Author: Emil Lazarian

ROBERT KOCHARYAN: GENOCIDE RECOGNITION IS A QUESTION OF PRINCIPLE

ArmRadio.am
25.04.2006 18:08

“For a long time the question of international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide was the captive of the ideological division in the
world, and Armenia did not have statehood and corresponding tools,
which would allow to attain international recognition,” declared RA
President Robert Kocharyan during the joint press conference with
the President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus.

Robert Kocharyan expressed his gratitude to the Parliament of Lithuania
for recognizing the Armenian Genocide in 2005 and underlined that
the international recognition of the tragic events of 1915 is a
“question of principle.”

In Robert Kocharyan’s words, there are no more such obstacles today,
and together with the Diaspora independent Armenia is struggling for
the international recognition of the 1915 events.

“At the same time we do not intend to become the captive of the
past. Our efforts of international recognition of the Genocide are
directed today at having a more favorable and stable situation in
our region,” Robert Kocharyan declared.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGIA-ARMENIAN AGREEMENT TO FOCUS ON TRAFFIC
Author: Mammadov

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 25 2006

A new Geo-Armenian agreement on traffic communications will be inked
April 25.

The Armenian delegation led by the Minister of Transportation Andranik
Manukian arrives in Tbilisi Tuesday morning.

The Ministry of Economic Development of Georgia reported to
InterpressNews that the new project is meant to increase the rate of
cargo transportation between the two republics and strengthen the
tendencies of economic cooperation. Irakli Chogovadze, Minister of
Economic Development of Georgia and the Minister of Transportation
of Armenia, Andranik Manukian will sign the draft agreement.

According to the new agreement the permission quotas set for cargo
transportation will be lifted and the taxes for the Road Fund of
Armenia will be abolished. This will make the transportation process
much more convenient not only for truck owners but also for the owners
of passenger vehicles.

The Road Fund Taxes have been abolished in Georgia since year 2005.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KOCHARIAN THANKS LITHUANIA FOR GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
By Anna Saghabalian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep
April 25 2006

President Robert Kocharian thanked Lithuania for its parliament’s
recent recognition of the Armenian genocide as he received his visiting
Lithuanian counterpart, Valdas Adamkus, on Tuesday.

In a resolution overwhelmingly approved last December, the Baltic
state’s legislature, Sejmas, urged Turkey to “recognize historical
facts” and drop its insistence that the 1915 mass killings of
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire did not constitute a genocide. The
Turkish government denounced the move.

“The issue is very important for us and it is not just historical
in nature as today our relations with Turkey are burdened by
this historical reality,” Kocharian told reporters after talks
with Adamkus. “I think that recognizing the genocide and coming
to terms with history is extremely important for normalizing our
[Turkish-Armenian] relations.”

He said Yerevan will continue to seek worldwide recognition of
the genocide in collaboration with leaders of Armenian Diaspora
communities.

Adamkus arrived in Yerevan on a official visit which appears to
have focused on ways of restoring economic ties that used to exist
between the two former Soviet republics. They announced plans to hold
a Lithuanian-Armenian business forum in the near future.

A statement by Kocharian’s office said Armenia’s relations with the
European Union, which Lithuania joined two years ago, were also on
the agenda of the talks. Kocharian again stated that his country is
interested in learning from Lithuania’s as well as neighboring Latvia’s
and Estonia’s successful transition to democracy and the free market.

The Lithuanian president, for his part, made a case for political and
economic integration in the South Caucasus. “We have discussed common
regional policies,” he said. “I think it is about time our regions —
the South Caucasus and the Baltic states — joined forces to build a
better future. This is what we call a three-plus-three formula which
I think will become reality after this meeting.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BAYLOR HOSTS DAYLONG HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL

KWTX, TX

April 25 2006

(April 25, 2006)–The Baylor University for Jewish Studies hosts the
5th annual Holocaust Memorial Tuesday at several locations on campus.

At 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Room 133 of the Marrs McLean Science Building,
speakers Amie Coomer, Dr. Chris Van Gorder and Dr. George W. Gawrych
take part in a panel discussion, “Religion and Genocide: Never Again?”

A music recital begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Great Hall of Truett
Theological Seminary and the film “The Armenian Genocide” will be
shown at 8 p.m. in room 133 of the Marrs-McLean Science Building.

All of the events are free and open to the public.

“The purpose of holding the event is to remember the Holocaust and
to remember the beauty of the lives of those who were affected –
not just the tragedy,” said Dr. Marc Ellis, director of the Center
for Jewish Studies.

“People should come to inform themselves, to remember and to confront
our own sensibilities in the world today.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA NA PRESIDENT BAGHDASARYAN’S MESSAGE ON GENOCIDE VICTIMS’ REMEMBRANCE DAY

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
April 25 2006

Dear Compatriots.

On April 24, the Armenian Genocide Victims’ Remembrance Day, the whole
Armenian nation and progressive humankind bow down their heads before
the memory of 1,5 million innocent victims.

The Armenian Genocide is a crime committed not only against
the Armenian people, but also against the whole mankind, and the
recognition and the condemnation are important not only for Armenia,
but also for countries all over the world. Only through condemnation
of these types of crimes it will be possible to avoid its repetition.

The number of countries, that recognized and condemned the Armenian
Genocide, is increasing every year, which indicates the understanding
of humankind’s responsibility before generations. Only the recognition
and condemnation by the world community, as well as by the Turkish
Government might exclude from such crimes in future.

Different countries’ parliaments have adopted various laws and
resolutions, and we are thankful to all those countries that assist
us in this issue.

Once more we bow down our heads before the memory of the Armenian
Genocide victims and address our support to our compatriots.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ACTIVITIES DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’S 91st ANNIVERSARY HELD IN BELGIUM AND NETHERLANDS

Arka News Agency, Armenia
April 25 2006

YEREVAN, April 25. /ARKA/. Activities dedicated to the 91st anniversary
of the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire were held in Belgium
and the Netherlands. The press service of the RA foreign ministry
reported that after completing the Holy Liturgy in the Armenian church
in Brussels a mournful meeting of Armenian Ambassador to Belgium
Vigen Chitechyan, Head of Armenia’s mission in NATO countries Samvel
Lazarian, Belgian MPs, representatives of Brussels local authorities,
and also Belgium’s Armenian and Jewish communities.

Participators headed toward the memorials of the genocide victims
and held a meeting in front of the Turkish embassy. On 23 April,
an activity dedicated to the memory of the genocide victims was
organized in one of Amsterdam churches with participation of the head
of the NATO mission, local MPs, representatives of the Information
and Documentary Center of Israel in Hague, and also Chairman of the
Council of the Netherlands’ churches van Eik.

A protest action was held in the center of Hague on 24 April in
the evening.

The Armenian genocide is considered the first genocide of the 20th
century, organized and systematically executed by the Young Turkish
government. About 1.5mln Armenians were massacred in Western Armenia
that was part of the Ottoman Empire.

SCIENCE DUTY ON COMPANIES

Lragir.am
25 April 06

On April 25 Member of Parliament Tatul Manaseryan held a debate on his
new bill at the National Academy of Sciences. The member of parliament
is going to introduce the bill on the science duty to the National
Assembly. Tatul Manaseryan has thus foreseen certain tax privileges
and a new kind of duty. In accordance with the bill introduced by
the member of parliament, the companies which promote development
of science, the use new technologies and bring into being scientific
researches, will have certain tax privileges. It is not clear, however,
what privileges exactly are foreseen. The member of parliament says
these public debates are organized to solve these problems. These
debates will also allow deciding the size of the duty. The member of
parliament finds that the science duty should be imposed on companies
which are not related to science. The author of the bill finds that the
size of the duty and other details should be decided through debates.

39th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION
EDITED HANSARD – NUMBER 008
CONTENTS
Monday, April 24, 2006

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS
[Statements by Members]
*   *   *

Armenia

Mr. Gary Goodyear (Cambridge, CPC): Mr. Speaker, on this day we commemorate
a dark chapter in history. The genocide of 1915 took the lives of an
estimated 1.5 million Armenians.
    Canada’s legislature, from a Senate resolution passed on June 13, 2002
to the adoption of a motion in this House on April 21, 2004, has finalized a
complete acknowledgement recognizing the Armenian genocide.
    Canada greatly values the contributions that Armenians make to our
national life. On this solemn day of remembrance, together, our nations look
with hope and determination toward a future of peace and prosperity for all
and freedom from ignorance.
    I commend the Prime Minister for his courage and leadership in doing the
right thing yet again and I join the Armenian communities in and around
Cambridge, across this great nation and all corners of the globe, in the
observance of this, the 91st anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
*   *   *

The Armenian people

    Ms. Raymonde Folco (Laval – Les Îles, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, on April 7, the
House addressed the subject of the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
[English]
    Today, we commemorate the 91st anniversary of the Armenian genocide
which the House condemned as a crime against humanity in April 2004. On
April 25, tomorrow, we will remember the 6 million Jews deliberately
murdered by Nazis during the second world war.
[Translation]
    Without hesitation, we have labeled these massacres as genocides
because, for racial, ethnic, religious or political reasons, certain
countries have sought to annihilate these populations in violation of their
right to life.
    Canadians have lost family members in these genocides.
[English]
    It is our responsibility to commemorate the memory of these victims as
we reflect on the senselessness of these sadistic atrocities. Canada must
serve as an example to the world that all peoples, regardless of their
colour, ethnicity or religion can live with dignity and respect.
    Finally, I would like to welcome to Ottawa Canadians of Armenian origin
from my riding of Laval – Les Îles.

*   *   *

[Translation]

The Armenian people

    Ms. Nicole Demers (Laval, BQ): Mr. Speaker,
    [Member spoke in Armenian as follows:]
    Parts rashnon serpazan hayr sirelli hay kebektsiner.
    [Translation]
    Today, April 24, we commemorate the 1915 Armenian genocide that claimed
1.5 million victims. The first genocide of the 20th century wiped out more
than half of the Armenian population.
    Two years ago, the House passed the Bloc Québécois’ Motion M-380
recognizing the genocide.
    The Conservative government must do its utmost to ensure that
recognizing these barbaric acts means more than just passing a motion. We
should adopt an act of formal acknowledgement out of respect for families
who lost relatives under horrible conditions and to show that we will never
again accept genocide.

    There are 18,860 Quebeckers of Armenian origin, 5,880 of whom live in
Laval. I am speaking on their behalf today to express the hope that nobody
will ever have to experience such a tragedy again.
    [Member spoke in Armenian as follows:]
    Guetse high jogovourthe.

*   *   *

ORAL QUESTIONS
[Oral Questions]

Foreign Affairs

    Hon. Jim Karygiannis (Scarborough – Agincourt, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, on
April 21, 2004, I was deeply gratified as the Parliament of Canada voted to
recognize the Armenian genocide. Today there continues to be human rights
violations against the Kurds and the Cypriots in that part of the world.
    When will the Prime Minister have the strength of his convictions and
have his foreign minister officially recognize the Armenian and Pontian
genocides committed by the Ottoman Empire?

    Hon. Peter MacKay (Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the member opposite
will note that the Prime Minister did acknowledge the terrible suffering and
loss of life that occurred over 92 years ago with the Armenian people. In
fact, he noted in his question as well that there were not only one but two
motions passed in the Parliament of Canada in recent years and this
government, as we did in opposition, supported those motions then as we do
today.

*   *   *

[English
Armenia

    The Speaker: Following discussions among representatives of all parties
in the House, I understand there is an agreement to commemorate the Armenian
genocide.
[Translation]
    I call on the hon. members to rise to observe a moment of silence.
    [A moment of silence observed]

*   *   *

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

From: Hagop Katcherian <[email protected]>
Subject: ANC Sweden: Two Swedish MPs Honor the Victims of The Genocide

PRESS RELEASE
ANC Scandinavia
Hagop Khatcherian
Tel: +46707461495
[email protected]

Two Swedish MPs Honor the Victims of the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian community in Sweden On the occasion of 91st anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide held several commemoration meetings in different cities in
Sweden. IN Uppsala, on the 24th of April a meeting carried by several
Armenian organizations including , Raffi Cultural Association, Armenian
Relief Society, Homenetmen-Sweden and the Armenian Church , was attended by
several Swedish guest including MP from the Swedish Riksdag. Mr Michael
Oscarson, MP Christian Democrat also participated in the commemoration of
the genocide and held a speech where he said that Ninety-one years ago the
Armenian people experienced terrible suffering and loss of life.
Unfortunately people are not aware of it. We need to work together such that
this very important humanitarian tragedy is captured by the public. Together
with my colleagues I will raise the question of Armenian genocide in the
Riksdag. I will address the Foreign Minister and demand an explanation on
what the Swedish government is doing concerning the denial by Turkey. My
party and I supported those resolutions, and continue to recognize them
today. Last year I was on an official visit to Turkey and every time I met
my colleagues in the Turkish Parliament I took up the Armenian Genocide, but
I was shocked to be met by a wall of silence, and I was even more shocked
when one of them in the end replied, ³we , the Turks are the victims, we
were the ones who were submitted to genocide. In his turn the Swedish MP Mr
Rezene Tesfazion, on behalf of his party the Social Democrats, made a
statement and said that we must never forget the lessons of history I join
with you today in remembering the past I encourage you to continue honoring
your forefathers. H e concluded, this is our duty as human beings .Together
with my colleague Miss TONE Tingsgaard I will try to arise the issue in the
Riksdag. In his statement Mr. Tesfazion honoured not only the memories of
the victims of the Armenian Genocide but extended his sincere greetings to
all of those marking this tragic anniversary . In 2000 the Swedish Riksdag
adopted a motion acknowledging the Armenian genocide .The motion was adopted
on the March 29, 2000 which reads: “An official statement and recognition of
the Genocide of the Armenians is important and necessary. In 1985 the UN and
the European Parliament established the fact that the Ottoman Empire had
committed genocide against the Armenian people in the beginning of the 20th
century. The Standing Committee [on Foreign Affairs] is of the opinion that
the greater openness Turkey demonstrates, the stronger Turkey’s democratic
identity will be. It is therefore important that unbiased independent and
international research on the genocide committed against the Armenian people
be carried out. It is of great importance that an increasing openness and
historical understanding of the events of 1915 and thereafter be developed.
An improvement in this respect would also be of importance for the stability
and the development in the whole Caucasus region.” (Unofficial translation)

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH ORGANIZATIONS IN NEW YORK DEMAND AN END TO ACCUSATIONS AGAINST TURKISH PEOPLE OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Yerevan, April 24. ArmInfo. Federation of Turkish Organizations
of the USA as well as “Young Turks” organization rallied in New
York yesterday against the action organized by the local Armenian
community on the occasion of the 91st anniversary of Armenian Genocide
in Ottoman Turkey.

Hurriyet reports about 500 Turks and Azerbaijanis as participating in
the rally. They were demanding an end to the accusations of Armenian
Genocide and carrying flags of Turkey and Azerbaijan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress