tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86955800935794567282024-03-07T23:56:27.542-08:00Mer HayrenikSukhumtsihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08487217534040588880noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695580093579456728.post-18841005118250257182008-05-05T23:44:00.000-07:002008-05-05T23:46:55.177-07:00Just as I was about to update.......the library I am sitting in is closing as I type this. However I wanted to just give everyone a heads up that I, along with a friend of mine and fellow activist (I use this term loosely on my part), did some lobbying with the Armenian National Committee in Sacramento on the 21st of April. I will write about why we were there and what went on very soon, I promise!Sukhumtsihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08487217534040588880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695580093579456728.post-11300165601130896492008-03-01T22:19:00.000-08:002008-03-01T22:21:04.305-08:00Armenia Declares State of EmergencyI really want to get into this topic but life is a bit hectic right now so I will leave you with this video clip from Al-Jazeera.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/np8WkNBOFV0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/np8WkNBOFV0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Sukhumtsihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08487217534040588880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695580093579456728.post-82355507744951674372008-02-01T21:24:00.001-08:002008-02-01T21:30:09.397-08:00Why this Administration is not working for the Armenian community- ANCA<blockquote><p><span style="font-size:85%;">I apologize if it seems as though most of my latest posts are straight out of the <a href="http://www.anca.org/">ANCA </a>Newsletters but I do believe that they include important information that needs to be put out there. More coverage can be found on the <a href="http://www.anca.org/">ANCA website.</a></span> </p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;">The need for change: The Bush Administration’s record</span></strong><br />The pressing need for fundamental change in how the United States addresses issues of special concern to Armenian Americans is highlighted by a review of the current Administration’s record in twelve key areas: </p><p>1) <strong>Broken campaign pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide<br /></strong>Almost immediately after taking office, President Bush abandoned his campaign pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Rather than honor this promise, the President has, in his annual April 24th statements, used evasive and euphemistic terminology to avoid describing Ottoman Turkey's systematic and deliberate destruction of the Armenian people by its proper name - the Armenian Genocide. Moreover, the Administration has echoed the Turkish government’s denial by claiming that the Armenian Genocide, one of the most studied genocides of the 20th century, “should be a matter of historical inquiry, not legislation.” On October 17, 2007, after the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed the Armenian Genocide Resolution, President Bush argued that, “one thing Congress should not be doing is sorting out the historical record of the Ottoman Empire,” claiming there was “more important work to do.”<br /></p><p><strong>2) Opposition to the Congressional Genocide Resolution</strong><br />The Bush Administration, throughout its tenure, has actively sought to block the adoption of the Genocide Resolution in both the House and Senate. As recently as October of last year, the President spoke to the national media from the White House, on more than one occasion, against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and personally lobbied Members of Congress to prevent the commemoration of this crime.<br /></p><p><strong>3) The Evans firing and the Hoagland nominations</strong><br />The Bush Administration fired U.S. Ambassador John Evans, a career Foreign Service officer with 35 years of experience, simply for speaking truthfully about the Armenian Genocide. Despite numerous Congressional inquiries, his Administration continuously attempted to cover up the true reasons for Evans’ removal and the Turkish government’s protests over his statements. When the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) awarded John Evans the Christian Herter prize for constructive dissent, Administration officials forced AFSA to rescind the award just days before Turkish President Erdogan came to Washington, DC to meet with President Bush.<br />The President’s nominee to replace Ambassador Evans, Dick Hoagland, denied the Armenian Genocide in response to Senate inquiries during his confirmation process. After being blocked by a Senatorial “hold” placed by Robert Menendez in the 109th Congress, the President again nominated Ambassador Hoagland, only to have this nomination blocked once again on the grounds that a diplomat who denies the Armenian Genocide cannot serve effectively as the U.S. representative to Armenia.<br /></p><p><strong>4) The Waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act</strong><br />The Bush Administration, in 2001, aggressively pressured Congress into granting the President the authority to waive Section 907, a provision of law that bars aid to the government of Azerbaijan until it lifts its blockades of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. President Bush has subsequently used this authority to provide direct aid, including military assistance, to the government of Azerbaijan, despite their continued violation of the provisions of this law.<br /></p><p><strong>5) Reduction in aid to Armenia</strong><br />In the face of the devastating, multi-billion dollar impact of the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades on the Armenian economy, President Bush has, in each of his years in office, proposed to Congress that Freedom Support Act humanitarian and developmental aid to Armenia be reduced.<br /></p><p><strong>6) Abandonment of the Military Aid Parity Agreement<br /></strong>The Bush Administration abandoned its November 2001 agreement with Congress and the Armenian American community to maintain even levels of military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan. In successive budgets submitted to Congress, the President effectively sought to tilt the regional military balance in favor of Azerbaijan, undermining the role of the U.S. as an impartial mediator, despite Azerbaijan's increasingly violent threats of renewed aggression.<br /></p><p><strong>7) Mistaken Listing of Armenia as a Terrorist Country</strong><br />The Bush Administration sought, unsuccessfully, in December of 2002 to place Armenia on an Immigration and Naturalization Service watch list for terrorist countries. This obvious error was reversed only after a nation-wide protest campaign. Neither the White House nor the Department of Justice has apologized for the offense caused by this mistake.<br /></p><p><strong>8) Lack of U.S.-Armenia Presidential visitations</strong><br />The President neither visited Armenia nor did he invite the President of Armenia to visit the United States, despite similar visits by the leaders of Georgia and Azerbaijan.<br /></p><p><strong>9) Failure to maintain a balanced policy on Nagorno Karabagh</strong><br />The Bush Administration, to its credit, took an early initiative to help resolve the Nagorno Karabagh issue in the form of the Key West summit meeting in 2001 between Secretary of State Powell and the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. After Azerbaijan's failure to honor its Key West commitments, however, the Administration failed to hold Azerbaijan accountable for unilaterally stalling the Nagorno Karabagh peace process.<br /></p><p><strong>10) Taxpayer financing of the Baku-Ceyhan bypass of Armenia</strong><br />The Bush Administration supported American taxpayer subsidies for the politically motivated Baku-Ceyhan pipeline route that, at the insistence of Turkey and Azerbaijan, bypassed Armenia.<br /></p><p><strong>11) Refusal to pressure Turkey and Azerbaijan to end their blockades</strong><br />The Bush Administration has not forcefully condemned the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades as clear violations of international law, nor, outside of occasional public statements, has it taken any meaningful steps to pressure the Turkish or Azerbaijani governments to end their illegal border closures.<br /></p><p><strong>12) Neglect of relations with the Armenian American community<br /></strong>Breaking with the tradition of the last several Administrations, the Bush White House failed to reach out in any meaningful way to our nation's one and a half million citizens of Armenian heritage. While the State Department, Pentagon and National Security Council maintained their long-standing, policy-level dialogue with the Armenian American community leadership, the White House itself essentially neglected Armenian Americans as a civic constituency. </p></blockquote>Sukhumtsihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08487217534040588880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695580093579456728.post-33035801040743853942008-01-24T13:57:00.000-08:002008-01-24T13:59:09.443-08:00Quick Side NoteThank you to who ever it was that posted my blog in San Diego's craigslist.<br /><br /><br />I appreciate it :)Sukhumtsihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08487217534040588880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695580093579456728.post-1760271003875175482008-01-24T13:52:00.000-08:002008-01-24T14:01:56.240-08:00Clinton for Genocide Recognition<span style=";font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><p style="margin-bottom: 20px;"><a href="http://www.anca.org/"><b> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);font-family:Arial;" >Statement of <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1201211648_19">Senator Hillary Clinton</span> on the U.S.-Armenia Relationship</span></b></a></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">Alone among the Presidential candidates, I have been a longstanding supporter of the <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1201211648_20">Armenian Genocide Resolution</span>. I have been a co-sponsor of the Resolution since 2002, and I support adoption of this legislation by both Houses of Congress. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">I believe the horrible events perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians constitute a clear case of genocide. I have twice written to <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1201211648_21">President Bush</span> calling on him to refer to the Armenian Genocide in his annual commemorative statement and, as President, I will recognize the Armenian Genocide. Our common morality and our nation’s credibility as a voice for human rights challenge us to ensure that the Armenian Genocide be recognized and remembered by the Congress and the President of the United States. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">If the mass atrocities of the 20th Century have taught us anything it is that we must honestly look the facts of history in the face in order to learn their lessons, and ensure they will not happen again. It is not just about the past, but about our future. We must close the gap between words and deeds to prevent mass atrocities. That is why I am a supporter of the Responsibility to Protect. As President, I will work to build and enhance U.S. and international capacity to act early and effectively to prevent mass atrocities. The Bush administration’s words of condemnation have not been backed with leadership to stop the genocide in Darfur. I support a no-fly-zone over <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1201211648_22">Darfur</span>. I have championed strong international action to ensure that the government of Sudan can no longer act with impunity, or interfere with the international peacekeeping force, which is essential for the protection of the people of <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1201211648_23">Darfur</span>. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">I value my friendship with our nation’s vibrant Armenian-American community. This is in keeping with my dedication to the causes of the Armenian-American community over many years. I was privileged as First Lady to speak at the first-ever White House gathering in 1994 for leaders from <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1201211648_24">Armenia</span> and the Armenian-American community to celebrate the historic occasion of <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1201211648_25">Armenia</span>’s reborn independence. I said at the time that America will stand with you as you realize what the great Armenian poet, Puzant Granian, called the Armenian’s dream “to be left in peace in his mountains, to build, to dream, to create.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">I will, as President, work to expand and improve U.S.-Armenia relations in addressing the common issues facing our two nations: increasing trade, fostering closer economic ties, fighting terrorism, strengthening democratic institutions, pursuing our military partnership and deepening cooperation with <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1201211648_26">NATO</span>, and cooperating on regional concerns, among them a fair and democratic resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. As President, I will expand U.S. assistance programs to <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1201211648_27">Armenia</span> and to the people of Nagorno-Karabagh. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">I look forward, as President, to continuing to work with the Armenian-American community on the many domestic and international challenges we face together, and to build on the strong foundations of shared values that have long brought together the American and Armenian peoples. </span></p></span>Sukhumtsihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08487217534040588880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695580093579456728.post-45733028075096950612008-01-21T21:42:00.000-08:002008-01-21T21:54:42.908-08:00Hye SantaWhile using <a href="http://www.goodsearch.com/">Good Search </a>to get some research done on Armenian NGO's while helping the <a href="http://www.anca.org/">ANCA </a>raise money, I came across this section of <a href="http://www.armenianow.com/">ArmeniaNow.com </a>that just really got to me. It reminded me of why I wanted to go to Armenia in the first place. My desire to go to Armenia went from wanting to go out there to help out in some way, shape, or form in the villages that I have heard so much about from my family to wanting to work within the government or media outlets (this is mainly because a member of my family is pretty influential in those areas and I would be taken care of). However, this collection of articles, or more appropriately, stories, really touched me and I feel more motivated than ever to make that journey.<br /><br /><br /><br />I urge you to read these stories as well...<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.armenianow.com/?action=viewCategory&CID=2665&IID=1165&lng=eng">Hye Santa 2008</a>Sukhumtsihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08487217534040588880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695580093579456728.post-7940273894401720292008-01-21T09:33:00.000-08:002008-01-21T09:36:04.878-08:00Obama on the Importance of Armenia-US Relations<span style=";font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:85%;" ><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 20px;" align="center"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-weight: 700;font-family:Arial;" > <span style="font-size:130%;">Barack Obama on the Importance of U.S.-Armenia Relations</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 20px;" align="center"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-weight: 700;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" > | January 19, 2008 |</span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><img src="http://www.anca.org/assets/graphics/2008/elections08/barack_obama_elec_350.jpg" align="right" border="1" height="250" hspace="10" vspace="10" width="350" /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 11px;"> <span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;" >I </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"> am proud of my strong record on issues of concern to the one and a half million Americans of Armenian heritage in the United States. I warmly welcome the support of this vibrant and politically active community as we change how our government works here at home, and restore American leadership abroad.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 11px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; vertical-align: top; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <span lang="EN" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;">I am a strong supporter of a U.S.-Armenian relationship that advances our common security and strengthens Armenian democracy. As President, I will maintain our assistance to Armenia, which has been a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism and extremism. I will promote Armenian security by seeking an end to the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, and by working for a lasting and durable settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict that is agreeable to all parties, and based upon America's founding commitment to the principles of democracy and self determination. And my Administration will help foster Armenia's growth and development through expanded trade and targeted aid, and by strengthening the commercial, political, military, developmental, and cultural relationships between the U.S. and Armenian governments.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 11px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; vertical-align: top; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <span lang="EN" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;">I also share with Armenian Americans – so many of whom are descended from genocide survivors - a principled commitment to commemorating and ending genocide. That starts with acknowledging the tragic instances of genocide in world history. As a U.S. Senator, I have stood with the Armenian American community in calling for Turkey's acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide. Two years ago, I criticized the Secretary of State for the firing of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, after he properly used the term "genocide" to describe Turkey's slaughter of thousands of Armenians starting in 1915. I shared with Secretary Rice my firmly held conviction that the Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence. The facts are undeniable. An official policy that calls on diplomats to distort the historical facts is an untenable policy. As a senator, I strongly support passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106), and as President I will recognize the Armenian Genocide.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 11px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; vertical-align: top; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <span lang="EN" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;">Genocide, sadly, persists to this day, and threatens our common security and common humanity. Tragically, we are witnessing in Sudan many of the same brutal tactics - displacement, starvation, and mass slaughter - that were used by the Ottoman authorities against defenseless Armenians back in 1915. I have visited Darfurian refugee camps, pushed for the deployment of a robust multinational force for Darfur, and urged divestment from companies doing business in Sudan. America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 11px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; vertical-align: top; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <span lang="EN" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;">I look forward, as President, to continuing my active engagement with Armenian American leaders on the full range of issues of concern to the Armenian American community. Together, we will build, in new and exciting ways, upon the enduring ties and shared values that have bound together the American and Armenian peoples for more than a century.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8px;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><b>Source: </b> <a rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://capwiz.com/anca/utr/1/MNMUHZTKKH/DWGZIABNMD/1677646931"> http://www.barackobama.com/2008/01/19/barack_obama_on_the_importance.php</a></span></p></span>Sukhumtsihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08487217534040588880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695580093579456728.post-57786893338045511122008-01-14T00:08:00.001-08:002008-01-14T00:11:48.929-08:00PopulationAlso, for all of you living in California that feel as though Armenians are everywhere, it is because we are. In the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ANCA</span> newsletter I spoke about in my previous post, there were also a few figures included about the number of Armenians residing in certain states that would play a role in the primaries.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:85%;"><blockquote> <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 8px;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000080;"><b>Arizona Primary</b></span> (15,000 Armenian Americans)</span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 8px;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000080;"><b>California Primary</b></span> (600,000 Armenian Americans) </span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 8px;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><b><span style="color:#000080;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1200297439_26">Colorado</span> Caucus</span></b> (8,000 Armenian Americans) </span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 8px;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><b><span style="color:#000080;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1200297439_27">Connecticut</span> Primary</span></b> (20,000 Armenian Americans) </span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 8px;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><b><span style="color:#000080;">Illinois Primary</span></b> (45,000 Armenian Americans) </span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 8px;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000080;"><b> <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1200297439_28">Massachusetts</span></b> Primary</span> (120,000 Armenian Americans)</span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 8px;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><b><span style="color:#000080;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1200297439_29">New Jersey</span> Primary</span></b> (75,000 Armenian Americans) </span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 8px;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000080;"><b><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1200297439_30">New York</span> Primary</b></span> (100,000 Armenian Americans)<br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 8px;"><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 8px;"><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 8px;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">ANCA.ORG<br /></span></p> </blockquote></span>Sukhumtsihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08487217534040588880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695580093579456728.post-61848721442956303642008-01-13T23:58:00.000-08:002008-01-14T00:12:40.884-08:002008 Presidential CandidatesI regularly recieve newsletters from the Armenian National Committee of America and was excited to recieve their newest issue this week. A sample ballot had come in the mail for the primary elections coming up on (I believe) Febuary 5th in California and I immediately wondered who supported the genocide and what voting for my specific choice would mean for my community. Well imagine my surprise when I saw that this was what the newsletter contained:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Review of the Major Candidates:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Democrats</span><br /><br />Hillary Clinton<br />4420 North Fairfax Drive<br />Arlington, VA 22203<br />Tel: 703-469-2008<br />http://www.hillaryclinton.com<br /><br />As a Senator, Hillary Clinton has, since 2002, cosponsored successive Armenian Genocide resolutions, however she publicly voiced reservations about the adoption of the current resolution in an October 10, 2007 meeting with the Boston Globe editorial board. She joined Senate colleagues in cosigning letters to President Bush in 2005 and 2006 urging him to recognize the Armenian Genocide.<br /><br />John Edwards<br />410 Market Street, Suite 400<br />Chapel Hill, NC 27516<br />Tel: (919) 636-3131<br />http://www.johnedwards.com<br /><br />As a Senator, John Edwards cosponsored successive Armenian Genocide Resolutions beginning in 2002. He also supported Section 907 restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan, due to its ongoing blockade of Armenia. As a Presidential candidate in 2004, he stated that the “time is to recognize the Armenian Genocide” and that Turkey’s blockade of Armenia must end. His advocacy on behalf of the family of 17-year-old Nataline Sarkisyan, who died after her insurance company denied funding for a liver transplant, has been warmly received by Armenian Americans around the country.<br /><br />Barack Obama:<br /><br />Obama for America<br />P.O. Box 8102<br />Chicago, IL 60680<br />Tel: (866) 675-2008<br />http://www.barackobama.com/<br /><br />As a Senator, Barack Obama has spoken in support of U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide and cosigned a letter urging President Bush to recognize the Armenian Genocide, but has yet to cosponsor the Armenian Genocide Resolution. While visiting Azerbaijan in August 2005, Senator Obama was asked by reporters why he cosigned the letter to President Bush. Obama defended his decision by stating the genocide was a historical fact.<br /><br />He publicly criticized the firing of former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, who was dismissed for speaking truthfully about the Armenian Genocide, but voted for Richard Hoagland, the nominee to replace Evans, who had denied the Armenian Genocide in his responses to Senate inquiries.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Republicans:</span><br /><br />Rudy Giuliani<br /><br />Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee 295 Greenwich St, #371<br />New York, NY 10007<br />Tel: 212-835-9449<br />http://www.joinrudy2008.com<br /><br />As Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani issued several Armenian Genocide proclamations and attended ANC-NY Armenian Genocide commemorations in City Hall. In 2001, he hosted His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, for breakfast in the Mayor’s residence, Gracie Mansion.<br /><br />Mike Huckabee<br /><br />Huckabee for President<br />P.O. Box 2008<br />Little Rock, Arkansas 72203<br />Tel: 501-324-2008<br />http://www.mikehuckabee.com/<br /><br />As Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee issued a 2001 proclamation commemorating the Armenian Genocide that noted that Turkey continues to deny this crime and that Armenians have yet to receive reparations. He also issued a proclamation marking a "Day of Remembrance of the Turkish and Armenian Tragedy" – a euphemistic attempt to obscure the genocidal intent of Ottoman Turkey toward its Armenian subjects. The local Armenian community’s disappointment with this second proclamation was covered by the Arkansas News Bureau, which quoted ANC-Arkansas spokesperson Leo Stepanian as saying: “It was not a tragedy. It was a genocide.”<br /><br />John McCain<br /><br />John McCain 2008<br />P.O. Box 16118<br />Arlington, VA 22215<br />Tel: 703-418-2008<br />http://www.johnmccain.com/<br /><br />As a Senator, John McCain has opposed the Armenian Genocide Resolution and not been supportive of other Armenian American issues. At a town hall meeting on Sunday, January 6, 2008 Senator McCain was reported to have answered a question on the Armenian Genocide by noting that he recognizes the Armenian Genocide, but opposes the Armenian Genocide Resolution due to the Turkish government’s sensitivities. In correspondence with Arizona constituents he wrote, in October of 2007, that, “Condemning modern Turkey for the acts of the Ottoman Empire would serve only to harm relations with the Turkish people while injecting the Congress into the sensitive role of historian of a period clearly preceding the births of all but a very few congressmen. That is not a development I wish to help facilitate.”<br /><br />In 1989, Senator McCain introduced legislation supporting a peaceful and fair settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict and later supported Section 907 and the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act. Later, in 1999, he voted against maintaining Section 907.<br /><br />Mitt Romney<br /><br />Romney for President<br />P.O. Box 55899<br />Boston, MA 02205-5899<br />Phone: (857) 288-6400<br />http://www.mittromney.com/<br /><br />As Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney is not on record as having issued Armenian Genocide proclamations or having taken other meaningful official public actions in support of Armenian American issues.<br /><br /><br />----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sukhumtsihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08487217534040588880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695580093579456728.post-63786524694980538352008-01-09T11:48:00.000-08:002008-01-09T11:54:08.422-08:00Armenia-KarabaghWhen I was younger, my cousins used to run around yelling "Karabagh is ours!" They were too young to understand what exactly they were saying and I was too young to care. Last night in my international law class we were introduced to the paper we were to write on the topic of our choice. As my professor was describing it, my ADD-mind remembered that image of my cousins running around yelling that phrase about Karabagh. I have found my topic and in my research so far (all whole 10 minutes of it), I've found out some interesting things that I would love to share on this blog, so stay tuned! I will be spending some time back at my parents house this weekend blogging and researching since this week has been a bit hectic to say the least.Sukhumtsihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08487217534040588880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695580093579456728.post-23163406112080002532008-01-02T11:46:00.000-08:002008-01-02T11:47:15.611-08:00Quick PostI stmbled upon this today:<br /><br />http://www.learngenocide.com/Sukhumtsihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08487217534040588880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695580093579456728.post-63306920204523947732007-12-28T16:09:00.000-08:002007-12-30T19:36:27.704-08:00Thought this was funny...If you need a good laugh, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/http//news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071227/wl_mideast_afp/mideastreligionunrestbethlehem">read this article </a>about the Armenian and Greek priests fighting over cleaning a church. :)<br /><br /><br />Priests scuffle with brooms, stones, at Church of Nativity in Bethlehem<br />(World News) Sunday, 30 December 2007, 16:07 PST<br />THE ASSOCIATED PRESS<br /><br /><br />BETHLEHEM, West Bank - Robed Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests attacked each other with brooms and stones inside the Church of the Nativity today as long-standing rivalries erupted in violence during holiday cleaning.The basilica, built over the grotto in Bethlehem where Christians believe Jesus was born, is administered jointly by Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic authorities.<br />Any perceived encroachment on one group's turf can set off vicious feuds.Thousands of tourists visited the church this week for Christmas celebrations. Dozens of priests and cleaners went to the fortress-like church today to scrub and sweep the floors, walls and rafters ahead of the Armenian and Orthodox Christmas, celebrated in the first week of January.But the cleanup turned ugly after some of the Orthodox faithful stepped inside the Armenian church's section, touching off a scuffle between about 50 Greek Orthodox and 30 Armenians.<br />Palestinian police, armed with batons and shields, quickly formed a human cordon to separate the two sides so the cleaning could continue. Four people, some with blood running from their faces, were slightly injured.An Associated Press photographer was ordered out of the church.Sukhumtsihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08487217534040588880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695580093579456728.post-58492167857594724412007-12-24T13:15:00.000-08:002007-12-30T19:33:45.535-08:00Armenians in VegasMy family and I are spending Christmas in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Las</span> Vegas this year. This was pretty much prompted by my aunt wanting to go to see an Armenian singer named <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO5j45JnWDE&feature=related"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Tata</span></a> perform at the Paris Hotel (click link for a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">youtube</span> video of him). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Tata</span> is a pretty famous singer in the Armenian community so having this performance in Vegas (the first of its kind) was a big deal and EVERYONE came. By everyone I mean the entire Armenian community- or at least it feels like it. Now every culture has its [stereotypical] flaws and such. However, growing up surrounded by Armenians, I have learned one thing- we are not cheap people. We are a part of a community that enjoys helping each other out. It is just a part of who we are and how we were raised (which is pretty much the same for all of us since a majority of the Armenians in the United States are 1st generation). Well imagine my surprise and disbelief when we were confronted with a taxi driver that said that us "Armenians are cheap and never tip".<br /><br />You see, we are staying at the Venetian and were on our way to the forum shops at Caesars Palace. We were all chatting <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">amongst</span> ourselves and got in the taxi and realized as soon as well pulled away from the hotel that we had forgotten to tip the guy that opened the door for us. The taxi driver we had immediately asked if we were Persian. When we responded that we were Armenian, his reaction was something along the lines of "Oh, that explains it. You guys never tip." Really? I could have sworn that we had tipped pretty much everyone that deserved a tip all day long and yet once we forget to tip one gentleman, our entire culture is labeled?<br /><br />Has no one learned yet that the action of one person does not represent their entire race? Have we not grown as a society? I think it is awful that we still label and stereotype people. I think it is even worse that during this trip (and in my first post actually), that I did the same thing. I jokingly will make fun of my own culture but I have never meant to actually stereotype them in a negative sense. It is just fun to poke fun at our little quirks.Sukhumtsihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08487217534040588880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695580093579456728.post-66186253839970918262007-12-21T17:59:00.001-08:002007-12-21T22:43:52.862-08:00A little off topic...One of the featured stories on Yahoo! News in the past few days was one that talked about how cancer <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">patients</span> without health insurance are more likely to die than those with it. This is very sad but pretty understandable since all the treatments costs are so high, many families <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">forgo</span> treatments that may save their loved ones lives. Well what about those WITH health insurance? Yesterday evening, a 17 year old Armenian girl from Northridge, CA passed away because her insurance company refused to pay for the liver transplant she so desperately needed. It took a huge community effort to get her insurance company to approve the transplant. Sadly, the approval came too late. Here is the story from CBS<br /><br /><h2><a href="http://cbs2.com/local/nataline.sarkisyan.CIGNA.2.615167.html">Cancer Girl's Lawyer Blames <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">CIGNA</span> For Her Death</a></h2> <span class="cbstv_attribution" style="font-size:85%;"> GLENDALE, Calif. (CBS) ― </span><span style="font-size:85%;"> An insurance company that initially refused to pay for a liver transplant for a 17-year-old </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" style="font-size:85%;">Northridge</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> girl who died in a hospital should face criminal charges and pay civil damages, an attorney for the girl's family said Friday.<br /><br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" style="font-size:85%;">Cigna</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" style="font-size:85%;">HealthCare</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> "literally, maliciously killed" Nataline </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" style="font-size:85%;">Sarkisyan</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, attorney Mark </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" style="font-size:85%;">Geragos</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> told reporters in downtown Los Angeles.<br /><br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" style="font-size:85%;">Sarkisyan</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> died at 5:50 p.m. Thursday after being pulled off life support at UCLA Medical Center.<br /><br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" style="font-size:85%;">Geragos</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> said </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" style="font-size:85%;">Cigna</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> twice took </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" style="font-size:85%;">Sarkisyan</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> off the liver transplant list<br />and purposely waited until she was near death to approve the transplant because the company didn't want to pay for her after-care.<br /><br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" style="font-size:85%;">Cigna</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> announced yesterday -- just hours before the girl died -- it would pay for the transplant. "</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" style="font-size:85%;">Cigna</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> decided that they were going to take profits over this little, beautiful princess' life," </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" style="font-size:85%;">Geragos</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> said. "We believe that they single- </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" style="font-size:85%;">handedly</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> decided that they wanted to have her die and wait so they would not have to take the after-care coverage."<br /><br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" style="font-size:85%;">Geragos</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> said a civil lawsuit would be filed and he plans to petition<br />District Attorney Steve Cooley to pursue murder or manslaughter charges against </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" style="font-size:85%;">Cigna</span><span style="font-size:85%;">. "I believe that it's criminal and this corporation should be held accountable," </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" style="font-size:85%;">Geragos</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> said, adding this could be a "test case" because no such criminal complaint has yet been brought against a health insurance company.<br /><br />In a statement issued yesterday after it had approved the transplant, the<br />company said the procedure "was outside the scope of the plan's coverage."<br />"... and despite the lack of medical evidence regarding the<br />effectiveness of such treatment, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" style="font-size:85%;">Cigna</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" style="font-size:85%;">HealthCare</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> has decided to make an exception in this rare and unusual case, and we will provide coverage should she proceed with the requested liver transplant. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nataline and her family at this time."<br /><br />Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the District Attorney's Office, said it<br />would be inappropriate to comment on any possible criminal charges against </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" style="font-size:85%;">Cigna</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> since </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" style="font-size:85%;">Geragos</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> has yet to present anything to prosecutors.<br /><br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" style="font-size:85%;">Sarkisyan's</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> 21-year-old brother, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" style="font-size:85%;">Bedros</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, told reporters that UCLA had a<br />liver available for transplant, but they could not perform the procedure<br />because of </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" style="font-size:85%;">Cigna's</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> refusal to cover it.<br /><br />The girl's father, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" style="font-size:85%;">Krikor</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" style="font-size:85%;">Sarkisyan</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, held a photograph of his daughter,<br />and with his eyes wet with tears, cried out. "They took my daughter away from me!"<br /><br />"The </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28" style="font-size:85%;">Cigna</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> people, they cannot make people's decision if they (are)<br />going to life or die," he said through a heavy accent. "Doctors ... they all<br />signed the papers. ... </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29" style="font-size:85%;">Cigna</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> denied it two times."<br /><br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30" style="font-size:85%;">Cigna</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> insurance initially declined to pay for the transplant for Nataline </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31" style="font-size:85%;">Sarkisyan</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> because her plan did not cover "experimental, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32" style="font-size:85%;">investigational</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> and unproven services," her doctors said.<br /><br />The denial prompted nationwide protests, including a rally outside<br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33" style="font-size:85%;">Cigna's</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> Glendale offices yesterday and complaints by members of the California Nurses Association. About 15 minutes into the rally, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34" style="font-size:85%;">Cigna</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> announced it would approve the transplant.<br /><br />But last night, Nataline's parents had her removed from life support at<br />Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA"because her condition was hopeless,"<br />family friend Steve </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35" style="font-size:85%;">Artinian</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> told reporters.<br /><br />"Now we have to start the healing process to try to figure out what<br />happened and why it happened," </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36" style="font-size:85%;">Artinian</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> said.<br /><br />A state and national nurses organization blasted </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37" style="font-size:85%;">Cigna's</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> decision to<br />deny Nataline's transplant. "Why didn't they just listen to the medical professionals at the bedside in the first place?" said Geri Jenkins, a registered nurse and member of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee Council of Presidents. "Insurance companies have a stranglehold on our health," said </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38" style="font-size:85%;">CNA</span><span style="font-size:85%;">/</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39" style="font-size:85%;">NNOC</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> Executive Director Rose Ann </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40" style="font-size:85%;">DeMoro</span><span style="font-size:85%;">. "Their first priority is to make profits for their shareholders and the way they do that is by denying care."<br /><br />Nataline had been in a vegetative state for three weeks, according to<br />her mother, Hilda </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41" style="font-size:85%;">Sarkisyan</span><span style="font-size:85%;">. The girl was diagnosed with leukemia at age 14.<br /><br />After two years of treatment the cancer went into remission but came back this summer.<br /><br />When doctors said Nataline could use a bone-marrow transplant, the<br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42" style="font-size:85%;">Sarkisyans</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> discovered that her brother was a match, and he donated his bone marrow the day before Thanksgiving.<br /><br />However, Nataline developed a complication from the bone-marrow<br />transplant and, because her liver was failing, doctors recommended a<br />transplant, according to an appeal letter sent to </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43" style="font-size:85%;">Cigna</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> earlier this month.<br /><br />The </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44" style="font-size:85%;">Sarkisyans</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> filed an appeal with the California Department of<br />Insurance, which sent a letter this week saying it needed more information.<br /><br />Then came the protests and the insurance company's decision to approve<br />the liver transplant, but by then it was too late for Nataline.<br /><br />Friday, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45" style="font-size:85%;">CIGNA</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> released the following statement: "Our deepest sympathies are with Nataline's family. Their loss is immeasurable, and our thoughts and prayers are with them. We deeply hope that the outpouring of concern, care and love that are being expressed for Nataline's family help them at this time."<br /></span> <p class="cbstv_article_copyright"><span style="font-size:85%;">(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)</span></p>Sukhumtsihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08487217534040588880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695580093579456728.post-7463983470910815462007-12-19T22:38:00.001-08:002007-12-19T22:51:34.783-08:00Researching ArmeniaIt occured to me that I have never sat down and read anything on Armenia that does not have anything to do with the Genocide. I spent about half an hour today trying to get an idea of what type of information is out there. Let me tell you, there is a lot more than I expected. I even found a website that linked all Armenia related forums on one page <a href="http://armenianforums.com/">(Click Here).</a><br /><br />Here is a recap of the information I picked up today in my search:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >Armenia is a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Commonwealth of Independent States, NATO's Partnership for Peace, the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the International Monetary Fund, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the World Trade Organization. </span></span><span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >Approximately 70 U.S.-owned firms currently do business in Armenia, including such multinationals as Procter and Gamble, M and M-Mars, Xerox, Dell, Microsoft, and IBM. Recent major U.S. investment projects include the Hotel Armenia; the Hotel Ani Plaza; Tufenkian Holdings (carpet and furnishing production, hotels, and construction); several subsidiaries of U.S.-based information technology firms, including Viasphere Technopark, an IT incubator; a Greek-owned Coca-Cola bottling plant; petroleum exploration by the American-Armenian Exploration Company; jewelry and textile production facilities; a large perlite mining and processing plant; and Jermuk Mother Plant, which produces one of the more popular brands of mineral water in Armenia. -</span></span><span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >I wonder if when I call Microsoft tech support, I'll be able to talk to an Armenian and find out that he is some distant relative. Hmmm...<br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >Armenia first emerged into history around 800 BC as part of the Kingdom of Urartu or Van, which flourished in the Caucasus and eastern Asia Minor until 600 BC. After the destruction of the Seleucid Empire, the first Armenian state was founded in 190 BC. At its zenith, from 95 to 65 BC, Armenia extended its rule over the entire Caucasus and the area that is now eastern Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon. For a time, Armenia was the strongest state in the Roman East. It became part of the Roman Empire in 64 BC and adopted a Western political, philosophical, and religious orientation. </span></span><span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >- Wow, go ancestors!<br /><br /></span></span><span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Armenia is trying to address its environmental problems. It has established a Ministry of Nature Protection and has introduced a pollution fee system by which taxes are levied on air and water emissions and solid waste disposal, with the resulting revenues used for environmental protection activities. Armenia is interested in cooperating with other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS--a group of 12 former Soviet republics) and with members of the international community on environmental issues. The Armenian Government has committed to decommissioning the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant as soon as alternate energy sources can be identified.</span>- Armenia is trying to go green!</span></span><br /><span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /></span></span>Sukhumtsihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08487217534040588880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695580093579456728.post-53798371641771581072007-12-19T11:46:00.000-08:002007-12-19T11:48:26.801-08:00Finally!<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="top"><p class="pressHead">TEACHERS EDUCATED ON GENOCIDE AT 87TH ANNUAL NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIES CONFERENCE</p></td></tr> <tr> <td align="center" valign="top"><img src="http://www.anca.org/assets/spacer.gif" height="5" width="10" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" valign="top"><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" valign="top"><img src="http://www.anca.org/assets/spacer.gif" height="18" width="10" /></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="mainBlack" height="30"><b>San Diego, CA-</b> In an effort to promote genocide education and awareness, ANCA Eastern Region Executive Director Karine Birazian, Anastasia Skoupas, a member of the Pontian Greek Society of Chicago, and Ron Levitsky an educator at Sunset Ridge School in Northfield, IL presented at the 87th Annual National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) conference which took place November 29th to December 2nd at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.<br /><br />The lecture entitled Death, Despair, and Denial: The Armenian and Pontian Greek Genocides attracted educators from all over the United States including Illinois, Virginia, Tennessee, and South Carolina. For 60 minutes, Birazian and Skoupas discussed the Armenian and Pontian Greek Genocides, incorporating these teachings into lesson plans. Touching upon the history as well as the current struggles with denial and underlying politics, the lecture proved to be quite valuable for those in attendance. Levitsky, who was also present at the workshop, discussed with teachers various resources available for teaching this subject including those from The Choices Program, Facing History and Ourselves, and the Genocide Education Project.<br /><br />“It was such a great experience to present at this years NCSS conference,” commented Birazian. “Given the recent increase of interest and awareness of this horrific topic, educators are incorporating this information in their classrooms and working to make a difference.” Birazian, who is also part of the Genocide Education Network of Illinois, an organization developed in conjunction with a mandate in Illinois on the teaching of genocide, has been active in educating teachers and students about the Armenian genocide and ending the cycle of genocide for nearly a decade.<br /><br />The morning of the lecture, in the “Our Region” section of the daily San Diego Union Tribune newspaper, an article entitled Educators Across the Country are Increasingly Addressing Genocide commented: “Genocide is a hot topic in local classrooms. Educators nationwide are giving it more attention, as evidenced by the schedule for this weekend's annual conference of the National Council for the Social Studies in downtown San Diego.” The article went on to discuss the various workshops specific to genocide education, including the one presented by Birazian and Skoupas, as well as quoting Sara Cohan, education director for the Genocide Education Project.<br /><br />Founded in 1921, the NCSS has grown to be the largest association in the country--devoted entirely to social studies education. The NCSS engages and supports “educators in strengthening and advocating social studies.”<br /><br />The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.<br /><center><br /></center></td></tr></tbody></table>Sukhumtsihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08487217534040588880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695580093579456728.post-72641135482922348092007-12-11T20:17:00.000-08:002007-12-11T23:40:13.912-08:00Armenian Terrorism?<div style="text-align: left;">I have to admit, I do not feel as though I am the type of person that should be blogging. In fact, a part of me feels that, in general, bloggers are people that are really full of themselves and think that they have to share their lives with the world. I still think that, but here I am blogging. I figure if I am going to sit in the library studying for finals until closing time (2am, folks), then I might as well do something productive while avoiding my work. Come to think of it, my finals are the reason I am writing this post. You see, in researching for my last paper of the quarter, I stumbled upon the section of our wonderful library that held the books on the subject of Armenia, my homeland-or <span style="font-style: italic;">eem hayrenike. </span>This section, unfortunately, consists of about 20 or so books, most of them on the subject of genocide and very few by non-Armenian writers. I came across one called...well actually I am not sure what it is called since I just returned it...(I should probably look it up.) Anyway, this book was about Armenian Terrorism. Now I am not an expert on Armenia at all. In fact, growing up in the community I was in, I was at times ashamed to say that I was Armenian. It seemed as though every Armenian male I met came to school with a 1/2 inch binder with three sheets of paper and ditched class to go drive around in their luxury cars. The females were not much better. It was as if it was a requirement to have the desire to be engaged in your senior year of high school and have your first child before finishing your Associate's at LA City College- if you got that far. Anyway, back to my point. I pick up this book and it talked about how Armenian terrorist organizations are one of the most dangerous and most neglected organizations in the world. Did I miss something? We have terrorists? The only image that came to my mind when I read that was a group of Armenian men with big bellies running off to threaten the life of the <span style="font-style: italic;">odar </span>that dared to date their little girl.<br /><br />This lack of knowledge about my own country prompted me to start this blog. I think what our community needs most is a resource that is easily accesible in order to learn about various topics concerning Armenia. My goal is to learn something new about my culture each week and share my new found knowledge with my readers...which I hope eventually will consist of more people than just my boyfriend and my brother.<br /></div>Sukhumtsihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08487217534040588880noreply@blogger.com2