Author: Vardapetian Ophelia

WEC 48: MANNY GAMBURYAN SAYS HE’S GOING TO DO "GENOCIDE" ON MIKE BROWN
Erik Fontanez

Bleacher Report
April 21 2010

Vote Now! – Author Poll Who wins this fight?

Mike Brown Manny Gamburyan Undecided vote to see results World Extreme
Cagefighting is set to make it’s Pay-Per-View debut this weekend with
a stacked card full of exciting fights and explosive fighters.

>From bottom to top, the card is something one can get anxious for.

It’s not only the fans that are stoked for this card, but also the
fighters.

The move from the Versus cable network to Pay-Per-View is a huge
turning point for the WEC and could be the beginning of a number
of broadcasts for a premium, which translates to bigger purses and
larger venues.

One fighter in particular, has seen the grand stage before–that
fighter is Manvel "The Anvil" Gamburyan.

During a brief time in the UFC, by way of The Ultimate Fighter reality
series, the Armenian born fighter competed in the 155-pound division.

Now, 10 pounds lighter, Gamburyan fights in the WEC’s featherweight
division and has won both his fights since making his debut in the
organization 10 months ago.

Bleacher Report MMA was recently able to sit and talk with Manny about
his fight and how big of an impact it is for the WEC to move to PPV.

"It’s a big move, bro," said Gamburyan. "I’m proud of them, you know?

It’s was their goal. They got a lot of good fights out there like
myself and Brown, Donald Cerronne and Ben Henderson in the main event.

I’m a big fan of the sport, also. I really want to see Jose Aldo
against Urijah Faber. It’s going to be fireworks."

Gamburyan is scheduled to go against former featherweight champ Mike
Brown; a tough test for any 145-pounder.

You think someone with a name like "Anvil" feels pressure going into
the promotion’s first Pay-Per-View against such tough opposition?

Probably not.

"First of all, there is no pressure in my fights. I just look at a
fight. Any fight is a fight, you know? I can’t take anything away
from Brown. He’s a gamer. I respect him as a person. Right now he’s
my enemy, but it doesn’t mean he’s a bad guy."

What Manvel has over all the other combatants on this card is that
it coincides with an anniversary that is close to his heart.

April 24th is Genocide Remembrance Day for the Armenian community
and this adds additional fuel to the fire that burns inside of Manny
Gamburyan.

"It’s a special day for me," said Manny when talking about what it
means to compete on this particular date. "Do or die, man. I’m a die
out there, bro. I’m a do everything [so] I can win."

With that win, Gamburyan can be next in line for a shot at the
organization’s featherweight title.

Some may say that this fight is used to gauge if Manny is ready for
the big show and a shot at the Aldo-Faber winner.

When asked if he agrees with that assessment, Gamburyan replied, "Oh
yeah, definitely… I need the W, and a good W. If I can finish him,
that’ll be perfect. I’m going to get a W. I guarantee, I’m going to
get a W. Winner of me and him, I’m pretty sure is going to be next
in line for a title shot."

Who would that shot come against?

Of course, we won’t know until WEC 48’s featherweight title fight
between champion Jose Aldo and challenger Urijah Faber.

As far as a preference is concerned, Gamburyan said, "I’d rather
fight the unbeatable, Jose Aldo, but my prediction is Urijah Faber,
in this one."

Before he can get to the title fight, Manny will have to get through
a tough obstacle in Mike Brown.

The former featherweight champ became the division king be defeating
Urijah Faber and successfully defended against "The California Kid"
in their rematch.

How does he plan to beat an opposition with such a great track record?

Intensity, that’s how.

"I’m going to be all over the place; be in his face for 15 minutes,"
said Gamburyan about his plan of attack. "I’m working on my
wrestling. I got tons of good wrestlers, Olympians, world champions,
world class wrestling, big dudes. I got everything at my camp."

The preparation has the young Armenian pumped and ready for action
to the point of systematic annihilation of his opponent.

"Better be ready April 24th. I’m gonna do genocide!"

H. DEMOYAN:"TSITSERNAKABERD IS THE HALF OF YEREVAN’S GREEN AREA"

Aysor
April 20 2010
Armenia

"Tsitsernakaberd makes the half of the green area of the capital city
and the mission of the Earth’s Day is tended to the preservation of
the green areas and their enlargement," Hayk Demoyan the head of the
Genocide Museum-Institute said speaking about the establishment of the
"Park of Memories" in Tsitsernakaberd area.

The initiation is being realized by the Wild Nature Fund and the
support of the "VivaCell-MTS" company together with the Genocide
institute-museum. The planting of the "Park of Memories" will be
realized with 95 and more seedlings brought from the West Armenia.

In his speech Hayk Demoyan informed that there are more than 100
hectares of green areas which is a serious responsibility. Each of
us should feel responsible for the preservation of our ecology and
its security in our country because without the green areas all the
rest is temporal and material.

Speaking about the cultural contribution of the museum H. Demoyan
also said that they are going to excavate the half excavated
Tsitsernakaberd, this project is one of the first to be realized by
the museum.

SERZH SARGSYAN MEETS WITH HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 21, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan who
was in Moscow on a short working visit met April 20 with the Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev. This is the third meeting of the Armenian
and Russian presidents.

Presidential press office told Armenpress that welcoming his Armenian
counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev said: "Within the framework of our
regular contacts with Armenia today we meet to discuss the current
situation, bilateral relations, regional and international issues. The
circumstance that we are doing it with such jealousy frequency and
in regular way, it is very important to maintain the high level of
trust existing between the two states and the spirit of strategic
partner which has always been and I hope will always be peculiar to
our states."

President Serzh Sargsyan thanked for the invitation and noted:
"After our latest meeting foreign ministries of the two states,
other establishments, inter-governmental commission continued working
enthusiastically."

Serzh Sargsyan viewed the regular meeting with the Russian president as
a good opportunity to discuss certain issues of the agenda, regional
security issues, process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations and negotiations over the Karabakh conflict settlement.

Armenian President congratulated the Russian president on the opening
of powerful scientific-innovative center describing it as a very good
step. Serzh Sargsyan also said that Armenian government is actively
working with the Russian embassy toward the restoration of memorial
complex which immortalizes the memory of the Russian officers killed
in the Armenian-Turkish war. The Armenian president once again thanked
his Russian counterpart for the 500 million USD credit provided to
Armenia a year ago, pointing out that the positive results of it come
forth today: "in the first quarter we registered 5.5% GDP growth".

The two presidents also discussed the agenda of bilateral relations,
exchanged thoughts over a number of regional and international issues.

They agreed to continue the dialogue on all the levels, and during
the coming visit of the Russian president to Armenia as well.

"GREAT PAIN" GETTING DEEPER AND DEEPER: TURKISH INTELLECTUALS CALL ON TURKEY TO COMMEMORATE VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Panorama.am
20/04/2010

In a written address called "This is Our Pain. This is a Mourning
for All of Us" a group of Turkish intellectuals called on the Turkish
society to rally at 7pm on April 24 on the Taksim square in Istanbul
to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, according
to a Turkish website. The address runs as follows:

"In 1915, when we had a population of only 13 million people, there
were 1,5 to 2 million Armenians living on this land in Thrace,
in the Aegean, in Adana, in Malatya, in Van, in Kars…In Samatya,
in Å~^iÅ~_li, in the Islands, in Galata…

They were the grocer in our neighborhood, our tailor, our goldsmith,
our carpenter, our shoemaker, our farmhand, our millwright, our
classmate, our teacher, our officer, our private, our deputy, our
historian, our composer…Our friend. Our next-door neighbours and
our companion in bad times. In Thrace, in the Aegean, in Adana, in
Malatya, in Van, in Kars…In Samatya, in Å~^iÅ~_li, Ä°n the Islands,
in Galata…

On April 24th, 1915 they were "rounded up". We lost them. They are
not here anymore. A great majority of them do not exist anymore. Nor
do their graveyards. There EXISTS the overwhelming "Great Pain" that
was laid upon the qualms of our conscience by the "Great Catastrophe".

It’s getting deeper and deeper for the last 95 years.

We call upon all peoples of Turkey who share this heartfelt pain
to commemorate and pay tribute to the victims of 1915 in black,
in silence, with candles and flowers..

For this is OUR pain. This is a mourning for ALL OF US."

FLAT PROVIDING PROJECT TO THE FAMILIES OF PERISHED SOLDIERS WILL BE FULLY FINISHED WITHIN 8 MONTHS

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
April 16, 2010

Today at the session of flat projects’ coordination state commission
a positive decision was given to the question of providing 39 families
of perished soldiers in Artsakh’s war with flats in Stepanakert. Head
of the commission, Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan mentioned that
the project will be fully finished within 8 months.

Minister of Social Welfare Narine Astsatryan took floor with
information about the process of work realized by the means foreseen
by the state order project of capital investments.

The houses of 5 perished soldiers’ families in Martouni, Askeran and
Martakert will be reconstructed and repaired.

2 parentless children living in Stepanakert will be provided with
one-room flats. A flat in Shoushi (str Varanda,flat 22) will be
repaired and disposed to 3 parentless children living in guardianship.

4 immigrated families will be provided with flats in the town Shoushi.

Housing problems of 3 immigrated families in Khnapat, Shekher and
Hartashen will be solved in the nearest future.

The newly built houses in Mataghis (region Martakert) and Norashen
(region Hadrout) will be disposed to immigrated families on a 10-year
contractual basis.

Prime Minister assigned a task to find out whether all the members
of the f amily live in the house, otherwise take necessary measures.

AUTOMATIC STATIONS IN YEREVAN TO MEASURE AIR POLLUTION DEGREE

/ARKA/
April 19, 2010
YEREVAN

Armenian nature protection minister Aram Harutyunian said today
automatic stations will be set up in all administrative districts
of Yerevan to measure the degree of air pollution caused by motor
vehicle. He said currently there are five such stations in Yerevan.

Speaking at a news conference he said the stations will work in a
real time regime. This will allow to get connected to the united
system to control air pollution levels.

He said several air pollution monitoring stations operating in
different parts of the republic allow to control the level of surface
ozone and dust concentration in atmosphere. He said to reduce to
minimum the air pollution by cars the government has banned import
of vehicles without neutralizing filters.

BOYAJIAN: TURKEY’S HENCHMEN: MASS MEDIA BUTCHER THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
David Boyajian

Armenian Weekly
Mon, Apr 19 2010

Most reporters and other journalists in the mass media failed to do
due diligence and misled their audiences regarding last month’s U.S.

House Foreign Affairs Committee vote in favor of Resolution 252,
which would reaffirm the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23.

Nearly all media, prior to and after the vote, falsely said or implied
that the House and the federal government had never before recognized
the Armenian Genocide.

The full House, in fact, passed resolutions in 1975 and 1984 that
acknowledged the Armenian Genocide as "genocide." Proclamation 4838
by President Ronald Reagan in 1981 also affirmed the veracity of the
genocide. In 1996, the House limited economic aid to Turkey until it
recognized the genocide.

In a brief filed with the International Court of Justice (World Court)
at The Hague in 1951, the U.S. government cited just two genocides
in modern times: the one committed by Turkey against Armenians and
that committed by Nazi Germany.

Even when told of these earlier Armenian Genocide acknowledgments,
few media reported them. Significantly, after each such genocide
reaffirmation, Ankara’s threats of retaliation against Washington
amounted to nothing and were quickly forgotten. No reporter, it
appears, has ever bothered to mention this fact.

For Turkey to complain obsessively about the House committee’s vote
reaffirming the Armenian Genocide makes little sense considering that
the U.S. has already recognized that genocide at least five times.

Incredibly, it appears that no mainstream journalist has ever asked
Turkish leaders for an explanation, not that they could provide a
coherent one.

At the same time, the media obligingly volunteered their ideas about
how Turkey could (or is it should?) retaliate, such as shutting down
a NATO airbase or preventing American troops exiting Iraq to transit
Turkey. Nonsensically, journalists implicitly portrayed America as
having no leverage against Turkey and as being at its mercy.

Just the opposite is true. Ankara depends heavily on Washington
for advanced weaponry, investments and economic aid by U.S.-backed
institutions such as the World Bank and IMF, political support to
join the European Union, and more.

Following the recent House committee vote, former British ambassador to
Armenia David Miller accurately observed that Turkey, like a "bully,"
will "bluster [and] threaten and in the end nothing will happen."

Nearly all media also "forgot" to mention that Turkey’s threats had
fallen flat against the nearly 20 countries whose legislative bodies
had already acknowledged the Armenian Genocide. Indeed, insofar as
is known, Turkey’s trade with such countries went up substantially,
not down, after genocide recognition.

Among the many genocide acknowledgers that the media nearly always
"forget" to mention are Canada, France, Lebanon, Switzerland, and
Uruguay, as well as a UN sub-commission, World Council of Churches,
the Vatican, and the European Union Parliament.

Most reporters have also long preferred to depict the genocide issue
as a mere he-said-she-said quarrel between Armenians and Turkey. Yet
the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), the foremost
organization of its kind, has recognized the Armenian Genocide several
times and roundly criticized Turkey. Raphael Lemkin, the Polish Jewish
scholar who authored the UN Genocide Convention of 1948 and who coined
the word "genocide," once declared on national television: "I became
interested in genocide because it happened to the Armenians." Most
journalists choose to "forget" these facts.

The media also dutifully reported Turkey’s opinion that academia,
not the U.S. Congress, is the proper place to discuss and recognize
genocides. They "forgot" that one or both houses of Congress have
recognized the Holocaust, and the Bosnian, Cambodian, Darfurian,
and Ukrainian genocides. Thus, the public is unfairly led to believe
that Armenian Americans are asking Congress to do something unusual.

Somehow the media also "forgot" to report that over 50 American human
rights, ethnic, and religious organizations support Congressional
acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide.

In short, most mass media have done an abysmal, unprofessional job.

If the House, a U.S. president, and a federal filing with the World
Court have already affirmed and reaffirmed the Armenian Genocide,
does Congress really need to pass the present genocide resolution? The
current resolution, which is non-binding, describes the genocide’s
history and America’s traditional support of Armenia in more detail
than previously approved ones.

Congressional reaffirmation will help to counter Turkey’s unending,
immoral denial campaigns and send a necessary signal to the U.S. State
Department that genocide denial harms American interests in the region.

For two decades, stability in the oil and gas-rich Caucasus/Caspian
region-undoubtedly the major flashpoint between the U.S. and Russia-has
been one of Washington’s most cherished goals.

Stability is impossible, however, as long as Turkey refuses to face up
to its crimes against Armenians and continues to needlessly blockade
Armenia. Turkey, 25 times larger and more populous than Armenia and
with 50 times the GDP, truly is a "bully."

The U.S. and other countries recently forced a set of "protocols"
onto Armenia that would allegedly "reconcile" it and Turkey. Contrary
to Turkish claims, Armenia quite rightfully maintains that it will
not let the protocols’ proposed joint Turkish-Armenian "historical
commission" question the veracity of the genocide. The genocide
issue cannot be wished away by sham U.S.-backed protocols, which,
in any case, Turkey presently refuses to ratify.

Without an unequivocal acknowledgment by Turkey of its hyper-violence
against Armenians, the region cannot be stabilized-with serious
geopolitical consequences for Washington and its allies.

The media, and the Obama Administration, can help to avert this simply
by telling the American people the truth about the Armenian Genocide.

The whole truth.

Le Génocide en Moi
CINÉMA

hp3?id_article=60260
dimanche18 avril 2010, par Jean Eckian/armenews

l’Association NAZARPEK Jeunesse HENTCHAKIAN, diffusera le film

"LE GENOCIDE EN MOI" d’Araz Artinian

Lundi 19 Avril 2010 à 21h

au Centre de Jeunesse Arménien (CJA), Place Achtarak, 2-2 Bis,
Boulevard Carnot, Alfortville.

Film d’humour, de colère et de tendresse, Le Génocide en moi raconte
l’impact du génocide arménien de 1915 sur la vie de la jeune cinéaste
Araz Artinian, qui a dû endosser dès l’enfance ce lourd héritage. Dans
ce voyage intérieur, la jeune fille déchirée entre l’engagement
passionné de son père pour les Arméniens de la diaspora et le désir de
s’en libérer pour faire sa propre vie, confronte la réalité du
melting-pot multiculturel, et se pose la question universelle "Qui
suis-je ?".

La projection sera suivie d’une table ronde animée par Michaël
Goudoux, doctorant en Science Politique à l’Université Paris 1
Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Michaël Goudoux prépare actuellement une thèse sur la reconnaissance
en France du génocide des arméniens.

Intervenants à la table ronde : Vazgen Poghosyan, Saro Mardiryan,
Kevork Satchlian

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS IN ARMENIA GREW 65% IN FEBRUARY

HULIQ.com
Armen Hareyan
April 14 2010
SC

The real estate companies and the consumers seem to be waiting for
better times, but February transaction numbers are stunningly good.

According to the official statistics in February of 2010 there has
been 13,400 real estate transactions in Armenia. This number is 30.4%
higher than the February of 2009 and presents 65 percent increase
from January 2010 transactions.

However, Hakob Baghdasaryan, the president of one of the largest real
estate firms in Armenia Akcern, says the public and the companies
are in the waiting mode. They need at least another six months to
fully realize that the recession is over in Russia and USA. He tells
Panarmenian News Agency that in the past three months they see some
minor declines of transactions in their company.

Although Armenian Government’s Real Estate agency reported increased
transactions in property markets the prices have not gone up
significantly. In the capital Yerevan the price per one square meter
has gone up by 0.02 percent.

The real estate prices in Armenia have stayed relatively stable in the
past few years despite the recession. This is explained by the active
intervention by the government, which gave guarantees to builders
and mortgage providers. For example, in one program the government
of Armenia subsidized the mortgage rates by 2 percent and encouraged
the banks to provide mortgages at much lower rates to young families.

According to that plan the government supported the young families
finding cheap sources for home loans and subsidized those loans by
paying the banks 2 percent of the loan rate.

ONE NATION – DIFFERENT PROBLEMS
Levon MELIK-SHAHNAZARYAN

Times.am
15 April, 2010, 9:26 pm

Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijani President suddenly phone called to the
President of Turkey Abdullah Gul located in Oman. The bell rang during
the official welcoming ceremony of the Turkish President in Oman,
reported Armenian Public Television with the reference on Arab media.

Despite the protocol violation, Aliyev demanded immediately pass the
phone to Gul, inform the Arab media.

There is no information whether Aliyev’s demand was complied or not,
but the extreme excitement of Azerbaijani President is understandable:
Aliyev does not trust to the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan who is
located in USA same as, Gul. Despite their assurances to protect
Azerbaijani interests at Erdogan’s meeting with the Presidents of
Armenia and USA. Aliyev is well aware of the fact that for Turkey
leaders interests of their own state prevail above the interests
of Azerbaijan. Aliyev knows that Turkey now is in the sufficiently
complex situation: it’s pressed by the USA, initiated Armenian-Turkish
protocols, and at the same time President of Armenia S. Sargsyan
repeatedly and unequivocally let know about Armenia’ unwillingness
to negotiate with Turkey the question of regulating Nagorno-Karabakh
problem. Finally, Azerbaijan perfectly well understands that Turkey’s
promises to connect Armenian-Turkish protocols with the NKR’s problem
are likely wishes, than reality. In the interview to "Regnum" Russian
agency well-known Azerbaijani political scientist and conflictologist
Arif Yunusov stated that Erdogan: "will do everything, in order to
connect these two processes. Will it come true? Unlikely. I assume
Turks understand it and attempt to calm official Baku in case of
negative developments".

Aliyev’s phone call to Gul unambiguously showed that not only Yunusov
understands it. Azerbaijan same as Turkey are behind Armenia in
the diplomatic standoff. In case if anyone had any doubts about
it before, then now after S. Sargsyan laid flowers on the grave
of 29th US President Woodrow Wilson in Washington reassured them
all. Serzh Sargsyan unequivocally gave to understand that a) Armenia
and its President remain committed to the spirit and requirements
of Armenia’s Constitution on captivated Armenian territories within
the Turkish state territory; b) Armenia is not intended to waive the
requirements for the recognition and condemnation of Armenian Genocide
in Ottoman Turkey.

It appears to be that after this S. Sargsyan’s step even skeptics’
doubts had to evaporate on Armenia President’s position during the
negotiations with Erdogan. The fact that Erdogan, after the meeting
with Serzh Sargsyan, left negotiation hall with the back door, became
logical outcome of Armenia’s position presented by the President.

Well-known Erdogan’s splendor immediately crumbled away as old plaster
from the wall of not well-groomed room.

Immediately after the meeting with Erdogan, S. Sargsyan went to meet
with representatives of Armenian Diaspora in USA. Along the meeting
the President of Armenia briefly presented Armenia’s position on
negotiations with Turkey. First, S. Sargsyan recalled that in recent
months the entire world became the witness of Turkey’s fruitless
attempts to split the Motherland and Diaspora, and then President
stated: "There is no difference in opinions of Armenian people in
Armenia and Diaspora, the Armenian nation is united, and it remains
committed to its fair trial".

The President of Armenia confirmed the intention of Armenia and
Diaspora to seek the retribution for the Armenian Genocide occurred
in Turkey. "We will pierce the stone of indifference, cynicism and
hypocrisy. We have enough of patience, faith and endeavor", stated S.
Sargsyan.

Meanwhile almost all Turkish newspapers reported Erdogan’s statement
in which he practically forewent the ratification of Armenian-Turkish
protocols. According to "Sabah" Turkish newspaper, Erdogan after
meeting with S. Sargsyan said: "We commit to protocol obligations;
however, at present there is no appropriate political climate for
the vote in Mejlis. Protocols would be rejected, if they enter (to
the ratification) in Parliament now". The information about this
statement got reported by other Medias also. The Prime Minister of
Turkey explained "unfavorable political climate" by the decisions
of US Senate committee and Sweden Parliament on recognition of the
events in Turkey of 1915-1923 as Armenian Genocide, as well as the
resolution of the Constitutional Court of Armenia.

Noteworthy to mention that, in spite of Azerbaijani Medias "free
inserts", in Erdogan’s explanations Nagorno-Karabakh conflict wasn’t
mention at all. However, Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister A. Davutoglu
attempted to defuse the situation, by speaking to APA Azerbaijani
news agency "one of the main targets of Zurich protocols was the
release Azerbaijani land from the "occupation" (the quotes are ours
– L.M.-Sh.) At the nonsense about Armenian-Turkish protocols, where
neither NKR nor Azerbaijan mentioned can believe person, who strongly
desires to be deceived. Caught in a fairly complicated political
situation, Turkey forced to distance from the conflict between
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan, whatever the Minister of
its Foreign Affairs declared.

Turkish not-concealed desire to be among the OSCE Minsk group
co-chairmen and Azerbaijan’s expectations of it, also obtained rigorous
resistance. "We do not intend, in any format, to make the subject of
discussion the fact of Genocide or pretend to believe that Turkey can
have any positive role in regulation of Karabakh’s conflict", stated
the President of Armenia in the capital of state, which Turkey sees as
its main accomplice in bringing Ankara in a full negotiating process.

In a meantime, after all of Washington meetings in order to "save face"
of the US President Barrack Obama, there is a chance of appearance of
certain amorphous paper that would indicate the desire of Yerevan
and Ankara to "continue the path of Armenian-Turkish relations
normalization".

P.S. The article was ready for publication, when Turkish
Foreign Minister’s spokesman Barack Ozugergin officially announced
( ish-Foreign-Ministry-Denies-Azerbaijani-News-Agenc y-S-Report)
that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu didn’t
give any interviews to APA Azerbaijani news agency. QED (quod erat
demonstrandum).