Author: Zakarian Garnik

70 VIDEO CAMERAS TO BE PLACED IN GYUMRI STREETS FOR TAKING CONTROL OF TRAFFIC LAWS BREACHES

Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006

GYUMRI, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Soon the breaches of traffic laws in the
country will be controlled by speedometers and video cameras. The
traffic police department of Gyumri has already presented to the
respective structures the list of the city’s streets where these
devises should be placed. As Noyan Tapan was informed by Gurgen
Dertsian, Head of the Gyumri traffic police department, it is envisaged
to place 70 video cameras, 14 speedometers and 30 new traffic lights
in Gyumri.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT EXTENDS HIS CONDOLENCES TO RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF THOSE KILLED IN TODAY’S AIR CRASH

Yerevan, May 3. ArmInfo. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan extended
his deep condolences to the relatives and friends of the passengers
and the pilots of the Armavia’s plane that crashed today night while
flying from Yerevan to Sochi.

“I was deeply grieved to learn about the night crash. I extend my
deepest condolences to the relatives and friends of the passengers and
the pilots. I assure that all the aggrieved families will be provided
with support and our authorities will do their best to find out the
reasons of the crash,” says Kocharyan.

CHANGING THE PLACE OF MARKET IN SADAKHLO IS OFFERED

Lragir.am
03 May 06

Member of Parliament Victor Dallakyan thinks that the Azerbaijani
middleman living on the money they earn at the market of Sadakhlo
have turned this area into a threat against the national security of
Armenia. Victor Dallakyan says presently 12-13 thousand Armenians,
nearly as many Georgians and 150 thousand Azerbaijanis live at
the Georgian side of the Armenian-Georgian border. It means the
Azerbaijanis can block the border at any moment, and Armenia may
appear stuck in the Turk-Georgian pincers, concludes the member of
parliament. Victor Dallakyan reminds that he alarmed about a possible
development in 2000 but has received no response. “Who is now going
to account for the dissipation of government funds, the blockade of 12
Armenian villages of Sadakhlo and a new threat against our security,”
asks Victor Dallakyan, and suggests solutions: move the Sadakhlo
market to the Armenian village of Akpyurpi, which is only 5 km from the
Armenian border, and the shortest way to Tbilisi runs via this village.

HAVE COURAGE, HAZEL GREEN

Kirkus Reviews
May 1, 2006

Spunky Hazel Green returns for a third adventure, again set in her
urban apartment house and involving adults as much as the children.

When Mr. Davis, the new head of the Moodey Building Owner’s Committee,
says, “I don’t like your kind” to Mr. Egozian, the maintenance man,
Hazel knows it’s wrong. But her efforts to right that wrong bring
her serious trouble. Supported by her mathematical friend, Yakov, and
sympathetic Mrs. Gluck, flower shop owner, she refuses to apologize
to Mr. Davis as a matter of principle. Even if Mr. Egozian won’t
fight back, she will. From his description of the killing of his
people nearly a century ago, it seems that Mr. Egozian is Armenian,
but this is never said directly, and young American readers may be
confused. Still, Hazel’s outrage is clear and appropriate. Readers will
admire her energy and determination and savor the delicious description
of specialty foods. This Australian import is certain to be welcome
in libraries where the other books have been popular. (Fiction. 9-13)

Publication Date: 6/1/2006 0:00:00 Publisher: Bloomsbury Stage:
Children’s ISBN: 1-58234-659-3 Price: $15.95 Author: Hirsch, Odo

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
April 28 2006

Armenian language may be taught better
BY ALEX DOBUZINSKIS, Staff Writer

An Assembly bill that would improve Armenian language instruction in
public schools has passed its first test by winning committee
approval.

Assemblyman Dario Frommer, D-Glendale, introduced the bill earlier
this year to create a credentialing program for Armenian-language
instruction, putting it on par with Spanish, French and other
languages taught in schools.

The bill passed the Assembly education committee Wednesday. It now
goes to the appropriations committee.

“I think we’re recognizing that this is a large and vibrant community
and it has a lot of different needs,” Frommer said Thursday.

California has about 500,000 Armenian-Americans. Some are recent
immigrants and some have been here for years.

“We’re recognizing this community has different facets and we’re
trying to respond to that, and I think this is one way we can do it,”
Frommer said.

The Glendale Unified School District offers Armenian courses at its
three main high schools. The teachers are of Armenian descent and are
credentialed in a program for bilingual and cross-cultural
instruction.

But Armenian skills are just part of the testing process for that
program, unlike what is expected of teachers in, for example,
Spanish, French or Vietnamese.

Other San Fernando Valley schools also offer Armenian.

“We think it’s great. The more languages we can offer the better,”
said Greg Franklin, assistant superintendent at GUSD. “So Armenian
just serves one more set of kids who have a specific interest in that
language.”

GUSD has 3,904 English-language learners who speak primarily
Armenian, making up about half of its total English-learner
population.

2 -3 CHILDREN DON’T GO TO SCHOOL IN EACH VILLAGE

A1+
[05:48 pm] 27 April, 2006

The drawings of 15 schoolchildren from Armavir, Vayots Dzor, Tavush
and Yerevan were presented in the UNO Armenian Office with the title
“School is for everyone.” The results of the composition with the
same title were also made public during the exhibition. Let us mention
that 54 drawings and 39 compositions were chosen out of 1000 works.

Such exhibition is held in Armenia for the first time though more
than 80 countries united under the motto, “Education is for all.”

All the drawings and compositions called on giving equal and available
rights to everyone. The chief of the UNICEF Sheldon Ett reminded
the people present that the right to get qualified education is
registered in the “International Convention on Children’s Rights”
which was also signed by the RA Government.

After making inquiries that the majority of children go to school she
announced, “You are the happiest people in the world, as many children
in other communities of the world are deprived of that opportunity
either because of the lack of financial means or because they don’t
realize the importance of education.” According to their data 90%
Armenian children go to school.

The chairman of the NGO “An anchor of hope” Susanna Tadevosyan
mentioned, “Our survey of the Armenian marzes revealed the 3 – 4
children from each village do not attend schools which is determined
by multiple social reasons. And when we asked whether invalid children
are among them we got a terrible answer, “Do they go to school?”

YEREVAN DENIES PLANS FOR KOCHARIAN TRIP TO WASHINGTON
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep
April 25 2006

The Armenian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday dismissed a newspaper report
that quoted one of its senior officials as saying that President
Robert Kocharian will likely visit Washington soon for talks with
U.S. President George W. Bush.

“A visit by the president of Armenia to Washington is not planned,”
the ministry spokesman, Hamlet Gasparian, said in a statement.

In an interview posted on its English-language website on Monday,
the Turkish daily “Zaman” quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Arman
Kirakosian as saying that Kocharian is likely to be “another guest”
at the White House shortly following Friday’s meeting between Bush
and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev.

Gasparian suggested that the remarks attributed to Kirakosian were the
result of a “partial distortion of his words or their translation.” The
Armenian diplomat spoke about the possibility of Kocharian’s trip to
the U.S. capital only in “general” terms, he said.

Bush’s unexpected invitation to Aliev is attributed by observers to
mounting international tensions over Iran’s controversial nuclear
program and U.S. efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict this
year. Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian implied earlier that the White
House sees no need for similar talks with Kocharian because Armenia,
unlike Azerbaijan, has largely accepted international mediators’
existing peace proposals on Karabakh.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]

ASSEMBLY LEADERS CONVENE IN WASHINGTON FOR ANNUAL TRUSTEES MEETING
Announce Approval of Board Merger

Washington, DC – In an effort to streamline the effectiveness of the
organization, Armenian Assembly Trustees added their support to the
merger of the Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors into one
governing body.

The approved merger was announced during the Assembly’s Annual
Trustees Meeting, led by Chairman Hirair Hovnanian, in Washington, DC
last month. Nominating Committee Chair Van Krikorian reported that an
overwhelming 90 percent of Assembly Trustee Members voted to approve
the historic merger.

The vote by the Trustees followed the official approval of the Board
of Directors Members and comes after careful deliberation in which the
Assembly concluded that given the complex issues confronting all of
us, such a merge would provide increased efficiency and greater
effectiveness to best address today’s demands and meet tomorrow’s
challenges.

“We had an outstanding meeting and appreciate the continued support of
our membership,” said Hovnanian. “We have important work to do in
Washington for the benefit of the Armenian people and I was pleased to
be in the company of such dedicated activists,” he continued.

The merged Board includes the following Members:

Hirair Hovnanian – Chairman
Carolyn G. Mugar – President
Robert A. Kaloosdian – Counselor and Vice Chair
Edele Hovnanian – Treasurer
Van Krikorian – Counselor
Anthony Barsamian – Board of Directors Chairman (through June 30th,
2006)/Executive Committee Member
Lisa Kalustian – Secretary
Joyce Stein – Assistant Secretary
Lisa Esayian – Executive Committee Member
Jirair Haratunian – Executive Committee Member
Annie Totah – Executive Committee Member
Peter Vosbikian – Executive Committee Member
Albert Momjian – Solicitor
Berge Ayvazian
Daniel Ajamian
Noubar Afeyan
Gerard L. Cafesjian
Lu Ann Ohanian
Richard Mushegain
John Waters

Also during the Annual Trustees Meeting, Assembly leaders reviewed
operations in the Washington, Los Angeles and Yerevan offices and
discussed the 2006 operating budget, received updates on legislation
pending before Congress, the ongoing Massachusetts lawsuit, the
Mission to Armenia and the Armenia Tree Project. Having concluded its
official business, the Assembly honored one of its own, outgoing Board
of Directors Member Ralph Tufenkian.

Outgoing Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian thanked
Tufenkian for his longstanding support and commitment to the Assembly
and said that in honor of his service, the Assembly planted 10 trees
in Armenia in Tufenkian’s name.

Executive Committee Member Lisa Esayian also presented an award to
ARAMAC State Chair for Kansas Alex Kotoyantz for his grassroots
activism and ongoing work to strengthen the Kansas-Armenia
partnership.

The Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issue. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

### NR#2006-035

Photographs available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following link:

/2006-035-1.JPG

Caption: Armenian Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair
Hovnanian, center, with Members of the Board of Trustees and Assembly
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, top row second, from left.

/2006-035-2.JPG

Caption: L to R: Outgoing Board of Directors Member Ralph Tufenkian,
Board of Trustees President Carolyn Mugar, Board of Trustees Chairman
Hirair Hovnanian and Outgoing Board of Directors Chairman Anthony
Barsamian.

ress/2006-035/2006-035-3.JPG

Caption: ARAMAC State Chair for Kansas Alex Kotoyantz flanked by Board
of Trustees Executive Committee Member Lisa Esayian and Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny.

PRESIDENT OF LITHUANIA TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA TODAY

ArmRadio.am
25.04.2006 10:27

At RA President Robert Kocharyan’s invitation, the delegation headed
by the President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus will
pay an official visit to Armenia 25-26 April.

The aim of the visit is to reinforce the interstate relations, to
determine the primary problems and directions of economic cooperation
between the two countries, as well as promote scientific-educational
and cultural ties by attaching new quality and content to the
traditional friendship of Armenian and Lithuanian peoples.

April 25 the Lithuanian President will be officially welcomed
at RA President ‘s Office, following which Robert Kocharyan and
Valdas Adamkus will hold a meeting. Thereafter the meeting of the
delegations will continue in an enlarged format. The governments of
the two countries will sign agreements on promoting investments and
mutual defense.

The Presidents of the two countries will give a joint press conference.

During the visit to Armenia the Lithuanian President will have meetings
with Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, Vice-Chairman of the National
Assembly Tigran Torosyan.

Valdas Adamkus will be received also by the Catholicos of All Armenians
Garegin II.

At Yerevan State University the President of Lithuania will have
a meeting with the faculty and students. Valdas Adamkus will visit
Tsitsernakaberd and the Museum-Institute of the Armenian Genocide.

The Lithuanian delegation will visit also Matenadaran and the Museum
after Sergey Parajanov.

PRESS RELEASE

Lisa Kalustian
Chief Deputy Director
Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
300 South Spring Street, Suite 16701
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 897-0322
FAX (213) 897-0319
[email protected]

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proclaimed the week of April 23rd
through April 29th as Days of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.

In recognizing the Genocide, he urges all freedom-loving people in
America and around the world to do the same.

The Governor’s Proclamation is attached below. You may also access it
online at Click on “Press Room” in the left
column, then scroll down to click on “Proclamations.”

Proclamation

Governor Schwarzenegger Proclaims April 23 to April 29, 2006 “Days of
Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide”

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

P R O C L A M A T I O N
by the
Governor of the State of California

April 24, 1915, marked the beginning of the Armenian Genocide – a
crime against humanity that led to the death of 1.5 million Armenians
between 1915 and 1923. The 500,000 Armenians who survived the horrors
of this extermination by the Ottoman Empire were expelled from their
homes and forced to settle in various countries throughout the world.

Stripped of their possessions, these refugees carried with them
little more than the memories of loved ones, a hope for a better life
and the courage to start anew. Armed with this determination, they
flourished in many of their adopted homelands, including California –
home to the largest Armenian population outside of the Republic of
Armenia.

Today, these Armenian survivors and their descendants continue to
provide tremendous leadership and invaluable contributions to our
state’s businesses, art community, and academic, governmental and
cultural institutions. Their spirit of hard work and perseverance,
coupled with their dedication to tradition, is a great example to all
Californians and adds to the luster of our Golden State.

As we commemorate the ninety-first anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, we must study and learn history’s lessons, fight to end
bigotry and hate in all their forms and live lives of tolerance
towards all people. Silence only serves to perpetuate the denial of
the past, while open acknowledgement lays the foundation for a more
hopeful tomorrow. In that spirit of hope, I stand alongside our
friends in the Armenian community in recognizing the Armenian
Genocide, and urge all freedom-loving people in America and around
the world to do the same.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of
California, do hereby proclaim the week of April 23rd through April
29th, 2006, as “Days of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.”

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have here unto set my hand and caused the Great
Seal of the State of California to be affixed this the nineteenth day
of April 2006.

/s/ Arnold Schwarzenegger

Governor of California