Author: Khoyetsian Rose

PRESS RELEASE
ZORYAN INSTITUTE OF CANADA, INC.
Suite 310
Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
Tel: 416-250-9807
Fax: 416-512-1736
E-mail: [email protected]

DATE: February 27, 2008
CONTACT: Aren Sarikyan

STUDENTS COMPETE FOR ENROLLMENT IN HUMAN RIGHTS AND GENOCIDE COURSE

Toronto, Canada – The International Institute for Genocide and Human
Rights Studies has already received ten applications from several
countries for its Genocide and Human Rights University Program. "This is
remarkable," said Executive Director, George Shirinian, "as we have not
yet released the course syllabus or faculty list for 2008."

There is no doubt that attending the program can be a profound
experience, or as one student described it "an immense one." She
continued to say that "discussions beyond the classroom inspired me a
great deal. Emotionally and intellectually, I am leaving this course
with more drive.You cannot learn about genocide and leave it be – I must
continue, I feel a responsibility to use my knowledge." It is this
message, being spread by more than 175 students and scores of professors
over the past seven years that leads students from all over the world to
line up in order to participate in this program and engage in a
systematic study of genocide and the means of its prevention.

The GHRUP is a comprehensive, graduate-level seminar taught by nine
leading experts in their fields. Incorporating genocide theory, history,
sociology, political science and international law, it explores through
a comparative analysis of major case studies and special themes such
issues as:

. The Foundations of Human Rights
. The Causes of Genocide
. The Methodologies of Genocide
. The Consequences of Genocide
. Genocide and International Law
. Genocide Denial
. Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation
. Genocide Prevention

"We always hear that that this pioneering and comparative course, and
working with the top scholars, empowers and prepares students to be able
to teach the subject to others," Torrey Swan, Program Coordinator said.
"Consequently we have seen many continue on in the field as scholars,
educators, activists, and policy-makers."

Applicants must be current or recent university students with a minimum
of three years of undergraduate experience. Details and registration
information are available on the program’s website,
or by emailing [email protected]. There
are a limited number of scholarships available. The course is available
to University of Toronto students for three graduate semester credits
and similar arrangements may be made with other institutions. The GHRUP
will be held in Toronto, July 28-August 8, 2008.

The International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (A
Division of the Zoryan Institute) is dedicated to the study and
dissemination of knowledge regarding the phenomenon of genocide in all
of its aspects. This is achieved through the GHRUP and publication of
Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal, in
partnership with the International Association of Genocide Scholars and
University of Toronto Press.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Feb. 26, 2008

Armenia tells poll protesters to end demonstrations

The authorities in the Armenian capital on Monday told crowds
protesting against the result of last week’s presidential election
for the sixth successive day to end their rallies.

Up to 25,000 people have gathered in Yerevan’s main square every day
since the Feb. 19 election demanding a re-run of the poll, which they
say was rigged in favor of Prime Minister Serzh Sarksyan.
Sarksyan officially won 53 percent of the vote against 21.5 percent
for his nearest rival, former president Levan
Ter-Petrosyan."Organizers have to stop arranging these unsanctioned
demonstrations," Yerevan’s city administration said in a statement.
"The city transport system cannot work and the rallies are infringing
people’s right to travel and move freely." Hundreds of police watched
the crowd, which remained peaceful.

Ex-Soviet Armenia lies on the western fringes of the Caucasus, which
carries a pipeline that pumps oil from the Caspian Sea to Europe.
Western monitors said the election process could be improved but was
broadly in line with Armenia’s international commitments.

Earlier in the day the Foreign Ministry confirmed that it had fired
seven diplomats for siding with the protesters, and said it was
unethical for the diplomats to involve themselves with politics. Last
week the deputy prosecutor-general joined the protests Sunday’s
rally, which lasted for more than five hours, was attended by around
20,000 people — fewer than the 35,000 who turned out on Saturday. "
Levon is president – victory!" was one of the rally cries. Protesters
ignored police requests to disperse.

Security services said that amongst the opposition figures arrested
early on Sunday was Aram Karapetyan, the leader of the New Times
Party, who had backed Ter-Petrosyan’s campaign.

GAGIK JHANGIRIAN, SMBAT AYVAZIAN AND ARAM KARAPETIAN TO BE SET FREE TODAY

Noyan Tapan
Feb 25, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Today Gagik Jhangirian, the former
Deputy Prosecutor General, Smbat Ayvazian, a member of the political
board of the Republic party, and Aram Karapetian, the Leader of the
Nor Zhamanakner (New Times) party, will be set free. This information
was provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent from the pre-electoral
headquarters of Levon Ter-Petrosian.

IRAN TO SUPPLY 10 PERCENT OF GAS MARKET IN NEXT 20 YEARS

IRNA
Feb 20
Ahvaz

Iran-Gas-Export

Managing director of Iran’s National Gas Company said on Wednesday
that Iran will become supplier of 10 percent of the world gas market
in the next 20 years, compared with the current figure which stands
at one percent.

Talking to reporters, Reza Kasaeizadeh said that Iran currently
exports gas to Armenia and Turkey thanks to the achievements of the
Islamic Revolution.

He said that Iran’s gas export will increase when the South Pars 17,
18 and 19 phases are developed by 2013.

"Iran is producing 85 percent of heavy compressors and 45 percent of
all turbines and is now self-sufficient," he added.

Kasaeizade said that 76 percent of Iranians now enjoy the gas for
household utility adding that no village had an access to tapped gas
before Islamic Revolution.

He said that the US sanction on Iran is an opportunity for the domestic
companies to develop and also use domestic potentials.

In addition, the level of natural gas production is now 447 million
cubic meters compared with 36 million cubic meters in 1979, he added.

Despite having rich gas reserves after Russia in the region, Iranians
must not follow extravagance in gas consumption pattern, asserted
Kasaeizade.

He added that rls 32,000 billion has been spent on refining,
transporting and distributing the gas over the past 10 months of the
current Iranian year.

TER PETROSYAN’S SUPPORTERS MARCH TOWARD RA CEC

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.02.2008 17:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Supporters of ex-President Levon Ter Petrosyan
launched a march toward the RA CEC building.

"Today’s march is peaceful. We urge the Central Electoral Committee to
assess what they call elections. We must not yield to provocations. We
should be confident and peaceful," Impeachment bloc leader Nikol
Pashinyan told the protesters

Ter-Petrosyan said his supporters have an exact program. "Let them
not doubt that will struggle till the final victory. We plan a steady
and confident struggle," he said, adding that today his supporters
are celebrating victory like in 1996, 1998 and 2003, Novosti Armenia
reports.

The demonstrators will route down Mashtots Avenue, Amiryan street,
Republic Square, Nalbandyan and Koryun streets toward the CEC premises.

GEORGIAN PRESIDENT AND CHARLES AZNAVOUR CONGRATULATE SERZH SARGSIAN ON HIS VICTORY

ARMENPRESS
Feb 20, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS: Georgian President Mikhail
Saakashvili congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsian on
his victory in the presidential elections wishing him success in his
new office.

Governmental press service told Armenpress that world-famous Charles
Aznavour also congratulated Serzh Sargsian wishing him success.

Earthtimes, UK
Feb 19 2008

Opposition allegations mar Armenian presidential vote – Summary
Posted : Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:34:20 GMT
Author : DPA

Yerevan, Armenia – Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian led in early vote
tallies in Armenia’s presidential elections Tuesday, but it was
unclear if he would make the 50-per-cent barrier needed to win
outright. With just over 36 per cent of the votes counted six hours
after polls closed, Sarkisian lead the race with 41 per cent of the
vote, according to the Central Election Committee (CEC).

But the official results put Sarkisian, the favoured successor of
incumbent Robert Kocharian, under the 50 per cent needed to avoid a
run-off with the second-place finisher after a bitterly contested
election campaign.

Local media widely announced Sarkisian’s outright victory at the
close of voting Tuesday based on a survey by British pollster
Populus, which showed Sarkisian winning with 57.1 per cent, provoking
opposition cries of vote rigging.

The CEC reported a high 69.26-per-cent voter turnout in the small
Caucasus state of 3.2 million.

Sarkisian’s fiercest challenger, former president Levon
Ter-Petrosian, accused the government of "mass bribing, ballot
stuffing, voting list falsifications" and a slew of other violations,
including the beating and kidnapping of his supporters.

"Many dirty things are happening. There have been many concrete
violations," Ter-Petrosian told journalists after casting his ballot
Tuesday afternoon.

Ter-Petrosian was running even with another opposition candidate,
Artur Baghdasarian. Both had 10-12 per cent of the vote, according to
the CEC’s preliminary results.

Ter-Petrosian, who made a dramatic comeback after his resignation in
1998, pledged to hold a protest rally in Yerevan on Wednesday,
raising fears of mass post-election protests.

The opposition candidate’s final campaign rally Saturday drew a crowd
of about 30,000 people to the capital Yerevan’s theatre square.

Earlier in the day, Sarkisian downplayed the chances of a run-off
election.

"I believe that the most important thing is not the number of
rounds," he told reporters. It is "to end the elections today and to
have a lot of trust in the election results."

Sarkisian is expected to keep the line set by Kocharian during his
decade at the helm, particularly his hawkish foreign stance and close
strategic partnership with Russia.

Armenia has emerged as a strategically important region, lying as it
does along gas routes from the energy-rich Caspian Sea region to
Europe and being a close partner of Iran. Western powers fear
instability in the region could disrupt gas routes.

Facing blockades along two of its borders over a territorial conflict
with Azerbaijan, and with Turkey angered by Yerevan’s lobbying for
international recognition of the killings of Armenians by the Turkish
Ottoman Empire as genocide, Armenia is reliant both on Western and
Russian aid.

But a current construction boom and steady growth in the small
post-Soviet state were seen as the main factors in favor of the
powerful prime minister, whose Republican Party of Armenia swept
recent parliamentary elections in the country.

Outside his polling station Tuesday Sarkisian said, "The government
was formed nine months ago and we have since then achieved good
results. I do not know of any need for essential changes."

His words were echoed by voters outside polling stations in the
capital.

Vladimir, a 75-year-old pensioner, said simply he was voting to "keep
the old power, to keep stability," while Arar, an architect in his
30s, pointed to cranes towering over the street: "The country is
growing."

Kocharian, 53, who is barred from a third term, is expected to retain
power, but when asked about his future plans Tuesday said "that is
the biggest secret in Armenia today."

Despite progress, over a quarter of Armenians live below the poverty
line and widespread perceptions of corruption dog the top candidates.

"Our choice is between bad and worse," was a phrase repeated by
voters on election day.

Such sentiment benefited former parliamentary speaker Baghdasarian, a
39-year-old populist politician who is calling for Armenia’s
accession to the EU and NATO.

In all, nine candidates appear on Tuesday’s ballot.

The United States has threatened to withhold 235 million dollars in
aid and further diplomatic relations with the European Union may also
be contingent on the fairness of Tuesday’s vote, which was monitored
by 620 international observers.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s monitoring
mission was to deliver its assessment on Wednesday afternoon.

KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE OPENS PANDORA’S BOX IN CAUCASUS

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.02.2008 16:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Kosovo’s independence opens Pandora’s box
and re-opens wounds in the countries that emerged after the USSR
decline. Kosovo is an urgent topic in at least six states: Azerbaijan,
Armenia, Georgia, Moldavia, Ukraine and Russia. Some of them hope
for the United States or the European Union, Now, they can incline
to Moscow, which can either encourage separatism on the territory of
its neighbors or help them to maintain territorial integrity for a
certain price," El Pais newspaper reports.

The Moldavian government expressed "deep concerns"
yesterday. "Unilateral proclamation of Kosovo’s independence is a
serious destabilizing factor in Europe and a dangerous stimulus for
separatist movements in all conflict zones," it said in a statement.

Georgia’s President Mikheil Saakashvili said he will rebuff any
attempt to recognize independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Artur Baghdasaryan: New development of situation in Kosovo to positively
affect Karabakh conflict settlement process

2008-02-19 11:21:00

ArmInfo. New development of the situation in Kosovo will positively
affect Karabakh conflict settlement process, "Orinats Yerkir" party
leader, RA presidential contender Artur Baghdasaryan told journalists
today after voting at the election precinct 10/29 in the Yerevan
secondary school N19 after Nikol Aghbalyan.

"Of course, the situation in Kosovo will positively affect the
situation on Karabakh conflict settlement", A. Baghdasaryan
emphasized. To recall, the parliament of Kosovo declared of its
independence from Serbia on February 17.

PRESS RELEASE
Haigazian University
From: Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director
Mexique Street, Kantari, Beirut
P.O.Box. 11-1748
Riad El Solh 1107 2090
Tel: 01-353010/1/2
01-349230/1

New Students Follow a Thorough Orientation Program at Haigazian University

Beirut, Friday, February 15, 2008 – Newly enrolled students followed a
thorough one-day-orientation program at Haigazian University, a program
designed to introduce undergraduates to all aspects of University life .

Ms. Najoie Nasr of the Business Administration department, and Ms. Halby
of the Biology department, introduced the students to Academics: how to
achieve academic progress, the grading system and examinations, changes
in major, learning styles and test preparations.

Director of the Orientation Program, Dr. Berge Traboulsi, tackled the
question of ethics and the practice of research, and how to conduct
documentation

Students got also trained in academic computing services and
applications, a presentation conducted by the Information Technology
department.

The Student Life team presented the co-curricular activities in the
University, the student clubs, and the Spiritual life activities, as
well as the University Counseling Center, directed by Dr. Hanin Hout,
provided guidelines to good communication, positive thinking and
physical and mental health.

In the same evening, Graduate students too had the opportunity to get a
quick orientation, and to meet with the President of the University,
Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, the Deans and the Chairs of various
departments.

Defining the mission of Haigazian University as a task of refining,
President Haidostian said that the education provided by Haigazian
University will hopefully refine the students’ minds, their worldview,
their evaluation of values, their commitments and priorities, and thus
their hearts.