A1 Plus | 21:04:37 | 23-04-2004 | Politics |

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER IS DEMOCRACY DEVOTEE

Armenian national Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasryan convened a news
conference today to state he reiterated his stance against persecutions. He
also voiced condemnation at the criminal case instigated against the Justice
alliance.

He said he was also opposed to criminal charges brought against
General-Lieutenant Vagharshak Harutyunyan. Political issues should be solved
only on political field, he said.

Answering journalists’ questions about the April 13 violence against
peaceful demonstrators, Baghdasaryan said neither National Assembly nor the
coalition government was empowered to put pressure on the law enforcement.
The law enforcement bodies are under the president’s direct control, he
says.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

International Conference on “Genocide, Impunity and Justice”

Opening session; the international community
must go beyond judicial commitments and processes
in order to prevent genocides

Antelias, Lebanon – An international conference organized by the Armenian
Catholicosate of Cilicia on “Genocide, Impunity and Justice,” started
Thursday afternoon 22 April, 2004, at the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia,
in Antelias, Lebanon. The conference was meant to coincide with the
anniversary of the Armenian genocide which took 1.5 million lives.

During his opening remarks His Holiness Aram I, the Catholicos of Cilicia,
addressing the conference highlighted the question of Impunity.

“The 20th century was an age of genocides,” said Catholicos Aram I, in his
opening speech, despite “significant and encouraging development.”

This was the result of numerous international declarations for human rights,
including the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in
1998, he said.

According to him though, the international community “failed to respond
immediately in Rwanda, which led to disastrous repercussions. While in
Kosovo, thousands of human beings were saved because of a preventive
action.”

Aram also pointed out that the punitive approach is an essential factor for
the restoration of justice, which only happens when the rights of the victim
are fully recognized and adequately addressed.

“Why can’t the International Criminal Court bring governments or nations to
justice?” asked Aram.

He added that the punitive approach should be followed by retributive
justice. This means that victims should be compensated, truth should be
revealed and responsibility accepted.

“What is the use of all the treaties and institutions … if the powerful do
not abide by [them]?” said Nawaf Kabbara, professor of political sciences at
the Balamand University.

“Justice is determined by the powerful, but in the power game, the dominant
emerges, but he is not necessarily the best,” he said.

Information Minister Michel Samaha, who delivered President Emile Lahoud’s
address, said that the Ottoman state took the lives of 1.5 million Armenians
in the massive genocide it carried in the early 20th century to eliminate
Armenian culture .

However, the “Armenian people were able to survive, and rebuild their
country,” said Samaha. As for refugees, “they were able to mingle with the
countries they fled to and contribute to their development,” he added.

Louis Joinet, magistrate at the Court of Cassation in France, and the
rapporteur of UN special sub-commission on human rights, spoke of the
natural humanitarian movement towards impunity and justice.

“There has to be a right to know individually and collectively where and
when genocide took place. (There also has to be) a right to achieve
justice,” said Joinet.

He added that “good justice” is never quick, and that he prefers
reconciliation through pardon.

But according to Joinet, the question is who should be pardoned? He pointed
out that no one was willing to claim responsibility for such actions, as
France did for the massacres in Algeria years after they had originally
occurred.

Ninan Koshy, ex-human rights professor at Harvard University, said that back
in the 1920s there was no definition of massacre until Rafael Lemkin, a
linguistics student in Poland, gave it the name genocide.

Koshy also said that the ICC is hampered by legal loopholes, such as its
inability to look into crimes that took place before the court came to force
in July 2002.

Another threat was manifested by the US, as Koshy pointed out when he
explained that the US was still looking to avoid responsibility for its
actions.

“May 6, 2002, the Bush administration renounced US ratification of the Rome
treaty that formally established the ICC,” said Koshy.

He added that on August 3, 2002, the US declared it would use military force
if necessary to liberate any American or any citizen of an allied country
that was held by the ICC – a move dubbed as the Hague Invasion Act.

“What would the US do? Bomb the Hague?” Koshy said.

##

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

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

Armenian Prelacy of Canada Press Office
3401 Olivar Asselin, Montreal, Quebec H4J 1L5
Tel: (514) 856-1200
Fax (514) 856-1805
E-mail: [email protected]

The Holy Sea of Cilicia Bestows the “Sourp Mesrob Mashdots” Medal to Soprano
Isabel Bayrakdarian

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy Sea of Cilicia, acting upon the
request of His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of the Armenian
Prelacy of Canada, bestows the prestigious “Sourp Mesrob Mashdots” medal to
Canadian Armenian soprano, Isabel Bayrakdarian.

The official awarding ceremony of the “Sourp Mesrob Mashdots” medal is
scheduled for May 23, 2004, during Armenian Prelacy of Canada’s National
Representative Assembly Meeting.

Born in Beirut, Ms. Bayrakdarian began singing Armenian liturgical music in
the church choir at the age of three, and even continues to do so today. Her
debut album, Joyous Light, was a collection of medieval Armenian sacred
music dating from the 5th century onwards. It reached no.1 in the classical
charts across Canada within days of its release.

Ms. Bayrakdarian has received numerous awards throughout her career, most
recently taking home a Juno for her second album, Azulão. She can also be
heard on the Grammy award-winning soundtrack, Lord of the Rings, The Two
Towers, as well as Atom Egoyan’s Ararat.

Ms. Bayrakdarian’s upcoming engagements include Suzanna in a new production
of Le nozze di Figaro with Los Angeles Opera, a debut with the San Francisco
Symphony (Mahler’s 2nd Symphony) and a recording project this summer. During
the 2004/2005 she returns to the Metropolitan Opera, to the Lyric Opera of
Chicago twice, and she makes her debut with the Pittsburgh Opera. In
concerts and recitals she appears in Montreal, Washington, Toronto,
Victoria, Edmonton and Vancouver, Yerevan, Armenian among other cities.

Management: Ronald A. Wilford and Elizabeth Crittenden; Columbia Artists
Management Inc.; Tel: (212) 841-9501; Fax: (212) 841-9687.

Armenian Prelacy of Canada Press Office
3401 Olivar Asselin, Montreal, Quebec H4J 1L5 Tel: (514) 856-1200; Fax (514)
856-1805; E-mail: [email protected]

Isabel Bayrakdarian’s publicist: Barbora Krsek; Tel: (416) 534-3337;
Fax: (416) 534-5661; E-mail: [email protected]

A1 Plus | 21:41:03 | 23-04-2004 | Politics |

AMERICAN CITIZEN TO FACE TRIAL

On Friday, Armenian Prosecutor General Office confirmed the fact of
American citizen Arthur Vardanyan arrest.

The office source says formal charge is already brought to
Vardanyan. He is charged with two counts of repeatedly using his
Armenian passport while being a US citizen, illegally crossing
Armenian borders, participating in the opposition staged rallies and
making inciting calls to coup.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
04/23/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) California Governor Schwarzenegger Proclaims April 24 Day Of Remembrance
For
The Armenian Genocide
2) Statement of US Senator Barbara Boxer Commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide
3) Horizon TV to Provide Continuous Coverage of April 24 Events
4) Idaho Governor Issues Proclamation Commemorating the Armenian Genocide

1) California Governor Schwarzenegger Proclaims April 24 Day Of Remembrance
For
The Armenian Genocide

SACRAMENTO–The Armenian National Committee of AmericaWestern Region (ANCA-WR)
reported today that newly elected California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
issued an Executive Proclamation designating Saturday, April 24, as a “Day of
Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide.”The language of the proclamation
addressed the historical facts of the Genocide and commended Armenian
Americans
for retaining their “…distinct heritage, language, and religion, and bringing
rich cultural diversity to the Golden State.”
“We are very pleased to have Governor Schwarzenegger proclaim April 24 as a
California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide,” commented ANCA-WR
Government Relations Director, Armen Carapetian. “Designating April 24th as a
special day means a great deal to the children and grandchildren of survivors
of the Armenian Genocide and even the survivors who were able to make it to
California and called this great state their home.”
On Saturday, April 24, California State Senator Charles Poochigian, the
legislature’s highest ranking Armenian, will present the proclamation to the
ANCA-WR and the Armenian community at a special ceremony to be held at the
Armenian Martyrs Monument in Montebello, California.The event will include
special messages from Senator John Kerry, Governor Schwarzenegger, in addition
to speeches from various other California State and federal public officials.

The complete text of Gov. Schwarzenegger’s statement follows:

On April 24, 1915, in Constantinople, the Ottoman Turkish government arrested
and murdered several hundred Armenian religious, political, and intellectual
leaders, beginning a campaign of terror known as the Armenian Genocide.

From 1915 to 1923, the Ottoman Empire executed a systematic destruction of
Armenian culture through the forced exile, imprisonment and annihilation of
men, women and children of Armenian descent. More than 1.5 million Armenians
perished, and 500,000 survivors were forced to leave their ancestral homeland
in Turkey. Whole villages were massacred and many people died of exposure and
starvation during forced death marches in the desert.

Despite this great tragedy, the Armenian people have persevered and today are
striving to build a free and proud nation, based on the principles of
democracy
and a free-market economy. California is home to 700,000 Armenians–the
largest
Armenian community outside the Republic of Armenia. Throughout the decades,
the
Armenian-American community has contributed to California’s agriculture,
business, education, public service, and the arts. They have retained their
distinct heritage, language, and religion, bringing rich cultural diversity to
the Golden State.

On this 89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we join with Armenians
around the world to mourn the loss of so many innocent lives. In remembering
this great human tragedy, we rededicate ourselves to combat injustice, and we
honor the triumphant spirit of the Armenian people.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of
California,
do hereby proclaim Saturday, April 24, 2004, as a “Day of Remembrance for the
Armenian Genocide.”

2) Statement of US Senator Barbara Boxer Commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide

Between the years of 1915 and 1923, a million and a half Armenians were
brutally murdered as a result of a calculated plan to eliminate Armenians from
the Ottoman Empire. Men taken from their homes and separated from their
families were killed. Women, children, and elderly were sent on forced death
marches across the Syrian Desert. These actions constituted the first genocide
of the 20th century and one of the most vicious and tragic events in world
history.
One and one-half million Armenian lives were lost, countless more were
persecuted, and the entire Armenian community suffered. As we reflect on these
horrible years, Armenian Americans know this story and its relevance in
history.
Tragically, some question its historical accuracy.To prevent future
genocide is
to face the reality that it exists. Knowledge of past genocides in different
parts of our world assists in arming us to prevent such acts from occurring
again.
At the outset of the Jewish Holocaust, Adolph Hitler said that no one
remembered what happened to the Armenian people during the genocide. He then
proceeded to implement his Final Solution.
Today, Armenians are continuing to work to rebuild and strengthen their great
nation. After facing years of injustice and persecution, the Armenian people’s
spirit remains strong.
I join you in commemorating the 89th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. As
we remember these sad years, we must never forget that an act of genocide is
not only an act of hatred toward one particular group, but toward all
humankind.
May we learn from the tragedy of the Armenian genocide and recommit ourselves
to full equality, respect, and acceptance for all people.An important first
step is the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the United States
Government and the world as a whole.

3) Horizon TV to Provide Continuous Coverage of April 24 Events

Horizon 24 Hour Armenian Television will preempt its regularly scheduled
programming to provide complete and comprehensive coverage of April 24 events,
as well as documentaries, cultural performances and the arts in commemorating
the Armenian Genocide. The program line-up will also include special
interviews
with scholars, worldwide coverage of Genocide commemorative events, and live
interviews with representatives of Armenian communities in the Diaspora. The
live broadcast will start at 6 am PST and will run until 2 am.
The program will be available to anyone with the T5-Telestar Globecast World
TV receiver, on channel 411, or on the following frequency: D/L Frequency:
11,867 MHz D/L Polarity: Vertical Symbol Rate: 22.000 Msym FEC: ¾
For information call (818) 246-1989.
“We believe that April 24 is a day for Armenians worldwide to renew their vow
to continue the struggle against denial until the day Turkey recognizes the
Genocide, returns our lands, and makes reparations. Our programming is not
about mourning our losses, rather about showing the world that Armenians will
not give in until every last inch of our homeland is returned to us. It is
about proving to everyone that we can put aside our personal differences and
unite in the struggle for Hai Tahd.” –Horizon’s Executive Producer Bianca
Manoukian.

4) Idaho Governor Issues Proclamation Commemorating the Armenian Genocide

BOISE–Idaho became the 33rd US state to recognize the Armenian Genocide this
week, as Republican Governor Dirk Kempthorne issued a proclamation citing
April
24 “Idaho Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923,” reported
the Armenian National Committee of Idaho (ANC-Idaho).
The proclamation begins by noting that “one and a half million Christian
Armenian men, women, and children were the victims of a brutal genocide
perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish Government from 1915-1923.” It goes on to
cite the importance of commemorating this crime against humanity as a way of
“guarding against the repetition of future genocides and educating people
about
the atrocities connected to these horrific crimes.” The complete text of the
Governor’s proclamation is provided below.
The gubernatorial proclamation closely follows a resolution unanimously
adopted by the Senate of the Associated Students of Boise State University
(ASBSU) recognizing the Armenian Genocide and condemning efforts to rewrite
history. Senate Resolution 13 states that the genocide “has resulted in the
elimination of the Armenian people from their historic homeland of over 3000
years through the criminal loss of property and life.” The resolution
“commemorates the Armenian Genocide and condemns those attempts made by
governments as well as other entities, both public and private, to distort the
historical reality and legal relevance of the Armenian Genocide to the
descendants of its survivors and humanity as a whole.”
On hearing the news of the Governor’s proclamation, David Morris,
President of
the ASBSU, commented: “I think it’s fantastic that the Governor not only
recognizes the importance of bringing this information to light, but also
stands behind efforts to educate the public about the Armenian Genocide”.
Chairman of ANC-Idaho, Rafael Saakyan, commended Governor Kempthorne on his
“commitment to advancing human rights issues in the state of Idaho and for
joining the Armenian community across this great state in sustaining the flame
of remembrance for the victims of the Armenian Genocide.” Saakyan then urged
the Idaho Congressional delegation to “ensure that their state’s views are
well
represented through their support for the adoption of the Genocide resolution
in the House and Senate.”
Rebecca Kun, communications director of ANC-Idaho, worked closely with the
ANC-Idaho team to collect close to 600 signatures for the proclamation
request.
This was a marathon process–we collected 594 signatures in 2 weeks in
order to
get our proclamation request submitted in time to meet the April 24
deadline we
set for ourselves. With this proclamation and the Boise State initiative it is
clear that the Armenian community, working together, can make a real
difference.” Kun continued, “As a first generation holocaust survivor, I
understand the importance of bringing these events to light. Having this
proclamation signed by both the State of Idaho and Boise State University is
the first step to correct the dissemination of lies that has been perpetuated
for the last 89 years.”
Massachusetts State Republican Committee chairman Bob Semonian of Watertown,
MA helped the ANC-Idaho bring their concerns to the attention of the
Governor’s
office. Semonian discussed the importance of the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide with Gov. Kempthorne directly at the recent National Governor’s
Association (NGA) meeting in Washington, DC. Gov. Kempthorne currently serves
as chairman of the NGA.
The Idaho proclamation follows an earlier letter of recognition issued by
Montana’s Republican Governor Judith Martz in late March. Jamestown (ND) Mayor
Charles Kourajian issued a city proclamation last week honoring the victims of
the Armenian Genocide.

Text of the Idaho Proclamation Commemorating the Armenian Genocide:

WHEREAS, one and one-half-million Christian Armenian men, women, and children
were victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated by the
Ottoman Turkish Government from 1915-1923; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian genocide and massacres of Armenian people have been
recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble
civilization over 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, recognition of the eighty-ninth anniversary of this genocide is
crucial to guarding against the repetition of future genocide and educating
people about the atrocities connected to these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Idaho have greatly enriched our state
through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government and
the
arts;

NOW, THEREFORE I, DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby
proclaim April 24, 2004, to be IDAHO DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE OF 1915-1923

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Eurasianet Organization
April 23 2004

AZERBAIJAN AND TURKEY COORDINATE NAGORNO-KARABAKH NEGOTIATING
POSITION
Mevlut Katik: 4/23/04

Turkish and Azerbaijani officials have defused a simmering bilateral
dispute concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, jointly endorsing a
“gradual approach” on a negotiated settlement of the conflict between
Azerbaijan and Armenia. The announcement came amid new international
efforts to jump-start the peace process.

Turkey and Azerbaijan have long had a special relationship, and
Ankara has been Baku’s staunchest supporter in the effort to reach a
political settlement to the Karabakh conflict. [For additional
information see the Eurasia Insight archive]. But in early 2004,
bilateral ties became strained after Ankara indicated that it might
re-open the Turkish-Armenian border to trade. Azerbaijani officials
reacted furiously to the Turkish suggestion, warning that it might
withdraw from the peace process if Ankara went through with the move.
[For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive].

The recent visit by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Turkey
appears to have restored a sense of equilibrium in relations. A joint
statement issued April 14 by Aliyev and Turkish President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer emphasized bilateral unity concerning the Karabakh peace
process. It reiterated a call for the “withdrawal of Armenia from
Azerbaijani occupied territories,” adding that a Karabakh settlement
would have to based on “respect for territorial integrity and
borders.”

Addressing the Turkish Parliament, Aliyev expressed a desire to
strengthen Azerbaijani-Turkish ties. “We believe that our countries
will continue to support each other in the future,” adding that “our
power depends on our unity.” Aliyev staked out a hard-line stance on
the Karabakh question, saying Azerbaijan would not accept any peace
deal that left the territory outside of Baku’s jurisdiction.
“Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan and will belong to us in the future,”
he said. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Karabakh peace talks have been stalled for years. [For background see
the Eurasia Insight archive]. The United States recently attempted to
build fresh momentum for negotiations by appointing Steven Mann as
the new US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, which oversees the peace
process. Mann, the former US envoy to the Caspian for energy-related
issues, replaced Rudolf Perina.

Azerbaijani media praised Mann’s appointment. The appointment “shows
that the United States will soon invest more effort to resolve” the
Karabakh issue, political analyst Khaladdin Ibrahimli wrote in the
Azerbaijani newspaper Azadliq. Armenian leaders also cautiously
welcomed the appointment.

Mann participated in a “fact-finding meeting” on April 16 in Prague
between Azerbaijan’s new foreign minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, and his
Armenian counterpart Vardan Oskanian. Both foreign ministers
confirmed that no new proposals were presented during the meeting.
Oskanian indicated that his next meeting with Mammadyarov had been
tentatively scheduled for mid May.

Editor’s Note: Mevlut Katik is a London-based correspondent and
analyst. He is a former BBC correspondent and also worked for The
Economist group.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
April 23 2004

HUNGARY ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO DEVELOPMENT OF RELATIONS WITH
AZERBAIJAN
[April 23, 2004, 12:48:01]

As was informed to AzerTAj from the press center of the Ministry for
Foreign Affairs of the Azerbaijan Republic, on April 22, Minister for
Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov has met the assistant to the state
secretary of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Hungary Iene Boros.

At the meeting, minister Elmar Mammadyarov, having emphasized
importance of expansion of legal ground between the two countries,
has noted that mutual visits stimulate development of bilateral
relations.

The visitor from Hungary, having noted that his country attaches
great importance to expansion of relations with Azerbaijan, has
emphasized importance of the further development of links between our
states in economic, power, non-oil, agrarian and other sectors.

Further the head of the foreign policy department of our country
Elmar Mammadyarov has in detail informed the visitor on the reforms
conducted in the Republic after gaining state independence, on
integration of Azerbaijan into the European institutions, about the
obligations taken by our country before the international
organizations, and their successful performance. Having stopped on
prospects of development of mutual relations, the Minister has noted,
that the question of expansion of economic relations has great value
for Azerbaijan.

Then, Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has highlighted the visitor on
conditions of the refugees and IDPs ousted from the native lands as a
result of the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, about
the work done for settlement of the conflict. Having taken an
interest in the course of the investigation connected to the officer
of Azerbaijan army Ramil Safarov, arrested person as a suspected in
murder of the Armenian officer, the Minister has expressed confidence
that the process would pass impartially.

At the meeting, also were focused a number of other issues
representing mutual interest.

Daily Nexus
April 23 2004

Event Recognizes Armenian Genocide
By Vinicio Field – Reporter

Students and the community were invited to attend a commemoration of
the Armenian genocide Thursday night at Embarcadero Hall.

More than 50 people attended the event – hosted by the Armenian
Student Association (ASA) – which was held in remembrance of the
genocide perpetrated against Armenians by Turkey in 1915. The
commemoration began at 8 p.m., and included a lecture, videos and
photographs addressing the refusal of many countries to officially
recognize that the genocide actually occurred. Armenian Genocide
Remembrance Day officially takes place worldwide Saturday.

According to estimates made by online information centers such as
TheForgotten.org, around 1.5 million Armenians – 80 percent of the
Armenian population in Turkey at the time – were murdered during the
genocide. Event co-organizer Ara Keshishian of the ASA said the goal
of the event was to force people to remember what history has
forgotten.

“Imagine if your grandma were shot in front of you and no one
recognized it,” he said.

A number of audience members had tears in their eyes as Mariette
Soudjian sang both the U.S. and Armenian national anthems to begin
the commemoration.

Global and international studies visiting professor Richard Falk gave
a speech about the implications of the genocide’s lack of
recognition. Falk said he believed that official acknowledgement of
the incident would be crucial to the healing of Armenian people.

“The denial of the genocide of the Armenian people persists as an
open wound,” Falk said. “It is as important to overcome the Turkish
denial as it is for those of Armenian descent to receive the apology
in order to heal their wounds.”

Falk encouraged the audience to question whether any progress has
been made toward stopping genocide around the world.

“We have to ask ourselves: Is the world safer now?” Falk said. “How
far has the legal development against ethnic cleansing come when the
Armenian genocide is not even recognized; where countries, including
the United States, have ordered their bureaucrats not to use the word
‘genocide’ regarding events in places like Rwanda?”

Falk then recited portions of a poem written during the genocide
entitled “The Dance,” by a German eyewitness named Siamanto. The poem
details rape, torture and women being burned alive after being
ordered to dance nude. ASA members Carolyn Lee and Hermine Barseghian
also read from “The Dance,” and violinist Hagop Barseghian played a
song in tribute.

Diana Magpapian, ASA member and political science graduate student,
echoed Falk’s desire for acknowledgement of the genocide.

“Our presentation is not about money, it’s not about anything except
recognition. Most countries officially deny or ignore the Armenian
genocide. Denial is ignorance. We are trying to correct ignorance and
stop the denial,” Magpapian said.

ASA president and psychology major Talin Nazarian said he especially
wanted scholars to recognize the historical significance of the
genocide for the Armenian people.

“Armenians exist on all sides of the globe, but the genocide isn’t in
textbooks,” Nazarian said. “Until our history is in textbooks, it is
important for us to show the history of our people.”
From: Baghdasarian

ZAMAN Turkey
April 23 2004

Three-Way Meeting on Karabag to be Held at NATO Summit

Turkey is preparing for a three-way meeting to discuss the re-opening
of the Turkish-Armenian border and a solution for the Nagarno-Karabag
(Karabakh) issue during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
summit to be held in Istanbul this June.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul invited his Azerbaijani and Armenian
counterparts during his trip to Baku last week. Meanwhile, Armenian
Foreign Minister, Vartan Oskanyan, announced that Armenia supports a
three-way meeting on the condition that they take up “regional
issues.” Oskanyan argued that a meeting only on the Karabakh issue
would be meaningless since Turkey cannot be a moderator.

Now, with Turkey’s involvement in the Nagarno-Karabakh issue, a
multi-phased transition plan will be the focus. Thus, Armenia will
retreat from the five regions that it occupied, the
Azerbaijani-Armenian border will be re-opened, and Turkey will
overcome the border issue with Armenia using the Syrian model.

04.23.2004
Salih Boztas
From: Baghdasarian

Providence Journal , RI
April 23 2004

Metro digest

PROVIDENCE — Ceremony marks Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Martyrs Memorial Committee will hold the 89th
commemoration of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, Sunday, at North Burial
Ground.

Simon Payaslian, chair of Armenian History and Armenian Genocide
Studies at Clark University in Worcester, Mass., is scheduled to be
the keynote speaker. Sen. Jack Reed, Rep. James Langevin, Lt. Gov.
Charles Fogarty, Mayor David N. Cicilline and Warwick Mayor Scott
Avedisian are scheduled to attend the 12:30 p.m. ceremony.