Month: November 2006

LECTURE, OPEN HOUSE AT NAASR
Belmont Citizen-Herald, MA
Nov 22 2006
Dr. David Gaunt, professor of history at S?t?University College,
Stockholm, Sweden, will give a lecture entitled “Massacres and
Resistance: The Genocide of the Armenians and Assyrians Based on
New Evidence from the Archives” on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. at
the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR)
Center , 395 Concord Ave., Belmont.
This lecture, Gaunt’s first in the Boston area, will be co-sponsored
by NAASR and the United Assyrian Association of New England. The
lecture will begin promptly at 8 p.m.
Preceding and following Gaunt’s lecture, NAASR will hold its annual
holiday open house, featuring a special sale in NAASR’s bookstore,
refreshments, music, gift-wrapping, and slide presentation of
highlights from NAASR’s recent 50th Anniversary Celebration. The
bookstore will open at 6 p.m. and remain open until 11 p.m.
The lecture will be based on findings from Gaunt’s recently-published
book, “Massacres, Resistance, Protectors: Muslim-Christian Relations
in Eastern Anatolia during World War I,” which will be on sale and
available for signing by the author.
Gaunt will detail how the persecution of Armenian and Assyrian
Christian minorities was organized on the national and local levels
in places where Armenian and Assyrian populations overlap. His work
is based on unique access to hundreds of documents in the archives
of Istanbul and Ankara, as well as documents of Iranian, Russian,
Arabic, Armenian, Assyrian, French and German origin. Most of these
documents have never been published before. The new documents fill
in some of the blank spaces in the history of genocide.
Admission to the event is free (donations appreciated). For more
information call 617-489-1610, or e-mail [email protected].

UNITED JAVAKHK TURNS TO RA LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BODIES
AZG Armenian Daily
22/11/2006
United Javakhk (UJ) democratic alliance turns to RA legislative and
executive bodies with a demand to stop criminal procedures for Vahagn
Chakhalian, a member of the alliance. The criminal procedures were
initiated on V. Chakhalian’s case on ‘trespassing of Armenian state
border’, the UJ statement to stated. Political persecution of the
national-political activist of Javakhk does not speak in favor of
Armenia. It arouses disbelieve and disrespect of Javakhk Armenians
towards official Yerevan. On the other hand, it does not speak in
favor of foreign policy of Armenia which should guarantee security
and respect national rights of the Diaspora Armenians. UJ expresses
a unanimous will of Javakhk population and says that severing of the
customs policy should be revised. The organization members emphasize
that the customs officers are corrupted and rudely address people
and that this state of things should be dealt with. UJ demands from
the Armenian legislative authorities to urgently prepare and present
a draft law on amendments of customs regulations and rules of cross
passing Armenian state borders to RA National Assembly.

ARA ABRAHAMIAN ON RECENT NOTORIOUS EVENTS IN RUSSIA
AZG Armenian Daily
22/11/2006
In the course of a meeting at RA Writers’ Union on November 20, Ara
Abrahamian, Chairman of the World Armenian Congress and the Union of
Armenians of Russia touched upon the recent notorious events in Russia.
“We live in the Russian Federation, according to its laws and
Constitution, I cannot bring the members of the World Armenian
Congress (WAC) and the Union of Armenians of Russia to the streets of
the Russian towns and declare war to the nationalists”, he said in
response to a question about his attitude to the recent of murders
of Armenians and RA citizens in Russia. He stated that after each
murder in the territory of Russia, it becomes known in 5 minutes.
The attorneys of the World Armenian Congress work, an active
cooperation with the Russian law machinery is carried on and, as a
result, clearance of a number of murders of Armenians in Russia,
committed on a national ground. At the same time, Abrahamian
stated there is still much to do in this direction. He reminded
that the representatives of WAC and the Union of Armenians of
Russia hold meetings with the Russian youth, delivered lectures,
telling them about the history of Armenia and the Armenians. As for
the coming parliamentary elections, Ara Abrahamian stated the World
Armenian Congress (WAC) will define its preferences in the coming
2007 Parliamentary elections in Armenia by January 2007. Besides, he
called for the Armenian political parties to refrain from ambitions
and come out with clear program documents. “Having studied the
program of each political party, the WAC and the Union of Armenians
of Russia will define their position,” Abrahamian said. Touching upon
the issue of Armenia’s relations with its closest neighbor Georgia,
Mr. Abrahamian said that Armenia should build its relations with
Georgia grounded on a well-developed governmental program. He added
that the Armenian authorities have to clearly explain the Russian
authorities that any economic sanctions against Georgia will also make
harm to Armenia. “They should explain to Moscow that Georgia does
not suffer from closing the Upper Lars checking point, but Armenia,
their strategic partner in the region suffers. So, be so kind to find
some alternative, some way out,” Abrahamian said.

EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE ‘EXPLORING ICT TODAY FOR A BRIGHTER TOMORROW’ IS HELD IN YEREVAN
AZG Armenian Daily
22/11/2006
Within the framework of the Armenia School Connectivity Program,
Project Harmony and the U.S. Embassy are pleased to announce an
educational conference entitled “Exploring ICT Today for a Brighter
Tomorrow.” The two-day conference is underway in Yerevan. School
principals, Internet Computer Center administrators, and teachers
will share their innovative and successful experiences with their ASCP
colleagues. The Conference presentations will center on the following
themes: Internet Computer Centers as Sources for New Opportunities,
School Partnerships and Collaborative Projects, Internet Computer
Center-Community Links, Resource Creation and Information Management,
Implementation of ICT in Education, ICT and School Management. School
Connectivity Program is a project of US Department of State Bureau
for Education and Culture. It deals with 330 schools in Armenia. The
program is implemented by Project Harmony. Since 2005, the Armenian
Government is a co- financier of the program.

INITIATIVE GROUP FROM CALIFORNIA PROTESTS AGAINST CONVICTION OF EDITOR OF ‘ZHAMANAK LOS-ANGELES’ NEWSPAPER
AZG Armenian Daily
22/11/2006
The California based initiative group protests against conviction of
the editor of “Zhamanak Los Angeles” newspaper, Arman Babajanian. It’s
worth mentioning that Babajanian is convicted by the Armenian court.
The first instance court has sentenced Babajanian to 4 years in
imprisonment for “draft dodging” in October 2006.
The statement of the initiative group reminded that A. Babajanian was
convinced, according to the formulation of judges, for “violation of
RA Law on Compulsory Military Service” and under the Article 327 of
RA Criminal Code. Moreover, the document states that the sentence,
passed on Babajanian, cannot take force, since the Law envisages a
fine, while the RA CC – imprisonment. The document authors call to
change the restraint to Babajanian for a fine, “taking into account
that Arman Babajanian is a worthy son of his Motherland”.

RALLY PARTICIPANTS WANT TO “CLEAN” THE COUNTRY
A1+
[03:59 pm] 21 November, 2006
Today the residents of North Avenue, Buzand Street, the owners of
Dalma gardens and the representatives of various parties organised
a rally of protest opposite the President’s residence.
“A broom was swinging” beside Robert Kocharyan’s residence. Mrs. Klara
claimed that the broom “had been brought to clean the country”.
“Kocharyan, go away!” shouted over 100 citizens opposite the
president’s residence. Some of them had posters with the following
words, “Civil Disobedience”.
The rally participants divided into two groups; one group assembled
at the entrance of “Baghramian” metro station, the other – opposite
the president’s residence.
“Are they afraid of women?”, wondered Susanna Haroutyunuyan, member of
“Armenian Women” Council.
Former resident of North Avenue Gohar Asatryan was indignant at the
news that Robert Kocharyan wants Serge Sargsyan to be appointed in
his post. People want neither Robert Kocharyan nor Serge Sargsyan as
their president. “People don’t want to be ruled by robbers”.
Alongside with other claimed, the rally participants demanded the
authorities to vote down the bill on “Alienantion of Property for
State and Public Needs”.
Ruzanna Ohanyan, one of the residents of North Avenue says that this
is an appalling bill which will deprive her children of the right to
property in the future.
“My children still want to live in Armenia. They don’t want to abandon
Armenia and they want their property to be protected by law”.
By the way, today the police forces could keep the strikers away from
the president’s residence.
Hardly had the strikers gone away, when the gates opened and the OSCE
Minsk Group delegation entered the residence.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PEACE RESOLUTION ADOPTED
A1+
[06:00 pm] 21 November, 2006
Tigran Torosyan, RA NA Speaker, participated in the session of the
CIS Parliamentary Summit held in Saint Petersburg. Mr. Torosyan was
astonished at the haste of decision making. On the whole, the work
speed and the limited range of questions seemed strange to the speaker
of the National Assembly of Tigran Torosyan, who participated in the
meeting for the first time.
Ten laws were passed during the summit. Besides, the summit
participants celebrated the heads of the CIS member countries in
connection with the fifteenth anniversary of CIS.
Tigran Sargsyan later participated in the session of the PACE Standing
Committee. During the meeting a resolution on stability in the South
Caucasus was adopted.
According to the RA NA Speaker, there is a precedent of such a
resolution on the Balkan states. The resolution only sets down the
idea; a country does not assume any obligation. “To help countries
find common points on the shared purpose of membership to the EU
and set up relations on the basis of this shared purpose. For this
purpose, the countries are ready to improve their relations and make a
compromise to achieve the results that would enable implementing this
purpose.” Nevertheless, the resolution states that the countries of
the South Caucasus do not have prospects to enter the EU soon and,
therefore, it is proposed to create in the South Caucasus “a smaller
model of the EU and place it in the core of relations with these
countries.”
Tigran Torosyan considers the resolution important because the
European organizations are clearly defining their stipulations for
the countries on the track for European integration. “However, the
resolution is only a small part of the work. The resolutions need to
be implemented, for only in this way we can be hopeful that the goals
set in the resolution will be reached. There is still much more to do.”
There is no reference to inadmissibility of militaristic announcements
and rearmament.
The resolution is an attempt to create a small model of the EU where
the countries will have the same objectives and will co-operate in
this respect with the EU criteria.
Georgia had certain reservation in connection with the resolution and
Azerbaijan was against suchlike model of co-operation. Nevertheless,
the resolution was finally adopted. Provided the resolution works,
it will ensure peace and stability in the region.
Today Tigran Torosyan also spoke of his forthcoming visit to
Moscow. The Armenian and Russian parties will discuss the issues of
cooperation activization between the two countries’ parliaments. A
photo exhibition will also be held in the RA State Duma in connection
with the fifteenth anniversary of the Armenian independence.

ONLY 15 PERCENT TRUST NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
A1+
[07:52 pm] 21 November, 2006
“Data Collecting Initiative” held polling in Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Georgia in 2006. Over 120 participants were asked the same questions.
The survey was aimed at revealing the attitude and stance of the
residents of the three countries to the current reality.
A number of serious issues were aroused by “Data collecting
Initiative”. Why the number of male smokers is higher in Armenia
compared with the other countries of the region? It is noteworthy
that their number has recently lessened. Regardless of this fact,
currently it is higher than the indexes of Baku and Tbilisi.
Another important concern of the initiative was the following, “How
can you account for the people’s indifference and unawareness towards
the integration of their country into the NATO both in Armenia and
in Azerbaijan?”
Most of the participants (41 percent in Armenia and 35 percent in
Baku)couldn’t answer this question defineitly as they didn’t know
whether the membership to the NATO was necessary or not for their
country.
It was also found out that only 15 percent of Armenians trust the
National Assembly.

TOROSYAN SAYS NOT ONLY HHK VOTES INSTEAD OF FRIENDS
Panorama.am
15:20 21/11/06
Speaking about the recent voting on alienation of property for public
and state needs, Torosyan reiterated that there were not enough
deputies in the hall to adopt the bill. Explaining why he cancelled
the voting, Torosyan said he has followed the regulations. “It will
be so as long as I am heading the sessions,” he said.
Speaking about the talks that mainly republicans vote instead of their
friends, Torosyan said there are more deputies from the Republican
Party (HHK), that is why their acts are more visible.

PLENARY SESSION OF BSEC PA GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMENCED IN BAKU
Author: S.Agayeva
TREND, Azerbaijan
Nov 22 2006
“The Black Sea Economic Co-operation Parliamentary Assembly (BSEC
PA) may play a significant role in the restoration of peace and
stability in the region,” the letter from the Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev read and was forwarded to the participants of the 28th
Plenary Meeting of the BSEC PA General Assembly which opened in the
capital of Azerbaijan on 22 November.
The letter stated that the role of regional co-operation in ensuring
peace and stability is gradually increasing in the contemporary
world. From this point of view, the President of Azerbaijan
attaches great importance to the strengthening of the bilateral
and multilateral co-operation within the framework of BSEC PA. The
transnational projects have assisted in developing the organization,
Ilham Aliyev wrote.
The letter mentioned that the conflicts which exist in the region,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, are preventing the region to
prosper. The State Head voiced his confidence in the letter that the
political dialogues held within BSEC PA may assist in developing and
strengthening the peace and stability in the region.
The meeting of the BSEC PA General Assembly is presided by the Speaker
of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Oktay Asadov. On the first day of the
General Assembly, the working organizations of the Assembly, the Bureau
and the Permanent Committee, met to discuss the organizational issues
and consider the activities of the BSEC in the second half of 2006.
Opening the meeting, Oktay Asadov highlighted the great importance
of the organization in strengthening the co-operation amongst the
countries of the region. However, he regretfully emphasized the
negative role of the conflict situation existing in the region, and
voiced his confidence that they would be settled within international
principles.
The key topic of the discussions will be “Ways of increasing the
efficiency of the activities of the BSEC”. The Assembly will organize
debates on the report and recommendations prepared by the Special
Committee of the BSEC PA at the time of the autumn meeting. The report
“Alternative energy sources and their possible application in the Black
Sea region” will be delivered by Bulent Tanl (Turkey), on behalf of
the BSEC Committee for Economy, Trade, Technology & Ecology. Mircha
Chopraga (Romania) will deliver the report “Strengthening legislative
base on protection of the intellectual property” on behalf of the
Committee for Law and Policy. The report of the BSEC Committee
for Culture, Education & Social Affairs “Globalization process and
potential threats for the cultural diversity” will be delivered by
Olga Seliverstova (Russia).
Thereafter, the Assembly will confirm the recommendations on these
issues. In addition, the members of the Assembly will witness the
report regarding the activities of the Parliamentary Assembly and
will elect the Deputy Chairman of the BSEC PA.
At the conclusion of the Baku session, the Chairman of the Bulgarian
Popular Assembly, Georgi Pirinski, will accept the Chairmanship to
the BSEC PA until June 2007. The Next Assembly General will take
place in Sofia in June 2007.
The Baku session brings together the parliamentary delegations from
BSEC member-countries, Secretary General of the BSEC Permanent
International Secretariat and other BSEC organizations such as
International Center for Black Sea Researches and Network of
the Black Sea Universities. The observers and guests will be the
representatives of the National Assembly and Senate of France, Knesset
of Israel, European Commission, European Parliament, Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe, Belarusian National Assembly, CIS
Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, Parliamentary Assembly of Bulgaria and
Russia, Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Eurasian Economic Committee
and Parliamentary Union of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
member-countries.
Armenia is not represented in the meeting.
Created in 1993, the Assembly brings together the representatives of
the parliaments from 12 BSEC member-countries – Albania, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldavia, Romania, Russia,
Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine. The Popular Assembly of Egypt, French
Parliament, German Bundestag, Israeli Knesset, National Council of
Slovakia and National Assembly of Belarus have the status of observer
in the BSEC PA.