Madame President, It is a pleasure to congratulate you and to wish you a year that is relatively free of crises and catastrophes. In other words, a year not like the one we’ve just had during which my good friend Ian Eliasson successfully navigated through troubled waters. The year of turmoil, as he called it, [...]

LOS ANGELES–The Armenian National Committee – Political Action Committee issued a statement this week praising US Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) for challenging the Bush Administration’s decision to recall Ambassador John Marshall Evans from his post in Yerevan, Armenia. Most recently, Senator Boxer voted against the nomination of a new US Ambassador to Armenia as a [...]

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–Armenia on Friday expressed serious concern at the escalating crisis between neighboring Georgia and Russia and again denied any responsibility for Russian espionage alleged by Tbilisi. "Armenia has always been and remains concerned about the tense Russian-Georgian relations," said Foreign Minister Vartan. "We are all the more concerned now because that tension is rising [...]

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–French President Jacques Chirac arrived in Armenia late Friday on a first-ever state visit which he has said will underline his country’s attachment to the Armenian people and their heritage. He was greeted by President Robert Kocharian and other Armenian leaders in an official ceremony held at Yerevan’s Zvartnots airport. The two men then [...]

SACRAMENTO–The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region welcomed the signing of "Armenian Genocide Bank and Looted Assets Recovery Act", SB 1524. The new law, co-authored by Senator Jackie Kanchelian Speier (D-San Mateo) and Senator Charles ‘Chuck’ Poochigian, allow victims and heirs recovery–through California Courts–of assets looted by banks and financial institutions operating in the Ottoman [...]

Much noise is made by people about decency. Often, the target is verbal usage. Mothers are shocked at their children’s foul mouths. Much is also made of the fare served up to TV and movie watchers. You get the idea. But the real indecency lies elsewhere. It lies in people being so money grubbing, so [...]

GLENDALE–The Armenian Educational Foundation announced its 2006 gala dinner dance, celebrating the renovation of 150 schools since 1999 in Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk. The event is scheduled for Sunday, December 3, 6 p.m. at Ritz Carlton Hotel in Pasadena. Proceeds will go toward the renovation of additional schools in remote villages. Program includes dinner, music, [...]

STOCKHOLM, Sweden–In a last minute decision the Ministry of Culture stopped the Festival 1001 Documentary Film Festival in Istanbul from screening "I Hate Dogs," the Swedish documentary film on the Armenian Genocide, directed by Suzanne Khardalian and PeA Holmquist. The film was selected for 1001 International Documentary Film Festival of Istanbul that is taking place [...]

PASADENA–The Lincy Foundation donated $100,000 to the Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian school, announced the school’s administration and the board of trustees. The school, which was established in 1980 began its high school during the 2004-2005 academic year. The school will have its first graduating class during this school year. Sahag-Mesrob was also accredited by the Western [...]

GLENDALE–The Armenian Professional Society is pleased to announce that Nicholas Hacopian and Armen Janian have been selected to receive the Professional of the Year Award for 2006 at its October 8th Annual Banquet at The Beverly Hills Hotel.The Professional of the Year Awards have served as an excellent way for the Armenian community to recognize [...]

WASHINGTONNearly 150 Armenian American activists and leaders from across the United States converged on Washington D.C. last week for the 2006 Armenian National Committee of America’s Leadership Conference. Part of the ANCA’s ongoing efforts to empower activists with advocacy tools and techniques, the conference-titled "Grassroots Makes the Difference"-was a three day program featuring dynamic lectures, [...]