Author: Christine Harutyunian

Pan Armenian News
CENTER OF ARMENIAN CULTURE TO OPEN IN RYAZAN
25.04.2005 04:08
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A Center of Armenian Culture will be founded on the basis
of the Ryazan State Pedagogic Institute after S. Yesenin (RSPI). The
decision was made during the meeting of Adviser of the Armenian Embassy in
Russia Vladimir Gyurdzhinyan and head of the economic department of the RA
Embassy with the teaching staff and students of the RSPI. The meeting was
held within the frames of the delegation visit to the Ryazan Oblast
initiated by the Armenian community of Ryazan. As editor of Aragatu
newspaper Albert Poghosyan informed the Center was initiated by the Yerevan
State Linguistic University after V. Bryusov and the RSPI with the purpose
to restore cultural ties between the institutes of higher education of the
Ryazan Oblast and Armenia. The idea received the support of the Ministry of
Culture and Mass Communications of Russia and the government of the Republic
of Armenia. Presently the official documents are being prepared, Regions.ru
reported.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenpress
ARCHILE GORKY’S MUSEUM TO OPEN IN ETCHMIADZIN
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian government has released funds
for publication of collection of letters, sent by world famous American
Armenian painter Arshile Gorky to his sister. The 50 letters will be
published in English and Armenian in 1000 copies.
Also before the end of the year a museum displaying some of his pictures
will open in Etchmiadzin, a town 20 km off Yerevan, where the headquarters
of the Armenian Apostolic Church are. Some 55 pictures are supposed to be on
display, which his sister donated to the Church and which are kept now in
Gulbenkian Center in Lisbon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Messenger, Georgia
April 12 2005
One more year: Enguri dam repairs must wait
Government delays overhaul because import line from Russia remains
disabled; other breakdowns cause outages on Monday
By Christina Tashkevich
Gardabani power plant close to Tbilisi
Unnerved by the loss of the Kavkasioni import line from Russia, the
Georgian Ministry of Energy has decided to postpone major repairs to
the Enguri hydroelectric station by a year.
Enguri, the country’s largest hydroelectric station, currently has
two working units, which can produce 200 megawatts of electricity
each. A full overhaul of the stations remaining three units, which
can only take place in the spring, could increase its output
potential to 1,000 megawatts but the government has delayed the
overhaul because another major electricity source, the Kazkasioni
line, has been knocked out by landslides.
Despite this, the Ministry of Energy says parts of the Enguri station
will still be rehabilitated this year. The station will be turned off
in May for 20-30 days for the repair works. The major overhaul, now
set for spring 2006, is slated to take twice as long.
As a result of the upcoming repairs, “the energy system will be
guaranteed against frequent accidents on the Enguri units,” Deputy
Minister of Energy Aleksander Khetaguri said on Monday.
The ministry stated on Monday that there will be no electricity
crisis created by the repairs at Enguri because in May the water
levels at other hydroelectric dams are expected to be high.
Originally, the station was scheduled to stop production in April for
major repairs but because of the accident on the Kavkasioni high
voltage transmission line, the repairs were postponed.
General Director of the Georgian State Electric System Joe Corbett
said on Monday, however, that the repair work at Enguri in May will
still make a positive contributions to the system. “It is good from
the generation point of view that the gate on unit one will be
repaired,” he told The Messenger.
Because of high snowfall and rugged terrain, officials have still
been unable to access the damaged section of the line, which
transmits 500 kilovolts from Russia.
Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli recently said that restoring
Kavkasioni to permit renewed imports from Russia is of “vital
importance” before rehabilitating Enguri.
“It’s very important to us to resume imports from Russia at the level
we need while Enguri is being rehabilitated,” he said at the
beginning of April, adding that the rehabilitation of Enguri would
help prevent similar crises in the future.
With the Kavkasioni line still inoperable, Georgia’s only other major
outside source of electricity is from Armenia through another
transmission line.
“We need both Enguri and Kavkasioni back by July 1,” says Corbett,
adding that he is optimistic the repairs on both will be completed by
then.
Proving the need for other sources of light, two major domestic
production facilities went offline late Sunday leaving most of
Tbilisi, and the country, without electricity for most of Monday. On
Sunday night the third and ninth power units in Gardabani were
switched off because of unspecified emergencies. As a result the
power grid had to compensate with energy supplies from Enguri.
“The defect [in the ninth bloc] will be eliminated by April 14,” the
Telasi press office announced on Monday. According to the
government’s official energy plan, Georgia should receive 24-hour
electricity from October 2006.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN BY NATIONALITY ELECTED GLENDALE (CALIFORNIA) MAYOR
Arminfo
YEREVAN, APRIL 7. ARMINFO. An Armenian was elected Mayor of Glendale
(California State) during Apri l5 elections.
The press-service of the Supreme Body of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation Dashnaktsutyun party informs ARMINFO that Artashes Kasakhyan
won the elections receiving 5,714 votes (27.3%). He was supported by
Hay Dat organization in Glendale.
As regards the elections to the Glendale City Council, 4 candidates
were elected there, Ara Nacharyan 8,362 (10.4%), Pap Eusefyan – 7,230
(9%), Franck Queentero 7,119 (8.8%) Dave Weaver 6,574 (8.2%). Glendale
Treasurer was elected Ronald Boruki. Members of the Budgetary
Department of Glendale were elected Victor Bing, Armine Hakobyan
and Anita Queentes Gabrielyan. Members of the Educational Council
of Glendale were reelected Greg Grigoryan, Zak Sambar and Julienne
Weakner. Thus, 9 of 12 candidates of supported by Hat Dat won the
elections, the source reports.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GOVERNMENT APPROVES RUSULTS OF TENDER FOR ALAVERDI-2 SUBSTATION RECONSTRUCTION CREDIT PROGRAM
YEREVAN, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN. At the April 7 sitting, the RA
government approved the results of the international tender for the
credit program “Regional Electricity Exchange. Reconstruction of
Alaverdi-2 Substation”. According to the RA Government Information
and PR Department, the company AREVA Energietechnik GmbH (Germany)
was announced the tender winner with a contract sum of 7 mln 350
thousand euros.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKEY EXPECTS US TO HELP AFTER USING INCERJLIK BASE
Qatar News Agency
March 25, 2005 Friday 2:01 PM EST
Doha, March 25
TURKEY EXPECTS US TO HELP AFTER USING INCERJLIK BASE ANKARA, MARCH 25
(QNA) – THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT OF RECEP TAYYEP ERDOGAN IS REPORTEDLY
CONTEMPLATING THE IDEA OF GIVING ITS CONSENT TO A US REQUEST ASKING
FOR A BROADER USE OF THE INCERJLIK AIR BASE IN SOUTH TURKEY IN
EXCHANGE FOR WASHINGTON S HELP IN THE CONTROVERSIAL HISTORICAL
ALLEGATIONS ABOUT A SO-CALLED TURKISH MASSACRES COMMITTED AGAINST
ARMENIANS, TURKISH PRESS REPORTS SAID.
THE ISTANBUL-BASED HURRIYET NEWSPAPER QUOTED FOREIGN MINISTRY SOURCES
AS SAYING THAT THE FINAL GOVERNMENT DECISION IN THIS RESPECT WOULD BE
MADE BY THE 24TH OF NEXT APRIL, HINTING THAT TURKISH AUTHORITIES
WOULD MOST PROBABLY GRANT WASHINGTON AN UNRESTRICTED RIGHT TO USE
THIS MILITARY BASE, WHICH IS STRATEGICALLY SIGNIFICANT FOR THE US
ARMY TO AIRLIFT LOGISTIC SUPPLIES TO AND FROM AFGHANISTAN.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EXCHANGE OF FIRE. LOSES FROM BOTH SIDES IN SEISULAN
Azg/arm
12 March 05
The Press Service of NKR Defense Ministry informed that on March 9
the Azeri detachments, applying artillery, tried to move closer to NKR
Defense Army’s borders. As a result of skirmish, both sides suffered
losses. Azeri Defense Ministry confirmed that they had wounded.
The press Service of NKR Defense Ministry reminded that notwithstanding
the numerous appeals of Karabakh addressed to Azerbaijan, Baku
doesnâ’t stop its provocative steps that may cause serious
complications in the situation in both the contact line and in
the region.
It’s worth reminding that on March 7 a diversion group of Azeri scouts
tried to penetrate to the rear of NKR Defense Army. As a result of
the skirmish, the enemy retreated. The Karabakh side didn’t have
casualties in the March 7 incident.
Seisulan, as well as some other villages of Martakert region are
occupied by the Azeri armed forces since 1992.
–Boundary_(ID_CAtmQ+vu8g11YKIvZRrZPA)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR NOT RECOGNIZING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
YEREVAN, MARCH 2. ARMINFO. It is shameful that the U.S. has not
publicly recognized the Armenian Genocide, says Hellenic News of
America.
The world community and the academic community overwhelmingly
recognize the Armenian Genocide. The Library of Congress held a major
conference on the Armenian Genocide several years ago. Yet the State
Department continues its opposition to recognition. The U.S. should
also publicly call for the removal of Turkey-s illegal economic
blockage of Armenia which also prevents U.S. humanitarian aid to
Armenia.
The U.S. media has failed to cover adequately the situation in Turkey
for decades. They have taken handouts and statements from
U.S. officials without serious questioning or investigation. Speeches
and interviews by Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz and
former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman
for years have contained blatant falsehoods, misleading statements and
serious omissions of fact regarding:
To remind, during his recent meeting with US Armenians US Ambassador
to Armenia John Evans characterized the 1915 events in Ottoman Empire
by the term “genocide” saying that it was his personal opinion. But
the US official policy on the issue has not changed as the US has
traditional ties with Turkey in the framework of NATO.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

San Francisco Chronicle, CA
March 1 2005
VOSGOUNY, Dikran
Tuesday, March 1, 2005
VOSGOUNY, Dikran – Passed away February 26, 2005. He is survived by
his loving wife, Ishkhanouhi Karamardian; his two daughters, Suzy
Alexander, her husband, Kent and their daughters, Taleen and Tamara;
and Houry Viola, her husband, Richard and their daughter, Nicole
Hoag; and many loving family members and friends. He was born in
Damascus, Syria on May 29, 1925. He was a world renowned Armenian
journalist, editor and author (“Burning Cedars”) for 60 years. In his
later years, he embraced the internet as his media for publishing
articles on Armenian life and other topics of political and cultural
interest on his very popular web site “vosgouny.com.” He passionately
maintained the web site and gained world-wide acclaim from his ever
growing devoted Armenian readers. In 2003, His Holiness Karekin II,
Catholicos of All Armenians granted him the St. Mesrob Mashdots Medal
of Honor for his intellectual endeavors in Armenian life. He was a
loving husband, father and grandfather. He left a legacy of search
for the truth and unyielding belief in a greater future. Visitation
Services will be held Tuesday, March 1, 2005, 7:30 pm, Ashley &
McMullen Funeral Home, 4200 Geary Blvd, SF. Memorial services will be
held Wednesday, March 2, 2005, 12:30 pm, St. Gregory Armenian
Apostolic Church, 51 Commonwealth Ave, SF, followed by Burial
services, Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Colma. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to KZV Armenian School, 825 Brotherhood Way,
SF, 94132.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA QUALIFIED EVENTS IN OTTOMAN TURKEY AS
GENOCIDE OF ARMENIANS
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25. ARMINFO. Friday, at California’s Berkeley
University – U.S. Ambassador John Evans, on a tour of
Armenian-American communities throughout the United States, spoke
plainly about the importance of Armenian Genocide recognition.
Armenian National Committee San Francisco informs: “I will today call
it the Armenian Genocide,” said Evans, who has studied Russian History
at Yale and Columbia universities and Ottoman History at the Kennan
Institute.
During a public gathering hosted by UC Berkeley’s Armenian Studies
Program Executive Director, Prof. Stephan Astourian, Ambassador Evans
told community members he had studied the Genocide, having read
Prof. Richard Hovannissian’s work on the Armenian Genocide, the
compilation of US newspaper accounts of the Genocide, a book about the
Germany’s involvement in the Genocide, and the recent Nobel Prize
winning book “A Problem from Hell”, about the US response to 20th
century genocides.
“I informed myself in depth about it,” said Evans, “I think we, the US
government, owe you, our fellow citizens a more frank and honest way
of discussing this problem. Today, as someone who’s studied
it… There’s no doubt in my mind what happened.”
Evans said he had also consulted with a State Department lawyer who
confirmed that the events of 1915 were “genocide by definition.”
Various past and present US administrations and officials have avoided
using the word “genocide” for the Armenian case, using various
descriptive phrases and euphemisms, instead. Noting that “No American
official has ever denied it,” Evans nevertheless said, “I think it is
unbecoming of us as Americans to play word games here. I believe in
calling things by their name,” but he pointed out that the official
policy of the US has not changed.” In the case of Turkey, there are
old NATO ties, particularly in the military sphere.”
Evans also emphasized that he believed that the International
Convention on Genocide, an agreement approved by the United Nations in
1948 condemning and indicating punishment for the crime genocide,
applies only to events occurring after 1948. “We do not dispute the
facts, but these treaties are meant to apply to future events,” said
Evans.
“The Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the 20th century,”
said Evans, remarking that since it was the first occurrence, the
world wasn’t equipped to respond appropriately. “We made many mistakes
after WWI. They sowed the seeds of WWII.” He said he’s proud that
Colin Powell courageously called the recent massacres in Darfur, Sudan
genocide.
“I pledge to you, we are going to do a better job at addressing this
issue,” said Evans.
Regarding the U.S. relationship with Turkey, Evans said, “We’re having
a very hard time with Turkey,” and “What we all want to see is
evolution in Turkish society. Let’s hope we’ll all see the day when
there will be a change of heart in those areas where there needs to
be.”
The Ambassador’s comments about the Armenian Genocide were greeted
with sustained applause from the audience. “We welcome the
Ambassador’s honest approach to Armenian history, “said Roxanne
Makasdjian, of the Bay Area ANC. “Although we believe that there are
many international laws and agreements, including the Genocide
Convention, which are clearly applicable to the Armenian Genocide, we
are impressed and gratified by Ambassador Evans’ straight-forward
discussion of the historical facts.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress