ASBAREZ Online [04-29-2004]

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04/29/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) PACE Tells Armenian Authorities, Opposition to End Disorder, Start Talking 2) Armenia's President, Georgian Counterpart Meet in Warsaw 3) Russian Duma Concerned Over Ajaria, Burdzhnadze Hopeful of Situation 4) Nebraska, Tennessee, Louisiana Newest States, 36 in all, to Acknowledge Armenian Genocide 5) Co-Chairman of Kerry Presidential Campaign Praises ANC for Genocide Recognition Efforts 1) PACE Tells Armenian Authorities, Opposition to End Disorder, Start Talking YEREVAN (Armenpress/RFE/RL)--The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) late Wednesday called on the Armenian government and the opposition to resolve their bitter dispute through negotiation, and offered to mediate such a dialogue. The resolution, drafted by a committee monitoring the 45 member states' compliance with their commitments, calls for the scrapping of "unjustified restrictions" on peaceful demonstrations. It states: "The opposition should enjoy full freedom to conduct their political activities, which include the right to peaceful demonstrations. The authorities should immediately abstain from any interference and administrative and judicial harassment in this regard. The fundamental freedoms of expression and assembly must be respected and any restrictions must be in line with the European Convention on Human Rights." It calls on the opposition to share in the responsibility of ensuring that protests are not marred by violence, and advises the opposition to settle its gripes legally. "The parliament should be the main forum for political arguments. They should not try to circumvent the political institutions in the country with a hope to reverse the results of last year's elections which were, in spite of criticism, validated both at the domestic level and by the international community." It also advises against "accepting artificial analogies between the situations in Georgia and in Armenia." The resolution asks that Armenia's government submit, by June, a written report to PACE detailing the steps it has taken in response to the recommendations. "Their implementation will be assessed by the monitoring committee's two Armenia rapporteurs, Rene Andre of France and Jerzy Jaskiernia of Poland." The resolution warns that if no progress is reported, PACE will "reconsider the credentials of the Armenian delegation" at its autumn session next September. Presenting the document to the Strasbourg lawmakers, Jaskiernia made it clear that while he strongly disapproves of the crackdown, he believes that the Council of Europe should not question the legitimacy of last year's Armenian presidential and parliamentary elections because the fraud surrounding the elections was "not so extensive that we could disqualify the result." "The election naturally delivered results, and now many people are satisfied, so our approach to Armenia should be objective and balanced," he said. The assembly also rejected a proposal to endorse the idea of the national vote of confidence in Kocharian, as demanded by the opposition. "The Assembly calls upon the authorities and the opposition to refrain from any action which may lead to further violence and to engage in a dialogue without preconditions." 2) Armenia's President, Georgian Counterpart Meet in Warsaw WARSAW (Armenpress)--Armenian president Robert Kocharian met with his Georgian counterpart Mikhail Saakashvili on the sidelines of the European Economic Forum in Warsaw, Poland. Respective domestic political situations and bilateral economic cooperation was reviewed, and emphasis was placed on the upcoming May session of the Armenian-Georgian inter-governmental commission agreed to during Saakashvili's March visit to Armenia. The two also discussed regional, economic, and other developments. Kocharian outlined the importance of the meeting with the Georgian president. Emphasizing Armenia's general economic growth, Saakashvili told reporters, "We are interested in further development of Armenia's economy," and said he looks forward to more intense communication with Armenia, as well as strong economic cooperation. "We always spoke of good relations, but they were on an emotional level; now we are interesting in expanding them. Robert Kocharian treats these relations very practically, and we need to take constructive steps to take them to a new level," Saakashvili stressed. Asked about the Armenian opposition that claims to follow Saakashvili's example, Kocharian that none of the players--the president of Armenia, the formerly president of Georgia, the Armenian opposition, nor the current president of Georgia--can be compared. 3) Russian Duma Concerned Over Ajaria, Burdzhnadze Hopeful of Situation TBILISI (Itar-Tass/Civil Georgia)--Russia's State Duma expressed its "deep concern" about the deterioration of ties between Georgia and its Autonomous Republic of Ajaria. In an appeal to their Georgian counterparts, members of Russia's lower house of parliament said that "there are all reasons to believe that Georgia is planning to resort to force" to settle its dispute with Ajaria. The Russian lawmakers also urged the Georgian parliament to do its utmost to avert military confrontation with Ajaria. Ajaria has mobilized its reservists amid fears that the Georgian government might use a planned military exercise later this week to forcibly topple the regional leadership. Tbilisi denies the accusations, saying it is committed to finding a peaceful solution to its dispute with Ajaria. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, who has vowed to restore economic and political control over Ajaria, yesterday threatened Abashidze with arrest if he refuses to comply with his orders. Meanwhile, Georgian parliamentary speaker Nino Burdzhanadze believes that the head of Georgia's Ajarian autonomy Aslan Abashidze, "will take steps to fulfill the Georgian central authorities' legitimate demands." "I believe Abashidze will exert efforts to disarm illegal paramilitary groups operating in Ajaria and to meet all provisions of the Georgian Constitution," Burdzhanadze told journalists in Tbilisi on Thursday, confident that it will contribute to the settlement of the conflict. "Tbilisi has no intention of artificially aggravating the situation." "I believe Abashidze's visit to Tbilisi will be the best way out," Burdzhanadze said. The Ajarian leader has paid not a single visit to Tbilisi for the past twelve years. "That the leader of an autonomy has refused to come to the country's capital for so long is certainly abnormal," Burdzhanadze said. "I believe this problem will be resolved in the near future." Abashidze has avoided visiting Tbilisi since November 1991 for security reasons. 4) Nebraska, Tennessee, Louisiana Newest States, 36 in all, to Acknowledge Armenian Genocide TOTAL NUMBER OF STATES THAT HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE GENOCIDE REACHES 36 WASHINGTON, DC--Tennessee, Nebraska, and Louisiana have joined the fast growing number of states who have acknowledged the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen of Tennessee, Republican Governor Mike Johanns of Nebraska, and Democratic Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco issued proclamations citing a "Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide," referring to the Ottoman Turkish campaign of eliminate the Armenian population from 1915-1923. The total number of states in the US reaffirming the Armenian Genocide has now reached 36. "The Nebraska, Tennessee, and Louisiana proclamations emphasize the ultimate futility of Turkish efforts to distort the facts about the Genocide," commented ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Governors Johanns, Bredesen, and Blanco should be commended for taking a stand against denial and Turkish revisionism," he added. In the course of the last month, five new states have issued proclamations for the Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. All of the proclamations mark April 23 or 24 as an official Day of Remembrance. The ANCA website (<;) provides a diagram which displays all of the states that have issued proclamations or passed legislations recognizing the April 24 as a day of remembrance. The proclamations follow a concerted grassroots education campaign by the ANC Chapters across the country to increase awareness of the Armenian Genocide on the state and local level. ANC Tennessee Chairman Dr. Shant Garabedian, worked actively with the Tennessee Armenian community, circulating a petition to Gov. Bredesen in support of the proclamation. Garabedian discussed the initiative following Easter Church services in Nashville this month. Massachusetts State Republican Committee man Bob Semonian spoke extensively to Governors Bredesen, Johanns, and Blanco during the National Governors Association conference held in Washington DC, last month. He has since worked with local ANC activists in the effort to secure Armenian Genocide proclamations from a series of states across the country. Semonian, who resides in Watertown, MA, is running for delegate for the Republican National Convention. Registered Republicans in the towns and cities of Arlington, Belmont, Everett, Framingham, Lexington, Lincoln, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Natick, Revere, Stoneham, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Weston, Winchester, Winthrop, and Woburn can support his candidacy at the Republican Caucus vote his Saturday, May 1, to be held beginning at 9:00 am at 295 Arsenal St., in Watertown, MA. 5) Co-Chairman of Kerry Presidential Campaign Praises ANC for Genocide Recognition Efforts LOS ANGELES--Antonio Villaraigosa, the national co-chairman of the John Kerry Presidential Campaign, read Senator Kerry's April 24th statement before thousands of Armenian-Americans at an event sponsored by the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR). The gathering was held in the shadow of the Armenian Genocide Monument in Montebello, California on April 24, 2004. "The City of Los Angeles will never forget the Armenian Genocide and I, along with the Armenian National Committee, will do whatever I can to honor the memory of the 1.5 million martyrs," said Councilmember Antonio Villaraigosa. "In the ten years that I have served in public office, the Armenian National Committee has consistently been the leading advocate of issues relating to the Armenian-American community, and I have always valued the close relationship we share." "We thank Senator Kerry for his April 24th Armenian Genocide Statement, and Councilman Villaraigosa for sharing this message with our community," ANCA's Western Region Chairman Raffi Hamparian said. "Councilman Villaraigosa understands our long struggle for justice." Villaraigosa also participated in an ANCA-sponsored Armenian Genocide program held at Los Angeles City Hall on April 23. The Councilman spoke to Armenian-American leaders at that solemn commemoration, then joined his colleague and event sponsor Councilman Eric Garcetti in passing a resolution affirming the historical facts of the Armenian Genocide, and emphasizing the need to challenge those who deny crimes against humanity like the Armenian Genocide. Villaraigosa is the former Speaker of the California State Assembly and now serves as a member of the Los Angeles City Council. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.