Author: Kalashian Nyrie

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
June 23, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC REPORTING INCLUDES TERM: “ARMENIAN GENOCIDE”
Turkish Protests Fail to Overturn Editorial Policy
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly commended National Geographic
magazine for continuing to characterize as “genocide,” the events of 1915 in
its July issue, thereby rejecting Turkish accusations of bias following a
22-page report in its March issue entitled, “Armenia Reborn.”
In an introductory note to its “Forum” section, the editors said the March
article and photos, “inspired more than 1,600 letters – the most mail
elicited by any one story in the past five years,” and published four
responses including a joint letter from Armenian Assembly Board of Trustees
Chairman Hirair Hovnanian and Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian.
The editors also reported that the magazine received “hundreds” of positive
letters from the Armenian community.
The Assembly letter said in part:
“[Armenian Reborn] captured the essence of the Armenian identity
historically and the values that animate our people today. As for the
cataclysmic event in our past – the Armenian genocide under cover of World
War I – National Geographic has not only told the truth, but is also in good
company.”
Armenian Assembly Executive Director Ross Vartian, along with Public Affairs
Director David Zenian and ANI Director Dr. Rouben Adalian, also expressed
appreciation and praise for the magazine report during a face-to-face
meeting with Washington editors in March.
The magazine’s last major report on Armenia was published in 1978.
In addition to the subject of the genocide, “Armenia Reborn,” written by
Frank Viviano and photographed by Alexandra Avakian, looks at the 3,000 year
history of Armenians and leads up to current events including independence,
the 1988 earthquake and the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
But it was the magazine’s coverage of the Armenian Genocide and by
extension, Turkey-Armenia relations, which sparked a Turkish outcry. Both
the Turkish government and Turkish lobby in the United States voiced their
criticism, mounting a worldwide letter-writing campaign challenging
accuracies in the story. The publishers of the magazine’s Turkish language
edition excluded “Armenia Reborn” from their March issue.
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#2004-060
Editor’s Note: Below is the published text of the Armenian Assembly letter
to National Geographic editors.
March 12, 2004
William L. Allen
Editor in Chief
National Geographic
1145 17th Street
Washington, DC 20036.
Dear Sir:
The article captured the essence of the Armenian identity historically and
the values that animate our people today. As for the cataclysmic event in
our past – the Armenian Genocide under cover of World War I – NATIONAL
GEOGRAPHIC has not only told the truth, but is also in good company. One
hundred and twenty-six Holocaust and Genocide scholars signed a petition on
March 7, 2000, calling the Armenian genocide “an incontestable historical
fact.” As recently as February 2003, the International Center for
Transitional Justice concluded that what happened to the Armenians includes
“all the elements of the crime of genocide … and legal scholars as well
as historians, politicians, journalists and other people would be justified
in continuing to so describe them.” The “controversy” today lies squarely
with the Turkish government as it continues to attempt to coerce the world
to be complicit in its denial. Turkey’s aspiration to be fully accepted as a
full member of European society will not be realized without facing its own
history – just as coming to terms with the destruction of Native Americans
and the stain of slavery made America what it is today: more humane and
just.
Sincerely,
Hirair Hovnanian
Chairman, Board of Trustees
Anthony Barsamian
Chairman, Board of Directors
Armenian Assembly of America

EURASEC A STRONG INCENTIVE TO RESTORE BROKEN TIES, ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SAYS
ArmenPress
June 18 2004
ASTANA, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS; Speaking at the session of the Inter-State
Council of the Eurasian Economic Community (EURASEC) that opened
in Kazakhstan capital Astana today here, Armenian president Robert
Kocharian said EURASEC is a strong incentive to restore the broken ties
and build a cooperation of quite a new quality. He said the outcome of
this cooperation will be higher economic growth rates of its member
countries and higher living standards of their population. Kocharian
was speaking, as an observer, an international conference here,
titled Eurasian Integration-New Development Trends and Globalization
Challenges.
According to Armenian president, apart from playing a significant
role in political and economic stability of this region, EURASEC
is a weighty component of the regional security. “Having in mind
the diversity of this region, effective models of inter-ethnic and
inter-faith dialogue may be developed here,” he said, adding that no
country can conduct an effective economic policy in isolation.
In a reference to the ongoing political and economic reforms in
Armenia Kocharian said the great majority of problems, typical of
all transitional countries, were surmounted. “Armenia’s economy is
shifting toward dynamic and sustainable development and our focus is
on entrepreneurial initiatives, market mechanisms and competition,”
he said, citing the latest years’ steady economic growth rates of
12 percent.
Kocharian also noted that the conflicts in the South Caucasus remain
major obstacles to development of its countries. “As advocates of
regional cooperation we believe that deeper economic integration
processes will help regulate these conflicts and build stability and
peace,” he said. President Kocharian has arrived in Astana to attend
a summit of heads of states of Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO).
The EURASEC session’s agenda has about 20 items. These include the
coordination of positions at the negotiations for accession to the
World Trade Organization, the implementation of the basic orientations
of the earlier approved fundamentals of the EURASEC cross-border
(cooperation) policy, a draft agreement on cooperation on the markets
of securities, and EURASEC interaction in the development of water
and energy resources in the catchments areas of the Amu-Darya and
Syr-Darya rivers.

Harrison will have his hands full
DARRYL BROADFOOT
The Herald, UK
June 16 2004
June 16 2004
RISKY Business could not have been a more appropriate billing for
Scott Harrison’s World Boxing Organisation featherweight title
defence against William Abelyan.
The Armenian-American arrived in Glasgow’s east end yesterday to
finalise preparations for what he believes will be the fulfilment of
his destiny at the Braehead Arena on Saturday. The credence given to
such boasts is often diluted when the jive-talking stops and the
jabbing begins.
Yet the undercurrent of trepidation spun by Frank Warren to promote
the fight was accentuated at Morrison’s Gym.
Abelyan, the WBO’s mandatory challenger, made little attempt to
disguise his contempt for Harrison. “I can’t believe his fight with
Medina went 11 rounds,” he said of Harrison’s successful rematch with
the Mexican in November.
“He is an old man. I sparred with him before his IBF fight and
dropped him a couple of times. I am coming here to take the belt
home.”
Don House, Abelyan’s trainer, agrees. “William has fought smaller
names in Mexico who are better this guy,” he said.
The 25-year-old Abelyan, who pulled out of the original date in March
with a shoulder injury and replaced by Walter Estrada, did not falter
when invited to explain his grounds for optimism.
Nor was he willing to accept that a year’s inactivity – he has not
fought since his three-round dismantling of Alejandro Estrada in
three rounds in Los Angeles last June – will put paid to the lofty
ambitions of the Abelyan camp.
“It’s not that I didn’t want to fight; nobody wanted to fight me,” he
said, a claim greeted with scepticism by Harrison’s manager, Frank
Maloney. “Scott is a fighter; I am a boxer. He is like a Mexican, he
will just come straight at me and then I will do my business.”
Maloney hopes the former high school tearaway does not wreak havoc on
Saturday and deny Harrison his shot at the big names. “I’m very
concerned about this guy,” he said. “If he loses this, there is no
rematch clause because it is a mandatory defence.”
Mike Tyson is set to make his latest comeback against Irishman Kevin
McBride on July 30. The finishing touches are being put on a deal
which could have the fight staged in Louisville, birthplace of
Muhammad Ali.

Le Télégramme
15 juin 2004
Contents ou mécontents ils campent sur leurs positions
AUTEUR: Y.M.
A l’origine, le camp du Tour-du-Parc devait accueillir trois
familles.
Deux familles de réfugiés arméniens étaient en effet conviées par la
Ddass à rejoindre ce camp après plusieurs mois passés dans un hôtel
vannetais.
L’une et l’autre ont refusé l’invitation. Une mère de trois enfants
s’est justifiée en invoquant l’éloignement du site des lignes de bus.
On ignore où ces familles ont trouvé refuge.
« Sans ça on serait à la rue »
Autres mécontents, mais qui ont, eux, accepté de rejoindre la
presqu’île, la famille Zumberi. Un couple et leurs trois garçons,
originaires du Kosovo et qui séjournaient depuis neuf mois dans un
hôtel de Vannes. « On nous a amenés ici en voiture et le conducteur
est vite reparti », peste la femme, dans un mélange franco-yougoslave
difficilement compréhensible. Ses gestes laissent cependant deviner
qu’elle n’apprécie guère le site.
« De toute manière, nous sommes ici jusqu’au 28 juin, enchaîne son
mari, nous aurons bientôt un appartement. Vannes, Lorient, Locminé,
Troyes, n’importe où, mais surtout pas Pontivy », glisse-t-il,
portant un doigt sur ses lèvres en signe de silence.
Et puis il y a cette autre famille, en France depuis décembre 2002 et
bien heureuse de trouver un toit. Les Eliachvili, ressortissants
géorgiens en attente d’un asile subsidiaire. « Sans cet endroit, on
serait à la rue. Nous ignorons pour combien de temps nous sommes
installés dans cette caravane, mais nous sommes contents d’être là,
même s’il a fait un peu froid le soir », sourit la maman, bien aidée
dans la traduction par la plus grande de ses filles.
Scolarisée en CP à Vannes, non loin de l’hôtel qui les hébergeait,
cette dernière en a terminé avec l’école vendredi. Jour où leur
départ leur a été signifié. Tout comme sa jeune soeur, en maternelle.
« S’il le faut, elles viendront à l’école chez nous », assure le
maire.
GRAPHIQUE: Photo, Legende: Autres mécontents, mais qui ont, eux,
accepté de rejoindre la presqu”île, la famille Zumberi. Un couple et
leurs trois garçons, originaires du Kosovo et qui séjournaient depuis
neuf mois dans un hôtel de Vannes.

ONLY 10 OUT OF 270 PETROL FILLING STATIONS COMPLY WITH REQUIRED STANDARDS
ArmenPress
June 7 2004
YEREVAN, JUNE 7, ARMENPRESS: Only 10 out of 270 petrol filling station
in the capital city of Yerevan comply with standards, set by the
urban construction department of the municipality. Samvel Danielian,
the head of Yerevan municipality architecture and urban construction
department said some 30 petrol filling stations were e dismantled
and another 125 are expected to be dismantled soon.
Currently 105 petrol filling stations are under investigation where
violations of urban construction norms were reported. In response
to a question whether those who had authorized construction of those
petrol filling stations will be brought to justice, the department head
said they are not responsible for that. Their task is to ensure that
petrol filling stations are in accordance with the norms established
by urban construction.

Armenian National Committee of Illinois
1701 North Greenwood
Glenview, IL 60025
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
June 7, 2004
For Immediate Release
Contact: Nishan Mekhdjian
[email protected]
ANC OF ILLINOIS MEETS WITH MELISSA BEAN
— Eighth District Democratic Congressional Candidate Reiterates Support of
Armenian American Issues
GLENVIEW, IL–On May 17, representatives of the Armenian National Committee
(ANC) of Illinois met with Melissa Bean. The meeting, held at the Armenian
Community Center in Glenview, gave the ANC activists an opportunity to
discuss concerns of the Armenian American community with the Eighth District
Democratic Congressional Candidate.
“From our discussion with Melissa Bean–and her response to the ANCA
Congressional Candidate Questionnaire–it is obvious that she is well aware
of the issues that confront Armenian Americans,” stated ANC of Illinois
Chairman Nishan Mekhdjian. “Her support of our community’s concerns is to
be commended.”
“As the November election approaches, we will make sure that Armenian
American constituents in Illinois clearly understand the views of candidates
vying for office. The ANC will also continue to work with candidates
running for local, state, federal offices in an effort to help clarify their
views on Armenian American issues,” concluded Mekhdjian.
During the meeting with Bean, ANC representatives Karine Birazian, Nishan
Mekhdjian, Noubar Sarkissian, and Sevon Torosian provided a brief background
of the Illinois Armenian American community. They further discussed
numerous current issues confronting Armenian Americans, including US
reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide–specifically the Congressional
Genocide Resolutions–US aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, and US-Armenia
economic relations, such as extending permanent normal trade relations for
Armenia and negotiating a Social Security Agreement and Tax Treaty.
In April, responding to the ANCA Congressional Candidate Questionnaire, Bean
expressed support for a number of key Armenian American concerns.
The Congressional Questionnaire calls upon candidates to answer nine
questions concerning their views on the Armenian Genocide,
self-determination for Nagorno Karabagh, US aid to Armenia and Nagorno
Karabagh, US-Armenian economic relations, conditions on US aid to
Azerbaijan, the Turkish blockade of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, and the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
Bean, currently the president of a consulting firm serving high-tech Fortune
1000 clients internationally, who also ran for Congress in Illinois’ Eighth
District in 2002, answered all nine questions favorably.
Republican Congressman Philip Crane, the incumbent candidate, is running for
his 19th term in office. Illinois’ Eighth Congressional District includes
parts of Lake, Cook, and McHenry counties.
The Armenian National Committee is the largest Armenian American grassroots
political organization in Illinois and nationwide. The ANC actively advances
a broad range of issues of concern to the Armenian American community.
####

International group denies Azeri children held in Armenian captivity
Noyan Tapan news agency
3 Jun 04
Yerevan, 3 June: The international working group to release POWs and
hostages and to trace missing persons in the zone of the Karabakh
conflict states with full confidence that information about camps for
Azerbaijani kamikaze children, which is allegedly located in Lacin
[Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani district], is wide of the mark.
The Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo published on 20 May an article by
journalist Lala Nuri headlined “Lacin-Buchenwald for Azerbaijani
children”. The article appeared after the co-chairman of the
international working group for POWs, hostages and missing persons
in the zone of the Karabakh conflict, Paata Zakareishvili, described
as a myth a report by two defectors from Armenia, Roman Teryan and
Artur Apresyan, who had said that Azerbaijani children were being
trained as kamikazes in Armenian captivity. The article reported that a
certain businessman Asaf Alimardanov called the editorial office of the
newspaper and said that an American engineer (?Terry Kagel), who used
to work with him, met Azerbaijani children held by Armenians during
his trip to occupied Lacin in the 1990s. At the request of Zerkalo
newspaper, Alimardanov contacted Kagel again and received, according
to the journalist, more detailed information which confirms that
Azerbaijani children are being held in a special camp in Lacin. The
newspaper reported that the editorial office had Mr Kagel’s office
telephone number. Mrs Nuri suggested that the international working
group find and return the Azerbaijani children to the motherland.
Since one of the forms of the work of the international working group
is to check such information, the group, as its press release says,
immediately started to implement the task set by the newspaper. Having
obtained Terry Kagel’s telephone number from the editorial office, the
members of the group called him and told him about the Zerkalo article
which had mentioned his name. Mr Kagel was extremely surprised and
asked them to send him a translation of the article. The co-chairman
of the international working group, Bernhard Clasen, accepted his
request. In his reply, Kagel flatly denied the facts cited in the
article and suggested calling two people Pastor David Goehring and
volunteer Stan Brown who had repeatedly visited Lacin on a humanitarian
mission under an AGAPE project. Bernhard Clasen held two conversations
with the two employees of AGAPE and received clearer information
saying that they had rendered assistance to a children’s institution
for Armenian children in Lacin.
The international working group decided not to publish this
information, as it had not seen this institution for itself and
had not spoken to AGAPE employees. On 2 June, the co-chairmen of the
international working group, Bernhard Clasen and Svetlana Gannushkina,
visited Lacin and went to a boarding school. It has 28 children from
difficult and incomplete families, and 18 of the children have only
one parent. The boarding school has had only four orphans so far. The
age of the children is between five and 18. These are mainly children
from refugee families. They are looked after very well – the girls
are taught needlework and the boys are dealing with housekeeping. The
AGAPE project has been working in this region since 1994, helping to
supply medical equipment to a hospital and implementing educational
programmes. Its employees were extremely surprised by the supposition
that Azerbaijani children could be held hostage in the boarding school.
The press release has been signed by Svetlana Gannushkina, Bernhard
Clasen and Paata Zakareishvili.

VLADIMIR PRYAKHIN EMPHASIZES NEED FOR ELECTORAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
A1 Plus | 20:56:08 | 04-06-2004 | Official |
With regard to a recent decision of the Yerevan Mayor’s Office to
prohibit rallies by opposition parties on 4 June, the Head of the
OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin said: “We regret
that the right of people to free assembly and expression of their
political views was restricted. We urge the authorities to apply the
new law on Conduct of Public Gatherings, Rallies, Demonstrations and
Marches in a proportionate and justified manner and make efforts to
further improve this essential piece of legislation.”
He stressed that the OSCE Office will continue to closely monitor
the political developments in Armenia and to support the country in
the process of democratization. He emphasized in particular the need
for electoral and constitutional reform.

FRANCE KEEN IN HIGHER DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN
AzerTag
[June 03, 2004, 10:51:18]
As was informed to AzerTAj from the press center of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, on June 2 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan
Republic Elmar Mammadyarov has received the ambassador of France in
our country Ms. Chantal Poiret in connection with termination of her
diplomatic mission in our republic.
Having noted, that the relations between Azerbaijan and France have
traditionally friendly character, minister Elmar Mammadyarov has
emphasized necessity of more active participation of France within the
framework of the Minsk Group and in the ongoing processes in region.
Having emphasized importance of settlement of regional conflicts,
in particular the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, for
establishment of stability and safety in the region, the Minister has
especially noted active participation of France in the economic life
of Azerbaijan.
Ambassador Chantal Poiret, having expressed gratitude to the Azerbaijan
side for fruitful cooperation and assistance rendered to her during
work in our country, has emphasized confidence of expansion and
henceforth relations between two states. She has stated that within
3 years of work in Baku was the direct witness of development of
Azerbaijan people and statehood, has expressed hope for the prompt
peace settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict
due to joint efforts of the international community.
Having noted interest of her country in development of cooperation
with Azerbaijan in oil branch, the Ambassador, speaking about
activity of one of the authoritative oil companies of France –
companies “Totalfinaelf ” – in our Republic, and also necessity of
strengthening of economic relations, informed that the delegation
of businessmen of French province Validuaz in September – October of
the current year will make visit to Baku.
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov wished the ambassador Ms. Chantal Poiret
successes in the further activity.

ARMENIAN PREMIER READY TO NEGOTIATE WITH OPPOSITION
Ayots Ashkhar, Yerevan
27 May 04
Text of Vaan Vardanyan’s report by Armenian newspaper Ayots Ashkhar
on 27 May headlined “Mutual work was a success”
Armenian Premier Andranik Markaryan had a traditional meeting with
journalists yesterday after a meeting between the National Assembly
and the government.
(Correspondent) Mr Markaryan, what is your assessment of the one-year
activity of the National Assembly?
(Markaryan) It is positive. The government and the National Assembly
managed to work together, as the same format operates in both branches
of power in the person of the coalition parties, the United Labour
Party and the People’s Deputy group.
Unfortunately, the opposition boycotted the last session of the
National Assembly. It does not prevent the legislative branch of
power from working. And I think the opposition should be concerned
about this. And its presence at the next session is desirable.
(Correspondent) What is your attitude to the failed dialogue with the
opposition? You have met Aram Sarkisyan (a member of the opposition’s
Justice faction and chairman of the Democratic Party of Armenia)
and intended to continue this line. Against the background of the
failed dialogue, what will be the fate of this initiative?
(Markaryan) I thought that the coalition’s meetings with the opposition
would yield certain results, that is why I announced my intention to
meet the leaders of the opposition. But before I returned from abroad,
the opposition put forward new preconditions, which is inadmissible. If
they change their position, I am ready to negotiate with them as the
leader of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and prime minister.
(Correspondent) Are you satisfied with the activity of the coalition
parties last year? When the coalition was just being formed, did you
think that the relations would be the way they are now?
(Markaryan) The formation of a coalition is not a marriage of parties
or a compulsory term. It is a mutual desire of everyone. None of the
coalition parties has attempted to describe the declaration as null
and void so far, and I can state that no such thing will happen in the
future. There are problems discussed inside the coalition. One should
not forget that it is the first attempt to form a coalition. Every
month and at every session, the work of the coalition becomes more
and more improved, especially in the National Assembly. The coalition
representatives have no problems with each other in the government at
all. There are some problems between the coalition parties operating
in the National Assembly, but they are technical and will be settled
in the course of time.
(Correspondent) Did the RPA play any role in changing the restraining
measure against (ex-Defence Minister) Vagarshak Arutyunyan and what
is your opinion of this, on the whole?
(Markaryan) Politics cannot be mixed with criminal cases and no party
can interfere in a criminal case. MPs or political forces can only
propose that the restraining measure be changed. And I can assure
you that RPA has made no such proposal.
(Correspondent) The head of your faction, Galust Saakyan, often states
that the opposition is falling apart little by little. Can one state
that the possibility of a third force appearing is increasing?
(Markaryan) A holy place is never left unoccupied, someone will take
it at last, but I cannot call them a third or a fourth force.
(Correspondent) The Georgian president has reached an agreement with
Turkey on the construction of a new railway. In turn, Iran and Russia
are concluding a similar deal with Azerbaijan. Don’t you think that
Armenia will be sidelined?
(Markaryan) I think that just for this reason, we shall try to
participate in this programme. We are having negotiations both with
Russia and Georgia to open the Abkhaz railway. If it is opened,
it will be less possible to sideline the country. We have our own
problems, other states have their own. We must only take into account
the reality, and how can Armenia influence the solutions to these
problems? We have proposals which seem promising to other parties.