Author: Karakhanian Suren

UCLA Armenian Student Association
405 Hilgard Ave.
Kerckhoff 146
Los Angeles, CA. 90095
Contact: Arpine Hovasapian
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE ~ April 14, 2005
Contact: Public Relations Director, Arpine Hovasapian [email protected]

UCLA STUDENT GOVERNMENT UNANIMOUSLY PASSES RESOLUTION
`FIGHT TO PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS IN TURKEY’

The UCLA student government, the Undergraduate Student Association
Council (USAC) unanimously passed a resolution introduced by the UCLA
Armenian Student Association (ASA) Wednesday night in support of an
initiative to ban the sale of Turkish goods at UCLA until Turkey
addresses its human rights record.

The resolution, entitled `Fight to Protect Human Rights in Turkey’
made reference to numerous historical and current human rights
violations which Turkey has committed towards its people, especially
minorities. `What makes this so important is that it not only
highlights the historical human rights violations committed by the
Turkish government, but also the crimes the government commits against
its citizens today,’ asserted Shant Taslakian, a fourth year
Philosophy major and ASA member who researched goods sold in the
ASUCLA store in preparation for the council meeting.

Other ASA members, including Garen Kirakosian and Ani Garibyan had
done extensive research ` starting in 2004 ` before presenting their
findings to USAC. `The passage of this resolution is a great step
toward justice throughout the world. It is important that institutions
of higher learning, like UCLA, take the necessary steps to make it
known that they will not conduct business with governments that
mistreat their people and attempt to deny and revise history,’
proclaimed Mr. Kirakosian, a third-year Political Science student.

The resolution sends a clear and bold message to the government of
Turkey by the UCLA student body. `This was a great victory not only
for the Armenian community at UCLA, but for all those who believe in
the protection of human rights,’ asserted Raffi Kassabian, president
for the Armenian Student Association at UCLA. `We have seen USAC pass
resolutions similar to this before whether it is with the divestment
from South Africa during Apartheid and divestment from Burma. It is
important for the UCLA student body to take a clear and consistent
stance on such human rights abuses.’

The ASA must now present the resolution to the Campus Services
Committee of the ASUCLA, which consists of various students and
economists, among others. The committee must determine the economic
impact the resolution would have on the university, before they can
implement it. `Going into May’s meeting with a resolution that has
been unanimously approved by USAC is a huge step for the ASA. We will
do our utmost to work with the services committee in implementing the
resolution,’ mentioned Miss Garibyan fourth-year Political Science
student.

The full text of the resolution will be printed in next Thursday’s
(April 21, 2005) edition of UCLA’s campus daily newspaper, the Daily
Bruin, which is the second largest circulating newspaper in Los
Angeles.

The UCLA ASA is one of the oldest Armenian-American student groups
in the United States. This year marks the 60th anniversary of its
existence. The UCLA ASA seeks to cultivate a true understanding and
appreciation of Armenian history, heritage, and culture through
cultural, social, and recreational activities.

Turkish Press
April 15 2005

Press Scan

HERE IS HISTORIC LETTER

MILLIYET- In the letter he sent to Armenian President Robert
Kocharian, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned 1915
incidents as ”hurting memories.” This letter noted that there was
difference in ”interpretation” of views of Turkey and Armenia about
those days.

FRONT LINE MONITORING

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
13 April 05

On April 11 the OSCE mission held a monitoring of the front line
between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, to the
west of the place Verin Chailu, NKR. On the side of the NKR Defence
Army the monitoring was conducted by the field assistants of the
personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Miroslav
Vitemal (Czech) and Alexander Samarsky (Ukraine). On the Azerbaijani
side the monitoring group was headed by the personal representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk. The representatives of
the NKR Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs
accompanying the OSCE mission reported gunshots from the Azerbaijani
side to the north of Verin Chailu. The monitoring was continued after
the security of the mission was guaranteed and passed according to the
schedule.

AA.
13-04-2005

Embassy Magazine, Canada
April 13 2005

A Prayer for Rwanda – Hope for Darfur
As the world remembers, a genocide in slow-motion continues to unfold

As the ice-cold rain hammered down on the small crowd of about
hundred people, I couldn’t help but feel that we have largely
forgotten. We easily forget most tragedies that happen in Africa. We
forget that one million men, women and children were butchered in
Rwanda just eleven years ago, we forget that over three million
people have died in the complicated wars in the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC) in the last five years, and every passing day, we try
forget about the 300,000 people that have already died in Darfur.

Having come from the National Prayer Breakfast earlier that
morning–where hundreds of people, including dozens of ambassadors
and parliamentarians, gathered in the West Block to share their
prayer life–the small group I stood with outside in the rain, under
the shadow of the Peace Tower, seemed even smaller. They too were in
need of prayers, prayers for the million souls that lost their lives
in Rwanda eleven years ago, prayers for the struggling survivors and
prayers for victims of genocide in today’s Darfur.

Though, as Rwandans struggle every day to put their lives back
together, to maintain peace, to achieve community and national
reconciliation and to eradicate the ideology of genocide, they
require more than prayers. Despite a massive surge in humanitarian
aid after the genocide, what many saw as “guilt aid,” we have in fact
done little to support efforts to ensure that this does not happen
again in the area. Primarily, by demobilizing the ad-hoc armies that
have brutalized the Eastern DRC, some of which are made up of and run
by the thousands of Interhamwe that fled Rwanda after the genocide.

But perhaps our greatest failure–as one of many nations that
promised eleven years ago to never allow this to happen again–is our
lack of political will to do more to stop the ongoing genocide in
Darfur. A crisis our own newly-named Senator Romeo Dallaire has
called a “Rwanda in slow motion.”

Consider this BBC report, with statements from Jan Egeland, UN
Undersecretary for Humanitarian Affairs:

There is no crisis in the world comparable to the one now building in
Darfur. Tens of thousands of people will perish unless we get food
supplies, medical supplies, water and sanitation facilities there,
within weeks. Nearly a million people have been displaced by the
fighting.

I was to have led the humanitarian mission to Darfur this week, but
repeated delays by the Sudanese government made the timing
impossible. Researchers from various human rights organizations say
the government is responsible for atrocities in Darfur.

Human Rights Watch investigator Julie Flint interviewed a witness to
a recent massacre:

‘He said that government troops and Janjawid…the mounted militia
that is virtually an arm of the government now, surrounded a large
area before daybreak, went into the villages inside that area where
there were many displaced… and took away men who had been
displaced. 136 of those were trucked by army truck to nearby valleys,
made to kneel and summarily executed that night.’

Human Rights Watch says the atrocities in Darfur constitute crimes
against humanity.

Anyone following the devastating situation in Darfur today would find
nothing new or striking about this report–until they saw the date
the report was filed–April, 2003. Two years ago, the world knew
exactly what was going on in Darfur and we did nothing.

One year ago, in April, leaders from all over the world commemorated
the 10th anniversary of the genocide in Kigali. Many of these leaders
would have known what had been going on in Darfur for over a year.
Voicing the words, “never again,” while joining in the tacit
complicity of again, and again.

When I asked some of the diplomats and media that I had met in Rwanda
last year during the 10th year commemoration if they were returning
to Rwanda to mark the occasion of the 11th year, I was met with
quizzical

responses…why would we go this year? Apparently genocides are only
to be recognized on 10th year anniversaries, centennials, etc. This
might not be a problem if we were meeting our obligations for peace
and reconciliation in Rwanda and ending the genocide in Darfur. But
we are not.

Diplomatic complacency, the snail’s pace at which UN resolutions are
made, and the indifference that much of the Western world shows
towards Africa, do not have to undermine the efforts. Canadians, of
all backgrounds, can and must continue to acknowledge and raise
awareness about genocide in its past, present and future forms. In
working with a number of NGOs committed to raising awareness about
Darfur, I’ve noticed that many of them are made up of or supported by
Jewish groups, Rwandan genocide survivors, and of course, Sudanese
refugees. Clearly, despite the international community and the UN’s
reluctance to call it what it is, mass killing, torture and rape
based on one’s ethnic, racial and/or religious identity is genocide,
regardless of where it takes place.

One of the most striking features about the Kigali Memorial Centre at
Gisozi, Rwanda is that it also devotes one room to every major
genocide that has taken place in recent history: the Jewish
Holocaust, the Armenian and Cambodian genocides and those that took
place in the former Yugoslavia. The museum recognizes the basic fact
that the experience and memory of genocide plagues millions around
the world and that contrary to popular Western belief, Europeans can
be just as barbaric in the slaughter of their own people as “tribal”
Africans. The memorial succeeds in humanizing the victims, restoring
their dignity and the dignity of the survivors, emphasizing the value
of each life and, most importantly, promoting post-genocide
reconstruction and prevention through education.

The UN has designated April 7th as International Day of Reflection on
the Genocide in Rwanda. I’d like too see more than reflection– I’d
like to see remembrance and action on a scale commensurate with the
loss of life the world has seen recently through preventable
genocides.

Canada–a country that still boasts of it’s role as a peacekeeper,
riding on the history of decades past, when we were meaningfully
engaged internationally in human rights and development–ought to
invest more in commemoration, education, and most importantly,
prevention of genocide.

If we wish to try to re-establish our reputation in the international
community, Canadians can simply not accept the status quo when it
comes to genocide. We can engage in a massive initiative; from
acknowledging our own colonial-era genocide of the First Nations, to
taking the lead in stopping the slaughter in Darfur. Canada can
become a peacekeeper once again.

— Magdalene Creskey is a research assistant to MP David Kilgour and
has worked in community and educational development projects in
conflict areas in southern Africa.

Ethnic leader upbeat on Kurds’ future in Iraq – Armenian agency

Arminfo
12 Apr 05

YEREVAN

“At present we are establishing contacts with the government of Iraqi
Kurdistan. In this connection, it cannot be ruled out that its
representative office will be opened in Armenia,” the chairman of the
Kurdistan committee in Armenia, Charkaz Mstoyan, told an Arminfo
correspondent today.

He expressed confidence that “de facto independent” Iraqi Kurdistan
will have a positive impact on the geopolitical situation around
Armenia, as well as on the Kurds’ fate all over the world.

He stressed that disagreements between the current ruling Kurdistan
Democratic Party and Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Iraqi Kurdistan
have been resolved.

“The Kurdistan Workers’ Party has welcomed [Iraqi President Jalal]
Talabani’s government,” Mstoyan said.

FACT THAT ARMENIAN PRESIDENT LED NKR DEFENCE IS GUARANTEE
THAT HE TO BE DETERMINED IN CONFLICT’s FAIR SETTLEMENT

YEREVAN. APRIL 12. ARMINFO. The fact that Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan had led himself the defence of Nagorny Karabakh is the best
guarantee that both he and political forces supporting him will be
determined in the packet settlement of Karabakh problem, stated Head
of ARFD party Levon Mkrtchayn at Armenia’s National Assembly. Apr 12.

He noted that the settlement of Karabakh problem is impossible
without deciding an issue on its status. He called all political
forces to refrain from any speculations round Karabakh issue which is
the main constituent of Armenia’s national security. “Before
criticizing president Kocharyan one should remember that he had not
removed his family from Nagorny Karabakh within the most difficult
years”, Lazarian stated. -r-

Libération , France
6 avril 2005

La guerre en best-seller; Turquie

par SEMO Marc

Vendu à 300 000 exemplaires, “Tempête de métal” raconte une guerre
entre la Turquie et les Etats-Unis en 2007. Une politique fiction
appuyée sur une haine antiaméricaine croissante, doublée de relents
d’antisémitisme. Une paranoïa ambiante renforcée par l’hésitation des
Européens sur l’adhésion à l’UE du pays.

Ankara, Istanbul envoyé spécial

Les avions de combat américains pilonnent Ankara et Istanbul. “Les
bombardements intenses ont duré plus de quatre heures et il y a
d’importantes pertes civiles. Les ponts sur le Bosphore sont coupés.”
La scène est supposée se passer en mai 2007. L’opération “Tempête de
métal” vient de commencer et vise, entre autres, à s’emparer des très
importants gisements turcs de bore. “L’occupation de la Turquie par
les Etats-Unis”, clame le sous-titre barrant la couverture du livre,
un criard montage photographique de GI hurlants et de mosquées en
flammes. Sorti mi-décembre, Metal Firtina (Tempête de métal)
pulvérise tous les records, dépassant déjà les 300 000 exemplaires.
Du jamais vu dans un pays où un best-seller vend, dans les meilleurs
cas, dix fois moins. “C’est de la politique fiction, mais ce roman
évoque une théorie du possible et brise un tabou. Dans notre
inconscient, ce sentiment était là depuis des années, mais nous
n’osions pas l’admettre, car nous vivions dans la peur d’une crise
ouverte avec les Etats-Unis”, explique Burak Turna, 30 ans,
journaliste économique et coauteur, avec Orkun Ucar, de ce succès de
librairie. Le premier a apporté l’idée, l’autre, auteur et éditeur
spécialisé en science-fiction, son savoir-faire. Le style est
sommaire et la trame, manichéenne, débouche sur l’inévitable “happy
end” : la victoire d’Ankara après la déroute initiale de ses forces
armées. Sur fond de tensions croissantes américano-turques depuis le
début de la guerre en Irak, la recette marche à merveille.

“Ce n’est pas un livre antiaméricain, mais un livre contre la
politique de Bush qui précipite la région dans le chaos”, se justifie
Burak Turna, au diapason de ses concitoyens : selon un sondage de la
BBC, 82 % des Turcs considèrent les Etats-Unis comme LA menace pour
la paix mondiale, battant tous les records européens.

“Mein Kampf” réédité

Le livre trône partout. Il est en vitrine au fin fond de l’Anatolie
dans des échoppes où même la presse nationale n’arrive pas
régulièrement. On le voit dans les kiosques des aéroports comme dans
les bonnes librairies d’Istanbul ou d’Ankara. “Il y a d’abord eu la
curiosité. Maintenant, l’effet de mode fonctionne à plein”, explique
un libraire. Les intellectuels se pincent le nez mais beaucoup
d’hommes politiques adorent, notamment ceux de l’AKP (Parti de la
justice et du développement), le parti au pouvoir issu du mouvement
islamiste dont certains ténors dénoncent sans trêve “le génocide”
commis par les Américains en Irak. Les nationalistes de gauche ne
sont pas en reste. Partout, les piles de Tempête de métal voisinent
avec celles de Da Vinci Code, succès mondial de la théorie du
complot, ou celles de Mein Kampf, le sinistre manifeste d’Adolf
Hitler. Traduit la première fois en 1939, ce livre était
régulièrement réédité par l’extrême droite avec des tirages
confidentiels. Les nouvelles éditions ont dépassé les 50 000
exemplaires et mettent le titre en quatrième position des meilleures
ventes. “Nous avons pensé que dans la période actuelle, le livre
pourrait bien marcher”, se justifie Sami Celik, propriétaire des
éditions Emre assurant avoir obéi à des raisons “purement
commerciales”.

“Tempête de métal cristallise des peurs latentes mais réelles et Mein
Kampf vient dans le sillage. L’un et l’autre sont les révélateurs
d’un air du temps xénophobe et d’un nationalisme défensif, dépressif,
toujours plus paranoïaque, nourri de ressentiments vis-à-vis des
Etats-Unis et de l’Union européenne”, souligne Ahmet Insel,
professeur d’économie à l’université Galatasaray d’Istanbul et à
Paris-I. Les sondages montrent une opinion toujours massivement
favorable à une future adhésion (seuls 12 % des Turcs y sont
hostiles) et 43 % des personnes interrogées se déclarent “optimistes
sur l’avenir”. Mais dans les profondeurs de la société turque, les
frustrations bouillonnent. Inquiètes pour l’image du pays, les
autorités ont réagi au succès de Mein Kampf en rappelant “qu’il n’y a
pas de tradition antisémite en Turquie”. Avec une amère ironie,
Türker Alkan, du quotidien libéral Radikal, souligne que “le fascisme
turc n’a pas besoin de la technique allemande et ceux qui torturent
dans les commissariats n’ont pas besoin de lire Mein Kampf”. Dans le
même journal, Haluk Shahin n’hésite pas à dénoncer les “Milosevic
turcs”. Le grand romancier Ohran Pamuk a récemment fait les frais du
climat ambiant. Dans une interview à un journal suisse, il avait
évoqué “le million de morts arméniens de 1915 et les 30 000 Kurdes
tués dans les années 80-90”. Dénoncé comme “traître” par la presse
nationaliste, menacé, il a préféré s’éloigner quelque temps
d’Istanbul.

“Il y a une part d’exagération médiatique, mais des sentiments
antioccidentaux montent à cause de la campagne antiturque en Europe,
et surtout du fait de la politique américaine en Irak”, confirme Sefi
Tashan, directeur de l’Institut de politique étrangère à Ankara.
Longtemps pilier du flanc sud-est de l’Otan face au bloc soviétique,
la Turquie vit des relations toujours plus conflictuelles avec
Washington. Tout a commencé au printemps 2003, avec le refus du
gouvernement de l’islamiste modéré Recep Tayyip Erdogan d’autoriser
le déploiement de 80 000 GI pour ouvrir un front nord contre Saddam.
Depuis, la polémique s’est envenimée. Ankara s’est montré réservé sur
le résultat des élections irakiennes. La capitale turque reste l’un
des derniers appuis du régime syrien. Les ténors des think tanks
républicains d’outre-Atlantique dénoncent toujours plus ouvertement
un pays “ingrat, antisémite et paranoïaque où monte l’islamisme”.

Magasins “interdits aux Américains”

“Ce qui est nouveau dans cet antiaméricanisme et le rend si fort est
le fait qu’il ne se limite plus aux franges de l’extrême droite ou
des islamistes radicaux, mais qu’il est désormais partagé par une
partie des élites et même par certains militaires”, souligne Ahmet
Insel. Les attaques dérapent facilement dans la dénonciation du
“complot sioniste” et la presse ne se prive pas de rappeler à
l’occasion les “origines ethniques” – c’est-à-dire juives – de
l’ambassadeur américain Eric Edelman, qui a fini par démissionner à
cause de ses relations exécrables avec les autorités locales.
L’antiaméricanisme est encore plus évident au niveau populaire,
notamment dans la base de l’AKP. En janvier dernier, des affiches
“interdit aux Américains” sont apparues sur les vitrines de nombreux
magasins de Kale, le vieux quartier d’Ankara, avant d’être enlevées
après une protestation de l’ambassade américaine. Dans les forums
Internet, la parano explose. “Ils attaquent les pays musulmans
voisins… Pourquoi nous épargneraient-ils ?” clame un internaute sur
l’un des sites de discussion les plus fréquentés.

“Les Turcs ont trop longtemps accepté sans réagir que les Etats-Unis
se servent d’eux, mais ils refusent maintenant que Washington joue
ouvertement la carte kurde au détriment de leurs intérêts”, martèle
Burak Turna. Les auteurs de Metal Firtina font démarrer la guerre
turco-américaine en Irak du Nord, épicentre du contentieux, là où,
protégés des Américains, les Kurdes irakiens consolident aujourd’hui
leur autonomie. Ceux-ci sont en passe de prendre le contrôle de la
ville de Kirkouk, dont les riches réserves pétrolières assureraient à
un éventuel Etat kurde les moyens de son indépendance. Au risque de
susciter l’hostilité en Turquie, où les Kurdes représentent environ
12 millions des 70 millions d’habitants du pays. S’inspirant
directement de cette réalité, le livre contient tous les ingrédients
à même de satisfaire les fantasmes locaux. On y trouve ainsi
l’inévitable capitaliste ploutocrate qui convainc George Bush de se
lancer dans l’aventure avec le soutien des chrétiens fondamentalistes
qui veulent reconquérir Constantinople.

Les auteurs de Tempête de métal sont invités à des dizaines de débats
– celui organisé par l’AKP d’Istanbul a été annulé au dernier moment
sur ordre du gouvernement soucieux de ne pas aggraver son contentieux
avec Washington. Ils reçoivent des milliers de messages de
félicitations. Les seules critiques leur reprochent d’avoir montré
l’armée turque indécise, mal organisée et incapable de faire face…

Des Kurdes, agents américains

“L’antiaméricanisme existe partout en Europe, mais il faut être sourd
et aveugle pour ne pas voir qu’en Turquie il est en train de nourrir
un racisme antikurde qui va croissant”, s’inquiète Cengiz Candar,
intellectuel libéral. Car les Kurdes, considérés comme des agents
américains, cristallisent désormais tous les ressentiments. Dans la
revue Birikim, Tanil Bora, professeur de sciences politiques à
Ankara, a analysé les messages circulant sur le Net, appels délirants
à lancer “un nettoyage ethnique préventif” contre les Kurdes ou à
utiliser contre eux “les armes de destruction massive”. Le 21 mars,
jour de Newroz (nouvel an des peuples d’Asie centrale), à Mersin,
grand port du Sud, trois gosses ont tenté de brûler un drapeau turc,
finalement sauvé par un policier. Cette provocation est devenue un
psychodrame national. “Une telle détestation du drapeau par de
prétendus citoyens est totalement inexplicable et injustifiable”, a
souligné un communiqué de l’état-major. Les grands médias ont
aussitôt appelé les citoyens à exposer partout les couleurs
nationales.

“L’hostilité manifestée par la Turquie vis-à-vis de ses citoyens
kurdes ne peut que ralentir notre marche vers l’Europe”, reconnaît,
préoccupé, Cengiz Candar. Après avoir reçu un feu clignotant des “25”
pour l’ouverture des négociations d’adhésion en octobre prochain, le
gouvernement traîne dans la mise en oeuvre des réformes et Bruxelles
dénonce toujours plus durement “ces retards”. Dans les talk-shows
télévisés, europhobes et souverainistes triomphent, dénonçant
“l’hypocrisie des Européens” sinon leurs projets de dépeçage du pays.
“Il faut qu’ils nous disent finalement clairement s’ils veulent ou
non de nous dans l’Europe”, affirme Burak Turna. Habile à sentir le
vent, il est en train d’achever son prochain livre sur une guerre
entre la Turquie… et l’UE. “Cela commence avec des massacres de
Turcs sur fond de propagande raciste et néonazie en Europe”, explique
l’auteur qui veut ainsi “faire réfléchir les Européens comme il a
tenté de faire réfléchir les Américains”. Il est convaincu que ce
sera le best-seller turc de l’été.

Agence France Presse — English
April 5, 2005 Tuesday 9:26 AM GMT

Armenia sack French coach Casoni

YEREVAN

Armenia’s French coach Bernard Casoni was sacked Tuesday following a
string a poor performances, federation president Ruben Airapetyan
said.

Casoni, 42, took over in August last year but in seven matches
Armenia have lost five, drawn one and beaten minnows Andorra.

Airapetyan said he was forced to sack Casoni for his poor grasp of
tactics and inability to to choose the best players.

Casoni is a former France and Marseille defender and coached
Marseille for a season in 1999-2000.

OSCE
April 1 2005

OSCE Office organizes discussions on labour migration in Armenia

YEREVAN, 1 April 2005 – The current situation of labour migration in
Armenia was the focus of two meetings that took place this week in
Yerevan. They brought together international experts and
representatives of various Armenian governmental bodies dealing with
international labor migration.

The events were organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the
Armenian Ministry of Labour and Social Issues and financially
supported by the United Kingdom.

During the events, the OSCE Office presented the results of its
review of Armenian legislation and administrative framework related
to international migration and examples of best practices from other
countries, as well as preliminary results of a nation-wide
sociological survey of households on labour migration. The Ministry
of Labour and Social Issues presented its labour migration strategy.

“Labour migration in Armenia is an important and challenging issue,”
said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, the Head of the OSCE Office in
Yerevan. “During the 1990s, hundreds of thousands of Armenians left
the country in search of work. At the same time, this migration has
helped to bridge Armenia’s worst economic downturn.”

“The issue of labour migration remains one of the biggest concerns of
the Armenian Government,” said Ashot Yesayan, First Deputy Minister
of Labour and Social Issues. “We welcome the expertise of the OSCE
Office in this area.”

According to the findings of a recent survey, 14 % of households in
Armenia have been involved in labour migration in the past three
years and in more than half of the cases, the length of stay abroad
varied between 5 and 9 months.

“In recent years, Armenia’s economic growth has been robust and there
is a need to develop sound policies that will enable labour mobility
and also ensure conditions in which jobs are created at home,” said
Blanka Hancilova, Democratization Officer at the OSCE Office.

International migration is one of the OSCE priorities this year and
the main theme of the Thirteenth Economic Forum to be held in Prague
in May.

Key links and documents:
ARMENIAN VERSION

For further information, please contact:

Gohar Avagyan
OSCE Office in Yerevan

89 Teryan St.
375009, Yerevan
Armenia
Tel.: +374 1 54 10 62
+374 1 54 58 45

Fax: +374 1 54 10 61

AYF TO ORGANIZE PROTEST IN FRONT OF TURKISH CONSULATE IN LOS ANGELES
ON APRIL 23

GLENDALE, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian Youth Federation Western
United States Garo Madenlian Public Affairs Office announced, that on
Saturday April 23rd the AYF will organize a large-scale protest in
front of the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles. “Our protest will
demand justice from the Turkish government,” said Marie Minassian,
Director of the 2004 Protest. “For 90 years the Turkish Government has
cowardly avoided responsibility for the Genocide,” explained
Minassian. The protest, which has taken place now for close to thirty
years, is where thousands of Armenian-Americans, particularly Armenian
youth converge to demand justice for the Armenian Genocide. “The
Armenian Genocide is not debatable, it is a historical fact,” said
Shant Baboujian, chairman of the AYF Western Region. “This year marks
the 90th anniversary of the genocide and with each passing year we
grow bolder and more adamant in our demands for its proper
recognition, for the return of our lands in Western Armenia, and for
the proper allocation of reparations to the Armenians,” explained
Baboujian.