Author: Manouk Vasilian

RENE GROUSSET’S “ARMENIAN HISTORY” PUBLISHED IN TURKISH
ISTANBUL, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. These days “Aras” publishing house
published in Turkish the “Armenain History” by Rene Grousset, a
famous French historian, a member of the French Academy of Sciences.
The book represents to Turkish reader’s attention the Armenian
history from the time of the Armenian people’s origin to 1071.
Grousset represents the Armenian people’s origin, culture, the stages
of origin and development of the Armenian language, the history of the
countries created by Armenians, the history of adopting Christianity
by Armenians, development of the Armenian church, the Armenian heroic
epics and Armenians’ political and cultural relations with different
nations and countries of the region. The volume having about 750
pages includes maps and photoes, too. According to “Marmara” daily
of Istambul, Sosi Dolanokhli translated the book from French. The
photo of of Ani Mother Cathedral is on the book-cover.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Bulgarian News Network, Bulgaria
March 12 2005
Coming up
SOFIA (bnn)- Here is a schedule of events expected in Bulgaria on
Saturday:
[parts omitted]
VARNA–Ministers of transport of Armenia and Bulgaria Andranik
Manukyan and Nikolay Vasilev visit this Bulgarian Black Sea port.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanArmenian News
Feb 24 2005
NATO EXTREMELY INTERESTED IN SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT
24.02.2005 18:06
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The NATO is satisfied with the beginning of the
working out of the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) and
Armenia being ready to serious progressive steps in relations with
the Alliance, Special Representative of the NATO Secretary General
for the South Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simmons stated at a
press conference in Yerevan. In his words, in spite the IPAP is not
ready yet, the cooperation is available between the parties and the
IPAP will comprise all the partnership aspects. Speaking of today’s
Armenia-NATO cooperation Simmons noted that as a partner Armenia
contributes to struggle against common threats. Besides, Robert
Simmons noted that the NATO is extremely interested in the settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, although the solution of the
problem is the function of the OSCE Minsk Group. “The NATO is not
going to play a role in these talks,” he stated, expressing hope for
successful completion of discussions and negotiations. In the Special
Representative’s words, the NATO doors are open to any country. “The
countries of the South Caucasus display an integration impetus
towards the North-Atlantic structures,” he stated.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri foreign minister arrives in Turkey
Anatolia news agency
10 Feb 05
Ankara, 10 February: Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov of Azerbaijan
arrived in Ankara on Thursday [10 February] on a two-day official
visit. Mammadyarov is scheduled to meet Turkish President Ahmet Necdet
Sezer, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Foreign Minister and Deputy
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.
Besides the bilateral relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan,
regional and international issues, the Nagornyy Karabakh dispute,
Turkish-Armenian relations, and the allegations of genocide will be
high on agenda of Mammadyarov’s meetings.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanArmenian News Network
Jan 27 2005
KARABAKH TALKS UNSUCCESSFUL DUE TO ABSENCE OF CONTACTS BETWEEN AZERI
AUTHORITIES AND KARABAKH REPRESENTATIVES, D. ATKINSON CONSIDERS
27.01.2005 18:57
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “After the PACE passing the resolution on Nagorno
Karabakh we expect the Azeri government to start contacts with
representatives of the Nagorno Karabakh region and discuss problems
with them,” author of the Nagorno Karabakh resolution passed by the
PACE D. Atkinson stated in an interview with the BBC. He said that he
thinks that the talks do not have any results, as within the past
years there have been no actual contacts between the Azeri
authorities and Nagorno Karabakh representatives. In D. Atkinson’s
words, dialogue should be established between the parties to solve
the conflict and the Council of Europe works for that.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OPPOSITION HUMAN RIGHTS-DEMOCRACY PARTY INDIGNANT AT BIOGRAPHY OF MANY
GOVERNMENT MEMBERS IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18. ARMINFO. The Opposition Human Rights-Democracy
Party distributed a statement, Tuesday, wherein it named the officials
who violated the RA Law On Conscription, in the opinion of the
party-members.
In the statement, the party’s Leader Ruben Torosyan expresses
indignation at the new appointment of Gegham Gharibjanyan to the post
of Deputy Foreign Minister of the country and Vazgen Khachikyan to the
post of Chairman of the National Fund of Social Welfare as they did
not serve in the army. The list includes in it Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan, Justice Minister David
Haroutiunyan, Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan, Minister for Education
and Science Sergo Yeritsyan, Health Minister Norayr Davtyan,
Agricultural Minister David Lokyan, Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan,
Minister for Culture and Youth Affairs Hovik Hoveyan, Minister for
Labor and Social Affairs Aghvan Vardanyan, Minister for Finance and
Economy Vardan Khachatryan, as well as Head of the Presidential Staff
Artashes Tumanyan and CB Chairman Tigran Sargsyan. The statement also
says that 65% of politicians in Armenia evaded army.
Ruben Torosyan calls the authorities to take into account this
circumstance and observe the letter of the law. At the same time, he
refers to the positive experience of the neighboring country, which he
does not name, where the authorities made officials to go to army.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ATTENTION READERS: Due to its semi-annual vacation, the California Courier
will not
Publish an Online Edition on Jan. 13, 2005. Publication will resume on
January 20, 2005.
Happy New Year and Armenian Christmas!
California Courier Online, January 6, 2005
1 – Commentary
Armenian Patriarch of Turkey
Issues Bold Message on Genocide
By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
2 – Andrew Torigian Named
AMAA Executive Director
3 – Diocese APN
To Host Jan 20
Reception
4 – Christmas Concert with Soprano Anna Mayilian,
Armiss Choir, Celebrates Haigazian Anniversary
5 – Armenian Language Course
Offered at University of Venice
6 – Genocide Monument
Council Announces
Design Competition
*************************************************************************
1 – Commentary

Armenian Patriarch of Turkey
Issues Bold Message on Genocide
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
Over the years, as various Armenian Church leaders in Turkey, under
pressure from Turkish officials, made disparaging remarks about the
Diaspora’s efforts for the recognition for the Armenian Genocide, I never
hesitated to criticize them. Therefore, it is only fair that these Church
leaders are to be commended whenever they bravely speak out on the Armenian
Genocide, jeopardizing their own position and personal safety.
Patriarch Mesrob II, in his New Year message to the Armenian community of
Turkey, made such a bold statement last week. Surprisingly, a portion of
his lengthy message is devoted to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. That segment of the statement, issued in three languages, is
entitled “The Great Disaster,” in English, “Meds Yegherni Hishadage,” in
Armenian; and “Buyuk Felaket,” in Turkish. The Patriarch’s statement
appeared on the Patriarchate’s web site and in the Armenian press of
Istanbul.
It is understandable that under the repressive conditions in Turkey, the
Patriarch is forced to use substitutes for the word genocide. For the
benefit of non-Armenian speaking readers, we should point out that “Medz
Yeghern” was used by Armenians to describe the Armenian Genocide before the
word genocide existed. “Medz Yeghern” could be translated alternatively as
” Great Disaster,” “Great Calamity,” or “Great Cataclysm.” Armenians
sometimes still refer to the Armenian Genocide as “Medz Yeghern,” just as
the Jews use the Hebrew word “Shoah” for the Holocaust.
Here is the English version of that segment of the Patriarch’s Message:
“Beloved Church members: one of the painful historical events … has
become known in Armenian literature as Medz Yeghern (The Great Disaster).
The Ottoman government of that time of the Committee for Union and
Progress, citing security reasons in the circumstances of the First World
War, exiled Armenian citizens living in the Ottoman Empire to the deserts
of Syria. However, because the necessary precautions were not taken,
hundreds of thousands of Armenian citizens lost their lives either near
their own homes, or on the journey, or in the desert, or were the victims
of inhuman attacks by opportunists. Of the Armenian population in the
Ottoman Empire, only a small proportion was saved from annihilation.
Whatever the given justification, this great unconscionable disaster has
passed into history as a human drama that took place at the beginning of
the 20th century. Wherever on the globe, every Armenian still feels the
imprint of this Great Disaster in his or her identity and still lives with
the trauma, in some way or another. Throughout the year 2005, on the 90th
anniversary of this event, Armenians will offer to God their prayers and
incense for the souls of their martyrs.”
While the Patriarch is careful not to use the word “Genocide,” – it is a
crime to do so in Turkey — his statement makes it amply clear that the
government of the Ottoman Empire was the organizer of the deportations that
led to the deaths of “hundreds of thousands” of Armenians. In addition to
outright murder, the United Nations defines as genocide the act of
“deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to
bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.”
We should point out that the Patriarch, in his statement, uses the term
“annihilation,” meaning extermination or total destruction, which is
another way of saying genocide.
The Patriarch Mesrob II who is fluent in Armenian, Turkish and English, has
probably written the statement himself in all three languages. A careful
comparison of the three versions reveals subtle differences in the words
used to describe the Armenian Genocide. Even though it is practically
impossible to translate verbatim a text from one language to another, it is
noteworthy that the Armenian version contains the strongest words.
Finally, it is significant that the Patriarch made his bold remarks on the
genocide less than a week after the Prime Minister of Turkey, Abdullah Gul,
announced that the Turkish government would do everything
in its power to counter the Armenian efforts, particularly in view of the
90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
For the first time, and on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, the Patriarch is properly and bravely suggesting that
Armenians in Turkey would be joining their compatriots around the globe in
remembering the “annihilation” of their ancestors. While Armenians might
not be able to hold any public commemorative events in Turkey on that date,
the Patriarch is certain that they carry in their souls the trauma of the
Genocide and the memory of their martyrs!
**************************************************************************
2 – Andrew Toriguian Named
AMAA Executive Director
PARAMUS, NJ – Andrew Torigian has been named Executive Director of the
Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), the international
non-profit charitable organization serving in 22 countries.
Torigian had served as the AMAA’s President for an unprecedented seven
years, as Vice President for four years, as Treasurer for two years and as
Personnel Committee Chairman for 17 years. He had been a board member
since 1982, prior to resigning to accept the new post.
No stranger to the post, Torigian has served as acting Executive Director
for seven months in 2001, then for another seven months in 2003, and for
five months in 2004, temporarily filling vacancies, while still serving as
President.
Volunteering has been the hallmark of Torigian’s entire life, ever since he
joined the U.S. Navy Air Corps to be trained as a Navy pilot. He has
served as a Trustee, as well as Treasurer for 13 years of the Armenian
Presbyterian Church in Paramus, and is an Ordained Elder of the Church. In
1995, he was honored as the APC Man of the Year.
Among the many other Armenian organizations for which he has served, he is
on the Board of Directors of the Armenian American Medical Philanthropic
Fund since 1995, is a Vice President of the Board of Trustees of the Home
for the Armenian Aged in Emerson, New Jersey, is a trustee of the Hovnanian
School in New Milford, New Jersey, is on the Board of Managers of Haigazian
University, is a Fellow Trustee of the Armenian Assembly, and was the only
three-term Commander of the Knights of Vartan Lodge #38 and received its
Man of the Year Award in 1998.
His list of services for non-Armenian organizations include being a past
Master of Willard Sylvan Grove Lodge #250 F & A.M.; a member and former
Vice President of the New York Metro Electronics Representative
Association, and is the past Chairman of the Board of Directors of Electro,
producers of the largest electronic shows on the East Coast.
He has served on the Paramus Planning Board for five years and has been the
Commander of the Paramus American Legion Post #207 since 1988 and became
the first and only recipient of its Man of the Year Award, in 2000.
He is the only six-term President of the Paramus Veterans Council. He was
a member of the Bergen County Veterans Committee that established the
“Circle of Honor” at the County Courthouse in Hackensack, New Jersey. He
has been the President of the Paramus Republican Club, the largest in
Bergen County.
In addition, Torigian is an active member of the Gideons, the Paramus
Rotary Club and the Paramus Elks. He received the Humanitarian Award from
the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 2002 for his work in the
community.
Torigian received his BA from NYU’s Washington Square College and BS from
NYU’s School of Engineering where he was elected to Alpha Pi Mu and Tau
Beta Pi’s National Engineering Societies. He was President of Technilease
Corporation, a leasing/rental company specializing in electronic
test-and-measurement equipment before he retired in December 2003. He is a
Senior Life Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.
Torigian and his wife, Rose, have three children; Catherine Torigian,
Ph.D., Drew Torigian, M.D., and Christine Torigian, M.D.
***************************************************************************
3 – Diocese APN
To Host Jan 20
Reception
BURBANK, CA – The Western Diocese’s Armenian Professional Network will host
a Jan. 20 reception at the Diocese’s Hampar Room, 3325 North Glenoaks
Blvd., Burbank, for guests to meet with and learn about the Chamber of
Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Armenia who has recently opened a
branch office in Los Angeles.
The 7:30 p.m. reception, which includes light fare, will have speakers with
discussion to follow at 8 p.m.
edia to meet with and learn
Representatives of the CCI RA will introduce themselves to the community,
talk about the work and role of their regional office in Los Angeles, as
well as provide an overview of their activities and goals. An opportunity
will be provided for discussion.
This event is being sponsored by Nelly Dagstanyan, owner of Quizno’s at
6612 – 902 North Vermont Ave., Los Angeles.
The APN asks all those attending to bring their business cards to
facilitate networking and to assist the APN in creating a contact list for
similar future events.
For more information contact Vahe Ashjian at (818) 212-9976.
**************************************************************************
4 – Christmas Concert with Soprano Anna Mayilian,
Armiss Choir, Celebrates Haigazian Anniversary
BEIRUT – The latest event of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Haigazian
University, was a Christmas Concert on Dec. 20-21, in the sanctuary of the
First Armenian Evangelical Church of Beirut.
The concert featured the 60-voice “Armiss” Choir, conducted by Rev. Nerses
Balabanian, pianists Sevan Balabanian and Mathilde-Sandra Cholakian, and
the renowed artist, mezzo-soprano Anna Mayilian from Armenia.
University President Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, noted that this concert
carried a special message: “It is Armenia and Lebanon coming together. It
is talent and discipline joined. It is joy and awe put to music, and music
turned into a sign of life. It is a Christmas story told. It is an act of
hope in an anxious world. It is Haigazian and its supportive community
singing peace, love, and joy together.”
The capacity audience, which included the US Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey
Feltman, Armenian Ambassador Areg Hovannissian, and other religious and
political officials and representatives, enjoyed classical and contemporary
musical masterpieces dedicated to Christmas. Among the pieces impressively
performed by Mayilian, the audience enjoyed little-heard settings of
Armenian songs.
In the past decade, Mayilian has established herself not only in the
Armenian milieu, but on the international stage as well, capturing numerous
European and American prizes. Founder of the “Saghmos” Cultural Center, and
the artistic director of “Music Masters of Armenia,” she released the
recording, “Anna Mayilian: Armenian Sacred Songs” last year, and currently
is preparing a new recording of the sacred music of Krikor Naregatsi.
The Armenian Evangelical Armiss Choir is named after the pen-name of the
pastor, poet, composer and painter, Rev. Armenag Missirian. Established in
1981 by founding conductor Vatsche Barsoumian, the choir was reconstituted
after the Lebanese war by Rev. Nerses Balabanian.
**************************************************************************
5 – Armenian Language Course
Offered at University of Venice
VENICE, Italy – The intensive summer course of Armenian Language and
Culture of the University of Venice will take place Aug. 1-19, in
collaboration with the Cultural Association Padus-Araxes. Exams will be
conducted on Aug. 20.
The course has three basic levels from Absolute Beginner to Advanced.
Lessons take place from Monday to Friday, five hours a day in the morning.
Students must be 18 years of age or older.
Tuition fee is 630 euros or its equivalent in other currency. Of this
amount, 400 euros must be sent as a registration fee before March 31. After
this date, the registration fee will be 500 euros. Total payment must be
completed on arrival day.
International back checks or money orders must be made to Associazone
Padus-Araxes, and mailed to the Association, c/o Dipt. Studi Eurasiatici –
S. Polo 2035 – 3-125 Venezia, Italia. Personal checks are not accepted.
Lodging is offered to participants at a Student Home (Residenz Abbazia) in
Venice. Accommodation fee from July 31 to August 22 included is 800 euros
for a single room; 600 euros for a double room. Lunch or dinner will cost
6.5 euros.
For application, send an e-mail to [email protected].
**************************************************************************
6 – Genocide Monument
Council Announces
Design Competition
GLENDALE – The Armenian Genocide Monument Council of Glendale (AGMCG)
announced on Dec. 22 the launching of their website
and the beginning of their Monument
design competition.
The AGMCG will oversee the design and construction of a commemorative
monument in the City of
Glendale dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The monument
will serve as a befitting venue to begin the educational process of
honoring the memory of those who perished and acknowledging the memories of
the heroic deeds and acts of the Americans whose actions helped save
thousands of helpless Armenian men, women and children from the rage of
the Genocide.
The AGMCG is a newly established organization and is dedicated to enhancing
cross-cultural understanding amongst the different cultural and ethnic
groups in Glendale by promoting respect for past historical events and the
recognition thereof through continuous education, specifically that of the
Armenian Genocide.
In August of 2001, the City Council of Glendale adopted a motion to accept
the gift of a monument to honor the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian
genocide and the memory of Americans whose actions helped save thousands of
Armenian men, women and children from perishing in the genocide.
On April 8, 2003, the Glendale City Council approved the final
location/site for the Genocide monument. The AGMCG has been working very
closely with City staff to oversee the monument selection process and has
established a Selection Committee comprised of community leaders,
architecture and design experts and public officials.
The announcement of the winner of the competition will take place in April
of 2005. April 24, 2005 marks the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. All parties interested in submitting a design may do so by
following the guidelines and rules for submission made available on the
AGMCG website.
For more information, visit
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*
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
December 15, 2004 Wednesday 11:43 AM Eastern Time
Armenia – Russia’s outpost in South Caucasus – Duma speaker
By Tigran Liloyan
YEREVAN
Armenia is Russia’s outpost in the South Caucasus, State Duma Speaker
Boris Gryzlov currently on an official visit in the Armenian capital
said on Wednesday.
The speaker of the lower house of Russian parliament discussed with
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan the prospects of Russian-Armenian
relations in view of bilateral political, economic cooperation,
harmonization of the legislation and cooperation on the international
arena, the presidential press service told Itar-Tass.
The Armenian president stressed with satisfaction the considerable
improvement of the trade structure with Russia this year. “The high
level of Russian-Armenian relations allows to achieve more results,”
Gryzlov emphasized.
The interlocutors discussed an upcoming meeting of the
intergovernmental committee on economic cooperation of the countries
in Moscow late in December.terprises that Armenia handed over to
Russia as the repayment of the state debt to Russia.

BBC News
Dec 10 2004
1988: Death toll rises in Armenian earthquake
Up to 45,000 people have died and a further 500,000 are homeless
after the devastating earthquake which ripped through Armenia,
official figures revealed today.
Rescue work is currently still concentrating on finding any
survivors, but hope is waning in Armenia which borders Turkey and
Azerbaijan.
The Soviet Union declared today a national day of mourning as the
death toll rose and President Gorbachev toured the cities devastated
by the earthquake.
It measured 6.9 on the Richter scale and affected an area 80
kilometres in diameter.
Spitak, a town of 25,000 inhabitants, has been completely destroyed
and cannot be rebuilt – a new city will have to be built over the
wreckage.
Devastating consequences
The city of Leninakan, with 290,000 inhabitants, and the towns of
Stepanavan and Kirovakan in the northern area of Armenia, were also
hit by the earthquake.
It struck three days ago at 1141 local time when children were at
school and most people at work.
With most of Armenia covered in high-rise buildings the consequences
have been devastating.
The scale of the destruction has brought criticism the infrastructure
was substandard, prompting Soviet authorities to pledge Spitak will
be rebuilt with blocks no more than five storeys high.
Medical Aid
The disaster has led to an unprecedented level of openness by the
Soviet authorities as they struggle to cope with the devastation.
The Soviet Union has made an appeal for medical aid requesting, in
particular, blood transfusion equipment and dialysis machines.
America is sending medical aid and sniffer dogs capable of detecting
survivors.
Dogs sent by France alerted aid workers to 60 people buried alive
under the rubble yesterday.
India has sent clothes and blankets while Britain is transporting
excavating equipment
Five tonnes of clothes have already been collected by Aid Armenia
based in Britain.

In Context
The final number of people who died reached 25,000.
The former Soviet Union came under heavy criticism for failing to
co-ordinate rescue work and acting promptly – revealing it had no
contingency plans for any disasters.
Twelve thousand families remain displaced as a result of the
earthquake after new cities, started by Moscow in 1989, have remained
half-built.
A project by the Urban Institute, policy researchers, along with its
partners, the Institute for Urban Economics in Moscow and the
American University of Armenia, is underway to resolve this.
The goal is to provide permanent housing to those still displaced by
the earthquake while restoring the original city centres.
Watch/Listen
The earthquake measured 6.9 on the Richter scale

BBC News report on the British response to the tragedy

Your Memories?
Write your account of the events.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia offers Gazprom role in Iran pipeline project
Interfax
Dec 8 2004
Yerevan. (Interfax) – Armenia’s government and Gazprom are discussing
a role for the Russian gas giant in the construction of the Kadjaran –
Ararat section of the gas pipeline between Armenia and Iran.
An Armenian government source told Interfax that Gazprom might
be invited to build and renovate 200 km of pipeline at a cost of
approximately $90 million.
Gazprom might receive the incomplete No. 5 generating unit at the
Razdan power plant, in which Gazprom has shown an interest, to
reimburse its costs.
Razdan is Armenia’s biggest heat and power plant, producing 20% of
the country’s electricity. It has capacity of 1,100 megawatts and
operating capacity of 800 megawatts.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in 1994 provided
a loan worth $61.5 million to build the fifth block at the Razdan
plant. Work on the unit was halted in 1996 after $60 million had been
spent on it. Another $60 million or so will be needed to complete
the unit. Armenia is spending $500,000 in budgeted funds each year
to keep the unit in mothballs.
Russia and Armenia signed a protocol at the start of this year to
transfer the existing four units of the Razdan plant to Russia in
payment for Armenia’s state debt. ZAO Inter RAO UES assumed management
of the plant. The fifth unit will be a separate legal entity.
Work on the Armenian stretch of the pipeline began at the end of
November. Construction of Iran’s 100-km stretch began in July. The
Iranian Export and Development Bank set aside $30 million to finance
the Armenian stretch.
Iran signed a deal to supply Armenia with 36 billion cubic meters
(bcm) of gas per year over 20 years with the possibility of extending
this by five years and gas supplies to 47 bcm in May this year.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress