Author: Emil Lazarian

Armavia and Pulkovo sign interline agreement
RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
Aug 3 2005
RBC, 03.08.2005, Erevan 09:13:16.Armavia and Pulkovo airlines have
entered into an interline agreement, ARKA, the Armenian news agency
reported. The agreement concerns the system of booking enabling
travelers to use the retail network of one airline for buying tickets
of another one.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THOSE GUILTY IN DESTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN GRAVES IN KRASNODAR TO BE FOUND
PanArmenian News Network
Aug 1 2005
01.08.2005 08:11
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At their meeting Verkhny Yurt village residents
(Khosta district of the city of Sochi) decided to send official
letters to chiefs of the city administration and law-enforcement
bodies. These are intended to express indignation over the act of
vandalism taken place at the village cemetery, as well as to demand
urgent measures to catch and punish those guilty. The residents
gathered July 31 to discuss the vandalism act of destruction of
29 graves (28 Armenian graves and a Russian one), reported the
Yerkramas newspaper of Armenians of Russia. The meeting was held in
the presence of Khosta region head Igor Seleznyov, representatives
of law-enforcement bodies and leaders of Sevan Armenian community of
the city. As noted by I. Seleznyov, the investigation is under way
and law-enforcement bodies say they have a “hook” that will help to
find those guilty in acts of vandalism at the Armenian cemetery. In
his words, the city budget will compensate the material harm. It
should be reminded that July 29, 2005 reports were received by the
Khosta region section of domestic affairs from residents of Verkhny
Yurt village populated by Armenians that a large number of graves is
demolished in the cemetery 5 km away from the settlement, reported
the Yerkramas newspaper of Armenians of Russia. In the course of
examination of the cemetery 29 demolished graves were discovered
most of them being Armenians’. The word “Schizophrenia” is written
on the headstones of each of the destroyed graves. The graves were
supposedly demolished with a sledgehammer or some other heavy object.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN CITIZEN DETAINED FOR SELLING FALSE US CURRENCY
ArmenPress
Aug 1 2005
MOSCOW, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESS: Moscow officers of the department of
fight against crime at the Internal Affairs Ministry detained two
citizens of the South Caucasian countries 55-year old Levon Petrosian
and 50-year old Vagif Ahmedov while they were trying to sell a large
number of false dollars, reported RIA “Novosti” citing department’s
press service officials.
The officials said the quality of the false US Dollars is very
high. According to them, the criminals wanted to sell 21,000 false US
Dollars for 6,000 real dollars. At present criminal case is opened
against Vagif Ahmedov, the degree of participation of the second
suspect is being clarified.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH INTELLECTUALS ADDRESS OPEN LETTER TO R. KOCHARIAN
ArmenPress
Aug 1 2005
ISTANBUL, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESS: A group of Turkish intellectuals
addressed an open letter to the Armenian President Robert Kocharian in
which the authors express concern about the fate of Turkish scientist
Ektan Turkilmaz who was arrested in Yerevan while trying to smuggle
out of Armenia tens of books “of historical and cultural value” dating
back to 17 and 20 centuries. In the letter, published in the Turkish
Daily News, the authors say they are sure that Turkilmaz violated
the law unknowingly.
“No one warned him against it,” wrote Turkish intellectuals, calling
on the Armenian authorities not to sharpen the tensed and fragile
relations between Armenia and Turkey. According to the Armenian
national security service, Ektan Turkilmaz, 33, a Turkish citizen
from Istanbul and a student of a US-based Duke University, in North
Carolina, was arrested aboard a plane bound from Yerevan to Istanbul.

FAIR OF ARMENIAN PRODUCTS TO BE ORGANIZED IN MOSCOW
ArmenPress
Aug 1 2005
YEREVAN, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESS: A fair of Armenian products will be
organized in Moscow’s Pushkin Square September 24-25. The event will
take place within the frameworks of the trade-economic cooperation
established between the Moscow authorities and the Armenian government.
Mushegh Sargsian, top official from the Armenian Development Agency,
told that at the fair different Armenian outlets will be presented. The
agency has sent invitations to 300 businessmen 30 of which have
already displayed readiness to participate in the fair.
Those who have not received the invitation can apply to the agency
on their on initiative.
M. Sargsian noted that a large space is provided for the organization
of the fair and consequently there will be no limitations in the number
of participants. The pavilions will be formed by the representatives
of the agency and will be provided to businessmen free of charge. In
October such like fair of Russian products will be organized in
Yerevan.

California Courier Online, August 4, 2005
1 – Commentary
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The Califorrnia Courier
2 – Poochigian Campaign for Attorney General
Announces $2 Million Plus in Funds
3- US Olympian Martirosyan
Will Box at Staples, Sept. 10
4 – Ara Abrahamyan Awarded
French Legion of Honor
5 – Karabian Donates Collection
To Pepperdine University
6 – Turkish, US, Armenian Scholars Concerned
For Detained Turkish Researcher in Armenia
7 – UAF’s 134th Airlift
Delivers $2.3 Million
Of Aid to Armenia
8 – Peter Kezirian Awarded 2005
Marshall Memorial Fellowship
*************************************************************************
1 – Commentary
TIME’s Chief Editor Claims
Magazine Was Duped by Turks
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
The June 6, 2005 issue of the European edition of TIME magazine included a
DVD as a paid ad. The DVD had a 70-minute segment that completely denied
and distorted the facts of the Armenian Genocide. In the same issue, along
with the DVD, TIME ran a four-page ad, placed by the Ankara Chamber of
Commerce, promoting tourism in Turkey.
In an earlier column, I pointed out that the 70-minute “documentary” was
hidden behind several other segments on the DVD all of which dealt with
tourism. This revisionist DVD created a worldwide uproar against TIME for
acting as a conduit for Turkish distortions.
In response to complaints from many readers, TIME printed in the June 20,
2005 issue of its European edition the following letter:
“I was rather disappointed to see a DVD in your magazine [June 6]
accompanying a Turkish ad that portrayed Armenians as terrorists and the
Armenian genocide as a myth. TIME has a good reputation for unbiased
reporting. The DVD is an insult to all Armenians across the world.” The
letter was signed by Gagik Mikaelian, Chicago, Ill.
The editors of TIME added the following note to that letter: “TIME is an
independent newsmagazine and does not endorse the views of any organization
or government. We regret any offense caused by the advertisements.”
Given the gravity of the offense committed by TIME, this brief letter and
the briefer response fell far short of what is expected, particularly in
view of the fact that TIME’s European edition had violated anti-racism and
genocide denial laws of several European countries, besides offending the
sensibilities of its readers.
Simon Maghakyan of Colorado was so offended with TIME’s denialist DVD that
he sent a letter of complaint to Norman Pearlstine, the Editor-in-Chief of
TIME, Inc. After receiving no answer to his several letters, Mr. Maghakyan
fired off an angry e-mail to Mr. Pearlstine, making a parallel between the
sending of the Turkish DVD to distributing Nazi propaganda.
That e-mail got Mr. Pearlstine’s attention. He sent the following reply,
making this interesting and important revelation: “We have, of course,
apologized in the magazine for accepting a DVD whose contents were
different from what we had been led to believe they would be.”
Regardless of whether the Editor-in-Chief of TIME is being honest in his
assertion that the magazine’s executives were misled by Turks, such an
admission opens the door for Armenians to ask that TIME now redress the
damage it caused by disseminating the Turkish DVD to 500,000 subscribers in
more than a dozen European countries.
In an earlier column, I suggested that TIME take the following 6 steps to
make up for its grave error:
1) Publish a real apology for disseminating this fraudulent DVD;
2) Issue a formal memo to all its divisions around the world not to accept
this DVD as an insert (the Ankara Chamber of Commerce has announced its
intention to place the same DVD in TIME’s Asian and Pacific editions);
3) Issue a written warning to all its advertising executives not to accept
any more ads from Turkish entities that deny the Armenian Genocide (just as
they would not run an ad that denies the Jewish Holocaust and glorifies
Hitler; the New York Times recently rejected an ad from Turkish
organizations denying the Armenian Genocide);
4) Destroy the extra 116,000 copies of this DVD that are still in TIME’s
possession;
5) Agree to insert and disseminate free of charge a DVD, prepared by a
reputable research institute, on the Armenian Genocide;
6) Donate the payment it received from the Turkish Chamber of Commerce for
this ad to an Armenian charity.
After admitting that TIME magazine ran an ad that it shouldn’t have, Mr.
Pearlstine must now meet with Armenian community leaders to discuss the
next steps in order to avoid a costly and embarrassing lawsuit in several
European countries and a loss of subscribers as well as advertisers in the
U.S. and other parts of the world!
Another Case of U.S. Double Standard
For more than 10 years Azerbaijan and Turkey have blockaded Armenia in
violation of congressional resolutions and international conventions. The
Armenian government and the Armenian American community have repeatedly
asked U.S. officials to pressure the Turks and Azeris to lift their
blockade of Armenia. The American government has turned a deaf ear to these
Armenian requests.
However, when it suits the purposes of the neo-cons who have hijacked U.S.
foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East, high-ranking Americans
officials selectively condemn certain border closures, even when they are
not asked to do so by the countries involved.
A blatant case of such a double standard occurred last month, when
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for Syria to open its closed
border with Lebanon during her visit to Beirut.
“We would like to see the day when there are good, neighborly relations
between Syria and Lebanon based on mutual respect and equality. But good
neighbors don’t close their borders to their neighbors and it is a very
serious situation on the Lebanese border where Lebanese trade is being
strangled. The best outcome would be for there to be free flow of commerce
between Syria and Lebanon and we would hope that that would be restored
very, very soon,” she said.
The Secretary of State is right in urging Syria to open its closed border
with Lebanon. However, one cannot escape the unmistakable suspicion that
Ms. Rice, rather than caring about Lebanon’s welfare, is hypocritically
exploiting that country’s closed border just to bash Syria.
It is curious that while the Lebanese border has been closed for only a
couple of weeks, and Lebanon does have unfettered access to the
Mediterranean Sea, Ms. Rice seems to have no interest in similarly
denouncing Turkey and Azerbaijan for having blockaded land-locked Armenia
for more than a decade! This is the type of double standard that makes
people around the world resent U.S. foreign policy.
**************************************************************************
2 – Poochigian Campaign for Attorney General
Announces $2 Million Plus in Funds
FRESNO – Finance reports for the Poochigian for Attorney General campaign
release this week show cash on hand of just over $2,050,000 with a minimum
of outstanding obligations. None of these funds is in loans.
“From January 1 to June 30, the campaign raised over $1.12 million, with
much of it coming from hundreds and hundreds of small contributions – an
indication of the widespread support and interest in Chuck’s campaign,” the
campaign reported last week.
The campaign is on a glide path to its goal of having $5 to $6 million cash
on hand by primary day, 2006. Senator Poochigian is the only declared
candidate for Attorney General in the Republican Party, and it is clear
that with his commanding financial position and the endorsements of 44
Republican state legislators, he is clearly the consensus candidate. With
this exceptional advantage, Chuck Poochigian will enter the general
election campaign next year with a substantial financial advantage over his
Democrat party opponent.
The report added, “The Democrat side in the Attorney General’s race will be
competitive and very damaging to the emerging nominee. The Democrats have
two problems…. for one candidate, Rocky Delgadillo, the problem is a
question of experience. For the other candidate, Edmund G. Brown, Jr., the
problem IS experience.
The Poochigian campaign report continued: “Not only does Delgadillo have a
huge learning curve regarding state issues, he will be expending enormous
energy and money to defeat an opponent who is widely known in his party.
On the other hand, the Oakland Mayor has not won a statewide election in 27
years and will have to convince Democrats that his quirky presence in
California politics is worth risking.
Chuck Poochigian is one of the most widely respected legislators in
California, a leader in his party, and known for his impeccable character.
He has proved to be one of the strongest politicians in the center of
California and has not even had a Democrat opponent in his last two
election races.
The report concluded: “We are a long way from the November, 2006 election,
but there will only be two major candidates on the ballot, and we know
right now that Chuck Poochigian will be one of them. His strong, early
domination of the Republican race will allow him to enter the general
election as a formidable candidate, well-funded, highly organized and
sharply positioned to be more in tune with California voters looking for an
Attorney General to enforce the laws with strong common sense principles as
his guide.”
*****************************************************************
3 – US Olympian Martirosyan
Will Box at Staples, Sept. 10
GLENDALE – UA Olympian Vanes ‘Nightmare’ Martirosyan, a hard-hitting super
welterweight, will box on Top Rank’s big fight card which will feature
three-time world champion Erik ‘El Terrible’ Morales and former world
champion Manny Pacquaio at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sept. 10.
Martirosyan, handled by Shelly Finkel and trained by Freddie Roach, is from
Glendale, Calif. Martirosyan is 2-0-0 as a pro and lives and trains in
Glendale, Calif.
“I was born in Abovyan, Armenia,” said Vanes. “My dad was an amateur boxer
and I guess he saw it in me too. He said I had a lot of energy because I
was always running around the house. He took me to a local boxing gym and
at the age of seven I began to box. I wound up with 130 amateur fights and
won 120 of those.
“I speak Armenian, of course, English and I know a little Spanish. I can
pronounce some words in Russian too,” he said.
**************************************************************
4 – Ara Abrahamyan Awarded
French Legion of Honor
PARIS – French President Jacques Chirac has awarded businessman, President
of the Union of Armenians of Russia and UNESCO Good Will Ambassador Ara
Abrahamyan with the highest decoration of the French Republic – the Legion
of Honor. “Ara Abrahamyan has done much to develop the Russian-French
relations,” Russian Ambassador to France Aleksandr Avdeyev said. “He
co-chairs the Russian-French Dialogue non-governmental association,
sponsored by Presidents V. Putin and J. Chirac,” the Ambassador said. ”
Abrahamyan has assisted in the erection of the monument to the Soviet
Soldier at Pere Lachaise French Cemetery marking the 60th anniversary of
the Great Victory. He has organized productive bilateral business meetings,
as well as a Russian Film Festival in Onfler Norse city,” Avdeyev remarked.
“I think Ara Abrahamyan has deserved the French awarding him the highest
decoration,” he said.
Napoleon has established the Legion of Honor in 1802. The decoration is
awarded for outstanding services to France and has 5 degrees, Itar-Tass
reported.
**************************************************************************
5 – Karabian Donates Collection
To Pepperdine University
MALIBU, Calif. – A luncheon hosted recently by Pepperdine University
President Andrew Benton gathered 30 guests to celebrate Walter Karabian’s
donation of the Karabian Political Memorabilia Collection, which includes
more than 400 buttons from over 130 years of political campaign history.
Karabian is a former California Assemblyman Majority Leader.
“I am pleased that Wally agreed to share his collection with our students,
faculty, and visitors,” said Jon Kemp, Assistant Dean for Advancement. “The
Karabian Collection will remind our students of the importance of electoral
politics. After all, if you want to be a leader, you have to get elected
first.”
***************************************************************************
6 – Turkish, Armenian, American Scholars Concerned
For Detained Turkish Researcher in Armenia
ISTANBUL – An open letter with more than 200 signatories is sent to
President Kocharian expressing concerns over the prolonged detention of
Yektan Turkyilmaz, a Turkish citizen and a Ph.D. candidate at Duke
University, and the possible consequences of his trial.
Yektan Turkyilmaz, was pulled out of the plane and detained at the Yerevan
Airport on June 17 with charges of violating the national customs law.
Turkyilmaz, the first Turkish scholar to work in the Armenian National
Archives, was leaving Yerevan after his fourth research trip to Armenia and
was scheduled to do more research in Istanbul and Paris before going back
to Duke University as a fellow of the John Hope Franklin Institute for
2005-2006.
He is currently being held under high security conditions at the National
Security Service building in Yerevan, without having access to the
telephone, or being able to write or receive letters.
During his visit to Armenia, Turkyilmaz legally purchased about 100 books,
which range from the 17th to the 20th century, from second-hand sellers in
Yerevan and apparently was unaware that according to the Armenian customs
regulations he had to ‘declare’ books older than 50 years at customs.
Yektan Turkyilmaz is being charged with Article 215, paragraph 2 of the
Armenian Criminal Code, which treats weapons of mass destruction and
cultural values, including books, in the same category. The law places no
obligation on the sellers of old books to inform the purchasers that
special permissions will be needed to take the books out of the country,
and makes no distinction between violations involving nuclear weapons and
books. It is suggested that this is the first time this particular article
in the Armenian Criminal Code has ever been applied to a person carrying
books.
After Turkyilmaz’s arrest, a committee has been established by prominent
writers and academicians of Turkey to follow the case. The Committee for
Solidarity with Yektan Turkyilmaz opened a letter for signatures which is
addressed to the Armenian President Mr. Kocharian. In twenty-four hours,
100 Turkish, Armenian, American, and other international scholars
undersigned the letter which was sent to the President on Friday. An
updated list with more more than 200 signatures was sent on Aug. 1.
The Committee for Solidarity with Yektan Turkyilmaz write, “The political
implications of this arrest cause grave concern. Yektan Turkyilmaz is one
of a very few Turkish scholars who have critically tackled the events of
1915 and other instances of political violence in the first part of this
century. The fact that he was arrested soon after he gained access as the
first Turkish scholar to the Armenian National Archives adds to these
concerns. The fragile space of dialogue that has recently been opened up
between Turkish and Armenian scholars is put to the risk of being greatly
damaged by Turkyilmaz’s prolonged detention. This arrest would also raise
serious doubts as to whether Armenia encourages independent scholarly
research on its history.”
The first hearing of Turkyilmaz will be held before August 15, 2005.
Yektan Turkyilmaz did research in the Armenian National Archives in May and
June 2005 for his dissertation titled “Imagining ‘Turkey,’ Creating a
Nation: the Politics of Geography and
State Formation in Eastern Anatolia, 1908-1938.” He is the first Turkish
citizen who had been granted access to the Armenian National Archives.
Turkyilmaz is the recipient of several prestigious awards including the
John Hope Franklin Institute Fellowship for 2005-2006; the International
Dissertation Field Research Program Award from the Social Science Research
Council (SSRC) for 2003-2004; the Mellon Dissertation Fieldwork Award from
the Council of Library and Information Resources (CLIR) for 2003-2004; the
Dissertation Fieldwork Award from the American Research Institute of Turkey
(ARIT) for 2003-2004; as well as a Graduate Fellowship from Duke University
for 2000-2005.
Turkyilmaz’s previous degrees include a Master of Arts in Cultural
Anthropology from Duke University, North Carolina, a Bachelor of Arts in
Political Science and International Relations from Bogaziçi University,
Istanbul; he also studied in the Masters Program at the Atatürk Institute
for Modern Turkish History at Bogaziçi University, Istanbul.
**************************************************************************
7 – UAF’s 134th Airlift
Delivers $2.3 Million
Of Aid to Armenia
GLENDALE – The United Armenian Fund’s 134th airlift arrived in Yerevan on
July 30, delivering $2.3 million of humanitarian assistance.
The UAF itself collected $1 million of medicines and medical supplies for
this flight, most of which were donated by the Catholic Medical Mission
Board (383,000); AmeriCares ($244,000); Eli Lilly ($243,000) and MAP
International ($217,000).
Other organizations which contributed goods for this airlift were: Fund for
Armenian Relief ($395,000); The Armenian Eyecare Project ($153,000); Tigran
Sarkisyan of California ($100,000); Michael DerBedrossian of Massachusetts
($87,000); Dr. Stephen Kashian of Illinois ($74,000); Harut Chantikian of
New Jersey ($62,000); American University of Armenia ($54,000); and
Armenian General Benevolent Union ($34,000).
Also contributing to this airlift were: Armenian American Cultural
Association ($27,000); Armenian Students Association ($25,000); Dr.
Andranik Ovassapian of Illinois ($25,000); and Accuware Consultants
($20,000).
Since its inception in 1989, the UAF has sent $412 million of humanitarian
assistance to Armenia onboard 134 airlifts and 1,216 sea containers.
The UAF is the collective effort of the Armenian Assembly of America, the
Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian Missionary Association of
America, the Armenian Relief Society, the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America, the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, and the
Lincy Foundation.
For more information, contact the UAF office at 1101 North Pacific Ave,
Suite 301, Glendale, CA 91202 or call (818) 241-8900.
**************************************************************************
8 – Peter Kezirian Awarded 2005
Marshall Memorial Fellowship
PASADENA, Calif. – Peter Kezirian of Pasadena, Calif., is one of 55
emerging American leaders from 19 states and the District of Columbia to be
awarded the prestigious Marshall Memorial Fellowship. The 2005 American
Marshall Memorial Fellows will spend more than three weeks of intensive
study examining European institutions and exploring European and
transatlantic economic, political and social issues.
Fellows are selected through a competitive review process and come from
politics, government, the military, media, business and the non-profit
sector.
Kezirian is a member of the June delegation that visited five cities,
Brussels, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Belgrade and Bratislava.
Kezirian, is a graduate of Georgetown University School of Foreign Service
and the USC Law Center. He is currently the Vice President for Corporate
Strategy and Business Development at the Cooperative of American
Physicians/Mutual Protection Trust in Los Angeles, one of the leading
writers of medical liability coverage in the United States. Kezirian joined
CAP-MPT after serving as the General Counsel for the California Department
of Corporations for Gov. Pete Wilson and was a mergers and acquisitions
attorney for the New York firm of Debevoise & Plimpton before joining the
Wilson Administration in 1995. Throughout his legal and business career,
Kezirian has participated in a variety of programs to help build
international understanding and advance the effort for peaceful change and
individual rights. These efforts have included observing the 2003 elections
in Cambodia, reviewing the NATO peacekeeping effort in Bosnia and Kosovo in
2001 and participating in a judicial training effort sponsored by the U.S.
Agency for International Development in the Republic of Armenia in 1995.
**************************************************************************
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE “ARMENIAN BIBLE” TO BE HELD IN ECHMIADZIN ON OCT 6-9
ARKA News Agency
Aug 1 2005
YEREVAN, July 1. /ARKA/. An international conference “Armenian Bible”
is to be held in the Holy See of Echmiadzin on October 6-9, 2005. The
press service of the Holy Echmiadzin reports that the conference will
be held under the patronage of His Holiness Garegin II as part of
celebrations of the 1600th anniversary of creation of the Armenian
alphabet. Archimandrite Vahan Hovhannisyan is responsible for the
organization of the conference. “The Holy Book plays the central role
in the rites and bibliography of the Armenian Church. It inspired
theologians, chroniclers, miniaturists, musicians, and experts on
church rituals,” a press release says. The Holy Echmiadzin invites
the scholars engaged in translating the Bible into Armenian to take
part in the conference. P.T. -0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
ASSEMBLY’S YOUNG LEADERSHIP GROUP MISSION RETURNS FROM ARMENIA
Trip Encourages Youth toward Community Activism
Washington, DC – In a major push to encourage future generations to
increase their community activism, the Assembly led its first-ever
“Young Leadership Group Mission to Armenia,” from June 29 through July
11. Some 60 Assembly intern alumni, young professionals and families
with children participated in the trip for a first-hand look at life
in their ancestral home.
“We are extremely pleased to offer this Mission as a way of bringing
young families to Armenia to rediscover their roots,” said Assembly
Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian, who was in Yerevan
for an official visit. “Everyone in the group, including our youngest
travelers, enjoyed Armenia’s rich culture and heritage and recognized
that they too can help shape Armenia’s future.”
During their 12-day excursion, Mission participants discussed the
latest economic, social and political developments during meetings
with Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, Karabakh’s Foreign
Minister Arman Melikian and U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans.
The group also traveled to Etchmiadzin where they met with His
Holiness Karekin II and presented him with a plaque, commending him
for inspiring Armenian youth toward community service and thanking
him for his recent visit to the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church.
The 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide also made it an
especially poignant time to be in Armenia. On July 6 the group visited
the Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial at Tsitsernakabert where
they laid flowers and discussed how the atrocities impacted their
ancestors and brought their families to the United States.
Travelers also explored the sights and sounds of Armenia through
guided tours of Lake Sevan, the Voske Ser dairy farm and cheese
factory and the Armenia Tree Project nursery in the village of Karin.
The Mission also visited the Armenian-American Wellness Center,
which was co-founded by Assembly Associate Trustee Rita Balian,
and toured the Center for Aesthetic Education in Gyumri.
“My trip to Armenia really opened my eyes to the needs of this
developing country,” said Nikki Hatza, 17, of Merion, Pennsylvania.
“In many places even the most basic services such as running water,
were not available. Although Armenia is making progress, I really feel
that with the help of diasporan Armenians great strides can be made.”
“It’s especially important that young Armenian-Americans let our
representatives in Washington know what is happening in Armenia
and how important it is for the U.S. to continue to provide aid,”
Hatza continued. “I am planning to attend the Assembly’s National
Convention in Washington, DC in March so that I can work with others
toward a strong and economically stable Armenia.”
Children ages five through fifteen also met new friends in Armenia via
the Assembly’s “Camp Yerevan” program. Six local Armenian children
joined the Mission group and took part in a series of activities
including a major clean-up project at the park adjacent to the Genocide
Monument. Kids cleaned the grounds – removing brush and pruning trees –
in preparation for new planting at the site. During a lighter moment,
youngsters enjoyed making their own handmade crafts with the help of
local artisans, courtesy of Made in Armenia Direct.
“During the course of the Mission, we saw our families grow closer
together and bond with their ancestral home and its people,” said
Deputy Executive Director Peter Abajian, who was on the Mission.
“Most of the children and young professionals recognize that this is
a life-changing trip and have plans to return.”
Assembly Leaders Meet with Government Officials
Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian and Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny, who were on a working visit in Armenia the week of
July 13, met with several government officials including President
Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian, Defense Minister Serge Sargsian, Parliament Chairman
Arthur Baghdasarian, Transport and Communications Minister Andranik
Manoukian and Karabakh Foreign Minister Arman Melikyan.
Prior to their visit to Armenia, Barsamian and Ardouny were in Brussels
for a series of meetings to discuss EU policy as it affects the South
Caucasus and Turkey. Barsamian and Ardouny met with the U.S. Ambassador
to Belgium Tom C. Korologos and Armenian Ambassador to Belgium Vigen
Chitechian, as well as numerous European Commission officials.
In Armenia, talks centered on the peace process, U.S.-Armenia military
cooperation and a proposed Kars-Akhalkalaki rail link which would
connect Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan but not traverse Armenia.
Yerevan officials again reiterated their concern for the ill-proposed
route which would isolate Armenia from economic and commercial
opportunities and potentially destabilize the region.
Additionally, Barsamian praised the Armenian government for its wise
decision to prevent the Kapan-Meghri strategic highway from cutting
through the Shikahogh State Preserve, a virgin forest in Armenia.
Both Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian and President Carolyn
Mugar, also founder of the Armenia Tree Project, personally intervened
in the campaign to preserve the ancient habitat for future generations.
“Our visit to Armenia was a continuation of the Assembly’s
long-standing policy of meeting with Armenia and Karabakh leaders,”
said Ardouny. “The Assembly is committed to help foster strong
U.S.-Armenia, U.S.-Karabakh relations and to ensure that Armenia is
not isolated by Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s blockades or any attempts
to marginalize and weaken our homeland.”
Barsamian added that Assembly leaders will continue such trips to the
region as an integral part of strengthening bilateral relations and
also encouraged Assembly supporters to take part in future Mission
trips.
“In October, the Assembly will be back in Armenia for its tenth
annual Trustees Mission led by Board of Directors Vice Chair
Annie Totah,” said Barsamian. “We hope our supporters will help us
celebrate this milestone occasion which will mark the Assembly’s
first-ever international banquet celebrating the strong U.S.-Armenia
relationship.”
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.
###
NR#2005-083
Photographs available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following link:
083-1.jpg
Caption: During their first full day in Yerevan, Assembly Mission
participants took a bus tour of Yerevan, stopping along the way to
see the Matenadaran, a famous repository and research center named
after Mesrop Mashtots who created the Armenian alphabet 1600 years ago.
Caption: On July 1, Mission participants spent the day at Lake Sevan,
where they toured the monastery, went swimming and enjoyed lunch at
the resort.
Caption: The group met with His Holiness Karekin II at Etchmiazdzin
on July 3, which marks Vartavar Day, a pagan holiday celebrating water.
Caption: On July 4, participants celebrated U.S. Independence Day
at the Cascades. The group enjoyed a special concert and fireworks
display, courtesy of the Cafesjian Museum Foundation and the Armenian
Assembly.
Caption: The group paid their respects at the Armenian Genocide
Museum and Memorial at Tsitsernakabert. After a tour of the Museum,
the oldest and youngest participants planted a memorial tree together.
Caption: Parents and children spent the day milking cows and enjoying
hay rides during a visit to the Voske Ser dairy farm and cheese
factory in Ashotsh. The farm, owned and operated by Assembly Members
Sarkis Bedevian and Aram Khachadurian, employs the majority of the
local residents.
Caption: Armenia President Robert Kocharian, right, with Assembly
Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian.
Caption: L to R: Assembly Country Director for Armenia and NKR Arpi
Vartanian, Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian, Armenia’s
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and Assembly Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny, during their meeting in Yerevan.
Caption: L to R: Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny,
U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Tom Korologos and Assembly Board of
Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian.
Caption: L to R: Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony
Barsamian, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, Assembly Country
Director for Armenia and NKR Arpi Vartanian and Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny.
####

KARABAKH TENNIS PLAYER WINS THE FIFTH PLACE IN THE 39TH INTERNATIONAL
GAMES IN LONDON FOR SPORTSMEN AGED UNDER 15
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 1 2005
STEPANAKERT, August 1. /ARKA/. Karabakh tennis player Anna Adamyan
won the fifth place in the 39th international games in London for
sportsmen aged under 15, held at the initiative of the Olympic
Committee. Representatives of 45 countries of Europe, Asia and
America participated in the competitions. According to the reporter
of ARKA in Stepanakert, Adamyan won the tennis players from GB, Italy,
Philippines, Slovakia, Thailand and lost only to two Chinese players.
In the final round Adamyan was the only representative of Europe. As a
result the sportswoman from Karabakh received a permit to participate
in international games ion Hong-Kong. A.H.-0–

Armenians present Azeri historic exhibits as their own
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
posted on Aug 1 2005
Baku, July 29, AssA-Irada — Hundreds of thousands of exhibits from
26 museums located in the occupied Azerbaijani territories have been
stolen and destroyed by Armenians. A part of the historic exhibits,
totaling 103,380, is presented in Armenia and some of them in a number
of world countries as ‘Armenian art’, said Faig Ismayilov, chairman
of the Organization for Protection of Historic and Cultural Monuments
in Occupied Azerbaijani Territories. “Azeri carpets are currently
exhibited in Frankfurt, Germany under the ‘Armenian carpet-weaving art’
title”, he told an event at the International Press Center.
Ismayilov said that 6,308 Azerbaijani historic monuments are under
state protection. 876 of them are located in Garabagh and adjacent
regions, including 7 sculptural monuments of worldwide importance,
133 of countrywide and 458 of local importance. 10 of these
are archaeological and other types of monuments of international
significance and 268 of nationwide importance. Researchers say that
there are more monuments in Garabagh. Armenian sources indicate that
the total number of Islamic monuments in Garabagh and adjacent areas
is about 100, while that of Armenian monuments – 1,700.*