Author: Harutyunian Christine

UN genocide exhibit dismantled after Turkey complains – International Herald

The International Herald Tribune
April 10, 2007
By Warren Hoge

UNITED NATIONS, New York: The United Nations dismantled an exhibit on the
Rwandan genocide and postponed its scheduled opening by the UN secretary
general, Ban Ki Moon, after the Turkish mission objected to references to
the Armenian genocide in Turkey at the time of World War I.
The panels of graphics, photos and statements had been installed in the
visitors lobby Thursday by the Aegis Trust, of Britain.
The trust campaigns for the prevention of genocide and runs a center in
Kigali, the Rwandan capital, memorializing the 500,000 victims of the
massacres there 13 years ago.
Hours after the show was assembled, however, a Turkish diplomat spotted
offending words in a section entitled "What is genocide?" and raised
objections.
The passage said that "following World War I, during which one million
Armenians were murdered in Turkey," Raphael Lemkin, a Polish lawyer credited
with coining the word genocide, "urged the League of Nations to recognize
crimes of barbarity as international crimes."

James Smith, the chief executive of Aegis, said he was told by the UN on
Saturday that the sentence would have to be eliminated or the exhibition
would be struck.
Armen Martirosyan, the Armenian ambassador to the UN, said he sought out
Kiyotaka Akasaka, the UN under secretary general for public information, and
thought he had reached an agreement to let the show go forward by omitting
the words "in Turkey."
But Akasaka said, "That was his suggestion, and I agreed only to take it
into account in finding the final wording."
Baki Ilkin, the Turkish ambassador to the UN, said, "We just expressed our
discomfort over the text’s making references to the Armenian issue and
drawing parallels with the genocide in Rwanda."
There were widespread killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks during several
years beginning in 1915 in which an estimated 1.5 million died, but Turkey
has always vehemently rejected claims of genocide.
Smith said he was "very disappointed because this was supposed to talk about
the lessons drawn from Rwanda and point up that what is happening in Darfur
is the cost of inaction."

CATHOLICOS BLESSES THE RA GOVERNMENT

A1+
[07:02 pm] 09 April, 2007

April 9 – Today All-Armenian Catholicos Garegin II visited RA Prime
Minister Serge Sargsyan. His Holiness Garegin II started his meeting
with the congratulations and blessings of Mother See of St. Echmiadzin
and voiced hope that Serge Sargsyan will do his utmost to serve to
the interests of the Armenian people and the country.

All-Armenian Catholicos wished the RA Prime Minister health and
success in his further initiatives.

RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan thanked Garegin II for the blessings
and wishes and assured that the RA Government will continue
strengthening church-state relations and serve the interests of
the Armenians.

PRESS RELEASE
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Buiding 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Lusine Mnatsakanyan
Tel: 3741 56 0106
Fax: 3741 52 15 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.himnadram. org

06.04.2007

The Three Best will Get the Prize

Life is short, art is eternal…
The April 5th exhibition at the center of innovative and experimental art
(NPAK) served a taste of eternal art, displaying the works of the semi
finalists of the President of the Republic Youth Prize in the Fine Arts and
Film nomination.
The President of the Republic Prize was established 3 years ago by
initiative of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund and the sponsorship of the
Robert Boghossian & Sons Fund. The nominations are `Fine Arts & Film’ and
`Literature’, and beginning from 2005, a nomination for the best `Classical
Music’ was added. The Prize is to evaluate and encourage young Armenian
artists and promote their further advancement.
The `Fine Arts & Film’ nomination includes painting, sculpture, graphic
arts, tapestry, ceramics, photography, design, etc. Each year, the President
of the Republic gives away 3 prizes in this category, each including a
monetary award of $2500, a certificate and a medal.
Seyranoush Manoukian, a member of the panel of judges says, `The most
important thing is that year after year, quantitatively and qualitatively
the participants are growing. In a wider chose, the best catch the eye more
easily. Besides, for the winners, this Prize is a good financial and
spiritual inspiration for newer creations.’
This year of the 46 applicants, 28 made it to the final stage. Of the 28
finalists, 5 presented films, there were 2 collections of clothes, and
21artists contested with their paintings and photographs.
`Competition is quite acute. I can see there are very good paintings. I’m
not sure if my landscapes will win’ says one of the participants, a student
of the Panos Terlemezian Fine Arts academy Gayane Khachatrian.
`Of course, I would like to be amongst the winners; however participation is
already victory of a kind. If my paintings made it to the semi finals and
even if they are not chosen to be the best, at least, this means they are
good enough’, says a student of the Yerevan Arts Academy Knarik Harutiunian.

One of last year prize winners Hripsime Davtian admitted that the Prize has
not only been an assessment of victory for her, but has obliged her to paint
more and better. `I need to remain worthy of the Prize I received’ says
Hripsime. It has to be said that Arthur Hovannisian’s works who is also a
last year laureate, were recently displayed in one of the best galleries in
Moscow and received high praise.
While this year’s participants are still excited and full of hope awaiting
the evaluations of their creations; creations which are the embodiment of
their unique perception of the world, their taste, and boldness of youth,
creations which will be evaluated and selected by the commission of highly
competent specialists.
The Commission has already made its selection, but the names of the winners
will be announced only after the decision has been approved by the President
of Armenia.
The 3 prizes will surely go to the best 3 creations, to artists whose work
is most in the spirit of eternal art.

PR Department

* Please, indicate the source.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN AND VLADIMIR RUSHAYLO DISCUSS ISSUES RELATED TO OBSERVATION OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 05 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 5, RA President Robert
Kocharian received CIS Executive Secretary, head of CIS observation
mission at Armenian parliamentary elections Vladimir Rushaylo.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan from RA President’s
Press Office, they discussed issues related to observation of
elections’ preparatory stage and the electoral process at the meeting.

They also touched upon the events to be held in the future within
the framework of CIS and their agenda.

ARMENIA’S FOREIGN DEBT GROWS BY $192.49 MLN TO $2.05 BLN IN 2006

RIA Novosti, Russia
April 3 2007

YEREVAN, April 3 (RIA Novosti) – Armenia’s foreign debt increased by
$192.49 million to $2.05 billion in 2006, the country’s top statistics
body said Tuesday.

Armenia’s National Statistics Service said the Armenian government’s
foreign debt was $1.02 billion, the private sector’s liabilities
stood at $390.19 million, the debt of monetary authorities amounted
to $185.76 million, commercial banks owed $211.01 million and foreign
direct investment in the form of loans totaled $244.44 million.

Long-term liabilities accounted for the largest part of Armenia’s
foreign debt ($1.45 billion or 70.60%), the statistics service said.

Armenia’s international assets increased by $307.06 million in 2006,
to $1.39 billion as of January 1, 2007, the statistics service said.

Panorama.am

18:44 31/03/2007

POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE ONE TV HOUR IN 30 DAYS TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE

Central Electoral Committee made a decision which says that starting
from April 4, 1 hour free TV air will be divided in 30 days prescribed
for the election campaign, Aram Sargsyan, leader of the Armenian
Democratic Party, said today.

`We will have 2 minutes per day. We will be deprived of our
opportunity to speak to people since we cannot say much during those
two minutes,’ he voiced his anger. In his words, `Political parties
should have had the authority to decide themselves how to use that one
hour.’

Source: Panorama.am

e?AID=/20070331/NEWS/703310334&SearchID=732766 32053272

Mar 31, 2007

Cabbie says he was stiffed on fare from Calif. to N.C.

Chapel Hill

A taxi driver told police he was stiffed on an $8,200 cross-country
fare by a female passenger he shuttled from Beverly Hills, Calif. to
North Carolina.

The meter in Levon Mikayelyan’s taxi cab hit the staggering fare after
a 2,600-mile journey that ended at a Holiday Inn in Chapel Hill.

Mikayelyan said the rider’s family paid him only $800, Chapel Hill
police spokeswoman Jane Cousins said Friday.

"We do get reports of people who are not able to pay cab drivers, but
certainly not with this amount," Cousins said.

Mikayelyan filed a police report Tuesday but no charges have been
filed. Cousins said police were done with the case and referred
Mikayelyan to a magistrate judge.

Leo Mika, a dispatcher for West Coast Yellow Cab, said Friday that the
company has been paid another $2,000 toward the fare and plans to get
the rest through small claims court. Mikayelyan agreed to give the
woman a 25 percent discount off the metered rate, Mika said.

"She told him, ‘When we get there we’ll pay you,’ but when he got
there she didn’t pay," Mika said, adding that it was the first time
one of the company’s taxi drivers had made such a long trip.

Mikayelyan was driving back to California on Friday, Mika said.

The company is based outside Los Angeles in Van Nuys, Calif.

US SENATE COMMITTEE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE ‘ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 29 2007

US Senate International Affairs Committee passed a decision condemning
Armenian journalist Hrant Dink’s assassination in Turkey, APA US
bureau reports.

The preliminary variant of the draft drawn up by the committee chief,
Democrat senator Joseph Biden was changed. The sentence "Mr. Dink
underwent pursuit on Article 301 of Turkish Criminal Code, as he
spoke about Armenian genocide" caused Ankara’s protest.

Taking into account protest, Republican Richard Lugar managed to
change the sentence as the following: "Legal measures were taken about
Mr. Dink, as he regarded the events happened in 1915 as genocide".

The decision demands uncovering the crime, bringing the offenders to
court, abolishing Article 301 and Ankara is called on to establish
diplomatic relations with Yerevan.

The draft affirmed by International Affairs Committee will also be
debated in the general assembly of the Senate. Even if the Senate
confirms it, its implementation will not be compulsory for the US
government.

CONGRESSMAN PETER ROSKAM JOINS THE ARMENIAN CAUCUS

Armradio.am
29.03.2007 13:35

Congressman Peter Roskam from Illinois joined the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues, (R-IL). "Armenians have a rich heritage in
America," said Congressman Roskam. "I look forward to working with
my constituents of Armenian descent," reports the Armenian National
Committee of America.

Members of the ANC of Illinois met with Congressman Roskam in the
district to discuss issues of importance to the Armenian community,
including current legislation H. Res 106, in recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. Ari Killian, Chairman of the ANC of Illinois thanked
the Congressman for joining the Caucus. "We welcome Congressman
Roskam’s membership in the Armenian Caucus and looking forward to
working with him on issues relevant to our community."

Beginning his political career in 1993 by serving in the Illinois
House of Representatives, and later serving in the Illinois Senate as
Republican Whip and Floor Leader, Roskam was elected to Congress in
2006. While serving as a State Senator, Roskam, along with 46 Senate
members voted to enact HB0312.

This legislation mandates that the study of Genocide including
the atrocities in Armenia, Ukraine, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and
Sudan. Governor Blagojevich signed the bill into law in August 2005,
joining Illinois to a dozen states, including the teaching of the
tragic history of genocide.

UNESCO MAKES MORE EFFORTS TO SEND MISSION TO NAGORNO KARABAKH

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 28 2007

UNESCO is making more efforts to negotiate with the Azerbaijani and
Armenian governments to send a mission to the occupied Azerbaijani
territories, UNESCO’s office in Paris told the APA.

The sides have not agreed on the exact date of the visit, composition
of the mission and places to be monitored, as there is divergence
between the Azerbaijani and Armenian governments.