Author: Emil Lazarian

U.S. ARMENIANS RAMP UP CALLS FOR TURKEY TO MAKE REPARATIONS
By Alex Dobuzinskis, Staff Writer
Los Angeles Daily News, CA
May 1 2006
Demanding justice for a 1915 genocide in the Ottoman Empire,
Armenian-Americans in April protested and held vigils to call for an
end to mass murder.
Tied to those actions was the demand for an apology from the Turkish
government, which denies a genocide occurred. Protesters renewed those
calls throughout the month, but a simple apology for the deaths of
an estimated 1.5 million people wouldn’t be enough for many in the
Armenian community.
They want land and reparations, demands Turkey has ignored.
“Just admitting to the crime would only be half the equation,” said
Zanku Armenian, spokesman for the Armenian National Committee of
America’s western region. “When there’s a crime, there has to be a
consequence to it in order to deter future such crimes.”
Armenians lived in what is now eastern Turkey for centuries before
being driven out in 1915, so they expect Turkey to transfer some of
that land to neighboring Armenia.
Taking a cue from Germany’s payment of more than $60 billion to Jewish
Holocaust survivors, Armenians say Turkey should pay reparations, too.
Turkish officials show no signs of bowing to the demands.
“Did the American government officially pay billions of dollars as
reparations to the Indians?” said Engin Ansay, Turkey’s consul general
to Los Angeles.
Armenia and Turkey should be trading goods, not barbs, Ansay said.
“If we have a dialogue with the Armenians and we normalize the
relations, the borders are open and the Armenians have access to
the Turkish ports, they will make at least $2 billion a year,” Ansay
said. “So in 10 years they make $20 billion out of it. … That is
so much more than any reparation amount.”
At an annual protest last Monday in front of the Turkish consulate
in Los Angeles, the crowd of about 3,000 demonstrators didn’t support
more trade with Turkey.
In fact, they carried signs calling for a boycott of Turkish goods.
One protester carried a sign that read “Ararat Belongs to Armenia,”
referring to a mountain with religious and national significance to
Armenians that is visible from Armenia’s capital city but sits just
beyond the border – in Turkey.
Glendale school board member Greg Krikorian, who is of Armenian
descent and stood with the protesters, echoed the demand.
“We’ve been walking (in demonstrations) for years, from Los Angeles
to New York to Detroit to Boston to Washington, D.C.,” he said. “We
not only want recognition of the genocide, we demand Mount Ararat
back and our homeland back.”
For Jews, accepting reparations from Germany proved controversial
for years, said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon
Wiesenthal Center. Some Holocaust survivors considered the payments
“blood money” and refused to take them, but payments were a help to
others, he said.
“There’s no question that part of the price tag of, if you will,
the re-emergence of Germany into the family of nations is they had
to find a way for reparations and restitutions to the survivors.”
Many Armenian-Americans expect the same from Turkey.
“The loss is irreparable. It’s a destruction of an entire nation and
all its cultural and material possessions on the land on which it had
lived for 3,000 years, and I don’t think you can put a price on that,”
said Richard Hovannisian, a professor at University of California, Los
Angeles, and chairman of modern Armenian history at the school. “What
I do believe is that there have to be certain acts of contrition and
restitution on the Turkish side.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WB: SELLING OF HRAZDAN TPS 5TH ENERGY UNIT TO GAZPROM IS PROFITABLE FOR ARMENIA
Regnum, Russia
May 1 2006
It is a profitable deal for Armenia to sell Hrazdan TPS 5th energy
unit to Russian Gazprom Company, Director of World Bank Yerevan office
Roger Robinson is quoted by a REGNUM correspondent as saying it at
April 28 news conference.
According to him, the Armenian government is going to hold public
hearings on the question and to clarify all details of the deal.
“Holding of public hearings and clarifying details are governmental
duty,” he stressed, adding, that all questions on the deal will
be exhausted after discussions. Mentioning anxiety about the fact
that the Russian side becomes monopolist in Armenian power supply
system, Roger Robinson explained that foreign countries provide
public services in many countries of the world. In particular,
several foreign firms guarantees water supply in Great Britain, and
“there are no bad things in it.” “Strong structure is necessary for
regulation of public services,” the WB representative stressed.
According to him, mainly Russia supplies fuel for electrical energy
production, in particular, nuclear fuel for Armenian NPP, as well
as gas. “It is necessary to take into consideration current reality,
speaking about Armenian power supply system; and it may not be changed
within several minutes,” Roger Robinson concluded.
It should be stressed, production infrastructure of Hrazdan TPS, except
for its 5th unit, was handed over to Russia several years ago in the
framework of Property in Exchange for Debt Program, which envisages
clearing off of Armenian state debt in the rate of $100 millions
through assignation of stocks of five enterprises to the Russian
side. Gazprom Holding and the Armenian government achieved agreement
on sale of legally independent production infrastructure of Hrazdan
TPS 5th unit in April 2006. According to the agreement, the unit
will be sold to ArmRosgazprom for $248.8 millions. Part of the sum –
$188.8 – will be used to compensate gas tariff difference, because
the Russian side raised price for the fuel from $56 up to $110 per
1,000 cubic meters. As it is expected, in future Hrazdan TPS 5th unit
will become element of Gas in Exchange for Electrical Power scheme,
to which Iran-Armenia gas pipeline will belong too. According to an
Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental agreement, Armenia will export 3
kWt/h of electrical power for every cubic meter of Iranian gas. Iranian
gas will begin to get into Armenia already in the end of 2006.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OFFICIAL CHIDES WATCHDOG’S REPORT AS PRO-ARMENIAN
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
May 1 2006
Baku, April 28, AssA-Irada
The head of the President’s Office socio-political department
Ali Hasanov is expected to meet the Baku representatives of the
international organization Human Rights Watch following the publication
of its report criticizing the country’s human rights record.
Human Rights Watch reportedly urged US President George Bush to
put pressure on the visiting counterpart Ilham Aliyev over what it
described as Azerbaijan’s poor democratic development record.
Hasanov has told AssA-Irada that the Azerbaijani government had always
treated the organization’s evaluations seriously and attempts had
been made to discuss its reports pertaining to Azerbaijan.
“However, we have to acknowledge that the assessments Human Rights
Watch has been giving to the situation in the South Caucasus over the
past several years have not always been based on objective facts. We
know only too well the situation in Armenia and the relationship
between the authorities and opposition there. If you remember, the
core of the Armenian opposition were gunned down in parliament.
Despite this, the said organization portrays Armenia as the most
democratic country in the South Caucasus,” Hasanov said and added that
this was why the decision had been made to talk to representatives
of the group.
The official added that HRW does not have any clout on US foreign
policy, which is determined by official institutions of the state.
And these, he said, are represented by the US embassy in Azerbaijan.
He went on to say that the group’s assessments may to some extent
affect US public opinion.
“We don’t want the American people to develop a negative opinion about
Azerbaijan and intend to pay attention to the analyses of Human Rights
Watch,” Hasanov said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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]
Website: 
April 30, 2006
Celebration of Youth in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
On Palm Sunday, April 9, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, hosted the 7th Annual Day of Youth in Holy
Etchmiadzin.  Soon after his election and enthronement as the 132nd Pontiff
of the Armenian Church, His Holiness declared Palm Sunday to be an annual
day for blessing children.
Immediately following Morning Services, the Catholicos of All Armenians
offered a special “Andastan” service in the courtyard of the Mother
Cathedral, where he blessed the four corners of the world, as well as
thousands of willow branches which were to be distributed to the young boys
and girls as they arrived in the Mother See.
At 11:00 AM, a special Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Vasken
Nanian, a member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin and Vice Dean of the
Gevorkian Theological Seminary.  At the conclusion of the Liturgy, His
Holiness invited all the children to gather around him standing before the
Holy Altar of Descent, where he offered a special service and prayer for
blessing the young sons and daughters of the Armenian people.
In the afternoon, His Holiness opened the doors of the Pontifical Residence
to the children of the city of Vagharshapat.  Led by the mayor of the city,
hundreds of young boys and girls were treated to a special tour of the
museums and were received by the spiritual father of all Armenians.  His
Holiness congratulated the young guests and delivered a special fatherly
message and blessing to them.
In keeping with the spirit of the day, His Holiness also received students
from the Vahan and Anoush Chamlian Armenian School in Southern California,
who had traveled to Armenia on their annual pilgrimage.
##
–Boundary_(ID_AkffWuTL2RV4euQ7Eo C4kQ)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
05/01/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Oskanian: Karabakh Will Never be A Part of Azerbaijan 2) Gul Criticizes France over Bills Proposing Jail Time for Genocide Denial 3) Thousands Rally to Stop the Violence in Darfur 1) Oskanian: Karabakh Will Never be A Part of Azerbaijan STEPANAKERT (Combined sources)--"Negotiations for the settlement of the Karabakh conflict have reached a stalemate after Rambouillet. A certain progress was observed before those talks, and now attempts are being made to restore it," Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated at Artsakh State University during his two-day visit to the Republic of Mountainous Karabakh. Oskanian said the settlement of the Karabakh conflict is one of the most important issues of Armenia's foreign policy. The minister also said the two most current issues in the foreign political sphere are public democratization and stable economic development. He also stressed the importance of cooperation in various spheres with Russia, and the necessity for Armenia and Karabakh to integrate into European structures. Regarding the current state of the negotiation process, Oskanian said "Azerbaijan should understand that one cannot turn back the clock. Baku should get rid of the idea of a forced settlement of the conflict." Touching upon mutual concessions, Oskanian said, ~SMutual compromises should be born during talks. Each of the parties has a line that the other cannot overstep.~T For the Armenian side, that line is the guarantee of Karabakh security, independence for Karabakh, and uninterrupted land communication with Armenia. Oskanian made clear that these points are not negotiable and they won~Rt be compromised. "I don't know what status Karabakh will have in the future, but I know for sure what it will not be: Karabakh will never be a part of Azerbaijan. That is absolutely impossible," Oskanian said. ~SKarabakh has never been part of Azerbaijan,~T he emphasized. 2) Gul Criticizes France over Bills Proposing Jail Time for Genocide Denial (Combined sources)--Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul met his French counterpart Philippe Douste-Blazy in an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia last week. During the meeting Minister Gul sharply criticized France for five bills in the legislative proposing jail sentences and fines for denying the Armenian genocide. Turkey asked France to stop these resolutions, which were submitted to the French parliament by the Socialist Party with the aim of punishing those who deny the Armenian genocide. Gul asked the French minister, ~SIf I visit France and say there is no Armenian genocide, will you imprison me too?~T The minister went on to ask if the French government would imprison Turkish politicians paying an official visit to France and they deny the Armenian genocide to reporters. "Will you put these politicians in jail? If our president or prime denies the Armenian genocide in France, will you imprison them too?~T Gul stressed that if these proposed resolutions are enacted, they will create problems with the political and economic relations between Turkey and France. The French parliament will debate the resolutions on May 18. 3) Thousands Rally to Stop the Violence in Darfur Protesters urge Bush to push for a stronger multinational peacekeeping force. WASHINGTON (Reuters)--Thousands of people rallied Sunday on the National Mall against human rights abuses in Darfur, joining celebrities, politicians and activists who called on the Bush administration to strengthen its efforts to end the violence in Sudan's western region. "Let's tell President Bush he needs to do more," said David Rubenstein, coordinator of the Save Darfur Coalition, an alliance of 165 religious and humanitarian groups that sponsored the rally. "His heart is in the right place, but he is not doing enough. We need George Bush to work harder to save Darfur now." People came from as far away as California to send that message and to hear such speakers as actor George Clooney, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel and Olympic speedskating gold medalist Joey Cheek. The Save Darfur Coalition wants Bush to push harder for a stronger multinational peacekeeping force to protect people in Darfur. Its members have collected more than 750,000 postcards urging him to do so. The conflict in Darfur began in 2003 when Arab tribal militias, known as janjaweed, began a campaign of terror to crush a rebellion in Darfur. The Sudanese government denies widespread accusations that it backs the militias. The White House and Congress have described the campaign of mass killings and rapes of civilians as genocide. More than 180,000 people have died, and more than 2 million are homeless. On Sunday, hours before a deadline for peace talks imposed by African Union mediators, the rebels rejected a proposal to end the fighting, the Associated Press reported. One rebel faction said the measure did not address its demands for greater autonomy and for the appointment of a vice president from Darfur, the Associated Press said. The Sudanese government had said earlier in the day that it would agree to the plan, although there were indications that it did so only after determining that the rebels would reject it. The proposal could bring as many as 20,000 United Nations forces to bolster the 7,000 African Union troops that have largely failed to prevent violence. In response, the African Union extended the deadline for negotiations for 48 hours. Appearing Sunday on ABC's "This Week," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on China and Russia to join the United States in trying to get Sudan to accept U.N. truce forces. "Obviously, a peace agreement would be a very important step forward in getting this done," she said. On Sunday afternoon, Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick issued a statement "urging the parties to finalize the agreement right away." He praised the participation of the thousands who came to more than a dozen rallies scheduled in cities across the country, including Austin, Texas; San Francisco; Seattle; and Portland, Ore. "People want a solution," he said. "Their activism and energy is commendable." The rally on the Mall attracted 240 busloads of activists, according to organizers, who said last week that they expected 10,000 to 15,000 to attend. The National Park Service, which is responsible for events on the Mall, no longer provides estimates of crowd sizes. Sunday's gathering under a bright blue sky brought together older people, families with young children, and students from a wide variety of religious and ethnic backgrounds. "I heard that there wasn't a bus left in New Jersey," said Stacey Orden of Hillsdale, N.J., who came with 55 people from her temple. "In 1944, when 6 million people died in concentration camps, the U.S. waited too long to intervene. Never again. And never again means never again," Orden said. "Innocent people are being killed, and women are being raped." Nan Myers of Philadelphia said she wanted to "make our views known to the people who can make a difference to stop the genocide in Darfur. It is gratifying to see so many young people." About 50 students traveled from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, even though they have final exams today. "This is a lot more important than exams," said Joanna Zelman, 20. "There is genocide going on, and you cannot sit by and let that happen." She and her friend Jamie Persons, 19, said they were inspired by the movie "Hotel Rwanda," which told how hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina saved more than 1,000 lives during ethnic violence in that country. Rusesabagina, who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom last year and has visited Sudan, addressed the rally: "What I saw in Darfur is exactly what was going on in Rwanda." Seminary students Dan Peake and Kevon Gray came from Columbus, Ohio, because Gray had heard about the problems in Darfur while on an evangelical mission in Africa. Anderia Arok, a Sudanese who came to this country four years ago and lives in Colorado, said, "They are committing genocide to get land in Darfur." Peter Marcus, a Los Angeles lawyer, led a delegation of more than 100 from Jewish World Watch, a Southern California organization he described as opposing "egregious human rights abuses, including genocide." "Darfur is currently our primary focus," Marcus said. "The rally this weekend is to draw attention to the issue. Genocide is a particularly sensitive issue in the Jewish community, for obvious reasons." He said of Darfur: "The United States and the world are not doing enough." All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Catholicosate and Canadian Prelacy Thank Prime Minister for
Genocide Recognition
ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 12:18
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Catholicosate of
Cilicia and His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of the
Armenian Prelacy of Canada, issued separate thank you letters to the
Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Canada’s prime minister, for
acknowledging the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
In a statement made to the Armenian National Committee of Canada
(ANCC), the Prime Minister acknowledged the motion adopted by the
House of Commons recognizing the Armenian Genocide as the first
genocide of the 20th century and condemning it as a crime against
humanity.
`My party and I supported those resolutions and continue to recognize
them today¦ I join with you today in remembering the past and I
encourage you to continue honouring your forefathers by building a
bright future for all Canadians.’
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos, along with His Eminence, Prelate
Hagopian, and ANCC representatives, met with the Prime Minister, at
his request, in October 2005. During this meeting, His Holiness
discussed with Harper the issue of the Armenian Genocide and its
recognition by the Canadian government, as well as the possibility of
establishing a Canadian Embassy in Armenia, and expressed hope that
the Catholicosate and the Prelacy will continue to work together with
the Canadian Government on matters of concern for Canadians and
Armenians on multiple levels.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PACE Presidnet: In case Azerbaijan applies force, it will end its
membership to the Coucil of Europe
ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 14:52
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
René Van der Linden said in his exclusive interview to MEDIAMAX
Agency that in case of resumption of the war between Armenia and
Azerbaijan `the membership of the countries tying to resolve the
conflict in a military way to the Council of Europe will become
impossible.’
Commenting upon the militant statements of the Azerbaijani leader,
PACE President said, `They should know that if they decide to use
force, it will put an end to their membership to the Council of
Europe. However, I am sure no one will demonstrate such behavior.’
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Manuk Gasparyan surprised with the rapid political developments in the
country
ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 15:31
`Preceding the coming parliamentary elections, the developments in
Armenia change rapidly, which is just unexpected,’ considers Manuk
Gasparyan, NA Deputy, Head of the `Democratic Way’ political party.
If months ago he was making predictions which political parties would
be represented in the next Parliament, then today he considers that
making such predictions is a thankless thing.
The Deputy is confident that it is natural that the events should
develop rapidly, adding, however, `I did not expect that the
politicians would start using black PR against each other as early as
a year and two months before elections.’
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia-Iceland – 10:5
ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 16:00
Hockey Federation of Armenia informs that in the Armenian national
hockey team scored 10:5 in the match against the team of Luxemburg at
the World Championship held in Reykjavik, Iceland.

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
April 29 2006
Knowledge of European Legislation and Exchange of Experience To Speed
Up the Process of Euro Integration

On April 28 Hranush Hakobyan, Chairwoman of the NA Standing Committee
on Science, Education, Culture and Youth received Jûrgen Binder,
TACIS programme councilor, lawyer. The latter informed that the
TACIS has started to fulfill a new programme from March, the goal of
which is to familiarize the citizens of Armenia, especially the youth
with the European legislation, which will more promote Armenia’s Euro
integration. Mr. Binder expressed a hope that the Armenian Parliament
as a legislative body, will politically assist to their initiative
for ensuring the continuity of the programme.
Mrs. Hakobyan, Committee Chairwoman expressed readiness to assist
that important programme, proposing Mr. Binder to discuss the issue
in the committee, organize roundtables, lectures and after informing
about it, having young specialists and active students, prepare
specialists for European legislation. As Mrs. Hakobyan assessed, the
propaganda of European political culture and introduction to its
legislation will further specify our future steps towards Euro
integration.
Both sides decided to present concrete proposals in connection with
the ways of the parliament’s assistance at the next meeting.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress