Month: April 2007

U.S. Department of State
Press Roundtable With Edward R. Murrow Journalist Exchange Participants
Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
Washington, DC
April 11, 2007

Question: I have two questions. We [Armenia] have parliamentary elections
coming in May, and I would like to know if there is [inaudible] how it will
impact our relations with U.S.
And the second question is that Ankara actually blackmailed the United
States, saying it will block the supply channel for the American troops in
Iraq [inaudible] resolution or the Armenian Genocide [inaudible] from the
congress agenda. I wonder can you consider Turkey to be a good ally if they
blackmail to suppress freedom of opinion and action in the U.S.? Thank you
very much.
Assistant Secretary Fried: The Turkish Government has never blackmailed or
threatened the U.S. Government. They have never said that they will take
retaliatory steps if this resolution passes.
The Turkish government has said that Turkish opinion would be inflamed and
outraged by this resolution and that they, the Turkish government, fear what
the Turkish parliament might do in reaction to something our parliament
might do. So it’s a little bit different than what you described.
Turkey is a good ally. It is also a country which is undergoing a profound
democratic transformation itself. Turkey has for decades had the formal
elements of democracy, but in the last 10, 15, 20 years it has deepened this
democracy, and especially in the last 5 to 10 years. The boundaries of
freedom of expression are now much greater than they were before. Civilian
institutions are much stronger. The role of the military is much more
circumscribed. These things are advancing, and as this happens there is a
growing discussion in Turkey about their own past, and in particular the
past of the Ottoman Empire and its relationship to the Armenian community
there and the mass killings that took place in 1915 and afterwards. Turks
are beginning to discuss this.
We encourage them to examine their history and the painful, what can be
called dark spots, and they’re not the only country that has them. The
United States has plenty of our own: slavery, treatment of American Indians,
treatment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. We have a lot of things
in our history of which we’re not proud.
We think that Turkey and Armenia need to discuss their shared past in a
serious way. This needs to be a discussion that historians have. The United
States doesn’t deny any of the killings. They’re an established historical
fact, but historians need to discuss the details of what happened, why it
happened, who did what. This needs to happen, and it needs to happen as a
process of genuine national reconciliation.
We also think that Turkey ought to open up the border with Armenia and
restore normal relations. We’re pleased by recent steps Turkey has taken,
like restoring the Armenian church in Eastern Turkey, even if as a museum.
That’s still something. And there is in Turkish society a constituency for
this kind of reconciliation. Hrant Dink was murdered by an extremist
nationalist, but then 100,000 Turks were in the street saying we are all
Armenians, we are all Hrant Dink. It didn’t mean literally that they’re
Armenians, but it means we reject nationalism. We embrace a Turkish identity
which is tolerant. That’s very hopeful. That’s a very good thing. That’s
what we want to encourage.
You keep asking complicated questions. I can’t answer in a sound byte, but
I’ll try.
Question: What about the first one? Parliamentary elections –
Assistant Secretary Fried: Look, we want to see an improvement in the
Armenian parliamentary elections. That is important. We don’t expect
perfection. We don’t expect to go from deeply flawed to perfect, but we do
expect to see substantial forward progress. That is important.
Armenia, given the strength of the Armenian Diaspora and given Armenia’s
links to the West, frankly, you ought to be way ahead of Georgia. But I ask
you, are you in terms of democratic reforms? That’s a rhetorical question.
I’m not asking for an answer. But think about that.
Armenia should be doing better. It should be a leader. It should be a
prospering country. It has all the ingredients. And lack of oil and gas is
not necessarily a curse.
Question: What about closing borders?
Assistant Secretary Fried: Yes, but a lot of countries – Armenia is not
blockaded. It has access through Georgia. It’s not as if it has no access to
the outside world. We hope that more is done.
Question: I would like to ask a question about Azerbaijan and its continuous
advice against [inaudible]. Also the fact that 20 percent of Azerbaijan
territory is occupied by Armenia.
Assistant Secretary Fried: I’ll try to make these answers shorter. We could
talk all day about Nagorno-Karabakh. It is important to try to find a
peaceful settlement. War will destroy everything Azerbaijan is trying to do.
We have been working very actively with France and Russia to help broker a
settlement. We’ve made some progress, and we hope we can succeed this year.
Azerbaijan has made some progress in democracy, but it needs to make much
more. It has a leadership which is poised to take the country into a much
more prosperous, democratic future, and I hope that it does.
A strong country has a strong free press and a strong opposition as well as
strong central institutions, and Azerbaijan has every opportunity, like
Armenia, although the economies are very different, to have a very good 21st
Century.

PRESS RELEASE
Global Gold
Contact:
Van Z. Krikorian, Chairman & CEO
Michael T. Mason, President & COO
Tel: 203-422-2300

Andrew Barwicki, Investor Relations
203-422-2320

GLOBAL GOLD ACQUIRES OPTION ON ADDITIONAL URANIUM TARGETS IN NEWFOUNDLAND

Greenwich, CT-April 13, 2007 –Global Gold Corporation (OTCBB-GBGD)
() today announced its option agreement on the
Cochrane Pond uranium target in the Province of Newfoundland and
Labrador. The agreement is between Global’s wholly owned subsidiary,
Global Gold Uranium LLC (Global Gold Uranium), Commander Resources Ltd.,
and Bayswater Uranium Corp.

The Cochrane Pond property consists of 2,600 claims within 61,000
hectares (approximately 150,708 acres). The claims were staked in early
2006 based upon favorable geology following discovery of uranium
potential nearby. The property is located in the southeast of
Newfoundland, and a map showing the location is available on the Global
Gold website.

Under the option terms, Global Gold Uranium may earn a 51% equity
interest over a period of four years in Cochrane Pond Property by
completing:

1. Cash payments of US $700,000 over four year period.
2. Share issuance of 350,000 shares of Global Gold Corporation; 50%
each to Commander and Bayswater over a four year period.
3. Property expenditures over four year period of C$3.5 million.

Upon Global Gold Uranium vesting 51% in the Property, Global Gold
Uranium may elect to increase its equity position to 60% by either:

a. Additional property expenditures of C$2.0 million over the
following consecutive two years, or
b. Delivering a feasibility study on the Property over the
following consecutive three years.

Once Global Gold Uranium has vested the Second Stage, a joint venture
will be formed, 60% as to Global Gold Uranium and 40% as to Commander
and Bayswater. The project will be funded pro-rata by parties according
to their retained interest. If either Global Gold Uranium’s or the
Commander/Bayswater interest is diluted below 10%, that party’s interest
will convert to a royalty.

Either party may, at any time up to the commencement of commercial
production, elect to convert their respective interest to a 2% gross
uranium sales royalty in the case of a uranium deposit or a 2% NSR in
the case of a non-uranium deposit. In either case, 50% of the royalty
obligation may be purchased at any time prior to commercial production
for a $1,000,000 cash payment.

Global Gold Uranium, a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Gold Corp., is
engaged in the exploration for and development of uranium deposits in
the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Global Gold Uranium is also
commencing an exploration program this season at its Grand Lake and
Shallow Lake Uranium prospects in Labrador. Exploration of the
company’s uranium projects is being managed by Hrayr Agnerian, Senior
Vice President and Ted Urquhart, Vice President, both seasoned uranium
experts.

Global Gold Corp. is an international gold mining, development and
exploration company with mining properties in Chile and Armenia. To
date, Global Gold has focused it activities in Armenia at Tukhmanuk,
Hankavan and surrounding areas in the North Central Armenian belt.
Global Gold is also conducting exploration at it Marjan and Getik
properties, and has a twenty percent participation right in any new
exploration undertaken in Armenia by Sterlite Gold Limited or its
successors. Recently, Vedanta Resources announced that it has taken
control of Sterlite. The company has offices in Greenwich, CT, Santiago,
Chile, and Yerevan, Armenia. More information can be found at

To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly
historical, including statements as to revenue projections, business
strategy, outlook, objectives, future milestones, plans, intentions,
goals, future financial conditions, future collaboration agreements, the
success of the Company’s development, events conditioned on stockholder
or other approval, or otherwise as to future events, such statements are
forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The
forward-looking statements contained in this release are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from the statements made. Former Soviet country
estimations are presented for historical reporting and to provide a
basis for assessing Global Gold’s choices for its business activities
and not to be understood as indicating the existence of reserves or
resources.

April 13, 2007

PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Website: <;

CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE COMMEMORATES THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

On Monday, April 9, the California State Assembly and Senate
passed Assembly Joint Resolution 15 which declares April 24, 2007 as the
official Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. The resolution was
initiated by 43rd district assembly member Paul Krekorian.

The opening prayer was conducted by Rev. Vahan Gosdanian, pastor
of Holy Trinity Church in Fresno, who was representing H.E. Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate. Consul General Armen Liloyan also offered
his remarks and gratitude on behalf of the Republic of Armenia.

As in previous years, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger once again
proclaimed April 22nd to the 29th as Days of Remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide.

April 13, 2007

PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Website: <;

HOLY MASS AT THE CRESCENTA VALLEY PARISH

On Sunday, April 15th, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, will
conduct Holy Mass and deliver the sermon at the Armenian Apostolic Church of
Crescenta Valley, in La Crescenta. The service will begin at 1:00 p.m.

WESTERN PRELACY FAMILY CELEBRATES EASTER

On Thursday, April 12, the Western Prelacy family gathered at an intimate
reception to celebrate Easter. The Prelacy Religious and Executive
Councils, Ladies Auxiliary Guild, parish Board of Trustees and Ladies
association members gathered at the Prelacy "Dikran and Zarouhi Der
Ghazarian" Hall to celebrate Easter with the Prelate and to convey well
wishes to each other.

The reception officially began with the blessing of the home
ceremony by the Prelate and clergy followed by the singing of the Easter
hymn. During lunch, remarks were offered by Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian,
Executive Council treasurer Mr. Vahan Bezdikian, Ladies Auxiliary Chair Ms.
Mariam Karapetian, Outreach Committee Chair Mr. Hrair Jermakian, and St.
Sarkis Board of Trustees Chair Mr. Sarkis Tatuigian.

In his remarks the Prelate highly commended the devoted servants
of our Prelacy and churches.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION IN PASADENA

The Pasadena chapter of Knights of Vartan and local community organizations
will commemorate the 92nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide featuring
Armenian National Committee Western Region Chairman Raffi Hamparian as the
keynote speaker. The event will take place on Friday, April 13, at 8:00 p.m.
at the AGBU Alex Manoogian Center in Pasadena.

Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian will be in attendance on behalf of
the Prelate.

HOLY MASS AND REQUIEM IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE MARTYRS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

On Monday, April 23rd, clergy from the Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, and
Evangelical Churches will gather at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale to
collectively commemorate the 92nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with
Holy Mass followed by a requiem service.

Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian will conduct Mass and remarks will
be offered by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, Very Rev. Fr.
Andon Saroyan, Rector of the Armenian Catholic Church, and Rev. Joe
Matossian, Minister of the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America.

On Tuesday, April 24th, there will be placing of flowers at the
Genocide Memorial Monument in Montebello from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. At
11:00 a.m. the three Churches will participate in a collective requiem at
the monument.

PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Michael O’Hurley-Pitts, Director of Communications
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 154; Cell: (212) 689-1934; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

April 13, 2007
___________________

ARCHBISHOP BARSAMIAN INTERCEDES WITH SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY (SMU) TO
WITHDRAW THEIR SPONSORSHIP OF MONOLOGUE ABOUT TURKISH-ARMENIAN RELATIONS
UNDER GUISE OF DIALOGUE

Late Wednesday evening, April 11, 2007, His Eminence Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Primate (Chief Bishop) of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern) was alerted to a hastily organized "International
Conference on Turkish-Armenian Dialogue" being co-sponsored by Southern
Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas. Alarmed that of the twelve
(12) panelists invited, not a single Armenian academic or Armenian-American
leader was asked to take part, except for the Armenian Archbishop of Turkey,
Archbishop Barsamian called upon SMU President Dr. R. Gerald Taylor to
withdraw the University’s support and sponsorship from the conference.

On Friday, April 13, Archbishop Barsamian was notified by SMU Vice President
Jim Caswell that the University’s Office of the Chaplain had withdrawn its
support for the event and had requested that the SMU Turkish Student’s Group
and other Turkish interest groups and foundations sponsoring the event to
remove SMU’s name and logo from their promotional materials and web sites.

Speedily organized for Saturday, April 14, 2007 without much notice to the
wider academic and greater Armenian communities, the "International
Conference on Turkish-Armenian Dialogue" included a panel of twelve (12)
academics and religious leaders, including Turkish scholars widely known as
Genocide deniers, despite world-wide acceptance that Ottoman Turkey
slaughtered some 1.5 million Armenian Christians between 1915-1918, a period
President Ronald Reagan, other world leaders and governments refer to as the
Armenian Genocide.

The only Armenian invited to participate in the conference panel was His
Beatitude Mesrob II Mutafyan, the Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul. The
Patriarch, who resides in the capital of Turkey, has a very limited ability
to freely to express his true thoughts and concerns because of oppressive
Turkish free-speech laws.

Throughout Thursday, the Primate was in communication with leaders of SMU
and academics from other schools scheduled to speak at the conference.
Additionally, ecumenical partners and their leaders, such as Dr. Bob Edgar
of the National Council of Churches, added their voices, calling for SMU to
withdraw their sponsorship of the conference that promised to be a
monologue, effectively excluding Armenians from the supposed dialogue.

On Friday, Archbishop Barsamian received additional notice that American
academics who had learned of how one-sided the panel was, withdrew their
names as participants.

Sadly, the SMU Turkish Student’s Group, a pro-Turkish foundation and a
Turkish run "interfaith" group still plan to go forward, despite the
universal academic condemnation of the event’s scope and organization.

Responding to the notice of SMU’s withdrawal, Archbishop Barsamian said, "We
thank the leadership of Southern Methodist University and applaud their
understanding of the importance of true dialogue, of helpful discussion, and
hopeful relations between the Armenian and Turkish people."

"There are countless Turks who are beginning to uncover the truth of the
Armenian genocide. Those Turks are beginning to understand the importance
of a true discussion on the issues surrounding the Genocide, and we welcome
such open, honest, and heart-felt talks," the Primate added. "However, this
conference is not such a dialogue, and, indeed, is no true dialogue at all.
It is, rather, an attempt to use the title ‘dialogue’ to persuade America’s
political class that the Armenian Genocide is not worth remembering or
recognizing."

Archbishop Barsamian has made clear to SMU, to other Turkish groups and to
Turkish academics and intellectuals that he remains ready to engage in
authentic dialogue. "I look forward to working with SMU, its student groups
and others of good will to organize a truly balanced panel capable of
discussing the Armenian Genocide and the future of the Armenian-Turkish
relations," added Archbishop Barsamian.

"I trust that saner voices will take up my invitation to engage in real
dialogue and this sad affair may come to some good after all," Archbishop
Barsamian added.

Attached is a PDF of Archbishop Barsamian’s letter to SMU President Dr. R.
Gerald Taylor.

— 4/13/07

# # #

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

MEDIA ALERT
April 13, 2007
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
E-mail: [email protected]

RE: PBS/FRONTLINE: "NEWS WAR"

On March 27, PBS/FRONTLINE broadcast "NEWS WAR," which included a
three-minute segment on slain Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. 
The program, which was part of a four-part series, examined persecuted,
imprisoned and assassinated journalists in 2006. Photographs used in
broadcast were provided by the Armenian National Institute (ANI). To
watch the program online, go to:

video2.html#.

For more information on Hrant Dink, including media reports and more,
please visit the Hrant Dink Resource Page on the Assembly’s Web site
at:

The Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

###

NR#2007-047

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

MEDIA ALERT
April 13, 2007
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
E-mail: [email protected]

Re: Assembly Expresses Concern over Exhibition ‘Lessons from Rwanda’ Due
to Turkish Interference

Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly this week sent a letter of
concern regarding the postponement of a UN exhibit on the Rwanda
Genocide, ‘Lessons from Rwanda,’ due to an unwarranted interference by
the mission of Turkey to the United Nations over a reference to the
Armenian Genocide. The letter was sent to UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon and Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public
Information Kiyotaka Akasaka.

In the letter, Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny expressed
disappointment with the suspension of the exhibit, which included a
description of the Armenian Genocide as a prototype of the international
crimes requiring concerted response and prevention attributed to Raphael
Lemkin, who authored the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment
of the Crime of Genocide.

The Assembly also applauded the decision of the exhibit’s organizers to
continue to resist the removal of the reference to the Armenian Genocide
as a matter of principal and urged the UN support of the initial exhibit
without qualifications.

Attached is the full text of the Assembly’s letter to the UN Secretary
General which was also sent to the Under-Secretary-General for
Communications and Public Information:

April 11, 2007

The Hon. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary General
United Nations
First Avenue at 46th Street
New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 963-1234
Fax: (212) 963-4879

Ref: Postponement of the exhibition ‘Lessons from Rwanda’

Excellency,

On behalf of the Armenian Assembly of America, an NGO with Special
Consultative Status at the United Nations since 1999, I am writing to
express my deepest concern over the postponement of a UN exhibit on the
Rwanda Genocide due to unwarranted interference by the mission of Turkey
to the United Nations.

Aegis Trust, the organizer of the exhibit, is to be commended for taking
the initiative to share the lessons of Rwanda, and of genocide in
general, as the recurrence of this crime against humanity remains a
global issue.

I am, therefore, particularly dismayed to learn the exhibit was
suspended over a reference to the Armenian Genocide attributed to
Raphael Lemkin, the very author of the UN Convention on the Prevention
and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, who described the Armenian
Genocide as a prototype of the international crimes requiring concerted
response and prevention. This act of censorship undermines the very
credibility of the UN commitment to responding to and preventing
genocide.

Genocide prevention is contingent on the ability of the international
community to properly acknowledge and draw lessons from past genocides,
to ensure that future situations with the potential of leading to such
new crimes are identified early and prevented.

Amnesia, selectivity and denial corrupt that effort, and disregard the
standards of morality and political wisdom guiding this search for
improved mechanisms and capabilities for collective action to prevent,
and prosecute genocide.

In recent years, interventions in Kosovo and Bosnia helped arrest ethnic
cleansing in the Balkans, bringing stability and rehabilitation to the
peoples in that region. The international response to Kosovo and Bosnia,
however, came largely as a result of the bitter lesson learned in
Rwanda, where the tragic inaction of the world community resulted in
some of the most heinous crimes committed against innocent populations.

The failure to stop the Armenian Genocide in the early part of the 20th
century emboldened the Nazis two decades later to proceed with their
plans for the ‘Final Solution’, leading to the Holocaust.

The Armenian Genocide is a tragedy of seminal importance to the modern
knowledge on, and understanding of, the phenomenon of genocide. The
Armenian Assembly, therefore, applauds the decision of the organizers of
the exhibit to continue to resist, as a matter of principle, removing
the reference to the Armenian Genocide.

We similarly urge you to support the exhibit as initially approved,
without qualifications.

Sincerely,

Bryan Ardouny
Executive Director

The Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

###
NR#2007-049

THE NEW YORK TIMES LAUNCHED WEB SITE DEDICATED TO ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.04.2007 14:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The New York Times has launched a web site dedicated
to Armenia. 1915 Genocide Bracelet () tells
about Armenia’s history since ancient times up to present day. Special
attention is paid to the history of the Armenian Genocide and Armenia’s
fate after the World War I, when the Turkish government concluding
an agreement with Soviet Russia consigned to oblivion U.S. President
Woodrow Wilson’s plan which provided for conveyance of 6 Turkish
provinces, including Kars and Ardahan, to Armenia.

Last week The New York Times corrected an article which mentioned of
the Armenian Genocide. The editorial staff changed term ‘massacre’
into term ‘genocide’ that will be henceforth used in all articles
concerning the events of 1915.

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT HOPES FOR SUCCESS IN KARABAKH PROCESS IN 2007

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.04.2007 12:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It’s important to find a peaceful solution to the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, said Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary
for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. The Co-chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group are actively working to help Armenia and Azerbaijan
to overcome the conflict, according to him.

"We hope for a success this year," the diplomat underscored.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO DEPART FOR STRASBOURG TO PARTICIPATE IN PACE APRIL SESSION

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.04.2007 12:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian delegation led by parliament speaker Tigran
Torosian will depart for Strasbourg to participate in PACE session
April 15-18, the RA NA press office reports. The delegation includes
chairman of the permanent parliamentary commission for external
relations Armen Rustamian, member of the permanent parliamentary
commission for financial, budget and economic issues Hermine Naghdalian
and head of Adrarutyun (Justice) faction Stepan Demirchian.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress