Author: Emil Lazarian

DAYS OF JAZZ TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA ON APRIL 26-30, ON INITIATIVE OF
U.S. EMBASSY
YEREVAN, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The 5th festival “Days of Jazz” will
be held on April 26-30 on the initiative of the U.S. Embassy to the
RA. Concerts of Armenian and American jazz musicians, shows of films
and dancing jazz performances, a competition and an exhibition of
young artists’ works are envisaged within the framework of the
event. According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the
U.S. Embassy, during the festival the Judy Bady Quartet from New York
will have a concert with Armenian prominent jazz musicians.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STATE ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA RECOGNIZED WINNER IN
COMPETITION ANNOUNCED BY U.S. CRDF FUND AND NFSAT
YEREVAN, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The “Synthesis and Research of
Polymers” program presented by the State Engineering University of
Armenia (SEUA) was recognized the winner in the grant competition
stated by the U.S. CRDF fund and the National Foundation of Science
and Advanced Technologies (NFSAT). 4 programs were presented from
Armenia in this competition, among them there were works from the
Yerevan State University and other scientific centers. As Yuri
Sargsian, the SEUA acting Rector, RA NAS academician stated at the
April 20 press-conference, the primary goal of this program of total
cost of 300 thousand dollars is creation of a scientific-educational
center functioning on the first line of high technologies, as well as
preparation of a new generation of future scientists. Yuri Sargsian
mentioned that this grant operating by co-financing has been given for
three years the half of which, 150 thousand dollars, the Armenian side
will put in: the RA Ministry of Education and Science will put in 90
thousand dollars, the SEUA – 60 thousand dollars. For founding the
scietific-educational center, the University was given laboratories of
total surface of about 200 sq.m., where new equipment of 180 thousand
dollars to be bought within the framework of the program will be
placed. According to Sevan Davtian, the scientific head of the
program, 15 young scientists, graduate students and mastering students
are involved in implementation of this scientific research. Two of
them have already been sent on business abroad for one month each. 15
young people working in the program will also participate in the
annual “Yenikolopov’s Readings” interntional conference to take place
in Yerevan in October. According to Sevan Davtian, young graduate and
mastering students made the best and most valuable speeches will be
sent on business abroad, to implement scientific works.

RA GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO CHANGE NAMES OF 52 SETTLEMENTS
YEREVAN, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The draft concerning making amendments
and additions to the RA law “On RA Administrative-Territorial Division”
was approved at the April 21 sitting of the RA Government. The draft
was worked out to liquidate foreign, inharmonious and repeated names
of settlements. The decision proposes to involve the Verin Giratagh
community of the marz of Syunik in the community of Lernadzor as a
rural settlement, and the Pirlu (Verin Geghavank) and Kyurut (Karut)
communities in the community of Geghi as a rural settlement. Taking
into account the wish of inhabitation of the Ayrum community of the
marz of Tavush, the positive opinion of interested state bodies as
well as the fact that Ayrum is practically an urban settlement with
corresponding infrastructures and has no lands of agricultural
meaning, it is proposed the give Ayrum status of an urban community.
As Manuk Vardanian, the Chairman of the State Committee of the Real
Estate Cadastre attached to the RA Government, informed journalists
after the sitting, about 60% of 40 thousand settlements, valleys,
channels, mountains of the republic are not Armenian. Names of in
total, 52 settlements are at present proposed to change. M.Vardanian
mentioned that 38 of them have a Turkish name. And names of 5
settlements will be changed at the inhabitation’s request, the main
part of which is Kurds. The process of changing the names is envisaged
to finish till late this year. According to M.Vardanian, it was also
decided to name after public, political, scientific and cultural
figures only in 10 years after their death.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FILM “ARARAT” BY ATOM EGOYAN TO BE ON RUSSIAN PUBLIC TELEVISION ON DAY
OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION
Yerevan, April 21. ArmInfo. “Ararat” by Atom Egoyan, a film telling
about the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey, will be on the Russian
Public Television on the night of April 24. Vigen Sargsyan, Assistant
of Armenian President, said at a press conference, Friday.
The film is demonstrated on the occasion of the Year of Armenia in
Russia to pay homage to the victims of the massacre, V. Sargsyan
said. The Armenian communities in all the regions of Russia will
traditionally commemorate those killed at the beginning of the 20th
century on April 24. He said Russia is the very country where
“Genocide is called Genocide” in conformity with a relevant decision
by State Duma and no other synonyms are search.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

From: [email protected]
Subject: Historic graveyard is victim of war
Historic graveyard is victim of war

The Times
April 21, 2006
By Jeremy Page in Moscow
Azerbaijan is being blamed for the destruction of a unique cemetery.

A MEDIEVAL cemetery regarded as one of the wonders of the Caucasus has
been erased from the Earth in an act of cultural vandalism likened to
the Taleban blowing up the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan in 2001.
The Jugha cemetery was a unique collection of several thousand carved
stone crosses on Azerbaijan’s southern border with Iran. But after 18
years of conflict between Azerbaijan and its western neighbour,
Armenia, it has been confirmed that the cemetery has vanished.

The Institute for War and Peace Reporting, a London-based
non-governmental organisation that supports independent journalism,
said that one of its staff had recently been to the highly restricted
site.

Where once stood between 2,700 and 10,000 intricately carved
headstones ‘ khachkars ‘ dating from the 9th to the 16th centuries,
there was only a dry patch of earth, said the institute
(). It was the first independent confirmation of what
Armenia has long alleged ‘ that Azerbaijani authorities have razed the
cemetery since the two former Soviet republics began a bloody border
war in 1988.

The war ended in a ceasefire in 1994, with 30,000 dead and a million
displaced, but still simmers over the disputed region of
Nagorno-Karabakh, which is held by Armenia but internationally
recognised as Azerbaijan. Foreign organisations had been unable to
visit the cemetery because it is in Nakhichevan, a tiny enclave of
Azerbaijan cut off by Armenia and Iran and accessible only by air.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly dismissed Armenia’s allegations as
scaremongering and in turn accused Armenia of destroying hundreds of
Muslim sites. President Aliyev of Azerbaijan angrily dismissed reports
about the cemetery’s destruction as `a lie and a provocation’ last
week.

The institute’s revelation now threatens to embarrass him and further
cloud the prospects for a lasting peace with Armenia.

Vartan Oskanian, the Armenian Foreign Minister, welcomed the
report. `The irony is that this destruction has taken place not during
a time of war but at a time of peace,’ he told The Times. There has
been clear intent by the Azerbaijanis to eliminate all evidence of
Armenian presence on those lands. To do that, unspeakable,
irreversible destruction has been wrought and 10,000 tombstones which
hold immense religious and artistic significance are simply gone.’

Tahir Tagizade, a spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, said
that there had never been an Armenian cemetery or any other Armenian
cultural relics in the area visited by the institute. `As a multi-
ethnic society, we are proud of our diverse cultural heritage,’ he
said. `I don’t see any reason for destroying Armenian property, even
though we are at war with the Armenians.’

The report comes as a European Parliament delegation is visiting both
countries to look into allegations of attacks on cultural sites. It
had hoped to visit the Jugha site, but has yet to be granted
permission.Unesco said that it was also ready to send a fact-finding
mission but needed permission from the Azeri and Armenian
governments. The institute said that there was now a village of about
500 people by the cemetery site. Some of those there said it had been
destroyed much earlier, while others disputed that it was Armenian.

The report quoted two witnesses as saying that the cemetery had been
deliberately destroyed between 1989 and 2002. Argam Aivazian, the
leading expert on Armenian monuments in Nakhichevan, said that Jugha
had been the largest Armenian cemetery in existence, and a unique
example of medieval art. `On the entire territory of Nakhichevan there
existed 27,000 monasteries, churches, khachkars, tombstones and other
Armenian monuments,’ he said.

They were mostly intact when he visited in 1987. `Today they have all
been destroyed.’
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of Canada
Ottawa, ON
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622 Fax (613) 238-2622
PRESS RELEASE
April 21, 2006 Contact: Aris Babikian
(613) 235-2622
The Government of Canada Recognizes the Armenian Genocide
Ottawa – On the eve of 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, The
Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, on
behalf of the Government of Canada, issued a statement recognizing the
Armenian Genocide. The statement brought the policy of our executive
branch of government on the Armenian Genocide in line with the House
of Commons and the Senate of Canada resolutions.
This is the first time that the head of the Federal Government in
Canada has issued such a policy statement on the Armenian Genocide. By
issuing the statement the Prime Minister and the government
steadfastly upheld their previous stand during the House of Commons
debate and vote on Motion M-380. Furthermore, the Government
statement honoured not only the memories of the victims of the
Armenian Genocide but also the wishes of the overwhelming majority of
Canadians. In addition to the Canadian Senate and the House of
Commons, the three largest provinces (Ontario, Quebec, and British
Columbia) also recognize the Armenian Genocide. In his statement,
issued to the Armenian National Committee of Canada, the Prime
Minister stated:
`I would like to extend my sincere greetings to all of those marking
this sombre anniversary of the Medz Yeghern.
Ninety-one years ago the Armenian people experienced terrible
suffering and loss of life. In recent years the Senate of Canada
adopted a motion acknowledging this period as `the first genocide of
the twentieth century,’ while the House of Commons adopted a motion
that `acknowledges the Armenian genocide of 1915 and condemns this act
as a crime against humanity.’ My party and I supported those
resolutions, and continue to recognize them today.
We must never forget the lessons of history, nor should we allow the
enmities of history to divide us. The freedom, democracy, and human
rights enjoyed by all Canadians are rooted in our mutual respect for
one another.
I join with you today in remembering the past I encourage you to
continue honouring your forefathers by building a bright future for
all in Canadians.’
Dr. Vagharch Ehramdjian, chairman of the Armenian National Committee
of Canada (ANCC), said: `The Prime Minister’s and his government
colleague’s moral fortitude demonstrates once again that truth and
justice will prevail over short term economic gains or political
expediency. The Prime Minister’s statement is a clear massage to the
despots of the world that Canada and the free world will not tolerate
genocide and ethnic cleansing.’
For over 30 years the ANCC and its regional chapters have worked
diligently to keep the Armenian Genocide issue on the agenda of the
Canadian government and make it an important part of the public and
political discourse in our country.
-30-
The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of
issues.
Regional Chapters
Montréal- Toronto – Laval – Vancouver – Ottawa – Hamilton – Cambridge
St. Catharines – Windsor
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Denial of crimes witnessed
April 22, 2006
By SALIM MANSUR
Toronto Sun, Canada
In the spring of 1915 with Europe at war, the Turkish rulers of the Ottoman
Empire ordered the deportation and killing of the Armenian population within
their territory.
Between April 1915 and the end of the war in November 1918, the organized
destruction of a people identified by ethnicity and religion was conducted
by a government that ruled an empire in the name of Islam.
The nationalist Turks who succeeded the defeated power-holders in Istanbul
continued the massacres of Armenians in eastern Anatolia and into the
Caucasus. Some 1.5 million Armenians perished during this period between
1915 and 1923.
This destruction of the Armenian people was the first genocide of the 20th
century, a prelude to what would come later under Hitler’s Third Reich as
the “final solution” for the Jews.
It took nearly 90 years for the Canadian parliament — by a vote of 153
(yeas) to 68 (nays) on April 21, 2004 — to pass a resolution acknowledging
the Armenian genocide and condemning it as a crime against humanity.
Neither the passage of time required for such an acknowledgment nor the
number of parliamentarians voting on record against it came as a surprise,
since the mass murderers of our age well understand that the human capacity
to deny evil is far greater than our inclination to oppose it.
A mere 24 countries around the world have acknowledged the facts of the
Armenian genocide, and with the exception of Lebanon — possessing a sizable
Christian population — there is a wall of silence on this subject from the
Muslim-majority member states of the United Nations.
On April 24 every year, Armenians remember their dead. It was on this night
in 1915 the Turkish government ordered arrests of Armenian community leaders
in Istanbul, marking the start of the genocide.
Turkey continues to dispute what occurred. It is a sensitive issue, and
Turks willing to critically examine the events relating to the Armenian
genocide face persecution from authorities for “insulting Turkishness.”
Orhan Pamuk, the widely translated and respected Turkish writer, was charged
last year with the crime of insulting Turks when he told a Swiss newspaper
that “30,000 Kurds and one million Armenians were killed in these lands, and
nobody but me dares talk about it.” The case was dropped in January this
year under heavy pressure from the European Union.
That the world is a cynical place is not news, however, nor is the fact that
human nature is flawed.
Even as I write this column, the systematic depredation of the wretchedly
poor in Darfur remains unabated — while the United Nations and its
grandees, led by Kofi Annan, quibble over the meaning of “genocide.”
Historians and philosophers struggle to find lessons from the tales of human
wickedness, and teach future generations to do better.
It is in vain, for the collective ears of humanity remain stuffed with wax.
Prophets have admonished, as Amos of the Old Testament did: “They drink wine
in bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils; but they are not
grieved over the ruin of Joseph.”
The lesson of history is that, to paraphrase Santayana, there is no lesson.
Each generation gets tested by the evil of its time and, in learning nothing
from the past, fashions its denial of crimes witnessed.
The present generation, not to be outdone in ingenuity, incessantly speaks
of being history’s victim and denies bearing any responsibility or
accountability for the ruin of Joseph.

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 22 2006
Armenia and Azerbaijan should reach joint agreement on
Nagorno-Karabakh – Peter Semnebi

Source: Trend
Author: R. Abdullayev

22.04.2006

There is some animation felt in the Nagorno-Karabakh resolution
problem after the talks between Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents
in Rambui (France). Both sides have to reach a joint agreement and
only after that Brussels will be ready to help, the EU special envoy
to South Caucasus, Peter Semnebi told at the press-conference in Baku
on April 22,Trend reports.
EU will take the significant part in the conflict resolution issues,
he assured.
`EU has necessary levers to render assistance,’ Semnebi said, adding
that EU potential of developing closer ties with the South Caucasian
states is not fully used exactly due to such conflicts.
He reminded that in comparison to his predecessor, Heikki Talvitie,
his mandate has been expanded in order to sustain the peaceful
resolution of the conflict. `This again proves how interested EU is
in peaceful resolution,’ he concluded.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

From: [email protected]
Subject: Oskanian Has Promised
OSKANIAN HAS PROMISED
Aravot.am
21 April 06
Do you know what the head of the EU delegation, the state secretary of
the foreign ministry of Austria Hans Winkler answered to the following
question of a journalist? `All previous elections have been rigged in
Armenia , while EU hasn’t replied adequately, doesn’t it mean that
double standards exist in the EU’. You will hardly guess. First of all
Winkler informed that the same standards exist in the EU then
declared; your minister promised that fair elections will be held in
2007-2008′.
Why do you worry? He has promised. Shouldn’t we ask the opposition why
it suspects in 2007-2008 elections? Because it shouldn’t do after
Oskanian’s sincere promise. In spite of it they again want to change
the electoral code wasting money in vain. And you non-constructive and
almost traitor journalists whether the promise of our Foreign Minister
isn’t enough for you. He has promised, hasn’t he? Why don’t you
believe in it?
And you, the Americans who have given us a little money by `Millennium
Challenges’ project instead of democratic reforms can not only give us
that money but also add a little more. Haven’t you known what Vardan
Oskanian has promised to the Austrians?
In short fly birds to the four parts of the world and say to the
people of good will; free and fair elections will be held in Armenia .
Tigran Aveti
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEW RECTOR OF STATE ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA TO START
OFFICIATING IN NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR
YEREVAN, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN. During this academic year the State
Engineering University of Armenia will elect its new Rector, but the
newly elected Rector will start implementation of his obligations in
the next, 2006-2007 academic year. Yuri Sargsian, the former Rector of
the istitution of higher education, the RA NAS academician stated
about this in the interview to the Noyan Tapan correspondent. To
recap, Yuri Sargsian resigned the Rector’s post a month ago and is the
acting Rector at present. Yu.Sargsian avoided giving name of a
candidate pretending for the post of the Rector of the institution of
higher education, arising of norms of ethics. “I think that this post
will be occupied by persons who participated in reforms and scientific
works of the institution with me. They will probably be from the
institution,” Yuri Sargsian emphasized. The academician also mentioned
that he has an attitude of an inner observer towards the issue of
electing the Chairman of the RA National Academy of Sciences. “I
relate calmly to nomination of my candidature as it will be provided
by my being demanded, with the fact if the academicians and
corresponding members vote for me. If I get votes and be the most
proper candidate, I’ll think about it,” Yuri Sargsian mentioned. As
for real possibilities to be elected the NAS Chairman, the academician
stated: “Possibilities are estimated by those people who strives for
it, and I may frankly say a thing, I have done no step in that
direction. It will be a hard work, great changes are expected, and I
do not envy the person who will be elected on that post.” Yuri
Sargsian has headed the institution of higher education for 18
years. He emphasized that he is the Rector of the Polytechnical
Institute, elected by the first elections. “If there were no
elections, I would never become an administrative worker. I prefer to
be engaged in scientific work. I was the Chief of the Mechanisms and
Machines Theory Department before, was a professor and maybe, I will
return that work,” the former Rector of the institution of higher
education mentioned.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress