Author: Tamamian Anna

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Natoinal Committee of Illinois
1701 North Greenwood Road
Glenview, IL 60026
Date: September 27, 2005
Contact: Greg Bedian
Email: [email protected]

SYSTEM OF A DOWN, ANC, AYF LEAD RALLY TO DEMAND VOTE ON GENOCIDE
LEGISLATION

Batavia, IL – System of a Down singer Serj Tankian, leaders of the
Armenian National Committee (ANC) and the Armenian Youth Federation
headed up a rally in front of Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert’s
district office in Batavia, IL, urging the Speaker to `Do the right
thing’ and schedule a vote on Armenian Genocide legislation currently
before the House of Representatives.

With the street in front of Hastert’s office blocked off by a police
cordon, hundreds of people of all ages listened to Tankian and John
Dolmayan and Armenian National Committee representatives Aram
Hamparian and Greg Bedian address the crowd, thanking them for their
support and urging them to continue to build momentum for the
legislation.

System of a Down’s four band members – Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian,
Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan – are of Armenian descent and have
made awareness of the genocide, and genocide around the world, a
central message of the band. All lost family members to the Armenian
Genocide.

Tankian and Armenian American community representatives passed on to
Hastert’s aides a letter urging the Speaker to move the legislation
forward and presented hundreds of letters from community members
calling for a vote. In a personal letter delivered to Speaker
Hastert’s office, Tankian stated `My grandfather, Stepan Haytayan, is
a 97 year-old survivor of the genocide. He’s my only link to this
past. I promised him that I would try to reach you and explain how
important American recognition is to the surviving children of the
first genocide of the 20th century.’

Greg Bedian, Chair of the ANC of IL, told the crowd, `You’ve taken the
time to stand up for justice about Turkey’s denial of the Armenian
Genocide, the precursor to the Holocaust and many other instances of
mass slaughter. The U.S. government today must set its record
straight by reaffirming the fact that Turkey committed genocide when
it exterminated 1.5 million Armenians. America must send the message
to governments around the world that the crime of genocide will
neither be forgotten nor treated with impunity.’

The rally was organized by the popular rock band System of a Down,
Axis of Justice, the Armenian National Committee of America and the
Armenian Youth Federation. In addition to members of the
Armenian-American community of Greater Chicago, attendees traveled
from Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, California and Washington, DC to
take part in the event. The numbers of Armenian Americans were buoyed
by the participation of throngs of fans of System of a Down and
supporters of the Axis of Justice.

Demonstrators from the Armenian National Committee of Illinois had
picketed Speaker Hastert’s “Mobile Office Tour 2005” on Wednesday,
July 20, demanding that he honor his five-year-old pledge to move the
Armenian Genocide Resolution forward in the House of Representatives.

Hastert made the pledge to have the full House vote on Armenian
Genocide legislation in August of 2000, but reneged in October of 2000
citing pressure from then President Clinton. He also prevented a
similar resolution from reaching the floor in 2004. Staffers committed
to provide the Speaker’s feedback to the constituents very soon
regarding the current bill.

The Armenian National Committee of Illinois is a grassroots public
affairs organization serving to inform, educate, and act on a wide
range of issues concerning Armenian Americans throughout the state of
Illinois.

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Sept 20 2005

EACH ONE HAS HIS OWN MORALS

Haykakan Jamanak newspaper (20.09.05) has criticized RA Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan’s statement referring to the construction of
Kars – Akhalkalaki railroad. In the course of a press conference
Vardan Oskanyan stated Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey had no moral
right to construct the road, as they received aid from the US and the
EU.
According to Haykakan Jamanak, Vardan Oskanyan has realized that
Armenia’s future is endangered each time when it is out of a current
regional program. The newspaper notes the above – mentioned project
can strike at Armenia’s economy.
However, Haykakan Jamanak notes morals have nothing to do with
politics, especially when the matter concerns economic interests.
What is immoral for one party is moral for another one.
Two days ago Azeri President Ilham Aliyev commented on RA Foreign
Minister’s utterance. He said Vardan Oskanyan’s statement was `quite
amusing’ and stressed Armenian lobby could not hamper the railroad’s
construction. As for `morals’, Aliyev said: `We have got the moral
right to liberate our occupied lands, and we are going to do it’.

ARMENIAN ACADEMY EIGHTH-GRADERS WEATHER THE STORM
By: Kira Chappelle

Wayne Suburban Newspapers, PA
Sept 19 2005

Joyce Faccenda’s eighth grade science class from the Armenian Sisters
Academy sailed out onto the Delaware River on the Northwind, a 38-foot
schooner, to learn about the river and its water.

The late spring day, however, was dark, cold, and rainy, and the
trash bags protecting the students eventually left them soaked.

“We were wet and soaked but they really enjoyed being out on water,
and they felt like they learned a lot… They got an understanding of
being on water, of learning about the content of the water, and how
healthy the Delaware River is,” Faccenda, who is the science teacher
for grades 5-8 at the Armenian Sisters Academy on Upper Gulph Road,
said.

Faccenda learned about the program, operated by Philadelphia City Sail,
at a teachers’ workshop, and had originally planned the field trip for
last October. However, due to the pregnancy of the City Sail director,
bad weather, and illnesses, the trip was repeatedly postponed until
June 3.

“[At first] it was hard for the kids to get excited because the day
was bad, and it was canceled so many times,” said Faccenda. “But we
went and they left really, really excited.”

The 17 students learned about sailing, map reading. They tested the
water for microorganisms and oxygen content.

“The captain said they withstood so much that day that they could
have been true sailors,” Faccenda said.

Kira Chappelle has headed back to Bowdoin College after her summer
internship at The Suburban and Wayne Times.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Prelacy of Canada
Contact Name: Dania Ohanian
Phone: (514) 856-1200
3401 Olivar Asselin
Montreal, Qc H4J 1L5
E-mail: [email protected]

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos,
Begins North American Visit in Montreal on September 22

Montreal, Qc_ His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Catholicosate
of Cilicia, will officially begin His North American Pontifical visit in
Montreal with a meeting with the local community at the Sourp Hagop Armenian
Apostolic Cathedral at 7pm on September 22, 2005.

His Holiness will be in Canada until October 5, 2005 and will be visiting
the churches and community centres of Laval, Toronto, Cambridge and St.
Catharines. During His stay, His Holiness will also be meeting with
politicians, diplomats, as well as with religious leaders, and
representatives of the Canadian Bible Society.

Key public appointments for the Pontifical visit of His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos, for Montreal and Laval are:

· Meeting with Armenian organizations, Armenian Community Centre,
Friday September 23, 8pm to 10pm
· Official Banquet Reception, Armenian Community Centre, Saturday
September 24, 7pm
· Divine Liturgy, Bon Pasteur Catholic Church in Laval, Sunday
September 25, 11am
· Celebration of the 1600th Anniversary of the Armenian Alphabet &
the 75th Anniversary of the Catholicosate Seminary, Pierre Mercure Hall in
Montreal, Sunday September 25, 7pm-9:30pm
· Meeting with Armenian students and youth, Armenian Community
Centre, Monday September 26, 8pm to 10pm.

The key public appointments for Ontario are:

· Meeting with Toronto community, St. Mary Armenian Apostolic
Church, 8pm
· Meeting with community’s religious and political leaders, Toronto
Armenian Community Centre, Friday September 30, 6pm to 7:30pm
· Celebratory Banquet in Honour of the 75th Anniversary of the
Catholicosate’s Seminary and the 10th Anniversary of His enthronement as
Catholicos, Toronto Armenian Community Centre, Friday September 30, 8pm to
10pm
· Meeting with Armenian organizations, Toronto Armenian Community
Centre, Saturday October 1, 11am to 1pm
· Official Banquet Reception, Toronto Armenian Community Centre,
Saturday October 1, 7:30pm
· Divine Liturgy, St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, Sunday October
2, 11am
· Meeting with community and Banquet, Sourp Nishan Armenian
Apostolic Church in Cambridge, Sunday October 2, 8pm
Meeting with community and Banquet, St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church in
St. Catharines, Tuesday October 4, 6:30pm
Dinner meeting with Armenian students and youth, Toronto Armenian Community
Centre, Monday October 3, 8pm to 10pm.

This historical visit by His Holiness is in homage of the 75th anniversary
of the Catholicosate’s Seminary in Antelias, Lebanon, and the ten-year
anniversary of His Holiness Aram I as Catholicos of the Armenian
Catholicosate of Cilicia.

Born in 1947, in Beirut, Lebanon, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I studied at
the Armenian Theological Seminary in Antelias, and the Ecumenical Institute
of Bossey in Geneva, Switzerland, before receiving His M.Div. from the Near
East School of Theology. He received jointly His S.T.M. from the American
University of Beirut and the Near East School of Theology.

His Holiness later obtained His PhD from Fordham University in New York and
also holds several honorary degrees. His major areas of specialization are
philosophy, systematic theology, and Near Eastern church history.

Catholicos Aram I was ordained a celibate priest in 1968, and obtained the
title of Vartabed (Doctor of the Armenian Church) in 1970. In 1979, after
serving as Locum Tenens for one year, He was elected Primate of the Armenian
Orthodox Community in Lebanon and received His Episcopal ordination the
following year.

In June 1995, His Holiness was elected Catholicos (Head of the Church) by
the Electoral Assembly of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia (35 clergy
and 115 lay representatives), and was consecrated a week later.

Since His enthronement, His Holiness has reorganized and revitalized the
work of the Church, particularly in the areas of theological and Christian
education, has increased the number of publications, has improved
communication with other churches and religious leaders, has augmented the
scope of cultural activities, and promoted peace and justice, and human
rights internationally.

Catholicos Aram I has previously visited all the Middle-Eastern, European,
South and North American dioceses of the Catholicosate.

-30-

A1+

| 16:29:30 | 14-09-2005 | Social |

DRESS REHEARSAL BEFORE THE STRIKE

Today the staff and the trade union of the `General Transworld’
Manufacturing Company CJSC organized a warning strike. Tomorrow they will
work again, and if the `warning strike’ finds no answer, they will go a
long-lasting strike on September 19.

Since 2001 the company has failed to give wages of about 198 million ARMD to
its workers. Some of them have received part of their wages, but there are
people who have not received any at all.

Let us remind you that on August 25 and 26, 2005, 400 workers of the Company
organized an act of complaint demanding to get their salary of the last two
months.

According to the head of the Company’s trade union Haroutyun Heroyan, on
August 26 the Head of the company Margaryan invited the participants of the
action to negotiate, where the latters were beaten severely by the guards.

The participants of the strike demand to give them the possibility to have
paid vacations, not to work on Saturdays as they are not paid for those
days, to get their wages, as well as to accept back the 9 workers who were
fired from work.

By the way, the workers have also turned to the RA President and the
Government, and they are determined to fight till the end.

Pan Armenian News

ARMENIA SIGNED INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON ELIMINATION OF NUCLEAR TERRORISM

16.09.2005 06:07

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On September 15 during a special event titled `Focus 2005
– response to global challenges’ dedicated to international treaties and
held within the framework of the 60-th Session UN General Assembly Armenian
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan signed the International Convention on
Elimination of Nuclear Terrorism. Proceeding from the principles of peace
and security, friendly relations between the states and development of
cooperation, acknowledging the right of states to use nuclear energy for
peaceful purposes and being concerned of the boom of terrorism the
member-states solemnly condemned terrorism of any kind.

A1+

| 16:17:01 | 16-09-2005 | Official |

MEMBERSHIP OFFER

RA NA President Arthur Baghdasaryan met the International European Movement
Secretary General Henrik Croner. The latter represented the history and the
activity of the organization mentioning that being in Europe the movement
was ground for forming the CoE and the EU.

During the meeting the issue of opening the office of the organization in
Armenia was discussed. Its aim would be to contribute to the establishment
of the civic society in Armenia and the enhancing of democracy.

Mr. Croner also offered the NA President to become member of the
organization.

The Conservative Voice
Sept 15 2005

Bad Decision, Dangerous Precedent
September 14, 2005 03:30 PM EST

Gun owners and gun owner rights groups across America are rightfully
outraged at the recent decision by New Orleans law enforcement
officials to confiscate the firearms of law-abiding citizens.
According to city officials, while the crisis spawned by Katrina
exists, no one but law enforcement will have guns in New Orleans.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t there a little something in the
United States Constitution that specifically prohibits this sort of
thing?

New Orleans Police Superintendent P. Edwin Compass made the following
statement to the Washington Post:

“No one will be able to be armed. Guns will be taken. Only law
enforcement will be allowed to have guns.”

This should be sufficient to thoroughly frighten any American who
understands the Constitution and recognizes the vital role legal
firearms play in our society. Should this heinous violation of
constitutional rights be allowed to set a precedent, Americans could
truly be in danger of losing our constitutionally protected right to
keep and bear arms. Be glad, my friends, that a Republican presently
resides within the White House. Imagine the consequences of this if a
left-wing, gun-hating liberal occupied the Oval Office? We’d almost
certainly see a push for a federal law mandating that during any
“crisis” Americans could have their guns confiscated “for their own
safety.”

Let’s take a quick look at some history…

In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953,
about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were
rounded up and exterminated.

In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5
million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and
exterminated.

Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, 13
million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were
rounded up and exterminated.

China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million
political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up
and exterminated.

Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000
Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and
exterminated.

Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000
Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and
exterminated.

Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one
million ‘educated’ people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded
up and exterminated.

Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century
because of gun control: 56 million.

In 1996 the nation of Australia passed a gun ban. Gun owners in
Australia were forced by the new law to surrender 640,381 personal
firearms to be destroyed by their own government, a program costing
Australia taxpayers more than $500 million dollars. Here are the
results cataloged 12 months later:

Australia-wide, homicides were up 3.2 percent
Australia-wide, assaults were up 8.6 percent
Australia-wide, armed robberies were up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent!)
In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms increased by
300 percent.

While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in
armed robbery with firearms, this changed drastically upward in the
12 months following the passage of the gun ban, since the criminals
now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed.

There was also a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the
elderly. Australian politicians were at a loss to explain how and why
public safety had decreased, after such monumental effort and expense
was expended in “successfully ridding Australian society of guns.”
The Australian experience and the other historical facts above prove
conclusively that an armed populace is a safer populace.

Crooks will always have firearms regardless of what laws are passed.
It is the height of stupidity to assume that law-breakers who depend
upon firearms to ply their grisly trade would simply hand over their
guns. All Australia’s government did was make things easier for the
crooks!

The city of New Orleans has followed Australia’s example. It is only
a matter of time before innocent lives are lost due to this theft of
private property. What will city officials have to say about it when
innocent people die? Will they admit making a mistake? Will the MSM
point out that confiscating legal firearms is not only
unconstitutional, but dangerous to law-abiding citizens?

Obvious answer: No. Of course they won’t. If anything the MSM will
either ignore the loss of life or doctor the numbers so that the
policy looks like a success. Liberals will rub their hands together
in glee while they look to find a way to once again pervert the
Constitution to justify a federal law allowing any state or city to
confiscate firearms. This is a liberal dream come true. For normal
folks like you and me, it’s a potential nightmare.

If you are unarmed and an armed burglar (trust me, he’ll be armed)
breaks into your home at 3:00 AM, what will you do? Call 9-11 and
hope he doesn’t hear you making the call? Will you bravely face his
nine-millimeter semi-automatic with a baseball bat? Will you hide
under the bed while he helps himself to all your worldly possessions?

You have the right to use lethal force to defend your home and family
against criminals. You also have a moral obligation to do so. In
today’s crazy world, only the craziest believe that legal firearms
are a bad idea. Please contact your congressperson and do your part
to see that such a law can never and will never happen where you
live. It’s only a matter of time before the Socialist Left tries to
use the New Orleans incident to further their unholy agenda.

Alan Burkhart is a freelance political writer, cross-country trucker,
and proud citizen of the reddest of the Red States – Mississippi. You
can reach him via e-mail at: [email protected] or by visiting his
website:

DER “MUSA DAGH”
Claudia Kuehner

Tages-Anzeiger, Deutschland.
10. September 2005

Im Sommer 1929 verbrachte Franz Werfel einige Zeit in Damaskus. Dort
traf er in einem Kaffeehaus auf einen Armenier, der begann, ihm
vom Schicksal seines Volkes zu erzaehlen. Es war der erste Genozid
der modernen Zeit. Mitten im Ersten Weltkrieg, 1915/16, vertrieb
die tuerkische Armee auf Befehl der Jungtuerken Enver Pascha und
Talaat Bey die in der Osttuerkei lebenden christlichen Armenier
in die mesopotamische Wueste, unter dem Vorwand, sie stuenden auf
der Seite von Russland, mit dem die Tuerkei im Krieg war, und sie
wollten einen eigenen Staat ausrufen. Mit unvorstellbarer Barbarei
gingen sie gegen die Armenier vor, in der Absicht, das ganze Volk
auszurotten. 1,5 Millionen kamen um, Frauen, Maenner, Greise,
Kinder. Die meisten starben auf den Todesmaerschen; viele wurden
erschossen, erschlagen, ihre Koepfe auf Speere aufgespiesst. Alles
ist fotografisch dokumentiert. Die Armenier, die im 4. Jahrhundert als
erstes Volk geschlossen zum Christentum uebergetreten waren, zumeist
als erstklassige Haendler und Handwerker lebten und eine reiche Kultur
geschaffen haben, waren ueber die Jahrhunderte immer wieder tuerkischer
Verfolgung ausgesetzt. In vielem glich ihr Schicksal dem juedischen.

Werfel war so erschuettert, dass er beschloss, einen Roman zu
schreiben. Er betrieb ausgedehnte Studien, 1933 erschien der Roman
“Die vierzig Tage des Musa Dagh” – ein gewaltiges Werk von vielen
hundert Seiten, doch fesselnd von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite.

Bis heute ist er d a s literarische Monument der armenischen Geschichte
geblieben. Im Mittelpunkt stehen einige wenige Dorfbewohner, die
vor den anrueckenden tuerkischen Truppen auf diesen “Mosesberg”
(die Uebersetzung von Musa Dagh) – am Mittelmeer, in der Naehe des
heutigen Iskanderun gelegen – fliehen konnten und nun heroischen
Widerstand leisten. Angefuehrt werden sie von dem Aristokraten
Gabriel Bagradian, der einst in der tuerkischen Armee als Offizier
gedient und viele Jahre in Paris gelebt hat, und dem Priester Ter
Haigasun. Ihnen gelingt es trotz ihrer Unterlegenheit dreimal, den
tuerkischen Ansturm abzuwehren. Die Rettung kommt schliesslich von
einem alliierten Flottengeschwader, das die Armenier aufnimmt. Gabriel
Bagradian aber ueberlebt nicht.

Werfel geniesst bis heute die dankbare Verehrung dieses Volkes. Der
Roman des christlich getauften Juden wurde 1933 von den Nazis sofort
verboten und von den deutschen Juden umso mehr gelesen, die die
Schicksalsgemeinschaft erkannten. Von Hiler wiederum wird kolportiert,
er habe vor SS-Offizieren gesagt, wer sich denn noch an die Vertreibung
der Armenier erinnere.

Zu den vielen Figuren, die den Roman bevoelkern und alle Facetten
menschlichen Verhaltens und Fuehlens in solch auswegloser Lage zeigen,
gehoert auch ein protestantischer deutscher Pastor, gezeichnet nach
der realen Figur Johannes Lepsius. Er gehoerte zu jenen Deutschen –
das Kaiserreich war mit den Tuerken verbuendet -, die verzweifelt
versuchten, zu Gunsten der Armenier auf die tuerkische Fuehrung
einzuwirken. Der andere Deutsche, den die Armenier aehnlich wie
Werfel verehren, ist der Schriftsteller Armin T. Wegner (1886 -1978),
der als Sanitaetssoldat Zeuge des Voelkermordes wurde und in einem
offenen Brief an den amerikanischen Praesidenten Woodrow Wilson
protestierte. Auch er verarbeitete das Erlebte spaeter literarisch in
“Weg ohne Heimkehr” und “Der Knabe Huessein”. Ihn erbitterte vor allem,
dass das mit der Tuerkei verbuendete deutsche Kaiserreich gegen den
Massenmord nichts tat.

Auch Wegner musste 1934 aus Deutschland fliehen, nachdem er Hitler
aufgefordert hatte, der beginnenden Judenverfolgung Einhalt zu
gebieten.

Bis heute hat jede tuerkische Regierung den Voelkermord geleugnet,
doch genau dadurch geraet er nicht in Vergessenheit, wie auch der
juengste schweizerisch -tuerkische Streit um den rechten Parteichef
Perincek wieder zeigt. Wer sich den Hintergrund literarisch aneignen
will, muss den “Musa Dagh” lesen.

THE PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA MIKHAIL SAAKASHVILI VISITS SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI REGION

TBILISI, SEPTEMBER 7. ARMINFO-/BLACK SEA PRESS/ Today, the
President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili has arrived in the region of
Samtskhe-Javakheti (Southern Georgia), the place of compact residence
of Armenians. BLACK SEA PRESS reporter was informed about it by the
Press-Service of Georgian President.

The President met with the local population and regional
administration. He also visited new Georgian school in Gandze village
of Ninotsminda district.

“This region was completely forgotten by the previous authorities. We
have managed to change a lot for the short period of time”, – the
President Saakashvili said at the meeting with local population.

He noted that the educational institutions had recently been built in
the region, construction of the roads had been started in Akhalkalaki,
and buildings had been repaired. The President said that ten young men
from the region would be enrolled to the State School of Administration
and then appointed to work for the state institutions in order to
“move the region out of isolation by new, own strength”.

Saakashvili said “the region was supplying food products for two
thousand Russian soldiers at the Akhalkalaki military base”. According
to him, “Georgian Army needs food products in large quantity. As we
promised, more than 20 thousand food centers of Georgian Armed Forces
will be fully supplied by the products from Samtske-Javakheti”.

The President’s trip to the region had previously been planned
for September 5 but was cancelled due to the unfavorable weather
conditions.