Author: admin

AZG Armenian Daily #063, 09/04/2005

Karabakh issue

ZHIRAYR SEFILIAN: TODAY’S REGIME CONTINUES DEFEATIST POLICY OF THE PREVIOUS
ONE

Defense of Liberated Territories public initiative (DLT) warns once
again that the Karabakh policy of today’s regime in Armenia is the
continuation of former ones and is as defeatist. DLT coordinator
Zhirayr Sefilian criticized Karabakh policy of the authorities at
Azdak club on April 7.

Sefilian reminded defense minister Serge Sargsian’s speech at the
March 29-30 parliament hearings over Nagorno Karabakh issue to have
said that “till in 90s when he was convincing the soldiers to take
over the vantage points outside Karabakh he used to tell them that
we take them but will have to return”.

DLT coordinator called Sargsian’s statement an outright lie and said
that no officer would dare not only tell something of the kind to the
soldiers but even think of that as the author of such words would be
soon killed.

Sefilian was a battalion commander in Shushi in 1992. His battalion
that fought in many battles including the battle for Shushi liberation
had 56 killed, 3 missing and 157 wounded.

Sefilian warned the authorities that “this process of territorial
concession is a treason”. He claimed that “those people cannot
represent the Armenian people”. On behalf of all freedom fighters as
well as the perished ones, Sefilian stated that the authorities will
be punished if they do not change their stance in Karabakh issue.

Referring to OSCE Minsk group Russian co-chair (who said that “the
co-chairs have prepared a new package to be put before Armenian and
Azeri presidents in London”, “the society is not ready for compromise”,
“co-chairs always considered that the public opinion in both countries
need to be molded”) Sefilian said that the parliamentary hearings
aimed at settling these issues.

“In presence of many ambassadors, the coalitional parties, opposition
representatives, RA and NKR foreign ministers and especially RA
defense minister tried hard to display the “unity” and “resolution”
of Armenia’s politics to accept co-chairs’ suggestions”, a press
release by DLT read.

Organizers of the hearings, according to DLT, displayed the Armenian
society their resolution to defend territories of former Nagorno
Karabakh Autonomous Republic and the Lachin corridor and from the other
side, their belief and readiness to hand the liberated territories
to Azerbaijan.

“The expression ‘liberated territories’ was a taboo for everyone. They
used, instead, words revealing their Azeri-mindedness. We have the
impression that the purpose of the hearings was to deprive expression
“liberated territories” of its meaning”, the release says.

Zhirayr Sefilian and his adherents are sure that “the Armenian nation
will never put up with the idea of relinquishing any part of its
homeland and with contracts that opposing to its national interests”.

By Tatoul Hakobian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE

Armenian National Committee of Toronto
45 Hallcrown Place
North York Ontario
Tel: 416 491.2900
Fax: 416.491.2900
E-mail: [email protected]

April 8, 2005

The Armenian National Committee Of Toronto invites you to an “ANC
Update”, where the Committee will be reporting to the public on our
activities during the last few months and our plans for the future.
A representative from ARFYOC will also be reporting on the activities
and plans of the youth during this period.

The ANC Update will be held this Sunday, April 10, 2005, at the
Armenian Community Centre (45 Hallcrown Place). The guest speaker
is Mr. Shahen Mirakian. The event will be held in the library,
and begin at 2:00 pm.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Council winners set to go

Kassakhian takes city clerk, Borucki remains treasurer, and voters
approve charter changes

Glendale News-Press
March 7, 2005

By Josh Kleinbaum, News-Press and Leader

GLENDALE — Voters picked three incumbents and a challenger who has
lauded the council’s direction despite an election rife with accusations
of a dysfunctional and hostile City Council.

Ara Najarian, an attorney and Glendale Community College trustee, topped
the council race with 9,054 votes, or 10.4% of the votes. Incumbents Bob
Yousefian, Frank Quintero and Dave Weaver followed Najarian. Yousefian
received 7,810 votes, Quintero garnered 7,677 and Weaver got 7,072.

The four will join Rafi Manoukian, who was not up for reelection, on the
council. Najarian, Yousefian and Quintero will serve four-year terms.
Weaver will serve a two-year term, completing the term of Gus Gomez, who
left the council in January to become a Superior Court judge.

“The majority of the community is supportive of all the good
accomplishments of this council,” Yousefian said. “We have a better
understanding of what the community wants and also, to an extent, a
mandate from the people of Glendale to say, hey, let’s move forward and
let’s make this city a great city. That’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

Ardashes Kassakhian coasted to victory over eight others for city clerk,
receiving 6,244 votes. His closest challenger, George McCullough,
finished with 3,739 votes.

Ron Borucki easily won reelection for city treasurer, receiving 13,113
votes. His challenger, Phil Kazanjian, received 7,257.

Voters also approved 21 amendments to the city charter, most designed to
eliminate obsolete language and make it comply with current practice and
state and federal law. Nineteen of the 21 amendments received at least
70% support from the voters.

Kassakhian, Borucki and the four council members will be sworn in at a
reorganizational meeting at 8 p.m. Monday. Council members will also
select a new mayor at that meeting.

Despite the election of three incumbents for City Council, the results
show some dissention in the community. Challengers John Drayman and
Steve Hedrick, who called for an overhaul of the council, both received
strong support.

Drayman finished in fifth place with 6,618 votes, just 454 behind Weaver
for the final spot. Hedrick finished seventh with 6,095, trailing Larry
Miller’s 6,176 votes.

“Clearly, the public was saying, at least for three incumbents, that
they wanted them back,” Drayman said. “Ara was endorsing the notion of
this incumbency, and that obviously resonated. But I don’t think you can
discount the notion that a large segment of the community resonated with
my message as well, or I wouldn’t have been outside by so few votes.”

Drayman said he is already considering another run in 2007.

As early returns trickled in Tuesday night, Chahe Keuroghelian and
Anahid Oshagan were consistently among the top four, propelled by a
strong push for absentee votes. But both faded as results from precincts
came in. Keuroghelian finished in eighth place with 6,007 votes, and
Oshagan finish ninth with 5,831.

“I guess the community was a little skeptical about new blood,” Oshagan
said. “It was kind of disappointing because of all of the capable women
that were running. There was no affirmation of the new things, good
things, that we could do.”

JOSH KLEINBAUM covers City Hall. He may be reached at (818) 637-3235 or
by e-mail at [email protected].

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GOVERNMENT APPROVES RUSULTS OF TENDER FOR ALAVERDI-2 SUBSTATION RECONSTRUCTION CREDIT PROGRAM

YEREVAN, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN. At the April 7 sitting, the RA
government approved the results of the international tender for the
credit program “Regional Electricity Exchange. Reconstruction of
Alaverdi-2 Substation”. According to the RA Government Information
and PR Department, the company AREVA Energietechnik GmbH (Germany)
was announced the tender winner with a contract sum of 7 mln 350
thousand euros.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VENICE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS WRONG ABSENCE OF TRANSITIONAL THESES IN PRELIMINARY VARIANTS OF DRAFT CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The NA Interim Commission on
Eurointegration issues completed discussion on the conent of
drafts of Constitutional reforms at the April 6 sitting. “Adoption,
Amendment and Referendum of Constitution”, the last but one head
of the drafts authored by ULP fraction and Arshak Sadoyan was left
without amendments. So, adoption of Constitution and amendments in it
are carried out by the means of referendum, on the initiative of the
RA President or the National Assembly. The President of the Republic
appoints a referendum on the initiative or with the consent of the
majority of the NA MPs total number. A draft put on a referendum is
considered adopted, if more than half of participants in the ballot,
but not less than one third of citizens included in electoral rolls,
voted for it. As an addition to the above-mentioned theses of the
acting Constitution, the political coalition proposed to adopt
that the provisions of some articles of the Constitution may be
amended by law as well. At least one third of the total number of
NA MPs or the RA President may represent such an initiative, and
at least two thirds of of total number of MPs will be needed in
such cases. According to the conclusion of the Venice Commission,
the proposal to adopt Constitutional amendments by the NA qualified
majority, without putting it on the referendum “makes easier the
process of Constitutional amendments, at the same time keeping the
demand to solve important issues by a referendum, hence the Commission
is for it.” ULP and political coalition have not presented proposals
on the last chapter, “Transitional Theses” of the Constitution yet,
mentioning that they will be represented after discussion of the
package of the constitutional reforms. The Venice Commission did not
consider such a decision to be right. According to the Commission,
transitional theses are an indivisible part of the Constitutional
reforms and “may relate to very important and delicate issues which
must not be avoided during the parliamentary disc ussions.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TRANSACTIONS CONCLUDED ON BEHALF OF 5 NON-REGISTERED COMPANIES

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. During the fulfilment of the
investigation functions by State Tax Service attached to RA
government it was found out that different persons sign and give
accounts documents on behalf of the “Pipo,” “Karik,” “Fed-1,” “Ira,”
“Ashotsk-1” LTDs. But according to the report submitted by the State
Tax Service, no such companies exist indeed, they aren’t registered
in the state register bodies of juridical persons and in the State
Tax Service. In this connection the State Tax Service suggests that
all economic entities should abstain from concluding transactions
with persons acting on behalf of the above-mentioned companies.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
04/07/2005
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1) Colorado Legislature Passes Armenian Genocide Legislation
2) ARF Delegation Meets with Lebanon’s Aoun
3) French-Armenian Author Jean-Jacques Varoujean Dies
4) Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey Agree on Rail Link Construction

1) Colorado Legislature Passes Armenian Genocide Legislation

DENVER–The Colorado State Legislature unanimously passed on April 6, a joint
resolution commemorating the Armenian genocide of 1915-1923. During this
period, 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were
annihilated–accounting for more than half the Armenian population.
Senator Lois Tochtrop and Speaker Andrew Romanoff were the co-sponsors of the
lengthy resolution describing the Armenian atrocities and continued denial of
the events by the current Turkish government. A portion of the resolution
reads: “Whereas, Armenian-Americans living in Colorado have greatly enriched
our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia,
government, and the arts; now, therefore, 1. That this legislative body pause
in its deliberations to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide to be recognized at a memorial service on Sunday, April 24, 2005, at
the Armenian Genocide memorial plaque located in the northeast quadrant on the
State Capitol grounds; 2. That we, the members of the General Assembly, hereby
acknowledge April 24, 2005, and every year hereafter, as “Colorado Day of
Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide;” 3. That the State of Colorado
respectfully urges the United States Congress to likewise commemorate the
Armenian Genocide.”
“This year marks the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and it is
fitting that the Colorado Legislature continue its tradition of designating
April 24 as Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide,” said Kim
Christianian, chairperson of the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee for
Armenians of Colorado, a non-profit cultural organization.
The 90th Anniversary of the Armenian genocide Commemorative events in
Colorado
begins on April 21. The Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society’s
ACC
Chapter, with co-sponsor Armenians of Colorado, will host The Greatest Crimes
of the 20th Century: Genocide/Holocaust Commemoration. Ken Allikian, an
Armenian/American whose parents survived the genocide, will be the guest
speaker, as well as Walter Plywaski, a Holocaust survivor and scholar. Phi
Theta Kappa chapter president Simon Maghakyan will present briefly on the
cultural genocide that destroyed thousands of Armenian churches and historical
monuments in historic Armenia, at the Arapahoe Community College Waring
Theatre.
On Sunday, April 24, Armenians of Colorado will host the Commemoration of the
90th Anniversary of the Armenian genocide at the Memorial Plaque located in
the
N.E. Quadrant of State Capitol grounds. Guest speakers will include State
Senator Lois Tochtrop and Speaker Andrew Romanoff. The community is invited to
participate in a joint commemorative church service at the Assumption Greek
Orthodox Church beginning at 2PM. There will be clergy from both the Armenian
Apostolic Church of Denver and from the Armenian Apostolic Church of Colorado
and the Rocky Mountain Region. There will also be a talk with Tatul
Sonentz-Papazian, long-time Armenian National Committee activist and Armenian
Relief Society International Office Publications Director and Editor of “Hai
Sird,” the multi-lingual periodical of the ARS. Papazian is the recipient of
the St. Mesrop Mashtots Medal by Catholicos Aram I, for meritorious
contributions to the promotion of Armenian culture in the diaspora. The talk
will be held in the church cultural center 4610 E. Alameda Avenue Denver,
Colorado 80246. For directions and more information please visit
<;
Armenians of Colorado Inc. was established in June 1980, as a 501( c) (3)
non-profit, cultural organization. Its purpose is to create a cohesive
Armenian
community and to further the understanding of Armenian history, culture, and
heritage. AOC actively supports issues and concerns of the Armenian/American
community here in Colorado, as well as those identified within the Armenian
Diaspora throughout the world. AOC represents the interests of over 1000
Colorado Armenian residents accounting for over 300 Armenian families
throughout the state.

2) ARF Delegation Meets with Lebanon’s Aoun

BEIRUT (ARF Press Offices)–An ARF Lebanon delegation composed of central
committee representative Hovig Mkitarian, and Lebanon’s Minister of Youth and
Sports Sebouh Hovnanian, met with former Lebanese Prime Minister, Army
commander, and opposition leader Minister General Michel Aoun on April 6, at
his office in Paris.
The ARF presented its position on recent developments in Lebanon and means to
resolve the building political tension, proposing that dialogue is the only
viable option and that the country’s various sides must participate in the
formation of a government.
The ARF delegation also conveyed their support for the implementation of the
1989 Taif Agreement that constitutes a compromise among the Lebanese deputies,
political groups, and parties, militias and leaders, in an attempt to tackle
the structure of the political system and the sovereignty of the Lebanese
state. They also spoke of the election process and the country’s election
laws.
For his part, Aoun said that after his recent meetings with the leadership of
the ARF, he fully grasps the party’s stance on issues, and conveyed his vision
of what will unfold in Lebanon.
The Armenian leaders said they seek Aoun’s return to Lebanon to
participate in
the political process.
Aoun said that it is vital to continue meetings with the ARF, and envisioned
future cooperation with the party in a variety of areas.

3) French-Armenian Author Jean-Jacques Varoujean Dies

PARIS–French-Armenian author and intellectual Jean-Jacques Varoujean passed
away on April 2, in his home in Paris. The author of such plays as A plus, La
Voleuse d’histoires, and A L’autre Bout Du Pont, Varoujean was born Varoujean
Ouzounian in Marseilles in 1927, to immigrant Armenian parents.
Varoujean is undoubtedly one of the rare French Armenian authors; Armenians
know little about his work and even less about the man. Jean-Jacques Varoujean
had said, “There is in me a great contradiction: I am an anti-nationalist, but
I wish that justice is returned to the Armenian nation.”
Like so many other artists or intellectuals, he did not hesitate to give an
opinion in a clear and committed way about Armenian political problems.
A great admirer of Levon Shant, Varoujean translated and adapted his
masterpiece, the Former Gods (Heen Asdvadzner). “The theater plays an
essential
role to awaken the conscience, to help to keep the eyes about good and evil.
>>From the very start of the century, with the Former Gods, an Armenian author
dared to announce something as it is,” Varoujean had written.

4) Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey Agree on Rail Link Construction

TBILISI (Civil Georgia)–The Georgian, Azeri and Turkish sides signed a
protocol in Baku on April 6, over the construction of a railway link between
the eastern Turkish city of Gars and southern Georgian town of Akhalkalak,
which will also enable Azerbaijan to gain access to its strategic partner
Turkey via Georgia.
According to the Georgian Railway Department, a joint Azeri-Georgian-Turkish
venture will be set up with headquarters in Istanbul to implement this
project.
According to the preliminary estimates, the price tag will be $400 million.

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mass media outlets.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Government Invites Decker to Perform at Memorial Concert
Commemorating 90th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Government has officially invited U.S. world musician
Daniel Decker to perform at the Memorial Concert in Yerevan, Armenia on
April 23 to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the 1915 Armenian
Genocide. Decker will sing Adana,” a song that tells the tragic story of
the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians during WWI. It is a collaboration
between Decker, who wrote the song’s lyrics, and Ara Gevorgian, one of
Armenia’s premier composers.

PRWeb.com
April 6, 2005

Syracuse, NY (PRWEB) April 6, 2005 — American singer-songwriter
Daniel Decker () today announced that the Armenian
government has extended an official invitation to him to perform the
song “Adana” at a special Memorial Concert it is hosting to commemorate
the 90th Anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. The concert
will take place at the Opera and Ballet Academic Theatre in Yerevan,
the capitol of Armenia, on Saturday, April 23, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.

The Armenian Opera Orchestra, and Ara Gevorgian, one of Armenia’s
premier composers, will accompany Decker’s performance at the Memorial
Concert. Armenia’s President, Robert Kocharian, will be attending. Also
in attendance will be the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, His
Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

The song “Adana” tells the story of the Armenian Genocide, during which
soldiers of the Ottoman Empire forced 1.5 million Armenians into
starvation, torture and extermination because they would not renounce
their Christian faith. The song is a collaboration between Decker, who
wrote its powerful lyrics, and Gevorgian, its composer. “Adana” is
already played at the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan, Armenia, whenever
visiting foreign dignitaries visit.

Decker met Gevorgian by chance on a trip to Armenia in 2002. They first
collaborated with Decker writing the lyrics to a song the composer had
written for Armenia’s National Independence Day. “Noah’s Prayer”
chronicles the biblical story of Noah and his spiritual journey on the
ark to Mt. Ararat. With Gevorgian and the Armenian Opera Orchestra
accompanying him, Decker performed “Noah’s Prayer” live in 2002 during a
nationally televised outdoor concert with Mt. Ararat looming in the
background. Armenia’s President Kocharian, as well as ambassadors from
countries around the world, attended the event. After the concert,
President Kocharian approached Decker to shake his hand and personally
thank him for his participation.

The television broadcast transformed the song “Noah’s Prayer” into an
immediate hit and Decker into an instant celebrity in Armenia. The song
was repeatedly featured on Armenian radio and television, and Decker
gave numerous performances and press interviews. On his last visit to
the country in 2004, a reporter and television crew followed him
everywhere he went for three days.

It was the day after the 2002 concert that Decker heard Gevorgian’s
composition entitled “Adana.” Decker felt it was perfect to tell the
story of the Armenian genocide, an issue that moved him deeply, so he
arranged to meet Gevorgian the next day. “Before I could tell him my
idea to write the about the genocide, he said, ‘Please choose “Adana,
and please write about the genocide.'” Decker later discovered that
“Adana” is the name of the city in present-day Turkey where one of the
first massacres of the Armenian people took place. Thus, a second
collaboration was born.

“I wrote ‘Adana’ not only as a way to draw international attention to a
terrible tragedy, but as a source of healing to the Armenian people,”
explains Decker. Neither modern day Muslim Turkey, nor the United
States, an ally of Turkey, has formally recognized the Armenian
Genocide. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to perform with Daniel
again,” says Gevorgian. “Daniel has done a great thing for the people of
Armenia. When you listen to ‘Adana,’ you know that he was meant to write
the lyrics of this song to bring greater international awareness to the
Armenian Genocide.”

In addition to the work Decker has done to garner attention for the
genocide, Decker has also been working with relief organizations in
Armenia to bring aid to the poorest regions and to those that have been
hit the hardest, children and the elderly.

Both “Adana” and “Noah’s Prayer” can be found on Decker’s latest
recording entitled, “My Offering,” available on his website. With a
musical journey that has taken him to England, Puerto Rico, Canada and
Armenia, this CD reflects Decker’s love and appreciation of the many
cultures he has experienced. Along with his unique piano stylings, the
CD “My Offering” is a rich fusion of world music influences, with
flamenco guitars, Armenian duduk, Brazilian samba, Latin jazz, and
special performances by the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra.

For more information about Decker, please visit
Please direct press inquiries to Anne Sharp at (818) 994-2309.

# # #

Contact Information:
Anne Sharp
SHARP CONCEPTS

818-994-2309

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DISCORDS BETWEEN COMMITTEE OF ARMENIAN CAUSE AND ARMENIAN CONGRESS

Azg/arm
8 April 05

Turkish Hurriyet newspaper informed in its April 6 issue under the
title “Split among Diaspora Armenians in the USA” that contradiction
arouse between the Committee of Armenian Cause and the Armenian
Congress over the Armenian Genocide issues.

Hurriyet said that the committee accessed the congress of a conspiracy,
stating that Bush administration tries to carry out a plan according to
which the Armenians should abandon any territorial claims or demands
of compensations from Turkey against the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. While the Armenian Congress, supporting the abovementioned
plan, participates the conspiracy of the US.

It’s hard to say whether Hurriyet told the truth but it is well-known
that the Committee of the Armenian Cause and the Armenian Congress
always compete.

By Hakob Chakrian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIANS WANT TO KNOW ARMENIA BETTER

A1+
07-04-2005

Armenian Ambassador to Russia Armen Smbatyan gave a lecture with the
subject «The Present and Future of Armenia» in the Institute of
Asian and African States at the MGU.

Mr. Smbatyan in detail presented the social and economic situation
in Armenia as well as the political developments in the region.

When commenting of the Armenian-Russian relations the Ambassador
attracted attention to the events held within the frames of the Year
of Russia in Armenia.

During the discussions that followed the lecture, Armen Smbatyan
responded to the question, which for post part regarded the
Armenia-Russia, Armenia-Turkey and Armenia-Europe relationships as well
as the foreign policy and problems referring the economic priorities
of the country .

–Boundary_(ID_bU8oUfMaRVJVk1IxR5ko9Q)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress