Author: Kanayan Tamar

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
May 10, 2012

Contact: Tereza Yerimyan
Tel: 818-500-1918

UPDATE: 200 ANCA-WR ACTIVISTS GATHER AT THE CALIFORNIA STATE CAPITOL

SACRAMENTO – Nearly 200 activists, from every corner of California,
joined the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
(ANCA-WR) on Thursday, April 19, 2012, for the Commemoration of the
Armenian Genocide in the California State Legislature. A busload of
activists making the trip from Southern California was escorted
through Los Angeles by an official send-off by the `Hye Riders’
Motorcycle Club.

Participants observed the State Senate and Assembly commemorations
which recognized various community groups including the ANCA-WR and
were spiritually inspired by an invocation from Archbishop Mousegh
Mardirossian of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The day’s events were highlighted by passage of two Armenian Genocide
Resolutions. Notably, Assembly Member Katcho Achadjian, the only
Assembly Member of Armenian descent, introduced and ushered passage of
House Resolution 27 which strongly recognizes the Armenian Genocide,
designates April 18 – 24, 2012 as a `Week of Remembrance for the
Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923,’ and calls on the Congress and
President of the United States to formally and consistently recognize
the Armenian Genocide’s historical truth.

`The State Legislature’s commemorative events and passage of not one,
but two Armenian Genocide resolutions, once again highlight
California’s role at the forefront of genocide awareness and
recognition of the Armenian Genocide in particular,’ said Armen
Garabedian, ANCA-WR California State Affairs Committee Chair.

Alongside the commemorative events, the ANCA-WR held its annual
Advocacy Day in the State Capitol through which participating
activists were able to educate state legislators about issues of
concern to the Armenian-American community. “I had an incredible
opportunity to sit in on a meeting with my Assembly Member, Felipe
Fuentes, which really gave me insight of how politics work outside of
the classroom. My participation in the Genocide Commemoration on the
Assembly and Senate Floors allowed me to apply what I had been
studying for the past three years to the real world. […],’stated
Ellen Oganesyan, ASA president at the University of California, Santa
Barbara.

She continued, `As an Armenian-American and direct descendant of an
Armenian Genocide survivor, Advocacy Day enhanced every aspect of my
involvement as an activist against human rights violations.”

Throughout the day and during a reception hosted by several
legislators, the ANCA-WR displayed images of Armenian Church
properties which have been intentionally destroyed or left in tragic
disrepair by the Turkish government in what is historic Armenia.
House Resolution 27 also calls for the restoration of rights due to
the `rightful church and lay owners’ of similarly situated properties.

`Recognition of the Armenian Genocide is so much more complicated than
a simple recognition of a historical fact=85 The current state of
Armenian churches and other properties wrongfully confiscated during
the Genocide is just one tangible aspect of this multi-faceted
reality,’ noted ANCA-WR California State Affairs Committee member,
Arpie Jivalagian.

The day was concluded with a screening of `My Mother’s Voice’ by Dr.
Kay Mouradian. Dr. Mouradian is a novelist and educator who has
written about her personal experiences confronting the reality of
genocide in her own family. My Mother’s Voice is a documentary based
on Dr. Mouradian’s book, `A Gift in the Sunlight.’ Dr. Mouradian, a
participant in Advocacy Day, also fielded questions from the audience.

`Ultimately, Advocacy Day is an opportunity for community members to
actively and actually participate in the political process in
furtherance of issues relevant to Armenian-Americans including those
beyond Genocide recognition. This year’s strong turnout is
encouraging and underscores the significance of our community’s
invaluable asset – its activists,’ added Garabedian.

Special Message: On May 20, the 2012 ANCA Telethon will bring
thousands of people together from coast to coast in support of the
educational, charitable, and civic involvement programs of the ANCA
Endowment Fund. Be a part of the excitement! To learn more, visit

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.

###

ATTACHED: Photos with captions and credits

COME ON CEMIL CICEK, NOW IS THE TIME

Hurriyet Daily News
May 9 2012
Turkey

MEHMET ALÄ° BÄ°RAND
[email protected]

What do you say? Will it happen?

Until only a short time ago, those who believed that the political
elite of this country would be able to write a new constitution were
few. Those who said, “It wouldn’t suit them; they would prefer to
continue with the Sept. 12 constitution,” were in the majority.

Cemil Cicek, the speaker of Parliament, has been regarding this issue
as his word of honor. Maybe he really wants to write history. Whatever
his reasons are, he is certainly doing the correct thing. This
country needs a brand new constitution. A constitution that will be
able to overcome the biggest difficulties with the Kurdish issue. A
constitution that will absolutely secure all freedoms. A constitution
that will enable us to lead a democratic and secular life.

Cemil Cicek has done the right thing. Among representatives of
the private sector, he has received the most support from Turkish
Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) President Rifat
Hisarcıklıoglu. The first stage has been completed successfully,
and now a more difficult phase, the content writing phase has started.

Of course, the “presidency” debate will hyper-activate the process,
but it will not obstruct the writing of the constitution.

The title of this piece comes from football: Come on president,
come on president. Now is the right time…

The changes in Paris and Athens are no good for us

The recent elections in France and Greece should be a lesson for all
of us. The economic crisis has caused the people to take revenge on
the politicians. The reason Sarkozy lost with a margin of 3 percent
is the anger of voters at becoming poor, nothing else. The situation
is no different in Greece.

All of the politicians in office were badly beaten.

What’s more, the confusion in both countries is likely to continue for
a long time. They may be due for new elections and new fluctuations.

How will these changes affect Turkey? Let’s take a look.

The only positive side of the change in France is that Hollande was
elected, a leader who does not have an anti-Turkey obsession like
Sarkozy’s. But don’t count on that. Hollande is not against Turkey’s
full membership in the EU in principle. He does not question Turkey’s
European-ness like Sarkozy does.

However, he does place the condition of the acceptance of the
“Armenian Genocide” on Turkey’s membership, and this stance is not
one that can be overcome easily. In short, this change in Paris will
not make a significant difference to Turkey’s relations with the EU.

Hollande’s presidency is likely to end and not continue at the end
of his 5-year term.

The situation is more complicated in Athens. The beating the
politicians got was as bad as the one our leaders took in our 2002
elections. In Greece, a coalition period has started and the economic
chaos looks as though will not be solved easily. Also, there is talk
of holding early elections next June. In other words, there is an
impasse. This situation bothers me.

I fear that the rising militarist and extreme-right parties in Greece
will turn toward Turkey after a while.

I wonder, to overcome the frustration they are immersed in, whether
they will begin focusing on Turkey? Will they make Turkey their
“joint enemy”? This is possible and there is such a risk. However,
the Greeks have so many problems nowadays that it looks as if they
will not turn toward us.

The TFF is harming us

It is not possible to understand what the Turkish Football Federation
(TFF) wants to do. It says its aim is to protect Turkish football from
UEFA sanctions due to the match-fixing incident. It is as though we
were under attack by foreigners, and TFF is trying to stop this course
of events in the international arena. It has gone even further and
called those who criticize this approach “factional.” It is like the
TFF is playing the role of a lion, trying to save its country. They
do not seem to be aware of this fact:

With this stance, they aren’t doing anyone any favors; they are
upsetting the applecart.

Take a look at the international reaction. You will see clearly
where the situation is going. With this stance of theirs the TFF
is handing over the entire future of Turkish football to the UEFA,
certainly not saving it from its grasp. You will see where the
decisions made in Geneva take us. If the TFF is thinking, “Let’s
not issue any punishments, let the UEFA do it,” then we will have
a harder time. It won’t take long; the situation will be clear in a
few weeks. The TFF will harm us a great deal, I think.

WCC GENERAL SECRETARY RECEIVES ‘FRIEND OF THE ARMENIANS’ AWARD

Ekklesia

May 10 2012
UK

The World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary the Rev Dr
Olav Fykse Tveit has been honoured with the “Friend of the Armenians”
award by the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) in
the United States, as an acknowledgement of his efforts to support
Armenian churches throughout the world.

Tveit was presented with the award in a ceremony which took place on
4 May in Springfield, Massachusetts as part of the Annual Assembly
of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.

The diocese has periodically honoured selected public figures with the
‘Friend of the Armenians’ award. They are recognised as having shown
special concern and support for the Armenian community. Past recipients
of this distinction included US ambassadors Harry Gilmore and John
Evans, John Cardinal O’Connor, Rabbi Arthur Schneier, US senators
Edward Kennedy, Robert Dole and Robert Menedez, and Massachusetts
Governor Deval Patrick.

During the event, Tveit spoke about the strong ecumenical engagement
of the Armenian Church in the United States and reflected upon his
visit to Armenia last year when he stayed at the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin at the invitation of the Catholicos of All Armenians,
Supreme Patriarch Karekin II.

Tveit introduced the audience to the theme of the WCC upcoming 10th
Assembly “God of life, lead us to justice and peace”. The assembly
will take place in Busan, Korea in 2013. He invited participants
to consider what the theme means for the Armenian Church, both in
Armenia and in the United States.

“A church like yours, which knows so much about the longing for justice
and peace, has much to offer others who need the WCC to support their
efforts towards just peace,” said Tveit.

“Friendship is a biblical quality. We are called to a unity of
friendship, sharing our gifts and our challenges,” he added.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), said in a letter to Tveit, “We feel
that your presence among us is an excellent opportunity to express
our gratitude to the WCC as an ecumenical organisation and to call
attention to your own singular efforts to acknowledge the Armenian
Church’s place within the large worldwide ecumenical movement –
as shown in your recent trip to our homeland.”

UN COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE TO EXAMINE ARMENIA’S RECORD ON TORTURE

States News Service
May 9, 2012 Wednesday

The following information was released by International Federation
for Human Rights (FIDH):

This week, Armenia’s torture record is up for review by the UN
Committee against Torture. A report submitted to the UN monitoring body
by FIDH and Civil Society Institute (CSI), its member organization in
Armenia, highlights three failures of the state with regard to torture
and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatments or punishments:
failure to properly criminalize torture, failure to prevent it in
police facilities or detention centers, and failure to hold accountable
those responsible. The report provides the Committee with information
on both the legal system and state practice in the country, illustrated
by concrete cases that cover a wide range of torture practices.

Criminalization of torture

The Committee Against Torture previously called for legislative
amendments to be undertaken in order to bring the definition of torture
in line with Article 1 of the UN Convention against torture and other
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatments or punishments (UNCAT). However,
no legislative amendments have been made so far. [1] CSI and FIDH
thus call on the Committee to urge Armenia to make amendments to
the Criminal Code and relevant legislation to define torture and
ill-treatment according to the provisions of the UNCAT.

[2]

Inadequate measures to prevent acts of torture

Presently, most acts of torture are inflicted by law enforcement
officials during arrest and interrogation, mainly with the aim
of obtaining confessions. FIDH and CSI call on the Committee to
recommend a full reform of the judicial system in order to ensure
an early access to a lawyer, notification of a relative, information
on rights, medical examination and other safeguards from the moment
of a person’s de facto apprehension, regardless of its legal status
according to law. [3] These measures are key to prevent torture and
mistreatment when in the hands of police.

Detention

Conditions of detention in Armenia are an other area of concern,
particularly regarding poor medical care and the overcrowding in some
penitentiary institutions. Moreover, complaint mechanisms in prisons
do not operate effectively, because of a lack of confidentiality
which undermines the ability to bring a complaint to the attention
of the outside world. [4]

Impunity

The independence and effectiveness of investigations into allegations
of torture are compromised because the police itself is in charge
of such investigations. A Special Investigation Service (SIS) was
established in 2007 to specialize in investigating cases involving
possible abuses by public officials. However, in practice, the
prosecutor’s office does not send all allegations of torture to the SIS
for investigation, and police investigators continue to handle most of
these cases. Communications about torture are therefore investigated
within the framework of the very entity to which the perpetrators of
torture themselves belong. Moreover, most cases of police mistreatment
continue to be unreported due to fears of retaliation. The Committee
should thus urge Armenia to take measures to ensure the independent,
efficient investigation of cases of torture and ill-treatment. [5]
As stated in detail in the report, the Committee must urge Armenian
authorities to urgently address the following issues as crucial steps
towards fulfilling their obligations under the Convention. [6]

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES MEDVEDEV ON APPOINTMENT RUSSIAN PM

TAR-TASS
May 9, 2012 Wednesday 12:06 AM GMT+4
Russia

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan congratulated Prime Minister
Dmitry Medvedev on his appointment, the press service of the Armenian
president said on Tuesday.

“The convincing results of the Russian State Duma voting are an
indisputable confirmation of the high assessment of your activity
geared towards further large-scale socio-economic reforms in Russia and
boosting its role on the world arena,” the congratulatory message said.

Sargsyan expressed “sincere thanks” to Dmitry Medvedev for his “keen
attention to issues of strengthening ally realtions between Armenia
and Russia.”

“With warmth, I recollect your visits to Yerevan and Gyumri, the
hearty welcome and hospitality you showed me in Moscow and other
Russian cities, our fruitful and humanly warm meetings at various
international forums,” the Armenian president noted.

“We highly appreciate your personal contribution to the process of
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. Most important
tri-party meetings of the heads of state of Russia, Armenia, and
Azerbaijan organized at your initiative, your efforts to bring closer
the positions of the parties on basic principles of the conflict
settlement, which won support from other co-chair of the Minsk
Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe,”
Sargsyan stressed.

The Armenian president expressed confidence that “comprehensive
broadening of the Armenian-Russian ally relations is in the interests
of both states and will help them solve their development tasks and
ensure security in the South Caucasus.”

He wished the Russian prime minister and his near and dear “good
health and prosperity, and further success.”

ARMENIAN INTEREST RATES STABLE IN APRIL AS INFLATION CONTINUES TO EASE
by Venla Sipila

Global Insight
May 9, 2012

The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) decided to leave its refinancing
rate unchanged at 8.0% in its April monetary policy meeting, Reuters
reports. The policy rate has now remained stable since September 2011.

The decision follows further moderation in inflation pressures.

Indeed, data from the Armenian National Statistical Service showed
that consumer prices grew by just 1.9% year-on-year (y/y) in April,
following a gain of 2.2% y/y in March and 3.0% y/y in February.

In marked contrast to last year, annual food-price growth in April
remained below the gains in other categories: food prices climbed by
1.1% y/y while prices of non-food goods rose by 4.3% y/y and service
tariffs increased by 1.5% y/y. Thus, after food-price inflation had
already in the past two months remained below growth of non-food
prices, in April it was also exceeded by service-price growth.

Month-on-month (m/m) comparison reveals deflation of 0.6%, caused by
m/m easing in food prices. Armenian consumer prices have increased by
2.1% since the beginning of the year, and by 3.0% y/y in JanuaryApril.

Inflation for the whole of 2011 averaged 7.7% (seeArmenia: 11 January
2012:).

Significance:Armenian inflation has now retreated further below
the lower limit of the CBA’s target range. The central bank seeks
to keep inflation at 4.0%, with a variation range of 1.5 percentage
points on either side. The clear easing of inflation pressures draws
from a weaker push from food prices. These still play a very large
role in the Armenian consumption basket, so changes have a marked
impact on overall consumer-price inflation. Moreover, as seen in m/m
developments, the impact from lower food prices goes beyond annual
inflation, which is also impacted by base effects from last year.

Inflation outlook at the moment remains fairly benign, taking into
account the reasonably muted demand pressures. Risks naturally arise
from agricultural developments, as a weak harvest would push up food
prices again. On the other hand, inflation will be tempered due to the
very favourable deal reached with Russia over this year’s gas import
prices, with no increases seen in 2012. Thus, inflation is likely
to remain well within target in the coming months. Consequently,
interest-rate cuts may follow in the near term.

CHURCH AFTER ARMENIAN SAINT TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN TRANSNISTRIA

news.am
May 10, 2012 | 19:11

It is planned to build a church in honor of great Armenian Enlightener
Gregory Illuminator in Grigoriopol, Transnistria.

Grigor Lusavorich (Gregory Illuminator) is the patron saint of
Grigoriopol, which was founded in 1792 by Armenian immigrants from
Ishmael. There are two versions of how the city was founded. According
to the first version, Prince Gregory Potemkin called the new Armenian
City ‘in honor of his angle’. According to the second version,
Potemkin ‘commanded to make a city from the village of St. Gregory
the Illuminator of all Armenians’.

CHARGES AGAINST MASHTOTS PARK ACTIVISTS

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 20:16:28 – 10/05/2012

The police made a statement informing about investigation of the
incident of 29 April 2012 in Mashtots Park. The police statement
informs that criminal proceedings were launched against a group of
activists for violence not dangerous for life or health against police
officers on the basis of ten forensic examinations, explanations of
the participants of the direct participants of the incident, videos,
as well as other documents. Proceedings were launched under Article
316.1 of the RA Criminal Code.

PAPER DISCLOSES DETAILS OF RPA ELECTORAL LIST

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 10, 2012 – 10:15 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Though parliamentary elections are already
over, Zhoghovurd paper reveals some interesting details about the
proportional electoral list of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA).

According to paper’s data, Armenian President, RPA leader Serzh
Sargsyan had a quite different list in mind prior to the session of
the Prosperous Armenia party held ahead of elections.

However, upon his return from Prosperous Armenia meeting, Sargsyan
suddenly decided to include Ruben Hayrapetyan in the next parliament,
the paper claims.

To do this, RPA leader demanded that Manvel Grigoryan, head of
Yerkrapah volunteer union should submit necessary documents for
Hayrapetyan to be involved in RPA’s proportional list, Zhoghovurd says.

Reasons for Sargsyan’s move are still unclear for many, the paper
claims.

‘IF WE CAN SOLVE KARABAKH, TURKEY CAN OPEN BORDER’ – VARTAN OSKANIAN

tert.am
10.05.12

Vartan Oskanian, former Foreign Minister of Armenia (1998-2008),
founder of the Civilitas Foundation and member of the Prosperous
Armenia Party, has said that if the problem over the Nagorno-Karabakh
could be solved by Armenia and Turkey, then Turkey could open its
border with Armenia.

“The Armenian government wants to normalize ties with Turkey. The
problem is how to do it. This whole protocol process made clear to
everyone that there are obstacles in the way. The question is how
both sides could overcome these obstacles. The major obstacle is
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. As long as that issue is not being
addressed or somehow resolved I really don’t see how we can move
forward on Turkey-Armenia ties,” he said to a group of reporters on
Monday from Turkey who came to Armenia with the sponsorship of the
Hrant Dink Foundation and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

Turkey closed its borders with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity
with Azerbaijan after Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of
Azerbaijan in 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The issue
of Armenia’s withdrawal from the area surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh
is of importance for Ankara, which has frequently signaled that this
step would ease the way for opening the border with Armenia.

However, the Zurich protocols, signed between Turkey and Armenia on
Oct. 10, 2009, do not make any reference to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, and say that both countries should have the protocols
ratified by their parliaments within a “reasonable time frame.”

Declaring the protocols “dead,” Oskanian said that the Turkish policy
has been clear that there will not be open borders between Turkey
and Armenia before the conflict is resolved.

“Overcoming that obstacle depends not only on Armenia but also on
Azerbaijan. So, our bilateral ties are held hostage to Turkey’s
relations with Azerbaijan,” he said. “For me it is very clear that
the border will not be opened unless the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
is resolved.”

Oskanian added that he was critical of the Armenian government’s
position in signing the protocols with Turkey, explaining, “The current
[Armenian] administration did not want to listen. They said no,
there is a possibility that Turkey delinked our bilateral relations
over the issue of Karabakh. But eventually they themselves became
convinced eventually that is not the case.”

He added that the most Armenians understand that it is a priority for
Turkey that Azerbaijani interests be addressed and met before Turkey
opens its border with Armenia. Asked if there is hope for a solution
to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Oskanian said that it is difficult.

“I am not hopeless but it will not be easy. The Karabakh conflict has
already lasted 20 years and it is not going to be resolved unless
Turkey changes its position — which I very much doubt will happen
since they haven’t done it in 20 years,” he said.

“Negotiations are continuing but the process as far as I am concerned
is in a deadlock. After these [Armenian] parliamentary elections,
I don’t know if the process will be resuscitated.”

On Sunday’s elections in Armenia, the incumbent Serzh Sargsyan’s
Republican Party won about 68 seats, a majority in the 131-seat
parliament, according to results released on Monday.

The Prosperous Armenia Party came out of the elections as the second
most popular party. Oskanian is expected to run for presidential
elections if the ruling Republican Party does not invite the Prosperous
Armenia Party to form a coalition government. The Prosperous Armenia
party, led by wealthy businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, was the Republican
Party’s coalition partner in the previous parliament but Sargsyan’s
party will no longer need its backing to pass most laws, which require
a majority.

“Prosperous Armenia doubled its number of members in Parliament,
but still fell short of what we could have achieved had there been
a cleaner election. Had there not been certain violations, I think
we would have gotten better results. It is too early to assess the
situation,” he said, ruling out the possibility that he will run
in the presidential elections. International monitors gave a mixed
assessment of the elections, however, praising Armenia for holding
a peaceful election but criticizing violations of campaign law and
interference by parties.

The results in the former Soviet republic, where the Republican Party
was just short of a majority in the previous parliament, give Sargsyan
a strong platform to seek a second presidential term next year.

Asked by the Turkish reporters if Turkey’s proposal for the
establishment of a historical commission to study the 1915 events
was acceptable for the Armenians, Oskanian said:

“That would mean putting the whole genocide issue up for study again,
something that has been done and conclusions have been reached by
international scholars and by Armenians that the 1915 events are
genocide. The Armenian side will never accept such a commission. So the
demand that is put by Turkish Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan
is not realistic as far as the Armenian side is concerned. We would
suggest that Turkey opens the border without conditions, we normalize
our ties and then, at the governmental level, we can address the issues
that are raised by one side or the other. But to create a specific
commission for genocide will not be acceptable by the Armenian side,
in my view, under any administration.”