Author: Emil Lazarian

Gerald Gafeschian and Eduardo Ernekian awarded Saint Mesrop Mashtots order
ArmRadio.am
08.09.2006 12:00
According to RA President Robert Kocharyan’s decree of September
8 Saint Mesrop Mashtots order was awarded to Gerald Gafeschian and
Eduardo Ernekian for valuable service to Motherland.
On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of declaration of Armenia’s
independence Mkhitar Gosh medals were awarded to RA Ambassadors
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the People’s Republic of China and
the Federal Republic of Germany Vasili Ghazaryan and Karine Ghazinyan
for considerable service in the diplomatic sphere.
Acceding to another decree of the President, Head of the MFA Department
on ties with Diaspora Jivan Movsisyan was granted the title of RA
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #172, 09/09/2006
Armenian Genocide
BUENOS AIRES SOVEREIGN CITY PARLIAMENT RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
AND VOTES ON CORRESPONDING LAW ABOUT ANNUAL COMMEMORATION
Armenian Genocide history will be taught in schools of Buenos Aires
every April 24.
On Thursday evening, August 17 the Legislative Assembly of Buenos
Aires Sovereign City unanimously passed a law according to which April
24th will be honored as “Commemoration day of the first genocide of
20th century where Armenian people were persecuted”. This decision
of Buenos Aires Sovereign City is based on Buenos Aires Province law
number 13.478, which as is known, was introduced for discussion last
June with the effort of director of “Sardarabad” newspaper and district
member of parliament Sergio Nahapetian. The law envisions that every
April 24th all schools of the city have classes giving an overview of
the Armenian Genocide issue. MP Gorge Sanmartino presented the draft in
the city parliament who based his report on above-mentioned provincial
law. The law was unanimously passed during a long parliamentary
session. During the August 17 session the following were present:
Republic of Armenia Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador
Vlatimir Karmirshalian, minister Mr. Khorhen Terterian and embassy
associate on cultural and media matters Mr. Ruben Mozeian, leader of
Argentine and Chile Archbishop Gisak Muradian, Rev. Eghishe Nazarian,
vice-president of Armenian Central Committee Dr. Alperto Cherechian,
AGBU vice-president Mr. Ricardo Halachian, Mr. Hayk Shahinian (ADLP),
Pedro Muradian (ARF), and Mrs. Tiana Ter-Karapetian (Tekeyan Cultural
Center).After the adoption of the law Mr. Gorge Sanmartino thanked all
the members of parliament of the Sovereign City as well as Provincial
parliamentarian Sergio Nahapetian. He also greeted the presence of
ambassador of Republic of Armenia and the embassy staff, the Armenian
Primate and representatives of Armenian organizations.

POLITICAL COUNCIL OF “DASHINK” PARTY CONDEMNS ATTACK ON EDITOR OF
“IRAVUNK” NEWSPAPER
Yerevan, September 8. ArmInfo. The Political Council of “Dashink”
party has condemned the September 6 attack on Hovhanness Galajyan,
editor of “Iravunk” newspaper.
The party’s statement received by ArmInfo, particularly, classifies the
attack as a “hopeless step by miserable people” against the freedom of
speech. The party calls on political and public forces for unification
for establishment of democratic state in Armenia, and free press.
To recap, Leader of “Dashink” party is Samvel Babayan, NKR Defense
Army Commander.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

COMPANIES, WHICH PROVIDE WITH TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION VIA INTERNET,
ARE INDIGNANT AT “ARMENTEL” COMPANY’S ACTIONS
Yerevan, September 8. ArmInfo. The representatives of home companies,
which provide with telephone communication via Internet, have
expressed their indignation and protest today at the actions of
“ArmenTel” Company.
As Artak Khachatryan, the Director General of “PIXELL” CJSC said today
in the “Pastark” discussion club, over 50 telephone numbers, belonging
to this Company, were switched off during a day with ArmenTel’s part in
it and without any warning. In view of this, the people was deprived of
an access to the cheap and qualitative electronic communication with
its relatives. “We address all the interested bodies, RA President,
RA Government, the Parliament deputies, Mass Media representatives
with request to undertake corresponding measures to recover the
natural work of our companies”, Khachatryan said.
According to him, everybody knows the corruptibility of “ArmenTel”
Company. Disconnection of telephones is organized by “ArmenTel”
in order to eliminate a cheap and accessible communication, and
the population would have to make use of the traditional telephone
communication, which cost exceeds the Internet-communication 5-10
times, while the “ArmenTel” would receive an excess profit from it.
“We shall resort to every legal means to protect our prostrated
rights”, A. Khachatryan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“RADIO VAN” RADIO STATION HAS BECOME LAUREATE OF INTERNATIONAL CONTEST
OF POPOV PRIZE
Yerevan, September 8. ArmInfo. The “Radio Van” Radio Station has
become a laureate of the International Contest of Popov Prize in
radio broadcasting, held September 7 in Limassol, Cyprus.
It is already the third time the “Radio Van” has become a laureate
of a prestigious prize, in the nomination of “Specialized Program”
this time. The program is called a “Diary of a Non-born Child”.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +
PRESS RELEASE +++ PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Thursday, September 7, 2006
Contact: Lerna Kayserian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR Summer Interns Contribute to Grassroots Initiatives
GLENDALE, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western
Region (ANCA-WR) completed its 2006 Summer Internship Program last
month. The program began on June 23rd and ended on August 18, with
interns from across the western region United States working to
advance the Armenian Cause.
Salpi Demirjian, a high school student from Gilbert, Arizona and an
active member of the Armenian Youth Federation Phoenix Chapter, was
among the participants of the internship program. During her time at
the ANCA-WR office, she created and updated a community database of
Arizona Armenians and identified state grant programs in California
related to the mission of the ANCA.
Sossie Mahroukian, a recent graduate of the California State University
at Fullerton, joined the program from Orange County. Ms.
Mahroukian earned her degree in Business Marketing. During the
internship, she explored opportunities for collaboration between the
ANCA and community organizations that share similar goals. Her main
project involved outreach to local Democratic and Republican party
clubs in an effort to connect the Armenian American community with
each political party’s base. Her project fell within the broader
efforts of the ANCA to engage Armenian Americans more actively in
local community politics.
Teresa Petrosyan, a Valley Village resident and a UCLA junior studying
International Development, spent her internship working with the
Genocide Education Project. The Genocide Education Project assists
educators in teaching about human rights and genocide, particularly the
Armenian Genocide, by developing instructional materials and providing
teaching resources and organizing training workshops. Working closely
with Raffi Momjian, the Genocide Education Project’s Executive Director
and Sarah Cohan, the Genocide Education Project’s Education Director,
Ms. Petrosyan identified school districts in California in which
genocide education workshops should be organized.
Allen Yekikan, a Glendale resident and UCLA junior studying history,
worked on increasing the accessibility of the ANCA as a resource for
the Armenian community. As part of his project, he catalogued the video
and book library of the Western Region office and created a digital
lending system. Mr. Yekikan also compiled a speaker bureau featuring
ANCA and community leaders, which could be used by Armenian collegiate
organizations to help them identify speakers on various topics. Both
the library lending system and speaker bureau will be launched via the
ANCA website this fall. In addition to interning at the ANCA-WR office,
Mr. Yekikan also worked as an extern with Asbarez Daily Newspaper,
where he served as an assistant editor for the English edition.
In addition to their individual projects, the interns participated in
the daily activities of the Western Region office. They participated
in meetings during the Congressional summer recess along with ANCA-WR
board members, staff and local ANC leadership. The interns also joined
former interns and volunteers in staffing the ANCA-WR exhibit at
the California Republican Party state convention, where they helped
introduce the organization to elected officials, party leadership
and delegates from across the state.
The program also included a lecture series as well as weekly press
reviews in which the interns presented and discussed news articles
related to Armenian American issues. The lecture series began with
an introduction to the history of Armenian American advocacy and
political awareness in the United States, including the inception,
growth and continued development of the ANCA.
“The meetings and press reviews are inspiring, informative, and
educational,” remarked Ms. Petrosyan. “We met professionals with
political knowledge and skills. They are good advisors – especially
to those of us interested in pursuing a career in public service.”
The interns were treated to a special lecture presentation by
Glendale City Councilman Rafi Manoukian and Glendale City Clerk
Ardashes Kassakhian, who discussed the importance of Armenian American
involvement in public service. The interns were also given a tour of
Los Angeles City Hall, led by former Leo Sarkissian Intern Rostom
Sarkissian. The tour was made possible by Areen Ibranossian, ANCA
activist and aide to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
“I enjoyed the atmosphere of the program. The staff members were
friendly and I learned a lot from them about how the ANCA runs
day-to-day,” commented Mr. Yekikan. “It was interesting to learn about
the long history of the organization and I am amazed with the amount
of progress we have made in empowering our community in the past
decades. I was glad I could contribute to advancing our community’s
issues through the internship program.”
The ANCA-WR Internship Program is also offered during the fall
and spring. More information about these programs is available by
contacting ANCA-WR Community Relations Director Haig Hovsepian.
Editor’s Note: Photo included(left to right): Allen Yekikan,
Teresa Petrosyan, Former ANCA-WR Chairman Levon Kirkosian, Sossie
Mahroukian, Salpi Demirjian, and ANCA-WR Community Relations Director,
Haig Hovsepian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

All Headline News
Sept 7 2006
Senate Approves Bush’s Pick For U.S. Armenia Envoy
September 7, 2006 7:58 p.m. EST
Shaveta Bansal – All Headline News Staff Writer
Washington D.C. (AHN) – The U.S. Senate’s Foreign Relations
Committee, on Thursday, in a 13-5 vote approved President George W.
Bush’s choice of the new U.S. ambassador to Armenia, despite strong
objections voiced by several members of the panel. The nomination, if
endorsed by the full Senate, will entitle U.S. Ambassador to
Tajikistan Richard Hoagland to take over from fellow diplomat John
Evans, who had been withdrawn by the administration after he
described Turkey’s 1915-1923 assault on Armenia as genocide.
Some of the committee members said that the nomination of Hoagland
should be rejected to protest the administration decision to recall
John Evans in May after he asserted the killing of 1.5 million
Armenians in Ottoman Turkey as genocide.
The Bush administration has avoided using the term for the massacre
in order not to offend Turkey, which Washington holds up as a model
of democracy among Islamic countries.
“In Darfur we are witnessing the first genocide of the 21st century
and the Bush administration called it that,” said Sen. Barbara Boxer,
a California Democrat. Boxer said she could not support Hoagland
“until we call the first genocide of the 20th century by its rightful
name.”
Committee Chairman Richard Lugar, an Indiana Republican, said no one
was questioning Hoagland’s credentials, adding that rejecting a
qualified nominee “because of concerns of U.S. policy toward that
country would set a troubling precedent.”
While Turkey has acknowledged that atrocities were committed, it has
contended that it had no intention to eradicate Armenians so it was
not genocide.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

U.N. General Assembly calls for U.N. to assist in preventing
environmental damage from fires in Nagorno-Karabakh
AP Worldstream;
Sep 08, 2006
The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for the U.N. to
urgently assist in preventing environmental damage from fires in the
disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenia disassociated itself from the resolution, which was approved
Thursday without a vote, and expressed concern at its title, “the
situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.”
The mountainous territory in Azerbaijan has been controlled _ along
with some surrounding areas _ by Karabakh and Armenian forces since
1994.
Nagorno-Karabakh has been governed by a shaky cease-fire that in 1994
ended a six-year separatist war.
The resolution stressed “the necessity to urgently conduct an
environmental operation to suppress the fires.” It took note of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s intention
to organize a mission to the region to assess the short-term and
long-term impact of the fires.
Nagorno-Karabakh is inside Azerbaijan, but is populated mostly by
ethnic Armenians, who have run it and seven contiguous districts
since the 1994 truce.
Sporadic border clashes regularly break out and the unresolved conflict
has held up development in the strategic region.
Azerbaijan’s U.N. Ambassador Yashar Aliyev introduced the draft
resolution, saying that in early June Azerbaijan registered massive
fires in the eastern part of the territory occupied by Armenia,
and by August the fire had damaged more than 600 square kilometers.
After the vote, he thanked everyone who supported the resolution,
expressing dismay that Armenia disassociated itself from the text which
had been negotiated with its diplomats over 48 hours. As a minimum,
he said, it was “honest and appropriate.”
Armenia’s U.N. Ambassador Armen Martirosyan said that although he
supported the content of the resolution, he had serious problems
with its title and opposed bringing any Nagorno-Karabakh issue to
the United Nations.
U.S. deputy ambassador Alejandro Wolff, speaking on behalf of the
OSCE group dealing with the Nagorno-Karabakh issue _ the U.S.,
France and Russia _ said the three countries remain committed to
promoting a peaceful, negotiated solution to the conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONGRATULATIONS ON INDEPENDENCE DAY
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
05 Sept 2006
On the15th anniversary of proclamation of NKR the NKR president and people
received a great number of congratulations from Armenia and abroad. The
president of Armenia Robert Kocharian congratulated the people of NKR. “The people
of Artsakh made their historical choice – defended their rights in the war
imposed on them and are now building a free and democratic state. Free and
strong Karabakh is the greatest monument to the immortal heroes of the liberation
war in Artsakh. State building in Nagorno Karabakh is directed at developing
the country and raising the quality of life of the people. A strong and
democratic state in Artsakh will guarantee a fair peace settlement. It is the
duty of the Republic of Armenia and the Armenians all over the world to support
the development of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and achieve its international
recognition,” ran the message of the president of Armenia. Catholicos of All
Armenians Garegin 2 congratulated the people of NKR and gave his blessing. NKR
President Arkady Ghukassian received congratulations from the foreign
minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanian, the president of the Constitutional Court of
Armenia Gagik Harutiunian. In their congratulation U.S. Congress
Representatives Franck Pallone and Joe Knollenberg emphasized that over the past 15 years
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has affirmed its viability and faithfulness to
freedom, peace, democracy and human rights. They affirmed their willingness to go
on defending NKR in reaching the international recognition of NKR. In his
congratulation addressed to President Ghukassian, Speaker Ghulian and Prime
Minister Anoushavan Danielian Constantine Zatulin, member of the Russian Duma
mentioned that today we can be proud not only of the strong army but also of the
revival and development of the national economy, sustainable democracy in
NKR, which may arouse envy in certain neighboring states. He affirmed the
willingness of Russia to be helpful in reaching a peace settlement and recognition,
emphasizing that they are against every attempt of violating the will of the
people. The NKR government received congratulations from General Mikael
Harutiunian, Chief of Headquarters of the Armed Forces of Armenia, Lieutenant
General Manvel Sargissian, Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia, S. Mkrtichian,
Armenian envoy to NATO, Vigen Chitejian, Armenian Ambassador to Brussels,
Oleg Yesayan, Armenian Ambassador to Belarus, Hrant Bagratian, former Armenian
prime minister, S. Sargissian, the governor of the region of Vayots Dzor,
Armenia, Mkrtich Mkrtichian, the chair of the Toronto branch of Armenia
Foundation, A. Ghukassian, the rector of the State Pedagogical University of Yerevan,
Suren Zolian, the rector of Yerevan State University of Linguistics.
DEPARTMENT OF PRESS OF PRESIDENT ADMINISTRATION
AA.
05-09-2006
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Reuters, UK
Sept 7 2006
Senate panel backs U.S. Armenia envoy nominee
Thu Sep 7, 2006 2:36pm ET
Politics News
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Senate panel backed President George W.
Bush’s pick for ambassador to Armenia on Thursday after an
impassioned debate over the administration’s withdrawal of the
previous ambassador who described Turkey’s 1915-1923 assault on
Armenia as genocide.
Several members said the committee should reject Richard Hoagland to
protest the administration decision to recall John Evans in May after
he asserted the killing of 1.5 million Armenians during the Ottoman
Empire should be called genocide.
U.S. administrations have avoided that term in order not to offend
Turkey, a key ally.
“In Darfur we are witnessing the first genocide of the 21st century
and the Bush administration called it that,” said Sen. Barbara Boxer,
a California Democrat. Boxer said she could not support Hoagland
“until we call the first genocide of the 20th century by its rightful
name.”
At his confirmation hearing, Hoagland avoided using the term
genocide.
The committee approved Hoagland’s nomination 13-5, advancing it for a
full Senate vote.
Committee Chairman Richard Lugar, an Indiana Republican, said no one
was questioning Hoagland’s credentials and said rejecting a qualified
nominee “because of concerns of U.S. policy toward that country would
set a troubling precedent.”
While Turkey has acknowledged that atrocities were committed, it
contends there was not an intention to eradicate Armenians so it was
not genocide.
The Bush administration is trying to patch relations with Turkey,
which it holds up as a model of democracy among Islamic countries,
after they were frayed by the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
Sen. John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, said to withdraw an
ambassador “because he uttered the word genocide is to kow-tow” to
other countries. “I think the vote is bigger and more important than
just Ambassador Hoagland and that’s why I’ll vote ‘no’.”
But Ohio Republican Sen. George Voinovich said he felt the
administration was justified in recalling Evans.
“By golly, if they recalled a person because of this, it had to be
something really, really important in terms of this country’s
relationship with Turkey,” Voinovich said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress