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09/22/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Reps. Eshoo and Sweeney Urge House Colleagues to Call for a Vote on the Armenian Genocide 2) 13th Anniversary Independence Celebrations 3) Garamendi Appoints Members of Armenian Insurance Settlement Fund Board 4) Conference Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Lebanon ARF Zavarian Student Association 5) Georgia President Suggests Stage-By-Stage Settlement Plan 1) Reps. Eshoo and Sweeney Urge House Colleagues to Call for a Vote on the Armenian Genocide --Support Continues to Grow for Congressional Letter to Speaker Hastert in Support of the Schiff Amendment and H.Res.193 WASHINGTON, DC (ANCA)--New York Republican John Sweeney and California Democrat Anna Eshoo have joined together in the effort encouraging their Congressional colleagues to cosign a letter to Speaker Hastert urging him to maintain the Schiff amendment in the House Foreign aid bill and schedule a vote on the Genocide Resolution. The letter currently has over 60 signatories and support continues to grow in the days leading up to the House and Senate conference to finalize the FY 2005 foreign aid bill. In a letter to House Members, Reps. Eshoo and Sweeney, both of Armenian descent, explained: "Under the Ottoman Empire, nearly two million Armenians who were living in Eastern Anatolia were deported from their homes. Of the two million deportees, only 500,000 survived this ordeal. The historical record is clear. From 1915 to 1923, the Ottoman Empire succeeded in systematically eliminating the Armenians from their historical homeland where they had lived for over two thousand years. H.Res.193 reaffirmed our nation's commitment to the noble aims of the Genocide Convention, and urges the American people to learn from the lessons of past genocides in order to help prevent future crimes against humanity." The Schiff Amendment, spearheaded by California Democrat Adam Schiff, was unanimously adopted by the House in a voice vote, during discussions of the FY 2005 foreign aid bill. The legislation would bar the Turkish government from using US foreign aid funds for lobbying against the Genocide Resolution. Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), and Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) immediately denounced the measure in a harshly worded press release placed on the front page of the House Speaker's website, citing concerns about its effects on US-Turkey relations and pledging to remove the language from the final foreign aid bill. Following the Speaker's announced opposition to the measure, more than a dozen national grassroots Armenian American organizations cosigned a letter to the House leader, voicing the community's unequivocal opposition to efforts to reverse the Schiff Amendment to the fiscal year 2005 Foreign Operations bill, and expressing the community's "great dismay with your public statement against holding a vote on the Genocide Resolution, H.Res.193." The organizations that signed the community-wide letter were the ANCA, the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church--Eastern and Western US, the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church--Eastern and Western US, the Armenian Missionary Association of America, and the Apostolic Exarchate for Armenian Catholics, as well as the Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian Democratic Liberal (Ramgavar) Party, United Armenian Fund, Armenian Relief Society, Armenian Bar Association, National Organization of Republican Armenians, Armenian Youth Federation, Homenetmen--Armenian General Athletic Union, and Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Educational Association. Reps. George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) introduced the Genocide resolution (H.Res.193) in April, 2003. The legislation (H.Res.193) was unanimously adopted by the House Judiciary Committee in May of that year and currently has 111 cosponsors. Similar legislation in the Senate (S.Res.164) has over 40 cosponsors. 2) 13th Anniversary Independence Celebrations YEREVAN (Combined Sources)--Armenia's President Kocharian kicked-off official ceremonies marking Armenia's independence from the Soviet Union, by visiting the Yerablur military cemetery in Yerevan where hundreds of Armenians killed during the war with Azerbaijan are buried. "Today's Armenia is an established state with a pronounced commitment to deeper economic reforms, democratic transformation and international engagement," Kocharian told government officials, foreign diplomats, and other dignitaries attending an official reception later in the day. The holiday marks the September 21, 1991 referendum in which 94.99% of Armenians voted in favor of secession from the Soviet Union, just months before its collapse. In separate messages to President Robert Kocharian, the presidents of the United States and Russia pledged to strengthen their relations with Armenia US President George W. Bush described Armenia as a "major partner" of the United States, according to Kocharian's office. "The United States will work hard to assist the government and the people of Armenia in achieving economic growth, strengthening democratic institutions and resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Bush was quoted as saying. "I expect that cooperation between our nations and the very friendly ties between our peoples will be further reinforced." "I am particularly thankful for Armenia's important anti-terrorist support for the United States," he said. Armenia opened its airspace for the US military aircraft following the September 11 terrorist attacks. "I am convinced that a further deepening of the Russian-Armenian strategic partnership is in tune with the fundamental interests of our countries and plays an important role in maintaining peace and stability in the Caucasus," read Russia's President Vladimir Putin letter cited by the Armenian presidential press service. 3) Garamendi Appoints Members of Armenian Insurance Settlement Fund Board LOS ANGELES (Insurance Journal)--Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has announced three appointments to the Armenian Insurance Settlement Fund Board, created to oversee the settlement of claims against New York Life Insurance Company as directed in the settlement of a class-action lawsuit on behalf of heirs and descendants of policyholders who were killed during the Armenian genocide more than 90 years ago. The board members, Viken Manjikian, Paul Krekorian, and Berj Boyajian, will evaluate claims and determine which are to be paid pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement. The board's decisions will be final with no right of appeal. "I am honored to appoint these three accomplished, capable and fair individuals who will further the pursuit of justice for heirs and descendants of victims of the Armenian genocide," Commissioner Garamendi said. "This is an important step to help bring closure to the victims and their families." Early this year, Garamendi secured a $20 million fund to help finance the payment of claims in the case. At least $3 million of that amount will be put into the "Unclaimed/Heirless Fund," which will be contributed to court-approved charitable organizations--as set forth in the settlement agreement--whose activities advance the Court-approved charitable interests of the Armenian community. Manjikian, of Lancaster, is Director of Inpatient and Emergency Radiology, and Director of Vascular and Interventional Radiology at Antelope Valley Hospital. He has extensive credentials in the field of radiology and earned his medical and undergraduate degrees at the University of California, Los Angeles. Boyajian, of Beverly Hills, operates Boyajian and Associates in Los Angeles. His practice specializes in business and toxic torts, and he has extensive experience in litigation on behalf of individuals and workers exposed to toxic substances. Krekorian, of Burbank, is a founding partner of the law firm Fisher & Krekorian in Los Angeles. His practice specializes in representation of business, charitable organizations and individuals in matters involving trademark, copyright and commercial disputes. Potential claimants in the Armenian genocide case have been informed via Notice by the Court and published statewide. The Department of Insurance consumer hotline will also be able to direct potential claimants to the settlement Web site. Or, call the Department's hotline at 800-927-HELP (800-927-4357). 4) Conference Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Lebanon ARF Zavarian Student Association BEIRUT--A five-day pan-Armenian student conference commenced on September 20 in Beirut, Lebanon, in celebration of the ARF Zavarian Student Association's (ZSA) 100th anniversary. Representatives of various youth and student organizations from Armenia, Mountainous Karabagh Republic, Javakhk, Russia, Iran, Iraq, France, Canada, Germany, Greece, the US, Syria, and Lebanon are taking part in the before mentioned conference gathered for the opening ceremony on September 20 at the Aghpalian Sports and Cultural Center. In his address, ARF Bureau representative Hrant Margarian said that students must view the homeland and diaspora as one entity--the combined strength of which can be coordinated and utilized to the benefit of its people. A congratulatory letter from the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) was read, and the ceremony ended with a documentary on ZSA founder Simon Zavarian. The conference, "Armenian Students Facing Challenges of The 21st Century," will run through September 25, allowing students the opportunity to strengthen mutual relations and exchange ideas and experiences in facing challenges of the 21st century. Participants will also examine their roles in the context of realities Armenians throughout the world face. The conference will address the following topics: The Armenian cause in light of the presence of the Armenian Republic; the integration of the Armenian Republic in the European Union: advantages and disadvantages; Globalization and the problems facing the Armenian Republic; the meaning of mutual relations between Armenia and the diaspora and respective roles (diaspora in promoting the development of the Armenian Republic and Armenia's role in maintaining the liveliness of diaspora); students and the Armenian national heritage preservation (emigration, assimilation); the current situation and mission of Armenian students living in Armenia or in the diaspora. For more information, contact: ayf@arf.am or zom@zavarian.org. 5) Georgia President Suggests Stage-By-Stage Settlement Plan UNITED NATIONS (Itar-Tass)--Speaking at the 59th UN General Assembly session on Tuesday, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili presented a stage-by-stage plan of settling the Abkhazian and South Ossetian conflicts. The first stage of the plan would include concrete confidence-building measures--specifically the exchange of people and goods, joint economic projects, and the restoration of the right of displaced persons to return home. The second stage, he said, provides for material guarantees of the dismantling of military bases, demilitarization, internationalization of peacekeeping efforts, as well as international monitoring aimed at achieving a peaceful settlement. According to Saakashvili, the third stage includes the granting of the broadest possible autonomy to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which would ensure "the protection of their culture and language, local government, fiscal control" and equal participation in the settlement of all problems, which fall under the jurisdiction of the national government. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.