Author: Emil Lazarian

MEDIAMAX EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW OF PETER SEMNEBY
MEDIAMAX Armenian news agency
weekly analytical report
26.09.06
“A Very Important Opportunity Has Been Lost”
The exclusive interview of Peter Semneby, EU Special Representative
to theSouth Caucasus, to Mediamax news agency
– When will the Armenian Action Plan within the European Neighborhood
Policy (ENP) be adopted?
– The European Union Troika and External Relations Commissioner are
planning to visit all three countries in the South Caucasus in early
October. The intention is that all three Action Plans should be ready
by that time.
– Azerbaijan was demanding to include in its Action Plan wording
saying that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict should be settled within
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Has this issue been solved,
or is it still under discussion?
– What we have in the draft text of the Azerbaijani Action Plan is the
acknowledgement of its territorial integrity – the same was introduced
in the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Azerbaijan that
was signed long time ago.
Both in Armenian and Azerbaijani Action Plans there are sections
specifically referring to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. They are
very similar and based on the same draft. Some small differences
reflect the different concerns and the different aspirations of the
countries. But there is no prejudging what the final outcome and the
resolution of the conflict would be.
– Can we say that the adoption of the Action Plans will open a new
chapter in the relations between the EU and the countries of the
South Caucasus?
– Absolutely. It will be a much more profound relationship. The three
countries will be tied very closely to the European Union; there will
be much closer contacts with Brussels.
>>From now on it would be up to the ambitions and the ability of each
country to move forward in building its own relations with the European
Union, and I expect Armenia to do very well in this. Our negotiations
experience proves that Armenia is taking the Action Plan very seriously
and the Armenian negotiators were exceptionally well prepared.
– This May you said that all three countries of the region were moving
in different directions. At the same time EU perceives this region
as a whole. You don’t see any contradictions here?
– Each country in the South Caucasus has an individual relationship
with the EU that is largely performance-based. At the same time, there
are also issues of regional concern related to environment, trade,
energy issues and others that we need to address through a regional
framework. So one thing doesn’t exclude another. One of the tasks and
the obligations in the Action Plans is to move forward on regional
cooperation. I realize that in case with Armenia and Azerbaijan this
presents particular difficulties as long as the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict is not resolved. Resolution of the existing conflicts is a
priority task in the Action Plans as well.
– Does the Armenian Action Plan contain any mentioning about Armenia’s
aspiration to join the EU?
– It is stated in the draft text that the European Union takes note
of the ambitions expressed by Armenia. I should say that this issue
has been actively debated inside the EU, because the Union is now at
the stage of reflection after that latest enlargement and the failure
of the European Constitution ratification. Many member-states think
that this is not the right time to take further obligations.
Nevertheless, the EU countries have come to a conclusion that
it is a positive sign that Armenia, as well as other countries,
are expressing this ambition since it indicates the willingness to
implement difficult reforms.
At the same time, this does not mean that the path towards the EU
membership is open. ENP does not include a membership prospective
and it also doesn’t exclude it. The issue of membership is a separate
one, and if it is on the agenda some time in the future, it will be
discussed separately from the ENP. Diligent implementation of the
ENP tasks, of course, will be a big plus and will demonstrate that
Armenia is serious about its expressed ambition.
– This March you told our agency that the contribution to the
resolution of the conflicts will be your top priority. Now, as half a
year passed, you have probably gained more experience. Do you think
that the window of opportunities to settle the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict in the near future is still open?
– If I had to mention my biggest disappointment in my first half a
year as the EU Special Representative in the South Caucasus it would
be the failure of Armenia and Azerbaijan to reach the settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. I think that very important opportunity
has been lost, but I hope it has not been lost for a long time.
I am not particularly optimistic at this moment. I don’t want to put
blame on any side, but I think that both Armenia and Azerbaijan should
think about the dangers and costs of not reaching a solution.
For Armenia there are quite obvious huge costs. Armenia’s relative
isolation is a direct consequence of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
In Azerbaijan the costs as such may not be on the top of the people’s
minds, but there are also risks related to the undetermined status
of the conflict. I am noticing a growing harsher rhetoric in the
domestic discussion in Azerbaijan. This increases the risk of any
kind of incident along the contact line developing into more serious
confrontation.
– Don’t you think that the relative isolation of Armenia, that you
have mentioned, creates additional frustration in Yerevan and toughens
its position? Don’t you think that Armenia’s involvement in the major
regional transport and energy projects could have made Yerevan more
ready for some compromises that are considered impossible today?
– I am not saying how the things should be ideally, I am just stating
the fact. This is the reality that Armenia has to live with, and
these are the costs that Armenia has to take into account when it
weights the costs and the benefits of the current situation. There
will be costs of the settlement as well, because it will mean painful
compromises. So these costs will have to be weight against the costs
of the continuing isolation. I very much hope that in this calculus
Armenian leadership and the population would come to a conclusion on
that it is more beneficial for Armenia to settle the conflict despite
the costs this will entail.
– Do you see any opportunities to improve the Turkish-Armenian
relations before the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict?
– I think that the issue of the Turkish-Armenian relations should
have been settled a long time ago. What we put across to the Turkish
authorities is that there is no justification for keeping the border
closed. At the same time if there was the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, this would probably lead to the opening of the
border very rapidly.
– During your last visit to Yerevan you said that the 2007
parliamentary elections will be a very serious test for Armenia. Does
it mean that you’ve already had some concerns regarding the upcoming
elections?
– What I hear from the Armenian political leaders and those who are
in charge for administering the elections is that all preparations
are made to ensure absolutely free and fair elections. I don’t have
any independent ability to judge whether this is the case. There will
be an electoral observation carried out by the OSCE/ODIHR.
This will be the first major elections in Armenia after the adoption of
the Action Plan and it will determine the quality of our relations. The
elections will show what degree of commitment Armenia has towards
meeting the goals and objectives reflected in the Action Plan. The
upcoming elections will be crucially important and we will be following
them with great interest.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

COMPROMISE AND REALISM ONLY OPTIONS FOR KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.09.2006 14:34 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ One cannot blame Armenia for thinking that Azerbaijan
is not ready or interested in a negotiated peace, Armenian FM Vartan
Oskanian stated at the 61st session of the UN GA, reports the Press
Office of the MFA of Armenia. “Yet, having rejected the other two
compromise solutions that have been proposed over the last 8 years,
they do not want to be accused of rejecting the peace plan on the table
today. Therefore, they are using every means available – from state
violence to international maneuvers – to try to bring the Armenians to
do the rejecting. But Armenia is on record: we have agreed to each of
the basic principles in the document that’s on the table today. Yet, in
order to give this or any document a chance, Azerbaijan can’t think, or
pretend to think, that there is still a military option. There isn’t.
The military option is a tried and failed option.
Compromise and realism are the only real options. The path that
Nagorno Karabakh has chosen for itself over these two decades is
irreversible. Karabakh succeeded in ensuring its self-defense, it
proceeded to set up self-governance mechanisms, and it controls its
borders and its economy. Formalizing this process is a necessary step
toward stability in our region.
Dismissing, as Azerbaijan does, all that has happened in the last 20
years and petulantly insisting that things must return to the way they
were, is not just unrealistic, but disingenuous. Nagorno Karabakh is
not a cause. It is a place, an ancient place, a beautiful garden, with
people who have earned the right to live in peace and without fear. We
ask for nothing more. We expect nothing less,” Oskanian summed up.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SCHWARZENEGGER SIGNED LAW TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS AND THEIR HEIRS
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.09.2006 15:13 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed
SB 1524, legislation that provides relief to California Armenian
Genocide victims, and their families, who are seeking legal action to
recover assets that were lost or stolen during the atrocities against
the Armenian people.
Under this law, any Armenian Genocide victim, heir or beneficiary,
who resides in California may bring or continue a court action for
a financial institution’s failure to pay or turn over deposited or
looted assets. This bill also extends the statute of limitation for
filing a claim to December 31, 2016.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VARTAN OSKANIAN’S STATEMENT AT UN GA SESSION
Armenpress
Sept 25 2006
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: ‘Madame President, It is a pleasure
to congratulate you and to wish you a year that is relatively free
of crises and catastrophes. In other words, a year not like the one
we’ve just had during which my good friend Ian Eliasson successfully
navigated through troubled waters.
The year of turmoil, as he called it, included conflicts, as well
as man-made and natural disasters that required our collective
response. These challenges to our united will are becoming more
numerous, more dangerous and more complex.
Of all the events last year, the one which stood out most tragically
was the war in Lebanon. There I believe we lost a great deal of
credibility in the eyes of the peoples of the world who had a right
to expect that political expediency would not prevail. We watched
with great disappointment and dismay the political bickering within
the Security Council and the reluctance to bring about an immediate
ceasefire, even as the bombs were being dropped indiscriminately.
When any world body or power loses moral authority, the effectiveness
to undertake challenges which require collective response is
undermined.
In other areas, a united international community has succeeded. It
has played a supportive role in the civilized process which brought
Montenegro to this day and this body. Together, we created and
empowered the Peace building Commission and the Human Rights Council
– two bodies which hold great promise in delivering deeper and more
purposeful engagement by a world community committed to building
peace and protecting human rights.
The most insipid and threatening challenges in the world remain those
of poverty and hopelessness. When the world’s leaders met six years
ago, they decided that the UN was the ideal mechanism to confront
the social ills facing our societies, they publicly accepted their
combined responsibility in achieving accelerated and more even social
and economic development. They said to the world that, together, we
will channel international processes and multinational resources to
tackle the most basic human needs. Thus, they placed the principle and
potential of united action on the judgment block. Six years later,
the world continues to watch in earnest to see if individual and
regional interests can be rallied in striving for the common good.
Madame President, We are faced with the same challenges, locally. In
Armenia, we are encouraged and rewarded by our extensive reforms. These
reforms are irreversible and already showing remarkable results.
We are going to move now to second generation reforms in order
to continue to register the successes of the last half decade:
legislative and administrative strides forward, an open, liberal
economy, double-digit growth.
Encouraged by our own successes, this year we have determined to
build on our course of economic recovery and target rural poverty. We
are reminded of the remarkable promise made to the victims of global
poverty in 2000: “To free our fellow men, women and children from the
abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty.” To do this at
home, we will leverage the philanthropy of international organizations
and friendly governments with the traditional generosity of our
Diaspora to build and repair infrastructure, which is essential to
facilitate and enable economic development. But infrastructure alone
does not reduce poverty and remove unjust inequalities. Creating
economic opportunities, teaching the necessary skills – these are
essential to erase the deep development disparities that exist today
between cities and rural areas.
Madame President, we will begin in our border communities, because
unlike other countries, where borders are points of interaction and
activity, Armenia’s borders to the east and the west remain closed. As
a result, regional economic development suffers. But with Turkey, it
is more than our economies that suffer. It is the dialogue between our
two peoples that suffers. Turkey’s insistence on keeping the border
closed, on continuing to prevent direct contact and communication,
freezes the memories of yesterday instead of creating new experiences
to forge the memories of tomorrow. We continue to remain hopeful that
Turkey will see that blocking relations until there is harmony and
reciprocal understanding is really not a policy. On the contrary, it’s
an avoidance of a responsible policy to forge forward with regional
cooperation at a time and in a region with growing global significance.
Madame President, let me take a minute to reflect on Kosovo,
as so many have done. We follow the Kosovo self-determination
process very closely. We ourselves strongly support the process of
self-determination for the population of Nagorno Karabakh. Yet, we
don’t draw parallels between these two or with any other conflicts. We
believe that conflicts are all different and each must be decided on
its own merits. While we do not look at the outcome of Kosovo as a
precedent, on the other hand, a Kosovo decision cannot and should not
result in the creation of obstacles to self-determination for others
in order to pre-empt the accusation of precedence. Such a reverse
reaction – to prevent or pre-empt others from achieving well-earned
self-determination – is unacceptable.
Efforts to do just that – by elevating territorial integrity above
all other principles – are already underway, especially in this
chamber. But this contradicts the lessons of history. There is a reason
that the Helsinki Final Act enshrines self-determination as an equal
principle. In international relations, just as in human relations,
there are no absolute rights. There are also responsibilities. A state
must earn the right to lead and govern. States have the responsibility
to protect their citizens. A people choose the government which
represents them. The people of Nagorno Karabakh chose long ago not to
be represented by the government of Azerbaijan. They were the victims
of state violence, they defended themselves, and succeeded against
great odds, only to hear the state cry foul and claim sovereignty and
territorial integrity. But the government of Azerbaijan has lost the
moral right to even suggest providing for their security and their
future, let alone to talk of custody of the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
Azerbaijan did not behave responsibly or morally with the people
of Nagorno Karabakh, who it considered to be its own citizens. They
sanctioned massacres in urban areas, far from Nagorno Karabakh; they
bombed and displaced more than 300,000 Armenians; they unleashed the
military; and after they lost the war and accepted a ceasefire, they
proceeded to destroy all traces of Armenians on their territories. In
the most cynical expression of such irresponsibility, this last
December, a decade after the fighting had stopped, they completed the
final destruction and removal of thousands of massive hand-sculpted
cross-stones – medieval Armenian tombstones elaborately carved and
decorated.
Such destruction, in an area with no Armenians, at a distance from
Nagorno Karabakh and any conflict areas, is a callous demonstration
that Azerbaijan’s attitude toward tolerance, human values, cultural
treasures, cooperation or even peace, has not changed.
One cannot blame us for thinking that Azerbaijan is not ready or
interested in a negotiated peace. Yet, having rejected the other
two compromise solutions that have been proposed over the last 8
years, they do not want to be accused of rejecting the peace plan on
the table today. Therefore, they are using every means available –
from state violence to international maneuvers – to try to bring the
Armenians to do the rejecting.
But Armenia is on record: we have agreed to each of the basic
principles in the document that’s on the table today. Yet, in order to
give this or any document a chance, Azerbaijan can’t think, or pretend
to think, that there is still a military option. There isn’t. The
military option is a tried and failed option. Compromise and realism
are the only real options. The path that Nagorno Karabakh has chosen
for itself over these two decades is irreversible. It succeeded in
ensuring its self-defense, it proceeded to set up self-governance
mechanisms, and it controls its borders and its economy. Formalizing
this process is a necessary step toward stability in our region.
Dismissing, as Azerbaijan does, all that’s happened in the last 20
years and petulantly insisting that things must return to the way
they were, is not just unrealistic, but disingenuous.
Madame president, Nagorno Karabakh is not a cause.
It is a place, an ancient place, a beautiful garden, with people who
have earned the right to live in peace and without fear. We ask for
nothing more. We expect nothing less.’
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EURASIA FOUNDATION SUPPORTS RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
Armenpress
Sept 26 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS: More than 190 NGOs and informal
community groups in Armenia’s regions will gain access to trainings
and resources through a program administered by Eurasia Foundation’s
(EF) representative office in Armenia, enabling them to play a more
effective role in the development of rural communities.
An official from the Foundation told Armenpress that a total of
$130,000 was awarded to nine organizations to build their ability to
serve as hubs and resource centers for local NGOs and citizens. The
grants will expand the services provided by these nine resources
centers, allowing them to provide trainings to local NGOs in skills
such as participatory needs assessments, program development and
fundraising, community mobilization, and monitoring and evaluation.
The centers will also provide basic support such as Internet access,
translation, and copy and fax services.
“By strengthening the capacities of local NGOs and citizen groups
to tackle issues of local importance, EF hopes to build local
ownership of the development process and engage community members
in the decision-making processes,” says Ara Nazinyan, EF’s Country
Director in Armenia.
In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of each resource
center, the Foundation will also support capacity development
activities for each partner organization so that they can later provide
trainings and other services on a fee-for-service basis to other NGOs,
donors, businesses and community groups.
These organizations were identified by EF through an open grants
competition and selected due in large part to their strong potential
for organizational sustainability. They will be linked through network
of Resource Centers for Community Development to promote the exchange
of information and experiences between centers. The centers are:
NGO Center for Civil Society Development (Lori), Martuni Women’s
Community Council (Gegharkunik), Kaghni Social Ecological Governmental
Organization (Tavush), Huysi Kamar Gyullibulagh NGO (Shirak), Civil
Initiative Center Vahagni XXI NGO (Lori), Goris Youth Union Public
Organization (Syunik), Nvatshum Youth NGO (Tavush), the A.D.
Sakharov Armenian Human Rights Protection Center (Shirak), and Sisian
Development Center Public Organization (Syunik).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

European Armenian Federation
for Justice & Democracy

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

JOINT STATEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN CIVIL SOCIETY

Signed by 261 associations throughout Europe

Please find attached the English, French, German and Italian version of the joint statement.

Dear Members of Parliament,

We, European citizens, follow up with a sustained attention the Union enlargement process and especially the developments relating to Turkey’s controversial candidature.

We took note of the report on `Turkey’s progress towards accession’ voted on Monday September 4 by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. We particularly noticed with delight that the European Parliament `reiterates its call on Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian genocide, as called for un the previous European Parliament resolutions of 15 December 2004 and 28 September 2005′ and `considers such acknowledgment to be a precondition for European Union accession’.

We were also informed about threatening pressures exerted on you by Turkey and the disinformation campaign in order to remove this mention. As citizens of the Union, we are absolutely indignant that a foreign power with radically anti-European values can thus alter the sovereign appreciation formulated by our European representation on this issue.

This is why we take the liberty of reminding you the following facts:

1. The call for the Armenian genocide acknowledgment as a precondition by the European Parliament does not constitute at all an additional requirement towards Turkey. This requirement was clearly formulated in almost the same wording, less than a year ago, in the resolution on `opening the negotiations with Turkey”:

`The European Parliament calls on Turkey to recognise the Armenian genocide; considers this recognition to be a prerequisite for accession to the European Union’ (P6_TA(2005)0350, 28/09/2005);
This formulation is in the political line of those written in the preceding resolutions of 18 June 1987 and 15 December 2004. To water down or to remove it would constitute an obvious sign given to Turkey that the European Parliament is on the point of denying its principles,

2. The fact that such a condition was not formally imposed to other Candidate States does not constitute an argument proving its non-admissibility. The application of other States even would not be taken into consideration. The acknowledgement of its crimes by the State who perpetrated it is an accession criteria,

3. the calls reiterated by the European Parliament concerning this issue allowed the beginning of timid debates in Turkey. Weakening these demands would constitute an objective support to nationalists who want to eliminate in Turkey some dissident voices on this matter and to keep Turkey away from our European standards,

4. Turkey, who claims to wish to debate on this question, still has not answered to the Armenian president proposal which consists in establishing an intergovernmental commission in order to examine how to solve all the problems between the two countries and to create diplomatic relations. On the other hand, Turkey continues to deploy its denialist strategy in terms of historians committees and opening of archives in order to extract the genocide question from the political context of its candidature for the Union,

5. The denial policy of Turkey is not only a permanent offence to our European values, it is also the mark of an ultranationalist and racial ideology which constitutes a concrete threat towards our societies and our children.

Communities throughout Europe which are watching with anxiety the negotiating process with Turkey will be terribly disappointed seeing the EP retreat from the very laudable position established by its Foreign Affairs Committee on such a fundamental principle. We urge you to come forward with a proud vote upholding the Parliament’s commitment in this matter.”

Consequently, we urge you to maintain in plenary session the clear and adequate formulation of the paragraph 49 adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee.

1. Mechitaristen Kongregation, AUSTRIA

2. Armenische Studentenvereinigung (ASV) und Östereich-Armenisches Sportkomitee (ÖASK) Ararat, AUSTRIA

3. Armenischer Allgemeiner Sport- und Pfadfinder Verein Wien (H.M.E.M) , AUSTRIA

4. Verein für die Betreuung von Migranten und Asylanten (HUYS-SPES) , AUSTRIA

5. Europäische Armenische Föderation für Justiz und Demokratie in Österreich, AUSTRIA

6. Armenisch-Apostolische Kirchengemeinde Österreichs St. Hripsime (Kirchengemeinde), AUSTRIA

7. Comité des Arméniens de Belgique, BELGIUM

8. FRA Tashnagtsoutioun, BELGIUM

9. Armenian youth cultural centre, BELGIUM

10. ASSOCIATION DES ARMENIENS DEMOCRATES DE BELGIQUE, BELGIUM

11. Assemblée des Représentants Arméniens de Belgique, BELGIUM

12. CCAF Centre-France, FRANCE

13. AACG Grenoble

14. ACA Vienne

15. ACA Lyon

16. ACS Villefranche

17. ADL

18. AMASC

19. ANA Grenoble

20. APECLE

21. Association Culturelle de Kharpert

22. Badanis Décines

23. C 24 Valence

24. CBAF Décines

25. CBAF Grenoble

26. CBAF Lyon-Villeuranne

27. CBAF St Maurice de Beynost

28. CBAF Vienne

29. Comité de Défense de la Cause Arménienne

30. CEDIA

31. Eglise catholique arménienne de Lyon

32. Eglise évangélique arménienne de Décines

33. Eglise évangélique arménienne de Lyon

34. FRA Décines

35. FRA Grenoble

36. FRA Lyon -Villeurbanne

37. FRA Vienne

38. France Karabagh

39. France Arménie

40. MCA Charvieu

41. MCA Chasse-sur-Rhône

42. MCA Décines, MCA Grenoble

43. MCA Vienne

44. MCA Villeurbanne

45. Nor Seround Décines

46. Nor Seround Lyon

47. Radio Arménie

48. Terre et Culture

49. UCFAF

50. Union Des Associations Arméniennes de St-Etienne et St-Chamond

51. UGAB Lyon

52. UGAB Vienne

53. UNEAA Lyon et environs

54. UNEA Pont de Chéruy

55. UMAF

56. CCAF Ile-de France, FRANCE

57. A.A. Ecole TEBROTZASSERE

58. AAAG (Ecole St Mesrop)

59. AAAS

60. ACEERF (Eglise Evangélique)

61. ADL Ramgavar

62. AFAJA

63. AFAV

64. Aide pour l’Arménie

65. ANACRA

66. ARMENIE Villages

67. ASK (Soutien Kharabagh)

68. ASPA

69. Ass Sainte Croix (Eglise Catholique)

70. Association Arménie/Kharabagh

71. AYP FM

72. CBAF

73. CDCA

74. CHENE

75. Collectif VAN

76. COPEA

77. Eglise Apostolique

78. FRA Dachnaktsoutioun

79. FRA Nor Seround

80. G2 IA

81. HAMASKAINE

82. HOMENETMEN

83. JAF

84. MAFP

85. Maison de la Culture de Paris

86. NAZARPEK

87. Nouvelles d’Arménie Magazine

88. SD Hentchakian

89. SFA

90. UCAM (Arméniens de Montreuil)

91. UCFAF

92. UCIA

93. UGAB

94. UMAF

95. CCAF Sud France, FRANCE (25 associations signatrices)

96. Zentralrat der Armenier in Deutschland e.V., GERMANY

97. Armenische Gemeinde zu Berlin e.V. , GERMANY

98. Armenischer Kulturverein Hamburg e.V. , GERMANY

99. Armenische Kirche – München, GERMANY

100. Armenische Landsmannschaft zu Bayern e.V. , GERMANY

101. Armenisches Hilfswerk in Deutschland e.V. , GERMANY

102. Armenisch-Akademischer Verein 1860 e.V. , GERMANY

103. Norserunt-Deutschland, GERMANY

104. German-Armenian Studentsclub Haik, GERMANY

105. Institut für Armenische Fragen e.V. , GERMANY

106. Armenian National Committee of Greece, GREECE

107. Armenian Prelacy and National Committee of Orthodox in Greece, GREECE

108. Greek Armenian Forum, GREECE

109. Greek Armenian Friendship League, GREECE

110. Armenia Blue Cross of Greece, GREECE

111. Armenia Youth Federation, GREECE

112. Hamaskaïne Cultural Association, GREECE

113. Homenetmen, GREECE

114. Athletic Scout Organisation, GREECE

115. Armenian Charity Cross of Macedonia and Greece, GREECE

116. Azad Or : Armenian Daily Newspapers, GREECE

117. Djenazian Armenian High School, GREECE

118. Hagopian School, GREECE

119. Zavarian Armenian School, GREECE

120. Italian Civil Society Associations and Personalities, ITALY

121. AZAT

122. Redazione di ”La Voce Armena”

123. Communita Armenia

124. Consiglio per la comunità armena di roma

125. Redaction de

126. Redaction de “Akhtamar On Line”

127. Ettore Musco

128. Massimiliano De Sire

129. Gassia Manoukian

130. Tizzi Corrado

131. Mechitarian, Iganzia Maria Lucia

132. Patrizia Manduchi

133. Michelguglielmo Torri

134. Tosatti Marco

135. Aldo Baldini

136. Gloria Ruth Calfayan

137. Norberto Poggio

138. Gloria Calfayan [

139. Norberto Poggio

140. don Riccardo Pane

141. Tiziano Villa

142. rech

143. Flavia Randi

144. Deir Ghazarian

145. H.RIAN

146. flora khaciatrian

147. Rodolfo Caroselli

148. Anais Dilsizian

149. Raffi Kassapian

150. Hovsep Kassapian

151. Clara Kurkdjian

152. Angele Berberian

153. Yervant Berberian

154. Levon Balian

155. May Balian

156. Magda Balian

157. Nubar Kassapian

158. Araxi Kassapian

159. Anias Kassapian

160. Haig Kassapian

161. Yacoub Artine Hayatian

162. Barbara Faes

163. Vahan Shahbazians

164. Marilde Andreano

165. Daniela Chiappetti

166. Rodolfo Caroselli

167. Andrea Cramarossa

168. Canetta Nemo

169. Armen Gurekian

170. Tiziano Villa

171. Storia Libera

172. Pietro Salvatori

173. Dott. Matteo Compareti

174. Massimiliano De Sire

175. Michelguglielmo Torri

176. Avedis Naroyan

177. Enrico Potukian

178. GALEANDRO Angela

179. Marco Rossi

180. Anahid Zerunian

181. Wartanusch Zerunian

182. Paola Della Rosa

183. Sarkis Zerunian

184. Corrado Miceli

185. Marzia Chini

186. Simonetta Pandolfi

187. Luciano Desocio

188. Bruno, Marta
189.
190. Il Presidente Gen. Ennio Reggiani

191. Cristina Gervasi

192. Mary Avakian

193. Manuela Avakian

194. Francesco Castelli

195. Noemi Antranikian

196. Lia Avakian

197. Linda Avakian

198. Umberto Codeleoncini

199. Zekiyan Boghos

200. Nevart Cricorian

201. Arà Zarian

202. Andrea Malavolti
203. Maria Giovanna Stasolla

204. Tchakmichian Karina

205. morelli derberiaviano

206. Guido Grosso

207. Antranik Balian

208. Elisa Giunchi

209. Saro Lerner

210. Khodaveerdi Saro

211. Khodaveerdi Boranian Siranusch

212. Khodaveerdi Savadians Marò

213. Khodaveerdi Gayané

214. Boranian Gedik Alis

215. Beatrice Paccani

216. Paola Barbara Conti

217. Faticato Camillo

218. Mirco Medici

219. Giovannamr Rizzi

220. Lucia Menichelli

221. Gaetano Tursi

222. Emanuele Aliprandi

223. Aldo Ferrari

224. Roberta Aluffi

225. Edoardo De Giovanni

226. Beatrice Paccani

227. Federica Mancinelli

228. Arnaldo Peretta
229. Mildonian Paola

230. Francesca Giovannoni

231. Heratch Abdalian

232. Abdalian Armine

233. Nederlandse Armeense comité voor Rechtvaardigheid en Democratie(Haytad), NETHERLANDS

234. Armenian Cultural -Sport Union Almelo (Homentmen), NETHERLANDS

235. ANI Cultureel huis, NETHERLANDS

236. ARF Dashnaksoutyoun – Holland, NETHERLANDS
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANC PAC
104 N. Belmont St.
Suite 200B
Glendale, CA 91206
Press Release
ANC-PAC Praises Senator Boxer For Challenging Bush Administration’s
Recall of Armenian Ambassador Hoagland Questions Whether There Was Intent
to Destroy Armenian People in 1915
September 26, 2006
Los Angeles, CA – The Armenian National Committee – Political Action
Committee issued a statement this week praising U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer
(D-CA) for challenging the Bush Administration’s decision to recall
Ambassador John Marshall Evans from his post in Yerevan, Armenia. Most
recently, Senator Boxer voted against the nomination of a new U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia as a result of unanswered questions about the recall of John
Evans.
Ambassador Evans was directed by the Department of State to return
prematurely to the United States as a result of remarks he made in February
of 2005 acknowledging the Armenian Genocide at a community forum in the San
Francisco-Bay area. President George W. Bush declared his intent to nominate
Richard Hoagland on May 25, 2006 to replace Ambassador Evans.
“Senator Boxer has been a major force in exposing the State Department’s
indefensible decision to fire Ambassador Evans for openly and honestly
discussing the Armenian Genocide. The Senator’s courage in challenging a
bankrupt policy of denying the Armenian Genocide is deeply appreciated by the
over 700,000 Armenian Americans who live and work in the State of
California,” remarked ANC-PAC Chairman Leonard Manoukian.
On June 28, 2006 Senator Boxer submitted a series of questions to
Ambassador Richard Hoagland, whose previous post was in Tajikistan.
Specifically, the Senator asked Hoagland why the Armenian Genocide does not
meet the definition of genocide. In reply to this question, the
Ambassador-designee cited the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and made the case that the Armenian
Genocide did not meet the “intent” clause of the convention. In the words of
Hoagland, the Turkish Ottoman authorities had no “specific intent to destroy,
in whole or in substantial part” the Armenian people in 1915.
In another affront to the Armenian American community, Hoagland dismissed
the need to refer accurately to the murder of 1.5 million Armenians as
genocide as a “legal debate over a technical definition.” The
Ambassador-designee’s reply was in response to a question posed by Senator
Boxer about the need to abide by the President’s National Security Strategy
which has, as an aim, the goal of preventing genocide.
“Our organization is deeply disturbed with the insensitive reply
Ambassador Hoagland provided to Senator Boxer’s question about why he
believes the Armenian Genocide does not meet the State Department’s own
definition of genocide,” explained Manoukian. “Mr. Hoagland is either ill
informed on the history of the Armenian Genocide or willfully provided an
inaccurate reply to Senator Boxer’s query. In either case, providing such an
argument, that the Armenian Genocide was not committed with intent to destroy
the Armenian people, ought to give pause to all people of good will about his
qualifications to be posted in Yerevan to represent the American government,”
he added.
The ANC-PAC is a non-partisan federally registered political action
committee established to support campaign committees for Members of Congress
who share the values of the Armenian American community. The ANC-PAC is at
the forefront of efforts to ensure that the voice of the Armenian American
community is clearly heard in our nation’s capital. The ANC-PAC continues a
century old tradition of Armenian Americans engagement on the public policy
issues facing national political leaders, both in the U.S. Congress and the
White House.
If you receive this email as “Junk” or “Spam”, please make sure to add our
email as a “Safe” or “Trusted” contact.

Dink Accused of Insulting Turkish Identity
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
zaman.com
An indictment was prepared for Agos newspaper Editor-in-Chief Hrant
Dink and two administrators of the newspaper for `insulting the
Turkish identity.’ The Sisli Public Prosecutor’s indictment reads
that Hrant Dink quoted a statement that he made to a foreign news
agency on July 21, 2006 an issue of Agos Newspaper.
The indictment quotes Dink as purportedly saying `I define it as
genocide because the result itself defines the event and names it. We
can now see that a nation, which has been living on these lands for
4,000 years, is on the verge of disappearing following these
developments.’ The indictment asks for up to three years imprisonment
for Hrant Dink and administrators Arat Dink and Serkis Seropyan
according to article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code.
;alt=& amp;trh060926&hn=36808
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FUNDS FOR TURK-AZERI RAILWAY BANNED
UmÝt EngÝnsoy
Turkish Daily News , Turkey
Sept 25 2006
US Armenians back measure banning loans
The Senate’s Banking Committee has blocked any funding by the U.S.
Export-Import Bank for a proposed railroad project that would connect
Turkey with Azerbaijan through Georgia and would bypass Armenian
territory.
Backing a campaign by U.S. Armenian groups, the committee unanimously
approved the measure introduced by Democratic Senator Robert Menendez
of New Jersey in a Thursday vote.
According to the measure, the Export-Import Bank “shall not guarantee,
insure or extend (or participate in the extension of) credit in
connection with the export of any good or service relating to the
development or promotion of any railway connection or railway-related
connection that does not traverse or connect with Armenia, and does
traverse or connect Baku, Azerbaijan, Tbilisi, Georgia, and Kars,
Turkey.”
The provision is now part of the Senate Export-Import Bank
Reauthorization Bill, also adopted unanimously by the committee,
paving the way for full Senate consideration of the legislation. The
bill welcomed by the Armenian National Committee of America is expected
to be approved at the Senate floor.
–Boundary_(ID_CW8YbjdyCl/Y9ddhpnYqHQ)–

EXHIBITION OF ARMENIAN WINES AND SOUVENIRS TO BE HELD IN BRATISLAVA ON SEPTEMBER 26
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 25 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. An exhibition of Armenian wines
and articraft articles will be held on September 26 in Bratislava, the
capital of Slovakia. Mushegh Sargsian, Director for Export Promotion of
the Armenian Development Agency (ADA), told NT correspondent about it.
According to him, in particular the wine “Areni” will be on display
at the exhibition, as there are no wines of this type on the market
of Slovakia, a wine making country. “If we are able to enter this
market with several types of “Areni”, we’ll consider our attempt as
successful,” M. Sargsian noted.
He added that the studies in Slovakia showed that Armenian articraft
articles and souvenirs (items made of wood, metal, carpets) are quite
popular in this country.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress