ACBA BANK RENAMED TO ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOL BANK
Panorama.am
16:45 26/09/06
Tigran Sargsyan, chairman of Central Bank and Stepan Grishyan,
executive director for ACBA Bank, congratulated the public in a press
conference today saying Credit Agricole has bought 28% of ACBA Bank’s
shares becoming the leading shareholder in the bank.
ACBA Bank has changed its name to ACBA-Credit Agricol Bank.
“Today we have not one but two transnational corporations which is
important for the banking system of the republic,” Sargsyan said saying
HSBC had a monopoly position until now causing troubles in the market.
After the first investment the own capital of the bank has made up
10 billion Armenian drams.
People Of Art Praise Soviet Days
PEOPLE OF ART PRAISE SOVIET DAYS
Panorama.am
16:46 26/09/06
Translator Armen Hovhannnisyan praised the Soviet rule in a debate
today saying, “Everything was clean then unlike now when everybody is
going down to the level of consumer.” Hovhannisyan believes that the
state must regulate culture. Ruben Hakhverdyan, a renowned Armenian
singer, also criticized the present day culture, particularly pointing
out to the songs of Grisha Aghakhanyan. He believes that everything
was organized during the Soviet era, though he also admits “some
censorship was used against his songs.”
From: Baghdasarian
Grand Opening of COAF’s Psycho-Social Center
PRESS RELEASE
Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) – Yerevan Office
53-55 Pavstos Byuzand Street, 375010
Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Inessa Grigoryan
Tel: (+374 10) 522076; 562068
Fax: (+374 10) 522076
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
Children of Armenia Fund – New York Office
630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2100,
New York, NY 10111, USA
Contact: Anna Sargsyan
Tel: 212 – 994 – 8201
Fax: 212 – 994 – 8299
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
UNICEF’s Armenia Office Representative Leads the Grand Opening of
COAF’s Psycho-Social Center
Dalarik, Republic of Armenia, September 26, 2006 ¾ Today, the United
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF)
jointly held the grand opening of the Dalarik Psycho-Social Center. The
Center was initiated in June 2006 through a co-sponsorship between COAF
and UNICEF-Armenia. By making psycho-social services available to the
six communities of COAF’s Model Cluster ¾ Argina, Dalarik, Karakert,
Lernagog, Myasnikyan, and Shenik ¾ the partners aim to secure the
integration of children with special needs and their families in the
larger society.
The event host, Dr. Naira Gharakhanyan, COAF Community Development
Program Manager, introduced the guests, including the mayors and deputy
mayors of COAF’s Model Cluster villages, the Psycho-Social Center staff,
and other key members of the community. Also present at the event were
the student-journalists of the newly established Cluster Press Club and
a dozen beneficiaries of the Psycho-Social Center.
Mr. Sheldon Yett, the Representative of UNICEF-Armenia, led the
ribbon-cutting ceremony. In his address, Mr. Yett articulated the
significance of the program for children with special needs and
acknowledged the exceptional cooperation demonstrated by the local
municipality in the creation of the Center. Mr. Yett congratulated the
project staff, stressing the importance of teamwork among teachers,
parents, doctors and the community for achieving the shared vision and
project goal.
In turn, Dr. Naira Avetisyan, UNICEF-Armenia Child Protection Officer,
emphasized the positive impact of multi-level cooperation on the success
and sustained functioning of the Center. As an integral part of
UNICEF’s larger program in this domain, she highlighted the principal
aim of the Center in defending the rights of children, to give them the
opportunity to live and grow in a safe and supportive environment. Most
importantly, “we must raise public awareness of child’s rights,” by
training parents and educators on the rights of socially disadvantaged
or disabled children.
Dr. Arpie G. Balian, COAF’s Resident Country Director, spoke of the
importance of this partnership between COAF and UNICEF, “organizations
that have children at the center of every project they realize.” She
emphasized the importance of this partnership as part of COAF’s
Integrated Rural Development program and hoped for continued
cooperation. Dr. Balian also provided an overview of the initial data
gathered in the initial period of four-months since implementation of
the project. “These initial numbers show that such endeavors are
critically important, not only in the capital, but also for rural
Armenia.”
# # # # #
MFA: Minister Oskanian Meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
27-09-2006
Minister Oskanian Meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
On September 26, Minister Oskanian met with the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
The interlocutors discussed the present state of the conflict settlement
process from the perspective of the new initiative introduced by GUAM and
included in the agenda of the 61-th Session of the UN General Assembly.
They also touched upon possible developments and resumption of the process.
Later that day, Minister Oskanian met with Nicholas Burns, US Under
Secretary of State for Political Affairs, and Sheikha Haya Rashed Al
Khalifa, President of the UN General Assembly.
`The sunrise of Christianity’
ASSIST News Service (ANS) – PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: — E-mail: [email protected]
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
`The sunrise of Christianity’
Is this barren former minefield, close to the Dead Sea in Jordan, the
birthplace of Christianity?
By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
[Prince Charles is shown around the Baptism site by Rustom Mkhjian]
BETHANY-BEYOND-THE-JORDAN, JORDAN (ANS) — It was once a minefield and it’s
hot, humid and covered with scrub, but the significance of this unlikely
place close to the Dead Sea in Jordan may be the greatest discovery for
Christians in the Middle East for many centuries.
The startling discovery is at Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan where many believe
that John the Baptist baptized Jesus and so began His earthly ministry that
took him to the cross and then the resurrection, and birthed the largest
religion in the world.
What is thought to be the actual baptism spot is now a dusty hole about 100
yards or so from the Jordan River, but experts believe that is where the
river once ran and the baptism took place.
[Rustom Mkhjian makes a point by the River Jordan]
Along with a small group, I was shown around the site by Rustom Mkhjian, an
Armenian Christian who is the deputy director of the site and possibly the
greatest expert on it. As we stood just across the River Jordan from Israel,
I as this enthusiastic champion of the site to explain about how it was
discovered and its significance especially for Christians.
`I’ve been working here for around ten years and we began to uncover the
site after Jordan signed the peace treaty with Israel in 1994,’ he began.
`This area was cleared of landmines and prepared for us to come and
investigate and look for archeological sites because we heard from a lot of
experts plus our documents that this was a holy site. Even the local
community, the people living round us called this site here Elijah’s Hill,
for it believed to be the place where Elijah ascended into the heavens.’
I then asked Mkhjian how could he know that this spot was the actual baptism
site for Jesus Christ?
[On the front left is the spot where some say Jesus was baptized when the
river was much wider]
He replied, `When we started our studies, our first reference was John,
Chapter One, verse twenty-eight, where it says that Jesus came to
Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan where John was baptizing. Now, as experts in
archeology, we generally have to have our sources and here let me refer to
something that Jesus himself said, `Build your house on a rock’ and we in
Jordan, the local group that have worked here, are dependent on four issues
to show that this is the site where so many biblical events took place.
`Not only the baptism of Christ — that was the most important of course —
but so many important events took place. So these four foundations are the
Gospels, and then the pilgrims occurrences because this site was on the
pilgrimage rout between Jerusalem and Bethlehem and up to Mount Nebo where
Moses died. The archeological discoveries that go along the description of
the pilgrims was the exciting part actually; and according to what we have
in the Gospels and the fourth issue is what we have depicted in the Mosaic
map of the Holy Land that was prepared in five-hundred-sixty-two AD. So that
was a very good reference to us on which so many things were depicted that
we can talk about later.
`But let me briefly say about what we have in the Gospels actually. When
Moses died Joshua took over as we knew in Joshua chapter one up to five we
have the story of Joshua crossing the Jordan towards Jericho city with the
twelve tribes of Israel of course turning around the walls of Jericho city
blowing the horn and it comes down. So therefore, that’s the first instance
where the River Jordan was crossed by the head of a community from the east
to the west.
`As we said earlier in Second Kings chapter two, we read about Elijah and
Elisha coming from Jericho and Elijah’s mantle touches the River Jordan and
it splits and they walk on dry ground toward the east eventually Elijah
ascends to the heaven. Elisha takes his mantle, goes back to Jericho again.
`Between the Old and the New Testament is John or as we know him — John the
Baptizer who was called John the Baptist. That’s an important issue because
in Luke chapter one verse seventeen says that John came in the spirit and
strength of Elijah. So that’s actually the first reason why he came and
dwelt and prepared the way for the Lord at the place from where Elijah
ascended to the heaven.
`As we know the second reason was water because John was clear too when he
said, `I’ll baptize with water but the one coming after me will baptize in
the Holy Spirit.’ This all happened in Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan where John
was baptizing. Now this is in brief what we have in the Gospels but if you
want to end the story of John the Baptist we know Matthew chapter fourteen
tells us about how Herod Antipas who married his brother’s wife Herodias
when Salome danced in an area so close from here about forty kilometers
south east the castle; that’s where Salome danced and eventually they asked
for the head of John the Baptist. That’s where John the Baptist was beheaded
about forty kilometers from here.’
As we stood in the sweltering heat overlooking the River Jordan, which
certainly didn’t look today like a great place to swim in with lots of
pollution in it, I asked if it seemed ironic that Christianity would begin
in such a barren wilderness?
`Not at all sir,’ he said. `Depending on what we have in the Gospels,
depending on what we have so close from us about twenty kilometers to the
south west in an area that’s called the Qumran caves where the Dead Sea
Scrolls were found a lot of things were referred to wilderness. The sound of
the wilderness that came at the east bank of the Jordan that was the
wilderness. Not only that crossing from evil to good or from good to evil
that’s what resemble the crossing of Joshua first of all running away from
evil to good.
[Jordan River sign close to baptism spot]
`And eventually Jesus came to the east part crossing from the evil things
that took place in the west to the east. So this was a refuge place if you
like. And regarding the place Christianity started well we are only a
hundred meters south of a site where we have remains of five churches that
were built uniquely and I underline uniquely just at the bank of the River
Jordan eastern bank of the Jordan described carefully by so many pilgrims
and we have all this mentioned in a series of books called Palestine
pilgrims text society volumes one to six. It talks about so many pilgrims
that visited Palestine and came to the place where Jesus was baptized even
being baptized at the spot they believe Jesus was baptized and eventually
the early Christians built the only cruciform baptismal font on earth that
used the River Jordan as a water to baptize in running water.
`And this is important and regarding what you have in the Mosaic map when
you have the two fish five miles north of the dead Sea at this spot one
going to the south the other coming back up north we know that fish was the
secret sign of Christianity.
`When you have it here along the River Jordan that’s around a hundred
kilometers long from the Tiberius to the Dead Sea. When you have the fish at
this spot, Christianity because that’s where Christianity started. By the
way at the place where we have the churches discovered these are the lowest
discovered churches on earth too because they are situated four-hundred
meters below sea level. But we consider the site to be the closest to heaven
because when Jesus was baptized the Holy Spirit descended, the dove and the
voice of the Lord said, `This is my beloved son in whom I’m well pleased.’
`Let us not forget something else that took place at this point, when the
first time John met Jesus he pointed with his fingers saying, this is the
lamb of God so he was talking about sacrifice. He was talking bout the
crucifixion three or more years before it happened again so close just about
thirty-five kilometers to the west from where we are now. So I say again in
Arabic, welcome to Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan; the lowest point on Earth; the
sunrise of Christianity.’
When asked if tourists, particularly Christian pilgrims, were welcome at the
site, he replied, `Definitely sir; this site is open to everybody. Let us
remember our late majesty King Hussein who had a famous statement about
heritage. He said, `Heritage belongs to humanity.’ This site belongs to you,
me, everybody. Our duty in Jordan is to take good care of it depending on
the international charters regarding heritage and their well being and
eventually opening it to everybody because everybody deserves to see this
site.
It seems that many leaders from around the world are beginning to recognize
this site at the place where Jesus Christ was baptized. Among those who have
already visited it include: Pope John Paul II, Pope Shenouda III, head of
the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt and even Prince Charles, the heir to the
British throne and Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who according to my guide,
had one of his children baptized in a font by the River Jordan at the site.
For more information, go to
Note: An audio version of this interview is available for broadcast in MP3
form. To request it, please send a message to Dan Wooding at
[email protected].
Note: I’d like to thank Robin Frost for transcribing this interview.
_______________________________________ _
Dan Wooding is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern
California with his wife Norma. He is the founder and international director
of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News
Service (ANS). He was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio
Network in Washington, DC. Wooding is the author of some 42 books, the
latest of which is his autobiography, “From Tabloid to Truth”, which is
published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, go to
[email protected]. Pictured: Dan Wooding
interviews Rustom Mkhjian besides the River Jordan.
________________________________________
** You may republish this story with proper attribution.
Send this story to a friend.
________________________________________
ASSIST News Service is brought to you in part by Gospel for Asia (GFA). For
millions trapped in lives of spiritual bondage in Asia, GFA Radio provides
their only means of hearing the Good News about life in Jesus. Started in
1986, GFA Radio today airs Christian programs in 92 Asian languages. Some
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ANKARA: Dutch Parties Expel Candidates for Armenian Genocide Denial
Dutch Parties Expel Candidates for `Armenian Genocide’ Denial
By Cihan News Agency
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
zaman.com
Three Turkish candidates have been expelled from their parties in the
Netherlands due to their refusal to accept so-called Armenian
genocide, which the Armenians claimed the Turkish committed during the
World War One (WWI).
Ahead of general elections to be held in the Netherlands on Nov. 22,
on Tuesday two separate Dutch parties removed three Turkish-origin
politicians from their lists of candidates to run for a seat in the
parliament.
The Christian Democrat Appeal (CDA) officials decided to expel Ayhan
Tonca and Osman Elmaci from the party because they denied the
existence of the so-called Armenian genocide. The Labor Party of the
Netherlands also expelled Erdinc Sacan for the same reason.
CDA candidates Tonca and Elmaci are expected to hold a press
conference about the issue on Wednesday.
;alt=&a mp;hn=36840
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Visits Armenia Fund Office
Armenia Fund, Inc.
111 N. Jackson St. Ste. 205
Glendale, CA 91206
Tel: 818-243-6222
Fax: 818-243-7222
PRESS RELEASE
Contact ~ Sarkis Kotanjian
[email protected] g
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Visits Armenia Fund Office
New Jersey Congressman Rallies Support for Telethon 2006
LOS ANGELES – On September 23, 2006, U.S. Congressman and Co-Chair of
the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
visited the offices of Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region and met with
leadership and staff of the organization.
Maria Mehranian, Chairperson of Armenia Fund, Sarkis Kotanjian,
Executive Director, and Greg Boyrazian, Director of Development held a
breakfast meeting with the congressman. Among the various topics
discussed during the meeting was the U.S. Millennium Challenge
Corporation’s generous grant of $235.65 million made to the Republic of
Armenia over a course of five years. The grant is designed to combat
rural poverty through the construction of new rural roads and a modern
irrigation network for the purpose of revitalizing Armenia’s rural
economy. The project is aimed at making Armenia the region’s breadbasket
through this critical socio-economic stimulus project. According to the
Millennium Challenge Corporation, the compact includes a $67 million
project to rehabilitate up to 943 kilometers of rural roads, more than a
third of Armenia’s proposed Lifeline road network. The program will be
joined by Armenia Fund’s major Rural Poverty Eradication program later
in fiscal year 2007. The ambitious infrastructure development program
was unveiled by the Foreign Affairs Minister of Armenia, H.E. Vartan
Oskanian during the 3rd Armenia-Diaspora Conference in Yerevan.
Mehranian thanked Congressman Pallone for his unyielding support of
issues vital to the development of the Republic of Armenia. She
emphasized that U.S. foreign aid to Armenia, along with the growing
support of the Diaspora through Armenia Fund, are contributing to the
critical development of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Pallone stressed
that the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s grant should not be used as
an excuse for decreasing any type of aid to Armenia under the Foreign
Aid Operation act. He pledged to continue to fight for more foreign aid
to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Executive Director Sarkis Kotanjian also thanked the Congressman for his
support, especially to the fledgling Republic of Nagorno Karabakh. It is
noteworthy that Congressman Pallone has been to the republic several
times and highly commended Armenia Fund’s ongoing projects, especially
in Nagorno Karabakh. Kotanjian later added details about the ongoing
regional development program in Martakert. In 2007 Armenia Fund plans on
implementing a parallel regional development program in the southernmost
poverty-stricken Hadrut region as well. The 2006 Telethon will raise
funds for that purpose.
Congressman Pallone warmly welcomed the program and highly commended the
Fund’s activities throughout Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. He pledged to
push for more assistance to Nagorno Karabakh in the context of regional
development. Pallone wished the Armenia Fund a successful Telethon and a
strong future as it embarks on the Rural Poverty Eradication Program.
Armenia Fund, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation
established in 1994 to facilitate large-scale humanitarian and
infrastructure development assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Since 1991, Armenia Fund has rendered more than $160 million in
development aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Armenia Fund, Inc. is
the U.S. Western Region affiliate of `Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund. Tax
ID# 95-4485698
MEPs set to greenlight Turkey report without genocide clause
MEPs set to greenlight Turkey report without genocide clause
27.09.2006 – 09:40 CET | By Lucia Kubosova
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – The European Parliament is expected to approve a
critical report on Turkey and its progress on EU membership talks, but MEPs
have signalled they are prepared to drop the suggestion that Ankara must
recognize the Armenian genocide before it can join the bloc.
The plenary vote on Wednesday (27 September) on the report by Dutch
centre-right MEP Camiel Eurlings comes after weeks of heated discussions
topped by a final plenary debate in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
Opening the parliamentary forum, Mr Eurlings said his report was “tough but
fair,” reflecting the EU legislature’s regret about the slowing down of the
reform process in Turkey.
He highlighted three key areas where improvement is necessary – freedom of
expression, minority religion rights and the Cyprus issue.
EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn echoed the same concerns, urging
Ankara to undertake “a more resolute reform process” and noting that he is
“rather tired of repeating himself” on human rights issues.
“Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of the reforms. Journalists,
authors, publishers and human-rights activists still face judiciary
proceedings for violations of article 301 of the penal code on the vague
grounds of ‘insulting Turkishness’.”
“It is now high time that Turkey amends the restrictive articles in the
penal code” and brings them into line with basic EU principles, noted Mr
Rehn, adding that the national leaders should pursue these reforms “for the
sake of Turkish citizens, not merely to please the EU.”
He also suggested that the country needs an “open and constructive exchange
of views, also on “the most sensitive issues” – such as re-conciliation with
its neighbours, including Armenia.
The parliamentary report – as adopted in the foreign policy committee – was
particularly criticised in Turkey for its suggestion that Turkey should
recognize the mass killings of Armenians in 1915 as a pre-condition of its
EU membership.
However, both the centre-right and socialist debaters in the plenary hinted
on Tuesday that they would vote against this particular article to prevent
further controversy.
Cyprus deadlock
Concerning Turkey’s reluctance to open up its ports and airspace to Cypriot
ships and planes, both MEPs and commissioner Rehn noted that the EU’s
December deadline is fast approaching.
“The progress in the negotiations also depends on Turkey meeting its
obligations,” said commissioner Rehn, adding that Ankara’s legally binding
duty to fulfill the customs union accord with the EU is not linked with the
bloc’s political commitment to end economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriot
community on the divided island.
Still, he praised the Finnish EU presidency for its effort to break the
deadlock and prevent the suspension of Turkey’s negotiations at the end of
this year, stressing that it is in Europe’s own interest that the country
keep on its democratic path with the goal of joining the bloc.
“If Turkey succeeds, with our consistent support, it can become an ever
sturdier bridge of civilisations, at a moment when the relationship between
Europe and Islam is the greatest challenge of our time.”
The European Commission will publish its annual report on Turkey’s EU
progress on 8 November – it is expected to suggest in the report what the EU
should do if Ankara misses the deadline on Cyprus.
New EU warning on Turkey reforms / Genocide clause dropped
The European Parliament has adopted a report warning that the pace of
reform in Turkey has slowed, jeopardising Ankara’s EU membership bid.
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 — ListProcessor(tm) by CREN
But MEPs dropped a clause demanding that Turkey recognise as
“genocide” the mass killings of Armenians in 1915.
Turkey maintains that the Armenians were casualties of turmoil as the
Ottoman empire crumbled. Armenians say up to 1.5 million died in a
“genocide”.
The non-binding report said Turkey had failed to ensure freedom of
expression.
It called for the abolition or amendment of Turkish laws such as
Article 301 “which threaten European free speech norms”.
Article 301 of the Turkish penal code has been used to prosecute
several well-known authors for “insulting Turkishness”.
Cyprus deadlock
The MEPs also called on Turkey to recognise the Republic of Cyprus and
lift its embargo on Cypriot ships and planes, saying continued failure
to do so “will have serious implications for the [EU] negotiation
process and could even bring it to a halt”.
The report was adopted by 429 votes in favour to 71 against, with 125
abstentions.
It said the European Parliament “regrets the slowing down of the
reform process” in Turkey, though it welcomed some recent Turkish
steps to crack down on torture and corruption and to extend women’s
rights.
On the Armenian question, MEPs said Turkey must come to terms with its
past, although recognition of the “genocide” was not a condition for
EU accession.
The European Commission is to publish its next annual report on
Turkey’s progress on 8 November.
The parliament’s report came a day after Bulgaria and Romania were
given the go-ahead to join the EU on 1 January 2007.
In Ankara, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned the EU
against introducing any new entrance criteria.
Last Updated: Wednesday, 27 September 2006, 16:04 GMT 17:04 UK
All-ASA Senate Meets and Outlines Positions
Armenian Revolutionary Federation Shant Student Association
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 306
Glendale, California 91206
Tel: 818-462-3006
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website:
PRESS RELEASE
September 26, 2006
Inter-collegiate pan-Armenian body outlines its goals and positions
related to a broad range of issues of concern to Armenian-American
students.
GLENDALE, CA – The Senate of the All-Armenian Student Associations
(All-ASA) Confederation convened for its first General Meeting of the
2007 academic year on Sunday, September 24, 2006 at the Armenian
Cultural Foundation’s headquarters in Glendale. The General Meeting
was hosted and presided over by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Shant Student Association (ARF Shant), the rotating chair organization
of the All-ASA, with all major All-ASA constituent organizations
represented by their respective Senators.
In a strong display of unity, the All-ASA Senate, which represents
over a dozen Armenian collegiate organizations, unanimously approved
three resolutions. The first resolution states that the All-ASA
rejects the confirmation of Richard E. Hoagland as the next
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia unless he is forthright and properly
recognizes the Armenian Genocide as a historical fact. The second
resolution expresses the All-ASA’s outrage at the deployment of
Turkish troops in Lebanon, a country that has been a bastion of
survivors and their descendants who fled the genocidal onslaught of
Turkish troops between 1915 and 1923. Finally, the All-ASA condemns
the sale of Turkish-made products on college campuses until the
government of Turkey discontinues funding genocide revisionism in
academic departments and acknowledges its historical crimes against
humanity.
Chris Minassian, chairman of the ARF Shant stated, “It is our
responsibility as representatives of Armenian college students in the
region to voice our positions on key issues affecting the Armenian
community.”
Furthermore, the All-ASA reaffirmed its commitment to initiating and
implementing programs in support of global recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, the continued strengthening of Armenia, and cultural
preservation in the Diaspora. In accordance with the long-standing
modi operandi of the All-ASA, the Senate voted to create and
reintroduce several inter-collegiate committees to work jointly toward
the objectives of the All-ASA. The ARF Shant was once again nominated
and elected to chair the All-ASA Leadership Development Committee.
The All-ASA is a united body described and agreed upon in the
“Articles of Confederation of All Armenian Student Associations”. The
primary goals of the All-ASA are to promote collaboration between its
constituent organizations and provide forums, through which the
organizations may announce events, publicize activities, share ideas
regarding the Armenian college student community, and facilitate the
formulation of All-ASA programs.
The constituent organizations of the All-ASA are: the Armenian Student
Associations (ASA) of Cal. Poly. Pomona, Cal. State Northridge,
U.C. Los Angeles, U.C. Riverside, Univ. of So. California,
Cal. Institute of Tech., Loyola Marymount Univ., Cal. State Los
Angeles, Cal. State Long Beach; the Armenian Graduate Student
Association at U.C. Los Angeles; and the ARF Shant Student
Association.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress