Author: Emil Lazarian

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

Ambassador’s Farewell Visit to the National Assembly
National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Sept 7 2006
On September 6, Mr. Tigran Torosyan, the President of the National
Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, received Mr. John Evans, the US
Ambassador to Armenia in connection with completion of his diplomatic
mission in Armenia.
The RA NA President thanked Mr. Ambassador for effective work and noted
that relations between the two countries have seriously progressed
during the years of his activity, and as a result several projects
were implemented in the Parliament, especially the cooperation with the
USAID, which promoted the conformity of the Armenian legislation to the
international standards. Mr. Torosyan wished success to Mr. Ambassador
and expressed confidence that Mr.
Ambassador will always remain the friend of Armenia.
Mr. Evans also expressed satisfaction with the development of two
countries’ relations and noted that it was a result of teamwork, and
the team is ready to cooperate with the National Assembly in future,
by continuing the launched programs. He highlighted the experience and
knowledge of basic problems of the NA President, which is a basis for
success. Touching upon the issue of autumn session to start in few
days, Mr. Evans particularly emphasized the draft on Electoral Code
out of circulating drafts, the adoption of which will greatly promote
the holding of elections in 2007 in conformity with international
standards. Mr. Ambassador noted that there are all preconditions in
Armenia to become a democracy leader in the region.
During the 15 years of the third Republic of Armenia a lot of work has
been done, good laws have been adopted. Mr. Evans noted that several
programs are carried out to reinforce the democracy and to assist in
organization of election, particularly to support in the improvement of
electoral rolls’ accuracy and running mechanisms. He also highlighted
the observers’ participation in the elections. The US Ambassador to
Armenia Mr. Evans emphasized the necessity of anti-corruption fight,
where the Parliament has its big role, to reinforce the democracy, the
success of which will promote the increase of investments in Armenia.
Mr. Torosyan, the RA NA President, touching upon the issue of
elections, noted that they are not only important stage for democracy
progress, but also they have to symbolize the direction of future
process of Armenia in May 2007. Thus, they are of high importance
for Armenia. The adoption of the Electoral Code by OSCE, on the
basis of Venice Commission experts’ suggestions will be a serious
step toward that. The NA President highlighted the establishment of
favorable atmosphere among political forces and the accomplishment of
multi party system in the country, when ruling and opposition parties
will understand, that they are parts of one unity and not the forces
conflicting each other.
The issue of Nagorno Karabakh was touched upon. Mr. T. Torosyan,
the RA NA President, highlighted the fact that OSCE Minsk Group
Co-chairs have chosen a resolution that takes into consideration the
principle of people’s self-determination. Mr. also Evans highlighted
the third principle of Helsinki Final Act: non-use of military
force in conflict resolution. They highlighted the continuation of
negotiations and noted that the pre-election period or elections
should not be an obstacle for that. It was noted that the increase of
Azerbaijan’s military expenses should be in the focus of international
community. The peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict is
within the undertaken obligations of Azerbaijan, as the PACE member
country. The PACE resolution requires to be exempt from military
threats and hatred propaganda.
Other issues of mutual importance were also discussed during the
meeting.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Vision and facts
By Costas Iordanidis
Kathimerini, Greece
Sept 7 2006
The recent European Parliament report calling on Ankara to recognize
the genocide of Armenians during World War I and that of the Assyrians
in the country’s southeast and the Pontic Greeks in the Black Sea
region may have irked Turkish officials but it does not come close
to constituting official European Union policy.
As a representative body, the European Parliament reflects public
reservations toward the prospect of Turkey’s EU membership. However,
the EU’s political elites have often adopted policies that run against
popular sentiment.
A similar thing is currently taking place in Turkey, as the security
establishment and the government are turning their back on public
sentiment. The EU’s attraction is on the wane and Turkish people
feel more affiliated with Muslim countries, some of which – Iran,
Syria and Lebanon – have been targeted by the West.
Turkey is experiencing a sort of schizophrenia. While the political
system is supposedly representing the general will, its style of
governance is actually bordering more and more on “enlightened rule.”
Increasingly, government policy is becoming eschatological: Political
leaders are convinced about the correctness of their actions, despite
the fact that the implementation of their policies has failed to bear
much fruit – at least enough to win public consent.
So much will depend on the European Commission report on Turkey’s
reform progress, due for release in October. Although the document
is expected to contain some warnings for Ankara, EU leaders will by
no means halt Turkey’s path to Europe.
The decision to admit Turkey is so firmly rooted among the EU’s
political elites, particularly in Greece, that it looks unshakeable.
Political vision, it seems, matters more than facts.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress