Author: Dabaghian Diana

ARMENIA’S MINISTER OF DIASPORA ATTENDS SEMINARS HELD IN ISRAEL FOR STATES WITH LARGE DIASPORAS

NOYAN TAPAN
MAY 7,2010
TEL AVIV

TEL AVIV, MAY 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The delegation of
Armenia’s Ministry of Diaspora led by Minister of Diaspora Ms. Hranush
Hakobian participated in the seminars held in Israel for 4 states with
large diasporas. The seminars were organized by the United Nations,
as well as the U.S. and Israeli governments.

During her visit to Israel, Ms. Hakobian had many official meetings,
including the meeting with members of the Armenian community in
Jerusalem in the evening of May 4. The minister spoke about the
work done and the further activities and responded to the community
executives’ questions related mainly to issues of dual citizenship
and repatriation.

She emphasized the fact that the state of Israel was established
mostly thanks to repatriates, and since the further programs of
Armenian Ministry of Diaspora are aimed at encouraging repatriation,
it is important to examine Israel’s programs which helped so many
people return to their homeland.

Minister Hakobian also met with Israel’s Immigrant Absorption Minister
Sofa Landver and Minister of Information and Diaspora Yuli Edelstein.

Armenian-Israeli relations, the role of the Armenian community in
the life of that country, other issues were discussed at the meetings.

AMERICAN ARMENIANS TO ATTEND SERVICE IN SURB KHACH ON AKHTAMAR ISLAND

news.am
May 7 2010
armenia

American Armenians intend to attend service in Surb Khach on Akhtamar
Island (Turkey) to be held on September 12.

Turkish Consul General in LA Hakan Tekin informed that many Armenian
showed willingness to participate in the opening ceremony of the
church and a divine liturgy. They even booked the tickets to Turkey.

Turkish Ministry of Culture permitted churching in Surb Khach only
once a year. And on September 12 the first service will be held. Van
Governor assured Spiritual leader of Constantinople diocese Archbishop
Aram Ateshyan, who arrived in Van last month to familiarize himself
with preparatory works, that Armenians will receive warm welcome.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Karine Abalyan
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

May 7, 2010
___________________

Assembly Showcases an Eastern Diocese committed to local parishes, while
global in outreach

The 108th Diocesan Assembly, hosted in Chicago by the St. James Church of
Evanston, Ill., from April 29 to May 1, continued the Diocese’s focus on
vocations and the need to increase the ranks of Armenian priests in America.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), presided over the meeting of 147 clergy and lay
delegates, representing parishes from across the Diocese.

The Assembly opened on Thursday, April 29, with a reading of the message of
His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians.

"You have provided special attention to the fruitful and noble purpose of
enhancing the call for spiritual and dedicated service in the hearts of
young Armenians," the Catholicos wrote. "We send you all our pontifical
appreciation for your praiseworthy work that reflects your love of God, your
dedication to our nation, and you filial love towards our homeland."

Delegates then heard reports from the Diocesan organizations, including the
Fund for Armenian Relief, the Armenian Church Endowment Fund, the Ararat
Center, the Legate’s Committee, St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, and the
Diocesan Council.

* Multi-faceted mission

Garnik Nanagoulian, executive director of the Fund for Armenian Relief,
spoke about the organization’s accomplishments since its founding 20 years
ago, paying particular attention to FAR’s transition from serving the
immediate needs of the Armenian people in the aftermath of the 1988
earthquake to establishing long-term development programs.

In the past two decades, FAR has allocated $280 million in humanitarian
assistance and developed more than 220 programs in Armenia, including
initiatives to bolster education, infrastructure, and medicine.

Bruce Ballard, treasurer of the Armenian Church Endowment Fund, spoke about
ACEF’s response to the challenges of the financial difficulties of the past
year. At the end of 2009, ACEF had assets of $71.6 million, with 1,270
endowed funds, he said.

ACEF strives to maintain consistent distribution to its beneficiaries, even
during challenging years; beneficiaries received a total of $3.7 million
form the fund in March 2009, and $3.5 million in March 2010.

Mr. Ballard also stressed that ACEF represents a diverse class of
investments to ensure income, appreciation and safety, and said that since
1999, ACEF’s average annualized returns have outperformed the market as well
as the organization’s own benchmark. A question session followed Mr.
Ballard’s presentation, giving delegates the opportunity to learn more about
ACEF’s future plans.

Thomas Ashbahian, chair of the Ararat Center board of directors, spoke about
volunteer efforts which have helped improve facilities at the 65-acre
camping, retreat, and conference center.

He said that some 155 volunteers have helped save more than $250,000 in
recent years, but added that "there is always work to do" and reminded
delegates that building up the center is "a Diocesan-wide effort." Mr.
Ashbahian also encouraged parishes and other Diocesan organizations to make
use of the Ararat Center.

Diocesan Legate Archbishop Vicken Aykazian and Legate’s Committee member
Lisa Esayian spoke about efforts to raise awareness about the Armenian
Church among ecumenical groups and to advocate for the Armenian community at
various levels of government.

Last December, Archbishop Aykazian completed his term as president of the
National Council of Churches, though he continues to be closely involved
with the NCC, and plans to work with the Diocese’s parishes to help them
build ties with local ecumenical organizations.

Other focus area include the Legate’s commitment to supporting the Armenian
Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Armenian community in the Holy Land, as
well as reaching out to Armenian refugees from Iraq and seeking action on
the Armenian situation in Georgia.

Michael Haratunian, a member of the St. Nersess Armenian Seminary board of
directors, highlighted the seminary’s achievements since its founding in
1961 by then-Primate Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan. In the past five decades,
the seminary has graduated 39 clergy and welcomed more than 3,000 young
people to take part in its summer conferences. This May, four students will
graduate from the seminary, and prepare to serve as priests in the Eastern
Diocese.

The past year has seen a reduction of costs, as well as the reorganization
and strengthening of the board of directors, Mr. Haratunian said. He
explained that the existing facility needs major renovations, and said that
the board of directors is considering the possibility of selling the current
property in New Rochelle, N.Y., and either sharing facilities with another
seminary, or building a new center on the property of a nearby Diocesan
parish.

Richard Norsigian, chair of the committee appointed to study the "Guidelines
for Diocesan Bylaws of the Armenian Church"-a constitutional framework for
all Armenian Church dioceses, worked out during meetings of diocesan
representatives at Holy Etchmiadzin-presented the committee’s report to
delegates.

The committee was appointed by the Diocesan Council and Primate two years
ago at the request of the Diocesan Assembly. In addition to Richard
Norsigian, committee members include the Very Rev. Fr. Krirkor Maksoudian,
the Rev. Fr. Mampre Kouzouian, the Rev. Fr. Garabed Kochakian, and James
Kalustian.

Delegates received the committee’s report and accepted its recommendation to
appoint two attorneys to the committee and to empower the committee to
compare the guidelines to the bylaws of the Eastern Diocese, and to present
the review to the Diocesan Assembly at a later date.

* Diocesan programs

Oscar Tatosian, chair of the Diocesan Council, opened the council’s
presentation with a video reviewing the programs and activities organized of
the past year. He said that the Diocese has largely focused on initiatives
for young people and that the council has launched a process to reduce
operating expenses while maintaining existing programs.

Rachel Goshgarian, director of the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information
Center at the Diocese, spoke about the Zohrab Center’s progress of
cataloguing its collection, and highlighted the center’s internship program
and lecture series. She also presented the goals of the Diocese’s
Communications Department, including plans to reduce publication costs.
Christopher Zakian, director of the Communications Department, introduced
the Diocese’s new website, scheduled to launch in early summer.

Dr. Goshgarian and the Very Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Najarian, co-directors of the
Diocese’s Department of Youth and Education, outlined the programs underway
in the fields of Armenian Studies, Christian Education, and Youth Outreach.

Dn. Rubik Malian, chair of the Sacred Music Council, spoke about the growth
of the training program for young people, which has been renamed the
Boyajian Choir Leadership Development Program in honor of the organization’s
late chair Socrates Boyajian. He summarized the Music Council’s regional
workshops held last year and its plans for the inaugural National Choir
Workshop, scheduled for August 20-22 at the Ararat Center.

Leslie Movsessian, chair of the Women’s Guild Central Council, discussed
activities the organization has planned for the coming year, including a
symposium in the fall, a Holy Land pilgrimage, regional retreats, and a
possible program to support a seminarian studying at St. Nersess Seminary.

The Women’s Guild Central Council has also worked to implement
recommendations of a committee of clergy and non-Women’s Guild members, and
to reorganize positions within the council to provide better support for
local chapters. There are currently 35 churches with Women’s Guild chapters
and close to 1,800 members across the Diocese.

Prior to the official start of the Assembly on Thursday afternoon, parish
council chairs and representatives from more than 30 Diocesan churches held
their annual business meeting. Under the leadership of Diocesan Council
member Paul Mardoian, the two-hour meeting proved to be a dynamic forum
where parish leaders exchanged ideas, concerns, and "best practices" for
operating their respective churches.

Attendees also received information on several Diocesan
initiatives-principally involving the Vocations-related programs which will
be enacted throughout the Diocese during the coming year. Additional topics
covered in the meeting included discussions on attracting new members to the
parishes, ideas and resources to enrich local stewardship efforts, and
clarification on how parishes should approach taxation and employment
matters.

* Austere discipline

At the Second General session on Friday, April 30, delegates heard from
James Kalustian, treasurer of the Diocesan Council, about the Diocese’s
financials, and approved revisions to the 2010 budget and a new 2011 budget.

Mr. Kalustian emphasized that the Diocese would need to implement "austere
discipline" in the coming years. In 2009, he said, the Diocese faced a
deficit of $376,000, and saw a decline in overall donations.

He said that the revised 2010 budget and the new 2011 budget were designed
to cut expenses and to reduce Diocesan borrowing by $871,000, and to
eliminate all borrowing within the next five years. He added that the
Diocesan Council expects the Diocese’s financial situation to grow stronger
as the economy stabilizes.

Diocesan Council member Sandra Shahinian Leitner spoke about the Diocese’s
development goals, and encouraged clergy and delegates to contribute to the
Archbishop’s Appeal. She summarized the results of the Matching and
Challenge Initiatives the Diocese held last year, highlighting that
participation rates rose during 2009.

Dr. Sam Mikaelian, coordinator of development at the Diocese, announced that
through the end of May 2010, an anonymous donor has agreed to double
donations made by Diocesan leadership, encouraging clergy and lay delegates
to consider participating in the challenge.

* Promoting new leaders

At the Third General Session on Saturday, May 1, Dr. Garo Garibian, chair of
the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem Committee, presented a photo
slideshow of sites and services in the Holy Land. Delegates passed a
proposal to start raising money to expand clergy quarters for members of the
Brotherhood of Jerusalem. To date, the committee has collected $20,250 of
the $300,000 needed for the project. The Rev. Fr. Arnak Kasparian and two
delegates each pledged $10,000 for the undertaking.

ACYOA Central Council chair Alex Derderian spoke about goals to strengthen
programming and to enhance the organization’s communications efforts. He
highlighted the success of this year’s Young Adult Leadership Conference,
and delegates viewed a video where young people reflected on leadership
roles they have assumed in their parishes.

Dr. Marvin Zonis, a professor at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of
Business who addressed the Leadership Conference participants this spring,
told delegates that he is impressed by the motivation of Armenian youth and
their commitment to the church. He also invited delegates to assign young
people to leadership positions so that they can further build on their
skills. "These young people cannot become the leaders of the future unless
everyone in this room gives them the opportunity to do that now," he said.

The Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian, director of the Mission Parish program at the
Diocese, gave an overview of activities in the mission parishes, including
the leadership seminar held for Parish Council members last October, the
establishment of new ACYOA chapters, and a growing interest in summer camp
programs and other opportunities for young people. He also described the
virtual Sunday School program the mission parish of Nashville, Tenn., has
launched to allow Sunday School teachers and students to "meet" and conduct
online classes in the absence of permanent classrooms.

Sandra Shahinian Leitner gave an update on the Diocese’s collection of
Arshile Gorky’s artwork, highlight the recent loan of several pieces for the
Gorky retrospective exhibition which was on view in Philadelphia last year,
and is now traveling to other museums in the U.S. and abroad. Delegates also
voted to bind all future lenders to note that the artist was an Armenian
Genocide survivor alongside the exhibition of his works.

Other proposals adopted include a policy to regularly schedule bone marrow
drives at the parish level, and a request that the Diocesan Council report
to delegates about the makeup and the organization of the Supreme Spiritual
Council.

Before adjourning, delegates thanked Dn. Levon Kirakosyan, deacon-in-charge
of St. James Church of Evanston, and the host parish’s Assembly Committee,
which was chaired by Dr. Larry Farsakian. Delegates also expressed their
gratitude to Assembly chair Antranig Garibian, vice chair Dennis Papazian,
secretary Terry Peterson, and assistant secretary, the Rev. Fr. Hratch
Sargsyan.

The next Diocesan Assembly will be hosted by Holy Trinity Armenian Church of
Greater Boston.

–5/6/10

* * *

SEE SIDEBAR STORY BELOW

2010 DIOCESAN ASSEMBLY ELECTION RESULTS

Below are the names of individuals elected to Diocesan boards and positions
during the 108th Diocesan Assembly.

Diocesan Board of Trustees

Edward Korkoian (10-year term)

Zaven Dadekian (5-year completion of term)

Auditing Committee

Russell Kaishian, Ph.D.

Nominating Committee

Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian (chair pro tem)

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan (alternate)

Shakeh Derderian

Jacqueline Melkonian El Chemmas

Mona Karoghlanian

Nathalie Yaghoobian

Proposals Committee

Rev. Fr. Hovnan Demerjian

Howard Atesian

Lynn Beylerian

Edward Brewster

Lisa Kouzoujian (chair pro tem)

Dn. Serop Demirjian (alternate)

* * *

PHOTO CAPTIONS

Asmbly General1

Delegates from throughout the Eastern Diocese converged on Chicago for the
108th annual Diocesan Assembly.

Asmbly General2

Antranig Garibian of Philadelphia chaired the Diocesan Assembly.

Asmbly General3

The Diocesan Assembly was the occasion for the yearly meeting of parish
council chairmen. This year some 30 local parishes were represented at the
meeting.

Asmbly General4

Diocesan Council member Paul Mardoian among the delegates at the 2010
Diocesan Assembly.

# # #

ORANGE ANNOUNCES LAUNCH IN TUNISIA

Panorama.am
15:52 06/05/2010

Economy

Exactly six months after the launch in Armenia, on May 6th, Orange
and Investec, a Tunisian subsidiary of the Mabrouk group announced the
launch of Orange Tunisia. Orange Tunisia will offer customers mobile,
fixed and internet services, according to Orange Armenia press office.

This partnership represents an important step forward for France
Telecom-Orange and its development in the Mediterranean and North
Africa. Despite the high penetration rate in the country (90%), there
is strong demand for the wide-ranging, innovative services that have
forged the reputation of the Orange brand across the world.

Orange Tunisia has built the country’s first 3G network. This network
already covers the majority of Tunisia’s major cities. Overall coverage
will be doubled by the end of the year.

Orange is now present in 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East.

With this launch, Tunisian customers will join a worldwide community of
130 million people who already enjoy the benefits of the Orange brand.

ARMAN MELIKYAN: BAKU WILL NOT START WAR WITHOUT SUPERPOWERS’ SUPPORT

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 6, 2010 – 17:27 AMT 12:27 GMT

Azerbaijan will not start a war against Karabakh without superpowers’
support, according to former NKR Foreign Minister Arman Melikyan.

As Arman Melikyan told a joint news conference with LPA chairman
Hovhannes Hovhannesyan , "Today, negotiation process is being conducted
in accordance with Baku’s wishes, so Azerbaijan will not withdraw from
the process. Still, Azerbaijan seeks to speed up negotiations. Soon our
authorities will see the necessity to change current format of talks."

Melikyan characterized Baku’s statements on withdrawal of Armenian
forces from Lachin and Kelbajar as a mere wish on behalf of Azerbaijan
and Turkey.

"Yet, Karabakh territories can become an object of bargain between
Russia and Azerbaijan. However, neither Azerbaijan nor Turkey became
reliable partners to Russia, thus giving us a chance to maneuver,"
ex-FM stated. According to Arman Melikyan’s forecast, active
negotiations will be continued for another 3-5 years.

Hovhannes Hovhannesyan, in turn, expressed doubts over the possibility
for Turkey to become OSCE MG Co-Chair. "Given US efforts to alter
the status quo, Karabakh issue might soon be resolved," LPA chairman
concluded.

Armenian National Committee-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Tel: (818) 500-1918

PRESS RELEASE
April 30, 2010
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

LOS ANGELES AREA ANC ACTIVISTS GIVE BACK TO COMMEMORATE GENOCIDE

LOS ANGELES, CA—On Friday, April 23rd, while Armenian National Committee
(ANC) activists joined the Los Angeles City Council as it commemorated the
Armenian Genocide in chambers, just a couple of miles away in downtown Los
Angeles, ANC activists from local ANCs across the city were volunteering at
the Union Rescue Mission to commemorate the genocide in their own way by
giving back to the community.

"At the time of the Armenian Genocide, the United States launched a great
humanitarian relief effort to help save the victims. America, particularly
California and Los Angeles, became a refuge for those who barely escaped
with their lives," said Tereza Yerimyan who organized the effort as an
intern with the Armenian National Committee-Western Region.

Volunteers, like the Chalian family from the San Fernando Valley and ANC
Hollywood Chairman Rostom Sarkissian and activist Jennifer McGraw joined
Tereza as well as ANC-WR Community Relations Director Haig Hovsepian to help
the Union Rescue Mission feed those less fortunate for the day. The Union
Rescue Mission, which serves the Los Angeles community, tends to the needs
of over a 1000 individuals every day.

"Americans from throughout the country helped genocide survivors in their
time of need. As descendents of those survivors, we wanted to give back to
those today who are in their time of greatest need," said Sarkissian. "We
honored and remembered those we lost and those who helped us as a way to
shine a spotlight on the Armenian Genocide, its continued denial and the
current cycle of genocide which still exists to this day. I encourage
everyone to confront this crime against humanity by showing our humanity to
those who need a helping hand."

The Armenian National Committee-Western Region is the largest Armenian
American grassroots community organization in the Western United States.
Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters
throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the
country, the ANC-WR works to promote understanding regarding issues of
concern to the Armenian American community.

NOVRUZ MAMMADOV NOTORIOUS FOR ABSURD STATEMENTS

news.am
May 5 2010
Armenia

Head of the Azerbaijani presidential staff Novruz Mammadov is
notorious for absurd statements. He is a political figure that
has exhausted his potential and is trying to remind the public of
himself in any way possible, Hovhannes Sahakyan, a Parliament member
of the Prosperous Party of Armenia (PAP), told NEWS.am, commenting on
Mammadov’s statement that Armenia allegedly asked for time to vacate
Lachin and Kelbajar.

He pointed out that the information on the withdrawal of Armenian
troops from the regions is false. Sahakyan added that Nagorno-Karabakh
will never be part of Azerbaijan. "Moreover, Azerbaijan must leave
the territories it occupied, including Shahumyan, for several hundreds
of Armenian refugees to settle down there. It is not until that time
that any concessions on Armenia’s part can be discussed," he said.

NEWS.am reminds readers that Novruz Mammadov stated that Armenia
allegedly asked for time to vacate Lachin and Kelbajar and the process
had allegedly been worked out by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Why Genocide is an issue in the British elections

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 May 2010]

This general election sees unprecedented levels of engagement of British
political parties with issues that are important to the Tamil Diaspora. With
three active party-affiliated campaigning groups within the Diaspora –
Tamils for Labour, British Tamil Conservatives and the Tamils for Liberals
and the reciprocal active engagement of candidates from a cross section of
parties in issues specific to the Tamils, the British Tamil Diaspora is no
longer expected to vote primarily for a single party that was ‘sympathetic’
to their issues. Voters will ultimately need to choose based on the
relationships they have built and what they feel their candidates have
achieved for them. However, in policy terms the priorities of the Diaspora
are clear: Tamils need to see a fundamental shift in the way the conflict
has been viewed.

This shift is best expressed as recognition of a long running genocide and
accepting the Tamil struggle as a national question and dealing with it
accordingly.

The present British government’s failure to prevent the deaths of tens of
thousands of Tamil civilians in the Vanni this time last year has not helped
it’s cause.

For the first time, position statement of the candidates have been collated
in the Tamil media.

There is a clear consensus among candidates and parties that the Sri Lankan
state is abusing the human rights of its citizens, that it is repressive
towards the Tamil ethnicity and that something needs to change.

The challenge now for the voter is how to choose between the policy
approaches of the candidates and parties and the issues that they have
chosen to highlight.

Recognition of genocide in Sri Lanka is one of the most important issues in
the debate. This is because policy decisions are made within a frame of
discourse.

The frame of discourse can obscure even the most obvious genocides such as
that which took place in Rwanda in 1994 where circa 800 000 Tutsi were
killed while the UN debated whether peace-keepers should stay or go in
Rwanda.

It is now admitted that for the early part of the genocide, the UN was in
the wrong frame of discourse – that of a civil war. In reality the civil war
and a genocide proceeded in parallel.

The framing of the Rwandan genocide as a civil war rather than a genocide
explains the UN’s paralysis and Kafkaesque debates while tens of thousands
died: the peace keepers were there by invitation of the parties, they had no
mandate to intervene to protect civilians, it was important for the UN to
remain neutral between the warring parties, the requirement of a threat to
the regional peace was not met for intervention to be justified.

These debates were inappropriate in the event of a genocide where the state
itself is the perpetrator. Even when it became clear that Tutsi civilians
were being targeted for their ethnicity with a view to destroying in part
that ethnic group- a genocide – the discourse remained in the frame of civil
war and thus of the rights of the state.

But the choice of alternative frames – civil war or genocide – was a false
choice: Rwanda was simultaneously both, as is often the case with genocides.
Sri Lanka in 2009 saw the same issues of the framing of the discourse in the
UN as a civil war or more specifically ‘a war on terror’ notwithstanding the
ethnic cleansing element and that Human Rights Watch termed it "a war
against civilians", echoing a classic definition of genocide.

We use Rwanda as an example, because it is clear that the frame of discourse
is a barrier to action even where the scale of killing is several times
higher than it was in Sri Lanka.

Similarly the frame of discourse can shift too easily – and wrongly – to
that of a ‘post-conflict’ scenario with all its emphasis on strengthening
the state via economic and reconstruction assistance.

Recognising the existence of a long running genocidal process focuses
attention on coincident issues that normally are part of genocidal
processes: ethnic cleansing, land grabs from minorities, forced
assimilation, constitutional race discrimination via the privileging of one
language and religion over others and so on.

Recognition of genocide would also imply recognition that it is the state
itself that is the perpetrator, thus going to the heart of the problem.
Recognition of war-crimes do not have the same effect: errant soldiers
acting outside of a chain of command may also commit war-crimes. Whereas it
is well understood that states are the most common perpetrators of genocide.

It would highlight the importance of aid being channelled through
independent agencies to those who need it rather than being used as a
mechanism to consolidate state control.

Increasing following the dominance of the war on terror framework, British
government departments have worked in a coordinated fashion to implement
policy that reduces global security threats from terrorist networks.

For example, development assistance has been seen as part of a package that
solves issues of discontent at source, thereby reducing the possibility of
‘terrorism’ taking hold. This has been the approach to Sri Lanka – where the
Foreign office, the Department of International Development and the Ministry
of Defence have worked within a common, coordinated framework.

Tamil groups believe this framework to be misguided because they believe
that the underlying dynamic is that of race-base oppression strong enough to
form a genocidal processes formulated as a ‘long running structural genocide’.

The cleansing of civilians from Mullaiththeevu into a safe zone and then
into concentration camps, and the attacks on the safe zone echo the
now-recognised genocide in Sebenica. It is important that policy frameworks
adjust to deal with these realities.

Recognising the importance of dealing with issues at the level of the frame
of discourse, Diaspora campaign groups have prioritised genocide recognition
as well as the establishment of an independent state of Tamil Eelam as
campaign issues.

Some candidates have directly met this challenge head on.

Dr Rachel Joyce of Harrow West issued an election pledge to work towards the
recognition of genocide in Sri Lanka.

Candidates from all parties have used the g-word in relation to Sri Lanka.

Andrew Dismore of the Labour party wrote an article in the Independent
newspaper in 2009 characterising the Sri Lankan conflict as a genocide.

Lee Scott, Robert Halfon and Andrew Charalambous of the Consevative party
have all referred to the conflict as a genocide.

Ed Davey of the Shadow Foreign Minister of the Liberal party asked a
parliamentary question as to whether legal advice had been taken by the
Foreign Office on whether this was a genocide.

The Liberal party has published a statement making reference to ‘land grabs’
while refraining from using the term ethnic cleansing.

Survey by Tamil Guardian

Yet other candidates, many of whose statements are featured on the Tamil
Guardian website this week have clearly supported self-determination – while
some have been clear that they refer to an independent state (external self
determination) and others have referred to greater autonomy. Many of these
have, as seen from their statements have taken part in monitoring the recent
referendum on the main principle of the Vaddukkoddai Resolution.

Candidates such as Siobhan Mcdonagh have chosen to focus on the economic
boycott – raising the profile of the issue at the Labour party conference
and joining protestors on the streets.

Other such as Simon Hughes, Susan Kramer and Ed Davey of the Liberal party
were pivotal in facilitating Diaspora interaction with officials from the UN
and European Union in that fateful month of May 2009. All of these
approaches have a part to play.

Voters will ultimately need to choose based on the relationships they have
built and what they feel their candidates have achieved for them.

Yet in policy terms the priorities of the Diaspora are clear: we need to see
a fundamental shift in the way the Sri Lankan conflict has been viewed. This
shift is best expressed as recognition of a long running genocide. Without
this shift, we are doomed to experience more of the same failures that have
plagued British and international foreign policy in relation to that
country.

Legal groups are in parallel building the evidence and legal case. But as
illustrated by conflicts in Rwanda and Bosnia, political will is also a
critical component of genocide recognition.

Copyright © 1997-2009 TamilNet

AHEAD OF THE LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN GEORGIA
Karen Ghazaryan

"Radiolur"
05.05.2010 17:25

Head of the Yerkir Union Sevak Artsruni and program manager of the
Union Rober Tatoyan spoke about the forthcoming elections in Georgia,
particularly the issues of participation of Javakh Armenians.

There are a lot of problems to be solved in Javakhk. However, Head
of the Yerkir Union Sevak Artsruni is concerned about the fact that
those interested in solving the existing issues are threatened and
persecuted.

Speaking about the expectations from the forthcoming poll, Sevak
Artsruni said it’s the number one democratic tool Armenians should
use to fights for their rights.

According to program manager of the Union Rober Tatoyan, for many
years the Georgian authorities have been a policy of pressuring those
fighting for the rights of national minorities. Elections are the
means used for continuing the struggle.

ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES ARE AFRAID

A1Plus.am
05/05/10

Artsakh war hero Arkadi Ter-Tadevosyan believes Armenia is afraid of
giving Turkey an adequate response.

"We haven’t raised the issue of Nakhichevan or Kars to this day, but we
should be the ones setting preconditions," Ter-Tadevosyan told "A1+".

He reaffirmed that he is against the opening of the Turkish-Armenian
border and doesn’t approve of the Armenian government’s policy.

"As an average citizen, I don’t understand why Nalbandyan signed the
Protocols. Before starting relations with the Turks, we must first
study their diplomacy, which is based on lies and falsehood," he said.

Ter-Tadevosyan considered Azerbaijan’s frequent bellicose announcements
as nonsensical. "Our combativeness and skills are more powerful. Of
course, Azerbaijan has a strong army, an enormous military budget
and is technically equipped, but humans play a great role during
the battle."

As far as Stepanakert’s participation in the negotiations on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is concerned, according to him, that is a
matter of time. "The conflict won’t be solved without the participation
of Nagorno-Karabakh. In addition, recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic’s independence is the equivalent to death for Azerbaijan
because in that case, other nations living in that country will raise
the same demand," he said.

Meeting

"Youth" NGO members hosted representatives of the generation of the
Great Patriotic and Artsakh wars with support from the Armenian
Assembly of America Office in Yerevan. The five veterans of the
Great Patriotic War and commander during the Artsakh war Arkadi
Ter-Tadevosyan were greeted with a standing ovation.

"We had no issue of going or not going to the battlefield. Many of
us joined voluntarily and went to defend the homeland. Nobody thought
twice," said veteran of the Great Patriotic War Rosalia Margaryan.

Another veteran attached importance to a precept-to study and read
a lot of books.

Arkadi Ter-Tadevosyan started his memoir by expressing gratitude to
the veterans.

"You taught us heroism and set an example with your endeavors. It
was that example that guided us when we were putting our lives on
the line for Shushi," said Ter-Tadevosyan.

In the end, the youth handed souvenirs to the heroes as a sign of
gratitude. The day’s heroes were going to leave for Moscow to take
part in the military parade dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the
Great Victory.