Author: Maghakian Mike

What a Night!
By Pattyl Aposhian-Kasparian

hat-a-night/
Apr 16th, 2010

Wow. What a night! After diligently planning for the last few months,
the Armenian Cultural Foundation hosted its Annual Banquet on Sunday,
April 11. A full capacity crowd of more than 700 people were in
attendance. The Master of Ceremonies, activist Charles Ghailian,
engaged the audience as this year’s theme, Together, We Serve and
Preserve, ran strong throughout the Program.

The lights dimmed and the crowd grew silent as a video was projected
onto four screens highlighting the accomplishments of the ACF family
in the past year.

The rest, anyone can report. Food was great. Crowd mingled. We turned
away attendees due to space constraints. We reached our fundraising
potential. It was a great event!

Above all this, there are two areas which deserve to be highlighted.

The Committee

The Keynote Address

The Committee was comprised of some of the community’s movers and
shakers. Each committee member was appointed for a reason – be it
fundraising, background, knowledge, clout, marketing sense or style.
One common denominator was the Committee’s `roll up your sleeves and
work’ mentality.

As the marquee event of the year, standards were to be upheld. Yet,
when the Organization continues to stress the importance of prudency
and efficiency, the Committee was faced with some tough choices. We
started with visions of gold-plated silverware, white glove service
and a 90210 zip code – all for a triple digit price tag. We concluded
with style, elegance and the comfort of home and exercised rationality
with chic sophistication.

Time Magazine called this era `The Decade from Hell’ and `when you are
going through hell,’ Winston Churchill advised, `keep going.’ That’s
what the Committee did. We kept going. In the face of one of the worst
global economic downturns in history, the Protocols, empty promises
from President Obama and a razor thin win in the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, we kept going. Blow after blow. Promise after promise.

The Keynote Remarks delivered by Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Bureau member Dr. Viken Hovsepian served as the highlight of the
event. I often want to thank our speaker – not for his volunteer hours
and leadership, but for treating the community as they should be
treated – as knowledgeable and passionate members with opinions. Our
organization does not look down at its members. It provides us with
resources, opportunity and education. The ACF empowers the community
and allows supporters to grow. It takes pride in watching them speak
and defend their own opinions.

That’s exactly what our Keynote Speaker did Sunday evening.

Our rights.

The importance of agreement

Our purpose

Our goal

The Armenian identity

Unity

Mentioned above were the running themes to Hovsepian’s remarks.

To any knowledgeable and unbiased supporter, it’s simple. It’s
powerful, structured, comprehensive, rational and valid. It’s the
building blocks we need to continue the activities we do for our
community.

In one of my past articles, I noted Helen Keller, `The most pathetic
person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.’

Thank you for our vision!

As for the organizing committee, on a personal note – I couldn’t imagine
working with you when we were first appointed. Now, I can’t imagine
working without you! Go Red Go!

Ahmadinejad Opens Nuclear Summit, Sayyed Khamenei Slams US `Lies’
Batoul Wehbe

ils.aspx?id=133785&language=en
17/04/2010

A much-awaited international two-day conference on disarmament and
non-proliferation of atomic weapons has started in the Iranian capital
on Saturday.

Top Iranian officials slammed `atomic criminal’ the United States and
called for its suspension from the UN atomic watchdog. Iran’s supreme
leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, in a message to the conference,
said the use of nuclear weapons was "haram", meaning religiously
prohibited, and branded Washington as the world’s "only atomic
criminal."

"Only the US government has committed an atomic crime. The world’s
only atomic criminal lies and presents itself as being against nuclear
weapons proliferation, while it has not taken any serious measures in
this regard," Sayyed Khamenei said in his message which was read out
at the start of the meeting.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad went a step further and called for
Washington’s suspension from the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) along with all other nations who possess nuclear arms.

Ahmadinejad called for a global supervision of nuclear disarmament.
"An independent international group which plans and oversees nuclear
disarmament and prevents proliferation should be set up," the
president said as he opened the conference. He said those who
"possess, have used or threatened to use nuclear weapons be suspended
from the IAEA and its board of governors, especially the US which has
used a weapon made of atomic waste in the Iraq war."

During the two-day conference, international politicians will put
their heads together to address the nuclear disarmament issue.
Representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and experts
from over 70 countries will also be taking part in the conference,
which has been called "Nuclear Energy for All, Nuclear Weapon for No
One."

Foreign ministers from Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, the Central African
Republic, Oman, Turkmenistan, Armenia and Swaziland participated,
while Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar was represented by
their deputy foreign ministers, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman
Ramin Mehmanparast said. Mehmanparast said a special aide of the
Chinese foreign minister, representatives of the United Nations and
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the chief of
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) will also be present.

"Due to the eruption of the volcano (in Iceland), some foreign
ministers from South America and Africa who had connecting flights may
come later or tomorrow. Among them are also some experts of weapons of
mass destructions and nuclear weapons," he added.

Iran’s atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi was quoted as saying in recent
days that the conference would serve as preparation for the next NPT
review meeting in New York early next month, which Iran’s Foreign
Minister Manouchehr Mottaki plans to attend.

By hosting the event, Tehran hopes to raise awareness in the
international community about the fact that nuclear weapon stockpiles
held by world powers are the most significant menace to world
security. Nuclear doctrines, atomic discrimination, globalization of
the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and double standards
applied by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in its
dealings with various states, are also to be high on the agenda. The
need to make `clean and peaceful nuclear energy’ available to all
countries is also expected to be a highlight of the event.

The conference comes just days after Washington held its biggest ever
nuclear summit. Iran criticized the 47-nation nuclear disarmament
summit in Washington hosted by US President Barack Obama, on the
grounds the United States holds one of the world’s largest stocks of
nuclear weapons.

At the US nuclear summit, Obama pressed China and other UN Security
Council skeptics to back a fourth set of sanctions against Iran for
its nuclear program but Beijing refused to come to America’s corner.

ARAM SAFARYAN HOPES THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROCESS WILL MOVE FORWARD
Nvard Davtyan

"Radiolur"
16.04.2010 16:06

"The Prosperous Armenia Party highly appreciates President
Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to the United States, his meetings there
and especially the speech at Woodrow Wilson’s tomb," head of the
Prosperous Armenia faction of the National Assembly Aram Safaryan
told a press conference today.

According to Aram Safaryan, President Sargsyan expressed the united
opinion of the Armenian political forces that Armenia will not make
any concessions on Karabakh conflict settlement and recognition of
the Armenian Genocide.

"What happened in Washington was a result of Obama Administration’s
ambitious policy to move the Armenian-Turkish process from the dead
point," Aram Safaryan said, voicing hope that the process would
move forward.

Aram Safaryan expressed confidence that the dialogue would go
ahead after April 24 as well. Commenting on the ratification of
the protocols, he said "if Turkish parliament adopts them without
reservations, the Armenian National Assembly will do so as well."

As for the Karabakh peace process, Prosperous Armenia member is
confident that as soon as Baku alerts that Azerbaijan is ready to
recognize the sovereignty of Nagorno-Karabakh, all other issues will
be discussed at the talks.

BAKO SAHAKYAN: I WANT TO BE SURE THAT OUR POLICE HAVE NECESSARY POTENTIAL TO SUCCESSFULLY HANDLE THEIR TASKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 16, 2010 – 13:39 AMT 08:39 GMT

On April 16, the Day of Police, NKR President Bako Sahakyan addressed
a congratulatory letter to police officers.

The letter reads:

"Dear police officers and veterans of police, I bow my head to the
memory of servicemen who perished defending their Motherland.

This traditional holiday is a good opportunity to estimate activities
implemented and action plans, think over omissions and achievements,
minimize derelictions, secure and develop success.

You have chosen a very difficult and responsible profession, which to
a great extent provides quiet and secure life to our citizens and is
always in the focus of public attention. It is especially important
for our young democratic republic and these very demands put before
the Police are mainly conditioned by it.

Protection of civil rights and liberties, maintenance of law and
order, struggle against criminality are the issues demanding daily
painstaking and vigilant work, high professionalism, civil courage
and human qualities. I want to be sure that our Police have necessary
potential to successfully handle their tasks.

The Artsakh Republic authorities will exert their best efforts to
improve social and working conditions of the policemen, modernize
technical equipment and make the service more efficient."

PROTEST ACTION IN GERMANY OVER FILM ON FICTIONAL "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE"

Journal of Turkish Weekly
April 14 2010

A protest action was conducted in front of the building of the
SWR broadcasting company Mainz city in Germany with regards to
demonstration of a film titled "Aghet" on ARD television, State
Committee for Work with Diaspora Organizations of Azerbaijan reported.

In this film about the fictional "Armenian genocide", the information,
which Armenians spread around the world and which is a lie, is
presented as a truth. Recently, a film lasting 90 minutes, taken in
2009-2010, was demonstrated in the Berlin Babylon Cinema.

The protest action in front of the TV, which presented this film to
a wider audience, was attended by leaders and activists of the Turkic
and Azerbaijani diasporas in Germany. The head of the Rheinland-Pfalz
Turkish Society, Neset Hizir, delivered a letter to the representative
of SWR television, Dr Simone Sanftenberg, on behalf of the Turkish
diaspora. The president of the European Azerbaijanis Congress, Bashar
Komur, did likewise on behalf of the Azerbaijani diaspora. They asked
Dr Sanftenberg to forward the letters to the SWR’s parent channel, ARD.

Speaking on behalf of the Turkish and Azerbaijani communities
in Germany, Neset Hizir told a press conference after the protest
that the peoples of the two countries opposed the screening of the
documentary Aghet by the reputable German TV channel ARD.

A black wreath bearing the words ‘Aghet – the biggest lie’ was placed
in front of the television building.

The protest outside WRD television in Cologne was organized by the head
of the Turkish community in Duisburg, Dr Ali Soylemezoglu, the head of
the United Azerbaijan Society, Elkhan Karimov, the Yunus Emre Society
and Turkish Brotherhood Society. Protesters made statements condemning
the demonstration of a film that propagates the Armenian lies.

OBAMA URGES ARMENIA, TURKEY TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ADVANCE NORMALIZATION PROCESS

news.am
April 13 2010
Armenia

U.S. President Barack Obama called Armenia and Turkey to make every
effort to advance the Armenia-Turkey normalization process and achieve
legislative ratification of the protocols," White House Press Service
issued a statement after the Presidents’ bilateral meeting on the
sidelines of Global Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

"Obama commended Serzh Sargsian for his courageous efforts to achieve
normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey and encouraged
him to fulfill the promise of normalization for the benefit of the
Armenian people," the statement says.

As NEWS.am reported previously, the meeting between RA President Serzh
Sargsyan and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama in Washington lasted for
45 minutes ended. U.S. and Armenian leaders discussed the development
prospects of Armenia-U.S. relations, as well as Armenia-Turkey
reconciliation. In addition, they exchanged views on regional issues
and the current stage of talks in Karabakh conflict settlement.

April 12, RA President also met with Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip
Erdogan on the sidelines of Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

MICHEL SULEIMAN: LEBANON UNDERSTANDS THE PAIN CAUSED BY DEPORTATIONS AND GENOCIDES

NOYAN TAPAN
APRIL 13, 2010
BEIRUT

BEIRUT, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. On the morning of April 12 Speaker
of Armenia’s National Assembly Hovik Abrahamian met with Lebanese
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Ali Shami. H. Abrahamian
is on a 3-day official visit to Lebanon.

A. Shami said that the Armenians play a great role in Lebanon’s
development, adding that they always want to promote relations in the
political, economic and cultural spheres, and the role of the embassies
of the two countries is of special importance in these efforts.

H. Abrahamian stated that such visits contribute to the strengthening
of ties between the two countries and peoples. He considered it
necessary to make cooperation in international structures more active
and encourage parliamentary diplomacy.

The sides also discussed Armenian-Turkish relations and the Karabakh
problem. H. Abrahamian reaffirmed Armenia’s willingness to establsih
relations with Turkey without preconditions, whereas the latter,
according to him, delays the ratification of the protocols signed
in Zurich. H. Abrahamian said that the Karabakh conflict should be
settled peacefully, within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. He
stressed the importance of recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh’s
people to self-determination.

In the words of Ali Shami, they agree that the problem should be
solved within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Then the RA National Assembly speaker went to Baabda where he was
hosted by President of Lebanon Gen. Michel Suleiman.

The interlocutors dicussed Armenian-Lebanese bilateral relations and
regional problems. Speaking about Armenia-Turkey protocols, H.

Abrahamian considered it inadmissible and blameworthy that Turkey
links their ratification with the Karabakh problem. According to him,
Armenia wants to have friendly relations with its neighbors, but this
cannot be done at the expense of the Armenian people’s dignity.

The Lebanese president considered the establishment of relations with
neighbors by means of diplomacy as desirable. In his words, Lebanon
understands the pain caused by deportations and genocides. He said
it is inadmissible to violate the rights of small states or nations. M.

Suleiman put emphasis on cooperation of Armenia and Lebanon in
international organizations with the aim of ensuring peace in the
Middle East and solving the Armenian problem.

H. Abrahamian said each people’s right to self-determination must be
protected. He declared that the most important issues in the Karabakh
conflict settlement are Karbakh’s right to self-determination,
the security of the Nagorno Karabakh people, and the status of
Nagorno Karabakh – it cannot be part of Azerbaijan. Armenia can make
compromises on other issues, he said.

The speaker of the RA National Assembly and the Lebanese president
also underlined the importance of developing relations between the
two governments, especially in trade and tourism.

Armenian-Lebanese economic relations were discussed in greater detail
during the meeting of Hovik Abrahamian and Lebanese Prime Minister
Saad Hariri.

H. Abrahamian spoke about the necessity to expand economic links,
noting that he would do his best for this purpose. He proposed holding
an Armenian-Lebanese business forum during the visit of Lebanon’s
prime minister to Armenia this September.

The sides also discussed the Armenian-Turkish relations. S. Hariri
said Armenia’s steps on their improvement are aimed at ensuring
security and stability in the region.

On the same day H. Abrahamian laid a wreath at the grave of the former
Prime Minister of Lebanon, martyr Rafic Hariri.

Then the delegation headed by H. Abrahamian went to the historical
Baalbek where they were met by the mayor, with whom the RA National
Assembly speaker had a short meeting.

Later on April 12 the delegation paid a visit to the settlement of
Anjar populated by Armenians. H. Abrahamian laid a wreath at Monument
to Musa Ler Residents, after which he met with local Armenians.

NOBEL LAUREATE IN CHEMISTRY AARON CIECHANOVER TO BE AWARDED WITH ARMENIAN EDUCATION MINISTRY MEDAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 12, 2010 – 17:35 AMT 12:35 GMT

On April 13, Armenian Education and Science Minister Armen Ashotyan
will award Nobel laureate in Chemistry Aaron Ciechanover with golden
ministerial medal.

Aaron Ciechanover (born October 1, 1947) is an Israeli biologist,
and Nobel laureate in Chemistry.

Ciechanover was born in Haifa, Palestine, a year before the
establishment of the State of Israel. His family had immigrated from
Poland before the Second World War. He earned a master’s degree
in science in 1971 and graduated from Hadassah Medical School in
Jerusalem in 1974. He received his doctorate in biochemistry in 1982
from the Technion (the Israel Institute of Technology), in Haifa. He
is currently a Technion Distinguished Research Professor in the Ruth
and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute at
the Technion.

Ciechanover is a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and
Humanities, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and is a foreign
associate of the United States National Academy of Sciences.

Ameriabank plans to expand onto international market

April 10, 2010 – 13:07 AMT 08:07 GMT

PanARMENIAN.Net –

Ameriabank CJSC is resolute to gain competitive strength at the
international market.

`The bank needs to be competitive in all criteria; not only in Armenia
but also at the international level,’ Ameriabank Board Chairman Ruben
Vardanyan stated on April 10, after concluding the deal on purchasing
the whole stock of Cascade Bank CJSC.

According to him, risk management needs to be developed to achieve the
goals set as well as bank personnel’s professional level should be
raised, product line expanded, IT innovation solutions developed and
used, international cooperation deepened.

Ameria CJSC Managing Director Andrey Lazarian added that no
interventions to international markets are planned in the coming two
years `but they are not excluded.’ `The bank is considering
possibility to enter Georgian, Turkish and Russian markets, as a
long-term outlook,’ he said.

Azg Daily, Armenia
April 8 2010

PRESENTATIONS ON "AMERICA’S RESPONSE TO THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: THEN
AND NOW" AT NAASR

The National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR)
will present a program entitled "America’s Response to the Armenian
Genocide: Then and Now," on Wednesday, April 28, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. at
the NAASR Center, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA.

This program reprises part of the recent conference "America’s
Response to the Armenian Genocide: From Woodrow Wilson to Barack
Obama" held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on March 13.
Conference co-organizer Dr. Bedross Der Matossian of MIT will provide
an introduction to the evening, describing the goals and results of
the conference, and will serve as moderator.

Two of the speakers at that conference, Dr. Suzanne Moranian and Marc
Mamigonian, will present slightly expanded versions of their papers.
Dr. Moranian, who holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of
Wisconsin, will speak on "America’s Foreign Policy and the Armenian
Genocide: 1915-1927." Moranian is a member of NAASR’s Board of
Directors and is President of the Armenian International Women’s
Association. She is the author of American Missionaries and the
Armenian Question: 1915-1927. NAASR Academic Affairs Director and
Vice-President of the Society for Armenian Studies Marc Mamigonian
will present "Turkish-Armenian `Reconciliation’ and the Road to
Obama’s `Medz Yeghern.’"

Admission to the event is free (donations appreciated). The NAASR
Center is located opposite the First Armenian Church and next to the
U.S. Post Office. Ample parking is available around the building and
in adjacent areas. The lecture will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m.

More information about the lecture is available by calling
617-489-1610, faxing 617-484-1759, e-mailing [email protected], or writing
to NAASR, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478.