Author: Felekian Ara

RATING ROCKS EGOYAN’S TAWDRY SHOWBIZ TALE
by Michael D. Reid, Times Colonist

Times Colonist (Victoria, British Columbia)
September 12, 2005 Monday
Final Edition

It wasn’t listed alongside the Tandoori Chicken pizza, salmon burger
or other items being served, but surrealism was very much on the menu
when I caught up with Atom Egoyan over lunch at the Central Bar and
Grill almost two years ago.

It began when he revealed he had optioned Where the Truth Lies,
a tawdry tale of showbiz intrigue written by, of all people, Rupert
Holmes, the singer-songwriter best known for his hit The Pina Colada
Song.

Wow. Making a slick Hitchcockian drama about a 1950s Jerry Lewis and
Dean Martin-type comedy duo who become involved with a young woman
who’s later found murdered in their hotel room — a mystery set in
hotspots like Miami, London and Los Angeles, no less — seemed an
unlikely departure for an auteur best known for his dark meditations
on alienation.

That wasn’t nearly as surreal, however, as Egoyan’s lunchtime
recollection of a bizarre foul-up during a Mexican film festival’s
retrospective of his works. The program included Next of Kin, but
instead of his 1984 drama about a troubled 23-year-old who passes
himself off as an elderly Armenian couple’s long-lost son, a different
Next of Kin was advertised.

It was the 1989 vigilante action flick starring Patrick Swayze as a
Chicago cop who avenges his hillbilly brother’s murder.

“The audience was treated to this bizarre concept that my career
began with this big Hollywood movie with Patrick Swayze, and then I
did these tiny movies,” laughed Egoyan the other day, recalling one
of the most surreal episodes in his career.

But that was then, this is now, and it’s been eclipsed by his
experiences with the Motion Picture Association of America.

Egoyan is talking about his trip to Los Angeles last week to state
his case during an appeal, launched by THINKFilm, the Toronto-based
distributor of Where the Truth Lies, of the NC-17 rating the film
had received from the MPAA.

The rating was reportedly rendered because of “explicit sexuality”
generated by the use of camera angles for a threesome involving actors
Colin Firth and Kevin Bacon as the decadent vaudeville entertainers,
and Rachel Blanchard as their ill-fated sex partner. The film also
stars Alison Lohman as a journalist who investigates the mysterious
death years later.

To Egoyan’s dismay, the board upheld the restrictive rating that means
moviegoers under 18 can’t see the film in the U.S. (An NC-17 is the
kiss-of-death, since some media outlets will refuse to run ads and
certain theatres won’t even show it.)

“Last Wednesday was one of the most bizarre moments of my career. It
was just weird,” recalled Egoyan, hastening to add that “we won,
technically” since the board voted 6-4 to overturn the rating.

That wasn’t enough, however, since the rules state a two-thirds
majority is required. Now there’s talk of the film, like The
Aristocrats, being released unrated in the U.S.

Egoyan says when he first chatted about his movie over lunch, he never
expected there would be such a surreal outcome. “What’s surreal is the
added tension from the MPAA thing. The movie is certainly disturbing,
but because it features well-known actors people aren’t expecting to
see those kinds of things,” he said. “If it was a grainy low-budget
film that wasn’t widely distributed it wouldn’t have attracted any
attention.”

Egoyan doesn’t buy claims that the MPAA’s rating was not about
censorship. He said his theory was validated when he was informed at
the last minute that Episcopalian and Catholic church representatives
would be sitting in on the hearing.

“It’s the result of a very conservative climate. They kept saying
they weren’t part of the decision-making process, that they were only
there as a presence. I’m sorry…come on,” he says incredulously.

Egoyan says he finds it “particularly absurd” given the reality of
our culture and an age in which there’s virtually no way to prevent
people from accessing whatever they want that censors would try to
ban filmgoers under age 18.

It’s a measure usually taken when a film is considered “hardcore,”
which he stresses Where the Truth Lies is not.

“Now, because of all the noise around it, it’s going to be fetishized
and the scene will be traded back and forth without any context at
all,” he says of the integral scene. “As a parent you should be there
with your son or daughter to talk about it.”

That’s why Where the Truth Lies would be released in the U.S. with an
R-rating if Egoyan had his way. “An R allows parents to assess the
maturity of their own child and accompany them if they feel their
child is prepared,” he says. “It doesn’t mean any child should see it.”

While he doesn’t think children the same age as his son Arshile, 12,
should see the film, he says he’d be comfortable taking a 17-year-old,
putting the action in context and having a discussion about the issues
it deals with, like adoration and the nature of celebrity. “These
are pertinent issues for young adults to be dealing with.”

Egoyan says he’s confident most people will enjoy the film and
hopefully not take it too seriously.

“It’s a film I had a lot of fun making. It’s tonally different,
although all my obsessions are there.”

Canadian moviegoers will get the chance to decide for themselves when
Where the Truth Lies opens Oct. 7.

It makes its North American premiere Tuesday at the Toronto
International Film Festival and opens in the U.S. Oct. 14.

GRAPHIC: Colour Photo: Atom Egoyan: Surprised at the NC-17 rating
for latest movie.

ARMENIAN BOY KILLED IN TEHRAN

Armenpress
Sept 12, 2005

TEHRAN, SEPTEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS: Police in Tehran have opened
investigation into a brutal murder of a 15 year-old Armenian boy,
who was killed by four ethnic Iranians on September 8 evening in
downtown Tehran.

The squabble between the Armenian boy, Miro Begijanian and Iranians
erupted when he was going back home from the official opening of
Armenian Sport Olympiad in Tehran, an annual event held by the local
Armenian community.

According to eyewitnesses, the Armenian boy returned bad language
from the four Iranians, but the latter stopped his car and attacked
him by batons beating him to death. The attackers were arrested by
police. Armenian members of Iran’s parliament visited the family of
the killed boy promising that the attackers would be punished.

The murder forced organizers of the Olympiad to end them before
schedule.

LETTER TO THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE
Rick Jones, Prague

The International Herald Tribune, France
September 10, 2005 Saturday

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR;
Europe in Turkey

Foreign Minister Jack Straw of Britain laid out a very compelling
case for Turkey’s admission to the European Union (“Shift Europe’s
boundary,” Views, Sept. 8).

Not only was Turkey’s long membership in NATO cited, but Turkey’s
recent efforts at making massive internal reform were noted as a
further reason to endorse the country’s bid for EU membership. What
Straw did not address was how EU membership would change Turkey.

In the near past, Turkey’s major cities, like other cities in
the Middle East, were multilingual, multicultural, with competing
religions. Major cities in Turkey were enclaves where foreign culture
ruled the day.

This did not come to pass by accident. It was the result of hundreds
of years of economic development and each non-Turkish group filled
in a gap in the marketplace.

Today, ethnic Turks or integrated minorities who have adopted the
culture dominate all spheres of life. Do Turks realize that one of
the major results of EU membership would be an opening up of Turkey
to foreign influences? Does the average Turkish citizen know that
alternative cultures, religions and languages will set up shop
in Turkey?

A European Turkey will not look like the Turkey we all know today. It
will be less Turkish, more Greek, more Armenian, more French,
more Italian.

On the road to prosperity many Turks will not only be exposed to
strange and foreign cultures but they will be required to accept
them. Are the people of Turkey up for that ?

Istanbul will once again become the cosmopolitan center for Eurasia.
The conservative and family oriented values that are prevalent in
Turkey are likely to come into conflict with modern European culture
in which almost anything goes. This may be a shock.

I fear that the Turkish government has painted a very rosy picture
and left out how Turkey will be transformed into a country that many
citizens would not recognize.

GERMANY ALLOCATES 2.2 MLN EUR TO ARMENIA FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT
“BIO-DIVERSITY AND NATURE PROTECTION IN SOUTH CAUCASUS REGION”

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9. ARMINFO. German Govenrment has approved 2.2 mln
EUR to Armenia for implementation of a program “Bio-diversity in the
South-West of Armenia” and “Protection of bio-diversity in Javakheti
through transboundary cooperation.”

A relevant agreement was signed today by Ministry of Nature Protection
of Armenia Vardan Ayvazyan and Representative of German KfW bank in
Armenia Karapet Gevorgyan. The programs are designed for 30-50 years
under a regional project “Protection of bio-diversity and nature in
the South Caucasus region.” Minister Aycazyan said the programs aim
prevention of conflict situations at transboundary Armenian-Georgian
territories and planning of joint measures on protection of
environment in Javakhk plateau. Under the projects, a National Park
Arpi will be developed which will embrace Lake Arpi with its drained
basin, brooks and water reservoirs near the villages of Ardenis,
Akhuryan, and those near Stepanavan-Tashir highway. The park will
occupy a territory of 74 ha and will be divided into three protected
zones: reserved territories, on protection of ecological system and on
stable development of the park’s territories.

The territory of the park Arpi is bordering Georgia and Turkey and
located not far from large populated areas in Armenia. Local residents
having mass social and economic problems will be attracted to
implementation of the project of National Park. Some 70 jobs will be
opened for local residents there, the minister said. Under the
projects, scientific research will be carried out for possible
creation of reserved territories in waterlogged areas to protect
water- marsh flora and fauna.

KfW Representative said the regional program was provided to the
Georgian an Azerbaijani parties as well, however Azerbaijan has not
considered it so far; and in Georgia the government has recently
approved the project “Protection of bio-diversity and nature in the
South Caucasus region.” Factually, implementation of the given
ecological program for the South Caucasus has started in Armenia,
Gevorgyan said. He added that one of the most important details of the
project is solution to social problems of the population in bordering
regions, taking into account the conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. “Each time when CE member-states propose joint programs to
the South Caucasian three, political motives hinder their
implementation. However, the given program is necessary as nature has
no borders and it must be protected without any political conditional
characters,” Gevorgyan said. The project office will be in Tbilisi for
three years then the head office will be moved to the country that
will show the most successful and effective implementation of the
project. 0.3 mln EUR is allocated to each country for project
coordination under control of KfW.

It should be noted that since 1993 the German Government has allocated
Armenia some 127 mln EUR through the German bank KfW under various
programs in the sphere of energy, finances, water supply and
ecology. 100 mln EUR of the above sum were credits and the remaining
were grants.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONS IS PRIORITY OF THE STATE AND THIS POLICY WILL BE CONTINUED IN THE YEARS AHEAD

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2005

SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV AT THE OPENING OF
THE MONUMENT TO THE NATIONWIDE LEADER HEYDAR ALIYEV IN THE CITY OF
LANKARAN

Dear residents of Lankaran,

Dear sisters and brothers,

I welcome all of you, and would like to express my deep respect and
love to you. We are having a landmark day. Today, we open the monument
to the nationwide leader of the Azerbaijan people Heydar Aliyev in
Lankaran. Heydar Aliyev has exclusive merits in the present history of
Azerbaijan. Thanks to his activity, our country overcame the crisis
in 1990s, reached development and since 1993 up to date, confidently
marches along the path of development. We all well remember hard
moments in early 1990s. In that time, anarchy, chaos, arbitrariness
ruled in the country, both economically and politically. The country~Rs
future, its destiny was unknown. Only thanks to resoluteness of Heydar
Aliyev, his political will, experience and courage, our country could
overcome this ordeal, and now is a country with quickly developing
economy both in region and world.

I have been to Lankaran for many times, and every time when I see
novelty, attractive construction works I feel deep sense of pleasure.
I would like that everywhere in Azerbaijan developed, its regions,
provinces were equipped with modern amenities and the people lived
much better. Perhaps, for this purpose, the country should have strong
economic potential. In mid-1990s, the economic reforms started after
establishment of socio-political stability in Azerbaijan, yield fruits.

If those reforms were not carried out, and continued today, we could
not reach what we wanted. Strength of every country is connected to
its economic potential. The ongoing economic processes in Azerbaijan
give reason to say that our country will soon become a rich and
strong state. Economic factors are of great importance to solve
the social problems, strengthen the country~Rs defense potential,
and hold worthy place on the international arena. Therefore, it is
not by cause that we attach major importance to these questions and
in the last two years, as a result of the done works, our country
began to rapidly develop. In 8 months of current year, the economic
growth has reached 20 percent. This is an unprecedented index in
the world economy. Economy of the developed countries grows 2-3
percent annually. Economy of Azerbaijan in 8 months has grown 20
percent. The industrious potential has grown for 23 percent. This is,
of course, statistic data. But at the same time, these indices find
their reflection in life. Last years, the attention given to the
social questions promoted rise of wages, pensions, and scholarships.
Scholarships of the students have increased by 2,5 times. Average
monthly wages rises quickly. Minimal wages in the last two years
have increased by 3 times and since October 1 the minimal wages in
Azerbaijan will make 150 thousand manats. And this is not the limit.
We know that there are many problems in the country, in particular,
social problems. Major of those are unemployment and poverty. I am
confident the works done in this direction will promote to abolish
both of them.

Execution of the socio-economic development program in Azerbaijan
since February last year, promoted opening of 300 thousand new
workplaces and majority of them are permanent. Where have been opened
300 thousand workplaces in other counties in such a short period of
time? In Azerbaijan, two years ago, the people living in the poverty
made 50 percent. Now, it is 40 percent. Of course, this is also much.
But next year, probably, the figure will downsize, and finally, there
should not be poor in Azerbaijan. We should create such a state, such
a country that in Azerbaijan, every citizen lived better, comfortably,
not faced material problems. And opportunities were created to solve
social problems. We try to do our best in this direction.

As I said, I have been in Lankaran for many times. I remember,
in January 2004, when a building was damaged, I came here and
familiarized with the situation, visited the inured at the hospital,
and I saw that the conditions here was not good at all. That is, not
only here, all the hospitals in Azerbaijan need cardinal overhaul.
This is natural. For many years, when we had no economic opportunities,
it was not possible to pay due attention to social problems. Now we
have enough funds to do so. Today, it is going to be a ceremony
of laying foundation of a new diagnostics and medical center
in Lankaran. I don~Rt doubt a new well-equipped hospital will be
constructed here soon. In addition, I have recently issued an order
on construction of a new airport in the town, I believe this will
contribute to i development of this region. I would like to repeat
that to realize these intentions, we have to create huge economic
potential. Azerbaijan~Rs budget is increased yearly ~V $2 bln 200 mln
in 2006 against $1 bln 500 mln in 2005. In 2006, it is expected to
reach at least $3 bln 500 mln. This shows the country is on the path
of progress. Electricity supply is also getting improved, and today
in the town of Astara, a foundation for a new electric power plant
will be laid. It will generate 90 MW power helping supply the region
with electricity. Such plants will be installed in every region of
the country during this and next years.

Strengthening economic potential will create favorable conditions to
solve any problems in Azerbaijan. In the first place, it will foster
political reforms in the country. Processes of democratization in
Azerbaijan are of immense importance, particularly, in the context
of the November parliamentary election in the country. The first
phase of the election run-up went well with over 2 thousand people
proposing themselves as candidates. It shows people believe in fair
election. For comparison, no more than 400 nominees were registered
in 2000 parliamentary election. I hope the new parliament will play a
key role in the improvement of the legislative basis in Azerbaijan.
New progressive laws will be adopted and have a positive impact on
every sphere of our life.

My course is aimed at development of every region of Azerbaijan. I
want them to have good roads, well-equipped schools and hospitals,
as well as continuous, gas power and water supply.

Addressing you at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Complex in
Lankaran during 2003 election campaign, I told you I would do my best
for my people and my homeland.

I can say, over the past period solutions have been found to all
the tasks set in both domestic and foreign policy. Of course, the
occupation of our lands concerns us most of all. As you know we
are making great efforts, but there is no a result yet. There is
no a result because the destructive position of Armenia does not
yet allow to find peaceful solution. We are still hoping for the
peace process. At the same time, however, we should reinforce our
military potential. In 2006, our military budget will reach $600
mln against $300 mln in 2005 and $175 mln in 2004. We have already
achieved military superiority over Armenian, and the enemy must realize
that Azerbaijan~Rs army is strong enough to release its lands at any
moment. Anyway, we have to get even stronger.

In other word, my friends, want to state that our policy is quite
transparent and clear, and serves the present and the future of
the Azerbaijani people. All the work done allows us to hope we will
achieve the goal. We will be leading our country towards progress in
political, military, economic and social spheres. We need to do it
together. The people of Azerbaijan must do it, and we shall do it.

Once again, accept my congratulations and best wishes for your health
and happiness.

5000 ARMD: ELECTORAL BRIBERY OR OLD-AGE PENSION?

A1+
| 20:33:26 | 07-09-2005 | Social |

Today the resident of Noubarashen Andranik Pogosyan periodically
visited the office of the community head candidate Mher Hovhannisyan
and community head’s office. In the morning he had gone to get his
old-age pension but could not as he had no passport.

“I don’t know, there is a kiosk in the park, I gave it to them, and
they gave 5000 drams to me and said that Mher must be elected. I will
give them their money and demand my passport back”, he complained in
the community head’s office, that is to the opponent of the candidate
who had bribed him.

The present community head Robert Asatryan is one of the candidates for
the post. The other candidates are wrestling coach Mher Hovhannisyan
and member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Kamo Berberyan.

We caught no cases of bribing in Mher Hovhannisyan’s office, but there
was a queue of people with passports. There were women who had 4-5
passports in their hands. When we tried to take a photo of the room,
the head of the office Vardan Haroutyunyan took immediately took the
women out of the room.

“The strong are always blamed in suchlike business. The strong cannot
give electoral bribes and cannot take passports, we do not follow
that technique”, said Vardan Haroutyunyan. By the way, he considers
the information about the electoral bribes the result of the black
PR of their opponents, mainly that of Robert Asatryan, who “did not
organize a single youth event in his 22 years of activity”.

Robert Asatryan informed that he “never said anything bad about his
opponents”, and he learned about the taking of passports when the
residents of the community asked him to solicit for them to get
their pensions without passports, but he was told that it is not
possible. The head of the old-age pension fund Varazdat Kirakosyan
claimed that “We do not have the right to give the pension without
the passport and the social card”. As for how many people have been
deprived of the pension because of the absence of passports, he did
not know.

BY the way, the pensioner said that this is the first time they are
requested to show their passports. “I came here and learned that
they will not give the pension without documents, whereas up to now
I always got it with my social card”, said Hasmik Araqelyan who had
gone home and brought her passport. The other citizens in the queue
claimed the same.

The Library of Congress
7 Sept 2005

H.R.3361
Title: To prohibit United States assistance to develop or promote any rail
connections or railway-related connections that traverse or connect Baku,
Azerbaijan; Tbilisi, Georgia; and Kars, Turkey, and that specifically
exclude cities in Armenia.
Sponsor: Rep Knollenberg, Joe [MI-9] (introduced 7/20/2005) Cosponsors
(22)
Latest Major Action: 8/24/2005 Referred to House subcommittee. Status:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy,
Trade, and Technology.

COSPONSORS(22), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort:
by date)
Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] – 9/6/2005Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43] – 9/6/2005
Rep Bilirakis, Michael [FL-9] – 7/28/2005Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] –
9/6/2005
Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] – 9/6/2005Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] – 7/26/2005
Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] – 7/26/2005Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] –
7/25/2005
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] – 7/25/2005Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] –
7/25/2005
Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21] – 7/22/2005Rep Menendez, Robert [NJ-13] –
9/6/2005
Rep Neal, Richard E. [MA-2] – 7/27/2005Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6] –
7/20/2005
Rep Radanovich, George [CA-19] – 7/20/2005Rep Rogers, Mike [MI-8] –
7/25/2005
Rep Royce, Edward R. [CA-40] – 9/6/2005Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] – 7/28/2005
Rep Schwarz, John J.H. “Joe” [MI-7] – 7/27/2005Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] –
7/25/2005
Rep Visclosky, Peter J. [IN-1] – 7/29/2005Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] –
9/6/2005

ISSUE WAS NOT DISCUSSED

A1+

| 16:21:40 | 07-09-2005 | Politics |

Today the recurrent session of the Justice bloc took place, during
which the issue of the opposition returning to the Parliament or not
was to be discussed. But it was decided during the session not to
discuss the issue.

“I don’t think the absence of discussion of the issue today will
have disastrous effect for our country”, member of the bloc Viktor
Dallakyan soothed the journalists, “The problem is purely technical,
and I don’t think it is so urgent as to be discussed today. We will
discuss it during our next session”.

Mr. Dallakyan reminded that on Friday the Standing Committee on State
and Legal Affairs will discuss the problem of the absence of opposition
from the Parliament, “and we will not discuss the issue today for
them not to draw conclusions that the reason of our discussion is
their meeting”.

During the session the flaws in the Electoral Code have been
discussed. It was underlined that the flaws are made on purpose so
that to create ground to forge the referendum. Tomorrow the bloc will
render a press conference and make an announcement in this respect.

The bloc also discussed the North Avenue problem and condemned the
cruel attitude of the authorities to the residents of the Buzand
street.

PRESS RELEASE
BIRTHRIGHT ARMENIA
Contact: Linda Yepoyan
September 2, 2005
Phone: 610-642-6633
[email protected]

ARMENIAN LEADERS EMPOWER YOUTH TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HOMELAND THROUGH
BIRTHRIGHT ARMENIA FORUM SERIES

Yerevan, Armenia – In an intensive 12-week Forum Series, Birthright Armenia
has brought together well-known Armenian leaders with young volunteers from
across the Diaspora. A diverse group of speakers including President
Kocharian’s advisor on corruption, Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs,
and a national expert on Nagorno-Karabagh, has inspired diasporan youth, as
future leaders, to participate in Armenia’s development by providing unique
insight into Armenia’s social, cultural, economic, and political issues and
needs.

In order to provide the broadest picture possible, Birthright’s Forum Series
is offered via a two-track system: a hard-track centered around policy,
economics, government, and business, and a soft-track concentrated on
culture, arts, poverty reduction, entertainment, and ecology. The forums go
beyond presenting facts and figures to providing concrete tools that empower
youth to participate in the building of a nation.

The overall response from Birthright Armenia’s participants has been
positive. Lalai Manjikian, an Armenia Volunteer Corps volunteer and
Birthright Armenia participant from Canada, says that the Forums have
changed her experience in Armenia because they have enabled her to see
beyond the typical diasporan point-of-view. `They allow us to have a real
grasp of the social, economic, and environmental problems and issues Armenia
faces so we have an idea of where we can contribute.’

The impressive list of Birthright Armenia’s invited experts includes:
Vardan Oskanyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Gegham Gharibjanyan, Deputy Foreign Minister and Former
Ambassador to Iran
Garegin Chookaszian, Executive Director of Information
Technologies Foundation (ITF)
Manuk Hergnyan, Executive Director of Vem Radio
Bagrat Yesayan, Anti-corruption Advisor to the President of the
Republic of Armenia
Alexander Manasian, Ph.D Philosophic Sciences and Expert on the
Nagorno-Karabagh Conflict
Arsen Kharatian, Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) Open
Forum
Edith Khachatourian, Founder of International Legal Consulting
Shake Karapetyan, Owner, Art Bridge Bookstore and Café
Vardan Hovhannisyan, President/Founder of Bars Media
Dikran Xzmalian, Independent Filmmaker
Avetik Ishkhanian, Head of Helsinki Committee of Armenia
Isabella Sargsyan, Member of Helsinki Citizens Assembly, Youth
Program Coordinator
Mikael Danielian, Executive Director of Helsinki Foundation
Levon Abrahamyan, Ethnographer
Ms. Gayane Shagoyan, Head of Hazarashen NGO
Father Dajad Davidian, Pastor of the Armenian Church Youth
Movement, Diocese of Ararat
Dr. Tom Samuelian, Founder of Arlex International Ltd
Alexander Iskandarian, Head of the Caucasus Media Institute
Tevan Poghosyan, Executive Director of International Center for
Human Development
Pavel Gharakeshishian, President of Makur Yerevan
Mary Eganian, Representative, Armenian Young Lawyers Assoc.
Lara Aharonian, Director, Kanayq Hayots Women’s Resource Center
Edward Balassanian, Executive Director, Cafesjian Museum
Foundation
Raffi Niziblian, Viva Cell Marketing Manager
Alex Sardar, Chief of Party for Counterpart International
Jeffrey Tufenkian, President of Armenian Forests NGO
Susan Klein, Executive Country Director of the Armenia Tree
Project in Yerevan
Jeff Masarjian, Executive Director, Armenia Tree Project
Karine Danielian, President of the Association of Sustainable
Human Development NGO

The speakers have also responded positively to Birthright Armenia’s Forum
Series, as they are excited to share their knowledge with young diasporans,
who may one day return to Armenia and contribute further to its development.
One featured speaker, Garegin Chookaszian, Executive Director of Information
Technologies Foundation (ITF), states `I am sure that this kind of meeting,
with experts from different fields, represents one of the fastest and most
interactive ways of getting information about what is going on in Armenia.’

Susan Klein, Executive Country Director of the Armenia Tree Project, an
environmental NGO, further points out that the Forums provide an excellent
mechanism for public awareness, as volunteers speak about what they have
learned to other volunteers and ex-patriates, as well as Armenians in the
Diaspora. She also points out that not only are the Forums critical to
`understanding what is really happening in this country and the kinds of
people that are working here,’ but also that through the expansive scope of
topics, the volunteers are exposed to ideas and projects that could
potentially `shape what they are doing here.’

Birthright Armenia’s mission is to strengthen ties between the Homeland and
Diasporan youth by affording them an opportunity to be a part of Armenia’s
daily life and to contribute to Armenia’s development through work, study
and volunteer experiences, while developing life-long personal ties and a
renewed sense of Armenian identity. For those interested in learning more
about Birthright Armenia, please visit or email
[email protected].

TURKEY AND ARMENIA SHOULD SIT AT BARGAINING TABLE WITHOUT ESCAPING FROM THEIR PAST

Pan Armenian News
03.09.2005 03:52

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Turkey and Armenia should not put obstacles for
cooperation, but should sit at bargaining table without escaping
from their past and constantly moving forward via dialogue,” stated
Chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia Artur Baghdassaryan
at a meting with experts at US Center for International Strategic
Studies. “There is nothing bad about the neighboring country becoming
a EU member,” the Armenian Speaker answered to a question on Turkey’s
possible accession to the EU. “I see the future of the region in the
enlarged European Union,” Baghdassaryan stated. At that he noted that
“The Armenian Genocide cannot be consigned to oblivion.” The Speaker
again reminded that in its time the Holocaust was not prevented also
due to the international community not recognizing and condemned
the Armenian Genocide. It should be noted that A. Baghdassaryan left
for the US on an official call August 31. The head of the Armenian
Parliament will take part in the world forum of speakers and will
meet with representatives of the US executive, reported IA Regnum.