Author: Hovhannisian John

NAIRI QUARTET FIRST CONCERT

Tert.am
19.04.10

On April 22 Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory will host a concert by
a newly-formed Armenian string quartet called Nairi: first violin –
Tigran Matevosyan, second violin – Lusine Aghababyan, alt – Armen
Torosyan, violoncello – Levon Arakelyan, and general producer –
Arman Tsaturyan.

The young musicians will perform peaces from Joseph Hayden, Anton
Dvorak, Tigran Mansuryan, as well as works by less known composers.

The quartet, four graduates of the Yerevan Komitas Conservatory,
started to perform under the name Nairi just recently, though they
had been performing together before too and have a wide experience
in that sphere.

Recently they performed with Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi, an Italian
accordion player, and Luka Lucini, an Italian guitar player, in
Armenia. Nairi has participated also in a lot of festivals and
competitions. The last one took place in Georgia.

CHESS GAME BETWEEN YEREVAN AND ANKARA STARTED: HURRIYET

Tert.am
19.04.10

A chess game has started between Yerevan and Ankara after Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan held a recent meeting in Washington in the framework of the
World Nuclear Security Summit on April 12-13, writes local Turkish
daily Hurriyet, referring to Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s
visit today to Baku.

Turkish foreign minster is expected to elaborate on the meetings
Armenian, Turkish and American leaders and other high-ranking officials
held in Washington during the summit.

"As soon as Ahmet Davutoglu announced about his visit to Azerbaijan,
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan decided to leave for Moscow,"
writes the newspaper, adding that Sargsyan’s decision to go to Moscow
is directly related to Davutoglu’s visit to Baku.

"The main objective of Davutoglu’s visit is to try and dispel
impressions that some tricks are being played behind Azerbaijan,"
writes Hurriyet, adding that Davutoglu is set to ensure Azerbaijan’s
President Ilham Aliyev that Ankara has not changed its stance over
the opening of Armenian-Turkish border.

Chooljian Earns National Acclaim in Wrestling

Armenian Weekly
Sat, Apr 17 2010

By: Tom Vartabedian

Plaistow, N.H. – If Barry Chooljian isn’t the top high school wrestling
coach in America, then he’s certainly creating a strong case for
himself.

Barry Chooljian talks strategy with half-Armenian Eric Bradley, a
two-time All-American at Penn State after leaving Timberlane Regional
High School.
In his 24 years at Timberlane Regional High School, he has fashioned a
very respectable mark of 402-41-5, led his Owls to a record 8 New
England championships, no fewer than 18 New Hampshire divisional state
titles, and 7 Meet of Champions (All-State) crowns.

Over the duration, he’s never experienced a losing season.

It was only fitting that he be selected National Coach of the Year by
two organizations – both unanimous picks.

Just before Christmas, Chooljian was selected as the National High
School Coaching Association’s Wrestling Coach of the Year. A month
later, he was accorded similar honors by the National Federation High
School Coaches Association.

If that didn’t suffice, add the National Wrestling Coaches Association
Regional Coach of the Year and the fact that he was USA Wrestling’s
New Hampshire Man of the Year.

Chooljian has won so many honors, his school and home would qualify
for an awards distributorship.

`I’m really quite humbled by it all,’ says Chooljian, a proud Armenian
American who takes no exception to his heritage. `National recognition
is not something I ever envisioned happening. I coach because I love
working with kids. All the success we’ve had is due to their hard work
and dedication.’

Much of it is the good fortune of working inside a school that has
been extremely supportive of its wrestling program. Of all the major
sports like football and basketball, it’s wrestling that traditionally
rises to the surface, thanks to Chooljian. He packs the stands like an
NCAA play-off game.

Barry Chooljian congratulates a young wrestler – a familiar gesture en
route to a 402-41-5 record over 24 years as head coach of Timberlane
Regional High School.
`This is good for the kids and good for the program,’ he adds. `That’s
what I care about the most.’

It’s so good, Timberlane often jets forth with both an `A’ and `B’
squad. Each complements the other when it comes to high-level
competition. A middle school feeder system is unlike most districts.
In short, prospects come to Timberlane anxious to wrestle and land
that elusive college scholarship.

Among them was Eric Bradley, one of three brothers enamored by the
sport. Chooljian considers the half-Armenian (Fundeklian on his
mother’s side) the greatest he’s ever handled over his span. Bradley
landed a scholarship to Penn State, proceeded to win two Big Ten
titles and was a two-time All-American. Today, he’s in Las Vegas,
working toward a professional ring career.

`For me, being Armenian has really made a big impact on who I am as a
person,’ Chooljian points out. `I have my Dad to thank for all that.
My athletes understand well that the team comes first, not the
individual. You don’t cut corners. Hard, sustained effort without
making excuses gives you the best chance to succeed. We challenge the
athletes and teach them how to overcome adversity through intense
work.’

This past season could very well have been his best. The Owls went
23-1, barely losing to Blair Academy, N.J. – the Number 1 ranked team in
the country – in a Pennsylvania tournament. Prior to the title match,
Chooljian’s chargers defeated four other Pennsylvania schools. Another
invitational in New York produced two national champions.

Barry Chooljian has coached wrestling since 1986 at Timberlane
Regional High School, has won eight New England championships,
runner-up four other times, and has been named National Coach of the
Year by two organizations.
`Being from a small community and having our success supported in such
a positive way says a lot,’ Chooljian brought out. `Coaching takes a
tremendous amount of time and energy. I never want to feel the pain of
regret for not doing everything I can for my athletes.’

In his case, success breeds success. Chooljian graduated from
Timberlane in 1977 as a New Hampshire state champion. He attended the
University of Rhode Island and helped the Division 1 Rams to the New
England title as a scrappy 150-pounder.

`Competing at the NCAAs with my Dad watching is still one of my most
memorable experiences as an athlete,’ Chooljian admits. `He’s always
been there for me.’

After college, Chooljian returned home and fell into coaching when he
visited a nephew’s practice at Timberlane and helped him train one
day. The school invited him to return the following year and help
coach. Three years later (1987), Chooljian won his first state crown
and it’s been a steady stream ever since.

`Two decades later, I still look forward to coaching every day,’ he
says. `I believe in helping young men with their growth and
development. Wrestling provides me with a great avenue for that. It’s
what still keeps me in coaching.’

With the thousands that have filtered through his program, many
continue to reciprocate, whether through college or community
endeavors. Several have come to assist or gone elsewhere to carve
their own niche in the sport. Nearly all have become model citizens.

Timberlane principal Don Woodworth, a former coach, couldn’t
compliment his mentor enough for the acclaim he’s brought to the
school and district.

`Barry is a consummate professional and is on top of everything,’ said
Woodworth. `Soup to nuts, he’s 100 percent invested in each kid both
on and off the mat. He’s organized a program that speaks for itself.
He shows kids where they are, what they can accomplish and how to get
there. They come out of it as better human beings.’

Chooljian lives in nearby Hampstead with his wife Carrie. A daughter
Lauren is a senior at St. Anselm’s College. Another daughter Cara is a
freshman at East Carolina University. The sport never dilutes his
family interests.

As to the future, Chooljian has no plans to retire, not as long as the
spirit keeps prevailing. In his spare time, he enjoys a good workout
and a round of golf.

`It only gets better with time,’ he quips. `Every day represents a new
challenge for me – and that’s the way I like it.’

***

The Chooljian Record
Years Coaching: 1986-present
School: Timberlane Regional High School, Plaistow, N.H.
Record: 402-41-5
NH Divisional State Titles: 18 (state record), including 11 straight
(state record)
NH Runner-Up: 3
Meet of Championships (All-States): 7 straight titles
New England Championships: 8 (record)
New England Runner-Up: 4
National Coach of the Year: By two organizations
Miscellaneous: Has coached five NHSCA Senior All-Americans including
one national champion

Obama’s April 24 address will not change anything
In fact, Ankara is reluctant to deal with a country whose people were
brutally slaughtered 95 years ago.

In world politics a situation can develop in two possible ways: either
badly or too badly. Moreover, these variants can be applied both to
the strong side and to the weak side, given the fact that yesterday’s
weakness is today’s power and vice versa. In terms of the `Armenian
question’ this can be interpreted in the following way: if Barack
Obama dares to utter the word `genocide’ it will be bad for the
Armenians, and if he doesn’t – it will be too bad.

April 16, 2010
PanARMENIAN.Net –

If not to take into account many factors pro et contra, then by
universal criteria the U.S. must say what is long known to everyone.
The most interesting thing is that this term will change nothing in
the world, and even in Turkey itself – but America, or rather the
previous administration, allowed Ankara to do whatever she likes, such
as to dictate rules of treating the Armenians. The trouble is that
Obama now has to clear up the mess made by the Bush policy in the
Middle East and Asia. And he goes from one extreme to another: he
refuses to support Israel and wants to `make friends’ with Muslim
countries. By the way, no conflict unleashed by the Bush
administration has yet been settled. In short, heavy is the legacy of
Obama, not to mention the crisis. And at this difficult time,
Armenians are demanding that the U.S. President call the events of
1915 a `genocide’…

As for Ankara, she believes that she makes accurate steps, although in
fact it is not so. The truth is that despite all the declarations of
the Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister of Turkey about the desire
to `normalize relations and live next to the rich and prosperous
Armenia’ they remain mere words. In fact, Ankara is reluctant to deal
with a country whose people were brutally slaughtered 95 years ago.
When last year on April 23 the Armenian people were acquainted with
the text of the Armenian-Turkish agreement that took shape in the
Protocols of August 31, signed in Zurich on October 10, majority of
the nation took it as a mockery and insult, which, in essence, was
truly so. But now, almost a year later, we are thinking about what
`surprise’ we should be waiting for from the world powers that are
interested in restraint of Turkey and Azerbaijan and in full
reorientation of Armenia to the West. It is the `too bad’ that may
happen if Obama anyway utters the word `genocide’. However, there is
little hope that the U.S. president would risk to say what the
Armenian-American community expects from him, but who knows what
America may need in the region in a week? If the White House is to
decide that Turkey is a vital strategic ally and it is inappropriate
to quarrel with her now, then everything is clear. And if not –
Armenia will have to prepare for a war with Azerbaijan.

But there is still time to consider what the Armenian nation should be
demanding – recognition of something already well-known to the whole
world, or opening of the archives and claim for the tribunal. But who
should be taken to court? Perhaps the State of Turkey? No, because the
present Turkey is not responsible for the deeds of the Ottoman Empire,
let alone for the Young Turks. Incidentally, the latter have already
been tried in the military court in 1919 and sentenced to death `for
drawing Turkey in the World War II and destructing the Armenian
people.’

There is almost nothing in the Ottoman archives – most of the
documents were destroyed in 1918 and whatever was saved was sent to
the Library of Congress thanks to the personal merit of Ambassador
Henry Morgenthau. The same is true about the documents kept to a
European archives.

But the most unpleasant point which we have repeatedly been discussing
is that the tragedy of the nation has become the only trump card in
almost a century-old disagreement with the world.

Karine Ter-Sahakyan / PanARMENIAN News

GOD SAVE AMERICA

Times.am
15 April, 2010, 5:56 pm

Serge Sargsyan finished his speech at Woodrow Wilson’s grave in
Washington with the words "God save America, God save Armenia".

Indeed, God save America. This country has been supporting Armenia
for 20 years, gives money in different ways, implements major
programs, creates various infrastructures and structures. God
save America because during the war in Karabakh America prevented
Turkish offensive on Armenia. And now that Russia wanted to reach
an express settlement of the Karabakh issue and the opening of
the Armenian-Turkish border automatically and in Turkey’s favor,
the Americans seized the initiative and shifted these problems to
another arena, helping the Armenians avoid this trap.

God save America because it did not allow large-scale Turkish
expansion, linking of the Armenian-Turkish and Karabakh issues, as well
as divided Turkey and Azerbaijan and assigned Russia to Azerbaijan’s
"guardianship". This is what concerns Armenia.

What concerns Serge Sargsyan, his Washington visit was also
"effective". It allowed Serge Sargsyan to hold on to power. The point
is that this government is only sustained by external support.

Evidence to this is when the Armenian-Turkish process ran into a
deadlock, hard though the Armenian National Congress and the Armenian
mass media tried to keep the Karabakh issue and the Turkish and
Azerbaijani topic "hot", a serious fuss began in Armenia. So serious
that Kocharyan was about to come to power. And America "saved". The
U.S. co-chair of the Minsk Group Bradtke met Robert Kocharyan in
Yerevan, after which the latter made his "scandalous" statement,
which appeared to be against Levon Ter-Petrosyan, but in reality it
was on his retreat.

After the Obama-Sargsyan meeting the White House made a statement
containing an interesting phrase that the United States commended Serge
Sargsyan’s efforts to support the Armenian democracy. In diplomatic
terms, Serge Sargsyan is required to hold reforms of democratic
institutions in return for support.

The changes are already clear to everyone. Almost all the international
institutions dealing with Armenia have announced about them, including
the United States. Everyone in the world and in Armenia understands
that with the current political and economic system in Armenia
the country will be simply devoured by Turkey in case the border
is opened. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to change the
system fundamentally, in other words, to take the path for building
a competitive state.

We are far from the thought that America does it out of affection.

Simply Armenia is going to have an important, if not core role in the
new world order, and in order to ensure this role it must be strong
and competitive.

Of course, in Armenia and in the world nobody has the illusion that
Serge Sargsyan will be able to solve these problems, he is one of the
representatives of this system. However, nobody cares about it. The
problem of Armenia must be solved, it will be done either through an
adequate awareness of the situation or through shock and loss. In the
world nobody likes to accumulate, nobody has the time and fancy for it.

God save America. Unlike his predecessor, Serge Sargsyan goes to church
often. And perhaps it is worth noting that God enables everyone,
people, nations, to fulfill their dream. And the dream is fulfilled
in the way people and nations dream.

POSITIVE TRENDS OBSERVED IN PROCESS OF GOVERNMENT PURCHASES IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 15, 2010 – 14:43 AMT 09:43 GMT

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said that the volumes of
state purchases from one person reduced by 13 times or 92% during
the first quarter of 2010 as compared with the same period of 2009.

"These are measure taken by the Ministry of Finance, which have
yielded positve results, as the Ministry was persistent in this issue,
specifically due to changes in the schedule of implementation of
government purchases," the Prime Minister said.

Mr. Sargsyan also noted that the volumes of government purchases from
one person totaled AMD36 billion in 2009, from which state purchases at
the amount of 16 billion were implemented during the first quarter,
while this figure amounted to 1.3 billion during the same period
of 2010.

GRANDMASTER SERGEY MOVSISIAN WINS GERMANY’S CHAMPION TITLE

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 14, 2010 – 14:33 AMT 09:33 GMT

Baden-Baden chess club member, grandmaster Sergey Movsisian (Slovakia)
won Germany’s champion title.

As a part of St. Petersburg chess team, he won silver in Russia’s
club championship. Championship gold went to Chess Moscow-64 team.

Armenian grandmaster Tigran Gharamian won gold at an international
tournament in France, scoring 7 points out of 9. The tournament hosted
142 participants.

TURKISH PREMIER TO MEET WITH ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

Anadolu Agency
April 12 2010
Turkey

ANKARA (A.A) -Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet
with President Serzh Sargsian of Armenia on Monday on the sidelines
of the nuclear security summit in the United States.

The meeting will take place at the Washington Convention Centre.

Earlier, Prime Minister Erdogan sent Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu to Yerevan, Armenia as his special
envoy.

During Sinirlioglu’s talks with Armenian authorities, the parties
agreed that Prime Minister Erdogan and President Sargsian would
meet on the sidelines of the nuclear security summit in Washington,
D.C. on April 12.

Turkey and Armenia signed protocols on October 10, 2009 to normalize
their bilateral ties and establish diplomatic relations.

DM SEYRAN OHANYAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING OF CIS DEFENSE MINISTERS IN MOSCOW

armradio.am
13.04.2010 11:51

The delegation headed by Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan will
leave for Moscow on April 14 to participate in the recurrent sitting
of the Council of Defense Ministers of CIS participating states.

A number of documents on military cooperation will be discussed and
signed during the meeting.

Minister Ohanyan is expected to have bilateral meetings with the
Defense Minister of Russia Anatoly Serdyukov, the Defense Minister
of the Republic of Belarus, Lieutenant General Yuri Zhadobin.

‘ARMENIA IS MY HOMELAND AND ARMENIAN – MY MOTHER LANGUAGE’: MINSK

Tert.am
12.04.10

On April 11, on the occasion of the Day of Beauty and Motherhood, the
Armenian Sunday school in Minsk organized a literary-musical evening
titled "Armenia is My Homeland, and Armenian is My Mother Language,"
according to a release issued by RA Ministry of Culture.

Another pleasant surprise for the Armenian students in Minsk has
been the meeting with the Armenian weightlifters in Minsk who were
participating in the European Weightlifting Championship 2010.

The event was attended by Minsk-based Armenians, representatives of
Armenia’s embassy in Belarus and community bodies and others.

The students of the Armenian school performed Armenian folk songs,
dances and recited poems dedicated to their the homeland and mothers.