Author: Antonian Lara

Schroeder urges Turkey to press forward with reforms demanded by EU
By JAMES C. HELICKE
AP Worldstream
May 04, 2005
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Wednesday urged Turkey to push
ahead with reforms demanded by the European Union amid concerns about
the country’s progress in meeting the bloc’s membership requirements.
The German leader also said the EU must do its part and emphasized
that momentum for Turkey’s EU accession shouldn’t depend on “changing
opinion polls.”
EU officials have recently expressed concern that Turkish reform
efforts slowed after the bloc agreed in December to start membership
talks with Turkey on October.
Schroeder, one of Turkey’s staunchest allies in the EU, urged Turkey to
take steps required before the talks can begin _ including recognizing
Cyprus’ Greek Cypriot-led government. Still, he expressed confidence
the accession talks would proceed as scheduled.
“What’s important is that the prime minister’s government make clear
that ‘We are not hesitating’ and that ‘We will continue decisively
on this path,” Schroeder said at a news conference in Ankara with
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Schroeder added that the EU must also do its part, by guaranteeing the
“punctual” beginning of talks on Oct. 3.
For the talks to begin, “a few things are necessary. The reforms must
be realized, the Ankara protocol must be signed,” he said. “I have
good hope it will work out.”
The protocol expands a customs agreement with the EU to the group’s
10 new members, including Cyprus _ a move the EU says would amount
to de facto recognition.
Schroeder said it was important for the bloc to start talks with
Turkey, saying the accession carried “strategic” significance.
The United States has also long backed Turkish accession saying that
admitting the overwhelmingly Muslim, but staunchly secular state
would promote stability in the region and serve as a symbol to many
Muslims that their future was with the West.
Many Europeans, however, have expressed concerned about admitting
the relatively poor, mainly Muslim country, saying the Muslim country
isn’t European and its accession could overwhelm the bloc.
“One cannot make such an important, strategic decision of such
immense historical meaning dependent on changing opinion polls,”
Schroeder said.
Erdogan said the two leaders also discussed Cyprus, the Middle East,
and Turkish concerns about a German opposition push for Turkey to
examine its role in the massacre of Armenians at the time of World
War I.
Schroeder praised recent calls by Erdogan to establish a joint
Turkish-Armenian commission to study the killings, considered a
genocide by Armenians. He said he hoped the Armenian government would
recognize the “sensibility of the proposal.” Turkey denies a genocide
was committed and says Armenians exaggerate the number of those killed.
Erdogan later met with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
Schroeder was later expected in Istanbul, where he was scheduled to
meet with the Istanbul-based spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox
Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.

AMSHEN ARMENIAN ORGANIZATION CONCERNED OVER FATE OF KHEMSHINS OF KRASNODAR REGION
Pan Armenian News
04.05.2005 04:14
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Amshen Armenian friendly association is deeply
concerned over the fate of Khemshins (Armenians whose ancestors
were converted to Islam), Yerkramas, newspaper of Armenians of
Russia reports. According to chairman of the public organization
Ivan Krbashian, the Khemshins were for the fourth time refused in
registration. In Ivan Krbashian’s opinion, the main reason for the
rejection is the religious affiliation of Khemshins. With activities
of the kind the representatives of the Chief Department of the Federal
Registration Service on the Krasnodar region cause the appearance
of one more nation leaving Russia as political refugees. It is not
a secret that the International Migration Organizations engaged in
resettlement of Turks-Meskhetians from the Kransodar region to the
US are preparing analogous projects on migration of Kurds-Kurmanjis
and Khemshins. To note, after forced islamization of the Armenian
population of Amshen in Western Armenia (now territory of Turkey)
in the middle of the 17-th century an ethnic group of people, who
came to call themselves as Khemshins, appeared. Presently about 1000
reside in the Krasnodar region of Russia. The problem of determination
of the ethnic affiliation of the Khemshins is mostly connected
with their domicile. The Khemshins of Turkey realize the ethnic and
language difference from Turks, however the Turkish policy suppresses
their aspiration for the formation of ethnic self-consciousness.
Khemshins of Russia comprehend their kinship with Armenians.

Schweizerische Depeschenagentur AG (SDA)
SDA – Servizio di base in Italiano
Mag 2, 2005
RIEPILOGO / Svizzera-Turchia: nuova tensione per inchiesta contro
storico negazionista genocidio armeno
ISTANBUL, 2 mag
Un’inchiesta preliminare avviata dalla magistratura di Winterthur
contro lo storico turco Yusuf Halacoglu per presunta negazione del
genocidio armeno ha creato irritazione ad Ankara e nuova tensione
nei rapporti con Berna. Il ministero degli esteri turco ha convocato
l’ambasciatore svizzero, mentre l’ambasciatore turco a Berna ha
protestato presso il Consiglio federale. Le assicurazioni elvetiche
sembrano aver calmato le acque.
Andrej Gnehm, il procuratore di Winterthur responsabile del caso, ha
detto all’ats di aver avviato l’indagine in seguito a una relazione
tenuta da Halacoglu il 2 maggio 2004 nella vecchia caserma cittadina
davanti a un’associazione turca. Gnehm ha aggiunto che disconoscere,
minimizzare o giustificare un genocidio e’ un reato perseguibile
d’ufficio, ragione per cui ha dovuto promuovere un’indagine. Dopo
aver chiesto informazioni su Halacoglu, Gnehm vorrebbe interrogarlo,
direttamente o per iscritto, in modo che possa prendere posizione.
Solo in seguito decidera’ se formalizzare il procediemento per
discriminazione razziale (articolo 261 bis del codice penale) o
archiviare il caso.
Il ministro degli esteri turco Abdullah Guel, come pure storici
e personalita’ di spicco della comunita’ armena in Turchia, hanno
manifestato via stampa la loro disapprovazione. “Protestiamo”, “(le
autorita’ elvetiche) stanno facendo un grave errore”, ha detto il
ministro degli esteri turco Abdullah Guel al quotidiano “Huerriyet”,
accusando la Svizzera di violare, con questo mancato rispetto dalla
liberta’ di opinione, i valori fondamentali europei.
Anche il noto giornalista turco-armeno Hrant Dink ha deplorato
l’azione giudiziaria elvetica. Lo stesso hanno fatto altri giornalisti
e storici che si sono occupati dei massacri commessi dai turchi contro
gli armeni durante la Prima guerra mondiale.
Interpellata dall’ats, l’ambasciata svizzera ad Ankara ha smentito
le notizie apparse sulla stampa turca secondo cui la magistratura
elvetica avrebbe spiccato un mandato di cattura internazionale contro
Halacoglu. Secondo la missione diplomatica, la procura di Winterthur
ha semplicemente chiesto via Interpol maggiori informazioni sullo
storico, uno dei piu’ noti sostenitori delle tesi turche sui massacri
del 1915, per i quali Ankara rifiuta la qualifica di “genocidio”.
L’informazione e’ stata confermata a Berna da Folco Galli, portavoce
dell’Ufficio federale di giustizia.
A sua volta interpellato, il ministero degli esteri turco ha indicato
di aver convocato gia’ la settimana scorsa l’ambasciatore elvetico
Walter Gyger mentre l’omologo turco e’ intervenuto a Berna presso il
governo svizzero. Le autorita’ elvetiche si sono mostrate pienamente
disposte a cooperare, ha detto un portavoce del ministero ad Ankara.
Il governo turco – ha aggiunto il portavoce – si e’ tranquillizzato
dopo le spiegazioni svizzere sulla semplice inchiesta preliminare e
sull’assenza di un mandato di cattura internazionale contro Halacoglu,
di modo che lo studioso, presidente della Societa’ turca di storia,
rimane libero di viaggiare all’estero. Sugli sviluppi del caso e per
“risolvere il problema” e’ stata decisa una stretta cooperazione tra
i due paesi, ha aggiunto il portavoce.
Halacoglu e’ uno dei piu’ illustri difensori delle tesi turche sui
fatti del 1915. A lui ha fatto capo il governo di Ankara recentemente
in un dibattito parlamentare sulla questione. Secondo lo storico non
c’e’ stato genocidio degli armeni, ma soltanto deportazioni, che a
loro volta sono state una reazione delle autorita’ alla ribellione
di questo popolo durante la Prima guerra mondiale. Causa principale
di morte fra gli armeni, a suo avviso, sarebbe stata la precaria
situazione dei rifornimenti durante il conflitto. Lo storico sostiene
d’altro canto che ci furono anche molti musulmani uccisi da armeni
(di religione cristiana).

Azerbaijan News Service
April 29, 2005
ANOTHER SESSION OF PARLIAMENT HELD
2005-04-29 19:00
Record volume of oil will be produced in Azerbaijan in 2005, as Natig
Aliyev, president of State Oil Company, told during discussions held
in Milli Majlis. Natig Aliyev, president of State Oil Company: More
than 20 million ton oil will be produced in Azerbaijan this year,
which is a record. Natig Aliyev also stressed willingness of foreign
investors to make joint investments in carbon-hydrogen fields of
Azerbaijan. Parliament members drew attention to other problem. For
instance, lack of law on oil in legislation of Azerbaijan up to date,
lack of information about origin of foreign companies involved in
operation of oil fields. Parliamentarians claimed that absence of
last name of foreign company representative in contracts is
disturbing fact. These representatives might be related to Armenians.
They also criticized contentment of Azerbaijan with 25 percent as a
stakeholder. Violation of rights of Azerbaijan citizens who work in
foreign companies was also subject to discussions.

CNN
SHOW: CNN WOLF BLITZER REPORTS 5:00 PM EST
April 29, 2005 Friday
Insurgents Set Off Numerous Bombs in Iraq; Remembering the Armenians
Killed by Ottomans; Thirty Years After the Fall of Saigon
by Judy Woodruff, Ryan Chilcote, Dana Bash, Carlos Watson, Miles
O’Brien, Atika Shubert, Brian Todd, Lou Dobbs, Jason Carroll
[parts omitted]
A painful past, a present controversy. Why millions of people and
some powerful nations are still embroiled in a dispute over what
happened to the Armenians almost a century ago. That’s coming up.
WOODRUFF: This week, Armenians around the world mark the 90
anniversary of a nightmare. They and many others call it genocide,
but some powerful governments do not. Please note, the following
story contains some pictures that may be disturbing to some viewers.
CNN’s Brian Todd looks at this long ago event that continues to stir
deep emotion and deep controversy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We shudder at images from
Darfur, Sudan. Wince at memories of Rwanda. Look at grainy pictures
of the Holocaust and say, never again. Almost forgotten is a brutal
campaign nearly a century ago that historians say may not have been a
model for those genocides, but certainly provided a rationale.
CHARLES KING, AUTHOR “THE BLACK SEA: A HISTORY”: The fact that a
state could, in fact, carry this out under the eyes of the
international community and get away with it became, in fact, a
hallmark of what the 20th century, the tragic 20th century really was
all about.
TODD: Adolf Hitler himself was reported to have made a reference to
it in 1939 as he prepared to invade Poland. Quoted as saying “Who
after all speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”
April, 1915, the Ottoman Empire, covering the general area of what is
now Turkey, is battling on two front in World War I, and is
disintegrating in the process. Armenians, long part of that empire,
are restless for independence and get encouragement from Russia. The
Ottoman Turks, fearful of a Russian invasion on their eastern front,
see the Russian/Armenian alliance as a huge threat and target the
Armenian population inside their borders.
HARUT SASSOUNIAN, EDITOR, “THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE”: They embark on a
submission plan by deporting the entire population closer to a little
under 2 million Armenians in the empire into the deserts and by
killing and starvation and disease.
TODD: Between 1915 and 1923 Armenian leaders are rounded up in cities
and executed. Villagers are uprooted en masse, driven south towards
the deserts of what are now Syria and Iraq. Many shot or butchered
outright by Turkish forces, but most die in forced marches. The
numbers to this day still hotly in dispute. Armenians say 1.5 million
were killed. The Turkish government says not more than 300,000
perished, and the Armenians shouldn’t count themselves as the only
victims.
SASSOUNIAN: In these few years, both sides suffered — lost
incredible number of people to war, to famine, to harsh climate.
TODD: Objective historians say the Armenian death toll is likely
between 600,000 and a million.
(on camera): The fight is not only over numbers, but words. One word
in particular. Neither the Turkish Government nor any American
president, except Ronald Reagan, has ever called this event genocide.
Harut Sassounian is the grandson of survivors.
SASSOUNIAN: It’s described as a deep wound and in the psyche of every
Armenian that is not healing, is not going away. Because it’s like an
open wound as long as the denial is there.
TODD: The U.S. Government says between 60,000 and 146,000 people have
died in Darfur, Sudan over the past two years. And former Secretary
of State Colin Powell called that a genocide. Historian Charles King
believes what happened to the Armenians was genocide by any
definition but…
KING: Labeling it a genocide among politicians has a very severe
political ramifications, particularly in terms of the U.S.
relationship with Turkey, an important strategic partner in southeast
Europe and the wider Middle East.
TODD: As Armenians mark the 90th anniversary of their darkest days,
many say all they want is acknowledgement. The Turks say they’re
willing to set up a commission to examine the historical record. Two
countries with a closed border and no formal relations inching
closer. A super power caught in the middle — all haunted by a
distant tragedy that we somehow never managed to learn from.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOODRUFF: Thank you, Brian. By the way, the Turkish government says
close to a million Turks died in that region during World War I. As
for current relations, Turkish officials tell CNN, although the
border is closed, there are daily flights between Turkey and Armenia.
And tens of thousands of Armenians, they say currently live and work
inside Turkey.
Coming up at the top of the hour, LOU DOBBS TONIGHT. Lou is standing
by in New York with a preview. Hi there.
LOU DOBBS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Judy. Thank you.

Armenia Agribusiness Update
BISNIS
April 28, 2005
This update contains 2 new trade leads in the agribusiness and food
processing sector.
Trade leads:
1. Company: AAFPC
Country: Armenia
This Armenian company would like to purchase a long-cut pasta production
line with a capacity of 150-250 kg/hr of product.
For more information see:
************************************************************************
2. Company: Telman Nersisyan
Country: Armenia
This Armenian company is seeking to purchase used winery equipment for a
small winery (capacity of 50 tons of grapes per annum).
For details see:
********** Sent by: *********************************
Charles Raether, BISNIS Trade Specialist for Agribusiness Sector
U.S. Department of Commerce
Tel: 202/482-2022, Fax: 202/482-2293
Participate in BISNIS EXPOLINK EURASIA!
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WAIS Document Retrieval
[Congressional Record: April 27, 2005 (Extensions)]
[Page E777]
>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr27ap05-9]

90TH COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
______

speech of
HON. JOHN SHIMKUS
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide and to place in the Record a portion of an opinion
article written by Lee Enokian.
Armenian Genocide Victims Are Not Forgotten
(By Lee Enokian)
Today is the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Between 1915 and 1923, more than 1.5 million Armenians were
murdered or forcibly exiled because they were the wrong
religion and ethnicity. The world community memorializes the
anniversary annually as Armenian Martyrs Day.
Thousands of Armenians were offered their lives in exchange
for their conversion to Islam. They refused and died as a
result. Their steadfast faithfulness to the Christian faith
is not surprising. Armenia was the first Christian nation and
remains the only Christian nation in the Middle East.
Various Turkish people invaded southwest Asia during the
Middle Ages and carved an empire for themselves from lands
occupied by the indigenous Semitic and Indo-European
inhabitants.
Turkish nationalism grew relentlessly during the following
centuries. In the years preceding World War I, they actively
sought to Turkify the Ottoman Empire and strengthen their
rule by eliminating fractious ethnic minorities.
The western two-thirds of Anatolia was once inhabited by
Greeks and other Indo-European peoples. It is now primarily
occupied by Turks.
The eastern third of modern Turkey was once Armenian with
an Assyrian minority, but is now populated by Turks and
Kurds.
Modern Armenia survived only because it was the single
province controlled, and protected, by the Russian Empire.
The rest of the territory within its historical borders is
almost wholly devoid of ethnic Armenians.
The organized depopulation of Christians and non-Turks from
Anatolia by the Ottoman Empire is one of the worst incidents
of racism and religious intolerance documented in the world.
The Genocide was master-minded by the ultra-nationalist
“Young Turk” government of Ottoman Turkey. Mehmet Talaat
Pasha was the Minister of the Interior and architect of the
Armenian Genocide. He was rewarded by being elevated to the
position of Grand Vizier in 1917. Pasha fled to Germany as
his empire collapsed in 1918. He was convicted of capital
crimes, including massacring the Armenians. The post-war
Ottoman government sentenced him to death in absentia.
Just-minded federal, state and local governments throughout
the world continue to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.
Illinois is no different. Gov. Rod Blagojevich has
continued the practice of his predecessors by remembering the
plight of the Armenian people. Part of his annual
proclamation reads: “The Armenian community, as well as the
global community, remembers the Armenian Genocide, which
occurred 90 years ago; and during this tragic historical
period between the years of 1915 and 1923, Armenians were
forced to witness the genocide of their loved ones, and the
loss of their ancestral homelands; and this extermination and
forced relocation of over 1.5 million Armenians by the
Ottoman Turks is recognized every year.”
Sadly, the modern state of Turkey denies the Genocide ever
occurred. It restricts the ability of ethnic Armenians, Kurds
and Assyrians to enter and travel within the country. In
fact, Turkey has done its best to remove every trace of the
Armenian people from their ancestral homeland. These efforts
still don’t change history.
Blagojevich concluded his proclamation with the fact that
we must remember hateful events like the Genocide to help
prevent their future institution.
“Both recognition and education concerning past atrocities
such as the Armenian Genocide is crucial in the prevention of
future crimes against humanity.”
Evil wins when good men turn a blind eye.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
APRIL 15-28, 2005
HIGHLIGHTS:
ARMENIAN JOURNALISTS VISITED SLOVENIA
TWO MORE “PRESS CLUB” SHOWS
CIVIL SERVICE AND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE RA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER
AIR OF “ANKYUN+3” CUT OFF
“INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS” DEMAND TO COMPENSATE LOSSES
TWO APPLICANTS FOR GIGAHERTZES
STRONG DRINK TV ADVERTISING TO STOP FROM SUMMER
THE LAW “ON FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM” RESTRICTED THE RIGHTS OF MEDIA
NCTR MEMBERS APPOINTED
SOUTH CAUCASUS ON THE WAY TO EUROPE
BRONZE WINNERS OF THE FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
ARMENIAN JOURNALISTS VISITED SLOVENIA
On April 19-24 a group of heads of media and journalistic associations of
Armenia visited the Republic of Slovenia to study the self-regulation
experience of Slovenian media. The study visit was organized by Yerevan
Press Club and the Ljubljana Peace Institute (Institute for Contemporary
Social and Political Studies) under “Media Self-Regulation: International
Experience and Prospects in Armenia” project, funded by Open Society
Institute East-East Program.
Self-regulation mechanisms and the overall situation in the sphere were
discussed at the meetings at Ethics Council of the Slovenian Association of
Journalists, the editorial offices of two leading dailies, “Delo” and
“Finance”, the public Radio and Television of Slovenia, the Department of
Social Sciences of Ljubljana University and the Slovenian Advertising
Chamber.
TWO MORE “PRESS CLUB” SHOWS
On April 18 and 25 on the evening air of the Second Armenian TV Channel the
twenty-first and twenty-second “Press Club” shows were issued. The cycle is
organized by Yerevan Press Club under a homonymous project, supported by the
OSI Network Media Program.
On April 18 the main discussion subject of the leading media and
journalistic associations was the foreign policy of Armenia in the context
of Karabagh conflict resolution and the relations with NATO and Russia.
On April 25 the “Press Club” participants addressed the events on the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 (commemorated on April 24) and
the issues of the international recognition of the Genocide. As the program
participants predict, this week the Armenian media will continue to discuss
this subject, centering on the assessment of the events held by the
specially established state commission, as well as on the response of
international press, primarily the Turkish one.
CIVIL SERVICE AND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
On April 27 in Yerevan a seminar “Civil Service and Freedom of Information”
was organized by “Team” Research Center with the assistance of the RA Civil
Service Council. The seminar was conducted under a homonymous project,
supported by Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation-Armenia. The
representatives of state sector, media and NGOs discussed the problem of
relation between the state administration and freedom of information, as
well as the instilment of European standards of freedom of expression and
information in Armenia.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE RA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER
On April 26 at the press-conference of the RA Human Rights Defender Larisa
Alaverdian the report on the violation of human rights and fundamental
freedoms in 2004 in Armenia was presented.
One of the sections of this annual report was devoted to the right to free
expression and the right to seek, receive and impart information. It states,
in particular, that the RA Law “On Mass Communication” guarantees the right
to free speech, free expression of opinion and dissemination of ideas, and
Article 164 of the RA Criminal Code stipulates liability for impeding the
legal professional activities of a journalist. “However, the failure to
disclose and punish those, who committed violence and caused physical, moral
and material damage to media representatives in April 20004 and later, shows
that the guarantees, envisaged by the law, are insufficient and do not
enable the media representatives fully, freely and safely exercise their
profession”, the report of the Human Rights Defender notes. This statement
was illustrated by a number of incidents that occurred in different cities
of the country – Yerevan, Ashtarak, Tsaghkadzor, Goris, Aragats – and that
were at the focus of public attention.
“There are serious objections against criminal insult. The corresponding
Article of the Criminal Code endangers the freedom of expression; it
particularly restricts the freedom of criticism, since the person criticized
can view any expression to be humiliation of his honor and dignity. It is
also unacceptable to stipulate different punishments for the insult of an
official and a simple human being”, the report says.
The existence of over 40 operational TV channels, about 20 radio stations,
10 news agencies and over 35 periodical newspapers and magazines is, in the
opinion of the Human Rights Defender, a source of hope with the regard to
realization of free expression. However, as the report notes, “the
involvement of the President of the Republic in the formation of the
National Commission on Television and Radio disrupts trust in the
independence of the Commission”.
As to the RA Law “On Freedom of Information”, it prescribes the main
principles, the procedure and the terms for providing data, ensuring access
to and the publicity of information. At the same time, the report notes,
“there is problem in implementing the legally stipulated procedure for the
information provision by state bodies and local self-government of all
levels”. “The groundless refusal to provide information to citizens or NGOs
has become very common”, the annual repot specifies. The quoted examples are
the non-provision of information requested by “Investigative Journalists”
NGO by the Yerevan municipality, despite the court ruling, and the similar
case of Vanadzor Branch of the Helsinki Citizens Assembly, which got access
to necessary information only after the lengthy court process. Besides, the
notions of “commercial secret” and “personal data” are given loose
interpretation. The unreserved implementation of the requirements of the Law
“On Freedom of Information” by the authorities and administrative structures
of all levels is one of the most important guarantees of human rights
protection, the annual report of the Armenian Ombudsman reminds.
AIR OF “ANKYUN+3” CUT OFF
On April 22 “Ankyun+3” TV company (Alaverdi, Lori region) went on air with
almost a three-hour delay. As YPC was told by the Director of the TV company
Sos Siradeghian, the reason was the damage of cables, connecting the studio
to the TV tower. The damage was revealed at about 18.00, right before the
start of the broadcasts. The cables drawn to the TV tower on the roof of the
neighboring building were cut by nippers. In the opinion of “Ankyun+3” head,
the incident is related to the election campaign for the position of
Alaverdi Mayor currently underway (the ballot is to be held on May 8). Sos
Siradeghian noted, though, that all three candidates for the position of the
head of the municipality expressed their indignation at the occurrence. The
Director of the TV company also informed that he had notified the
territorial subdivision of the RA National Security Service. A report on the
incident was shown the next day, on April 23, by the newscast of “Ankyun+3”.
“INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS” DEMAND TO COMPENSATE LOSSES
On April 22 at the court of primary jurisdiction of Center and Nork-Marash
communities of Yerevan the process on the suit of “Investigative
Journalists” versus Republic of Armenia started. The plaintiff demands to be
compensated the court losses and other expenditures incurred during the
lengthy litigation against the Yerevan municipality. The losses are
estimated to be 308,000 AMD (over $ 700).
A year ago, on April 14, 2004, “Investigative Journalists” filed a suit with
the court of primary jurisdiction versus Yerevan municipality, demanding to
oblige the latter to provide the resolutions, necessary for journalistic
investigation. The documents requested were adopted by the municipality in
1997-2003 and referred to the construction in the public green zone around
the National Opera and Ballet Theater. Courts of primary and secondary
jurisdiction rejected this claim, the court of supreme jurisdiction directed
the case for repeated consideration of the Court of Appeals (in new
composition), which secured the claim. Then the municipality challenged the
ruling made, however, on February 10, 2005, the Court of Cassation left it
unchanged (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, February 11-17, 2005). Despite the
ruling, the city authorities did not provide the documents and on March 17
“Investigative Journalists” addressed the RA Compulsory Execution Service.
According to the law, the time, allocated to compulsory execution of court
ruling, makes two months.
At the court session of April 22 the representative of the RA Ministry of
Finance (which, according to the legislation, is a respondent on such cases)
made a motion to involve the Yerevan municipality as a second respondent, to
determine why the latter does not comply with the court ruling. The motion
was secured.
The next session is scheduled for May 13.
TWO APPLICANTS FOR GIGAHERTZES
On April 22 the National Commission on Television and Radio considered bids
submitted to the broadcast licensing competitions for frequency diapasons of
2300-2400 MHz and 2500-2700 MHz in Yerevan. As it has been reported, the
competitions were announced on January 12 (see YPC Weekly Newsletter,
January 7-13, 2005).
Each of the frequencies on tender got one bidder: “A-UP” CJSC is applying
for 2300-2400 MHz, “AATVC” CJSC – for 2500-2700 MHz. As YPC was informed by
the NCTR, the competition results will be announced on June 10.
STRONG DRINK TV ADVERTISING TO STOP FROM SUMMER
On April 20 the National Commission on Television and Radio held a working
meeting of NCTR Chairman Grigor Amalian with the heads of the national and
local TV companies. At the meeting the issues of strong alcoholic drinks
advertising, actively broadcast on Armenian TV air, was discussed. According
to NCTR representatives, the National Commission is not always able to apply
sanctions to broadcasters due to the imperfection of the RA Law “On
Advertising”. As it has been reported, the amendments to the Law,
prohibiting, in particular, the advertising of strong beverages (but for
brandy) and tobacco products in broadcast media, were adopted by the
Parliament on June 26, 2002 and enacted since January 1, 2003 (see YPC
Weekly Newsletter, June 22-28, 2002). Yet the amounts of alcohol,
particularly, of vodka type, on the air did not reduce since that time. The
TV companies started to indirectly advertise alcoholic drinks by brand
promotion, since the Law did not stipulate any punishment for such a
“trick”. However, this “indirectness” was so straightforward that the
viewers had no doubts as to the advertising object.
At the NCTR meeting it was agreed to completely stop the TV advertising of
strong alcoholic drinks since June 1, 2005.
THE LAW “ON FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM” RESTRICTED THE RIGHTS OF MEDIA
On April 19 the President of Armenia Robert Kocharian signed the RA Law “On
Fight Against Terrorism”, approved by the RA National Assembly on March 22.
As it has been reported, the draft passed the second hearing on March 1 and
some of its provisions alarmed the journalistic community, since they
restricted the right of media representatives to access and dissemination of
information, related to terrorism (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, February 25 –
March 3, 2005).
The changes in the final text of the document did not essentially affect the
restrictive provisions on media activities. In particular, Article 14 of the
Law prohibits the dissemination of information that disclose the methods and
devices used in antiterrorist actions, can obstruct their implementation and
represent danger for the life and health of citizens, as well as are
directed to promotion or justification of terrorism. Besides, the
journalists are not allowed to disseminate information on the activities of
state bodies, participating in the anti-terrorist actions, the staff of
special services and their subdivisions on fight against terrorism, as well
as on people who assisted the anti-terrorist actions.
In other words, provisions have come into force that can very loosely be
interpreted and become another barrier for the “fourth estate”. Taking into
account the numerous problems that the country has with free expression and
access to official information, the risk, that this is what will happen, is
quite high.
NCTR MEMBERS APPOINTED
On April 13 the President of Armenia Robert Kocharian signed a decree on
appointing Zhirayr Dadasian, Ara Tadevosian and Simavon Andreasian members
of the National Commission on Television and Radio with a six-year term of
service. The competition to fill in the three vacancies in NCTR was
announced on March 24 and held on April 9 by the competition commission,
formed by the RA President. According to the commission announcement,
published on April 15, it presented to the head of the state the competition
winners and the written justification for its choice. The motivation given
by the competition commission was that Zhirayr Dadasian, Ara Tadevosian and
Simavon Andreasian, “in comparison to other applicants, are more up to
criteria , defined by the law”. In particular, it was noted that the
“winning candidates have rich professional experience (the professional
activities of Ara Tadevosian and Simavon Andreasian also includes work with
NCTR till 2005), are known in their spheres as competent, respectable
personalities”.
As it has been reported, there were 10 bids for the competition, also from
the three former NCTR members (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, April 1-7, 2005).
Thus, in the composition of National Commission on Television and Radio only
one actual replacement took place: the artistic director of Yerevan State
Pantomime Theater Zhirayr Dadasian came to replace the head of TV journalism
chair of the Yerevan State University Mushegh Hovsepian.
SOUTH CAUCASUS ON THE WAY TO EUROPE
On April 22 in Yerevan the presentation of “Three Attempts of European
Integration” was made. The book is published by Armenian “Region” Research
Center of the “Investigative Journalists” NGO under the project “The
Caucasus’ Way to Europe: Three attempts of European Integration”, supported
by Yerevan Office of the European Commission Delegation in Georgia and
Armenia. It features results of surveys, administered among the leaders of
political parties of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, analytical pieces and
materials of an Internet-conference on the problems and prospects of
European integration of three countries of South Caucasus.
BRONZE WINNERS OF THE FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
On April 10-13 in Odessa a mini-football tournament was held among the
journalistic teams of CIS countries. In the competitions, devoted to the
60th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, six teams took
part – from Yerevan, Volgograd, Minsk, Nikolaev and the hosts of the
tournament, represented by two teams. The gold winner was Odessa-1 team, the
silver was gained by Volgograd team, and the bronze was taken by the
Armenian team, having three victories and two defeats. This is not the first
success of Armenian journalists in similar competitions. In 2002 in Yerevan
the Armenian team was the champion, and in 2001 – the bronze winner in
Moldova.
When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.
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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Back Stage, NY
April 27 2005
Beast on the Moon
Reviewed By Harry Forbes

“Beast on the Moon”
Presented by David Grillo & Matt Salinger, casting by Vince Liebhart,
at the Century Center for the Performing Arts, 111 E. 15 St., NYC.
Opened April 27 for an open run.
You won’t find more-affecting performances than those of Omar
Metwally and Lena Georgas in Richard Kalinoski’s extraordinary play
— finely directed by Larry Moss — about an immigrant couple in 1921
Milwaukee.
Both survivors of the horrific Armenian genocide, Aram and Seta are
newlyweds. He, like his father, is a photographer; she’s his
15-year-old mail-order bride. Both are orphans. Aram, though young,
is a stern traditionalist, hell-bent on having a family to replace
the one he’s lost. Seta, to Aram’s bitter disappointment, remains
barren.
A coldness descends on Aram until Seta can take it no longer. She
shows her mettle in the play’s most telling scene when she turns her
back on him at dinner, emanating such alarming silence that Aram must
practically grovel to win her back.
In the second act, a tough little orphan boy, befriended by Seta,
enters their lives, a catalyst that will bring them closer together.
The Turkish slaughter of the Armenians — still a sore spot for the
Turkish government, which thwarted a German production — is
backstory that never overwhelms the domestic narrative. And the
overall themes are healing and reconciliation.
Georgas radiates irrepressible optimism and strength of character
beneath a girlish exterior; Metwally’s stubborn pride masks great
vulnerability. Whether conveying volumes in their silence or letting
long-submerged emotions cut loose, they are simply magnificent.
Matthew Borish as a sort of Dead End street kid and Louis Zorich in
the smallish part of the narrator are fine.
Neil Patel’s simple set — the couple’s flat — effectively captures
the milieu; ditto Anita Yavich’s period costumes. And David Lander’s
lighting and Peter Fitzgerald’s sound design help delineate the
over-the-years passage of time.
The play has garnered worldwide acclaim. New York was long overdue.
Moss’ first-class production, with its heart-stopping leads, was
worth the wait.

Aljazeera.net, Qatar
April 26 2005
Syrian pullout evokes mixed feelings
By Cilina Nasser in the Bekaa Valley, eastern Lebanon
Syria has officially informed the United Nations that it has
completed its withdrawal from Lebanon, but for some, there are some
memories that continue to linger.
Lebanese soldiers have slowly started to fill in the vacuum left by
Syrian troops and intelligence units who in recent weeks have packed
up and vacated buildings they inhabited for most of the past 29
years.
A paper plastered at the entrance of a Syrian military intelligence
office in the eastern town of Anjar – 58km from Beirut and close to
the Syrian borders – and signed by the Lebanese Army reads: “This is
a military centre. It is not allowed to enter the building or get
close to it.”
A construction contractor points his finger at the two-storey
building, covered with graffiti, and says: “This is the Prophet Yusuf
Centre. That’s where the Syrians tortured people.”
The Syrian military intelligence headquarters had been located just
beside the famous ruins of the Islamic Umayyad Dynasty in Anjar since
1976.

There were joyous scenes as
Syria completed its pullout

Now, several Lebanese soldiers are stationed outside this former
detention centre, banning journalists from snooping around.
Bitter memories
But the Anjar military intelligence office may be a place were some
memories will never leave.
The construction contractor claims he still remembers the screaming
of detainees whom he heard once when he took his truck to do some
digging work about 20 metres away from the Centre, which was named
after the Syrian officer in charge there, Yusuf Abdu.
“They were screaming from pain,” he recalls. “I finished my work
quickly to get away from there.”
Remon Bouban, a commercial driver, remembers the seven days he spent
at the centre in 1986. He was then transferred to Syria where he was
moved from one detention facility to another in the course of 12
years.
“I hate the Syrian regime. I hate it more than you can imagine,” he
states. “I was tortured for years and years and was thrown in prison
because of a fake accusation,” he alleges.
He claims he was tortured and forced to confess to anti-Syrian
activities he maintains he did not commit.
The use of torture to obtain confessions is a violation of
international law.
Syrian-Lebanese fraternal ties
Still, Bouban says he will never forget the friendships he has made
in prison with Syrian inmates.
“The Syrian people are very simple and good people,” he says. “Every
time one of them used to receive a family visit, he would invite me
to share the food his family brought him.”
Rafi Tamourian, 25, told Aljazeera.net he was happy to see the
Syrians leave as his mother kept interrupting him in Armenian
obviously trying to protect her son from questions involving Syria.
Armenians are the main inhabitants in Anjar.
“Maybe they are our brothers, but they have treaded on our hearts for
a long time now,” he said.
Residents in the Hizb Allah stronghold of Yahfufa, a small village
tucked in a valley and surrounded by a spectacular view of mountains,
supported Syria, saying it has backed the armed resistance in forcing
Israel to pull out its troops from Lebanon in May 2000.
“It’s true Syria is getting out of the country, but our relations
must and will become stronger,” a Hizb Allah guard told
Aljazeera.net.
Honouring Syrian dead
In the neighbouring village of Riyak, a cornerstone for a monument to
honour Syrian soldiers killed in Lebanon’s wars was laid during a
farewell celebration which included a military parade for separate
Lebanese and Syrian battalions.
“It’s true Syria is getting out of the country, but our relations
must and will become stronger”
“Let’s remember our martyrs,” a commander shouted. The Lebanese and
Syrian soldiers roared three times in unison: “We will never forget
them.”
“Mabruk,” a congratulating salute surprisingly came from a Syrian
journalist covering the farewell celebration as he addressed his
Lebanese colleagues. “I’m happy. I don’t want oppression to be
practiced against the Lebanese in my name,” he said, adding he hoped
his country would continue to go through changes under the leadership
of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
On the main road at the border town of Masnaa, a Syrian army officer
filmed green military buses filled with soldiers and lorries crammed
with their belongings as they headed back to Syria. “The filming is
just to keep the memory,” he told Aljazeera.net. He came from
Damascus especially to film his retreating colleagues. Asked if they
were happy, he said: “I don’t think anybody wants to leave Lebanon
this way.”