Author: Emil Lazarian

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
March 8, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
STATE DEPARTMENT ENDS THREE-MONTH OFFICIAL SILENCE
ON AZERBAIJAN’S DESTRUCTION OF HISTORIC DJULFA CEMETERY
— Visiting U.S. Official Describes Desecration
of 1300 year old burial grounds as a “Tragedy;”
Calls on the Guilty to be Punished
WASHINGTON, DC – In the wake of a sustained international outcry,
growing Congressional protests, and a forceful condemnation by the
European Parliament, the U.S. State Department yesterday ended its
three-month long silence on the Azerbaijani government’s
destruction of the medieval Armenian cemetery in the Djulfa region
of Nakhichevan.
Speaking yesterday at a press conference in Yerevan, Armenia,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza responded to
reporters’ questions by describing the destruction as a “tragedy,”
and noting that, “it’s awful what happened in Djulfa. But the
United States cannot take steps to stop it as it is happening on
foreign soil. We continually raise this issue at meetings with
Azeri officials. We are hopeful that the guilty will justly be
punished. We are hopeful that in no other state of the region such
things will happen again, as there are great historic monuments in
the Caucasus and, frankly speaking, in all three states they are
endangered.”
“We welcome the end to the State Department’s long silence on
Djulfa, but regret that it took three months and sustained
international protest before our government summoned the will to
utter its first public condemnation of a clear cut and thoroughly
documented case of cultural desecration,” said ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian.
In December of 2005, approximately 200 Azerbaijani forces were
videotaped using sledgehammers to demolish the Armenian cemetery in
Djulfa, a sacred site of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The
cemetery dates back to the 7th Century and once was home to as many
as 10,000 khatchkars (stone-crosses). An on-line video of the
destruction can be viewed at:
4.htm
The ANCA has widely distributed DVDs documenting the destruction,
educated Congressional offices about this desecration, and worked
in concert with ANCA affiliates around the world to protest
Azerbaijan’s worsening anti-Armenian behavior. The Congressional
Armenian Caucus, led by Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI), has formally condemned Azerbaijan’s actions, as have
Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Congresswoman Grace Napolitano
(D-CA). On February 16, 2006, the European Parliament adopted a
resolution condemning Azerbaijan’s destruction of the cemetery and
demanding that Azerbaijan allow an European Parliament delegation
to survey the site.
On February 28th, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met with
UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura. During the meeting, the
Foreign Minister called attention to the destruction of the Djulfa
cemetery and urged UNESCO to send a team of experts to assess the
situation and take appropriate action.
#####

UK SUPPORTS CONTINUATION OF KARABAKH TALKS
PanARMENIAN.Net
07.03.2006 19:44 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The statements on military settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, voiced recently, are apprehended
negatively,” Lori Bristow, the British Ambassador to Azerbaijan,
said on Monday. According to Bristow, peace negotiations are more
optimal way of solution of the problem. “The UK supports continuation
of negotiations process and regards it as more acceptable version,
which will ensure lasting peace in the region and meets interests of
all sides,” the British diplomat stressed.
According to Lori Bristow, he did not have “any illusions in relation
to possible military solution of the problem, frozen for many
years.” “I want to mention that the Azerbaijani and the Armenian
Presidents abide by their commitments to peace settlement of the
conflict and we support their position,” the Ambassador stressed,
reports Trend.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIA, U.S. DISCUSS “FROZEN” CONFLICTS, BILATERAL RELATIONS
RIA Novosti, Russia
March 7 2006
WASHINGTON, March 7 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s foreign minister and
the U.S. secretary of state put on a generally united front despite
recent differences Tuesday after talks on a variety of global issues,
including the “frozen” conflicts in the former Soviet Union.
Condoleezza Rice said that she and Sergei Lavrov had discussed a
number of important issues, including the Iranian nuclear crisis,
the Middle East and the conflicts in Nagorny-Karabakh, a region in
Azerbaijan with a predominantly Armenian population, and in the
self-proclaimed republic of Abkhazia in Georgia. Both conflicts
erupted after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Rice said the United States was satisfied with relations with Russia,
although she expressed concern over what she termed were certain
negative developments in the country. Washington has often criticized
Moscow for allegedly “backsliding” on democracy and failing to observe
human rights.
Lavrov said the talks in the U.S. capital “were productive and
important for the future development of relations” between the two
countries, but added that Moscow was concerned about U.S. position
on Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization.
“The U.S. is the only country that has not reached a WTO agreement with
Russia and has not abolished the notorious Jackson-Vanik amendment,”
Lavrov said.
The Jackson-Vanik Amendment links U.S. trade benefits, known as Normal
Trade Relations (NTR), to the emigration and human rights policies
of communist or formerly communist countries.
The Russian minister said the solution of the issues that had been
discussed during the talks would largely influence the interaction
between Russia and its partners in the Group of Eight industrialized
nations.
St. Petersburg, Russia’s second city, will host the next G8 summit
in July.
“We have certain differences over the ways to pursue our goals,
but our final aims coincide, in my opinion,” Lavrov said referring
to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the fight
against international crime, drug-trafficking and terrorism, and the
development of global trade.

ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES VIOLATED CEASE-FIRE IN GAZAKH
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 7 2006
Defense Ministry press service told APA that Armenian side broke
the cease-fire again. From the positions in 1km to the north-east of
Berkaber village, Ijevan, Armenian Armed Forces fired on the positions
of Azerbaijani Armed Forces in Gizil Hajili village, Kazakh at 18.30
on March 6.
Armenians also fired on positions of Azerbaijani Armed Forces in
Farahli village, Kazakh by sub-machine and machine guns from their
positions in Noyamberyan from 1.10 a.m to 1.15 a.m on March 7.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AVRAAM RUSSO, A SYRIAN ARMENIAN WHO REALIZES FAME IN RUSSIA
Azad Hye, United Arab Emirates
March 7 2006
Azad-Hye, Dubai, 7 March 2006: In its 6th December 2001 issue, “The
Moscow Times” Russian leading English-language newspaper’s reporter
Elvan Levent describes the new phenomenon of the Russian pop music
with the following words: “After 16 years of performing at clubs and
restaurants in Britain, Syria, France and Cyprus, Avraam Russo is well
on his way to becoming a confirmed pop star — in Russia. Russo, who
speaks seven languages and can sing in 14, is a Syrian-born musician
of Turkish descent. Now 31, he moved to Russia five years ago and is
today on his way to the top of the local charts”.
In the following year (2002), Avraam Russo won a Russian national
premium award called “Pesnya Goda” (the song of the year) for his
famous hit “Daleko Daleko” (Far away in Russian), originally taken from
the Egyptian Arab famous singer Amr Diab’s song “Tamalli Ma’ak” (2000).
What is the story behind Avraam Russo? Is he really of Turkish descent?
Quite the contrary. Russo’s real name is Apraham Ipjian (nicknamed
Apo or Apig).
Born in 1969 in Aleppo, Apig comes from a very poor family. He had
three brothers and lost his father in early age. His mother used to
work in hard manual works, serving households in that northern city
of Syria, where a community of 50 thousand Armenians live.
As he discovered his singing talent, he was soon involved in several
amateur bands, making part-time appearances in family style outdoor
restaurants (such as Ramaya, Aleppo Family Swimming Pool, Somar,
Ouroubeh, etc.) and in hotels (Al Amir) in Aleppo.
In 1993 he moves to Cyprus and works in a night club for two years
earning no more than US$ 200 per month. However, his presence on the
island of Aphrodite proves to be important for his future career.
During one of his visits to Cyprus a Russian Jewish tycoon Telman
Ismailov (now Vice President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress and
owner of huge retail enterprises in Moscow and entertainment outlets
such as Prague Restaurant), a well connected person with Russian
politicians (including the Mayor of Moscow), attends one of his
multi-lingual performances and upon noticing his talent, he immediately
invites him to work in one of his prestigious outlets in Russia.
Ismailov, originally from Baku, Azerbaijan had been living (and
thriving) in Moscow since the early 1990s.
After hesitating for one year, Apig eventually takes his advice. At
that time he was back in Syria. His first trip to Moscow was in 1995.
In a relatively short time he gets to be famous. With the help of
a girlfriend he learns Russian and prepares a repertoire in many
languages, exactly the way he used to do in Syria and Cyprus. His
linguistic abilities helped him to overcome the language barrier. His
command of European languages was also impressive. During his
childhood, he used to live for some years in Europe, when his father
was still alive.
There was always a kind of mystery about his origin. People
made different speculations, judging on his knowledge of several
languages. He himself had not explicitly referred to his ethnic
background, maybe due to an informal agreement he made with his manager
before receiving wide recognition. After all Russian fans might be
fascinated with his songs and style and would not be interested to
know about his origin. Armenians of Aleppo though insist in branding
him as their fellow compatriot.
Photo: 21lj41
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSKANIAN AND BRYZA DISCUSS KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS
PanARMENIAN.Net/
07.03.2006 21:37 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During a meeting of Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian
with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
Affairs Matthew Bryza US-Armenian cooperation matters were discussed,
as well as some international and regional issues. V. Oskanian
appreciated US Government’s continuing assistance to Armenia in
building a democratic society, human rights protection and economic
field. Details of assistance to Armenia within Millenium Challenges
Account were discussed. Energy problems in the region were also touched
upon. Oskanian briefs the US State Department representative with basic
direction of Armenia’s foreign policy. He emphasized the importance
of the NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP), as well as
talks on Armenia’s participation in the European Neighborhood Policy
(ENP), the second round of which successfully completed on March
6. The parties also discussed matters of peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict and the situation after the latest talks,
reported the Press Service of the Armenian MFA.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HUNGER STRIKE IN FRONT OF HRD OFFICE
Panorama.am
16:26 07/03/06
Two of dwellers of Buzand 15 will celebrate the Women’s Day in a
hunger strike.
Since 9 o’clock in the morning 3 of about 10 members of 6 families
living in Buzand 15 Street has gone on a hunger strike in front of
the office of Human Rights Defender. They demand “Just compensation”:
this signboard has been stuck on the wall of HRD office and the
strikers are waiting for their further fate.
This time the dwellers decided to legalize the hunger strike, and
selected the pavement opposite the HRD office as a legal place. In
the morning the second Human rights’ Defender accepted the strikers
and promised to help them. The protestants cherished hopes with this
as well as the other defenders but “as you saw they didn’t let Larisa
Alaverdyan do anything,” they said.
As the dwellers predict, a new wave of protest is expected at the
end of the year. This time the strikers will be those who signed
agreement about the purchase of the apartment. As they say the time
of realization of the agreement is going to expire soon, yet the
dwellers haven’t been given places to live in.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MANUK GASPARYAN’S FIRST VICTORY
A1+
04:06 pm 07 March, 2006
Leader of “People’s way” party (PEP), deputy Manuk Gasparyan considers,
that for the first time during the last 14 years he has achieved his
first real victory – the “Botanical garden” operation is over. After he
had raised the question of felling and building processes in Botanical
garden of Yerevan previous week, the construction was stopped.
Today by 15:00 all the construction technics must have been take out
of the territory. At present the garden is in following condition:
11 out of 18 planned pits for cottages have been dug, each covers
15/20 square metres. As PEP leader presented, he had found out who
7 of the 18 cottages belong to.
Yet Mr. Gasparyan refused to publish the names of the owners. “If
the construction wasn’t stopped, we would make it public”. Manuk
Gasparyan marked that the owners of the cottages are mostly average
oligarchs”. The deputy is sure that these men have already got their
punishment as for legalization of each document regarding cottages
they paid different officials up to 30 thousand USD.
After stoppage of the construction they have already lost these sums,
perhaps.
The deputy is sure that if appropriate attention was paid to the
Botanical garden during the last two years, there would be 300-400
bushes today. After consultation held with the Prime Minister it was
decided to reestablish water supply in the garden till the end of
March, and the Ministry of Agricultere was charged with realizing
planting, which will possibly be carried out in April.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
07-03-2006
Minister Oskanian Receives Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew J. Bryza
Minister Oskanian received Matthew Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State for European and Eurasian Affairs on March 7.
During the meeting, the two discussed the present status and future
prospects for Armenian-American relations, as well as a wide range of
international and regional issues. The Minister expressed appreciation for
the US Government’s continuing support of Armenia’s democratic development,
human rights protections and economic reforms. In this connection, they
discussed some details associated with the Millennium Challenge Compact to
be signed in Washington later this month.
Further, the Minister and the Deputy Assistant Secretary focused on regional
energy issues from the perspective of Armenia’s energy diversification
efforts.
Minister Oskanian briefed Mr. Bryza on some key issues in Armenian foreign
policy, paying special attention to implementation of Armenia’s NATO
Individual Partnership Action Plan and ongoing talks with the EU on the
European Neighborhood Policy, the second phase of which had concluded
successfully on March 6.
Toward the end of the meeting, Mr. Oskanian and Mr. Bryza explored several
issues having to do with regional cooperation, as well as the situation that
followed the recent presidential meeting on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement.
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]
March 9, 2006
Supreme Spiritual Council Discusses Armenian Diocese of Georgia
On March 7, a meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council was convened in the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin
II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, with the
participation of the members of the Supreme Spiritual Council residing in
Armenia.
During the meeting, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian, Primate of the
Armenian Diocese of Georgia, presented a report regarding the pastoral,
spiritual and church-building activities within the diocese.  He
particularly noted that the renovations of the church of Saint Gevork
(diocesan headquarters) and the church of Holy Etchmiadzin (in Tbilisi) are
planned for this year, the architectural drawings for which will soon be
completed.  His Grace happily reported on the spiritual reawakening within
the diocese, underlining the need for new clergymen to be assigned,
specifically to the vicarage in Javakhk.  He also noted that the
applications to Georgian state authorities have yet to be resolved,
regarding granting of appropriate legal standing to the diocese and the
return of six historic Armenian churches.  His Grace also stated that
certain mass media agencies within Georgia continue with anti-Armenian
announcements and commentaries, which create an atmosphere of intolerance
and tension.
In response to a query from the Supreme Spiritual Council, Bishop Vazgen
confirmed that the Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church, with their
decision of February 6, 2006, announced the creation of a new diocese within
the Republic of Armenia entitled Tashir-Agarak, subject to the bishop of the
Diocese of Dmanisi in Georgia, `…with the intent of reestablishing its
historic diocese’.
The Supreme Spiritual Council expressed disappointment that the Georgian
Orthodox Church did not inform the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin regarding
the creation of a new diocese located in the northern region of the Republic
of Armenia; and further, that their Synod is creating a new diocese in a
region where the Georgian Church has no faithful; while the rights of
hundreds of thousands of faithful Armenians living in Georgia to have the
Armenian Diocese granted appropriate legal standing and historic Armenian
churches returned are being ignored and disregarded.
The Supreme Spiritual Council received the report of the Primate of the
Armenian Diocese of Georgia with appreciation and satisfaction, and
commended his successful implementation of his mission, exhorting him to
enthusiastically continue his efforts aimed towards the enrichment of the
Armenian Diocese of Georgia and the strengthening of the centuries-old
fraternal relations between the Armenian and Georgian people and Churches.