Author: Maghakian Mike

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th Street, NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
July 14, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
REPS. MATSUI, STRICKLAND JOIN CONGRESSIONAL ARMENIAN CAUCUS
WASHINGTON, DC – Support continued to grow for Armenian issues on
Capitol Hill this week as Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA) and
Ted Strickland (D-OH) announced their membership in the
Congressional Armenian Caucus, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA). The latest additions bring the Caucus
to over 140 members.
“We are gratified that Representatives Strickland and Matsui have
joined the Congressional Caucus and look forward to continuing to
work closely with the body to further increase its membership and
promote Armenian American community concerns,” stated ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
Rep. Strickland joined 98 of his Congressional colleagues this week
in cosponsoring the Armenian Genocide resolution (H.Res.316), lead
by Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA),
and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg (R-MI)
and Frank Pallone (D-NJ). In 1997, soon after his first election
to office, Rep. Strickland voted in support of the Radanovich-
Pallone amendment, which maintained U.S. restrictions on aid to
Azerbaijan until that country lifts its blockades of Armenia and
Nagorno Karabagh. The six-term congressman serves on the powerful
House Energy and Commerce as well as the Veterans’ Affairs
committee. A native of Lucasville, Ohio, Rep. Strickland received
a Ph.D in Counseling and Psychology and served as a minister, a
psychologist, and a college professor prior to his election to the
House of Representatives.
“I am happy to be part of a group that supports a free and
independent Armenia,” said Rep. Strickland. “It is important for
Members of Congress to recognize the tragic history of the Armenian
people, and work toward a future which allows for a secure,
sovereign nation for all Armenians.”
Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) is a first term congresswoman representing
the Sacramento area. She succeeded her husband, Rep. Robert
Matsui, who had been a long-time supporter of Armenian American
concerns and a member of the Armenian Caucus. Rep. Robert Matsui
tragically lost his battle against a form of bone marrow cancer in
January, 2005. Within months of her election to office, Rep. Doris
Matsui began active support of Armenian American concerns,
cosigning the Congressional letter to President Bush urging him to
properly characterize the Armenian Genocide as ‘genocide.’ She is
also a cosponsor of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.316).
“I am pleased to join the Armenian Caucus and look forward to
working with the Caucus on a range of political and educational
activities,” noted Rep. Matsui.

Baku Sun, Azerbaijan
July 13 2005

Karabakh veterans appeal to int’l organizations
BAKU – The Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) has appealed to
international organizations on the occasion of the upcoming visit to
the region by OSCE Minsk group co-chairs this month.The notorious
group has been commissioned by the OSCE to mediate a peaceful
solution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani ethnic conflict over Karabakh.
KLO unites Azeri veterans of the 1991-1994 Karabakh war, which left
one fifth of Azerbaijan’s areas occupied by Armenian forces, with
30,000 people dead and almost a million Azeris fleeing from their
homeland.
`The Minsk group doesn’t work efficiently (towards the resolution of
the Karabakh conflict) and seeks to conceal aggressive actions
towards Azerbaijan by Armenia,’ the Organization said in an appeal,
also addressed to the ambassadors of France, Russia and the United
States – the countries co-chairing the Minsk group.
The international community recognizes Karabakh as territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan.However, the KLO chairman, Akif Naghi, who
holds an academic degree in history, noted that the troubleshooters’
earlier visit to Karabakh from Armenia, bypassing Azerbaijan, had
caused a protest with the Azerbaijani public, as `this action had
been directed against the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and
been in line with the interests of Armenia.’
Despite the occupation of almost 20 per cent of Azerbaijan’s
territory, the international community – including the Council of
Europe and European Union – refuses to recognize Armenia as an
aggressor country.
President inaugurates regional businesses

Journal of Turkish Weekly
July 13 2005
Closed talks between Turkey and Armenia confrimed
Source: Hurriyet
Amid rumors of a “secret meeting”, The Turkish Foreign office
confirmed on Monday that talks between Armenian and Turkish diplomats
took place in a European city recently. During the meeting Turkey
presented its proposals on the issue of normalizing relations between
the two countries. The meeting took place following the exchange of
letters between the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan. The letters addressed the
subject of the so-called Armenian genocide.
A second closed meeting is set to take place in an undisclosed
European town shortly. Armenia will present its proposals at the
second round of talks. One thing that is sure Erdogan and Kocharyan
have reached an agreement to take concrete steps to satisfy both
sides and to create an atmosphere of confidence.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry is yet to release a statement on the
talks.

AZG Armenian Daily #127, 12/07/2005

Culture
‘THE 2D GOLDEN APRICOT FILM FESTIVAL ENRICHED WITH FAMOUS NAMES’
Film director Edgar Baghdasarian’s “Mariam” will open the 2d Golden
Apricot international film festival today at the National Opera
Theatre. As last year, the apricot consecration at the Surp Zoravor
church will precede this year’s film festival.
Press conferences launched at Hotel Yerevan yesterday will carry on
all week long enabling Abas Kiarostami (Iran), Atom Egoyan (Canada),
Nikita Mikhalkov, Roman Balayan (Russia), Robert Gedikian (France) and
others to speak about their films presented in the festival.
Film critic Zaven Boyajian said yesterday that the borders of Golden
Apricot have widened this year. “Compared with the last year’s
festival, this Golden Apricot is a few steps in advance. Geography has
been widened, films of renowned directors added to the competitive and
non-competitive programs. This is one of the peculiarities of this
year’s festival. I think it has rather good perspectives if not
financial and organizational obstacles”, he said.
Lebanese filmmaker Carmen Labagi told about his documentary, which
though depicts the life of Lebanese-Armenians, touches upon affairs of
Armenians in other countries, too. For instance, Carmen met a group of
Bedouins in Syria who were aware of their Armenian origin. His film is
included in the program of non-competitive films about Armenian
Genocide.
Karine Torosian from Canada shot her “Stone, Time, Touch” fiction last
year in Armenia. The film deals with national identity issues and
issues that the modern Armenian women face, answer to which Karine
wanted to find in her homeland. Karine starred Arsine Khanjian in her
film. Armenian women share with the feelings they had from the first
encounter with Armenia, compare the real and the imaginative
homelands.
By Ruzan Poghosian

ARKA News Agency
July 6 2005
RA PREMIER RECEIVES GOVERNOR OF HORMOZGAN IRANIAN PROVINCE
YEREVAN, July 6. /ARKA/. RA Premier Andranik Margaryan received the
Governor of Hormozgan Iranian province, Ibrahim Derasgisu. According
to RA Government’s Press Service Department, Margaryan congratulated
Derasgisu with the presidential elections in Iran and sent its
greetings to the President of Iran Mahmud Ahmadinejavu. Margaryan
expressed hope that Armenian-Iranian relations will develop with the
same success. The sides attached importance to bilateral visits at
the highest level and noted that bilateral cooperation will favorably
influence on the whole region. Margaryan expressed his belief that
Iran will continue its balanced policy towards the South Caucasus
countries, which is an important factor to preserve stability and
peace in the region.
Touching upon bilateral economic relations, the sides noted with
pleasure positive factors for the last years in the sphere, as well
as growth of the volume of goods turnover. They attached importance
to mutual cooperation, particularly, in the area of energy, and
construction of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, and hydroelectric power
plants on Araks, new third double-circuit line of electricity
transmission. They emphasized activation of cooperation between
separate subjects of Iran and Armenia, in particular, Syunik, Armavir
and Ararat regions and provinces of Mazandaran, Ardebil and Western
and Eastern Atrpatakan. As a result of the negotiations, an agreement
on cooperation between the provinces of Hormozgan and Ararat region
of Armenia was signed.
Derasgis noted that with the consideration of free trade zones and
cargo transportation possibilities of the ports of the province,
there are possibilities for the development of the cooperation.
According to him, the Armenian community in Iran, actively
participating both in the political and economic life of the country,
may contribute to it. Margaryan assured the governor that RA
Government is ready to support implementation of all the above
mentioned programs. A.H.–0–

Pan Armenian News
ARMENIAN LEADER READY TO PERSONALLY PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATION WITH
IRAN
06.07.2005 05:55
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian met in Yerevan with
Governor of the Iranian province of Hormozgan Ebrahim Derazmisu , RA
President’s press center reported. During the meeting Robert Kocharian noted
the necessity of strengthening of economic ties emphasizing that the
dynamically developing Armenian economy offers new possibilities for
cooperation. In this view, the President pointed out to the importance of
the highway connecting Armenia and Iran, thanks to what the volume of cargo
transportation can be considerably increased. He also noted that with two
free and three special economic areas, three international airports and a
seaport the Iranian province can create a good atmosphere for the
development of the Armenian-Iranian economic ties. The Armenian President
said he is ready to personally assist the Armenian businessmen.

AZG Armenian Daily #123, 06/07/200
Karabakh issue
GORAN LENMARKER CREATES ‘GOLDEN’ OPPORTUNITY TO SETTLE NKR CONFLICT
Regnum agency informed that Goran Lenmarker, OSCE PACE special
representative of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, stated that today a
“golden” opportunity is created for the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh
issue, based on “victory-victory” order. In case this order is carried out,
both Armenia and Azerbaijan will suffer the least loses. The diplomat told
about that during the 14th session of PACE in Washington. He emphasized that
Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not frozen. “People are being killed at the
border each year,” he said.
Lenmarker offered to follow the example of the Europeans, when “democracy
and integration become basic components for peace.”
He didn’t specify what “victory-victory” order means in particular. The last
point of OSCE PACE formula on Nagorno Karabakh settlement says the
following: “OSCE PACE advices Azerbaijan and Armenia to follow the formation
of “victory -victory” situation, based on the current suggestions on
settlement that is supported by the European structures.”

ANCA WELCOMES REJECTION BY OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF DIVISIVE
NAGORNO KARABAGH RESOLUTION
WASHINGTON, JULY 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Parliamentary
Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE PA), meeting on July 2 in Washington, DC, voted overwhelmingly
to defeat a controversial measure on Nagorno Karabagh authored by
Azerbaijani Parliamentarian Sattar Safarov, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America. The vote took place during a meeting of
the OSCE PA’s Heads of Delegation, as part of the opening session of
the four-day meeting for members of Parliament from the 55 member
states of the OSCE. The Safarov resolution, which was widely viewed as
a biased and divisive measure, received only token support, with
nearly all the Heads of Delegation voting, by a show of hands, to keep
the measure off of the OSCE PA agenda. The OSCE PA proceedings are
being presided over by Congressman Alcee Hastings (D-FL), the first
U.S. legislator to ever serve in this capacity. Other members of
Congress participating in the Assembly include:
Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), who is heading the U.S. delegation,
Senator George Voinovich (R-OH), and Representatives Christopher
H. Smith (R-NJ), Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD),
Louise McIntosh Slaughter (D-NY), Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL), Mike
McIntyre (D-NC), Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA), Mike Pence (R-IN), and
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). The Armenian delegation is
being headed by Vahan Hovhannisian, the Deputy Speaker of Armenia’s
Parliament. Other members of the delegation are Artashes Geghamyan, MP
and Samvel Nikoyan, MP. The ANCA worked closely with the Armenian
delegation and the Armenian Embassy in Washington, DC, as well as with
Armenian National Committee affiliates in Canada and throughout
Europe, in sharing with OSCE PA members the dangers of the Safarov
resolution. “We would like to thank Congressman Hastings for his
leadership in the Assembly’s proceedings, and to express our
appreciation to all those who voted against the Safarov resolution for
their responsible stewardship of the OSCE’s efforts to facilitate a
negotiated settlement to the Nagorno Karabagh conflict,” said Aram
Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. The defeat of the Safarov
resolution set the stage for the standard consideration by the
Assembly of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict. This discussion is being
led by Swedish Member of Parliament Goran Lennmarker, who has served
since June of 2002 as the OSCE PA special representative on this
issue. In preparation for the OSCE PA meeting, Lennmarker presented a
report, entitled “A Golden Opportunity: Some Ideas on Nagorno Karabakh
Conflict,” to the Heads of Delegations to the OSCE PA. In this report,
Lennmarker stressed that there is now a golden opportunity, through
the OSCE Minsk Peace-process, for a peaceful solution of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, based on a “win-win” concept where both Armenia and
Azerbaijan come out better. In his remarks, Lennmarker noted that “the
conflict is not frozen,” adding that “there is no alternative to a
peaceful solution – in fact there is an urgent need to solve the
conflict in order to end the personal, economic, and social suffering
on both sides of this conflict.” He proposed basing a solution on
experiences from Europe, where democracy and integration are
fundamental components in securing a lasting peace, and added that
strong European and international institutions stand ready to support
Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Pan Armenian News
ARMENIA AND IRAN ACTIVELY DEVELOP COOPERATION
05.07.2005 04:27
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Gegham Gharibjanyan met
with Hormozgan Iranian Province Governor Ebrahim Derazmisu, reported the
Press Service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry. In the course of the meeting
the parties discussed matters of establishment of economic cooperation
between the Iranian province and Ararat region of Armenia. The Iranian
Governor presented the potential of his province and noted the commercial
and economic infrastructure, fish industry, tourism, metallurgical works and
petroleum refinery are rather developed. The parties agreed beforehand on
cooperation in commercial ties, tourism, export of fruit and fish products.
At the completion of the meeting the parties signed Memorandum on Mutual
Understanding. It should be noted that the delegation headed by the Iranian
Governor has come to Armenia on the invitation of Ararat region Governor
Alik Sargsyan. At the end of the visit the Armenian and Iranian parties will
sign a Memorandum on Cooperation.

The Santa Fe New Mexican (New Mexico)
June 29, 2005 Wednesday
PECOS HIGH SCHOOL: PECOS TEACHER TO SPEND THREE WEEKS IN ARMENIA
by SHANNON SHAW
Pecos High School English teacher Mary Beth Britton is one of 15
teachers chosen to participate in a three-week cultural exchange
program in Armenia as part of Project Harmony, an online discussion
course that pairs students with youths from other countries.
“I think it will be very interesting to see how people in another
country live,” Britton said. “I think a person can learn so much
about themselves when they’re put in such an alien situation.”
Last year was the first year that Britton and her students
participated in Project Harmony with students from Armenia, which
borders both Turkey and Iran. Students chatted with each other online
about the problems in their countries, their different cultures and
also discussed literature and poetry, Britton said.
“In the spring, my June class participated in an online discussion on
social justice and children’s rights,” Britton said. “We prepped for
their live discussions by reading work on the issues.”
As part of Project Harmony, teachers often visit the country with
which they communicated during the school year. Teachers stay with
host families — teachers they will work with again during the
upcoming year — and discuss lesson plans and concepts for their
students.
Britton leaves the United States on July 8. From New York City, she
will arrive in the Armenian capitol of Yerevan, where she will go
through an extensive orientation.
One component of Project Harmony “is not only to have the teachers
and students working together but to involve the community,” Britton
said. “We’re trying to come up with plans to involve community
members.”
One plan is to have students from both groups — in Pecos and Armenia
— write about evironmental issues in their communities and to have
the students ask community members how to improve these situations,
Britton said.
“The trip to Armenia will be beneficial to the students,” Britton
said. “I want whatever I come back with to involve every class in
Project Harmony.”
Britton returns to Pecos on July 26, and she will begin planning
lesson for the next school year shortly thereafter.