Author: Kanayan Tamar

KHARATYAN: INTRODUCTION OF COMPULSORY ACCUMULATIVE COMPONENT IS ANACHRONISM

15:01 01/05/2014 ” SOCIETY

The introduction of the compulsory component of the accumulative
pension system in Armenia is anachronism, deputy chairman of the
Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia Boris Kharatyan told reporters
in Yerevan.

According to him, the compulsory accumulative pension system can be
effective in case employees receive high salaries. He explained that
only in this case they can accumulate part of that sum.

When asked if they have voiced the issue that the minimum salary does
not match the minimum consumer basket, Kharatyan said, “There is no
official minimum consumer basket in Armenia. Calculations are done
by various methods, resulting in different figures.”

Source: Panorama.am

ANCA-WR DELIVERS KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT CAMPBELL HALL HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

13:24 01.05.2014

In continuing the Armenian National Committee of America Western
Region’s (ANCA WR) various initiatives to commemorate the 99th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, on April 28, 2014, upon the
invitation of the faculty and staff at Campbell Hall high school,
ANCA WR activist Vanna Kitsinian, Esq., returned to her alma mater
to present a history and account of the Armenian Genocide to the
student body.

Campbell Hall, a private college-prepatory school in Studio City
has a long tradition of academic excellence and a deep commitment
to the development of responsible human beings. The school embraces
a philosophy of celebrating individual strengths and provides a
climate where all students are encouraged to create their own rich,
challenging, academic and co-curricular programs and to celebrate their
unique and varied contributions that they make to their communities and
to the world. In line with this approach to education and development,
Campbell Hall requested from the ANCA WR that a presentation be
made to its high school student body of 550 students regarding the
importance of spreading awareness about the Armenian Genocide.

Stephanie Wilson, Chaplain for Campbell Hall remarked, “It continues
to be so important to educate our students about historical atrocities
like the Armenian Genocide so that we do not allow such violations
against human rights to ever occur again. Vanna was a powerful speaker
and we were lucky to have her speak to our community.”

Having graduated from Campbell Hall, Kitsinian attended the school’s
bi-weekly chapel and delivered the keynote address to share the
story and history of the Armenian Genocide with its students,
who proved to be very responsive. The presentation coincided with
Holocaust Remembrance Day, further making the day more meaningful
and educational for the students. Despite the fact that the Armenian
student population makes up a very small percentage of the school’s
student body, the few Armenian students have established an “Armenian
Club,” headed by the only Armenian teacher in the school, Mrs. Lucine
Ohanessian. Derrick Adomian, a tenth grade student and a member of
the Armenian Club introduced Kitsinian and noted that the day prior,
he had walked with the ANCA-WR’s “America We Thank You” walkathon team
in the Jewish World Watch “Walk to End Genocide,” alongside Kitsinian.

The presentation was concluded with the reading of the Lord’s Prayer
in Armenian by Charlotte Etmekjian, the President of the school’s
Armenian Club.

As part of her presentation, Kitsinian discussed the role of the
Near East Relief (NER), the U.S.’s oldest Congressionally-sanctioned
non-governmental organization that led the relief efforts during
and after the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Each student was provided
with a written fact sheet regarding the NER’s significant role in
Armenian and American history, as well as California’s contributions
to the relief efforts. Kitsinian is the co-chair of the ANCA-WR’s
“America We Thank You: An Armenian Tribute to the Near East Relief”
committee, which is honoring the humanitarian and philanthropic work
of the NER and its crucial role in helping save the Armenian nation
from annihilation as the Centennial approaches.

“It is vitally important that we continue to educate young minds about
the first genocide of the 20th century because the genocide of the
Armenians forms part of the universal conscience and the collective
memory. It was a privilege for me to return to my school and share
with the students the experience and history of my ancestors so that
we may continue to raise awareness and never forget this crime against
humanity,” stated Kitsinian.

LES EMPLOYEURS EN ARMENIE NE VONT PAS ETRE PENALISES POUR NON-PAIEMENT DES COTISATIONS DE RETRAITE

ARMENIE

Le gouvernement arménien a annoncé son intention de rechercher des
modifications législatives qui suspendront les pénalités envers
les employeurs qui n’ont pas versé les cotisations de retraite
obligatoires controversées au nom de leurs structures jusqu’a ce
que la loi soit modifiée conformément aux exigences fixées dans
une décision récente de la Cour constitutionnelle .

Nouvellement nommé Premier ministre d’Arménie, Hovik Abrahamian a
tenu des consultations jeudi soir et aurait instruit “les organes
de l’Ã~Itat concernés” de rédiger des amendements a la loi a
cet effet. Le gouvernement a déclaré que le projet de loi est
susceptible d’être soumis au Parlement pour approbation avant le 28
Avril, quand l’assemblée nationales comprenant 131 membres devrait
se réunir pour sa prochaine session de quatre jours.

jeudi 1er mai 2014, Stéphane ©armenews.com

GAUCK: TURKEY HAS LIFTED ARMENIAN, KURDISH INJUSTICE TABOOS

World Bulletin, Turkey
April 30 2014

Injustice against Armenians and Kurds in Turkey is no longer taboo,
said Germany’s President Joachim Gauck during an official visit
to Turkey.

World Bulletin / News Desk

Taboos concerning injustice against Armenians and Kurds in Turkey have
been lifted, said German President Joachim Gauck during a conference
in Ankara on Monday.

Gauck spoke at the Middle East Technical University during his Turkey
visit, noting that the influence of the military in politics have
been pushed back in the country.

‘Turkey began the process of dialogue with the Kurds, and reduced the
number of violent conflict,’ Gauck said. ‘For example the injustice
taboos against the Turkish Armenians or Kurds began to be lifted.’

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s expressed condolences to the
descendants of Armenians who lost their lives in the incidents of
1915 are positive developments in Turkey, according to Gauck.

He also said Turkey’s humanitarian aid service to Syrian refugees is
‘impressive’.

‘Turkey assumed many Syrians refugees without any conditions and
established refugee camps, schools, supplied humanitarian aid and
service health assistances,’ Gauck said. ‘In fact, the government
also provides medical assistance to around 500 thousand people who
do not live in the refugee camps.’

German president meets Turkish opposition party leader

Germany’s President Joachim Gauck met with Kemal Kilicdaroglu,
leader of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP),
on Monday in the capital, Ankara.

Gauck’s visit to Turkey comes two days after Germany’s far-right
National Democratic Party (NPD) held a neo-Nazi rally on Saturday in
the mostly Turkish-populated Kreuzberg. The rally ended after hundreds
of people stopped the neo-Nazis from marching.

CHP Deputy Chairman Faruk Logoglu addressed the media after the
one-hour meeting, saying CHP’s views on rising racism in Germany were
not discussed during the meeting. However, the main opposition party
wants justice to be served as soon as possible, according to Logoglu.

On April 5th, Burak Bektas, a Turkish man, was killed in the mostly
Turkish populated area of Neukoln in Berlin. The murderers’ whereabouts
are still unknown as the killing raises debates of increasing racism
in Germany.

‘We are against all kinds of racism whether it is in Germany, Turkey
or in the world,’ Logoglu added.

Logoglu quoted Gauck as saying there is a perception that Turkey has a
‘weak’ opposition.

‘Gauck said CHP’s projects are important as a social democrat party,’
Logoglu said. ‘It is important to make the youth arouse interest
to politics and [Gauck] knows that CHP took lessons from the Gezi
Park incidents.’

‘The president wished us luck, stating that 28 percent is considered
as a huge vote in Germany,’ said Logoglu.

ERDOGAN’S CONDOLENCES

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
May 1 2014

MUSTAFA AYDIN

The prime minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoðan, released a
surprising statement on April 23 about the deaths surrounding the
mass deportation of Armenians during World War I. The responses so
far range from warm welcomes to outright rejections of the message. It
clearly achieved its intended purpose: It received attention.

Discussion has focused on whether it constitutes a serious shift in
Turkish policy or an attempt at hedging towards the expected reactions
in 2015.

There could be no doubt about the short term intention of the
government, as the carefully constructed message was translated into
nine languages and circulated into international press on the eve of
yet another “genocide resolution” at the U.S. Congress. It has been a
routine for Turkish diplomacy for years to stop draft resolutions at
the U.S. Congress and prevent the U.S. president from using the G-word
in his remembrance of the 1915 events. The same has happened exactly
this year: A group of Congressmen presented a draft resolution to the
Senate on April 3. The administration did not like it and the President
used his now routine wording, “Meds Yeghern,” meaning great calamity,
in referring to what happened to Anatolian Armenians in the last
years of the Ottoman Empire. Both Armenians and Turks were not happy,
but content, about his choice of words. “Nothing new,” one might say.

Moreover, the long-term expectations from and the consequences of the
statement are still vague. Thus one might easily question the sincerity
of the change in Erdoðan’s discourse, especially when the memory of
the failure of the latest attempt at Turkish-Armenian reconciliation
and Erdoðan’s role in it are still fresh.

Yet, I believe Prime Minister Erdoðan’s latest statement should
be taken more seriously. Especially when taken into consideration
together with an analysis that includes where Turkey is coming from and
how much has changed both in Turkish society and its official policy
line. Besides the public remembrance of the “shared pains” in Turkey
in recent years, as well as other initiatives to show more compassion
toward Armenian suffering, the Turkish government’s previous attempts
at secret, but direct talks with Armenian diplomats, the restoration
of several ancient Armenian churches in Anatolia and finally, football
diplomacy, leading to the preparation of two protocols to normalize
the relationship between Armenia and Turkey are important indications.

What is more, whatever his intentions were, it should be acknowledged
that Prime Minister Erdoðan became the first Turkish leader to offer
“condolences to the grandchildren of the Armenians who lost their
lives a century ago.” It is an important step, especially when read
together with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoðlu’s description of
the 1915 events as a “mistake” during his visit to Armenia. Thus,
recognizing the value of the statement, the U.S. has welcomed it and
encouraged further efforts from the Turkish side.

Obviously, the latest gesture needs to be supported by concrete
policies, such as building diplomatic ties and opening the borders.

Otherwise it could remain an empty shell and would cause further
disappointment among Armenians. Yet, whether Erdoðan, and thus Turkey,
has an ulterior motive in expressing condolences is immaterial. The
statement can easily be perceived as a tactical move to forestall
the 2015 reactions. But, even if we assume that this is true, it is
not that important; since in international relations, there are very
few countries without ulterior motives. What is more important is
the result. That is what everybody, including the Armenians, should
focus on.

If we can all do that, and look into the last years of the
Ottoman Empire from the perspective of “shared pains,” instead of
a zero-sum-game approach, then it means that we are already on the
right track.

May/01/2014

Armenia switching over to `neither¦nor’ foreign policy — Styopa Safaryan

15:40 ¢ 02.05.14

Armenia is switching over to a `neither¦nor’ foreign policy, Political
Secretary of the Heritage party Styopa Safaryan told reporters on
Friday thus implying that the Armenian authorities’ statements on a
`both¦and’ policy are false.

“No’ to the European association policy, `no’ to the Customs Union,’
Safaryan said.

According to him, this is a `time-out’ period for settling both
domestic and foreign policy problems.

`No matter how well the public knows the persons appointed to
ministerial posts, May 3 is the deadline for the formation of
Armenia’s government. So conclusions can be drawn,’ he said.

`I consider this government an oligarchic government for a number of
simple reasons. Most of the appointees are directly or indirectly
involved in big businesses, which have political power. Therefore, the
tasks set to them are of interest,’ Safaryan said.

Specifically, the tasks are to ensure economic growth, popular
confidence and reforms.

`The tasks formulated by President Serzh Sargsyan on April 4 as
immediate tasks,’ he added.

Comparing the message with the new government, he arrived at the
following conclusion:

`Bring money and invest it in Armenia’s economic progress. You have
repeatedly stated society does not confide in the authorities. So your
task is to restore this confidence.’

Armenia needs reforms, but this government is far from being ready for reforms.

`Thus I do not see either interest in their going to change Armenia’s
socio-economic policy,’ Safaryan said.

According to him, the new government members do not have the necessary
knowledge either. Safaryan is sure Armenia’s new government will not
be able to get rid of this burden.

The election of Galust Sahakyan as Armenian parliament speaker was not
a surprise for him. He also commented on the four non-coalition
forces’ uncoordinated actions.

With respect to the message by Spokesman of the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia (RPA) Eduard Sharmazanov that the RPA is the only way
for those with political ambitions, Safaryan said that Sharmazanov’s
statement run counter to President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement.

`If they speak of the need to restore confidence, I do not think it
was an adequate step.’

Nagorno-Karabakh president visits Shoushi

17:42 ¢ 02.05.14

President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Bako Sahakyan visited
the town of Shoushi, on Friday.

The President partook in a solemn ceremony of opening a memorial stone
immortalizing the memory of famous commanders of the Artsakh war,
commander of the Shoushi defense region, holder of the First degree
Battle Cross order, Colonel Vachagan Ishkhanyan.

The Head of the State stressed the importance of immortalizing the
memory of the Artsakh Liberation war active participants from both
political and moral perspectives.

Thereupon President Sahakyan took part in a meeting of the regional
administration summing up the activities of 2013. Head of the regional
administration Vladik Kasyan and representatives of corresponding
departments delivered reports.

Bako Shakyan considered the development of Shoushi region and its
administrative center, which has a pan-Armenian significance, among
the issues of utmost importance, adding that such a feature requires
additional responsibility for proper implementation of the planned
activities.

Speaker of the National Assembly Ashot Ghoulyan, premier Ara
Haroutyunyan and other officials took part in the events.

Armenian News – Tert.am

20 Minutes, France
25 avril 2014

Condoléances turques: la communauté arménienne de France «pas dupe»

Mis à jour le 24.04.14 à 20h10

Les membres de la communauté arménienne de France, à l’image du
chanteur Charles Aznavour, ont dénoncé jeudi les «condoléances» de
l’Etat turc aux petits-enfants des Arméniens massacrés en 1915, y
voyant non la reconnaissance du génocide mais de la «condescendance»
ou «un piège».

Des cérémonies étaient organisées dans plusieurs villes pour
commémorer le début des massacres le 24 avril 1915, en présence du
président François Hollande à Paris.

Pour Charles Aznavour, les «condoléances» présentées mercredi par le
Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan ne valent pas
reconnaissance du génocide et «encore moins» excuses. Il faut y lire
«une simple volonté personnelle de se montrer un homme politique
prétendument +ouvert+».

Le Conseil de coordination des organisations arméniennes de France
(CCAF) dénonce une «opération de communication» pour éviter d’avoir à
reconnaître le génocide, terme que l’Etat turc se refuse toujours à
employer. «On ne présente pas des condoléances 99 ans ans après un
génocide», souligne Mourad Papazian, co-président du CCAF.

A Lyon où vit une importante communauté, après une cérémonie
religieuse, entre 1.000 et 2.000 personnes ont défilé dans le
centre-ville vers le Mémorial du génocide, derrière une banderole
réclamant «justice pour le peuple arménien». Dans le cortège, beaucoup
de jeunes criaient «Turquie assassin».

Georges Képénékian, premier adjoint au maire Gérard Collomb, estime
qu’il ne faut pas «qu’un mot remplace un autre»: «la grandeur d’un
Etat, c’est assumer son histoire et permettre aux victimes de trouver
la sérénité».

Ses parents arméniens avaient fui l’empire ottoman avant leur arrivée
en France en 1921-22. Evoquant «Willy Brandt, chancelier de la
République fédérale d’Allemagne, qui s’était agenouillé devant le
mémorial du ghetto de Varsovie en 1970», l’élu fait le rêve d’un geste
similaire d’Erdogan dans le désert de Mésopotamie.

– ‘Le mot qui manque’ –

«Ils pourraient prendre part à leur responsabilité plutôt que prendre
part à notre souffrance !», critique un porte-parole du Centre
National de la Mémoire Arménienne inauguré récemment à Décines
(Rhône), Daniel Meguerditchian, qualifiant le geste d’Erdogan de
«condescendant».

Vartan Balian, petit-fils de survivants du génocide, se sent
«insulté»: «Imaginez des +condoléances+ des Allemands en 2044 après un
siècle de négationnisme, voilà ce que ressentent les Arméniens
aujourd’hui», dit-il, ajoutant qu’ils «ne sont pas dupes de ces
fausses repentances».

A Strasbourg, une trentaine d’Arméniens se sont rassemblés au
centre-ville, brandissant des pancartes accusant la Turquie de «nier»
le génocide. «Ce qu’a dit (M. Erdogan) ne suffit pas. Il a voulu
calmer le jeu juste avant les 100 ans», jugeait Hamlet Housepian, tout
en reconnaissant «une avancée». «Pour nous, c’est un piège, il n’a pas
prononcé le mot génocide. C’est le mot qui manque», lançait Artur
Boghosyan, un lycéen.

A Rennes, une centaine de personnes se sont rassemblées devant la
mairie. Pour Vigen Arakelyan, responsable de la communauté locale,
l’initiative d’Erdogan «ne compte pas beaucoup. Parce qu’il n’a pas
utilisé le mot génocide».

A Marseille, 1.300 personnes selon la police ont manifesté dans le
calme devant le consultat de Turquie. Vartan Arzoumanian, porte-parole
de l’Association pour la recherche et l’archivage de la mémoire
arménienne, parle d’une «stratégie de diversion» destinée à «brouiller
les cartes», tout en s’inquiétant de la commission d’historiens
évoquée par Erdogan, «alors que ce génocide ne fait aucun doute».

L’association «Nouvelle Génération Arménienne» en France crie enfin à
la «stratégie négationniste»: «Le Premier ministre parle de +période
difficile+, de +nécessité de compassion mutuelle entre Arméniens et
Turcs+, comme si les Arméniens avaient eux aussi leur part de
responsabilité».

«C’est la première fois depuis 99 ans que la Turquie présente des
condoléances aux descendants des victimes. Il s’agit donc d’un pas sur
le chemin de la reconnaissance», a estimé de son côté Patrick
Devedjian, député UMP issu d’une famille arménienne. Pour lui, M.
Erdogan, contraint à une évolution par l’opinion turque et mondiale,
«essaye de noyer le poisson» en reconnaissant le drame sans le
qualifier.

US Official News
April 29, 2014 Tuesday

Washington: SPEECH OF HON. JIM COSTA OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2014

Washington

The Library of Congress, The Government of USA has issued the following Speech:

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleague Mr. Valadao to
recognize Mrs. Greta Cardoso as she celebrates her 90th birthday.
Greta’s generation set an example for our country in the 20th century,
and Greta’s life is truly reflective of the American Dream.

Greta was born in Tranquility, California, on April 1, 1924. She grew
up in a large immigrant family with nine siblings. Her parents,
Senhorinda Barcellos and Elisas Baptista, both emigrated from the
Azorian Island of Terceira. Strong values were instilled in Greta at a
young age. She attended Kerman High School and worked at the local
Five and Dime. After graduation, Greta met her husband, Lee Cardoso,
while she was working at The Chat and Chew.

In 1950, Lee and Greta married and began their lives together. Both of
their families emigrated from Terceira, so their union encompassed
many common traditions and values. Their marriage initiated a
partnership between the families and led to the establishment of a
dairy business. Greta and Lee raised four children: Linda, Sonny, Joe,
and Mark. Growing up on a dairy, the Cardoso children gained a strong
work ethic and learned to never take their successes for granted.

Greta is a loving and devoted mother to her children. She always gave
her children freedom to learn and explore on their own. While they
were in elementary school, Greta would volunteer as a room mother. She
was not only an outstanding mother to her own children but also to her
nieces, nephews, and neighborhood kids. Greta’s hospitality goes
unmatched. Relatives and friends are always more than welcome in the
Cardoso household. On a personal note, Greta was an exceptional role
model for me–her nephew.

Outside of working on the dairy and spending time with family, Greta
enjoyed several hobbies. She loved to sew, crochet, and needle point.
Her needle points are a work of art and are cherished by many. She
also loved to play cards and liked Portuguese card games the most.
Playing bridge, bunko, and bowling were all activities that Greta
truly enjoyed because she loves to be in the company of others.

Greta loved her husband, and loves her children, nine grandchildren,
and 14 great grandchildren dearly. She has led a long and fulfilling
life, and is a great example of a strong woman who shows many
individuals the beauty and love this amazing life has to offer.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives
to join Mr. Valadao and myself in recognizing Mrs. Greta Cardoso as
she celebrates her 90th birthday. She is an inspiration for all of us
as she has a led a long life filled with joy, love, and happiness of
Armenian to the San Joaquin Valley I call home and the entire Nation.

For more information please visit:

The Sun (England)
April 30, 2014 Wednesday

Genocide truth plea

TURKEY is ready to “confront” its guilt in one of history’s most
brutal war crimes, its Prime Minister said yesterday.

But Recep Tayyip Erdogan stopped short of admitting that the killing
of 1.5million Armenians by Ottoman Turks nearly a century ago amounted
to genocide.

Calling on Armenians to help document the actrocities, he said: “We
are saying, let’s wipe away the tears, push prejudices to one side,
and reveal historic truths in an objective manner.”

Erdogan also scolded German president Joachim Gauck for raising human
rights concerns during his visit to Turkey this week.