Author: Kanayan Tamar

ILHAM ALIYEV: AZERBAIJAN-U.S. RELATIONS ENJOY ALL-ROUND AND DYNAMIC DEVELOPMENT

Trend
Aug 3, 2011
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent his greetings to the U.S.

President Barack Obama on his 50th jubilee, the Azerbaijani President’s
official website reported Wednesday.

“Please accept my sincere congratulations on your 50th anniversary.

It is with great pleasure that I emphasize that friendly and
cooperative relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the
United States of America enjoy all-round and dynamic development.

Our active joint work towards ensuring energy security and fighting
against global threats and international terrorism has elevated our
relations to the level of strategic partnership.

We also praise the United States` attention towards our region. In this
context, the continuous efforts of your country and personally yours,
Mr. President, are of great importance for the soonest resolution of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which resulted in
the occupation of our lands and expulsion of our compatriots from
their homelands. It is my hope that these efforts will succeed in
the near future, resulting in a peaceful and just resolution of the
conflict in accordance with international legal norms.

On this remarkable day, Mr. President, I wish you robust health,
family happiness and successes in your activity for the prosperity
of the friendly American people” the greetings say.

IRAN TO HOST ARMENIAN CULTURE DAYS IN SEPTEMBER

Panorama
Armenia
Aug 3, 2011

Armenian Culture Days will be held in September in Iran, which is
supposed to be attended by the Armenian Minister of Culture Hasmik
Poghosyan, Iranian “IRAS” news agency quotes Armenian Ambassador to
Iran Grigor Arakelyan as saying in a meeting with the Chairman of
Islamic and cultural relations organization Mohammadbager Khoramshadi.

Armenian Ambassador said in the sidelines of Armenia’s Independence
festive events, Armenian city of Megri, near the border with Iran,
will host a range of cultural events dedicated to the feast.

Mohammadbager Khoramshadi said the Iranian cultural organization
would be putting forth efforts to reinforce historical and cultural
relations with Armenia.

JERZY BUZEK CANCELS VISIT TO ARMENIA ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

Panorama
Aug 3, 2011
Armenia

European Parliament president Jerzy Buzek sent a letter to the Chairman
of Armenian National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan to inform he cannot
accept Mr. Abrahamyan’s invitation to attend September 21 festive
events dedicated to the 20th jubilee of Independence of Armenian.

Jerzy Buzek informed he has asked Vice Chairman Libor Roucek to
represent him and the European Parliament.

European Parliament president congratulated Armenian Parliament
Speaker over the 20th jubilee of Independence of Armenia.

GENOCIDE STUDENTS MAKE ULTIMATE PLEDGE FOR CHANGE
Tom Vartabedian

Aug 3, 2011

CHELMSFORD, Mass.-Much as I tend to be involved with Armenian affairs,
as my family and friends might attest, nothing quite cuts the mustard
better than promoting genocide education in our schools.

Chelmsford High genocide students pledge to promote change.

It’s something I’ve been doing the past three years as part of the
Armenian Genocide Education Committee of Merrimack Valley, launched
in 2009 by Dro Kanayan, grandson to a famous Armenian general by the
same name.

It’s been a three-man operation since the get-go with Albert S.

Movsesian part of the team. Together, we visit anywhere from 8-10
schools a year and elaborate on the Armenian Genocide with a video
made especially for the occasion and eyewitness accounts.

It is often not an easy sell, given the age and elements of today’s
youth. But they wouldn’t be taking such a world history curriculum
if they weren’t the least bit interested in genocide/Holocaust studies.

On the whole, I would say we’re taking giant strides forward with
the subject matter. I’m sure they’d rather be shooting hoops in a
gym class than listening to someone preach about 1.5 million victims
being annihilated by the Turks.

The approach needed something more than just a couple guys before
a classroom blowing out hot air on a hot day. The sight of someone
looking out into space can be somewhat dispiriting.

Our show needed a new twist, one that would leave an indelible imprint
upon our young audience. A letter arrived in the mail from students
at Chelmsford High School shortly after our appearance there that
went better than expected.

These teens represented a project titled “Be the Change.” As a final
coup de grace, I asked 25 of them to stand and take a pledge with
their right hands in the air. Even their instructor wasn’t exempt.

Here’s what they repeated after me:

“I pledge to try to make a difference in the lives of others. I pledge
to stand against intolerance, prejudice, discrimination, and hate,
and to promote greater understanding and acceptance. I recognize that
even small acts of kindness can have a big impact on others. I pledge
to be the change.”

I figure the best way to change the world is to start with the
individual-and a pledge for peace would certainly be remembered in
light of everything else we threw at them that day.

In a follow-up letter, they wrote: “We at Chelmsford High School
truly appreciate the time your organization has spent sharing the
Armenian story with us. We realize that the best route to positive
change is through awareness and understanding. You have given us the
unique experience of seeing the world through another’s eyes. We are
now better prepared to honor our pledge.”

As a parting token, they each affixed a signature to the letter and
agreed to make a donation in our honor to a worthy charity as a token
of their appreciation.

At a time when today’s youth is often given a bad rap and clearly
misunderstood by elders, here’s a cluster of exemplary students
pledging to be the change.

Last October when I lost my mother, many expressed their condolences
with cards and e-mails mourning the city’s last genocide survivor.

Some were expected. Others were not. Never did I anticipate a manila
envelope filled with sympathy cards from students at one of the
schools we had addressed.

Each one bore a personal message that warmed my heart during this time
of grief. And it was only because we had enhanced their education on
the Armenian Genocide and spoke a bit about the survivors.

Another class lobbied the United States Postal authorizes for
a commemorative stamp marking the 2015 centennial, complete with
written statements and artwork.

There was a time when we made the approach to schools. Now they’re
approaching us for return visits. Many also want another program we
offer-a panel discussion featuring four to five genocide groups each
giving their own story and a pitch for human rights.

Communities are getting involved by joining the class and donating
Armenian books to their respective libraries. Bottom line: We’re
teaching what the history books are not in compliance with mandated
educational standards.

I do not know how the coming year will impact these schools or how
these students will react to the Armenian Genocide. Hopefully, they
will use it to restore some calm in their lives and prevent future
genocides from repeating themselves.

What I do know is this: By these students, we, too, are being taught.

And that happens to be the greatest source of educational power we
have at our disposal.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PREZ CAN’T MAKE ARMENIA TRIP

hetq
August 3, 2011

The President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, has written to
RA National Assembly President Hovik Abrahamyan that he will not be
able to visit Armenia on September 21 on the occasion of the nation’s
20th independence anniversary due to prior commitments.

Mr. Buzek says that he has requested that European Parliament Deputy
President Libor Roucek visit Armenia on his behalf.

ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES UNABLE TO CONTROL PEOPLE’S ANGER FOR EVER, OPPOSITION REP SAYS

Tert.am
02.08.11

“If the authorities use violence again, they will have to swallow a
bone bigger than the March 1 bone, which they have so far been unable
to swallow.”

Over the past three years, various actors in Armenia’s domestic
political arena have brought various charges against the Armenian
National Congress (ANC) – attempting to seize power and rejecting
the opportunity to come to power, supporting the authorities in
Armenian-Turkish reconciliation and refusing to support them, Arman
Grigoryan, ANC-representative at the Council of Europe, stated at
the ANC rally in Yerevan.

At present, the ANC is being charged with “a dishonest deal” of
dialogue, he added.

One more charge, which is no less dangerous, is that the ANC’s tactics
is a utopia because authorities shooting at the people will never
agree to early elections. Even if they agree, such elections will
not be free or fair, Grigoryan said.

It is “a realistic moment”, which, however, shows a tendency of
“stripping people of hope.”

According to Grigoryan, authorities either agree to or reject proposals
for a dialogue – it depends on the degree of public discontent.

The people’s anger has reached the highest point, and the authorities
are wrong if they think they are able to control it for ever,
Grigoryan said.

“If the authorities use violence again, they will have to swallow a
bone bigger than the March 1 bone, which they have so far been unable
to swallow,” he said.

MOSCOW KEEPS THREATENING

Lragir.am

02/08/2011

Aleksey Vlasov, the political analyst, in his interview to First
News Program of Russia, made judgments on the role of Russia and the
positions of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the Karabakh
issue, going beyond every possible limit.

“The Kremlin is quite determined to force Yerevan and Baku to proceed
with more constructive steps. The comparative failure in the Kazan
meeting evidenced that the authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan do
not follow all Moscow’s appeals,” said Vlasov. Dwelling on Medvedev’s
new proposals and Armenia’s response, he actually threatened that if
the Armenian side keeps refusing the next proposals, it will cause
suspension of the negotiations, which will not bebeneficial to Armenia.

“Assuming that the West wants to present Russia as a failed mediator,
it is a very dangerous game, and I am not sure the Armenian authorities
would like to take part in it,” Vlasov said, and made many other
similar statements.

This is the style of a greater part of Russian political scientists
and analysts. This class is known for statements which have nothing
in common with political science and ethics. Leaving aside the fact
that a greater part of them is financed from special Azeri funds,
we need to focus on several circumstances.

We know that after the failed meeting in Kazan, Aliyev introduced 10
amendments on which Medvedev’s new proposals for the settlement are
based. Naturally, Azerbaijan approved the new proposals, while we
know nothing about the response of Armenia. It is most likely to be
negative because the proposals have been worked out on the basis of
Baku’s wishes. And now, the aforementioned class of Russian political
scientists threatens Armenia, trying to put political and psychological
pressure on the Armenian side.

Any independent step by Armenia which stems from its interests
receives a harsh response from Moscow, which is the result of Russia’s
attitude to Armenia as to its slave. Since the interests of Armenia
and Russia are diametrically opposite, all Armenia can do is to
refuse any proposal and initiative by Russia which are, actually,
aimed at destroying Armenia.

And, perhaps, it is time the Armenian mass media stopped reporting
statements and opinions of this class of Russian political analysts.

This behavior will not be evaluated as violation of freedom of speech,
taking into account the abovementioned circumstances. Let them express
their opinions through the Azerbaijani press.

IFC GRANTED $70 MILLION TO ARMENIA

news.am
Aug 1, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – International Finance Corporation (IFC) granted $70
million to Armenia in the last financial year (July 1st, 2010 –
June 30th, 2011), IFC reports. IFC is a structure of the World Bank,
which is responsible for investments in the private sector. IFC made
investments in 11 projects for the last year. Currently IFC investment
Armenian portfolio is $102 million in the form of loans and capital
investments in the financial system and economy.

The organization considerably increased loans for small and
medium businesses, granting the banks with credit lines including
agro-industry enterprises.

Armenia is a member of IFC since 1995. So far IFC granted $147
million for 28 projects in Armenia. Besides the investments, IFC
provides consultations for the private sector and the government in
the areas of financial sector, stabile energy, and improvement of
the investment climate.

GALVIN ACCUSES MAN OF RIPPING OFF ARMENIAN-AMERICAN INVESTORS.

The Patriot Ledger

Aug 1, 2011

BOSTON – Secretary of State William Galvin has filed a complaint
against a West Boylston man, alleging that he defrauded three investors
of nearly $800,000 by selling them stakes in real estate ventures in
Leicester and Sutton and then using their money to pay for trips to
the Foxwoods casino in Connecticut and the French Riviera.

Galvin said Edward Kooyomjian Sr. targeted investors who had ties
with the Armenian-American community in central Massachusetts in an
apparent case of affinity fraud. Galvin also accuses Kooyomjian of
selling unregistered securities and acting as an unregistered agent.

“Not only did these investors lose their money on what they thought
to be an investment, but they were betrayed by someone they had every
reason to trust,” Galvin said.

Worcester Probate Court has has ruled that Kooyomjian used investors’
money for gambling, and ordered him to repay $381,200, but he is
presently in default on that judgment. He had been sued by the daughter
of a widow whose husband had been a close friend of Kooyomjian’s.

ARFD STILL PUSHES FOR ARMENIAN FM’S RESIGNATION

news.am
Aug 1, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenian FM Edward Nalbandyan’s resignation remains a
topical issue on the agenda of ARF Dashnaktsutyun, the head of the
Hay Dat (Armenian Cause) office, Giro Manoyan told a press conference
on Monday.

Manoyan explained that ARFD stands for systemic change of power in
Armenia, which also implies resignation of the foreign minister.

“The main responsibility for Armenia’s current foreign policy falls on
the President. Demand for resignation of foreign minister is a message
to President Serzh Sargsyan to change his policy. If he succeeds at
the same time retaining the minister, let it be so,” concluded Manoyan.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun is one of the
oldest Armenian political parties. Presently ARFD has 16 seats in
the 131-member Armenian parliament.