CONGRESS OF CANADIAN ARMENIANS TO HOLD EVENING IN HONOUR OF JOHN EVANS
Noyan Tapan
April 4, 2008
The Congress of Canadian Armenians will hold a special evening on April
19 in honour of John Evans, the Former Ambassador of the United States
of America to Armenia. As it is mentioned in the message provided
by the Congress, Evans sacrificed his diplomatic career by publicly
acknowledging the Armenian Genocide, an action that resulted in his
being recalled from Yerevan in 2006.
ROBERT KOCHARYAN: "ARMENIA SHOULD STIFFEN APPROACHES IN THE KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT"
Today.Az
s/politics/44048.html
April 4 2008
Azerbaijan
"Armenia should stiffen approaches in the Karabakh conflict settlement.
The due announcement was made by Armenia President Robert Kocharyan,
commenting on the announcement of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mamedyarov that Azerbaijan had not stiffened its position in the
issue of the Karabakh conflict settlement and it is now Armenia’s turn.
According to the President, Azerbaijan has recently tried to use the
internal political situation in Armenia to influence the negotiation
process on the Karabakh conflict settlement.
Azerbaijan’s such approaches will oblige Armenian side to be more
decisive in the principal issues that naturally any concessions are
impossible", Kocharyan said.
According to the President, it is necessary to respond by way of
stiffening approaches.
"Azerbaijan will naturally try to use such a situation. We should
realize that Armenia’s stability and growth rates will be the best
guarantee of our strong positions in the Karabakh issue", Kocharyan
noted.
AGO GROUP: ALLEGIANCE TO DEMOCRATIC VALUES OFTEN DEMANDS TOUGH APPROACHES
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.04.2008 14:56 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s Prime Minister and President-elect Serzh
Sargsyan met today with delegation of AGO group led by Ambassador
Per Sjogren , the RA government’s press office reported.
"The AGO group includes ambassadors from 9 states.
This testifies of friendly attitude toward Armenia and interest of
the Council of Europe in cooperation with your republic," Mr Sjogren
said, assessing the process of Armenia’s integration into European
structures as friendly and constructive.
The Ambassador pointed out to progress in legislative sphere
and submitted some proposals based on European principles and
standards. "Allegiance to democratic values often demands tough
approaches. Our proposals are meant to ease tensions, establishment
of talks with opposition and restoration of popular consent," he said.
"We never rejected dialogue. We negotiated with various political
forces before the presidential election," Mr Sargsyan said, for his
part. "Although the Republican Party gained votes sufficient for a
sole government, a coalition was formed. The authorities will proceed
with reforms engaging various strata of society. Armenia will remain
true to the policy of European integration."
The President-elect answered a number of questions regarding struggle
against corruption, reforms, Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
and perspectives of the Armenian-Turkish relations.
ARMENIAN-JEWISH EVENT IN BOSTON
AZG Armenian Daily
03/04/2008
Armenian Genocide
With the efforts of the Armenian Assembly of America and the Jewish
Council of community relations of Big Boston a dance titled "Out of
darkness" dedicated to the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of
1915 was performed.
In the performance delivered on March 22 participated well-known
dance groups "Liz Lerman Dance Exchange" and "Sayat Nova".
The performance presents mass violences of the modern world and
attaches importance to human compassion.
Leaders of Armenian and Jewish communities, also Israeli Consul-general
to New England Nadav Tamir were present at the event.
ACCORDING TO GAGIK MINASIAN, WE NEED POLITICAL SOLIDARITY IN COUNTRY TO EXECUTE BUDGET
Noyan Tapan
April 2, 2008
YEREVAN, APRIL 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The indices of this year’s first quarter
are lower than those envisaged by the budget, the reason of which is
the instable situation formed in the country. Gagik Minasian, the
Chairman of the RA National Assembly Standing Committee of Finance
and Crediting and Budget Issues, a member of the RPA faction, said
at the April 2 press conference. According to him, this is the first
case during the past 6-7 years, when the budget’s quarter indices
are so much lower than the envisaged ones.
G. Minasian considers that if the budget program fails to be executed,
the whole society will suffer and especially its vulnerable part. In
order to avoid it we need political solidarity and consent between
various strata of society and political forces. The government should
start implementing reforms of second generation, which, in particular,
presumes guaranteeing of an equal competitive fueld for all economic
entities and considerable reduction of shady economy. Home political
stability should be restored to solve these problems, without which
Armenia will lose the advantage it had over the other South Caucasian
countries in the past years.
G. Minasian gave assurance that the Millennium Challenge program
will not be suspended for Armenia. According to him, to have such
a stable partner as Armenia in the South Caucasus is beneficial for
the United States. In its turn, Armenia is also interested in normal
relations with the United States, which proceeds from the principles
of country’s complementarianism policy.
According to G. Minasian, all six points of the proposal made to the
Armenian government by Ago Group should be discussed first. According
to him, a mutual agreement can be achieved very quickly on part of
them, and it can take longer to come to an agreement on other points,
which are to be subjected to an expertise.
The deputy from RPA did not exclude the possibility of a dialogue
with first Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosian, "irrespective
of the position that pole has today." According to G. Minasian,
the coalition was created in the very result of the solidarity
proposal made by newly elected President Serge Sargsian. And though
coalition forces have different priorities, there is a common goal,
for achieving which they should make compromises. G. Minasian also
said that in difference to the previous one, this time coalition
forces will be completely responsible for government’s activity.
April 2, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 5th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Contact: Gaiane Khachatrian
Tel: (510) 987-9452
Fax: (510) 208-3576
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: <;
The American University of Armenia Corporation is seeking a full-time
Director of Development.
Description: The Director of Development is a key leadership position
responsible for the overall planning, implementation and strategic direction
of AUA’s development efforts, marketing and communications. The Director of
Development reports to the VP of Development and Government Relations, and
is in charge of managing and implementing fundraising activities to maintain
and strengthen a diverse funding base and achieve an annual organizational
budget of approximately $5 million.
The Director of Development oversees all aspects of development, including
annual planning and budget projections, cultivation of individual and
institutional donor relationships, grants management, annual appeals,
sponsorship, special events, membership, and other fundraising activities.
In addition, the Director of Development sets strategies for increasing the
organization’s visibility through marketing and communications activities
including advertising and outreach, enhancement of brand identity, public
relations campaigns, and development of print and web communications.
The Director of Development plans and implements an overall development
strategy for the University under the direction of the VP Development and in
consultation with the President. Writes funding proposals to various
governmental and nongovernmental agencies and institutions; prepares
narrative reports for contracts and grants; coordinates the preparation and
publication of brochures, pamphlets, and newsletters. Creates a core of
prospects for major gifts, and maintains active awareness of individuals,
corporations & foundations; organizes and addresses public gatherings;
electronic communication and solicitations.
Qualifications: Minimum 5-7 years experience and success working with
private and institutional funders, non-profit boards, committees, donors and
volunteers; must have a demonstrated ability to establish and maintain
effective, positive relationships with both internal and external
stakeholders. Successful track record in securing at least annual funding in
contributed revenue from individuals, government, foundations, and
corporations. Demonstrated success in developing marketing and outreach
strategies that result in increased visibility. Exceptional leadership,
interpersonal and management skills with demonstrated ability to achieve
results in a supportive, collaborative and empowering manner. Donor database
management experience is a plus.
Location: Pasadena, California or Oakland, California
Please send resumes:
American University of Armenia Corporation
Gaiane Khachatrian
Recruitment Coordinator
300 Lakeside Drive, 5th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Fax: (510) 208-3576
E-mail: [email protected]
AUA is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer.
BOYAJIAN: BLUE CROSS HAS AN UNHEALTHFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH ‘NO PLACE FOR HATE’
David Boyajian
Newton TAB
le/columnists/x1059922900
April 1 2008
MA
Newton – With health insurance now compulsory in Massachusetts, and
premiums high enough to cause altitude sickness, it’s inexcusable
that the state’s largest insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield, is still
misusing its subscribers’ money by sponsoring the alleged anti-bias
program known as "No Place for Hate."
Eleven municipalities – Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Lexington,
Medford, Needham, Newburyport, Newton, Northampton, Watertown and
Westwood – recently gave their NPFH program the boot. They discovered
that its creator and sponsor, the Anti-Defamation League, denies
the factuality of the Armenian Genocide committed by Turkey and
doesn’t want America to recognize that genocide. And they understood
that NPFH – the name is a federally registered ADL trademark – was
violating its own human rights principles by being affiliated with
a genocide-denying organization.
The ADL has hypocritically opposed acknowledgment of the Armenian
holocaust to win political points with Turkey, which has close
relations with Israel. In actuality, the ADL is a highly controversial,
ethnic-specific organization known to be focused on political lobbying,
not universal human rights.
So why hasn’t Blue Cross Blue Shield followed the lead of towns that
have severed ties to NPFH?
Here’s what we know. Several years back, Peter Meade, the recently
retired Blue Cross Blue Shield vice president, "was instrumental in
mobilizing Blue Cross" to become the state’s first official NPFH
corporation. And Meade sits – amazing coincidence No. 1 – on the
board of the New England ADL and received its Chairperson’s Award.
Meade also chairs the Greenway Conservancy, which will oversee future
upkeep of Boston’s Rose Kennedy Greenway. For some strange reason –
amazing coincidence No. 2 – he opposes the Greenway’s proposed Armenian
Heritage Park, which might include a small plaque that remembers
the victims of the Armenian Genocide. It’s an obvious conflict of
interest for a member of the genocide-denying ADL to sit in judgment
of anything Armenian. But so far the well-connected Meade has gotten
away with it, aided by a major Boston paper that won’t report that
conflict of interest.
And here’s amazing coincidence No. 3: Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Boston
headquarters is hosting this year’s board meetings of the Greenway
Conservancy.
How much has Blue Cross Blue Shield been spending on NPFH programs?
It won’t give me a figure, and I can guess why. Blue Cross Blue Shield
was recently in the spotlight for the controversial $16.4 million
retirement package it lavished on ex-Chairman William Van Faasen.
Interestingly, Van Faasen declared in 2001 that Blue Cross Blue
Shield was "pleased [to] assist the ADL" with NPFH. Which brings us
to amazing coincidence No. 4: Van Faasen received the ADL’s coveted
Maimonides award.
Another Blue Cross Blue Shield executive, Vice President Fredi
Shonkoff, "helped spearhead" the company’s designation as NPFH. How
might that have happened? Amazing coincidence No. 5: Shonkoff sat on
the ADL’s board, along with Peter Meade.
Are you getting the feeling that the ADL and its board members and
friends have been throwing their weight around inside Blue Cross Blue
Shield, the Greenway Conservancy and the state’s NPFH municipalities?
Think of the powerful ADL as the hub of an enormous wheel with these
spokes: NPFH – Blue Cross Blue Shield – Shonkoff – Van Faasen –
Meade – the Greenway Conservancy – opposition to the Armenian Park –
denial of the Armenian Genocide – Turkey.
Had a Holocaust-denying organization created and sponsored NPFH,
Blue Cross Blue Shield would long ago have cut ties with both of them.
Blue Cross Blue Shield apparently believes Armenians and their genocide
do not deserve the same respect.
And, yes, the ADL still denies the Armenian genocide. Last August, ADL
National Director Abe Foxman deliberately used ambiguous phrases such
as "tantamount to genocide" and language that parroted Turkey’s line
that the mass murder of Armenians from 1915-23 was not intentional,
but rather just an unfortunate "consequence" of wartime conditions.
Blue Cross Blue Shield is squandering not only its subscribers’
premiums but also the reputations of a 70-year old health-care
institution and its dedicated employees. One hopeful sign: Blue Cross
Blue Shield told me, "Each year we carefully evaluate our commitment
to the NPFH program."
Though Massachusetts treats Blue Cross Blue Shield as a nonprofit,
the feds consider it for-profit. Since corporate contributions to
groups such as NPFH are tax-deductible, everyone is paying for NPFH.
And if you’re a Blue Cross Blue Shield subscriber, as thousands in
Watertown surely are, you’re shelling out even more.
Turkish doctors experimented on Armenians during the genocide just
as German doctors did on Jews during the Holocaust, according to
a study published in "Holocaust and Genocide Studies." Would any
network of doctors tolerate a health-care corporation affiliated with
an organization that denied or diminished the Holocaust? Of course not.
Blue Cross Blue Shield network doctors, therefore, should insist that
Blue Cross Blue Shield cease participation in all ADL programs.
Blue Cross Blue Shield needs to drop its official NPFH designation,
stop misusing its members’ precious health-care dollars on NPFH and
sever ties with the ADL.
SERGE SARGSSYAN MEETS WITH BUSINESSMEN
ARKA
March 31, 2008
YEREVAN, March 31. /ARKA/. Armenia’s president elect, prime minister
Serge Sargssyan held another meeting with the representatives of small
and medium-sized businesses, NGOs and associations representing
business interests. The meeting was also attended by heads of
ministries and departments involved who reported on the fulfilment
process of the tasks they had been instructed with at the March
15 meeting.
The sides exchanged views on the problems facing the small and medium
businesses, their possible solutions and sector development projects.
Sargssyan stressed the importance of small and medium businesses in
Armenia’s economy and pledged to work consistently for revelation of
the sector’s problems and creation of favourable business conditions.
Sargssyan also pledged to hold such meetings unless an agreement on
solutions to all the sector’s problems is reached.
Deputy Chief of the RA State Tax Service reported that pursuant
to the premier’s instruction the Chamber of Industry and Commerce
had organized a discussion on the legal status of small and medium
businesses, tax and administrative issues. Over 20 public organizations
and associations, ministries, departments and parliament members
attended the discussion.
The discussion topics on agenda were divided into four groups
comprising accounting and tax, administrative problems, document
circulation and small business problems.
Sargssyan issued an instruction to coordinate the protocol of
discussions with all the sides involved specifying terms for settlement
of each problem.
In case there are issues on which the sides fail to agree another
such meeting will be held.
Today, Azerbaijan
March 30 2008
Eldar Sabiroglu: "Ceasefire regime is mainly violated in Aghdam,
Khojavend, Terter, Fizuli and Tovuz directions"
30 March 2008 [16:13] – Today.Az
Ceasefire has become more intensive due to the violations by Armenia.
The due announcement was made by spokesman for Azerbaijan’s Ministry
of Defense Eldar Sabiroglu at a press conference.
He noted that ceasefire is mainly violated in Aghdam, Khojavend,
Terter, Fizuli and Tovuz directions. He said ceasefire in Geranboy,
Qazakh and Jebrail directions is not frequent.
"In all cases the enemy gets worthy response", Sabiroghlu announced.
The spokesman noted that three monitorings were held last month-in
direction of Yusifjanly village of Aghdam, Gapanly village of Terter
and Garakhanbeyli village of Fizuli.
"No incidents have been recorded during the monitoring. We have
previously noted that Armenia does not violate ceasefire during the
monitoring and fires at the positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces
upon its completion. This has become a tradition", Sabiroglu said.
/Day.Az/
URL:
ERDOGAN’S PRESS CONFERENCE FAILED
AZG Armenian Daily
29/03/2008
Armenian Genocide
Joint press conference of Turkish and Bulgarian Prime Ministers Regep
Tayip Erdogan and Sergey Stanishev after their meeting was failed by
the efforts of national ATAKA party. Leader of ATAKA Volen Siderov
together with five MPs tried to ask some questions to Turkish Prime
Minister some of them connected with the Armenian Genocide.
To recall, Bulgarian ATAKA party proposed a resolution to the country’s
parliament to recognize the Armenian Genocide. But for the third time
the Bulgarian parliament rejected to recognize the Armenian Genocide,
"Noyan Tapan" agency reported.
Instead, as "Cyprus Armenians" website informed, Bulgarian capital
Sofia is officially going to recognize the Armenian Genocide.