BAKU: Russia modernizes air component of its base in Armenia

Trend, Azerbaijan
April 26 2013

Russia modernizes air component of its base in Armenia

Some plots of land and facilities are being transferred to Armenia in
connection with the reorganization of the Russian military base in
Armenia, Mediamax reported.

The acts on land and real estate were signed at a meeting of the
Armenian-Russian intergovernmental commission in Yerevan on April
24-26.

Armenian First Deputy Defense Minister David Tonoyan received Russia’s
defense minister’s assistant, Colonel-General Valeri Yevnevich.

The issues related to bilateral military cooperation, as well as the
optimization and modernization of the air component of the Russian
military base stationed in Armenia were discussed during the meeting.

Boston bombers’ uncle married daughter of top CIA official

MadCow Morning News
April 26 2013

Boston bombers’ uncle married daughter of top CIA official

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Daniel Hopsicker

The uncle of the two suspected Boston bombers in last week’s attack,
Ruslan Tsarni, was married to the daughter of former top CIA official
Graham Fuller

The discovery that Uncle Ruslan Tsarni had spy connections that go far
deeper than had been previously known is ironic, especially since the
mainstrean media’s focus yesterday was on a feverish search to find
who might have recruited the Tsarnaev brothers.

The chief suspect was a red-haired Armenian exorcist. They were
fingering a suspect who may not, in fact, even exist.

It was like blaming one-armed hippies on acid for killing your wife.

Ruslan Tsarni married the daughter of former top CIA official Graham
Fuller, who spent 20 years as operations officer in Turkey, Lebanon,
Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. In 1982 Fuller was
appointed the National Intelligence Officer for Near East and South
Asia at the CIA, and in 1986, under Ronald Reagan, he became the
Vice-Chairman of the National Intelligence Council, with overall
responsibility for national level strategic forecasting.

At the time of their marriage, Ruslan Tsarni was known as Ruslan
Tsarnaev, the same last name as his nephews Tamerlan and Dzhokhar
Tsarnaev, the alleged bombers.

It is unknown when he changed his last name to Tsarni.

What is known is that sometime in the early 1990’s, while she was a
graduate student in North Carolina, and he was in law school at Duke,
Ruslan Tsarnaev met and married Samantha Ankara Fuller, the daughter
of Graham and Prudence Fuller of Rockville Maryland. Her middle name
suggests a reference to one of her father’s CIA postings.

The couple divorced sometime before 2004.

Today Ms. Fuller lives abroad, and is a director of several companies
pursuing strategies to increase energy production from clean-burning
and renewable resources.

On a more ominous note, Graham Fuller was listed as one of the
American Deep State rogues on Sibel Edmonds’ State Secrets Privilege
Gallery,. Edmonds explained it featured subjects of FBI investigations
she became aware of during her time as an FBI translator.

Criminal activities were being protected by claims of State Secrets,
she asserted. After Attorney General John Ashcroft went all the way to
the Supreme Court to muzzle her under a little-used doctrine of State
Secrets, she put up twenty-one photos, with no names.

One of them was Graham Fuller.

“Congress of Chechen International” c/o Graham Fuller

A story about a Chechen oik exec/uncle pairing up with a top CIA
official who once served as CIA Station Chief in Kabul sounds like a
pitch for a bad movie.

But the two men may have been in business together.

In 1995, Tsarnaev incorporated the Congress of Chechen International
Organizations in Maryland, using as the address listed on
incorporation documents 11114 Whisperwood Ln, in Rockville Maryland,
the home address of his then-father-in-law.

It is just eight miles up the Washington National Pike from the
Montgomery Village home where `Uncle Ruslan’ met – and apparently wowed,
the press after the attack in Boston.

The Washington Post yesterday called him a “media maven,” while
nationally syndicated Washington Post columnist Ester Cepeda , in a
piece with the headline `The Wise Words of Uncle Ruslan’ opined that
he was her choice for “an award for bravery in the face of adversity.’

Success through indirection, mis-direction, redirection, and protection

Uncle Ruslan’s spy connections go far deeper than was already known,
which was that he spent two years working in Kazakhstan for USAID.

But the mainstream media was lookng the other way.

Under the headline `Did ‘Misha’ influence Tsarnaevs? In Watertown,
doubts,’ USA Today reported: `Misha. A new name has emerged in the
Boston Marathon bombing case – one familiar to the family of the two
young men accused of the atrocity and apparently of interest to the
Russian and American security services as well.’

Ruslan Tsarni was the first to bring up the supposed man’s supposed
name. Or rather, he brought up a first name: Misha. But it was
enough. We were off to the races…

Attention all cars: Be on lookout for chubby Armenian exorcist

Tsarni described Misha to CNN as being “chubby, a big guy, big mouth
presenting himself with some kind of abilities as exorcist . . .
having some part-time job in one of the stores, not married. All of
the qualifications of a loser, just another big mouth.’

According to Uncle Ruslan, Misha was the man who over a considerable
period of time had radicalized Tamerlan.

It seemed strange, then, that in contrast to his `you are there’
verbal picture of the man, even with all his supposed concerns, and
given his high level of education and abundant resources (Big Sky
Energy was paying him in excess of $200,00 a year, according to
documents filed with the SEC) Ruslan had somehow never found out just
who the bad guy was.

He never got a name, something that in spook-dom is considered
something of a faux pas. Then again, no one else had either.

Worse, Tsarni’s vivid description seemed to be taken from personal
observation, from, in other words…real life. But that isn’t possible.
Tsarni had stated he hadn’t been physically in the presence of his
Boston relatives since December 2005. And Misha, if he existed, didn’t
show up on the scene until 2008 at the earliest.

Still, just a few days later, the entire family began chiming in.
Misha anecdotes were flying fast & furious, and the nation’s
scribblers were busy uncritically scribbling down their every word.

Maybe their Twitter account got hacked again?

No performance was nearly as masterful, however, as that of the
Associated Press.

`Bomb suspect influenced by mysterious radical,’ reported the Associated Press.

“Tamerlan’s relationship with Misha could be a clue in understanding
the motives behind his religious transformation and, ultimately, the
attack itself,” reported the Associate Press. Only to take it all back
in the very next line.

“Two U.S. officials say he had no tie to terrorist groups.”

The AP’s `story’ about the mysterious `Misha’ was 1145 words, long
enough for an editor to squeeze in a caveat.

`It was not immediately clear whether the FBI has spoken to Misha or
was attempting to,’ the national wire service reported. `Efforts over
several days by The Associated Press to identify and interview Misha
have been unsuccessful.’

The big difference: when you do it, its conspiracy theory. When we do
it, its informed speculation.

In any other context, this might be seen as the rankest kind of
`conspiracy theory.’ But, apparently, when the Associated Press does
it, its news.

Then Uncle Ruslan made a clear mis-step.

`An uncle of the alleged bombers claims that Misha, an Armenian
convert to Islam, had a huge influence on the elder brother, Tamerlan
Tsarnaev. Describing him as an “Armenia exorcist, Tsarni said,
`Somehow he just took his brain.’

Armenians are a deeply-rooted Christian community, which is proud of
the fact that their country was the first in the world to adopt
Christianity as state religion in 301 AD.

Moreover this is the week every year when they remember the Armenian
Holocaust, when as many as 1,000,000 Armenians were slaughtered by
Turkish Muslims.

In the large and close-knit Boston Armenian community, a red-bearded
Armenian named Misha becoming a radicalized Muslim would stand out.

“I’ve never heard of him, nor has anyone that I know,” Hilda
Avedissian, executive director at the Armenian Cultural & Educational
Centre.

So what if the guy was involved with biggest bank fraud in history?

“For an Armenian to convert to Islam is like finding a unicorn in a
field,” Nerses Zurabyan, 32, an information technology director who
lives in nearby Cambridge told USA Today.

The report reveals that the bomber’s Uncle, made famous for his
outspoken condemnation of his nephew’s which aired repeatedly on
international news networks, is a well-connected oil executive who at
one point worked for a Halliburton shell company used as a front to
obtain oil contracts from the Kazakh State.

Ruslon Tsarni was implicated in an investigation involving the
laundering and theft of $6 billion. But everybody loves Uncle Ruslon.
At least most of America’s mainstream media does.

There has, to date, been no speculation at all about whether an uncle
of the men suspected of the bombing who had been involved in
international intrigue at the hightest levels, and who married the
daughter of a top CIA official, might warrant a closer look.

It’s enough, isn’t it, to turn even reasonably rational adults
into – gasp! – conspiracy theorists.

`News,’ someone once wrote, `is selection. And selection is always
based on an ideology and agenda, which is something to remember next
time you watch, listen or read the `news.”

Too true.

http://www.madcowprod.com/2013/04/26/boston-bombers-uncle-married-daughter-of-top-cia-official/

Schiff delivers speech on House floor in Armenian to honor genocide

Glendale News Press, CA
April 25 2013

Video: Schiff delivers speech on House floor in Armenian to honor
genocide victims

April 24, 2013

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), lead sponsor of the Armenian genocide
resolution in Congress, delivered his remarks in Armenian on the House
floor Wednesday as he honored the 1.5 million Armenians who were
massacred in 1915 at the hands of Ottoman Turks.

His remarks come the same day that President Obama once again did not
use the word `genocide’ in his annual statement about the tragic
event.

According to his office, in his Armenian address, Schiff said: `I
speak to you from the floor of the House of Representatives in the
language of your grandparents and your great-grandparents – the
language they used to speak of their hopes, their dreams, their lives
and their loves in the years before 1915…I speak to you in the
language of sons who watched their fathers murdered.’

On the 98th anniversary of the genocide, Schiff pointed out that not
only were Armenians murdered, Armenian women were raped by the
thousands.

`I speak to you in the language of the girls begging the gendarmes for
mercy,’ he said.

The Turkish government has refused to acknowledge the Armenian
genocide ever happened, and Obama has come under harsh criticism for
not using the term in his annual statements about the tragedy, where
Armenian families were massacred or forced to march through the desert
heat, often until their deaths.

`I speak you in the language of the children begging for a drop of
water,’ Schiff said.

The congressman noted there is `overwhelming evidence’ – much of it
from American diplomats and journalists as well as Turkish historians
– that the genocide occurred and Schiff said he supports those who
fight to have it given its proper commemoration.

`I speak to you in the language of those who were lost,’ Schiff said.
`Their voices drift across the decades, begging us to remember.’

— Mark Kellam, [email protected]

http://articles.glendalenewspress.com/2013-04-24/news/tn-gnp-0424-rep-schiff-delivers-speech-on-house-floor-in-armenian-to-honor-genocide-victims_1_1-5-million-armenians-genocide-house-floor

Russian ambassador ends his diplomatic mission in Armenia

Russian ambassador ends his diplomatic mission in Armenia

Saturday,April 27

Armenia’s Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian received today Russian
Ambassador to Armenia Vyacheslav Kovalenko who has ended his
diplomatic mission in Armenia.

During the meeting, Seyran Ohanian appreciated the Russian
ambassador’s activities aimed at strengthening the strategic and
allied relations between the two countries. The sides expressed
confidence that military-political cooperation between Armenia and
Russia is an important guarantee of security of the two countries and
regional security in the long term, the press service of Defense
Ministry reported.

TODAY, 17:13
Aysor.am

Edward Nalbandian receives author of Armenian genocide bill

Edward Nalbandian receives author of Armenian genocide bill

April 27, 2013 | 18:37

YEREVAN.- Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian on Saturday
received French MPs Valerie Boyer and Guy Teissier.

Minister Nalbandian highly appreciated French lawmakers’ contribution
to the development of Armenia-France traditionally friendly relations.
He expressed gratitude to Valerie Boyer for her efforts into adoption
of the bill criminalizing Armenian Genocide denial.

French MPs assured they would spare no effort into expansion and
further strengthening of cooperation between the states, foreign
ministry’s press service reported.

The sides discussed issues related to bilateral relations and
inter-parliamentary ties. They touched upon the activities of the
parliamentary friendship groups, too.

Minister Nalbandian briefed the MPs on foreign policy priorities,
Armenia’s approach to the solution of regional and international
problems.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

To city residents, TV main source of information about election

To city residents, television is main source of information about election

Saturday,April 27

To Yerevan residents, television is the main source of information
about the elections to Yerevan Council of Elders, Director of Gallup
International Association Armenia Office Aram Navasardian told
reporters today.

`79.9% of city residents receive information via television. 15.9% of
respondents consider the Internet as the main source of information,
14.7% – the press, 10.4% – radio. 10.2% receive information at
meetings in yards, 4.9% – during various actions and meetings,’
Navasardian said, noting that political parties can draw conclusions
from those indices as election campaigning will last for another week.

According to Aram Navasardian, 47% of respondents found it difficult
to say how much the election slogans of the parties correspond to
their activities.

`26% of respondents said that `Better Yerevan’ slogan of Republican
Party of Armenia (HHK) corresponds to the party’s activities, while
63% said that the slogan of Orinats Yerkir Party (OEK) does not
correspond to its activities,’ the speaker noted.

In his words, 63% of respondents said that `Power to Citizens’ slogan
of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) does not correspond to its
activities.

TODAY, 15:02
Aysor.am

Black clouds over old building of Zvartnots airport: owner submits a

Black clouds over old building of Zvartnots airport: owner submits
application for destroying it

17:39 – 27.04.13

The urban development council affiliated to the Yerevan Municipality
has unanimously rejected the application of Armenia International
Airports company asking for permission to destroy the old building of
Zvartnots airport to have a flat territory instead.

Speaking to Tert.am, Hrachik Poghosyan, chairman of
Municipality-affiliated Architectural Council, said they have sharply
rejected the application. He stressed that they viewed the issue at
the architectural commission and stated about its impossibility.

`In general it should remain as a monument. The mayor, general
architect of Yerevan too agree with us,’ Poghosyan said, noting that
there is no citizen who is not realizing the architectural value of
the old building of the airport.

Chairman of the Union of Armenian Architects Mkrtich Minasyan told
Tert.am, that the building represents a certain epoch and is
considered one of the samples of modern architecture of USSR, and in
all countries of the world such buildings are taken under protection.

He also said that the maquette of the old building of Zvartnots is to
be presented at the congress of architects in Istanbul.

The airport was built in 1961. The draftsmen of the airport included
architects M. Khachikyan, A. Tarkhanyan, J. Sheqhlyan, L. Cherkezyan
and designers H. Tigranyan, A. Meschyan, and constructor M.
Baghdasaryan. The airport was renovated in the 1980s with the
development of a new terminal area, in order to meet domestic traffic
demands within the Soviet Union.

Hrachik Poghosyan noted that Armenia International Airports company
has presented two main reasons for destroying the building – first
they need not a building but a flat territory for jets and second one
that it needs to be reconstructed. `They say the constructions are not
in good condition… It is a simple reason, if they want to destroy a
building they say that constructions are in bad condition. We
responded them that the bad condition of constructions is not a reason
to destroy the building,’ Poghosyan said.

The urban development council offered to reconstruct the old building
of the airport and not destroy it.

Mkrtich Minasyan though said he has concerns that the owner will do
what he wants just like in case of covered market.

`I think the owner, the Argentinean, must listen to the opinion of the
architects and not destroy the building,’ the chairman of the union
said.

Tert.am tried to get comments from Armenia International Airports
company but no one answered the phone calls.

http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/04/27/zvartnots/

Levon Aronian to participate in super tournament in Norway

Levon Aronian to participate in super tournament in Norway

17:22, 27 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS. The leader of Armenia’s men’s chess
team Levon Aronian is going to take part in a super tournament, which
will be held in Norway. The Chess Federation of the Republic of
Armenia informed “Armenpress” that Levon Aronian will participate in
the super tournament, which is scheduled to be held in Stavanger,
Norway on May 7-18, 2013. Among Aronian’s future rivals are Anand,
Carlsen, Svidler, Radjabov, Karjakin, Topalov, Nakamura, Wang Hao and
Hammer.

Currently Levon Aronian takes part in the Alyokhin memorial
tournament. After the 5th round Levon Aronian scored 3 points and
shares 2-4 places with other chess grand masters.

Armenian Genocide victims commemorated in USA

Armenian Genocide victims commemorated in USA

16:19, 27 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS. A number of events dedicated to the
98th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide were held in the cities of
the west coast of the USA. In particular, the Armenian community
organized an annual protest action in memory of the victims in the
Times Square of New York.

The Press, Information and Public Relations Department of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia informed “Armenpress”
that the Armenian Genocide commemoration ceremonies took place in the
region of Boston of the USA on April 24. In the two prelacies of the
Armenian Apostolic Church a requiem service was held, which was
followed by a procession.

The Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the UN,
Ambassador Karen Nazaryan was the main speaker during the memorial
evening which followed the events on the same day.

Hanover students turn school into a pop-up genocide museum

Hanover students turn school into a pop-up genocide museum

17:29, 27 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS: Hanover Park Regional High School
students took two years worth of hard work and turned it into a pop-up
genocide museum, filling classrooms with detailed accounts of
humanity’s horrors- Armenian Genocide and from Holocaust to Darfur,
reports Armenpress referring to Daily Record.

Whippany Park High School held their “Voices from the Dark” Genocide
Studies Gallery Walk Thursday night. Students from both Hanover Park
High School and Whippany Park High School took part in the extension
of the district’s Genocide Studies class, which first entered the
curriculum in fall 2011.
A semester-long course, the class is available to sophomores, juniors,
and seniors. Kyle Kirst teaches the course at Hanover Park High
School, and Brady Mahar at Whippany Park High School.
Hanover Park District Supervisor of Instruction Chris Kelly said the
genocide studies class is in high demand at the high schools. “I could
probably run a full teacher on just this class.”
Mahar designed the curriculum himself after he was told administration
was seeking new electives. “It’s dark subject matter, easy to stay
away from, but it’s become my reason to come to work every day,” he
said, adding the class isn’t designed to shock and awe students. “It’s
a space for students to talk about these issues, to make connections
that mean something. We want to take the irrational and try to make it
rational. ”
He said he teaches his classes the stages of genocide construct a
pyramid, with the first step being bullying that can happen in high
school hallways.
“Then rights get taken away, and the higher you go the more violent it
becomes,” Mahar said. “We have examples in the world right now of
every step of this pyramid except the very top. It’s not just history,
not as distant as some might think. ”
Mahar said a goal of the class is to connect the past events to the
student’s lives. “Racism, homophobia, these discriminations are alive
today. And they’re how it starts. ”
For the gallery, students from the various Genocide Studies classes
put together different elements based on major genocidal acts in world
history, from the Holocaust to Darfur.

http://armenpress.am/eng/news/716920/hanover-students-turn-school-into-a-pop-up-genocide-museum.html