Author: Kamalian Hagop

A1plus

| 15:45:31 | 10-05-2005 | Official |

“IT IS SAD TO LEAVE ARMENIA”

Today Armenian National Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan received UN
program coordinator in Armenia Liz Grande, who is completing her mission in
the republic.

Ms. Grande will continue her mission in Congo and she says she is sad to
leave Armenia. She is convinced that her successor will strengthen the
cooperation and contribute to the implementation of the joint programs.

During the meeting the parties stressed the importance of the programs
carried out for the invalids and refugees as well as the programs
implemented in the regions.

Rock Band’s Swear Word Out on ‘SNL’

.c The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) – NBC censors caught the five planned expletives in rock
band System of a Down’s “Saturday Night Live” performance – but a
sixth, unscripted swear word slipped through.

Toward the end of the band’s performance of “BYOB” on Saturday, the
camera caught guitarist Daron Malakian screaming out an expletive.

NBC said it had asked the band to remove the swear words in their
lyrics, but the band refused. Network censors eliminated the audio
when the expected expletives were said. The unscripted swear word,
heard on the live East Coast telecast, was edited out for other
broadcasts, NBC said.

NBC has had trouble with late-night rock ‘n’ roll previously: Motley
Crue’s Vince Neil once used an expletive during a New Year’s Eve
telecast and U2 lead singer Bono used one during last year’s Golden
Globe Awards, which were broadcast live.

A spokeswoman for System of a Down did not immediately return a phone
call seeking comment Monday.

05/09/05 18:25 EDT

Heritage.org, DC
May 9 2005

On the Road to Moscow

By Ariel Cohen

President George W. Bush’s visit to Latvia, Russia and the Republic
of Georgia underscores how much the geopolitical landscape changed 13
years after the collapse of the Soviet Empire.

In Riga, Mr. Bush will address leaders of Estonia, Latvia and
Lithuania. These are America’s new allies — members of North
Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are also members of the European
Union. Russia is an ex-rival and a strategic partner, a vague term
indeed. Georgia (and neighboring Azerbaijan) are emerging allies.

In Riga, Mr. Bush should avoid new dividing lines in Europe, but call
for recognition of Latvian and Estonian borders by Russia and the
signing of a peace treaty. The president should also tell people of
the Baltic States that their well-earned and much-deserved freedom
should not be dishonored by occasional expressions of sympathy to
Nazis or by discriminatory measures against the Russian population.

Mr. Bush should also acknowledge our new allies’ great achievements
in making the transition to democracy and market economy and
integration into NATO. He should remember a new generation has come
of age, which did not suffer from Soviet occupation and is not as
pro-American as its parents. The president should remind these young
people the U.S. supported Baltic independence and never recognized
Soviet annexation. The task now is to keep these young people friends
of America.

Presidential challenges in Russia are different. He should address
Russia’s people through press conferences and in the meeting with
democracy activists.

He should acknowledge the great sacrifices of the peoples of Russia
and the former Soviet Union in World War Two — a topic most dear to
every Russian’s heart. Josef Stalin no doubt enabled Adolf Hitler to
start the war, and the Soviet regime then was as bloodthirsty as the
Nazis. Stalin also destroyed the top Soviet generals and was
criminally negligent and oblivious to the coming Nazi attack —
Operation Barbarossa, which started in June 1941. In it, millions of
Soviet soldiers were surrounded and whole field armies destroyed.

It was, however, the blood and heroism of Russians, Ukrainians,
Tatars, Jews, Georgians and others who stopped the Nazi war machine.
Battles of Stalingrad and Kursk broke the backbone of the Wehrmacht.
The strategic gifts of Marshal Georgi Zhukov helped a lot. Still,
Soviets lost 25 million sons and daughters.
Mr. Bush can also remind his audience that the victories of the Red
Army were due to a large degree to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s
“lend-lease” program: Studebaker trucks, Cobra fighter planes, SPAM
and GI boots.

Today, the president should say, the United States and Russia face a
new enemy: implacable Islamist terrorism coveting weapons of mass
destruction (WMD). In talks with Mr. Putin, Mr. Bush should advance
joint anti-proliferation efforts, such as the Nunn-Lugar program
worth up to $1 billion a year aimed at securing and destroying the
creaky Russian WMD arsenal and related materials.

The United States and Russia should work on ways to prevent Iran from
obtaining nuclear weapons. While Tehran can hit Russian soil, it
still lacks the missile capability to strike the U.S. The two leaders
should also discuss the future challenges U.S. and Russia may face
from assertive and resource-hungry China.

The president should extend a helping hand to the Russian people.
America can help address Russia’s catastrophic social trends: an
HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis epidemics and a male life expectancy of
58-59 years — behind that of Egypt.

Russia suffers from a wave of alcoholism, drugs and related
illnesses, and the abortion rate remains among the highest in the
world. This is not about geopolitics, it is about helping Russians
lead healthier, happier lives.

In meeting with Russia’s democracy activists, President Bush should
explain why America promotes democracy around the world. Without
stentorian lectures, Mr. Bush should explain why smooth and bloodless
transition from one power elite to another benefits Russia, why free
media helps fight corruption, why transparency and the rule of law
attract foreign investment. If Russia wants to modernize, it needs to
liberalize. It is in the Russian national interest to be free. The
United States can help — if the Russians want it to.

Finally, a speech at the Independence Square in Tbilisi is a great
opportunity to look into the future. Mr. Bush should acknowledge
Georgia’s accomplishments in its Rose Revolution, a bloodless
pro-democracy power change. He should express America’s — and the
world’s — firm hope that Georgia will remain on the democratic path
and its territorial integrity and sovereignty be restored. U.S.
should support return of secessionist Abkhazia and South Ossetia to
Georgia’s fold, and withdrawal of Russian military bases from
Georgian soil.

Further, President Bush should demand the end to “frozen conflicts”
between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh and in
Transnistria in Moldova. These conflicts lasted too long, and make
everyone miserable and unable to economically develop.

Finally, the president should express our hope the right will be
respected of the region’s peoples — from Belarus to Turkmenistan to
Uzbekistan — to elect their leaders. Tbilisi will be a terrific
place to launch a new campaign for a better future in the former
Soviet area, a future where dignity, the rule of law, civil society,
economic development and freedom prevail.

Ariel Cohen is a senior research fellow in Russian and Eurasian
studies and international energy security at the Heritage Foundation.

Génocide arménien: La Turquie fustige une motion du sénat argentin

Agence France Presse
6 mai 2005 vendredi 6:27 AM GMT

ANKARA 6 mai 2005 — La Turquie a dénoncé vendredi une motion adoptée
le mois dernier au sénat argentin qui reconnaît comme un “génocide”
les massacres d’Arméniens en 1915, pendant l’empire ottoman, évoquant
un “acte irresponsable”.

“Nous dénonçons et rejetons l’accusation de génocide formulée le 20
avril par le sénat argentin”, indique un communiqué du ministère des
Affaires étrangères.

Le document souligne que “malgré les explications (turques)
au plus haut niveau au sujet des problèmes que peut susciter une
telle résolution (…) le sénat argentin s’est engagé dans un acte
irresponsable en adoptant un texte abondant en erreurs historiques”.

Le texte rappelle que la Turquie a récemment proposé à Erevan la
création d’une commission conjointe afin d’enquêter sur les massacres
des Arméniens.

Les Arméniens affirment que jusqu’à 1,5 million des leurs ont péri
lors de massacres orchestrés par l’empire ottoman, auquel a succédé
la République turque.

Ankara soutient que 300.000 Arméniens et au moins autant de Turcs
ont été tués au cours de troubles suscités par le soulèvement des
Arméniens, qui ont fait cause commune avec les armées russes en guerre
contre l’empire ottoman, et lors d’une déportation vers la province
ottomane de la Syrie qui a suivi cette sédition.

–Boundary_(ID_1GuZmgTgqUQt70Em/RUwdA)–

Arinc Postpones His Visit To Russia

Turkish Press
May 7 2005

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc postponed his
visit to Russia, sources said today (May 6th).

Parliament Speaker Arinc was earlier scheduled to pay a visit to
Russia between May 6th and 9th.

Sources noted that Arinc postponed his visit due to the decision
made by Russia’s State Duma concerning so-called Armenian genocide
on April 22nd, 2005.

GEORGE BUSH TO CALL YEREVAN AND BAKU TO FOLLOW GEORGIA’S EXAMPLE

06.05.2005 04:03

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The US President Administration informed that
during his visit to Tbilisi next week George Bush will mark Georgia
as a state that transformed to democracy and whose example should be
followed by Armenia and Azerbaijan, RFE/RL reported. The officials
of the US Administration noted that Bus’s support to the policy
pursued by the Georgian leadership after the rose revolution should
not be perceived as a call for an analogous change of ruling regime in
Yerevan and Baku. Moreover, Washington does not consider the change of
power to be a necessary condition for democratic reforms in Armenia
and Azerbaijan. The US will collaborate with the governments of two
states to make the”next elections more democrati”.”We welcome reforms
both in power structures and beyond them. Opposition forced should
be engaged in peaceful democratic processes in Armenia and Azerbaijan”,
the source noted. It should be noted that George Bush will be the
first US President to visit the South Caucasus.

ARMENIAN-EGYPTIAN BUSINESS FORUM TO BE HELD IN AUTUMN

06.05.2005 02:56

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Ambassador to Egypt Ruben Karapetian
met with Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmad Nazif, RA MFA press service
reported. During the meeting the Armenian diplomat presented the
social and economic situation in Armenia. When touching upon the
Armenia-Egypt relations, Ruben Karapetian marked the satisfactory level
of the trade and economic cooperation between the two states. In his
turn Ahmad Nazif pointed out to the big potential and possibilities
of the development of these relations and stressed the importance
of bilateral meetings and contacts between the business circles
of both states. The parties noted that in this context the 4-th
sitting of the Armenian-Egyptian intergovernmental commission on
economic cooperation scheduled for this autumn as well as a business
forum to be held simultaneously with it will be very useful. The
interlocutors also marked the obvious progress achieved in information
technologies, tourism, agriculture and health protection. To note,
an Armenian-Egyptian pharmaceutical joint venture on the basis of
VACSERA Egyptian company has been already formed. In the context of
strengthening the Armenian-Egyptian ties Ahmad Nazif gave due to the
role of the Armenian community of Egypt, which made a significant
contribution to the formation and development of the country.

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 MEETS WITH THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR

His Holiness Aram I and the US Ambassador to Lebanon, Jeffrey
Feltman held a long meeting on May 3. They discussed issues related
to the current situation of Lebanon and particularly to the upcoming
parliamentary elections.

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
history and the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer
to the web page of the Catholicosate, The
Cilician Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is
located in Antelias, Lebanon.

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA CHAIRMAN CALLS ON PRESIDENT BUSH TO
SPEAK WITH MORAL CLARITY ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

“The time has come, Mr. President, for our government to end
all forms of complicity in Turkey’s morally bankrupt campaign
of genocide denial.” — ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian

WASHINGTON, DC ~V Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
Chairman Ken Hachikian expressed disappointment today with
President Bush’s April 24th statement, asking for a meeting to
discuss this matter and the range of issues of concern to the
Armenian American community.

While thanking President Bush for standing with Armenians in
“remembering the tragic events of April 24th,” Hachikian expressed
concern that the President, again, retreated from his February,
2000 campaign pledge to properly commemorate the Armenian Genocide.
“Your refusal to honor this pledge, and the ongoing opposition of
your Administration to Armenian Genocide legislation before
Congress, in our view, represent failures of American moral
leadership, and reflect a flawed and shortsighted approach to our
nation’s long-term interest in peace and stability in the Caucasus
and Middle East,” explained Hachikian.

Commenting on the President’s indirect reference to the Turkish
Armenian Reconciliation Commission, Hachikian noted that, “The only
sound basis for improved Armenian-Turkish relations remains
Turkey’s open acknowledgement of its genocidal crime and full
acceptance of its responsibilities to the Armenian nation. In this
regard, we are reminded of how Germany came to terms with the
Holocaust and, more recently, of the comprehensive report prepared
by the Israeli government setting the material damage to the Jewish
people during the Holocaust at between $240 billion to $330
billion.”

Hachikian concluded the May 3rd letter, urging President Bush to
“to speak with moral clarity on the Armenian Genocide, to support
Armenian Genocide legislation that will come before Congress, to
pressure the Turkish government to acknowledge the truth, and to
use the full influence of your office to work toward a just
resolution – including full reparations and restitution – of this
crime against the Armenian people.”

The full text of the letter follows.

#####

ANCA Letter to President George W. Bush

May 3, 2005

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I am writing, on behalf of Armenian Americans throughout the United
States, to thank you for joining with our community in remembering
the tragic events of April 24th, but also to express our profound
disappointment with the content of your remarks on the day of this
solemn remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.

We remain deeply troubled by your retreat from your promise, made
in February 2000, to properly recognize the genocidal campaign
against the Armenian people. By not using the proper term –
genocide – your message failed to accurately communicate the moral,
historical, and legal meaning of the crime committed against the
Armenian people. Your refusal to honor this pledge, and the ongoing
opposition of your Administration to Armenian Genocide legislation
before Congress, in our view, represent failures of American moral
leadership, and reflect a flawed and shortsighted approach to our
nation’s long-term interest in peace and stability in the Caucasus
and Middle East.

While we welcome your statement about looking forward to a
promising future for Armenia, we must point out that Armenia’s
future should not have to be built under threat from Turkey – an
unrepentant perpetrator of genocide against the Armenian people.
Very simply, the Republic of Armenia cannot be secure as long as
Turkey continues to deny its crime against the Armenian nation.

We are troubled, as well, by your support for attempts, along the
lines of the widely discredited Turkish Armenian Reconciliation
Commission, that promote an artificial reconciliation, one with
neither truth nor justice. Sadly, your mention of an anonymously
authored report, which was not written by, but only facilitated
through, the International Center for Transitional Justice, lends
credence to those seeking to derail progress toward Genocide
recognition, while abetting those who want to help Turkey avoid the
modern-day consequences of this crime. The only sound basis for
improved Armenian-Turkish relations remains Turkey’s open
acknowledgement of its genocidal crime and full acceptance of its
responsibilities to the Armenian nation. In this regard, we are
reminded of how Germany came to terms with the Holocaust and, more
recently, of the comprehensive report prepared by the Israeli
government setting the material damage to the Jewish people during
the Holocaust at between $240 billion to $330 billion.

The time has come, Mr. President, for our government to end all
forms of complicity in Turkey’s morally bankrupt campaign of
genocide denial. As such, we respectfully call upon you to speak
with moral clarity on the Armenian Genocide, to support Armenian
Genocide legislation that will come before Congress, to pressure
the Turkish government to acknowledge the truth, and to use the
full influence of your office to work toward a just resolution –
including full reparations and restitution – of this crime against
the Armenian people. Given your emphasis on morality and speaking
the truth, how can you possibly do otherwise?

In closing, I would like to note that we continue to pay special
attention to your Administration’s response to the historically
accurate description of the Armenian Genocide by the U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans. If history has taught
us anything, it is that those who speak the truth should be
encouraged, not silenced.

We would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to discuss
this matter and address the full range of issues of concern to
Armenian Americans.

Sincerely yours,

[signed]

Kenneth V. Hachikian
Chairman

A1plus

| 13:15:24 | 02-05-2005 | Official |

EXPERIENCE EXCHANGE WITH LUKASHENKO

Today the delegation with RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan at
the head will leave for Belarus on official visit. The visit has been
organized on the invitation of Belarus Prime Minister Sergey Sidorski,
on May 2-4.

Within the frames of the official visit the RA Prime Minister will
meet Belarus President Alexander Lukashenka, Prime Minister Sergey
Sidorski, as well as will visit the productive union “MAZ” and the
factory “BELAZ”.

The head of the Armenian Government will take part in the
Armenian-Belarus business conference in the CIS executive committee
building, and in the opening of the exhibition of the Armenian
products. He will also meet the representatives of the Armenian
community.