Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

PRESS RELEASE

Analysis Research & Planning for Armenia (ARPA)
18106 Miranda Street, Tarzana, CA 91356
& Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America (AESA)
417 W. Arden Ave., Suite 112C, Glendale, CA 91203
Contact: Hagop Panossian
Tel: (818) 586-9660
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

ARPA Institute and Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America
present the Lecture/Seminar “Advances in Implantable Medical Device
Technologies” on Thursday, May 26, 2005 at 7:30 PM in the Merdinian
School Auditorium. The presenter is Dr. Varaz Shahmirian.

The address is 13330 Riverside Dr., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403.

Directions: On the 101 FY Exit on Woodman, Go North and Turn Right
on Riverside Dr.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices have been successfully used in
treating several diseases such as heart failure and sudden cardiac
arrest, diabetes, deafness, neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s
disease. These devices include pacemakers, cochlear implants, neuro
stimulators, and implantable drug delivery pumps used in pain therapy
and insulin delivery. These devices are implanted in different parts
of body depending on the therapy, and consist of highly miniaturized
electronics, electrical leads, wireless communication modules,
electromechanical assemblies, and sophisticated algorithms. They
are packaged and sealed in a fully biocompatible titanium case and
operate on a custom battery for several years. This lecture will
present an overview of several of these implantable medical devices
and the innovative technologies that are approved by the FDA, or are
currently under clinical evaluations.

Varaz Shahmirian: is a Senior Engineering Director at Medtronic
MiniMed in Northridge, CA. He received his BS and MS from Michigan
Tech University, and Ph. D. in Electrical Engineering from Drexel
University in 1987. He joined Signal Technology Inc in Santa Barbara,
where he was engaged in algorithm development for speech signal
processing. In 1992, he joined Siemens Medical Systems in Seattle,
WA as Senior Scientist working on diagnostic ultrasound system design
and development. In 1996 he joined the start up Medical Research Group,
in Sylmar, CA, as Engineering Director where he successfully led the
efforts in development of implantable insulin delivery system through
clinicals and approval in Europe. The company was acquired by Medtronic
MiniMed in 2001. Dr. Shahmirian has continued his focus on research
and development of the next generation implantable drug delivery
systems. He holds 15 patents in diagnostic ultrasound technology and
implantable medical devices, and has several journal and conference
publications. He is a member of IEEE Biomedical and Signal Processing
Societies, Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation,
and the American Association for Advancement of Science. He is a past
president of AESA and a member of ARPA Board of Directors.

For Information Please call Dr. Hagop Panossian at (818)586-9660

Turkey Has Not Committed Genocide Throughout Its History, Erdogan

Published: 5/19/2005
Turkishpress.com

ANKARA (AA) – “Turkey has not committed genocide through its history,
so it is impossible for us to accept such accusations”, Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

Addressing the gathering of his governmental Justice & Development
Party (AK Party), Erdogan said that the so-called Armenian genocide
allegations were brought to the Council of Europe Heads of State and
Government Summit (held in Polish capital of Warsaw at the beginning
of this week).

Erdogan stated that he was out of the meeting room when Armenian
President Robert Kocharian was speaking, and drew attention that
Turkey recognized Armenia but there were not any diplomatic links
between the two countries.

Recalling that flights between (Turkish commercial hub of) Istanbul
and (Armenian capital of) Yerevan had been launched after his party
came to power, Erdogan said that Turkey had started to restore an
Armenian Church in (eastern city of) Van. But, he stressed, border
crossings were still closed.

Erdogan said that any positive step to be taken between Azerbaijan
and Armenia could have a positive impact on decisions to be made by
Turkey (regarding its relations with Armenia).

“During my speech, I said that we have opened our state archives. We
don’t have any concerns about our history, and believe that the
reality should be revealed. Armenia should also open its archives. And,
historians, jurists, political scientists and archivists should work
on them. Then, we make the political decision, but unfortunately I
cannot get any positive response from Kocharian so far,” noted Erdogan.

-WE WILL EXAMINE 15 COUNTRIES-

Erdogan went on saying, “parliaments of some countries recognize these
so-called Armenian genocide allegations after lobbying activities. This
contradicts international diplomacy. There is no word for assuming such
an attitude without basing on any document or information against a
country with which you are together in international institutions. In
Warsaw, I told reporters that parliaments of 15 countries made such a
decision, and we will examine these 15 countries. There are countries
among these 15 which carried out genocide in the past. We will bring
them to our parliament and pass a decision, basing on real documents
and information, not with lobbying. We will take this step because
Turkey had never committed genocide throughout its history.”

“But of course, some people might have died during relocation. It
is true. But, why were these people forced to migrate? Documents
indicate that the Ottomans were fighting in three fronts, and there
was an Armenian nation which started to rebel due to provocations of
some other circles. Naturally, the administration encouraged such a
relocation under these circumstances.

But, it also met travelling costs of the people forced to migrate. And
it issued circulars for protection of these people. There could
be raids on the way. But, the state did not carry out a genocide,”
said Erdogan.

“There might have been some problems for this or that reason, but
it is wrong to define it as genocide. We won’t build our future on
hatred and resentment,” added Erdogan.

-COE SUMMIT-

On the other hand, Erdogan recalled that he had the opportunity
to explain the importance and theses of Turkey to 46 COE members,
25 of which were the EU members, and stressed, “we would like to
recall those who have forgotten at which part of Europe Turkey is,
that Turkey is one of active and strong members of the Council of
Europe for more than 50 years.

-BAN ON ONUR AIR-

Touching on some European countries’ ban on Onur Air flights, Erdogan
said that he discussed this matter with German Chancellor Schroeder
and Dutch PM Balkenende, and added that he and Schroeder agreed to
work together to help Onur Air overcome its technical problems.

-THE FINAL DECLARATION-

Erdogan said that the declaration of the COE summit stressed common
sensitivity of member states about democracy, rule of law and
human rights, and added, “we condemn every type of intolerance and
discrimination like Islam enmity and anti-Semitism. And, in the COE
we confirm our decisiveness to develop rules and efficient mechanisms
to prevent all these.”

SEMINAR ON VULNERABLE GROUPS EMPLOYEMENT PROBLEM TO BE HELD IN
TSAKHKADZOR ON MAY 20-22

YEREVAN, MAy 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Ministry of Labor and Social
Issues will hold jointly with International Labor Organization’s
Moscow Bureau a seminar, “Professional Training and Increased
Employement Opportunities for Youth and Other Vulnerable Groups
through Business Education”, in Tsakhkadzor on May 20-22. According to
head of the Ministry’s PR department Hasmik Khachatrian, the seminar
aims to promote correct media coverage of the above mention problem. A
competition of the best works on this subject will be held. 25
representatives of the Armenian mass media will take part in the
seminar.

CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA STARTS HIS PATRIARCHAL VISIT TO IRANIAN
ARMENIANS

TEHRAN, MAY 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I arrived in
Tehran at midnight, May 12, on his Patriarchal visit to Iranian
Armenians. Among those who met Aram I at the Presidential hall of
Tehran Airpost were RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to
Iran Karen Nazarian and Chairman of the Organization on Islamic
Communication and Culture of Iran Hojatoleslam Mohammadi Eraghi. In
his welcoming speech, Catholicos Aram I underlined the inseparability
of close links between the Iranian Armenians, the Catholicosate of
Cilicia and the Islamic Republc of Iran. He stressed the strategical
importance of the meeting since Iran and Armenia are good neighbors,
maintain friendly relations, and lebanon also has close links with
Iran. The main purpose of the visit is the 75th anniversary of the
foundation of Dprvank of the Catholocosate of Cilicia and the 10th
anniversary of the Catholicos’ enthronement. According to Catholicos
of Cilicia, the Iranian Armenians have their unique place and role in
the life of the Armenian nation in general and the Diaspora in
particular. “This colony is distinguished by its inseparable linkage
with our cultural, spiritual and national values and aspirations, as
well as by deep faith. I liken this small colony to a small Armenia,
this is a colony that lives and acts, struggles and dreams by our
values, for our Homeland and nation. I welcome this colony with such
feelings,” Catholicos of Cilicia stated.

Indymedia Ireland, Ireland
May 13 2005

“‘NEVER AGAIN’ OVER AGAIN” – on Holocaust Remembrance Day
by Joseph Anderson, Berkeley, California, USA Friday, May 13 2005,
11:11am

dublin / rights and freedoms / other press

I thought that `Never again!’ meant never again for all humanity –
not just never again for European Jews.
–

The Daily Californian newspaper
University of California at Berkeley
Berkeley, California

Friday, May 6, 2005

Holocaust Remembrance Day

`Never Again’ Over Again

– by Joseph Anderson

Berkeley city councilperson Kris Worthington’s letter to the Daily
Californian (`Lurking Legacy of Discrimination,’ May 3) deals with
Holocaust Remembrance Day and the very profound tragedy European Jews
suffered under the Nazi regime. We are called again to learn the
lessons of history. But have we?

The primary lesson was supposed to be `Never again!’ But, a very sad
disappointment – and even for many Jews, including some Holocaust
survivors – is that we really have not learned. For, as I grew up
seeing the horrors revealed in Holocaust documentaries and movies, I
thought that `Never again!’ meant never again for all humanity – not
just never again for European Jews. Where is remembrance day for the
Native American, the black slave, the Filipino, the Armenian, in
effect the Vietnamese, and the U.S. Vietnam war expansion-triggered
Cambodian holocausts?

Blacks were also victims of Nazi Germany’s holocaust machine that
consumed other ethnic minorities like the Roma, in addition to the
mentally handicapped, and before that blacks were genocidal victims
of Germany’s colonizations in Africa – as with genocidal Western
European colonizers (there and in the Americas).

As a member myself of an often oppressed minority whose religious
traditions have identified with the Biblical legend of the Jews’
oppression, it saddens me to see many pro-Israel Jews oppress others
via a foreign state that would claim to embody Jewish values. For
African American ideals, `The Promised Land’ is not a land to be
“reclaimed” after hundreds, or even thousands, of years, citing God
as the real estate agent. The Promised Land doesn’t echo the
injustices of the past by, in part, replicating them upon others. The
Promised Land is the creation of a just society with an appreciation
for the diversity of all humanity and equality for all.

I appreciate Worthington’s letter, but I object that it makes it seem
like Berkeley has become a bastion of Jew-hatred: `In Berkeley
itself, Jews have far too frequently been victims of hate crimes,’ he
wrote.

California criminal-justice statistics show that hate crimes for all
minority groups have gone down – except for indigenous Middle
Easterners and Muslims.

Kris writes that overt prejudice, discrimination and
institutionalized exclusion are unacceptable. But, that’s exactly
what Jews who commemorate the Holocaust – yet who also ideologically
believe in an exclusionary Jewish state – support every day for
Israel.

Others, like many of us, like `the good Germans’ of another era, turn
our heads away from this human rights catastrophe against, in turn,
another ‘despised’ minority: the Palestinian people. Their resistance
to brutal ethnic cleansing – something any people would resist from
any other people – is, ironically, labeled `anti-Semitic.’

To paraphrase Worthington, Holocaust Remembrance Day should cause us
to reflect, to learn that the horrors of all these catastrophes did
in fact happen, to support the oppressed everywhere, and to join in
the activism to say, `Never again!’ – for all humanity.

__________________________________________________________________

Joseph Anderson is a Berkeley resident, an occasional
contributing columnist/essayist to various newspapers,
political and literary publications, a grassroots progressive
political activist, and an occasional interview guest on KPFA’s
Hard Knock Radio in Berkeley.

(the above is the slightly longer, original version
of the word length-constrained version published at

)

AZG Armenian Daily #086, 13/05/2005

Telecommunication

WILL RUSSIAN ‘SYSTEMA TELECOM’ BUY ‘ARMENTEL’?

The Russian “Systema Telecom” holding that includes MTC mobile operator,
doesn’t exclude the opportunity to purchase “ArmenTel.” Mediamax agency
informed that Vladimir Lagutin, head of “Systema Telecom”, said in an
interview to the Russian Vedomosty newspaper that they are thinking of
purchasing “ArmenTel”.

Lagutin added that “Systema Telecom” is also interested in Magticom-Azercall
mobile operators that functions in Georgia and Azerbaijan. Lagutin said that
the goal of their company is to cover the whole territory of CIS.

At the end of 2003, Alexander Vronets, deputy director of “Systema Telecom”
stated that “Armenia was chosen out of the company’s interests,” adding that
though they don’s have any urgent program to enter the Armenian market.

Recently, the heads of the Greek OTE have been stating for many times that
they have the intention to sell 90% of the share of ArmenTel’s stocks.

Pan Armenian News

CCI SECOND CONGRESS HELD IN YEREVAN

11.05.2005 06:27

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The second congress of the Armenian Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (CCI) was held in Yerevan. The welcoming speech of Robert
Kocharian was read by President’s Adviser on Economic Affairs Vahram
Nersisyants. In his statement the President noted, in part, that the Chamber
of Commerce and Industry of Armenia during a short period of time has
carried out a great deal of work for the development of business
contributing to the government for the improvement of the customs and tax
legislation as well as played the key role for the establishing ties with
the foreign Chambers. In his turn RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian
stated that the role of the Armenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is
invaluable for the development of business undertakings and expansion of
free competition. CCI Chairman Martin Sargsian also made a report. To note,
during the three years of activities the CCI organized Armenian-Belarusian
business forums in Yerevan and Minsk, meetings of the Austrian and Armenian
entrepreneurs in Yerevan, founded a Trade House of Armenia in Moscow,
initiated meetings with the businessmen from Netherlands, Iran and Russia as
well as arranged various exhibitions. The Armenian CCI is the full member of
the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), World Federation of Chambers
(ICC WCF), the Association of the CCI Black Sea Belt as well as of the CCI
CIS Council. The Armenian CCI has opened representative offices in Russia,
US, Canada, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Spain, Germany, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait,
Saudi Arabia, Quatar, Omar, United Arab Emirates and other states, IA Regnum
reports.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Date: 10 May 2005

Norway, UNDP sign aid agreement for Caucasus

New York, 10 May 2005 –

Zephirin Diabre, Associate Administrator of the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), and Jan Petersen, Foreign Minister of
Norway, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding committing Norway
to providing $10 million for UNDP projects in Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Georgia over the next three years.

`I am deeply grateful for this commitment from Norway, which builds
on the country’s already substantial engagement, in partnership with
UNDP, in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States,’ Mr.
Diabre said during the signing ceremony.

`This Memorandum represents a great opportunity to strengthen our
ties with UNDP,’ said Mr. Peterson. `Norway would like to help shape
projects by taking part in the implementation of programming in the
South Caucasus.’

Norway will provide the funding for programmes in democratic
governance, energy and sustainable development. The projects to be
funded have yet to be specified, and funding is contingent upon
approval by the Norwegian parliament.

UNDP country offices in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia already
collaborate closely with Norway. In Armenia, for example, Norway
support efforts aimed at fighting human trafficking, raising public
awareness and assisting trafficking victims. In Azerbaijan, Norway is
contributing to a UNDP Blood Bank project. And in Georgia, Norway has
supported work on a child labour survey, which UNDP has conducted
together with the Georgian Department of Statistics.

`These are very promising beginnings,’ said Mr. Diabre. `We are
confident that this will provide an excellent foundation for the
expansion of our joint efforts.’

Diabre and Petersen stressed that both UNDP and the Government of
Norway believe that effective democratic institutions are a key
foundation for mediating and mitigating conflict and crisis by
providing non-violent means of resolving political disputes and
managing resources. They also provide a base for implementing strong,
country-owned development strategies to handle political and economic
shocks, to reduce corruption, and, critically, to give the poor a
political voice to secure the services and protections needed to
provide a better future for themselves and their families.

The Government of Norway plans involvement in the Southern Caucasus
by contributing more directly to development on a larger scale, both
regional and national, official said. In order to contribute in an
efficient manner, Norway needs the unique development know-how and
coordination skills of UNDP – especially in relations with local,
regional and national authorities as well as with civil society
organizations, according to Norwegian authorities.

For more information or interview requests, please contact:

[email protected]; tel. +(212) 906 6801
[email protected]; tel. 421 2 59 337 164; Mobile: 421 915 766
356

A1plus

| 15:31:45 | 10-05-2005 | Social |

NATURAL DISTATER SPOILED CROPS

Yesterday several stones were blown down off the roof of a house in the
village of Bandivan, Kotayk region. One of the stones hit 43-year-old Karine
Hakobyan, who is in hospital at the moment.

May 8 the crossroad of the Admiral Isakov and Bagratunyats Streets became
impassible due to showers.

The department of the emergency situations reported that crops in the
villages of Mkhchyan, Ovtashen, Gnaberd, Mrgashat, Shahumyan, Ditak and
Dimitrov were spoiled by hail. In some other villages orchards were damaged.

Several basements and lands were flooded in the town of Artashat.

Scoop.co.nz (press release), New Zealand
May 10 2005

Rice IV on Imedi TV with Revaz Sakevarishvili

Press Release: US State Department
Interview on Imedi TV with Revaz Sakevarishvili
Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Tbilisi Marriott Hotel
Tbilisi, Georgia
May 10, 2005

MR. SAKEVARISHVILI: Madame Secretary, welcome to Georgia. I’d like to
thank you on behalf of our company. During the time schedule, you
have found a few minutes to answer our questions. The first question;
how successful was your visit to Russia and Georgia? And what can we
expect from this visit?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, let me start with the visit to Georgia. This
has been a wonderful visit. The President last night had a great
introduction to Georgian culture, and to Georgian hospitality.
Georgia is a country that the United States considers a good friend.
And it’s a good friend not just because of what Georgia has done to
support us in the war on terrorism in Iraq or Afghanistan, or because
of our deep cultural ties, but because we share values. And it has
become very clear that the world has been inspired by the Rose
Revolution. So this trip has been terrific. I think the President is
having a good time and we look forward to many, many years of
excellent relations between the United States and Georgia.

MR. SAKEVARISHVILI: Georgia hopes to get support from the United
States in order to restore its territorial integrity. Georgian
government officials often say that Russia is the main negative
factor that prevents Georgia from achieving this. What do you think
Washington can do to help Georgia in this mentioned above?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, we’ve had good discussions with the Russians
over the years but also when we were in Moscow, about the importance
of Georgian territorial integrity and the move for a unified Georgia.
I do believe that there are really two aspects to this. One is that
the international community could be helpful. In South Ossetia for
instance, at times the OSCE has been involved. In Abkhazia, the
United Nations has a role to play. And so the United States, in
conjunction with the international community will try and help
Georgia to resolve these difficult conflicts. But it’s also the case
that the stronger Georgia becomes economically, the more vibrant this
democracy becomes, I think that you will see that people want to be a
part of Georgia. Yes, people may want some autonomy in their local
affairs — they may want some local control over some issues. But a
unified Georgia that is democratic is going to be a magnet for all
kinds of people. This can be a great multi-ethnic democracy and that
I think is really Georgia’s future.

MR. SAKEVARISHVILI: A couple years ago an American funded Train and
Equip program was started. Initially the White House stated that
American trained troops were not entitled to take part in the
settlement of internal conflicts. Is there any possibility that
Washington’s position may change?

SECRETARY RICE: Well we believe strongly that there should not be the
use of military force in these internal conflicts. We have made that
clear with the Georgian government. In fact, these are issues that
need to be resolved politically and diplomatically. I do believe that
as the democracy develops here there will be reason for people who
now live in Abkhazia or live in South Ossetia to really want to be a
part of this great Georgian democracy. All forces for Train and Equip
were to ensure that Georgia could fight terrorism. We started in the
Pankisi George and I think we’ve had some great success there. But it
is really the case that we do not believe in the use of military
force in these internal conflicts and therefore American forces,
forces that were trained by the United States, could not be used in
those conflicts.

MR. SAKEVARISHVILI: In his annual report President Bush mentioned
Iran as the danger of freedom and democracy around the world. What’s
the plan that Washington has to deal with this problem? Is there any
chance that an anti-Iran operation could resemble anti-Iraq one, and
what part could Georgia play?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, we have no intention of using military force in
Iran. The fact is that conflicts are different. And Iraq had for
twelve years, twelve long years, defied the international community.
It was time to deal with this brutal dictator in Iraq. Iran is a
country where we have many, many concerns about Iran’s role in
funding terrorism in the Palestinian territories, in Lebanon, in
other parts of the world and we all as a world need to deal with
Iran. Funding and support for terrorism, which is open that they
support terrorism. We also have to deal with Iran’s ambitions for
nuclear technology to complete to a nuclear weapons program. And
there, we are working with the Europeans to try and support their
negotiations to get Iran to live up to its international obligations.
Now as to democracy I firmly believe that Iran will not be immune to
the changes that are going on in the world. If you look around the
world, people are demanding their democratic right. And the Iranian
people are a sophisticated people, they are wordly people. They want
to be a part of the international community. And they are being
denied their rights by an unelected few in Iran who want to impose
their particular view of the relationship between religion and
politics on the Iranian population. Iran is a proud and great nation.
And Iran will find its place in democratic values because as you know
it’s not too far from here. But the freedom, and the spirit of
freedom that is spreading throughout the world, Iran is not going to
be easy.

MR. SAKEVARISHVILI: Do you think that the attitude of Washington
towards Georgia would change, according to democracy in Georgia?

SECRETARY RICE: Well we believe that Georgia is on a democratic path.
And everything that I have seen since I’ve been here, and I think
that everything that the President has seen since he’s been here is
that Georgia is on a democratic path. It is not easy to build
democracy and we understand that it’s not just having luncheons, the
President will say that to the Georgian leaders. He’s said it in his
speech, that it’s not just having luncheons, it’s building democratic
institutions. We were able to meet with the Speaker of the
Parliament. It means having a strong legislative branch. It means
having a strong independent judiciary. It means rooting out
corruption in government. It means allowing the economy to be free of
too much government interference. These are the foundations of
democracy, and along with freedom of speech, freedom of worship and
protection of minority rights, that’s how you build a democracy. And
so I’m confident that that is the road that Georgia is on. It’s why I
believe that our friendship is only going to get deeper over time.

MR. SAKEVARISHVILI: During your visit to Riga, President Bush met
with the Presidents of the Baltic States. But in Tbilisi he did not
agree to meet with leaders of two other Caucasian countries. What’s
the reason for this? The level of democracy or anything else?

SECRETARY RICE: Oh, the visit to the Baltic States was a particular
kind, the President went to Latvia, he had been to Lithuania, and as
you know, of course the Baltic States are members of NATO, they are
allies and so he wanted to bring them all together, but we have
relations with Azerbaijan, we have relations with Armenia and we
value those relations. We do believe that it is important that
democracy spreads in the Caucasus. Georgia is a wonderful example for
people in this entire region of what can happen when people start to
take their rightful place in the communities around them.

MR. SAKEVARISHVILI: Thank you for your time. I hope it’s not your
last visit.

SECRETARY RICE: Oh, I think it will not be my last visit to Georgia.
It’s a wonderful place and I’ve always loved coming to Georgia. And I
very much support coming again.

MR. SAKEVARISHVILI: Thank you.

2005/497

Released on May 10, 2005