Author: Nargizian David

YEREVAN AND BAKU MUST REVEAL POLITICAL WILL IN NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009

02.06.2009

/ PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yerevan and Baku must reveal boldness and political
will for attaining peaceful and just solution of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, told Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mu’alem news conference
organized jointly with Armenia’s foreign minister Edward Nalbandyan
on June 2 in Yerevan. We have discussed the position of the official
Damask on Nagorno Karabakh settlement during the talks with the
Armenian side. Earlier I presented that position to Azerbaijan’s
foreign minister. We are confident, that only through immediate dialog
the sides can find fair and acceptable solution of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. Other resolution of the conflict can hurt not only the two
sides, but the region, on the whole," stressed Syrian foreign minister
Walid Mu’alem.

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN CALLED AT AN ALL-REPUBLICAN EXPOSITION ORGANIZED IN THE NATIONAL ESTHETICS CENTER, ENTITLED "I AM THE CITIZEN OF A RULE-OF-LAW STATE."

Monday, 1 June 2009

The exposition was preceded by a nationwide contest involving
schoolchildren from all marzes of Armenia. They have tried to represent
their vision of the phenomenon of cash-registers by means of oil
paintings and show which way the citizens can defend their rights. Two
works were awarded the chief prize and 5 others won minor prizes.

"Fostering a citizen of the Republic of Armenia is a highly responsible
task. This process has its source at school, when children feel
themselves as citizens and masters in homeland, realize the way the
State is organized and revenue is collected. Today’s function has an
educational dimension as well considering that the principles of and
the ways to having a powerful State are being shaped in our children
by means of games."

PRESS RELEASE
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Buiding 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Hasmik Grigoryan
Tel: +(3741) 56 01 06 ext. 105
Fax: +(3741) 52 15 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

1 June, 2009

Hayastan All Armenian Fund congratulates Vahakn Dadrian and Wolfgang Gust,
among winners of President Prize

The Hayastan All Armenian Fund congratulates all winners of the 2008
President Prize, including intellectuals Vahakn Dadrian and Wolfgang Gust,
who were awarded the prestigious prize for their valuable contributions to
the study of Mets Yeghern as well as efforts to secure worldwide recognition
for the first genocide of the 20th century.

Gust received the President Prize for his groundbreaking research of German
state archives pertaining to the 1915 Genocide. His landmark 2005 study, The
Armenian Genocide During the First World War: Documents from German State
Archives, reveals the deep-rooted relations between imperial Germany and the
Ottoman Empire during the first part of the 20th century, particularly as
documented in the secret correspondence of the German consul and ambassador
in Istanbul with the Turkish government.

Gust’s 675-page volume includes 218 secret and top-secret telegrams,
letters, and communiqués, most of which have never been published
previously.

A renowned journalist and scholar, Gust has long been dedicated to the study
of the Genocide. An Armenian translation of his first work related to the
subject, 1993’s The Armenian Genocide: The Tragedy of the Oldest Christian
Nation, was published in Armenia in 2002. In recognition of Gust’s
achievement, His Holiness Garegin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, bestowed
on him the St. Sahak and St. Mashtots medal in 2001.

Professor Vahakn Dadrian, who has devoted his entire career to the study of
the Genocide, received the President Prize not only for his past
achievements but ongoing research within his field. Currently serving as
Director of Genocide Research at the Zoryan Institute in Arlington,
Massachusetts, Dadrian is the author of numerous pioneering studies on the
Genocide, German complicity, Turkish denial, parallels between the Genocide
and the Holocaust, and related topics.

The President Prize’s special category, Valuable Contribution to the
Recognition of the Genocide, was instituted in 2005. The prize for the
category includes a certificate of achievement, a medal, and a monetary
award in the amount of $10,000. To date, nine scholars and public figures,
including four Armenians, have received the President Prize in this
category.

Commenting on the President Prize phenomenon, Ara Vardanyan, executive
director of the Hayastan All Armenian Fund, said, `It’s a great honor to
acknowledge some of the most accomplished scientists, scholars, and artists
of our time, and especially to be able to express our gratitude to those who
have contributed so much to the field of Genocide recognition. The Hayastan
All Armenian Fund is extremely proud of its role as organizer and
coordinator of the President Prize competitions and awards ceremonies. We
look forward to continuing to build on this tradition, thanks to the support
of the Boghossian Foundation.’

Established in 2000 by the Boghossian Foundation, the President Prize
promotes excellence in the Armenian arts, sciences, and Genocide-recognition
efforts. It also includes the President Youth Prize, which awards young
talents in various fields. Administered by the Hayastan All Armenian Fund,
the juried annual prize is bestowed on recipients by the President of the
Republic of Armenia, during a rewards ceremony held at the presidential
residence. This year the prize was awarded to 21 individuals, for
achievements in one of nine categories.

# # #

Hayastan All Armenian Fund

Kurdish Aspect
May 31 2009

While US administration works for reconciliation in Iraq, hundreds of
Kurds lose their lives to Genocide. Halabja started in 1988 but it
continues today!

Kurdishaspect.com – By Ara Alan

Genocide is an act with intend to eradicate a group of people based on
some criteria that binds them together such as race, religion,
ethnicity, believe, class ¦etc. Armenian Genocide was the first
genocide of the twentieth century while Anfal occurred at the end of
the century. Holocaust, Rwanda and Kosovo found themselves in
between. Our very first genocide in twenty-first centuries and our
most recent shame on humanity takes place in Darfur.

While children women and men were killed in Darfur; simultaneously in
Kurdistan, the same is occurring. Kurdish genocide in Iraq continues
as the US administrations work hard to bring forth Iraqi factions to
the table of `reconciliation’.

Kurds in 2009 die daily in cities like Halabja as its genocide
continues. Kurdish genocide that occurred in 1988 didn’t end in 1988,
nor in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992¦2001, 2002¦nor in 2009. The
Kurdish Genocide didn’t end even after the Iraqi Army stopped its
military operation. It continued as Saddam Hussein was charged in
Iraqi tribunal court with genocide. It continues after the execution
of Saddam. Kurdish genocide continues until today and into the
future. It is the only genocide that crosses multi generations layers.

The deadly cocktail of Chemicals used in 1988 to commit the acts of
genocide against the Kurds has reacted in a synergistic matter. The
cocktail acted much stronger than any of its components, cyanide,
mustered and nerve agent would alone. The cocktail proved to be lethal
even in small doses.

The gassing of Halabja and Anfal villages has acted as a mutagen and
caused the DNA of its victims to change. According to the health
minister of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) the ratio of patients
with cancer in the gassed populations is 5:1 when compared to
non-gassed populations. Many of the little girls exposed to the
gassing in 1988 today give birth to children with down-syndrome or
still-birth and they have very high rates of miscarriage and some are
completely infertile. According to KRG’s health minister incident
cases of breast cancer are much higher. Breast cancer in Kurdistan is
much more aggressive than in other countries, and it is much more
likely to kill.

As result of the gassing many Kurds are dying today. Many are
paralyzed, handicapped, blinded or bedbound. Many babies from the new
generation are born with genetic diseases that result in their death
or a life that is dependent on a medical care which is almost
non-existent where they are born. Kurdish genocide continues since
1988 into post Saddam-Iraq and today.

What has been done to heal the pain or at the very least to stop the
ongoing genocide in Kurdistan? Most of the gas victims suffer from the
complications that came with their exposure or the exposure of their
parents. Psychological affect of the ordeal such as loosing most of
their families, isolation in the community because of their
infertility, disfigurement ¦etc are among the least of the problems
that Kurdish victims of genocide are faced with. These victims are
plagued with genetic diseases and cancer; there is a lack of adequate
basic healthcare and hospital close/affordable to Halabja and Anfal
victims.

The Iraqi government has not put forth any initiative not only to heal
those affected but to ensure adequate health facilities are available
to slow down the ongoing genocide that is continuing in Kurdistan.

Without taking serious steps toward ending of the genocide in
Kurdistan reconciliation is nothing more than a euphemism. Iraqi
government is responsible for the actions taken in its name by Saddam
Hussein. According to International law a new government inherits the
assets and responsibilities of its previous governments. As it was the
case with Germany and the victims of the holocaust.

Iraq must take serious steps in apologizing for what they have carried
out in Kurdistan. Their apologies should not end with words but it
should be reflected in serious efforts toward ending of the genocide
in Kurdistan. There has yet been an effort by the Iraqi government to
open special hospitals in the affected area. They must dedicate a
percentage of Iraq’s revenue to provide adequate aid for those still
suffering. They must also work on cleaning the environmental affect
of chemical gas in soil and water tables of Kurdistan. True
reconciliation is done with good intension and it is reflected in
action not with colorful euphemism.

For the sake of stability and tangible results in Iraq; US
administration should work on promoting true reconciliation among its
factions. Serious efforts must be taken to help stop the continuation
of genocide in Kurdistan.

AA.html

What Makes Us Armenian?
By Aram Suren Hamparian on May 28th, 2009 and filed under Commentary,
Featured Story, Opinion.

akes-us-armenian/

Armenians in Yerevan marking April 24. Photo by Arsineh Khachikian
Easy question; tough answer.
Language, land, family, faith, and culture for sure. These are, no
doubt, vital elements of our identity.
Without question, our rich heritage and proud 4,000 year legacy – in
all their diversity – play a role in shaping who we are today as
Armenians.
But, in an even more powerful sense, we are bound to our identity –
and ultimately to each other – not simply by what we have inherited,
but rather by that which we give of ourselves to our nation, our
cause,
and our common future.
Ultimately, being Armenian is more about giving, and less about
getting.
Less about expectations and entitlements, and more about taking
responsibility for our shared destiny.
Being Armenian, to put an even sharper point on it, is about
understanding
that service and sacrifice – old-fashioned virtues by today=80=99s
standards – in fact represent the cost of our continued existence
among the family of nations.
That giving – of our time, toil, and treasure – is not an option, but
the price of our survival.
But giving is not just a one-way street.
Through our generosity we nourish ourselves, take pride in our
accomplishments, inspire those around us, and reaffirm the core of our
identity as true stakeholders in the Armenian Cause.
Now of course, there are Armenians who live their entire lives –
perhaps otherwise fulfilling lives – without lifting a finger for
their nation or their fellow countrymen, but they are, as you can
surely attest, missing out on the most powerful and rewarding part of
their Armenian identity.
The simple fact is that by giving, we get.
We reinforce who we are by bearing the burden and blessing of our
generation to leave a better future for those who follow.
This was true at Avarayr, at Sardarabad, at Shushi, and it’s true
today.
The battlefields are different, but the stakes are just as high.
Our struggles today are vital to Armenia’s future: justice for the
crime of Genocide committed against the Armenian nation, the
strengthening
of the Republic of Armenia, the defense of Nagorno Karabagh, the
survival of the Armenian population of Javakhk, and – of course – the
growth in the power of the Armenian Diaspora.
These are all crucial to our future, and all require strong, visionary
leadership that understands that among the most powerful resources in
the world today for Armenia is a strong, engaged, and motivated
Armenian American community.
The ANCA Endowment Fund provides this leadership.
Principled, hard-working, and effective leadership that our community
richly deserves and that Armenia urgently needs at this pivotal moment
in the history of our proud nation.
Watch the ANCA Endowment Fund Telethon May 31st.

IN 2009 ARMENIA WILL ATTRACT TOTAL CREDITING OF AMD 300 BILLION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.05.2009 19:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ To cover budget deficit and overcome financial
crisis consequences, in 2009 Armenia will attract total crediting of
AMD 300 billion, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan told at Friday’s
governmental meeting. Sargsyan specifically noted that Russian credit
will be partially allocated to budget deficit coverage. "This year
deficit index will register a significant difference compared with
2008, due to AMD 300 billion we’ll attract within current year,
including credits provided by Russia, WB, Asian Bank of Development
and IMF," he said.

In this connection Sargsyan noted that necessary changes should be
implemented for 2009 bugjet fulfillment and retaining of existing
expenditures. According to Prime Minister the issues will be discussed
at parliamentary meeting of June 2.

On May 20 in Moscow Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin and his
Armenian counterpart Tigran Davtyan signed an agreement on granting of
a $500 million loan to prop up the Armenian economy amid the ongoing
economic crisis.

The loan will be extended for 15-years at LIBOR plus 3%.

SWEDEN NOT TO RECOGNIZE GENOCIDE OF ARMENIANS

AssA-Irada
May 25 2009
Azerbaijan

Sweden will not recognize the developments that happened in Ottoman
Turkey during World War I as genocide against Armenians, the countrys
Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has said. In his letter replying to Cecilia
Wikstrom, a pro-Armenian lawmaker representing the Swedish Liberal
People’s Party, he wrote that solving the issue was not politicians
job. This issue should be addressed by historians. Present-day Turkey
is not responsible for its past, the letter said. Armenians say Ottoman
Turks killed 1.5 million people in 1915 and brand the developments as
genocide, while Turkey strenuously dismisses the claim. Yerevan has
repeatedly declined Ankaras proposals to collaborate in researching
the developments.

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER – FROZEN CONFLICTS ARE LIKE BOMBS

2009/05/2 6 | 18:43

Region Politics

"Frozen conflicts in the region are like bombs that can explode
any time," Turkish foreign minister Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu said at a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani
counterpart in Baku. "So, the talk on resolution of the conflicts
must continue," he said, according to Trend News.

The Turkish FM placed special emphasis on the meeting between the
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents to take place in St. Petersburg
in early June. "This historical moment must not be missed," Davutoglu
said.

Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders plan to meet as a part of the
economic forum in St. Petersburg and discuss ways to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

ANELIK BANK TO IMPROVE AUTOMATION SYSTEM IN 2009
i
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
27.05.2009 14:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ All customers of Anelik Bank are equal in terms
of bank’s primary policy and directions, the bank’s President Aram
Lazarian said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.

"All banking operations are necessary and acceptable, we expect
equal development of all products. We project to improve the level of
atomization of bank’s activities and to attain full banking services,"
he said.

"For instance, we introduced the system of utility payments in
Yerevan, and introduce it in all branches of the bank. Although
in terms of profit, this is not such a profitable instrument, but
we believe that our clients entering any office of our bank must
receive full-fledged service. Therefore we do not emphasize this
or that instrument or banking product, we expect their concurrent
development," Mr. Lazarian said.

ARMENIAN AND GEORGIAN DEPUTY FMS DISCUSSED BORDER DEMARCATION ISSUES

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
25.05.2009 18:00 GMT+04:00

RA Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan received his Georgian
colleague David Djalagania, Head of working group in Armenian-Georgian
border demarcation talks. During the meeting, Mr. Kocharyan estimated
Yerevan-Tblisi political dialogue as positive, noting that it may
contribute to the development of bilateral, mutually beneficial
ties. Armenian and Georgian Deputy FMs also discussed possibilities
for further development of economic and cultural cooperation, as well
as Armenian-Georgian border demarcation, RA Foreign Ministry’s Press
Service reports.