Author: Emil Lazarian

ARMENIA JOINED THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR BUSINESS AND PARLIAMENTARISM

ArmRadio.am
07.06.2006 18:08

During the meeting with Armenian journalists on the occasion of
Armenia’s becoming member of the International Association for Business
and Parliamentarism Deputy Speaker of the European Parliament Edward
Scott McClellan declared he does not see any reason why Armenia should
not become an EU member. He added, “I am open to Armenia’s, as well as
Russia’s membership to the European Union when the proper time comes.”

Edward Scott McClellan coordinates the parliamentary cooperation of
states included in the New Neighbors Program and countries of the
Mediterranean Basin.

Today Armenia became the 17thmember of the International Association
for Business and Parliamentarism. According to member of the
coordinating body Vahan Hovhannisyan, the major aim of the structure is
to match the national legislations of other countries to the European
one. The coordinating council includes Deputies from all groups and
factions of the National Assembly. Members of the coordinating council
have no right to engage in lobbyist activity.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE OFFICE HOLDS OPEN LESSON TO COMMEMORATE WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY IN ARMENIA

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
June 7 2006

YEREVAN, 6 June 2006 – The OSCE Office in Yerevan marked World
Environment Day yesterday by holding an open lesson for around 30
schoolchildren and teachers together with the Public Environmental
Information Centre (Aarhus Centre).

World Environment Day, established by the United National General
Assembly in 1972, aims to promote worldwide awareness of the
environment and attract political and public attention.

“Environmental degradation, unsustainable use of natural resources,
mismanagement of waters and pollution have a negative impact on
health, welfare, stability and human security,” said Ambassador
Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. “Protecting
the environment is an obligation for all of us.”

During the lesson, Ambassador Pryakhin introduced environmental
publications and posters produced with the OSCE Office’s support
and encouraged participants to use resources available at the Aarhus
Centre.

The OSCE Office in Yerevan has been implementing an environmental
programme since 2000, focusing its activities on promoting the
principles of the Aarhus Convention, which include access to
information, public participation in decision-making and access to
justice on environmental matters. The Office has established a network
of Aarhus Centres in Armenia and organizes annual competitions for
journalists to encourage environmental journalism.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEXT MEETING OF COUNCIL OF CHAIRMEN OF POLITICAL COORDINATION CENTER OF OPPOSITION WAS HELD
Author: J.Shahverdiyev

TREND, Azerbaijan
June 7 2006

The next meeting of the Council of Chairmen of Political Coordinating
Centre of Opposition (CCPCCO) discussed three issues on June 7,
Ayaz Rustamov, the executor of the authorities of the chairman of
Azerbaijan National Independence Party (ANIP), informed Trend.

Two issues covered the continuing repressions against our compatriots
in South Azerbaijan. “We made a statement on a protest against arrest
of our compatriots and decided to combine our forces to take such
steps,’ told Rustamov.

Besides, the meeting discussed the social-political aituation
in Azerbaijan. “In particular, we discussed the final meeting of
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in Bucharest on Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict,” stated Rustamov.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PROSECUTOR ‘ALARMED’ BY HUMAN TRAFFICKING
By Karine Kalantarian and Anna Saghabalian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
June 7 2006

A senior prosecutor dealing with human trafficking admitted on
Wednesday that transport of Armenian women for sexual exploitation
abroad has reached “alarming” proportions but denied that Armenian
law-enforcement authorities are too lenient towards traffickers.

Armen Boshnaghian, a member of an anti-trafficking task force at
the Armenian Prosecutor-General’s Office, said prostitution rings
operating in the country are making “large-scale criminal revenues.”

“I would say that the phenomenon is an alarming reality in Armenia,”
he told RFE/RL. “Some steps have been taken to counter it. They are
only the first steps. They are just the beginning of a very long and
difficult road.”

In an annual global report on the problem released on Monday, the
U.S. State Department said Armenia remains a “major source and, to a
lesser extent, a transit and destination country for women and girls
trafficked for sexual exploitation.” The department placed Armenia
on its human trafficking “watch list” for a second consecutive year,
saying that Yerevan’s stated crackdown on the practice has made
little progress.

The U.S. report also said that despite a reported increase in the
number of trafficking-related criminal cases opened by Armenian
prosecutors only a handful of individuals were imprisoned on relevant
charges last year. “While the government increased implementation of
its anti-trafficking law, it failed to impose significant penalties
for convicted traffickers,” it said.

Boshnaghian disagreed, insisting that in fact 15 persons convicted of
involvement in trafficking were handed jail sentences in 2005. He did
acknowledge that Armenian courts are not tough enough on traffickers,
but said Armenia’s “lenient” Criminal Code is primarily to blame
for that.

The prosecutor also dismissed U.S. claims that the Armenian authorities
are reluctant to punish law-enforcement officials allegedly cooperating
with prostitution networks that recruit and send young women abroad,
mainly to the United Arab Emirates. He argued that an Armenian police
officer was fired and prosecuted on related charges last year.

The State Department report noted that another member of the Armenian
anti-trafficking unit, Aristakes Yeremian, was implicated by an
investigative journalist in extorting bribes from Armenian pimps and
prostitutes in Dubai. The Prosecutor-General’s Office said earlier this
year that it has investigated the allegations and found them baseless.

John Miller, a senior State Department official in charge of tracking
the problem around the world, insisted on Wednesday that there is a
public perception in Armenia that corruption among law-enforcement
officials seriously hampers the fight against human trafficking. “The
lack of public trust [in law-enforcement bodies] is a serious obstacle
to progress in this area,” Miller told Armenian journalists in a
video conference from Washington.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AUTHOR ELIF SAFAK ACCUSED OF ‘INSULTING TURKISHNESS’ IN LATEST NOVEL
By Cihan News Agency

Zaman Online, Turkey
June 7 2006

Ultra-rightwing Turkish Lawyers Association Chairman Kemal Kerincsiz,
who is infamous for filing complaints against journalists and authors
in the country, has filed a complaint against author Elif Safak for
her book “Baba and Pic” (Father and Offspring).

Kemal Kerincsiz, who has sued famous Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk and
ethnic-Armenian writer Hrant Dink, has now also accused Elif Safak of
‘insulting Turkishness’ – over remarks made by Armenian characters
in her latest book.

“Baba and Pic” is the story of relations between an Armenian and two
Turkish families.

Elif Safak, who also writes for Zaman daily, has been summoned by the
Beyoglu Prosecutions Office to make a statement following Kerincsiz’s
complaint. Safak said that the remarks of the Diaspora Armenians in
her book had been wrongly attributed to her.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MAMMADOV: INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS’ AS WELL AS CO-CHAIRS’ FORECASTS ON NK CONFLICT SETTLEMENT DID NOT COME TRUE

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 7 2006

“The negotiating process between Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents
is very slow and tough.

However, the process is promising to reach the goal by solving small
issues through stages. Though tough, this step should be taken and
the talks should be continued,” President’s Office international
relations department head Novruz Mammadov said to APA.

Stating that the forecasts on the solution of the Nagorno Garabagh
conflict made by several international organizations as well as OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs did not come true, Mr.Mammadov recalled Steven
Mann’s forecast “2006 will be promising year in the settlement of
the Nagorno Garabagh conflict.”

“The conflict has a strategic content. The interests of several sates
and regions collide here,” he said.

Responding to the question “Then there will be no turning point
in the solution of the conflict this year too,” Mammadov said,
“Decisive steps can be taken to solve the conflict this year.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE: ARMENIA LARGE SOURCE OF TRAFFICKING

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 6 2006

Yerevan, June 6. /ARKA/. Armenia is a large source of trafficking aimed
at sexual exploitation of women, says a report of the US Department
of State.

According to the document, Armenia women are mostly taken to United
Arab Emirates and Turkey.

Armenia is in part both a transit country and a final destination,
the report says.

The persons involved in human trafficking in Armenia, mostly women,
transport the victims to Dubai either directly or through Moscow.

Women are transported to Turkey by buses via Georgia. According to
the report, profit from trafficking of Armenian women has recently
considerably increased.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]

7 June 2006

ARMENIAN ALPHABET INSPIRES AN ARTIST’S EXHIBITION

Melbourne, Australia – Artist, Elefteria Vlavianos launched her exhibition
entitled “Metaphor for Longing” at the Town Hall Gallery in Boroonda, dubbed
the City of Harmony on Thursday, 1st June. At the personal invitation of
the artist, His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the Diocese
of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand attended opening night.

“Metaphor for Longing” exhibits paintings inspired from the Armenian
Alphabet and 11th century manuscript paintings. Elefteria, or Ria for short,
probes into the heritage of her Armenian mother using Armenian script as
subject matter in conceptualising her birthright and identity. Born to a
Greek father and Armenian mother, Ria grew up in South Africa. The idea for
this exhibition was conceived from early childhood memories of her maternal
grandmother creating beautiful, delicate lace pieces using a unique
needlecraft skill. Acting as the catalyst in the search for her Armenian
roots, Ria approached Archbishop Baliozian for assistance and inspiration as
she embarked on her journey, also receiving support from staff of the
Armenian Community Welfare Centre which she acknowledged in her welcome
speech on opening night.

Ria’s artistic style and creativity in this exhibition is reflected in a
unique genre of painting that is an interplay of marks and stroke patterns
through layers of washes and glazes. To describe the essence of the
exhibit, “the series of works explores the connections and association
between culturally displaced individuals and their communities as they
access, inherit and pass on objects and imagery from the past.”

“Metaphor for Longing” will be on display at the Town Hall Gallery until
24th June, 2006. For details contact the Gallery on (03) 9278-4626.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE
June 7, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

SENATORS KERRY AND KENNEDY DEMAND ANSWERS ABOUT EVANS FIRING

— Two Leading Legislators Formally Ask Secretary Rice
for Clarification of Ambassador’s Premature Dismissal

WASHINGTON, DC – Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Edward Kennedy (D-
MA), this week, joined the growing list of legislators demanding
answers from the Administration regarding the recall of U.S.
Ambassador to Armenian John Evans over his honest and accurate
public statements about the Armenian Genocide, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

In a June 5th letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the
two Massachusetts Senators conveyed their concerns regarding
reports that the Ambassador was dismissed “due to the use of the
word ‘genocide’ when describing the atrocities that were committed
against the Armenian people in 1915.” They added that, “Reports
from diplomats at the time make clear that genocide accurately
described these events. Henry Morgenthau, then our Ambassador to
the Ottoman Empire, described these actions as a campaign of racial
extermination.” They closed their letter by noting that,
“Allegedly the Government of Turkey was dismayed by Amb. Evans’
remarks and expressed this to the U.S. Government. We would like
clarification as soon as possible about Amb. Evans’ premature
dismissal after 35 years of exemplary service to the United States
Government.”

The letter was sent in the wake of the May 23rd White House
announcement nominating Richard Hoagland to serve as the new
Ambassador to Armenia. Amb. Evans will be replaced in Yerevan after
Ambassador Hoagland’s Senate confirmation process is completed.

The State Department, with the blessing of the White House, fired
Amb. Evans in response to his February 2005 statements at Armenian
American community functions, during which he properly
characterized the Armenian Genocide as “genocide.” Following his
statements, Amb. Evans was forced to issue a statement clarifying
that his references to the Armenian Genocide were his personal
views and did not represent a change in U.S. policy. He
subsequently issued a correction to this statement, replacing a
reference to the genocide with the word “tragedy.” The American
Foreign Service Association, which had decided to honor Amb. Evans
with the “Christian A. Herter Award,” recognizing creative thinking
and intellectual courage within the Foreign Service, reportedly
rescinded the award following pressure from the State Department in
the days leading up to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan’s visit to Washington, DC to meet with President Bush.

“We join with Armenians throughout Massachusetts and around the
nation in thanking Senators Kennedy and Kerry for demanding an
explanation of the circumstances of Ambassador Evans’ firing –
particularly as they relate to the role of the Turkish government,”
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Despite repeated
Congressional inquiries dating back more than three months, the
Administration has yet to respond to a single question, to provide
any meaningful explanation of its actions, or to release even one
of the diplomatic cables from the Turkish government on this
matter.”

Upon sending the letter, Sen. Kennedy noted, “What happened in
Armenia was genocide. No one should lose their job for stating the
plain truth.”

Senator Kerry elaborated, stating: “If history has taught us
anything, it’s that when we see it we must call genocide by its
name. There is no doubt about the genocide of 1.5 million Armenian
men, women and children, and the United States government should be
straight about this piece of world history. It’s an outrage that a
respected lifelong diplomat would be fired simply for speaking the
truth. In 1990 I fought alongside Senator Dole to designate April
24 as a national day of remembrance so we could learn from this
dark period and honor the memories of those Armenians who
suffered.” Sen. Kerry continued, noting that, “The Ambassador and
his career should not be made a scapegoat for this administration’s
refusal to face the facts and strengthen the ties between our
countries.”

As early as March 8th, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian expressed grave
disappointment over reports that Ambassador Evans would be
penalized for speaking the truth about the Armenian Genocide. In a
letter to Secretary Rice, Hachikian wrote that, “the prospect that
a U.S. envoy’s posting – and possibly his career – has been cut
short due to his honest and accurate description of a genocide is
profoundly offensive to American values and U.S. standing abroad –
particularly in light of President Bush’s call for moral clarity in
the conduct of our international affairs.”

On May 23rd, sixty U.S. House members cosigned a letter to
Secretary Rice, spearheaded by Rep. Markey, calling for an
explanation of the Ambassador’s recall. Earlier, Representatives
Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Grace Napolitano (D-CA) submitted questions
at House International Relations Committee hearings with Secretary
Rice. On May 25th, Rep. Pallone condemned Amb. Evans’ firing,
expressing concerns about Turkish government intervention in the
decision.

The full text of Senators Kerry and Kennedy’s letter follows.

#####

June 5, 2006

The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary
United States Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Rice,

We are writing to convey our disappointment over the apparent
dismissal of the United States Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans.
It is our understanding that Ambassador Evans will be leaving his
post early, reportedly as a result of comments he made early last
year.

In an exchange with Armenian American groups in February 2005
Ambassador Evans used the word “genocide” to describe the horrific
atrocities that were committed against the Armenian people in 1915.
We believe, and the reports from our diplomats at that time, make
clear that genocide accurately described these events. Henry
Morgenthau, then our Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, described
these actions as a “campaign of race extermination.” Several U.S.
officials, including President Reagan, have used the term
“genocide” to describe what happened to the Armenian people.

Allegedly the Government of Turkey was dismayed by Ambassador
Evans’ remarks and expressed this to the U.S. government. We would
like clarification as soon as possible about Ambassador Evans’
premature dismissal after 35 years of exemplary service to the
United States Government. We look forward to hearing from you on
this important matter.

Sincerely,

Edward M. Kennedy
John F. Kerry

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan’s oil revenues to reach $3 bln in 2006
07/ 06/ 2006

BAKU, June 7 (RIA Novosti) – Azerbaijan could make $3 billion in oil
revenues in 2006 and may see the figure double in 2007, a major Western
investor in the nation’s oil industry said Wednesday.
David Woodward, President of BP-Azerbaijan, said part of the money would be
brought in by exports of crude from the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG)
oilfield.
BP-Azerbaijan is the developer and operator of the ACG offshore deposit,
which holds an estimated 5.4 billion barrels in oil reserves. Woodward said
the project would receive some $20 billion in capital investment at the
development stage.
The BP official, attending an international Caspian Oil and Gas conference
in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, said that if world oil prices remained
above $60 in the coming years, the country would see its oil earnings double
every year, outstripping GDP by a factor of three by 2009.
According to National Oil Company CEO Rovnag Abdullayev, Azerbaijan will
produce more than 476 million barrels of oil a year by the end of the
decade.