Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ORINATS YERKIR WILL NOT NOMINATE AND VOTE TO PARLIAMENT POSTS
Lragir.am
02 June 06
On June 1 the former speaker of the National Assembly Arthur
Baghdasaryan made a sudden speech. Sudden because he appeared in the
hall unexpectedly and presented the stance of the Orinats Yerkir
faction on the election of speaker.
Arthur Baghdasaryan says Armenia is going through a stage of
transition because the parliamentary election is coming up. According
to Arthur Baghdasaryan, there are two ways in the current
situation. `The first is that we try to hamper the activities of the
National Assembly. In other words, the National Assembly will not have
a speaker, which will damage the reputation of the Republic of Armenia
in the world. And the second is that we adopt a way which would enable
the National Assembly to have a speaker and to go on working
normally,’ stated the leader of Orinats Yerkir. He says important
international meetings are coming up and it is not expedient to go to
these meetings without a speaker.
Arthur Baghdasaryan endorsed Tigran Torosyan’s candidacy on behalfof
the Orinats Yerkir faction. He said they highly appreciate the human
and professional qualities of Tigran Torosyan whom he especially came
to know over the past three years of office, when Tigran Torosyan was
deputy speaker. Arthur Baghdasaryan announced that Tigran Torosyan is
his friend and one of the few professional members of parliament.
After presenting the stance of the faction, the leader of Orinats
Yerkir left the hall, and only participated in the voting. Arthur
Baghdasaryan announced that Orinats Yerkir will not take part in the
nomination and voting to the vacant parliament posts.

THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL: A PRIMER
Bostonist, MA
May 31 2006
Remember that hubbub a little while ago about the use of substandard
concrete in the Big Dig tunnels? That Big Dig scandal was so five
minutes ago. Today, it’s all about the Rose Kennedy Greenway – the
swath of park that will eventually sit atop the crumbling tunnel and
brighten all of our lives. Specifically, it’s about the memorial to
the victims of the Armenian Genocide, which the state legislature said
in 2000 should be built somewhere (they left it up to the Turnpike
Authority to choose where, and the Pike chose the greenway).
Yesterday, Mayor Menino joined the chorus of public officials
opposed to the memorial on the theory that it’s unfair to have just
one memorial to just one massacred ethnic group, and it would be a
nightmare if every group got a memorial on the greenway (presumably,
all that granite would hasten the tunnel’s collapse).
If you’re like Bostonist, you’re wondering, What’s the big deal,
exactly? There’s a big Holocaust memorial by Faneuil Hall, and there
hasn’t been much problem with that, so why all the fuss now? The
answer, it turns out, is that the Armenian Genocide, like the
Holocaust, has its naysayers, foremost among whom is the government
of Turkey. Perhaps because the Armenian Genocide took place from 1915
to 1922, its deniers have had more success than those who would deny
the Holocaust – the matter is a hot enough topic that the Wikipedia
page on the event is closed to comments. Nevertheless, the consensus
among historians seems to be that the Ottoman Empire really did kill
as many as a million Armenians just because they were Armenians. That
hasn’t stopped a local teacher, with the aide of a Turkish-American
organization, from suing the Massachusetts Department of Education
to require the teaching of the Turkish version of events (i.e., no
massacre, just lots of inadvertent death, and the Armenians aren’t
nice anyway) alongside the more historically accepted version.
You might also ask, Why is all this Armenian wrangling taking place
here in Massachusetts? Well, Watertown has the third-largest Armenian
population in the United States, and Armenian roots and political
influence in the Commonwealth are considerable.
Where is Armenia, you ask? Right there between Turkey, Iran,
Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

AJARIA AUTHORITIES WANT AN ARMENIAN CONSULATE IN THE REGION
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
31/05/2006
A delegation of the Armenian Embassy to Georgia head by ambassador
Hrach Silvanian visited the Autonomous Republic of Ajaria on
May 27-29. The delegation met with authorities of Ajaria and
Batumi. Head of Ajarian government Varshalovidze suggested opening
Armenian consulate in Batumi. The Armenian ambassador welcomed such an
intuitive and promised to discuss the issue with his Foreign Ministry
and to decide the format of representation.
At the meeting the sides discussed various issues connected with
the Armenian community of Ajaria. They also discussed opening of the
tourist season and other issues requiring urgent solution.
The delegation met members of the Armenian community in the Armenian
church, visited the Armenian school and got acquainted with problems
facing the community.
The delegation also took part in celebration of the First Armenian
Republic Day on May 28 organized by the Union of Armenians of Ajaria.

ELECTIONS OF CHAIRMAN STARTED AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
ArmRadio.am
01.06.2006 14:05
Elections of Chairman started today at the National Assembly. Head of
the Republican Party faction Galust Sahakyan suggested NA Vice-Speaker
Tigran Torosyan’s candidacy. Member of the People’s Deputy group
Hahob Hakobyan suggested Galust Sahakyan’s candidacy.
The latter, however, withdrew his candidacy. The Chairman will be
elected through secret ballot.

DEPUTY FM DISCUSSES NAGORNO-KARABAKH WITH OSCE AMBASSADORS
Author: E.Huseynov
TREND, Azerbaijan
June 1 2006
Araz Azimov, deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, received OSCE
mission in Baku. Trend reports with reference to press center of
Foreign Ministry, the mission consists of Spanish ambassador to OSCE
(future representative of organization), as well as ambassadors of
Liechtenstein, Germany and Norway.
At the meeting the parties exchanged opinions within the whole range
of relations between OSCE and Azerbaijan. They paid special attention
to the peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and OSCE’s
role in it.
Officials of press center said this is a traditional practice of
OSCE ambassadors visits to different regions, in particular South
Caucasus. The mission aims at discussing cooperation with the countries
of region, in particular Azerbaijan.

GUL – LIVNI MEETING
Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 30 2006
ANKARA – Turkish and Israeli parties expressed their satisfaction as
regards the meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime
Minister Abdullah Gul and Israeli Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign
Minister Tzipi Livni.
Sources told the A.A on Monday that the meeting focused on the
bilateral relations, Israeli-Arab dispute and regional issues.
Gul informed Livni on Turkey’s EU membership process, Cyprus and
the Armenian issue. Livni also extended Israel’s support to Turkey’s
EU bid.
The parties agreed to increase the trade volume between the two
countries up to 5 billion USD.
The issue of aid to Palestinian people was also high on agenda,
however, parties failed to draw a frame suggested by Turkey.
Hamas’ delegations visit to Ankara in February was not taken up during
the meeting, executives said.

Azerbaijan ‘vandalised’ sacred Armenian sites

The Independent – United Kingdom; May 30, 2006
Stephen Castle in Brussels
Fears that Azerbaijan has systematically destroyed hundreds of
500-year-old Christian artefacts have exploded into a diplomatic row,
after Euro MPs were barred from inspecting an ancient Armenian burial
site.
The predominantly Muslim country’s government has been accused of
“flagrant vandalism” similar to the Taliban’s demolition of the
Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan.
The claims centre on the fate of rare khachkars, stone crosses carved
with intricate floral designs, at the burial ground of Djulfa in the
Nakhichevan region of Azerbaijan, an enclave separated from the rest
of the country by Armenia.
The works – some of the most important examples of Armenian heritage –
are said to have been smashed with sledgehammers last December as the
site was concreted over.
The Azerbaijan government, which denies the claims, is now at the
centre of a row with MEPs, some of whom it accused of a “biased and
hysterical approach”. Its ambassador to the EU also says the European
Parliament has ignored damage to Muslim sites in Armenia. Azerbaijan
refused to allow a delegation of Euro MPs permission to visit the
1,500-year-old Djulfa cemetery during their trip to the region last
month.
Most of the original 10,000 khachkars, most of which date from the
15th and 16th centuries, were destroyed by the early 20th century,
leaving probably fewer than 3,000 by the late 1970s. According to the
International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos), the Azerbaijan
government removed 800 khachkars in 1998. Though the destruction was
halted following protests from Unesco, it resumed four years later. By
January 2003 “the 1,500-year-old cemetery had completely been
flattened,” Icomos says.
Witnesses, quoted in the Armenian press, say the final round of
vandalism was unleashed in December last year by Azerbaijani soldiers
wielding sledgehammers.
The president of Icomos, Michael Petzet, said: “Now that all traces of
this highly important historic site seem to have been extinguished all
we can do is mourn the loss and protest against this totally senseless
destruction.” Some MEPs believe that, boosted by its oil revenues,
Azerbaijan is adopting an increasingly assertive stance in the region.
Charles Tannock, Conservative foreign affairs
spokesman in the European parliament, said: “This is very similar to
the Buddha statues destroyed by the Taliban. They have concreted the
area over and turned it into a military camp. If they have nothing to
hide then we should be allowed to inspect the terrain. It was a major
cultural and heritage site which was revered by the Armenian Christian
community.”
When MEPs passed a critical resolution in February, Azerbaijan’s
Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammad-yarov, made a formal protest. Then,
when the parliament’s delegation for relations with Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia asked to combine a mission to Armenia with a
visit to the Djulfa archaeological site, their request was refused.
The Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly hopes to visit the site
and its secretary general has offered to set up an expert group to
examine cultural sites in Azerbaijan and Armenia. MEPs insist that the
authorities in Azerbaijan should open their doors if they have nothing
to hide.
Hannes Swoboda, an Austrian socialist MEP and member of the committee
barred from examining the site, said he hoped a visit could be
arranged in the autumn. He added: “If they do not allow us to go, we
have a clear hint that some- thing bad has happened. If something is
hidden we want to ask why. It can only be because some of the
allegations are true.”
And he warned: “One of the major elements of any country that wants to
come close to Europe is that the cultural heritage of neighbours is
respected.”

The Messenger, Georgia
May 30 2006
Music is the universal language, especially in the Caucasus
Caucasus Chamber Orchestra to play in Sokhumi, Beslan, along with
Yerevan and Baku
By Tiko Giorgadze
“Mshvidobita Shenita” (“With Peace”), a classical music festival,
will open in early June with the patronage of the First Lady of
Georgia, Sandra Roelofs and the support of the U.S., Italian, and
German Embassies.
At a May 25 press conference, director of the Caucasus Chamber
Orchestra, Uwe Berkemer, announced that the orchestra, which is
comprised of Georgian, Russian and Armenian musicians, will perform
June 3-8 in the main hall of the Tbilisi Conservatory.
“Music is a universal language. Everybody in the world understands
that people can communicate through music,” Berkemer told The
Messenger.
He also noted that their main goal is: “to make good music and
promote Caucasian music throughout the Caucasus. Another important
aim is to transport the message of peace all over the world, because
I think if people see how Caucasus people can work together without
fighting, then the orchestra can be regarded as a symbol of stability
in the Caucasus.”
Uwe Berkemer created the new chamber orchestra last year, and its
first festival was held in Batumi in 2005. Now the Caucasus Chamber
Orchestra is planning festivals in Tbilisi, Sokhumi, Azerbaijan, and
Armenia and other Caucasus regions.
“I think it’s definitely a good and interesting idea since music is
really a global language – nobody can argue with that. The fact that
the music of the Caucasus is being used as a sort of initial symbol
of peace – like a dove – is also really important,” explained
Minister of Culture, Goka Gabashvili.
He expressed his gratitude towards the First Lady of Georgia, the
embassies that are supporting the festival and the director of the
orchestra Uwe Berkemer, who he said “is not originally from the
Caucasus but can see the importance of Caucasus music for
establishing peace in the region,” Gabashvili said.
The First Lady believes it is truly a great initiative that will help
the Caucasus people establish peace and friendly relations with each
other.
“The orchestra is going to visit Beslan and Sokhumi where the people
are expecting them with great interest because concerts and the
cultural life are not as developed in there like in Tbilisi.” Sandra
Roelofs told the journalists.
“Our desire is to present this music to all the Caucasus and assure
people that in this way we are able to achieve cooperation, tolerance
and friendship,” the First Lady added.

PRESSING KOCHARYAN, PERSUADING ALIEV
Lragir.am
30 May 06
The leader of the Democratic Party Aram Sargsyan thinks home political
developments in Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh issue have been
interconnected since 1988. Aram Sargsyan told news reporters on May 30
that people are not tired with Karabakh, and the government of
Karabakh is conducting a correct policy, there are simply a group of
people, `natives of Karabakh, natives of Aparan, natives of Lori,
etc,’ which cannot be generalized, however.
Aram Sargsyan thinks that much depends on the American pressure on
Kocharyan during the Kocharyan-Aliyev meeting in early June. `I do
not know whether Mr. Kocharyan will get over it.’ And, in fact, there
is pressure because `Bush has not given up its adventurous plans on
Iran.’ And in case Kocharyan fails to stand pressure, Aram Sargsyan
proposes him to resign, `to have time and find a pro-Armenian
settlement of the problem.’ But this is not the case when ` I would be
happy if Kocharyan made a mistake.’
Aram Sargsyan says while they are pressing Kocharyan, they are
cajoling and persuading Aliyev. `Because there is Baku-Geihan, because
their territory was chosen as a possible weapon emplacement, because
while Armenia’s strategic partner is Russia, Azerbaijan is still
floating. And they may press Kocharyan threatening that his file could
be declassified.’
This is not our tragedy, however. At least, this is not the key
thing. =80=9CWe lack a foreign political line, we are not aware of our
place and role.
Therefore, one says Europe, the other says America, yet the third says
another thing. ‘

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
May 30, 2006
___________________
GRADUATION PROGRAM SET FOR JUNE 10
For the past six years they have focused on learning the Armenian language,
faith, culture, and traditions through the Khrimian Lyceum, the Eastern
Diocese’s educational program for local Armenian School graduates. On June
10, six Khrimian students will graduate, with five more marking the
completion of the first half of the six-year program.
Students in the program meet monthly for regular classes and guest lectures
from experts in a variety of fields. Along with the program held at the
Diocesan Center in New York, a Khrimian Lyceum was also recently started in
the Boston area.
WRAPPING UP A SUCCESSFUL YEAR
The last few sessions of the New York area Khrimian Lyceum have been filled
with special speakers. Parents and other guests were invited to join the
young scholars for a symposium on April 8, 2006.
“We wanted to give students a deeper understanding of the different
disciplines of our culture,” said Gilda Buchakjian-Kupelian, coordinator of
Armenian studies for the Diocese. “Plus, we wanted to expose them to
contemporary events and thinking, to see a little of the possible future for
our people.”
Using a slide show of his work, Harry Koundakjian, a photographer and
coordinator of the Middle East archives for the Associated Press, spoke
about the disasters, wars, and landmark events — including the inclusion of
the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations — that he has covered in his
career. He was followed by freelance reporter Florence Avakian, who used
her life story to encourage the students to follow their dreams in choosing
a career path.
Armenian architectural expert Kevork Khrimian spoke about the cultural and
historic aspects that shaped Armenian architecture, particularly its great
churches. Actress and playwright Nora Armani spoke about the Armenian
stage, particularly the two key centers of Armenian theater in the 19th
century: Tbilisi, Georgia, and Istanbul.
THOUGHTS FROM AN ALUMNA
During their May class, before taking their final exams, the Khrimian Lyceum
students heard from a successful alumna, Ani Nalbandian, who spoke about her
self-published book “Polis: A Way of Life.”
She spoke about how the lessons she learned at the Khrimian Lyceum helped
strengthen her identity.
GRADUATION
Six students will graduate this year during a ceremony at New York City’s
St. Vartan Cathedral at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 10. Five others will go
through the azkatroshn ceremony marking the completion of half the program.
During that ceremony, each student will be joined by sponsors who pledge to
support them in their education.
For more information on next year’s program and how to register your
children, contact Gilda Buchakjian-Kupelian by e-mailing
[email protected] or calling (212) 686-0710 ext. 48.
— 5/30/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Photo-journalist Harry Koundakjian presents a photo of
the rising of the Republic of Armenia’s flag at the United Nations to
students at the Khrimian Lyceum symposium at the Eastern Diocesan Center on
April 8, 2006.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Journalist Florence Avakian with the young students at
the Diocesan Khrimian Lyceum.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): Kevork Khrimian speaks about Armenian architecture
during the Khrimian Lyceum symposium on April 8, 2006.
PHOTO CAPTION (4): Students in the Diocesan Khrimian Lyceum program listen
to Nora Armani speak about Armenian theatrical traditions.
PHOTO CAPTION (5): Khrimian Lyceum graduate Ani Nalbandian speaks about the
power of young people during the last day of class for the 2005/2006 school
year.