Author: Kalashian Nyrie

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
December 12, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY INITIATIVE TO BECOME LAW

U.S. Counters Turkish Attempt to Isolate Armenia

Washington, DC – Longtime Armenian issues leader Senator Robert Menendez
(D-NJ) last week hailed the unanimous passage of legislation that
included a provision to prevent U.S. financing of a nearly $800 million
railway project benefiting Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgian while
deliberately excluding Armenia.

"I am pleased that this legislation has passed the House and includes an
identical amendment to the one I passed in the Senate on a railroad in
the Caucasus," Menendez told the Assembly. The amendment, which
Menendez introduced along with Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), was adopted
by the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee in September.

"I believe that we cannot continue to stoke the embers of regional
conflict by supporting projects that deliberately exclude one of the
region’s most important members," Menendez continued. "Fundamentally,
these amendments are about fairness and about inclusion, rather than
exclusion. With these amendments, we have sent a simple message — that
we believe that the United States should support an integrated and
inclusive approach to economic and regional development in the Caucasus
region. I hope to see this enacted into law in the future."

"We commend Senator Menendez for ensuring that this critical provision
was approved by Congress," said Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman
Hirair Hovnanian. "Attempts to exclude or isolate Armenia will not go
unanswered. The Armenian Assembly has a proud record of working to
ensure a secure, prosperous and democratic Armenia."

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

NR#2006-109

CONCERT SABOTAGE EFFORT BY AZERIS FAILED
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
07/12/2006

A group of Azeris tried to sabotage "The Voices of Artsakh" concert
organized by the Union of Russian Armenians and the Armenian Embassy
in Russia on December 4. REGNUM news agency reports that the efforts
were neutralized by the police of Moscow and the concert, to which
1500 people were present, lasted successfully for 3,5 hours.

SLAVERY AND JUSTICE REPORT MISLEADS ON ARMENIAN ‘GENOCIDE’
by Ozge Can Ozcanli, Cengiz Pehlevan and Mert Akdere

The Brown Daily Herald, RI
Dec 6 2006

PrintEmail Article Tools Page 1 of 1 For centuries – longer than
the lifetime of the United States – the Christian and the Muslim
population of the Ottoman Empire had lived peacefully in Anatolia.

However, with the decline of Ottoman rule, nationalistic movements
began to tear the empire apart. In the 19th and early 20th century,
the Balkan nations gained independence, and with considerable help
from European and Russian interventions, relations between Muslims and
Christian Armenians in modern-day eastern Turkey began to degenerate.

Many aspects of this history still need to be illuminated through
objective studies; however, many historians agree that, during
World War I, the Armenian population in Eastern Anatolia rose in an
armed revolt in alliance with Russia, the enemy of the Ottomans. This
revolt was viewed as a security threat and the empire ordered a forced
relocation of Armenians from the region. During the relocation process,
hundreds of thousands of Armenians were killed by famine, epidemics
or by attacks from Muslim gangs and some corrupt policemen.

The Turkish government, together with many international historians,
refuses the contention that these unfortunate events represented an
organized, one-sided "genocide" such as what took place recently in
Rwanda. The debate around this issue – whether the word "genocide"
should be used to describe the killings – is very sensitive for both
ethnic Turks and Armenians.

An observant mind can recognize an interesting connection between the
debate surrounding these killings, the recent visit of Nobel Prize
recipient Orhan Pamuk’s visit to Brown and the October report of the
University Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice. The middle
section of the report proposes the killings of Armenians during
World War I as an undeniable example of genocide; Pamuk, meanwhile,
had recently talked about these killings in an interview and, as
emphasized many times by the press, he "faced potential jail time"
in Turkey as a result.

This contributed to his image as a repressed writer, making him seem
like a perfect participant at the Freedom to Write Literary Festival
at Brown. However, unlike the festival’s other participants, none of
Pamuk’s books have been banned, nor has he ever been imprisoned. On
the contrary, he has been one of the best-selling authors in Turkey.

As for "potential jail time," Pamuk was indeed charged under the
controversial Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, but his trial
never started; the court dropped it under a technicality (undoubtedly
a result of popular opposition).

Turkey’s Article 301, which is also mentioned in the slavery and
sustice report, is often misrepresented or misunderstood. The
article does not specifically forbid talking about the Armenian
killings or terming them genocide. It forbids "public denigration
of Turkishness," and since it is vaguely worded, it is often misused
by zealous prosecutors in cases such as Pamuk’s. Criticisms of such
misuses and the anti-democratic nature of the article have followed
deservedly from both Turkish and international society.

However, it should be clarified that no one in Turkey has been put into
prison for terming Armenian killings a "genocide" based on Article
301. On the contrary, despite Pamuk’s claims that no one except him
talks about the killings, the genocide claim is being debated among
Turkish scholars just like it is in other countries.

Ironically, some exemplary democracies such as Switzerland and France
are passing legislation specifically to ban the freedom to say that the
Armenian killings were not genocide. Other countries, like Canada and
Belgium, have passed resolutions to recognize the events officially as
"genocide."

This political campaign is absurd given the fact that there is
no consensus among historians regarding the issue. Distinguished
scholars of Ottoman history like Roderic Davison, J.C. Hurewitz,
Bernard Lewis and Guenter Lewy, among many others, have rejected the
genocide label for the atrocities committed in Eastern Anatolia during
World War I. Moreover, in the United States, historical scholars
mobilized in 1985 against a similar Armenian Genocide Resolution
proposed by politicians in the House of Representatives.

Over 60 American academicians who specialize in Turkish, Ottoman and
Middle Eastern studies from prominent universities such as Princeton,
Columbia and University of California – Los Angeles wrote a letter
to the House, which was simultaneously published in the New York Times:

"… As for the charge of ‘genocide’ no signatory of this statement
wishes to minimize the scope of Armenian suffering… throughout
the years in question, the (Eastern Anatolian) region was the scene
of more or less continuous warfare, not unlike the tragedy which has
gone on in Lebanon for the past decade. The resulting death toll among
both Muslim and Christian communities of the region was immense. But
much more remains to be discovered before historians will be able to
sort out precisely… the (nature of) the events which resulted in the
death or removal of large numbers of the eastern Anatolian population,
Christian and Muslim alike."

One of the authors of this letter, Stanford Shaw, was threatened by
a bomb attack to his house in 1977 by an Armenian terrorist group.

Armenian fanatics did not hesitate to use terror during the 1970s and
1980s in an attempt to force Turkey to accept the term "genocide"
and agree to land reparations. Unfortunately, a total of 41 people
lost their lives in over 200 terrorist attacks in 20 countries as a
direct result of this campaign.

It is na’ve to think that proponents of the genocide theory are
engaged in a mere quest for truth, given that historical debate is
being stifled and Turkey’s attempts to engage in this debate are
being turned down. As recently as March 2005, Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan invited the Armenian government to establish a
joint commission of Turkish, Armenian and international historians
to investigate archives of all related countries and sort out the
true nature of the events that transpired. The offer was rejected –
by Armenia.

Ironically, the slavery and justice report dedicates a good portion of
its volume to such "Truth Commissions" and counts them as a rubric of
reparative justice. However, for some reason the report never mentions
Turkey’s invitations but claims the country is in constant denial.

It is rather disappointing that in a report prepared by academics
at Brown in the name of truth and justice, the debate surrounding
this issue – and Turkey’s attempts to investigate it objectively –
has been ignored completely.

Ozge Can Ozcanli GS, Cengiz Pehlevan GS and Mert Akdere GS are members
of the Brown Turkish Cultural Society.

orage/paper472/news/2006/12/06/Columns/Ozge-Can.Oz canli.Gs.Cengiz.Pehlevan.Gs.And.Mert.Akdere.Gs.Sla very.And.Justice.Re-2524602.shtml?norewrite2006120 61624&sourcedomain=

L A Weight Loss Donates $10,000 to St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital

Weight Loss Company Continues Commitment to Helping
Families Around the Country Cope With Catastrophic
Illnesses in Children

PRNewswire
Monday November 27, 2006
Press Release

HORSHAM, Pa., Nov. 27 /PRNewswire/ — L A Weight Loss
Centers, Inc., the nation’s fastest growing weight
loss company, today announced a $10,000 donation to
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital focused on
increasing the survival rates for children fighting
cancer and other catastrophic diseases from all over
the world, regardless of race, religion or their
inability to pay.

Vahan Karian, Chairman and CEO of L A Weight Loss
Centers, says "St. Jude helps children in so many
ways, we are just glad we can contribute to their
cause."

According to Erika Speed, Event Marketing
Representative for St. Jude Hospital, "St Jude
Children’s Research Hospital would like to thank L A
Weight Loss Centers for their generous donation in
support of our hospital and mission. We could not
fulfill this mission without the help and
thoughtfulness of organizations like L A Weight Loss.
The kids of St. Jude thank you for your generosity and
kindness! We couldn’t do it without you!"

About L A Weight Loss Centers

Founded in 1989, L A Weight Loss Centers, Inc. has
become the nation’s fastest growing weight loss
company, with 400 centers nationwide. The Company has
helped millions of people lose millions of pounds
through customized meal plans, a balanced diet, and
one-on-one weight loss counseling. L A Weight Loss is
privately held and is based in Horsham, Pa.

Press contact: Company contact:
Jessica MacDonald Lorie DeVuono
Account Executive Press Relations
Golin Harris L A Weight Loss Centers
111 East Wacker Drive 747 Dresher Road, Ste
100
Chicago, IL 60601 Horsham, PA 19044
312-729-4430 215-346-4300
[email protected]
[email protected]

Source: L A Weight Loss Centers, Inc.

ml?.v=55

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
December 1, 2006 Friday

UKRAINE IS ADVANCING MILITARY COOPERATION WITH BELARUS AND ARMENIA

Belarusian and Ukrainian defense Ministers Leonid Maltsev and Anatoly
Gritsenko signed an accord "On establishment of information sharing
systems" and the plan of bilateral cooperation between national
defense ministries in 2007.

Maltsev and Gritsenko decided to prepare for the signing in 2007, the
agreement between the defense ministries on cooperation to ensure air
traffic safety.

Eight joint functions within the framework of bilateral military
cooperation between Belarus and Armenia are planned for 2007 (four on
the territory of each country). Gritsenko and Armenian Defense
Minister Serzh Sargsjan signed the 2007 military cooperation plan on
November 23. Officers of the Armenian army will be observers at Sea
Breeze’2007 exercise in Ukraine.

Source: Voenno-Promyshlenny Kuryer, No 46, November 29 – December 5,
2006, p. 3

Translated by A. Ignatkin

Independent Extra
December 1, 2006 Friday
First Edition

MELIK OHANIAN: SEVEN MINUTES BEFORE;
Visual arts;
South London Gallery LONDON

by Sue Hubbard

A faint light glimmers at the end of a long tunnel. There is a sense
that we are passing through a transformative space as we emerge into
a high valley (so the voiceover tells us) in the Vercors mountains,
southern France. A stream babbles over rocks, an Asian girl plays a
haunting melody on a stringed koto, a lone wolf howls in a cage and a
camp fire burns within the walls of a derelict farm building. These
are some of the images that appear on the seven screens of the
French-Armenian artist Melik Ohanian’s video installation Seven
Minutes Before.

With a background in documentary film-making and cinema, Ohanian
makes implicit reference to cinema, contemporary art, music and
cosmology, attempting to bring together apparently disparate images
into a dramatic, cohesive whole. Located in a pristine Alpine
landscape, seemingly untouched for centuries, the narrative is framed
by two enigmatic events. The film starts with an account of the death
of 43 grazing horses found crushed to death at the bottom of a steep
cliff, while the final sequence presents a double accident: a white
van suddenly being hit by a motorbike that zooms in from a side
turning, and, further down the road, a camper van that spontaneously
explodes. There is no explanation for any of this but the two
incidents act as bookends to the images that arrive and dissolve on
the screens in front of us.

Seven Minutes Before does not attempt to construct a linear narrative
but rather provokes a mood that is at once both poetic and
philosophical and demands total involvement of the viewer to
construct a meaning. The elemental images that involve fire, water,
earth and rock, unfold as if in a dream. Perspectives are blurred, as
is our sense of time. What seems linear is continuously disrupted to
suggest alternative possibilities. The result is a palimpsest woven
from a multiplicity of events and elements. The central thesis
emerges as an investigation into time and space, memory and history.
The film also acknowledges our desire to understand the scope of
historical time and grasp something of the life of the entire
universe.

Seven Minutes Before is a film that debates complex questions about
what it means to exist in time and space, and asks which story
exactly is the one that should be told.

To 22 December (020-7252 4730)

FOOTBALL FEDERATION OF ARMENIA PRESIDENT RUBEN HAYRAPETYAN

UEFA, Switzerland
Nov 28 2006

The Football Federation of Armenia has held its fifth presidential
election, with the incumbent Ruben Hayrapetyan winning a second
four-year term in office.

Armenia’s football future
The 43-year-old Hayrapetyan, the only candidate in the federation’s
first uncontested election, said: "I am happy I could win your trust –
the fact we had only one candidate shows that nobody else wanted to
take on the task of plotting a future for football in Armenia. I will
do my best to continue our development."

Youthful promise
When Hayrapetyan took the post in 2002, there were only 2,000
associated young players in the country. Under his tutelage, the
Armenia Under-17 team has participated in the qualifying round for the
UEFA European U17 Championship, while the national U19s qualified for
the final tournament of their European Championship in Northern Ireland
in 2005. "These youngsters will eventually break into the senior team
and we will do our best to keep them progressing," Hayrapetyan said.

GOVERNMENT’S DEVICES ARE PRIMITIVE

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 28 2006

The leader of the Homeland and Honor Party Garnik Margaryan commented
on the situation in Armenia, the anti-criminal movement and its
results in an interview with the Lragir.

– The press has already reported that the outcome of the parliamentary
election of 2007 is already clear. The "specialists" of fraud,
ballot stuffing, disappearance of ballot boxes will do their job,
either in the divisional or the central commission. When we initiated
the anti-criminal movement, many people thought that we were going
to expose separate minor crimes. Thanks God, most people realized
in time that the anti-criminal movement was going to become a wall
against the criminal coup of the criminal regime.

The consolidation of the criminal in the Republican Party was
intended to pull off a criminal coup. An attempt was made to turn the
political party into a monster and seize power by getting hold of all
the government levers. This process is underway, but the regime has
realized that there are forces in the country which would not allow
another crime against the country and people. Realizing this and along
with this the regime tried to take another track. It set up a political
party, the Bargavach Hayastan Party to use the immense economic
potential, which is not the result of work, place these political
parties into political developments and reproduce through them.

The anti-criminal movement will go on, and it has two goals, the first,
as I said, is to prevent a criminal coup, the second is to create a
certain basis to hold out the materials on people who are responsible
for the crimes they commit now to the law enforcement agencies of
tomorrow’s government. Besides responsibility, everything they have
robbed must be nationalized.

The law prohibits charity by political parties. However, Bargavach
Hayastan is lavishly distributing aid. It is interesting to know
on what money. If it is at the expense of the income of business,
let them set up a charity. Isn’t it at the expense of immense profits?

Why are they worried and are distributing everything from vegetables
to agricultural materials? For electioneering they should have waited
until the pre-election period. All this comes to prove that the
government think they are smart, and are trying to forge an electorate
through "charity". This is dangerous for the country.

The regime chose a criminal way, joined the criminal clan, the
criminal penetrated into the four main institutions, the president
administration, the legislative, the executive and the judicial bodies
and started robbing. They live under their own laws, and the government
became a marionette. Isn’t it a tragedy when an Armenian woman, a
teacher, is run down in front of the policeman and the policeman does
not notice the number of the car, the car is not arrested. I believe
that like in the case of the brother of Muk (Ara Abrahamyan – ed.) an
official or an oligarch was driving, his offspring or relative. It
means that the law does not work, there is anarchy in the country.

This is a marionette government, and the world powers are playing
with it. The Property for Debt and other projects show that we have
a marionette government. They agree to give away anything to remain
in their office. However, this time this won’t work. The political
life of marionettes is very short. They are squeezed like a lemon
and thrown away.

The anti-criminal movement, the movement of civil defiance and the
other initiatives show that the unification of healthy forces is a
political necessity. People should become alert and stand up, display
their resolve. The pro-government forces and individuals are trying
to discern controversies among us. But when a person is not sincere,
and wants to do something for the state, together with him I think
about our future. These devices are very primitive.

ANC PAC
104 N. Belmont St.
Suite 200B
Glendale, CA 91206
PRESS RELEASE

ANC-PAC Discusses Withdrawal of Hoagland Nomination With Senator Biden
Urges Incoming Foreign Relations Committee Chairman to Call on
White House to Propose a New Candidate to Serve as
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
November 28, 2006
LOS ANGELES, CA — Armenian National Committee-Political Action Committee
(ANC-PAC) Chairman Leonard Manoukian and former Clinton Administration
official Michael Mahdesian engaged in a discussion with Senator Joe Biden
(D-DE), the incoming Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, regarding
the increasingly controversial nomination of Dick Hoagland to serve as U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia.
The meeting was held in connection with a November 17th fundraising
reception in Santa Monica, California honoring the Senator in advance of his
anticipated bid for the U.S. Presidency in 2008.
During the course of the evening, Manoukian discussed the Armenian
American community’s opposition to the nomination of Richard Hoagland, noting
that the nominee had, by denying the Armenian Genocide, disqualified himself
from serving as an effective U.S. Ambassador in Yerevan. In light of the
major liabilities that Ambassador-designate Hoagland has imposed upon himself
– and the subsequent "hold" on his nomination placed by Senator Bob Menendez
(D-NJ) – Manoukian discussed with Senator Biden the need for the White House
to move this process forward by proposing a new candidate for this important
diplomatic post.
Hoagland was nominated earlier this year to replace U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia, John Marshall Evans, who was relieved of his ambassadorial duties as
the result of his remarks to the Armenian American community in February 2005
in which he openly and accurately referred to the Armenian Genocide. During
his confirmation process, Ambassador-designate Hoagland went far beyond the
bounds of the Administration’s already deeply flawed policy on the Armenian
Genocide, actually calling into question the reality of this crime against
humanity. His denials prompted bipartisan opposition to his confirmation
within the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and ultimately resulted in his
nomination being blocked by a "hold" place by New Jersey Senator Bob
Menendez.
On November 8th, the day after the Congressional elections, the ANCA
restated its opposition to Hoagland’s confirmation and called on members of
the Senate to seek the withdrawal of his nomination.
"We welcomed this opportunity to support Senator Biden’s presidential
aspirations, to thank him for his many years of friendship, and to exchange
views with him about the status of the Hoagland nomination," said Manoukian.
"We left our conversation secure in the knowledge that the Senator, who has
spoken eloquently on the need for U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
shares our view that respect for the truth serves as the foundation of all
good governance – both at home and abroad."
The ANC-PAC is a non-partisan federally registered political action
committee established to support campaign committees for Members of Congress
who share the values of the Armenian American community. The ANC-PAC is at
the forefront of efforts to ensure that the voice of the Armenian American
community is clearly heard in our nation’s capital. The ANC-PAC continues a
century old tradition of Armenian Americans engagement on the public policy
issues facing national political leaders, both in the U.S. Congress and the
White House.

Financial Mirror, Cyprus
Nov 24 2006

Armenian President expresses sorrow over division of Nicosia

24/11/2006

It is very sad to see Nicosia divided and know that this is happening
in Europe, President of Armenia Robert Kocharian said on Friday,
after visiting the ceasefire line in Nicosia.
”It is very sad to see this old city divided and know that this is
happening in Europe. Not only the city was divided, by also human
lives were lost and many people are still missing,” Kocharian wrote
in the visitors’ book.
Accompanied by Nicosia Mayor Michalakis Zampelas and other officials,
Kocharian and his entourage visited the ceasefire line, dividing the
government-controlled areas from the Turkish occupied northern part
of the island, since the Turkish invasion of 1974.
The Armenian President, who is on a state visit to Cyprus, wished
that the island will be united again and that the people of Cyprus
will live under conditions of prosperity and peace.
Earlier, Zampelas presented the Golden Key of the City to the
Armenian President during an official ceremony at the town hall.
In his address at the ceremony, Kocharian said that ”although this
is my first visit in Cyprus, all things around me seem so familiar
that I get the impression that sooner or later people will start
talking to me in Armenian.”
The Armenian President wished that justice will prevail in Nicosia,
just as in the case of Berlin, were the wall was demolished and now
the city has become a symbol of peace.
”I was recently in Berlin. It is a city that proved how justice in
the end prevails. I wish that Nicosia is again reunited and the
Cyprus issue is resolved according to the wishes of the Cypriot
people,” he said.
He also made a proposal that the capital cities of Yerevan and
Nicosia become twinned.
In his address, the Nicosia Mayor referred to the traditionally
friendly relations between Cyprus and Armenia.
Referring to the Armenian people living in Cyprus, he said that they
are an important part of the Cypriot people and contribute to a great
extent to the political, economic and social prosperity of the
island.
Later on, the Armenian President visited the Armenian Archbishopric,
Church and School in Nicosia.
A warm welcome was awaiting him by Armenians living in Nicosia, who
applauded and thanked him for his visit.
Kocharian was welcomed by Archbishop of the Armenian Church in Cyprus
Varoujan Hergelian.
Armenian pupils, holding Cypriot and Armenian flags, greeted the
official Armenian delegation and prepared a cultural programme with
traditional dances for its members.
Speaking to the press, Representative of the Armenian Religious Group
at the House of Representatives Mahdesian Vartkes referred to the
friendly relations between Armenia and Cyprus, saying that the living
conditions of Armenians on the island are excellent.