Author: Karakhanian Suren

U.S. Rep. Schmidt Denies Receiving Turkish `Blood Money’
2009/08/28 | 12:07

diaspora

The following article appeared in the August 26 edition of the
Cincinnati City Beat. It deals with the on-going hearing surrounding
the 2008 election for Ohioo’s 2nd Congressional District that pitted
Representative Jean Schmidt and and challenger David
Krikorian. Mr. Krikorian alleged that Schmidt had received campaign
contributions from the Turkish government in return for her opposition
to an Armenian Genocide resolution in the U.S. Congress. Schmidt has
since filed an official complaint against Krikorian.

Schmidt Gets Taped in Election Suit

U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Miami Township) just doesn’t fare so well in
unscripted situations. In the latest example of that political truism,
Schmidt testified Monday for nearly five hours in a deposition taken
by attorneys for David Krikorian.

The deposition was taken in preparation for a Sept. 3 hearing before
the Ohio Elections Commission. Schmidt filed a complaint with the
commission alleging that Krikorian knowingly made a false statement
about Schmidt in a piece of campaign literature last year.

Krikorian ran as an independent against Schmidt in 2008 for Ohio’s 2nd
Congressional District. During the campaign, Krikorian distributed a
pamphlet alleging Schmidt had received `blood money’ from the Turkish
government in return for her opposition to a congressional resolution
that declared Turkey committed genocide against Armenia during a 1915
conflict.

Schmidt’s opposition angered Krikorian, who is of Armenian
descent. His grandparents almost became victims of the violence,
Krikorian said, and Schmidt’s denial that genocide occurred is an
insult to Armenian-American citizens. A Schmidt spokesman has said in
the past that the congresswoman doesn’t believe the conflict meets the
legal requirements to be dubbed genocide.

Krikorian has questioned why Schmidt accepts tens of thousands of
dollars in donations from Turkish interests when there isn’t any
significant number of Turkish-American residents in the 2nd
District. He’s also called Schmidt’s complaint `frivolous.’

Monday’s deposition was videotaped by Krikorian’s attorneys, despite
Schmidt’s protest.

`Ms. Schmidt strongly objected to David Krikorian’s legal right to
video tape her deposition as allowed by law,’ a Krikorian press
release states. `Attorneys for Ms. Schmidt complained to the Ohio
Elections Commission to block distribution of the video portion of her
testimony. Ms. Schmidt does not want the people of the district to
view her testimony in this frivolous legal complaint she filed against
David Krikorian.’

During her halting and vague testimony, Schmidt said she didn’t know
why she was the largest recipient of campaign contributions by Turkish
lobbyists in the 2008 campaign cycle. Also, she testified that she
didn’t know anything about the Armenian Genocide other than it
occurred during World War I.

Further, Schmidt said she didn’t know who Yalcin Ayasli is although he
and his family donated $6,900 to her campaign last year and was an
escort on her all-expenses paid trip to Turkey in May. Ayalsi is a
contributor to the Turkish Coalition of America, which is dubbed a
`genocide denial’ group by Armenians.

REPUBLICANS ARE NOT PRO-TURKISH, NEITHER IS HERITAGE

ahos||country&pid=15009
19:04:58 – 28/08/2009

According to the Republican Member of Parliament Rafik Petrosyan,
the Republican Party is allegedly pursuing a pro-Turkish policy which
is not true. Whatever the Republicans do is for the sake of people.

In answer to the question whether livelihood is expected in
the political life in autumn, Petrosyan said no livelihood is
expected. They always talk about it but nothing extraordinary
ever happens. As to the opposition forces, they will not come
together because everyone pursues their interest, the member of
parliament says. The All-Armenian National Movement wants to return
to government and regain all the privileges, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun
appears nationalist to save its image, and the Heritage Party is
not opposition but an organization which carries out the orders of
foreign states, Rafik Petrosyan added.

DANNY TARKANIAN AND THE ARMENIAN VOTE
By Dennis Myers, [email protected]

Reno News & Review
8
Aug 27 2009
Nevada

More stories by this author… The U.S. Senate candidacy of a Nevadan
is making news in Armenian-American circles.

Danny Tankanian is one of three citizens of Armenian descent who
are running against incumbent members of Congress, according to the
Armenian Reporter, based in Paramus. N.J.

Tarkanian, little known in Northern Nevada, is a prominent Clark
County resident who is running against U.S. Sen. Harry Reid.

"Son of the nationally renowned basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, Danny
Tarkanian previously ran for the Nevada State Senate in 2004 and Nevada
Secretary of State in 2006, both times unsuccessfully," the newspaper
reported. "In the latter run he received votes of more than 230,000
Nevadans. Both incumbent Nevada senators–Democrat Reid and Republican
[John] Ensign–have been supportive of Armenian-American issues."

A Mason-Dixon survey last weekend showed Tarkanian leading Reid by
49 percent to 38 percent in Nevada.

SOCIETY OF TURKS MESKHETIAN WATAN TO LEAVE AZERBAIJAN NEXT YEAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.08.2009 19:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ From next year the society of Turks Meskhetians Vatan
(Motherland) will terminate its activities in Azerbaijan, Ibrahim
Burkhanov, head of the society, told the Georgia-on-line news agency.

According to him, by the decision of the Georgian government some ten
thousand Meskhetian Turks, who lived in Azerbaijan, began returning to
their ancestral lands. "This will result in terminating the activities
of our society," he said.

Ibrahim Burkhanov also reported that in May 2010 he will leave
Azerbaijan and will continue his activities in Georgia.

TO VISIT OR NOT TO VISIT — THAT IS THE QUESTION…

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Aug 26 2009
Armenia

10:24 / 08/26/2009NEWS.am continues to publish comments on whether
RA President Serzh Sargsyan should visit Turkey or not. The visit
was planned in return for Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s vitis to
Yerevan. However, pressurized by Azerbaijan Turkish side started
putting preconditions and link Armenia-Turkey normalization to
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. And by doing so, Turkey comes in
contradiction with the ‘road-map’ that Foreign Ministries of Armenia
and Turkey have agreed upon. Russian experts assess the situation:

"Definitely, Armenia-Turkey relations need to be normalized however,
the process should not develop at the expense of Armenian unilateral
concessions," Russian Strategic Culture Foundation expert declared.

He hailed RA President’s statement (on that he will not visit Turkey
unless Armenia-Turkey border is opened) as quite an adequate tactical
step that "gives Turkish leadership an opportunity to demonstrate
whether their intentions towards Armenia are fair or not."

As Armenian President has not made his final decision "all depends
on whether Turkish side will reveal a constructive approach or
not." The expert reckons that the visit may as well take place as a
full-fledged official visit rather than within the framework of the
‘football diplomacy’. Areshev considers it will be more reasonable
rather than "making steps unconditioned by the actual situation."

As Turkish side is making contradicting statements, the expert wonders
whether unblocking of Armenian border gate is at all a topical issue
in Turkey: "This problem is mostly treated as a game with the United
States and the European Union. What we see in reality is Turkish
PM Erdogan’s statement directly linking Karabakh issue under Azeri
conditions with opening of the [Armenia-Turkey] border."

However, Head of Russian Military Forecast Center Anatoly Tsyganok
has a diametrically opposite opinion. Tsyganok told NEWS.am that RA
President Serzh Sargsyan should visit Turkey regardless developments
in Armenia-Turkey diplomatic relations. "Armenian President should not
miss the opportunity to have a direct talk with Turkish President,"
Tsyganok asserted.

Alexander Sungurov, President of the Saint Petersburg Centre for
Humanities and Political Studies "Strategy", also said President of
Armenia should make the visit.

BOSTON ARMENIAN HERITAGE PARK TO BE COMPLETED BY FALL 2010

Asbarez
ston-armenian-heritage-park-to-be-completed-by-fal l-2010/
Aug 24, 2009

BOSTON, Mass.-The Armenian Heritage Park on the Rose Fitzgerald
Kennedy Greenway is slated to be completed by the fall of 2010,
reported Armenian Heritage Foundation president James M. Kalustian
at a recent Board meeting.

"We are making extraordinary progress," he said. "As of July 2009,
50 percent of the construction and engineering documents have been
completed by the design team. The plans are presently being reviewed
by the various state and city agencies."

The Armenian Heritage Foundation’s Board of Directors is comprised
of representatives from the 37 parishes and organizations within the
Armenian American community in Massachusetts. Serving as honorary
chairs are Massachusetts State Representative Peter Koutoujian and
Massachusetts State Registrar of Motor Vehicles Rachel Kaprielian.

A gift to the City of Boston and recognized as one of the better
designed parks, the Armenian Heritage Park is consistent with one of
the themes of the Greenway: to acknowledge the history of Boston as a
port of entry for immigrants worldwide, for those who have migrated
to our shores and contributed to the richness of American life and
culture.

The park, situated on four-tenths of an acre on parcel 13 of the
Greenway, will serve as a link between the Faneuil Hall Marketplace and
Christopher Columbus Park. It has received overwhelming support from
neighboring community groups in Boston’s North End and Wharf District,
as well as many of Boston’s civic, community, and political leaders.

The park includes lawns, benches, fountains, shade trees, as well
as two key features, a labyrinth and sculpture, both to engage and
delight children and adults. The labyrinth, a circular winding path
in grass and inlaid stone with a single jet of water at its center,
is symbolic of life’s journey and in celebration of achievements
in art, science, commerce, and service. The sculpture, a 12-sided
abstract geometric sculpture-a split rhombic dodecahedron-rests on
a 16-foot diameter reflecting pool to commemorate the lives lost in
the Armenian Genocide and in all genocides that have followed, and
to celebrate those who left their country of origin and reconfigured
their lives in the United States. The waters of the reflecting pool
wash over its sides commemorating the lives lost and re-emerges as the
single jet of water at the labyrinth’s center, representing hope and
rebirth. The sculpture will be reconfigured every year with endlessly
changing views.

"The ancient pattern of the labyrinth has crossed time, cultures, and
religions throughout history, and has become a universal metaphor of
peace, harmony, contemplation, and healing," said Rev. Kathleen Musser
of the Labyrinth Guild of New England. "[It is] an imaginative and
creative device for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds
to engage one another… The labyrinth invites all expressions of
faith and culture and ethnicity to walk the path of diverse community
together. It quite literally circumscribes common ground for all to
walk! The lessons are deep, but very obvious with every step we take:
We are all on this path together.

We may not walk at the same pace, and often we may feel like we are
going in different directions, sometimes in step with each other,
sometimes alone. But ultimately all of us are on the same path, and
that path offers us all opportunities for reconciliation, wholeness,
and hope."

An endowed lecture on human rights, in collaboration with the Bostonian
Society, will be held annually at Faneuil Hall and will feature
internationally recognized scholars and leaders. Endowed funds are
also being established to support the care and maintenance of the park
in perpetuity as well as the annual reconfiguration of the sculpture.

For more information, visit

NEW 100K DRAM PUT IN CIRCULATION

Asbarez
8/24/new-100k-dram-put-in-circulation/
Aug 24, 2009

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)-The Armenian Central Bank on Monday introduced a
100,000 dram currency note.

A representative of Armenia’s Central Bank (CB) has ruled out that
the introduction of a 100K Dram banknote on Monday increases inflation
risks or forestalls an imminent devaluation of the national currency
in Armenia.

CB Board member Vakhtang Abrahamian told RFE/RL that the regulator’s
specialists had studied the issue and concluded that the introduction
of this large banknote, equivalent to roughly $265, does not threaten
any major devaluation of the national currency.

Until now, a 50K Dram bill was Armenia’s banknote with the highest
face value.

"This banknote, according to our estimations, will take only 3 percent
in cash circulation on the market, which cannot have any significant
impact on the economy in terms of the value of the national currency
or any inflation risks," said Abrahamian.

Abrahamian said CB experts had studied the experience of a number of
countries, such as Lithuania, where the highest nominal value of a
banknote is equivalent to 1,000 Euros (approx. $1,433).

"This experience shows that on the contrary it facilitates large
transactions and avoids situations where large transactions are
carried out with the use of foreign currencies," he added.

Former CB chairman Bagrat Asatrian also ruled out that the introduction
of 100K Dram banknotes would have any impact on the value of the
Armenian currency. He said it would only alter the structure of the
money supply rather than expand it.

"I think there is also something positive here, and eventually large
banknotes are also a means to combat dollarization," said Asatrian.

WHO IS TO BLAME? EIGHT YEAR-OLD VARDAN HASN’T SEEN THE INSIDE OF A CLASSROOM
Grisha Balasanyan

avan/
2009/08/24 | 16:11

Feature Stories society

When we traveled to the Banavan neighborhood of Vardenis to visit the
family of Samvel Poghosyan, the kids were fighting over a bottle of
"matzoun" bought at the store. Grabbing the bottle, each was trying
to empty its contents on the plate in front of them before the others.

The parents and four children live in a building whose residents had
complained to "Hetq" days earlier about how the government treats their
concerns with disregard. (See: )
"You can say that we are renters here. We petitioned Serzh Sargsyan and
he said to go to the Regional Administration. I went there and they
sent me to the Department of Social Services. They sent me somewhere
else. My papers have been on file with the Regional Administration
for three years and nobody takes responsibility," Samvel complained to
"Hetq".

Staffers at the Gegharkunik RA promised to get back to us soon with
details of the case.

Samvel has second-degree disabilities. In 1994, during the Artsakh
War, he stepped on a mine and miraculously survived the blast. He
receives a 50,000 AMD monthly disability pension. "I have four kids
and haven’t received assistance from anyone. I’ve applied all over
the place, the vets department, everywhere. They all have my name on
file but don’t give a damn. They tell me to be patient, that things
will work out fine. But how long can I wait; till when?" Samvel asked

Due to their dire financial straits, the parents won’t be sending their
8 year-old son to school this year as well. He should have enrolled
last year but never did for the same reason; lack of money. The
boy’s parents held out hope that this year would be different, that
conditions would improve and that they’d be able to send Vardan to
school. Sadly, things haven’t worked out the way they had hoped.

Vardan’s mother says they can’t afford school expenses

We asked Gohar Yeranosyan, Samvel’s wife, if it was possible to take
a small amount of the 50,000 pension and the 24,000 in financial aid
that they receive and put it towards the boy’s schooling.

"I have four young kids and a husband who’s half a man due to his
disabilities and can’t work. We have no home and no hope for the
future; that our kids will grow up normal. We live on the pension
and help from the Paros organization. Let me ask you something –
could you survive with four kids on just what we get? I don’t think
so. My girl goes to school and every month I have to pay for this
or that. I’m forced to go to the neighbors for a loan. I could hang
my head in shame. All I know is that my Vardan is now eight and he
probably won’t be going to school until he’s ten. He should’ve gone
last year but we put it off till this year. It’s impossible this year
as well. What will become of us I can’t say. Kids his age are already
in the second grade, but he hasn’t stepped foot into a classroom,"
she answered.

We talked with Vardan and he told us that he’d really like to go to
school but that his parents don’t send him. "I want to go but father
says there’s no money. He’s right. There’s no money, so how can I go?"

Samvel told us that last year, when he sent his daughter to school,
the state was obligated to make a one-time payment of 20,000 AMD to
them as a family receiving government assistance. They never paid them
the money. "They told me that I wasn’t registered as a town resident;
that I was registered in the village of Akunk. But my kid goes to
this school and I’ve been living here for a few years now. Now that
we need some money they’ll find any excuse not to pay us. They don’t
give me this problem when they want my vote at election time. They
don’t care where I’m officially registered."

Vardan begs on the street

Not going to school, Vardan has picked up a bad habit from being
idle. He stands on the side of the road and asks people he knows for
a handout. He did the same to us. When we got into the car, he ran
up to us and demanded some money. When I asked him what he would buy
with the money, he ran away.

Mamikon Galoyan, who runs the Children’s Rights Division at the
Gegharkunik Regional Administration, told "Hetq" that there were no
school age children in the region not attending class. When we told him
about Vardan, Mr. Galoyan said, "I am glad that you were able to come
across a child not attending school. Let me tell you that the parents
of that boy have never come to us for assistance. In the first place,
it is the local charitable and municipal organizations that must look
into the problem. If they cannot resolve the issue, only then must they
forward the case to us. I should tell you that they haven’t done so."

Mr. Galoyan assured us that eight year-old Vardan would be going to
school come September. "We will visit the boy’s home and evaluate
the situation. We see whether the family actually cannot afford to
send the boy to school or are there other factors involved. If the
reason is socio-economic and say the parents can’t afford to buy the
boy decent clothes then we might be able to resolve the problem with
the assistance of this or that international organization."

He stated that it was the boy’s parents that were mostly to blame since
they have failed to inform the proper authorities about their problems.

Vardenis Mayor Volodya Khloyan also wasn’t aware that there was a
child in his community not attending school. "For pity sake, why
didn’t they come see me? Tell them to come round and see me. I’ll
take care of the matter."

MESROBIAN: PROVIDENCE TRIES TO OUTDO ITSELF WITH ALUMNI NIGHT AT AYF OLYMPICS
By Stephanie Mesrobian

24/mesrobian-providence-tries-to-outdo-itself-with -alumni-night-at-ayf-olympics/
August 24, 2009

What started years ago as an intimate gathering on Friday night
of Olympics weekend has evolved into a much anticipated evening of
friends, family, and alumni. AYF Olympics Alumni Night has become an
opportunity to reminisce, catch up on the latest news, eat, dance,
and be merry! It also has become a beacon of community pride as each
year the host community tries to present a superlative evening-the
one with the most delicious food and that extra something special.

For Providence, the pressure and competition run high. But this year,
that extra something special may be courtesy of the Senior Ladies of
Sts. Vartanantz Church. Every community has these ladies-they are the
backbone of the church and many of them are former AYF members, some
even Tzeghagrons. From their hard work and golden hands, some of the
most coveted foods in any cultural tradition are produced. This year,
the Alumni Night Committee, chaired by Karen Kaprielian Pilla and
Elyse Kaprielian Comella, convinced the Senior Ladies to "unlock the
vault." The Senior Ladies so graciously shared their prized kufta
recipe, and the Committee has prepared well-over 1,000 of these
savory delicacies.

Besides the wonderful mezze, Alumni Night will feature the music
and sounds of Hachig Kazarian (clarinet), Joe Kouyoumdjian (oud and
background vocals), Ken Kalajian (guitar), and Jason Naroian (dumbeg
and vocals). The highlight of the evening will be the announcement of
the Annual Olympic King and Queen and the recipients of the Varadian
AYF Alumni Spirit Award.

"Speaking for the entire Providence community, we are so excited
to welcome AYF alumni, family, and friends to Alumni Night," said
Karen Kaprielian Pilla. "We are especially looking forward to the
opportunity of recognizing great contributors to the organization
and the Olympic Games with the crowning of our Olympic royalty and
the announcement of the ‘Varadian’ AYF Alumni Spirit Award," says
Karen Kaprielian Pilla. "Our committee also is anxiously awaiting
its gastronomic review!"

Alumni Night will take place on Fri., Sept. 4 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at
the Rhode Island Convention Center, One West Exchange Street in
Providence. Also note that the Saturday Night Dance and the Sunday
Night Grand Ball will take place at the Rhode Island Convention
Center. Directions are below.

>From the north:

Interstate 95 South to Exit 22A. Follow the signs towards
Downtown/Convention Center. Go through the first light in the right
hand lane. Take your first right after the light. Take the next right
onto Exchange Street. After the next light, bear right between the
Hotel and the Convention Center to the North Garage.

>From the south:

Interstate 95 North to Exit 22A. Follow the signs towards
Downtown/Convention Center. At the light, turn right onto Francis
Street. At the next light, go right onto Sabin Street. Bear right
between the Hotel and the Convention Center to the North Garage.

>From the east:

Take 195 West. Merge onto 95 North to Exit 22A. Follow the signs
towards Downtown/Convention Center. At the light, turn right onto
Francis Street. At the next light, go right onto Sabin Street. Bear
right between the Hotel and the Convention Center to the North Garage.

>From the west:

Take Route 6 East to the "Route 6 East and I-195 South" on ramp. Take
a right and stay to the right following the signs to Providence and
Route 6 East (you will use part of the I-195 on-ramp to get onto
Route 6 East).

Stay on Route 6 East to the end (sign will read "6 East to 10 North")
and stay to the left. Continue to the Dean Street Exit. Once on the
exit ramp, stay to the left so that you will be on the left side of
the island when you reach the light. Turn left onto Dean Street (4
lane road). Then immediately take your first right onto West Exchange
Street to the Convention Center Garage.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee–Hollywood Chapter
1611 North Kenmore Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Tel: 818.500.1918

Srbui Karapetian
Event Coordinator
ANC Hollywood
818.521.2353

ANC Hollywood to Host Small Business Tax Seminar ANC Hollywood
partners with Office of Controller John Chiang, Armenian American
Chamber of Commerce and business leaders to help small business owners
succeed in Hollywood.

The state of our economy: Financial crisis; Increasing unemployment;
Decreasing consumer confidence; Budget cuts out of Sacramento and
financial stimulus out of Washington. Does your small business know
how to weather the current crisis?

On Friday, August 28th, the Armenian National Committee of Hollywood,
in collaboration with the office of the California State Controller
and the sponsorship of the Armenian-American Chamber of
Commerce-Little Armenia Chapter will be hosting a Small Business Tax
Seminar to educate and equip small business owners to succeed in the
current economy..

The seminar will cover a broad range of topics including the American
Recovery and Investment Act of 2009, regional business opportunities
and incentives, employment and payroll taxes as well as income, sales
and use taxes.

WHO: Armenian National Committee of Hollywood Office of California
State Controller, John Chiang Armenian-American Chamber of Commerce
(Little Armenia) Supporting Business Organizations (see list below)

WHAT: Small Business Tax Seminar

WHEN: Friday, August 28th

8:30 am – Registration
9:00 am – 1:00 pm – Small Business Tax Seminar

WHERE: Karapetian Hall 1614 N. Alexandria Avenue Parking available at
church parking lot

SUPPORTING
ORGANIZATIONS:
Thai Community Development Center;
Thai Chamber of Commerce;
Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce
Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles;
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
ANC-Professional Network and Consumer Action

The Armenian National Committee of Hollywood kindly invites you to
sponsor the event.