Author: Karakhanian Suren

"THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HAS GOT A DEFINITE ORDER"

A1+
06:57 pm | April 06, 2009

Politics

"The National Assembly is subject to criminal idleness," Heritage Party
MP Larissa Alaverdyan said to A1+. The reason for Mrs. Alaverdyan’s
indignation was the parliament’s refusal to put a number of draft
bills on the agenda, as well as the indifference towards the fate
of the arrested deputies Miasnik Malkhasyan, Sasun Mikayelyan and
Hakob Hakobyan.

Today the Heritage demanded the NA Speaker to convene a sitting and
cancel a NA decision according to which the Armenian parliament was
to deprive the inviolability of the arrested MPs.

"The National Assembly does not deal with legal matters," NA Speaker
Hovik Abrahamyan said in reply.

"If the NA doesn’t deal with legal matters, as you say, what matters
does it deal with? Yes, I do think that the National Assembly became an
accomplice of a crime which resulted in the detention of our colleagues
on baseless charges and already on non-existent articles. This is
a crime.

Hovik Abrahamyam may say that unless the court has proved the guilt
or innocence of the detained MPs, we are doves of innocence, but we
must not forget that thanks to the National Assembly today we have
three captive deputies and one on the run," added Mrs. Alaverdyan.

"Not only the Heritage but also the PACE co-rapporteurs demand
application of Articles 225 and 300," reminded Mrs. Alaverdyan.

Another Heritage member, Zaruhy Postanjyan, thinks the National
Assembly doesn’t want to convene a sitting, hear the detained MPs
and restore their inviolability as it is solving an issue bound to
the parliament. "The National Assembly has a definite "order"-to keep
the political prisoners charged with the "case of seven" in custody.

With regard to the separation of the cases, Mrs. Postanjyan said
neither the prosecutor’s office nor the court had a right to file
new charges against the defendants and divide the case into five parts.

IMMERSED IN THEIR CULTURE
By Zain Shauk

Glendale News Press
April 6 2009
CA

Students from 12 college groups organized Armenian festival at
university.

BURBANK — Thousands packed the Woodbury University quad Sunday for
an Armenian cultural festival that featured song, dance and Middle
Eastern food.

Teen dance groups wore traditional costumes while performing a set
of routines that left older visitors peering over the shoulders of
onlookers who crowded around a dance floor to watch with pride.

Visitors browsed vendor booths from local businesses, ate kabobs, ice
cream and cotton candy, and mostly spent time chatting with family,
friends and strangers while listening to Armenian hits echo through
the outdoor area.

The gathering was a celebration of culture that was organized by
college students and drew visitors from across Southern California,
said event organizer Arsen Dzhanikyan.

"Enjoying one’s culture and celebrating one’s identity is a must,"
said Dzhanikyan, who is a senior at Woodbury and president of the
university’s Armenian Students’ Assn.

The event was a collaboration of Armenian student groups from 12
colleges and universities throughout Southern California, including
USC, UCLA, Cal State Northridge, Cal State Los Angeles and Glendale
Community College.

The group’s efforts drew an estimated crowd of at least 4,000 and
were crucial in creating a sense of community and identity through a
cultural celebration, said Archbishop Hovnan Derderian of the Western
Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.

"Culture is a gift from God," Derderian said, stressing the importance
of holding events to celebrate shared traditions.

Sunday’s event was the second annual festival at Woodbury, which
has proven to be a central location for the Armenian community, with
large populations residing in Glendale and Burbank, organizers said.

Although the afternoon dance performances were some of the biggest
visual attractions, visitors mostly enjoyed the event because they had
a chance to spend a day immersed in a cultural celebration, they said.

"Armenian culture is kind of a deep and rich culture," said Burbank
resident Alice Babakhaian, who was looking over the shoulder of
another visitor to catch a glimpse of a group of girls dancing in
shiny green and red gowns.

Babakhaian had performed the dance growing up, but was content to
watch a new generation enjoying the same traditions Sunday.

"It is important because the young generation, they get more together
and they can talk and they can share these things," she said.

Fillmore resident James Baron, a Jew, made the trip to Woodbury with
his Armenian wife to share in the festivities.

"I think every culture should not just celebrate, but teach their
culture," Baron said.

The community gathering, weeks in advance of Armenian Genocide
remembrance events on April 24, was meant to being people together,
outside of activities focused on the mass killings, organizers said.

"It doesn’t have to be something tragic to get everybody together,"
said Vazgen Keshishyan, who had helped organize food sales for
the event.

`ARMMONO’ FIREWORK OF MONO PERFORMANCES

11:56 04/04/2009
Source: Panorama.am

Yerevan is going to breathe a special active wave of theatre
performances. `Armmono’ international theatre 7th festival will take
place in Yerevan on 8-17 April. Actors from Armenia, Russia, Ukraine,
Poland, Germany, France, USA, Cameroon and Great Britain will create
`special firework’ of mono-performances for the Armenian fans of
theater art. Mane Lazarian, the coordinator of the festival told
Panorama.am that Hovhannes Babakhanyan’s `Contrabass’ performance will
launch the opening of the festival. According to the source `Armmono’
festival will also take place in Kapan from 13 April.

HMADS HOLDS 21ST ANNUAL SCIENCE FAIR

ds-21st-annual-science-fair/
April 2, 2009

BAYSIDE, N.Y.-"How Students See Scientists: Mostly Male, Mostly White,
and Mostly Benevolent," is an article from the Science and Children
Journal that outlines an informal survey taken by the magazine. School
children were asked: What image comes to your mind when you think
of a typical scientist? Their responses were given in the form of
written and illustrated work.

The greatest number of respondents came from New York and the
outcome proved the numerous stereotypes that dominate many young
minds about what traits a scientist must fulfill in order to hold
such a "prestigious title." The article opposes the common belief
that a scientist must be of some supernatural intelligence, a nerd,
or a freak of nature to take part in such work. Most students drew
a middle-aged man, in a lab, mixing chemicals.

Eighty-six percent of females drew male scientists. This article only
begins to illustrate the misconceptions facing today’s youth about
the attributes that scientists must possess and the fields in which
they may work.

A few weeks ago I told my class, "Please draw an image of a scientist
and answer the following: Where is your scientist? What is your
scientist doing?" The class has an equal number of boys and girls, and
100 percent of the class drew male scientists, all of whom were working
in a "secret lab," I was told. As they worked, I heard comments about
Albert Einstein, and "crazy hair" was seen in two of the drawings.

It is my belief that this year’s Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School
(HMADS) Science Fair has combated some of these stereotypes and that
the children walked away knowing that there are many professions
in the field of science open to males and females, and that most
scientists are not locked in a "secret lab."

The HMADS 21st Annual Science Fair Week in Bayside was highlighted by
three informative and noteworthy guest speakers in the science field:
Dr. Edmond Sarkissian, internist; Dr. Scarlet Arakelian, DDS; and
Simona Yadhdjian, RPh. (All three speakers are parents of currently
enrolled HMADS students.)

Sarkissian graduated from St. George University Medical School,
completed his residency at Winthrop University Hospital, and taught
biology at California State University. He spoke in a well-prepared
presentation to the HMADS 4th, 5th, and 6th grades on the topic of
diabetes, explaining in concise language the function of the pancreas
and the role of insulin in the body. He defined type I and type II
diabetes for the audience and explained the symptoms of diabetes. Most
importantly, Sarkissian spoke about preventative measures and the
importance of a well-balanced diet. His patience and calm demeanor
held the students’ interest throughout his presentation.

Seasoned doctor Scarlet Arakelian joined us to speak about dental
health and dental procedures. A graduate of SUNY Stony Brook University
with a degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery, she opened her own practice
in 2004. Arakelian has advanced her education by extensively studying
implant dentistry. Her slide show about the impact of dental decay
engaged the students and facilitated much dialogue between Arakelian
and the audience. Besides dental health procedures, she spoke about
the anatomy of the tooth and how tarter destroys teeth.

Simona Yaghdjian graduated from St. John’s University School of
Pharmacy and presently works for Rite Aid Drugstores. The young HMADS
students were attentive as they listened to Yaghdjian, who taught
the students that "a clean child is a healthy child." Her pleasant
nature and patience elicited many questions from the students.

Amid the excitement of our three guest speakers was the main event of
our young scientists’ work. Each student’s creativity and individual
interests showed through their beautiful displays and articulate
presentations. The nursery scientists explored sea life and adopted a
humpback whale named Half Moon. They worked together to create a whale
out of tissue paper and leaned facts about the mass of whales. The
kindergarten class learned how to stay healthy by studying proper
nutrition through the food pyramid.

The first grade explored many curricula in their presentation about
primates. The students learned about Jane Goodall and created poems
about the primates they studied, incorporating science, history, and
ELA. The second graders tackled the topic of physical science. Each
student performed an experiment using the steps of the Scientific
Method. Attention-grabbing experiments ranged from magnetism to
aeronautics.

Animal life and the various habitats could be seen at the third grade
table. Each student researched extensively on the plants and animals
that thrive in each habitat. The enthusiastic fourth graders undertook
the many aspects of the solar system ranging from the planets, sun,
moon, asteroids, meteoroids, and constellations.

The fifth grade students went "under the sea" to discover ocean
topography, pollution, currents, tides, and coral reefs. And finally,
the complex human body was studied by the sixth graders as they
presented their knowledge on the body systems. They covered a wealth
of information including DNA, layers of the skin, and the pH scale,
and described genetics using Punnett Squares. To supplement projects,
each student studied a natural plant and reported on a person in
science. The fluidity with which they presented their respective
topics showed a deep level of understanding and comprehension.

The HMADS students became young inventors as they voluntarily created
original inventions. The inventions were displayed at the invention
center and some boasted working models. Each original invention was
brought to fruition with an "authentic" patent.

Our week of learning concluded with a school-wide quiz game under
the direction of principal Zarmine Boghosian, with a special thanks
to computer teacher Arshak DerArtinian for his contributions.

The three guest speakers along with the involvement of each of hte
students were the greatest illustration to our students about what
a scientist "looks like." Each one of us is capable of attaining
"scientist" status. It is up to us as adults and educators to present
an attainable model of who a scientist is, and the HMADS Science Fair
Week did just that.

CONGRESSMAN KIRK SAYS U.S. CONGRESS WILL NOT RECOGNIZE BILL ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.04.2009 22:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The resolution would not pass this year again,
although there are high expectations this time as U.S. President
Obama has promised to recognize the Armenian Genocide during election
campaign, Republican congressman Mark Kirk, one of the four authors
of the bill presented to the House of Representatives, told Turkey’s
Aksam daily.

"The expectations are high this year, because President Obama gave
an important promise to Armenians. But I think the situation is
desperate," he said.

"Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi will not dare
pass the bill. She will not place Obama in a difficult position. The
bill will not pass, don’t worry," he added.

U.S. lawmakers introduced last month a resolution recognizing
the Armenian Genocide. The resolution, titled "The Affirmation of
the U.S. Record on the Armenian Genocide," has the support of 77
co-sponsors from both parties in the House of Representatives.

Turkey has warned that the introduction of the resolution could harm
both efforts to improve ties with Armenia and bilateral relations
with the United States.

U.S. lawmakers almost passed a similar resolution two years ago, but
congressional leaders did not bring it up for a vote after intense
pressure from then-President George W. Bush and top members of his
administration.

Kirk also told Aksam that if the promise given to Armenians is not
fulfilled, Democrats may lose Congress elections in 2010.

The U.S. congressmen added he believed that Congress would eventually
recognize the Armenian Genocide.

TRIAL ON CASE OF CITIZEN OF FRANCE SARGIS HATSPANIAN ENDS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 1, 2009

YEREVAN, APRIL 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The trial on the case of citizen of
France Sargis Hatspanian finished on March 31 at Yerevan Kentron and
Nork-Marash communities’ first instance court, presided over by judge
Gagik Avetisian.

S. Hatspanian is accused of a false denunciation.

According to the charge, S. Hatspanian declared about a prepared crime,
in particular, that an attempt upon RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s
life would be committed. He said this in his interview to the Haykakan
Zhamanak daily on November 4, 2008. A criminal case was filed on the
basis of the publication, S. Hatspanian was arrested on November 7
and detention was chosen as a restraint to him on November 10.

In his large testimony given at the court S. Hatspanian affirmed
what he had said in his interview. According to him, the criminal
case filed against him is "invented, fabricated, made up," and
what RA National Security Service Investigation Department senior
investigator Artur Aghajanian presented as the "supreme truth" is
purely a slander. "From where does he know that I deliberately told
a lie or provided false information to media representatives. I am
ready to state who indeed commits false denunciation," the defendant
stated. According to S. Hatspanian, he did not blame anyone, but only
mentioned the forces interested in the attempt upon S. Sargsyan’s life,
Robert Kocharian, ARFD and representatives of the Civilitas Foundation
"serving foreign interests" (the founder and Chairman of the Civilitas
Foundation is former RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian: NT).

As a circumstance confirming the case’s being of poor quality Sargis
Hatspanian mentioned that fact that the National Security Service
secretly overheard his former telephone number, as well as the numbers
of his wife and daughter. And law enforcement bodies learnt from him
that his former number is used by another subscriber.

In response to the prosecutor party’s question of why he did not
inform the law enforcement bodies about the crime being prepared
Sargis Hatspanian said that among all power branches he only trusts
the "fourth" power, which he informed about it.

S. Hatspanian asked the court for a petition to give him a possibility
to have some rights: the defendant is not given the letters addressed
to him, his medical examination was not completed. He also asked for
interfering to regulate the hours of his telephone conversations with
his relatives and friends, as well as to give him a possibility to
use a mobile computer.

The sides will make indictment and defence speeches at the April 2
court sitting.

PAWNSHOP IS CLOSING DOWN

A1+
06:02 pm | April 01, 2009

Society

Yerevan’s pawnshop "Volta"has given its clients a month to redeem
pledges. The pawnshop is on the verge of closure.

"I pawned my things a month ago as I was unable to pay off communal
expenses. I intended to settle the debt by paying 5000 drams a
month. But when I went to the pawnshop to extend the terms of the
agreement, I was given a month to take out my belongings. Where can
I get the money? I am at a loss," says Mrs. Haykuhy.

She hopes to get money to get the jewelry out of pawn and pawn them
in another Lombard.

Volta’s assistant director Lusine Petrosyan confirmed the menacing
closure of the pawnshop.

"The dram is unstable today. We faced a dilemma-either to increase
the rate by 15-20 percent or to close down. Our proposals were very
favourable, therefore we decided to terminate our work," she said.

Note that some pawnshops don’t take pledges saying they feel shortage
of money.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 375033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:

April 1, 2009

ACNIS Presents New Policy Brief on `The Military Balance of Power in
the South Caucasus.’

Yerevan, April 1, 2009– The Armenian Center for National and
International Studies (ACNIS) convened a special roundtable seminar
discussion to present a new special publication entitled, `The
Military Balance of Power in the South Caucasus.’

Welcoming the participants and attendees, ACNIS Director Richard
Giragosian explained that the new ACNIS report, the second in a series
of ACNIS Policy Briefs, examines recent shifts in the military and
security situation in the region, including a specific focus on
developments since the August 2008 war in Georgia. He further noted
that the report includes an assessment of the current state of the
Azerbaijani military, and an analysis of the implications for the
security of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh.

The discussion featured three main presentations, with ACNIS Director
Richard Giragosian offering a brief presentation on the `Shifting
Military Balance of Power in the South Caucasus,’ ACNIS Senior Analyst
Hovsep Khurshudian evaluating the `Impact of the Global Economic
Crisis on the Regional Balance of Power,’ and ACNIS Director of
Administration Dr. Karapet Kalenchian offering a presentation on the
`Political Military Problems of the South Caucasus Region.’ ACNIS
Senior Analyst Manvel Sargsyan also provided concluding comments.

Giragosian noted that `nearly eight months after a brief, but deadly,
war in Georgia in August 2008, the outlook for security and stability
in the South Caucasus remains far from certain,’ and that the war `had
dramatically altered the geopolitical landscape of the region,
consolidating a clear reassertion of Russian power and influence and
forcibly `resolving’ two of the region’s three formerly `frozen’
conflicts.’ He also stressed that `the Georgian war raised new doubts
over Georgia’s strategic role as the regional `center of gravity’ for
the West and effectively ended Georgia’s hopes to join the NATO
alliance.’

`But most importantly,’ he argued, `was the fact that the August 2008
war further demonstrated a dramatic shift in the region’s delicate
balance of power, which has already reconfigured the threat perception
and military posture of the region.’ More specifically, Giragosian
asserted that `although it is now clear that the shifting military
balance of power remains one of the most crucial considerations for
regional security and stability, the real imperatives are internal in
nature and depend far more on institutional legitimacy, the rule of
law and good governance, and on local economics and politics than
grand geopolitics.’

ACNIS Senior Analyst Hovsep Khurshudian then evaluated the `Impact of
the Global Economic Crisis on the Regional Balance of Power,’ noting
that Azerbaijan had based its 2009 state budget on the high price of
oil. He added that the drop in the oil prices since August 2008 had a
sharply adverse effect on the country’s economy, however, because
between 65-70 percent of Azerbaijan’s state budget relies on
energy-related income. Khurshudian also underscored that `even if
Azerbaijan’s state budget is reduced, this hardly will reflect any
change in the country’s military spending.’ But this point, according
to Khurshudian, can not be ruled out either, especially `if we take
into account that Azerbaijan’s leadership is intelligent enough to
understand that the current economic conditions in both countries is
such that any active military operation could destroy their
economies.’

For his part, ACNIS Director of Administration Dr. Karapet Kalenchian
presented an assessment of the `Political Military Problems of the
South Caucasus Region.’ He emphasized that `the regional neighbors
have huge armies, whereas the regional countries possess armed forces
that can withstand only one another, and, objectively speaking, they
can not stand against the military potential of the neighboring
countries.’ Therefore, Kalenchian argued, the political component of
stability assumes a pivotal role in terms of the security of the
regional countries. `In other words, the armed forces in the region
cannot be self-sufficient factors in the security of those countries.
And after the events that occurred in Georgia last August, Azerbaijan
would hardly carry out any military operation against Nagorno Karabagh
without the consent of Turkey, Russia, the United States, England, and
France, which are those countries that have huge interests in the
South Caucasus region. Also, we must not exclude Iran. And even if
Azerbaijan receives that consent, it will need to think considerably
before taking any military action. The Georgian incident is always
evident for all,’ Kalenchian stated.

Closing the session, ACNIS Senior Analyst Manvel Sargsian then
provided concluding comments and underlined the need to specifically
focus on the possibility of radical changes in the policies of `world
powers, including new US policy with respect to Russia and Iran.’
Sargsian went on to say that `Russia’s and Iran’s possible agreement
with new US proposals can substantially change the geopolitical
situation in the South Caucasus region, and this will definitely have
an impact on Armenia’s security.’

The formal presentations were then followed by questions, answers, and
a lively exchange among many leading Armenian analysts and experts, as
well as several officials and diplomatic representatives.

——————————– ————————————-

The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) is
a leading independent strategic research center located in Yerevan,
Armenia. As an independent, objective institution committed to
conducting professional policy research and analysis, ACNIS strives to
raise the level of public debate and seeks to broaden public
engagement in the public policy process, as well as fostering greater
and more inclusive public knowledge. Founded in 1994, ACNIS is the
institutional initiative of Raffi K. Hovannisian, Armenia’s first
Minister of Foreign Affairs. Over the past fifteen years, ACNIS has
acquired a prominent reputation as a primary source of professional
independent research and analysis covering a wide range of national
and international policy issues.

For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or
27-48-18; fax (37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected];
or visit

ARTSVIK MINASYAN NOT AFRAID OF COMPETITION
Nvard Davtyan

"Radiolur"
01.04.2009 16:39

Artsvik Minasyan, who heads the candidate list of the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun at the forthcoming municipal elections, told a press
conference today that the Party decided that he had to be on the top
of the list and he was to obey.

As for the fact that he is not very popular,

As for the fact that he is not well-known, Artsvik Minasyan said the
question will be solved during the election campaign.

According to him, it’s better to be less famous in the positive sense
than famous in the negative sense. Realizing the advantage of the
incumbent Mayor, Artsvik Minasyan is not afraid of competition. "I see
no problem id the rules of the game are maintained," the politician
said, meaning the use of the much talked about administrative levers.

"Only the President of the republic can guarantee that administrative
resources are not used. Of course, if we look at the legislation,
the electoral commissions should also oppose such behavior. I hope the
President of the republic will publicly declare that the administrative
levers should not be an election tool. At least in the elections to
the Yerevan City Hall the public should be allowed to vote based on
its will," Artsvik Minasyan said.

WEXLER, SKELTON, MURTHA AND HASTINGS SEND LETTER TO ARMENIAN AND TURKISH PRESIDENTS SUPPORTING NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS LETTER SUPPORTS ARMENIAN-TURKISH RAPPROCHMENT

States News Service
March 30, 2009 Monday

The following information was released by the office of Florida
Rep. Robert Wexler:

Today, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) and three senior Members of the
United States Congress sent a strong letter supporting Armenian-Turkish
rapprochement to Armenian President Serzh Sargsian and Turkish
President Abdullah Gul. In the letter, Congressman Wexler, Chairman of
the Subcommittee on Europe in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs;
Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO), Chairman of the House Armed Services
Committee; John Murtha (D-PA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Defense
in the House Committee on Appropriations; and Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL),
Co-Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
(the U.S. Helsinki Commission), expressed their approval of ongoing
Armenian and Turkish efforts to normalize relations.

It is critical that the United States and international community
support Armenia and Turkey during their ongoing efforts to normalize
relations and create positive dynamics in the Caucasus region," said
Congressman Wexler. "It is in the interest of the United States and
both Armenia and Turkey that differences between Yerevan and Ankara
are overcome and that a solid foundation is laid to enhance cooperation
and diplomatic relations between these two nations."

Congressman Robert Wexler is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe
and a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the
House Judiciary Committee. Recently, Congressman Wexler served as an
advisor on Middle East issues to President Barack Obama during his
2008 presidential campaign.