Author: Zargarian Hambik

ARMENIA’S UNIVERSITIES RECEIVE 10,000 APPLICATIONS

/ARKA/
May 28, 2009
YEREVAN

Armenia’s universities received 10,000 applications as of May 27,
the RA Ministry of Education and Science reports.

The State Commission for Registration of Applications held its first
meeting on Wednesday.

The members of the commission said 159 applicants from targeted social
groups will receive discounts this year. Particularly, 78 students
are children of fallen freedom fighters, 68 have disabilities and 13
applicants are without parental care.

The commission also approved the schedule for centralized entrance
exams that are to take place from July 15 to July 26.

This year, students will take centralized oral exams in Armenian and
foreign languages, as well as an essay competition for journalism. The
appellate process remained unchanged.

The commission also touched upon the issue of applicants with Russian
education that did not pass finals on the Armenian language.

The commission members decided to allow graduates of Russian-biased
schools to take exams in the Russian language instead of Armenian.

Applicants from Javakhk (Armenian region in Georgia) can submit the
results of their final exams on Armenian as an out-of-competition
grade.

IREX VP ON THE IMPRISONMENT OF SILVA HARATONIAN: "OUR PROGRAM WAS COMPLETELY CONSISTENT WITH IRAN’S NATIONAL INTEREST"
Omid Memarian

Huffington Post
vp-on-the-arrest-of_b_208465.html
May 28 2009

"IREX never imagined that anyone could construe our program in Iran
to be inconsistent with any interest of the Iranian government,"
said Paige Alexander Vice President of the U.S.-based non-profit
regarding the arrest and imprisonment of the organization’s employee,
Silva Haratonian, last year in Iran.

Silva Harotonian, an Iranian citizen of Armenian descent, held a
modest position with the International Research & Exchanges Board
(IREX), which focuses on international education, academic research,
professional training and technical assistance.

Her work and life were interrupted on June 26, 2008 when she was
detained by Iranian authorities and charged with participating in
an effort to overthrow the Iranian government through a "velvet
revolution." On January 19, 2009, she was sentenced to three years
in jail.

In an interview with me for the Huffington Post, Paige Alexander
explains the details of IREX’s activities in Iran, the organization’s
efforts to have Haratonian released and IREX work in the Middle East.

What was Silva’s position in your organization? For how long?

Silva was hired in December 2007 to work for IREX on a Maternal and
Child Health Education Exchange programs called the MCHEEP program
(see ) She responded to
an open advertisement in the Yerevan papers and was chosen as the
administrative person to work on this project. She began her work
in December and has remained employed with us while she sits in the
Iranian jail.

What have you done to support Silva so far? Legal support? Sending
letters to the Iranian authorities?

IREX has been working closely with the family and has taken
responsibility for and supported all elements of Silva’s legal and
outreach efforts. We have coordinated with a number of different
lawyers on this case and we have been working tirelessly to
bring attention to Silva’s plight through the formulation of the
website, press outreach and other public, private,
religious and diplomatic efforts. Unfortunately, to date, no responses
have been received from any of our letters sent over the last 9 months
to authorities in Iran but we remain hopeful that one of the avenues
we have all worked to open might be able to deliver our requests.

What is the cause of such misunderstanding, in your opinion?

It is very difficult to say. By way of background, IREX (International
Research & Exchanges Board) is a non-governmental not for profit
organization with a 40-year history of international and academic
people-to-people exchange programs. Our work has been highlighted by
successes in Muslim-majority countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Kosovo,
Lebanon and Morocco. These programs included close cooperation with
appropriate authorities in those countries to the mutual benefit of
the United States and people of the participating countries. Having
had IREX attend meetings in Iran at the government’s request before,
we believed that this modest program was a proper vehicle to start
reaching out to Iran in a non-controversial way. IREX never imagined
that anyone could construe this program to be inconsistent with any
interest of the Iranian government. In fact, since the purpose of
the program was to have Iranian and American participants enhance
their knowledge of best practices in this field, IREX believed
this was completely consistent with Iran’s national interest. Top
Iranian government officials have expressed support for increased
contacts between Iranians and the American people as a "useful step
for better understanding between the two nations", as stated this
summer by Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki. IREX attempted to
model the MCHEEP program on other programs, which we believed had
been sanctioned by the Iranian Government.

What are your projects in Iran and how did you get permission to work
there? I mean by Ministry Of Interior (MOI) or Ministry Of Foreign
Affairs (MOFA)?

IREX had numerous academic programs with Iran over the years –
mainly centering on issues such as the Caspian Sea and other
geopolitical issues, which affected the region and it’s relations
with the former Soviet sphere. Most recently, IREX was invited by the
Iranian Government to attend a tour with leading American university
administrators to look at the university system and discuss ways to
cooperate more closely. IREX was then invited back to deliver a paper
in 2004 on Central Asia on related energy issues with the region. This
conference was through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For this
reason, as well as other promising overtures, IREX had no reason to
believe the program Silva was working on would have been construed
in any negative fashion by the authorities.

How did you find out about her arrest and what was your organization’s
reaction to it?

We found out about her arrest when our Yerevan office got a call from
a friend of hers who said she had been picked up. Silva had been set
to come back to Yerevan and asked to stay for a few extra days to
see some friends. She was allegedly picked up while having tea with
this friend in her apartment. IREX staff are heartbroken about this
and deeply concerned for Silva’s well being. We immediately reached
out to the family and have been in daily communication with them to
try and bring the world’s attention to this matter.

PAQRADOUNIAN TO AL-MANAR: ARMENIANS MIGHT NOT VOTE HEAVILY FOR MURR

ls.aspx?id=87287&language=en
27/05/2009

Tashn aq MP Hagop Pakradounian said on Wednesday that the Change and
Reform ticket in the Metn district will win six seats, noting that
MP Michel Murr might break the list thanks to the Armenian support.

Speaking to Al-Manar, Paqradounian noted, however, that there was
some nervousness within the Armenian bases over the support for
Murr. He said that some Murr spokesmen were assailing the Armenians,
"and therefore I cannot guarantee that the popular bases will vote
in favor of Murr in an intensive way."

While noting that the Tashnaq’s leadership will vote for Murr, he
said he wishes this leadership wouldn’t change its mind at the last
moment. "We just hoped MP Murr and his son, Defense Minister Elias
Murr, denied what they were quoted as saying against the Armenians,"
he added.

Paqradounian said that the Tashnaq party will decide who to vote for
on the list, after he discusses it with Free Patriotic Movement leader
MP Michel Aoun two days before elections.

DISCUSSIONS HELD FOR ESTABLISHING ARMENIAN-BELGIAN JOINT VENTURE

ARMENPRESS
MAY 26, 2009
YEREVAN

The goal of the Armenian-Belgian business forum held in Yerevan May
25-26 is promotion of trade turnover between the two countries and
creation of joint venture. General director of the Belgium’s Valonia
province’s Foreign Trade and Investments Agency Fillip Syunen said
today at a press conference that during these days Belgian businessmen
get acquainted with their Armenian partners, trying to find cooperation
edges. The issue on opening Armenian-Belgian joint venture in Armenia
is also being discussed.

F. Syunen noted that Belgium can be a good partner for Armenia,
assist to the stabilization of Armenian market in the condition of
financial-economic crisis. "The more we speak about crisis, the more
its negative impact is notable, the director said. Belgium has special
anti-crisis program with which it supports private companies. According
to him, in the end of this year the crisis will slow down and the
economies will start restoring slowly.

ERDOGAN OPENED THE WAY FOR TURKEY TO FACE ITS PAST?

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
26.05.2009 12:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish intellectuals have welcomed Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s courage in speaking out against prevailing fears
of foreign nationals in Turkey, saying the prime minister has opened
the way for the country to face its past, Today’s Zaman reported.

"Both President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
have so far paid tribute to foreign nationals in Turkey during
their visits abroad. Erdogan doing the same in the country has made
all foreign nationals happy," said the honorary head of the Jewish
Community of Turkey, Bension Pinto.

On Saturday Erdogan slammed xenophobia in Turkey in response to
criticism by opposition parties over efforts for the clearing of land
mines located along Turkey’s borders.

"This mindset has seemingly not changed. It has been the same for
many years in this country. They have chased members of different
ethnicities out of this country. Have we won? This was the result of a
fascist mentality," Erdogan had said in a speech in the northwestern
city of Duzce on Saturday, adding that his Justice and Development
Party (AK Party) had made similar mistakes in the past, as well. Can
Paker, head of the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation
(TESEV), said Erdogan’s remarks confirmed that there is a suitable
atmosphere in Turkey for discussing a wide variety of topics. "I find
Erdogan’s approach quite correct. Turkey has so far not changed its
political position regarding a number of topics. It was not courageous
enough to face history. Erdogan’s remarks proved that many things
can be discussed in Turkey," he added.

ARMENIA EXPECTING ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM WB

ARKA
May 25, 2009

YEREVAN, May 25. /ARKA/. Armenia is expecting additional funds from
the World Bank (WB), Armenian Premier Tigran Sargsyan told journalists.

Total loan package under WB four-year strategy amounted to $545mln.

The country is interested in implementation of these programs at a
high pace, he said.

If we manage to implement the programs quicker, we expect getting
additional financial means from the WB. Our application is for twice
as more as the amount we get currently," the Premier said.

He also reported negotiations with the Asian Development Bank. "We are
to soon form a large investment package with the Asian Development
Bank, which will supplement the funds we receive from the IMF and
the World Bank," the head of the government said.

Together with ADB means and the Russia loan, these funds will provide
an essential opportunity to mitigate all the negative consequences of
the crisis, Sargsyan said. ADB funds will be directed to construction
of North-South highway, rural roads and loans to small and medium
businesses, the Premier added.

Under its program of cooperation with the Armenian Government the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) has already transferred $240mln
out of $540mln envisaged for the country; the remaining $300mln is
to be transferred within the next two years.

The Republic of Armenia became a member of the Asian Development Bank

(ADB) on September 20 2005. There are a number of agreements and a
memorandum of understanding signed between the Armenian Government
and the ADB. Total value of ADB-implemented projects on construction
of rural roads and water supply is $83mln in Armenia.

H. KOTANJIAN SAYS THE ORGANIZATION OF TWO YEREVAN CONFERENCES ON THE SITUATION IN SOUTH CAUCASUS WAS UNPRECEDENTED

ARMENPRESS
MAY 21, 2009
YEREVAN

Two representative conferences have lately been organized in Yerevan
on the situation in South Caucasus. In response to the question of
Armenpress what was the concurrent organization of these representative
conferences conditioned by the head of the Institute of National
Strategic Studies (INSS) of the Armenian Defense Ministry, consultant
to the Defense Minister, Doctor of Historical Sciences Hayk Kotanjian
noted that conduction of the two conferences – one organized by the
INSS the other by the National Security Council was not accidental. It
was planned for juxtaposing of academic and political recourses of
state institutes.

"The conference organized by our institute, in which international
well known analysts took part, was experimental. The National
Security Council organized a conference in political format with the
participation of state high-ranking officials," H. Kotanjian said.

Stressing that concurrent organization of the two conferences was
unprecedented he noted that the fact testifies of the wide scales
and efficiency of the initiative of the Armenian authorities.

Referring to the results of the conference organized by them,
H. Kotanjian noted that the institute continues to actively cooperate
with the state and non-governmental "brain centers" of OSCE Minsk Group
chairing states. In October last year the INSS held a joint conference
with the project of security of Black Sea region of the School of
Statehood Science of Harvard University; the Yerevan conference was
held in collaboration with the Lyon Centre for International Security
and Defense Studies of "Jan Mullin" University.

"Leading specialists of security studies from France do not arrive
in Armenia frequently and it gave us an opportunity to get better
acquainted with their position," he said.

According to H. Kotanjian the scientific conference organized by
the institute was intrinsically an arena for exchange of thoughts
between the independent experts seeking for ways of solution of south
Caucasian conflicts. Most of them are consultants to the authorities
who make decisions of strategic importance for the region.

"In this context during the conference mediated messages of 20 experts
from 8 countries also sounded which were addressed to the authorities
of states and international organizations which are involved in the
process of framing a new architecture of security of Europe and south
Caucasian region," consultant to the Armenian Defense Minister said.

PONTIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATED IN NEW YORK

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
20.05.2009 19:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ May 19th, the international day of remembrance for
the Pontian Genocide, was marked for the second year in a row with
a public commemoration in Bowling Green Park in downtown Manhattan,
Hellenic League of America told PanARMENIAN.Net.

Pontian Hellenes, Hellenes from Hellas and Cyprus, Greek and
Greek-Cypriot dignitaries, local American elected officials, and
philhellenes travelled to Bowling Green Park at 12 noon to stand in
commemoration of the raising of the Hellenic flag, and the historic
single headed eagle flag of Pontos, seen waving today at half mast,
beneath the official flag of Greece, over the streets of downtown
Manhattan in New York City.

The 90th Anniversary of Pontian Genocide event was organized by the
Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater NY, and the Pan-Pontian
Federation of USA and Canada. Distinguished speakers included The
Honorable Leonidas P. Raptakis State Senator of Rhode Island ,
Dr. Mary Marangos Executive Director representing the Honorable
US Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney, The Honorable Mrs. Aghi Balta
Consul General – New York for the Republic of Greece, The Honorable
Mr. Andreas Panayiotou Consul General for the Republic of Cyprus-
New York, Mr. Demetrius Kalamaras, Esq. – President of the Federation
of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, Mr. Elias Tsekerides –
President of the International Confederation of Pontian Hellenes,
Mr. George Tsilfidis – Deputy President Pan-Pontian Federation of USA
and Canada, Mr. Tassos Efstratiades Esq. – Chairman Greek American
Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Karine Birazian – Eastern Region Executive
Director Armenian National Committee of America, and Mr. Ioannis
Fidanakis – President of Pan-Thracian Union of America "Orpheus".

Many Hellenic society presidents and members attended, including the
two local Pontian associations "Komninoi" of New York in Astoria and
"Pontos" of Norwalk Connecticut, as well as "Holy Institution Panagia
Soumela."

A prayer was said aloud, followed by a speech by Reverend Father
John Romas from the nearby historic St. Nicholas church that was
destroyed on 9/11, and a moment of silence for the innocent victims
of the Pontian Genocide perpetrated by Turkey.

AZERBAIJANI MEDIA DISSEMINATE GROUNDLESS SPECULATIONS ON RELIGIOUS ISSUES

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
19.05.2009 18:25 GMT+04:00

Azerbaijani media disseminated information that a student from
Echmiadzin religious seminary was expelled because of visiting Blue
Mosque in Yerevan. For verifying such reports, a PanARMENIAN.NET
correspondent turned to Holy See St. Echmiadzin Press Service. As
reported by Father Gevorg, President of Sevan Religious Seminary,
"Students cannot be expelled because of visiting mosques. They study
theology and are entitled to visit mosques or religious institutions
and temples representing other beliefs. One student was expelled from
seminary for indecent conduct."

For receiving further comments, the PanARMENIAN.NET correspondent
turned to Blue Mosque press service. This is how person-in-charge for
the Mosque Shapur Lotvi commented upon Azerbaijani media reports,
"With all responsibility, I deny such information. Blue Mosque is
open to everybody regardless nationality and belief. We maintain
friendly ties with Armenian clergy, and receive them several times
per year. Hence, statements on a seminary student being expelled
because of attending mosque is groundless."

CALIFORNIA BUSINESSMAN FOUND DEAD IN ARMENIA

USA Today
May 18 2009

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Armenian police say an American businessman
has been found dead on the side of a road outside the capital.

Nazaret-Agop Berberian had been missing since leaving his Yerevan
home April 25, and his family in California had offered a reward for
information on his whereabouts.

A national police spokesman said Monday that Berberian’s body was
found in a roadside gully and showed signs of violence.

Spokesman Sayat Shirinian says police have detained several suspects
in the investigation launched last week. He gave no further details.

The 57-year-old U.S. citizen had real-estate interests in Armenia.