Author: Chmshkian Vicken

OSCE PA OBSERVATION MISSION FOR PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA ARRIVES IN YEREVAN ON APRIL 11

Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation headed by Tone
Tingsgard, the OSCE PA Deputy Chairman, head of the OSCE PA observation
mission for parliamentary elections in Armenia will arrive in Yerevan
on April 11.

The delegation members, with members of the PACE interim committee
for observation on parliamentary elections in Armenia, will have joint
meetings at the RA National Assembly with representatives of the RPA,
ARF, ULP, "Ardarutiun" (Justice), "Orinats Yerkir" (Country of Law),
"Azgayin Miabanutiun" (National Unity) factions, "People’s Deputy"
and "Gortsarar" (Business) deputies’ groups.

Meetings of the delegation with representatives of the "Bargavach
Hayastan" (Prosperous Armenia), "Zharangutiun" (Heritage) parties and
"Aylentrank" (Alternative) political movement are scheduled for the
same day.

The delegation members will meet on April 13 with representatives of
the ODIHR main group, NDI, IFES, USAID, IREX, Counterpart Consortium
organizations.

RA President Robert Kocharian, RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosian and RA CEC
Chairman Garegin Azarian will receive the delegation on the same day.

According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA NA
Public Relations Department, the delegation will leave Yerevan on
April 14.

GENOCIDE OR NOT
By Tulin Daloglu

Washington Times, DC
April 10 2007

One would assume that the question of whether what happened between
Turks and Armenians during World War I constitutes "genocide" is not an
important issue in American politics or the American consciousness. Yet
for Turkish Americans, it remains a constant source of anxiety and fear
of discrimination or reprisals if they express a different point of
view. Generations later, even in this country that celebrates freedom
of speech and debate, they feel that publicly discussing the issue
will engender more hate.

"I can still remember my friends’ parents saying, ‘What are we going
to do if our daughter marries a Turk?’ " said Angelina Kara.

Born in Istanbul to a French father and a Turkish mother, Angelina,
30, was raised as a Christian, married a Muslim Turk, and lives in
California. "These parents never thought while raising their children
in Istanbul that [the children] might eventually one day at least date
a Muslim Turk. They threatened to cut their children off if they did."

"Non-Muslim communities live within their own circles in Turkey,"
Angelina said. "They marry within their own religion. Frankly, they
feel superior to the Muslim Turks … I remember visiting my Armenian
friends. They were not encouraged to make friends with the Turks.

They made friends with other Armenian kids going to the Sunday school
at church. During the summer, they were usually sent abroad to their
relatives or worked with their fathers."

Angelina’s is a unique perspective on Turkish social norms. Not all
non-Muslim Turkish families distance themselves from Muslim Turks,
but she notes that a significant number prefers to live in a separate
world. Angelina and her husband, Tolga, seem to deal with their worlds
by celebrating their ethnic and religious differences.

Yet she worries that in Turkey, the distance between the two will
ultimately jeopardize the country.

In California, this young Turkish American couple sees firsthand
the hard work of the Armenian American lobby for a non-binding
congressional resolution that would declare the mass killings of
Armenians on Turkish soil "genocide." But there is another side.

Tolga remembers his grandmother: "Until she died five years ago,
she wept for her father. She used to tell stories about World War I,
and how the Armenians raided their home in Erzincan late at night
and took her father and uncle. Days later, they found her uncle’s
body dismembered on the side of a small stream. They never found
her father."

Tolga says that until he moved to California, he’d accepted the past as
a tragedy of war. But his experience in the United States has opened
his eyes to how deeply Armenians hate Turks: "One day I saw a young
man staring at me in a bad way. I did not understand it, and thought I
was being too sensitive. A few days later, I ran into him again, and
he stared at me in the same way — this time pointing his finger. I
asked him what his problem was, and he kept pointing — so I called
the police. He was an Armenian, but [because there was no physical
altercation] what he was doing was merely an exercise of free speech."

Turkey does not have a great record on free speech — but that has
been changing. Over the last several years, academic conferences and
television programs have publicly debated the Armenian accusations. The
United States, however, has been less favorable toward such public
conversations. Last year, the University of Southern California
cancelled a conference titled "Turkish-Armenian Relations: The Turkish
Perspective." A press release from the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA) read, "The ANCA-WR, working with USC Armenian student
groups, Alumni and school supporters, was able to demonstrate to USC
officials the misguided and sinister nature of this panel which led
to its cancellation."

A few years ago, Armenian students at USC protested the annual Turkish
Night organized by the USC Turkish Student Association. The USC Daily
Trojan reported that "the dance was shut down for safety," and that
a party-goer who requested anonymity out of concern for his safety
called the protesters "hostile-looking and intimidating."

Recently, a concert at Brown University titled "The Armenian Composers
of the Ottoman Period," in which two Armenian and two Turkish musicians
were to perform, was cancelled. Its aim was to bring together Turks and
Armenians through music, but the Armenians who agreed to participate
faced tremendous pressure to keep their distance from the Turks.

Many Turkish Americans fear the Armenian American community’s power
in the United States. They don’t understand why no doubt exists about
what happened between Armenians and Turks. They wonder why no one
remembers the murdered Turkish diplomats by Armenian terrorists or
numerous silenced academicians. They feel that the "genocide" claims
feed an industry — influential Armenian committees, non-governmental
organizations and academics promoting their "truth" — attached to
politics. They understand that politicians need to get elected and
must satisfy their constituents’ needs. But they also demand an
environment free of intimidation and fear.

Tulin Daloglu is a free-lance writer.

UN SUSPENDS EXHIBIT ON RWANDA GENOCIDE, OVER ARMENIAN KILLINGS

EarthTimes.org
April 10 2007

New York – A photography exhibition on the massacre of 800,000
Rwandans in 1994 was suspended Tuesday after Turkey protested that it
carried a mention of the massacre of Armenians after World War I. The
photographs were shown in a lobby at UN headquarters. But a Turkish
diplomat discovered a caption explaining the meaning of genocide,
citing the case of Armenians murdered in Turkey.

Turkey denies that the killing of up to one million Armenians
constituted genocide, putting their deaths down to ethnic strife,
disease and famine, and has prosecuted some historians for calling
it genocide.

The UN said Tuesday it decided to call off the show while the dispute
was being settled.

The massacre of ethnic Tutsis in Rwanda, which was incited by the
Hutu-led government in Kigali following the death of their leader
in a plane crash in April, 1994, has been branded a genocide and
condemned by the international community.

The victims were slaughtered within three months while a UN
peacekeeping mission stood by under orders not to get involved – the
result of a restrictive mandate provided by the UN Security Council
in New York.

The Rwanda genocide exhibition had been planned to move to Ghana,
Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania after New York. It was
uncertain whether that plan still stood.

A1+

ONE MEDAL FROM SERBIA
[01:19 pm] 09 April, 2007

The European Judo Championship has ended in Belgrade.
To note, Armenian sportsman Hovhannes Davtyan /60 kg/
won silver medal thus becoming vice-champion of
Europe.

Our expectations were especially great from Armen
Nazaryan, Europe’s ex champion but the latter failed
to justify our hopes. Armen Ispiryan /81 kg/ and
Anoush Hakobyan /52 kg/ also displayed poor
participation.

The Armenian delegation is due to return tomorrow
morning at the head of Alexan Avetisyan, president of
the Judo Federation.

NEGOTIATIONS TAKE PLACE BEHIND THE STAGE

KarabakhOpen
07-04-2007 11:36:43

The pre-election intrigues related to "non-nomination" of candidates
and lack of information continue. The people, who are not indifferent
towards what happens in the country, are trying to discuss their
future but in vain. We talked to the leader of the Tradition NGO,
former member of parliament Valery Balayan.

KO: Mr. Balayan, how do you evaluate the pre-election period in
Karabakh?

Unsatisfactory. The negotiations take place behind the stage, and
the society is not informed. For instance, I do not know who will
be nominated.

KO: Do you think public debates on urgent issues are necessary? What
influence can public opinion have on the government policy?

Public debates are necessary in every society. And they should be
on issues which worry the society. The influence of the moods of
the public on the government depends on if the government is not
indifferent towards the life of common people. It does not mean,
however, that there should be no public debates.

KO: Do you feel informed in our society?

Not sufficiently, I think, and I get information from the media, the
" marketplace" and other informal sources.

DELEGATES OF ARMENIA SUCCESSFULLY START IN EUROPE CHESS INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
Apr 05 2007

DRESDEN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The 2nd stage meetings took place
on April 4 at the Europe Chess Individual Championship being
held in the city of Dresden, Germany. The 12 delegates of Armenia
started successfully at the championship. Rafayel Vahanian, Tigran
L. Petrosian, Tigran Kotanjian and Elina Danielian got 2 points from
the 2 possible ones and are among the leaders.

550 chess players (400 men and 150 women) from 43 countries in total
participate in the Europe championship.

CHINESE COMPUTERS IN THE RA FOREIGN MINISTRY

A1+
[06:02 pm] 04 April, 2007

Today the ceremony of document signing took place in the RA Foreign
Ministry. Under the given document the Democratic Republic of China
will render technical assistance, namely computer equipment, to the
RA Foreign Ministry.

To note, the event was designated to the 15th anniversary of the
Armenia-China diplomatic relations.

Armenian National Committee of San Diego County
San Diego, CA
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
April 5, 2007

Contact: Garo Artinian
E-mail: [email protected]

*ANC of San Diego County Welcomes Congressman Hunter’s Agreement to
Cosponsor H.Res.106*

*EL CAJON, CA* – After learning of Congressman Brian Bilbray’s (R-CA-50)
cosponsorship of H. Res. 106 on March 14, 2007, the Armenian National
Committee of San Diego County (ANC of SDC) expressed its appreciation to
Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA-52) whose office confirmed that the
Congressman has agreed to cosponsor H.Res.106, the Armenian Genocide
resolution. Rep. Hunter, a 14-term Congressman and Vietnam veteran, is the
Ranking Member of the US House Armed Services Committee. He has also
declared his candidacy for the 2008 Presidential Elections.

On Wednesday, March 21, 2007 the ANC of SDC met with Hunter’s legislative
aide, Holly Hough in Rep. Hunter’s El Cajon District Office. The meeting
was led by ANC of San Diego County Chairman Garo Artinian and included
fellow San Diego County ANC advocates and Hunter constituents Boghos and
Lena Yerevanian of the San Diego Homenetmen, as well as Ani Lanuza of the
San Diego chapter of the Armenian General Benevolent Union and Serop
Karoghlanian. The group was joined by Saint John Garabed Pastor Datev
Tatoulian, Parish Council Chairman Gary Takessian (AAA), World War II
veteran George Katchigian and San Diego County ANC Board Member Edik
Esmailian.

The ANC of SDC organized the meeting to provide an opportunity for the
community to build its relationship with Rep. Hunter’s office and discuss
current issues of concern to them. Rep. Hunter enjoys one of the largest
concentrations of San Diego County Armenians in his district which extends
east across the county and up to its northeast corner.

Artinian opened the meeting by introducing Hough to the meeting participants
and briefly discussing the San Diego Armenian community. He noted that the
community had a long-standing relationship with the Congressman and
appreciated his past support of issues of concern to them, including
previous Armenian Genocide resolutions.

Hough was familiar with the resolution and was interested in learning more
about the history of the genocide. Artinian referred her to Peter
Balakian’s book, "The Burning Tigris", and pointed out that the first
international humanitarian aid effort by the United States was in response
to the Armenian Genocide. Artinian noted that several US diplomats
courageously reported the details of the genocide as it occurred. He also
mentioned Congressman Howard Berman’s recent "dear colleague" letter drawing
attention to a statement by the International Association of Genocide
Scholars in which the association affirmed the Armenian Genocide.

As pastor of the local community for many years, Father Tatoulian noted that
the Armenian Genocide remains important to subsequent generations of
Armenian Americans who are disappointed with US officials who compromise
history and justice by remaining silent about the Armenian Genocide. Artinian
emphasized that the community expects the United States to be a leader by
acknowledging its American history as it relates to the Armenian Genocide
and, in doing so, encouraging Turkey to dispel the official policy of denial
that clouds its history.

Lanuza noted the community’s concern regarding the recent assassination of
Hrant Dink. Dink, the editor of the weekly Armenian newspaper AGOS, was
killed outside his offices in Istanbul earlier this year. Dink recently
faced prosecution under the infamous "Article 301" of the Turkish criminal
code for "insulting Turkishness", a blanket law used to silence freedom of
expression and dissent in Turkey. The law has been repeatedly used by
Turkish prosecutors to charge individuals who diverge from the Turkish
government’s policy of Armenian Genocide denial.

Members of the group also expressed concern about repeated threats issued by
Turkey against the United States and its armed forces in response to
H.Res.106.

"Thousands of Armenian Americans proudly served and continue to serve this
country," noted Artinian. "It is disturbing that Turkey, a supposed ally,
continues to bully and threaten the United States and the fundamental values
on which it was founded in order to prevent even the discussion of a
resolution that honors the victims of, and the American response to, the
Armenian Genocide."

In the days following the ANC of SDC meeting with Hough in El Cajon, CA,
Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) Executive
Director Andrew Kzirian visited Rep. Hunter’s office in Washington, D.C. to
deliver constituent letters to the Congressman. In the past several months,
the ANC of SDC has also organized local district office meetings with
Representatives Bilbray, Davis, and Filner who are joined by Representative
Issa as co-sponsors of H.Res.106. These activities, in conjunction with both
1) the ANCA’s "End the Cycle of Genocide" advocacy campaign which was
organized in collaboration with the Genocide Intervention Network and 2) the
ANCA-WR’s POWER Initiative have helped to advance Armenian American concerns
in relation to the Armenian Genocide Resolution.

"The ANC of San Diego County was delighted to bring together a broad
cross-section of the local Armenian community for meetings this past month
with Congressmen Bilbray and Hunter," said Artinian. "Their support of
H.Res.106 is a testament to the strength of our local ANC advocates’
grassroots efforts as well as that of our affiliates in our regional and
national offices."

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 #1 CAPTION: Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA-52).

PHOTO #2 CAPTION: (from left to right) Boghos and Lena Yerevanian, Ani
Lanuza, Edik Esmailian, Hunter legislative aide Holly Hough, Father Datev
Tatoulian, George Katchigian, Garo Artinian, Serop Karoghlanian, and Gary
Takessian.

NEW ASSESSMENT SYSTEM WAS TRIED OUT IN KARABAKH
Svetlana Khachatryan

Azat Artsakh Daily, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
04 April 07

On March 17 the first experimental exam in Armenian language and
literature with new grading system was held in two modes, final and
general. The final exam was held in 25 schools, and the general state
exam was held in Stepanakert. 492 took the exam, including 147 the
general state exam. The papers were sent to the knowledge assessment
and testing center in Armenia. The results came in two weeks, which
were presented by the minister of education, culture and sport Kamo
Atayan. The maximum score of the general state exam is 75 points, and
that of the final exam is 50. The best score in the final exam was
47 points (1 student) and the best score in the general state exam
was 68 points (1 student). The lowest score in the final exam was 3
(1 student), and the lowest score of the general state exam was 18
(1 student). The minister said 55 students who took the final exam
scored 0-15, four students who took the general state exam scored
0-25. It means 59 out of 492 students got an unsatisfactory mark and
may not get a certificate. On the other hand, the polls among teachers
and students suggest that they accept the new assessment system,
which reassures that until the exam on June 1 the number of students
at risk may go down in case of consistent work and analysis of the
results. The minister instructed to continue the exam at schools for
every student to take the test.

SERGEI LAVROV: DIFFICULTIES ARISING IN RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN COOPERATION ARE NOT INSURMOUNTABLE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. "In recent year Russia not only
has retained its position of the leading trade partner of Armenia
but also has established itself as a big investor in the Armenian
economy." The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated this at
the April 4 meeting with the teaching staff and students of Yerevan
State University (YSU).

However, in his words, the establishment of ecomomic relations is
impossible without difficulties. Particularly, it was possible "to
breathe life" not into all the Armenian enterprises transferred to
Russia under the agreement "Property for Debt". He said that they
succeeded in regulating the work at only the Hrazdan Thermal Power
Plant out of the enterprises transferred to Russia.

As regards the other enterprises, the minister noted that their
specific character was not fully taken into account because efficient
operation of such enterprises becomes more complicated in market
conditions. "We are not going to recede: both the Russian and Armenian
sides have enough will and resolution to modernize these enterprises. A
special bilateral governmental commission will deal with the the fate
of Mars Plant and all other enterprises," S. Lavrov stated.

He assured those present that difficulties arising in the
Russian-Armenian coopration are not insurmountable, which is also
evidenced by "the qualitative changes in our relations, which have
become possible in many respects thanks to the fact that Russia has
grown stronger economically."

As regards making the control stricter on the Russian-Georgian border
and its impact on Armenia, S. Lavrov said that the reasons for stricter
control are obvious for the Russian side. "We can’t shut our eyes to
Georgia’s unprecedented military preparations which may be aimed at
solution of the South Ossetian and Abkhazian problems by force. We
are doing everything so that the Armenian side will not suffer from
tightened control and all possible negative consequences will be
reduced to a minimum," the Russian foreign minister said.