Author: Chatinian Lara

PRESS RELEASE/FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION/PRESS RELEASE
For more information write to:
Email: [email protected]
Prof. Gerard Libaridian
Department of History
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
FIFTH MEETING OF THE WORKSHOP FOR ARMENIAN/TURKISH SCHOLARSHIP TO
CONVENE AT NYU
Public Session Scheduled for Sunday, May 14
The next meeting of the Workshop for Armenian/Turkish Scholarship
(WATS) will convene at New York University, May 14-16. This will be the
fifth meeting of this important undertaking. The three day gathering
will start with a session open to the public, from 7:00-9:00 PM in
the Hemmerdinger Hall, Silver Center, 100 Washington Square East,
1st Floor.
Organized by Professors Fatma Muge Gocek (Sociology, University of
Michigan), Gerard Libaridian (History, Michigan), and Ronald Grigor
Suny (History, Michigan), previous meetings of WATS were held at
the University of Chicago (2000), University of Michigan (2002),
the University of Minnesota (2004) and in Salzburg, Austria last
year. The fifth meeting is being hosted by New York University and
the organizers are joined by Prof.
Paul Boghossian ( Philosophy, NYU). The theme of the workshop
this year is “The Boundaries of Genocide: Intentions, Histories,
Peoples.” “Dialogue is an ideal that often ends up with one side
talking and the other appearing to listen,” commented Prof. Ronald
Suny. “In discussions about the Armenian Genocide of 1915, neither
side – Armenian or Turkish – seemed to understand, or even hear,
what the other was saying.
How could the deportation and massacre of hundreds of thousands of
people be metastasized into a civil war that never occurred? How could
one blame the victims for their own deaths? This workshop has been one
of the most exciting and productive scholarly initiatives in the last
five years that has brought Turkish, Armenian, and other historians
and social scientists together to present research and talk about the
fate of the Armenians and other minorities in the last years of the
Ottoman Empire.” The evening session on May 14 will serve to acquaint
the general public with the work of this initiative. In addition to
introductory comments by Prof. Boghossian and officials of the host
institution, Professors Gocek, Suny and Libaridian will present reports
on various aspects of WATS and answer questions. The public is invited.

WAR WILL BE AZERBAIJAN’S LAST MISTAKE, VARTAN OSKANIAN DECLARES
YEREVAN, APRIL 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “The European
Union is very much interested in the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, we are interested in the stability of the South
Caucasian region,” State Secretary of Austrian Foreign Ministry,
Head of EU Troika delegation Hans Winkler declared at the April 20
press conference in Yerevan. According to him, EU tries to be useful
in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and here EU does
everything depending on it. “We want to render unbiassed assistance and
try to apply all possible measures for the settlement of the conflict
but this is the issue that should be solved by the sides,” Winkler
declared. According to Vartan Oskanian, the Nagorno Karabakh people
itself should have the right to solve the issue what political status
it wants to have. “If Azerbaijan recognizes the Karabakh people’s
right of self-determination, in this case the Armenian side is ready
to seriously discuss the issue about liquidating the consequences
of the war”. According to the Minister, issues regarding liquidation
of the consequences of the war are issues of territories, refugees,
issues of security. As for the continuing bellicose statements of
Baku, the Armenian Foreign Minister declared: “We have repeatedly
said that the Karabakh problem has no solution through a war. The
war will be a great mistake by Azerbaijan, I think this will be
their last mistake”. He again reiterated that a document regarding
the principles of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement is on
the negotiations table. At that, an agreement on part of them has
been already reached between the sides but the sides have not come
to agreement on some clauses yet. “The issues stated in the document
cannot change in their essence, they are formulated very precisely,”
the head of the Armenian foreign political department declared.

A 6-DAY ACTION OPPOSITE THE PRESIDENT’S RESIDENCE
A1+
[06:49 pm] 19 April, 2006
Four women and a man were standing opposite the President’s residence
today with posters demanding justice in their hands. A police car
was parked nearby.
These people have been here for the last six days demanding justice
for their sons and relatives who were sentenced to life imprisonment
yesterday for the murder of two soldiers in a NKR military basis. Even
after the court decision the relatives of the accused continue to
demand justice.
Sister of Hayk Zalyan, Liana Zalyan mentions that their only aim is
to make the President’s administration listen to their demand. “We
want our innocent boys to be set free. It they do not want to reveal
the real murderers let them not punish the innocent”.
The parents of the boys also invite attention to the fact that
during the trial yesterday Movses Mkrtoumyan, the father of one of
the murdered soldiers, announced that he does not believe that the
accused are guilty.
As for the participants of the act of complaint, none of the workers
of the President’s residence is interested in them. On the first day
they took their letter to the waiting room themselves. While taking
it the workers of the waiting room informed them that the answer will
be ready in a month and will be sent by mail. As for the other days,
no one has ever tried to meet them.
“We do not know how long we will sit here. Perhaps until we are
received,” Liana Zalyan says. The mother of Musa Serobyan who was
sentenced to life imprisonment too thinks that they must visit
different organizations so that everyone comes to know their problem.

37 HOUSES BUILT FOR THE HOMELESS
Panorama.am
13:01 19/04/06
Tomorrow an agreement is going to be signed in Mother Seat Holy
Echmiadzin by which starts the cooperation of Armenian Apostolic
Church and “International Habitat” in the work of building dwellings
for homeless and unprovided families. As we have been informed form
the information board of Holy Seat St. Echmiadzin accorfing to the
above mentioned agreement Habitat is going to hold annual ceremony
named building program “Patriarch of All Armenians Garegin Second”.
This year the latter is planned to be held from September 5-9. 37
houses will be built in RA regions for the homeless. And 37 is the
number of dioceses of Armenian Apostolic Church.

RA AMBASSADOR TO GEORGIA AND PRIMATE OF VIRAHAYOTS DIOCESE VISIT JAVAKHK
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 17 2006
AKHALKALAK, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Hrach Silvanian,
the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the RA to Georgia
and Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian, the primate of the Virahayots Diocese
of the Armenian Apostolic Church started their two-days vitis to
Samtskhe-Javakhk on early April 15. According to the “A-Info” agency,
the first meeting of the Ambassador and His Holiness took place
in Akhaltskha where in the Saint Gregory the Illuminator church,
first, the Surb Easter Liturgy was celebrated, then a meeting with
representatives of Armenian public organizations of Akhaltskha
took place.
The Ambassador mentioned at the meeting that the visit is of
introducing character. The Ambassador of Armenia had a meeting with
Tamaz Petriashvili, the Mayor of Akhaltskha as well. After midday,
the delegation arrived from Tbilisi left for Ninotsminda and Akhalkalak
where similar meetings took place in the evening and the next day.

FILM ABOUT LAKE SEVAN BY ARMENIAN JOURNALIST TO BE DEMONSTRATED AT ECO- JOURNALISM CONTEST IN SLOVAKIA
Yerevan, April 18. ArmInfo. A documentary film by Armenian journalist-
ecologist Inga Zarafyan on the problems of Lake Sevan “Threads of
Hope” will be demonstrated in Slovakia at the International Contest
of Ecological Journalism of Banska Bystrica.
Inga Zarafyan, who is also Chairwoman of the public organization
“Ecolur,” told journalists at the film’s presentation, Tuesday.
She says the film passed the first selection round and will be
demonstrated at the contest to be held on May 2-7 2006. The film
reflects the real problems of Lake Sevan, where the measures on
raising water level resulted in the problem of waterlogging. The film
presents the plan of acts by the Armenian Government on prevention of
eutrophication of the lake and restoration of the water level. The
film shows the disastrous consequences of uncontrolled fishing. It
presents the surveys by ichthyologists working on the Russian vessel
“Gydrolog.” The scenario emphasizes the coastal hotels and motels
which ignore the threat of being flooded despite the warning of the
authorities about water raising measures.
To recap, in 1998 Armenian Nature Ministry proposed cutting water
pumping and elaborating a strategy on restoration of the ecological
state of Lake Sevan. In 2001, the Parliament adopted the Law On Sevan
saying that all the measures and acts connected with the lake were
to base on a complex program of raising Lake Sevan level by 6 meters.
Armenia Tree Project public organization, Armenian Forests public
organization and WWF rendered the financial assistance to the creative
staff of Vem Media Arts studio and scenarist Inga Zarafyan.

LOOK WHAT THE BUNNY LEFT!
By Sheryl Marsh
Daily Staff Writer
The Decatur Daily, AL
April 16 2006
Why eggs during Easter?
While Easter is a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead,
the holiday has elements with pagan origins such as decorated eggs
and cute little bunnies.
For centuries people have used the egg as a symbol of fertility and
new life. That concept – like the bunny, which is another fertility
symbol of new life – predates Easter but has been assimilated into
the Easter celebration.
Children throughout the world will participate in Easter egg hunts
today, although many searched for eggs last week.
The egg hunt makes Easter a big day for small children; however,
grandmothers like Deborah Adams of Hartselle try to instill in the
little ones that Jesus is the main focus of the day.
She and her husband, Wayne, plan to have their four grandchildren –
Anna Grace Cobb, Mary Katherine Cobb, Tyler Cook and Kaleigh Baker
– today.
“After church we’ll hide Easter eggs for the kids, but that’s just a
part of it,” said Adams. “We teach them that the main reason we have
Easter is because of the resurrection of Jesus.”
Easter eggs were originally painted bright colors to represent
spring. They were also used in egg-rolling contests or given for gifts.
Ancient Egyptians, Persians, Phoenicians and Hindus believed that
the world came into being with a giant egg. Most cultures around the
world consider the egg a symbol of new life and rebirth.
The Rev. Richard Lawson, rector at St. John’s Episcopal Church, said
Americans share the belief of other cultures that the egg symbolizes
new birth or new life. A story is behind colored eggs.
“I remember a story being told of a Christian saint being before
a Roman emperor who denied Jesus’ resurrection,” said Lawson. “She
pointed to an egg that God changed into a colored egg as a sign of
Jesus’ resurrection.”
Various cultures have unique decorating methods.
Austrian artists create patterns through fastening ferns and small
plants around the eggs and then boiling them. This results in a white
pattern once the plants are removed.
Germany and other countries pierce the ends of eggs with a needle
and blow the contents into a bowl. Then, they dye the hollow eggs
and hang them from shrubs and trees during Easter week.
Armenians decorate using the same process, but decorate the eggs
with pictures of Jesus and the Virgin Mary as well as other religious
designs.
Americans dye eggs and decorate them with various designs.
Some cultures play egg games. Romans celebrate Easter by running races
on an oval track and giving eggs as prizes. Also, like Americans,
they hold Easter egg hunts.
Children join in a search Easter morning to find eggs the Easter
bunny hid while they were asleep. Older children help the younger
ones look for eggs throughout the house.
Easter egg hunts are a community celebration of the holiday. Eggs
are hidden in public places and all the children in the community
are invited to participate, similar to the way Americans hunt eggs.
Normally, Marsha Keeney of Decatur would help hide eggs for her
grandchildren outside, but this year they will do like the Romans
and hide them inside.
Keeney said they have not been in their new home long, and “we have
landscaping to do, so we’ll hide them inside the house.”
Easter bunny
The Easter bunny reportedly originated as pre-Christian fertility
lore in Germany in the 1500s. Like the egg, the rabbit, one of the
most fertile animals known, served as a symbol of new life during
the spring season.
German settlers introduced the Easter bunny to American folklore
after arriving in Pennsylvania Dutch country in the 1700s.
The children built nests in their homes, barns or gardens. Boys used
caps and girls used bonnets to make the nests. Later, Easter baskets
became a tradition as Easter caught on throughout the country.
Adams and other grannies look forward to such traditions each year.
“I started giving my girls Julie and Jennifer personalized eggs and
a bunny each year when they were little. I still do that for them
and for the grandchildren.”
Some information for this story came from “Easter on the Net.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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 +++ PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Monday, April 17, 2006
Contact: Armen Carapetian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
DEIRMENJIAN’S DIVERSE BACKGROUND LANDS HIM SEAT ON LA HUMAN RELATIONS
COMMISSION
— ANCA Activist Chosen to Serve on Commission’s Advisory Committee
LOS ANGELES, CA – Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti has
appointed Raffe Deirmenjian to serve on the city’s Human Relations
Commission Advisory Committee that strives to promote positive race
and human relation in the increasingly complex and multicultural county
of Los Angeles, reported the Armenian National Committee of America –
Western Region (ANCA-WR).
Deirmenjian, a member of the West San Fernando Valley ANCA, has
worked diligently to have the Armenian Genocide included in the Los
Angeles Unified School District’s curriculum, and during a time of
racial conflict at local Grant High School, worked with students and
administrators to successfully settle the conflict. ANCA-WR Chairman
Steven Dadaian described Deirmenjian as an ideal candidate for the
position.
“Having worked closely within the ANCA, Raffe has the necessary
background in not only managing human relations, but also grasping
the ideals that help to overcome prejudice, bias, and other divisive
attitudes that can lead to inter-cultural tension,” said Dadaian.
The Commission teams with law enforcement, schools, cities,
community-based organizations, youth, academics, policy makers,
businesses and other leaders, to bring key players together to resolve
immediate inter-cultural conflicts.
“It’s rare to find a person with such a diverse background,” stressed
Dadaian who points to Derimenjian’s current position as a Second Vice
President of Wealth Management at Smith Barney, who also carries
education in political science and business marketing and has five
years of hands-on experience on Wall Street, coupled with consistent
and practical public policy experience within the ANCA. “He fits the
ideal profile to serve on this Commission whose mission is to lay the
groundwork for a long-term campaign to eradicate unfair practices,
while working within the system,” remarked Dadaian.
Also appointed to the Human Relations Commission Advisory Committee
were Vicky Ortega, Karen Hallock, Al Garcia, and Jose Roberto
Hernandez.
The Armenian National Committee of America (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.
#####

WAITING FOR THE DRAFT LAW: THE CONCEPT NOTE RECEIVED POSITIVE FEEDBACK
By Karine Mangassarian
Yerkir.am
April 14, 2006
Last week, Levon Mkrtchian, leader of the National Assembly’s
Armenian Revolutionary Federation faction and ARF Armenia Supreme Body
representative Armen Rustamian presented at the National Assembly the
concept of the Law on Granting Dual Citizenship Status to Armenians
Abroad.
ARF had articulated its position on the issue during the constitutional
referendum. Armen Rustamian stated that the present concept note can
serve as the foundation for further establishment of the institute
of dual citizenship.
We asked several political leaders to comment on the concept note
and the concerns they had voiced during the constitutional referendum
campaign.
Before presenting the concept note Armen Rustamian stated that the
concept note has three main goals: organizing the world-spread Diaspora
around national goals, creation of new opportunities for strengthening
Armenia, and protection of the rights of Armenians in other countries.
Head of the parliamentary faction of the Republican Party Galust
Sahakian noted that his faction has read the concept note but does
not have any specific feedback yet.
“It was a result of a political consensus and during the referendum
campaign we supported elimination of the ban on dual citizenship. I
think when a draft law is elaborated based on this concept note our
faction will discuss it,” Sahakian said noting that his party has
discussed the concept note many times and believes the wording of
some provisions is not clear enough.
“There are some provisions that can be interpreted in different
ways but I think these uncertainties will later be eliminated. These
provisions deal with the right to vote and be elected, issues connected
with military service. The overall idea behind the law will be that
individuals with dual citizenship who exercise their rights and
fulfill their obligations in the homeland will have the right to
fully participate in these processes,” Sahakian said.
Chairman of the National Democratic Party, member of the National
Assembly Shavarsh Kocharian believes the concept note contains the main
provisions that currently exist in the international experience. “The
concept note indicates the main directions.
The final feedback will be possible only after the draft law is
elaborated. I want to stress one important issue that is in the center
of attention of our public. The concept note stipulates that only
individuals with dual citizenship who permanently live in Armenia
will have the right to vote.
This means that people with dual citizenship who do not live in Armenia
will not be able to participate in the elections in Armenia. The second
point I want to stress is that the right to be elected and the right
to occupy public posts can be limited, which I think is logical,”
Kocharian said adding that his party fully supports this limitation.
“We had presented our concerns in the text of the constitution we
had proposed. However, since the concept note contains provisions
on such limitations, I don’t see any reasons to worry,” Kocharian
concluded. Are there any suggestions that were not included into the
concept note? Commenting on this question Kocharian noted that once
the draft is elaborated further proposals can be made.
Member of the National Unity Party’s parliamentary faction Aghassi
Arshakian stated that the concept note is an attempt to settle the
concerns of the population regarding three main issues connected with
dual citizenship.
“These issues are military service, taxes and the rights to vote and
be elected. All of them are addressed in the concept note, in some
cases addressed adequately, in others not so well. When the draft
law is elaborated it will be possible to settle any disagreements
through discussions,” Arshakian said.
Secretary of Ardarutyun (Justice) Bloc’s faction Victor Dallakian
said he has important things to do and has no time to read the
concept note. He further stated that he is very skeptical of dual
citizenship. We have no reasons to disagree with Dallakian.
There are of course more important things to deal with. Parliamentary
elections are approaching and it is necessary to ensure that his
party gets some seats in the new parliament.
Member of Orinats Yerkir’s faction Mher Shahgeldian said he has read
the concept note but his position will be further clarified after
the note is discussed by his faction.

San Gabriel Valley Tribune, CA
Pasadena Star-News, CA
April 15 2006
Locals commemorate Armenian genocide
By Patricia Jiayi Ho Staff Writer

PASADENA – At Friday evening’s rehearsal, Tro Mgrditchian had to
stand on his toes to reach the microphone.
The 8-year-old had a tall task: He was playing the role of an
Armenian exile in an event held to commemorate the forced evacuations
and subsequent deaths of more than a million Armenians in 1915.
“That’s how I grew up and that’s how I want my son to learn about our
heritage,” said Tro’s mother, Shoghair.
The play is part of a 90-minute event organized by the Pasadena
Armenian Youth Federation and held later Friday at the Pasadena
Armenian Center.
Also included were poetry readings, traditional Armenian dance,
readings of survivor stories and a slideshow.
The program is intended to be more introspective than the protest
marches held annually on April 24, which call for the Turkish
government to acknowledge the genocide.
“That’s when we all go out and yell with our picket signs,” said
Razmig Jierian, 22, an organizer. Friday night’s event “is a
dedication to our ancestors. It’s sad and dramatic. I think we’ll
have everyone crying by the end.”
That genocide occurred is not a matter of fact for all – the Turkish
government opposes the term and attributes Armenian deaths during and
after World War I to civil war.
The massacre of more than a million Armenians is recognized as
genocide by the state of California but not by the U.S. government.
Part of Pasadena AYF’s goal is to make sure memories of the tragedy
are not lost between generations.
“We’re going to commemorate our ancestors the best we can, from our
youngest kids to our oldest adults,” said Jierian, a Pasadena-born
student at Cal Poly Pomona.
“We don’t know how far our family trees goes,” Jierian said. “Some of
our grandparents don’t even know their real names because it was
changed back then.”
About 80 people from the Pasadena AYF, ranging in age from 8 to 22
years old, are involved in the program.
“My parents, my grandparents, they’ve been talking about this
throughout my life,” said Tro Karkourian, 19, a student at Pasadena
City College. “I think about this all the time, but this month
especially.”