Author: Karakhanian Suren

ARMENIANS’ STATEMENTS ON GENOCIDE HARM ARMENIA ITSELF – KLO
Author: S.Ilhamgizi

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 24 2006

“Interpretation of events occurred in Osman Empire in 1915, by
Armenians, as ‘Armenian genocide’ is full ungrounded as worldwide
recognition of genocide requires facts on destruction of one nation
alone. However, facts on genocide against namely Armenians in Turkey
do not exist”, – reportedly said historian Akif Nagi, chirman of
Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO).

He said Armenians’ statements on so-called genocide that aim at
worldwide recognition of this ‘genocide’, are harming Armenia itself,
and there are some people in Armenia that realize this fact. “Head of
“AOD” movement, former Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosyan also
claimed the necessity in leaving these statements”, – Nagi outlined.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MARCH TO TSITSERNAKABERD

ArmRadio.am
24.04.2006 16:00

The way toward the memorial to the Armenian Genocide – Tsitsernakaberd
– was crowded since early morning. The heavy rain in the morning
did not prevent the flow of thousands of people. Representatives of
non-governmental and political organizations, Diaspora Armenians, state
officials, representatives of ethnic minorities living in Armenia,
people in response for foreign Embassies accredited in Armenia come
to pay homage to the Genocide victims.

At 11 p.m. RA president Robert Kocharyan visited the Genocide
memorial. The President was accompanied by Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan, President of the Constitutional Court Gagik Harutyunyan,
a number of members of the Armenian government and Deputies.

“The achievements in regard to the international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide are apparent,” Vice-Speaker of the National Assembly
Tigran Torosyan told the journalists.

The Vice-Speaker is confident that the most essential is that in
the course of the years more and more countries and peoples come to
understand that the crime was directed against whole humanity.

“It is Turkey’s problem whether it will recognize the Genocide or not,
a matter of dignity of Turkey and the Turkish people.

An interesting action was arranged today by the “American-Armenians –
Armenia” organization: they suggested to tie ribbons on the threads
along the way to Tsitsernakaberd as a sign of protest against those
countries, which have not recognized the historic truth and have not
condemned the first Genocide carried out by Turks.

UU Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia John
Evans refused to answer the journalists’ questions. After laying
flowers to the Genocide memorial he left saying a single sentence,
“God bless you.”

The endless stream of people to Tsitsernakaberd evidences that it is
not just a memorial of sorrow. The procession dedicated to the 91st
anniversary of the Genocide is not just a march of grief. It is a
decisive nationwide demand to restore the justice. Thus, our march
is immortal, since the impulse is fair, the aim is just and the steps
are justified.

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
April 24, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]

BUSH SAYS WORLD MUST NOT FORGET

AVOIDS USING PROPER TERM OF GENOCIDE IN ANNUAL APRIL 24 STATEMENT

WASHINGTON, DC – In his annual April 24th commemoration statement,
President Bush described the “mass killings” and “exile” of 1.5
million Armenians noting that this was a “tragedy for all humanity and
one that we and the world must never forget.” The statement was
delivered following strongly worded letters from more than 200 House
and Senate leaders last week, asking the President to properly
acknowledge the genocide in his annual statement.

“While the President once again employed the dictionary definition of
Genocide, we are deeply disappointed that he did not properly
characterize the attempted annihilation of our people as genocide,”
said Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. “The
President had an opportunity to build on his 2000 campaign statement
as well as the words of President Ronald Reagan who properly
acknowledged the Armenian Genocide,” Hovnanian continued.

During the Assembly’s pan-Armenian advocacy conference last month,
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
Daniel Fried laid out the Administration’s position on the Armenian
Genocide, noting that the Administration has “a policy which many of
you disagree with,” but also stated that “the United States government
has never denied the events of 1915.” Fried also called on “Turkey to
reflect more seriously about subjects which have been taboo for
generations in that country.” He added: “We do not support…export of
denialist literature or positions. We do support efforts by Turkey to
deal with its history more seriously.”

“Today, as we mark the 91st anniversary of these crimes, genocide
deniers continue their morally bankrupt campaign against the truth as
evidenced by the recent federal lawsuit initiated in the state of
Massachusetts,” said Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. “In the face of
this ongoing denial, the United States must make a firm stand for the
truth,” Ardouny continued.

Bush’s statement, as in years past, encourages dialogue between Turks
and Armenians and states that “The analysis by the International
Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), while not the final word, has
made a significant contribution toward deepening our understanding of
these Events.” The ICTJ report, issued in 2003, reached the conclusion
that: “The Events, viewed collectively, can thus be said to include
all of the elements of the crime of genocide as defined in the
Convention, and legal scholars as well as historians, politicians,
journalists and other people would be justified in continuing to so
describe them.” The President’s reference to ICTJ serves as an
implicit acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide.

The Administration has clarified its policy on the crime of genocide
and recently stated its views on the need to prevent its repetition.
The President’s National Security Strategy (NSS), which was released
last month, notes that “the world needs to start honoring a principle
that many believe has lost its force in parts of the international
community in recent years: genocide must not be tolerated. It is a
moral imperative that states take action to prevent and punish
genocide. History teaches that sometimes other states will not act
unless America does it part.”

“America did act in response to the first genocide of the twentieth
century and Armenian-Americans are forever grateful for the leading
role of the United States in attempting to stop the Armenian Genocide
and for aiding those who survived,” Hovnanian added.

“It is now time for the U.S. to continue this proud chapter of
American history and formally and irrevocably reaffirm the Armenian
Genocide,” he continued. “By so doing, the U.S. will articulate the
same message it has already sent to the public – that genocide must
not be tolerated.”

In his statement, the President also says that the U.S. applauds
Armenia’s democratic reforms and seeks to help bolster Armenia’s
security and deepen its inclusion in the Euro-Atlantic community. The
President also encouraged a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, adding “We remain committed to securing a peaceful
and lasting settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and hope the
leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan will take bold steps to achieve this
goal.”

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#2006-041

Editor’s Note: Below is the full text of President Bush’s statement.

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary April 24, 2006

PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN REMEMBRANCE DAY

Today, we remember one of the horrible tragedies of the 20th century
— the mass killings and forced exile of as many as 1.5 million
Armenians in the final days of the Ottoman Empire in 1915. This was a
tragedy for all humanity and one that we and the world must never
forget.

We mourn this terrible chapter of history and recognize that it
remains a source of pain for people in Armenia and for all those who
believe in freedom, tolerance, and the dignity and value of every
human life. It is a credit to the human spirit and generations of
Armenians who live in Armenia, America, and around the globe that they
have overcome this suffering and proudly preserved their centuries-old
culture, traditions, and religion.

We praise the individuals in Armenia and Turkey who have sought to
examine the historical events of this time with honesty and
sensitivity. The analysis by the International Center for
Transitional Justice, while not the final word, has made a significant
contribution toward deepening our understanding of these events. We
encourage dialogues, including through joint commissions, that strive
for a shared understanding of these tragic events and move Armenia and
Turkey towards normalized relations.

Today, we look with hope to a bright future for Armenia. Armenia’s
Millennium Challenge Compact reflects our confidence and the
importance we place in Armenia making progress on democratic reform
and advancement of free markets. We seek to help Armenia bolster its
security and deepen its inclusion in the Euro-Atlantic family. We
remain committed to securing a peaceful and lasting settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and hope the leaders of Armenia and
Azerbaijan will take bold steps to achieve this goal.

On this solemn day of remembrance, Laura and I express our deepest
condolences to the Armenian people. Our nations stand together,
determined to create a future of peace, prosperity, and freedom for
the citizens of our countries and the world.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Indymedia UK, UK
April 23 2006

Recognise the Armenian Genocide
Peter Marshall | 23.04.2006 15:16 | Repression | World

On Saturday 22 April, around a thousand Armenians living in the UK
marched from Marble Arch to the Cenotaph in Westminster where a
wreath was laid to draw attention to their demands for the
recognition of the Turkish genocide of 1915-23 in which around 1.5
million Armenians were killed.

Genocide has been around throughout history, but it was only in the
twentieth century that the term was invented. It was needed to
describe both the fate of the Jews under the Nazis and the earlier
Turkish crimes against the Armenians.

Ethnic groups such as the Armenians just didn’t fit in with the
concept of a new Muslim Turkey held by the Young Turks in the early
years of the twentieth century. The only solution was to kill them.
The Turks started on the job on 24 April 1915 by arresting 1000
intellectuals and other leaders and executing them.

Next they conscripted 300,000 male Armenians for army service, but
but instead of sending them to the trenches, they were alleged to be
traitors, disarmed and killed.

Finally, the remaining Armenians – women, children and the elderly –
were dealt with my mass killings and enforced marches into the desert
where they starved. Rape and other atrocities were common.

The Armenians had been living inside what became modern Turkey for
some 3000 years. At the start of 1915 there were over 1.5 million of
them. Most were killed during that year, and by 1923 there were only
around 50,000 left.

The Turkish government still refuses to accept this genocide
occurred. In 1916, a UK parliamentary report by Lord Bryce and Arnold
Toynbee, ‘Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 1915-16’
detailed these systematic politically motivated killings, and many
other reports, including some from the UN have given simiilar
accounts.

Over recent years, many governments and other organisations around
the world have passed resolutions affirming that the Armenian
genocide occurred. Like the Nazi holocaust, it is a fact of 20th
century history, and like that, totally reprehensible.

Various Early Day motions in the British parliament have called upon
our government to take some action. The most recent, sponsored by
Stephen Pound MP, “calls upon the UK and Turkish governments publicly
and officially to recognise the Assyrian and Armenian genocide of
1915” and for the “UK Government to call on the European Union to
make official Turkish recognition … one of the pre-conditions for
Turkey’s membership of the EU.” So far this has only attracted 38
signatures – only one from a Conservative.

The march was one of a number of events this year organised by the
Campaign for the Recognition of the Armenian Genocide, CRAG, together
with other Armenian community groups. Among those leading the march
was Bishop Nathan Hovhannisian, Primate of the Armenian Church of
Great Britain.

More pictures on my web site shortly. Also there are pictures and a
report from the April 2005 march in London.

8738.html

AZG Armenian Daily #074, 22/04/2006

Karabakh diary

IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO CATCH DEFENSE ARMY BY SURPRISE

NKR Defense Minister Assures

Military drills organized by the Army of Defense of Nagorno Karabakh
on April 12-20 proved a higher level compared to that of previous
years. The exercises of all military unites – from infantry troops to
military aviation – were supervised by NKR President Arkady Ghukasian,
Armenian and Artsakhi defense ministers, head of Armenian armed forces
headquarters Mikael Harutyunian and senior military officials. Serge
Sargsian assessed the drills as normal adding that the experts
imminent report will highlight the progress in the army. Mikael
Harutyunian stated, on his part, that these large-scale drills, that
are staged for already 5-6 years, secure higher level of performance
emphasizing army’s preparation.

Distinguished unites, commanders and servicemen were presented with
gifts and diplomas.

At the meeting with journalists before the final stage of drills, NKR
defense minister Seyran Ohanian said the Army of Defense not only
readily overcame all tasks but also proved to be able to defend the
motherland without the help of a third power. “There is still no need
of the third power – a peacekeeping contingent. The Army of Defense is
the best power for peace.” The minister stated that the most important
thing is to feel confident in the face of Azerbaijan’s threats. And
they do feel confident. “It’s impossible to catch the Army of Defense
by surprise.”

As to the borderline incidents, the minister assured that the
situation is calm. “Exchange of fire and sniper shots are a usual
thing on the borders, and even privates take them quietly.” Seyran
Ohanian added that the process of mutual concessions is not properly
introduced to the public and it indeed needs to be introduced. Asked
whether he believes in a settlement this year, the minister said:
“We’ll do everything to reach the finish but the settlement depends on
the process of negotiations.”

By Gohar Gevorgian in Stepanakert

SOLEMN EVENT DEDICATED TO 40th ANNIVERSARY OF UNITED NATIONAL PARTY TO
BE ORGANIZED ON APRIL 24

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The 40th anniversary of foundation of
the United National Party will be marked on April 24 this year. In
this connection a solemn event will be organized at the Arno
Babajanian concert hall. Paruyr Hayrikian, Chairman of the National
Self-Determination Union, informed about it at April 21 press
conference. According to him, it is supposed that after getting
acquainted with some episodes of the history of the United National
Party founded in 1966 the participants of the event will adopt a
message in which they will call for posthumously giving the title of
the National Hero to UNP founder Haykaz Khachatrian and burying him in
the Pantheon after Komitas. Hayrikian said that starting 1965, April
24 has become a day of national awakening. According to the United
National Party’s program-regulations adopted in 1974, on April 24 the
UNP members kept the fast from morning to evening. And after the
sunset they marked the birth of the United National Party.

This year the UNP will start the series of events dedicated to April
24 from the Surb Sargis church, then the party members will visit the
Memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims, then will leave for
Echmiadzin for a liturgy, after which will visit the graves of Komitas
and Haykaz Khachatrian and will be present at the evening liturgy in
the Surb Grigor Lusavorich church.

“THERE IS NO EXAMPLE OF GENOCIDE IN OUR HISTORY WHAT I’M PROUD OF,”
PERSIAN DEPUTY EMPHASIZES AT EVENT DEDICATED TO 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

TEHRAN, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. An event dedicated to
the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide took place on April 18
in Tehran, on the initiative of the Armenian Issues’ Research Center
(AIRC, Hay Dat Committee of Tehran). Archbishop Sepuh Sargsian, the
primate of the Armenian diocese of Tehran, two dozens of deputies of
the Islamic Parliament and representatives of deputies’ offices,
officials of the ministries of interior, education and bringing up,
Islamic culture and leadership, representatives of the Deputies’
Assembly of the Armenian diocese of Tehran, of the Diocesan Council
and Armenian cultural unions of Tehran, Persian intellectuals,
journalists and inspectors of Armenians schools participated in the
event. According to the “Alik” daily of Tehran, Gevik Mkrtchian, the
AIRC Chairman emphasized that many international circles and even Turk
intellectuals recognized the Genocide, but the Government of Turkey
has not refused yet its betrayal policy, and followers of the people
implementing the Genocide, started cultural massacre today. Then
Robert Beglarian, the Deputy of the South Iranian Armenians of the
Islamic Parliament invited the speaker of the day, Doctor Emad Afrugh,
the Chairman of the Cultural Committee of the Islamic Parliament,
Deputy from Tehran, to make a speech. The Persian Deputy emphasized
that though some historians do not call those crimes a genocide and
consider it to have been a compulsory migration, but the fact remains
a fact that such a case had taken place, it is a reality but not an
illusion. Doctor Afrugh added that though some of the people having
implemented the crime were once punished, but they did not get a
worthy punishment, until Armenians themselves subjected them to death
in different places. Doctor Afrugh called on the present authorities
of Turkey: “Let them make researches, let scientific researchers be
given necessary documents and be as brave as to congess that you had
made a mistakve and to correct the past if any deliberate crime has
been implemented.” He also attached importance to the dialogue of
religions and civilizations and emphasized: “We have no difficulties
with Christians: there is no example of genocides in our history what
I’m proud of.” Archbishop Sepuh Sargsian, the primate of the Armenian
Diocese of Tehran also sent his commandment during the event. He
particularly, said: “The human history showed that one may not falsify
or renounce the truth. Today, in the light century, nobody may build
the history on a falsification. The Armenian Genocide is a historical
reality, reality affirmed by representatives of the modern Turkish
authorities themselves and by political, church and intellectual
representatives of the western world. So, our expectation from today’s
Turkey is to have courage to recognize that crime of its fathers.”
Robert Beglarian touched upon in his speech a number of circumstances:
first, that the Armenian Genocide was not implemented only in 1915,
but has started since 1896, second, it’s a genocide as it has been
implemented towards a people in its own historic country, and Turkey
does not recognize it as legal responsibility will aslo arise of that
recognition. He cited from the “Iran, Ayatollah Khpmeyn’s Epoch” book
written by Nikolay Hovhannissian and published in Armenia: “Late Imam
attached importance to the role and place occupied by the Armenians of
Iran in different spheres and emphasized that “we are perfectly aware
of the Armenian Genocide, condemn it, and neither Iran is a similar
country not Iranians are a similar people for such a case happens in
Iran.” At the end of the event Deputy Emad Afrugh was presented a
souvenir, then a reception took place during which the Persian deputy
mentioned that it will become a start for his future researches.
During the event documentary video films about the Armenian Genocide
and presenting the Azerbaijani vandalism against the Armenian
monuments in Old Jugha were shown, and the “Zvartnots” choir had a
performance during the artistic part of the event.

WVU honors Holocaust victims
by Grant Smith, Staff

The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.

April 20, 2006 Thursday

Apr. 20–WVU students and community members gathered at noon Wednesday
to begin reading about 15,000 names of Holocaust victims.

And they’ll still be there at noon today.

“I think the Holocaust is a life lesson for the education person,”
said WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr., “that this could happen
in a ‘civilized’ country. It could happen to so many with so little
justification.”

Nazi Germany’s Holocaust killed an estimated 12 million people,
six million of them Jews.

Hardesty helped begin the program, reading a poem by Pastor Martin
Niemöller, and the poem “Unto Every Person There is a Name,” by the
Israeli poet Zelda. The name-reading event shares the same name as
the latter poem.

He then read the first few names of Holocaust victims. The first two
victims were just children, aged 14 and 17.

Hillel House, WVU’s Jewish student organization, first held the event
nine years ago, said member Heidi Solomon. About 30 volunteers signed
up ahead of time, and she expected about 20 to 30 more to volunteer
on the spot by the end of the event.

Hillel House co-treasurer Lauren Bergstein said that reading the
names is an effort to keep people from clumping the millions of
victims into one group.

“I think that one of the big things about this program is it’s
important to give everybody a name,” said Bergstein, a sophomore
occupational therapy student. “That kind of gives them more
personality.”

Hardesty said the name-reading is a “poignant way” of remembering
the Holocaust. “They were individuals with hopes and dreams,” he said.

Hardesty has been opening the program since it began at WVU, he said,
and read books and histories in preparation. “I think I’ve become
much better for participating in the ceremony,” he said.

He recalls an emotional moment from a previous year, at which six
names of members from the same family were read. A father, mother
and their four children were all killed on the same day, in the same
camp. He said the ages of that family reminded him of his own.

“I’ve kind of gotten better at managing that over the years,” he
said. The event is also an attempt to “make sure nothing like this
ever happens again,” Bergstein said.

Solomon’s mother, Jan Hausman, was scheduled to read names three
times during the event.

She teaches the Holocaust to eighth graders in Pennsylvania.

She said one of Adolph Hitler’s earlier speeches referred to the 1.5
million Armenians’ killed in Turkey in the early 20th century. He
said since no one remembered the Armenians, they wouldn’t remember
the Jews killed by the Nazis in 20 years, either. “He was kind of
laughing at the memory of the Armenians,” Hausman said.

She uses the Holocaust as a lesson decrying bullying.

“If we allow that, what’s next?” she said. “I show them what could
possibly be next.”

–Boundary_(ID_XklzbDX1oTk5S582Cz10hw)–

ARMAVIA AIRLINE GIVE VALUABLE PRESENT TO ITS 100,000TH PASSENGER IN 2006

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 20 2006

Yerevan, April 20. /ARKA/. The “Armavia” airline has given a valuable
present to its 100,000th passengers in 2006, the resident of Ashtarak
Marina Sarkisyan.

The present has been given to her in Yerevan by Director General of
the “Armavia” airline Norair Belluyan. The present costs AMD 200,000
($500).

This is an interim result of a special action announced by the airline
in 2006. According to the action terms, the first 100,000th, 700,000th
and 1,000,000th passengers can receive valuable presents.

The 700,000th passenger will receive keys of a “Peugeot” or “Renault”,
and the 1,000,000th passenger will be presented with a “Mercedes”.

The “Armavia” airline intends to exceed last year’s air transportation
index, 550,000 passengers, by October 2006.

The “Armavia” airline was founded on December 12, 1996. The airline
is currently owned by MIKA Armenia Trading. Î.À. -0–

–Boundary_(ID_8f4zKQxfPGR2ns/LVYh8hQ)–

STATE ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA WINS TENDER FOR RECEIVING $300,000 GRANT

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 19 2006

YEREVAN, April 19. /ARKA/. State Engineering University of Armenia won
Wednesday a tender for receiving a $300-thousand grant. The Univessity
press service says the grant is provided by American Civil Resources
and Development Fund, CRDF, jointly with Armenian National Fund for
Science and Advanced Technologies. According to the press release,
the money is intended for the university’s three-year program focused
on polymers synthesis. Armenian Government is to allocate half this
amount, of which $90 thousand will be given by Science and Education
Ministry and the remaining $60 thousand by the university.

The aim of the tender is to create university education center. The
University allocated about 200-square meter area of laboratories for
that purpose and intends to place there equipment worth $180 thousand.

CRDF is an American non-commercial benevolent organization cooperating
with Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Moldova. The
Fund was founded by the U.S. Government in 1995.