Author: Tavakalian Edgar

ARMENIAN LAWMAKERS REDUCED FORMER PRESIDENTS’ PRIVILEGES

ARKA
April 30, 2008

YEREVAN, April 30. /ARKA/. Armenian National Assembly passed amendments
to the law on presidents’ salaries, privileges and security on Tuesday
at the second, final reading.

The amendments reduce the privileges former presidents enjoy. Armenian
Justice Minister Gevorg Danielyan, introducing the amendments to
lawmakers, said the law contradicted the Constitution – that is why
it needed amendment.

As an example of these contradictions, the minister singled out
the post of vice-president that was mentioned in the law, while the
Constitution and state legal system don’t envisage such a position.

The amendments also changed the rules of setting presidential
retirement benefit.

In particular, the ex-president will receive retirement benefit equal
to 80% of his salary in office, exempting cases of impeachment.

Before that, ex-presidents were paid 75% of their salaries.

The pension is not paid to a former president, if he receives salary
higher than 80% of his salary in presidential office.

If the ex-president, at his new position, receives salary lower
than presidential, he is paid difference between former and present
salaries.

Mansions are taken from former presidents, but apartment and car are
provided to them.

In their trips to other countries, former presidents will have their
travel expenses compensated twice a year.

Danielyan also said that if ex-presidents want to continue their
political career, they will be given an office with three employees.

The amended law will apply only to those ex-presidents who have left
the office after the amendment.

TER-PETROSIAN’S PARTISANS IN CONSTITUTIONAL AND EUROPEAN COURTS
By Gohar Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily
30/04/2008

Post-election crisis

After March incidents, Levon Ter-Petrosian partisan political forces
and organizations 26 times informed the Municipality about holding
rallies and demonstrations and were rejected, announced member of
Ter-Petrosian campaign office Manushak Petrosian.

She informed that they had applied to Administrative Court to
dispute Municipality decisions. As the court dismissed the action,
they applied to the Constitutional Court.

As it was informed before, Center of National Movement has decided
to apply to European Court. Manushak Grigorian and their lawyer Vahe
Grigorian mentioned that the claim is in preparatory stage and is
not lodged yet. "We need foreign experts’ advice. We take steps in
that direction", he added.

Manushak Petrosian announced that on May 2 Second Congress of National
Movement will be held in conference-hall of the government, and the
initiators of the movement will assess what happened during the course
of the last events.

STUDENTS RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
by Stella Cho, Arshi Khan, and David Lumb

New University Online, CA
udents_recognize_armenian_genocide151
April 28 2008

Photo: Nune Alaverdyan | Staff Photographer Darfur Action Committee
event coordinator Sevag Mahserejian informs students about atrocities
committed against Armenians in 1915.

For Armenians, April 24, 1915 is recognized as the start of the
Armenian Genocide, an extermination of 1.5 million Armenians by Turkish
forces. The day carries the charge of injustice for those descendents
of the half-million Armenians who were lucky enough to survive,
and as such has been commemorated by the UC Irvine Armenian Student
Association in recent years through the "Peace, Love and Genocide"
event series.

The events remembering the genocide lasted from April 21 to 24. These
events were held to inform individuals about the tragedy and to
celebrate the enduring nature of the Armenian people.

For Thursday night’s presentation, Mariya Andriasian, a third-year
biological sciences major, opened the commemoration in English.

"The 93rd commemoration of the Armenian Genocide [are] simple words
that may strike a sense of familiarity for some … or anger, despair
and a sense of community for others," Andriasian said.

Following opening comments, Gary Ohanian, a third-year biological
sciences major, performed an original composition on piano accompanied
by audio clips. The news report sound bites described the purportedly
increased tensions between the United States and Turkey, should
Congress pass a bill recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

At the event, artist Madelyne Oliver, a member of the Darfur Action
Committee and a second-year anthropology and art history double-major,
captured the brooding mood of the night’s events on a canvas painted
throughout the night.

"Because of the bloodshed and suffering, I pushed the red paint to
the [left] side of the canvas. In the middle, I used brighter colors
like blue and green because they’re more hopeful and optimistic,"
Oliver said.

At the center of her piece, Oliver painted two people at the
top of a mound "looking down and watching their culture fall
downhill." According to Oliver, the bright yellow paint behind the
miniature figures at the top represent the Armenians moving "past
their history."

Sevag Mahseredjian, a fourth-year psychology major and the event
coordinator for "Love, Peace and Genocide," agreed that the Armenian
genocide is an event worth remembering.

"It is up to us to educate others to prevent [similar] atrocities
from ever occurring," Mahseredjian said.

Earlier that day, Mahseradjian led a group in a mock protest and handed
out signs with provocative messages such as: "U.S. … Recognize the
Armenian Genocide!" and "Never Forget!"

Although aimed at the college community, individuals of various ages
participated in activities throughout the week. One young girl recited
a poem in Armenian about the suffering of her people at the candlelight
vigil. Translated into English, the poem contained the words, "Even
with all that’s happened we are, we will be and we will grow."

The main guest speaker of the night, Ara Malazian, a member of the
Armenian National Committee, recalled speaking at the 2006 incarnation
of the event when four Turkish students protested the event.

According to Malazian, though ASA apologized to him for the protest,
Malazian stated that he was glad it happened as it proved that the
Armenians are justified in raising awareness about the genocide.

Despite the increasing attention that the genocide has received,
many believe that Turkey will never admit to the genocide. One such
student was Maral Gazarian, a third-year biological sciences major
and Alpha Gamma Alpha member, who volunteered at the event.

"I’d be shocked if [Turkey] recognized it, because it’s been 93
years. It’s more difficult to accept it," Gazarian said.

Regardless of what stance Turkey takes on the issue, Malazian
stressed that he will continue to raise awareness about Armenian
issues. According to Malazian, his success is evident through the
Armenian diaspora.

"Turkish people [have] signs [that say] we should’ve finished it
… [it] still bothers me. However, I have hope … we have to come
to terms with our past," Malazian said.

Malazian also referenced the attempt to pass a non-binding agreement
known as House Resolution 106 in the United States Congress.

"The House Resolution is not binding, it doesn’t cost Turkey anything
… [however,] it causes them to face their history," Malazian said.

Malazian connected the Armenian Genocide to many other ethnic
cleansings that have occurred in the world and the importance of
recognizing the past mistakes of humanity.

"If we had done something in 1915, maybe Darfur, Rwanda, the Holocaust
wouldn’t have happened," Malazian said.

Prior to the series’ climax, the week began with a Day of the Dead
event modeled after Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos in which a model of
a Turkish skeleton was built. The model was then marched around Ring
Mall in order to evoke the fact that Turkey has yet to acknowledge
its role in the genocide.

Tuesday celebrated Armenian culture by featuring Armenian flute playing
that is known as duduk. The event reflected the style of music popular
among Armenian society during the times the genocide began.

Wednesday’s event raised awareness about the Armenian genocide, as a
group of 50 individuals stood completely still by the UCI flagpoles
and held signs that contained information about the Armenian genocide.

Thursday’s noon meeting at the UCI flagpoles involved volunteers
from a number of student organizations. To represent the thousands
of children killed during the course of the slaughter, a mountain of
bright infant and toddler clothing was stacked in piles in front of
a booth setup by Alpha Gamma Alpha, a multicultural sorority.

Similar to Alpha Gamma Alpha, Alpha Epsilon Omega, a primarily Armenian
fraternity, opened a booth alongside the mound of clothes to display
several shirts for sale. Some shirts were emblazoned with the April
24 motto: "Never Forget" and others lamented the death of Hrant Dink,
a Turkish journalist who was assassinated for speaking out against
the Turkish government about the Armenian Genocide.

Above all, Mahseradjian was proud of the week’s success. "In four days,
I think we’ve accomplished and raised more awareness and educated
more bypassers than any other commemoration that’s ever taken place,"
Mahseradjian commented.

Although Mahseradjian felt the event was a success he admitted that
reaching the UCI community is an uphill battle.

Similarly, Vache Minasyan, a first-year undeclared major, mentioned
that while the event was helpful in raising awareness, more must
be done.

"It’s always good to educate people. We’re doing what’s within our
means here, but we could do more, we should do more, and we will do
more," Minasyan said.

According to Mahseradjian, ASA’s next step in raising awareness about
Armenian issues will be establishing an Armenian history course at UCI.

"We’re working on creating a class here at UCI. We’re almost
done completing that, so if everything works out there will be an
Armenian history class. And of course it would feature the genocide,"
Mahseradjian said.

ATOM EGOYAN’S ADORATION NAMED ONE OF 19 FINALISTS FOR PALME D’OR AWARD

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.04.2008 22:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Atom Egoyan’s new film, Adoration, was named
yesterday one of the 19 finalists that will be in competition next
month for the prestigious Palme d’Or Award at the 61st annual Festival
de Cannes.

The film’s inclusion in Official Selection marks the sixth time that
a feature film from the Victoria-raised, Toronto-based director’s
work has made the cut.

Reached yesterday, Egoyan said it was "an honor" to be included,
adding "this is not something I take for granted." "Especially with
this movie. It’s a more intimate film. It’s very much rooted in this
culture and I’m so proud to represent the country at this level."

The previous Egoyan titles in the running for the Palme d’Or include
Exotica (1994), The Sweet Hereafter (1997), Felicia’s Journey (1999)
and Where the Truth Lies (2005). Ararat, his 2002 film about the
Armenian genocide, was an Official Selection in Cannes as well.

The 19-strong competition lineup includes projects from veteran
directors including Clint Eastwood’s Changeling, Jean-Pierre and Luc
Dardenne’s Le Silence de Lorna, Walter Salles and Daniela Thomas’s
Linha de Passe, Wim Wenders’s The Palermo Shooting, and Steven
Soderbergh’s four-hour biopic, Che, about Sixties revolutionary
Ernesto Che Guevara.

"It’s always a little overwhelming when you look at the competition,"
Egoyan noted of his fellow filmmakers. "Having been on the jury
there as well, however, it begins to make more sense once you’re
in the middle of it. From the outside, it seems a little crazy to
just throw all these movies together, but they are selected quite
carefully. There’s an internal logic that you don’t really get until
you’re actually there."

The Cannes’ committee only screened Adoration this past weekend. Egoyan
and his colleagues found out they would be vying for the Palme d’Or
a few days ago.

Yesterday, Adoration’s co-producers Simone Urdl and Jennifer Weiss
said they were "thrilled" to get the news. "We certainly hoped it
would happen," said the co-founders of Toronto’s Film Farm, "and
Cannes was the place we wanted the film to go. But because we were
so late submitting it – and because there seems to be a lot of great
films out there right now – we still weren’t sure."]

Urdl, who started as Egoyan’s production assistant in 1991, added "I
don’t think you can ever take these things for granted. People assume
– because it’s Atom and he has such a long history [with Cannes] –
that he’ll get in. But that’s not the case.

"Adoration is quite different than his last couple of films. And the
head of the Cannes festival had changed. So we truly weren’t sure,
and to get in, was really exciting news."

Weiss says Adoration – a film shot in Toronto last fall for about
$5.5-million – was a nice change of pace for Egoyan. "For him, going
back to this budget and scale was liberating. There’s simply not the
same pressure to make a big, splashy film with big stars.

So we have an ensemble cast, and the discovery of a new actor (Devon
Bostick) who is only now 16 and plays the lead. All those elements,
meant Atom got to have fun. It’s an extremely personal film for him,
without external pressure."

Adoration focuses on one young man’s fascination with the possibility
he’s the spawn of two historical figures – and how his personal
obsession is both enabled, and threatened, by technology.

The film also stars Scott Speedman, Rachel Blanchard, Kenneth Welsh,
and Arsinee Khanjian (Egoyan’s wife).

The director says his screenplay grew out of a true-life story he’d
heard 20 years ago about a young man who convinced his pregnant Irish
girlfriend to board a flight, carrying a bomb that she didn’t know
had been planted on her. "This story – or a version of it – is read
in the main character’s high school and it triggers his imagination,"
Egoyan explains.

The film is executive produced by Robert Lantos’s Serendipity Point
Films, and will be distributed by his company Maximum Film.

"This is the seventh time I’ve gone to Cannes in competition," Lantos
said yesterday. " … Maybe this time, we’ll be seven times lucky
and get the Palme d’Or," theglobeandmail.com reports.

ANCA LAUNCHES "END THE GAG RULE" CAMPAIGN

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.04.2008 20:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Committee of America calls
take two minutes to send a quick and easy ANCA WebFax asking Congress
to end Turkey’s gag rule on Armenian Genocide recognition and pass
H.Res.106 & S.Res.106.

"This straightforward human rights legislation simply calls upon our
government to apply the lessons of the Armenian Genocide in preventing
future crimes against humanity.

Sadly, its adoption by our Congress is being blocked by a foreign
country.

The Turkish government, which has outlawed discussion of the Armenian
Genocide within its own borders, is exporting its undemocratic free
speech restrictions to the United States by imposing a "gag-rule"
on Congressional consideration and adoption of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution.

As a nation, we should and must reject Turkey’s threats and
intimidation.

Rather than accepting Turkey’s gag-rule, we should stand up for our
principles, adopt the Armenian Genocide Resolution, and return the
United States Congress, alongside 40 U.S. states and 11 of our NATO
allies – to the right side of a vital moral issue. As history has
shown us, we can only advance U.S.

interests when we have the courage to stand up for American values.

Call for passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution by sending a
free ANCA WebFax to your elected representatives in the House and
Senate. Simply fill in your name, address and email below and click
"Send Message!" the ANCA statement says.

TURKEY SLAMS ARGENTINIAN STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN CLAIMS

Hurriyet, Turkey
April 25 2008

A Turkish foreign ministry spokesman said on Friday necessary
initiatives were underway pertaining to the new text adopted by the
Argentine Senate supporting Armenian allegations regarding the 1915
events, the Anatolian Agency reported.

"The Argentine Senate has approved a new text supporting the baseless
Armenian allegations… (which) we strongly condemn and fully reject,"
the foreign ministry said.

The spokesman said Turkish State Minister Mehmet Aydin cancelled his
visit to Argentina following this adoption of the resolution.

Aydin has been scheduled to travel to Buenos Aires on April 28-29 for a
gathering of the U.N.-sponsored Alliance of Civilizations initiative,
which aims to foster dialogue between Islamic and Western societies
and is co-chaired by Spain and Turkey.

"Decision of the Argentina Senate contradicts historical facts and
violates principles of international law," Turkish foreign ministry
spokesman said.

The newly elected Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian vowed on Thursday
to redouble efforts to have the 1915 events recognised as "genocide",
AFP reported.

Armenia, with the backing of the diaspora, claims up to 1.5 million
of their kin were slaughtered in orchestrated killings during the
last years of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey rejects the claims, saying
that 300,000 Armenians along with at least as many Turks died in civil
strife that emerged when the Armenians took up arms for independence
in eastern Anatolia.

Turkey is of the view that parliaments and other political institutions
are not the appropriate forums to debate and pass judgment on
disputed periods of history. Past events and controversial periods
of history should be left to historians for their dispassionate study
and evaluation.

In 2005, Turkey has officially proposed the establishment of a joint
commission comprised of historians and other experts from both sides
to study the events of 1915, utilizing not only Turkish and Armenian
archives, but also those of relevant third-party countries and to share
their findings with the public. Armenia has not responded positively
to this initiative, as yet.

The parliaments of Argentina, Belgium, France, Netherlands,
Switzerland, Italy, Canada, Lebanon, the Russian Federation, Slovakia,
Uruguay, Greece, the Greek Cypriot administration, Poland, Germany,
Lithuania, Chile, Venezuela and the European Parliament passed either
resolutions or issued statements on the events. In addition, some
local parliaments in the U.S., Canada, Britain, Australia, Argentina
and Switzerland passed similar resolutions.

RETIRED US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA JOHN EVANS IN MONTREAL, HOSTED BY THE CCA

armradio.am
25.04.2008 10:34

On Saturday April 19, 2008 the Congress of Canadian Armenians –
National Committee hosted a dinner reception recognizing the work of
retired United States Ambassador to Armenia, Mr. John Evans.

Canadian Citizenship Judge and former Member of Parliament for Don
Valley North, Sarkis Assadourian, introduced the guests of honour
John and Donna Evans.

In his address to the audience Mr. Evans spoke about one of the
challenges of the assignment. As U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, he was
aware that he was free to use all of the words that define Genocide but
an entrenched unwritten policy exists in the U.S. Foreign Service to
completely refrain from using the term. He maintained that approach
during the entire time of his posting in Armenia. But in 2005,
during a speech to his fellow Americans of Armenian descent living
in California, he felt that using the term honestly to describe what
everyone already knows, would simply be right. The fallout from the
events that occurred thereafter leading to his retirement 18 months
later will be detailed in a nearly completed book to be published by
the former Ambassador.

Ambassador Evans talked about the Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106) of
The US House Foreign Affairs Committee and encouraged the Armenian
community not to relent. With time and sustained effort some
positive change can emerge for Armenians from the US foreign policy
perspective. Turkey has been an important ally to the United States
since long before the cold war and remains so today. Nevertheless, he
called upon Armenians to continue to work with the courageous leaders,
writers, publishers and thinkers who seek democratization in Turkey.

On Nagorno-Karabakh, Ambassador Evans admonished Azerbaijan for
having taken advantage of minor election unrest in Armenia to restart
military hostility.

He expressed confidence in the work of the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group and in the power of
negotiation.

He mentioned that while Azerbaijan insists on its territorial
integrity, the people of Nagorno Karabakh insist on the right of
self-determination. The one principle that should be adhered to is the
art of diplomacy and compromise. On that point he stated that Armenia
could have no greater protectors than the three members of the OSCE,
namely France, the United States, and Russia.

In addition to Ambassador Evans, the CCA was honoured by the presence
of the Honourable St̩phane Dion РLeader of the Official Opposition
and M.P. for St-Laurent-Cartierville. Mr. Dion re-affirmed his
commitment to maintain the position of Parliament on the Genocide. He
repeated his desire not only to ensure the opening of a Canadian
Embassy in Yerevan if elected Prime Minister but also his great
desire to travel to Armenia and attend the ribbon cutting ceremony
for that Embassy.

Agop T. Evereklian, Conservative nominee in Laval-Les-Ã~Nles, read
out a special surprise message CCA had received from the Right
Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada. Dated April
24, 2008, the Prime Minister wrote in part: "I have reminded all
Canadians that both Houses of Parliament have adopted resolutions
recognizing "the first genocide of the twentieth century_. This is a
day we acknowledge solemnly, not to cast blame back into the distant
past but to guide us towards a better future. It reminds us all of
why we must remain committed to ensuring that today_s world is one
where respect for human right and democratic freedom prevails." The
Prime Minister also emphasized the values of respect for human rights
and democratic freedoms. The full text of the message delivered to
CCA in both official languages is available on the CCA website at
.

Other dignitaries in attendance included: Senator Francis Fox,
former Canadian Cabinet Minister, Principal Secretary in the Prime
Minister’s Office, senior aide to Prime Minister Paul Martin and
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien; Retired Armenian Senator and Member of
the Order of Canada Raymond Setlakwe and his wife Yvette; Mary Deros
Tchavoushian, Montreal City Councillor for Parc-Extension Borough;
and former Liberal M.P. and current Liberal nominee in Ahuntsic,
Eleni Bakopanos. The leadership and clergy from each of the Armenian
denominations: Catholic, Protestant, and the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Canadian Diocese, were also in attendance.

Vice Chairperson of the Congress of Canadian Armenians, Mr. Pierre
Akkelian, thanked the special guests and attendees. To Evans he stated:
"You served as America’s ambassador to Armenia and have become every
Armenian’s Ambassador to the world." Mr Akkelian also conveyed the
CCA’s heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister and thanked the Prime
Minister for his vote in the House of Commons 4 years ago, recognising
the Armenian Genocide as opposition leader, and staying true to his
convictions, unequivocally reiterating it every year since he became
the Prime Minister.

Mr. Akkelian also singled out the Honorable Stéphane Dion, as a
true friend along with Eleni Bakopanos, Judge Sarkis Assadourian and
Senator Raymond Setlakwe for their tremendous work in Parliament to
ensure the passage of the genocide recognition motion in the House
of Commons and Senate and as great friends of the community.

The M. C. for the evening was former Montreal City Councillor and
CCA committee member, attorney Jack Chadirdjian.

A complete program in commemoration of the 93rd anniversary of the
Genocide occurred on the following day, Sunday the 20th of April, at
the Genocide Monument at Marcelin-Wilson Park on de l’Acadie Street,
in Montreal.

Ambassador Evans was in attendance with Mr. Stéphane Dion to place
wreaths along with representatives of 15 community organizations,
dignitaries and many descendants of survivors from the Armenian
Genocide of April 24, 1915.

–Boundary_(ID_Nd9KlgOo7g1KUwv7hyfL4Q)–

ANCA-WR JOINS CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATIONS

armradio.am
24.04.2008 12:04

A resolution commemorating the 93rd anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide (SJR 24) was unanimously adopted by both the California
State Senate and Assembly on Monday, April 21, 2008. Led by the
Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR),
representatives from local ANC’s throughout the Greater Los Angeles
Area, Santa Barbara, California’s Central Valley and Northern
California attended the legislature’s commemoration ceremonies and
spent the day visiting with several State Senators and Assembly
Members.

"As a former congressional staffer, I assure you that you cannot
underestimate the importance of these types of visits," stated ANCA-WR
Board Member Peter Musurlian. "If the ANCA-WR did not regularly
organize advocacy days, California legislators would be getting
watered down information from others or worse, no information at all,"
he added.

Following visits with Senate Minority Leader Dave Cogdill and Assembly
Member Greg Aghazarian, ANC activists were welcomed to the state
capital with a reception hosted by Assembly Member Anthony Portantino.

At noon, Assembly Member Paul Krekorian led several colleagues,
including Sam Blakeslee, Mike Feuer and Mike Villines, in urging
the legislature to remember the genocide and the consequences of
its denial. Subsequently, Assembly Majority leader and Speaker Elect
Karen Bass as well as Little Armenia representative Assembly Member
Kevin de Leon introduced a motion allowing Krekorian to bring SJR
24 to the assembly floor for consideration where it was passed with
unanimous support.

The Assembly commemoration ceremony was followed by one in the Senate
chambers during which Santa Clara "Ani" chapter Homenetmen Scouts led
the flag procession and pledge of allegiance. Senator Joe Simitian was
joined by his senate colleagues in solemnly remembering the genocide. A
joint closing reception was also hosted by Krekorian and Simitian.

"What we see today is really very much the result of the hard
grassroots work that the ANCA-WR has done year after year to try
to energize people, educate people, to engage public officials in
dialogue so that they understand why this issue matters to us but
also why it should matter to them," stated Krekorian.

Also attending the day’s ceremonies were Prelate Moushegh Mardirossian
of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
and Primate Hovnan Derderian of the Western Diocese of the Armenian
Church who delivered the opening prayers during the Assembly and Senate
commemorations respectively. Leading the advocacy day were ANCA-WR
Board Members Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian, Peter Musurlian, Pattyl
Aposhian-Kasparian and Aida Dimejian. They were joined by ANCA-WR
Community Relations Director Haig Hovsepian and ANCA-WR Press Secretary
Ani Garabedian. Also in attendance was Father Vahan Gostanian.

CHANGES MADE IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENT

ARMENPRESS
April 21, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsian
signed today a decree on making changes and additions in March 16,
2002 decree of the President of Armenia. Presidential press service
told Armenpress that the following changes have been made in the
structure of the government: 1) Armenian Trade and Economic Development
Ministry has been renamed to Armenian Economy Ministry.

2) Armenian Finance and Economy Ministry has been renamed to Armenian
Finance Ministry.

3) Ministry of Emergency Situations have been created. Armenian
Rescue service is established as a state body functioning within the
Emergency Ministry.

4) Armenian Foreign Ministry’s Agency of Ties with Diaspora has
become the state committee of ties with Diaspora affiliated to the
Foreign Ministry.

Thus the Armenian government has the following structure: Health
Ministry Justice Ministry Foreign Affairs Ministry Emergency Situation
Ministry Labor and Social Affairs Ministry Nature Protection Ministry
Agriculture Ministry Economy Ministry Energy and Natural Resources
Ministry Education and Science Ministry Culture Ministry Defense
Ministry Sport and Youth Affairs Ministry Territorial Governance
Ministry Transport and Communication Ministry Urban Ministry Finance
Ministry.

UCLA FOOTBALL COACH HEADS LIST OF MUIR HALL INDUCTEES

Pasadena Now
le_2363.html
April 21 2008
CA

Defensive Coordinator DeWayne Walker, who served as head coach in
UCLA’s last football game and was referred to by Rick Neuheisel as
"my top recruit" upon replacing Karl Dorrell as the Bruins head coach,
heads the list of four alumni elected to the 21st annual John Muir
High School Hall of Fame.

Others elected are Composer John Beal, Class of 1964, under the
category of Visual and Performing Arts; Pasadena Police Lt. Phlunte
Riddle (’77), Government Service; and philanthropist/humanitarian
Flora Clausdian Dunaians (’52 and ’54), Community Service.

The 21st annual induction ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday,
April 23, 2008, at Rufus Mead Auditorium, 1905 Lincoln Ave., on the
Muir High campus in Pasadena.

Walker, a 1978 Muir graduate, starred in the 1976 and 1977 Turkey
Tussles won by Muir, to end a 10-year losing streak to Pasadena High
School in the cross-town rivalry. The defensive back went on to star
at the University of Minnesota by way of Pasadena City College. His
professional career included one season with the Edmonton Eskimos of
the Canadian Football League, and two seasons in the United States
Football League, with the Oakland Invaders (1984) and Arizona Outlaws
(1985).

But it is Walker’s success on the sidelines, rather than on the
gridiron, that impressed Muir’s Hall of Fame selection committee. He
began his coaching career as a secondary coach (1988-91) and defensive
coordinator (1992) at Mt. San Antonio College before returning
to school and earning his bachelor’s degree from Regents College
in Albany, N.Y. He then gained valuable experience by coaching at
Utah State (1993), Brigham Young (1994), Oklahoma State (1995) and
California (1996-97).

His National Football League coaching experience began as an assistant
to Pete Carroll with the New England Patriots. Walker spent three
seasons at New England: two under Carroll (1998-99); and one under
current Head Coach Bill Belichick (2000).

In 2001, Walker became the first assistant coach hired by Carroll at
USC. In 2002, he became a secondary coach with the New York Giants, for
then-Defensive Coordinator Johnny Lynn (another Muir Hall-of-Famer).

After two seasons with the Giants, Walker joined the Washington
Redskins’ staff as a cornerbacks coach. His greatest coaching success
there was the development of Carlos Rogers and Shawn Springs, who in
2004 became the first player in NFL history to lead his team in sacks
(five) and interceptions (six) in the same season. The Redskins won
their last five games in 2005 to make the playoffs, due largely to
the play of their defensive secondary.

Beal is a long-time television and film composer and the current
general manager of the Hollywood Symphony Orchestra. His credits
include the musical themes for "Happy Days," "Laverne & Shirley,"
"Vega$," and "Eight is Enough."

He has more than 500 theatrical compositions and 2,000 film commercials
to his credit, including movie trailers for 40 of the top-grossing
films of all time. His greatest gift to Muir was having written many
of the cadences for the school’s internationally renowned drum corps,
which are still used more than 40 years after his graduation.

Lt. Riddle, a 23-year veteran, followed the footsteps of her
father-in-law, Ralph Riddle, the first African-American officer of
the Pasadena Police Department. She made history by becoming Pasadena
P.D.’s first African-American woman to be promoted to sergeant. She
has worked an array of assignments throughout her career, as a
patrol officer, undercover drug officer, background investigator and
detective. She currently leads the Traffic Section, responsible for
traffic management throughout the city.

Dunaians, a long-time supporter of the Armenian community, is
co-founder of Developmental Services for Armenia, a non-profit
organization benefitting schools, orphanages and short-term emergency
needs. Her humanitarian service includes organizing emergency food and
medical aid sent to her motherland in the aftermath of devastating
earthquakes. She is a supporter and fundraiser for Olympic Team
Armenia; a nursing school project in Stepanavan, Armenia; and
"Operation Fuel," which provided heating during Armenia’s coldest
winter in years. She was a member of the final graduating class of
John Muir College.

Formed in 1988, the John Muir High School Hall of Fame includes such
notable alumni as Jackie Robinson, John Van De Kamp, Stacey Augmon,
Darrell Evans, Inger Miller and David Lee Roth.

This year’s ceremony coincides with the school’s open house
festivities. Tours of the Hall of Fame, Museum and Alumni Office
will follow the program. Nominations are accepted throughout the
year and are reviewed by a selection panel consisting of two Hall
of Fame inductees, two students from the school’s leadership class,
two teachers and a school administrator. Forms can be downloaded from
the organization’s website,