Diaspora Ministry begins operations - Gibrahayer e-magazine

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DIASPORA MINISTRY BEGINS OPERATIONS

YEREVAN (Armenpress) - The much-anticipated Diaspora Ministry began its activities Wednesday, when the Department working within the Foreign Ministry became a full-fledged Ministry of its own, tasked with developing, maintaining and governing Armenia's relations with its vast Diaspora. President Serzh Sargsyan issued a decree Wednesday appointing Hranoush Hakopyan as the Diaspora Minister. She has been an active figure in Armenian politics since Armenia's independence and has been presiding over the Diaspora Relations Department since June. Born on April 12, 1954 in the village of Sarukhan in Gavar province, Hakopyan has been an active figure in Armenian politics, serving consecutive terms as a Republican deputy in the National Assembly since Armenia declared independence. At different points in her political career she has served in the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Health Care and Social Affairs, the Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture and Youth, and the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations. Hakopyan holds a law degree from the Academy of Public Sciences and a Mathematics degree from the Department of Applied Mathematics in Yerevan State University. She is a lecturer at Gavar State University and a member of the board of Yerevan State University's Linguistic Campus. She was appointed to head the Foreign Ministry's department of Diaspora relations on June 27, 2008 until the department was dissolved and reconstituted as a full-fledged government ministry.

455 DIASPORA ARMENIANS ENTER ARMENIAN STATE UNIVERSITIES

Yerevan - ARMENPRESS - About 455 Diaspora Armenians entered Armenian state universities in 2008. The majority of them preferred to enter the state teacher-training university named after Khatchadour Abovian. Amalia Kocharian, leading specialist of the Diaspora ties department of the Armenian Education and Science Ministry told Armenpress that Diaspora students applied for entering to almost all Armenian universities. The entrance was based on knowledge assessment through written and oral exams. Those with good results have taken the first year and those with poor results were given an opportunity to attend preparation courses of the university. About 70 state-funded places were provided for Diaspora Armenian students who preferred to major in Armenian sciences, art and culture. This year applicants from about 17 countries have applied for entering Armenian universities. The majority of Diaspora applicants are from Javakhq, Russia, Germany, France, Iraq, Iran, Greece, Mexico and Canada.

RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTER'S VISIT: BRIEF, UNPLANNED AND SECRETIVE

YEREVAN (RFE/RL) Monday, October 6, 2008 - Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov paid a brief and apparently unplanned visit to Yerevan over the weekend to discuss his country's close military ties with Armenia. The Armenian Defense Ministry said Serdyukov arrived in Yerevan late Friday and flew back to Moscow the next day after meeting with Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian. A short ministry statement said the two men discussed “issues relating to bilateral military cooperation.” It gave no details. Russia's Defense Ministry could not be reached for comment on Monday, and its website had no information about the talks. The Russian embassy in Armenia had no comment on their details.

THE PEOPLE'S FAVOURITE, "HEART OF TWO NATIONS, HRANT DINK" by NOURITZA MATOSSIAN

Press Release: 30 September, 2007 - Hrant Dink, Heart of Two Nations, a film of in-depth conversations with Nouritza Matossian, written, produced and directed by her was screened at the Golden Apricot Yerevan Film Festival in July, 2007. It was short-listed for a prize. On 25th September Heart of Two Nations opened the Pomegranate Armenian Film Festival in Toronto. Nouritza was present to speak after the screening and to introduce the four minute pilot of her new documentary film project, The Art of Arshile Gorky, A Survivor's Passion. A five-day programme of new Armenian films, documentaries, animation and features, drew enthusiastic audiences with distinguished directors and script-writers from around the world - Eric Nazarian, Serge Avedikian, Robert Kechichian and Alex Peltekian - presenting their latest films, meeting for discussion and interviews in a lively and warm ambiance. The audience at each screening cast votes in order to judge the film they had just viewed for their top three favourites. The First Prize chosen by the public was Heart of Two Nations, Hrant Dink by Nouritza Matossian. It was screened in Montreal the following evening.

ARMENIANS OF FRANCE DEMAND A LAW AGAINST GENOCIDE DENIAL Jean Eckian - Independent correspondent, Paris, October 1, 2008 - About 300 Armenians gathered yesterday, October 1, in front of the French Senate to require that the socialist bill, punishing with one year imprisonment and 45,000 euros fine, the denial of Armenian genocide adopted by The National Assembly (October 12, 2006), is approved by senators as soon as possible. Indeed, the past two years, France has been the scene of intense denials with several desecrations of memorials and threats on the individuals. It's with the slogan «Denial is a crime. For punishing it, I want a Law! » chanted by the crowd, that several speakers of Armenian organizations of France and French deputies have called the senators to understand that civil security and public order are threatened on French soil in the disrespect of the law of January 2001, which stipulates:« France recognises publicly the Armenian genocide of 1915 ». Today, the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF) which had joined film director Robert Guediguian and his wife, actress Ariane Ascaride, request that senators put the sanction of the Armenian Genocide in the agenda of their work. On In October 2006, at the casting of the French positive vote, Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had declared in Erdine (Turkey), « Because of certain limited representatives, France whom we know as the country of freedom is obliged to live with this shame », he had hammered. " If France does not cancel this text, It is she who will lose and not Turkey ", he said. Mourad Papazian, chairman of ARF Dashnaktsoutiun Europe, in particular announced another gathering in front of the French Senate on November 22 when nearly 10,000 people are expected to attend.

News in brief by Sevag Devletian

Ms. Consuelo Vidal, UN Resident Coordinator/ UNDP Resident Representative and Ms. Hranoush Hakobyan, Minister of Diaspora have signed a Memorandum of Understanding - a framework document that envisages collaboration in development of conceptual outline of Armenia-Diaspora relations and its implementation. Thirty-three percent of Armenian citizens believe reconciliation with Turkey impossible, Suzanna Barseghyan, Coordinator of Armenian Center for National and International Studies told media when presenting the results of a relevant poll. The Armenian Holy Nazareth Church of Calcutta will celebrate its 300th anniversary between 8-16 November 2008. His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians will honour the occasion with a Pontifical Visit. Archaeologists at work in the Gogaran village of the Lori province in northern Armenia have recently discovered an Iron Age mausoleum unlike others that appeared in the country. The structure is 14 meters in diameter, and is believed to have been prepared for a local prince from during the Iron Age (9th-7th century BC).

INTER MILAN Vs ANORTHOSIS Champions League October 22, at: 9:45

After throwing Greek Champions Olympiakos out of the Champions League, Cyprus Champions Anorthosis defeated Panathinaikos 3-1, in the Champions League on Cyprus Independence Day at GSP Stadium. Anorthosis now top the table with Italian Champions Inter Milan with four points and face Jose Mourinho's boys in Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on the 22nd of October at 9:45 pm.

ARMENIAN ARGENTINEAN TENNIS STAR DAVID NALBANDIAN VISITS ARMENIA

Armenian Argentinean tennis star David Nalbandian arrived in Yerevan late on October 1. This is the first visit of the multiple winner of international tournaments and Wimbledon finalist of 2002 David Nalbandian to Armenia, where he spent three days on the invitation of the head of the Armenian Tennis Federation, a member of parliament Harutyun Pambukian and Armenian Argentinean businessman Eduardo Ernekian. Pambukian said that the federation planned to cooperate with Nalbandian as well as with other Armenian tennis players for promoting the development of tennis in Armenia. While in Armenia Nalbandian participated in exhibition matches and also conducted tennis classes. As a teenager Nalbandian played in the ranks of HMEM Tennis and was honoured at a special ceremony in Buenos Aires in 2008. He completed an impressive run at the end of 2007, recording two back-to-back wins against world number one Roger Federer.

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A.R.F. DASHNAKTSOUTIUN REPRESENTATIVE TAKES PART IN SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE SESSION On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the Socialist International Executive Council, which took part in the assembly with observer status, held its session, with the participation of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation representative Maria Titizian, who was elected a vice-president during its international convention this summer. Titizian addressed the council with a briefing on the situation in the Caucasus, with a special emphasis placed on upcoming challenges.

GIBRAHAYER E-MAGAZINE TO LAUNCH TRIVIA GAME IN DECEMBER 2008

Gibrahayer - Nicosia - As part of its plans to expand its online activities, Gibrahayer e-magazine will be launching an Educational online Trivia Game, that parallel to providing prizes to its winners, will provide an educational forum on important historical and political happenings of Armenian reality. A team across Armenia and the Diaspora has already started working on the project and the Game will be officially launched this autumn. More than 100 major prizes have been donated and will be given out to our winning subscribers. We urge our subscribers to support our new online activities by financially contributing to the team that will be working on the project.

MAKE OUR EDUCATIONAL TRIVIA GAME A REALITY BY CALLING 909-35037

Thank you for extending Gibrahayer e-magazine's lifeline and providing us with the opportunity to constantly bring innovation to our online services. Call 909-35037. Every call costs 7.86 euros for Cypriot subscribers. International subscribers can make contributions to: Marfin Popular Bank Public Company Ltd, Bank Address: Strovolos Industrial Area sub-Branch Stavrou Avenue 96-I, 2034 Nicosia - Cyprus, A/C Name: Aynedjian Simon, Account No: 101 1100 3412, Swift Code: LIKI CY 2N, IBAN: CY13 0030 0101 0000 0101 1100 3421 All names of contributors will be announced, unless requested otherwise.

Letters to the Editor

Dear Simon, I read with much interest in your 10/1/08 issue of Gibrahayer e-magazine about Turkish president Abdullah Gul's comments re his unprecedented visit to Armenia which aimed at "creating a positive climate" between the two neighbouring countries. I believe that both presidents Sargsyan and Gul are moving forward towards the right direction and this is just the beginning of a far better period away from the bitter past! I think we are blessed to have brave and intelligent politicians in both countries at the same time nowadays! Sincerely, Arto Avedissian - Los Angeles

WITH PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS

Gibrahayer - Nicosia - Armenian Cypriot artist and Gibrahayer e-magazine cartoonist Tatiana Ferahian, accompanied Mrs. Daphne Trimikliniotis, to help set up the group exhibition entitled diverCYty, which is taking place at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, from 30 September - 10 October 2008. The event coincided with the President of the Republic of Cyprus H.E. Mr Demetris Christophias' presence in Strasbourg (pictured below with Tatiana Ferahian)

The participating artists in this exhibition are: Carla Abrantes, Mariza Bargilly, Tatiana Ferahian (left above), Anna Georghiou, Clara Zacharaki-Georgiou, Nilgün Güney, Nitsa Hadjigeorgiou, Sofia Hadjipapa, Inci Kansu, Mariam Souhanova Foukara, Katie Stefanidou, Ismet Tatar, Daphne Trimikliniotou, Susan Vargas. The exhibition showcases the work of fourteen women - Cypriot artists from different communities, different ethnicities and cultures.

VISIT WWW.GIBRAHAYER.COM

"Daring changes" ahead declares Serzh Sargsyan as he addresses the nation. New Opinion Column. Cyprus this week. Our online family - Omphalos Tis Gis

Sports on www.Gibrahayer.com

Read all the important news related to Cyprus and Armenian sports-world by visiting the section entitled Sports on www.Gibrahayer.com Anorthosis face Inter Milan on the 22nd of October Latest news on community sports Latest Sports from Armenia and Cyprus David Nalbandian in Armenia complete schedule of fixtures of Cyprus Champions Anorthosis Famagusta, until December 2008

Gibrahayer Calendar

Every Saturday from 7:00 pm - midnight - Marie Louise (vocals) and Armen (guitar and vocals) perform at The Golden Bay Hotel Bar in Larnaca. Every Friday at 11:00pm - Hovig sings at Red Club, in down town Nicosia.

Every Wednesday at 7:00 pm - Community gathering at The Armenian Club of Larnaca, followed by dinner. 30 September - 10 October 2008 - Armenian Cypriot artist and Gibrahayer e-magazine cartoonist Tatiana Ferahian, will be accompanying Daphne Trimikliniotis, to help set up the group exhibition entitled diverCYty, which will take place at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, from 30 September - 10 October 2008 (see above article) Friday 10 October at 7:30 pm - Nareg Nicosia Parents Association's First General meeting at Nareg School Hall in Nicosia. All parents welcome. Saturday, October 11, 2008, at 05:00pm - Spiritual Message from the Armenian Program of CYBC. Title: "The dual citizenship of the Christian" (Kristoniayin Yergkaghakatzioutioune). Speaker: Hrayr Jebejian Monday October 13 at 8:00pm at AYMA - General Meeting of Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association, Cyprus Oshagan Chapter. Wednesday October 15 - The Pharos is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a major event at the old Powerhouse which will be inaugurated by President of the Cyprus Parliament Marios Garoyian. The exhibition, with 40 international artists will include many from Armenia. Every evening until Nov 9 there will be events, concerts, lectures and performances. Open to the public – free of charge. Visit the website of the Pharos Trust at www dot thepharostrust dot org Saturday, October 25, at 05:00 pm - Armenian Evangelical Church service in Greek Evangelical Church, 20 Gladstonos street, Nicosia. Message: "God Called the Armenian Nation".(Asdvadtz Gantchetz Hay Joghovourte). The service will be dedicated for the Cultural Month - TARKMANCHATZ. Speaker: Hrayr Jebejian. All are welcome. Friday 14 November at 8:30 pm - Celebrations for the 20th Anniversary of the Armenian Relief Society of Sosse Cyprus Chapter at The Cleopatra Hotel in Nicosia. Details to follow. Friday 28th November 2008 - The Office of the Armenian Representative has invited the world famous «Cadence» Ensemble of Armenia to perform only for one night at Latsia Municipal Theatre. «Cadence» Ensemble’s repertoire includes masterpieces of classical and contemporary music of European, American, Russian and Armenian composers as well as the works of Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~