Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Armenian National Committee of Australia
259 Penshurst Street, Willoughby NSW 2068
PO Box 768, Willoughby NSW 2068
T: (02) 9419 8264 | F: (02) 9411 8898
E: [email protected] | W:

PRESS RELEASE

{CONTACT: Haig Kayserian (Communications Officer) ~ 0403 317 903 ~
[email protected]}

PROF. BALAKIAN ADDRESSES SYDNEY ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION

SYDNEY: New York Times Bestselling Author, Professor Peter Balakian joined
political figures, and representatives and members of Sydney’s Armenian
community in commemorating the 93rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on
Sunday evening.

Balakian, Rebar Professor of the Humanities at Colgate University and
Raphael Lemkin Prize-winning author of The Burning Tigris: The Armenian
Genocide and America’s Response (2003), exposed the 1,000 attendees to
research identifying the Armenian Genocide as the ‘template’ used by Adolf
Hitler for the Jewish Holocaust, as well as other ‘modern’ genocides.

"To understand the Jewish Holocaust, to understand the Cambodian Genocide,
to understand Darfur; we must first of all understand their template of
genocide in the modern period, the Armenian Genocide," said Prof. Balakian.

Balakian’s address highlighted the need for worldwide recognition and
condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.

"Professor Balakian has brought great exposure to the Armenian cause
worldwide and he is now continuing this in Australia," said Mr. Varant
Meguerditchian of the organising Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee.
"The research he presented tonight shows why recognising and condemning acts
of Genocide remains an important human rights priority."

Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Australia and New Zealand,
Archbishop Aghan Baliozian led a long list of dignitaries who attended the
event held at the UTS Greenhalgh Theatre.

The Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Kevin Rudd MP was
represented, as was the Leader of the Federal Opposition, Dr. Brendan
Nelson. Also represented were the Premier of New South Wales, the Honourable
Morris Iemma and the Leader of the Opposition of New South Wales, Mr. Barry
O’Farrell MP.

Excerpts of Key Political Statements – 20 April, 2008

"On the occasion of this solemn anniversary, I reaffirm the commitment of
the Australian Government to ensuring a future where such events could not
happen again."
– The Hon. Kevin Rudd MP
Prime Minister of Australia

"We share this outrage with you regarding one of the greatest horrors of
human society. It is simple historical fact that 1.5million Armenians were
massacred by Ottoman Turkey in the Armenian Genocide."
– The Hon. Dr. Brendan Nelson MP
Leader of the Opposition

"It is fitting that the Australian community joins with you on this day to
acknowledge the debt owed to those who died in the genocide, to commemorate
their lives and to celebrate your enduring culture and people."
– The Hon. Ms Maxine McKew MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education & Child Care

"No Armenian family escaped being touched by the genocide. That is why, for
me, having the opportunity to visit the Armenian Genocide Monument in
Yerevan two years ago was one of the most emotional experiences of my public
life."
– The Hon. Joe Hockey MP
Shadow Minister for Health & Ageing

"The Armenian Genocide was an attempt to exterminate an entire race. You
come together today to say ‘you failed’."
– The Hon. Bronwyn Bishop MP
Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

"You have a strong friend in the Federal Coalition and tonight on this most
important night of remembrance for the Armenian community we reaffirm our
strong commitment to the Armenian community."
– Senator the Hon. Chris Ellison
Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship

"It is a day commemorating tremendous suffering by your people, and an
undeniable fact which is noted by New South Wales marking the 24th of April
each year as a ‘Day of Remembrance’ for the victims of the Armenian
Genocide. Lest we forget."
– The Hon. Morris Iemma MP
Premier of New South Wales

"On April 25, all Australians will commemorate Anzac Day by uttering the
words ‘Lest we forget’. ‘Lest we forget’ the Anzacs of 1915, and ‘Lest we
forget’ the victims of the Armenian Genocide’."
– Mr. Chris Hartcher MP
Shadow Minister for Housing representing Leader of NSW Opposition, Mr. Barry
O’Farrell MP

CHURCH SHOULD REMAIN ONE OF STRONGHOLDS OF ARMENIAN SPIRIT AND NATIONAL IDENTITY, RA PRESIDENT SAYS

Noyan Tapan
April 21, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN. Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II
and Catholicos of the Great Cilician House Aram A visited RA President
Serge Sargsian on April 21. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA
President’s Press Office, mentioning that due to the circumstances
he was not able to take part in the inauguration ceremony of the
newly elected President, Catholicos Aram A said that he has arrived
in Armenia to personally congratulate S. Sargsian and to express his
support to him.

According to S. Sargsian, having support of two Catholicoses, he can
do much and achieve great results. He highly evaluated church’s role
in the life of the Armenian people and said that under conditions
of 1000-year lack of statehood the church assumed some functions
of statehood, preservation of the Armenian nation and bore it with
honor. Emphasizing that henceforth the state will continue supporting
strengthening of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the head of state
said that the national church should remain one of the strongholds
of Armenian spirit and national identity.

GALA closure damages Armenia’s image
by Nune Arevshatyan

Aravot, Armenia
April 19 2008

US Charge D’affaires Joseph Pennington, on a two-day visit to
[Armenia’s second city of] Gyumri, has strongly criticised the
persecution of the TV company [independent GALA TV] as well as the
post-election developments in Armenia.

Although the diplomat was in Gyumri to familiarize himself with the
city, it was clear that his visit was connected with the scandal in
the second largest city of the republic – the suspension of GALA TV
broadcasts. Immediately after the Armenian Court of Appeals on Civil
Cases ruled that the TV tower should be taken from the independent news
channel, GALA TV was taken off the air for 20 hours on 17 April, and
that made a lot of fuss in Gyumri. Pennington visited the TV station
and found out some things, after which, he made warning hints to the
newly-elected authorities of Armenia.

Speaking at the Asparez Club of Journalists in Gyumri the day before,
Pennington reminded the [Armenian] authorities – who have shifted from
democracy – of the essential conditions of the Millennium Challenge
Account. Then he spoke about the people detained for their political
views and the illegalities taking place in Armenian courts these days.

"We think that there are two groups of detained people: people who
were detained for violence, theft, looting and for provoking riots –
they should be criminally prosecuted, and this is the obligation of the
authorities. But I also think that there are people who were detained
because of their views, opinions, for participating in rallies and
marches. We think that such detentions are not in line with democratic
standards. The problems that have emerged in Armenia should be resolved
in Armenia, and the international community and the USA have little,
certain role in terms of encouraging the authorities to take steps
necessary for ensuring human rights and basic liberties. If they do not
take place, our relations cannot be continued. We hope that Armenia
will settle these issues, and the USA, as part of the international
community, will clearly point to where the key difficulties are. We
will offer our assistance, such as freedom of press, rule of law,
but I repeat that the assistance could be effective only if the
government wants a democratic path. We wish success to the country’s
leadership, we are ready to help, but there should be the political
will, determination towards democratic development," Pennington said
in a half-mentoring and demanding way.

When we asked what his impression of the trials was, Pennington said:
"Yes, we have participated in the trials and are concerned that in some
cases, the law is applied arbitrarily. In other words, they are used
against people on the other side of the political field. The rule of
law, is of course, a basic provision for democracy. What matters most
of all is that all citizens in Armenia and the USA have the confidence
that they will be treated equally in court." As for GALA, he said: "The
fact that GALA’s problems began after the views of some politicians
were aired raises suspicions that the problem is in the political
field, not in the tax field. But this, of course, harms Armenia’s
image, its path to democracy. All the people who made donations to
the TV station showed that a TV station like GALA is needed."

ROUSSE RECOGNIZES TURKISH GENOCIDE OVER ARMENIANS AND BULGARIANS
Olga Yoncheva

international.news.bg
April 17 2008
Bulgaria

The municipal council of the town of Rousse, Bulgaria adopted
Declaration for recognition and condemnation of the genocide done by
the Ottoman empire and the young Turkish government against Armenians
and Bulgarians.

With the adoption of this Declaration, the municipal councilors proved
their responsibility and compassion to the universal human values
and showed civil conscience and ethics, inform from political party
"Ataka" which initiated the adoption of the declaration.

The nationalist party expressed its hopes for a mass adoption of
such declarations by the municipal councils with this being a kind
of referendum, which the government and the parliament to take into
consideration.

To remind that in the end of February identical declaration was
adopted by the town of Bourgas. This let to the harsh reaction of
the Turkish town of Edirne, which canceled all relations with the
Bulgarian sea town.

DAVID HARUTYUNYAN: PACE REPORT WAS

armradio.am
17.04.2008 18:07

During its plenary session the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe (PACE) adopted a report on "The state of democratic institutions
in Armenia" with 93 pro, 8 con votes and 8 abstentions.

The report co-authored by members of the PACE Monitoring Committee John
Prescott and Georges Colombier, urges Armenia to undertake reforms of
the political system and of the electoral process, hold an independent,
transparent and trustworthy investigation into cases of the events of
March 1, urgently change the recent amendments to the Law Conducting
Meetings, Rallies, Marches and Demonstrations.

Head of the Armenian delegation to PACE David Harutyunyan characterized
the report as "harsh but balanced." "It was balanced in the regard that
it reflects the views of our partners, the honest opinion about the
events in Armenia, as will as their views on the state of democratic
institutions. The document should become a serious practical program
for Armenia, and if we compare it with the memorandum of the political
coalition, we shall see that there are many similarities. Many issues
prioritized by the document are included in the memorandum of the
political coalition," David Harutyunyan noted.

However, according to the Head of the Armenian delegation, the problem
is that all this should not remain on paper only, but become a serious
program of actions. Armenia should make serious steps, since during
its session in June PACE will give an assessment to the process of
implementation of these steps.

David Harutyunyan informed that the Armenian delegation has submitted
36 proposals. In his words, these did not pursue the aim to soften or
conceal the realities or evaluations, "We proposed to eliminate the
provisions which are disputable or do not correspond to reality. Most
of the suggestions were accepted," he noted.

As for the active participation of the Azerbaijani delegation in
the discussions, David Harutyunyan noted that the Azeri side uses
every opportunity, trying to strike a blow to Armenia. "It means that
Armenia should not create such opportunities, and second, we must not
be afraid of those attacks: we are discussing an issue, which is fist
of all necessary to us, and not the Council of Europe. Therefore, not
concerned about possible attacks, we did not even make a step to soften
the objective assessments," the Head of the Armenian delegation said.

JOHN PRESCOTT: "RESOLUTION WILL ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS"
Karine Asatrian

A1+
16 April, 2008

"PACE discussions due on April 17 will give answers to many questions,"
Co-rapporteur of the PACE report on "The Functioning of Democratic
Institutions in Armenia," John Prescott told A1+.

John Prescott says the picture is not distinct as "one of the sides
accuses while the other justifies." And yet, he thinks the discussion
of the draft resolution will answer all questions.

The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia confirmed and
publicized the election outcome. I have no right to interfere with
this decision," he says.

John Prescott says a lot of changes should be made with regard to
the Electoral Code, vote count and tabulation procedures.

"The tragic events of March are a serious concern for Armenia,"
says John Prescott. "The authorities should first take steps to
regain public confidence. Prescott highlights a dialogue between the
conflicting sizes – the opposition and authorities. In democratic
countries oppositionists raise questions in parliaments while in
Armenia the opposition had no other option than to take its case to
the streets."

Note, the report underscores that the crisis in the country is also
resulted by malfunctioning of the National Assembly.

PACE VICE PRESIDENT DELIVERS CRITICAL REPORT ON SITUATION IN ARMENIA

Trend News Agency
April 15 2008
Azerbaijan

France, Strasburg, 15 April / Trend News corr. A.Maharramli / The
results of the supervision of presidential elections in Armenia,
Russia and Serbia were discussed within the framework of the PACE
spring session.

Samad Seyidov, PACE Vice President and Head of Azerbaijani delegation
to PACE, delivered a critical report on the situation in Armenia.

"The report stated that the elections in the country were held by
observing the norms and standards of the Council of Europe. Since
when does the murder and arrest of people including four MPs, be
considered the norms and standards of Council of Europe? Is this a
new standard?" Seyidov stated.

He noted that there is a dictatorial regime in Armenia. "Similar
developments took place in Georgia during the Soviet authoritarian
regime. Perhaps Armenia chose to act the same way. We would like to
clear up what occurred in Armenia," Seyidov stated.

According to Seyidov, the report stated that during the recent
developments in Armenia 8 people died and 20 others died in hospital
the next day. "Why does no-one say anything against the developments in
Armenia? Why does the world, which immediately reacted to the murder of
several people in Tibet, close their eyes to the situation that took
place in Armenia? We should inform the world about the developments
in Armenia," PACE Vice President stated.

For this purposes Seyidov proposed that urgent discussions be held.

SPECIAL COURSES TO BE CONDUCTED FOR ARMENIAN THEATER MANAGERS BY CAMBRIDGE SEPACIALISTS

Noyan Tapan
April 11, 2008

CAMBRIDGE, APRIL 11, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The
Cambridge-Yerevan Sister City Association (CYSCA) has received a grant
funded by the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) for training of 10 theater managers from Armenia under the
U. S. government Community Connections program. The representatives
of the association will visit the area from June 12 to July 3 for a
three-week training program aimed at improving theater management
in Armenia. Included in the group will be theater directors,
administrators, producers, art directors, educators, playwrights,
fund raisers, public relations and marketing specialists and others.

KARABAKH’S FOREIGN TRADE UP IN 2007

Mediamax
April 10 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 10 April: Foreign trade of the [unrecognized] republic
of Nagornyy Karabakh [NKR] amounted to 277,393,000dollars in 2007,
having exceeded the 2006 indicator by 75 per cent.

Export totalled 72,549,000 dollars (up by 60 per cent), and import
204,843,000 dollars (up by 81 per cent), theNKR’s national statistics
service told Mediamax news agency.

Trade deficit grew by 95 per cent compared to 2006 and amounted to
132,293,000 dollars.

In 2005 the NKR’s foreign trade with CIS countries amounted to
260,894,000 dollars, or 94.1 per cent of itstrade turnover. A total
of 257,735,000 dollars, or 92.9 per cent, of this amount falls to
the share of Armenia.

KAREKIN II SENDS HIS BLESSINGS TO NEW PRIME MINISTER

ARMENPRESS
April 11, 2008

ETCHMIADZIN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS: Head of the Armenian Church,
Catholicos Karekin II, congratulated Tigran Sarkisian on taking over
as prime minister sending his blessings to him from the Holy Mother
See of Etchmiadzin, the government press office said.

His Holiness’s congratulatory message commends Tigran Sarkisian’s
contribution to organization and development of Armenia’s economic
life as head of the Central Bank.

Karekin II says also he recognizes Tigran Sarkisian as a devoted
Christian and a true son of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

He says all believe that he will exploit his capacities to take the
country along the road of progress and well-being.