Author: Toneyan Mark

Language Mix-Up in Turkey’s Armenian Radio Station
2009/04/10 | 10:19

hetq.am/en/diaspora/7418/
diaspora

Whether by accident or politically inspired, the newly launched,
state-run Armenian radio station in Turkey is broadcasting in the
Eastern Armenian dialect, quite incomprehensible to Armenians living
in Turkey. Offficials now say that they are investigating the matter.

The difference between the Western and Eastern Armenian dialects is
one of the forthcoming subjects on the agenda of the newly founded
Ministry of Diaspora of the Armenian.

Turkey’s chief negotiator to the European Union Egemen Baðýþ
expressed surprise over the matter last Friday night and said he will
investigate. In a speech before an annual meeting on the European
Union and Turkey, sponsored by daily Radikal and the Center for
Economics and Foreign Policy Studies, Baðýþ defended the
ruling party’s outreach into state broadcasts in `local languages.’

When told most local Armenians did not understand the broadcasts,
Baðýþ said: `I hadn’t a clue. This is the first time I have
heard this. Perhaps TRT could only find news presenters speaking this
dialect, I just don’t know. But I will look into it.’

One major problem faced by young Armenian Turks is their lack of
proficiency in speaking their mother tongue even though most graduate
from minority schools. Lack of proficiency also precludes them from
following a radio station broadcast in a different dialect.

While the government has initiated efforts for the establishment of
Armenian language and literature departments at universities, the
current lack of academic teaching at the university level has taken
its toll on the development of the language.

Some Armenian Turks tried to establish a private Armenian radio
station a decade ago, with efforts led by journalist Hrant Dink, who
was gunned down in 2007. Lack of funds prevented the establishment of
the station.

Who is being targeted?

While the Armenian Society of Turkey had abandoned hope of getting
their own radio frequency; they were surprised with TRT’s Armenian
broadcast. Etyen Mahkupian, editor in chief of the weekly Agos
newspaper, speaking to the Hurriyet Daily News, said: `This means
Turkey’s target audience is Armenia, not their own citizens. This
initiative is for supporting the foreign policies of Turkey;
therefore, it is not sincere. It bears thought that Turkey makes such
an initiative without trying to find out what its own citizens need.’

Mgrtich Margosian, a world famous Armenian writer, said he agreed with
Mahkupian and added, `What is being done is unfair; this broadcast is
not addressed to us.’

BAKU: TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDER CAN ONLY BE OPENED IN CONTEXT OF KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

Interfax
April 9 2009
Russia

The Turkish-Armenian border could be opened in the context of the
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister Araz
Azimov said.

"Azerbaijan believes that the border can only be opened in the context
of the settlement, and it can only be connected with progress in the
settlement," Azimov told the press in Baku on Thursday in remarks
about speculation in the Turkish media over prospects of opening the
Turkish-Armenian border.

Azimov said Azerbaijan was ready to discuss with Turkey exactly at
which stage of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict the
Turkish-Armenian border can be opened. "But decision-making on the
opening of the border outside the context would go against Azerbaijan’s
interests and will not be accepted by Azerbaijan. We have made this
position clear to Turkey," he said.

The Azeri diplomat said that the closed Turkish-Armenian border was a
factor that has been taken into account for many years in the talks on
the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. "This factor is of serious
importance. Given that the decision to close the border was made in
connection with the occupation of Azeri territory, its cancellation
would also be possible only after this condition [the liberation of
territories] is implemented," Azimov said.

The Turkish leaders, including President Abdullah Gul and Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan have been giving their assurances that
the border with Armenia would remain closed as long as Azeri lands
remain occupied, he said.

"Depending on the will of Azerbaijan, regional development can
accelerate, but it can also change its direction," Azimov said.

UNIBANK OFFERS NEW KIND OF DEPOSIT – ‘UNISTREAM-EXPRESS’

ArmInfo
2009-04-09 14:09:00

ArmInfo. Unibank launched a new kind of deposit – "UNIStream- Express"
started April 7.

As Unibank’s press service told ArmInfo, this kind of deposit is
offered in view of continuous growth of clients of the International
cash remittance system UNIStream. The main specifics of this kind
of deposit is in its formation only at the cost of transfer through
UNIStream system. Moreover, this kind of deposit does not suppose a
fixed deposit storage term, a depositor may request the whole deposit
or its part at any time (under the condition of retaining a minimum
deposit balance), as well as the interest.

The deposit is accepted in both drams (at 12% per annum) and
foreign currency (at 10% per annum). Depositors are enabled to
replenish their deposit but only at the cost of transfer through
UNIStream. A competitive lottery will be held among the depositors
of UNIStream-Express at late 2009, the press-release says.

To note, Unibank has been an exclusive partner of UNIStream in rmenia
since second half, 2002.

DUBAI-BASED AZERBAIJANI SOCIETY SENDS STATEMENT TO GUL AND Erdohan

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
April 8, 2009 Wednesday

Dubai-based Azerbaijani Society has sent a statement to Turkish
President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Rejep Tayyip Erdogan.

The statement says we are very worried about recent reports on opening
of the borders between Turkey and Armenia. This action may possibly
contribute to developing the region in the future, but can not make
everyone forget genocide and other tragedies committed by Armenians
against the Turkish people.

It goes on to say taking into consideration Armenian savageries
against the Turkish people, as well as friendly and fraternal relations
between Azerbaijan and Turkey, the Turkish state should demonstrate
that opening of borders is inadmissible.

As long as the occupied territories of Azerbaijan are not liberated,
opening of borders between Turkey and Armenia could be perceived by the
international community as a betrayal of Azerbaijan`s basic interests,
the statement concludes.

IN CHILDHOOD ARMENIAN PRESIDENT DREAMED TO BECOME A HISTORIAN

ArmInfo
2009-04-08 00:53:00

ArmInfo. In an interview with German sociologist T.Alert, Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan said that in childhood he dreamed to become
a historian.

As the Public TV of Armenia reports, the president pointed out
that in the 9-10th form he realized his love for Armenian language
and literature and decided to enter the philological faculty, but
unfortunately, he has never worked as a philologist.

The president also told about his biography, parents, education at the
Yerevan State University, service in the Soviet Army and Ural. Serzh
Sargsyan also shared his bright recollections of youth with T.Alert.

INVOLUNTARY SITTING PROTEST

A1+
07:26 pm | April 07, 2009

Society

Individual taxi drivers gathered in front of the Ministry of
Transportation and Communication building today with the same
demand. They don’t want to put meters or yellow license plates.

The taxi drivers remained without a reply for a long time and then
decided to continue their protest by sitting on the curb.

"How can I go home without any money? I don’t have a job anymore. What
kind of government keeps an eye on taxi drivers’ money?" said driver
Artush.

Driver David said that they have decided to meet with the lawmakers,
hand them the keys and ask them to work instead of them.

"If they can take care of their families with a one-day salary,
then I will applaud them for that."

After staying at the ministry building for a couple of hours, the
taxi drivers decided to leave and gather at Republic Square the
following day.

Republic Square was full of police cars while the protest was taking
place.

HOW A FAMILY WITH FIVE YOUNG CHILDREN IS TREATED IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY

HETQ
2009/04/06 | 19:00

Society

"I have three future soldier-boys in my family. When my sons ask
me what a motherland means, I’ll tell them that the motherland is
the hungry life they are living, as well as the indifference and
unwillingness of your country’s officials to render us a helping hand,"
mother of five children Gayane Rstakyan said in the interview to Hetq.

It’s already 12 year that this family lives in a rented
apartment. According to Mrs. Gayane, they frequently turned for
assistance to various officials, including Serge Sargsyan, when he
was a PM, as well as to a dozen of deputies. But every time their
letters were sent back to Armavir’s Mayor’s Office. The family was
told at the Armavir’s Mayor’s Office that they shouldn’t expect any
assistance from them, as they have no financial sources.

"The state doesn’t support us. We don’t even get any benefits. My
husband works at ArmenTel and gets 57 thousand drams of monthly
salary. They tell me at the Social Security Department that this sum
is quite enough for us and we do not qualify for benefits. I wander
who qualifies for getting benefits, if our family doesn’t? When
people learn that we don’t get any allowances they get astonished
in what kind of a country we live in. All of my five children are
schoolchildren. Since September we owe money to the stores for the
school uniforms. If I count that all, our debt will make about $1000,"
Mrs. Gayane said.

The mother of the family has turned to the Armavir Social Security
Department for getting benefits for many times. "My husband already
feels shame to go there again. He says it seems we are begging for
living. It is quite hard to go to a state body, but if we lived in a
proper country, why would we go there? They would come instead and say
that the state wants to support us, as we are large family with five
children. I wish they visited us just like you did. They would come,
knock at our door and inquire how we live," Gayane Rstakyan said.

This 7 member family doesn’t even posses any property. They don’t
have even the first-necessity things and they have to use the things
belonging to the owners of the apartment they rent.

They explained our correspondent at the Labour and Social Security
Ministry’s Department of Social assistance that this family hadn’t
been registered in the family allowance system since the January of
2008. According to the department’s officials, they would get their
benefits out-of-turn. They said that Mrs. Gayane should go and register
her family in the department’s lists.

"The Ofices of Armeavir’s Social Assistance Department are in the
building of the Armavir’s Local Administration(Marzpetaran). Their
officials would never offend the citizens. Anyway, if such cases
of non-respectful attitude occur, they should complain to Armavir’s
Local Administration," one of the department’s officials advised.

"The owners of the apartment are in Russia now and they have already
warned us that soon they are going to return and we should leave
the apartment. We have changed already 5 apartments in 12 years, and
we don’t know where to go. I didn’t have my children especially for
getting financial assistance from the state. But we had never been
supported by the state. We need their assistance to at least stand
firm on our feet. We have friends in France and they tell us that
the state pays for each child such a sum of money that the parents
can do without even working. In our country, on the contrary, they
don’t do a thing to support large families," Mrs. Gayane said.

Gayane wants to have some more children. Both her and her husband
love children so much, but they don’t have that opportunity.

"I have three boys and in several years they will join the army. I
bring them up in difficulties, make them good people, then somebody
who never helped us will come and take them away from us. Don’t
misunderstand me, please, I say all this with pain, but I really feel
no obligations to my country," said offended Mrs. Gayane.

On the day of our visit, David, 12, the elder son of the family,
didn’t have a copy book to do his homework. They had to go to one of
the stores and ask the employee to give them a copy book on credit
until their father gets the salary. But father’s salary is completely
spent of the day he gets that. They try to pay their old debts. On
the next day they make new debts for buying bread and food. When the
mother was telling about their hardship, the children had to leave
the room feeling shame. We could hardly persuade them to at least
be photographed.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Monday, April 6, 2009

AGBU High School-Pasadena Grads Excel, 90% Accepted at Major Colleges &
Universities

Pasadena, CA – As a college preparatory high school, AGBU High School –
Pasadena strives to encourage and support students in their path to
higher education. The combined efforts of the school and the students
paid off with a 40% acceptance rate to the University of California
system, including a 15% acceptance rate to UCLA. Overall, 90% of the
Class of 2009 have gained acceptance into the University of California
and California State University systems, as well as other reputable
private institutions of higher learning.

These high levels of acceptance are an indication of the rigorous
curriculum, dedicated faculty and hard-working student population of
AGBU High School-Pasadena. Over the past three years, AGBU High
School-Pasadena has worked diligently to raise the standards of its
curriculum, by adding honors sections for all classes and offering over
seven advanced placement courses. The school also offers SAT preparation
courses and free tutoring sessions with faculty members after school. In
addition, the senior year academic program is also enhanced with
enrichment opportunities made available to the students, which enhance
their college application portfolios. The school facilitates the process
of students taking community college courses, volunteering for local
organizations and finding meaningful programs for them to participate.

To complement the rich curriculum at AGBU High School-Pasadena, the
faculty is continually involved in professional development. Almost 100%
of faculty members have a master’s degree and/or teaching credential in
the field they teach. In addition, teachers are encouraged and supported
to attend workshops and are offered professional development
opportunities on campus.

Finally, this success is also the result of the hard work and diligence
on the part of the students, which is truly commendable. The Class of
2009 is committed to their future goals and aspirations by continuously
taking advantage of the academic opportunities available at AGBU High
School-Pasadena.

The smashing success of AGBU High School-Pasadena Class of 2009 is truly
remarkable and portends favorably on future prospects of the school.

With reporting from AGBU High School-Pasadena’s school newspaper.

Founded in 2006, AGBU High School-Pasadena () is a grade
9-12 co-educational facility which serves the Armenian community of the
San Gabriel Valley. The school is AGBU’s second day school in Southern
California, and its mission is to cultivate the potential of every
student in a safe and nurturing environment, maintaining high
expectations and promoting academic excellence for all students.

Ilham Aliyev refuses to take part in the forum ‘Alliance of
Civilizations’ in Istanbul

2009-04-04 12:21:00

ArmInfo. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev refused to take part in
the forum ‘Alliance of Civilizations’ to be held on April in Istanbul.

As APA reports referring to unofficial data, Aliyev refused from
participation in the event despite the invitation. The Azerbaijani
president’s refusal from participation in the forum may be considered
as a gesture of protest against preparation of this country for opening
of borders with Armenia.

To recall, Armenia will be represented in the Forum by Foreign Minister
of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan.

COMMUNITY TO OBSERVE 94TH ANNIVERSARY OF GENOCIDE IN MONTEBELLO

=41127_4/3/2009_1
Friday, April 3, 2009

Every year, the date April 24 symbolizes the premeditated Genocide
perpetrated by Turkey against Armenians.

As a consequence of the Genocide, not only did 1.5 million innocent
Armenians lose their lives, but an incalculable economic and cultural
legacy was lost as well. Most importantly, however, a large area
of our millennia-old fatherland was usurped by the Turks. Today, 94
years after the beginning of the Armenian Genocide, Western Armenia
continues to remain under Turkish occupation.

The Armenian nation will never cease its pursuit of justice. We are
the masters of our demands and our destiny.

April 24th symbolizes the day marking the Armenian nation’s rightful
demands.

As in previous years, this year on April 24th we will remember our
martyrs, and make our voices heard via political demonstrations and
commemorative observances. From Yerevan to Tehran, Beirut to Buenos
Aires, and Paris to Stepanakert, the Armenian people will unite and
remind the world that justice has yet to be served.

In Southern California, on Friday, April 24, 2009 a political rally
and commemorative observance will be held at the Armenian Martyrs
Memorial Monument in Montebello beginning at 11:00 am. Details of
this event will be publicized in the near future.

We appeal to every Armenian family and each individual Armenian
to participate in the commemorative observance in Montebello and
collectively proclaim our just demands upon the world.

Armenian Genocide United Commemorative Committee March 31, 2009