Author: Kalantarian Kevo

A1+

CONFESSION OR ABSOLUTION WITH A DELAY OF THREE YEARS

[06:54 pm] 14 April, 2006

Today, three years after the 2003 Presidential
elections, Spartak Eghiazaryan, head of the Aragatsotn
region Oshakan village Local Electoral Committee
N0430, made a startling revelation. He had turned to
secretary of the National Unity faction Alexan
Karapetyan who had brought him to the NA.

He confessed that three elections in a row he did what
he was told by the authorities and fabricated the
results of the elections. In particular, during the
Presidential election they declared that 60% of the
votes were for Kocharyan, whereas in fact Kocharyan
had gathered only 12% of the votes. He was only in the
third place after Demirchyan and Geghamyan. Ad during
the Constitutional referendum, according to Spartak
Eghiazaryan, only 60 people has voted, with 30 votes
for the draft, 22 against, and 8 invalid ballots. But
they represented 1649 ballots.

Spartak Eghiazaryan confessed that he accepts his
fault and is ready to take punishment, but he also
said that he did what he did for fear, `I have two
children who are students. I feared fro them,’
Eghiazaryan confessed and informed that he has
informed all the possible instances about his crime:
the Prosecutor, the President and the Defense
Minister.

`But what can the Prosecutor do? If he devotes his
time to this kind of thinks, who will organize the
tree planting?’ said Viktor Dallakyan, secretary of
the Justice faction.

Levon Lazarian, head of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation faction, noted that the NA is not a church
where he can be given absolution; there are
corresponding structures for it which must investigate
the case, and the court must take into account the
sincere confession and give a mild punishment.

By the way, Spartak Eghiazaryan promised the
journalists to tell more interesting things. Asked a
question if he is not afraid now, he answered, `You
can’t live with fear in your heart all your life.’

THE AUTHORITES OF NK RELEASED A LETTER TO CONDOLEEZZA RICE

A1+
[08:44 pm] 13 April, 2006

The NK Foreign Minister Georgi Petrosyan and the NK Police Chief Armen
Isagulov released a joint letter to the USA State Vice – Secretary and
the Chief of the USA State Secretary Bureau combating drug transfers.

The concern of the NK authorities was determined by the review on the
international strategic control on drugs in which it was mentioned that
Nagorno – Karabakh is a transit area for sedative drugs transfers. By
the way, there was no mention of Kharabakh in the reviews of the
previous years.

“We disagree with the fact that unverified data are used in the
review. It is evident that using unwarranted accusations Azerbaijan
hopes that international society will view Kharabakh as a territory
without control which is beyond the law,” the following was said
in the letter. “On this score we assure you that Nagorno – Karabakh
is not a transit area and this is not determined by the absence of
road – communication net because of the constant blockade but by the
preventive measures taken by the NK legislative bodies.”

In their letter the NK authorities expressed their readiness to receive
expert observation group in NK that will give a just assessment after
the survey. “In this way all the concerns connected with the matter
will vanish. Otherwise the concerns may complicate the peaceful
settlement of the conflict and prevent the prospect of establishing
stability and peace.”

By the way, the copy of the letter was also sent to Condoleezza Rise,
the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chair Steven Mann and the Drug Regulating
National Service Chief John Walters.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee
of Illinois
1701 North Greenwood Road
Glenview, IL 60026
Contact: Greg Bedian
Tel: 917 428 1918
Fax: 718 651 3637
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Community Groups Urge WTTW to Drop Program Featuring Genocide Deniers

Chicago, IL – A group of organizations involved in raising genocide
awareness have joined together to urge Chicago PBS affiliate WTTW Channel 11
to drop a program featuring two renowned genocide deniers scheduled to be
broadcast on Monday, April 17 at 11:00 pm.

The program, entitled `Armenian Genocide: Exploring the Issues,’ is intended
as a follow-on program to a documentary film directed by Andrew Goldberg
entitled `The Armenian Genocide,’ which will be broadcast at 10:00 pm the
same evening. Hosted and moderated by Scott Simon, `Armenian Genocide:
Exploring the Issues’ is in the form of a panel discussion where noted
Turkish historian Taner Akcam and award-winning author Peter Balakian engage
in a debate with genocide deniers Justin McCarthy and Omer Turan.

In a letter addressed to WTTW’s Director of Broadcasting Dan Soles, the
groups stated, `By airing the panel discussion, WTTW would do a great
disservice to its viewers by providing genocide deniers with a platform to
promote their views, allowing them to engage in the final stage of genocide,
or what Elie Wiesel has called `double killing,’ the murder of the memory of
the crime.’

The groups also objected to the program’s debate format because it affords
the same scholarly authority to genocide deniers as it does to legitimate
historians. `No matter how strong the rebuttal, in the absence of
appropriate context viewers who are unfamiliar with this period of history
may be inclined to wrongly believe that the Armenian genocide is the subject
of serious and genuine historical debate, casting doubt as to whether 1.5
million Armenians were really murdered,’ the letter stated.

Although the Goldberg documentary is being broadcast nationwide, PBS
affiliates in nearly every major market, including New York, Los Angeles,
Boston, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Miami, San Francisco, Detroit and St.
Louis, have chosen not to broadcast the `Armenian Genocide: Exploring the
Issues’ program.

The organizations which authored the letter reflect of broad spectrum of
Chicago’s ethnic communities which have been affected by genocide in the
past as well as groups engaged in trying to end the current genocide in
Darfur. They include the Armenian National Committee of Illinois, the
Assyrian Community of Illinois, the Cambodian Association of Illinois, the
Chicago Alliance to End Genocide, the Genocide Education Network of
Illinois, the Greek Pontians of Chicago- Xeniteas, the Hamazkayin
Educational and Cultural Association, the Holocaust Memorial Foundation of
Illinois, and the Ukrainian Genocide Famine Foundation – USA.

`The Armenian American community is profoundly grateful for the outpouring
of support it has received to help prevent the propagation of genocide
denial,’ stated Greg Bedian, chairperson of the Armenian National Committee.
`WTTW Chicago needs to understand it is not in the public interest to
provide genocide deniers like Justin McCarthy or Arthur Butz with an
opportunity to broadcast their distorted and hateful message,’ he concluded.
In addition to the letter sent by the organizations, WTTW has also received
numerous phone calls, letters and emails from individuals and groups urging
the station to rethink its decision to broadcast the panel discussion
program. A recent meeting of WTTW’s Community Advisory Board also decided
to urge the station not to air the program.
The text of the letter is attached.

April 11, 2006

Mr. Dan Soles
Director of Broadcasting
WTTW Channel 11
5400 N St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60625-4698

Dear Mr. Soles,

It has come to our attention that WTTW is planning to air two programs
regarding the Armenian genocide in the month of April, the month in which
Armenians and others worldwide mark the anniversary of the extermination of
1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923. As organizations who are actively
involved in raising awareness about genocide, we laud the station’s decision
to air `The Armenian Genocide,’ a thoroughly-researched and well-prepared
documentary by Andrew Goldberg. However, we must also express our serious
concerns regarding WTTW’s intent to follow the documentary with a panel
discussion featuring outspoken genocide deniers.

In his documentary, Mr. Goldberg took pains to include those who engage in
Turkey’s campaign of denying the Armenian genocide, but placed them in a
proper context so viewers will see them as deniers. Mr. Goldberg’s decision
to present these views provides an important perspective and contributes to
the overall objectivity of this documentary, making it an excellent example
of the high quality of programming we expect from WTTW.

On the other hand, the panel discussion employs the format of a debate,
granting genocide deniers Justin McCarthy and Omer Turan the same scholarly
authority on the subject as afforded to noted author Peter Balakian and
Turkish historian Taner Akcam. During the discussion, Mr. McCarthy
characterizes the genocide as a myth and implies that Mr. Goldberg’s work is
wholly fictitious. No matter how strong the rebuttal, in the absence of
appropriate context viewers who are unfamiliar with this period of history
may be inclined to wrongly believe that the Armenian genocide is the subject
of serious and genuine historical debate, casting doubt as to whether 1.5
million Armenians were really murdered. By airing the panel discussion,
WTTW would do a great disservice to its viewers by providing genocide
deniers with a platform to promote their views, allowing them to engage in
the final stage of genocide, or what Elie Wiesel has called `double
killing,’ the murder of the memory of the crime.

We therefore strongly urge you to join the PBS affiliates in Boston,
Providence, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Detroit, Miami and
elsewhere who will be broadcasting Mr. Goldberg’s documentary without this
panel discussion. We look forward to your favorable reply on this matter.

Regards,

Armenian National Committee of Illinois
Assyrian Community of Illinois
Cambodian Association of Illinois
Chicago Alliance to End Genocide
Genocide Education Network of Illinois
Greek Pontians of Chicago- Xeniteas
Hamazkayin Educational and Cultural Association
Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois
Ukrainian Genocide Famine Foundation – USA

TERRY DAVIS: “I HAVE SYMPATHY TO AZERBAIJAN”

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 12 2006

“Azerbaijan and Armenia has undertaken the same obligations for the
settlement of the conflict. As concerns for Council of Europe’s work
to solve the problem, to accept the membership the both states to
the organization is priority.” Council of Europe Secretary General
Terry Davis has said it in his exclusive statement.

The State Secretary has stated that, if Azerbaijan chose military
way for settling the conflict, it might be violation of obligations
undertaken by Azerbaijan before Council of Europe: “I am sure that
Azerbaijan will fulfill the obligations. If it does not follow the
obligations Azerbaijan will face with hardships.” Touching on the
issue of secret detention places he does not believe there is any fact
like that with regard to Azerbaijan: “I do not have any information
about that. Simply I can tell you that like other countries I have
asked Azerbaijan government to reply the questionnaire of Council of
Europe related to this matter.

Azerbaijani part is obliged to reply it. Because it is within the
obligations. I do not believe President Ilham Aliyev lets violation
of these obligations.” As to the opinion of the Secretary General
delegation of the both country in PACE should reflect political
context of the parliament. The number of opposition deputies should
be proportional with delegation. Terry Davis said that not existence
of the USA representation here is linked with reorganization of
the representation: “This will give a chance to effective work of
our bureau in Baku .The decision has been made. I will appoint my
representative in a short period of time. I will focus attention on two
issues during the appointment. First of all, our representative office
in Azerbaijan should be a model for our offices in other countries
for its effectiveness. Secondly, as I have sympathy to Azerbaijan, our
office in the country should function effectively. I attach much more
attention to this country as the CE office in Azerbaijan is vacant.”

ARMENIA TO PRESS FOR DEPORTATION OF KAREN AVANESYAN TO YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.04.2006 20:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The issue of deportation of 19-year-old Karen
Avanesyan from the UK is still being discussed, but the youth will
not be sent to Azerbaijan, RA MFA press office told PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter. Presently Armenia is undertaking the essential measures
for the deportation of the Armenian youth to Yerevan.

To remind, illegal migrant Karen Avanesyan, who arrived in the UK three
years ago, failed to receive asylum there and the British authorities
decided to deport him to the homeland. Since Avanesyan was born in
Nagorno Karabakh, the British decided to send him to Baku. The youth
was told that April 12 he will be taken aboard of London-Moscow flight
and then sent to Azerbaijan.

GAZPROM KEEPS ESTABLISHING CONTROL OVER SUPPLIES OF FOREIGN GAS TO EUROPE
Source: Vedomosti, April 07, 2006; Vremya Novostey, April 07, 2006

Agency WPS
The Russian Oil and Gas Report (Russia)
April 10, 2006 Monday

On April 6, Gazprom reached an agreement with Armenia on supplies of
gas to it until 2009 at a price of $110 per 1,000 cubic meters. In
exchange Armenia will yield the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline via which
gas is delivered to Europe to Gazprom.

Armenia does not have gas production of its own. In 2005, Gazprom,
the only gas supplier to this country, sold 1.7 billion cubic meters of
gas to Armenia. On Armenian market gas is distributed by ArmRosgazprom
established in December of 1997. In this company 45% stakes belong
to Gazprom and Energy Ministry of Armenia and 10% belong to ITERA.

On April 6, Gazprom signed an agreement with the government of Armenia
for 25 years. This agreement outlined principles for cooperation in the
territory of Armenia. The document stipulates that until January 1 of
2009 Armenia will buy gas at $110 per 1,000 cubic meters (until April,
Gazprom sold gas to the republic at $54 per 1,000 cubic meters). For
stability Armenia will pay Gazprom generously. ArmRosgazprom will
buy from the government of Armenia the 40-kilometer extension of
the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline being under construction and will
accomplish it and will also be the customer of construction of the
second 197-kilometer extension of the pipeline.

As a result of an additional issue of shares the stake of Gazprom
in ArmRosgazprom will grow from 45% to 75%. A spokesperson for the
Ministry of Energy of Armenia says that the agreement does not mention
the gas pipeline. A source close to Gazprom says that the agreement
about this is achieved but is not signed yet.

Armen Movsisyan, Energy Minister of Armenia, says that Gazprom will
also buy out the fifth energy generating unit of the Razdanskaya heat
and power station from the republic (four units are managed by RAO
EES Rossii) for $248.8 million and will invest $140 million more in
its accomplishment. Until April 14, Gazprom plans to sign preliminary
agreements of sale-purchase and until January 1 of 2007 it is going
to acquire the promised objects.

Analyst Valery Nesterov of Troika Dialog remarks that obtaining the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline Gazprom will control supplies of Iranian
gas, reserves of which are estimated at 28 trillion cubic meters, to
Europe. Now Iran exports gas to Turkey but potentially it may become
a serious competitor for Russian gas in Europe. One of the possible
routes for transportation of Iranian gas to Europe passes through
Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine. Nesterov says, “Any participation
of Gazprom in these projects will enable the company at least to
influence the transportation costs and the end price of gas.”

A manager of Gazprom presumes that Armenia may become a transit point
for Iranian gas to prevent its flow to Europe via Turkey. According to
the manager, it is possible to transport this gas to Europe through the
territory of Russia via the unified gas supply system of Gazprom. The
source concludes, “This will also allow reduction of our dependence
on Turkmen gas that Turkmenistan promises to sell to China.”

Gazprom is going to raise the price of gas for other CIS countries
too. Alexander Ryazanov, Deputy CEO of Gazprom, said earlier that
Azerbaijan and Georgia would have to buy gas at $110 instead of the
current $54 and $89 per 1,000 cubic meters respectively. For Belarus
for which Russian gas is the cheapest of all among the neighbors of
Russia now Gazprom promises to triple the price that now amounts to
$46.80 per 1,000 cubic meters. In any case, a manager of Gazprom
admits that the price for Belarus may be even lower if Belarusian
authorities keep their promise and give a 50% stake in the pipeline
company Beltransgaz to Gazprom. The source concludes, “The example
of Armenia proves that a compromise is possible.”

A1+

ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN TRIES TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF `NAIRIT’

[01:16 pm] 07 April, 2006

The RA NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan received the Chinese Ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Armenia Tszo
Syuelyan. Mr. Syuelyan passes the NA Speaker the invitation of the
chairman of the pan-Chinese session of the People’s Republic of China
to visit China in fall.

The aim of the visit is to reinforce the inter parliamentary relations
with Armenia. During the visit issues about the visit program were
discussed, as well as the issue of the re-exploitation of the
Armenian-Chinese joint company on the basis of `Nairit’ which is
supposed to be finished at the end of the year.

ARMENICUM REGISTERED IN RUSSIA

YEREVAN, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenicum was recently registered in
Russia as an ativiral and immunomodulatory drug. The scientific
director of the Armenicum program, Academician Emil Gabrielian told NT
correspondent that the main effects of the drug have been confirmed as
a result of over 2-year clinical trials in Russia. Armenicum was
studied at the Central Institute of Virology and Immunology of Russia,
then tested in some hospitals of Saint Petersburg. Most of the drugs
used to treat AIDS have side effects with their strong negative impact
on patients’ state of health, in other cases viruses become resistant
to these drugs. According to E. Gabrielian, even if the viral load of
such patients declines, their condition does not improve and most of
them stop taking such drugs. E. Gabrielian said that in this respect
Armenicum basically differs from other antiretroviral drugs. It is a
drug of a new type, with a new mechanism of effect that enhances
resistance of the immune system and regulates the depressed
function. The drug causes a rapid effect: after one or two injections,
the patient’s condition changes sharply and he/she can shortly lead an
active life. Armenicum was registered in Congo, Liberia and
Zambia. According to E. Gabrielian, the drug is currently undergoing
trials in India, Ukraine and Belarus.

BIPARTISAN GROUP OF THIRTY U.S. REPRESENTATIVES URGE PBS NOT TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIERS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 06 2006

WASHINGTON, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Rep. Adam Schiff
(D-CA) was joined by Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA), Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI), and a bipartisan group of twenty-six U.S. Representatives in
urging the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) not to provide a broadcast
platform for deniers of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America. In an April 3rd letter, addressed to
PBS Chief Operating Officer Wayne Godwin, the House Members addressed
the growing controversy surrounding plans by PBS to broadcast a panel
discussion including known Armenian Genocide deniers Justin McCarthy
and Omer Turan following the airing this April of the documentary “The
Armenian Genocide,” produced by Andrew Goldberg. In their letter,
the group of legislators urged that, “PBS not provide a national
platform to those who deny the Armenian Genocide… Despite the
Turkish government’s concerted and well-financed effort to obscure
and alter history, there is no serious academic dispute about the
Armenian Genocide.” The letter closed by noting that, “Surely,
PBS would not consider broadcasting a documentary on the Holocaust,
followed by a panel that included Holocaust deniers. A commitment to
balance does not mandate the inclusion of opinions that are objectively
false.” “We want to thank Representatives Schiff, Radanovich, Pallone,
and Knollenberg for their leadership in giving voice to the growing
Congressional opposition to PBS’s deeply flawed decision to provide
public airtime to deniers of the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Clearly their concerns are being
heard, as more and more PBS affiliates are deciding not to run this
panel discussion.” The full list of signatories is as follows: Gary
Ackerman (D-NY), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Anna
Eshoo (D-CA), Bob Filner (D-CA), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Raul Grijalva
(D-AZ), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Steve Israel (D-NY), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI),
Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), James McGovern (D-MA),
Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Richard Neal (D- MA),
C. L. Butch Otter (R-ID), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Donald Payne (D-NJ),
Collin Peterson (D-MN), George Radanovich (R-CA), Steven Rothman
(D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Joe Schwarz (R-MI), Brad Sherman (D -CA),
Mark Souder (R-IN), John Sweeney (R-NY), Edolphus Towns (D-NY),
Diane Watson (D-CA), and Anthony Weiner (D-NY). In addition to the
signatories of this letter, a number of other legislators undertook
individual efforts directly with PBS. Among these were Senator Boxer
(D-CA), who shared her concerns with San Francisco’s KQED, which
recently decided not to air the denial panel.

Senator John Ensign (D-CA), the author of the Senate version of the
Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res. 320), similarly urged Las Vegas
PBS affiliate KLVX not to air the panel, stressing that, “to air
this or any other denial would only serve to condone [the Turkish
government’s] denial and to ignore the reality of those atrocious
acts that were responsible for the loss of one and half million lives
and for more than half a million survivors being exiled.” On the House
side, individual letters were sent by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and James
Langevin (D-RI). In her letter, Rep. Lofgren expressed her hope that
“PBS will evaluate this planned programming using the same standard
it would employ if deniers were discussing either [the Armenian or
Jewish] Holocaust.”

Rep. Langevin noted that, “I imagine that those who deny the existence
of the Holocaust would not be offered the same chance to air their
views, and I question why the Armenian Genocide appears to be held
to a different standard.” On April 4th, Rep. Schiff hosted a Capitol
Hill screening of the PBS documentary, “The Armenian Genocide,” to
a standing-room only audience of Members of Congress, Congressional
staffers, members of the media and Armenian American community
activists. Rep. Schiff was joined by Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) and Rep.

Pallone in offering remarks at the opening of the documentary,
while director Andrew Goldberg led an insightful question and answer
session at the conclusion of the piece. Among those in attendance
were His Excellency Tatoul Markarian, Ambassador of the Republic of
Armenia to the U.S. accompanied by Embassy staff, as well as former
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Michael Lemmon and Pulitzer Prize winning
author Samantha Power. On March 29th, Rep. Pallone delivered a House
floor speech urging PBS not to air the panel discussion, arguing
that he “would not feel any different about this issue if we were
discussing Darfur, Rwanda or the Nazi Holocaust. Genocide deniers
should not have a forum.

The quest for fair and balanced information does not give a license to
propagate false, misleading and offensive information about historical
facts that relate to genocide.” The Washington Post reported on
February 16th that, “Thousands of Armenian Americans are protesting
the Public Broadcasting Service’s planned panel-discussion program
about Turkey’s role in the deaths of Armenians during and after World
War I. The 25-minute program has generated an outcry because the
panel will include two scholars who deny that 1.5 million Armenian
civilians were killed in eastern Turkey from 1915 to 1920.”

ICRC PLEDGES TO LOOK INTO AZERI CAPTIVES, MISSING PERSONS

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 6 2006

The International Committee of the Red Cross will thoroughly address
the plight of Azerbaijani captives and missing persons, its president
Jacob Kellenberger said during his recent meeting with refugees in
the country’s Sabirabad and Bilasuvar districts.

“The plight of missing persons is a serious problem in Azerbaijan.

Their family members should be informed about their loved ones, and
this work is a key part of ICRC’s mandate. Whichever country we visit,
we make sure the issue is discussed,” Kellenberger said during his
visit to Azerbaijan.

The ICRC president also visited the areas settled by 10,000 IDPs from
ther Fuzuli and Jabrayil districts as well as a settlement in Bilasuvar
settled by 12,000 refugees. After visiting several residential
buildings, a school and a hospital, he praised the Azerbaijani
government’s efforts to improve the conditions for displaced persons.

Over 5,000 Azerbaijanis were taken captive by Armenia or went missing
during the battles for Garabagh. It has been impossible so far to
obtain any information about them.