Author: Badalian Vardan

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, August 22, 2005

Contact: Armen Carapetian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

COLORADO CONGRESSMAN ACKNOWLEDGES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO CONSTITUENTS

— ANCA-WR Praises Rep. Tancredo for His Unwavering Stance

CASTLE ROCK, CO – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western
Region (ANCA-WR) today praised Republican Representative Thomas G. Tancredo
(CO-6) for his moral stance on the Armenian Genocide.
In letters the Congressman sent in response to constituents asking for his
support of the Armenian Genocide resolutions pending in the 109th Congress,
Rep. Tancredo wrote “I believe that the atrocities committed against the
Armenian people is worthy of the term ‘genocide’. It was carried out the
Ottoman Empire in 1915-1916, and large numbers of Armenians were
methodically massacred.”
Colorado Armenian American community leaders and activists who began
receiving the letters this month expressed their appreciation for the
Congressman’s candid remarks. Long-time ANCA-WR supporter and community
leader, Dr. Garo Chalian, and ANC activist Simon Maghakyan, who were among
the constituents receiving Rep. Tancredo’s response, were encouraged by the
Congressman’s clear and unambiguous statement. Last week, ANCA Government
Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian met members of Representative’s staff in
Washington, DC to extend thanks to the Congressman and to discuss pressing
foreign affairs matters of concern to Armenian Americans.
“Congressman Tancredo voted for passage of the Armenian Genocide resolution
in 2000,” cited Steven Dadaian, Chairman of the ANCA-WR. “Having his support
again is critical as he serves on the House International Relations
Committee.”
The State of Colorado has a growing and vibrant Armenian American community.
Armenians of Colorado, an organization dedicated to advancing understanding
of Armenian history, culture, religion, language, and heritage, has
consistently maintained strong ties with the Colorado state officials and
its Congressional delegation. In 2003, the Colorado General Assembly
permanently designated April 24th “Colorado Day of Remembrance of the
Armenian Genocide” urged the United States Congress to likewise act to
commemorate the Armenian Genocide.
Two resolutions dealing with the Armenian Genocide have been introduced in
the 109th session of the House of Representatives. H.Res. 316 was introduced
on June 14, 2005 by Rep. George Radanovich (CA-19), and Rep. Adam Schiff
introduced H.Con.Res. 195 on June 29th. Both H.Res. 316 and H.Con. Res. 195
enjoy strong bi-partisan support, to date having earned 112 and 83
cosponsors, respectively. The resolutions have been referred to the House
International Relations Committee and are currently pending markup in the
Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations,
where Rep. Tancredo serves.
The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots
political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of
the Armenian-American community on a broad range of issues.
#####

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
ECUMENICAL SEMINAR IN BIKFAYA
The members of ecumenical committees of the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s
various Dioceses participated in a one-day conference in Bikfaya on August
18. The conference was organized by the ecumenical relations committee of
the Catholicosate of Cilicia under the patronage of His Holiness Aram I.
Around 50 young men and women, who participate in several ecumenical
conferences and meetings by decision of their Dioceses or the Catholicosate
of Cilicia, participated in the conference from the various Dioceses in the
Middle East.
Bishop Nareg Alemezian, director of the Catholicosate’s ecumenical
department, delivered the opening remarks and welcomed the participants.
His Holiness then delivered his message to the participants, emphasizing the
Catholicosate of Cilicia’s insistence on delegating highly qualified
participants to ecumenical conferences and meetings.
“This is what has imposed respect towards our church and our seat in
general. Compared to others, we are a small church, but with our continuous
and high quality participation in ecumenical activities, we have brought an
important contribution to the movement’s mission and work,” said His
Holiness Aram I.
Nora Kabakian, the chairwoman of the committee, welcomed the participants
and called on them to make the conference a success through their
participation, exchange of views and experiences. She stressed the
importance of professionalism and self-preparation for a useful
participation in ecumenical conferences.
Bishop Alemezian then delivered a lecture on “The Catholicosate of Cilicia
and the ecumenical movement.” He pointed out that different approaches
should be adopted to involvement in the ecumenical movement on local,
regional and international levels.
Participants from different Dioceses talked about the conferences they have
attended during the last year and shared their experiences.
Teni Pirri Simonian, director of the World Council of Churches’ (WCC)
department for Church and Ecumenical Relations, then talked about the
challenges the WCC faces and talked about the 9th Assembly of the council,
to be held next year in Brazil.
Seta Khedeshian then talked about the Middle East Council of Churches and
the challenges it faces and Dr. Jan Salmanian delivered a lecture about the
Christian-Muslim Dialogue process and its current developmental phases.
Participants in the conference were given the chance to ask questions and
express viewpoints after each lecture. They later discussed the main
viewpoints expressed during the different sessions.
Bishop Alemezian praised the attendants and the level of their participation
at the end of the conference.
##
View pictures here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

“JUSTICE” SEES NO REASON FOR SAYING YES TO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, VICTOR DALLAKIAN NOTES
YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, NOYAN TAPAN. “The bloc “Justice” sees no reason
for saying yes to the version of constitutional amendments – it
is our opinion.” Secretary of the RA National Assembly faction
“Justice” Victor Dallakian told this to reporters following the
August 18 sitting of the bloc “Justice”. “At present, our proposals
have not been accepted neither in terms of their contents nor in
connection with confidence,” he said. At the same time, according
to V. Dallakian, most of the bloc deputies, except for the party
“Hanrapetutyun” (“Republic”), will participate in the special session
of the National Assembly on August 29. He stated that during the
session, the bloc will make a statement related to the referendum
on the Constitution. Asked how “Justice” will participate in the NA
session in case its proposals are not accepted, V. Dallakian said
that the participation in the constitutional amendments is a broad
notion. “By taking part in the process, it is possible to say or no to
the version of the constitutional amendments. That is, to participate
in the discussions of the contents and to participate in the process
are two different notions, and in this respect we will participate
in the process,” Secretary of “Justice” noted.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Herald Sun, NC
Aug 18 2005
Imprisoned Duke student free
By Ray Gronberg : The Herald-Sun
[email protected]
Aug 17, 2005 : 8:57 pm ET
DURHAM — A Duke University graduate student is once again a free man
after receiving a suspended sentence from a court in Armenia that found
him guilty of illegally trying to remove old books from the country.
Yektan Turkyilmaz can’t leave Armenia until court officials there
formally file the verdict on Aug. 31. But he is no longer being held
in prison, and may resume the research effort that prompted his visit
to the country.
“I am happy to be free,” Turkyilmaz was quoted as saying in a report
by Armenialiberty.org, a branch of Radio Free Europe. “I now want
to concentrate on my doctoral dissertation. I was, I am and I will
remain a friend of the Armenians.”
Officials at Duke who’ve pressed for the Ph.D. student’s release
welcomed the news.
“We were pleased to hear the news that Yektan Turkyilmaz has been
released from detention … and will be able to return soon to the
United States,” Duke President Richard Brodhead said in a written
statement. “We look forward to welcoming him back to Duke University.”
Turkyilmaz — a scholar from Turkey who is in his fourth year in
Duke’s cultural anthropology department — was in Armenia to conduct
archive research for a dissertation about the political and ethnic
evolution of eastern Turkey in the early 20th century.
The topic is a touchy one because it invariably touches on the question
of genocide. The region in question once was home to many Armenians,
but about 1 million died there in the early years of World War I.
Armenians have insisted that the deaths amounted to genocide, but
Turkish governments have rejected the claim. Relations between the
two countries are frosty; they do not maintain diplomatic relations.
Turkyilmaz — a Kurd considered sympathetic to the Armenian point
of view — was pulled off a plane by authorities on June 17 as he
prepared to leave the country. He was later charged with two counts
of smuggling under a law that bars the export without permission of
books that are more than 50 years old.
Tuesday’s court hearing upheld the seizure of 88 books published
more 50 years ago that Turkyilmaz had purchased from second-hand
book dealers. A judge, however, ordered authorities to return to the
scholar compact discs that contained his research notes.
According to Armenialiberty.org, a prosecutor said the smuggling charge
was “absolutely substantiated,” but agreed that there were mitigating
circumstances. Turkyilmaz received a two-year suspended sentence.
The law in question would have supported a prison sentence of between
four and eight years.
Turkyilmaz’ supporters — including a core group of professors at
Duke and UNC Chapel Hill — have insisted that Armenia’s handling of
the case was extreme compared to the alleged offense. He was held in
a high-security prison and initially was not allowed to communicate
with his family or Duke officials.
Supporters of the Ph.D. student were able to rally assistance from
political leaders who included former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole and U.S.
Rep. David Price, a former Duke professor.
Dole — the husband of Duke alumna and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole —
wrote Armenia’s president, Robert Kocharian, to say that Turkyilmaz’
detention had raised “questions about Armenia’s democratic progress
and commitment to the rule of law.”
Turkyilmaz’ dissertation adviser, Duke professor Orin Starn, traveled
to Armenia to attend the trial and told Armenialiberty.org’s reporters
that Duke officials were “very pleased” by Tuesday’s court decision.
Starn could not be reached for further comment.

AZG Armenian Daily #145, 18/08/2005
Appointment
YERVAND AZATIAN APPOINTED MINISTER’S ADVISER
Hovik Hoveyan, minister of Culture and Youth Affairs of Armenia,
received yesterday prominent American-Armenian publicist Yervand
Azatian. Beginning from July 1 of 2005, Mr. Azatian has been working
as adviser of the culture minister on the communities of the Armenian
Diaspora. The minister handed Mr. Azatian a copy of an order of his
appointment and acquainted him with impending projects and plans.
Dwelling on the expectations that the minister pins on the new adviser,
Mr. Hoveyan said, “I am not the one who should speak about deeds of
Yervand Azatian. His works, articles on literature, his public work
speak well for his personality. It’s an honor to have him as adviser
on Diaspora affairs, and I will gladly listen to his advices. We are
old friends and I know his intellectual potential. It’s an honor for
me to work with such a bright intellectual as Yervand Azatian”.
“Not only the Culture Ministry will benefit from this appointment
but the whole country”, Mr. Hoveyan concluded.
By Marietta Makarian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Aug 17 2005
LATVIA SUPPORTS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN AND APPRECIATES
ITS PARTICIPATION IN PEACE-BUILDING MISSION
[August 17, 2005, 22:26:20]
As is known, defense minister of the Azerbaijan Republic
colonel-general Safar Abiyev has paid an official visit to Riga on
the invitation of the defense minister of the Republic of Latvia
Eynars Repshe on 15-16 August.
On 15 August, Mr. Safar Abiyev met with the Commander of National
Armed Forces of Latvia, vice-admiral Gaydis Andreys Zeybots. After
the briefing on the Armed Forces of Latvia for the defense minister
of Azerbaijan, Mr. Safar Abiyev informed on the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, on the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and the
cooperation links with NATO.
The same day, Mr. Abiyev met with defense minister of Latvia
Eynars Repshe. Mr. Safar Abiyev highlighted on the NATO-Azerbaijan
cooperation, on Azerbaijan’s participation in the anti-terror
coalition, and on the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
“We believe that sooner or later all the states will recognize Armenia
as an aggressor and demand to withdraw its armed forces from the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan”, Mr. Abiyev stressed.
Mr. Eynars Repshe underlined that Latvia supports territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan and highly assesses its participation in the
peace-building mission.
After the meeting, the ministers have signed an agreement on
cooperation in the military field between the defense ministries of
the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Latvia.
The Agreement includes exchange of experience related to
participation in the NATO’s PfP Program, the defense policy and
strategy, commandment and management, international peace support
and humanitarian operations, cooperation in military construction
and military reforms, military education and others.
The same day, Speaker of the Latvian Seym Ms. Ingrida Udre received
the Azerbaijan delegation. Then, foreign minister of Latvia Artis
Pabriks met with the defense minister of Azerbaijan and discussed
issues of cooperation.
Defense minister of Azerbaijan also had a series of meetings with
representatives of relevant departments of Latvia.
On 16 August, colonel-general Safar Abiyev familiarized with the
activity of the Research-Rescue Service Center of the Navy of Latvia.

PRESS RELEASE
ARPA Institute
18106 Miranda St.
Tarzana, CA 91356 &
Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America
417 W. Arden St., Suite 112C
Glendale, CA 91203
Contact: Hagop Panossian
Tel: (818) 596-9660
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
ARPA Institute and AESA present the Lecture/Seminar: “Technology,
Globalization and Entropy in Everyday Life,” by Jack Hokikian,
Ph.D. on Thursday, August 25, 2005 at 7:30 PM in the Merdinian school
auditorium. The Address is 13330 Riverside Dr., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403.
Directions: on the 101 FWY exit on Woodman, go north and turn right
on Riverside Dr.
Abstract: The author’s book The Science of Disorder: Understanding the
Complexity, Uncertainty, and Pollution in Our World will serve as the
basis of the evening’s lecture. Through the Laws of Thermodynamics-the
Laws of Energy and Entropy-the effects of technology, accelerated
consumption of goods and natural resources and globalization on our
environment and on our lives will be discussed. Questions such as
“why our lives are becoming increasingly complicated, disordered
and uncertain” and “why we have less time for ourselves, even though
we are surrounded with more ‘timesaving’ devices than ever before”
will be answered. Approaches and methods will be provided on how to
attain a philosophy of life that can guide us in our daily actions
and decisions.
Jack Hokikian received his Ph.D. in experimental nuclear physics from
the University of Southern California. In the 1970s, he worked at the
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he was involved in orbit determination
of spacecrafts. He has published numerous articles in the Bulletin of
the American Physical Society, Nuclear Physics, American Astronomical
Society and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Conference Proceedings. He has taught computer science courses at the
University of Southern California and the California State University
in Northridge. He recently worked for a health care organization
as a consultant/data architect. He is the author of The Science of
Disorder: Understanding the Complexity, Uncertainty, and Pollution
in Our World. He was interviewed on Voice of America and has appeared
on Horizon Evening News and Barry Kibrick’s “Between the Lines.”
For Information Please call Dr. Hagop Panossian at (818)586-9660

FUNDS OF NATIONAL LIBRARY OF ARMENIA PERIODICALLY REPLENISHED WITH BOOKS PUBLISHED IN RUSSIA
YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the
Year of Russia held in Armenia, an exihibition under the title
“Armenian-Russian Literary Cultural Ties” opened at the National
Library of Armenia (NLA) on August 16. According to Rafik Ghazarian,
the NLA Deputy Director, the Armenian-Russian friendship has a
history of centuries, an important part of which is the cultural
cooperation. It was mentioned that today that cooperation is diplayed
in the way of closer and more ungenious ties. According to R.Ghazarian,
Russian literature, music and theater had their influence on the
development of the Armenian culture. Particularly, influence of
Pushkin’s, Lermontov’s, Gogol’s Turgenev’s, Chekhov’s and many others’
works is felt in Armenian writers’ works. It was also mentioned that
first Armenian translations of writings of Pushkin, Russian poet of
genius were still published in 1840. R.Ghazarian informed that 70% of
the literature kept at the NLA funds is in Russian. Even at present,
the NLA is in close ties with state libraries of Saint Petersburg
and Moscow. Due to that cooperation, the NLA funds are replenished
with hundreds of books being published in Russia every year.

UEFA

Aug 13 2005
FIFA World Cup: Armenia bring in local cover
Injuries have robbed Armenia coach Henk Wisman of some first-choice
players for Wednesday’s friendly in Jordan.
Local cover
Goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky is sidelined, leading the coach to bring
in FC Pyunik No1 Gevorg Kasparov, and with defenders Karen Dokhoyan
and Harutyun Vardanyan also out of action, Wisman has named a number
of home-based players to complete his 18-man party. FC Kilikia forward
Nshan Erzrumyan and FC Banants trio Aram Hakobyan, Samvel Melkonyan
and Ararat Arakelyan are all included.
Armenia squad
Bete (FC Pyunik), Kasparov (FC Pyunik), Hovsepyan (FC Pyunik),
Melikyan(FC Metalurh Donetsk), Tadevosyan (FC Pyunik), Arzumanyan
(FC Pyunik), V Aleksanyan (FC Pyunik), Khachatryan (OFI Crete FC),
Mkhitaryan (FC MTZ-RIPO Minsk), Lazarian (FC Pyunik), Nazaryan (FC
Pyunik), K Aleksanyan (CSF Zimbru Chisinau), Voskanyan (FC Yesil
Bogatyr Petropavlovsk), Arman Karamyan (FC Gloria 1922 Bistrita),
Artavazd Karamyan (AFC Rapid Bucuresti), Hakobyan (FC Metalurh
Donetsk), Shahgeldyan (FC MIKA), Petrosyan (CSF Zimbru Chisinau).

MAXIMUM MONTLY USE OF WATER BY PRIVATE DWELLING HOUSES WITHOUT WATER
METERS TO BE CALCULATED IN AMOUNT OF UP TO 100 CUBIC METERS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 11, NOYAN TAPAN. At the August 11 sitting, the
Armenian government made a decision to calculate the maximum monthly
use of water by the inhabitants of the private dwelling houses, in
which water meters have not been installed, in the amount of up to 100
cubic meters – in order to mitigate to some extent the impact of the
tariff and prevent the accumulation of debts. According to the RA
Government Information and PR Department, it was noted at the sitting
that the decision is also meant as an additional incentive to install
water meters.