Author: Antonian Lara

CANADIAN PM RECOGNIZED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.04.2006 20:03 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada, has
made a clear statement recognizing the historical fact of the Armenian
Genocide, reports the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC). In
response to a reporter’s question regarding the Armenian Genocide,
the Prime Minister said: “That was a vote held in the last Parliament
[Motion M-380 – April 21, 2004]. As you recall, Parliament passed that
resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Our party supported that
resolution and we continue to recognize that parliamentary resolution”.
Dr. Vagharch Ehramdjian, Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of
Canada (ANCC), thanked Prime Minister Harper, on behalf of the Canadian
Armenian community, for his historic statement. “Stephen Harper’s
principled and righteous stand in recognizing the Armenian Genocide
will finally bring closure to the Canadian-Armenian community,”
said the ANCC Chairman.

Armenia Fund USA, Inc.
152 Madison Ave, S-803
New York, NY 10016, U.S.A.
T/1-212-689-5307
F/1-212-689-5317
e-mail: [email protected]
Armenia Fund USA Aids “Children’s Home” Orphanage
Press Release 04.21.06
NEW YORK, New York – Armenia Fund USA (Fund), East Coast Affiliate
of Hayastan Himnadram All-Armenian Fund, is pleased to announce
the successful implementation of a much needed heating system
restoration project in “Children’s Home” orphanage, Yerevan,
Armenia. Having started in November of last year, the project was
brought to its successful completion in January of 2006 through
the generous contribution of Mr. Agop Giritliyan. With project
implementation support from Armenia Fund USA’s Armenian affiliate,
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, the heating system’s restoration was
completed in January of 2006.
Constructed in 1937 and currently located in the district of Nork,
“Children’s Home” orphanage in Yerevan has been intended for
children aged 6 years and under. Today, it gives shelter to about 80
children, with an average of 150 children annually passing through
its portals. Once children reach the age of 6, they are relocated to
other orphanages (mankadoons) throughout Yerevan, Gavar, and other
towns. When necessary, the mankadoon in Gyumri, which specializes
in the care of children with various neurological illnesses and
disabilities, is accessed for those children with special needs.
Yerevan winters can be brutally cold with the winds of the surrounding
Ararat and Aragats mountains piercing Soviet-era stone structures
which house most of the city’s institutionalized children. But with
their hands tied by the socio-economic realities of a recovering
Armenia, many orphanages struggle daily with critical needs such as
overcrowding, poor plumbing/sanitation, and lack of heat.
That is why Liana Karapetian, director of the “Children’s Home”,
was so grateful when Armenia Fund USA – through the generosity of
Agop Giritliyan- was able to come alongside the “Children’s Home” in
order to address the serious need of a reliable heating system. The
outdated system from Soviet times had not been working since 1989,
and repairing it would have cost more than developing a new system
for the orphanage. Challenged to sufficiently heat the home for the
children – aged 0-6 years, Director Liana Karapetian had previously
been forced to rely on electricity- which then presented severe
budgetary challenges. But now, through Agop Giritliyan’s gift and
Armenia Fund USA’s efforts, a brand-new system utilizes natural gas-
a more economical and reliable resource for heat.
On behalf of the staff, management and children, “Children’s Home”
director Liana Karapetian expressed her gratitude to Armenia Fund
USA and the Giritliyan family, as well as to Hayastan Himnadram, for
the sincere compassion and concern for the children’s well-being in
cold winter.
Also, on the occasion of the successful completion of the project,
Naira Melkoumian, executive director/Hayastan Himnadram, visited the
orphanage. She announced Himnadram’s interest in undertaking another
project at the orphanage – this time directed toward repairing the
roof of the building.
Armenia Fund USA’s has distinguished itself by implementing
projects ranging from grassroots development projects to specific
problem-solving initiatives. With the support of its donors and
constituents, the Fund will continue in its mission of improving
Armenian lives by building foundations that will sustain the economic
growth and stability of the country and its people.
ABOUT ARMENIA FUND USA: ARMENIA FUND USA, founded in 1992, was one of
the first of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s 18 international affiliates
and serves constituents in all states east of the Mississippi.
As a non-profit, non-governmental, nonsectarian organization, the
Fund represents all Armenian constituents.
Armenia Fund USA is the largest contributor among the 18 international
affiliates – supporting strategic infrastructure projects in Armenia
and Karabakh, and having helped build 138 miles of roads, 100 miles
of waterways, 36 schools, 3 electric transmission networks, 210
residential buildings and 15 healthcare institutions.
Armenia Fund USA’s Mission is the development of strategic
socio-economic infrastructure in Armenia and Karabakh, focusing
on major projects such as major highways, schools, drinking water
to communities and humanitarian programs in education, training and
medical facilities. The Fund has adopted a policy to go “Beyond Bricks
and Mortar” to provide sustainability for projects it sponsors.

MERZLYAKOV NOT PLANNING TO VISIT YEREVAN
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.04.2006 21:42 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri
Merzlyakov is not planning to visit Yerevan, The Russian MFA Group
on Nagorno Karabakh told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In the words of
the Group’s Coordinator, Mann and Merzlyakov did not plan to visit
Armenia together. To remind, on April 20 Steven Mann will arrive in
Yerevan and then in Baku from Moscow. Earlier French Co-Chair Bernard
Fassier visited the region.
To note, some Armenia media reported Steven Mann will arrive in
Yerevan along with Yuri Merzlyakov.

ARMENIANS, WHO WON MISS IRAQ CONTEST, FORCED TO REFUSE THEIR CROWN
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.04.2006 20:33 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As a result of threats by Muslim radical groupings,
winner of the first Miss Iraq contests, ethnic Armenian Tamara
Goregian had to refuse its title. Silva Sahakyan, who was the second,
also has to hide from radicals. The winner of Miss Iraq contest,
held under secret conditions, returned the crown of the winner
to the organizational committee in four days, as Muslim radical
groupings of Iraq threatened her. “You are the queen of unfaithful,
not that of beauty,” they stated. As a result Tamara Goregian had
to hide in Jordan and the title was offered to two Muslim girls,
who were the second and third, but they refused, too. After that the
crown was handed to Silva Sahakyan, who was the fourth and radicals
started threatening her, too. Silva Sahakyan is hiding at the moment,
however she does not refuse the crown of the winner, reports RFE/RL.

MANE TILES ORGANIZES TREE PLANTING ON APRIL 15 IN YEREVAN AND BRYURAKAN
Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. It is the second year the Mane Tiles
Armenian-American enterprise producing ceramic tiles and mosaics
made from natural stones organizes tree planting in Armenia. As Arman
Balian, head of the marketing department of the enterprise, informed
at the tree planting organized on April 15 at the Victory Park,
decorative trees were planted in the green territories adjoining the
sports and concert complex after Karen Demirchian and near Byurakan
observatory. A.Balian also said that the production of Mane Tiles
made from Armenian raw materials is mainly sold in U.S.

AZERBAIJANI STUDENTS IN ROMANIA APPEAL TO HUNGARIAN COURTS
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 18 2006
Azerbaijani students studying in Romania held a protest action related
to the Budapest court’s unfair verdict on Azerbaijani army officer
Ramil Safarov by jailing him to life in prison.
The Eastern Europe bureau of APA reports that the protest action
brought together authorities of Azerbaijan-Romania Culture and Youth
Association, Romania-Azerbaijan Friendship and Romania-Azerbaijan
Commerce and Industry Chamber, members of managing staff, Azerbaijani,
Turkish and Tatar who are living or studying in Romania.
The protesters demanded that Armenian terrorists, who are conducting
ethnic cleansing, murdered and committed torture against Azerbaijanis
with special cruelty, mercilessly in the occupied Nagorno Garabagh and
surrounding regions, should be brought to justice by international
criminal court. The participants of the protest action adopted an
appeal to Hungarian Embassy in Romania, Hungarian Supreme Court,
Hungarian Court of Appeal and the International Criminal Tribunal
in The Hague. The authors of the appeal demand fairly reconsidering
Ramil Safarov’s case.

ANDREW GOLDBERG’S “THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE” TO BE SCREENED IN U.S. TODAY
PanARMENIAN.Net
17.04.2006 21:33 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today PBS will screen Andrew Goldberg’s “The
Armenian Genocide” documentary. In some states the film show will
be followed by debates with participation of Turkish scholar Taner
Akcam and writer Peter Balakyan as well as two Genocide deniers.
The PBS branch in Los Angeles meeting the wishes of the Armenians
will not screen the film and the following debates, since the Armenian
community considers the Armenian Genocide fact to be indisputable. A
French-shot film about the Genocide will be shown instead.
At that the documentary will be screened in one of Los Angeles
cinemas. “We will show the film as many times as it’s needed,”
said Goldberg, who paid the house rent amounting in $12 thousand,
reported RFE/RL.

POLITICAL COORDINATION CENTER LEADS ROUND TABLE ON NK
Today, Azerbaijan
April 17 2006
Political coordination center of opposition (PCCO) has led a round
table “Influence of new regional situation on Azerbaijan, expected
changes in Karabakh problem” April 17.
Trend reports that state deputies and representative of Azadlyg
political block were partaking at the session.
The session was opened up by Faradj Guliyev PCCO cofounder and leader
of National Renascence Movement. He spoke on influence of the current
regional situation in Karabakh problem. To speed up the resolution
of the problem, Azerbaijan should change the course it adheres to now.
Speaking after him, deputies Nasib Nasibli and Fazil Gazanfarogli said
of tension between the USA and IRI and importance of such situation
for Azerbaijan. In case this conflict turns into a war Azerbaijan
will be in great danger.
The word then was given to Sardar Djalalogli, first deputy chairman
of Democratic party, but Mr. Djalalogli denied. “I haven’t prepared
speech on this issue in public,” – Mr. Djalalogli explained.
At the session the politicians demanded the state inform the public
on the process of conversations on resolution of Karabakh problem.
URL:

HOUSE OF WRITERS UNION NOT TO BE DESTROYED
Lragir.am
17 April 06
On April 17 the president of the Writers Union of Armenia Levon Ananyan
gave certain certainly on the building of the Writers Union. He was
in Lebanon and participated in the all-Armenian conference of writers
when he learnt about the noise over the house of the Writers Union.
Levon Ananyan says the building of the Writers Union on Baghramyan
Street will not be sold or destroyed. However, the building needs
repair, confesses the president of the Writers Union. Nevertheless,
he says, he had rejected the offer of an investor to repair the
building on the condition of building a high-rise over the Writers
Union, the four floors would be given to the Writers Union for free.
“The investor said it would be better if the building of the Writers
Union was included in the high-rise, but the administration discussed
and rejected the offer,” said Levon Ananyan. According to him, it is
impossible to destroy the house of the Writers Union and carry out
construction for three years, because it will disrupt the work of the
Writers Union, which has, Levon Ananyan says, improved significantly.
“No offer that is connected with destroying the house of the Writers
Union will be accepted. I would resign rather than accept such an
offer,” says Levon Ananyan. He is ready to accept another offer,
however. And there is such an offer from a group of Armenians from
the United States. Levon Ananyan says the point of the offer is to
add a building to the Writers Union, Levon Ananyan says, to improve
the conditions of writers. The president of the Writers Union says
this offer needs to be considered. However, there was no dissent on
behalf of writers but not with regard to the offer itself. Simply Levon
Ananyan reminds that when he was elected president of the Writers Union
he raised the issue of an additional building to improve conditions
of the Writers Union. The conference of the Union approved the concern
about the building, says Levon Ananyan.
He is also surprised that the rumored sale of the building raised
such a great noise, whereas no one was anxious when the government
decided to triple the cadastre value and the tax on property for the
buildings of creative unions.

SEPARATISTS CONDUCT WAR GAMES TO PRESSURE BAKU TO SIGN PEACE DEAL – AZERI PUNDIT
Yeni Musavat, Baku
16 Apr 06
Excerpt from Tamerlan’s report in Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni Musavat
on 16 April headlined “Armenians preparing for war” and subheaded
“The enemy has started large-scale military exercises in Karabakh”
The Armenian separatists have started conducting military exercises
in Nagornyy Karabakh and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
Military units and mobilized civilians are participating in the
drills, which are aimed at “improving the combat readiness of Armenian
forces and coordinating their work during defence and counterattack
operations,” Turan has reported.
The deputy Armenian defence Minister and chief of the Armenian General
Staff, Col-Gen Mikayel Arutunyan, is monitoring the exercises. In
fact, he commands the drills, which once again shows that the hostile
country is the main occupier of Azerbaijan’s territories.
[Passage omitted: the drills show that it is not “a handful of
Karabakh Armenians”, but the Armenian-Russian military alliance that
has occupied Azerbaijani territories,]
Political analyst Vafa Quluzada says that the Armenian military
exercises do not come by chance. This kind of demarche, which followed
the abortive Rambouillet talks and Azerbaijan’s refusal to sign a
capitulatory peace agreement desired by the West and Armenia, aims
to put pressure on Azerbaijan, he said.
“Or more precisely, this is another ring in the chain of pressure.
Apart from that, this is a way of demonstrating that Russia has a
final say on the issue,” Quluzada said.
Those who are trying to force Azerbaijan into signing a humiliating
peace agreement also take into account the sensitivity of our public
opinion to casualties in the army, he said.
“I mean, the Azerbaijani public is being blackmailed in this way as
well,” Quluzada added.
[Passage omitted: the war games in Karabakh are a response to President
Ilham Aliyev’s bellicose statements]