Author: Topchian Jane

PRESS RELEASE
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research
395 Concord Ave.
Belmont, MA 02489
Phone: 617-489-1610
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact: Marc A. Mamigonian

NAASR LECTURE ON PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AT NAASR

As part of its efforts to mark the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research
(NAASR) will present a lecture by psychiatrist Dr. Levon Z. Boyajian
entitled ~SThe Land That Is No More: Extinction, Survival, and Armenian
Identity~T on Thursday, March 17, at 8:00 p.m., at the NAASR Center,
395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA.

consequences of the Armenian Genocide and its physical and
psychological aftereffects, one under-analyzed aspect is that
extinction of the Armenians took place in their homeland of several
millennia ~V that is, the area known as Western Armenia or the Eastern
Anatolian provinces of the Ottoman Empire.

Link To Ancient Homeland Severed

The survivors of the Genocide were the last to know their ancestral
land and were faced with the crushing truth that there was no going
back to their homeland or yergir. The thread of continuity had been
severed permanently. For those who could not deal with this truth
there remained only empty hopes and dreams to assuage the pain of loss.

For the descendants of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide the
homeland is mostly a fantasy that we know through our parents and
grandparents. To those born in new lands the names of the Old Country
cities themselves are magical ~V Zeitun, Kharpert, Van, Moush, Marash,
Erzerum, and many more. How does one come to terms with a recent past
that has already entered the realm of myth?

Dr. Levon Z. Boyajian is a first-generation Armenian-American who
grew up in Washington Heights in New York City. He is a psychiatrist
who has pioneered the study of the effects of the Armenian Genocide on
subsequent generations in the seminal study ~SPsychosocial Sequelae of
the Armenian Genocide~T (with Haigaz Grigorian). He is also the author
of Hayots Badeevuh: Reminiscences of Armenian Life in New York City.

The NAASR Bookstore will open at 7:30 p.m. The NAASR Center and
Headquarters is located opposite the First Armenian Church and next to
the U.S. Post Office. Ample parking is available around the building
and in adjacent areas. The lecture will begin promptly at 8:00 p.m.

VICTORY RELAY TO MOSCOW REACHES MARITIME TERRITORY

Novosti
2005-03-10 08:59

VLADIVOSTOK, March 10 (RIA Novosti) – The Victory relay, which has
flown from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the administrative center of Sakhalin
region, to the western coast of the Sea of Japan the day before,
continued its westward movement in the Maritime territory.

According to the press service of the regional border department
of the FSB, the Sakhalin residents handed over the relay symbol –
a case from a 76mm shell to be filled with the soil from the regions
it passes – to the border guards of the Maritime territory.

On Thursday, the relay moved to the Pyotr Tereshkin station of the
Khasan border group. On March 11, the relay bearers will visit the
border station named after Hero of the Soviet Union Nikita Karatsupa
of the Grodekovo border group. The relay will also pass across the
Khankai and Dalnerechensk border groups.

In Luchegorsk the relay will be handed over to the Border Department of
the Khabarovsk territory and the Jewish autonomous region on March 15.

RIA was told in the press service that the relay will pass along
Russia’s borders and across Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia,
Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

The relay began on February 23 simultaneously in Belarus (Brest)
and Kamchatka (on the Ratmanov island in the Bering strait, roughly
in the middle between Russia’s Chukotka and US Alaska). It is to end
on May 9 at Moscow’s Poklonnaya Hill, during the 60th anniversary
celebrations of victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945,
which was part of the Second World War of 1939-1945.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
March 2, 2005, Wednesday

E.U. vows closer links with eastern, southern neighbours

Brussels

The European Commission on Wednesday announced new moves to reinforce
relations with five states on its eastern and southern borders. The
Commission, executive arm of the 25-nation European Union, said the
bloc’s so-called “neighbourhood policy” should be extended to Egypt,
Lebanon, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. A final decision on whether
or not the five countries will be included in the neighbourhood plan
will be taken by E.U. governments. The Commission will then draw up
detailed “action plans” for the neighbouring states with a view to
encouraging reform and change in the five countries. Countries which
are already part of the initiative include Israel, Jordan, Moldova,
Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Ukraine.
Participation in the neighbourhood plan allows countries to forge
closer political and economic relations with the E.U. However, it
does not provide for membership of the bloc. The neighbourhood policy
is designed to “prevent the emergence of new dividing lines in
Europe,” the Commission said. The blueprint is, however, inspired by
the E.U.’s successful efforts to encourage reform in the eight former
communist nations of central and eastern Europe which are now members
of the E.U. Officials said the focus in coming months would be
encourage political reform in the five neighbouring states through
efforts to strengthen democracy, good governance and a dialogue on
human rights Economic reform efforts would include actions to promote
a good business and investment climate. Other measures include trade,
market and regulatory reforms with the aim of allowing neighbours to
participate in the E.U.’s frontier- free single market and
cooperation in the field of justice, including legal reform and
immigration issues. Countries participating in the initiative are
also eligible for increased aid for the development of infrastructure
networks (energy, transport and telecommunications, information
society) and cooperation on environmental issues. Contacts between
people are also encouraged. The Commission said the timing of the
action plan drawn up for Lebanon would depend on the evolution of the
political situation in the country following the murder last month of
former premier Rafik Hariri. dpa si sc

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
March 2, 2005 Wednesday 1:32 PM Eastern Time

Rushailo arrives in Yerevan for working visit

By Tigran Liloyan

YEREVAN

Vladimir Rushailo, the CIS executive secretary and the chairman of
the CIS executive committee, will hold a series of meetings with
Armenian leadership during his working visit to Armenia.

“The questions, which we are going to discuss, concern the
implementations of the decisions of the CIS summit in Astana,”
Rushailo said upon his arrival in Yerevan on Wednesday.

The September CIS summit was devoted to anti-terror struggle and ways
of intensifying international cooperation. It was also decided to
reform the Commonwealth’s executive bodies.

Rushailo said that the preparation for a number of vital meetings is
currently under way. The Council of the CIS Foreign Ministers will
meet in Minsk on March 18, 2005, the Council of the CIS heads of
government will be held late in April and the Council of the CIS
heads of state will meet in Kazan in the third decade of August.

The sides will also discuss the implementation of decisions of the
Council of the CIS heads of state on the celebrations of the 60th
anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Pasadena Star-News, CA
Whittier Daily News, CA
March 2 2005

Armenian charities get genocide settlement

Insurance company awards 4 groups $333,333 from class-action lawsuit

By Alex Dobuzinskis , Staff Writer

Four Armenian charities, including one in Burbank and another in
Glendale, on Monday received more than $333,000 from New York Life as
part of a $20 million class-action settlement with descendents of the
1915 Armenian genocide.
The settlements were distributed during a ceremony in Pasadena
attended by representatives from the four charities, New York Life
officials and several attorneys.

“This is a very meaningful thing, recognition of the genocide. And
it’s something we pursued against the obstructions of the Turkish
government and sometimes our own government,’ said Richard Mushegain,
chair of the lay council for the Burbank-based Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church of North America.

Officials from the Armenian Educational Foundation in Glendale, the
Los Angeles office of the Armenian Relief Society and the Western
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Los Angeles also received
checks.

All the charities received exactly $333,333.33. The Western Diocese
of the Armenian Church of North America plans to spend its share on
clergy education.

“During the genocide, a lot of the Armenian clergy were killed. In
fact, most of the Armenian clergy in the world were killed,’
Mushegain said. “It’s a fitting use of the money.’

The Armenian Educational Foundation has an annual budget of about $1
million, said Executive Secretary Haigoush Keghinian-Kohler. But the
money represents far more than a boost to their budget.

“We have mixed emotions. There is history attached to it. There were
lives that were wasted for no reason,’ she said.

The foundation’s board will decide later this month how to spend the
money. The charity runs after-school programs for Glendale students,
provides college scholarships and helps renovate and repair schools
in Armenia. The $20 million settlement, which New York Life agreed to
last year, ends a class-action lawsuit on behalf of the descendents
of 2,400 policy holders, who were among the 1.5 million Armenians
killed in the Ottoman Empire 90 years ago. The charities and churches
receiving the money were chosen because they helped Armenians settle
in America after the genocide.

“The entire community will benefit as a result of this settlement,’
said state Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi.

Descendents covered under the settlement have until March 15 to make
a claim, Garamendi said.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES AGREEMENT ON TRANSFER OF PERSONS TO
INTERNATIONAL COURTS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND USA

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28. ARMINFO. The Armenian Parliament approves
Agreement on transfer of persons to international courts between
Armenia and the USA.

According to Armenian Justice Minister David Haroutiunyan, the
document regulates relations of the criminal authority on transfer of
the persons having inviolability status to international courts. The
agreement says that a persons of one party cannot to transferred to
the international court or to a third country without agreement of the
given party except the cases when the international court is guided by
the decision of the UN Security Council. The given point contradicts
to the Code of Criminal Proceedings of Armenia, the minister says. In
case of a necessity the parties can refuse from the agreement if its
implementation contradicts to another international agreement. The
minister notes that the Constitutional Court of Armenia has approved
the given agreement and informed that it has not come into effect in
the USA yet.

268,000 TOURIST VISITED ARMENIA IN 2004

Hotels Magazine, IL
Feb 28 2005

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28. ARMINFO. 268,000 tourists visited Armenia in
2004, which is 52,000 more than in 2003. Head of Department of Tourism
of the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development of Armenia Arthur
Zakarian informed during the workshop “Novel approaches to cultural
tourism”, organized by the national commission UNESCO of Armenia’s
Foreign Ministry.

According to him, during the last 4 years the visitor-tourists
increased by 4%. At the same time, Zakarian mentioned that 50% of the
tourists visit Armenia to see their friends and relatives. According
to the data of the Ministry, 70% of the tourists are Armenians,
31% of the tourists visit Armenia for the purpose of business (with
diplomatic purpose inclusive), 5% to restore their health and 1% to
get an education. Zakarian also informed that there are 5,000 travel
organizations, travel operators in Armenia. A tourist spends about
$650per day in Armenia.

The participants of the workshop mentioned that for the tourism
development in Armenia it is necessary to attract investments for
expansion of Yerevan’s airport, restoration of roads and other
infrastructures. They mentioned Armenia must seek novel ways of the
tourism development, for which it is necessary to attract investments
for restoration of historical monuments, protection and expansion of
the museum sector, as well as for training of personnel.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Feb 26 2005

EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE REJECTS ARMENIANS’ CLAIMS
[February 26, 2005, 17:21:52]

The Court of Justice of the European Communities has decided at its
sitting presided by judge Koen Lenaerts, to reject the Armenian
community’s appeal urging European Union not to admit Turkey to its
ranks until the so-called `genocide’ allegedly inflicted upon
Armenians by the Ottoman government in 1915 is recognized.

Having described the related resolutions adopted by the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe and a few European parliaments in
1887 as political but not legal, the court has not accepted any of
the Armenians’ arguments, and, moreover, obliged the Armenian
community to cover the court expenses.

According to Turkish political commentators, time for Armenian
worldwide propaganda is over, and the voice of Azerbaijan and Turkey
are heard louder and louder around the world.

PanArmenian News
Feb 22 2005

AZERI PARLIAMENTARIAN CALLS TO HOSTILITIES IN CASE KARABAKH PEACE
SETTLEMENT EFFORTS ARE IN VAIN

22.02.2005 16:03

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Having noted that the international community will
not approve of “restoration of the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan via force”, member of the PACE Azeri delegation Naira
Shakhtakhtinskaya stated “if the efforts for settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, including the OSCE Minsk Group activities,
do not bring any results and the situation does not change, no one
can prohibit Azerbaijan to return its lands.” In her opinion, “prompt
and efficient actions can bring to minimum the negative attitude of
the international community.”

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
February 14, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]

SOME TWENTY COUNTRIES TO PARTICIPATE IN GENOCIDE TRIBUTE EVENT
Fmr. Governor Deukmejian to Serve as Honorary Chairman

Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly, along with the Armenian General
Benevolent Union and the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church,
announced today that diplomats from some 20 countries, as well as
special guests George Deukmejian, former Governor of California
and Gagik Kirakosian, Consul General of the Republic of Armenia,
will participate in next week’s Armenian Genocide Tribute in Los
Angeles, CA.

The “International Relief, Refuge, and Recognition Tribute,” to be
held on February 24 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, will recognize
those nations who supported the survivors of the Armenian Genocide
or subsequently have officially affirmed the Genocide.

Special guests include former Los Angeles County District Attorney
Robert Philibosian as master of ceremonies, Los Angeles Mayor James
Hahn and Chief Deputy Director for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Lisa Kalustian. Armenian Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony
Barsamian and Western Office Chairman Richard Mushegain, as well AGBU
and Church leaders, will also be on hand.

“With the landmark 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide this
year, this International Tribute will help set the stage for formal
commemorations in April,” said Vahe Imasdounian, AGBU Southern
California District Committee Chairman. “Our community is delighted
by the fantastic response to this unprecedented event. We also hope
that this event will serve to call international attention to the
atrocities that befell the Armenian nation.”

To date, the following nations have confirmed attendance: Belgium,
Cyprus, Ethiopia, Germany, Greece, Jordan, Romania, Russia, Slovakia,
Syria and Uruguay. The event will also feature diplomatic corps
members from Belize, Chile, Croatia, Estonia, Jamaica, Liberia,
Poland and Portugal.

For more information on this event, please contact Armenian Assembly
Western Office Deputy Director Nicole Shahenian at (310) 360-0091 or
via email at [email protected].

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.

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NR#2005-012

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