Author: Kanayan Tamar

DEGREE OF DECEPTION?: STUDENTS STILL WAITING FOR DIPLOMAS IN CONTROVERSY OVER SUSPENDED UNIVERSITY
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan

ArmeniaNow
18.11.11 | 14:19

The Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia and the management
of Yerevan Galick University continue voicing mutual accusations over
the issue of 51 students, who are deprived of receiving a Bachelor’s
diploma. The issue, as the management of the university has stated,
will soon be transferred to the judicial field.

Even though 51 students of the university’s Management Faculty have
passed the state final exams, it is already more than six months that
they cannot take their diplomas, because they have found out that
within the recent one year they have studied at a faculty, paying a
tuition for it, the license of which was suspended by the Ministry
of Education and Science in 2010. (Tuition fee is 182,000 dram — $500.

The University insists that the ministry has suspended the license
of the faculty for certified specialists who study five years, and
not of the Bachelor’s degree of the Management Faculty, with four
years education).

Deputy Rector of Galick University Gevorg Harutyunyan says that they
have not received the decision of the ministry within the defined
timeframe, under which the Bachelor’s license should have been
suspended, and according to the law, in this case the suspension of
the license is automatically considered to be removed.

The ministry in its turn insists that they have responded to all
the inquiries and applications made by the university within the
defined timeframe, simply the rector of the university has ignored the
ministry’s decision, and continued providing education at the faculty,
in order not to lose the tuition fees.

Within the recent two years the Ministry of Education and Science has
closed more than 30 institutes of higher learning or faculties, and
during that period students who studied there have been transferred
to other institutions which offer the same fields of study. Properly
managed, those 51 students would have also been able to continue
their education in another institution.

At a Thursday press conference, Minister of Education and Science
Armen Ashotyan referring to this issue stated, “The case of Galick
is shocking with its impudence.

“They are ready to play with the fate of 51 young people, aiming to
take tuition fees from them, and then to collect money from them
for diplomas. Anyway, if they really decide to appeal to a court,
I personally will attend some of the court sessions. Besides, I am
ready to make some other details public.”

TSVETANA PASKALEVA TO STAY IN ARMENIA UNTIL FINAL VICTORY OF KARABAKH

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 18, 2011
YEREVAN

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan was among the first to receive
“Karabakh’s Wounds” CD from the author of the film, journalist,
documentary film author Tsvetana Paskaleva. The presentation of the
film took place in Yerevan November 18. Paskaleva said she will not
leave Armenia until the final victory of Artsakh.

“When I visited Karabakh I saw that the people are always concerned. I
consider them all heroes. I did not think I would have so much strength
to see these scenes, and I decided to stay by their sides,” Paskaleva
said. She noted that all her films about Karabakh were created during
cold, severe days when they had worked without heating.

“I have passed this way with difficulty, it was stony and thorny. I
was deprived of education, I left my homeland but I do not regret.

This is my home. When I leave Armenia for a month I feel parentless. I
have sworn in on the grave of the hero guys that I would shoot this
films and I have kept my promise,” she said.

Leader of the country Serzh Sargsyan said Paskaleva has done a huge
work. “It is a work that gives full picture of what happened. Not only
Armenian but foreign authors of documentaries created works on this
issue but Paskaleva managed to give full idea. We all must manage to
convince the world in national rightness of the Karabakh people. I am
sure Paskaleva will become the most active participant of this fight,”
President Sargsyan.

Tsvetana Paskaleva has shot 7 films about Nagorno Karabakh in six
languages – Armenian, Russian, English, French, Spanish and Bulgarian.

The whole income received from the purchasing of the CDs will be
directed to different institutions of Nagorno Karabakh.

NKR PRESIDENT MEETS IN THE USA REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 18, 2011
YEREVAN

On 17 November US Eastern Regional body of the “Hayastan” All-Armenian
organized in New York a state dinner in honor of the Artsakh Republic
President Bako Sahakyan with the participation of Armenian community
representatives.

Central information department of the office of the Artsakh Republic
President told Armenpress that President Sahakyan introduced to the
attendees socioeconomic situation in the NKR, problems it faces and
development prospects. The NKR President underlined that the people
of Artsakh are resolute in further strengthening their independent
statehood and within this context called the Artsakh-Armenia-Diaspora
trinity the basis of all achievements. Bako Sahakyan rated high
the role of the “Hayastan” All-Armenian fund in the development of
Artsakh qualifying it one of the most important junctions in practical
cementation of the inter-Armenian ties.

Head of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop
Pargev Martirosyan, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary
of the Republic of Armenia to the USA Tatoul Markaryan, permanent
representative of the Republic of Armenia to UN Karen Nazaryan,
head of the central information department of the office of the NKR
President David Babayan, NKR permanent representative to USA and
Canada Robert Avetisyan and other officials partook at the event.

‘HISTORICAL HEROES’: ARMENIAN BROTHERS’ HOTEL CHAIN A LEGACY IN MALAYSIA

epress.am
11.18.2011

The Kardashian sisters may be the most famous Armenian family globally
but in South East Asia, the Sarkies brothers are historical heroes
especially among hoteliers, write Christina Chin and Jeremy Tan in
the Malyasian news source The Star.

The Sarkies brothers, Martin, Tigran, Aviet and Arshak (pictured
below), were best known for founding and managing a chain of luxury
hotels throughout South East Asia including E&O Hotel, and Crag Hotel
on Penang Hill.

Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) secretary Clement Liang said the Armenian
community in Penang had made great contributions to the region
especially in Singapore and Penang (Malaysia).

“The Armenian community were a minority but their contributions
were significant especially in establishing and running a chain of
prestigious hotels in Penang.

“In George Town, you have Armenian Street and Aratoon Road.

“The latter was named after Arathoon Anthony who brought his family
to Penang in 1819. He was a trader and planter.

“The Armenian community in Penang used to worship at St Gregory’s
Church which was located between Penang Street and King Street.

“Unfortunately, the Armenian community no longer live here. Most
migrated to the US, Australia and Singapore in the 1930s,” he said,
adding that there were some 40 Armenians buried in the state.

Above: photo of Regina Sarkies, married to Arathoon Martin Sarkies,
cousin of the brothers

Main photo: Eastern & Oriental Hotel website Enclosed photos from
original article.

NAIRA ZOHRABYAN’S ‘FRIENDLY ADVICE’ TO HHK INCUMBENT DEFEATED IN IJEVAN ELECTIONS

epress.am
11.18.2011

Prosperous Armenia MP Naira Zohrabyan (pictured) advised the former
mayor of Ijevan (a Republican Party of Armenia member) not to speak
of buying votes as it’s not based on his interests. Zohrabyan said
this herself in parliament today, adding that if Ijevan’s former mayor
continues to speak of vote buying, then worse might be said about him.

Recall, incumbent Varuzhan Nersisyan lost to the Prosperous Armenia
candidate, Vardan Ghalumyan in the Nov. 13 mayoral elections in the
northeastern Armenian city of Ijevan.

Zohrabyan also commented on a recent statement by head of Republican
Party of Armenia (HHK) parliamentary faction Galust Sahakyan in
which the latter, asked about the results of the Ijevan elections
possible replaying on a national level, said (not in so many words),
“God forbid, such a thing were to happen.”

“As for Galust Sahakyan’s statements, all the forecasts, one thing is
clear: the outcome of any election is decided by the people’s vote,”
she said.

HHK MP Artak Zakaryan, also weighing in on the elections in Ijevan,
said the consequences and issues were discussed and assessed at the
HHK executive meeting yesterday – with the consideration of taking
them into account later.

“I am not aware of the flaws or problems in detail. But there has to
be some follow-up, in provincial, regional bodies, to find the motives
which were the reason of the HHK candidate’s defeat. This is an issue
relating to the local self-government system; we shouldn’t view this
issue through a political lens; and this is a direct proposal by the
party’s executive body to regional bodies to pay attention to this
issue,” he said.

Civil Georgia
Nov 19 2011

Georgian, Armenian PMs Meet in Batumi
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 19 Nov.’11 / 12:19

Armenian and Georgian Prime Ministers, Tigran Sargsyan and Nika
Gilauri, respectively, met in Batumi on Friday.

PM Sargsyan, who pays a two-day visit to Georgia, leads the Armenian
delegation for a 9th session of the Armenian-Georgian
intergovernmental commission.

The Armenian delegation includes Minister of Economy; Transport and
Communication Minister; Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural
Resources; Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration; Deputy
Minister of Health; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Deputy
Minister of Agriculture; Deputy Minister of Education and Science;
Deputy Minister of Culture; Deputy Minister of Diaspora; Deputy
Director of the National Security Service and other officials.

`Armenia is Georgia’s one of the main partners. We have 40% increase
in bilateral trade; the most of the foreign tourists arriving in
Georgia are from Armenia; we have very good political relations and
very important economic relations. We have discussed number of energy,
transit and transportation projects,’ Georgian PM Gilauri said.

At the Armenian mission in New York an official reception was
organized in honor of the Artsakh Republic President

(Noyan Tapan – 19.11.2011)

On 18 November at the Armenian mission in New York an official
reception was organized in honor of the Artsakh Republic President
Bako Sahakyan.

President Sahakyan noted the importance of the work of the permanent
representation mission in objective presentation of the Artsakh issue
in one of the most important international organization – the UN.
According to the President this work would have a positive impact on
the international recognition of the NKR.

During the event the Head of the State handed in the `Vachagan
Barepasht’ medal to American philanthropist of Armenian origin Andreas
Roubyan noting that the philanthropist standing at the origins of the
Artsakh National Liberation movement continues to take an active part
in the development of the NKR.

Head of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, head of the central information
department of the office of the Artsakh Republic President David
Babayan, representatives of the local Armenian community partook at
the event, the Central Information Department of the Office of the
Artsakh Republic President informs.

European Federation for Immunogenetics opens regional conference in Yerevan

14:19 – 19.11.11

Upon the initiative of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry, the
European Federation for Immunogenetics launched today its first ever
regional conference in Yerevan.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the participants attached a major
importance to the event, considering it a great contribution to the
development of the country’s healthcare sector.

They highly praised the recent years’ legislative reforms allowing for
the transplantation of organs through a medical intervention.

“We must be able to use all the resources to save and prolong human
life,” said Ara Babloyan, the head of the National Assembly’s Standing
Committee on Healthcare, Maternity and Childhood.

Babloyan, who is also the head of Arabkir Joint Medical Center,
expressed belief the meeting would enable numerous healthcare
institutions across Armenia to follow their clinic’s example of
transplanting organs and choosing appropriate methods of treating
blood diseases, cancer and genetic disorders.

“I am sure that this meeting will open doors to our future,” he said.

The Bone Marrow Donor registry is a charitable trust founded in 1999.
Its beneficiaries are patients suffering from leukemia and various
blood diseases, as well as blood donors. Over the 11 years of its
existence, it has registered over 20,000 donors (5,576 being from the
Diaspora).

Tert.am

Solidarity with the Victims of All Genocides
c/o The Temple of Peace, King Edward VIII Road, Cathays Park, Cardiff
[email protected]
07718982732 (UK) 00447718982732 (Int.)

Solidarity with Prisoners of Conscience in Turkey
(including Turkish-Occupied Armenia)

Proposed action to coincide with UK visit of Turkish President,
22 & 23 November:

We invite you warmly to a Vigil outside Buckingham Palace the night of
the 22nd November (7 p.m. onwards) to co-incide with the visit of The
Turkish President.Then opposite Downing St on the 23rd (exact time to be
obtained from 07588256783)

1 “Free Turkish Intellectuals imprisoned for “Thought Crime””
2 “End Turkish State Terrorr on the Kurds”
3 “Recognize that Modern Turkey is built on the Genocide of its
Armenian, Assyrian and Greek population”

Please RSVP to: [email protected] 07588256783

2 Solidarity with Prisoners of Conscience in Turkey

You are warmly invited to a meeting in 1 Parliament St, (Parliamentary
Offices), (on the corner of Parliament Square and Bridge St, next to
the Parliamentary Bookshop) Houses of Parliament, at 5 p.m. on
Wednesday 23rd November to support Ragip Zarakolu, publisher of books
on the Armenian Genocide, detained by the Turkish State in a high
securiuty prison for expressing his thoughts on the National Minorities
of Turkey

Meeting Sponsored by Michael Connarty MP

SYRIE : LA TURQUIE SOUTIENT LES SANCTIONS DE LA LIGUE ARABE CONTRE DAMAS
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 18 novembre 2011

La Turquie soutient la suspension annoncee de la Syrie de la
Ligue arabe, a indique mardi a Rabat le ministre turc des Affaires
etrangères, a la veille d’une reunion ministèrielle de la Ligue pour
evoquer cette sanction.

Nous estimons que c’est une decision juste, a indique M. Ahmet
Davutoglu, lors d’une conference de presse conjointe avec son homologue
marocain Taïeb Fassi-Fihri.

Le 12 novembre, les ministres des Affaires etrangères de la Ligue
arabe ont annonce au Caire que la Syrie allait etre suspendue le 16
des activites de l’organisation pan-arabe si Damas ne mettait pas
fin a la repression de son opposition.

Une reunion entre les pays arabes et la Turquie doit aussi avoir lieu
dans la capitale marocaine au moment où Ankara a egalement menace
la Syrie de sanctions, notamment de lui couper l’approvisionnement
en electricite.

M. Fassi-Fihri a toutefois invite la Syrie a participer a la rencontre
arabo-turque, en depit de la suspension qui vise Damas : Les portes
restent ouvertes aux responsables syriens s’ils veulent participer
demain au Forum, a-t-il assure.

La Ligue arabe et la Turquie se retrouvent a Rabat alors que la
pression s’est accrue contre le regime de Bachar al Assad, au prise
depuis huit mois avec une rebellion armee qui a touche plusieurs
regions du pays.

Le regime syrien ne veut pas ecouter son peuple et continue dans sa
strategie repressive, a estime le ministre turc.

Il a indique que son gouvernement, qui a deja accueilli plusieurs
reunions d’opposants syriens, etaient prets a rencontrer tous les
opposants syriens et a la ecouter.

Lorsque la Syrie eternue, la Turquie s’enrhume, a poursuivi M.

Davutoglu en allusion a la dimension regionale du conflit en Syrie,
et il a insiste sur les relations profondes (de la Turquie) avec la
Syrie et avec le peuple syrien.

Nous voulons les aider, a-t-il encore assure, mais, selon lui,
le regime du president Assad doit faire des efforts en faveur de
reformes politiques.

Mardi, Ankara a menace de suspendre la fourniture d’electricite a
son voisin, comme elle le fait depuis 2006 dans le cadre d’un accord
d’exportation. La Syrie est très dependante du partage des eaux de
l’Euphrate qui prend sa source en Turquie, et lui fournit 60 % de
son energie hydroelectrique.

La Turquie a egalement annonce avoir arrete sa participation a des
explorations petrolières conjointes sur six puits en Syrie.