Author: Chmshkian Vicken

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/> .

INAUGURATION OF KHACHKAR IN NORWAY

ArmRadio.am
19.04.2007 11:01

On April 21, 2007 a katchkar monument will be placed in Bergen, Norway
dedicated to Fridtjof Nansen and the victims of the 1915Armenian
Genocide perpetrated by Turks, independent correspondent Jean Eckian
informs from France.

In its book "Armenia and the Near East" (1923), Nansen once wrote
"The massacres that started in 1915 have nothing to compare with
the history of mankind. The massacres by Abdul Hamid are minor in
comparison to what today’s Turks have done."

The initiative comes from The Armenian Society of Kaunas District in
Lithuania. When Vahan Arzumanian the head of this Society presented the
project in the annual meeting of the Assembly of Armenians of Europe
(AAE), all the participants decided to collaborate with the organizers.

Bergen is the kingdom’s second largest city, with over 225 000
inhabitants and situated on the west coast of Norway.

ARMENIA AND IRAN CONSIDER THEIR RELATIONS AS STRATEGIC

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 19 2007

YEREVAN, April 19. /ARKA/. Armenia and Iran consider their relations
as strategic, said President of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting
(IRIB) Ezzatollah Zarghami during the conference in Yerevan.

He said that the approaches and prospects of both countries’ presidents
are identical and estimated as strategic.

"Armenian-Iranian relations have good prospects, and the efforts of the
high-ranking officials are directed to the deepening and development
of bilateral relations," Zarghami said.

He pointed out that in the economic sphere serious cooperation
programs are implemented, and some of these projects are on the
implementation stage.

He said that within his visit to Armenia he discussed with the
country’s officials the level of cooperation and prospects of
interaction in the media sphere.

Zarghami said that Iran has about 100 TV and Radio stations, many
of which are satellite broadcast. He pointed out that in this way
they can develop and deepen relations with neighboring countries,
especially with Armenia.

"New cooperation program will allow to prepare documentaries about
each country’s possibilities, particularly, in the sphere of economy,
as well as to create programs and films about historical-cultural
traditions and heritage of Armenia and Iran. It is the best way
to demonstrate one’s originality and unite the societies of both
countries," Zarghami said.

He visited Armenia on April 16 by the invitation of Alexan
Haroutiunian, Board Chairman of Armenia’s Public TV Channel, with
the aim of discussing the issues connected with the deepening of
Armenian-Iranian cooperation in TV sphere.

RUSSIA’S VIMPELCOM GETS FULL CONTROL OF ARMENTEL

Prime-Tass Business News Agency, Russia
April 19, 2007 Thursday 11:53 AM EET

MOSCOW, April 19 (Prime-Tass) – Russian mobile company VimpelCom
has gained full control of Armenian telecom operator ArmenTel
after acquiring a 10% stake in the operator from the government of
Armenia for 38.6 million euros, VimpelCom said in a press release
late Wednesday.

Russia’s second biggest mobile company has also agreed to pay an
additional amount equal to 10% of ArmenTel’s retained net profit for
the period between November 2006 and April.

In November 2006, VimpelCom bought 90% in the operator from
Greece-based Hellenic Telecommunications Organization for 341.9
million euros, and assumed ArmenTel’s debt of about 40 million euros.

ArmenTel is a fixed-line and mobile operator in Armenia with licenses
in the GSM 900 and CDMA standards. ArmenTel’s subscriber base
includes approximately 608,500 fixed-line subscribers and 452,000
mobile subscribers.

RA PRESIDENT SIGNS DECREE ON SPRING CALL-UP

Noyan Tapan
Apr 18 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Robert Kocharian signed
a decree on holding 2007 spring call-up and demobilization. Noyan
Tapan was informed about it from RA President’s Press Office.

According to the decree, RA male citizens will be called up for
compulsory military and alternative service in 2007 April-June, who
turn 18 before the day of call-up, as well as who lost the right of
deferment from compulsory military call-up received before.

Servicemen who have done compulsory military service in the established
term will be demobilized in 2007 April-June.

AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS TO MEET IN BELGRADE

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 17 2007

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov is to visit Serbia’s
capital Belgrade tomorrow, Ministry’s press secretary Khazar Ibrahim
told APA Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers will hold next
round of negotiations for the settlement of the Karabakh conflict
tomorrow.

The meeting with participation of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will
cover the core principles of the conflict regulation.

This is to be the second meeting of the Foreign Ministers within
the Prague process in 2007. The first meeting was held in Geneva on
March 14. Elmar Mammadyarov will attend the conference of the Black
Sea Economic Cooperation Organization Foreign Ministers scheduled
for April 19 in Belgrade.