DR. VAHAKN ATAMYAN ELECTED BY 52%

Gibrahayer e-magazine, Cyprus
Oct 12 2005

(Gibrahayer – Nicosia 11, October) 48 year old Dr.Vahakn Atamyan is
the new representative of the Armenian community in the Cyprus House
of Representatives. He will serve for eight months. He won 52% of the
vote in last Sunday’s by-election, that was held after the death of
Bedros Kalaydjian, who passed away last month.

His candidacy was supported by the Shahoumian Communist faction,
the Henchagian Social Democrats, Ramgavar Liberal Party, the AGBU
and Melkonian Alumni.

The Armenian community of Cyprus gave Parsegh Zartarian’s independent
candidacy 4% of the vote while Dashnaktsoutiun’s candidate –
Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Cyprus – 33 year old
Dr.Antranik Ashdjian gained 44% of the electorate. (detailed results
on ).

The results were extremely similar to the 2001 vote. Issues
like the closure of Melkonian, the regression of our community’s
Armenian character and the primitive methods of conducting day-to-day
community affairs, the lack of transparency and checks and balances,
made minimal impact on a community that has been heading downwards,
towards a doubtful future littered with scandals, mismanagement and
lack of imagination.

NEWS IN BRIEF

~UThe situation in Akhalkalak is very tense. Tax officers from
Akhaltsakha closed 10 stores demanding acquirement documents for
the goods they traded. Shop-keepers told them that they bring goods
from Tbilisi and get no document there. A few hundred residents of
Akhalkalak gathered before the town administration protesting about
the activities of the tax officers.

~UA 43-year-old Van Nuys man – Melkon Gharakhanian – was arrested
on eight felony counts of federal mail fraud in connection with an
alleged investment scam that bilked about $20 million from mostly
Armenian-Americans, many of whom were from Glendale.

~UFrench President Jacques Chirac said that Turkey would need to
undergo a “major cultural revolution” before entering the European
Union, and he reiterated that France would hold a referendum on
admitting Ankara to the bloc.

~UThe French Insurance Company Axa agreed to pay $17 million to
descendants of life insurance policyholders who perished during the
Armenian Genocide.

~UThe decision of who will be given the Nobel Prize for Literature
has been delayed due to a split among the judges. The announcement is
now scheduled this Thursday. The split occurred over honoring Turkish
writer Orhan Pamuk author of several books including “My Name is Red”
and “Snow”. Pamuk faces trial later this year for having said that
Turkey was GUILTY of the Armenian Genocide.

~UDubai International Properties, a leading property developer
based in the U.A.E., has agreed to invest $5 billion in projects in
Istanbul. The deal between the company and the Istanbul municipality
was signed late Thursday at a ceremony presided over by Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan – a former Istanbul mayor – and Dubai’s
Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed al-Maktoum.

~UA journalist in Turkey has been found guilty of insulting Turkish
identity and given a suspended six-month jail sentence by a court in
Istanbul. Hrant Dink, of Armenian-Turkish descent, wrote a newspaper
column which he argued was aimed at improving relations between
Turkey and Armenia. The prosecution interpreted one part as an insult,
but Mr Dink has said he will appeal against the ruling. The verdict
follows criminal code reforms as Turkey seeks to join the EU.

The article written by Mr Dink addressed the killings of hundreds of
thousands of Armenians during Ottoman rule.

Gibrahay calendar ~UCartoonist Massis Araradian in Cyprus. His best
collection of Armenian and International political satire will be
exhibited at The Utudjian Hall of the Armenian Prelature on Friday
October 14, 2005 at 8:00 pm. Organised by The Hamazkayin Oshagan
Cyprus Chapter. Dinner at AYMA will follow by reservation only with
Alice Nadjarian on 99689948.

~UBadanegan meetings – for children from 7- 12 years old – have begun.

They take place every Saturday at 4:00 pm at AYMA.

~UAYMA/HMEM Chicco football practices take place every Friday at 7:30pm
at AYMA ~UEric Simonian invites you to Orpheas Piano Bar. Every Friday:
Spanish Duo Band Flamengo and Salsa. Starting from October 7, 2005,
Italian Chef Sergio at your service. Every Saturday Blues Night with
guitarist George. Marie Louise Kouyoumdjian will soon be performing
at Orpheas Piano Bar together with Eric Simonian. Details to follow.

~UBadanegan meetings – for children from 7- 12 years old – have begun.

They take place every Saturday at 4:00 pm at AYMA.

AYMA/HMEM Chicco football practices take place every Friday at 7:30pm
at AYMA ~UArmenian Radio Hour on The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation
via real audio on . Broadcast 17:00-18:00 local Cyprus
time (14:00-15:00 GMT). Armenian news every Friday, Saturday, Sunday
and Tuesday.

~UNew Year’s Eve Dinner and Dance in London
Harout Pampoukdjian and his Band will be performing in London at the
Royal Lancaster at Hyde Park – London on Saturday 31 December 2005.

Organised by HOM (Armenian Relief Society), Hamazkayin and HMEM.

~UThe Honourary Consul of Brasil, Mr. Garo Keheyian, invites you to a
series of Brasilian cultural events in Nicosia, throughout the month
of October. For more information, visit