Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

CONVICTION OF ARMENIAN JOURNALIST IN TURKEY OVERTURNED: PRESS
Agence France Presse — English
May 1, 2006 Monday 4:07 PM GMT
A court in Ankara Monday overturned on appeal the conviction of
an Armenian journalist in Turkey, accused of insulting the Turkish
identity, the Anatolia news agency reported.
Hrant Dink, publisher of the bi-lingual Turkish-Armenian newspaper
Agos, was sentenced to a suspended six-month sentence in October by
a court in Istanbul for an article published in February 2004.
The article about the massacre of Armenians during World War I
in Turkey called on Armenians “to turn now to the new blood of an
independent Armenia, which alone is capable of liberating the Armenian
diaspora” and to reject any Turkish roots.
The appeal judges in Ankara overturned the conviction due to procedural
errors, Anatolia reported, adding that the case will be referred back
to the Istanbul court for retrial.
Dink’s lawyer, Fethiye Cetin, could not confirm the Anatolia report
when contacted by AFP, as he had not yet received word from the
appeals court.
Armenians claim up to 1.5 million of their kin were slaughtered in
orchestrated killings between 1915 and 1917 in the final days of the
Ottoman Empire, the predecessor of Turkey.
It remains a sensitive issue as Turkey categorically rejects claims
of genocide. Ankara argues that 300,000 Armenians and at least as
many Turks died in civil strife when the Armenians took up arms
for independence in eastern Anatolia and sided with Russian troops
invading the crumbling Ottoman Empire.
From: Baghdasarian

Armenian minister, NKR speaker discuss Karabakh settlement
Mediamax news agency
28 Apr 06
Yerevan, 28 April: The speaker of the natioanal assembly of the
Nagornyy Karabakh republic [NKR], Ashot Gulyan, and Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan discussed the settlement of the Karabakh
conflict in Stepanakert today.
Gulyan informed Oskanyan of recent debates in parliament in
Stepanakert of prospects for settling the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict. The speaker handed over a statement adopted in the debates
to the minister, who will submit it to appropriate international
organizations.
Oskanyan spoke about the current and possible developments around the
settlement process and the policy of the Armenian leadership on the
negotiations. The minister pointed out an important detail that unlike
the previous stage, the key point of the talks and the main topic of
discussioins will be the issue of self-determination of Nagornyy
Karabakh.
From: Baghdasarian

EUROPEAN COURT CONSIDERS ACCEPTABLE COMPLAINT OF “GERAGUYN KHORHURD”
CLUB RELATING TO 2003 ELECTIONS

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Court of Human Rights
considered acceptable the complaint of the “Geraguyn Khorhurd”
(Supreme Council) deputies’ club about violation of its observer’s
rights in 2003 NA elections. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the club,
the corresponding chamber of the court made a decision on April 11 to
infrom the RA Government about it, proposing to express in written
form its attitude relating to that complaint till July 6 of this year.
From: Baghdasarian

PanARMENIAN.Net
Union of Armenians of Israel Successfully Functioning

28.04.2006 21:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Union of Armenians of Israel, which is the
member of the World Armenian Congress, was registered a year ago in
Israel, director of the Tel Aviv Institute of Eastern Europe and CIS,
Knesset member Alexander Tsinker told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.
According to him, the Union includes the Israeli citizens, natives of
Armenia. `We have two organizations. One is `Ararat’ and the other,
`Nairi’, was formed by the natives of Gyumri. This year the day of
Holocaust coincided with the Armenian Genocide and on April 24 we
marked both dates. Recently we organized a concert of Armenian and
Jewish songs. The organization also brings to Israel books and
textbooks from Armenia. As a matter of fact the Armenian community in
Israel is more numerous that the Jewish one in Armenia. Actually we
have two communities – the church community in Jerusalem and the
secular community in Tel Aviv and other towns,’ Tsinker said.
He also remarked that the term `Armenian complimentarism’ is already
used in Israel. `We closely examine the principles of the Armenian
foreign policy. It’s interesting and can be useful,’ Tsinker said.
From: Baghdasarian

From: Hrach Kalsahakian Subject: Two admirable schools need your attention
Azad-Hye, Dubai
By Taline Babikian
 
24 April is not a day of mourning only, but a day to celebrate life that we
are still here and alive.
 
Under what circumstances the Turkish government might accept the Genocide,
no one knows. No one even knows if we will see this acceptance, but we all
work in our own ways to see it come true. No blood is cheap, no soul is
worthless. We are humans.
 
I thank all governments who have accepted the Genocide, I thank all
individuals and organisations who work for this cause. I thank all who keep
the proofs of the Genocide alive, be it pictures, stories, diaries,
documentaries, schools. I thank teachers who teach who we are, where we come
from, the values of our heritage and the ability to balance all these with
our immediate environment.
 
Education is a universe that opens doors to many things; with wisdom hand in
hand with education much could be done.
 
My letter today is not mainly about 24 April, we know this by heart. My
letter today is about 2 institutions that have marked my life – Birds’ Nest
and Melkonian Educational Institute (MEI).
 
Both have been the shelters of victims of 1915 events.
Birds’ Nest is a home now for children from broken families and orphans who
live and study there. It is also the school where the small Armenian
community of Byblos send their children to. A multi-purpose institute.
Birds’ Nest needs your help. Birds’ Nest’s history is very important as it
served as a home to many children back from the 1920 till today. The
archives show many pictures from that time, many victims of the 1915. Birds’
Nest was founded by Ms Mary Jacobson, an admirable character of compassion
and strength. It needs your donation.
 
Melkonian on the other hand even though it was founded in the 1920s as a
shelter and orphanage evolved into something much greater then one could
expect. From an orphanage that sheltered children from the 1915, to a well
known educational institute recognised, admired and complimented by many.
This Institute was founded by 2 brothers Krikor and Garabed Melkonian. Their
aim was and is to have graduates from their Institute to be strong in
whatever corner of the world they go. They have a vision and that vision is
to have as many students from the diaspora to attend their school and get
deep and strong knowledge of their ancestors, culture heritage and of course
combined with admirable level of education. Thousands passed from Melkonian,
thousands went into the four corners of the world, having the knowledge of
who they are.
 
Whatever your background, you came out knowing more about Armenian history,
music, folk dance … much more than a typical Armenian school can offer.
Coming from diverse social environmental life, the students were able to
learn how other students lived in their respective countries and built
frienships and many later married.
 
In their will the Melkonian brothers asked AGBU CB of that time to manage
the school with conditions ensuring that the school functions at all times
and if at any time AGBU CB is not able to manage they must hand over the
management of MEI to the Patriarch of Istanbul as sole inheritor.
The MEI court case has ordered now to freeze all assets of MEI in Cyprus.
 
Alumni in many countries, individuals, Pro Edvcatio, joined efforts to stop
this wrong and unjust move of the CB of AGBU who at first ignored the
letters, petitions, emails that were sent to their head office in New York.
Many AGBU members who are Melkonian graduates were not able to support due
to the fact that they are employees or somehow been manipulated and couldn’t
voice their opinion. Even AGBU members who are not “Melkoniantsi” do not
approve what’s happening at the top of the management, but their questions
and remarks are falling on deaf ears.
The school’s Board of Directors was ignored. In the last 2-3 years the
school was actually run by Mr. Anderson, whose job turned out to be
establishing the closing procedure of MEI.
Many still believe in the noble aim of AGBU, but AGBU is something and its
CB is another issue, from whom the members must start to demand transparency
of accounts in all the departments, something that we haven’t seen in ages.
Blind trust is not advisable in any institute.
AGBU unfortunately is not run with the same spirit of late presidents, even
though the motto is the same it is only on paper.
I hope to see AGBU CB reverse its point of view. The rent that the CB is
collecting from the commercial centers that should be going to the school’s
fund is going to the pockets of the AGBU.
That income must have gone to MEI’s fund many years ago.
There is no shame is reversing a decision, it will not discredit AGBU CB,
but it will show to all that even our leaders like our parents make mistakes
that they should fix.
A genocide of education and culture is taking place while we’re looking back
at past events.
This message is against the decision of closing MEI, it is to support our
schools, to send our children to our schools rather then putting them to
local schools from early age.
Two admirable schools need your attention.
Taline Babikian could be reached at the following e-mail:
[email protected]
Find more details about how to support Melkonian Educational Institute:
www.savemelkon ian.org
 
See collection of photos on Cyprus Armenians, including photos taken of
students during the last academic year in the Melkonian Educational
Institute (2004-2005). Azad-Hye photo collection:
 
lbumpicture.asp?al=qhsdtrnshy101376a
Photo: Students during the last academic year 2004-2005
p?newsId=876aff95
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN NATIONAL HOCKEY TEAM PARTICIPATES IN EUROPEAN HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP

April 26 2006
The Armenian national hockey team is participating in the qualifying
phase of the European hockey championship. The participants of the
division III are Armenia, Iceland, Ireland, Luxemburg and Turkey.
The championship’s division III games are taking place from
24th to 29th of April 2006 in Reykjavík Iceland. Games are played on
the ice rink “Skautahollin í Laugardal”.
Armenian national team lost its first match to Turkey 3:8 and beat
the national team of Island 6:0 in the second match.
–Boundary_(ID_2bfmMMogQ3k5zBmTfTySgQ)–
From: Baghdasarian

PARTICIPANTS OF “ROUND TABLE” OF SOUTH OSSETIAN “CIVIL SOCIETY” CLUB CALL ON PARLIAMENT OF REPUBLIC OF SOUTH OSSETIA TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 26 2006
TSKHINVALI, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. They respected the
memory of the Armenian Genocide victims at the South Ossetian “Civil
Society” club. Representatives of non-governmental organizations
as well as of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of South
Ossetia participated in the “round table” held in the “civil society”
club. The club employees told those present about the history of
the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide, about the history of struggle
for recognition of the Genocide as well as informed how the day of
memory of the Armenian Genocide victims was celebrated this year
in the world and in Armenia. Medea Kabuyeva who had participated in
Tsaghkadzor in the human rights training held by the Vanadzor branch
of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia, told about the processes taking
place in Armenia today. As a result of the meeting the participants
made a decision to turn to the Parliament of the Republic of South
Ossetia with a request to recognize the Armenian Genocide Besides,
participants of the meeting spoke about the necessity of building
a monument to the victims of those years. “It’s necessary for us,
representatives of the South Ossetian society to support those who
struggle against displays of the national intolerance, xenophobia and
Nazism in the whole world. The phenomenon of the xenophobia looks like
an epidemic: one may not win it if it is done in a separately taken
place,” club coordinator Alan Parasteyav stated. It is envisaged to
dedicate one of the coming “round tables” of the club to the memory
of the Holocaust victims.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA REPRESENTED ITS PROBLEMS
A1+
[07:26 pm] 26 April, 2006
Today the 14th meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation in Bucharest which marked the end of the
presidency of Romania.
As a result of the meeting of the Foreign Ministers the Bucharest
declaration was adopted where the participants made decisions about
the necessity of organizational reforms in order to raise the efficient
of BSEC.
In his speech RA deputy Foreign Minister A. Kirakosyan stressed
that the disagreements between the BSEC member countries must be
eliminated in order to secure cooperation within the framework of
the structure. He called on all the member countries to reconsider
their approaches towards the substructures of the region mentioning
the economic expediency of its re-exploitation.
During the meeting Leonidas Chrisantopulos, the first Greek Ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Armenia was elected Secretary
General of the BSCE international Secretariat.
Since May 1 the Russian Federation will take up the presidency of BSEC.
From: Baghdasarian

THE HUNGER-STRIKER FELT BAD IN THE COURTROOM
A1+
[09:10 pm] 25 April, 2006
“I still claim that my son’s murderers are to be sentenced to life
imprisonment. The date of my son’s murder does not correspond to the
date mentioned in the trial – December 24,” The successor of Hovsep
Mkrtumyan started the trial with the following words in the Court of
Appeal on Criminal cases while hearing the case on the murder of the
NKR Martakert regiment soldiers Hovsep Mkrtumyan and Roma Eghazaryan.
The defendants’ advocates came to the trial after the break and
motivated their absence with the fact that their mediations were not
taken into account and the trial was impartial. The judge refused the
mediation of 3 advocates Stepan Oskanyan, Zarui Postanjyan and Atoyan
saying that “the mediation is completely groundless.” At that moment
Stepan Oskanyan addressed the judge, “Why is the court interested in
finishing the hearing.”
Then Zarui Postajyan made a speech presenting the experts’ conclusions
thoroughly which refuted the murder on that date. The judges
reluctantly listened to her speech. After the speech the judges began
their discussions and decided to refuse the mediation in a few minutes.
Let us mention that Arajik Zaryan, Musa Serobyan and Razmik Sargsyan
accused of the murder went on hunger-strike. The latter is an awful
state and is hardly taken to the courtroom. The hearing was cancelled
because of his health till tomorrow.
From: Baghdasarian

ABOUT 160 EVENTS ORGANIZED IN FRANCE TO COMMEMORATE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS
Yerkir
26.04.2006 12:12
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Events marking the 91st anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide began in Paris April 23. On that day a requiem mass was
served at Notre Dame de Paris.
The same evening at 6:00 p.m. part of Champs-Elysees Avenue was
partially blocked. Hundreds of French Armenians with flags and
flowers walked to the Trumphal Arch in silence. There Armenian
Ambassador to France and Jacques Chirac’s special representative,
military commandant of Elysee Palace laid a wreath to the grave of
the Unknown Soldier next to the eternal fire.
April 24 bells of some 40 Armenian churches tolled in different
French cities, marking the beginning of mourning liturgies in the
memory of victims of the Armenian Genocide. Requiem mass was held in
St. Hovhannes Armenian Cathedral. Wreaths were laid to the monument
to Komitas. Rally participants then walked to the Turkish embassy
in silence.
April 24 Armenian NA Speaker Artur Baghdassaryan and Ambassador to
France Eduard Nalbandyan participated in the ceremony of opening an
Armenian Genocide Memorial. State and political figures, thousands
of Armenians were present at the ceremony.
The same day the Armenian Ambassador and Lyon Mayor, MP Jacques Colomb
partook in the opening of an Armenian Genocide monument in the city
central square. Addressing those gathered Nalbandyan remarked some
50 Genocide monuments in France evidence not only recognition, but
also solidarity with Armenians.
April 23-24 some 160 events commemorating the victims of the Armenian
Genocide were held in 60 French towns: Grenoble, Toulon, Valence,
Montpellier, Cannes and others. The topic of the Armenian Genocide
was widely covered by French media and TV. Various French TV channels
showed films on the Armenian Genocide.
From: Baghdasarian