Author: Nahapetian Boris

Armenian aide plays down chances of balance change in Karabakh talks

Arminfo
7 Mar 05

Yerevan, 7 March: The balance that has developed in the negotiations
to resolve the Karabakh conflict will remain unchanged for some time
because at the present stage no-one is interested in the situation
changing in favour of either of the sides, the Armenian president’s
national security adviser, Garnik Isagulyan, has told Arminfo.

The adviser said that the Karabakh peace process was moving ahead
steadily and that the Armenian side had nothing to worry about.

“Meanwhile, our main objective is to boost the combat readiness of
our army so that it should not be inferior to the armies of the
neighbouring countries,” Isagulyan said.

He expressed his confidence that the Armenian side was not worried
that the world’s superpowers might try to put pressure on Armenia to
find a speediest solution to the Karabakh conflict.

“We are following political processes not on the basis of official
statements of different countries, but on the basis of in-depth
analyses of the developments unfolding in the world at large and in
the region in particular, and on the basis of reports by state bodies
of different countries on the situation in Armenia and Karabakh. And
as long as these reports have nothing negative about us, there is
nothing to worry about,” Isagulyan said.

At the same time, he said a deterioration of the situation in the
region runs counter to the interests of both eastern [as given] and
European countries, not to mention the USA.

As far as Washington’s statements about the recognition of
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity are concerned, Isagulyan said: “We
don’t see these statements as reflecting the final and official
position of the USA because the Karabakh issue has not been fully
resolved yet and the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group, including a
representative of the USA, are still working to resolve the conflict.
We are sure that as long as the Minsk Group works in its present
format and as long as a peace agreement reflecting Karabakh’s status
has not been signed between Karabakh and Azerbaijan, we have to treat
all such statements calmly, but at the same time, we have to
safeguard our own position.”

[Passage omitted: reported details]

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
03/07/2005
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1) ANCA Web Fax Campaign Urges Pres. Bush to Speak With Moral Clarity on the
Armenian Genocide
2) ARF Bureau Member Meets with PES Secretary General
3) EU Raps Turkey on Police Violence
4) Former US Envoy Backs Armenian Genocide Recognition
5) Turkey Accused of Misleading EU over Resettlement
6) Turkey Renames ~QArmenian~R Animals

1) ANCA Web Fax Campaign Urges Pres. Bush to Speak With Moral Clarity on the
Armenian Genocide

WASHINGTON, DC–In light of discrepancy in policy of US complicity in Turkey’s
denial of the Armenian genocide in recent weeks, the Armenian National
Committee of Armenia began its WebFax Campaign asking for moral clarity and
principled leadership in the coming weeks.
On the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, send a free ANCA WebFax
urging President Bush, once and for all, to bring an end to the shameful
policy
of US complicity in Turkey’s denial of the Armenian genocide.
The letter asks Pres. Bush ~Sto adopt a new approach to our nation’s policies
on the proper recognition, official commemoration, and contemporary
implications of the first genocide of the 20th century.~T
It also urges the President to ~Sabandon the policy of opposing legislative
and
other initiatives–in Congress, at the state level, and by municipal
governments–to recognize and commemorate the Armenian Genocide, as well as
end
all forms of official US complicity in Turkey’s campaign of genocide denial,
and use the full moral standing and geopolitical influence of the White House
to press Turkey to acknowledge this crime, accept its responsibilities, and
come to terms with the Armenian nation.~T
In February 2000, then presidential candidate George W. Bush (campaigning for
votes among Armenian voters in the Michigan Republican primary) pledged to
properly characterize the genocidal campaign against the Armenian people. In
subsequent statements, Pres. Bush has consistently evaded references to the
Armenian genocide and consistently opposed legislation marking this crime
against humanity.
In February of this year, US Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans, in
town hall meetings with Armenian communities in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Los
Angeles, Fresno and San Francisco, spoke openly and candidly about the
Armenian
genocide. Under apparent pressure from the Turkish government and its
surrogates, he later issued a statement noting that his private views on this
subject did not represent a change in official US policy.
Send an ANCA WebFax asking the President to honor his pledge to properly
recognize the Armenian genocide by visiting
<;

2) ARF Bureau Member Meets with PES Secretary General

YEREVAN (Yerkir)–ARF Bureau Member Mario Nalbandian met with the Secretary
General of the Party of European Socialists (PES), Philip Cordery, at the
organization’s headquarters.
The two Socialist leaders spoke about the political situation in Armenia,
Turkey’ accession to the European Union (EU), and the EU’s “New neighborhood
Wider Europe” policy.
After a brief presentation about the ARF, Nalbandian discussed the ARF’s role
in the governmental coalition, stressing the party’s aim of promoting
stability
and democracy.
Regarding Turkey’s European Union candidacy, Nalbandian noted the importance
of the recognition of the Armenian genocide by Turkey during the negotiations
between Brussels and Ankara. He said that “this issue is not emotional, but
rational.”
He explained that Turkey’s aggressive policy against Armenia and Armenians is
linked to the genocide itself, and asked the Party of European Socialists to
closely scrutinize Turkey’s actions as part of the broader effort to guarantee
the security and stability of the South Caucasus.

3) EU Raps Turkey on Police Violence

ANKARA (Reuters)–The European Union has condemned the use of violence by
Turkish police against women demonstrators and urged Turkey to fully implement
all human rights reforms aimed at preparing the country for EU membership.
Television footage showed Turkish police kicking and beating women’s rights
protesters on Sunday during an unauthorized demonstration in Istanbul just as
senior EU officials arrived in the country for three days of talks on Turkey’s
EU bid.
“We have been very concerned to see such disproportionate use of force
against
demonstrators,” said Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn. Luxembourg
holds the EU’s rotating presidency.
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul promised a full investigation into the
incident and said Turkey remained fully committed to meeting all EU norms
as it
prepares for entry negotiations, which are due to start on October 3.
Asselborn urged Turkey to keep up the momentum of its reforms, including a
‘zero tolerance’ policy towards torture and full property rights for
non-Muslim
religious groups.
Gul rejected recent criticism by EU officials and Turkish media that Ankara
has been dragging its feet over the EU process since winning its October 3
date
for talks at a historic summit in Brussels last December.
He attributed the impression of recent inactivity to the big reform push
ahead
of the December summit, jokingly comparing Turkey to a “doped-up” athlete
racing for the finishing line.
“Now we continue our work at a more normal pace,” he said.

4) Former US Envoy Backs Armenian Genocide Recognition

YEREVAN (RFE-RL)–A retired diplomat who served as the United States’ first
ambassador to Armenia has joined calls for the international recognition of
the
Armenian genocide, echoing surprise statements on the subject made by the
current head of the US mission in Yerevan.
Over the weekend, Ambassador Harry Gilmore said the extermination of an
estimated 1.5 million Armenians in Ottoman Turkey fits the definition of
genocide set by the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of
Genocide.
“There is no doubt that the Armenian events were genocide,” Gilmore said.
“Of course, we have to bear in mind that the Genocide Convention came well
after the events in the Ottoman Empire,” he added. “I think legally there
is no
question of the convention applying retroactively. But the key point is that
the convention sets up a standard and the massacres and deportations of the
Ottoman Armenians meet that standard fully.”
Gilmore argued that Raphael Lemkin, the Jewish author of the word “genocide,”
referred not only to the Jewish Holocaust but also the events of 1915-1918
when
he came up with the concept following the Second World War. “In fact, when Mr.
Lemkin coined the term genocide the Armenian events were one of the two
archetypes he used in his work,” he said.
Gilmore, who served as ambassador to Armenia from 1993-1995, was the first US
government official to visit and lay flowers at the genocide memorial in
Yerevan. But both he and his two successors consistently avoided calling the
systematic deportation and massacres of the Armenians a “genocide” in line
with
Washington’s policy on the highly sensitive subject.
Successive White House administrations have been anxious not to upset Turkey,
a major US ally which strongly denies that the government of the crumbling
Ottoman Empire pursued a premeditated policy of exterminating its Armenian
population. Ankara also claims that the Armenian death toll is inflated.
John Evans, the current US ambassador in Yerevan, therefore took many
observers by surprise when he declared at a series of meetings with members of
the Armenian-American community last month that the Turks did commit “the
first
genocide of the 20th century.” The remarks fueled speculation about a
pro-Armenian shift in the US government’s position on the issue.
But Evans denied it, saying in a statement last week that he expressed his
personal opinion. A senior official from George Bush’s administration stated
that Evans’s statements “absolutely contradict the policy of the US
government.”
Gilmore declined to comment on possible implications of Evans’s statement.
“Because I am outside the US government now, I have no insider knowledge of
what his communication with the US government might be on the issue,” he
said.
“From my thorough study of the events of that period I am persuaded that they
do indeed constitute a genocide,” he added.
Evans likewise told members of the Armenian-American community that he
studied
the subject in detail and consulted with a State Department lawyer before
going
on record. Leading Armenian-American organizations were quick to commend him.

5) Turkey Accused of Misleading EU over Resettlement

ANKARA (HRW)–Turkey’s government was accused on Monday of misleading the
European Union about progress made in resettling nearly 400,000 people
displaced by the civil war between the army and Kurdish separatists in the
1980s and 1990s.
Human Rights Watch alleged the government had exaggerated the number of
people
returning to their villages and farms in the southeast of the country last
year, just as EU political leaders were deciding whether to invite Turkey to
join the EU. The organization said the government’s claim that one-third of
the
estimated 378,000 mainly Kurdish refugees were being helped to return home was
“unreliable.” It said its own investigation showed that in some places, the
number was less than a fifth of the official estimates.
“Our analysis found that the official statistics are not entirely reliable,
and that permanent returns are running at a much lower rate than indicated,”
Human Rights Watch said in a report issued on Monday.
It said many villagers were reluctant to return because their homes and
villages had been destroyed and were often without electricity, telephone
lines, education, or health facilities. Assistance with reconstruction was
“minimal or non-existent.”
Rachel Denber, acting executive director of Human Rights Watch’s Europe and
Central Asia division, accused paramilitary village guards of “attacking and
killing” returnees in some parts of the region. She said a visiting EU
delegation should put the issue of returnees at the top of its agenda.
The resettlement of people displaced by the civil war is a benchmark of
Turkey’s chances of joining the EU, and the government has pledged to
facilitate their return. The refugees were forced out of villages and farms
across a swathe of the south-east by the armed forces in their campaign
against
PKK rebels.

6) Turkey Renames ~QArmenian~R Animals

ANKARA (AP)–Turkey is renaming three indigenous animals to eliminate
references to Kurdistan and Armenia, the Environment and Forestry Ministry
announced Friday, saying the old names were given by foreigners with
designs on
the country’s unity.
A species of red fox known as “Vulpes Vulpes Kurdistanica” will now be known
as just “Vulpes Vulpes,” a species of wild sheep called “Ovis Armeniana” was
changed to “Ovis Orientalis Anatolicus,” and a type of deer known as
“Capreolus
Capreolus Armenus” was renamed “Capreolus Cuprelus Capreolus,” a ministry
statement said.
“Unfortunately, foreign scientists, who for many years researched Turkey’s
flora and fauna, named plant and animal species that they had never come
across
before with a prejudiced mind-set,” the statement said. “Unfortunately, there
are many species in our country that were named in this way with ill intent.
This ill intent is so obvious that even species that are endemic to our
country
were given names that are against our unitary structure,” the statement
added.
The ministry said the new names were chosen through scientific research. It
was not clear why Turkish authorities have waited until now to change the
names. It was also not clear if the name changes would be internationally
recognized.

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PanArmenian News
March 5 2005

GALVESTON TEXAS CITY AUTHORITIES PASSED MEMORANDUM ON ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE 90TH ANNIVERSARY

05.03.2005 14:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Authorities of Galveston city, Texas have passed a
memorandum, devoted to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
«The Armenian community of Galveston and Texas highly appreciate city
Mayor Lida-Ann Thomas for adoption of the memorandum and supporting
the cooperation program between sister cities Galveston and Armavir,»
stated Armenian National Committee of America Texas representative
Vache Hovsepian. In his words, the step marked the beginning of
measures, devoted to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in
Texas. «We realize the political weight of Texas at the federal level
and we hope to build on it the Texas activities to support
Armenians,» he noted.

Turks find wolf in sheep’s clothing

Irish Times
Mar 05, 2005

TURKEY: Turkey’s environment ministry has renamed three native animals
to rid them of names which ministry officials believed were given by
“foreigners” with a territorial axe to grind.

A sheep species previously known as Ovis Armeniana has been renamed
Ovis Orientalis Anatolicus . A red fox was renamed as Vulpes Vulpes
rather than Vulpes Vulpes Kurdistanica . A deer named Capreolus
Capreolus Armenius was renamed as Capreolus Caprelus Capreolus
. “Unfortunately there are many other species in Turkey which were
named this way with ill-intentions. This ill-intent is so obvious that
even species only found in our country were given names against
Turkey’s unity,” the statement said.

Turkey has tense ties with its eastern neighbour Armenia, which it
does not officially recognise. It has also waged a bloody war against
Kurdish separatists, who have sought an independent state in Turkey’s
southeast. The ministry said scientific studies led to the choice of
new names.

Georgian government, Russian grid to sign 5-year cooperation agreement

Kavkasia-Press news agency
5 Mar 05

TBILISI

The Georgian government and the Russian Unified Energy Systems (UES)
will sign a new five-year cooperation agreement, Deputy Chief
Executive of the UES Andrey Rappoport said at a news briefing after
his meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli today
(Rappoport is also the chairman of the supervisory board of [the
Tbilisi electricity distribution company] Telasi). According to him,
the agreement will be drawn up by Georgian-Russian working groups and
will probably be signed on 1 June 2005.

At today’s meeting the sides discussed a wide range of issues,
including the results of the winter season, establishment of a new
market model in the Georgian energy sector, additional electricity
imports from Russia during the Inguri hydropower plant’s planned
shutdown for repairs, Russian electricity exports to other countries
through Georgia, development of the joint Georgian-Russian venture
Sakrusenergo, refurbishment of the 10th power generating unit of the
Gardabani thermal power plant and Khrami-1 and Khrami-2 hydropower
plants, and other issues.

Andrey Rappoport said that during the Inguri plant’s shutdown Georgia
would receive additional electricity imports from Russia, Armenia and
Azerbaijan. He noted that there might be some problems with [the poor
condition of] the Kavkasioni high-voltage power line but expressed his
hope that everything would go as planned.

Rappoport noted that the Russian side was both technically and
organizationally ready to start the refurbishment of the 10th power
generating unit of the Gardabani thermal plant. When there is a demand
in Georgia for the energy generated by the 10th unit, investment will
be made for its refurbishment, Rappoport said.

Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli said that he was very pleased with the
results of today’s meeting where the sides “reached full understanding
on many issues”. Noghaideli said that Russian companies were offered
to take part in the current, second stage of reforms of the Georgian
energy sector which envisaged privatization of energy facilities. In
this regard, Rappoport said that the UES was interested in Georgia’s
power distribution grids. He also noted that Georgia needed to develop
an infrastructure of trunk power lines and, therefore, a third party
could be invited in the Sakrusenergo joint venture. However, Rappoport
did not specify the third party’s name.

The parties also discussed electricity tariffs for Telasi customers.
Rappoport said that the Georgian National Energy Regulating
Commission’s decision to lower the tariffs was not fair and that the
tariffs should remain the same. Zurab Noghaideli said that the
tariffs would not be discussed until the signing of the new
agreement. [Passage omitted]

Armenian minister denies power grid being sold to Russians

Arminfo
3 Mar 05

YEREVAN

The British company Midland Resources Holding Ltd, which owns the
Armenian power grid company, has not applied to the Armenian
government to sell the company, Armenian Energy Minister Armen
Movsisyan told a news conference on 3 March, commenting on the
intention of Unified Energy System of Russia to buy the grid.

Movsisyan said that no official letter or notification had been
received from the British company with such a proposal, though
negotiations on the sale of the Armenian power grid have been
conducted since the time of the privatization.

Movsisyan said that under the privatization agreement Midland
Resources has the right to sell the power grid to a third party only
with the Armenian government’s permission.

Europe Information Service
Euro-East
March 4, 2005

EU/SOUTH CAUCASUS: TIES SHOULD BE ENHANCED THROUGH ACTION PLANS,
COMMISSION SAYS

The European Union should boost its political and economic ties with
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, in return for progress on reforms
under bilateral action plans. That was what the European Commission
recommended on March 2, issuing a series of country reports on
countries covered by European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and
suggestions for what the main elements of prospective action plans
should be. ENP is the initiative looking to enhance the EU’s
relations with its post-enlargement neighbours to the East and South.

Reports and reforms.

The Commission adopted on March 2 so-called country reports on Egypt
and Lebanon, and the three South Caucasus countries Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia. These three countries were added to the ENP
in mid-2004. The country reports give a factual account of the
political, economic and institutional situation in the countries
concerned, and of their relations with the EU.

The reports focus on areas which the Commission says would form the
basis of any future action plans, namely:

– Political reform: strengthening democracy, good governance and
dialogue on human rights;

– Economic reform: including promoting a good business and investment
climate;

– Trade, market and regulatory reforms: promoting trade and helping
partner countries to integrate into the global trading system,
encouraging partner countries to apply the standards of the EU’s
internal market;

– Cooperation in the field of justice, liberty and security: judicial
reform and migration issues;

– Infrastructure networks (energy, transport and telecommunications,
information society) and cooperation on the environment;

– People-to-people contacts: education, research and development,
culture, civil society, and the opening of certain Community
programmes.

The reports “indicate the need for continued reform in Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia and for progress in a number of key areas”.
The Commission said that the governments concerned had declared their
determination to address the various challenges identified, to
develop relations with the EU and to integrate further into European
structures. It said it believed that ENP action plans could be used
to strengthen relations and promote implementation of the necessary
reforms. The Commission recommended to EU member states that they
agree that work should begin on the plans.

Priorities and carrots.

The Commission also suggested the key objectives for the prospective
three to five-year action plans. These include, for example, the
decommissioning of Armenia’s Medzamor nuclear power plant and making
progress in Azerbaijan’s WTO accession.

According to the Commission, the action plans – to be negotiated with
each country separately – should provide among other things for:
support for market economy reforms leading to gradual economic
integration into the EU’s internal market; increased financial
support including an extension of the European Investment Bank’s
mandate to the South Caucasus countries as of 2007; possible dialogue
on visa cooperation and readmission agreements (on taking back
illegal immigrants); and possible “new enhanced” agreements with the
EU to replace the current Partnership and Cooperation Agreements on
their expiry.

The Commission also said that it intends to open a delegation office
in Azerbaijan in 2005. Sources explained that the Commission already
has a full-scale office in Georgia, and was preparing to open a
delegation in Baku on the same basis as the smaller-scale operation
(called a “regionalised” delegation office) in Yerevan, Armenia.

EU External Relations/Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner Benita
Ferrero-Waldner said that 2005 would be “the year of delivery” for
neighbourhood policy, beginning the implementation of action plans
already adopted and developing new ones: “The challenge for the EU
and for our partners will be to turn the commitments and aspirations
contained in such plans into reality, through measurable reforms
bringing concrete benefits for our neighbouring countries and their
citizens.”

—

ENP action plans have already been negotiated with Israel, Jordan,
Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Ukraine.
Formal endorsement is still awaited with Morocco, the Palestinian
Authority and Tunisia, with sources saying that this is expected in
the coming weeks. EU member states decided in June 2004 to include
Armenia, Azerbaijan and in Georgia ENP, on the basis of a strategy
paper issue by the Commission that May. The Commission was invited to
report on progress made by each country with regard to political and
economic reforms.

—

Next steps.

EU member states must now formally decide whether work on action
plans with the South Caucasus countries should begin. The Commission
said that work would start immediately once this had happened.
Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili told Europe Information
New Neighbours that she hoped that EU member states would agree in
March to launch the action plan. Commission sources said the aim
would be to try to conclude the new plans this year.

BLOC “JUSTICE” OPEN FOR COOPERATION WITH POLITICAL FORCES IN COUNTRY
ASPIRING FOR RESTORATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MARCH 2. ARMINFO. The bloc “Justice” is open for cooperation
with all the political forces in the country aspiring for restoration
of the constitutional order in the country. Leader of the opposition
bloc “Justice,” MP Stepan Demirchyan made this statement at a press
conference at the National Press Club today commenting on the
intentions of separate native politicians to start revolution
processes at the request of journalists.

Stepan Demirchyan came out against speculations and surplus use of the
term “revolution.” He noted that despite rumors about the “splitting
activity” of the Republic party, it was still in the bloc. As regards
the rumors about some blocs (Republic-Liberal-Progressive
Party-heritage party) or some unions of “Justice” bloc with Armenian
National Movement, he said, “I do not comment on what does not
exist. We are outside any intrigues, the bloc is not against any
transformations and is ready to any elections every moment.”
Demirchyan noted that he perceived origination of such figures as head
of ALM TV Holding Tigran Karapetyan in the political arena rather
calmly. The people will chose whom it trusts more during elections, he
says. As regards any political analysis and scenarios, Demirchyan
noted that he was an active political but never analyst or political
scientists.

He also noted that despite the population’s expectations for
fundamental changes and change of power first of all from presidential
elections, this autumn the “Justice” bloc would participate in the
elections to the local self-government.- M-

“EVERYBODY REALIZES THAT KARABAKH CAN’T BE GIVEN BACK TO AZERBAIJAN”

Azg/arm
01 March 05

John Evans Calls Massacre of Armenians in Ottoman Empire
â~@~XGenocideâ~@~Y

Mediamax agency informed that John Evans, the US ambassador to RA,
stated on February 19 that although the US follows a policy of
territorial integrity of nations, “Everybody realizes that Karabakh
canâ~@~Yt be given back to Azerbaijan. That would be a disastrous
step.”

Ambassador Evans said during the meeting with the representatives of
the American-Armenian community of San Francisco that “If Yerevan and
Baku work out a settlement, I hope that everyone will pull together
to help them. If they reach a settlement we cannot undermine it.”

Commenting on a recent statement by Ramiz Melikov, head of Press
Service at the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan, who said that there
would be no Armenia left in 25 years, Evans said, “This was an
outrageous, bellicose statement, and it brought all the bad memories
of Armenians back.”

Recently, few days ago, in connection with the George Bushâ~@~Ys tour
to Europe, the US State Department spread a statement that said:
“We recognize the territorial integrity of Moldova, Georgia and
Azerbaijan and we join the international efforts directed to the
peaceful political settlement of the conflicts in Transdnestria,
South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Nagorno Karabakh.”

Though the US and other countries in chair of the Minsk group repeat
that they recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, on the
other hand, these states do not predict the results of the negotiations
around the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. Thus, the mediator
countries accept any kind of agreement on the settlement achieved by
Yerevan and Baku.

Rudolf Perina, the US former co-chair of Minsk group, definitely
separated the Nagorno Karabakh conflict from the other conflicts in
the territory of the CIS in the interview to Ekho Moskvi Radio Station
on December 11, 2002. He said that Transdnestria should be the part
of Moldova, Abkhazia and South Ossetia should be the part of Georgia,
while the issue of Nagorno Karabakh is quite a different one.

The statement by ambassador John Evans during the meeting with the
Armenian-American community saying that “Everybody realizes that
Karabakh canâ~@~Yt be given back to Azerbaijan,” is sure to be strictly
criticized by the official Baku.

By the way, only few days ago, ANS Baku based TV informed that Rino
Harnish, US ambassador to Azerbaijan, expressed dissatisfaction
concerning the warm relations between Azerbaijan and Iran. Ambassador
Harnish stated that Iran supports terrorism on state level and tries
to create nuclear weapon and it would be better if Baku took into
account this circumstance.

During the meeting with the members of the Armenianâ~@~SAmerican
community, John Evans called the massacre of the Armenians in the
Ottoman Empire 100 years ago “genocide.” “I will today call it the
Armenian Genocide,” he said, adding that he had also consulted with
a State department lawyer who confirmed that the events of 1915 were
“genocide by definition.”

Evans stated that though various US administration and officials have
avoided using the word “genocide” for the Armenian case, “No American
official has ever denied it.” On the other hand, Mr. ambassador said:
“I think it is unbecoming of us as Americans to play word games
here.” “The Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the 20th
centuryâ~@¦ We made many mistakes after WWI,” he said.

John Evans also met with Ken Khachikian, chairman of the Board of
Armenian Cause in America. According to Mediamax, Aram Hambarian,
executive director of the Board of Armenian Cause, highly estimated
“the statement made by John Evans on the Armenian Genocide.” “We
take into account the fact that these statements coincided with the
new level of the current attitude of the US administration and the
American society towards Turkey,” Hambarian said.

By Tatoul Hakobian

–Boundary_(ID_N4JGSuDtAHm8dLUZNJiUgQ)–

Glendale News Press
Published February 26, 2005

Candidates race for the green now in full swing
Council candidates raised $280,000, spent $140,000 since Jan. 1. Ara
Najarian and Vrej Agajanian collect more than $50,000 each.

By Josh Kleinbaum, News-Press and Leader

GLENDALE CITY HALL — Between television commercials and speech coaches,
campaigns for City Council, city clerk and city treasurer are beginning to
get expensive.
Candidates for City Council have raised more than $280,000 and spent more
than $140,000 since Jan. 1, kicking off the race for four available seats in
the April 5 municipal election.
advertisement
Candidates for the three city offices submitted campaign finance reports to
the city this week. All reports had to be postmarked by Thursday.
Two challengers, Ara Najarian and Vrej Agajanian, lead the City Council
money race, each collecting more than $50,000 since January, according to
campaign finance statements. Mayor Bob Yousefian raised only $6,343 since
January, but collected more than $95,000 in 2004. He leads the spending
spree, having paid out $29,641 since January.
In the City Clerk race, Paulette Mardikian raised $15,489 in January, on top
of a $50,000 loan her husband gave her in January. Ardashes Kassakhian has
raised the most since January with $40,606.
“You obviously need money to get your message out, especially with a field
of 19 [candidates],” Councilman Frank Quintero said. “[The big figures]
means that there are some people that have substantial backing and are
serious candidates. But there have been lots of candidates with money that
haven’t done well. It takes more than money.”
A look at the statements shows how to run local campaigns. A major expense
is sending information to voters, which explains Yousefian’s spending spree.
He already mailed a brochure to voters, which accounted for much of his
expenses.
Candidates spent thousands of dollars on lawn signs and campaign literature.
Quintero said he ordered twice as many lawn signs as he felt he needed
because of theft.
And candidates are increasingly turning to television. Three of the nine
candidates for city clerk have already spent thousands to create
commercials.
“You have so many candidates running, and you really have to differentiate
yourself, and television is a good way to do that,” said Garrett Biggs, a
campaign consultant working for City Clerk candidate Kathryn Van Houten.
Van Houten’s campaign debuted its first television spot Friday evening.
Some candidates put their own money into their campaigns. Glynda Gomez, wife
of former Councilman Gus Gomez, loaned herself $26,500, more than 85% of her
total contributions. Garry Sinanian kicked $15,000 into his campaign, and
Shirley Griffin contributed $3,443 to herself.
Pauline Field raised $2,412, mostly in small donations, but still found room
to pay $1,000 to her campaign manager and business partner, Barry Allen.
Agajanian collected the most large donations, accepting 16 donations of
$1,000 or more, including four $5,000 donations.
Council candidate Steve Hedrick believes that large donations can buy
influence, so he is not accepting any donations larger than $500.
“It’s my firm belief that normal people can’t sit down and write a $5,000
check, and they should have just as much access as the people who can write
those large checks,” Hedrick said.
Quintero hasn’t raised any money since January, relying on the $43,333 he
collected in 2004. But he’s planning a March 10 fundraiser to restock his
war chest. He did contribute $100 to the campaigns of Najarian and city
clerk candidates Mardikian and Lorna Vartanian.
Mardikian found an interesting way to spend that money. She paid $100 for a
speech coach. Three City Council candidates, Joe Mandoky, Chahe Keuroghelian
and John Stevenson, and one city treasurer candidate, Phillip Kazanjian, did
not submit finance reports, City Clerk Doris Twedt said. Candidates are not
required to file reports if they have not raised money.