Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS JAPANESE-GOVERNMENT-FUNDED PROGRAM OF ASSISTANCE FOR POOR ARMENIAN FARMERS

July 24
ARKA

On Thursday, Armenian Government considered the
Japanese-government-funded program of assistance for poor Armenian
farmers.

Under this program, Japanese Government grants 170 million yen for
purchasing agricultural equipment.

Agriculture Minister Aramayis Grigoryan said that eight grants totaling
2.44 billion yen have already been provided under this program.

He said this money has been spent for purchasing 72,500 tons of
fertilizers, 58 combines and 276 tractors.

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

July 22, 2008
Contact: Ani Garabedian

Assemblymember Portantino Discusses Turkey’s Genocide Denial with
Armenian Americans

Pasadena, CA – In a meeting with Assemblymember Anthony Portantino,
members of the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
(ANCA-WR) discussed several issues of importance to Armenian
Americans. The Assemblymember reiterated that it is unacceptable for
Turkey to continue its international campaign of genocide denial.
Also discussed was the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) position on the
Armenian Genocide and the recent expose by the Southern Poverty Law
Center highlighting the Turkish government’s interference in Armenian
domestic academia and politics which can be found on the internet at:
icle.jsp?aid`3.

"It’s always a pleasure to meet with the leadership and grassroots
activists of the ANC," stated Portantino. "The opportunity to discuss
issues important to the Armenian community in my district is
incredibly valuable and deeply appreciated," he added.

Among those in attendance were Amy Kaladzhyan and Shant Karnikian, two
of the seven ANC-WR Internship Externship Program (ANC-WR IEP)
interns. They explained that since meeting with the Assemblymember in
Sacramento for the State Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in
April 2008, they had been very active in human rights activities in
Santa Barbara.

"Today’s meeting was a great opportunity for us to realize that our
Assemblymembers care about issues pertaining to human rights and take
the time out of their busy schedules to meet with us on these
matters," said Kaladzhyan. "We definitely appreciate the positive and
encouraging feedback we received from Asm. Portantino," she added.

Asm. Portantino expressed that he is looking forward to the visit of
Armenia’s Minister of Education Spartak Seiranyan. The Assemblymember
currently serves as the Chair of the Assembly’s Committee on Higher
Education and will play a pivotal role in engaging California
institutions of higher education, laboratories and industry giants.

ANC of Crescenta Valley activist Arick Gevorkian thanked Portantino
for his support and close relationship with the Crescenta Valley
community. "It was very pleasing to see what the ANC has achieved as
far as building relationships with legislators, Assemblymembers and
Congressman," stated Gevorkian. "Asm. Portantino has always welcomed
us and this is a result of years of relationships building. His
sincerity and commitment to the Armenian American community is truly
admirable and he a strong voice for our community," he added.

Assemblymember Anthony Portantino was elected to serve the 44th
Assembly District in November, 2006. The district encompasses
Altadena, Duarte, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena, South Pasadena and
Temple City. Portantino has been a long time friend and supporter of
the Armenian National Committee and the Armenian American Community in
large.

###

Photo caption: Assemblymember Anthony Portantino joined by ANC-WR team.

MUNROE TO START SEASON WITH ARMENIAN DEFENCE
Tom Podmore

BritishBoxing.net
July 22 2008
UK

Rendall Munroe is to make the second defence of his European
super-bantamweight title on September 5.

The Leicester switch-hitter, 28 and who famously tamed the one-man
Spanish Armada, then-unbeaten banger Kiko Martinez, for this
Continental belt almost five months ago, will make a voluntary
defence against France-based Armenian Arsen Martirosian, 12-1 (3),
on Sky Sports’ first show of the 2008/09 season. Frank Maloney’s FTM
Sports will promote.

Although Martirosian hasn’t really beaten anyone of real note, a
few familiar names appear on his record. Moebi Sarouna, a Togolese
puncher who gave the recently-crowned British lightweight champion,
undefeated Mancunian John Murray, a good tussle over ten rounds in
2006, was outpointed over 12 last year. Nikita Lukin, who has extended
the likes of Paul Truscott, Femi Fehintola and Jamie McDonnell on
these shores, was also outscored over 36 minutes.

Solid if unspectacular form, then.

The 31-year-old, rated at eight in the EBU’s latest ratings, has also
strung together 12 consecutive victories since an eight-round debut
loss to Nordine Barmou four years ago. He avenged that blemish in 2005,
gaining revenge over eight, and won the EEEU (not to be confused with
the EU strap) belt at the start of this year, a clear points nod over
the aforementioned Lukin.

But Jason Shinfield-trained Munroe, 15-1 (7) and rated nine in the
WBA’s and eight in the IBF’s world rankings, will be on another level
to anything he’s previously faced. The champion is awkward, leads as
a southpaw, is in his prime and virtually toyed with capable Salem
Bouaita last time out, forcing the Frenchman to quit on his stool
after seven rounds.

Rendall is now targeting a world title opportunity in the next 12
months. Before that, however, he has the small matter of two defences
of his blue belt, both of which could happen within the space of eight
or nine weeks. Martirosian is first and, should the East Midlander come
through successfully, which he will be favoured to do, Kiko Martinez,
who was recently made mandatory challenger for the belt he lost in
March, will be back for a second bite of the cherry before the year
draws to a close.

No venue has been confirmed for the voluntary but its expected to be
at Nottingham’s Harvey Hadden Leisure Centre, the site of the former
English 8st 10lbs champion’s previous European outings.

NALBANDIAN, FRIED DISCUSS NORMALIZATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.07.2008 13:41 GMT+04:00

Currently on a working visit in Washington, Armenia’s Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian met with Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of State
for European and Eurasian Affairs.

The officials discussed the Armenia-U.S. cooperation and security
issues.

They also exchanged views on the post-election situation in Armenia
and the measures the RA authorities take to improve it.

Normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations was also in focus.

Armenian National Committee Toronto
45 Hallcrown Place
Toronto Ontario
M2J 4Y4
Contact: Marianne Davitjan
Tel: 416 491 2900

The Safarian Family, the Armenian National Committee of Toronto and the ARF
YOC will be organizing a public celebration on Sunday July 20th, 2008, in
honour of the 100th anniversary of the arrival in Canada of Israel Safarian.
The celebration will focus on the ARF, the early Armenians in Canada,
Thoughts, Words, and Images, 100 years later.

The celebration will be preceded by a memorial service in honour of Israel
Safarian at St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Toronto.

"He did everything he could to help out his fellow Armenians, especially
those of us who were newcomers. ‘Medz Enger’, we used to call him."
George Hagopian

Born in the town of Keghi of Western Armenia around 1880, Mr. Israel
Safarian arrived in Hamilton in 1908 by way of Batumi/Liverpool/New York
City as a young man full of ambition, with $5 in his pocket. He had left his
hometown and family behind to escape discrimination against Armenians and in
search of work to support his family members, most of whom would later
perish in the Armenian genocide of 1915. After the loss of almost all of his
extended family, Mr. Safarian would form a new home in Canada and until his
death in 1969, as a committed member of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, in the course of years would become one of the pillars of the
Armenian communities of St. Catharines and Toronto.

"Isreal Sarafian was a passionate man full of humor and vivacity."
Vasken Terzian

Having recently moved to Toronto, and wanting to know more about one of the
founders of this community, I set out to get to know Mr. Safarian better.
What type of a person was he? In what capacity was he involved in the
Armenian community? What is it that people remember about him? And through
interviews with a family member and friends, I came to know that Mr.
Safarian was a vivacious, humorous, compassionate individual who loved
everything that had to do with Armenia and Armenians. A determined character
who, with a few others, mortgaged his house as a down-payment for a nascent
community center. A husband and father who loved his family, passed on his
interest in education and music to his children and ensured that his passion
for everything Armenian would always be alive in the homes of his offspring.
Toronto Armenian

"My father’s life revolved around the Armenian community and everything to
do with Armenians"
Prof. Edward Safarian

Memorial Service
Date: Sunday July 20th, 2008
Time: 1:30 pm
Location: St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church, 45 Hallcrown Place (401 and
Victoria Park)

Public Celebration
Date: Sunday July 20th, 2008
Time: 2:30 pm
Location: Armenian Community Centre, Main Hall, 45 Hallcrown Place (401 and
Victoria Park)

For further information, please contact [email protected]

U.S.-ARMENIAN JOINT ACTION PLAN ON COMBATING NUCLEAR SMUGGLING

US Department of State
July 14 2008
DC

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian signed on July 14, 2008, the "Joint Action Plan
between the Government of the United States of America and the
Government of the Republic of Armenia on Combating Smuggling of
Nuclear and Radioactive Materials."

This political agreement expresses the intention of the two governments
to cooperate to increase the capabilities of the Republic of Armenia
to prevent, detect, and respond effectively to attempts to smuggle
nuclear or radioactive materials. It specifies twenty-eight agreed
steps that the two governments intend to be taken for this purpose.

The governments agree that they will proceed along parallel paths
in implementing this action plan. The Republic of Armenia intends
to implement those steps that it is capable of carrying out on
its own. For those steps where assistance is needed, the United
States intends to seek to identify sources, from within either
the U.S. government or the international community, to provide
such assistance. This assistance would complement and be carefully
coordinated with the aid the Republic of Armenia is already receiving
from various U.S. and international assistance programs.

With this agreement, the U.S. and Armenian governments are
significantly enhancing their collaborative efforts to combat the
threat that nuclear or highly radioactive materials could be acquired
by terrorists or others who would use them to harm us.

This is the fifth agreement of this nature that has been concluded by
the U.S. government’s Nuclear Smuggling Outreach Initiative. Previous
agreements were completed with Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and the
Kyrgyz Republic, and the U.S. government intends to conclude similar
agreements with approximately twenty additional countries where the
risk of nuclear smuggling is of particular concern. To date, eight
countries and three international organizations have partnered with
the U.S. government to provide assistance to support implementation
of these agreements.

HRANT DINK TRIAL TURNED INTO BUFFOONERY

AZG Armenian Daily
10/07/2008

Dink Murder

On July 7 the sixth court trial session on Hrant Dink’s murder was
started in Istanbul. As Ogun Samast had reached the age of 18 by the
date, the trial was open and press was admitted. Samast, organizers
of the assassination Yasin Hayal, Erhan Tuncel and all the other
suspects were present.

Almost all the Turkish newspapers referred to the process in their
yesterday releases. They all state that the trial was turned into a
buffoonery because of the dissoluteness of the suspects.

"Hurriyet" newspaper, whether it was a TV show or a court trial,
represents some episodes. Thus, when Fuad Turgut, lawyer of Yasin
Hayal, tried to ask a question Ogun Samast, the latter exclaimed,
"I have nothing to do with that madman". Then the lawyer asked Samast
whether he had a meeting with Etienne Mahjoupian or someone else in
front of the "Agos" office, the suspect impudently replied that he
was having a rendezvous with Jennifer Lopez there.

After that the lawyer, hinting at the foreign origin of Tuncel’s
girlfriend said him, "She is from Israel. Have you ever thought that
your girlfriend might be an Israeli spy?". Tuncel answered that
the female came from Lebanon, not Israel, then ironically added,
"Maybe she’s the daughter of the President of Israel. I never cared
about that, sorry man".

Later the argument between Hayal and Samast turned to an open quarrel.

After the passions calmed down, law defender Turgut asked Tuncel how
much he was being paid as an informer. The latter considered this
question as slander and personal insult and said that he had been
trying to cease the contacts with the intelligence department for a
long time, but they insisted on proceeding with the work until Tuncel
graduated from the university. The Court chairman asked Tuncel if
he had known professor Ovali, detained by accusation on "Ergenekon"
case. Tuncel gave negative answer, and added that he had prevented
Yasin Hayal from murdering Hrant Dink for at least 5 or 6 times.

The court trial has again been postponed. Until October 13, this time.

ARMENIA WANTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO PEACEKEEPING IN AFGHANISTAN – MINISTER

Mediamax
July 9 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 9 July: Armenia is ready to contribute to the operation in
Afghanistan to the best of its abilities, Defence Minister Seyran
Ohanyan said at a meeting with Romanian Ambassador Crina Prunariu
today.

The defence minister stated the interest of the Armenian side in
developing cooperation in the sphere of peacekeeping operations, the
press secretary of the Defence Ministry told the Mediamax news agency.

Ohanyan also stated the importance of cooperation in the
military-education sphere and said that work on the development of
a corresponding bilateral agreement is being carried out.

ECONOMY MINISTER NERSES YERITSIAN SAYS TAX AND CUSTOMS REFORMS REMAIN GOVERNMENT’S MAJOR PRIORITIES

ARMENPRESS
July 8

Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsian said today tax and customs reforms
continue to remain the government’s major priorities. Speaking at a
news conference he said their successful implementation is aimed at
improving Armenia’s business environment.

He said a special package of reforms was developed specifically to
address business environment improvement. They define clearly all
targets and will be put to public debates later this month.

The minister said business environment improvement does not suppose
only tax and customs reforms as special changes should be made to
improve also state dues and fees collections.

He said there are three ways of improving the state of things in
these areas which will lead to making Armenia a place where working
correctly and in line with laws will be honorable and profitable.

One of the ways is to support entrepreneurship promotion and
development. The second way is the effective protection of intellectual
property and the third is introduction of e-government.

The minister spoke also about the necessity of giving support to small
and medium-sized businesses through tax administration reforms. He
said contacts between the government and private sector should become
more active.

He then spoke about boosting information technology and tourism
industries, as well as reviving Armenia’s once famous chemical industry
with the focus on production of medications.

PACE URGES ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES TO DISPLAY GOOD WILL

Trend News Agency
July 8 2008
Azerbaijan

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe urges the authorities
to display good will and release those who were arrested in connection
with March 1 disorders, reported ARKA.

David Harutyunyan, the head of Armenian delegation in PACE, said that
PACE proposes to use all legal mechanisms to stop prosecuting those
charged with resisting policemen.

He said that in its resolution passed on July 25, PACE, taking into
account political situation and insufficient public confidence in
the authorities, puts special emphasis on good will.

"This is considered rather political than legal step", Harutyunyan
said.

He said that PACE also paid special attention to freedom of assembly
and activity of the interim parliamentary committee that conducts
own investigation into the March events.

In particular, PACE proposes concession principle of the committee’s
activity and stressed the necessity to concentrate efforts on detecting
causes of March events and the criminal charges brought immediately
after these events.

"This is very important provision. If efforts to restore public
confidence in local institutions fail, PACE will put this issue on
its floor", Harutyunyan said.

PACE also demands to ensure transparent and just tender for
broadcasting license.

PACE voiced regret at the opposition unwillingness to make due steps
for starting a dialogue with the authorities.

Harutyunyan said that Human Rights Commissionaire will read out his
report on the committee’s activity in September.

The monitoring commission will be able to make its decision at its
session scheduled for September 11. The decision will depend on
the report.

PACE will resume hearing the matter at its January session.