Month: April 2007

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO GO ON TWO-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO EGYPT ON APRIL 14

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian president Robert Kocharian
will go on a two-day official visit to Egypt on April 14.

The delegation headed by the president is composed of the foreign
minister Vartan Oskanian, the minister of trade and economic devlopment
Karen Chshmaritian, the minister of culture and youth affairs Hasmik
Poghosian, other high-ranking officials, representtaives of culture
and economy.

On the first day of the visit, a tete-a-tete talk of the Armenian
president Robert Kocharian and the Egyptian president Hosni
Mubarak will take place, after which R. Kocharian will meet with
Secretary-General of the League of the Arab States Dr. Amre Moussa,
then – with ambassadors of the League member states.

The Armenian president will also have meetings with the Egyptian prime
minister Dr. Ahmad Nazif and the speaker of the country’s parliament
Dr. Fathi Sorour.

R. Kocharian will visit the Armenian embassy in Egypt, lay a wreath
at Monument to Unknown Soldier and on the grave of former Egyptian
president Anwar Sadat.

The Armenian delegation will go from Cairo to Luksor where R. Kocharian
will meet with the governor of Luksor Samir Farag.

The Armenian president will also pay visits to some cultural and
historic places of Egypt.

According to the RA President’s press service, during the visit of R.
Kocharian to Egypt, about ten agreements on bilateral cooperation
will be signed.

On April 16 the delegation headed by the Armenian president will
return to Yerevan.

VARTAN OSKANIAN REAFFIRMS RA GOVERNMENT’S RESOLUTION IN ISSUE OF ORGANIZING ELECTIONS IN CORRESPONDENCE WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. At the April 13 meeting RA Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian and Head of delegation of PACE monitoring
mission Leo Platvoet touched upon issues connected with holding of
monitoring mission by PACE, fulfilment of electoral legislation and
Armenian authorities’ assistance to the mission.

V. Oskanian reaffirmed the resolution of RA government in the issue
of organizing the elections in correspondence with the international
standards, as well as in the issue of creating proper conditions for
implementation of the mission.

L. Platvoet said that the members of the mission follow the
preelectoral agitation and within this framework have held many
meetings with representatives of political forces taking part in
the elections.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan from RA Foreign
Ministry Press and Information Department, at the guest’s request
V. Oskanian presented the current state of Armenian-Turkish relations
and the process of Nagorno Karabakh settlement.

RA PRESIDENT DISCUSSES ISSUES OF MONITORING OF ELECTORAL PROCESS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF PACE AND OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLIES

Noyan Tapan
Apr 12 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 13, RA President Robert
Kocharian received members of PACE and OSCE Parliamentary Assemblies’
ad hoc commissions for monitoring of elections in Armenia. According to
the report provided to Noyan Tapan from RA President’s Press Office,
issues related to electoral process and principles of its monitoring
were discussed during the meeting.

OSKANIAN AND MAMMADYAROV TO MEET APRIL 18 IN BELGRADE

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.04.2007 15:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The regular Oskanian-Mammadyarov meeting will
take place in Belgrade April 18 in presence of the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-chairs, Yuri Merzlyakov, the OSCE MG Russian Co-chair told
PanARMENIAN.Net. He also voiced hope that the mediators will visit the
region in late May or early June, before the meeting of the Armenian
and Azerbaijani Presidents.

‘JOURNEY’ INTO ARMENIA HISTORY
By Jim Slotek

Sun Media
April 13, 2007

Not being Armenian, I’ve never given much thought to what it means
to be Armenian.

And after seeing French director Robert Guediguian’s heartfelt Journey
to Armenia, I’m no closer to understanding that inner feeling of
Armenian-ness.

This despite many lectures about Mount Ararat and the Armenian state
of mind that are heaped upon Anna (Ariane Ascaride), a proper French
woman of Armenian descent, who comes face to face with a culture she
never knew or cared about.

On the other hand, most of us having roots strong or tenuous in some
other place, we can at least understand what motivates Guediguian
(Marius Et Jeannette) in his odd filmic love-letter to his father’s
homeland.

Journey to Armenia opens in Marseilles with a young French woman named
Jeannette (Madeleine Guediguian) taking part in a traditional Armenian
folk dance. Shift to Jeannette’s grandfather Barsam (Marcel Bluwal)
receiving bad news about his heart from his doctor, who also happens
to be his daughter Anna (Ascaride, Guediguian’s real-life wife).

Though Anna is chilly toward the old man, ostensibly because of
the rough treatment she feels her late mother received from him,
she makes arrangements for possible life-saving surgery.

And then Barsam disappears. Perturbed, Anna (who unlike her daughter
has never expressed any interest in things Armenian) traces his steps
via the local Armenian community and follows him to the capital city
of Erevan.

And there she more or less falls into an Armenian rabbit-hole, carried
along on a course of events that have been apparently plotted out
for her.

Her "guide," the vaguely sinister Sarkis (Simon Abkarian) drives her to
her father’s small village and then leaves her to the mercies of the
locals, who also appear to be in on whatever’s going on. The role of
protector/guide then falls to an ex-soldier and patriot named Yervanth
(Gerard Meylan) who negotiates Anna’s way through faux pas and more
serious troubles, and is determined to nurture her ethnic rebirth
(frequently asking, in so many words, "Are you feeling Armenian yet?")

Anna is very, well, French about the whole thing, unimpressed and often
annoyed, and yet sympathetic. Her meandering voyage is complicated
when she attracts a travelling mate, a young woman named Schake who
supports her family by working as a stripper, and who is desperate
to have Anna sponsor her move to France.

Along with her general antipathy toward her native land, Schake has
another reason to leave — she’s run afoul of local gangsters who are
smuggling pharmaceuticals, leading to one of Journey to Armenia’s most
dissonant and incongruous scenes — in which Anna grabs someone’s
gun during an attack and shoots three thugs (turns out she used to
belong to a gun club).

Thus does Anna’s voyage dovetail with another’s. Both she and Schake
must come to understand this historically beleaguered country better
before the end of the movie. And it’s going to involve many more
images of (Turkish controlled) Mount Ararat, as well as didactic
dialogue invoking the 1915 genocide and the 1988 earthquake.

Armenian-ness, it turns out, comes to one as an epiphany — one you
non-Armenians may not actually experience as you watch Journey to
Armenia. But at least you’ll have painlessly learned a thing or two.

(This film is rated PG)

[pf-4002528.html&ot=A&oi=286&s=14 40×900&c=32&j=1.3&v=Y&k=Y&bw=1 224&bh=707&ct
=lan&hp=N&[AQE]]

HERBERT BAGHDASARYAN IS DEAD

A1+
[01:51 pm] 13 April, 2007

more images Today, Herbert Baghdasaryan, director of "Photolur"
Agency deceased untimely. To remind, he would celebrate his 70th
anniversary on June 28.

The works of the professional photographer, winner of the 1975
"Grand Prix" international photo-exhibition, will no longer decorate
our websites.

The staff of A1+ mourns over the death of the great photographer and
condoles with his relatives, friends and acquaintances.

"NO NEED TO PANIC"

A1+
[02:33 pm] 13 April, 2007

An earthquake of 3 magnitude took place 25 km east to the city of
Aghdam, Azerbaijan, at about 11:12 a.m.

The force of the epicenter was measured 4-5 on the Richter scale.

According to the RA National Seismic Service, the earthquake was
felt in a few NKR dwelling places, Stepanakert /3 force/, Martakert
/3 force/ and Martouny /4 force/.

The seismic service assures "there is no need to run into panic"
as the region is exposed to suchlike shakings.

KOCHARIAN TO LEAVE FOR EGYPT

A1+
[03:45 pm] 13 April, 2007

On April 14 RA President Robert Kocharian will leave for the Arab
Republic of Egypt on two-day official visit. The president will be
escorted by Vartan Oskanian, RA Foreign Minister, Karen Chshmarityan,
Minister of Trade and Economic Development, Hasmik Poghosyan, Minister
of Culture and Youth Affairs, and many other high-level officials.

Robert Kocharian will meet with Hosni Mubarak, President of Egypt,
Amr Musa, Secretary-General of the Arab League, the ambassadors of
the members-countries of the League, Prime Minister Ahmad Nazif and
Speaker of Parliament Fathi Surur.

The RA delegation will visit the RA Embassy in Egypt, put wreaths on
the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the ex-president of the country
Anvar Sadat.

The RA delegation will depart on April 16.

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
April 12, 2007

Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

ANCA-WR Joins California Legislature in Marking Armenian Genocide

Sacramento, CA – On Monday April 9, 2007 the California State Assembly
and Senate passed Assembly Joint Resolution 15 (AJR 15), which declares
April 24, 2007 an "Official Day of Remembrance" in California.

During the assembly session the coauthors of AJR 15, Assemblymembers
Paul Krekorian and Greg Aghazarian presented the legislation. They
emphasized that, while resolutions have been adopted in the past to
designate April 24th as a Day of Remembrance, this resolution goes
further by expressing that the Congress and President should
appropriately recognize the Genocide, demanding that the Republic of
Turkey acknowledge the Genocide and condemning them for their current
abuses of human rights. Specific reference was made to the assassination
of Hrant Dink.

After being put to a vote, the resolution was accepted on the assembly
floor. The resolution was principally coauthored by Senators Jack Scott
and Joe Simitian, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, and Assemblymembers
Charles Calderon, Kevin De Leon, Mark Leno, Fiona Ma, and Anthony
Portantino. Before the closing of the session Assemblymember Krekorian
thanked those in the Armenian community in attendance, especially ANC
2000 Man of the Year J. Michael Hagopian, a distinguished film maker and
genocide survivor who received a standing applause from the members.

Following the vote, a special commemoration ceremony was held in the
Assembly chamber. At the conclusion of the session a reception was held,
which was hosted by the Armenian Caucus of the State Legislature. Many
members of the delegation, as well as members from the Armenian American
community, were able to meet with legislators and legislative staff.

Additionally, on the same day a commemoration ceremony was held on the
California Senate floor. Both AJR 15 coauthors, Senators Jack Scott
and Joe Simitian, addressed the Senate on the occasion of commemorating
April 24 and the Armenian Genocide. The opening prayer was given by the
designated representative of Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Father
Vahan Gosdanian of the Holy Trinity Church of Fresno. After the remarks
of both Senator Simitian and Senator Scott, Senator Simitian introduced
The Consul General of the Republic of Armenia to Los Angeles, Armen
Liloyan. Liloyan extended gratitude and appreciation to both Houses of
California’s legislature and applauded the reaffirmation of California’s
firm stance against injustice.

"The California legislature today demonstrated its commitment to the
protection of human rights everywhere," stated ANCA-WR Board Member
Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian. She added, "We are happy to see
California’s commemorative ceremonies calling for recognition of the
Armenian Genocide – and with 38 states that have issued similar
declarations and resolutions – the time is ripe for the United States
Congress to do the same."

The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working
in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters
throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the
world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American
community on a broad range of issues.

###

Photo caption #1: (left to right) Artur Artenyan, ANC of San Francisco
Bay Area District Director Matt Senekerimian, ANCA-WR Board Member
Pattyl Aposhian-Kasparian, Genocide Survivor J. Michael Hagopian, Consul
General Armen Liloyan, Assemblymember Paul Krekorian, ANCA-WR Board
Member Hovannes Boghosian, ANCA-WR Board Member Souzi
Zerounian-Khanzadian, Assemblymember Greg Aghazarian, Daniel Adenian,
Rev. Vahan Gosdanian, ANC of San Francisco Bay Area Activist and former
ANCA-WR Executive Director Armen Carapetian, and ANCA-WR Board Member
Leonard Manoukian.

Photo caption #2: (center) California State Senator Jack Scott, (left to
right) ANC of San Francisco Bay Area Activist and former ANCA-WR
Executive Director Armen Carapetian, ANC of San Francisco Bay Area
District Director Matt Senekerimian, ANCA-WR Board Member Leonard
Manoukian, ANCA-WR Board Member Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian, Foundation
for Economic Development, Inc. Director Johnny Nalbandian, and ANCA-WR
Board Member Pattyl Aposhian-Kasparian.

Armenian National Committee of Washington State
c/o Armen Abrahamian, Chair
Bellevue, WA 98008
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
April 12, 2007

Contact: Armen Abrahamian
Email: (818) 500-1918

ANC of Washington State Welcomes Cosponsorship Support of Congressman
Dave Reichert (R-WA-08)

— Washington Republican Agrees to Join Over 185 Cosponsors of H. Res. 106

Mercer Island, WA – The Armenian National Committee of Washington State
(ANC WA) welcomed the cosponsorship support of Congressman Dave Reichert
(R-WA-08) for H. Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution.
Congressman Reichert joins over 185 Members of the U.S. House of
Representatives as a cosponsor of H. Res. 106. The numbers of
cosponsors continue to grow as Congress nears the end of its two-week
recess.

Congressman Reichert serves as Representative from the Eighth
Congressional District of Washington. As a Representative, Cong.
Reichert serves on three committees: Homeland Security, Transportation
and Infrastructure and Science and Technology. Congressman Reichert has
a leadership role in the Committee on Homeland Security, and serves as
the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information
Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment.

Local action by ANC WA activists and area constituents crystallized in
the form of a district meeting held in the Congressman’s local Mercer
Island, WA district office on March 16, 2007. This district meeting,
supplemented by constituent calls, webfaxes and a Capitol Hill meeting
between ANCA-WR Executive Director Andrew Kzirian and Congressman
Reichert’s Foreign Affairs Legislative Aide Kim Trinh culminated in the
Congressman’s agreement to cosponsor H. Res. 106.

The Mercer Island district meeting, which was initiated by local
activists with the Congressman’s district office, allowed for staff to
become more informed about issues of concern to the Armenian American
community. The ANC WA thanked Congressman Reichert in a letter
addressed to his office shortly after discovering the Congressman’s
decision to support H. Res. 106. "The ANC of Washington looks forward
to continuing its relationship with Congressman Reichert’s office,"
stated ANC WA Chairman Armen Abrahamian. "The meeting was an exercise in
civic responsibility and we will strive to reach out to more members of
the Armenian American community here in Washington State," he added.

"We are extremely pleased to learn of Congressman Reichert’s agreement
to cosponsor H. Res. 106," stated Kzirian. "Constituents and local ANC
activists everywhere across the Western United States are doing their
part to inform Congressional staffers and raise awareness on issues of
concern to the community," added Kzirian.

The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working
in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters
throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the
world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American
community on a broad range of issues.

###

PHOTO CAPTION: Congressman Dave Reichert (R-WA-08).