Author: Nahapetian Samvel

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St. NW Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE
April 24, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

PRESIDENT BUSH FAILS TO HONOR PLEDGE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
FOR THE FOURTH TIME

WASHINGTON, DC – President Bush, ignoring calls from over 190
U.S. legislators, failed, once again, to honor his campaign pledge to
properly characterize the Armenian Genocide as “genocide,” reported
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

In a statement issued today, on April 24th, the annual day of
remembrance for the Armenian Genocide, the President again resorted to
the use of evasive and euphemistic terminology to obscure the reality
of Turkey’s Genocide against the Armenian people between 1915-1923.

This year’s statement praised the Turkish Armenian Reconciliation
Commission (TARC,) the failed State Department funded initiative
devised to derail progress toward international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. The effort was universally rejected by Armenians
in the U.S., Armenia and around the world.

“We do appreciate that President Bush has, once again, taken the time
to mark April 24th as a day of remembrance. Armenian Americans,
however, remain deeply troubled that for the fourth year in a row,
despite his repeated calls for ‘moral clarity’ in the conduct of our
international affairs, he has allowed pressure by a foreign government
to reduce the President of the United States to using evasive and
euphemistic terminology to avoid properly identifying the Armenian
Genocide – an important chapter in America’s emergence as an
international humanitarian power – as what is was: a genocide,” said
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “The President’s failure to
honor his campaign promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide is
compounded by the fact that, in this statement, he commends the
thoroughly discredited Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission, a
transparent partnership between the U.S. State Department and the
Turkish government to block the growing international recognition of
and justice for Turkey’s crime against the Armenian nation.”

“It is also plainly disingenuous for the President to ‘call on both
Armenia and Turkey to restore their economic, political, and cultural
ties,’ when it is the Turkish government that has illegally imposed a
decade-long blockade of Armenia, and it has been Armenia that has
called for the normalization of bilateral relations without
preconditions. This formulation suggests either a lack of
understanding of the region or a deliberate effort to artificially
play down Turkey’s belligerent posture while simultaneously devaluing
Armenia’s very meaningful contributions to regional stability.”

The Bush Administration is formally on record in opposition to
Congressional legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide. For the
position of the Democratic Presidential hopeful John Kerry regarding
Armenian Genocide recognition, please visit

The text of the President’s remarks are provided below.

———————————————————-
The full text of the statement by President George W. Bush
———————————————– ———–

The White House
Washington

April 24, 2004

On this day, we pause in remembrance of one of the
most horrible tragedies of the 20th century, the
annihilation of as many as 1.5 million Armenians
through forced exile and murder at the end of the
Ottoman Empire. This terrible event remains a source
of pain for people in Armenia and Turkey and for all
those who believe in freedom, tolerance, and the
dignity of every human life. I join with my fellow
Americans and the Armenian community in the United
States and around the world in mourning this loss of
life.

The United States is proud of the strong ties we share
with Armenia. From the end of World War I and again
since the reemergence of an independent Armenian state
in 1991, our country has sought a partnership with
Armenia that promotes democracy, security cooperation,
and free markets. Today, our Nation remains committed
to a peace settlement in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
and is grateful for Armenia’s continuing cooperation
in the war on terror. By advancing understanding and
goodwill, free nations can help build a brighter
future for the world. Our country seeks to help
Armenia expand its strategic relations with the United
States and our European allies.

Generations of Armenian Americans have also
strengthened our communities and enriched our Nation’s
character. By preserving their heritage, faith, and
traditions, Armenian Americans enhance the diversity
that makes America great.

I commend individuals in Armenia and Turkey who have
worked to support peace and reconciliation, including
through the Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation
Commission, and call on Armenia and Turkey to restore
their economic, political, and cultural ties. I also
send warm wishes and expressions of solidarity to the
Armenian people on this solemn day of remembrance.

GEORGE W. BUSH

#####

Associated Press Worldstream
April 23, 2004 Friday 3:43 PM Eastern Time

Armenian parliament speaker invites opposition to talk, says refusal
could worsen country’s tensions

YEREVAN, Armenia

The speaker of Armenia’s parliament on Friday called on opposition
representatives to meet with him next week in hopes of diminishing
the country’s tension and avoiding violence.

Artur Bagdasarian indicated that if the opposition refuses the offer,
Armenian authorities will take a tougher stance against the protest
rallies that the opposition has convened several times a week this
month in the capital.

In the event of a refusal to talk, “it could be considered, with
regret, that Armenia is rejecting democratic values in that the
authorities will be forced to use its resources of power,”
Bagdasarian said.

Police forcefully broke up a rally outside the presidential palace on
April 13, detaining more than 100 protesters and reportedly causing
injuries.

The opposition on Friday meanwhile called for a rally on Tuesday that
its leaders say will be “vast and decisive.”

The opposition rallies have focused on calling for President Robert
Kocharian’s resignation.

Kocharian won a second term in presidential elections a year ago that
sparked mass protests, including nearly daily demonstrations between
the first round and the runoff.

Opposition groups alleged widespread violations in both rounds of the
election, which was followed by a parliamentary ballot in which the
pro-government party won the most votes.

Also Friday, police reported that a dual Armenian-US citizen, Artur
Bardanian, had been arrested on charges including action to
forcefully seize state power. Bardanian was an active supporter of
Stepan Demirchian, the main opponent of Kocharian in last year’s
election.

Agence France Presse
April 22, 2004 Thursday

Canada House of Commons recognizes “genocide” in Armenia, rebuffing
FM

OTTAWA, April 21

Canada’s House of Commons rejected Tuesday appeals from Foreign
Minister Bill Graham by adopting a resolution to recognize that
Turkey, Canada’s ally in NATO, committed genocide in Armenia in 1915.

The 301-seat House of Commons voted 153 to 68 in favour of the
resolution, thanks to support from many members of the governing
Liberal Party. Several MPs said Graham had asked them to vote down
the measure during closed-door Liberal meetings.

The motion recognized Turkey’s alleged genocide as “a crime against
humanity.”

It has symbolic value and will not define policy.

In the vote, several leading members of the Liberal Party, including
parliamentary secretaries, voted in favour. However, no full cabinet
minister voted against.

Aris Babikian, of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, pointed
out that several key cabinet ministers, including Justice Minister
Irwin Cotler and even Prime Minister Paul Martin, were absent for the
vote.

He suggested they were absent because they did not want to vote
against the motion.

However, Babikian said it was a great “moral victory,” which would
add pressure on Turkey to at least recognize the genocide and even
apologize for it.

At a celebration party after Tuesday’s vote, Babikian said he owed
this victory to his grandfather who “lost six brothers and sisters in
the genocide” and “saw his own six-year-old sister burned to death.”

Horizon Weekly
Contact: Nanor Manoukian
April 20, 2004 Tel: 514-603-4373
QUEBEC’S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMMEMORATE’S ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Montreal, QC – The National Assembly of Quebec commemorated the 89th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the presence of his Eminence
Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of the Prelacy of Canada as well as a
delegation from the Armenian National Committee of Quebec. Through a motion
that was unanimously accepted by all parties, parliamentarians paid tribute
to the 1.5 million victims of the Genocide and the resulting impact of the
survivors as well as their progeny.
It is noteworthy that the National Assembly of Quebec has commemorated the
Armenian Genocide since 1980 and in November 2003 it became a member of the
family of legislative assemblies that has passed a law designating April
24th as a day of commemoration for the Armenian Genocide.
The Armenian National Committee of Quebec is a grassroots organization
representing the interests of the Armenian Community in Quebec.

Glendale News-Press
LATimes.com
April 20 2004

A day of firsts for school board

Krikorian to become the first Armenian American president of GUSD
board under new rotation.

By Gary Moskowitz, News-Press

NORTHEAST GLENDALE – Greg Krikorian will become president of
Glendale’s school board today, making him the first Armenian American
to hold the position.

Krikorian was elected as a board member in 2001 and is the vice
president. Because the board changes its officers based on a rotation
policy, Krikorian will move into the president’s seat and replace Pam
Ellis during the board meeting.

According to the rotation policy, Ellis, who has been a board member
since 1995, would become a board member and board Clerk Mary Boger
would become the board’s vice president. Board member Lina Harper
would become the board’s clerk. Chuck Sambar would remain a board
member.

However, nothing is set in stone until the final board vote and
approval at Tuesday’s meeting, officials said.

“I am excited,” Krikorian said. “I want to get a good grasp of our
budget challenge, strengthen our district staffing and our programs
to make us the shining light of Southern California, so all parents
would want to move their kids into our city. When we look at these
budget challenges, it’s not just teacher-to-student ratios, but it’s
classified employees, custodians, everyone. We are one big family.

“One thing I’d like to implement this year is to give a State of the
Schools address once a year to give the status of our schools to the
community. I want to strengthen our communications with the
community,” Krikorian said.

The Board of Education had for years decided who its officers would
be based on vague descriptions of a rotation policy that in practice
allowed board members to nominate, vote for and elect its officers,
based on a majority vote in a public meeting.

But that changed in April 2003, when board members voted 3-2 in favor
of writing an official rotation policy into the board’s bylaws.

Boger and Harper voted against the policy, but the board accepted the
rotation policy and other board bylaws in June.

Ellis said that board members, at Tuesday’s meeting, have to readopt
the policy that allows the rotation policy to happen.

Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
April 19 2004

WHEN WILL BE THE ROAD TO TALISH BUILT?

April 14 was the tenth anniversary of liberation of the village
Talish. During the meeting of the National Assembly member of
parliament Valery Babayan expressed gratitude to all who have their
contribution to the liberation of the village. He mentioned that the
question of repair of the road Martakert-Mataghis-Talish has been
raised for a number of times. Ten months ago the government promised
to repair it but so far the inhabitants of Talish are deprived of
normal communication. According to the acting minister of building
Vagharshak Palanjanian, the roadworks will cost 40 million drams.
This year 112 million drams in total has been provided for repairing
the village roads. Taking into account the cost, the road of Talish
was taken out of the list drawn up in December. According to V.
Palanjanian, however, a new list is being worked out in which the road
of Talish will be included by all means.

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
 
MEDIA ALERT
April 12, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]

RE: L.A. Weekly apology to Armenian-American community

An Armenian Assembly-led community meeting on March 17 with editors of the
L.A. Weekly newspaper resulted in the paper’s second apology to the
Armenian-American community for insensitive remarks it published in
February.

Assembly Western Office Director Lena Kaimian, together with Armenian
Observer Editor Osheen Keshishian, United Armenia Fund President and
California Courier publisher Harut Sassounian and Rev. Father Asbed Balian
representing Archbishop Hovnan Derderian of the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church, told L.A. Weekly editors that their initial apology to the
community for printing “No Armenians Allowed,” under an event listing in its
calendar section, was not satisfactory.

Following the meeting, the newspaper sent Kaimian the following letter
indicating that a second apology was published in the paper addressing the
concerns of the Armenian-American community.

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.

***********************************************************************
March 31, 2004

Lena Kaimian
Director, Western Office
Armenian Assembly of America
50 N. La Cienega Blvd., Suite 202
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Dear Ms. Kaimian,

Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with us on March 17. We
really valued the opportunity to meet with you and Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, Harut Sassounian and Osheen Keshishian. After the meeting, we
all came away with a deeper understanding of the effect that the insensitive
commentary in the Concerts section of the February 20 issue had upon the
Armenian community. We also came to know that the community was not
satisfied by our initial apology for the remark, which ran on the letters
page in the February 27-March 4 issue.

Since our meeting we received four letters from Armenians expressing their
concern over that carelessly written sentence. In response, we have run
another apology in the paper specifically directed to address the concerns
of the Armenian community. We note that while we encourage provocative
language here at L.A. Weekly in the context of useful political debate, the
particular words that appeared had no political context and, as one letter
writer put it, there was “absolutely no comedy” in what was written. Thus,
we cannot defend the statement. If those particular words had gone through
our usual editing process, it is highly unlikely that the phrase would have
appeared in print. That does not excuse the remark – our Calendar editor
was on vacation, but we should have made sure that her replacement was not
put into the position of essentially editing her own words.

Those who have been hurt by the statement should know that the writer, who
has a long history of good service at the paper, did not set out to offend
Armenians or any other group of people. She is horrified that anyone would
take the phase “No Armenians allowed” seriously. Fortunately, we live in a
place where it is unthinkable that anyone would try to ban any ethnic group
from a public event. But given the still-fresh memories of the Armenian
genocide and acts of discrimination, we understand the pain our words have
caused and would like to apologize again to all who were hurt by what was
written. We recognize the importance of the culturally vibrant and
successful Armenian community, and look forward to more positive relations
in the future.

We would also like to assert, for the record, that no one affiliated with
the concert was responsible in any way for the divisive language inserted
into the listing.

Since its founding, L.A. Weekly has attempted to educate its readers about
Los Angeles’ diverse communities. We remain committed to that goal, and
appreciate your efforts to promote cultural harmony in our city. We wish
you the best in that important endeavor and are truly sorry for this
incident.

Sincerely,

Laurie Ochoa
Editor, L.A. Weekly

NR#2004-037

Opposition leader says “civilized authorities” to come to power in Armenia

Arminfo
8 Apr 04

YEREVAN

The authorities will be replaced in Armenia even if only 10 people
join the 9 April opposition demonstration, Artashes Gegamyan, leader
of the National Unity Party, told a joint news conference of the
Justice bloc and the National Unity Party at the Armenian National
Assembly today.

According to him, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has to show
common sense and resign a day or two after the opposition
demonstration because there is no alternative to changing the
authorities in Armenia.

“The longer the authorities delay the issue of resignation, the more
tragic the outcome will be for them,” Gegamyan said.

According to him, after Robert Kocharyan’s resignation, “civilized
authorities” will be formed in Armenia and improve the republic’s
image in the international arena. He said that after coming to power,
the opposition forces would use their election programmes to develop a
common plan to take the republic out of the current crisis. The
National Unity leader expressed his confidence that the opposition
would hold free and fair elections in the republic.

“Of course, Robert Kocharyan’s supporters will be protesting, but
those will be ‘cries in a desert’,” Gegamyan said.

The leader of the Antrapetutyun Party and former mayor of Yerevan,
Albert Bazeyan, said the international community should not interfere
in the political developments in Armenia and remain neutral. According
to him, the international community should only facilitate Armenia’s
democratic development.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
April 8, 2004 Thursday

Bordyuzha arrives in Yerevan for talks on situation in region

By Tigran Liloyan

Secretary-general of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation
(CSTO) Major-General Nikolai Bordyuzha arrived in Yerevan on Thursday
for talks with Armenian leaders on the situation in the region, key
security problems and prospects for the creation of a collective
security system.

“This is a planned trip to prepare a June session of the Collective
Security Treaty Organisation, including sessions of the councils of
foreign ministers, defence ministers and the committee of secretaries
of the security councils,” Bordyuzha told Itar-Tass upon arrival in
Yerevan.

Earlier, Bordyuzha visited Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The CSTO
secretary-general is also expected to visit Kazakhstan and Belarus.
He will meet Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and representatives
of power-yield structures.

He said, “Armenia is one of the most active and interested
participants in the work of the CSTO. Armenian leaders join efforts
to step up cooperation with the CSTO and make this organisation more
effective and competent.”

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
April 8, 2004 Thursday

Attempt on RF commander’s life is provocation – Bordyuzha

By Tigran Liloyan

The attempt on Russian troops in Transcaucasia commander Alexander
Studenikin’s life in Tbilisi is a provocation, said Major-General
Nikolai Bordyuzha, secretary-general of the Collective Security
Treaty Organisation (CSTO).

Bordyuzha arrived in Yerevan for talks with Armenian leaders on
Thursday evening.

“This is a pure provocation to destabilise the situation in Georgia
and strain relations between Tbilisi and Moscow,” Bordyuzha told
Itar-Tass.