Author: Talalian Arpi

Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Montag, 25. April 2005

Gedenken an die Tragödie der Armenier
(Memory of the tragedy of Armenians)

Hunderttausende an der Erinnerungsfeier in Erewan

Hunderttausende haben am Sonntag in der armenischen Hauptstadt Erewan
des neunzigsten Jahrestages der Vertreibung und Vernichtung von bis
zu anderthalb Millionen Armeniern in Anatolien gedacht. Der
armenische Staatspräsident erklärte sich zur Versöhnung bereit,
forderte aber die Anerkennung der Tragödie als Völkermord.

pfi. Moskau, 24. April

Mit einem Trauermarsch hinauf zum zentralen Mahnmal auf dem Hügel
Zizernakaberd haben am Sonntag Hunderttausende in- und ausländische
Armenier sowie Gäste aus der ganzen Welt in der armenischen
Hauptstadt Erewan des neunzigsten Jahrestags des Beginns dessen
gedacht, was sie als den ersten Genozid des zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts
betrachten. Der Andrang der Personen, die an dem Mahnmal Blumen und
Kränze niederlegen wollten, war laut Beobachtern vor Ort derart
gross, dass der kurze Aufstieg Wartezeiten von bis zu vier Stunden
beanspruchte. Nebst einer Ansprache des armenischen Präsidenten
Kotscharjan krönte ein ökumenischer Gottesdienst die
Gedenkfeierlichkeiten. Im Zusammenhang mit den Wirren um die
Auflösung des Ottomanischen Reiches hatten um die vorletzte
Jahrhundertwende die nationalistische Bewegung der Jungtürken den
christlichen Armeniern Zusammenarbeit mit dem zaristischen Russland
und Verschwörung gegen die Türken vorgeworfen.

Nationale Traumata und Tabus
1915 markierte die Verhaftung und anschliessende Ermordung von
Hunderten von Mitgliedern der im türkischen Anatolien wohnhaften
armenischen Elite den Beginn einer planmässigen Vernichtungsaktion.
Dabei wurde praktisch die gesamte armenische Bevölkerung Anatoliens
vertrieben, wobei die «Zwangsumsiedlung» oft in den fast sicheren Tod
führte. Nach armenischen Angaben sollen anderthalb Millionen Armenier
der Vernichtungsaktion zum Opfer gefallen sein. Die Ereignisse wirken
für die Armenier als nationales Verfolgungstrauma nach, welches
bisher auch eine Einigung in der Berg-Karabach-Frage mit den zu den
Turkvölkern gehörenden Aserbeidschanern verhindert hat.

Ankara bestreitet bis heute das Ausmass der Vernichtung von Armeniern
und sieht in den von ihm tabuisierten Ereignissen offiziell das
bedauernswerte Resultat eines Bürgerkriegs. Armenien und die Türkei
unterhalten keine diplomatischen Beziehungen; im Zusammenhang mit dem
Krieg um Berg-Karabach hat die Türkei 1993 aus Solidarität mit
Aserbeidschan ihre Grenze zu Armenien geschlossen.

Kotscharjan im russischen Fernsehen
In einer Rede zum Gedenktag erklärte der armenische Präsident
Kotscharjan am Sonntag, sein Volk empfinde wegen der
unvergleichlichen Tragödie bis heute tiefe Bitterkeit, verspüre aber
keinen Hass gegen die Türkei. Sein Land sei bereit, mit dem
türkischen Nachbarn normale Beziehungen aufzunehmen, fordere aber die
Staatenwelt dazu auf, die damaligen Ereignisse offiziell als
Völkermord anzuerkennen. Bisher haben 15 Länder, darunter Russland,
die Ereignisse als Genozid verurteilt.

Ein Thema war der Gedenktag am Sonntag auch in Russland, wo eine
grosse Zahl von Armeniern lebt und arbeitet. In Moskau versammelten
sich über tausend Menschen zu einer Gedenkfeier. In einem längeren
Interview am Staatsfernsehen ortete der armenische Präsident am
Samstag drei historische Perioden des internationalen Umgangs mit dem
Genozid. Während unmittelbar nach dem Ersten Weltkrieg die
Staatenwelt zu einer Verurteilung und Bestrafung der Täter angesetzt
habe, hätten die Eingliederung Armeniens in die Sowjetunion
einerseits und die strategische Allianz des Westens mit der Türkei
andererseits dafür gesorgt, dass die Anerkennung des Genozids
vorübergehend ein Opfer des Kalten Kriegs geworden sei. Dessen Ende
ermögliche nun eine faire Neubewertung der Ereignisse.

Turkish Press
April 24 2005

Press Scan:

DRAFT SHOCK TO ARMENIANS

TURKIYE- Draft on recognition of so-called Armenian genocide which
was prepared by 32 senators and 175 members of House of
Representatives was not submitted to U.S. Congress. These recent
developments disappointed Armenians.

Armenia remembers 1915 killings

Sunday, 24 April, 2005, 04:02 GMT 05:02 UK

By Natalia Antelava
BBC News, Yerevan

Armenia want Turkey to admit the mass killings amounted to genocide

Armenia is marking the 90th anniversary of the mass deportations and
killings of hundreds of thousands of their people by the Ottoman
empire. Thousands of young people marched through the streets of
Yerevan on Saturday night.

They sang the national anthem as the torchlit procession moved slowly
up the hill towards a memorial to the victims.

Many said they were going to spend the night at the memorial and then
join a procession on Sunday.

Hundreds of thousands are expected to join the remembrance march.

Among them will be many Armenians from the United States and Europe,
members of the country’s huge diaspora which is at least three times
as big as Armenia’s current population of three million.

Turkey’s position

Many people said they hoped to see a million and a half Armenians come
out into the streets on Sunday – as many as are believed to have died
during the two-year period of killings and deportations by Ottoman
Turkey that began in 1915.

Ninety years later, Armenia is still haunted by this past.

Its borders with Turkey are sealed and there are no diplomatic
relations between the two countries.

The people of Armenia want Turkey and the world to recognise what
happened in 1915 was genocide.

But Ankara says the number of those killed is grossly inflated and
that Armenians were casualties of WWI and not victims of genocide.

As Ankara prepares to start EU membership talks in October, the
government in Yerevan hopes that Europe will push Turkey to change its
stance: and this will be one of the demands of those who will take to
the streets of Yerevan on Sunday.

Many here say they will come out not just to commemorate those who
died, but also to demand that the world recognise what everyone here
believes was the first genocide of the 20th century.

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
23. April 2005

Das doppelte Fieber;
Schreckensjahrestag: Armenien, die Türkei und Deutschland

Aufmacher Feuilleton

Als sich Franz Werfel Anfang Januar 1933 auf die Lesereise für seinen
soeben erschienenen Roman “Die vierzig Tage des Musa Dagh” machte, in
dem er “das unfaßbare Schicksal des armenischen Volkes dem Totenreich
alles Geschehenen zu entreißen” suchte, mag er schon geahnt haben,
daß es für einen Vorleser wie ihn in Deutschland bald keinen Platz
mehr geben würde. Schließlich hatte Hitler den türkischen Völkermord
an den Armeniern, bei dem in den Jahren 1915 und 1916 mehr als eine
Million Menschen auf grauenhafte Weise umgebracht wurden, sowie die
relative Tatenlosigkeit sowohl des deutschen Verbündeten als auch der
Alliierten bereits in den zwanziger Jahren als Ermunterung zu einer
radikalen Politik gegenüber den Juden aufgefaßt. Wenn diese eines
Tages aus dem Deutschen Reich verschwunden sein sollten, so Hitler,
würde auch dies bald in Vergessenheit geraten.

Aber es wurde nicht vergessen, was Hitler den Juden antun ließ, und
es wurde auch nicht vergessen, daß der Euphrat einen Strom
armenischer Leichen mit sich führte, daß junge, gebildete armenische
Frauen Selbstmord begingen, wenn türkische Soldaten ihnen die Rettung
vor der sicheren Vernichtung versprachen, wenn sie nur in eine
Hochzeit einwilligen würden. So ist das Schicksal der Armenier heute
ein zentraler Punkt, der über die Zugehörigkeit der Türkei zur
Europäischen Union mit entscheidet. Denn die Türken selbst, als
Nachbarn, die mit Armeniern Tür an Tür lebten, haben in der dritten
oder vierten Generation bis heute ebensowenig vergessen.

Es gibt auch neunzig Jahre nach Beginn des Genozids eine kollektive
mündliche Erinnerung unter den Türken, die im Gegensatz zur
Staatsideologie vom Mitleiden geprägt ist. In abgelegenen Gegenden
Anatoliens konnte man schließlich in den fünfziger Jahren noch Höhlen
voller Menschenknochen finden – Überreste des ersten Genozids im
zwanzigsten Jahrhundert, dessen Motive nur aus der “nationalen
Modernisierung” des Osmanischen Reichs unter den Jungtürken zu
verstehen sind. Eine Reaktion auf das Versagen eines
Vielvölkerreiches, in dem Volkszugehörigkeit und Religion darüber
entschieden, welche Rechte und Lasten einer Person zukamen. Die
abgestufte Ungleichheit und Rechtlosigkeit der Nicht-Türken sollte
nach den Vorstellungen der Jungtürken, die zunächst mit Armeniern und
Griechen gegen den Sultan verbündet waren, gar nicht mehr zum Tragen
kommen. Die moderne Türkei war ihnen nur vorstellbar als ein
möglichst ethnisch-homogenes Staatsvolk der Türken. und es dauerte
nicht lange, da galten alle Nicht-Türken im Land als Feinde.

Daß Vernichtung und Vergessen nicht dasselbe geworden sind, hat nicht
nur mit der militärischen Niederlage Deutschlands im Ersten und
Zweiten Weltkrieg zu tun. Vielmehr ging mit dem Kriegsende von 1945
eine Epoche des Nationalismus zu Ende – in den Siegerstaaten so gut
wie im besiegten Deutschland. Der Haß, aber auch alle
nationalistischen Utopien waren ausgebrannt, auch wenn es noch ein
langes Nachglühen gab. Das politische Europa, das sich nach dem
Weltkrieg entwickelte, war die Antwort auf eine Politik der
Vernichtung, die Europa in Gedanken und Taten seit der Französischen
Revolution beherrschte. Und es ist die Abkehr von der religiösen
Überhöhung der Nationen und der Feindbesessenheit als des Mediums
innerweltlicher Erlösung. Wenn die Türkei das nicht begreift, muß ihr
der Weg in dieses Europa verschlossen bleiben. Die
Menschenrechtscharta der Vereinten Nationen mit ihren Artikeln zur
Prävention und Sanktion von Völkermord bewahrt dieses Gedächtnis. Und
Raphael Lemkin, der Initiator der Genozidartikel, bezog sich neben
der Holocaust-Erfahrung ausdrücklich auf den Völkermord an den
Armeniern.

Daran muß erinnert werden, wenn heute und morgen an vielen Orten der
Welt Gedenkveranstaltungen zum neunzigsten Jahrestag des Genozids an
den Armeniern stattfinden. Dieses Erinnern ist keine
zeitgeschichtliche Mode, keine einfühlende Hysterie, sondern die
Grundlage, das moralische Ordnungsprinzip und zugleich das
Interessenvehikel unserer politischen Welt. Das läßt sich am
Verhältnis Japans und seinen Nachbarn ablesen; und in Kambodscha
öffnet sich das Totenreich der von Pol Pot Ermordeten. Man braucht
indessen gar nicht so weit zu schauen: Die Türkei wird gegenwärtig
von dem doppelten Fieber der Erinnerung und des Nationalismus
geschüttelt. Die einen fühlen sich in ihrem Stolz verletzt, die
anderen wollen endlich eine Türkei der Menschenrechte.

Tatsächlich hat die Europäische Gemeinschaft der Türkei schon 1987
unmißverständlich die Auseinandersetzung mit der eigenen
nationalistischen Vergangenheit als Bedingung eines Beitritts zur
Europäischen Union aufgegeben. Dem trug nun endlich auch der Deutsche
Bundestag Rechnung, als er auf Initiative der CDU/CSU-Fraktion die
Türkei aufforderte, sich mit der “Armenien-Frage” zu beschäftigen –
dabei aber peinlich den Begriff “Genozid” vermied. Ist solche
Geschichtsaußenpolitik eine ideologische Bevormundung? Oder ein
illusionärer Humanismus, den ein Blick auf die Außenhandelsbilanz
schon noch auf eine Sonntagsrede beschränken wird? Steht hier nicht
Interesse gegen Gesinnung – oder gar Gesinnung gegen Gesinnung, denn
schließlich gelten die Türken, die heute in der Europäischen Union
leben, als Prüfstein für Toleranz und kulturelles Miteinander?

Es mutet merkwürdig an, daß diese Fragen im Ersten Weltkrieg schon
einmal in anderer Konstellation gestellt wurden. Aus den falschen
Antworten von damals lassen sich heute vielleicht die richtigen
Schlüsse ziehen. Wenn die Deutschen in alledem eine besondere Rolle
spielen, dann nicht allein wegen des Bündnisses mit den Türken im
Ersten Weltkrieg. Vielmehr verweisen der türkische Völkermord und die
deutsche Reaktion auf politische Bruchlinien, die für ganz Europa
schicksalhaft werden sollten. Wenn man sie verfolgt, kommt man an
eine fundamentale rassistische Wende in Europa, die die nachfolgenden
Jahrzehnte bestimmen sollte.

Das läßt sich am Gegensatz zweier Personen zeigen, die das deutsche
Armenien-Bild prägten. Der eine war der Pfarrer Johannes Lepsius,
Mitglied der Orient-Mission. Er hatte schon in den neunziger Jahren
des neunzehnten Jahrhunderts die deutsche Öffentlichkeit auf die
Massaker an den Armeniern im zerfallenden Reich des “roten Sultans”
Abdul Hamid II. aufmerksam gemacht; während des Genozids von 1915 und
1916 versuchte er Hilfe für die Armenier zu organisieren und
möglichst viele diplomatische Dokumente zur jungtürkisch inspirierten
Armeniervernichtung zu sichern und im Kampf gegen die Zensur zu
publizieren.

Zwar gab es auf seiten des deutschen Militärs und deutscher
Diplomaten im Osmanischen Reich vereinzelte Proteste, insgesamt aber
verhielt sich die politische Führung des Deutschen Reichs
“realpolitisch”: Der türkische Bündnispartner sollte nicht verprellt
werden, die deutschen Interessen wogen schwerer als das Schicksal der
christlichen Armenier. Mehr noch: Die Armenier trügen selbst die
Schuld an ihrem Untergang, so Friedrich Naumann, der Gründer des
Nationalliberalen Vereins und einer der prominentesten Figuren der
wilhelminischen Ära. Die Armenier verhielten sich wie Parasiten auf
dem sterbenden Leib des “kranken Mannes”. Die Armenier waren ihm
bereits während einer Reise vor der Jahrhundertwende als
“Zwischenvolk” ohne weitere historische Berechtigung erschienen. Karl
May sollte diese rassistische Festschreibung in seinem Roman “Im
Reich des silbernen Löwen” nachhaltig popularisieren. Von hier aus
zur sogenannten “Judenzählung” im Deutschen Heer von 1916, die auf
dem explizit rassistisch begründeten Vorwurf parasitärer Feigheit vor
dem Feind beruhte, war es dann nur ein Schritt, ein rassistischer
Nachvollzug im Innern, was man theoretisch im Hinblick auf das
Osmanische Reich “völkisch” schon gebilligt hatte.

Die “armenische Frage” berührt also nicht nur die türkische
Geschichte, sondern ebenso die deutsche und europäische Geschichte
seit der Reichsgründung. Was Europa wirklich wert ist, wird sich hier
zeigen. Wenn nun die türkische Regierung tatsächlich bereit ist zur
Einsetzung einer armenisch-türkischen Historikerkommission, so ist es
undenkbar, daß die armenische Diaspora in aller Welt ausgeklammert
sein soll, wie die Türkei fordert. Denn die Diaspora – das sind die
Nachfahren der Überlebenden. Es wäre gerade so, als wäre das American
Jewish Committee in den Holocaust-Entschädigungsverhandlungen nicht
beteiligt worden.

MICHAEL JEISMANN

Der vergangenheitspolitische Umgang mit der türkischen
Vernichtungspolitik gegen die Armenier 1915/16 wird zur Probe auf
Europa: Ein Blick aus der Genozid-Gedenkstätte in Eriwan.

Foto Lili Nahapetian

«KOCHARYAN HAS PLENARY POWERS»

A1plus
| 13:52:44 | 19-04-2005 | Politics |

Chairman of Democracy public organization Vardan Poghosyan is convinced
that to date the acting Constitution provides for plenary powers of
the President.

In his words, our Constitution not only needs changes but is far
from the constitutional models of democratic states. Today during the
discussion of a draft of constitutional amendments Vardan Poghosyan
touched upon concrete changes, which have been already submitted to the
National Assembly factions. In Poghosyan’s opinion, first of all the
present semi-presidential system should be replaced. “For instance, the
President should not be empowered to dissolve the government. Presently
the President can dismiss the Prime Minister without taking into
account the opinion of the NA. In case the NA does not agree with
his decision he can dissolve it as well”, Vardan Poghosyan says.

According to Shavarsh Kocharyan, who was also present at the
discussions, if the NA majority did not impede the works being carried
out, the constitutional changes would become real. “The President’s
authority is too wide; he even has the right to appoint the Mayor of
Yerevan. If we want to become a democratic state we should have an
appropriate Constitution”, he said.

–Boundary_(ID_iNbwsEIT6JF36Zzy2z0efQ)–

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:
 
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]

ASSEMBLY CALLS ON HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE TO CONTINUE ECONOMIC, SECURITY
ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA, KARABAKH

Washington, DC – Recounting the longstanding and growing friendship
between Armenia and the United States and noting Armenia’s progress
in economic development and poverty reduction, the Armenian Assembly
praised a key House Subcommittee’s support for continued funding to
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. The Assembly said that such assistance
has helped both countries move forward as independent, market-reformed
and democratic states.

In testimony submitted last week before the House Foreign Operations
Appropriations Subcommittee, Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny
said U.S. policy in the South Caucasus should continue to focus on
ensuring open borders and commercial corridors as well as conflict
resolution. Ardouny stressed that “U.S. security interests depend
now more than ever on Turkey and Azerbaijan lifting their blockades
against Armenia.”

The Assembly urged the Subcommittee to maintain U.S. assistance
to Armenian in FY 2006 “at a level of ‘not less than’ $75
million.” Ardouny explained the detrimental effects of the border
blockades and said that according to the World Bank, “the lifting
of the blockades could reduce Armenia’s transport costs by 30 to 50
percent; increase the Gross Domestic Product by over 30 percent and
double exports.”

Ardouny also noted that the U.S.-Armenia military relationship
continues to strengthen as evidenced by its ongoing assistance and
cooperation with the U.S. Department of Defense. He added that
the Assembly supports the Administration’s request of $5 million in
Foreign Military Financing and $750,000 in International Military
Education Training assistance.

The Assembly also praised the vision and leadership of the Subcommittee
for its continued support for humanitarian assistance to Nagorno
Karabakh and requested that $5 million be again allocated to that
country next year.

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#2005-035

Editor’s Note: Attached is the full text of Assembly Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny’s testimony submitted before the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related
Programs on April 13, 2005.

Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Lowey and distinguished Members of the
Subcommittee: The Armenian Assembly of America is pleased to submit
testimony regarding U.S. assistance and policy in the Caucasus
generally and Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh specifically.

Founded in 1972, the Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based
organization, promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. We represent Armenian-Americans and those who share our goals.

The Assembly’s extensive experience in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh,
working closely with key government agencies and officials, has
provided us with unique insight on how U.S. assistance can best
advance U.S. policy goals in the region. Given the challenges facing
the United States following the tragic events of September 11th,
we must redouble our efforts in the Caucasus and Caspian regions in
order to strike the appropriate balance between the need to ensure
U.S. security with the long-standing U.S. objectives of establishing
democracy, the rule of law, open economies and civil society.

As such, U.S. policy in the South Caucasus should continue to focus
on conflict resolution and on ensuring open borders and commercial
corridors. U.S. security interests depend now more than ever on Turkey
and Azerbaijan lifting their blockades of Armenia. Turkey should
heed calls made by President Bush and other U.S. officials to open
the border with Armenia.

Recommendations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006

1. Economic Assistance to Armenia

The Assembly urges the Subcommittee to maintain U.S. assistance to
Armenia in FY 2006 at a level of “not less than $75 million.”

According to the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, Armenia
“is on the right track along several important vectors,” particularly
in terms of economic development and poverty reduction. Maintaining
significant assistance to Armenia is essential in order for its
people to secure the most basic standard of living in the face of
the ongoing Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades. According to the Word
Bank, the lifting of the blockades could reduce Armenia’s transport
costs by 30 to 50 percent; increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
by over 30 percent and double exports.1 These findings were included
in the Economic Impact of the Turkish/Armenian Border Closure and on
Diplomatic Contacts with Both Parties on This Issue report that was
published two years ago by the State Department.

As a landlocked nation, nearly 85 percent of all goods transported to
and from Armenia had previously traversed Azerbaijan. The entire
population of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh has been affected.
In addition to defying U.S. law, the Azerbaijani blockade is in
violation of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
(OSCE) mandates calling for the re-opening of closed borders.
The blockade has cut off the transport of food, fuel, medicine and all
other commodities via traditional transport to and from the states
of the Former Soviet Union (FSU). The Assembly urges Congress to
call upon Turkey and Azerbaijan to immediately cease their blockades.

In spite of the dual blockades, Armenia’s economic reform measures are
progressing, as demonstrated by the Wall Street Journal and Heritage
Foundation’s “2005 Index of Economic Freedom.” The index, which
measured how more than 160 countries scored on a list of 50 independent
variables divided into ten broad factors of economic freedom, rated
Armenia 42nd. According to the study, Armenia remains the most
economically free nation in the region, including all nations in the
Commonwealth of Independent States. As a result of these reforms
Armenia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by over 10 percent
in 2004, capping the fourth consecutive year of double-digit growth.

2. U.S. Military Assistance to Armenia

The Assembly supports the Administration’s FY 2006 Budget Request of
$5 million in Foreign Military Financing and $750,000 in International
Military Education Training assistance.

We appreciate and commend the Subcommittee efforts with respect to
U.S. military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan in the FY 2005
Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. It is essential that the
spirit and intent of the conditional waiver of Section 907 of the
FREEDOM Support Act be maintained to ensure that Azerbaijan does
not use any additional assistance against the people of Armenia or
Nagorno Karabakh.

As you know, the U.S.-Armenia military relationship continues
to strengthen as is evidenced by Armenia’s decision to send a
peace-keeping contingent to Iraq and its ongoing assistance and
cooperation with the U.S. Department of Defense. In fact, during
his second visit in less than a year to Armenia last month, General
Charles Wald, Deputy Commander of the U.S. forces in Europe, noted
that “great progress” has already been achieved and that his talks
with President Robert Kocharian and Defense Minister Serge Sargsian
focused on developing U.S.-Armenia defense relations, particularly
measures against international terrorists.

Armenia is also an active NATO partner. In 2003, high-ranking
NATO officials praised Armenia as “the most improved nation” in
terms of dynamics of partnership and cooperation. Most Armenia-NATO
activities fall under the NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) program.
To demonstrate its continued and growing commitment to NATO, Armenia
appointed an Ambassador and a Military Representative specifically
to the alliance in 2004.

The Assembly strongly believes that it is in the U.S. national interest
to build upon this important area of cooperation with Armenia and we
look forward to working with you and members of the Subcommittee to
further expand U.S.-Armenia military relations.

3. Assistance to Nagorno Karabakh

The Assembly commends the vision and leadership of the Subcommittee for
its continued support for humanitarian assistance to Nagorno Karabakh.
We request that the Subcommittee include language directing USAID to
allocate $5 million for Karabakh in FY 2006.

Having won a war initiated by Azerbaijan and fought in their
homeland, the people of Nagorno Karabakh have suffered greatly –
from substantial loss of life to villages, homes and farmland that
were completely destroyed. Given the great humanitarian crisis in
Karabakh, Congress provided much-needed assistance. The Assembly
commends the vision and leadership of this Subcommittee in helping
the people of Karabakh rebuild from the devastating effects of the war.

While progress has been made in Karabakh, there are still many
compelling humanitarian and development needs required to make Nagorno
Karabakh whole and restore its pre-war conditions. Many healthcare,
education, irrigation and other needs have yet to be addressed.
Therefore, the Assembly strongly urges the Subcommittee to ensure
that additional funding be provided.

4. Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act

The Assembly urges the Subcommittee to continue to vigorously
monitor the conditional waiver of Section 907 to ensure the safety of
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh and to call on the President to submit
to Congress the report that is required by law within 60 days of
enacting the waiver. Should Armenia’s or Nagorno Karabakh’s safety be
compromised or the Karabakh peace process hindered as a result of any
assistance provided to Azerbaijan, the Assembly asks the Subcommittee
to immediately terminate the waiver.

As the Subcommittee is aware, during the early 1990s, the Government
of Azerbaijan launched a military campaign against the Armenians
of Karabakh. This aggression included a large-scale deployment of
mujaheddin fighters from Afghanistan. An Al Qaeda member told Western
journalists that Osama Bin Laden himself “twice led men in battle
in Azerbaijan.” In response to Azerbaijan’s aggression toward and
blockade of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, Section 907 was enacted
with the overwhelming support of Congress and with the support of
the Administration in 1992.

As you know, a cease-fire in the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh was
established in 1994 and sensitive peace negotiations to achieve a
final agreement are ongoing. However, the government of Azerbaijan
continues to make bellicose claims and threaten war against Armenia
and Karabakh. This war rhetoric has continued unabated, and, in fact,
has intensified in the past year.

Given the renewed public calls by Azerbaijani leaders for another
military offensive and the ongoing Azerbaijani blockades, the
Assembly urges the Subcommittee to closely monitor the developments
in Azerbaijan as it pertains to U.S. assistance and the conditional
waiver to ensure the safety and security of the Armenian people.

5. Peace Process (the Nagorno Karabakh conflict)

The Assembly commends this Subcommittee’s efforts to bring about a
peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and for providing
funding for regional projects and confidence-building measures.

As the Assembly has noted in prior years, Armenia has consistently
demonstrated its desire for regional cooperation and normal relations
with its neighbors, yet Azerbaijan and Turkey continue to reject
Armenia’s overtures. Armenia has repeatedly made proposals to foster
regional cooperation with Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, Azerbaijan
refused to consider these proposals. Moreover, Azerbaijan, while
joining regional transportation initiatives, such as Transport
Corridor Europe Caucasus and Asia, has enunciated one reservation:
“The Republic of Azerbaijan declares that none of the rights,
obligations and provisions set out…shall be applied by the Republic
of Azerbaijan in respect of transport passing across its territory
for which the territory of the Republic of Armenia is an originating,
transit or destination territory.”

Given these circumstances, the Assembly urges this Subcommittee
and Congress to redouble its efforts in the Nagorno Karabakh peace
process to help facilitate peace in the region; ensure open borders
and commercial corridors for all countries in the Caucasus; and,
undertake measures to avert an arms race there.

6. Conclusion

Mr. Chairman, on behalf of the Armenian-American community, I would
like to express our deep and sincere gratitude to Congress for its
steadfast support of U.S. assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Armenian-Americans remember the support the United States gave during
Karabakh’s struggle throughout the Soviet era and America’s proud
World War I record of intervention during the Armenian Genocide.

U.S. assistance has saved hundreds of thousands of lives and allowed
Armenia to move forward with important reforms. Such assistance also
reflects the strong ties between Armenians and Americans. The enduring
and natural bonds that exist between the United States and Armenia
are readily apparent in Armenia’s ongoing support for America.
As President Bush recently noted “the United States greatly values
the contributions that Armenians make to our national life…[and]
is also deeply grateful for Armenia’s swift and decisive cooperation
in the war against terrorism.”

A centuries-old Christian country, Armenia stands at the crossroads
of Europe and Asia and on the front lines in the new war against
terrorism. Armenians in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh look to the
United States as the leader of the western world and a beacon of hope
in defense of freedom and self-determination. They stand ready to
help America ensure that the evils of terrorism are eliminated and
that democracy can flourish.

The Assembly greatly appreciates your attention to these very important
matters and looks forward to working with the distinguished Members
of the Subcommittee in the coming months.

Thank you.

-30-

–Boundary_(ID_G0hRp64gcMX8NC9ZpF6jDw)–

PRESS RELEASE
April 21, 2005
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:

Armenian Genocide Anniversary Commemorated on Capitol Hill

The 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was commemorated in a
moving and dignified ceremony in the United States Congress hosted
by the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. Members of the United
States Senate and House of Representatives and congressional staffers
were joined by representatives of Armenian-American organizations
and communities from all over the United States, as well as members
of the Armenian American community and friends of Armenia in Greater
Washington area.

Addressing the commemoration event, Armenia’s Ambassador to the United
States Tatoul Markarian noted that it was symbolic that his first
public speech coincided with the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. Reflecting on the genocides in Rwanda and the African
region of Darfur, Ambassador Markarian noted that success of efforts
to achieve international recognition of the Armenian Genocide can be
judged by the world’s ability to “to uproot the triumph of evil that
genocides represent.”

Ambassador Markarian noted that although historical justice and
moral obligation are sufficient reasons for pursuing the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide, the issue also has direct bearing on
current developments and prospects for peace and stability in South
Caucasus region. Turkey’s inability to come to terms with history
affected the current Turkish foreign policy, noted the Armenian
Ambassador, citing Turkey’s refusal to normalize its relations with
and lift its blockade on Armenia, as well as its unconstructive
position on Nagorno Karabakh. Turkey should overcome the political
challenge of the past, and we would welcome it, said the Armenian
Ambassador. Since independence, Armenia has proposed and is ready to
establish diplomatic relations with Turkey without preconditions,
which, Ambassador Markarian said, could create normal environment
for discussing outstanding issues in Armenian-Turkish relations.

Ambassador Markarian noted that many EU members were making the
acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide a litmus test of Turkey’s
willingness to address its human rights record and to embrace
fundamental values. In turn, he added, U.S. recognition of the
Armenian Genocide would send a powerful message to the entire world
that genocides had no place in twenty-first century and that there
was no statute of limitations for genocidal acts.

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
For Justice and Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B – 1000 BRUXELLES
Tel: +32 (0) 2 732 70 26
Tel./Fax: +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
April 21st, 2004
Contact: Talline Tachdjian
Tel.: +32 (0)2 732 70 27

POLAND, IN ITS TURN, RECOGNIZES THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

— With a resolution adopted by the Sejm, the Polish House of
Representatives, Poland is the 9th European Union State to recognize
the Armenian Genocide —

On April the 19th, the Polish Parliament, the Sejm, voted a resolution
which officially acknowledges the Armenian Genocide. With this
resolution, forwarded to the Senate for ratification, Poland became
the 9th State of the European Union to do so, after Cyprus, Greece,
Belgium, Sweden, Italy, France, Slovakia and the Netherlands. In
Europe, Switzerland and Bulgaria, which are however not members of
the Union, may be added to this list.

This resolution tabled by the presidency of the Parliament declares
that “the Sejm of the Polish republic pays tribute to the victims
of the genocide of the Armenian population in Turkey during World
War One.” It adds that “the remembrance and the condemnation of this
crime remains a moral duty of the whole mankind, of all the States
as well as all the willingly people.”

“We hail this resolution marked by greatness and lucidity. Through
this vote, the People of Poland testified their attachment to the
ethical values of the Union. We extend to them our congratulations
and our fraternal thanks” stated Hilda Tchoboian, chairperson of the
European Armenian Federation

“We note that with this last resolution, 210 of 460 millions Europeans
directly ask Turkey to recognize the genocide and, if tomorrow Germany
votes a similar text, it will be nearly 300 millions Europeans who will
support this demand. With these repeated resolutions, Europeans confirm
the resolution voted by the European Parliament in 1987. Turkey must
now assume its responsibility by a sincere and explicit recognition
of the Armenian Genocide” concluded Tchoboian.

“FAMILY CARPETS OF ARTSAKH”

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
19 April 05

Artsakh has always been famous for a high level of development of
folk arts and crafts. Carpet weaving has been especially popular.
However, during 70 years of the Soviet rule thousands of carpets
created by Artsakh women were taken to the museums of Azerbaijan. The
restoration of statehood was a chance to preserve our culture. Lately
the presentation of the book “Family Carpets of Artsakh” by Vahram
Tatikian took place in Stepanakert. The book has a scientific value
and is an important step in our science of history. Vahram Tatikian
presents the tradition of carpet weaving in Artsakh in the continuity
of the historical tradition of Armenian carpet weaving. We had a talk
with the author of the book. Nvard Soghomonian: “How did it happen that
the poet and composer Vahram Tatikian became interested in carpets,
and particularly Artsakh carpets?” Vahram Tatikian: “I was a student,
from Gandzassar I descended to the village of Vank on the mountain
side; I saw a carpet in some house which surprised me the student of
archaeology by its composition, the ornaments of vishap (i.e. snake)
coiled round the swastika. I was delighted with the Christian temple
of Gandzassar and the work of pagan art side by side. I had been
studying monuments of architecture by then; after that I began taking
photos of old Armenian carpets. Lori, Siunik, again Artsakh; going
from village to village I discovered the wonderful world of carpets
for me. My temptation of carpet art began in the ancient Armenian
region of Artsakh. N.S.: “Mr. Tatikian, your book is the result of
long years of study and work. Who helped you?” V.T.: “First of all,
it is my mother, writer, publicist, specialist of Diaspora studies,
Shakeh Varsian. Without her motherly devotion I could not come to this
result. I was helped by sculptor Youri Hovhannissian, my lecturer at
the university Zaven Arzumanian, the two workers of the shop buying
and exchanging carpets Robert Danielian and Armen Knorenian who
allowed me to photograph the carpets brought to them, the director
of Yerevan Museum of Art Hovhannes Sharambeyan, the director of the
museum of Parajanov Zaven Sarghissian. By the way, in the period
between 1960 and 1990 about 100 thousand carpets were exported from
Armenia. To compare, the number of carpets kept in all the museums
of Armenia is not more than 5000. Visiting Karabakh in those years,
I understood what lost homeland is, and I believed that it would not
share the fate of Kars, Mush. Going from village to village, I came to
understand Makar Barkhudarian, Bagrat Ulubabian. Look at the photos in
the book, how proudly the women of Artsakh are standing beside their
creation ~@” the carpet. By the way, foreign artists also notice the
bearing, the nature of the Armenian woman. The Azeris present hundreds
of carpets of Armenian villages as theirs. By the way, a great part
of carpets in the book do not exist any more, only their photos have
been preserved. It was difficult to combine love, history and politics
in one book, but owing to the assistance of the government everything
was done to create this collection of facts.” N.S.: “What other plans
connected with publishing books do you have?” V.T.: “My studies devoted
to the carpets and “vishap” carpets of Lori, Utik, Artsakh are going
to be published. It happened so that the book about the carpets of
Artsakh came out the first. By the way, what is included in “Family
Carpets of Artsakh” is only the third part of my studies.” N.S.:
“What would you like to tell your readers?” V.T. “The book is the
result of 35 years of work, the result of great love and devotion of
the Artsakh woman. I return to you what I took from you.”

NVARD SOGHOMONIAN.
19-04-2005

Armenian president names new deputy foreign minister

Arminfo
20 Apr 05

Yerevan, 20 April: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has signed a
decree appointing Arman Kirakosyan to the post of Armenian deputy
foreign minister, the presidential press service has told Arminfo
news agency.

Before his appointment, Arman Kirakosyan was the Armenian ambassador
to the USA.