Author: Kanayan Tamar

GLENDALE DEMOGRAPHICS REPORT: WHITE WORKERS DROP, ARMENIANS INCREASE AT CITY HALL

Glendale News Press, CA
May 9 2014

Armenians made up 17% of city’s workforce in 2013, up from 11% in 2004,
according to a report.

By Brittany Levine, [email protected]

May 9, 2014 | 10:04 a.m.

In looking at racial and ethnic groups tracked by the city, the number
of white workers at City Hall has seen the most drastic change over
the past decade, making up 39% of Glendale’s workforce last year,
down from 49% in 2004, according to a recently released city report.

The percentage of white workers was heavily impacted by the city’s
reorganization last year, which cut about 11% of employees through
early-retirement incentives. The number of white workers dropped about
14% to 792 in 2013 compared to the prior year, according to the report.

At the same time, Armenian workers have been steadily increasing.

Armenians made up 17% of the city’s workforce in 2013, up from 11%
in 2004. In 2013, the city had 343 Armenian workers, compared to 251
in 2004.

Although Armenians consider themselves to be racially white, the city
counts the ethnic group in a distinct category. Glendale City Council
members have long encouraged city officials to hire more employees that
reflect Glendale’s overall demographics. About a third of Glendale’s
population is Armenian.

“The trends noted have been and will continue to be gradual as
evidenced by the large number of employees who have been with the
city for over 10 years,” according to the March demographics report.

Changing the composition of the city’s workforce will depend on
employees retiring, separating from the city and new positions opening,
the report stated.

Glendale officials may undergo another round of retirement incentives
in order to improve Glendale’s long-term fiscal health. The biggest
burden on the city is the cost of salaries and benefits, officials
have said.

As officials forecast deficits — ranging from $1.7 million to $5.5
million — over the next seven years, officials may consider trimming
the workforce again.

The total number of city workers in 2013, including salaried and
hourly, was 2,010. Glendale officials have used a much smaller
figure of 1,588 during city budget discussions, but that reflects
authorized positions and the city does not include hourly workers in
that headcount.

Other minority groups also saw gains in employee numbers.

Asian/Pacific Islanders in 2013 made up 9.5% of city employees, a jump
from about 8% in 2004. Blacks mostly remained steady, accounting for
3.6% of the workforce last year. Latinos increased slightly to about
30% of the workforce in 2013, compared to nearly 27% in 2004.

Of the 266 executive and management employees in 2013, 56% were white
and 13% were Armenian. Of the 256 who held top jobs in 2004, about 69%
were white and approximately 5% were Armenian.

While the racial and ethnic composition at City Hall has changed
significantly over the past decade, gender composition has remained
relatively constant with males making up roughly 70% of the workforce
both in 2013 and 2004, according to the city report.

The high percentage of males, according to the report, is due to women
not historically applying for positions in the Fire, Police, Public
Works, Information Services and Glendale Water & Power departments.

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LE PARTI AU POUVOIR PRET A RESTER 10 ANS DE PLUS

ARMENIE

Dans ce qui semblait être un avertissement sévère a son
prédécesseur Robert Kotcharian, le Parti républicain d’Arménie
du président Serge Sarkissian (HHK) a indiqué mercredi qu’il ne
cédera pas le pouvoir a une autre force individuelle ou politique
dans la prochaine décennie.

Le porte-parole du HHK Eduard Sharmazanov a dit que Serge Sarkissian
avait dit clairement au début du mois quand il a élaboré une
réforme constitutionnelle envisagée par son administration.

” Le chef de l’Etat a précisé que la voix du HHK – plutôt que la
voix d’un ancien dirigeant ou futur – doit être décisif aujourd’hui
et pour la prochaine décennie ”, a déclaré Eduard Sharmazanov
dans une déclaration spéciale aux médias. ” Parce qu’ avec son
niveau d’organisation, ses ressources, son expérience et le nombre
de ses membres, le HHK est le leader et continuera a être le leader
du système politique et de la scène de l’Arménie au cours de la
prochaine décennie ”.

” Si un homme politique ou homme d’Etat particulier souhaite aspirer
aux plus hautes fonctions au cours des dix prochaines années, le
principal, sinon le seul, chemin pour l’atteindre c’est le HHK. Pour
le dire plus simplement, si quelqu’un veut devenir président ou
le premier ministre de l’Arménie, ils devront passer par la rue
Melik-Adamian [le siège du HHK situé a Erevan] ” a-t-il souligné
dans un discours télévisé.

Le Parti Arménie prospère (BHK) de Gagik Tsarukian, un riche homme
d’affaires proche de Kotcharian, n’a pas tardé a condamner ces
propos comme un affront aux forces de l’opposition et aux dizaines
d’Arméniens ordinaires qui ne soutiennent pas le régime actuel. ”
Je pense que le Parti républicain doit donner des explications sur les
conseils pour la dictature d’un parti pour la prochaine décennie ”, a
déclaré le porte-parole du BHK Tigran Urikhanian dans un communiqué.

Il n’y avait pas de réaction immédiate de plusieurs partis
d’opposition radicaux qui refusent de reconnaître la légitimité
du gouvernement de Serge Sarkissian.

Serge Sarkissian a déclaré le 10 Avril qu’il ne briguerait pas un
autre mandat après avoir terminé son deuxième mandat de cinq ans en
2018. Il a dit qu’il ” n’aspire pas ” au poste de premier ministre
même si l’Arménie devient une république parlementaire a la suite
d’amendements constitutionnels visé par une commission présidentielle
ad hoc. Mais il n’a pas voulu dire s’il prendra sa retraite de la
vie politique si la commission ne propose pas une telle transformation.

La commission a jusqu’a présent préconisé une réduction des
vastes pouvoirs dont jouit le chef de l’Etat. Galust Sahakian, un
vice-président du HHK au pouvoir, dit au service arménien de RFE /
RL (Azatutyun.am) le 11 Avril que Sarkissian pourrait prendre les
fonctions de Premier ministre si le système de gouvernement actuel
reste largement intact.

Le BHK et d’autres forces de l’opposition se sont prononcés contre
la réforme constitutionnelle envisagée, en disant que son objectif
principal est d’aider a maintenir Serge Sarkissian au pouvoir après
2018. Robert Kotcharian, qui a gouverné l’Arménie de 1998-2008, a
ajouté sa voix a l’opposition . Il a affirmé ” que la même personne
ne doit pas aspirer aux rênes du pouvoir pendant plus de deux fois ”.

La Constitution arménienne stipule que le président de la République
ne peut exercer plus de deux mandats consécutifs. Robert Kotcharian
a laissé entendre qu’il pourrait a nouveau être candidat a la
présidence, même si les autorités suppriment le mot ” consécutive
” de cette disposition constitutionnelle. Une telle modification ne
pourrait être appliquée rétroactivement aux anciens présidents,
a-t-il dit.

Eduard Sharmazanov a apparemment visé Kotcharian quand il a dit jeudi,
” Il y a des personnes qui ne se rendent pas entièrement compte
de la nouvelle réalité politique émergente en Arménie et vont
maintenant sortir de leur facon de se positionner pour l’avenir. Cela
ne peut que nous faire sourire ”.

vendredi 9 mai 2014, Stéphane ©armenews.com

AZERBAIJAN’S ARMY AND ECONOMY DECISIVE IN SOLVING KARABAKH CONFLICT: VICE-SPEAKER

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
May 8 2014

8 May 2014, 09:48 (GMT+05:00)
By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijan’s strong army and powerful economy will play a decisive
role in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the framework
of international legal principles.

The remarks were made by deputy Vice-Speaker Ziyafat Asgarov on May 7.

Asgarov expressed regret that the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group,
established to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, had been
fruitless over the past few years.

“The ambassadors of the countries included in the OSCE Minsk Group
have come to Azerbaijan and issued statements, even noting that
the time has come to resolve the conflict. But I am so sorry that
the visits of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to both parties of the
conflict have not solved anything,” Asgarov said.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made
territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war in
the early 1990s that displaced over one million Azerbaijanis, the
Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s
internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and
seven adjacent regions.

Peace talks, mediated by Russia, France, and the U.S. through the OSCE
Minsk Group, are underway on the basis of a peace outline proposed
by the Minsk Group co-chairs and dubbed the Madrid Principles.

Negotiations have been largely fruitless so far.

Commenting on a draft resolution calling on the U.S. Government
to recognize the puppet regime called “Nagorno Karabakh Republic”,
Asgarov said the document adopted by the California State Assembly’s
Rules Committee holds no legal force for Azerbaijan.

The resolution was introduced by Assemblyman Mike Gatto at the behest
of the Armenian lobby. Gatto submitted the proposal to the California
State Legislature on January 6.

“It is absurd. Whatever decision is made on this issue does not
matter,” Asgarov said.

The Armenian lobby has announced that the resolution will be considered
on the Assembly floor on May 8. This date was not chosen randomly,
as May 8 marks the 22nd anniversary of the occupation of Azerbaijan’s
Shusha city by Armenia.

If passed by both houses of the State Legislature, the resolution
would call on the U.S. government to recognize the puppet regime called
“NKR”, installed on Azerbaijan’s occupied lands, Azerbaijani Consulate
General in Los-Angeles said.

WHITMAN TO HOST MUSIC BORNE OF AMENIAN GENOCIDE

Union Bulletin, Washington
May 8 2014

WALLA WALLA — An ensemble of musicians will host a noon workshop
Friday at Whitman College before showcasing traditional Armenian
music in a perfomance at 7:30 p.m. in Olin Hall Room 130.

#The Mark Gavoor Ensemble is comprised of professional musicians from
Boston, Chicago and Detroit, and will perform in a program called
“From Ararat to America: 100 Years of Traditional Armenian and Middle
Eastern Music”.

#Modern Armenian music has been heavily influenced by the Armenian
genocide of 1915. Many Armenians fled to the U.S. and brought
traditional Armenian, Kurdish and Turkish folk music with them, which
was passed down through generations as a way of staying connected to
their homeland.

#In their noon workshop, ensemble members will provide background
about the selections they perform and the origins and styles of Middle
Eastern music.

WILLIAM HURT CIRCLING “MEN OF GRANITE”, STORY ABOUT BASKETBALL TRUMPING BIGOTRY IN SMALL-TOWN AMERICA

Deadline.com
May 8 2014

By ANITA BUSCH | Thursday May 8, 2014 @ 9:56am PDT

William Hurt, who two weeks ago dropped out of the Gregg Allman biopic
Midnight Rider after the tragic on-set death of camera assistant Sarah
Jones, is circling the basketball drama Men Of Granite written by new
scribe Armand Kachigian. The project was adapted from the book of the
same name by Dan Manoyan (a Milwaukee Sentinel sportswriter) and is
based on a true story of how a group of poor, immigrant high school
boys from the wrong side of the tracks rose above bigotry in 1940s
small-town Illinois by proving themselves on the basketball court.

There is no deal and his involvement is contingent upon financing.

The role that has Hurt’s interest is that of a a high school coach
suffering a string of losses and resigned to never winning a game.

It’s not until this band of Armenian-speaking kids take the court
that his passion for the game reignites. The project is set in my
hometown of Granite City, a steel town in Southern Illinois across
the Mississippi River from St. Louis. These families — Markarian,
Hagopian, Parsaghian, Eftimoff — are well-known names in the city. I
attended the same school with these hometown heroes’ sons, daughters
and grandchildren. The city was a true melting pot both in terms
of culture and economic social classes. (It’s also known for its
soccer program, which had the highest number of wins in the state,
and was started by another local hero, Ruben Mendoza, who played
in three consecutive Olympics for the U.S. That, in itself, would
make one helluva movie as this young man, who grew up in Durango,
introduced the game of soccer to the entire region.)

One of the basketball boys — a Hungarian kid born Andras Fulop —
ended up playing 11 years in the NBA as Andy Phillip (most notably for
the Boston Celtics). The other boys were Armenian, Yugoslavian and
Macedonian. Not only did they elevate the game of basketball in the
state, but they earned respect and changed the bigoted attitudes in
the city — a town settled by Western Europeans (Germans). The story,
which takes place in 1940, is currently in being culled together by
casting agent-turned-producer Valerie McAffrey (she is also Armenian).

No director is yet attached.

Kachigian is also from Granite City. The story of the 1940s state
champion basketball team is well known in my hometown — these are
kids who played in socks, some so poor they didn’t own tennis shoes
— all from hardworking immigrant families who moved to the U.S. in
hopes of a better life. These kids were natural athletes in a town
of haves and have-nots and in a city with a basic misunderstanding of
their history. In fact, these boys had had to suffer the indignity of
being called “dirty” because of the complexion of their skin and their
obvious poverty. They were even, unbelievably, dubbed “The Terrible
Turks” before Prather and others set the coach and the media straight.

(The Turks, as everyone knows but some fail to recognize, committed
genocide against the Armenian people). A public elementary school
now bears Prather’s name.

At one point, Granite City had the largest concentration of Bulgarians
in the U.S. and still today has a strong Armenian, Hungarian and
Croatian presence. It would be nice, for once, to see a movie about
Slavic Americans and families from Eastern Europe. Feel free to
correct me but I can’t think of one movie made about this segment of
the population.

Hurt wraps The Moon And The Sun opposite Pierce Brosnan in June; it’s
currently shooting in Australia. Hurt, who was seen last year in A&E’s
Bonnie aAnd Clyde, also gave a helluva performance in 2013â~@²s The
Challenger Disaster movie for the BBC/Science Channel. It marked the
first foray for the Science Channel into original programming. Quite
frankly, I was just very surprised he didn’t receive an award for what
was some of the best acting of his career. If you haven’t seen it,
you should rent it. He played Richard Feynman, a brilliant physicist
known for developing the atom bomb in WWII and had many scientific
awards including the Nobel Prize in physics. Feynman, a man of great
integrity and a true independent, was on the elite Rogers Commission
empaneled by President Reagan to investigate the Challenger disaster
— a team that also included Neil Armstrong, Sally Ride, and Chuck
Yeager (among others) — and found the O-ring failure that led to the
catastrophe that killed seven people. He spoke openly about it and
put human lives over public relations and politics to make sure future
crew members in the space program would be kept safe. He later wrote
a book appropriately called What Do You Care What Other People Think?

If Hurt plays the role of Coach Bozarth in the Men Of Granite movie,
he would be portraying yet another man — no where near as brilliant
— but one with a heart who also helped change people’s lives for
the better. He is repped by ICM Partners.

U.S. EXPRESS APPROACH TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
May 8 2014

8 May 2014 – 11:23am

U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick made a reported
on settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at the Carnegie Fund
in Washington yesterday. The report has six basic principles: the
intermediate status of Nagorno-Karabakh should be temporary and both
sides need commitment to determine the final status; the territory of
the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomy uncontrolled by Baku should be given an
intermediate status that would guarantee security and self-governance;
occupied territories should be put back under Azerbaijani control and
sovereignty should be restored; a corridor should connect Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh, but it should not cover all the Lachin District;
refugees should have the right to return to their lands; the peace
process needs international guarantees for security, peacekeeping.

Asim Mollazadeh, a member of the Azerbaijani parliament and political
analyst, said that the principles violated the international norms. He
emphasized that the territories were occupied, but Warlick abstained
from any reproaches towards the aggressor. The political analyst
reminded that the UNSC had passed resolutions for de-occupation
of Azerbaijani territories, but nothing had been done for their
realization. Mollazadeh urged the U.S. to take more decisive actions
to settle the conflict.

Alexander Markov, director of the Armenian branch of the Institute
of CIS Countries, emphasized that some of Warlick’s points seemed
more like a wish. They need approval of other co-chairs. Reframing
the same unaccepted principles will not bring the bring the peace
process any closer to conclusion, in his opinion.

Andrey Petrov, head of the analytical section for the post-Soviet
space of the Lomonosov MSU, said that Warlick’s principles coincided
with the 5-year-old Madrid Principles and made no contribution to
realization of the latter. However, Warlick reaffirmed commitment to
finding a solution. The reiterated principles were announced on the
eve of the 20th anniversary of the Bishkek Cease-Fire Protocol.

Foreign Minister’s Strange Statement

Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments – Saturday, 10 May 2014, 18:47

Commentary of the NKR Foreign Ministry with Regards to the Recent
Statement of the US Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick

James Warlick On Nagorno-Karabakh: The Keys to a Settlement

Azerbaijan States Return of Armenian Captive

They Emigrate Not Only Due To Shooting

Moscow Saved Azerbaijan In 1994

Radio Liberty informed that the Armenian foreign minister Edward
Nalbandyan has welcomed the decision of California State Assembly on
the recognition of independence of Artsakh.
Nalbandyan said so in response to news.am’s question.

At the same time, the Armenian foreign minister said something strange.

`As Azerbaijan continues to hinder the efforts of Armenia and the
co-chairs aimed at the settlement of the Karabakh issue, more such
decisions and resolutions should be expected which will clear the path
for the exercise of the right of self-determination of the people of
Artsakh for the international recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic,’ Nalbandyan announced.

Edward Nalbandyan implies that the process of recognition of
independence of Artsakh is the consequence of destructive behavior of
Azerbaijan in the talks.

What does he mean? Will there be no recognitions unless Azerbaijan
hinders the efforts aimed at negotiations. Is this what the Armenian
foreign minister meant to say?

And, generally, what other purpose does the so-called foreign policy
of Armenia and Artsakh (if there is such a policy or if it is exactly
a policy) except from the international recognition of Artsakh? This
purpose has been declared. And if this declared purpose is a genuine
purpose and is not imitation or lip service, who cares whether
Azerbaijan is constructive or not as long as the ultimate goal of the
Armenian side is the recognition of self-determination of Artsakh?

After all, linking other recognitions to come with Azerbaijan’s
constructiveness, the Armenian government turns the recognition to a
means of blackmail of Azerbaijan, which is an insult for the
parliaments of those states which have recognized the independence of
NKR without linking it Azerbaijan’s behavior in the process of talks,
whether constructive or destructive.

When the parliaments of California, the other four American states, or
South Wales of Australia recognized the independence of Artsakh, they
did not mention that they recognize the independence of Artsakh since
Baku is not constructive.

It is strange that the Armenian (?) foreign minister Edward Nalbandyan
is saying such a thing.
– See more at:

Pressures against people’s right to self-determination lead to
disastrous consequences ` Serzh Sargsyan

19:42 ¢ 08.05.14

The developments in Ukraine prove that any pressures against people’s
right to self-determination lead to disastrous consequences, the
Armenian president has said at a non-official meeting of ex-Soviet
countries’ leaders in Moscow.

Serzh Sargsyan made the remark as he addressed the situation in
Ukraine and Armenia’s cooperation with the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO).

Considering the Crimea referendum an example of a free exercise of the
right to self-determination, the president added that any attempt to
restrict that freedom without regard to the fundamental principles of
international law can have serious implications.

`Armenia has clearly stated that the referendum in Crimea is
considered yet another example of freely exercising the people’s right
to self-determination. Nevertheless, we are extremely concerned over
the increasing violence in Ukraine, including the developments in
Odessa, Slavyansk, Kramatorsk and other regions. We cannot remain
undisturbed by the current situation, also because there are over half
a million Armenians residing there.

`With a deep regret do I state that those developments have led to
human losses. Our guideline is that the crisis must be resolved
exclusively through peaceful methods, a broad dialogue (which must
involve the society, first of all), as well as negotiations based on
the UN Charter and the international law, including the agreement
reached in Geneva on April 17 this year,’ he said.

The president further called for joint efforts towards reducing risks
and ensuring regional stability and security, as well as focusing
attention on developing and strengthening the Collective Rapid
Reaction Forces.

Noting that Armenia is going to host the CSTO peacekeeping forces’
military drills next year, the president promised to do everything
possible to organize the event on the highest level.

The non-official presidential meeting was attended by the leaders of
Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Putin: Russia remains a leading trade and economic partner of Armenia – Photos

May 08, 2014 | 19:30

Vladimir Putin is pleased to see that Russia remains a leading trade
and economic partner of Armenia.

The trade turnover between the states increased nearly by 11 percent
(10.6 percent) in 2013 as compared with the previous year, he said
during a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan in
Moscow.

President Putin noted that positive pace and growth dynamics is
preserved, and Russia remains the first investor in Armenia’s economy.

`Following my visit to Armenia, huge work was done to implement the
arrangements that were achieved during the visit,’ Putin said, adding
that he is happy to have a chance to see what else must be done to
accelerate the joint efforts.

Pressure of peoples’ right to self-determination brings to
catastrophic consequences: Serzh Sargsyan

19:08, 8 May, 2014

YEREVAN, MAY 8, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has clearly stated that the
referendum held in the Crimea is
another example of the realization of the peoples’ right to
self-determination through free will. The President
of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan reiterates this position of
Armenia at the non-formal meeting
with the Presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan,
held today in Moscow.

As `Armenpress’ was informed from the Department of Public Relations
and Mass Media of the President’s Office, Serzh Sargsyan noted that
“nevertheless, we are extremely concerned about the growing violence
in Ukraine, including the events in Odessa, Slaviansk, Kramatorsk and
other regions. We are much troubled with the created situation,
including the fact that there are more than half a million Armenians
living there.