Author: Ekmekjian Janet

AGBU Press Office
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PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

AGBU Armenia Commemorates Armenian Genocide with Events at Arabkir
Children’s Center and Tsitsernakaberd Memorial in Yerevan, Armenia

Yerevan – On April 23, 2009, the AGBU Scouts of Armenia organized a
commemoration ceremony on the occasion of the 94th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide at the AGBU Arabkir Children’s Center of Yerevan.

Prepared as a cultural evening to honor the memory of the 1.5 million
victims of the Armenian Genocide, the event began as scouts, their
parents and audience members lit candles in memory of the martyrs of
what is widely recognized as the first genocide of the twentieth
century. The program included a selection of poetry readings and songs.
Historian Edik Danielian spoke about the Armenian Genocide and the
rights of Armenians; his lecture was followed by a documentary about the
catastrophe of 1915. The event coincided with the visit of students from
the AGBU Nubarian School of Montevideo, Uruguay, and the diasporan
Armenian students were honored to participate in the event.

The next day, on April 24, a group of AGBU youths representing AGBU
scouts, AGBU Children’s Centers and AGBU Young Professionals of Yerevan
traveled to the Armenian Genocide Memorial (Tsitsernakaberd) to pay
tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Various AGBU members in Armenia, students of the AGBU Nubarian School of
Montevideo, and AGBU Armenian Representation staff formed a group at the
eternal flame, where they observed a moment of silence befitting the
solemn occasion. A memorial wreath was jointly laid by AGBU Central
Board member Yervant Zorian and AGBU Armenian Representation director
Ashot Ghazarian.

Established in 1906, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is the
world’s largest non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New
York City, AGBU () preserves and promotes the Armenian
identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian
programs, annually touching the lives of some 400,000 Armenians on six
continents.

AFTER PRAGUE, SARGSYAN AND ALIYEV MAY MEET EARLY JUNE IN SAINT PETERSBURG

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.04.2009 15:26 GMT+04:00

After the meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents on May 7
in Prague OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno Karabakh conflict resolution
plans to organize another Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting early June in Saint
Petersburg, OSCE Minsk Group French Co-chair Bernard Fassier told a
press conference in Yerevan.

"We suggested this idea to Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, but
it is up to them to decide. Whether the meeting will take place or not
depends on Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev," the French diplomat said.

Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet on May 7 in Prague on
the sidelines of Eastern Partnership summit.

Glendale News Press, CA
April 26 2009

REMEMBERING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE:
Obama’s words rebuked

Local Armenians are incensed that the president’s statement Friday did
not include the term `genocide.’

By Zain Shauk
Published: Last Updated Friday, April 24, 2009 10:03 PM PDT

Speakers at the city’s Armenian Genocide Commemoration event Friday
blasted President Obama for betraying campaign pledges to acknowledge
the Armenian Genocide, injecting a sense of anger into the somber
ceremony.

Obama issued a statement Friday, on the 94th anniversary of the
genocide, acknowledging the mass killings of 1.5 million Armenians at
the hands of Ottoman Turks as `atrocities’ and used the Armenian
phrase `Meds Yeghern,’ which translates to `The Great Calamity’ to
describe the acts.

But as a senator and presidential candidate, Obama frequently
supported efforts to recognize the mass killings using the word
`genocide,’ famously stating in a speech on Jan. 19, 2008, that `the
Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point
of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an
overwhelming body of historical evidence. The facts are undeniable
.?.?. and as president, I will recognize the Armenian Genocide.’

But in his statement, Obama danced around language that he has
previously insisted should be attributed to the acts, said Zanku
Armenian, president of the Armenian National Committee Glendale’s
board of directors.

`He did not have the courage to use the word `genocide,” said
Armenian, who was in Washington to lobby support for a House of
Representatives resolution calling for official recognition of the
genocide.

`The irony is he used Armenian words,’ he continued, adding that
Armenians would be disheartened by the president’s avoidance of the
term `genocide.’

The use of `genocide’ to describe the events has been of critical
importance to the Armenian community because the size and scale of the
mass killings should be recognized and remembered just as other
genocides are, said speakers at the commemoration event, which was at
the Alex Theatre.

`President Obama, if you’re listening, I can’t tell you how
disappointed the community is for betraying your promise,’ said
Councilman Ara Najarian, who was chairman of the event organizing
committee.

Rep. Adam Schiff, who sponsored the resolution for recognition of the
genocide, received a standing ovation from the audience before he
spoke about his `disappointment’ that Obama, who is the first
president to have been a champion of recognition for the events, fell
short of describing it with the same force he had as a candidate and
senator.

As a candidate, Obama had argued that the United States deserved a
president that would acknowledge the genocide for what it was, Schiff
said.

`He was right,’ Schiff said. `But he was not that president today, and
that was deeply disappointing.’

Assemblyman Paul Krekorian also spoke at the event, saying he recently
received questions about why he continues to push for genocide
recognition.

He asked the audience to remember the impact of the terrorist attacks
on Sept. 11, 2001, and the emotions they felt upon seeing the World
Trade Center towers fall in New York City, comparing those reactions
to those that might have been felt on a daily basis in Armenia, where
innocent people were systematically killed for a year and a half.

Killings of that scale deserve to be remembered, he said.

Several speakers, including Mayor Frank Quintero and journalist Mark
Arax, took to the stage to commemorate the genocide, along with
musical acts, including choir and band performances.

A slew of officials and clergy filled the first rows of the theater,
including Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, who said he came to
remember those who died in the genocide.

`We have to keep the memory of this in our mind so that this never
happens again,’ he said.

MAN ON THE STREET

The Glendale News-Press asked visitors entering the city’s Armenian
Genocide Commemoration at the Alex Theatre what they thought of
President Obama’s reference to the mass killings as `atrocities’
rather than calling it a `genocide,’ which he had pledged to do as a
candidate.

`He’s scared to use the `genocide’ word. That’s what I think. It’s
hurtful that he didn’t use the `genocide’ word and he used the
[Armenian phrase meaning `The Great Calamity’] because it’s
Armenian. Americans don’t understand what `Meds Yeghern’ means.’

HASMIK KARAPETYAN

Glendale

`It is still man’s inhumanity to man, whatever the term is, and so
hopefully in our future we will all realize that we are all
one. Whatever you do to others you will do to yourself.’

ZEN LOPEZ

Glendale

`He’s always trying to walk that middle line, so based on that I
wasn’t expecting him to say anything else.’

ARMEN TALVERDIAN

Tujunga

`As an Armenian, my own belief is that America’s government will not
accept the Armenian Genocide for the reason that they are allies with
Turkey.’

ANNIE BESEREKIAN

Vancouver, Canada

ARMENIA REVERES THE MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS

ArmInfo
2009-04-24 11:07:00

ArmInfo. Today, Armenian of the hole world mark the 94th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire in 1915-1923.

Mass arrests of the Armenian intellectuals, the religious, economic
and political elite started on April 24, 1915, that led to complete
extermination of numerous eminent figures of the Armenian culture.

Full-scale extermination of the Armenian elite over the whole country
started just from Constantinople arrests. This inhuman action aimed
at decapitation of the Armenians.

‘I am sure there is no such a sinister episode in the whole human
history.

The orders on deportation of the Armenian families in 1915 were just a
death sentence for the whole nation’, US ambassador to Turkey of that
time Henry Morgenthau wrote in his memorials. Hundreds of thousand
Armenians lost their motherland and dispersed over the whole world
just as a result of the Genocide.

The Armenian Genocide is the first Genocide of XX Century. It has
been recognized and condemned by many countries of the world and
influential international organizations.

An endless flow of the people moves to Tsitsernakaberd Memorial from
early April 24 morning to lay flowers to the Eternal Fire. President of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, top officials of the republic, representatives
of international organizations, as well as foreign diplomats accredited
in Armenia will also lay wreathes to the Eternal Fire. A memorial
liturgy will be served in the Cathedral of the Mother See of Holy
Echmiadzin.

OBAMA’S WEAPON OF CHOICE IS CHARM
by Linda Heard

Arab News
April 21, 2009 Tuesday
Saudi Arabia

I once met an American lawyer-cum-philosopher in Jakarta, whose message
literally changed my life. The transformation in me was so radical
that when I returned home to the UK my mother was worried that I had
undergone a personality change, although she later conceded it was a
change for the better. He told me to meet hostility or even threats
with a smile. This probably sounds strange but nine times out of
ten it works. Firstly because you remove power from your protagonist
who invariably anticipates a like reaction and is totally confused
or disarmed when his expectations aren’t met, and, secondly, you
maintain your own equilibrium at the same time.

And as anyone who is lucky enough to be in a successful marriage
understands, the use of bullying and aggression to get one’s own way
is a road to the divorce court. The best relationships are built on
mutual respect, openness and a willingness to listen.

It appears that President Obama understands these gems of truth only
too well and practices them in both his political and personal life.

The American president’s political style is a complete and refreshing
departure from that of his predecessor’s "it’s my way or the highway’,
which often created enemies where there were none. In less than 100
days in office, he has wooed suspicious Europeans, mended bridges with
Russia, proffered an olive branch to America’s arch enemy Iran, made
positive moves toward Syria, reached out to the "moderate Taleban",
flirted with Cuba and extended an enthusiastic handshake to Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez, who once likened George W. Bush to the devil.

By all accounts, President Chavez has already been won over. Most
observers expected the two leaders to stay out of each other’s
way at the recent Summit of the Americas, so when Obama made a
beeline for his Venezuelan counterpart armed with a smile and a
friendly "Como estâ~@¡s?" to say that onlookers were surprised is an
understatement. In return, he received the gift of a book, personal
compliments and the probability that a Venezuelan ambassador will
finally return to Washington.

Initiating this contact was sheer brilliance on Obama’s part, as is
his new approach to Cuba, which is still lukewarm. If he eventually
normalizes US relations with Havana, lurking Moscow, which has recently
agreed to boost Cuban military defenses, will be out in the cold. If
you think about it, Washington isn’t served by prolonging enmity
against it in its own hemisphere or anywhere else for that matter.

Obama has proved his determination to turn foes into friends and
revitalize cooled relations. This is a winning strategy that even
managed to warm the hearts of the Turks who were in the throes
of deciding upon the direction of their policy vis-Ë~F-vis the US
following the unpopular occupation of Iraq, Washington’s "Armenian
genocide characterization", and Israel’s Gaza onslaught.

Similarly, the Obama administration’s attempts to engage Syria are
beneficial from a US standpoint. As the New Yorker’s investigate
journalist Seymour Hersh recently put it, "There are a lot of people
going back and forth to Damascus from Washington saying there is a
low-hanging fruit for someone to harvest."

In the same article, Hersh quotes former US ambassador to Israel Martin
Indyk as saying, "Syria is a strategic linchpin for dealing with Iran
and the Palestinian issue. Don’t forget, everything in the Middle East
is connected". The aim here, of course, is to prize Syria away from its
ally Iran, which will never happen as a result of censure or threats.

Rather than eat up the world, Obama wants the world eating out of his
hands and he’s already gone a long way to achieving that goal. But
there are some who are bent on misinterpreting his revolutionary
approach of smearing a cast iron fist with lashings of goodwill. They
wrongly perceive this as a display of weakness, a cowardly avoidance
of confrontation or a shameful readiness to appease.

Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News, for instance, constantly rolls out
grim-faced Republican senators and right-wing commentators who
invariably say Obama’s behavior doesn’t fit his status as leader of a
superpower. They would prefer an antagonistic, stomping America with
its red, white and blue nose in the air as it looks down at the rest
of us.

A fine example of this entrenched arrogance appears in an article
by an Iranian-American called Amil Imani writing in The Global
Politician. "Mr. President, many Americans are still in shock by
our action at the G-20 summit," he writes. "Your appearance looked
submissive, insulting to millions of Americans and treacherous at
worst. Your naivetŽ is really making it difficult for Americans to
like you…"

He goes on to say, "only a person who was not born in the United
States would commit such a fatuous act. Only a person who considers
himself a citizen of the world would willfully attempt to demolish the
greatest republic and democracy in the world, America, as fast as he
can." It seems to escape Imani that while Obama was born in the US,
by his own admission in the blurb at the end of his column, he wasn’t.

Poor deluded, intellectually-challenged Imani and others of like mind
would do well to reflect on these words spoken by the French Bishop
Franois de Sales: "Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing is so
gentle as real strength". Bush’s misguided policies thrust the US and
the rest of the planet into a horrible mess. I don’t mind predicting
that the sophisticated, subtle and many-layered policies of the new
man in the White House are just what the doctor ordered. Let’s see!

OBAMA’S ADDRESS TO US ARMENIANS LOWERS TRUST TOWARDS AMERICA

PanArmenian News
April 25 2009
Armenia

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ With heightened expectations of normalized relations
between Turkey and Armenia, President Barack Obama had an opportunity
to chart a new course in his April 24th statement commemorating the
Armenian Genocide, but failed to deliver on the change he promised,
the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) reported to PanARMENIAN.Net.

"Today’s statement does not reflect the change the President promised,"
stated AAA Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "His failure to affirm
the proud chapter in U.S. history, the American response to the first
genocide of the 20th century, has needlessly delayed the cause of
genocide affirmation and diminishes U.S. credibility with regard to
genocide prevention," added Ardouny.

In January 2008, then-Senator Obama stated: "As President I will
recognize the Armenian Genocide." In October 2008, President Obama
reiterated his views, "I believe that the Armenian Genocide is not
an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a
widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical
evidence."

"Empty promises are no change at all. Today, as we reflect on the
importance of genocide education, affirmation and prevention, we
must redouble our efforts to ensure that the words ‘never again’
have true meaning – starting with the adoption of H. Res. 252 in the
U.S. House of Representatives," concluded Ardouny.

ARMEN RUSTAMYAN: TURKEY CONTINUES LAYING PRECONDITIONS TO ARMENIA

PanArmenian News
April 22 2009
Armenia

Progress in Armenian-Turkish relations may be seen only if Ankara stops
lying preconditions to Yerevan, head of the RA parliamentary committee
on foreign relations Armen Rustamyan said during Yerevan-Moscow space
bridge titled "Armenia-Turkey: real progress in bilateral relations
of geopolitical games of superpowers."

According to parliamentarian, it seemed that after the events in
Georgia Ankara decided to renounce preconditions in dialogue with
Armenia. "Therefore, Armenia initiated talks. But recent statements by
Turkish officials show that Armenians were wrong in their conclusions,"
he said.

Armen Rustamyan said that no progress will be seen in Turkish-Armenian
relations unless Turkey stops its policy of preconditions.

COMMITTED SUICIDE

A1+
07:15 pm | April 23, 2009 | society

The press service of the Police confirmed information that famous
swimmer Davit Hambardzumyan’s widow Karine Hambardzumyan, 53, committed
suicide as she threw herself from the window of her apartment on
Pushkin Street.

During the past couple of years, Karine Hambartsumyan headed the water
sports school after Davit Hambardzumyan located on Khorenatsi Street
in Yerevan. In addition, Karine was president of the water-jumping
federation of Armenia.

Hambardzumyan’s suicide shocked workers at the water sports school
who were surprised to hear the news this morning on their way to work.

The Age, Australia
April 18 2009

Darchinyan ready to take on the world – Adrian Warren

April 18, 2009 – 5:34PM

Vic Darchinyan declared his desire to unify the boxing bantamweight
division after returning from an overseas trip where he rubbed
shoulders with statesmen, entertainers and Australia’s other great
eastern European-born boxer Kostya Tszyu.

Undisputed super flyweight world champion Darchinyan, who will move up
to challenge IBF bantamweight title holder Joseph Agbeko in Florida on
July 7, returned from eastern Europe on Friday.

The Armenian-born boxer met the President of that country and also
spent time in Russia.

In Moscow, he attended a concert featuring Armenian entertainers and
was introduced to the crowd by former undisputed junior welterweight
world champion Tszyu, who was born in Russia, but relocated to
Australia.

His world title-winning feats have attracted corporate support
overseas, with Darchinyan estimating almost 95 per cent of his
earnings in that area coming from offshore.

After conquering the flyweight and super flyweight divisions, the
33-year-old Sydneysider is determined to do likewise at the
bantamweight.

"I want to unify the bantamweight division," Darchinyan said.

"I want to stay at bantamweight for six to nine months and unify the
title."

Darchinyan said if he beat Agbeko, but couldn’t attract the other
champion into a unification bout in that time frame he would move up
to super bantamweight.

He had no fears moving up in the weights would diminish the famed
punching power which has brought 26 knockouts in 32 wins.

"I will be even stronger at bantamweight," Darchinyan said.

"I know when I have been sparring at bantamweight I punch much more
stronger than a super flyweight."

New York-based Ghanaian Agbeko also has a formidable KO percentage,
registering 22 in his 26 wins.

"I don’t know much about him, but he’s a good fighter and a good
puncher and he’s beaten a few good fighters," Darchinyan said.

"He beat Luis Alberto Peres and he lost to Wladimir Sidorenko, who I
know and used to spar with. I will be ready for him."

Darchinyan will start sparring Australian boxers eight weeks before
the fight before heading to a Los Vegas training camp in early June.

It will be his second fight in Florida and his first since winning the
first of his world titles against Irene Pacheco in December 2004.

© 2009 AAP

Hürriyet, ANKARA
April 18 2009

Church wary of state’s offer

ISTANBUL -The foundation overseeing the Surp Giragos Armenian Church
in Southeast Turkey has welcomed the culture minister’s offer to help
with restoration efforts, but only if the building can remain as a
place of worship.

The church is currently in a decrepit state and in urgent need of
restoration.

Culture Minister ErtuÄ?rul Günay, speaking to the
Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review last week, said if the
Turkish Armenian community asked, then he was willing to help with
restoration of the church. The head of the Diyarbakır Surp
Giragos Church Foundation, Ergün Ayık, in response told
the Daily News: "We would be honored to get help from the
ministry. However, we are against it if it is going to be transformed
into a museum like the Van Akhdamar Church."

Ayık said their restoration project prepared with the help of
the Protecting Environmental and Cultural Treasures Foundation, or
Ã?EKÃ`L, was rejected by the state Foundations Institute.

"The Foundations Institute said they would not contribute to the
project. The Diyarbakır Municipality will help with part of the
restoration project within the old city walls. Å?iÅ?li
Mayor Mustafa Sarıgül will also help," he said.

Ayık said the church covered an area of 3,020 square meters and
the restoration would cost 3.2 million Turkish Liras.

The Turkish Armenian community had dug deep into their pockets and
donated 800,000 liras, he said. "I am calling on all who call
Diyarbakır their home, irrespective of religion. Let’s protect
the city’s heritage," said Ayık.

He said the church was used as a command center for German officers
during World War I and afterwards used as a cloth depot for
state-owned Sümerbank until 1950. "The church was bought back
by the community in 1950 and served as a house of worship until 1980,"
he said.

After 1980, Diyarbakır’s Armenian community shrunk to five
families, he said. "According to the Foundations Law, those who took
positions in foundations in Anatolia were obligated to reside in the
cities where the buildings were. However, there was no community left
in Diyarbakır. The church was left with no protection and it
was stripped bare by treasure hunters."

When the Foundations Law was amended 18 months ago, their research
yielded many official documents belonging to the building, including
directives from Ottoman sultans.

He said once the restoration was complete, they wanted to use the
church as a cultural center that would serve as a house of worship a
few times a year. The church building was very original, said
Ayık, who is also an engineer, noting that it also carried
certain characteristics of the region.