Author: nina hovnanian

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE
Monday, September 30, 2013

AGBU GENERATION NEXT MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FORGES LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS
NEW CURRICULUM TO CONTINUE SERVING CALIFORNIA YOUTH

As students across the U.S. head back to their classrooms, teens in
Southern California are filling their schedules with brand-new
activities offered exclusively by AGBU’s Generation Next Mentorship
Program (GenNext). Ushering in the school year, GenNext has forged a
number of local partnerships, expanding its reach to meet the needs of
at-risk youth.

This fall, GenNext will join forces with the Didi Hirsch Community
Center, Glendale Community College, and Glendale Healthy Kids. These
collaborations build on the program’s 16-plus years of pairing
Armenian youth with positive role models, and its existing
partnerships with the YWCA and the Glendale Police
Department. Glendale Chief of Police Ronald L. De Pompa praises
GenNext’s impact, remarking, “In society today there are so many risks
that our youth encounter [and] mentorships play a critical role in
[their] lives…Programs like the AGBU Generation Next Mentorship
program provide alternatives and help our youth recognize what path to
follow in order to have a successful future.”

In the coming weeks, GenNext will recruit students studying social
work and education at Glendale Community College to volunteer as
mentors. The YWCA is offering GenNext access to its computer lab,
swimming pool and athletic facilities completely free of charge. While
the mentees master digital media, their parents will have the
opportunity to learn how to monitor and safeguard their children’s
online activities through bimonthly seminars at the nearby Didi Hirsch
Center.

With these new additions, GenNext will further strengthen the bonds
between mentees and mentors, which lie at the heart of the program. By
carefully matching participants, GenNext creates friendships that last
long after mentees have graduated. This was the case for Armine
Pogosian and Sona Avdalyan, who met when Sona was thirteen. As both
women recall, over the past five years they’ve become more like family
than friends. They-and all participants-have grown close through
GenNext’s one-on-one sessions and group activities, which include
field trips, camping retreats as well as improv comedy classes
designed to help mentees express themselves.

Sona, like several mentees, moved from Armenia to California shortly
before finding her place in the GenNext family. This year, GenNext
will welcome more immigrants from Armenia, as well as refuges from
Iraq. As GenNext Program Director Saro Ayvazians explained, mentors
play a key role in helping those young people assimilate. “Our mentors
relate to these kids by sharing their own experiences,” he
detailed. “More often, though, it’s the mentors’ ability to listen
that is the most powerful. They allow mentees to feel safe, to open up
and share things they normally would not.”

For mentor Arman Satchyan, establishing that trust has meant acting
not as an authority figure but rather as a confidant to Alex, his
mentee of five years. Arman is one of the many GenNext mentors who
insist that the program has benefitted him just as much as Alex. He
stated, “Over the years, watching Alex go through adolescence, I feel
I’ve gotten the opportunity to grow up myself. He has a natural
self-confidence that I always try to emulate.”

Instilling that sense of self-confidence in youth is central to the
GenNext mission, and creates new opportunities for hundreds of mentees
while inspiring them to give back. Had it not been for GenNext, former
mentee Artin Arakelian believes he wouldn’t have graduated high
school. Now a college student pursuing his teaching credentials, Artin
is looking forward to becoming a GenNext mentor himself this year. “I
want to find someone who is heading down the wrong path, like I was,
and open their eyes, just like my mentor did for me. Shaping the next
generation of kids for the better-that would mean the world to me.”

This summer, GenNext received a record-breaking donation of $80,000,
raised through AGBU FOCUS 2013 fundraising. The funds will help
GenNext continue to serve local youth. Yet, there is an ongoing need
for support and GenNext is continuing to recruit volunteer mentors and
mentees to the program.

Every donation makes a difference in the life of a young person. To
learn how you can help GenNext have an even greater impact, please
visit or email [email protected].

To hear more stories from GenNext participants, watch their video:

Modeled after the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America program, the
AGBU Generation Next Mentorship Program (GenNext) was established in
1997 by the AGBU Young Professionals of Los Angeles. In its pilot
year, the program enrolled eight mentees. Since then, hundreds of
students ages 12-18 have benefitted from the dedicated service of
qualified mentors, helping them reach their full potential.

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.

For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please
visit

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Sept 29 2013

Iran’s Armenian connection contradicts Islamic solidarity policy

Ferhad Memmedov
29 September 2013 /Ä°REM KARAKAYA, ANKARA

Azerbaijan is critical of Iran’s growing ties with the Armenian
government, which forced 600,000 Muslims to leave their homes in
Nagorno-Karabakh and 400,000 Muslims to flee Armenia, as this
contradicts Iran’s pro-Islamic solidarity policy, says Ferhad
Memmedov, chief of the Baku-based Center for Strategic Research (SAM).
Speaking to Sunday’s Zaman, Memmedov said Azerbaijan has been closely
watching Armenian-Iranian relations and stated that there is a
contradiction between the Iranian government’s statements and its
actions on the Armenian issue.

`Iran’s Armenia policy has no logical explanation. Iran exerts efforts
for the pro-Islamic solidarity idea that it announces as the main goal
of its foreign policy. However, it doesn’t pay attention to the fate
of 600,000 Muslims who were forced to leave their homes in
Nagorno-Karabakh and 400,000 Muslims to flee Armenia. It doesn’t show
any official reaction to this invasion or impose any sanctions on the
occupying state. On the contrary, it keeps Armenia alive by supplying
financial aid to the occupying state,’ said Memmedov, pointing out
Iran’s mixed messages in the Caucasus region.

A bloody conflict erupted between ethnic Azerbaijanis and Armenians in
1991 over Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous, predominantly
Armenian-populated enclave within Azerbaijani borders. Armenian-backed
armed forces seized 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories, killing
30,000 people. Hundreds of thousands fled their homes before a
cease-fire was signed in 1994, although there is no peace treaty as of
yet. In a display of solidarity with Azerbaijan on the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue, Turkey closed its borders with Armenia. This
sanction against Turkey’s eastern neighbor affected the Armenian
economy even further after Georgia, one of the countries with which
Armenia shares a border, closed its borders at the time of the
Russia`Georgia War of 2008.

On the question of whether Azerbaijan expects constructive steps in
Iranian-Azerbaijani relations, as Iran’s newly elected president
Hassan Rohani appears to be playing a conciliatory role in Iran’s
foreign policy, the think tank director draws attention to the power
of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Stating that the
latest presidential elections in Iran show that Khamenei controls the
political situation and affects the electoral results, Memmedov said
that Iranian officials are trying to broadcast Rohani’s moderate
stance, but Iran’s new foreign policy will prove itself through
concrete actions.

`As the director of a think tank, I believe that presidents change in
Iran but Iran’s politics remains the same, and it will continue its
current policies. The religious leadership of Iran and the political
background in the country show that Iran will be active and pursue
assertive policies in the Caucasus in the near future,’ he said,
stressing that although Rohani’s South Caucasus policy isn’t yet
clear, Azerbaijan doesn’t expect Iran to turn towards the Caucasus.

Rohani is the successor to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and his inauguration,
which was attended by heads of state as well as senior officials from
more than 50 countries, was held on Aug. 4. The inauguration of
Rohani, known as a moderate figure in Iranian politics, was perceived
as a sign of Iran’s new foreign policy as it was the first time that
foreign dignitaries had attended the inauguration of an Iranian
president.

On the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh issue between Azerbaijan and
Armenia, Memmedov hopes that the negotiation process will gain speed
with the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan. Reiterating
Azerbaijan’s aim to find a solution for the area soon, the chief of
SAM said that Azerbaijan demands the withdrawal of Armenian troops
from its territory and explained that in the event of compliance with
this demand, a new era will begin in the South Caucasus.

`If Armenian troops leave Nagorno-Karabakh, all borders will be opened
to Armenia and it will be more independent. On the condition of the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is restored, the two sides can
reach a consensus on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh,’ said Memmedov.

Stressing that after October, there will be no elections in either
Armenia or Azerbaijan, Memmedov underlined that in that period there
will be no reason for either country to create artificial reasons to
prolong or obstruct negotiations. Memmedov also believes in the
necessity of solving the Nagorno-Karabakh problem for the Armenian
side, as the Armenian economy has been deeply affected by Turkey and
Azerbaijan’s policy of isolation against it. `Armenia is aiming to
open its borders with Turkey because of its economic collapse and
political instability, but this will only be possible if its occupying
troops leave Azerbaijani territory,’ he said and added, `Azerbaijan
appreciates Turkey’s punitive policy on Armenia.’

Construction on the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway, which began in 2007, is
expected to be completed by 2014. Saying that the railway project will
bring big business potential to Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan,
Memmedov also pointed out some global powers’ attempts to disrupt the
project as it leaves Armenia out of a regional cooperation initiative.
`Although the US wanted to prevent the project under pressure from
Armenian lobbies, now the railway will help NATO troops in their
withdrawal from Afghanistan. NATO’s munitions can be transported on
the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway ,’ said the Azerbaijani SAM director.

Memmadov also commented on the long-awaited visa exemption that
Azerbaijan agreed to sign with Turkey. The mutual deal to eliminate
visa requirements between Azerbaijan and Turkey was almost finalized
in 2009. The Turkish Foreign Ministry even announced that the official
signing ceremony would be held during a December 2009 visit to Ankara
by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. Despite these
widespread expectations, the visa exemption agreement was not
finalized during the visit. Turkey agreed to do away with visa
requirements for Azeri nationals, but for four years the Azerbaijani
government has postponed the issue for no apparent reason..

Memmedov said the deal has not been cancelled but merely delayed
because of technical issues. Underscoring his country’s good relations
with Turkey, he explained that the visa problems between the states
are minor. Memmedov noted that Turkish citizens can easily obtain a
visa from either an Azerbaijani embassy or at an airport and claimed
that to date no Turkish citizen has had difficulty in obtaining a visa
to enter Azerbaijan.

Armenia’s joining Customs Union not to affect Karabakh issue – expert

September 29, 2013 | 22:42

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s intention to join the Customs Union will not
affect settlement of Karabakh conflict, deputy director of Caucasus
Institute Sergey Minasyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

He noted that Russia would feel more obliged in terms of so-called
security guarantees granted to Armenia and in fact through Armenia to
Nagorno-Karabakh.

`This will further help reduce likelihood of hostilities by
Azerbaijan,’ he said.

Following the talks that were held on September 3 in Moscow between
Armenian and Russian Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin,
Sargsyan had announced that Armenia plans to join the Customs Union
and subsequently engage in the formation of the Eurasian Economic
Union.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am
News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Artsakh President sent a letter of condolences to Sos Sargsyan’s family

20:17, 27 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS: On 27 September Artsakh Republic
President Bako Sahakyan sent a condolence letter to the family of Sos
Sargsyan.
`Armenpress’ was informed from NKR foreign ministry’s press service
that the letter runs as following:
“I have learnt with deep sorrow about the death of People’s Artist,
public figure, deserving son of the Armenian nation Sos Sargsyan.
Sos Sargsyan was a great intellectual, a person, who dedicated his
entire life to the honorable mission of devotedly serving his native
people.
Sos Sargsyan’s contribution to the process of development of Armenian
culture and the patriotic education of many generations is invaluable.
Due to his limitless talent and outstanding work he gained respect and
recognition far beyond the borders of Armenia.
Sos Sargsyan has had a substantial contribution to the Artsakh
national-liberation movement and the development of the Nagorno
Karabagh Republic. He was always with Artsakh, assisting by all means
possible state building process in our country.
Sos Sargsyan’s patriotic activity was rated high in Artsakh where he
has been decorated with the “Grigor Lousavorich” Order and other state
awards.
On behalf of the Artsakh people, authorities and personally myself I
express my sincere sympathies and condolences to the relatives and
friends of the deceased, to all of us over the irretrievable loss.
The memory of Sos Sargsyan will always remain bright in our hearts”.

On September 26 the outstanding Armenian actor, the People’s Artist of
the Republic of Armenia Sos Sargsyan passed away at the age of 84.

Sos Sargsyan was born in Stepanavan on October 24, 1929. He graduated
from the Yerevan Fine Arts and Theatre Institute in 1954. From 1954 he
performed at the Sundukyan Drama Theatre of Yerevan. In 1992 he
established and headed “Hamazgain” Theatre. 1997-2005 he was the
rector of Yerevan Institute of Theatre and Cinema. Besides Armenian
films he starred in a number of Russian films, most notable of which
is Solaris (1972), directed by Andrei Tarkovsky.

Sos Sargsyan starred in a number of movies including The Musical Team
Boys as Artashes, Triangle as Master Mkrtich, Source of Heghnar as
Master Mkrtich, Solaris as Dr. Gibarian, Nahapet as Nahapet, Star Of
Hope as Movses, The Best Half of Life, Beyond the Seven Mountains as
Hovsep, Dzori Miro as Miro, Gikor as Hambo, Sans Famille (TV movie) as
Vitalis, Apple Garden as Martin, Yeghishe Charents – Known and Unknown
Sides (doc. film), Pharmacy on The Corner as Adamyan, Where Have You
Been, Man of God?, (doc. TV mini-series) as Stepham Yesayan, And There
Was Light, The Merry Bus as priest, etc.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

ARMENIE
Haykakan Jamanak : Carrefour va s’installer au Centre du shopping d’Erevan

La Construction d’un centre de shopping et de divertissement à Erevan
est en cours sur l’avenue Arshakuniants à Erevan. L’ouverture du
centre est prévue pour octobre. Les noms des propriétaires du centre
ne sont pas officiellement annoncé, mais les rumeurs circulant est que
le centre est détenu par le président du Comité des recettes d’Etat
d’Arménie (SRC) Gagik Khachatrian et du directeur de Keramika OJSC
Norayr Khachatrian selon le quotidien « Haykakan Zhamanak ».

« Le service de presse du SRC a réfuté hier cette information, disant
que le chef du SRC et ses parents n’ont rien à voir avec le Centre. En
Arménie, ces réfutations ne veulent rien dire » écrit le journal.

L’hypermarché Carrefour devrait s’installer dans ce Centre.

Malgré le fait que jusqu’à présent il n’y a eu aucune information
officielle sur l’entrée de Carrefour sur le marché arménien, les
rumeurs persistent dans les milieux d’affaires que la célèbre chaîne
d’hypermarchés entrera sur le marché arménien et s’installera dans ce
centre.

Selon le journal une superficie de 6000 mètres carrés a été allouée pour cela.

dimanche 29 septembre 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

ARMENIE
Les agriculteurs arméniens devraient récolter 310000 tonnes de blé

Hrachya Tsnepsyan, un haut fonctionnaire du ministère arménien de
l’agriculture, a déclaré que les agriculteurs devraient récolter au
moins 310000 tonnes de blé cette année soit 7,4 pour cent de plus qu’
en 2012, quand ils ont recueilli environ 240000 tonnes.

Il dit que la prévision est que la production céréalière totale du
pays sera d’environ 530000 tonnes soit 25 pour cent de plus qu’en
2012.

Il a également dit que la projection pour la production des pommes de
terre est de 665000 tonnes, pour les légumes de 860000 tonnes et les
prévisions pour les fruits et les baies sont 340000 tonnes métriques.
Il a dit que la production de blé ne couvre seulement que 35 à 36% des
besoins de l’Arménie.

dimanche 29 septembre 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

AZERBAÏDJAN-ALIEVISTAN
Rebecca Vincent une ex-diplomate américaine critique les autorités
azéries pour le non-respect des Droits de l’Homme

Le périodique « The Foreign Policy Centre » a publié une interview de
Rebecca Vincent un ancienne diplomate américaine et membre actif des
associations de défense des Droits de l’Homme. « A l’approche des
élections présidentielles en Azerbaïdjan les Droits de l’Homme sont
une nouvelle fois bafoués » affirme Rebecca Vincent. « En Azerbaïdjan
le droit à la liberté d’expression et de manifestation est depuis de
nombreuses années bafoué. Mais à l’approche des élections
présidentielles du 9 octobre, les autorités azéries continuent de
poursuivre l’opposition afin de la faire taire ses critiques envers le
gouvernement d’Aliev » dit R. Vincent.

« Avec les restrictions régulières en matière des droits d’expression
et de manifestation en Azerbaïdjan il y a peu de chances que les
prochaines élections présidentielles obéisse aux normes
internationales en matière d’élections libres et démocratiques »
continue l’ex-diplomate américaine. Elle a également rappelé que selon
Human Rights Club, il y a actuellement une centaine de prisonniers
politiques en Azerbaïdjan. Parmi ces derniers, des journalistes, des
bloggeurs, des avocats et des activistes politiques. Selon Rebecca
Vincent, un certain nombre de journalistes qui critiquent le régime
sont placés sous une pression constante par les autorités.

Tout est en place pour la réélection programmée du dictateur de Bakou,
le président Ilham Aliev qui brigue un troisième mandat présidentiel
et rêverait un trône à vie à la tête de l’Azerbaïdjan.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 29 septembre 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com
`482

REPRESENTATIVE OF U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT CALLED ON AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES TO INVESTIGATE ALL FACTS OF PRESSURE ON JOURNALISTS

17:14 27/09/2013 ” REGION

“The legislative Internet restrictions by Azerbaijan, including
criminal penalties for libels, are a further erosion of freedom of
expression in a country where a few journalists and bloggers are
arrested or sentenced to imprisonment,” Deputy Assistant Secretary
of State for Democracy and Human Rights Thomas Melia stated in Warsaw
on September 25, the Azerbaijanii news agency “Turan” reports.

According to the agency, Melia addressed to the OSCE representatives
and reminded that journalists like Khadija Ismayilova continue to be
subjected to harassment and persecution. There are few more bloggers
that are still in a similar situation.

“We urge the authorities to investigate all these facts, as well
as the problems cropped up with the broadcast of Radio “Liberty”
in Azerbaijan and other Azerbaijani media,” Melia said.

The agency reminds that at the beginning of September, the authorities
of Azerbaijan refused to receive the U.S. State Department delegation
headed by Thomas Melia to Baku. Melia had sharply criticized Baku
for violations of rights and freedoms of the citizens earlier.

Source: Panorama.am

HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK: NORTHERN AVENUE BECOMES UNCOMFORTABLE, DILAPIDATED

12:39 28/09/2013 ” DAILY PRESS

Yerevan’s Northern Avenue whose construction cost about USD 315 million
has become dilapidated during the 5 years of its existence and is
currently an uncomfortable area which looks like a construction site,
Haykakan Zhamanak reports.

The cause is low-quality construction, according to experts.

“Flagstones on the Avenue are broken and what has remained is not
protected. Lamps are broken, the underground part looks like a garbage
dump. Yet some planned to turn Northern Avenue into a visiting card
of the capital,” the paper says.

Source: Panorama.am

RUSSIA LOSES TWO WARS

Interview with Anush Sedrakyan, deputy president of the Free Democrats
Party, on the consequences of the Customs Union membership

Anush, was September 3 someone’s agenda, real politics or a wish to
thwart the Association Agreement? Different people have commented on
this except for Serzh Sargsyan.

If we believe the president that he did not undergo any pressure (I
personally believe him) and nevertheless Armenia joins the Customs
Union, this is an example of wrong governance. Our tradition of
independence shows that we have had serious shortcomings in governance,
and it is a lie that we did not fight for our independence. We
fought but the fight was not conscious. Transitions were quick,
first environment, next Karabakh, finally independence. We did not
fight for independence initially, and initially we did not have such
a vision. And when it was said that independence was given to us, it
seemed that it was time for us to think about keeping and reinforcing
our independence, it turned out that we have fighters but we don’t
have governors. What has been happening over the past 22 years in
Armenia is, in my opinion, a grave crisis of professional governance,
not a fight of ideas or empires or a political crisis.

Correspondingly, the opposition is expected to posture Ernesto Che
Guevara whereas its posture is something mutable that leads to the
same crisis of governance.

Do you think Russia became stronger through Armenia and became a more
important subject in the world?

Putin’s political bluff is a success. Russia loses two wars, innovation
and demography. He has lost these two wars and now he can win the
war of blackmail and bluff. After so many years of break Russia is
negotiating with the United State in an equal negotiation over the
crisis in Syria, Russia divides Armenia and speaks about a new national
idea. The campaign for the Customs Union is the result of crisis of
governance because the government that wants a state starts building a
society that matches the state. Over 22 years of governance no effort
has been made for growing professional governance and social systems.

I will believe in the Customs Union as soon as our government starts
leaving for Voronezh to get a treatment and depositing its money in
Moscow banks. For the time being, all the money is sent to Switzerland,
and treatment is taken in Germany, and I believe that our elite again
sets two standards, it takes the best standard and offers the worst
standard to people and the state.

What will the consequences of the Customs Union be?

I predict the white plague because of the growing migration. We were
humiliated twice. First, we were humiliated with CU membership which
was followed by a series of humiliations that gas will not be cheaper,
the railway will not be reconstructed, they sold arms to Azerbaijan,
demonstrating to us that our membership to the Customs Union will
not bring welfare and safety. Internal humiliation followed external
humiliation. Again rise of fare was announced, Suren Khachatryan’s
son was set free, the Covered Market came up. It means that Russia
does not care for the solution of the everyday issues of people and
only gives the government a cart blanche to take care of its own
needs in the way it likes. Nevertheless, during the European games
the situation was less severe.

In other words, Armenia will have no chance to develop until the end
of Putin’s presidency?

I am optimistic. This is the 21st century. I will leave Armenia
the next morning of ban on the internet because as long as there
is transparency, possibility to communicate, the absence of brain
borders helps open physical borders. A ban will not work out in the
21st century. It may work out in oil countries where you can take 40%
of the budget and 60% is quite enough for people, in Armenia it will
not work out because our country’s resource is highly limited.

Everyone must understand whether they deserve the state. Yes, I think
that having a state is the only way to survive in the world. There is
not a better pass than a strong state. And if it is time to not have a
state, we must be able to explain to our children why we repeated the
same mistake, lost what had been achieved with such difficulty. The
nature of mistakes does not change, whether diplomatic or human. And
two things underlie the mistakes, short-sightedness and just greed.

Siranuysh Papyan 13:14 28/09/2013 Story from Lragir.am News: