Author: Nalbandian Albert

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:

PRESS RELEASE
April 9, 2008
Contact: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY CONGRATULATES JACKIE SPEIER ON ELECTION TO CONGRESS

Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America today congratulated
former California State Senator Jackie Speier (D) on winning a special
election to fill the House seat of the late Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA),
avoiding a runoff in the contest to replace Lantos, who endorsed her
before his death in February. With her win on Tuesday, Speier now joins
fellow California lawmaker Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), as the second
American of Armenian descent to serve in the 110th Congress.

"The Armenian Assembly congratulates Jackie Speier on her resounding
victory," said Assembly Board of Trustees Member Peter Kezirian, Jr. "As
the newest Armenian-American representative in Congress, she will be a
strong voice on behalf of her constituents and the Armenian-American
community. As a member of the California Legislature, she was known as a
dynamic and innovative legislator, and the Assembly is pleased she will
bring these talents to our nation’s capital."

During her tenure in the California Legislature, the Assembly worked
closely with Speier to advance Armenian issues in the state. In 2003,
she served as mistress of ceremonies for the Assembly’s National Gala in
Palm Desert, CA.

The daughter of a German immigrant and a first-generation
Armenian-American, Speier has authored over a dozen bills related to
Armenian issues during the course of her career in the California State
Legislature. She has spearheaded legislation to commemorate the Armenian
Genocide, and in 2005, she coauthored a bill to place the commemoration
into permanent law. Before leaving the State Senate, Speier introduced a
measure (SB 1524), which provides relief to California Armenian Genocide
victims, and their families, who are seeking legal action to recover
assets that were lost or stolen during the atrocities against the
Armenian people. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the
measure into law in December 2006.

After announcing that he had been diagnosed with cancer in early
January, Lantos said that he would not seek reelection after concluding
his 14th term in Congress. As Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee,
Lantos supported adoption of H. Res. 106, which affirms the historical
truth of the Armenian Genocide. This resolution passed the House Foreign
Affairs Committee by a vote of 27 to 21.

"One of the problems we have diplomatically globally is that we have
lost our moral authority which we used to have in great abundance,"
Lantos said. "People around the globe who are familiar with these events
will appreciate the fact that the United States is speaking out against
a historic injustice. This would be like sweeping slavery under the rug
and saying slavery never occurred."

Lantos also supported an identical measure during the 109th Congress,
expressing strong concern over Turkey’s refusal in 2003 to provide U.S.
troops a northern front in the war against Iraq.

Established in 1972, 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#2008-040

Editor’s Note: Photographs can be viewed on the Assembly’s website at
the following links:

ges/PR_-_2008_April_-_May/Cali
fornia.jpg

Caption: In 2006, the Armenian Assembly joined Speier in welcoming a
bipartisan resolution in the CA State Legislature, celebrating the 15th
anniversary of Armenia’s independence. L to R, front row:
Representative of the Armenian Rights Council Daniel Aydenian, Assembly
Western Office Director Lena Kaimian, former Deputy Consul General of
the Republic of Armenia Harutyun Kojoyan and former California State
Senators Jackie Speier (D- San Mateo) and Jack Scott (D-Pasadena). Back
row: Executive Director of the Armenian Council of America Peter
Darakdjian, former California State Senator Charles Poochigian
(R-Fresno), former Assembly Board of Trustees Member and Western Office
Chairman Richard Mushegain and Vice Chair of the Armenian Council of
America Hagop Ajemian.

PRESENTATION OF "THE PRESENCE OF THE PAST" BY DR. GARBIS DER YEGHIAYAN TAKES PLACE IN GLENDALE

Noyan Tapan
April 7, 2008

GLENDALE, APRIL 7, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. On April 6 the
presentation of Dr. Garbis Der Yeghiayan’s newly published book
"The Presence of the Past" took place at the Church of the Nazarene
in Glendale. Dr. Hrair Dekmejian, a Professor of Political Science
at the University of Southern California, was the keynote speaker.

ARMENIA’S BASKETBALL FEDERATION TO STRENGTHEN ITS MARKETING

ARKA
April 7, 2008

YEREVAN, April 7. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Basketball Federation intends to
involve foreign experts in strengthening its marketing, the President
of the Federation Hrachya Rostomian said.

"Today Armenian basketball is of no interest to businessmen, through
sports like football, basketball, volleyball is a quite profitable
business on the international arena," Rostomian said in presenting
the report on two-year activities of the Federation.

"We should stir up the interest toward basketball among businessmen,
to inspire them with our sport," he said.

Insufficient state financing is one of the main reasons preventing
development of basketball in Armenia, the head of the Federation said.

The state funds only just suffice to hold national championships, cover
transportation costs for participation in international tournaments
and for trainings, Rostomian said.

In 2006-2008 Armenia’s Basketball Federation received 67mln Drams,
including 32mln of state appropriations. ($1=308.31Drams).

PRISON INMATES BEATEN

7DAYS
April 7 2008
United Arab Emirates

A team of 25 prison wardens and police officers has appeared in court
charged with subjecting prisoners to vicious beatings while they were
locked up in jail. One inmate was beaten and injured so badly that
he was left with permanent disabilities, it is alleged.

The defendants, who all worked for the police’s anti-riot squad or as
prison wardens, are accused of attacking several prisoners as they
searched for drugs and other illegal products inside the prison’s
cells in August last year. As they conducted their search with the
help of sniffer dogs at Dubai Central Jail at Al Aweer, some of the
officers are alleged to have set upon the inmates and attacked them
with batons, fists and their feet.

One Armenian prisoner was beaten so viciously that he was left
disabled, judges at the Dubai Court of First Instance were told
yesterday. Several prisoners have given statements saying they were
left terrified during the search and detailed the horrific beatings
that they said they endured at the hands of the wardens and police
officers.

All the suspects, who include a former prison director and three
police lieutenants, deny charges of abusing their power and beating
up prisoners incarcerated at the prison. During the hearing, the
Public Prosecutor asked for harsh sentences to be handed down if the
men are convicted of the offences as they had abused a position of
trust placed upon them.

The prison holds around 3,000 inmates with more than 40 per cent of
prisoners being held for failing to repay their loans, according to
Dubai Police.

The mens’ trial has now been adjourned until later in the month.

RICHARD HOVHANNISIAN TO GIVE LECTURE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ON APRIL 22

Noyan Tapan
April 7, 2008

LOS ANGELES, APRIL 7, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. On April 22
the Strassler Center of the Holocaust and Genocide Studies will
introduce a lecture titled "Should we remember. Armenian Genocide
as Pretotype". The lecture will be given by Richard Hovhannisian,
who is a professor of the Department of the History of Armenia and
Near East in the University of California in Los Angeles.

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
April 5 2008

RECONSTRUCTION OF SETTLEMENT OF NOR KILIKIA DISCUSSED IN KARABAKH

YEREVAN, 04.04.08. DE FACTO. The issues referring to the
reconstruction of the settlement of Nor Kilikia were discussed April
3 in the course of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako
Sahakian’s meeting with a delegation of Catholicosate of the Great
House of Kilikia headed by the chair of the National Central
Department of Catholicosate Ara Demirchyan.
According to the Central Department of Information under the NKR
President, in the course of the meeting the parties discussed a wide
spectrum of issues referring to the realization of programs and
prospective projects in the Nagorno-Karabakh.
The parties considered social-economic situation in the Republic and
the Karabakh conflict settlement process.
Kamo Martirosian, chief of department of migration, refugees and
resettlement of NKR Government, was also present at the meeting.

OVER SCORE OF MARCH 1-2 CASES SENT TO COURTS

ARKA
April 4, 2008

YEREVAN, April 4. /ARKA/. Over a score of cases related to the March
1-2 events in Yerevan have been sent to courts, RA President Robert
Kocharyan told reporters.

Earlier, RA Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan reported that the
criminal cases involving 30 participants in the Yerevan riots were
to be sent to courts during this week.

President Kocharyan pointed out that he is closely following the
process and receives weekly reports on the situation.

This process will be continued, but it is clear now that the riots
were organized, Kocharyan said.

He pointed out that most of the chain of events has been restored
per minute.

"Those trying to speculate on political prisoners in Armenia, will
soon be deeply disappointed during the trials when they get acquainted
with the materials the investigatory group is collecting and will
include in the indictment," Kocharyan said.

May be, without being aware of the seriousness of crimes, many people
were trying to support the perpetrators, Kocharyan said. -0–

RUSSIAN SECURITY GENERAL ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN DISPERSAL OF PROTESTS IN ARMENIA

Haykakan Zhamanak
April 4 2008
Armenia

Who is he?

As we said before, when talking about the bloodshed of 1 March
[dispersal of opposition protesters in Yerevan in which eight
people were killed] representatives of [Armenian Prime Minister
and President-elect] Serzh Sargsyan’s retinue say Russia was aware
and that it had sanctioned those events. In the recent days, there
is information circulating in the Armenian political circles that a
general of the Russian Federal Security Service [FSB] [name withheld]
arrived in Yerevan before 1 March and left only on 27 March. Video
shot at the silent protest on 21 March has also been put into
circulation. The video allegedly shows this general. Naturally, the
only goal of this footage and the report is to prove Russia’s role
in the 1 March events. Only the Russian government can deny this
information and suggest counter-arguments. Otherwise, Armenians may
trust this information and appropriate consequences may ensue.

April 4, 2008
Press Release
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER DIVINE LITURGY
AND THE REOPENING OF BAGRAMIAN HALL
AT HOLY CROSS CATHEDRAL IN MONTEBELLO

On Sunday, April 6th, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, will preside over Divine Liturgy at Holy Cross Cathedral in
Montebello and deliver the sermon.
Following Divine Liturgy the Prelate will conduct the opening of the
newly renovated Bagramian Hall and Tufenkjian Foyer and preside over the
reception which has been organized by the parish Board of Trustees and
Ladies Auxiliary.

ANNUAL REUNION AND BANQUET OF TAVRIZ ARMENIANS

On the evening of Saturday, April 5th, the annual reunion and
banquet of Iran’s Tavriz Armenians will take place under the heading "Jan
Tavriz" at the Civic Auditorium in Glendale.
The Prelate will preside over the banquet and will offer the
invocation as well as convey his blessings to the organization. The pastors
of St. Mary’s Church will accompany the Prelate.

PRESENTATION OF THE GENOCIDE MEMOIR
"DEATH MARCH"

The Kessab Educational Association and the Hamazkayin Barouyr Sevag
chapter have organized a presentation of the English translation of the
memoir "Death March" by Shahen Derderian, to take place at the Kessab
Cultural Center in Reseda on Sunday, April 6th, at 3:00 p.m.
The book, the third in the Genocide Library series of publishers
Hagop and Knar Mankijian, will be presented by Prof. Vahram Shemmassian,
director of the Armenian Studies Department at CSUN. During the event,
there will also be a presentation of Knar Manjikian’s books by Mrs. Anahid
Meymarian.
Rev. Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian will represent the Prelate at the
event.

PRESENTATION OF "THE PRESENCE OF THE PAST"
DR. GARBIS DER YEGHIAYAN

On Sunday, April 6th, the presentation of Dr. Garbis Der Yeghiayan’s
newly published book "The Presence of the Past" will take place at the
Church of the Nazarene in Glendale, at 6:00 p.m. Dr. Hrair Dekmejian,
Professor of Political Science at the University of Southern California, is
the keynote speaker.
Rev. Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian will represent the Prelate.

PRELATE CONDUCTS OPENING OF
HOMENETMEN CAMP TECUYA

On Sunday, March 30, the Prelate conducted the official opening of
Homenetmen’s new camp, Camp Tecuya, in Frazier Park. The Prelate was
accompanied by Very Rev. Fathers Muron Aznikian and Barthev Gulumian. The
ceremony was organized by Homenetmen Regional Executive and the Camp
Committee.
The ceremony began with the blessing of water, salt, and bread, by
the Prelate and clergy, followed by the blessing of the campground. The
Prelate then presided over the ribbon-cutting, unveiling of the logo, and
the planting of the first tree.
Remarks were offered by the Homenetmen executives, followed by
closing remarks by the Prelate who conveyed is blessings and well wishes to
the organization and their future endeavors.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS’ EASTER CELEBRATION

On the afternoon of Sunday, March 30th, the Sunday School
Directorate had organized an Easter celebration at "Karapetian" Hall of St.
Garabed Church in Hollywood, during which they also had the opportunity to
thank Sunday School teachers and commend them for their service. Christian
Education Department Co-Directors Very Rev. Fathers Muron Aznikian and
Barthev Gulumian, Sunday School teachers, parents, and students participated
in the celebration.
Remarks were delivered by Sunday School Directorate Chairman Mr.
Hagop Tchaghatsbanian who expressed his appreciation to the teachers,
followed by an explanation of Easter traditions by Very Rev. Fr. Barthe
Gulumian. Spiritual songs were also sung during the luncheon.

LECTURE ON GENOCIDE SURVIVOR TESTIMONIES
UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE PRELATE

The Ararat-Eskijian Museum and the National Association for Armenian
Studies and Research have organized a lecture to take place on Tuesday,
April 8th, at 7:30 p.m., at the "Armenag Der Bedrosian" Hall of St. Mary’s
Church in Glendale. The event is taking place under the auspices of the
Prelate.
Prof. Dr. Verjine Svazlian, leading researcher at the
Museum-Institute of the Armenian Genocide and Institute of Archeology and
Ethnography, and the National Academy of Sciences in Armenia will lecture on
the topic "Testimonies of the Eyewitness Survivors: Irrefutable Historical
Documents of the Armenian Genocide."
The Prelate will attend the lecture and convey his blessings.

AZERBAIJANI SCIENTIST: "MARKING THE 2790TH ANNIVERSARY OF YEREVAN HAS NO SCIENTIFIC GROUND"

Azeri Press Agency
April 3 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Laura Jabrayilli-APA. "Marking the 2790th anniversary of Yerevan
within the framework of the International Assembly of Capitals and Big
Cities on October 11 this year has no scientific or historical grounds.

Yerevan was established during the Arabic period. Yerevan and
Western Azerbaijan do not belong to Armenians or Armenian history",
Deputy Director of History Institute of Azerbaijan National Academy
of Sciences Jabi Bahramov told APA. He said that Urartu sources,
scientific works by outstanding Russian historians, Igor Dyakonov,
Azerbaijani academician Igrar Aliyev, American scientist Armenian by
origin Nina Garsia and others showed that the Armenians had nothing
to do with this territory.

"After the spread of Christianity, churches, as well as Grigoryan
church started missionary activity beginning from the fifth century.

The churches sent missionaries to different places, as well as to the
territories around Van Lake in Turkey. In the first half of the 19th
century Armenians started to settle in the North Azerbaijan occupied
by Russia and Irevan khanate, a part of Azerbaijan. Armenian state
had existed neither in Turkey, nor in the territory of Azerbaijan by
1918. On May 29, 1918 Yerevan was yielded to Armenians, as a result
of it they managed to establish state with support of the English,
Americans and French. After North Azerbaijan was occupied by Soviet
Russia in 1920, measures were taken to extend Armenians’ territory and
19.800 sq km territory of Soviet Azerbaijan was yielded to Armenians
as a result of direct pressure exerted by Soviet Russia", he said.

According to historical data, the history of ancient Azerbaijani
land – Yerevan as a city, castle started after the collapse of the
caliphate. The territory belonged to the Sajis of Turkish origin, then
Salaris and Ravvadis, Saljug Empire, Atabeys, Hulakis and in the 15th
century belonged to Garagoyunlus, Aggoyunlus and Sefevids. In the reign
of Sefevids, Yerevan became administrative center of Chukhursheher
beylerbeylik, finally Yerevan khanate, and with the occupation of
North Azerbaijan Yerevan province was established, and Republic of
Armenia was established after Yerevan was yielded on May 29, 1918.

Bahramov said these were historical facts and underlined that
Azerbaijan’s related bodies should take a stance on marking the 2790th
anniversary of Yerevan on the international level.