Author: nina hovnanian

MANCHESTER UNITED FC ARMENIAN-LANGUAGE WEBSITE LAUNCHED

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 10, 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian-language website of Manchester United
legendary English football club was launched to be accessed at
manutd.am.

As the founder, creator of manutd.am and an MU fan since 1996, Aram
Shahinyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, creation of the website
was his long-time dream.

“With Real Madrid, Barcelona websites already available in Armenian,
I’m sure, local fans of MU will be glad of a chance to learn news
about their favorite club,” he said.

At present, MU official website serves as a source of club-related
information; soon, MU fans will have a chance to read exclusive
materials.

“Beside the newly-launched website, the news will be posted at twitter
and facebook, where the fans will be able to communicate and share
opinions,” Shahinyan added.

ARS-WUSA LAUNCHES NEW HEALING CENTER PROJECT

asbarez
August 7th, 2011

GLENDALE-The Armenian Relief Society of Western USA has embarked on a
new noteworthy project, “The Healing Center.” In the last few years,
we have seen a marked increase in cases of victims of domestic violence
within our community and a number of these persons have sought our
help. A regional committee was formed to take a more specialized and
proactive approach to this serious problem. Ties have been established
with existing shelters, and through collaboration, a reliable referral
system is being developed to assist them.

A fundraising dinner will be held on Sunday, August 14, 2011 at 6:00
p.m. at the ARS Regional Headquarters, located at 517 W. Glenoaks
Blvd. in Glendale. A $100 donation to attend the event will go a long
way to help those in need.

The featured speaker for the evening is Prof. Osheen Keshishian,
who has extensive experience in the community, and professionally
works in the area of assisting those who are in need to meet their
educational goals.

The project includes the establishment of a 24-hour telephone hotline
service to be operated by trained professionals. The ARS seeks the
support and cooperation of all Armenian churches, professional and
community organizations to make this urgent project a pan-community
one.

The ARS firmly believes that the community and individuals will heed
this appeal and attend this event. However, if one is unable to attend
they can send their contributions to the ARS at 517 W. Glenoaks Blvd.,
Glendale, CA 91202. The ARS Regional Headquarters can be contacted
at 818-500-1343 or [email protected] for additional information.

OPPOSITION ALLIANCE CONDEMNS POLICE VIOLENCE AGAINST YOUNG ACTIVISTS

Tert.am
10.08.11

The opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) voices concerns over
continuing violence and unlawful actions against its members.

In connection with yesterday’s incident in Yerevan, the alliance
has issued a statement, condemning the police of beating its young
activists.

“During the incident on August 9, the police used violence against
ANC supporters Tigran Arakelyan and Artak Karapetyan. When other
activists – Areg Gevorgyan, Sahak Muradyan, Vahagn Gevorgyan and
David Kiramidjyan – arrived on the scene to smooth out the dispute,
they were also subjected to brutalities,” says the statement.

The oppositionists note that the police kept resorting to violence even
after several people were injured in the attack. They say the policemen
prevented an ambulance doctor to take care of the beaten activists.

They claim that no forensic conclusions estimating the character of
the injuries is available. They note further that procedure was not
violated in relation to a policeman involved in the incident.

The ANC considers the attack an intentional provocation that followed
a proposal to hold snap elections in Armenia.

“The extensive document submitted by the Armenian National Congress
has probably caused inconvenience to the regime, and they resorted to
such steps in an attempt to frustrate the discussion,” the authors
of the statement say, referring to the current dialogue between the
ruling coalition and the opposition alliance.

They say the authorities’ attempts to resort to brutalities openly
demonstrate that the absence of any arguments to the ANC’s prposal
to form new government through snap parliamentary and presidential
elections.

The alliance calls for releasing the young activists and establishing
liability measures for the policemen who resorted to violence.

TRANSPORT MINISTRY: NORTH-SOUTH TRANSPORT CORRIDOR TO BE READY IN 2017

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 10, 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net – It is planned to complete construction of North-South
transport corridor in 2017, according to Armenian Minister of Transport
and Communication Manuk Vardanyan.

“After implementation of the program, Europe-Caucasus-Asia road
communication will be improved,” the Minister told journalists after
presentation of North-South transport corridor investment programs –
Project 1 and Project 2 – adding that the corridor is not only a
transit road, but is also connected with the problem of internal
transportation in Armenia.

Vardanyan noted that this will be the first high quality concrete
road in Armenia, with design speed amounting to 120km/h, thanks to
which it will be possible to reach Black Sea from Armenia in 4,5-5 hrs.

He expressed hope for quick selection of a contractor and for starting
the construction by the end of the year.

The Minister underlined that during presentation of a program on
two highways reconstruction, namely, highway bypassing Yerevan and
transport nodal point of Zvartnots airport was presented as alternative
to North-South.

On August 2, Ministry of Transport and Communication of Armenia
announced an open tender on selection of a contractor-company for
construction of the North South transport corridor Project 1 and
Project 2, on Yerevan-Ashatarak (11,71 km), Yerevan-Ararat (38 km)
and Ashtarak-Talin (42 km) sections.

The total length of North South transport corridor will be 556 km from
Armenian-Iranian border to Georgian. Asian Development Bank allotted
a USD 500 million worth credit to fund a part of for North-South
corridor construction program. The corridor will allow Armenia to
become a transit state in regional transportation industry, as well
as join the Black Sea circular highway.

AUSTRALIAN-ARMENIANS CALLED ON TO MENTION THEIR ARMENIAN ORIGIN DURING CENSUS

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 9, 2011
YEREVAN

Hay Dat (Armenian Cause) Committee of Australia calls on the
Australian-Armenians to mention their origin during today’s census. An
official from the Committee told Armenpress that they have also called
on to mention the Armenian as a “communication language” at home,
and to mention “Armenian Apostolic Church” in “religion” section.

“It is especially important for preservation of ethnic and cultural
identity of the Armenians spread throughout the world,” said Executive
Director of Hay Dat (Armenian Cause) Committee of Australia Varant
Megertchyan, stressing that information will be used by the Australian
government and will be taken into consideration for meeting the needs
of the Armenian community of the country.

“The Australian-Armenians have come from different countries of the
world, including Iran, Lebanon, Egypt, Cyprus, and Syria. So it is of
utmost importance to mention of Armenian origin in the 18th question
of the census,” Mr. Megertchyan added.

To remind, this is the 16th census in Australia throughout its
entire history.

NORIK SARGSYAN: IT IS NOT THE ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE GROWN IN ARMENIA, BUT THEIR REGISTRATION IN THE POLICE

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 9, 2011
YEREVAN

As of 2011 August 8, 1 206 traffic accidents have been officially
registered in Armenia, in the consequence of which 156 people have
been killed and 1 794 people have received body injuries, head of Road
Patrol Service of the Road Police of RA Norik Sargsyan said today at a
meeting with journalists, adding that as compared with 2010 August 8,
the number of the accidents has increased by 166, the number of the
victims – by 8 and that of the injured – by 388.

“This numbers show that there is a growth of accidents in Armenia, but
there is nothing to worry. Actually, accidents frequency is stable in
Armenia like the past 2 years,” Norik Sargsyan assured, noting that
the growth of the indexes is mainly conditioned by introduction of
Compulsory Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance (CMTPLI).

RICHARD GIDACHYAN: “IT IS TIME TO MAKE CHILDREN READ WITH PLEASURE.”

armradio.am
09.08.2011 14:04

Hovahnnes Tumanyans tales like “The liar” and “Shrovetide” are already
translated in 14 languages: ” It is time to make children read with
pleasure,” said the publisher of the series “Fairy tales before
sleeping” Richard Gidachyann informing that in the near future, the
new books will be published Tumanyans “The master and the servant~T
fairy tale.

In addition, according to Gidachyan, the tales of the Khnko Aper,
Ghazaros Aghayan will also be translated: “Also the modern tale
writers’ will not be forgotten,” said Richard Giadachyan.

Beside the book, the manual includes a CD, which lets the children
can listen to the audio version of the book. The price of the book
is with CD is 2000 drams.

BIRTHRIGHT ARMENIA CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS IN GYUMRI

armradio.am
09.08.2011 13:23

One of the main goals of Birthright Armenia has always been to afford
diasporan youth insight into Armenia’s potential as a nation and to
illuminate the limitless ways in which participants can be a part
of Armenia’s bright future. Cultural and economic issues and needs
exist across Armenia, but the degree of severity differs from place
to place based on access to resources. In 2007, Birthright Armenia
conceived of a way to provide human resources to areas of Armenia
where they are most needed-outside of the capital city of Yerevan.

In this effort to immerse volunteers more completely in the
experience of life outside of the increasingly metropolitan capital
city, Birthright Armenia created the Gyumri program and, during the
program’s first summer, sent 27 volunteers 120 kilometers northwest
of their Yerevan office to live and work in Armenia’s second-largest
city. Since the program’s inception, the organization has sent 115
volunteers-nearly 20% of the total number of participants to date-to
Gyumri, offering them the opportunity to give back to their homeland
in a way that many Gyumri-based volunteers have found to be strikingly
different from the experience of their Yerevan-based peers.

The Gyumri program mirrors the Yerevan program with regard to its
function and services; volunteers in Gyumri participate in forums,
social havaks, language classes, and excursions, as well as having
access to a successful homestay program, thanks to the hospitality
and warmth that the Gyumretsis have extended toward volunteers since
the moment they began to arrive in 2007.

YEREVAN CENTER TO BE CLEARED OF STALLS

Tert.am
09.08.11

The stalls located in the main streets of the Center community of
Yerevan, as well as in the streets adjacent to them, will be removed
after the relevant contracts expire.

The Yerevan city hall reports that alternative options will be
discussed if contracts have not expired yet.

Territories will not be allotted for new stalls in Yerevan except
for newsstands, the press release says.

SHISH KEBABS RAISE FUNDS FOR ARMENIAN CHURCH
By Tina Johansson Special to The News-Sun

Chicago Sun-Times

Aug 8 2011
IL

Food adventurers had a taste of authentic Armenian food Sunday at
the 46th annual Shish kebab picnic at St. Paul Armenian Church,
645 N. Lewis Ave., Waukegan.

“This is our second big fund-raiser of the year,” said Arda Haroian,
a native of Waukegan who grew up attending the church. Big red, blue
and orange flags – the colors of the Armenian flag – waved people in
to the picnic, which was held indoors this year.

“Because of the rain, we had to make a decision. So we moved everything
into the basement of the church,” said Arda.

The smell of fresh lamb kebabs wafted through the air from a large
grill posted outside the church and manned by male parishioners.

“Yesterday the men marinated the meat, and the women baked all of
the desserts,” said Ada. “We were here baking until 10 p.m.”

She said the lamb preparation takes about 12 hours. Mitchell Mekaelian
of Lake Forest and Bill Henderson of Libertyville were among those
cooking the shish kebabs.

“We’ve been doing this for about 40 years, since we were little kids,”
said Mekaelian, adding Henderson’s grandfather and his own father
helped build the church back in 1965.

Generations of families belong to the parish. Many of them come from
the same Armenian village, Tadem. Currently, the church has about 30
members, though at one time there were many more.

“There used to be hundreds of Armenians in Waukegan,” said Arda.

Church members figure about 3,000 live in Lake County now.

All of the food for the event, including the lamb which is meant to
be a sacrificial symbol, was donated by parishioners.

“In Armenia and the Middle East, they will still actually sacrifice
a lamb,” said the Very Reverend Father Daniel Garabedian, pastor of
the church. “It goes back to the Old Testament,” he said, recounting
the story of Abraham and his son Isaac.

The event included the age-old traditional grape blessing, which began
as a way to bless the harvest and the kingdom, explained the pastor.

Today, blessings also go out for jobs and those less fortunate.

Church Deacon Asa Soulakian added that only after the grape blessing
are the grapes supposed to be eaten.

In the lower level of the church, plates were piled high with cubes
of tender lamb, a recipe that’s a “secret,” said Arda’s mother, Kohar.

Sides included homemade rice pilaf, hearty bulgur pilaf, vegetables
and bread.

Kohar showed off traditional desserts at the bake sale including
her speciality, pakhlava, which is similar to the Greek baklava,
but lighter and less sweet. There also was choreg, which is Armenian
brioche; khadayif, shredded dough with cream filling; bourma, nut
rolls; and surma, stuffed grape leaves.

But the lamb was king of the table and everyone agreed with Shirley
Nordigian of Wadsworth when she said, “We have some of the best shish
kebabs around.”

“Lamb isn’t something you find in many local restaurants,” said Arda.

“We have a lot of non-Armenians that come and look forward to this
every year.”

Among them were non-Armenians Roxanne and Scott Swanson who brought
their son, Colin. “We came before and really enjoyed it, so we made
a special point to be here today,” said Roxanne.

“We consider our parish like a small family,” said Arda. “We may not
be related by blood, but we are related by our faith and our parish.”