TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL REPORTS CLOSE TO 3 POINT FOR ARMENIA
Panorama.am
15:35 06/11/06
Armenia is among the group of countries which have lower than
point 3 level of corruption which means that corruption is quite
widespread. Amalia Kostanyan, head of Armenia office of Transparency
International, said, “Armenia has received 2.9 points which has not
changed since last year despite of anticorruption strategy launched
for three years.”
One hundred sixty three countries were included in the rating
against 159 last year. The rating is done on 1-10 points. Countries
which receive close to 1 are considered more corrupt. No country has
received 10 points with Finland, Island and New Zealand having close
to 10 – 9.6 points. Countries like Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uruguay,
India and Japan reported progress whereas Brazil, Cuba, Jordanian,
Israel and USA reported regression to more corruption.
Armenia is at the 93rd place together with Argentina, Syria, Eritrea,
Tanzania and Bosnia Herzegovina. Our neighbor – Georgia, Iran and
Azerbaijan are at 99, 105 and 130 places respectively.

MORE MONEY TO BE RELEASED FOR NATURE PROTECTION
Panorama.am
18:18 06/11/06
Nature protection minister, Vardan Aivazyan, happily noted that the
state budget will release 1 bln 482 million more money to environment
totaling 3 bln drams.
The state will release 10 million dram for fish protection in
Sevan. The minister said this money is not enough and he would like
to receive some 30-40 million for that purpose.
The state will release 39 mln drams for geological studies. Another
401 mln is appropriated for special areas of nature protection.
Aivazyan said also international organizations provide money for
nature protection totaling 1 bln 3358 million drams.

BRUSSELS SET TO GIVE TURKEY MORE TIME ON CYPRUS
By Mark Beunderman
EU Observer, Belgium
Nov 7 2006
The European Commission is unlikely to recommend a partial suspension
of Turkey’s EU membership talks over the Cyprus issue in a key report
on Wednesday, with individual commissioners reportedly divided over
the matter.
The Financial Times wrote on Tuesday (7 November) that Brussels is
set to postpone a recommendation on whether or not to freeze the
talks until a later date ahead of an EU leaders summit in December.
The commission had been considering whether to already make this
recommendation in Wednesday’s progress report on Turkey, according
to the UK daily.
But a draft report endorsed by chiefs of the commissioners in a
meeting on Monday merely says that “The commission will make relevant
recommendations ahead of the December European Council.”
The paper writes that the commission itself is divided over the
strategy towards Turkey, which launched EU accession talks last year,
but still refuses to open its ports and airports to trade from Cyprus.
The Cypriot, Greek and French commissioners – whose countries are
among the most sceptical about Turkish membership – have argued
Brussels should already on Wednesday propose concrete consequences
for Ankara’s defiant stance.
But other members of the EU executive – including commission chief Jose
Manuel Barroso and enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn – reportedly
want to give more space for the Finnish EU presidency to broker a
deal between Turkey and Cyprus before the December summit.
The draft still needs to be rubber-stamped by commissioners on
Wednesday.
Debate in Germany, Italy The divisions within the commission reflect
a similar rift within the German ruling coalition which is being
highlighted by German media.
Edmund Stoiber, the leader of the Bavarian conservatives and a staunch
opponent of Turkish EU membership, has urged a halt to the talks,
but social democrat members of the German government – notably foreign
minister Frank Walter Steinmeier – have said that “everything” needs
to be done to find a compromise before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Italian prime minister Romano Prodi has warned against
stopping the negotiations with Turkey altogether, telling the Financial
Times that the process will take time but “certainly you must not
stop it.”
“There is an idea in some parts of Europe to stop it all,” he said.
“But I think this is a great historical challenge.”
Free speech concession In another development, the European Commission
on Monday cautiously welcomed a fresh concession by Turkish prime
minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on freedom of expression – an issue
which is set to be one of the main concerns in Wednesday’s progress
report along with the Cyprus issue.
Mr Erdogan over the weekend said his government is willing to revise or
lift the notorious article 301 of Turkey’s penal code, which penalises
insults against “Turkishness”.
“We expect this stated intention to be followed by concrete deeds and
we are thus waiting for concrete decisions,” a commission spokeswoman
said.
On the basis of article 301, charges were brought against several
journalists and novelists who raised the Kurdish issue or the Armenian
genocide including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk.
Turkish NGOs have in the past few weeks pressed the government to
reform the article.

VIMPELCOM SNAPS UP ARMENTEL
St. Petersburg Times, Russia
Nov 7 2006
MOSCOW – VimpelCom, Russia’s second-largest cellular company, said
Friday it agreed to buy 90 percent of an Armenian phone company for
341.9 million euros ($434.2 million), as it looks to expand beyond
the saturated Russian market.VimpelCom has signed an agreement with
Greece’s Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA, the Moscow-based
company said Friday in a PRNewswire statement. The company will also
assume about 40 million euros in net debt and obligations.
“With approximately 40 percent of the mobile market share, Armentel
occupies a strong position in the Armenian market and we will work to
enhance this position,” VimpelCom Chief Executive Officer Alexander
Izosimov said in the statement.
VimpelCom, and its domestic competitors Mobile TeleSystems, Russia’s
biggest cellular operator, and MegaFon, the third-largest wireless
company, are looking to expand beyond Russia, a country with 143
million people and more than 146 million mobile phones. Buying Armentel
will make Armenia the sixth former Soviet country aside from Russia
where VimpelCom will have operations.
Armentel has about 600,000 fixed-line subscribers and 400,000 GSM
subscribers, the statement said.

SERZH SARGSYAN: GOVERNMENT TO APPROVE 90% SALE OF STOCK OF ARMENTEL
Panorama.am
14:53 06/11/06
The government will approve the deal on 90% sale of stock of ArmenTel
to Vimpelcom (trade mark Biline), Serzh Sargsyan, defense minister
of Armenia who is also co-chair of Russian-Armenian international
economic committee, said. In his words, the government will learn
about the details of the deal and the price for stock.
He also said he sees no danger that the Russian capital is increasing
in Armenia. “There had been no case when Russia would abuse its
economic power,” he said. He said neither Russian nor any foreign
companies imposed pressures on the Armenian economy.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GOVERNMENT OF GEORGIA INTERFERES TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF MONUMENT TO ARMENIAN GENERAL, GEORGIAN CULTURE MINISTER
Author: A.Ismayilova
TREND, Azerbaijan
Nov 7 2006
Georgiy Gabashvili, the Georgian Culture Minister told Trend
exclusively that Tbilisi will take every effort not to allow
the establishment of a monument to the Armenian General in
Samkhe-Javaheti. It can affect the relationships with Azerbaijan.
An initiative on the establishment of a monument to a Georgian
general Dalbandian, who participated in Karabakh war, was put in
Samkhe-Javahetti Region densely populated with Armenians. The new
executive power of the region, where the Armenians are represented,
said that there resolution would be enough to open the monument.
The Georgian Minister also said that in accordance with the laws of
Georgia the local authorities take a decision on the establishment
of monuments. However, when the issue gains a political color, we
should take into consideration the neighboring Azerbaijan’s interests,
Gabashvili stressed. Georgia has very good relationships both with
Azerbaijan and Armenia, but will certainly deliberate in issues of
our friends’ concern.

Freedom House (press release), DC
Nov 3 2006

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Amanda Abrams

Millennium Challenge Corporation Should Hold Countries to Higher
Standards of Democratic Governance

Washington, D.C.,November 2, 2006
The American government should withhold foreign assistance under the
Millennium Challenge Account from countries which fail to meet
reasonable standards of political rights and civil liberties, Freedom
House said today.
On November 8, the MCC Board of Directors will select governments
eligible to apply for assistance in fiscal year 2007. Freedom House
urges the MCC to bypass those countries with low scores on political
rights and civil liberties that otherwise meet the eligibility
criteria – namely Armenia, Bhutan, Egypt, Jordan, Maldives, Tunisia
and Vietnam – during this year’s selection process.
Additionally, Freedom House urges the MCC to rigorously follow up
with those countries, like Armenia, that have been awarded compacts
but have not met promised benchmarks in the area of democratic
governance. Armenia is an important test case of MCC policy, as it
signed a compact with the MCC earlier this year but has been
backsliding on promised reforms since the agreement was signed.
“Freedom House strongly supports the MCC’s efforts to reduce poverty
by rewarding sound policies,” said Jennifer Windsor, Executive
Director of Freedom House. “However, because democratic governance
plays such a key role in enabling broader social and economic
development, it is vital–if the fund is to be truly effective–that
only those governments that have demonstrated commitment to democracy
and human rights be eligible to receive MCC funds,” she added.
Currently, countries qualify for MCC funding based on their
performance on three baskets of indicators that measure “ruling
justly,” “investing in people,” and “economic freedom.” At a minimum,
a country needs to perform above average in half of the indicators in
each of these three categories to qualify for the funds. However,
because the agency views corruption as such a serious obstacle to
development, a score below average in corruption automatically
eliminates a country from consideration for the pool of eligible
countries.
Freedom House encourages the MCC to consider officially amending the
eligibility process to automatically disqualify any country that
falls below the equivalent of a 4 (out of a worst possible 7) on
Freedom House’s index of civil liberties and political rights, which
is used by the MCC to determine a country’s level of democratic
governance.
“Democratic governance is fundamental to development and can have an
enormous effect on a country’s future growth. Like anti-corruption
efforts, therefore, it should be treated as a priority among
priorities by the MCC,” said Christopher Walker, Director of Studies
at Freedom House. “On occasion, the MCC Board has exercised
discretion to eliminate from consideration some of the worst
democratic underachievers, and Freedom House would like to see this
prioritization formalized as an official standard,” he added.

Based on the published MCC scorecards for 2007, Armenia, Bhutan,
Egypt, Jordan, Maldives, Tunisia and Vietnam officially pass the MCC
criteria even though they fall below the equivalent of a 4 on Freedom
House’s index of political rights and civil liberties.
Armenia
Armenia has failed in its pledge made to the MCC to improve its
institutional commitment to democracy and tolerance of opposition.
Allegations of fraud in the November 2005 constitutional referendum
have not been investigated, as called for by Ambassador Danilovich,
Chief Executive Officer of the MCC. Implementation of the
referendum’s tepid reforms stalled in 2006, and the opposition
expects upcoming parliamentary elections to once again be marred by
fraud. Multiple anti-democratic methods are used to maintain a hold
on power, including the following:
Election fraud characterized both the presidential and parliamentary
elections of 2003 and the constitutional referendum of 2005.
Harassment of opposition supporters, ballot box stuffing, and
inflated turnout figures were among the methods used, and the
elections were denounced by European observers.
The judicial branch remains subject to political pressure from the
executive branch and suffers from considerable corruption, while
proposed reforms have not been implemented.
While new legislation to improve media independence was passed, the
Armenian media climate has not improved and violent attacks on
journalists continue.
Freedom in the World 2006: Armenia
age=22&year06&country=6912
Countries at the Crossroads 2006: Armenia
age=140&edition=7&ccrpage=31&ccrcountr y=109
For other countries, click on the link
=70&release=435

PRESS RELEASE
Junior Achievement of Armenia
Hanrapetutyan 62, apt.#89
c. Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Anahit Manukyan
Tel: /+37410/ 54 22 39
Fax: /+37410/ 54 22 39
E-mail:[email protected]
Web:

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF ARMENIA STUDENTS DISCUSS ETICAL ISSUES WITH THEIR
INTERNATIONAL PEERS
Two of Junior Achievement of Armenia’s outstanding students participated
in a two day workshop on business ethics in Almaty, Kazakhstan from
October 27 to 28. They were joined by students of Georgia, Azerbaijan,
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The
students, Naira Mkhitaryan of Etchmiatzin school #4, and Ani Simonyan of
school #1 of Nor Kharberd were selected among their peers based on an
essay they wrote addressing ethical issues in the business world.
They were accompanied by Anahit Manoukyan, program coordinator of Junior
Achievement of Armenia.
The program included workshops, lectures, meetings with notable
businessmen and an activity called `Global Business Village’ which asked
the students to present their national business practices. `The
conference was very interesting and allowed us to present our cultural
similarities and differences as we were asked to prepare skits on our
national business culture’ noted Naira Mkhitaryan. For Ani, it was
meeting people and listening to speakers representing the business world
that was the most educational part of the workshop, ` We got to hear
successful businessmen and educators such as Yelena Ussova and Arman
Ospanov. I learned much in those two days that will help me in my
future career.’
During the 12 week of the Global Business Ethics program, the
participating students learn about the common and individual values,
character development and business ethics. The program connects
students of the participating countries through the Internet and
provides them with the opportunity to discuss ethics related issues
involving international experiences. The exercises also provide an
opportunity for the students to widen their range of interest. The
students are challenged to make decisions on presented cases which call
for ethical judgments.
This is the second year that Junior Achievement of Armenia is partaking
in this educational program organized by the Junior Achievement program
of the CIS countries. Currently, 200 schools are embraced in the
program. `Given the realities of today’s business world, we think it
is imperative to teach students not only how to start and manage their
business but also to be aware and abide by accepted ethical standards.
In this respect, we are very pleased that our students have a chance to
be exposed to the experiences of other countries’ commented Armine K.
Hovannisian, Executive Director of Junior Achievement of Armenia.
Established in 1992, Junior Achievement of Armenia is dedicated to
promoting free-market economics, democratic governance, social
responsibility and ethical business practices in the Republic of Armenia
through economic and civic education. JAA’s work is financed by the
United States Agency for International Development. With courses in all
1,359 high schools in the country, JAA-trained educators now teach
170,000 students each year. Nearly 20% of Armenia’s total population
has taken a JAA course. For more information, please go to

Election issues spark political passion in Bee readers
Nov. 6 2006

Keep the pressure up

Your “Political Notebook” section on Oct. 28 was absolutely correct in
stating that Armenian-Americans are accustomed to empty promises from
presidential candidates in accurately terming the events of 1915 as
genocide. Both President Clinton and President Bush attempted to gain
Armenian-American support by saying they would recognize the genocide
if elected. However, under pressure from Turkish officials, both
immediately changed their positions.

Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, has not allowed President Bush to
get away with it easily. Despite being from the same political party,
the congressman has continually opposed the president, vice president
and House speaker on this issue.

He has sent a letter drafted by him and his colleague, Rep. Adam
Schiff, D-Pasadena, to the administration, making sure it understands
this issue will not be allowed to go on the back-burner. They have
been soliciting the support of other members of Congress to put
pressure on the administration as well.

Sevag Tateosian, Fresno

California Courier Online, November 9, 2006
1 – Commentary

Sen. Biden Calls State Dept.’s Stand
On Genocide: ‘Historical Fiction’
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
2 – Ararat Home Board Decides
To Sell Rockhaven Facility
3 – AMAA James G. Jameson Essay Contest
Open to High School and College Students
4 – Andre Set to Perform Live During
Armenia Fund’s Telethon 2006
5- APU’s Nov. 10 Cultural Arts Celebration
Features Guest Armenian Musicians, Artists
6 – United Armenian Fund Donates $4.5 Million To All 28 Armenian
Schools in Lebanon
7 – Armenians Fight Glendale
Over Grill Chill Ordinance
8 – CSUF Armenian Studies Program
Announces Spring 2007 Classes
****************************************** ************************
1 – Commentary
Sen. Biden Calls State Dept.’s Stand
On Genocide: ‘Historical Fiction’

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

Two months ago, when the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 13 to 5 to
report to the full Senate the nomination of Richard Hoagland, the Ambassador
Designate for Armenia, many Armenian Americans were dismayed that among the 13
was Sen. Joe Biden (D-Delaware), a staunch supporter of Armenian issues, who
had played earlier a key role in challenging the State Department’s recall of
Amb. John Evans for acknowledging the Armenian Genocide.
After reversing his position and supporting Hoagland, Sen. Biden, valuing
his long-standing close relationship with the Armenian American community, took
the initiative of explaining his vote in a letter to Ken Hachikian, the
Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America.
Pledging to work with the ANCA “toward full recognition of the Armenian
Genocide,” Sen. Biden outlined the reasoning behind his vote on the Hoagland
nomination.
He said that he had cast that vote after engaging in a series of exchanges
with the State Department. Even though he said he was “not fully satisfied with
some of the responses” he received, he felt that his inquiries “have prompted
the State Department to take a number of actions that addressed” some of his
questions about “the Hoagland nomination and U.S. foreign policy toward
Armenia generally.”
Sen. Biden stated in his letter that at his urging, the State Department has:
“Revised the language of Ambassador Hoagland’s responses to questions for
the record that could have been construed to cast doubt on the Armenian Genocide.
“Committed that the next U.S. Ambassador to Armenia will meet extensively
with representatives of the Armenian American community before and during their
tenure in Yerevan.
“Agreed to brief Members of Congress on State Department efforts to promote
Turkish recognition of the real history of the Armenian Genocide.
“Agreed to an exchange of visits between the U.S. Ambassadors to Yerevan and
Ankara with the goal of ending Turkey’s economic blockade of Armenia.
“Provided some additional information – though not as much as I would have
hoped – on the materials used to educate State Department employees about the
Armenian Genocide.
“Provided some additional information – though, again, not as much as I
would have hoped – on Turkish government contacts with the State Department
regarding Ambassador Evans comments about the Armenian Genocide.”
Sen. Biden said in his letter that in addition to the above 6 considerations
or concessions from the State Department, he voted for the nomination of the
Ambassador Designate to Armenia because he was “concerned about the possible
consequences of leaving” the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan “without an Ambassador for
an extended period of time.” He said that he was particularly troubled that
Armenia may lose the $235 million in U.S. assistance from the Millennium
Challenge Account if it did “not demonstrate a firm commitment to democracy in
elections next spring.”
Despite the above assurances, Sen. Biden made it clear to the State
Department and the Turkish government that the real issue on hand goes beyond the
dismissal of Amb. Evans and his proposed replacement by Amb. Hoagland. He said that
he has not changed his belief that “the Administration’s policies toward
Armenia are grounded in historical fiction.” He also said that he is “firmly
committed to changing the Administration’s policy on the Armenian Genocide.”
The Armenian American community should keep hounding both the State
Department and the government of Turkey, which are partners in the denial of the crime
of genocide — until they unequivocally acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. Of
course, in the case of the Turkish denialist regime, which has usurped
Armenian territories and other assets, the struggle does not end with mere
acknowledgment – as Armenians consider the Genocide already recognized — but with the
return of the occupied lands.
The U.S. Senate should maintain its hold on the nomination of Amb. Hoagland
until the State Department explains fully and honestly the reason why it
dismissed Amb. Evans. The Bush Administration should also reveal the secret
communications between Turkish officials and/or its lobbyists to confirm their role in
influencing the State Department’s decisions in the eventual removal of Amb.
Evans.
Only time will tell whether Sen. Biden was hoodwinked by the State
Department’s ambiguous promises into supporting Amb. Hoagland’s nomination.
************************************************* *************************
2 – Ararat Home Board Decides
To Sell Rockhaven Facility
MISSION HILLS, Calif. – The Ararat Home of Los Angeles announced recently
that circumstances have made it necessary to offer for sale its Rockhaven
Sanatorium in Montrose, after nearly five years of consulting with architects and the
Glendale City for the construction of a replacement facility.
The Ararat Home, established in 1949, operates a Skilled Nursing Facility and
Board and Care Home for the aged on its Mission Hills campus for more than
300 residents and patients. In addition, it conducts a skilled nursing facility
for 42 patients in Eagle Rock. The latter facility is outdated and needs
extensive remodeling. The Board of Trustees of the Ararat Home purchased the
Rockhaven complex with the objective of bringing the patients from the Eagle Rock
Nursing Home to a newly constructed facility at Rockhaven which would also
accommodate the existing Alzheimer residents.
“The desire for a single level state-of-the-art 99-bed skilled nursing and
Alzheimer’s facility, nestled among the stately oaks and meandering paths, was a
dream that could not become a reality,” said John Yaldezian, Chairman of the
Ararat Home Board of Trustees. “While the site is beautiful, the buildings are
outdated and have become unsafe and uninhabitable. What was first thought to
be a matter of patching, repairing and remodeling for the near term, became
an issue of teardown.”
The Board sought to research every opportunity on this project, before the
decision was made to sell the property. The Board concluded that further
development on this site was not economically feasible.
It was at this point that the residents, most of who are under
conservatorship, were ransferred with great care for their welfare to equivalent facilities
in the area. All transfers were accomplished to the satisfaction of all those
concerned.
The funds from this eventual sale will be used to purchase an appropriate
site for development of another facility to complement the existing Mission Hills
and Eagle Rock campuses.
************************************************** ***********************
3 – AMAA James G. Jameson Essay Contest
Open to High School and College Students
PARAMUS, NJ – The Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) will once
again sponsor the James G. Jameson Essay Contest. Topics should touch upon
some aspect of Armenian heritage such as religion, literature, language,
history, culture, geography, economy or history.
Awards will be made in two categories: High School contestants and
College/University contestants. The deadline for entries is December 15, 2006.
All Armenian or part-Armenian students are eligible. Only unpublished
entries will be accepted. The winner in each category will be awarded $250.00,
provided from the income of a special fund established by Mr. & Mrs. James G.
Jameson of Brookline, MA.
The essays should be written in English and have a length of 1,000 to 2,000
words. A contestant is allowed no more than one entry per year, and no more
than one member of a family may receive an award in a five-year period. If no
submitted essay is considered sufficiently meritorious, no award will be
granted that year.
Entries and/or inquiries should be directed to: James G. Jameson Essay
Contest, Armenian Missionary Association of America, Inc., 31 West Century Road,
Paramus, NJ 07652.
************************************************** ************************
4 – Andre Set to Perform Live During
Armenia Fund’s Telethon 2006
LOS ANGELES – Armenia Fund announced last week that one of the most popular
Armenian singers, Andre, will be performing at its 9th Annual International
Telethon to be aired worldwide on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
In May of this year Andre won 8th place in Greece for representing Armenia at
Eurovision song contest competing against contenders from 23 other nations.
Armenia was competing at the Eurovision song content for the first time in 2006.
As part of the Rebirth of Artsakh project, proceeds from the live 12-hour
program will benefit the regional development of Hadrut, Nagorno Karabagh. The
funds will go towards building new drinking water pipelines as well as
reconstructing healthcare facilities and schools that fell victim to the devastating
war. In an effort to eradicate poverty in this war ravaged border region,
Armenia Fund will also implement a comprehensive agricultural development project
to impact 1,000 farmers in 8 Hadrut villages. A similar regional development
program is currently underway in the northern Martakert region using the
funds raised during last year’s Telethon 2005.
A graduate of Armenian State Music Theater, Andre was born in Stepanakert,
Nagorno Karabagh. His music career started early, when, as a member of a music
band “Children of Artsakh” he performed for the NKR Defense Army soldiers.
After winning the “Road to Renaissance” music competition he formed his own
pop-jazz band “Karabagh” touring regions
of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. A winner of many international music
contests as a solo artist, Andre has performed in the United States, Russia, China,
Europe, Lebanon, Iran, United Arab Emirates and countries of the former Soviet
Union.
A winner in the Best Singer category of Armenian National Music Awards, Andre
has been topping the charts for several years in a row.
********’************************************ *****************************
5 – APU’s Nov. 10 Cultural Arts Celebration
Features Guest Armenian Musicians, Artists
AZUSA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific University’s School of Music and Lake Avenue
Church of Pasadena present a “Symphonic Collaboration,” a special concert event
on Nov. 10 featuring Maestro Eduard Topchian, highly-acclaimed conductor of
the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra,
For one evening only, the Azusa Pacific University Symphony Orchestra and the
Lake Avenue Chamber Symphony combine to create a 100-member symphony
orchestra under the direction of Topchian. The event includes a performance by an
Armenian dance troupe from the Yeraz School of Armenian Dance in Orange County and
a gallery exhibiting works by local Armenian artists. The program includes
movements from Aram Kachaturian’s “Spartacus Suite,” Beethoven’s “Triple
Concerto for Violin, Cello, Piano and Orchestra,” and Symphony No. 5 by Dmitri
Shostakovich.
Guest artists include Karne Kocharyan, cello, from the Armenian Philharmonic
Orchestra; Duane Funderbunk, Piano, from APU, and Lake Avenue Church, and Alex
Russell, violin, from APU and Lake Avenue Church.
The event takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Lake Avenue Church, 393 N. Lake Ave.,
Pasadena.
For more information, contact APU’s Felix Event Center Box Office at (626)
815-5494 or Lake Avenue Church at (626) 844-4723.
**************************************** **********************************
6 – United Armenian Fund Donates $4.5 Million To All 28 Armenian
Schools in Lebanon GLENDALE – The United Armenian Fund, through a generous
grant from The Lincy Foundation, is donating a total of $4.5 million to all 28
Armenian schools throughout Lebanon. This contribution is prompted by the
economic crisis of the past few years, which was aggravated by the devastating
attack on Lebanon last summer. Thousands of needy Armenian families could no longer
afford the tuition for the Armenian schools their children attended.
Consequently, most of these schools were in no position to pay the salaries of their
teachers and staff. The UAF funds contributed to these schools are designated
for three specific purposes: (1) $3.2 million to pay full or partial tuition
for 5,092 needy Armenian students, which constitutes close to 75% of the 7,029
students enrolled in all 28 schools during the 2006-07 academic year; (2)
$757,000 to cover the salaries owed by most of the schools to 536 teachers and
staff for the past academic year; (3) A total of $513,000 for the general
operating expenses of these schools. Harut Sassounian, the President of the United
Armenian Fund, is currently in Lebanon to visit all 28 Armenian schools, meet
with their principals and educational councils, and deliver the earmarked sums to
each school. “The UAF’s contribution will be allocated to all Armenian
schools in Lebanon, without exception,” Sassounian said. The schools receiving
financial assistance are: Nine Prelacy schools: Sophia Hagopian College; Haratch
C. Gulbenkian School; Apkarian School; Aksor Kassarjian School; Yeghishe
Manoukian College; Roupinian – Sahag Mesrobian School; Souren Khanamirian College;
Noubarian – Khrimian School; and Forty Martyrs School. Seven Evangelical
schools: Central High School; Gertmenian School; Anjar Secondary School; Torosian
School; Armenian Evangelical College; Shamlian Tatigian School; and Trad School.
Six Catholic schools: Harboyan School; Mekhitarian School; Sisters School of
Anjar; Mesrobian College; St. Agnes School; and Hripsimiantz College. Three
AGBU schools: Garmirian School; Tarouhy – Hovagimian School; and Nazarian
School. Armenian Educational & Cultural Society (Hamazkayin) school: M & H Arslanian
College (Jemaran). Tekeyan Cultural Association school: Vahan Tekeyan School.
Armenian Educational Benevolent Union school: Sahaguian – L. Meguerditchian
College. “This unprecedented gift of $4.5 million should alleviate a large part
of the heavy financial burden of the schools shouldered by the struggling
Armenian community of Lebanon. Armenians worldwide should lend a helping hand to
this most vital community which has many other needs. Few things are as
important for the future of the Armenian people as the education of the next
generation. By supporting Armenian schools, we are investing not just in the
survival, but the revival of Armenian culture,” Sassounian said. Since its inception
in 1989, the UAF has sent $447 million of humanitarian assistance to Armenia on
board 140 airlifts and 1,359 sea containers. The UAF is the collective effort
of the Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian General Benevolent Union,
Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian Relief Society, Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America, Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America and The Lincy Foundation. For more information, contact the UAF office at
1101 North Pacific Avenue, Suite 301, Glendale, CA 91202 or call (818)
241-8900.
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7 – Armenians Fight Glendale
Over Grill Chill Ordinance
GLENDALE (AP) – Armenians here are skewering the city’s ban on outdoor
restaurant grilling as an offense to the kebab culture, but efforts to overturn it
have stalled in the City Council.
This city is 40 percent Armenian and Armenian-American. The 85,000 Armenian
residents comprise the largest such population in the United States.
Last year, voters elected three Armenians to the five-member City Council,
partly on an agenda to remove the outdoor grilling ban. But they have been
unable to win the four votes needed for passage.
That annoys Armenians who say indoor gas grills simply can’t do justice to
their traditional cuisine.
Vrej Sarkissian says it takes more than salt, pepper, onions and olive oil to
make a decent kabob. He cooks the skewered meat on charcoal outside his
restaurant.
“People can always tell the difference,” said Sarkissian, owner of Anoush
Banquets & Catering. “They want the original flavor of home.”
“It’s what our culture is about,” said his brother, Sacco Sarkissian. “It’s
great, because they’re able to hold onto their
heritage. They haven’t been forced to Americanize.”
The ban may have a chilling effect on the city’s dining, City Councilman Ara
Najarian argued.
“Most Armenians are highly sophisticated, and they demand the best,” he said.
“It’s developed into a gourmet war between these folks. I once saw a place
serve a flaming rack of lamb.”
“I think we all know that burgers on the grill taste better than on the
frying pan,” Najarian said.
Mayor Dave Weaver, who opposes lifting the ban, accused his colleagues of
playing “the race card.”
“We’re portrayed as anti-Armenian, and that’s so far off the mark,” he said.
“We got a lot of complaints saying, ‘Why are you allowing them to grill
outdoors?”‘
“I’m philosophically opposed to commercial grilling outside,” he said. “If we
open the door, then anybody from Bob’s Big Boy to a barbecue place can do it.”
“Would you like to smell other peoples’ food all day long?”
resident Nancy Campbell asked. “We were all OK stopping smoking in a lot of
public places.”
Vrej Sarkissian said he is considering moving his steel grill indoors to
comply with the law, although he estimates it will cost him about $80,000.
“We’re going to do whatever we can to keep the flavor going,” he said.
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8 – CSUF Armenian Studies Program
Announces Spring 2007 Classes
FRESNO – The Armenian Studies Program at California State University, Fresno
is announcing a full slate of courses for the Spring 2007 semester. The
Armenian Studies Program offers a wide variety of courses related to Armenian
language, culture, history, art, and literature each semester. Instruction for the
Spring 2007 semester begins on Wednesday, January 17, 2007.
Dr. Dickran Kouymjian, Haig and Isabel Berberian Professor of Armenian
Studies, and Director of the Armenian Studies Program, will be teaching three
courses. Armenian Studies 123 is a three-unit upper-division course exploring
Armenian architecture. The course will be offered completely on-line, allowing
students from anywhere in the country to enroll in the course.
Dr. Kouymjian will also be teaching two sections of the popular Armenian
Studies 20 course, the Arts of Armenia. This course is a survey of Armenian
miniature painting, architecture, and the minor arts.
Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian will be teaching four courses: Armenian
Studies 10, Introduction to Armenian Studies, which explores the rich cultural
heritage of the Armenians (10:00-10:50AM, MWF); Armenian 1B, the second semester
of elementary Armenian language (11:00A-11:50A MTWF); an upper division
general education course, Armenian 148, Masterpieces of Armenian Culture
(9:00A-9:50A MWF), a survey of Armenian literature in translation; and Armenian Studies
108B, Armenian History II (9:30-10:45A TTh), which will look at the modern
history of the Armenian people.
Finally, renowned dance instructor Tom Bozigian will offer a one-unit course
on Armenian Dance. The class will meet Friday and Saturday, February 2 & 3,
2007. The class begins at 5:00PM Friday. This class is open to all in the
community, with a fee of $75.
Contact the Armenian Studies Program at 559-278-2669 with any questions
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