Author: Kanayan Tamar

GARCETTI TO BE RECEIVE ANCA-WR ‘MAN OF THE YEAR’ AT BANQUET

Thursday, November 7th, 2013

LA Mayor Eric Garcetti

GLENDALE-The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
(ANCA-WR) announced Thursday that it will be honoring Los Angeles
Mayor Eric Garcetti with its very prestigious ANCA-WR Man of the
Year Award. The honor will be bestowed upon Mayor Garcetti at the
organization’s Annual Gala Banquet on November 30 at the Ray Dolby
Ballroom located in the heart of Los Angeles, California.

“The ANCA-WR Board of Directors has named Mayor Eric Garcetti as Man of
the Year not only to acknowledge and thank him for his 12-year tenure
as a close friend and ally of our community while representing Little
Armenia in the City Council, but also to solidify our long-standing
relationship with him at the start of his first term as Mayor of our
great city. We enthusiastically look forward to continuing to work
closely with him and his administration to advance the Armenian Cause,
address issues of importance to Armenian Angelenos, ensure proper
representation of our community in City government, and generally
improve life in Los Angeles for all its inhabitants,” stated ANCA WR
Chair Nora Hovsepian.

In just his first 100 days as Mayor, Garcetti has already taken many
steps in showing his continued steadfast support for the Armenian
community and his commitment to building on his strong relationship
with the ANCA-WR. The ANCA-WR met with Mayor Garcetti just a day over a
month ago during which time the two parties discussed issues of mutual
concern and collaboration moving forward including, finding innovative
ways to improve the Los Angeles Sister City relationship with Yerevan,
proper representation in city government, and the critical role of
the ANCA-WR in serving as a median between the community and the
initiatives proposed and implemented by the Mayor’s office.

During his tenure as councilmember representing Little Armenia, Mayor
Garcetti consistently called upon the U.S. Government to recognize
the independence of Artsakh and the Armenian Genocide. His long
list of undertakings for the betterment of the Armenian community
also include helping initiate the sister-city partnership between
Los Angeles and Yerevan, advocating for city council to add Armenian
language to election ballots and materials, and providing funding to
support programs and projects of many community based organizations
and projects such as the Armenian Relief Society, Homenetmen L.A.,
Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry, and the Armenian Youth Federation
among others.

In an effort to ensure a high Armenian-American voter turnout, ANCA-WR
and its local chapters activated their grassroots efforts for the
Los Angeles elections. The long list of ANCA-WR activities leading
up to Election Day included heavy voter registration and community
education initiatives, GOTV efforts, and equipping each candidate’s
campaign with community volunteers.

“Mayor Garcetti has time and again demonstrated unparalleled leadership
not just on Armenian issues, but also on critical issues that impact
the daily lives of Angelenos from all walks of life. As Councilmember,
he raised his district to new heights by increasing jobs and youth
programs, cutting violent crimes, adding green space, helping balance
the budget, while leading unmatched pension reforms and we are proud
to see him continue on the same path now as Mayor,” stated Executive
Director of ANCA Western Region Elen Asatryan. “We are truly excited
to have him join us at our annual banquet as we honor him with the
ANCA-WR Man of the Year Award,” added Asatryan.

This year, the ANCA-WR Annual Gala Banquet will be coupled with
the much anticipated ANCA Grassroots Conference slated Thanksgiving
Weekend. The banquet will take place on Saturday, November 30, 2013
at The Ray Dolby Ballroom, the site of the Oscar’s Governors’ Ball.

Legendary chef Wolfgang Puck will be catering a special menu for the
ANCA-WR Banquet. The event will begin with cocktail hour at 7:30 p.m.

and formal program and dinner at 8:30p.m. The event is expected to
sell out well before November 15th.

Individuals interested in attending the Annual Gala Banquet and
Grassroots Conference are encouraged to contact the ANCA-WR office at
(818) 500-1918 or purchase tickets online at

To obtain updates on the conference, like the ANCA Western Region
Facebook page at Facebook.com/ANCAWesternRegion or visit ancawr.org.

That same night, the ANCA-WR will also honor Legendary Coach Jerry
Tarkanian with the People’s Champion Award; Manas Boujikian with the
Legacy Award; Primate of Artsakh, Archbishop Barkev Martirosyan with
the Khrimian Hayrig Award; Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian with the
Legislator of the Year Award; and Filmmaker Ara Soudjian with the
Vahan Cardashian Award.

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.

ARARAT-ESKIJIAN MUSEUM TO PRESENT “ARMENIA’S BREAKING BONE” DOCUMENTARY

By MassisPost
Updated: November 7, 2013

Ararat-Eskijian Museum will present documentary “Armenia’s
Breaking Bone” On Sunday, November 17th, 2013, at 4:00 p.m. at the
Ararat-Eskijian Museum, Hasmik Mgrdichian Gallery, 15105 Mission
Hills Road, Mission Hills, CA. The lecture is sponsored by the
Ararat-Eskijian Museum and Armenian Renaissance Los Angeles Chapter;
Pan Armenian Environmental Front ( PAEF).

“The documentary Armenia’s Breaking Bone” was created as a public
initiative to raise awareness and educate the public about the
unsustainable environmental practices and devastating consequences of
extensive illegal exploitation of natural resources in Armenia. The
goal of the Pan Armenian Environmental Front (PAEF) is preservation
of nature, the sustainable development of economy and ensuring social
justice in our Homeland.

Furthermore, Armenia’s natural resources are being exploited at
a very aggressive rate without consideration for environmental and
human safety. According to the World Bank, the rate of birth defects,
sterility, respiratory problems, and cancer have increased dramatically
over the years in Armenia. Loss of forested mountains and contamination
of natural resources via deliberate dumping of toxic waste has led
to the growing civil activism in Armenia.

The documentary is in Armenian subtitled in English followed by Q &
A discussion by members of PAEF. Email: [email protected] Admission
is $6.00 reception to follow the program.

For more information contact the Ararat-Eskijian Museum at 818-838-4862
or [email protected]

PIPES: CYPRUS RIDES A TROUBLED SEA OF OIL AND GAS OPPORTUNITY

By Daniel Pipes

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Enlarge Photo

Illustration by Alexander Hunter for The Washington Times more >

The republic of Cyprus has entered into the maelstrom of the world’s
most volatile region, thanks to newfound gas and oil reserves,
combined with an erratic Turkish foreign policy and a civil war in
Syria. Even as leaders of this Mediterranean island show skill dealing
with these novel threats and opportunities, they need support from
a strong U.S. Navy, something not now available.

Cypriot underwater gas and oil discoveries follow directly on ones
found earlier in Israeli seas, located adjacent to them and uncovered
by the same American (Noble) and Israeli (Delek, Avner) companies. The
current estimate of 5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, as well as
some oil, has a value estimated at $800 billion, a huge sum for a small
country whose current gross domestic product is a mere $24 billion.

The great majority of this energy will likely be exported to Turkey
or Europe. A pipeline to Turkey would be cheapest and easiest but
so long as Turkish troops continue to occupy 36 percent of Cyprus,
this will not happen. A recent court decision permitting the Israeli
government to decide what quantities of energy to export now offers
other possibilities: Cyprus could swap gas with Israel that then goes
to Turkey, or the two allies could jointly build a liquefied natural
gas terminal in Cyprus.

Eventually, should Egypt, Gaza, Lebanon and Syria find gas and join
the modern world, they too could take part, turning the area between
Egypt andCyprus into a truly major resource. According to the U.S.

Geological Survey, the contiguous Nile Delta and Levantine basins
together contain an estimated 345 trillion cubic feet of natural gas
and 3.44 billion barrels of oil.

These newfound reserves can help either solve or inflame the Cyprus
problem. The Cypriot government wisely delimited its maritime
boundaries withEgypt in 2003, Lebanon in 2007 and Israel in 2010. It
has contracted new exploration to France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and
South Korea’s Kogas. Energy-hungry Turkey looms over this treasure,
however. Ankara wants its northern Cyprus puppet-state to receive part
of the income from the new reserves, while Turkey’s 1974 invasion of
the island raises fears that its erratic and roguish prime minister,
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, might invade the republic’s territory.

Mr. Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu have pursued an
ambitious foreign policy of “zero problems with neighbors” which,
ironically, has led instead to zero friends. Strained relations
with Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel, the
Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia,Egypt and Serbia raise the prospect
of Ankara reverting to an older Turkish pattern of lashing out at
Cyprus and Greece. In both cases, for instance, it could encourage
disruptive refugee flows.

This is where the brutal civil war underway in Syria, just 70 miles
away, enters the equation. So far, that conflict has not had a major
impact onCyprus, but the island’s proximity, its minimal defense
capabilities, and its membership in the European Union make it
exceedingly vulnerable (an illegal immigrant setting foot on Cyprus is
close to reaching Germany or France). The 2.2 million refugees from
Syria since 2011 have so far bypassed Cyprus in favor of Lebanon,
Jordan, Turkey, Egypt and Iraq, in that order. However, this could
quickly change if the Alawites living closest to Cyprus take to the
sea in sizable numbers, or if Ankara encourages Syrians to emigrate
to northern Cyprus and then sneak across the border into the republic.

Unlike nearby Israel, which is also surrounded, Cyprus lacks either
a military option or protective fences: The personnel of the Turkish
armed forces, about 700,000 strong, approximate the size of the entire
population in the republic of Cyprus – about 850,000. Put another way,
Turkey’s population outnumbers that of Cyprus by nearly 100 times.

Nicosia can, however, create alliances, especially with Israel, to
enhance its security. Israel in turn gains by combined gas operations,
strategic depth for its air force and a diplomatic friend. As an aide
to Cyprus’ President Nicos Anastasiades told me, “We are Israel’s
ambassador in the European Union.”

So far, so good. The U.S. Navy, though, has been hollowed out in
the Mediterranean Sea to the point that Seth Cropsey, a former Navy
official, describes the 6th Fleet as just a command ship in Italy and
a few ballistic-missile destroyers in Spain. This force urgently needs
to be revitalized to support America’s Levantine allies as tensions
further heighten in their immediate region.

Daniel Pipes (DanielPipes.org), president of the Middle East Forum,
recently visited Cyprus.

UCOM. “AT THE MOMENT, WE DO NOT INTEND TO BECOME THE 4TH OPERATOR OF MOBILE CONNECTION”

November 6 2013

In the conversation with Aravot.am, “Ucom” Commercial Director Aram
Barseghyan assured that currently the company has no intention to
become the 4th operator of mobile connection in Armenia, though the
company has always had the ability to voice services. It should be
noted that, yesterday, the Public Services Regulatory Commission
granted a license to “Ucom” for providing public mobile internet
connection services. The company received permission to use 801-811
MHz/842-852 MHz, radio frequency segment of transmission (reception),
with the help which the company will provide an outdoor broadband
internet coverage in the city of Yerevan and adjacent main communities
within one year, and during 2 years it will provide at least 80%
of outdoor broadband internet coverage for the interstate highways,
as well as the settlements of Armenia. The technology, which the
company will work, i.e. 4G, also enables to provide cellular service,
and according to Mr. Barseghyan, perhaps this is the reason that rumors
are already circulating that “Ucom” wants to become the 4th operator.

“Physically, this frequency has an opportunity, let’s not say,
to provide voice service, because voice service in this case is no
different from any form of data transmission service. And whether
we want to act as the 4th operator, or not, I assure you that we do
not have such intention in our nearest projects”,-assured Commercial
Director of the company to Aravot.am. And, to our question whether
a year later the company will change its mind and decide to provide
mobile connection, and whether the company is going to obtain new
telephone numbers, Mr. Barseghyan said that the license does not
include a series of numbers. “At the moment we do not have such an
intention, we have plans to provide mobile Internet, as for number
series as such, we do not have, with the help of which we could
provide voice messaged.” Although, it is possible to provide the
so-called mobile connection with the company’s technology, but for
having numbers, the company still has to apply to the Public Services
Regulatory Commission. To the question of Aravot.am whether it is
possible for them to study the market by 2015 and provide voice
service, or ‘Ucom’ like other operators believes that the market
is already saturated, Mr. Barseghyan said, “If you have asked this
question a year ago whether we intent to provide a mobile internet
service, I would say ‘no’. And, as for the market saturation, yes,
it is full, but I do not think that the market is also saturated in
quality. I think that the new competition is always bringing something
in quality. Eventually, this boom by other “mobile” operators is
connected with the matter that they have made a lot of investments
and have no successes, therefore there is a fear that if the 4th
operator appears, what the state of the market will be. As for the
mobile internet, I don’t think that the market is full, as of today,
there is no highest quality mobile internet, and I think we have
something to say, in this regard.”

Nelly Babayan

Read more at:

THEY CALL TO BEAT EUROPEAN MOVEMENT LEADER IN AZERBAIJAN FOR DANCING UNDER ARMENIAN MUSIC IN YEREVAN

20:11 06/11/2013 ” SOCIETY

Video footage, shot at a restaurant in Yerevan where Ramin Hajily,
the leader of the European Movement of Azerbaijan, who had arrived
in Yerevan in the frameworks of a conference, is dancing under the
Armenian music, has caused a stir in his homeland.

Hafiz Hajiyev, the leader of “Modern Musavat” party, who is known for
his extravagant statements, (for example, he called to pay 10,000 euros
to the one who cuts off Azerbaijani writer Akram Aylisli’s ear who had
written about the massacre of Armenians in Nakhichevan,) this time has
called upon beating the leader of the European Movement of Azerbaijan.

In an interview to “Moderator.az”, Hafiz Hajiyev has condemned Ramin
Hajily’s actions. “He drank brandy and had parties in Yerevan. You
cannot leave it unpunished. Law enforcement authorities should
investigate the incident and take appropriate actions. I will
personally appeal to the young people of my party and will order them
to beat him,” stated the leader of the “Modern Musavat” party.

Source: Panorama.am

EU ADVISORY GROUP RELEASES UPDATED NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT

15:11 06/11/2013 ” POLITICS

The EU Advisory Group held its fourteenth regular Board Meeting
on 6 November 2013. The meeting was co-chaired by the Head of the
EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Traian Hristea, and Artur
Baghdasaryan, Secretary of the National Security Council, the press
service of the EU Advisory Group reported.

The EU Advisory Group delivered its latest assessment on the key
challenges and work ahead for Armenia. The report pays particular
attention to reforms needed in criminal, administrative and civil
justice. It also provides recommendations and what is required to
overcome the growing challenges in the country where human trafficking,
cybercrime, money laundering and financial crime are concerned.

Gaps also remain in terms of democracy and human rights. The report
recommends strengthening administrative capacity of the National
Assembly, bolstering relations with civil society and addressing
EU recommendations and those of International Treaty bodies to
promote human rights. Reform of the civil service system, as well as
development of a new anti-corruption strategy is also highlighted in
the report.

Commenting on the report, the Head of EU Delegation to Armenia,
Ambassador Traian Hristea said, “The progress that has been made
so far is encouraging, but there is more work to be done to ensure
successful implementation of reforms in Armenia.”

High-ranking officials from the President’s Office, the Government and
the National Assembly, Embassies of EU Member States and international
organisations, including UNDP, attended the meeting.

Source: Panorama.am

PROF. RICHARD HOVANNISIAN TO SPEAK AT UC BERKELEY

By MassisPost
Updated: November 4, 2013

LOS ANGELES – Professor Richard Hovannisian will speak at the
University of California, Berkeley, on Tuesday, November 19, on
contested interpretations of the burning of the city of Smyrna/Izmir
in 1922. Smyrna was the second largest city of the Ottoman Empire
and a major port for international trade. Its Christian majority was
decimated and expelled in September 1922. Hovannisian will discuss with
a power point presentation the city’s important Armenian community,
its cultural, educational, religious, and athletic organizations,
and the fate of the community in the final phases of the Armenian
elimination in the Ottoman Empire and Turkey.

The lecture is sponsored by the Armenian Studies Program directed by
Professor Stephan Astourian and the Institute of Slavic, East European,
and Eurasian Studies at UC Berkeley. The program will take place in
155 Kroeber Hall on the Berkeley campus beginning at 7 p.m.

It is open to the public without charge. (See attached flyer)

In Europe and Connecticut During the month of October, Professor
Hovannisian was one of the co-presenters, with Father Levon Zekiyan,
in a two-day seminar on Armenian history and culture in Winterthur,
Switzerland, with participants coming from Switzerland, France,
Belgium, Italy, and Turkey. He also was invited to Vienna to speak
on modern Armenian issues in the auditorium of St. Hripsime Armenian
Church, held under the auspices of Armenia’s ambassador, the Honorable
Arman Kirakossian.

During the first weekend of November, Professor Hovannisian was in
Connecticut to make presentations on Armenian history at the West
Hartford Campus of the University of Connecticut, sponsored by the
School of Social Work and the Norian Program of UConn. Next, he
was the guest speaker at the Holy Ascension (Hampardzum) Church in
Trumbull in the Bridgeport area, under the auspices of Father Untzag
Nalbandian and the Men’s Society. Before returning to California,

Drs. Richard and Vartiter Hovannisian also had the opportunity to
visit Southern Connecticut State University and to be given a tour of
the campus by recently-installed President Mary Arshagouni Papazian
and her husband, Dr. Dennis Papazian.

US CO-CHAIR OF OSCE MG SEES OPPORTUNITY TO SETTLE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Nov 5 2013

5 November 2013 – 10:58am

James Warlick, the US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, said today that
he discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev and was planning to talk about the peace process with
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Trend reports.

The co-chair assured that he would visit the region as often as
needed to encourage a settlement of the conflict. He reminded that
the presidents had not met for about two years.

Warlick noted that it would be better for the sides of the conflict
to have multilateral negotiations and find constructive ways to
move forward.

Commenting on the basic principles of settling the conflict, Warlick
said that this was the topic the presidents should discuss. The US
official believes that replacing France with the EU as the co-chair
of the OSCE MG was unnecessary because the process depended on the
political will of its participants.

Warlick reminded that he had worked in Afghanistan and had been
negotiating a bilateral security agreement.

James Warlick, the US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, said today that
he discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev and was planning to talk about the peace process with
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Trend reports.

The co-chair assured that he would visit the region as often as
needed to encourage a settlement of the conflict. He reminded that
the presidents had not met for about two years.

Warlick noted that it would be better for the sides of the conflict
to have multilateral negotiations and find constructive ways to
move forward.

Commenting on the basic principles of settling the conflict, Warlick
said that this was the topic the presidents should discuss. The US
official believes that replacing France with the EU as the co-chair
of the OSCE MG was unnecessary because the process depended on the
political will of its participants.

Warlick reminded that he had worked in Afghanistan and had been
negotiating a bilateral security agreement.

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER COMMENTS ON AZERBAIJANI PROVOCATIONS

15:04, 5 November, 2013

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS: The provocations of the Azerbaijani
Armed Forces in the sector of Voskepar-Baghanis of Tavush Province
are conditioned by the recent staff changes in the country. The
Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan stated
about it at the press conference on November 5, touching upon the
shots by the Azerbaijani side in the sector of Voskepar-Baghanis,
Armenpress reports.

“In general such harassments and violations are taking place in the
framework of the political events. I think that the incident was
conditioned by the recent staff changes or the commanders decided to
open fire on place and did it”, – said Seyran Ohanyan, adding that
the situation has been analyzed and corresponding punishment events
have been carried out and that will be continuative.

The Azerbaijani Armed Forces on October 30 again opened fire in the
sector of Voskepar-Baghanis of Tavush Province. This time the shots
by the Azerbaijani side were released by small caliber weapons. There
are no victims and injured.

The Azerbaijani troops opened fire on October 12 at the peaceful
population of Inner Karmiraghbyur in Tavush Province, who were working
in the fields. The inhabitant of Navur village Hayk Kosakyan was
wounded in the posterior part of the left side in his chest because
of the fire towards the vehicle.

The Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened fire at the vehicles by 13-14
o’clock on October 22. The incident happened in the Paravakar part
of the Berd-Ijevan road in the Tavush Province of the Republic of
Armenia. Conscript Garik A. Poghosyan (born in 1994) died because of
the fire the Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened in the direction of the
column of military vehicles taking the soldiers to the military duty.

Conscripts Arthur S. Andranikyan (born in 1994), Arayik N. Zhamharyan
(born in 1994), and Martin V. Petrosyan (born in 1994) received
various injuries.

The Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk was reported about
the incident.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

ARMENIAN POTENTIAL AGAINST AZERBAIJANI MILLIONS

Today – 13:39

There is an opinion in Armenian society that we have many challenges
and we fail to struggle against them. Accoridng to some opinions we
lose the information war and the main reason is effort by our enemy.

But not everything is so simple. We can observe the activities by
our rival and then we will see the results. So, accoridng to the US
State Department official web-site, Azerbaijan has provided nearly
6 million USD to 11 American lobby organizations in order to create
positive image about Azerbaijan in the international society.

Huge companies such as Livingston Group, Podesta Group, Fabiani and
Company are among those organizations. And these is just only the
presented index, the real information is not available for public.

Such generosity by Azerbaijan creates a complicated and strained
situation.

However, Armenian Embassy in the USA, Armenian-American various
activists, members of the Hay Dat commission manage to neutralize
Azerbaijani anti-Armenian activities and get achievements.

There are many examples of Azerbaijani failure and Armenian success.

And the articles about Azerbaijan in advanced US media prove that
money is in the second place in propaganda war. And if Azerbaijani
dollars are limites resources, the professionalism and patriotism of
our diplomats and lobbists is limitless.