Author: Chilingarian Babken

JOINT MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI STRASBOURG

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
May 7 2007

France, Strasbourg / Òrend corr E. Mejidli / The Azerbaijani and
Turkish Diaspora organizations functioning in Strasbourg held a
joint meeting in the city. The meeting organized in the building
of permanent representation of Azerbaijan in the Council of Europe
(CE) was attended by representatives of the house of Azerbaijan, the
Association of Azerbaijani Students in France (AASF), the Strasbourg
office of the European Forum of Azerbaijani Students (EFAS), the
club-houses COJEP, Dialog, and ANKA. The permanent representative of
Azerbaijan in the CE, Arif Mammadov, Azerbaijani MPs Ganira Pashayeva
and Gular Ahmadova were in attendance as well.

Opening the meeting, Ambassador Mammadov indicated the importance of
regular meetings of this kind. He noted that the joint activities of
the two sister nations will have great impact in the future.

MP Ganira Pashayeva touched upon the influential Armenian lobby in
France. She noted the importance of joint activities against the
Armenian Diaspora and suggested the formation of a co-ordinating
council of the organizations of Turkic-speaking countries in France.

The event continued in the form of meetings and the media
representatives received answers to their questions.

–Boundary_(ID_Uv5r31gX66sMmRSTk5TlWQ) —

Xinhua General News Service, China
May 5, 2007 Saturday 12:00 PM EST

Egyptian, Azerbaijani Presidents probe regional situation, bilateral
relation

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday held here a closed session
of talks on regional and bilateral relations with visiting
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev at Heliopolis presidential palace.

The talks between Mubarak and Aliev focused on ongoing efforts to
activate the peace process on the Palestinian-Israeli track, lift the
blockade imposed on the Palestinian people and ease their sufferings,
Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Suleiman Awad said.

The situation in Iraq, Lebanon and the Gulf region, as well as the
repercussions of the Iran-West confrontation on the Iranian nuclear
issue, were also included in the talks agenda, Awad added.

Meanwhile, the two leaders discussed the situation in the Caucasus,
including the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the
Nagorno Karabakh region, and Mubarak said Egypt always supports
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

On bilateral relations, Mubarak and Aliev expressed their common
wishes to promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade,
energy and investment, according to the spokesman.

The two sides are expected to sign nine cooperation agreements which
would cover such domains as agricultural, economic, scientific,
information technology, energy, money transfer, youth, sports and
tourism, according to Awad.

Aliev, who arrived here on Sunday morning on a three-day visit, was
also scheduled to meet Fathi Sorour, the Egyptian People’s Assembly
(lower house of parliament) speaker, on bilateral parliamentary
relations.

ORDERS TO VETERANS OF THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR

ArmRadio.am
02.05.2007 15:12

More than 95 veterans of the Great Patriotic War and about 25 doctors
who participated in the Artsakhi Liberation War were awarded Marshal
Baghramyan, An dranik Ozanyan, Drastamat Kanayan, Garegin Nzhdeh and
Vazgen Sargsyan orders.

RA Defense Minister Mikhael Harutyuntan congratulated those present
on the Victory Day. "We should always care for the Armenian soldier
who celebrated victory over fascism on May 9, 1945," said the Defense
Minister.

"We must honor the veterans, this kind of attitude is very important
to them. We wish health," the Minister added.

In an atmosphere of common inspiration Mikhael Harutyunyan personally
congratulated everyone and handed the orders.

The official part of the arrangement was followed by a gala concert.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: WE WILL URGE TURKEY TO OPEN LAST CLOSED BORDER IN EUROPE

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.04.2007 13:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia is aspired to further integration into the
European structures, RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said during
the "Baltic to the Wider Black Sea: The New Euroatlantic Challenge?"

hearing held within the framework of Brussels Forum 2007. The RA FM
presented Armenia’s relations with European and Euroatlantic structures
as well as their role in the region. "Armenia targets at further
integration into the European structures and takes into account
the interests of other forces engaged in the region. A two-digit
index of economic growth has been fixed in Armenia for seven years
already. After the armistice sealed in 1994, Azerbaijan and its ally,
Turkey, were expected Armenia to decline under the burden of poverty
and economic standstill. However, contrary to their expectations, it
did not happen and will never happen and I regret that these states
fail to derive lessons from the situation and proceed with efforts
to blockade Armenia. The result is the recent $700 million bargain
for Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railroad bypassing Armenia. A new
railroad will not force us to retreat. It will not do more harm than
a closed border. However, political atmosphere will suffer and this
gives a reason for regret," the Minister said.

"We do stand for operation of the existing Kars-Gyumri railroad. We
will urge Turkey to open the last closed border in Europe and establish
normal relations with Armenia," Vartan Oskanian said. As the GUAM’s
initiative on ‘frozen conflicts’ submitted to consideration of the
UN General Assembly, the RA FM reaffirmed Armenia’s stance: "Four
different conflicts cannot be settled on the basis of one resolution,"
the RA MFA press office reports.

RUMI’S GREAT CLASSIC NARRATED IN ARMENIAN

ISNA, Iran
Iranian Students News Agency
April 30 2007

TEHRAN, Apr.30 (ISNA)-Translations of one of the most famous classical
Persian works of literature was published in Armenia.

Stories of the great Persian classic "Masnavi Manavi" of the celebrated
Persian mystic and poet, Rumi were translated and released in Armenia.

Published under the title "Masnavi Tales", the translator Mohammad
Mohammadi Eshtehardi narrates the great Persian verse classic in
simple prose.

The book was released on the occasion of Rumi’s 800th birthday
anniversary.

The Masnavi or Masnavi Ma’navi, written in Persian by Jalal al-Din
Muhammad Rumi, the celebrated Persian Sufi saint and poet, is one of
the best known and most influential works of both Sufism and Persian
literature.

Comprising six books of poems that amount to more than 25,000 verses;
it pursues its way through hundreds of stories that illustrate man’s
predicament in his search for God.

The title Masnavi Ma’navi means "Rhyming Couplets of Profound
Spiritual Meaning".

NEWLY-APPOINTED DEFENCE MINISTER VISITS KARABAKH

A1+
[07:45 pm] 30 April, 2007

On April 29, Arkadi Ghuksyan, the President of Nagorno-Karabakh,
received Michael Harutyunyan, the newly-appointed RoA Defence Minister.

The parties dwelt on the Armenia-Karabakh collaboration, and the
maintenance of ceasefire regime on the Karabakh-Azerbaijan contact
line, the NKR President’s Press Secretary reported KarabakhOpen.

Reminder; in Michael Harutyunyan’s opinion, Seyran Ohanyan, the
NKR Defence Minister, will be appointed Commander-in-Chief of the
RoA Armed Forces. Movses Hakobyan, the NKR Deputy Defence Minister,
will likely take over the office of the NKR Defence Minister.

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
April 26, 2007

Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

ANCA-WR Leads Community Commemorations on Occasion of the 92nd
Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

— "Click for Justice" Campaign Builds Momentum

Los Angeles, CA — The Armenian National Committee of America – Western
Region (ANCA-WR) participated in over a dozen events throughout Arizona,
California, and Nevada, organized by the Armenian American community to
commemorate the 92nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The ANCA-WR
also joined the community at several more events to raise awareness
about the "Click for Justice" campaign to urge US House leadership to
schedule a vote on H. Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide resolution
introduced earlier this year by Representatives Adam Schiff and George
Radanovich.

ANCA-WR Board Members, staff, and advocates were invited to, and
delivered remarks at various events ranging from vigils and protests to
educational and community events and school assemblies. In addition to
these events, several ANC Chapters throughout California, Oregon, and
Texas organized and participated in local genocide commemoration
activities.

"At this crucial time of the year we reflect and remember the victims of
the Genocide," remarked Andrew Kzirian, ANCA-WR Executive Director.
"The ANCA-WR is honored to be a part of so many communities throughout
the region. Our organization’s ability to raise awareness about this
crime against humanity is key in building the political will to truly
achieve justice and to prevent future genocides," Kzirian added.

ANCA-WR at local ANC commemorations:

ANCA-WR Chairman Raffi Hamparian traveled across California over a three
day period to deliver remarks at the Orange County ANC’s "Walk for
Remembrance" on April 22nd, the San Gabriel Valley ANC’s annual vigil at
the Montebello Armenian Genocide monument on April 23rd, and the City of
San Francisco commemoration on April 24th which he attended along with
representatives from the local San Francisco Bay Area ANC.

ANCA-WR Board Member Zanku Armenian joined the Arizona ANC for two days
of commemoration events in Phoenix. The events culminated with a rally
in front of the state’s Armenian Genocide memorial which featured the
attendance of several state and local elected officials. Additionally,
Governor Janet Napolitano’s recent proclamation commemorating the
Armenian Genocide was presented to those gathered at the memorial.
Youth from across Arizona and organized by the ANC of Arizona met with
state legislators to discuss the Armenian Genocide and its importance
and delivered informational packages to their offices about the Arizona
Armenian American community and the genocide.

ANCA-WR Steven Dadaian delivered remarks at a genocide commemoration
organized by the San Fernando Valley’s Rosdom Gomideh and the local San
Fernando Valley ANC.

After delivering an address to the Los Angeles City Council, Council
President Garcetti and Mayor Villaraigosa on April 20th, ANCA-WR
Executive Director Andrew Kzirian traveled to Nevada on April 22nd to
address the Nevada community commemoration as the keynote speaker. In
joining the local community in honoring the 92nd anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, Kzirian urged all attendees to remember that their
activism and effort is critically necessary to the success of
grassroots. Kzirian also noted the recent cosponsorship support of
Senators Reid and Clinton, and that in the current political climate,
Turkey finds itself losing ground as media and politicians are beginning
to acknowledge the past more truthfully.

ANCA-WR reaches out to community organizations:

ANCA-WR Board Member Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian addressed students at
the Chamilian Armenian School in Glendale during their April 23rd
assembly. In her remarks, she urged students to learn more about the
Armenian Genocide and to use their education and future success to
promote the Armenian Cause. On April 24th, ANCA-WR Board Member Peter
Musurlian addressed the Pasadena Unified School District’s Board of
Education during which he stressed the importance of genocide education
in public schools.

ANCA-WR Community Relations Director Haig Hovsepian participated in a
panel discussion reexamining the environment in Turkey following the
assassination of newspaper editor Hrant Dink. The event was hosted by
the Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society of Los Angeles on April 21st at the
West Hollywood Community Center. During the question and answer
session, the audience discussed their concerns regarding Armenian
Genocide recognition and the voices from Turkey who risk their lives to
speak truthfully about the Armenian Genocide.

ANCA-WR works with student groups to promote justice:

Earlier this month, Hovsepian delivered remarks at California State
University, Los Angeles (CSULA) during an event hosted by the CSULA
chapter of the Armenian fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Omega. The CSULA
event also featured Ms. Susan Douzmanian from the Genocide Education
Project and both speakers emphasized the importance of learning the
lessons of history and the cycle of genocide that has continued from the
Armenian Genocide to this day in the Darfur region of Sudan. Hovsepian
also addressed the UCLA community at the event "The Armenian Genocide:
Denial and Recognition" which was hosted by the UCLA Armenian Student
Association on the evening of April 23rd. In opening the evening’s
event Hovsepian touched on the evening’s theme of mobilizing the youth
to action in pursuing Armenian Genocide recognition and justice.

That same day, former ANCA-WR Executive Director, Vicken
Sonnentz-Papazian delivered a presentation to graduate students from
Alliant International University. As part of a course designed to raise
awareness about multicultural issues and communities, he discussed
Armenian American culture and the impact of the Armenian Genocide on the
community.

On April 20th, Kzirian served as the emcee for the annual ARF-Shant
Student Association and Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) "Youth Rally"
commemorating the Armenian Genocide. The evening’s event featured
several musical performances commemorating the victims of the genocide
and a rousing call to action by members of the community and AYF
leadership. Kzirian addressed attendees and strongly encouraged them to
join the "Click for Justice" campaign, a massive internet advocacy
initiative designed to mobilize and reenergize Armenian Americans to
support passage of H. Res. 106 and S. Res. 106.

Kzirian and Hovsepian joined the AYF for their annual protest at the
Turkish Consulate on April 24th. The event drew nearly 10,000 members
of the community and media coverage from almost all major news networks,
radio stations, and newspapers.

In addition to speaking engagements on campus, Hovsepian and
ANCA-Western Region interns attended several other events throughout Los
Angeles to distribute the ANCA’s "Click for Justice" campaign postcards
and t-shirts. These included ANCA-WR booths at both the All-ASA
commemoration concert, "Silenced Cries", which was hosted at USC on
April 15th and the "4-24" community concert commemoration hosted at the
Knitting Factory in Hollywood on April 24th. The ANCA-WR also worked to
raise awareness about the "Click for Justice" campaign on Los Angeles
area campuses including UCLA, USC, Glendale Community College as well as
at the Homenetmen-Western Region Scout’s commemoration event at Wilson
Middle School in Glendale and working with community activist Talish
Aghababayan, distributed educational material about the Armenian
Genocide and ANC youth programs at the Junior State of America debate
conference in Los Angeles on April 21st.

"We welcome the thousands of people at these events who have taken our
‘Click for Justice’ message to heart and we were honored to have worked
with so many community organizations this month to help commemorate the
genocide," said Hovsepian. "This grassroots outreach and collaboration
highlights the importance our community places on the proper recognition
of the genocide and that justice must be delivered."

The Armenian National Committee of America 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.

###

Photo caption: A young participant waves the flag at the "Walk for
Remembrance" Commemoration Event in Orange County, California.

Armenian Genocide mentioned
CU wants to forbid denial of genocide

By one of our editors

NRC Handelsblad (Dutch national newspaper)
The Hague, April 24, 2007

The fraction of the ChristenUnie [Christian Union] wants to submit a
draft bill that forbids the offensive denial of genocide. Member of
Parliament Voordewind (CU) announced today.

The CU chose to do so today because the Armenian Genocide of 1915
is commemorated.

Already last year, the party submitted a draft bill to criminalize the
denial of genocide. Previously, the ChristenUnie had also submitted a
motion in which the Armenian Genocide was mentioned explicitly. The
motion is sensitive, because the massacre of hundreds of thousands
of Armenians in 1915 has never been recognized by Turkey. Last year,
a great discussion erupted especially in the CDA [Christian Democratic
Appeal] and the PvdA [Dutch Labor Party]. Turkish candidate MPs were
scrapped by their respective party administrations from the candidacy
list because they refused to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Earlier, PvdA leader Bos announced that he will not support the
draft bill, even though his fraction supported the motion of former
MP Rouvoet (ChristenUnie).

The Council of State has great objections against the draft bill,
or so it became apparent from the advice that the Council gave to
the ChristenUnie.

The Council feels that it is not clear enough what the additional
value of the proposal is in regard to Article 137c of the penal
code, which stipulates that offending peoples is punishable. Deniers
of the Holocaust have already been convicted on the basis of that
article. The Council would also like to know how the definition of
genocide is established.

The ChristenUnie has a special bond with the Christian community
in Armenia.

MP Wolfsen (PvdA) believes that it is partly because of this
relationship that the party announced today its willingness to pursue
with the new law.

The PvdA has great reserves against the proposal. Wolfsen: "It is
not clear what the additional value of this proposal is. The act of
offending peoples is already criminalized now. This proposal also
touches on freedom of speech."

The CDA awaits the definitive proposal, but MP Haersma Buma says:
"The proposal is an expanded version of Donner’s draft bill, who
wants to prohibit the glorification of terrorist attacks. It is
precisely this element that is not longer present in the proposal of
the ChristenUnie."

Last Thursday, in Luxemburg, a European decision was adopted that
criminalizes racism and xenophobia in all member states.

In the Netherlands, the law does not need to be adapted to the
decision, because such cases are already criminalized, according to
a spokesperson of the Ministry of Justice.

Meanwhile, in six other European member states, including Belgium,
France, and Germany, a national law has been adopted that specifically
criminalizes the denial of genocide.

AZG Armenian Daily #078, 28/04/2007

Science

ACADEMICIAN HOVHANNES HOVHANNISIAN ALREADY A FOUR TIMES LAUREATE

Reading the list of the laureates of 2006 in media, I was very happy to see
the name of our compatriot, orthopedist Havhannes Hovhannisian, who lives in
Moscow. I met him in the Orthopedic Research Institute after Priarov. He has
worked here for several decades after graduating from the Yerevan Medical
Institute.

Hovhannes Hovhannisian is a Doctor of medical sciences, Director of the
Orthopedic Clinic of Adults, professor of the Moscow Academy of Medical
Sciences, more than 30 years an advisor of the General Medical Board of
Russia, and a real member of many international academies. He is an author
of 400 scientific works and the Discovery Number 208; he is also an author
of 95 discoveries. Hovhannisian has 45 abroad (USA, England, Sweden,
Switzerland, Canada, Germany, France, Japan) and 4 Russian licenses. He
discovered 9 orthopedic equipments that were being applied in Russia and 22
other countries. He is a leader of 24 dissertations and 9 doctoral theses.
The director of the Orthopedic Research Institute after Priarov, Chief of
the General Medical Board of Russia Sergey Pavlovich Mironov wrote two
letters to RA President Robert Kocharian, and asked to award Hovhannes
Hovhannisian a medal of St. Mesrob Mashtots, as Hovhannisian is a graduate
of Oshakan school after Mesrob Mashtots. He mentioned in the letter that
after the earthquake of Spitak, H. Hovhannisian organized the medical
treatment of 300 patients. With other orthopedists he actively organized
operations of many Armenians injured by the earthquake.

Hovhannes Hovhannisian is one of the respectable Armenians in the world, and
it’s amazing that the letters of Sergey Mironov have no answer yet.

NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan’s message on the day of commemoration of the
Genocide victims

ArmRadio.am
24.04.2007 11:07

`Dear compatriots,

Once again today the whole Armenian nation pays homage to the memory
of the victims of the Armenian Genocide planned and perpetrated by
Ottoman Turkey. Year by year increases the number of countries which
recognize and condemn this vicious crime, thus offering their moral
support to the Armenian people and reconfirming their responsibility
for civilization and the fate of humanity, and believing that for them
moral values are higher than political interests.

Bowing before the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims we must not
only pursue that one of the most cruel events in human history is
acknowledged, but are also obliged to support our Armenian states as
the best memorial to the memory of victims and the most important
guarantee of safe and worthy life of our people in Motherland and
Diaspora."