Month: July 2007

PRESS RELEASE
July 2, 2007
Armenian National Committee of America
Eastern Region, US
P.O. Box 419, New York, NY 10108
Contact: Karine Birazian
Tel: 917-428-1918

EASTERN REGION LEO SARKISIAN INTERNS WRAP UP THEIR SECOND FULL WEEK
OF INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Washington, DC ` Entering their third week, ANCA Leo Sarkisian
Eastern Region interns Nyree Naljian and Alidz Oshagan have gone
above and beyond the expectations of most summer interns. While
spending their days at the ANCA office, both have attended
functions on Capitol Hill, visited Congressional offices, and
worked on the various projects and tasks at hand reported the
Armenian National Committee of America, Eastern Region (ANCA-ER).

"We are so honored to have two young, bright, young, and motivated
activists from the eastern region interning in the office this
summer. Having an opportunity to meet all seven interns, it is
clear that each one of them brings their own expertise to the
organization and work collectively to strengthen our cause,"
commented ANCA Eastern Region Executive Director Karine Birazian.

Naljian, a New Jersey native, is a junior at Pace University in the
Masters program for Business Accounting. She applied for the
internship to gain first hand experience in the American political
system while becoming more involved with Armenian issues.

"So far this internship has been even more than what I expected. I
have been to Capitol Hill for several occasions, participated in
lectures with Armenian American leaders and professionals from
various fields, and also have met key figures in the House of
Representatives and Senate including the Speaker of the House,
Nancy Pelosi," commented Naljian.

Oshagan, originally from Michigan, is a sophomore at University of
– Show quoted text –
Wisconsin Madison, and is majoring is Sociology, with plans to
attend law school in the future. She applied to the internship to
increase her knowledge on how a grassroots organization operates.
Oshagan and Birazian even spent her second day on Capitol Hill
distributing a magazine created by the North Farmington School
District to help raise awareness about genocide, to the entire
Michigan Congressional delegation.

"The ANCA Leo Sarkisian internship has allowed me to contribute to
the Armenian cause in a hands-on way that I have not been able to
do in the past. I also have the opportunity here to go to Capitol
Hill and meet with staffers which helps build communication skills
regarding informing offices about Armenian issues," commented
Oshagan.
Naljian and Oshagan have spent their first few weeks in the office
working on several projects, including advocacy outreach to help
with H. Res. 106 (the Armenian Genocide resolution), participating
in lectures by prominent individuals, attending Congressional
Baseball games, as well as working on their own personal projects
which focus on advancing the Armenian cause.

Now in its 23rd year, the ANCA LSI Program provides student
leaders and activists an opportunity to participate in an intensive
8-week program designed to give them the tools necessary to
effectively advance issues of concern to the Armenian American
community on the federal, state and local level. The LSI Program is
a competitive and prestigious internship program and is widely
considered to be the best program of its kind for Armenian American
college students.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) 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 Captions:

Photo 1: Nyree Naljian
Photo 2: Alidz Oshagan

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I HAS LUNCH WITH PATRIARCH SFEIR

His Holiness Aram I held a long meeting with Patriarch Sfeir of the Maronite
Church in Bekerke on July 3. The Lebanese Minister of Culture Dr. Tarek
Metri and the chairman of the Christian-Muslim Dialogue Committee Fares
Shehab also attended the first part of the meeting between the two Spiritual
Leaders. The Armenian Catholicos and the Maronite Patriarch then held a
private meeting.

The focus of both meetings was bringing Lebanon out of its current
stalemate. Several issues were discussed in this context, including the
election of a new president, the formation of a new government and the
resumption of national dialogue.
The Pontiff then had lunch with Patriarch Sfeir.

##
View the photo here:
tos/Photos9.htm#2
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias , Lebanon .

PanARMENIAN.Net

Skinhead group leader arrested in Moscow
04.07.2007 16:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian law enforcers have detained
Maxim Martsinkevich known by nickname Tesak (hatchet)
on accusation of inciting national hatred. Moscow
prosecutor office representative Svetlana Petrenko
said Martsinkevich is charged under article 282
(incitement of hostility or hatred and humiliation of
human dignity) of the RF Penal Code.

According to some sources, Martsinkevich is the leader
of an ultranational group of skinheads, Format-18. He
has given several interviews to Russian journalists as
the leader of the group.

The Moscow bureau in human rights specializing in
struggle against fascism and xenophobia, during the
recent two years number of skinheads increased with 20
thousand, totaling 70 thousand.

Bureau head Alexander Brod says the Russian
authorities has recently taken more effective measures
against ultranationalists. However their actions are
not well systematized yet, the BBC Russian service
reports.

PanARMENIAN.Net

If U.S. doesn’t agree on Putin’s proposal Russia will have to take action
04.07.2007 17:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia’s first Vice Minister Sergey Ivanov didn’t
rule out that the United States will reject Russia’s proposal and
warned of adequate countermeasures. `If our proposals are not accepted
Russia will continue explaining its position, earnestly and
patiently,’ Ivanov told journalists.

`At the same time we will take adequate measures to provide
security. To say more, we have already taken some steps. An asymmetric
and effective response has been already found,’ Sergey Ivanov
said. `We know what we are doing. It’s 100 percent security under any
circumstances,’ he added, ITAR-TASS reports.

During the G8 summit in Heiligendamm Russia’s president proposed
George Bush to use jointly the Gabala radar station leased by Russia
from Azerbaijan.

The other day in Kennebunkport, Mr Bush welcomed the initiative but
said the U.S. won’t refuse from plans to install anti-missile defense
assets in Eastern Europe.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Armenia will keep up policy of reforms and European integration
04.07.2007 18:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian parliament speaker Tigran Torosian met
today with President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe, Rene van der Linden, the RA NA press office reports. Chairman
of the standing parliamentary commission on European integration
issues Avet Adonts, special representative of the CoE Secretary
General, Bojana Urumova and Armenia’s permanent representative in the
CoE Christian Ter-Stepanian were also present at the meeting.

Tigran Torosian thanked the PACE President for the high estimation
given to the May 12 parliamentary elections and assured him that the
policy of reforms and European integration will be continued.

For his part, the PACE President noted the importance of democratic
reforms.

Rene van der Linden also touched upon the Armenian Electoral Code. Mr
Torosian, who has recently received the conclusion of the Venice
Commission, said that it’s being considered and proposals to be
discussed during the parliament’s fall session will be prepared during
the summer, if necessary.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net

PACE President said there is no progress in Karabakh settlement
04.07.2007 19:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Progress in not fixed in the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement process. Work for formation of public opinion for
a peaceful resolution is not carried out, PACE President Rene van der
Linden said at a meeting with RA NA speaker Tigran Torosian, the RA NA
press office reported.

Characterizing the assessment as exact, Mr Torosian said the most
important index in the Karabakh settlement is the opinion being formed
in Armenia, Karabakh and Azerbaijan. This index shows that no one in
Armenia or Karabakh propagandizes war and hatred towards another
nation. However, the situation is quite different in Azerbaijan. This
fact can be proved by the recent visit of Armenian and Azeri
intellectuals to Yerevan, Stepanakert and Baku. The initiative was
welcomed in Armenia and Karabakh. Azerbaijan met guests with protest
actions and sharp criticism. All this conflicts with PACE resolution
1416, which says that war and hatred must not be propagandized.

International organization will promote resolution of the conflict at
the time when they give an objective assessment to the issue,
according to Tigran Torosian

When touching upon the Armenian-Turkish relations, the PACE President
said closed doors do not lead to positive results.

In this respect, Tigran Torosian said, the Council of Europe has the
possibility to engage in the issue, for both Armenia and Turkey and
CoE members and are obliged to build relations on the basis of
European values.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Armenia possesses enough power not to allow Azerbaijan
into World Trade Organization

Azerbaijan hopes that the world community will impose certain
sanctions on Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, excluding the possibility
that the very sanctions may be imposed on him.
04.07.2007 GMT+04:00

Armenia has been integrated into the World Trade Organization for
three years only, so it is very untimely to make any conclusions about
the Organization’s influence on the country’s economy. However on the
international level today Armenia possesses enough efficient
instruments to influence on Azerbaijan’s fortune. As it is known,
Azerbaijan has already submitted its application to be integrated into
the Organization. According to WTO Charter for a country to be allowed
to the Organization, absolute majority is needed, i.e. all the member
countries must be `for’.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A single `against’ may cause the issue’s removal
from the agenda. A vivid example of the above mentioned truth is the
recent exacerbation in the Russian-Georgian relations, which led to
Georgia’s rejection to vote for Russia’s integration into WTO. Armenia
has the power to act the same way, and possesses the decisive word for
Azerbaijan not to be allowed into WTO. The RA Minister of Foreign
Affairs Vartan Oskanyan said, `We will certainly have our
say. One-sided limitations, which Azerbaijan imposes on Armenia within
the frames of international organizations, are not acceptable and I
guess WTO must touch upon this issue by all means’. In this certain
case with Azerbaijan, many things will simply depend on what pressure
the USA and Russia will display on Armenia. Perhaps it will be
possible to agree upon the exchange of veto from the Armenian
party. In this case big political games are to be expected, though
Armenia, on the whole, may insist on its own decision. Yet, many
things once again depend on the great powers.

By the way when the issue of Armenia’s integration into the
Organization was on the agenda, no measures were taken by Turkey to
impede this process, though Ankara may hardly ever be suspected in
having any secret love for Armenia. However things are different with
Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan hopes that the world community will impose
certain sanctions on Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, excluding the
possibility that the very sanctions may be imposed on him. Baku has
recently had troubles with Mass Media and President Aliyev has had
large experience in closing down some of them. Maybe the freedom of
speech and other values propagated by Europe are not much paid
attention to in Baku, but it is an undeniable fact that the Council of
Europe thinks otherwise. But the most serious thing Baku may face is
the veto on membership in WTO, which is an organization called to
develop country’s economy. However as it is known, economy and
politics are closely interconnected, and to become a member of the
Organization, a country must undertake a number of obligations,
including legislative and institutional reforms. Within the frames of
WTO the reforms mainly refer to almost all the spheres and aspects of
country’s economy. But the question is, whether or not Baku is willing
to have the reforms which may run the risk of losing the money
incoming from oil.

Aliyev, who is trying to create the image of prospering Azerbaijan,
seems to forget that he doesn’t live in the USSR any more and the
slogan `Azerbaijan is taking bigger strides’ simply won’t work any
more. There is no economy, it only exists in written. Even if the WTO
member countries vote for Azerbaijan’s integration into the
Organization, it is not a matter of future but an unattainable
dream. Talks between Armenian and WTO were carried on for about 9
years, and there were no guarantees for approval, in spite of the fact
that there were no particular reasons for rejection either. Yet Ilham
Aliyev needs WTO, the Organization will first of all bring money as
well as political profits, so the only moral is; before threatening
with war it is better to think twice what it may cost.

«PanARMENIAN.Net» analytical department

AZG Armenian Daily #126, 05/07/2007

Karabakh Issue

ARKADI GHUKASIAN: "THE SETTLEMENT IS POSSIBLE IF THERE IS AN AGREEMENT
ON PUTTING AN END TO MILITARY ACTIONS AND ARMED CONFLICT"

"Azerbaijan did nothing to gain the confidence of Karabakh people
during the last 15 years; instead it chose the policy of threat and
blackmails", announced NKR President Arkadi Ghukasian during his
meeting with the students of Yerevan Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) State
University on June 3.

"Instead of making efforts to settle the conflict, the Azerbaijani
side tries to present Armenia to the world community as a side of
conflict. There is only one way out of the created situation:
participation of Karabakh in the negotiation process", said Arkadi
Ghukasian.

"If Azerbaijan continues its destructive policy, Karabakh will just
stop its efforts to become a side of negotiation process and the
negotiations will be moved aside. All the efforts will be directed to
make the world community to recognize the independence of Nagorno
Karabakh: in that case without Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani side must
understand that Karabakh cannot be always dependent of its caprices.

The OSCE group, deeply understanding the actual and juridical sides of
the conflict, avoids discussing that issue and yields to the caprices
of Azerbaijan", announced NKR President Arkadi Ghukasian.

As NKR President always mentions this kind of negotiation format is
useless and the conflict cannot be settled without participation of
Karabakh in the negotiation process.

"We are sure that the settlement process can be started only after
signing an agreement on putting an end to military actions and armed
conflict. This agreement, in its turn, is possible only after the
efficient dialogue between Azerbaijan and NKR, and recognition of the
independence of Karabakh by Azerbaijan", said Arkadi Ghukasian.

In the created atmosphere of no-confidence it is not possible to speak
of compromises. "We can yield to partners but not the enemy, not the
one who has chosen the way of threats", announced NKR President.

"And if Azerbaijan continues it’s advocating, NKR will review its
approaches. Kosovo can serve as an example for Karabakh conflict
settlement", said NKR President.

Touching upon the parliamentary elections in Nagorno Karabakh Arkadi
Khukasian evaluated the pre-election state in NKR as almost perfect.

"If the world community doesn’t even recognize the elections in NKR,
they cannot be indifferent to the election process. The democratic
processes are the most important things, so we understand, that what
is sometimes excusable for the recognized states, it’s not pardonable
for the not-recognized", underscored Arkadi Ghukasian.

NKR presidential elections will be free, just and transparent
according to NKR President.

By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily #126, 05/07/2007

US Independence Day

THE INDEPENDENCE OF USA IS 231 YEARS OLD

On June 4th the United States celebrates the 231st anniversary of its
independence and the signing of the Independence Declaration in 1776.

On June 3 the US Embassy of Armenia celebrated June the 4th, where US
Charge d’Affairs in Armenia Anthony Godfrey spoke about the
Armenian-American strong and stable relations.

"Our countries aim to live in a world, where people are not afraid of
terrors and children grow free and strong. The Armenian-American
community in the United States makes a huge contribution to the
prosperity of our country and strengthening the bonds between Armenia
and the United States," Anthony Godfrey underscored according to the
Press Office of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.

AZG Armenian Daily #126, 05/07/2007

Hrant Dink Trial

OPEN LETTER OF PROTEST

Dear Friends:

Arat Dink, Serkis Seropyan, Karin Karakashli, Aydin
Engin, all members of the staff of "Agos" weekly in
Istanbul, and Erdal Dogal, the Dink family lawyer, are
charged with "denigrating Turkishness" under Article
301 of the Turkish Penal Code. Some of them may face
three years of jail time if convicted. The pretext is
the publication of an old interview with the Reuters
News Agency in which the late assassinated Hrant Dink
had referred to the Genocide of the Armenians.

Renowned writers, scholars and journalists such as
Orhan Pamuk, Elif Shafak, Taner Akçam, Ragip Zarakolu
and others were charged with similar criminal offences
over the last while. Some of them have chosen
self-exile and are now living in Europe, the United
States and elsewhere for fear of their own lives and
avoiding the destiny that the late Hrant Dink faced.

Please visit to voice your
opinion by endorsing an open letter of protest. This
letter will be delivered to International PEN at
Whether the letter
will have any impact on the outcome of the trials is
unknown, however, it will be yet another document in
the annals of Human Rights abuses in Turkey. As such
it could help bring attention to the plight of Turkish
Scholars, Human Rights activist, writers, journalists
and people at large to end a Draconian rule that
prevents Turkey to explore its own past history
without fear of persecution. Furthermore, it may
highlight the timeliness of the application that Taner
Akçam filed before the European Court of Human Rights
on the 20th of June 2007.

Your endorsement, dear friend, is solicited, because
on previous occasions you have supported similar
initiatives. The website is
privately owned, free of advertisements and is not
supported by any organization or third party whether
financially or otherwise. Your privacy is valued;
other than your name and location no other personal
information will be displayed anywhere and will not be
used without your permission.

Sincerely,

Dikran Abrahamian BA MD