Month: November 2006

Belleville News-Democrat, IL
Nov 10 2006
Armenian Church in Swansea celebrates its 50th anniversary this
weekend
News-Democrat
The Holy Virgin Mary and Shoghagat Armenian Church at 400 Huntwood
Road in Swansea is celebrating its 50th anniversary today and Sunday.
The parish has more than 100 members from across the bi-state region
and includes the children and grandchildren of the church founders,
as well as new Armenian-Americans who have come to the United States
in the last 10 to 20 years.
At 7 p.m. today, members will host a welcome reception and memorial
garden dedication at the church featuring survivors of the Armenian
Genocide, where more than one and a half million Armenians died
between 1915 and 1918 in what is now modern day Turkey.
Sunday at 10 a.m., the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated by His
Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern) at the church, followed by a
Golden Anniversary Banquet at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel in
Fairview Heights. The banquet will begin at 1 p.m.
Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville, will offer remarks. Other speakers
will address the church’s impact on the community and on preserving
Armenian culture. A memorial walk ceremony honoring members of the
local Armenian community will also be held at the banquet.
Contact Zabelle Vartanian at 398-4302 or [email protected] for
more event information.

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Nov 10 2006
Armenians see advantage in US Congress shakeup
The New Anatolian / Washington
After the U.S. House of Representatives returned to Democratic
control after Tuesday’s blowout elections, American-Armenians saw
advantages in the Congressional shakeup, which is likely to
strengthen their hand in pressuring for recognition of genocide
claims by the U.S.
The Armenian Assembly of America (ANCA), in a statement yesterday,
cited the likely elevation of Representative Nancy Pelosi, a member
of the Armenian Caucus, to become the first female speaker of the
House.
The statement said that with these elections, the anticipated
leadership of the next Congress will offer new opportunities to pass
an Armenian genocide claims resolution.
Pelosi has regularly called on the administration to acknowledge the
Armenian genocide claims. In a statement to a newspaper, Pelosi had
this to say: “It is imperative that the U.S. recognize this atrocity
and move to renew our commitment to eliminate genocide whenever and
wherever it exists. This effort enjoys strong bipartisan support in
the House, and I will continue to support these efforts in the 110th
Congress.”
The man Pelosi is likely to succeed, Republican Dennis Hastert, on
more than one occasion used his power as speaker to block so-called
Armenian genocide resolutions from reaching the House floor,
sometimes under presidential pressure. However, Pelosi and President
George W. Bush have conflicting and sometimes bitter party
affiliations, and this may blunt the impact of such pressure in the
future.
Tan declines comment on Pelosi
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Namik Tan said on Thursday that the
Congressional elections in the U.S. reflects the American people’s
will but avoided commenting on Pelosi’s stance on the Armenian
genocide claims.
Tan, in a weekly press briefing, asked about the impact of the
Democrats’ victory on Turkish-U.S. relations, stated, “Relations
between the two countries will continue within the framework of
friendship and alliance. We don’t have anything to say about the
elections other than respecting them. The American people chose who
they wanted to see in their Congress.”
Asked about Pelosi as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives,
Tan stated that it is not a good time to talk on a personal basis. He
underlined the importance of relations between Ankara and Washington,
stressing that developments on specific issues were not foreseeable.
He added that Turkey will continue to have warm relations with the
U.S. in terms of friendship and strategic agreements.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ANCA CALLS FOR WHITE HOUSE WITHDRAWAL OF HOAGLAND NOMINATION
— Asks Senators to Urge President Bush to Drop
Controversial Candidate for U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
WASHINGTON, DC – Citing the growing controversy surrounding
Ambassador-designate Dick Hoagland’s denial of the Armenian
Genocide – as reflected by the “hold” placed by Senator Bob
Menendez on his confirmation – the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA) has asked members of the U.S. Senate to call on
President Bush to withdraw his nomination for the next U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia.
In letters sent on November 8th to all one hundred Senators, ANCA
Chairman Ken Hachikian stressed that: “Very simply, a genocide
denier cannot effectively promote U.S. interests or American values
in Armenia – a country that rose from the ashes of Turkey’s
genocidal campaign.” He added that, “confirming an Ambassador to
Armenia who denies the Armenian Genocide would dramatically
undermine U.S. diplomacy in Armenia and mark a major retreat from
our nation’s noble commitment to genocide prevention.” Community
activists across the country are echoing this message in thousands
of ANCA WebFaxes being sent to Senate offices from the ANCA website
–
In announcing his decision to block the Hoagland nomination on
September 12, 2006, Senator Menendez (D-NJ) highlighted the
principled stand taken by former U.S. Ambassador John Evans, who,
by all accounts, was fired for speaking truthfully about the
Armenian Genocide. The New Jersey legislator stated that he has
“great concerns that Mr. Hoagland’s confirmation would be a step
backward.”
Neither Ambassador-designate Hoagland, nor the Department of State,
have taken any meaningful steps to address the three concerns
raised by the ANCA in opposition to the Hoagland nomination. In a
September 1st letter to members of the U.S. Senate, the ANCA called
for Senate opposition to the Hoagland nomination until:
1) Ambassador-designate Hoagland provides a responsible and
unambiguous public statement affirming that he does not question
the clear genocidal intent of the Ottoman Turkish government
against its Armenian population.
2) The State Department provides a full, honest, and public
explanation regarding the reasons for the controversial firing of
the current Ambassador, John Marshall Evans.
3) The Administration explains any and all communications, directly
or indirectly, between the U.S. government and the Turkish
government concerning Ambassador Evans.
For an overview of the firing of Ambassador Evans and the Hoagland
controversy, visit:
p
The full text of the November 8, 2006 ANCA letter is provided
below.
#####
Dear Senator __________:
I am writing to respectfully call on you to urge President Bush to
withdraw the deeply flawed and increasingly controversial
nomination of Dick Hoagland as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia.
As we have shared with you on several occasions, Ambassador-
designate Hoagland’s statements denying the Armenian Genocide
disqualify him from serving in an effective capacity as America’s
representative in Yerevan. As you recall, in his written responses
to questions posed to him during his confirmation hearing, he went
far beyond the bounds of the Administration’s already deeply flawed
policy, actually calling into question the Armenian Genocide as a
historical fact. His statements are all the more troubling in
light of the White House’s continued refusal to explain why it
fired the previous U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, or to
reveal the role that Turkey played in his dismissal.
Very simply, a genocide denier cannot effectively promote U.S.’
interests or American values in Armenia – a country that rose from
the ashes of Turkey’s genocidal campaign. Confirming an Ambassador
to Armenia who denies the Armenian Genocide would dramatically
undermine U.S. diplomacy in Armenia and would mark a major retreat
from our nation’s noble commitment to genocide prevention.
Based on these considerations, I respectfully call on you to
publicly support the hold placed by Senator Robert Menendez and to
urge the White House to withdraw the Hoagland nomination.
Thank you for your consideration of the concerns of the Armenian
American community on this matter. We would, of course, be pleased
to meet with you to discuss this matter in person, or to forward to
you additional materials in support of our request. If you have
any questions, please contact the Armenian National Committee of
America at (202) 775-1918 or [email protected].
Sincerely yours,
[signed]
Kenneth V. Hachikian
Chairman

AZG Armenian Daily #216, 11/11/2006

Diaspora
POLICE `CLEAN’ YOUTH CENTER IN AKHALKALAK OF SCOUTS
At around 7 pm on November 8, 10-13 policemen of
Akhalkalak’s regional police armed with firearms and
bludgeons burst into “Kechi” building and forced out
the teenage members of Javakhk’s scout movement
demanding the keys and documents of the building.
Javakhk-Info reports that the scouts went out of the
building and locked the doors but did not hand the
keys to the police.
The building that formerly belonged to the 62d Russian
military base was handed to Georgian military police
despite the population’s protest. But soon after the
military police was ousted, and it was transformed
into a youth center. The scout movement of Javakhk is
officially registered in the republic and has been
functioning for 5 years now but their requests for an
office were not replied to and they held their
trainings at the youth center.
It must be noted that the scout movement of Javakhk is
an organization affiliated to the “United Javakhk”
sports and culture youth union.
Will the only school of Samtskhe-Javakhk’s Adigeni
region close?
The only Armenian school functioning in Abastuman
settlement of Adigeni region of Samtskhe-Javakhk,
Georgia, to close down. Due to financial shortage the
school is unable to keep afloat all grades from 1 to
4. The Armenian school of the region has more than 40
pupils, but the headmaster of the school, Teymuraz
Minadze, has forbidden all pupils from 1 to 4 grades
to attend the school, A-Info agency reports. According
to the agency, there are schools in Samtskhe-Javakhk
regions with even fewer pupils but no issue of closing
them down was raised.
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily #216, 11/11/2006

Concern
TURKS CARRY OUT ANTI-ARMENIAN ACTIONS IN MILAN
On November 5, after the recent events in France,
another anti-Armenian manifestation was held at a
theatre in Milan where an exhibition on the Armenian
Genocide was displayed. Jean Eskian from Paris
informed that a young Turk Nouri Bastug rushed into
the exhibition hall and uttering curses in Turkish,
began smashing the exhibited pictures and the books on
the Armenian Genocide. The Turk received Italian
citizenship only a year ago. The police acted swiftly
and the Turk was soon arrested. Pietro Kouchikian,
organizer of the exhibition, stated that he doesn’t
know whether the Turk acted on his own or was a member
of a group.

AZG Armenian Daily #216, 11/11/2006

Exhibition
`THE SOUTH CAUCASUS THROUGH YOUNG PEOPLE’S EYES’
In late October regional exhibition “The South
Caucasus Through Young People’s Eyes” with the
participation of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan was
held in Georgia.
A selection stage was held on September 29 at the
“Moscow” cinema and 15 best pieces of young artist
from Gegharkuniq, Ararat, Shirak, Armavir and Kotayk
regions as well as Yerevan were chosen to be displayed
at the exhibition.
Through their pieces the participants expressed their
ideas of friendship, the present and the future. By
the end of the exhibition in Tbilisi all works were
published in a booklet.
By Ani Baghdasarian

AZG Armenian Daily #216, 11/11/2006

Neighbors
EDITORS OF FIVE AZERI NEWSPAPERS GO ON HUNGER STRIKE
On November 8, editors of five Baku based opposition
newspapers went on a hunger strike in support to
“Azatlig” newspaper. The Azeri mass media inform that
the hunger strike is directed against the state
property management commission that applied to the
court for depriving “Azatlig” newspaper (the
periodical of Popular Front Party) of the office it
used to occupy.
According to the statement of the editors, the
decision to deprive the newspaper of its office is of
no economic but political importance. It’s worth
mentioning that at present, not only “Azatlig,” but
also a number of the newspapers and ANS TV have
problems with the Azeri authorities.
By Aghavni Harutyunian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #216, 11/11/2006

Home
HAYPOST FREED OF PROFIT TAX
In the course of yesterday’ government sitting, RA
Government adopted the decision to hand the
plenipotentiaries of managing the shares of HayPost
company to the state property management committee.
Earlier, RA Transport and Communication Ministry
carried out the management of HayPost shares. The
decision was directed to secure the effective
functioning of the company.
According to another government decision, HayPost was
freed of paying profit tax since January 1st, 2006.
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily #216, 11/11/2006

Business
ARMENIAN AND TURKISH BUSINESSMEN TO MEET IN ISTANBUL
On November 27, the first congress of the Union of
Black Sea and Caspian Confederation of Enterprises
(UBSCCE) led by Turkish businessmen will take place in
Istanbul. According to Turkish Daily News, as members
of the Confederation, the Armenian Union of
Manufacturers and Businessmen was also invited.

AZG Armenian Daily #216, 11/11/2006

Diaspora
ARMENIAN-ARAB RELATIONS LESS IMPORTANT?
Editor of Zartonk Asks
In an article titled “Time to Sober Up”
editor-in-chief of Lebanon-based Zartonk newspaper,
Paruyr Aghbashian, voices concern over groundless
excuses of Armenian authorities to provide a site for
a monument symbolizing Armenian-Arab friendship. The
author reminds that Syria’s Armenian community
suggested erecting such a monument a few years ago.
Then, the authorities provided a site and financial
means. But soon after the site was changed and until
today no new site was provided.
On October 27, a memorial dedicated to the Armenian
Genocide and Holocaust was unveiled on the crossroad
of Terian-Miskovian streets, writes the editor and
reminds of the presence of big, important and
influential Armenian communities. He poses a question:
why the issue is not solved so far, why are the
authorities continually finding excuses? “Isn’t this a
national offence in the end, a matter of dignity? The
Armenian people is proud of preserving decent and
honest Armenian-Arab relations but the monument issue
still remains shelved,” Paruyr Aghbashian rounds off
saying that time to sober up has not passed yet.
By Gohar Gevorgian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress