Author: Kalashian Nyrie

PanARMENIAN.Net

NATO hopes for further strengthening of cooperation
with Armenia in variety of spheres
06.05.2008 15:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop
Scheffer sent a congratulatory address on appointment
of Tigran Sargsyan as Prime Minister of the Republic
of Armenia, the government’s press office reported.

The message says:

"I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your
appointment as Prime Minister of Armenia and wish you
every success with the discharge of your new duties.

The NATO and Armenia have been involved in sustained
cooperation in the field of international security as
evidenced by Armenia’s valuable contribution to NATO’s
commitment in Kosovo. We pursue close cooperation and
a political dialog under the Individual Partnership
Action Plan (IPAP) with a view to reforming your
defense system and strengthening democratic
institutions in Armenia.

You assumed office in difficult and challenging times
for your country, and I hope that by building on the
present achievements and by maintaining the momentum
of reforms implemented under the Individual
Partnership Action Plan, we will manage to further
strengthen the cooperation in a variety of spheres.

In order to assist Armenia along the path of reforms,
I look forward to working with you on different issues
and hope to meet you in the near future."

ARMENIA’S AGRICULTURAL LANDS FACE DROUGHT

ARKA
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. Drought may threaten Armenia’s agricultural
lands as a result of the unprecedented heat, RA Deputy Minister of
Agriculture Samvel Galstyan told reporters.

The rise in the air temperature is a serious signal arousing concern,
he said.

According to Galstyan, the air temperature is down now, but this year’s
hot spring, which has no precedents, shows that the air temperature
may be 2-3 degrees higher than in previous years.

He expressed hope for timely precipitation and favorable weather.

Galstyan pointed out that the recent high air temperature has not
caused any damage to crops, but has aroused alarm. He pointed out
the necessity for measure to ensure proper irrigation of agricultural
lands.

"If we have enough rains, we will be able to increase our water
reserves," he said.

On April 27, the air temperature reached 35 degrees in the Ararat
valley, which figure had never been recorded in April before. However,
weathermen forecast a 10-15 fall in air temperature this May.

EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC POLICIES OF ARMENIA ARE NOT IN KEEPING WITH EACH OTHER, ECONOMIST EDWARD AGHAJANOV SAYS

Noyan Tapan
May 1, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The structure of the population’s
employment in any country depends on the economic structure of the
given country but in Armenia the employment and economic policies are
not in keeping with each other, economist Edward Aghajanov expressed an
opinion at the May 1 press conference. According to him, the intention
of the Armenian authorities to create a knowledge-based – innovation
economy should result in a change of the structure of employment and
labor in the country: the appropriate specialists are needed for the
country’s innovation economic development.

"Is there a speciality, is there a higher educational institution in
Armenia that prepares personnel for 21st century’s economy?" he asked.

In his words, the problem of obsolescence of knowledge currently exists
in the world. "The world is developing rapidly, with knowledge becoing
obsolescent in parallel with this," he remarked. In this respect,
45-55-year-olds have difficulty in finding a job. E. Aghajanov
said that the most successful solution to the problem was found
in the U.S. where a postgraduate education system was introduced,
which allows persons of the indicated age group to "refresh their
knowledge". No policy in this direction is conducted in Armenia.

Besides, according to E. Aghajanov, there is a problem of legalization
of jobs and salaries in Armenia. "Our country is unique in that 85
workers keep 100 pensioners, and this happens in the case when a
very low level of unemployment as compared with other countries –
7.1% is registered here," he said, adding that problem is in hidden
salaries and workers. He pointed out that in Armenia jobs are created
only through small business.

As for the minimum consumer basket, E. Aghajanov said that according
to official statistics, the average monthly salary makes 76,992 drams
(about 250 USD) in Armenia, which cannot ensure the minimum consumer
basket. Thus, in his words, a working man may also be poor.

THREE CHESS PLAYERS IN LEAD IN MEN’S AND WOMEN’S EUROPEAN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
April 30, 2008

PLOVDIV, APRIL 30, NOAYAN TAPAN. Three chess players are in the lead
after 8 tours in the Men’s European Chess Championship which is being
held in the city of Plovdiv, Poland. Sergey Movsisian (Slovakia), Emil
Sutovski (Israel), and Pavel Trigubov (Russia) gained 6.5 points each
out of 8 possible ones and share the 1-3rd places. 14 participants
have 6 points each. Vladimir Hakobian shares the 18-44th places with
5.5 points.

Three participants are also in the lead in the women’s tournament. Pia
Kramling (Sweden), Katerina Lahno and Anna Ushenina (both from Ukraine)
share the 1-3rd places with 6.5 points. Elina Danielian shares the
8-21st places with 5.5 points and Lilit Mkrtchian 22-45th places with
5 points.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
April 28, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

HIS EMINENCE OSHAGAN CHOLOYAN URGES VIGILANCE
AGAINST GENOCIDE IN CAPITOL HILL MEETINGS

— Visits with 21 Legislators, Talks with Speaker Pelosi,
Offers Moving Invocation at Genocide Observance during
Marathon Day of Meetings on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON, DC – His Eminence Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of the Eastern United States, urged
Members of Congress to speak with moral clarity about the Armenian
Genocide and to work to end the ongoing genocide in Darfur, during
a full day of more than 20 Capitol Hill meetings leading up to the
April 23rd Congressional Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The Archbishop’s meetings included discussions with Senators and
Representatives from traditional Armenian American communities in
Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as
those from growing communities in Kentucky, North Carolina, South
Carolina and Georgia. Among the legislators he met with were:
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe Biden (D-DE), Small
Business and Entrepreneurship Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA),
Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY), Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Sen. Robert
Menendez (D-NJ), House Homeland Security Committee Ranking
Republican Peter King (R-NY), Congressional Human Rights Caucus Co-
Chair Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Rep.
Howard Coble (R-NC), Rep. Phil English (R-PA), Rep. Wayne Gilchrest
(R-MD), Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC), Rep. James Jordan (R-OH), Rep.
Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Rep. James McGovern (D-MA), Rep. Michael
McNulty (D-NY), Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD),
Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Rep. John Tierney (D-MA).

Archbishop Choloyan was joined in his Congressional visits by Rev.
Father Sarkis Aktavoukian, Pastor of the Soorp Khatch Armenian
Apostolic Church in Bethesda, MD; ANCA National Board Member Onnik
Petrossian; ANCA Legislative Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian,
ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian, and ANCA Eastern
Region Executive Director Karine Birazian.

After a full day of meetings, Archbishop Choloyan joined with
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and
over 15 Members of Congress at the Capitol Hill commemoration of
the 93rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, organized by the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues. During his moving
invocation, Archbishop Choloyan offered a special prayer for the
"safety of all of the men and women of our armed forces serving
around the world." He went on to praise the efforts of Amb. Henry
Morgenthau and the diplomatic corps of the time of the Genocide who
"shared in the responsibility of publicizing the Genocide of the
Armenians and administering relief."

The full text of the Archbishop’s speech follows.

A photo gallery is posted on the ANCA website at:
ses.php?prid=1475

#####

Invocation delivered by
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Armenian Apostolic Church of America
93rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
Capitol Hill
Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Almighty God, once again we come before you in the month of April
to thank you for your blessings, especially your deliverance from
the valley of death 93 years ago. We continue to seek your guidance
in every aspect of our lives. We especially ask that you give
wisdom to the leaders of this great country, because strong and
wise leadership is essential for the continuation of our great
society.

Bless those gathered here today. Spread the mantle of your amazing
grace upon them, your servants. We especially pray for the safety
of all of the men and women of our armed forces serving around the
world. Grant all of your children the peace of justice and
righteousness.

Holy Father, ninety-three years ago your faithful servants, the
men, women and children of the Armenian nation, were subjected to
the greatest cruelty. Uprooted from their ancestral homeland of
thousands of years, they witnessed the murder of one and a half
million of their compatriots. During those dark years, four
American presidents – Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover – took
direct and bold action to help the Armenians. Furthermore, overseas
the entire diplomatic corps – ambassadors, ministers, consuls – shared
in the responsibility of publicizing the Genocide of the Armenians
and administering relief. Foremost among them was the United States
Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr. This was
one of America’s finest hours, when commitment became action.
Without this, the number of Armenian survivors would have been
reduced significantly.

Many of the survivors entered the United States and became faithful
and participating citizens. They came filled with the hope and
promise of America, not so much for themselves, but for their
children and their children’s children. Their hope resulted not
only in economic rewards, but a flourishing of cultural activity
that resulted in the creation of literature, music, dance,
sculpture, painting, composition, and other forms of art. Thus, it
can be said that the Armenians having survived death, moved into
the light of resurrection, and have been contributing their share
as a people to the cultural treasure chest of civilization.

The hope planted by the survivors sustains us today. We know, as
they did, that without hope there can be no meaningful life or
progress. It is through the eyes of this hope that we seek your
grace. It is with this hope that we look to our leaders in
Washington to have the courage to recognize genocide and act to
bring it to an end.

Grant us your divine wisdom and courage to serve humanity in
accordance with the highest ideals and values of our Christian
heritage. Bring peace to all those who have been martyred in your
name, and help us to continue the hope that shall never die.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and
always and forever and ever. Amen

#####

"AL JAZEERA" TV CHANNEL GOING TO BROADCAST PROGRAM TELLING ABOUT "MASSACRES" COMMITTED BY ARMENIANS

Noyan Tapan
April 28, 2008

IGDIR, APRIL 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The "Al Jazeera" TV channel is going to
broadcast a program telling about the "massacres" allegedly committed
by Armenians in Turkey. This information , as the Zaman daily reports,
was provided by Yusuf Sherif, a representative of Turkey of the
"Al Jazeera" TV channel, who was in Igdir for that purpose.

Sherif mentioned that their objective is "to listen to what has
happened through the mouth of witnesses" adding at the same time that
one of the witnesses of the "massacres committed by Armenians" told
during the interview with the staff of the TV channel how "Armenians
filled a house with about ninety Turks and burnt them alive."

TWENTY-FOUR-HOUR WATER SUPPLY – IN TWO-THREE YEARS
Norayr Hovsepyan

Azat Artsakh Daily
Published on April 28, 2008
NKR Republic

"Our water resources allow to provide inhabitants of Stepanakert
with twenty-four-hour water supply",- the mayor of Stepanakert
Vazgen Michaelyan is convinced.The mayor assures that the problem is
perceived by the country leaders with all gravity: it is necessary to
make concrete steps in the stipulated terms.And some steps have been
already taken in this direction. A concrete program – in concrete
terms In the middle of April, as it was foreseen, a competition
of Stepanakert’s water supply and, generally, project of governing
water system was carried out, by participation of four structures of
RA. The joint program of the Yerevan State University of architecture
and construction and "Hayjrnakhagits" organization was elected. By the
contract, obligations of the parties should become clear according to
the stages. So, in the begining of the first stage, within 3,5 months
it is foreseen to prepare the main scheme of water supply, a drainage
system, an irrigation, etc.At the second stage within 12 months it
is foreseen to prepare the program and represent it to discussion
of corresponding structures. The third stage includes scheduling the
author’s control over civil work.As a whole, the contract stipulates 18
months. We can start just from Ghaybalu One of these days NKR President
accompanied by the prime minister A.Harutyunyan, mayor of Stepanakert
V.Michaelyan and other officials, visited Ghaybalu to which the greater
role in a question of water supply of the capital is allocated.Just on
the spot it was decided to include the forthcoming works of Ghaybalu
in the program of water supply of Stepanakert.And it is not casual.Now
under favorable weather conditions from Ghaybalu water reaches to the
capital by volume of 80 l/min. However the water basin constructed
50-60 years ago is not suitable for operation.According to him,
today’s volume of water-fence and a method of a filtration cannot
satisfy represented demands. Elevated waterpipes should be buried in
the ground on demanded depth.It will reduce probability freezing to
a minimum with what inhabitants of Stepanakert have collided in this
winter. And in the end The similar capacious program, naturally,
demands enough greater material means.We have been interested,
whether there are such opportunities."It is preliminary allocated
15 million US dollars by the sponsor,-informed the mayor,- this sum
exists, and necessarily its part will be allocated for the works
foreseen in 2008, though this sum is not enough.Greater means will be
required for regulating water supply and drainage system. The state
or philanthropists will give additional means, it will become clear
in the future.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Writers Association Of California
c/o 410 E. Fairview Ave, #3
Glendale, CA 91207 USA
Tel: 818-500-1532
Fax: 818-500-1542
Email: [email protected]

LITERARY EVENING

Monthly literary evening of the Armenian Writers
Association of California (AWAOC), sponsored by
Glendale Public Library, will take place at 7-9 PM, on
Thursday, May 1 2008, at the Auditorium of the
Library, 222 East Harvard St, Glendale, CA 91205.
Newly published book of poetess Esther Davitian,
entitled "TO LIVE AS A TREE", will be introduced. The
author will read some of her works. Prof. Oshin
Keshishian will present literary report. There will be
general free discussion and exchange of opinions.
Proceedings will be in Armenian. Admittance is free.
Email: [email protected].

AWAOC

SPEAKER PELOSI URGES TO PUT AN END TO TURKEY’S "GAG-RULE" ON THE U.S. CONGRESS

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.04.2008 13:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was joined
by more than a dozen of her House and Senate colleagues yesterday in
urging passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, a move described by
legislators on both sides of the aisle as a long overdue of Turkey’s
"gag-rule" on the U.S. Congress and a powerful step toward ending all
forms of U.S. complicity in Turkey’s multi-million dollar campaign
of denial, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

"I come to pay respect with some sadness – certainly sadness over
what happened nearly 100 years ago but also sadness that it is long
past time for the President and the Congress to formally recognize
the Armenian Genocide," Speaker Pelosi said.

She then went on to explain the modern day implications of genocide
denial. "Many times people have said to me as we were bringing this
up and since then ‘Why are you doing this? Even if it is genocide, it
happened a long time ago?’ I said ‘I know, but genocide is happening
right here and now on our planet. It happened in Rwanda, and it
is happening in Darfur. And as long as it exists we have to make a
statement about a genocide we know happened – no matter how long ago.’"

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer concurred, sharing with the assembled
Members of Congress and Armenian American community activists,
"Don’t accept the premise at all that this resolution is about what
happened in 1915-1923. Does it recognize it, does it relate to it –
of course. But it is a resolution that says not just to Turks, not
just to the Armenian people, but to all peoples, that we need to
recognize the transgressions of the past – however heinous they may
be and however much we may want to deny them.

Because if we do not, our children will not recognize their
responsibility to never let it happen again."

"Americans don’t like gag rules," said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "We saw that at this year’s Capitol Hill observance,
and we’re seeing it across Congress, from both sides of the
aisle. Americans don’t appreciate a foreign government dictating our
human rights policy and resent Turkey’s attempts to veto America’s
recognition of the Armenian Genocide."

AZERBAIJANI AND TURKISH DIASPORA MEMBERS HOLD COUNTER-DEMONSTRATION AGAINST ARMENIAN DEMONSTRATORS OUTSIDE TURKISH EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 25 2008

Washington. Husniyya Hasanova-APA. As an update of the April 24
events in Washington DC dealing with Armenian "genocide" allegations,
members of Turkish community, joined by Azeri activists, held very
successful counter-demonstration against Armenian demonstrators,
representative of Azerbaijan Society of America (ASA) in Washington
Bedir Mammadli told APA. It was the most successful counter-event
organized by Turkish community members so far.

The event was successful in terms of participant turnout, organization,
logistics, and enthusiasm shown by community members. For the
first time, thanks to preliminary measures taken by Turks, Armenian
demonstrators, under the police watch, were pushed away from the
Turkish Embassy-side of the Massachusetts avenue. For the first time,
they had to choose the other side of the avenue thereby staying
farther from the embassy. Turkish community formed a chain around
the embassy by making it very difficult for Armenians to make their
signs visible to the embassy. Occasionally, Turks turned their backs
against them and showing their solidarity with the embassy.

The representatives of both communities demonstrated signs reflecting
Armenians’ savageries in Eastern Anatolia in 1915 and Khojaly. "Out
of Karabakh" and "Out of Azerbaijan" were the most chanted slogans.

Armenian demonstrators had to leave ahead of schedule. Their departure
was accompanied by Turkish national anthem and Sari Gelin sang
by Turks.

After the event was over, Turkish Ambassador Nebi Shensoy and his
staff members came to personally greet and thank the demonstrators
for their support. The ambassador, who expressed his satisfaction,
asked the community members to continue their efforts in the future
in order to adequately respond to Armenian lies.