Author: Tumanian Talar

MINISTER-DELEGATE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF FRANCE TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA

armradio.am
22.02.2007 14:45

February 23-26 Mr. Christian Estrosi, the Minister-Delegate for
Regional Development of France will arrive in Armenia accompanied by
MPs Mrs. Michael Tabaroy and Tieri Mariani.

Press Service of the French Embassy in Armenia told ArmInfo that
February 24 the French Minister will lay a wreath of flowers at
the memorial of Tsitsernakaberd. Later he will have meetings with
RA Chief of Police, General Hayk Harutyunyan and Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian. The same day the Minister will meet with students
of the French University of Armenia and will hold a conference on
economic competition.

February 25 with RA Minister of Health Norayr Davidyan the French
Minister will attend the ceremony of opening a scanner at Akhuryan
Hospital.

1500 DELEGATES FROM 43 COUNTRIES PARTICIPATE IN YOUTH SPORTING OLYMPIC FESTIVAL

Noyan Tapan
Feb 22 2007

JACA, FEBRUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The Europe youth winter sporting
Olympic festival started in the city of Jaca, Spain. 1500 delegates
from 43 countries participate in it. As Zhanna Ayvazian, an employee
of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia (NOCA) informed the
Noyan Tapan correspondent, in the figure skaters’s struggle Armine
Stamboltsian was the 18th among 29 participants after the compulsory
program, and Hovhannes Mkrtchian was the 12th in the 20 individual
skaters’ struggle. Argam Grigorian was the 64th in the 7.5 km ski-run
of classic style, Hamlet Ziroyan was the 71st in the 91 participants’
struggle, and Kristine Khachatrian was the 61st in the 80 participants’
struggle. Yuri Manukian and Misha Ghazarian took correspondingly the
66th and 69th places in the huge spiral.

NKR DEFENSE ARMY AWARDED TIGRAN METS ORDER

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Feb 21 2007

By RA President Robert Kocharian’s decree the Nagorno-Karabagh
Republic Defense Army has been awarded Tigran Mets Order, while the
Central Defense region and the NKR Defense Army Zenithal-Missile
Brigade have been decorated with Fighting Cross Orders of the first
and second degrees.

"The Army should enable the political leadership to continue the
Nagorno-Karabakh talks. That is its priority. I am sure our army
will become more capable of fighting and will correspond to all the
claims set up to modern armies in the future", RA Defense Minister
Serge Sargsian stated. To note, the Minister participated in the
activities devoted to the 19th anniversary of the present stage of
the Karabakh national-liberation movement.

"Today we recall all the glorious way of our army. The orders
the Defense Army and its leading parties have been awarded are
the estimation of our army experience and adherence to the best
traditions. Such estimation inspires and obliges to be more consistent
and conscientious, while settling the issues, in part, ensuring
the people’s security", the NKR Defense Minister Lt. General Seyran
Ohanian told journalists, the NKR MFA Press Center reports.

GEORGIAN, GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS EU ROLE IN CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi
19 Feb 07

[Presenter] Germany’s foreign minister is visiting Tbilisi. Frank
Walter Steinmeier is currently in a private meeting with his Georgian
counterpart.

During his two-day visit to Georgia the German official will meet the
president and prime minister. The main themes of discussion will be the
role of the European Union in the resolution of Georgia’s conflicts
and Germany’s position on Georgia’s membership of NATO. The German
foreign minister will leave Tbilisi for Yerevan.

[Bezhuashvili, speaking at a news conference] There was discussion of
private investment. We also spoke about what role Germany’s presidency
of the European Union will have and the EU’s agenda. We have a concrete
action plan, we have specific dates to meet our obligations and we
plan to do that in the period agreed with the European Commission.

TURKEY WARNS US ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL

The News – International, Pakistan
Feb 19 2007

ANKARA: Turkey’s prime minister said the US Congress would harm
bilateral ties if it backs a resolution recognising the 1915 mass
killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as a genocide, the state
Anatolian news agency said on Sunday.

The Democratic-controlled Congress is widely expected to back such
a resolution in April, but the Bush administration is opposed to it,
fearing the impact on relations its Nato ally.

Ankara strongly denies claims by Armenia and others that its forces
committed a systematic genocide against Armenians during World
War One. But many parliaments around the world have backed similar
resolutions recognising the killings as genocide.

‘We do not expect Congress to make such a decision. But if it
surprises us, I am worried this would cast a shadow over our strategic
partnership in the future,’ Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was quoted
as telling American businessmen.

He did not say what Turkey might do in such a case. In the past,
it has temporarily frozen trade and other ties with countries that
backed the genocide claims.

Ankara was particularly incensed last year when France’s parliament
approved a bill that made it a crime to deny the Armenian genocide.

The bill did not become law.

Erdogan accused the Armenian diaspora-especially strong in the
United States and France-of exploiting the genocide issue to hurt
Turkey and recalled that Armenian extremists gunned down dozens of
Turkish diplomats in the past, mostly in the 1980s and early 1990s,
to ‘avenge’ the 1915 killings.

Erdogan also insisted Turkey’s small Armenian community was safe
despite the murder last month of a prominent Turkish Armenian editor
Hrant Dink by a Turkish nationalist gunman. Dink had urged Turkey to
own up to its role in the 1915 killings.

Every spring Congress considers a resolution on the Armenian genocide
issue but the White House always blocks it. This year it has become
more worrisome for Turkey because the Armenian lobby has vocal
supporters among the newly dominant Democrats.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and General Yasar Buyukanit, head of
the army General Staff, have both lobbied members of Congress and the
Bush administration on the Armenian issue during separate visits to
Washington in the past two weeks.

Armenia says around 1.5 million Armenians perished in the killings.

Turkey says large numbers of both Christian Armenians and Muslim
Turks died during World War One as the Ottoman Empire was collapsing.

It also notes that many Armenians backed Russian troops invading
eastern Turkey at that time.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website: 
February 19, 2007

His Holiness Karekin II Departs for France and India

On February 17, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, departed for Paris to participate in the official opening
ceremonies of the `Year of Armenian Friendship’ in France, as well as to
personally extend his pontifical blessings to the inaugural diocesan
assembly of a unified Armenian Diocese of France.

On February 22, His Holiness will depart from France for a working
Pontifical Visit to India.  During the ten day trip, the Catholicos of All
Armenians will visit the cities of New Delhi, Calcutta (Kolkata), Madras
(Chennai) and Bombay (Mumbai).  He will have meetings with state officials
of the Republic of India and members of the Armenian community.  His
Holiness will also meet with the administration, instructors and students of
the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy in Calcutta and visit the
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in New Delhi.

Also included in the itinerary are visits to historic Armenian churches and
cemeteries, some of which are among the oldest Christian houses of worship
in the Far East.

Accompanying the Catholicos of All Armenians throughout the trip to India
are His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese
of Australia and New Zealand; Rev. Fr. Vardan Navasardian, member of the
Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin; Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian from the Mother
See; and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Hakobian, Staff-bearer to His Holiness.

Bits of News
Feb 16 2007

Nobel Prize Winner Orhan Pamuk in Exile

Thursday, 15 February 2007 Written by Alexander G. Rubio

Orhan PamukUnder threat of assassination, Turkish author Orhan Pamuk
has left his homeland, perhaps never to return. And it’s hard to
blame him. First he was put on trial for "denigrating Turkish
identity", following an interview he gave to a Swiss newspaper about
the genocide of the Armenians in the early twentieth century (which
may form the backdrop for a movie, unlikely as it may seem, by none
other than Sylvester "Rambo/Rocky Balboa" Stallone).

And for a while it seemed like reason would prevail. Not only was the
case dropped, but one would have thought that Pamuk being awarded the
Nobel Prize in Literature would have salved any bruised national
pride.

But then Armenian journalist and editor of the Armenian-Turkish
language weekly Agos magazine, Hrant Dink was gunned down in broad
daylight outside his office in downtown Istanbul.

It seems threats have been made against Pamuk’s life by the same man
who confessed to being responsible for the assassination of Hrant
Dink.

British daily The Guardian reports that his lecture tour to the
United States might be extended, indefinitely.
The International Herald Tribune reported on Thursday February 1 that
Pamuk had boarded a plane for New York to begin a lecture tour of
American universities and, according to Fatih Altayli, a prominent
columnist writing for the Turkish daily newspaper Sabah, he has no
plans to return to Turkey. The writer had already cancelled a tour of
Germany, which has a sizeable Turkish community, at the end of last
month.

"What I was told was more than mere rumour: Pamuk recently withdrew
$400,000 from his bank account and said he would leave Turkey and
would not be returning to his country anytime soon," wrote Altayli.
According to the Daily Telegraph, those close to Pamuk have declined
to comment publicly on the report because of the "sensitivity of Mr
Pamuk’s position".

Now, some might say, even with no small measure of smugness, that
this is the act of a coward, that he should have laid his life on the
line, daring the assassins’ bullet.

But Pamuk never asked to be a martyr to free speech, only to have the
right to it. His death would not vindicate any principles, which
should, in Thomas Jefferson’s words, be self-evident, but only serve
to silence others who would claim the right to state their opinion.

Only the Turkish people, through the Turkish government they elect,
can make a forceful case for those principles, by repealing the legal
statutes used to make Pamuk, Hrant Dink, and others, targets in the
first place.

CENTER FOR NATIONAL MINORITIES OPENS IN MARCH IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The Center for National Minorities
to function in Yerevan starting from March, what will give possibility
to keep and develop their culture and language. Hranush Kharatian, the
Chief of the National Minorities and Religious Issues of the RA
Government’s staff stated about it at the February 16 press conference.
She mentioned that to assist development of cultures of national
minorities, the RA Ministry of Culture and Youth Issues cooperates with
ethnic communities, by organizing various events in Yerevan and in the
marzes. In H.Kharatian’s words, about 10 titles of periodicals which
are financed from the state budget, are published by national
minorities living at present in Armenia. And the RA Ministry of
Education and Culture does works in the direction of publishing books
in the native language for national minorities. "According to the laws
of our country, irrespective of racial, religious belonging, everybody
has equal rights. Other issue is at what extent they are able to use
their rights," H.Kharatian emphasized.

Arminfo
2007-02-16

VIMPELCOM TO CONSTRUCT NGN NET IN ARMENIA BY THE END 2007

Vimpelcom – as a convergent solution, plans to set out construction of
NGN net in Armenia in the 2nd half of 2007, Alexander Izosimov,
General Director of Vimpelcom, told journalists in Barcelona.

"We’ve bought ‘ArmenTel’ company which had the fixed-line telephony to
find out whether we would participate in this business in future or
not," he said. A. Izosimov pointed out that Vimpelcom is getting
ready for the construction works and negotiations with facility and
billing providers.

He said that there would be no need for additional investments into
the project. The two stockholders of Vimpelcom agree with the plans
and there are no major disagreements between them. A. Izosimov pointed
out that Vimpelcom will set out NGN net and convergent solutions with
its own resources. He admitted the possibility of consultations with
Golden Telecom and Telenor. It is planed that NGN net will be
constructed by the end of 2007.

Massis Weekly Online

VOLUME 27, NO. 4 (1304)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2007

—————
— Private TVs Stations Set Artificially High Prices For Campaign Ads
— Youth Wings of Opposition Parties Sign a Statement of Cooperation
— Armenia’s Hunchakian Party Youth Address Embassy’s Inability to
Protect Armenians in Russia
— Armenian Community of Louisiana Mobilized for Passage of HR 106
— City of Los Angeles Calls on the Government To Recognize The
Armenian Genocide
— Italian Produced Armenian Genocide Documentary ?The Lark Farm?
Featured at the Berlin Film Festival
— Vazgen Manukyan Attends Round Table Forum
— Near East Foundation Elects First Chair Of Armenian Ancestry In 91
Year History

—————
– Private TVs Stations Set Artificially High Prices For Campaign Ads

Armenia?s leading private broadcasters under pressure form the regime
have set artificially high prices for political advertisements to be
aired during the unfolding election campaign. Opposition leaders have
claimed the prohibitive cost of such adverts is aimed at effectively
barring opposition parties from using the electronic media in the
run-up to the May parliamentary elections. Armenian law guarantees
them only 60 minutes of free airtime on state television and 120
minutes on state radio.
?The prices were set for progovernment parties,? said Grigor
Harutiunian, a leading member of the People?s Party of Armenia. ?Only
political forces with dirty money can afford them.?
?They are driving us to the streets,? warned Smbat Ayvazian of the
radical Hanrapetutyun party.
Some representatives of the governing coalition agreed that the
campaign ad rates, varying from 80,000 drams to 130,000 drams ($365)
per minute, are disproportionately high for a country like Armenia.
In another blow to the opposition, it emerged on Tuesday that 18 out
of the 29 local TV stations across Armenia have mysteriously decided
not to run any pre-election advertising. Opposition politicians and
some media experts believe that this will not keep them from promoting
pro-government candidates in their news programs.
The opposition complaints, meanwhile, were echoed by a top
representative of Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF), a Paris-based media
watchdog. ?It?s a very crude way of preventing an opponent from
addressing the country?s population,? Elsa Vidal, the RSF director for
Europe and the former Soviet Union, told RFE/RL.
?It?s old and useless method. It just underlines that the authorities
are afraid,? charged Vidal.

– Youth Wings of Opposition Parties Sign a Statement of Cooperation

Led by the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party ?Sarkis Dkhrouni? youth
and student union, the youth wings of seven opposition political
parties signed a statement of cooperate, pledging to use all their
resources to ensure a free and fair parliamentary election this coming
May.
The youth wings set aside difference of ideology in hopes of
establishing a truly democratic republic, represented by the people,
and not oligarchical system. ?We have not gathered here to decide
whether to tend to the needs of Russia or to the USA. We have a
greater problem facing our country and
Armenian Nation as a whole?, mentioned author of the initiative, head
of ?Sargis Tkhrouni? youth union Narek Galstyan. ?A transparent
democratic system is imperative for the people of the country to
address the needs and concerns of the people.? Galstyan continued.
The statement authored by the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party ?Sarkis
Dkhrouni? youth union was signed by the representatives of the youth
wings of ?New Times? Party, National League of Young Democrats,
Armenian Pan-National Movement, ?Republic? Party, National Democratic
Alliance, and National Self-Determination Union. They expect other
parties and NGOs to also sign the statement of cooperate in the near
future.

Armenia’s Hunchakian Party Youth Address Embassy’s Inability to
Protect Armenians in Russia

The ?Sarkis Dkhrouni? youth and student association of the
Social-Democrat Hunchakian Party addressed Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian in an open letter on Feb. 12 in Yerevan accusing the Armenian
Embassy of indifference towards the hate crimes committed against
local Armenians in Russia.
The letter is a call to action for all representatives of the Embassy
including the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Armen
Smbatyan. A series of attacks and murders committed against Armenians
has prompted the youth association of the Hunchaks to ask for a more
vigorous actions by the foreign ministry to end the bloodshed through
diplomatic means. The youth stated that the Embassy does not serve its
intended purpose of a diplomatic office, rather it acts as a ?trade
organization.? The open letter also urged the Foreign Ministry of the
Republic of Armenia to be proactive towards the situation rather than
the reactive or in some instances non-active approach towards the
situation.
Commenting on the accusations of negligence and lack of concern,
Smbatyan responded to the ?Sarkis
Dkhruni? youth branch of Huchakian Social-Democratic party in Armenia
stating that every ethnic hate crime is treated with high importance
and swift measures are taken to curtail further instances of such
criminal acts. Additionally, he claims that all crimes are
communicated within the Ministries of Internal and Foreign Affairs and
the Plenipotentiary of Russia.
Although Smbatyan agrees that there might be some dissatisfaction
among the people with the Consul?s services, he is assured that the
Armenian Embassy in Russia does everything possible to protect
Armenians from the violence which has been reported in the media. He
added that the causes of these attacks on Armenians have been cases of
xenophobia and that they are not particularly geared towards Armenians
but to all people living in Russia who are of non-Slavic backgrounds.

– Armenian Community of Louisiana Mobilized for Passage of HR 106

Louisiana branch of the Armenian Council of America strongly urged
members of the Congress from Louisiana to sponsor House Resolution
106. House Resolution 106 calls upon the President to ensure that the
foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding
and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic
cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record
relating to the Armenian Genocide.
On February 11, the Armenian Council of America of Louisiana in
cooperation with St. Garabed Armenian Church of Louisiana organized a
signing petition advocating their respective members of congress to
cosponsor the Armenian Genocide resolution H.R. 106, as well as House
Resolution 102; condemning the assassination of human rights advocate
and outspoken defender of freedom of the press, Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink on January 19, 2007.
In a letter addressed to the Congressional legislators of Louisiana
accompanied with the petition, Louisiana?s chapter of the Armenian
Council of America stated that the Armenian Genocide is an irrefutable
historical fact and the Armenian Council of America along with
Armenian Americans of Louisiana urge the Congressional representatives
to act insuring the recognition of the Armenian Genocide so that the
cycle of genocide and its denial are ended, and this human tragedy is
never repeated.
Currently only 1 out of the 7 Louisiana Congressmen have signed on to
the current legislation. Due to outside pressure, as well as from the
administration, Representative Bobby Jindal withdrew his
co-sponsorship of H.R. 106.
?Even though at some points it seems to be an uphill battle, we must
continue to strife and persevere for our cause.? stated Vasken
Kaltakdjian, chairman of Armenian Council of America Louisiana
chapter. He emphasized that the Turkish government is also actively
pursuing the legislators. ?We are good friends with Congressman
Jindal, urging him to reconsider his decision and not to succumb to
political threats from the Turkish government and the current
administration.? added Kaltakdjian.
?Currently the Armenian Council of America is actively utilizing its
strengths in advocating members of Congress in regions that are not
known for a history of being proactive for Armenian American issues?
stated Darakjian, Director of the Armenian Council of America.
Armenian Council of America is greatly encouraging Armenian Americans
to contact their respective members of Congress and
urge them to support H.R. 106. ?Louisiana is just one example of the
difficulty that the Armenian American community is facing. Despite
popular belief the Armenian Genocide resolution will not pass without
the support of members of congress that do not have a substantial
constituency of Armenian Americans.? stressed Darakjian.
Currently the support for H.R. 106 has included over 175 members of
the House. Key Congressional supporters include Congressmen Adam
Schiff (DCA), George Radanovich (R-CA) and Congressional Armenian
Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI).

– City of Los Angeles Calls on the Government To Recognize The
Armenian Genocide

The Los Angeles City Council went on record Wednesday in support of a
proposed federal resolution asking the U.S. government to recognize
the Armenian genocide, which resulted in deaths of 1.5 million people
in 1915.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, introduced HR 106 on Jan. 30, asking
President Bush to recognize the killings committed by Turkey?s Ottoman
Empire during World War I.
?This crime against humanity succeeded in the elimination of 3,000
years of cultural history in Ottoman, Turkey, and it was something
(Adolf) Hitler cited when he began the Holocaust of the Jews,?
Councilman Eric Garcetti said just before the council unanimously
voted to support the resolution. ?He said, `After all, who remembers
the Armenians???
?These atrocities occurred a long time ago, and we?re still fighting
for the first condition of justice, the recognition of the gravity of
the evil done,? Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said during a news
conference in front of City Hall. ?It is time we honored the Armenian
people by taking the first step toward justice.?
In other action, the City Council?s Arts, Parks, Health and Aging
Committee agreed that Los Angeles should adopt Yerevan as a sister city.

– Italian Produced Armenian Genocide Documentary ?The Lark Farm?
Featured at the Berlin Film Festival

A film depicting the tragedy of a rich family almost wiped out in the
mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915 is not meant to be
anti-Turkish, the directors said on Wednesday. Italy?s Taviani
brothers say ?The Lark Farm?, featuring at the Berlin film festival,
has a broad message about the human catastrophe of modern conflict.
Sparing little detail, the drama shows Ottoman Turks decapitating,
castrating and dismembering the men of the Armenian family in front of
their wives and children, who are themselves sent on a punishing
forced march towards the desert.
?This movie is not against Turks,? director Paolo Taviani told Reuters
in an interview, pointing out a Turkish man is instrumental in saving
some of the family?s children. ?It is not the Turks who kill ? it is
the Young Turks ? a political movement. It is exactly the same as what
happened in Italy with the Fascists and in Germany under Nazism.?
At the end of the press screening, the audience sat in stunned silence.
Ahead of the film?s public release, the Taviani brothers said they
were unaware of any adverse reaction from Turkey. Berlin?s Turkish
embassy said it had received no response to the film from Ankara.
Although a love story between an Armenian and Turk is a major part of
the film and some Ottoman soldiers are portrayed as being reluctant to
carry out orders to kill their friends, the focus is firmly on the
suffering of the Armenian family.
?We wanted to comment on current events like Kosovo, and Rwanda,? said
Paolo Taviani?s brother Vittorio. ?We thought we should look at one of
the most horrifying tragedies of mankind
because there is nothing worse than a war between people who know each
other well.?
The brothers say they are sure Turkey should join the EU. ?(But) we
are convinced … of the necessity that it publicly recognizes the
historical truth of the Armenian tragedy, in the same way as Germany
and Italy have come to terms with their criminal past,? they said in a
statement.
Actress Arsinee Khanjian, who plays a major character in ?The
LarkFarm?, says Turkey still has a way to go.?Turkey must change its
approach to theArmenian genocide but it also has big human rights
problems with many other minorities,? the actress of Armenian descent
told Reuters.

– Vazgen Manukyan Attends Round Table Forum

The Social Democrat Hunchakian Party ?Sarkis Dkhrouni? youth and
student union on February 10th continued its series of round table
forums. The panelist of this month?s forum was Mr. Vazgen Manukyan.
Mr. Manukyan was a member of the Karabakh committee and as a result
was arrested in December 1988 along with other members of the Karabakh
committee and spent six months in the Matrosskaya Tishina prison in
Moscow. Mr. Manukyan has served as prime minister and acting defense
minister of the Republic Armenia. Currently he is a member of
parliament and the chairman of the National Democratic Union Party.
The topic of the forum was the independence and establishment of the
Republic of Armenia, and the establishment and development of the
Armenian army.
Mr. Manukyan was able to provide insight of the establishment of the
Armenian Republic and the trials and tribulations associated with it
to the 30 plus young intellectuals of all educational backgrounds
attending the forum. Using specific examples, Mr. Manukyan also
addressed the hardships the Republic went through while he was
Minister of Defense in establishing a viable armed
forces while in the midst of the war of liberation of Artsakh. He also
touched upon reasoning?s and consequences of certain operations during
the war. Mr. Manukyan also thanked the young organizers of the forum,
which he considers a valuable tool for the future intellectuals and
leaders of Armenia.

– Near East Foundation Elects First Chair Of Armenian Ancestry In 91
Year History

As the newly-elected Chair of NEF (Near East Foundation) it is my high
honor to join the leadership ranks of this 91-year-old organization
which has had so profound an impact on me.
As an American of Armenian descent, NEF has brought me in touch with
my past…the past in which many Armenians? like my grandparents?were
saved by orphanages such as those established by Near East Relief
during the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide.
During the five years of my involvement and now as the first Chair of
Armenian ancestry, I feel an obligation to give back to this
organization that has given so much, to so many, over its long history.
Like the men and women who have preceded me in this role, the
challenges are great. Poverty continues to dominate most of the world,
contributing to despair, political instability and resentment. War
rages on in the Middle East and parts of Africa, where long-standing,
unresolved conflicts fester. Genocide has become all too common a
term?and the slogan ?Never Again? has lost its meaning.
Religion still divides rather than unites the peoples of the world.
But never have the challenges barred NEF?s way.
The selfless dedication of NEF?s staff and supporters have always
succeeded in accomplishing a great deal despite limited resources.
Ironically, our past has brought us back to Armenia. I recently
returned from my second trip to further expand NEF?s role and presence
there once again. Given our historical connection, NEF was
enthusiastically received by several Armenian government ministries
and local nongovernmental organizations; we also reintroduced
ourselves to the local offices of USAID and the World Bank. You can
expect to hear more about new NEF programs in Armenia shortly.
NEF also returned to its roots in relief work by responding to the
humanitarian crisis in Lebanon (my birthplace) this past summer. We
have established a microcredit program that promotes the resettlement
of those who were displaced during the recent conflict. In short, the
future holds new and exciting opportunities for NEF.
With our newly-formed subsidiary NEFdev, we are uniquely positioned to
qualify as a small business thereby giving NEF an advantage when
bidding on U.S. government contracts.
As with everything in life, it is our past that makes us what we are
today. What we are today helps shape what we want to become in the
future. What we become in the future is a reminder of who we were in
the past. So may the memory of all those who gave so much before us,
reinvigorate the reasons we all give to this noble cause now. Please
join me as we embark upon NEF?s next phase. There is much work to be
done.
Shant Mardirossian

—
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