Author: Emil Lazarian

STAFF RESHUFFLES AT ADMINISTRATION OF GEORGIAN REGION OF
SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI DO NOT RESULT IN INCREASE IN NUMBER OF ARMENIANS AT
ADMINISTRATION
AKHALKALAKI, APRIL 13. ARMINFO. Staff reshuffles at the Administration
of the Georgian region of Samtskhe-Javakheti populated mainly with
Armenians have not result in an increase in the number of Armenians at
the Administration, A-INFO reports.
According to the source, the newly appointed plenipotentiary
representative of Georgian president in the region, Georgy Khachidze
immediately after his appointment carried out staff reshuffles at the
Administration. The number of his deputies has reduced from 5 to 3
persons. Of two Armenian deputy representatives, Shota Barujanyan has
remained on his post, meanwhile Robert Jaghatspanyan changed over to
the post of the Head of Counterintelligence Department of Akhalkalaki
Division of the National Security Ministry of Armenia. Another
Armenians – Aram Poghosov, engaged in coordination of relations of the
Administration with the law-enforcement bodies will obey directly to
Georgy Khachidze.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

San Gabriel Valley Tribune (San Gabriel Valley, CA)
April 12, 2005 Tuesday
Strides toward forgiveness
Shirley Hsu, Staff Writer
Garbis Der Yeghian speaks candidly about the horrors of the past
without bitterness in his voice.
Ninety years ago, 40 of his ancestors were among those killed by
Ottoman Turkish troops in a massacre the Turkish government refuses
to call a genocide, Der Yeghian said.
His great-grandfather, a Christian priest, was maimed and left to
drown.
Two soldiers chopped off both his arms and tossed him alive into the
Euphrates River, Der Yeghian said.
“It’s not humanly possible to forget this,’ said Yeghian. “But it is
humanly possible to forgive.’
Der Yeghian, 53, is trying to honor his great-grandfather by
resolving the bitterness between Turks and Armenians and by promoting
peace in the young states of the Southern Caucasus region.
The La Verne resident recently co-chaired a Rotary International
peace conference in Ankara, Turkey, inviting officials and Rotarians
from Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
It was the first time officials from those countries had come
together to discuss peace, Der Yeghian said.
“It was a historic moment when we got together under the same roof,’
he said. “We were very concerned that there would be obstacles’ [to
keep representatives from attending], he said.
“But they all attended,’ he said, recalling that some Armenians
traveled for three days to bypass closed borders between Turkey and
Armenia.
On April 24, millions of Armenians will mark the 90th anniversary of
the beginning of the Armenian massacres that took place during and
after World War I. Armenians say 1.5 million of their people were
slaughtered by Ottoman Turks in a state-sponsored genocide between
1915 and 1923. The Turkish government maintains that a much lower
number of Armenians died, mostly of famine and disease during forced
deportations for aiding Russian invaders.
The United States does not officially recognize the event as a
“genocide,’ although France does.
The conference called for Rotarians to form a multinational committee
to organize cooperation between Rotary clubs in the region, and to
make the peace conference an annual tradition.
Born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, Der Yeghian began teaching
elementary school and high school mathematics at 18. By the age of
22, he was the principal of a Lebanese high school.
After moving to the United States, he earned a Ph.D. in International
Relations from Northwestern University, and a second doctorate in
educational management from the University of La Verne.
He joined the Rotary Club of La Verne about 24 years ago. In 1999, he
became the first Armenian American in Rotarian history to serve as a
district governor. He is now president of Mashdots College in
Glendale.
It was on a recent trip that he was inspired to hold a peace
conference.
On his way to visit the Genocide Museum in Yerevan, Armenia, to pay
respects to his great-grandfather, he was approached by a gentleman
who exclaimed, “I know you!’ and pointed to the Rotary pin on his
lapel, Der Yeghian recalled.
The stranger was Erhan Ciftcioglu, a fellow Rotarian and governor of
a district in Turkey. He had concealed his identity, afraid it
wouldn’t look right for a prominent Turkish community member to visit
the museum.
“He hugged me, and we were like brothers,’ he said.
The two men visited the monument and paid their respects to the
victims.
“That’s when we decided to hold a peace conference,’ Der Yeghian
recalled.
In 1990, the La Verne Rotary Club established the first Rotary Club
in the former Soviet Union, in Yerevan. Since then, about 60 clubs
have been established in the countries of the former Soviet Union.
“Rotarians can succeed where governments cannot,’ he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Fresno Bee (California)
April 12, 2005, Tuesday FINAL EDITION
Pianist to play with Philharmonic
The Fresno Bee
Pianist Sergei Babayan returns to Fresno this weekend to perform with
the Fresno Philharmonic for a concert dubbed “Babayan Plays Brahms.”
Babayan, who played in Fresno earlier this season as part of the
Philip Lorenz Memorial Keyboard Concerts Series, will play Brahms’
Piano Concerto No. 2.
Babayan was born in a small town in the former Soviet Armenia, and he
moved to Yerevan, the Armenian capital, when he was 3 and already
playing the piano. His father took him to Moscow for piano lessons
during his teen years, and he eventually entered the Moscow
Conservatory.
It wasn’t until the Berlin Wall came down and the Soviet Union broke
up, in 1989, that Babayan came to the United States.
He came first to Cleveland, where he won first place in the
prestigious Robert Casadesus Competition, which led to other
competitions, and an international career.
Babayan, who runs the Sergei Babayan International Piano Academy at
the Cleveland Institute of Music, also appeared earlier in Fresno, in
1991 with Fresno Philharmonic under Andrew Massey, and again in 2003
with the philharmonic under Kuchar.
The all-Romantic program this weekend also will feature Dvorak’s
Slavonic Dances and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4.
The concerts will begin at 8 p.m. Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Philharmonic executive director David Gaylin will begin his Inside
Music talks one hour before each concert.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee of Toronto
45 Hallcrown Place
North York Ontario
Contact: Vahan Ajamian
Tel: 416.491.2900
Fax: 416.491.2211
E-mail: [email protected]
In memory of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian
Community Centre in Toronto and the Armenian National Committee of Toronto
would like to bring to your attention the following commemorative events:
Armenian Genocide 90th Anniversary Commemorative Events.
Sunday, April 17th, 3:00 pm
Commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Armenian
Community Centre, 45 Hallcrown Place, Willowdale (Highway 401 & Victoria
Park Avenue). Official commemoration commences at 3:00 p.m. Key note
speaker is Dr. Gerald Caplan, renowned Genocide Scholar, Author of Rwanda:
The Preventable Genocide.
Wednesday, April 20th, 8:00 pm.
Cultural Genocide: the Destruction of Armenian Monuments in Turkey
Exhibition of Photographs, by Samuel Garabedian. North York Civic Centre,
5100 Yonge Street, Toronto. The exhibition will be open to public till
Sunday April 24, 2005 The event is organized with collaboration of
Hamazkayin Toronto chapter.
Thursday, April 21, 6:30 pm. Candlelight Vigil, Queen?s Park, Front Garden.
Organized by Armenian Youth of Toronto. Reception to follow at Hart House,
U of T.
Sunday, April 24, 2005. Ottawa Ralley This year the rally will take place
at the Turkish Embassy, 197 Wurtemburg Street, Ottawa. Departure at
6:30am from the Armenian Community Centre. 45 Hallcrown Place, Willowdale,
Ont.
Friday, April 29, 8:00 pm at the Hamazkyin Theatre (50 Hallcrown Place),
attend Hamazkayin film screening of Hagop Goudsouzians My Son Shall Be
Armenian, a National Film Board of Canada production.
Armenian National Committee of Toronto
45 Hallcrown Place,
Willowdale, Ont.
Tel: (416) 491-2900 Fax: (416) 491-2211
[email protected]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SOLUTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT, BENEFICIAL FOR ARMENIANS SUPPOSES
EXISTANCE OF DEMOCRACY IN ARMENIA, REPRESENTATIVE OF “ARDARUTIUN” IS
SURE
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Parliamentary hearings on the Karabakh
issue showed that the problem’s solution beneficial for Armenians,
supposes existanee of democracy in Armenia. Stepan Zakarian, a member
of “Ardarutiun” (Justice) faction made such a statement at the
Parliament on April 12. According to him, in 1998, coming to power,
the present administration of Armenia stated about being primary of
the issue of Karakakh status, while at the parliamentary hearings
concerning the Karabakh issue held lately, Defence Minister Serge
Sargsian stated that territories can be ceded to the guarantee of
security.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 12 2005
`No need for war’ – parliament speaker

Parliament speaker Murtuz Alasgarov says there is no need for the
start of military action between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
`The potential for talks has not been exhausted yet. There is
currently no alternative other than peaceful conflict resolution.’
The speaker said he believes the ongoing negotiations will be
fruitful. `All foreign forces supporting Azerbaijan should therefore
defend the country’s authorities’, he added.*
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1plus
| 19:26:37 | 13-04-2005 | Social |
THE PROBLEM OF ARMENIAN ROADS SOLVED IN RUSSIA
Today NA President Arthur Baghdasaryan met the members of the CIS Affairs
Committee of the State Duma.
The issue of the reopening of the railway was discussed. An arrangement was
made to organize a discussion with the participation of the Parliamentarians
of the concerned countries with the request to reopen the railway, which has
crucial importance for the political and economical life of the region and
of Armenia.
During the discussions a reference was made to the further work of the road
Caucasus-Poti which has special importance for Armenia. The necessity to
reconstruct the Abkhaz railway the work of which is of regional importance
was also mentioned.
Igor Levitin, the RF Transport Minister said that on April 15 in Krasnodar
he has a meeting with the experts of the field during which the above
mentioned two problems will be discussed. What is important is that the
legislative
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VISIT OF PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA TO PARIS TO TAKE PLACE IN NEAREST
FUTURE, VARTAN OSKANIAN STATES
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Working visit of Robert Kocharian,
the RA President to Paris will take place, Vartan Oskanian, the RA
Foreign Minister stated at the April 13 press-conference. According to
him, discussion of possible terms of the visit is already going on,
and it is rather possible that the visit will to take place
soon. Concerning some statements about today’s closeness of the
positions of the conflicting parties on the issue of settlement of the
Karabakh conflict, the Minister stated: “Approaches of choice and
discussion of themes are common among the parties, there are no
contradictions here but proposed ways are different.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UZBEKISTAN GOV’T SELLING INTEREST IN FOUR POWER PLANTS
Asia Pulse
Apr 13, 2005

TASHKENT, April 13 Asia Pulse – The government is selling blocking-off
interest in four power plants. The authorities want over US$150
million while experts doubt that foreign investors will be interested.
The Syrdarja Thermoelectric Power Plant is the largest in Central Asia
(3,000 megawatt). It produces almost one third of all electricity
generated in Uzbekistan. The Mubarak Thermoelectric Power Plant
generates 420 million kilowatt-hours a year, Tashkent 155.8 million,
Ferghana 560 million. All four power plants belong to the state.
A spokesman for FINAM (financial consultant of the government of
Uzbekistan) says that the authorities put up 39.23 per cent in
Mubarak, 38 per cent in Tashkent, 39 per cent in Ferghana, and 39 per
cent in Syrdarja plant for sale. The initial price was set at
$123.581 million, $11.144 million, $6.156 million, and $14.197
million.
Applicants have until May 15 to buy the documents concerning the
future contest and submit applications until June 15. This information
was confirmed by Mokhor Valiyev, assistant to the general director of
the Bureau of Individual Privatization.
According to Valiyev, the authorities do not intend to sell their
interest in the power plants in the next two years. Still, should some
strategic investor come up offering a fair price, the Bureau will
certainly consider the offer. Valiyev and Nikolai Fomintsev, Director
of the Department of Strategies and Business Development of FINAM, did
not say exactly whom the authorities of Uzbekistan expected to attract
as potential buyers. Fomintsev merely said that the circle of
claimants “is pretty clear” – a number of major Russian and foreign
companies. Fomintsev even said that some of them had already
approached FINAM.
Andrei Zubkov, an analyst with Trust Bank, assumes that the future
contest is oriented toward Russian companies first and foremost since
the authorities of Uzbekistan made FINAM their financial
consultant. The Russian Joint Energy Systems is already present in
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan where construction of a hydroelectric power
plant is about to be completed. Practically all of the energy industry
of Armenia belongs to the Russian Joint Energy Systems too.
Sources at its PR Department admit that the developments in Uzbekistan
are being viewed with interest indeed but decline comment on the
possibility of the holding’s participation in the contest.
Christian Drepper of E.ON PR Department claims that the company has
concentrated on development in Central Asia and Italy. “I’m afraid
that Uzbekistan is not exactly in the focus of our attention,” he
said. Spokesmen for Enel and AES declined comment.
Experts say that Uzbekistan wants a fair and reasonable price for the
power plants. “The cost of the power plants is roughly equal to the
cost of Russian assets,” to quote Aleksei Minayev, an analyst with
Rye, Man & Gor Securities.
All the same, Uzbekistan may encounter difficulties finding investors.
Alexander Yakubov of CenterInvest says that the assets are pretty old,
and the solvent demand for electricity in Uzbekistan is fairly
low. “That’s a difficult market. Order should be restored there
first,” Yakubov said. “I do not think that many investors will be
interested.” Zubkov added that export of electricity from Uzbekistan
is impossible and that too is a factor disheartening potential
investors.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ZEE News, India
April 13 2005
Pak for more democratic UN without new centres of privilege

Islamabad, Apr 13: Pakistan, which is opposed to India’s bid for a
permanent seat in the UN Security Council, has said the world body
“must be made more democratic and accountable” without creating new
centres of privilege.
This was stated by President Pervez Musharraf during a banquet hosted
in honour of his visiting Azerbaijan counterpart Ilhan Aliyev here
last night.
Pakistan has been advocating against creation of new centres of
privilege at the Security Council, he said.
On Kashmir, Musharraf, who is to visit India on April 16 to watch the
last one-day indo-Pak cricket match in New Delhi the next day, said
Pakistan desired peace in the region through resolution of all
issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.
Musharraf said Pakistan greatly valued Azerbaijan’s “consistent
support” to Islamabad’s stand on Kashmir and supported Azerbaijan’s
claim on Nagorno Karabagh. Azerbaijan and Armenia have made a joint
claim on Nagorno Karabagh.
The President expressed the hope that Aliyev’s visit to Pakistan
would further expand bilateral ties, taking them to a higher plane
for cooperation, especially in trade and economic fields.
For his part, Aliyev said Azerbaijan “always supported and will
continue to support Pakistan stand on Kashmir” and thanked the
president for Pakistan’s consistent backing on Nagorno Karabakh.
Aliyev also held talks with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and signed an
MoU on the defence-related issues.
Bureau Report