Author: Kanayan Tamar

Reparation day will come

24.04.2007 12:15

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Youth and Nikol Aghbalian Student unions of the ARF
organized a torch-march on April 23. The lit torches symbolized the
strength of spirit and the determination to see the day of reparation.

Thousands of young Armenians from Armenian regions, Artsakh, Javakhk
and European countries and Istanbul joined in the traditional
torch-march held for the 8th time.

"When Turkey perpetrated a genocide 92 years ago, it wanted to
exterminate a whole nation. Today, you prove that Turkey has failed,"
ARF Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Affairs office director Kiro
Manoyan said, addressing the crowd. He said that the struggle is more
difficult today but it will last until a victory for a freer, more
independent and united Armenia.

"Eight years ago, a few dozen youths were lighting torches in this
square, their number grew in the following years, and now, thousands
participate in the march," ARF Supreme Body of Armenia member Gegham
Manukian said to those gathered.

"We will light the fire on the hill of Tsitsernakaberd that one day
will destroy the tyranny, we will light the fire in the hearts of all
compatriots and young people like you will light that fire in Istanbul
one day," he said.

The participants burnt a Turkish flag and moved on to Tsitsernakaberd.

CEREMONY IN MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS HELD IN NEA ZMIRNI

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 25 2007

NEA ZMIRNI, APRIL 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the initiative
of the prefecture of Athens and with the sponsorship of the local
Armenian clergymen, a ceremony in memory of the innocent victims of
the Armenian Genocide took place at the Armenian memorial monument
in Nea Zmirni on April 23.

The event was chaired by Harutyun Chinarian, who after presenting a
short historical background noted that today’s Turkey is continuing
to be a captive of its guilty past.

Among Greek guests were former Greek prime minister Ioannis Grivas,
mayor of Nea Zmirni Yorgos Kutyalakis, deputy mayors Vankelis
Khachaturian and Marina Iokovaki, chairman and members of the city
council and many other officials.

In his speech the Nea Zmirni mayor indicated the highly pro-Armenian
feelings of the mayor’s office and informed those present that a
5-member delegation will this week visit Armenia within the framework
of Nea Zmirni-Sisian sister cities process.

After speeches, wreaths were laid at the memorial monument and the
brass band of Nea Zmirni performed the national anthems of Armenia
and Greece.

KOSOVO: MISSION OF UN SECURITY COUNCIL DEPARTED FOR BALKANS

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.04.2007 19:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Representatives of all UN Security Council
member-states departed for Balkans with a 5-day visit. Fife permanent
and 10 non-permanent representatives of the UN Security Council are
included in the mission.

Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations Vitali Churkin and US’s
new Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad are also included in the mission. The
latter assumed office just on Tuesday.

Belgium’s representative Johan Verbeke heads the mission. The tour
will launch with a visit with NATO Sec. Gen. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in
Brussels, after which the diplomats will depart for Serbian capital
Belgrade. Serbian authorities oppose Kosovo’s independence.

The UN mission members after visiting Belgrade are going to be
in Pristina, Kosovo’s capital. They will meet with the acting UN
administration of Kosovo and local politicians, who represent the
Albanian majority of the province, the BBC Russian service reported.

ARMENIA WILL BE PARTY TO URANIUM ENRICHMENT CENTER – KIRIYENKO

Interfax, Russia
April 23 2007

YEREVAN. April 23 (Interfax) – Armenia is ready to join the
International Uranium Enrichment Center which Russia is setting up in
Angarsk, head of the Russian Atomic Energy Agency Sergei Kiriyenko
said at a Monday meeting with Armenian Environmental Protection
Minister Vardan Ayvazian.

"We have launched the first consultations on Armenia’s involvement
in the International Uranium Enrichment Center," he said.

OFFICE OF GENERAL PROSECUTOR OF ARMENIA CLOSED CRIMINAL CASE OVER A-320 AIR CATASTROPHE

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.04.2007 17:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Office of General Prosecutor of Armenia closed
the criminal case over A-320 air catastrophe. The criminal case has
been closed in accordance with Article 35, point 1 of Armenian Penal
Code (because of the death of guilty person).

According to the Intergovernmental Aviation Committee, which has
published results of investigation concerning the air crush of an
"Armavia" air company airbus, during gathering height and turnover
for the second circle the pilot of A-320 lost orientation.

Soon after it the plane instead of ascent began to descend, which
resulted in the crush. When the crew realized the situation was
catastrophic, it was impossible to do anything, say experts of
Intergovernmental Aviation Committee. The investigation of the
air disaster was carried out in accordance with Intergovernmental
Agreement on civil aviation and on using air space of 12 countries
that Russia and Armenian participate in. The investigation was carried
out by the Intergovernmental Aviation Committee with the Rules of
investigating air incidents and crushes of civil planes in Russian
Federation. Representatives of Rostransnadzor, Rosaeronavigation,
Rosaviation and Armenian aviation authorities were included in the
committee.

On May 3, 2006 near the Sochi airport an airbus, which belonged to
"Armavia" Armenian air company crushed to the water. All 113 people
including 8 crew-members died in the result of the catastrophe. Because
of low nebulosity the flying control officer banned the pilot to land
in, when the plane was a few kilometers away from the airport. He
ordered the A-320 pilot to go for the second circle. During that
maneuver the plane crushed into the water not far away from the
seashore.

LET OUR NEIGHBORS NOT THINK THAT WE CAN FORGET CRIME COMMITTED AT THE BEGINNING OF PREVIOUS CENTURY, MIKAYEL HAROUTIUNIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 24 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 24, NOYAN TAPAN. Thousands of people visited Yerevan’s
Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex of Victims of Armenian Genocide on
April 24 to pay the tribute of their respect to the memory of 1.5
mln victims. RA President Robert Kocharian, RA NA Speaker Tigran
Torosian, Prime Minister Serge Sargsian, members of government,
other high-ranking officials and foreign ambassadors eccredited in
RA visited the Memorial on the occasion of the 92th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide.

Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II prayed for the souls of
Genocide victims.

"Today we have gathered here to remember the crime committed at the
beginning of the 20th century. We have not forgotten those innocent
victims. And let our neighbors not think that we can forget what was
committed at the beginning of the previous century," RA Acting Defence
Minister Mikayel Haroutiunian said in his interview to journalists.

GIANT MEETING FOR THE DENIAL OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN NY

Sabah, Turkey
April 23 2007

Hundreds of Turkish protestors have filled the streets of New York
to protest the pending Armenian genocide bill in the US Congress.

Turks holding banners that say ‘stop the Armenian genocide lie’
marched in New York Streets.

Protests lasted more than four hours without intervention of police.

Some protestors carried posters with pictures of Turkish diplomats
who were killed by Armenian terrorist organization ASALA.

LATVIAN FOREIGN MINISTER COMMEMORATES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS

ARMENPRESS
Apr 20 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS: Latvia’s foreign minister Artis Pabriks,
who arrived in Yerevan yesterday evening, laid a wreath at the Genocide
Museum today to pay tribute to 1.5 million Armenians annihilated in
the Ottoman Turkey between 1915-1921.

"We are paying tribute to all victims of this tragedy. The suffering of
innocent people, of women and children will never be forgotten. Cruelty
and barbarity can not bring peace to peoples. We bow our heads to all
innocent victims of the genocide,’ he wrote in a special book in the
Genocide Museum and Institute.

The foreign minister of Latvia also planted a tree in a nearby alley.

Later in the day Latvia’s foreign minister was received by prime
minister Serzh Sarkisian for a discussion of ways to boost trade and
other ties.

Pabriks was quoted by the government press office as saying that
opening of a direct flight between the two countries would be
instrumental in changing weak economic contacts between his country
and Armenia. He also suggested that both countries could effectively
cooperate in IT and banking sectors.

Both men also underscored bilateral cooperation from the perspective
of Armenia’s declared drive to build as close as possible relations
with the European Union, spurred up by its inclusion in the European
Neighborhood Program.

ROBERT KOCHARYAN: RA GOVERNMENT IS DECISIVE TO ORGANIZE ELECTIONS CORRESPONDING TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

ArmRadio.am
20.04.2007 16:56

RA President Robert Kocharyan today received the Vice-Speaker of
the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament Alexander Torshin and
the Secretary General of the CIS Interparlaimentary Assembly Mikhail
Krotov, who are leading the delegation of the CIS Interparliamentary
Assembly observing the parliamentary elections in Armenia.

"The Armenian Government is decisive to organize elections
corresponding to international standards and create all the conditions
for carrying out observation mission," RA President said during the
meeting, President’s Press Office informs.

Mikhail Krotov informed that the Yerevan Office of the CIS
Interparlaimentary Assembly International Institute for Monitoring
Democracy, Development of Parliamentarism, Defense of Human Rights has
been operating since March. Its work group comprised of 29 observers
provides weekly reports on the electoral process.

According to CIS observers, the preliminary monitoring results
show that the preparation works are are rather effective, and the
shortcomings of the previous elections have been mostly corrected.

CEREMONY TO COMMEMORATE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS
By: Scott Whipple, Herald Staff

New Britain Herald, CT
April 20 2007

Saturday will be a day of remembrance for area Armenians.

State Rep. John C. Geragosian, D-25th District, and the Connecticut
Armenian Community will hold a ceremony in recognition of the 92nd
anniversary of the Turkish government’s genocide of the Armenian
population. Events will begin outside the state capitol with a
flag-raising ceremony at 10:30 a.m., followed by a commemoration
ceremony and Requiem Service in the House chambers at 11 a.m. to
honor martyrs and survivors.

Genocide is the organized killing of a people for the express purpose
of putting an end to their collective existence.

During the genocide, over 1.5 million Armenians were killed by
the Ottoman Empire between the years 1915 and 1923. Five hundred
thousand others were driven from their homes into exile, where they
were imprisoned or forced into death marches and massacred.

"As human beings we should never forget the atrocities that were
perpetuated upon the Armenian people," Geragosian said. "The suffering
of the Armenian people was one of the most horrific events of the
20th century and possibly in the history of our world.

With mass killings occurring in places like Darfur today, the lessons
of the Armenian genocide must not be lost on people. We’re hoping the
U.S. Congress will finally pass a resolution to formally recognize
this injustice on the Armenian people."

This year’s ceremony will be in honor of Hrant Dink, an Armenian and
Turkish editor and journalist. Dink was murdered earlier this year
by a Turkish nationalist because of his advocacy for the Turkish
government’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

The keynote speaker will be award-winning artist and filmmaker,
Apo Torosyan of Boston, whose film "Voices" will be shown after the
commemoration ceremony.

"We’re extremely honored to have such an acclaimed speaker at our
commemoration," Geragosian said. "I hope the public will turn out to
hear his powerful words about genocide."

The Armenian Genocide is commemorated on or near April 24. According
to the Armenian National Institute, on the night of April 24, 1915
the Turkish government placed under arrest more than 200 Armenian
community leaders in Constantinople; hundreds more were arrested and
were imprisoned in Anatolia. Most of them were executed.