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05/22/2006
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1) ANCA Telethon Raises $2,700,000 for Armenian Cause
2) US Ambassador Designate to Azerbaijan Responds to Senator Boxer’s Concerns
about Julfa Cemetery
3) Armenian Parliament Speaker Confirms Resignation
4) Kocharian Appoints New Culture And Youth Affairs Minister

1) ANCA Telethon Raises $2,700,000 for Armenian Cause

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) raised Sunday approximately
$2.7 million in the first-ever nationwide Telethon for the Armenian Cause.
The Telethon, which lasted for six hours, brought together hundreds of
volunteers, community members, and leaders of the Armenian community from
around the nation to Glendale Studios in Glendale, California.
The program highlighted the work of the ANCA in the halls of Congress, the
White House, and state and local governments around the country. It also
showcased various programs offered by the ANCA, such as the Leo Sarkisian
Summer Internship Program.
Although the Telethon officially ended at 9:00 PM (PST), donations kept
pouring
in for another three hours, bringing the total to approximately $2.7 million.
Proceeds from the Telethon will help the ANCA broaden its scope and resources
with which it pursues issues important to the Armenian American community.

2) US Ambassador Designate to Azerbaijan Responds to Senator Boxer’s Concerns
about Julfa Cemetery Destruction

–Diplomat Stops Short of Pledging US Investigation

WASHINGTON, DC–US Ambassador Designate to Azerbaijan Anne Derse responded
this
week to concerns raised by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) regarding Azerbaijan’s
destruction of the Armenian cemetery in Julfa, Nakhichevan, but refrained from
pledging any concrete commitment to investigate the matter, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
Submitting a written response to questions by Senator Boxer relayed during her
May 12 Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing, Derse noted
that the Department of State is “urging the relevant Azerbaijani
authorities to
investigate the allegations of desecration of cultural monuments in
Nakhichevan
and take appropriate measures to prevent any desecration of cultural
monuments.
Armenia and Azerbaijan are both members of UNESCO (and OSCE), and Azerbaijan
has raised these issues in those organizations.  We have encouraged Armenia
and
Azerbaijan to work with UNESCO to investigate this incident. If I am
confirmed,
and if such issues arise during my tenure, I will communicate our concerns to
the Government of Azerbaijan and pursue appropriate activities in support
of US
interests.”
Senator Boxer had specifically asked if the Ambassador Designate would “visit
the cemetery site and commit [herself] to investigating the demolition of this
unique cemetery.”
“We want to thank Senator Boxer for raising Azerbaijan’s desecration of the
Julfa cemetery with Ambassador Designate Derse,” said ANCA Executive Director
Aram Hamparian.  “We were deeply troubled by the silence of the US Embassy on
this issue during the tenure of her predecessor, Reno Harnish, and remain
hopeful that, despite her evasive response, Anne Derse will prove a more vocal
and effective advocate for the core American values of tolerance and respect
for cultural heritage.  She can start off on the right foot by personally
visiting Julfa during her first month in office.”
In December of 2005, approximately 200 Azeri soldiers were videotaped using
sledgehammers to demolish the over one thousand year old Armenian cemetery in
Julfa, a sacred site of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The cemetery dates back
to the 7th century and once was home to as many as 10,000 khatchkars
(intricately carved cross-stones). An on-line video of the destruction can be
viewed at:
The ANCA has widely distributed DVDs documenting the destruction, educated
Congressional offices about this desecration, and worked in concert with ANCA
affiliates around the world to protest Azerbaijan’s worsening anti-Armenian
behavior. The Congressional Armenian Caucus, led by Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and
Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), has formally condemned Azerbaijan’s actions, as have
Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA). On
February 16, 2006, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning
Azerbaijan’s destruction of the cemetery and demanding that Azerbaijan allow a
European Parliament delegation to survey the site.
Derse also responded to a series of questions by Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD)
earlier this week on belligerent statements and war rhetoric by Azeri leaders,
as well as on the status of Karabagh peace talks.
Anne Derse is a Foreign Service Officer with more than a quarter century of
experience. She most recently served as Director for Biodefense Policy at the
Homeland Security Council. Her prior postings have included service as
Minister
Counselor for Economic Affairs at the US Embassy in Iraq and at the US Mission
to the European Union. Derse also has held posts in the Philippines, South
Korea, Belgium, and Singapore, among other locations.
The complete text of Senator Boxer’s questions and Derse’s responses can be
found at

3) Armenian Parliament Speaker Confirms Resignation

YEREVAN (Armenpress/RFE/RL)Armenia’s Parliament Speaker Artur Baghdasarian
formally confirmed Monday his intention to resign by filing a related
application. Addressing Parliament, he thanked his colleagues for their
cooperation over the three years during which he held the second highest
position in Armenia.
Baghdasarian said that he worked hard to raise the status of Parliament both
inside and outside the country and succeeded in it, defending Orinats Yerkir’s
three year track record in government.
“The parliament became an open body; we tried to enact numerous laws; we made
sure that no schools or kindergartens are put on sale in Armenia today,” he
said.
Under Armenian parliament regulations, Baghdasarian has to reconfirm Monday’s
application in five days and only then he will be formally relieved of his
post
and a replacement elected.
Two Parliament Members who remained loyal to Baghdasarian and his party
Orinats
Yerkir, Mher Shahgeldian, chairman of the national security and defense
commission, and Gagik Mkheyan, chairman of the health and social issues
commission, also announced their resignations.
Orinats Yerkir has been part of the governing coalition since 2003 when it
teamed up with the Republican Party and Armenian Revolutionary Federation. It
had 20 seats in the 131 seat parliament.
Baghdasarian announced that he would resign and pull Orinats Yerkir out of the
governing coalition following a mass defection of businessmen-legislators from
his faction.
Baghdasarian said that his decision is based on serious policy differences
with
the two parties remaining in government.

4) Kocharian Appoints New Culture And Youth Affairs Minister

YEREVAN (Armenpress)–Armenian President Robert Kocharian dismissed Gevorg
Gevorgian from the office of Culture and Youth Affairs Minister, replacing him
with Hasmik Poghosian.
Gevorgian, a former member of Orinats Yerkir, held the post for less than four
months. Gevorgian did not retain his position despite his defection from
Orinats Yerkir.
The new Culture Minister, Poghosian, does not belong to any party.
Poghosian was born in 1960 in Yerevan and graduated from Sayat Nova Music
School. She also studied biology at Yerevan State University and taught
biology.
Starting in 1986, she worked in the Armenian Union of Cultural Cooperation
with
Foreign Countries.

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