Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

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| 14:57:34 | 08-06-2005 | Social |

PARTICIPANTS OF THE MEETING BESIEGED THE PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE

This morning from 10:00 a.m. numerous policemen defended the Presidential
Residence from the participants of the demonstration. They were the
residents of several center streets (North Avenue, Buzand, Koghbaci, Erznka
streets and Kond) who are evicted from their houses because of the
construction works realized `for state needs’. They had difference posters
in their hands. Their main question to Robert Kocharyan was, `Where shall we
go?’ `We were evicted `for state needs’, said the other poster.

The residents of the North Avenue who have been struggling for the last 1.5
year to restore their violated rights turn to Kocharyan, `We have received
too little money with which we cannot buy houses. We are left shelterless’.
The 2 000 dollars given to each person during the eviction is not enough to
buy a house even in the suburbs of Yerevan. `I was given 3 500 dollars. What
can I do with that sum?’ said a 67-year-old woman who has lived most of his
life in the North Avenue.

Although there is no construction and eviction program in the Kond district
(yet), the residents of that district have reasons to join the
demonstration. `We have fears that tomorrow we will deserve the same fate’.
It is already the second year that in the Kond district the privatization
documents are not given to the residents, and young people returning from
the army or getting married are not registered in their houses. This will
provide a small number of people registered in the district and thus, small
sums of money given to people. By the way, in Kond about 130 thousand people
live today.

Yemenidjian quits MGM Mirage board to pursue gaming projects

LAS VEGAS SUN
June 08, 2005

By Liz Benston, [email protected]

MGM Mirage Director Alex Yemenidjian — a longtime lieutenant of
majority shareholder Kirk Kerkorian — has resigned from the company’s
board and intends to strike out on his own in the gaming industry.

Yemenidjian is the former chairman and chief executive of movie studio
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., which was recently sold to a consortium led by
Sony Corp. of America.

In an interview, Yemenidjian said he wants to be an owner rather than
simply an executive.

“In the next stage of my career, I prefer to be a principal,” he said.

He previously served as the former president and chief operating officer
of MGM Grand, the predecessor to MGM Mirage. Kerkorian brought
Yemenidjian over from MGM Grand to lead his movie empire in 1999.

Yemenidjian could become a potential competitor to his former boss, who
gained further influence when MGM Mirage acquired Mandalay Resort Group
for $8 billion last month and created the biggest casino company in Nevada.

He has known the billionaire investor for 16 years and has been a top
executive for Kerkorian for more than a decade.

Yemenidjian said he leaves MGM Mirage “with a sense of sadness, as so
much of my heart and history are tied up with this company.”

He wouldn’t specify his plans in the gaming industry, saying there’s
“nothing definitive at the moment.”

“I don’t feel geographically constrained,” he said. “I wouldn’t rule out
any particular opportunity.”

The casino business is a natural move, he said.

“I know a little bit about the gaming industry and I feel more
comfortable with it,” he said. “Ever since I have been in the industry I
can’t remember a bad time to pursue an opportunity.”

Yemenidjian will continue to serve on the board of Kerkorian’s Beverly
Hills-based charity, called the Lincy Foundation.

“We continue to be great friends,” he said of Kerkorian.

In a statement, MGM Mirage Chairman and Chief Executive Terry Lanni said
the company will “miss Alex’s wealth of experience and wise counsel” but
said the industry “will be stronger when he resumes his active involvement.”

MGM Mirage officials wouldn’t disclose Yemenidjian’s future plans or
could not be reached for comment by press time.

Deutsche Bank stock analyst Marc Falcone said he would expect to hear
details about the executive’s plans soon.

“He has been a very important part of the development of MGM Mirage over
the last 10 years or so,” Falcone said. “We think that he brings some
very important qualities and characteristics to the gaming industry.”

The New Anatolian, Turkey
June 8 2005

Quo Vadis EU?

by Nursun Erel

-Ankara watches developments carefully. After PM Erdogan’s US visit,
the govt is preparing visits to several EU member capitals
-During these visits a message of ‘Don’t place new conditions in
front of us’ will be given to European leaders

-Greek Cypriots are working very hard to add a ‘Turkey paragraph’ to
the EU summit’s final declaration
The government is preparing consecutive visits to European capitals
to follow up on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s U.S. visit. The
scheduled visits will start after the European Union summit in
Brussels on June 16-17. Erdogan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, and
Turkey’s chief negotiator to the EU Ali Babacan will go to Britain,
Germany, and Austria. During these visits, Turkey will declare its
concerns about the “privileged partnership formula,” which has been
bandied about lately, especially by French and German political
circles, as an alternative to full EU membership. The prime minister
and his top officials will also deliver to European leaders the
message not to place new hurdles in front of Turkey before its
negotiations start.

Greek efforts at EU summit

It is expected that the Greek Cypriots will push hard for a “Turkey
paragraph” in the final declaration at the upcoming EU summit in
Brussels. The Greeks want Turkey to open their harbors and airports
to Greek shipping and commercial airplanes. Greek Cypriot leader
Tassos Papadopoulos is putting his best efforts forward to reach this
target by talking to top EU officials in Luxembourg.

The rejection of the EU constitution in referendums in France and the
Netherlands, the shelved referendum in Britain, and controversy over
the euro are being carefully watched in Ankara. Sources closely
following these developments spoke to The New Anatolian about these
issues.

“Right after these developments it’s true that question marks
appeared concerning the future of the EU,” said one source. “In fact,
there may be some additional changes such as a change in government
in Germany after elections. That’s why the privileged partnership
formula for Turkey has been brought to the table and discussed so
often. But we are keeping our focus on full membership and minding
our own business. We won’t even discuss that formula, we simply
continue to work for our goal. What about the pessimistic talk over
the euro? Well, these are like the summer winds, they’ll only be
around for a short while. Enormous efforts and money were spent to
develop the euro, so it’s almost ridiculous to suggest abandoning it.
So now we are awaiting the completion of the upcoming EU summit.
We’ll first see the declaration, and this will be an important
indicator on our way to negotiations.”

Consecutive EU visits

Recently, statements coming from EU capitals such as ones proposing a
“privileged partnership formula” or demanding that Turkey withdraw
its troops from Cyprus as soon as possible and admit to the Armenian
“genocide” have been worrying Ankara. Turkish officials are concerned
that such talk may be an attempt to slow down Turkey’s negotiation
process, and have organized visits to several EU capitals to state
their positions directly to their European colleagues.

During the visits, Prime Minister Erdogan, Foreign Minister Gul, and
chief negotiator Babacan are expected to tell their European
counterparts: “Don’t expect further sacrifices from Turkey. If not,
there could be negative implications for the EU, because Turkey has
done everything asked of it up to now. If the message coming from
French and Dutch voters is translated to mean that they reject
Turkey’s membership in Europe, this is a problem that needs to be
solved by their governments. They were responsible for fostering
their publics’ opinions. They provoked the situation.”

STEADY GROWTH RECORDED IN ARMENIA’S BANKING SYSTEM OVER PAST THREE
YEARS

YEREVAN, June 6. /ARKA/. Steady growth has been recorded in Armenia’s
banking system over past three years, Chairman of the Union of Banks
of Armenia (UBA) Samvel Chzmachyan stated at a business forum of the
Black Sea Bank for Trade and Development in Yerevan. According to him,
a 29% rise in assets of Armenia’s banking system was recorded in 2004,
totaling 740.6mln USD. Total capital increased by 45.4% amounting to
130mln USD. The UBA Chairman pointed out that liabilities totaled
612mln USD, increasing 25.6%, credit investments increased by 22.1%,
totaling 300mln USD, and the banking system’s net profit totaled 32mln
USD. Chamazhyan said that a 86% increase was recorded in the volume
of transfers through Armenia’s banking system (626mln USD). He added
that evidence of the banking system’s efficient activities is also the
ratio between the profit and assets, profit and internal capital,
which made up 5.2% and 33.5% respectively in 2004. He reported that
the liquidity index of Armenia’s banking system is quite high, 44.6%,
which is evidence of bank’s stable activities and reliability.
Chzmachyan pointed out that Armenia’s banking system is working in
conformity with a number of international standards, such as
accounting standards and banking supervision and activity transparency
requirements. P.T. -0–

Fresno Bee (California)
June 3, 2005, Friday FINAL EDITION

Armenian home sweet home Fresno landmark to host Armenian-American
Citizens League convention.

by Vanessa Col n The Fresno Bee

More than fifty years ago, a tile-roofed Mediterranean-style building
surrounded by a flowing fountain and lush trees was built on a dusty
stretch of farmland east of Fresno.

As years passed, more buildings and wings were added, creating room
for about 130 residents in the California Armenian Home on East Kings
Canyon Road.

On Saturday, the Armenian-American Citizens League, the group that
founded the Fresno landmark, will celebrate its 72nd convention with
a banquet at the home.

“My father’s generation saw it was hard to take care of the elderly.
Our future is to support the Armenian community,” said Penny
Mirigian-Emerzian, secretary and former state president of the
Armenian-American Citizens League.

The group raises money to keep the home running and also for
scholarships to help college-bound students.

The league hosts the annual Moonlight Picnic, which features sizzling
shish kebabs or peda burger dinners, made with a blend of ground beef
and lamb. It’s done outside of its social hall, a few feet away from
the home.

Saturday’s event will feature an Elvis Presley impersonator and
dancing.

Armenian immigrants helped found the league to help the community
despite ethnic prejudice. The league decided to build the home for
the elderly after witnessing many of its older residents living alone
and with illnesses.

It purchased about 40 acres of farmland in 1950 for $35,000,
according to league archives. The home opened in 1952.

The home maintains a reputation as a quality place for the elderly to
receive assisted-living and nursing care.

“This is unique. It’s independent and a nonprofit home. … There
will be more demands for homes like this,” said Matthew Demchuk,
administrator of the home.

Most of the residents at the home are on Medi-Cal, Demchuk said.

About 135 employees, mostly nurses, work there, caring for about 130
residents who pay $120 to $152 a day.

Residents say they enjoy the attention they get at the home.

“The nurses are working all over the place. They have it nice and
clean,” said 87-year-old Ann Garabedian.

She said she especially likes eating lamb dishes served during summer
barbecues put on by churches or community groups.

The home is not just for Armenians; other residents said they chose
to live there because of its reputation.

“It’s one of the best I’ve heard about in Fresno County. The rooms
are fairly large,” said Harriet McEwen, 82.

“We get too much to eat,” added 87-year-old Marjorie Pettey. “Some
places starve you.”

Residents can sign up to go on nature walks or take a bus to Table
Mountain Casino. Sometimes, like on Saturday, entertainment comes to
the home.

Broadway legend and actress Carol Channing, star of “Hello, Dolly!,”
visited the home last year.

The reporter can be reached at [email protected] or (559)
441-6313.

INFOBOX

If you go

What: Armenian-American Citizens League banquet

When: 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: California Armenian Home, 6720 E. Kings Canyon Road, Fresno

Details: (559) 224-3561

GRAPHIC: PHOTOS BY DARRELL WONG/THE FRESNO BEE California Armenian
Home resident Harriet McEwen, left, talks with her sister Shirley
Harold in a visiting room Thursday. Harold visits her sister at the
home every week.
The home, on East Kings Canyon Road east of Fresno, has housed the
elderly for more than 50 years. Its founder, the Armenian-American
Citizens League, will celebrate its 72nd convention Saturday with a
banquet dinner at the home.
THE FRESNO BEE MAP — California Armenian Home See microfilm or PDF
page for complete details.
DARRELL WONG/THE FRESNO BEE California Armenian Home residents Lucy
Jamgotchian, left, and Rose Graham dance in the yard Thursday.

Pan Armenian News

ANDRANIK MARGARIAN DEPARTED FOR JAPAN

06.06.2005 03:14

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today the Armenian delegation headed by Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian departed for Nagoya, Japan, where EXPO-2005 World
Exhibition has opened, RA government’s press center reported. Today the
delegation members will visit the Nagoya Palace, the Temple of Atsuta as
well as historical and architectural monuments. Tomorrow Andranik Margarian
will visit EXPO-2005, where the National Day of Armenia will be held. The RA
Premier will attend the Japanese, Caucasian and other pavilions and
familiarize himself with the exhibits. Tomorrow the Armenian delegation will
make for Tokyo.

SERGE SARGSIAN: ARMENIAN-AMERICAN MILITARY COOPERATION HAS BEEN FAIRLY EXTENDED TODAY

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian-American relations develop by
rather good rates. RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian, Secretary of the
National Security Council attached to RA President, declared this at
his meeting with the delegation headed by US Senator Chuck Hagal with
participation of US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to
Armenia John Evans and Deputy Commander of US European Command Charles
Wald. Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Defence Ministry’s Press Service
that Serge Sargsian mentioned that the Armenian-American military
cooperation that started three years ago has been fairly extended
today. The same can be said about cooperation with NATO. Senator Hagal
thanked the Minister for efforts made in international struggle against
terrorism, Armenia’s participation in peace-making actions in Kosovo
and Iraq and stated that Armenian Armed Forces have succeeded today
thanks to reforms and establishment of democratic institutes. With
regard to Karabakh conflict’s settlement Serge Sargsian once more said:
“We are sure that the problem can be only solved by peaceful means
and the Minsk Group plays a great role here.”

CHILDER DROWNED

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| 18:16:03 | 03-06-2005 | Regions |

According to the Emergency Shirak region Administration, on June 3 at
about 2:00 p.m. from the Shirak region Krashen village the dead bodies
of 12-year-old Arthur Nahapetyan and 13-year-old Janik Nahapetyan
were taken to the Gyumri Austrian children’s hospital.

The brothers were drowned in the small pool of the village built last
year. The dead bodies were taken out of the pool by the residents
of the village. The Police Akhouryan department is investigating
the case.

Moving arms from Georgia to Armenia no threat to Azerbaijan – Fradkov

Interfax
June 3 2005

TBILISI. June 3 (Interfax) – The movement of some Russian army
equipment from Georgia to Armenia poses no threat to Azerbaijan,
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov told reporters in Tbilisi.

“I would not extrapolate any concerns,” he said.

Fradkov said Russia will withdraw its bases from Georgia in keeping
with the timetable set down and voiced confidence that with time
“everything will settle down.”

Over Half of Armenians Hate Azerbaijan, Poll Says

Baku Today
June 3 2005

54.9% of Armenians hate Azerbaijan, says a recent public opinion
poll conducted within the “Armenia and Azerbaijan as the crossroads
of neither war nor peace: overcoming stereotypes” project, Armenian
media reported. Next to hatred, 51.6% of respondents cited contempt,
48.3% anger, 33.6% indifference and 14% pity. Only 7.5% of respondents
said they fear Azerbaijanis and Azerbaijan.

The participants of the poll, conducted among 1,000 Armenian residents
in October-December 2004, mostly cited negative personality traits
inherent to Azerbaijanis, calling them ‘cunning, insidious, vile,
hypocritical, aggressive, impudent, warlike, nationalistic and
lazy’. 40.8% of respondents said ‘there are no forces’ in Armenia
that have a positive attitude toward Azerbaijan.

The mentioned project was implemented by the Armenian “Region” research
center of investigative journalists and the Azerbaijan Institute for
Peace and Democracy, with the support of the European Commission.

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