Author: Nahapetian Lilit

TATOUL MARGARIAN TO HAND HIS CREDENTIALS TO GEORGE BUSH

AZG Armenian Daily #098, 31/05/2005

Armenia-US

Armenian ambassador to Washington, Tatoul Margarian, handed his
credentials to US President George W. Bush on May 26. According to
a press release by the RA Foreign Ministry, President Bush highly
evaluated good-neighborly relations with Armenia and noted that the two
states are connected with a unique history. “Since Armenian Republic’s
independence in 1991, together we have been working towards creation
of democratic institutions and stable economy in order to rebuild
Armenia and eliminate results of devastating earthquake in 1988,
collapse of the USSR and the war with neighboring Azerbaijan over
Nagorno Karabakh”, the message by US President reads. Bush praised
Armenia for its help in struggle against international terrorism
and for Armenian detachment in Iraq supporting establishment of a
democratic state.

Russia to Begin Withdrawal from Georgia

The Scotsman, UK
May 30 2005

Russia agreed today to begin withdrawing from two Soviet-era bases
in Georgia by the end of the year, handing a victory to the Caucasus
Mountain nation that is increasingly looking to the West for military
and economic ties.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the withdrawal – which
would be completed by 2008 – would take place “without any kind of
discomfort for the soldiers” and he said the pact would “help further
develop our relations.”

The agreement was “an important and constructive step,” said Lavrov’s
Georgian counterpart, Salome Zurabishvili. “We have achieved the goal
which we have long been working for.”

Lavrov said troops and equipment will be withdrawn first from the
military base at the southern city of Akhalkalaki and then from the
Black Sea port of Batumi. About 3,000 troops are stationed at the
two bases, which are holdovers from the Soviet era; two others were
closed over the past decade.

Russia commits itself to start withdrawing – beginning mainly with
heavy equipment – this year, according to the agreement, whose text
was posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry website. Zurabishvili said
a formal agreement would have to be signed and ratified by Russia’s
parliament in order for Russia to allocate funds to close the bases.

The deal is a victory for Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili,
who has sought to move his country out of the shadow of its giant
neighbour and toward deeper economic and military relations with the
US and Europe.

At a news conference at Georgia’s embassy in Moscow, Zurabishvili said
the base dispute “is only one of the issues we have in Georgian-Russian
relations.”

“This agreement doesn’t mean we have solved everything,” she said.

But she said it was a good start, and that if managed correctly
it could build trust “instead of becoming a process or humiliation
or failure.”

Georgia had accused Russia of procrastination in withdrawing the final
troop contingents in order to keep a presence in the country that the
Kremlin regards as part of its historical sphere of influence. Earlier
this year, Georgian officials raised the prospect of declaring the
bases illegal next year if there were no progress in negotiations.

In recent talks, Georgia had pressed for Russia to complete the
withdrawal by the beginning of 2008, but Russian officials had said
Moscow might need more than a decade.

Zurabishvili said the statement did not include a Georgian pledge to
refrain from hosting bases of other countries but suggested it does
not intend to do so.

“Georgia does not wish for the military presence of any country on
its territory,” she said.

In addition to the bases, Russia and Georgia have sparred over issues
such as Russia’s close relations with the governments in Abkhazia and
South Ossetia – two regions that broke away from Georgia during wars
in the 1990s.

Russia in turn has watched with dismay as Saakashvili pursues closer
relations with the West and boosted military co-operation with the US.

In the second programme of its kind, a group of US military instructors
are currently training about 2,000 Georgian troops who will serve in
international peacekeeping operations. Georgia also has more than 850
soldiers and other military personnel serving in Iraq as part of the
US-led military effort there.

Lavrov expressed hope that the two countries will be able to reach
a final agreement on the border by the end of the year.

Neighbouring Azerbaijan, meanwhile, reiterated concerns that withdrawal
of Russian military equipment from Georgia could be moved to Armenia
and find its way into the tense area where Azerbaijani and ethnic
Armenian forces have faced off since a 1990s war over the disputed
enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.

NUMBER OF OFFICIALS PRESENTING DELARATION OF INCOME AND PROPERTY
INCREASES BY 4 THOUSAND THIS YEAR

YEREVAN, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Approximately 46,000 declarations of
income and property have been received this year by the subdivisions
of the RA Government-affiliated State Tax Service (STS) compared with
42,123 declarations in 2004. STS Head Feliks Tsolakian stated this at
the May 25 press conference, noting that as of May 1, 741 high-ranking
officials were subjected to administrative liability for evasion to
submit a declaration compared with 1,800 ones in 2004. Underlining the
importance of passing the Law on Declaration of Incomes and Property
by Natural Persons, F. Tsolakian expressed confidence that it will
help increase the efficiency of the supervisory functions of the tax
bodies.

Zaman Online, Turkey
May 29 2005

‘I have no Intention to Run for Presidential Office’

Published: Sunday 29, 2005
zaman.com

Turkish Minister of Justice Cemil Cicek said that those, who believe
h he “intends to become president “, try to set a trap for the
Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Emphasizing that he has no problems with his party, Cicek noted: “I
have no such intention. No one should fall into this trap. I am ready
for any kind of sacrifice for the unity and integrity of my party. I
would not do any business against my party and the government. ”
Minister Cicek also expressed that his remark “This is a stab in the
back against Turkish nation”, as he uttered to defined a conference
on Armenians that was planned to be conducted at the Bogazici
(Bosphorous) University, should be evaluated within the framework of
freedom of thought.

It has been claimed that Cicek had exhibited a different attitude
than his party during negotiations regarding the new Turkish Penal
Code (TCK) in order to become president in 2007. Answering Zaman’s
questions, the Minister of Justice stressed that these claims are
only gossip. Cicek indicated that the political circles that are
disturbed with the AKP want to stir the party and similar attempts
would increase as presidential elections approach.

‘My remarks should be considered within the framework of freedom of
thought as well’

Minister of Justice Cicek has also sat on the agenda by his tough
statements about the conference on Armenians that was to be held at
the Bosphorous University. After Cicek’s statement “This is a stab in
the back against Turkish nation”, the conference was cancelled.
Standing behind his statements, Cicek does not believe that relations
with the European Union (EU) will be damaged. He notes: “Why would my
reaction affect the EU negatively? My remarks should be evaluated
within the framework of freedom of thought. There has been prepared a
law, which makes saying ‘Turks did not commit genocide’ a crime in
Brussels, the EU’s capital. Why is saying this free but objecting to
this is a crime? This is also a freedom of thought. I am a
politician. I have thoughts and ideas. I have to express them.”

GOVERNMENT AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WORK PRODUCTIVELY FOR LAST THREE
MONTHS, PRIME MINISTER BELIEVES

YEREVAN, MAY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA National Assembly’s spring
session finished on May 26. According to RA Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian’s estimation, the Parliament and the Government have worked
productively during the last 3 months. In the interview to
journalists, among the laws adopted by the Parliament during the
session, Andranik Margarian attached special importance to
Constitution’s amendments package adopted in the first reading,
Electoral Code’s amendments package adopted in the second reading and
completely which are directly connected with the fulfillment of
obligations taken in front of the Council of Europe. A number of
important drafts concerning the economy sphere are adopted. Besides,
the Government sent to the National Assembly the package concerning
the mortgage market which is already being discussed at the
Parliament’s Standing Committees. In the Prime Minister’s opinion,
during the spring sitting, both the Government and MPs will adapt to
the new working style, the four-days sittings’ regime, and will
attempt to solve gathered issues without convening special
sessions. But, according to him, one NA special session will probably
be convened in June connected with the fulfillment of obligations
taken in front of the Council of Europe. These are mainly the second
or third draft readings. Responding the Noyan Tapan correspondent’s
question, the RA Prime Minister mentioned that though the cooperation
is estimated as positive his only reservation concerns the point that
in the sense of the technical fulfillment, the cooperation could be
“even better, not like this .” As an example, the Prime Minister
mentioned the discussion of the 2004 state budget order at the May 26
sitting, “when 15 ministers and only 13-14 MPs were sitting in the
hall what speaks of a technical but not political attitude.” According
to the Prime Minister, one can also work more operatively as, often,
while discussing drafts, MPs speaks about minor events more that it is
necessary: “That is, “easy” drafts are spoken around more that “hard”
ones.”

GREAT NUMBER OF VALUABLE FILMS TO BE SHOWN IN NON-COMPETITIVE PROGRAM
AT SECOND FILM FESTIVAL “GOLDEN APRICOT”

YEREVAN, MAY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The second international film festival
“Golden Apricot,” to take place in Yerevan on June 12-17, besides the
competitive departments, has several non-competitive programs as well,
within the framework of which a great number of valuable films not
included in the competitive departments will be shown. As Susanna
Haroutiunian, the Chairwoman of the Film Journalists and Film Critics
Association of Armenia informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent, in the
non-competitive program “Wider Europe, New Neighbourhood,” documentary
films of the last two years of the East Europe, Turkey and the former
soviet republics will be shown, including Oskan Kuchuk’s (Turkey)
“Master Arsen: from Stone, Water and Dust,” Philip Remunda’s and Vit
Cluzac’s (Czechia) “Czechian Dreams”, Ileana Stankuleski’s (Romani)
“Bridge” and other films will be shown. Iranian and Dutch famous film
directors Abbas Kiarostami’s and Jos Stelling’s works will be shown in
the “Retrospective” non-competitive program. The Iranian film
director who is considered to be one of the world film classics, is
known to Armenian spectators with his “Cherry’s Taste” film. Three of
his films will be shown on the days of the festival, and an exhibition
of the director’s photos will open in the “Moscow” cinema. World
famous Dutch film director Jos Stelling’s four films which were
honoured with highest awards at numerous authoritative festivals will
be shown on the days of the festival.

Boston.com |
May 27, 2005

Zaven DerHagopian, 82; aided native Armenia
By Gloria Negri, Globe Staff Zaven DerHagopian was 16 when he left his
Armenian community in Turkey in 1938 to come to America with his family. But
his love of the Armenian people would stay with him for the rest of his
life.
Once he had found success here through hard work and perseverance, Mr.
DerHagopian made 28 trips to Armenia over 23 years. He provided financial
and material aid to people who needed it — he gave tractors to farmers and
supplies to schools, for example.
Mr. DerHagopian, a retired food chemist and philanthropist, died of cancer
Saturday at his home in Cumberland Foreside, Maine. He was 82.
”Zaven was a very proud Armenian and an extremely charitable man who was
very intelligent and charming,” said William Kayatta of South Portland,
Maine, a longtime friend.
Mr. DerHagopian became so popular during his trips to Armenia that in the
last 30 years he was asked to be the godfather to more than 20 people. That
tribute is considered ”one of the most honorable and respected
responsibilities in the Armenian culture,” according to Mr. DerHagopian’s
son Zareh of Falmouth, Maine.
On first arriving in America, Mr. DerHagopian’s parents, Aram and Flora, and
his two siblings settled in Medford. Unable to speak English at first, but
fluent in French and Armenian, Mr. DerHagopian had his school lessons
translated into French, and then he translated them into Armenian.
He worked odd jobs and at his parents’ variety store, his son said, while
going through Medford High School and, later, during his college years.
After graduating from high school, Mr. DerHagopian enlisted in the Army and
served as a medical technician in England. He enrolled under the GI Bill at
Northeastern University, earning a degree in chemistry in 1953, his son
said.
Later, he did advanced studies in food chemistry and worked in that field
for companies in the Boston area. He married Dorothy Bedrosian 51 years ago.
In 1968, Mr. DerHagopian began working at the former Jordan’s Meats in South
Portland. He was a food chemist and the company’s vice president for many
years.
”Zaven created a couple of fine products for them, like the chicken hot
dog,” Kayatta said. ”He convinced the company that using chicken would not
only save money but be better for nutrition.”
Mr. DerHagopian began making regular trips to Armenia in 1975, and his love
for his heritage and the Armenian people made him many friends almost
immediately, his son said. Even on that first visit, he was asked to be a
godfather for the bridegroom in a family he had just met, his son said. Once
he retired in 1982, he made more frequent visits to Armenia, forging bonds
with his godchildren and with the Daniel Vartan School in Yerevan, the
capital.
His son recalled packing containers of supplies in Maine that would be sent
to the school, where students once put on an assembly in Mr. DerHagopian’s
honor. He was last there a year ago for the graduation of a class close to
his heart. He dedicated each trip, his son said, to various causes — from
helping someone launch a business to helping a struggling singer record his
folk music. Mr. DerHagopian then sold the CDs for him in the States. ”Dad
liked to help people help themselves,” his son said.
Mr. DerHagopian preferred not to work with relief agencies, his son said.
”It gave him much greater pleasure to help on his own,” he said. When a
major earthquake once struck Armenia, Mr. DerHagopian initiated fund-raising
efforts here. Occasionally, he would bring Armenians to visit in the States
and would travel with American friends to Armenia.
Gus Barber of Portland, Maine, once accompanied him. ”It was a very
emotional trip for Zaven,” he said. ”He was just obsessed with helping
people.”
So beloved did Mr. DerHagopian become in Armenia, his son said, that parents
would delay baptizing a child to wait for his arrival.
Although Mr. DerHagopian moved from Massachusetts almost 40 years ago,
Kayatta said, he often came to Watertown to play pinochle with a group of
friends until a year ago. In Maine, he lunched several times a week with
Barber and Kayatta. Even when Mr. DerHagopian might feel he was losing a
debate, Kayatta said, he would tell them, ” ‘I’m not wrong. You’re right.’
He always said it with a twinkle in his eye and a little smile on his face.”
In addition to his wife and son, Mr. DerHagopian leaves a daughter, Lucine
of North Reading; a sister, Shake Goshdigian of West Hartford, Conn.; a
brother, Nubar of Boston; and three grandchildren.
Services have been held. Burial was in Forest City Cemetery in South
Portland

IMF APPROVES OF DEPRIVING 17 PRIVATE CURRENCY EXCHANGE CENTERS OF
LICENSES BY CBA

YEREVAN, May 27. /ARKA/. IMF approves of depriving 17 private currency
exchange centers of licenses by CBA. According to the resident
representative of IMF in Armenia James McHugh, this issue was
discussed with the representatives of CBA. “We were explained that
operations involving large sums were made in those centers. So, we
consider such tough steps to be normal”, he said. He noted that the
international community is anxious about money laundering. “Centers
for currency exchange are the final points, where such illegal
transactions are made aiming at avoiding taxes by paying cash”, he
said.

According to McHugh, on May 25 session the IMF Executive Council
approved the CBA policy on stabilization of prices and congratulated
CBA on the success in maintaining low inflation. On May 20, owners of
private currency exchange centers in Yerevan had a strike, the reason
of which was depriving 17 currency exchange centers of licenses.

For the first time wide-scaled checking of the activity of currency
exchange centers were done by CBA already in December 2004 and were
caused by the anxiety about the activation of the work of the centers
caused by USD fluctuations. Then, on the base of rude violations of
currency legislation revealed in the course of checking 22 currency
exchange centers were deprived of licenses in Yerevan. A.H.-0–

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
May 27, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]

CONGRESSMAN PALLONE CONDEMNS TURKISH GOVERNMENT ASSAULT ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM
Says Turkey is “Not Yet A Democratic State”

Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America today praised
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
for condemning Turkey for accusing its own citizens of committing
treason against the state and challenging its longstanding policy of
denying the Armenian Genocide. As a result, an unprecedented Armenian
Genocide conference was postponed this week due to outside “pressures,
threats and slander,” according to organizers.

In a speech before Congress last night, Pallone said in part, “[this]
development affirms the speculation that the image that the Turkish
government has attempted to create for itself is nothing more than a
desperate attempt to create a facade. Contrary to what Turkish Prime
Minister Erdogan and other Turkish officials would have us believe,
the Government of Turkey is not democratic, is not committed to
creating a democracy, is not making an effort to create better
relations with Armenia and is definitely not ready to join the
European Union.”

Conference organizers said that more than 720 people were to
participate in the May 25-27 conference at Istanbul’s Bosphorus
University entitled, “Ottoman Armenians during the Decline of the
Empire: Issues of Scientific Responsibility and Democracy.”

In a joint press statement issued yesterday, organizers said the
postponement followed intense government pressure to scrap the event –
including Turkish Justice Minister Cemil Cicek’s outrageous claims in
parliament on Tuesday that the conference amounted to a “stab in the
back of the Turkish people.”

“We must end this treason, the spreading of propaganda against Turkey
by the people who belong to it,” Cicek said.

“We find the unjust and prejudiced accusations made against the not
yet presented papers of a not yet actualized conference totally
unlawful,” conference planners said in their statement. “Had the
actualization of this conference been tolerated, the rich, varied and
not at all monotonous approaches to the issue of what happened before,
during and after 1915 would have emerged.”

A European Union diplomat this week told Reuters that Cicek’s remarks
were “unbelievable.”

“It not only kills the government’s policy on the Armenian issue. It
will also kill support for Turkey’s EU drive,” the diplomat told
Reuters.

Yesterday in Washington, the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament Bulent
Arinc criticized his own government for blocking the conference and
said, “Even if I do not like it, the speeches should not be
prevented.”

Additionally, at least 150 Turkish academicians from more than 10
universities have signed a public statement protesting the assault on
university autonomy and academic freedom.

Turkey characterizes itself as a mature democracy with hopes of
becoming the first Muslim nation to accede to the European Union. As
such, it faces mounting pressure to normalize relations with
neighboring Armenia in addition to reforming its minority and civil
rights record. The European Parliament has gone further, calling upon
Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide. And senior European
officials have repeatedly called on Turkey to deal with the fact of
the Armenian Genocide as part of its accession process.

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.

###

NR#2005-055

Editor’s Note: Attached is the full text of Congressman Pallone’s
speech in the House of Representatives on May 26, 2005.

IN OPPOSITION TO CANCELLATION OF GENOCIDE CONFERENCE IN TURKEY —
(House of Representatives – May 26, 2005)

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to voice my outrage
and great disappointment about a recent development in Turkey. A
conference set to begin yesterday in Bogazici University, of Turkish
scholars and academics, entitled “Ottoman Armenians During the
Decline of the Empire: Issues of Scientific Responsibility and
Democracy,” was indefinitely postponed by the university organizers.

According to Agence France-Presse, Turkish Justice Minister Cemil
Cicek yesterday accused conference organizers of committing treason,
saying, “We must put an end to this cycle of treason and insults, of
spreading propaganda against the Turkish nation by people who belong
to it.” In addition, Turkish officials have demanded copies of all
papers submitted to the conference.

The development further affirms the speculation that the image that
the Turkish Government has attempted to create for itself is nothing
more than a desperate attempt to create a facade. Contrary to what
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and other Turkish officials would have
us believe, the Government of Turkey is not democratic, is not
committed to creating a democracy, is not making an effort to create
better relations with Armenia and is definitely not ready to join the
European Union.

Over the last year, we have witnessed the Government of Turkey attempt
to move towards democratization. However, the manner in which they
have chosen to do so is an insult to any truly democratic
government. Their attempts have included the adoption of a penal code
that, in reality, represents a dramatic display of the Turkish
government’s campaign to deny the Armenian genocide. Furthermore, this
new criminal code further hindered improved relations between the
Republic of Armenia and Turkey.

Section 306 of this penal code punishes individual Turkish citizens or
groups that confirm the fact of the Armenian genocide in Ottoman
Turkey or call for the end of the Turkish occupation of Northern
Cyprus, with up to 10 years in prison. Far from coming to terms with
the genocide or reaching out to Armenia, Turkey, in adopting Section
306 of its new penal code, hardened its anti-Armenian stance and
undermined hopes for reduction of tension in the region. This sets the
stage for possible legal action against conference planners and
participants. The Turkish Government has refused to support rescinding
this prohibition against free speech, despite international criticism.

Mr. Speaker, with the cancellation of this conference, we find that
the Government of Turkey will go to any length to avoid facing its
bloody past. In just 2 weeks, Turkey’s prime minister will be in the
United States for an official visit, proclaiming that his nation is a
democracy ready for full membership in the European Community and
asking for U.S. support. The sad reality, Mr. Speaker, is that when it
comes to facing the judgment of history about the Armenian genocide,
Turkey, rather than acknowledging the truth, has instead chosen to
trample on the rights of its citizens and still maintain lies.

Hrant Dink, editor of the Armenian weekly Agos in Turkey stated,
“This decision strengthens the hand of those outside Turkey who say
Turkey has not changed, it is not democratic enough to discuss the
Armenian issue, it shows there is a difference between what the
government says and its intentions.”

Numerous European countries, including Poland, France and Greece, have
passed Armenian genocide resolutions and have continuously urged
Turkey to admit its crime. Just this week, French President Jacques
Chirac urged Turkey to recognize the genocide and said failure to do
so could harm Ankara’s drive to join the European Union.

We cannot sit by and allow any nation that we consider an ally and a
nation that is desperately seeking admission into the European Union
to behave in such a manner. To bring this development into
perspective, consider that according to current law in Turkey, dozens
of U.S. Senators and hundreds of Congressmen would be punished simply
for having voted for Armenian genocide resolutions, spoken about the
lessons of this crime against humanity or commemorated the victims of
the atrocity. So, too, would the American academic establishment,
human rights groups, the mainstream media and just about everyone else
aside from the Turkish embassy and its paid lobbyists here in
Washington, D.C.

Only by being prepared to admit mistakes and make amends can the
Turkish Government truly be considered a nation governed by the values
of democracy. This recent event reveals the vulnerable side of Turkey,
one that is still hiding from its history and is incapable of learning
from its mistakes so as to ensure that they will not be repeated in
the future.

Mr. Speaker, the United States prides itself on being the world’s
leader in spreading democracy and liberty. As an effective leader, it
is our duty to recognize that Turkey is not yet a democratic state and
it will take a sincere effort on the part of Turkey to make a
transition from a government that currently advocates censorship and
lack of freedom of speech to one that embraces the principles of
democracy in its true meaning.

AZG Armenian Daily #096, 27/05/2005

Home

NO PENSIONS WITHOUT SOCIAL CARDS

No Amendments to the Law Expected

At present, the issue of the social cards is a big problem for the
pensioners. As if they have no social card they can’t get their pensions.

Yesterday, Manouk Gasparian, deputy of RA National Assembly, put forward the
issue of the social cards. He received numerous complaints from the
pensioners that can’t get their pensions without having social cards. Some
of these people are not going to get social cards, they prefer begging to
having the social cards. Andranik Margarian, RA Prime Minister, confirmed
that no pensioner can get pension without having a social card, as this
violates the law. “We are not going to make amendments to the law and
violate the steps of the millions of people that received social cards,
obeying the law,” he said.

It’s worth mentioning that millions of people were forced to make that
voluntary step.

By Nana Petrosian