Armenian National Committee of Canada
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622 Fax (613) 238-2622
Armenian National Committee of Canada
Opens National office in Ottawa
Ottawa – The dream of thousands of dedicated Hai Tad members and supporters
became reality on April 25 when the Armenian National Committee of Canada
(ANCC) opened its national office in Ottawa.
Over 200 supporters, led by Dr. Vagharch Ehramdjian, ANCC Chairman; Hagop
Der Khachadourian, ANC International; Archbishop Khajak Hagopian, Prelate;
ANCC board and regional chapters members, and representatives of the
Armenian Relief Society, Hamazkaine Cultural Association and Homenetmen came
from Montreal, Laval, Toronto, and Ottawa to witness the historic event.
After the official ribbon-cutting ceremony at the 130 Albert Street office,
guests headed to the nearby National Press Club for a cocktail reception.
In his welcoming address, Dr. Ehramdjian said: `The opening of the Armenian
National Committee office in Ottawa will complement a chain of other offices
in Washington, Brussels’, Moscow and Beirut.’
The ANCC chairman thanked the Right Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of
Canada; Peter McKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and the Canadian
Government for their historic announcement-statement in reaffirming the
Canadian Senate’s and the House of Commons’ motions recognizing the Armenian
Genocide. He also thanked the leaders of the other three parties – the
Liberal, the Bloc Québecois, and the New Democratic Party for their support
of the motions, and to all members of Parliament `Who observed a one-minute
of silence in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.’ Dr.
Ehramdjian said: ` The Armenian community of Canada is grateful and proud of
its governing bodies for placing justice and human rights above economic and
political considerations.’
Archbishop Khajak Hagopian congratulated the Canadian-Armenian community for
its decades-long campaign to obtain government’s recognition for the
Armenian Genocide. He said the opening of the ANCC office would advance the
interests of the Canadian-Armenian community in the circles of power.
Afterwards, master of ceremonies Tina Soulahian invited ANCC excutive
director Aris Babikian to introduce David Warner. The former MPP and Speaker
of the Ontario Legislative Assembly was honoured for his commitment and
outstanding contribution to the Armenian cause. Mr. Babikian then invited
Jean Meguerditchian, co-president of ANCC to present Mr. David Warner with
ANCC’s Outstanding Contribution citation.
Mr. Babikian then invited the gathering to observe one minute of silence in
honour of the four Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
In his remarks, Mr. Babikian paid tribute to the Prime Minister’s
Parliamentary Secretary Jason Kenney, who `played a pivotal role in
securing Canadian Government’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide.’ Mr.
Babikian said that the ANCC worked very closely with Mr. Kenney to win the
government’s recognition. Furthermore, during the 2004 Armenian Genocide
recognition in the House of Commons, Mr. Kenney was instrumental in securing
Conservative Party’s support for Motion M-380, said Mr. Babikian
Members of the Canadian Parliament, the Senate, the diplomatic corps, the
media and leaders of numerous ethnic communities joined the Armenian
community to celebrate the Genocide recognition milestone and the opening of
the national office. Other guests at the gathering included Bloc Québecois
leader Gilles Duceppe, former federal ministers Irwin Cotler, Stéphane Dion,
Jim Peterson, and MPs Vivian Barbot, Nicole Demers, Raymonde Folco, Gary
Goodyear, Jim Karygiannis, Derek Lee, Yasmin Ratansi, and Bill Siksay.
-30-
The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances the concerns of
the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of issues.
Regional Chapters
Montréal- Toronto – Laval – Vancouver – Ottawa – Hamilton – Cambridge – St.
Catharines – Windsor

A1+
RAIN «PARTICIPATED» IN THE MARCH
[08:01 pm] 28 April, 2006
At the moment when leader of the «New Times» Party
Aram Karapetyan got out of the car near the
Matenadaran, rain started. Little by little it turned
into hail. But the weather did not bother the
participants of the march which was organized by the
«New Times» Party to scold the power structures for
interfering with the political procedures.
Getting wet through under the rain, without an
umbrella, Aram Karapetyan represented his main demands
to those who had arrived at the area near the
Matenadaran, but the voice of the rain prevented the
people from hearing him. «The power structures have no
right to interfere with politics. We have always said
it», Aram Karapetyan. He also referred to the promise
of being given air, even despite the claim that he
will be deprived of his votes in that case. Aram
Karapetyan announced that he will go to the National
TV Company in the middle of May, even if he loses
votes.
The aim of the meeting was to give a message to the
Police and the National Security Service. The message
condemns the methods used against the peaceful
demonstrators on April 12, 2004, the encroachments
against the New Times Party and the illegal activity
of the power structures.
>From the Matenadaran the participants of the march
walked to the police, accompanied by a number of
policemen. Then they visited the National Security
Service. No one came to meet them, but the message was
accepted.
The participants of the march left the place about 15
minutes later. RAIN «PARTICIPATED» IN THE MARCH
At the moment when leader of the «New Times» Party
Aram Karapetyan got out of the car near the
Matenadaran, rain started. Little by little it turned
into hail. But the weather did not bother the
participants of the march which was organized by the
«New Times» Party to scold the power structures for
interfering with the political procedures.
Getting wet through under the rain, without an
umbrella, Aram Karapetyan represented his main demands
to those who had arrived at the area near the
Matenadaran, but the voice of the rain prevented the
people from hearing him. «The power structures have no
right to interfere with politics. We have always said
it», Aram Karapetyan. He also referred to the promise
of being given air, even despite the claim that he
will be deprived of his votes in that case. Aram
Karapetyan announced that he will go to the National
TV Company in the middle of May, even if he loses
votes.
The aim of the meeting was to give a message to the
Police and the National Security Service. The message
condemns the methods used against the peaceful
demonstrators on April 12, 2004, the encroachments
against the New Times Party and the illegal activity
of the power structures.
>From the Matenadaran the participants of the march
walked to the police, accompanied by a number of
policemen. Then they visited the National Security
Service. No one came to meet them, but the message was
accepted.
The participants of the march left the place about 15
minutes later.

ALIEV IS INSPIRED

Aravot.am
28 April 06

We hope that the US as a superpower and the OSCE MG cochairman will
assist the NK conflict settlement and it will be possible to make
peace in the region’ , – the President of Azerbaijan said in the
council of foreign relations of the US Carnegie foundation in
Washington. The latter also made some other declarations about
Karabakh. `Karabakh today is the main problem of preventing the
development of Azerbaijan, otherwise we are in excellent conditions,
budget is multiplied, energetic projects are enlarged’, – Aliev has
said. To the question to what concessions Armenia, which won in the
war can go Aliev answered; `First of all, Armenia hasn’t won in the
war, maybe the RA had some privileges in the first battle with the
assistance of other countries. Everybody knows that the Armenians
weren’t able to occupy our territories without the assistance of
Russian army. Besides the war isn’t over yet. I think it’s already the
time for the RA authorities to take a decision and try to make a
decision what will happen in Armenia in 10, 15 years if the conflict
isn’t settled’ , – Aliev said.

The speech of the President of Azerbaijan has turned into obvious
threat; ` The future of Azerbaijan is rather clear. Azerbaijan will be
become a strong, prosperous country with a powerful economy and
society. A country with which is better to become a neighbor’. Peace
is [profitable for both sides. In case of mutual concessions Armenia
will have ways of communications, way to the RF which is `very
important for Armenia’, and will be able to take part in the regional
project. The NK people will get the right of living in peace. He has
produced his version of settlement; `The Armenians who live in
Karabakh have right to have a high level of autonomy round territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan, which we see in many other countries,
including in Europe. Strong political guarantees must be given to them
that the peace will be indestructable in the region’.

By the way the OSCE MG American cochairman Steven Mann has said to the
mass media `it is possible to refuse of attempts of entire and
immediate settlement of the conflict. The opposite approach must act
now, to go ahead step by step and give some difficult problems to the
future.’

Summarizing we should mention that Aliev’s these strong declarations
are made in Washington and before the meeting with Bush. It is obvious
that he has been inspired.

Tigran Avetisian

VAHRAM ATANESIAN:CERTAIN FORCES IN BAKU HOPE THAT AZERBAIJAN’S
PARTICIPATION IN THE ANTI-IRANAIN COALITION WILL HELP MAINTAIN CONTROL
OVER TERRITORIES SURROUNDING NAGORNO KARABAKH
Stepanakert, April 29. ArmInfo. “Certain forces in Baku hope that
Azerbaijan’s participation in the anti-Iranian coalition will help
maintain control over the territories surrounding Nagorno Karabakh,
but this is a mere illusion. I am sure that the probable attack
against Iran is of great danger for the region, and proceeding from
this, Azerbaijan shouldn’t assist USA in the given issue,” Vahram
Atanesian, chairman of the Permanent Commission for Foreign Affairs at
NKR Parliament, said this in the interview to ArmInfo.
At the same time, Atanesian expressed hope that the situation around
Iran will not grow into a military conflict. “In believe that the
attack against this country doesn’t keep in line with interests of the
international community.
The Iranian authorities still have a chance to give up the program of
creating nuclear weapon and stop the growing mistrust to this
country,” Atanesian said.

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS General
People who killed two policemen in Moscow identified
MOSCOW April 28
Police have identified the people who shot dead two police officers
in Moscow early on Friday morning, a law enforcement source told
Interfax.
Ethnic Georgians who were attempting to extort money from ethnic
Armenians in an apartment located on the ground floor saw a police
car pull up outside the building, he said.
The Georgians opened fire when policemen were entering the apartment
and fled, the source said.

Armenian opposition party urges law-enforcers to keep out of politics
Arminfo
28 Apr 06
Yerevan, 28 April: A protest rally and march were staged by the
opposition New Times Party [NTP] outside the buildings of the Armenian
Police and National Security Service in Yerevan today.
Addressing the rally on the square outside the Matenadaran museum of
ancient manuscripts, the leader of the NTP, Aram Karapetyan, said that
he and his supporters believe that interference in domestic political
developments by the law-enforcement agencies – the police and the
National Security Service – is inadmissible. These important
government agencies should only serve the state, not the pocket
interests of a bunch of people who have seized power in the country.
“We have nothing against these agencies – the police and the National
Security Service, we are against their leadership that serves the
pocket of the powers that be,” Karapetyan said.
Participants in the demonstration handed over a letter to the
leadership of the police and republic’s National Security Service,
demanding that they keep out of politics.
[Passage omitted: About 500 supporters of the New Times Party took
part in the rally]
The NTP will stage another protest rally outside the building of
Armenian Public TV in May in protest against its refusal to allocate
airtime to members of the party, Karapetyan told journalists.

Armenian minister, NKR speaker discuss Karabakh settlement
Mediamax news agency
28 Apr 06
Yerevan, 28 April: The speaker of the natioanal assembly of the
Nagornyy Karabakh republic [NKR], Ashot Gulyan, and Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan discussed the settlement of the Karabakh
conflict in Stepanakert today.
Gulyan informed Oskanyan of recent debates in parliament in
Stepanakert of prospects for settling the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict. The speaker handed over a statement adopted in the debates
to the minister, who will submit it to appropriate international
organizations.
Oskanyan spoke about the current and possible developments around the
settlement process and the policy of the Armenian leadership on the
negotiations. The minister pointed out an important detail that unlike
the previous stage, the key point of the talks and the main topic of
discussioins will be the issue of self-determination of Nagornyy
Karabakh.
From: Baghdasarian

IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM MODIFIES TURKISH STRATEGY AND POLICY
CENTRAL ASIA – CAUCASUS ANALYST
Wednesday / April 05, 2006
By Stephen Blank
Every analysis of the consequences of Iran’s nuclear and missile
projects has stressed that successful completion of those programs
would dramatically transform Eurasia’s security situation. We can
already begin to see this happening with Turkey which shares a border
with Iran and which has become increasingly nervous about Iran’s
nuclear and missile program. Turkey still seeks to join the EU, is
effecting a rapprochement with Russia, and is also simultaneously a
member of NATO. It also still has a substantive working relationship
with Israel, particularly among both states’ armed forces, and is
still insecure regarding Kurdish terrorism and aspirations to a
state. Iran’s activities threaten to transform the balance around
Turkey and have led to clear signs of new modifications in Turkish
policy.
BACKGROUND: Turkey has stated that it has sent messages to Iran asking
it to desist from building nuclear weapons. Indeed, as an aspirant to
membership in the EU it could do no less without enraging Brussels,
and the key members of the EU who are leading the negotiations with
Iran. But it has a delicately balanced relationship with Iran. Its
border with Iran has been quiet for centuries. Iran is also a major
source of Turkish energy imports, providing almost a fifth of Turkey’s
energy imports. Both Iran and Turkey also share common apprehensions
about Kurdish independence drives in their own states and in Iraq as
well as fears of re-emerging Kurdish terrorism in their two
states. And with a Muslim- led AKP government in power in Ankara,
Turkey undoubtedly is highly sensitive to charges about supporting
non-Muslim regimes against Iran.
Nevertheless, while it has made clear its apprehensions to Israel
about possible Israeli preemptive strikes against Iran through Turkish
air space, the Turkish government and military are clearly moving to
protect themselves against possible Iranian nuclearization. Turkey has
resumed bilateral military talks with Israel and is evidently
upgrading intelligence cooperation with Washington, not only to
counter Kurdish terrorism in Turkey but also to monitor developments
in Iraq. At the same time the Turkish government, acting on its
military’s urging, has now opened an international tender for anti-air
missiles which could also be used as anti-missile missiles to block or
deter potential Iranian attacks upon Turkey. Thus this tender has
stimulated competition among foreign suppliers to provide it with the
appropriate missiles and the main contenders appear to be America,
Israel and Russia. The Russian firm Almaz-Antey is gearing up to to
offer Turkey its S-300-PMU-2 missile known as Favorit, and Russia has
evidently approached Turkey about co-production of the S-300 missile,
perhaps in this variant. Such gestures are a part of the larger
Russo-Turkish rapprochement that has been effected since 2003 through
major gas sales, burgeoning trade and shared apprehensions about
American policy in Iraq and about the EU’s demands on both states for
reforms. Even if Moscow and Ankara claim to have also developed
common interests with regard to developments in the Caucasus, it
remains the case that for Ankara membership in the EU is the main
priority. Consequently it could not, even if it wanted to, go against
the EU on the sensitive Iranian issue. But this issue also clearly has
the potential to influence Ankara back toward collaboration with
Western powers like America and Israel.
IMPLICATIONS: Should Ankara gradually return to enhanced security and
defense cooperation with the West, the results would be seen in the
Black Sea and Caucasus areas as well as vis-à-vis Iran. Such an
outcome is by no means a certainty, but it is revealing just how
important Turkey is as a player in its various regions that Moscow is
again willing to raise Iranian ire by providing Turkey with these
missiles for after all, they would be intended primarily to deter
Iranian threats. This shows Turkey’s growing importance to Russia, if
not to other actors. In other words, should Iran continue with its
missile and nuclear programs, doing so would undoubtedly begin to
affect the postures and calculations of all the key players in
Eurasia. This means that the potential repercussions of an Iranian
program would be felt in Iraq, throughout the areas of Kurdish
habitation in Iran and Turkey as well, and in the greater Middle
East. But they would also resonate throughout the Caucasus and Black
Sea areas if not also throughout the Caspian and Central Asia. For
example, to the extent that Turkey can draw closer to the West and
possibly accelerate the negotiations over its entry into the EU, it is
also possible that some progress could be made with regard to the
Nagorno-Karabakh talks. Those deadlocked at the last bilateral meeting
of the principals in Rambouillet and at the meeting of the Minsk group
in Washington. But, as this author has argued elsewhere, Turkish entry
into the EU would obviously bring about a changed situation or place
pressure on Turkey to alter its posture vis-à-vis Armenia which could
then generate further movement toward resolving this war. Enhanced
cooperation with Russia, on the other hand, might result in less
financial support for Chechens coming from Turkey which would lead to
different possible outcomes in Eurasia. If Turkey is forced to
maintain a deterrent posture against a truculent Iran, this could also
force NATO to consider once again the question of defending Turkey, an
issue that generated a huge fiasco in 2003 and contributed to the
undermining of Turkish trust in its allies and in America. This time,
a more positive stance toward the issue of defending Turkey, not just
against missile attacks, but also against foreign-backed terrorism,
might go far to restore some of the previous warmth in Turco-Western
relations. Indeed, Prime Minister Erdogan alluded to this when stating
that NATO membership indicated Turkey need not worry of Iranian nukes.
CONCLUSIONS: Presently it is far to early to predict how Turkey’s
relationships with its most important interlocutors will evolve, and
it is in any case premature to make predictions as the way the Iranian
issue will unfold is unclear. Nevertheless it is important to realize
the issues involved and the stakes for all concerned with regard to
Turkish strategic options, because those will be crucially influenced
by the overall course of events with regard to Iran’s nuclear and
missile projects. Turkey is forced to balance its defense, energy,
trade, anti-terrorist and Kurdish concerns along with those of
relations among key players America, the EU, Russia, Israel, Iraq,
Iran, and the Caucasus as it tries to navigate among the potential
shoals of alternative solutions to the anxieties caused Iran’s
programs. Turkey’s answers to those issues, will in turn help define
the parameters of what is possible in all these volatile regions of
the world and its relationships with all these key actors. As the
Chinese ideogram puts it, crisis signifies both danger and
opportunity. The crisis generated by Iran’s missile and nuclear
programs constitutes both a crisis and an opportunity, not only for
Turkey, but also for all its partners.
AUTHOR’S BIO: Professor Stephen Blank, Strategic Studies Institute,
U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA. The views expressed here
do not represent those of the U.S. Army, Defense Dept. or the
U.S. Government.

leid=4136

THE KARS-AKHALKALAKI RAILROAD: A MISSING LINK BETWEEN EUROPE AND ASIA

CENTRAL ASIA – CAUCASUS ANALYST
Wednesday / April 19, 2006
By Taleh Ziyadov
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (BTE)
natural gas pipelines have transformed the strategic realities in the
South Caucasus. As a result, the energy networks of Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Turkey have become more integrated, raising the
significance of the East-West Transport Corridor even more. Today,
these states are ready to take on a new challenge by building the
Kars-Akhalkalaki interstate railroad connection that will link the
rail networks of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey and lay a foundation
for a potential China-Central Asia-South Caucasus-Turkey-European
Union transportation corridor. This project will not only boost
continental container trade between Asia and Europe via the South
Caucasus, but also further integrate the South Caucasus region with
Europe.
BACKGROUND: The idea of connecting the rail networks of Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Turkey was first discussed during the Joint Transport
Commission meeting in July 1993. The initiative was later integrated
into the Master Plan on the Trans-European Railway (TER) networks
sponsored by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
(UNECE). In July 2002, the Ministers of Transport of Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Turkey signed a protocol confirming the route and at a
February 28, 2005 meeting the parties agreed to conduct a feasibility
study. UNECE lists this route among Priority 1 projects that could be
funded and implemented rapidly by 2010. The realization of this
project depends on the construction of a 98 km-long (60 miles) segment
of rail from Kars in Turkey to Akhalkalaki in Georgia (68 kilometers
in Turkey, 30 kilometers in Georgia, and the rehabilitation of the
Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi line). The estimated cost of the project is about
$400 million.
Today, there are two operational railroads in the South Caucasus,
which are part of the EU-sponsored TRACECA initiative that links
Azerbaijan’s and Georgia’s transportation networks. These are the
Baku-Tbilisi-Poti and the Baku-Tbilisi-Batumi railways. There is,
however, no rail link between Georgia and Turkey. The construction of
the Kars-Akhalkalaki railroad will connect Georgian and Turkish
railroads and facilitate trade in the East-West direction. For
example, a cargo from China could be delivered to Aktau (Kazakhstan)
and then transported by railway ferries to Baku and shipped directly
to Istanbul and onward to Europe via the
Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars-Istanbul rail system. Likewise, a
shipment from Europe could be easily transported to the South
Caucasus, Central Asia or China. Hence, Kars-Akhalkalaki serves as a
rail connection that will eventually unite railway networks of
China-Central Asia-South Caucasus-Turkey and the European Union. The
governments of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kazakhstan have already made
some progress in expanding the current TRACECA routes to Central Asia,
which will be extended to China. In December, 2005, a container truck
from Kazakhstan was sent to Georgia via Azerbaijan as a part of a
pilot program. A 3,850-km (2406 miles) long Kazakh rail system from
Aktau near the Caspian Sea to the city of Dostlik (Druzhba) near the
Kazakh-Chinese border is currently operational. The length of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars and the Kars-Istanbul sections are 826
km (516 miles) and 1,933 km (1208) respectively.
IMPLICATIONS: One of the major outcomes of the Kars-Akhalkalaki
railroad will be the increased continental trade through the East-West
Transport Corridor. There are various estimates regarding the volume
of potential cargo shipments through this route. Most forecasts
suggest that during the initial stage (the first two years of
operation), the volume of transport will reach 2 million tons and in
the following three years it could increase up to 8-10 million tons.
The construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki railway will also open
markets in the Mediterranean region and South-East Europe for
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Central Asian states. It will increase the
volume of container traffic through the South Caucasus and be a more
secure and shorter way of reaching Asia or Europe. Goods and products
from these countries could be shipped directly to Mersin, a costal
Turkish port at the Mediterranean Sea, from where they could be
transported by sea to the United States, Israel, Egypt or other North
African and South European states. Turkish rail networks will also
create an opportunity for uninterrupted rail shipments to and from
Southeastern Europe.
In addition, the project has significant geopolitical significance. As
was the case with energy projects, inter-state railways will bring
along questions regarding common security threats and will require
collaborative efforts to address these threats. Azerbaijan, Georgia
and Turkey will further integrate their security agendas to
accommodate Azerbaijan’s and Georgia’s quest for the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) membership. The trilateral cooperation
between Ankara, Baku and Tbilisi will move the three states into a
more integrated transportation and security arrangements, thus
cementing their ties with Europe and the United States.

Since the Kars-Akhalkalaki railroad is a component of the East-West
Transport Corridor, both the United States and the European Union will
benefit from the realization of this project. Occasional attempts by
some U.S. and European legislators and officials, especially those
under the influence of Armenian lobbying groups that oppose the
construction of this railroad, could seriously damage American and
European national interests and their states’ role in the South
Caucasus. Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey could finance the
construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki project without external
assistance. Yet, U.S. and European political and financial backing
will strengthen their commitment to the regional development and
increase their presence in the region, as it was during the
construction of the BTC and BTE energy pipelines.
Armenia’s self-imposed seclusion by continuously rejecting to pull its
troops from occupied Azerbaijani territories will further detach it
from regional developments. Azerbaijani officials have repeatedly
stated that they will not consider the Armenia-backed initiative to
use the century-old Kars-Gyumri (Armenia)-Tbilisi railway unless
Armenia ends its occupation of Azerbaijani lands. At the same time,
Baku does not want to delay strategic and economic projects and wait
until Armenia and Azerbaijan come to an overdue agreement in resolving
the eighteenth-year old Karabakh conflict. Thus, the construction of
the Kars-Akhalkalaki project, which may start in the late 2006 or the
early 2007, is likely to advance regardless of developments in the
Karabakh peace process.
CONCLUSIONS: The construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki railroad will
address a missing link in the transportation networks connecting
Europe and Asia. It will increase the volume of continental trade via
Azerbaijan and Georgia and boost these states’ role as transit
countries. It will also move Azerbaijan and Georgia closer to the
Euro-Atlantic community and create new opportunities for American and
European engagement in the region. The project will accommodate the
EU-sponsored TRACECA initiative as well as the U.S.-backed East-West
Transport Corridor and make the region a crossroads for Trans-European
and Trans-Asian continental trade.
AUTHOR’S BIO: Taleh Ziyadov is an independent analyst, who holds an MA
form the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.

leid=4170

PRESS RELEASE
California Assemblyman Dario Frommer
CONTACT: Karen S. Kim
(916) 319-2043
April 28, 2006

FROMMER’S BILL TO OFFER ARMENIAN CREDENTIAL FOR TEACHERS PASSES
ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The Assembly Education Committee late Wednesday
passed legislation by Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer
(D-Glendale) that would expand the single subject foreign language
California Subject Examination for Teachers to include the Armenian
language.

`Our state boasts the largest Armenian population outside of
Armenia, and yet we have no program available for teachers who want to
be credentialed in the Armenian language,’ Frommer said. `This bill
will not only better equip teachers in districts with large Armenian
populations, it will also allow all interested students to study the
Armenian language in elementary and high schools.’

Of the 1,064,578 English learners enrolled in California, 12,786
students said Armenian was their native language. In Frommer’s own
district, the Glendale Unified School District reported that it had
3,904 English language learners who speak Armenian primarily, making
up 49% of the districts total English language learner population. In
Los Angeles, there are 3,824 English language learners whose primary
language is Armenian.

Assembly Bill 2913’s expansion of the CSET’s single subject teaching
credential to include the Armenian language will permit high schools,
colleges and universities to offer the Armenian language as a course
in the curriculum and will guarantee that those courses will be taught
by teachers credentialed in Armenian. The first Armenian CSET must be
administered by September 1, 2009, according to the bill.

Frommer introduced the bill upon the request of constituent Saro
Nazarian. Groups supporting the bill include: the Armenian Assembly of
America, Armenian American Chamber of Commerce, Board of Regents of
Prelacy Armenian Schools, Glendale Community College and Glendale
Unified School District.

###