Author: Khondkarian Raffi

SECRETARY GENERAL WELCOMES FORTHCOMING ENTRY INTO FORCE OF PROTOCOL NO.14

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13:59:01 – 19/02/2010

Interlaken (Switzerland), 2010-02-18

`Today Russia ratified Protocol No. 14 to the European Convention on
Human Rights and thereby confirmed its commitment to Europe. The
Protocol, already ratified by the other 46 member countries of our
Organisation, will come into force on 1 June’, said the Secretary
General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland.

`We are in Interlaken, at the initiative of the Swiss Chairmanship of
the Committee of Ministers, to discuss the future of the European
Court of Human Rights. This final ratification is the result of a
dialogue conducted with the highest Russian authorities and signals
the start of a genuine reform of the Court’, he continued.

The provisions of the Protocol will make the Strasbourg Court more
efficient and help reduce the backlog of applications submitted to it.

`Pending accession of the European Union to the European Convention on
Human Rights, which will also strengthen significantly the protection
of human rights on our continent, I invite European governments to
reaffirm their attachment to our fundamental values. I invite them to
support the reform of the Court and to ensure compliance with the
Convention and its case-law’, the Secretary General concluded. CoE
Yerevan Office reports.

Apigian-Kessel: Mitch Kehetian’s Book and Other Items

igian-kessel-mitch-kehetians-book-and-other-items/
By Betty Apigian-Kessel – on February 19, 2010

Mitch Kehetian’s name is well known in Detroit and throughout Armenian
Diasporan circles as the long-time editor of the Macomb Daily
newspaper and a contributor to the Armenian Weekly. Now Kehetian, the
newspaperman with ink in his blood, also has a book to his credit,
Giants of the Earth, which recounts the persecution and struggle of
the Armenian people.

Mitch is a first-generation success story. His family’s roots are in
Keghi, in historic Armenia, the distant land of his ancestors that he
visited on several occasions, one time in an effort to locate his
father’s sister, Parantsem. `I want the third generation to know what
really happened,’ he said, referring to the Armenian Genocide. `And
why the Armenians still seek justice.’ A community book signing is
eminent for this true son of Armenia who says his book is written
newspaper-style in plain talk. Look for announcements. The book is
published by Publish America and sells for $19.95. For more
information, visit

***

Con gratulations also to Hermine and Hovagim Manoogian – West Bloomfield
residents and members of the St. Sarkis community – who proudly welcomed
grandaughter Natali Karin Manoogian to their growing family in
December 2009. Happy Grandpa Manoogian glowingly says, `Hye azku
aghchig zavagov mun al pakhdavorvetsav.’ His way of saying, the more
Armenians born the better.

***

Celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on Jan. 16, Steve and Anne
Karadian were joined by daughters Stephanie Karadian and daughter
Julie and hubby Raffi DerManuelian (and children, David, Christopher,
and Emily) when a surprise limousine pulled up at their West
Bloomfield home to whisk them all away to celebrate the auspicious
occasion at the elegant Dearborn Inn.

***

Congratulations also to Diane Haroutunian-Brus and son Armen on their
new `baby’ Danny Dublin, a soft-coated Wheaten Terrier born on Oct.
26, 2009. Danny Boy is one of the most darling pups you will ever see,
the kind you want to pick up and just cuddle. His Mom says, `He has
taken over the household in a great way. He loves to go for walks and
chew! He amuses himself all day with his toys.’ Diane and Armen are
true animal lovers. Diane is also a Pampered Chef consultant and can
adjust home parties for this popular concept to accommodate your
schedule. Contact her by visiting

***

Rose Kehetian informs me how long before his passing, Vahan Mouradian
was made an honorary member of the St. Sarkis Ladies Guild – by virtue
volunteer driving four Allen Park ladies to meetings at the church for
numerous years. She adds, `He helped at all the fundraising events and
did everything all the other members did.’ Mouradian was the tall,
well-dressed gentleman everyone loved for his kind demeanor and pure
Armenian soul. Daughter Alice and son George are his legacy to
perpetuate his beloved Armenianism. Both are active in the St. Sarkis
community of organizations.

Kehetian also tells of petite 95-year-old Ladies Guild member
Keghouhie DerOvagimian, who is in church every Sunday where son Manoug
has been the Deacon for many years. Her daughter is Lucy Gurganian.
Rose says the elder DerOvagimian is a dynamo who does a lot at the
Ladies Guild baking sessions and teases the younger women who take a
sit-down rest with: `Inchou nsteres, yelir kordzeh.’ She’s got a great
sense of humor. `Only a Rose’ also reminds the community that they are
invited to attend the annual Lenten luncheon on March 10 in the church
hall.

***

This very interesting item was posted in the Dec. 31, 2009 Brantford
Expositor newspaper by staff member Heather Ibbotson, as received from
Brantford, Ontario friend Carl Georgian, son of one of the original
Georgetown Boys. Bill Darfler, a local historical researcher, is
seeking information to uncloak the mystery surrounding a 1914 roundup
of Turkish Muslim foundry workers and their subsequent internment at a
camp in remote Kapuskasing, Ontario. They are not to be confused with
the many Armenians who also worked in Canadian foundries. Darfler has
received a grant from the Canadian First World War Internment
Recognition Fund to study the experiences of ethno-cultural
communities affected by Canada’s first national internment operations
of 1914-20.

Apparently in Nov. 1914, 100 Turkish men were rounded up by city
police and relocated. Those that had Canadian citizenship were
stripped of it, and few records of them exist. Records of this time
period were destroyed in the 1950’s. Many of these Turks, oddly
enough, lived in Armenian-owned boarding houses.

I got in touch with Prof. Isabel Kaprielian Sullivan who grew up in
nearby Hamilton and who wrote the book From These Mountains.
Kaprielian Sullivan did extensive research for her book but she could
not add light to the mystery. Ned Apigian volunteered that his uncle
Mamigon Apigian – then a youth of only 14 – entered one of those Turkish
inhabited boarding houses and, according to reports, `contaminated the
food source.’ Mamigon Apigian’s parents and three young sisters were
slaughtered by the Turks in Keghi. Yes, he was this author’s father.

If anyone has information about this roundup of Turkish foundry
workers, please get in touch with me. Hopefully more on this later.

ARMENIA’S OMBUDSMAN TO TAKE PART IN MINISTERIAL FORUM ON EUROPEAN COURT REFORMS

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.02.2010 20:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan was invited
by the European Group of national institutions on human rights to
participate in the ministerial forum on European Court of Human Rights
to be held from February 18 to 19 in the Swiss city of Interlake,
press office of the Armenia’s Ombudsman reported.

The European group is an observer at the ministerial forum, but in
recent years has taken an active part in reforming the European Court,
suggesting many constructive solutions to a number of problems. In
Interlake the European team will send 3 representatives. Armenia’s
Ombudsman together with representatives of Britain and Ireland will
take part in the forthcoming ministerial forum.

LOCAL, ORGANIC PRODUCE DELIVERY AVAILABLE IN ARMENIA

Tert.am
12:43 ~U 17.02.10

Green Lane, an agricultural assistance NGO in Armenia, offers home
delivery of organic produce every week.

How does it work? The staff at the head office in Yerevan send a weekly
email to subscribers with the available produce and other food items
that can be ordered that week. Apart from the usual eggplant, carrots,
potatoes and cabbage, one can find such items as red curly lettuce,
cherry tomatoes, ginger, zucchini, and a variety of sprouts.

Other non-produce organic items include dry legumes, bread, flour,
eggs, tea and the top two most exciting items available (in our
opinion): soy milk and tofu!

In keeping in line with their ecologically sustainable vision, the
NGO also offers the option of having items delivered in paper and
reusable cloth bags (for an additional fee).

Furthermore, according to the organization’s website, the NGO assists
farmers with a number of initiatives aimed at sustaining rural life
and agriculture in Armenia. Some of the projects Green Lane is involved
in are capacity building for farmers on organic farming and low input
sustainable agriculture, working with Women Farmer Groups in Armenia,
and establishing and managing farmer associations.

EDITOR OF AZG DAILY HAKOB AVETIKIAN: ARMENIA IS PERCEIVED AS A RELIABLE PARTNER IN INTERNATIONAL FIELD

Noyan Tapan
Feb 16, 2010

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. While protracting the ratification
of the Armenian-Turkish protocols, Turkey will not withdraw from the
reconciliation process as it has numerous problems. Editor-in-chief
of Azg daily Hakob Avetikian expressed this opinion at the February 16
press conference. By his forecast, even if Turkey ruins this process,
it will not be strongly condemned by the international community.

As for Armenia’s position, according to H. Avetikian, the Armenians
have no opportunity to play various games: everything that they do and
say is definite and sincere. He added that this sincerity is valued
in the international field, and the big states perceive Armenia as a
reliable partner. Azg daily’s editor also forecast that in case of
collapse of the negotiations between Armenia and Turkey, the world
will see that Turkey is adamant, while Armenia will continue its
pretensionism-related activities.

Speaking about the speech that the Armenian president made in the
UK, H. Avetikian called it "complete and steadfast", noting that he
admired that speech. In his words, the Armenian public believes that
if a person expresses a high opinion about positive steps taken by
the president, it means that he flatters him. Whereas, according to H.

Avetikian, it is necessary to notice good deeds of both the opposition
and the authorities.

OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE MET WITH LEVON TER-PETROSYAN

Aysor
Feb 16 2010
Armenia

OSCE Chairman-in Office, Kazakh Secretary of State-Foreign Minister
Kanat Saudabayev who is in Yerevan has met with the NKR President
Bako Sahakyan in Golden Palace hotel.

Before that K. Saudabayev had had a meeting with the first RA President
Levon Ter-Petrosyan. As Levon Zurabyan the ANC coordinator told to
the journalists the initiation of the meeting with the ex president
was by the OSCE delegation.

L. Zurabyan informed also that on the meeting K. Saudabayev and L.

Ter-Petrosyan have discussed problems concerning the NKR conflict, the
Armenian – Turkish reconciliation process and inner political issues.

"We expressed our concern about the Nagorno Karabakh issue and the
Armenian – Turkish relations and also we stressed the problem of
democracy and the human right in Armenia", – L. Zurabyan said.

The reporter of Aysor.am informs that the meeting of the OSCE
Chairman-in Office and the NKR president still continues.

ACBA LEASING COVERS 96% OF ARMENIAN LEASING SERVICES MARKET

ArmInfo
15.02.2010

ArmInfo.Armenian ACBA Leasing, among the leasing companies in Credit
Agricole French bank group, has been recognized a leader by the level
of coverage of the leasing services market, company Deputy Director
Arsen Bazikyan told ArmInfo. According to him, the share of leasing
transactions of ACBA Leasing in the total volume of the leasing
transactions, signed by all the players in this market, made up 96%
upon the results of 2009. He said this indicator does not exceed
50% in any other region where the group is a shareholder of leasing
companies. A. Bazikyan thinks that such impressive results were reached
due to the high-efficiency marketing strategy, taking of efficient
marketing decisions, as well as absence of other players in the market.

To recall, ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank, which owns 54% block of stock,
is a founder of the leasing company. The services of ACBA Leasing are
also available through the branch network of ACBA-Credit Agricole
Bank parent bank which numbers 36 branches, 31 of which – in the
regions and 5 – inYerevan.

RECOMMENCING WAR BENEFICIAL TO NO ONE: TOROSYAN

Tert.am
13:55 ~U 15.02.10

"Azerbaijan has always spoken of war. There’s nothing new in his
[that is, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s] statements today,"
said former National Assembly Speaker and current MP Tigran Torosyan,
referring to the possible Armenia-Azerbaijan war.

According to Torosyan, it’s not that that country which has an issue
and which it attempts to resolve by means of war promotes war, but
rather, it begins it.

"The recommencement of a real war today is not beneficial to anyone,
[including] the international community most of all," he said.

PRESS RELEASE
UCLA Armenian Graduate Students Association
c/o Armenian Graduate Students Association
Kerckhoff Hall, Room 316
308 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Tel: 310-206-8512
Email: [email protected]
Web:

Andrew S. Behesnilian
President, UCLA AGSA
UCLA School of Medicine

Dearest AGSA Members and Friends,

This Friday, Feb 19th marks UCLA AGSA’s 8th Annual International
Colloquium in Armenian Studies. I strongly encourage everyone to
attend at some point during this day long event, located on our
beautiful UCLA campus at Royce Hall. Graduate students are flying here
from all around the world (literally) to speak and present here at
UCLA. Come and be enlightened!

Many thanks to the Colloquium Committee who has put in countless hours
organizing the event!

—

The Armenian Graduate Students Association at UCLA invites the public
to the eighth annual Graduate Student Colloquium in Armenian Studies
at UCLA on Friday, February 19, 2010. This day-long academic event
will begin at 9:30 AM and be held in the famous Royce Hall, room 314.

This year, the organizing committee has set out to continue the fine
tradition that began in 2003 with the launching of the first-ever
international colloquium in Armenian Studies developed specifically
for graduate students by graduate students. UCLA, a premier
institution in the growing field of Armenology and a leader in
interdisciplinary studies, is hosting this event to further foster the
development of Armenian Studies, facilitate interaction between
graduate students and faculty from various institutions, provide a
medium for the exchange of ideas, and contribute to the professional
and academic advancement of graduate students.

Papers from multiple fields will be presented, including history,
linguistics, comparative literature, theology, anthropology, and art
history. Presenters are graduate students coming from universities and
countries all around the world including University of Michigan, MIT,
Bilkent University in Ankara, Polish Academy of Sciences, Yerevan
State University, Yerevan Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography,
University of Pisa, California State University, Northridge and Queens
University in Kingston, Ontario.

This year, the organizing committee was led by Doris Melkonian, a
doctoral student in Social Research Methodology in Education. She was
joined by a number of graduate students, as well as faculty advisor
Dr. Peter Cowe. Graduate students from across many disciplines were
responsible for the individual aspects of planning the event. This
ranged from financing to program scheduling, facilities and
refreshments to travel and accommodations, as well as both academic
and media public relations.

Armenian Studies at UCLA began in 1960. The discipline was augmented
in 1962 with the appointment of Dr. Richard G. Hovannisian, current
holder of the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian
History. In 1965, language and literature was established on a
permanent footing with the arrival of Dr. Avedis K. Sanjian, who
guided the expansion of this area over the next three decades. The
Narekatsi Chair, founded in 1969 through the efforts of National
Association for Armenian Studies and Research, has the distinction of
being the oldest endowed chair at UCLA. The first chair-holder was Dr.
Sanjian and in July 2000 Dr. S. Peter Cowe was appointed as successor.
Since 1997 regular instruction in East Armenian has complemented
teaching in West Armenian: currently Dr. Anahid Keshishian is lecturer
in the former and Dr. Hagop Kouloujian in the latter. In 1998,
Armenian Studies was officially recognized as an undergraduate minor
and currently proposals are underway to institute the major.

The Graduate Student Colloquium in Armenian Studies is yet another
step in the development of the rich tradition of Armenian Studies at
UCLA. Organized by graduate students, for graduate students, it
provides an opportunity for students to actively and significantly
contribute to the academic environment on campus.

The colloquium is made possible, in part, by the financial
contributions from the Friends of the UCLA Narekatsi Chair of Armenian
Language and Culture Studies, the UCLA Center for Near Eastern
Studies, the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research,
and the departments of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures and Art
History at UCLA. The committee also received financial support from
the Campus Programs Committee of the Program Activities Board.

The event is free of charge and open to the public.

San Francisco Chronicle, CA
Feb 14 2010

USF student competing in Olympic slalom
John Crumpacker, Chronicle Staff Writer

Sunday, February 14, 2010

As it turns out, father does know best, at least when the father is
Dr. Armen Serebrakian of Novato.

The exercises and drills that the good ear, nose and throat doctor put
his son and daughter through as children led, in due time, to daughter
Ani making it to the Winter Olympics as a member of Armenia’s
four-member team.

"It’s kind of funny," 21-year-old Ani Serebrakian said. "My classmates
said this day was coming."

It’s here. Ani marched in Friday night’s Opening Ceremonies at BC
Place Stadium with her three teammates, the sixth country in a roll
call of 82 countries to have their moment in the indoor spotlight.

Serebrakian, a sophomore at USF and a Marin Catholic High graduate,
will race under the colors of Armenia in the women’s giant slalom on
Feb. 24 and the slalom on Feb. 26 at Whistler. Her Armenian parents
were born in neighboring Iran and emigrated to the U.S. more than 30
years ago.

Armenia, competing as an independent nation since 1994 after the
dissolution of the Soviet Union, has never won a Winter Olympic medal.
Serebrakian does not expect to be the first.

"I’m kind of still in awe that I’m here," she said. "I’m not
surprised, but it hasn’t hit me yet. I’m just really enjoying the
whole thing. My whole goal was to make it to the Olympics. Qualifying
for it, I feel I’ve achieved so much already. I’m excited to ski with
the best in the world and do my best."

Reaction to tragedy
Like other athletes in Vancouver – and, really, anyone involved in the
Olympics – Serebrakian was saddened to hear of the death of Georgian
luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, who died Friday in a training accident.

"We were so upset and sad when we heard," she said. "It was great that
they even came to the ceremonies. We’re going to go over to their team
and offer our condolences."

After marching into the stadium and taking her seat, Serebrakian said
she was so moved by the events of the day that "I sat down and cried."

Serebrakian’s two slalom events are considered safe by skiing
standards as they require technical skill in negotiating around the
gates with proper form and efficiency, rather than a healthy dose of
courage.

"Slalom is my favorite," she said. "I just really enjoy the whole
thing. It’s very quick. You’re hitting the gates. It’s very
therapeutic to me. It’s almost like boxing, because you’re hitting the
gates as you go downhill. Just like boxing with any kind of aggression
or anger, you want to win, so you put it out there."

Starting early
The young woman seen smiling and holding a small Armenian flag in the
Opening Ceremonies has been preparing for this moment since she was 2
years old, when her father put her and her brother Armon, now 22, on
tyke skis at Northstar-at-Tahoe. Dad had his kids racing when they
were 5.

Once she mastered the kids’ hill at Northstar, Serebrakian moved on to
Squaw Valley, where she continues to train.

"My dad got my brother and I skiing as soon as possible," she said.
"He himself was a skier. He’s a very athletic person. One of the
things he liked about skiing was it was for the whole family.
Eventually, he saw we were good enough learning to ski that we started
racing at age 5."

As kids, Ani and Armon were running up a hill outside their elementary
school at their father’s urging and later going through drills in
their middle school gym before the first bell rang.

"They would open it specifically for us so we could use it," she said.
"We’d whine, but we’d go. He’d get us doughnuts afterward."

Armenian roots
Serebrakian grew up American in every sense, a Marin County girl
excelling in school and on the tennis courts. However, a recent visit
to the old country kindled in her a sense of what it is to be
Armenian.

"The whole idea to go for the Armenian team began two years ago when
we visited the country for the first time," she said. "We kind of fell
in love with it. That brought us to qualifying for the Olympics and
here I am."

Serebrakian said her brother, who lives in Boulder, Colo., is also an
accomplished skier. He fell short of qualifying for the Armenian team,
however, spoiling what would have been a great story of skiing
siblings.

"I’m very privileged. Very privileged," Serebrakian said.

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