Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIA DIAMOND, GOLD PRODUCTION -27%
By Jeanette Goldman
Diamonds.net, NY
May 16 2006
(Rapaport…May 16, 2006) Armenia’s cut diamond and gold production
dropped 27 percent in the first four months of 2006, reported Armenia
Diaspora on May 15. Twelve companies that are monitored by the trade
and industry development ministry produced $64.6 million worth of
goods, 75 percent of which was manufactured by diamond manufacturing
companies. Armenia’s sale and exports during the four month period
dropped 24 percent compared with 2005.
The ministry blamed the drop on the global markets, saying that higher
oil and gold prices, coupled with depreciation of United States dollar
value have significantly cut demand for luxury items.
The ministry also blamed lack of effective management, lack of
financial resources and less rough diamond imports from Russia for
the decline.

TURKEY THREATENS SANCTIONS OVER FRENCH BILL ON ARMENIAN ISSUE
Hurriyet, Turkey
May 16 2006
Turkey has stated that it would impose trade sanctions on france should
the French parliament adopt a bill that would criminalize the denial
that during the early 20th century, the noted massacre of Armenians
in Turkey constitutes as genocide.
It is believed that as many as 1.5 million Armenians were killed in the
then-Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1917 in what Armenians consider
to be a genocide; Turkey has insisted that the deaths do not constitute
as genocide and the issue has caused much debate in recent months.
The French National Assembly is slated to consider an opposition
Socialist party-sponsored bill this Thursday that would make denying
the massacre was genocide illegal. Offenders could face a five-year
jail sentence and fines up to $57,000. France already has a law on
the books which recognizes the massacre as genocide.

EVENT ON AZERI-ISRAEL RELATIONS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES
Today, Azerbaijan
May 15 2006
An event entitled “Role of Israel in International Relations,
Azerbaijan-Israel Relations” was held at the Azerbaijan University
of Languages.
Ambassador of Israel to Azerbaijan Arthur Lenk told of the historic
ties between the two peoples and countries, saying bilateral friendly
relations have been further strengthened for the recent years. He
spoke of the history of the state of Israel and efforts international
organizations make to find a peaceful solution to the Middle East
conflicts.
As to the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict, ambassador
said Israel recognizes territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and supports
peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Ambassador found a need to expand scientific and educational ties
and then, responded to students’ questions.
URL:

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x109
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, May 15, 2006
AGBU YOUNG PROFESSIONALS OF BOSTON HOST CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERIES
Watertown, MA – On April 5, 2006, the recently established AGBU Young
Professionals (YP) of Boston kicked off a two-part career development
series with an Armenian Career Advisory Panel at Boston University’s
School of Management.
Guest speakers representing the fields of Human Resources (HR),
Technology, Public Relations and Finance included Seta Marangoudakis,
HR Recruiter, United Technologies Corporate; Dr. Setrag Khoshafian,
Vice President, BPM Technology, Pegasystems Inc.; Elizabeth
Yekhtikian, Account Supervisor, Blanc and Otus Public Relations; and
Kim Yacoubian, AGBU YP Liaison and former Manager/Divisional Vice
President, UBS.
Mentoring over 20 university students and young professionals,
panelists shared their professional experiences with up-and-coming
young Armenians, providing insight into their respective industries
and guidance on career development.
The second part of the series, a Resume Writing Workshop, took place
on April 22 at Northeastern University. With professional assistance
provided by Mary Pitino, Boston Symphony Orchestra HR Manager and
Shannon Rafferty, Cambridge Associates Recruiter, a dozen young
attendees learned how to improve their resumes and received pointers
on networking, interviewing and hiring.
The AGBU Young Professionals of Boston are committed to preserving and
promoting the Armenian identity and heritage through educational,
cultural and humanitarian programs. For more information on YP Boston,
please email [email protected].

TURKEY THREATENS FRENCH WITH SANCTIONS OVER ARMENIAN ‘GENOCIDE’ LAW
Agence France Presse — English
May 14, 2006 Sunday 1:30 PM GMT
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened France with
trade sanctions if it adopts a bill making it illegal to deny that the
1915-1917 massacre of Armenians in Turkey was “genocide”, a Turkish
newspaper said Sunday.
“Patience has its limits. We do not have hatred (towards France) but
we will impose our sanctions,” the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet quoted
Erdogan as saying at a summit of Muslim countries on the Indonesian
island of Bali.
French lawmakers were due to consider next Thursday a bill from the
opposition Socialists which would make anyone denying the existence
of the “Armenian genocide” liable to a five-year jail term and a
45,000-euro (57,000-dollar) fine.
French MPs should be “particularly sensitive” to the issue of possible
sanctions since France is the number one investor in Turkey, Erdogan
said. “There will possibly be problems,” he added.
France has angered Ankara in the past over the Armenian question. In
2001 it adopted a law recognising the massacres as “genocide”. Turkey
acknowledges that massacres took place, but refuses to class them
as genocide.
Several French businesses were excluded from invitations to tender
in Turkey amid calls there for a boycott of French products following
the 2001 law.
French exports to Turkey in 2001 law plunged by 3.53 billion dollars,
according to Turkish figures. But analysts predict the latest law
could have a far greater impact on trade between the two countries
than the 2001 bill.
Turkey has reached record rates of growth in the past five years and
bilateral trade between the countries in 2005 was worth at least 9.6
billion dollars.
Armenians allege up to 1.5 million of their kin were slaughtered in
orchestrated killings between 1915 and 1917, while the Ottoman Empire,
modern Turkey’s predecessor, was falling apart.
Turkey rejects the claim, saying 300,000 Armenians and at least as
many Turks died in civil strife when the Armenians started fighting
for independence in eastern Anatolia and sided with Russian troops
invading Ottoman soil.
The 430-member Turkish chamber of commerce has intensified appeals
to French leaders including a letter to President Jacques Chirac,
urging them to abandon Thursday’s vote.

PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected]
Website; _www.armenianchurch.ca_ ()
May 11, 2006
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Primate Pays Tribute to Senator Romeo Dallaire
Retired Lt.-Gen. Romeo Dallaire, who gained an international
reputation for condemning the lack of global action in preventing the
Rwandan genocide, has been named to a new United Nations committee
charged with advising the world body on genocidal conflicts.
Dallaire, also a Senator in Canada, was one of eight people named to
the Genocide Prevention Advisory Committee this week. Dallaire
commanded the UN Forces in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. Archbishop
Desmond Tutu of South Africa is also serving on the committee, whose
mandate involves advising the UN on preventing genocide as well as
what action to take if a conflict erupts.
On Wednesday, May 10, 2006 His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian sent
a letter of acknowledgement and appreciation to Senator
Dallaire. Following is the letter of Serpazan.
No 2006.115
May 10, 2006
Honourable Romeo Dallaire
Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A4
Honourable Senator,
We are gratified to learn that you have been named to the Genocide
Prevention Advisory Committee of the United Nations, a consultative
committee to the world body on genocide conflicts. It is imperative
that the issue of genocide be recognized and prevented. Undeniably,
those efforts depend on individuals who possess high levels of moral
principles, dedication and conviction. Your devoted and conscious
service with the UN forces in Rwanda demonstrates a clear vision and
understanding of the definition of Genocide. This issue should draw
the attention and abhorrence of the world.
Regretfully, in 2006, the world is witnessing yet again, occurrences
of genocide. Although many individuals are working to raise awareness
and to promote some political action, not all acknowledge the depth of
the dilemma or are willing to take the necessary action. There can be
no confusion on the question; many hundreds of thousands have
perished, and millions have been displaced. It is our moral
responsibility to call attention to the anguish in Darfur. We,
Armenians have suffered the pain of the first genocide of the
twentieth century and are very apprehensive that the world is once
again hesitant to act.
As quoted from Baroness Caroline Cox, of the British House of Lords in
April 1999, “If nations are allowed to commit genocide with impunity,
to hide their guilt in a camouflage of lies and denials, there is a
real danger that other brutal regimes will be encouraged to attempt
genocides. Unless we speak today of the Armenian genocide and unless
the Government recognizes this historical fact, we shall leave this
century of unprecedented genocides with this blot on our consciences.”
Once again, we are called to act and act now. History will judge us
all, for our awareness and willingness to take a stand. With prayers,
Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate
Diocese of the Armenian Church in Canada

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
May 12, 2006 Friday
Georgia troops to secure safe withdrawal of Russia base
by Tengiz Pachkoria
The units of the Georgian Defence Ministry and local law enforcement
bodies are to ensure security of the withdrawal of the weapons and
hardware of the Russian military base in Akhalkalaki.
A representative of the Trans-Caucasus Group of Russian Troops
(TCGRT) told ITAR-TASS on Friday that the “Georgian side will secure
under existing accords the process of the withdrawal of the hardware
and weapons of the Russian base in Akhalkalaki, which will be
accomplished by rail (in Russia) and motor roads (in Armenia to the
Russian base Gyumri)”.
Georgian media said on Friday that the Defence Ministry’s special
units had been relocated to Dzhavakheta province, in which
Akhalkalaki and Tsalka are, for ensuring a safe withdrawal of Russian
weapons.
The TCGRT representative said that the first train with the military
equipment and weapons had been prepared for leaving the Akhalkalaki
base.
Last week, the Russian military equipped a field camp and temporary
parking in Tsalka, which is located 50 kilometres from Akhalkalaki,
for forming the first train on which arms from the Akhalkalaki base
will be loaded on Saturday and Sunday.
Three other trains will trip to Russia on May 23, 25 and 30.
The TCGRT representative also said that “part of the hardware and
weapons of the Akhalkalaki base will be moved by truck to the Russian
base in Gyumri”, Armenia.
The first auto convoy will head to Armenia on May 18.
Under Georgian-Russian agreements, the withdrawn of the Akhalkalaki
base is to be completed during 2007.
Most of its equipment and weapons will be withdrawal of the base from
Georgia is to be completed in the period from May 15 to August 15 of
this year.

OBJECTIONS ON FRENCH BILL RISE FROM EP
By Selcuk Gultasli, Brussels
Zaman, Turkey
May 11 2006
Reactions against the bill that would criminalize denial of the
so-called Armenian genocide have begun to emerge from the European
Parliament (EP) members, too.
EP members of different political groups speaking to Zaman criticized
the French motion.
Graham Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats which is the EP’s
third largest political group, termed the draft as “a wrong decision
opposed to freedoms.”
Watson stressed that the proposal is both a wrong and
freedom-restricting step.
Freedom of thought and expression is the basic value of Europe,
Watson said. “These freedoms must not be restricted.”
The best way, according to the EP’s Liberal Group leader, to unveil
the realities regarding the Armenian genocide is to set up a commission
of Turkish and Armenian historians. Watson reminded this proposal was
brought to the agenda by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Another Liberal Democrat in the EP, Andrew Duff, said the draft is
not just “very ugly,” but it is also an attack against freedom of
expression. “Those supporting the motion have a clear target: To
damage Turkey.”
Co-Chairman of the European Union-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Commission
Joost Lagendijk pointed out those responsible for the preparation
of the motion fail to appreciate the value of the free discussion
atmosphere that started in Turkey. “It is necessary to encourage
discussion,” Lagendijk said, “but if the bill becomes law, it will
definitely be misused by reform opponents in Turkey.”
European Parliamentary member for the Greens, Turkish-origin
Cem Ozdemir, finding the French attitude “no different from the
chauvinistic nationalists in Turkey,” said those who oppose Turkey’s
accession to the European Union are behind the motion. “If France wants
to heal the wounds of Armenians, let it support Turkey’s membership
to EU. If the bill passes, it will give an advantage to those who do
not want the Armenian problem solved.”
Turkish-born EP deputy Emine Bozkurt, who thinks the motion is
“a real hypocrisy” asked, “The EU is making efforts for freedom of
expression in Turkey on one hand, and France brings this motion to
the agenda on the other. How will this contradiction be explained to
the Turkish people?”

STORMY WEATHER HINDERS SEARCH IN BLACK SEA
AZG Armenian Daily
12/05/2006
The search for Armavia’s A320 jetliner airbus has stopped, as the
weather forecast promises a storm of 4 degrees in the Black Sea
basin. RIA news agency informed that the French specialists arrived
in Sochi.
Their equipment will help carry out search works in deeper layers
of the seabed. The new equipment will be installed on “Navigator”
ship that arrived from Novorossiysk.
Several items are revealed on the seabed, where the French specialists
managed to get signals from. It is supposed that the signals come
from the “black boxes” that are in the dept of 400-450 meters.
The specialists believe that a more powerful equipment than they have
at present is required for carrying out more effective search.

5RD SHIFT PLATOON OF ARMENIAN PEACE-KEEPERS LEAVES FOR KOSOVO
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 11 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The 5th shift platoon
of Armenian peace-keepers left for Kosovo on peace-keeping mission
on May 11. Noyan Tapan was informed about it by Colonel seyran
Shahsuvarian, the Ra Defence Minister’s Press Secrtetary.