Author: nina hovnanian

CITY’S WHITE COUNT RISES, CENSUS SAYS
By Brittany Levine

Glendale News Press
Sept 23 2011
CA

Latino numbers fall, fewer Armenians claim two racial identities.

A spike in the number of people listed as white in Glendale says more
about changing cultural identities than an actual demographic swing,
experts say.

According to the latest U.S. Census figures, even as Glendale’s total
population has shrunk, the number of whites in the past 10 years has
increased to 62%, or 117,000 people, compared to 54% in 2000.

But experts and community leaders say that’s largely because fewer
Armenians are claiming two racial identities on census forms. In 2000,
22% of those who identified as Armenian said they were white and some
other race, but that figure dropped to about 1% in 2009.

“The numbers show changes in the identity among Armenians,” said Amon
Emeka, a race and ethnic relations expert at USC. “There’s been a
huge switch in how Armenians in Glendale identify themselves.”

Glendale’s Armenian population, which is one of the largest outside
of Armenia, has been on the rise for years, but the biggest gains
have come since 1970. Most Armenians have long identified themselves
as white, but some have been slower to do so, Armenian community
leaders said.

“We have a population now that’s not as much of an immigrant population
as 10 years ago,” said Elen Asatryan, executive director of the
Armenian National Committee’s Glendale chapter.

What’s happening in Glendale has happened in other Armenian communities
in the past. City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian pointed to Fresno and
communities outside Boston as examples.

“When you observe the different Armenian communities in the U.S.,
the overall pattern has shown that over time they are assimilating
more and more,” he said.

Vazken Madenlian, principal of Chamlian Armenian School, said he
wasn’t surprised about the change and likened part of the shift to
children who are born here being more integrated.

‘Some people don’t know what they are and ask me if they’re white. I
tell them ‘What do you think? Look in the mirror,'” Madenlian said.

The Census Bureau gave people the option of choosing two or more races
for the first time in 2000. With the addition came a major public
relations effort, but that wasn’t repeated for the most recent census,
which could also have played a role in a significant drop of people
who chose the dual-race option, Emeka said.

Despite the trend, Councilman Ara Najarian said it doesn’t necessarily
mean Armenians are shucking their roots.

“Although they still feel Armenian, they don’t necessarily feel like
they have to fill it out on a form,” he said.

Meanwhile, the proportion of Latinos in Glendale dropped from 20%
to 17% over the 10-year period, according to census figures. Experts
said it nearly impossible to track where they were going, but said
the trend could be tied to higher local housing prices.

“It seems lower-income folks have moved away. They were priced out
of the city,” said Jeff Hamilton, a senior planner for the city.

He noted that in 2008, Glendale’s median household income increased
22% to $50,804, likely the result of low-income earners moving out
of the city.

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DETERMINATION REGARDING WAIVER OF DISCRIMINATORY PURCHASING REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO GOODS AND SERVICES OF ARMENIA

Federal Government Documents and Publications
September 22, 2011

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Heilman Grier, Senior Procurement
Negotiator, Office of the United States Trade Representative,
(202) 395-9476.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 7, 2010, the WTO Committee
on Government Procurement approved the accession of Armenia to the
World Trade Organization (“WTO”) Agreement on Government Procurement
(“GPA”). Armenia submitted its instrument of accession to the
Secretary-General of the WTO on August 16, 2011. The GPA will enter
into force for Armenia on September 15, 2011. The United States,
which is also a party to the GPA, has agreed to waive discriminatory
purchasing requirements for eligible products and suppliers of Armenia
beginning on September 15, 2011.

Section 1-201 of Executive Order 12260 of December 31, 1980 delegated
the functions of the President under sections 301 and 302 of the Trade
Agreements Act of 1979 (“the Trade Agreements Act”) (19 U.S.C. 2511,
2512) to the United States Trade Representative.

Determination: In conformity with sections 301 and 302 of the Trade
Agreements Act, and in order to carry out U.S. obligations under the
GPA, I hereby determine that:

1. Armenia has become a party to the GPA and will provide appropriate
reciprocal competitive government procurement opportunities to United
States products and services and suppliers of such products and
services. In accordance with section 301(b)(1) of the Trade Agreements
Act, Armenia is so designated for purposes of section 301(a) of the
Trade Agreements Act.

2. Accordingly, beginning on September 15, 2011, with respect to
eligible products (namely, those goods and services covered under the
GPA for procurement by the United States) of Armenia and suppliers
of such products, the application of any law, regulation, procedure,
or practice regarding government procurement that would, if applied
to such products and suppliers, result in treatment less favorable
than that accorded–

(A) To United States products and suppliers of such products, or

(B) To eligible products of another foreign country or instrumentality
which is a party to the GPA and suppliers of such products,

shall be waived. This waiver shall be applied by all entities listed
in United States Annexes 1 and 3 of GPA Appendix 1.

3. The Trade Representative may modify or withdraw the designation
in paragraph 1 and the waiver in paragraph 2.

Ronald Kirk,

United States Trade Representative.

Determination Regarding Waiver of Discriminatory Purchasing
Requirements under the Trade Agreements Act of 1979.

Citation: “76 FR 58856”

Federal Register Page Number: “58856”

“Notices”

ARMENIAN FEST TO FEATURE RISING JAZZ STAR

Times and Transcript
Sept 23 2011
Canada

Fourth Moncton Armenian Festival takes place Oct. 27 to Nov. 6

Twenty years after the country regained independence following the fall
of the Soviet Union, Armenian culture will once again be celebrated
in Metro Moncton next month.

Events for the fourth Moncton Armenian Festival were unveiled at
Moncton City Hall yesterday, including an array of music, film,
art exhibitions and other events running from Oct. 27 to Nov. 6.

Although she says Moncton’s Armenian community is limited to a handful
of established families, organizer Sylvia Kasparian says the wider
Metro population has become increasingly a part of the festival.

“Every year more people are attending and now they know it’s a very
high level,” she says.

“Multicultural festivals are growing, because I think people like
that, they want something different, but they never have been exposed
to this.”

The festival is held every two years, with the inaugural edition
coming in 2005 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Ottoman
massacre of about 1.5 million Armenians – an act Canada has recognized
as a genocide.

This year’s event begins with a keynote concert from Armenian
pianist Tigran Hamasyan. At just 24, he has already captured several
high-profile awards and a recording contract with Verve Records,
arguably the genre’s premier label.

His music is based on Armenian traditions and folklore, but with
modern influences like rock, jazz and even heavy metal.

“He has been described as being in a class all his own,” Kasparian
says of the young virtuoso.

Hamasyan will play at Dieppe’s Arts and Culture Centre the evening of
Oct. 27, after hosting a free discussion of his work, technique and
personal journey at the Faculty of Arts at l’Universite de Moncton
that morning.

The festival will also include an exhibition by visual artist and
filmmaker Serguei Parajanov, as well as medieval and sacred music
from the Oshakan Vocal Quartet and other musicians. Litergical and
sacred songs are important in Armenian culture, Kasparian says, as
the country was the first to officially adopt Christianity in 301 AD.

“It’s such an old civilization and culture and it’s important that
people know about history and old cultures. Here, everything is new
and people don’t know what the roots are,” she says.

* For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit
festivalarmenien.com

TOP OFFICIAL: RUSSIAN ARMY’S PARTICIPATION IN ARMENIA’S MILITARY PARADE IS THEIR INTERNAL AFFAIR

Trend
Sept 23 2011
Azerbaijan

Participation of Russian army in a military parade in Armenia is their
internal affair, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Social and
Political Department Chief Ali Hasanov told journalists on Friday.

“Russia has troops in Armenia and the two countries have internal
agreements,” he underlined.

“Their policy in Armenia is their internal affair.”

Hasanov said what interests Azerbaijan is Russian army’s attitude
towards Azerbaijan and Baku is not seriously dissatisfied with this
attitude.

“Russian army recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, its rights
as a sovereign country and does not attempt to violate these rights,”
Hasanov stressed. “I am confident that it will not further attempt
to violate them.”

A military parade was held in Yerevan on the 20th anniversary of
Armenia’s independence on Thursday. Soldiers of Russian army also
took part in the parade.

CHINA’S POSITION ON NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT CLEAR AND UNCHANGED

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
September 22, 2011 Thursday

China`s position on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is clear and
unchanged, official of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said while
answering the question of AzerTAc`s correspondent on the municipal
elections held by the Armenian separatist regime in Nagorno Karabakh.

The Chinese official expressed hope the parties would soon find a way
to resolve the conflict, continuing dialogue and consultations. He
added China would also continue its constructive efforts to achieve
this.

Official Beijing has repeatedly declared that it supports Azerbaijan`s
sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the resolutions
adopted by the United Nations on the conflict.

SOCCER: ARMENIA RECORD HIGH ON FIFA RANKINGS

Soccer | 22.09.11 | 11:56

Armenia has made a big stride to its record high in the latest update
of world soccer rankings unveiled by the sport~Rs international
governing body, FIFA, on Wednesday.

The 44th spot held by Vardan Minasyan~Rs side among 200 or so soccer
nations constitutes a move up the ladder by whole 27 positions at a
time and reflects the team~Rs particularly successful run of play in
the latest two Euro-2012 qualifiers on the road earlier this month.

After beating Andorra 3-0 Armenia went on to humiliate Slovakia
4-0, thus getting a real chance of qualification for the European
championships finals to be co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine next summer.

Macedonia and the Republic of Ireland against which Armenia is due
to play in the two remaining fixtures of the current campaign are
ranked by FIFA 94th and 29th, respectively.

Click here for the full FIFA rankings as of September 21:

DEAD SOLDIER’S SISTER DISTRUSTS COURT

The court of general jurisdiction of Tavush province today postponed
the examination of Artak Nazaryan’s case since Harutik Kirakosyan
didn’t show up to court. Artak Nazaryan was an officer who was killed
in peace in the Armenian army.

Artak Nazaryan’s sister, Tsovinar Nazaryan told “A1+” that she didn’t
expect a fair trial and believed that there would be mishaps.

“The two major eyewitnesses are out of the country. They had sent a
telegram to the court and their testimonies were accepted as grounds
during the preliminary inquiry. In other words, our side is deprived
of the chance to interrogate the two major eyewitnesses,” Tsovinar
Nazaryan told “A1+”.

There are five culprits, of which four are arrested. Harutik Kirakosian
is still serving at one fo the military units in Noyemberyan.

The lawyers of the injured party’s successor Mushegh Shushanyan
and Seda Safaryan also didn’t show up to court since they had also
appealed to postpone the trial.

However, the judge held a trial, ended it and scheduled the next one
for October 3.

Contractual soldier Artak Nazaryan, 29, was shot at Mehrabner military
unity in Tavush province on July 27, 2010.

SON-IN-LAW APPOINTED

04:56 pm | Today | Politics

Serzh Sargsyan today issued a decree on appointing Armen Papikyan
Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe (seat in
Strasbourg). Papikyan is a member of the RA Public Council and leader
of the Christian-Democratic Party Khosrov Harutyunyan’s son-in-law.

The post had been vacant after Armenia’s former Permanent
Representative to the Council of Europe Zohrab Mnatsakanyan was
appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

WORLD-FAMOUS SINGERS TO COMMEMORATE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS

Tert.am
22.09.11

Flora Martirosian, Arto Tuncboyacıyan, Serj Tankian, Stevie Wonder,
Al Jarreau, as well as many other world-famous stars, will give a
joint concert in Los Angeles, California, USA, on Nov 1.

The concert will commemorate Armenian Genocide victims, Flora
Martirosian told journalists Sept 22.

“That concert will inaugurate a large-scale project we have decided
to implement until 2015. Before that, we plan to give concerts in
many countries by holding a least one concert a year. Many of the
world-famous singers will join us because they are against violence
and terror,” she said. A concert series is an excellent opportunity
for the Armenian people to appear in the international arena. “We
can present not only our national songs and art, but also our goods,
to the world,” Martirosian added.

“We must show all our strong points. The Armenian businessmen can
take this opportunity and present their products to the international
community,” the singer said.

The next concert under the project is expected to be held in Europe,
next May. “The European concert season is expected to spring even
greater surprises. Under a tentative agreement, such celebrities
as Peter Gabriel and Montserrat Caballe will join us there. Charles
Aznavour and other stars will sing in Europe,” the Armenian singer
said.

The world tour organizers plan to sum it up in Armenia in 2015. “Let
us hope we can host all the international celebrities that will be
besides us during the coming four years. One of the difficulties is
that Turkey may impede the concert series. They are silent now, and
let us hope they will remain silent throughout the concert season,”
the Armenian organizer Zhirair Dadasyan said.

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH JUDO TOURNAMENT KICKS OFF IN YEREVAN

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 22, 2011
YEREVAN

The second international youth judo tournament kicked off today in
Yerevan. More than 150 judoists from Armenia, Iran and Georgia are
participating in the tournament.

“The participation of athletes from Georgia and Iran will promote
the development of this tournament as the level of judo in these
two countries is on a high level”, deputy chairman of Armenia’s judo
federation Davit Khitaryan said.

The tournament will last a day.