Author: Badalian Vardan

AZERBAIJAN RULES OUT HELP FOR US MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN
Agence France Presse — English
April 26, 2006 Wednesday 4:23 PM GMT
WASHINGTON, April 26 2006
Visiting Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday ruled out
his country taking part in any possible military operations against
neighboring Iran and said resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
with Armenia was a top priority for his government.
“Azerbajian will not be engaged in any kind of potential operation
against Iran and our officials in the past, including myself, have
made (this) very clear,” Aliyev told an audience at the Council on
Foreign Relations in Washington. “Therefore I think it is time to
stop speculating on this issue.”
Aliyev, whose official visit here is his first since his election to
succeed his father in October 2003, said his country has a bilateral
agreement with Tehran that clearly forbids either country from staging
aggression against the other from their respective territories.
His comments came ahead of a meeting with US President George W. Bush
on Friday during which the nuclear stand-off with Iran is expected
to be raised.
There has been speculation that Azerbaijan, which is strategically
located between Iran and Russia and which has troops alongside US
forces in Iraq as well as Afghanistan and Kosovo, could be asked by
Washington to back any potential military action against Iran should
diplomacy on the nuclear issue fail.
Aliyev, whose White House meeting with Bush has long been sought
by his government as a way to boost his stature, said he planned to
discuss a wide range of topics with US officials, including bilateral
relations, energy and security issues as well as the conflict in the
Nagorno-Karabakh region.
He said he hoped Washington would help revive the peace process in
Nagorno-Karabakh, which is a disputed part of Azerbaijani territory
that has been controlled since the early 1990s by its majority
ethnic-Armenian population.
Aliyev made clear that his country would not relinquish the territory
and said any settlement would have to guarantee the return of
Azerbaijani refugees to the region while protecting the rights of
the local ethnic Armenian population.
“I think it’s time for the Armenian leadership to behave like
statesemen, to think what will happen in five or 10 years if the
conflict is not resolved,” he said. “The patience of the Azerbaijani
people has a limit.
“We are demanding Armenia return peacefully the land that belongs
to us.”
The 44-year-old leader also brushed aside criticism concerning his
autocratic rule and flawed parliamentary elections in November saying
that he saw no chance of any “colour” revolution in Azerbaijan.
“For that to happen, people have to be unhappy with the government,”
he said, pointing to the country’s economic prosperity.
US officials, who have been criticised for inviting Aliyev to
Washington in light of the administration’s much-touted democracy
agenda, said democratic reforms would top the agenda during the visit.
“We have said, and we mean it, that to elevate our relationship
with Azerbaijan to a qualitatively new level (…) there needs to
be sustained progress on democracy,” Matthew Bryza, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, said.
The US administration is keenly interested in energy-rich Azerbaijan
as a way to offset dependence on Russia by European markets. The
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which is expected to become
operational soon, is designed to avoid shipping oil through congested
Turkish straits while also bypassing Russia’s pipeline network.

WE RALLIED IN WASHINGTON AGAINST ARMENIAN CLAIMS – TOMRIS AZERI
Author: S. Ilhamgizi
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 25 2006
A joint Azerbaijani- Turkish rally has been organized in USA to protest
against the so-called Armenian genocide, the head of the America-
Azerbaijan organization in US, Tomris Azeri told Trend.
The Azerbaijani and Turkish diasporas organized a rally in the
Times-Square park in Washington, she said. A lot of people took part in
the action, several speeches have been held and photographic materials
of the Hojali tragedy have been presented, Azeri told.
Another action with motto- Lets put an end to the propaganda of the
so-called Armenian genocide, was held beside the Turkish embassy in
US. 250 people took part in the rally.
Similar Armenian action was taking place nearby. As a result of
coordinated activities of police it was possible to avoid any
incidents.

HUIT “STèLES” DEVANT NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS A LA MEMOIRE DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
Agence France Presse
23 avril 2006 dimanche 1:31 PM GMT
Huit “stèles” geantes, a la memoire du “genocide armenien” et contre
le refus des autorites turques de le reconnaître, ont ete dressees
dimanche après-midi devant la cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris, a
constate une journaliste de l’AFP.
Ces stèles ont ete installees par le collectif VAN (Vigilance
armenienne contre le negationnisme), cree en 2004 pour “travailler a
la reconnaissance du genocide et a la condamnation de ce crime contre
l’humanite”, mais aussi “denoncer tous les genocides, defendre la
memoire des victimes, soutenir les minorites opprimees et le respect
des droits de l’homme partout dans le monde”.
Panneaux cartonnes rectangulaires de 3 mètres de haut, installes en arc
de cercle sur le parvis, ils portaient sur une face des peintures d’un
artiste d’origine armenienne, Dibasar, et sur l’autre des informations
historiques et actuelles.
L’initiative de dimanche a ete prise a la veille de la Journee annuelle
de commemoration du genocide. Il a commence le 24 avril 1915, avec
l’arrestation a Constantinople de 2.345 intellectuels qui furent
executes les jours suivants, et les Armeniens evaluent a 1,5 million
le nombre total de victimes de l’annee 1915.
“Nous voulons sensibiliser l’opinion, l’alerter du danger que
represente pour l’Europe la politique negationniste de l’Etat turc
et dresser ces stèles comme temoins d’une histoire qu’on ne peut
enterrer impunement”, ont declare a l’AFP les responsables de VAN.
Les inscriptions sur les stèles denoncent le genocide des Armeniens
en Turquie ainsi que celui, disent-elles, de 500.000 Grecs et 250.000
Assyro-Chaldeens. Elles denoncent egalement le “negationnisme officiel
en Turquie”, où ceux qui parlent de genocide sont passibles de 10 ans
de prison, et une “haine raciale” jusque dans les manuels scolaires
declarant que les Armeniens, Grecs ou Assyriens representent des
“communautes nuisibles”.
VAN demande par ailleurs que la reconnaissance par la Turquie
du genocide devienne un critère pour son admission dans l’Union
europeenne.
–Boundary_(ID_ZRtJFIQ5RaQ5Yo jbXW3Gnw)–

CYPRUS ARMENIANS MARK GENOCIDE ANNIVERSARY
Cyprus Mail
25 April 06
THE ARMENIAN community in Cyprus yesterday marked the 91st anniversary
of the 1915 genocide in which one and a half million of their people
were killed by Ottoman forces.
In commemoration of the genocide, a special church service was held at
the Armenian church in Nicosia attended by Greek Cypriot politicians.
House President Demetris Christofias who addressed the congregation
said the genocide of the Armenian people was a crime recognised by
almost all countries but denied by Turkey.
“It is time Turkey recognised this historical reality,” said
Christofias.
He called on the EU to pressure Turkey to acknowledge the massacre
of the Armenian people, and also the invasion of Cyprus.
The Armenian Genocide was carried out by the ‘Young Turk’ government
of the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1916. Over a million Armenians were
killed, out of a total of two and a half million Armenians living
under the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey still claims that Armenians were only removed from the eastern
“war zone”.
In addition to yesterday’s church service, the Armenian community also
organised a photographic exhibition at Nicosia’s Eleftheria Square on
Sunday and a procession along Armenias Avenue followed by a memorial
service at 8.30pm at the Armenian Genocide monument in the evening.

16 CASINOS AND 48 PRIZE GAMES OPERATE IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN. By the end of the first quarter of
2006, licences of 16 casinos and 48 prize games were valid in
Armenia. NT was informed at the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy
that in early 2006, licences of 18 casinos and 51 prize games were
valid in the country. According to the same source, licences of one
casino and two prize games were granted in March, while licences of
two casinos and three prize games were recognized invalid. It was
noted that three licences for lottery running are valid in Armenia.

CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
OTTAWA, APRIL 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Prime Minister
of Canada, Stephen Harper, made a clear statement recognizing the
historical fact of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian National
Committee of Canada (ANCC) reported. 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 ANCC, thanked the Prime Minister Harper, on behalf
of the Canadian Armenian Community, for his historic statement. “The
Right Honorable Stephen Harper’s principled and righteous stand in
recognizing the Armenian Genocide will finally bring closure to the
Canadian-Armenian Community,” said the Chairman of the ANCC.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS HOPE AZERBAIJAN TO RECOGNIZE KARABAKH
PEOPLE’S SELF-DETERMINATION RIGHT
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 20 2006
YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. European parliamentarians hope
Azerbaijan to recognize Karabakh people’s self-determination
right, Marie-Anne Isler-Beguin, Chairwoman of the EU Commission on
Parliamentary Cooperation, said Wednesday in Yerevan. In her opinion,
self-determination right is one of the most important principles in
Karabakh conflict settlement.
At the request from Armenian side, the concept was included in the
proposals made by EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Commission at
its Wednesday’s session in Yerevan.
Isler-Beguin also pointed out refugees return to the conflict-stricken
region among the key parts of the conflict settlement process.
She said the European Union is ready to provide any assistance in the
process of Karabakh conflict settlement and added that the conflict
must be solved only by peaceful means.
The commission’s eighth session was held on April 18, 19 in Yerevan.
At their session, lawmakers also discussed issues related to Karabakh
conflict peaceful settlement, Armenia’s home and foreign policies
as well as the process of activity program preparation as part of
European Neighborhood Program. M.V. -0—

Marblehead Reporter, MA
April 20 2006
Holocaust commemoration set for April 24
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Many local organizations, temples, churches and colleges are
joining with the Holocaust Center, Boston North to sponsor this
year’s Community Interfaith Commemoration of the Holocaust, Monday,
April 24, 7 p.m., with an art exhibit at 6 p.m. at Peabody Veterans
Memorial High.
“It is vital to remember the Holocaust as a warning of what can happen
when people and nations become indifferent bystanders,” said Holocaust
survivor Sonia Weitz. “To forget the victims would be forgetting that
they ever lived. Most died without leaving anyone behind to remember,
to recite the traditional memorial prayers. To forget would be a
victory for the perpetrators.”
Harvard Law School professor Martha Minow will give the keynote
presentation entitled “Lessons and Parallels, from the Holocaust
to Darfur.” She will be the recipient of the Holocaust Center’s
Service Award.
The program includes the traditional Survivors’ Candle lighting
ceremony, the presentation of the flag by area veterans, a performance
by the Gordon College women’s choir, an interfaith service with
Rev. Thomas Buckley of Andover, Rev. Dr. Susan Jarek-Glidden of Quincy,
Rabbi Myron Geller of Gloucester and Cantor Sam Pessaroff of Peabody.
Doors open at 6 p.m. In addition to student art, there will be an
exhibit on the Armenian genocide presented by Peabody resident Apo
Torosyan. The Social Action Committee and Youth Group from Temple
Ner Tamid will have postcards available to encourage our government
to stop the genocide in Darfur. The video “Present Memories” will be
shown from 6-7 p.m.
Co-sponsoring the commemoration this year are: Temples Ahavath Achim,
B’nai Abraham, Beth Shalom, Congregation Sons of Israel, Emanuel,
Ner Tamid, Shalom, Shiryat Hayam and Sinai; Cohen-Hillel Academy,
Community Covenant Church, Danvers Diversity Committee, Facing History
& Ourselves, Gordon College, Jewish Federation of the North Shore,
office of District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett, Peabody’s No Place
For Hate, Peabody Veterans’ Council, Peter Torigian Life Center and
Robert I. Lappin Charitable Foundation.
The community is welcome. There is no charge. For information,
call the Holocaust Center, Boston North Inc., 978-531-8288 or visit
holocaustcenterbn.org.

GEORGIAN ORPHANAGE OF NINOTSMINDA RESTORED
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006
AKHALKALAK, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. ARMENIANS TODAY. The building
of the Georgian orphanage of the city of Ninotsminda, Javakhk,
is capitally restored. According to the “A-Info” agency, because
of the construction works, children of the orphanage were moved to
another place that is unknown to inhabiation of Ninotsminda. But
the directoriate of the orphanage informs that after finishing the
restoration works, children will return. Besides, improvement of
conditions will create possibility to bring here other few dozens
of orphans from different regions of Georgia. The agency considers
necessary to mention that the directoriate of the orphanage refused to
accept orphans from Ninotsminda who are Armenians in origin. Children
of exclusively Georgian origin come from other regions of Georgia
live in the orphanage founded in Ninotsminda a year ago.

57 SECTS REGISTERED IN ARMENIA
Lragir.am
19 April 06
On April 19 there was a meeting at the Hayeli Club to discuss the
problems of sects in Armenia. Sects have become rather active recently,
causing divide within families. The problem worries the Armenian
Apostolic Church, however the clergy refuse to discuss it with sects,
for according to father Mkhitar, “the issue of the millennium could
hardly be settled at the table of negotiations.” And the Apostolic
Church is not entitled to control the activity of sects which divide
the society. Which is the best way of struggle against sects then?
The head of the Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of the Destructive
Cult Alexander Amaryan suggests setting up an agency that would
control the activity of sects. Moreover, he says such an agency is
a requirements of the Council of Europe. Alexander Amaryan adds that
another stipulation of the Council of Europe is government sanctions
against sects which violate human rights.
Sects are funded from outside; “we are registering an organization
which is banned abroad,” says Alexander Amaryan. Presently there
are 350 thousand members of different sects in Armenia. 80 percent
are in Yerevan, they tend to grow in number in the adjacent rural
areas. Alexander Amaryan says it would take 2-5 years to convert
them back to the Armenian Apostolic Church. Father Mkhitar says it is
important to have a priest in each village to struggle sects. “Over
centuries Muslims have been unable to convert Armenians to Islam,
but in the past 10 years 10 per cent of Armenians deviated from the
Armenian Apostolic Church,” says Alexander Amaryan.