Author: Emil Lazarian

ARMENIAN OMBUDSMAN TRYING TO CLEAR THE FATE OF THE ARMENIAN PRISONER
A1plus
| 19:19:30 | 08-04-2005 | Politics |
Today RA Ombudsman Larissa Alaverdyan has sent a letter to Elmira
Suleymanova, the Azerbaijani Human rights defender, the Red Cross
International Committee, and the Armenian, Azerbaijani and Stepanakert
delegations of the Committee.
It is particularly mentioned in the letter that according to the
information spread by the International working group about the
issues of war prisoners Zohrab Tamayan who was in military service
in Noyemberyan has been taken captive my the Armenian armed forces.
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense has not confirmed the information,
whereas the Azerbaijani independent experts have, and according to
the Azerbaijani press the soldier has been take captive by the order
of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.
The Armenian Ombudsman has expressed his worriedness by the fate of
the soldier especially taking into account the fact that the captive
is representative of a national minority. It is well known that the
Azerbaijanis treat the Kurd captives with special cruelty. ~SWe
have already had terrible experience ~V a Yezidi young men – an
ex-prisoner of war who returned from Azerbaijan, committed suicide~T,
says the latter.
The RA Defender of human rights asked the above mentioned organization
to wake the case into control securing the defense of Tamayan~Rs
rights and the meeting of Geneva convention commitments.
~SI think that cooperation in the settlement of humanitarian problems
will allow us to reduce e tension and will contribute to the peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict for the sake of stability and
regional security~T, mentioned Larissa Alaverdyan.

Turkish President: Armenian Citizens are Indispensable Part of Turkish Society
JTW
8 April 2005
ISTANBUL (JTW) Addressing a conference at the Turkish War Academy
in Istanbul, Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said scientific
objectivity should be used when assessing historical events. Sezer
said the Armenian accusations are baseless and biased. “Research
should be conducted into the allegations by making use of documents
that were objective and unbiased”, the President said.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan had called the Armenian side
to open its archives and to organize scientific meetings between
Turkish and Armenian historians. Armenia rejected Turkish invitation
and Armenian Foreign Minister Hovanisyan said “there is nothing to
be discussed”.
Sezer further added Turkish citizens of Armenian origin were and
indispensable part of Turkish society who have equal rights and
responsibilities in the modern Turkish Republic, said Sezer. There
are more than 50,000 Turkish Armenians, and about 45,000 Armenians
from Armenia work in Istanbul. Turkish Armenians publish three weekly
newspapers and have many schools and churches.

Politician urges closer attention to Georgia’s Armenian-populated region
Aravot, Yerevan
7 Apr 05
Text of Nelli Grigoryan report by Armenian newspaper Aravot on 7 April
headlined “There is a danger that all the Armenians may leave Javakhk”
The leader of the Powerful Motherland Party, Vardan Vardanyan, has
commented on the events that are taking place in Javakhk [Georgia]
at the moment. “Under [former Georgian President Zviad] Gamsakhurdia,
when there was an attempt to enter Javakhk with a slogan ‘Georgia only
for Georgians’, residents of Javakhk did not succumb to provocation
and supported Georgian statehood. I am sure that the rallies taking
place today are not directed against the state,” Vardan Vardanyan said.
He said that the situation in Javakhk is really complicated and
“external forces” are trying to channel social and economic problems
in another direction. It is not by chance that rallies simultaneously
took place in Batumi and Javakhk. He agrees that the Russian military
bases do not resolve problems linked with unemployment today.
Moreover, Vardanyan said that residents of Javakhk understand very
well that rallies are not a way of solving problems. “About 20,000
residents have left Javakhk in order to find a job abroad. In this
situation, it is not by chance that the visa regime established by
the Russian side has become complicated. That’s to say, they are
doing everything possible to anger the residents of Javakhk,” he said.
“But one should understand the residents of Javakhk: what will happen
in the future and who will substitute these [Russian] troops?”
And what is Armenia’s task? Different programmes concerning Javakhk
have been prepared for many years: the authorities have changed, and
programmes have been extended as the number of problems has increased.
Today we say that the Georgian and Armenian authorities should
deal with Javakhk. Many people may say they cannot deal with
another country’s problems. First, Armenia has a problem with its
laws. Artificial customs problems on the border also deteriorate the
economic situation of residents of Javakhk. In this sense, I would like
to note that Armenia’s attitude towards Javakhk is not satisfactory,
to put it mildly. This may lead to serious consequences. Georgia
openly says that it is ready to cooperate with Armenia to fulfil
Armenian-Georgian programmes together. Otherwise, Armenians will
leave Javakhk. There is such a danger today. I think everybody can
understand what this means for Armenia. Javakhk is and will remain
a buffer zone in Armenian-Georgian relations.
“When we say that Armenia should pay attention to Javakhk, many
people think that our budget should be channelled there. No. The
state’s approach is quite another matter. Over the past several
years, spiritual, cultural and educational programmes supported by
the government have been implemented in Nagornyy Karabakh. Is it
impossible to implement such programmes in Javakhk as well?
We are anxious that the rallies may continue and, God forbid, damage
Armenian-Georgian relations. It is very important for everybody to
understand this and act in a way that will not allow external forces
to make use of the situation,” Vardanyan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RALLIES, AIMED AT RETURN OF AIR TO A1+, TO LAST TILL APRIL 12
Arminfo
YEREVAN, APRIL 7. ARMINFO. The rallies, aimed at return of the air
to the TV company A1+, will last till April 12, Head of Meltex cjsc,
Chief of the TV company Mesrop Movsesian informed during the news
conference, Thursday.
He said that in the evening of April 12 nongovernmental organizations
will submit a letter addressed to the government of the republic. “We
suppose to receive a response till May 3”, Movsesian said. According
to him, within that period the daily rallies before the building of
Yerevan State Conservatory will be broken. However, if till May 3 the
government does not change its position and shows neutral attitude,
then the organizations will resume the rallies of protest.
To remind, the TV channel A1+ was closed on April 3, 2002 because of
the refusal of National Commission for TV and Radio to give a license
to the channel for broadcast.

PRESS RELEASE
Alpha Epsilon Omega,
Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee
Contact: Misak Zetilyan
Tel: (626) 398-9846
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
ALPHA EPSILON OMEGA, The Armenian Fraternity will be
hosting “the FACE OF DENAIL Does Not Lie” Lecture
Series on April 14, @ 5:00PM in Moore Hall 100 UCLA.
LECTURE TOPICS “Literature, Film, and Genocide Denial:
The Case of Franz Warfel’s The Forty Days of Musa
Dagh” Dr. Vahram Shemmassian, CSUN “Prospects for
Armenian Genocide Recognition in the United States:
Past, Present and Future” Ardashes Kassakhian, ANCA
“Reactions on Turkish Television to Genocide
Resolutions in Paris and Washington” Dr. Levon
Marashlian, GCC
DETAILS
Day: Thursday, April 14, 2005
Time: 5:00PM – 7:30PM
Place: UCLA Moore Hall 100
DIRECTIONS
South Entrance Take 405 (San Diego Freeway) to
Wilshire Blvd. East Travel east three blocks to
Westwood Blvd. Turn Left on Westwood Blvd. Travel
five blocks to Parking & Information Booth North
Entrance Take 405 (San Diego Freeway) to Sunset East
Take Sunset east to Westwood Plaza Turn right on
Westwood Plaza Proceed straight to Parking &
Information Booth Park in Parking Lot 4
Misak Zetilyan
Alpha Epsilon Omega,
Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee
(626) 398-9846
[email protected]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VENICE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS WRONG ABSENCE OF TRANSITIONAL THESES IN PRELIMINARY VARIANTS OF DRAFT CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The NA Interim Commission on
Eurointegration issues completed discussion on the conent of
drafts of Constitutional reforms at the April 6 sitting. “Adoption,
Amendment and Referendum of Constitution”, the last but one head
of the drafts authored by ULP fraction and Arshak Sadoyan was left
without amendments. So, adoption of Constitution and amendments in it
are carried out by the means of referendum, on the initiative of the
RA President or the National Assembly. The President of the Republic
appoints a referendum on the initiative or with the consent of the
majority of the NA MPs total number. A draft put on a referendum is
considered adopted, if more than half of participants in the ballot,
but not less than one third of citizens included in electoral rolls,
voted for it. As an addition to the above-mentioned theses of the
acting Constitution, the political coalition proposed to adopt
that the provisions of some articles of the Constitution may be
amended by law as well. At least one third of the total number of
NA MPs or the RA President may represent such an initiative, and
at least two thirds of of total number of MPs will be needed in
such cases. According to the conclusion of the Venice Commission,
the proposal to adopt Constitutional amendments by the NA qualified
majority, without putting it on the referendum “makes easier the
process of Constitutional amendments, at the same time keeping the
demand to solve important issues by a referendum, hence the Commission
is for it.” ULP and political coalition have not presented proposals
on the last chapter, “Transitional Theses” of the Constitution yet,
mentioning that they will be represented after discussion of the
package of the constitutional reforms. The Venice Commission did not
consider such a decision to be right. According to the Commission,
transitional theses are an indivisible part of the Constitutional
reforms and “may relate to very important and delicate issues which
must not be avoided during the parliamentary disc ussions.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE IN OTTOMAN TURKEY TO TAKE PLACE ON APRIL 20-21 IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, April 7. /ARKA/. The international forum on “Grave Crimes,
Grave Challenges: Human Rights and Genocide”, devoted to the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey will take place
on April 20-21 in Yerevan. According to RA MFA, RA President Robert
Kocharyan and Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin the Second will
welcome the participants of the forum. The ex- President of Poland
Leh Valensa and the Special Adviser of the UN Secretary General
on prevention of genocide Juan Mendes are expected to speak at the
forum. Over 20 scientists, political and public figures from Armenia,
USA, Ireland, Switzerland, Israel, Canada, Denmark, Turkey, as well
as representatives of UN will participate in it.
Under the forum on April 18-19 a conference on genocide will be held
in the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.
On April 24, 1,5 mln. people will march to the memorial complex to
the victims of the Armenian Genocide, and ecumenical requiem in the
Cathedral of Saint Gregory the Illuminator in Yerevan will take place.
Also concerts, showing feature and documentary films, theatre
performances, and photo-exhibitions will be held. Literature on
genocide and human rights will be presented in the RA MFA library.

RUSSIANS WANT TO KNOW ARMENIA BETTER
A1+
07-04-2005
Armenian Ambassador to Russia Armen Smbatyan gave a lecture with the
subject «The Present and Future of Armenia» in the Institute of
Asian and African States at the MGU.
Mr. Smbatyan in detail presented the social and economic situation
in Armenia as well as the political developments in the region.
When commenting of the Armenian-Russian relations the Ambassador
attracted attention to the events held within the frames of the Year
of Russia in Armenia.
During the discussions that followed the lecture, Armen Smbatyan
responded to the question, which for post part regarded the
Armenia-Russia, Armenia-Turkey and Armenia-Europe relationships as well
as the foreign policy and problems referring the economic priorities
of the country .
–Boundary_(ID_bU8oUfMaRVJVk1IxR5ko9Q)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Reno Harnish: “USA is interested in quickest peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict”
07 April 2005 [16:44] – Today.Az
US government is interested in quickest peaceful settlement of Nagorno-
Karabakh conflict, which stems the tide of social and political
development of the Southern Caucasus.
The agency Trend reports, the US ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish
stated during his meeting with refugees and internally displaced
persons of Barda and Terter region.
The ambassador indicated, trenchant policy, conducted by leadership of
Azerbaijan all over the world in connection with Armenian-Azerbaijan
conflict, enables hoping, this problem is to be solved in the nearest
future, and refugees, driven away from their native hearths and
internally displaced persons are to return to their native lands.
The diplomat got introduced with social objects, constructed in
villages Imirli of Barda region and Mamyrly of Terter region, which
are financially supported by international humanitarian organization
of USA “Save the children”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROUND TABLE ON KARABAKH PROBLEM TO BE HELD IN MOSCOW MAY 16-17
07.04.2005 04:27
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A round table on the problem of Nagorno Karabakh will
be held in Moscow May 16-17, the Yerkir newspaper reported. As reported
by OSCE Minsk Group former Co-Chair Vladimir Kazimirov, three Russian
NGOs – Foreign Policy Association, Association of Russian Diplomats
and the World Peace-Making Organizations are holding meetings over
the Nagorno Karabakh problem for the third time.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress