Author: Navasardian Karapet

US CHECKING THE ABILITIES OF OUR COUNTRY

A1plus

| 19:22:32 | 02-05-2005 | Economy |

Since 2000 the sessions of the Armenian-American Economic cooperation
Working group lasted 2 days, and from now on they will last only
one day. Today in the hotel «Marriott-Armenia» the 10th session
of the group took place. Let us mention that they are convened once a
year, every time in a different country, and this time it’s USA’s turn.

>>From early morning till late in the evening the Economic cooperation
Working group consulted how they can reduce the number of the poor
in Armenia, especially in the regions.

The American officials considered it too early to say anything about
the allotting of money to Armenia from the «Millennium Challenges
Fund» (MCF). «We are glad that Armenia has applied to get financing
from that fund», said Alex Rasi, representative of the MCF at the
end of the session in answer to the journalists’ question. He was
present at the Working group session for the first time. He said that
«the allotting of money to Armenia depends on the joint work of the
two countries».

Madagaskar has already received money by the MCF program, and Georgia,
Honduras, and Nicaragua are in the final phase.

–Boundary_(ID_H3ri7kWZ+7aj+mUZsgPVyg)–

AGBU – Sydney, AUSTRALIA
MEDIA RELEASE
Date: 30th April 2005

Contact: Hagop Jack Sebouhian
Phone: 612 99585411
Mob. 612 0417 678 212
Email: [email protected]

AGBU (Sydney Chapter) Hosts Artist Vartan Tashdjian’s Exhibition – in
Sydney, Australia

Sydney, Australia – 30th April 2005: The Sydney Chapter of the AGBU
hosted the inaugural Art exhibition of Cypriot Armenian painters
Vartan and Nanor Tashdjian. The opening and reception of this
colourful event took place in the AGBU Cultural Centre hall on the
evening of the 29th April 2005, in the presence of NSW Government
representatives, religious and community leaders, Armenian media
representatives and many community members.

Mr Tashdjian was born in Lebanon and was partly educated there and
partly in Cyprus at the Melkonian Educational Institute. He had
settled in Cyprus in 1966 and was a teacher at Melkonian for nine
years before taking up the job of principal of the Nareg Armenian
Schools System for Nicosia.

A multi-talented man, Vartan had been active in Armenian theatre – as
actor, decorator, director and founder. He is also the author of some
literary works.

Vartan the artist, has more than 42 solo exhibitions in Cyprus and
overseas, to his credit and his works can be found at the Contemporary
Art Gallery and the Presidential Palace in Cyprus, in the Armenian
Catholicosates, in art galleries and with private collectors.

Mr Tashdjian had 26 paintings on exhibit on the night – 19 of them in
watercolour and 7 in Oil – everyone present was very impressed with
his work and paintings were being sold swiftly.

His daughter, Nanor – a capable artist in her own right – had on show,
11 paintings in mixed media.

Mr Jack Maxian, Vartan’s long time friend and sponsor, opened the
exhibition by cutting the ribbon at the entrance of the hall. Then,
the AGBU chairperson, Aram Hagopian delivered his speech, followed by
Dr. Toranian, Mr Maxian, Mr Tashdjian and finally, the closing words
were delivered by the Reverend Youmoushakian.

The Ladies Auxiliary of the AGBU had done a marvellous job again, by
serving a delicious buffet and some nice wine, to those present.

Our Website: <;

Genocide survivors honored in Tehran

29.04.2005 13:27

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – An event dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide was held in Tehran on April 28. Organized by the
Van-Vaspurakan Center of Iran, it also featured two survivors of the
Genocide.

The founder and chairman of the Center reported on the studies made by
the Center, Lemvel Avetian, reported on his Center’s accomplishments
and future plans.

A video depicting Van before and after the massacres, as well as the
deportation routes was screened.

Genocide survivors Goharik Alanakian and Movses Karayan were presented
with souvenirs.

The participants then viewed the exponents on display at the
exhibition that featured stones, fragments of khachkars and other
relics from Western Armenia.

AZG Armenian Daily #076, 28/04/2005

Neighbors

‘IT IS THE NEXT DISINFORMATION BY THE AZERIS’

The trial over Azerbaijani officer Jamil Safarov who had heinously murdered
his Armenian counterpart in Budapest will resume May 10. On this occasion
the Azeri authorities declared that they are intent to transfer the trial to
Baku, claiming that international laws allow to do that.

We asked Nazeli Vardanian, lawyer of Gurgen Margarian, what the consequences
of Azerbaijan’s new trick will be. “The process started in Budapest and it
will end there. There was such a decision to transfer the trial to Baku last
year but then it changed. The matter has nothing to do with international
laws, it will be settled in accordance with Hungarian legislation. This is
the next provocation, next misinformation by the Azeris that should not be
responded to neither by media nor anyhow”.

Hungarian laws do not stipulate that the trial may be transferred to
Azerbaijan. There is no bilateral agreement between Azerbaijan and Hungary
on this, regardless what international conventions and laws dictate.

By Karine Danielian

–Boundary_(ID_777DPVg+LLf0TgNJ5Ns7ZQ)
Content-typ e: message/rfc822

From: “Katia M. Peltekian” <[email protected]>
Subject: ANKARA: fter Bush wording, Council of Mins approve Incirlik Request
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT

Cyprus Press and Information Office, Occupied Northern Cyprus
April 27 2005

After President Bush?s wording on the Armenian genocide the Turkish
Council of Ministers approved the US request on Incirlik

Ankara TRT 1 Television (25.04.05) broadcast the following:
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has said that the US request for the
use of the Incirlik Air Base for logistics purposes has been accepted
and that the decision to that effect has been signed by the Council
of Ministers.

Foreign Minister Gul replied to the questions put to him on the
Incirlik Air Base prior to his departure from the Esenboga Airport
for Luxembourg. He said:

The Council of Ministers has decided to extend the duration of the
use of the opportunities we have in accordance with UN and NATO
requirements. The necessary political instructions have been issued
in connection with the Incirlik Air Base. The General Staff will
carry out the necessary technical work. The matter was solved three
or four days ago.

__________________________________________________
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Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around

–Boundary_(ID_777DPVg+LLf0TgNJ5Ns7ZQ)–

The Messenger, Georgia
April 27 2005

Armenian assembly chair visits Tbilisi

Chair of the Armenian National Assembly Arthur Bagdasaryan will
arrive in Tbilisi on a two-day official visit on April 28.
According to Black Sea Press, he will meet with Parliamentary Speaker
Nino Burjanadze, heads of parliamentary committees and factions and
members of the permanent parliamentary delegation for relations with
the Armenian parliament.

Kurdish editorial criticizes Turkish Army chief’s speech

Ozgur Politika web site, Neu-Isenburg
22 Apr 05

Text of report by German-based Kurdish newspaper Ozgur Politika web
site on 22 April

Turkish Chief of [General] Staff [Gen] Hilmi Ozkok has given a very
long speech at the War Academies. He has expressed his views regarding
the developments in the EU, the United States, the Far East and the
Middle East as well as the recent political developments. It is
possible to say that with his speech, Chief of Staff Ozkok aimed to
give or even succeeded in giving messages related to domestic and
international politics. When taking up the developments in the world
with the air of an elected political representative, he also
underlined – as a soldier – what constitutes a threat and what should
be done against such threats.

It is beneficial to know that such attitudes are normal where Turkey
is concerned. In other words, in Turkey it is normal for a soldier,
including the chief of staff, to assess the developments as if he were
an elected political representative, to take up the relations with the
neighbours, to underline that one of the neighbours should apologize
to Turkey, and to express views with regard to the constitution. We
are saying that it is normal because the state tradition in Turkey
shows that the last and the most influential word with regard to all
the developments and the things that should be done has always been
uttered and will be uttered by the soldiers.

The day before yesterday Ozkok merely carried out the requirements of
an existing tradition. He fulfilled the duty that should have been
fulfilled by the president or by the prime minister who heads the
government. And the press properly fulfilled the duty of effectively
reporting the messages that were issued to the domestic and
international public. Let no one doubt that the messages were
effectively transmitted to the EU, for which they were actually
intended.

Once again they refreshed the memories of the entire world and the EU
countries about who has a decisive say and who the authority to reach
decisions regarding crucial and critical processes in Turkey. The
intervention of the soldiers in political and social issues
constitutes one of the basic obstacles that the Turkish state, which
is a candidate for EU membership, should overcome en route to the
EU. With this speech, it has once again been clarified that the
soldiers continue to be decisive where political and social issues are
concerned.

The Turkish media used very clear expressions when featuring the
messages that were issued and the “viewpoint of the Turkish Armed
Forces”. [The chief of staff’s speech] was interpreted as “a speech
that referred to national issues without hiding anything – national
issues that the government and high-level politicians try to avoid
discussing, which they usually skip, or which they try to cover due to
the pressure or the expectations from the EU”. This interpretation
shows that we are very right in our assessments.

In addition to expressing his views with regard Greece, religion,
Armenia and Kirkuk [northern Iraq], the chief of staff felt the need
to emphasize that the United States does not show the necessary
sensitivity with regard to the PKK [Workers Party of Kurdistan] in
south Kurdistan [northern Iraq] and that therefore the PKK has become
the third force in this region. He added that in addition to becoming
the third force in the south, there has been an increase in the number
of the guerrillas who have passed to the north and that these
guerrillas aim to achieve their goal through politicization. In other
words, with this stand the chief of staff actually underlined that the
PKK should not have any place in south or in the north and that it
should not politicize. Furthermore he showed that he does not want to
present any alternatives other than insistence on annihilation and
attack.

Saying the last word with regard to international issues, the chief of
staff continues to assume a role that shows that he is the only
decisive force where domestic politics, social issues, the Kurdish
problem and democratization are concerned.

The chief of staff does not want to see that social violence and
social problems do not stem from migration, but that social, political
and economic problems have actually resulted in migration. And it is
time for the chief of staff to understand that the problems should no
longer be resolved through ignoring, denial and violence – in other
words, they should no longer be resolved through military methods. He
should understand that these problems should be resolved through
political methods.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

HIS HOLINESS HIGHLIGHTS THE 90 YEAR-OLD UNITED STRUGGLE OF THE ARMENIANS FOR
JUSTICE

Antelias, Lebanon – On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide His Holiness Aram I embarked on a pilgrimage to Deir-Zor in order
to pay tribute to its one and a half million victims and hold a requiem
service for their souls.

The chapel and monument constructed, due to the efforts of the Catholicosate
of Cilicia and the Diocese of Aleppo, at the site of the collective graves
of the Armenian victims have in the last decade given a new meaning to the
place and transformed it from a pilgrimage site to a holy one.

At the site of the unburied remains of the Genocide victims, His Holiness
called upon the whole world and the international community to recognize the
Armenian Genocide.

“A crime that aims at eliminating a nation constitutes Genocide. Genocide is
a crime against humanity recognized by the international community and the
United Nations. Thus, the Armenian Genocide is a legal problem and an issue
related to justice in international law. The international community should
not remain silent towards such a collective crime,” he said.

During the sermon he gave at Deir-Zor, His Holiness highlighted the struggle
the Armenians have waged for 90 years and continue to wage with collective
efforts and unrelenting efforts.

“90 years on, oh Armenian people, you held requiem and remembered your
victims. For 90 years you transformed constantly fought for building your
nation and your homeland. For 90 years continuously, you knocked on the
doors of nations and demanded reparations for an unpunished Genocide,” said
His Holiness.

“All your generations formed on this vision and faith. Your spiritual
leaders, intellectuals, youth and political leaders lived and fought with
this determination and responsibility. Shame on those nations, who forget
their martyrs. Shame on those who don’t fight for their national cause. All
the old and new attempts to confine you to history, to overlook your
struggle have failed and will fail thanks to your united stand and resolve,”
added the Pontiff.

His Holiness presented a small version of the St. Gregory Cathedral of
Antelias to the Genocide museum in Deir-Zor, in memory of all the victims
and the survivors, who reconstructed the deported Catholic sate in Antelias.

##

View picture here:

Also:

*****

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

Tageblatt, Luxembourg
Dimanche, 24 Avril 2005

En France, les Arméniens ont commémoré le génocide

La communauté arménienne de France, la plus importante d’Europe, a
marqué dimanche le 90e anniversaire du génocide en organisant messes,
rassemblements et défilés, notamment devant les représentations de
Turquie dans plusieurs grandes villes.
Les quelques 350.000 Arméniens de France, militant inlassablement
pour la reconnaissance du génocide qui a fait 1,5 million de victimes
selon Erevan, se sont mobilisés toute la journée, en convergeant
notamment vers l’ambassade turque à Paris, et les consulats de Lyon
et Marseille.

»On est dans une démarche revendicative vis à vis de la Turquie qui
continue de rejeter le génocide», a expliqué à l’AFP Alain
Saboundjian, porte-parole du Comité de défense de la cause
arménienne.

Autre point fort souligné et apprécié par les porte-parole de la
communauté arménienne: la participation de chefs politiques de tous
les bords lors des messes et rassemblements.

Ainsi à Paris, Nicolas Sarkozy, président de l’UMP et Patrick
Devedjian, ministre délégué à l’Industrie ont assisté à une messe de
Requiem en la cathédrale Notre-Dame célébrée par l’église catholique
arménienne.

M. Devedjian, d’origine arménienne, a dénoncé dimanche, lors de
l’émission »Parlons-en» de la Chaîne parlementaire-Assemblée
nationale, »le négationnisme d’Etat» de la Turquie vis-à-vis du
génocide arménien.

Dans l’après-midi, 3.000 personnes se sont rassemblées devant la
statue de Komitas place du Canada. Cette statue, inaugurée en avril
2003, monument du génocide arménien rend hommage au musicien arménien
Komitas, mort en 1935 à Paris, ainsi qu’aux victimes du génocide et
aux combattants arméniens Morts pour la France. Puis les manifestants
se sont dirigés vers l’annexe de l’ambassade de Turquie aux
Champs-Elysées

A cette occasion François Hollande, premier secrétaire du Parti
socialiste a annoncé que le groupe socialiste à l’Assemblée nationale
allait »proposer une loi pénalisant la négation du génocide
arménien».

Pour l’UMP, Pierre Lellouche, a condamné »le déni de mémoire de
l’Etat turc actuel» alors que pour le Parti communiste, Patrick
Braouzec évoquait »une déportation systématique à grande échelle» et
que Philippe de Villiers était présent dans l’assistance pour
»manifester (sa) solidarité»

Dans Marseille et sa région, qui abritent la deuxième communauté
arménienne de France avec quelque 80.000 personnes, quelques milliers
de personnes ont assisté dimanche matin à la pose de la première
pierre d’un mémorial du génocide.

»Il a fallu attendre 2001 pour que la France reconnaisse le génocide
arménien, combien de temps faudra-t-il à la Turquie?», a déclaré lors
de cette cérémonie le président de la région Provence-Alpes-Côte
d’Azur, Michel Vauzelle (PS), avant de lancer: »non à l’entrée de la
Turquie dans l’Europe tant qu’elle n’aura pas reconnu le génocide
arménien» en présence de Jean-Claude Gaudin, maire UMP de la ville,
qui a lui aussi demandé à la Turquie de reconnaître le génocide.

L’après-midi ce sont plus de 5.000 personnes selon les organisateurs,
1.300 selon la police, majoritairement d’origine arménienne, qui ont
défilé en silence derrière une banderole soulignant que »le génocide
arménien reste impuni»

A Lyon, une messe de Requiem en la cathédrale Saint-Jean a célébré
cet anniversaire par la voix de Mgr Norvan Zakarian, responsable de
l’église apostolique arménienne, avec une homélie prononcée par le
cardinal Philippe Barbarin, archevêque de Lyon. Un cortège s’est
ensuite rendu Place Antonin Poncet où doit être érigé un mémorial du
génocide des Arméniens.

A Strasbourg, un dépôt de gerbes a eu lieu au Monument aux morts de
la place de la République, en présence du maire Fabienne Keller (UMP)
et du représentant permanent de l’Arménie auprès du Conseil de
l’Europe, suivi d’une liturgie de l’Eglise apostolique arménienne,
dans une église du centre-ville.

GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES OPPRESS NATIONAL MINORITIES
24/04/2005 19:00 TBILISI, April 23
(RIA Novosti)

Georgian authorities oppress representatives of ethnic minorities,
announced chairman of the “Civil movement – multi-ethnic Georgia”
Arnold Stepanyan in an interview with News-Georgia agency.

He said that representatives of ethnic minorities often appeal to the
“Civil movement – multi-ethnic Georgia” organization for protection of
their rights. According to Arnold Stepanyan, there were cases when
people were expelled from educational institutions or evicted from
their apartments because of their ethnic roots.

Arnold Stepanyan pointed out that one of the major goals of the
Association that unites 56 organizations representing 18 ethnic groups
is “the assessment of the possibility of future ethnic conflicts in
the country and the search for ways of their settlement.”