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01/31/2005
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1) OSCE Mission Inspects Occupied Azeri Lands
2) European Armenians Denounce Removal of Armenian Genocide from German
Schools

3) Wales Community Commemorates 90th Anniversary of Genocide
4) Armenian Dram Again Rising against Dollar

1) OSCE Mission Inspects Occupied Azeri Lands

STEPANAKERT (Combined Sources)–Officials from the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) began on Monday, a first-ever international
inspection of Armenian-controlled Azeri territories around Karabagh, aimed at
investigating Baku’s allegations that they are being illegally populated with
Armenians.
The fact-finding team, led by a senior German Foreign Ministry official Emily
Habber, and accompanied by the French, Russian, and US co-chairs of the OSCE’s
Minsk Group visited the Kelbajar district west of Karabagh before arriving in
Stepanakert later in the day. They met there with Mountainous Karabagh
Republic
President Arkady Ghukasian.
“We have heard many interesting details and I am confident that those details
will help us assess the situation correctly,” Habber told local journalists
afterward. Stating that their mission is technical and not political, she said
the OSCE mission will spend ten days traveling around the occupied lands and
submit a report to the Minsk Group later on.
The fact-finding mission was sent to the region as a result of a compromise
agreement between the conflicting parties and the mediators that prevented a
vote in the UN General Assembly on an Azeri draft resolution that condemned
the
decade-long occupation of the seven Azeri districts seen by the Armenians as a
vital buffer zone guaranteeing Karabagh’s security. The resolution was
endorsed
by many Islamic nations but the United States, Russia, and France warned that
it would hamper their peace efforts.
Meeting with the OSCE officials, Ghukasian reaffirmed that his government is
not encouraging the resettlement of Armenian families in those areas and said
those Armenians who have moved there since the 1994 ceasefire are mostly
former
refugees from Azerbaijan. Ghukasian also urged the visitors to inspect
Azeri-controlled areas of Karabagh that were formerly populated with
Armenians.

He expressed hope that the mission’s report would contribute to forming a
constructive environment for a peaceful settlement of the conflict, as well as
conclusively dismiss the false claims of Azerbaijan.
The OSCE delegation held talks with Azeri officials in Baku before traveling
to Karabagh via Armenia.

2) European Armenians Denounce Removal of Armenian Genocide from German
Schools

BRUSSELS(Combined Sources)–Reacting to the eastern German state of
Brandenburg’s removal of a reference to the Armenian genocide from a German
school curriculum, the European Armenian Federation denounced the unacceptable
attitude of the state, expressing that the decision of the local German
authorities is symptomatic of a lack of courage by a certain segment of
European leaders in dealing with this critical issue.
Following extensive pressure from Turkish authorities, the German state of
Brandenburg eliminated half a sentence on the Armenians included in ninth and
tenth grade history classes after a Turkish diplomat complained to state Prime
Minister Matthias Platzeck, the newspaper Die Welt reported.
Prime Minister Platzeck is a member of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s Social
Democrats (SPD). Schroeder is a strong supporter of Turkey’s bid to become a
member of the European Union.
The Federation explained that this position only encourages Turkey to export
its denialist propaganda to Europe. It continued to deplore the deep
consequences of the complicity between and European leaders and Turkey’s
historical revisionists on the European project.
“How can we believe the goodwill statements made by German leaders when they
allow genocide denial to be instilled in the minds of the German children?”
asked Hilda Tchoboian, chairwoman of the European Armenian Federation. “The
90th anniversary of the Genocide must mark the end of European complicity, as
shown by its silence during the extermination of the Armenians. We call upon
all German political leaders to turn this regrettable initiative into an
act of
justice best representing this great nation,” said Tchoboian.
Brandenburg was the first German state in 2002 to include the Armenian
genocide in its teaching guidelines. In October 2004, however, the
Ministry of
Education reversed a decision calling on Bochum’s Institute for Genocides and
Diasporas to prepare a book on the Armenian Genocide. The book would have been
the first of a series of three on genocide related issues and collective
violence in the twentieth century. The order was cancelled by incoming
Minister
of Education Holger Rupprecht (SPD), at the request of Prime Minister
Platzeck,
who had succumbed to Turkish lobbying efforts.
Bochum University’s Director of the Institute for Genocides and Diasporas,
Prof. Mihran Dabag, denounced the decision, stating, “The Armenian genocide is
inseparable from European remembrance. It is the first genocidal
achievement of
our common history.” He continued to argue that, “At the very time when the
world commemorates the victims of the Nazi camps, our country must, if we are
sincere in our fight against negationism, and give a firm answer to Turkey’s
denial. The Brandenburg government must reconsider its decision and carry out
its genocides teaching project.”
The Potsdam government’s announcement provoked a chorus of protests in German
television news shows and dozens of print articles, available on the European
Armenian Federation’s website– Policy-makers from throughout
the
political spectrum denounced the unacceptable position of the state.
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which serves as junior coalition
partner
in Brandenburg’s government, is infuriated over the change to the state’s
schoolbooks. “The impression created is fatal,” said Sven Patke, the state CDU
secretary general.
The head of the Central Committee of Armenians in Germany, Schavarsh
Ovassapian, told Die Welt the move was “a scandal.” “It is depressing, if
what’s in schoolbooks in Brandenburg can be dictated from Ankara,” he said.

3) Wales Community Commemorates 90th Anniversary of Genocide

LONDON (Combined Sources)–On Wednesday, January 26, the 90th anniversary of
the Armenian genocide was marked at a commemoration held at the “Temple of
Peace and Health” in Cardiff, Wales. Organized by the Welsh Center for
International Affairs (WCIA), the event also commemorated the Holocaust
perpetrated by the Nazi regime, and was attended by a number of government
representatives, including the First Minister of the National Assembly of
Wales, Rhodri Morgan.
The commemoration drew the attention of the British government, which listed
it on the website government sponsored site
dedicated to the National Holocaust Memorial Day.
During the commemoration, Jenny Randerson, a senior figure of the Welsh
Liberal Democrats and a former minister in the Assembly, spoke about the
Republic of Turkey’s denial of the 1915 genocide and its policy of exerting
pressure on all those who affirm the genocide. Randerson has been harassed by
the Turkish government since 2001, when she made her first public statements
about genocide.
Established in 1973, the WCIA is organization dedicated to promoting world
peace, securing human rights, and educating the public about atrocities of the
past.

4) Armenian Dram Again Rising Against Dollar

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–The US dollar fell against Armenia’s national currency, the
dram, despite the dollar’s rally in world financial markets this month.
The dram gained 5 percent in value against the dollar over the past 10 days,
approaching its three-year high registered in the middle of December. It was
trading at an average of 473 against $1 on Monday, with a 20 percent increase
in value from a year ago.
The trend is surprising given the almost 5 percent increase in the dollar’s
value against the euro since the beginning of this month. Some economists
speculate that the Central Bank is artificially bolstering the dram in an
effort to benefit importers of key commodities.
The Central Bank argues, however, that the stronger dram is the result of
increased cash remittances from Armenians working abroad. An estimated amount
of at least $760 million was sent to Armenia last month through banks and wire
transfer networks.
The bank’s chairman Tigran Sarkisian insisted that the strong dram is a
positive for the Armenian economy because of resulting low levels of
inflation.
“The dram’s strengthening has had a major restraining impact on the prices of
imported goods,” he said in late December.

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EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
For Justice and Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B – 1000 BRUXELLES
Tel: +32 (0) 2 732 70 26
Tel./Fax: +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
January 30th, 2004
Contact: Talline Tachdjian
Tel.: +32 (0)2 732 70 27

BRANDENBURG ENDORSES TURKEY’S POLICY OF GENOCIDE DENIAL

Brussels, Belgium – Following extensive pressure from Turkish authorities,
the German state of Brandenburg removed references of the Armenian Genocide
from its state education curriculum.

Brandenburg was the first German state to include the Armenian Genocide
within its teaching guidelines in 2002. However, in October 2004, the
Ministry of Education reversed a decision calling on Bochum’s Institute for
Genocides and Diasporas to prepare a book on the Armenian Genocide. The book
would have been the first of a series of three on genocide related issues
and collective violence in the twentieth century. The order was cancelled by
incoming Minister of Education Mr. Holger Rupprecht (SPD), at the request of
Brandenburg Prime Minister Mr. Matthias Platzeck, who had succumbed to
Turkish lobbying efforts.

Bochum University’s Director of the Institute for Genocides and Diasporas,
Prof. Mihran Dabag, denounced the decision, stating “The Armenian genocide
is inseparable from European remembrance. It is the first genocidal
achievement of our common history.” He went on to argue that “At the very
time when the world commemorates the victims of the Nazi camps, our country
must, if we are sincere in our fight against negationism, give a firm answer
to Turkey’s denial; The Brandenburg government must reconsider its decision
and carry out its genocides teaching project.”

The Potsdam government’s announcement provoked a chorus of protests in
German public opinion. In television news shows and dozens of print
articles, available on the European Armenian Federation website –
, policy-makers from throughout the political spectrum
denounced the unacceptable attitude of the state.

The European Armenian Federation considers the decision of the local German
authorities symptomatic of a lack of courage by a certain segment of
European leaders in dealing with this critical issue. This position only
encourages Turkey to export its denialist propaganda to Europe, explained
the Federation. It went on to deplore the deep consequences of the
complicity between and European leaders and Turkey’s historical revisionists
on the European project.

“How can we believe the goodwill statements made by German leaders when they
allow genocide denial to be instilled in the minds of the German children?”
asked Hilda Tchoboian, chairwoman of the European Armenian Federation. “The
90th anniversary of the Genocide must mark the end of European complicity,
as shown by its silence during the extermination of the Armenians. We call
upon all German political leaders to turn this regrettable initiative into
an act of justice best representing this great nation,” said Mrs. Tchoboian.

FEDERATION EURO-ARMENIENNE
Pour la Justice et la Démocratie
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B – 1000 BRUXELLES
Tel: +32 (0) 2 732 70 26
Tel./Fax : +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
E-mail : [email protected]
Web :

COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
28 janvier 2005
Contact: Talline Tachdjian
Tel.: +32 (0)2 732 70 27

LE BRANDEBOURG AVALISE LA POLITIQUE NEGATIONNISTE DE LA TURQUIE CONCERNANT
LE GENOCIDE DES ARMENIENS

Bruxelles, Belgique – Suite aux pressions de la Turquie, le gouvernement de
l’Etat de Potsdam a ordonné la suppression de la mention du génocide des
Arméniens des directives pédagogiques de son Ministère de l’Education,
préparées à l’intention des enseignants de ce land allemand.

C’est en 2002 que le land de Brandebourg avait inclus l’enseignement du
génocide des Arméniens dans le cursus scolaire. Cependant, dès le mois
d’octobre 2004, le Ministère de l’Education avait décommandé un livre sur le
génocide des Arméniens que l’Institut des Génocides et des Diasporas de
Bochum avait préparé à la demande du même Ministère. Ce livre devait être le
premier d’une série de trois traitant de la question des génocides et de la
violence collective au XXème siècle. La commande avait été dénoncée après le
remplacement de l’ancien Ministre de l’Education par M. Holger Rupprecht
(SPD), obéissant ainsi aux injonctions du Premier Ministre de Brandebourg,
M. Matthias Platzeck à la suite des pressions de la diplomatie turque.

« Le génocide des Arméniens est inséparable de la mémoire de l’Europe ; il
est la première réalisation génocidaire de notre histoire commune » a
déclaré Mihran Dabag, le directeur de l’Institut des génocides et des
Diasporas de l’Université de Bochum.

« En ces jours de commémoration des victimes des camps nazis, si nous
sommes sincères dans la lutte déclarée contre le négationnisme, notre pays
doit donner une réponse ferme au négationnisme de la Turquie ; le
gouvernement de Brandebourg doit revenir sur cette décision et réaliser le
projet d’enseignement des génocides » a conclu le professeur Dabag.

La décision du gouvernement de Potsdam a provoqué un tollé général dans
l’opinion publique allemande ; des dizaines d’articles (disponible sur le
site Internet ) et d’émissions télévisées, des figures
politiques de tous bords ont dénoncé l’attitude inadmissible des autorités
du land.

La Fédération Euro-Arménienne considère cette décision des autorités locales
allemandes comme symptomatique du manque de courage d’une certaine classe
politique européenne : elle considère que cette attitude encourage la
Turquie à importer son négationnisme en Europe. Elle déplore les lourdes
conséquences que la participation de la classe politique au mensonge de
l’Etat turc aura sur la construction européenne.

« Comment croire aux déclarations de bonne volonté des dirigeants allemands
à Auschwitz lorsque ces mêmes dirigeants permettent d’instiller le
négationnisme dans les esprits des enfants allemands ? » s’est interrogée
Hilda Tchoboian, Présidente de la Fédération.

« Le 90ème anniversaire du génocide doit marquer la fin de la complicité par
le silence dont l’Europe a fait preuve pendant l’extermination des
Arméniens. Nous appelons l’ensemble des forces politiques allemandes à faire
de cet événement condamnable l’occasion d’un acte de justice digne d’un
grand pays » a déclaré la Présidente de la Fédération Euro-Arménienne.

PRESS RELEASE
A.G.B.U. Alex & Marie Manoogian School
Lawrence Technological University
Contact: John Miskelly or Carolyn Assarian
Phone: (313) 982-1400

Unique Educational Partnership Begins Between A.G.B.U. Alex & Marie
Manoogian School and Lawrence Technological University

1/25/05

SOUTHFIELD, MI – At the A.G.B.U. Alex & Marie Manoogian School in
Southfield, an exciting partnership was officially formed as
administrators from the Manoogian School and Lawrence Technological
University participated in a signing ceremony (photo 1 attached). Titled
INSPIRE (Inspiring and Nurturing Students – A Partnership for Innovative
and Rewarding Education), the new program outlined in the signed
agreement offers Manoogian School seniors the opportunity to take
courses at Lawrence Tech for college credit.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Dr. Charles Chambers, president of
Lawrence Technological University, recalled a previous discussion with
Manoogian School founder Alex Manoogian. Dr. Chambers said, `(Manoogian)
believed in educational opportunities for young people,’ and he believes
the INSPIRE program follows the same lines Manoogian had intended for
the school. Dr. Chambers encouraged Manoogian students to apply for the
program in the future.

Dr. Nadya Sarafian, principal of Manoogian School, urged students to
take advantage of the chance to take courses at such an esteemed
university.

The ceremony also included the introduction of Manoogian’s three INSPIRE
students, who have already begun classes at Lawrence Tech: Vatche
Bassmagian, Avak Kahramanian and Mihai Untea. They were presented with
certificates and Lawrence Tech sweatshirts by Dr. Chambers.

In addition to Drs. Chambers and Sarafian, signing the agreement were
Dr. Lewis Walker, executive vice-president and provost, Lawrence
Technological University, Hosep Torossian, vice-principal, and Dr.
Richard Marburger, chair of the board of education, Manoogian School.
Also in attendance were several Lawrence Tech faculty members and staff;
Manoogian School board members, PTO members, parents, friends, faculty
and staff; and representatives from the Mayor of Southfield’s office and
Central Michigan University’s Charter Schools Office.

The Manoogian School is located in Southfield, Michigan. Established in
1969, the school was chartered by Central Michigan University in 1995.
Its curriculum follows the Michigan State Board of Education guidelines
for all schools, in addition to emphasizing the study of the Armenian
language, culture, history and arts.
Lawrence Technological University, also located in Southfield, is a
private university with a reputation for excellence. It boasts a
well-respected faculty in the fields of engineering, architecture and
design, arts and sciences, and management.

(1) Signing Ceremony Photo: Administrators from Manoogian School and
Lawrence Tech University sign the agreement outlining the new IGNITE
partnership, which allows Manoogian students to take college courses at
Lawrence Tech for college credit.

(2) INSPIRE Students Photo: Pictured with Dr. Nadya Sarafian, principal
of Manoogian School, and Dr. Charles Chambers, president of Lawrence
Tech University, are the three Manoogian students taking part in the
INSPIRE program: Vatche Bassmagian, Mihai Untea, and Avak Kahramanian.

Contact: John Miskelly or Carolyn Assarian
Phone: (313) 982-1400

Think-tank predicts boost in Azeri-Iranian economic relations

Zerkalo, Baku
25 Jan 05

Excerpt from CGR analytical group report by Azerbaijani newspaper
Zerkalo on 25 January entitled “Next stage of dialogue between Baku
and Tehran”, subheaded “Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran plays
pivotal role in maintaining balance of forces in the region”

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev started his official visit to the
Islamic Republic of Iran yesterday [24 January]. This visit should be
considered primarily as the next stage in the dynamic development that
has been observed in recent months in the Azerbaijani-Iranian
dialogue.

As the authors of this article have written in one of their previous
reports, cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran plays a leading role
in maintaining the balance of forces between the power centres of the
South Caucasus, and is consequently of great significance for the
security of Azerbaijan and the whole region.

We would like to concentrate on another important component of
bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran – namely, the
possibilities for transit alternatives and transport security for
Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly come under pressure from neighbouring states
on the issue of importing oil and its transport via our territory and
access to world markets.

Problems triggered by Russia in the exploitation of the northern
[Baku-Novorossiysk] oil pipeline were a real headache for Azerbaijan
before the commissioning of the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline. [Passage
omitted]

Nevertheless, we should also bear in mind that we are in a region
where the interests of various force centres clash. Our country’s very
position at the point of contact of the interests of power centres
restricts its movements and compels us to take heed of the interests
of the opposing side in the course of cooperation with neighbouring
states. First of all there is the US factor, which has had an
influence on Azerbaijan’s relations with Iran. However, if we pay heed
to the fact that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is nearing
completion, that Azerbaijan is successfully continuing integration
into the west and is a partner in the antiterror coalition, led by the
USA along with Russia and the European Union, and that a strengthening
of our southern neighbour is being observed, then it is easy to
imagine that a favourable situation for this highly important
cooperation with Iran in transport has been established.

Activities in this direction are being carried out in principle. As
Zerkalo newspaper reported, the sixth session of the
Azerbaijani-Iranian intergovernmental commission on cooperation in
economic, trade and humanitarian fields was held in Tehran on 8-9
January 2005. A memorandum, signed at the end of the session of the
commission, envisaged the development of a feasibility study of a
draft project for the construction of an Alat-Astara road. The
document also stipulated the drafting of projects for the construction
of a Qazvin-Rasht-Astara (Iran)-Astara (Azerbaijan) railway. If these
projects are successfully implemented, then the reconstruction of the
Alat-Astara road, the implementation of the Qazvin-Rasht-Astara
(Iran)-Astara (Azerbaijan) railway, and the establishment of a single
railway junction between Azerbaijan and Iran will be conducive to the
realization of the North-South transport corridor by boosting railway
transportation between Europe and South Asia. [Passage omitted]

However, all this does not mean that the important Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
project will be put back. On the contrary, it will remain the main
export channel for Azerbaijani oil, and the Iranian route will play a
supporting role in force majeure circumstances. Such a position will
take into consideration both geopolitical factors, in particular, the
level and essence of US-Iranian relations. Thus, a marked
rapprochement and a striving for the implementation of fully-fledged
cooperation by both the Iranian and Azerbaijani sides is of
significance not only for political and economic relations between the
two countries but also for the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict, securing energy and transit security for Azerbaijan, and
finally, for a strategy of maintaining a balance of forces in the
South Caucasus.

PERMANENT MISSION OF ARMENIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Contact: Dziunik AGHAJANIAN
Minister-Counsellor
Deputy Permanent Representative
119 East 36th Street, New York, NY 10016, USA
Tel: 1-212-686-9079
Fax: 1-212-686-3934
Mobile: 1-917-940-5665

STATEMENT
by H.E. Mr. Vartan Oskanian
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia
to the 28th Special Session
of the UN General Assembly

Mr. President
Your Excellencies
Dear Friends,

On behalf of the people and government of Armenia, and as a descendant of
genocide survivors, I feel compelled to be here today, to join other
survivors and descendants, of both victims and perpetrators, to take part in
this commemoration. I am also duty-bound to urge us all to confront more
effectively the threat of genocide anywhere, at any time, regardless of cost
and political discomfort.

The liberation of Auschwitz is, indeed, cause for commemorative celebration.
However, in this commemoration, with each uttering of the name Auschwitz, we
are forced to reflect: to look back, look around, look deep, look at the
other, but also look inward, at ourselves.

After 9/11 and reacting to the unusually high number of victims of a
singular event, an editorialist proclaimed “We are all Americans”. Sympathy,
solidarity, anxiety, and indignation bound us together. How much more
intense our feelings about Auschwitz and the singularity of its horror, its
synonymity with the technology of death-making, its eerily ordinary
commitment to efficiency, to pragmatic, effective, result-oriented
administration.

After Auschwitz, we are all Jews, we are all Gypsies, we are all unfit,
deviant and undesirable, for someone, somewhere. After Auschwitz, the
conscience of man cannot remain the same. Man’s inhumanity to men, to women,
to children, and to the elderly, is no longer a concept in search of a name,
an image, a description. Auschwitz lends its malefic aura to all the
Auschwitzes of history, our collective history, both before and after.

In the 20th century alone, with its 15 genocides, the victims have their own
names for places of infamy. What the French call ‘les lieux infames de
memoire’ are everywhere. Places of horror, slaughter, of massacre, of the
indiscriminate killing of all those who have belonged to a segment, a
category, an ethnic group, a race or a religion. For Armenians, it is the
desert of Deir-El-Zor, for Cambodians they are the killing fields, for the
children of the 21st century, it is Darfur. For the Jews and Poles and for a
whole generation of us growing up after The War, it is Auschwitz.

Mr. President,

Just as we all were, or are, or might be victims, we all were or are or
might also be guilty. It is only through the engagement of those who have
seen and done the unimaginable, and who have had the dignity, the grace, the
sensitivity, the decency and courage to acknowledge wrongdoing, that we may
achieve the requisite collective political will and its expression.

This is not as naïve, unrealistic, idealistic as some might wish to label
it, perhaps in order to dismiss it. Genocide is not about individuals who
act insanely, do evil, commit crimes, perpetrate irrevocable wrongs.
Genocide is the undertaking of a state apparatus, which must, by definition,
act coherently, pragmatically, with structure and organization.

Thus, this is not a plea to reform human beings, but an appeal to take
conscious account of the role of our national institutions and international
institutions must play to insure that no one can expect to enjoy impunity.

After Auschwitz one would expect that no one any longer has a right to turn
a blind eye or a deaf ear. As an Armenian, I know that a blind eye, a deaf
ear and a muted tongue perpetuate the wounds. It is a memory of suffering
unrelieved by strong condemnation and unequivocal recognition. The catharsis
that the victims deserve, which societies require in order to heal and move
forward together, obligates us here at the UN, and in the international
community, to be witness, to call things by their name, to remove the veil
of obfuscation, of double standards, of political expediency.

Mr. Presidents,

Following the Tsunami-provoked disaster, we have become painfully aware of a
paradox. On the one hand, multilateral assistance efforts were massive,
swift, generous and without discrimination. But, when compared and
contrasted with today’s other major tragedy, in Africa, it is plain that for
Darfur, formal and ritual condemnation has not been followed by any
dissuasive action against the perpetrators.

The difference with the Tsunami, of course, was that there were no
perpetrators. No one wielded the sword, pulled the trigger or pushed the
button that released the gas.

Recognizing the victims and acknowledging them is also to recognize that
there are perpetrators. But this is absolutely not the same as actually
naming them, shaming them, dissuading or warning them, isolating or
punishing them.

If these observations signal a certain naiveté that overlooks the enduring
structures of our political and security interests, then, on this occasion,
when we have gathered to commemorate this horrible event, then allow me this
one question: if not here and now, then where and when?

Mr. President,

The Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana, who has been quoted here,
admonished us to remember the past, or be condemned to repeat it. This
admonition has significance for me personally, because the destruction of my
people, whose fate in some way impinged upon the fate of the Jews of Europe,
should have been viewed more widely seen as a warning of things to come.

Jews and Armenians are linked forever by Hitler. Who, after all, speaks
today of the annihilation of the Armenians? said Adolf Hitler, days before
he entered Poland.

Hitler’s cynical remembrance of Armenians is prominently displayed in the
Holocaust Memorial in Washington because it is profound commentary about the
crucial role of third parties in genocide prevention and remembrance.
Genocide is the manifestation of the break in the covenant that governments
have with their peoples. Therefore, it is third parties who become crucial
actors in genocide prevention, humanitarian assistance and genocide
remembrance.

We are commemorating today, because the Soviet troops marched into Auschwitz
60 years ago. I am here today because the Arabs provided sanctuary to
Armenian deportees 90 years ago.

Third parties, indeed, can make the difference between life and death. Their
rejection of the behaviors and policies which are neither in anyone’s
national interest nor in humanity’s international interest, is of immense
moral and political value.

What neighbors, well-wishers, the international community can’t accomplish,
is the transcending and reconciling which the parties must do for
themselves. The victims, first, must exhibit the dignity, capacity and
willingness to move on, and the perpetrators, first and last, must summon
the deep force of humanity and goodness and must overcome the memory of the
inner evil which had already prevailed, and must renounce the deed, its
intent, its consequences, its architects and executors.

Auschwitz signifies the worst of hate, of indifference, of dehumanization.
Remembrance of Auschwitz and its purpose, however abhorrent, is a vital step
to making real the phrase “Never Again”.

Thank you.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Jan 21 2005

New UNICEF representative takes over in Armenia

Flu illnesses cases not registered in Armenia in Jan 2005

2005 to be a year of resistance to external challenges for Armenia –
RA NA Deputy

S.Chzmachian: 2004 was unexampled successful for RA banking system

*********************************************************************

NEW UNICEF REPRESENTATIVE TAKES OVER IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, January 21. /ARKA/. Mr. Sheldon Yett, a U.S. citizen is
appointed new UNICEF Representative in Armenia, according to the
UNICEF Office in Armenia. The new UNICEF Representative has a 12-year
experience in the field of international development and has been
working iwith UNICEF headquarters in New York as a coordinator of
humanitarian issues and has also served in Somalia, Burundi and
Kosovo, as well as in other field duty stations.
The new UNICEF representative in Armenia has already met with the RA
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian, and looks forward to working with
the Government of Armenia and other counterparts. L.V.-0–

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FLU ILLNESSES CASES NOT REGISTERED IN ARMENIA IN JAN 2005

YEREVAN, January 21. /ARKA/. Flu illnesses cases were not registered
in Armenia in Jan 2005, Chief Doctor of Infection Clinics `Nork’ Ara
Asoyan stated today. According to him, at the moment 32 people are at
the hospital with respiratory diseases, however none of them has flu.

He added that there were no registered cases of botulism in 2005.
L.D. -0 –

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2005 TO BE A YEAR OF RESISTANCE TO EXTERNAL CHALLENGES FOR ARMENIA –
RA NA DEPUTY

YEREVAN, January 21. /ARKA/. 2005 will be a year of resistance to
numerous external challenges for Armenia, as stated historian Hamlet
Harutunyan, the RA NA deputy in the National Press Club today.
According to him, the political forces of the country should
consolidate around the national problems, in particular, the Karabakh
issue. The statement of the US Assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth
Jones, he considers in the context of USA testing the interpolitical
stability in the country. Such checkups, according to him, can be
expected on the part of Russia as well. `They cannot thrust the
unfavorable settlement of the Karabakh conflict on us, if we come out
as one’, noted the deputy. At that, Harutunyan added that the problem
of change of power will not be pressing this year, as the opposition
has missed the opportunity which could be carried out in 2004. L.V.
-0 –

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S.CHZMACHIAN: 2004 WAS UNEXAMPLED SUCCESSFUL FOR RA BANKING SYSTEM

Exclusive Interview of Samvel CHZMACHIAN, the Chairman Armenian Banks
Union to ARKA News Agency

ARKA – What was 2004 for RA banking system?

S.Chzmachian – 2004 was unexampled successful for RA banking system.
Thus, the assets of the system grew by 27.1% and achieved 365 billion
AMD and it is very good indicator. The credits grew by 39.6% and made
more than 130 billion AMD, total authorized capital grew by 6.7% and
stood at 39.2 billion AMD. Total capital of the banks grew by 26.5%
and achieved more than 63 billion AMD. Profit of the banks exceeded
10 billion AMD, having increased by 58.6%. Unfortunately not all the
banks can independentely overcome normative level on total capital in
$5 million by July 1, 2005. They now conduct negotiations with
investors and in favourable result they will be able to attract new
shareholders and remain in banking field.

ARKA – How do you estimate CB decision to increase the normative on
total capital for newly creating banks from $5 million to $10
million? What do you think, will the given normative change for
acting banks?

S.Chzmachian – Using the opportunity, I ask CB not to change the
demand to the capital for acting banks in near 5 years. According to
the information I poses, neither one country in Europe and Asia and
even in America, besides Kazakhstan, has the demands on capital more
than $5 million. I think, in this issue we should try to present
ourselves as bigger Catholics than Rome Pope, because it can lead to
losing of investors’ interest to banking activity in our country. The
banks themselves understand that it is necessary to increase the
capital and competition will lead to it without pressure by CB. CB
has made much for the banking system in the whole, however I think
that negative conditions that occurred in banking system in last 2-3
years, namely bankrupt Ardshinbank and Credit-Yerevan Bank, should
frighten our main bank, so much that it made such a decisions.
Armenian Banks Union asks CBA not to make decision when either the
sum of the capital is decreasing, or minimal demands to it are
growing.

ARKA – What risks expect banking system in 2005?

S.Chzmachian – We must be maximally careful in the issue of
crediting, must correspond to new demands on foreign exchange
position. The banks must be very attentive in fulfillment of demands
of new law on fight against money laundry and financing of terrorism,
because even one mistake committed by one bank can have significantly
negative influence on the whole banking system of Armenia. The banks
must be careful in hiring people. I would like to mention that
corporate management implemented by CB should not envisage full
depersonalization of people. L.D. -0 –

Armenian group stages demo over editorial on US official’s remarks

Noyan Tapan news agency
21 Jan 05

YEREVAN

The Stability public movement staged a protest outside the editorial
office of Armenia’s Aravot newspaper in the Press House on 21
January. They demanded that either the newspaper publish a denial of
an editorial in its latest issue or the editor-in-chief of the
newspaper leave the country as a “traitor”.

The editorial said the following: “In the opinion of some observers,
the statement of US Assistant State Secretary for European and
Eurasian Affairs Elizabeth Jones that the Nagornyy Karabakh
authorities are ‘corrupt’ and ‘criminal’ is absolutely slanderous, for
the ‘corrupt’ and ‘criminal’ elements of Karabakh have long moved to
Armenia.”

Burning the 20 January issue of Aravot, members of the movement said
that the protest is directed against the bias of the newspaper, not
against freedom of conscience or democracy. In their view, the article
was “reprinted from the Turkish press and is in line with the way of
thinking of the Turkish rabble”. The protesters carried slogans
“Aravot is a traitor”.

The newspaper has no intention of refuting its opinion and does not
take seriously the opinion of these “young people”, the
editor-in-chief of Aravot, Aram Abramyan, told Noyan Tapan news
agency. He said that the protesters may express their indignation on
the pages of Aravot.

Xinhua General News Service
January 19, 2005 Wednesday 2:30 PM EST

AL urges US to adopt “new policy” in Middle East

CAIRO

Arab League (AL) chief Amr Moussa on Wednesday urged the United
States to adopt a “new policy” toward conflicts in the Middle East,
especially the Palestinian-Israeli issue, Egypt’s official MENA news
agency reported.

Condoleezza Rice, designated US secretary of state, used “new
language” when talking about the US Mideast policy at Tuesday’s
confirmation hearing in the Senate, Moussa was quoted as telling
visiting Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan.

“We hope the new language used by Rice can be turned into new
actions,” Moussa said, adding the United States should act as a ”
true mediator” on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

He also blasted Israel for its “aggressions against the Palestinian
people,” saying the current Israeli policy would only exacerbate the
situation in the region.

On the Iraqi file, Moussa warned against sectarian conflicts between
majority Shiite Muslims and minority Sunni Muslims in the country.

“Iraq should not be divided on a sectarian basis,” he said.

He said that the Iraqi parliamentarian elections slated for Jan. 30
were an important part of the political process in the country, and
urged all Iraqis to vote.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Jan 18 2005

Putin, Bush to discuss Garabagh conflict in Bratislava

US and Russian presidents George Bush and Vladimir Putin will discuss
ways of settling the Upper Garabagh conflict in Bratislava in
February, along with other issues, says US Assistant Secretary for
European and Eurasian Affairs Elizabeth Jones.
The two presidents will call for stepping up activity in the area of
resolving conflicts in the former Soviet Union countries, including
the Garabagh conflict, she said.
Jones also indicated that the Bush administration is concerned over
the lack of influence on part of Moscow in settling the conflict.
`We believe that Russia should be interested in the resolution of
conflicts over Upper Garabagh, North Ossetia, Abkhazia and Dnestr.’

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
January 13, 2005 Thursday 10:18 AM Eastern Time

Azerbaijan-Armenia talks in Prague yield no results – diplomat

By Sevindzh Abdullayeva and Viktor Shulman

BAKU

The talks between the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in
Prague on January 11 have not yielded any concrete results, said
Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov, who is also
presidential special envoy for the talks on Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Azimov said, “There are
many disagreements. The talks are being held in a difficult
atmosphere.” At the same time, he noted that both sides are
interested in reaching concrete agreements.

“Azerbaijan favours the peaceful settlement of the conflict in
compliance with the norms of international law in order to preserve
the country’s territorial integrity,” the Azerbaijani diplomat
stressed.

The restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity is one of the
key problems in ensuring peace in the region, but this will not solve
the problem in full, he added. One of the major purposes is to
convince the Azerbaijani and Armenian population to live in peace,
but “now it’s early to talk about it,” the diplomat pointed out.

Commenting on possible compromises, Azimov said it is possible to
reach any compromise if both sides succeed in bringing their
positions closer.

“The frozen situation will not give any results,” the diplomat said.
Azerbaijan seeks to discuss the problem related to freeing seven
occupied regions of the country that may help restore traffic and
restore economic cooperation with Armenia, Azimov said.

The next round of talks may be held at the end of February. In his
words, the U.N. special mission is expected to visit the region on
January 28. It includes representatives of the countries co-chairing
in the OSCE Minsk Group for Nagorno-Karabakh – Russia, the U.S. and
France, as well as members of the Minsk Group – Finland, Italy,
Sweden and Germany.