Author: Chatinian Lara

Newsday, NY
May 29 2005
Recommended reading
AMERICA AND THE WORLD

BY BRIAN PALMER
Brian Palmer is a writer in Brooklyn.
Two recent movies, the blockbuster “Hotel Rwanda” and HBO’s
“Sometimes in April,” drove me to my bookshelf for a reality check.
“Hotel Rwanda” was moving, but it seemed to turn the 1994 Rwandan
genocide, a slaughter of monumental proportion – 800,000 people
systematically murdered in 100 days – into an uplifting Hollywood
tale. “Sometimes in April,” a devastatingly powerful film shot in
Rwanda, evoked the depth of the horror, but I still hungered for
facts.
How did it happen? Why didn’t any nation keep the universal promise
made after the Holocaust to “never again” turn away from such slaughter?
Samantha Power’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “A Problem From Hell:
America and the Age of Genocide” (Perennial, $17.95) provides answers.

Power dissects Rwanda and other instances of 20th century genocide:
the Turkish onslaught against the Armenians; the Nazi death machine;
the Khmer Rouge’s decimation of Cambodia; Saddam Hussein’s murderous
campaign against the Kurds; Serbian “ethnic cleansing” in the former
Yugoslavia. Power is especially concerned with the United States’
response to each of these. Her findings are not pretty.
“Indeed on occasion the United States directly or indirectly aided
those committing genocide,” Power writes. “It orchestrated the vote
in the UN Credentials Committee to favor the Khmer Rouge. It sided
with and supplied U.S. agricultural and manufacturing credits to Iraq
while Hussein was attempting to wipe out the country’s Kurds. Along
with its European allies, it maintained an arms embargo against the
Bosnian Muslims even after it was clear that the arms ban prevented
the Muslims from defending themselves. It used its clout on the UN
Security Council to mandate the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers from
Rwanda and block efforts to redeploy there.”
U.S. leaders have turned away from slaughter because they have
defined “national interest” too narrowly and fixated on domestic
politics. They do so at our peril, Power tells us, because the
poisonous effects of genocide radiate across borders. She shows how
even small steps short of military intervention can stop or limit
genocide, and she concludes that it is in U.S. self-interest to play
a role early
– with allies and regional actors – rather than waiting for bodies to
pile up.

“METEKHI” ENSEMBLE OF NATIONAL BALLET THEATER OF GEORGIA IS ON TOUR IN
ARMENIA
YEREVAN, MAY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The “Metekhi” ensemble of the National
Ballet Theater of Georgia is on tour in Armenia at the invitation of
the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra. On May 26, the ensemble presented
Georgian folk, classical and modern dances to Armenian spectators at
the G.Sundukian National Academic Theater. According to Helodi
Potskhishvili, People’s Artist of Georgia, Artistic Director of the
ensemble consisting of 26 members, the concerts ae dedicated to the
anniversary of Georgia’s independence. “Metekhi” will also perform on
tour in Gyumri and Vanadzor. Laert Movsisian, Director of Armenian
Philharmonic Orchestra, said that other events will be also held at
the initiative of the Philharmonic Orchestra till late May. On May 29,
the “Eternal Flight” dance performance staged by Arsen Barseghian and
Vardan Ghukasian, culture faculty students of Yerevan State
Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovian, will take place at
Hakob Paronian State Theater of Musical Comedy and on May 30-31
variety singer Andre’s concerts will be held at A.Spendiarian Opera
and Ballet National Academic Theater. Laert Movsisian also informed
that the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra had more than 100 benevolent
concerts in Armenian and Artsakh schools within the framework of the
concert-action dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.

Pan Armenian News
KOCHARIAN CONGRATULATED ARMENIAN NATION ON FIRST REPUBLIC DAY
27.05.2005 06:28
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian today congratulated
the Armenian people on the First Republic Day. The message specifically
says, «The birth of the Republic of Armenia was the embodiment of the
struggle of our people for many centuries, that were realized at the expense
of many sacrifices and first of all due to the May victories in 1918. The
restoration of the Armenian statehood played not so much historical, but a
turning psychological role. The liberty, raise of the national
self-consciousness, the forming of state structures were those guiding lines
that prepared and to a certain degree predetermined the political prospect
of our country. May 28 is a holiday of renaissance and eternity of the
Armenian people that was on the verge of annihilation.» K

Upcoming Event Listing
BISNIS
MAY 27, 2005
Events included in this broadcast:
==========================
BISNIS U.S. OUTREACH – SAN FRANCISCO, DENVER, ST. LOUIS
June 13-17, 2005
BISNIS Outreach at the American Water Works Annual Conference: June
13-14th, 2005
Moscone Center, South Building, San Francisco
BISNIS Outreach – Fast Track Access to Eurasian Markets: June 15th, 2005
World Trade Center Denver
BISNIS Outreach – Fast Track Access to Eurasian Markets: June 17th, 2005
Webster University, Emerson Library, St. Louis
BISNIS is the U.S. Government’s primary market information center for
U.S. companies exploring business opportunities in Russia and the
other Newly Independent States. BISNIS representatives Andrei Vasenyov
(Khabarovsk, Russia), Jahangir Kakharov (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) and
Jamshed Rahmonberdiev (Dushanbe, Tajikistan), along with
Washington-based international trade specialist Chris Christov will
present business opportunities in Russia with focus on the Russian Far
East, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and the NIS region.
The industry focus of presentations will vary somewhat according to
location.
Individual meetings are available in all locations. For more details
on the events and information on how to schedule a meeting, please
visit the sites listed above.
===============================
1.) 2005 Black Sea Business Day in Yerevan, Armenia, June 6, 2005
2.) The Changing Face of Russia in Malvern, Pennsylvania, June 6, 2005
3.) Agribusiness, Environment and Municipal Finance Investment
Opportunities in Eastern and Central Europe in Chicago, Illinois,
June 8, 2005
4.) International Conference on Banking Systems in the of Central
Asian Economies in Transition in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, June
16-17,2005
5.) 2nd Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation Technology Week in and
around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 18-30, 2005
6.) 2nd Renewable Energy Finance Forum in New York City, New York,
June 23-24, 2005
7.) 2005 Business Opportunities in Russia Seminar in Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, June 24, 2005
8.) Comprehensive Russian Program at the Corporate and Channel
Computing Expo (C3 EXPO) in New York City, New York, June 28-30,
2005
9.) Armenia EXPO 2005 in Yerevan, Armenia, September 14-17, 2005
10.) KIOGE 2005 – 13th Kazakhstan International Oil & Gas Exhibition
and Conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan, October 4-7, 2005
11.) Benefits of Cooperation Between Foreign Suppliers and Russian
Leasing Companies in St. Petersburg, Russia, October 13-14, 2005
12.) 12th Annual CIS and Eastern Europe Business Forum in Tucson,
Arizona, October 27-29, 2005
13.) ElcomCaucasus 2005 in Tbilisi, Georgia, October 27-29, 2005
14.) Furniture, Interior and Comfort Fair and Exhibition in Irkutsk,
Russia, December 8-12, 2005
Additional events are available in the searchable BISNIS events
database, .
_______________________________________________________________
1.)
2005 Black Sea Business Day
June 6, 2005
Yerevan, Armenia
Organized by: Black Sea Trade & Development Bank
This regional business conference is organised under the auspices of
the Government of Armenia and in cooperation with the Armenian banking
and business community.
Members of the Armenian Government, top officials from other countries
of the Black Sea region,international financial institutions, private
investors and business leaders active in the region will exchange
views on ways to explore investment potential of Armenia and the
Caucasus region, with a focus on small business and financial sector
development.
Companies, banks and investors interested in the Caucasus and greater
Black Sea region are invited to participate in the Black Sea Business
Day.
For further information on this event, please visit:
– the BISNIS website at:
– the Event website at:

_______________________________________________________ ___
2.)
The Changing Face of Russia
June 6, 2005
Malvern, Pennsylvania
Organized by: Mid-Atlantic – Russia Business Council and the Chester
County Chamber of Business & Industry
Mid-Atlantic – Russia Business Council and the Chester County Chamber
of Business & Industry are proud to announce the kickoff seminar of
the seminar series, The Changing Face of Russia. The series is
designed to highlight and summarize recent trends and developments in
Russia and analyze their effect on Russian-American business
interactions.
For further information on this event, please visit:
– the BISNIS website at:
– the Event website at:

__________________________________________________________
3.)
Agribusiness, Environment and Municipal Finance Investment
Opportunities in Eastern and Central Europe
June 8, 2005
Chicago, Illinois
Organized by: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will provide an
overview of the situation in the agribusiness sector of Eastern and
Central Europe as an investment destination. Ex-Im Bank will provide
an overview of export finance programs available to the agribusiness
sector.
Both the EBRD and the Ex-Im Bank will discuss activities and range of
services to assist U.S. exporters and investors in these regions.
For further information on this event, please visit:
– the BISNIS website at:
__________________________________________________________
4.)
International Conference on Banking Systems in the of Central Asian
Economies in Transition
June 16-17, 2005
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Organized by: National Bank of Tajikistan
International economic and financial organizations will also have
their chance to speak up on their views on the issues of the
Conference. Moreover, there are chances that at the Conference in
Dushanbe the Central Asian countries will agree to hold regional
consultations on banking on a regular basis and to jointly come
forward with a suggestion to include relevant issues, in the context
of creating the basis for a market economy, into the programmes of
work of international economic and financial institutes and
organizations.
For further information on this event, please visit:
– the BISNIS website at:
– the Event website at:

________________________________________________ __________
5.)
2nd Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation Technology Week
June 18-30, 2005
In and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Organized by: The Mid-Atlantic – Russia Business Council and
Innovation Philadelphia
The Mid-Atlantic – Russia Business Council and Innovation Philadelphia
will host the 2nd Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation Technology
Week (RANIT) in the Mid-Atlantic States beginning June 18, 2005, and
the 3rd RANIT beginning November 7, 2005. The Semi-Annual Russian-
American Innovation Technology Week is designed to bring together
entrepreneurs, scientists, venture capitalists, and established
corporations within the United States and Russian technology
communities.
For further information on this event, please visit:
– the BISNIS website at:
– the Event website at:

__________________________________________________________
6.)
2 nd Renewable Energy Finance Forum
June 23-24, 2005
New York City, New York
Organized by: Euromoney Energy Events and ACORE
2 day conference for those involved in the Renewable Energy finance
and development industries.
For further information on this event, please visit:
– the BISNIS website at:
– the Event website at:

__________________________________________________________
7.)
2 005 Business Opportunities in Russia Seminar
June 24, 2005
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Organized by: The Mid-Atlantic – Russia Business Council and the World
Trade Centers
This seminar will be a part of the Semi-Annual Russian-American
Innovation Technology Week (RANIT) and will discuss issues relevant to
successful business partnerships with Russia, including regulation,
law, finance, and accounting.
For further information on this event, please visit:
– the BISNIS website at:
– the Event website at:

__________________________________________________________
8.)
Comprehensive Russian Program at the Corporate and Channel Computing
Expo (C3 EXPO)
June 28-30, 2005
New York City, NY
Organized by: Westchester Export Assistance Center
The Russian – American Conference and Exhibition, which will take
place in conjunction with the Corporate and Channel Computing Expo (C3
EXPO) from June 28 – 30, 2005 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
in New York City, NY. This comprehensive program will conclude the 2nd
Semi-Annual Russian – American Innovation Technology Week, the largest
undertaking of Russian – American business cooperation in the
Mid-Atlantic States. The program will provide opportunities for
further business and technology cooperation between U.S. and Russian
companies.
*Please note: BISNIS representatives from Armenia and Tomsk and
Novosibirsk, Russia will be at the C3 show on Wednesday, June 29 and
will be available for meetings with interested US companies. For more
information, please contact Ellen House at 202-482-2284 or
[email protected].
For further information on this event, please visit:
– the BISNIS website at:
– the Event website at:

__________________________________________________________
9. )
Armenia EXPO 2005
September 14-17, 2005
Yerevan, Armenia
Organized by: LOGOS EXPO Center Official support: – Ministry of Trade
and Economic Development of the Republic of Armenia – Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia – Union of Manufacturers &
Businessmen of the Republic of Armenia – National Association of
Publishers of the Republic of Armenia

Includes:
– EXPO Food & Drinks 2005 Third specialized exhibition
– BUILD EXPO 2005 Third specialized exhibition
– Industrial Armenia EXPO 2005″ Fifth regional universal trade-industrial exhibition
– COMP_EXPO 2005 Third specialized exhibition
– TRANS EXPO 2005 Third specialized exhibition
– Polygraphy. Publishing. Advertisement EXPO 2005 Fifth specialized exhibition
For further information on this event, please visit:
– the BISNIS website at:
– the Event website at:

________________________________________________ __________
10.)
KIOGE 2005 – 13th Kazakhstan International Oil & Gas Exhibition and Conference
October 4-7, 2005
Almaty, Kazakhstan

Organized by: ITE Exhibitions
The main areas of the exhibition include: geology and geophysics;
prospecting; oil and gas equipment; oil and gas production, refining,
processing and storage; construction of oil and gas industrial
facilities; oil and gas field maintenance; seismic research and
equipment; pipelines, transportation technologies; environmental and
nature conservation services; control instrumentation; automation
facilities, software and computer technologies, engineering and
consulting, etc.
For further information on this event, please visit:
– the BISNIS website at:
– the Event website at:

__________________________________________________________
11.)
Benef its of Cooperation Between Foreign Suppliers and Russian Leasing
Companies October 13-14, 2005 St. Petersburg, Russia
Organized by: North-West Leasing Association
Supported by the Commercial Service of the U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL in
St. Petersburg.
The main goal of the conference and seminar is to enhance
international cooperation to promote leasing of modern equipment on
the Russian market between leasing business players and suppliers of
foreign plant/equipment and Russian leasing companies, thus attracting
funding to the Russian leasing sector.
For further information on this event, please visit:
– the BISNIS website at:
– the Event website at:

_______________________________________________________________
12.)
1 2th Annual CIS and Eastern Europe Business Forum
October 27-29, 2005
Tucson, Arizona
Organized by: University of Arizona
The forum will provide an up-to-date analysis of political, economic,
and legal aspects of business ventures in the former Soviet Union as
well as Eastern Europe and will present case studies of successful
American businesses and strategies for success. Representatives of
various government programs that support American business ventures in
the NIS and Eastern Europe will be present to answer questions. Join
us for this unique opportunity to get the expertise of highly
qualified professionals in academia, government and business.
*Please note that we are currently seeking presenters. If you would
like to be a presenter at the forum, please contact Roza Simkovich at
[email protected].
For further information on this event, please visit:
– the BISNIS website at:
– the Event website at:
russian.arizona.edu/business/2004/index.htm
__________________________________________________________
13.)
Elcom Caucasus 2005
October 27-29, 2005
Tbilisi, Georgia
Organized by: ExpoGeorgia Company
Under the high patronage of Ministry of Fuel and Energy of Georgia and
the Georgian National Communication Commission:
Due to successful reforms and significant investments in ICT projects,
the telecommunication sector has become one of the most competitive
and rapidly growing branches of the Georgian economy.
– Relative to the previous year the value added created in the
communications sector increased by 31.3 %. Intensified competition
and implementation of new technologies resulted in a reduction of
tariffs and stimulated demand for telecom services.
– Total telecommunication services revenue $1.5 million.
ElcomCaucasus 2005 will allow participants to demonstrate their
solutions in the field of IT services and reveal modern solutions of
telecommunication equipment producers. Several conferences and
seminars will be held parallel this event.
For further information on this event, please visit:
– the BISNIS website at:
– the Event website at:

________________________________________________ __________
14.)
Furniture, Interior and Comfort Fair and Exhibition
December 8-12, 2005
Irkutsk, Russia
Organized by: Sibexpocenter JSC
SibExpoCenter is one of the largest exhibition companies in Siberia,
which regularly holds various international events.
For further information on this event, please visit:
– the BISNIS website at:
– the Event website at:
(contains English version)
__________________________________________________________
Note: This notice is provided solely as a courtesy and does not
constitute a U.S. Department of Commerce endorsement of the event or
of the organizer(s)/sponsor(s). For a complete trade events listing,
visit BISNIS Online at
All information provided by BISNIS regarding trade events is subject
to change without notice by the organizers of those events.
********** Forwarded by: ****************
Katie Kane, BISNIS Trade Program Assistant
U.S. Department of Commerce
Tel: 202/482-3100, Fax: 202/482-2293

NEED FINANCING FOR A PROPOSED SALE TO EURASIA?
BISNIS FinanceLink helps U.S. companies find financing for export
transactions where a Eurasian buyer has already been identified. For
more information:
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES & DEVELOPMENTS
throughout Eurasia, visit BISNIS at For other
markets, visit

Danbury News Times, CT
May 27 2005
Moreno goes ethereal on Team Sleep album
By David Friedman
NEWS-TIMES MUSIC WRITER
Team Sleep, featuring Deftones frontman Chino Moreno, will headline
May 30 at the Webster Theater in Hartford. Meanwhile, the fifth
studio album by Deftones, which is yet untitled, was recorded
primarily at the Carriage House in Stamford and is tentatively due
out in the fall. Additional tracks were recorded at a studio in the
band`s home city of Sacramento, Calif.
Deftones frontman Chino Moreno was touring with his other band, Team
Sleep, last week when he planned to see “Star Wars: Episode III –
Revenge of the Sith.” In fact, he was eager to find out whether the
new film tied the epic series together right.
This was no surprise coming from Moreno considering the great detail
he and his Team Sleep band mates went to in perfecting each layer of
each song on their self-titled debut, released May 10. The process of
crafting songs began 11 years ago, along the way involving three
producers, two guest vocalists, re-recording and tracks leaking at
one point.
When Team Sleep plays May 30 at the Webster Theater in Hartford, fans
will notice – if they haven’t already – that the band’s sound is
quite different from that of Deftones.
The main inspiration?
“Maybe like My Bloody Valentine type of stuff,” Moreno said in a May
19 interview from New Orleans, La. “I guess they call it shoegazing.
It’s more of a strumming guitar style. Deftones is more like an
aggressive, crunch-style guitar or chugging guitar. This band doesn’t
really know how to chug. So as opposed to doing that, it’s more a
washed guitar sound. Our influence is obviously by bands like My
Bloody Valentine, Smashing Pumpkins and things like that.”
Though Moreno performs most of the vocals himself on tour, the album
also features vocals from Pinback’s Rob Crow and Helium’s Mary
Timony, Team Sleep guitarist Todd Wilkinson said in a May 18
interview from Austin, Texas. The band’s lineup also includes
turntablist-drum programmer Crook, drummer Zach Hill and bassist Rick
Verrett.
“The initial recordings were all done at home and a lot of the stuff
that was actually on the record was recorded at home,” Wilkinson
said. “And then we did stuff in the studio. So for a lot of it, Crook
would do the drum machines, Zach would do the live drums and I’d play
the keyboards, guitars, bass and stuff. So that’s kind of the way it
worked out. Then Rick played bass and keyboards on some of the songs
too.”
Born June 20, 1973, Moreno grew up in Sacramento, Calif. Early on, he
got into breakdancing and listened to electronic-flavored hip-hop by
Afrika Bambaataa, new wave music, Depeche Mode and pretty much any
act that mixed big beats with melodies. Moreno was 15 when he formed
the alternative metal act Deftones.

Wilkinson, born Sept. 24, 1974, grew up in Los Angeles. He listened
to his older brother’s favorite bands, the Circle Jerks, Bad Brains
and Suicidal Tendencies; old school hip-hop by Boogie Down
Productions and Eric B & Rakim; and his mother’s R&B favorites that
included Bill Withers, Al Green and Michael Jackson.
“I didn’t really discriminate,” Wilkinson said. “I just liked all of
that. So I listened to a lot of different stuff. Plus, there were a
lot of different cultures there too. My friends would be Armenian or
something and I would have some Armenian music at home. When you’re
around all that stuff, you’ve gotta respect everything.”
Wilkinson started playing bass around the time that his brother was
playing in a punk band. After moving to Sacramento, though, he became
friends with Moreno and Cheng and lived in an apartment with them.
“I don’t know whose guitars they were, but we had some jacked up
guitars there,” Wilkinson recalled. “That’s probably when I first
started playing a lot – when I was 17.”
Deftones began to taste success and built a name for themselves,
eventually touring with Ozzy Osbourne and Korn. The band scored radio
and MTV hits with the songs “My Own Summer (Shove It)” and “Be Quiet
And Drive (Far Away)” in 1997. In 2000, Deftones went platinum-plus
and earned a Grammy for their “White Pony” album, which included the
No. 3 hit “Change.”
All the while, Wilkinson and Moreno were recording guitar tracks and
exchanging tapes, which they’d been doing since 1994. In the
mid-’90s, Crook – whose real name is John Molina – came into the
picture. Hill and Verrett would follow.
But why did it take Team Sleep all these years to release an album?
Why didn’t the band even have a name until 2001? And why didn’t
Wilkinson play in any band until now?
“I just didn’t want to be in a band,” said Wilkinson, who worked for
a printing business, as a high school teacher and extensively with
youth on probation. “I didn’t think a lot of people that were making
music (considered it) any different than a basketball league. People
didn’t really seem to respect it a lot. And honestly I think a lot of
musicians were just in it for the (sex). There’s nothing wrong with
(sex), but if you’re gonna make music, make music. I just was exposed
to a lot of people being involved with (it) for the wrong reason at a
pretty young age. I kind of learned from that.”
After recording songs with producers Terry Date, Ross Robinson and
Greg Wells between 2001 and 2003, Team Sleep had a batch of songs
they wanted to release. Deftones fans had already heard of Team Sleep
from Moreno mentioning the band in interviews. Plus, a pair of
Deftones songs – “Teenager” and “Lucky You” – originated as Team
Sleep tracks.
Moreno said he enjoys playing all of the Team Sleep songs in concert
– especially “Your Skull Is Red” because of the loud, noisy guitars.
What’s the song about?
“You know, it’s more imagery if anything,” Moreno said. “Ÿ’Your skull
is red, your lungs are red, your fingernails are red, your clothes
are red, everything is red.’ It’s pretty much self-explanatory.
There’s not anything really deep behind it. … Maybe there is. I
don’t know.”
Several songs make reference to cults, including “Foreign Flag” and
b-side “Kool Aid Party,” based on the 1978 Jonestown Massacre in
which 913 people died in a mass suicide after drinking Kool Aid laced
with arsenic.
“That was the reference,” Moreno said. “(It was) just intrigue –
something more interesting than getting yelled at when you’re a kid
or your getting your heart broken. It’s something more interesting
than that, which is usually all you hear in rock music these days,
you know?
“I just hope (fans) are entertained, mostly by the songs, what’s
going on, what we’re trying to do, the sound,” Moreno added. “I mean,
there’s a lot of mixes of electronic and live drum (stuff) that’s
pretty sick. So, to me, it’s just a good mash-up of all the (stuff) I
grew up listening to. Hopefully they can get something out of that
other than just banging heads or moshing or whatever.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1plus
| 26-05-2005 |
WE SHOULD JOIN ONE MORE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION
To develop the market of securities Armenia should joint the International
Organization of Securities Commissions. In the opinion of chairman of the RA
commission on securities Eduard Muradyan in this way a legislation on the
market of securities corresponding to the international standards can be
adopted in Armenia.
The principal obstacle for the development of the market is the unstable
juridical system. `Any drastic change can cause panic and many people can
lose big sums’, Eduard Muradyan noted.
Only 220 Armenian companies are familiarized with the norms of the market of
securities and attempt to follow them in their activities.
To note, as result of numerous complaints 123 administrative proceedings
have been initiated in 2004. In 42 cases penalties totaling in 17 million
AMD were imposed.

Agence France Presse
May 26 2005
Ankara Under Fire Over Armenian Conference Cancellation
By Sibel Utku Bila
(AFP) – Turkey came under fire Thursday for halting a landmark
conference questioning the official line on the mass killings of
Armenians under the Ottoman Empire, as European Union diplomats
warned that Ankara’s democratic credentials had taken a serious blow.
Istanbul’s prestigious Bogazici University, where the gathering was
to open Wednesday, put off the event after Justice Minister Cemil
Cicek accused the participants — Turkish academics and intellectuals
who dispute Ankara’s version of the 1915-1917 massacres — of
“treason.” Cicek condemned the initiative as “a stab in the back to
the Turkish nation” and said the organizers deserved to be
prosecuted.
The killings, one of the most controversial episodes in Ottoman
history, is rarely discussed in schools and the aborted conference
would have been the first by Turkish personalities to question the
official stand on the events. Several countries have recognized the
massacres as genocide — a theory Turkey fiercely rejects — and
Brussels has urged Ankara to face its past and expand freedom of
speech.
“The remarks of the justice minister are unacceptable. This is an
authoritarian approach raising questions over Turkey’s reform
process,” a diplomat from an EU country told AFP on the condition of
anonymity.
“Now it is a real watershed. We expect government action to correct
Cicek’s remarks,” he said. “It’s up to the government to decide what
to do. Doing nothing would be also a choice, but certainly not in
favor of Turkey’s EU membership prospects.”
Another EU diplomat regretted the postponement of the conference
because it “would have reflected the evolution taking place in
Turkish society.” The EU is looking forward for the conference to be
rescheduled, he said, adding: “The Europeans will keep on insisting
that civil society has a great role to play in Turkey.”
The Turkish media too lashed out at the justice minister, saying his
outburst cast a pall on freedom of expression in the country and
played into the hands of a mounting Armenian campaign to have the
massacres recognized internationally as genocide.
“Zero tolerance to freedom,” the Radikal daily trumpeted on its front
page, while Milliyet’s headline declared: “Democracy takes a blow.”
“What, really, is treason? To hold a conference in order to start a
debate in Turkey on a Turkish problem debated almost everywhere in
the world, or to brand as ‘traitors’ people who may think differently
at a time when Turkey is waging a battle for democracy in the face of
many obstacles?” wrote columnist Murat Celikkan in Radikal.
“Cemil Cicek should resign as justice minister and if does not, he
should be forced to do so,” he said.

A1plus
| 16:36:06 | 25-05-2005 | Politics |
BAKU-JEYHAN IS NOT ONLY OIL
Yesterday in Baku Kazakh President Nazarbayev officially announced that they
join the oil-pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan and offer to rename it as
Aktau-Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan. The Kazakhs have agreed to give the pipeline 7.5
million tons of oil in the first phase, reaching up to 20 million tons
later.
`We guessed that Baku-Jeyhan will be not only an oil but also a
geographical-political factor. And it is possible that the so-called Baku
declaration be adopted soon. A new geographical-political pivot is created
around which Azerbaijan, Georgia, USA, and Turkey go, and possibly Ukraine
will join them in future`. This is the opinion of economist Edward
Aghajanov. Today in the Armenian Center for National and International
Studies a seminar was organized with the theme `Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan: the new
pulse of the region’.
Mr. Aghajanov blames the authorities for passive and weak diplomatic policy.
`In 2002 when the construction of the had just started, Heidar Aliev
announced in his speech that the pipeline will carry not oil but policy.
Unfortunately, our authorities did not take his words seriously’. According
to the participants of the discussion, Armenia is left out of the
consortium.
But there is still hope that you cannot become a leading country with oil
only; democracy is also needed which does exists neither in Azerbaijan, nor
in Georgia, nor is Kazakhstan, nor in Turkey. Many participants agreed that
Armenia must use that only possibility and to become a democratic country as
soon as possible.

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:
HIS HOLINESS GRANTS MEDALS OF HONOR TO ARMENIANS DEDICATED
TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND CHURCH IN TEHRAN
His Holiness Aram I visited the “Sassoun” Armenian-populated neighborhood of
Tehran and granted medals to Armenians who have been dedicated to and worked
hard for the community for many years.
Aram I delivered a sermon in the “Serpots Tarkmantchats” church of Sassoun
and conveyed the spirit of the brave Armenians of Sassoun to them. His
Holiness considered faith, hope and love as essential pillars for a nation’s
healthy life and its will to survive.
“We often face difficulties, conflicts, suffering and sadness in our
personal and collective lives. These are natural phenomena in humans’ lives.
The strongest means to defeat and overcome all these are faith, hope and
love, which brighten up our lives with new dreams, a new life and a new
vision,” said His Holiness.
His Holiness held a discussion with the youth in the hall of the school
after the service. His Holiness emphasized the important role of the
Armenian Church and highlighted the contribution of the Seminary of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia in the formation of Armenian clergymen.
V. Rev. Krikor Chiftjian spoke about the mission of the seminary and
highlighted the main achievements of His Holiness during his 10-year tenure
as the Catholicos of Cilicia.
His Holiness also emphasized the important role reserved to the youth in the
life of Armenian Church and advised the attendants to actively participate
in the activities of the church. The meeting turned into a discussion
between His Holiness and the youth, who expressed their concerns and put
forth new proposals and plans.
Members of the church and diocese committees, representatives of the women’s
committee and the clerks, as well as philanthropists attended in the dinner
held in the church’s hall in honor of His Holiness.
Towards the end of the dinner, His Holiness granted medals of honor to a
number of philanthropists, who have dedicated their money or their time to
the community and the church. Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian and the committee
of the diocese had requested that His Holiness grant the medals.
Mrs. Serpouhi Parseghian, Mr. Sebouh Amirkhanian, Mr. George Mardirossian,
Mr. Saro Pagoumian and Dertad Tavtian, who have worked hard for the diocese
in the educational, cultural and publishing fields, received the St. Mesrob
Masdots Medal.
Mr. Varoujan Asoian, Mr. Varoujan Hovhannessian, Mr. Khetchoum Khetchoumian
and Mr. Yesayi Aprahamian, who have actively participated in the
administrative, humanitarian and building projects of the Prelacy, were
granted the Medal of Cilician Knight.
His Holiness praised all on this occasion and specially blessed the primate
of the diocese of Tehran, saying that during the Archbishop’s tenure
“spiritual and moral education, publishing, construction projects and other
fields of activity flourished and took on new vigor.”
He also spoke about the dedicated mission of Antelias especially in the
Diaspora and emphasized that Armenians should unite their efforts to
flourish the lives of their dioceses despite the many difficulties.
His Holiness visited the “Zeitoun” Armenian-populated neighborhood on May 22
and was greeted by a large number of believers in the St. Gregory the
Illuminator Church. V.Rev. Krikor Chiftjian presided over the Holy Liturgy.
His Holiness delivered a sermon
During which he highlighted the Armenians’ will to survive as evident in
their history. The believers then kissed the right hand of His Holiness and
received his blessings.
A similar public reception was also held in the St. Vartananats Church of
“Sartarabad” neighborhood on May 17.
May 22 was the last of His Holiness’ official visit to the Diocese of
Tehran. He traveled to the Diocese of Isfahan the same day.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the dioceses 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.

AMENDMENTS TO ELECTORAL CODE OF ARMENIA ONLY AMENDMENTS, AND NOT
DEMOCRATIC REFORMS, NATIVE EXPERTS THINK
YEREVAN, MAY 24. ARMINFO. The amendments to the Electoral Code of
Armenia are merely amendments and not democratic reforms.
Representative of the nongovernmental organization “Democracy” and
international initiative “Partnership for open society” Vardan
Poghosian stated during the news conference.
As an example he mentioned the point of the amendments concerning the
principle of formation of Central and regional electoral committees.
According to the amendments, the President of the Republic of Armenia
receives the right to appoint one representative to electoral
committees, and not three as the acting Electoral Code stipulates, and
the Cassation Court and the faction “People’s deputy” appoint the
remaining two ones. At first sight all seems more than democratic.
But taking into account the fact that the judiciary is far from being
impartial, it becomes obvious that the matter concerns no
democratization, Vardan Poghosian said. In this connection he
expressed bewilderment with the conclusion of the experts of the CE
Venice Commission and Bureau of Democratic Institutes and OSCE human
rights regarding this point of amendments, calling this amendment
“obvious evidence of aspiration of Armenian authorities for political
pluralism”. Evidently, the international experts read the amendments
inattentively and showed simply a mechanical point of view – if the
number of the representatives of the president is reduced, it means,
we are having democracy, Poghosian said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress