Author: Emil Lazarian

VARTAN OSKANIAN: OSCE MG TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA OCTOBER 3
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.09.2006 13:42 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An agreement on a regional visit was achieved during
the meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs in New York, Armenian
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated at press conference in Yerevan.
In his words, the mediators will arrive in Armenia October 3. “After
the consultations with the Co-chairs it will be possible to speak
of a new meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs,” he said. At
that he remarked that since the meetings with Mammadyarov produce no
proper results, they become unnecessary.
“After the GUAM’s initiative on the ‘frozen conflicts’ in the UN the
situation has changed and meetings lost sense. An initial document
and some agreements are essential for talks. It makes no sense to
meet for no particular reason, the Minister said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TENSION OF RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN RELATIONS TO HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.09.2006 14:04 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Armenia is concerned about the events in Georgia,
since the tension of the Russian-Georgian relations will have a
negative impact on Armenia,” RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said
at a press conference in Yerevan. In his words, the Armenians, accused
of espionage, are Georgian citizens and Armenia cannot interfere into
the internal affairs of a neighbor state. “However, as you remember,
there are also Armenian citizens arrested in Georgia.
Presently the Foreign Ministries of the two states hold intense talks
on their release,” Oskanian said.

FRENCH PARTY URGES ~@45 000 FINE FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.09.2006 15:02 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The French Socialist Party (PS) has brought up
again a draft bill, which will penalize the denial of the Armenian
Genocide, to the agenda of the French Parliament. The draft bill,
which will bring up to a year’s imprisonment and a fine of up to ~@45
000 for those who deny the Genocide, will be discussed and voted in
the French Parliament on October 12, in line with a proposal by the
party, reported Cihan news agency.
To note, the French Parliament passed the bill on the Armenian
Genocide recognition in 2001. 1.5 million Armenians living in the
Ottoman Empire were killed during World War I. Turkey denies this
fact claiming that 200,000 Armenians died during forced migrations
due to cold weather and bad transportation conditions.

SENDING OF ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS TO LEBANON ON POLITICAL AGENDA
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.09.2006 14:23 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Sending of the Armenian peacekeeping contingent
to Lebanon is still on the agenda, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian said at a press conference in Yerevan. He reminded that
before the start of military operations the Lebanese Foreign Ministry
asked Armenia for support and assistance. “We should have the full
picture of events taking place in Lebanon to settle questions of the
kind. Only in this case Armenia can take a decision,” said the RA FM.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HOVNANIAN’S FORTUITOUS PATH TO AMERICA
By Bill Mooney
Trenton Times, NJ
Sept 27 2006
MOUNT LAUREL — Jirair Hovnanian, patriarch of the J.S. Hovnanian &
Sons building company, never forgets where his family came from.
“My family was driven out of Turkey during the 1915 massacre,” said
the recent recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. “My father
was 15 years old, and they were driven into the Syrian desert. The
Turks wanted to wipe out the Armenian minority when Armenians were
the tradesmasters, the businessmen.” Hovnanian, now in his 70s, was
born in Baghdad, Iraq, lived in Kirkuk for a time and then attended
a Jesuit school in Baghdad. A different place and time.
Those memories stayed with him as he arrived in this country in
1948 at the age of 21 with his family and served as inspiration as
he helped build up what has become one of the larger home-building
enterprises in the region. The medal, given earlier this month by
the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, recognizes citizens
of diverse ethnic backgrounds for contributions to the United States.
“I was born in Baghdad,” he said. “America is really my first country.”
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of
Business, Hovnanian began a construction business in 1959 with
his three brothers, then in 1964 started his own company that now
includes two sons Stephen and Peter, as well as a grandson, Garo,
and has established a base building homes and commercial properties
in central and southern New Jersey.
“I never really came through Ellis Island,” he said, but he appre
ciates what it stands for. “That facility allowed so many millions
of Americans to come to this country and become citizens of this
coun try.”
Of the medal, he said, “I will cherish it forever. It gives me the
opportunity to say thank you to America.”
As a successful businessman, Hovnanian has given back to the community
here and abroad. He is the founder of the Armenian Sis ters Academy,
a private school; a member of the Armenian Assembly of America; and
an archdeacon of St. Gregory’s Armenian Church in Philadelphia. He is
working to establish a high-tech center in Armenia, an International
Synchotron Light Source Accelerator Research Center in conjunction
with the European Union and the U.S.
Department of Energy.
“We have everything. They don’t have everything,” he said of the
Middle Eastern and Central European regions. “We have to show them
how to become successful. It’s like the Bible says: Don’t give them
the fish; give them something to fish with.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VENICE COMMISSION EXPERTS HOLD CLOSED DISCUSSIONS WITH ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS
By Marietta Khachatrian
AZG Armenian Daily
28/09/2006
Yesterday, behind-door discussions on electoral code were held at the
gilded hall of the National Assembly between the Venice Commission
of the Council of Europe and Armenian parliamentarians. To remind,
due to exclusion of some principal clauses from the code Justice
Party reclaimed its signature and National Unity as well as Rule of
Law Party promised to do the same. In Shavarsh Kocharian’s words,
there is agreement over a few clauses but Armenian deputies do not
want to agree to Venetian experts ideas in 6 other clauses. Kocharian
said that the issue of majority vote or party-list elections as well
as different approaches of Armenian deputies on formation of electoral
committee were not put on the agenda.
Venetian experts keep saying that there is obvious progress though
there are still issues to be settled.
Those issues are connected to the regulation of complaints during the
elections, creation of a mechanism of recalling committee members,
election of CEC president and adoption of the system of electorate’s
finger inking.
No document enclosing the discussions is expected to be adopted.

ARMENIA WAITING FOR CHARLES AZNAVOUR AND THE FRENCH PRESIDENT
A1+
[07:39 pm] 27 September, 2006
more images Late in the evening renowned French-Armenian chansonnier
Charles Aznavour is to arrive in Armenia. He is coming in connection
with the September 30 celebration within the framework of the year
of Armenia in France.
On that very day the opening ceremony of the French Square on the
crossroad of Sayat-Nova, Baghramyan and Mashtots avenues will take
place; later on Charles Aznavour will sing in the Republic Square
together with his friends. The opening of the French Square will take
place in the presence of the Armenian and French Presidents.
If you have a walk around Yerevan, you’ll have the impression that
the whole city, everyone from ordinary citizens to high officials,
is getting ready for the arrival of the guests.
According to preliminary data, on September 30 the French Square will
be decorated with the flags of both countries. A memorial board will
be opened with the date of the opening of the Square and the names
of the Presidents of both countries as initiators. A stage will be
constructed where the Presidents will stand together with their wives.
It is noteworthy that the decoration of the Republic Square where the
concert will take place is carried out by Russian workers. Deputy
mayor of Yerevan Vano Vardanyan said that they are not responsible
for these works as the renowned singer brought the crew himself.
The workers of the Security Service are also ready for the day,
although they are sure that there will be no emergencies.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARSHAK SADOYAN: ARMENTEL WILL BE SOLD TO PUTIN’S DAUGHTER
Panorama.am
16:12 27/09/06
Deputy of parliament, Arshak Sadoyan, expressed his opinion that
“Putin’s daughter may become ArmenTel’s owner.” Moreover, he said an
Arab company offers a higher price but it will be sold to Russians. If
telephone fees are raised, millions of dollars will go into the pocket
of the buyer, Sadoyan said.
Sadoyan also called everybody to join a demonstration on October 6. He
said they will march from Matenadaran to Public Services Regulatory
Committee demanding from the committee even not to deliberate the
proposal. The deputy believes even slightest pressure is enough to
keep the tariffs as they are.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SINGER HAIKO SPEAKS TO A PRESS CONFERENCE
Panorama.am
17:46 27/09/06
Singer Haiko addressed to the president of the republic to know why
he has awarded him the title of honored artists, Haiko told a news
conference today.
“Because there are many singers who come and go but you stay for a
long time,” the president has answered.
Haiko said he is not involved in politics and will not participate
in any pre-election campaigns.
The singer said he is doing well and the tickets of his upcoming
concert are sold well. Haiko said there will be no dances as it is
not within his style. He said there will be dozens of cameras “to
approach to the international level.”
The singer said he has received no concrete suggestions to participate
in Eurovision contest. He even said he is a little scared from rumors
that he may participate.
The singer is in search of his soul mate. He said he devotes his
songs to those who feel attached.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON)
24 April Committee for recognition and commemoration of the
Armenian Genocide of 1915
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
PRESS RELEASE
FAON: position of candidate Albayrak of Turkish origin is still questionable
The Hague 26 September – The Federation of Armenian Organisations in
the Netherlands (FAON) welcomes the removal of 3 candidates from draft
lists of Dutch Christian Democrats Party (CDA) and of Dutch Labor
Party (PvdA) for the coming Dutch parliamentary elections, since they
deny the Armenian Genocide. The Armenian Genocide was unanimously
recognised by Dutch Parliament in December 2004. The Dutch parties
have taken their responsibility on time concerning these candidates.
Mr. Sacan (PvdA), Mr .Tonca and Mr. Elmaci (CDA) are no longer
candidates for the elections.
In an earlier letter the Armenian Federation asked the Christian
Democratic Party (CDA) for clarification on the positions of a number
of candidates of Turkish origin who deny the Armenian Genocide (see
). The same question was addressed to other parties with
candidates from Turkish origine.
The Dutch TV programme NOVA on 20 September, with particitapion of MP
Mrs Huizinga Heringa (Christian Union Faction) and the chairman of 24
April Committee of FAON caused commotion, following which the
candidates, according to declarations of the parties, indicated to
share the viewpoint of their party on the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide.
Later, however, the candidates Sacan, Tonca and Elmaci indicated to
not share the viewpoint of their party. This opinion of Tonca and
Elmaci became apparent from their remarks in the Turkish newspaper
Sabah. The Armenian Federation therefore called once more upon the CDA
and PvdA to remove Tonca, Elmaci and Sacan from their lists, which
they did on September 26th.
The Armenian Federation, however, has still major objections with some
of the remarks that PvdA candidate of Turkish origin Mrs. Albayrak
(nr. 2 on PvdA list) made in the Dutch daily newspaper Trouw on 26
September, These remarks appear to be quite similar to the official
denial policy of Turkey. The Armenian Federation urges the PvdA to
give more clarity over Mrs. Albayrak’s precise position, before the
PvdA candidacy list is finalized.
The Armenian Federation also requests a decisive answer from the
political parties regarding the viewpoint on the Armenian Genocide of
a few more members of parliament of Turkish origin: Curus and Eski
(CDA), Orgu from People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), who
is not on the draft list for the coming elections, Ozutok (Greens Left
– GL) and Koser Kaya (Social-Liberal Democrats – D66) . The same
question is also valid for other candidates of Turkish descent for
parliament elections.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress