Author: Badalian Vardan

CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

OTTAWA, APRIL 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Prime Minister
of Canada, Stephen Harper, made a clear statement recognizing the
historical fact of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian National
Committee of Canada (ANCC) reported. In response to a reporter’s
question regarding the Armenian Genocide, the Prime Minister said:
“That was a vote held in the last Parliament [Motion M-380 – April 21,
2004]. As you recall, Parliament passed that resolution recognizing the
Armenian Genocide. Our party supported that resolution and we continue
to recognize that parliamentary resolution”. Dr. Vagharch Ehramdjian,
Chairman of the ANCC, thanked the Prime Minister Harper, on behalf
of the Canadian Armenian Community, for his historic statement. “The
Right Honorable Stephen Harper’s principled and righteous stand in
recognizing the Armenian Genocide will finally bring closure to the
Canadian-Armenian Community,” said the Chairman of the ANCC.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS HOPE AZERBAIJAN TO RECOGNIZE KARABAKH
PEOPLE’S SELF-DETERMINATION RIGHT

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 20 2006

YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. European parliamentarians hope
Azerbaijan to recognize Karabakh people’s self-determination
right, Marie-Anne Isler-Beguin, Chairwoman of the EU Commission on
Parliamentary Cooperation, said Wednesday in Yerevan. In her opinion,
self-determination right is one of the most important principles in
Karabakh conflict settlement.

At the request from Armenian side, the concept was included in the
proposals made by EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Commission at
its Wednesday’s session in Yerevan.

Isler-Beguin also pointed out refugees return to the conflict-stricken
region among the key parts of the conflict settlement process.

She said the European Union is ready to provide any assistance in the
process of Karabakh conflict settlement and added that the conflict
must be solved only by peaceful means.

The commission’s eighth session was held on April 18, 19 in Yerevan.

At their session, lawmakers also discussed issues related to Karabakh
conflict peaceful settlement, Armenia’s home and foreign policies
as well as the process of activity program preparation as part of
European Neighborhood Program. M.V. -0—

Marblehead Reporter, MA
April 20 2006

Holocaust commemoration set for April 24

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Many local organizations, temples, churches and colleges are
joining with the Holocaust Center, Boston North to sponsor this
year’s Community Interfaith Commemoration of the Holocaust, Monday,
April 24, 7 p.m., with an art exhibit at 6 p.m. at Peabody Veterans
Memorial High.

“It is vital to remember the Holocaust as a warning of what can happen
when people and nations become indifferent bystanders,” said Holocaust
survivor Sonia Weitz. “To forget the victims would be forgetting that
they ever lived. Most died without leaving anyone behind to remember,
to recite the traditional memorial prayers. To forget would be a
victory for the perpetrators.”

Harvard Law School professor Martha Minow will give the keynote
presentation entitled “Lessons and Parallels, from the Holocaust
to Darfur.” She will be the recipient of the Holocaust Center’s
Service Award.

The program includes the traditional Survivors’ Candle lighting
ceremony, the presentation of the flag by area veterans, a performance
by the Gordon College women’s choir, an interfaith service with
Rev. Thomas Buckley of Andover, Rev. Dr. Susan Jarek-Glidden of Quincy,
Rabbi Myron Geller of Gloucester and Cantor Sam Pessaroff of Peabody.

Doors open at 6 p.m. In addition to student art, there will be an
exhibit on the Armenian genocide presented by Peabody resident Apo
Torosyan. The Social Action Committee and Youth Group from Temple
Ner Tamid will have postcards available to encourage our government
to stop the genocide in Darfur. The video “Present Memories” will be
shown from 6-7 p.m.

Co-sponsoring the commemoration this year are: Temples Ahavath Achim,
B’nai Abraham, Beth Shalom, Congregation Sons of Israel, Emanuel,
Ner Tamid, Shalom, Shiryat Hayam and Sinai; Cohen-Hillel Academy,
Community Covenant Church, Danvers Diversity Committee, Facing History
& Ourselves, Gordon College, Jewish Federation of the North Shore,
office of District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett, Peabody’s No Place
For Hate, Peabody Veterans’ Council, Peter Torigian Life Center and
Robert I. Lappin Charitable Foundation.

The community is welcome. There is no charge. For information,
call the Holocaust Center, Boston North Inc., 978-531-8288 or visit
holocaustcenterbn.org.

GEORGIAN ORPHANAGE OF NINOTSMINDA RESTORED

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006

AKHALKALAK, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. ARMENIANS TODAY. The building
of the Georgian orphanage of the city of Ninotsminda, Javakhk,
is capitally restored. According to the “A-Info” agency, because
of the construction works, children of the orphanage were moved to
another place that is unknown to inhabiation of Ninotsminda. But
the directoriate of the orphanage informs that after finishing the
restoration works, children will return. Besides, improvement of
conditions will create possibility to bring here other few dozens
of orphans from different regions of Georgia. The agency considers
necessary to mention that the directoriate of the orphanage refused to
accept orphans from Ninotsminda who are Armenians in origin. Children
of exclusively Georgian origin come from other regions of Georgia
live in the orphanage founded in Ninotsminda a year ago.

57 SECTS REGISTERED IN ARMENIA

Lragir.am
19 April 06

On April 19 there was a meeting at the Hayeli Club to discuss the
problems of sects in Armenia. Sects have become rather active recently,
causing divide within families. The problem worries the Armenian
Apostolic Church, however the clergy refuse to discuss it with sects,
for according to father Mkhitar, “the issue of the millennium could
hardly be settled at the table of negotiations.” And the Apostolic
Church is not entitled to control the activity of sects which divide
the society. Which is the best way of struggle against sects then?

The head of the Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of the Destructive
Cult Alexander Amaryan suggests setting up an agency that would
control the activity of sects. Moreover, he says such an agency is
a requirements of the Council of Europe. Alexander Amaryan adds that
another stipulation of the Council of Europe is government sanctions
against sects which violate human rights.

Sects are funded from outside; “we are registering an organization
which is banned abroad,” says Alexander Amaryan. Presently there
are 350 thousand members of different sects in Armenia. 80 percent
are in Yerevan, they tend to grow in number in the adjacent rural
areas. Alexander Amaryan says it would take 2-5 years to convert
them back to the Armenian Apostolic Church. Father Mkhitar says it is
important to have a priest in each village to struggle sects. “Over
centuries Muslims have been unable to convert Armenians to Islam,
but in the past 10 years 10 per cent of Armenians deviated from the
Armenian Apostolic Church,” says Alexander Amaryan.

TYUMEN TO COMMEMORATE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.04.2006 20:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A memorial evening on the Commemoration Day
of Victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 will be organized by
Stroitel palace of national cultures in Tyumen on April 24. The event
program includes a story on the historical developments in 1915,
an exhibition devoted to national heroes, performance of patriotic
songs, declaration of poems of Armenian poets. April 24 is marked in
Russia, Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora as the Commemoration Day
of Victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. Russia
officially marks the Commemoration Day since 1995, when the State
Duma recognized the fact of the Genocide. The date was introduced in
Armenia 8 years before. Ritual measures on the occasion will be held
on that day worldwide, reports NewsProm.Ru.

NEW BOOKS WILL HELP TO UNDERSTAND ARF BETTER

Yerkir
19.04.2006 17:14

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – “I think these books will help those who want
to understand the Dashnaktsutiun better,” Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF-Dashnaktsutiun) Bureau representative Hrant Margarian
said at the presentation of new books about the ARF held on Wednesday
at the Bureau headquarters.

The books presented were: “Bibliography of the Armenian Revolutionay
Federation,” in 4 volumes, Ararat Hakobian’s “The Parliament of Armenia
and Political Parties in 1918-1920,” “ARF Figures Answer People’s
Questions,” Nikol Aghbalian’s “Thoughts on ARF,” Gevorg Khudinian’s
and Ararat Hakobian’s “The Latest Efforts to Distort the ARF History.”

Margarian said these books are mostly aimed at the youth. “But
the issues raised in the books are aimed at all the sectors of the
society,” Margarian added. “The books contain assessments of various
periods of the ARF activities, including the present times.”

National Assembly’s ARF faction leader Levon Mkrtchian noted that the
goal to publish these books was to familiarize our people with the
ARF. “Each of the 115 years of the ARF history is described in press,
book series, and today, we are continuing this tradition,” Mkrtchian
said. “Every generation passes on the ARF values to the next; we will
pass them on to the next generation.”

Artashes Shahbazian of the ARF Armenia Supreme Body’s Promotion Group
mentioned the books will be given as gifts to the participants of the
presentation, and later be donated to Armenian libraries. The books
will also be available at bookstores.

OPPOSITION DEPUTY SUES BRITISH BLUE BOOK
Erol Onderoglu

BÝA, Turkey
April 18 2006

Main opposition CHP MP Sukru Elekdag, a retired diplomat, seeks USD
15,000 in libel damages for alleged insult in the Turkish translation
of British state document: “The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman
Empire, 1915-1916” against the publishers.

BÝA (Istanbul) – Sukru Elekdag Republican People’s Party (CHP)
deputy and retired ambassador is suing publisher Muzaffer Erdogdu for
the Turkish translation “The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman
Empire, 1915-1916, Correspondence by Viscount Bryce to Viscount Grey
of Falladon” which is also known as “The Blue Book” in diplomatic
tradition.

The book covers the correspondence and memoirs of witnesses and
officials including refugees and foreign dignitaries, as well as
newspaper articles, on controversial developments related to the
treatment of Armenians in the period of 1915 and 1916.

Elekdag, a member of the Parliamentary Foreign Relations Commission
and the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission, is demanding 20
thousand YTL (USD15 thousand) in libel damages from those involved
in the publishing of the book, claiming he was insulted in a section
of the book edited by historian Taner Akcam.

The book’s publisher Erdogdu, historian Akcam and translator Ahmet
Guner will together appear before a court on May 30 as defendants
in the case. Akcam is also being accused by Elekdag for a similar
article he wrote for the monthly Birikim magazine last year.

The “Blue Book” contains research conducted by James Bryce and Arnold
Toynbee who in February 1916 were tasked by the British government
on a fact-finding mission to “collect evidence with regard to recent
incidents taking place in Armenia”.

The eventual report titled “The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman
Empire” was prepared by the two and later published as part of the
British Parliament “Blue Book” series, earning this book the nickname
of “Blue Book”.

Elekdag: I was insulted

In his suit, Elekdag claims defendant historian Akcam committed
offence in pages 15-49 of the book under the section titled “A scandal:
Where is the letter of the TBMM (Grand National Assembly of Turkey)
Sukru Elekdag and Justin Mc Carthy dragging this country?” as well
as in Akcam’s article published in the May-June 2005 dated issue of
the Birikim magazine.

Elekdag charges that both the book and the article insulted him and
that his individual rights had been attacked. He also says both his
professionalism and credibility suffered severe damages due to the
two articles.

–Boundary_(ID_xtmGZmc3PETfd6xcDr2XTg)- –

THE HEARING OF THE CASE AGAINST “ARMENTEL” WAS POSTPONED

A1+
[08:33 pm] 17 April, 2006

After a pause of about two and a half months the Court of the First
Instance of Arabkir and Qanaqer-Zeytun communities resumed the hearing
of the sue of Sirush Haroutyunyan against “ArmenTel”. The hearing
lasted 20 minutes.

Let us remind you that “ArmenTel” was accused of making mechanical
telephones calls to different countries during internet connection
because of which the subscriber had to pay 260 AMD per minute instead
of one. According to the latest data there are over 900 victims,
and the financial loss is about 600 thousand USD.

The reason for interruption of the hearing was that the court needed
additional information in order to carry out independent expertise
for the questions of the victim and of “ArmenTel”.The expertise will
be carried out by the Committee regulating public relations, and the
Ministry of Transportation and Communication will participate in the
process with an invitation.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

April 17, 2006
___________________

ARMENIAN CHURCH JOINS IN NEW ECUMENICAL ORGANIZATION

A new ecumenical organization was born in Atlanta, GA, during a meeting from
March 28 to 31, 2006. And the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern) was there to help this “new born baby” make it on its own.

The new group, Christian Churches Together, brings together more than 60
churches, which claim to represent 120 million American Christians. It is
the first-ever group to combine Evangelicals, mainline Protestants, racial
and ethnic Protestants, Roman Catholic, and the various Orthodox and Eastern
churches.

The official formation of the group follows years of discussion amongst the
members.

“Its mission is to enable churches and Christian organizations to grow
closer together in Christ in order to send out Christian witness in the
world,” said Bishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical officer of the
Eastern Diocese, who represented the Armenian Church at the gathering.
“From its beginning, Christian Churches Together has given a priority to
prayer and worship in order to build a relationship of trust and to be
discerning challenges that need to be addressed in society for more faithful
Christian witnesses.”

The first focus of the new organization will be combating poverty in the
United States. During their meeting, the religious leaders engaged in a
Biblical reflection on poverty and spoke with “those who have experienced
poverty first-hand as well as those with academic experience,” Bishop
Aykazian said.

The vision of Christian Churches Together in the U.S. began with a diverse
group of Christian leaders, who gathered in the fall of 2001 and expressed a
longing for an extended Christian conversation in America. During the
movement to create this new ecumenical organization, Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese, was asked to participate from the
beginning. He appointed Bishop Aykazian to represent the Armenian Church in
the ongoing discussion.

“I am very happy Bishop Akyazian has been following this organization’s
formation,” the Primate said. “Bringing all the churches together is a
wonderful opportunity to create one voice for all Christian churches as we
tackle important issues in society.”

— 4/17/06

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Bishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical officer of
the Eastern Diocese, far right, takes part in a panel discussion during the
meeting March 28 to 31, 2006, during which a new ecumenical organization,
Christian Churches Together in the United States, was founded.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Leaders from various Christian churches, including the
Armenian Church, gather in Atlanta, GA, from March 28 to 31, 2006, for
discussions leading to the formation of a new ecumenical organization,
Christian Churches Together in the United States.

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