Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Azeri pressure group says Council of Europe resolution on Karabakh imperfect
ANS TV, Baku
27 Jan 05
[Presenter] The initiative to recognize Nagornyy Karabakh as a party
to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict should draw a sharp response, the
Karabakh Liberation Organization [KLO] said at a news conference
today. The KLO also regards as imperfect the resolution on the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe [PACE].
[Correspondent, over video of the news conference] The OSCE
fact-finding mission that is to visit Baku tomorrow [28 January]
cannot be expected to deliver objective results in the Nagornyy
Karabakh settlement, KLO chairman Akif Nagi said. He added that to
commission the OSCE to resolve the conflict was in the interests of
Armenia, but not Azerbaijan.
[Akif Nagi, speaking in the news conference] It is in the interests of
Armenia to hold endless, pointless and fruitless talks within the
framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.
[Correspondent] The KLO chairman said that the organization would
react to the fact-finding mission’s work after closely monitoring its
activities. Nagi said that popular euphoria over the PACE resolution
was wrong. The KLO chairman said that some points in the resolution
were harmful to Azerbaijan.
[Nagi] An amendment was made to the resolution demanding that
Azerbaijan start negotiations with political representatives of
Nagornyy Karabakh over the status of Nagornyy Karabakh. I think this
strikes a very serious blow to Azerbaijan’s position. I believe
Azerbaijan should not agree with this stance.
[Passage omitted: KLO to stage a series of protest actions]
Baxtiyar Salimov, Azar Qarayev, ANS.

Karabakh ready to repel Azeri attacks – NKR DM
Regnum, Moscow
26 Jan 05

Text of report by Russian news agency Regnum headlined “The defence
minister of Nagornyy Karabakh: ‘We are ready for a successful
counterattack'”
“The year 2004 saw unprecedented progress in the issue of
strengthening the front line of the Nagornyy Karabakh defence army. A
great deal of work was carried out to construct on the front line
engineering installations that would allow the command and personnel
to wage positional warfare and foil all the attempts of the enemy to
advance if hostilities resume,” the defence minister of Nagornyy
Karabakh, Lt-Gen Seyran Oganyan, said during a press conference on the
results of the 2004 army year.
He said that the command and staff exercises held in August last year
showed that the command and units of the army of the Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic [NKR] are capable of fulfilling properly the tasks they are
set. “A great deal of work was carried out to strengthen army
discipline, reduce the number of emergencies and military crimes (one
premeditated murder was registered),” the minister pointed out.
Seyran Oganyan also said that the wages of the military have increased
in 2005 and about 750m drams [1.27m dollars] will be allocated for
improving the housing conditions of officers and about 300m drams
[over 500,000 dollars] have been earmarked for improving the housing
conditions of the families of those killed in the war and war
veterans. The NKR defence minister pointed out that 2005 will see
improvements in the combat and professional skills and knowledge of
officers and rank-and-file soldiers. Special attention will be paid to
“the first fighting” if the war resumes because “the world’s war
experience shows that the biggest casualties occur in the initial
period of hostilities,” the minister stressed.
“Every year the NKR defence army sees certain progress, which is
stated not only by the command of the army, but also confirmed by
checks, inspections, command and staff exercises, as well as by the
commander-in-chief’s visits to army units,” the NKR defence minister
said.
Asked by journalists about Baku’s warlike rhetoric, the NKR defence
minister, Seyran Oganyan, said: “Of course, the command of the NKR
defence army is concerned about such statements, since the Karabakh
side’s task is to achieve a peaceful solution to the Karabakh
conflict. However, the balance of forces in the region is maintained
and Azerbaijan will not manage to solve anything by force. In any
case, we are ready to repel such attempts, and not only to defend
ourselves, but also to launch a successful counterattack.”
Touching on the visit by the OSCE monitoring mission to the
territories controlled by the NKR scheduled for the end of February,
Seyran Oganyan said that “he views such monitoring normally”. “These
territories are under the total control of the NKR authorities.
However, we cannot ban our citizens from farming in these territories.
At the same time, our duty is to ensure law and order in populated
areas. As for the fate of the territories themselves, a major
negotiating process lies ahead and any decision on these territories
should be adopted within the framework of this process,” the minister
said.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 21-27, 2005
HIGHLIGHTS:
“PRESS CLUB” ON AIR AGAIN
“STABILITY” PROTESTING AGAINST “ARAVOT”
THE HOMELESS OF YEREVAN AS SEEN BY PHOTO AND TV CAMERAS
MEDIA BOYCOTTS AND THE PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE ARRESTED THE CHIEF ARMENIAN ARYAN
COMPETITION FOR FILLING IN VACANCIES IN THE COUNCIL OF PUBLIC TV AND RADIO
COMPANY
“SHOGHAKAT’ RESUMED BROADCASTS
“PRESS CLUB” ON AIR AGAIN
On January 24 on the evening air of the Second Armenian TV Channel the
first “Press Club” show in 2005 was issued. The cycle is organized by
Yerevan Press Club under a homonymous project, supported by the OSI Network
Media Program.
The subject for the discussion of leading media and journalistic
associations of Armenia was the response of press to the statements made by
the Assistant US Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Elizabeth Jones
during a DVC on January 13 between Washington, Bratislava, Moscow and Rome.
In particular, the vast public response was caused by the answer of
Elizabeth Jones to the question of Russian “Moscow Times” daily on
unrecognized entities, including Mountainous Karabagh. By prognosis of the
“Press Club” participants, the central subject in Armenian media this week
will be the discussion of the report on Mountainous Karabagh, developed by
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe rapporteur David
Atkinson and to be presented at the PACE session on January 25.
“STABILITY” PROTESTING AGAINST “ARAVOT”
On January 21 a small group representing the youth wing of “Stability”
political union held a protest action by the House of Press in Yerevan,
where various media editorial offices are located. The reason for the action
was the comment of “Aravot” daily to the statement of Assistant US Secretary
of State for Europe and Eurasia Elizabeth Jones (see above). “Aravot” daily
itself described its response as a joke. The representatives of the youth
wing of “Stability” qualified it as “treason”. In the issue of January 22
the Chief Editor of “Aravot” Aram Abrahamian noted that “young people were
unable to explain” to the correspondent of the daily, “what exactly can be
interpreted as treason”, “some people did not even know what their action
was directed against”. In the opinion of the Chief Editor, there was no need
in this action as such: “The doors of “Aravot” are open for everyone, and
these guys can simply come to the office and talk to the Editor or any of
our staff members. Moreover, they have an opportunity to publish their point
of view in “Aravot”, unless it contains rude or insulting expressions,
directed at anybody.” But in this case, as Aram Abrahamian stressed,
“apparently the “stability supporters” had to have an action”.
THE HOMELESS OF YEREVAN AS SEEN BY PHOTO AND TV CAMERAS
On January 27 at “Narekatsi” Arts Institute an action “The Right to Life”
was held. The exhibition of works by photographer Onik Grigorian that opened
there and the first night of “Nameless Tombs” documentary spoke about the
homeless of Yerevan. The documentary was produced jointly by “Yerkir-Media”
TV company and “Investigative Journalists” NGO. After the demonstration of
the film the representatives of media and NGOs discussed the problems of
people that found themselves in the street. Within the action the book by
Onik Grigorian “Armenia: Poverty, Transition and Democracy” was presented,
too. The book is published by Gomidas Institute (based in Princeton and
London).
MEDIA BOYCOTTS AND THE PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE ARRESTED THE CHIEF ARMENIAN ARYAN
A number of Armenian media announced an information boycott to the Chairman
of “Union of Armenian Aryans” party Armen Avetisian. The reason for the
boycott were the insulting statements made by the leader of Armenian Aryans
during the press-conference of January 19, given by public union “Against
the Numeration of People”. According to “Arminfo” news agency, Armen
Avetisian “made an inadequate response” to the question of journalists about
the public promise made (but never fulfilled) about revealing the list
allegedly held of state officials who are homosexual. “I refuse to answer
the provoking questions of the sexually perverted journalists and will only
answer questions regarding to social cards and individual data”, the head of
Armenian Aryans said in particular, after which some media representatives
left the press-conference.
On the same day, January 19, “Arminfo” announced its information boycott to
the events of “Union of Armenian Aryans”. On January 21 “Aravot” daily
stated its joining the action. In the issue of January 22 “Aravot” reported
that the boycott of “statements and activities of a person, unable to behave
properly with journalists” was joined by “Ayb-Feh” weekly, web
site and “Taregir” Internet publication.
The statements and activities of Armen Avetisian were of interest to the law
enforcement bodies of Armenia, too. On January 25 the Public Relations and
Information Department of the RA General Prosecutor’s Office informed about
the arrest of the Chairman of “Union of Armenian Aryans”. The press release
of the General Prosecutor’s Office noted that Armen Avetisian “in his
articles published in press, TV and other public speeches, at
press-conferences has repeatedly made assessments that were humiliating,
discrediting and insulting for representatives of Jewish nationality,
disseminated disreputing opinions, thus inciting national hatred and
hostility towards them”. Proceeding from the facts gathered, on January 21
the Yerevan Prosecutor’s Office instituted criminal proceedings and on
January 24 it charged Armen Avetisian by item 1, part 2, Article 226 of the
Criminal Code (“Inciting national racial or religious hostility”). On the
same day, January 24, Avetisian was arrested.
It should also be noted that “Union of Armenian Aryans”, headed by
Avetisian, was mentioned in the Report on Global Anti-Semitism in 2004,
released by the US Department of State on January 5. The section on Armenia
of the report, among other cases of anti-Semitism, tells about the calls of
the party “for the country to be “purified” of Jews and Yezidis”. In the
same report the owner, the head of “ALM” media holding Tigran Karapetian was
also mentioned – as he “frequently made anti-Semitic remarks on the air”.
COMPETITION FOR FILLING IN VACANCIES IN THE COUNCIL OF PUBLIC TV AND RADIO
COMPANY
On January 20 the RA President Robert Kocharian signed a decree to hold a
competition for filling in the vacancies in the Council of Public Television
and Radio Company of Armenia. The competition commission included: the
Chairman – Alexan Harutiunian (Chairman of the Council of Public TV and
Radio Company); Secretary – Irina Ghulinian (Deputy Head of Public Relations
and Media Department of the RA President’s Administration); commission
members – Ruben Satian (Chief Editor of “Novoye Vremya” newspaper), Artem
Sargsian (Chief Editor of “Armenia” TV company) and Aram Safarian (Deputy
Director of the Second Armenian TV Channel). Armenian citizens, who are
reputable and competent experts in journalism, law, broadcast management,
science, culture and arts, having higher education and fluent in Armenian
language, can take part in the competition. The deadline for the
applications is on February 1, 2005.
Competition for filling in vacancies in the Council of Public TV and Radio
Company was announced due to expiration of a four-year term of service of
two Council members on January 19, 2005 – Henrik Hovhannisian and Stepan
Poghosian.
A similar competition will be held in Armenia for the first time and is
conditioned by the amendments to the RA Law “On Television and Radio”,
adopted on December 3, 2003 by the National Assembly. According to the
changes, the formation of the broadcast regulatory bodies (the PTRC Council
and the National Commission on Television and Radio) must be made by
competition. However, the members will still be appointed by the President
of the country – nowadays from among the competition winners.
“SHOGHAKAT’ RESUMED BROADCASTS
Since January 24 “Shoghakat” TV company resumed its broadcasts. The break in
the air lasted for a week (since January 17) and was due to technical
re-equipment of the channel.
When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.
You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]
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this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]
Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375007, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 1) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 1) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

ARTSAKH YOUTH INDIGNANT
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
26 Jan 05
The youth of Artsakh is indignant with the recent irresponsible
statement made by the US Assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth
Jones. The representative of the youth public organization `Haiki
Serund’ on foreign relations Yervand Hajiyan said, several youth
organizations, particularly `Youth Center’, ` Miasnutyun’, `Haiki
Serund’, `YMCA’, as well as the youth wing of the NKR Armenian
Revolutionary Federation sent a letter to the US Embassy in Armenia
addressed to the Vice Secretary of State of the USA Elizabeth Jones,
considering her the statement referring to Nagorni Karabakh as
unacceptable. The letter runs, ` First of all, it is wrong to compare
the Nagorni Karabakh conflict with other conflicts in the region; it
essentially differs by its causes and peculiarities. Since
independence a democratic state is being built here and it is not
accidental that the American human rights organization `Freedom House’
mentions in its annual reports that in NKR democracy, civil rights and
freedom are on a more stable ground than in the neighbour country and
other unrecognized coun tries. And this under the lasting blockade
imposed by Azerbaijan and without the assistance of the international
community. The international observers monitoring the elections in the
republic since the declaration of independence testify to the fact
that Nagorni Karabakh develops in the direction of democracy.
Therefore, your statements that NKR is ruled by criminal elements, and
our country is corrupted lack logic.’ According to Yervand Hajiyan,
theAmerican top official brought a false accusation against Nagorni
Karabakh. `In fragile peace maintained by the armistice of 1994 any
irresponsible action or statement may shatter the situation. The
statement of E. Jones may damage the processof peaceful regulation of
the Karabakh conflict,’ mentioned Y. Hajiyan.
NVARD OHANJANIAN.
26-01-2005

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Jan 24 2005
PARTIES WANT TO DEVELOP COOPERATION
[January 24, 2005, 17:22:38]
On January 24, the parliamentary delegation of Bulgaria met with
members of Azerbaijan-Bulgaria friendship group at the Milli Majlis
(Parliament) of Azerbaijan.
Deputy Elton Mammadov spoke of the history of friendly ties between
Azerbaijan and Bulgaria, pointed to the role of Heads of State in
development of bilateral relationship, dwelt on the political and
economic reforms successfully implemented in the country and touched
on the causes and bitter consequences of the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Head of the Bulgarian delegation Ramzi Osman thanked for the
hospitality and detailed information, and especially mentioned the
role of national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev in development of
the relationship between the two countries. He noted that Bulgaria is
very interested in cooperation with Azerbaijan, and the goal of the
visit is to discuss and role of parliaments in development of the
bilateral cooperation.
The parties then exchanged views on prospects of trade and economic
cooperation, widening the exchange of experience between the two
countries’ legislative bodies and other issues.

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
For Justice and Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B – 1000 BRUXELLES
Tel: +32 (0) 2 732 70 26
Tel./Fax: +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
December 23th, 2004
Contact: Talline Tachdjian
Tel.: +32 (0)2 732 70 27
COUNCIL OF EUROPE DEFAMES AMENIA AND OFFENDS ARMENIANS
– The Parliamentary Assembly of the Strasburg-based organization is going to
adopt two resolutions, one questioning Artsakh independence, the other
excluding the Armenian genocide from the European remembrance.
– The European Armenian Federation calls upon the European citizens and
organizations to intervene with their representatives.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is going to
examine and vote on Tuesday two resolutions respectively proposed by Mr.
David Atkinson (UK, Democrat Group) and Mr. Mats Einarsson (Sweden, United
Left).
The resolution prepared by Mr. Atkinson deals with “the conflict over the
Nagorno-Karabakh region dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference”. In this
resolution, Mr. Atkinson alleges that “considerable parts of the territory
of Azerbaijan are still occupied by Armenian forces” and that “separatist
forces are still in control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region”.
Without explicitly pointing out one of the conflicting parties, the report
then evokes “large-scale ethnic expulsion” and the creation of mono-ethnic
areas “which resemble the terrible concept of ethnic cleansing”.
Recalling then a reduced set of past resolutions carefully chosen for their
pro-azeri stances, the Atkinson report aims to impose – “if the negotiations
under the auspices of the co-chairs of the Minsk group fail” – the
settlement of the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the framework of
the UN’s International Court of Justice.
“The Atkinson report is the report of Azerbaijan. This country believes that
shifting the institutional framework will turn its crimes into virtues.
Attempts of ethnic cleansing actually occurred but, contrary to Mr. Atkinson
insinuations, it was the policy led by Baku.” declared Laurent Leylekian,
executive director of the European Armenian Federation.
“Without the fight for self-determination led by the Karabakhiots, there
would be no more Armenians on these historically Armenian territories, as it
is the case in Nakhitchevan or in Turkey. By its exactions, Azerbaijan lost
all its rights on the Karabakh and did legitimate the right for
self-determination of the Karabakhiots, in full compliance with the
International Law” Leylekian added.
On the other hand, the Einarsson report supports the “establishment of a
European remembrance center for victims of forced population movements and
ethnic cleansing”.
In its draft recommendation, this report amply mentions the case of
population transfers that followed the Second World War and the forced
movements imposed by the Stalinian regime. It mentions also the genocide
perpetrated by the Nazis against Jews and Roms as well as the genocide of
Ukrainians. However, the draft recommendation deliberately omits to cite the
first genocide of the XXth century, i.e. the Armenian genocide, though
performed by, and on the territory of the member state of the Council of
Europe, Turkey.
“What credibility can we grant to an institution which gives such a biased
lecture of History?” wondered Laurent Leylekian. “The Council of Europe,
commanded by the negationist Turkey is making itself party to a second
symbolic murder of the Armenians of Anatolia and Western Armenia. It’s
pathetic when coming from an institution which claims to be the guardian of
Human Rights in Europe”.
The European Armenian Federation calls upon the European citizens and
organizations to intervene with their representative in the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (list available at
) to
call them :
– to support – for the Atkinson report – amendments recalling that the
problem of the political status of Karabakh is still unresolved, calling
upon Armenia and Azerbaijan to renounce to bellicose declarations and
calling upon Azerbaijan to establish political contacts with the elected
bodies of Karabakh.
– To mention the case of the Armenian genocide in the framework of the
Einarsson report.
#####
FEDERATION EURO-ARMENIENNE
Pour la Justice et la Démocratie
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B – 1000 BRUXELLES
Tel: +32 (0) 2 732 70 26
Tel./Fax : +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
E-mail : [email protected]
Web :
COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
22 janvier 2005
Contact: Talline Tachdjian
Tel.: +32 (0)2 732 70 27
LE CONSEIL DE L’EUROPE DIFFAME L’ARMENIE ET OFFENSE LES ARMENIENS
– L’Assemblée parlementaire de l’institution strasbourgeoise s’apprête
à voter deux résolutions, l’une remettant en question l’indépendance
de l’ Artsakh, l’autre excluant le génocide des Arméniens de la
mémoire européenne. – La Fédération Euro-Arménienne appelle les
citoyens européens et les associations européennes à agir auprès de
leurs représentants.
L’Assemblée Parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe examinera et votera
ce mardi deux résolutions, présentées respectivement par M. David
Atkison (Royaume-Uni, Groupe Démocrate) et par M. Mats Einarsson
(Suède, Gauche Unie européenne). La résolution préparée par
M. Atkison porte sur « le conflit du Haut-Karabakh pris en charge par
la Conférence de Minsk de l’OSCE ». Dans cette résolution, M. Atkinson
avance que « des pans considérables du territoire azerbaïdjanais sont
occupés par les forces arméniennes » et que « les forces séparatistes
contrôlent encore la région du Haut-Karabakh ».
Sans nommer explicitement l’une ou l’autre des parties, ce rapport
évoque des « expulsions ethniques à grande échelle » et de la création
de zones mono-ethniques « terriblement similaire au concept de
nettoyage ethnique ».
Citant ensuite un nombre réduit de résolutions soigneusement choisies
pour leur inclination pro-azérie, le rapport Atkinson entend forcer –
« en cas d’ échec des négociations menées sous l’égide du groupe de
Minsk » – l’Arménie et l’Azerbaïdjan à régler leur différend devant la
Cour Internationale de Justice des Nations Unies.
« Le rapport Atkinson, c’est celui de l’Azerbaïdjan qui croit encore
qu’en changeant le cadre institutionnel des négociations, ses crimes
se transformeront en vertus. Oui, il y a bien eu tentative de
nettoyage ethnique mais contrairement à ce qu’insinue M. Atkinson,
c’est Bakou qui s’y est employé. » a déclaré Laurent Leylekian,
directeur exécutif de la Fédération Euro-Arménienne.
« Sans la lutte pour l’autodétermination menée par les Karabakhiotes,
il n’y aurait aujourd’hui plus d’Arméniens sur ces terres
historiquement arméniennes, comme c’est le cas au Nakhitchevan ou en
Turquie. Par ses exactions, l’Azerbaïdjan a perdu tout droit sur le
Karabakh et a légitimé le droit à l’autodétermination des
Karabakhiotes – en toute conformité avec le Droit International.»
a-t-il ajouté.
Le rapport Einarsson, pour sa part, recommande « l’établissement d’un
centre européen de la mémoire pour les victimes des mouvements forcés
de population et des nettoyages ethniques ».
Dans son exposé des motifs, ce rapport cite largement le cas des
transferts de population consécutifs à la seconde guerre mondiale
ainsi que les déplacements forcés imposés par le régime stalinien. Il
cite également le génocide perpétré par les nazis à l’encontre des
Juifs, des Roms ainsi que le génocide des Ukrainiens. Cependant ce
projet de résolution omet délibérément de citer le premier génocide du
XXème siècle, celui des Arméniens pourtant exécuté par, et sur le
territoire, d’un Etat-membre du Conseil de l’Europe, la Turquie.
« Quelle crédibilité accorder à une institution faisant une lecture à
ce point orientée de l’histoire ? » s’est interrogé Laurent
Leylekian. « Le Conseil de l’Europe sur injonction de la Turquie
négationniste se rend complice d’un second meurtre symbolique des
Arméniens d’Anatolie. C’est pathétique de la part d’une institution
qui prétend être le gardien des Droits de l’Homme en Europe »
La Fédération Euro-Arménienne appelle les citoyens européens et les
associations européennes à prendre contact avec leur représentant à l’
Assemblée Parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe (liste disponible sur
le site
) pour leur demander :
– de soutenir – pour le rapport Atkinson – les amendements rappelant
que le problème politique du statut du Karabakh n’est toujours pas
résolu, demandant à l’Arménie et à l’Azerbaïdjan de renoncer aux
déclarations belliqueuses et à l’Azerbaïdjan d’établir des contacts
politiques avec les instances élues du Haut-Karabakh,
– de rajouter la mention au génocide des Arméniens dans le cadre du
rapport Einarsson.

THERE IS CLASH OF TWO INTERNATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
IN KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS
YEREVAN, JANUARY 22. ARMINFO. There is a clash of two international
principles of conflict settlement in the Karabakh peace process, US
Ambassador to Armenia John Evans says in an interview to Armenia TV.
They are the principles of territorial integrity and national
self-determination right. This clash is a puzzle for the diplomats
involved. There still is a real prospect for settlement but this
requires flexibility and commitment to compromise. In its position
OSCE gives high importance to the territorial integrity principle but
one should be very careful and dimplomatic here, says Evans.

Associated Press
Jan 22 2005
Nine Armenian charity groups to get $3 million of insurance
settlement
The Associated Press
Nine Armenian charitable groups will receive $3 million over the next
two weeks as part of a $20 million settlement between an insurance
company and descendants of Armenians killed nearly 90 years ago in
the Turkish Ottoman Empire.
Five organizations on the East Coast will each receive checks for
more than $333,000 during a ceremony Wednesday in New York, the Daily
News of Los Angeles reported. The remaining groups will receive
payments at a second event being organized in Los Angeles.
The organizations include New York’s Armenian General Benevolent
Union, New Jersey’s Armenian Missionary Association of America, Inc.,
and the Armenian Education Foundation, based in Glendale.
“As the grandson of two genocide survivors, I’m particularly pleased
to be handing money to these organizations, because these kinds of
organizations helped my grandparents when they first arrived here,”
said Brian Kabateck, an attorney in the lawsuit.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs said they filed the class-action lawsuit
to raise awareness of the deaths as well as to win unpaid life
insurance benefits from New York Life Insurance Co.
They contend that 1.5 million Armenians were killed in an act of
genocide by the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Turkey rejects the genocide
claim and maintains that Armenians were killed in civil unrest during
the collapse of the empire.
The legal agreement approved last July by U.S. District Court Judge
Christina A. Snyder is believed to be the first ever in connection
with the disputed event.
At least $11 million was set aside for heirs of some 2,400
policyholders while $4 million was to cover legal fees. Another $3
million was earmarked for charities, with $2 million used for
administrative costs and anything not spent on expenses going to
charities.
Potential heirs of policyholders have until March 15 to file a claim
for a portion of the settlement.

AGREEMENT ON CONSTRUCTION OF THERMOELECTRIC POWER PLANT WITH USE OF
BIOGAS TO BE SIGNED IN YEREVAN BY THE END OF 2005
YEREVAN, JANUARY 21. ARMINFO. A Japanese company Shimizu will sign an
agreement on construction of a 1.5 megawatt thermoelectric power plant
with use of biogas in Yerevan by the end of 2005,> Nature Protection
Minister of Armenia Vardan Ayvazyan told ARMINFO, Friday.
He said that TPP would be built in the territory of Nubarashen dump on
the funds of the Japanese party. The project will cost $4.5 mln. The
Japanese State New Energy and Industrial Technology Organization will
finance the construction of bio-TPP. Tariff for the electricity
received due to use of biogas (marsh-gas) is established at 8 cents
for 1 kW/h by the Commission for Regulation of Public Services Sphere.
The minister thinks that besides production of electricity, the
construction of the plant will contribute to solution to ecological
problems in the capital. This project is favorable for Armenia and the
given technologies have already been successfully used in Japan, the
minister says.
Nubarashen dump in the outskirts of Yerevan started forming in 60s and
some 800-900 cubic meters of garbage are daily accumulated there. The
dump occupies some 60 ha.

Family struggles to keep teen daughters in U.S.
LV girls are in federal custody, face deportation to Armenia
Las Vegas Sun
January 20, 2005
By Timothy Pratt ([email protected])
Speaking from a federal jail cell in Los Angeles Tuesday afternoon,
18-year-old Emma Sarkisian said one way she has kept up her spirits
since being taken into custody Friday by federal agents in Las Vegas was
watching her little sister’s impersonations of “bad ‘American Idol’
singers.”
She laughed. Then she cried, blurting out, “I miss everybody and want to
go home.”
Using a 12-minute calling card to speak to her mother in Henderson at 4
p.m. Wednesday, Emma had just been told by a Department of Homeland
Security official for the second time in five days that she and her
sister, Mariam, had been granted a reprieve from being put on a plane to
the Republic of Armenia — a land that, despite being their birthplace,
is so foreign to both that they don’t even speak its language.
Emma graduated from Palo Verde High School in June. Her sister, who’s
17, is set to do the same in 2006. Their father, Rouben, runs Tropicana
Pizza at Pecos Road and Wigwam Parkway.
The Sarkisian family is now wrapped up in a case that their attorney
Jeremiah Wolf Stuchiner — who worked 26 years for the Immigration and
Naturalization Service before opening a private law practice 23 years
ago — called “absolutely ridiculous.”
Stuchiner compared the case to that of Elian Gonzalez, the Cuban boy in
2000 who also was taken by armed federal agents from his relatives in
the United States.
And though a small crowd of Armenians and Russians burst into applause
at Tropicana Pizza 3:30 Wednesday afternoon when they heard the news
that the Sarkisian sisters had gained another day on U.S. soil, only
three hours before the flight was scheduled to leave Los Angeles,
Stuchiner said the case was far from over.
The family’s odyssey began in 1991 when Rouben and his wife, Anoush,
came to the United States with their two young daughters on a tourist
visa from Ukraine.
Anoush applied for political asylum as the Soviet Union was about to
break up. The application was denied.
The couple split up after having three more daughters in the United
States in the next three years. Rouben married a U.S. citizen and
thereby became a resident, the step below citizenship.
That marriage also broke apart.
Rouben has lived with his five daughters and shared raising them with
their mother for about five years.
In July, Stuchiner said, Rouben took his two oldest daughters to
immigration officials in Las Vegas to inquire about their status, since
he understood that they also should have become residents.
He was told they should be deported. However, when U.S. authorities
called Armenian authorities, they were told that the sisters had been
born in a country that no longer exists, since the Soviet Republic no
longer existed.
They were Soviet citizens, but not citizens of the Republic of Armenia.
So the Armenian government wouldn’t accept them.
Immigration authorities issued an order of supervision, meaning the
daughters had to visit local federal offices each month.
Meanwhile, Stuchiner waited for an appointment to be granted for their
father’s citizenship exam, but that date never came. Once Rouben becomes
a citizen, the whole issue of his daughters’ status becomes moot, since
he can petition for them to become residents, Stuchiner said.
When the Sarkisians showed up for their monthly visit Jan. 14,
immigration officials told them that Armenia had decided to issue the
daughters passports. They could now be deported.
The girls were sent on a plane to Los Angeles that same day, but not
before a Las Vegas official said to Stuchiner that their flight out
would not be until Tuesday.
On Monday, the attorney got a call from the girls.
“They said, ‘They’re putting us on a plane.’ ” he said. It was 5:45 p.m.
The plane was scheduled to take off at 6:45 p.m.
Stuchiner said he called an official in Los Angeles and got him to
contact the official in Las Vegas who had promised the sisters would
remain in the country until Tuesday.
Ten minutes before the flight left, the girls were taken back to their cell.
On Tuesday, the flight was full, Los Angeles officials told the attorney.
On Wednesday, Stuchiner filed a writ of habeas corpus with attorney Troy
Baker at the George Federal Courthouse.
Again, the flight was scheduled for 6:45 p.m. At 3:30 p.m., the
magistrate handed down a decision to grant the stay.
But Los Angeles officials wouldn’t release the girls Tuesday, a
development Stuchiner saw as “madness.”
“What are they afraid of?” the attorney said. “It’s not like they’re
public enemy No. 1. This is a girl missing high school, for God’s sake.”
Stuchiner will be back in court today to file an emergency order
requesting immediate release of the sisters.
Then he will argue that the federal government should allow Rouben to
obtain his citizenship and petition for his daughters, on humanitarian
grounds.
He also said that members of Nevada’s congressional delegation could
step in and pass what’s known as a private bill, which would also grant
the girls residence.
Stuchiner said the system — a system he knows from the inside — has
become more rigid and entrenched since Sept. 11, 2001.
“(The attacks) have caused the most compassionate nation in the world to
not have compassion with a couple of teenage girls,” he said.
Meanwhile, the youngest of the five Sarkisian girls, Patricia, has
decided to go straight to the top.
The 10-year-old wrote a letter to President Bush Tuesday asking a series
of questions about her sisters.
Why are they in jail? she asks.
“Why can’t they come home?”
“I mean they didn’t do anything wrong like drugs or even smoke.”
“I’m asking you these questions because you are the only person that can
answer these questions.”
She signed the letter, “Just a kid, Patricia Sarkisian.”