California Courier Online, October 26, 2006
1 – Commentary
We Hope Pelosi Will Replace Speaker
Hastert After Nov. 7 Elections
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
2 – Armenian Football Opens Website
3 – Pasadena Police Chief Receives
Armenian National Service Medal
4 – ATG Seed Farmer Honored with Gold Medal
5- Prelacy Announces
Appointments to
Board of Regents
6 – Armenian Community Health
Fair in Glendale Serves 300
7 – UCLA AEF Chair
Offers Oct. 30-Nov. 1
Lectures to Public
8 – Actor Simon Abkarian Will MC
Nov. 12 ANCA-WR Banquet in L.A.
9 – Gov. Schwarzenegger
Appoints Frank Zerunyan
To State Medical Board
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1 – Commentary
We Hope Pelosi Will Replace Speaker
Hastert After Nov. 7 Elections
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
The Congressional elections on November 7 could be a turning point for all
Americans, particularly on the issue of the war in Iraq, should the House of
Representatives, and possibly the Senate, come under the control of the Democrats.
For Armenian Americans, the upcoming elections could finally provide the
opportunity they have been waiting for to remove the chokehold placed by the Bush
Administration and the Republican leadership on the consideration of House
and Senate resolutions recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Both Houses of
Congress would have voted in overwhelming majorities to approve these resolutions if
Republican congressional leaders had allowed the people’s representatives to
vote their conscience on these bills.
For the House races, it is in the interest of Armenian Americans to vote for
those candidates who are either members of the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues or have pledged to join it after the election. Voters may contact
Armenian lobbying organizations in Washington before Nov. 7, to check the
affiliations of the congressional candidates in their districts. In case neither
candidate in a particular race is a member of the Caucus or a supporter of
Armenian issues, the preference should be given to the Democrat in order toassure a
Democratic majority in the House. Cong. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), a long time
friend of the Armenian community, would then become Speaker of the House,
replacing Cong. Dennis Hastert, who not only has broken his pledge repeatedly, but has
actively blocked the Armenian Genocide resolution from being brought to a
floor vote. Given her long-standing record on Armenian issues, it is anticipated
that Cong. Pelosi, should she become Speaker, would
schedule a vote on the Genocide resolution.
Rather than trying to rate thousands of candidates nationwide for 435 House,
34 Senatorial and countless local and state races, I will focus on a few
critical and close ones.
It goes without saying that Armenians should help re-elect the two members
of Congress who are of Armenian origin: Cong. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and John
Sweeney (R-NY). Armenians should also vote for State Senator Chuck Poochigian, a
Republican, who is running for Attorney General of California. He is engaged in a
tough battle against former governor Jerry Brown who has an advantage in
terms of name recognition. Paul Krekorian, a Democrat, is expected to easily win a
seat in the California State Assembly.
Also deserving the Armenian community’s support is Danny Tarkanian, the son
of legendary basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, who is running for Secretaryof
State in Nevada.
The co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues deserve the
community’s special support. Fortunately, Cong. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) is expected
to get re-elected easily. The other co-chair, Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), is
involved in a tough race. A recent poll shows him in a statistical tie withhis
opponent. It is critical that the Armenian community nationwide come to his
support financially as well as with votes from those who live in his district. Even
though this goes against the earlier expressed desire of seeking a Democratic
majority in the House, the community cannot and should not abandon its
staunch supporters, be they Democrats or Republicans. By assuring that the
co-chairs, the current members of the Caucus, and new members who will jointhe Caucus
get elected, it is hoped that the Caucus would have at least 218 members of
Congress from both parties which would constitute a majority of the House.
Turning to the U.S. Senate, the key Senator that should be supported at all
cost is Robert Menendez (D-NJ) who placed a hold on the nomination of Richard
Hoagland, the Ambassador Designate for Armenia. Sen. Menendez is in a
difficult race as he was appointed to that seat by Gov. Jon Corzine, just 10 months
ago, after Corzine stepped down from his Senate seat. Menendez is opposed by
Republican Thomas Kean, Jr., an incumbent state senator and son of former
Governor Thomas Kean. The latest poll shows Menendez with a slim advantage over Kean.
The State Department would like nothing more than seeing Menendez lose his
seat, as that would vacate the hold against Hoagland next January. The Armenian
community nationwide, and particularly those residing in New Jersey, shoulddo
everything possible to secure the re-election of Sen. Menendez.
On Nov. 7, members of the Armenian American community should vote for all
those candidates, regardless of their party affiliation, who are supportiveof
Armenian issues. In the case of equally supportive candidates in a particular
race, the preference should be given to the one who is a Democrat in order to
secure a Democratic majority in the House, helping make Cong. Pelosi the next
Speaker, which will enable her to schedule a long overdue vote on the Armenian
Genocide resolution.
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2 – Armenian Football Opens Website
YEREVAN – The Yerevan United Football Club has just opened their online shop.
Fans of Yerevan United FC and the Armenian National Team are now able to buy
merchandise online for the first time ever, regardless what country they’re
living in. From team scarfs, t-shirts, or caps, it’s there, and payment is
simple and safe, with swoft delivery.
The website address is
Although the Club was promoted to the Premier League at the end of 2005, club
leaders made a decision to sit out the 2006 season, and return financially
strong in 2007.
The website carries the latest news about the Armenian National Football Team
playing qualifications for UEFA Euro 2008 competition. It is the only
Armenian football website.
So whether you’re a fan of the Armenian National Football Team or Yerevan
United Football Club, or if the browser only wants a temporary tattoo to wear to
the next Armenian function in your area, check out the Yerevan United website
and click on the shop online.
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3 – Pasadena Police Chief Receives
Armenian National Service Medal
Pasadena Star-News
PASADENA – The Pasadena Police Department’s efforts to raise funds for
equipment for the Yerevan Police Department has earned the police chief an Armenian
National Service Medal, officials said Monday.
Pasadena Chief Bernard Melekian is the second person outside of Armenia to
receive the medal.
The award was presented to Melekian during a Pasadena Armenian Peoples’
Advisory Committee fundraising gala earlier this month.
Yerevan police Chief Nerses Nazaryan, acting on behalf of the commander of
the Armenian National Police, presented the award.
"The award was truly a surprise and an honor," Melekian said, crediting the
Pasadena Armenian group with building bridges between the Pasadena Police
Department and the Armenian community.
"My grandparents and my father, who were survivors of the genocide, always
felt they owed a great deal to this country and to Pasadena.
It was an honor to be involved with a project that helped give something of
value to Armenia," he said.
PAPAC raised nearly $80,000 for the Yerevan Police Department.
"Yerevan is the capital city of Armenia. I had the pleasure to visit that
city in 2000 and was appalled at the deficiency of equipment that a modern
department needs to do its job," Melekian said.
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4 – ATG Seed Farmer Honored with Gold Medal
YEREVAN – At the second Armenian International AgroForum Conference that took
place in Yerevan on Sept. 22-23, Hovhanness Galoyan, an Armenian Technology
Group farmer from Karnut village, near Gyumri in Shirak Marz, was recognized
by the Government of Armenia for his exceptional achievement in the seed
industry, and received a Gold Medal.
This is the second time in two years that the Armenian Government is
honoring the California based Armenian Technology Group (ATG) a Gold Medal for its
accomplishments in the rural agricultural development in Armenia.
While awarding the medal, the Minister of Agriculture Davit Lokyan praised
the work done by Galoyan and declaring that "this year the average wheat yields
were very low in Armenia (1.5-2.5 MT per hectares)," Galoyan harvested 6-6.5
MT per hectrare."
A farmer working under the directives of the ATG, Galoyan has mastered the
production of high quality certified wheat seed in Armenia. He is a member of
the Seed Producers Support Association (SPSA) founded by ATG in 1998. The
association has 47 members who are specialized in production of certified high
quality wheat, alfalfa, corn and barley seeds that are appropriate for different
growing zones in Armenia.
This award is the result of a long and dedicated efforts of long term US
based ATG technical farm advisors such as Roger Culver, and Roger Benton who
lived and worked with the farmers in Armenia for over 12 years.
" I am so pleased that our farmers are getting some recognition! They are
the backbone of Armenia’s rural economy," said Roger Benton, retired UC
Extension Agent and a long time ATG technical advisor and previous in-county director
from his home in California. "ATG farmers worked so hard to help feed the
nation and their families. I remember particularly when our seed growers literally
saved thousands of people from possible starvation and famine, by supplying
clean and treated seed to over 12,000 farmers to plant their winter wheat in
2000. May God Bless them all!"
"ATG supplied the best of Western wheat growing knowledge together with an
initial variety of high quality wheat seed to the farmers of Armenia", said
Nubar Tashjian, President of ATG. "To the credit of the Armenian farmers, they
readily adopted the Western methods together with the wheat seed and the
benefits realized are history. Those farmers adopting ATG supplied seed and
methodology improved wheat production many times over greatly benefiting Armenia. I
commend the Armenian farmer for his industry and intelligence. I congratulate Mr.
Galoyan for his achievement, a medal well deserved."
The ATG Seed Multiplication Project has been funded through USDA Foreign
Agricultural Service – Food for Progress.
Other major sponsors are the Lincy Foundation, The Bertha and John
Garabedian Charitable Foundation, PACC and other organizations and individuals in the
United States.
ATG is a California based non-profit, public benefit corporation with
offices in Fresno, Yerevan and Stepanakerd, NK. The organization can be reached at
559-224-1000. Tax deductible donations could be mailed to ATG 1300 E. Shaw Ave.
Suite 131; P. O. Box 5969, Fresno, CA 93755. You can also visit the ATG web
site at and donate on line.
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5 – Prelacy Announces
Appointments to
Board of Regents
ENCINO, Calif. – Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, and the Executive
Council of the Western Prelacy announced the new appointment of members to the
Board of Regents of Prelacy Schools.
The newly appointed Board of Regents are: Dr. Armine Hacopian, Sossi
Hovsepian, Marisa Sarian, Avo Kechichian, Dr. Vartkes Tomassian, Chris Keosian, Ara
Bedrosian, George Chorbajian, Mark Guedikian.
At their first meeting on Oct. 16, the new board elected its executive as
follows: Avo Kechichian, Chairman, Dr. Armine Hacopian, Secretary, and Mark
Guiedikian, Treasurer.
Vice-Chair of the Prelacy Executive Council Dr. Hagop Der Megerdichian
attended the first meeting
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6 – Armenian Community Health
Fair in Glendale Draws 300
GLENDALE – The Oct. 14 Armenian Community Health Fair drew over 300 member
of the Armenian community at the St. Mary’s Church in Glendale. It was
organized by the Armenian American Medical Society of California, the Armenian
American Nurses Association, and the Armenian Dental Society of California.
The guest underwent various free screenings, such as blood pressure, blood
sugar, cholesterol, dental exams, breast
exams, spinal checks, bone density tests, and spirometry checks.
The Los Angeles County Office of Women’s Health’s Mobile Van Unit was on
hand to offer free pap tests, clinical breast exams and diabetes testing. The
event was a very crucial ingredient for the multicultural, multilingual public
education campaign. It encouraged many Los Angeles County Armenian women to
seek regular, free pap testing to prevent cervical cancer.
"It’s Not Flu As Usual" brochures distributed by Krikorian Marketing
Group were supporting the County of Los Angeles Public Health campaign that
targets families and individuals, the medical community, businesses, and community
organizations. The brochures, which will be distributed throughout the
community, will be supported by a media advertising campaign that will emphasize the
importance of "Clean Hands" as the best form of preventive care to avoid the
Pandemic Flu. The campaign will be in Armenian, Russian, Arabic and Farsi
languages.
Major sponsors of the Health Fair included Glendale Adventist Medical
Center, Glendale Memorial Hospital & Health Center, Kaiser Permanente, Hollywood
Presbyterian Medical Center, QueensCare, Huntington Memorial Hospital, L.A
County Women’s Health Dept., Krikorian Marketing Group, Comprehensive Community
Health Clinics, Willow Imaging, Verdugo Hospice, ARS Mental Health Services,
and Daylight Adult Health Day Care Center.
The Health Fair was supported by: Abbot, Astra Zeneca, Takeda, Aventis,
GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Otsuka, Novartis, Lifescan, and TAP Pharmaceuticals.
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7 – UCLA AEF Chair
Offers Oct. 30-Nov. 1
Lectures to Public
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern
Armenian History is sponsoring two programs the weekend of Oct. 30-Nov. 1.
The first lecture will be held Oct. 30, at 2 p.m., at the UCLA History
Department Conference Room 6275 Bunche Hall (6th floor). Entitled "Ecclesiastical
Head–Imperial Subject: The Armenian Catholicos at the Intersection of Russia’s
Internal and Foreign Policy, 1828-1914," the presentation will be made by
Professor Paul Worth, University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
The second presentation will be made on Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m., at the Glendale
Public Library by UCLA AEF Chairholder Professor Richard Hovannisian.
Dr. Hovannisian will speak on "The Vanishing Landscape of Historic Western
Armenia: Illustrated Reflections on a Journey into the Past."
Both presentations are open to the public at no charge. Limited seating is
available.
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8 – Actor Simon Abkarian Will MC
Nov. 12 ANCA-WR Banquet in L.A.
GLENDALE – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
(ANCA-WR) announced this week that well-known French Armenian actor Simon Abkarian
will be the Master of Ceremonies for the ANCA-WR Annual Banquet on Nov. 12,in
Los Angeles.
The ANCA-WR Annual Banquet regularly draws over 700 dignitaries, prominent
Members of Congress and state legislators, as well as Armenian American
community leaders and political activists. The annual event is the largest of its kind
and helps raise funds to operate the nation’s largest and most influential
Armenian American grassroots and political advocacy organization.
The Annual Banquet includes an awards ceremony, during which the ANCA-WR
recognizes individuals who have contributed to the awareness and advancement of
Armenian issues. This year, the ANCA-WR will honor Bob Collins, Chief
Instructional Officer for Secondary Education for the Los Angeles Unified School
District, with the Man of the Year Award. Mr. Collins will be recognized for his
leading role in implementing the Armenian Genocide curriculum in the Los Angeles
Unified School District.
The awards ceremony will be emceed by actor Simon Abkarian. Born in Gonesse,
France, Abkarian spent most of his early life in France and Lebanon and wasan
active member of the Armenian Youth Federation. He trained as a dancer with
the Lori Dance Ensemble in Beirut and the Antranik Company in New York. He also
studied mask work at the Commedia dell’ Arte with Georges Bigot in Los
Angeles. He had a lengthy collaboration with Ariane Mnouchkine and the Thétre du
Soleil, playing leading roles in Greek tragedies, where he became known forhis
charismatic performances.
In 2001, Abkarian received the Molière, the highest honor in French theatre
for an actor, for his performance in Une Bête Sur La Lune (Beast on the Moon.
In "Yes", a Sally Potter film released in the U.S. in 2005, Abkarian plays his
first leading film role in the English language opposite actress Joan Allen.
He also played in Aram (2002), Le Voyage en Arménie (2006), and Ararat (2002),
in which he played Arshile Gorky.
Audiences will soon see Abkarian in his most recent role as "Alex Dimitrios"
in the latest James Bond movie, "Casino Royale," which will premiere in
theatres nationwide on November 17. He was also a member of French President Jacques
Chirac’s delegation to Armenia last month.
The ANCA-WR Annual Banquet will be held at the Downtown Marriott Hotel, on
333 S. Figueroa St. in Los Angeles. The banquet will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a
cocktail hour and silent auction, with the formal program beginning at 7 p.m.
For more information or to reserve a table, call the ANCA-WR office at (818)
500-1918.
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9 – Gov. Schwarzenegger
Appoints Frank Zerunyan
To State Medical Board
SACRAMENTO – Frank Zerunyan, 47, of Rolling Hills Estates, has been appointed
to the Division of Medical Quality on the Medical Board of California. Since
2005, he has served as principal and general counsel for the real estate
development firm, Public Private Community Development.
Zerunyan previously was managing partner with the law firms SulmeyerKupetz
from 1995 to 2005, Yacoubian & Zerunyan from 1992 to 1995 and the Law Office of
Frank V. Zerunyan from 1989 to 1992.
Prior to that, he served as vice president of finance for International
Marketing Alliance from 1985 to 1989. He serves on the Rolling Hills Estates City
Council, where he was elected in 2003 and serves as chair of the City’s
Traffic and Safety Committee.
This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per
diem. Zerunyan is a Republican.
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