Month: April 2007

RUSSIA, ARMENIA ACHIEVE CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS IN COOPERATION – FM

ITAR-TASS, Russia
April 19 2007

YEREVAN, April 18 (Itar-Tass) — Russia and Armenia have achieved
considerable success in the development of political, economic,
and humanitarian cooperation over a short period of time, Armenian
Deputy Foreign Minister Gegam Garibdzhanyan said on Wednesday.

While opening a photo exhibition dedicated to the 15th anniversary of
diplomatic relations between Russia and Armenia, Garibdzhanyan said,
"As we speak about fifteen years of diplomatic relations, we are
taking into account centuries-long ties of friendship, cooperation,
and partnership between the two countries."

The exhibition, which was opened at Yerevan’s House of Moscow, "shows
the history of relations between Russia and its closest strategic
partner, Armenia," Russian Ambassador to Armenia Nikolai Pavlov said.

"We have witnessed most of the events that are registered in
photographs – the Year of Russia in Armenia, the Year of Armenia
in Russia, as well as mutual visits of the Russian and Armenian top
officials," Pavlov said, stressing, "This is living history that we
can touch today."

MARKING MURDER: EVENTS COMMEMORATE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By Carl Kozlowski

Pasadena Weekly, CA
April 19 2007

The 1915 genocide in which more than 1.5 million Armenians were killed
by the Turkish Ottoman Empire stands as one of the darkest episodes
in human history. And thanks to the efforts of the tens of thousands
of Armenian emigrants who have settled in Glendale, Pasadena and
throughout the Los Angeles area, that senseless slaughter will never
be forgotten.

But in their efforts to spur an official recognition of the genocide
and an official condemnation of the Turkish government by Congress,
the local community has faced a couple of major roadblocks.

First, Congress has continually rebuffed the efforts of Pasadena
Democratic US Rep. Adam Schiff to formally recognize the genocide.

And Glendale city government leaders have continued to back off from
the bold stand it took in 2000, when it flew the US flag at half-mast
to mark the occasion.

"I wasn’t involved in the council’s decisions yet in 2000, but
the controversy over whether flying half-mast violated the US Flag
Code caused an argument that distracted from the main purpose of
our efforts," recalled Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian, who at the time
was a community activist who had yet to be elected. "Now we offer a
number of programs to commemorate the genocide in two different ways,
focusing on the Armenian genocide itself while also marking other
genocides that have continued to occur, such as in Darfur."

In an exclusive statement to the Weekly, Schiff pressed again for
his case that the Turkish atrocities must be recognized as genocide
in order to help avoiding their repetition by other governments in
the future.

"I have introduced a resolution in the House that would recognize the
Armenian Genocide, and the United States has a compelling historical
and moral reason to pass the resolution," wrote Schiff. "But we also
have a powerful contemporary reason as well – how can we take effective
action against the genocide in Darfur if we lack the will to condemn
genocide whenever and wherever it occurs? With the new leadership in
Congress, I am hopeful we can finally get this resolution passed."

Glendale Councilman Bob Yousefian noted that the city’s week of planned
events includes not only discussion groups, but also a blood drive
on April 22, as well as an elaborate memorial at the Alex Theatre.

"The first portion is dedicated to all the genocides of the 20th
century, and the latter portion is entertainment and deals with the
Armenian genocide," said Yousefian. "We also received a proclamation
from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and will be shown at that time and
there will be another proclamation from the mayor on that day also."

For those interested in taking part in other activities throughout
the week, here are a few prime events:

Youth Rally for Recognition at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Pasadena
Armenian Center, 740 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena.

Blood Drive at 11 a.m. Sunday at St. Mary’s Church, 500 S. Central
Ave., Glendale.

Seventh annual Genocide Commemoration of Over Nine Decades of Denial
at 7 p.m. Monday at Glendale High School, 1440 E. Broadway, Glendale.

March in Little Armenia at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the corner of Hollywood
Blvd. and N. Hoba Blvd. in Hollywood.

Armenian Genocide Remembrance: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Alex Theatre,
216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Free.

Protest demanding recognition of the Armenian Genocide at 4 p.m.

Tuesday at the Turkish Consulate, 6300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.

MALATYA ATTACK IS NOT THE REAL FACE OF TURKEY

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
April 19 2007

Turkey was stunned by the news of an abhorrent act that came from
the southeastern city of Malatya, just as it was in the midst of
developments surrounding the presidential election, with the world
watching Turkey.

The three victims were found with their throats slit — the motive
for which has not yet been revealed — at a publishing house that
prints books for missionary work. Phrases such as "hair-raising"
do not adequately describe such an incident.

The confusion, sorrow and anger we felt in the face of this incident
poured from our mouths. "This is not the real face of Turkey; the
traditions and culture of the Turks do not set the stage for such
brutal acts," we want to say. No matter what the motive behind this
abhorrent act is, the massacre of three people, including a German
citizen, at a publishing house can never be reconciled with the values
of Turkishness, Islam or humanity.

It is essential not to look at this issue independent from the
political debates that Turkey has been undergoing recently. While the
possible presidency of a party leader who has a religious background
has been heatedly debated, suspicions that a religious president could
divert Turkey from its secular path have been pumped into the minds of
both the Turkish public and the world. It seems that certain circles
in question thought committing such an abhorrent act would be the best
way to strengthen and consolidate those suspicions in people’s minds.

Although such suspicions should be laid to rest when the acts of the
AK Party over the four-and-a-half years are taken into consideration,
an environment of apprehension was created both at home and abroad
about whether Turkey is being diverted from secularism. The world
has begun to follow developments in Turkey more closely from this
point of view. This brutal act, which has taken place at a time
when apprehension about secularism has reached its highest level,
must have been designed as the strongest way to strengthen suspicion
about Turkey’s secularism when the identity and activities of the
victims are taken into account.

There is no solid information about the motives of the perpetrators of
this brutal act for the time being, but it is necessary to evaluate
this incident as the last in of a series of incidents aimed at
non-Muslims or non-Muslim men of religion in Turkey. Although the way
this brutal act has been committed is similar to the brutal acts done
by the terrorist organization Hezbollah in the late 1990s, it seems
more likely that the incident in Malatya was motivated by rising
neo-nationalist and xenophobic fears rather than religious circles.

The fact that no trace of religious circles were found behind the
murders of Catholic priest Andrea Santoro, who was killed by a teenager
in Trabzon in February 2006, or in the murder of Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink, again by a teenager, in January at least give
some idea about the non-involvement of religious circles in these
incidents. It cannot be a coincidence that evidence gathered from
all three of these incidents point to the neo-nationalist, xenophobic
and protectionist circles.

Despite the widespread view, it is important to note that reactions
to missionary work have always come from circles that have nothing to
do with religiosity instead of groups related to Islam or known as
religious in Turkey. It would be a serious mistake to put the blame
on the shoulders of Muslim groups for the attacks on missionaries
in Turkey.

Apart from a few marginal groups, it is not possible to come across
either feelings of hatred among Muslims against non-Muslims or attacks
targeting them. Nevertheless, we have seen in recent months that ÝP
leader Doðu Perincek or Rahþan Ecevit, an important name from the DSP,
whose connections to religion are a bit controversial, put missionary
work in their sights in an attempt to yield political gains.

The AK Party government has opened up to the outside world in order
to overcome confusion at home and in so doing has consolidated its
place in Turkish politics. It seems that some are now trying to
render this political opening unsuccessful with provocations that
have some connection to the outside world by resorting to the opposite
method. They do not show the slightest hesitation to realize a horrible
act in order to achieve their goals.

Neither Turkey nor the Turkish public, which has internalized the
belief of living together, deserve to be associated with such brutal
acts.

–Boundary_(ID_ywel4bWo2ziHoTwsTi5Fz Q)–

HIV/AIDS EXAMINATION MUST BE PART OF MEDICAL MONITORING CULTURE IN ARMENIA

Arka News Agency, Armenia
April 18 2007

YEREVAN, April 18. /ARKA/. Examination for and consultations on
HIV/AIDS must be part of medical monitoring culture, Director of the
Republican Center for HIV/AIDS Prevention Samvel Grigoryan stated at
a CIS conference on improvement of access to testing and consultation
systems.

According to him, the HIV/AIDS situation has considerably improved
in Armenia over the last ten years, and the number of examined people
has doubled. "Our present-day task is to enlarge the geographic range
of testing and consultation stations in Armenia," he said.

Grigoryan pointed out that specialists should encourage active
consultations on HIV/AIDS. "Medical specialists must provide necessary
information to the population and encourage testing among specific
risk groups," he said.

In this context, Grigoryan reported that HIV/AIDS prevention and
treatment are free in Armenia. "According to the latest data, 52
people currently receive treatment, eight of them being women and
three children," he said.

By March 1, 2007, a total of 155 testing and consultation stations had
been operating in Armenia against three in 2003. A total of 58,077
people were examined at the centers in 2006 against 49,261 in 2005
and 17,054 in 2000. In 2006, 66 HIV/AIDS cases were revealed among
the patients against 75 in 2005 and 29 in 2000.

A total of 448 HIV patients had been registered in Armenia by March 1,
2007, 32 (76.3%) of them males, 106 (23.7%) females and nine children
(2%).

Of these, 164 were diagnosed as having AIDS – 31 women, five
children. Forty-six of the cases were recorded in 2006 and 13 in 2007.

Since 1998, when the first HIV/AIDS case was recorded in Armenia, to
March 1, 2007, 104 lethal outcomes have been registered – 82 males,
19 women and three children.

The assessment of the HIV/AIDS situation in Armenia shows that the
number of HIV-infected people reaches 2,800.

The CIS conference on improvement of access to high-quality testing
and consultation as the most important condition for universal
access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, medical and social aid
to HIV/AIDS patients has been opened in Yerevan today. Among the
participants in the conference, which is to last until April 20, are
over 60 representatives of CIS countries, European states, including
Switzerland and Great Britain.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA, RUSSIA MAKE GREAT PROGRESS IN BILATERAL RELATIONS OVER LAST 15 YEARS

Arka News Agency, Armenia
April 18 2007

YEREVAN, April 18. /ARKA-Novosti-Armenia/. Armenia and Russia have
made great progress in their political, economic and humanitarian
cooperation over the last 15 years, RA Deputy Foreign Minister Gegham
Gharibjanyan stated at the opening ceremony for the photo exhibition
"Russia and Armenia: 15 years of diplomatic relations" organized by
the RIA Novosti.

He pointed out that the bilateral diplomatic r5elations are evidence of
Armenian-Russian centuries-old friendship, cooperation and partnership.

Gharibjanyan also pointed out that the two nations have deepened their
mutual respect over the last 15 years. In this context, he stressed
that no exhibition can cover the scope of bilateral relations.

"It is a happy fact that all the stages of Armenian-Russian cooperation
are being displayed at the exhibition," he said.

"We attach high importance to relations with Russia. We are strategic
partners, and the last 15 years have shown that Armenia and Russia
are not deviating from the course of cooperation they chose,"
Gharibjanyan said.

The exhibition has been organized by the Russian Agency of
International Information "RIA Novosti" on the occasion of the 15th
anniversary of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Russia. The
exhibition will be open at the Moscow Palace in Yerevan until April
25. About 60 best works of photographers of the "RIA Novosti" Agency
of all generations are being displayed at the exhibition.

The Russian Agency of International Information "RIA Novosti" is
one of the largest journalist structures in Russia. The news agency
provides information to both domestic and foreign markets.

TURKISH JEWS TO APPEAL US CONGRESS ON RESOLUTION

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
April 18 2007

Several Jewish groups are relaying to Congress a letter from the
Turkish Jewish community advocating against a resolution based on
Armenian allegations of genocide, according to reports.

The resolution was presented to the US House of Representatives
earlier this year, though the timing of the vote has yet to be
decided. Turkey has warned that passage of the resolution would harm
strategic relations with the US and undermine cooperation in key
regions across the world, in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere. "Turks
want Jewish groups to advocate against the resolution, but only one
group, the Jewish Institute of National Security Affairs, has done
so," an online news portal called The Global News Service of the
Jewish People (JTA) reported earlier this week.

"Other Jewish groups, mindful of the history of Holocaust revisionism,
do not want to deny Armenians the opportunity to commemorate their
own genocide, which Israeli researchers have said was a precursor to
the Holocaust. So in a compromise, the American Jewish Committee,
Anti-Defamation League and B’nai B’rith International will relay
the Turkish Jewish letter to Congress later this week, but will not
necessarily endorse it," the report said.

Meanwhile in Ankara Foreign Ministry spokesman Levent Bilman
dismissed certain criticism alleging that the Foreign Ministry was
not sufficiently active against recognition of Armenian allegations.

"Those criticisms are unfair," he said.

"Decisions made at local level, however, are achieved through policies
pursued by local interest groups," Bilman said in an apparent reference
to influential Armenian lobby’s efforts.

TAKE OUT YOUR GUNS, ARMENIANS ARE COMING
Miguna Miguna

The East African Standard (Nairobi)
April 19 2007

Take out your guns, cock and aim. The ghosts are back. The Armenians
are coming very soon, or so the one calling himself Artur Margaryan
says, guns, gold rings, wedding bells, flowers and all.

And he has issued a stern warning: No one and nothing can stop him!

That is chilling, particularly if we recall how this bizarre story
started in March, last year.

Remember the uncountable automatic and semi-automatic guns in their
Runda hideout? Remember the military fatigues; the surveillance
equipment; the tens of fake and authentic government and diplomatic
license plates; the millions of currency in numerous denominations;
the partying; the women; the vicious dogs; the storming of Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport and all?

Forget about pulling out handcuffs. The Armenians are big boys. They
have formidable friends perched higher up in all sectors of our
society.

With Deputy Police Commissioner designations, passes to all areas in
our airports, diplomatic number plates and assortment of sophisticated
weaponry and surveillance equipment, they can choose to slither
or romp, Rambo style, through our borders, a mere policeman cannot
actually effect an arrest on either of them. To do that, we would
need the real kahuna, with his medals and rank.

The last time the ghosts turned JKIA upside down; slapping and
threatening policemen, custom workers and ordinary Kenyans while armed,
our Police Commissioner went missing in action. Even after issuing
threats to the minister for Internal Security, nothing happened.

We are not talking about audacity here. We are talking complete
impunity.

Looking at the recent media reports and pictures, Kenyans must steel
themselves for one long week. For starters, Margaryan, or James,
if we take Winnie Wangui Mwai’s very personal knowledge of the most
menacing ghost of the two, has promised to come here for one week
before heading off to Dubai and Armenia.

No, Margaryan is not just coming to get married publicly on Kenyan
soil in defiance of all diplomatic, local and international law;
he is also coming here to expose some "powerful ministers" in the
Kibaki Government that allegedly wanted to bribe and hire him to
assassinate prominent members of our opposition.

A tell-all book has also been brewed and ready for serving. The
Armenian is pissed off with everyone except Wangui, and he is
threatening fire and brimstone. This is big deal.

Based on information from the "Armenians’ expert", Raila Odinga,
the ghosts are supposed to be here already. Indicators suggest that
Raila might well be right again. Let’s examine the evidence.

First, the last time the Armenians were here, the Standard Group was
invaded and their employees terrorised by hooded thugs. The company’s
equipment was trashed.

And yet, after this brazen invasion that breached every single
fundamental right and law that the Constitution enshrines, Mr John
Michuki publicly admitted that the invasion was a Government project
that he had ordered because the Standard Group intended to publish
information that would have violated "security matters."

Compare that picture with what we have now.

At the beginning, two weeks ago, was Ms Wangui Mwai declaring that
she is in love with Margrayan, plans to wed and have children with
him. Almost instantaneously came Margrayan’s confirmation, with
salacious pictures to boot. For the first time, Kenyans watched
in disbelief as both Wangui and Margrayan clung onto each other,
cuddled and kissed in water.

Secondly, like the first time, the Armenians announced their entry
through the Standard Group. All the pictures and interviews we have
seen so far have been exclusively disclosed through The Standard. And
like previously, it is The Standard that has borne the brunt of
Government brutality.

Third, even though Wangui has given interviews in which she has
detailed her relationship with the Armenians, no warrant of arrest
has been issued against her; not even as a material witness.

At the very least, she would be an accessory to crimes that the
Armenians committed on Kenyan soil the last time they were here.

Her complicity is no longer in doubt since she has basically confessed.

The writer is a barrister & solicitor in Toronto, Canada

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RECONSTRUCTED PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE OF LORI REGION OPENED IN VANADZOR TODAY

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 19 2007

YEREVAN, April 19. /ARKA/. The reconstructed building of the Central
Prosecutor’s Office of Lori region, Armenia, was opened in Vanadzor
today, the Press Secretary of Armenia’s Prosecutor General Sona
Truzian reported.

Total area of the four-storey building amounts to 784.74 square
meters, with the large meeting hall situated on the first floor
and staff’s offices on the other three floors. The energy supply
and sewerage system were completely replaced. Local heating system,
united computer network and separate telephone communication were
installed in the building during the reconstruction.

After the disastrous earthquake of 1988, the Prosecutor’s Office of
Lori region was moved to a temporary location. In 1998, the Armenian
Government handed over to the Prosecutor’s Office a four-storey
building in a poor state.

The Prosecutor’s Office of Lori region has its offices also in
Alaverdi, Stepanavan, Spitak and its representative office in Tashir.

9 administrative buildings of the Prosecutor’s Office, including the
one of Gugark military unit, are to be reconstructed at the expense
of the state budget in 2007.

LATVIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 19 2007

YEREVAN, April 19. /ARKA/. The Latvian Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks
is to arrive in Armenia today for an official visit.

The press service of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry reported that the
Latvian Foreign Minister is to meet with the Armenian President
Robert Kocharian, the Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin the Second,
Prime-Minister Serge Sargsian, Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian and
Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Tigran Torosian.

The Latvian foreign Minister is to pay floral tribute to the memory
of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, visit the Genocide Museum
and plant a tree in the memorial alley.

ARMENIA AND IRAN CONSIDER THEIR RELATIONS AS STRATEGIC

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 19 2007

YEREVAN, April 19. /ARKA/. Armenia and Iran consider their relations
as strategic, said President of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting
(IRIB) Ezzatollah Zarghami during the conference in Yerevan.

He said that the approaches and prospects of both countries’ presidents
are identical and estimated as strategic.

"Armenian-Iranian relations have good prospects, and the efforts of the
high-ranking officials are directed to the deepening and development
of bilateral relations," Zarghami said.

He pointed out that in the economic sphere serious cooperation
programs are implemented, and some of these projects are on the
implementation stage.

He said that within his visit to Armenia he discussed with the
country’s officials the level of cooperation and prospects of
interaction in the media sphere.

Zarghami said that Iran has about 100 TV and Radio stations, many
of which are satellite broadcast. He pointed out that in this way
they can develop and deepen relations with neighboring countries,
especially with Armenia.

"New cooperation program will allow to prepare documentaries about
each country’s possibilities, particularly, in the sphere of economy,
as well as to create programs and films about historical-cultural
traditions and heritage of Armenia and Iran. It is the best way
to demonstrate one’s originality and unite the societies of both
countries," Zarghami said.

He visited Armenia on April 16 by the invitation of Alexan
Haroutiunian, Board Chairman of Armenia’s Public TV Channel, with
the aim of discussing the issues connected with the deepening of
Armenian-Iranian cooperation in TV sphere.