LOUSSAPATZ - The Dawn - 1006-2013-11-2‏

COVER PAGE David Yang (Դաւիթ Եան) born in 1968, is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of ABBYY, Ph.D. in Mathe-

matics, Laureate of Russian Government Award in Science and Technology. David Yang was born in 1968 in Yerevan, Armenia, to a Chinese father and Armenian mother, both physicists. He

spent his first 17 years in Armenia before enrolling in the prestigious Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. He graduated the Department of General and Applied Physics in 1992, with a M.S. degree in Applied Mathematics and Physics. He shares similar background with a fellow Armenian, ABBYY vice-president, Director of Data Capture Prod- ucts Department Aram Pakhchanian, who has known David since Yerevan high school and later graduated from the same Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

In 1989, being a four-year student of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), David Yang found- ed his first company Bit Software together with Alexander Moskalev, a member of the Institute of Microelectronics Technology of Russian Academy of Science. In 1998 the company was renamed to ABBYY.

ABBYY employs leading engineers, scientists, and linguists developing Optical Character Recognition (OCR), In- telligent Character Recognition (ICR), Linguistic and Artificial Intelligence technologies.

Today, ABBYY is an international company with over 1250 regular and 900 freelance employees worldwide (as of January 2013). ABBYY Group headquarters are located in Moscow with sales and marketing offices in Ukraine, the USA, the UK, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, Cyprus and Russia. ABBYY products are being sold in more than 130 countries around the world through an extensive network of regional and international partners.

Among the most famous company products are ABBYY FineReader, an optical character recognition system, and ABBYY Lingvo, an electronic dictionary. The overall number of users of ABBYY products, which range from end user applications for PC and mobile devices to enterprise solutions and development tools, exceeds 30 million people accord- ing to internal research.

jects.

Alongside with leading ABBYY David is a co-founder, entrepreneur and/or co-investor of a number of other pro-

Among these are:

Development of Cybiko – the first pocket communication computer for youngsters (Russia, the USA, Taiwan, 1998–2003);

Participation in ATAPY Software company;

Foundation and participation in iiko company, which develops a new-generation system of restaurants and hospitali- ty services managemen;

Participation in a number of creative projects, such as FAQ-Café studio; Supervisory Council of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, educational centre Tumo. David Yang is the author of a large number of scientific publications and is the holder of many patents. He is ranked

among the most famous Russian IT-entrepreneurs. David is interested in modern art, architecture, socio-communicative technologies. He is married and raises two children.

SDHP CENTRAL COMMITTEE DELEGATION MEETINGS IN LEBANON

BEIRUT -- A delegation of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Par- ty Central Committee Board headed by SDHP Central Committee Chairman Hagop Dikranian visited various Lebanese Armenian reli- gious and political institutions. The delegation paid visits to the Catho- licos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I, Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church Nerses Bedros XIX, President of the Union of Arme- nian Evangelical Church Rev. Megredij Karakozian, as well as the Ar- menian Democratic Liberal Ramgavar party Central Committee.

The topics discussed at the meetings focused on local, regional and national development issues important to the Armenian community including the current political and social state of affairs in the Repub- lics of Armenia and Artsakh, the preparations for the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Geno- cide, and the state of the Syrian Armenian community within and outside of Syria.

The SDHP delegation included the SDHP Central Committee Vice Chairman and Lebanese MP Sebouh Kalpakian, former Lebanese MP Dr. Yeghia Jerejian, and Mr. Shavarsh Aginian along with Chairman of the S.D. Hunchakian party Executive Committee of Lebanon Mr. Alexander Keushkerian.

22UNLESS YOU NORMALIZE RELATIONS, WE WILL NOT ASSIST IN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE

“Ankara should accelerate its efforts to normalize ties with Is- rael before 2015, the centennial of the so-called Armenian genocide in 1915, as the global Israeli lobby has significantly toned down its previously staunch support of Turkey in blocking the recognition of claims of genocide.”

Zali De Toledo, head of the Association of Turkish Jews in Is- rael, stated the aforesaid.

“As 2015 is approaching, Turkey should take into account its interests and should normalize relations with Israel by appointing an ambassador to Israel as soon as possible. If both countries miss the opportunity to mend the ties, the Israeli lobby will likely stay neu- tral when 2015 comes,” De Toledo told Today’s Zaman of Turkey.

De Toledo said she had done her utmost to pressure the Israeli lobby in the US to refrain from labeling mass killings of Armenians at the hands of the Ottomans in 1915 as geno- cide, adding: “I was the strongest supporter of the Turkish position. And now I am really disappointed to see Turk-

ish-Israeli relations at this point.” Today’s Zaman recalls that although for many years Israel has held back from commenting on the matter for

fear of angering Turkey, last year the Israeli parliament had a debate over whether to recognize the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I as genocide.

PUBLIC FIGURE: HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS MUSTN'T USE GENOCIDE FOR POLITICAL GAIN

PanARMENIAN.Net -- The head of Ararat Armenian Community of Israel slammed the statement by the leader of the Association of Turkish Jews in Israel who urged Turkey to normalize ties with Israel before the centennial of the Genocide, or risk the Jewish lobby to “stay neutral” on that issue.

In his Facebook post, David Galfayan panned certain Israeli officials for lacking courage to face the "big brother," Turkey in recognizing the 1915 Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. "Instead, Israel is turn- ing the tragedy of 1.5 million people into a tool for political gain in achiev- ing their petty goals," Galfayan said.

Galafyan slammed the Israeli politicians for an attempt to "preserve a monopoly" to the biggest tragedy of the 20th century: "a nation that survived the Holocaust cannot use the memory of 1.5 million victims to play political games with Turkey."

"Remember, those who do not speak up against the crime become accomplices to it," Galfayan stressed in his harshly-worded statement.

Earlier, speaking to Today’s Zaman, the leader of the Association of Turkish Jews in Israel Zali De Toledo said: “As 2015 is approaching, Turkey should take into account its interests and should normalize relations with Israel by appointing an ambassador to Israel as soon as possible. If both countries miss the opportunity to mend the ties, the Israeli lobby will likely stay neutral when 2015 comes.”

De Toledo told Today’s Zaman that she had done her utmost to pressure the Israeli lobby in the U.S. to refrain from labeling mass killings of Armenians at the hands of the Ottomans in 1915 as Genocide, adding: “I was the strongest supporter of the Turkish position. And now I am really disappointed to see Turkish-Israeli relations at this point.”

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HISTORIAN RIFAT BALI BRINGS LECTURE SERIES TO MONTREAL:

DISCUSSES JEWS IN TURKEY By Vanik Kechian

As part of Historian Rifat Bali's tour organized by the Zoryan Institute, Montreal's Bolsahay Community Centre host- ed an event on Sunday October 20th.

Dr. Bali, an expert on Jews in Turkey, addressed topics found in his latest book as well as topics relating to discrimina- tion of Turkish-Armenians to an audience of almost 100 peo- ple.

His book "Model Citizens of the State: The Jews of Tur- key During the Multi-Party Period" is an in depth analysis of the jewish people's struggle for rights and fight against anti- semitism in post-1950 Turkey.

Recognizing the significance of Bali’s work, the Zoryan Institute took on the expenses to edit and translate his latest book from Turkish to English.

“He’s been very articulate in explaining complex recent history of the last 50 or 60 years,” said Zoryan Insti- tute Executive Director George Shirinian. “The Jews have tried very hard to be the model citizens that Kemal Ataturk demanded Turks to be, and for all of their efforts they still have not been accepted as equal citizens.”

Bali spoke of joint efforts by the Turkish and Jewish lobbies in the U.S. to block any Congressional resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide. He explained that although Jewish lobbies also know the calamity and hard- ship of genocide and discrimination, they continue to petition against recognition of the Armenian Genocide be- cause of pressure from the Turkish government and their fear that Jews in Turkey will be subject to increased anti- semitic sentiments.

“Armenians don’t understand why their Jewish brothers have not been more supportive of Armenian Genocide recognition. Bali’s book explains the real politic behind why they have not been [supportive],” said Shirinian. “It helps us understand them better, and through understanding maybe the door to communication can be opened.”

Bali’s week-long tour of the East Coast concluded on Tuesday night in the AGBU Alex Manoogian Centre in Toronto.

SERBIAN PM OUTRAGED OVER ERDOGAN'S KOSOVO REMARKS

World Bulletin / News Desk -- Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic has said that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s statement that "Kosovo is Turkey, and Turkey is Kosovo" is undiplomatic and does not contrib- ute to political stability in Kosovo.

"The message by Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan is undiplomatic. Such words, uttered in Prizren, certainly do not contribute to political stability in Kosovo-Metohija or restore trust between Serbs and Albanians," Dacic told the Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti.

The Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned on Thursday the statement that Erdoğan made during his visit to Kosovo, underscoring that "such statements cannot be received as friendly", and that they "depart from as- surances that officials in Belgrade get in contacts with Turkish colleagues."

"The statement is scandalous, and expect the state, but also the international community, to react," Serbian Parliament Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic said in a live broadcast on Radio-Television of Vojvodina.

On Wednesday, addressing Kosovo citizens at the main square of Prizren town, Erdoğan said that Turkey is Kosovo and Kosovo is Turkey.

He added that Kosovo and Turkish people have the same history and civilization and that it should not be for- gotten.

“Languages can be different. Religion, sects, faces can be different, but we are all children of the same coun- try,” said Turkish PM.

“My family, I and ministers of my delegation feel like at home. Today I greet all Albanians, Bosnians, Turks and Gorans,” he said.

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KOSOVO IS NOT TURKEY, I DEMAND IMMEDIATE APOLOGY – VUCIC

BELGRADE -- First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said that by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s statement that Kosovo is Turkey is “a scandal and that he seeks immediate and public apology of Turkey and its Prime Minister”.

“This is unacceptable behavior in international relations and it should be see what will be reactions of other countries,” said Vucic and stressed:

“Erdoğan knows very well that Kosovo has not been Turkish since Balkan wars and his statement only shows what are the real intentions of some countries in the region. Many hide behind fine words, but it was nec- essary for emotions to kick in so that we find out what interests lie behind the scenes.”

He added that Serbia should react harshly, but reasonable.

“Our mission is to act rationally, but on the other hand to do everything to have these and similar statements come across a broad condemnation of the international community,” said Vucic.

AUSTRIA AIDS SYRIAN REFUGEES IN ARMENIA

Austria declared offering €600,000 to Syrian-Armenian refugees who fled the violence at home to Armenia, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reports.

Repercussions of the Syrian crisis have reached as far as Armenia, where some 9,000 Syrians have taken up refuge, Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said in a statement. Half of the Syrian refugees in Austria are children suffering from malnutrition, he added.

Armenian Government has asked Austria to help it secure housing, in addition to other forms of aid, for the Syrian-Armenian families that fled their country, Spindelegger added.

Austria has so far aided the Syrian refugees with a total of €7.4 million. The number of Armenians in Syria was estimated at 100,000 at start of the crisis.

TURKISH PLASTIC SURGEON FINDS GREAT SIMILARITIES BETWEEN ARMENIANS AND TURKS

YEREVAN -- Turkish plastic surgeon Emre Hokaoglu visited Armenia’s capital city Yerevan for the first time, to attend the international congress of plastic sur- geons.

At first he was afraid to come to Armenia. But when he interacted with the or- ganizers of the congress, his doubts were dispelled.

Dr. Hokaoglu told the aforesaid to Armenian News-NEWS.am, once the con- gress wrapped up its activities.

“Armenia and Turkey are very similar; the people, the culture, the food. We are not just neighbors, we are the same; but the political situation is distressing,” Emre Hokaoglu stated.

To note, the IV International Congress of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons was convened in Ye- revan from October 24 to 26.

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SARKISIAN AGAIN CONGRATULATES TURKEY

Armenialiberty -- President Serzh Sarkisian congratulated his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul on Tur- key’s main national holiday that was celebrated on Tuesday.

Sarkisian’s office gave no details of Sarkisian’s congratulatory letter to Gul sent on the occasion of Tur- key’s Republic Day.

The holiday is dedicated to the formal establishment of the modern-day Turkish Republic on October 29, 1923. Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal declared his country a republic three years after defeating a short-lived independent Armenian republic in a war. The latter suffered massive territorial losses and was incorporated into the Soviet Union as a result.

The presidents of the two neighboring countries, which have no diplomatic relations, have sent each other congratulatory messages even after the collapse of the Turkish-Armenian normalization process initiated by them in 2008.

In particular, Gul congratulated Sarkisian on winning a second term in office in last February’s Armenian presidential election. The move prompted strong criticism from Azerbaijan, with senior aides to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev demanding an official explanation from Ankara. One of them said the Turkish con- gratulation amounted to a show of “moral, political and ideological support” for Sarkisian.

Azerbaijan has fiercely opposed any attempts to improve Turkey’s strained relations with Armenia, say- ing that would strengthen the Armenian side’s hand in the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

AZERBAIJANI DEPUTY PM THREATENS TO TAKE REVENGE UPON ARMENIANS

Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Hasanov, who is al- so chairman of country’s State Committee for Refugees and IDPs, threatened to take revenge upon the Armenians.

And the reason for such a statement was the “20th anniver- sary of the occupation of Zangilan region.”

In this connection the Azerbaijani official again threatened with bloodshed.

“Today, Armenians are settled in the occupied Zangilan re- gion. Those Armenians will twice live the life of refugees,” Hasanov told journalists, reports APA news agency of Azerbai- jan.

In his words, during the inauguration, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared that not only Karabakh and the other “occupied territories,” but also Goychay and Zangazur will be liberated, and the Azer- baijanis will return to their historical lands.

“The historical justice will be restored. Zangilan region was established in 1930. In 1940-1950, a large part of the region was given to Armenia. Nuvadi and other villages are also among these territories. Azerbaija- nis will return to these regions, too. I warn Armenians living in Zangilan, they will not permanently live in those lands. Azerbaijanis will return to Zangazur and Goychay as well.”

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TURKEY RETURNED SOME CHURCH EFFECTS

AFTER THE GENOCIDE: WE DEMAND THE REST

By Harut Sassounian

Publisher, The California Courier

This is the amazing tale of the Turkish government handing over to Istanbul’s Armenian Patriarchate in the

1920’s some of the church effects looted during the Genocide.

According to attorney Loutfig Kouyoumjian’s book, Hay Hamankayin Antsoutartser: 1927-1950 [Armenian

Community Happenings: 1927-1950], published in Istanbul in 1950, the Turkish government had turned over to the

Armenian Patriarchate 64 large crates full of church effects. Kouyoumjian was a member of the Patriarchate’s Fi-

nance Committee.

The returned items included crowns inlaid with diamonds and pearls, vestments, garments with gold threads

and silver crosses, a belt buckle from the famous Abousheikh Church with golden latches decorated by diamonds,

emeralds and rubies, 72 rugs belonging to Sourp Garabed Monastery and Sourp Krikor Lousavorich Church of

Gesaria, and churches in Talas and other regions, and a gold box covered with precious stones containing several

saints’ relics. Another crate had the vestments of Gomidas Vartabed, his gold fountain pen, and valuable manu-

scripts of his musical arrangements of church liturgy. The Locum Tenens Archbishop Kevork Arslanian signed a

receipt acknowledging his acceptance of these items and appointed Archpriest Drtad Boyajian as their guardian.

The list of the returned items prepared by the Patriarchate included “scrolls, manuscripts, and antique books.

In keeping with the laws on antiquities, the books were delivered to the Istanbul Museum.”

These revelations raise several important questions. What happened to the returned church effects? Our inves-

tigation indicates that none of these items are currently in the custody of the Armenian Patriarchate. A few of them

were handed to Armenian clergymen of Istanbul, while others were sent to Etchmiadzin. The overwhelming majori-

ty simply vanished several decades ago, most probably stolen and sold.

Mr. Kouyoumjian reported in his book that in the late 1920’s, Judge Haroutioun Mosdichian, Chairman of the

Patriarchate’s Executive Committee, informed the Finance Committee that he had solid evidence that several of the

returned silver pieces were sold at the Istanbul jewelry market. Mosdichian was a highly respected individual who

had occupied important positions in the Turkish government. The Finance Committee immediately sealed the room

where the returned items were stored. The next day, Abp. Arslanian broke the seal and left the door of the storage

room open. The Archbishop then dismissed the Committee members.

A special investigative committee, including Mr. Kouyoumjian, then conducted a thorough search and trans-

mitted its findings to the Executive Committee. The latter blamed not only Mosdichian but also Abp. Arslanian of

wrongdoings regarding the returned church effects. Abp. Arslanian in turn accused Patriarch Mesrob Naroyan of

being responsible for the missing items. After Patriarch Naroyan formed a committee to update the list of the re-

maining church effects, he discovered that almost nothing was left of the contents of the 64 crates delivered earlier

to the Patriarchate.

In his book, Kouyoumjian relates another strange tale regarding the rugs delivered to the Patriarchate by the

Turkish government. On March 8, 1924, two Turks -- Haje Ismail, the son of Molla Khalil of Gesaria, and Mehmet

of Talas -- presented to Abp. Arslanian a written demand, claiming that nine of the rugs had nothing to do with the

Armenian Church and must be returned to them. When the Patriarchate rejected their request, the Turks filed a law-

suit against Abp. Arslanian, claiming that the nine rugs were worth 1,975 Ottoman gold pieces.

On January 26, 1924, attorney Kouyoumjian defended the Patriarchate’s interests in court. Strangely, the Pa-

triarchate agreed to settle the lawsuit by paying 500 gold pieces to the two Turks. Several years later, when Mr.

Kouyoumjian inquired about the disposition of those rugs, he was told that there were no such rugs at the Patriar-

chate.

In light of this newly found reference to the Turkish government’s return of church effects, the Armenian Pa-

triarchate must now conduct a thorough investigation of its archives to review its records of the missing items.

More importantly, by having returned the 64 crates, the Turkish government had in effect admitted the theft of Armenian Church properties during the Genocide. A lawsuit must be filed not only against the Istanbul Museum for the antique books it improperly received in the 1920’s, but also against museums and libraries throughout Turkey for the return to the Armenian Patriarchate of the vast number of religious effects looted from several thousand Armenian churches!

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YEREVAN RAPS EU PARLIAMENT OVER KARABAKH CLAIM

Official Yerevan criticized the European Parliament on Thursday for again effectively accusing Armenia of occupying Azerbaijani territory.

The European Union’s legislative body mentioned the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in a resolution on the EU’s Eastern Partnership program adopted on Wednesday. The resolution “recalls its position that the occupation by one country of the Eastern Partnership of the territory of another violates the fundamental principles and objectives of the Eastern Partnership.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharian rejected this accusation, saying that it is at odds with the official positions of the EU as well as the United States, Russia and France, the three nations trying to broker a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

“Despite the fact that the above mentioned resolution is non-binding, nonetheless regardless of the motivations of the authors of that wording, they should understand that they bear responsibility for its possibly negative impact on the negotiation process and undermining of the efforts of the [OSCE Minsk Group] Co-Chairs aimed at the peaceful settlement of the conflict,” Kocharian said in written comments to News.am.

Predictably, Azerbaijani officials welcomed that wording. “The more international organizations recognize the occupation of Azerbaijani lands, the better for the conflict’s resolution,” Asim Mollazade, a pro-government law- maker, told 1news.az. Mollazade noted that the European Parliament already condemned Armenian occupation of Karabakh and surrounding territories in a 2010 resolution.

The parliament’s latest resolution also says that the Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute should be settled on the ba- sis of the Basic Principles put forward by the three mediating powers. Those include not only territorial integrity of states but also self-determination of peoples.

EURASIAN INTEGRATION PROCESS: ARMENIA SHOULD ASSUME MEMBERSHIP OBLIGATIONS “WITHOUT ANY EXCEPTIONS.”

MINSK -- After a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Minsk last Thursday, the leaders of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan signed the application for the participation of Armenia in the Eurasian integration process. They signed a draft decision “On the Republic of Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space of Belarus, Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation”, the Statement on the participation of the Republic of Armenia in the Eurasian integration process and the Memorandum on deepening cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the Eurasian Economic Commission.

“We have backed the intention of Armenia and Kyrgyzstan to join our integration project. We have agreed to establish a working group tasked with preparing a corresponding road map within a short period,” said Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The participants of the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council reaffirmed their intention to sign an agreement on the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union, which is to start its work on January 1, 2015, said Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

“I wouldn’t say there is a breakthrough here, but it’s a big step that we have made in the course of our dialogue today. The most important thing is that we have made progress on all key issues of forming our union in the prepa- ration of the agreement,” said Belarus’s Lukashenko.

At the same time, Lukashenko admitted that by joining the Eurasian Union countries lose some of their sover- eignty. But he said one should not be afraid of transferring additional powers to the supranational level. “Sovereign- ty is not an icon. Everything has its price, and if we want to live better, we have to sacrifice something,” said Lukashenko.

Lukashenko also stressed that Yerevan should go through all accession procedures and assume membership obligations “without any exceptions.” Earlier he had claimed that Armenia’s entry into the bloc is still not a fore- gone conclusion. “There is too much uncertainty in this process,” he said.

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian did not participate in the final conference and did not express his opinion

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as to what part of Armenia’s sovereignty will go to the supranational level. The president of Armenia, even after his declaration of intent on September 3 to join the Customs Union, did not discuss the appropriateness of this decision with the Armenian Parliament.

Armenia is not seeking preferential terms for its membership of the Russian-led customs union and wants to complete the accession process within several months, Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said on Friday.

“The president of Armenia asked the presidents of the Customs Union’s member states to enable [Armenia] to ratify all agreements as early as possible,” the Itar-Tass news agency quoted Shuvalov as saying. Yerevan is ready to make all necessary changes in Armenian laws and regulations in the next few months, he said.

Shuvalov made clear in that regard that Russia will not significantly speed up planned membership talks “so that there is no sense that somebody is artificially drawing Armenia into the Customs Union.”

Another sensational statement was made at the meeting. Kazakh President Nazarbayev proposed to accept Turkey as a member of the Customs Union, explaining it by the fact that he is often approached with the question of “whether we are creating a USSR or something under Russia” “Maybe we can accept Turkey, it is a big country, and the speculation will be over,” Nazarbayev suggested to his Russian and Belarus counterparts.

ARMENIAN MFA ON STRANGE COMMENT OF RUSSIA’S FIRST CHANNEL

YEREVAN -- Armenian Foreign Ministry reflected on the strange comment of Russia’s Channel One regard- ing Armenia’s joining the Customs Union.

“The discussions and results of the summit are reflected in press releases available on the official websites of the Armenian president and other leaders participating in the summit [Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meet- ing], and are reflected in the documents signed as a result of the summit. The mentioned press releases and docu- ments are the only reliable and official source of information,” spokesperson Tigran Balayan told Armenian News- NEWS.am.

Earlier in her comments to the summit held in Minsk, Channel One news presenter Irada Zeynalova, Azerbai- jani by origin, said the Customs Union was initially thought as a union of states performing equal obligations.

“And therefore Armenia’s willingness will remain a mere wish in short-term perspective because of the unre- solved territorial issue with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh,” she said.

Armenian president’s official website says “At the session presented for discussion were three documents per- tinent to the preparatory works on Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union and Common Economic Zone which were approved. These documents are: a draft decision on Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union and Common Economic Zone, declaration on Armenia’s participation in the Eurasian integration processes and memorandum on deepening cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Republic of Armenia.”

ARMENIA-ITALY RELATIONS WILL NOT DETERIORATE BECAUSE OF YEREVAN’S FOREIGN POLICY CHOICE - AMBASSADOR

YEREVAN -- Relations between Armenia and Italy will not deterio- rate because of Armenia’s foreign policy choice, Italian Ambassador said.

Italy’s Ambassador to Armenia Bruno Scapini commented for Ar- menian News-NEWS.am the decision on joining Customs Union voiced by President Serzh Sargsyan.

“First of all Armenia is a sovereign country and has the right to make its political and strategic choice in its interests, as the country sees them. I do not see any difficulties. Of course, being a European, in particular an Italian, I cannot but support association with the European Union.

But even if the prevailing choice of Armenia lies in the other direc- tion, we believe that it will not result in deterioration of relationship. In the

case of Italy, it can be an occasion for a renewed effort to strengthen our traditional ties,” Ambassador said.

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EU DOORS OPEN TO ARMENIA, FRENCH AMBASSADOR SAYS

YEREVAN -- “The decision to join the Customs Union is the sovereign choice of sovereign Armenia, a deci- sion, where Armenia, naturally, takes its interests into consideration. We accept and respect Armenia’s decision,” France’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Henri Reynaud told a press conference on Tuesday.

The Armenian authorities have always declared on the highest level about the willingness to maintain and de- velop their relations with different EU structures, the Ambassador said, adding that “the EU has not closed its doors to Armenia.”

The Ambassador noted that the EU is first of all a political structure, and the Eastern Partnership, which is part of EU, maintains its political emphasizes. In this respect, the spheres of Armenia-EU cooperation are countless and they need to be explored.

Speaking about the Karabakh issue, Ambassador Reynaud noted that the OSCE Minsk Group, as a mediating mission, proposes different approaches, while it is up to Armenia and Azerbaijan to make the final decision.

According to him, the three countries have undertaken the negotiations on the basis of the most perfect princi- ples. “Even if there are difficulties, they do not always depend on the mission,” the diplomat said.

Isn’t it necessary for Artsakh to return to the negotiation table? “The Minsk Group co-chairmanship is thinking about this. The parties to the negotiations should decide when it will be proper for Nagorno Karabakh to join the process,” the Ambassador said.

Speaking about the possibility of the French Senate returning to the consideration of the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial, Henri Reynaud said “works in that direction are underway,” but added he cannot speak about concrete timing of the bill.

SARKISIAN MUST GO, SAYS TER-PETROSIAN

YEREVAN -- Opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian called for Presi- dent Serzh Sarkisian’s immediate resignation on Wednesday, saying that he has brought Armenia into disrepute and is leading it to ruin with his “adven- turist” foreign policy.

In a written statement posted on ilur.am, Ter-Petrosian declared that Sarkisian must be granted legal immunity from prosecution and any asset confiscation if he agrees to step down.

“Armenia needs radical systemic reforms,” said the leader of the opposi- tion Armenian National Congress (HAK). “Expecting Serzh Sarkisian to be able to implement those reforms is tantamount to political blindness. Only ‘idealist’ European bureaucrats could afford the ‘naivety’ of trying to turn that individual into a reformer.”

“Every day of his rule is a loss for Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Kara- bakh) in the demographic, economic, material, political and moral-psychological senses,” continued Ter-Petrosian.

Armenia, he said, needs a new president “capable of restoring the country’s international reputation as a trust- worthy and responsible partner.” Sarkisian has destroyed that reputation with his “adventurist political wanderings” between the West and Russia that could have “disastrous consequences” for Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, he claimed.

Ter-Petrosian, who served as Armenia’s first president from 1991-1998, clearly referred to Sarkisian’s unex- pected decision last month to join a Russian-led alliance of ex-Soviet states at the expense of a much closer rela- tionship with the European Union. He said earlier that Sarkisian thus duped the EU and humiliated Armenia. Still, unlike other opposition leaders, Ter-Petrosian stopped short of opposing Armenian membership of the Russian- dominated bloc.

The HAK leader also stated on Wednesday that he would not run for president in the event of Sarkisian’s res- ignation. He said Robert Kocharian, another ex-president who handed over power to the current head of state in 2008, must also not seek to return to power.

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IF KARABAKH CONFLICT RESUMES, 102ND RUSSIAN BASE MAY INTERVENE - COMMANDER

NEWS.am -- In case Azerbaijani leadership decides to restore jurisdiction over Nagorno-Karabakh by force, the Russian #102 base in Armenia may enter confrontation in accordance with treaty obligations of Russia within CSTO, Russian commander said.

In an exclusive interview with Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper, commander of the military base, Colonel Andrey Ruzinsky confirmed presence of Smerch multiple rocket launcher in the territory of Armenia.

The peculiarity of the combat strength of the Russian military base in Armenia is an anti-aircraft missile battal- ion, equipped with S-300V surface-to-air missile systems, missile battalion which is equipped with systems Buk- M1-2, Smerch artillery battery and an air base with a squadron of MiG-29 combat aircrafts.

ARMENIAN MILITARY OFFICERS ARE AWARDED U.S. ARMED FORCES MEDAL

YEREVAN -- Armenian Armed Forces officers, Colonel Hayk Shadyan and Lieutenant Colonel Artur Mu- saelyan, were awarded with the Excellent Service in Joint Headquarters medal of the U.S. Armed forces.

The award ceremony was held Friday at administrative complex of the Armenian MOD.

Shadyan and Musaelyan received the medal in recognition of their services as strategic analysts in the joint planning group of the U.S. Central Command.

On behalf of the American side, Colonel Jeffrey Stimson, Military Attaché of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, awarded the medals, informs the MOD press service.

Colonel Mesrop Nazaryan, who formerly served at the aforesaid group likewise as strategic analyst and who is the serving Military Attaché of the Armenian Embassy in the United States, also was awarded with this medal.

ARMENIA'S SPORT MINISTER UNDER OPPOSITION FIRE OVER SON’S ARREST

YEREVAN -- Armenia’s Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Yuri Vartanian faced opposition calls to step down on Wednesday in connection with the recent arrest of his son on drug trafficking charges.

Davit Vartanian was detained by the Armenian police near the Iranian border more than a week ago while al- legedly attempting to smuggle a large quantity of narcotics into Armenia. He was charged under corresponding ar- ticles of the Criminal Code carrying lengthy prison sentences.

Yuri Vartanian has still not commented on the embarrassing criminal case. He was conspicuously absent from the Armenian government’s question-and-answer session in the parliament on Wednesday.

Lawmakers representing two opposition parties and the opposition-leaning Prosperous Armenia (BHK) said the young man’s arrest is sufficient grounds for the minister’s resignation. Zaruhi Postanjian of the Zharangutyun party said Vartanian should quit for “moral” considerations given the gravity of the accusations leveled against his son. Levon Zurabian, the parliamentary leader of the Armenian National Congress (HAK), said that cabinet mem- bers in truly democratic states lose their jobs in such cases.

The BHK’s Naira Zohrabian echoed these calls, saying that Vartanian would have been forced to resign if he had been a member of her party led by Gagik Tsarukian, a wealthy businessman who also heads Armenia’s Nation- al Olympic Committee.

Vartanian has been at loggerheads with Tsarukian for some time, blaming the tycoon for Armenia’s poor showing in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The previous minister of sports and youth affairs was affiliated with the BHK.

The resignation calls were dismissed by the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK). Galust Sahakian, the

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HHK’s parliamentary leader, said Vartanian bears no responsibility for his son’s alleged crime. “Every minister has sons, relatives and friends. Should he resign if one of them commits a crime?” Sahakian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).

Vartanian, 57, is a renowned former weightlifter who won the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow and several world championships for the Soviet Union. He served as an adviser to President Serzh Sarkisian before being ap- pointed as minister in May.

WHOEVER IS HAPPY WITH THIS SITUATION SHOULD LEAVE COUNTRY – ARMENIA PARLIAMENT VICE-CHAIR

YEREVAN -- That government representative, who is satisfied with the 35-percent poverty level in Armenia, can “pack up his be- longings [and] leave this country.”

National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker and ruling Republican Party (RPA) Press Secretary Eduard Sharmazanov made such a state- ment during a briefing with news reporters on Monday.

In his words, the high levels of poverty and corruption in Arme- nia are a cause for concern for everyone.

“[And] whether or not the government will resign is a matter for the future. Now, all of us are working to improve the situation; [albe- it] slowly, but we are improving [it],” Sharmazanov added.

To the remark that although President Serzh Sargsyan had tasked the government to secure a 7-percent growth in the GDP, the state budget draft projects solely a 4.1-percent growth,

the NA vice-chair responded that Sargsyan’s instruction was a political order, an objective. As per the RPA spokesperson, it is indispensable to analyze all the subjective and objective reasons why the

government is unable to carry out this task.

MARGVELASHVILI WINS IN GEORGIA’S ARMENIAN-POPULATED REGIONS

Ruling Georgian Dream coalition candidate Giorgi Marg- velashvili has become the winner in the Armenian-populated regions of Georgia in Sunday’s presidential elections in the country.

Armenia’s Ambassador to Georgia Hovhannes Manukyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Manukyan noted that, according to preliminary infor- mation, Margvelashvili received 65 and 70 percent of the votes cast in the predominantly Armenian-populated regions of Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda, respectively. United National Movement party candidate Davit Bakradze, on the other hand, is currently second, with 20 percent of the votes in both re- gions.

The ambassador noted that the voter turnout was at around 40 percent in Georgia’s Armenian-populated re- gions.

“Overall, the elections were peaceful. We can say Georgia had yet another civilized elections” Manukyan maintained.

In the ambassador’s words, the Armenian community pins sincere hopes on the Georgian Dream.

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The International Institute for

Genocide and Human Rights

Studies

A Division of the Zoryan Institute

Armenian Genocide Museum Institute and Canadian Museum of

Human Rights to Sign Official Memorandum of Understanding

Toronto – On November 7, Dr. Hayk Demoyan, Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute (AGMI) in Yerevan, will visit Mr. Stuart Murray, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) in Winnipeg, to sign a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The objective of the MOU is to ex- change knowledge and expertise, educa- tional materials, and exhibitions with re- spect to human rights, share research and advice, cooperate to advance the academic study of human rights and reconciliation, the Armenian Genocide and its effects, and processes seeking justice and recon- ciliation, and work together to educate people on issues of human rights, in both national and global contexts.

The MOU will be signed in the pres- ence of His Excellency, Mr. Armen Yeganian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Arme- nia, officials of the Zoryan Institute, and representatives of the Armenian communi- ty.

In March of this year, Zoryan officials accompanied Dr. Clint Curle, the CMHR’s Head of Stakeholder Rela- tions, to Yerevan, to meet with the Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute, the Republic of Arme- nia’s Minister of Diaspora and other officials, to discuss the significance of the new museum being developed in Winnipeg in relation to the Armenian Genocide. At that time, discussions for formal cooperation between the two museums were held and plans for the formal signing ceremony later in the year made. The International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute) (IIGHRS) has been instrumental in bring- ing the CMHR and AGMI together to the mutual benefit of both organizations and the Armenian and Canadian people.

While in Canada, Dr. Hayk Demoyan will also be making two public appearances at events hosted by The Zoryan Institute in Montreal and Toronto. Dr. Demoyan will speak about recent research on Aurora Mardiganian, and he will also update the public on the official plans for the commemoration of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

The official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the CMHR and AGMI is the culmination of the Zoryan Institute's efforts to bring the two institutions together. This agreement will help both institutions in their efforts to use awareness and dialogue as a way to promote enhanced human rights for the Armenian communi- ty, for Canadians, and for all visitors to the two museums.

Please join us at one of the following two events:

Location: Date: Time:

St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic Church, 100 Northdale Rd., Toronto Wednesday, November 6, 2013 7:30 PM

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Location: Date: Time:

AGBU Centre, 805, rue Manoogian, St-Laurent, QC Sunday, November 10, 2013 5:00 PM

The Zoryan Institute is the parent organization of the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, which runs an annual, accredited university program on the subject and is co-publisher of Genocide Stud- ies and Prevention: An International Journal in partnership with the International Association of Genocide Scholars and the University of Toronto Press. It is the first non-profit, international center devoted to the research and docu- mentation of contemporary issues with a focus on Genocide, Diaspora and Armenia. For more information please contact the Zoryan Institute by email zoryan@zoryaninstitute.org or telephone 416-250-9807.

THE ZORYAN INSTITUTE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO JOIN A

CONVERSATION WITH ATOM EGOYAN & DR. HAYK DEMOYAN Aurora Mardiganian and the film "Ravished Armenia"

& Commemoration Plans for the Armenian Genocide Centennial

Join us for a discussion between, Dr. Hayk Demoyan, Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute visiting from Yerevan, and Atom Egoyan, internationally renowned filmmaker of Toronto. Both intellectuals are involved in different but related research and projects on Aurora Mardiganian in terms of installations and/or exhi- bitions.

Aurora Mardiganian’s personal story was first published as Ravished Armenia in 1918 after she was ap- proached in New York by, a young screenwriter, who helped her write and publish her narrative, a very popular eyewitness report on the Armenian Genocide. The narrative was used for writing a film script that was produced in 1919. Mardiganian played herself in the silent film, reliving her trauma. Mardiganian was referred to in the press as a Joan of Arc, describing her as the spokesperson for the victims of the horrors that were then taking place in Tur- key and the catalyst for the humanist movement in America. At its peak, the book sold more than 360,000 copies, and the film helped Near East Relief raise more than $100 million. The film was respected by critics and despite the sex and violence depicted, its subject matter made it above reproach.

One review stated, “Certainly there has never been a picture which brought more clearly to the minds of the spectators the horrible tortures which these people were made to suffer. The entire film is ... so engrossing and re- alistic in its portrayal that one almost forgets that he is not witnessing the actual crimes.”

A clip from the original silent film will be shown as part of the program. The Zoryan Institute had the foresight to interview Aurora Mardiganian in the late 1980s, as part of its Oral History Program. A clip from that interview will also be shown.

On this occasion Dr. Demoyan, as Secretary of the National Commission on the Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, will also give an update on the planned centennial activities.

Location: Date: Time:

St. Gregory Armenian Catholic Church, 100 Northdale Rd., Toronto, ON Wednesday, November 6, 2013 7:30 PM

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U.S. EMBASSY AND TUMO CENTER PRESENT AMERICAN FILM SHOWCASE 2013 “YOUTH EMPOWERMENT”

YEREVAN -- From October 28 to November 15, the U.S. Embassy is partnering with the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies to launch a “Youth Empowerment” project, which includes an American Documentary Film Showcase, an essay contest, chess with Armenian grand masters, and master film classes for young people. The project was introduced at Tumo during a press conference on October 28, which includ- ed the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John A. Heffern, Tumo Director Marie Lou Papazian, producer/editor Nelson Della- maggiore, director/producer Katie Dellamaggiore, and inde- pendent filmmaker Jay Rosenblatt.

The showcase’s opening film, “BROOKLYNCASTLE”, is the remarkable and improbable true story of Intermediate School 318 in Brooklyn, New York; defying stereo- types, it has the highest ranked junior high chess team in the nation. It tells the stories of five members of the chess team at a below-the-poverty-line inner city junior high school that has won more national championships than any other in the United States. The film follows the challenges these kids face in their personal lives as well as on the chessboard, and is as much about the pain of their losses as it is about the anticipation of their victories. Ironically, the biggest obstacle thrust upon them arises not from other competitors but from recessionary budget cuts to all the

extracurricular activities at their school. RA President Serzh Sargsyan present at the opening of TUMO information center BROOKLYNCASTLE

shows how these kids’ dedication to chess magnifies their belief in what is possible for their lives. After all, if they can master the world’s most difficult game, what can’t they do?

The film will be shown in Armenia’s three main cities: Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor. The next 23 films will be screened at Tumo, and they all follow the theme of the showcase, “Youth Empowerment.”

In addition to the films, the “Youth Empowerment” project sponsored an essay contest for young Armenians to describe an inspiring teacher in their lives. The contest received over 3200 entries, and was co-sponsored by Dasaran.am. Winners will be announced at the opening film reception by U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John A. Heffern.

Internationally recognized filmmaker Jay Rosenblatt, director/producer Katie Dellamaggiore and three-time Emmy award nominated director Nelson Dellamaggiore will run a series of master classes for a group of young people at Tumo. The filmmakers will work with groups of Tumo students who have been studying scriptwriting, cinematography and editing over the course of the past year at Tumo, in order to produce short films on topics of concern to them.

ARMENIA FUND LAUNCHES TELETHON 2013 FUNDRAISING

LOS ANGELES -- On Friday, October 18, 2013, Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region kicked off the fundraising campaign for the upcoming Thanks- giving Day International Telethon with a logo unveiling reception at the House of Armenia in Glendale, California.

The live 12 hour program is set to air on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2013 beginning 8:00am PST. Proceeds from Telethon 2013 will benefit the construction of the strategically important Vardenis-Martakert Highway, span- ning 72 miles and directly benefiting 30 villages along its way. The project is expected to cost $30 million and upon completion it will link the northeastern regions of Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno Kara-bakh) – giving a dramatic boost to the economy, tourism and trade. The project will be Armenia Fund’s

35

3rd major highway project, joining the Goris-Stepanakert (finished in 1998) and North-South Highways (finished in 2004) and creating an integrated highway system that connects close to 300 towns and villages in Armenia and Artsakh.

The evening hosted Armenia Fund’s long time donors and community members who attended the event in record numbers. Sarkis Kotanjian, Executive Director of Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region, welcomed everyone and introduced the newly elected President of Armenia Fund, Mr. Antranik Baghdassarian. Mr. Baghdassarian, President and CEO of Karoun Dairies, serves the Fund in a volunteer capacity.

“Roughly twenty years ago our brothers and sisters returned us 11,000 square kilometers of our historic lands called Artsakh. They couldn’t have paid a heavier price for that land as they paid with their lives. When we sit around the abundant Thanksgiving Day tables on November 28 in the comfort of our warm homes, I want every American Armenian to realize that at that exact moment there are thousands of soldiers 12,000 feet above sea level in the Mrav mountains guarding Armenia’s peace in the freezing cold. We all have a choice every Thanksgiving: to be a bystander, point out all the flaws in today’s Armenia and do nothing or to be part of a solution helping Arme- nia develop and overcome its many challenges,” said Baghdassarian.

The evening’s guest speaker was Artur Aghabekyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the Nagorno Karabakh Repub- lic, who is on visit to the State of California.

“If we want Artsakh to be self sufficient, we must unlock its full economic potential. We have to create jobs. We have to be able to engage our population in labor-intensive spheres of the economy such as agriculture, manu- facturing and tourism. This will not be possible without fully integrating Artsakh’s and Armenia’s highway system. The Vardenis-Martakert Highway is that missing link,” said Aghabekyan.

The logo was designed by Los Angeles based graphic artist Edik Balaian. It features the highway in the form of a dove, whose wings emblazon the flags of Armenia and Artsakh. The logo was unveiled by Deputy Prime Min- ister Artur Aghabekyan and long time Armenia Fund donor Mrs. Anahid Kachberouni who recently visited Arme- nia and Artsakh on the Armenia Fund Donor Trip 2013.

Present at the evening reception were international trustees of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, Albert Boyajian and Ara Boyajian (Toronto, Canada) and former Presidents of Armenia Fund, Inc. Mrs. Maria Mehranian and Mr. Tomik Alexanian.

In Southern California, the Telethon will air live on KSCI Channel 18 for full 12 hours on Thursday, Novem- ber 28, 2013, 8:00AM-8:00PM PST as well as on all Los Angeles based Armenian television networks. The entire telethon will be webcasted on www.armeniafund.org. Donations can be made over the phone by calling 1-800-888- 8897 or through a secure server connection at www.armeniafund.org/donate beginning now.

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