Author: Zaminian Bedik

CATHOLICOS OF GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA RECEIVES DELEGATION OF LEBANON ARMY COMMAND

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 17 2007

ANTELIAS, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Michael Suleiman,
the Lebanese Army Commander sent on April 12 a special delegation
formed of four high-ranking servicemen headed by General Panos Manjian
to His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. Noyan
Tapan was informed about it by the Press Services of the Great House
of Cilicia Catholicosate.

A number of important issues Lebanon is interested in, in which
the Lebanese Army has its decisive role, were discussed during the
meeting. His Holiness Patriarch estimated the patriotic service of the
Lebanese Army and re-affirmed support of the Great House of Cilicia
Catholicosate and Armenian community of Lebanon to the Lebanese Army
as the hegemony and stronghold of independence of Lebanon.

USA NOT TO RECOGNIZE THE FORTHCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN NAGORNI GARABAGH

Demaz.org, Azerbaijan
April 16 2007

The United States of America do not recognize forthcoming presidential
elections in Nagorni Garabagh. Jonathan Henick, public relation
attache of US embassy to Azerbaijan, told AzerTaj.

American diplomat underlined that position of his country in connection
with Nagorni Garabagh and other occupied regions of Azerbaijan is
unchanged. Official Washington will never recognize any elections,
referendums in Nagorni Garabagh.

On commenting information spread by Armenian mass media concerning
preparation of general plan for occupied Shusha town on the part of
American company, J. Henick said that embassy has no information
of this kind. Presently this issue is being learnt. Every year US
Department of State informs in written form citizens of USA about trips
in foreign countries. It reads that occupied territories including
Nagorni Garabagh are integral part of Azerbaijan.

Habitat for Humanity Armenia
Cholakyan street, No. 38, Yerevan 0037
Tel: (+ 374 10) 24 60 23
Email: [email protected]

Gohar Palyan
Building on Faith project manager
Habitat for Humanity Armenia

His Holiness Karekin II Work Project April special builds in Khor Virap

YEREVAN, Armenia, (April 16)- Many hands make the load lighter and
volunteers lightened the load and spirits of one family in the village
of Khor Virap on Friday, April 13, when they joined with Habitat for
Humanity Armenia in the second annual "His Holiness Karekin II Work
Project." Nearly 40 volunteers from the Armenian Apostolic Church, as
well as people representing Armenian and United States organizations
participated.

10 employees of "Ameria" consulting company spent the working day in the
building site. Investment in the community is an expression of corporate
social responsibility for the company. "We encourage the private sector
to involve more actively in the community development process in
Armenia. Financial assistance and volunteering are the milestones of our
company’s philosophy. Moreover, participating in the Habitat project as
volunteers is also an opportunity for Ameria staff to have an individual
input in the well-being of Armenian families." said Ara Hayrapetyan,
Financial Director of "Ameria" CJSC.

"This is a way to touch somebody personally," said Gregory Avedissian.
He and his son, Alex, 17, are from the city of Alpharetta, near to
Atlanta, U.S. state of Georgia. It was the first time in Armenia for
the Avedissians.

We’re contributing our sweat equity to someone directly and we’re doing
it together. It’s been a great experience," Avedissian said. "What
better way to experience and connect with Armenia than through the local
people," said the younger Avedissian "After all, it’s all about the
people."

That’s exactly what His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of all
Armenians, and Habitat for Humanity Armenia want to see happen this
construction season. About 40,000 families across Armenia lack permanent
shelter. His Holiness has called on the all the Dioceses of the Armenian
Apostolic Church to support Habitat for Humanity Armenia in assisting 37
families to help lift them out of poverty housing. Their homes are
remnants of the economic collapse Armenia experienced in the early 1990s
in the wake of a devastating earthquake, a war and the collapse of the
Soviet Union. The 37 homes represent the 36 dioceses of the church
worldwide, as well as the Holy See of Mother Etchmiadzin in Armenia.

Taleen Ghazarian knew about Habitat for Humanity’s work near her
Waltham home in the state of Massachusetts. Then during her first visit
to Armenia two years ago, she toured a home built through Habitat for
Humanity and was impressed. It convinced her that a second trip to her
fatherland had to include more than just tours.

"I decided that was too distant for me and that I wanted to come back in
a grassroots fashion. It’s important for me to directly help people in
this country help themselves, and Habitat for Humanity fosters that kind
of thinking," she explained.

Others joining the homeowners in the Friday efforts that completed the
home’s concrete floors were Nani Oskanyan, president of the Diplomatic
Spouse Association; Lilit Asatryan, president of the Armenian Young
Women Association; other members of both organizations; the Right
Reverend Archbishop Vicken Aykazian who is a member of the board of
directors of Habitat for Humanity International; monks from the Armenian
Apostolic Church, employees of "Ameria" consulting company which is
also one of the His Holiness Karekin II Work Project local donors, Khor
Virap Village Mayor Norayr Voskanyan, Habitat partner families and their
neighbors.

During four days of special building events of the project opening, more
than 100 volunteers joined, sharing the happiness of the Misakyan and
Haroyan families to moving their construction work towards completion.

With the will of God, the homes will be completed by August dedication
by the end of the August month. This can be done only by the help of
more people in terms of donations and helping hands.

The largest local corporate donor to date in this year’s initiative by
the Catholicos is K-Telecom CJSC, which operates VivaCell in Armenia.

About Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is a nondenominational Christian charity dedicated
to eliminating poverty housing. It has built more than 200,000 houses;
more than one million people are living in Habitat homes they helped
build and own through low-cost, no-profit mortgages. We have positively
affected lives in nearly 100 countries around the globe.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity in Armenia, please
visit:

COMMISSIONS OF HAYKAVAN VILLAGE HEAD STOPPED AHEAD OF TIME
Editor: Eghian Robert

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Government made a decision
at the April 12 sitting on stopping ahead of time commissions of
Rafik Ghazarian, the rural community head of Haykavak, marz of
Armavir. Special elections of the rural community head will be held
on the last Sunday of the 30-day term following the day when the
decision will come into force.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Government’s Information and
Public Relations Department, by another decision, commissions of the
rural community councillor of Jrashen, marz of Armavir, were also
stopped ahead of time.

BARGAVACH HAYASTAN CALLS ALL POLITICAL FORCES FOR CARRYING OUT EXCLUSIVELY CIVILIZED STRUGGLE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 12 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The Bargavach Hayastan Party demands
that law enforcement bodies disclose and punish with all severity
of the law those guilty of explosions committed on April 12 in
party’s territorial offices in Yerevan’s Avan and Kanaker-Zeytun
communities. Party Political Board’s April 12 statement read this.

"We strictly condemn this inhuman act committed against the party,
which could result in many victims. As we estimate, this crime is
aimed not only against Bargavach Hayastan, but also against the whole
country. On the days of agitation campaign of parliamentary elections
this is an attempt to destabilize the situation, to move the political
struggle to another plane," the statement read.

The Bargavach Hayastan Party calls all political forces for carrying
out exclusively civilized struggle and declares that "all attempts
to make the party deviate from the way chosen by it, to sow fear in
the party, including such extremist attempts are doomed to failure."

BUDGET RECEIPTS FROM PRIVATIZATION TOTALED 455 MILLION AND 550 THOUSAND US DOLLARS

Panorama.am
18:40 12/04/2007

178 commercial organizations were in the liquidation process during
the year 2006, out of which 113 decisions on the liquidation were
adopted in 2006. The process of liquidation of 20 organizations has
been completed, 14 companies were declared bankrupt. During today
sitting, presided by Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan, members of the
government discussed the annual report for 2006 of on implementation
of the state property privatization program 2006-07.

As Ashot Markosyan, Deputy Head of Department of State Property
Management, noted during the briefing after he sitting, the receipts
of the state budget from privatization totaled 455 million and 550
thousand AMD. 11 companies have been privatized in the reporting
period, out of which 4 by means of direct sale, 3 – by tender, 4 –
by auction.

27.5% of the privatized objects are the companies of the ministry of
culture and youth affairs, and 9% each are of the ministry of trade and
economic development, health, agriculture. 45.5% are those companies,
the powers of management of which shares have been transferred to
the Department of State Property Management adjunct to the Government.

SERGEY IVANOV: ARMENIA IS RUSSIA’S STRATEGIC PARTNER

Arka News Agency, Armenia
April 11 2007

YEREVAN, April 11. /ARKA/. Armenia is Russia’s strategic partner,
Russian First Deputy PM Sergey Ivanov said Wednesday answering
journalists’ question whether Armenia is Russia’s strategic partner
or stronghold.

"If you ask my personal view, I can answer since I am familiar very
well with the matter – I have often visited Armenia in last six or
seven years of my work at defense ministerial post. I think Armenia
is our strategic partner. This is gauged not only by military and
political interest", he said.

Ivanov also stressed that Russia and Armenia have been tied by common
culture for centuries.

Speaking about military cooperation, he said that Russia has a military
base in Armenia. In his words, the troops deployed in Armenia feel
themselves comfortable here and secure both Russian and Armenian
interests.

Ivanov said that the military base presence here is not directed
against other states, but "ensure our joint security, since we are
CSTO members".

He said Armenia and Russia are partners and allies and pointed out
Russian Defense Ministry’s school in Armenia as convincing evidence
of that.

In his words, he together with Armenian Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan
visited the school today.

Ivanov expressed gratitude to Armenian leadership and to Serge Sargsyan
personally for their care of the school.

He thinks the school is in very good state and Russian military and
their families feel themselves comfortable here.

Ivanov also pointed out that besides military cooperation there are
also economic and cultural ties and Russian language is a factor
making these ties closer.

The Armenian Prime Minister, in his turn, said that the statement about
"stronghold" a mere misunderstanding.

"Somebody wanted to take advantage from this and the man who said that
wanted to say something good, but said the first thing that came to
his mind", Sargsyan said.

Russia’s State Duma Speaker Boris Grizlov said during his visit to
Armenia in December 2004 that "Armenia is Russia’s stronghold in
South Caucasus".

PRESS RELEASE
UCLA AEF Chair in Armenian History
Contact: Prof. Richard Hovannisian
Tel: 310-825-3375
Email: [email protected]

TO UCLA AEF CHAIR E-MAIL LIST. PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE
FOLLOWING THREE EVENTS.

1. April 18 –The AEF Chair is one of the co-sponsors of an evening in
honor of Dr. Gevork Kherlopian on the occasion of the publication of
his latest volume in Armenian titled "Tseghaspanagitutiun," which he
has translated as "Genocidology." The event initiated by the Armenian
Writers Union of Southern California will be held under the auspices
of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian in the Kalayjian Hall of
the Western Diocese, 3325 Glenoaks Blvd., on Wednesday, April 18, at
7:30 p.m. The program is open to the public at no charge.

2. May 9 — Professor David Gaunt from Sodertorn University in
Stockholm has published Massacres, Resistance, Protectors:
Muslim-Christian Relations in Eastern Anatolia during World War I The
AEF Chair is co-sponsoring with NAASR and several Assyrian
associations his presentation titled "Massacres and Resistance: The
Genocide of Armenians and Assyrians Based on New Archival Evidence."
The lecture-book signing will take place on Wednesday, May 9, at 7:30
p.m. at the Assyrian Center, 509 Cahuenga Blvd, North Hollywood
(information 818-506-7577). Professor Gaunt will will also speak at
UCLA on Thursday, May 10, at 6 p.m. in Moore Hall 100, and at an ARPA
Institute talk in the Merdinian Armenian School in Sherman Oaks, on
Friday, May 11 at 7:00 p.m.

3. May 15 –The Jewish World Watch, with co-sponsors and many
dignitaries, is honoring Dr. J. Michael Hagopian and Prof. Richard
G. Hovannisian, with its first annual "Witness Award" for activism
relating to genocide recognition and education The event will be held
on Tuesday, May 15, at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank
Blvd., Valley Village. Further information

MAY 9 MILITARY PARADE TO BE HELD IN NAGORNO-KARABAGH REPUBLIC

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
April 5 2007

In connection with the 62nd anniversary of the Victory in the Great
Patriotic war, the 15th anniversary of the Nagorno-Karabagh Defense
Army and the liberation of the town of Shoushi, the NKR government
has established a governmental commission on organization and conduct
of the May celebrations headed by the Republic Defense Minister
Seyran Ohanian.

According to the information DE FACTO received at the NKR government’s
press office, the ceremony of presentation of awards will be held
within the frames of the program. On the same day a solemn sitting
will be conducted at the Officers’ House. May 9 a military parade
will be held on the central Revival Square in Stepanakert. In the
evening a concert will be held.

The festivities will start May 6. The first measure planned is the
opening of St. Hakop’s Church, where service in the memory of the
Armenian nation’s sons, who died during the Karabagh war, will be held.

GENOCIDE STARTS WITH BULLYING, COLOROSO SAYS
By Carolyn Blackman – Staff Reporter

Canadian Jewish News, Canada
April 5 2007

TORONTO – Ask parenting expert Barbara Coloroso if writing a book about
genocide is a giant leap for her, and she’ll immediately say "no."

Speaking about her new book, Extraordinary Evil: A Brief History
of Genocide, Coloroso, author of such books as Kids are Worth
It, Parenting Through Crisis, and The Bully, the Bullied and the
Bystander, said it’s "actually a short walk from bullying to hate
crimes to genocide."

A former Franciscan nun, and mother of three, Coloroso, 58, will
speak about her new book on April 17 at Beth Tzedec Congregation at
an evening sponsored by the Anne and Max Tanenbaum Community Hebrew
Academy of Toronto’s parent association.

Other sponsors include Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust
Studies, Hillel of Greater Toronto, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto’s
Holocaust Centre of Toronto, and federation’s Latner Centre for Jewish
Knowledge and Heritage.

In a phone interview from her home in Colorado, Coloroso said that
she began examining the Holocaust, as well as the Armenian and Rwandan
genocides, after seeing Elie Wiesel’s book Night while walking through
an airport.

"I had never studied the subject, and he brought it to the fore for
me. I began to realize how much I didn’t know."

She found a parallel between behaviours exhibited in bullying and
those exhibited in genocide.

"They both share the dehumanization of the victims and a routinization
of cruelty. The premise I take on bullying is that it is not about
conflict or anger, it is about contempt for another human being,"
Coloroso said.

"Once you make another person a cockroach or a rat, you can do anything
to them without shame or compassion. Bullying is a hostile act that
is intended to harm. When one group determines that another group is
‘it,’ they can do or say anything."

Conflict, she noted, is often used to mask genocide.

"The United States and Canada got involved in World War II to stop the
war, not to stop the genocide. They didn’t see the genocide through
the fog of war," she said.

"If there is a war going, genocide can be diverted. Hitler needed
war to complete his genocide."

Coloroso, who has visited Rwanda three times to work with orphans and
to lecture at the university there, said that "[genocide] is a very
short walk from anyone saying ‘You’re less than me.’ When a student
calls another student a name, that is step one.

"Boys and girls do verbal bullying very well, and other kids laugh."

What they’re showing, she said, is that the person who is bullied is
not worthy of being treated with dignity and regard. "He’s a loner
and a loser."

Every bully incident has a bully and a bystander, Coloroso said,
"and there are no innocent bystanders. You could not have not the
Holocaust without Hitler, but you also would not have it without the
bystanders. The bully needs support, and cheering on. Bystanders get
pleasure from seeing the pain of others."

The challenge is to raise kids with a sense of "I am unique, you are
unique, and together we can create ‘we,’" she said.

"Deep caring is as much caught as it is taught, so kids have to see
you behave with deep caring. Let them see what you do when you hear
a racist joke, let them see how you treat hired help, and let them
see you act with compassion and loving kindness."

Coloroso said she is "tragically optimistic" in that "I recognize
what is going on, and I’m not wearing rose-coloured glasses.

"However, we can make a difference. We can get a group of people to
step in and do the right thing. Deep caring always out-trumps dogma.

[The challenge] is not to cut people out of the circle of concern."

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