Author: Nahapetian Samvel

12 ARMENIANS OF JAVAKHK PARTICIPATED IN ARTSAKH LIBERATION STRUGGLE REWARDED WITH "LIBERATION-EAGLE" GOLD MEDAL

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 17 2007

AKHALKALAK, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Representatives
of the "Azatagrum" (Liberation) patriotic charity public organization
functioning in Armenia met on April 14 with citizens of Javakhk
participated in the Artsakh liberation struggle. According to
A-Info, during the meeting the organization co-chairmen awarded
"Azatagrum-Artsiv" (Liberation-Eagle) gold medals to 12 citizens of
Javakhk participated in the Artsakh liberation struggle.

ANCA and Genocide Intervention Network call on UN to override Turkey’s
objections to Rwanda genocide exhibit

ArmRadio.am
16.04.2007 15:28

Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Chairman Ken Hachikian,
in a letter sent to the United Nations, called upon the international
body to reverse its recent decision to close a major exhibit,
organized by the Aegis Trust, on the Rwanda Genocide due to the
Turkish government’s objection over a portion of the display that
referenced the Armenian Genocide.

The ANCA letter, addressed to Kiyotaka Akasaka, Under-Secretary-
General for Communications and Public Information, expressed the
"Armenian American community’s profound disappointment over the
decision to allow the Turkish government to delay – and quite possibly
cancel – a United Nations exhibit intended to help ensure that the
lessons of the Rwanda Genocide are used to help prevent future
genocides."

Hachikian stressed that the dismantling of the exhibit represents "a
troubling retreat from the founding principles of the United Nations,"
and added that, "in allowing Turkey’s protest over the exhibit’s
historically accurate mention of the Armenian Genocide to delay its
opening, you have, very unfortunately, undermined the credibility of
the United Nations on a central issue of our time – ending forever the
cycle of genocide. Rather than rightfully standing up for the
organization’s highest values, you permitted the immoral objections of
one member state, Turkey, to drag the entire institution into
complicity in that nation’s shameless campaign of genocide denial."

Commenting on the UN’s decision, Mark Hanis, Executive Director of the
Genocide Intervention Network, said that, "Hitler felt justified to
carry out the Holocaust when he saw how little resistance there was to
the Armenian genocide of 1915. It is incumbent on the UN to ensure
that the atrocities of Armenia and other past genocides are exposed,
not just for the memory of those dead but for the safety of future
generations."

Commenting on the exhibit’s postponement, James Smith, the chief
executive of the British-based Aegis Trust, said, "If we can’t get
this right, it undermines all the values of the UN. It undermines
everything the UN is meant to stand for in terms of preventing
(genocide). . . You can’t learn the lessons from history if you’re
going to sweep all of that history under the carpet. And what about
accountability? What about ending impunity if you’re going to hide
part of the truth? It makes a mockery of all of this."

Serj Tankian, songwriter, singer, poet, activist and lead singer of
Grammy Award-winning band System of a Down, and Carla Garapedian, who
directed the award-winning documentary "SCREAMERS" about the band’s
anti-genocide advocacy, issued a statement condemning the UN’s
decision: "We are very shocked by this decision by the Secretary
General to remove mention of a historical event which is
well-documented by thousands of official records of the United States
and nations around the world, including Turkey’s wartime allies,
Germany, Austria and Hungary; by Ottoman court martial records; and by
eyewitness accounts of missionaries, diplomats and survivors; as well
as decades of historical scholarship. In the US, President Bush has
called the events the "forced exile and annihilation of approximately
1.5 million Armenians.’"

Tankian and Garapedian went on to stress that, "The reason why
genocides have continued in the last century – from the Armenian
genocide, to the Holocaust, Cambodia, Bosnia and Rwanda, to the
genocide going on now in Darfur – is because the international
community has not intervened to stop them. Sadly, the Secretary
General’s decision to stop any mention of the antecedents to the
Rwanda genocide is a blow to those who want to stop genocide now."

The New York Times, Associated Press, and other major news outlets
have reported extensively about the controversy surrounding Turkey’s
pressure to close down the Rwanda Genocide exhibit. The New York
Times, in an April 9th article, explained that, "the panels of
graphics, photos and statements had been installed in the visitors
lobby on Thursday by the British-based Aegis Trust. The trust
campaigns for the prevention of genocide and runs a center in Kigali,
the Rwandan capital, memorializing the 500,000 victims of the
massacres there 13 years ago. Hours after the show was assembled,
however, a Turkish diplomat spotted offending words in a section
entitled ‘What is genocide?’ and raised objections. The passage said
that, ‘following World War I, during which one million Armenians were
murdered in Turkey,’ Raphael Lemkin, a Polish lawyer credited with
coining the word genocide, ‘urged the League of Nations to recognize
crimes of barbarity as international crimes.’"

Whole Armenia to loose if mass falsifications recur: leader of
`Heritage’ party

Arminfo
2007-04-16 10:35:00

"By our resoluteness during May 12 election, we shall prove that we
are living not in the Ottoman Empire but in sovereign democratic
Armenia where one cannot outrage the people’s declaration of will",
leader of the "Heritage" oppositional party, first Foreign Minister of
independent Armenia Raffi Hovannisian said yesterday when metting
voters of Echmiadzin of Armavir district. He said that it is
impossible to talk about Armenia’s security and the Karabakh conflict
resolution, favorable for the Armenian party, without democracy
development in the country. "Very serious foreign political challenges
of regional and geopolitical character are set to the country and only
the power, elected in a democratic way, can worthily respond to them",
R. Hovannisian said.

The oppositionist urged the voters to make a choice that will allow to
easy look the present children’s eyes who, in their turn, will be
grateful for being born and living in Armenia and being Armenians. He
expressed confidence that little Armenia will be able to finally
overstep the limits of mentality, it is imputed by authorities, and
will become the leading country in the region by the level of
democracy development.

"AIESEC" TO IMPLEMEMT PROGRAM ON TRAINING OF YOUNG SPECIALISTS OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES SECTOR

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian office of the Association
Internationale des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (AIESEC)
organization jointly with the Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF)
will implement the program "IT Shapes the Future" from September 2007
to March 2008. The purpose of the program is to assist Armenian
enterprises operating in the IT sector.

The program head Manushak Vahramian presented the program on April 13
at the Armenian Development Agency. In her words, within the program’s
framework, 50 young specialists of Armenian IT companies will be given
the opportunity to receive training abroad. Besides, foreign experts
will share their experience with IT companies in Armenia. The program
envisages holding 10 courses and 3 round tables. It will finish with a
three-day conference.

HUMANITARIAN AID TO NAGORNO KARABAKH DWINDLES

Azat Artsakh Daily, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
13 April 07

We have learned from the head of the department of humanitarian aid of
the NKR Ministry of Social Security that in 2006 NKR received
humanitarian aid of about 66 million 151 thousand drams. Organizations
and individuals from Armenia, the United States, France, Germany and
Russia provided second hand medical equipment and medicine for 13
million 810 thousand drams, food for 46 million 900 thousand drams,
secondhand clothes for 83 060 drams, different appliances for 55
million 355 thousand drams. Humanitarian aid comes through the
programs of the Stepanakert office of the Red Cross, The HALO Trust
(U.K.), Shen (France) the Armenian Evangelical Association and Agape
(U.S.). According to M. Dadayan, in 2006 humanitarian aid to Karabakh
went down by 10 million 727 thousand, which he explains by the social
and economic growth in the country.

SVETLANA KHACHATRIAN.
13-04-2007

The Times of Malta, Malta
April 14 2006

Deported Armenian journalist flies home via Malta

TV reporter Gina Khachatryan was expected to board the flight from
Malta to Moscow early this morning en route to Yerevan, the Armenian
capital, unaware of her fate.

The Armenian journalist, who fled to the UK after allegedly
witnessing and exposing electoral fraud was deported yesterday, amid
a media frenzy calling for her protection.

Ms Khachatryan, who has been living with her family in Bury for three
years, claims her life will be in danger if sent back after blowing
the whistle on ballot-rigging.

Together with her husband and five-year-old daughter, Ms Khachatryan
was thrown out of the UK after their asylum appeal was rejected.

She says she will have to go into hiding on her return having
previously received death threats.

The Khachatryans arrived in Malta on board an Air Malta flight in the
afternoon but her nine-hour stay in Malta was kept under wraps.
Efforts to reach her were in vain.

Both the Home Affairs Ministry and the Refugee Commissioner told The
Times they could not do anything unless Ms Khachatryan applied for
asylum here.

In the meantime, the Journalists’ Committee called on the Maltese
government to seek the reassurances of the British government that Ms
Khachatryan will be free from any form of persecution and
intimidation by the Armenian authorities, and that the reason for the
removal of her asylum status is in full conformity with fundamental
human rights.

The committee also called on the government to seek the reassurance
of the British government that Ms Khachatryan has been granted the
right to contest her deportation, including access to the European
Court of Human Rights, as is the right of every refugee.

The Institute of Maltese Journalists yesterday called on the Justice
and Home Affairs Ministry to intervene in Ms Khachatryan’s case.

The institute also called on the British authorities to reverse their
decision not to extend Ms Khachatryan’s stay in the UK.

Neil Falzon, head of the UN Human Rights office in Malta, was in
touch with his foreign counterparts to try and find ways and means of
assisting her.

Though technically she has every right to apply for asylum, the EU’s
Dublin Convention means Malta need not reopen her case – especially
since her calls for refugee status were turned down in the UK. Her
only resort is to apply to the European Court of Human Rights, which
may call for the postponement of her deportation.

Sue Arnall, of the UK-based Castaways organisation, told The Times
the Armenian journalist was unable to fax her information to her
lawyer. This, Ms Arnall added, was crucial because the journalist did
in fact want to take the case to the Court of Human Rights.

Ms Arnall said Ms Khachatryan was very distressed before leaving the
UK.

"Gina was a very political journalist and because of her very high
profile she believes she will be imprisoned for escaping from
detention four years ago. She’s especially concerned about her young
daughter," Ms Arnall said. The 30-year-old journalist worked for the
public TV station Armenia 1, but had also supported the campaign of a
political candidate in local elections four years ago. While an
observer at a polling station, she and others spotted ballot boxes
being interfered with and alerted the police, according to British
media reports.

After purportedly being released from jail after 40 days in September
2003, she was warned by a lawyer that she faced charges likely to
lead to a lengthy prison term. Following a period in hiding, she fled
with her husband and daughter to the UK and asked for asylum. It was
reported that the Khachatryans actually spent a week or so in Malta
in 2003 before leaving for the UK.

British Home Office officials said the assessment by immigration
services and subsequent appeal hearings had deemed that the family
did not face sufficient risk. The family were moved from their home
in the early hours last Monday and taken to a detention centre in
Bedfordshire. Immigration officials would not allow The Times to
speak to Ms Khachatryan at Heathrow airport, yesterday morning.

.php?id=258171

Panorama.am

18:09 14/04/2007

HOVANNISYAN FORECASTS MORE EXPLOSIONS

Speaking about the explosions at Prosperous Armenia Party
headquarters, Hovannes Hovannisyan, leader of Liberal Progressive
Party, said that cannot be a self PR organized by Prosperous Armenia
itself. `Gagik Tsarukyan has high self-respect and he would not do PR
at that price,’ he said. Hovannisyan made a forecast of more
explosions saying the politics has turned into a `show of power’.

Source: Panorama.am

POLICE REFUTE INFORMATION ABOUT THREATS TO CANDIDATES FOR DEPUTACY BY PHONE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Though there were no victims, the
explosions at Bargavach Hayastan Party’s offices are grave crimes,
as this is infringement upon democracy and country’s authority. Hrayr
Karapetian, Head of RA National Assembly ARFD faction, stated at the
April 13 press briefing. Reminding that over 200 foreign observers
are in Armenia, he said that this time "we should be able to prove
that we are able to hold normal elections as a civilized people."

In H. Karapetian’s words, before these cases many signals were received
at Police from preelectoral headquarters of various candidates that
they received threats of explosions from unknown people by phone. In
particular, about 10 days ago the businessman who provided territory
to one of candidates registered at electoral district N 5 received
such threats. "I think investigating all signals of the kind is the
task of Police. It is possible that the same people threatened at
one place and fulfilled it without threatening at another place,"
Hrayr Karapetian said.

As Noyan Tapan was informed from Information and Public Relations
Department of RA Police, the Police have not received any signal
about such threats.

Author: Karapetian Rita Editor: Eghian Robert

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF
CANTERBURY

Bishop Anthony Boll, the representative of the Head of the Anglican Church
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, visited His Holiness Aram I in
Antelias on April 12. He was accompanied by Rev. Nabil Shehadi, Archbishop
of Canterbury’s representative to the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

The aim of the visit was to consult His Holiness Aram I on behalf of the
Archbishop of Canterbury to organize a visit by the Head of the Anglican
Church to the Middle East. His Holiness expressed his thoughts on making
this visit positive and purposeful. Ecumenical Officer of the Catholicosate
of Cilicia, Bishop Nareg Alemezian, also attended the meeting.

##
View photos here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

MEDIA ALERT
April 13, 2007
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
E-mail: [email protected]

RE: PBS/FRONTLINE: "NEWS WAR"

On March 27, PBS/FRONTLINE broadcast "NEWS WAR," which included a
three-minute segment on slain Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. 
The program, which was part of a four-part series, examined persecuted,
imprisoned and assassinated journalists in 2006. Photographs used in
broadcast were provided by the Armenian National Institute (ANI). To
watch the program online, go to:

video2.html#.

For more information on Hrant Dink, including media reports and more,
please visit the Hrant Dink Resource Page on the Assembly’s Web site
at:

The Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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NR#2007-047