Author: Nahapetian Samvel

Agence France Presse
25 mai 2005 mercredi 5:50 PM GMT
Génocide arménien: le Quid mis en cause défend sa liberté éditioriale
PARIS 25 mai 2005
Le Quid, célèbre ouvrage encyclopédique, mis en cause devant le
tribunal de grande instance de Paris par des associations pour sa
présentation du génocide arménien, a défendu mercredi sa liberté
éditioriale affirmant n’avoir jamais voulu remettre en cause
l’existence du génocide.
Le Comité de défense de la Cause arménienne (CDCA), auquel s’étaient
jointes plusieurs associations, dont l’Union des étudiants juifs de
France (UEJF), J’accuse et Mémoire 2000, remettaient en cause la
présentation faite par le Quid 2003 du massacre des Arméniens par la
Turquie, estimant qu’elle aboutissait à nier le caractère génocidaire
de cet évènement historique.
Le CDCA reprochait notamment aux auteurs de l’ouvrage d’avoir écrit
pour l’année 1915: “Transfert d’Arméniens vers les province
méridionales de l’Empire ottoman (…) nombreux décès (épidémie,
maladie) pendant le voyage”.
Pour Me Bernard Jouanneau, avocat du CDCA, le Quid a ainsi “gommé les
massacres et donc forcément l’aspect génocidaire”. En outre, “Le
génocide arménien est présenté comme une thèse et non comme un fait
avéré”, a-t-il poursuivi devant la 17e chambre réunie en formation
civile.
Pour l’avocat, par cette présentation, “les victimes déjà privées de
sépulture se voient ainsi en plus privées de préserver leur mémoire”.
Les associations réclament un euro de dommages-intérêts et la
possibilité de modifier la rédaction des chapitres concernés.
Dans son édition 2005, le Quid a déjà changé certaines formulations,
une “manière de reconnaître que nous avions touché juste”, selon Me
Jouanneau.
Pas du tout, a répondu Me William Bourdon, défenseur de Robert
Laffont, éditeur du Quid, et de Fabrice Frémy, directeur général de
l’ouvrage, n’y voyant “aucun aveu” de la part de ses clients.
“Une chose est de dire que la présentation n’était pas parfaite, une
autre de considérer qu’elle est juridiquement condamnable”, a
notamment affirmé Me Bourdon, estimant que le débat lancé par les
associations n’avait pas sa place dans une enceinte judicaire.
En outre, dans plusieurs passages, le Quid fait mention du crime
contre l’humanité que représente le massacre des Arméniens.
Interrogé par l’AFP à l’issue de l’audience, M. Frémy a qualifié de
“procès d’intention” l’action des associations, revendiquant de
donner le point de vue turc sur la question arménienne.
“Donner la parole aux génocidaires permet aussi un contact avec la
réalité, et peut les amener à finir par reconnaître ce qui s’est
passé, la parole doit être donnée aux deux parties avec toutes les
réserves qui s’imposent”, a-t-il expliqué, citant les démarches
suivies par Claude Lanzmann dans “Shoah” ou celle du réalisateur
cambodgien Ritty Pahn dans son film “S-21, la machine de mort khmère
rouge”.
Jugement le 6 juillet.

AZG Armenian Daily #097, 28/05/2005
Holiday
CIRCLE DANCE TO CELEBRATE THE FIRST REPUBLIC
87 years ago this day, May 28, first Armenian Republic was declared. To turn
the low-key national holiday into a nationwide event, the government has
organized a circle dace around Mount Aragats, highest in Armenia.
Some 250,000 Armenians have expressed willingness to dance around Mount
Aragats today. A steering committee handling the event that will be recorded
in the Guinness Book of Records, said officials on the ground are ordered to
set up special tents, movable toilets, to specify the lists of people
wishing to dance around the mountain and see also to all other preparations
Many Armenians from other countries are coming to Armenia to join the dance.
The chain of people will stretch for around 170 km and through 106 rural
settlements. The dance will be filmed by cameramen from four helicopters.
The 15-minute long dance will start at 3.00 pm with simple moves-to take a
step forth and then a step back. The participants in the round dance will
arrive at the mountainous stage on May 28, early in the morning. They will
form the circle an hour before the dance begins. And at 3 o’clock in the
afternoon sharp the first 15-minute Unity Round Dance around Mount Aragats
will commence to symbolize the unity of the nation.

Celebrity Cafe.com, NY
May 27 2005
System of a Down Mezmerize
– System of a Down’s fourth album titled `Mezmerize,’ which is the
first part of a two-disc set, whose pair is due this fall, offers a
breathtaking swerve from the traditional rock we’ve all heard so much
of in the past. The Armenian quartet from Los Angeles still offers
fans their traditional hard rock sound but this time around also
incorporates elements of hip hop, Armenian folk and electronica. The
suspense each song has to offer is what makes this album so unique
from other ones in its genre. You may be thinking how a music album
can offer an ingredient that is mainly found in motion pictures, but
most of the tracks on `Mezmerize’ pull a fast one on you when they
suddenly change their pace and rhythm midway. Track number two,
`B.Y.O.B,’ which stands for bring your own bombs, is the best example
of this genius tool. About presidents and war, the song starts off
with drummer John Dolmayan’s intense beats and guitarist Daron
Malakian’s hardcore riffs to the backdrop of chaotic screaming. `Why
do they always send the poor?’ Malakian shrieks from the top of his
lungs. Less than 40 seconds into the tune, the beat slows down to a
point where you can bob your head to it. It takes on its hip hop
façade, all the while maintaining its hard rock interior. The change
in pace suits singer Serj Tankian’s sarcastic lyrics: `Everybody’s
going to a party have a real good time.’
An even more head-aching causing, ear thrashing tune, `Cigaro,’ I
didn’t like it instantaneously. Perhaps its first impression with
lyrics that go, `My cock is much bigger than yours,’ seemed too
self-centered at first hear. But then, and literally one minute
later, Malakian’s catchy guitar riff hooked me and wouldn’t let me
go. It was because of that riff that I wanted to understand what the
song’s controversial lyrics were really about. Now listening to that
song, I can imagine `regulators’ sitting around a big table feasting
on delicacies and comparing the size of their possessions, and not
just bodily ones.
`Mezmerize’ also has more mellow and folk-y songs for those who
prefer their rock on the softer side. `Radio/Video’ showcases
Tankian’s unique opera-like voice, which crescendos throughout the
song. This is another one that takes the listener on a rollercoaster
ride, but not like the most extreme kinds in theme parks. It fuses
rock with folk beats that make you want to stand up and move your
arms and legs like the Armenians and Greeks do.
`Old School Hollywood,’ a song Malakian wrote about actor Tony Danza
after meeting him at a celebrity all-star baseball game, blends
electronic elements with rock. The guitarist doesn’t praise Danza
though, and it show through lyrics like `Tony Danza cuts in line…Old
school Hollywood, washed up Hollywood.’ At times the interchanging
voices of Malakian and Tankian sound robotic; then they switch back
to melodic.
All the songs on this album are sure to `mezmerize’ its audience,
even first time listeners. Fans who want to get `hypnotized’ must
wait a couple more months for its debut.
Reviewer: Melody Nazarian new pop
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
Reader’s Rating: 0
Reader’s Votes: 0

VENICE COMMISSION – SCARECROW FOR ARMENIAN SOCIETY
YEREVAN, MAY 27. ARMINFO. The CE Venice Commission has become a
scarecrow in the eyes of Armenian society, says the leader of the
Republican party Galoust Sahakyan.
In the process of constitutional reforms there are issues that are
beyond the commission’s competence and should be resolved in
compliance with Armenia’s interests. Meanwhile some provisions of the
draft constitutional amendments criticized by the commission should be
reconsidered this referring to the status of Yerevan’s mayor, the
election of the Justice Council president, dual nationality,
government formation.
Sahakyan urges all the government and opposition parties to actively
support the draft constitutional amendments.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
GERMANY UNDERTOOK STRONG EFFORTS TO INCLUDE ARMENIA INTO THE EUROPEAN
NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY
German Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Heike Renate
Peitsch is responding to PanARMENIAN.Net’s questions.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
How do You assess the present level of the Armenian-German relations?
Since Armenian independence our both countries have developed very friendly
and intense relations in all relevant fields. Concerning the economic
cooperation Germany has become Armenia’s second largest donor after the
United States of America.
Can You comment on the present level of the Armenian-German economic
cooperation and prospects of its development?
Thus far the German Government has committed a total of about 169,5 million
for the economic cooperation with Armenia. The main projects of the
Technical Cooperation are such as promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises
as well as of Local Authorities. The German-Armenian Financial Cooperation
includes three main sectors: the energy sector, the rehabilitation of
communal infrastructure (water supply and waste water systems) and the
promotion of financial and private sector.
As a result of the bilateral negotiations in April 2005 in Bonn an amount of
27 million has been allocated for the biennium 2005/2006.
Are Germany and Armenia going to implement new programs in the
trade-economic and tourism fields?
There are some very promising German investments in Armenia. Other German
companies are examining or preparing a stronger engagement in Armenia. But
let me stress the fact that it is the responsibility of the Armenian
government to create a friendly environment for foreign investments e.g. by
a transparent legal system.
Which are the prospects of the development of the political relations
between our states after Armenia’s inclusion in the Wider Europe: New
Neighbors EU Program?
Particularly Germany undertook strong efforts to include Armenia into the
European Neighbourhood Policy which constitutes an important step in the
process of approaching Armenia towards European structures. After publishing
of the country report last March we expect now the negotiations between the
EU Commission and the Armenian government on an Action Plan to begin as soon
as possible.
How the discussions on the adoption of the resolution condemning the
Armenian Genocide can affect the German-Turkish relationships? How the
adoption of the resolution will affect the Armenian-German relations?
We have always used our good relations with both countries to encourage them
to enter into a direct dialogue. Also Federal Foreign Minister Fischer
underlined this policy during his visit to Yerevan in April 2004.
Is it possible that under Turkey’s pressure the discussions on the draft
resolution will be suspended or cancelled?
How to deal with the draft resolution remains the responsibility of the
German Bundestag.
25.05.2005, “PanARMENIAN Network” analytical department

Reuters, UK
May 25 2005
Turkey postpones conference on Armenian killings
Wed May 25, 2005 11:30 AM BST

By Ayla Jean Yackley
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A Turkish university facing accusations of
“treason” has postponed a conference that offered a platform to
academics questioning Ankara’s official policy denying any World War
One genocide of Armenians.
The conference, due to start on Wednesday at Istanbul’s Bosphorus
University, was organised as Muslim Turkey faces mounting
international pressure to accept that mass killings of Christian
Armenians starting in 1915 was genocide.
Turkey’s pro-European government has broken with past administrations
and said it is willing to discuss historical differences with
Armenians, but official policy still vehemently rejects claims that
1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered.
It accepts that hundreds of thousands of Armenians were killed by
Ottoman Turks but says even more Turks died in a partisan conflict
that erupted as the Ottoman Empire collapsed.
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said in parliament on Tuesday the
conference by Turkish historians who say genocide occurred was a
“stab in the back of the Turkish people”.
“We must end this treason, the spreading of propaganda against Turkey
by the people who belong to it,” he said.
Bosphorus University said it had decided to put off the conference
because of the prevailing climate.
“We are anxious that, as a state university, scientific freedom will
be compromised due to prejudices about a conference that has not yet
occurred,” it said.
“We have decided it would be more appropriate to postpone the
conference because of the results that could occur if the conference
were held under these circumstances.”
EU PRESSURE
The European Union has said it wants to see Turkey improve ties with
neighbouring Armenia before it begins EU entry talks later this year.
Some European officials have gone further, saying Turkey must
acknowledge wrongdoing before starting talks.
An EU diplomat called Cicek’s remarks “unbelievable”.
“It not only kills the government’s policy on the Armenian issue. It
will also kill support for Turkey’s EU drive,” the Turkey-based
diplomat said on condition of anonymity.
Several European nations, including Poland, France and Germany, have
passed resolutions that recognise genocide. Turkey has accused Europe
of using the Armenian issue to mask efforts against Turkey’s
inclusion in the affluent bloc.
“This strengthens the hand of those outside Turkey who say, ‘Turkey
has not changed, it is not democratic enough to discuss the Armenian
issue,'” Hrant Dink, editor of the Armenian weekly Agos and a
conference participant, told Reuters.
“It also shows there is a difference between what the government says
and its intentions.”

AZG Armenian Daily #093, 24/05/2005
Culture
‘MASHTOTS-1600′ CONTEST TO BE HELD BEFORE SUMMIT IN TUNIS
The World Summit Awards has begun a series of contest-exhibitions of the
best national online exhibitions. The contest will be held before the World
Summit of Informational Society held by the UN in Tunis in autumn. In
Armenia the contest will be dedicated to the 1600th Anniversary of the
Creation of the Armenian Alphabet. The contest is initiated by the
Informational Technologies Foundation and is sponsored by RA Government,
“Hayastan” All Armenian Foundation, “The Matenadaran’s Friends” foundation,
the council contributing to the development of informational technologies.
“Mashtots-1600″contest is being held in the following nominations:
e-teaching, e-management, e-healthcare, e-business, e-entertainment and
e-integration. The submitted works should represent the Armenian studies,
Armenian literature in the new contemporary way, they should secure the
quality and aesthetic perfection of the electronic versions of the Armenian
letters.
“At present, the abilities and the success of each participant country at
the competition greatly depend on the quality of the informational
technologies. All the countries realize that and the Summit is aimed at
increasing the international awareness of these issues. Unfortunately, there
is a barrier between those who are included in that sphere and those that
are left out,” Garegin Chuqazian, Chairman of the Informational technologies
Foundation, said this during the press conference at “Media” cafe. Bagrat
Yengibarian, chairman of Incubator Companies Foundation, and Armen
Grigorian, chairman of the board supporting the development of informational
technologies, were also present at the press conference. They dwelt on the
terms and the nominations of the competition. 300 participants have appealed
for the competition for all the nominations. The application deadline is May
26. All the works submitted for the competition will be concluded on June 12
at the “Moscow” cinema. A ceremony and a seminar will be held on June 12, in
Oshakan.
The first 8 best works will be awarded $1000 each, while the best 9-16 works
will be awarded $500 each. Special prizes are envisaged for e-Armenian
studies ($2000-1000 for the first and the second place), as well as $1000
and 500 for the Armenian fonts’ nomination.
By Ruzan Poghosian

East Side Boxing
May 23 2005
William Abelyan returns May 27
23.05.05 – Former world championship contender William Abelyan of
Henderson, Nev., faces veteran Roberto Lopez of San Diego in the
10-round super bantamweight main event on the nationally and
internationally televised `Guilty Fight Night’ card promoted by
Guilty Boxing Friday, May 27, at the Gold Coast Hotel & Casino in Las
Vegas, Nev..
Abelyan, originally from Armenia, has a record of 24-5-1 with 13
knockouts. He was the North American Boxing Organization
featherweight champion during 2002 and 2003 and challenged World
Boxing Organization 126-pound champion Scott Harrison June 19, 2004,
in Renfrew, Scotland, losing in the third round.
The most recent bout for the 26-year-old Abelyan was a fourth-round
knockout of highly regarded Martin Honorio on a Guilty Boxing card
Nov. 5 in Las Vegas. Abelyan, a southpaw, now has won 14 of his past
15 fights dating back to 2000.
Lopez, 32, has a record of 22-15-1 with nine knockouts and has fought
seven former world champions: Fernando Montiel, WBO flyweight;
Veeraphol Sahaprom, World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council
bantamweight; Mauricio Pastrana, International Boxing Federation
bantamweight and junior flyweight; Johnny Bredahl, WBA bantamweight;
Danny Romero, IBF junior bantamweight and flyweight; Paulie Ayala,
WBA bantamweight; and Willie Jorrin, WBC super bantamweight.
Guilty Boxing’s `Guilty Fight Night’ telecasts are seen domestically
on America One, Comcast Sports Chicago, DirecTV, Dish Network and The
Urban Network; in Europe, Africa and middle eastern countries on Fox
Sports International; in Europe and Africa on BEN Television; and in
the Caribbean on WCVI Super Station.
Guilty Boxing’s weekly cards are seen in 112 million households
worldwide, making Guilty Productions one of the fastest-growing
providers of boxing television programming in the world.
This is another in the ongoing series of `Guilty Fight Night’ cards.
The innovative Guilty Boxing series was launched last May and has
presented cards in Arizona, California, Connecticut and Mexico as
well as Las Vegas.
Eight six-round fights are on the nine-bout Guilty Boxing card:
cruiserweight Olawale Afolabi (8-1-3, 3 KOs) of Los Angeles against
an opponent to be determined; cruiserweight Joseph Gusman (6-0, 3
KOs) of Olympia, Wash., against Frank Walker (10-1-1, 5 KOs) of
Philadelphia; light heavyweight Dimitrique Edwards (7-2-1, 4 KOs) of
Glendora, Calif., against Makhmud Otazhanov (4-1, 3 KOs) of Orwell,
Ohio; undefeated super middleweight Lamar Nolan (13-0, 8 KOs) of
Detroit against Leroy Brooks (12-5, 6 KOs) of Las Vegas; middleweight
James Countryman (6-0, 4 KOs) of Detroit against Jonathan Ochoa
(4-0-3, 1 KO) of Los Angeles; welterweight Merhav Mohar (15-1, 10
KOs) of Brooklyn, N.Y., against an opponent to be determined;
welterweight Robert Jones (6-1-1, 2, KOs) of Troy, Mich., against
Darren Fallen
(8-2-1, 5 KOs) of Philadelphia; and super lightweight Jose Alfredo
Barrera (6-0, 0 KOs) of Colton, Calif., against an opponent to be
determined.
The card starts at 7 p.m. (Pacific).
Commentators for Guilty Boxing’s `Guilty Fight Night’ telecasts are
`The Colonel’ Bob Sheridan and Benny Ricardo. Sheridan, a Boxing Hall
of Fame inductee, has worked almost 800 world championship bouts on
six continents during a career that has spanned more than three
decades. Ricardo, for 11 years a place kicker on four NFL teams, also
is a veteran announcer and has covered the biggest events in the
sports world, ranging from Super Bowls to World Cups.

HUMILIATING ALTERNATIVE SERVICE
A1plus
| 15:40:04 | 20-05-2005 | Social |
“The young people are forced to look after disabled people, to
cut nails, to wash a dead body, etc, etc, so what? These are not
humiliating works are all. If they are Christians, they must bear
it. Jesus Christ too washed the feet of his apostles”, said Artemis
Lepejyan, head of the non-governmental organization “Saint Sandoukht”
during the discussions of the alternative military service.
As for how an 18-year-old boy can wash a body, the woman was not
interested in it. Filaret Belikyan, representative of the Republican
Party was not interested in it either; moreover, he said that
the soldiers simply want to avoid their service. He reproached the
organizers of the discussion and particularly the authors of the film
“Alternative Military Service” where the alternative servers expressed
their ideas about their service. He said that the organizers do not
have full data about the issue and the film was one-sided.
In answer to him, Avetik Ishkhanyan advised not to make a speech of
patriotism but to get acquainted with the result of the monitoring
realized by them. Filaret Belikyan said he would by all means.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 19, 2005
AGBU ORANGE COUNTY PARTICIPATES IN FIRST LOCAL PAN-ARMENIAN FESTIVAL
Orange County, CA – On June 11 and 12, 2005 in Laguna Hills, CA, over
19 organizations from Orange County’s flourishing Armenian community,
including the local AGBU Chapter and Young Professionals Group, are
coming together to host a two-day festival to benefit orphanages in
Armenia. AGBU will be sponsoring booths at the festival, along with
the other participating Armenian groups, providing information about
its organization and activities.
A spectacular line up of fun and entertainment is planned for people of
all ages and interests, including a music and dance program, children’s
activities, Armenian cuisine, drawings for great prizes and a Saturday
ribbon cutting ceremony with local political representatives. For
more information on the Orange County Armenian Festival, please visit
AGBU Orange County is dedicated to preserving and promoting the
Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and
humanitarian programs. For more information on AGBU and its worldwide
chapters, please visit