Author: Kamalian Hagop

TURKEY WITHDRAWS CONSUL FROM GERMANY AFTER CONTROVERSY

Monsters and Critics.com
/europe/news/article_1477168.php/Turkey_withdraws_ consul_from_Germany_after_controversy_#ixzz0FVpnU3 VH&B
May 14 2009

Berlin – Turkey has withdrawn a consul from Germany after controversy
over remarks in private in which he disparaged Germans, legislators
in Berlin were told Thursday.

Over drinks and food, Hakan Kivanc, Turkey’s consul-general in
Dusseldorf, allegedly told a dinner party of fellow Turks that
Germans had Nazi blood and were treating Turks as the Nazis had
treated Jews. German conservatives were furious at the remarks.

A written response by the German Foreign Ministry to federal
legislators said that Turkey had suspended Kivanc from the post on
Monday ‘with immediate effect.’ It was not made public till Thursday.

Christian Democratic supporters of Chancellor Angela Merkel had asked
a question in parliament about what the government was going to do
about Kivanc, who represented Turkey in Dusseldorf, capital of the
state of North Rhine Westphalia.

Two witnesses made affidavits about the remarks at a private lunch
on February 22. Kivanc himself denied the accusations.

The German Foreign Ministry later spoke to senior Ankara officials
about the controversy, which divided Turkish immigrant groups in
Germany. Turkish newspapers charged that he had been smeared by
legislators who oppose Turkey’s desire to join the European Union.

Kivanc, who was meeting non-Muslim minority Turks, was quoted as
saying that if Germans had their way, they would tattoo a ‘T’ on
everyone from Turkey and do to them what the Nazis did to the Jews.

If you cut open a German, Kivanc was alleged to have said, the spilled
blood would be brown, the colour associated with Nazis.

The controversy touched the delicate relations between Christians and
Muslims in Turkey. Christian minorities from Turkey living in Germany,
such as Assyrians and Armenians, as well as minority Alawites and
Kurds, have suggested Turkey does not help them.

WORLEY PARSONS WINS TENDER FOR NEW POWER UNIT CONSTRUCTION IN ARMENIA

ARKA
May 13, 2009

YEREVAN, May 13. /ARKA/. Worley Parsons, a leading global player in
energy and resources markets, has won a tender for construction of
Armenia’s new power unit.

Armenia invited bids for the manager of the new power unit’s
construction on February 23.

According to Vasak Taproshyan, press secretary of the RA State
Procurement Agency, Armenia preferred Worley Parsons to the global
consortium Scientech, as the latter did not provide any warranties
on its price bid.

Taproshyan did not mention the price bid of Worley Parsons, adding
a relevant agreement would be signed to fix the final price in 15 days.

Armenia is likely to spend some $5bln on the 1000MW power unit
construction.

To implement the project, the RA Parliament lifted monopoly on
power units.

The Country is supposed to launch the power unit construction in 2011.

Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Energy Areg Galstyan previously said
the winner of the bid is to make a conceptual design of the power
unit and supervise construction.

Specialists say the Metsamor-based Armenian NPP can operate till 2016.

The NPP started operations in 1976. Only the second power unit of the
plant with a Russian nuclear reactor works. The unit covers about 50%
of Armenia’s energy demand.

By 2008, the Armenia NPP will be under the trust management of the
INTER RAO UES CJSC, subsidiary of RAO UES Russia owned by Russia’s
state atomic agency Rosatom.

LOCAL VIEW: WORK AGAINST GENOCIDE IN OUR TIME

Duluth News Tribune
/120096/
May 13 2009

April was designated Genocide Prevention and Awareness Month. Across
the country and abroad, children, students, professionals and activists
banded together in different-sized groups to mark the anniversaries
of several genocides, including the 94th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, the 66th anniversary of the Holocaust, the 34th anniversary
of the Cambodian Genocide, the 17th anniversary of the genocide in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, the 15th anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide
and, finally, the sixth anniversary of the genesis of the violence
in Darfur.

April was designated Genocide Prevention and Awareness Month. Across
the country and abroad, children, students, professionals and activists
banded together in different-sized groups to mark the anniversaries
of several genocides, including the 94th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, the 66th anniversary of the Holocaust, the 34th anniversary
of the Cambodian Genocide, the 17th anniversary of the genocide in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, the 15th anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide
and, finally, the sixth anniversary of the genesis of the violence
in Darfur.

Locally, the Baeumler-Kaplan Holocaust Commemoration Events at the
University of Minnesota Duluth offered a week of activities that
included the movie, "Camp Darfur," a brownbag. The keynote speaker
was Ellen Kennedy, a professor and the interim director of the
Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. She provided a multimedia
presentation on the situation of Lithuanian Jewry before and after
World War II. Dr. Kennedy’s presentation highlighted how the Nazis
exterminated a wonderfully rich and vibrant Jewish community in
Vilna. She also spoke about the broader legacy of the Holocaust: the
cry that rang out from the international community that "never again"
would genocide be allowed to occur.

The international community, however, has failed to act in Cambodia,
Bosnia, Rwanda and now Darfur. According to Professor Kennedy, we
must work to change this. She spoke of the need to change people from
being passive bystanders to active "upstanders," people who use their
freedoms to speak for those who are threatened with genocide.

The hope for Darfur and other regions riddled with violence rests with
us here. We represent one part of what can be a dynamic, sustainable,
anti-genocide constituency. Elected officials respond to the demands
of their constituency groups. We need to make our elected officials
aware that we are concerned about genocide and mass atrocities around
the world and that we expect them to act.

For too long we have abandoned the victims and survivors of genocide,
and we need to ensure our words have meaning. We should not forget
the lessons of the Holocaust. We should honor the memories of the
victims and survivors of the Holocaust by ensuring it will never happen
again. We need to educate ourselves about the various genocides and
mass atrocities, organize ourselves to become effective advocates
for those who have no voice and attempt to influence politicians.

Elie Wiesel, perhaps the most prominent Holocaust scholar and
survivor, has noted: "The opposite of love is not hate; it’s
indifference." Earlier this year, I was honored to be accepted as a
Carl Wilkens Fellow with Genocide Intervention Network

(genocideintervention.net), a nongovernmental organization that
"empowers individuals and communities with the tools to prevent and
stop genocide." As part of my fellowship, I want to start a local
community organization to fight inaction when it comes to genocide
and mass atrocities across the world. I ask everyone to join me to
target and to reverse indifference.

Please consider participating in a local constituency-building effort
within the greater Duluth-Superior community — within our community.

Haji Dokhanchi of Superior has taught political science since 1992
at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. For the past seven years he
also has co-taught courses on the genocide in Bosnia and has served
as co-facilitator of a War and Peace in Bosnia study-abroad program.

ARFD PROMISES TO BUILD NEW UNDERGROUND ROUTES AND RPA AND BH TO REDUCE NUMBER OF MICROBUSES

Noyan Tapan
May 11, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. "Today Yerevan’s irregular daily
life causes discontent among city’s residents. Public transport’s
non-regulated operation, accumulation of cars and passengers, lack of
parking lots cause serious problems," Yerevan as a Convenient City
department of Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) preelection program
mentioned. RPA taking part in Yerevan Council of Elders elections
records that pedestrian’s free movement is endangered. To make Yerevan
resident’s life more convenient the party plans to expand country’s
bus and trolleybus parks, to improve and furnish public transport
stops, to place stop signs, to gradually reduce mircobuses’ number,
as well as to build new modern underground and land car parking lots.

ARFD’s preelection program also offers innovations on Yerevan
transport. In particular, in order to rehabilitate transport system’s
financial system, to reduce passenger flows and to reduce fares it
is envisaged to work out and to put into operation various tariff
plans, discount systems, transport operation corporative packages, to
introduce "metro, bus and trolleybus" common payment system. Besides,
in case of being elected ARFD promises to build new underground routes
in the South-Western district, Davitashen, Achapniak, near Zoological
Park and in the future also at Zvartnots international airport.

Bargavach Hayastan party’s preelection program like the program of RPA
envisages to increase the number of big-capacity buses and parallel
to it to reduce the number of microbuses. BH also attaches importance
to construction of tunnels and non-street pedestrian crossings.

TODAY THE COUNCIL ON WOMEN’S AFFAIRS BY THE PRIME MINISTER MET AT THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT, CHAIRED BY RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN

Fri day, 8 May 2009

The Council took notice of RA Deputy Minister of Labor and Social
Affairs Filaret Berikyan’s report on the activities carried out under
the national program on improvement of women’s status and social
standing in the Republic of Armenia in 2004-2010.

The speaker noted that the efforts made in 2008 were basically aimed
at improving legislation on equality between men and women, providing
social security, health care, educational and cultural facilities
for women, as well as preventing incidences of family violence. Then
Mr. Berikyan described those actions carried out by the ministries
of labor and social affairs, health care, education and science,
culture, nature protection, agriculture, economy, foreign affairs,
the RA Police, the Town Hall of Yerevan and marz administrations.

Those present stressed the need for updating the program, establishing
effective control mechanisms and concentrating on the moral and
cultural training of the rising generation.

The Prime Minister instructed the Council Secretary to draft a
government decree on application of oversight mechanisms under the
national program on improvement of women’s status and social standing
in the Republic of Armenia in 2004-2010.

The meeting decided t o amend the council by-laws stipulating that it
shall exercise a monitoring function over program implementation. The
Prime Minister instructed to summarize the comments and recommendations
made during the discussion and submit the revised version of by-laws
to the next meeting for approval.

The Council resolved to set up 3 working groups to address questions
relating to education, science and culture, welfare and health
care, cooperation with the executive authority and non-governmental
organizations.

It has been decided to finalize the composition of the working groups
and submit for approval at the next meeting.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs was told to report back the
actions carried out in compliance with the recommendations concerning
Armenia, stated in the United Nations convention report on elimination
of all forms of female discrimination.

WHY WILL THE U.S. STOP HELPING KARABAKH?

17:47:38 – 08/05/2009
LRAGIR.AM

On May 8, the regional office head of the Armenian Assembly for
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, Arpi Vardanyan stated that the U.S. is
going to reduce the financial assistance to Armenia from 48 million
dollars to 30 million. Arpi Vardanyan stated also that the U.S. is
going to stop the annual financial assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh next
year. The U.S. government allocates humanitarian assistance to
Karabakh every year. For example, last year, it allocated 8 million
dollars to Karabakh. Besides, Arpi Vardanyan expressed her
dissatisfaction about the fact that the U.S. government is going to
allocate 5 million dollars of military assistance to Azerbaijan, and 4
million to Armenia.

RA PRESIDENT HAS A NUMBER OF BILATERAL MEETINGS WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF EASTERN PARTNERSHIP SUMMIT

Noyan Tapan
May 8, 2009

PRAGUE, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the Eastern
Partnership Summit held in Prague, on May 7, RA President Serzh
Sargsyan had bilateral meetings with French Prime Minister Francois
Fillon, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, European Commissioner
for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita
Ferrero-Waldner, as well as Great Britain’s Foreign Minister David
Miliband. Noyan Tapan was informed about it by the RA President’s
Press Office.

During the meeting with the French Prime Minister the interlocutors
expressed satisfaction that the Armenian-French friendly relations
develop successfully in economic, as well as humanitarian and other
spheres. The RA President expressed confidence that new cooperation
initiatives in economic sphere, French Orange company’s entrance to the
telecommunication sphere will give a new quality to Armenian-French
economic partnership. At the meeting both sides expressed readiness
to deepen Armenian-French friendship.

At French Prime Minister’s request S. Sargsyan presented the process
of Armenian-Turkish political dialogue and negotiations process
of Nagorno Karabakh peaceful settlement. Touching upon the Nagorno
Karabakh settlement process, he said that problem’s pivotal issue is
the issue of Nagorno Karabakh status, and the negotiations process
proceeding within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group and the
main principles of settlement being at the negotiations table give a
possibility to move forward. S. Sargsyan emphasized that Armenia is
ready for a conflict settlement that will lead to long-term peace. The
French Prime Minister, in his turn, expressed readiness to support
the Nagorno Karabakh peaceful settlement process. F. Fillon expressed
support to the Armenian-Turkish political dialogue and efforts aimed
at normalizing the relations between the two countries.

During the meeting the interlocutors also touched upon the world
economic crisis impact on the two countries’ economies, as well
as steps undertaken in the direction of resisting the crisis and
tendencies recorded in world economy.

During the meeting with Great Britain’s Foreign Minister the
interlocutors attached importance to further development of
cooperation between Armenia and Great Britain in both bilateral and
many-sided formats and fulfillment of new initiatives. S. Sargsyan
and David Miliband exchanged thoughts over issues regarding
provision of security, peace, and stability in the South Caucasian
region. D. Miliband said that Great Britain supports peaceful
settlement of all problems and strengthening of peace in the South
Caucasian region.

During the meetings with the Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and
European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood
Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner within the framework of the Eastern
Partnership Summit the latters welcomed efforts aimed at normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations and expressed readiness to support that
process as far as possible.

ARMENIA STANDS READY TO SUPPORT LONG-TERM PEACE IN KARABAKH: PRESIDENT

ARKA
May 8, 2009

YEREVAN, May 8. /ARKA/. Armenia stands ready to support a long-term
peace resolution to the Karabakh conflict, RA President Serzh Sargsyan
said Thursday during the Prague meeting with Prime Minister of France
Francois Fillon.

Sargsyan introduced the French premier to the current thaw in
Armenian-Turkish relations and ongoing peace talks over the Karabakh
conflict. The Armenian president stressed that Karabakh’s status is a
key issue, hailing the OSCE Minsk Group’s principles in the Karabakh
conflict settlement. "Armenia is ready to support a solution that
can ensure long-term peace," he added.

The French prime minister hailed Armenia-Turkey dialogue and vowed
staunch support to the Karabakh conflict settlement. Sargsyan and
Fillon emphasized the role of friendly relations between Armenia
and France. The Armenian president stressed that the entry of the
French operator France Telecom into Armenia’s market would bolster
Armenia-France cooperation.

Sargsyan and Fillon alos touched upon the impact of the global
financial recession and the combined efforts to tackle the
crisis.

EASTERN PARTNERSHIP TO HELP ARMENIAN BECOME ASSOCIATE MEMBER

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.05.2009 18:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Our political expectation from Eastern Partnership
is to reach associate membership agreement, a short step from EU
membership. But as realists, we do realize that we are not yet ready
to join EU, and EU is not yet ready to admit us," RA Deputy Foreign
Minister Karine Kazinyan told a news conference today. Mrs. Kazinyan
said that "Over the past 10 years, we have been seeking cooperation
with the Union and its member states."

"Eastern Partnership will enable us to establish political dialogue
with other counties, develop economy and become a free trade zone. It’s
a great advantage although much depends on each country’s progress. If
they find us reliable partners, all questions will be solved much
more easily," she said.

Eastern Partnership summit is due for May 7 in Prague. Armenia will
be represented in person of President Serzh Sargsyan.

THE BITTER TRUTH . . . AND OUR BRIGHT FUTURE
ARAM HAMPARIAN

42018_5/4/2009_1
Friday, May 1, 2009

The bitter disappointment of seeing President Obama break his pledge is
a sad reminder that putting America on the side of truth and justice
will take more than the facts, more than morality, even more than
the promises of those who have sought our trust and our votes.

No. I wish it were that easy.

Aligning U.S. policy with American values will take power, political
power, and the only way we can generate the hard-hitting impact we’ll
need to push back against the foreign and domestic forces aligned
against a righteous policy on the Armenian Genocide (one worthy of
the United States) is to work together. To pull together as a team.

A victory for our community, will be a win for America, and a step
toward a safer world.

In a very powerful sense, we are today, as Armenian Americans, the
conscience of America on genocide, the community that – through the
force of our will – is at the cutting edge of lifting the US response
to genocide above the level of politics and foreign policy, to where
our response belongs, at the level of our values and common humanity.

This is hard work, but we’re making progress. Just look at the
unprecedented major media coverage of the Armenian Genocide this
April 24th – much of it sharply critical of the President’s foresaken
pledge, all of it respectful of the electoral muscle of the Armenian
American community.

Which brings me to the reason for my article.

Organizing is clearly the key to our strength. I could offer a long
explanation as to why, but one of my favorite quotes really spells
it out better than I ever could:

"At the banquet table of nature, there are no reserved seats. You
get what you can take, and you keep what you can hold. If you
can’t take anything, you won’t get anything, and if you can’t
hold anything, you won’t keep anything. And you can’t take anything
without organization." – A. Philip Randolph He really understood that
organizing, with all its challenges and frustrations, represents the
best hope for change, for progress, for a better future.

In just a few weeks, you will have a chance to radically elevate the
level of organizing in the Armenian American community. The ANCA
Endowment Fund will be holding a national Telethon to raise funds
to strengthen our voice, advance our values, and truly realize our
vision for a just and secure future.

In the best of the American and Armenian traditions, the ANCA Endowment
Fund truly represents the Armenian American community – in all our
diversity and our unity – organized, mobilized and working together
as a team.

You’ll be hearing more about the Telethon in the coming days, but I
wanted you to hear from me personally about how vital it is that you
spread the word to family and friends.