Author: Antonian Lara

CONGRESSMAN BECERRA REAFFIRMS HIS SUPPORT TO RESOLUTION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Noyan Tapan
May 29, 2009

LOS ANGELES, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Congressman Xavier
Becerra continues his support to the resolution on recognition of
the Armenian Genocide, which was authored by another Congressman
Adam Schiff. He announced about this at the event cosponsored by
the Armenian Assembly of America, the American Hellenic Council of
America and the Armenian National Committee of America. He noted
that regardless of the strong relationship between USA and Turkey
the Armenian Genocide should be recognized.

Assembly Western Region Director Yeghig Keshishian stated that the
Assembly appreciates him as an active member of the Armenian Caucus
and as a cosponsor of H. Res.252, the Armenian Genocide Resolution.

Keshishian and members of the Southern California Regional Council –
Joyce Stein, Talin Yacoubian, Al Cabraloff and Richard Mushegain –
also met Congressman Becerra to discuss a number of issues confronting
U.S.-Armenia relations. Keshishian expressed his disappointment with
President Obama’s decision of 38 percent cut in assistance to Armenia
and increase of military assistance to Azerbaijan.

RUSSIA TO DISBURSE $500 MLN LOAN TO ARMENIA BEFORE END OF WEEK – KUDRIN

Interfax
May 27 2009
Russia

Russia will disburse a loan of $500 million to Armenia before the
end of the week, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Alexei
Kudrin said.

"The agreement with Armenia on a loan of $500 million for 15 years
was signed last week. The money will be disbursed this week," Kudrin
said at a meeting with President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday.

Kudrin recalled that a preferential loan of $300 million and a grant
of $150 million had already been disbursed.

"As for our relations with Kyrgyzstan and Armenia, we have helped
and will help our close partners in line with those decisions made
earlier," Medvedev said.

ARTHUR JAVADYAN TO ATTEND THE SITTING OF CENTRAL BANK PRESIDENTS IN ASTANA

armradio.am
27.05.2009 16:55

>From May 28 to 31 the President of the Central Bank of Armenia,
Arthur Javadyan, will participate in the 21st sitting of the Club
of Central Bank Presidents of Central Asia, the Black Sea Region and
the Balkan States.

The following topics will be discussed during the sitting of Central
Bank Presidents: "Global theory of economy and finance: Problems
the developing countries face," "The era of regress of assets: What
could the US, Europe and China learn from the example of Korea in
1990-2005?" and "Monetary-credit policy under the conditions of
instability."

IMF Deputy Managing Director Takatoshi Kato, Chief Economist of
Nomura Research Institute Richard Koo and Professor of Economics at
the University of Columbia Guillermo Calvo are expected to deliver
speeches at the meeting.

PRESS RELEASE
PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212)-686-0710
Fax: (212)-689-1934
<;

May 26, 2009

_______________________________

KAY ARMEN MANOOGIAN HONORED AT DIOCESAN CENTER

Kay Armen Manoogian was awarded the St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Medal and
Pontifical encyclical issued by His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The medal was presented by
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), at St. Vartan Cathedral on Wednesday, May 20.

Ms. Armen was honored for her dedication to the Armenian Church and her
accomplishments in the performing arts. This award was given to her as part
of the celebration of St. Vartan Cathedral’s 40th anniversary. Other
recipients include Lucine Amara, Anahid Ajemian, and Lili Chookasian, who
were honored with a medal and Pontifical encyclical from the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin in October 2008.

Forty people gathered at the Diocesan Center on Wednesday to commemorate Ms.
Armen’s achievements and accomplishments. She recalled how her mother
brought home a shovel used at the groundbreaking of St. Vartan Cathedral
over 40 years ago and how involved her family was in the Armenian Church,
and especially in the life of St. Vartan Cathedral.

"I love the church," said Ms. Armen. "Everywhere I’ve gone, I have found an
Armenian Church. I’ve loved every Armenian Church I visited."

"Kay Armen Manoogian has been closely involved in the Cathedral since the
very beginning," Archbishop Barsamian said. "As a community, we all felt a
part of her great artistic achievement."

Ms. Armen is a singer, composer, and actress who has made many records and
performed in theatres, night clubs, films, and on television. She joined the
American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) in 1953. Her
popular song compositions include "Be Good to Yourself," "My Love and I,"
and "It’s a Sin to Cry Over You."

###

Photo attached: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presents the Pontifical
encyclical to Kay Armen Manoogian at St. Vartan Cathedral.

YEREVAN HOSTED A PRESENTATION OF COLLECTED STORIES BY MACHADO DE ASSIS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
25.05.2009 17:48 GMT+04:00

RA National Library hosted a presentation of collected stories by
Machado de Assis. The event was dedicated to the farewell of the
first Brazilian Ambassador, Renate Stille to Armenia.

The book includes 12 collected stories by Brazilian classical author,
whose 100th anniversary is celebrated by the world in 2009.

Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis often known as Machado de Assis (June
21, 1839-September 29, 1908) was a Brazilian novelist, poet and short
story writer. He is widely regarded as the most important writer
of Brazilian literature. Machado’s works had a great influence on
Brazilian literary schools of the late 19th century and 20th century.

Within first 3 years of his work, Brazilian Ambassador to Armenia,
Renate Stille opened departments of Portuguese language in YSU and
Bryusov Linguistic University, launched Brazilian Cultural Center
and published a number of booklets on Brazil in Armenian.

ANC FINDS OBVIOUS BREACHES IN ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
25.05.2009 20:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "During its session held on May 21, RA Central
Election Commission (CEC) ignored our authorized representative
Patvakan Hovakimyan’s letter on putting stamps in voters’
passports. Avoiding to discuss the issue, CEC made decision not to
use any stamps during elections, although under RA Electoral Code,
elections to Elders’ Council should be held in compliance with the
norms envisaged for Parliament elections," ANC Press Secretary Arman
Mousinyan told a news conference today. According to the opposition
activist, stamps in passports somehow prevent falsifications, and
CEC’s inaction in this case paves way for electoral wrongdoings.

"The Commission’s next wrongdoing is the approval of lists violating
15% requirement for women’s representation," Mousinyan said, adding
that RA Cassation Court reasons ANC representative’s claim by
arguing that an authorized representative is not entitled to apply
to court. "The same court recently accepted the same representative’s
claim on another issue. It committed gross violation because in case
of accepting this claim, it would have to make decision on CEC’s
breach of RA Electoral Code," Mousinyan said.

ANC Press Secretary also added that their party is studying the
voters’ lists, and although they are in the middle of the process,
there are already perplexing results. "Voters’ lists contain names
of 2038 individuals not having residence permits. Besides, there are
300 names and surnames repeated several times," he noted.

"Such obvious violations are additional proof that authorities use
all resources to disport the real picture," Mousinyan confirms.

The Jamestown Post Journal, NY
May 24 2009

How Are You Going To Take Care Of Your Family?

It’s been some time since we discussed gun-control issues and with
recent developments coming out of Albany, the sharing of some facts is
long overdue.

This past week a nice little piece came across my desk. The following
has no author and I took some liberties in changing a few items to
make it more updated.

– – –

My people have asked me why I enjoy shooting, hunting and carrying a
gun. Here are some reasons that might be the same as yours.

I carry a gun to avoid being killed; I don’t carry a gun to scare
people.

I carry a gun because sometimes this world can be a scary place; I
don’t carry a gun because I’m paranoid.

I am not evil because I carry a gun; I carry a gun because I have seen
more evil in this world to make me smarter.

I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of the governments;
I don’t carry a gun because I am angry.

I carry a gun so that I don’t have to spend the rest of the life
hating myself for failing to be prepared.

I carry a gun because I want to die at a ripe old age in my own bed
surrounded by family and loved ones, not alone on some street or
sidewalk.

I don’t carry a gun because I am a cowboy; I carry a gun because I
want to go to heaven and be a cowboy.

I don’t carry a gun because it makes me feel like a man; I carry a gun
because I am the man of house and it’s my responsibility to protect my
family and loved ones.

I don’t carry a gun because I love it; I carry a gun because I love
life and want to live it to the fullest.

And finally, I carry a gun because I am too young to die and too old
to get my butt kicked.

– – –

Here are few facts about gun control in other countries that are worth
refreshing our memories with. The following is a little history about
world events.

In 1911, Turkey established gun control and from 1915-1917, 1.5
million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and
exterminated.

Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945 a total
of 13 million Jews and others that were unable to defend themselves
were rounded up and killed.

From 1964 until 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend
themselves, were rounded up and killed.

Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979 300,000
Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and killed.

Roughly over a year ago citizens in Australia were forced to give up
their guns. In the roundup, 640,381 personal firearms were destroyed
by their government, at the price tag of over $500 million. The
first-year crime results have been recently made public. In Australia
homicides are up 3.2 percent while assaults are up 8.6 percent and the
biggie, armed robberies, are up 44 percent.

Sounds like that half a billion dollars was money well spent – for the
criminals.

In the last month news from Albany has leaked out that our governor
wants to lead the charge on gun control in New York State. Now I am
not the best political mind in the room, but it looks like our
government has its hands full with the economy. It’s everything from
high unemployment to skyrocketing fuel prices, and from monster
businesses and every other small business closing and leaving their
financial mess for the average tax payer to pay off.

I would think that our elected officials have more important items to
take care of than taking our 12 gauge shotguns and .50 caliber
muzzleloaders away.

If our governor has his way, how are you going to protect your family?

SERZH SARGSYAN REAFFIRMS ARMENIA’S LOYALTY TO EUROPEAN VALUES

Noyan Tapan
May 18, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Reaffirming Armenia’s loyalty to
European values, RA President Serzh Sargsyan at the May 18 meeting
with EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby
recorded with satisfaction that the Eastern Partnership Summit held
lately in Prague is a successful start for giving a new content to
the Armenia-EU cooperation and for expanding further contacts.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA President’s Press Office,
S. Sargsyan and P. Semneby gave assurance that frequent meetings and
discussions are evidence of the expansion of Armenia-EU partnership
agenda, as well as give a possibility to quickly respond and to give
solutions to emerging problems.

They positively assessed stipulation of balanced approaches on
the Nagorno Karabakh problem in the final statement of the Eastern
Partnership Summit.

At the meeting S. Sargsyan and P. Semneby also touched upon the
Armenian-Turkish political dialogue, prospects of Nagorno Karabakh
peaceful settlement, and further deepening of democratic reforms
in Armenia.

S. Sargsyan reiterated that Armenia sees Nagorno Karabakh conflict’s
peaceful settlement only within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group,
on the basis of Madrid proposals, all principles of international law
and of basic documents, self-determination right, exclusion of use
of force, and principles stipulated by the OSCE Foreign Ministers’
Helsinki statement. He emphasized Armenia’s readiness to normalize
relations with Turkey within the framework of reached agreements
and in fixed time constraints. S. Sargsyan said that any attempt of
intervening into the Nagorno Karabakh settlement process by Turkey
can only have a negative impact on the Nagorno Karabakh settlement
negotiations process.

ARMENIAN DATACOM COMPANY REDUCED ITS MONTHLY FEES FOR INTERNET OFFICE MINI

Noyan Tapan
May 17, 2009

Yerevan, May 17, Noyan Tapan, Armenian Datacom Company CJSC (ADC)
has reduced its monthly fees for Internet office mini services,
a broadband Intenet access specially designed for small and medium
sized businesses.

As ADC’s public relation department reported, signing a one-year
contract between May 13 and June 12, corporate customers will be able
to pay heavily reduced monthly fees during the whole year, and will
benefit from the advanced fiber-optic Internet connection without
traffic limitations.

"Monthly service fees are quite affordable for small and medium
companies and traffic capacities are relevant to their requirements,"
ADC’s management assures.

Internet office mini service delivery is based on a last mile
connection from the nearest node of ADC network to the customer
premises via optical fiber cable including installation of relevant
end-point equipment.

Besides, end-to end professional fiber-optic connection, customers
will benefit from: 24 hours availability of all Internet applications
(including unrestricted VPN connections), Data/Voice/Video traffic
priority system, 24/7/365 support, which is a best combined offer in
the market.

"I believe by the early summer of this year the company will have
started providing services to apartment subscribers," told recently
ADC Chief Commercial Officer Avetik Kalantaryan in an interview to
Noyan Tapan.

Established in April 2006, the Armenian-Norwegian joint venture ADC
has already invested USD 3.4 million in the venture. Since the early
2009 Dubai-based Delta Partners has become a stake holder in ADC.

The company operates a large fiber-optic network in Yerevan and
has a significant business subscriber portfolio: banks, hotels,
supermarkets, drugstore networks, state bodies and other multiple
organizations, requiring virtual private LAN services. Market survey,
conducted in late 2007, revealed that the company managed to gain a
strong foothold in the market of data transfer: 50 to 54 per cent of
the market of data transmission lines and 6 to 6.5 per cent of the
market of Internet service provision.

ADC’s network is based on state-of-the-art IP/MPLS technology with
total infrastructure length exceeding 400 km. The company’s investment
strategy is to continuously develop and extend services in line
with market demand and the network continues to be extended both
geographically and in terms of its service portfolio capabilities,
ADC’s press office reported.

AZERBAIJAN ACCUSED OF NIXING ARMENIA VOTE IN EUROVISION

MosNews
May 18 2009
Russia

Armenian Public Television has submitted a complaint to the
organizational committee of the Eurovision 2009 song contest accusing
Azeri contest officials of gross violation of the contest rules,
RIA Novosti news agency reports.

The Azeris were virtually deprived of the possibility to vote
for Armenia’s song in the final tournament, Armenian website
PanARMENIAN.Net reports.

According to a group of Azeri Internet users, during broadcasting
of the Eurovision contest, the part of the screen with the phone
number to call and vote for the song of the Armenian performers was
hidden. The voting results showed that Azerbajan has not given Anush
and Inga Arshakian a single point, PanARMENIAN.Net points out.

Anush and Inga Arshakian, who represented Armenia at the Eurovision
international contest, are reported to have taken tenth place.

It is worth mentioning that Armenia gave 1 point to the song of the
Azeri participants, Aysel Teimuradze and Arash, who scored 207 points
and took third place.

The Azeris’ biased attitude towards their Armenian counterparts
was also noticeable during the preparation for the song
contest. PanArmenian.net reports that Azerbaijan urged the Eurovision
2009 organizational committee to remove the We and Our Mountains
monument in Nagorno Karabakh from the video representing Armenia.

At the same time, the showing of the Iranian Maqbaratoshoara (mausoleum
of poets in Tebriz) in the video representing the Azeri contestants
was not considered inappropriate by the Azeri participants.