Author: Emil Lazarian

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OSKANYAN MET MERZLYAKOV
[07:05 pm] 21 April, 2006
On April 21 Moscow hosted a regular session of the Council of Foreign
Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
An important theme on the session’s agenda was consideration of the
questions concerning further improvements in the structure of the CIS
bodies and the enhancement of their effectiveness. In particular, a
report was heard on the progress in the implementation of the Decision
of the CIS Council of Heads of State on Perfecting and Reforming the
Bodies of the Commonwealth of Independent States, of August 26, 2005,
and on the Establishment of a High-Level Group on the Issues of
Raising the Effectiveness of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Meeting participants examined and approved the drafts of a number of
documents on humanitarian cooperation issues, namely an Agreement on
the Council for Humanitarian Cooperation among the Member States of
the Commonwealth of Independent States and a Program of Principal
Measures of Cooperation among the CIS Member States in the Field of
Culture Till 2010.
Same day Minister Oskanyan met the OSCE Minsk group Russian co-chair
Yuri Merzlyakov. No details of the meeting are given in the press
release of the Foreign Ministry.
Oskanyan will return to Armenia on April 22.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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NKR NA WILL SAY ITS WORD
[05:17 pm] 21 April, 2006
Today the NKR Parliament will start hearings about the Karabakh
conflict. As a result of the hearings the NKR Parliament will clear up
its approaches towards the settlement of the conflict. Asked the
question how the decisions of the NA will affect the settlement of the
conflict NKR President Arkadi Ghoukasyan mentioned, «We highly
appreciate the opinion of our NA».
By the way, Armen Roustamyan, the head of the RA NA Standing Committee
on Foreign Relations, deputies Hmayak Hovhannisyan and head of the
Democratic Party Aram Sargsyan will also participated in the hearings.
Experts have also been invited.
At the end of the hearings the groups and factions in the NKR NA will
make an announcement. With this announcement they will represent their
approach towards the coming negotiations, in particular the points of
view about the settlement of the conflict.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Allston-Brighton TAB, MA
April 21 2006
Kaprielian, Koutoujian, Tolman: We must never forget the Armenian
genocide
By Rachel Kaprielian, Peter Koutoujian, Sen. Steven Tolman/ Guest
Columnists
E-mail article View text version View most popular
For Armenian Americans, April 24th is an important day: it was on
that date in 1915 that the Ottoman Turkish Empire began its slaughter
of Armenians. Over the next several years, more than a million
Armenians were murdered in a calculated campaign to rid Turkey of all
Armenians. In other words, the so-called Young Turk government
committed genocide against the Armenian people.

Among scholars and genocide experts, there is no doubt about this
issue. The International Association of Genocide Scholars (the
definitive group of scholars on the subject), the Institute on the
Holocaust and Genocide in Jerusalem, and the Institute for the Study
of Genocide have repeatedly affirmed the historical facts of the
Armenian genocide, as have Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel and
Pulitzer Prize Winner Samantha Power.

For those who are relatives of survivors there can be no doubt
about this crime. Yet, sometime in the next several weeks, a federal
judge in Boston will hear arguments in a suit brought by the
Association of Turkish American Assemblies and others that seek to
introduce materials into Massachusetts’ classrooms denying that the
Armenian genocide occurred.

How, after all these years, can this still be open to debate?
Because the Turkish government and its American affiliate continue to
deny that the Young Turks committed this grave crime. And they
continue to seek forums to push their denialist point of view.

Now they’re bringing this campaign to Massachusetts, home to one
of the largest Armenian populations in the nation. They claim that
the Massachusetts Department of Education trampled on the First
Amendment when it decided not to teach “the other side” of the
Armenian genocide, i.e., that the slaughter was just the unfortunate
byproduct of civil war between the Turks and the Armenians.

This claim, refuted by reputable genocide scholars, is an affront
to thousands of Armenian-Americans living here in Massachusetts whose
families were victims of the Turkish government’s murderous campaign.
And it is particularly offensive for people like 99-year-old John
Kasparian of Worcester and 93-year-old Armine Dedikian of Watertown,
two survivors of the slaughter.
Anyone interested in ascertaining the truth about this genocide need
merely to hear stories like Mr. Kasparian’s, whose family left its
home the night before the Turkish attack that took 200 of their
fellow villagers and whose brother died of starvation while the
family fled. Or hear Mrs. Dedikian, whose father was killed just
before she was born and who was separated from her mother soon after.
(Mother and daughter were eventually reunited when 15-year-old Armine
arrived alone at Ellis Island to meet her mother, whom she had
tracked down in the U.S., using newspaper ads and family
connections.)

Unfortunately, the U.S. government, afraid to offend Turkey, its
military ally, has not taken a stand on this issue. But all 12
members of our state’s congressional delegation – Senators Kennedy
and Kerry and the 10 representatives in the House – have signed a
resolution calling on the president to recognize the atrocity.

Now we in Massachusetts find ourselves being pulled backwards
into this debilitating debate over whether a genocide, long confirmed
by victims and historians, ever existed. It is even more than ironic
that this court case was filed in a year when genocide has once again
reared its ugly head in Darfur, where thousands have died at the
hands of the Sudanese army, and in a year when the Iranian president
has once again put Holocaust denials on the front page. As
unfathomable as the crime of genocide is, it continues to occur in
all its savagery. And as offensive as the official denials are, they
also continue, not only when the crimes occur but for years
afterward.

In 1939, when announcing his decision to begin killing Polish
men, women, and children, Hitler infamously uttered “Who, after all,
speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?” He was counting
on the world to forget his atrocities, as he believed the world had
already forgotten the Turkish murders.
Fortunately, the world has not forgotten either the Nazi crimes or
the Turkish slaughter. But denialists continue to try to spread their
peculiar amnesia. We in Massachusetts, home to a significant Jewish
population and one of the largest Armenian-American populations in
the country, must never forget.

Today, Azerbaijan
April 21 2006
US against the military solution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict

21 April 2006 [22:53] – Today.Az

Attempts to solve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict militarily will
negatively affect the whole region and official Washington is against
such policy, the American Ambassador, Reno Harnish told at his
press-conference April 21, dedicated to the termination of his
diplomatic service in Azerbaijan.
“I never considered this conflict as “frozen” one and as an American
representative I announce that Washington is ready to render any
possible assistance in peaceful resolution of the problem,” the
Ambassador said.
Speaking about the military trainings at the occupied Azerbaijani
territories, the American diplomat told that “any initiatives or
attempts to escalate the situation in the region should be prevented
as they may lead to resumption of the conflict,” Harnish said.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have reached “some headway in the talks” in
the frames of the negotiating process. “US will continue to support
the long term resolution of the conflict,” the Ambassador stated,
according to Trend.

URL:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Senator Barbara Boxer
Washington D.C.
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-3553
Dear Friend:
I would like to share with you my recent comments, which were
printed in the Congressional Record, commemorating the 91st
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Sincerely,
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Mrs. Boxer. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to
commemorate the 91st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on
April 24th. This anniversary offers an opportunity for us to
renew our efforts to achieve — finally — genocide recognition
for the Armenian people.
Ninety-one years ago, the Ottoman Turks began their systematic
effort to eradicate the Armenian people. From 1915 until 1923,
1.5 million Armenians were tortured and killed; men were
separated from their families and murdered; women and children
were forced to march across the Syrian desert without water,
food or possessions; many died of hunger or thirst or were
killed when they lagged behind during the forced marches into
the desert.
The brutality of the genocide was atrocious. But the
inhumanity continues today because the Turkish government
refuses to acknowledge the massacre as genocide. The wounds
cannot heal until the Armenian people receive recognition.
The Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the 20th
Century. But as we have seen, it was not the last. As we
know, if we ignore injustice, we are likely to see it repeated.
In his justification for the Holocaust, Adolf Hitler said,
`Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the
Armenians?’ And today, we see ongoing atrocities in the Darfur
region of Sudan, with innocent civilians being murdered. In
the 108th Congress, I cosponsored a resolution declaring that
the atrocities in Darfur constitute genocide.
I am currently a co-sponsor of a resolution calling the
President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United
States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity
concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing,
and genocide documented in the United States record relating to
the Armenian Genocide and the consequences of the failure to
realize a just resolution. And I have signed onto a letter
urging President Bush to honor the United States’ historic
leadership in defending human rights and to properly
characterize the atrocities against the Armenian people as
genocide in his April 24th statement.
Every year, we move closer to recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. But every year we wonder how long it will take the
government of Turkey to acknowledge the genocide.
We need genocide recognition to honor those 1.5 million
Armenians who lost their lives and to honor the survivors who
are still with us today. We need recognition to send a message
to the 8-10 million Armenians worldwide that they have not been
forgotten. We need genocide recognition to remind the world
that crimes against humanity are crimes against us all. We
need genocide recognition because it is the right thing to do.
By acknowledging this genocide for what it is, I hope that we
are able to help create a more just and humane world.
Thank you. I yield the floor.
========================================== =======
For more information on Senator Boxer’s record and other
information, please go to:
To respond to this message, please click on the following link:
ck.cfm . This link
will take you to a webpage where you can respond to messages
that you receive from Senator Boxer’s office.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
April 21 2006

Armenian Patriarch: Blaming Only the Turks Unethical in Armenian Issue
By Kemalettin CANIM
KAYSERI (JTW) Istanbul Armenian Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan II said the
dilemma facing Turkish-Armenian relations can only be overcome by
dialogue and mutual respect, and no one should blame only the one
side. According to Mutafyan II, both Armenians and Turks had
responsibility in the tragedy of 1915 and before.
The Armenian Patriarch Mutafyan II also argued that the both sides
are repeating the same arguments and it is the time to break the
vicious circles. `We need a new perspective’ he added.
Reflecting the true nature of reality requires courage, said
Mutafyan. “In the unfortunate conclusion reached, it is unethical
attitude for both parties to ignore each other’s responsibility or to
completely put it on the other side.”
Both nations must be able to look at each other’s history without
prejudice, he added. “We have to change the mentality of degrading
the other.”
On Thursday, the Patriarch made a speech at the opening ceremony of a
symposium titled “The Art of Co-Existence in Ottoman Society: The
Case of Turkish-Armenian Relations” organized by Erciyes University
in the Turkish city of Kayseri.
Both countries have achieved important successes in historic social
and cultural fields; the respect of Armenians and Turks for each
other’s national and religious symbols is increasing, according to
Mutafyan.
Mutafyan said the incidents that occur during representative
independence celebrations are outdated, and maintained they sow seeds
of enmity.
“Instead of publishing books presenting the Turkish and Armenian
theses in different ways memorized by everyone, Turkish and English
translations of Armenian works that can make important contributions
in Turkish-Armenian relationships must be realized,” Mutafyan said.
Mutafyan, highlighting Turks and Armenians are people of the same
territory, said the expression, “The Turks and Kurds are essential
elements,” is discriminatory.
Calling himself a Republican child, Patriarch criticized the
understanding of secularism.
“The practice of ‘Jacobean secularism’ in our country sometimes
prevents Islam’s ethical dimensions and spiritual richness of meaning
from being adding to the analyses,” Mutafyan said.
The Armenian Patriarch called on Turks and Armenians to abandon the
narrow horizon of nationalism and said, “Replacing nationalism and
racism with hospitality is more appropriate to our ethical values.”
The symposium, where 125 academics from more than 40 universities
within and outside Turkey participated, will continue today as well.
Kemalettin CANIM
JTW, Hurriyet and Zaman

From: [email protected]
Subject: Lithuania President Heads 2-day Delegation to Armenia April 25
DELEGATION HEADED BY PRESIDENT OF LITHUANIA TO PAY TWO-DAYS OFFICIAL
VISIT TO ARMENIA ON APRIL 25
YEREVAN, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN. At RA President Robert Kocharian’s
invitation, the delegation headed Valdas Adamkus, the President of the
Republic of Lithuania will pay a two-days official visit to Armenia on
April 25-26. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA President’s Press
Office, the main goal of the visit is to stregthen interstate ties, to
point out the primary tasks and directions of the economic cooperation
between the two countries as well as to stimulate scientific-educational
and cultural ties giving a new quality and contents to the Armenian
and Lithuanian peoples’ traditional friendship. The solemn ceremony of
meeting the President of Lithuania will take place at the RA
President’s residence on April 25. Presidents Robert Kocharian’s and
Valdas Adamkus’ private conversation will follow the ceremony. Then a
meeting with the enlarged staff of the official delegations will take
place, then an agreement on encouraging investments and mutual
protection will be signed between the Governments of the two
countries. The two countries’ Presidents will hold a joint
press-conference. During the visit to Armenia, the President of
Lithuania will have meetings with Prime Minister Andranik Margarian,
Deputy Speaker of National Assembly Tigran Torosian. Karekin II
Catholicos of All Armenians will also receive Valdas Adamkus. The
President of Lithuania will have a meeting with the professors’ and
lecturers’ staff and students at the Yerevan State University. Valdas
Adamkus will also visit the Armenian Genocide memorial complex, the
Armenian Genocide Institute-Museum. The delegation headed by the
President of Lithuania will visit the Matenadaran (Armenian repository
of ancient manuscripts) and the Sergey Parajanov Museum.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS TO BE HELD IN 4 REGIONS IN MAY
YEREVAN, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN. Local self-government elections are
envisaged in 4 Armenian regions – in Shirak, Syunik, Vayots Dzor and
Tavush, in May. As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by Tsovinar
Khachatrian, Spokeswoman of RA Central Electoral Commission, on May 7,
special elections of councillors are envisaged in the village
communities of Vardakar and Gusanagyugh, Shirak region. On May 21,
regular elections of councillors and community head will be held in
the village communities of Torunik, Vardanidzor, Lehvaz, Nyuvadi,
Yegheg of Syunik region, in village communities of Yeghegis, Zedea,
Hermon of Vayots Dzor, elections of councillors in the village
community of Goghtanik of Vayots Dzor, elections of community head in
the town community of Goris and village communities of Aldara, Soflu
of Syunik region. On May 28, elections of village head and councillors
will be held in the village communities of Aghavnavank, Khachardzan,
Hovk, Debedavan, Zorakan of Tavush region, village head elections in
the village community of Karaberd and councillors elections in the
village community of Bagravan and Musayelian, Shirak region. And the
coming local self-government elections will be held on April 23 in the
village community of Hatsavan, Kotayk region, and Pokrashen, Shirak
region. The residents of the latters will elect the head of their
community.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EVENTS DEDICATED TO 91st ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE HELD IN
ROMANIA
BUCHAREST, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Various events to
commemorate the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide are being
held in Romania. The presentation of the book “History of a Geocide
Passed by in Long Silence” of Romanian Armenian author Sergio Selian
(the book was published in Romanian by the Ararat publishing house of
the Armenian Union of Romania) took place in the Union of Writers of
Romania on April 19. Varizhan Oskanian, member of the Romanian Senate,
Chairman of the Standing Financial and Bedgetary Commission, Eghishe
Sargsian, the Armenian Ambassador to Romania, and Mikael Gazazian,
editor of the newspaper “Ararat” of the Armenian Union of Romania,
made speeches on the Armenian Genocide at the event. According to the
RA MFA Press and Information Department, Atom Egoyan’s film “Ararat”
was demonstrated in Bucharest and Constantsa, as well as a photo
exhibition dedicated to the Armenian Genocide was organized, during
which speeches were delivered by a number of high-ranking Romanian
officials, particularly by Danut Kuletu, Governor of Constantsa, as
well as by the Armenian Ambassador Eghishe Sargsian, Head of the
Romanian Armenian diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop
Tirayr Martikian and others.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

1594.9 TONS OF HUMANITARIAN AID BROUGHT TO ARMENIA IN JANUARY-FEBRUARY
YEREVAN, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN. 1594.9 tons of goods of the total cost
of 4.6 mln U.S. dollars were brought to Armenia as humanitarian aid in
January-February, 2006. To recap, 676.7 tons of goods of 7792.2
thousand dollars were brought to Armenia during the same period of
time of the last year. According to the RA National Statistical
Service, paper and goods of paper made 25.5% of the got aid, textiles
made 18.4%, instruments and apparatus made 17.6%, non-precious metals
and goods made of them made 19.6%.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress