Author: Tumanian Talar

California Courier Online, September 14, 2006

1 – Commentary
Panel Approves New Ambassador,
Vote in Full Senate is Uncertain
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

2 – Armenia Volunteerism is Cover Story
For Major US Magazine this Month
3 – Cilicia Catholicosate Allots $250,000
To Armenian Schools in Lebanon
4 – Apostle Matthew’s
Grave Found in
Armenian Monastery
5- AUA Team Scale Mt. Ararat to Mark
15th Anniversary of Independence
6 – Buenos Aires Adopts Law to Teach
About Armenian Genocide in Schools
7 – Lincy Foundation Allocates
$535,000 to Prelacy Schools
8- NPR Coast-to-Coast Program to
Feature Armenia, Nagorno Karabagh
9 – Survey Pinpoint Armenians as
Winners in British Melting Pot
********************************************** ********************
1 – Commentary
Panel Approves New Ambassador,
Vote in Full Senate is Uncertain

By Harut Sassounian

Publisher, The California Courier

After two postponements in the past four months, the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee finally voted 13 to 5, last week, to confirm Richard Hoagland as
the next Ambassador to Armenia.

The Turkish Daily News published a boastful report the next day, calling the
vote "a blow to the Armenian lobby groups in the United States." It is not
yet clear if and when the full Senate would approve Hoagland’s nomination. If
confirmed, he would replace Amb. John Evans who was dismissed from his post
after publicly acknowledging the Armenian Genocide during a visit to California
last year.

More than 60 Congressmen and a dozen Senators had written to Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice expressing their displeasure and questioning the Bush
administration’s reasons for recalling Amb. Evans. The Armenian American
community asked the Senators to delay Amb. Hoagland’s confirmation until the State
Dept. provided a clear and public explanation for Amb. Evans’s dismissal.

During a heated 40-minute session on Sept. 7, nine members of the Foreign
Relations Committee took the floor, five of them opposing Hoagland’s nomination
and four others supporting him. In a clear indication of the administration’s
pressure on the Republican-dominated Committee, several absent Senators voted
for Hoagland by proxy.

Just days before the Committee’s vote, the State Dept. had conveniently
ordered Amb. Evans to leave Armenia, thus forcing the Senators to act on
Hoagland’s nomination under the pretext that Armenia is too important to beleft
without a U.S. ambassador. Several Committee members used that argument when voting
for Hoagland. The State Department’s ploy worked — for the time being!

Of course, if the Bush administration truly cared about having an envoy in
Armenia, it would not have fired Amb. Evans in the first place. Furthermore, it
would not have compounded its error by ordering him to leave the country
without waiting to see if the full Senate would confirm his successor. If Armenia
is deprived of the services of a U.S. ambassador, the State Department should
only blame itself for creating such an undesirable vacuum.

It is interesting that all of the Senators from both parties who spoke in
Committee, including those who voted for Hoagland, confirmed the facts of the
Armenian Genocide and many of them chided the administration for its policyof
not using the word genocide to describe the mass killings of 1915.

Sen. Joe Biden (D-Delaware) said: "The administration’s policy [on the
Armenian Genocide] is not only wrong — it is factually inconsistent with history."
Unlike disagreeing with policy, this almost calls for disagreeing with
history! He reminded the Senators that Pres. Bush, as a candidate, had pledged to
recognize the Armenian Genocide. He urged the administration to recognize
history. He said that he would vote for Hoagland reluctantly in order not to deprive
Armenia of an ambassador.

Sen. George Allen (R-Virginia) said that the administration must acknowledge
the Armenian Genocide. He said, "I disagreed very much with Amb. Hoagland’s
refusal to use the term Armenian Genocide, but he is not responsible for the
administration’s policy."He said that he was voting for the nominee becausehe
believed that Armenia should have an ambassador.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-California) said that this is a time to make a stand
on genocide recognition. She read excerpts from a recent Los Angeles Times
editorial that had severely criticized the Bush administration for avoidingthe
use of the term Armenian Genocide. She reminded the Senators of the pledge
George Bush had made as a presidential candidate to recognize the Armenian
Genocide. She said that Amb. Evans was recalled for simply telling the truth! She also
stated that she could not support Hoagland "until he is allowed to call the
first genocide of the 20th century by its rightful name."

Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minnesota) said that, as someone of the Jewish faith,
he grew up with the concept of "Never Forget." He said, "I use an analogy. I
can’t conceive of an Ambassador to Israel being effective if he cannot talk
about the Holocaust=80¦.. Bring back Amb. Evans, change the policy." He concluded, "I
am just not in a position to cast an affirmative vote for this nominee."

Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-Maryland) pointed to his long-time opposition to the
administration’s policy on the Armenian Genocide. He said that there would not
have been such a situation if Amb. Evans was not recalled and if the
administration had recognized the Armenian Genocide. He said he was going to vote "no"
on Hoagland.

Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Connecticut) called for the Senators took take a
stand. He said that this was an important issue, and he would vote no.

Sen. John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) stated, "The Turkish government itself
makes an enormous mistake to get hung up in current day support for something the
Ottoman Empire did that I don’t think they support, I don’t think they honor.
For us to allow an ambassador to be recalled because he utters the word
"genocide" is to kowtow, is to cave in, to those who change history=80¦. We’re not
going to allow revisionism. We are not going to allow people to push the United
States of America around and say what you can and can’t say about what’s
happening with respect to history. We honor history and we honor the truth," he
said. "My vote no is not against Amb. Hoagland personally, it is against the
policy of this administration."

It is still possible that any one Senator could block his nomination by
placing a "hold" on it in the full Senate. It is also possible that Pres. Bush
would make recess appointment, while the Senate is out of session, thus
circumventing the requirement of Senate confirmation.

The Turkish newspaper’s declaration that the Armenian lobby was defeated is
both inaccurate and premature. In fact, the Armenian Cause has gained
considerably from the three hearings held by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
which dealt extensively with the Armenian Genocide issue in the past four
months. Throughout these lengthy discussions, not a single Senator ever questioned
the historical facts, thus further embarrassing the denialists in Ankara and
hastening the day when the U.S. government would officially reaffirm the
Armenian Genocide. Independently of the eventual outcome of Hoagland’s nomination,
the Armenian Cause was the clear beneficiary of these discussions which received
widespread coverage in the U.S. and international media.

Mrs. Evans Speaks Out for the First Time!

Over the weekend, a newspaper in Armenia "168 Hours" — published a lengthy
interview with Mrs. Evans, prior to her departure from Armenia. Contrary to
Amb. Evans’s reluctance to discuss his recall, Mrs. Evans readily admitted that
her husband was "being recalled for telling the truth regarding the events of
1915." She told the reporter: "It is sad that he is being punished for speaking
the truth,"and that she considered "the punishment to be unduly harsh for
what he said. My husband told the truth in the United States, to American
citizens, in an academic setting. These were very difficult times for me, but when
you realize that you are right, that helps you hold your head high."

Mrs. Evans also commented on the "Constructive Dissent" award bestowed by
the American Foreign Service Association upon her husband last year and later
withdrawn under pressure from the State Dept. She said the important thing is
that her husband’s colleagues had nominated him for that award. Being nominated
for that award by colleagues who respected him is much more important to me
than its subsequent withdrawal, she said.

Mrs. Evans also stated that she and her husband were very touched when
thousands of Armenians, in his honor, tied yellow ribbons to ropes at the Genocide
Memorial Monument in Yerevan on April 24. "My husband thanked the young people
who were wearing yellow ribbons," she said. "We were truly touched by that
action."

**************************** **********************************************

2 – Armenia Volunteerism is Cover Story
For Major US Magazine this Month
LOS ANGELES – Volunteerism in Armenia is the cover story this month for
"Transitions Abroad" magazine, a major US periodical that serves a readership that
is interested in "learning, living, working, and volunteering overseas."
The four-page cover story, which is on newsstands September 1, is written and
illustrated by Matthew Karanian and Robert Kurkjian. The story describes
volunteer opportunities in Armenia for long or short-term stays, and for both
skilled and unskilled positions.
The release of the magazine coincides with the September 1 publication by the
authors of "The Stone Garden Guide: Armenia and Karabagh." This book is the
source for much of the information that is published in the magazine story.
Many of the visitors who travel to Armenia each year are seeking an
experience that is more enriching than just a vacation, says Karanian. Armenia’s
prominent placement in the magazine acknowledges this, and the story-as well as "The
Stone Garden Guide"– contains contact information that helps to steer
potential volunteers in the right direction.
The magazine is available from major newsstands. "The Stone Garden Guide:
Armenia and Karabagh" is available from independent booksellers and from online
merchants such as Amazon.com. The book is also available directly from the
publisher for $29.95 postpaid in the US. Check to: Stone Garden Productions; PO
Box 7758; Northridge, CA 91327.
************************************************** ***********************
3 – Cilicia Catholicosate Allots $250,000
To Armenian Schools in Lebanon
BEIRUT – The "Khatchig Babikian" Fund, operating under the sponsorship of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia, will donate $250,000 to the Armenian national
schools of Lebanon, announced Catholicos Aram I last week.
"As we had previously announced, the yearly income of this fund will be
channeled for use in educational, cultural, social and publishing projects.
However, considering the hardships created in Lebanon as a consequence of the recent
war, we decided to exceptionally grant the largest part of the fund’s
allocation this time to our schools. We believe this was a wise decision considering
the importance of the Armenian school in the life of the community," Aram I
said.
"The Catholicosate of Cilicia and We, personally, will continue to consider
the Armenian school as one of the most important aspects of our mission," the
Pontiff added.
The decision was taken on Sept. 1 to make the grant for the academic year
2006-2007.
The Khatchig Babikian Fund was established recently at the Antelias
headquarters of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. It is run by a special committee under
the direct supervision of the Catholicos.
************************************** ************************************
4 – Apostle Matthew’s
Grave Found in
Armenian Monastery
MOSCOW (Regnum) – Kyrgyz archeologists are sure that they have found the
grave of Apostle Matthew in the Armenian monastery on the shore of Issyk-Kul lake
in Kyrgyzstan, says archeologist Vladimir Ploskikh.
He says that this summer his expedition carried out excavations on the
north-eastern shore of Issyk-Kul and found the Armenian monastery, which, according
to a 14th century map, is the place where Apostle Matthew is buried.
The legend says that Apostle Matthew died on his way to Greece after founding
several Christian communities en route. The document kept in Venice says that
there is an Armenian monastery in the place called `Issyk-Kul’ and it is
there that Apostle Matthew is buried.
However, Ploskikh says that they need additional research to prove this fact,
reports the Kyrgyz service of Radio Liberty.
********’******************************** *********************************
5 – AUA Team Scale Mt. Ararat to Mark
15th Anniversary of Independence
YEREVAN – Celebrating the 15th anniversary of Armenia’s independence and the
founding of the American University of Armenia, a group of six members from
the faculty and friends of the University made to the summit of Mount Ararat
(5,165m, 16,945feet).
The group was made up of: President Haroutune Armenian, Sona Armenian, Arsen
Grigoryan, Arthur Melkonyan, Varduhi Petrosian and Ara Tekian.
The team started its ascent from Dogubeyazit on Aug. 25, reaching first camp
at an altitude of 3,200 meters in the afternoon.
They continued their ascent and reached second camp at an altitude of 4200
meters the next day. They reached the summit at 6:30am on August 27th. Theymade
it back down to the plain in the same day.
"The group had both a sense of collective and individual achievement and
marked these15th anniversary occasions in a most appropriate manner" said
President Armenian.
**************************************** **********************************
6 – Buenos Aires Adopts Law to Teach
About Armenian Genocide in Schools
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – On August 17, the City Council of Buenos Aires
unanimously passed a law according to which April 24th will be honored as
"Commemoration day of the first genocide of 20th century where Armenian people were
persecuted.".
This decision was made based on law number 13.478 which was introduced last
June with the effort of director of "Sardarabad" newspaper and district
member of parliament Sergio Nahapetian.
The law envisions that every April 24th all schools of the city have classes
giving an overview of the Armenian Genocide issue.
The draft was presented by MP Gorge Sanmartino.
Attending the August 17 session were Armenian Ambassador to Argentina
Vlatimir Karmirshalian, Minister Khoren Terterian, embassy associate on cultural and
media matters Ruben Mozian, Primate of Argentine and Chile, Archbishop Gisak
Muradian, vice-president of Armenian Central Committee Dr. Alperto Cherechian,
AGBU vice-president Ricardo Halachian, Hayk Shahinian (ADLP), Pedro Muradian
(ARF), and Tiana Ter-Karapetian (Tekeyan Cultural Center).
After the adoption of the law,. Sanmartino thanked all the members of
parliament as well as Provincial parliamentarian Sergio Nahapetian. He also greeted
the presence of the Armenian ambassador, embassy staff, the Armenian Primate
and representatives of Armenian organizations.
*********************************** ***************************************
7 – Lincy Foundation Allocates
$535,000 to Prelacy Schools
ENCINO, Calif. – The Lincy Foundation has once again made a generous donation
of $535,000.00 to the Armenian schools of the Western Prelacy for the
2006-2007 academic year, the Prelacy announced last week.
Renowned and respected for its charitable mission, the Foundation continues
to provide for the various and numerous needs of both the Armenian Diasporaand
our Homeland with its generous endowments.
The donation will be disbursed as follows:
$100,000 each to: Ferrahian Armenian High School, Encino, Rose and Alex
Pilibos Armenian High School, Hollywood, Mesrobian Armenian High School,
Montebello, and Vahan and Anoush Chamlian Armenian School, Glendale;
$50,000 each to the Ari Guiragos Minassian Armenian School, Orange County and
the Krouzian-Zekarian-Vasbouragan Armenian School, San Francisco;
$25,000 to the Levon and Hasmig Tavlian Armenian School, Pasadena, and
$10,000 to the Richard Tufenkian Armenian Preschool, Glendale.
Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, the Prelacy Religious and Executive
Councils, and the Board of Regents of Prelacy Schools, together with the
committees functioning under their auspices conveyed their heartfelt thanksand
gratitude to the Lincy Foundation and its administrators for their dedicated
services to the Armenian people, the new generation and the Homeland.
"We would like to emphasize that for many years now the Lincy Foundation has
been providing invaluable moral and financial support to the schools operating
under the jurisdiction of the Western Prelacy, and has participated in the
implementation of their sacred mission to educate our younger generations in the
spirit of our national heritage and the values of humanity," the Prelacy said
in a press release.
***************************************** *********************************
8 – NPR Coast-to-Coast Program to
Feature Armenia, Nagorno Karabagh
LOS ANGELES – The National Public Radio (NPR) show "Travel with Rick Steves"
will feature Armenia and Karabagh ina coast-to-coast broadcast on Sept. 16-17.
The highlight of the broadcast is an interview with Matthew Karanian and
Robert Kukjian, co-authors of "The Stone Garden Guide: Armenia and Karabagh." The
interviewees take questions from callers and discuss their travels throughout
Armenia and Karabagh.
The radio show coincides with the September release of Second Edition of the
popular "Stone Garden" travel guide, and also with the 15th anniversary of the
independence of Armenia.
The nationwide broadcast, which encourages tourism to both Armenia and
Karabagh, is unprecedented in the US, says Karanian. "Armenia is frequentlyin the
news, but seldom as a holiday destination, and certainly not on a national
broadcast."
In most parts of the country, the show will be heard on National Public Radio
on Saturday morning, Sept. 16. The interview will also be broadcast on Sirius
Satellite Radio in both the US and Canada on Sept. 16 and 17.
The following includes those broadcasts that serve some of the larger
Armenian-American communities. Check for a full listing and
to confirm broadcast times. For Arizona: Yuma, KAWC 88.9 FM, 9 am on Saturday,
Sept 16; for California: Bakersfield, KPRX 89.1 Fm, 9 am on Saturday, Sept
16; for Fresno: KVPR 89.3 FM , 9 am on Saturday, Sept. 16, For San Bernardino,
KVCR 91.9 FM on 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 14 and Noon, Sunday, Sept. 17; forSan
Francisco, KYCY 1550 AM, 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16 and 8 am on Sunday,
Sept. 17; for Florida, Miami, WLRN 91.3 FM on 11 am Sunday, Sept. 17 and inKey
West, on WLRN 100.5 Fm on 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14; for Illinois;
Springfield, WUIS 91.9 Fm at 3 pm on Saturday, Sept. 16; for Michigan; for Grand
Rapids on WGVU 88.5 FM at 6 am on Saturday, Sept. 16; and in Ohio; Oxford, WMUB
88.5 FM at 6 am on Saturday, Sept. 16. For Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 134, 7
am on Saturday, Sept. 16 (Eastern Time) and 7 pm on Sunday, Sept. 17 (Eastern
Time).
********************************** ****************************************
9 – Survey Pinpoint Armenians as
Winners in British Melting Pot
Robert Winnett and Holly Watt
The Times, UK
Armenian immigrants and their descendants are the most successful ethnic
group in the country, according to an analysis of "melting pot" Britain.
They are followed by the Japanese, Dutch and Greek Cypriots among the groups
who are economically and socially most successful. Bangladeshi Muslims and
migrants from Sierra Leone and Syria have fared worst.
The new analysis places the 42.2 million adults registered to vote in
mainland Britain in 200 ethnic groups – on the basis of a person’s surname and first
name.
The information is linked to a marketing database to rank the socioeconomic
status of each group. The system, Origins Info, is used by hospitals, retailers
and charities to tailor their services to individual ethnic groups.
Its developers claim it is reliable even though most married women adopt
their husband’s name and some immigrants may have changed their surname to avoid
discrimination.
Richard Webber, a professor of spatial analysis at University College, London
who developed Origins Info, said: "The patterns that this analysis have
uncovered are striking. We are hoping it will prove a valuable tool for government
and business."
The system can also be used to identify where different ethnic groups live
and the ethnic composition of the professions.
Of the 2,651 people of Armenian descent in Britain, more than 1,600 run
businesses and a high proportion live in expensive parts of west London.
Among the most successful is Bob Manoukian, property developer and former
agent for Prince Jefri of Brunei. He has a family fortune of £300m, according to
The Sunday Times Rich List.
Other successful people with Armenian roots include David Dickinson,
presenter of the BBC’s Bargain Hunt, and Ara Palamoudian, chairman of the Armenian
community & church council of Great Britain.
He said: "Armenians have always tried to be self-sufficient and not to be a
burden on any country. It could be the history of the Armenian people, the way
their lives have been over centuries. They had to find shelter around the
world."
Many Armenians fled to England after the first world war, during which up to
1.5 million died from genocide by the Turks.
******************************************* ***********************************
The California Courier On-Line is a service provided by the California
Courier. Subscriptions or changes of address should not be transmitted through
this service. Information in that regard should be telephoned to (818)
409-0949; faxed to: (818) 409-9207, or e-mailed to: [email protected]. Letters to
the editor concerning issues addressed in the Courier may be e-mailed, provided
it is signed by the author. Phone and/or E-mail address is also required to
verify authorship.
************************************** ************************************

AGENCY QUESTIONS ARMENIA’S EU ADMISSION CHANCES FOR YEARS TO COME

Mediamax news agency, Yerevan
9 Sep 06

Armenia, as well as other South Caucasus states, should forget
about speedy EU admission in the near future, the Armenian news
agency Mediamax has said. Although certain moves have been taken by
both sides towards each other, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia lag
behind their European neighbours in terms of holding " free, fair
and transparent elections, the results of which would raise doubts
neither in the country itself nor outside", it said. In addition,
Baku’s problems with the EU over ties with Northern Cyprus are
another obstacle for all three South Caucasus countries, Mediamax
added. The following is text of report in English by Armenian news
agency Mediamax headlined "Unclear European prospects for Armenia";
subheadings inserted editorially:

This week, the Armenian authorities made just another step to
demonstrate seriousness of Yerevan’s intentions concerning the issue of
deepening the relations with the European Union. On 7 September, the
Armenian government made a decision on setting up a National Council
for Armenia’s cooperation with the EU, as well as a Commission for
coordination of the cooperation. We should remind that in July 2006 a
Commission for the coordination of the cooperation with the European
structures was set up in Armenia chaired by President Robert Kocharyan.

In early October, a delegation of the European Union Troika will
visit the South Caucasus. It is expected that during the visit the
Action Plans of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia under the European
Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) will finally be signed.

EU and Armenia differ on cooperation objectives

All the above mentioned, undoubtedly, proves that the sides make
serious steps towards each other. However, sometimes there is an
impression that the European Union and Armenia differently interpret
the goals and the objectives of their deepened cooperation, and this
often becomes a reason for discords and disappointment.

The Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) of Armenia with NATO,
put into force in December 2005, was the only document in which Armenia
officially voiced its desire to become a full EU member. "In line with
its objective to integrate into European structures and institutions,
Armenia intends to enhance its cooperation with the European Union
and to seek closer institutional compatibility with the ultimate goal
of full membership," the document reads.

It is significant that several months after the approval of the IPAP,
in April 2006, the Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said the
following in the interview to "Golos Armenii" newspaper: "Today,
Armenia is preparing for a closer cooperation with the European
Union within the European Neighbourhood Policy, but we have not set
the task to join the EU." This "mismatch" is an obvious evidence of
the absence in the Armenian government of systemic approach to its
relations with the EU.

On the other hand, the European Union makes it clear that it is not
ready to consider the issue of the membership of Armenia, Georgia and
Azerbaijan in the foreseeable future. The special representative of
the EU in the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, said in May 2006 that
"although the EU offers deepened relations to regional countries
within the ENP, this does not envisage a prospect for membership in the
EU". Semneby admitted that the absence of such a prospect in a certain
context deprives the regional countries of motivation, necessary for
the continuation and the deepening of political and economic reforms.

South Caucasus states not ready to join EU

Hence, the states of the region and Armenia, in particular, in reality
cherish a dream to join the EU. The European Union, on the contrary,
openly declares that the discussion of the prospects for joining the
EU for the South Caucasus states is a utopia today. Most likely, the
main reason for the present state of affairs is that Brussels clearly
realizes that today’s striving of the South Caucasus states to join
the EU is reasoned to a greater extent by mercantile considerations
rather than by perception of one’s own European identity. The main
proof for that is in particular the incapacity of the countries of
the region to hold free, fair and transparent elections, the results
of which would raise doubts neither in the country itself, nor outside.

Baku’s problems with EU another obstacle

The Armenian diplomats, in their turn, declare that the EU strive for
indispensable preserving the "parity" in the development of relations
with the South Caucasus states hinders the real integration processes.

Let us remember that the Armenia-EU talks have been postponed twice
because of some problems in relations between Baku and Brussels. In
summer 2005, the talks with Armenia on the Action Plan have been
postponed for several months because Azerbaijan decided to open
a direct air communication with the Turkish Northern Cyprus. In
response, the authorities of [the Republic of] Cyprus vetoed the
consideration of the Action Plan with Azerbaijan. In 2006 Armenia-EU
talks stopped again. This time Baku insisted that EU included the
phrase "the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict can be resolved only within
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity" into Azerbaijan’s Action Plan.

The European Union, for its part, took a time-out.

The further relations of the South Caucasus states with the
EU will mostly depend on realization of Action Plans, in which
special attention is paid to the issues of democracy and human
rights protection. And while the Armenian authorities have yet to
determine as to how sincere they are in their strive for deepening
cooperation with the EU, the population of the country has already
made its decision. The data of the survey carried out this spring
by Baltic Surveys/The Gallup Organization proved that 80 per cent
of polled Armenian citizens think that Armenia should in the future
enter the EU. Only 3 per cent of the polled were against Armenia’s
accession to the EU.

"ARMENIA CARRIES OUT A PASSIVE POLICY"

A1+
[07:24 pm] 08 September, 2006

"The recent developments of the Lebanese-Israeli conflict recorded
serious loss of the US control on the upon the procedure", announced
professor of the Yerevan State University David Hovhannisyan
during the seminar organized by the Armenian Center for National
and International Studies. Instead, Iran showed serious influence,
and now they are treated differently, he added.

Representing the 50-year history of the conflict, David Haroutyunyan
noted that nothing has been changed throughout these years, and the
recent developments only accelerated the plans of the USA. According
to him, Israel has solved its problems; nevertheless, it turned out
that the Israeli army is not what it used to be.

During the seminar titled "Armenian peace-keepers in Lebanon? Pro
et contra" ex Minister of Defense, Lieutenant-general Vagharshak
Haroutyunyan was to give strategic-political assessment of the
situation. He represented the positive and negative sides of Armenian
troupes being sent to Lebanon. According to him, before making a
decision the country ahs to clear out several issues. We must also
find out what authorities the UN mandate gives to the troupes; if it
is that of disarmament, the participation of the Armenian side may
be dangerous.

Nevertheless, the participation in the peace-keeping mission is in
itself good and important, especially in case of the Lebanese-Israeli
conflict, when the sides are for the allocation of peace-keeping
troupes, taking into account the presence of a large Armenian community
in both countries.

Answering the question why troupes were sent to Iraq immediately, and
the issue of Lebanon is not even included in the agenda, Vagharshak
Haroutyunyan answered, "An offer was made to send troupes to Iraq.

As for Lebanon, something is needed which our authorities do not have –
their own initiative. This is called passive policy".

David Hovhannisyan’s point of view was positive too: we must send
troupes to Iraq, and there is nothing negative about it. On the whole,
all the experts participating in the discussion were for sending a
peace-keeping mission.

Secretary of the political council of the Armenian Center for National
and International Studies, economist Edward Antinyan’s speech was
radically different from that of politicians and experts. He blamed the
Armenians for defending "Hezbollah", although there has never been an
announcement presupposing that possibility. He blamed everyone for not
defending Israel. He also blamed the Arabs for seizing 22 countries
and for their wish to destroy Israel. He justified the actions of
Israel even though it resulted in the deaths of non-combatant people.

Nevertheless, he appeared in an unenviable situation when deputy
Ambassador of Egypt Said Shafey Abdul Mohsen who also participated
in the seminar decided to answer his speech and informed Mr. Antinyan
that the 100-km territory of Lebanon called Nazare Sharif was captured
not by the Arabs but by Israel and that not the Arabs but Israeli
army is the aggressor.

Coleman says he’ll be part of U.N. delegation
By FREDERIC J. FROMMER

Duluth News Tribune, MN
Sept 7 2006

WASHINGTON – Sen. Norm Coleman, a fierce critic of the United Nations,
said Thursday that the White House has appointed him to serve as a
congressional delegate to the world body.

The White House declined to comment, saying it hasn’t officially made
the appointments yet. Amy Call, a spokeswoman for Senate Majority
Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., confirmed that Frist recommended Coleman
to the White House.

Coleman said that he and a Democratic lawmaker he declined to
identify will represent Congress as part of the U.S. delegation,
starting later this month.

In congressional investigations, Coleman found abuses in the U.N.’s
oil-for-food program, which was aimed at allowing the Iraqi government
under Saddam Hussein to sell oil for humanitarian goods.

Coleman has called on U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to resign
over the program.

But Coleman said he might meet with Annan as a U.S. representative.

"It’s not personal," he said. "… My concerns are not personal
concerns. They are concerns about the ability of the U.N. to be
effective in dealing with the situation in Lebanon, with Iran, in
Darfur, with North Korea."

Coleman argued that his criticism of the U.N. makes him the right
person to serve as a delegate.

"Everything I’ve done with the United Nations has not been to bring it
down, but to strengthen it," he said. "I would hope that the passion I
have for an effective United Nations puts me in position to be a voice
for reform. That’s what I’ve articulated, that’s what I’ve pushed. In
doing so, sometimes you have to call things as you see them."

Coleman said that he would focus on U.N. policy in Lebanon, Iran
and Darfur. Sudan recently launched a new military offensive against
rebels in Darfur, stoking fears of a humanitarian crisis. Some 200,000
people have died there and several million displaced since 2003.

Last week, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution that would
give the United Nations authority over peacekeepers in Darfur as soon
as Sudan’s government gives its consent – which it has so far refused
to do.

"We’re pushing for an international presence to deal with the situation
in Darfur," Coleman said. "One of the problems we’ve had there is
the Chinese. I anticipate meeting with the Chinese officials when
I’m there to reiterate the call for a greater China cooperation in
dealing with the situation in Darfur."

Brenden Varma, a spokesman Annan, said it was up the United States
to choose who would serves in its delegation.

"We look forward to working with all of the delegations," Varma said,
adding, "We’re always open to criticism of the U.N."

Also Thursday, Coleman voted against the nomination of career
diplomat Richard Hoagland to be ambassador to Armenia, citing the
Bush administration’s refusal to classify the deaths of 1.5 million
Armenians in 1915 as "genocide."

Coleman was the only Republican to vote against the nomination in
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which approved Hoagland’s
selection on a 13-5 vote. The nomination now goes to the full Senate
for a final vote.

At his June 28 confirmation hearing, Hoagland declined to use the
word genocide to describe the 1915 killings, which occurred during
the waning days of the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey strongly objects to any such characterization. U.S.

policy-makers are wary of antagonizing Turkey, an important NATO ally.

"While I do not doubt Mr. Hoagland’s abilities, the State Department’s
continued refusal to acknowledge the mass killings of Armenians in
1915 as genocide gave me no choice but to vote against this nominee,"
Coleman said. "…History must be remembered for it was, not for what
we would like it to be."

(AP)

OSCE YEREVAN OFFICE ORGANIZES PRESENTATION OF RESULTS OF RESEARCH ON
TRAFFICKING IN ARMENIA ON SEPTEMBER 8

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Sept 7 2006

YEREVAN, September 7. /ARKA/. The OSCE Yerevan office organizes a
presentation of results of 2 researches on trafficking in Armenia on
September 8.

On Thursday Press and Public Affairs Department of the OSCE Yerevan
office informed ARAK News Agency that during the event the Armenia
Sociological Association would present "Sociological Research:
Illegal Trade and Labor Exploitation of Armenia Migrants".

Besides that, the Union of Armenia Aid will hold a presentation on the
theme of "Children in Children’s Homes and Special Schools of Armenia:
Potential Victims of Trafficking and Exploitation".

The U.S. Department for Struggle against Drugs and Low-Enforcement
Cooperation rendered financial assistance during elaboration of
these researches.

Vladimir Pryakhin, ambassador and head of the OSCE Yerevan Office,
the Chairman of the Interdepartmental Commission for Struggle against
Trafficking, Head of International Organizations’ Department of the RA
Foreign Ministry Valery Mkrtumyan and Blanca Khanchilova responsible
for issues of democracy of the OSCE Yerevan office will make a speeches
during the event. S.P.-0-

A NATION CANNOT LIVE WITH PERCEPTION OF PAST ONLY

Lragir.am
07 Sept 06

The society in Armenia has lost social flexibility and turned into
castes, stated Hmayak Hovanisyan, the chair of the Union of Political
Scientists September 7 at the Pakagits Club in connection with the
state and the society.

"The social flexibility of the society is declining, and castes
are forming, in fact, which resemble the social pattern typical of
the eastern tyrannies," says Hmayak Hovanisyan. According to him,
people who even went through genocide had respectable leaders,
whereas the picture is the contrary now. The political scientist
thinks that the consequence of this state of things is the violence,
which has become continuous. "In our reality, the criminal world has
already lost the perception of fear or borders, and became brazen
to the extent that even the commissioned officers, who have passed a
military way, are becoming a target," says Hmayak Hovanisyan hinting
at the assassination of Shahen Hovasapyan, the head of the Department
of Investigations of the State Tax Agency.

"Today they worship Mammon, money is a god, money is everything.

Money is higher than the most precious thing, human life. And if
today man assesses money higher than his life, it is clear that that
for him money is more important than someone else’s life.

Therefore people are assassinated," thinks Hmayak Hovanisyan.

For the present state of the society, Hmayak Hovanisyan quotes
Robert Kocharyan’s words at the famous meeting of the Council of
Security in 1998 when Kocharyan said that Armenia may develop like
Israel, insulated, no relations with the neighbors. Hmayak Hovanisyan
says the comparison is good in some sense because life showed that
it is possible to increase both the budget and the foreign money
transfers. In the long run, however, it is wrong to compare Armenia
with Israel because the Israeli society has an integrated and common
idea of its past, present and future, and the Armenian society is
common only with regard to the past, and is currently turning into
castes, which makes a secure future impossible.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

MEDIA ALERT
September 6, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]

Schumer Calls on Hoagland to Clarify Position on Armenian Genocide

Washington, DC – On the eve of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
consideration of Richard E. Hoagland as America’s next Ambassador to
Armenia, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), sent a letter to Hoagland
criticizing the Administration’s policy on the Armenian Genocide and
urging the nominee to clarify his position on the matter.

In his letter, Schumer also expressed concern that the current
Ambassador, John M. Evans, is being prematurely replaced for properly
recognizing the Armenian Genocide. "I am concerned that the Senate
is reviewing your nomination for this post as a result of Ambassador
Evans’ departure, possibly because of statements he made which,
in my view, accurately describe the Armenian Genocide as such,"
Schumer wrote.

"We commend Senator Schumer for his critical examination of
Ambassador-designate Hoagland and his strong support of reaffirmation
of the Armenian Genocide," said Assembly Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny. "We have a fundamental policy disagreement with the
Administration. The U.S. should squarely affirm the historical truth
of the Armenian Genocide."

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#2006-077

Editor’s Note: The text of the letter to Ambassador-designate Hoagland
follows:

September 6, 2006

The Honorable Richard E. Hoagland United States Department of State
Washington, DC

Dear Mr. Hoagland:

I write regarding your nomination to replace Ambassador John M. Evans
as Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia.  I am concerned that the
Senate is reviewing your nomination for this post as a result of
Ambassador Evans’ departure, possibly because of statements he made
which, in my view, accurately describe the Armenian Genocide as such. 

As you are well aware, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed
and forced into exile between 1915-1923.  Armenians, including women
and children, were driven over mountains and deserts. Others were
deported to relocation centers in Syria and Mesopotamia.  Armenia was
shrunk to less than a one-fourth of its original size.  On July 24,
1915, US Consul Leslle Davis wrote to Ambassador Henry Morgenthau,
"It has been no secret that the plan was to destroy the Armenian race
as a race…"  The history and facts surrounding the events between
1915 and 1923 clearly show that the Armenian Genocide was the first
of the 20th century. I am concerned that the United States’ official
position on this issue does not reflect these facts.

To further assist me in the consideration of your nomination, please
provide answers to the following questions:

1.   The U.S. Government acknowledges the "mass killings" and "forced
exile" of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians at the end of the Ottoman
Empire.  What distinguishes these terms from "genocide"?  Why is this
not officially recognized as genocide?

2.   In your written testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, you state many times that, "the U.S. believes that
establishing a productive dialogue on these events is the best way
to achieve reconciliation, peace and stability in the region…" 
Please explain how a "productive dialogue" on this topic furthers
peace and stability.

3.   You also wrote that, "This tragedy is of such enormous human
significance that its historical assessment should be determined
not on the basis of politics, but through heartfelt introspection
among civic leaders, scholars, and the societies at large."  In 1998,
a group of 150 scholars and writers, which included a Nobel Laureate,
professors of history, theology, and law, honored the 50th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide, and encouraged it be recognized as such. 
Please explain how "introspection" rather than historical analysis will
persuade the US Government to finally recognize the "mass killings"
as genocide?

4.   Under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of
the Crime of Genocide, which the U.S. is a party, it was decided that
genocide occurs when three criteria are met.  Please explain how the
killing and exile of the 1.5 million Armenians do not establish at
least three of these criteria.

5.   Please describe your education and training on the Armenian
Genocide, including, but not limited to, listing all the books and
literature you have read on the matter.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to
hearing from you soon.

Sincerely, Charles E. Schumer   United States Senator

–Boundary_(ID_72H+7BrZ0sT8YWJp+wo4Hg)–

SENIOR TAX OFFICIAL KILLED IN CAR BLAST
By Karine Kalantarian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Sept 6 2006

The Armenian government’s top official in charge of detecting and
investigating tax evasion was killed in a car explosion in downtown
Yerevan early on Wednesday.

Shahen Hovasapian, head of a State Taxation Service (STS) division
tasked with combating tax fraud, was found in a critical condition
in his government-owned car after it was rocked by the blast just
50 meters from his apartment building. He died while being rushed to
hospital, police and other security officials at the scene told RFE/RL.

They said that an explosive device planted under a front seat occupied
by Hovasapian went off just seconds after he and his teenage son
were driven away from their home. They said the driver suffered
minor injuries, while the young man survived unscathed. The blast
left a gaping hole under the car’s front seat next to the driver’s,
suggesting that Hovasapian was its main target.

President Robert Kocharian was quick to condemn the killing and link it
with Hovasapian’s professional activities. "The criminal conduct, which
is directed against the state’s efforts to toughen tax administration
and create equal taxation conditions for everyone, is extremely
condemnable and can not change the resolute state policy pursued in
that area," his spokesman, Victor Soghomonian, said in a statement.

Soghomonian also said that Kocharian issued the law-enforcement
authorities with "strict instructions to take all measures to solve
the crime as rapidly as possible."

State prosecutors immediately launched a criminal investigation into
the apparent assassination but reported no arrests in the following
hours. Law-enforcement officials refused to come up with possible
theories of the crime.

Despite holding an important government post, Hovasapian has rarely
figured in the news and is not known to have initiated high-profile
tax evasion cases against big companies controlled by influential
individuals. The assassinated official himself was a wealthy
businessman, reportedly owning one of Armenia’s two main liquefied
gas companies, Goshgaz. The other company involved in the lucrative
gas business, Multi-Leon, is controlled by Gagik Tsarukian, a powerful
government-connected tycoon.

Hovasapian, who is a native of Nagorno-Karabakh and was a field
commander during the war with Azerbaijan, is the first high-ranking
Armenian tax official killed while in office. Gagik Poghosian, who
briefly headed the government’s tax collection agency in 2000, died
in a grenade attack under similarly mysterious circumstances five
years ago. The apparent contract killing has still not been solved.

Hovasapian’s violent death continued recent months’ series of
high-profile murders that have raised widespread concern about the
situation with crime and rule of law in Armenia. Among their victims
were a businessman, a reputed crime figure and a senior member of the
influential Yerkrapah Union of Karabakh war veterans. Nobody has been
prosecuted in connection with those crimes so far.

U.N. CONSIDERING DRAFT RESOLUTION ON FIRES IN KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.09.2006 14:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The plenary session of the U.N. General Assembly
dedicated to the consideration of the draft resolution calling on the
international community to render assistance in extinguishing fires
in Nagorno Karabakh, was postponed.

The General Assembly was due to consider the item titled "Situation on
Azerbaijan’s seized lands" on Tuesday afternoon. However Ms. Margaret
Kelly, Director of General Assembly Affairs & ECOSOC Affairs Division,
said that intense talks are still being held on the draft and the
plenary session was postponed to Wednesday morning.

Earlier the Spokesperson of the President of the 61st session of the
U.N. General Assembly informed that the Armenian delegation has
already requested to put the draft resolution on vote, reported the
U.N. communication unit.

EP’S TURKEY REPORT ANGERS BRUSSELS
By Emre Demir, Suleyman Kurt, Strasbourg, Ankara

Zaman Online, Turkey
Sept 6 2006

The Turkey report approved by the European Parliament (E.P.) Foreign
Affairs Committee on Monday drew strong reaction from Brussels after
Ankara’s response.

President of the E.U. Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso said recognition
of the so-called Armenian Genocide would not be a precondition
for Turkey’s E.U. membership. Some European parliamentarians
say the Armenian issue was being used to hinder Turkey’s
E.U. membership. Ankara reacted to the report saying that it was
"lacking commonsense and objectivity." The report, compiled by Dutch
legislator Camiel Eurlings, contained an article that requires Turkey
to recognize the so-called Armenian Genocide, a possible stipulation
mentioned for the first time last year, to gain E.U. membership. There
were some last-minute additions to the report, which also claimed
Turkey had committed genocide against its Greek Pontus and Syrian
populations.

Ankara strongly objected to the report and emphasized: "The efforts
to assert non-objective conditions on issues such as the so-called
Armenian Genocide, which requires serious professional studying and
discussions, was met with great sadness by Turkey." Spokesman for the
Foreign Ministry Namik Tan demanded that this mistake be corrected
at the next E.P. General Assembly meeting.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said there was no need
to exaggerate the report and Turkey had not accepted any preset
conditions relating to the so-called Armenian Genocide, adding that
Turkey’s stance was very strong.

E.U.-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-Chairman Joost Lagendijk
and Turkish origin-legislator Cem Ozdemir called the report a new
obstacle for Turkey’s E.U. journey. The two legislators said this
report would weaken the reformists’ hands in Turkey, and added:
"If you aggravate Turkey’s conditions every year, you give the image
that the E.P. is against Turkey’s E.U. membership."

The report’s author, Camiel Eurlings, said yesterday that the "spirit"
of the report did not change with the last minute additions; however,
the tone of its voice had. Eurlings said he believed Turkey should
recognize the so-called Armenian Genocide; however, this condition
cannot be held as a pre-condition as it is not in the Copenhagen
Criteria.

‘EP Report Berates Turkey’

The European media evaluated the E.P. Foreign Affairs Assembly’s
harsh report and assessed that the deepest immediate division between
Turkey and the E.U. was related to Turkey’s decision not to open its
ports to Greek Cyprus. The International Herald-Tribune wrote that
E.P. legislators had harshly criticized Turkey; while The Times of
London emphasized that the report predicted a suspension of Turkey’s
E.U. membership negotiations.