on Oct. 27, 1999.

“However, the organizers of that crimes are still keeping Armenia’
Parliament, government bodies and people hostages,” Pashinyan said.

“The organizers of the October 27 terrorist act, who organized the
March 1 and fired at the people, are now firing at the Armenian
people’s consciousness, hopes and future,” he added.

“We must realize that we are struggling against the organizers of
the October 27 terrorist act for the same of democratic Armenia and
Constitution. We must realize that Armenia is occupied and we must
liberate our homeland,” Pashinyan said.

“The organizers of the October 27 terrorist act will be brought to
justice in front of the Armenian people – like Mubarak, Ben Ali and
Gaddafi. Our movement is invincible, our victory is inevitable. Long
live Armenia! Freedom!” Pashinyan cried out.

CONFERENCE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE – IN PARIS

ARMENPRESS
18:57, 28 October, 2011

PARIS, OCTOBER 28, ARMENPRESS: A conference on the theme of the
Armenian Genocide will be held November 22 at the Armenian Cultural
House in Paris. It is organized by ARF Armenian Cause Office in Paris.

Director of the office Hrach Varzhapetyan said in an interview with
Armenpress’ correspondent that head of the Philosophy Chair of US
University of Rochester, political scientist Anry Derio will deliver
a lecture at the conference.

Public figures from France and Armenia will participate in the
conference. Issues on land claim related to the Armenian Genocide
committed by the Ottoman Turely in 1915 and rights defense of Armenian
people will be discussed.