Senator Reid “Extremely Concerned” over Hoagland’s Reluctance to Acknowledge
Genocide

ArmRadio.am
12.08.2006 14:38
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), in a
letter to the Armenian National Committee of Nevada (ANC-NV),
reported that he is “extremely concerned” by the reluctance of
Richard Hoagland, the Administration’s nominee to serve as the next
ambassador to Armenia, to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.
Senator Reid’s public stand follows the August 2nd announcement by
Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) that he will vote against the Hoagland
nomination because of the nominee’s refusal to properly recognize
the Armenian Genocide as a “genocide.” Sen. Coleman serves on the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“The opposition of Senator Norm Coleman and concerns raised by
Harry Reid – the Senate’s Democratic Leader – reflect the growing
bipartisan opposition to the approval of a U.S. envoy to Yerevan
who refuses to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We continue to work in
communities around the nation to explain to Senators the damage to
U.S-Armenia relations – and, more broadly, to America’s standing on
genocide prevention efforts worldwide – that will be done by
approving a nominee that has actually denied the genocidal intent
of the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide.”
Responding to grassroots concerns raised by Nevada’s growing and
increasingly active Armenian American community, Senator Reid noted
that this refusal is “particularly troubling in light of the State
Department’s dismissal of the last Ambassador to Armenia, John M.
Evans following comments he made during a February 2005 tour of
Armenian-American communities in which he recognized the Armenian
Genocide. As you may know, the State Department has offered no
explanation for Evans’ dismissal.”
As reported by the Associated Press, Senator Coleman has explained,
“As someone of the Jewish faith, I bring a heightened sensitivity
to the reality of genocide and mass murder, and the importance of
recognizing it for what it is. I was brought up believing you
never forget the Holocaust, never forget what happened. And I could
not imagine how our ambassador to Israel could have any
effectiveness if he couldn’t recognize the Holocaust.”
On August 1st, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee delayed
consideration of Ambassador Hoagland’s nomination, following a
request by the Committee’s Ranking Democrat Joseph Biden (D-DE) and
Senator John Kerry (D-MA). Also voicing support for the delay were
Senators George Allen (R-VA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA). The
Committee is set to consider the matter during its regular business
meeting on September 7th.
To date, more than half of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
including Senators George Allen, Joseph Biden, Barbara Boxer,
Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Norm Coleman (R-MN), Christopher Dodd (D-
CT), Russell Feingold (D-WI), John Kerry and Paul Sarbanes (D-MD),
have contacted Secretary Rice or questioned Ambassador-designate
Hoagland directly regarding the Armenian Genocide. Senators Edward
Kennedy (D-MA) and Jack Reed (D-RI), along with over sixty members
of the U.S. House have also expressed serious concerns to the State
Department on this matter.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Kocharian Visited Lori

ArmRadio.am
12.08.2006 14:44
Armenian President Robert Kocharian visited the Armenian province of
Lori and got acquainted with the construction works of individual
houses in the village of Shirakamut (former Nalband) which was the
epicenter of the 1988 destructive earthquake. The funds for the
construction of the houses have been released from the Armenian state
budget.
The earthquake destroyed 701 houses in the village.Until 1997 with
different funds 356 houses were built, in 2004 by the catholic health
program 73 houses were built, in 2005 the government released 26.1
million drams from the state budget for the construction of 7 houses,
this year 70.5 million drams have been provided and 11 houses are
being constructed. The governor of the Lori province, who was
accompanying the president, said that 180 families are still living in
wagon-houses. He also said that gas, water and electricity issues have
been solved in the village.
The villagers, on their turn, complaint that only one first-aid post
is acting in the village and there is a necessity to construct a
hospital. President Kocharian noted that gradually all the problems
of the village will be solved. The construction of the houses will
continue during the next years as well, a sport gym of the village
school will also be constructed.
He said the solution of the problems of the rural areas is a priority
for the Armenian authorities.

HAKOB SIRUNI’S “AUTOBIOGRAPHIC NOTES” BOOK PUBLISHED IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Hakob Sirunu’s memories and memory
sketches collected under the title “Autobiographic Notes” contain the
history of life of an intellectual who had seen the Genocide and
exile, his literary, scientific and public stormy activity. Henrik
Bakhchinian, the Art and Literature Museum Director presented the
collection in this way at the presentation taken place on August
11. According to him, Siruni was gifted with a special talent of
writing memories. During different periods of time he wrote
autobiographic notes, memories about a number of his
contemporaries. But, as the museum director mentioned, with his
numerous literary and scientific works, a part of his memories as well
were lost. H.Bakhchinian mentioned that H.Siruni came to the literary
and scientific arena in 1905-1907s, presenting himself as a poet,
historian, playwright, prose-writer, philologist, translator,
orientalist. He edited dozens of periodicals, correspond with more
than 100 titles of Armenian, French, Romanian newspapers and
journals. First in Turkey where he was born, and from 1922 to his
death in Romania, H.Siruni promoted a wide national-public activity as
well, presented himself as a publicist, lecturer, orator. It was also
mentioned that the Art and Literature Museum published the
“Autobiographic Notes” book under the patronage of Siruni’s brother
Grigor Jololian’s sons, Patrice, Claude and Eddie Jololians.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SECOND STAGE OF RETRAINING COURSES FOR TEACHERS STARTS IN KAPAN

KAPAN, AUGUST 11, NOYAN TAPAN. 95 teachers teaching the “Armenian
Language and Literature,” “Mathematics” and “Informatics” subjects at
comprehensive schools as well as primary school form masters underwent
retraining at the Kapan branch of the National Institute of
Education. The second retraining course has started at the branch from
August 7. 172 teachers of the same subjects participate in it. As
Magda Gevorgian, the branch director informed the Noyan Tapan
correspondent, teachers having undergone retraining will hold lessons
using new methods starting from the new academic year.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CAMP FOR COMPUTER COURSES ORGANIZED IN KAPAN WITH USAID ASSISTANCE

KAPAN, AUGUST 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The Kapan “Youth Scientific-Cultural”
public organization and “Center for Community Assistance of
Charentsavan” organizes five-day summer computer school-camp at the
Kapan office of the interneT accessibility and teaching program. The
“Competitive Private Sector in Armenia” program of the U.S. Agency for
International Development assisted organization of the event. During
the courses, 11 pupils of 8-9th grades from different schools of Kapan
who were chosen by a competition, have a possibility to deepen their
computer knowledge and to get acquainted with new programs. As Karen
Arzumanian, the Chairman of the “Youth Scientific-Cultural”
organization informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent, Peace Corps
volunteers, who have a great experience in the sphere of teaching
computer and information technologies, also assist implementation of
the program.

EXPERT OF YOUTH PARTY OF ARMENIA TO APPLY TO COURT AGAINST “LIBERTY”
CORRESPONDENT

YEREVAN, AUGUST 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Edgar Hakobiab, an expert of the
Youth Party of Armenia intends to present a claim to the court against
Narek Galstian, the reponsible for the “Maxliberty” program of Radio
Liberty. The expert informed about it at the August 11
press-conference, accusing the journalist of slander. E.Hakobian
disproved the news stated by the radio station that, as if, he is a
police agent with the nickname “Gayl” (Wolf), and led the pursuits
carried out by the Kentron police towards Narek Malian, the Chairman
of the “Nor Zhamanakner” (New Times) party. According to E.Hakobian’s
word, Radio Liberty “that has always been known for its impartiality,
now became a mean for expressing its journalist Narek Galstian’s
personal sympathy and antipathy.” According to E.Hakobian’s word, the
reason of false roumors circulated during the last 2-3 months is the
fact that he stated about the pro-government orientation of the
“Miasin” (Together) public initiative founded by him and expressed
readiness to assist the RA authorities in the issue of settlement of
the NKR problem.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

250 DIASPORAN ARMENIAN ENTRANTS PRESENT APPLICATIONS FOR STUDYING IN
HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF ARMENIA UP TODAY

YEREVAN, AUGUST 11, NOYAN TAPAN. By the RA Government’s decision, 70
places for free education were allocated this year at institutions of
higher education of Armenia for Diasporan Armenian entrants. Amalya
Kocharian, the senior specialist of the Department on Ties with
Diaspora of the Department on International Cooperation and Diaspora
of the RA Ministry of Education and Science informed the Noyan Tapan
correspondent about it. She mentioned that those places will be given
to higher educational institutions having Armenological professions
and art ones: mainly to the Yerevan Kh.Abovian Pedagogical University,
YSU, Yerevan State Academy of Art, Komitas Conservatory, Yerevan
Istitute of Theater and Cinematogtaphy. A.Kocharian also informed that
Diasporan Armenian entrants’ applications are accepted till August 17,
and entrance exams will be held in late August. According to her
words, those entrants who will not pass the envisaged “positive
threshold” may study at the preparatory department of the given
institution of higher education. A.Kocharian mentioned that 250
entrants, mainly from Georgia, Russia as well as U.S., Holland,
Cyprus, Israel, Iraq and Lebanon, presented up today. The RA Ministry
of Education and Science implements Diasporan Armenian entrants’
purposeful entrance starting from 1999. According to A.Kocharian’s
words, its goal is to assist keeping of the Armenian education in
Diaspora and formation of Armenian children’s identity. 2960 Diasporan
Armenian students study at present in institutions of higher education
of Armenia.

SHELL FALLS ON HOUSE DURING MILITARY EXERCISES IN JAVAKHK

AKHALKALAK, AUGUST 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. In the Orpola
training ground, an emergency case was fixed on August 8, during
military exercises of one of detachments of the Georgian army.
According to the “A-Info” agency, one of shells shot by soldiers fell
on one of houses of the village of Rustav, the region of Aspindza,
destroying the house. There was nobody in the house when the shell
fell. There are no injured people.

MEETING DEDICATED TO PAINTER GEORGI PETROSIAN’S ART TAKES PLACE IN KRASNODAR
KRASNODAR, AUGUST 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Meeting dedicated
to art of Georgi Petrosian, a famous painter of Krasnodar took place
on August 6 at the Krasnodar Regional Museum after Kovalenko. The
event was organized on the occasion of the painter’s 75th birthday
anniversary. According to the “Yerkramas” (country) newspaper of
Armenians of Russia, the exposition of the Armenian painter’s
exhibition “Park of My Soul” involves a monographic block, dedicated
to art of that original painter. The Ararat value has been a constant
theme of Georgi Petrosian’s art since 1976. The painter is interested
in the ancient and modern history of Armenia as well, which is
reflected in portraits of its great people: Mesrop Mashtots, Grigor
Narekatsi, Komitas. Georgi Petrosian’s works are kept in collections
of museums and in private collections of Krasnodar, Moscow, Jerusalem,
Marseilles, Yerevan.

TERMS OF MEETINGS OF 16TH STAGE OF RA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CHANGED
BECAUSE OF ELECTORAL STAGE OF EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP

YEREVAN, AUGUST 11, NOYAN TAPAN. It was scheduled to hold the “Mika” –
” Pyunik” and “Banants” – “Shirak” meetings of the 16th stage of the
football highest group of Armenia on August 12. But, as a group of
football players of those clubs, in the staff of 21-year old football
players, will participate on August 16 in the electoral stage meeting
of the Europe championship to take place in Bosnia, so games of the
mentioned pairs took place earlier, on August 10. The following
results were fixed during those meetings: “Mika” – “Pyunik” 0:0,
“Banants” – “Shirak” 3:0. According to the schedule of the 16th stage,
the “Cilicia” – “Ararat” meeting will take place on August 12, and the
“Ulis” – “Gandzasar” meeting will take place on August 13.