Month: March 2007

Genocide-lawsuit: A Turk convicted of Genocide denial

NRC Handelsblad (Dutch daily newspaper)
10 March 2007

Geneva 10 March. A Swiss court convicted a Turkish politician to a suspended
penalty of 90 days and ordered him to pay a fine of 3000 Swiss Franc,
because he denied the Turkish Genocide of the Armenians – which is a crime
in Switzerland. It is the first time that in Switzerland someone has been
punished for that offence. The convicted person is Dogu Perincek, leader of
the left-nationalist Turkish Workers’ Party, who in a speech in 2005 in
Lausanne called the genocide "an international lie". The judge called
Perincek an "arrogant instigator" an "a racist". The maximum he could have
been sentenced to was 3 years imprisonment (Reuters).

PRESS RELEASE
ARF Rosdom Gomide
5300 White Oak Ave.
Encino, CA 91316
Tel: 818-905 7551
Fax: 818-905 5501

ARF Rosdom Gomide, of San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, is 50 yrs
old. San Fernando valley Armenian Community Life was organized by the
first Armenian center in 1957 Encino California.

We will celebrate the 50Th anniversary of AF Rosdom Gomide this Sunday
March 18, 2007 at 6:00PM in Avedissian Hall, Ferrahian School, Encino,
California.

Keynote Speaker Vazken Madenlian
Cultural program available
Element band will perform
Hamazkayin dance group will dance
& Many More
Free Admission, Free coffee

Ungeragan Parevnerov

LE TRIBUNAL RECONNAîT LE GENOCIDE

Le Matin
10 mars 2007 samedi
Edition Semaine

PROCÈS. Le Turc Dogu Perincek a ete condamne hier pour discrimination
raciale a 90 jours-amende avec sursis

LAUSANNE
Première mondiale: le Tribunal de Lausanne admet l’existence
du genocide armenien. Condamne, Dogu Perincek a decide de faire
recourskGregoire gregoire. @edipresse.ch

"Le Tribunal tient pour etabli que le genocide armenien est un fait
avere, n’en deplaise a l’accuse. " Hier matin, pour condamner le Turc
negationniste Dogu Perincek, le juge Pierre-Henri Winzap a pese ses
mots, conscient de leur importance. Le Tribunal d’arrondissement de
Lausanne restera dans l’Histoire comme la première cour de justice
au monde a avoir reconnu sur le plan penal le genocide perpetre a
l’encontre des Armeniens dès 1915.

Dogu Perincek a ete condamne a 90 jours-amende (9000francs) avec un
sursis de deux ans, 3000francs d’amende ferme, 1000francs d’indemnites
pour tort moral a l’Association Suisse-Armenie et près de 16 000francs
de frais de procès a regler.

k"Raciste, arrogant et provocateur"

Pour statuer, le juge a entièrement suivi le requisitoire du
procureur. "L’entetement de M. Perincek est incomprehensible", a assene
Pierre-Henri Winzap, qualifiant l’accuse de "raciste", "arrogant" et
"provocateur". Un jugement qui n’a pas semble ebranler l’agitateur
negationniste. Dogu Perincek recidivait quelques minutes après le
verdict devant le Tribunal de Montbenon. "Je reste convaincu que le
genocide n’a pas eu lieu. Le juge n’etait pas neutre. Sa decision
est raciste et imperialiste. Il a montre sa haine contre la Turquie. "

Present a Lausanne pour suivre le procès, le consul general de Turquie
Cemil Karaman n’etait pas moins sceptique. "Un tribunal suisse
ne devrait pas se prononcer sur une affaire d’une telle ampleur",
notait le diplomate. L’ambassade de Turquie a Berne ne desirait,
elle, faire aucun commentaire hier. Dogu Perincek a confirme qu’il
recourrait contre sa condamnation jusqu’a la Cour europeenne des
droits de l’homme de Strasbourg si necessaire.

kEmotion et soulagement

Du côte armenien, Sarkis Shahinian a salue le jugement, "un pas
extremement important". A la lecture du verdict, le copresident de
l’Association Suisse-Armenie a difficilement contenu son emotion. "Je
ressens un gros soulagement. Je pense en premier lieu a mon père,
rescape du genocide armenien et mort il y a peu. Ainsi qu’a l’ancien
conseiller national genevois Jean-Claude Vaudroz decede mercredi,
l’initiateur de la reconnaissance du genocide en Suisse ".

–Boundary_(ID_TC3w0YBG4kElVJ1pXHLoFA)–

PRESS RELEASE
Office of California Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto)
CONTACT: MaryAlice Kaloostian
March 6, 2007
Tel: 559-253-7122

SENATOR COGDILL NAMES DEBBIE POOCHIGIAN AS 2007 WOMAN OF THE YEAR

(Sacramento)-Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto) named Debbie Poochigian of
Fresno as 2007 Woman of the Year for the 14th Senate District, in a
ceremony honoring all the Women of the Year in the Senate chambers
yesterday.
Debbie Poochigian is a life-long resident of Fresno County where her
family has farmed for three generations. She is the daughter of former
Fresno County Supervisor Deran Koligian, proud wife of former State
Senator Chuck Poochigian and loving mother of her children, Mark and his
wife Jennifer, Kirk, and Laura, and her grandson, Deran.
Debbie has provided stellar leadership as a member of numerous
charitable boards and civic committees. She is a participating member
of the Board of Directors of the CSU Fresno Alumni Association,
California Women for Agriculture, Fresno County Farm Bureau, Henry
Madden Library Leadership Board at CSU Fresno, and Secret Garden Party
Committee for the Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children’s
Literature at CSU Fresno. Additionally, she has been a member of the
Board of Trustees at Saint Agnes Medical Center, Board of Directors of
Fresno Area Crime Stoppers, Board of Directors of the Fresno County and
City Historical Society, and Ag One Tribute Committee to establish the
Bill Jones Leadership Development Program. Recently, she also served as
Co-chair of the CSU Fresno Alumni Association Homecoming Tailgate and
Co-chair of the 1999 Civil War Reenactment 10th Anniversary Gala hosted
by the Historical Society. Debbie’s commitment and dedication is also
apparent in her faith life. She has kept herself immensely busy
teaching Sunday school for most of the past 30 years and is a past
Sunday school superintendent.
"Debbie Poochigian embodies what a Woman of the Year should be," said
Cogdill. "She has devoted herself to philanthropic causes and has made
considerable contributions to her community. It was a privilege for me
to honor her this way. She is a terrific example of how one person can
make such a profound impact on a community through leadership and
dedication."
Please see page 2 for photos from the ceremony.
Senator Cogdill proudly represents part or all of the counties of
Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne.

Panorama.am

15:48 08/03/2007

PRESIDENT WISHES WOMEN CHARM AND BEAUTY

President Robert Kocharyan sent a greeting address on the day of
women.

`Dear women, I congratulate you on the Day of Women. Women have a
great role in the development of our society, especially in education,
culture and health. The inclusion of women in the political and
social life is increasing day by day.

I especially congratulate all mothers who are the pillars of families
and the transmitters of our century-long traditions and universal
values. Motherly love and exactingness ensure the formation of
patriotic and educated generation.

Congratulating on this beautiful day of March 8, I wish you always to
be charming and surrounded with love and warmth,’ the message says.

Source: Panorama.am

PRESS RELEASE
Haigazian University
Mira Yardemian – Public Relations Director
Rue Mexique – Kantari
P.O. Box 11-1748
Riad El-Solh 1107 2090
Beirut – Lebanon

Beirut, 08/03/2007

Haigazian University Honors Lebanese Armenian School Principals

"It’s a well known fact that today’s knowledge and education go global.
However, the genuine Armenian education, spirit and identity should remain
the core, and be the central axis of education of Armenian youngsters,
amidst the wave of globalization", said Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, President
of Haigazian University, acknowledging the threat of losing the vital
Armenian core of values in our society.

The President’s talk came during an intimate dinner, on March the 7th,
2007, hosting the Armenian school principals in Lebanon, on the occasion of
Teachers’ Day.
This unprecedented event gathered 26 principals, who eagerly accepted
President Haidostian’s invitation, to meet each other and share issues
oftheir common career and mission.

The program started with a welcoming word, by Mira Yardemian, Public
Relations Director at the University, who considered educators historically
as highly regarded people in our society, almost as important as the
clergy. That’s why everywhere they went, they made sure they had their
church first and the school next, both deemed necessary for their unity and
survival.
"Nowadays challenges for Armenian educators are even harder than before, as
they have to be very competitive in world education, in spite of their less
lucrative compensation and limited possibilities", noted Yardemian.

Following a poem, the "Educator", of Taniel Varoujan, eloquently recited by
Haigazian student Araz Ladoyan, President Haidostian addressed the
audience, highlighting the Armenian students’ academic success, by
providing numbers and percentages.
60% of students placed on the Dean’s list (i.e. and average between 85 and
90) are Armenians. Moreover, during the past four years, 75% of students on
the President’s list (i.e. an average above 90) are of Armenian origin,
whereas only 50% of the overall student body is Armenian. Haidostian
considered these results as the best gift to offer to Armenian schools,
principals and teachers on the occasion of Teacher’s Day. He also shared
news about the financial aid offered by Haigazian University to needy
Armenian students, reaching to almost 3 million US dollars during the past
5 years.

Before departure, guests received beautiful office frames, specially
designed for the occasion, quoting a selection of Siamanto’s poem, The
Prayer of the Saint, which presents the educator’s humility and nobleness.

Azerbaijani FM to meet with Condoleezza Rice

ArmRadio.am
10.03.2007 14:10

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov will pay an official visit to
the United States March 20-23. Mammadyarov told Turan correspondent that his
meeting with the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will take place on
22 March. In the framework of the visit the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister will
have a number of other meetings and will hold negotiations in Washington. The
visit will take place at the official invitation of Condoleezza Rice.

Ukraine and Georgia will only Benedit from NATO membership, Ukrainian
diplomat considers

ArmRadio.am
10.03.2007 14:25

`I think that both Ukraine and Georgia, and later also Azerbaijan will
only benefit from NATO membership,’ Ukrainian Ambassador to Azerbaijan
Stepan Volkovetski told Day.Az. He said he does not share the opinion
of the Ukrainian people, who oppose the accession to NATO. `Simply,
some political forces in Ukraine dispute this question, and those
forces which are struggling for joining the alliance consider that the
population is not properly presented all the advantages of NATO
membership, which allows to use this factor for political objectives,’
the Ambassador said.

He noted that Ukraine has no way other than integration into European
and Euro-Atlantic structures. `And I think that despite some
obstacles, Ukraine will join the alliance in the near future,’ said
the diplomat.

NEVER GIVE UP FIGHTING GENOCIDE IN DARFUR
Lilit Hovakimyan

The Coloradoan, CO
March 10 2007

My heart is paining for those who had lived their whole lives in
peace and who wanted to die in peace, for those who were so young
and had so many plans for the future, for those who would have so
much to tell and who’d just learned to say "Mother." Is it fair?

No, it is not just. I know what it means. Genocide. Even hearing
this word, I tremble. This word fills the heart of a 16-year-old
girl with hatred. A question that doesn’t leave my mind alone is,
"Why? For what?" The answer is simple: "Why not?"

I am talking from a name of a whole nation. From the name of parents
who saw their children burning in the fire, from the name of husbands
who saw their wives being raped and from the names of children getting
killed when they were still under their mothers’ hearts.

I am crying while putting down what I feel on this sheet of paper.

Yes, I am crying because I knowa 16-year-old girl and her thoughts
or feelings cannot stop it. But I know one thing for sure. We cannot
change the past, but the future is in our hands. We learn from the
past and bring it to the future. If we all fight and never give up,
there will come a day of triumph.

I would do everything to make that day tomorrow. I could even give
my life, but. …

My mind, my body and my soul can understand a genocide that took place
in 1915 at some points. But people, open your eyes there are hundreds
of people being killed every day. There are people that fall asleep
without any hopes that they will wake up next morning. I am talking
about Darfur, a region in Sudan where all these inhumane things take
place. More than 16.000 Africans were killed in the last two years. In
front of our eyes. Don’t people see or understand that common people
are very important?

What can we do to stop it?

I know that a 16-year-old girl has so much to see and to learn, but
I still think that sometimes we need to get used to the idea that we
cannot have everything. We just cannot.

I am asking you in the name of all the children that were killed in
Darfur. People, please, stop for just a second and think about all
this. Think about the people that could be your parents, sisters,
brothers, husbands. …

Smile at the world and the world will smile back. Never give up.

Lilit Hovakimyan is a FLEX exchange student from Armenia. She is a
junior, attending Rocky Mountain High School.

rticle?AID=/20070310/OPINION04/703100321

PAIR FINED FOR THREATENING ARMENIAN PATRIARCH

The New Anatolian, Turkey
March 10 2007

Two men were yesterday fined for sending threatening messages to
Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II Mutafyan via their mobile phones.

After being released pending trial, Gokmen Akman and Hasan Ezer were
not present at the hearing at the Istanbul Second Criminal Court
of Peace.

The presiding judge commuted the men’s jail sentences to fines. The
court ordered Akman to pay YTL 1,287, while Ezer was fined to YTL 77.

According to the indictment prepared by Istanbul Public Prosecutor
Kadir Nazmi Yelkenci, Akman and Ezer were accused of sending
threatening messages to Mutafyan on Oct. 13, 2004 that said, "If
you can’t protect your head, there’s no use in trying to escape,"
"We’ll drive you mad," and "We’ll finish you."

Another threat against Mutafyan

On Thursday two people were arrested for shooting into the air after
a ceremony held on Sunday at the Mother Mary Church to commemorate
the death of Hrant Dink. One of the suspects, Volkan Karaova, stated
during interrogation that he went to the church to assassinate
Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II Mutafyan. Brought before the Istanbul
Judicial Court, Karaova stated that he didn’t fire a shot in the air,
but went to the church to kill Mesrob II.