Author: Chmshkian Vicken

ARKADY GHUKASYAN IS DISSATISFIED WITH ARMENIA FUND

Lragir.am
05 May 06

NKR President is dissatisfied and satisfied with the Armenia Fund.

Simultaneously. Arkady Ghukasyan told his opinion to news reporters
on May 5 during the break of the meeting of the board of trustees of
the Armenia Fund in Yerevan. The president of Karabakh announced he
had greater expectations than the present indices. “Our expectations
are much greater. I think the Diaspora is a very powerful structure
and the Diaspora can offer greater assistance to Karabakh. Second,
we have problems with quality of work, and we find that the fund
should enhance control,” said Arkady Ghukasyan.

This is an unexpected, even a sensational statement, for it is an
unprecedented attempt of expressing dissatisfaction publicly.

However, what happened is quite normal in the context of recently
circulated information about the intention of the government of
Karabakh to gain direct control on the money of the fund. In this
context, reliable sources even report that Arkady Ghukasyan proposed
to change the executive director of the fund but the president of
Armenia refused.

“You see, if there was such a proposal, I would not be standing here
because we work. I think it is clear libel,” said Executive Director
Naira Melkumyan May 5 to the reporter, before the meeting of the
board of trustees of the fund. The executive director is appointed
by the board of trustees. This question was not found on the agenda
of the annual meeting of the board, which means that it will not
be taken up for another year. Although, an extraordinary meeting is
possible. Especially that there are such moods. The evidence to it
is the dissatisfaction of the NKR president with the activity of the
fund. The president of NKR would hardly oppose to the entire fund. He
might know that there are others who share his attitude. The evidence
to this is his approach of changing the executive director. The
NKR president does not think that the questions he raised would be
settled by the change of the executive director, but he thinks that the
question can be discussed. “It is a question to be decided by the board
of trustees, I cannot decide alone. I think that we must solve the
problem. There are several ways of solving the problem. At any rate,
this is a question that must be discussed,” stated Arkady Ghukasyan.

BULGARIAN NATIONAL UNITY PARTY URGES PARLIAMENT TO RECOGNIZE “ARMENIAN GENOCIDE”

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 4 2006

Bulgarian National Unity Party called on parliament to recognize bogus
“Armenian Genocide”.

APA Europe Bureau reports that this party has prepared a declaration
which urges the government to recognize Armenians’ counterfeited
ideas. Party chief Boyko Vatev claims that his country is one of the
modern countries not recognizing killing of Armenians by Turks.

In reality Armenians killed Turks and the genocide invented by
Armenians is therefore called “false Armenian Genocide”.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY AND ARMENIAN DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIONS OPEN BOOKS OF CONDOLENCES

AZG Armenian Daily
04/05/2006

On occasion of yesterday’s tragic crash of Armenian jet that claimed
lives of 113 people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and
Armenia’s diplomatic representations worldwide will open books of
condolences and will lower the Armenian tricolor.

For foreign embassies in Armenia the book of condolences will be open
on May 5 and 6 from 12.00 to 3.00 pm.

SOCHI MAYOR: “WE MOURN IRREPLACEABLE LOSS WITH YOU”

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2006 01:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Sochi Mayor Victor Kolodyazhnyj on behalf of all
Sochi residents condoled with relatives and friends of the victims
of A-320 airplane crash.

“In this sorrowful hour I want to frankly condole with relatives and
friends of the victims! Many Armenians live in our town. Something more
than mere friendly relations always tied Armenia and Sochi. We were
tied and still are by kinship. We were united in our common happiness,
we remain together in our common grief. Our hearts are full of sorrow
and we mourn irreplaceable loss with you,” Kolodyazhnyj’s official
message says, reports Yuga.ru.

HEAD OF RA PRESIDENT’S ADMINISTRATION RECOGNIZED “ENEMY OF PRESS”

Noyan Tapan
May 03 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the results of the
traditional survey of the members of RA National Press Club, by
the majority of votes, Head of RA President’s Administration Armen
Gevorgian was recognized the “enemy of press” for the period from May
3 2005 to May 3 2006. According to Narine Mkrtchian, Chairwoman of the
National Press Club board, the certificate of the “enemy of press”
will be sent to him “for fulfilling the role of the chief censor of
Armenian media”. None of the pretenders got a sufficient number of
votes in the nomination “friend of press”. To recap, the title of the
“enemy of press” was earlier received by RA President Robert Kocharian
(three times), RA MP Hranush Hakobian and the Armenian State System.

PRESS RELEASE

American University of Armenia
40 Marshal Baghramian
Yerevan 375019 ARMENIA

Tel: (37410) 512-522

Fax: (37410) 512-523
Contact: Diana Manukyan
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

The American University of Armenia (AUA) will be hosting Prof. Donald E. Knuth,
one of the most prominent computer scientists in the world.

In June 2006, the Computer & Information Science Program and the
College of Engineering of AUA, with co-hosts the National Academy of
Sciences of Armenia, the Faculty of Informatics & Applied Mathematics
of Yerevan State University, and the Faculty of Computer Systems and
Informatics of the State Engineering University of Armenia, will
host Dr. Donald Knuth, Professor Emeritus of the Art of Computer
Programming at Stanford University.

Donald E. Knuth (B.S. and M.S., Case Institute of Technology
1960; Ph.D., California Institute of Technology 1963) is the
author of numerous books, including three volumes of The Art of
Computer Programming, five volumes of Computers & Typesetting, and a
non-technical book entitled 3:16 Bible Texts Illuminated. His software
systems TEX and METAFONT are extensively used for book publishing
throughout the world.

Donald E. Knuth is a member of the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the U.S. National
Academy of Engineering. He is also a foreign associate of the French,
Norwegian, and Bavarian Science Academies and the Royal Society
of London.

Dr. Knuth received the Turing Award from the Association for Computing
Machinery in 1974; the National Medal of Science from President Carter
in 1979; the Steele Prize from the American Mathematical Society in
1986; the Adelskold Medal from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
in 1994; the Harvey Prize from the Technion of Israel in 1995; the
John von Neumann Medal from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineers in 1995; and the Kyoto Prize from the Inamori Foundation
in 1996.

Donald E. Knuth holds honorary doctorates from Oxford University, the
University of Paris, the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm,
the University of St. Petersburg, the University of Marnela-Vallee,
Masaryk University, St. Andrews University, Athens University of
Economics and Business, the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki,
the University of Tubingen, the University of Oslo, and eighteen
colleges and universities in America.

During his visit to Yerevan, Professor Knuth will receive an Honorary
Doctorate from the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic
of Armenia.

Dr. Knuth’s research papers have been instrumental in establishing
several subareas of computer science and software engineering, such
as LR(k) parsing; attribute grammars; the Knuth-Bendix algorithm for
axiomatic reasoning; empirical studies of user programs and profiles;
and analysis of algorithms. In general, his works have been directed
towards the search for a proper balance between theory and practice.

Professor Knuth will give two public lectures at the American
University of Armenia, one on June 12 on “The Joy of Technical
Illustration” and one on June 13 on “Literate Programming.” Both
lectures will be held in the Large Auditorium of the University and
will start at 5:00 PM. He will also hold meetings with students and
faculty in computer science at Yerevan State University, the State
Engineering University of Armenia and at AUA. Dr.

Knuth will be accompanied on this visit by his wife, Jill Carter Knuth.

“Dr. Knuth’s visit will help put Armenia one notch higher in the IT
map of the world,” states Armen Der Kiureghian, Taisei Professor of
Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, and Dean of
the College of Engineering, American University of Armenia (affiliate
of Univ. of Calif.)

—————————————-

The American University of Armenia Corporation (AUAC) is registered
as a non-profit organization in the United States and as the Armenian
University of Armenia Fund (AUAF) in Armenia. The American University
of Armenia (AUA) is affiliated through AUAC with the Regents of the
University of California.

Receiving major support from the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading
to the Masters Degree in eight graduate programs. For more information
about AUA, visit .

HEAD OF CBA: ACCORDING TO INDEX OF ECONOMIC FREEDOM ARMENIA IS IN THE LEAD AGAINST GEORGIA AND AZERBAIJAN AS WELL AS AGAINST OTHER CIS COUNTRIES

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
May 2 2006

YEREVAN, May 2. /ARKA/. According to the index of economic freedom
Armenia is in the lead against Georgia and Azerbaijan as well as
against other CIS countries, as the Head of CBA Tigran Sargsyan stated
during the “Caucasus 2005” international conference.

He emphasized that Armenia has taken the lead over Georgia and
Azerbaijan according to the index of structure and institutional
reforms as well.

“However due to the index of competitive capacity growth Azerbaijan is
in more favorable condition, after it comes Armenia and then Georgia”,
he added.

In his words, another specific advantage of Armenia is the quality of
energy supply. “Taking into consideration the fact that the quality of
energy system is one of the main problems of Georgia at the moment
and energy could have become one of the main points of region’s
integration into the unified geo-economic area together with ecology”,
Sargsyan stated.

He emphasized that, according to the estimates of the EBRD, among CIS
countries Armenia took first place due to conduction of structure and
institutional reforms, after improvement of three indexes, reflecting
privatization of large enterprises, antimonopoly policy and reformation
of banking system.

“Armenia still is in the lead in accordance with the index of economic
freedom”, Sargsyan went on emphasizing that among 157 countries Armenia
takes 27th place, Georgia takes 68th place and Azerbaijan – 123th.

However in his words, according to the estimates of the World
Economic Forum, Armenia yields leading positions to Azerbaijan in
the region. “Such estimate was affected by monopolization of the
telecommunication market, low level of cooperation between science
and business, absence of credit rating of the country, as well as
low level of independence of the RA justice system.

NKR PARLIAMENTARY GROUPS AND FACTIONS ISSUED A STATEMENT

ArmRadio.am
02.05.2006 15:25

The press conference featuring representatives of NKR Parliamentary
groups and factions was dedicated to the 15th anniversary of
displacement of the population of Getashen region. “Arminfo”
correspondent reported form Stepanakert that head of the “Democracy”
Party, Head of the NKR NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations
Vahram Atanesyan made a statement on behalf of Parliamentary groups and
factions regarding the tragic events of 30 April, 1991, characterizing
these as terrorist acts against the peaceful population of Getashen.

The Deputy informed that the displacement of the Armenian population
was preceded by anti-Armenian actions of the leadership of Soviet
Azerbaijan. In Vahram Atanesyan’s words, the displacement of the
Armenian population from Getashen was carried out with the permission
of Moscow. He noted that April 6, 1991 USSR Deputy Interior Minister,
Colonel-General Boris Gromov secretly arrived in Nagorno-Karabakh
and met with the Second Secretary of the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of Azerbaijan Viktor Polyanichko.

“Based on the agreement between the two on April 30 divisions of the
4th Soviet Army deployed in Kirovabad surrounded Getashen,” Vahram
Atanesyan reminded, adding that more than 4 000 citizens were displaced
by May 6, 1991. He reported also that the NKR National Assembly will
hold hearings, featuring former Getashen residents.

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, April 28, 2006

Contact: Maral Habeshian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

ANCA-WR JOINS WEST COAST COMMUNITIES TO COMMEMORATE 91ST ANNIVERSARY
OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

GLENDALE, CA – This year, Armenian American communities, student
organizations, and youth throughout the West Coast commemorated the
Armenian Genocide more actively than ever. The Armenian National
Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) brought together
elected officials and dignitaries to mark the 91st anniversary of the
genocide alongside Armenian Americans. Whether in Las Vegas, Colorado,
New Mexico, Fresno, San Francisco, Phoenix, Montebello or Los Angeles,
the message remained clear: the US government must once and for all
speak with moral clarity and officially recognize the Armenian
Genocide.

LOS ANGELES
Thousands gathered at the Armenian Martyrs Monument in Montebello on
Sunday, April 23rd to commemorate the 91st anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. Elected officials joined Armenian religious leaders to honor
the victims of the genocide and demand proper recognition and justice
for the first genocide of the 20th Century.

In her introduction, Mistress of Ceremonies State Senator Jackie
Kanchelian-Speier stressed `We demand justice because we know, as
students of history, that our world is more dangerous by virtue of
Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide.’ She urged all Armenians and
elected officials to utilize their passion and power, along with
perseverance to stop the cycle of genocide forever.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Peter Cowe, Narekatsi
Professor of Armenian Studies at UCLA, and Turkish Publisher Ragip
Zarakolu served as keynote speakers.

Speaking about US Ambassador John Evan, Mayor Villaraigosa said
`Earlier this year, we witnessed a rare display of diplomatic
courage…John Evans spoke out about these crimes by stating the
obvious – he used the word `genocide.’ And, for this, some are now
trying to end his career. They want to silence him. They want John
Evans recalled from his post.’

Among the many elected officials were Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez,
Congressman Adam Schiff, Member of the Board of Equalization John
Chiang, California State Senator Jack Scott, Assemblymembers Judy Chu,
Ron Calderon, Lynn Daucher, Jerome Horton, Carol Liu, along with a
host of other members of area City Councils.

Many who spoke pointed to the genocide in Darfur today and asked
whether the unpunished genocide of Armenians has not perpetuated the
cycle of genocide in the world.

FRESNO
Around four-hundred Fresno Armenians gathered at City Hall on April
22nd, for a joint Fresno ANCA-City Hall sponsored event that was
emceed by Councilman Tom Boyajian and featured Congressman George
Radanovich (R-CA), Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA), Assemblyman Juan
Arambula, ANCA-Fresno Chairworman Hygo Ohannessian, and Glendale City
Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian. As the keynote speaker, Kassakhian said
that it was not only an honor to speak in Fresno, the home of William
Saroyan and great heroes of the Armenian Cause such as General
Antranik and Soghomon Tehlirian, but also inspiring to see Congressmen
George Radanovich and Jim Costa as well as Assemblymember Arabuela,
and Mayor Autry on hand to promote Armenian Genocide recognition
efforts.

On Sunday, community members visited the Soghomon Tehlirian Monument
in the Massis Ararat Cemetery to honor Tehlirian and commemorate the
victims of the Armenian Genocide. ANCA-WR Board member Armen Martin
spoke of the persistent struggle in getting not only Turkey to
recognize the genocide, but also the United States that goes as far as
stifling a long-time career diplomat for his acknowledgment of the
Armenian Genocide. `As Americans we are outraged by this. As
Armenians, we are insulted by this,’ Martin said, encouraging the
crowd to be ever vigilant in demanding recognition and justice for the
Armenian Genocide.

SAN FRANCISCO
The South (San Francisco) Bay Armenian community held a somber service
on April 23rd at St. Andrew Armenian Church in Cupertino. On the
following day, April 24th, the Mt. Davidson Cross was the site for a
requiem ceremony led by clergy of Bay Area Armenian churches. On
Tuesday, the Bay Area Armenian community rallied across from San
Francisco City Hall, where a commemoration program hosted by Mayor
Gavin Newsom was later held. Keynote speakers featured Dr. Antranig
Kasparian and Dr. Richard Hovanissian. Addressing the almost 600
community member and guests in attendance, Kasparian detailed the new
dimensions of Armenian-Turkish relations, stressing that gains may be
achieved by engaging Turkish society, while maintaining pressure from
the outside. Distinguished guests included Henry Morgenthau IV, great
grand-son of Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, Consul General of Greece
Xenia Stephanidou, Deputy Consul General of Russia Yuri Bedjanian, San
Francisco County Board Supervisors S! hawn Elsbernd and Aaron Peskin.

ARIZONA
The ANCA-Arizona chapter commemoration featured ANCA-WR Board member
Thomas Azaian who addressed the crowd of over 400 at the genocide
monument in Phoenix as part of the day’s events which also featured an
Armenian Youth Federation-led march to the State Capitol. Azaian
touched on the pressure exerted on US Ambassador to Armenia John
Evans, since his proper acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide this
past autumn. Rather than punishing the Ambassador, Azaian called on
President Bush to follow Evans’ lead in properly acknowledging the
Armenian Genocide. Azaian stressed, however, that the goal of genocide
recognition is justice, not mere affirmation of a historical fact.

Emphasizing the Arizona Armenian community’s strong leadership and
active youth, he noted, `They are ready to work and can deliver. There
is a lot of potential here.’

Arizona State House Representative Ted Carpenter was among those
participating in the commemoration program. Ani Shekerjian presented
Governor Janet Napolitano’s proclamation in honor of the Armenian
Genocide.

NEW MEXICO
Glendale City Clerk and former ANCA-WR Executive Director Ardashes
Kassakhian, joined the Armenian Cultural Association (ACA) of New
Mexico for its commemoration in Albuquerque on April 23rd. The day’s
events began with the placing of a memorial plaque and tree outside
the Albuquerque Museum, followed by a memorial service at the ACA’s
community center.

In his keynote address, Kassakhian briefed the community on the
continued denial campaign waged by the Republic of Turkey and spoke of
their effectiveness in challenging this effort by reaching out to
elected officials.

Albuquerque resident A.J. Kerian presented Mayor Martin Chavez’s
proclamation on the occasion of the commemoration.

Commenting on the event, Kassakhian said the efforts of the growing
community are impressive. `A proclamation is a strong indicator of
their success; I look forward to the future accomplishments of the New
Mexico Armenian American community as they work with organizations,
like the ANCA, to raise awareness within their communities regarding
issues of concern to all of us.’

MOUNTAIN STATES AND BEYOND
The ANCA-WR also participated in commemoration events in Las Vegas,
Nevada and Denver, Colorado. Back in Los Angeles, ANCA-WR leadership
addressed the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society-organized
panel discussion regarding the Armenian Genocide and distributed
petitions at the `Izabelles Scar 2006′ benefit/awareness concert,
featuring the apex theory, Harout Pamboukjian, the Freeway People, and
special guests John Dolmayan (System Of A Down), and poet/word-smith
Knowledge, among others. ANCA-Glendale Director Alina Azizian
delivered remarks on the occasion at an event organized by Bank of
America. ANCA leadership and members also joined the Armenian Youth
Federation for its annual protest in front of the Turkish Consulate in
Beverly Hills, California.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.

Editor’s note: Photos attached.
Photo 1 caption: ANCA-WR board member Souzi Zerounian addressing the
Los Angeles City Council.
Photo 2 caption: Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti
presenting Los Angeles City Council resolution on the Armenian
Genocide.
Photo 3 caption: Armenian American community leaders and members with
Council President Eric Garcetti and Councilmember Dennis Zine.

NEW TIMES PARTY HOLDS RALLY AND MARCH OF PROTEST

Yerevan, April 28. ArmInfo. The New Times party held today a rally and
a march of protest towards the buildings of the Police and the
National Security Service. The leader of the party Aram Karapetyan
said that he and his supporters protest against the interference of
the police and the NSS in the internal political processes. These
structures should serve the state rather than small cliques. “We have
nothing against the Police and the NSS, we are against their chiefs
who serve the interests of the regime,” Karapetyan said.

The police did not interfere in the rally and just cordoned off the
target buildings. The ralliers – some 500 people – marched there and
Karapetyan asked to give the party’s written appeal to the chiefs of
the police and the NSS.