“EDUCATION AIMED TO FUTURE OF ARMENIA” PROGRAM’S IMPLEMENTATION TO SUPPORT IMPROVEMENT OF QULAIFIED LABOUR IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Mar 27 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Minister of Education and Science
Sergo Yeritsian and Consuelo Vidal, the UN Development Program Resident
Representative in Armenia signed on March 24 the “Education Aimed to
Future of Armenia” program financed by the Government of Norway. The
program will assist qualitative and quantitave improvement of the
skilled labour in Armenia, supporting economic increase of the country
within a middle term. This two-years program the budget of which
makes 1 mln 157 thousand 315 dollars, is aimed not only to study
the local labour market but to improve the system of primary and
middle professional education of the country. According to Minister
S.Yeritsian, preparation of qualified specialists according to demands
of the labour market is very important for a country having such
few working places as Armenia has. He mentioned that the Government
of Armenia allocated 55 thousand dollars for implementation of this
program. “I’m sure that qualified specialists prepared by the primary
and middle professional education sphere are the basis which will
support development of the country,” Sergo Yeritsian emphasized.
Consuelo Vidal mentioned that the program is aimed to re-equipment
and improvement of the middle professional education, paying special
attention to the issue of supporting businessmen, especially in
marzes. According to Consuelo Vidal, education is one of the important
directions of the UN Development Program, and the national annual
report of this year will be dedicated to education.

WORK DEDICATED TO PROMINENT SCIENTIST TADEOS AVDALBEGIAN’S ACTIVITY PUBLISHED
Noyan Tapan
Mar 27 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Prominent scientist Tadeos
Avdalbegian’s life and activity is presented in Ara Markosian’s
“Tadeos Avdalbegian: Pages of Life and Work” work the presentation of
which took place on March 24 at the RA NAS. T.Avdalbegian is one of
prominent representatives of the Armenian economic idea. During the 30
years of his creative life, he wrote numerous works which relate to
historic science, literary science, Armenian religion, architecture,
history of economy, The scientist made numerous translations as well.
A.Markosian mainly presented in his work that great work that
T.Avdalbegian did while translating the “Capital” of K.Marx, and
with what indexes the “Capital” was turned into an excellent example
of translation besides being one of national meaning. According to
academician Vladimir Barkhudarian, “Avdalbegian is the only person in
the world who has translated all four volumes of the “Capital” from the
original, and it’s considered one of the best translations.” Besides,
in the Armenological life of the 20th century, T.Avdalbegian has
his worthy place also as one of founders of the higher education
in Armenia. According to the academician, though T.Avdalbegian did
a huge work, few people know about him today. At the same time it
was mentioned, that researches of different spheres make use of the
scientists’ works at present as well.

ARMENIAN FIGURE SKATERS HAVE TO STOP PERFORMING IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Noyan Tapan
Mar 27 2006
CALGARY, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. A regular World Figure Skating
Championship was held in the Canadian city of Calgary. Representatives
of Armenia Anastasia Grebyonkina and Vazgen Azroyan also took part
in the championship. The Armenian figure skaters took the 25th place
(among 30 pairs) in the compulsory program of ice dancing. But then
they had to stop performing as Grebyonkina had injured her leg. Albena
Denkova and Maxim Stavinski (Bulgaria) became world champions in the
competitions of ice dancing.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
03/24/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Armenians Protest Turkish Defense Minister's Visit to Los Angeles 2) USC Promptly Cancels Conference on "Turkish Perspective" on The Armenian Genocide 3) LA Times Editorial: It was genocide 4) Lyon Bans Future Protests by Turks 5) Zulal Performs at ARS Javakhk Fundraiser Raising $60,000 6) ANCA-WR Applauds LA Times for Editorial in Support of Genocide Recognition 7) Genocide Education Project Establishes Advisory Board 8) Schiff to Host Capitol Hill Screening of Armenian Genocide Documentary 9) 'Armenian Genocide' Will Show at Hollywood Theater 10) Community Turns Out to Raise Concerns 11) A Striving And Surviving Community in Lebanon 12) Stroke Is No Longer A Disease of Old Age: By Dr. Haygoush Kalinian 13) Now That's a Problem: By Garen Yegparian 14) WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT ARMENIAN WEDDINGS: By Skeptik Sinikian 1) Armenians Protest Turkish Defense Minister's Visit to Los Angeles The Armenian American community of Los Angeles rallied in front of the Beverly Hills Hotel Friday, where Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul was a guest speaker at a luncheon hosted by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. Armenian National Committee Western Region board member Raffi Hamparian, Congressman Brad Sherman, and Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central Executive chairman Tro Chekijian addressed the peaceful crowd. An estimated 4000 people, gathered all around the hotel where they protested against the Turkish government's denial of the Armenian genocide and its continuing violations of human rights. 2) USC Promptly Cancels Conference on "Turkish Perspective" on The Armenian Genocide LOS ANGELES--The Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region (ANCA-WR) learned on March 22 that a planned conference at the University of Southern California (USC) featuring leading deniers of the Armenian Genocide was canceled. The USC Center on Public Diplomacy originally sponsored the conference, titled "Turkish-Armenian Relations: The Turkish Perspective," which was scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 26. Former Turkish Ambassadors Gunduz Aktan and Omer Engin Lutem were invited to speak about the Armenian genocide and Turkish-Armenian relations. Aktam and Lutem are notorious deniers of the Armenian genocide, and the event announcement made no attempt to hide that their discussion would not only distort history but attempt to justify Ottoman Turkey's extermination of its Armenian population. "The USC event, which was to have featured Turkish members of the State Department's discredited TARC initiative, is part of an orchestrated national campaign to breath new life into the failed effort," said Zanku Armenian, a member of the ANCA-WR Board of Directors. "The ANCA-WR, working with USC Armenian student groups, Alumni and school supporters, was able to demonstrate to USC officials the misguided and sinister nature of this panel, which led to its cancellation. The cancellation, along with the March 22 Los Angeles Times editorial reaffirming the Armenian genocide, sends a strong message to those who deny the Armenian genocide: 'You are not welcome in California.' We applaud USC administrators for taking prompt action to rectify this situation and thus protecting USC's fine reputation from being used in Turkey's propaganda war." Outraged student groups called on USC administrators to ask why this conference was organized. In a letter to the director of the USC Center on Public Diplomacy, ANCA-WR Chairman Steven Dadaian called on the organizers to drop the conference. "According to the description of the program issued by the Center, Messrs. Aktan and Lutem have the extraordinary task of turning the victims of the first genocide of the 20th century into the perpetrators," said Dadaian in his letter. He pointed out: "The facts surrounding the Armenian genocide are not in dispute. The Armenian genocide has been recognized by the United Nations, the United States government and even the Ottoman courts who convicted the perpetrators of the Armenian genocide in absentia. The fact that USC is going to provide a forum for Turkish foreign agents to deny historical facts by making outright false statements is disturbing and a violation of your own Code of Ethics." The quick action to draw attention to this issue by many groups and individuals resulted in the ultimate cancellation once USC officials were made aware of the real intent of the event. The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues. 3) LA Times Editorial: It was genocide In its March 22 issue, the Los Angeles Times published an editorial titled "It was genocide," calling on the US government to finally acknowledge the Armenian genocide and stop "tiptoeing around this issue." The editorial about the recall of US ambassador to Armenia John Evans chides the US for punishing those who speak truthfully about the Genocide and for letting its relations with Turkey determine its actions. Below is the full text of the editorial, as it appeared in the LA Times. John Evans is the U.S. ambassador to Armenia, as of this writing. But he probably won't be for long. Evans, a career diplomat who was selected to receive an American Foreign Service Assn. award last year for his frank public speaking, irked his superiors at the State Department by uttering the following words at UC Berkeley in February 2005: "I will today call it the Armenian genocide." For that bit of truth-telling, Evans was forced to issue a clarification, then a correction, then to endure having his award rescinded under pressure from his bosses, and finally to face losing his job altogether. What happened in Armenia in 1915 is well known. The Ottoman Empire attempted to exterminate the Armenian population through slaughter and mass deportation. It finished half the job, killing about 1.2 million people. Yet the State Department has long avoided the word "genocide," not out of any dispute over history but out of deference to Turkey, whose membership in NATO and location between Europe and Asia make it a strategic ally. It is time to stop tiptoeing around this issue and to accept settled history. Genocide, according to accepted U.N. definition, means "the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group." Armenia is not even a borderline case. Punishing an ambassador for speaking honestly about a 90-year-old crime befits a cynical, double-dealing monarchy, not the leader of the free world. Turks point out that their Ottoman ancestors considered it treason to side with Russia at the outbreak of World War I, as many Armenians did. But the massacres were also fueled by Muslim animosity toward a Christian minority. When then-U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire Henry Morganthau protested the bloodletting, he received a telling response from Mehmed Talaat, the interior minister in charge of the anti-Armenian campaign. "Why are you so interested in Armenians anyway? You are a Jew, these people are Christians," Talaat said. "Why can't you let us do with these Christians as we please?" For Armenians who escaped the killing and came to this country, inadequate recognition of their history is crazy-making. Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), whose district includes the heart of the Armenian diaspora, keeps introducing a bill to officially recognize the genocide, only to see congressional leadership quash it each year, under pressure from the State Department. Some nations, thankfully, are stepping where Congress fears to tread. The European Parliament last year passed a nonbinding resolution asking that Turkey acknowledge the genocide as a precondition for joining the European Union. The Turkish government, typically, was infuriated, yet it still desperately wants to join the EU. One day, the country that was founded as a direct repudiation of its Ottoman past will face its history squarely, as part of a long-overdue maturing process. Some day before then, we hope, the State Department will too. 4) Lyon Bans Future Protests by Turks PARIS (Armenpress)--Following last weekend's Turkish protest against the construction of an Armenian genocide monument in Lyon, the Prefect of Rhone, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, said that he will not give permission for such rallies in the future. Turkish Milliyet reported that the rally created tension between Paris and Ankara. French officials told Turkish Foreign Affairs ministry representatives that the Turkish embassy did not heed the Ministry's warnings to hold a peaceful protest. The meeting turned rowdy when some of the Turks attacked a group of students staging their own protest against a controversial new employment law for youths. Police used water cannons and tear gas to separate the two groups. 5) Zulal Performs at ARS Javakhk Fundraiser Raising $60,000 The Armenian Relief Society - Western Region (ARS-WR) Javakhk Fund Committee raised $60,000 in critical humanitarian assistance for the Armenians of Javakhk (the mostly Armenian-populated region in southern Georgia). The dinner reception and concert aboard the "M.V. Majestic" on March 12 featured "Zulal," an a cappella folk trio from the East Coast. Western United States Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Assistant Consul General of the Republic of Armenia Haroutune Kojayan, ARF Central Committee, and ARS Regional and Chapter Executives were among the 225 individuals who attended the event and toured the harbor on the three floors and decks of the Majestic. Haigoush Kohler, chair of the Javakhk Fund Committee, welcomed guests and described the dire situation of Javakhk, which lacks basic social services. She highlighted some of the accomplishments of the diasporan Armenian communities, including purchasing and renovating educational institutions and youth centers, donating ambulances and diagnostic equipment for the Akhalkalak hospital, and providing agricultural assistance. She noted that there are many similar projects awaiting support and urged everyone to share their blessings with those less fortunate. Kohler's remarks were followed by Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian's invocation. His Eminence reminded everyone that Almighty God is our provider for everything and urged the attendees to go above and beyond what is neccessary and to do what is right, to stand by the people of Javakhk. ARS-WR Regional Executive Chair, Angela Savoian thanked the attendees for everything that they do for ARS projects and especially for Javakhk. She noted how the Regional Executive has been on the move in the past couple of weeks, taking its message to San Francisco and Las Vegas, with plans to be in Houston, Fresno, and San Diego in the next few weeks. Savoian urged everyone to respond to the dire needs of the people in Javakhk, to keep them strong, and to show that we care about them. She thanked the Javakhk Fund Committee for a job well done and asked the committee Vice-Chair, Lena Bozoyan, to make a presentation. Bozoyan gathered the committee members and said that Haigoush Kohler is the driving force behind the committee, keeping them aware of developments in Javakhk on a daily basis. Later, committee members presented a bouquet of flowers to Kohler. Bozoyan presented the next speaker, Jasik Jarahian, a committee member and ARS-WR General Accountant/Auditor, to lead the following fundraising effort. Jarahian, who has visited Javakhk four times, presented eyewitness accounts of the desperate conditions in Javakhk and urged everyone to do their best to counteract them. She spoke of parents desperately searching for clean drinking water, food, and warm clothes for their children. Her stories about the lack of heating, food shortages, and harassment by authorities were heart-wrenching. As she announced the donations, Jarahian detailed previous accomplishments such as the renovation of schools, health facilities, and the implementation of programs to alleviate poverty. The participants were generous with their donations and helped raise $60,000 for Javakhk. The highlight of the evening was a performance by "Zulal," an Armenian a cappella folk trio from the East Coast. They sang traditional Armenian folk styles in the a cappella style, relying solely on their voices and the songs' sentiments to captivate their audience. The three young women gave a breath-taking performance and warmed the hearts of the audience. The ARS Javakhk Fund Committee also has other fundraising projects underway. The committee has distributed piggy banks to Armenian day school students and ARS Saturday school students to help raise funds and awareness among the youth. 6) ANCA-WR Applauds LA Times for Editorial in Support of Genocide Recognition LOS ANGELES--The Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region (ANCA-WR) applauded the Los Angeles Times for publishing an editorial calling on the US Government to officially recognize the Armenian genocide. The editorial titled "It was genocide" appeared in the March 22 edition of the Los Angeles Times and detailed reports that the US Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, faced early termination of his post due to comments he made affirming the Armenian genocide. The editorial explained that while the Armenian genocide is a textbook example of genocide, the US Government has shied away from using the term genocide in describing the annihilation of Armenians by Ottoman Turkey due to its current-day political relations with the Turkish government. The LA Times went on to praise countries that have passed resolutions acknowledging the Genocide and expressed hope that the US Government would one day act in kind. "We commend the LA Times for taking a principled stance on the Armenian genocide, which is a crime against all humanity," commented Zanku Armenian, a member of the ANCA-WR Board of Directors. "The editorial position of the LA Times joins a growing list of prominent newspapers around the country that have taken similar positions including the New York Times, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, and many others. This serves as a major blow to Turkey's genocide denial campaign and sends a clear message that it is time for the US Government to reaffirm the facts of the Armenian genocide rather than persecute those who dare speak the truth." Armenian and ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian were quoted along with Congressman Adam Schiff (CA-29) in a Los Angeles Daily News article just one day before the Los Angeles Times editorial appeared. The Daily News article reported on Ambassador Evans' pending recall that was first publicized by California Courier Publisher Harut Sassounian on March 9. Congressional members like Representatives Schiff, Armenian Issues Caucus Co-chairman Frank Pallone (NJ-6), and Grace Napolitano (CA-38) have since been probing US State Department officials, including Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, for an explanation of these disturbing reports. The controversy ensued following comments Ambassador Evans made last year. "I will today call it the Armenian genocide," the Ambassador said speaking in front of a public audience in 2005. "I think it is unbecoming of us, as Americans, to play word games here. I believe in calling things by their name." Ambassador Evans also disclosed that he had consulted with a legal advisor at the State Department who had confirmed that the events of 1915 were "genocide by definition." Within days after his remarks and the conclusion of a speaking tour of Armenian American communities, Ambassador Evans was apparently forced to issue a statement clarifying that his references to the Armenian genocide were his personal views and did not represent a change in US policy. He subsequently issued a correction to this statement, replacing a reference to the genocide with the word "tragedy." Despite the apparent trouble the Ambassador's remarks had caused inside the State Department, the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), in recognition of his honesty and commitment to principle, decided to honor Ambassador Evans with the "Christian A. Herter Award," recognizing creative thinking and intellectual courage within the Foreign Service. Sadly, as Washington Post staff writer Glenn Kessler revealed on June 9, AFSA withdrew its award following pressure from "very serious people from the State Department." ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian, in a letter sent to Secretary Rice on March 10, wrote that, "the prospect that a US envoy's posting--and possibly his career--has been cut short due to his honest and accurate description of a genocide is profoundly offensive to American values and US standing abroad--particularly in light of President Bush's call for moral clarity in the conduct of our international affairs." The ANCA letter also urged Secretary Rice to respond in a timely manner to the series of written questions on this matter submitted on February 16 by Congressman Schiff during her testimony before the House International Relations Committee. Among these questions was a specific request that the Secretary assure the Committee that the Department of State has not taken--and will not take--any punitive action against Ambassador Evans for speaking out about the Armenian genocide. The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues. 7) Genocide Education Project Establishes Advisory Board SAN FRANCISCORenowned scholars, educators and administrators Yair Auron, Peter Balakian, Israel Charny, Vahakn Dadrian, Richard Hovannissian, Levon Marashlian, and Henry Theriault have joined the Advisory Board of The Genocide Education Project. "We are truly honored to have such an esteemed group of individuals sign on to support our organization," said Raffi Momjian, Executive Director of The Genocide Education Project. "With their advice and expertise, we can better serve educators across the country to ensure the Armenian genocide is part of the history taught in US Schools." Momjian and Sara Cohan, The Genocide Education Project's Education Director, along with the organization's governing Board of Directors, will benefit from the new Advisory Board's guidance in devising new strategies for the organization and helping maximize the effectiveness of current projects. Activities for the year include developing new and innovative curricular material, including an online lesson plan, and continuing to reach educators through workshops and national conferences. "I've been working with The Genocide Education Project for over eight years now, and look forward to continuing our collaboration through my new position as advisory board member," commented Advisory Board member, Jack Weinstein, Regional Director of Facing History and Ourselves. "Together, we can share our educational resources with more schools, teachers, and students, further ensuring the history and lessons of the Armenian genocide will be a part of Social Studies courses across the country." A Complete list of Advisory Board members includes: Dr. Joyce Apsel New York University Master Teacher, General Studies Program Yair Auron Open University of Israel and Hakibbutzim College of Education (Tel-Aviv, Israel) Senior Lecturer Dr. Peter Balakian Colgate University Donald M. and Constance H. Rebar Chair in Humanities Dr. Paul Bartrop Deakin University (Victoria, Australia) School of Social and International Studies Research Fellow Morgan Blum Holocaust Center of Northern California Head Educator Dr. Israel Charny Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide (Jerusalem, Israel) Executive Director Dr. Vahakn Dadrian Zoryan Institute Director of Genocide Research Dr. Stephen Feinstein University of Minnesota Director, Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies Dr. Richard Hovannisian University of California, Los Angeles Professor, Armenian and Near Eastern History Richard Kloian Armenian Genocide Resource Center Director Paul Krekorian Burbank Unified School District President, Board of Education Greg Krikorian Glendale Unified School District Member, Board of Education Dr. Levon Marashlian Glendale Community College Professor of History Dr. Simon Payaslian Clark University Chair, Armenian History and Genocide Studies Adam Strom Facing History and Ourselves Director of Research and Development Dr. Henry Theriault Worcester State College Coordinator, Center for the Study of Human Rights Dr. Nicole Vartanian US Department of Education Senior Research Associate Jack Weinstein Facing History and Ourselves Director, San Francisco Bay Area Office For more information visit < /03_16_2006.htm>www.genocideeducat
ion.org/pr/2 006/03_16_2006.htm.
The Genocide Education Project is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501©(3) organization
that assists educators in teaching about human rights and genocide,
particularly the Armenian Genocide, by developing and distributing
instructional materials, providing access to teaching resources and organizing
educational workshops.
8) Schiff to Host Capitol Hill Screening of Armenian Genocide Documentary
WASHINGTON, DC–Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) will host a special Capitol
Hill
screening of [The Armenian Genocide], a film about Turkey’s systematic murder
of over 1.5 million Armenians.
The screening for Members of Congress, their staffs, and members of the
Washington, DC foreign policy community will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on
Tuesday, April 4 in the Mary Pickford Theater in the James Madison Memorial
Building of the Library of Congress.
The documentary is the complete story of the first genocide of the 20th
century–when over a million Armenians died at the hands of the Ottoman Turks
during World War I. This unprecedented and powerful one-hour documentary
features interviews with leading experts in the field such as Pulitzer
Prize-winning author Samantha Power and New York Times best-selling author,
Peter Balakian. It also features never-before-seen historical footage of the
events and key players of one of the greatest untold stories of the 20th
century. The Armenian Genocide is narrated by Julianna Margulies and includes
historical narrations by Ed Harris, Natalie Portman, Laura Linney, and Orlando
Bloom.
Filmed in the US, France, Germany, Belgium, Turkey, and Syria, the program
features discussions with Kurdish and Turkish citizens in modern-day Turkey
who
speak openly about the stories told to them by their parents and grandparents.
The film also includes testimony by former Turkish Diplomat Gunduz Aktan to US
lawmakers in the year 2000.
9) ‘Armenian Genocide’ Will Show at Hollywood Theater
LOS ANGELES (LA Times)With local PBS affiliate KCET-TV refusing to air his
documentary The Armenian Genocide, filmmaker Andrew Goldberg has decided to
rent out Hollywood’s Egyptian Theatre to show the film in continuous free
screenings on April 17–the same day it will air on most of the major PBS
affiliates throughout the country.
“We will continue to screen the film that day and night as long as we have
the
theater,” Goldberg said Wednesday.
The filmmaker, who is paying for much of the $10,000 tab out of his own
pocket, noted that “the largest market of Armenians outside Armenia is in Los
Angeles.”
KCET said it would not run either the documentary or the PBS-sanctioned
follow-up panel, which features two genocide deniers.
Bohdan Zachary, the station’s executive director of programming, said it
would
instead air a French documentary about the Armenian genocide.
10) Community Turns Out to Raise Concerns
GLENDALE–Over 100 community members turned out March 15 to voice their
opinions at the City of Glendale’s Long Range Planning Forum. The forum, held
at St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church on South Central Ave, was co-hosted by
the Armenian National Committee – Glendale Chapter (ANC – Glendale).
“The decisions that we make about our community will affect us for years to
come. The more we can involve people in understanding how the city works and
engage them in meaningful ways to give us feedback and direction, the better
our city will be,” said Sam Engel, Neighborhood Services Administrator for the
City of Glendale. “Working with the ANC to reach out to a larger population
helped the City meet its goals to involve residents who might not have
previously participated in City government. We are tremendously pleased with
the result of this partnership and look forward to future collaborations.”
Forum participants worked in groups of six at one of several tables. With the
assistance of city staffers, participants placed a set of markers or “chips”
into various city services, marking what they felt was a priority. Top issues
included Housing, Transportation, and Community Services. Participants also
worked through a worksheet of priorities, raising concerns regarding business
retention and overall economic vitality as well as public safety issues
such as
better lighting on streets and more police officers.
“A variety of issues were discussed among separate groups. Some groups were
very specific and knew exactly what they wanted while other groups engaged in
healthy debates over the city’s priorities,” noted George Garikian,
chairman of
the Glendale ANC.
The forum was the last in a series of forums that had initially been planned
for January and February. At the ANC’s request, the City of Glendale hosted
the
final forum in an attempt to reach out to the Armenian – American communities
and residents of South Glendale. While the ANC worked with St. Mary’s
Church to
provide the facilities, the City of Glendale supplied all program materials as
well as dinner and childcare in order to make the forum as convenient as
possible. The main presentation was conducted predominantly in Armenian,
however, bilingual staffers alternated between both Armenian and English
during
group discussions. All materials were also provided in both Armenian and
English in order to accommodate attendees.
For more information on ANC – Glendale, please contact our offices at
(818)243-3444. You can also email us at [email protected].
11) A Striving And Surviving Community in Lebanon
“Our schools are determined to serve our children and youth against all odds,
but will need your constant support,” said Rev. Megerdich Karagoezian to the
Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) Field Director, Dikran
Youmshakian during their meeting at the Union headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon.
On his first trip to the Middle East as Field Director of AMAA, Youmshakian
visited Armenian Evangelical Churches, schools, and institutions in Lebanon,
Syria, and Turkey. Youmshakian was accompanied by Hagop Krikorian from Armenia
who captured the field mission on film and will prepare a documentary on the
organization’s work in the Middle East. The video and accompanying photos will
be used to create awareness of the urgent needs of our communities throughout
the Middle East.
The first stop on Youmshakian’s trip was Lebanon. Here, the President of the
Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East Union, Rev. Megerdich
Karagoezian, gave an update on the situation and described the difficulties
faced by the Armenian community and its schools in particular. Unfortunately,
political tensions in Lebanon have prevented the country’s full recovery
>From a
15 year long civil war and the economy is at a standstill.
In the midst of such uncertainty, there still exists a vibrant and active
Armenian community, with churches, schools, and cultural organizations. There
are, for example, five active Armenian Evangelical Churches in Lebanon and
seven schools. All schools except two are affiliated with a church.
As a result of immigration and due to economic restraints, the number of
students attending these schools has drastically decreased.
The AMAA established a Child Education Sponsorship Program long before the
Lebanese civil war to provide tuition aid to help needy students. The AMAA
remains committed to keeping Armenian children in Armenian schools and thus
does its best to support the schools financially. The service Armenian
Evangelical Schools provide to the new generation is unique as it combines the
required local curriculum with both Armenian and Christian Education.
Although the schools were hit hard financially, their academic achievements
remained excellent. All four high schools ranked high academically, with
almost
all students passing the Baccalaureate exams. The schools provide a continuous
supply of students to Haigazian University, the only Armenian institution of
higher education in the Armenian diaspora.
During his visit to Haigazian University (HU), Youmshakian, a graduate of HU
himself, was encouraged to see the buildings renovated and a record number of
enrolled students. HU has been excelling academically and many high school
graduates consider it their first choice.
Youmshakian also met with Dr. Kevork Karaboyadjian, the Director of CAHL
(Centers for Armenian Handicapped in Lebanon). The centers house the elderly
and also the blind and handicapped. The residents of the centers, in their
conversation with the Field Director, were full of compliments for the care
they received and especially the personal and compassionate care of its
Director.
In Trad, Youmshakian visited poor families in the Armenian Evangelical Social
Service Center. Rita Loa, the Director of the center, said that the number of
families living in very poor conditions in on the rise, even within the
Armenian community. Together they visited some of the families and were
disturbed to hear about their difficult experiences and witness their
suffering. In the Bourdj Hammoud area (mainly populated by Armenians) there
are
many families with no electricity, no heat, and no running water. Not all
households can afford the luxury of telephone service. The unemployment
rate in
Lebanon remains very high and prices have sky-rocketed.
One area which needs immediate attention is the Sandjak Camp where 18
Armenian
families still live in very primitive conditions. The camp is the only one
left
>From the years when Armenian refugees settled in the suburbs of Beirut after
the Genocide. The municipality of Bourdj Hammoud would like to develop this
area and is trying to force the families to move. The municipality, however,
has only limited resources to help these families.
Youmshakian also visited the Armenian village of Ainjar, which is located in
the Bekaa Valley (about 30 miles from Beirut) near the Syrian border. Ainjar’s
population is 100 percent Armenian. The Armenian Evangelical School of Ainjar
has 300 students. Almost half are in the boarding school and many of their
families face financial difficulty. The boarding school, once completely
funded
by the German Hilfsbund Missionary Organization, now experiences a major
shortage of funds. Hilfsbund, gradually over the years, has reduced its
financial support of the school.
The Armenian community in Lebanon is a thriving one. It acts as a major force
and helps to preserve the Armenian Christian heritage in the diaspora. A
significant number of leaders in North America, particularly among Armenian
Evangelicals, have their roots in the Middle East. The Armenian community in
Lebanon is very active politically and in preserving the Armenian Christian
heritage. Yet today they need our support.
The Armenian Evangelical Social Service Center provides aid to needy
families,
both physically and also spiritually. Unfortunately, the number of needy
families is on a tremendous rise and the center has limited funding. Special
aid for Lebanon relief through the Center will provide hope to these families.
CAHL needs assistance to improve its facilities. One urgent need, according to
Karaboyadjian, is that of an elevator in the home for the blind to prevent
further accidents and injuries.
Assistance to our schools is also essential. Over 80 percent of the students
in Armenian Evangelical Schools cannot pay any tuition. Unless these students
are sponsored through the AMAA they will not be able to receive an education.
The cost of sponsoring one child is only $200 per year. Those who are
interested can contact the AMAA headquarters at 31 West Century Road, Paramus,
New Jersey, 07652 or call (201)265-2607.
12) Stroke Is No Longer a Disease of Old Age
By Dr. Haygoush Kalinian
It was a day, just like any other day, when Armenouhi (fictitious name), a
38-year-old housewife sat down to have dinner with her husband and five year
old child. Suddenly, she felt the most excruciating headache she had ever
experienced. She asked her husband for her high blood pressure pill. Her hand
just didn’t feel right. After a few minutes, she tried to get up but had
trouble bearing weight on her right lower limb, she turned to her spouse and
tried to tell him what was happening, but the words wouldn’t come out right.
Her husband went to call 911 and upon his return found Armenouhi on the floor,
unconscious…
UNDERSTANDING STROKES
A stroke, or brain attack, is caused by the sudden loss of blood flow to the
brain or bleeding inside the head. Each can cause brain cells to stop
functioning or die. When nerve cells in the brain die, the function of body
parts they control is harmed or lost. Depending on the part of the brain
affected, people can lose the ability to speak, muscle strength, vision, or
memory. Some people recover completely; others are seriously disabled or die.
Every year, about 700,000 people in the United States have a stroke. That’s
about one person every 45 seconds. And one person dies of a stroke every 3
minutes, or nearly 170,000 a year. This means stroke is the nation’s number
three killer after heart disease and cancer. It is the major cause of adult
disability.
Stroke symptoms may not be as dramatic or painful as a heart attack. But the
results of a stroke can be just as life-threatening. A stroke is an emergency.
Get medical help immediately and know when the symptoms started. Common
symptoms include:
– Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of
the body
– Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding speech
– Sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes
– Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or coordination
– Sudden severe headache with no known cause
A stroke can be diagnosed by:
– Neurological exam
– Neuropsychological evaluation, to examine how well the brain is working when
it performs certain functions, such as remembering, problem solving, and
processing information. It is also used to document areas of weaknesses and
strengths.
– Brain imaging tests (CT, or computerized tomography scan; MRI, or magnetic
resonance imaging) to understand the type, location, and extent of the stroke
– Tests that show blood flow and bleeding sites (carotid and transcranial
ultrasound and angiography)
– Blood tests for bleeding or clotting disorders
– EKG (electrocardiogram) or an ultrasound examination (echocardiogram) of the
heart to identify cardiac sources of blood clots that could travel to the
brain
IS STROKE PREVENTABLE?
The good news is, about 50% of all strokes can be prevented through medical
attention and simple lifestyle changes.
Some risk factors, such as age (the risk of stroke doubles with each decade
past age 55), sex (males have slightly higher stroke risk, than females), race
(African-Americans have double the stroke risk of most other races), and a
history of stroke in the family, cannot be changed. However, many others
can be
controlled. Most controllable factors relate to the health of the heart and
blood vessels. To help prevent a stroke:
– Have regular medical check-ups
– Control high blood pressure
– Do not smoke
– Treat heart disease, especially an irregular heart beat called “atrial
fibrillation”
– Improve your diet: Avoid excess fat, salt, and alcohol
– Exercise
– Manage diabetes
– Seek immediate medical attention for warning signs
Medication can also play a role in preventing stroke. Some people are at risk
for stroke because of known health factors, such as high blood pressure,
diabetes, and heart disease. Also, having had a stroke puts you at greater
risk
of having another attack. Fortunately for people in these situations, there
are
medical treatments that can help prevent stroke:
– Antiplatelets and anticoagulants. Doctors can prescribe antiplatelet
medications (such as aspirin) and anticoagulants (such as warfarin) to reduce
the blood’s ability to form clots.
– Angioplasty and stents. To repair blockages, doctors may thread a balloon
angioplasty through a major vessel in the leg or arm to reach the affected
vessel. A steel screen called a “stent” is sometimes inserted in a vessel to
expand its diameter and improve blood flow.
– Carotid endarterectomy. In this surgical procedure, a blockage is removed
>From the carotid artery in the neck.
WHAT ARE SOME TREATMENT OPTIONS?
After the doctor completes the diagnostic tests, a treatment method is
chosen.
For all stroke patients, the aim is to prevent further brain damage. If the
stroke is caused by blocked blood flow to the brain, treatment could include:
– TPA (tissue plasminogen activator), a clot-busting drug that is injected
within three hours of the start of a non-bleeding stroke
– Drugs that thin the blood, including anticoagulants (warfarin) and
antiplatelet medications (aspirin or ticlopidine); a combination of aspirin
and
sustained release dipyridamole
– Surgery that opens the insides of narrowed neck blood vessels (carotid
endarterectomy)
If bleeding causes the stroke, treatment could include:
– Drugs that maintain normal blood clotting
– Surgery to remove blood in the brain or decrease pressure on the brain
– Surgery to fix the broken blood vessels
– Blocking off bleeding vessels by inserting a coil
– Drugs that prevent or reverse brain swelling
– Inserting a tube into a hollow part of the brain to lower pressure
WHAT ABOUT REHABILITATION?
After a stroke, a person may become disabled. The disability depends on the
size and location of the stroke. The right side of the brain controls the left
side of the body; in right-handed individuals it is important for attention
and
visual-spatial skills. The left side of the brain controls the right side of
the body; in right-handed individuals (and 50 percent of left-handed
people) it
controls language–speech and understanding. Language disorders are also
called
“aphasias.”
Rehabilitation helps regain functions lost from damage due to stroke. With
rehabilitation, most people get better. However, many do not recover
completely. Unlike skin cells, nerve cells that die are not replaced by new
cells. However, the human brain is adaptable. People can learn new ways of
functioning, using undamaged brain cells.
This rehabilitation period is often a challenge. The patient and family work
with a team of physical, occupational, and speech therapists, along with
nurses
and doctors. Most of the improvement will take place in the first three to six
months of the process. But some people can make excellent progress over longer
periods.
For more information on strokes or other neuropsychological conditions, visit
<; 13) Now That's a Problem By Garen Yegparian When you're discussing a printing job and your conversationalist says, "Garen, if you don't already have a topic for this week, you've got to write about the tidal wave of Turkish goods flooding the Armenian and Middle Eastern markets," the reply is, "I've covered that before." When two hours later, someone who never gave a damn about this issue, even thought it was silly to discuss, says, "Garen, I hate you, I just can't stand Turkish stuff any more, it really bothers me now," the response is an understanding nod and some "counseling" while starting to wonder, "What's going on today." When an hour later, you walk into Jon's in Glendale on Glenoaks to buy some fine cut, #1 tsavar (boolghoor--ironic, isn't it, having to reference the more familiar Turkish term?) to make some eech, only to discover they only carry the stuff imported from Turkey, the response is, "Now that's a problem, the universe is trying to tell me something." Add this ridiculous conversation to the mix. In early February while buying manaeesh from Panos bakery in Pasadena, the proprietor's response to my criticism of his stocking Turkish pepper paste was "Oh, we don't sell it." It took a minute to register what he was really saying. The guy "merely" uses it in his baked goods. Of course all this happened while an employee, also Armenian, was giving me sideways looks implying, "Who is this guy and what garbage is he spouting." The first person reported that Sdepan Partamian, on his TV show, had advocated picketing the Armenian owned importers' plants to address this vile situation. The response was, "Hey, I had the identical thought a few weeks ago." As I'm sure you're familiar, legion are the lame-o excuses and explanations for this behavior on the part of our compatriots. And they're not limited to the West Coast of the US as I recall similar idiocy being put forth while I lived in New York. It's time to call them on it. It's no longer acceptable for these people to launder their blood money through the petty contributions they make to our community. The pennies they throw our way are supposed to keep our mouths shut. No more I say. They can replace their product line with goods just as tasty and inexpensive but produced in Greece, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, etc. Perhaps if the AYF's efforts in the late eighties and early nineties to stem this noxious flow had been seen through, we wouldn't have this gigantic problem today. Who's going to step up and tackle this problem, pickets, protests, letters, embarrassment tactics, and whatever else it takes to resolve this matter once and for all. Of course if the Turkish government and its pit-bull master--the Turkish military--had any sense, they'd make this and a host of other problems for their country go away by simply addressing the rightful demands of the Armenian nation. But since this is unlikely, let's handle our own dirty laundry in the meantime. Let's picket packing plants and ports of delivery. Let's pummel these complacent purveyors into proper behavior. Who's organizing? Who's leading? I and many others are ready to follow! 14) WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT ARMENIAN WEDDINGS: A recurring series on events at Banquet Halls By Skeptik Sinikian I decided I needed a break this week after last week's serious topic dealing with the Iraq War and the Armenian genocide. After all, come April, I'll probably write about the Armenian genocide and related events every week. But this week, we all need a break and I know nothing helps my readers relax better than reading my random rants about things in our community that drive me up the wall of insanity and back down. This time I'm not going to walk into the minefield of criticizing Armenian television programming, nor am I going to talk about how rude the service at Zankou Chicken can be at times. In fact, as tempted as I am to delve back into the topic of dating in the Armenian world because of numerous requests by readers, I'm going to avoid that and revisit one of my favorite topics--Armenian weddings. A few weeks ago, I was at a wedding in North Hollywood (the same night as the Oscars) and during the whole elaborate ceremony my mind began to wander. I tried to remember all the things that irked me about the ceremony that were endemic of Armenian weddings in general. As soon as I got home, I sat down and tried to write down as many of them as possible. Here are some of my gripes in no particular order. I'd really like to hear your thoughts on some of these, so please send me some feedback. 1. What do they do with all the left over food? Seriously, I wonder what happens to that mountain of "hummus" every week that nobody eats. I have been to more weddings in the last year than I'd care to remember and at each one, there's always plenty of "hummus" and "babaganoush" at each table. Nobody ever touches it because everyone is afraid of stinking of garlic and so the pile just sits there until there's a hardened dark yellow crust around the edges and someone who has had too many shots of vodka or whiskey, dips the remnants of bread into it and takes a dip. I'm not even going to start with all the other mezzeh appetizer dishes. From cheeses, cold cuts, and other delights, an average banquet hall must throw away enough food to feed the entire homeless population of Yerevan for a few months. If someone did the mathematics, it would probably be an obscene amount. 2. Is the food that's served on Sunday the rehashed leftovers from Friday and Saturday? I really need to know the answer to this one because it may completely alter my eating habits at these events. I won't be able to look at the Russian Salad the same way if I know that it's made with the potatoes from the Baptism the night before. 3. What is up with strange cuisine at these banquet halls? It seems as though banquet halls are trying to out do each other in how outrageous their menus can be. My good friend was telling me about one wedding he went to in Tujunga where they had a cooked crocodile on display stuffed with cocktail sauce and shrimp. I didn't believe him until he showed me the picture on his camera phone. A COOKED CROCODILE! I thought the only thing these suckers were good for was wrestling Australian zoologists and being made into purses and wallets. Another banquet hall served rabbits while yet another has started serving yellow tomatoes, sushi rolls, and even passion fruit. I know what you're thinking. And the answer is yes, I've been to a lot of weddings, baptisms, wakes and other similar events at these banquet halls. In fact, I could write a book about them but for now, an article will have to suffice. The point I want to make here though is that none of these "exotic" dishes really say anything about traditional Armenian weddings or culture. You may make the argument that having a lot of food and a great variety is a sign of wishing the couple success in their marriage and future life together but that's just silly. Armenians had nothing to eat during the genocide and the years after, starved under Stalin and had food shortages during various wars in the regions they lived in. Not to mention gluttony being a disgusting and vulgar trait. Here's my advice. .leave the endangered species alone and keep them off the dining table. 4. Here's another thing we need to figure out, why are there more people outside smoking at any of these events than inside? I remember being at an event a few years ago where a Congressman was giving a speech and looking around the room, I noticed I was one of a handful of men sitting in the audience. It felt like I was stuck in an episode of the Twilight Zone until I went to the restroom and walked by the entrance. Sure enough, outside, in the cold balmy weather was a throng of men (mostly dressed in various shades of black and grey) smoking away like they were trying to send an Indian Smoke Signal to their relatives in Hayastan. I know that smoking is an addiction, and addictions are hard to kick but when an important person is saying a few words or even if it's not such an important person but someone who had the courage to stand up in front of an audience and talk, can we please respect that person and act like civilized human beings? 5. Why to people LOVE Arabic music? I don't get this one. I've probably written about it before but it never ceases to amaze me how the room comes alive all of a sudden when the slightest hint of an Arabic melody is played by either the band or the DJ. Women will kick you in the chest with their high heeled shoe to make way to the dance floor where for the next thirty minutes you are forced to watch Armenian women swinging their hips in front of children and the elderly in some of the most inappropriate ways imaginable. Now Skeptik is no prude. In fact, I can appreciate a good hip swinging anytime, and I do mean ANY time. But this obsession with Arabic and Persian music coupled with the scandalous and sexually suggestive dancing is the wrong example to be setting for our children. At this one particular event, I had to watch a mother and her 9 year old daughter do the Arabic belly roll in unison. The girl was imitating her mom. I used to think this was pandemic of the Armenians who came from Arabic countries or the ones from Iran but these people were Russian Armenian. Bizarre. I just don't get it. And believe me, nothing prepares you in life for watching a mother and daughter belly dance performance except for maybe washing your eyes out with Clorox bleach. I have more things to rant and rave about but that's about it for this week. I haven't had a chance to update my blog yet and a special thank you to reader AKprous a.k.a. Kevorkian noticed and wrote "Skeptik, When are you going to update your web-site? I hope that it's because you are lazy and not ill." AKprous my friend, thank you for caring. I will update my site this weekend and on the site I will expand this list. Next week I want to write about the racist monster that lurks in the shadows of the Glendale Hills. Until then, stay classy and pass the hummus. Skeptik Sinikian is a professional Armenian wedding planner and crocodile hunter. He hopes to one day marry his two passions by becoming a wedding planner for Armenians who wish to have crocodile themed weddings at Vegas themed restaurants in Glendale. If you would like to hire his services, email him at [email protected] or visit his blog at <;www.si nikian.blogspot.com. 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. --Boundary_(ID_Pv0ByLXkBHYry03LDAbyEw)--

“MILLENIUM CHALLENGES” COMPACT TO BE SIGNED TODAY IN WASHINGTON
ArmRadio.am
27.03.2006 10:39
RA Minister of Finance and Economy Vardan Oskanyan and Executive
Director of the “Millennium Challenges” Corporation John Danilovich
will sign today a $235.65 million contract in Washington. The signing
ceremony will take place in the Benjamin Franklin Hall of the US
Department of State. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will
deliver a speech at the ceremony.

THE BACKBONE OF THE AZERI ARMY WAS BROKEN IN KELBAJAR (ANALYSIS)
Tatul Hakobyan
“Radiolur”
27.03.2006 13:25
If we trust the statements of international information agencies,
the Ramboulliet talks between Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents
entered a blind alley just because of Kelbajar (or Karvajar). The
geographical location of the area has strategic importance for the
security of both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. 13 years ago these days
the Karabakh forces took control of the region, which had become part
of Soviet Azerbaijan in 1920. It is hard to find as many khachkars
in any other originally Armenian land as in Karvajar. Dadivank,
one of the masterpieces of the Armenian medieval architecture, is
also located in Karvajar. If the liberation of Karabakh is one of
the most glorious pages in the Armenian history, then the operation
directed at taking the control of the Karvajar region is the central
link of this liberation war. Still on May 9, 1992 the Karabakh forces
had liberated Shushi and opened the Lachin corridor on May 18, but
following this, a period of failures started for Nagorno-Karabakh. In
June the Azerbaijani Army had already invaded half of the former
Autonomic Region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Abulfaz Elchibey, who came into
power in Azerbaijan declared, “In case a single Armenian remains in
Karabakh by October 1992, the Azeri people can hang me in the central
square of Baku.”
The Azerbaijani Army had invaded not only Martakert region, but also
Artsvashen village of Armenia.
In the period from March 27 to April 4, 1993 the Karabakh forces
took complete control of Kelbajar region, thus isolating the possible
danger of attack in the directions of Vardenis and Sevan and resuming
the peaceful life in Martakert region.
Kelbajar has invaluable strategic importance for Armenia and
Azerbaijan. If we return it to Azerbaijan, the front line, according
to military experts, will extend with 200 kilometers, the Lachin
corridor will become vulnerable, any time danger may threaten Vardenis
and Sevan. Karabakh will need 20 thousand soldiers to control the
additional 200 thousand kilometers.
Immediately after the evens of Kelbajar, On April 4, 1993 the Turkish
government took the decision to close the border with Armenia, and
the Turkish blockade, which is considered a way of aggression in the
international practice, continues up until now. On April 6, 1993 in
Tashkent the President of Turkey Turgut Ozal condemned the Armenian
aggression” and underlined that “Armenia carries out unconcealed
aggression against Azerbaijan.” In his turn, Prime Minister Suleyman
Demirel declared that “Turkey will never agree to Armenia’s seizing
part of Azerbaijani land” and intends to undertake steps “to avert
the aggression.” In a few days, on April 13-15 Ozal arrived in Baku
and voiced his recurrent threat, “Armenia should voluntarily withdraw
its forces from Kelbajar, otherwise these will be withdrawn from here.”
In February 2005 the OSCE Fact Finding Mission visited the territories
under NKR control. The Fact Finders and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
counted about 2 700 Armenians in the whole region of Kelbajar, who had
moved here from Shahumyan and Getashen, invaded by Azeri Armed Forces.
In 1920, when Soviet regime was established in Azerbaijan, Karvajar was
annexed to Azerbaijan. In 1923 Red Kurdistan was formed, and the region
of Karvajar, settled with several thousands of Kurds and Caucasian
Tatars, was attached to the newly created administrative unit.
In 1930 the Red Kurdistan was exterminated, and Karvajar (Kyalbajar)
with its 1 936 square kilometers of area became one of the 60 regions
of Azerbaijan. In the course of the years, several thousand Kurds of
Kyalbajar got assimilated with the Azeri people.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
03/27/2006
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Schwarzenegger Urged to Help Bring Genocide Legislation to Vote 2) Turkish Lobbyist Attacks Armenian Americans 3) Kocharian-Aliyev Meeting Could Be Held in May 4) Thousands Protest against Turkey~Rs Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul 1) Schwarzenegger Urged to Help Bring Genocide Legislation to Vote (LOS ANGELES)--The Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of California, consisting of various Armenian organizations, sent a letter Friday to California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger requesting that he push the US House and Senate leadership to vote on the pending Armenian Genocide Resolutions. The letter praised Schwarzenegger's demonstrated commitment to the Armenian community and support of Genocide recognition. Schwarzenegger's list of accomplishments includes designating April 24 as a day of remembrance for the Armenian genocide and calling on Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian genocide. "We ask you to openly call upon the Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to schedule votes on the Armenian genocide legislation currently before their chambers of Congress," reads the letter. The full text of the letter can be found below: Dear Governor Schwarzenegger: We are writing, as the collective leadership of the Armenian American community of California, to respectfully request that you urge the leadership of U.S. House and Senate to bring legislation reaffirming the Armenian Genocide to a vote in their respective chambers. Last year, the 700,000 Armenian Americans living in the State of California were heartened by your Executive Proclamation designating April 24 as a day of remembrance for the Armenian Genocide. We also deeply appreciate your signature on SB 424, the "Days of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide" bill introduced by Sen. Charles Poochigian. Along with all people of good conscience, we recall with great pride your remarks on April 21, 2005 noting that you are "proud to represent the people of the State of California in recognizing the historical persecution of the Armenian people and join with them in urging Turkey to acknowledge the fact of the Armenian Genocide." Your principled stand holds great meaning for our community. Furthermore, we are inspired by your refusal to bow to pressure from the Turkish government that wants you compromise your commitment to proper U.S. commemoration and Turkish acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide. In taking this firm moral stand, you are helping to break the cycle of genocide, a horrific century-long history of mass slaughter and denial that has, all too often, been fueled by the silence and inaction of the international community. In this noble spirit - and in the great tradition of California Governors who have served as national leaders in the cause of Armenian Genocide recognition - we ask you to openly call upon the Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to schedule votes on the Armenian Genocide legislation currently before their chambers of Congress. We look forward to working with you hand in hand on this issue of shared concern. Please accept our appreciation for your friendship and support for our community. Respectfully, Western Diocese of the Armenian Church North America, Western Prelacy of the Armenian of Apostolic Church, St. Gregory Armenian Catholic Church, Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, ARF "Dashnagtsutyun" of Western USA, Armenian Democratic Liberal Organization, SD Hunchakian of Western USA, Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian Society of Los Angeles, Armenian Youth Association of California 2) Turkish Lobbyist Attacks Armenian Americans WASHINGTON, DC--Turkey~Rs top Washington, DC lobbyist, former Louisiana Congressman Bob Livingston, in perhaps his most strident attack to date, has accused Armenian Americans of seeking to impose a ~Styranny of the minority~T by urging Congress to adopt human rights legislation concerning the Armenian genocide, according to documents obtained this week by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). ~SIt~Rs truly the height of hypocrisy for a paid foreign agent for Turkey--a government that violates the rights of its citizens on a wholesale basis--to try to diminish the role that American citizens play in the formulation of our nation~Rs foreign policy,~T said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. ~SBut, apparently, in the ~QAlice in Wonderland~R world of Bob Livingston, other nations dictate US policy, genocides remain unpunished, and foreign lobbyists get to silence American voters. He would do well to spend more time encouraging his Turkish clients to learn about democracy, and less time seeking to abridge the democratic rights of Americans here at home.~T In letters sent to Congressional offices last September, prior to the House International Relations Committee~Rs consideration of Armenian genocide legislation, Livingston escalated his rhetoric to unprecedented levels, arguing, in his capacity as a paid agent of a foreign government, that he believed the measure ~Scater[s] to a small minority of citizens promoting the narrow goals of the minority at the expense of America~Rs broader interest.~T He went on, in an example of overstatement rare even by Washington, DC standards, to contend that Armenian genocide legislation ~Sis the truest expression of the tyranny of the minority.~T The panel rejected Livingston~Rs attack, voting 40 to 7 to approve the legislation. In July of last year, CongressWatch, a division of Public Citizen, released a 49-page report highlighting ethical concerns about the Livingston Group~Rs lobbying efforts for the Turkish Government. The report details the efforts by Livingston, to secure a ~S$1 billion supplemental appropriation for Turkey... despite that country~Rs refusal to allow US troops to use its soil as a staging area for the Iraq invasion. He also helped kill an amendment that would have formally recognized the Armenian genocide that occurred between 1915 and 1923.~T The Livingston Group has received over $10 million in payments from Turkey. To read this entire report, visit: 3 ) Kocharian-Aliyev Meeting Could Be Held in May BAKU (Armenpress)--Novruz Mamedov, Head of the Azeri Presidential Administration's International Relations Department, said that the next meeting of the Armenian and Azeri presidents may take place in May of 2006. Mamedov said that unlike the presidents~R previous meeting in Rambouillet, the forthcoming meeting of the presidents could take place within the framework of an international event, reported Azerbaijan~Rs ANS TV channel. 4) Thousands Protest against Turkey~Rs Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul BEVERLY HILLS--The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) led a demonstration of over 4,000 Armenian Americans Friday outside the Beverly Hills Hotel during a speech given by Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, a key figure in the Turkish state~Rs campaign to deny the Armenian genocide. The Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region (ANCA-WR), the AYF-Western Region, both dioceses of the Armenian church, all Armenian political parties, Armenian schools, high school and college Armenian Student Associations, the Hellenic association, and various other organizations participated in Friday~Rs protest. The crowd of protesters marched peacefully and chanted in front of the Beverly Hills Hotel, where the Defense Minister spoke at a luncheon hosted by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council about ~SThe Evolving Security Environment and Turkey~Rs Strategic Role in Eurasia.~T Among the thousands of participants in the protest were Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-27) and Burbank Board of Education President Paul Krekorian. Before inviting Congressman Sherman to speak, ANCA-WR Board of Directors member Raffi Hamparian spoke of the US State Department~Rs failure to live up to American values. ~SAt the same time that the US government is condemning Belarus for suppressing freedom of expression, the US State Department is preparing to fire our Ambassador to Armenia for simply telling the truth about the Armenian genocide,~T said Hamparian. ~SIt is not only those with Armenian heritage who demand that the truth be recognized. Friends of Turkey should demonstrate that Turkey accept the Armenian genocide,~T said Congressman Sherman in his remarks to the crowd. ~SWhere will Turkey be among the family of nations if it does not recognize the truth? I will work in Congress every day until the historical truth of the Armenian genocide is recognized,~T he concluded. Congressman Sherman also commented on Turkey~Rs failure to provide access to US military bases in Turkey and necessary passage over its land and air space during the invasion of Iraq three years ago. ~SThe casualties stemming from today~Rs conflict in Iraq are, to some extent, a direct result of Turkey~Rs refusal to allow the US-led coalition to open a northern front,~T said Congressman Sherman. In his remarks at the luncheon, the Defense Minister addressed the issue of Turkey~Rs actions during the run-up to the Iraq War. He directly contradicted the position of his American counterpart, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who has repeatedly said on national television that Turkey~Rs refusal to allow US-led coalition forces to open a northern front has significantly contributed to the strength of the Iraqi insurgency. ~STurkey has supported the US led war on Iraq from the beginning,~T said the Defense Minister. He added that ~STurkey promotes good neighborly relations.~T This assertion also stands in sharp contrast to the actions of the Turkish government, which, on one hand, blockades and seeks to isolate Armenia, and on the other, denies the Armenian genocide and continues to harvest the economic, demographic, and geopolitical fruits of the genocidal crime it committed against the Armenian nation nine decades ago. ~SDefense Minister Gonul~Rs remarks are consistent with his government~Rs campaign to portray a rosy image of itself--despite the facts on the ground. Increasingly, however, the American public is seeing through these transparent efforts, and looking instead to Turkey~Rs actual conduct--such as its blockade of Armenia, abysmal human rights record, attempts to revise history, and, more broadly, its increasingly antagonistic relationship with the United States,~T said Hamparian after listening to the Defense Minister~Rs speech. Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul~Rs visit to Southern California, home to the largest Armenian population in the US, came exactly one month prior to the 91st anniversary of the Armenian genocide on April 24th. California, which is one of 38 states to have recognized the Armenian genocide, last year adopted legislation permanently designating the week of April 24 as California~Rs week of remembrance of the Armenian genocide. The effort to enact legislation on the Armenian genocide was led by state legislators such as Senators Chuck Poochigian (R-Fresno) and Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco), and signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2005. California has also adopted an education curriculum that includes teaching of the history of the Armenian genocide, and the Los Angeles Unified School District is among many public school systems in the state that continue to train its teachers on implementing a curriculum that teaches about this crime against humanity. The Defense Minister~Rs visit also came at an especially sensitive time in US-Turkey relations. In recent weeks, ~SValley of the Wolves,~T the most expensive film ever made in Turkey, prompted the US military to issue warnings to our troops stationed in Turkey due to the film~Rs severely anti-American and anti-Semitic nature. The film continues to remain a box office hit in theatres across Turkey and has been publicly praised by many Turkish leaders, including Prime Minster Erdogan. The popularity of ~SValley of the Wolves~T is not the only recent demonstration of anti-Semitic and anti-American sentiment in Turkey. Last year, Adolf Hilter~Rs ~SMein Kampf~T was a best-seller in the country. The Defense Minister~Rs speech was repeatedly interrupted by chants coming from protesters demonstrating along Sunset Boulevard. Armenian Americans attending the luncheon, including Glendale Unified School District Board Member Greg Krikorian, called on the Defense Minister to acknowledge Turkey~Rs past. However, Defense Minister Gonul said that ~Sthese are Armenian claims, and there is nothing to acknowledge.~T AYF Chairman Tro Tchekidjian stated at the conclusion of the protest that ~SWe will never forget what happened in 1915, and we will persist in calling for recognition of the Armenian genocide until Turkey comes to terms with its past.~T The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues. 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.

TIGRAN PETROSYAN IN THE TOP EIGHT OF THE “DOS ERMAGANOS” CHESS TOURNAMENT
ArmRadio.am
27.03.2006 12:10
Grand Master of Armenia Tigran Petrosyan has reached the quarterfinal
of the Spanish “Dos Ermaganos” International Internet Chess Tournament.
To remind, Tigran Petrosyan was simultaneously participating also
in the National Chess Championship of Armenia, where he took the 6th
place with 4.5 points.
1600 chess players from different countries are participating in the
“Dos Ermaganos” Tournament.

LEVON ARONYAN SHARES THE 9TH TO 10TH PLACES WITH RUSSIAN PYOTOR SVIDLEV
ArmRadio.am
27.03.2006 12:42
After the 8th round Chess Master of Armenia Levon Aronyan shares
the 9th to 10th places with Russian Pyotor Svidlev at the “Amber”
International Super Chess Tournament held at “Fairmont” Hotel of
Monte Carlo, Monaco.
In the 8th round Levon Aronyan played a draw with Russian Alexander
Grishchuk. In the previous round he had lost Alexander Morozevich
with the score of 0:2.
After eight rounds Alexander Morozevich is leading with 11 points. With
10.5 points Vishvanatan Anand of India is the second. Francisco
Valekho occupies the third position with 9.5 point.
Three rounds are left till the end of the tournament.

DWELLERS OF THE ALIENATION ZONE CONTINUE TO PROTEST
ArmRadio.am
27.03.2006 14:28
Dwellers of the Northern Avenue, Dalma Parks, Buzand Street and Tbilisi
Highway gathered today in front of the Yerevan City Hall, demanding to
resume their violated rights and provide corresponding reimbursement.
Although their case is being currently considered at the Constitutional
Court, the anxiety of the dwellers does not reduce. They assert that
the violations against them still continue.