Author: Emil Lazarian

CONDITION OF GENOCIDE HAS BEEN REMOVED
Sabah, Turkey
Sept 27 2006
European parliament has confirmed controversial Turkey report. It
has removed the pre-condition of Armenian genocide; the request of
‘privileged partnership’ and ‘Pontus and Syrian genocides’ was not
present.
EU commission had caused reactions in Ankara due to the amendments
and additional requirements in the reports. In the report, starting
a good neighborhood and diplomatic relation with Greece and a call
for opening the border gate were included. There were references to
“Pontus and Syrian genocides”. It has removed the pre-condition
of Armenian genocide; the request of ‘privileged partnership’ and
‘Pontus and Syrian genocides’ was not present.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SPEIER BILL FOR FAMILIES OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS SIGNED BY GOV.
California Chronicle, CA
Sept 27 2006
SACRAMENTO – State Senator Jackie Speier announced yesterday that
Gov. Schwarzenegger has signed her legislation, SB 1524, which
removes the statute of limitations for 10 years so that the families of
Armenian Genocide victims can file a claim again financial institutions
to recoup the loss of personal financial assets.
“I authored this legislation on behalf of the 900,000
Armenian-Americans living in our state. As result of the Armenian
Genocide, thousands of Armenian orphans and survivors were robbed
of their country, their families, their ancestral homes, as well as
personal property and other assets, including bank deposits,” said
Speier (D-Hillsborough). “The time has come to return these deposits
to their rightful owners.”
SB 1524 allows any Californian who was a victim of the Armenian
genocide, or who is an heir or beneficiary of a victim, to sue
financial institutions to recover assets stolen or lost between 1890
and 1923. Under the new law Californians of Armenian descent will
have through 2016 to file claims.
At the time of the Armenian Genocide, there were several international
banking institutions which held the deposits of the Armenian subjects
living in Ottoman Turkey. As a result of the brutal Genocide and
deportations of 1915, few Armenians were left to withdraw and recover
their assets on deposit from these banks.
Because many depositor documents were lost or destroyed during
the Genocide, no public disclosure has been made by these banks of
the names of their depositors. Many of the international banking
institutions that operated in Ottoman Turkey during the early 1900’s
currently conduct business here in California.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LE FESTIVAL DES CHANTS SACRES EVOQUE LA MONTAGNE D’ISRAëL A L’ESPAGNE
Agence France Presse
26 septembre 2006 mardi 5:47 AM GMT
Les monts sacres du pourtour mediterraneen, d’Israël a l’Espagne,
seront a l’honneur de la quinzième edition du festival Chants sacres
en Mediterranee qui se deroule du 29 septembre au 22 octobre dans la
region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.
“Monts des temples et des sanctuaires, montagnes des refuges, collines
inspirees où sonne la parole divine, hauteurs dediees aux sacrifices,
la Mediterranee et ses îles sont riches de lieux sacres”, souligne
l’association Ecume, a l’origine de ce festival.
La Francaise Francoise Atlan, specialiste des chants judeo-espagnols,
interprètera des chants hebraïques rappelant que Moïse recut les
tables de la loi sur le mont Sinaï, en Egypte.
Des chants spirituels nes entre le Ve et le XIIe siècle dans les
montagnes et les hauts plateaux d’Armenie, appeles “sharagan” soit
“colliers de pierres precieuses”, seront celebres par l’ensemble
armenien Mesrob Mashtots.
La montagne cretoise, avec ses lieux escarpes et ses gorges, sera
evoquee par l’ensemble grec Krites, les monts tunisiens par les chants
soufis de l’ensemble Sakli, tandis que le groupe Camerata Corale La
Grangia fera decouvrir les airs traditionnels du Piemont.
Les concerts auront lieu, entre autres, dans des eglises romanes, des
abbayes et des salles de concert de la region a la Roque d’Antheron
(Vaucluse), Marseille, Mandelieu-La Napoule (Alpes-Maritimes),
Lourmarin (Vaucluse), Digne (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence).
(Chants sacres. Du 29 septembre au 22 octobre. Renseignements et
reservation: ou 04.91.91.41.41)
–Boundary_(ID_zCSep0pnZWYDy8Xboz KLCA)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGY PETROSYAN: ARMENIA GUARANTOR OF NKR INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.09.2006 16:58 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ September 26 NKR FM Georgy Petrosyan received
Vice-Speaker of the British House of Lords, Chair of the Council
of Trustees for Humanitarian Assistance, baroness Caroline Cox,
who arrived in Stepanakert along with a delegation of British and
US philanthropists.
When opening the meeting the head of the NKR MFA expressed readiness
to provide support to programs implemented by British and US
philanthropists in Karabakh. As of the Karabakh peace process,
Georgy Petrosyan was concerned over Azerbaijan’s attempts to shift
the settlement from the OSCE MG aegis to UN.
“We are seriously studying the current situation, making conclusions
to make respective steps. It is impossible to solve a matter, relating
to the fate of a people, without taking into consideration its own
opinion. We played a role in establishing the cease-fire, why are we
deprived of the right to strengthen peace today?” the NKR FM said.
As for relations with Armenia, Petrosyan underscored, “Armenia is the
guarantor of NKR independence and security. As for political relations,
principle of non-intervention is observed.”
As of fires in the border zone, Petrosyan remarked the NKR had turned
to the OSCE suggesting to hold monitoring to have an impartial opinion,
reported the NKR MFA Press Office.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VARTAN OSKANIAN: CONFLICTS REQUIRE SEPARATE SOLUTION
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
27/09/2006
In his speech at the 61st session of the UN General Assembly
Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian assured that the Kosovo
process is under close scrutiny in Armenia. “We ourselves defend the
self-determination process of Nagorno Karabakh people.
Yet, we do not draw parallels between these two or other conflicts. We
believe that the conflicts differ and in each case a unique decision
should be taken based on its peculiarities.” Vartan Oskanian
underscored that the people of Nagorno Karabakh long ago made its
decision not to be presented by Azerbaijan. They were the victim of
political violence, they defended themselves and succeeded despite
all difficulties. Azerbaijani government has lost the moral right to
come out with a proposal to secure a safe future for the people of
Karabakh, Armenian FM stated.
Mr. Oskanian emphasized that by turning down all proposals of
mutual concessions of the last 8 years Azerbaijan wants to avoid
responsibility for rejected them. He also assured that Azerbaijan
attempts to picture Armenia as a side that turns down every proposal
for that purpose using all possible measures.
But Armenia’s stance is clear, and the path that Karabakh has
chosen and follows for two decades is irreversible, Mr. Oskanian
said. “Nagorno Karabakh is not a trial, it’s a place, an ancient and
beautiful garden inhabited with people who have earned the right to
live a peaceful and fearless live. We do not demand more and do not
expect more,” Vartan Oskanian stated.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WHY SHOULD WE INITIATE CORRUPTION COMBAT?
A1+
[06:10 pm] 26 September, 2006
“When the economic growth is evident the national currency is
appreciated. The point is that there shouldn’t be any shakes so that
businessmen can direct their resources in the right direction,” said
Vahram Nersisyants, the President’s councillor on the economic issues
during his meeting with journalists today.
Mr. Nersisyants has recently returned from Singapur, where he
participated in the annual summit of World Bank and International
Monetary Fund. The councillors of 192 presidents gathered in the
summit to discuss corruption, to reveal its essence, to find its
appropriate definition and ways of its combat. “During the debate
we faced a serious problem – which are the criteria of corruption as
corruption has different outcome in different countries. Our second
task referred to the methodology how to measure corruption.
Unless we find the solutions to these problems corruption combat
won’t have distinct bases, ” says Vahram Nersisyants.
The Trustee’s Council was assigned to work out a model regulating
corruption combat in spring. A few bills were discussed during the
autumn meeting but the model was not finally affirmed.
Asked whether he approves of the Dashnaktsutyun’s suggestion to form
a corruption combating committee Mr. Nersisyants answered, “The point
is that any establishment combating against corruption may become a
hearth of corruption. I claim that the roots of corruption must be
eradicated at first,” offered Vahram Nersisyants.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Revolutionary Federation Shant Student Association
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 306
Glendale, California 91206
Tel: 818-462-3006
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website:
PRESS RELEASE
September 26, 2006
Inter-collegiate pan-Armenian body outlines its goals and positions
related to a broad range of issues of concern to Armenian-American
students.
GLENDALE, CA – The Senate of the All-Armenian Student Associations
(All-ASA) Confederation convened for its first General Meeting of the
2007 academic year on Sunday, September 24, 2006 at the Armenian
Cultural Foundation’s headquarters in Glendale. The General Meeting
was hosted and presided over by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Shant Student Association (ARF Shant), the rotating chair organization
of the All-ASA, with all major All-ASA constituent organizations
represented by their respective Senators.
In a strong display of unity, the All-ASA Senate, which represents
over a dozen Armenian collegiate organizations, unanimously approved
three resolutions. The first resolution states that the All-ASA
rejects the confirmation of Richard E. Hoagland as the next
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia unless he is forthright and properly
recognizes the Armenian Genocide as a historical fact. The second
resolution expresses the All-ASA’s outrage at the deployment of
Turkish troops in Lebanon, a country that has been a bastion of
survivors and their descendants who fled the genocidal onslaught of
Turkish troops between 1915 and 1923. Finally, the All-ASA condemns
the sale of Turkish-made products on college campuses until the
government of Turkey discontinues funding genocide revisionism in
academic departments and acknowledges its historical crimes against
humanity.
Chris Minassian, chairman of the ARF Shant stated, “It is our
responsibility as representatives of Armenian college students in the
region to voice our positions on key issues affecting the Armenian
community.”
Furthermore, the All-ASA reaffirmed its commitment to initiating and
implementing programs in support of global recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, the continued strengthening of Armenia, and cultural
preservation in the Diaspora. In accordance with the long-standing
modi operandi of the All-ASA, the Senate voted to create and
reintroduce several inter-collegiate committees to work jointly toward
the objectives of the All-ASA. The ARF Shant was once again nominated
and elected to chair the All-ASA Leadership Development Committee.
The All-ASA is a united body described and agreed upon in the
“Articles of Confederation of All Armenian Student Associations”. The
primary goals of the All-ASA are to promote collaboration between its
constituent organizations and provide forums, through which the
organizations may announce events, publicize activities, share ideas
regarding the Armenian college student community, and facilitate the
formulation of All-ASA programs.
The constituent organizations of the All-ASA are: the Armenian Student
Associations (ASA) of Cal. Poly. Pomona, Cal. State Northridge,
U.C. Los Angeles, U.C. Riverside, Univ. of So. California,
Cal. Institute of Tech., Loyola Marymount Univ., Cal. State Los
Angeles, Cal. State Long Beach; the Armenian Graduate Student
Association at U.C. Los Angeles; and the ARF Shant Student
Association.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INTER RAO UES BECOMES OWNER OF ARMENIAN ELECTRIC POWER GRID
Itar-Tass News Agency, Russia
Sept 26 2006
YEREVAN, September 26 (Itar-Tass) — Russia’s Inter RAO UES has come
to stay in Armenia, a country of economic growth, Chairman of the
Board of Directors Andrei Rappoport said on Tuesday.
The company has become the owner of the Armenian electric power grid,
which regulates the national distribution and selling of electricity.
Some 36,000 kilometers of power lines make deliveries to over 913,000
clients. The company is one of the largest taxpayers in Armenia.
“Inter RAO UES has made enough investments to feel comfortable,”
he said. Apart from the renovation of power lines and equipment, the
company will draft a program of future investments and a development
strategy.
Being the owner of a large part of the Armenian energy system, Inter
RAO UES will guarantee the stable deliveries of electric power,
he said.
“The skills and experience of Inter RAO UES in Russia and CIS countries
will upgrade the energy security of the republic,” Armenian Deputy
Energy Minister Iosif Isayan said.
Inter RAO UES acquired the entire stock of the Armenian Electric
Power Grids from the British-based Midland Resources Holding for $73
million. The Britons were in control of the Armenian company for the
past four years. The collection of electricity payments increased
to 99.4%, while electricity losses reduced from 21 to 16.1% over
that period.
The Unified Energy System of Russia (UES) owns 60% of electricity
facilities in Armenia, including the Sevan-Razdan cascade of hydropower
plants, company general director Yevgeny Dod told Itar-Tass. The
board of directors has approved the investment of $20 million in the
Armenian electric power grids.
The Russian company also manages finances of the Armenian nuclear
power plant. The power plant has overcome a crisis and become profit
making with the Russian company’s help, Dod said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

POPE’S VISIT TO TURKEY: A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY?
Zenit News Agency, Italy
Sept 26 2006
Interview With Bishop L. Padovese, Apostolic Vicar of Anatolia
ROME, SEPT. 26, 2006 (Zenit.org).- The apostolic vicar of Anatolia
believes that Benedict XVI’s visit to Turkey in November might be a
unique occasion to give a clear address on relations between Islam
and Christianity.
In this interview with ZENIT last Friday, Bishop Luigi Padovese, 59,
an assiduous scholar of the Church in Turkey, sketched a picture of
the state of that country, destination of the Pope’s fifth apostolic
trip abroad.
As apostolic vicar of Anatolia, he has been threatened and, four
months ago, a motorcyclist tried to run over him. He now has a police
escort when he goes out, which the Italian ambassador requested from
the governor of Antioch.
The bishop’s region of Anatolia is where an Italian missionary,
Father Andrea Santoro, was slain last February.
Q: What is the situation in Turkey?
Bishop Padovese: Turkey presents a composite picture, where the
presence of nationalist groups and the growing phenomenon of
Islamization, triggered by an economic situation that has been
degenerating, has fueled a closed attitude both in regard to
Christianity as well as to Europe.
We might think that in Turkey everyone is in favor of [the country’s]
entry into Europe, but instead, I am beginning to see that it isn’t
like that.
There are Muslim groups that believe that Turkey’s rapprochement to
Europe might make it lose its Muslim identity. In Turkey today, to be
a good Turk means to be a good Muslim. For such people, Turkey’s entry
into Europe might mean to be a good Turk but no longer a good Muslim.
Q: Do you think Muslims fear modernity?
Bishop Padovese: They use the instruments of modernity, but fear
losing their national identity, fruit of the work of conquest of
[Kemal] Ataturk [the first president of Turkey].
In my opinion, Turkish democracy, deep down, does not accept other
voices: It is democratic but in unison. This is explains why, all told,
minorities are hard-pressed to be accepted and recognized.
Q: And what is the situation with the Orthodox?
Bishop Padovese: The relationship with the Orthodox is quite good
because we are experiencing the same problems.
There is a certain accord linked to common problems, though I must
say that in regard to the Pope’s visit, the Ecumenical and Armenian
patriarchates have taken a stance that seems almost like a distancing
— an action justified for reasons of prudence, because in Turkey
there is no inclination to subtleties and no distinction is made
between Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants. Seen from outside, it
looks like a desire to wash one’s hands; seen from within, it is a
way of shielding the community from dangers and threats.
Q: What can be said about the Catholic community in Turkey?
Bishop Padovese: The Catholic presence is very limited and concentrated
in great centers: Istanbul, Smyrna, Mersin and Ankara, especially
among diplomats. There are parishes here and there, but frequented
by a few hundred faithful.
There is a Latin, Armenian-Catholic, Chaldean-Catholic and
Syro-Catholic Christianity. They belong to the Tradition and the
expressions of the different rights are kept, though in numerical
terms they are few.
Q: How do you assess the Holy Father’s forthcoming visit?
Bishop Padovese: The Holy Father’s visit is delicate — not problematic
due to questions of an ecumenical character, because from this point
of view an accord has already been reached. Moreover, there will be a
joint declaration by the Bishop of Rome and the patriarch of Istanbul.
The more complex questions regard the relationship between Christianity
and Islam, and what the Pontiff thinks of Turkey’s eventual entry into
Europe. Turkish media criticized the then Cardinal Ratzinger because,
according to them he is not in favor of Turkey’s entry into Europe.
Q: What do you think of the reactions to the lesson Benedict XVI gave
at the University of Regensburg?
Bishop Padovese: I fear that some in Turkey might wish to organize
a protest in view of the Pope’s arrival. For the fundamentalists it
is a very tempting occasion.
I read a statement of the person in charge of Turkish religious
affairs, who specified that Turkey will receive the Pontiff but as
a head of state, which means that the figure of the religious leader
fades into the background.
There are those who would prefer that the Pontiff not go to Turkey;
however, it is no longer an issue of opening a window to the Muslim
world but a balcony, to deliver a clear address on relations between
Islam and Christianity.
I am convinced that what was a problem might become an unrepeatable
occasion, a unique opportunity, because all the media of the Arab
countries will focus on what the Pope says. Some won’t be happy,
but at least they will refer to what the Holy Father affirms.
Q: In what way can the Western Christian community help the small
Turkish flock?
Bishop Padovese: We are a reality without a voice. The problem, which
the Pontiff also expressed on the occasion of Father Santoro’s death,
is that we are in Turkey without means of social communication.
Protestants have a TV channel and two or three radio stations. We
have nothing. This means that we cannot take a position and are even
unable to rectify anything falsely written or said against us. To
make rectifications I have had to contract a lawyer full time. I have
requested rectifications from two newspapers and they have done so, and
another, to avoid prosecution, will meet with me to present excuses.
Q: How is dialogue with Islam progressing?
Bishop Padovese: The situation is complicated because Islam has an
idea of reality that is all-encompassing and absorbing. And the
absolutism that Muslims advocate does not allow for any form of
dialogue or compromise.
There is a relationship with some people of the Muslim world. The
greatest problem is linked to the difficulty of different levels of
cultural and theological preparation. There are Islamic schools of
theology, but I have the impression that they are not at the level
of our own; we do not meet on the same plane.
The fact is that Islam does not allow exegesis of the Koran, while
Christianity allows exegesis of sacred Scripture.
So it happens that there is no true dialogue, only mutual knowledge.
A gathering of information from one side and the other, what we do
and what they do, but this isn’t genuine dialogue.
There is dialogue and cooperation in charitable and social works, but
when it comes to theological questions, then we are very far behind.
We have organized congresses on the images of Jesus and Mary in Islam,
but there were few Muslim participants — only people of a certain
cultural formation. Those imams with little theological preparation
did not participate. This is one of the big problems.
There is very little theological activity in Islam, which differs
according to the different schools. The difference is that we
Christians have a guiding magisterium; [Muslims], instead, don’t have
it and it is individual theologians who decide.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA MUST CONTINUE REFORMS TO REDUCE POVERTY
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 26 2006
YEREVAN, September 26. /ARKA/. Armenia intends to continue reforms
to reduce poverty in the country, RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
stated at the 61st UN General Assembly in New York, USA.
According to him, like other countries, Armenia has the tasks of
reducing poverty and overcoming despair, which remain the saddest
and dangerous challenges to the world.
Oskanyan stated that large-scale reforms in Armenia inspire hopes.
They are irreversible and are producing appreciable results.
According to the Minister, the country will continue reforms to seal
the success achieved over the last 15 years – progress in legislative
and administrative spheres, open and liberal economy and two-digit
economic growth.
Minister Oskanyan said that inspired by this year’s progress, Armenia
decided to implement a consistent policy of poverty reduction in its
rural areas.
He pointed out that to achieve these goals Armenia will apply to
international organizations and friendly governments and, along
with the Armenian Diaspora’s traditional generosity, will start the
construction and restoration of infrastructures, which are of vital
importance for the facilitation of economic development.
The program of poverty reduction in Armenia’s rural areas is an
all-important component of the Strategic Program of Poverty Reduction,
which is the principal component of the Armenian Government’s
activities.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress