Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

ARMEN SIMONYAN EXHIBITS HIS PAINTINGS IN NAREKATSI ARTS CENTER

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.12.2009 20:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armen Simonyan exhibits his paintings in Narekatsi
arts center.

"I have been working in Moscow for a long time. My paintings hung
next to the works by Ernst Neizvestny and Zurab Tsereteli. But it’s my
first exhibition in Armenia and I am a bit excited," the painter said.

38 painting are displayed. 150 works will be presented through a
slide show.

Armen Simonyan is a biologist by occupation. He has been engaged in
painting for 20 years already.

NALBANDYAN CHANGED

Lragir.am
11/12/09

Interview with Andranik Babakhanyan

On these days, your corrections of the English-Armenian translation
of the 3rd and 5th chapters of the Armenia-Turkey protocols were
published in the press.

Since the normalization of the Armenian and Turkish relations just from
the beginning was secret, it created grounds to think that something
was wrong there. And when the protocols were published on the foreign
ministry site, I tried to compare the most vulnerable 3rd and 5th
chapters. As a result, I found out that, as usual, they deceived
people. To deceive people by wrong translation contradicts the Article
2 of the Constitution in accordance with which power belongs to people.

I have to note that the minister Nalbandyan have twice changed
the translated text of the protocols. And I have to say that it
is senseless to do something here because before the Armenia-Turkey
relations we had already sold the presidential duties for 5000 dram and
now we witness how Armenia is being sold and everything is presented
as good will, as if we need the border opening. It is a lie.

The biggest lie. In reality, we do not need it. It needs Russia.

The whole Europe has no closed border.

The point is who closed the border. We did not do that. But as we
can see they impose preconditions. It is ridiculous. How can they
dispute the fact of genocide? How can the Karabakh issue be solved
in one package at the same time connecting it with the frontier
opening? The Karabakh issue came out to be solved for the sake of the
border opening. To preserve the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
means to yield the released areas.

One thing is sure and transparent: the country’s president deceives
people. I have never expected anything else from him.

You say the country’s president deceives everyone. Why does no one
protest?

Everyone would be for this process, if everything was without
preconditions. Sometimes, I am terrified when thinking that to see
Mount Ararat people will not come in Armenia but will go to Turkey.

In your opinion, do we open the border at the price of yielding
Karabakh?

Please, do not say, "we open the border", say, "the president sells
out our country". The country is overwhelmed with Iranian people now,
after it will be full of Turkish people. We give not only Karabakh
but also Armenia. We did not need the border opening, I think neither
the Turks did.

Is our parliament possible not to ratify the protocols after comparing
the translations and the mistakes they contain?

We do not have to forget that all that was done with their direct
participation, many of them know English better than I do, and
consequently they know about the mistakes too. Besides, I have
presented the results of my study to several parties, including the
Heritage and the ARF, but they did not answer or just deceived me
calling me to the National Assembly they did not come.

Anyway, selling Armenia is a big plan which the authorities fulfill
with pleasure. For example, Edik Nalbandyan waited for several hours
before he signed the protocols. I think he felt remorse, but in the
end, he signed.

Is there any way out from the current situation?

Yes, the only solution is the change of government. But to be sincere,
I do not see anyone who can come and not to make mistakes. This is a
serious process initiated by the superpowers – U.S. and Russia. And
none of them is interested what will remain from Armenia and whether
something will remain or not.

Interview by SIRANUYSH PAPYAN

CSTO PA COUNCIL GUEST SITTING TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN IN SPRING

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
10.12.2009 16:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In December, Armenian parliamentary delegation
participated in CIS interparliamentary assembly and CSTO Parliamentary
Assembly Council sitting held in St. Petersburg.

As Armenian parliamentary delegation head, Artak Davtyan told a news
conference, CSTO PA Council guest sitting will be held in Yerevan
in spring.

By taking the resolution above, CSTO member states’ delegation
intends to support Armenia against the background of Azerbaijan’s
militaristic statements.

Noyemberian regional hospital under repair

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The Noyemberian regional hospital
in Tavush marz is being repaired with co-financing of the Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund’s local bodies of Germany, Switzerland, Australia
and Lebanon. According to information submitted by the Fund, major
repairs are being carried out with the proceeds from a concert given
in Cologne, Germany and also with part of the money raised during the
Telethon 2009. The Union of Armenian Doctors and Medical Workers in
Germany will donate medical equipment to the hospital.

Despite its current poor state, the hospital continues to provide
services to residents of the region and Lori marz as well. About 1,400
citizens receive medical services in the hospital a year. Only part of
the hospital is now being repaired so that the other units, in
particular the maternity home and the surgery unit, can continue
functioning.

Repairs of the roof, the construction of an elevator well, and the
installation of metal-plastic windows have been completed. Repairs of
power supply, heating and air conditioning systems, tiling work, and
decoration of walls and ceilings is underway.

EC to provide 100 million euros of macroeconomic assistance to Armenia
10.12.2009 17:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Recently, Brussels hosted political consultations
between Armenia and the European Committee.

Armenian delegation was led by the head of Armenia representation in
EC, Ambassador Avet Adonts and EC delegation – by Political and
Security Committee Ambassador Olof Skoog.

As RA Foreign Ministry reported, the parties discussed a number of
issues on Armenia – EC political collaboration and world crisis
consequences.

To overcome crisis, the European Commission has proposed providing 100
million euros ($149.2 million) of macroeconomic assistance to Armenia.

The aid to Armenia – a loan of up to 65 million euros and a grant of
up to 35 million euros – would support an adjustment program agreed
with the International Monetary Fund to help the country through the
global crisis, the Commission said.

In 2010, EC representatives will visit Yerevan to discuss
collaboration memorandum to be concluded.

DEPUTIES COMPLAIN OF THEIR SALARIES

/10/parlament
10/12/09

Armenian parliamentarians do not expect to get a Christmas bonus or
the so-called "13th salary" this year. They say their monthly salary
of 300 000 drams is not enough to do Christmas shopping.

"Bonuses (which are usually equal to a deputy’s salary) are given by
a decision of the NA Speaker. I don’t know whether anything has been
planned for this year or not," said freelance MP Victor Dallakyan.

Republican MP Arman Sahakyan said deputies hadn’t received the bonus
the previous year either.

Asked whether his salary is enough for New Year expenses, Mr. Sahakyan
replied, "I usually see New Year in with my family in somewhere in
Armenia. If you have a look at Yerevan shops and supermarkets, I think
you will be convinced that people are able to afford everything with
their salary. The huge amount of goods makes me think in this way."

On the other hand, the Republican parliamentary underlined that
salaries in Armenia are not enough to lead a normal life.

"Then how does a Republican MP live on a salary?" A1+ observed.

"I just have a cultural business and run a studio -"Ardeni".

Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan also spends the
holiday in Armenia. He is not content with his salary either. "Since we
are a traditional family we always lay a big table full of different
Armenian dishes. Many people call on us on holidays. My best gift of
the year was my second child," said Mr. Ashotyan.

By the way, the Ministry has economized money to give its employees
the 13th salary.

US CONGRESS ASSENTS $41 MILLION FOR ARMENIA, $8 MILLION FOR NKR

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.12.2009 11:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The U.S. House and Senate Wednesday agreed upon a
far-reaching Fiscal Year 2010 (FY10) spending measure that includes a
$41 million economic aid package for Armenia, $8 million for "programs
and activities" in Nagorno Karabakh, and parity in Foreign Military
Financing for Armenia and Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).

These figures were determined by a conference committee, comprised
of House and Senate appropriators tasked with reconciling the two
versions of the FY10 foreign aid bill.

The House measure, overseen by the State-Foreign Operations
Subcommittee Chair Nita Lowey, included a $48 million allocation for
Armenia, $10 for Nagorno Karabakh, and across-the-board parity in
military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The Senate version, presided over by the State- Foreign Operations
Subcommittee Chair Patrick Leahy, set aside just $30 million for
Armenia, the figure proposed in President Obama’s budget, and did not
include any figures for either aid to Nagorno Karabakh or military
aid to Yerevan and Baku.

The President’s low aid request for Armenia – which represented a
dramatic 39% cut from the previous year, stood in stark contrast to
his campaign pledge to maintain aid levels and to foster the growth
and development of Armenia. Congress also rolled back President Obama’s
request to reverse the long-established policy of maintaining military
parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan in terms of Foreign Military
Financing. No figures were included in the Conference Report regarding
International Military Education and Training.

"We want to thank all our friends, among them Chairwoman Lowey, Adam
Schiff, Mark Kirk, Steve Rothman, Jesse Jackson, Steve Israel, and
Frank Lobiondo, for restoring $11 million of the $18 million reduction
in aid to Armenia proposed by the Obama-Biden Administration, and also
for setting, for the first time, unrestricted aid to Nagorno Karabakh
at $8 million," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA.

"While we remain troubled by the overall decrease in support for
Armenia, which is now down to nearly half of what was appropriated
just three years ago, we are pleased that military parity in Foreign
Military Financing to Armenia and Azerbaijan has been maintained,
and that the Committee’s traditional description of aid to Nagorno
Karabakh as ‘humanitarian’ has been removed, reflecting a growing
appreciation among legislators of the need to implement development
programs with these funds."

The Conference Report includes language, added, by all accounts,
at the urging of legislators concerned about Azerbaijan’s escalating
war rhetoric, calling upon "all parties to the conflict to refrain
from threats of violence and the use of inflammatory rhetoric."

The report also notes the expectation of Congressional appropriators
that the Administration must continue to certify that aid to Azerbaijan
will not undermine a peaceful settlement to the Karabakh conflict nor
be used for offensive purposes against Armenia before it can waive
Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act.

In the months leading up to Wednesday’s decision, the Armenian
Caucus, in a series of letters and meetings, called for Senate and
House Appropriation Committee leaders to maintain $48 million in
U.S. assistance to Armenia, to increase aid to Nagorno Karabakh,
and to continue military assistance parity to Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In an October 26th letter to the Chairs and Ranking Republicans
of the Senate and House foreign aid subcommittees, several dozen
Caucus members reinforced these points, stressing that, "Armenia’s
cooperation in anti-terrorism efforts and its deployment of forces
to both Iraq and Kosovo are pivotal to U.S. interests. Armenia has
entered into a NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) and has
worked closely with both NATO and the Defense Department on a range
of bilateral and multilateral agreements, joint training programs,
and military exercises."

EU PROPOSES TWO-CAPITAL JERUSALEM

BBC NEWS
iddle_east/8401913.stm
2009/12/08 15:52:28 GMT

European Union ministers have called for Jerusalem to serve as the
capital of both Israel and a future Palestinian state as part of a
negotiated peace.

The foreign ministers dropped an earlier reference stating explicitly
that East Jerusalem should be the capital of a Palestinian state.

Palestinians welcomed the statement. Israel said it contained
"nothing new".

Jerusalem’s status is one of the most sensitive and complex issues
in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"If there is to be a genuine peace, a way must be found through
negotiations to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital
of two states," the statement from EU foreign minsters said.

"The EU will not recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders
including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the
parties."

ANALYSIS Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East editor The EU is trying to
strengthen Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. One EU diplomatic source
said that they wanted to give him "a ladder to climb down" to allow
him to get back to negotiations.

The EU has said before that occupied East Jerusalem should be the
capital of a Palestinian state, though never, EU diplomatic sources
say, in this forum.

What is most important about the latest statement is its timing. Hopes
that President Obama would be able to make quick progress towards a
peace based on Palestinian independence alongside Israel have been
badly dented.

The EU, along with the US and others, is concerned that a diplomatic
standstill plays into the hands of extremists and will encourage a
build up of tension leading to more violence in Jerusalem, Gaza and
on Israel’s border with Lebanon.

Israel, which captured the West Bank in 1967, currently claims
sovereignty over the entire city, and claims it as its capital.

Its government welcomed what it called the "balancing and improving"
of the EU text, but said it ignored "the primary obstacle to achieving
a resolution between Israel and the Palestinians: the Palestinian
refusal to return to the negotiating table".

"Israel regrets that the EU has chosen to adopt a text that,
although containing nothing new, does not contribute to the renewal
of negotiations," it said.

Rafik Alhussieni, chief of staff to Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas, said: "The statement as a whole is satisfactory because it
says that Jerusalem should be the capital of both states and because
it refers to the land as occupied land… and mentions that the
settlements are illegal and built on occupied land."

On Monday, scores of Palestinians had protested at the French
and Swedish consulates in Jerusalem in support of the Swedish EU
presidency’s proposal for an explicit reference on the east of the
city, AFP news agency reported.

" The Council is deeply concerned about the situation in East
Jerusalem… It also calls on the Israeli government to cease all
discriminatory treatment of Palestinians " EU Foreign Affairs Council

Israeli claims of sovereignty over Jerusalem are not recognised
internationally, and East Jerusalem is considered to be occupied
territory.

Palestinians hope to establish the capital of their future state in
East Jerusalem.

"The Council is deeply concerned about the situation in East
Jerusalem," the statement from EU foreign ministers said.

"In view of recent incidents, it calls on all parties to refrain from
provocative actions.

"It also calls on the Israeli government to cease all discriminatory
treatment of Palestinians in East Jerusalem."

The ministers said a recent Israeli decision to restrict the growth
of settlements in the occupied West Bank – though not including East
Jerusalem – was "a first step in the right direction".

But they also stressed that "settlements, the separation barrier
where built on occupied land, demolition of homes and evictions are
illegal under international law, constitute an obstacle to peace and
threaten to make a two-state solution impossible".

The Palestinian Authority has demanded that all construction is halted
before it will again attend peace talks.

TCA Arshag Dickranian Armenian School
1200 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038

Tel: 323-461-4377
Fax: 323-323-461-4247
Contact: [email protected]

Chef Sarkis Takvoryan
Volunteers To Cook For Dickranian School Students

Los Angeles, December 8, 2009 – Monday December the 7th’s luncheon menu at
TCA Arshag Dickranian School was a special treat for the students,
teachers and staff. It was a pleasant sight seeing students from Pre-K to
12th grade lined up at the kitchen counter of the Walter and Laurel
Karabian Hall to be served the Philly Steak Sandwich deliciously prepared
by the visiting young chef Sarkis Takvoryan, who attended Dickranian
School.

This was Sarkis’s second visit to cook at the TCA Arshag Dickranian
School. `The PTO kitchen committee members work tirelessly preparing and
serving the daily lunches for the students. I decided to volunteer
cooking for them because I would like to give something back to this
school,’ said chef Takvoryan, `I also wanted to be a role model for the
students and perhaps encourage some of them to pursue exploring the art of
cooking.’

Having found his niche in cooking after completing 11th grade at ADS,
Takvoryan enrolled at Le Cordon Bleu Paris culinary school and completed
the program within a year specializing in French, Italian and Middle
Eastern cuisines. At present he works at the Marquis Restaurant in
Glendale, California, where he plans having his own `finger food’ lounge.

Located at 1200 North Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, the TCA Arshag
Dickranian Armenian School is a federally tax exempt, Pre-K to 12th grade
private educational institution. For more information visit

STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ART EXHIBIT AND FILM SCREENING IN YEREVAN

Tert.am
04.12.09

On November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of
Violence against Women, the Women’s Resource Center in Yerevan joined
organizations around the world to raise awareness about the issue of
gender-based violence.

In the framework of 16 days of activism to end violence against women,
38 artists and activists decided to break the silence on this issue
and participated in a collective exhibition organized by the Center.

The opening of a collective exhibition of 38 artists and activists
within the framework of 16 days of activism to end gender violence
will take place on December 5, 2009 at 5pm, on the second floor of
Moscow Cinema. It will be followed by a screening of a series of
short films on violence.

The program for the opening:

5pm – Exhibition 6pm – opening remarks: Gohar Shahnazaryan and Lara
Aharonian – WRCA Ms. Anahit Bakhshyan – Member of National Assembly
Ms. Marie Yovanovitch – American Ambassador to Armenia

6:30 – screening of films:

-Women on the front line /find a word for it/ congo, UNFPA , 2007,
22 min., Armenian with English subtitles.

-Silence, Deniz Ceyhan Arman, 2007, 9 min., Turkey.

-Zone of silence, Mariam Ohanyan, 2009, 16 min, Arm. with Eng. sub.

-Marital rape, Carole Rousopoulos, 30 min, French with Arm subtitles.

-Women on the front line /Showing the red card/ Austria, UNFPA, 2007,
22 min, Arm. with English subtitles

The exhibition and film screenings will continue until December
7, 2009.

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Embassy in Armenia,
and IREX have partnered with the Women’s Resource Center in Yerevan
for this event.