RA STATE FLAG BENDED AND MOURNING REGISTERS OPENED ON MAY 5 AND 6 AT
RA REPRESENTATIONS ABROAD

YEREVAN, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Mourning days were also
announced at all the RA dimplomatic representations abroad on May 5
and 6. The state flag of the Republic of Armenia was bended and
mourning registers were opened on that occasion. High-ranking
representatives of the authorities of countries having Armenian
embassies, heads of diplomatic representations accredited in those
countries, representatives of community organizations and parties,
Armenian churches visited the RA representations and expressed their
condolences on the occasion of the Armenian A-320 plane crash. As
Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and
Information Department, representations of Armenia continue to get
numerous letters of condolence from different organizations and
individuals.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR TO UNITED ARAB EMIRATES VAHAGN
MELIKIAN’S BIOGRAPHIC DATA

YEREVAN, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. As we have already
informed, by the May 4 decree, RA President Robert Kocharian appointed
Vahagn Melikian the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
the Republic of Armenia to the United Arab Emirates. The RA Ministry’s
Press and Information Department submitted the newly appointed
Ambassador’s biographic data to Noyan Tapan:
Vahagn Melikian was born in Yerevan, in 1967. He graduated from the
Yerevan State University Department of Oriental Studies. In 1993 he
attended special courses of the Diplomatic Academy of Egypt. He has
worked at the RA Foreign Ministry’s system since 1991, as a
referent. In 1991-1992 he worked as the RA Foreign Minister’s
Assistant. In 1993-1996 he was the Second Secretary of the RA Embassy
to Greece. In 1996-1997 he worked as the Secretariate Chief of the RA
Foreign Ministry. In 1997-2000 he was the First Secretary of the RA
Embassy to Germany. He has been the head of the “RA State Protocol”
since 2001 up to now. The diplomatic degree is the Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary. He is engaged in lecturer’s activity. He
knows Russian, English, French, Arabic. He is married, has two
children.

LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND RA PRESIDENT DISCUSS ISSUES RELATING TO
ARMENIA-DIASPORA CONFERENCE TO BE HELD THIS YEAR

YEREVAN, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Mike Kharabian, the
head of the Armenian Liberal Democratic Party (Ramgavar) expressed at
the May 6 meeting of the party delegation with RA President Robert
Kocharian, the Diasporan Armenian circles’ deep condolence on the
occasion of the May 3 plane crash. He mentioned that the Diaspora
grieves over the deaths as well as the Fatherland. Robert Kocharian
mentioned that in small Armenia where everybody is tied with each
other by relative-friendly ties, this tragedy created an atmosphere of
really general pain. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA President’s
Press Office, the delegation members spoke to Robert Kocharian about
the issues of a more effective usage of the Liberal Democratic Party’s
potential in Armenian initiatives and relating to the Armenia-Diaspora
conference to be held this year.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN PRESS FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION DURING
THREE-DAY WASHINGTON, DC ADVOCACY TOUR

WASHINGTON, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Serj Tankian and
John Dolmayan of the Grammy Award-winning band System of a Down raised
awareness, garnered national press attention on the Armenian Genocide
and pressed legislators for action on legislation condemning this
crime during their three-day advocacy tour of the nation’s capital,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). Among the
highlights of the visit were the following: – An unscheduled meeting
with Speaker Dennis Hastert, during which Serj reminded the Speaker
about the band’s past attempts to arrange a meeting to discuss the
Armenian Genocide, briefed him about their ongoing positive meetings
with legislators, and pointed out that the fate of Armenian Genocide
legislation rested in the Speaker’s hands. The Speaker noted that he
hadn’t looked at the band’s letter yet, but promised to read it. – A
series of strategy meetings with legislators on both the House and
Senate sides of the Capitol. Among those they met with concerning the
adoption of Armenian Genocide legislation were Chief Deputy Whip Eric
Cantor (R-VA), Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO); Congressmen George
Radanovich (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), the lead authors of Armenian
Genocide legislation before the U.S. House; Congressman Frank Pallone
(D-NJ), the Co-Chairman of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, and;
Representatives Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) and Devin Nunes (R-CA). – The
opportunity to meet dozens of legislators, including House Rules
Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-CA), at the ANCA’s annual Armenian
Genocide observance on Capitol Hill on April 26th. This remembrance,
which drew 40 Senators and Representatives, featured the presentation
of the ANCA’s ‘Voice of Justice’ Award to System of a Down. The band
members were joined at this event by David Alpay, the star of Atom
Egoyan’s groundbreaking film on the Armenian Genocide, “Ararat.” – The
first-ever screening, on April 25th, of excerpts from “Screamers,” a
powerful and innovative new film by Carla Garapedian about the band’s
efforts to secure justice for the Armenian Genocide. The film, which
was enthusiastically received by the Capitol Hill audience, was
followed by an extensive question and answer session. – A series of
media interviews, including an April 25th hour-long on-air discussion
about the Armenian Genocide on DC-101’s “Elliot in the Morning” show,
Washington, DC’s leading morning radio program. – Stories about their
advocacy tour appeared in influential publications across Capitol Hill
and around the country, including the Los Angeles Times and the
Gannett News Service. Congressional Quarterly, the highly regarded
weekly publication, ran a story quoting Serj Tankian stressing that,
“for the government to still deny this historical truth is an absolute
travesty.” The Hill, an influential Congressional publication, quoted
John Dolmayan as saying that he would continue his work until Congress
recognizes the genocide: “Even a blade of grass can break through
concrete, and I’d rather be the grass than the concrete.” – Serj and
John both took part in an April 24th anti-denial rally outside the
Turkish Embassy organized by the ANCA and Armenian Youth Federation.
Prominent among the more than 1,000 participants in the rally was
Alecko Eskandarian, star forward of the DC United soccer team.

CATHOLICOS OF GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA SENDS MESSAGES OF CONDOLENCE TO
RA PRESIDENT AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS

ANTELIAS, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Catholicos of the
Great House of Cilicia sent messages of condolence to RA President
Robert Kocharian and Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians. In the
messages he expressed deep sympathy on the occasion of the accident of
the A-320 aircraft of the “Armavia” company, implementing a
Yerevan-Sochi flight, in which all the 105 passengers and the crew of
8 members died. “On this sad occasion we share your, our Fatherland’s
and our people’s grief. We pray that the God gives eternally patience
to the innocent victims’ souls and console their relatives with the
Holy Spirit,” in said in the message of His Holiness that was
submitted to Noyan Tapan by the Press Services of the Catholicosate of
the Great House of Cilicia. His Holiness Aram I also informed that on
Sunday, May 7, the divine service for the plane crash victims was held
at the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral of Antelias and in all
dioceses of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia.

MOURNING REGISTER OPENED IN ISTANBUL, AT PERMANENT REPRESENTATION OF
ARMENIA TO BSEC

ISTANBUL, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A mourning register
was opened in Istanbul, at the Representation of Armenia to the Black
Sea Economy Cooperation. All those wished left in it on May 5-6 their
messages of condolence on the occasion of the plane crash. Karen
Mirzoyan, the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the BSEC informed
the Istanbul “Marmara” daily about it.

DAMASCUS ARMENIAN DIOCESE PRIMACY AND NATIONAL AUTHORITIES GRIEVE OVER
DEATH OF NUMEROUS VICTIMS OF PLANE CRASH

DAMASCUS, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “We got to know with
deep heart sorrow about the accident of the aircraft of Yerevan-Sochi
flight and about the numerous victims,” is said in the message of
condolence of the Damascus Armenian Diocese primacy. The Damascus
Armenian Diocese primacy and the national authorities grieve over the
numerous victims’ death and express their sympathy to the crash
victims’ families, relatives and the Armenian people. “We pray for the
God receives souls of victims in his heavenly sacristies and gifts
them heavenly patience. We wish the victims’ relatives the Holy
Spirit’s consolation,” is said in the message. “We prayed the God with
the May 7 Surb Liturgy divine service, asking for consolation for
relatives and heavenly patience for victims,” the Damascus Armenian
diocese primacy informs.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF DAMASCUS APPEAL TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS’ MEMORY
DAMASCUS, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Events dedicated to
the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide were held in the
Armenian community of Damascus. The divine service was celebrated on
April 23 at the Surb Sargis church, wreaths were laid at the April
Martyrs Monument after what Armenian unions of Damascus presented an
artistic program. On behalf of the Damascus cultural unions, Doctor
George Barseghian made a speech. “If Armenia’s independence was a
dream for us and today it has come true, then we are sure that the
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide is a vision as well
that will become reality,” he particularly said. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the Damascus Armenian Diocese, at the end of the April 24
solemn Surb Liturgy, a private divine ceremony took place in front of
the April Martyrs Monument. Diocese primate Bishop Armash Nalbandian
addressed a commandment at the Surb Liturgy. Bishop Rimon Id, the
primate of the Maronite church of Damascus was present at the
liturgy. He prayed in front of the Martyrs’ Monument, expressing his
support to the martyr Armenian people. After the Surb Liturgy, all
those present went to the national graveyard where a requiem at the
Martyrs’ Monument was also held. Tatev Basmajian, the spiritual pastor
of the Armenian Gospel church of Damascus addressed commandment at the
national graveyard. In the afternoon, His Holiness Armash, the
Armenian diocese primate of Damascus and representatives of Damascus
unions visited the RA Embassy and left a notice in the memorial
register. The Surb Liturgy was celebrated at the Armenian Catholic
Church of Damascus late on April 24, after what a requiem ceremony was
held. A lecture dedicated to the 91st anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide was delivered at the Surb Sargis Church of Damascus on late
April 28. Doctor Tessa Hoffman arrived from Germany spoke on the theme
“Germany and Armenia: Facing Historic Responsibility.” Touching upon
the Genocide reality, Tessa Hoffman made a detailed historic review,
particularly emphasizing Germany’s complicity and participation in the
Genocide as well as Germany’s silence in the process of recognition
and condemnation of the Genocide. At the end of her speech, Tessa
Hoffman apologized for that state which has not recognized the
Armenian Genocide up today.

CALIFORNIA PARLIAMENT PRESENTS DRAFT ON INVOLVING ARMENIAN LANGUAGE IN
EXAMS TO GET TEACHING CREDENTIAL

GLENDALE, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Saro Nazarian
(Glendale), a representative of the Armenian community of California
gave Noyan Tapan additional information concerning the draft law
presented by Dario Frommer, the California State Assembly Majority
Leader. We informed about the draft on May 2 as well. Saro Nazarian,
whose efforts greatly supported presentation of the draft, explains
that Frommer’s draft relates not to teaching the Armenian langauge at
state schools of California (Armenia is already tought in some state
schools of California cities populated with many Armenians), but to
the issue that this draft affirms involvement of the Armenian language
in the state exams called CSET held for getting a Teaching
Credential. The above-mentioned credential, that the California
Commission on Teacher Credentialing confirs, is needed for occupying a
teacher’s post at state schools of California. Without it,
educational regions may not give a job even to experienced teachers.
And one of the most important demands for getting that credential is
passing of two state exams called CBEST and CSET. The level of an
entrant’s knowlegde of English and Mathimatics is estimated by the
CBEST, and by the CSET exam, an entrant factually gets a possibility
to teach different subjects at state schools. And one of those
subjects is language. According to the CSET, the Spanish, French,
German, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Russian and Vietnamian languages
are considered foreign languages in the sense of the state. As Saro
Nazarian emphasized in one of his articles and in letters addressed to
Sacramento officials on educational and legislative issues, the
Armenian language is not officially involved in the CSET foreign
languages’ list, while California is one of the places of the world
populated with too many Armenians, in state schools of one of biggest
educational regions of which, Los Angeles, many thousands of Armenian
pupils study. The Armenian community representative asked to do works
in the direction of involving the Armenian language in the CSET.
As a result, Deputy Dario Frommer presented the State Parliament draft
No2913 by which the Armenian language is involved in the CSET foreign
languages’ list. “By involvement of the Armenian language in the CSET
foreign languages’ list, our Claifornian Armenian young people,
particularly those pupils of Los Angeles Armenian secondary schools,
who intend to devote themselves to the teaching sphere in future, are
able from now on to seriously think about getting their Teaching
Credential with the Armenian language and becoming a teacher of the
Armenian language,” Saro Nazarian emphasized.

ARMENIAN VETERANS OF PATRIOTIC WAR WANT TO RESTORE PRIVILEGES THEY HAD
BEFORE

YEREVAN, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. 7898 veterans of the Patriotic War live
in Armenia at present. About 2000 of them are invalids. Veterans get
8300 drams (about 18.4 U.S. dollars) pension and invalid veterans get
12-21 thousand drams. Besides, according to the RA law “On Patriotic
War Veterans”, all veterans get monthly payment of honor, 10000
drams. Veterans pay for flat, litter, radio and phone subscribing 50%
of payments. They have privileges of getting free medical assistance,
medicine, free applies for accomodation in a sanatorium as well as to
run freely once in a year in the territory of the CIS countries.
Instead of some privileges of 2004, veterans get assistance of 3000
drams, and invalid veterans get assistance of 4500 drams. But, as
Major General Rafik Karapetian, the Chairman of the Veterans’ Union of
Armenia mentioned in the interveiw to the Noyan Tapan correspondent,
veterans want to restore their privileges. The Union is going to
address to the RA President, Prime Minister,
National Assembly Speaker with this issue. According to R.Karapetian,
it is necessary to undertake means to improve the social-economic
state of veterans, “They are already old people: the youngest of them
is 82 years old,” he mentioned, adding that 1400 veterans died the
last year.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress