Prime Minister on working Komitas Vardapet, visit to Shirak Marz forgotten folk Page 2 hero PAGE 4 ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS

Weekly Digest of the Government of Armenia

April 19-25, 2011 THEMA

“Quote of the week”

“The Genocide is an epi- sode in both Armenian and world history, which cannot be elimi- nated from diplomatic documents and annals of the 20th century, even from memories of those people whose Address of President Serzh Sargsyan on ancestors perpetrated the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the it.“ Armenian Genocide Tigran Sargsyan Prime Minister of RA ellow Compatriots, However, despite every devious program and FToday is the 24th of April, and calculations, the Armenian nation survived the we commemorate the memory of the Mets Eghern; survived with irreversible loses, Upcoming Events victims of the Armenian Genocide. fought against other calamities, which befell In 1915-1923 a crime against the Armenian the nation in the 20th century, and triumphally, April 26: Georgian FM Grigol nation, against humanity and civilization with victoriously independent statehood ush- Vashadze will pay visit to Arme- was committed, which at the time had no ered into a new millennium – a statehood that nia name. All the names and definitions – mor- will never again allow the repetition of such al, legal, or political – given later are only a crime, a statehood that will defend its right- April 29: Deputy aide to the US provisional and only in part reflect what had eous cause and will struggle in the international State Secretary on European and really happened. The true scope and depth fora not only for the recognition of the Arme- Eurasian issues, Tina Kaidenau of the tragedy is known only to us, and nian Genocide, but also for the prevention and will meet with PM Tigran every Armenian, in any corner of the world, punishment of the crime of genocide per se. Sargsyan feels devastating repercussions of the Mets While in the 20-s of the last century, the task Eghern on his or her destiny in every sense in front of our nation and our country was JUNE 4: St. Petersburg’s Petrovsky – moral, cultural, linguistic and political. not to die, not to perish from the face of the stadium will host EURO 2012 Rus- The Ottoman Empire implemented at earth, and to survive, Armenia of today has sia vs. Armenia the state level the program of elimina- other tasks. Wide horizons of restoring his- tion and expulsion of the Armenian peo- torical justice, of development, of progress USEFUL LINKS ple. Throughout the process, at its every and creative work are opened before us. • www.president.am stage the murders, deportations, conver- The Republic of Armenia has been proving • www.gov.am sions and enslavement of the Armenians through its resolute steps that despite black pag- • www.parliament.am were viewed as routine trifles. As for for- es of history, it strives for peace with the neigh- • www.mfa.am eign interventions, they failed to stop the bors, including Turkey. Today in Turkey, more • www.armenpress.am perpetrators and in some instances pushed than ever, reasonable voices are being heard. • www.panarmenian.net them towards even more gruesome acts. April 24, 2011 full address www.president.am • www.matenadaran.am ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS CHRONICA Headlines of Prime Minister on working visit to Shirak Marz the week rime Minister Tigran Sargsyan traveled in Javakhk (Ashotsk) region of Armenia • APRIL 19: Armenian banks seem Pto Berdashen community of Shirak - seeks to develop ecotourism and safe- to display interest in agriculture Marz to get acquainted with the course of guard the exceptional biological variety of construction of a guest house and office territories of high-mountainous region of • APRIL 20: ArmeniaAH doesn’t have buildings at Arpi Lich Armenia Chirac – Ja- Ottoman Turkish language ex- national park. The head vakhk along the bor- perts to study Turkish archives of government took the ders with Georgia and opportunity to meet Turkey by simultane- • APRIL 21:AH Jars discov- with the inhabitants of ously promoting sus- ered in St. Mary church terri- Berdashen community. tained development of tory are transferred to museum The eco-region nature communities in Shirak protection program in Marz by means of Arpi • April 22: KimAH Kardashian calls South Caucasus - crea- Lich national park and for Armenian Genocide recognition tion of protected areas realization of com- munity development programs in the protected zone of the national park (14 tar- • April 23: Genocide.amAH website’s get communities), as well as by contributing to cross-border cooperation be- had over 400000 visitors since 2007 tween Armenia and Georgia. The program has a total budget of euro 2.2 million. Berdashen community Ashotsk region is also included in the program of management • APRIL 24: AH Lepsius House by agricultural resources of communities and their competitiveness. This program will to open in Yerevan May 2 help develop necessary actions for improvement of pastures, such as introduction of a • system of replaceable use of pastures, water-assisted maintenance of pastures, as well as • APRIL 25: AH Erdogan again partial repair of roads conducting to pastures and creation of opportunities for manufac- sets conditions for Armenian- ture of forages. During a briefing with journalists, concerning the programs carried out Turkish protocols ratification in the region, the Prime Minister said that the development of cattle breeding is seen as a priority. As assured by Tigran Sargsyan, irrigation water and roads are needed to en- AH sure greater accessibility of pastures. According to the Prime Minister, the experts involved in this program say that it will help increase community revenue by at least 20 percent. Azerbaijan violates the 20 April 20, 2011 full story www.gov.am ceasefire regime about 150 times over the week The Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Nalban- dian received the Baroness Caroline Cox, member of the House of Lords

strengthening the Armenian-British relations. The Foreign Affairs Minister highlighted the importance of development of bilat- eral relations in both bilateral and multi- lateral formats. Possibilities of decentral- ized cooperation were discussed as well. he Azerbaijani side violated the cease- Minister Nalbandian and the British parlia- Tfire regime at the line of contact mentarians discussed the perspectives of deep- about 150 times between April 17 and 23. ening of the Armenian-British cooperation. Press Service of the NKR Defense Army n April 19, the Armenian Foreign The sides discussed also issues related to the reports that the front troops of the Azeri OAffairs Minister Edward Nalban- Armenian-British parliamentary cooperation. Army fired more than 1 700 shots all along dian received the parliamentary delega- In this context the sides mutually stressed the the line of contact between the armed forc- tion led by the Baroness Caroline Cox, visit of the Speaker of the RA National As- es of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan. member of the UK House of Lords. sembly to London in March of this year, as “After all this the Azerbaijani propaganda ma- Welcoming the Baroness Cox, Minister well as the meeting between the heads of chine continued disseminating information Nalbandian highly appreciated the support the two Chambers of the UK Parliament. last week that the ceasefire regime had been and humanitarian activity of the Baron- In the course of the meeting the co- violated by the Armenian side. Furthermore, ess has provided to Armenia and Nagorno- operation between Armenia and the on April 20 and 22 official Baku rushed to Karabakh for years and mentioned that the EU, as well as processes in progress present the killing of three soldiers of its army Armenian people is grateful to the Baron- within that format were touched upon. as the result of attack of the Defense Army. ess for her activities supporting Armenia. Upon the request of the Baroness Despite the activeness of the enemy, divi- Underlining that since 1988 she has been Cox, Edward Nalbandian presented sions of the NKR Defense Army maintained connected with Armenia and the Armenian the recent developments in the settle- the ceasefire regime all along the line of con- people and considers herself as a friend of the ment of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.. tact and properly fulfilled their military duty,” Armenian people, the Baroness Cox said that April 19, 2011 www.mfa.am reads the statement of the NKR Defense Army. she would continue her activities in favor of April 25, 2011 www.armradio.am

2 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS RES PUBLICA Levitin: negotiations on construction of Armenian LA Times: Obama’s reluc- NPP new energy unit important tance to recognize Genocide not prudence but prompt allocation of a loan by Rus- cowardice sia during the global financial crisis. .S. President Barack Obama puts aside Russian Minister of Transport, Co- Uclarity in an effort to maintain the support Chairman of the Armenian-Rus- of Armenian Americans while not offending sian intergovernmental commission Turkey, Tim Rutten of Los Angeles Times Igor Levitin noted for his part that writes in an article he titled “Obama’s lack of Armenia-Russia ties have reached moral clarity on Armenian genocide issue.” a new level over the past years. “The line between prudence and moral cow- “We have managed to overcome ardice can be a fine one, particularly when it consequences of the global econom- comes to the conduct of diplomacy,” the article ic crisis, increase the trade turno- says. “For Americans, the question of where rmenian Prime Minister Tigran ver between the countries,” he said. and how to make such distinctions has a par- ASargsyan has said that Russia Levitin said that Armenia and Rus- ticular urgency this week, as we commemorate is Armenia’s main economic part- sia have implemented many joint the 96th anniversary of the genocide inflicted ner. 20% growth was recorded in programs in both economic and hu- on the Armenians by the Ottoman Turks. In the trade turnover between the two manitarian fields, attaching impor- massacres from 1915 to 1923, more than 1.5 mil- countries in 2010, Sargsyan said at tance to negotiations on construc- lion Armenians were killed and eastern Anato- the opening of First Armenian-Rus- tion of a new energy unit of the lia was ethnically cleansed of a people whose sian Interregional Forum in Yerevan. Armenian Nuclear Power Plant. presence there extended back to antiquity.” He noted that in modern times Arme- The Minister noted that the next “Here in California, where the descendents nia and Russia have always supported sitting of the intergovernmental of those who escaped the genocide have each other in hours of need. Sarg- commission will be held in Rus- made such a vibrant contribution to agricul- syan also expressed gratitude for the sia in the third quarter of 2011. ture, business, the professions and public life, April 19, 2011 www.panarmenian.net memorials of the tragedy are solemn annual Obama says Meds Yeghern again, avoids term Genocide events. What none of the participants at either event heard was a message from President resident Barack Obama on Saturday Obama or Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Pmarked the anniversary of the massacre Clinton acknowledging the historical reality of Armenians in Turkey nearly a century ago of the genocide. That’s because this admin- by calling it a “horrific” slaughter, but once istration, like its predecessors, is straddling a again stopped short of branding it Genocide. fine line - one that, more than ever, appears In a written statement, Obama said the 1915 to be a distinction without a difference.” killings of some 1.5 million Armenians rep- “For years now Congress has considered in resent “one of the worst atrocities of the 20th various forms a resolution that would offi- century.” But for the third straight year, he cially recognize the organized mass murder of failed to use the word Genocide to describe it. from the dark chapters in its own history. Armenians that occurred in the Ottoman Em- As a candidate for president, Obama re- He praised efforts in Armenia and pire’s waning years as genocide - something peatedly vowed to recognize the Ar- Turkey “to foster a dialogue that ac- many countries have done. But contemporary menian Genocide once in office, vow- knowledges their common history. “ Turkey, a key U.S. ally and reliable NATO ing “a principled commitment to But Obama confined himself to us- partner, adamantly objects to such a designa- commemorating and ending genocide.” ing the Armenian name for the atroci- tion. Rather than offend the Turks, who threat- But since 2009, Obama has declined to ties, Meds Yeghern, and paying tribute en retaliation if Congress approves the resolu- use the word in the face of furious resist- “to the memories of those who perished.” tion, this administration, like its predecessors, ance from Turkey, a key NATO ally. He said his view of what took place hasn’t opposes the designation,” the article continues. In his statement, Obama said “contest- changed since the campaign, adding, “A “It’s an act of expediency that bites with par- ed history destabilizes the present and full, frank, and just acknowledgement of ticular sharpness because candidate Obama stains the memory of those whose lives the facts is in all our interests.” AP reported. declared that “America deserves a leader were taken.” He said America knows this April 24, 2011 www.panarmenian.net who speaks truthfully about the Armenian genocide.” This raises the question of why Darchinyan: if it wasn’t a headbutt, I’d knock Perez out President Obama declines to do so and why n one of the most powerful perform- tive Darchinyan was in total com- this administration opposes the resolution.” Iances of his career, two-division mand from the outset of a scheduled The article goes on saying: “Clarity, though, world champion Vic “Raging Bull” 12-round bout at Nokia Theatre L.A. is something the president seems determined Darchinyan dominated former IBF LIVE, scored a knockdown in the sec- to avoid, as he attempts to maintain the sup- bantamweight titlist Yonnhy “El Co- ond and was ahead 50-44 on the three port of Armenian voters while soothing Turk- lombiano” Perez en route to winning scorecards when the one-sided slugfest ish sensibilities. On last year’s memorial an- a fifth-round technical decision and was halted due to an accidental head- niversary, for example, he issued a statement the vacant IBO 118-pound title Satur- butt at 1:44 of the round. that scrupulously avoided the word genocide.” day on SHOWTIME®. The diminu- April 24, 2011 full story www.panarmenian.net April 20, 2011 full story www.panarmenian.net

3 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS PRO PATRIA Komitas Vardapet, forgotten folk hero First batchj-produced Superjet 100 to be handed for Armenia’s classical tradition. And over to Armenian airline as a collector and arranger of folksongs, he did for Armenia what Bartok did for Hungary, turning simple material into bewitchingly sophisticated polyphony. After a Komitas concert in Paris, Claude Debussy declared that on the basis of a single song, he deserved to be recognised as a great composer. Yet many classical musicians barely recognise his name. I first became aware of Komitas’s ex- ussian aircraft manufacturing corpora- omposer Komitas Vardapet sur- istence when recording the Armenian Rtion Sukhoi Civilian Airlines /GSS/ Cvived a genocide and somehow Chamber Choir in Yerevan in 2001. is expected to hand over to the customer bridged Armenia and Turkey’s musi- I was intrigued by the songs’ vibrant – the Armenian airline Armavia – the cal divide. He should be better known strangeness: folk melodies so deftly first batch-produced Sukhoi Superjet 100. Sunday 24 April is Easter Day, but for arranged that the raw beauty of the All in all, Armavia will get two Superjets. Armenians it is also genocide remem- originals glowed the more brightly. April 12, the GSS and Armavia signed brance day. This is when Armenians all Soghomon Soghomonyan – his original an inspection certificate for the jet, which over the world will gather to commem- name – was born in 1869 to Armenian certifies that the Superjet is being trans- orate the anniversary parents in Turkey, ferred to Armavia with a full package of of the 1915 genocide in He was at once a sensualist where the Christian documents and service documentation. which 1.5 million Ar- and an ascetic: he wanted minority endured The airliner matches the specified operation- menians in Turkey were to submit to discipline, but routine discrimina- al characteristics, does not have operational either slaughtered, or tion. His parents limitations, has full airworthiness and is ready couldn’t deny his artistic died on forced marches (who both died for an immediate release on to commercial into exile. For Armeni- calling. when he was young) routes, both international and domestic ones. ans, music is memory. And whenever were noted singers: he inherited their gift The Superjet is due to substitute they gather to honour their dead, the and was talent-spotted at 12 by an Arme- for the old Soviet-era Tupolev-134 songs they sing are by the composer who nian bishop, and enrolled at the Etchmi- jets, which are still in operation. speaks for the soul of their nation, Komi- adzin seminary near Yerevan. There, he The GSS has a confirmed portfolio of 170 tas Vardapet. He himself was a victim of was the class comedian who could mim- orders for the Sukhoi jets. The first airwor- the 1915 persecution, and though he sur- ic the songs he found in villages on the thy machine in the family was shown to the vived physically, he was driven into mad- slopes of Mount Ararat: even in his teens public September 26, 2007, at a factory in ness by it. Outside Armenia he, too, has he was a pioneer ethnomusicologist. Us- the Russian Far-Eastern city Komsomoslk- been swept under the carpet of history. ing the notation he had learned in the Ar- on-Amur and it was also there that it took Komitas’s output was modest: 80 choral menian liturgy, he wrote down what he off on its maiden flight May 19, 2008, works and songs, arrangements of the heard, devised three-part arrangements, It is expected that the first Superjets will be Armenian mass, and some dances for and formed a student choir to sing them. supplied to Russia’s major line Aeroflot soon. piano. But as his better-known compa- April 21, 2011 Along with this Russian Transport Minis- triot Aram Khachaturian acknowledged, full story www.guardian.co.uk April 21, ter Igor Levitin said last week that Aero- he singlehandedly laid the foundations flot’s management is getting ready to issue sanctions against the GSS, which disrupts the deadlines for the deliveries of new jets. He recalled that, according to initial plans, Armenia’s gambit to become chess superpower the first Sukhoi Superjets 100 were to reach rmenia is to make chess classes com- Chess Institute of Canada, who also Aeroflot at the end of 2010, but a delay in the Apulsory for children as young as six teaches chess to children in Toronto. obtaining of a certificate prompted the com- in a bid to become a chess superpower. Mr. Winick believes North American pany top postpone the deadline several times. The country in the South Caucasus region schools should “absolutely” adopt Arme- “The delivery dates indicated in the con- plans to invest nearly US$1.5-million into nia’s policy, citing various Soviet coun- tract have expired and now the executives teaching chess to primary schoolchildren. In tries, as well as Cuba and Quebec, as ex- are drawing up on penalties,” Levitin said. addition to salaries, the investment will fund amples of the game being successfully “They will first send them to the GSS board textbooks, manuals and boards, as well as integrated into various public curriculum of directors and then to the government.” proper tables and chairs to outfit the schools, levels, though not as a mandatory class. He also said Aeroflot specialists had questions the Armenian education ministry announced. Armenia’s decision was made just regarding the technical condition of the new jets. The ministry claims chess will “foster school- two months after Armenian Presi- A spokesman for Aeroflot said along with children’s intellectual development” and dent Serzh Sargsyan was re-elected this that Superjets have been included in improve children’s critical-thinking skills. as chair of the Armenian Chess Fed- the airline’s summer flights schedules and “It’s a growing trend,” accord- eration, a position he’s held since 2002. the management is anxious to get them. ing to Ted Winick, president of the April 19, 2011 April 12, 2011 www.itar-tass.com full story www.news.nationalpost.com 4 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS DIASPORA More than 1,500 Protest- County of Los Angeles Commemorates the Armenian ers Urge Obama to Keep Genocide his Campaign Promise n Tuesday, April 19, members of need to remember the Armenian Geno- Othe Armenian Council of America cide and honor its victims. “To this hor- joined Los Angeles County Board of Su- rible tragedy, the Armenian community pervisors, headed by Supervisor Michael is committed to ensuring that those who Antonovich to commemorate the 96th died due to their faith, due to their na- anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. tionality will not be forgotten and that During the commemoration Supervi- on every April 24th, a day of remem- sor Antonovich presented the Armenian brance of the Armenian Genocide will American community of Los Angeles be recognized throughout the world,” with a proclamation signed by the Board stated Supervisor Antonovich “by con- of Supervisors commemorating the 96th sistently remembering and openly con- ith loud chants of “Obama, anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. demning these atrocities committed WKeep Your Promise,” more The proclamation declares April 24, against the Armenians, out County once than 1,500 community members 2011 as a “Day of Remembrance for again demonstrates its sensitivity to- gathered at the Sony Picture Studios the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923” ward the need for the constant vigilance Thursday afternoon for a demonstra- throughout the Los Angeles County in to prevent similar events in the future.” tion urging the president, who is on recognition of this 96th Anniversary to In thanking Supervisor Antonovich, a fundraising trip to Los Angeles, keep alive the memory of the victims ACA Board Members Peter Darakjian, to keep his campaign promise and while recognizing the importance of Mehran Khatchadourian, Yeghia recognize the Armenian Genocide. preventing future atrocities by inspiring Mazmanian noted the deep gratitude When addressing the crowd that gath- discussion and understanding among of the Armenian American commu- ered in front of the studio gates, Sys- future generations for the betterment nity towards the County’s continued tem of A Down frontman and human of our community, country, and world. efforts of remembrance and recog- rights activist Serj Tankian urged pro- In his remarks, Antonovich reiterated the nition of the Armenian Genocide. testers to face the gate and by raising April 20, 2011 their right fist continuously repeat “As full story www.massispost.com President, I will recognize the Geno- Kardashian Blogs for Armenian Genocide Recognition cide,” a familiar campaign prom- ise made by then candidate Obama ocide. Americans of good conscience are during the 2008 presidential race. committed to ending the cycle of geno- For more than 15 minutes, the cide, and to do that, we have to start by excited crowd heeded Tan- calling evil by its name. That’s why we kian’s call and then urged the will be demonstrating during President president to honor his promises. Obama’s visit to California in support In his remarks, Tankian thanked of a truthful and just resolution of this the demonstrators and explained crime” said Andrew Kzirian, chairman of that the gathering was not just for the board of directors of the ANCA-WR. the Obama Administration’s bro- The Armenian Genocide Task Force ken promise about the Genocide, is organizing a community-wide April but also to echo collective disap- 21st demonstration at the President’s pointment in all the campaign prom- im Kardashian posted a blog note fundraiser in Culver City, California. ises that the president has not kept. Kand sent a “tweet” to 7.2 million Kardashian’s tweet was clear Tankian highlighted that justice of her fans today urging the U.S. gov- and concise: “It’s time to recog- and human rights must prevail ernment to recognize the Armenian nize the Armenian Genocide.” and urged the community to con- Genocide and encouraging her fans to This is not the first time Kardashian has tinue its activism and press ahead. join the Resurrection and Recognition: called on the U.S. government to recog- Community activist Hovan Tashd- National Day of Prayer on April 24. nize the Armenian Genocide. In 2010, jian addressed the crowd in Arme- Kardashian’s tweet amplifies voices Kardashian called on Speaker Pelosi to nian and reiterated the community’s from across America calling on the schedule a vote on H.Res 252, the Arme- disappointment in the failure for the President to honor his pledge to properly nian Genocide resolution. In that message, Obama Administration to adhere to its commemorate the Armenian Genocide, she said “It’s time for America to speak promises, while pointing out that the notably Grammy Award-winning artist, openly and honestly about this horrible Turkish government, which Obama System of a Down frontman, and human crime against humanity, and the only way seeks to appease, is still pursuing the rights leader Serj Tankian.“We applaud this will happen is if WE speak up first.” very policies that led to the Genocide. Kim Kardashian for calling on our gov- April 21, 2011 www.armenianweekly.com April 21, 2011 ernment to recognize the Armenian Gen- full story www.asbarez.com "Armenia Highlights" is compiled in association with DISCLAIMER: Views expressed in "Armenia Highlights" do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of Armenia.

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