Author: Hovhannisian John

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
April 5, 2007

Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

POWER Initative: ANCA-WR continues strong push to extend outreach TO
WESTERN STATES

–ANCA-WR BUILDs support for armenian genocide resolutions H. Res. 106
and S. Res. 106

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western
Region (ANCA-WR) continues in its efforts to build and increase support
for H. Res. 106 and S. Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide Resolutions.
Dubbed "Project Outreach Western Region – POWER", the ANCA-WR office has
been mobilizing ANC chapters and Armenian American communities
throughout the western United States. The first phase of POWER
demonstrated outreach to Armenian American communities in Oregon,
Washington, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Montana and the
Greater San Diego area. As more Congressmen joined on as cosponsors to
H. Res. 106 and S. Res. 106 as a result of POWER, local ANC chapters
across the region have continued to attend district office meetings
while advocating for U.S. Congressional recognition of the Armenian
Genocide.

"As we have returned from our trip to Washington, DC to campaign on
Capitol Hill for Darfur Divestment and recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, a renewed and reenergized vigor has emerged," remarked Andrew
Kzirian, Executive Director of the ANCA-WR. "As new cosponsors join H.
Res. 106, and now also the recently introduced S. Res. 106, we move
closer to passing H. Res. 106."

The ANCA-WR continues to work with ANC activists in Alaska, Arizona,
Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Texas, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico and is
currently in the process of reaching out to elected representatives in
other states as well.

Since March 1, 2007, Rep. Brian Baird (WA-3), Rep. Brian Bilbray
(CA-50), Rep. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-7), Rep. Gary Miller (CA-42), Rep.
John Salazar (CO-3), Rep. Duncan Hunter (CA-52) and Rep. Al Green (TX-9)
have joined on as cosponsors to H. Res. 106 from the Western Region of
the United States. Congressman Adam Schiff (CA-29) introduced H. Res.
106 on January 30, 2007.

Since the introduction of S. Res. 106 on March 14, 2007, Senator John
Ensign (NV), Senator Wayne Allard (CO), Senator Barbara Boxer (CA),
Senator Dianne Feinstein (CA) and most recently Senator Sam Brownback
(KS) have joined on as cosponsors of this resolution. Senator Richard
Durbin (IL) introduced S. Res. 106. The Senators from the Western
Region constitute 5 of the 38 total seats in the Western Region of the
United States.

Stay tuned for the next POWER update.

The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working
in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters
throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the
world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American
community on a broad range of issues.

###

PHOTO CAPTION: The Western Region of the United States.

OVER 3 THOUSAND TOURISTS ATTENDED AKHTAMAR CHURCH DURING 5 DAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.04.2007 15:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Over 3 thousand tourists have attended the Church
of Holy Cross on Akhtamar island.

Tourists pay 3-5 lyres for arrival and 2 lyres for entering the church
transformed into a museum where they are told about the history of
the church, RFE/RL reports.

The inauguration ceremony took place on March 29.

ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTERS WILL MEET IN APRIL

Azat Artsakh Daily, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
03 April 07

The next meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan
will take place in April, stated the acting foreign minister of
Armenia Vardan Oskanian in Yerevan. According to him, there is no
exact date because there is a problem with schedules. The foreign
minister of Armenia said during the meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs Matthew Bryza in Yerevan the focus was on the problem of
Nagorno Karabakh and the talks, as well as the bilateral relations
and the upcoming parliamentary election in Armenia. "The purpose of
the meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan is
to prepare the meeting of President Kocharian and President Aliyev
after the parliamentary election in Armenia," Oskanian said, the
Novosty-Armenia reported. JULIE FINLEY DISAGREED THAT THE ROLE OF
THE OSCE IN THE SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH HAS WEAKENED The US ambassador
to the OSCE made this statement in Baku during the meeting with the
members of the Azerbaijani parliament. She said the OSCE continues
to have an important role in the settlement of the conflict, and the
United States is part of this organization. She also said the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office specially deals with this issue. THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT ENDORSED INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVO The European parliament
endorsed the UN plan on Kosovo, which supposes providing almost all
the components of a state to this region.

Meanwhile, Serbia is against granting sovereignty to Kosovo. For its
part, Russia finds an agreement between Serbia and Kosovo the only
way to settle the problem of the region, stated the foreign minister
of Russia Sergey Lavrov.

SERGEY LAVROV ARRIVED IN YEREVAN

ArmRadio.am
03.04.2007 10:02

The Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov arrived in Yerevan today
on an official visit.

Meetings with RA President Robert Kocharyan, the Catholicos of All
Armenians Garegin II and Acting Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian are
envisaged in the framework of the visit.

During the stay in Armenian the Russian delegation will visit
Tsitsernakaberd to lay a wreath of flowers at the memorial to the
Armenian Genocide victims.

On April 4 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit the
Yerevan State University, where he is expected to deliver a speech.

PRESS RELEASE
Date: March 27, 2007
Armenian National Committee of Illinois
1701 N. Greenwood, Glenview, IL 60026
Contact: Nairee Hagopian
Tel: 312-615-7698

ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN PETER ROSKAM JOINS ARMENIAN CAUCUS

Chicago, IL-Armenian activists in the Sixth Congressional District
of Illinois, and around the nation, welcome the newest addition to
the Armenian Caucus, Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL). The news came
prior to a meeting held with the Congressman by the Armenian
National Committee of Illinois this past month, reported the ANC of
Illinois

On March 19th, members of the ANC of Illinois met with Congressman
Roskam in the district to discuss issues of importance to the
Armenian community, including current legislation H. Res 106, in
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Ari Killian, Chairman of the
ANC of Illinois thanked the Congressman for joining the Caucus. "We
welcome Congressman Roskam’s membership in the Armenian Caucus and
looking forward to working with him on issues relevant to our
community."

"Armenians have a rich heritage in America," said Congressman
Roskam. "I look forward to working with my constituents of Armenian
descent."

Beginning his political career in 1993 by serving in the Illinois
House of Representatives, and later serving in the Illinois Senate
as Republican Whip and Floor Leader, Roskam was elected to Congress
in 2006. While serving as a State Senator, Roskam, along with 46
Senate members voted to enact HB0312. This legislation mandates
that the study of Genocide including the atrocities in Armenia,
Ukraine, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Sudan. Governor Blagojevich
signed the bill into law in August 2005, joining Illinois to a
dozen states, including the teaching of the tragic history of
genocide

Founded in 1995, the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues is a
bipartisan forum for the discussion of policies to foster increased
cooperation between the United States and Armenian governments and
to strengthen the enduring bonds between the American and Armenian
peoples. It was founded by Congressmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and
John Porter (R-IL) and is currently co-chaired by Rep. Pallone and
Michigan Republican Joe Knollenberg. The bipartisan committee has
over 145 members of Congress, including 9 out of the 19 Illinois
Congressmen.

The Armenian National Committee of Illinois is part of the largest
and most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively
advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.
####

PHOTO CAPTION: Congressman Peter Roskam meeting with
ANC of IL Chairman, Ari Killian, and ANCA Chairman Ken
Hachikian.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO MEET IN VIENNA

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 28 2007

The co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlaykov (Russia), Matthew
Bryza (US), Bernard Fassier (France) and Andrzej Kasprzyk, personal
representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office will meet in the Austrian
capital, Vienna this week, APA reports quoting diplomatic sources.

The mediators will discuss the current situation in the settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan
and prepare for arranging a meeting of the foreign ministers Elmar
Mammadyarov and Vardan Oskanyan. The mediators will offer places for
the ministers’ meeting.

Russian co-chair said that the next meeting of the foreign ministers
can be held in the framework of the meeting of the CIS Foreign
Ministers in Astana on April 25. US co-chair said they can meet in
one of European capitals.

RA PRESIDENT’S SPOKESMAN DENIES REPORTS ABOUT APPOINTMENT OF A NEW PRIME MINISTER

AZG Armenian Daily
27/03/2007

Spokesman of the President of Armenia Robert Kocharian denied media
reports claiming that defense minister Serge Sarkisian was appointed
Prime Minister instead of diseased Andranik Margarian, who had held
the office for 7 years. The spokesman, Victor Soghomonian, said these
rumors are not consistent with reality.

An earlier statement by Kocharian’s press office said the Government
resigned to meet Article 55 of the Armenian constitution under which
the governing cabinet shall step down in case the post of prime
minister becomes vacant. President Kocharian ordered all Cabinet
ministers to continue to fulfill their duties until a new government
is formed.

According to the amended Constitution of Armenia, the head of the
state has to name a new Prime Minister, backed by the majority of
Parliament deputies, within the next ten days, who has to form a new
government within 20 days.

Sofia News Agency, Bulgaria
March 26 2007

Turkey Arrests Right-Winger for Ethnic Armenian Journalist’s Killing

26 March 2007, Monday

Turkish police detained late on Sunday a right-wing politician in
connection with the murder of high-profile Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink.

The police detained Yasar Cihan, head of the local branch of the
conservative and nationalist Great Unity party in the Black Sea port
city of Trabzon, private NTV television reported.

According to NTV, police were still looking for another leading
member of Great Unity, Halis Egemen.

Hrant Dink, 53, was shot dead in broad daylight outside his Istanbul
offices on January 20.

Dink, who stirred up anger in nationalists for his comments over mass
killings of Armenians by Turks during the First World War, is
reported to have been shot three times in the neck.

The attack raised tensions in a country where politicians have been
courting the nationalist vote ahead of May’s presidential elections.

Ogun Samast, a 17-year-old suspect, was arrested after he was
identified by his father from CCTV images taken near the scene of
Friday’s killing in Istanbul.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, sent the
following condolence letter to the President of the Republic of Armenian,
His Excellency Robert Kocharian, upon hearing the sad news of the sudden
death of Armenia’s Prime Minister Antranig Markarian.

His Excellency
Mr. Robert Kocharian
President of the Republic of Armenia
Yerevan

Dear Mr. President,

We heard with great regret the sudden death of the Prime Minister of the
Republic of Armenia, Antranig Markarian, in Yerevan.

We have come to know closely Prime Minister Markarian, his work and his
commitment to our country and nation. In the last few years and particularly
after his appointment as Prime Minister, we followed his work both in the
local and international arenas, through which we saw reflections of such
high values as patriotism, efficiency and dedication. His death is a great
loss both for the Armenian nation and the Republic of Armenia.

On behalf of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, we offer our condolences to
Your Excellency, to the government and the National Assembly. On this sad
occasion, we express our deep condolences to the late Prime Minister’s widow
and his family.

We pray to God to rest his soul in peace and give you strength in
consolation.

Prayerfully,

ARAM I
CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA

Panorama.am

18:26 20/03/2007

CITIZEN COMPLAINS AGAINST COOK OF PIZZA DI ROMA

A citizen complained against the cook of Pizza Di Roma located on
Khorenatsi Street. He said the salad he ordered had ingredients, which
were not mentioned in the menu. The person ordered `Armenia’ salad,
which had filtered matsun as part of its ingredients. The salad was,
in fact, dressed with simple matsun mixed with sour cream which was
sweet on taste. The waitress tried to explain that it was an original
approach.

The customer advises all citizens not to go to Pizza Di Roma on
Khorenatsi street until the owner gets rid of his `creative’ cook.

Source: Panorama.am