Month: April 2007

CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS HAVE BEEN INITIATED ON THE OCCASION OF THE EXPLOSIONS

Panorama.am
14:07 12/04/2007

Criminal proceedings have been instituted in the Nor Nork investigation
department of the Police by paragraph 1 of the second part of article
185 (malicious destruction of property by exploding) and first part
of article 235 of Criminal Code (illegal purchase and keeping of
weapons) in connection with the explosion of the election office of
"Prospering Armenia" at the address of 39 Narekatsi street. Sona
Truzyan, Press Secretary of Prosecutor General, informed Panorama.am.

According to the source, the explosive was placed on the platform of
the shop on the first floor of 16-storeyed building. The office of the
party is situated in the same building. The explosive was launched
in the early morning, at 5.30 a.m. The windows of both the shop and
the ground floor were damaged as a result of the explosion. There
are no wounded.

The second explosion took place at 2.30 a.m. in Kanaker-Zeytun
community. The police of the community instituted a criminal case
according to the same articles. Site examination and an expertise
have been appointed.

OPINIONS OF MONITORING ORGANIZATIONS COINCIDE

Panorama.am
16:13 12/04/2007

"Despite methodological differences the results of monitoring of
electronic mass media conducted by our institute, almost coincide with
the data received from other organizations", Alexander Iskandaryan,
Director of Caucasian Media Institue, declared during the meeting
with journalists. To remind, by an order of the Council of Europe in
the pre-election period this organization is conducting a monitoring
of mass media in Armenia.

According to A. Iskandaryan, before the start of the official election
campaign, the monitoring implemented from March 26 to April 6, showed
that from the point of view of coverage, as compared with other parties
the advantage of the Republican Party is general. The Republican
has not been a leader on the air of ALM For clear reasons. Tigran
Karapetyan sets the mood here.

On the air of the remaining five TV companies (Public TV, "Armenia",
"Shant", "Erkir Media", "Center") and two radio companies Public radio
and "Liberty", liable to monitoring, the leader was the Republican
party.

50% of the time of being on air was provided to that party.

Alexander Iskandaryan explains similar results with the circumstance
that the coverage of the political forces in Armenia is oriented to
information. In the words of Alexander Iskandaryan, the preliminary
monitoring was held further, during the election campaign, for
accumulating a basis and experience of holding a monitoring. Within
the coming month the organization will submit the results of its
implemented work to the society. The results will be submitted to
the mass media once in 10 days. "The objective of the observers is to
receive information by applying the scientific method. Nevertheless,
our institute will not analyze the information. The society, more
precisely you – the journalists must make the analysis", he reminded.

Nevertheless, as a result of preliminary monitoring the politician
Iskandaryan as made some conclusions.

"The provided time for political air is too little", he underlined,
saying that in the monitored period total duration of political
programs made up 500,000 seconds. Meantime, in average each TV company
has provided 1.5 hours for coverage of political problems.

We shall remind that recently Boris Navasardyan, President of Yerevan
Press Club, who was engaged in monitoring of the mass media, also
noted that national electronic mass media allot little time for the
coverage of the political problems.

PAP HEADQUARTERS CAUSED MORAL DAMAGES

A1+
[04:57 pm] 12 April, 2007

Today, at about 5:30 a.m. ‘Prosperous Armenia’ headquarters was
blasted in Narekatsi 39, Avan Community, Yerevan. RA president managed
to condemn to the incident and ordered to find the accomplices of
the case.

To note, two hours before the very accident, PAP main headquarters
was blown up at 3:20 a.m. in Kanaqer-Zeytun community as a result the
glasses in all the doors and window-panes broke. RA Chief Prosecutor’s
office is engaged in both cases due to clause 85, 2nd part of RA
Criminal Code: the latter is about " deliberate property blasting"
and clause 235, 1st part "illegal gun acquisition and the use of it
"respectively. Sonya Truzyan, press secretary of RA Chief Prosecutor
informed "A1+" that there were no injured and victims. Kanaker-Zeytun
community investigation department is responsible for the case.

The type and the usage of the bomb are still not clear.

The residents in Avan community spent the whole morning outdoors as
they were terrified by the accident. Some of the residents thought
the new gas pipes to have exploded; others had recollected the events
in Balahovit happened several years ago.

Hamazasp Karapetyan, the owner of the adjacent shop, was very much
frustrated about the accident. According to him, he experienced moral
damages more than that of material. To mention, the bomb caused him
losses of more than 25000 USD. Mr. Karapetyan assures that he has
got no enemies; his family has a high respect and trust among the
citizens. He finds the blasting to be a great shame for the PAP as the
"politics and political campaign should be fair and pure." He himself
is a member to the above mentioned party.

There are no suspects for the case for now. Only PAP main office
possesses any other further information.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Rwanda genocide exhibit to ‘open very soon’

New York – The United Nations has apologised for postponing the
opening of an exhibit marking the anniversary of the 1994 Rwanda
genocide over Turkish objections to a reference to the killing of
Armenians in Turkey during World War 1, the Rwandan ambassador said on
Wednesday.
"We were contacted by UN Under Secretary General (for public
information Kiyotaka Akasaka) who told me they are reviewing the text
(of the exhibit)," Rwanda’s permanent UN representative Joseph
Nsengimana said. "He apologises. The exhibit will (officially) open
very soon."
The exhibit, which was to have been inaugurated by UN chief Ban
Ki-moon Monday, is meant to commemorate the 13th anniversary of the
Rwandan genocide during which Hutu extremists killed about 800 000
people, most of them ethnic minority Tutsis.
Farhan Haq, a UN spokesperson, said the controversy arose when a
Turkish diplomat walked by the exhibit as it was being put up last
week and complained about a reference to the killing of several
hundred thousand Armenians in Turkey during World War 1.
He said the reference was on a small panel with a quotation from
Raphael Lemkin, the Polish-born Jewish lawyer who coined the word
genocide in 1943, had earlier shown interest in the Armenian
"genocide" and campaigned in the League of Nations to ban what he
called "barbarity" and "vandalism".
Turkey, the successor of the Ottoman Empire, categorically denies
claims of genocide and says thousands of Turks and Armenians were
killed in civil strife during 1915-1917 when Armenians took up arms
for independence in eastern Anatolia and sided with Russian troops
invading the crumbling empire.
Much to Turkey’s ire, many countries have recognised the killings as
genocide.
Haq said a review panel made up of officials of the UN departments
of public information and political affairs as well as those with
expertise in genocide affairs would now look over the photographs and
the text of the exhibit ahead of the inauguration.
"This is what they were supposed to have done," he said. "I am
hoping it will be very quick."
The exhibit is partly organised by Aegis Trust, a British-based
international organisation lobbying to prevent genocide worldwide. –
Sapa-AFP

Published on the Web by IOL on 2007-04-12 00:33:20

© Independent Online 2005. All rights reserved. IOL publishes this
article in good faith but is not liable for any loss or damage caused
by reliance on the information it contains.

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

Governor Schwarzenegger Proclaims April 22 – 29, 2007 as
"Days of Remembrance"
to Commemorate Armenian Genocide

Los Angeles, CA – The State of California’s largest Armenian American
public affairs organization, the Armenian National Committee of America
– Western Region (ANCA-WR), is praising a proclamation concerning the
Armenian Genocide released by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on April 6,
2007. The document specifically addresses the continued denial of the
Armenian Genocide which is so deeply offensive to the over 500,000
Armenian Americans who live in the Golden State.

"We are proud to see Governor Schwarzenegger exercise moral leadership
on the Armenian Genocide," commented ANCA-WR Executive Director Andrew
Kzirian. "His statement is appreciated by Armenian Americans in
California and all people of conscience who believe that the denial of
genocide is morally abhorrent. The ANCA-WR will be sharing the
Governor’s proclamation with all 53 Members of California’s
Congressional Delegation in the hope that they will pass, without delay,
the Armenian Genocide resolution pending in the House Foreign Affairs
Committee," added Kzirian.

The statement reads in part, "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. It is our
responsibility to recognize the brutal slayings of so many innocents
[Armenians], remembering their suffering and vowing to help prevent
future genocides." The proclamation goes on to declare the week of
April 22 through April 29, 2007 as "Days of Remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide."

Governor Schwarzenegger’s proclamation was issued in the midst of a
campaign by the Turkish Government to defeat a resolution (H.Res.106)
pending in the U.S. Congress that would mark the slaughter of 1.5
million Christians as the first genocide of the 20th century. Over 48
of the State of California’s 53 Members of Congress have cosponsored the
Armenian Genocide resolution. San Francisco – Bay Area Congressman Tom
Lantos (D-CA), who serves as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee and is himself a Holocaust survivor, has not indicated whether
he is supporting the legislation or if he will schedule a vote on the
bill in his committee. Currently, nearly 200 Members of Congress from
over 35 states have cosponsored the Armenian Genocide resolution.

This is the tenth proclamation issued by the Office of the Governor of
California in the past eleven years, and supplements the sixteen
proclamations by the California Assembly and Senate dating back to 1991.
Governor Schwarzenegger has followed in the footsteps of predecessor
Governor Grey Davis in issuing proclamations recognizing and calling for
remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.

The full text of the proclamation is included below.

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: Governor of the State of California, Arnold
Schwarzenegger (R-CA).

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

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 identities 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
descendants of these courageous genocide survivors, whose hope for a
life independent [of] 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 brutal slayings 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 to this 6th day of April
2007.

Arnold Schwarzenegger
GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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 Welcomes Passage of SB 515 by California Senate Committee

— Passage Extends "Sunset" of the California Armenia Trade Office

Sacramento, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western
Region (ANCA-WR) welcomed news of the passage of SB 515 through the
California Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development
Committee. The Senate Committee passed SB 515, which extends the
"sunset" of funding for the California Armenia Trade Office (CATO) by 2
years until 2010. The CATO, which opened under the leadership of
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) and California Senator Jack Scott
(D-Pasadena), was administered to stimulate trade between California and
the regions of Eastern Europe, Western Asia, and the newly independent
states of the former Soviet Union.

Testimony in support of the CATO was provided by Johnnie Nalbandian,
Executive Director of the Foundation for Economic Development, Inc.
which is the privately-funded sole contractor of the CATO. Mr.
Nalbandian discussed the past, present and future of the CATO and
specifically mentioned that the "gateway" that exists must be cultivated
to bring markets in Eastern Europe and Western Asia closer to
California. Mr. Nalbandian also discussed various companies that are
interested in pursuing opportunities through the CATO. Specifically,
Mr. Nalbandian mentioned feasibility studies that are in the process of
being conducted for Cedarlane Natural Foods and Mattel Toys. Marani,
which has already begun to work with CATO and can be found in almost
1000 stores, utilized demographic research studies done by the CATO to
identify marketing and resale opportunities. Other companies with which
the CATO works are Nic Nak clothing, which has agreed to work with an
Armenian company to knit children’s clothing to be shipped for the
winter season, and Tesco Stores, a United Kingdom-based retail grocery
chain which has already contacted the CATO to determine the viability of
products that it could import from Armenia.

Also providing testimony in support of the CATO was Souzi
Zerounian-Khanzadian, who testified on behalf of the Los Angeles –
Yerevan Sister City Association. Zerounian-Khanzadian discussed the
distinguishing characteristics of the CATO from previous trade offices;
namely that 1) it is a contract trade office, 2) it does not receive any
state funding, and 3) the authorizing legislation provides
accountability provisions. She also noted the stabilizing factors
associated with extending the sunset date which include helping
interested companies grow in California’s robust economy while
strengthening opportunities for California companies to reach out to
untapped regions in Eastern Europe, the Caucus region and Western Asia.

After testimony, the Committee passed SB 515 by a vote of 8-0.

"The CATO represents a wonderful opportunity for the State of California
to establish viable economic ties to global markets that are not yet
saturated," commented ANCA-WR Executive Director Andrew Kzirian. "We
are happy to see the California Senate Business, Professions and
Economic Development Committee move forward with this measure."

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: The Foundation for Economic Development, Inc.

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

Turkey Moves to Block ANCA-WR Video on YouTube

Los Angeles, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western
Region (ANCA-WR) is reporting that a Turkish parliamentary commission
has approved a proposal allowing Turkey to block internet sites that are
deemed insulting to the founder of modern Turkey. The proposal, if
enacted into law, would effectively block an ANCA-WR video posted on
YouTube that discusses the Turkish denial of the Armenian Genocide.

"The Internet is being held hostage in Turkey," remarked ANCA-WR
Executive Director Andrew Kzirian. "The fact that our ANCA-WR video
would be blocked by Turkish censors shows the world the intent of the
Turkish government regarding free speech and free press. Even the
mention of the Armenian Genocide in our video would be cause enough for
Turkish censors to block our link on YouTube," added Kzirian.

The Turkish Parliament plans to vote on the proposal to block access to
YouTube videos, like the ANCA-WR’s, though a firm date for a vote has
not been announced. Last year a Turkish court generated worldwide
headlines by temporarily barring access to Google Inc.’s YouTube.

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.

###

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WAR WITH IRAN WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC – IVANOV

RIA Novosti, Russia
April 11 2007

YEREVAN, April 11 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s first deputy prime minister
said Wednesday a war against Iran would lead to a catastrophe.

The Islamic Republic is under UN sanctions over failure to halt uranium
enrichment, and Washington has refused to rule out a military operation
against Iran as a way of forcing its compliance with the demands of
the global community, which fears Tehran is seeking nuclear weapons.

"The Iranian problem needs to be resolved in a political and diplomatic
way, as a threat of war is a road to nowhere, or to a catastrophe,"
Sergei Ivanov, Russia’s former defense minister, said in the Armenian
capital, Yerevan.

The United States has reportedly been building up its Air Force and
Navy contingent near the oil-rich Middle East nation, while Russian
military officials have suggested that the U.S. could launch strikes
on Iran’s underground nuclear sites.

The latest United Nations resolution on the defiant regime highlights a
focus on diplomacy, but accepts the possibility of a military solution
to the crisis.

Ivanov admitted Tehran’s "nuclear dossier" was controversial, but
said the nation had the right to pursue civilian nuclear energy. He
said uranium enrichment activities should be controlled by the UN
nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He said Russia, which is building Iran’s first nuclear power
plant, has offered to provide the Islamic Republic with nuclear
fuel for electricity generation and to accept spent fuel back for
reprocessing. Tehran has neither accepted nor rejected the proposal.

Iran, which insists its nuclear program is peaceful, said Monday it
had begun producing nuclear fuel on an industrial scale, and reiterated
plans to continue enlarging its nuclear fuel production capacity.

Russia said it considered to announcement doubtful, with Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov saying the claim was still unsubstantiated.

PROGRAM ON HUMANITARIAN CO-OPERATION BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND RUSSIA ADOPTED

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
April 11 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend I.Alizade / During the meeting on 10
April of the Milli Majlis [Azerbaijan Parliament], a program on the
co-operation between Azerbaijan and Russia in the humanitarian sector
in 2007-2009 was adopted.

MP Shamsaddin Hajiyev, the Chairman of the Permanent Parliamentary
Commission on Science Baku in 2006. The program envisages the
development of co-operation in the humanitarian sector during the
period 2007 to 2009 and reflects measures on the development in all
humanitarian areas, including concrete co-operation in science and
education. "The program covers work on the expansion of opportunities
for education in Azerbaijani and Russian languages," he noted.

Addressing the meeting, MP Nasib Nasibli said that in accordance
with the program, Azerbaijan and Russia are to co-ordinate several
humanitarian issues, particularly with regards to the history. He said
that the Russian historians have their own feelings on the Caucasus,
the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict, the Armenians entering the Caucasus
and other historic events. Azerbaijan was under Russian occupation,
while the Russian and Azerbaijan historians have different opinions
on this issue.

Noting the weak potential of Russian universities, the MP opposed
co-operating with this country, describing Russia as a student of
West. He recommended Azerbaijan co-operate with the West with regards
to education.

MP Jamil Hasanli did not agree with his counterparts. He stated that
Russia possesses great scientific potential and believes co-operation
with Russia in this sector to be very fruitful. However, he opposed
the proposal of coordinating the co-operation in the sphere of history.

MP Yagub Mahmudov noted the presence of contradictory milestones
in the second item of the agreement. Article 31 of the program
indicates that Azerbaijanis residing in Russia and Russians residing
in Azerbaijan can receive education in their native language but the
third item of the article contradicted this. Russians can receive
education in their native language in secondary and high schools,
whilst Azerbaijanis only receive education in their native language
at Sunday schools. The MP regarded this as inequality.

After tense discussions, the Milli Majlis adopted the Program.

OAK PARK LIBRARY BOARD CANDIDATES
Ellizabeth Guillette

Wednesday Journal, IL
April 11 2007

BACKGROUND: An Armenian born in Tehran, Guillett received her BA in
English and French Literature from the National University of Iran,
and her MS in Library Science from Simmons College in Boston, and
became a citizen of the United States. She has worked in academic and
corporate libraries in Massachusetts, Maine and Illinois, arriving in
Oak Park in 1994. She is a member of Special Libraries Association,
Oak Park Women’s Exchange, Oak Park Conservatory, and the Oak Park
Stitch & Bitch Club. She is a volunteer at the Economy Shop and the
Oak Park Conservatory. She lives in south Oak Park.

PRIORITIES Guillette lists her top three priorities as:

Sound fiscal management New funding initiatives Creative technological
solutions.

[the rest omitted]

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