Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

RANCHO MIRAGE WORSHIPPERS, PLANNERS DIFFER OVER CHURCH’S HEIGHT, TIMELINE
Colin Atagi

The Desert Sun
Feb 19 2009
CA

Plans for an Armenian church in Rancho Mirage might move forward next
month after being in limbo since July.

The Armenian Apostolic Church of the Desert is scheduled to go before
the city’s Planning Commission March 12, a church official said.

The proposal for the 3,540-square-foot building on Vista Dunes Road
was previously scheduled for discussion in July, but church members
requested it be removed from the commission’s agenda.

Shortly before that meeting, members were presented with new
conditions, including a recommendation that the church’s height be
lowered, said Carolon Nigosian, parish council chairwoman.

According to city documents, church officials proposed building a
57-foot-tall structure, but city staff recommended it be lowered to
45 feet.

The city does not, otherwise, have any problems with the project,
Planning Director Randy Bynder said.

"It’s just the height we feel is not compatible with the neighborhood,"
he said.

Church officials do not agree.

"All we want to do is build the building the way it was approved the
first time," Nigosian said.

The city approved a conditional-use permit for the project in 1999
and modifications in 2001, but the building permit expired in April
2005 due to inactivity, Bynder said.

An application for a new permit was submitted in August 2007, and the
project went before the Rancho Mirage Architectural Review Board in
April 2008.

Had the planning commission discussed the project last year, it
could’ve gone before the City Council as early as September, and a
permit could have been granted, Bynder said.

He added the planning commission could have recommended city leaders
approve the taller height.

Church officials say they shouldn’t have to go through the process
again, since they finished a parish hall and met conditions required
in the original permit, which they don’t believe should have expired.

"Because we already started on the project, we didn’t think it felt
right they made us reapply to continue," Nigosian said. "If we had
never finished or started, that’s a whole different ball game. But
we did (start)."

There are about 60 local church members with a mailing list of 300
families, she said.

The nearest completed churches are in Los Angeles and San Diego,
Nigosian said.

CHILDREN EXPOSED TO RACIST PROPAGANDA MOVIE

BIA
Feb 18 2009
Turkey

A "documentary" on the events of 1915 prepared by the Turkish army
incites protest by NGOs and individuals. The nation-wide showing of
the propaganda material in schools will instill hatred in a whole
generation they warn.

The General Staff of the Turkish Army has prepared a six-part
"documentary", which was sent to all primary schools through the
province authorities of the Ministry of Education. The DVDs are
to be shown to children "at a convenient time", and schools are to
report back on the effects of the film by 2 March, so a letter sent
to schools by the Ministry in January.

One of Turkey’s most controversial issues The film is named after a
well-loved folk song, "Sarı Gelin" (Blonde Bride), a song whose melody
is known in Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia, yet, so the vehement
critics, the film has nothing to do with promoting intercultural
understanding.

The full title of this "documentary" is "Sarı Gelin: The Inside Story
of the Armenian Problem", and it was sent out to primary schools in
June 2008.

It deals with the events of 1915, when, so many Armenians and
also an increasing number of Turks say, millions of Armenian
citizens of the Ottoman Empire were forcibly sent into exile
across to Syria. Definitions of the event range from a genocide
(i.e. a deliberate plan to eradicate an ethnic group) to claims
that the government was at the least negligent in letting so many
people starve, die of exhaustion or be killed by gangs. The Turkish
official discourse has long been to deny any wrongdoing, and rather
blame nationalist Armenian gangs for causing upheaval in the Ottoman
Empire and killing Turkish civilians.

A recent rapprochement between Turkish President Abdullah Gul
and Armenian Serzh Sargsyan, as well as an initiative by Turkish
intellectuals to apologise for the events of 1915 seemed to be
indications of a lessening of polarisation. However, critics of this
"documentary" say that it reiterates the Turkish nationalist stance.

"A generation fed on hatred" The education trade union Egitim-Sen
has demanded that schools immediately stop showing this film. Trade
union leader Zubeyde Kılıc told bianet that their report on the
film would be published within a week, and that they may go to court
in order to prevent further screenings at schools.

According to Kılıc, the film would teach 12 million children,
aged 6-14, to hate Armenians and anyone who is different. It would
"create a generation fed on hatred."

She added, "These children are at an age when they accept information
without interpreting it, when they accept what they are told as
the truth, and when things are stored in their memory. It will be
impossible for a child watching this film not to feel hatred for
Armenians."

"As for the Armenian children (i.e. citizens of Turkey who will also
be exposed to this film), they may be marginalised or discriminated
against afterwards. This worry may lead to them hiding their
identities."

KılÄ&#xB1 ;c has called on an education which would teach the events
of 1915, as well as other controversial parts of Turkey’s history,
in a way that would heal wounds. "But this film encourages conflict."

"Human rights violation"

The History Foundation has also denounced the film as propaganda
rather than a documentary. The foundation is currently working on
a project to identify human rights violations in school books, and
argues that this film represents just such a violation. It has also
called on the Ministry of Education to halt the viewings.

The foundation added, "This documentary is using a language of
hostility and discrimination to sow seeds of hatred in a society where
a hostility towards Armenians exists already. The ‘justified reasons’
for this hostile attitude towards people who are ‘not one of us’ is
built on manipulative and selective ‘arguments’ put forward in the
film. The young pupils watching this film will accept those claims
as the truth."

Societal peace needs to be promoted

The History Foundation further said, "All these children and their
families are citizens with equal rights in this country. It should
be expected from the Ministry of Education that it would respect such
sensitivities in its practices. A safe environment, and societal peace,
can only be created when education practices are in tune with such
an understanding of citizenship. Damaged children’s brains can only
stand in the way of societal peace."

Armenian schools worried Aris Nalcı, a writer for the Turkish-Armenian
newspaper Agos, reports that schools have started showing the film. He
says that the Armenian schools, which have also received the DVDs,
are worried. Some heads of school have said that their teaching
staff watched the film and decided that it would create traumas
among children.

Images of mass graves and bones for children The journalist cites
psychologist Asist. Prof. Dr. Serdar Degirmenoglu, who says that
children at that age would not be possible to recognise bad propaganda
material. The militarist tone of the film is supported by images of
mass graves, bones and skulls. Old men, who are calculated to evoke
feelings of sympathy, are interviewed. The psychologist expressed
his hope that the unsuitability of such a film for such an age group
would be realised.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES DELEGATION OF ARMENIAN EVANGELIC CHURCH

ARMENPRESS
Feb 18, 2009

YEREVAN, FEBRAURY 18, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
received today the delegation of the Spiritual Council of the Armenian
Evangelic Church headed by the primate of the church Rene Levonian.

Presidential press service told Armenpress that during the meeting
Serzh Sargsyan was presented the activity of the church during the
recent years, the programs carried out and would-be carried out
in Armenia.

Presenting the programs planned for 2009 by the church in Armenia and
Artsakh the members of the delegation pointed out that the church is
trying to gradually pass to the implementation of development programs
as well.

The president of the country underscored the using of the all Armenian
potential for the sake of Armenia and its people, highlighted the
activity of all the Armenian organizations in the sphere of preserving
the Armenian identity. "As people, the guarantee of our success is
our unity and our strength is in our variety as well. In this variety
our goal is one – prosperity and development of Armenia and Armenian
people," the president pointed out.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION EXPERT DELEGATION TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA

Panorama.am
19:15 17/02/2009

A delegation of experts of the European Commission is paying a
three-day working visit to Armenia. The Delegation is chaired by
the director of Trade Office of the European Commission Eva Sinovich
reports the information and public relations department of the Ministry
of Economy.

During the meeting the European experts will have meetings with the
representatives of the Ministries of Economy, Justice, Healthcare,
Nature Protection, Agriculture, Finance, Labor and Social Affairs,
the members of State Committee of Revenues, Central Bank, State
Committee on Economic Competition, etc.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE

February 18, 2009
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

ARMENIAN MINISTER OF THE DIASPORA TO ADDRESS ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF
AMERICA CONFERENCE BANQUET

Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) is pleased
to announce that Armenia’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs, Hranush
Hakobyan, will be an honored guest at the 2009 National Advocacy
Conference Banquet in Washington, DC, on March 3.

"Diaspora organizations play a pivotal role around the world," said
Hakobyan. "I feel privileged to speak to Armenian-American activists
next month," said Hakobyan. "The Assembly’s continued advocacy in
Congress has benefited both Armenian-Americans and Armenia alike."

By the initiative of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, the
first-ever Ministry of the Diaspora was established in 2008. Hakobyan
was appointed Minister by presidential decree. Through its programs,
this ministry will play a vital role in further strengthening the ties
between Diasporan communities worldwide and the homeland.

The Ministry of the Diaspora issued the following press release to
Armenian media on February 3, (translated from Armenian):

"Recently, ROA Minister of the Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan met with
Armenian Assembly of America Chairman Hirair Hovnanian; Assembly Country
Director Arpi Vartanian also attended. During the meeting, issues
surrounding Diaspora-Armenia relations and initiatives undertaken were
discussed. Hovnanian presented the Armenian Assembly of America’s recent
activities, as well as future plans. He specifically stressed the need
to continue working with the new U.S. Administration. Mr. Hovnanian
invited Ms. Hakobyan to participate in the Armenian Assembly’s National
Advocacy Conference to take place in Washington on March 1-3, 2009."

"I believe the Armenian Diaspora continues to have faith in, and a
commitment to, building a strong Armenian state and nation," said Arpi
Vartanian, Assembly Country Director for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
"With a Diaspora reaching the four corners of the world, the
recently-established Ministry of Diaspora Affairs faces many challenges
to further strengthen Diaspora-Homeland ties. This can be done, but it
requires commitment and support from the Diaspora and Homeland alike.
Minister Hakobyan brings years of vast experience, as well as a palpable
and infectious enthusiasm to her new position. With our support, the
efforts of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs will result in stronger
Diaspora-Homeland ties, and ultimately, in a stronger Armenian nation,"
concluded Vartanian.

Minister Hakobyan has held many important government positions prior to
her current posting. A well-respected member of the academic community
for 22 years, she was elected to the parliament for six consecutive
terms and was Deputy Head of the EU-Armenia Inter-Parliamentary
Commission, Head of the Armenian delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary
Union, Head of the Standing Committees on Social and Health Care Issues,
as well as the Science, Education, Culture and Youth Committee, and a
member of the Foreign Relations Committee of the National Assembly of
the Republic of Armenia. Hakobyan is a graduate of the Yerevan State
University Applied Mathematics Department and holds diplomas from the
Moscow Academy of Political Sciences and Yerevan State University Law
Department.

Hranush Hakobyan is a Doctor of Law and delivers lectures at the Public
Administration Academy of RA and Gavar State University. She is the
author of five books and more than 40 scientific publications.

By the decree of the RA President. Minister Hakobyan was granted the
ranking of RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. She has been
awarded numerous state and governmental awards, medals and certificates.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c) (3)
tax-exempt membership organization.

###

NR#2009-010

‘NORK’ INFORMATION-ANALYTICAL CENTER: E-CONTENTS DEVELOPED IN ARMENIA SHOULD REFLECT IDENTITY OF ARMENIAN PEOPLE

ArmInfo
2009-02-16 14:12:00

ArmInfo. E-contents developed in Armenia should reflect identity of
Armenian people, Director of ‘Nork’ Information-Analytical Center,
a member of IT Development Support Council (ITDSC) Hayk Chobanyan
told media Monday.

He said lack of computer programs including educational programs in
Armenian is connected with insignificant demand by large population
sections and this situation needs correction. ‘Presence of Armenian
language in the world information space and first of all in Internet
is pledge of unity with the our compatriots in abroad. Moreover,
it is introduction to the Armenian culture for local Armenians since
electronic information is mostly in demand now. The number of e-content
users is constantly growing. That is why it is necessary to make the
programs in Armenian an integral part of our life’, H. Chobanyan said.

ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT MEETS RUSSIAN PROSECUTOR GENERAL

armradio.am
13.02.2009 14:36

President Serzh Sargsyan today received the Prosecutor General of
the Russian Federation, Yuri Chayka, President’s Press Office reported.

During the meeting Serzh Sargsyan and Yuri Chayka rated high the
current level of cooperation between the law-enforcement bodies of
the two countries and emphasized the importance of the memorandum
the Armenian and Russian Prosecutor Generals signed today.

The Armenian President and the Russian Prosecutor General agreed that
the implementation of the primary provisions of the memorandum will
contribute to the improvement of the activity of the Prosecutor’s
Offices, raise of the efficiency of the work in the direction of
solving different crimes, defense of the peoples’ and citizens’
rights and freedoms, prevention of corruption, fighting terrorism, etc.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES PUBLICATION IN ‘HURRIYET’ TURKISH NEWSPAPER ABOUT SOME AGREEMENTS ON KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT REACHED UNDER MEDIATION OF TURKEY

ArmInfo
2009-02-11 13:34:00

ArmInfo. Foreign Ministry of Armenia has denied publication in
‘Hurriyet’ Turkish newspaper about some agreements on Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement having been reached under mediation of Turkey.

As Head of Mass Media Relations Department of Armenian Foreign Ministry
Tigran Balayan recalled, no negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement are held under mediation of Turkey. ‘Foreign Minister
of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan has multiply said that negotiations
on Karabakh conflict settlement are held under mediation of OSCE MG
cochairmen on the basis of the Madrid proposals’, T. Balayan said.

EMERGENCY NUMBER UNKNOWN IN EUROPE
by Perro de Jong

Radio Netherlands
Feb 11 2009
Netherlands

The 112 emergency number is gaining ground, but not very
rapidly. Compared with last year, the number of Europeans who know
about it has risen by two percent.

Tjerk Terpstra, the Dutch ‘Mr 112’, says there is a lack of awareness
because many countries operate two different emergency numbers; 112
for tourists as well as the number they usually use. In the United
Kingdom, for example, this is 999.

If a British person abroad crashes their car into a tree, their first
instinct will be to dial 999, says Mr Terpstra. "First of all you
panic; you only think about it afterwards."

Campaign song

The Netherlands is one of the countries that has replaced its old
alarm number with 112, so virtually the entire population now knows
about it. But only a third are aware that you can also use it in
other European countries.

Mr Terpstra therefore thinks publicity is important. Last year he
received one of the first ‘112 Awards’ for the new emergency call
centre in the village of Driebergen, near Utrecht. According to
Brussels, it is the best in Europe.

This year, in addition to extra awards, there is even a special ‘112
Anthem’ created by Armenian-born Belgian singer Nara Noïan (listen
to the video below). The idea is that each country should organise
its own festivities, although up to now only Finland appears to be
doing so. But is any of this actually helping?

Listen to the 112 Anthem at
90211-emergency-112

‘Trouser-pocket callers’ Tjerk Terpstra thinks it would be more
effective to organise a good information campaign every year. In fact,
this is something all EU member countries are supposed to do.

He does think however, that the 112 Awards are a good way to
motivate the people working behind the scenes. Their job can often be
frustrating. All over Europe, from Turkey to Finland and from Ireland
to Poland, the majority of 112 emergency calls made turn out not to
relate to real emergencies.

They vary from innocent ‘trouser-pocket callers’, to heavy breathers
and second-hand mobile phone dealers who dial 112 to show that a
phone works without needing a SIM card.

Going bilingual "I have a lot of respect for emergency phone operators
who have to deal with endless prank calls for anything up to half an
hour on end," Mr Terpstra says. Yet, he still believes that blocking
emergency calls, as is done in a number of European countries, takes
things one step too far. In the Netherlands 40,000 real emergency calls
come in every year via pre-paid mobile phones, often from the elderly.

In the meantime, Brussels is now targeting a different problem:
language. According to the latest European research, 28 percent
of Europeans have difficulties using 112 because of the language
barrier. Ideally, the European Commission would therefore like to
see a small army of translators at the ready to handle calls in all
of the EU’s official languages.

Yet this is also not necessarily the answer, believes Mr Terpstra, who
currently advises the European Emergency Number Association. English,
French and German are enough. "Only sometimes you have one of those
Polish or Bulgarian truck drivers who only knows the odd word in
German. That’s a problem, of course."
–Boundary_(ID_K/wRisF8FNIpgiMbeWGa4 g)–

St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School
47 Nichols Avenue
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel: (617) 926-6979
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE

February 9, 2009

Mirak Family Pledges $200,000 Leadership Gift to St. Stephen’s Armenian
Elementary School

WATERTOWN, MA–The Mirak Family Foundation has generously pledged a
leadership gift of $200,000 to the St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School
of Watertown, MA. Following a meeting between Robert Mirak and Julia Mirak
Kew and school principal Houry Boyamian, the Miraks offered to support the
school’s mission to educate a second generation of Armenian Americans.

The Mirak Family was enthusiastic about the quality of bilingual education
at the school, the low student to teacher ratio, the quality of the teaching
staff, and that since 2003 the school has been accredited by the Association
of Independent Schools in New England.

Upon accepting the first installment of the five-year gift, Principal
Boyamian emphasized, "we are honored that the Mirak Family has made such a
generous commitment to our school. This leadership gift will help ensure
that generations of Armenian Americans will continue to be able to access a
quality bilingual bicultural education."

Since its establishment in 1984, more than 400 students have been educated
in Armenian language and history and 177 students have graduated from St.
Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School. Students in several grades score in
the top 10-15 percent nationwide on the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills
for Language and Math, and graduates have attended prestigious universities
with full scholarships and gone on to become community leaders.

Dr. Mirak is the son of the late John and Artemis Mirak, who were survivors
of the Armenian Genocide from Arapkir. His book, "Torn Between Two Lands:
Armenians in America, 1890 to World War I" was published by Harvard
University Press. As a scholar and community leader, he expressed the
importance of preserving an Armenian identity in the diaspora. "As the son
of Genocide survivors, I understand the challenges of bicultural living and
identity in America," explained Dr. Mirak. "Our family is grateful that St.
Stephen’s School is investing resources in educating young people in
Armenian language and history."

Dr. Mirak’s granddaughter Christina Kew attends the school, and daughter
Julia, trustee of the Mirak Family Foundation and the Armenian Cultural
Foundation, has commended the staff and school leadership for providing a
nurturing environment and helping her family preserve their Armenian
heritage. "My sister Jennifer Mirak Leach is also part of our family
foundation, and she is envious that I can send my daughter to St. Stephen’s
School," Julia confided. "I can speak for all of us when I say our family is
proud that we can help the school upgrade its existing space, keep tuition
affordable, and enhance the school’s library so students will have access to
cutting edge resources."

"Our goal is to continue recruiting and retaining qualified teachers and
administrators, building and maintaining a growing enrollment, ensuring the
school’s long term sustainability, and creating the best possible school
campus," explained Principal Boyamian. "The commitment of the Mirak Family
gives us great hope that we will be successful. We are currently
implementing a multi-year strategic plan for growth, and we hope the Mirak
Family gift will also inspire others to invest in our unique programs."

The Mirak Family has supported a number of charitable and education
institutions, including Arlington’s hospital, libraries and the preservation
of historic structures, the Armenia Tree Project, and the Armenian Cultural
Foundation in Arlington, MA.

St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School is a private pre-kindergarten
through grade five school dedicated to educational excellence in an
environment rich in Armenian culture.

####

Caption: Mirak Family Foundation Trustee Julia Mirak Kew, daughter Christina
Kew and SSAES principal Houry Boyamian