ASBAREZ ONLINE [06-02-2004]

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06/02/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Council to Tackle Corruption in Armenia 2) Vermont Becomes 37th State to Recognize Armenian Genocide 3) Georgia, Russia at Odds over South Ossetia 4) ARS Marks Children's Day in Javakhk 5) UCLA Conference on Armenians in Iran Marks another Milestone 1) Council to Tackle Corruption in Armenia YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--The formation of a special commission to oversee the implementation of a government program to tackle rampant corruption in Armenia, was announced by President Robert Kocharian on Wednesday. The body, formally named the Council on Fighting Corruption, will be headed by Prime Minister Andranik Margarian and includes Justice Minister David Harutiunian, Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepian, and Central Bank Chairman Tigran Sarkisian. The commission will coordinate the implementation of the government's anti-corruption program drawn up by a team of government experts last November. Funded by the World Bank, the three-year program contains legislative measures that would complicate endemic bribery, nepotism, and other corrupt practices. Kocharian's special anti-corruption adviser, Bagrat Yesayan warned last year that corruption in Armenia "has reached a point where it threatens our national security." Member of the ruling coalition government, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, of which Yesayan is a member, had for months been pushing for the creation of a body to deal with the problem. 2) Vermont Becomes 37th State to Recognize Armenian Genocide Governor James H. Douglas declares April 24, 2004, 'Armenian Martyrs Day' in Vermont MONTPELIER (ANC VT)--Vermont Governor James H. Douglas issued a proclamation last week on the 89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, specifically marking April 24, 2004 "Armenian Martyrs Day," bringing the total number of states to have properly recognized this crime against humanity to 37. "I'm sure I speak not only for the Vermont Armenian community, but all Armenian in thanking Governor Douglas for honoring the memory of the victims of this terrible crime against humanity," said ANC Vermont activist Kohar Der Simonian. "We trust that this strong statement from the Governor will be acknowledged by the US Congress in its deliberation of the pending resolution on the Genocide Convention." In the months leading up to the proclamation, ANC Vermont members and activists, including Massachusetts State Republican Committeeman Bob Semonian, worked closely with the Governor's office, which was highly responsive to the community's concerns. Semonian spoke extensively to the Republican Governor during the National Governors Association conference held in Washington, DC in March 2004. He has since worked with local ANC activists in the effort to secure Armenian Genocide proclamations from a series of states across the country. The proclamation notes, "since 1915, April 24th of each year has been imprinted in the memory of the Armenian people worldwide, for it was then that the mass genocide of the Armenian people began in the Ottoman Turkish Empire." It goes on to cite the importance of marking this tragedy, stating that "recognition of the 89th 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." On the federal level, Senators Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) and James M. Jeffords (I-VT) are currently cosponsors of the Senate Genocide Resolution (S.Res.164), which commemorates the 15th anniversary of the US implementation of the UN Genocide Convention. The resolution cites the importance of remembering past crimes against humanity, including the Armenian Genocide, Holocaust, Cambodian and Rwandan genocides, in an effort to stop future atrocities. The corresponding House measure (H.Res.193), currently has 110 cosponsors and was unanimously carried by the House Judiciary Committee in May, 2003. 3) Georgia, Russia at Odds over South Ossetia (Civil.GE/Itar-Tass)--Tbilisi and Moscow exchanged strongly worded statements after the Georgian central authorities staged a show of force in the Ossetian conflict zone on May 31, marking rising tensions in Georgia's breakaway South Ossetian Republic. Russia warned that Tbilisi's "provocative steps" might lead "to extremely negative consequences" in the conflict zone. In a statement issued on June 1, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Georgia's central government would be held responsible in the event of further deterioration of the situation and "bloodshed" in the region. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow's concerns were triggered by the sending of Georgian troops into the conflict zone on May 31. The Georgian authorities justified the action, saying police checkpoints were set up in the area to help fight drug smuggling in the region. Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania on Wednesday slammed Russia saying that "the issue concerns the territory of Georgia and nobody can prevent the Georgian authorities from establishing order throughout the country." The Russian State Duma, meanwhile, issued a warning to the Georgia's leadership on Wednesday, and expressed alarm over what they described as the emergence of an explosive situation in the immediate proximity to the Russian state border. This situation, the State Duma said, "poses a threat to the security of many Russian citizens resident in the area of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict." The Russian lawmakers said Russia has the right and is obliged to take every action possible under the Constitution and the UN charter to protect their lives, health, and property. While expressing support for Georgia's "struggle against cross-border crime," they emphasized that "the need for such struggle cannot serve as an excuse for actions fraught with the risk of undermining the already strained situation and the full loss of confidence between the sides." "The introduction of commando units and troops of the Georgian Interior Ministry to South Ossetian territory on May 31 can be regarded in no way other than a show of force," Russian legislators said. 4) ARS Marks Children's Day in Javakhk YEREVAN (Yerkir)--Students of the mostly Armenian populated region of Javakhk in Georgia received prizes for their entries in the "I am Armenian" contest, sponsored by the Javakhk branch of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS). The grand prize went to secondary school student from Gandza Vahe Tangamanian, who was awarded the prize on International Children's Day celebrated on June 1. Parents and children praised the ARS at the awards ceremony for the society's various activities in the region. Marking Children's Day in Armenia, the ARS Mgro chapter and the Haybusak University Student Council, donated books, stationary, clothing and toys to the students of the boarding school for children with speech disabilities. "Such acts of charity are crucial for children who feel a need for caring and attention," said school Principal Varduhi Kheboyan in thanking the donors. 5) UCLA Conference on Armenians in Iran Marks another Milestone LOS ANGELES--The fourteenth in a series of international conferences devoted to historical Armenian cities and provinces, the conference on the Armenian communities of Iran was held on May 14-16. Sponsored by the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian history at the University of California in Los Angeles, and organized by the holder of the chair, Professor Richard Hovannisian, the successful conference had a turnout of more than 1,000 people. The previous conference in this series, held last November, focused entirely on the community of New Julfa in Iran on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of its founding. The opening session on May 14 in the Glendale Presbyterian Church included lectures in Armenian on Saint Stepanos and Dzordzor monasteries, the Armenians of the Salmast region, and the life and works of Archbishop Melik-Tangian of Tabriz. The Saturday sessions on May 15 at the UCLA campus, included presentations that focused on the political, cultural, literary, economic, and social history of the Armenians of Iran or Persia. Sunday afternoon, May 16, included sessions in both Armenian and English, about the Gharadagh Armenian communities, the pioneering role of the Armenians in Iranian theater and cinema, and integration of Armenian Iranians in California. As in all previous conferences, an exhibit had been prepared by Richard and Anne Elbrecht, with the assistance of Setareh Mahdavi. The participants also enjoyed the hospitality of the Armenian Society of Los Angeles on Friday night and of Mr. and Mrs. Hacop and Hilda Baghdasarian of the Armenian Educational Foundation on Saturday night. With the curtains closing on this conference, Professor Richard Hovannisian, the tireless driving force behind the series, announced the next chapter to be unveiled. The fifteenth conference, devoted to the Armenians in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, will be held on November 6-7, 2004. It is a most timely event that will surely attract a large gathering of interested scholars and listeners. 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