Author: Nahapetian Lilit

ICC TO CONSIDER CHARGES AGAINST SUDANESE PRESIDENT ON FEB. 3

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.01.2010 19:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The
Hague said on Thursday it would decide on Feb. 3 on whether Sudanese
President Omar Hassan al-Bashir should be charged with genocide,
Reuters reports.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for al-Bashir in March 2009 for
war crimes in Darfur, but held back on issuing an arrest warrant on
charges of genocide.

The International Criminal Court is a permanenttribunal to prosecute
individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the
crime of aggression (although it cannot currently exercise jurisdiction
over the crime of aggression). The court came into being on 1 July 2002
– the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the International
Criminal Court, entered into force – and it can only prosecute crimes
committed on or after that date. The official seat of the court is
in The Hague, Netherlands, but its proceedings may take place anywhere.

As of October 2009, 110 states are members of the Court, and a further
38 countries have signed but not ratified the Rome Statute. However,
a number of states, including China, India, Russia and the United
States, are critical of the court and have not joined.

The ICC can generally exercise only in cases where the accused is
a national of a state party, the alleged crime took place on the
territory of a state party, or a situation is referred to the court
by the United Nations Security Council. The court is designed to
complement existing national judicial systems: it can exercise its
jurisdiction only when national courts are unwilling or unable to
investigate or prosecute such crimes. Primary responsibility to
investigate and punish crimes is therefore left to individual states.

To date, the court has opened investigations into four situations:
Northern Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central
African Republic and Darfur. The court has indicted fourteen people;
seven of whom remain fugitives, two have died (or are believed to
have died), four are in custody, and one is appearing voluntarily
before the court.

The ICC’s first trial, of Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga,
began on 26 January 2009. On 24 November 2009 the second trial
started, against Congolese militia leaders Germain Katanga and Mathieu
Ngudjolo Chui.

PRESS RELEASE
Analysis Research and Planning for Armenia (ARPA) Foundation
P.O.Box 33603, Granada Hills, CA 91394
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 818-586-9660

Organization: ARPA Institute
Venue: Merdinain Armenian Evangelical School in Sherman Oaks
Event: Lecture -Free to the public
Date/Time: February 25, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Address: 13330 Riverside Dr. Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Abstract This talk will outline the scope of creative contributions to
the Armenian culture by the colorful gusan/ashughs and their vocal –
instrumental performances; the intuitive improvisations on traditional
folk songs of the Armenian peasants in the context of every day
rituals; the rich yield of sacred music by monastic hymn composers of
medieval centuries, and the daring steps taken by contemporary
composers in the westernization process of the nation’s
music. Reciprocity between these diverse styles will be featured with
musical examples, and the role of the general public in the Armenian
musical culture will also be underlined.
Speaker: Lucina Agbabian Hubbard is a frequent presenter of talks at
seminars and workshops on a wide range of topics related to the
Armenian musical culture. She is adjunct instructor at USC Thornton
School of Music, presently in her twentieth year of teaching the
following full semester courses: `Introduction to Armenian Music’ and
`Armenian Musical Culture’. Ms. Agbabian was lecturer in the
Ethnomusicology Department at UCLA, in the Teachers’ Training Program
at La Verne University, singer and artistic director in concerts of
Armenian music in diverse venues in North America. Her fieldwork and
archival research was conducted at the Mkhitarist Monastic Libraries
of Venice and Vienna, in State and private libraries of Armenia, as
well as at the Yerevan Komitas Conservtory of Music under the
scholarly direction of professors Robert Atayan, Nigoghos Tahmizian
and Margaret Proudyan.

UN ARMENIA ORGANIZES CHARITY CONCERT TO ASSIST HAITI

Tert.am
14:41 ~U 28.01.10

On January 29, at 12 pm, a charity concert and marketplace will take
place at UN Conference Hall in central Yerevan.

The event, organized by the Armenian UN Association under the high
auspices of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA)
and with the assistance of the UN Armenia House, aims to raise funds
to support earthquake relief in Haiti.

According to a press release issued by the United Nations Armenia
Office, all of the money raised through the WFUNA will be addressed
to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (UNCERF) and directed toward
relief in Haiti.

THE YOUTH IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE STATE

; p=0&id=1150&y=2010&m=01&d=28
26.01 .10

On the 25th of January, 2010 the RA Minister of Defence Seyran Ohanyan
in the Yerevan State University met the professors, lecturers and
students of higher educational institutions. Greeting the participants
of the event the Minister briefly talked about the history of the
creation of the RA Armed Forces and the stages of its development.

Seyran Ohanyan underlined that the army was formed in wartime and that
in May, 1994 after the armistice, a new quality army-building process
began. As a result of this now we have an efficient and regular army –
the guarantee of peace for the people of Armenia.

Showing the importance of the youth, in his speech Seyran Ohanyan
talked about strengthening the army-student linkage, about the issues
of the military-patriotic education of the youth and about the work
done and planned to be done for this purpose.

The Minister also touched upon the reforms executed in the National
Army and other important issues of the army life. Then Seyran Ohanyan
answered the questions that interested those present, which mostly
referred to the process of settling the NKR conflict, the possibility
of restarting the war, the issue of recruiting all the 18 years old
RA male citizens and other matters. The Minister of Defence gave
comprehensive and satisfying answers.

At the end of the meeting a number of university representatives were
awarded with departmental medals, certificates and valuable gifts
for military-patriotic education, for their input in strengthening
the army-student linkage and in the light of the 18th anniversary of
the Army.

IRAN-ARMENIA RAILWAY ISSUE DISCUSSED

Lragir.am
27/01/10

On January 27, in Yerevan, the second trilateral meeting, Armenia,
Iran, Russia, on the construction of the Iran-Armenia railway took
place.

The Armenian side presented the first deputy of the Armenian minister
of transport and communications Hrant Beglaryan, Russia – head of the
Russian transport department on railway transport state policy Sergey
Tugarinov, other representatives of the "Russian Railways" company,
and from the Iranian side – deputy minister of the Iranian road and
transport communication Majid Asadi and other officials.

In the course of the meeting, the sides discussed already implemented
works. H. Beglaryan noted that the Austrian ilF Company has already
carried out the primary technical-economic study of the railway
construction. Dwelling on the financing, Beglaryan said negotiations
are underway with the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.

According to M. Asadi, in case of the construction of the railway,
the Iranian side is ready to construct the Iranian part with its means.

The Russian representative Tugarinov dwelt on the possibilities for
transition of the railway as well as its integration into the existing
transport corridors, including the North-South.

The next meeting of the working group will take place after the end
of the technical-economic grounding of works, in Yerevan. The press
service of the RA ministry of transport and communication reports.

MEDIA RELEASE

Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR)
Press Office
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849

email: [email protected]
web:
blog: farusa.wordpress.com

Fund for Armenian Relief celebrates its 20th anniversary, honors one
of its Founders, and raises close to $1 Million

Some 450 people gathered at Cipriani Wall Street in downtown Manhattan
on January 15 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Fund for Armenian
Relief (FAR) ‘ an organization that has provided strength and
opportunity to the Armenian people ‘ and pay tribute to a true
humanitarian and co-founder of FAR, Dr. Edgar M. Housepian.

Many guests traveled hundreds of miles to attend the regal gala, which
helped to raise close to $1 million to support FAR operations.
His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, presided over the event and addressed attendees.
Other notable speakers included Tribute Committee Chair Dr. Tavit
Najarian; Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern) and President of FAR Archbishop Khajag Barsamian; Chair of
FAR’s Board of Directors Mr. Randy Sapah-Gulian; President Emeritus of
Boston University and FAR Board member Dr. Aram Chobanian; and
Dr. Housepian’s son Dr. David Hovsepian.
President Barack Obama sent a congratulatory letter on the occasion of
the 20th Anniversary of the Fund for Armenian Relief.

Mr. Tatoul Markarian, Armenia’s Ambassador to the U.S., presented to
Dr. Housepian the Mkhitar Heratzi Medal, an honor from the President
of Armenia Serge Sargsyan, in recognition of Dr. Housepian’s work in
improving medical care and benefiting the Armenian people at
large. FAR’s Board of Directors bestowed an award in recognition of
Dr. Housepian’s outstanding leadership and extraordinary contribution
to the wellbeing of the Armenian people. Dr. Housepian also received
the highest honor in the Armenian Church, the St. Gregory The
Illuminator medal and encyclical, presented to him by His Holiness
Karekin II.

An esteemed neurosurgeon from Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center,
Dr. Edgar Housepian carried on an amazing career until his retirement
in 1997. When the 1988 earthquake in Armenia nearly destroyed the
cities of Gyumri and Spitak, Dr. Housepian mobilized an all-out relief
effort. Together with the late prominent builder and philanthropist,
FAR Chairman Emeritus (1923-2009) Kevork Hovnanian and then-Primate
Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, he gathered emergency supplies and flew
to Armenia to witness the impact of the disaster firsthand.

With the desire to do more for their homeland, the three helped to lay
the foundation for the Fund for Armenian Relief, which was originally
called the Diocesan Fund for Armenian Relief (DFAR). In 1990, DFAR was
reorganized as an independent NGO, the Fund for Armenian Relief with
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian as the President of the organization.

Dr. Housepian continues to serve as the vice chair of FAR’s Board of
Directors and the chair of FAR’s medical committee. He also carries on
humanitarian work as the Special Advisor for International Relations
at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.

Dr. Housepian’s passion for medical education and his dedication to
FAR helped cement several crucial FAR medical programs, which are
leading Armenia on the path to become an international center for
medical education and research.

Randy Sapah-Gulian, Chair of FAR’s Board of Directors, called
Dr. Housepian a man of wisdom and a great humanitarian. He recalled
the horrible day in 1988 when the terrible earthquake hit Armenia.

`Back then it was all about the Fund for Armenian Relief providing the
necessities of life for Armenians ‘ housing, transportation,
infrastructure ‘ and they created the Fund for Armenian Relief because
they believed they needed an organization to continue to do the
important things that Armenia needed,’ he said. `FAR has invested $280
million in programs and projects for Armenia. While we always provide
for those that need assistance for Armenia, from an infrastructure
perspective the focus has changed to provide for the things that will
help Armenians really help themselves.’

Today, FAR also operates programs that provide Armenians with the
tools, knowledge, and resources to take ownership of their future. On
a daily basis, FAR touches the lives of thousands of Armenians through
programs that provide food and medical care to the elderly; care and
guidance to children at-risk; education and support to students,
doctors, and academics; and reconstruction of roads, hospitals, and
water pipelines to improve the nation’s infrastructure.

Mr. Sapah-Gulian told the stories of some FAR program beneficiaries,
including a young girl who obtained an education because of FAR; an
elderly man who lives in FAR’s senior citizen home; and two young
children who are no longer living with abusive parents because of the
FAR Homeless Children Center.

`These people and thousands of others have been helped because of
Dr. Housepian,’ Mr. Sapah-Gulian said.

FAR strives not only to help people in need, but also those with
talent who lack the opportunity to improve their lives.By creating
educational and employment opportunities, FAR helps build a social
ethos of trust essential for a productive society.

FAR also tries to instill the culture of volunteerism in the young
generation of Armenians, explaining that giving back to others must
become an essential component of their lives. Dr. Housepian has set
such an example through his tireless work for Armenia.

`If anyone could ever decide to be an example of goodwill towards
mankind it would be Dr. Edgar Housepian,’ said Archbishop
Barsamian. `All of us here have witnessed his outpouring of goodwill ‘
how he reaches out to people from all walks of life without
discrimination. As his friends we know how generous he is with his
time and advice. We know of his great patriotism and concern for our
homeland, but what impresses me in Dr. Housepian is his truly
humanitarian concern. His goodwill is directed not only to friends and
fellow countrymen, but also to people he has never met and probably
never will meet.’

Archbishop Barsamian spoke of a recent call he received from
Dr. Housepian, asking how the Armenian community could help the
victims of this month’s earthquake in Haiti.

`Over these past 20 years I have received such calls dozens of times
from Dr. Housepian,’ Archbishop Barsamian said. `Whether the cause is
a great disaster or the quiet affliction of an individual, the spirit
of goodwill in Dr. Housepian’s heart compels him to help, to act, to
use whatever power he has for relief. Today in our world there are
countless people whose lives have been touched ¦ and even saved
because of his compassion and goodwill. Looking at it that way, one
can see how a spirit of goodwill is truly a blessing from God and like
all blessings it gives us an opportunity to reflect, be grateful, and
be inspired. That is the meaning of tonight’s tribute, to honor, to
thank, and to be inspired by one man’s outpouring of goodwill.’

Keynote speaker Dr. Chobanian called Dr. Housepian a man of admirable
finesse and resolve. He noted Dr. Housepian’s great contributions to
robotic brain surgery, his contributions to Columbia University, where
he has served on a multitude of committees, his participation in
numerous medical societies, as well as his legendary academic
accomplishments. But it is Dr. Housepian’s personality that sets him
apart, Dr. Chobanian said.

`While his academic accomplishments have been legendary, what really
define Ed are his personal qualities. What I consider the qualities
that I like to teach to medical students, residents and other
physicians, I only need to think of Ed and the qualities he represents
‘ intelligence, scholarship, thoroughness, and confidence, combined
with empathy, openness, honesty, respectfulness, humility, humanness.’

His Holiness Karekin II closed the program with special words of
praise for the Fund for Armenian Relief and the honoree. `Dr. Edgar
Housepian, following the example of his parents, who were dedicated to
their homeland and loved the Church, and endowed with their zeal, he
is continuing to contribute to the well being and progress of our
fatherland.

Since the 1988 earthquake in Armenia, through the Eastern Diocese, FAR
and other organizations that were summoned to help Armenia, he has put
his rich experiences and knowledge at the disposal of the productive
enterprise of modernizing health care in our country, helping to
refurbish the medical establishments technologically, retraining
doctors, and strengthening relations between the fatherland and the
diaspora. Thanks to his professional and benevolent activities,
Dr. Housepian has attained much appreciation from both professional
doctors and the government of Armenia.’ he said.

Dr. Housepian expressed his gratitude for the evening’s program. `All
these activities ‘ the medical activities that I’ve been passionate
about and involved in ‘ have had a positive impact on the medical
culture of the physicians who now actually work together,’ he
said. `The Medical School and Health Ministry cooperate in supporting
each other’s programs. These are all firsts in the former Soviet
Union.’

He spoke about each of the programs FAR has been implementing in
Armenia ‘ the Continuing Medical Education program and the FAR
Fellowship Alumni Association; the improvement of the Armenian
National Medical Library; and the Armenian National Science and
Education Fund.

`It’s been a great honor for me to lead some of these programs for the
past 20 years and I’m grateful to our Vehapar for being here, and
humbled to have received such high honors from him, the President of
Armenia Serge Sargsyan, and the entire FAR Board’ he said.

###

About FAR

Since its founding in response to the 1988 earthquake, FAR has served
hundreds of thousands of people through more than 220 relief and
development programs in Armenia and Karabagh. It has channeled more
than $285 million in humanitarian assistance by implementing a wide
range of projects including emergency relief, construction, education,
medical aid, and economic development.

Fund for Armenian Relief
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Phone (212) 889-5150

[email protected]

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AZERBAIJANI MPS TO VISIT ITALY

News.Az
Tue 26 January 2010 | 10:35 GMT Text size:

Azerbaijani parliamentarians will hold meetings in the parliament of
this country.

Azerbaijani deputies Azer Kerimli, Rovshan Rzayev, Chingiz Asadullayev,
Fuad Muradov and Gudrat Hasanquliyev are leaving for a visit to Rome
Tuesday, according to a statement from the Azerbaijani parliament.

Within the framework of the visit to the Italian capital city, the
Azerbaijani parliamentarians will hold meetings in the parliament
of this country, the Committee of foreign affairs, members of the
Italy-Azerbaijan interparliamentary group of friendship. The meetings
will focus on the prospects of the interparliamentary cooperation
and other issues and discuss possible exchange of experience.

The Azerbaijani deputies will familiarize their Italian counterparts
with the sociopoltical situation in the region as well as the situation
established in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno Karabakh.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Monday, January 25, 2010

Author Michael Bobelian Promotes His New Book, Children of Armenia, in a
Series of Book Readings Hosted By AGBU

Throughout the fall of 2009, author Michael Bobelian travelled around
cities in the US and Canada for a series of book readings hosted by
various AGBU chapters. He was on tour promoting his new book, "Children
of Armenia: A Forgotten Genocide and the Century-Long Struggle for
Justice." The book explores the events of 1915 and the social and
political issues that followed. The author discusses the struggles for
justice and what he believes has caused the Armenian Genocide to fade
from public consciousness and often go unrecognized. Michael Bobelian is
a lawyer and journalist by training, and is the grandson of genocide
survivors.

Bobelian toured around California, visiting chapters in
Glendale-Pasadena, Fresno and San Francisco. He also gave book readings
in Chicago and Toronto. Each of the informative readings and lectures
was followed by a question-and-answer session, book signing, and a
reception for the author and attendees. The crowds at most of the
readings were made up of a mixed but mostly older audience, while the
San Francisco reading attracted a significantly younger and more diverse
group of attendees.

The author has been emphasizing the importance his younger audience has
on the Genocide’s acknowledgement and the future of Armenia. "For
Armenian readers, I want them to learn about a history that we’re
largely ignorant about. Young Armenians, born after the 1960’s, don’t
really know how the recognition movement began and how this campaign for
justice began. We have inherited not only the scars of the genocide but
a campaign for justice from previous generations. We deserve to know the
origins and evolution of this campaign," he said in an October
interview. Bobelian also talked about the importance of non-Armenians
starting to take an interest in this issue. "A lot of people I ran into
while writing this book would ask me why Armenians still persist since
it’s been almost one hundred years since the genocide took place. I want
them [non-Armenians] to understand and appreciate that it still matters.
Even today, these issues of denial and impunity resonate not only for
Armenians but for genocides across the world."

The book had already generated positive reviews on its own since its
release in September, though the book readings at the various chapters
greatly helped in getting more people interested. The author was humbled
by not only the successful turnouts at each book reading but also by the
overall enthusiasm for the book. He thanked AGBU and its chapters for
working so hard to put these events together. "I am extremely grateful
that the AGBU chapters were willing to host me. People made a big effort
to get the word out and to give me a platform to speak and share my
work. It’s very challenging to reach a broad audience, and AGBU did an
excellent job of bringing people in, particularly with the younger
generation." He added, "It’s very difficult for a young author to get
the word out about a new book, and publishers don’t really help with
marketing. AGBU and the local organizations really did a superb job with
that."

Established in 1906, 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 program, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.

For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit

ARMENIA WARNS OF BREAKDOWN IN TURKEY RECONCILIATION
By Mariam Harutunian

Agence France Presse
Jan 22 2010

YEREVAN — Historic efforts to establish ties between Armenia and
Turkey may break down, the Armenian foreign minister warned on Friday,
blaming Ankara for obstructing the process.

"If Turkey is not ready to ratify the protocols, if it continues
to speak in ultimatums, to set preconditions and to obstruct the
process, then I do not exclude that negotiations will break down,"
Eduard Nalbandian said at a press conference.

His comments came after Armenian and Turkish efforts to establish
ties after decades of hostility hit fresh snags this week as the two
sides traded accusations of trying to modify the landmark deal.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Yerevan of
trying to "doctor" the agreement, saying that a ruling by Armenia’s
Constitutional Court this month had set new conditions.

Nalbandian dismissed Ankara’s accusations as "absurd."

"Statements by Turkey that the Constitutional Court’s decision creates
preconditions or contradicts the principles of the protocols… do
not correspond with reality and are absurd," he said.

"These statements will not be believed, not only in the international
community but also in Turkey itself," he said.

Yerevan has accused Turkey of trying to set new conditions on the deal
by linking it with Armenia’s conflict with Turkish ally Azerbaijan
over the disputed Nagorny Karabakh region.

Nalbandian said he did not expect a breakthrough in talks on Karabakh
in the near future.

"It is difficult to say what will happen in 2010. If the Azerbaijani
side shows a more constructive approach then there may be changes. But
I cannot say that in the near future we can expect a breakthrough,"
he said.

Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols in October to establish
diplomatic ties and reopen their shared border, in a deal hailed as
a historic step towards ending decades of hostility stemming from
World War I-era massacres of Armenians under Ottoman Turkish rule.

Armenia’s Constitutional Court on January 12 upheld the legality of the
agreement, but also said the two protocols "cannot be interpreted" to
contradict a paragraph in Armenia’s 1990 declaration of independence
that refers to "the 1915 genocide in Ottoman Turkey and Western
Armenia."

Turkey’s refusal to establish ties with Armenia stems in part from
Yerevan’s attempts to have the massacres internationally recognised
as genocide.

References to "Western Armenia" are also sensitive as some in Turkey
see use of the term as making territorial claims on areas in eastern
Anatolia.

Neither country’s parliament has yet ratified the two protocols.

Turkish officials have repeatedly said the agreements will not be
ratified without progress in the dispute over Nagorny Karabakh.

Backed by Yerevan, ethnic Armenian separatists seized control of
Karabakh and seven surrounding districts from Azerbaijan during a
war in the early 1990s that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in a show of solidarity
with Azerbaijan — with which it has strong ethnic, trade and energy
links — against Yerevan’s support for the enclave’s separatists.

The head of Armenia’s parliament said last month that it will not
ratify the deal before the Turkish parliament does.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN MEETS EU SPECIAL ENVOY

armradio.am
21.01.2010 18:35

President Serzh Sargsyan today received the EU Special Representative
for the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, and his delegation.

President Sargsyan and EU Special Representative discussed issues
on the agenda of Armenia-EU relations. Peter Semneby noted that the
European Union is currently living a period of active changes.

The interlocutors exchanged views on regional developments,
particularly the process of negotiations on the settlement of
the Karabakh issue, and the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations.