Author: Tamamian Anna

Armenian Students Compete in 9th Science Olympiad Competition

Armenian Weekly
Sun, Mar 21 2010

Ninety-eight Armenian middle and high school students with 80 projects
from 8 schools faced tough competition at the Armenian Engineers and
Scientists of America’s (AESA) ninth Science Olympiad (SO) on March 6
in California State University, Northridge (CSUN). The competition,
organized by the AESA’s Science Olympiad Committee, is the only
science competition created for middle and high school Armenian
students in the United States. Since its inception in 2002, the
committee has been dedicated to the advancement of science and
engineering among Armenian students.

This year, participating students who had experienced the challenges
and thrills of taking a project from conception to competition
displayed higher quality projects in the fields of physical and life
sciences. Their projects were judged by a team of volunteer
professional scientists and engineers based on the creativity,
scientific thought and data analysis, thoroughness, presentation, as
well as clarity.

The day started with interviews of the participating students by an
expert panel of judges, followed by an educational and exciting
`Science Trivia and Game,’ where 12 teams of 5 students competed in
the fields of science and mathematics. Five bright students won the
fast-paced competition and took home gift certificate awards.

Students and audience were very fortunate to have Prof. Nzhde
Agazaryan from the UCLA School of Medicine for a very interesting
scientific presentation titled, `The Invisible Knife: Recent Advances
in Radio Surgery and Radiotherapy.’ Agazaryan presented the latest
innovation of cancer treatments for different organs using the
radiotherapy.

After long anticipation, the award ceremony started with more than 200
students, parents, educators, and science enthusiasts in attendance.
Dr. Marina Guevrekian, the AESA SO Committee chairwoman, praised all
the bright and exemplary students who had participated in the 9th AESA
SO competition. She then invited the outstanding students who had been
selected by the SO panel of experienced judges to join her on the
podium to receive their obsidian medallions, custom-made in Armenia,
and cash prizes ranging from $50-$500 for the first to honorable
mention places.

After the students’ awards, the Teacher Appreciation Award was
bestowed on Artin Behin from Hovsepian Armenian School for his
contributions in mentoring and inspiring students in science and
engineering throughout the year, as well as his efforts in encouraging
more participants and award winners in this year’s AESA Science
Olympiad. Behin will receive a check for $300 for the purchase of a
scientific instrument for his school’s science laboratory.

The committee also hosted a parent’s reception and meeting to discuss
collaborative opportunities and approaches to motivate students.

Each year, more than a 1,000 middle and high school Armenian students
participate in their school science fairs, and about 10 percent of
these students move on to participate in LA county science fair, but a
small percentage to California State Science Fair and higher. One of
the many goals of the AESA SO is to help these young Armenian students
to excel to higher levels of science fairs. The AESA SO mentorship and
competition programs provide the opportunity for these students to
seek the advice of professional mentors at the inception of their
science projects, to present their science projects to expert judges,
to gain the experience of AESA SO’s more rigorous judging process, and
to ask for the advice of judges who have served at the LA County and
California State science fairs. The SO Committee also assists the
Armenian students through mentoring and advising sessions at schools
as well as e-mentoring online.

The AESA Science Olympiad Committee receives support from the
community benefactors to execute annual programs and present awards
for the science competition. Over $3,500 is awarded annually to the
science competition participants and a teacher for his/her school.
Awards range from $50 for honorary mention to the grand prize of $500
for first place. For opportunities to support Science Olympiad
Endowment Fund, call Mr. Barkhoudarian at (818) 347-9122. The Fund
establishes a life-time award under the donor’s name for the winning
students.

The committee is planning to expand its programs in 2010 and needs the
help of community scientists and engineers. All SOC programs are aimed
at motivating students in science and engineering, enhancing students’
self esteem, developing students’ communication and leadership skills,
and providing networking with Armenian industrialists, managers,
scientists, and engineers. To get engaged with Science Olympiad’s
existing programs like mentorship, science workshops, field days, and
judging, or to contribute to the success of new programs, call Marina
Guevrekian at (626) 568-9191.

***

The winners, their schools, and award sponsor names are listed below.

Senior Physical Sciences Category

The Peter Emmanuel Shirajian First Place Award: Mikael Matossian (AGBU School)

The Godoshian Family Second Place Award: Alana Yenokian (Ferrahian)

The Zohrabian and Minaskanian Third Place Award: Anais Amin (Ferrahian)

The Vaughn Gregor Honorable Mention Award: Natalie Shahbol (Ferrahian)
and Sevan Hovanissian (Ferrahian)

Senior Life Sciences Category

The Sarafian Family Second Place Award: Armen Arslanian (AGBU)

The Amalia Guevrekian Honorable Mention Award: Garcia Atachian (AGBU)

Junior Physical Sciences Category

The Abrahamian, Aghbabian, and Ookhtens Families First Place Award:
Allen Dishigrikyan (Chamlian)

The Dabaghian and Nazeri Families Second Place Award: George Khabbaz (Hovsepian)

The Bezdikian and Kalayan Families Third Place Award: Alan Begian (Chamlian)

The `In Memory of Harmik Hovnanian’ Honorable Mention Award: Gina
Abakians (Walter Reed)

The Grigorian Family Honorable Mention Award: Tara Peroomian (Chamlian)

Junior Life Sciences Category

The Akian and Darian First Place Award: Marc Matossian (AGBU)

The Alexander Grigorian Family Second Place Award: Grace Khanlian (Hovsepian)

Barkhourdarian Family Third Place Award: Khajag Bornazyan (Pilibos)

The `In the Memory of George Guevrekian’ Honorable Mention Award:
Nicholas Papazian (AGBU)

The Dr. Chahen Khandjarian Honorable Mention Award: Talar Kevorkian (AGBU)

news.am, Armenia
March 19 2010

International conference on Azeri terror to be held in NKR

18:03 / 03/19/2010March 22-23, 2010 an international workshop
conference on `State terror in Azerbaijan and ethnic cleansings’
policy towards Nagorno-Karabakh’ will be held in NKR.

The opening ceremony and first day of the event will commence in the
NKR National Assembly. March 23, the conference will proceed in
Shoushi. The event aims at 90th anniversary of tragic occurrences in
the city of Shoushi, when mass killings of Armenian population were
carried out.

The conference will also seek to uncover and give scientific credence
to causes of the past mistakes and ways of terror prevention in the
future.

S.T.

Trend, Azerbaijan
March 19 2010

Turkish FM not rules out possible resolving of Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict

If Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia were able to restore their
relations after a full-scale war, it means that there is a chance to
establish peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Hurriyet newspaper
reported quoting Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

The war between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia was a much large
than the Nagorno-Karabakh one. As a result, the parties could agree to
normalize relations and, hence, there is a chance to restore relations
between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Turkish minister said.

Davutoglu said that Armenia continues to accuse Turkey of supporting
Azerbaijan and refuses to discuss resolving of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict with Ankara.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the
occupied territories.

RA MFA: REFUSING TO NEGOTIATE WITH NAGORNO KARABAKH, AZERBAIJAN HINDERS TALKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.03.2010 15:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The latest statement of the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry is another failed attempt of Baku to justify through
Azerbaijani constitution an aggression against the people of Artsakh
(NKR), which is a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, RA Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs Shavarsh Kocharyan said, commenting on
the statement by the Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
on the Karabakh conflict resolution.

Shavarsh Kocharyan reminded that the Constitution of Azerbaijan
was adopted after the conclusion of a cease-fire with the NKR and
has nothing to do with the Republic of Artsakh, having its own
constitution.

"Mr. Mammadyarov presented to reporters the results that can be
achieved if he negotiates with himself, and when Azerbaijan will
develop and sign a peace agreement on Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement with itself," Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia said.

According to him, refusing to negotiate with Nagorno Karabakh,
Azerbaijan hinders talks and still will not be able to avoid
responsibility for the consequences of the aggression it unleashed.

Earlier, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, speaking on
the future status of Nagorno Karabakh, said that it will be determined
through negotiations, and perhaps only after the Armenian armed forces
are withdrew from Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijani displaced persons
are returned to their places of residence, the infrastructure is
reconstructed, the peaceful coexistence of Azerbaijani and Armenian
communities to be ensured. The Minister also noted that under the
Constitution of Azerbaijan issues relating to the territorial integrity
of the country are solved by referendum held throughout its territory.

RESOLUTION CITING TURKEY FOR ARMENIAN MASSACRE MAY STILL PASS CONGRESS

World Tribune
March 18 2010

WASHINGTON — Officials said the administration of President Barack
Obama has failed to win a commitment by the Democratic-controlled
Congress to stop a resolution that blamed Turkey for the killing of
1.5 million Armenians during World War I. ShareThis

Ankara has threatened to downgrade relations with Washington, including
defense and military, should the non-binding resolution win approval.

"Congress is an independent body, and they are going to do what they
decide to do," Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon said.

In remarks at the Brookings Institution, Gordon said the administration
has not obtained guarantees from Democratic leaders to block the
Armenian resolution before it reaches the House floor.

Earlier, the State Department assured Turkey of such a commitment.

"The United States and Turkey have made a choice to establish a
partnership, and with that partnership comes important responsibilities
on both sides," Gordon said on March 17. "As two large countries with
broad and diverse interests, we will not always see eye-to-eye on every
issue, but we must never forget the larger outlook that we share."

On March 4, the Armenian resolution passed the House Foreign Affairs
Committee by a 23-22 vote. Hours after the vote, Turkey withdrew its
ambassador from the United States for consultations and warned of a
backlash. U.S. aerospace and defense companies have expressed fears
that they would be denied lucrative Turkish military projects.

"We believe that an engaged, active, and cooperative relationship with
Turkey is an important interest of the United States," Gordon said.

Despite the vote, Gordon said Turkey has not reduced cooperation
with the United States. He did not elaborate, but officials said this
included U.S. military activities in Turkey’s Incirlik air force base.

"I think whatever the differences with Congress on this issue, it
is important that we engage and that we talk about these areas,"
Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said.

In a March 15 address to the Atlantic Council, Steinberg said
Turkey remained a major partner in NATO’s stabilization campaign in
Afghanistan. Washington has urged the government of Prime Minister
Recep Erdogan to expand the Turkish contingent in Afghanistan.

"It’s an important partner in NATO," Steinberg said. "It’s an important
partner in working with us in Iraq, where Turkey continues to play a
very constructive and positive force in helping to move that political
process forward. We think we have a strong and constructive engagement
with Turkey and I hope that the Turkish leadership understands the
strong importance we place on this and continues to work with us to
achieve our common objectives."

ldtribune/WTARC/2010/me_turkey0215_03_18.asp

WHY ARE WE STILL BOWING?
By: David Harsanyi

Washington Examiner
/columns/Why-are-we-still-bowing_-88262892.html
Ma rch 18 2010

March 17, 2010 Not long after President Barack Obama gave his
conciliatory speeches to the Islamic world, he chose not to meddle in
the sham election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. In fact,
he offered not a word of support for the men and women who took to
the streets against that totalitarian regime.

Then, as "man-made disasters" continued to erupt spontaneously
around the world — including at a United States military base —
the administration held steadfast in using non-offensive euphemisms,
lest anyone be slighted by our jingoist need to use words that mean
something.

And when the president was given a chance to fulfill a campaign promise
and acknowledge the genocide of 1.5 million Christian Armenians by
Turks during World War I, he instead did everything he could to block
the resolution.

These days, as Christian farmers are being slaughtered by Muslim
machetes in Nigeria, outrage from the White House is difficult to find
— though it made sure to instruct our Libyan ambassador to apologize
to "Colonel" Moammar Gadhafi after he offered some mildly critical
comments about the dictator’s call for jihad against Switzerland
(true story).

Gadhafi can be forgiven, but there are transgressions that can’t. One
such sin was perpetrated by Israel after the nation’s decision to
allow a new housing project to be built for its citizens in its
capital city, Jerusalem.

The White House became so agitated with the future 1,600-unit housing
project — and the ill-advised timing of the announcement, which came
during Vice President Joe Biden’s visit — that the casual onlooker
might have been led to believe that the Jerusalem neighborhood in
question was part of some unfinished negotiation with Palestinians
or even that it was one of those "settlements." It was neither.

Still, according to The Jerusalem Post, Hillary Clinton telephoned
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who, along with
many other Israeli officials, apologized for the ill timing of the
project’s announcement — to "berate," "rebuke," "warn" and "condemn"
Israel. White House senior adviser David Axelrod used NBC’s "Meet
the Press" to say that the incident was an "affront," an "insult"
and "very, very destructive."

As the administration was manufacturing this anger, the Palestinian
Authority was preparing the newly minted Dalal Mughrabi Square. You
know, just a place for folks to gather and commemorate the 32nd
anniversary of 1978’s Coastal Road Massacre, in which 37 Israelis —
13 of them children — were murdered in a bus hijacking.

An American named Gail Rubin, who happened to be snapping some nature
pictures in the area, also was gunned down.

No worries. No affront taken. That’s not "very, very destructive"
to the process. We are above the fray, above frivolous notions of
"allies" or "friends." History only matters when our enemies deem it
important. We don’t want to tweak the fragile mood of the Arab street.

If the purpose of this manufactured angst is to pressure Israel into
handing parts of Jerusalem over to a corrupt Fatah (we don’t need to
discuss Hamas, which, unlike Fatah, has the decency not to pretend
to recognize Israel’s right to exist), then someone is exhibiting a
profound naivet?. And if the purpose of pursuing a Jewish-free West
Bank is to create good will with the Muslim world, good luck.

It is this administration’s prerogative to change our foreign policy
— and allies. Yet it would be nice if someone reiterated to our new
Muslim friends that the United States has yet to deploy a single
soldier to risk life and limb for the security of Israel. It has,
however — only recently — sent thousands of Americans to perish for,
in part, the cause of Muslim freedom in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo.

That sacrifice alone should be enough to absolve us from any more
bowing — or kowtowing.

Examiner Columnist David Harsanyl is nationally syndicated by Creators
Syndicate

BEELINE TOPS FEBRUARY LIST OF ‘TOP TEN INTERNET PROVIDERS IN ARMENIA’

Tert.am
15:37 ~U 17.03.10

A survey called "Internet in Armenia," jointly conducted by Armenian
web sources rating system Circle.am and B24.am, has revealed that
Beeline mobile phone operator is the leader in a list of top ten
internet providers in February 2010 with 38.48% of the market share.

These results are based on the number of visits that were registered
on Circle.am in February from the IPs of providers and other companies
connected to the AMNet network.

The fact that Beeline tops the list, according to Circle.am, is mainly
accounted for by its the dial-up and ADSL (Hi-Line) services.

Beeline’s mobile internet volume is approximately the same as it is
with the other two mobile phone operators, VivaCell-MTS and Orange
– 11-12%.

Following Beeline is third Armenian operator Orange, which, with 12.27%
of the market share, during its 3 months of operation, has succeeded
in registering results that are quite high for such a short period,
moreover at the expense of mobile internet.

Armenia’s first largest mobile operator VivaCell-MTS follows Orange
on the list holding 11.69% of the market share.

The 4th and 5th companies on the list are ADC (7.76%) and Arminco
(6.83%), followed by Cornet (4.99%), iCON (4.29%) and Ucom (2.38%).

Web appeared to be the 9th company in the list with 1.57% of the
market share followed by Bionet (1.36%).

The top ten Armenian internet providers share 91.62% of internet
visits in the country between them.

UNION OF ARMENIAN ASSOCIATIONS IN SWEDEN COMMENDS ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.03.2010 15:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Chairwoman of The Union of Armenian
Associations in Sweden, Erebouni Arakelian, addressed a letter to
Swedish Parliament Speaker Per Westerberg to express gratitude for
adoption of the resolution recognizing the genocide against Armenians,
Assyrians/Syrians/Chaldeans and Pontic Greeks.

The letter reads: "Honorable Mr. Speaker,

On behalf of our members, the Union of Armenian Associations in Sweden
would hereby express our appreciation for the Riksdag’s recognition
of the 1915 genocide against Armenians, Assyrians/Syrians/Chaldeans
and Pontic Greeks. However, this issue is far from being limited to
these ethnic groups, but concerns the entire humanity. Thus, it must
be recognized openly in order to aid the future generations to take
preventive measures against it.

Many years of silence have passed before the affected ethnic groups
have received a dignified recognition for their sufferings. The
scholarship has finally gathered enough information which proves
the reality of the genocide, which also lays as the basis for the
recognition by some twenty countries, to which the Swedish Riksdag
now has joined. Let others follow Your example.

The history is not negotiable and it is a matter of course that the
Riksdag has chosen to base its decision on the conviction regarding
the existing scholarly research. This was hardly the first time the
issue of recognition has been put on the Riksdag’s agenda. It has
taken more than ten years for the discussion to mature enough so that
the Members of the Parliament can feel convinced of the information
in order to confirm it. This is a sign of the fact that they have
chosen to rely on the accumulated research rather than writing their
own version of the history.

We are assured that the decision will foremost promote democratic
forces inside and outside Turkey as well as the reconciliation process
with Armenia, since the truth does not patronize undemocratic forces
just as well as the fact that covering up of the truth will impossibly
promote democracy and reconciliation."

GENOCIDE EXHIBITION TO OPEN AT URI FEINSTEIN PROVIDENCE CAMPUS GALLERY
By Naomi Kuromiya

/genocide-exhibition-to-open-at-uri-feinstein-prov idence-campus-gallery/
Wed, Mar 17 2010

Over the past few weeks, the elements and details of the commemorative
exhibition "The Armenian Genocide-95 Years Later, In Remembrance"
have been confirmed and finalized. This historically and artistically
important exhibition will mark the 95th anniversary of the atrocities
of the Armenian Genocide and is being curated by Gallery Z director
Berge Ara Zobian, an Armenian of Providence, R.I. Zobian is producing
the show in collaboration with the Urban Arts and Culture Program
of the University of Rhode Island. The exhibit will be on display
from April 1-30 at the URI Feinstein Providence Campus Gallery,
a prominent location expected to draw many thousands of visitors.

The exhibit will be on display from April 1-30 at the URI Feinstein
Providence Campus Gallery, a prominent location expected to draw many
thousands of visitors.

The show features over 100 original works of art by 47 nationally
established artists and 133 pieces by children ages 6-16. Embracing
young artists is a crucial aspect of the show that will help give
them a voice for the future. A number of schools are participating,
including the St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School of Watertown,
Mass., Moorad Armenian School of Providence, and the Sunday School of
Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church of Providence. The artwork by
the children will be from a number of different mediums, but each piece
will answer the question, "What does being an Armenian mean to you?"

In addition to enthusiastic artistic participation, a number of
organizations will be working in conjunction with the show, including
the Armenian Genocide Museum and Institute located in Yerevan and the
Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA) in Watertown, Mass. ALMA
will provide artifacts and materials from their Traveling Genocide
Exhibit. The Naregatsi Art Institute, a non-profit organization
dedicated to preserving Armenian culture through the arts, will be
providing enlightening posters, artwork, and films. Finally, the
Armenian Historical Association of Rhode Island will lend heirlooms
and historical artifacts with references.

There will be two official events celebrating the exhibition: a Gallery
Night opening on Thurs., April 15 from 5-9 p.m., and the main event
on Sat., April 17 from 3-5 p.m. The program for this main event has
now firmly taken shape and will feature a presentation of the Rhode
Island "Genocide Educator of the Year Award" by the founders of the
"Remembering Our Past, Educating Our Future" program, Pauline Getzoyan
and Esther Kalajian. Both have also arranged for two Professional
Development Credits (PDCs) available during the event through the
Rhode Island State Department of Education, providing an excellent
opportunity for educators.

In addition, there will be a number of talented musical and dramatic
performances. The MC for the event will be actor and historical
consultant for the 2002 film "Ararat," Greg Chopoorian, who will
provide an introduction and brief overview of the program. Performer
and singer Arpie Dadoyan will perform a couple of songs from her
album "Sandplay," and musician David Ayiryan will play the kamancha
(an Armenian instrument) accompanied by Maestro Konstantin Petrossian
on piano.

Finally, established Rhode Island actor Armen Garo will perform the
play, "Hishadag’s Return: A Contemplation of the Jewish Holocaust
and the Armenian Genocide," written by Dorothy Abram, a playwright
and professor at Johnson & Wales University. Following the play,
Abram and Chopoorian will host a question and answer session geared
towards educators.

While the historical artifacts and materials of this exhibition will
explore the past and affirm the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide,
much of the artwork will also emphasize the present surviving Armenian
culture and even look towards the future. As the dates of the show
approach, it is exciting to see the wide scope of participation and
support come together to form a great celebration of Armenian history
and culture. Unfortunately, a show of this size and scope has quickly
become an enormously costly venture. While the staff of the show has
received some good responses of financial support, more donations are
still greatly needed to help this important exhibition come to life.

Any donations may be sent to Zobian at 17 Amherst St., Providence,
RI, 02909, memo: Genocide Exhibition.

The exhibition website, , will include
a page with information on related genocide awareness events in Rhode
Island in the upcoming weeks.

For more information, email [email protected].

I. MURADYAN: THE USA WILL RECOGNIZE THE GENOCIDE

Aysor
March 17 2010
Armenia

"The American society and the establishment understand very well that
they should recognize the Armenian Genocide, and this should be done
so that the US dispositions, policy and interests didn’t suffer", –
the political scientist Igor Muradian thinks.

Today on the press conference speaking about the possibility of the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the US Congress he mentioned
that different states, political, religious, even Jewish organizations
as was as the society in America recognized it already.

"The US President will have to put his signature at the end when the
whole American society and authorities will recognize it, this will
surely happen", – he mentioned.

According to I. Muradian the recognition of the Genocide has always
been a way to press on Turkey.

"In the Swedish parliament the passage of Armenian Genocide bill and
then the pardon of the Prime Minister, as well as the statement of
Clinton about the issue not entering Congress were just speculations
which have always been used by the West", – the speaker mentioned.