Author: Chmshkian Vicken

WHITEHOUSE: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUST NEVER BE REPEATED

States News Service
April 24, 2007 Tuesday
Washington

The following information was released by the office of Rhode Island
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse:

U.S. Senator Whitehouse (D-R.I.) today released the following statement
commemorating Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day:

"The only way to prevent crimes against humanity in the future is to
shine light on the past. I’m proud to support the Senate’s efforts
to recognize the tragedy that befell the Armenians for what it was –
a genocide that must never, ever be repeated."

Whitehouse is a cosponsor of Senate Resolution 106, which calls on the
President to ensure that U.S. foreign policy acknowledges as genocide
the killings of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire from 1915
to 1923.

MEMORY ABOUT GENOCIDE – NO MATTER RECOGNIZED OR NOT – MUST BECOME WARNING FOR ALL

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.04.2007 15:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "April 24 is the world day of commemorating the
victims of the Armenian Genocide.

This day thousands of Armenians worldwide mourn for the people who
died at those tragic days of the 20th century. Armenian Cultural
Association of Irkutsk annually holds commemorative evenings dedicated
to that tragedy. Armenians of Irkutsk mourn for their compatriots,
expressing condolences to descendants of those who died in 1920-ies
of the last century and invite all Irkutsk residents to participate
in commemorative evening," the statement of city administration says.

On April 24 all who wish may pay homage to the Armenian nation, which
was subjected to extermination, light a candle on the khatchkar for
the peace of victims’ soul. Representatives of the Armenian Cultural
Association of Irkutsk hope city residents will not be indifferent to
the pain that the Armenian population feels. Today the memory about
Genocide – no matter recognized or not – must become warning for all
of us.

The statement reminds that crimes against humanity do not have statute
of limitation. "The internationally recognized Holocaust, genocides
in Rwanda, Yugoslavia and Iraq are those green wounds, which will
bleed and which will be remembered and mourned in the whole world for
a long time. However, the first genocide of an entire nation in the
history of the 20th century is the events between 1915 and 1923 in
Turkey. The monstrosity of this crime against the Armenian nation has
been officially recognized by the world community," says the statement
of the Armenian Cultural Association and Irkutsk City administration.

FOCUS WILL BE ON AGRIBUSINESS

KarabakhOpen
24-04-2007 13:04:44

In the framework of the government program on small and medium-sized
business assistance 796 million drams will be allocated for loans. The
bulk will be provided to agriculture.

180 million drams will be provided for wine growing, 140 million for
other spheres of agriculture, 50 million for services, 50 million for
hotel service, and 6 million drams will be provided for promotion of
businesses (ads, expos), the head of the Artsakh Development Agency
Armen Avagyan said in an interview with the Azat Artsakh.

According to him, this year industry has appeared first in the list
of the spheres which will get loans. In addition, the focus will be
on processing of agricultural products, for which 370 million drams
will be provided. Wineries may get 120 million drams of loans, meat
processing and dairy business will get 60 million drams, others will
get 80 million drams.

HOMAGE TO THE MEMORY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS

ArmRadio.am
24.04.2007 15:30

RA President Robert Kocharyan and Mrs. Bela Kocharyan, Speaker
of the National Assembly Togran Torosyan, Prime Minister Serge
Sargsyan, the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, MPs, Government
representatives, senior Officers of the Armed Forces, other officials,
chiefs of diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia, Diaspora Armenians
and citizens attended Tsitsernakaberd today to pay homage to the
memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide -the first genocide of
the 20th century. His Holiness Karekin II offered a memorial service.

RA Acting Defense Minister, Chief of the General Staff of the
Armed Forces of Armenia Mikhael Harutyunyan noted that by constantly
reminding about the Armenian Genocide and paying tribute to the memory
of the victims it is possible to prevent the reoccurrence of similar
crimes in the future. "This is a negative phenomenon not only for
the Armenian people, but also for all humanity.

Our neighbors must know that we shall never forget the Genocide,"
said Mikhael Harutyunyan.

Wreaths of flowers were laid at the memorial to Genocide victims
on behalf of RA ministries, local self-governance bodies, different
agencies, political forces, students, scientists, artists, NGOs.

Holy memorial services are offered today in the churches of Armenia
and Diaspora.

PRIORITY TASK OF TAX AND CUSTOMS BODIES IS UNCOMPROMISING STRUGGLE AGAINST SHADOW ECONOMY, ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 23 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, NOYAN TAPAN. During the April 23 working
consultation conducted by the Armenian president Robert Kocharian, the
results of the first quarter from the viewpoint of the state budget’s
execution and the work to be done were discussed. According to the
RA President’s press service, the RA prime minister, the minister of
finance and economy, heads of the national statistical service, the
state tax service and the state customs committee, other high-ranking
officials participated in the consultation.

R. Kocharian said that results of the first quarter show that the
indices of economic growth were higher than programmed by the state
budget. In his words, this is a positive phenomenon which has been
continuing for 7 years.

"This year is a pre-electoral one, and I see a positive tendence
that the economy and business show no concern over the pre-electoral
process and are confident that our policy of business developing will
not change, and their confidence is probably considerable. Today we
should be able to make correct decisions and set correct tasks to
tax and customs services," he noted.

The president said that he is content with the work and indices of the
first quarter, as they were fully implemented. However, according to
R. Kocharian, higher rates of economic growth allow to receive more
revenues, which will in its turn enable to pay greater attention to
social problems.

Presenting the results of the first quarter, the RA Minister of Finance
and Economy Vardan Khachatrian noted that a 11% economic growth was
registered in the 1st quarter instead of 9% growth envisaged by the
state budget, as a result of which the necessity has arisen to review
the programs.

Heads of tax and customs bodies addressed their problems and the work
to be carried out.

R. Kocharian said that there are still serious reserves and steps in
this direction should be taken. The priority task of tax and customs
bodies is an uncompronising struggle against shadow economy, and this
struggle will be efficient only if it is fair, related to everybody
and secures equal conditions for all economic entities.

Summarizing the meeting results, the Armenian president stated
that the tax and customs bodies should implement consistent work,
underlining that their tasks and activities will remain in the center
of his attention.

Giro Manoyan: We must make not only moral, but also territorial demands of Turkey

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.04.2007 14:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Currently the matter is not so much in recognizing
the Armenian Genocide, as recognizing the responsibility of the
Turkish government for that crime," "Hay Dat" office head Giro
Manoyan stated to a press conference in Yerevan. He said, Today
Turkey tries to increase his value both for the U.S. and the European
community. "Armenia’s foreign policy is clear and right in this
connection: we do not put preconditions and are sure the opening of
borders must not be connected with the Armenian Genocide, though ARF
Dashnaktsutyun thinks if someone has the right for preconditions,
it is Armenia and not Turkey.

Nevertheless, I am sure our government is on the right way," Manoyan
stressed.

He also added ARF Dashnaktsutyun thinks it necessary to make not only
moral, but also territorial demands of Turkey. "Turkey has problems
with all his neighbors – with Armenia, Greece, Iraq. Sooner or later
all those demands will be made," the "Hay Dat" office head said.

Turkey makes its Jewish community to stand against H. Res. 106?

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.04.2007 14:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Several Jewish groups are relaying to Congress
a letter from the Turkish Jewish community advocating against the
Armenian GenocideResolution (H. Res. 106). "Turks want Jewish groups
to advocate against the resolution, but only one group, the Jewish
Institute of National Security Affairs, has done so," an online news
portal called The Global News Service of the Jewish People (JTA)
reported earlier this week.

It notes other Jewish groups, mindful of the history of Holocaust
revisionism, do not want to deny Armenians the opportunity to
commemorate their own genocide, which Israeli researchers have
said was a precursor to the Holocaust. American Jewish Committee,
Anti-Defamation League and B’nai B’rith International will relay
the Turkish Jewish letter to Congress later this week, but will not
necessarily endorse it," JTA reported.

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF ARTISTS OF ARTSAKH HELD ITS FIRST EXHIBITION

KarabakhOpen
20-04-2007 15:20:15

On April 18 the first exhibition of the newly-established International
Union of Artsakh opened at the picture gallery of Stepanakert. The
founders of this organization and the authors of the works are three
known artists: Samvel Gabrielyan, Arnold Meliksetyan and Robert
Askaryan.

It is notable that the exhibition attracted both government officials
and the artistic circle. Maybe because the three artists left the
Union of Artists of NKR last autumn as they were dissatisfied with
the atmosphere in this organization, set up their organization,
and intended to impart it with an international importance.

There were unusually many people. The chair of the Union of Writers
of NKR Vardan Oskanyan dedicated the exhibition, then Speaker Ashot
Ghulyan, the minister of education and culture Kamo Atayan, the head
of the department of education and culture of the City Hall Carlen
Margaryan made speeches. Samvel Gabrielyan, one of the artists, made
the closing speech. "The idea to create a new organization occurred
a long time ago. Finally it was born. However, I would like to make
it clear that the word "international" is not pretentiousness but the
necessity of the time. In the soviet times creative unions were set
up to serve the political pyramid rather than the creative demands
of the artists. Today when we are creating our independent country,
we cannot follow what was injected then, in addition, broken from
the world progress. We need to keep up with the time, go out to the
world, get in touch with the best representatives of modern art,
invite them to Artsakh. The men of culture should know the folk;
people have always had and have their own culture."

According to the artist, they have already set up contact with artists
of different countries and intend to hold two similar events abroad.

CONGRESSMEN DEMAND FROM PRESIDENT BUSH TO RECOGNIZE GENOCIDE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 20 2007

WASHINGTON, APRIL 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Co-Chairmen of the
Congress Armenian Caucus Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg addressed
a letter to President George Bush, demanding to recognize the 1915
massacres as the Armenian Genocide in his memory statement on April 24.

The President mentioned in his annual memory speech of the last year
that "the happened was a tragedy against the whole mankind, and we and
the whole world must never forget it," but he again avoided using the
"genocide" word.

The Co-Chairmen in their letter called on President Bush to recognize
the ferocities committed against the Armenian people as a genocide,
particularly by stating: "The United States must never allow that
the crimes committed against the mankind are forgotten without being
remembered and punished," In addition, the letter emphasized devotion
of the United States to prevention of future genocides, repeating
that: "it is necessary to pay tribute of respect to memory of those
who suffered and never forget the past."

PRESS RELEASE
Armenians Of Colorado Inc.
Press contact: Kim Christianian, [email protected]
P.O. Box 13854
Denver, Colorado 80201

Telephone: 303-588-5524

April 19, 2007

ENTIRE COLORADO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION OFFICIALLY CO-SPONSORS OF THE
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

Armenians of Colorado Inc.,(AOC) proudly announced today that every member
of the Colorado Congressional Delegation has signed on to the Congressional
Armenian Genocide Resolution (S/H Res.(s) 106), making Colorado the first
state to have complete unity in its representation in affirming the Armenian
Genocide.

Armenians of Colorado initiated the annual state joint resolution approved
unanimously for six consecutive years proclaiming April 24th as Colorado Day
of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. A last minute amendment brought to
the Senate floor by State Senator Steve Johnson provided for the forwarding
of the resolution to the ambassador and current government of Turkey.

At the request of Armenians of Colorado Inc., Colorado’s Governor Bill
Ritter also signed a moving proclamation detailing the events of the
Armenian genocide; as did Denver’s Mayor John Hickenlooper. The
proclamations have been a long standing tradition for AOC stemming back 25
years when Governor Lamm issued the first proclamation to coincide with the
installation of the Armenian Genocide Memorial Plaque in the Armenian Garden
located on the grounds of the State Capitol. AOC was instrumental in having
the plaque placed at the Capitol. The headstone was designed by Architect
Varouj Hairabedian from Aspen, CO.

As part of the Armenian Genocide Commemorative events, Armenians of Colorado
hosted a lecture by Turkish scholar Taner Akçam, bestselling author and
Amnesty International `prisoner of conscience’ on April 15, 2007. Dr.
Akçam spoke to a standing room only audience on his recent book, A Shameful
Act: The Armenian Genocide and the Question of Turkish Responsibility, at
Denver’s Mizel Museum.

`AOC is truly an amazing organization fueled by its diversity and
grass-roots efforts’ stated Kim Christianian, co-chair of the Armenian
Genocide Commemoration Committee for AOC. Armenians of Colorado is proud of
the partnerships it has fostered locally with the Mizel Museum and the
Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action (CCGAA) which sponsored
the comprehensive exhibit on Genocide The Dead Weight of Complacency, a dual
exhibit with Glocal artists’ interpretation of genocide. As a partner of
CCGAA, members of AOC were invited to the signing of the Colorado Darfur
Divestment bill today. Co-sponsor Senator Groff referenced the Armenian
Genocide Resolution when he spoke to the media and crowd gathered for the
signing.

Armenians of Colorado is pleased to be working with both the national
advocacy organizations in Washington; ANCA and the Armenian Assembly. `Not
one person alone could have accomplished what we have’ stated Ken Allikian
co-Chair of the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee for AOC.
`Colorado’s Armenian Community is an energized group of constituents that
are educating our officials in government about one of the most horrendous
acts against humanity ever recorded in the history of the world’. Added Kim
Christianian `We find that our locally elected officials and their staff are
often very supportive of righteous causes and hope that our nationally
elected officials will follow suit and consider the clear messages coming
from across the many states and help establish the proper foreign policies,
especially the ones regarding Turkey and Armenia’.

AOC will hold the annual Armenian Genocide Commemorative Ceremony this
Sunday April 22nd, 1:30PM at the Armenian Genocide Memorial plaque at the
State Capitol. Co-sponsors of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, State
Senator Lois Tochtrop and State Representative Michael Garcia will address
the crowd.

(AOC) was established in June 1982. It is a 501(c) (3) non-profit, cultural
organization, non-partisan and secular, charged with a purpose to create a
cohesive Armenian community and to further the understanding of Armenian
history, culture, and heritage. AOC actively supports issues and concerns of
the Armenian-American community here in Colorado as well as those identified
within the Armenian Diaspora throughout the world. For more information
about Armenians of Colorado go to
<http://www.armenia nsofcolorado.org/> .