Author: Emil Lazarian

Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
3325 North Glenoaks Blvd.
Burbank, Ca 91504
Tel: 818-558-7474
Fax: 818-558-6333
Web:
Western Diocese of the Armenian Church
79th Annual Diocesan Assembly
May 5-6, 2006
St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, Costa Mesa

Registration for the 79th Annual Diocesan Assembly began at 10:00
a.m. on Friday, May 5, following which upon the invitation of Deacon
Steve Adams, Assembly Chair, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, entered the church and
conducted the opening prayer.
The Primate introduced Rev. Fr. Asoghig Garabedian and Rev. Fr.
Trdat Bozigian, who had come to the Western Diocese to represent His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, in the 79th Annual
Assembly.
The officers of the Assembly were comprised of the following:
Deacon Steve Adams, Chairman; Deacon Rod Jorjorian, Vice Chairman;
Mr. Frank Korkmazian, English Secretary; and Archpriest Fr. Sipan
Mekhsian, Armenian Secretary.
Following his opening remarks Deacon Steven Adams invited Dr. Vahram
Biricik, who on behalf of the Organizing Committee of the host church
greeted the delegates and wished them luck.
Upon approval of the agenda and appointment of committees, the
delegates approved the minutes of the 78th Annual Assembly.
The delegates then discussed the following reports, which had
already been published in the Assembly booklet: Diocesan Council,
Christian Education Council, Ladies’ Society Central Council,
Diocesan Ladies’ Auxiliary, Etchmiadzin Children’s Fund, Clergy
Executive Council, Clergy Compensation Committee, Summer Camp Board,
Summer Camp Committee, ACYO (a. Youth Director’s Report; b. ACYO
Central Council; c. CYMA; d. Brighter Future for Armenia), St.
Gregory Hovsepian School, Cathedral Building Committee, Association
of Armenian Church Choirs, Arakel and Shake Aga-Sarkisian Library,
Publications (`The Mother Church’, Diocesan wall calendar and other
publications).

SECOND SESSION

The Second Session was also held on Friday, May 5, after lunch. The
discussion of agenda items continued following the opening prayer of
the Primate. Topics discussed included: Prison and Hospital Ministry,
Western Diocese Endowment Fund, Stewardship Committee, Fundraising
Committee, Armenian Professionals Network, Kevorkian Seminary, St.
Nersess Seminary, Auditing Committee, Diocesan Council Financial
Report, Amendments to by-laws.
Rev. Fr. Asoghig Garabedian conveyed the blessings of the Catholicos
and read the message of His Holiness, issued on the occasion of the
Assembly. Rev. Fr. Trdat Bozigian read the message in English. The
Delegates were asked to stand to hear the message of the Catholicos
of All Armenians, which read, `During our Pontifical visit to the
Western Diocese last year we were witness to the many activities
which are implemented at the Diocese thanks to your hard work and
dedication. We also had the pleasure to greet the members of the
Diocesan Council who had arrived in Armenia to participate in the
meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council, to bring to their attention
spiritual, educational and other concerns pertaining to your Diocese.’
The Primate’s Annual report, which was published separately in both
Armenian and English, was distributed to the delegates. In his
message the Primate mentioned the following issues:
A. Mission of preparing candidates for the priesthood
B. Christian Education
C. Reorganization of the Diocesan structure
a. department of new parishes and mission parishes
b. full time youth director
c. Social Services Office
d. Mother Cathedral administration – maintenance and permanent
caretaker

`With her spiritual and national mission and role, the Western
Diocese has a significant position within the Armenian Church with
the Mother See as her hierarchical head,’ said the Primate. `The 79th
Assembly has the responsibility to organize the spiritual and
administrative life of the Diocese, her parishes and subcommittees.
We are well aware that we are faced with many issues: the
strengthening of the church, pastoral and administrative missions,
ecumenical relations, and social concerns. It is our duty to maintain
and uphold the strength of the Western Diocese, and above all to
dedicate ourselves to spiritual service led by the Word of God.’
On behalf of himself and the delegates of the Assembly the Primate
then extended heartfelt gratitude to His Holiness Karekin II, for his
fatherly care and guidance. He also commended the dedicated service of
the clergy of the Diocese, and emphasized the dedication of the
Yeretzgins, who serve the church along with our pastors.
Deacon Steve Adams introduced Mr. Raffi Kendirjian, Executive
Director of the Diocese, to the delegates and invited him to inform
the assembly of his activities. Mr. Kendirjian thanked the Primate
and the Diocesan Council for entrusting him with the position of
Executive Director, which is comprised of the responsibilities of the
general accounting of the Diocese and various other executive tasks.
In January of this year Mr. Parsegh Kartalian, who performed his
responsibilities as the accountant of the Diocese with utmost
meticulousness, transferred his duties to Mr. Kendirjian. An expert
in economics, Mr. Raffi Kendirjian has thus far performed an
outstanding service at the Diocese.
The delegates unanimously approved the 2006-2007 annual budget
presented by the Diocesan Council. They then discussed proposals to
amend the by-laws, elections, old and new business.

BANQUET

The official banquet took place on Friday evening in the Fesjian
Hall of the church, presided by His Eminence Archbishop Derderian.
All participants in the clergy conference, the Ladies’ Assembly and
the Diocesan Delegates’ Assembly enjoyed the evening’s warm
atmosphere.
The Primate presented this year’s Archbishop’s Award to Mrs. Lily
Balian, Chair of the Ladies’ Auxiliary. The Primate commended Mrs.
Balian’s service over the past many years, as well as her extensive
accomplishments in a variety of fields.
His Eminence presented certificates of `Blessings and Appreciation’
to the sponsors of the banquet, donors, and the members of the
organizing committee.

THIRD SESSION

The third session of the Diocesan Assembly began at 9:00 a.m. on
Saturday, May 6, with the Primate’s prayer.
Rev. Fr. Shnork Demirjian, pastor of St. Peter Armenian Church in
Van Nuys, delivered the message of the day, in which he stressed the
spirit of dedication and service. He commended the unrelenting
services of the parish councils, ladies’ societies, diocesan
delegates, ACYO, as well as all appointed and elected committees, who
under the leadership of their respective pastors provide a great deal
of assistance to their parishes and the Diocese.
Election of officers then took place, the results of which are as
follow:

Diocesan Assembly Chair Deacon Steven Adams
Diocesan Assembly Vice Chair Deacon Rod Jorjorian
Diocesan Assembly Armenian Secretary Archpriest Fr. Sipan Mekhsian
Diocesan Assembly English Secretary Shoghig Giragosian

Diocesan Council – clergy Rev. Fr. Yeghia Hairabedian
Archpriest Fr. Vartan Kasparian

Diocesan Council – laymen Ben Krikorian
Deacon Barlow Der-Mugrdechian
Joseph Kanimian, Esq.
Armen Hampar

Auditing Committee Sarkis Der Sarkisian

The delegates also approved the members nominated to the Western
Diocese Endowment Fund. Following the announcements of the results of
the elections, Shoghig Giragosian read the report of the
Acknowledgements Committee.
The 79th Annual Diocesan Assembly closed with the prayer of the
Primate. The Primate, Diocesan Council, as well as Assembly Chairman
Deacon Steven Adams extend their heartfelt gratitude to Archpriest
Fr. Moushegh Tashjian, Pastor of St. Mary Armenian Church, as well as
the parish council, ladies’ society, organizing committee and all
those individuals who helped make the 79th Annual Diocesan Assembly a
success, for their warm hospitality.

OFFICE OF THE WESTERN DIOCESE
May 11, 2006
Burbank, California
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
0033 Yerevan, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:
May 11, 2006
ACNIS Takes Part in Vilnius Conference 2006
Vilnius–Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
director of research Stiopa Safarian and director of administration Karapet
Kalenchian represented Armenia respectively at the NGO and the Intellectuals
fora, entitled “Common Vision for Common Neighborhood,” which were
separately convened in the capital of Lithuania from May 3 to 5. On May 5,
the ACNIS officials attended the Heads of State Summit held under the
auspices of President Valdas Adamkus of Lithuania and Polish President Lech
Kaczynski.
Stiopa Safarian participated in the Non-Governmental Organizations’ Forum on
“Europe’s New Democracies and the Euro-Atlantic Agenda” where the conferees
examined the ex-socialist bloc’s and post-Soviet countries’ integration
process into Euro-Atlantic structures and the challenges they face to that
end. Against the backdrop of the conference, Safarian also held meetings
with Hilde Hardeman, the European Commission’s director general on external
relations and head of unit for relations with Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus;
Michael Emerson, senior research fellow at the Center for European Policy
Studies (EU); Andrei Illarionov, president of the Institute of Economic
Analysis and the Russian president’s former adviser on economic issues
(Russian Federation); Professor Oleksandr Potyekhin of the Diplomatic
Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ukraine); Zeyno Baran, senior
fellow at the Hudson Institute’s Center for Eurasian Policy (US); founder
and president Bruce Pitcairn Jackson of the Project on Transitional
Democracies (US); Wojciech Kononczuk, coordinator of the Stefan Batory
Foundation (Poland); director Cornelius Ochmann of the Bertelsmann
Foundation (Germany); president Jean-Dominique Giuliani of the Robert
Schuman Foundation (France); and several others.
Meanwhile, Karapet Kalenchian attended and addressed the Intellectuals Forum
held at the conference hall of the Presidential Palace of Lithuania. The
participants discussed the advancement of democracy in Europe’s east, the
formation of a European neighborhood domain, and the pacific regulation of
disputes. In the margins of the event, Kalenchian met with distinguished
post-Soviet scholars and academicians: Dean Leonidas Donskis of the Vytautas
Magnus University School of Political Science and Diplomacy (Lithuania);
director Jurij Afanasjev of the Russian State University of Human Science
(Russian Federation); journalist and political analyst Evgeny Kiselev
(Russian Federation); director Andrei Piontkovsky of the Center for
Strategic Studies (Russian Federation); writer Andrey Kurkov (Ukraine);
historian Igor Sarov (Moldova); executive director Igor Munteanu of the
Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (Moldova); opera singer
Mihail Muntean (Moldova); poet and former Belarus ambassador to the United
Nations Genady Buravkin (Belarus); journalist Vladimir Dorokhov of Deutsche
Welle (Belarus); director Irma Khvedeliani of the “Civic Dialogue and
Counsel” European Integration Forum (Georgia); and many others. The
resolution adopted by the delegates summarized the issues raised throughout
their active deliberations.
On May 5, the Armenian representatives attended the Heads of State Summit,
the official conclave of Vilnius Conference 2006, as observers. The meeting
brought together Presidents Valdas Adamkus, Lech Kaczynski, Georgi Parvanov
(Bulgaria), Arnold Rüütel (Estonia), Mikheil Saakashvili (Georgia), Vaira
Vike-Freiberga (Latvia), Vladimir Voronin (Moldova), Traian Basescu
(Romania), and Viktor Yushchenko (Ukraine); US Vice President Richard
Cheney; Secretary General Javier Solana of the Council of the European
Union; UK Minister of State for Europe Douglas Alexander; and others. The
open atmosphere of the convention afforded the Armenian delegates an
opportunity to hold informal meetings and conversations with prominent
individuals who shape European and Eurasian policy, to explore their vision
for the future of the Euro-Atlantic system, and to present Armenia’s course
in that connection.
Founded in 1994 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors, ACNIS serves
as a link between innovative scholarship and the public policy challenges
facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the post-Soviet world. It also
aspires to be a catalyst for creative, strategic thinking and a wider
understanding of the new global environment. In 2006, the Center focuses
primarily on civic education, conflict resolution, and applied research on
critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the state and the nation.
For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or 27-48-18; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected]; or visit

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
11-05-2006
Minister Oskanian Met with Crew of Cilicia
Minister Oskanian met with the crew of the Cilicia ship as they
prepare to leave for their third seafaring voyage.
During the meeting, the sailors discussed their work in preparation
for the final stage of their voyage repeating the routes traveled by
medieval Armenian sailors from Cilicia.
Minister Oskanian assured the crew of 12 that the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs will do what it can to assist in their efforts and in journey.
The Minister underscored the significance of this extraordinary
journey and commended the courage and determination of the crew. He
also noted that in this sense the Cilicia has become a symbol of
Armenia. He wished the sailors good luck.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
May 11, 2006
___________________
DELEGATES RE-ELECT PRIMATE
By Jake Goshert
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian was re-elected to the position of Primate during
the 2006 Assembly.
Speaking to the delegates after his re-election, the Primate thanked them
for their efforts to strengthen the Armenian Church and spoke about the joy
he feels from his job.
“On many occasions young people ask me why I became a priest, what was the
moving force. I tell them why I made the decision, and then I say it has
been a very fulfilling experience for me as a priest, as a clergyman for the
Armenian Church, as a servant of the Armenian Church,” he said. “I thank
God for giving me this opportunity. Even though life is not always smooth
— there are ups and downs and challenges — overall it has been a moving
experience.”
He said serving the Diocese for the past 16 years as Primate has been very
satisfying. He said it is a job made easier by the dedicated clergy,
devoted parish and Diocesan leadership, and the work of the Diocesan staff.
“It is the most rewarding experience for me as a clergyman, when I visit our
parishes to celebrate badarak and to ordain tbirs, sub-deacons, and deacons.
In one word, it is wonderful to visit parishes and to be in communion with
the parishioners and together to continue our communion with God, fulfilling
the mission of the Armenian Church,” he said.
— 5/9/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Delegates cast their vote for primate during the 2006
Diocesan Assembly.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Diocesan clergy line up to congratulate Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian on his re-election to Primate, during the Diocesan Assembly
on Saturday, May 6, 2006.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, addresses the
delegates at the Diocesan Assembly hosted by St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn,
NJ.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Caucasus Environmental NGO Network
(CENN)
90 Electronic Bulletin:
Caucasus Environmental News
Dear Colleagues! Dear Reader (DR)!
NEWS FROM GEORGIA
What Is this: Criminal Lobbyism or Incompetence?
Under such title on April 5, 2006 Entrepreneurs Party held press
conference in the building of State Parliament of Georgia.
The theme of press conference was duty on natural resources usage.
<; more Millennium Challenge Starts in Georgia Source: Prime-News, 2006-04-10 Implementation of Millennium Challenge Georgia started on April 9, 2005. The statement on the official start of implementation was made by Zurab Noghaideli, Georgian Prime Minister and John Danilovich, MCC Chief Executive in the State Chancellery of Georgia on Sunday. The decision on allocation of USD 295 m within a Millennium Challenge program for Georgia was made by the US State Department in 2005 autumn. <; more Conference on Biosafety and GMO-free Georgia 2006-04-11 On April 11, 2006 launched Conference under title Biosafety and GMO-free Georgia, organized by Green Movement of Georgia and Friends of Earth International with support of Rights Oppositionists' Party. The conference lastÕ× thee days (April 11-13, 2006). The first day of the event was held in the building of State Parliament of Georgia. < t; more NEWS FROM AZERBAIJAN BTC PIPELINE TO BECOME THE IMPORTANT FACTOR IN FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF GEORGIA Source: AzerTaj, 2006-04-06 As AzerTag learned from the BP Company, after the main export oil pipeline is put in operation, the annual transit revenues <; more Tentative Date For Final implementation OF BTC Source: Prime-News, 2006-04-06 An official ceremony on commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline at the full capacity will be held in the first half of July 2006. < ; more Kazakhstan to join to BTC pipeline in May Source: "Day.az", 2006-04-06 In the words of Andgar Shuklutov, Ambassador Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan, the next round of negotiations of the <; more BAKU-NOVOROSSIYSK PIPELINE HAULS OVER 1 MILLION TONS OF CRUDE OVER THREE MONTHS Source: AzerTag, 2006-04-09 The Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline transported 1. 157 670 tons of crude in January-March, State Oil Company of Azerbaijan said. <; more NEWS FROM ARMENIA WORLD BANK TO ASSIGN $8 MLN TO ARMENIA TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAM OF REPRODUCTIVE POWER Source: ARMENPRESS, 2006-04-07 Today, Minister of Finance and Economy of Armenia, Vardan Khachatryan and Head of the World Bank's office in Yerevan, Roger Robinson will sign the WB-authorized Reproductive Power Program. <; more ARMENIA'S GOVERNMENT TO SELL IRAN-ARMENIA GAS LINE TO "ARMROSGASPROM" Source: ArmInfo, 2006-04-07 Yerevan, April 6. ArmInfo-RBC. According to the Gasprom's press-office information, the "Gasprom" and the government of Armenia signed an agreement on the purchase of the 40-km section of the Iran-Armenia gas line under construction and the Razdan HPP's Unit N5 (Razdan-5) by "ArmRosgasprom" CJSC from the Republic's government. It is envisaged to sign the preliminary purchase and sale agreement till April 14 and the final law of property transfer must be carried out till January 1, 2007. According to the agreement, the Armenia's government also engages itself to hand over the functions of the Principal of the Iran-Armenia gas line's second part construction with length of about 197 km to "ArmRosgasprom. < ml> more
THE POLLUTION OF SEVAN IS BECOMING DANGEROUS
Source: TV Company of Gavar, 2006-04-10
Nowadays the problem of cleaning up the slops in the Gegharkunik region
is
very actual. Only with surface sewage 4000 tons of manure, 80 tones of
phosphats, 290 tones of nitrats and more than 115 tones of oil-products
are
thrown into the lake Sevan annually.
<; more IMPLEMENTATION OF MILLENNIUM CHALLENGES CORPORATION'S PROGRAM IN ARMENIA TO CONTRIBUTE TO REGIONS' DEVELOPMENT Source: ARKA, 2006-04-13 The implementation of the Millennium Challenges Corporation's program in Armenia will essentially contribute to the development of the country's regions and rural poverty reduction, Speaker of the RA Parliament Artur Baghdasaryan stated at his meeting with a US delegation, which includes Chairman of the <; more INTERNATIONAL NEWS CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR, LEGISLATURE TAKE AIM AT CLIMATE CHANGE Source: ENS, 2006-04-04 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is ready to do battle with climate change. Today he directed the California <; more E ARTH'S ICE MELTING UNDER BLANKET OF GREENHOUSE GASES Source: ENS, 2006-04-04 Large amounts of the greenhouse gas methane will be released into the atmosphere in the near future, according to a Dutch scientist speaking today at the European Geosciences Union meeting in Vienna. He said global warming could <; more TASMAN SPIRIT OIL SPILL SICKENED PAKISTANI COASTAL RESIDENTS Source: ENS, 2006-04-04 People living on the coast of Karachi near the location of the 2003 Tasman Spirit oil spill have experienced <; more B P facing criminal investigation over Alaskan oil spill Source: Belfast Telegraph, 206-04-07 BP, the energy giant that trumpets its green credentials, is believed to be under criminal investigation in the US following a massive oil spill in Alaska. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an arm of the US government, is looking into whether BP properly maintained its pipelines in Alaska. <; more Civil society supports early warning system to minimise impact of natural disasters Source: e-Civicus, 2006-04-07 Civil society representatives from around the world have joined with senior government officials and representatives of international organisations in stressing the need for mobilising political commitment to minimise <; more Legal News the latest edition of the WATER CODE of the Russian Federation: Serious blow to water resources of Russia Source: ENWL, 2006-04-07 We call attention of all citizens to the latest version of the draft Water Code, currently under discussion in State Duma. If the Code is adopted, without taking a number of basic amendments into account, virtually opens up infinite possibilities of the intolerably dangerous environment impact. Also, it can become another source of the wide social protest. <; more International Seminar / Conference / Meeting Sustainable Economic Development in Ukraine: Addressing the Environmental Challenge Open Dialogue between Government, Industry & Civil Society 18-22 September 2006 On behalf of Mariupol State University of the Humanities and the conference organising committee, welcome to: <; more
Editorial policy: CENN both solicits and accepts submissions for
environmental information to the Caucasus Environmental News Bulletin.
Although, CENN retains the right to edit all materials both for content
and
length. The information provided for the Bulletin does not necessarily
represent the opinion of CENN and SDC.
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel:+995 32 75 19 03/04
Fax:+995 32 75 19 05
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: <; From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“CHELIKEN” VESSEL OF THE RUSSIAN MILITARY FLEET TO JOIN THE SEARCH WORKS IN SOCHI
ArmRadio.am
10.05.2006 11:21
“Cheliken” vessel of the Russian Military Fleet will join today the
search works in Sochi to investigate the deep waters.
French colleagues will join the Russian search group. They have
brought corresponding facilities to search for the black boxes of
the crashed plane.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH MPS WARN FRENCH COUNTERPARTS OVER ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
10 May 06
Paris, 10 May: A Turkish parliamentary delegation met on Wednesday
[10 May] French National Assembly Speaker Jean-Louis Debre.
Turkish Parliamentary delegation, comprising Mehmet Dulger and Musa
Sivacioglu from Justice and Development Party (AKP); and Onur Oymen
and Gulsun Bilgehan Toker from the main opposition Republican People’s
Party (CHP), is currently in Paris to lobby for rejection or withdrawal
of the bill which would make “the denial” of the so-called Armenian
genocide a crime.
Following their meeting with Debre, the Turkish delegation met French
parliament foreign affairs commission chairman Edouard Balladur.
Speaking to AA [Anatolia] correspondent following the meetings,
CHP MP Onur Oymen said, “we have explained the harsh reaction of the
Turkish people. We have attracted the attention to the calls in Turkey
to boycott French goods.
We had the opportunity to convey them that relations would be harmed
in case the bill becomes a law.”
Meetings of the Turkish delegation will continue on Thursday.
Turkish parliamentarians will make references to previous statements
of the French executives and historians that the “parliaments can
not write history and the history should be left to historians” and
want French parliamentarians to be consistent with their previous
statements.
Proposal of the Socialist Party will be discussed on 18 May. The bill
should be approved in the Senate in order to become a law.

CUBA, SAUDI ARABIA AND CHINA WIN SEATS ON NEW HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL DESPITE POOR RIGHTS RECORDS
Edith M. Lederer
AP Worldstream
May 10, 2006
Cuba, Saudi Arabia, China and Russia won seats on the new U.N. Human
Rights Council despite their poor human rights records but two rights
abusers, Iran and Venezuela, were defeated.
Human rights groups said Tuesday they were generally pleased with
the 47 members elected to the council, which will replace the highly
politicized Human Rights Commission. It was discredited in recent
years because some countries with terrible rights records used their
membership to protect one another from condemnation.
“The spoiler governments, the governments that have a history of trying
to undermine the protection of human rights through their membership
on the old commission are now a significantly reduced minority when
it comes to the council,” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of
Human Rights Watch. “That doesn’t guarantee that the council will be
a success but it is a step in the right direction.”
Even before the vote, Roth said, “the council was a vast improvement
over the discredited commission” because many countries that violate
human rights who had been commission members didn’t seek seats on
the council including Sudan, Zimbabwe, Libya, Congo, Syria, Vietnam,
Nepal, Sri Lanka, Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Yvonne Terlingen, U.N. representative for Amnesty International,
said it was “fairly pleased” that the council members “constitute a
good basis to make a fresh start with creating a strong and effective
human rights body.”
“Some countries have been elected with weak human rights records,
but they also are now committed to uphold the highest human rights
standards,” she said.
The United States opposed the establishment of the council, saying it
did not go far enough to prevent rights abusers from winning seats,
and the U.S.
decided against being a candidate.
But U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kristen Silverberg said “on
the whole, we think it is an improvement over the commission.”
“We are committed to engaging actively in the coming weeks with all
of the elected members … to make sure that this body is effective,”
she said. “We think that the real test of this council will be whether
it can take effective action in serious cases of human rights abuse
like Darfur, …
Burma, North Korea and other places.”
Senator Norm Coleman, a Minnesota Republican and critic of the U.N.,
criticized the vote, saying Cuba’s election showed the new council
suffers from the same weakness as the commission. The new council,
he said, “is the perfect example of the U.N.’s failure to reform.”
Anne Bayefsky, an adjunct professor at Columbia University Law School
who runs a web site on U.N. activities, said that at least 20 countries
that were elected “are ranked `partly free’ or `not free’ by Freedom
House,” a Washington-based organization that promotes democracy around
the world.
“That’s an astonishing number of countries that have made it on to
the U.N.’s primary human rights organ,” she said.
Under the rules for the council, any U.N. member was eligible to run
and 64 countries submitted their candidacies but Kenya dropped out at
the last minute. Members needed to be elected by an absolute majority
of the 191 U.N.
states _ 96 members.
To ensure global representation, Africa and Asia were given 13 seats
each; Latin America and the Caribbean eight seats; Western nations,
seven seats; and Eastern Europe, six seats.
Roth said Human Rights Watch would have preferred that Cuba, China,
Russia, Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan had not won seats because of
their poor human rights records.
“The good news is that two of the least deserving governments were
not elected,” he said. “Both Venezuela and Iran failed to make the
cut. That is a step in the right direction.”
Richard Grenell, spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the United
Nations, said Iran’s defeat “just shows their lack of standing in
the international community.”
Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Sergey Lavrov congratulated his countrymen
and women for being elected in the first round, expressing hope that
Moscow’s presence “will contribute to the balanced composition of this
council and to the balanced … discussion of the human rights agenda.”
Russia was a candidate in the most hotly contested regional group _
Eastern Europe _ which fielded 13 candidates for six seats. It was
the only group where a second round of voting was needed.
The other winners were Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania
and Ukraine. The East European losers were Albania, Armenia, Georgia,
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia.
With Kenya dropping out, Africa fielded 13 candidates for the 13
seats and all won: Algeria, Cameroon, Djibouti, Gabon, Ghana, Mali,
Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Zambia.
The 13 Asians elected to the council were Bangladesh, Bahrain, China,
India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines,
South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka. Those defeated were Iran,
Iraq, Kyrgystan, Lebanon and Thailand.
In Latin American and the Caribbean, the 8 seats went to Argentina,
Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay. Nicaragua
and Venezuela were defeated.
The 7 countries elected from the Western bloc were Britain, Canada,
Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland. Greece and
Portugal lost their bid for seats.
___
Associated Press Writer Paul Burkhardt contributed to this report.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PARIS AMBASSDOR RECALLED
Milliyet
Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 10 2006
Press Review
Turkey which had recalled its ambassador in 2001 for 6 months as a
reaction against the approach of the France toward so-called Armenian
genocide, this time recalled Paris Ambassador Osman Koruturk for
consultations.
Before Koruturk, Aydemir Erman, Turkey’s Ambassador in Ottawa
was recalled to Ankara as Canadian Government used the expression
“genocide” on April 24th.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKEY PULLS OUT OF CANADIAN MILITARY EXERCISEPROTESTING PRIME MINISTER’S COMMENTS
By CP
Edmonton Sun, Canada
May 10 2006
TORONTO – The Turkish government has pulled out of an international
military air exercise in Canada to protest Prime Minister Stephen
Harper’s characterization of a mass killing of Armenians as a genocide,
the Globe and Mail reports.
Officials with the Turkish embassy confirmed Tuesday that a half-dozen
Turkish jet fighters and support aircraft, which were supposed to
take part in the exercise May 17 to June 24 at Canadian Forces Base
Cold Lake in Alberta, have been withdrawn.
The move comes after the Turkish ambassador to Canada, Aydemir Erman,
was recalled to Ankara for discussions on the situation.
When asked whether the decision to withdraw from the military exercise
stemmed from Harper’s comments, an official said, “I think one can
draw that conclusion at this point.”
“This seems to be related to the not-so-good period of relations we
are going through.”
Turkey’s anger comes from Harper’s recognition last month, on behalf
of the federal government, that Armenians had suffered a genocide at
the hands of Turkey during and after the First World War.
The issue is highly controversial in Turkey, where the government
says the deaths were caused by the war and civil strife.
A spokesman for Defence Minister Gordon O’Connor said the Turks
cancelled their participation on Friday.
“This is a Turkish decision,” said communications director Etienne
Allard.
“Exercise Maple Flag is a major training exercise which brings great
benefits to all participants. Turkey is an important NATO ally and
we hope that they will be able to participate in future exercises.”
The military exercises will involve about 40 aircraft and pilots from
nine countries – Canada, Germany, France, Britain, the Netherlands,
Sweden, the United States, New Zealand and Singapore.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress