Author: Andranik Taslakhchian

Glendale News Press
Published June 11, 2005
Fanning flames of diversity
Seven graduate from the Glendale fire academy Friday, including city’s first
Armenian firefighter.
By Jackson Bell, News-Press and Leader
In a city that has been home to a large and growing population of Armenians
for two decades, Karlow Krikor became the first Armenian firefighter in
Glendale on Friday. He and six other Fire Department recruits graduated from
the Glendale Arroyo Seco Fire Academy on Friday at the Glendale Fire
Training Center.
For the 34-year-old Krikor, his ethnicity and a desire to diversify the
force came second to his desire to serve the community he grew up in —
especially since he is fluent in Armenian.
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“I hope this helps bridge the gap and allows me to educate my culture to the
Fire Department, and vice versa,” he said.
The firefighter recruit class of 2005 were cheered on by family, friends and
fellow department personnel as they were sworn in. The seven will now serve
a one-year probationary period.
The graduating class includes Jeffrey Brooks, Jeffrey Casilli, Jose
Escobedo, Brent Kelley, Krikor, Gilbert Pedroza and Zack Zarrilli.
“Something set them apart, that’s the reason they are here,” Glendale Fire
Chief Christopher Gray said. “There were thousands who applied for the job,
and seven are here.”
Before receiving their badges, the graduates showed off their newly learned
skills by extinguishing a controlled building fire, hosing down a burning
car and climbing ropes down a tower.
Capt. Greg Fish narrated the demonstrations, which also included an
extradition from a smashed minivan. The seven went beyond what was needed
for a safe rescue and sliced the vehicle’s top off, to the delight of the
crowd.
“That patient would have already been to the hospital, but they’re going to
fight it, they’re going to get it.” Fish said, as the audience laughed.
“It’s their day.”
Escobedo, 25, had been waiting 15 years for the moment he would finally
become a firefighter. Growing up behind a fire station in Los Angeles, he
said he was inspired by what he saw.
“There is no better job,” the Valencia man said. “You get to help people and
you’re a model in the community. You are the person everyone looks up to for
help, and I wanted to be a part of that.”
A more diverse force will help break down cultural barriers, said Alina
Azizian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee’s Glendale
chapter.
The committee has been helping the Fire Department with community outreach,
Azizian said.
“We are very encouraged that there is an Armenian-American being sworn in
and joining the ranks, especially since there are already several police
officers who are Armenian,” she said. “And we hope this encourages other
Armenians to join the Fire Department.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

2004 BUDGET FULFILMENT DISCUSSED BUT NOT VOTED ON
YEREVAN, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The annual report of the 2004 RA state
budget was discussed at the end of the RA National Assembly spring
session on May 26. Although the discussion was completed, the vote
was postponed to a later date because there was no quorum. According
to NA Vice Speaker Vahan Hovhannisian, it is planned to hold the vote
within the next few days. It is not ruled out that the deputies will
have to continue their work at a special session because of not
concluding the agenda. It is noteworthy that about 20 deputies were
present on the NA floor during the discussion of the 2004 budget’s
fulfilment.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Shame on Israel and Turkey for desecrating Yad Vashem
Intermountain Jewish News
May 6, 2005
Should Pol Pot have been invited to Israel to place a wreath at Yad Vashem,
Israel’s Holocaust memorial? If the murderer of millions of Cambodians were
escorted by Israeli officials to a Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, wouldn’t
blasphemy be the perfect word for the act?
Should Idi Amin have been allowed to appear at Yad Vashem?
What about the leaders of the Rwandan genocide, who took their machetes to
800,000 innocent human beings in 1994? Should Israel walk them down the
aisle, wreaths in hand, to the Hall of Remembrance at Yad Vashem? Blasphemy,
indeed.
Unlike Pol Pot and the other mass murderers, the prime minister of Turkey has
no blood on his hands, but the moral stench was the same this week when
Israel had Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan place a wreath at Yad
Vashem. Israel might as well have brought along convicted Holocaust denier
David Irving for the ceremony. Shame on Israel for engaging in its own form
of Holocaust denial. Turkey is the perpetrator of the first genocide in
modern times, the Armenian genocide. And Turkey is no Germany: Germany is
repentant. Turkey is not. Germany paid reparations. Turkey did not.
Modern-day Turkey never acknowledged the Armenian genocide, never said, we’re
sorry. There are Holocaust memorials all over Germany; don’t go look for
Armenian memorials all over Turkey.
The vilest form of realpolitik governs Israel-Turkey relations and, to their
eternal shame, some in the American Jewish community join in the ugly charade
of exonerating modern-day Turkey for the Armenian genocide. Precisely the
kind of tendentious (not to mention outright false) “scholarship” that makes
Jews livid when used by Holocaust deniers to diminish the Holocaust, Israel
turns a blind eye to when Turkey uses it to diminish the Armenian genocide.
What moral credence should Jews attribute to a head of state and Nobel Peace
Prize winner, if he were to state that “whether” there was a Holocaust is a
“matter for historians to decide”? No moral credence whatsoever. Yet, this is
just what Shimon Peres, the former prime minister of Israel and a Nobel Peace
Prize laureate, said about the Armenian genocide.
We have here a prime case of politics trumping truth. Israel needs a positive
relationship with Turkey. And to get it, Israel will engage in the same form
of genocide denial that it acidly resents when others put it in the form of
Holocaust denial. The national American Jewish Committee tags along, engaging
in every from of sophistry to deny the undeniable: the Turkish attempt to
wipe out the Armenian people during World War I.
If Jews don’t want the world to forget the Holocaust, how can the Jewish
state forget the Armenian genocide? As time goes on, the 25-year gap between
the Armenian genocide and the Holocaust will shrink to the merest dots on the
historical map. If one dot is deniable, the next one will also be very easy
to deny.
The rationalizations for denial of the Armenian genocide are flimsy, indeed
excruciating.
* Rationalization #1: It is said that the current Turkish government was not
responsible for the Armenian genocide. This is 100% true — and 100%
irrelevant. Was the current German government responsible for the Holocaust?
Of course not. But it is this German government that has openly acknowledged
the truth, openly repented, and paid extensive reparations. Turkey does none
of this.
This is highly dangerous. As time passes, no direct responsibility will be
attributable to any government for any past genocide. Does this mean that
Germany will gradually be exempt from honesty over its country’s role in the
Holocaust, or exempt from furthering Holocaust education? For Israel and the
national American Jewish Committee to let the current Turkish government off
the hook for the Armenian genocide 90 years ago — which it is obviously not
directly responsible for — is to endanger all future education about all
past genocides. Needless to say, the main point of genocide education is to
prevent it. By the logic of exempting present-day Turkey from the Armenian
genocide, genocide education will gradually halt. This is highly dangerous.
* Rationalization #2: It is said that the Armenian deaths weren’t really a
“genocide,” just a “tragedy.” Not so. Of the reams of evidence to the
contrary — thousands of independently gathered testimonies — here is one
from Hans Morgenthau, the (Jewish) US ambassador to Turkey during the first
part of WW I, in a cable to the State Department:
“Deportations of and excesses against the peaceful Armenians is increasing,
and from harrowing reports of eyewitnesses it appears that a campaign of race
extermination is in progress under a pretext of reprisal against rebellion.”
Note the key phrase: race extermination. That’s genocide.
Morgenthau, as quoted in a recent report by Larry Derfner, also wrote:
“Reports from widely scattered districts indicate a systematic attempt to
uproot peaceful Armenian populations and . . . arbitrary efforts, terrible
tortures, wholesale expulsions and deportations from one end of the empire to
the other, accompanied by frequent instances of rape, pillage and murder,
turning into massacre, to bring destruction and destitution on them.”
Note the key adjective: systematic. That’s genocide.
And yet, here we are: Turkey is allowed an honored place at Yad Vashem. And
the national American Jewish Committee won’t call the Armenian genocide by
its name. This is a desecration.
Unlike the national American Jewish Committee, the US Memorial Holocaust
Museum and especially the Museum of Tolerance, affiliated with the Simon
Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, tell the truth. The Holocaust Museum in
Washington mentions the Armenian genocide three times. The Museum of
Tolerance does much more.
The truth, the whole truth, includes this: Turkey served as a haven for Jews
after the expulsion from Spain in 1492, and for more than 500 years
afterward. Turkey is a secular state in a Moslem region, an important trading
partner with Israel and an important strategic partner with the US. All true,
deserving of recognition and indeed gratitude — but not deserving of lies.
The Armenian genocide is a fact. If you argue otherwise, you have to argue
against the evidence not only of Hans Morgenthau but of Elie Wiesel, Deborah
Lipstadt, Daniel Goldhagen, Raul Hilberg, Yehuda Bauer and countless other
authorities.
It should not be hard for present day Israel or Turkey to acknowledge the
Armenian genocide, or for Turkey to commit to Armenian-genocide education.
After all, if the present Turkish government was not responsible for this
genocide, why the denial of the past?
Whatever the social-psychological answer might be, it is not Israel’s role to
aid and abet genocide denial. Right now, there is genocide in Darfur.
Directly abetting the indifference over it are those who deny genocide in the
past. If there is anything in community and state relations that must be
above all political considerations, it is genocide. Our humanity — and the
existence of humanity — depends on it.

Pan Armenian News
TORBEN HOLTZE: CLOSE BORDER NOT FAVORABLE EITHER TO ARMENIA OR TURKEY
14.05.2005 05:33
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As head of the EU delegation in Armenia and Georgia,
Ambassador Torben Holtze stated in Yerevan, the question of integration of
Turkey to Europe cannot be decided in a day. In his words, the integration
process may last years and Turkey may make progress within that period. As
of the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border, T. Holtze stated the makes
every effort to that end. In his words, it is necessary to work for the
solution of that problem, as the closed border is not favorable either to
Armenia, or Turkey, reported the Caucasian Knot.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
ARMENIAN GOODS IN AZERI MARKET
13.05.2005 02:42
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian goods appeared in the Azeri markets again, Day.az
reports. Ararat Armenian brandy, Jermuk mineral water, Sigaron Armenian
cigarettes and other goods can be freely purchased in the market. According
to the experts, informal trade relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan have
never suspended. Mineral oil and fish is usually imported in Armenia from
Azerbaijan while Armenia exports electronics and production of light and
heave industry. Actually the turnover is realized via Georgia and Iran. The
State Customs Committee reported that the Azerbaijani State Committee is
undertaking measures for preventing import of Armenian commodities to the
Azeri market.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1plus
| 14:26:38 | 12-05-2005 | Politics |
IMPORTANT TO KNOW STATE LANGUAGE
After the Georgian parliament passed the law on education in April the
regional departments of education and schools are to face serious changes.
In the Armenian schools the language of education is chosen by the council
of the school trustees. However for the school directors as well as the
employees of the departments of education the knowledge of the Georgian
language is obligatory. On one hand the salary will be raised on the other
reduction of the staff is expected. To note the upcoming reduction is not so
dangerous as the lack of knowledge of the state language. The Armenians are
afraid that they will not be able to occupy responsible positions due to
this reason, A-info agency reported.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN AND FRENCH PARLIAMENTS ADVOCATE COOPERATION
YEREVAN, MAY 3. ARMINFO. Speaker of Armenian Parliament Artur
Bagdassaryan met today with President of France-Armenia Friendship
Group of French Senate, mayor of Bourg les Valence Bernard Piras.
Present at the meeting was also President of Armenia-France Friendship
Group of Armenian Parliament Mher Shahgeldyan.
The sides discussed the strengthening of parliamentary cooperation
and friendly relations, the prospects of francophony development
in Armenia, inter-city cooperation, joint projects in health care,
science and education.
In the framework of its friendship with Talin (Armenia) Bourg les
Valence is planning to carry out a program of economic development
there.
Shahgeldyan invited Piras and the member of his group to visit Armenia
in 2006.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KARABAGH LEADER SKEPTICAL ABOUT KOCHARIAN-ALIYEV MID-MAY MEETING
Armenpress
YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS: Nagorno Karabagh leader Arkady Ghukasian
was skeptical today about a forthcoming meeting of Armenian and
Azerbaijani presidents in mid-May for another round of talks on the
Karabagh problem saying the more than a decade-long conflict could
not be resolved without Karabagh’s direct participation.
“Azerbaijan’s objection to Stepanakert’s involvement in the
negotiations is evidence of its reluctance to settle the conflict,’
Ghukasian told reporters in Yerevan.
Ghukasian described the official Baku’s talk about going back to the
1988 status quo as “absurd .” “The former Soviet Union fell apart,
giving rise to independent republics, including also Armenia and
Nagorno Karabagh, the situation has changed drastically. Azerbaijan
should open its eyes and come to terms with the current situation,’
Ghukasian speculated.
Saying he was in favor of the stage-by-stage conflict resolution
option, Ghukasian, nevertheless, argued that first Karabagh status
must be determined. He also shrugged off Azerbaijan’s attempts to
advance its positions on the line of contact saying they do not pose
any threat to Armenian forces.
He also denied allegations that Armenia has softened its stance on the
conflict. “We have always been saying that there is no alternatives
to a compromise solution, unlike Azerbaijan that flatly rejects any
such possibility,’ he said.
Karabagh leader also said that the upcoming parliamentary elections
in Nagorno Karabagh “will be the most exemplary elections.” “I am
confident that the most democratic national elections in the pos-Soviet
space are held in Nagorno Karabagh,” he said, adding that he will not
run for new presidency after his term in office is ended. “It is my
duty to remain in Nagorno Karabagh and work for it,” he concluded.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TASS News Agency
TASS
April 21, 2005 Thursday
Speaker supports idea of Caucasian Four meeting in May
By Tamara Ivanova, Viktor Schulman
BAKU, April 21
The chairman of the Russian Federation Council upper house of
parliament supported on Thursday the idea of holding a meeting of
parliament speakers of the Caucasian Four group in Moscow late in
May.
The idea came from the speaker of Azerbaijani parliament, Murtuza
Aleskerov. The Russian speaker, Sergei Mironov, is in Baku for an
official visit at the head of a parliamentary delegation.
>>From May 24 to 27, an Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation will pay
an official visit to Russia. Aleskerov believes the Caucasian Four
meeting could take place during that visit. Mironov confirmed that
the date and the venue were acceptable. He said he would discuss it
with the Georgian parliament speaker as well as with the leadership
of Armenian parliament.
“We are ready to meet and discuss any problems without restrictions
and with utmost sincerity,” the speaker said. There have already been
five meetings of the Caucasian Four. He explained a pause in them
with organizational issues, as well as election campaigns in Georgia
and Armenia. Mironov believes “a lot of issues and information for
discussions have amassed”.
He stressed that the main value of these meetings is their utmost
sincerity. “It is not always pleasant,” he admitted. However, “all
participants in the meetings benefit from that and begin to
understand each other better,” he stressed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
VARDAN OSKANIAN NOT GOING TO MEET WITH ELMAR MAMEDYAROV IN LONDON
13.04.2005 05:19
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During today’s press conference Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanian stated that he is not going to meet with Azeri FM Elmar
Mamedyarov in London on April 15. In his words, he is scheduled to meet with
the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, who in their turn will hold separate
meetings with FMs of the two states. `Though I and Elmar Mamedyarov will
stay in the same city and in the same hotel our private meeting is not
scheduled’, the Armenian FM stressed. Besides the Minister refuted the
information that the mediators have a package of proposals on the Karabakh
conflict settlement. He also noted that there is no concrete agreement on
the meeting of Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian. According to him, the
leaders might meet in Moscow May 8-9 or later in Warsaw. When commenting on
the conflict settlement Vardan Oskanian noted that the parties are far from
final resolution as they disagree on a number of issues.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress