Author: Jabejian Elizabeth

ARMENIA IN 9TH PLACE IN TERMS OF INTERNET USERS AMONG FSU COUNTRIES

Panorama.am
21:01 16/04/2007

Armenia is in the 9th place in terms of internet uses among Former
Soviet Union (FSU) countries. According to ,
some 5.5 percent of public uses internet in Armenia. Azerbaijan is
at the 8th place with 8 percent of population using internet.

The indicator in Georgia is 4 percent. The source says Estonia is in
leading position (51.8 %), followed by Latvia (45.2%) and Lithuania
(35.9%). The lowest rate is demonstrated in Uzbekistan (3.3%),
Ghazakhstan (2.7%), Turkmenia (0.5%) and Tajikstan (0.1%).

La Nouvelle République du Centre Ouest, France
15 avril 2007 dimanche
Edition INDRE ET LOIRE

BALLET;
Danses d’Arménie à Malraux

Ballet d’Arménie et du Caucase, l’ensemble arménien Navasart qui se
produit à l’espace Malraux, est une troupe de soixante danseurs qui
recherchent l’essence des gestes, évoquant l’amour et la nostalgie de
la terre tandis que les musiciens qui les accompagnent renouent avec
l’usage des instruments traditionnels.
Les superbes costumes sont l’objet de recherches effectuées par une
scénographe et sont entièrement conçus et réalisés, sous sa
direction, par les membres de la formation. Au fil des ans, Navasart
a su s’imposer sur les différentes scènes où il a été invité à se
produire.

16 h 30
Joué-lès-Tours
8 à 14,25
Tél. 02.47.53.61.61.

TURKEY DENIES HALTING GAS TALKS WITH FRANCE

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
April 12, 2007

Turkey has not officially suspended talks with Gaz de France over the
Nabucco pipeline project to bring Caspian gas to Europe, the energy
minister said on Wednesday, but energy officials said Ankara had also
begun talks with other firms on joining Nabucco.

Senior Turkish energy officials had said last week talks with the
French company had been halted in protest at a French bill making
it a crime to deny genocide was committed against Armenians at the
hands of Ottoman Turks during World War One.

"Nabucco is an extremely important project for us and the process is
continuing normally. Gaz de France has not been suspended from the
project," Energy Minister Hilmi Guler told reporters. But he said
economic, strategic and political issues, including the French bill,
would be taken into account when selecting the sixth partner for the
project. A senior Turkish energy official, who declined to be named,
told Reuters the government had been pressured to tone down its
statement on GDF following political and diplomatic lobbying.

"Turkey, which is seeking European Union membership, looked favourably
at companies from Germany and Ukraine which want to join the project
as Nabucco’s sixth member instead of GDF," the official said.

The 4.6 billion euro ($6.14 billion) project envisages transporting
natural gas from Turkey to Austria, passing through Bulgaria, Romania
and Hungary and would reduce Europe’s dependency on Russian gas. The
four other countries have already approved a partnership with Gaz
de France in the project. Austrian oil and gas group OMV heads the
consortium planning to build the pipeline. Bulgargaz, Transgaz from
Romania, MOL of Hungary and Turkey’s Botas are also partners in the
project. The planned pipeline — a project backed by the EU and the
United States — would reduce Europe’s dependency on Russian gas but
has already hit several hurdles. If construction of the 3,300 km
(2,050 mile) pipeline starts in 2008, it could begin operating in
2011. It could transport annually 25.5 to 31 billion cubic metres of
gas by 2020. Turkey remains angry at the French national assembly’s
approval last year of a bill making it a crime to deny that the mass
killings of Armenians during World War One amounted to genocide. The
bill has not become law. Ankara rejects claims by Armenia and other
countries that Ottoman Turks committed a systematic genocide against
1.5 million Arme-nians during World War One.

OSCE OFFICE AWARDS WINNERS OF ESSAY CONTEST ON WOMEN’S ROLE IN ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
13.04.2007 10:30

Winners of an OSCE-organized essay contest on the role of women
in Armenian society, including 24 regional and 3 national winners,
received their awards in Yerevan.

The contest, organized for the fourth year in a row by the OSCE
Office in Yerevan, the Centre for Development of Civil Society and
the US Peace Corps, aims to promote gender issues and contribute to
building critical thinking skills among young Armenians.

"Full and true equality between women and men is essential in order
to achieve security, prosperity, and sustainable democracy," said
Sven Holdar, Democratization Officer at the OSCE Office.

"I was happy to read essays where students shared there vision of
the role of Armenian woman at home, in the community and in the
country, and suggested changes they would like to see at local and
state levels."

The competition began on 8 March, International Women’s Day, and
concluded on 7 April, marked in Armenia as Motherhood and Beauty
Day. Some 500 high school students from 8 regions of Armenia took
part in the contest.

Narek Hovakimyan, a 10th grade student from a secondary school in
Norabats, Ararat province, who won the first prize at the national
level, wrote in his essay: "I would like women to have appropriate
employment, based on their skills, and to have a man next to them
who could support the family so that the woman does not lose her
female nature."

Lilit Vahanyan from Vanadzor, Lori province, got the second prize,
and Arpine Avagumyan from a school in Hrazdan, Kotayk province,
came in third.

The OSCE Office carries out a number of activities to promote gender
equality in Armenia. It will carry out a research on the political
participation of women in the May parliamentary elections to help
identify barriers that exist for female candidates and their electorate
and draw lessons on what needs to be done to further enhance women’s
participation in Armenia’s political and economic life.

DELAWARE PASSES RESOLUTION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
April 12 2007

With overwhelming support in the Delaware 144th General Assembly,
a resolution proclaiming April 24 as a day of remembrance of the
Armenian Genocide passed with a voice vote during the final hours
prior to spring recess in the Delaware House of Representatives,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America, Eastern Region.

The resolution was introduced by junior State Representative, John
A. Kowalko (D-25) and faced no opposition when it was brought for
a vote by the General Assembly on Thursday, April 5, 2007. Similar
legislation was passed in the Delaware Senate in 1995, making Delaware
one of 38 States that recognize the Armenian Genocide. Both the United
States House of representatives and the Senate are working to pass
H. Res. 106/S. Res. 106 respectively in recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. A copy of the Delaware resolution will be sent to Delaware
Congressman Mike Castle, (R-AL), as well as Senator Joe Biden (D)
and Thomas Carper (D).

Mike Kalajian, an Armenian activist led the efforts on this campaign.

Working with his State Representative, Kowalko, he also contacted
the ANCA to join forces on this important issue. After passage of the
legislation, Kalajian commented, "My grandparents survived the Genocide
and escaped from Turkey to America. Now, with so much violence in the
Middle East, and with the Genocide in Darfur being reflective of the
turmoil that resulted in the Armenian Genocide, I felt it important
that everyone remembers the result of ignoring these events, and
nothing shows this more than the Forgotten Genocide. A call to state
Representative John Kowalko seemed like a great start."

Kowalko, enthusiastic about the resolution, stated: "It was my
privilege to honor your request that the Delaware General Assembly
proclaim April 24 as a day of remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.

On Thursday, April 5th 2007 the Delaware House of Representatives
unanimously passed House Resolution No. 14 proclaiming the 24th as
a day of remembrance and enumerating some of the horrors perpetuated
on the Armenian people.

I was particularly honored to present this resolution since it
will officially record and acknowledges a moment in the history
of mankind when man’s inhumanity to man and humankind’s disregard
for a civilized morality was made horribly apparent. The attempt to
systematically eliminate all traces of a noble civilization such as
the Armenian culture is another shameful moment in the history of the
world. In order to guard against recurrences of such base and shameful
behavior we must freely admit that these types of horrors occurred and
still occur. To paraphrase "those, who fail to learn from history,
are doomed to repeat its failures" and failure to admit the moral
failings of society will only ensure more decay.

I am humbled to be able to present and record the true story of the
persecution and debasement foisted upon such a noble civilization
as the Armenians’ to recognize its greatness and to warn our future
generations of the intolerance and hatred that can lurk just below
the surface of humanity so that we may always guard against the base
instincts of inhumane behavior."

"We want to thank Representative Kowalko for leading the efforts on
passing this legislation, and the initiative taken by Mike to take
the initiative to pass this resolution," commented ANC ER Director
Karine Birazian.

UN STOPS RWANDAN GENOCIDE EXHIBITION

AngolaPress, Angola
April 11 2007

New York, UN 04/11 – The UN has postponed an exhibition on the Rwandan
genocide after Turkish diplomats objected to references to the Armenian
genocide in Turkey during World War I.

The exhibition was earlier scheduled for opening by the UN Secretary-
General Ban Ki-moon on Monday at the organisation`s headquarters in
New York.

However, a UN spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters Tuesday the
exhibition was delayed because the normal process was not followed.

"The exhibition has been postponed until the regular review process
is completed. Normally the United Nations has to review exhibitions,
in order to take into account all positions, as it does in any
exhibition," Haq said.

Asked whether a dispute over Armenians in Turkey was responsible for
the stoppage, he said that "it was not the sole issue".

"As for Turkey, the United Nations has not expressed a position
on incidents that took place long before the United Nations was
established," he noted.

Panels of graphics, photos and statements, which were installed at the
weekend in the visitors` lobby for the exhibition by the organisers,
British-based Aegis Trust, were later dismantled.

The trust campaigns for the prevention of genocide and runs a center
in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, and its exhibition was organised in
memory of about 800,000 Rwandans killed 13 years ago.

PANA gathered that hours after the show was assembled, some Turkish
diplomats at the UN were said to have spotted "offending wordings"
in a section of a passage entitled: "What is genocide?" and raised
objections.

The passage said: "Following World War I, during which one million
Armenians were murdered in Turkey, Raphael Lemkin, a Polish lawyer
credited with coining the word genocide, urged the League of Nations
to recognise crimes of barbarity as international crimes."

GENTLEMAN’S WORD

A1+
[05:31 pm] 09 April, 2007

Hayrapet Hayrapetyan, member of the PAP, failed to initiate memorandum
signing to exclude election frauds in constituency 4 of Arabkir
community.

To note, out of 7 candidates of the community only four were present
during today’s press conference; Hayrapet Hayrapetyan /Prosperous
Armenia Party/, Zohrab Zohrabyan /Republican Party/, Hrayr Karapetyan
/ARF Dashnaktsutyun/ and Aram Manukyan /All-Armenian Movement/.

Under the given memorandum, the candidates promise to avoid "Black
PR and appliance of dirty electoral methods.

The struggle is believed to be namely tense in electoral district
4. But now we assure you that you will counter the opposite scene
there, " Hayrapet Hayrapetyan says.

In answer to our question whether the memorandum guarantees that
there won’t be election flaws, Mr. Zohrabyan said, "I don’t like to
wear ties. I am often asked why I don’t wear ties during the meetings
but I say "What is the difference; one shouldn’t cheat people, this
is the most important thing. A gentleman’s word has more weight than
bribe giving".

Aram Manukyan didn’t conceal his mistrust towards the promises of the
pro-governmental forces. "I am not delighted by this procedure. I don’t
think it will work. I don’t believe that the elections will be free
and fair as the livers of the authorities are 1000 times more to hold
"fair elections". If the authorities turn to the opposition to organise
free and transparent elections it already implies that we shall appear
in an abnormal state on the eve of the elections", Mr. Manukyan says.

Lowell Sun (Massachusetts)
April 1, 2007 Sunday

Applewild students know their history

FITCHBURG — Students in the eighth and ninth grades at Applewild
School received nine awards in the Central Massachusetts Regional
History Day competition held recently in Barre.

Of the nine award-winners, eight qualified to compete in the state
finals on March 31 at Clark University in Worcester. Six entries won
first-place medals, and the school’s students swept the senior
division group-exhibit category.

National History Day has seven categories: historical papers;
individual and group exhibits; individual and group performances; and
individual and group documentaries.

There are two divisions, junior (grades 6-8) and senior (grades
9-12).

In the regionals, Massachusetts is divided into five regions, and the
two qualifiers in each category qualify for the state competition.
The top two finishers in each category at the state contest qualify
for nationals.

Following are Applewild’s award-winners:

* Dewey Knapp, first place, individual exhibits, Junior Division; "A
Triumphant and Tragic Day in Infamy — Dec. 7, 1941."

* David Niemann, second place, individual exhibits, Junior Division;
"The Triumphs and Tragedies of the Apollo Project."

* Katie Annand and Ali Lorden, first place, group exhibits, Junior
Division; "Triangle Factory Fire."

* David Anderson and Tom Hongsmatip, first place, group documentary,
Junior Division; "The Triumph and Tragedy of D-Day."

* Susanna Bishop, first place, individual exhibits, Senior Division;
"Titanic: A Ship of Death and Dreams."

* Haley Pickford and Katie Regan, first place, group exhibits, Senior
Division; "The Triumph of the Corps of Discovery and the Tragedy of
Meriwether Lewis."

* Lilly Feinberg and Tyler McKenzie, second place, group exhibits,
Senior Division; "The Eagle Has Landed. Where Is the Hammer and
Sickle?"

* Sophia Bogdanov and Collin Pawlak, honorable mention, group
exhibits, Senior Division; "Stalin … Man or Monster?"

* Ben Luton and Amelie Touroyan, first place, group documentary,
Senior Division; "Who Remembers Today the Extermination of the
Armenians?"

PRESS RELEASE
Date: April 6 2007
Armenian National Committee of America
Eastern Region
P.O. Box 1066, New York, NY
Contact: Karine Birazian
Tel: [email protected]

CAROLINA ACTIVISTS MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES TO ENCOURAGE SUPPORT
FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

Greenville, S.C. & Charlotte, N.C.- In efforts to expand Armenian
activism in growing communities Armenian National Committee-Eastern
Region Executive Director, Karine Birazian, visited with Armenians
in Greenville, South Carolina, and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Together, they met with staffers for Senator Jim DeMint (NC-R), and
Congressmen Bob Inglis (SC-R-4), Sue Myrick (NC-R-09), and Mel Watt
(NC-D-12) in their district offices to discuss the Armenian
genocide legislation, the genocide in Darfur, and other foreign
policy matters, reported the ANC-Eastern Region.

Upon the warm arrival in Greenville, South Carolina, Birazian met
with activists Haro and Mariam Setian and three generations of the
Enjaian family: Mike, his son Steve, and two children, Bethany and
Andrew, who spent the afternoon visiting the staff from both Rep.
Inglis and Senator DeMint’s offices. Birazian, along with others
in the meeting, had an opportunity to spend time educating the
staff about the Armenian genocide, the need for the passage of an
Armenian genocide resolution as well as urging both offices to make
a moral decision and do the right thing.

Birazian also enjoyed the warm company of other Armenians and non-
Armenians in South Carolina during a community gathering on current
Armenian issues. Following the events, Setian commented, "We were
grateful for the warm reception that DeMint and Ingis’ office
showed us; our main concern is that justice be served. We, as
American citizens, can talk a good game about equality and justice,
but we need to follow through."

Similar to the meeting with activists in South Carolina, prior to
the congressional meetings in Charlotte, Birazian met with several
community members and spent the afternoon discussing key issues
facing the Armenian American communities today. From utilization
of the ANCA website to empowering them to take action, the trip was
an opportunity get to know members of both communities.

Joining Birazian at Rep. Myrick’s and Watt’s offices were community
members Jack Hagopian, Pierre Arbajian, Charles Diamond, Dr. Sylvie
Bastajian, and Dr. David Boyajian. The delegation had an
opportunity to meet with the staff of the two congressional offices
and spent time discussing many issues of concern to the Armenians
of Charlotte as well as the various activities they are
undertaking. The many issues raised during the meeting was of H.
Res. 106, divestment issues in Darfur, the ongoing blockade in
Armenia, and the support for foreign aid to Armenia. Jack
Hagopian, a community leader and retired military officer,
discussed efforts the Armenian community of Charlotte is pursuing,
including a health fair that was organized by the Church last year
by Bastajian and the growing population of Armenians, both new
immigrants and retirees that are settling in the Charlotte area.
Hagopian also shared the recent article printed in the Charlotte
Observer about the Armenian community and the need to pass this
legislation.

"It is impossible to believe that in today’s America intelligent
Americans would make the choice not to speak out on an issue like
genocide. This is no different than those Turks who stood by as
this happened in their country. Although the Armenian genocide
happened almost a hundred years ago, these `leaders’ make
themselves complicit with the leaders of the Ottoman Government in
1915…I am proud that the Armenian community, having suffered
through such a horrific event, has not just focused on themselves
but has tried to teach about how these horrific acts develop and
attempted to stop those events occurring today," commented
Hagopian.

Reflecting on her trip, Birazian stated, "This was a wonderful
opportunity to meet Armenians and non-Armenians in both Greenville
and Charlotte and discuss what the ANCA does, and how they can take
part in the Armenian cause. I welcome their enthusiasm and thank
them for their generous hospitality. I look forward to continue to
work with both communities to build a strong foundation of
activism."

Following Birazian’s visit, Dr. Sam Danagoulian from Greensboro, NC
joined the ANCA and the Genocide Intervention Network during their
Washington, D.C. grassroots advocacy campaign to end the cycle of
genocide. During his visit, Danagoulian and ANCA activists visited
all 13 North Carolina Congressional offices and had an opportunity
to meet with Senator Burr’s office to raise awareness about the
Armenian Genocide and divestment issues in Darfur. Currently the
genocide legislation, H. Res. 106, has 184 cosponsors in the House
and the resolution in the senate, S. Res. 106, mirrors the house
resolution has 26 cosponsors.

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.
####

Photos
Armenian activists from SC, and ANC ER Director Karine Birazian
joining Legislative Director Assistant Dr. Brenda Ballard,
Constituent Liaison Manager Julie Wilson for Rep. Bob Inglis’
office

Left to Right: Jack Hagopian, ANC ER Director Karine Birazian,
Dr. Sylvie Bastajian, Chief of Staff, Hal Weatherman for Rep. Sue
Myrick’s office, Pierre Arbajian, and Charles Diamond

ANC ER Director Karine Birazian, along with NC Activists Dr.
Sylvie Bastajian, Pierre Arbajian, Jack Hagopian, Dr. David
Boyajian and Community Liaison, Torre Jessup for Rep. Mel Watt

GAZPROM FIXES ARMENIAN GAS PRICE AT $110/KM3 AND GAINS CONTROL OF PIPELINES

European Spot Gas Markets
April 6, 2006 Thursday

Russian gas monopoly Gazprom this week agreed to supply gas to Armenia
at a fixed price of US$ 110 per thousand cubic metres until 2009
in return for control of Armenia’s gas pipelines, part of a power
station and the 40km pipeline from Iran.

"The deal was struck this week," a Gazprom spokesman told The Heren
Report, explaining that Gazprom would soon hold around an 80% of the
joint venture ArmRosGazprom. It is believed that Gazprom will build
a 140 MW gas turbine at the Rasdan 5 power station. "The deal will
have several stages and will be completed later this year," he added.

Mikhail Korchemkin, a US-based Russian gas expert, said the deal was
good for both Gazprom and Armenia but added that he was surprised the
price had been fixed in absolute terms. "Gazprom is adding assets
all over the world. Expansion is the major goal of Gazprom now,"
he told The Heren Report, adding that buying overseas assets was
the only way for the Russian gas giant to support its share price,
given the declining output from its Russian fields.

In January, Russia doubled the price for gas supplies to Armenia from
US$ 54 per thousand cubic meters to US $ 110 as part if its drive to
raise gas prices across former Soviet republics in line with European
levels. Gazprom will also take charge of the construction of a second
197km pipeline between Iran and Armenia.

Armenia does not produce gas but uses it for power generation, which
consumes around 1.7 billion cubic metres of gas a year.