Author: Nahapetian Boris

US WILL STRENGTHEN ATTENTION TO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

02.04.2005 04:45

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yesterday Azeri Defense Minister, colonel general
Safar Abiyev met with the delegation headed by Deputy Commander of US
Headquarters European Command general Charles Wald As stated by
Abiyev, Azerbaijan considers the US it strategic partner. He noted the
high level of bilateral ties in all spheres, specifically in
development of military cooperation. Azerbaijan also expands it ties
with the NATO within the Partnership for Peace Programme. S. Abiyev
informed the guests on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and its
outcomes. As Abiyev emphasized, «Armenia does not give up t aggressive
urges.» «Unfortunately, the international community forms conditions
for strengthening Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

Armenia settles the occupied territories of Azerbaijan with
Armenians. However, Azerbaijan comes for peaceful settlement of the
conflict,» he noted. In his turn, Ch. Wald said he does not «doubt
that Armenia pursues a policy of settling the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan.» «One country occupying the territory of another is
illegal. The conflict should be solved via diplomatic means. The US
will strengthen attention to the solution of the conflict,» the
general added.

CELEBRATING SARIAN IN NATIONAL LIBRARY

Azg/arm
01 April 05

The National Library of Armenia organized “The Symphony of Eternity”
arrangement yesterday dedicated to the 125th anniversary of Martiros
Sarian and 85th anniversary of his son, composer Ghazaros Sarian. Two
halls of the Library represented albums, monographs, books, pictures
as well as more than a dozen of new publications from the Diaspora
concerning the Sarians’ life and works. Words of gratitude and
recollections emphasized once again the importance of the Sarian
family in the Armenian culture.

Yervand Qochar wrote about Martiros Sarian: “Sarian is a bright sun in
the sky of Armenian art”.

Composer Ghazaros Sarian, famous for his “Armenia” symphony, headed
the State Conservatoire after Komitas for 26 years and was one of
those who promoted the music of his time far beyond the borders of
Armenia. Great friendship of Edvard Mirzoyan, Alexander Harutyunian,
Arno Babajanian, Adam Ghudoyan and Ghazaros Sarian was, as Dombayev
put it, a new style in music. “Ghazaros Sarian was extraordinarily
moral, and his ethics spread out in his music. The tunes of his music
are as calm, clean and attractive as his personality was”, writer and
painter Vanik Santrian says.

The widow of Ghazaros Sarian, Arax Sarian, says that the composer
tended to the great art being influenced by his great father.

By Gohar Gevorgian

SwissInfo, Switzerland
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
March 29 2005

Armenia features high in Swiss-Turkish talks

Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey in Turkey has held talks
centring on the Armenian question with her Turkish counterpart,
Abdullah Gül.

They recognised their differences of opinion on the issue but agreed
on the need for historians to research it.

“I talked to Mrs Calm-Rey at length about our point of view on the
Armenian question and the historical evolution of this problem,” Gül
told a news conference after the discussions.

“The positions of Switzerland and Turkey are different,” he added.

Gül commented that the decision by the cantonal parliamant of Vaud to
recognise the 1915 slaughter of hundreds of thousands of Armenians as
genocide – which put paid to a previously scheduled visit by
Calmy-Rey – was “unreasonable”.

Condemnation

In December 2003, a similar vote in the Swiss House of
Representatives reached the same conclusion, drawing renewed
condemnation from Turkey.

Gül also said on Tuesday he believed that the version of facts put
forward by the Armenian diaspora was the cause of misunderstandings
on the issue.

Armenians say that about 1.8 million people were killed in 1915,
while Turkey disputes this, putting the figure closer to 200,000.

“Switzerland believes it is up to each country to go back over its
history and come to terms with it,” Calmy-Rey commented.

She welcomed Gül’s willingness to set up an international commission
of historians to throw more light on what was a “difficult subject of
history”.

Ankara wanted Switzerland to send experts to take part in the
commission’s work, according to Camly-Rey’s diplomatic adviser
Roberto Balzaretti.

But he added: “It is too early to talk about that”.

Human rights

The two ministers also discussed human rights, with Calmy-Rey
congratulating Gül for the “reforms and efforts that had been made”.

But in a reference to last week’s demonstrations in Istanbul that
were violently put down by the authorities, she said she wished that
“the political will could be translated on the ground”.

The talks also featured economic ties, which Calmy-Rey said, “could
be improved”. In particular, she mentioned the possibility of an
agreement between the two countries on the double taxation of goods.

Gül recalled that trade between the two countries had reached $4
billion (SFr4.81 billion) a year, while Swiss investments in Turkey
totalled $2 billion.

He also thanked Switzerland for playing host to United Nations talks
on Cyprus last year at the Bürgenstock resort in canton Nidwalden.

Courtesy call

Earlier on Tuesday Calmy-Rey paid a courtesy call on the country’s
president Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

She also laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk,
founder of the Turkish republic and its first president.

On the second day of her visit Calmy-Rey is due in the city of
Diyarbakir in the mainly Kurdish southeast of the country, where she
is expected to meet local representatives and non-governmental
organisations.

This section of the trip was viewed in poor light by Ankara in 2003.
Shortly after the invitation was withdrawn, the Turkish authorities
accused Calmy-Rey of meeting a member of a banned Kurdish
organisation in Lausanne.

The Federal Prosecutor’s Office later launched an investigation to
find out whether the Swiss foreign minister had been spied on by
Turkey’s secret service.

On the final day of her trip, Calmy-Rey is due to give an address to
the Swiss and Turkish business leaders in Istanbul.

“Turkey is Switzerland’s most important business partner in the
Middle East. Around 40 Swiss firms move there every year,” said
Balzaretti.

swissinfo with agencies

ARKA News Agency
March 28 2005

Year of Russia in Armenia and year of Armenia in Russia to give new
impetus to bilateral relations development

President of Armenia receives today the Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia

RA NA Speaker meets with Secretary General of International
Association of Parliaments and Businessmen

President-Chaired meeting discusses elaboration of Armenia-EU
partnership program

Head of Armenian Parliament and U.S. Secretary of State exchange
messages

Russian political scientist forecasts revolutions in Kazakhstan,
Belarus, Armenia

International scientific seminar to be held in Armenia on April 18-19

Armenia has forcible arguments in favour of strengthening political,
economic and ethnic-confessional alliance with Russia

DIGITECH 2005 information, telecommunication technologies exhibition
to be held from Sep 30 to Oct 2 in Yerevan

*********************************************************************

YEAR OF RUSSIA IN ARMENIA AND YEAR OF ARMENIA IN RUSSIA TO GIVE NEW
IMPETUS TO BILATERAL RELATIONS DEVELOPMENT

YEREVAN, March 28. /ARKA/. The year of Russia in Armenia and the year
of Armenia in Russia will give a new impetus to the development of
bilateral relations, as Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
told journalists. In his opinion, such a kind of events won’t be
limited by frames of culture programs, but will become the
demonstration of present and future contacts and a new stimulus for
bilateral relations development. `Our interrelations has reached
quite high level and it seems there is no room to move forward, but
this isn’t so, but plenty is still to be done and there is room for
cooperation enlargement’, Oskanyan said. In his words, the events
will make political, economic and culture ties between the two
countries closer.
Russia’s Year opening ceremony was held on March 25, 2005 in Yerevan.
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and Russian President Vladimir
Putin were present at the ceremony. M.V. -0–

*********************************************************************

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA RECEIVES TODAY THE AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND
PLENIPOTENTIARY OF FRANCE TO ARMENIA

YEREVAN, March 28. /ARKA/. The President of Armenia Robert Kocharian
received today the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
France to Armenia Henry Cuny. As the Press Service of RA President
told ARKA News Agency, the sides discussed issues concerning the
forthcoming visit of the Armenian President to France during the
meeting. Issues of Armenian and EU cooperation, as well as current
state and perspectives of Armenian-French economic relations were
taken up. Kocharian and Cuny also touched upon the Karabakh conflict
settlement and regional cooperation issues.
To remind, the visit of Robert Kocharian to France is scheduled for
April of 2005. L.V.–0 –

*********************************************************************

RA NA SPEAKER MEETS WITH SECRETARY GENERAL OF INTERNATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF PARLIAMENTS AND BUSINESSMEN

YEREVAN, March 28. /ARKA/. Speaker of the RA National Assembly Artur
Baghdasaryan held a meeting today with Secretary General of the
International Association of Parliaments and Businessmen Frederick
hide Chambers. The public relations department, RA parliament,
reports that during the meeting Mr. Chambers pointed out that the
Association is a nongovernmental organization founded in Great
Britain in 1977. He said that the Association aims at establishing
direct contacts between parliamentarians and businessmen, which
raises parliamentarians’ awareness of business affairs and
contributes to a dialogue between parliamentarians and businessmen.
Chamber stressed that the Association has its branches in 16
countries – Finland, France, Belgium, Spain, Holland, Sweden, the
USA, Canada, New Zealand, as well as unites 300 international
organizations.
During the meeting the sided reached an arrangement on considering
the issue of the RA Parliament joining the Association. The sides
believe that it will afford Armenian parliamentarians additional
opportunities in establishing new business contacts as well as
contribute to the exchange of experience and flow of foreign
investments in Armenia’s economy. P.T. -0–

*********************************************************************

PRESIDENT-CHAIRED MEETING DISCUSSES ELABORATION OF ARMENIA-EU
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

YEREVAN, March 28. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan has held a
meeting with cabinet members to discuss the elaboration of a program
of individual partnership between Armenia and the European Union. The
RA presidential press service reports that the program is being
elaborated as part of the EU neighborhood policy. President Kocharyan
pointed out the necessity of deciding on `what we are going to do,
what directions should be included in the program, and at what speed
we are ready to move.’ According to him it is a most important moment
for the country, as `we can get a chance of serious assistance in the
ongoing reforms, in specifying their further direction, and, with the
EU structures’ aid, focusing on implementing them.’
According to the President, in selecting programs and directions of
cooperation attention should be paid to the points indicated in the
European Commission’s recent report on Armenia.
Kocharyan instructed all the government institutions to present
specific programs within a month. The programs are to be discussed by
special interagency commissions and, after being examined by experts,
sent to the EU Cooperation Council. P.T. -0–

*********************************************************************

HEAD OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT AND U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE EXCHANGE
MESSAGES

YEREVAN, March 28. /ARKA/. The Speaker of National Assembly of the
Republic of Armenia Arthur Baghdasaryan and U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice exchanged messages. As the Public Relations
Department of RA NA told ARKA News Agency, in answer to the
congratulatory message of Arthur Baghdasaryan, Rice stated: `My
intention is to work for the sake of future, which will provide
peace, security and freedom for everybody. The challenges are
numerous, and there is a lot of work to do in future ‘. US Secretary
of State thanked NA President for best wishes and highlighted the
work, especially in the aspect of fulfilling the above-mentioned
reforms in the future. L.V.-0–

*********************************************************************

RUSSIAN POLITICAL SCIENTIST FORECASTS REVOLUTIONS IN KAZAKHSTAN,
BELARUS, ARMENIA

YEREVAN, March 28. /ARKA/. In the near future, Revolutions may break
out in Kazakhstan, Belarus and, probably, in Armenia – states with
soft authoritarian regimes, Director of the Institute of Political
Research Sergey Markov stated in his interview to NewsInfo. According
to him, the only obstacle to revolutions in these countries is the
popularity enjoyed by their Presidents. `Nazabayev is still popular
enough in Kazakhstan, just as Lukoshenko in Belarus. Some trends to
speeding up revolutionary processes can be observed in Belarus and
Armenia. The events are being sped up by America, which wants to have
leaders loyal to the West. In Belarus, the opposition is even being
financially fed up,’ Markov said. P.T. -0–

*********************************************************************

INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC SEMINAR TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA ON APRIL 18-19

YEREVAN, March 28. /ARKA/. International scientific seminar dedicated
to commercialization of science will be held in Armenia on April
18-19, stated Artak Sagradyan, the RA Deputy Minister of Science and
Education during the parliamentarian hearings on the concept of
scientific reforms today. He noted that the seminar is organized by
International Science and Technology Centre. According to Sagradyan,
heads of scientific institutes, scientists and interested persons
will take part in the seminar. It is necessary to create the strategy
of scientific-technical interests to integrate in international
scientific processes’, he said. L.V.-0 –

*********************************************************************

ARMENIA HAS FORCIBLE ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF STRENGTHENING POLITICAL,
ECONOMIC AND ETHNIC-CONFESSIONAL ALLIANCE WITH RUSSIA

YEREVAN, March 28. /ARKA/. Armenia has forcible arguments in favour
of strengthening political, economic and ethnic-confessional alliance
with Russia, RBC quotes Professor at Russian President-affiliated
State Service Academy Oxana Gaman-Golutvina.
In her words, the Year of Russia in Armenia and Russian President’s
visit to Yerevan can promote improvement of relations and crisis in
Kyrgyzstan may strengthen them rather than weaken. `I think the visit
planned long ago came just in time’, she said.
The RBC also quoted Modern Socialism Institute Director Alexey
Podberezkin as saying `we supported Armenia in areas of security and
defence. But Azerbaijan, Armenia’s neighbour and rival, is in good
terms with Russia’. In his opinion, it would be very `stupid and
senseless’ for Russia to improve relations with Armenia deteriorating
them with Azerbaijan. The expert thinks Russia’s top aim not to
destabilize the situation in the region. `I sure Russia can help
these countries to achieve considerable improvements’, he said.
Podberezkin is convinced the best means of influence is Armenians
living in Russia. There are also more delicate levers of influence,
such as currency export that can be restricted or make unlimited. In
his opinion, these means are more effective than threat or military
cooperation. M.V. -0–

*********************************************************************

DIGITECH 2005 INFORMATION, TELECOMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES EXHIBITION
TO BE HELD FROM SEP 30 TO OCT 2 IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, March 28. /ARKA/. A three-day information and
telecommunication technologies exhibition titled DIGITECH 2005 is to
be opened on September 30 in Yerevan. According to Information
Technologies Enterprises Union’s and Enterprises Incubator fund’s
joint press release, computer equipment as well as information and
telecommunication technologies for families and business will be
displayed at the exposition.
The exposition aim is to show the latest achievements in information
technologies area, to promote Armenian IT companies’ activity and to
present Armenia in the world market. Besides, the event is focused on
establishing traditions in Armenia to conduct expositions.
According to the press release, Information Technologies in Practical
Use conference is planned to be opened on September 30 in Yerevan as
well. The conference aim is to create favorable environment for the
businessmen consuming IT companies’ production.
The exposition and the conference are organized by Enterprises
Incubator fund and Information Technologies Enterprises Union. A
number of events, including contests on programming and E-content,
will be held before the exposition and the conference. M.V. -0–

PRESS RELEASE
UCLA AEF Chair in Armenian History
Contact: Prof. Richard Hovannisian
Tel: 310-825-3375
Email: [email protected]

UCLA International Conference Series in Armenian Studies

After Nine Decades
The Enduring Legacy of the Armenian Genocide

Sponsored by the
Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History

Co-sponsored by the UCLA
International Institute
Center for Near Eastern Studies
Center for European and Eurasian Studies

APRIL 2-3, 2005 ** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES

Friday, April 1, 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. AGBU Manoogian Center, Pasadena
Saturday, April 2, 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m., 100 Moore Hall, UCLA
Sunday, April 3, 1:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m., Court of Sciences 50, UCLA

___________________________________________________________

April 1, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Friday Evening Session in Armenian

AGBU Manoogian Center, 2495 E. Mountain Street (at Altadena Drive),
Pasadena California

The Armenian Genocide in the Syrian Press

Nora Arissian, Damascus University

Art and Testimony

Marc Nichanian, Wesleyan University

Will There Ever Be a Post-Genocide Era

Raffi K. Hovannisian, Amenian Center for National and International
Studies (ACNIS), Yerevan

April 2, Saturday, Moore Hall 100, UCLA, 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Morning Sessions: 9:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m.

Rethinking Aspects of the Armenian Genocide, 9:30-11:00 a.m.

The Enduring Legacy

Richard Hovannisian, UCLA

Rethinking Dehumanization in Genocide

Henry Theriault, Worcester State College

America’s Foreign Policy and the Armenian Genocide: A Legacy of Paradox

Suzanne E. Moranian, AIWA, Boston

Genocide and the Philosophy of History

Michael Papazian, Berry College, Mount Berry, Georgia

Discussion, 10:45-11:00

INTERMISSION

The Armenian Genocide in Comparative Perspective, 11:20 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Comparative Media Coverage in English-Speaking Countries

Katia Peltekian, American University of Beirut

The Assyrian Genocide: Late-Nineteenth’Early-Twentieth Century

Anahit Khosroyeva, Institute of History, Erevan (in Armenian with
English summary)

The Greek Calamity in Asia Minor and the Pontus

Speros Vryonis, Jr., UCLA and NYU, Emeritus

Comparative Aspects of the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust

Tigran Matossian, Museum-Institute of the Armenian Genocide, Erevan

Discussion, 12:45-1:00 p.m.

LUNCH RECESS: 1:00-2:15 p.m.

Illustrated Lunch-Hour Presentation: 1:45-2:00 p.m.

The Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex in Deir-ez-Zor (Der-Zor)

Sarkis Balmanoukian, The Architect, Los Angeles

Afternoon Sessions ** 2:15 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Genocide Education, Human Rights, and Prevention, 2:15-3:40 p.m.

No Mandate Left Behind

Nicole Vartanian, Fulbright Scholar, Washington, D.C.

Teaching the Armenian Genocide to a Non-Armenian Audience

Sara Cohan, Washington, D.C.

The Armenian Genocide and Education

Adam Strom, Facing History and Ourselves, Boston

Genocide in Virtual Space (Cyberspace)

Hagop Gulludjian, UCLA

Discussion, 3:40-3:55 p.m.

INTERMISSION

Artistic Responses to Genocide, 4:15-6:00 p.m.

Leon Tutundjian’Witness

Jean Murachanian, UCLA

Testmony and Witness: Armenian Artists in Los Angeles

Ramela Grigorian Abbamontian, UCLA

>From Charles Aznavour to System of a Down

Jack Der Sarkissian, Kaiser-Permanente Medical Group, Los Angeles

The Archaeology of Memory: Framing the Invisible

Hrag Varjabedian, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Discussion, 5:45-6:00 p.m.

April 3, Sunday Afternoon, Court of Sciences 50, UCLA, 1:30 p.m. -6:00
p.m.

History and Memory, 1:30-3:15 p.m.

Across the Chasm: From Catastrophe to Creativity

Barlow Der Mugrdechian, California State University, Fresno

James Joyce: Armenia and Armenians

Marc Mamigonian, National Association for Armenian Studies and Research,
Boston

Historical Memory: Threading the Contemporary Literature of Armenia

Rubina Peroomian, UCLA

The Armenian Genocide and French Society

Phillipe Videlier, National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Lyons

Discussion, 3:00-3:15 p.m.

INTERMISSION

Prospects of Dialogue and Reconciliation, 3:40-5:30 p.m.

Amnesia, Truth, Reconciliation

Elazar Barkan, Claremont Graduate University

Turkish Liberal Historiography and Genocide

Bedross Der Matossian, Columbia University

Constructing a New Historiography of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire
and the Turkish Republic

Fatma Műge Goçek, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Anatomy of Post-Genocide Reconciliation

Simon Payaslian, Clark University

Discussion, 5:30-5:50 p.m.

A Retrospective, 5:50-6:00 p.m.

Richard Hovannisian

Photographic Exhibit of Memorial Monuments by Hrair `Hawk’ Khatcherian,
Quebec

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ** NO ADMISSION FEE

PARKING STRUCTURE NO. 2, HILGARD AND WESTHOLME ENTRANCE TO UCLA

IN JANUARY LAKE SEVAN’S LEVEL RISES BY 4 SM

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN. In January the level of Lake Sevan rose
by 4 sm and as of January 31 made 1897.69 m, which is higher by 42 sm
compared with the same period of the previous year. According to the
data of RA National Statistical Service, icing was formed on the lake
littoral in the third decade of January. In most of Armenian marzes the
number of monthly precipitations was higher than the norm and in Lori,
Tavush and Sunik made 35-90%. In the most of rivers in the republic
the average monthly outflow of water made nearly 90-110% of the norm.

Sydney Morning Herald , Australia
March 27 2005

Darchinyan adds to belt collection with victory in eight
By Brad Walter
March 28, 2005

Page Tools
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After stopping South African Mzukisi Sikali in the eighth round of
last night’s world flyweight unification bout at the State Sports
Centre, Vic Darchinyan immediately nominated World Boxing Association
champion Lorenzo Parra as his next target.

Darchinyan, one of just three Australian boxers to currently hold a
world title, added the World Boxing Organisation belt to the
International Boxing Federation version he won last December against
the previously undefeated Irene Pacheco when Sikali put his gloves up
to signal he had had enough.

It was another typical hard-hitting performance from the 29-year-old
Armenia-born Sydneysider, who has now won 18 of his 23 fights by
knockout since turning professional after the 2000 Olympics.

He said Sikali, who had not previously suffered a defeat since 1999,
was a tough opponent but that he had always felt in control.

“He took good shots, [and] he was giving some good shots, too,”
Darchinyan said.

“When I punch him I think he was maybe stopped or going down, so I
don’t go for repeat shots but he kept coming back.

“He was fit and he gave me a good fight.”

Having disposed of the fighter rated No.4 in the division, Darchinyan
– himself rated No.3 – said he now wanted to take on Venezuelan
Parra, considered the best of the flyweights.

“I want to unify all of the belts,” he said. “The next one I am
looking for is the WBA belt. Lorenzo Parra is rated No.1 so I want to
fight him next and win that title, too.”

Despite suffering a cut above his left eye, Darchinyan simply had too
much power for Sikali, and he said the 33-year-old had retired two
minutes and 28 seconds into the eighth round as an act of self
preservation.

While he was never knocked down, Sikali was rocked on a number of
occasions by repeated uppercuts from Darchinyan.

“He stopped because he was already going,” Darchinyan said. “He is a
very smart boxer, he is very experienced. He knew that one more punch
and he would be knocked out.”

After taking time to size up his opponent for the first minute or so,
Darchinyan then took the fight to Sikali and landed a number of heavy
body blows in the first round, including one powerful shot to the
ribs.

In the second round he managed to punch his way through the South
African’s defence, opening a small cut near his right eye.

The third round was a little better for Sikali but the relentless
Darchinyan continued to dominate and in the fourth he stepped up the
pace and intensity even further.

A cut in the corner of Sikali’s left eye bled profusely as Darchinyan
tried to finish off yet another fight quickly and in the fifth round
he rocked the visiting southpaw.

Fighting the rest of the bout with blood trickling into his left eye
provoked little mercy as Darchinyan kept pounding Sikali until he
quit.

“I felt like I had more power and strength,” he said.

“I maybe stopped one round but in the rest I picked it. I was too
fit.”

Earlier in the evening, Team Fenech stablemate Lovemore Ndou
successfully defended his IBF Pan Pacific junior-welterweight title
with a second-round knockout of Jesar Ancajas from the Philippines,
while Nedal ‘Skinny’ Hussein stopped Tanzania’s clearly outclassed
Obote Ameme after just 30 seconds of their junior-lightweight bout.

Zaman Online

NATIONAL 03.26.2005 Saturday – ISTANBUL 09:37

Armenian Riot Under European Directive

By Erdal Sen
Published: Saturday 26, 2005
zaman.com

As a result of a lengthy examination of the Ottoman archival documents
in order to rebuff the so-called Armenian genocide allegations,
crucial important evidence has been revealed.

During the studies conducted under the guidence of theTurkish Prime
Ministry State Archive General Directorate, documents that have
been discoved indicate that the Armenians organized themselves on
Ottoman territory in preparation for a revolt. The document is in
the form of a letter written 23 years ago. It was dated August 9,
1892 and sent from the General Secretariat of Marsilia and London to
the Adana Armenian Archbishop with the revolution plan given in detail.

The letter notes that Armenians spread throughout many countries would
send support and all details including the type of clothing to be worn
during the rioting expected to take place in the revolt was given. The
letter is recorded with the reference number: BOA.HR. SYS.2789/8
in the archive. Cutting the lines of communication, burning down
public buildings, and killing top level civil servants were among
the list of actions recorded in the letter as part of the launch of
the Armenian revolt.

According to the letter, some European countries oriented the
Armenians against the Ottomans and the Director Associate Professor
Yusuf Sarinay defends that the contents of this letter should be
revealed. He added that there are many similar letters in the archive
and that he is now attempting to collect all related Ottoman documents:
“We have published the Armenian-French relations in three volumes
and the Armenian-British relations in two volumes. Right now, we are
working on publishing the volumes on Armenian-Russian relations. We
are continuing the classification of the Ottoman archive.”

Ankara

AZG Armenian Daily #053, 26/03/2005

Armenian Church

A SEPARATE LAW ON ARMENIAN CHURCH IN CONSTITUTION?

Parliamentary discussions over reforms of the Armenian Constitution
may result in placing the Armenian Apostolic Church in a privileged
position over all other confessions within the country. The Armenian
clergy itself put forward suggestions to emphasize the role of the
Armenian Church.

They particularly suggest to use wording “Armenian Apostolic Christian
Church with the Center of Etchmiadzin” thus setting it apart from
other denominations.

“This suggestion pursues a political aim too, as the Armenian Church is
actually divided in two and such a stress will set apart the Armenian
Apostolic Church which is ruled by the Catholicos”, Rafik Petrosian,
head of the State and Legal Commission of the National Assembly, said.

The clergy also points out that the relations between the Church
and the state has to be regulated by a law. That means that ground is
prepared to pass a separate law on the Church in the Constitution. This
is important so far as there are lot of uncertain issues concerning
Church’s and state’s property.

It’s very actual for us to upgrade Armenian Church’s position today
in view of numerous religious sects. By the way, there is no official
definition as to what denomination should be considered a sect and
what should not. The new law will spread light on many vague issues.

By Karine Danielian

OPPOSITION TO BLAME FOR NO “VELVET” REVOLUTION IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MARCH 23. ARMINFO. The local opposition is partly to blame
for no “velvet” revolution in Armenia after the 2003 electoral fraud,
says opposition MP Shavarsh Kocharyan.

The opposition swallowed the bait that “the next rally will be
decisive.” But decisive for revolution is pan national commitment
rather than just a next rally. In fact the opposition used a wrong
technology.

The second reason is that the law enforcers in Georgia and Ukraine
did not go against their people knowing that those they were set to
protect (Eduard Shevardnadze and Leonid Kuchma) would not stay in
power. This is not the case in Armenia in either 1996 or 2003. Next
time though the law enforcers will not be so fierce in protecting
Robert Kocharyan as his third term will be a slap in the face of not
only the Armenian people but the whole international community.

Kocharyan says that the opposition will be led by a man who will
manage not only to change the present regime but also to break the
whole vicious system. The present authorities can keep paving the
way for their successors – Parliament Speaker Artur Bagdassaryan,
Defence Minister Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan –
but the people knows that they will be just continuation of what is
going on now. Kocharyan does not exclude the possibility of formation
of a new alliance like was the case with the Unity bloc before the 1999
parliamentary elections. “It is a bluff that the opposion in Georgia
or Ukraine would not succeed without Western support. The West sponsors
observers but it does not give money to ralliers,” says Kocharyan.