Author: Nalbandian Eduard

20TH ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDATION OF NAREK ARMENIAN SATURDAY SCHOOL IN GLENDALE TO BE MARKED ON SEPTEMBER 27

Noyan Tapan
July 6, 2009

LOS ANGELES, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. In the city of
Glendale (the state of California) with its large Armenian community,
Narek Armenian Saturday School is the only educational institution
where the language of instruction is Eastern Armenian. The founding
headmistress of the school Rima Sarian was recently a guest of the RA
Ministry of Diaspora. According to her, the school functions in two
sessions and has ten grades where 350-400 pupils study. 25 teachers,
who received their education at universities of Armenia, teach the
Armenian language and literature and the history of the Armenian people
at Narek Saturday School. The school maintains constant contacts with
schools and cultural centers in Homeland.

The school functions within the framework of the Narek All-Armenian
Educational and Cultural Center. The center also publishes "Narek"
juvenile monthly, in whose recent issue R. Sarian announced that the
20th anniversary of the foundation of Narek School would be marked at
Daghlian Hall in Hollywood on September 27. On the occasion of this
anniversary, she wrote: "I am happy and proud that Narek School is so
successful. Its activities are aimed at achieving one goal: to dedicate
itself to the vital task of the Armenian identity preservation and to
bring up the girls and boys in the Armenian spirit". This dedication
is expressed in the very oath of the Narek Center’s pupils: "I am
an Armenian, my Homeland is Armenia where my ancestors were born,
lived and died, but I do not live there, I am far from that place. I
must love my Homeland more than anything else and must not forget its
name. I am convinced that one day I will return there. To achieve
my goal, I must always speak Armenian. I must love my Homeland and
Church. I must be proud of being called an Armenian.

I vow to struggle for my United Homeland.

Be Armenia’s child, and Armenia will be yours.

Live by Armenia, and Armenia will be visible to you from any spot in
the world.

Think of Armenia and you will find yourself in your mind.

I swear to be faithful to Armenia and its traditions and to struggle
for my United Homeland".

THE AFRICAN DJEMBE BRINGS EVERYONE TOGETHER BY KREMENA KRUMOVA

The Epoch Times
Epoch Times Staff
Jul 5, 2009

SOFIA, Bulgaria-Christiana Daneva holds high educational degrees
in Business Administration, International Relations, and European
Studies. She is keen on dancing, drawing, restoring antiquities, and
skiing, but what inspires and delights her the most is the sound of
her favorite musical instrument-the African djembe. The djembe has a
long history and an exotic origin. According to an ancient legend, the
first djembe was made from the skin of the mythical "gebraffe," a cross
between a giraffe and a zebra. Shaped like a goblet drum, the djembe
is made of wood and typically covered with goat skin. The Bamana people
from Mali, Western Africa named it based on the saying "Anke dje, anke
be," which literally means "everyone gather together," and defines
the drum’s purpose. The shape of the djembe is "carved" by African
beavers that are specially trained to eat only the heart of hardwood
trees logs. Usually a djembe is crafted in Guinea, Senegal, Mali, and
Côte d’Ivoire. A djembe has a coarse interior with a series of divots
(cavities) which make for the different tonal qualities. It is played
with bare hands by exerting various palms strokes. The main notes
are the bass, the tone (the middle), and the slap (high pitched). Do
not mistake the djembe with the tarambuka-they are totally different
although quite similar in appearance. For one, the tarambuka comes from
the East-it is found in the music of Turkey, Persia, Greece, Armenia,
and the Arabian regions. Also, the tarambuka is played with the finger
tips, while the djembe is played by the whole hands. What is more,
a tarambuka has a metal corpus and is usually upholstered with lamb
skin. Playing the Djembe-An Unforgettable Experience For Ms. Daneva,
playing the djembe is a touching and intimate experience. When she
plays, she relaxes and feels rejuvenated. Sometimes the sensation
from the drum is so powerful that she almost goes into trance. She
escapes reality and just relishes the vibrant beats. She has always
been deeply fascinated and drawn to ethno music from around the
world. Percussive music has always particularly moved her. "One day
I came across an article in the newspaper about a djembe workshop in
Sofia, Bulgaria, over a year ago. At the time I did not have my own
instrument, but that did not stop me in the least. In two months,
I had my own real djembe and have been playing ever since." Although
there is no professional training for the djembe at the university,
everyone can start playing if he or she wishes. One doesn’t need a
musical background or education.

"All you need to do is listen to your heart and become one with the
drum." For Ms. Daneva sharing the joy of djembe playing is even more
exciting. She is part of a drum circle called Yambadon. Yambadon plays
at musical events and enlivens its audiences with the overwhelming
rhythms of a uniquely African experience. For more information about
djembe and Yambadon: Last Updated Jul 5,

MG OSCE Co-Chairs to arrive in Yerevan on July 8
06.07.2009 09:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ MG OSCE Co-Chairs will arrive in Yerevan on July 8,
US mediator Matthew Bryza told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.
The visit aims at preparing for oncoming meeting between RA and Azeri
Presidents due on July 17-19 in Moscow. According to Bryza, the
parties continue with active work towards NKR conflict settlement. `We
hope the next Presidential meeting in Moscow will be a constructive
one,’ the US diplomat noted. The mediators will next visit Baku.
Previous meetings between Sargsyan and Aliev took place on July 4 in
St. Petersburg and May 7 in Prague. First negotiations were held on
July 6, 2008 in St. Petersburg, followed by talks in November 2008 in
Moscow and January 28, 2009 in Zurich.

This tour was an honour and privilege that neither the State Department
nor the ambassador deserved

Lucine Kasbarian
New Jersey, USA

Gibrahayer – Nicosia
June 29, 2009

Like many Armenian Americans, I am unhappy that our
organizations hosted the recent public tour by the U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia, Marie Yovanovitch.
Nevertheless, trying to make the most of the situation, I
attended her presentation at the Armenian Cultural Foundation in
Massachusetts.
As expected, Yovanovitch largely evaded the audience’s pointed
questions and comments.
From having spoken to Armenians who attended Yovanovitch’s
public presentations elsewhere, such as in New York City, I know that
similar scenarios unfolded there.
Even worse, the Armenian American press failed to critically and
frankly assess Yovanovitch’s opening remarks, questions from the
audience, and her replies. Such press outlets include Armenia Now, the
Armenian Weekly, the Armenian Reporter, the Armenian Mirror-Spectator
as well as the email newsletters of the Eastern U.S.A. Diocese and
Prelacy.
Unfortunately, even HETQ, the investigative journalism website
in Armenia, merely republished an article from the Glendale News-Press
about Yovanovitch’s visit to Southern California.
& nbsp; What separated HETQ from some of the outlets mentioned
above, however, is
that it didn’t censor critical reader comments
posted under their online articles. While most of us recognise that
Armenia suffers from a democracy and free-speech deficit, few of us
have said publicly that our Diaspora media and organizations suffer
from the same ailment.
I am forwarding HETQ’s reader comments about Yovanovitch to our
Diaspora organizations, media, and clergy because there are many
questions they need to answer. Among the very first is: why did
American Armenian organizations agree last year to the U.S. Senate’s
confirming Yovanovitch even though she and the State Department were as
evasive on the genocide issue as John Hoagland, the previous failed
nominee, had been?
Given Yovanovitch’s and the U.S.’s dishonesty about the
genocide, and the obvious fact that she was going to give evasive
replies regarding a host of issues on her present tour, why did
Armenian organizations even agree to host her? If their reasoning was
that she needed to hear what we had to say, she undoubtedly already
knew that from reading the Armenian press and news releases since
assuming her ambassadorship.
Frankly, this tour was an honour and privilege that neither the
State Department nor the ambassador deserved.
Armenian organizations held private meetings with Yovanovitch.
What, may we ask, was the outcome of these meetings, or are our=2
0
organizations once again practising the same lack of transparency for
which they criticise the Armenian government? They are accountable to
the communities they claim to represent and serve, or haven’t they
noticed?
Ultimately, we must reject the vassal mentality that has been
ingrained in us after centuries of Ottoman occupation. If we don’t take
a harder line in defence of Armenian rights in the post-genocide age,
we have only ourselves to blame — and not the Turkish government —
for jeopardising our survival as a nation, on or off our native lands.
I direct you to HETQ, where outspoken Armenians have their say:

Lebanese citizens & Azerbaijanis tried over Israeli embassy plot
03.07.2009 22:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Two Lebanese and four Azerbaijanis have gone on
trial on terrorism charges in Baku for planning an attack on the
Israeli embassy in Azerbaijan’s capital.
Karaki Ali Muhammad, Ali Najmeddin, Vidadi Rasulov, Mushvig Amanov,
Afghan Babashov and Javad Mammadov are accused of treason and spying.
The suspects are reported to be "connected to" the Lebanese Shiite
militant group Hezbollah and the Al-Qaeda network. The two Lebanese
were under orders to recruit Azerbaijani citizens and devise a plan to
attack the Israeli and U.S. embassies, as well as the strategic Gabala
missile-detection radar station in the north of the country. They are
also believed to have connections with Iran’s powerful ideological
army the Revolutionary Guards.
Lebanese Karaki Ali Muhammad confessed he was instructed to collect
data about the Israeli embassy in Baku, send it to Sepah and expect
the order to blast the building of the diplomatic mission

2009 EUROPA LEAGUE: FIRST PRELIMINARY ROUND ROUND-UP

Goal.com
Jul 2, 2009 5:08:41 PM

The Georgians defeated the Faroese in a historic match to kick off
the new competition – and another 22 matches followed.

Europa League logoThe first ever UEFA Europa League match ended in
a 2-0 victory for Olimpi Rustavi over Faroe Islands side B36 Torshavn.

The Europa League, which replaces the UEFA Cup, is in its first
qualifying round.

Two goals from Giorgi Megreladze were sufficient for the Georgian
side to win, but they must do without Shota Babunashvili for the
second leg as he was sent off right at the death.

Sides from countries ranging from Denmark and Scotland to Luxembourg
and Armenia take part today.

Highlights Valletta of Malta took a step towards the next round with
a convincing home win over Keflavik thanks to goals from Dyson Falzon,
Njongo Priso, and Geert den Ouden.

Bosnian outfit Siroki Brijeg prevailed at FC Banants of Armenia,
Jure Ivankovic and Tiago ‘Todrigues’ Rodrigues netting in Yerevan.

Last season’s Champions League surprise package Anorthosis Famagusta
provided the biggest win of the round by thrashing UN Kaerjeng of
Luxembourg five-nil. Both Northern Irish teams were also thrashed,
Linfield losing 4-0 at Rangers and Lisburn Distillery managing just
one consolation goal in the face of a five-goal onslaught at home to
Georgia’s Zestaponi.

Henrik Larsson was on the scoresheet twice as Helsingborg powered
late past Armenia’s FC MIKA, while Scottish outfit Motherwell were
stunned at home by a Stuart Jones goal for Llaneli.

Rosenborg seem set for the next round after a Dario Zahora brace
and a third from Mikael Lustig did for NSI Runavik of Iceland, and
Montenegrin side Buducnost are in trouble following a 2-0 home loss
to Polonia Warsaw.

It was a mixed evening for Albania, Dinamo Tirani’s 4-1 loss at Lahti
of Finland being balanced out by Vllaznia’s 2-1 win at Sligo Rovers,
while Macedonia’s Renova lost 2-1 at Dinamo Minsk, Oleg Strakhanovich
netting a late winner for the Belarussians.

2009 Europa League – First Preliminary Round Wednesday July 2nd 2009
Olimpi Rustavi (Georgia) 2-0 B36 Torshavn (Faroe Islands) Simurq
Zaqatala (Azerbaijan) 0-1 Bnei Yehuda (Israel) Dinaburg (Latvia)
2-1 Nomme Kalju (Estonia) Banants (Armenia) 0-2 Siroki Brijeg
(Bosnia/Herzegovina) Sutjeska Niksic (Montenegro) 1-1 MTZ-RIPO
(Belarus) Lahti (Finland) 4-1 Dinamo Tirana (Albania) Valletta
(Malta) 3-0 Keflavik (Iceland) Zimbru Chisinau (Moldova) 1-2 Okzhetpes
(Kazakhstan) Dinamo Minsk (Belarus) 2-1 Renova (FYR Macedonia) Narva
Trans (Estonia) 0-3 Rudar Velenje (Slovenia) Szombathelyi Haladas
(Hungary) 1-0 Irtysh (Kazakhstan) Spartak Trnava (Slovakia) 2-1 Inter
Baku (Azerbaijan) Slaven Belupo (Croatia) 1-0 Birkirkara (Malta)
Grevenmacher (Luxembourg) 0-3 Veta (Lithuania) Anorthosis (Cyprus) 5-0
Kaerjeng (Luxembourg) Randers (Denmark) 4-0 Linfield (Northern Ireland)
NSI Runavik (Faroe Islands) 0-3 Rosenborg (Norway) Sligo Rovers
(Ireland) 1-2 Vllaznia (Albania) Fram (Iceland) 2-1 The New Saints
(Wales) Buducnost (Montenegro) 0-2 Polonia Warsaw (Poland) Lisburn
Distillery (Northern Ireland) 1-5 Zestaponi (Georgia) Helsingborg
(Sweden) 3-1 MIKA (Armenia) Motherwell (Scotland) 0-1 Llanelli (Wales)

235 CONVICTS RELEASED UNDER AMNESTY AS OF JUNE 30

NOYAN TAPAN
JULY 1, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 1, NOYAN TAPAN. In accordance with the RA National
Assembly Decision of June 19 on Declaration of an Amnesty, 235 convicts
were released from prisons of the RA Ministry of Justice as of June
30, NT correspondent was informed by Head of the Criminal Enforcement
Department of the Ministry of Justice Arsen Babayan.

TURKEY HOPES OSCE MG WILL SOON HELP SOLVE THE KARABAKH CONFLICT

armradio.am
02.07.2009 16:50

Turkey hopes the OSCE Minsk Group will soon help to solve the Karabakh
which will lead to stability and security in the region, Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davudoglu said at a joint news conference with
his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Vesti TV channel reported.

"We are closely following the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chaired by Russia, and hope that it will help to solve the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict," Davudoglu said.

He added that Turkey together with Russia will seek to establish
peace and stability in the Caucasus, which is a region of the
Russian-Turkish interests, so the parties are considering the
possibility of implementing the Caucasus Peace & Stability Platform,
initiated by Turkey.

Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Telephone: (818) 500-1918
Facsimile: (818) 246-7353

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
July 1, 2009
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

ANC-WR Intern Spotlight: Hovsep Hajibekyan
Hovsep Hajibekyan helps raise awareness about issues through media

GLENDALE, CA — Hovsep Hajibekyan, a senior at UC Berkley, is one of seven
students participating in the 2009 Summer Session of the Armenian National
Committee-Western Region’s Internship-Externship Program (ANC-WR IEP). He
joins the program, which began on June 15th this summer, as a Public and
Media Relations Intern. Through the program, Hajibekyan will not only be
gaining experience in public and media relations but also learning about
current Armenian American issues.

`I wanted to make a positive contribution to my community,’ says Hajibekyan,
`and the IEP provides me with a great opportunity to have hands-on
experience with the day-to-day operations of the ANC-WR.’

As part of his involvement in the ANC-WR IEP, Hajibekyan is working on a
series of individual projects. For his main project, Hajibekyan is working
with the US Census Bureau to raise awareness of the upcoming 2010 Census and
highlight its importance for the Armenian American Community.

`I am looking forward to setting up this community outreach event and it is
an exciting opportunity to be able to work with a federal government office
to help empower our communities,’ said Hajibekyan

He will also be leading the ANC-WR media monitoring efforts this summer as
well as writing press releases covering ANC events and activities in the
community.

Hajibekyan is attending UC Berkley as a Political Science and Music major.
He feels that the rigor of the classes at his school has prepared him well
for his internship with the ANC-WR. He also believes that his musical
studies have helped him strengthen his Armenian identity and influenced his
involvement with the Armenian American community.

Along with being an active member of his UC Berkeley’s Armenian Student
Association, Hajibekyan has been active with the Armenian National Committee
of the San Francisco Bay Area. He has volunteered with the Armenian
National Committee of America during which he assisted US Representative
Jackie Speier’s election campaign.

`Several of my friends had been interns previously and they spoke about the
rigor and effectiveness of the IEP program,’ he says. `I knew from them
that the interns become full participants in the civic engagement effort,
not just spectators.’

Although Hajibekyan is not positive as to what he will do after he finishes
at Berkeley, he does know that he will continue his education. He plans to
attend either law school or graduate school to study diplomacy.

Hajibekyan also plans to remain active in both the ANC and the Armenian
American community in general after completing the ANC-WR IEP. He feels
that the experience in working with communities that he will gain from the
program will help him stay involved in the future.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the
Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated
organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances the concerns of the
Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

####

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF SYRIA TO BE A NATURAL BRIDGE BETWEEN TWO FRIENDLY PEOPLES

NOYAN TAPAN
JUNE 30, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 30, NOYAN TAPAN. At the June 29 meeting of Speaker
of the National Assembly of Armenia Hovik Abrahamian and Minister
of Culture of Syria Riyad Naasan Agha the interlocuters attached
importance to the role of the Armenian community of Syria in the
issue of deepening cooperation between the two countries as it may
serve as a natural bridge between the two friendly peoples. The sides
especially emphasized the necessity of promoting bilateral cooperation
in the sphere of culture owing to which it will be possible to further
strengthen the bases of the Armenian-Syrian relations.

According to the report of the RA NA Public Relations Department, H.
Abrahamian expressed his satisfaction on the occasion of activation
of the Armenian-Syrian contacts that has been recorded recently. He
attached importance to holding of days of the Syrian culture in
Armenia as a peculiar manifestation of the bilateral cooperation.