Author: Mamian George

GOVERNMENT PROMISES FUNDS FOR DIGITIZATION OF DOCUMENTARIES

Armenpress
Dec 13 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: The government of Armenia has
promised to release 66 million drams annually up to 2011 for a
wholesale digitization of 1,350 documentary films kept at Armenia’s
National Archives.

Amatuni Virabian, head of the Archives, said every year 450
documentaries will be digitized. He said a tender will be announced
for the project. CS Film, the new owner of the ArmenFilm Studio,
has pledged, under an agreement it signed with the government, to
digitize free of charge 396 feature, documentary and other films shot
by the studio in the past.

The CS Films has also pledged to help shoot 50 motion films and 11
cartoons. Virabian said the CS Films has digitized so far only 8 films.

ARMENIAN AMERICANS CALL ON DEUTSCHE BANK TO RETURN STOLEN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE-ERA ASSETS

ArmRadio.am
13.12.2006 12:20

Armenian Americans from all fifty states are calling on Deutsche Bank,
the Germany-based financial giant, to stop obstructing the return of
stolen Armenian Genocide-era assets, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).

The grassroots campaign is fueled by citizens throughout the country
troubled that Deutsche Bank continues to block the rightful return of
assets belonging to heirs of Armenians killed in the Armenian Genocide,
despite the good faith efforts toward a settlement by lawyers for
a group of Armenian Americans who have filed a class action lawsuit
against the firm.

Activists are sending letters directly to Dr. Josef Ackermann,
the Chairman of Deutsche Bank. The WebFax letter allows concerned
individuals to call on Dr. Ackermann to "personally ensure that
Deutsche Bank fully lives up to its legal, financial, and moral
obligations by returning all assets your firm unlawfully holds from the
victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to 1923." The
letter goes on to criticize the firm’s current conduct, noting that,
"compounding your firm’s guilt in this matter has been its illegal and
immoral conduct in the years following the Armenian Genocide. Rather
than taking steps to return stolen property, Deutsche Bank actively
avoided meeting its responsibilities through acts of evasion and
concealment, as well as other measures intended to prevent these funds
from being recovered by survivors and the heirs of victims. Now,
having profited from the use of these funds over the course of the
last nine decades, your firm is today actively obstructing efforts
to secure their rightful return."

Deutsche Bank has more than $1.32 trillion in assets and over
67,000 employees operating in nearly 1,600 branches across 73
countries. Experts estimate that Deutsche Bank illegally withheld more
than $20,000,000, in World War I-era dollars, from Armenian victims and
survivors of the Armenian Genocide. A class action lawsuit against the
firm to secure the return of these assets has been filed by attorneys
Mark Geragos, Brian Kabatack, and Vartkes Yeghiayan.

The lawsuit states that the Deutsche Bank systematically thwarted the
recovery of millions of dollars in assets deposited by Armenians prior
to and during the Armenian Genocide. In addition, the lawsuit seeks
damages for Armenian assets forcibly taken by the Ottoman Turkish
government during the Armenian Genocide. The same three lawyers
recently settled similar lawsuits against New Y ork Life and AXA for
a total of $37.5 million for the wrongful withholding of insurance
policy proceeds held from the Armenian Genocide era.

‘SCREAMERS’ FAILS ITS MAIN MISSION
By Guido Pellegrini, Daily Bruin; SOURCE: UCLA

Daily Bruin, UCLA, California
December 7, 2006 Thursday

FILM REVIEW

"Screamers" is an apt name for this documentary — an impassioned,
often incoherent, but always affecting look at genocide throughout
the past 90 years.

Director Carla Garapedian ("Beneath the Veil") alternates between
concert footage of Armenian-American rock band System of a Down,
interviews with scholars and grainy newsreels of massacres and
killings.

The juxtapositions don’t quite work as a narrative; Garapedian attempts
to segue from System of a Down’s lyrics about the Armenian Genocide
of 1915 to the problem of genocide as a whole, but sadly fails.

And every time the film starts flirting with worldwide issues, it
returns to the small story of the band. Alternatively, just when the
film seems destined to become an intimate portrait of four musicians
fighting for a cause, the focus abruptly expands, leaving the audience
with a jarring sense of whiplash.

There’s also little in the way of subtlety, what with the atrocities
of genocide being delineated with blunt precision. Yet this doesn’t
actually hurt "Screamers." In fact, it’s the whole point.

System of a Down’s loud instrumentals and searing voice work, likewise
unsubtle, combine with Garapedian’s forceful editing to give the
whole film an aura of burgeoning anger.

It becomes clear after a while that for Garapedian the film’s title
constitutes the only real response one can have toward genocide. We
must all scream in protest, and as loud as we can.

This screaming, however, should not be directed solely at the
perpetrators of genocides, but also at the international community
that does little to stop genocide when it happens.

Governments, argues Garapedian, care more for neutrality and economic
foreign relationships than they do about human rights. As a result,
nothing is done when one culture attempts to eradicate another;
until it’s too late, that is.

It’s a powerful indictment and one that calls for numerous examples
from different conflicts. Unfortunately, though the required examples
are indeed provided, the film’s fixation on the Armenian Genocide
hides the broadness of the themes under the shadow of specificity.

In another context this would not be a problem. The Armenian Genocide
is a fascinating subject for any artistic endeavor (see Atom Egoyan’s
"Ararat"). But in this case, it feels like Garapedian set out to make
a film exclusively about the Armenian Genocide, and then last-minute
decided she wanted her documentary to be a general overview of
history. Consequently, she succeeded at neither.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

December 12, 2006

Contact: Lerna Kayserian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

World Renowned Journalist and Author Robert Fisk to Speak in Los Angeles

NORTHRIDGE, CA — Robert Fisk, world renowned author of several books about
the Middle East and foreign correspondent for one of the United Kingdom’s
leading newspapers, The Independent , will speak at California State
University, Northridge (CSUN) about his latest book, "The Great War for
Civilisation." Fisk will discuss some of the issues addressed in his book
about contemporary conflicts in the Middle East region and their historical
roots. The lecture will take place at the University Student Union’s Grand
Salon on Friday, December 15, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.

The event is co-hosted by the Armenian National Committee of America –
Western Region (ANCA-WR) and the United Human Rights Council (UHRC), along
with the CSUN Armenian Studies Program, the Armenian Student Association,
and Alpha Epsilon Omega fraternity.

"Fisk’s unique insight as someone on the ground with in-depth knowledge of
these conflicts makes him one of the most engaging speakers in the field,"
noted Haig Hovsepian, Community Relations Director for the ANCA-WR. "Fisk is
known for speaking his mind and will undoubtedly address difficult issues at
the intersection of American and European foreign policy and the various
cultures and interests at play in the Middle East."

Of particular interest to the Armenian American community, Fisk is one of
the world’s best known journalists has distinguished himself in his effort
to inform the world about the Armenian Genocide. In his latest book, "The
Great War for Civilisation," Fisk dedicates an entire chapter to the
Armenian Genocide, which he titles "The First Holocaust." He provides the
historical details of the genocide, reveals interviews with survivors in
Lebanon, and decries the Turkish and U.S. governments’ complicity in
genocide denial today.

"The 20th century was one of great violence and repeatedly marked by human
rights abuses and genocide," commented Chris Yemenidjian, Chair of the UHRC.
"We look forward to Mr. Fisk’s analysis of the root causes of today’s
contemporary conflicts."

"Mr. Fisk provides a valuable voice for cultural awareness and human
rights," noted Terenig Topjian, President of the CSUN ASA. "As the
university is home to the sharing of ideas as well as the subsequent growth
and progress they inspire, we are proud to be co-hosting him at CSUN."

The event will be preceded by a 7pm reception for the author at the Grand
Salon. Both the reception and the event are free and open to the public.
Seating is limited and the author will entertain questions following his
presentation. There will also be a book-signing opportunity immediately
following the lecture. Books will be available for purchase at the event.

The ANCA 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.

DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER: ARMENIA SITUATED IN EUROPE

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Dec 8 2006

YEREVAN, December 8. /ARKA/. Armenia is situated in Europe, Armenian
Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Bayburdyan said Tuesday in at a press
conference.

In his words, Armenia is on the crossroads between Europe and Asia
as well as between the South and the North.

Bayburdyan pointed out that Armenian nation has had close ties with
both Europe and Asia for a long period of its record.

"However, European ideas have greater impact on Armenia’s development
at least because of the fact that Armenians live at every spot of
Europe", he said.

Bayburdyan said that European Union’s New Neighborhood policy in
itself gives no guarantees to targeted countries for joining the union,
but envisages not only reformation but also integration into Europe.

Polish Ambassador to Armenia Tomasz Knothe, in his turn, said that
Poland favors European Union’s eastward enlargement and confirmed
that Armenia is a European country.

At the same time, he said there are still some problems related to
political, economic development and institutional matters.

ARMENIA LEFT WITHOUT ANTHEM
By Astghik Bedevian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Dec 6 2006

Armenia was effectively left without a national anthem on Wednesday as
its parliament failed to meet a constitutional deadline for reaffirming
the existing state symbol or introducing a new one.

The deadline was set by one of the amendments to Armenia’s constitution
that were enacted by the authorities in a hotly disputed referendum
late last year. It meant that the "Mer Hayrenik" (Our Fatherland)
song will automatically lose its official status unless the National
Assembly passes a special law on the anthem by December 6, 2006.

The clause was widely seen as a prelude to the abolition of "Mer
Hayrenik" which was the official anthem of an independent Armenian
republic in 1918-1920 before being reinstated by Armenia’s first
post-Communist government in 1990. President Robert Kocharian and
many of his political allies, backed by some artists and composers,
consider its tune and lyrics too unsophisticated.

But their plans have met with strong resistance from some opposition
groups and, more importantly, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaktsutyun), a member of the governing coalition which had
founded the First Republic. They forced the government last month to
scrap the results of a contest for a new Armenian anthem.

Still, the government kept open the possibility of anthem change on
November 29, pushing through the Kocharian-controlled parliament a bill
that gives "Mer Hayrenik" only a "provisional" status. The parliament
was due to debate the bill in the second and final reading this week.

But its speaker, Tigran Torosian, blocked the discussion on
Tuesday and Wednesday, citing procedural violations committed by
the government. The move was criticized by Rafik Petrosian, the
pro-government chairman of the parliament committee on legal affairs.

He accused Torosian of bowing to opposition pressure.

"The situation is unpleasant," admitted Prime Minister Andranik
Markarian. "We will probably not have, de jure, a national anthem for
a few more days. But those few days won’t have any practical impact
on the existence of our state."

Markarian added that the government will initiate an emergency
parliament session on the issue "soon."

Dashnaktsutyun lawmakers, meanwhile, insisted on their alternative
bill that would perpetuate the official status of "Mer Hayrenik."

"Armenia is in a situation where if, God forbids, there is an official
ceremony in the next few days [involving anthem rendition], it can not
play any music as an national anthem," one of them, Gegham Manukian,
complained.

"The fact that we essentially have no national anthem is unacceptable,"
said Grigor Harutiunian of the opposition Artarutyun alliance.

NEWSPRINT SHORTAGE MAY FORCE ARMENIAN PAPERS OFF THE STANDS

Golos Armenii, Yerevan,
Dec 2 2006

"The Armenian press is at the threshold of black Wednesday"

It is very much possible that most of the Armenian newspapers will
not be issued beginning from next Wednesday as there is no newsprint
in Armenia. "Today, about 150 t of our newsprint are in Vladikavkaz
and another seven wagons are in Ilyichevsk," Vrezh Markosyan, director
of the Tigran Mets printing house, has said.

The lion’s share of Armenian newspapers is printed at the printing
house.

"We are unable to collect the newsprint from Vladikavkaz as the
Verkhniy Lars checkpoint is closed. As for Ilyichevsk, they refuse
to load the newsprint on the ferryboat. Thus, all roads are closed
to us. Our stocks of newsprint will be enough only till 6 December,"
Markosyan added.

At first sight, such a catastrophic situation is a regular and
logical consequence of the escalation of tension in Russian-Georgian
relations. Moreover, there is an unofficial theory which proves the
political context of the story. When transporting cargo via Ilyichevsk,
Ukraine gives preference to the cargo of Georgia, its partner in GUAM
[regional alliance of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova]. The
potential of the ferry service is limited and in such a case the
Armenian cargo finds itself off the board.

This assumption seems to be true but as we were told at the Armenian
Transport and Communications Ministry, the official reason is
disagreement between two Ukrainian organizations: the state-run
company Ukrzaliznytsya, which manages the railway, and the private
company Ukrferry, which uses the Ilyichevsk-Batumi ferry service.

They have a financial conflict which has reached the court. For this
reason, the operation of the ferry service has been paralysed since 9
November. A representative of the Armenian railway, Karen Pogosyan,
said that there are currently about 200 wagons [of newspaper] bound
for Armenia in Ilyichevsk [figure as given].

CEASEFIRE REGIME NOT BROKEN DURING MONITORING ON FRONTLINE BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA
Author: E.Javadova

TREND, Azerbaijan
Dec 4 2006

The ceasefire regime was not broken during the monitoring on the
frontline between Azerbaijan and Armenia on 4 December, Trend reports
with reference to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The monitoring
was held in the line of contact near the Gapanli village of Tartar
district of Azerbaijan in accordance with the mandate of the personal
representative of the OSCE Chairman-in Office.

>From the Azerbaijani side, the monitoring was held by the field
assistants of the OSCE Chairman-in Office, Colonel- Lieutenant Imre
Palatinus and Gunter Folk, and from the Armenian side the field
assistants of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Piter Ki, Miroslav Vimetal
and Jaslan Nurtazin.

SWEDISH FOREIGN MINISTER IS CONCERNED OVER THE FACT OF DISCOVERING MASS BURIAL OF ARMENIANS AND ASSYRIANS ON TURKISH TERRITORY

Yerevan, December 4. ArmInfo. On December 6, the Swedish Parliament
will hold hearings at Swedish MP Hans Linden’s request concerning the
mass burial site discovered on the territory of Turkey on October 17.

In Swedish historian David Gaunt’s opinion, these are the graves of
270 Armenians and Assyrians killed by the order of the Young Turks’
leadership of Mardin province.

The newspaper says that the Swedish Foreign Minister has already sent
the inquiry to the diplomatic representatives of Sweden in Ankara
and Istanbul. Besides, a special commission consisting of Swedish
diplomatic representatives have already left for Nusaybin county of
Mardin province to investigate the graves discovered by the residents
of Xirabebaba village.

According to the source, the Turkish authorities ordered to completely
close the access to the place of the mass burial site for journalists,
instead of holding their own investigation. The local police told mass
media representatives that the burial site is already covered up with
earth and the villagers are not allowed to show the way to the graves.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father 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 TO DELIVER LECTURES
IN THE UNITED STATES

His Holiness Aram I departed for the United States on November 30 where he
will deliver a series of lectures in various universities and receive the
prominent Pax Christi award.

His Holiness Aram I will be the keynote speaker of an international
conference organized jointly by the Indiana State University and Notre Dame
University. He will deliver another lecture in the St. John’s University in
Illinois. This second lecture will be followed by a special ceremony, during
which the Armenian Catholicos will be awarded the Pax Christi medal, which
is recognized as one of most important academic awards in the United States.

His Holiness Aram I’s first stop, however, in his one-week journey, will be
Detroit, where he will lecture during the youth conference organized by the
Prelacies under the jurisdiction of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
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.