Author: Emil Lazarian

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Aug 28 2005

France Left Algerian Genocide to Historians Again
PARIS – France, which at every occasion demands Turkey to reconsider
its stance concerning the Armenian issue, said such questions
remained within the range of historians when it came to the Algerian
Genocide.

French Foreign Ministry responded to Algerian President Abdulaziz
Bouteflika’s call to France to repent for what France perpetrated in
Algeria during the colonial period, by relegating such historical
inquiries to historians’.

French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jean-Baptist Mattei refraining
from commenting on Bouteflika’s call, said the matter would be
settled in one way or another. Mattei maintained historians and
researchers had to study that subject in an independent way.

In a speech he delivered at Setif on Thursday, Bouteflika called on
France to recognize the fact that it tortured, killed and destroyed
Algerian people between the years of 1830-1962 to eradicate their
Algerian, Muslim, Arab and Berber identities, and their culture,
history and language. France, which does not respond to Algeria’s
calls, manifested a politically biased attitude in 2001 despite
Turkey’s warning, and legislated a law that ruled the 1915 incidents
as genocide.

Dr. David M. Arayan accused France of having double-standard:

`There are many genocides and massacres committed by the French in
the past. Algerian Genocide is one of them. They massacred thousands
of Algerian civilians with no mercy. And now they are talking about
other nations’ so-called crimes. They abuse the past. The French
politicians ignore their responsibilities now and in the past, and
instead of taking responsibilities they choose the easiest way: To
accuse the others. They discuss the 1915 events for hours and hours
yet they cannot accept the real genocide they committed just couple
of decades ago.’

USA backs constitutional reform in Armenia – envoy

Arminfo
27 Aug 05

YEREVAN

The USA supports the efforts of all participants in the process of
making amendments to the Armenian constitution and calls on all sides
to take part in responsible and constructive discussions of this
issue, the US ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, said yesterday.

He said that the constitution is the basic law of any country and
forms a “basis” that ensures the supremacy of the law. The Americans
needed 13 years to create the first version of the US
constitution. Since then, the US constitution has been amended 27
times and this last happened in the early 1990s.

Today in Iraq, creating or amending a constitution is a lengthy and
difficult process that requires a high level of responsibility from
all participants in order for the final document to express the will
of the people and secure the current balance between different
branches of power, the US ambassador said.

[Passage omitted: Expanding on the importance of the constitution] The
international community, including the USA, has always consistently
supported the efforts of the Council of Europe which helps Armenia
create a package of reforms. Today’s constitutional package is a
significant step forward, although its adoption is the prerogative of
the Republic of Armenia, of course, the US ambassador believes. He
expressed the hope that all important measures will be taken to
increase the civil consciousness of society in order for the
well-informed population to be able to express its will in the
forthcoming referendum in November.

“In the run-up to parliamentary discussions set for 29 August, I hope
that members of the National Assembly will realize their level of
responsibility to their compatriots for adopting constitutional
amendments for the good of the Republic of Armenia.” The debates which
will be held on 29 August, as well as the entire subsequent process
will become an indicator of the level of Armenia’s political
development, the US ambassador pointed out.

AZG Armenian Daily #152, 27/08/2005

Home

HOW AND WHEN WILL NEW BUILDING OF AIRPORT BE BUILT?

Investments to Amount to $230 Million in Total

RA Government has approved the first stage of Zvatnots airport’s new
building’s main layout. Artyom Movsisian, head of Department of Civil
Aviation, said about this. He informed that “Armenia” International
Airports” company, the coordinator of the airport, suggested amendments to
the formed master-layout that was conditioned by the great number of
passengers. This number amounted to 23,3% last year. The airport had 1
million 89 thousand passengers this year. While the coordinator company
envisaged to achieve this indicator only in 2008. Anyway, it is envisaged
that this data will increase to 2 million in 2030.

Artyom Movsisian informed that new technologies that increase the security
level will be used when constructing the new building of the airport. A
high-level security system will be installed. It will help define the
identity of the passengers and watch the airport on 90 screens.

As for the new main layout, it envisages investments amounting to $230
million in total. The investments should be made till 2030.

$105 million will be invested in the first stage. The new two-storied
building of the complex will be built in this stage. The second floor of the
building will be used as the hall for departures together with the old
building of the airport. The hall for departures will be completed in late
2007.

The second stage covers 2008-2020. $140 million more are envisaged to be
invested then. The second hall for departures will be built and all the
passengers will be served there.

The second stage of the construction envisages investments amounting to $21
million that will be used for preservation needs.

Artyom Movsisian stated that the coordinator company is most likely to built
new blocks of flats for the residents of the tall buildings and two hostels.
This will be done for the security of both the airport and the residents. 15
thousand square meters of are will be allocated for the construction and
better living conditions will be secured for the residents.

By Ara Martirosian

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian American Cultural Association, Inc.
1300 Crystal Drive, Suite 1504
Arlington, VA 22202
Contact: James Faris
TEL: 703-416-2555
FAX: 703-416-2557
E-mail: [email protected]

Edward and Helen Mardigian Foundation Pledge $250,000 for the Wellness
Center in Armenia

By Christina Yagjian

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian American Cultural Association (AACA), US-based
sponsor of the Armenian American Wellness Center in Yerevan, Armenia,
recently announced a generous pledge of $250,000 from the Edward and Helen
Mardigian Foundation of Michigan. This heartfelt contribution will help to
realize the Wellness Center’s largest transformation to date – the complete
renovation, expansion, and seismic reinforcement of the six-story building
which currently houses the Wellness Center. The expansion project will cost
an estimated 3 million dollars and is expected to be completed by October
2007.

The Wellness Center, originally founded in 1997 to provide previously
non-existent breast screening services to Armenian women, expanded its
services in 2001 to include Western standard cervical screening through Pap
smears and basic gynecology, facilitated by its state-of-the-art pathology
lab.

Upon completion, the renovated Center, in addition to the quality
female-centered services it already provides, will be home to the most
modern Primary Health Care facility in Armenia, emphasizing Family Medicine
and providing quality diagnosis and on-site treatment. The building will
introduce seismic reinforcement techniques developed in California, Western
building standards, and environmentally clean energy generation through
solar power and an innovative energy system known as Combined Heat & Power.

In honor of the Mardigian Foundation’s gift, the fourth floor of the
renovated Wellness Center will be named the Edward & Helen Mardigian
Outpatient Surgery Complex, signified by a plaque placed at the floor’s
entrance. Additionally, they will be recognized by an individual plaque
displayed in the main lobby of the Center. The fourth floor will house an
outpatient surgery complex, introduced in Armenia for the first time, which
will include a fully-equipped surgery room, preparation and recovery area,
sterilization room, and post-surgery observation rooms. The floor will also
include a chemotherapy treatment area and a medical conference room.

“I believe that all of us must work to ensure Armenia’s future, and an
essential piece of the puzzle is developing the country’s capacity to
provide primary healthcare services to everyone,” said Helen Mardigian. “The
Wellness Center has done an excellent job in preventing breast and cervical
cancer in Armenia, and I fully support them as they expand their services to
provide quality healthcare to families as well. The renovated Center will
serve as a model for all other medical facilities throughout Armenia.”

As philanthropists, the Mardigians have long been dedicated to improving
access to quality healthcare and are longtime supporters of issues related
to the Armenian religion, culture, education, and social welfare. Most
notably, they have supported Saint John’s Armenian Church in Detroit, the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, the Armenian Assembly of America,
and the University of Michigan at both the Ann Arbor and Dearborn campuses.
Helen Mardigian recently made a donation to the Beaumont Hospital in Royal
Oak, Michigan in memory of her daughter, Marilynn Varbedian.

Reflecting on the Mardigian family, Rita Balian, AACA President and Wellness
Center Founder, explains, “Helen Mardigian and her late husband Edward are
highly respected among Armenian and American communities for their
humanitarian spirit, philanthropy, leadership, and kindness. Helen has been
a role model to me ever since I first met her in the late seventies when we
were working with AGBU/USA under the dedicated leadership of her husband and
I am simply elated that she has decided to reach out and support the
life-saving work of our Wellness Center in Armenia, in which I am so deeply
involved.”

Prior to his retirement in 1985, Edward Mardigian served as the Vice
President of the AGBU International Board and as President of its U.S.
Central Committee. Helen Mardigian has supported the Wellness Center since
2002, and shares in the Center’s mission to save, prolong, and improve the
lives of Armenian women and their families, through early and accurate
detection of breast and cervical cancer and the provision of primary health
care services.

AACA is currently seeking sponsors to fund the construction of individual
floors, with each floor dedicated in honor of its benefactor. The
construction of each floor is estimated at over a quarter of a million
dollars and, to date, AACA has secured sponsors for the second, fourth and
fifth floors of the building.

Although partial funding for the Center’s expansion is being provided by the
United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has
supported the work of the Wellness Center since 2000, AACA is responsible
for raising over $2 million on its own through grassroots fundraising.
Without the help of generous donors such as Helen Mardigian, Anoush
Mathevosian, and others, this project would not be possible.

For more information about the Wellness Center, or to make a donation,
please contact AACA, a US-registered 501 (c)3 non-profit organization, by
e-mail at [email protected], or by phone at (703) 416-2555.

RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN RELATIONS THOSE OF DEFENSIVE ALLIANCE: KONSTANTIN
ZATULIN

MOSCOW, August 24. /ARKA/. Russian-Armenian relations are those of a
defensive alliance, and Azerbaijan must know that, Director of the
Institute of CIS Konstantin Zatulin told ARKA. According to him,
Azerbaijan is making use of the withdrawal of Russian troops from
Georgia for suspecting Armenia and Russia. “Though, as you can
understand, the distance between Armenia and Russia makes groundless
the claims that another group in Armenia will considerably change the
balance of forces in the region,” Zatulin said. According to him,
even if Azerbaijan “is so much afraid of that,” Russia can re-group
forces in its territory. “And nobody ban stop us,” Zatulin said. P.T.
-0–

Foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan see hopeful signs
on Nagorno-Karabakh

AP Worldstream; Aug 24, 2005

The foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan said Wednesday
that they saw hopeful signs recently in the drive to find a settlement
to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

“Now there is certain progress and we have chances to reach an
agreement on this issue,” the ITAR-Tass news agency quoted Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov as saying.

His Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanyan stressed, “The people of
Nagorno-Karabakh should have the right to self-determination,”
ITAR-Tass reported.

“Other problems are to cope with the consequences of the conflict,
settle territorial claims and return refugees,” he added.

The three ministers met in Moscow on Wednesday, along with
representatives of the United States and France, which together with
Russia are mediating negotiations on settling the conflict.

They also discussed arrangements for a meeting Saturday between
Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliev on the sidelines of a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent
States in Russia’s Volga River city of Kazan.

The bloodshed in Nagorno-Karabakh began after the legislature of the
ethnic Armenian-dominated enclave in Azerbaijan called in 1988 for the
region to be incorporated into Armenia, which like Azerbaijan was then
still a Soviet republic. Full-scale military offensives broke out in
1991; thousands were killed and a million displaced.

A tense cease-fire has held since 1994 but efforts to finally resolve
Nagorno-Karabakh’s status have failed repeatedly.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 10) 517 163
Fax: (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
August 23, 2005

His Holiness Karekin II Receives DNC Chairman Howard Dean

On Saturday, August 20, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, received Howard Dean, Chairman of the
Democratic National Committee (United States) and former presidential
candidate. Mr. Dean was accompanied by Armenian Revolutionary
Federation-Dashnaktsutyun Bureau Member Vicken Hovsepian and other ARF
members.

His Holiness welcomed Mr. Dean and his delegation to the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin and presented the guests with an overview of the mission of the
Armenian Church in the homeland and in the Diaspora. Reflecting on the
Armenian Church in America, His Holiness expressed his joy at the vibrant
Armenian community there and in the active role they play in the political,
economic and social life of the United States. The Pontiff of All Armenians
stated his contentment that the children of the Armenian nation, immigrants
and descendants of genocide survivors, are worthy and contributing citizens
of the United States.

Mr. Dean informed His Holiness of the purpose of his visit to Armenia, and
the two engaged in an active discussion regarding the challenges facing the
Republic of Armenia, including the eventual integration of Armenia into the
European Union, the illegal blockade of Armenia by Turkey, the importance of
universal recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide and the
desire of the Armenian people to see the Nagorno Karabagh conflict resolved
in a peaceful and just manner.

At the end of the meeting, His Holiness offered a prayer asking for God’s
blessings to descend upon the Republic of Armenia and the United States.

INVESTMENTS IN BTA INVEST BANK TO MAKE 30 MLN DOLLARS BY LATE 2005

YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, NOYAN TAPAN. On August 22, the presentation of BTA
Invest Bank (former Midinvestbank) took place. 48.9% of the bank
shares were acquired by Turan Alem Bank (Kazakhstan) in May
2005. According to Eric Sultankulov, Turan Alem Bank’s Financial
Director, it is envisaged to make investments of about 30 mln USD by
late 2005, including 10 mln USD in the sphere of mortgage crediting.

It was noted that as of June 30, BTA Invest Bank’s assets made 1 bln
118.9 mln drams (about 2.4 mln USD), its overall capital – 878.8 mln
drams with the authorized capital of 1.1 bln drams. To recap, under
CBA normatives, starting July 1, the minimum amount of the authorized
capital of the Armenian banks shall be 5 mln US dollar (in drams). The
assets of Turan Alem Bank – BTA Invest Bank’s biggest investor – make
about 5.5 bln USD, with its own capital exceeding 600 mln USD. The
bank’s partners are BTA-Kazan (Russia), BTA Trans Bank (Ukraine),
Astana Eximbank (Belarus) and BTA Silk Road Bank (Georgia). Besides
Turan Alem Bank, BTA Invset Bank’s shareholders are the Austrain
company ZRL (31.1%) and the Kazakhstanian-Armenian company Mobilex
(20%).

Civil Georgia, Georgia
Aug 20 2005

New Chief of Public TV Speaks of Priorities

Kintsurashvili vows to secure independent
editorial policy of the Public TV.

Tamar Kintsurashvili was elected for a six-year term by the Board
as the Director-General of the Public Broadcasting on August 19.
Appointment of the General Director is a crucial step in establishing
first-ever politically independent, publicly funded broadcaster.

Tamar Kintsurashvili of non-governmental human rights advocacy
organization Liberty Institute was herself member of the Board, but
withdrew membership on August 13 and joined those 23 candidates who
were competing to chair the Public Broadcasting.

Kintsurashvili’s decision was regarded as controversial and most
of the participants of the competition criticized her move as
“unethical.” Opponents claimed that the competition turned into
“formality” immediately after Tamar Kintsurashvili applied to run for
the position. But the new Director-General of the Public Broadcasting
downplays criticism and says that the law did not prohibit her to
participate in the competition.

This was the second competition, as in July the nine-member Board of
the Public Broadcasting declined all the sixteen candidates, citing
contenders’ lack of experience in media management.

Kintsurashvili, 35, worked for the newspaper Droni in 1993-2000 and
served as deputy editor-in-chief. She was a PR manager at the beer
producing company Castel-Georgia in 2001. Since 2001 Kintsurashvili
has led media programs at the Liberty Institute, where as she said,
gained a huge experience in working over the media legislation. Law
on Public Broadcasting was developed by the Liberty Institute.

In an interview with Civil Georgia on August 20, Kintsurashvili
outlined her policy priorities which she plans to carry. She said
that creation of the Public Broadcasting, which will be “a bearer of
the democratic and civil society values” and provider of genuinely
unbiased news and information will be her top priority.

“Strengthening of the news service is of crucial importance. Public
television should at first gain public confidence and it will happen
only after providing unbiased, balanced and genuinely objective
information and news to the society. So at the first stage I plan
to make a major focus on the news service. Only on the next stages
it will be possible to think about other services and programs,”
Kintsurashvili said.

She said that securing independent editorial policy will be crucial
in this regard. “I think that lack of independent editorial policy
is a major problem of the Georgian median organization. Although
legislation is perfect in this respect, but unfortunately this is
not realized in the practice,” Kintsurashvili said.

She thinks that distribution of duties and responsibilities to a
lower managerial level will foster independence of the editorial
policy. “We should delegate certain level of decision-making to
the lower level managers. But it will require highly professional
managers and producers, that is why we should re-train existing staff
in accordance to the international standards,” Kintsurashvili said.

The new Director-General believes that the Public Television has an
advantage and unlike the private television stations, which currently
dominate the Georgian media market (Rustavi 2, Imedi TV, Mze TV)
Public Broadcasting will have more opportunity to establish editorial
independence, as “it is not owned by a tycoon.”

“While private televisions are financed chiefly by tycoons who have
personal interests, the Public TV has a guaranteed financing, currently
up to 17 million Lari [USD 9,4 million]. This is an advantage which
should be utilized,” Kintsurashvili said.

She said that there is “absolute mess” in the issues related with
the television’s finances and property.

“We should immediately carry out inventory of property. It is
impossible now to find out what kind of property the television owns.
According to the documentations quite a large amount of money has
been spent in recent years for upgrading the television’s equipment.
But the reality is that the TV still urgently needs technical upgrade
and no one knows where the money has went,” Kintsurashvili said.

In her brief concept over development of the Public Broadcasting
submitted to the Board for consideration, there is a separate
chapter regarding the role of the public television in the process
of integration of ethnic and religious minorities.

“It is a long-term plan, but I think of creation of local regional
public broadcastings in those regions, which are predominately
populated by ethnic minorities, for example Public Broadcasting in
Samtskhe-Javakheti [Armenian-populated region], Public Broadcasting in
Shida Kartli [Azerbaijani-populated region] and of course these local
regional televisions will operate under the aegis of the Georgian
Public Broadcasting,” Kintsurashvili said.

She says that the covering of upcoming MP by-elections in Georgia’s
five single-mandate constituencies “will be kind of first test” for
her and the Public Broadcasting. “But less than two months remain
before these elections – it is a short period of time = so I can not
guarantee that we will pass this test perfectly,” she added.

Kintsurashvili will take over the office on August 22. She says that
“the public television should become a flagship in the Georgian media
space,” adding that she will immediately quit if fails to implement
her plans.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

HIS HOLINESS HONORS LEBANESE-ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS
BEBO SIMONIAN AND JIRAYR TANIELIAN

His Holiness Aram I awarded the “Mesrob Masdots” Medal of Honor to
Lebanese-Armenian intellectuals Bebo Simonian and Jirayr Tanielian
during a special ceremony outside the St. Asdvadzadzine Monastery in
Bikfaya on August 16.

Members of the Cilician Brotherhood, the Primate of the Diocese
of Lebanon and representatives of the Central Executive Council,
Rev. Soghomon Kilaghbian, Armenian MPs, the Ambassador of Armenia to
Lebanon, Arek Hovhannisian, the intellectuals participating in the
Armenia-Diaspora conference and representatives from cultural and
educational organizations attended the ceremony.

The opening remarks were delivered by the Chancellor of the
Catholicosate, Mr. Khatchig Dedeian, who pointed out that the ceremony
is an obligation towards two prominent intellectuals, well known for
the work they have carried out in the Armenian Community.

Aharon Shkeherdemian talked about the efficacy of Bebo Simonian,
presenting him as a teacher, pedagogue, writer, poet, editor and an
ideological man.

“However we look at Bebo Simonian’s work, he will appear before us as a
man of culture and a legitimate intellectual. He belongs to the class
of intellectuals who suffers with the conflicts of Armenians and the
world. He does not yield against social and human unjustness,” he said.

Garo Hovhannesian talked about Jirayr Tanielian the individual,
writer, teacher, principle and the dedicated servant to his nation,
who “infected” society with his hard work.

“Jirayr Tanielian has no money to distribute, even though throughout
out his career has helped out a lot of students in paying their
fees. However, he has given extensively intellectually and spiritually
speaking. He has given from his heart, he has given from his soul
and this makes what he has given very valuable and deeply humane,”
said Hovhannesian.

Irma Dedeian recited poems by Vahan Tekeian (Hashvehartar) and Taniel
Varoujan (Sermanogh).

His Holiness Aram I expressed his respect and love for the two
intellectuals, highlighting their sense of dedication, which allowed
them to consider the interests of the nation as being more important
than personal gains.

His Holiness assured that the important role played by the two
intellectuals, especially in providing Armenian education to the new
generations was undeniable. The Catholicos based his praise for the
two intellectuals on three main arguments:

– The Catholicosate of Cilicia values quality and values, words,
the reflection of which can be seen in the lives of Bebo and Jirayr.

– The Catholicosate praises all worthy Armenians without
discrimination. A human being’s worth is measured against his
contribution to his nation’s collective interests.

– The Catholicosate praises not only those who make financial
contributions, but also those who give from their intellect and
souls. Those who give money, give something they own. But those who
give from their intellect or their soul give from themselves.

“Bebo and Simon worked for others; Two people, who not only wrote,
spoke, read, but also taught, formed, established their viewpoints
and approaches and derived their impetus from our nation’s conflicts
and interests,” said His Holiness.

His Holiness’ Encyclicals were then read out and the Pontiff decorated
the two intellectuals with the “Mesrob Mashdots” Medals. The two
intellectuals expressed their gratitude to His Holiness Aram I and
the attendants.

The congratulatory note of the Zaven Yegavian, director of the Armenian
Communities Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, and
Asdghig Tchamkerten were also read out.

The ceremony ended with “Cilicia” and “Mer Hairenik”.

##

View pictures here:

*****

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
history and the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer
to the web page of the Catholicosate, The
Cilician Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is
located in Antelias, Lebanon.