ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
04/07/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://
1) Colorado Legislature Passes Armenian Genocide Legislation
2) ARF Delegation Meets with Lebanon’s Aoun
3) French-Armenian Author Jean-Jacques Varoujean Dies
4) Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey Agree on Rail Link Construction
1) Colorado Legislature Passes Armenian Genocide Legislation
DENVER–The Colorado State Legislature unanimously passed on April 6, a joint
resolution commemorating the Armenian genocide of 1915-1923. During this
period, 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were
annihilated–accounting for more than half the Armenian population.
Senator Lois Tochtrop and Speaker Andrew Romanoff were the co-sponsors of the
lengthy resolution describing the Armenian atrocities and continued denial of
the events by the current Turkish government. A portion of the resolution
reads: “Whereas, Armenian-Americans living in Colorado have greatly enriched
our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia,
government, and the arts; now, therefore, 1. That this legislative body pause
in its deliberations to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide to be recognized at a memorial service on Sunday, April 24, 2005, at
the Armenian Genocide memorial plaque located in the northeast quadrant on the
State Capitol grounds; 2. That we, the members of the General Assembly, hereby
acknowledge April 24, 2005, and every year hereafter, as “Colorado Day of
Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide;” 3. That the State of Colorado
respectfully urges the United States Congress to likewise commemorate the
Armenian Genocide.”
“This year marks the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and it is
fitting that the Colorado Legislature continue its tradition of designating
April 24 as Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide,” said Kim
Christianian, chairperson of the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee for
Armenians of Colorado, a non-profit cultural organization.
The 90th Anniversary of the Armenian genocide Commemorative events in
Colorado
begins on April 21. The Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society’s
ACC
Chapter, with co-sponsor Armenians of Colorado, will host The Greatest Crimes
of the 20th Century: Genocide/Holocaust Commemoration. Ken Allikian, an
Armenian/American whose parents survived the genocide, will be the guest
speaker, as well as Walter Plywaski, a Holocaust survivor and scholar. Phi
Theta Kappa chapter president Simon Maghakyan will present briefly on the
cultural genocide that destroyed thousands of Armenian churches and historical
monuments in historic Armenia, at the Arapahoe Community College Waring
Theatre.
On Sunday, April 24, Armenians of Colorado will host the Commemoration of the
90th Anniversary of the Armenian genocide at the Memorial Plaque located in
the
N.E. Quadrant of State Capitol grounds. Guest speakers will include State
Senator Lois Tochtrop and Speaker Andrew Romanoff. The community is invited to
participate in a joint commemorative church service at the Assumption Greek
Orthodox Church beginning at 2PM. There will be clergy from both the Armenian
Apostolic Church of Denver and from the Armenian Apostolic Church of Colorado
and the Rocky Mountain Region. There will also be a talk with Tatul
Sonentz-Papazian, long-time Armenian National Committee activist and Armenian
Relief Society International Office Publications Director and Editor of “Hai
Sird,” the multi-lingual periodical of the ARS. Papazian is the recipient of
the St. Mesrop Mashtots Medal by Catholicos Aram I, for meritorious
contributions to the promotion of Armenian culture in the diaspora. The talk
will be held in the church cultural center 4610 E. Alameda Avenue Denver,
Colorado 80246. For directions and more information please visit
<;
Armenians of Colorado Inc. was established in June 1980, as a 501( c) (3)
non-profit, cultural organization. Its purpose is to create a cohesive
Armenian
community and to further the understanding of Armenian history, culture, and
heritage. AOC actively supports issues and concerns of the Armenian/American
community here in Colorado, as well as those identified within the Armenian
Diaspora throughout the world. AOC represents the interests of over 1000
Colorado Armenian residents accounting for over 300 Armenian families
throughout the state.
2) ARF Delegation Meets with Lebanon’s Aoun
BEIRUT (ARF Press Offices)–An ARF Lebanon delegation composed of central
committee representative Hovig Mkitarian, and Lebanon’s Minister of Youth and
Sports Sebouh Hovnanian, met with former Lebanese Prime Minister, Army
commander, and opposition leader Minister General Michel Aoun on April 6, at
his office in Paris.
The ARF presented its position on recent developments in Lebanon and means to
resolve the building political tension, proposing that dialogue is the only
viable option and that the country’s various sides must participate in the
formation of a government.
The ARF delegation also conveyed their support for the implementation of the
1989 Taif Agreement that constitutes a compromise among the Lebanese deputies,
political groups, and parties, militias and leaders, in an attempt to tackle
the structure of the political system and the sovereignty of the Lebanese
state. They also spoke of the election process and the country’s election
laws.
For his part, Aoun said that after his recent meetings with the leadership of
the ARF, he fully grasps the party’s stance on issues, and conveyed his vision
of what will unfold in Lebanon.
The Armenian leaders said they seek Aoun’s return to Lebanon to
participate in
the political process.
Aoun said that it is vital to continue meetings with the ARF, and envisioned
future cooperation with the party in a variety of areas.
3) French-Armenian Author Jean-Jacques Varoujean Dies
PARIS–French-Armenian author and intellectual Jean-Jacques Varoujean passed
away on April 2, in his home in Paris. The author of such plays as A plus, La
Voleuse d’histoires, and A L’autre Bout Du Pont, Varoujean was born Varoujean
Ouzounian in Marseilles in 1927, to immigrant Armenian parents.
Varoujean is undoubtedly one of the rare French Armenian authors; Armenians
know little about his work and even less about the man. Jean-Jacques Varoujean
had said, “There is in me a great contradiction: I am an anti-nationalist, but
I wish that justice is returned to the Armenian nation.”
Like so many other artists or intellectuals, he did not hesitate to give an
opinion in a clear and committed way about Armenian political problems.
A great admirer of Levon Shant, Varoujean translated and adapted his
masterpiece, the Former Gods (Heen Asdvadzner). “The theater plays an
essential
role to awaken the conscience, to help to keep the eyes about good and evil.
>>From the very start of the century, with the Former Gods, an Armenian author
dared to announce something as it is,” Varoujean had written.
4) Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey Agree on Rail Link Construction
TBILISI (Civil Georgia)–The Georgian, Azeri and Turkish sides signed a
protocol in Baku on April 6, over the construction of a railway link between
the eastern Turkish city of Gars and southern Georgian town of Akhalkalak,
which will also enable Azerbaijan to gain access to its strategic partner
Turkey via Georgia.
According to the Georgian Railway Department, a joint Azeri-Georgian-Turkish
venture will be set up with headquarters in Istanbul to implement this
project.
According to the preliminary estimates, the price tag will be $400 million.
All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier
and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and
subscription requests.
(c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved.
ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for
academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through
mass media outlets.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress