Author: Khondkarian Raffi

PROGRESS IS POSSIBLE ONLY THROUGH DIALOGUE AND REFORM, SERGE SARGSYAN AND ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN SAY

armradio.am
17.03.2008 18:02

RA President-elect Serge Sargsyan and leader of the Orinats Yerkir"
(Rule of Law) Party Arthur Baghdasaryan published an article in The
Washington Post titled "Moving Forward in Armenia."

"The two of us were competitors in the presidential election. But we
are united in our desire to end the current crisis and put Armenia
back on track. Cooperation is the way forward.

The political alliance we have created, between the president-elect
and the Rule of Law Party, is an effort to do things democratically
and through compromise. Between us, we represent 70 percent of the
votes of the Armenian people. This is a serious and solid mandate. On
this basis, we will pursue ambitious but realistic reforms that will
strengthen our democracy and our nation’s socioeconomic progress. In
this moment of crisis, we have agreed to assume responsibility for
joint governance.

This form of government has not been imposed upon Armenia; we have
chosen it as the best way forward. This new, grand coalition will
guarantee that the people’s will is reflected.

We insist, however, that continued progress is possible only through
dialogue and reform. Violence has no place in democracy. Therefore,
we ask those who are still promoting instability on the streets
to join us in political dialogue and to help us guide our country
toward prosperity.

Armenia faces a series of external challenges that we hope to
address. First among them is the long-standing conflict over who should
control the Nagorno-Karabakh region between our country and Azerbaijan;
second is the normalization of relations with Turkey. Only a government
with wide popular support, not one created through street violence,
can successfully resolve these problems. We will also continue to
ask the international community to recognize the Armenian genocide,
though this issue should not prevent us from moving forward," Serge
Sargsyan and Arthur Baghdasaryan write in the article.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Catholic Mesrobian High School & Technical College
Bourj Hammoud – Arax Str,
Beirut – Lebanon.

[email protected]
Te lefax: +00 961 1 260504
March 14, 2008

Benevolent Gala Dinner Yields More Than 150 000 U.S. Dollars in
Donations

On Saturday, the 8th of March, 2008, in the evening, at "La Marina"
Dbayeh, the annual benevolent gala dinner of the Armenian Catholic
Mesrobian High School took place. The gala dinner was officiated by
the Catholicos Patriarch of Cilicia of Armenian Catholics His
Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX who was present at it.

In his speech, the principal of the college, Mr. Gregoire Kaloust,
greeted greatly all those who were present, particularly one of the
school permanent and well-known friends "Robert Boghossian and Sons";
the representative of the fund Mr. Patrick Farajian; the president of
Italy’s "DMS Onlus" benevolent organization, professor Angelo Bosio
and his renowned wife Dr. Barbara, as well as one of the Lebanese
Armenian community’s faithful friends, the Lebanese famous artist Mr.
Ghassan Rahbani. After that, Mr. Kaloust emphasized that the
gathering "is not an ordinary dinner party but it has a precise aim
which is to help our school students who are in need and to pay their
school fees". The principal continued saying that the plan entitled
"Mesrobian Benefactor" aims at ensuring the sum of 150.000 U.S.
dollars to help once more the school students who are in need. Each
one of the 15 symbolic candles, which were placed in the hall, was
going to be lit during each donation of 10.000 U.S. dollars.

The principal’s speech was followed by the speech of Mr. Paul Ayanian
who gave the work of a native artist as a souvenir to the Lebanese
artist Ghassan Rahbani.

After that, the principal, Mr. Gregoire Kaloust, was thankful to Mr.
Krikor Terzian who organized the plan and who worked with fervency
and devotion in the name of the "Mesrobian Benefactor" plan success
without saving any effort and by supporting the school direction in
accomplishing this mission. That’s why, a souvenir was given by the
school to Mr. Terzian for appreciating his fidelity and sincere
devotion towards Mesrobian large family.

The Mesrobian kindergarten and primary school classes library, which
is going to be inaugurated very soon, was renewed thanks to the
"Boghossian and Sons" fund and the "Lincy" fund generous donations.
As the school principal announced during dinner, with the approval
and the blessing of His Beatitude, the library will be named after
one of the school well-known benefactors Mr. Varoujan Nerguizian’s
deceased father Apraham Nerguizian’s name for being grateful to
Varoujan Nerguizian for helping the school significantly and
particularly during the last years.

One of the school sincere friends who came from Italy to the gala
dinner and who became a permanent friend during the last years, the
president of Italy’s "DMS Onlus" benevolent organization, professor
Angelo Bosio spoke by emphasizing particularly on accomplishing the
most important mission which is the little children’s education and
gave the school the great surprise, announcing that his organization
is completely ready to participate in the construction works of the
new and modernistic huge building of Mesrobian nursery and
kindergarten.

During this historic gala dinner for the school, the 15 symbolic
candles were lit as a proof of the collected sum of 157, 150 U.S.
dollars from the donations which were made.

Mesrobian Newsletter
Issue #41

PRESS RELEASE

Armenian National Committee
San Francisco – Bay Area
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
Tel: (415) 387-3433
Fax: (415) 751-0617

[email protected]

JACKIE SPEIER SAYS BAY AREA WILL BE "EPICENTER" OF ARMENIAN-AMERICAN
POLITICAL ACTION
INVEST IN OUR YOUTH, SAYS ARAM HAMPARIAN
03162008.htm

San Francisco, Saturday, March 8, 2008 – At the Bay Area Armenian
National Committee’s annual "Hye Tad Evening" in San Francisco,
Armenian-American congressional candidate Jackie Speier talked about the
power of her Armenian roots, her record passing laws on issues important
to the Armenian-American community, and her commitment to pursue those
issues in Congress.

"When I get elected to Congress, the epicenter of Armenian-American
representation in Congress will be right here," said Speier, pointing
out that the Bay Area Congresswoman Anna Eshoo is also of Armenian descent.

Speier and Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian National
Committee of America, were the Special Guests at the sold-out event,
during which Bay Area ANC Chairperson Roxanne Makasdjian outlined the
chapter’s activities over the past year, calling on the community to
continue and increase their participation in political action. The
evening also included videos of ANCA Western Region news and clips of
the October 10th House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, during which
the Armenian Genocide resolution was heatedly debated and passed.

"I attribute my ability to withstand adversity and survive in the
political arena to my Armenian blood," Speier said. Referring to the
1978 Jonestown, Guyana mass murder during which Congressman Leo Ryan was
killed and Speier, his young staffer, was shot five times, Speier said,
"As I lay on the tarmac shot several times and left to die… I think my
ability to survive can be attributed to my Armenian heritage. As you
know, Armenians are known for their ability to withstand atrocities
greater than anyone can imagine. It’s also possible that my stubborn
Armenian genes played a part as well."

Speier also spoke about her early education about the Armenian Genocide.
"Growing up I remember my Mother sharing stories about her relatives
who were killed during the Armenian Genocide," she said. "And I have
read over and over and over again Ambassador Henry Morgenthau’s telegram
to the Secretary of State, dated July 16, 1915: ‘Deportation of and
excesses against peaceful Armenians is increasing and from harrowing
reports of eye witnesses it appears that a campaign of race
extermination is in progress under a pretext of reprisal against
rebellion.”

"We are told by some to forget the Armenian Genocide. We have a
Secretary of state that says, ‘Get over it.’ But we will not forget and
we will not get over it. We demand justice, because we know as students
of history that our world is more dangerous to everyone if it is allowed
to dismiss the Armenian Genocide. We demand justice because we cannot
allow the murder of a nation with impunity. If the US is to be the
leader of the free world, we need to lead on this issue, not follow the
Turkish government’s immoral attempts to bury the truth." said Speier.

Speier criticized the U.S. government for removing the U.S. ambassador
to Armenia. "Shame on America for first muzzling and then punishing
Ambassador Evans for his speech and his acknowledgement of the Armenian
Genocide, and then offering a denier of the Armenian Genocide as his
replacement," said Speier. She also criticized the government for doing
nothing to stop Azerbaijan’s continuing eradication of Armenian
historical landmarks in Azerbaijan, and it’s military threats against
Karabagh.

She reminded the audience that she has been working alongside the ANC
for many years, and as a California state legislator, she authored 16
bills related to Armenian issues. In 1989, she advocated for the law
mandating the Department of Education to include instruction on the
Armenian Genocide in public schools. Every year thereafter, she
co-sponsored the resolution commemorating the Armenian Genocide,
including the 2005 bill that made the commemoration permanent law. In
her final term, Speier introduced a measure that allows Armenian
Genocide victims or their beneficiaries to file claims against banks
doing business in California, that refuse to pay for deposited or looted
assets of Armenian Genocide victims.

As a member of Congress, Speier said she would also work to provide
development and humanitarian aid to Armenia and Karabagh, and help them
become more democratic and prosperous. Referring to the recent Armenian
government police actions against demonstrators in Yerevan, Speier said,
"A democratic government must represent the will of its people, never to
oppress or violate their rights."

Speier said she would rally support for Section. 907 of the Freedom
Support Act, limiting aid to Azerbaijan, until it lifts its blockade of
Armenia and Karabagh. Section 907 is currently not in effect due to a
waiver by President Bush. "Turkey cannot strangle Armenia into
submission by circumventing Armenia’s territory in every regional
infrastructure project. Turkey must include Armenia in these projects,
because this is the only way to lasting peace."

Aram Hamparian gave a rousing speech on the current national work of the
ANCA, beginning with praise for the Bay Area ANC. "There is no better
chapter in America than the one here in San Francisco," he said, adding
that the ANCA is continuing to grow, establishing more chapters across
the country. "The ANC is wherever the Armenian Cause and the Armenian
communities are."

Hamparian told about the ANCA’s involvement in the presidential
elections, working to elicit policy positions from the candidates.
"We’ve all learned through painful experience that political promises
are not always honored. But it would be a mistake not to secure as much
commitment as possible from the candidates when we have the most
leverage, and we have the most leverage during the election season."

He also spoke about ANCA efforts to bring Armenian-American youth into
the political process, by expanding outreach to students, internships,
launching Internet blogs, and particularly emphasizing ANCA’s Capitol
Gateway program, designed to financially and professionally support
young professionals in pursuing careers in public service, advocacy, and
media in Washington.

"I see it time and time again," said Hamparian. "The greatest payoff
for our community is an investment in our youth. Give them a hand, and
they will carry us on their backs tomorrow. They will rise in the State
Department. They will rise in the Department of Defense. They will
rise in the White House and Congress. They will be the future Jackie
Speiers, the future Anna Eshoos. They will be the proud children of our
nation that will take our hopes and our dreams with them to very high
places. Our Capitol Gateway program is essential for our future."

Hamparian also said that that the best way for our cause to move forward
is for Armenians to take positions of power. "We want to be at the
table, all the tables that deal with our future," he said. Instead of
asking what public officials can do for us, it would be much more
effective to sit down with public officials and ask, ‘How can we
together toward our common goals?’, Hamparian suggested. "We are today
under-represented in Washington. There’s a limit to what you can do
standing outside of a building holding signs and shouting slogans. And
there are limits to what you can do, doing the lobbying game. You
transcend that wall by getting yourself into the system," said Hamparian.

On behalf of the Bay Area ANC, Roxanne Makasdjian presented Speier and
Hamparian each with a framed large photograph from the 1918 Fourth of
July parade in San Francisco, showing Armenian-Americans marching with
banners asking for support for America’s "little ally."

#####

Pick 1 of 2: Armenian-American congressional candidate Jackie Speier
Pick 2 of 2: Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian National
Committee of America

BAKU REPORTS ON FIRING FALSE

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2008 17:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The situation at the line of contact is still tensed
but exchange of fire is not fixed, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian told reporters today.

"Azerbaijan keeps on circulating false information on ongoing
skirmishes and casualties among Azeri servicemen. We do state that
there is no exchange of fire presently and that we will refute the
information spread by Azerbaijan," the Minister said.

On March 4 early morning Azeri special forces attacked a position
of the NKR Defense Army near Levonarkh settlement of Mardakert
region. The attack was rebuffed and status quo restored. A crisis
monitoring due on March 7 by request of the NKR MFA was postponed
through Azerbaijan’s fault.

THE FACTOR OF FORCE REMAINS DECISIVE IN THE SITUATION RELATED TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH

DEFENSE and SECURITY
March 12, 2008 Wednesday
Russia

After a few hours of intensive fighting, Azerbaijani soldiers
hurriedly retreated, leaving eight dead soldiers and ammunition
on the battlefield. Two soldiers were wounded on the side of
Nagorno-Karabakh. The Defense Ministry of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
once again warned Azerbaijan that any infringing on the security of
the republic would be "stopped decisively." Authorities of Stepanakert,
the capital city of Nagorno-Karabakh, called on the Azerbaijani party
to observe the truce regime and not to threaten peace and security
in the region.

Interestingly, on the same day President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliev,
announced that his country would buy "military hardware, airplanes
and ammunition to be able to liberate its territories. The military
budget of Azerbaijan amounts to $1.3 billion and will grow further."

Aliev announced this speaking at a meeting with veterans of the
Nagorno-Karabakh war in the Hanlar District located near the
frontline. The President said, "The conflict will find a peaceful
resolution when Armenians feel the power of Azerbaijan." There
was also another illustrative phrase in his speech: "The norms of
international law are broken in the world and this has a negative
impact on resolving conflicts. The factor of force remains decisive
and we will achieve this."

Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan commented on the situation.

At a press conference on March 4 he announced, "The situation was
not quiet on the borders of Armenia in the last two days. Today,
Azerbaijan attacked one of our positions and nearly succeeded."

According to Sarkisyan, the Armenian party proposed the Defense
Ministry of Azerbaijan to stop provocations. Commenting on the
statements of Ilham Aliev, Sarkisyan remarked that he ruled out a
possibility of resolving the conflict in a military fashion.

According to Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan, what has
happened is the serious speculation of Baku on the current situation in
Armenia. Oskanyan adds that Azerbaijanis think that all the attention
of Armenian authorities is focused on domestic problems now and they
try to use this circumstance. However, according to the minister,
this option of events development will fail.

AVERAGE SALARY EXCEEDS BASKET OF GOODS TWICE

KarabakhOpen
13-03-2008 13:17:11

On March 12 the head of the National Statistics Service Manushak
Minasyan held a news conference and summed up the year 2007.

According to the NSS, as of January 1, 2008 138,834 people live in
Karabakh, of which 71.8 thousand are women, 67 thousand are men. 15.5
thousand children get a monthly benefit, there are 34,585 pensioners
and 10,207 people with disabilities. The population of Karabakh is
4.3 percent of the population of Armenia.

The average duration of life of women in Karabakh is 76.2 years,
men 71.8 years. Unemployment is 5.1 percent, 92 percent of unemployed
people are women.

2645 profit organizations and 399 non-profit organizations are
registered in Karabakh.

The average salary, according to the National Statistics Service, is
68.4 thousand drams which is up by 21 percent from 2006. The average
salary of public officials is 77 thousand drams.

The consumer basket 34,372 drams, the basket of goods is 22,170. In
other words, the minimum monthly wage exceeds the basket of goods
twice.

REPRESENTATIVE OF RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT: "NAGORNO KARABAKH ARMENIANS WILL NOT ATTEND HEARINGS IN THE PARLIAMENT"

Azeri Press Agency
March 12 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Tamara Grigoryeva-APA. The issue on Nagorno Karabakh will not
be discussed in the hearings on "frozen conflicts" in the Russian
Parliament’s Committee on CIS Affairs and Contacts with Compatriots,
head of committee’s administration Maria Lazutova told APA.

She said that issue related to Nagorno Karabakh had not been included
in the agenda of the meeting, Therefore, Nagorno Karabakh Armenians
would not attend the meeting. Lazutova said conflicts of Transdnestria,
Abkhazia and South Ossetia would be discussed in the committee,
Nagorno Karabakh conflict would not be debated.

"ISRAELI GENOCIDE SCHOLARS RESPOND TO REPORTED STATEMENTS OF AMBASSADOR GABY LEVY DENYING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE."

AZG Armenian Daily
13/03/2008

Genocide

OPEN LETTER TO MK TZIPI LIVNI, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, ISRAEL MK
Tzipi Livni, Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Jerusalem

We are writing to express our shock, disbelief and horror at the
statements attributed to Ambassador to Turkey Gaby Levy by the website
of Sabah News (Turkey) that "what we [Israel] did in Gaza is not
genocide just like there is no Armenian genocide." These statements
were reportedly in response to comments made by Prime Minister Erdogan
of Turkey criticizing Israel’s response to the terror attacks from
Gaza. We would like to believe that he was misquoted.

Ambassador Levy is insultingly wrong in denying the Armenian genocide.

There is an overwhelming body of historical evidence from many separate
and independent bodies of information to show that the mass atrocities
experienced by the Armenians were a result of an intentional policy
on the part of the Turkish government at the time. It is precisely
this evidence of intent to kill and destroy, in whole or in part,
as defined by the UN Convention on Genocide, which is why these
atrocities constitute genocide. They were adjudged genocide by Raphael
Lemkin, the person who gave the world the word-concept of genocide,
and have been so adjudged by any number of impartial commissions and
professional authorities, including the International Association of
Genocide Scholars.

Israel’s ambassador is humiliatingly further misdirected on Gaza,
where it is Hamas, an organization with a genocidal agenda, which
is carrying out terror attacks aimed at killing, destroying and
expelling the entire population. Israel is defending itself against
the perpetrators of this genocidal agenda. The Grad rockets Hamas is
now firing at population centers in Israel come from Iran which has
expressed a sworn determination to wipe out the State of Israel.

Clearly Israel has never embarked on a genocidal program or action in
Gaza, but for the ambassador to prove his point as it were by comparing
Israel’s actions today in Gaza to the known genocidal activities
of the Ottoman Turks against the Armenians and other non-Moslem
minorities in 1915 and on is self-defeating in the extreme. The
aim of Israel’s military actions in Gaza is to stop the genocidal
terror aimed at the Israeli public. To link proof that Israel is not
the aggressor in Gaza with a denial of the validity of the Armenian
Genocide is seriously harmful to Israel. Ambassador Levy’s mission is
not to revise historical truth, but to represent Israel with honor,
self-respect, competence and integrity. He has failed the test on all
counts. By publicly declaring his denial of the Armenian genocide,
he paves the way for denial of all other genocidal threats, foremost
of which are those now facing Israel.

Israel’s relationship with Turkey is a matter of vital importance
to the two countries,. But this relationship does not require public
displays of obsequiousness and participation in genocide denial.

It does require Ambassador Levy to advise Turkey of the genocidal
threats from Hamas, and from Iran, its paymaster.

We call upon the Government to repudiate the remarks attributed to him.

Sincerely,

Prof. Yair Auron, PhD, Dept. of Sociology, Open University of Israel
[email protected] Prof. Israel W. Charny, PhD (retired Tel
Aviv University and Hebrew University), Executive Director, Institute
on the Holocaust and Genocide, Jerusalem, Editor, Encyclopedia of
Genocide [email protected] Prof. Elihu D. Richter, MD, MPH, Genocide
Prevention Program, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Public Health
and Community Medicine, [email protected]

LEARN SOMETHING: SAMANTHA POWER

Chicagoist
March 11 2008
IL

Several years ago, we read Philip Gourevitch’s powerful book on the
1994 genocide in Rwanda, We Wish To Inform You…. This led us to
eventually pick up Samantha Power’s brilliant A Problem From Hell:
America in the Age of Genocide, winner of the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for
General Nonfiction. Power’s book is a riveting look at the United
States’ policies, approaches — and more than occasional avoidance
— to genocide during the 20th Century, beginning with the Armenian
Genocide during World War I and running through the Kosovo War of
the late 1990’s. With it, Power established herself as one of the
leading experts and writers on U.S. Foreign Policy.

Now, Power is back with a new book, Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira
de Mello and the Fight to Save the World. The book focuses on the life
and work of Sergio Vieira de Mello, the Brazilian humanitarian who
was working as the U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Representative in
Iraq when he, and 21 members of his staff, were killed in the August
2003 bombing of the Canal Hotel in Baghdad.

Power will be in town on Wednesday, March 12, at the Chicago Public
Library’s Harold Washington Library Center as part of the "Facing
History and Ourselves" program to read from and discuss this new book
and, we’re sure, much more on the current state of world affairs. As
the war in Iraq reaches its fifth anniversary, we can’t think of a
better time to examine the life of a man who dedicated himself to
promoting peace and we can think of a better conduit through which
to learn about him than the gifted Power.

Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out Power being in the
news lately for her recent comments and subsequent resignation from
Team Obama, something that we’re sure will come up at her presentation
tomorrow.

Samantha Power, Wednesday, March 12, 5:30 pm, Harold Washington Library
Center, 400 S. State Street. The event is free, but a reservation is
required. Call 312-345-3203 for more information.

SOME 60 ARE CHARGED WITH MASSIVE RIOTING IN YEREVAN

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS
March 10, 2008 Monday
Russia

The Armenian special investigation service has brought charges
against 59 persons in relation to the massive rioting in Yerevan,
press secretary of the Prosecutor General Sona Truzian told Interfax
on Saturday.

"Investigators have done a big job identifying the key figures who
provoked and organized the massive rioting. As a result the groups
that organized and coordinated the actions aimed at undermining the
domestic political situation in the country were identified," she said.

"It was established that material incentives were offered to the
participants in the massive rioting in Liberty Square involving
breaches of law and order," she said.

"People were paid 5,000-10,000 drams for spending the night in the
square and they were supplied with food and drinks," Truzian said.

People were given metal bars, gasoline in 20-liter cylinders and blue-
colored inflammable liquids in bottles, she said.

"The funds to guarantee the presence in the square of the residents
of Razdan and nearby villages were provided by Sasun Mikaelian, a
wanted member of the National Assembly, and his supporters did the
recruiting," she said adding that the accomplices of the deputy have
been detained.

The investigation also identified the person who brutally beat up a
police officer.