Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

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

HONOR ARMENIAN SURVIVAL
By Shamoneh Ayazjoo
Michael Nicolayeff / Daily Nexus
Daily Nexus, CA
Univ. of California, Santa Barbara
April 25 2006
Genocide Victims Should Be Recognized With Adoration
This article is dedicated to the memory of the 1,500,000 Armenians
who were martyred during the Turkish massacres, which culminated on
April 24, 1915.
“Fear not Them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul:
But rather fear Him which is able to destroy both body and soul in
hell,” Matthew X, 28.
The Armenian Genocide was a crime that exterminated an entire nation
from infants up through elders; a crime whose criminals starved and
burned children; brutally raped pure, angelic women; beheaded young
men and forced a Christian people to abandon their faith.
Such a horrible and barbaric crime was committed by the genocidal
government of Turkish emperors against the Armenian people during the
span of three terrible years – the bloodiest day of which occurred
on April 24, 1915 when more than half of the Armenian population was
massacred. But history has yet to report this crime, and this world,
which is so accustomed to atrocity, has yet to recognize what is known
to those that suffered as the first genocide of the 20th century. How
can it be that such a violent crime committed against the nation
of Armenia – a nation so vital to the history of mankind – has gone
unpunished and unrecognized? After all, Armenia was the first nation
to adopt Christianity in 301 A.D., and it is the country that bears the
historical Mount Ararat, which is where the biblical Noah’s Ark landed.
Perhaps it is due to the Turkish government’s blatant refusal to
acknowledge and take responsibility for the crime of massacring more
than one and a half million people, their intellectuals, clergymen,
scholars, musicians and other men of art, without mercy even for
those Armenian architects who had built and decorated the mosques
for their religious worship.
This year marks the 91st anniversary of the inhuman mass-murder which
was perpetrated against the Armenian people during the bitter and
disastrous days of World War I. Ninety-one years after the great
massacre, the Armenian people, both in Armenia and throughout the
world, reverently bow before the unknown graves of the valiant victims
and pray in remembrance of that dark and awful day when death and
destruction filled their eyes.
In fact, an entire nation was martyred but the Armenians did not die
forever. Against this deadly attempt, the Armenian people rose up
with all the might and instinct necessary for survival. And today,
the pages of history testify that the nation itself was the conqueror,
and that the enemy had devoured only the body of the Armenian, but he
had never been able to consume the Armenian soul which is invincible
and imperishable. This is the reason why, on the occasion of the 91st
anniversary, the Armenian people must take a new stand. April 24 is
no longer a day of tears and mourning. For the sake of the glorious
victims Armenians must proclaim April 24 as a day of victory and dispel
once and forever from the hearts and minds of the Armenian people the
sense of defeat and lamentation. The victims of the Armenian Genocide
died with the hope of living; therefore, April 24 is no longer a
day stained with a sense of defeat, but rather a day overcome with
exaltation for survival.
Shamoneh Ayazjoo is a junior English major.
From: Baghdasarian

MEMORIAL DEDICATED TO THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OFFICIALLY OPENED IN LYON
ArmRadio.am
25.04.2006 15:20
Last evening a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Armenian
genocide was officially opened in Lyon France. Some days ago the
monument was profaned by Turks.
Political circles of France attached great importance to the opening
of the memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide. During the
ceremony, a speech was delivered by the President of France Jacques
Chirac. Head of the Armenian European Federation Hilda Tchoboyan told
“Radiolur” that impressive speeches were delivered, the address of
the Mayor of Lyon was most remarkable.
Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to France
Eduard Nalbandyan expressed his appreciation to French authorities
for raising monuments dedicated to the Armenian Genocide in Lyon and
Marseilles. Hilda Tchoboyan attached importance to the contribution
of France forcing Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
The Socialist Party of France declared that on May 18 it intends
to subject a draft law on arresting Armenian Genocide deniers
to the consideration of the Supreme Council of the French
Parliament. Yesterday the issue was again addressed in Lyon.
By the way, Turkey is going to submit a complaint to UNESCO against
France for raising monuments dedicated to the Armenian Genocide. The
reason was the opening of memorials dedicated to the Armenian Genocide
in Paris and Lyon.
Turkey is concerned with the fact that both monuments have been raised
in territories included in the list of world cultural heritage of
the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.”
Head of the European Armenian Federation considers that there is no
reason for concern here. She informed that 100 policemen are guarding
the monument to protect it from Turkish vandalism.
From: Baghdasarian

ALEXANDER BOZHKO: LESSONS SHOULD BE LEARNT FROM HISTORY’S BLACK PAGES FOR THE TRAGEDY NOT TO RECUR TO OTHER PEOPLES
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 24 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “In spite of the
fact that almost one century has passed, not only Armenians but also
many peoples of the world do not forget this terrible tragedy,”
Ambassador of Ukraine to Armenia Alexander Bozhko, who was paying
the tribute of his respect to the victims of the Armenian Genocide,
declared. According to him, today lessons should be learnt from
the black pages of the history for such a tragedy not to recur to
other peoples, too. “The Armenian Genocide was also followed by
Hitler massacres, hunger, in consequence of which 5 mln people died
and Armenian, Ukrainian, Russian intellectuals and those of other
nationalities also died during the Stalin massacres. Therefore,
we should never forget April 24,” the Ambassador emphasized.
From: Baghdasarian

From: [email protected]
Subject: The Sooner Victor Makes Up His Mind The Better
THE SOONER VICTOR MAKES UP HIS MIND THE BETTER

Lragir.am
22 April 06

Victor Dallakyan, Secretary of the Ardarutiun Alliance (Justice), one
of the key figures of the opposition, might close the door of the
alliance behind him, for he is likely to open the door of the
Bargavach Hayastan Party (Prosperous Armenia). Victor Dallakyan is not
in a hurry to officially refute this information, which is touched
upon increasinly often, and in personal talks he even confirms his
decision to change `justice’ with `prosperity.’ Instead of Dallakyan
his boss in the alliance Stepan Demirchyan refutes this information,
who elucidated Dallakyan’s plans for news reporters on April 22. `If
someone has to make up their mind, the sooner they do the better,’
stated Stepan Demirchyan, the leader of Ardarutiun, on April 22 in
response to news reporters.
`There can be different talks, however no one has announced
about leaving the alliance yet. But I have to repeat again, of course,
that if there are people or political forces which have a problem of
orientation, the sooner they decide the better.’ The leader
of Ardarutiun said there is not a mechanism of removing a member of
parliament from the faction, and Victor Dallakyan fulfills his
functions, the job of the secretary of the alliance.
Nevertheless, it is surprising that Stepan Demirchyan did not want to
enquire directly from Victor Dallakyan about the reason or occasion
that gave rise to such intensive rumors.
From: Baghdasarian

ARTUR BAGHDASARIAN: “IF COMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ARE FALSIFIED
IN THE WAY AS IN 2003, IT MAY BRING SERIOUS CHANGES”
YEREVAN, APRIL 20, NOYAN TAPAN. In the interview published in April
19 issue of the German “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” newspaper,
Artur Baghdasarian, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia
emphasized the importance of the 2007 parliamentary and 2008
presidential elections for Armenia.
According to Radio Liberty, respoding the question if during the
2008 presidential elections he will follow the example of Mikheil
Sahakashvili and Viktor Yushchenko, who were a part of the Government
before, but when saw that the acting authorities were not able to
implement reforms, left the Government and became leaders of coloured
revolutions, Artur Baghdasarian answered: “I am for reforms. All
those people who are against holding them in a peaceful way, assist
implementation of revolutions, but the revolution is not a right
way in the 21st century.” “We struggle for countinuous character of
reforms, and we need just elections for it. The 2007 parliamentary
elections and 2008 presidential elections are very important for
our country, and must show where we go, towards Europe or back? They
who thinks that they may falsify the elections, must understand that
those times have passed in Armenia, and if the coming presidential
elections are falsified in the way as it was in 2003, it may bring
serious changes. Neither inner nor outer forces will adjust to it,”
the Parliament Speaker of Armenia stated.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA IS READY TO DISCUSS TERRITORIES IF…
Lragir.am
20 April 06
If Azerbaijan recognizes the right for self-determination of
the people of Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia is ready to consider the
question of elimination of the consequences of the war. Foreign
Minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan reasserted April 20 the official
standpoint of Armenia on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. The
consequences of the war are the problems of territories and the return
of refugees. Vardan Oskanyan does not specify if Armenia will discuss
the consequences after the self-determination of the people of Armenia
or since the moment when Azerbaijan simply agrees to recognize the
right for self-determination, leaving the discussion of options for
future. The foreign minister of Armenia simply announces that Armenia
will consider the consequences of the war if Azerbaijan accepts that
the people of Karabakh should decide their status independently.
From: Baghdasarian

SAFAROV DID NOT REPENT OF HIS CRIME
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.04.2006 22:34 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At the last session of the Budapest court Azeri army
officer Ramil Safarov, charged in murder of Armenian army lieutenant
Gurgen Margaryan, never repented of the crime he had committed, lawyer
Nazeli Vardanyan stated at a news conference in Yerevan. In her words,
Safarov explained the crime by “losing control” of himself.
At that she noted that the defense of the Armenian party was more
competent, that that of Azerbaijan. “We refused from politicization
of the process from the very beginning, while Azeris kept speaking
about the political underlying reasons of the murder, the war,
ancient culture of Azerbaijan. In response to it Hungarian judge
Andras Vaskuti noted he did not know a country, whose culture admits
an inhuman murder,” Vardanyan underscored.
“It was a fierce inhuman crime on the national ground, planned in
advance and aimed not only against Armenia, but also Hungary,” Nazeli
Vardanyan cited the words of Prosecutor Veronica Kis.
As of the appeal, according to Hungarian laws, it can be applied
for in three days after announcement of the sentence. “The Court
of Appeal considers only the course of the trial in compliance with
the documents.
If it is discontent with anything, a new trial is assigned. However,
I do not think this is possible,” Vardanyan said.
From: Baghdasarian

“UNITY TREE PLANTING” IN KOTAYK MARZ
Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2006
HRAZDAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the “Unity
Tree Planting-2006” (Miasnutyan Tsaratunk) program, tree planting was
organized in the marz of Kotayk on April 15. 10 thousand young plants
of decorative trees were brought to the marz for that purpose. These
plants were given to communities. Besides, the Mayor’s Office of
Hrazdan bought 8000 young plants from the hotbed, to plant them in
the territory of the city.
From: Baghdasarian

DATES OF MEETINGS BETWEEN MINISTERS AND PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJAN NOT COORDINATED – NOVRUZ MAMEDOV, PRESIDENT’S ADMINISTRATION
Author: S.Agayeva
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 17 2006
The dates of the following meetings between presidents and minister
of Armenia and Azerbaijan have not been coordinated to date, Trend
reports with reference to Novruz Mamedov, head of foreign relations
with Executive Administration of Azerbaijan’s President.
He said individual suggestions on conversation process by cochairmen
of OSCE’s Minsk Group (MG) are ‘not fully agreed’ and for this reason
dates of consultations are not identified yet. Concerning the messages
stating that MG’s American and French cochairmen are putting forward
some specific suggestions on peaceful resolution of the conflict,
Mr Mamedov said a time is required to compile the suggestions of both
cochairmen into something that would make more sense. He added that
Azeri side would speak on these suggestions after Armenians.
Mr Mamedov said boosting the conversation process gives much hope
to official Baku. “We suggest that in case Armenian side takes some
steps based on good sense, some certain advancements will take place
during this year. This is desirable by all the sides”, – he concluded.
From: Baghdasarian