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ARMENIAN REPORTER
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Email: [email protected]
November 24, 2007 -- From the front section
To see the printed version of the newspaper, complete with photographs
and additional content, visit www.reporter.am and
download the pdf files. It's free.
1. A "can-do nation" joins forces in Armenia Fund Telethon (by Naush Boghossian)
* Record-breaking $15.2 million pledged
* A resurgent Armenia donates $1.2 million
* Nagorno-Karabakh pitches in $1 million
2. U.S. government supports building a new nuclear power plant in
Armenia (by Vincent Lima)
3. From Washington, in brief (by Emil Sanamyan)
* South American states call for international affirmation of Armenian Genocide
* Turkey, Azerbaijan pull Central Asian states into Genocide denial
* Construction of Armenia rail bypass launched in Georgia
4. Minnesota Armenians gather to offer thanks and raise funds for U.S.
Rep. Tim Walz (by Pamela Henrickson)
5. Five U.S. doctors share their expertise during the 10th medical
mission to Armenia's Wellness Center (by Cynthia Bosnian)
6. Serge Sargsian nominated for president (by Tatul Hakobyan)
7. Candidate Levon Ter-Petrossian defends his record (by Tatul Hakobyan)
* Asks for three years to "clean the Augean stables"
8. Armenia at Work: Gohar chases her dream (by Armen Hakobian)
9. From Armenia, in brief
* Political advertising prices steady going into presidential race
* Tax crackdown widened
* Armenia ends promising season with back to back losses
* Turkey partly lifts air restriction
* Nordic firm buys Armenian stock exchange
10. Northern Avenue is Yerevan's ambitious new development (by Armen Hakobyan)
11. Living in Armenia: What happens when the dream comes true (by
Maria Titizian)
12. Commentary: On the road with Catholicos Karekin, through a young
journalist's eyes (by Antranig Dereyan)
13. Letter: Turkey: Pick up your marbles and go! (Margaret Lafian)
14. Editorial: Amen
******************************************** *******************************
1. A "can-do nation" joins forces in Armenia Fund Telethon
* Record-breaking $15.2 million pledged
* A resurgent Armenia donates $1.2 million
* Nagorno-Karabakh pitches in $1 million
by Naush Boghossian
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- For twelve hours, two rows of names and numbers
scrolled across the bottom of television screens and computer monitors
around the world. Occasionally, one saw the name of a friend, an
acquaintance, and smiled. There were people living nearby, and people
hailing from faraway places. There were businesses and organizations.
Donations in memory of loved ones. The numbers and currencies varied:
$100, E250, $10,000, $50.
A nation dispersed across the globe had come together for a common
purpose, that of nation-building.
The energy was palpable as hundreds of volunteers buzzed around
KCET's Hollywood studios on Thanksgiving Day, driven by a collective
feeling best described as a mixture of purpose and hope during the
10th annual Armenia Fund International Telethon.
The undeniable expectation was to surpass the $13.7 million raised
last year -- and there was no reason to think that Armenians would not
pitch in and make it happen.
Each year, the event has become more sophisticated and
technologically savvy, and the kinks have been worked out -- a long
ways from the first telethon, which raised $2.6 million in pledges.
And the returns this year did not disappoint. The live telethon
brought in just over $15.2 million by its close at 8 p.m., with
additional funds expected to be accounted for in the coming days, said
Vahe Aghabegians, executive director of Armenia Fund International.
"It was more or less our expectation. We weren't surprised; we
weren't disappointed," Mr. Aghabegians said after the telethon ended.
Though the organizers hoped to raise more, "this was more or less what
we realistically expected. This money will help us make changes and a
real difference in lives of people in villages.
"But we need 10 times as much. We have just begun."
The money raised this year will come on top of the more than $170
million raised since the first international telethon in 1997, to go
toward large-scale infrastructure and economic development in Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Projects initiated by Armenia Fund over the years have included the
construction and reconstruction of schools, healthcare facilities,
highways, rural roads, drinking-water facilities and systems, and
irrigation systems.
The nonprofit organization is credited for constructing the
Goris-Stepanakert Highway -- called the "lifeline highway" --
connecting the Republic of Armenia and Karabakh, as well as the
north-south highway that connects more than 150 villages in
Nagorno-Karabakh.
But most recently, the organization has focused on agricultural
development, embarking on an ambitious regional development plan that
promotes long-term sustainability by empowering farmers with
technology packages, training, new equipment, fertilizer, and new
farming standards, said Greg Boyrazian, development director of
Armenia Fund.
* The measure of success
Proceeds from the telethon will benefit a cluster of villages in the
Tavush region of Armenia and the Martuni region of Karabakh through
the organization's Village Development Program.
"We have one measure of success: looking back and seeing if this
program caused a rise in the populations of these villages. If it
does, then it's a success," Mr. Aghabegians said. "If those who have
left the villages seeking gainful employment come back and are able to
lead a dignified life because of the economic infrastructure and
availability of employment, then it's a success."
The agricultural program, which started in 2005, will be coordinated
with the U.S. government's Millennium Challenge Corporation, the World
Bank, and the United Nations Development Program, or UNDP. The goal is
to implement the holistic model throughout Armenia, Mr. Boyrazian
said.
"Right now, they're only growing crops for themselves. Our plan is
to help make the agricultural sector the breadbasket of the region --
to introduce its agricultural products to local markets and the
international market," he said.
* An electronic bridge
The telethon itself has become a Thanksgiving Day tradition for
Armenian households worldwide, and has evolved into one of the few
annual events capable of uniting all Armenians across religious,
political, and geographic lines.
"This is an extremely big event in the community. It's the only day
and time when the Armenian diaspora at large are able to connect with
Armenia at the ease and comfort of their television sets and their
high-speed Internet," Mr. Boyrazian said. "That's where they can
really see the faces, that dollar they are donating is making a
difference for the boy or girl living in an impoverished region of
Armenia."
Individuals and businesses in Armenia itself donated $1.2 million,
according to preliminary figures. Archbishop Barkev Martirossian,
prelate of Karabakh, said that Karabakh was contributing $1 million,
with five businesses contributing $100,000 each, another business
contributing $80,000, and the rest coming from smaller donations.
Another $2.2 million came from Europe.
Levon Hairapetian, who is based in Russia, pledged $2.5 million, and
Vahe Garabedian of Southern California pledged $1 million. The bulk of
the money pledged, however, came from thousands of individuals and
families in the United States and beyond watching the telethon on
their screens.
The telethon, Mr. Boyrazian said,"carries an important meaning. It's
an electronic bridge between the Republic of Armenia and the diaspora
at large."
Broadcast coast-to-coast in large Armenian-American communities as
well as internationally, the 12-hour fundraiser featured guests
including the newly elected president of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, Bako Sahakian, Armenia's foreign minister, Vartan Oskanian,
and more than 40 musical acts, featuring some of the top names in
Armenian music.
"We like to call it the Armenian Super Bowl," Mr. Boyrazian said.
"Our challenge is to create a wonderful program that will cater to
Armenian-Americans from all walks of life, be it in New York, in
Boston, or in L.A."
To that end, a new production team worked on developing segments
both locally and in Armenia and Karabakh that tell the human stories
of how the projects funded through past telethons have changed lives.
"The focus is to put that human touch to it and to create a show
that everyone will enjoy rather than have a lecture session," Mr.
Boyrazian said.
The telethon's executive producer, Michael Levin, who has also
produced the annual Chabad Telethon for five years, initiated the
event's move to the high-tech KCET studios.
He also pushed for more dancing, music, and human-interest stories,
to draw more viewers.
"I wanted the show to be entertaining. If it's entertaining, people
watch and they give money," he said. "If it comes from the heart, it
goes from the heart. If there's an emotional connection to the viewer,
they're going to give."
Mr. Levin also brought in Stepan Partamian -- who orchestrated the
successful Spirit of Armenia concert at the Hollywood Bowl in July --
as music producer.
Mr. Partamian said the event has changed to incorporate dance and
music to celebrate helping a country grow and mature.
"In years past there was more talking, talking, talking and less
entertainment. This year we came out blasting with entertainment," he
said, his red, blue, and orange goatee bobbing as he spoke. "It's a
celebration of building a nation. First we had nothing and we needed
something. Now we have everything and we need to put them in the right
place."
Attorney Mark Geragos, who co-hosted the event for the fifth time
this year, said he's watched the show's appeal grow beyond the
Armenian community.
"About two years ago we started to get 'odars' to make
contributions, and it's becoming a Thanksgiving Day tradition for them
to turn on the telethon for a couple of hours. It's become kind of
must-see-TV," said Mr. Geragos, who also serves as a member of the
Armenia Fund International Board of Trustees.
In addition to repeated large lump-sum donations over the years by
Armenian philanthropists, last year non-Armenians also entered the
ranks of hefty donors.
Project C.U.R.E., led by Douglas Jackson, donated more than $2
million for hospital equipment last year, after the Denver physician's
father visited Karabakh several times.
But Armenia Fund's goal is also to target smaller donations,
particularly through aggressive pre-broadcast pushes, to tap into the
resources of the estimated 10 million Armenians worldwide.
Mr. Aghabegians said they plan to raise more money next year by
getting to work earlier planning the telethon. Planning usually begins
a few months prior to the event, but they want to begin preparing for
next year's telethon by reaching out more to Armenian communities in
the world, he said.
"We want to make it a more penetrated event in areas outside of the
U.S. Right now it's mostly a West Coast and American event," Mr.
Aghabegians said. "The diaspora is our oil. This is our natural
resource."
* Volunteers
Young volunteers staffed the phones Thursday, their group
consciousness geared toward this year's telethon motto, "One Nation,
One Future."
For Arteen Mnayan, the telethon has become a family affair. It was
inevitable that the 16-year-old would get pulled into volunteer
service since his cousin Alina Dorian has been a co-host for years and
his sister, a supervisor.
In fact, his family has officially changed Thanksgiving Day to
Friday so they can all participate at the telethon without missing out
the a big feast.
"I'm doing it for my family, my love for my country, and because of
what my family instilled in me -- to give back," said the first-time
volunteer who was taking phone pledges. "On a day of giving thanks, we
want to be thankful for what we have and to help the less fortunate."
Tamar Artin, 20, was volunteering for the fourth year in a row -- a
commitment that began right after she returned from a visit to
Armenia.
"When I saw people and children in villages and had conversations
and relationships with them, I thought I had to give back and Armenia
Fund is the way to do it," said Ms. Artin, who now supervises the
phone volunteers. "They had no shoes, rooms were too hot or too cold,
and they got so excited when you gave them simple things like a
pencil. Armenia Fund provides the simple necessities to all of those
children."
The telethon also serves an important role for the global diaspora
of Armenians, forcing them to put aside political and religious
differences for the sake of helping build a strong foundation in the
homeland, Mr. Geragos said.
In fact, the corporate board of Armenia Fund includes religious
leaders from the Catholic, Evangelical, and Apostolic churches, as
well as representatives from the AGBU and ARS.
"It's the only organization I'm aware of that all of the various
entities in the Armenian community -- all churches, organizations --
have a seat at the table," Mr. Geragos said. "I love the fact that
it's pan-Armenian. Everyone comes together for this one day a year,
which is great."
************************************ ***************************************
2. U.S. government supports building a new nuclear power plant in Armenia
by Vincent Lima
YEREVAN -- "The U.S Government supports the building of a new nuclear
unit" in Armenia, said U.S. chargé d'affaires Joseph Pennington on
November 21 before signing a statement of cooperation with Armenia's
minister of energy, Armen Movsisian at the Ministry of Energy here.
The existing nuclear reactor is to be deactivated by 2016.
As a first step, the United States Agency for International
Development is spending $2 million for a preliminary environmental
impact assessment and a feasibility study. The Armenian government
plans to use the results of these studies to choose the best technical
solutions and project logistics. The studies will also serve as a
basis for negotiations with potential suppliers and international
financing institutions.
Mr. Movsisian said the new plant will be built at Metsamor, the site
of the existing nuclear power plant, to take advantage of existing
infrastructure. The site was meant for up to four reactors, only two
of which were built, in the 1970s. One reactor, with a gross output of
408 megawatts, is now operational and provides close to half of
Armenia's electricity.
The new reactor, Mr. Movsisian said, would have an output of 1,000 megawatts.
Mr. Movsisian mentioned a $280 million cost estimate "a few years
back," but acknowledged that actual costs in the next decade would be
significantly higher. Other sources have mentioned a $1 billion price
tag.
The Armenian government is already looking for foreign investors.
The feasibility study and environmental impact assessment are expected
to help potential investors consider the option of investing in
nuclear energy in Armenia.
* U.S. policy
"Long-term energy security is essential to all Armenians," Mr.
Pennington acknowledged at the signing. He added that the U.S.
government is particularly concerned with the safety of the nuclear
power plant. "We look forward to the rapid replacement of the Metsamor
facility with a more modern and safer plant."
He noted that the United States government has made "significant
contributions" to help Armenia have safe, affordable energy. One focus
of U.S. support has been safety enhancements to the existing nuclear
power plant. The U.S. has also provided funds for hydropower and other
forms of renewable energy production.
The State Department had signaled U.S. support before. In an August
7 interview with the Armenian Reporter's Emil Sanamyan, Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza had said, "As long as a
plant is safe and up fully to international safety standards, then we
are happy to help Armenia explore its options." The agreement signed
on November 21 puts that help in motion.
***************************************** **********************************
3. From Washington, in brief
by Emil Sanamyan
* South American states call for international affirmation of Armenian Genocide
The recently established parliament of a regional South American
organization, Mercosur, issued a resolution recognizing and condemning
the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of South
America reported on November 21.
Mercosur, which is a Spanish and Portuguese acronym for the Common
Market of the South, was established in 1991 by Argentina, Brazil,
Paraguay, and Uruguay to promote regional cooperation in a manner
similar to the process of European integration.
The 90-member Mercosur Parliament was launched at the end of last
year with an equal number of delegates from each of the member states
and is based in Montevideo, the Uruguayan capital.
Uruguay was the first state whose legislature formally commemorated
the Armenian Genocide in a resolution passed in 1965. Parliaments of
Argentina, Mercosur membership candidate Venezuela, and associated
member state Chile have also passed formal resolutions on the issue.
According to the ANC of South America, the Mercosur parliament
condemned the "Armenian Genocide, perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire,
which took 1.5 million lives from 1915 to 1923," expressed its support
for the Armenian cause, and called on all countries to recognize the
Genocide.
* Turkey, Azerbaijan pull Central Asian states into Genocide denial
Officials from several Central Asian states backed Turkey's Genocide
denial during the 11th Turkish State and Communities' Friendship,
Solidarity and Cooperation Congress, held in Baku earlier this week.
The event, held on the initiative of Azerbaijani president Ilham
Aliyev and attended by Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
also included the Turkmen deputy prime minister, the Kyrgyz education
minister, and the Kazakh deputy culture minister. In all, more than
500 delegates from 30 countries were expected to take part in the
annual congress of Turkic languages-speaking nations.
"Adoption of Armenian allegations pertaining to the incidents of
1915 in various parliaments have caused outrage and sorrow among
Turkic republics" (sic), the congress participants reportedly said in
a joint declaration, as mentioned in the Turkish Press on November 19.
The declaration also offered support for Azerbaijan's position on
the Karabakh conflict and support for Turkic communities in Georgia
and Iraq, and called for a lifting of the international embargo
against the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Unlike Turkey,
however, all the other Turkic states recognize the Greek-majority
Republic of Cyprus rather than TRNC.
***
In Washington, coinciding with the pan-Turkic congress in Baku, the
Central Asia and Caucasus Institute (CACI) at Johns Hopkins University
held a discussion on Turkey's role in the two regions on November 19.
The speakers, Zeyno Baran of the Hudson Institute and Svante Cornell
of CACI, agreed that while the focus of Turkey's foreign policy has
for years been on the West and Middle East, Turkey's leaders have
recently again begun to pay more attention to that part of the world.
Ms. Baran noted that in the 1990s U.S. and Turkish interests to a
large degree coincided in the Caucasus and Central Asia. This, she
said, may no longer be the case now, considering Ankara's diminished
partnership with Washington and Brussels.
Mr. Cornell suggested that it was "pointless" for the U.S. and
Europe to continue to call on Turkey to establish relations with
Armenia, since without Armenian concessions in Karabakh this would
amount to "betrayal" of Azerbaijan, and that "geopolitically speaking
. . . Armenia is expendable."
Ms. Baran added that support that Armenia receives from the West
"does not make sense" and that here is a feeling among Turks and
Azerbaijanis that this is a "Christian versus Muslim thing."
* Construction of Armenia rail bypass launched in Georgia
The Azerbaijani president and Turkish prime minister joined Georgian
president Mikhail Saakashvili on November 21 in inaugurating the
construction of the $420 million Akhalkalaki- Kars railroad, that
would connect Georgia and Turkey.
Azerbaijan has lobbied for the project in an effort to remove
economic arguments in favor of opening the Turkish-Armenian border,
because of the existing railroad connecting Turkey and Georgia via
Armenia. After failing to secure international funding for the
project, Azerbaijan itself will pay for the construction on Georgian
territory, amounting to $220 million.
While in Georgia, President Aliyev also inaugurated the Kulevi oil
terminal on the Black Sea coast. Last year, the Azerbaijani state oil
company bought the terminal from Georgian billionaire Badri
Patarkatsishvili, who has since fallen out with the Saakashvili
government.
This was Mr. Aliyev's third visit to Georgia this year. In February
he attended the inauguration of the Tbilisi airport renovated by a
Turkish company, and in May he was in Tbilisi again, to attend the
unveiling of a statue of his father and predecessor as president,
Heydar Aliyev.
~WNareg Seferian contributed to this week's column.
***************************************** **********************************
4. Minnesota Armenians gather to offer thanks and raise funds for U.S.
Rep. Tim Walz
by Pamela Henrickson
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Armenian community of Minnesota gathered November
19 to show its appreciation and support for Rep. Tim Walz, who
represents Minnesota's first district in the House of Representatives.
The event, held in downtown Minneapolis, was an intimate fundraiser
for Mr. Walz and an opportunity for Armenian-Americans to thank him
personally for his efforts in Washington on their behalf.
The event was sponsored by the Minnesota Host Committee: Jaff and
Kathie Baradaran, Gerard and Cleo Cafesjian, John Waters and Cheri
Kuhn, Beatrice and Sita Ohanessian, Steve and Chacké Scallen, Massis
Yeterian, and the U.S.-Armenia Political Action Committee.
Mr. Waters, vice president of the Cafesjian Family Foundation, said
the Minnesota community often works with politicians "to make sure
that they're fully educated on issues that are important to the
Armenian-American community, that they are aware of what is going on
in Armenia, and that they are aware of legislation" relevant to
Armenians.
"Candidate Walz was a remarkable candidate from the
Armenian-American perspective in that he knew everything about the
Armenian Genocide and the history of Armenians from his own studies,"
Mr. Waters said. "He was a very quick study on issues that were
important to the community, and we were able to help support him in
his election. Now that he is a member of Congress, he is very active.
He has supported various pieces of legislation that are important to
the community, and not only that, he has been an advocate on behalf of
the community by encouraging other elected officials to become
supporters as well."
Mr. Walz, who was elected in 2006, studied genocide and human rights
while working on his master's degree in educational leadership in
2001. A former high school geography teacher, he taught his students
not only about the history of genocide but also helped them examine
the causes of genocide.
Mr. Walz helped solicit co-sponsors for H.Res. 106, a resolution
reaffirming the Armenian Genocide. He said it was a rewarding
experience but also very disappointing when fear played into people's
reactions.
Mr. Walz said that he explained to his colleagues, "This is about
setting the historical record straight so that we can move and learn;
this about getting closure for not only the victims but for the
perpetrators.
"You must understand that historical record if you're going to ever
do anything about the future -- if we're ever going to live up to the
'never again.'"
In addition to sharing his insights on the genocide resolution, Mr.
Walz talked with the group about human rights issues, U.S.
international policy, and U.S. relations with Turkey. He told guests
that the United States' reputation is not as positive as it was after
World War II and that the people of the United States will be working
to rebuild the reputation of the country for many years. He said
recognizing the Armenian Genocide will be a step in right direction.
"The silver lining in this issue is that at least people know that
Armenia is a country and Armenians are people in a historical context,
and that there is a lot of history that we can learn," he said. "That
part of it is out there, and I can tell you that there is still a real
desire amongst many of us . . . .to bring this thing storming right
back through."
Aram Desteian of the U.S.-Armenia Political Action Committee said
the event was a thank you to Walz and a chance for him to get to know
some of the people for whom he is fighting. Mr. Waters estimated the
fundraiser would raise $10,000 for Mr. Walz's campaign for re-election
in 2008.
"He has become absolutely essential in helping to get other freshmen
members of Congress informed on the issue of Armenian Genocide," Mr.
Desteian said. He has co-sponsored legislation, and he has also taken
a strong lead in helping to work toward better aid for Armenia."
"There aren't a lot of Armenians in Mankato [Mr. Walz's hometown in
the 1st District], so he's not doing this because it gets him votes,
and he's not doing it because it gets him money," Desteian said. "He's
doing it because this is something he believes is important and that
human rights should be something the United States cares about."
************************************ ***************************************
5. Five U.S. doctors share their expertise during the 10th medical
mission to Armenia's Wellness Center
by Cynthia Bosnian
YEREVAN -- Five doctors from the U.S. traveled to Armenia as part of
the 10th Medical Mission to the Armenian American Wellness Center. The
Center's U.S. sponsor, the Armenian American Cultural Association
(AACA), organized the annual mission this past summer -- its 46th such
medical exchange between the two countries.
Over the past 10 years, the medical missions have focused on
providing training for the Wellness Center's medical and
administrative staff, and its biomedical engineer. The
two-and-a-half-week mission involved lectures, presentations, hands-on
training sessions, as well as assessments of the center's equipment
and quality control measures.
The American doctors also evaluated Wellness Center doctors and
technologists on their knowledge and skills, carefully examining and
testing them.
The team of visiting U.S. doctors included Samuel Malayan, M.D.,
Ph.D., assistant clinical professor at USC School of Medicine (in
Endocrinology); Camilla Cobb, M.D., associate professor at Loma Linda
University Medical Center and clinical associate professor at USC (in
Cytopathology); Katherine Berberian, D.V.M., Cytologist at USC; John
Poochigian, M.D., Pharm.D., a family medicine-internist; and Christina
Avakoff, M.D., Pharm.D., in private practice in family medicine and
dermatology.
All the doctors, with the exception of Dr. Malayan, had previously
traveled to Armenia for Wellness Center missions, donating their time
and expertise.
While not officially part of the mission, other medical
professionals in attendance included Larry Mowat, R.T., senior
applications specialist for osteoporosis screening equipment at
Hologic, Inc., and Julie Kulhanjian, M.D., a specialist in pediatrics
and infectious diseases, from the San Francisco area.
Since the Wellness Center's inception in 1997, Mowat has been
instrumental in supervising the installation of all the mammography
and osteoporosis screening equipment, ensuring the quality control for
the mammography films, and training the local biomedical engineer for
maintenance services. This was his 4th trip to Armenia in 10 years.
Kulhanjian visited to provide assessments for the Pediatrics
department that will be launched at the center in the coming years.
* A first in Armenia
A highlight of the mission was the introduction of ultrasound guided
fine needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid glands -- a first in Armenia
-- by Dr. Malayan. The cytopathology readings of these FNAs was done
by Drs. Cobb and Berberian. The three doctors gave lectures to the
center's and Gavar Satellite Clinic's medical staffs on these
procedures, and taught them how to assess the adequacy of the
microscopic specimen to ensure a good quality sample.
"The center's physician cytologists reviewed with us some of their
difficult cases," said Dr. Cobb, "and we agreed with their
interpretation in each case. We are reassured that the cytologists are
not only knowledgeable and skilled, but that they are also aware of
their limitations and the limitations of diagnostic cytology."
In his presentation, Dr. Malayan said: "Thyroid nodules are very
prevalent in Armenia because of the iodine deficiency. So, the women
who come in for mammography can be screened for thyroid nodules. If
found, the fine needle aspiration and cytology can be done at the
center." In his report sent to AACA, Dr. Malayan added: "The
educational level and technical skill of the staff (AAWC) was quite
impressive, at least equivalent to that of the U.S. All of the
equipment is new, and of the best which is available. The facility is
spotlessly clean. The nursing and reception staff is extremely polite
to the patients in the clinic."
In conjunction with these trainings, the center organized a press
conference to which endocrinology medical professionals from all
across Armenia were invited. Dr. Elsa Hayrapetyan, the foremost
endocrinologist in Armenia, noted: "Thyroid glands are directly linked
to women's reproductive health, and I am glad to see that this medical
service is now available at the center."
* Advancing preventative care
During the same period, the Wellness Center was honored to welcome the
world-renowned professor of Medicine and Pharmacology, John
Bilezikian, M.D., director of the Metabolic Bone Diseases Unit at
Columbia University, who organized the first-ever osteoporosis
symposium in Armenia. The doctors from the center, who had been
trained in bone density screening nine months earlier, also attended
this symposium.
The 10th medical mission also involved visits to the Gavar Satellite
Clinic near Lake Sevan in the Gegharkunik province, about 60 miles
northeast of Yerevan. Drs. Poochigian and Avakoff traveled to the
Gavar Clinic over the course of three days for evaluation and training
of its medical staff, and to see patients from the region. Dr.
Poochigian also joined the center's doctors in staffing the clinic's
two-day Health Fair, which drew over 100 patients per day for
free-of-charge preventative health care check-ups and screenings.
According to Dr. Poochigian, "There is some improvement in the
people's awareness of preventative health care. There is still a great
deal more of such education to be done. In particular, we need to
remind them that the treatment of diabetes and hypertension is
life-long."
Hranush Hakobian, the co-founder of the Wellness Center and a
parliamentarian in Armenia's National Assembly, arranged for the
medical mission participants to meet with the republic's new Minister
of Health, Dr. Ardyom Kushkyan, at the minister's office. Joining them
were Khachanush Hakobyan, the center's executive director, and Ann
Hirschey, the USAID Country Director of Health.
In their limited free time, some of the U.S. doctors explored
Armenia's historic sites, including Holy Etchmiadzin, where they
attended badarak.
The president of AACA and founder of the Wellness Center, Rita
Balian, summed up the 10th Medical Mission: "We are tremendously
grateful to all of the doctors who provided their time, talents, and
expertise to travel to Armenia to share their knowledge and provide
on-site, Western-style training. Without such dedicated professionals,
neither AACA nor the Wellness Center could have achieved such great
success in serving, and winning the trust of, the women of Armenia."
The US sponsor of the Wellness Center, the Armenian American
Cultural Association (AACA), established the center in 1997 to address
breast cancer in Armenia, which had grown to endemic conditions and is
still the leading cause of cancer deaths among women, followed by
cervical cancer. The center has served over 120,000 patients, focusing
on preventative medicine and offering primary health care services to
ensure the well-being of families in Armenia.
Information about AACA is available online at www.aacainc.org, or by
e-mailing [email protected]. Donations are accepted, and can be made to
AACA, 1300 Crystal Drive, Suite 1504, Arlington, VA 22202.
****************************************** *********************************
6. Serge Sargsian nominated for president
by Tatul Hakobyan
YEREVAN -- At a party congress last week the Republican Party of
Armenia nominated Prime Minister Serge Sargsian, the leader of the
party, as its presidential candidate. The Republican Party is in power
in Armenia and holds the majority of seats in parliament. Its
nomination of Mr. Sargsian came as no surprise. What was surprising,
however, was the atmosphere of the congress. More than a political
party congress it turned into an event about Armenia's first
president, Levon Ter-Petrossian.
After promising a dignified future for the citizens of Armenia in
his speech, Mr. Sargsian began making references to the past;
specifically to the time when Mr. Ter-Petrossian and the Armenian
National Movement (ANM) ruled the country. Mr. Sargsian headed
Karabakh's minister of defense from 1989 to 1993. Mr. Ter-Petrossian
appointed him Armenia's defense minister in 1993. He became head of
Armenia's Department of National Security in 1995. The next year his
title became minister of interior and national security, in which
capacity he served until 1999.
He was in that office when Mr. Ter-Petrossian resigned under
pressure from the late Vazgen Sargsian and then-prime minister Robert
Kocharian.
"During its period of absolute power in Armenia until 1997, the
Armenian National Movement made numerous grave mistakes and was
obliged to surrender power. After that it split several times and
appeared to pass into the pages of history. However, after failing to
learn from its mistakes, ten years on it shows signs of reviving and
it announces that it is going to fight to the end. Moreover, the
godfather of the ANM, Levon Ter-Petrossian announced that ANM is going
to destroy the state pyramid. Fortunately, today the county is free
from the danger of revanchism. The fact that Ter-Petrossian has lost
his sense of reality to the extent that he believes in revanche and
even advises Robert Kocharian, the president of the republic and me to
leave politics, is ridiculous," Mr. Sargsian stated during the
congress.
Unlike Mr. Ter-Petrossian, who has repeatedly called Mr. Sargsian a
criminal, Mr. Sargsian did not hurl personal insults at the first
president. But he strongly criticized his social, economic, and
national policies and his policy on Karabakh.
The current prime minister gave a bit of advice to the first
president: "It would be a good thing if he repented and apologized to
the Armenian people for his, mildly put, 'mistakes.' I am sure he will
not do so, because he is filled with malice and has fallen
irreversibly behind the times. His desperate efforts to return to the
office of president only pursues one goal and that does not include
serving the country while in office. It is to take revenge on all
those who have ever uttered a harsh word against him and also to prove
that he was not wrong in saying that the issue of Karabakh cannot be
resolved in a dignified way; that Armenia's development is not
possible without the handing over of Karabakh; that it is impossible
to unite the potential of Armenians and national ideology."
Mr. Ter-Petrossian has not announced, however, that "Armenia's
development is not possible without the handing over of Karabakh";
rather he has said it is not possible without "resolving the
conflict."
* Abandoning office
"Ter-Petrossian had the opportunity to serve his nation wholeheartedly
while he was president. But for various reasons he was unable to do
so and at a difficult period for the fatherland, he voluntarily
resigned from his post as commander-in-chief, leaving behind him a
nation on the verge of despair, a ruined economy, an unhealthy moral
and psychological atmosphere and a defeatist mood," said the prime
minister.
Mr. Sargsian complained that Mr. Ter-Petrossian and the Armenian
National Movement are continuously capitalizing on the tragic events
of October 27, 1999 -- the day a group of gunmen entered parliament
and assassinated the speaker, the prime minister, and others. He
concluded his speech with a call "toward an Armenia of victories,
toward a victorious Armenia."
* Other speeches
Those who made speeches during the Republican Party congress
considered it their duty to condemn the policies of the Armenian
National Movement and Mr. Ter-Petrossian. A substantial number of the
hundreds of politicians gathered at the Republican congress were once
ANM members and cooperated with Mr. Ter-Petrossian and praised his
time in office.
Tigran Torosian, speaker of the Armenian parliament dedicated a
large portion of his speech to criticizing Mr. Ter-Petrossian. The
Republican Party closely cooperated with the ANM at one time. During
the 1995 parliamentarian elections, the Republicans (as part of the
"Republican" bloc) entered parliament on ANM candidates' list. During
the 1996 presidential elections, which were probably the most heavily
rigged in the 15-year history of the republic, the Republicans
defended Mr. Ter-Petrossian against the candidate of the united
opposition, Vazgen Manukian. These facts did not stop the Republicans
from criticizing those years, when they stood side by side with
business mogul Khachatur Sukiassian and Mr. Ter-Petrossian.
Here's what Tigran Torosian had to say: "Levon Ter-Petrossian in his
speech describes the feelings of freedom, pride, and excitement as
typical for the first 10 years of independence. Probably in September
1996 the protestors were expressing their pride and excitement toward
the authorities and in order to greet them warmly, the latter brought
out tanks against them."
Indeed, the tanks came out when Mr. Sargsian was minister of
interior and national security and Mr. Torosian represented the
Republican Party in the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) -- the same
body that declared Mr. Ter-Petrossian the victor of the 1996
presidential elections. He did not, at the time, speak out against Mr.
Ter-Petrossian.
During this party congress, the Republicans elected Mr. Sargsian as
president of the party. Tigran Torosian, Mushegh Lalaian, Razmik
Zohrabian, and Galust Sahakian were elected deputy presidents of the
party.
The Republican Party was established in 1989. Until 1994 the party
opposed the ANM, but later it started cooperating with it and since
1995 the Republicans have been in power. Mr. Sargsian is the fourth
president of the party. Soviet-era dissident Ashot Navasardian, the
founding president of the party passed away from a heart attack in
1997. The second president, Vazgen Sargsian was killed during the
October 1999 attack, and the third president, Andranik Margarian died
of heart failure in March of this year. Even though Mr. Sargsian has
only recently joined the Republican Party, he has considerable
experience in party activities. Until 1989 he was in the ranks of the
Communist Party and at the beginning of the 90s he became a member of
the Armenian National Movement, headed by Mr. Ter-Petrossian.
"The previous three presidents of the Republican Party, Ashot
Navasardian, Vazgen Sargsian, and Andranik Margarian, were amongst the
most important political figures in our modern history and leading the
party after them is truly an obligation. I assure you that I will do
everything to increase the role of the Republican Party in our
everyday social and political life," said Mr. Sargsian during the
congress of the Republican Party.
****************************************** *********************************
7. Candidate Levon Ter-Petrossian defends his record
* Asks for three years to "clean the Augean stables"
by Tatul Hakobyan
YEREVAN -- In a speech before some 20,000 citizens in Freedom Square
on November 16, presidential hopeful Levon Ter-Petrossian vigorously
defended his record as the first president of the Republic of Armenia
and appealed to other opposition politicians to allow him to become
the single standard-bearer for the opposition in the February 2008
presidential election.
He offered to resign again, this time three years into a five-year
term, and leave politics forever if the opposition leaders complied
with his appeal and he were elected. "I need three years to clean the
Augean stables and put the state on normal foundations," Mr.
Ter-Petrossian said.
He "thinks that three years is enough to hand Karabakh over to
Azerbaijan," retorted Prime Minister Serge Sargsian, the governing
party's candidate for president, in a reference to Mr.
Ter-Petrossian's criticism of the government for not having completed
negotiations on the final status of Karabakh.
Mr. Ter-Petrossian's offer to serve for only three years was
conditional, however. He would not abide by it, he said, if his appeal
for unified support remains "a voice in the wilderness."
Addressing Hrant Margarian of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation,
former prime minister Vazgen Manukian, former foreign minister Raffi
Hovannisian, opposition stalwart Artashes Geghamian, former speaker
Artur Baghdasarian, and others, Mr. Ter-Petrossian said, "Simply use
us as a tool, to be freed of the criminal regime and to realize your
legitimate aspiration to govern."
President Robert Kocharian responded derisively to the comment,
saying that no self-respecting person offers himself or herself up as
a tool, and that after ten years, the former president would be a
"rusty tool" at best.
* The response
The opposition politicians have not taken Mr. Ter-Petrossian up on
his offer. A poll conducted less than a month ago showed that most of
the politicians he appealed to would garner more votes than he would
if the election were held right away.
Stepan Demirchian, the runner up in the last presidential election,
whose party won less that three percent of the vote in the May 2007
National Assembly election, announced his support for the first
president during the rally. He was joined by other small groups.
In a press conference on November 20, Mr. Manukian reconfirmed his
decision to run for president. Moreover, he said he thought Mr.
Ter-Petrossian's nomination was wrong, as the former president had not
justified the voters' hopes.
"Levon Ter-Petrossian owes a debt to our nation. During his
presidency he took upon himself many obligations but failed to fulfill
them. In the 1996 presidential elections he did not steal my voice,
but that of the citizens of Armenia," Mr. Manukian said, referring to
the contested election, after which Mr. Ter-Petrossian's
administration restored order by sending tanks into the streets of
Yerevan.
Given this background, Mr. Ter-Petrossian's offer to leave office
after three years has been met with some scepticism.
The ARF is not considered likely to accede to the first president's
demand for support. Mr. Ter-Petrossian as president illegally closed
newspapers belonging to or leaning toward the party and put party
leaders -- including Mr. Margarian -- in prison on charges that were
dropped as soon as he left office.
Whether Mr. Hovhannisian will support the first president is not
certain yet, even though leaders of the Heritage Party do not hide
their sympathy toward Mr. Ter-Petrossian.
Mr. Hovannisian has a problem with the constitutional requirement
that the president hold Armenian citizenship for at least 10 years
before assuming office. Although he was foreign minister in 1991, and
in spite of making repeated requests, he was not granted citizenship
until 2001.
Mr. Baghdasarian, who was full of praise for the first president in
the 1990s, is also hesitant. Polling data suggests that he is the
second most popular candidate after the prime minister. On the other
hand Mr. Baghdasarian is visibly passive and has not given the
impression that he is preparing for the presidential elections.
Mr. Geghamian's circumstance is much clearer. He and Aram
Karapetian, leader of the New Times Party, both intend to put forth
their candidacy. They both have an electoral base, but their chances
of prevailing are nil. They will simply serve to fracture the
opposition vote.
* Heroic years
In the first part of his speech, Mr. Ter-Petrossian responded to
criticism of his years in office, which began before Armenia's
independence in 1991 and ended in 1998.
He took umbrage at the fact that his presidency is almost
universally identified with Armenia's "cold and dark years."
"In reality it was cold and dark only from 1992 to 1994," he said,
adding that the dates "coincided with astronomical accuracy with the
years of the Artsakh war."
Recalling the privations suffered by the people of the Soviet Union
during the Second World War, he said that suffering is normal at times
of war.
He said, "Apparently Azerbaijan had also declared war on Armenia's
external communications. Between 1992 and 1995, the gas pipeline
entering Armenia [through Georgia] was blown up 42 times and the
Georgian-Armenian railroad 21 times." They had to be repaired at
Armenia's expense.
"From 1992 to 1994 Armenian authorities placed the citizens of the
republic under great privations and directed all scarce resources into
securing Artsakh's existence and security," he said.
"At this time I cannot disclose state secrets, but I assure you that
the money we spent on the war -- obtaining weaponry, ammunition, and
fuel, supplying the army, defending Armenia's border regions,
repairing disrupted communication lines, would have completely served
the nation's electricity and heat requirements," he said. He recalled
that from 1993 to 1995, the defense minister of Armenia was Mr.
Sargsian, "who was and is fully privy to those secrets."
He concluded, "Let it not sound strange, but I am happy that the
majority of our nation considers the 1992--1994 period the cold and
dark years. This means that it has not felt the calamities of the war
on its own skin. Whereas for the thousands of volunteers who left for
Artsakh from Armenia and for their families, they were years of blood,
corpses, wounds, bombings and destruction; sacrifices paid for the
liberation of Artsakh.
"I am certain that coming generations will assess the 'cold and
dark' years as years of heroic struggles and victories in the war. At
the same time I also understand that despite my long explanations the
doubts of many will nevertheless not be dispelled. So I can only beg
for forgiveness from our nation for the suffering it experienced for
the sake of the liberation of Artsakh," he said.
* Clean hands
Mr. Ter-Petrossian also rejected criticism of his administration as
corrupt. He acknowledged that there were corrupt elements, but claimed
that members of the administration kept each other honest.
Here again, the former president drew attention to the fact that Mr.
Sargsian was a senior official in the Ter-Petrossian administration.
After serving as defense minister, he became minister of national
security in 1995 and added internal affairs to his ministerial
portfolio in 1996. It was his job to discover wrongdoing, Mr.
Ter-Petrossian said.
The first president of Armenia made only one admission of error, and
that was a cynical one. "With time, I become more and more convinced
that I really need penitence and absolution. Therefore, though
belatedly, I honestly ask your forgiveness for bringing Robert
Kocharian and Serge Sargsian to Armenia and foisting them upon you.
"If I have made mistakes in staffing policy, then I admit that this
was my biggest mistake. Moreover, this is not just a mistake, but a
disaster that I have brought on the nation. So allow me and help me to
free you from that disaster," Mr. Ter-Petrossian said.
Unlike other opposition leaders, during the last two or three months
Mr. Ter-Petrossian has been meeting with almost all top European
officials visiting Armenia; the most recent of these was Peter
Semneby, EU Special Representative in South Caucasus, who met with the
first president on November 19.
********************************************* ******************************
8. Armenia at Work: Gohar chases her dream
by Armen Hakobian
In this installment of "Armenia at Work," we present you with a
representative of one of the most widespread professions in Armenia
today.
This young woman with a bright smile is Gohar Vardanian. For the
time being she works as a salesperson in one of the branches of the
Star supermarket chain in Yerevan. Gohar is simultaneously training,
however, in sports and dreams that she will achieve fame and success
on the field one day. But for now. . . .
* One among many
During the economic crisis of the early 90s, everyday trade in Armenia
moved from stores to the streets. In those days stores in Yerevan were
tables placed on sidewalks, offering all kinds of goods for sale. In
time, kiosks replaced many of these tables. With the gradual
stabilization of life and in particular the economy, which has seen
tremendous growth in the past 4--5 years, many things have fallen back
into place, including trade. Several large supermarkets operate now in
Yerevan.
The Star supermarket chain, the main shareholder of which is the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (28 percent), is an
eye-catching example. A sign of Star's success is the constant
expansion of the chain.
Without doubt, one of the reasons for the company's success is
having employees such as Gohar Vardanian. With the growing number of
supermarkets and stores, one of the main occupations for young women
and girls in Armenia is that of salesperson. According to the
company's public relations manager, Karineh Ghazarian, the Star
supermarket chain currently provides jobs to a thousand people. Sixty
percent of its employees are female.
And how did Gohar Vardanian find this job? "I had heard that a
supermarket had opened on Tigran Mets Avenue. That was in 2005. I went
and introduced myself. Prior to the opening of the store, we were
setting up the products and I was getting acquainted with the
situation and my new colleagues. Then, after the opening we started
working, and probably the managers saw I was capable, and so I stayed
and continue working in the Star chain till today," Ms. Vardanian said
during our conversation.
At first glance, the work of a salesperson doesn't seem to require
many skills. However just like many other professions, being a
salesperson also has many subtleties that must be mastered. Some
people learn these basic principles in school. For others, life has a
way of organizing things on its own. Gohar, like hundreds of other
salespeople, has not attended a trade college, but she says that the
management of the store conducts weeklong training courses for new
employees. According to her, that is the time when it becomes evident
whether the trainee can work as a salesperson in the future.
In Gohar's opinion the required qualifications for this profession
are having a sense of responsibility, being attentive, and treating
both customers and colleagues with respect. "You also have to able to
forgive and compromise a little. If not, nothing will work out," she
adds with a smile.
* "I love my job very much"
Gohar's working day begins at 8:30 a.m. or 3 p.m., depending on the
shift. She is a supervisor-salesperson and is responsible for customer
service in the grocery, children's food, and fruit sections. The work
begins with the handing over of shifts. After that, as she explains,
together with her colleagues she inspects the cleanliness of the
section, the presence of price labels and expiration dates on
products, and if there are any expired products, they remove them.
"Expired products must be removed from the section. If an expired
product remains in the section, you can be sure the manager will
notice it and inevitably a warning will follow," Gohar says. Of
course, as is the norm nowadays, video cameras have also been placed
in the stores, but the salespeople are also vigilant so that no one
steals anything. A video camera is a good thing, but additional
attention can do no harm.
Fortunately interaction between salespeople and the customers is
very positive. The staff at Star supermarket help the customers find
the products they are looking for so that they can do their shopping
quickly. "We are here to help the customer. If we notice a person is
searching for a long time and is unable to make up his mind or find
the product he is looking for, because the range is very broad or the
customer is simply in a rush, we offer our help. In short, whoever the
customer is we try to serve them politely and ensure that the person
is satisfied with our store. Next time the customer will want to shop
with us again. We should never forget that the customer is always
right," Gohar notes correctly.
According to Gohar it is mostly men who ask for help while shopping.
The explanation, according to her, is very simple. "They see that a
girl is standing in front of them and they ask for our help. They
trust us to know where products are and which one is preferable."
As with higher-paying jobs, in this job the human factor is very
important. It matters what kind of people you work with. It is a
well-known fact that the productivity of staff working in a harmonious
environment is several times higher than that of staff working in a
tense environment. "We have an amazing staff, beginning with the
director and ending with an ordinary employee of a section," says our
heroine and adds, "I love my job very much."
* Running on a personal timetable
Modern urban life often feels like an endless sprint. Gohar is an
example of this. Parallel to working at Star supermarket, Gohar also
trains in sports. "I am a sprinter. I do the hundred meter sprint. I
practice sprinting in the Olympic training school. I also play
volleyball. I train individually, with a personal program."
Gohar has many dreams, as do all young people. She is not content
with a career as a salesperson. "It is natural that a person always
strives for more. And my biggest dream is achieving success in sport
outside Armenia. For the time being I see the realization of my dream
to be abroad," she says. Of course, in order to make that dream come
true it is necessary to work harder. Gohar also says that her
trainings do not interfere with her work; "I find time for both. The
schedule suits me. I work from 8:30 until 3 or from 3 to 8.30, so
there is enough time for training."
Gohar's hobbies are not limited to sports. "I have many friends.
Sometimes, in the evenings, we stroll in the city center. I do not
have a lot of free time, but I do not waste my time. I try not to miss
anything." Gohar believes that in relationships the most important and
valued qualities are honesty and respect toward others.
One of Gohar's hobbies is reading. "Generally, I love poetry very
much," says Gohar, adding, "my favorite poet is Hovhannes Shiraz."
Gohar also differs from others with her indifferent attitude toward TV
soap operas. She notes, "I do not watch soap operas. It is much better
to go to a cinema and watch an interesting movie.
"You simply have to be a hard worker."
What is work? We have put this question to all the heroes of
previous installments of "Armenia at Work." It was interesting to see
what kind of answer a representative of the younger generation would
give to this question.
"Apart from training I also work, in order not to be idle at home. I
work to pay my way," says Gohar. "But in general, work is an important
and primary concern for people especially in these conditions.
Currently many people are unemployed and they just sit around the
house. But the majority, mostly young people and the majority of
students, strive to have a job, even night shifts, in order not to
stay idle and unemployed. Everyone needs an income to care for this or
that need."
And how did members of her family react to Gohar's decision to work?
"I am not married and I told my parents that I want to work in a
store. They said that if I found a suitable job, I could try it, but
if I saw that it was upsetting me or was too hard, I should leave it.
In other words, they accepted it. And to be honest, I don't see
anything difficult in the work. You simply have to be a hard worker.
That's all.
"Work also provides financial independence, which is also important.
In the final analysis, I am no longer a child who needs to ask my
parents for money. My parents have kept and raised me. I am 21 years
old now and naturally I have to work to support myself and if
necessary my parents too. I have been working three years now and my
wage is satisfactory; I can go out with my friends. Of course, I do
not earn large amounts, but I think that on my wages I can support
myself even without my parents' help," says Gohar.
A little later she returns to her work and with her characteristic
smile she approaches one of the customers offering help. We say
goodbye to one another. While walking away I think that it is a good
thing that there are people who comprehend life like Gohar Vardanian.
It is good that there are young people who rely on themselves, their
talents and capabilities, in order to be successful in this life. The
existence of people like Gohar helps to provide confidence in the
future.
************************************* **************************************
9. From Armenia, in brief
* Political advertising prices steady going into presidential race
November 19 was the deadline for Armenian television stations to
officially announce their fees for paid political advertising during
the presidential elections. As stipulated in Armenia's electoral code,
Armenia's Public TV will once again allot free air time to all
registered candidates. The number of minutes allocated to each
candidate will be determined by the Central Electoral Commission. Also
according to the electoral code, campaigns have a spending cap.
Candidates must not spend more than 70 million dram ($220,000). But
more than that can be spent on candidates' behalf.
The rates are 180,000 drams ($560) per minute on Armenia TV, which
is the most widely watched independent channel and has said it will
provide no more 6 minutes per day of political advertising; 120,000
drams ($375) per minute on Shant TV, Kentron TV, and ALM TV; 108,000
on H2, 100,000 on Yerkir Media, and 80,000 on Public TV.
These prices are almost identical to the amounts charged by the
television stations during the parliamentary elections in May 2007.
All TV stations are charging more for political ads than for
commercial ones.
* Tax crackdown widened
Armenia's State Tax Services (STS) two weeks ago launched an extensive
investigation into the SIL Group Holding of Khatchatur Sukiassian, who
is openly supporting the presidential campaign of former president
Levon Ter-Petrossian, during whose presidency he made his considerable
fortune. (See the Armenian Reporter's editorial for November 10.)
SIL Group Holding's Pizza di Roma and a printing and packaging plant
were charged with evading 1.36 billion AMD ($4.25 million) in taxes.
One of the pizza chain's senior executives is under arrest pending the
completion of the investigation. According to RFE/RL, senior
executives in almost all of Mr. Sukiassian's companies have been
detained and interrogated.
Both President Robert Kocharian and Prime Minister Serge Sargsian
have said that the investigation of SIL's finances is part of a larger
effort to ensure that big businesses in Armenia pay their taxes. The
STS reports that it is also investigating Armavia and Mika Cement,
owned by Mikhail Baghdasarov; companies owned by member of parliament
Ruben Hairapetian, of the governing Republican Party of Armenia; the
Salex Group, owned by Republican member of parliament Samvel
Aleksanian; the Hrazdan market, owned by Republican member of
parliament Ashot Aghababian; minivan taxi services owned by Republican
member of parliament Galust Sahakian; the Arpa Sevan construction
company, owned by Republican member of parliament Hakob Hakobian; and
Yerevan Beer owned by former Orinats Yerkir Party member of parliament
Hakob Hakobian.
In a conversation with the Armenian Reporter, Mr. Baghdasarov
confirmed that Armavia recently paid 35 million drams ($110,000) in
fines to the state budget. "When they investigate us, we don't say,
'Why don't you investigate Khatchatur Sukiassian?' but when they
investigate him, he asks why the rest of us aren't investigated," he
griped.
The STS has said that as soon as its investigation is complete it
will publicize its findings.
* Armenia ends promising season with back to back losses
Portugal: Armenia 1:0
Armenia: Kazakhstan 0:1
Although Armenia's national football team last week was no longer in
contention for the Eurocup finals, they had two games left to play for
the Euro qualifiers.
Armenia played a strong game against Portugal on November 17, but
the results were disappointing. They played a defensive,
well-organized, and disciplined game in Portugal's Porto Stadium but
Hugo Almeida, Portugal's striker scored the only goal in the game just
before halftime.
Armenia then hosted Kazakhstan at home on November 21. A win or a
draw in that game would have let Armenia maintain its 6th-place
ranking in the 8-member Group A. However Kazakhstan's Sergey Ostapenko
scored against Armenia's goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky in the second
half. Even though this was only Kazakhstan's second victory in the
qualifiers, they managed to advance ahead of Armenia and are now in
6th position, leaving Armenia in 7th, just ahead of Azerbaijan.
* Turkey partly lifts air restriction
Turkish aviation authorities have advised Armavia, Armenia's national
air carrier that as of November 21 it can resume its
Yerevan-Beirut-Yerevan and Yerevan-Aleppo-Yerevan flights. The
Armenian Reporter was advised of this information by owner and
president of Armavia, Mikhail Baghdasarov, and Artyom Movsesyan, the
general director of Armenia's Civil Aviation Agency.
Mr. Movsesyan said that Turkish civil aviation officials have said
that in order for those flights to be realized, Armenia's aviation
agency must advise the Turkish side one week before the flight in
order to receive clearance to fly over Turkish airspace.
The director general of Armavia, Norair Bellyan told reporters,
"Armenia's foreign ministry played a significant role in the
resolution to this problem." He went on to say that Turkish
authorities weren't allowing these flights to be realized stipulating
technical difficulties. It remains unclear when these technical
difficulties will be resolved.
The Armenian Reporter contacted the Turkish Civil Aviation Agency
for clarification as to why service was disrupted and what the
technical difficulties were. The Turkish agency refused to offer any
explanation.
Ten days ago Turkish aviation officials announced that due to
technical difficulties they could not allow scheduled Armavia flights
to Beirut and Aleppo. These technical difficulties were not an
impediment for a Syrian carrier to continued its
Yerevan-Aleppo-Yerevan flight schedule. On the other hand it was
difficult to say that Turkey had closed its airspace to Armenia when
Armavia continued its Yerevan-Istanbul-Yerevan flights.
~WM.T.
* Nordic firm buys Armenian stock exchange
YEREVAN (RFE/RL) -- Nordic and Baltic market operator OMX is buying
the Armenian stock exchange, the government in Yerevan said Wednesday.
Full ownership of the exchange, known as Armex, will pass to OMX on
January 3, the Armenian government said in a statement. The terms of
the deal, which will also transfer ownership of the Central Depository
of Armenia to OMX, were not disclosed.
OMX operates exchanges in Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki,
Reykjavik, Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius.
Prime Minister Serge Sargsian welcomed the move as a sign of foreign
confidence in the Armenian economy, which grew by 13.3 percent in the
first 10 months of this year. "The government of Armenia considers the
development of the capital market as an important factor in the
further development of the national economy," Mr. Sargsian said in the
statement.
OMX chief executive Magnus Boecker was quoted in the statement as
saying that "Armenia's rapid economic growth gives us confidence in
the potential for long-term development of the Armenian market."
The Swedish financial market regulator earlier this month gave the
green light for Emirates-based Borse Dubai to bid for OMX. Borse
Dubai's proposed cash offer of 265 kronor per share, made jointly with
the US high-tech exchange Nasdaq, values OMX at some 32 billion kronor
($4.9 billion).
*************************************** ************************************
10. Northern Avenue is Yerevan's ambitious new development
by Armen Hakobyan
YEREVAN -- Downtown Yerevan boasts a brand-new avenue. Northern Avenue
was part of the city plan put forward by architect Alexander Tamanian
in the 1920s. But it was never built -- until now.
The avenue links the Opera and Ballet Theater to Republic Square. It
is a broad avenue, with new midrise buildings on either side -- and
very little green space.
The project took five years to complete, and is the largest single
construction development ever realized in Yerevan.
"I am seeing this vista for the first time," said Hasmik
Ancharakian, a piano teacher at the Sayat Nova Music School. "It is
very attractive, beautiful. Until now, I thought it was unnecessary
construction, but now I see quite a magnificent scene."
Yerevan's mayor, Yervand Zakharian, in his statements said that
Northern Avenue was a modern and civilized segment of the downtown
core. "This area used to be disorderly, with ramshackle buildings,
mostly in decay and not suitable for habitation. Today, Northern
Avenue is completely open for the community and promises to become one
of the most loved and busy areas of the city."
President Robert Kocharian said that Northern Avenue represented a
crucial turning point since independence by being the most
comprehensive construction project. He said the impact of such a
large-scale public development project, especially for a country with
limited means such as Armenia is great. It affected the construction
industry, led to the renaissance of many companies, brought new
building technology to the country, and new investments.
Former property owners on the route of the new avenue had to vacate
their properties under an eminent-domain law. They were compensated at
market value.
However, where homes were not properly registered because of
unsanctioned construction over the decades, people were treated as
tenants, not homeowners, and received compensation that was not enough
to buy a new home in the city.
A group of people in that position demonstrated at the opening of
the new avenue. There is pending litigation on this matter at the
European Court of Justice. Mr. Kocharian said that the government
would comply with the verdicts of the court.
"If mistakes were made during the process then I hope our citizens
will be forgiving. We were taking our first steps," Mr. Kocharian
said. "The important thing is that based on this experience laws were
improved and I am confident that in the future these kinds of problems
will be much less frequent."
********************************* ******************************************
11. Living in Armenia: What happens when the dream comes true
by Maria Titizian
My generation was blessed with witnessing sweeping changes in our
world. As a child we were taught that the threat of nuclear holocaust
was imminent. In eighth grade, The Chrysalids, a science fiction novel
set in a post-apocalyptic future after God had sent "tribulation"
(nuclear holocaust), was required reading in our school. We were
instructed what to take with us in underground bunkers should a
nuclear bomb be detonated. Images of the atom bomb exploding,
obliterating everything in its path had become commonplace.
Deformities caused by radiation was the stuff of our nightmares. I
realized how dated I was when my children stared at me in astonishment
when I told them about it. Foolishly, I thought they were taught about
the potential of a nuclear war. Don't ask me why, sometimes I'm in a
time warp. But that's when I realized how much the world has changed.
The 70s were an achingly boring decade if you discount the "hippies"
we were warned about by our mother, the ones who used to hang out on
our street with their long hair, beads, and bell bottoms. I had
visions of them attacking my father every night when he went to take
the trash out. The 80s on the other hand was a decade of big money,
big hair, and even bigger shoulder pads. I cringe every time I think
about it.
Vietnam, the peace movement, the civil rights movement, and the
women's movement were all things the generation before us had lived
through, instigated, and realized. There were student riots in
universities across the globe. They were breeding grounds alight with
ideas and passion. They had something to say about the world they
lived in; they had a message and a mission. And they did change the
world.
The 1960s was also a time of Armenian national rebirth. It was 1965
-- the 50th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. While officials and
dignitaries were quietly commemorating the slaughter of their nation
in the Opera and Ballet Theater in Yerevan, thousands of Armenians
demonstrated outside in Freedom Square demanding recognition of the
Genocide and shouting "Our lands." After decades of forbearance, the
Armenian people had suddenly awoken from their slumber and even while
in the clutch of the Soviet Union, they risked their lives for a
purpose, a mission, a dream. Those demonstrations then provided the
impetus which would lead to the construction of the Genocide Memorial,
the Tzitzernakaberd, two years later, in 1967.
The most extreme thing we did in the 70s was sport shag haircuts and
wear clogs. The generation who grew up in the 60s were different and
we reaped the benefit of their vigilance, their commitment, and
ultimately their sacrifices. My generation was considered a write-off.
We grew up with the Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island. I don't know if
those shows were meant to numb us or trick us into believing the world
was a safe, solid place. But we were indeed blasé.
And then the world seemed to shift off its axis. Especially for us.
It began with the Karabakh Movement when hundreds of thousands of
Armenians began demanding reunification. And then the earthquake of
1988. In a matter of seconds lives were wiped out, families
extinguished, and a whole nation was brought to its knees. We were
inundated with images of devastated cities and towns, their streets
crammed with plywood coffins, rescuers digging through the ruins, a
ravaged population in shock. The Soviet Union, the West's greatest
enemy and "threat to humanity," let out a whimper and suddenly died.
The ominous symbol of a separated Europe, the Berlin Wall was torn
down. Armenia found its voice again and demanded independence -- more
demonstrations, a referendum, and then the declaration of
independence. Who among us truly believed we would ever live to see
the tricolor flying at the United Nations?
Not only did my generation witness all of these sweeping changes
that bestowed us with a free country, but we were lucky enough to
understand the significance of it and young enough to be an integral
part of it. My parents' generation didn't have that luxury. They were
survivors or children of survivors who had little time to feel sorry
for themselves. Dreaming for a homeland was an extravagance. They had
to struggle to survive with nothing to hang on to for their history
had been wiped away. Pain and hardship were a constant in their lives.
When independence came it was bittersweet. Wherever they lived,
whether in the Middle East, Europe, or the U.S., they had settled down
and integrated. They had moved, not across neighborhoods or cities,
but across countries and continents. Uprooting once again and heading
off to the homeland was more of a burden than a dream.
Then there's my children's generation. For them Armenia has always
been free. The dream itself of an independent homeland for them is
nonexistent. They never had to dream for it. It is a part of their
reality. My daughter was only an infant when Armenia became
independent; my son was born almost a year later. What do they know
about the Cold War, the Soviet Union, about the threat of a nuclear
holocaust? What do they know about trying to balance identities? What
do they know about trying to explain to people where Armenia is on a
map -- somewhere between the Black and Caspian Seas, across the border
from Turkey, presently part of the Soviet Union -- this is how I
remember explaining it to people. My children's generation is
stronger, confident, and more importantly empowered by the existence
of an independent homeland.
But my generation? We are the lucky ones. We lived and breathed with
the dream of having a homeland. This dream sustained us and gave our
lives substance although none of us really expected it to come true.
We too had a purpose, a mission. And we were blessed because the dream
came true. We are the generation who cried when we saw Mount Ararat
for the first time.
We had the chance to throw caution to the wind and repatriate. To
rebuild the nation of our forefathers. The lingering question for me
is why didn't we? Why didn't we when we could have? Why didn't we when
we should have?
The answer is simple. We all had a choice. The freedom to choose
where we lived and how we lived. Having that choice is the best gift a
free homeland has bestowed to us. So whether we live in Houston,
Texas, or Sydney, Australia, or Yerevan, Armenia, we are finally free.
******************************************* ********************************
12. Commentary: On the road with Catholicos Karekin, through a young
journalist's eyes
by Antranig Dereyan
When I was told that I would be going on tour around the United States
to cover October's Pontifical Visit of Catholicos Karekin II, I was
overcome with some conflicting emotions. Of course, I was excited to
be going on the road and seeing the states. I was relieved that I
would be making some money and that I'd have a job for the coming
month. And I felt deeply honored to be covering such an important
figure as the Catholicos of All Armenians.
But I was also a little worried about the prospect of being in
constant, close proximity to Vehapar. Would I be able to be myself? Or
would I need to change myself when I was around him? And if the
latter, how long could I keep that up?
The answers surprised me.
The first week on the road with the Pontifical tour was a process of
all of us getting to know each other: in my case,that included not
only Vehapar, whom I was still a little hesitant to even approach, but
also the other members in the entourage -- most of them important
people in their own right.
I also had to accustom myself to the pace of each stop, and how, at
a moment's notice, everyone might have to get up and leave to make an
appointment elsewhere. More than once that first week I found myself
left behind, needing to find my own way back to the hotel because I
was conducting interviews for my reports, and hadn't noticed the quick
exit of Vehapar and the entourage. I was lucky that, the first time it
happened, I was in Boston, where I had some friends who delivered me
back at the hotel. (Though I carry a credit card with me for
emergencies, it would have been little help in this case, because
though it's advertised as being accepted "everywhere you want to be,"
that doesn't include taxis.)
Nevertheless, as the weeks passed and the cities came and went, I
felt the entourage becoming closer and closer. The early positive
feedback from the places we visited, as well as our own growing
familiarity with the routine of each stop, brought a sense of relief
and ease to the tour. We began to kid with each other. Vehapar himself
showed his great capacity for friendship, and was very gracious to me
personally. He would joke with the others and with me, as well, and
though I always had a feeling of formal respect, Vehapar also made me
feel that I could be myself around him. I appreciated that thoroughly.
* The kid on the team
I got to know the other members of the entourage, as well: Fr. Ktrij,
Vehapar's aid and translator; Fr. Hovnan, the staff-bearer; Archbishop
Vicken, the legate of the Eastern Diocese. Archbishop Vicken and Fr.
Ktrij began looking out for me, and as a result I was not left behind
any longer. By the middle of the trip, even Vehapar would make a point
of asking whether I was with the entourage before it made a move --
which was both touching and amusing to me. I mean, here was an
international dignitary, the Catholicos of All Armenians, and he was
concerned about the wellbeing of a young reporter -- me.
From my initial position of being an "outsider" looking in, I ended
up feeling like an "insider" thanks to these graces from the others.
During our travel time or in the rare quiet moments, Archbishop Vicken
and I would talk about all sorts of matters, and he was generous with
his advice to a young Armenian starting out in life. He even told me:
"Antranig, when you get married, I will perform the ceremony, and I
want you to choose well."
Bishop Yezras, the Primate of Russia, encouraged me to join a choir
after he heard me singing to myself as I worked on my stories. Really,
it was a revelation to me how kind and down-to-earth everyone was, as
we faced together the grueling daily schedule.
I did have the occasional feeling, as the weeks drew on, that I was
the tour mascot -- the "kid" on the team. But then I realized: I was
the kid. The next person closest to my age in the entourage was 28. So
I was the youngest, and if sometimes I felt that fact, I was able to
handle it. In the end, on behalf of the whole group, Fr. Ktrij said to
me: "Everyone in the entourage was very glad that you came with us.
You kept us young, and if you hadn't been with us the trip would not
have been the same."
There were problems, of course, in the course of the trip. One week
a bunch of bags were forgotten, and we had to go back to the hotel and
get them. Early on, in the frenzy to get good pictures and video of
the events, all of us media personnel on the trip (there were also
official tour photographers and a video crew) found ourselves
competing amongst each other, and that caused some temporary friction.
But as time went by we got use to each other's styles, and started
looking out for and even helping each other. Ultimately any problems
disappeared or departed, and the media members became close, joking
around with each other and acting like real friends, even though none
of us had met before the tour started.
From my initial conflicting emotions, I now feel an overwhelming
sense of gratitude after touring this country with Catholicos Karekin.
It was an honor to be with him, with Archbishop Khajag, and with all
the other members of the entourage. The memories I made while on the
road for one full month (especially in Washington, D.C.) will stay
with me for my entire life. The cities I saw, and the people I saw in
those cities, I would never have seen if I hadn't been with Vehapar. I
have made new friends in unexpected places -- like North Carolina --
and I can now say without joking that I have "friends in high places"
among the Armenian clergy, including the Catholicos.
I never imagined I would ever be able to say that our Vehapar is my
friend -- but now, I feel I can. Not every Armenian can say he has
spent a month in the presence of our Catholicos; but I can. I feel
very lucky to have been chosen to write on the Pontifical Visit for
the Armenian Reporter, and I thank the editors for giving me the
opportunity.
***
Antranig Dereyan, a freelance writer from New Jersey and a frequent
contributor to this paper, accompanied the Pontifical Visit as the
Reporter's special correspondent throughout the month of October.
**************************************** ***********************************
13. Letter: Turkey: Pick up your marbles and go!
Sir:
I thought you would be interested in the following letter, sent to The
Detroit News:
"Your editorial of Friday, Oct. 12, 2007 ("Anti-Turkey bill could
cause needless harm. U.S. House considers resolution condemning WWI
genocide") was very disturbing. My late mother, who died four years
ago, was a survivor of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. She painfully
lamented when she was 12 years old how the Turkish gendarmes came to
their comfortable, affluent home in their Armenian village and ordered
her father, a successful export merchant, to go with them. When he
didn't return, her 14-year-old brother went to look for their father.
Both were never seen again, along with thousands of others.
"The Zoryan Institute has documented videotapes of eyewitness
testimonies of hundreds of survivors, the horrors they lived through,
and the loved ones who perished. Front page news headlines in The New
York Times and countless other newspapers throughout the world from
1915 to 1922 describe in detail the massacres and exterminations
(compiled in 1978 by Richard D. Kloian).
"One and a half million innocent men, women, and children lie
scattered and fermenting in unmarked graves in the killing fields,
deserts, rivers, and mountains of their historical homeland. They were
starving, thirsty, wantonly slaughtered, burned, drowned, murdered,
tortured, driven from their homes and possessions, prodded like cattle
on horrifying death marches -- for the crime of being Christian
Armenians, much like the Jewish Holocaust of six million [people].
"The documented facts of the murder of the Armenian nation are
undeniable. Who is allowing and tolerating Turkey to re-invent and
rewrite history? Your editorial states that Turkey is a "solid U.S.
ally and that the Bush administration has pleaded with Congress not
to adopt the resolution, as have eight living former secretaries of
state." Turkey is behaving like a whining brat that will play only by
its own rules. Let its ambassador pick up his marbles and go home!
"The U.S. has been held hostage politically long enough by Turkey,
the master of massive human rights violations throughout history. Your
editorial ended with "that's a high price to pay for a symbolic
gesture." Isn't the blatant murder of 1.5 million innocent souls also
a high price to pay for symbolic indifference to such heinous crimes?
For too many years now the United States and its many self-serving
politicians, with the exception of the gutsy and brave Speaker of the
House, Nancy Pelosi, have unconscionably prostituted themselves to the
opportunistic Turkish government only because of Turkey's geographical
location. Your editorial was not only an insensitive, degrading,
infuriating disgrace to all martyred Armenians, their children and
grandchildren, but to all victims of genocide throughout the world.
"Yes, sweep it under the rug, shelve it, hide under the skirt of
Turkish bullying and injustice until it is politically expedient.
We've only been waiting for 92 years now."
Very truly yours,
Margaret Lafian
Detroit, Mich.
******************************************* ********************************
14. Editorial: Amen
Across the United States this week, Americans observed Thanksgiving
Day in the customary style, observing traditions of both elder (family
gatherings, roasted turkeys, prayer) and more recent (football
marathons, traffic jams) vintages.
For countless Armenian-Americans, one emerging tradition of the day
is to spend it with fellow Armenians from around the world -- via
satellite, as it were -- through the annual Armenia Fund Telethon.
Certainly, part of the attraction of the telethon is the chance to see
so much Armenian talent, from established stars to the latest
up-and-comers, in live performance. From a production standpoint
alone, the telethon is a marvel of technical and creative proficiency,
and we tip our hats to the numerous people involved in bringing it to
life, and into our living rooms, each year.
But of course, the telethon is more than just a great show. It's an
opportunity for each of us to add our individual support to a good
cause -- no, a great cause; one of the most important causes we can
think of: the building up of the free, sovereign, independent Republic
of Armenia and Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. It renews our sense of
pride in the community to see so many Armenians lending a hand, making
contributions, helping to break the fundraising records of past years
-- and helping, too, to advance the quality of life in our homeland.
As the day itself reminds us, the patriotism of the worldwide Armenian
community is truly something for which we should be thankful.
Aside from the feeling of pride it awakens, it is genuinely touching
to see such a display of Armenian solidarity, fellow-feeling, and
common aspiration for the future. Those qualities play a role in
community life every day, surely; but they are writ large each year
during the Armenia Fund Telethon. How many other groups can make a
similar claim?
As citizens and lovers of America, we all have joined with our
countrymen in times of great developments, both heroic and tragic, to
unite in a common cause. It is the same for people in other countries,
as well. But without in any way slighting these expressions of
national solidarity, we want to suggest that sense of purpose uniting
all Armenians is of a different order. It is not an occasional
development, a response to external circumstance, but something we
nurture throughout the year, year in and year out.
At least, that's how "the better angels of our nature" would have
it. And on Thanksgiving Day, once again, those angels were hard at
work. Amen to that.
***
Donate to the Armenia Fund
In the Western United States, go to
www.armeniafund.org
111 North Jackson St, Ste 205
Glendale CA 91206
Tel : 818 243 6222
Fax :818 243 7222
Toll free 1-800-888-8897
E-mail:[email protected]
In the Eastern United States go to
www.armeniafundusa.org
80 Maiden La Ste 301
New York, NY 10038
Phone: 212-689-5307
Fax: 212-689-5317
Toll Free: 1-866-446-6237
E-mail:[email protected]
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November 24, 2007 -- From the front section
To see the printed version of the newspaper, complete with photographs
and additional content, visit www.reporter.am and
download the pdf files. It's free.
1. A "can-do nation" joins forces in Armenia Fund Telethon (by Naush Boghossian)
* Record-breaking $15.2 million pledged
* A resurgent Armenia donates $1.2 million
* Nagorno-Karabakh pitches in $1 million
2. U.S. government supports building a new nuclear power plant in
Armenia (by Vincent Lima)
3. From Washington, in brief (by Emil Sanamyan)
* South American states call for international affirmation of Armenian Genocide
* Turkey, Azerbaijan pull Central Asian states into Genocide denial
* Construction of Armenia rail bypass launched in Georgia
4. Minnesota Armenians gather to offer thanks and raise funds for U.S.
Rep. Tim Walz (by Pamela Henrickson)
5. Five U.S. doctors share their expertise during the 10th medical
mission to Armenia's Wellness Center (by Cynthia Bosnian)
6. Serge Sargsian nominated for president (by Tatul Hakobyan)
7. Candidate Levon Ter-Petrossian defends his record (by Tatul Hakobyan)
* Asks for three years to "clean the Augean stables"
8. Armenia at Work: Gohar chases her dream (by Armen Hakobian)
9. From Armenia, in brief
* Political advertising prices steady going into presidential race
* Tax crackdown widened
* Armenia ends promising season with back to back losses
* Turkey partly lifts air restriction
* Nordic firm buys Armenian stock exchange
10. Northern Avenue is Yerevan's ambitious new development (by Armen Hakobyan)
11. Living in Armenia: What happens when the dream comes true (by
Maria Titizian)
12. Commentary: On the road with Catholicos Karekin, through a young
journalist's eyes (by Antranig Dereyan)
13. Letter: Turkey: Pick up your marbles and go! (Margaret Lafian)
14. Editorial: Amen
******************************************** *******************************
1. A "can-do nation" joins forces in Armenia Fund Telethon
* Record-breaking $15.2 million pledged
* A resurgent Armenia donates $1.2 million
* Nagorno-Karabakh pitches in $1 million
by Naush Boghossian
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- For twelve hours, two rows of names and numbers
scrolled across the bottom of television screens and computer monitors
around the world. Occasionally, one saw the name of a friend, an
acquaintance, and smiled. There were people living nearby, and people
hailing from faraway places. There were businesses and organizations.
Donations in memory of loved ones. The numbers and currencies varied:
$100, E250, $10,000, $50.
A nation dispersed across the globe had come together for a common
purpose, that of nation-building.
The energy was palpable as hundreds of volunteers buzzed around
KCET's Hollywood studios on Thanksgiving Day, driven by a collective
feeling best described as a mixture of purpose and hope during the
10th annual Armenia Fund International Telethon.
The undeniable expectation was to surpass the $13.7 million raised
last year -- and there was no reason to think that Armenians would not
pitch in and make it happen.
Each year, the event has become more sophisticated and
technologically savvy, and the kinks have been worked out -- a long
ways from the first telethon, which raised $2.6 million in pledges.
And the returns this year did not disappoint. The live telethon
brought in just over $15.2 million by its close at 8 p.m., with
additional funds expected to be accounted for in the coming days, said
Vahe Aghabegians, executive director of Armenia Fund International.
"It was more or less our expectation. We weren't surprised; we
weren't disappointed," Mr. Aghabegians said after the telethon ended.
Though the organizers hoped to raise more, "this was more or less what
we realistically expected. This money will help us make changes and a
real difference in lives of people in villages.
"But we need 10 times as much. We have just begun."
The money raised this year will come on top of the more than $170
million raised since the first international telethon in 1997, to go
toward large-scale infrastructure and economic development in Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Projects initiated by Armenia Fund over the years have included the
construction and reconstruction of schools, healthcare facilities,
highways, rural roads, drinking-water facilities and systems, and
irrigation systems.
The nonprofit organization is credited for constructing the
Goris-Stepanakert Highway -- called the "lifeline highway" --
connecting the Republic of Armenia and Karabakh, as well as the
north-south highway that connects more than 150 villages in
Nagorno-Karabakh.
But most recently, the organization has focused on agricultural
development, embarking on an ambitious regional development plan that
promotes long-term sustainability by empowering farmers with
technology packages, training, new equipment, fertilizer, and new
farming standards, said Greg Boyrazian, development director of
Armenia Fund.
* The measure of success
Proceeds from the telethon will benefit a cluster of villages in the
Tavush region of Armenia and the Martuni region of Karabakh through
the organization's Village Development Program.
"We have one measure of success: looking back and seeing if this
program caused a rise in the populations of these villages. If it
does, then it's a success," Mr. Aghabegians said. "If those who have
left the villages seeking gainful employment come back and are able to
lead a dignified life because of the economic infrastructure and
availability of employment, then it's a success."
The agricultural program, which started in 2005, will be coordinated
with the U.S. government's Millennium Challenge Corporation, the World
Bank, and the United Nations Development Program, or UNDP. The goal is
to implement the holistic model throughout Armenia, Mr. Boyrazian
said.
"Right now, they're only growing crops for themselves. Our plan is
to help make the agricultural sector the breadbasket of the region --
to introduce its agricultural products to local markets and the
international market," he said.
* An electronic bridge
The telethon itself has become a Thanksgiving Day tradition for
Armenian households worldwide, and has evolved into one of the few
annual events capable of uniting all Armenians across religious,
political, and geographic lines.
"This is an extremely big event in the community. It's the only day
and time when the Armenian diaspora at large are able to connect with
Armenia at the ease and comfort of their television sets and their
high-speed Internet," Mr. Boyrazian said. "That's where they can
really see the faces, that dollar they are donating is making a
difference for the boy or girl living in an impoverished region of
Armenia."
Individuals and businesses in Armenia itself donated $1.2 million,
according to preliminary figures. Archbishop Barkev Martirossian,
prelate of Karabakh, said that Karabakh was contributing $1 million,
with five businesses contributing $100,000 each, another business
contributing $80,000, and the rest coming from smaller donations.
Another $2.2 million came from Europe.
Levon Hairapetian, who is based in Russia, pledged $2.5 million, and
Vahe Garabedian of Southern California pledged $1 million. The bulk of
the money pledged, however, came from thousands of individuals and
families in the United States and beyond watching the telethon on
their screens.
The telethon, Mr. Boyrazian said,"carries an important meaning. It's
an electronic bridge between the Republic of Armenia and the diaspora
at large."
Broadcast coast-to-coast in large Armenian-American communities as
well as internationally, the 12-hour fundraiser featured guests
including the newly elected president of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, Bako Sahakian, Armenia's foreign minister, Vartan Oskanian,
and more than 40 musical acts, featuring some of the top names in
Armenian music.
"We like to call it the Armenian Super Bowl," Mr. Boyrazian said.
"Our challenge is to create a wonderful program that will cater to
Armenian-Americans from all walks of life, be it in New York, in
Boston, or in L.A."
To that end, a new production team worked on developing segments
both locally and in Armenia and Karabakh that tell the human stories
of how the projects funded through past telethons have changed lives.
"The focus is to put that human touch to it and to create a show
that everyone will enjoy rather than have a lecture session," Mr.
Boyrazian said.
The telethon's executive producer, Michael Levin, who has also
produced the annual Chabad Telethon for five years, initiated the
event's move to the high-tech KCET studios.
He also pushed for more dancing, music, and human-interest stories,
to draw more viewers.
"I wanted the show to be entertaining. If it's entertaining, people
watch and they give money," he said. "If it comes from the heart, it
goes from the heart. If there's an emotional connection to the viewer,
they're going to give."
Mr. Levin also brought in Stepan Partamian -- who orchestrated the
successful Spirit of Armenia concert at the Hollywood Bowl in July --
as music producer.
Mr. Partamian said the event has changed to incorporate dance and
music to celebrate helping a country grow and mature.
"In years past there was more talking, talking, talking and less
entertainment. This year we came out blasting with entertainment," he
said, his red, blue, and orange goatee bobbing as he spoke. "It's a
celebration of building a nation. First we had nothing and we needed
something. Now we have everything and we need to put them in the right
place."
Attorney Mark Geragos, who co-hosted the event for the fifth time
this year, said he's watched the show's appeal grow beyond the
Armenian community.
"About two years ago we started to get 'odars' to make
contributions, and it's becoming a Thanksgiving Day tradition for them
to turn on the telethon for a couple of hours. It's become kind of
must-see-TV," said Mr. Geragos, who also serves as a member of the
Armenia Fund International Board of Trustees.
In addition to repeated large lump-sum donations over the years by
Armenian philanthropists, last year non-Armenians also entered the
ranks of hefty donors.
Project C.U.R.E., led by Douglas Jackson, donated more than $2
million for hospital equipment last year, after the Denver physician's
father visited Karabakh several times.
But Armenia Fund's goal is also to target smaller donations,
particularly through aggressive pre-broadcast pushes, to tap into the
resources of the estimated 10 million Armenians worldwide.
Mr. Aghabegians said they plan to raise more money next year by
getting to work earlier planning the telethon. Planning usually begins
a few months prior to the event, but they want to begin preparing for
next year's telethon by reaching out more to Armenian communities in
the world, he said.
"We want to make it a more penetrated event in areas outside of the
U.S. Right now it's mostly a West Coast and American event," Mr.
Aghabegians said. "The diaspora is our oil. This is our natural
resource."
* Volunteers
Young volunteers staffed the phones Thursday, their group
consciousness geared toward this year's telethon motto, "One Nation,
One Future."
For Arteen Mnayan, the telethon has become a family affair. It was
inevitable that the 16-year-old would get pulled into volunteer
service since his cousin Alina Dorian has been a co-host for years and
his sister, a supervisor.
In fact, his family has officially changed Thanksgiving Day to
Friday so they can all participate at the telethon without missing out
the a big feast.
"I'm doing it for my family, my love for my country, and because of
what my family instilled in me -- to give back," said the first-time
volunteer who was taking phone pledges. "On a day of giving thanks, we
want to be thankful for what we have and to help the less fortunate."
Tamar Artin, 20, was volunteering for the fourth year in a row -- a
commitment that began right after she returned from a visit to
Armenia.
"When I saw people and children in villages and had conversations
and relationships with them, I thought I had to give back and Armenia
Fund is the way to do it," said Ms. Artin, who now supervises the
phone volunteers. "They had no shoes, rooms were too hot or too cold,
and they got so excited when you gave them simple things like a
pencil. Armenia Fund provides the simple necessities to all of those
children."
The telethon also serves an important role for the global diaspora
of Armenians, forcing them to put aside political and religious
differences for the sake of helping build a strong foundation in the
homeland, Mr. Geragos said.
In fact, the corporate board of Armenia Fund includes religious
leaders from the Catholic, Evangelical, and Apostolic churches, as
well as representatives from the AGBU and ARS.
"It's the only organization I'm aware of that all of the various
entities in the Armenian community -- all churches, organizations --
have a seat at the table," Mr. Geragos said. "I love the fact that
it's pan-Armenian. Everyone comes together for this one day a year,
which is great."
************************************ ***************************************
2. U.S. government supports building a new nuclear power plant in Armenia
by Vincent Lima
YEREVAN -- "The U.S Government supports the building of a new nuclear
unit" in Armenia, said U.S. chargé d'affaires Joseph Pennington on
November 21 before signing a statement of cooperation with Armenia's
minister of energy, Armen Movsisian at the Ministry of Energy here.
The existing nuclear reactor is to be deactivated by 2016.
As a first step, the United States Agency for International
Development is spending $2 million for a preliminary environmental
impact assessment and a feasibility study. The Armenian government
plans to use the results of these studies to choose the best technical
solutions and project logistics. The studies will also serve as a
basis for negotiations with potential suppliers and international
financing institutions.
Mr. Movsisian said the new plant will be built at Metsamor, the site
of the existing nuclear power plant, to take advantage of existing
infrastructure. The site was meant for up to four reactors, only two
of which were built, in the 1970s. One reactor, with a gross output of
408 megawatts, is now operational and provides close to half of
Armenia's electricity.
The new reactor, Mr. Movsisian said, would have an output of 1,000 megawatts.
Mr. Movsisian mentioned a $280 million cost estimate "a few years
back," but acknowledged that actual costs in the next decade would be
significantly higher. Other sources have mentioned a $1 billion price
tag.
The Armenian government is already looking for foreign investors.
The feasibility study and environmental impact assessment are expected
to help potential investors consider the option of investing in
nuclear energy in Armenia.
* U.S. policy
"Long-term energy security is essential to all Armenians," Mr.
Pennington acknowledged at the signing. He added that the U.S.
government is particularly concerned with the safety of the nuclear
power plant. "We look forward to the rapid replacement of the Metsamor
facility with a more modern and safer plant."
He noted that the United States government has made "significant
contributions" to help Armenia have safe, affordable energy. One focus
of U.S. support has been safety enhancements to the existing nuclear
power plant. The U.S. has also provided funds for hydropower and other
forms of renewable energy production.
The State Department had signaled U.S. support before. In an August
7 interview with the Armenian Reporter's Emil Sanamyan, Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza had said, "As long as a
plant is safe and up fully to international safety standards, then we
are happy to help Armenia explore its options." The agreement signed
on November 21 puts that help in motion.
***************************************** **********************************
3. From Washington, in brief
by Emil Sanamyan
* South American states call for international affirmation of Armenian Genocide
The recently established parliament of a regional South American
organization, Mercosur, issued a resolution recognizing and condemning
the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of South
America reported on November 21.
Mercosur, which is a Spanish and Portuguese acronym for the Common
Market of the South, was established in 1991 by Argentina, Brazil,
Paraguay, and Uruguay to promote regional cooperation in a manner
similar to the process of European integration.
The 90-member Mercosur Parliament was launched at the end of last
year with an equal number of delegates from each of the member states
and is based in Montevideo, the Uruguayan capital.
Uruguay was the first state whose legislature formally commemorated
the Armenian Genocide in a resolution passed in 1965. Parliaments of
Argentina, Mercosur membership candidate Venezuela, and associated
member state Chile have also passed formal resolutions on the issue.
According to the ANC of South America, the Mercosur parliament
condemned the "Armenian Genocide, perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire,
which took 1.5 million lives from 1915 to 1923," expressed its support
for the Armenian cause, and called on all countries to recognize the
Genocide.
* Turkey, Azerbaijan pull Central Asian states into Genocide denial
Officials from several Central Asian states backed Turkey's Genocide
denial during the 11th Turkish State and Communities' Friendship,
Solidarity and Cooperation Congress, held in Baku earlier this week.
The event, held on the initiative of Azerbaijani president Ilham
Aliyev and attended by Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
also included the Turkmen deputy prime minister, the Kyrgyz education
minister, and the Kazakh deputy culture minister. In all, more than
500 delegates from 30 countries were expected to take part in the
annual congress of Turkic languages-speaking nations.
"Adoption of Armenian allegations pertaining to the incidents of
1915 in various parliaments have caused outrage and sorrow among
Turkic republics" (sic), the congress participants reportedly said in
a joint declaration, as mentioned in the Turkish Press on November 19.
The declaration also offered support for Azerbaijan's position on
the Karabakh conflict and support for Turkic communities in Georgia
and Iraq, and called for a lifting of the international embargo
against the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Unlike Turkey,
however, all the other Turkic states recognize the Greek-majority
Republic of Cyprus rather than TRNC.
***
In Washington, coinciding with the pan-Turkic congress in Baku, the
Central Asia and Caucasus Institute (CACI) at Johns Hopkins University
held a discussion on Turkey's role in the two regions on November 19.
The speakers, Zeyno Baran of the Hudson Institute and Svante Cornell
of CACI, agreed that while the focus of Turkey's foreign policy has
for years been on the West and Middle East, Turkey's leaders have
recently again begun to pay more attention to that part of the world.
Ms. Baran noted that in the 1990s U.S. and Turkish interests to a
large degree coincided in the Caucasus and Central Asia. This, she
said, may no longer be the case now, considering Ankara's diminished
partnership with Washington and Brussels.
Mr. Cornell suggested that it was "pointless" for the U.S. and
Europe to continue to call on Turkey to establish relations with
Armenia, since without Armenian concessions in Karabakh this would
amount to "betrayal" of Azerbaijan, and that "geopolitically speaking
. . . Armenia is expendable."
Ms. Baran added that support that Armenia receives from the West
"does not make sense" and that here is a feeling among Turks and
Azerbaijanis that this is a "Christian versus Muslim thing."
* Construction of Armenia rail bypass launched in Georgia
The Azerbaijani president and Turkish prime minister joined Georgian
president Mikhail Saakashvili on November 21 in inaugurating the
construction of the $420 million Akhalkalaki- Kars railroad, that
would connect Georgia and Turkey.
Azerbaijan has lobbied for the project in an effort to remove
economic arguments in favor of opening the Turkish-Armenian border,
because of the existing railroad connecting Turkey and Georgia via
Armenia. After failing to secure international funding for the
project, Azerbaijan itself will pay for the construction on Georgian
territory, amounting to $220 million.
While in Georgia, President Aliyev also inaugurated the Kulevi oil
terminal on the Black Sea coast. Last year, the Azerbaijani state oil
company bought the terminal from Georgian billionaire Badri
Patarkatsishvili, who has since fallen out with the Saakashvili
government.
This was Mr. Aliyev's third visit to Georgia this year. In February
he attended the inauguration of the Tbilisi airport renovated by a
Turkish company, and in May he was in Tbilisi again, to attend the
unveiling of a statue of his father and predecessor as president,
Heydar Aliyev.
~WNareg Seferian contributed to this week's column.
***************************************** **********************************
4. Minnesota Armenians gather to offer thanks and raise funds for U.S.
Rep. Tim Walz
by Pamela Henrickson
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Armenian community of Minnesota gathered November
19 to show its appreciation and support for Rep. Tim Walz, who
represents Minnesota's first district in the House of Representatives.
The event, held in downtown Minneapolis, was an intimate fundraiser
for Mr. Walz and an opportunity for Armenian-Americans to thank him
personally for his efforts in Washington on their behalf.
The event was sponsored by the Minnesota Host Committee: Jaff and
Kathie Baradaran, Gerard and Cleo Cafesjian, John Waters and Cheri
Kuhn, Beatrice and Sita Ohanessian, Steve and Chacké Scallen, Massis
Yeterian, and the U.S.-Armenia Political Action Committee.
Mr. Waters, vice president of the Cafesjian Family Foundation, said
the Minnesota community often works with politicians "to make sure
that they're fully educated on issues that are important to the
Armenian-American community, that they are aware of what is going on
in Armenia, and that they are aware of legislation" relevant to
Armenians.
"Candidate Walz was a remarkable candidate from the
Armenian-American perspective in that he knew everything about the
Armenian Genocide and the history of Armenians from his own studies,"
Mr. Waters said. "He was a very quick study on issues that were
important to the community, and we were able to help support him in
his election. Now that he is a member of Congress, he is very active.
He has supported various pieces of legislation that are important to
the community, and not only that, he has been an advocate on behalf of
the community by encouraging other elected officials to become
supporters as well."
Mr. Walz, who was elected in 2006, studied genocide and human rights
while working on his master's degree in educational leadership in
2001. A former high school geography teacher, he taught his students
not only about the history of genocide but also helped them examine
the causes of genocide.
Mr. Walz helped solicit co-sponsors for H.Res. 106, a resolution
reaffirming the Armenian Genocide. He said it was a rewarding
experience but also very disappointing when fear played into people's
reactions.
Mr. Walz said that he explained to his colleagues, "This is about
setting the historical record straight so that we can move and learn;
this about getting closure for not only the victims but for the
perpetrators.
"You must understand that historical record if you're going to ever
do anything about the future -- if we're ever going to live up to the
'never again.'"
In addition to sharing his insights on the genocide resolution, Mr.
Walz talked with the group about human rights issues, U.S.
international policy, and U.S. relations with Turkey. He told guests
that the United States' reputation is not as positive as it was after
World War II and that the people of the United States will be working
to rebuild the reputation of the country for many years. He said
recognizing the Armenian Genocide will be a step in right direction.
"The silver lining in this issue is that at least people know that
Armenia is a country and Armenians are people in a historical context,
and that there is a lot of history that we can learn," he said. "That
part of it is out there, and I can tell you that there is still a real
desire amongst many of us . . . .to bring this thing storming right
back through."
Aram Desteian of the U.S.-Armenia Political Action Committee said
the event was a thank you to Walz and a chance for him to get to know
some of the people for whom he is fighting. Mr. Waters estimated the
fundraiser would raise $10,000 for Mr. Walz's campaign for re-election
in 2008.
"He has become absolutely essential in helping to get other freshmen
members of Congress informed on the issue of Armenian Genocide," Mr.
Desteian said. He has co-sponsored legislation, and he has also taken
a strong lead in helping to work toward better aid for Armenia."
"There aren't a lot of Armenians in Mankato [Mr. Walz's hometown in
the 1st District], so he's not doing this because it gets him votes,
and he's not doing it because it gets him money," Desteian said. "He's
doing it because this is something he believes is important and that
human rights should be something the United States cares about."
************************************ ***************************************
5. Five U.S. doctors share their expertise during the 10th medical
mission to Armenia's Wellness Center
by Cynthia Bosnian
YEREVAN -- Five doctors from the U.S. traveled to Armenia as part of
the 10th Medical Mission to the Armenian American Wellness Center. The
Center's U.S. sponsor, the Armenian American Cultural Association
(AACA), organized the annual mission this past summer -- its 46th such
medical exchange between the two countries.
Over the past 10 years, the medical missions have focused on
providing training for the Wellness Center's medical and
administrative staff, and its biomedical engineer. The
two-and-a-half-week mission involved lectures, presentations, hands-on
training sessions, as well as assessments of the center's equipment
and quality control measures.
The American doctors also evaluated Wellness Center doctors and
technologists on their knowledge and skills, carefully examining and
testing them.
The team of visiting U.S. doctors included Samuel Malayan, M.D.,
Ph.D., assistant clinical professor at USC School of Medicine (in
Endocrinology); Camilla Cobb, M.D., associate professor at Loma Linda
University Medical Center and clinical associate professor at USC (in
Cytopathology); Katherine Berberian, D.V.M., Cytologist at USC; John
Poochigian, M.D., Pharm.D., a family medicine-internist; and Christina
Avakoff, M.D., Pharm.D., in private practice in family medicine and
dermatology.
All the doctors, with the exception of Dr. Malayan, had previously
traveled to Armenia for Wellness Center missions, donating their time
and expertise.
While not officially part of the mission, other medical
professionals in attendance included Larry Mowat, R.T., senior
applications specialist for osteoporosis screening equipment at
Hologic, Inc., and Julie Kulhanjian, M.D., a specialist in pediatrics
and infectious diseases, from the San Francisco area.
Since the Wellness Center's inception in 1997, Mowat has been
instrumental in supervising the installation of all the mammography
and osteoporosis screening equipment, ensuring the quality control for
the mammography films, and training the local biomedical engineer for
maintenance services. This was his 4th trip to Armenia in 10 years.
Kulhanjian visited to provide assessments for the Pediatrics
department that will be launched at the center in the coming years.
* A first in Armenia
A highlight of the mission was the introduction of ultrasound guided
fine needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid glands -- a first in Armenia
-- by Dr. Malayan. The cytopathology readings of these FNAs was done
by Drs. Cobb and Berberian. The three doctors gave lectures to the
center's and Gavar Satellite Clinic's medical staffs on these
procedures, and taught them how to assess the adequacy of the
microscopic specimen to ensure a good quality sample.
"The center's physician cytologists reviewed with us some of their
difficult cases," said Dr. Cobb, "and we agreed with their
interpretation in each case. We are reassured that the cytologists are
not only knowledgeable and skilled, but that they are also aware of
their limitations and the limitations of diagnostic cytology."
In his presentation, Dr. Malayan said: "Thyroid nodules are very
prevalent in Armenia because of the iodine deficiency. So, the women
who come in for mammography can be screened for thyroid nodules. If
found, the fine needle aspiration and cytology can be done at the
center." In his report sent to AACA, Dr. Malayan added: "The
educational level and technical skill of the staff (AAWC) was quite
impressive, at least equivalent to that of the U.S. All of the
equipment is new, and of the best which is available. The facility is
spotlessly clean. The nursing and reception staff is extremely polite
to the patients in the clinic."
In conjunction with these trainings, the center organized a press
conference to which endocrinology medical professionals from all
across Armenia were invited. Dr. Elsa Hayrapetyan, the foremost
endocrinologist in Armenia, noted: "Thyroid glands are directly linked
to women's reproductive health, and I am glad to see that this medical
service is now available at the center."
* Advancing preventative care
During the same period, the Wellness Center was honored to welcome the
world-renowned professor of Medicine and Pharmacology, John
Bilezikian, M.D., director of the Metabolic Bone Diseases Unit at
Columbia University, who organized the first-ever osteoporosis
symposium in Armenia. The doctors from the center, who had been
trained in bone density screening nine months earlier, also attended
this symposium.
The 10th medical mission also involved visits to the Gavar Satellite
Clinic near Lake Sevan in the Gegharkunik province, about 60 miles
northeast of Yerevan. Drs. Poochigian and Avakoff traveled to the
Gavar Clinic over the course of three days for evaluation and training
of its medical staff, and to see patients from the region. Dr.
Poochigian also joined the center's doctors in staffing the clinic's
two-day Health Fair, which drew over 100 patients per day for
free-of-charge preventative health care check-ups and screenings.
According to Dr. Poochigian, "There is some improvement in the
people's awareness of preventative health care. There is still a great
deal more of such education to be done. In particular, we need to
remind them that the treatment of diabetes and hypertension is
life-long."
Hranush Hakobian, the co-founder of the Wellness Center and a
parliamentarian in Armenia's National Assembly, arranged for the
medical mission participants to meet with the republic's new Minister
of Health, Dr. Ardyom Kushkyan, at the minister's office. Joining them
were Khachanush Hakobyan, the center's executive director, and Ann
Hirschey, the USAID Country Director of Health.
In their limited free time, some of the U.S. doctors explored
Armenia's historic sites, including Holy Etchmiadzin, where they
attended badarak.
The president of AACA and founder of the Wellness Center, Rita
Balian, summed up the 10th Medical Mission: "We are tremendously
grateful to all of the doctors who provided their time, talents, and
expertise to travel to Armenia to share their knowledge and provide
on-site, Western-style training. Without such dedicated professionals,
neither AACA nor the Wellness Center could have achieved such great
success in serving, and winning the trust of, the women of Armenia."
The US sponsor of the Wellness Center, the Armenian American
Cultural Association (AACA), established the center in 1997 to address
breast cancer in Armenia, which had grown to endemic conditions and is
still the leading cause of cancer deaths among women, followed by
cervical cancer. The center has served over 120,000 patients, focusing
on preventative medicine and offering primary health care services to
ensure the well-being of families in Armenia.
Information about AACA is available online at www.aacainc.org, or by
e-mailing [email protected]. Donations are accepted, and can be made to
AACA, 1300 Crystal Drive, Suite 1504, Arlington, VA 22202.
****************************************** *********************************
6. Serge Sargsian nominated for president
by Tatul Hakobyan
YEREVAN -- At a party congress last week the Republican Party of
Armenia nominated Prime Minister Serge Sargsian, the leader of the
party, as its presidential candidate. The Republican Party is in power
in Armenia and holds the majority of seats in parliament. Its
nomination of Mr. Sargsian came as no surprise. What was surprising,
however, was the atmosphere of the congress. More than a political
party congress it turned into an event about Armenia's first
president, Levon Ter-Petrossian.
After promising a dignified future for the citizens of Armenia in
his speech, Mr. Sargsian began making references to the past;
specifically to the time when Mr. Ter-Petrossian and the Armenian
National Movement (ANM) ruled the country. Mr. Sargsian headed
Karabakh's minister of defense from 1989 to 1993. Mr. Ter-Petrossian
appointed him Armenia's defense minister in 1993. He became head of
Armenia's Department of National Security in 1995. The next year his
title became minister of interior and national security, in which
capacity he served until 1999.
He was in that office when Mr. Ter-Petrossian resigned under
pressure from the late Vazgen Sargsian and then-prime minister Robert
Kocharian.
"During its period of absolute power in Armenia until 1997, the
Armenian National Movement made numerous grave mistakes and was
obliged to surrender power. After that it split several times and
appeared to pass into the pages of history. However, after failing to
learn from its mistakes, ten years on it shows signs of reviving and
it announces that it is going to fight to the end. Moreover, the
godfather of the ANM, Levon Ter-Petrossian announced that ANM is going
to destroy the state pyramid. Fortunately, today the county is free
from the danger of revanchism. The fact that Ter-Petrossian has lost
his sense of reality to the extent that he believes in revanche and
even advises Robert Kocharian, the president of the republic and me to
leave politics, is ridiculous," Mr. Sargsian stated during the
congress.
Unlike Mr. Ter-Petrossian, who has repeatedly called Mr. Sargsian a
criminal, Mr. Sargsian did not hurl personal insults at the first
president. But he strongly criticized his social, economic, and
national policies and his policy on Karabakh.
The current prime minister gave a bit of advice to the first
president: "It would be a good thing if he repented and apologized to
the Armenian people for his, mildly put, 'mistakes.' I am sure he will
not do so, because he is filled with malice and has fallen
irreversibly behind the times. His desperate efforts to return to the
office of president only pursues one goal and that does not include
serving the country while in office. It is to take revenge on all
those who have ever uttered a harsh word against him and also to prove
that he was not wrong in saying that the issue of Karabakh cannot be
resolved in a dignified way; that Armenia's development is not
possible without the handing over of Karabakh; that it is impossible
to unite the potential of Armenians and national ideology."
Mr. Ter-Petrossian has not announced, however, that "Armenia's
development is not possible without the handing over of Karabakh";
rather he has said it is not possible without "resolving the
conflict."
* Abandoning office
"Ter-Petrossian had the opportunity to serve his nation wholeheartedly
while he was president. But for various reasons he was unable to do
so and at a difficult period for the fatherland, he voluntarily
resigned from his post as commander-in-chief, leaving behind him a
nation on the verge of despair, a ruined economy, an unhealthy moral
and psychological atmosphere and a defeatist mood," said the prime
minister.
Mr. Sargsian complained that Mr. Ter-Petrossian and the Armenian
National Movement are continuously capitalizing on the tragic events
of October 27, 1999 -- the day a group of gunmen entered parliament
and assassinated the speaker, the prime minister, and others. He
concluded his speech with a call "toward an Armenia of victories,
toward a victorious Armenia."
* Other speeches
Those who made speeches during the Republican Party congress
considered it their duty to condemn the policies of the Armenian
National Movement and Mr. Ter-Petrossian. A substantial number of the
hundreds of politicians gathered at the Republican congress were once
ANM members and cooperated with Mr. Ter-Petrossian and praised his
time in office.
Tigran Torosian, speaker of the Armenian parliament dedicated a
large portion of his speech to criticizing Mr. Ter-Petrossian. The
Republican Party closely cooperated with the ANM at one time. During
the 1995 parliamentarian elections, the Republicans (as part of the
"Republican" bloc) entered parliament on ANM candidates' list. During
the 1996 presidential elections, which were probably the most heavily
rigged in the 15-year history of the republic, the Republicans
defended Mr. Ter-Petrossian against the candidate of the united
opposition, Vazgen Manukian. These facts did not stop the Republicans
from criticizing those years, when they stood side by side with
business mogul Khachatur Sukiassian and Mr. Ter-Petrossian.
Here's what Tigran Torosian had to say: "Levon Ter-Petrossian in his
speech describes the feelings of freedom, pride, and excitement as
typical for the first 10 years of independence. Probably in September
1996 the protestors were expressing their pride and excitement toward
the authorities and in order to greet them warmly, the latter brought
out tanks against them."
Indeed, the tanks came out when Mr. Sargsian was minister of
interior and national security and Mr. Torosian represented the
Republican Party in the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) -- the same
body that declared Mr. Ter-Petrossian the victor of the 1996
presidential elections. He did not, at the time, speak out against Mr.
Ter-Petrossian.
During this party congress, the Republicans elected Mr. Sargsian as
president of the party. Tigran Torosian, Mushegh Lalaian, Razmik
Zohrabian, and Galust Sahakian were elected deputy presidents of the
party.
The Republican Party was established in 1989. Until 1994 the party
opposed the ANM, but later it started cooperating with it and since
1995 the Republicans have been in power. Mr. Sargsian is the fourth
president of the party. Soviet-era dissident Ashot Navasardian, the
founding president of the party passed away from a heart attack in
1997. The second president, Vazgen Sargsian was killed during the
October 1999 attack, and the third president, Andranik Margarian died
of heart failure in March of this year. Even though Mr. Sargsian has
only recently joined the Republican Party, he has considerable
experience in party activities. Until 1989 he was in the ranks of the
Communist Party and at the beginning of the 90s he became a member of
the Armenian National Movement, headed by Mr. Ter-Petrossian.
"The previous three presidents of the Republican Party, Ashot
Navasardian, Vazgen Sargsian, and Andranik Margarian, were amongst the
most important political figures in our modern history and leading the
party after them is truly an obligation. I assure you that I will do
everything to increase the role of the Republican Party in our
everyday social and political life," said Mr. Sargsian during the
congress of the Republican Party.
****************************************** *********************************
7. Candidate Levon Ter-Petrossian defends his record
* Asks for three years to "clean the Augean stables"
by Tatul Hakobyan
YEREVAN -- In a speech before some 20,000 citizens in Freedom Square
on November 16, presidential hopeful Levon Ter-Petrossian vigorously
defended his record as the first president of the Republic of Armenia
and appealed to other opposition politicians to allow him to become
the single standard-bearer for the opposition in the February 2008
presidential election.
He offered to resign again, this time three years into a five-year
term, and leave politics forever if the opposition leaders complied
with his appeal and he were elected. "I need three years to clean the
Augean stables and put the state on normal foundations," Mr.
Ter-Petrossian said.
He "thinks that three years is enough to hand Karabakh over to
Azerbaijan," retorted Prime Minister Serge Sargsian, the governing
party's candidate for president, in a reference to Mr.
Ter-Petrossian's criticism of the government for not having completed
negotiations on the final status of Karabakh.
Mr. Ter-Petrossian's offer to serve for only three years was
conditional, however. He would not abide by it, he said, if his appeal
for unified support remains "a voice in the wilderness."
Addressing Hrant Margarian of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation,
former prime minister Vazgen Manukian, former foreign minister Raffi
Hovannisian, opposition stalwart Artashes Geghamian, former speaker
Artur Baghdasarian, and others, Mr. Ter-Petrossian said, "Simply use
us as a tool, to be freed of the criminal regime and to realize your
legitimate aspiration to govern."
President Robert Kocharian responded derisively to the comment,
saying that no self-respecting person offers himself or herself up as
a tool, and that after ten years, the former president would be a
"rusty tool" at best.
* The response
The opposition politicians have not taken Mr. Ter-Petrossian up on
his offer. A poll conducted less than a month ago showed that most of
the politicians he appealed to would garner more votes than he would
if the election were held right away.
Stepan Demirchian, the runner up in the last presidential election,
whose party won less that three percent of the vote in the May 2007
National Assembly election, announced his support for the first
president during the rally. He was joined by other small groups.
In a press conference on November 20, Mr. Manukian reconfirmed his
decision to run for president. Moreover, he said he thought Mr.
Ter-Petrossian's nomination was wrong, as the former president had not
justified the voters' hopes.
"Levon Ter-Petrossian owes a debt to our nation. During his
presidency he took upon himself many obligations but failed to fulfill
them. In the 1996 presidential elections he did not steal my voice,
but that of the citizens of Armenia," Mr. Manukian said, referring to
the contested election, after which Mr. Ter-Petrossian's
administration restored order by sending tanks into the streets of
Yerevan.
Given this background, Mr. Ter-Petrossian's offer to leave office
after three years has been met with some scepticism.
The ARF is not considered likely to accede to the first president's
demand for support. Mr. Ter-Petrossian as president illegally closed
newspapers belonging to or leaning toward the party and put party
leaders -- including Mr. Margarian -- in prison on charges that were
dropped as soon as he left office.
Whether Mr. Hovhannisian will support the first president is not
certain yet, even though leaders of the Heritage Party do not hide
their sympathy toward Mr. Ter-Petrossian.
Mr. Hovannisian has a problem with the constitutional requirement
that the president hold Armenian citizenship for at least 10 years
before assuming office. Although he was foreign minister in 1991, and
in spite of making repeated requests, he was not granted citizenship
until 2001.
Mr. Baghdasarian, who was full of praise for the first president in
the 1990s, is also hesitant. Polling data suggests that he is the
second most popular candidate after the prime minister. On the other
hand Mr. Baghdasarian is visibly passive and has not given the
impression that he is preparing for the presidential elections.
Mr. Geghamian's circumstance is much clearer. He and Aram
Karapetian, leader of the New Times Party, both intend to put forth
their candidacy. They both have an electoral base, but their chances
of prevailing are nil. They will simply serve to fracture the
opposition vote.
* Heroic years
In the first part of his speech, Mr. Ter-Petrossian responded to
criticism of his years in office, which began before Armenia's
independence in 1991 and ended in 1998.
He took umbrage at the fact that his presidency is almost
universally identified with Armenia's "cold and dark years."
"In reality it was cold and dark only from 1992 to 1994," he said,
adding that the dates "coincided with astronomical accuracy with the
years of the Artsakh war."
Recalling the privations suffered by the people of the Soviet Union
during the Second World War, he said that suffering is normal at times
of war.
He said, "Apparently Azerbaijan had also declared war on Armenia's
external communications. Between 1992 and 1995, the gas pipeline
entering Armenia [through Georgia] was blown up 42 times and the
Georgian-Armenian railroad 21 times." They had to be repaired at
Armenia's expense.
"From 1992 to 1994 Armenian authorities placed the citizens of the
republic under great privations and directed all scarce resources into
securing Artsakh's existence and security," he said.
"At this time I cannot disclose state secrets, but I assure you that
the money we spent on the war -- obtaining weaponry, ammunition, and
fuel, supplying the army, defending Armenia's border regions,
repairing disrupted communication lines, would have completely served
the nation's electricity and heat requirements," he said. He recalled
that from 1993 to 1995, the defense minister of Armenia was Mr.
Sargsian, "who was and is fully privy to those secrets."
He concluded, "Let it not sound strange, but I am happy that the
majority of our nation considers the 1992--1994 period the cold and
dark years. This means that it has not felt the calamities of the war
on its own skin. Whereas for the thousands of volunteers who left for
Artsakh from Armenia and for their families, they were years of blood,
corpses, wounds, bombings and destruction; sacrifices paid for the
liberation of Artsakh.
"I am certain that coming generations will assess the 'cold and
dark' years as years of heroic struggles and victories in the war. At
the same time I also understand that despite my long explanations the
doubts of many will nevertheless not be dispelled. So I can only beg
for forgiveness from our nation for the suffering it experienced for
the sake of the liberation of Artsakh," he said.
* Clean hands
Mr. Ter-Petrossian also rejected criticism of his administration as
corrupt. He acknowledged that there were corrupt elements, but claimed
that members of the administration kept each other honest.
Here again, the former president drew attention to the fact that Mr.
Sargsian was a senior official in the Ter-Petrossian administration.
After serving as defense minister, he became minister of national
security in 1995 and added internal affairs to his ministerial
portfolio in 1996. It was his job to discover wrongdoing, Mr.
Ter-Petrossian said.
The first president of Armenia made only one admission of error, and
that was a cynical one. "With time, I become more and more convinced
that I really need penitence and absolution. Therefore, though
belatedly, I honestly ask your forgiveness for bringing Robert
Kocharian and Serge Sargsian to Armenia and foisting them upon you.
"If I have made mistakes in staffing policy, then I admit that this
was my biggest mistake. Moreover, this is not just a mistake, but a
disaster that I have brought on the nation. So allow me and help me to
free you from that disaster," Mr. Ter-Petrossian said.
Unlike other opposition leaders, during the last two or three months
Mr. Ter-Petrossian has been meeting with almost all top European
officials visiting Armenia; the most recent of these was Peter
Semneby, EU Special Representative in South Caucasus, who met with the
first president on November 19.
********************************************* ******************************
8. Armenia at Work: Gohar chases her dream
by Armen Hakobian
In this installment of "Armenia at Work," we present you with a
representative of one of the most widespread professions in Armenia
today.
This young woman with a bright smile is Gohar Vardanian. For the
time being she works as a salesperson in one of the branches of the
Star supermarket chain in Yerevan. Gohar is simultaneously training,
however, in sports and dreams that she will achieve fame and success
on the field one day. But for now. . . .
* One among many
During the economic crisis of the early 90s, everyday trade in Armenia
moved from stores to the streets. In those days stores in Yerevan were
tables placed on sidewalks, offering all kinds of goods for sale. In
time, kiosks replaced many of these tables. With the gradual
stabilization of life and in particular the economy, which has seen
tremendous growth in the past 4--5 years, many things have fallen back
into place, including trade. Several large supermarkets operate now in
Yerevan.
The Star supermarket chain, the main shareholder of which is the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (28 percent), is an
eye-catching example. A sign of Star's success is the constant
expansion of the chain.
Without doubt, one of the reasons for the company's success is
having employees such as Gohar Vardanian. With the growing number of
supermarkets and stores, one of the main occupations for young women
and girls in Armenia is that of salesperson. According to the
company's public relations manager, Karineh Ghazarian, the Star
supermarket chain currently provides jobs to a thousand people. Sixty
percent of its employees are female.
And how did Gohar Vardanian find this job? "I had heard that a
supermarket had opened on Tigran Mets Avenue. That was in 2005. I went
and introduced myself. Prior to the opening of the store, we were
setting up the products and I was getting acquainted with the
situation and my new colleagues. Then, after the opening we started
working, and probably the managers saw I was capable, and so I stayed
and continue working in the Star chain till today," Ms. Vardanian said
during our conversation.
At first glance, the work of a salesperson doesn't seem to require
many skills. However just like many other professions, being a
salesperson also has many subtleties that must be mastered. Some
people learn these basic principles in school. For others, life has a
way of organizing things on its own. Gohar, like hundreds of other
salespeople, has not attended a trade college, but she says that the
management of the store conducts weeklong training courses for new
employees. According to her, that is the time when it becomes evident
whether the trainee can work as a salesperson in the future.
In Gohar's opinion the required qualifications for this profession
are having a sense of responsibility, being attentive, and treating
both customers and colleagues with respect. "You also have to able to
forgive and compromise a little. If not, nothing will work out," she
adds with a smile.
* "I love my job very much"
Gohar's working day begins at 8:30 a.m. or 3 p.m., depending on the
shift. She is a supervisor-salesperson and is responsible for customer
service in the grocery, children's food, and fruit sections. The work
begins with the handing over of shifts. After that, as she explains,
together with her colleagues she inspects the cleanliness of the
section, the presence of price labels and expiration dates on
products, and if there are any expired products, they remove them.
"Expired products must be removed from the section. If an expired
product remains in the section, you can be sure the manager will
notice it and inevitably a warning will follow," Gohar says. Of
course, as is the norm nowadays, video cameras have also been placed
in the stores, but the salespeople are also vigilant so that no one
steals anything. A video camera is a good thing, but additional
attention can do no harm.
Fortunately interaction between salespeople and the customers is
very positive. The staff at Star supermarket help the customers find
the products they are looking for so that they can do their shopping
quickly. "We are here to help the customer. If we notice a person is
searching for a long time and is unable to make up his mind or find
the product he is looking for, because the range is very broad or the
customer is simply in a rush, we offer our help. In short, whoever the
customer is we try to serve them politely and ensure that the person
is satisfied with our store. Next time the customer will want to shop
with us again. We should never forget that the customer is always
right," Gohar notes correctly.
According to Gohar it is mostly men who ask for help while shopping.
The explanation, according to her, is very simple. "They see that a
girl is standing in front of them and they ask for our help. They
trust us to know where products are and which one is preferable."
As with higher-paying jobs, in this job the human factor is very
important. It matters what kind of people you work with. It is a
well-known fact that the productivity of staff working in a harmonious
environment is several times higher than that of staff working in a
tense environment. "We have an amazing staff, beginning with the
director and ending with an ordinary employee of a section," says our
heroine and adds, "I love my job very much."
* Running on a personal timetable
Modern urban life often feels like an endless sprint. Gohar is an
example of this. Parallel to working at Star supermarket, Gohar also
trains in sports. "I am a sprinter. I do the hundred meter sprint. I
practice sprinting in the Olympic training school. I also play
volleyball. I train individually, with a personal program."
Gohar has many dreams, as do all young people. She is not content
with a career as a salesperson. "It is natural that a person always
strives for more. And my biggest dream is achieving success in sport
outside Armenia. For the time being I see the realization of my dream
to be abroad," she says. Of course, in order to make that dream come
true it is necessary to work harder. Gohar also says that her
trainings do not interfere with her work; "I find time for both. The
schedule suits me. I work from 8:30 until 3 or from 3 to 8.30, so
there is enough time for training."
Gohar's hobbies are not limited to sports. "I have many friends.
Sometimes, in the evenings, we stroll in the city center. I do not
have a lot of free time, but I do not waste my time. I try not to miss
anything." Gohar believes that in relationships the most important and
valued qualities are honesty and respect toward others.
One of Gohar's hobbies is reading. "Generally, I love poetry very
much," says Gohar, adding, "my favorite poet is Hovhannes Shiraz."
Gohar also differs from others with her indifferent attitude toward TV
soap operas. She notes, "I do not watch soap operas. It is much better
to go to a cinema and watch an interesting movie.
"You simply have to be a hard worker."
What is work? We have put this question to all the heroes of
previous installments of "Armenia at Work." It was interesting to see
what kind of answer a representative of the younger generation would
give to this question.
"Apart from training I also work, in order not to be idle at home. I
work to pay my way," says Gohar. "But in general, work is an important
and primary concern for people especially in these conditions.
Currently many people are unemployed and they just sit around the
house. But the majority, mostly young people and the majority of
students, strive to have a job, even night shifts, in order not to
stay idle and unemployed. Everyone needs an income to care for this or
that need."
And how did members of her family react to Gohar's decision to work?
"I am not married and I told my parents that I want to work in a
store. They said that if I found a suitable job, I could try it, but
if I saw that it was upsetting me or was too hard, I should leave it.
In other words, they accepted it. And to be honest, I don't see
anything difficult in the work. You simply have to be a hard worker.
That's all.
"Work also provides financial independence, which is also important.
In the final analysis, I am no longer a child who needs to ask my
parents for money. My parents have kept and raised me. I am 21 years
old now and naturally I have to work to support myself and if
necessary my parents too. I have been working three years now and my
wage is satisfactory; I can go out with my friends. Of course, I do
not earn large amounts, but I think that on my wages I can support
myself even without my parents' help," says Gohar.
A little later she returns to her work and with her characteristic
smile she approaches one of the customers offering help. We say
goodbye to one another. While walking away I think that it is a good
thing that there are people who comprehend life like Gohar Vardanian.
It is good that there are young people who rely on themselves, their
talents and capabilities, in order to be successful in this life. The
existence of people like Gohar helps to provide confidence in the
future.
************************************* **************************************
9. From Armenia, in brief
* Political advertising prices steady going into presidential race
November 19 was the deadline for Armenian television stations to
officially announce their fees for paid political advertising during
the presidential elections. As stipulated in Armenia's electoral code,
Armenia's Public TV will once again allot free air time to all
registered candidates. The number of minutes allocated to each
candidate will be determined by the Central Electoral Commission. Also
according to the electoral code, campaigns have a spending cap.
Candidates must not spend more than 70 million dram ($220,000). But
more than that can be spent on candidates' behalf.
The rates are 180,000 drams ($560) per minute on Armenia TV, which
is the most widely watched independent channel and has said it will
provide no more 6 minutes per day of political advertising; 120,000
drams ($375) per minute on Shant TV, Kentron TV, and ALM TV; 108,000
on H2, 100,000 on Yerkir Media, and 80,000 on Public TV.
These prices are almost identical to the amounts charged by the
television stations during the parliamentary elections in May 2007.
All TV stations are charging more for political ads than for
commercial ones.
* Tax crackdown widened
Armenia's State Tax Services (STS) two weeks ago launched an extensive
investigation into the SIL Group Holding of Khatchatur Sukiassian, who
is openly supporting the presidential campaign of former president
Levon Ter-Petrossian, during whose presidency he made his considerable
fortune. (See the Armenian Reporter's editorial for November 10.)
SIL Group Holding's Pizza di Roma and a printing and packaging plant
were charged with evading 1.36 billion AMD ($4.25 million) in taxes.
One of the pizza chain's senior executives is under arrest pending the
completion of the investigation. According to RFE/RL, senior
executives in almost all of Mr. Sukiassian's companies have been
detained and interrogated.
Both President Robert Kocharian and Prime Minister Serge Sargsian
have said that the investigation of SIL's finances is part of a larger
effort to ensure that big businesses in Armenia pay their taxes. The
STS reports that it is also investigating Armavia and Mika Cement,
owned by Mikhail Baghdasarov; companies owned by member of parliament
Ruben Hairapetian, of the governing Republican Party of Armenia; the
Salex Group, owned by Republican member of parliament Samvel
Aleksanian; the Hrazdan market, owned by Republican member of
parliament Ashot Aghababian; minivan taxi services owned by Republican
member of parliament Galust Sahakian; the Arpa Sevan construction
company, owned by Republican member of parliament Hakob Hakobian; and
Yerevan Beer owned by former Orinats Yerkir Party member of parliament
Hakob Hakobian.
In a conversation with the Armenian Reporter, Mr. Baghdasarov
confirmed that Armavia recently paid 35 million drams ($110,000) in
fines to the state budget. "When they investigate us, we don't say,
'Why don't you investigate Khatchatur Sukiassian?' but when they
investigate him, he asks why the rest of us aren't investigated," he
griped.
The STS has said that as soon as its investigation is complete it
will publicize its findings.
* Armenia ends promising season with back to back losses
Portugal: Armenia 1:0
Armenia: Kazakhstan 0:1
Although Armenia's national football team last week was no longer in
contention for the Eurocup finals, they had two games left to play for
the Euro qualifiers.
Armenia played a strong game against Portugal on November 17, but
the results were disappointing. They played a defensive,
well-organized, and disciplined game in Portugal's Porto Stadium but
Hugo Almeida, Portugal's striker scored the only goal in the game just
before halftime.
Armenia then hosted Kazakhstan at home on November 21. A win or a
draw in that game would have let Armenia maintain its 6th-place
ranking in the 8-member Group A. However Kazakhstan's Sergey Ostapenko
scored against Armenia's goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky in the second
half. Even though this was only Kazakhstan's second victory in the
qualifiers, they managed to advance ahead of Armenia and are now in
6th position, leaving Armenia in 7th, just ahead of Azerbaijan.
* Turkey partly lifts air restriction
Turkish aviation authorities have advised Armavia, Armenia's national
air carrier that as of November 21 it can resume its
Yerevan-Beirut-Yerevan and Yerevan-Aleppo-Yerevan flights. The
Armenian Reporter was advised of this information by owner and
president of Armavia, Mikhail Baghdasarov, and Artyom Movsesyan, the
general director of Armenia's Civil Aviation Agency.
Mr. Movsesyan said that Turkish civil aviation officials have said
that in order for those flights to be realized, Armenia's aviation
agency must advise the Turkish side one week before the flight in
order to receive clearance to fly over Turkish airspace.
The director general of Armavia, Norair Bellyan told reporters,
"Armenia's foreign ministry played a significant role in the
resolution to this problem." He went on to say that Turkish
authorities weren't allowing these flights to be realized stipulating
technical difficulties. It remains unclear when these technical
difficulties will be resolved.
The Armenian Reporter contacted the Turkish Civil Aviation Agency
for clarification as to why service was disrupted and what the
technical difficulties were. The Turkish agency refused to offer any
explanation.
Ten days ago Turkish aviation officials announced that due to
technical difficulties they could not allow scheduled Armavia flights
to Beirut and Aleppo. These technical difficulties were not an
impediment for a Syrian carrier to continued its
Yerevan-Aleppo-Yerevan flight schedule. On the other hand it was
difficult to say that Turkey had closed its airspace to Armenia when
Armavia continued its Yerevan-Istanbul-Yerevan flights.
~WM.T.
* Nordic firm buys Armenian stock exchange
YEREVAN (RFE/RL) -- Nordic and Baltic market operator OMX is buying
the Armenian stock exchange, the government in Yerevan said Wednesday.
Full ownership of the exchange, known as Armex, will pass to OMX on
January 3, the Armenian government said in a statement. The terms of
the deal, which will also transfer ownership of the Central Depository
of Armenia to OMX, were not disclosed.
OMX operates exchanges in Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki,
Reykjavik, Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius.
Prime Minister Serge Sargsian welcomed the move as a sign of foreign
confidence in the Armenian economy, which grew by 13.3 percent in the
first 10 months of this year. "The government of Armenia considers the
development of the capital market as an important factor in the
further development of the national economy," Mr. Sargsian said in the
statement.
OMX chief executive Magnus Boecker was quoted in the statement as
saying that "Armenia's rapid economic growth gives us confidence in
the potential for long-term development of the Armenian market."
The Swedish financial market regulator earlier this month gave the
green light for Emirates-based Borse Dubai to bid for OMX. Borse
Dubai's proposed cash offer of 265 kronor per share, made jointly with
the US high-tech exchange Nasdaq, values OMX at some 32 billion kronor
($4.9 billion).
*************************************** ************************************
10. Northern Avenue is Yerevan's ambitious new development
by Armen Hakobyan
YEREVAN -- Downtown Yerevan boasts a brand-new avenue. Northern Avenue
was part of the city plan put forward by architect Alexander Tamanian
in the 1920s. But it was never built -- until now.
The avenue links the Opera and Ballet Theater to Republic Square. It
is a broad avenue, with new midrise buildings on either side -- and
very little green space.
The project took five years to complete, and is the largest single
construction development ever realized in Yerevan.
"I am seeing this vista for the first time," said Hasmik
Ancharakian, a piano teacher at the Sayat Nova Music School. "It is
very attractive, beautiful. Until now, I thought it was unnecessary
construction, but now I see quite a magnificent scene."
Yerevan's mayor, Yervand Zakharian, in his statements said that
Northern Avenue was a modern and civilized segment of the downtown
core. "This area used to be disorderly, with ramshackle buildings,
mostly in decay and not suitable for habitation. Today, Northern
Avenue is completely open for the community and promises to become one
of the most loved and busy areas of the city."
President Robert Kocharian said that Northern Avenue represented a
crucial turning point since independence by being the most
comprehensive construction project. He said the impact of such a
large-scale public development project, especially for a country with
limited means such as Armenia is great. It affected the construction
industry, led to the renaissance of many companies, brought new
building technology to the country, and new investments.
Former property owners on the route of the new avenue had to vacate
their properties under an eminent-domain law. They were compensated at
market value.
However, where homes were not properly registered because of
unsanctioned construction over the decades, people were treated as
tenants, not homeowners, and received compensation that was not enough
to buy a new home in the city.
A group of people in that position demonstrated at the opening of
the new avenue. There is pending litigation on this matter at the
European Court of Justice. Mr. Kocharian said that the government
would comply with the verdicts of the court.
"If mistakes were made during the process then I hope our citizens
will be forgiving. We were taking our first steps," Mr. Kocharian
said. "The important thing is that based on this experience laws were
improved and I am confident that in the future these kinds of problems
will be much less frequent."
********************************* ******************************************
11. Living in Armenia: What happens when the dream comes true
by Maria Titizian
My generation was blessed with witnessing sweeping changes in our
world. As a child we were taught that the threat of nuclear holocaust
was imminent. In eighth grade, The Chrysalids, a science fiction novel
set in a post-apocalyptic future after God had sent "tribulation"
(nuclear holocaust), was required reading in our school. We were
instructed what to take with us in underground bunkers should a
nuclear bomb be detonated. Images of the atom bomb exploding,
obliterating everything in its path had become commonplace.
Deformities caused by radiation was the stuff of our nightmares. I
realized how dated I was when my children stared at me in astonishment
when I told them about it. Foolishly, I thought they were taught about
the potential of a nuclear war. Don't ask me why, sometimes I'm in a
time warp. But that's when I realized how much the world has changed.
The 70s were an achingly boring decade if you discount the "hippies"
we were warned about by our mother, the ones who used to hang out on
our street with their long hair, beads, and bell bottoms. I had
visions of them attacking my father every night when he went to take
the trash out. The 80s on the other hand was a decade of big money,
big hair, and even bigger shoulder pads. I cringe every time I think
about it.
Vietnam, the peace movement, the civil rights movement, and the
women's movement were all things the generation before us had lived
through, instigated, and realized. There were student riots in
universities across the globe. They were breeding grounds alight with
ideas and passion. They had something to say about the world they
lived in; they had a message and a mission. And they did change the
world.
The 1960s was also a time of Armenian national rebirth. It was 1965
-- the 50th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. While officials and
dignitaries were quietly commemorating the slaughter of their nation
in the Opera and Ballet Theater in Yerevan, thousands of Armenians
demonstrated outside in Freedom Square demanding recognition of the
Genocide and shouting "Our lands." After decades of forbearance, the
Armenian people had suddenly awoken from their slumber and even while
in the clutch of the Soviet Union, they risked their lives for a
purpose, a mission, a dream. Those demonstrations then provided the
impetus which would lead to the construction of the Genocide Memorial,
the Tzitzernakaberd, two years later, in 1967.
The most extreme thing we did in the 70s was sport shag haircuts and
wear clogs. The generation who grew up in the 60s were different and
we reaped the benefit of their vigilance, their commitment, and
ultimately their sacrifices. My generation was considered a write-off.
We grew up with the Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island. I don't know if
those shows were meant to numb us or trick us into believing the world
was a safe, solid place. But we were indeed blasé.
And then the world seemed to shift off its axis. Especially for us.
It began with the Karabakh Movement when hundreds of thousands of
Armenians began demanding reunification. And then the earthquake of
1988. In a matter of seconds lives were wiped out, families
extinguished, and a whole nation was brought to its knees. We were
inundated with images of devastated cities and towns, their streets
crammed with plywood coffins, rescuers digging through the ruins, a
ravaged population in shock. The Soviet Union, the West's greatest
enemy and "threat to humanity," let out a whimper and suddenly died.
The ominous symbol of a separated Europe, the Berlin Wall was torn
down. Armenia found its voice again and demanded independence -- more
demonstrations, a referendum, and then the declaration of
independence. Who among us truly believed we would ever live to see
the tricolor flying at the United Nations?
Not only did my generation witness all of these sweeping changes
that bestowed us with a free country, but we were lucky enough to
understand the significance of it and young enough to be an integral
part of it. My parents' generation didn't have that luxury. They were
survivors or children of survivors who had little time to feel sorry
for themselves. Dreaming for a homeland was an extravagance. They had
to struggle to survive with nothing to hang on to for their history
had been wiped away. Pain and hardship were a constant in their lives.
When independence came it was bittersweet. Wherever they lived,
whether in the Middle East, Europe, or the U.S., they had settled down
and integrated. They had moved, not across neighborhoods or cities,
but across countries and continents. Uprooting once again and heading
off to the homeland was more of a burden than a dream.
Then there's my children's generation. For them Armenia has always
been free. The dream itself of an independent homeland for them is
nonexistent. They never had to dream for it. It is a part of their
reality. My daughter was only an infant when Armenia became
independent; my son was born almost a year later. What do they know
about the Cold War, the Soviet Union, about the threat of a nuclear
holocaust? What do they know about trying to balance identities? What
do they know about trying to explain to people where Armenia is on a
map -- somewhere between the Black and Caspian Seas, across the border
from Turkey, presently part of the Soviet Union -- this is how I
remember explaining it to people. My children's generation is
stronger, confident, and more importantly empowered by the existence
of an independent homeland.
But my generation? We are the lucky ones. We lived and breathed with
the dream of having a homeland. This dream sustained us and gave our
lives substance although none of us really expected it to come true.
We too had a purpose, a mission. And we were blessed because the dream
came true. We are the generation who cried when we saw Mount Ararat
for the first time.
We had the chance to throw caution to the wind and repatriate. To
rebuild the nation of our forefathers. The lingering question for me
is why didn't we? Why didn't we when we could have? Why didn't we when
we should have?
The answer is simple. We all had a choice. The freedom to choose
where we lived and how we lived. Having that choice is the best gift a
free homeland has bestowed to us. So whether we live in Houston,
Texas, or Sydney, Australia, or Yerevan, Armenia, we are finally free.
******************************************* ********************************
12. Commentary: On the road with Catholicos Karekin, through a young
journalist's eyes
by Antranig Dereyan
When I was told that I would be going on tour around the United States
to cover October's Pontifical Visit of Catholicos Karekin II, I was
overcome with some conflicting emotions. Of course, I was excited to
be going on the road and seeing the states. I was relieved that I
would be making some money and that I'd have a job for the coming
month. And I felt deeply honored to be covering such an important
figure as the Catholicos of All Armenians.
But I was also a little worried about the prospect of being in
constant, close proximity to Vehapar. Would I be able to be myself? Or
would I need to change myself when I was around him? And if the
latter, how long could I keep that up?
The answers surprised me.
The first week on the road with the Pontifical tour was a process of
all of us getting to know each other: in my case,that included not
only Vehapar, whom I was still a little hesitant to even approach, but
also the other members in the entourage -- most of them important
people in their own right.
I also had to accustom myself to the pace of each stop, and how, at
a moment's notice, everyone might have to get up and leave to make an
appointment elsewhere. More than once that first week I found myself
left behind, needing to find my own way back to the hotel because I
was conducting interviews for my reports, and hadn't noticed the quick
exit of Vehapar and the entourage. I was lucky that, the first time it
happened, I was in Boston, where I had some friends who delivered me
back at the hotel. (Though I carry a credit card with me for
emergencies, it would have been little help in this case, because
though it's advertised as being accepted "everywhere you want to be,"
that doesn't include taxis.)
Nevertheless, as the weeks passed and the cities came and went, I
felt the entourage becoming closer and closer. The early positive
feedback from the places we visited, as well as our own growing
familiarity with the routine of each stop, brought a sense of relief
and ease to the tour. We began to kid with each other. Vehapar himself
showed his great capacity for friendship, and was very gracious to me
personally. He would joke with the others and with me, as well, and
though I always had a feeling of formal respect, Vehapar also made me
feel that I could be myself around him. I appreciated that thoroughly.
* The kid on the team
I got to know the other members of the entourage, as well: Fr. Ktrij,
Vehapar's aid and translator; Fr. Hovnan, the staff-bearer; Archbishop
Vicken, the legate of the Eastern Diocese. Archbishop Vicken and Fr.
Ktrij began looking out for me, and as a result I was not left behind
any longer. By the middle of the trip, even Vehapar would make a point
of asking whether I was with the entourage before it made a move --
which was both touching and amusing to me. I mean, here was an
international dignitary, the Catholicos of All Armenians, and he was
concerned about the wellbeing of a young reporter -- me.
From my initial position of being an "outsider" looking in, I ended
up feeling like an "insider" thanks to these graces from the others.
During our travel time or in the rare quiet moments, Archbishop Vicken
and I would talk about all sorts of matters, and he was generous with
his advice to a young Armenian starting out in life. He even told me:
"Antranig, when you get married, I will perform the ceremony, and I
want you to choose well."
Bishop Yezras, the Primate of Russia, encouraged me to join a choir
after he heard me singing to myself as I worked on my stories. Really,
it was a revelation to me how kind and down-to-earth everyone was, as
we faced together the grueling daily schedule.
I did have the occasional feeling, as the weeks drew on, that I was
the tour mascot -- the "kid" on the team. But then I realized: I was
the kid. The next person closest to my age in the entourage was 28. So
I was the youngest, and if sometimes I felt that fact, I was able to
handle it. In the end, on behalf of the whole group, Fr. Ktrij said to
me: "Everyone in the entourage was very glad that you came with us.
You kept us young, and if you hadn't been with us the trip would not
have been the same."
There were problems, of course, in the course of the trip. One week
a bunch of bags were forgotten, and we had to go back to the hotel and
get them. Early on, in the frenzy to get good pictures and video of
the events, all of us media personnel on the trip (there were also
official tour photographers and a video crew) found ourselves
competing amongst each other, and that caused some temporary friction.
But as time went by we got use to each other's styles, and started
looking out for and even helping each other. Ultimately any problems
disappeared or departed, and the media members became close, joking
around with each other and acting like real friends, even though none
of us had met before the tour started.
From my initial conflicting emotions, I now feel an overwhelming
sense of gratitude after touring this country with Catholicos Karekin.
It was an honor to be with him, with Archbishop Khajag, and with all
the other members of the entourage. The memories I made while on the
road for one full month (especially in Washington, D.C.) will stay
with me for my entire life. The cities I saw, and the people I saw in
those cities, I would never have seen if I hadn't been with Vehapar. I
have made new friends in unexpected places -- like North Carolina --
and I can now say without joking that I have "friends in high places"
among the Armenian clergy, including the Catholicos.
I never imagined I would ever be able to say that our Vehapar is my
friend -- but now, I feel I can. Not every Armenian can say he has
spent a month in the presence of our Catholicos; but I can. I feel
very lucky to have been chosen to write on the Pontifical Visit for
the Armenian Reporter, and I thank the editors for giving me the
opportunity.
***
Antranig Dereyan, a freelance writer from New Jersey and a frequent
contributor to this paper, accompanied the Pontifical Visit as the
Reporter's special correspondent throughout the month of October.
**************************************** ***********************************
13. Letter: Turkey: Pick up your marbles and go!
Sir:
I thought you would be interested in the following letter, sent to The
Detroit News:
"Your editorial of Friday, Oct. 12, 2007 ("Anti-Turkey bill could
cause needless harm. U.S. House considers resolution condemning WWI
genocide") was very disturbing. My late mother, who died four years
ago, was a survivor of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. She painfully
lamented when she was 12 years old how the Turkish gendarmes came to
their comfortable, affluent home in their Armenian village and ordered
her father, a successful export merchant, to go with them. When he
didn't return, her 14-year-old brother went to look for their father.
Both were never seen again, along with thousands of others.
"The Zoryan Institute has documented videotapes of eyewitness
testimonies of hundreds of survivors, the horrors they lived through,
and the loved ones who perished. Front page news headlines in The New
York Times and countless other newspapers throughout the world from
1915 to 1922 describe in detail the massacres and exterminations
(compiled in 1978 by Richard D. Kloian).
"One and a half million innocent men, women, and children lie
scattered and fermenting in unmarked graves in the killing fields,
deserts, rivers, and mountains of their historical homeland. They were
starving, thirsty, wantonly slaughtered, burned, drowned, murdered,
tortured, driven from their homes and possessions, prodded like cattle
on horrifying death marches -- for the crime of being Christian
Armenians, much like the Jewish Holocaust of six million [people].
"The documented facts of the murder of the Armenian nation are
undeniable. Who is allowing and tolerating Turkey to re-invent and
rewrite history? Your editorial states that Turkey is a "solid U.S.
ally and that the Bush administration has pleaded with Congress not
to adopt the resolution, as have eight living former secretaries of
state." Turkey is behaving like a whining brat that will play only by
its own rules. Let its ambassador pick up his marbles and go home!
"The U.S. has been held hostage politically long enough by Turkey,
the master of massive human rights violations throughout history. Your
editorial ended with "that's a high price to pay for a symbolic
gesture." Isn't the blatant murder of 1.5 million innocent souls also
a high price to pay for symbolic indifference to such heinous crimes?
For too many years now the United States and its many self-serving
politicians, with the exception of the gutsy and brave Speaker of the
House, Nancy Pelosi, have unconscionably prostituted themselves to the
opportunistic Turkish government only because of Turkey's geographical
location. Your editorial was not only an insensitive, degrading,
infuriating disgrace to all martyred Armenians, their children and
grandchildren, but to all victims of genocide throughout the world.
"Yes, sweep it under the rug, shelve it, hide under the skirt of
Turkish bullying and injustice until it is politically expedient.
We've only been waiting for 92 years now."
Very truly yours,
Margaret Lafian
Detroit, Mich.
******************************************* ********************************
14. Editorial: Amen
Across the United States this week, Americans observed Thanksgiving
Day in the customary style, observing traditions of both elder (family
gatherings, roasted turkeys, prayer) and more recent (football
marathons, traffic jams) vintages.
For countless Armenian-Americans, one emerging tradition of the day
is to spend it with fellow Armenians from around the world -- via
satellite, as it were -- through the annual Armenia Fund Telethon.
Certainly, part of the attraction of the telethon is the chance to see
so much Armenian talent, from established stars to the latest
up-and-comers, in live performance. From a production standpoint
alone, the telethon is a marvel of technical and creative proficiency,
and we tip our hats to the numerous people involved in bringing it to
life, and into our living rooms, each year.
But of course, the telethon is more than just a great show. It's an
opportunity for each of us to add our individual support to a good
cause -- no, a great cause; one of the most important causes we can
think of: the building up of the free, sovereign, independent Republic
of Armenia and Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. It renews our sense of
pride in the community to see so many Armenians lending a hand, making
contributions, helping to break the fundraising records of past years
-- and helping, too, to advance the quality of life in our homeland.
As the day itself reminds us, the patriotism of the worldwide Armenian
community is truly something for which we should be thankful.
Aside from the feeling of pride it awakens, it is genuinely touching
to see such a display of Armenian solidarity, fellow-feeling, and
common aspiration for the future. Those qualities play a role in
community life every day, surely; but they are writ large each year
during the Armenia Fund Telethon. How many other groups can make a
similar claim?
As citizens and lovers of America, we all have joined with our
countrymen in times of great developments, both heroic and tragic, to
unite in a common cause. It is the same for people in other countries,
as well. But without in any way slighting these expressions of
national solidarity, we want to suggest that sense of purpose uniting
all Armenians is of a different order. It is not an occasional
development, a response to external circumstance, but something we
nurture throughout the year, year in and year out.
At least, that's how "the better angels of our nature" would have
it. And on Thanksgiving Day, once again, those angels were hard at
work. Amen to that.
***
Donate to the Armenia Fund
In the Western United States, go to
www.armeniafund.org
111 North Jackson St, Ste 205
Glendale CA 91206
Tel : 818 243 6222
Fax :818 243 7222
Toll free 1-800-888-8897
E-mail:[email protected]
In the Eastern United States go to
www.armeniafundusa.org
80 Maiden La Ste 301
New York, NY 10038
Phone: 212-689-5307
Fax: 212-689-5317
Toll Free: 1-866-446-6237
E-mail:[email protected]
** ************************************************** ***********************
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