Author: Kanayan Tamar

DANIEL FRIED CALLS THE GENOCIDE OF ARMENIANS "ETHNIC CLEANSING"

ArmRadio.am
16.03.2007 12:50

US Assistant Secretary of State on Europe and Eurasia Daniel Fried
has declared that "the US Administration has never denied, has not
questioned or undermined the mass killing of Armenians and the historic
fact of that ethnic cleansing," Mediamax reports.

Daniel Fried said this, speaking in the Foreign Relations Committee of
the House of Representatives during the hearings on "American-Turkish
relations and future challenges."

"Possibly, the congress will pass the resolution characterizing
the mass killing of 1.5 million Armenians during the last years of
existence of the Ottoman Empire as genocide. US Administration has
never denied, questioned or undermined the historic facts of the mass
killing and ethnic cleansing. Every year on April 24 the Us Presidents
comes forward with a statement," Daniel Fried declared.

The Assistant Secretary of State said, "Our goal is to promote the
fair investigation of these terrible events by the Turkish society
to help Turkey reconcile with its own past and with Armenia."

"It’s not easy: for the United States it was also hard to accept
the black pages of its history. However, after long silence Turkey
demonstrates progress in this direction. This year more than 100
thousand of Turkish citizens attended Hrant Dink’s funeral," Daniel
Fried said. He mentioned that the Turkish President, Prime Minister
and Head of the General Staff have condemned this murder.

"We also see calls, including from the Turkish Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister, to amend Article 301 of the Penal Code. We welcome
the suggestions of Turkish leaders to amend or expel Article 301,"
the State Department representative said.

"We think that adoption of Res.106 in the US House of Representatives
will silence the voices which call to fairly investigate the past
for reconciliation with the history and Armenia. Members of the
Armenian community of Turkey counting 60-70 thousand tell us that
such resolutions will pressure the dialogue and can escalate a
wave of national tensions which will threaten their security. Our
aim is to open the soul and heart of Turkey although via painful
self-recognition," said Daniel Fried.

ARMENIAN CEASEFIRE VIOLATION KILLS ONE MORE AZERBAIJANI SOLDIER

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 15 2007

Soldier of Azerbaijani Army Dilgem Bakhtiyar Shirinov was killed
as the result of violation of ceasefire by Armenian Armed Forces in
Seyidli village of occupied Azerbaijani region of Aghdam, military
sources told the APA.

Shirinov was drafted from Ismailli region in July, 2006. It was not
possible to get information from Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry about
the incident.

NO AIRLINE GRANTED LICENSE FOR OPERATION OF YEREVAN-VAN CHARTER FLIGHT

Noyan Tapan
Mar 14 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, NOYAN TAPAN. No Armenian airline has been granted a
licence for operation of Yerevan-Van charter flight. Aram Marutian,
Head of the RA Civial Aviation’s Air Transportation and License
Department, told NT correspondent about it. According to the Turkish
newspaper "Miliet", the general staff of Turkey’s armed forces proposed
that tourists to arrive from Armenia in order to attend the opening
ceremony of Aghtamar Church on Van Lake should arrive in Turkey by
a Yerevan-Istanbul flight and then go to Van. However, the Turkish
government proposed that either Alijan border gate should be opened
temporarily – by organizing a charter flight between Yerevan and Van
or Armenian tourists should cross the Turkish border by land transport
means and then travel to Van.

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
March 14, 2007
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]

ASSEMBLY WELCOMES SENATE INTRODUCTION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

Commends Senators Durbin, Ensign for Spearheading Effort

Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America today welcomed the
introduction of an Armenian Genocide resolution in the U.S. Senate that
would reaffirm the facts of this calamitous chapter in human history and
recognize the proud record of U.S. humanitarian intervention. The
legislation was introduced by Assistant Majority Leader Senator Richard
J. Durbin (D-IL) and Senator John Ensign (R-NV), both longtime Armenian
issues supporters who have sponsored similar reaffirmation initiatives
in the past.

"The Armenian Genocide was the Twentieth Century’s first genocide — a
crime against humanity that included murder, deportation, torture, and
slave labor. It is long past time that the United States speak with
clarity on this reality," Durbin said.

"Recognizing the Armenian Genocide takes on added importance in the face
of the genocide occurring now in the Darfur region of Sudan," Durbin
continued. "We must honor those who died in the Armenian Genocide by
recognizing their suffering and by dedicating ourselves to preventing
tragedies in the future."

The following Senators are original cosponsors to the measure: Wayne
Allard (R-CO), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Norm Coleman
(R-MN), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Russ Feingold
(D-WI), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), John Kerry
(D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Joseph Lieberman
(ID-CT), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Jack Reed
(D-RI), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Debbie Stabenow
(D-MI), John Sununu (R-NH) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

"The Assembly commends the leadership of Senators Durbin and Ensign for
spearheading this bi-partisan resolution which, once and for all, will
set the U.S. record straight on the fact of the Armenian Genocide," said
Board of Directors Chairman Hirair Hovnanian.

"Sadly, 92 years after the beginning of the Armenian Genocide, the
scourge of this monstrous crime continues to plague the world,"
Hovnanian continued. "Passing up this opportunity to properly
acknowledge this crime against humanity means burying the past and
ignoring the continuing cycle of genocide. It is past time for Congress
to formally acknowledge the atrocities of 1915."

The Senate bill mirrors legislation introduced in the House of
Representatives, known as H. Res. 106. The House version, spearheaded
by Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA) and Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), together with Congressmen Brad
Sherman (D-CA) and Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), has over 180 cosponsors to
date.

Senators Durbin and Ensign, both longtime supporters of U.S.
reaffirmation efforts, also spearheaded legislation last Congress to
properly recognize the Armenian Genocide. The lawmakers also supported a
resolution to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the U.S.
implementation of the Genocide Convention. The legislation specifically
cited the importance of learning the lessons of the Holocaust as well as
the Armenian Genocide, and the Cambodian and Rwandan genocides in an
effort to prevent the repetition of similar atrocities in the future.

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.

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NR#2007-035

INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS ALSO NEED BENEFITS

KarabakhOpen
13-03-2007 14:53:16

The Non-Governmental Organization of Refugees held a round-table
meeting a few days ago in Shushi. The topic was "Refugees and the
Conflict: Integration and Peace Building."

The chair of the organization Sanasar Saryan said the round-table
meeting is an activity of the six-month project financed by the
International Alert. It is foreseen to held similar events in Maraga,
Nor Shahumyan, Kashatagh and other areas.

In the event in Shushi both refugees from Azerbaijan and
internally displaced persons from Shahumyan, Martakert and
Maraga were present. The status, social state, benefits and other
problems of the refugees and the internally displaced persons were
discussed. Sanasar Saryan said the internally displaced persons
demand applying the provisions of the law on refugees to them,
and grant them a corresponding status. The next step would be the
international recognition of the Karabakh IDPs.

"The refugees and IDPs are on the whole positive towards collaboration
with international organizations and the dialogue with the
Azerbaijanis," Sanasar Saryan said.

NUMBER OF INTERNAL TOURISTS GROWS BY 14% IN ARMENIA IN 2006 ON PREVIOUS YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2006, 307,973 internal tourists
(Armenian residents) stayed at collective and individual tourist
lodgings in Armenia, which is by 14% more than in 2005. According
to the RA National Statistical Service, rest and recreation was
the purpose of 43.9% of internal tourists (135,246 in 2006 against
116,373 in 2005), treatment – for 10.7% (33,106 in 2006 against 28,097
in 2005), while 26.5% of internal tourists were on a business trip
(81,566 in 2006 against 72,804 in 2005).

KARS-AKHALKALAKI-BAKU RAILWAY ‘CREATES UNHEALTHY ATMOSPHERE’
By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)

The Messenger, Georgia
March 13 2007

Armenia is still against Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku railway construction.

On March 9, Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vardan Oskanyan stated
this project will not damage the country as the Turkish-Armenian
border remains closed, but from the political viewpoint the railway
project creates an unhealthy atmosphere in the region.

"From the political point of view, the project produces a negative
atmosphere in the region, particularly, it affects the formation
of favourable relations," the minister said reports the news agency
Regnum.

Oskanian mentioned Kazakhstan’s possible participation in the project
and said that last year during the meeting between the Armenian and
Kazakh sides he said the Kazakh side "did not appear very optimistic"
adding "Maybe, they have changed their attitude, but I know nothing
about it."

IRAN-ARMENIAN GAS MAIN TO BE OPENED LATE IN MARCH

Arka News Agency, Armenia
March 13 2007

YEREVAN, March 12. /ARKA/. The Iran-Armenia gas main is to be opened
late in March, RA Deputy Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanyan told
ARKA.

"The official ceremony is scheduled for the end of March," Gharibjanyan
said.

The gas main was to be commissioned last December, but the process
was later postponed until this spring.

The construction project is estimated at $120mln. The construction
of the first 40km-long section, Meghri-Kajaran, got under way on
November 30, 2004. The section section, Kajaran-Sisian-Jermuk-Ararat,
is being constructed by the Iranian "Sanir" company.

At the initial stage Armenia will receive 300-400mln cubic meters of
gas from Iran annually, with the volume to be increased to 2.3bln
cubic meters. Under an Armenian-Iranian agreement, Armenia is to
receive a total of 36bln cubic meters of natural gas during 20 years.

The agreement may be prolonged, with the gas supply volume to be
increased to 47bln cubic meters.

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY MEETS WITH STEPHANIE DION

armradio.am
12.03.2007 10:48

The Congress of Canadian Armenians held a reception in Montreal
to honour Stephane Dion, the new Leader of the Liberal Party of
Canada. The event was a resounding success, with over 100 invited
people present including many of the leaders and prominent members
of our community.

Mr. Dion, who has been a firm advocate for the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide and a friend and consistent supporter of the
Armenian community and of Armenian causes, was presented with a
plaque naming him an "honourary Armenian". At the end of his speech,
he expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome that he received,
and he read a brief statement of friendship in Armenian. He also had
an opportunity to circulate, talking to people about their concerns
and answering their questions.

In his comments, Mr. Dion said he is in favour of opening a Canadian
Embassy in Armenia, and he would like very much to see Armenian
candidates getting elected to the House of Commons.

This event was part of a series organized by the Congress of Canadian
Armenians, to meet with the leaders and key members of the major
political parties of Canada.

The Congress of Canadian Armenians is comprised of the following
participating organizations (in alphabetical order): AGBU Alex
Manoogian School, AGBU Montreal Chapter, Armenian Democratic Liberal
Party, Holy Cross Church of Laval, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church
of Montreal, S.D. Hunchakian Party, Society of Armenians from Istanbul,
Tekeyan Cultural Association.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railroad not to harm Armenia
09.03.2007 15:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `From the economic viewpoint the
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku cannot cause harm to Armenia, as we
already incur losses due to the blocked Armenian-Turkish border,’ RA
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian told a news conference in Yerevan. In
his words, the project creates unfavorable political atmosphere in the
region and this fact is much more regrettable. `Armenia’s position is
unchangeable. We are against this project,’ Oskanian said.

`As to Kazakhstan’s participation in the project, this state did not
display much optimism about the project last year. However, the
attitude might have changed. I’m not aware,’ the Minister said. The
project initiators may have financial problems if they want Kazakhstan
to join them, he added.