Author: Karagyozian Lena

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
January 31, 2008

Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

SAMANTHA POWER VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
OBAMA’S SUPPORT FOR ARMENIAN AMERICAN ISSUES

— Pulitzer Prize Winning Author Discusses Candidate’s Commitment
to Armenian Genocide Recognition; Urges Community Support for Obama
Campaign

— Watch Online on the ANCA Website
eleases.php?prid=3D1374

WASHINGTON, DC – Pulitzer Prize winning author and renowned anti-
genocide crusader Samantha Power has taped a powerful 5-minute
video reviewing Presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s support for
Armenian issues, and encouraging Armenian Americans to vote for him
in the upcoming primaries, reported the Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA).

In the video, issued earlier today and circulated widely by the
ANCA, Power praises Senator Obama’s "willingness to challenge
conventional wisdom and conventional Washington." She reminded
viewers that the Armenian American community "knows better than
anybody, business as usual in Washington leads to certain bad
habits that are destructive for human rights and human dignity."
She recounted Senator Obama’s record on issues of special concern
to Armenian Americans, including his "very forthright statement on
the Armenian Genocide; his support for the Senate Resolution
acknowledging the Genocide; his willingness as President to
commemorate it and call a ‘spade a spade’; and to speak the truth
about it. . ." as important considerations in the Armenian-American
community’s decision to vote for Sen. Obama on Feb. 5 and beyond.

The video may be watched on the ANCA website at:
ses.php?prid=3D1374

Samantha Power, who won the Pulitzer Prize for her seminal work on
U.S. response to genocide, titled "A Problem from Hell: America and
the Age of Genocide" has been a leading activist working to end the
ongoing genocide in Darfur and in building a stronger anti-genocide
constituency in the United States.

The ANCA officially endorsed Obama in the Democratic primary this
week during a press conference held at its Western Region
headquarters, which featured the participation of Rep. Adam Schiff
(D-CA) and LA City Council President Eric Garcetti. In its
endorsement announcement, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian noted that
"Based on his strong record in office, his bold statements as a
candidate, and our judgment as to the policies he will pursue as
President, we believe that, among a strong field of Democratic
candidates, Senator Obama will best reflect the views and values of
Armenian American voters." This press conference can be watched
on-line at:
ses.php?prid=3D1373

Armenians for Obama Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian noted that "Barack
Obama, on the key issues of importance to our community, has
adopted very favorable positions. Whether it is recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, aid to Armenia, or self-determination for
Karabagh, on all of these issues, Barack Obama is with us."

Sen. Obama’s statement on U.S.-Armenia relations is available on
the official campaign website at:
bama_on_the_importance.php

As always, the ANCA welcomes feedback on its service to the
Armenian American community. Please forward your thoughts and
suggestions about the 2008 Presidential election by email to
[email protected].

#####

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES DELEGATION OF PACE AD HOC COMMITTEE FOR OBSERVATION OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN ARMENIA

arminfo
2008-01-31 15:24:00

ArmInfo. Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan received the
delegation of PACE Ad hoc Committee for Observation of Presidential
Election in Armenia headed by Vice Chairman John Prescott.

Foreign Ministry press-service reports Vardan Oskanyan stressed the
importance of the mission’s activity in the campaign period. The
minister hopes that international observation missions will record
progress in the upcoming election and will help developing democracy
in the country. The parties discussed also preparations for the
election. Observers shared their impressions of the meetings with
high-ranking officials, presidential candidates and representatives
of NGOs.

TURKISH ARMY BOMBS NORTHERN IRAQ

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.01.2008 16:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Turkish warplanes bombarded Hakurk, N.Iraq,
on Tuesday evening, NTV channel reported quoting a source in the
Kurdish administration.

Turkish warplanes carried out air strikes on rebels’ facilities at
the Turkish-Iranian border for some two hours. No casualties have been
reported yet. The Turkish General Staff has provided no confirmation
either, Trend reports.

In October 2007, the Turkish parliament approved cross-border
operations in northern Iraq to fight outlawed PKK rebels.

The General Staff said at least 175 rebels and 60 targets have been
eliminated in the January 15 strike

PRESS RELEASE
Date: January 28, 2008
Armenian National Committee of S. Florida
931 NE 48th Street, Oakland Park, FL 33334
Contact: Albert Mazmanian
Tel: 561-628-8982

CONGRESSMAN RON KLEIN REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
RESOLUTION

West Palm Beach, FL- Activists from the Armenian National
Committee of South Florida (ANC of S. FL) and ANCA Eastern Region
Executive Director, Karine Birazian met earlier this month with
Congressman Ron Klein (D-FL-22) and District Director Felicia
Goldstein in West Palm Beach, Florida. The purpose of the meeting
was to thank him for his instrumental vote in the House Foreign
Affairs Committee this past October on the Armenian Genocide
Resolution.

"We are very grateful to Congressman Klein for his principled stand
on genocide recognition. We look forward to continuing to build a
relationship with him and his staff," commented local constituent
and ANC activist Hasmig Eskandarian.

During the thirty-minute meeting, Eskandarian, ANC of S. Florida
Chairman Albert Mazmanian, former Florida activist Nora Keomurjian,
and Birazian thanked Congressman Klein for his support of H. Res.
106 which he insisted he stands firm on. The meeting also provided
an opportunity to give further insight on other Armenian related
issues that the ANCA pursues, including aid to Armenia, military
parity, and self -determination for Nagorno Karabagh.

During the House Foreign Affairs Committee mark-up on the Armenian
Genocide Resolution on October 10th, Klein was one of 27
Representatives who voted in favor of the resolution. In his
powerful remarks to the Committee Klein commented:

"¦ And it wasn’t so much of just teaching the Holocaust, but
teaching of what happens when man’s inhumanity is allowed to fester
over a period of time, and the result was the Holocaust and other
genocides that have occurred before and after. And I think the
reason that I believe it is important that this historical event is
acknowledged and understood is what the survivors of the Holocaust
use as their two-word phrase: Never again. Never again¦"
(Congressman’s Klein full statement can be read below).

Congressman Klein, first term Democrat, has been proudly been
serving the Boca Raton community since 1992, first in the Florida
House of Representatives, and later the State Senate. One of his
proudest achievements was the passage of the Holocaust Education
Act, which mandated the teaching about the lessons of the Holocaust
in all of Florida’s public schools. Currently Klein serves on the
House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Committee on
Financial Services. Congressman Klein has been active in promoting
Darfur legislation on Divestment this Congress and currently has an
"A" on the Darfur Score Cards a project organized by the Genocide
Intervention Network.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest
and most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.
####

Photo Caption:
Left to Right: ANC activist and constituent Hasmig Eskandarian,
Congressman Ron Klein, ANCA ER Director Karine Birazian, ANC
activist Nora Keomurjian, and ANC of S. Florida Chair Albert
Mazmanian

TEXT OF REP. KLEIN’S STATEMENT ON H. RES. 106 DURING HOUSE FOREIGN
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MARKUP ON OCTOBER 10, 2007

I think many of us in this room are students of history. We
studied history. Many people in this room lived the history that
we’re discussing in this resolution today.

But my experience has been through the study of the Holocaust.
And in Florida, where I was in state legislature, I worked with
many people in the community, including a number of Armenian
residents, to require teaching the Holocaust in our public schools.

And it wasn’t so much of just teaching the Holocaust, but
teaching of what happens when man’s inhumanity is allowed to fester
over a period of time, and the result was the Holocaust and other
genocides that have occurred before and after.

And I think the reason that I believe it is important that this
historical event is acknowledged and understood is what the
survivors of the Holocaust use as their two-word phrase: Never
again. Never again.

And I know the people that survived the Armenian genocide, the
families, and other situations since that time also believed never
again, but yet we live in a world today that we continue to allow
these things to exist.

The more we can learn from our past, the more we can educate
our children, our adults, our grandparents, the more we can learn
>From these experiences in our country and around the world, and we
can be a beacon along with other countries of high moral values and
understanding that this is unacceptable on so many levels, the
better we will be and the better our children will be and future
generations will be. And it’s going to take vigilance to do that.

I also understand the importance of the Turkish relationship
with the United States and with our allies in the Middle East. And
I can’t speculate what is going to happen. I don’t think any of us
can do that. We’ve heard signals, we’ve heard expressions.

I would only hope that we who recognize — and I think this
entire Congress and most of the United States recognizes that the
Turkish country, the Turkish government of today, is a very
important ally of the United States. They provide support for our
military, they work with us in intelligence, and they’re friends of
our friends in the Middle East.

We need to continue to have that relationship with them, and
hopefully this will not provide any long-term disruption, hopefully
not even any short-term, because they need us and we need them.

And I stand ready to do what we need to do to make sure that
Turkey understands that message. This is an historical situation
that took place in a different time, in a different government. But
there still needs to be a historical recognition and
acknowledgement.

My friends who came forward and asked me to support this
Armenian population in my community said: "This is not about
reparations; this is not about restitution. This is about an
historical acknowledgement."

I take them at their words for that; that this is not going to
open up some future discussion about that. But the point is that
this is an important moment in time that we recognize what did
happen. There was loss of life. There was terrible inhumanity. And,
for that reason, I will support this resolution today.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

PLANNING CONFERENCE OF THE COOPERATIVE LONGBOW/LANCER 08 KICKED OFF IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
29.01.2008 13:17

The initial planning conference of the Cooperative Longbow/Lancer 08 to
be held in Armenia in autumn within the framework of NATO’s Partnership
for Peace Program kicked off in Yerevan today. The conference features
110 specialists from 20 countries including Turkey. Azerbaijan does
not participate although it has received an invitation.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, the Chief of the General
Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, Colonel
General Seyran Ohanyan noted that the military exercises to be held
in September will become the most extensive among the exercises NATO
has ever conducted in the South Caucasus.

Seyran Ohanyan declared that Armenia highly appreciates NATO’s role
in the ensuring security in Europe and the efforts of the alliance
to guarantee stability in the South Caucasian region.

The chief of the Staff of the Heidelberg United Land Forces of NATO,
Brigade General Brigade General Claudio Ernesto Vercellotti informed
that more than 1 000 servicemen will participate in the military
exercises. He noted that these exercises are among the most important
arrangements NATO intends to organize in 2008.

ANOTHER PROSECUTION AGAINST AGOS JOURNALISTS

Armenews
KarabakhOpen
25-01-2008 18:36:12

Reporters Without Borders condemns the charges that have been brought
against the owner of the Armenian-Turkish newspaper Agos, Serkis
Seropyan, and its new editor, Aris Nalci, because of a 9 November
editorial criticising the one-year suspended prison sentences passed
the previous month on Seropyan, former editor Arat Dink, and two
other journalists, Aydin Engin and Karin Karakashli.

According to a press report on 16 January, Seropyan and Nalci were
summoned by an Istanbul prosecutor and ordered to pay a fine of 23,500
euros because of the editorial. When they refused, the prosecutor
said they would be tried for "attempted obstruction of justice" under
article 288 of the criminal code, which carries a maximum penalty of
four a half years in prison.

Reporters Without Borders regards this prosecution as yet another
case of improper use of the press law.

The one-year suspended sentence was imposed on the four journalists
for reprinting an interview that Dink’s father, then Agos editor
Hrant Dink, gave to Reuters in 2006 in which he said the massacres
of Armenians from 1915 to 1917 constituted genocide. Hrant Dink was
murdered in January 2007.

AZERBAIJAN GIVES BACK ARMENIAN CAPTIVE

AzerTag
Jan 25 2008
Azerbaijan

On January 25, Armenian soldier Asatryan Ambarsum Mnatsakanovich,
24, captivated on August 24, 2007, by Azerbaijani soldiers in troops’
frontline in the territory of the Tartar region, was freed in the Bala
Jafarly village of the Gazakh region, Azerbaijan’s State Commission
on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons reported.

Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Crescent
mediated the release process, led by head of the Commission’s working
group Firidun Sadigov.

"HAYASTAN" ALL-ARMENIAN FUND LAUNCHES VETERINARY SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

Noyan Tapan
Jan 23, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund’s
Rural Development Program has announced the start of the program
on improvement of the veterinary service in six border villages of
Tavush marz. According to the Fund’s PR department, these villages
have been included in the program’s pilot microstage. The program
will be implemented with the assistance of "Strategical Development
Agency" NGO, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and
the Izmirlian Foundation.

In parallel with organizing training courses for veterinaries and
residents of the six communities, the program will supply medical
equipment and medicines for veterinary stations. After a one-month
sponsorship stage, the service will operate by monthly payments of
community residents. These payments make a small portion of the sum
that rural residents spend on purchase of medicines from regional
centers. These monthly payments will provide a stable income for
veterinaries.

The "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund is a noncommercial organization
which was founded in 1992 and aims to promote humanitarian aid and
development of infrastructures in Armenia and the NKR. The Fund has
local bodies in 19 countries worldwide.

AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS MEET IN STRASBOURG WITH PRESENCE OF EDWARD O’HARA

Azeri Press Agency
Jan 23 2008
Azerbaijan

Head of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE Samad Seyidov and member
of Armenian delegation Raffi Ovanesyan had unofficial meeting with
the presence of the head of PACE Committee on Culture,Science and
Education Christopher Grayson and PACE rapporteur for Cultural
Heritage in the South Caucasus Edward O’Hara in the framework of
Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) winter session,
secretariat of Armenian delegation to PACE told APA Europe Bureau.

The meeting was held due to the expected visit of the mission led
by Edward O’Hara to the region. They carried out discussions on the
specification of the date of the visit. It was decided that the visit
will take place within 2008.

Mr. Seyidov did not make any statement about the meeting and said that
information will be given in press conference to be held in Baku on
the meetings held in the framework of the PACE session.

PACE Committee on Culture, Science and Education prepares Edward
O’Hara’s visit to the region.

FOR THE VISIT OF GREEK PRIME MINISTER MR KARAMANLIS IN ANKARA (TURKEY)

Hellenic News of America
newsid=7939&lang=US
Jan 22 2008
PA

19th of May has been fixed as a Memorial Day for the Greek genocide
victims of Pontos with unanimous decision of the Greek Parliament in
February of 1994.

For that, in aspect of imminent visit of Prime Minister of Greece Mr
Karamanlis in Turkey during 23-25 January, the Pontian Youth Union of
Athens intensely demands the existence of discussion on the recognition
of the genocide of Greeks of Pontos from Turkey, such as this fact is
related to the Greek-Turkish relations and the course of integration
of Turkey in the European Union.

1. We call the Greek government to include the genocide of Greeks of
Pontos in the bilateral discussions with the neighbour country.

2. We remind the real face of Turkish Kemal that is accountable for
the Armenian, the Pontians, the Kurdish genocide as well as the Cyprus
question. We underline the refusal of this country to keep pace into
practice with the remainder European countries.

3. We appear the form of big scholar, humanist Vissariona. The Trabzon
foundation of the Academies and libraries in Italy as Markian in
Venice, former of European idea, reminding that European culture
means freedom of speech, letters, arts, libraries and universities.

4. We notify that very recently another one union of scientists,
the I.A.G.S. – International Association of Genocide Scholars with
central offices in New York, recognized the genocide of Greeks
of Pontos during the years 1914-1923, accepting the existence of
sufficient proofs for the documentation of subject.

5. We consider obvious that the Prime Minister Mr Karamanlis will not
proceed in the erroneous action of laying wreath in the grave of Kemal
Atatourk, responsible for the genocide of populations of Minor Asia.

We demand the establishment of 19 May as European remembrance day
for Pontian genocide and all of Kemalism victims.