Month: April 2007

KOCHARYAN RECEIVED EZATOLLAH ZARGHAMI

A1+
[08:41 pm] 18 April, 2007

April 18, 2007-RA President Robert Kocharian received Ezatollah
Zarghami , president of the Radio and Television Broadcasting
Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The parties dwelt on the on-going bilateral relations and noted that
the collaboration gradually expands and involves new spheres.

In this view, Robert Kocharian underlined the importance of the
television as a bridge between the two countries and an inadmissible
part of the Armenia-Iran cultural-historical heritage. The cornerstone
of the mutual beneficial cooperation is the provision of large-scale
and verified information to the public, which will give a chance
to know each other better and get familiarized with the traditions,
customs and cultures of the two countries deeper.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OMBUDSMAN SAYS PSRC OVERSTEPS ITS REGULATORY FUNCTIONS

Panorama.am
20:51 18/04/2007

The Armenian Human Rights Ombudsman Armen Harutunyan released his
official disposition concerning Decision 140 adopted by Public Services
Regulatory Committee (PSRC). According to the decision, persons who buy
prepaid mobile cards must sign a contract and attach an identity card
to it. The ombudsman accepts that the committee was guided by public
good and national security considerations but he says "the committee
has overstepped its regulatory functions." Harutunyan believes that
the issue must be regulated by law and not by a committee decision.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE REJECTS APPLICATION ON PASSPORT COLLECTION

Panorama.am
21:26 18/04/2007

Central Electoral Committee (CEC) has sent applications to the police,
prosecutor’s office and territorial administration ministry concerning
cases of passport collection by different political parties.

Garegin Azaryan, CEC chairman, said only the prosecutor’s office has
sent a reply. The office has said "the applications are out of facts."

In the words of Garegin Azaryan, CEC has rejected the application,
signed by New Times Party, Republic Party and Impeachment, which
offers to broadcast political advertisement at a later time. Azaryan
said the application was not "well grounded."

COLORADO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTS THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

ArmRadio.am
19.04.2007 10:18

The entire Colorado congressional delegation unanimously supports the
House and Senate Armenian Genocide Resolutions, reports the Armenian
Assembly of America.

Congressman Mark Udall (D) was the first member of the Colorado
congressional delegation to cosponsor this bipartisan resolution,
followed by Representatives Marilyn Musgrave (R), Diana DeGette
(D), Doug Lamborn (R), Ed Perlmutter (D) and John Salazar (D). Also,
Thomas Tancredo (R), pledged to the Assembly that he will sign on as a
cosponsor of H. Res. 106. In addition, Senators Wayne Allard (R) and
Ken Salazar (D) are supporters of the Armenian Genocide Resolution,
S. Res. 106.

The Assembly’s Colorado ARAMAC (Armenian American Action Committee)
State Chair Pamela Barsam Brown has been working closely with the
offices of the state’s lawmakers.

"Colorado’s Senators and Representatives have been wonderful in
their tremendous support of reaffirmation of the U.S. record of the
Armenian Genocide," said Barsam Brown. "We hope other states will
follow Colorado’s example."

In addition to congressional support, the Armenian Genocide has
also been acknowledged at the state and municipal governmental
levels. Governor Bill Ritter of Colorado and Mayor John Hickenlooper
of Denver have both issued proclamations on the Armenian Genocide.

The Colorado State legislature has also issued a joint resolution
sponsored by State Senators Stephanie Takis and Lois Tochtrop and State
Representative Michael Garcia, stating that "Remembrance of April 24,
2007 and every April 24th hereafter as Colorado Day of Remembrance
of the Armenian Genocide."

"We greatly appreciate the active support of the entire Colorado
delegation in affirming the incontestable fact of the Armenian
Genocide," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "We applaud
the activism and dedication of Pamela Barsam Brown and the Colorado
Armenian community for this achievement."

INAUGURATION OF KHACHKAR IN NORWAY

ArmRadio.am
19.04.2007 11:01

On April 21, 2007 a katchkar monument will be placed in Bergen, Norway
dedicated to Fridtjof Nansen and the victims of the 1915Armenian
Genocide perpetrated by Turks, independent correspondent Jean Eckian
informs from France.

In its book "Armenia and the Near East" (1923), Nansen once wrote
"The massacres that started in 1915 have nothing to compare with
the history of mankind. The massacres by Abdul Hamid are minor in
comparison to what today’s Turks have done."

The initiative comes from The Armenian Society of Kaunas District in
Lithuania. When Vahan Arzumanian the head of this Society presented the
project in the annual meeting of the Assembly of Armenians of Europe
(AAE), all the participants decided to collaborate with the organizers.

Bergen is the kingdom’s second largest city, with over 225 000
inhabitants and situated on the west coast of Norway.

SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON AND SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID COSPONSOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

ArmRadio.am
19.04.2007 11:22

Two of the US most prominent Senators – Majority Leader Harry Reid
(D-NV) and leading 2008 Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (D-NY)
– agreed to cosponsor S.Res.106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution,
reports the Armenian National Committee of America.

"We’re very gratified that two prominent national leaders – Hillary
Clinton and Harry Reid – agreed today to join with a growing number
of their Senate colleagues in supporting the passage of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "As
the growth in cosponsors demonstrates, this anti-genocide measure
clearly enjoys the support of a broad, bipartisan majority in both
houses of Congress."

The Senate resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide was introduced
last month by Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and
Senator John Ensign (R-NV). The measure is a companion to US House
resolution, H.Res.106, introduced by Representatives Adam Schiff
(D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA), Congressional Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), and Foreign
Affairs Committee members Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Thaddeus McCotter
(R-MI). With the addition this week of Tim Bishop (D-NY), Bruce Braley
(D-IA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Duncan Hunter
(R-CA), David Reichart (R-WA), John Salazar (D-CO), and Tom Tancredo
(R-CO), the House measure currently has over 190 cosponsors.

Joining Senators Durbin and Ensign as cosponsors of the Armenian
Genocide resolution are Wayne Allard (R-CO), Barbara Boxer (D-CA),
Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Hillary Clinton (D-NY),
Norm Coleman (R-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Christopher Dodd (D-CT),
Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Russell Feingold (D-WI), Dianne Feinstein
(D-CA), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), John Kerry (D-MA),
Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Carl Levin (D-MI),
Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Robert Menendez
(D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI), Harry Reid (D-NV), Ken Salazar (D-CO),
Charles Schumer (D-NY), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI),
John Sununu (R-NH), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

In a powerful speech on the Senate floor, Senator Bararba Boxer, a
long-standing and energetic champion of Armenian Genocide recognition,
stressed that she is "proud to be an original co-sponsor of Senator
Richard Durbin’s Senate Resolution 106. The California legislator,
speaking to her Senate colleagues, argued forcefully that, "We must
recognize the genocide because it’s the right thing to do. We must
recognize the Armenian Genocide to help shed light on the darkness
and move toward a more humane world."

LATVIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
19.04.2007 11:41

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Artis Pabriks will arrive
in Armenia tonight.

In the framework of the visit the Mr. Pabriks is scheduled to have
meetings with the leadership of Armenia. The meetings will take place
on April 20. The morning of April 21 the Foreign Minister of Latvia
will leave Yerevan.

Let us remind that Mr. Pabriks is visiting Armenia as part of his
regional visit.

YEREVAN AMERICAN CORNER, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US EMBASSY, LAUNCHES WEBSITE

ArmRadio.am
19.04.2007 13:13

On April 19, the Yerevan American Corner, in partnership
with the US Embassy in Armenia, launched its website:
yerevan.americancorners.am. The bilingual English-Armenian webpage
provides information about the American Corner’s mission, services,
and upcoming events. It also includes an electronic database of the
resources available at the American Corners in Armenia, allowing
patrons to search for materials on the web.

American Corners are small American-style libraries located throughout
the world that help increase mutual understanding between the
United States and the host country. A network of about 400 American
Corners is operating globally through partnerships between the US
Department of State and local host organizations. American Corners
provide information about America in a variety of formats, including
reference books, works of fiction, journals, and videos.

These resources focus on such topics as studying in the United States,
American society, US history, conducting business in the United States,
and English as a Second Language. The Corners also provide computers
with Internet access, and offer a variety of public programs including
speakers and workshops.

The American Corners are open to the general public and access is
free of charge.

There are currently two American Corners in Armenia-one in the Yerevan
City Central Library and the other in the Gyumri Branch of the Armenian
Center for Scientific and Technological Information. The US Embassy
hopes to open additional Corners in Armenia in the future. American
Corner Yerevan officially opened on April 20, 2005. This Corner
currently houses four computers with Internet access and over 800
books. Over 20,000 patrons visited the American Corner in Yerevan
within the last two years. The Corner also holds a variety of public
events, including movie showings, presentations by Armenians who
have lived or studied in the United States as part of the "Armenian
at the American Corner" series, and lectures by an American every
third Saturday of the month as part of the "American at the American
Corner" series.

WHICH NEWSPAPERS GET ASSISTANCE FROM GOVERNMENT?
Anahit Danielyan

KarabakhOpen
19-04-2007 13:10:03

This year 15 newspapers got the grant of the NKR government against
14 newspapers of the previous year. However, some newspapers did not
get the grant.

According to Michael Gasparyan, the head of the social department of
the government, the newspapers which are financed from abroad are not
eligible for the grant. It turned out that the only such newspaper
is the Demo Public Newspaper.

The other two newspapers are online newspapers (one of them is
KarabakhOpen.com), which were not considered eligible for the
grant. Michael Gasparyan said in an interview with us that the number
of electronic newspapers has gone up, and it is impossible to finance
all of them. At the same time, he advised to monitor the Internet
newspapers and come up with a proposal next year.

This year 15 newspapers got the grant on a government decision. Each
newspaper gets 800 thousand drams, the total funding is 13 million
drams. The newspapers were divided into several types. 6 newspapers
are included in the literary, cultural, scientific type. Murad
Petrosyan’s "Chto Delat" is in the " print media in the language
of ethnic minorities" type, in the "public and political" type the
Aparazh, the Akunk, the Hayrenik, the Communist of Artsakh, the Trade
Unions got the grant.

By the way, Michael Gasparyan said next year the party newspapers
will not be financed by the government.

GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER PROCLAIMS DAYS OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

KarabakhOpen
19-04-2007 13:10:03

Proclamation

Between the years 1915 and 1923, during the chaos of World War I,
over one million Armenian men, women and children living within the
Ottoman Empire’s borders were killed; forcing hundreds of thousands
of Armenians to flee to foreign countries after being stripped of
their possessions, their nationalidentities and their homeland.

Scores fled to the United States, and California was fortunate to
become home to one of the largest populations of Armenians outside the
Republic of Armenia. Many of California’s Armenian-American families
are the descendents of these ,courageous genocide survivors, whose hope
for a life independent war and violence was realized on our soil. Like
their family members before them, the Armenian-American community
bravely flourished and contributed much to our state and nation.

Documented as the first instance of genocide in the twentieth century,
the Armenian Genocide remains unacknowledged to this day. I strongly
echo the sentiments that all nations must examine their own painful
histories, as the denial of genocide further wounds a nation’s
ability to heal. Though over ninety years have passed since these
mass killings took place, present day atrocities resonate throughout
the world. It is our responsibility to recognize the brutalslayings
of so many innocents, remembering their suffering and vowing to help
prevent future genocides.

I join California’s Armenian-American communities and all Armenians
worldwide in remembering those who were killed and persecuted during
the Armenian Genocide, and urge people throughout the world to never
forget these horrific crimes against humanity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of
California, do hereby proclaim the week of April 22nd – April 29th,
2007, as "Days of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide."

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have here unto set my hand and caused the Great
Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 6th day of April
2007.

Arnold Schwarzenegger GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA