Author: Chilingarian Babken

Armenia Fund, Inc.
111 North Jackson St. Ste. 205
Glendale, CA 91206

Tel: 818-243-6222
Fax: 818-243-7222
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PRESS RELEASE
Contact ~ Sarkis Kotanjian
[email protected]

Armenia Fund Launches Telethon 2009 Campaign: `Our Shushi’
Baroness Cox Presented `Angel of Artsakh’ Award

Los Angeles, CA – Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region is pleased to
announce the launch of its 12th International Telethon campaign. The
live fundraising program will air on television sets in all major
Armenian-American communities in the U.S. and across the globe on
November 26, 2009, 8am-8pm PST as well as on the internet at

On Saturday, October 3, 2009, Armenia Fund’s long time supporters and
donors gathered at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Ara and Julia
Aghishian, Chairman of Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region, to unveil the
2009 Telethon logo. The unveiling event has become a tradition over the
past years and marks the launch of the campaign. The Guest of Honor at
the special dinner reception was the Rt. Hon. The Baroness Caroline Cox
of Queensbury. Lady Cox is the Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords of
the United Kingdom. She has been a strong advocate of Nagorno Karabakh’s
right to self determination and has visited the country numerous times
on humanitarian missions.

Present at the event were members of the board of directors of Armenia
Fund U.S. Western Region, as well as the Honorable Grigor Hovhannesyan,
the Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles.

Ara Aghishian welcomed all guests and thanked them for their continuous
financial and moral support to Armenia and Artsakh. Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church convened the opening prayer appealing to the greater
Armenian-American Diaspora to continue its noble support of the Armenia
Fund and its humanitarian mission.

Attendees at the event got a first hand look at the conditions
surrounding Shushi through a video segment.

`Besides being the cradle of Armenian culture and arts, Shushi is a town
that symbolizes the turning point in our modern history. After centuries
of losing lands and crumbling under the yoke of oppressive nations, on
May 9, 1992 we had a victory which lifted the spirits of an entire
Armenian nation and inspired our soldiers to win truly heroic battles,
thanks to which today we have a free Artsakh. Your support will ensure
that collectively we remove Shushi’s ruins – reminders of the brutal war
– and replace them with new schools, hospitals, kindergartens and
residential buildings so that the streets of Shushi are once again
filled with children’s laughter…’, said Aghishian.

Baroness Cox offered her remarks telling her story of how she became
involved with Armenia and specifically, Artsakh. She shared her
eyewitness account of the horrors of war in Nagorno Karabakh.

`Armenia and Artsakh and its heroic people have a special place in my
heart. For years, I have been closely following the works of the Armenia
Fund…a commendable organization worthy of the highest praise. Your
efforts have helped dignify the lives of your fellow countrymen… Shushi,
this heroic town that symbolizes a new day for the Armenian people needs
your help and care today. May God Bless you and the Armenia Fund’, said
Lady Cox.

Aghishian and Vice Chair of the Fund, Koko Balian jointly presented
Baroness Cox with the `Angel of Artsakh’ award in recognition of her
continued support and service to the Armenian people.

Mr. Edik Balaian, the artist of the 2009 Telethon logo offered his brief
remarks regarding the concept of the logo and choice of colors. He
mentioned that the concept of the logo stems from the Angel of Artsakh –
a prominent symbol depicted on the bell tower of the St. Savior
Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi.

Chairman Aghishian invited Berj Boyajian, Tomik Alexanian, and Maria
Mehranian, former Chairpersons of Armenia Fund to join Baroness Cox in
unveiling of the Telethon 2009 logo.

The event also secured the participation of 400 community members for
the Armenia Fund Annual Gala. The gala will be held on Sunday, November
22, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Century City,
California. The Guest of Honor at the 2009 Gala will be H.E. Arayik
Harutyunyan, Prime Minister of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

In Southern California, the Telethon will air on KSCI Channel 18 for
full 12 hours, 8:00AM-8:00PM PST. Around the world the Telethon will be
featured on H1-Armenian Public Television (). Los-Angeles
based 24 hour Armenian Russian Television Network () and
Horizon Armenian TV () will also air the
Telethon in its entirety, on its cable, satellite and internet networks.

For more information, please log on to

Armenia Fund, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation
established in 1994 to facilitate large-scale humanitarian and
infrastructure development assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Since 1991, Armenia Fund has rendered more than $190 million in
development aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Armenia Fund, Inc. is
the U.S. Western Region affiliate of `Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund. Tax
ID# 95-4485698

ONE-WEEK CLASSES HELD FOR TOP OFFICIALS

ARMENPRESS
Oct 14, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 14, ARMENPRESS: One-week classes are being held
from October 10 in the administrative complex of the Armenian Defense
Ministry. The classes are conducted for top officials of ministries,
governors’ offices.

Press department of the Armenian Defense Ministry told Armenpress
that the main goal of the classes is to improve and increase the
practical knowledge of the officials.

Seyran Ohanyan, the defense minister, welcomed the participants of
the classes, noting that this is the first such like event. He said
drafting preparation and conduction is a general issue and the classes
are aimed at improving the theoretical knowledge of officials.

"TURKISH-AZERBAIJANI RELATIONS ARE NOT AT THAT LEVEL"

13/ashot-ghulyan
12:25 pm | October 13, 2009

Politics

Although Chairman of the Nagorno-Karabakh National Assembly Ashot
Ghulyan doesn’t see the term "Nagorno-Karabakh" in the Turkey-Armenia
protocols, he is still concerned that the protocols may have an impact
on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"I think that we must move forward based on international rules,"
said Ghulyan to "A1+".

If Turkey makes an attempt to involve Nagorno-Karabakh in the
relations, it will deal with two different subjects, that is, Turkey
on one side and Azerbaijan on the other.

"No matter how much Turkey and Azerbaijan claim that they are two
states but one nation, I don’t think that Turkish-Azerbaijani ties
are at the level to allow finding a unified and beneficial solution."

Touching upon the statements made by Turkish high-ranking officials
according to which the Turkish-Armenian border will not be opened
as long as there is no resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Mr. Ghulyan said:

"Turkish officials declare what they want to see in reality. Of
course, that impedes the development of Turkish-Armenian relations,
but we must take into account the fact that that is the working style
of Turkey’s negotiations."

Ashot Ghulyan sees no danger for the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic in
the case of the Turkish-Armenian border opening. "The opening of the
current border implies that there will be a border regime, just like
the regime with other bordering countries. Those issues will be solved
by legislative acts."

The Chairman of the NKR National Assembly assures that the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict cannot be resolved as part of other
countries’ relations or be accepted as a precondition. "The sooner
Azerbaijan realizes that it must negotiate with the NKR, the sooner the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be resolved." Mr. Ghulyan is certain
that there cannot be any progress in the Sargsyan-Aliev meetings as
long as Nagorno-Karabakh is not at the table of negotiations.

SARDARAPAT: NEW MOVEMENT

os15529.html
15:18:52 – 13/10/2009

Turkey is attributing symbolic course to its actions in the Armenian
and Turkish relations which is not accidental. The roadmap was
released on the eve of the genocide commemorative day, the pre-signed
protocols were released on the eve of the Artsakh independence day
and on October 10, 3 days before the signing of the Kars agreement,
the Armenian-Turkish protocols were signed, said the film director,
member of the Sardarapat movement Tigran Khzmalyan.

Armenia faces the question on preservation the national security. The
parties are not able to present Armenia’s interests. The superpowers
continue assisting Turkey in connection with the genocide issue
with their silence or indifference and support. According to Tigran
Khzmalyan, the situation is as it was during the battle of Sardarapat
and the answer should be the same.

According to another member of the movement, parliamentary member
Vardan Khachatryan the movement will be the way people’s will is. They
are going to setup the group which may unite the people. After,
a pan-national movement will start.

IAGS PRESIDENT TO SARKISIAN, ERDOGAN: ACKNOWLEDGEMENT MUST BE FIRST STEP

gs-president-to-sarkisian-erdogan-acknowledgement- must-be-first-step/
October 12, 2009

On Oct. 8, William Schabas, the president of the International
Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), addressed an open letter to
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Armenian President
Serge Sarkisian, in which he said: "Acknowledgement of the Armenian
Genocide must be the starting point of any ‘impartial historical
commission,’ not one of its possible conclusions."

Below is the full text of the letter, acquired by the Armenian Weekly.

***

Dear Prime Minister Erdogan and President Sarkisian, The proposed
protocols between Armenia and Turkey call for an "impartial historical
commission" to investigate what the world knows as the Armenian
Genocide of 1915.

As the leading scholarly organization engaged in the study of genocide,
we welcome continued investigation that will enhance our understanding
of the 1915 massacres. However, we are extremely wary of any call
for allegedly impartial research into what are clearly established
historical facts.

Acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide must be the starting point
of any "impartial historical commission," not one of its possible
conclusions. The world would not accept an inquiry into the truth
of the Nazi Holocaust, or the extermination of the Tutsi in Rwanda,
and nor can it do so with the genocide of the Armenians.

William Schabas, President, International Association of Genocide
Scholars

CHP TO LEND CONDITIONAL SUPPORT TO KURDISH INITIATIVE

Today’s Zaman
12 October 2009, Monday

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) will support
the government’s Kurdish initiative, a democratic process that will
include expanding the linguistic and cultural rights of Kurds with
the hope of putting an end to separatist terrorism, sources close to
CHP leader Deniz Baykal have noted.

Baykal is expected to announce his party’s stance on the Kurdish
question at a press conference, according to CHP Deputy Chairman
Onur Oymen. Speaking to Today’s Zaman in Bursa, where he traveled to
commemorate the 87th anniversary of the Armistice of Mudanya, Oymen
said the party had reviewed a letter sent by Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan last Friday to CHP leader Baykal seeking support for
the government’s Kurdish initiative.

"We will announce our decision to the public early this week. We have
no intention of keeping our prime minister waiting any longer. The
CHP’s stance on the Kurdish issue is clear, anyway," he said, adding
that the CHP’s reply will not necessarily be negative.

He recalled, however, that the CHP has "red lines" the party will
never be willing to cross, such as formulas that might change Turkey’s
unitary form of government and the introduction of Kurdish in schools
as a language of instruction. Oymen implied that the CHP would be
willing to meet with Erdogan to talk about the initiative as long as
the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) guarantees that it will
not push the red lines.

A third "red line" for the CHP is issuing a "general amnesty" for
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists that might include the
PKK’s jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan.

Currently, the democratization package being worked on by the
government abides by these red lines. The package makes clear that
any development will conform to the first three articles of the
Constitution, which clearly state that Turkey is a unitary state
and that the language of instruction is Turkish as been opposed
to a general amnesty that might include Ocalan from the start. In
other words, there appears to be nothing preventing Prime Minister
Erdogan and CHP leader Baykal from getting together to discuss the
Kurdish initiative.

Oymen on the Armenian protocol

Oymen also criticized an agreement between Turkey and Armenia that
was signed on Saturday night despite a last-minute glitch, saying
the pact was going to cause irrevocable damage.

On a related note, the Turkish and Armenian soccer teams are slated
to playing a World cup qualifying game this Wednesday.

"With the protocol signed in Zurich, Turkey has made important
concessions. Ahead of the game, Armenia has demanded that Turkey open
its border unconditionally. And while Turkey has promised to do so,
it hasn’t demanded anything in return. It has not forced Armenia
to recognize the Treaty of Kars. It is also not certain whether
the Armenian Parliament will ratify this. For years, Turkey was an
unforgivable country for the Algerian people because of its pro-France
stance during the French-Algerian war. The people of Algeria have
still not forgiven Turkey, despite an apology from Ozal. The Armenian
protocol will lead to similar damage in Turkish-Azerbaijani relations,"
Oymen said.

Armenian Azeri pullout crucial for accord-Erdogan
Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:38am EDT

Featured Broker sponsored link
* Erdogan urges Armenians to withdraw from Karabakh

* Says withdrawal would help gain Turkish parliament support

* Azerbaijan says deal "casts shadow" on ties with Turkey

By Alexandra Hudson

ISTANBUL, Oct 11 (Reuters) – Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
said on Sunday that Armenia must withdraw from Nagorno-Karabakh in
Azerbaijan to assure his parliament’s approval for a peace accord
signed between Turkey and Armenia.

"Turkey cannot take a positive step towards Armenia unless Armenia
withdraws from Azerbaijani land…if that issue is solved our people
and our parliament will have a more positive attitude towards this
protocol and this process," Erdogan told a party congress in Ankara.

Turkey and Armenia signed an accord on Saturday aimed at restoring ties
and opening their shared border. Last-minute disagreements delayed the
signing for more than three hours, forcing U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton to engage in intense talks to salvage a deal.

The Turkish and Armenian parliaments must approve the accord in the
face of opposition from nationalists on both sides and an Armenian
diaspora which insists Turkey acknowledge the killings of up to 1.5
million Armenians during World War One as genocide.

"We will bring the protocol to parliament but parliament has to see the
conditions between Azerbaijan and Armenia to decide whether this
protocol can be implemented," Erdogan said.

Turkey cut ties and shut its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of
Turkic-speaking Azerbaijan which was then fighting a losing battle
against Armenian separatists in Karabakh.

In his comments, Erdogan looked to reassure ally Azerbaijan, which
reacted angrily to the deal, saying it could threaten security in the
region and "cast a shadow" over its relations with Ankara.

"The normalisation of relations between Turkey and Armenia before the
withdrawal of Armenian troops from occupied Azeri territory is in
direct contradiction to the national interests of Azerbaijan," the
Azeri Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.

In a strongly worded statement, the ministry added the deal "casts a
shadow over the fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey,
which are built on historical roots.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and his Armenian counterpart
Edward Nalbandian signed the Swiss-mediated deal in Zurich at a
ceremony also attended by European Union foreign policy chief Javier
Solana, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and France’s Foreign
Minister Bernard Kouchner.

If the agreement comes into effect, it would boost European
Union-candidate Turkey’s diplomatic clout in the volatile South
Caucasus, a transit corridor for oil and gas to the West.

Turkish officials told Reuters the two sides had many disagreements
over each others’ statements in Zurich, including oblique references to
the Karabakh conflict. In the end, neither Davutolgu nor Nalbadian made
public statements.

Although landlocked Armenia stands to make big gains, opening its
impoverished economy to trade and investment, Armenia’s leader Serzh
Sarksyan faces protests at home and from the huge Armenian diaspora,
which views the thaw with suspicion.

(Additional reporting by Afet Mehtiyeva in Baku; writing by Alexandra
Hudson; editing by Michael Roddy)

US scraps military drill after Turkey withdrawal

press tv
Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:56:20 GMT

A joint military maneuver by the US, NATO, Italy, Israel and Turkey has
been canceled after Ankara withdraws from the exercise over Tel Aviv’s
participation in the drill.

Turkey’s move, which was taken over Israel’s decision to send planes to
the exercise which possibly took part in the Gaza war last December,
caused "disappointment" in Washington, The Jerusalem Post reported on
Sunday.

The exercise, therefore, was canceled.

"The exercise was postponed due to a Turkish decision to change the
composition of the participants and not allow the Israel Air Force to
participate, a decision we were informed of only several days ago," a
statement by the Israeli Air Force said.

Israeli officials claim that both the US and NATO warned that they
would withdraw from the exercise if Israel did not participate in it.

Turkey informed Israel of the cancellation of the Anatolian Eagle
exercise last week.

Aysor.am

Sunday,
October 11

Turkish side changed the text of speech and sent to H. Clinton

The Turkish Delegation in Zurich has made wording in the Turkish final
statement that was to be made after the signing ceremony, informs
Zaman.

The mentioned source refereeing to the diplomatic sources mentions
that the Armenian side has expressed its disagreement concerning the
prepared speech of the Turkish delegation where the Nagorno Karabakh
was mentioned.

`The Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after meeting the
representatives of the Armenian delegation in the hotel has phoned the
Turkish diplomats and has called for solving the occurred
disagreement. As one of the American diplomats informs the Turkish
delegation has changed the text and has sent to Hillary Clinton’, –
informs `Zaman’.

10.10.2009, 23:07
Aysor.am

SPAIN MIDFIELDER XABI ALONSO NOT TAKING ARMENIA LIGHTLY

Goal.com
Oct 9, 2009 8:00:55 PM

The Real Madrid midfielder is wary of the threat…

Xabi Alonso has warned his team-mates that Armenia will not be
intimidated by Spain after picking up a victory in their last
qualifying match.

The midfielder also alluded to the fact that both teams’ fates were
sealed, with the result that the hosts would try to stop la Furia
Roja from equalling a record of winning all 10 qualifying matches.

"Winning their last game against Belgium will give Armenia a big
morale boost and they will try and repeat that against us," Alonso
remarked to AS.

"We will have to prepare for the game in the same way, although we
have already qualified and they are eliminated.

"Records may be important but it’s good to keep winning games, to stay
in a good habit and that the group feels good. The most important
thing is to keep progressing in the few occasions that the calendar
allows us to play together."

The Real Madrid man also added that the squad had done well to stay
focused throughout the qualifying process, as Argentina and Portugal
were examples of teams that hadn’t and were now paying the price.

"Other teams that should have qualified on paper actually haven’t. It
shows that you can’t relax now, you have to be strong from the start
in order to avoid trouble. We have seen with Argentina and Portugal
that you can have problems."