Author: Tambiyan Samvel

AGBU Press Office
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PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday, June 6, 2006

HYE GEEN CO-HOSTS CONFERENCE ON ARMENIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ISSUES

On April 8, 2006, AGBU Hye Geen hosted a conference entitled, “The
Status of Armenian Communities Living in the United States” at the
California State University of Los Angeles (CSULA). Co-organized by
Hye Geen’s newly formed Forum for Armenian Cultural and Social Studies
(FACSS) and CSULA’s School of Social Work, the event attracted over
140 people, including students, scholars and interested community
members.

The all-day conference consisted of a diverse program that included
presentations by nine prominent speakers, as well as remarks from Sona
Yacoubian, Hye Geen Chairwoman and Nayiri Nahabedian, FACSS
Chairwoman. Featured speakers shared their expertise from a variety of
professional backgrounds in the fields of psychology, art and
medicine. Hye Geen’s objectives for the conference were to bring
together researchers, educators and community groups in order to
examine social and cultural issues facing Armenians in the U.S. today,
and to build a network of professionals serving Armenian communities.

In the sphere of psychology, keynote speaker, Professor Hagop
Der-Karabetian, PhD, discussed Armenian Communities in context of
Armenian ethnic identity, while Lisa Arslanian, PhD, lectured on
Armenian cultural attitudes and beliefs in a psychological
context. Mary Harutunian, Psychology Doctoral candidate, discussed
Armenian women’s sexuality. Marriage and Family Therapist, Shakeh
Yegavian, spoke about traditional Armenian values and their impact on
Armenian-American couples.

Houri Keshishian, MA and teacher at the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian
School in Canoga Park, California, spoke about identity issues for
immigrant Armenian-American youth. Professor of Social Work, Rita
Ladesma, PhD, discussed the bonds between culture and notions of a
homeland.

To present a varied number of perspectives, the conference also
included cultural entrepreneur Stepan Partamian, who offered his ideas
on Armenian communities from his media experience, emphasizing the
social and cultural struggles of Armenians living in the United
States.

In the field of medicine, nurse Loucine Daderian Huckabay, PhD, shared
her knowledge of health issues impacting Armenian-American immigrants,
while Dr. Jack Der-Sarkissian, family practitioner as well as amateur
historian and musician, lectured on Western musical perspectives of
the Armenian Genocide.

The conference was dedicated to AGBU’s Centennial, as well as the 12th
Anniversary of the founding of AGBU Hye Geen.

Part of the AGBU Southern California District, AGBU Hye Geen preserves
and honors the achievements of Armenian women around the world,
promotes the role of women in family and society through research,
education and advocacy and provides overall support for the
empowerment of women as guardians of the Armenian heritage. For more
information on AGBU Hye Geen, please call the AGBU Pasadena Center at
(626) 794-7942.

To find out more about AGBU events or to view the accompanying photos
online, please visit

COULD MEDIATORS CURTAIL BAKU’S MILITARISM?

Yerkir.am
June 02, 2006

Armenian and Azeri presidents are scheduled to meet on June 4 in
Bucharest on the sidelines of the Black Sea Dialogue and Partnership
Summit. This will be the second meeting of the presidents on Karabakh
conflict this year. The discussion is expected to produce a one-page
‘paper’ on the principles of the conflict settlement.

Armenian FM Vardan Oskanian said that if the parties come to an
agreement the ‘paper’ would become a document. But he ruled out that
the presidents would sing under any document.

In contrast to the Rambouillet meeting earlier this year, there is
no significant activeness this time. Mediators, too, voice just a
cautious optimism.

The statement the Minsk Group co-chairs made in Baku and Yerevan is
vigilant. ” The time has come for the both sides to reach an agreement
about the principles of the conflict settlement,” this was the key
of their statements.

Further, they said that “we are at a stage when mutually favorable
agreement is possible. Whether this is going to happen depends on
Armenia and Azerbaijan.”

This vigilance is apparently due to the uncompromising stance of
Azerbaijan.

Despite Armenia’s willingness to soften its position and announced
it was ready to discuss the consequences of the conflict if Baku
recognized the right of the Karbakh people to self-determination,
Azerbaijan, like before, shows no signs of making even a half-step
towards easing its toughness. Everyone there is waiting for the
international community to deliver everything to them, including
Karabakh. Baku is even threatening to resume the war. But this is
what the mediators don’t have on their minds.

At least, for now. Therefore, the co-chairs, who seem not to have
special illusions of a breakthrough in the forthcoming meeting in
Bucharest, are seeking to get assurances of the conflicting sides
that they would stick to the peaceful plans of the settlement; and
first of all from militarism-driven Azerbaijan. In his congratulatory
message to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Azerbaijan’s Day of
Independence on May 27, US President George W. Bush poi nted out that
he is looking forward to the Azeri president’s continuations to seek
peaceful settlement for the conflict.

The same idea was in French President Jacque Chirac’s message:
“The peaceful settlement of the conflict has no alternative; it is
important to Armenia, Azerbaijan and the entire region,” Chirac said
when meeting with Aliyev in Paris on May 29.

WHAT MAY PRIVATIZATION OF LAND BY FOREIGNERS END UP WITH?

Lragir.am
02 June 06

The National Assembly of Karabakh made changes to the land
legislation, enabling foreigners to own the land they formerly could
only rent.

`I think this is a quite positive thing, and hence NKR offered a
serious bid for `peaceful and creative’ work. This is a significant
step and a guideline for a country, which is living under martial
law. Hence, we assert our readiness to meet external challenges and we
have sufficient ground for it. At the same time, it may be
dangerous. On the one hand, it is a necessary and justified step for a
country which has adopted market relations. On the other hand, the
lack of definite and tried mechanisms of self-regulation of the market
may lead to a land market regulated by administrative methods. I am
afraid these changes may lead to the emergence or legalization of
latifundists.

Whereas, the goal should be the development of farms and prosperity of
rural communities. The experience will show one way or another how the
land market will be developing in our country, and hopefully it will
be possible to improve it gradually,’ said Member of Parliament Gegham
Baghdasaryan.

Vahram Atanesyan, Chair of the Committee of External Relations, also
thinks that these changes will not do any harm to the people of
Karabakh. Since the area of land rented by foreigners is not great,
these changes are not dangerous, he said.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN MINISTER OF
KAZAKHSTAN IN ASTANA

ASTANA, JUNE 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian is on a two-day official visit to the Republic of
Kazakhstan on June 1-2. During a meeting with the Foreign Minister of
Kazakhstan Kasimzhomart Tokayev on June 1, the sides discussed a
number of issues of bilateral and international importance. The
meeting participants stated their satisfaction at the current level of
political relations between the two countries. They expressed mutual
interest in further extension of economic cooperation, which is
promoted by activities of the Armenian-Kazakh intergovernmental
economic commission, as well as by the legal field formed and the
absence of political disagreements between Armenia and
Kazakhstan. Minister Oskanian attached importance to meetings of
Armenian and Kazakh businessmen and to cultural events in both
coutries in terms of activization of bilateral trade and economic
links and offering the two peoples an opportunity to know each other
better. The ministers pointed out the importance of mutually
beneficial cooperation within the framework of the CIS, Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Eurasian Economic Cooperation,
as well as various international organizations. The meeting
participants paid special attention to energy and transport
problems. In this connection Minister Tokayev presented Kazakhstan’s
position on the issue of the country’s involvement in a number of
regional programs, particularly in Caspian regional projects. Taking
into account the fact that Kazakhstan intends to hold the OSCE
Chairmanship in 2009, V. Oskanian presented to the Kazakh foreign
minister the recent developments of Karabakh conflict’s peaceful
settlement. At the conclusion of the meeting, Minister Oskanian
invited his Kazakh counterpart to pay a visit to Armenia at a time
suitable for him. On the same day, the Armenian foreign minister had a
meeting with the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and made
a speech before students of the Institute of Diplomacy. According to
the RA MFA Press and Information Department, Minister Oskanian will
meet with members of the Armenian community in Almaty on June 2, after
which he will return to Armenia.

JAMAICA DRAW WITH UAE AT CHESS OLYMPIAD

Jamaica Observer, Jamaica
May 31 2006

TURIN, Italy (CMC) – Trinidad & Tobago provided the Caribbean with
its only win as Barbados and Cuba suffered losses on Day 8 at the
37th World Chess Olympiad on Monday.

It was not a rewarding day either for Jamaica, Haiti, Surinam or the US
Virgin Islands, who were all held to draws by the United Arab Emirates,
Brunei Darussalam, Honduras and Rwanda, respectively.

T&T, who have played erratically like most of the Caribbean teams
participating in the tournament, beat Thailand 2-1 to move to 16
points and into 81st place in the standings.

Barbados experienced their most disappointing result to date, going
down 3-1 to the Italian C team, a squad comprising mainly juniors.

The Italians benefited from unbelievable one-move blunders from two
of Barbados’ most experienced players, FIDE Masters Delisle Warner
and Dr Philip Corbin.

Warner’s mistake caused him to checkmate in two moves while Corbin was
actually checkmated, something that occurs very rarely at this level.

International Master Kevin Denny and Terry Farley drew their matches
against some International Master Spartaco Sarno and FIDE Master
Pierluigi Piscopo to rescue pride for the Barbadians.

Cuba, meanwhile, went down 3-1 to the Armenians, Dominican Republic
won 3-0 against Malta while the British Virgin Islands beat Aruba, 2-1.

Armenia extended their lead by moving to 24 points, while Russia and
Ukraine share second position with 22 points.

ISAKOV AVENUE TO BE FULLY RENOVATED THIS YEAR
By Karine Danielian

AZG Armenian Daily
31/05/2006

Frunze Basentsian, head of the Utility Department at the Yerevan
Municipality, informed at that soon they will begin renovation works
of the Isakov Avenue. The Isakov Avenue will be made a highway that
will lead from Yerevan to “Zvartnots” airport.

It is also envisaged that the gambling houses and the furniture
shops will be separated from the streets by iron decorative walls. In
general, there are 81 objects on the road that have passed the allowed
line for the construction. All of the owners of these shops and other
buildings are warned about coming destruction. New roads 6,5 meters
wide will pass by these buildings. Another 7 meters wide highway
leading to the airport will be constructed.

In general, it is envisaged that AMD 5,1 billion of construction
works will be done in this sphere.

Besides, AMD 755 million will be spent on reconstruction of damaged
buildings. 11 more damaged buildings will be underpinned this year. In
total, there are 72 damaged buildings in Yerevan. By end August,
the specialist will complete the elaboration of the reconstruction
plans of these buildings.

Besides, AMD 2,4 billions will be allocated for the asphalt works of
the Yerevan streets. Basentsyan assured that the illumination will
be resorted in 13 more streets, including the territory stretching
from the Davitashen bridge to the orchards of Arabkir district.

NEW TIMES PARTY ON WITHDRAWAL OF RUSSIAN BASES FROM GEORGIA: WHEN RUSSIANS GO AWAY, ARMENIANS HAVE TO DO THE SAME

Regnum, Russia
May 30 2006

The New Tinmes opposition party has held a sanctioned rally in Yerevan
under slogan “Attention to Javakh.” “We do not want to interfere into
Georgia’s internal affairs, our task is to tell the Armenian government
that after Russian military withdraw from Georgia, social, economic
and demographic situation of Armenians living there would worsen,”
leader of the Party Aram Karapetyan announced during the rally.

According to him, a negative trend for Armenians can be seen in the
post-Soviet territory: “When Russians leave, Armenians have to follow
them.” “So, in Javakh (Samtskhe-Javakheti – REGNUM) up to several
thousand Meskhetian Turks can settle, in the long run, Javakh can be
taken under control of Georgian troops,” Aram Karapetyan noted.

After the rally, the participants marched to the Foreign Ministry,
then to the Armenian Government, where Aram Karapetyan gave appeal
of the Attention to Javakh Action participants to officials of these
agencies. A copy of the appeal was given to Ambassador of Georgia in
Armenia Revaz Gachicheladze. The message particularly presents two
claims to the Armenian authorities. First, “to increase substantially
finances allocated for settlement of social and economic, cultural
problems of the Javakh Armenians.” Besides, the New Times Party claim
for “discussing multilaterally and achieve a positive solution to
all vital issues about which Javakh Armenians are concerned, up to
signing a bilateral agreement on border delimitation.”

Late March Tbilisi and Moscow signed two agreements concerning time
limits for withdrawal of Russian military bases and transit of the
armaments. The Base from Akhalkalaki will be withdrawn from Georgia
by the end of 2007, and the Batumi base by the end of 2008.

HEAD OF THE UKRAINIAN MILITARY FORCES HEADQUARTER DENIED INFORMATION ABOUT SUPPLYING ARMOUR TO AZERBAIJAN

Yerevan, May 24. ArmInfo. Ukraine is a state friendly to Armenia,
stated on a press conference Head of the Headquarter of Military
Forces of Ukraine Sergey Kirichenko, answering whether Ukraine
supplies armour to Azerbaijan, which has been long violating the
Agreement about Common Armor in Europe.

Mr. Kirichenko reminded that the peoples of Armenia and Ukraine
have been close friends throughout the history and the present high
level of relations between the two states is a brilliant example of
that friendship. He assured that not a single tank or missile was
officially transported from Ukraine to Azerbaijan and advised the
asking reporter to address to corresponding structures in case he
possesses information from serious sources.

NATO WAITS FOR ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT

Lragir.am
25 May 06

NATO is waiting for the government of Armenia to open an information
center of NATO in Yerevan, said the special representative of the
Secretary General of NATO on the South Caucasus Robert Simons on May
23 in Yerevan. He said that NATO is likely to open an information
center but the problem of premises is a problem that the government
of Armenia must solve. Simons announced that NATO would help to solve
the other problems if the government solved the problem of premises.

It is notable that Robert Simons spoke about opening this center
during his visit to Yerevan in November. At that time he discussed
this question with the government of Armenia. In fact, the problem
of premises has not been solved yet, however.

GAROYAN WRITES HISTORY

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22-05-2006

Marios Garoyan becomes the first Cypriot Armenian to be elected in
the Cyprus Parliament. Garoyan won a seat (Democratic Party (DIKO)
of President Tassos Papadopoulos) in the Nicosia district.

Unfortunately M.Sarkissian (communist AKEL) did not manage to win in
the Limassol disctrict.

Most of the parties comprising the ruling coalition administration
gained ground in Cyprus’ parliamentary elections Sunday, but the
island’s two main rival parties lost seats and a smaller party chief
resigned after he failed to enter the House of Representatives.

In all, 487 candidates challenged the 56 seats in parliament, a mainly
legislative and non-executive body, while the island-state’s president
is elected directly by the people.

The main coalition partner, the communist AKEL, shed 3.4 percentage
points from its voters and polled 31.2 per cent of the votes, entering
parliament with 18 deputies, two less than in the previous assembly,
while the opposition party Democratic Rally (DISY) won 30.3 per cent
of the votes, shedding 3.7 percentage points to lose a seat and will
now have 18 deputies in the House.

The clear winner in these elections is the Democratic Party (DIKO)
of President Tassos Papadopoulos that raised its voter strength
by three percentage points to 17.9 per cent and gained a new seat,
rising to 10 deputies.

Political analysts say that this outcome will also boost Papadopoulos
party which will have enough public support to seek a second term
in office in 2008, while coalition partner AKEL, though still the
biggest party, has now lesser chances of putting forward its own
candidate for president.

The social-democrat EDEK, which has two ministers in Papadopoulos’
present cabinet, also improved despite earlier predictions of a
loss, earning 8.9 per cent of the votes and five seats, gaining one
new deputy.

The European Party (Evroko) – created by four deputies who left DISY
two years ago and merged with the nationalist New Horizons and the
single-seat ADIK – recorded a marginal gain to 5.7 per cent with four
seats in the new parliament.

The Green Party/Ecologist Movement made no gains, ending the day with
1.9 per cent of the vote and just one seat, while the party had been
hopeful it would get a second deputy.

The United Democrats (EDI) of former president George Vassiliou was
the biggest loser of the day, failing to reach the threshold of 1.8
per cent in order to enter the House of Representatives.

The party’s present president, Michalis Papapetrou, handed in his
resignation and called for an early party congress in June to elect
a new leadership.

‘It’s a shame that our policies were not accepted by the public,’
Papapetrou said, referring to EDI’s open support of the United Nations
peace plan, dubbed the Annan Plan, that was rejected by the majority
of the Greek Cypriot community in April 2004.