Author: Tambiyan Samvel

CROATIA PRESIDENT TO PAY AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO ARMENIA IN MAY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
19.05.2009 21:53 GMT+04:00

Newly appointed Croatian Ambassador to Armenia Vesna Tsvetkovich-
Kurelets handed her credentials to RA President Serzh Sargsyan.

Congratulating the diplomat on her new position, RA President
expressed hope that her experience and knowledge will promote further
collaboration between the countries.

Emphasizing Armenia’s interest in strengthening of Armenian – Croatian
relations, RA President sated that scheduled visit of Croatia President
Stepan Mesitch to Armenia testifies to their mutual intention to
develop bilateral relations.

The parties touched upon possible Armenian-Croatian collaboration
within the framework of EU Projects, specifically Eastern Partnership
and EC Black Sea projects.

Serzh Sargsyan gave high assessment to balanced position of Croatia
in South Caucasus issues.

The Ambassador noted that Croatia supports peaceful settlement of
NKR conflict and gives high assessment to the efforts of MG OSCE,
RA President’s Press Service reported.

ANCA CHAIRMAN SHARES ARMENIAN COMMUNITY’S DISAPPOINTMENT WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
19.05.2009 23:22 GMT+04:00

Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Chairman Ken Hachikian
shared with President Barack Obama today the Armenian American
community’s disappointment with his Administration’s failure to honor
his campaign pledges to recognize the Armenian Genocide and to foster
the growth and development of Armenia.

In a May 18th letter to the White House, Hachikian addressed both the
President’s decision not to honor his repeated promises to recognize
the Armenian Genocide, as well as his recent proposal to cut aid to
Armenia by 38% even as he increases overall foreign aid spending and
the level of assistance he seeks to the regions of Europe, Eurasia,
and South/Central Asia.

US administration in his Fiscal Year 2010 International Affairs
budget requested cut aid to Armenia. The budget request also upsets
the balance of military aid parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In particular, the U.S. administration proposes to provide $30 million
in Economic Assistance. Additionally, the budget did not include
funding for Nagorno Karabakh, while in FY 2009 Congress approved
$8 million.

Besides, the Administration’s FY 2010 funding proposal for Foreign
Military Financing calls for $3 million for Armenia and $4 million for
Azerbaijan. The proposed budget also suggests $900,000 for Azerbaijan
versus $450,000 for Armenia in International Military Education and
Training assistance.

VOTING PROBLEMS: UKRAINE AND ARMENIA COMPLAIN
Charlotte Jensen

EuroVisionary
/node/2553
May 19 2009

Ukraine complains about EBU forcing them to announce 8 points to Russia
when they insist that it wasn’t their points and Armenia is saying that
Azerbaijani TV wasn’t showing the voting number for Armenia properly.

Vice-president of the Ukrainian broadcaster, Roman Nedselskij,
says that they have written an official letter to EBU demanding an
explanation to why they were forced to announce 8 points to Russia. He
states that the Ukrainian jury gave no points at all to the Russian
entry and that both jury and TV viewers gave the maximum 12 points to
winning country Norway. This means that the Ukrainian TV viewers could
not have given Russia more than 10 points. With no jury points for
Russia the total result could therefore not be more than 5 points –
maximum. 2 minutes before Ukraine was to announce the points they got
a phone call from EBU telling them the points they had to announce in
the live show – including 8 points for Russia. "We got a shock when we
were told to announce that the Russian representative got incredible 8
points from Ukraine. It was pure manipulation", Roman Nedselskij says.

The Russian representative, Anastasija Prikhodko, is strangely
enough Ukrainian and Svetlana Loboda representing Ukraine is
Russian! Anastasija has however made herself unpopular in her home
country when she was disqualified in the Ukrainian national final
and afterwards apparently sent an official letter to the president
complaining about it!

Armenia and Azerbaijan aren’t the best of friends and this year’s
Eurovision Song Contest is not going to change that. The Armenian
broadcaster is accusing its neighbor country of deliberately
obstructing the number Azerbaijanis should call to vote for
Armenia. Armenia got no points from Azerbaijan while they themselves
awarded AySel & Arash with 1 point.

BELARUS TO ASSUME SCTO CHAIRMANSHIP IN JULY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
18.05.2009 21:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said he
hopes for the develop SCTO activities during Belarus chairmanship.

He noted that Collective Security Treaty Organization Council meeting
will be held in Moscow in the middle of July, when Belarus will assume
SCTO chairmanship, BELTA reported.

CALIFORNIA ARMENIAN BUSINESSMAN FOUND DEAD IN ARMENIA

nia-armenian-businessman-found-dead-in-armenia/
Ma y 18th, 2009

A U.S. businessman of Armenian descent has been found dead in Armenia
three weeks after disappearing in unclear circumstances.

Nazareth Berberian, 57, reportedly went missing after leaving his
apartment in downtown Yerevan late on April 25. His car was found
abandoned in the parking lot of the Zvartnots international airport,
10 kilometers south of the capital, several days later. Earlier this
month, Berberian’s California-based wife and children promised a
$250,000 reward for information about his whereabouts.

The Armenian police said at the weekend that they have found the
businessman’s body bearing "traces of violence" in a ravine near a
section of a highway 25 kilometers north of Yerevan.

In a written statement, the police indicated that they have already
identified suspects in Berberian’s kidnapping and subsequent
murder. "In the interests of the investigation, circumstances of
the case and names of the perpetrators of the crime will not be
disclosed [for now,]" the statement said. A source familiar with the
investigation told RFE/RL that the police have already made at least
one arrest.

A native of Armenia, Berberian moved back to the country in 1999 and
engaged in a range of business activities there. His assets included
a carpet factory in a village in the southern Ararat region. His
Linareh company was also building a hotel in a prime location in
central Yerevan.

"Friends and family have affirmed that Mr. Berberian has no known
enemies and that he has been conducting business in Armenia since
1999 without any problem," the Shahan Natalie Family Foundation, an
Armenian-American charity, said in a statement released on behalf of
them on May 7.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION TAKES PART IN ECONOMY FORUM IN ATHENS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
18.05.2009 23:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On May 18 in the fringes of 17th OSCE Economic and
Environmental Forum the final meeting "Migration management and its
connection with the strategy in economy, social and environmental
spheres" started.

Greece’s foreign minister and chairwoman of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Dora Bakoyanni and OSCE
Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut held speeches.

Discussions have been continued at work sessions. Forum will work by
May 20. Armenian delegation includes Armenian ambassador to Greece
Vahram Kazhoyan, head of international organizations department of
RA foreign ministry Dzyunik Aghajanian and deputy head of migration
agency of the ministry of territorial administration Davit Hakobyan,
foreign ministry press office reports.

CALIFORNIA’S OLDEST ARMENIAN CHURCH TO HOLD 112TH MEMORIAL DAY PICNIC

Visalia Times-Delta
/NEIGHBORHOODS02/905170302/1002/NEWS01
May 18 2009
CA

Fresno’s First Armenian Presbyterian Church will mark Memorial Day
2009 by holding its 112th Annual Picnic in the heartland of the
Golden State.

The picnic will take place on Monday, May 25, 2009, from 11 a.m. to
3 p.m. in the Central Unified Aquatics Complex, 3535 North Cornelia
Avenue at Dakota Avenue in Fresno. The Complex is located at the
Central high School East Campus, one and one-half miles west of State
Highway 99.

Dedicated in the millennium, the Complex features enclosed and open-air
waterslides leading to a spacious landing pool. An adjacent zero-entry
activity pool includes a host of water novelties for swimmers and
waders of all ages. Red Cross-certified lifeguards will monitor the
pools and slides. Shaded canopies, a lush terrace, and a snack/beverage
bar round out the venue.

An all-new picnic menu will feature half-pound, all-beef hamburgers
with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and sliced onions for $4.50 per person
and Miller smokehouse hot dogs with chopped onions for $4.00 per
person.

Each meal includes a soda or bottled water, chips, veggie sticks,
and classic dessert. Additional condiments and beverages will be
available for nominal amounts. Meals are available on a dine-in or
take-out basis and will be served from noon until 2:30 p.m.

In addition to water sports and dining, the picnic will include
games for kids, softball for youth and adults, and country music for
everyone. The picnic will conclude at 3 p.m. with the observance of
the national Moment of Remembrance, an act of national unity in which
all Americans, alone or with family and friends, honor those who died
for the freedoms of our republic.

Forty immigrants from Marsovan chartered the First Armenian
Presbyterian Church in the upper room of historic Nicholls’s Hall on
July 25, 1897. Embracing the ideals of their newly-adopted country,
the pioneering immigrants observed Decoration Day, predecessor of
Memorial Day, from the inception of the church.

Reverend Mgrdich Melkonian is the Senior Pastor of the Congregation,
Reverend Aren Balabanian is the Associate Pastor, Shant Barsoumian,
M.Div. is the Pastoral Intern, and Brian and Janalee Melikian
are Co-Chairs of the Memorial Day Picnic Committee. More picnic
information is available by calling (559) 237-6638 prior to the
event, (559) 285-5644 on the day of the event, or by e-mailing
[email protected].

FAPC is a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and
the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America.

MINISTRY OF EMERGENCY AFFAIRS RECOMMENDS AGAINST OPENING WINDOWS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
14.05.2009 21:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Ministry on Emergency Situations recommends people
living in the nerighborhood of Nayirit not to open windows. According
to available information, there are no threats of contamination;
windows should be closed not to let smoke in.

Today, about 18:40 p.m. local time, two explosions occurred in
Nairit Plant CJCS, specialized in production of synthetic rubber. The
explosions were followed by fire. 15 minutes later, 9 fire brigades
arrived in the scene of action. Territories surrounding the plant
are closed; no traffic movement is allowed.

Elmira Gevoprgyan, Head physician of Ambulance Service’s emergency
department confirmed the death of 5 persons as a result of explosions
and fire in Nairit. According to her, the bodies of two vicitms were
moved from territory after arrival of fire birgade and Ambulance. Later
two persons with different degrees of burns were moved to Erebuni
medical centre. Ms. Gevorgyan confirmed death reports of 3 more
individuals.

According to available information, 20 more people still remain
in fire.

NEW WATERWAY IN BERDASHEN

NKR Government Information and Public Relations Department
May 14, 2009

On May 13, the delegation of the All Armenian Fund "Hayastan" was in
Martouni region. The opening of Berdashen village waterway constructed
jointly by the efforts of the Fund and the NKR Government was the
matter of the visit. The NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan and
Spiritual Leader of Artsakh Diocese Archbishop Paregev Martirosyan,
Ara Vardanyan the Acting Executive Director of the All Armenian Fund
"Hayastan" and a group of trustees, assessors and responsible officials
of the Fund have shared Berdashen inhabitants’ joys.

The issue of water supply for the village and its inhabitants has
enough "deep roots". The Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan had assured
the people that all the other problems of the community will be
gradually settled as well.

For making the programme a reality means were provided by the
"Hayastan" All Armenian Fund’s local body of Argentine and an honour to
cut up the red band was given to its assessor Khorhke Myurekyan. The
consecration ceremony was conducted by Spiritual Leader of Artsakh
Diocese.

The inhabitants of the village Berdashen have got an opportunity
of water supply 3-4 days per a week. Successful realization of the
programme is an evidence of efficient cooperation between the NKR
Government and the Fund. The Acting Executive Director of the Fund
also confirmed this fact.

The programme will not be limited to the village’s water supply only;
works on accomplishment of inner water network have been already
started.

FASSIER TO DISCUSS REGIONAL SITUATION WITH ARMENIAN LEADERSHIP

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
14.05.2009 12:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ French Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassador
Bernard Fassier is currently Yerevan to meet with Armenian leadership.

"It’s my fourth regional visit during the past 45 days," he told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Today, Amb. Fasiser will meet with RA President Serzh Sargsyan and
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. Afterwards, he will depart for
Tbilisi, Baku and Ankara.

The purpose of the visit is to discuss the current situation in
Caucasus.

Amb. Fassier did not comment on the outcomes of presidential talks
in Prague but voiced hope that the sides in the Karabakh conflict
will demonstrate understanding.

"Things are not bad, but they could be better," he said.

He reminded that 15 years have passed since signature of Bishkek
protocol on ceasefire, which was concluded to a certain extent thanks
to the efforts of Ambassador Vladimir Kazimirov.