Author: Emil Lazarian

PRESIDENT OF CENTRAL BANK VISITED ASU
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
29 April 05
On April 27 the president of the Central Bank of the Republic of
Armenia Tigran Sarghissian visited Artsakh State University. The NKR
minister of finance and economy Spartak Tevossian was also present in
the meeting with the teaching staff and students of the department of
economy. Tigran Sarghissian delivered a lecture on modern central
banks and monetary policy. `Our purposeis to present the peculiarities
of modern banking and monetary policies. I am sure that after the
lecture we will make arrangements with the staff of the university.
Naturally, the important thing for us is the improvement of the level
of knowledge of students. This supposes a closer cooperation between
the educational institutions and banks,’ said the president of the
Central Bank of Armenia in reference to the purpose of the visit. The
lecture consisted of two parts. The first part was devoted to the
principles of choosing a monetary policy by the Central Bank of the
Republic of Armenia, and the second part was on the policy of the
Central Bank in the past two years, particularly the choice of the
priority among the goals of monetary and loan policies in an inflow of
capital. The lecture aroused great interest among the students.
AA.
29-04-2005
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1plus
| 16:48:26 | 28-04-2005 | Social |
WOMEN FOR PRESERVATION OF LIBERATED TERRITORIES
«I saw war with my own eyes. It is terrible. But if we are forced we will
fight», a widow of one of the fighters of Karabakh war, member of Women’s
Association Shushanik Abrahamyan said at the press conference today.
The Association members state that international negotiations on the
Karabakh conflict can cause violations of the cease-fire. They do not admit
any possibility of territory ceding. «We gathered here to state that will
not cede a single inch of the liberated lands. It is absurd to threat us
with war.’, Eranuhi Yusisyan said.
Artemis Lebejyan, member of Saint Sandught women’s union noted, `There are
issues that should be settled by diplomats. Artsakh should take part in the
negotiations and determine its fate’.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE – POSSIBLE LEVER FOR PRESSURE UPON TURKEY
28.04.2005 05:49
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Director of Russian Center for Strategic Research Andrey
Piontkovski believes that under the joint Armenia and EU pressure the
Turkish authorities will try to find a way to censure the Armenian Genocide.
Piontkovski noted that many EU countries are skeptical toward Turkey’s
accession to the Union, considering a non-Christian country joining the
European structure will change its way of thinking. «They will use the fact
of Ankara relation to the Armenian Genocide issue with pleasure and it can
hamper Turkey’s accession to the EU,» noted Andrey Piontkovski. «However, on
the other hand, I am surprised at Turkey’s readiness to refuse many
prejudices for accession to the EU.» In his turn, expert of the Center for
Political Technologies Sergey Mikheev noted that the EU demand to
acknowledge the Armenian Genocide can turn out to be merely a veil. «One
should understand that interests are a priority,» he noted. In his words,
all the rest is a technological «game» at the most. It the accession of
Turkey is favorable to the EU, irrespective of whether it acknowledges the
Genocide or not, it will be admitted to the EU. If continued pressure is in
the interest of the EU, the Genocide issue will be used as a lever to put
pressure upon Turkey for a period of time, the expert added.

Armenpress
CST-2005 TOURISM EXHIBITION OPENS IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS: Opening an international CST-2005 tourism
exhibition in Yerevan today deputy trade and economic development minister
Ara Petrosian said Armenian tourism industry development is due to private
companies’ efforts, but added that the government is also doing everything
possible to help boost this sector.
Petrosian said tourism development program envisage making Armenia an
attractive tourism destination not only for summer travelers, but also for
those who choose to vacation in winter.
Petrosian said the annual growth rate of tourism industry is between
20-25 percent. According to official figures, some 260,000 tourists visited
Armenia last year. This year some 300,000 tourists are expected to visit
Armenia. Annual government subsides for tourism development are about
$45,000, while one tourist spends in Armenia an average of $800-$1000.
Lebanese ambassador to Armenia Jibrail Butros Jaara said Armenia attracts
foreign tourists as a safe country with a peculiar culture and historic
monuments.
Thirty-three companies from Armenia, Iran, Italy, US and Belarus are
participating in it. Last December the government of Armenia approved a
tourism development program for 2005.
The majority of tourists visiting Armenia are Diaspora Armenians. The
share of tourism in the overall GDP makes 5-6 percent.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
NO PROBLEMS IN GEORGIAN-ARMENIAN RELATIONS
28.04.2005 08:52
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ MPs of Georgia and Armenia discussed prospects of
parliamentary bilateral and regional cooperation. The Georgian and Armenian
Parliamentary Delegations headed by Speakers Nino Burjanadze and Artur
Baghdasarian met in the Parliament of Georgia today, Novosti-Gruzia (News
Georgia) news agency reported. In the course of the meeting Burjanadze noted
there are no problems in the Georgian-Armenian relations. `There are
questions that are usually discussed in different formats,’ the Georgian
Speaker stated, saying she was sure that A. Baghdasarian’s visit to Tbilisi
will promote intensification of the Georgian-Armenian relations. On his part
A. Baghdasarian spoke in favor of resumption of the work of the
Georgian-Armenian Interparliamentary Commission, ceased some two years ago.
Burjanadze seconded the initiative, reporting that a group of friendship
with Armenia is available in the Georgian Parliament. It is headed by Beso
Jugeli and pledged to consider the forming the Georgian part of the
Interparliamentary Commission. Burjanadze considered the coincidence of the
stands of the Georgian and Armenian parties at various international forums
positive. `I suppose we should further strengthen the statehood, border
institutions, maximally harmonize the legislation to form a normal legal
basis for development of cooperation. It is a direction to which
parliamentary cooperation will seriously contribute,’ Burjanadze stated. In
his turn the Armenian National Assembly head raised the question of forming
an Interparliamentary Assembly of the South Caucasian States. `Armenia has
initiated the creation of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the South
Caucasus and we would like Georgia to support it. Maybe it will be possible
to realize the initiative in a few years,’ Baghdasarian stated. At that he
said in his opinion it was `possible for the Azeri party to try to hamper
the realization of the initiative, however I hope the international
community and organizations will support it.’ Burjanadze noted that all
Georgian MPs present support the idea of creation of the Assembly from the
moment it was voiced for the first time. `Taking into account the positive
experience of the Baltic states, which managed to find common language and
to form an interparliamentary assembly in spite of the differences, we
support the initiative. I am more than sure that if we succeed in creating
such a common Assembly it will be a forum for discussing complex problems
and it will be for the welfare of our countries. It think we should work in
this direction seriously,’ Burjanadze stated.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Hovnanian School
817 River Road
New Milford, NJ 07646
Contact: Vartan Matiossian (201-967-5940)

“Ninety Years after 1915”:
A Lecture by Professor Richard Hovannisian
At the Hovnanian School

On the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we have much to
remember and much to reflect on. As we look to the past, we should learn
valuable lessons for today and tomorrow.
To this end, the Hovnanian School is organizing a lecture by
Professor Richard Hovannisian, the well-known scholar on modern Armenian
history, which will be held on Thursday, May 12, at 8:00 pm at the school.
Entitled “Looking Backward, Moving Forward: Ninety Years after 1915”, this
lecture will afford a timely opportunity for us to review where we are and
to explore ways to see where we are going.
Richard Hovannisian is professor of History and associate director
of the Grunebaum Center for Near Eastern Studies at the University of
California, Los Angeles. A member of the UCLA faculty since 1962, he holds
the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History. He is
the author of the seminal four-volume “The Republic of Armenia”, which was
preceded by “Armenia on the Road to Independence,” his Ph.D. thesis. He has
edited around twenty volumes of proceedings of conferences, including four
volumes about the Armenian Genocide and the first five volumes of the
ongoing series of UCLA conferences on Armenian Historical Cities and
Provinces, of which already fifteen conferences have been held. He has also
edited the two-volume “The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times”,
recently released in paperback format. He is a member of many scholarly
institutions, and also a corresponding member of the National Academy of
Sciences of Armenia.
The Hovnanian School is located at 817 River Road, New Milford, NJ
07646. For further information, call the school office at 201-967-5940 or
email [email protected]. Admission is free, but registration is
suggested ahead of time.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
CONCERT MARKING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN TOBOLSK
28.04.2005 04:51
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Dialogue of Cultures concert marking the 90-th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide in Turkey was held in Tobolsk, reported the
Yerkramas, the newspaper of Armenians of Russia. Newspaper representative in
the Tumen District, Chairman of the Youth parliament of Tobolsk Hakob
Asloyan has organized the event. Bands of diverse nationalities living in
the city took part in the concert, remarkable for the participants
performing items in Armenian. Thus, well-known Tatar singers and composers
brother Hasan and Husain Arangulovs sang Manushak (Violet) song and Shape
Ballet Russian ethnographic group professionally performed an Armenian folk
dance.

St Peterburg Times
Published April 27, 2005
Armenian Christians mark a painful past, joyful future
A day of sadness is also a time of great expectations in Pinellas Park.
By WAVENEY ANN MOORE, Times Staff Writer
[Times photo: Douglas R. Clifford]
The Rev. Nersess Jebejian blesses a memorial meal held by Nora Khatcherian,
9, left, and Ani Kamajian, 8, on Sunday at St. Hagop Armenian Church in
Pinellas Park. The church plans to start a new worship center in a few
months.
PINELLAS PARK – Armenians throughout the Tampa Bay area crowded into a tiny
chapel Sunday to remember ancestors who were massacred, starved to death or
otherwise persecuted by the tens of thousands early in the last century.
The gathering at St. Hagop Armenian Church, 7050 90th Ave. N, was one of
many around the country to mark the 90th anniversary of what is referred to
as the Armenian Genocide.
But the day was more than a requiem for the 1.5-million men, women and
children who perished under the weight of the Ottoman Turks, said St.
Hagop’s priest, the Rev. Nersess Jebejian.
That thriving Armenian communities and churches exist today is a victory, he
said.
“One and a half million-plus were massacred and they were sacrificed, but
we’re living today, not only for them but for our future,” Jebejian said.
At St. Hagop’s, where more than 100 people crammed into the chapel or stood
just outside its sliding glass doors Sunday, that future is full of hope. In
a few months, the congregation of about 400 families hopes to begin building
a church and multipurpose building to carry on the centuries-old legacy of
Armenian Christianity and culture.
The new church is a long-deferred dream. It was almost 20 years ago that
founding members began talking about forming a community for local Armenian
Orthodox Christians. They held their first service in a borrowed building.
They bought the now prime property at 90th Avenue and Belcher Road with
proceeds from paper and aluminum can drives, dinners, garage sales,
festivals and individual donations.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held in 1997. Early in 2002, Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America,
visited to consecrate the cornerstone and launch a fundraising campaign for
a project that would eventually include a church, multipurpose center and
cultural hall.
The church and multipurpose building are expected to begin in September and
be complete in seven to nine months, St. Hagop’s priest said.
St. Hagop’s is part of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church, which traces
its origin to the first century, when the apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew
preached in Armenia and were martyred.
For Dr. Hagop “Jack” Mashikian, a retired psychiatrist and vice chairman of
the church’s parish council, the new buildings will be a testament to more
than perseverance of a congregation that draws worshipers from the Tampa Bay
area and beyond.
“It’s a vindication of the spirit of survival of our forebears,” he said.
Last weekend’s requiem, which followed the customary Sunday Divine Liturgy,
was offered for the 1.5-million Armenians killed between 1915 and 1923 by
the Central Committee of the Young Turk Party of the Ottoman Empire. Then,
Armenians were a Christian minority in a Muslim community.
In 1915, thousands were deported and sent to starvation and death in the
Syrian desert. Along the way, they were attacked and killed by bands of
Turks. Mashikian, the parish council member, said that many young women were
forced into harems or to marry their abductors.
“The intent of the Ottoman Empire was to annihilate the Armenians,”
Mashikian said.
Armenians lived in what is now eastern Turkey, he said. They also were in
the southeastern part of the country, which now is mostly occupied by Kurds.
In the United States, Armenians are concentrated in the Boston area,
Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Michigan, New York and New Jersey. Most
are descendants of survivors of what is called the first genocide of the
20th century.
“There is hardly any Armenian over the age of 60 here who does not have an
immediate member of his family as a victim of genocide,” said Mashikian, who
lost his maternal grandfather, paternal grandparents and an uncle in the
brutality.
Lani Silver, a genocide historian who worked with Steven Spielberg as a
consultant on his oral history of Holocaust survivors, said the trauma of
genocide lasts for generations.
“There’s a hole in your heart forever. You’ve been a people that have been
hated enough to be killed,” said Silver, who was in St. Petersburg this week
to give a talk, “Making the Link: The Holocaust, Genocide and Racism,” at
the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.
“This speaks to the beauty and strength of the Armenian people that they
have continued on despite such a murderous crime,” Silver said.
What’s sad, she added, is that “very few people really remember the Armenian
genocide.”
On Sunday, though, Armenian Martyrs’ Day, St. Hagop’s tiny chapel could not
hold all who wanted to remember.
“After 90 years of crying, of lamenting, of hoping, this little community is
showing its survival,” Mashikian told those gathered.
“Our brothers and sisters perished with hope for days like today.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The NKR [Nagornyy Karabakh Republic]GDP 18 per cent up in 2004
Artsakh Public TV, Stepanakert
26 Apr 05

Text of report by Nagornyy Karabakh’s Artsakh Public TV on 26 April
The NKR [Nagornyy Karabakh Republic] Cabinet of Ministers held a
plenary meeting on 26 April.
The Cabinet adopted over 40 decisions, draft laws, changes and
amendments to some laws. The adopted decisions covered economic issues
in general, agriculture, health care, social security, taxation,
education, sports, finance and so on.
The Cabinet also adopted a report on the 2004 state budget. GDP in
2004 increased by 18.2 per cent, budget revenue being 48 per cent more
than in 2003, the NKR prime minister, Anushavan Daniyelyan, said. In
2005, GDP will reach 48bn drams [109m dollars], and thus, the NKR’s
GDP will double compared to 2001, Anushavan Daniyelyan noted.

The UCLA Daily Bruin, CA
April 27 2005
Turkish people upset by Schwarzenegger remarks
ANKARA, Turkey ? A Turkish group uniting hundreds of businesses and
organizations demanded Tuesday that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s movies be
banned from Turkish television to protest the California governor’s
use of the term “genocide” to describe the massacre of Armenians by
Turks during World War I.
Schwarzenegger, a former actor best known for his role in “The
Terminator,” declared April 24 a “Day of Remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide.” California has one of the largest populations of diaspora
Armenians.
Other California governors have issued annual proclamations referring
to the killings as a genocide, but last week Schwarzenegger also
signed legislation to permanently mark the day.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress