ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS DRAFT CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS IN SECOND READING
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1. ARMINFO. Today Armenian MPs adopted the draft
constitutional reforms in the second reading by 98 votes “for.”
In his speech, Vice Speaker Tigran Torosyan said that adoption of draft
constitutional reforms at November referendum will open wide prospects
for further democratic development of the country. He said the draft
considerably differs from the effective Constitution of Armenia. Thus,
the document secures a real balance between the power branches,
creates guaranties of independence of the judicial power. It also
expands the powers of the local self-government bodies and guarantees
observation of human rights and freedoms, the vice speaker said.
Torosyan said fundamental changes are proposed in the sphere of
government formation. The draft deprives the president of his right
to dismiss the prime minister, the president is empowered to propose
the parliament to made such a decision. Besides, the draft provides
the president for appointing the prime minister in case of a relevant
proposal by the absolute parliamentary majority or at least relative
majority. Torosyan thinks an important step that the draft provides
for formation of the government on the basis of a special law and
not by the decree of the president. All this provisions evidently
restrict the president’s powers and expand those of the legislative
power, the vice speaker said. He also said the draft increases in
the role of the executive power in the domestic political and foreign
political processes, as in conformity with the draft, the president
is no longer head of the government and the decision by the executive
power are not subject to the president’s ratification.
Torosyan called it important that the draft does not consider the
president head of the Armenian Justice Council, and the procedure of
advancing candidates for the membership of the Council is regulated by
the law, which creates real guarantees of independence of the judicial
power. He thinks important that the draft provides for election of
Yerevan Mayor and not appointment. The effective Constitution allows
governors to make proposals to the government on dismissal of the
heads of the communities, meanwhile, the draft allow making such
decisions only the Constitutional Court.
Besides, the draft allows the communities to establish inter-community
unions and independently form and use community budgets. He also
pointed out the reforms related the activity of the Supervisory
Chamber, stating that existence of an independent Supervisory
Chamber and constitutional guaranties of its independence upgrade
its role. Torosyan called an important step towards human rights
protection the fact that the draft provides the parliament for
appointing Ombudsman. Besides, each citizen of Armenia as a right to
apply to the Constitutional Court to protect his rights and freedoms.
It should be noted the parliamentary opposition represented by the
Justice bloc and the National Unity party did not take part in the
voting and refused from supporting the draft reforms, calling its
supporters to vote against the document at November referendum.

ENTRY EXAMINATIONS IN ARMENIA IN 2005 WERE ACCOMPANIED WITH GROSS VIOLATIONS, THINKS HEAD OF YOUTH ANTI-CORRUPTION STAFF
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30. ARMINFO. Entry examinations in Armenia in 2005
were with mass centralized violations and facts of corruption, Head
of the Youth Anti- Corruption Staff, Leader of the Armenian Youth
Party Sargis Asatryan told journalists today.
He says that at the beginning of the summer, an independent youth anti-
corruption staff was created and 92 employees followed the process
of entry examinations throughout the country. Asatryan states that
he considers himself a politician and makes a political statement and
has no intention to specify it. He says all the facts of violations,
that is 67 episodes of corruption, were brought in a special letter
to Armenian President, wherein the party proposes dismissing Minister
of Education and Science of Armenia Sergo Yeritsyan as the main person
responsible for the disorders at the examinations.
In response to the numerous questions of journalists related
the largest violations at the exams, Asatryan mentioned Gyumri
Pedagogical University and the State Agricultural Academy and the
subjects “Armenian language,” “English Language,” “Physics,” and
“Mathematics.” Asatryan thinks that such person as Sergo Yeritsyan
should not be in charge of the native science and the future of
children, and moreover, in charge of numerous grants and credit
projects in the sphere of education. He pointed out that responsibility
for “machinations at the examinations” are laid on Head of the Clearing
Center Ruben Topchyan distributing free and paid places. But the main
guilty person is Minister Sergo Yeritsyan, Asatryan reiterates.

ARMENIA VS. THE NETHERLANDS 0:1 REPORT
Jadran Sport, Serbia and Montenegro
Sept 4 2005
– Dutch sign in all three points with minor use of their power –
by Arnoldus Holland
With the performance the Dutch presented us with this Saturday against
Armenia it’s hard likely to believe that their team is being made out
of the best European players. Luckily Manchester United’s striker Ruud
van Nistelrooy was on the right place on the right time to ship the
ball behind the Armenian goalkeeper thirty minutes before the finish
to ensure The Netherlands all three points.
Throughout the game the Dutch had more ball possession, but the bumpy
pitch didn’t really allow them to create any serious chances, neither
did they look too interested in making them. So the beginning was
mostly full of shots from distance that weren’t even close to end up
in the back of the Artmenian net.
Something finally changed when the chief Marco van Basten sent PSV
Eindhoven’s striker Jan Vennegoor up front after one hour play. The
strong player headed the ball with his first ball contact towards
Ruud van Nistelrooij. The player of Manchester United turned away
from his marker and kicked the ball diagonally into the corner of
the goal for 0:1.
After the goal was scored The Netherlands didn’t really need to do
anything more as Armenia didn’t really get past the center of the
pitch, and even when they did by accident Khalid Boulahrouz solved
things easily.
After eight wins and one draw, Germany2006 is a step closer for the
Dutch team, who of course are still in the lead in this qualification
group. Things only got better for them, when they heard that the Czechs
lost their game against Rumania with 0-2. With three matches to go for
the Dutch, they are three points in front of Romania and four points
in front of Czech Rep. Romania still have a minor chance to end up
second in the group, but this is very unlikely because they already
played two more matches comparing to The Netherlands and Czech Rep.

HEAD OF ARMENIAN MOD LEAVING FOR LATVIA ON OFFICIAL CALL
Pan Armenian News
05.09.2005 02:39
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Secretary of the Security Council at the
Armenian President, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan is leaving for
Latvia on an official call, Minister’s Press Secretary, colonel
Seyran Shahsuvaryan told PanARMENIAN.Net. In the course of the visit
S. Sargsyan is scheduled to meet with the PM, MOD head, General Staff
chief, as well as head of the Parliamentary Committee on Security and
Defense. Within the visit framework a Treaty on Military Cooperation
between the MOD of Armenia and MOD of Latvia will be signed. September
7-9 the official visit of the Armenian delegation will continue in
Estonia. Here similar meetings are planned. Upon the completion of the
visit a Memorandum on Mutual Understanding in Military Cooperation
between the Armenian MOD and the Estonian MOD is expected to be
signed. The documents being arranged for the signing are sent for
creation of the necessary legal framework, which will provide for
military cooperation between the countries mentioned and Armenia.

JOHN EVANS: CHANGE OF POWER NOT NECESSARY CONDITION FOR DEMOCRATIZATION IN ARMENIA
Pan Armenian News
05.09.2005 06:05
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S. Ambassador to the RA John Evans said the
U.S. does not consider change of power to be an essential condition
for democratization in Armenia and will exert every effort to make
the parliamentary elections in 2007 and presidential election in 2008
free and fair, RFE/RL reports. Mr. Evan confirmed the U.S.’s support
to the constitutional reform. “Armenia has a possibility to pass
the necessary changes in constitutional order”, the Ambassador noted
adding that the U.S. is not trying to tell the Armenian electorate
how to vote. “We say the following: this is a very important task,
which is worth proper attention of the voters and serious discussion
in the National Assembly”, the diplomat said. The Ambassador does not
think that the constitutional reform will empower Robert Kocharian to
run for President for the third time. When asked of the consequences
of an unfair referendum, the Ambassador said, ” We witnessed how
falsified elections drove people to streets. It should serve as a
good lesson not only for Armenia but also for all the states of the
region. People are expecting fair election. So does the U.S.”, he said.

ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN MILITARY EXERCISES START IN ARMENIA SEPTEMBER 13
Pan Armenian News
05.09.2005 03:41
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Servicemen of the Group of Russian Troops in
Transcaucasia (GRTT) and the Armed Forces of Armenia will take part
in planned joint exercises. Starting September 13 and continuing for
6 days these will be held in the territory of Armenia. “They will
be rather large-scale exercises and these are held in compliance
with the plan the two countries have agreed over.” GRTT Commander,
major general Andrey Popov will arrive in Armenia on the occasion of
the exercises, reported Interfax.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES CREW OF CILICIA SAILING VESSEL
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1. ARMINFO. President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan
jhas rdceived today the crew of the sailing vessel Cilicia built
on the model of Middle Age vessels of Cilicia Kingdom. The sailing
vessel has completed te second stage of its sailing by 9 seas.
The presidential press-service informs ARMINFO that the crew handed
over the national flag of Armenia to President Kocharyan and took
another flag from the president to sail under it next year. Sailors
presented Robert Kocharyan the photo of Cilicia with their autographs.
The president talked to the crew around the issues related
the forthcoming third stage of sailing and the problems of the
vessel’s transportation to Armenia. Robert Kocharyan pointed out
the importance of construction of a special berth on Lake Sevan and
promised to assist the sailors in this issue. The sailors told about
the interesting incidents during the sailing and assured him that
due to their accumulated experience they will cope with the remaining
way and bring Cilicia to the native shore.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Boston Herald
August 29, 2005 Monday
ALL EDITIONS
MUSIC REVIEW;
For thrash-metal sound, you can’t beat the System
By Linda Laban
System of a Down, the Mars Volta and Bad Acid Trip, at the DCU Center,
Worcester, Saturday night.
Smart-rock ruled Worcester this weekend.
Following the Mars Volta’s cancellation of its European tour in June,
due to guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez’s illness, the experimental
combo was back and in stunning form, supporting System of a Down at
the DCU Center.
This time out, too, Mars Volta included former At the Drive-In
bandmate Paul Hinojas, who recently quit Sparta (the other Drive-In
offshoot), to man Volta’s tape loops and sound manipulation. Fronted
by dapper-looking, pipe-thin singer Cedric Bixler, the expanded
eight-man touring lineup also added keyboards, percussion, saxophone
and flute – all jamming on Mars Volta’s beautiful, fierce music,
which culls from prog rock, classic rock, Latino-Cuban and free jazz.
Familiar reference points aside, the result was epic songs that
sounded unique and boundless.
Similar to Mars Volta’s delving into its founding members’ Latin
heritage, headliner System of a Down co-opts curious, and amusing,
Eastern European stylings in its bombastic, thrash-rooted metal,
echoing the Los Angeles quartet’s Armenian heritage. System of a Down
is one band whose music fits a stadium with ease. No need for added
theatrics: The songs are already so intense they breathe heartily in
such a vast space, becoming truly realized. If on record the band is
a manic, frenzied affair, filled with agit-prop ADD rock, then live
System of a Down is dignified and commanding.
Though the band is touring for its recently released platinum-selling
“Mezmerize,” the avid Massachusetts fans got a taste of System’s
similarly styled forthcoming companion disc, “Hypnotize,” due in
November.
The thrashy metal punch and Slavic strut at the base of most songs
was blindsided by abrupt passages of whacky reggae, and quieted by
frontman Serj Tankian and guitarist Daron Malakian’s keen folky vocal
harmonies, both adding more layers to this voluptuous music. Then,
amid all this pomp and punch, the catchy “Violent Pornography,” with
its surfy guitar licks and sing-along chorus, came off as a pop romp.
Metal, outside the box. Smart.

Fresno Bee (California)
August 31, 2005, Wednesday FINAL EDITION
One special deli that’s a cut above To many of Armenian descent from
across the country, Fresno is best known for Ohanyan’s.
by Joan Obra The Fresno Bee
Fresno’s Armenians know Ohanyan’s. So do local Greeks, Lebanese
and Egyptians.
But the influence of this Fresno deli and factory stretches
nationwide. Armenians who love bastirma and soujouk — the cured
pastrami-like beef and sausage popular in the Middle East and Middle
Asia — trek to Ohanyan’s for these old-fashioned delicacies.
Last week, Manas Sherenian, an Oriental rug importer from Dallas,
visited Ohanyan’s Deli at Shields and West avenues to buy about 25
pounds of bastirma for his family.
“We’ve been buying [Ohanyan’s] products for a long time,” says
Sherenian, who went to the store to ask for direct shipping to
his home. In smaller Armenian communities like the one in Dallas,
Ohanyan’s meat isn’t readily available.
Not so in cities with larger Armenian populations.
“If I lived in New York or Boston,” Sherenian says, “it would be easy
to find it.”
Fresno residents, of course, have an ample supply of delicacies from
Ohanyan’s, which is the central San Joaquin Valley’s only manufacturer
of bastirma and soujouk.
In Nina’s Bakery at Shaw and West avenues, Nina Tashchian sells
Ohanyan’s soujouk and bastirma along with her Armenian pastries and
handmade meals. Most of her customers buy packaged Ohanyan’s products
to take home, but some also order the sliced meats in sandwiches with
pocket bread.
“They have the best bastirma and soujouk,” Tashchian says of
Ohanyan’s. “They’re famous. And the people like it so much.”
At MGA Liquor and Deli at Bullard Avenue and Figarden Drive, co-owners
Armen Pogosyan and Marine Gevorgyan started offering Ohanyan’s products
after customers began asking for them.
And other ethnic stores, such as Fresno Deli at Fresno Street and
Gettysburg Avenue, Hagopian International Deli in Visalia and Hye
Deli at Bullard and Marks avenues sell Ohanyan’s products.
It isn’t just Armenians who buy Ohanyan’s products, says Sevan
Havatian, owner of Fresno Deli. “Everybody likes it,” she says.
Together, bastirma and soujouk make up the base of Ohanyan’s business,
which is led by Jerry Hancer and his brother-in-law, Markos Garabetyan,
Armenians who grew up in Turkey.
The two were working at a belt-manufacturing company in Toledo, Ohio,
when a relative told them that Ohanyan’s, an Armenian deli at Shields
and West avenues, was up for sale.
Hancer and Garabetyan jumped at the chance to buy it, and they moved
their families to Fresno.
“We weren’t thinking about this,” Hancer says. “But the opportunity
came up suddenly.”
The two took over Ohanyan’s in 1981 and started tinkering with
soujouk and bastirma recipes. They wanted to improve the traditional,
Turkish-Armenian bastirma and soujouk made by Hancer’s grandparents,
who originated from Kastamonu, a central Turkish city near the
Black Sea.
They started out by making 400-500 pounds of bastirma and soujouk
a week. By the mid-1990s, they’d bought a factory on Sussex Way,
increasing their production to 15,000 pounds a week.
About five years ago, they added another Armenian specialty called
manti — tortellinilike pasta stuffed with ground meat and parsley,
typically served with a garlic-yogurt sauce and buttery tomato sauce.
The manti “was a very popular dish with the Greeks and Armenians,”
Hancer says. “We decided, ‘Why can’t we make this here?’ ”
“It’s so time-consuming,” he adds, “and not everybody is making it.”
These are foods with a lot of history. Legend has it that Turk
horsemen in central Asia created bastirma by squeezing cured meat
between their legs and saddles. In the Kayseri province of central
Turkey, bastirma and soujouk became culinary specialties.
The blend of spices reminiscent of Kayseri — fenugreek, cumin,
paprika and garlic — attracts customers such as Sherenian, who grew
up in that region of Turkey.
“My grandmother used to work in the bastirma and soujouk business in
Kayseri,” he says.
Sherenian says he loves the quality of the bastirma, which is made of
New York strip steak. “But it’s not just the beef,” Sherenian says.
“It’s that paste, those ingredients that [Ohanyan’s] uses.”
A tour through the factory on Sussex Way reveals the pungent odor
of various spices. Workers cut New York strip steak, throwing the
gristle in the trash and saving the trimmings in a separate bin to
make soujouk.
The slices of strip steak are then cured with salt and spices in the
first step of making bastirma. The meat then is cured with a wet
marinade to flavor its interior. Afterward, it’s dried again with
another spice paste.
The trimmings for soujouk are similarly spiced with garlic and cumin,
stuffed into sausage casings, then dried.
At Ohanyan’s Deli, Hayik Garabetyan, Markos’ son, thinly slices both
meats. Both are heavily spiced with garlic, but the bastirma has more
of a spicy flavor, especially when heated.
Currently, the factory is producing all the bastirma, soujouk and
manti it can. Ohanyan’s owners would like to expand — they already
have blueprints in hand and extra land to build on, but they say
they’re held back by their meat suppliers.
“We’re using New York strip steaks only, and it’s hard to find it as
lean as we want,” Hancer says.
They also hope to add new products, such as European sausages.
“I lived for 15 years in Germany,” says Markos Garabetyan, “I believe
we can do the same for those sausages as we did for bastirma and
soujouk. We have a better chance than someone new.”
The reporter can be reached at [email protected] or (559) 441-6365.
INFOBOX
Ideas for serving soujouk and bastirma
Soujouk and bastirma are traditional Armenian meats that are eaten
in a number of simple ways:
As an appetizer, serve slices of soujouk with Armenian string cheese.
For breakfast, fry thin slices of bastirma as you would bacon. Serve
them with fried eggs. (Or mix the slices of bastirma with eggs in
an omelet.)
For a soujouk or bastirma wrap, layer slices of soujouk or bastirma
with Armenian string cheese on softened lahvosh, the Armenian cracker
bread. Roll the lahvosh around the meat.
Chop soujouk or bastirma into small pieces, and brown them in oil.
Add the browned meat to bulgur pilaf.
Instead of adding pepperoni to pizza, try using soujouk instead.
Cook pieces of bastirma with spinach, green beans or white beans to
flavor the vegetables.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

School Library Journal Reviews
September 1, 2005
The Dark Pond
by Jo-Ann Carhart
The Dark Pond (unabr.) 2 cassettes. 2:45 hrs. Recorded Books . 2005.
ISBN 1-4193-3103-5 : $19.75; read-along pack: $19.75.
Gr 6 Up -Joseph Bruchac (HarperCollins, 2004) creates a suspenseful
tale set at the North Mountains School which Armin (Armie)
Katchatorian, a Shawnee-Armenian-American student whose parents travel
often due to their humanitarian work, attends. As he is adjusting
to life at his boarding school in upstate New York, he finds himself
mysteriously drawn to a pond in the forest. Armie has always been able
to “feel things,” especially when it comes to a special relationship he
has with animals. When a zoology student and fellow Native American,
Mitch Sabattis, joins the ground crew at the school, he acknowledges
Armie’s special qualities but warns him to stay away from whatever
is calling him to the pond. While spending a vacation at the school,
Armie uses the time to research the native lore about sea monsters. He
and Mitch are determined to vanquish whatever danger is lurking in
the pond. As the story unfolds, Armie comes to terms with his unique
abilities and those of his new friend and mentor. Although portions of
the plot seem contrived and didactic, listeners will become entwined
in the mystery, folklore, and details of outdoor life. Classically
trained actor, Ramon de Ocampo reads with appropriate pace, suspense
and energy. For tween collections where Gary Paulsen and Will Hobbs
are very popular.-Jo-Ann Carhart, East Islip Public Library, NY