Author: Emil Lazarian

PRESS RELEASE

Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Aram Arkun
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 126; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
December 4, 2006

Tribute to Filmmaker Andrew Goldberg Tuesday Dec. 12 NY with DA Morgenthau,
Peter Balakian

The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) is planning a
tribute evening in New York City on December 12 for filmmaker Andrew
Goldberg in order to honor his work on Armenian topics, especially
his recent PBS documentary on the Armenian Genocide.

Robert Morgenthau, District Attorney of the County of New York, and
Peter Balakian, New York Times bestselling author, are the keynote
speakers. His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the
Diocese, will preside over the program, in which Goldberg himself will
participate. A previously unseen film clip from Goldberg~Rs work will
be screened, and performer Hooshere will sing several songs.

Emmy Award winning producer/director Andrew Goldberg has made four
documentaries on the Armenians, which have reached millions of
American and international viewers. His most recent PBS documentary,
"The Armenian Genocide," broadcast on PBS nationwide, this April 17.

This documentary examines the roots of denial of the Armenian Genocide
and its contemporary political and moral implications for America and
the world, while providing a historical context in which to understand
what became a paradigm for later genocides. Newspapers termed it:
"Powerful. The film honors the victims of the Armenian Genocide" (The
New York Times) "Serious, literate and ultimately heartbreaking." [made
with] "…intelligence and precision." (The New Jersey Star Ledger)
"Evocative" [The Weekly Standard) "Powerful and skillfully made"
(The PBS Ombudsman).

Goldberg’s three other Armenian documentaries include "The
Armenian Americans," which won the NY Festivals World Medal 2000
for International Programming; "The Armenians, A Story of Survival,"
which aired on PBS stations nationally in 2002 and was awarded the
CINE Golden Eagle, and "Images of the Armenian Spirit." His television
credits include PBS, ABC News, E!, CNN, and countless others.

Robert Morris Morgenthau is District Attorney for New York County
(Manhattan). Armenians know his family well, thanks to the important
role his grandfather, Henry Morgenthau, Sr. played while United States
Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire during the Armenian Genocide.

Ambassador Morgenthau continued to speak out on the Armenians after
he returned to the United States, writing, lecturing, and even
embarking on diplomatic missions. Robert Morgenthau, like the rest
of his family, has continued this legacy of striving for justice. A
nationally known figure thanks to the many high profile prosecutions
he has conducted in office, as well as due to his active voice in
politics, Robert Morgenthau has not forgotten the Armenian tragedy,
and has participated in a variety of activities concerning the Genocide
over the years. Perhaps not coincidentally, he is the chairman of
the Museum of Jewish Heritage­-A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. He
serves many other civic organizations, including the Police Athletic
League (PAL) since 1962, first as President and then Chairman.

Poet, memoirist, and scholar, Peter Balakian is the author of eight
books, most recently "June-tree: New and Selected Poems, 1974-2000"
(Harper Collins 2001), and "The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide
and America~Rs Response" (HarperCollins, 2004). The latter won the
2005 Raphael Lemkin Prize and was a New York Times Notable Book
and a New York Times Best Seller. His memoir, "Black Dog of Fate"
won the 1998 PEN/Martha Albrand Prize for the Art of the Memoir
and the New Jersey Council for the Humanities Book Prize, and was
a best book of the year for the New York Times, the LA Times, and
Publisher~Rs Weekly. Recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National
Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, an Ellis Island Medal of Honor,
and the Anahid Literary Award, Balakian is Donald M. and Constance
H. Rebar Professor of the Humanities and Professor of English at
Colgate University. He was the first Director of Colgate~Rs Center
for Ethics and World Societies.

New York singer Hooshere blends traditional and modern instrumentation
in her adaptation of Armenian folk music and original compositions. She
has been receiving high accolades from the music community, and has
earned several awards, including first place in the 2005 Billboard
Song Contest in the world music category.

The tracks ~SSomebody Else~T and "Garode" from her debut album,
"Provenance," were featured in Goldberg~Rs "The Armenian Genocide"
documentary.

The Andrew Goldberg tribute will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday,
December 12, 2006, in the Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium of the
Armenian Diocese in Manhattan (630 2nd Avenue between 34th and 35th
Streets). It will conclude with a reception. Admission is free. For
more information, contact [email protected] , or telephone
(212) 686 0710.

–Boundary_(ID_0Tpo/SFmXIBHSCXDuecGGg)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KOCHARIAN COMMEMORATES VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKE

Armenpress
Dec 07 2006

GYUMRI, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS: President Robert Kocharian and senior
government officials traveled today to Armenia’s second largest town of
Gyumri to commemorate the victims of a disastrous earthquake that hit
and destroyed the country’s northern provinces 18 years ago killing
25,000 people.

Kocharian laid a wreath at a monument to the earthquake victims
erected in front of a church in downtown Gyumri. Head of the local
Diocese of the Armenian Church, served a liturgy in memory of the
killed. Kocharian also spoke to local residents who were gathered
near the monument.

Powerful underground tremors wiped out the towns of Spitak, Leninakan
(now Gyumri), Stepanavan, Kirovakan (Vanadzor) and dozens of villages
and settlements from the face of the earth on December 7 eighteen
years ago.

ARMENIAN CHURCH RE-OPENED IN INDIA

A1+
[03:28 pm] 06 December, 2006

On December 5 the fully constructed Armenian church of St. Mariam
of Saydibad opened its doors again for the whole Indian-Armenian
community.

The church which was built in 1758 by famous merchant from Jugha Khoja
Petros, did not work for the last 50 years. The church suffered from a
number of natural disasters. Today the church has been fully restored
thanks to the efforts of the Calcutta church administration and the
blessings of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II. The territories
of the church have also been returned.

Members of the church administration and the Indian-Armenian community,
as well as foreign guests were present at the ceremony of opening.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF OBLIGATIONS OF ARMENIA BEFORE COUNCIL OF EUROPE TO BE DISCUSSED ON DECEMBER 13, ADOPTED IN JANUARY, 2007

Noyan Tapan
Dec 07 2006

STRASBOURG, DECEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Minister of Foreign Affairs
Vartan Oskanian, who is on a working visit in Strasbourg, had meetings
on December 6 with Terry Davis, the Secretary General of the Council
of Europe, Mateo Sorinas, the Secretary General of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe and members of the group (Ago’s
Group) observing implementation of obligations of Armenia of the
Council of Europe Ministers’ Committee. As Noyan Tapan was informed
by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department, during
the meeting with the Council of Europe Secretary General, Minister
Oskanian discussed organization of the parliamentary elections in
Armenia and holding of elections corresponding to the international
standards as well as issues of implementation of the obligations of
Armenia after the reforms. The Council of Europe Secretary General
expressed a hope that the authorities of Armenia will be able to
implement the planned legislative work and drew attention to issues
of practical operation of laws. The RA Foreign Minister expressed
his satisfaction with adoption of the special Actions Plan by the
Council of Europe Ministers’ Committee to assist proper organization
and holding of elections. During the conversation the Minister informed
the Council of Europe Secretary General about the present stage of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process and the constitutional
referendum expected in Nagorno Karabakh. Then the Minister touched
upon the fact of destruction of khachkars (cross stones) in Jugha
by the Azerbaiajani authorities. He considered inadmissible planned
destruction of historic monuments in peaceful conditions, Azerbaijani
attempts to put them on the same field with monuments damaged during
the Nagorno Karabakh war actions. Issues relating to visit paid to
Nakhijevan by the Council of Europe mission on collecting facts were
discussed. Minister Oskanian’s next interlocutor was Mateo Sorinas,
the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe. During the meeting Mr.Sorinas stated that the Assembly
reporters on the issue of obligations of Armenia prepared the regular
report on implementation of obligations of Armenia the first discussion
of which at the Monitoring Commission is scheduled for December
13, and adoption is scheduled at the January, 2007, session. The
Secretary General of the Assembly stated that the reporters fixed
numerous positive movements in the process of implementation of the
obligations, particularly, as a result of the constitutional reforms,
in the spheres of strengthening balance among different branches of
the authorities of Armenia, widening of the circle of ones addressing
to the Constitutional Court, of the judicial system, widening
of the Ombudsman’s competence, liquidation of the administrative
arrest. Minister Oskanian’s meeting with members of the group (Ago’s
Group) observing implementation of the obligations of Armenia of
the Council of Europe Ministers’ Committee took place in the second
half of the day. During the meeting, at the request of the monitoring
group members, the Foreign Minister touched upon the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement, the NKR constitutional referendum, preparatory
works of the RA parliamentary elections and issues relating to the
process of implementation of the obligations. The group members drew
the Minister’s attention at the issues relating to the elections,
particularly, at the amendments of the Electoral Code and the necessity
of correcting the electoral rolls. RA Foreign Minister’s meeting
with Robert Grossman, the Strasbourg Deputy Mayor, the City Community
Council was scheduled for late the same day. The meeting was followed
by opening in the Strasbourg Mayor’s Office hall of the exhibition
entitled "State of Armenian Cultural Heritage in Nakhijevan," during
which the RA Foreign Minister was to make a speech. The exhibition
which will last till December 10, was organized under the patronage
of the Strasbourg Mayor’s Office, by the "Alsace-Armenia Friendship"
French-Armenian organization.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE "DEED" OF THE POLICEMEN

A1+
[03:04 pm] 06 December, 2006

On December 5 on Moskovyan street the policemen of the central
department of the police caught Vazgen Sh. (b. 1985) who had grabbed
Lia B.’s handbag and ran away.

Preliminary investigation is underway.

This is the official statement made by the police. But the police
do not say that this method of robbery has become rather popular in
Yerevan; it is dangerous to walk along a street with a handbag as
such cases happen almost every day in different parts of the city. And
this testifies to the poor work of the police.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASSEMBLY HAILS HOUSE PASSAGE OF BILL PROHIBITING FUNDS FOR RAIL BYPASS OF ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
07.12.2006 10:40

The Armenian Assembly praised the House of Representatives for
the unanimous passage of a bill affirming US policy in the South
Caucasus by prohibiting funding for a railroad, sponsored by Turkey
and Azerbaijan, which excludes Armenia from economic and regional
transportation corridors.

The bill will now go to President Bush for his expected signature.

Lawmakers approved S.3938, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act
of 2006, which included an amendment by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
and Rick Santorum (R-PA) ensuring that no Export-Import funding is
used for a rail line connecting Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan while
circumventing Armenia. The provision was similar to an amendment
offered in the House version by Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY),
along with Congressmen Edward Royce (R-CA) and Brad Sherman (D-CA),
which was unanimously approved by the House Financial Services
Committee in July.

"Well aware that Turkey and Azerbaijan continue to make every effort
possible to isolate Armenia from economic and regional opportunities,
passage of today’s legislation was key to the Assembly’s legislative
agenda," said Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. "We thank
Senators Menendez and Santorum for their steadfast support of
Armenia and for introducing legislation (S. 2461) that would prevent
U.S. taxpayers from funding this project."

Hovnanian noted that despite congressional intent to prevent Armenia’s
isolation and an European Union declaration that it "will not finance
the Kars-Akhalkalak railway construction since the project leaves
out Armenia [which] conflicts with the European Neighborhood Policy,"
Turkey and Azerbaijan plan to proceed with the project.

"As a proud member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and
representative of a large and vibrant Armenian community of Armenians,
I want to thank my colleagues Joe Crowley and Ed Royce for their hard
work on this issue," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), ranking member
of the Joint Economic Committee, in a statement on the House floor.

"Allowing the exclusion of Armenia from important transportation routes
would stymie the emergence of this region as an important East-West
trade corridor," she continued. "It is in our economic and security
interest to ensure that we do not support the historic aggression
between Turkey and Armenia."

Following Maloney, Crowley, referring to Armenia as "a great US ally,"
noted that both the Senate and House versions of the bill included
language pertaining to Armenia, which he spearheaded in the House.

"This language will assist in promoting stability in the Caucasus
region, help in ending long standing conflict, and save US taxpayers
the responsibility of funding a project that goes against US
interests," said Crowley, a Member of the Armenian Caucus. "For
over 10 years, Armenia has fought a blockade, imposed on them by the
countries of Turkey and Azerbaijan. These two countries continually
exclude Armenia from regional development."

Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), thanked his
colleagues for "putting a stop to [Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s] policy
of isolating Armenia. It is not good for Armenia, not good for the
Caucasus nations, and ultimately not good for the United States."

"If this policy of isolating Armenia continues it would only lead
to another war," Pallone warned, pointing out that Armenia’s dual
blockades coupled with Azerbaijan’s belligerence could lead to regional
strife. He noted that it has been U.S. policy to encourage regional
integration and that "the idea to build a railroad that would cut off
Armenia, which has been suggested by Azerbaijan and Turkey, would be
contrary to the policy [which] this Congress, under both Democratic
and Republican leadership, has had for the last 20 years."

"Let’s continue the policy of cooperation in bringing these countries
together for the common good," Pallone urged. He also added that an
existing rail line, that connects Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan,
could be operational with minimal cost.

Executive Director Bryan Ardouny thanked Representatives Maloney,
Crowley and Pallone for their statements of support today and their
work to prevent attempts to isolate Armenia. He also commended
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Armenian Caucus
Members Sherman and Royce, and the Chairmen and Ranking Members of
the House Financial Services and Senate Banking Committees for pushing
the legislation through.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EXHIBITION OF PHOTOS FEATURING DESTRUCTION OF JUGHA CEMETERY IN STRASBURG
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
07/12/2006

The opening ceremony of the exhibition titled "Armenian Cultural
Legacy’s State in Nakhijevan" took place at the hall of Strasburg
Municipality yesterday.

Prior to the exhibition’s opening, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanian met Robert Grossman, Strasburg vice-mayor on cultural issues
and the head municipal community, after which the minister took part
in the opening ceremony making a speech before the invitees.

The exhibition arranged by Alsace Armenia Friendship French-Armenian
organization displayed photos featuring destruction of khachkars
(stone-cross) and tombstones of the Armenian cemetery in Jugha,
Nakhijevan. It was envisaged that Strasburg authorities,
representatives of the society, media and diplomatic missions
accredited in Strasburg will take part in the opening ceremony.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEVERTHELESS POPE MENTIONED THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily
07/12/2006

The Pope is not the Person to be Blamed

The visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Turkey ended on December 1, but
its consequences and rumors are still insinuated both in Vatican and
Turkey, as well as in the whole West. One of the hottest points of
the High Pontiff’s visit was his meeting with Patriarch Mesrop II
Mutafian. Before the meeting NTVNSNBC announced that the Pope was to
mention the past tragedies of the Armenian people, but not mention
the word "genocide".

When the meeting began CNN-Turk reported that the Armenian Patriarch
of Constantinople welcomed the Pope with the following words: "The
peace dialogue of the Armenian and Turkish peoples is a virtue and
our expectation". An article by CNN, published on the "Haytert" (The
Armenian Newspaper) website, corrected the information previously
published by "Anadolu" agency: the Patriarch marked the peace
dialogue between the Armenians and the Turks not a "virtue" but
"vital necessity".

As CNN-Turk and Anadolu did not report anything of the Pope’s reply
to the Armenian Patriarch Of Constantinople, "Azg" daily came to
conclusion that the meeting was arranged to fail and published a
corresponding article on December 2.

The speech of the Pope was also neglected by the Turkish press and the
central television. Such attitude of the press seems quite natural,
and of the public television – amusing, as only the Turkish National
TV Channel and the "Anadolu" agency were authorized to illustrate
the Pope’s visit to the Armenian Patriarchy of Constantinople.

Official messenger of the patriarchy "Lraber" published the November
30 speech of the pope with considerable delay. Lraber’s publication
was copied by Haytert, aslo controlled by the Patriarchy. Indeed,
the statement by NTVNSNBC proved true – Benedict XVI mentioned the
events of 1914-1916, but did not mark them as genocide. That is why
the Patriarchy failed to respond to the Pope’s speech.

According to "Lraber", at the Constantinople Patriarchy Pope Benedict
XVI welcomed the Armenian Apostolic community and aslo sent his
"brotherly welcome" to Catholicos Karekin II and whole the Armenian
Apostolic Church. He expressed his gratefulness to God that the
Armenian have passed their Christian heritage throughout numerous
generations in spite of harsh testimonies, of which an example are
the tragic events of the past century.

Protractions with the publication of the Pope’s response also confused
famous lawyer Mark Kirakosian, who published an article in ABC-News,
blaming the Pope of missing the opportunity to express his position
about the Genocide.

"Die Welt" says that Benedict XVI was warned not to mentioned the
Genocide by the "Armenian Bishop of Istanbul", taking into account the
scandals in the Turkish society about the visit. It is also notable
that Catholic believers, who are over 1 billion in the world consider
the Pope unmistakable. Probably, that is why the Pope did not ask
excuse of the Muslims in connection with the Prophet Mohammad cartoons.

Therefore it seems obvious that blaming the "Unmistakable" Pope
would only harm the process of worldwide recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, provoking enmity of the Roman Catholic Church.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GALLUP: IN WORLD CORRUPTION RATING ARMENIA OCCUPIES 69TH PLACE

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.12.2006 17:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Gallup service has published world corruption
rating. Residents of 101 countries were asked to answer two simple
questions, "Is corruption widely spread in the government of your
country" and "Is corruption widely spread in business structures
acting in your country". Gallup’s rating is based on 100-point scale,
where 0 is the minimal possible level of corruption and 100 is the
maximal possible level.

The "purest" countries occupying the first 10 places are Finland (12
points), Denmark and New Zealand (21 points), Singapore (22 points),
Saudi Arabia (25 points), Great Britain, Norway and Switzerland
(36 points), Australia (37 points) and Sweden (39 points).

The United States occurred in the 19th place (59).

Post-soviet countries are placed in the following way: Uzbekistan
(18th place, 54 points), Belarus (26th place, 63 points), Georgia
(31st place, 68 points), Estonia (37 place, 71 points), Armenia
(69 place, 82 points), Kyrgyzstan (78 place, 84 points), Moldova and
Latvia (share the 88th place with 89 points), Russia and Ukraine (93rd
place, 90 points), Lithuania (the last, 101 position, 94 points). For
further comparison, France (26th place, 63 points), Iran (29 place,
65 points), Japan (30th place 66 points), Afghanistan (34 place, 69
points), Germany (48th place, 75 points), Israel (84 place, 87 points).

Simultaneously people were asked to estimate the level of his/her
confidence towards the government (where corruption is low, the
confidence is high) and assurance, that tenacious efforts can provide
personal prosperity (where higher corruption, less people believe in
that). Alongside, in the countries with less corruption people estimate
the level of individual liberty higher, the Washington ProFile reports.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN DAILIES SEEK WAYS TO OVERCOME PAPER SHORTAGE

Armenpress
Dec 06 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS: A pro-government daily Hayots Ashkhar
will be printed by Noyan Tapan printing house for almost a decade
after the biggest Tigran Mets printing house that prints about 30
magazines and newspapers said it will suspend newspaper printing from
December 8 because of running out of paper.

The chief editor of the daily, Gagik Mkrtchian, said they will have
to cut the print-run by half because Noyan Tapan charges two times
more. A representative of another semi-official daily Hayastani
Hanrapetutyun said they have not taken concrete steps yet to seek an
alternative printing house.

Gind printing house, which prints several independent newspapers and
magazines, has agreed to print the independent daily Aravot.

On December 4 the chief manager of "Tigran Mets" printing-house Vrezh
Markosian said it will suspend newspaper printing from December 8
because it has run out of paper. The printing house will most likely
resume newspaper printing on December 16 when fresh batches of paper
are expected to reach Armenia. The paper is to come on a ferryboat
from Ukraine’s Ilichevsk bound for Georgian Poti.

The printing house used to bring paper by trucks through the Upper
Lars border check point on the Georgian-Russian border, but it was
closed by Russians for repair in summer and has not been competed yet.