Author: Maghakian Mike

Zaman, Turkey
Feb 8 2005
Alleged Armenian Genocide Appears in German History Books
By Anadolu News Agency (aa)
Turkish Ambassador to Berlin Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik has stated that
the removal of the alleged Armenian genocide from history syllabus in
the German city of Brandenburg was not realized due to a lack of
pressure by the Turkish diplomats.
Irtemcelik in a statement to Berliner Zeitung newspaper said
yesterday, “What is to be included the in syllabus in Brandenburg is
decided in Brandenburg.” Regarding meetings held by the Turkish
Consul General of Berlin in Postdam, he remarked that the Consul
General attended meetings to give the views of the Turkish people
about the incidents that caused the deaths of more than one million
Armenians during World War I, Irtemcelik expressed Turkey’s
understanding regarding the allegations were perceived as an Armenian
genocide only in the West. Pointing out that many important documents
regarding the genocide allegations were easily neglected and
Irtemcelik stressed that massacres undertaken by two Armenian terror
organizations in the region prior to World War I were not mentioned
at all.
Remarking that Turkey was ready to reopen discussions with the
inclusion of formly over looked documents Irtemcelik said, “Our
archives are open,” and stated that the party thatcontinually cancels
talks among historians expected to be held in Vienna in May was again
Armenian. The Ambassador has requested all scientists to investigate
all the events.
Berlin

An Iron Curtain at Mount Ararat
By Harout H. Semerdjian
The Moscow Times
February 8, 2005
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 gave birth to 15 independent
states, from the Baltics to the Caucasus to Central Asia. Each state
inherited both advantages and challenges that were largely absent when
they were territories of a single union. For many of these new states,
such as Armenia, independence brought with it a new set of predicaments
linked to its recent historical past, its disadvantageous geography
and its immense refugee problem that resulted from ethnic conflicts
and natural disasters.
For the large and influential Armenian diaspora worldwide, the most
important issue remained recognition of the events of 1915 as genocide
— events which effectively removed their ancestors from their homeland
in the Ottoman Empire. However, for the majority of Armenians living
in Armenia, the most significant issue became survival in a period of
economic hardship and social turmoil. The country’s economy remains in
shambles, and its landlocked position only complicates the situation.
The economic conditions in eastern Turkey are not much better. In
recent years, farmers have put entire villages in the Sivas region of
the country up for sale. Isolated eastern provinces such as Erzerum,
Kars and Igdir near the Armenian border are anxious to boost their
economy in order to improve their low standards of living. Those in
Istanbul, Ankara and along the posh Aegean Coast do not necessarily
face the same challenges as those living in the forgotten east.
Yet what do the people in this impoverished region think?
On a visit to eastern Turkey several years ago, I began my journey in
Kars. Not far from the historic Armenian capital of Ani lies Ocakli,
a destitute village overlooking the frontier. A young woman from the
village pointed in the direction of Armenia and remarked, “We have
family on the other side, but we cannot reach them because of the
sealed border.”
I was intrigued: Family on the other side? Was she Armenian, Turkish
or Kurdish?
She was either unsure or unwilling to discuss her background, though
she said she hoped one day to visit her relatives in Armenia. She
voiced confidence that her village would soon prosper thanks to the
millions of dollars Armenian tourists to Ani would bring, if only
the border would open.
Today, nearly four years later, to the disappointment of the young
villager and several millions like her in both countries, the
Turkish-Armenian border remains closed.
The reason lies in unresolved historical issues and the Azeri-Armenian
conflict over Nagorny Karabakh, a conflict that does not even directly
involve Turkey. Given the current intricate situation related to
the issue of genocide in 1915 and the deadlock in Nagorny Karabakh,
the border closure between the two states only exacerbates complex
tensions in the region. While authorities in Turkey may feel they
are punishing Armenia in support of Azerbaijan, both countries are in
fact merely punishing their own people by maintaining closed borders.
Though the embargo has caused the loss of hundreds of millions of
dollars to Armenia and Turkey, it has not had the crushing impact on
Armenia that it was intended to have. Hence, the sealed border not
only fails to fulfill current political aspirations; it is actually
counterproductive in a greater regional context. The real question
is why a Turkish citizen in Kars and an Armenian citizen in Gyumri
should suffer when the existing Turkish blockade does not do extensive
damage to Armenia. It only maintains the poverty in the border regions,
which would otherwise benefit from cross-border economic activity.
The closed Armenian-Turkish frontier also causes great losses to
Azerbaijan’s isolated exclave of Nakhichevan, which shares no border
with Azerbaijan proper. All transportation arteries from this region
to Baku originate from the Turkish- Armenian border and again traverse
the Armenian province of Syunik before reaching the Azeri capital. The
current Turkish policy of keeping the border locked hence isolates
Nakhichevan and causes an alarming drain of human capital from the
exclave, the home of Azerbaijan’s ruling Aliyev family. The resumption
of railway service between Kars, Nakhichevan and Baku would prove to
be highly beneficial to all countries in the region, particularly in
light of the strategic energy and transportation projects currently
under way in Eurasia.
Opening the border would be beneficial to Armenia and Turkey in many
more respects beyond the purely economic.
First, it would demonstrate to the international community the
strong will and determination of both countries to solve their
differences themselves, not in the corridors of the French senate
or the U.S. Congress. Open borders would encourage contact, trade,
business opportunities and tourism between the population of both
countries — which would in turn create a sense of confidence and
greater understanding between the two peoples. Finally, Armenia
could become Turkey’s direct gateway to Azerbaijan and the Central
Asian republics.
Without basic human contact and activity, no government, including
Azerbaijan’s, should expect a miraculous solution to issues such
as coming to terms with genocide, the Nagorny Karabakh conflict
or the easing of tensions in the region. How can Turkey expect
the Armenian diaspora to behave in a positive, conciliatory manner
when it is unwilling to establish basic communication links between
the two countries? How can Armenia expect Turkey to understand its
needs and historical issues when Mount Ararat currently acts as an
Iron Curtain rather than a mountain of peace? Physical and economic
contact between the people of both countries would eventually make
way for closer political ties in the future.
The current policies in the region applied by both countries are
indisputably a failure. It is time to open a fresh process of dialogue
and reconciliation by opening the Turkish-Armenian border. Leaders of
both countries should be encouraged to think in global and realistic
terms and start taking alternate steps toward peace, if they are
serious about bringing harmony and eventual prosperity to the region.
Harout H. Semerdjian, an M.A. candidate at the Fletcher School of Law
and Diplomacy, Tufts University, and a member of the Turkish-Armenian
Business Development Council, contributed this comment to The Moscow
Times.

Turkish Parliament Speaker meets heads of Azerbaijani Parliament
Kazinform, Kazakhstan
Feb 7 2005
Baku. February 7. KAZINFORM. 7 February, Chairman of the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey Bulent Arinc and the accompanied delegation has
been in the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Republic, Azer-TAj informs.
Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament Murtuz Alaskarov, first deputy speaker
Arif Rahimzade and head of the Parliament Administration Safa Mirzayev
and other officials welcomed the guests.
Heads of the Parliaments of Azerbaijan and Turkey had a one-on-one
meeting.
Then, Mr. Bulent Arinc and the Turkish delegation familiarized with
the Milli Majlis museum.
The delegation of Turkey and Azerbaijan parliamentarians held a
meeting in large.
Speaker Murtuz Alaskarov thanked Mr.Bulent Arinc for visit to
Azerbaijan, wished it to be useful, stating the relations between
Azerbaijan and Turkey, basing on common historical, cultural, religious
and moral roots, develops in the spirit of friendship and fraternity.
After gaining sovereignty, in strengthening of friendship and
fraternity an exclusive role belongs to the nationwide leader of
Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, he said.
Thanks to regular visits of the officials of two countries, the
relations have acquired higher level.
The documents signed during the first visit of President Ilham Aliyev
have founded legislative basis for long-term cooperation.
As a result, the economic links of two countries are developing.Over
thousand Turkish businessmen have invested in numerous fields of
Azerbaijan’s economy.
Realization of the BTC oil pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas
pipeline will play important role in development of Azerbaijani and
Turkey, as well as in establishment of stability in the region.
The parliamentary links of two countries also develop.Our legislators
cooperate within the international organizations.
The Council of Europe has adopted a resolution in connection to the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, where calls Armenia
as an aggressor state, and the regime in the Nagorno Karabakh region
as a separatist.
In discussion of the document, the Turkish deputies have actively
taken part. Mr.Alaskarov updated the guests on the document,
expressed gratitude to the Turkish state and government for support
of Azerbaijan’s position.
Chairman of the Milli Majlis reminded his visit to France last year,
the insidious wishes of the Armenians related to recognition of the
so-called “Armenian genocide” that he condemned during his visit.
Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament also reminded the Khojali massacre
the Armenians have committed in February 26 in 1992 and expressed
hope that the Turkish Parliament would regard this question.
Expressing gratitude for cordial reception and provided information,
Mr.Bulent Arinc said he was pleased to visit the fraternal country.
He reminded huge contributions of the nationwide leader of Azerbaijan
Heydar Aliyev in development and strengthening of the relations
between two countries.
Mr.Bulent Arinc expressed consent with inter-parliamentary links,
noting that on 23 April, Turkey would mark the 85th anniversary of
establishment of the Grand National Assembly and wished to see the
Azerbaijan parliamentary delegation in the festivities.
“Turkey always and constantly supports Azerbaijan position in
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and it will remain
unchangeable”, he stated.
Mr.Bulent Arinc said on February 26 the Turkish parliamentarians are
going to hold discussions related to the Khojali genocide.
Speaker of the Turkish Parliament gave high assessment to
activity of the Turkish businessmen in Azerbaijan, noting that the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum oil-gas pipelines would
strengthen the two countries economically and play important role in
integration to Europe.
At the meeting, also were exchanged views on a number of other issues
of mutual interest.

Le Monde, France
samedi 5 Février 2005
A Ankara, Jean-Louis Debré et le premier ministre turc ont ouvert un
dialogue sans concession
Le président de l’Assemblée nationale effectue, depuis le 3 février,
une visite de trois jours en Turquie. Il est accompagné des quatre
présidents de groupe parlementaire.
Ankara de notre envoyé spécial
En l’espace de quelques jours, deux Français ont eu, cette semaine,
les honneurs de la presse turque. Celle-ci a d’abord consacré ses
titres au transfert de Nicolas Anelka, qui vient de signer pour trois
ans au club de football de Fenerbahce. Elle a ensuite commenté
l’arrivée, jeudi 3 février, du président de l’Assemblée nationale,
Jean-Louis Debré, accompagné des présidents des quatre groupes
représentés au Palais-Bourbon, Bernard Accoyer (UMP), Hervé Morin
(UDF), Jean-Marc Ayrault (PS) et Alain Bocquet (PCF).
Cette visite intervient alors qu’aucun président de la République
française n’est venu en Turquie, depuis la visite de François
Mitterrand, en 1992. Le dernier déplacement effectué par un membre du
gouvernement remonte à 2003.
Au cours de leur séjour de trois jours à Ankara puis à Istanbul, les
parlementaires français ont rencontré les principales autorités
turques, mais aussi des représentants des milieux économiques,
d’organisations non gouvernementales ainsi que le patriarche arménien
Mesrob II. “Il faut se dire la vérité. Nous avons à vous écouter,
vous avez à nous entendre”, a insisté M. Debré, pour qui “toutes les
questions sont légitimes”. Et toutes – Chypre, droits de l’homme,
réformes démocratiques, Arménie – auront été abordées, sans
ménagement.
Au premier ministre turc, Recep Tayyip Erdogan – qui était venu
plaider à Paris, en juillet 2004, la cause de son pays en vue de
l’ouverture d’un processus d’adhésion à l’Union européenne -, M.
Debré a expliqué que l’attitude de la Turquie à l’égard du génocide
arménien constituait un “vrai problème en France”. “Je suis déçu de
la France… Je ne savais pas que 400 000 Arméniens pouvaient faire
échouer un référendum”, lui a répondu M. Erdogan.
Malgré la vivacité de cet échange, M. Debré a estimé avoir “peut-être
fait `uvre utile sur la question arménienne”. En effet, les autorités
turques se sont dites prêtes à “étudier” la proposition d’une
commission internationale d’historiens qui ait accès à l’ensemble des
archives.
La délégation française a pu mesurer combien la décision prise par
Jacques Chirac d’ajouter une clause soumettant à référendum toute
adhésion d’un nouveau pays à l’Union avait pu être ressentie comme
“blessante”. “Pourquoi cette double norme ?”, a demandé un
journaliste d’Ankara, lors de la conférence de presse qui a suivi la
rencontre avec le président de la Grande Assemblée nationale turque,
Bülent Arinç. “La France a procédé ainsi à chaque fois qu’il s’est
agi de transformer la nature de l’Union européenne ou d’en changer
ses frontières”, a répondu M. Debré.
POSSIBLE ÉVOLUTION DE L’UMP
Pour ses quatre collègues parlementaires, une conviction se dégage :
quelle que soit l’issue des négociations avec l’Union européenne qui
s’ouvriront le 3 octobre, le processus ne peut avoir que des
conséquences positives.”Il contribuera à mettre du carburant dans le
moteur de la démocratie turque”, estime le président du groupe PS,
Jean-Marc Ayrault. Alain Bocquet (PCF) pense qu’il faut encourager
cette “envie d’Europe”. “Sinon, ajoute-t-il, il ne faut pas
sous-estimer les risques de dérive militariste, de dérive islamiste
ou de dérive atlantiste.” Son collègue de l’UMP, Bernard Accoyer, va
même jusqu’à évoquer une possible “évolution” de son parti, qui a
retenu, le 9 mai 2004, la formule d’un “partenariat privilégié” avec
la Turquie. “S’il s’avérait que ce pays, qui a beaucoup bougé et qui
a déjà réalisé des réformes de grande ampleur, répondait aux critères
de l’adhésion, pourquoi pas ?”, précise M. Accoyer. Seul Hervé Morin
(UDF) reste convaincu que l’avenir de la Turquie ne se confond pas
avec l'”identité européenne”.
Quant à M. Debré, il ne manque pas d’adresser, d’Istanbul, un message
en direction de “ces hommes politiques qui s’amusent à faire peur aux
Français”, désignant nommément Nicolas Sarkozy et François Bayrou,
hostiles à l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union européenne. “Ce sont
des aventuriers”, lche-t-il.
Patrick Roger

PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-1) 52-35-31
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Minister Oskanian Comments on the Death of Georgian Prime Minister Zhvania

Question: Your visit to Georgia, scheduled to take place on 3-4 February,
was cancelled due to the sudden death of Prime Minister Zhvania. What was
your reaction to this shocking news?

Answer: We learned about Zourab Zhvania¹s death while en route, by car, to
Tbilisi. This news came as a complete shock, especially since I was
scheduled to meet with him that very evening.

The loss is immense. Our cooperation with Prime Minister Zhvania has had a
long and memorable history. Zourab Zhvania was an accomplished and capable
politician, remarkable for his in-depth knowledge of regional realities and
his keen understanding of the potential for future developments. He was an
enthusiastic supporter of strengthening of Armenian-Georgian relations, as
well as regional cooperation in general. Throughout his career, he had
proven himself as a serious, responsible and reliable colleague.

At this difficult moment, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to
the family of the late Prime Minister Zhvania and to the people and the
government of Georgia.

Bob Marley brings Ethiopians and Rastafarians together – but all is not
harmony
By ANTHONY MITCHELL
.c The Associated Press
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) – Throughout his life, Bob Marley looked to
Ethiopia as the spiritual home of his Rastafarian faith.
But as Ethiopia welcomes hundreds of thousands of revelers for a month
of festivities starting Tuesday in honor of the Jamaican reggae
legend, many here view Rastafarians – some of whom settled in Ethiopia
because they could worship the nation’s last emperor – with deep
suspicion.
At best, the tiny Rastafarian community is tolerated as an oddity in
the deeply traditional and overwhelmingly Orthodox Christian country
on the Horn of Africa. At worst, they are accused of spreading drugs
and crime – claims they dismiss as springing from prejudice.
Organizers of this month’s celebrations hope music will melt away
tensions.
Marley’s widow, Rita, together with the African Union and the U.N.
Children’s Fund, is organizing the US$1 million (euro770,000)
extravaganza dubbed “Africa Unite” in honor of one of his most
famous songs. The highlight is Ethiopia’s largest-ever concert on
Marley’s birthday – Feb. 6 – in the capital, Addis Ababa.
“I have dreamed about doing this for years,” said Marcia Griffiths,
a singer in Marley’s former backing group, as she arrived in Ethiopia
for the first time Monday. “All my life I wanted to come here with
Bob in the flesh. Now I’m here and I know he is here in the spirit.”
It is the first time the annual commemoration has been held outside
Jamaica. Ethiopian officials estimate 500,000 people will attend the
festivities. After the concert in Addis, celebrations will move to
Shashemene, where the Rastafarians have built their community.
Marley’s music has always been popular here, and Ethiopians welcome
the many visitors – and money – the event could bring their
impoverished country. The capital’s cassette and CD stalls, which
normally blare Ethiopian pop, have changed tunes to Marley classics
‘Get Up, Stand Up’ and ‘I Shot The Sheriff’.
“I think the Bob Marley concert will be very good for the country,”
said Yared Kebede, a teacher. “With thousands of people coming here
and spending money, that can’t be a bad thing.”
Rastafarians worshipped Ethiopia’s last emperor – Haile Selassie, who
died in 1975 – as their living god, a belief based on a 1920 prophecy
by Jamaican civil rights leader Marcus Garvey that a black man would
be crowned king in Africa.
Selassie in turn granted Rastafarians land in 1963 at Shashemene, 250
kilometers (155 miles) south of Addis Ababa, where several hundred
continue to live. But successive governments have refused to give
Rastafarians citizenship in their adopted country.
“In any other country in the world, if you stay in the country a
number of years and have children, those children would have
citizenship – but not here,” lamented Ambrose King, deputy head of
the Rastafarians’ Ethiopian World Federation.
On Friday, Rita Marley said she was determined to honor her husband’s
wish for burial in Ethiopia, but did not say when the body might be
moved from Jamaica. She first announced the reburial plans earlier
this month – to the chagrin of many in Jamaica who feared losing their
cultural heritage.
Historian Richard Pankhurst said Selassie never held a particular
affinity for Rastafarians. The late emperor, who ruled from 1930 until
he was overthrown in a 1974 military coup that abolished the monarchy,
also granted land to Armenian refugees, Pankhurst notes.
Some Ethiopians are irked by the deification of Selassie, a man many
saw as an autocrat, albeit a benevolent one. The Orthodox Church never
granted Selassie – who claimed to be a direct descendant of King David
– the status of saint, which it bestowed on other Ethiopian emperors.
Regular drug busts in Shashemene – a dusty, wind-swept town of sleazy
bars and prostitutes – have also fueled local prejudices against
Rastafarians.
“The problem with the Jamaicans is that they smoke drugs,” said
Kebede, the teacher, using the local expression for Rastafarians,
regardless of their origin.
For Rastafarians, who preach a oneness with nature, smoking marijuana
is a sacrament.
Commemoration organizers hope to highlight issues like HIV/AIDS, war
and poverty, while raising funds for tsunami relief in Somalia, the
Shashemene Medical Center and a Bob Marley Youth Development Center in
downtown Addis Ababa.
Rita Marley will sing with Griffiths and Judy Mowatt as the I-Threes,
Bob Marley’s former backing group, on Feb. 6. Joining them on stage
will be Senegal’s Baaba Maal and Youssou N’Dour, Benin’s Kidjo, Reggae
rapper Shaggy, soul singer India.arie and Marley’s children.
Associated Press writer Andrew Heavens contributed to this report.
02/01/05 04:27 EST

Alcatel says no plans for EADS to join Alcatel/Finmeccanica space alliance
AFX News
Friday, January 28, 2005
PARIS (AFX) – Alcatel SA chief executive Serge Tchuruk said there are no
plans for Astrium, the satellite unit of the European Aeronautics
Defence and Space Co, to join the newly-formed space alliance between
Alcatel and Finmeccanica SpA.
He was speaking at a press conference after this morning’s confirmation
of the merger of the satellite and other space activities of Alcatel and
Finmeccanica. Last summer, Tchuruk had indicated that he is ready to
discuss a space alliance with Astrium ‘if they want to.’
Alcatel and Finmeccanica are already partners in the Eurel consortium
that is bidding for the 3 bln eur Galileo satellite positioning system
contract.
They are in competition with iNavSat, a consortium consisting of EADS,
Inmarsat and Thales.

ARAM SARGSYAN: IT IS EXTREMELY NECESSARY TO HOLD EARLY ELECTIONS IN
ARMENIA TO FORM LEGITIMATE POWER IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JANUARY 29, ARMINFO. It is extremely necessary to hold early
elections in Armenia to form a legitimate power the international
community recons with, Leader of Armenia’s Democratic Party, Deputy of
Armenia’s Parliament from opposition “Justice” bloc Aram G. Sargsyan
stated today at the press-conference at the discussion club “Azdak.”
According to him, it was illegality of power that resulted in PACE’s
resolution on Nagorny Karabakh unfavourable for Armenia. DPA Leader
did not consider the opposition guilty in adoption of that
resolution. He disagreed with an opinion that the whole last year, the
opposition representatives in the Armenian delegation to PACE were
engaged in complaints at R. Kocharyan’s administration instead of
working on Karabakh problem. “The Europeans watched themselves upon
elections, fixed violations, asked the report and we gave it them. The
opposition repeatedly proposed various versions on Karabakh problem,
but no one listen to us”, Sargsyan stressed. -R-

AMIC’s Newsletter, Montreal, Canada
AMIC’s Info-Flash
2340 Chemin Lucerne # 30
Ville Mont-Royal, Quebec
H3R 2J8
Tel : (514) 739 8950
Fax : (514) 738 2622
Web:
Email: [email protected]
December, 2004
1. Article 1: “Making a Difference in the Health Sector in Armenia:
Canadian-Armenian Health Administration Training Project”.
2. Article 2: “85 People Register as Donors at the Armenian Prelacy of
Canada Bone Marrow Drive”
3. Article 3: “Vocation Awards”
4. Article 4 : “The Armenian Medical Association”
5. Article 5: ” September-October 2004 Medical and Scientific Meetings in
Armenia
6. Article 6 : “What is AMIC?”
****************************************************************
News from Canada
1. Making a Difference in the Health Sector in Armenia: Canadian-Armenian
Health Administration Training Project.
Since May 1996, the Canadian International Development Agency has supported
an initiative of the Canadian Society for International Health (CSIH), aimed
at helping Armenia reform its health sector. Working closely with the
Canadian-Armenian Medical Relief Committee of Ontario , the CSIH has managed
the Canadian-Armenian Health Administration Training Project.
The project allows Armenian health professionals to visit Canadian health
organizations and facilities, such as NGOs, federal and provincial
ministries of health, community health centers, universities and hospitals,
accreditation councils, and professional health associations. Canadian
health experts have also traveled to Armenia as part of this project, to
meet with officials from the Ministry of Health and also with university
personnel, to consult on issues that have been identified following the
in-depth study tour in Canada.
The Armenian health community is interested in studying the Canadian model
as part of its efforts to rebuild that country’s health care system. Armenia
faces many challenges as its government and the emerging private sector
attempt to reform the delivery of health care to its citizens. Under Soviet
rule, health care in Armenia was highly centralized and dependent on
hospitals for basic health services. Both the government and health care
professionals now envisage a decentralized and privatized health care
system, one that would emphasize primary health care and would strengthen
linkages between clinics in rural areas and clinics and hospitals in urban
areas. The opportunity to learn about the Canadian health care system and
the “ins and outs” of Canada’s approach to the delivery of health services
will allow Armenia to make a more informed decision as they move forward in
their own health reform process.
“The CSIH is pleased to help the Canadian Armenian Medical Relief Committee
of Ontario on this project” said Charles A Shields Jr., Executive Director
of the CSIH. “It allows the CSIH to build on the lessons we have learned
through the Partners in Health program that CSIH manages in Ukraine. It also
allows us to understand similar issues that Armenians and Ukrainians are
concerned about”
****************************************************************
2. “85 People Register as Donors at the Armenian Prelacy of Canada Bone
Marrow Drive”
Info-Flash received the following communiqué from the Armenian Prelacy of
Canada.
“Montreal (Qc) – Canada. 85 donors registered in the Armenian Bone Marrow
Project organized jointly by the Armenian Prelacy of Canada and the Armenian
Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) during the first weekend of December.
The youngest clergy member, Rev. Fr. Karnig Kouyounian, Pastor of Sourp
Hagop Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, was one of the first people to provide a
sample of blood for the Bone Marrow Project.
Armenian Prelacy of Canada Executive Council and Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF) Canada Central committee members also participated in the
drive, as well as school officials and members of the Montreal and Laval
chapters of the ARF Youth Organization Committee of Canada and Homenetmen
Gamk (the scouting and athletic organization).
The Bone Marrow Project is a mission of crucial importance, which was put
into place to ensure that every Armenian (and others) struck with leukemia
or other blood related diseases have the hope of finding a genetically
suitable match for a bone marrow transplant, which often is the only and
final life-saving procedure for the patient.
However, due to the lack of Armenian donors in other registries and due to
the unique genetic make up of Armenians, finding a bone marrow match is more
likely to occur among other Armenians, rendering the ABMDR the greatest hope
for Armenians, particularly since only one match is projected for every 200
donors.
Established in 1999, the ABMDR is an internationally accredited,
independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization and currently has
more than 150 patients in need of a transplant.
Founded by Dr. Frieda Jordan and Dr. Sevak Avagyan, the ABMDR is a member of
the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) and the World Marrow Donor
Worldwide (WMDW), and although it shares its database information with other
registries around the world, it still needs as many donors as it can
recruit.
It is not too late to become a donor, for all those interested, please visit
for further information.
****************************************************************
News from Armenia
3- Vocation Awards
The AMIC office in Yerevan, and Mrs. Lilit Ohanyan
([email protected]) both sent the following text. For any further
information, please contact Mrs. Ohanyan.
” The National Television of the Republic of Armenia which represents the
“Health” popular science, an informative educational medical program (aired
every Saturday, and repeated on Mondays and Fridays) and “Vocation” non-
governmental organization are currently engaged in the organization of the
“Vocation” national award, with the participation of the best physicians or
clinics of Armenia and the Diaspora, and the non medical professionals or
organizations who have made significant contributions to the development of
medicine.
Provisions of the “Vocation” Award
1. Award Description
“Vocation” is awarded to the best physicians or clinics, as well as to the
non-medical professionals or organizations that have made significant
contributions to the development of medicine.
1.2 Prize shall be awarded annually. Nominations do not carry over one year
to another. To be considered for a particular year, the candidates must be
nominated for that particular year.
The deadline for the submission of nominations is February 15, 2005.
1.3 Each prize presented to the laureate shall consist of a statuette, a
certificate
in the winner’s name containing the Award winning nomination, and
prize
amount (cash award)
1.4 A prize shall be awarded to the winner or winners of each category.
1.5 Cash prize shall be awarded to the winner at the presentation ceremony.
The cash award shall be divided in equal shares between all the winners in
case the nomination has more than one winner. Cash award cannot be awarded
posthumously (Posthumous rewarding may not include cash award).
2. “Vocation” Award Categories
2.1 For conducting a Unique Operation which saved a human life. Awarded to a
surgeon who conducted a unique operation of which, at least a year after the
operation, the remote results are known.
2.2 For the introduction of an innovative curative methodology. Awarded to
physicians for the development or implementation of a unique curative
methodology that shortens the treatment duration and/or makes it more
affordable
2.3 For generating a new diagnostic method. Awarded to physicians who have
generated a new diagnostic method. The prize shall be awarded at least in a
year after the implementation of the method.
2.4 For establishing a new discipline (direction) in medicine. Awarded to
physicians and clinics that have created new disciplines or services in the
field of medicine.
2.5 To representatives of fundamental sciences and non-medical professionals
for significant contributions in the medicine development. Awarded to
non-medical professionals for drug and medical equipment development and
implementation. All the developments shall have corresponding certificates
of conformity and undergo relevant trials.
2.6 For great devotion to the profession. Awarded to physicians who have at
least fifty years of medical practice and made significant contribution to
the development of the field.
2.7 A special prize awarded to physicians who deliver help to war, terrorist
act and natural misery victims. Awarded to physicians who rendered
(delivered) professional help under martial conditions, natural disasters
and terrorist acts.
2.8 The best medical clinic or staff
3. Award nominating order
3.1 The nominee for the award may be presented by a group of physicians or
one physician, a group of patients or one patient, an administration of
curative and preventive, educational or scientific medical institutions. It
is possible to self-nominate. The nominee may compete for only one category.
3.2 All the nominees shall fill in a special questionnaire confirmed by the
Board of Trustees. The questionnaires of the nominees competing for the
second, third, forth, and fifth categories shall enclose special
certificates, licenses and other credentials which confirm the
implementation of clinical trials and permit to use the methods in medical
practice.
3.3 Supplementary information about the health condition and location of the
operated patient shall be enclosed in case of competing for “the unique
operation” category.
3.4 The nominees for the sixth and seventh categories are introduced by the
Board of Trustees decision and shall not have an alternative. Each year this
nomination is awarded to a physician or physicians introduced by the Board
of Trustees.
4. Examination procedure.
4.1 The organizing committee delivers the questionnaires and relevant
credentials, received from the nominees to the “Vocation” award experts.
Upon the receipt of the first negative notice the nominee shall be dismissed
from any further participation to the contest.
4.2 Upon receiving the first positive notice the nominees undergo the
experts’ evaluation again. Upon receiving a negative notice during the
second evaluation the nominee is dismissed from further participation to the
contest as well.
4.3 Nominees who possess two positive notices undergo the third and the
final evaluation. During the third evaluation of the experts, the nominee is
dismissed from the contest upon receipt of a negative notice.
4.4 Nominees recommended for the sixth and seventh categories are exempt
from the experts’ evaluation.
5. Selection procedure of winners.
5.1 Only the nominees who possess three positive notices may participate in
the secret balloting for the winner’s selection.
5.2 The winners are selected by secret ballot from the members of the Board
of Trustees.
5.3 The Board of Trustees members have the right to vote only for one
participant in each category.
5.4 The results of the voting are promulgated during a special closed
session of the Board of Trustees.
5.5 The Board of Trustees reserves the right to grant the award to one of
the nominees or to share it between two persons in case both nominees
collect equal votes in the appropriate category.
5.6 The results of the voting shall not be announced before the official
ceremony of the “Vocation” award. Special envelops with the names of the
winners shall be opened during the presentation ceremony.
6. The Experts Panel Activities Order
6.1 The leading specialists of all the medical disciplines are recruited to
the composition of the Experts Panel.
6.2 The “Vocation” award organizing committee recruits the experts into the
Experts Panel activities.
7. The Board of Trustees Activities Order
7.1 The “Vocation” award organizing committee establishes the Board of
Trustees.
7.2 The Board of Trustees executes the final selection of the winners from
those nominees who have received three positive notices. The “Vocation”
award organizing committee reserves the right to make changes in the Board
of Trustees composition without stating the reasons.
7.3 The Chairman of the Board of Trustees is elected during the session of
the Board of Trustees by means of voting by show.
8. The “Vocation” Organizing Committee Activities Order
8.1 The “Vocation” award organizing committee disseminates the credential
package informing about the award and provides the rules of award
nomination. It also accepts the questionnaires of the nominees, submits them
to the experts evaluation, sends ballot papers to the Board of Trustees
members, calls off the Board of Trustees sessions.
8.2 The founders of the “Vocation” non-governmental organization shall
establish the “Vocation” award organizing committee.
8.3 The president of the “Vocation” non-governmental organization assigns
the “Vocation” award Chairman.
****************************************************************
4- The Armenian Medical Association
Since 2002, The Armenian Medical Association has been trying to raise the
overall standard of medicine in the Republic of Armenia. Founded by a small
group of progressive physicians in Armenia, the organization has been able
to build organizational infrastructure, set up an office, and in just the
last year alone has doubled their membership to over three hundred.
The organization is now composed of physicians from a broad background of
specialties from throughout the Republic of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh.
The organization gives its members a window into the international medical
community, greater insight into and a forum for discussing the medical
problems in Armenia and Armenian healthcare issues and sets standards for
good medical practice.
One of many ambitious efforts of the Armenian Medical Association is a
hypertension survey, which is currently being conducted throughout the
nation. The organization also provides a wonderful network for doctors to
become informed about informational conferences in Armenia and abroad,
sponsors the education of physicians, and provides short to long-term
internships for premedical and medical students of Armenian origin via
Birthright Armenia, a non-profit organization that hopes to create valuable
links between the Diaspora and Homeland in all sectors. Also, in 2005, the
Armenian Medical Association will release the first volume of the Armenian
Medical Journal, the first English-language medical journal to be published
in Armenia. This journal will hopefully provide a new standard of academic
works in Armenia. The journal will be peer-reviewed by an international
group of physicians and will be published bi-yearly.
While still a small organization, the Armenian Medical Association holds
great promise for the future of medicine in Armenia. The organization has
set itself up to take on many roles and may be the mechanism by which
resources can be more adequately supplied, medical issues can be more
readily addressed and the overall standard of healthcare in the Republic of
Armenia can be bettered.
For further information, please contact Dr. Yaghjyan ([email protected]) or
go to
****************************************************************
5- September- October 2004 Medical and Scientific Meetings in Armenia.
(Message received from Mrs. Ruslana Kevorkian from the Ministry of Health of
Armenia)
-22 September 2004: The third meeting of the
Transcaucasian countries’oncologists
took place in Yerevan. The Minister
of Health, Dr. N. Davitian presided the
meeting.
-24 September 2004: The Association of Stomatologists of
Armenia, with the help of the
International Federation of
Stomatologists, organized specialized
courses at the Medical Faculty, with
the collaboration of specialists from
Sweden and New York University
(Dr. Bedros Yavrou).
-27-28 September
2004: An International Forum of
Neurologists took place for the first
time in Armenia, honoring during one
of its sessions, the well known 75
years old Dr. Levon Badalyan.
Specialists from Russia, the United
States, Great Britain, Israel, Germany
were in attendance.
Presentations, discussions and new
methods of treatment of neurological
disorders were conducted.
11-13 October 2004: The Erebouni Medical Center
organized an International
Congress of Cardiology at the
Business Center of the American
University of Armenia. A cardiology
center has been operating at the
Erebouni Hospital for the last year,
under the direction of Dr. Vatche
Kasparian, who specialized in
Singapore (See Info-Flash No 1,
April 2003). Specialists from around
the world (Singapore, Monaco,
France, Spain, United States, Russia)
were present.
13-15 October 2004: The financial and medical management
of the health care services in Armenia
was examined during a two day
conference held at the Business
Center of the American University of
Armenia. Topics under discussion
included financial revenues, expenses
by specific services, the social
categories benefiting from the health
services, and the educational and
theoretical amendments to be
introduced.
6- What is AMIC?
The Armenian Medical International Committee was created fourteen years ago.
It is an umbrella organization that unites Armenian medical associations
throughout the Diaspora, creating thus a large network through which
information and data are exchanged.
AMIC organizes Armenian Medical World Congresses. So far eight have been
held in different cities of the Diaspora. In 2003, “The First International
Medical Congress of Armenia”, organized by Armenia, was held in Yerevan from
July 1 to July 3.
The 9th AMIC Congress will be held in 2005 (from June 29 to July 3), in San
Francisco (USA). You can have the latest news by visiting the website
AMIC publishes since 1998 an online newsletter and sends it freely to all
Armenian Health Care professionals. If you are a health care professional
and are interested in receiving Info-Flash, please send us your e-mail
address ([email protected]). To all those who already receive the Info, please do
not forget to send us your new e-mail address when you change it.
For further information, visit our website:
A useful information to remember: you can send freely from wherever you are
located, medical equipment/medicine through the services of the United
Armenian Fund; President Mr. Harout Sassounian ([email protected])
Note from the Editor:
This last issue of December 2004 of the Info-Flash was delayed, due to a
very bad flu of Info’s Editor, Aida Boudjikanian.
AMIC’s Executive President, Dr. Jean Arakelian, and Members, send to all the
Info-Flash readers their best wishes for a New and fruitful New Year.

PERMANENT MISSION OF ARMENIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Contact: Dziunik AGHAJANIAN
Minister-Counsellor
Deputy Permanent Representative
119 East 36th Street, New York, NY 10016, USA
Tel: 1-212-686-9079
Fax: 1-212-686-3934
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
January 24, 2005
PRESS RELEASE
MINISTER OSKANIAN ADDRESSES UN SPECIAL SESSION
Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian was among a select
group of foreign ministers who addressed the UN 28th Special Session, on the
60th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Nazi Concentration Camps. The
session was held just a few days before the 60th anniversary of the
liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, by Soviet troops, near the
end of World War II.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan spoke about the role of the UN, which was
founded immediately following the Second World War. The massive violations
of human rights during the war were an impetus for the formation of this
international institution, 60 years ago, he explained.
The Secretary General was followed by Holocaust Survivor, writer, Nobel
Prize Winner for Peace, Professor Elie Wiesel, and former UN Undersecretary
Sir Brian Urquhart. Elie Wiesel evoked images of the horrors that
concentration camp inmates had to endure, and repeatedly expressed amazement
at humanity’s capacity for such evil, and for such indifference. Sir Brian,
then a member of the Allied Forces that liberated the camps, stressed
humanity’s collective responsibility in the prevention of genocides and in
bringing to justice the perpetrators.
They were followed by Silvan Shalom, the Foreign Minister of Israel, the
Special Representative of Poland, Mr. Bronislaw Geremek, Vladimir Lukin, the
Commissioner for Human Rights of the Russian Federation, Paul Wolfowitz, US
Deputy Secretary of Defense, Jean Asselborn, the Minister of Foreign Affairs
of Luxembourg, on behalf of the European Union, and Marcello Pera, Speaker
of the Italian Senate.
Together with Minister Oskanian, also on the rostrum were other foreign
ministers: Joschka Fischer, Germany, Michel Barnier, France, Pierre
Pettigrew, Canada, Ilinka Mitreva, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as
well as representatives of Greece, Romania, Norway, Austria, Hungary, the
Netherlands and Great Britain.