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US SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR NOT RECOGNIZING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

YEREVAN, MARCH 2. ARMINFO. It is shameful that the U.S. has not
publicly recognized the Armenian Genocide, says Hellenic News of
America.

The world community and the academic community overwhelmingly
recognize the Armenian Genocide. The Library of Congress held a major
conference on the Armenian Genocide several years ago. Yet the State
Department continues its opposition to recognition. The U.S. should
also publicly call for the removal of Turkey-s illegal economic
blockage of Armenia which also prevents U.S. humanitarian aid to
Armenia.

The U.S. media has failed to cover adequately the situation in Turkey
for decades. They have taken handouts and statements from
U.S. officials without serious questioning or investigation. Speeches
and interviews by Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz and
former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman
for years have contained blatant falsehoods, misleading statements and
serious omissions of fact regarding:

To remind, during his recent meeting with US Armenians US Ambassador
to Armenia John Evans characterized the 1915 events in Ottoman Empire
by the term “genocide” saying that it was his personal opinion. But
the US official policy on the issue has not changed as the US has
traditional ties with Turkey in the framework of NATO.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CHAIRMAN OF CIS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ARRIVES IN ARMENIA TODAY

YEREVAN, MARCH 2. ARMINFO. Chairman of CIS Executive Committee,
Executive Secretary Vladimir Rushaylo is arriving in Yerevan on a
three-day visit today.

Rushaylo is to meet with Armenia’s President Robert Kocharyan, Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan, Defence Minister Serzh Sargsyan, Deputy
Foreign Minister Gegam Garibjanyan, WWII veterans.

He is to discuss issues concerning reformation of the CIS and
celebration of the 60th anniversary of the WWII Victory.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Syria comes to terms with the `Cedar Revolution’

The Independent – United Kingdom;
Mar 02, 2005

Robert Fisk Middle East Correspondent

THEY SLEPT in tents. They slept on the pavements last night. Lebanon
is cold in winter. Not as cold as Ukraine but the frost that has lain
over Lebanon these past 29 years is without temperature. Never has the
red, white and green Lebanese flag been used as so poignant a symbol
of unity. Only a few hundred metres away from the encampment, Rafik
Hariri was killed. And so, the Lebanese are supposed to believe, the
murder of the former prime minister has unleashed the “Cedars
Revolution”. The cedar tree stands at the centre of the Lebanese flag.

With the resignation of the pro-Syrian Lebanese government, the
equally pro-Syrian president Emile Lahoud was looking last night for a
“caretaker” government – without much success. Hariri’s sister Bahiya,
an MP in Sidon, was not interested in being Lebanon’s first woman
prime minister, and the elderly Rashid el-Solh didn’t want the job,
despite his Lebanese aristocratic origins. The dearth of contenders
showed how tragic the Lebanese body politic has become.

It is still not clear whether the rubric “Cedars Revolution” started
in Beirut or in the mouth of a US State Department spokesman but its
implications are still clear enough: the Syrian army must go and –
more important – the Syrian army’s intelligence service must leave
Lebanon.

Hence everyone is waiting to see if a “caretaker” government will care
for Lebanon or for Syria, whose protege, General Lahoud, is now the
lonely man in the Baabda presidential palace in the hills above
Beirut.

Today, the “opposition” – Christian Maronites, Sunni Muslims and Druze
though not, to be frank, many Shia Muslims – will gather at the palace
of the Jumblatt family in the Chouf mountains at Mukhtara where Walid
Jumblatt, the new would-be tiger of Lebanese freedom, has ensconced
himself for his own protection. No recent member of the Jumblatt
family has died in his bed, indeed, it was Walid’s claim that the
Syrian Baathists murdered his father, Kamal ,in 1977 that set off this
unprecedented revolution in the Arab world.

The Lebanese people, according to Walid Jumblatt, have struck down the
Syrian-sponsored Lebanese government. The Lebanese people want the
truth: Who killed Rafik Hariri?

“One voice …. one flag …” Mr Jumblatt said yesterday. He wanted
“the removal of foreign elements (sic) from Lebanon” and the end of
“foreign interference” in Lebanese affairs.

But neither Walid Jumblatt nor the Lebanese are naive. They know US
support for Lebanese “democracy” is fuelled by Washington’s anger at
Syria’s alleged support for the insurgency against US troops in Iraq.

Mr Jumblatt himself showed his own feelings about the US involvement
in Iraq when he said last year that he wished a mortar fired at the
hotel in which US Assistant Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz was
staying in Baghdad had hit Wolfowitz himself.

That remark cost Jumblatt a US visa. Mr Bush wants Hizbollah
guerrillas to disarm. So do the Israelis. Indeed, the Israelis want
the Syrian army and intelligence service to leave Lebanon.

So the Lebanese opposition are demanding the very same goals as the
Israelis. But Mr Jumblatt wants to protect Hizbollah – which finally
drove the Israeli army out of Lebanon in 2000: “We’ve got to engage
with Hizbollah,” he said yesterday. “They are Lebanese.” And he also
sent a message to Damascus: “We should speak frankly to the
Syrians. We want them to leave Lebanon. But we want good relations
with the Syrians.”

But here lies the problem. Syria will always be Lebanon’s larger Arab
neighbour. Its Muslims and Christians live together today on the
scales of a dark negative. The Christians will not demand control of a
country if the Muslims do not claim to be part of an “Arab
nation”. But if a `liberated’ Lebanon – a la Washington – declared
itself for “the West”, then the country could fall apart; as it did in
the 1975-1990 civil war.

It is tempting for the Lebanese camping on “Liberation Square” as they
call it, to believe they are part of a great movement for
democracy. But Lebanon has always been betrayed by foreign
cheerleaders.

Last night, even Selim el-Hoss, many times a former prime minister and
one of the few truly honest politicians in Lebanon, made it known he
did not want to lead a caretaker government. So here’s a question that
no one asks too directly in Lebanon: What is the future of Rustum
Ghazali?

“Amu Rustum” is the head of Syrian military intelligence in Lebanon –
he lives in the largely Armenian town of Aanjar in the Bekaa Valley
and has remained silent these past three weeks, even though President
Bashar Assad of Syria has condemned Rafik Hariri’s murder.

It would be good to hear from “Amu Rustum”. Mr Hariri, in the months
before his death, received an abusive phone call from General Ghazali.

What was said?

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

European Neighbourhood Policy: Armenia

Reference: IP/05/237 Date: 02/03/2005

IP/05/237

Brussels, 2 March 2005

European Neighbourhood Policy: Armenia

The European Commission is recommending a significant intensification of
relations with Armenia, through the development of an Action Plan under the
European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). This recommendation is based on the
Commission’s Country Report published today, which provides a comprehensive
overview of the political and economic situation in Armenia and the state of
its bilateral relations with the European Union. The ENP goes beyond the
existing Partnership and Co operation Agreement to offer the prospect of an
increasingly close relationship with the EU, involving a significant degree
of economic integration and a deepening of political cooperation. It is now
for the Council of Ministers to decide the next steps.

Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy,
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, commented `The European Neighbourhood Policy gives
us an opportunity to take relations with Armenia up a gear. I very much hope
that the Council will give the go ahead to negotiate an Action Plan, so that
we can work out a joint agenda for action in the coming years. Progress in
our relationship will reflect the efforts and success of the country
itself.’

In June 2004, Armenia (together with Azerbaijan and Georgia) was included in
the European Neighbourhood Policy, at its request and following a
recommendation made by the European Commission. The Commission was invited
to report on progress made by each country with regard to political and
economic reforms. Today, the Commission provides an assessment of
bilateral relations between the EU and Armenia, reflecting progress under
the existing Partnership and Co-operation Agreement and describing the
current situation in areas of particular interest for the ENP partnership:
the development of political institutions based on the values – democracy,
the rule of law, human rights – enshrined in the Agreement; regional
stability and co-operation in justice and home affairs; and economic and
social reforms that will create new opportunities for development and
modernisation, for further liberalisation of trade and for gradual
participation in the Internal Market.

Key objectives for the Action Plan should include:

Strengthening the rule of law, of democratic structures and pluralism (e.g.
the reform of electoral legislation in line with Council of Europe (CoE) and
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) recommendations
and the holding of democratic elections; constitutional reform taking into
account CoE recommendations; reform of local self-government);
Strengthening respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially
regarding freedom of expression and freedom of assembly;
Improvements in the business climate as well as public sector modernisation
Further efforts to tackle corruption and fraud
Reform of tax and customs administrations and legislation
Progress in poverty reduction
Progress on sustainable development and environmental protection
The decommissioning of the Medzamor Nuclear Power Plant
Progress towards conflict resolution and enhanced regional cooperation.
Prudent macroeconomic policies need to be maintained to support effective
implementation of an Action Plan.

For more information on the European Neighbourhood Policy:

Anglican Journal, Canada
March 2005

Rabbi mends fences
ENI

Israel’s Ashkenazi chief rabbi has paid an unprecedented official
visit to the headquarters of the Armenian Patriarch in Jerusalem in
what is seen as a drive by Israeli officials to improve
Jewish-Christian relations in the Holy Land.
Rabbi Yona Metzger, one of two chief rabbis, made the visit as
part of a series of meetings with Christian leaders to mend relations
after a Jewish seminary student attacked an Armenian archbishop last
year. It was the first time an Israeli chief rabbi had visited the
Armenian patriarchate.
A Jewish seminary student last year pushed and spat on an
Armenian archbishop as he led a religious procession to the Church of
the Holy Sepulchre, a site in Jerusalem commemorating Jesus’
crucifixion and burial.
The student, who later apologized to the cleric, said he
attacked the archbishop because he was offended by his holding of a
crucifix, which for some Jews has come to symbolize centuries of
Christian persecution.
The incident raised an outcry in Israel and officials and
religious leaders warned of the need to instil greater tolerance
among the country’s youth.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian charities win huge settlement
By PAUL CHAVEZ, Associated Press

Associated Press
March 1 2005

LOS ANGELES – Four Armenian charities each received $333,000 Monday
as part of a $20 million settlement between an insurance firm and
relatives of Armenians killed 90 years ago in the Ottoman Empire.

As part of the settlement, New York Life Insurance Co. also has
agreed to earmark $11 million for the heirs of policy holders. The
policy holders died in what Armenians call the first genocide of the
20th century.

Armenians contend that 1.5 million people were executed between 1915
and 1919 by Turkish authorities who believed they helped the invading
Russian army during World War I.

The genocide claim has been rejected by Turkey, which says the
Armenians were killed in civil unrest during the collapse of the
Ottoman Empire. France and Russia have declared the killings a
genocide, but the United States has not made that declaration.

“The genocide is an important issue in the Armenian community.
Everyone has some relative who perished in the genocide,” said
plaintiffs’ attorney Brian Kabateck, who said his maternal grandparents
were genocide survivors.

Kabateck also praised New York Life for acknowledging the genocide
and fulfilling its obligation to policy holders.

The settlement was approved last year by U.S. District Court Judge
Christina A. Snyder and is believed to be the first connected to the
Armenian deaths.

New York Life has admitted that about 2,400 policies were issued
to Armenians in Turkey before 1915 that were never paid. People
who believe they are descendants of policy holders have a March 16
deadline to file claims.

The settlement calls for the original policies to be multiplied by
15.5 for inflation and interest.

The four organizations who received payments Monday were the
Burbank-based Armenian Church of North America Western Diocese; the
Los Angeles-based Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church;
Armenian Educational Foundation, of Glendale, and the Armenian Relief
Society, nationally headquartered in Watertown, Mass.

The organizations were singled out because they helped Armenians
settle in the United States after the genocide, Kabateck said.

Five Armenian organizations on the East Coast last month also received
equal amounts.

Martin Marootian, the 89-year-old lead plaintiff in the case, said
he was pleased that Armenian charities received payments.

“It means all Armenians will benefit from the settlement of this case,”
he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A Strong Parallel Between Lincoln and Bush is Shown in a New Documentary

Emediawire (press release), WA
March 1 2005

The Wounded Warrior, a documentary produced by X-Back Pictures
relates President Abraham Lincoln’s Vision of Freedom to the actions
promoting freedom by current U.S. President George W. Bush.

(PRWEB) March 1, 2005 — The Wounded Warrior, a documentary produced
by X-Back Pictures relates President Abraham Lincoln’s Vision of
Freedom to the actions promoting freedom by current U.S. President
George W. Bush.

The film factually proves that Lincoln was the first President to lay
down the doctrine of spreading freedom throughout the world as a
means for our national defense. The doctrine known and revived today
as the ‘Bush Doctrine.’ By a strange twist of destiny, Lincoln
expressed this thought on September 11th, 1858. The docu-drama also
shows that Lincoln was one of the most despised presidents, falsely
accused of stealing elections, dividing and dragging the country in a
war over economy and tariffs and proclaimed a social tyrant who
violated the Constitution and civil liberties.

Director Yervand Kochar, the grandson of the highly-acclaimed, yet
persecuted (by Communist regime), Armenian artist, Yervand Kochar Sr.
was disappointed at his documentary being denied an audience at the
Big Muddy Film Festival sponsored in part by the Illinois Arts
Council and the Department of Cinema and Photography of Southern
Illinois University and taking place throughout Carbondale, Illinois,
and Western Kentucky.

The director believes that it was the message of the movie that
caused the rejection of the film by the festival and not its artistic
merit.

“I feel the real issue is that the majority of film festivals that
are supposed to create an environment for young talent to blossom are
in reality creating repressive constraints, says Mr. Kochar. They put
themselves in a position to evaluate an art form; yet, they dismiss
anything that doesn’t suit their ideology. Since festivals are pretty
much the only venue for many young filmmakers to launch their
careers, filmmakers conform their movies to topics, which they know
will be accepted by the festival organizers.”

Artistically, this movie is the first time that the director’s
grandfather’s revolutionary ‘painting in space’ style, so admired by
Picasso, has been translated into film and as such the movie is
already generating buzz for its innovative style.

Mr. Kochar finishes by stating, “I encourage any organization in
Carbondale, Illinois, or in the vicinity to screen The Wounded
Warrior. A movie like The Wounded Warrior is a truthful film that has
to be seen. Take the initiative of building your culture and do not
yield it to people who speak of freedom but mean slavery.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

San Francisco Chronicle, CA
March 1 2005

VOSGOUNY, Dikran

Tuesday, March 1, 2005

VOSGOUNY, Dikran – Passed away February 26, 2005. He is survived by
his loving wife, Ishkhanouhi Karamardian; his two daughters, Suzy
Alexander, her husband, Kent and their daughters, Taleen and Tamara;
and Houry Viola, her husband, Richard and their daughter, Nicole
Hoag; and many loving family members and friends. He was born in
Damascus, Syria on May 29, 1925. He was a world renowned Armenian
journalist, editor and author (“Burning Cedars”) for 60 years. In his
later years, he embraced the internet as his media for publishing
articles on Armenian life and other topics of political and cultural
interest on his very popular web site “vosgouny.com.” He passionately
maintained the web site and gained world-wide acclaim from his ever
growing devoted Armenian readers. In 2003, His Holiness Karekin II,
Catholicos of All Armenians granted him the St. Mesrob Mashdots Medal
of Honor for his intellectual endeavors in Armenian life. He was a
loving husband, father and grandfather. He left a legacy of search
for the truth and unyielding belief in a greater future. Visitation
Services will be held Tuesday, March 1, 2005, 7:30 pm, Ashley &
McMullen Funeral Home, 4200 Geary Blvd, SF. Memorial services will be
held Wednesday, March 2, 2005, 12:30 pm, St. Gregory Armenian
Apostolic Church, 51 Commonwealth Ave, SF, followed by Burial
services, Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Colma. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to KZV Armenian School, 825 Brotherhood Way,
SF, 94132.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Travel Daily News International, Greece
March 1 2005

Cyprus: The Island for all seasons
Monday, February 28, 2005

Welcome to the island of legends that basks year-round in the light
of the warm Mediterranean sun. A storied past 10,000 years long has
seen civilizations come and go and the likes of everyone from
Alexander the Great to Cleopatra stake their claim here ~V but then,
people do tend to get possessive when faced with such beauty.
Aphrodite made her home on Cyprus and travelers throughout antiquity
came here just to pay her tribute.

The cultural heritage of a people is its most important asset, its
identity and a sense of continuation through time. Cyprus is the
third largest island in the Mediterranean and standing as it does at
the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa it has had a tumultuous
history.

History
The Mycenaeans Achaeans brought their civilisation here, establishing
the first Greek roots 3,000 years ago. Many others passed through,
including Phoenicians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Romans,
Crusaders, Venetians, Ottomans and the British. The apostles of
Christ walked this land. The splendour of Byzantium, founded by
Constantine the Great at Constantinople, encompassed the island of
Cyprus. Here are prehistoric settlements, ancient Greek temples,
Roman theatres and villas, Early Christian Basilicas, Byzantine
churches and monasteries, Crusader castles, Gothic churches and
Venetian fortifications. In the villages, old customs and traditions
are still kept alive. Young girls still engage in lace making in the
beautiful village of Lefkara just as their grandmothers did before
them. Potters still create wondrous anthropomorphic shapes to
decorate their earthenware vessels at picturesque Foini and the sound
of handlooms can still be heard in Fyti, home of attractive
hand-woven materials, whilst, men in traditional baggy trousers
‘vraka’, still congregate at the coffee shop for a game of
backgammon.

In Cyprus the 21st century rubs shoulders with a civilisation 10,000
years old. There are festivals whose origins stretch back into
antiquity; like carnival and anthestiria organised in honour of God
Dionysos; at Kouklia, where the Temple of Aphrodite once stood, a
church was known until a few years ago as ‘the Church of the Virgin
Mary Aphroditissa’. The aura of the Great Goddess of Cyprus is still
present in Pafos, and all over ‘the Sweet land of Cyprus’ in the
beauty of the landscape, the mildness of the climate and the charm of
the people. The immortal words of Euripides and Sophocles ring out on
warm summer evenings at the Ancient Kourion Theatre and the Pafos
Odeon during performances of ancient Greek drama.

And in September wine flows free and the spirit of Dionysos, god of
wine and merriment, is present throughout the Wine Festival. The
Mediaeval folk songs are still sung in Cyprus keeping alive the
legends of Digenis, the unconquerable border guard of Byzantium, and
his beautiful Queen, Rigaina. In the narrow streets of the walled
city of Lefkosia the coppersmith works with the metal, as did his
ancestors 5,000 years ago. In the shade of old houses with their
overlooking balconies, the flavour of the past lingers among the old
typical stone houses.

In Cyprus the past lives side by side with the present in a unique
tapestry of living history.

Geography / climate / population
Cyprus is the third largest and the easternmost island in the
Mediterranean Sea, west of Syria, south of Turkey, north of Egypt and
in close proximity to the east of the Greek island of Rhodes.
Prominent geographic features include the Troodos massif that
occupies most of the southwestern part of the country, the
Pentadaktylos range in the north around Kyrenia and the Messaoria
Plain in between them. It is here that the capital city, Lefkosia is
located. The elongated Karpasia Peninsula occupies the northeastern
part of Cyprus, while the southeastern point terminates in Cape
Gkreco. The southern coast is where the major towns of Larnaka and
Lemesos are located. Pafos and the Akamas Peninsula are on the far
western edge.

Aphrodite’s island enjoys the ideal mild, typically Mediterranean
climate, with abundant sunshine and fine temperatures almost every
day.

Population: 802,500 (end 2002)

Language
Greek and Turkish are the official languages. English is widely
spoken. French and German are also spoken within the tourism
industry.

Religion
The country enjoys an exceedingly high level of freedom of worship.
While the majority of Cypriots are Greek Orthodox Christian (85%),
other religious faiths are represented on the island as well,
including Roman Catholics, Armenians, Maronites, Latins and Muslims.

Metrification
Speed limits and car speedometers are shown in kilometres

Currency
The Cyprus pound ~V C£, which is divided into 100 cents. The Cyprus
pound is not traded internationally. Commercial banks offer a wide
range of banking services and have correspondents in most major
cities around the world. Commercial banks are open to the public on
weekdays (Monday ~V Friday) 08:30 ~V 13:00 and from October ~V April
every Monday afternoon 15:15 ~V 16:45 and in some tourist resorts
afternoon exchange is available during the summer season. Banks at
Larnaka and Pafos International Airports provide exchange bureaux
services on a 24-hour basis. Similar facilities are also available at
Lemesos harbour. All major credit cards are accepted.

Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are available outside most branches
of banks in all towns. Credit cards and foreign currency are normally
accepted in hotels, large shops and restaurants. The rates of
exchange are published daily in the local press and are broadcast
through the media.

Further information on Cyprus banking system is available at the
Central Bank’s website; or at the websites of
Cypriot commercial banks.

Electricity
The standard electricity supply is 240 volts, a.c. 50Hz. Sockets are
usually 13 amp, square pin in most buildings.

Passports and visas
No visas are required for entry into Cyprus by nationals of most
European countries. National of other countries should contact the
nearest Consulate of the Republic of Cyprus, or if non, the nearest
British Consulate.

–Boundary_(ID_NGRW1SLROmqpwdj73NJwVg)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
March 1 2005

BULGARIA’S RECORD OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION EXPERIENCE USEFUL FOR
ARMENIA, AMBASSADOR SAYS
YEREVAN , MARCH 1, ARMENPRESS: In an exclusive interview with
Armenpress Bulgaria’s ambassador to Armenia, Stefan Dimitrov, said
there are more and more indications that Armenia and Bulgaria are
determined to intensify diverse bilateral ties, which received a
strong impetus following Armenian president Robert Kocharian’s visit
to Bulgaria in 2003 September, preceded by Bulgaria’s president
Georgy Pirvanov’s visit to Armenia in 2002. The ambassador said the
visits have put the Armenian-Bulgarian dialogue on the highest level.
He said the bilateral ties received another boost when Armenian
parliament chairman Arthur Baghdasarian visited Bulgaria last year,
which “showed that the parliamentary diplomacy occupies its specific
place in the modern world.”
The ambassador also stressed the four meetings between Armenian
and Bulgarian foreign ministers last year alone, both in Bulgaria and
Armeniaá which he said would promote further strengthening of ties
between the two countries’ foreign ministries.
Mr. Dimitrov also spoke about invigorating economic contacts
between Armenian and Bulgarian businessmen, which is taking place
concurrently with stepped up political contacts. He, particularly,
mentioned a 2004 business forum. He said the trade between the two
countries increased threefold in 2003 against the previous year, “an
evidence that bilateral high level meetings yield concrete and
tangible results.” According to ambassador’s calculation, trade
between the two countries increased 25-30 percent in 2004 against
2003.
According to Mr. Dimitrov, Bulgaria’s ten-year record of hard job
to meet EU membership criteria may be of great importance for
Armenia, which also wants to join it. “Being geographically part of
Europe, we worked to make practical steps to adapt our legislation to
that of EU rather than to adapt our mentality,” he said, adding that
European integration is a priority for both Bulgaria and Armenia.
He said both countries are working in this direction, fixed by a
document signed by Armenian and Bulgarian foreign ministers.
“Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004, April 2 and by 2007 January 1, we are
supposed to become a full member of the EU,” he said, adding that
legal grounds for membership are already prepared and that on April
17 Bulgaria and EU will sign a relevant agreement.

–Boundary_(ID_I/y5/Ha71sRqN/Hw6z6CGw)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress