Author: Kanayan Tamar

LA COMPAGNIE AERIENNE ARMAVIA AUGMENTE SES VOLS A DESTINATION D’ALEP
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 8 aout 2012

La compagnie s’est engagee a assurer cinq vols supplementaires durant
le mois d’août, malgre l’absence de reponse officielle du Gouvernement
pour la soutenir financièrement. RFE/RL rend compte de l’arrivee a
l’aeroport Zvartnots d’Erevan, lundi dernier, de 150 Armeniens d’Alep,
qui ont affirme que les quartiers armeniens n’ont pas ete touches
par les combats.

Hayots Achkhar relève en outre, qu’en depit d’un dementi de l’Ambassade
de Syrie en Armenie, un conseiller de l’Ambassade, responsable du
service consulaire et culturel de celle-ci, aurait bien fait defection
au regime Assad. Le porte-parole du MAE armenien, Tigran Balayan,
a indique qu’une note diplomatique de l’Ambassade adressee au MAE
a fait etat de la suspension avant terme de la mission du diplomate
syrien en Armenie.

Hraparak relève, citant un fonctionnaire du Ministère de la Diaspora,
Firdus Zakharian, qu’au cours des derniers jours plus de 120 Armeniens
de Syrie ont saisi le Ministère avec differentes demandes. 12 d’entre
eux ont demande un lieu d’habitation et ont ete renvoyes au service
d’Etat des Migrations. D’après ce fonctionnaire, seuls 2 ou 3 % des
immigres de Syrie emettent le souhait de rester en Armenie, les autres
attendant une stabilisation de la situation en Syrie pour y retourner.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

Service de presse

2012 ELECTIONS: THE ARMENIAN FACTOR
by Garen Yegparian

August 7, 2012

Currently, there are at least 28 Armenians running for office in
the November U.S. elections this year. These offices range from city
councilmember to state-level constitutional office. Some of them have
not even gotten past their states’ primaries yet. Some are incumbents.

Some may be “Armenian” by marriage only, while others may have a
mixed heritage. Some may be running against friends/supporters of
our issues. Some may be totally delusional candidacies.

I don’t know, and have not even met, most of these compatriots who
have been bold, tough, and politically motivated enough to throw
their hats into their respective rings. They will likely be buffeted
by some pretty harsh clashes. But that’s what’s necessary.

The other thing that’s necessary is having an continuously updated
compilation of these brave souls so that support and advice can be
offered whenever possible and appropriate. Plus, it can serve as yet
another basis of developing our political power, a resource for the
candidates to pick one another’s brains for suggestions and ideas.

Since this piece will be read bi-coastally, I should point out that
many western states’ local elections are not held the first Tuesday in
November, as is the case for the most part in the eastern states. This
is why the list will be in constant need of updating.

I should thank the ANCA’s Eastern, Western, and D.C. offices for
helping me compile this list. That’s all this article will be, a list.

Some of the names and places may surprise you. Hopefully, it will
serve to inspire others to take the same leap. Please remember as
you read on that this is an imperfect list, and any gaps should be
filled in by you.

As you might expect, California has the largest number-six-of Armenians
running for office (with over half of our U.S. community living in
this state, hardly a shocker). Two members of Congress, Ana Eshoo
and Jackie Speier, are up for re-election as is State Assemblymember
Khacho Achadjian. We have three others seeking offices for the first
time: Adrin Nazarian and Greg Krikorian (the latter is key and will be
the subject of the next article in this election series) are seeking
election to the State Assembly, and Richelle Noroian is going for a
seat on the Santa Cruz City Council.

We have three states, all in New England, “tied” for the next highest
number of candidates, at four: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode
Island. In Massachusetts, James Miceli and John Fresolo are running
for State House of Representatives, Stephen Simonian for State Senate,
and Peter Koutoujian for Middlesex County sheriff. I suspect there are
more given the size and age of our community in the state, but this
is what I’ve got so far. Mary Beth Ayvazian, Gary Azarian, Charlene
Takesian, and Kelly Upham-Torosian are all running for the State House
of Representatives in New Hampshire. Not only is this an impressive
showing for a state where we have a very small community, but imagine
if all of them get elected to the same chamber of the legislature!

Jared Nunes and Katherine Kazarian are running for the State House
of Representatives, Aram Garabedian for State Senate, and Scott
Avedissian for mayor of Warwick in Rhode Island. This is also an
impressive showing in a small state with a vibrant Armenian community.

All the other states that sport Armenian candidates this year have only
one. In the West, Oregon has Brad Avakian running for re-election
as state labor commissioner. You will probably remember he just
made an unsuccessful effort to get elected to Congress, but didn’t
get past his primary. Another name you’ve probably already heard is
Danny Tarkanian, who beat eight opponents in his Nevada Republican
primary and is well positioned to get sent to D.C. A surprise state
is Idaho, where Al Shoustarian is running for State Senate. Finally,
we have Linda Arzoumanian running for re-election as Pima County,
Az.’s school superintendent. This one is particularly interesting
because the Gulen movement’s efforts to start charter schools have
been blocked in this jurisdiction. And, after 16 years in office,
Arzoumanian is now being challenged by someone from her own party. One
is tempted to wonder if there’s a connection.

In the East, Greg Dirdilian is running for the U.S. House of
Representatives from Michigan. Unfortunately, this is one of those
cases where any community of interest would be confronted with a tough
choice: one of its own running against a longtime supporter of its
issues (in this case, the incumbent Sander Levin). Tim Kapucian seems
to be assured of re-election to the Iowa State Senate. In Kentucky,
Minnesota, and New York, we have Mary Lou Marzian, King Banaian,
and Paul Saryian, respectively, running for the lower house of the
legislature of their state. Marzian and Banaian are incumbents. And,
one city council candidacy by an Armenian is under way, in Richmond,
Va.-Charles Diradour.

I invite and urge you to explore these candidacies, and support them
as appropriate. Also if you are a candidate for office, or know one,
or know someone who knows one, please let the ANCA know, so a list
of Armenian candidates and, later, office holders can be compiled.

FAMILY WITH 11 CHILDREN HOMELESS IN ARMENIA’S GYUMRI (VIDEO)

August 06, 2012 | 18:32

GYUMRI. – Many homeless families resided in territories far away from
Armenia’s Gyumri following the 1988 quake.

A big family with eleven children used to live in a temporary shelter
on the way to Yerevan-Gyumri airport. However, as the temporary home
was spoilt due to damp, they had to move to a small rented home. The
family has no hope to receive an apartment by the state as it is not
considered to be homeless due to the quake.

“We, the Shirak center employees, and hetq.am journalist Yeranuhi
Soghoyan, visited the other day the family of the Gevorgyans within
the framework of philanthropic initiative “No child should be left
out of the school due to lack of cloths and stationery.” There are
9 girls and 2 boys in the family,” the statement reads.

CHAMLIAN INTRODUCES INNOVATIVE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION PROGRAM

asbarez
Monday, August 6th, 2012

A presentation by Shushan Garabetian on the smart board

GLENDALE-After a year of meticulous planning and extensive research,
a new Armenian Language Instruction program will be implemented at
Chamlian Armenian School beginning this fall. The program’s mission,
titled “The Saroyan Project,” was to develop and implement an Armenian
language program that would follow a new instructional approach –
one that would adopt a contemporary curriculum with creative and
effective teaching methodologies.

To develop the program, the School Administration formed a committee
consisting of members from UCLA’s Armenian Department, including Dr.

Talar Chahinian-Mahroukian, Ms.Shushan Garabedian, and Ms. Myrna
Douzjan, as well as Chamlian’s Western and Eastern Armenian Department
Chairpersons, Ms. Arax Zarzavatjian and Mr. Saro Nazarian respectively.

“We are truly excited and hope that the program will be successful and
appreciated,” said project director, Dr. Talar Chahinian-Mahroukian.

She added, “We will start with grade one for now and propagate
gradually to other grades.” Principal Vazken Madenlian proudly stated,
“The Committee has performed an outstanding job and we are excited
to move on to next phase as we implement the program.”

ARMAVIA TRANSPORTS 593 PASSENGERS FROM ALEPPO TO YEREVAN JULY 9-AUGUST 6

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 7, 2012 – 15:53 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – From July 9 – August 6, Armavia Armenian airline
company operated 6 Yerevan-Aleppo-Yerevan flights, 5 planned,
one additional.

The number of passengers transported for the reporting period totaled
724, with 131 passengers transported from Yerevan to Aleppo and 593 –
from Aleppo to Yerevan, Armavia press service reported.

Armavia resumed Yerevan-Aleppo-Yerevan flights on July 9, amid tensions
in Syria.

ARMENIANS OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH READY TO SUPPORT SYRIAN ARMENIANS

arminfo
Tuesday, August 7, 13:10

A roundtable in Stepanakert, organized on the initiative of ARFD
Artsakh Committee covered issues concerning the Armenians of Syria.

ArmInfo’s correspondent in Stepanakert reports that representatives
of NGOs and public-political organizations of the NKR attended the
roundtable. They pointed out that the residents of Karabakh, who
enjoyed the support of Armenians worldwide during and after the war,
are ready to support the Syrian Armenians, to host them until the
situation in Syria improves.

To note, 5 Armenian families from Syria moved to Kashatagh region of
the NKR. Souren Khachatryan, Head of the Kashatagh administration,
says that 7 more families are expected to move to Kashatagh. They will
live in a building renovated jointly with the Tufenkian Foundation.

CIVIL SOCIETY STRONGER AND MORE EFFECTIVE IN ARMENIA – US AMBASSADOR

news.am
August 07, 2012 | 12:42

YEREVAN.- Civil society is getting stronger and more effective in
Armenia, US Ambassador said.

John Heffern addressed civil society’s advocacy role in his traditional
video blog statement.

“Civic engagement is vital to a healthy democracy. Civil society and
NGOs do important work in many fields. According to a recent USAID
assessment, civil society in Armenia is the second strongest anywhere
among the republics of former USSR,” he said.

He pointed out several effective grassroots campaigns promoting
positive change, among them Trchkan waterfall imitative, active
involvement on Yerevan’s historic cover market, Mashtots park and
protest actions on Harsnaqar Restaurant incident.

“However, there is more to be done. One obstacles for Amrenia’s civil
society is legal restriction on these organizations [NGOs]charging a
fee for their services which would make them more self-sustaining,”
Ambassador said.

In the U.S. the non-governmental organizations are able to charge a
fee for their services on non-profit making basis, he added.

Ambassador Heffern welcomed courageous Armenians who are working
every day to bring positive change here.

ARMAVIA RETURNS SUPERJET-100 TO MANUFACTURER

RIA Novosti
06/08/2012
YEREVAN

Photo Marina Lystseva

Topic: Sukhoi SuperJet 100

Armenia’s flagship air carrier Armavia said on Monday it had returned
its Superjet-100 (SSJ-100) medium-haul aircraft to the manufacturer,
for which it was the launch customer.

Armavia’s first and only SSJ-100 is undergoing regularly scheduled
maintenance at the Sukhoi Civil Aviation’s flight test facility near
the town of Zhukovsky some 40 kilometers southeast of Moscow.

“We consider it inexpedient to purchase the aircraft because it
required repairs during its first year in service,” a company
spokeswoman said.

She denied Armavia owed Sukhoi maintenance fees.

Company chief Mikhail Bagdasarov earlier said the company was
unwilling to have Sukhoi Superjet-100s in service because it was
below the previously declared standards.

The SSJ manufacturer said earlier on Monday it has not yet received
any notification from Armavia.

Armavia earlier canceled its order for another Sukhoi Superjet-100.

The reason for the termination of the contract was not disclosed.

Sukhoi said the move was due to financial problems.

SSJ-100 is developed by Sukhoi in cooperation with U.S. and European
aviation corporations, including Boeing, Snecma, Thales, Messier
Dowty, Liebherr Aerospace and Honeywell. It is capable of carrying
up to 100 passengers for 4,500 kilometers.

THE ECONIMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT RESEARCH COMPANY ESTIMATED REMITTANCES FROM RUSSIA TO ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
6 August, 2012
YEREVAN

Yerevan, August 6, ARMENPRESS: The remittances in the four
non-exporting oil former Soviet countries are sharply reduced; as
“Armenpress” reports The Econimist Intelligence Unit Research Company
informs this.

Tajikistan, Kirgizstan, Armenia and Georgia mainly rely on the money
sent by the citizens working abroad (especially in Russia). According
to the data of the Russian Central Bank these four countries totally
received 6 billion US dollars last year.

Due to rapid growth in recent years after the fall of 2009, economic
activity in the remittances has grown. The income of the 2011
remittances in Tajikistan amounted to about 42.5%, in Kirgizstan 28%,
in Armenia 11% and in Georgia 7%.

However, the gloomy anticipations of the global economy may mean
that the rapid growth of remittances for these four countries come
to an end.

SYRIAN ARMENIA COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE EXISTING, EXPERT SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 6, 2012 – 21:34 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Syria’s, particularly Aleppo’s Armenian community
will continue existing, history expert Petros Hovhannisyan said.

He cited the absence of Syrian Armenians’ large inflow to Armenia to
prove his point.

“Armenian community representatives are willing to stay in Syria, with
all the conditions for survival present there. They won’t be exposed
to forcible exile due to their governmental stance” the expert said.

Dwelling on their return to Armenia, Mr. Hovhannisyan noted that
they will fail to find proper living and employment conditions in
the homeland.