Armenian Library & Museum of America
65 Main Street, Watertown MA 02472
617.9262562 (T) ~ [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> ~
<;
PRESS RELEASE

JUNE 11 –WILLIAM SAROYAN PLAY READING AT ALMA

ADAA & ALMA present:
William Saroyan’s Play “HELLO OUT THERE”
Sunday, June 11, 3:00 pm ALMA’s 3rd floor

The Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance (ADAA) and the Armenian Library &
Museum of America (ALMA) present a reading of one of William Saroyan’s
most highly acclaimed short plays, “Hello Out There” (1941). The play
reading is directed by Zoya Khachadurian and stars Paul Schafer,
Danielle Bauman, Jason Taylor, and Michele Markarian. The play reading
will be followed by Jacqueline Kazarian Papasian, Saroyan’s niece, who
will share some stories about her uncle, William.

As a playwright, Saroyan is best known for his story “The Daring Young
Man on the Flying Trapeze” and his play “The Time of Your Life”. Less
known is his short wistful play “Hello Out There”. This play was
produced for the first time at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara on
Wednesday, the 10th of September, 1941, as the curtain-raiser to George
Bernard Shaw’s The Devil’s Disciple.

The play tells about the bad luck of an itinerant gambler who is
arrested and jailed in a small Texas town, charged with rape. The charge
is a lie, but the only one who hears his call for justice and
understanding is a young girl who cooks for the jail. The gambler gives
all his money to the girl before a mob breaks into the jail and the
lying woman’s husband shoots him.

On June 11, ADAA & ALMA will present the play reading at ALMA’s
contemporary art gallery on 3rd floor. The play will be directed by Zoya
Khachadurian, followed by a talk about Saroyan’s work and refreshments.
Please RSVP to ALMA at 617.926.2562 ext. 3 or email [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]> .

The event coincides with the exhibit “May name is Bill: Remembering
William Saroyan” Exhibit at ALMA which runs through August 4 at the
Terjenian-Thomas Hall of the contemporary art gallery. The museum
admission is free for ALMA members and children 12, and a small fee
For Adults, and students with valid ID. ALMA is located at 65 Main
Street, Watertown, MA. 617.926.ALMA (2562)
<; . Museum hours are: Thursday 6 – 9 PM, Friday
and Sunday 1 – 5 PM, Saturday 10 AM – 2 PM.

###

Armenia Fund USA, Inc.
152 Madison Ave, S-803
New York, NY 10016, U.S.A.
T/1-212-689-5307
F/1-212-689-5317
http://ww w.armemeniafundusa.org

All-Armenian Fund International Affiliates’ Annual Meeting Convenes

~15th meeting of the Board of Trustees assesses the progress of the
organization and sets priorities for the future development of Armenia and
Karabakh~

NEW YORK, New York – Leadership from Armenia Fund USA traveled to Yerevan,
Armenia for All-Armenian Fund International Affiliates’ annual meeting which
convened on May 5, 2006. The conference brought together the leadership of
all 18 affiliates from all over the world to review progress of the
organization since the last annual meeting and set priorities for
development. Chaired by the President of the Republic of Armenia His
Excellency Robert Kocharian, the meeting took place at the Government
Reception House in Yerevan creating a momentum for sharing a common mission
among all affiliates – the task of ensuring the well-being of Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh through large-scale infrastructure and socio-economic
development and sustainability. Apart from assessing the benchmarks of
success, the meeting also approved the 2005 report of the Executive Board,
discussed agenda items important for ensuring the successful implementation
and continuity of current projects, took decisions on the 2006 beneficiary
program, as well as elected new members to the International Board of
Trustees.

Before starting the session, led by the prayers of His Holiness Karekin II,
Catholicos of All-Armenians, the Board Members and the leadership of the
Fund paid tribute with a moment of silence to the victims of Armavia Flight
967 that just days earlier had claimed the lives of more than ten dozen
people. The Republic had announced a two-day national mourning after the
terrible catastrophe.

The approval of the 2005 annual report of the Executive Board, prepared by
an independent French-American accounting firm, addressed the financial
standing of the organization, and presented the Fiscal Year 2005 financial
audit of All-Armenian Fund on the one hand, and of the construction
procedures of projects on the other. The report summarized funds received
and expenses incurred for the fiscal year concluding that the financial
standing of the organization “is clearly in accordance with International
Financial Reporting Standards”, which, most significantly, gave account of
the transparency and maintenance of internal procurement standards.

An important agenda item under discussion during the annual meeting was the
“Rebirth of Artsakh” Regional Development Program for Nagorno-Karabakh -a
three year, three region comprehensive development plan approved last year
to provide socio-economic assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh. The participants
confirmed the continuity of the program and provided information on
preparatory works done to this date. The participants also took decisions on
directing Telethon 2006 to the implementation of the “Rebirth of Artsakh”
program. Funds raised through the fundraising telethon will be directed to
the rehabilitation, reconstruction and development of the Hadrout and
Mardakert regions in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The meeting also touched upon the rural poverty eradication program
introduced during the meeting by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic
of Armenia Mr. Vartan Oskanian, a Trustee of the Fund. Hayastan All-Armenian
Fund was tasked with the coordination of the Rural Development Scheme for
159 border villages in Armenia. The program is an integrated approach toward
poverty reduction in the rural villages of Armenia, particularly those
located close to the border. It is a broad effort to provide the necessary
development support in the form of technical and infrastructure intervention
to ensure the economic sustainability of rural communities. Apart from
overall socio-economic development impact, the program is expected to
leverage effects of rural poverty on migration, geopolitical security and
regional stability. A commission was set up to study the program and the
timing in detail, put forth suggestions on jointly implementation of the
program with other projects of the Fund and integrate efforts toward
regional development.

A meeting of all affiliates of Hayastan Himnadram took place on May the 4th
at the campus of the American University of Armenia to exchange views and
discuss common operational challenges. During the meeting representatives
from respective affiliates introduced progress reports and project
coordination details. Armenia Fund USA, led by Chairman of the Board of
Directors Mr. Kevork Toroyan and Executive Director Ms. Irina Lazarian,
introduced details on the implementation of the Agricultural Initiative for
Mardakert region of Nagorno-Karabakh and parameters of cooperation with
local authorities to ensure maximum efficacy of the program. The Initiative
is the economic underpinning of the “Rebirth of Artsakh” Regional
Development Program launched by affiliates in spring of 2006, and is a
strategic plan to increase rural household income by boosting region’s
agricultural economy.
Armenia Fund USA representatives concluded the trip with visits to
project sites, as well as meetings with Karabakh farmers to listen to their
concerns and input about the new program.

The annual meeting elected three new members to the International Board of
Trustees, among them Mark Geragos, U.S. based attorney who has been very
supportive of the Fund’s overall efforts in the United States, Hasmik
Terterian of Armenian Relief Society and Mike Kharapian of Ramkavar
Liberal-Democratic Party.

ABOUT ARMENIA FUND USA: ARMENIA FUND USA, founded in 1992, was one of the
first of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s 18 international affiliates and serves
constituents in all states east of the Mississippi. As a non-profit,
non-governmental, nonsectarian organization, the Fund represents all
Armenian constituents.

Armenia Fund USA is the largest contributor among the 18 international
affiliates – supporting strategic infrastructure projects in Armenia and
Karabakh, and having helped build 138 miles of roads, 100 miles of
waterways, 36 schools, 3 electric transmission networks, 210 residential
buildings and 15 healthcare institutions.

Armenia Fund USA’s Mission is the development of strategic socio-economic
infrastructure in Armenia and Karabakh, focusing on major projects such as
major highways, schools, drinking water to communities and humanitarian
programs in education, training and medical facilities. The Fund has adopted
a policy to go “Beyond Bricks and Mortar” to provide sustainability for
projects it sponsors.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/05/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM

1) Kocharian, Aliyev Discuss Karabagh Conflict in Bucharest
2) Armenians Protest Racist Killings in Russia
3) Armenian Men’s Chess Team Wins Turin Olympiad
4) DON’T FORGET TO VOTE TODAY!

1) Kocharian, Aliyev Discuss Karabagh Conflict in Bucharest

(RFE/RL/Armenpress)Armenian President Robert Kocharian and his Azeri
counterpart Ilham Aliyev concluded a second round of talks aimed at resolving
the Karabagh conflict, but no progress was reported.
Monday’s talks were the second time that Robert Kocharian and Ilham Aliyev
met
on the sidelines of the Black Sea Summit in the Romanian capital, Bucharest.
The talks were also attended by the French, Russian, and American
Co-Chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group, which has overseen the peace negotiations since 1992.
Kocharian and Aliyev already had a protracted meeting on Sunday, June 4, at
the Polish embassy in Romania. OSCE Chairman in Office Karel de Gucht, the
OSCE
Minsk Group Co-Chairs, and the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan
also
attended the meeting. Afterward, the presidents met one-on-one.
The first round of negotiations lasted for over four hours.
American co-chair Steven Mann said that the meeting took place in a “very
good
atmosphere” but gave few details about the nature of the talks.
“The co-chairs still believe that 2006 is the window to reach an agreement
regarding Karabagh, and I don’t want to characterize exactly where we might be
in that process,” Mann said.
Mann also said that the mediators believe that the Karabagh conflict can
still
be resolved this year. “The co-chairs still believe that 2006 is the window to
reach an agreement regarding Karabagh,” he said.
Asked whether Aliyev and Kocharian made any progress towards a peace deal,
the
American diplomat replied, “I would only say that we have had very, very
detailed discussions.”
He said that he and his two counterparts expect progress in the talks every
time Armenian and Azeri leaders meet to explore ways for ending their dispute
over Karabagh.
These meetings in Romania are the second time that Kocharian and Aliyev have
met this year. The previous talks, held near Paris in February, failed to
yield
any agreement.
The Armenian and Azeri leaders also brought up the Karabagh conflict as they
separately addressed a high-level forum of Black Sea nations at the summit on
Monday.
“The people of Nagorno-Karabagh have implemented in practice the right to
self-determination,” declared Kocharian. “It was done fully in line with the
requirements of international law.”
“We believe that there is a need for effective efforts for a full-scale
integration of the [Mountainous Karabagh] Republic into the international
community,” he added.

2) Armenians Protest Racist Killings in Russia

YEREVAN (RFE/RL/Armenpress)Several dozen people staged a demonstration outside
the Russian embassy in Yerevan on Monday to protest racially-motivated
killings
of Armenians and other non-Slavs in Russia.
The protesters, most of them representatives of several Armenian civic
groups,
accused Moscow of connivance and even complicity in the xenophobic violence
widely blamed on tens of thousands of neo-Nazi skinheads operating across
Russia.
The demonstrators presented a statement to embassy officials, saying that in
2005 there were about 402 attacks and 28 murders of non-Slavs in Russia. In
2006 alone, 6 ethnic Armenians have been killed in Moscow.
“The citizens of Armenia and Armenian non-governmental organizations condemn
the activity of raging nationalistic organizations in Russia and the
negligence
of Russian law-enforcement bodies to detect perpetrators and punish them. We
demand that Russian authorities take speed measures to arrest murderers and
punish them,” the statement said.
The protest was sparked by the fatal stabbing of a 19 year old Russian
citizen
of Armenian descent, Artur Sardarian, by a group of youths on a train in a
Moscow suburb.
Simon Tsaturian, who represents the family of another ethnic Armenian
killed in Moscow in April, cited witnesses as saying the murderers were
chanting “Glory to Russia” while stabbing Arthur Sardarian. The attackers then
stopped the train by setting off an alarm and escaped.
Few of the perpetrators of these racially motivated killings have been
arrested and brought to justice.
A case in point was the St. Petersburg trial of seven teenagers, who were
convicted of stabbing to death a 9 year old Tajik girl but were sentenced only
between 18 months and five years in prison last February.
Protestors also denounced the Armenian Government’s reluctance to bring
Russia
to task over the killings. They marched to the Armenian Foreign Ministry to
condemn its failure to publicly criticize the Russian authorities for their
failure to stop the violence. Armenia’s ambassador in Moscow and other
diplomats say they regularly raise the issue with Russian officials. But the
organizers of the protest insisted that Yerevan is scared of openly
challenging
its closest ally.
“I am convinced that if the Armenian authorities took a tougher line the
situation would not be so grave,” said Ishkhanian.
“The Armenian authorities are not doing anything to stop the killings,”
charged another protester, Arsen Kharatian. “Their failure to speak out is a
crime in itself.”
Sardarian’s violent death came in the wake of an uproar caused by the killing
of another young Armenian. The 17 year old Vigen Abramiants was stabbed to
death on a Moscow subway platform on April 22.

3) Armenian Men’s Chess Team Wins Turin Olympiad

YEREVAN (Armenpress)The Armenian Men’s team won the gold Sunday at the 37th
Chess Olympiad in Turin.
The Armenians, going into the final round 2.5 points ahead of the field, had
agreed to a quick draw against the Hungarians. This secured them Gold less
than
an hour after the start of round 13.
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian announced Monday in Parliament
that
the Armenian Government will organize a reception for the team when they
return
home and will award the champions.
Other winners in Turin included the Ukrainian Women’s team, which won the
women’s tournament by 2 points. China beat the Netherlands 2.5:1.5 to take
Silver, two points behind the winners. The US team demolished Norway 3.5:0.5,
while Israel beat a lackluster Russian team 3:1. Both USA and Israel had 33.0
points, but the Americans took Bronze on tiebreak scores.

4) DON’T FORGET TO VOTE TODAY!

The Armenian National Committee Political Action Committee urges all
Armenians
to vote for the Following Candidates:

CHUCK POOCHIGIAN
for Attorney General

JACKIE KANCHELIAN-SPEIER
for Lt. Governor

PAUL KREKORIAN
for State Assembly (43rd District)

JOHN CHIANG
for State Controller

LELAND YEE
for State Senate (8th District)

ANTHONY PORTANTINO
for State Assembly (44th District)

MARTY SIMONOFF
for State Assembly (72nd District)

LEE BACA
for Los Angeles County Sheriff

MIKE CARONA
for Orange County Sheriff

To find your nearest polling station, visit

All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier
and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and
subscription requests.
(c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved.

ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for
academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through
mass media outlets.

California Courier Online, June 8, 2006

1 – Commentary

Interview on UPN (KCOP-TV)
On the Armenian Genocide

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
2 – Henry & Anahis Derian Donate $100,000
For Expansion of AMAA’s Camp Arev
3 – Element Band Garners ‘Best Newcomer
Album’ at Armenian Music Awards
4 – Prelacy Religious and Executive
Councils Elect Executives
5 – Board of Regents of Prelacy Schools
Publish Genocide Instruction Book
6 – Haig Kelegian Buys Crystal
Park Casino for $17.5 Million
7- Governor Names
Achadkjian to
Coastal Commission
8- Catholicos Aram I
Invited to Keynote
Conference in US
9 – UAF’s 138th Airlift Delivers
$12 Million of Aid to Armenia
****************************************** *******************************
1 -Commentary
Interview on UPN (KCOP-TV)
On the Armenian Genocide

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

FOX-TV (KTTV, Channel 11) and UPN (KCOP-TV, Channel 13) in Los Angeles, in
their evening news hours on April 23, interviewed this writer on the eve of the
91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. During both interviews, live
footage was aired via satellite of the procession of hundreds of thousands of
Armenians at the Genocide Memorial Monument in Yerevan.
The transcript of the 6-minute long in-studio interview with FOX-TV was
published in an earlier column. Here is the transcript of the more than 5-minute
long in-studio interview with KCOP-TV:

Anchor 1: Joining us now in studio to help us put some perspective on the
anniversary is Harut Sassounian of the United Armenian Fund.
Anchor 2: Let’s start off by just getting all of our viewers up to speed on
exactly what happened with the Armenian Genocide. Can you quickly tell us what
happened, where, and when this all occurred?
Sassounian: Armenians lived in their historic homeland for thousands of
years. They were later on occupied by what turned out to be the Ottoman Empire. On
the eve of World War I, while the world was busy with its own fate, the
Turkish government decided to eliminate the Armenians, as a result of which 1.5
million Armenians were deported and killed from what was historic Armenia.
Anchor 1: We have already mentioned that Turkey does not call it genocide.
How do they define these events at this time, and what would it mean politically
if they do?
Sassounian: They — the whole world, including the Turkish leaders —
recognize the facts, but they just don’t want to admit it. For political and
psychological reasons, they [the Turks] think that it would be like a scar on their
history, if they recognize it. But I think they would be better off if they
recognize it because they’re trying to join the European Union, and they would be
classified in the rank of civilized European countries. Just like Germany
recognized the Holocaust, Turkey should recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Anchor 2: We had some live pictures earlier from Yerevan. Can you tell us
what’s going on there right now, because it is the next day — its actual day.
Sassounian: It’s already April 24th. Its the 91st anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide in Yerevan, Armenia – they are 12 hours ahead of us — and hundreds
of thousands of people, despite the rain, are proceeding in a solemn
procession to the Eternal Flame, the Monument of the Armenian Genocide, putting flowers
there and paying their respects. And this year especially, they’re paying
tribute to U.S. Ambassador John Evans, who’s being recalled because he said a
word that hes not supposed to say, according to the State Department — the
Armenian Genocide. So they’re recalling him. So there’s a yellow ribbon campaign –
I’m wearing one myself — as a tribute to his good sense of recognizing the
truth and the facts of history.
Anchor 1: That’s right, you mentioned that the U.S. Ambassador John Evans did
in fact call it a genocide. He has received some flack obviously from the
State Department. President Bush calls it a tragedy, does NOT call it a genocide.
What would it mean if he actually called it, recognized it, as a genocide,
and what peacemaking or peacekeeping effects would it actually have between
Turkey and the U.S.?
Sassounian: Of course, President Bush, when he was a candidate, he did call
it a genocide. But when he won and became President, he started calling it
tragedy and massacre. He even said 1.5 million Armenians were killed. So he used
all the words to describe what happened factually, except the word [genocide].
It would not have a major legal effect — just like President Reagan issued a
Presidential Proclamation in 1981 saying genocide — but it has more a moral
and psychological effect in acknowledging the fact, that it’s something that
the victims and their descendants would feel much better if people did not lie
about what took place. As they say, truth is the last victim of genocide.
Anchor 2: Now, in Turkey, how are they recognizing what’s going on tomorrow?
Sassounian: Well, there’s a leftover, a small Armenian community in Turkey,
and they’re under all sorts of repressive situations – circumstances — so they
do not dare to talk about it. They do not commemorate it, they do not have
any special ceremonies, except maybe they go to church and say their prayers.
But more and more, recently, Turkish scholars themselves are coming out and
writing books and articles, saying it is genocide. So there’s a slight movement
under pressure from the European Union.
Anchor 2: Now tomorrow, there are many things going on around town [L.A.],
right?
Sassounian: Right. At 10 a.m., there’s a huge march in Hollywood, Little
Armenia. Between 50,000 and 80,000 Armenians will gather. I’m the keynote speaker
there. And in the afternoon there’s a protest in front of the Turkish
Consulate, on Wilshire.
Anchor 2: Thank you so much, best wishes for tomorrow.
**************************************** **********************************
2 – Henry & Anahis Derian Donate $100,000
For Expansion of AMAA’s Camp Arev
HOLLYWOOD, CA – One of the highlights of the 29th Annual Camp AREV Banquet on
May 20 was the announcement of a $100,000 gift to the Camp by Henry and
Anahis Derian.
Held at the Paul Avazian Hall of UACC, the banquet saw founders of the camp
mingling with campers, parents, and friends during the social hour as a video
of campers played on the screen.
Co-Chairs, Debbie Levonian and Arsine Phillips welcomed all on behalf of the
finance/banquet committee who coordinated the evening.
M.C., Jon Khoshafian, a former camper and counselor, kept the program moving
along as he introduced Maggie Kchoyan, Camp AREV Executive Director, who
shared her vision for Camp AREV. Anthony Dorian, Lara Tovmassian, and Ara Darakjian
conveyed their impressions and experiences of camp life.
Zaven Hanessian, immediate past Chair of the Camp AREV Committee, was
congratulated by Chair Hagop Ketenjian, for his years of dedicated service to the
camp. John Jamgotchian presented him with a plaque commemorating his efforts.
The Dust to Glory band and singers lifted everyone’s spirits with their
musical selections, which included some audience participation.
Guest speaker, Aren Balabanian shared his experiences at AREV as a camper and
counselor, and how they shaped his life. He said, “Camp AREV fulfills its
original mission of the Armenian Evangelicals to realize the importance of
Scripture and the purity of the Gospels. The Camp ministry reaches all Armenians
-and helps create life-long friendships.”
Hagop Ketenjian gave a PowerPoint presentation of camp ministry, finances,
and plans for the new chapel/dining hall which will cost approximately $350,000.
The new facility, a focal point for the camp, has been designed by architect
Nubar Aroyan. He projects the completion to be in the spring of 2007 and will
not interfere with ongoing camp activity.
Rev. Joe Matossian, Minister of the Armenian Evangelical Union of North
America, read the biography of Henry and Anahis (Jambazian) Derian and invited Mrs.
Derian to the podium where she presented a check for $100,000.00 on behalf of
her husband Henry and herself, for the much- needed chapel/dining hall for
150 people for Camp AREV at the Edward J. Manishagian Armenian Evangelical
Conference Center in Frazier Park.
Co-chairs Levonian and Phillips presented Mrs. Derian with a bouquet of
flowers and a lighted birthday cake, as the audience sang “Happy Birthday.
The banquet came to a close with the benediction by Razmig Minassian.
Those wishing more information about Camp AREV philanthropy, summer/winter
camp dates, etc., may call 818-507-8297 or log on
************************************************** ************************
3 – Element Band Garners ‘Best Newcomer
Album’ at Armenian Music Awards
LOS ANGELES–Element Band, one of the hottest emerging Armenian bands
received the 2006 Armenian Music Awards “Best Newcomer Album of The Year” on May 25,
for their CD “Yev O Phe” that debut in March 2006.
Since its release, “Yev O Phe” has lured an incredible mix of listeners to
give the band a fan base that spans not only three generations, but has also
transcended the diverse musical preferences prevalent in Armenian culture.
The arrangements are bold with sounds of the Flamenco, Tango, Rembetika
wafting in and out of performances of traditional Armenian songs that are never
forsaken to foreign sounds. Refusing to compromise Armenian melodies, Element
nevertheless complements them with the use of the accordion, bouzouki, mandolin,
classical guitar, violin, and the purity of the band’s vocalists to serve-up
a compelling combination of fiery Mediterranean and hauntingly raw Armenian.
The band members were also featured last week in KPFK 90.7-FM’s “Global
Village” program, as well as their award-winning music.
And just as the Armenian alphabet incorporated two additional letters o and
phe during the Middle Ages to better reproduce the sounds of European tongues –
all the while remaining utterly Armenian – so it is with Element’s Armenian
compositions that incorporate the sounds of Europe and the Mediterranean, while
remaining untethered, simply free… to be uniquely Armenian.
Element Band can be heard in concert on Friday, June 16 at 8PM at the Ford
Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. For tickets
or information, call (818) 343-4757 or (818) 342-6624.
Also visit for additional information about Element.
***************************************** **********************************
4 – Prelacy Religious and Executive
Councils Elect Executives
ENCINO, Calif. – The newly elected Religious and Executive Councils of the
Western Prelacy, elected at the 34th National Representatives Assembly (May
19-20), held their first meeting on May 30, at the temporary Prelacy office in
Encino.
During the meetings, held under the auspices of Prelate Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, the new councils elected their executives.
The Religious Council consists of the following executives and advisors:
Chairman, Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian; Vice Chair, Very Rev. Fr. Barthev
Gulumian; Secretary, Rev. Vazken Atmajian; and Advisors, Rev. Gomidas Torossian, Rev.
Razmig Khatchadourian, Rev. Vahan Gosdanian, and Rev. Ardag Demirjian.
The Executive Council consists of the following executive members: Chairman,
Dr. Garo Agopian; Vice Chair Dr. Hagop Der Megerdichian, Secretary, Boghos
Sassounian; Treasurer, Vahan Bezdikian; and advisors, Garbis Bezdjian, Garo
Avakian, Meher Der Ohanessian, Dr. Navasart Kazazian, Nerses Melkonian, Vahe
Hovaguimian, and Varoujan Der Simonian.
********’******************************* **********************************
5 – Board of Regents of Prelacy Schools
Publish Genocide Instruction Book
LOS ANGELES – The Board of Regents of the Prelacy Armenian Schools announced
the publication of an age-proper instructional handbook for teaching the
Armenian Genocide to Armenian students K-12.
The book is the first of its kind to employ psychological and pedagogical
approaches to offer age-proper instructional methodology-hands-on materials and
lesson plans-to teach the Armenian Genocide, the most complicated, doleful, and
inexplicable period of our history.
Teaching about this harrowing experience begins at an early age in our
schools, and this handbook will assist teachers of each grade level to approach this
difficult subject with approved methods and proper tools. In fact, the
handbook suggests teaching about fundamental ideas such as fairness, similarities
and differences, freedom, rights and responsibilities, justice, loss and how to
cope with it, survival, etc., in lower grades to prepare the students to grasp
the complicated concept of Genocide in the upper grades.
The 315-page handbook is the result of diligent research and hard work of the
committee of educators, appointed by the Board of Regents and led by Dr.
Rubina Peroomian. It is being published after completing a period of a two-year
classroom testing and ensuing necessary changes and revisions.
The Board of Regents of the Prelacy Armenian Schools thanked the Armenian
Educational Foundation for the donation of $2500 toward the publication of the
handbook. The handbook was published in April, 2006 in limited numbers and
distributed to all Armenian schools in California.
Those educational institutions who would like to obtain a copy of this
handbook are requested to contact the Board of Regents office at (818) 500 0822, or
e-mail: [email protected].
************************** *****************************************
6 – Haig Kelegian Buys Crystal
Park Casino for $17.5 Million
LOS ANGELES – As the owner of several California card clubs, Haig Kelegian
has made some large wagers – but none possibly as high as buying the Crystal
Park Casino Hotel in Compton, Calif.
Kelegian, who owns the 151-table Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, is buying
the property for close to $17.5 million. The card club, now known as Crystal
Casino, contains a 226-room hotel that sits on 20 acres at 123 E. Artesia Blvd.
The seller, Pinnacle Entertainment Inc., decided to sell the property shortly
after California voters roundly rejecdted a 2004 referendum that would have
allowed card clubs to operate slot machines.
Card clubs and racetrack owners complain they can no longer compete with
casinos operated by Native American tribes that have been allowed to have slot
machines.
“We took it out to everyone – commercial and industrial buyers,” said Colin
Walker, a CB Richard Ellis Inc. associate who represented Pinnacle in the
transaction. “We didn’t expect another casino operator to be the buyer.”
Except Kelegian sees promise.
The operator, who also runs Oceans’ 11 Casino in Oceanside, plans to invest
money renovating the casino and hotel to make the casino a regional
destination. Walker said CBRE valued the replacement cost of the land and structures at
close to $50 million.
“He bought the property based on the gaming,,” Walker said. “It’s the only
part that really makes money, though that could change under the new ownership.”
Kelegian could also stand to benefit from a large mixed-use development that
would surround the Compton casino and be called the Gateway Towne Center.
Costa Mesa-based prism Realty has purchased 40 acres in the area and is planning a
large retail and housing project that could draw more visitors to the area.
Meanwhile, Kelegian may have redevelopment plans of his own for the property.
With the hotel and casino occupying only 20 percent of the 20-acre site,
there’s an opportunity to propose a project on the site’s vacant land, currently
parking lots. “If they want to take advantage of it, there’s a strong real
estate play there,” Walker said.
******************************************** *******************************
7 – Governor Names
Achadkjian to
Coastal Commission
SACRAMENTO – Khatchik Achadjian, 54, of San Luis Obispo, has been appointed
to the California Coastal Commission. He is the chair of the San Luis Obispo
County Board of Supervisors and has served as a San Luis Obispo County
Supervisorsince 1998.
Achadjian is a cofounder and director of Santa Lucia Bank and the owner of
three service stations in the City of Arroyo Grande. As a member of the Board of
Supervisors, he has served as a member of the San Luis Obispo County Air
Pollution Control District, Council of Governments and Regional Transit Authority.
This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is
$100 per diem.
Achadjian is a Republican.
************************************** ****************************************
**
8 – Catholicos Aram I
Invited to Keynote
Conference in US
ANTELIAS, Lebanon – Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia was
invited as a keynote speaker at a conference entitled “Faith and Health” that will
take place at the University of Notre Dame from December 3-5, 2006. It is
sponsored by the departments of Psychology and
Theology of Notre Dame as well as the Indiana University School of Medicine.
The conference represents a conversation between disciplines that have
developed individual perspectives on faith and health but have only recently begun
to integrate them. Hence, the main thrust of the conference will be to bring
scholars from theology, medicine, and psychology together in a way that will
allow them to not only present information from their respective disciplines but
also to integrate that information in order to set a new agenda for the field
of faith and health.
Because of the broad base of knowledge that will be presented at the
conference, the information will be of value to people from a wide variety of
professions.
************************************ **************************************
9 – UAF’s 138th Airlift Delivers
$12 Million of Aid to Armenia
GLENDALE – The United Armenian Fund’s 138th airlift arrived in Yerevan on
June 3, delivering $12 million of humanitarian assistance.
The UAF itself collected $10.8 million of medicines and medical supplies for
this flight, most of which were donated by AmeriCares ($9.9 million); MAP
International ($481,000); Health Partners International of Canada ($298,000) and
Catholic Medical Mission Board ($150,000).
Other organizations which contributed goods for this airlift were: Pfizer
Inc. ($445,000); UMAF from France ($309,000); Armenian Eyecare Project
($74,000); Armenian International Ophthalmic Association ($50,000); Nork Marash Medical
Center ($44,000); International Academy of Telepathology ($38,000) and Howard
Karagheusian Commemorative Corporation ($36,000).
Also contributing to this airlift were: Foundation Semra ($28,000); Armenian
American Health Association of WA ($20,000); Armenian American Cultural
Association ($20,000).
Since its inception in 1989, the UAF has sent $441 million of humanitarian
assistance to Armenia on board 138 airlifts and 1,312 sea containers.
The UAF is the collective effort of the Armenian Assembly of America, the
Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian Missionary Association of
America, the Armenian Relief Society, the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America,
the 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.
**************************************** ***********************************
The California Courier On-Line is a service provided by the California
Courier. Subscriptions or changes of address should not be transmitted through this
service. Information in that regard should be telephoned to (818) 409-0949;
faxed to: (818) 409-9207, or e-mailed to: [email protected]. Letters to
the editor concerning issues addressed in the Courier may be e-mailed, provided
it is signed by the author. Phone and/or E-mail address is also required to
verify authorship.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT TELLS ROMANIAN COUNTERPART AZERI STANCE ON KARABAKH UNCHANGED

ANS TV, Baku
5 Jun 06

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, attending a Black Sea summit
in Bucharest, has told his Romanian counterpart Traian Basescu that
Azerbaijan’s position on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict has remained
unchanged, Azerbaijani state-run news agency Azartac reported on
5 June.

The agency quoted Aliyev as saying that “Azerbaijan’s position on the
issue has remained unchanged and we are in favour of the conflict
settlement only within the framework our country’s territorial
integrity”.

Private TV station ANS has quoted the head of foreign relations
department of the Azerbaijani presidential administration, Novruz
Mammadov, as saying on 4 June that meetings of the Azerbaijani and
Armenian presidents, also under way in Bucharest, were being held in
a tense atmosphere.

ANS reported that the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders were expected
to hold another meeting at 0800 gmt on 5 June.

BLACK SEA SUMMIT OPENS IN ROMANIAN CAPITAL

AP Worldstream
Jun 05, 2006

The presidents of Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia were among leaders
attending a Black Sea summit on Monday aimed at tackling drug- and
people-smuggling in the region and finding ways to clean up pollution
in the sea, as well as discussing alternative energy routes.

“Putting the Black Sea on the map is a challenge in itself,” said
Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu opening the summit.

“Good governance, sustainable development to define issues of common
interests and to evaluate national and regional capacities and to
prepare the future in a pro-active manner. … We want a new vision
to reflect new realities,” he said.

The main topics on the summit’s agenda would be environment protection,
regional cooperation, joint energy projects, combatting cross-border
crime and improving infrastructure.

Among those attending were Presidents Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine,
Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia, Robert Kocharian of Armenia, Vladimir
Voronin of Moldova and Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan, as well as officials
from Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece and Lithuania.

Top officials from NATO, the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe, the United Nations and the Council of Europe are also
attending the summit.

Kocharian and Aliev are expected to hold talks on the status of
Nagorno-Karabakh on the sidelines of the summit. Talks between the two
leaders in France in February ended in failure, despite international
mediators’ efforts to push the leaders to resolve Nagorno-Karabakh’s
status.

Nagorno-Karabakh is inside Azerbaijan but populated mostly by ethnic
Armenians, who have run it since an uneasy 1994 cease-fire ended six
years of full-scale war. Sporadic border clashes have grown more
frequent since the breakdown of talks. The lack of resolution has
hindered development throughout the strategic region.

Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia directly border
the Black Sea, which is one of the world’s most polluted seas.

Its only outlet to outside seas is via the Bosphorus Straits.

Russia declined to send a high-level official to the summit but
requested observer status. It is being represented by its ambassador
to Bucharest, said Romanian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Corina Vintan.

RUSSIAN SENATOR PROTESTS INNOCENCE AFTER BRIBE VIDEO

Ekho Moskvy radio, Moscow
5 Jun 06

Russian Federation Council member Levon Chakhmakhchyan (also referred
to in some reports as Chakhmakhchan) has denied any wrongdoing after
appearing in a video described by Russian Channel One TV on 4 June as
a sting carried out two days earlier by the Federal Security Service
(FSB). In comments heard on Ekho Moskvy radio on 5 June, Chakhmakhchyan
said FSB officials had confronted him after he had visited Aleksandr
Pleshakov, the board chairman of the airline Transaero. The ethnic
Armenian senator said Pleshakov had asked him for help in getting
elected vice-president of the Association of Russian-Armenian Business
Cooperation.

“Knowing that the honorary president of the association is the
president of the Republic of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, he [Pleshakov]
was attempting to join the association and asked me to nominate him
to its board as vice-president,” said Chakhmakhchyan.

“In Pleshakov’s office, in token of my friendly disposition, I gave
him a small souvenir, a teaspoon. In return, Pleshakov gave me two
models of aeroplanes, one small in a plastic bag, the other big in
a box. When we were leaving, Pleshakov indicated a briefcase to my
associate. In my view, my associate reckoned that the briefcase held
one of the souvenirs.

“Once the two of us were out of Pleshakov’s office, we were detained
by FSB officials. The reasons for the detention were not given to me.

My demands for release and arguments that I am a member of the
Federation Council were ignored. The agents behaved rudely and
cynically, used physical violence, treated me with contempt, including
by permitting themselves comments of nationalistic nature.

Only two-and-half hours later was I released,” Chakhmakhchyan said.

Ekho Moskvy said it had no immediate comment from Transaero.

AZERI, ARMENIAN LEADERS DISCUSS KARABAKH WITH ROMANIAN COLLEAGUE

ANS Radio, Baku
5 Jun 06

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan have met in Bucharest within the framework of the Black
Sea cooperation and development forum and discussed the Nagornyy
Karabakh problem.

The presidents have also discussed the Karabakh problem at a meeting
with their Romanian counterpart Traian Basescu.

The Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers, Vardan Oskanyan and
Elmar Mammadyarov, have held a meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs, Belgian Foreign Minister and OSCE chairman-in-office and
Karel De Gucht. The meeting lasted for about four and half hours. The
details of the talks have not been disclosed.

THERE ARE NO DETAILS ABOUT KOCHARYAN-ALIYEV MEETING

Lragir.am
05 June 06

On June 4 the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan met in Bucharest.

The meeting started in the presence of the foreign ministers of
Armenia and Azerbaijan, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, the OSCE
Chairman-in Office Karel de Gucht, and the personal representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office. Then the meeting of the presidents went
on tete-a-tete. No details of the meeting have been reported so far.

It is also uncertain whether the meeting will have a continuation on
June 5.

This probably means that the meeting will not have a significant
outcome. In fact, it became clear long before the meeting, from
the statements of Robert Kocharyan and Ilham Aliyev, preceding the
meeting. Ilham Aliyev had announced before leaving for Bucharest
that Azerbaijan would retrieve all the lands, and Robert Kocharyan
had stated that he was not optimistic about this meeting.

Yet it was clear even before the statements of the presidents that
rumors about a breakthrough or a document were invented, considering
the statement of the deputy foreign ministers of the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chair countries in Yerevan. Arriving in the region on May 24,
on May 25 the OSCE Minsk Group made a statement. The Minsk Group
stated that now is the time for the sides to reach agreement on a
settlement. “What happens now will be up to Armenia and Azerbaijan,”
concluded the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group. And it was natural
that nothing would be up to Armenia and Azerbaijan, first because
everything had already been decided, and second, the interests and
expectations of Armenia and Azerbaijan are quite different. And as long
as they are different, any attempt to make a decision is definitely
doomed to failure.

A MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE FOR BIG FEUDALISTS
Hakob Badalyan

Lragir.am
05 June 06

In 2006 Armenia will get the first tranche of the U.S. 235 million
dollar grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation. The Armenian
government is therefore busy solving the procedural problems to get
the first millions in 2006. The technical problems have almost been
settled, the managing board of the Millennium Challenge-Armenia Program
of 11 members has been set up, including 5 representatives of NGOs and
6 representatives of the government. Despite being fewer in number,
the representatives of NGOs have the right to veto. This is intended
to diminish the risk of corruption, of course, if it works.

In the meantime, there is enough ground to suggest that it will not
work. The reason is not that most Armenian NGOs are as corrupt as
government agencies. And the reason is not that most NGOs have been
set up and work on the order of the same government either. Although
it should be noted that the principle of clash of interests, underlying
the managing board, may disappear at all, considering the peculiarities
of the non-governmental sector. However, the managing board also
has peculiarities. 4 out of the 6 government representatives to the
board are ministers, 1 is prime minister. The board includes Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan. Minister of Finance Vardan Khachatryan,
Minister of Territorial Management Hovik Abrahamyan, Minister of
Agriculture Davit Lokyan and Minister of Transport and Communication
Andranik Manukyan. The sixth member is Vahram Nersisyants, adviser
to president. The staff includes officials from the spheres that
are directly related to the Millennium program. At first sight,
this senior-official-level staff is also an indicator of reduction
of corruption and great responsibility for the task. And this is
true, in fact, but the problem is which task they treat with great
responsibility.

Would it be possible to include officials of lower ranks in the board
than the prime minister and ministers? Surely, it would be possible,
especially that a junior official would be more flexible than a
busy (?) minister or prime minister. Now imagine a situation when a
decision is made during the meeting of the board, which contains a
high risk of corruption. One of the five members of the board, who
are representatives of NGOs, notices it and wants to use the right
to veto. This situation can occur in two different settings: in the
first one, the representatives of the government are junior officials,
in the second we have the present prime minister-minister-level staff.

If the government representatives to the board were lower-rank
officials, even deputy ministers, the NGOs would feel easier to
express their opinion. When the meeting of the board is conducted
by the prime minister, and four ministers are present, it is very
much doubted that the NGOs would dare to veto anything. It is true
that even with junior officials included in the board the same prime
minister and minister could indirectly deal with the same NGOs to
have them lift the veto. This would tarnish the “crystal” belief in
the Millennium Challenge-Armenia program, however.

Most probably, however, there will undoubtedly be crystal pureness,
because it concerns the reconstruction of infrastructures of rural
communities. The government would hardly rob itself. Most government
officials of Armenia are at the same time big feudalists, and own big
farms in the same rural communities. And the reconstruction of rural
infrastructures will promote their own business, irrigation of their
land and successful transportation of their production to the city.

Finally, there is no doubt that the program will be implemented
conscientiously. After all, it is not tarmac and anyone walks on it.

It is land, it is “cash.” Therefore, the government will be craving
for the effective implementation of the program for the prosperity of
the land. Therefore, there was no need for any NGO to become member
of the managing board. The ministers would control everything better
than anyone. After all, it is not accidental that the board is headed
by the prime minister, and includes ministers. In order not to allow
junior officials implementing the program to consider supporting their
families at the expense of the prime minister and ministers. For if
the land dries out, cash will dry out too.