Author: Nalchajian Markos

HOUSE PASSES THE GENOCIDE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

armradio.am
07.12.2007 10:21

The Armenian Assembly of America welcomed the passage of the Genocide
Accountability Act (S. 888) as a crucial step forward in closing a
legal loophole that prevents the Justice Department from punishing
perpetrators of genocide who find safe haven in the United States.

The vote in the House of Representatives allows non-US nationals who
have entered the United States to be prosecuted for genocide committed
outside the country. Under current law, genocide is only a crime if
it is committed within the United States or by a US national outside
of the country.

Conversely, laws regarding torture, material support for terrorism,
terrorism financing, hostage taking and other federal crimes allow
for extraterritorial jurisdiction for crimes committed outside of
the United States by non-US nationals.

"The Genocide Accountability Act is an effort to ensure that our
United States’ laws provide adequate authority to prosecute acts
of genocide," said Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), chairman of the House
Judiciary Committee. "We should not have a situation where perpetrators
of genocide are allowed to enter, or reside in the United States and
use this country as a safe haven from prosecution."

"This cannot be the last step," Conyers added. "If we’re going to
fulfill our role in the world as the beacon for basic human rights
and freedom from persecution we must continue to develop the humble
legislative beginning we have begun today."

"We are proud to have supported this legislation through the process
and concur with Chairman Conyers that this is not the last step,"
said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "The next critical
step is to confront denial of genocide by approving H. Res. 106,
which reaffirms the US record on the Armenian Genocide."

Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) said the 20th century has been
called "the Age of Genocide," adding that the genocides in Rwanda,
the former Yugoslavia, Cambodia, Germany, and the Ottoman Empire
have shown the world "the monstrous potential of totalitarian regimes
determined to annihilate entire ethnic, racial and religious groups."

Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), who introduced the House version (H.R. 2489)
of the Genocide Accountability Act, said that the purpose of the
measure is to ensure that the perpetrators of genocide are accountable
under U.S. law.

"S. 888 will strengthen the reach of U.S. laws to prosecute any
individuals found in our country, who have taken part in acts of
genocide, in Darfur or anywhere else," Berman said.

"Genocide continues to be a threat in the world and we should attack it
wherever we find it," said Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA).

Others who spoke in favor of S. 888 on the House floor yesterday
included Representatives Stephen Cohen (D-TN), Randy Forbes (R-VA),
Mike Pence (R-IN) and Christopher Shays (R-CT).

The Senate bill, introduced by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and
Tom Coburn (R-OK), is the first piece of legislation produced by the
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law. In February,
the Assembly called on Congress to strengthen international legal
protection against genocide and its denial in testimony submitted
for the Subcommittee’s hearing on "Genocide and the Rule of Law."

Ardouny also commended Durbin, along with Senator John Ensign (R-NV),
for spearheading legislation in the U.S. Senate (S. Res. 106) that
would reaffirm the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide.

In addition to the Assembly, the Genocide Accountability Act has
been endorsed by numerous organizations including African Action, the
American Jewish World Service, Amnesty International USA, the Armenian
National Committee of America, the Genocide Intervention Network,
Human Rights First, Human Rights Watch, Physicians for Human Rights,
Refugees International and the Save Darfur Coalition.

Panorama.am

16:40 05/12/2007

OSCE COMES TO STUDY SITUATION BEFORE PRESIDENTIAL AND
AFTER PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan received today George
Colombie, rapporteur on Armenia at OSCE Monitoring
Commission and the delegation spearheaded by him. Mr.
Colombie introduced the prime minister with the aims
of the visit saying they came to learn about the
situation in Armenia six and half months after the
parliamentary elections and two and half months before
the presidential elections. The team will also study
the developments in the pre-election phase.
”I am happy that the reforms are completed in several
areas, including the adoption of the constitution,
amendments to the Electoral Code, judicial system
reform. In case of executing them to the full extent,
the reforms in Armenia will report considerable
positive move,’ Georgia Colombie said.

Armenian government press and public relations
department informs that Sargsyan mentioned that the
monitoring conducted by the Council of Europe is an
additional boost for our country to implement the
reforms according to the established timeline.

Source: Panorama.am

Make the switch to the world’s best email. Get the new Yahoo!7 Mail now.

PanARMENIAN.Net

RA CEC published list of presidential aspirants
06.12.2007 18:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The registration of Armenian presidential aspirants
was completed December 6.

RA CEC chairman Garegin Azaryan informed that the essential documents
were submitted by National Consent party leader Aram Harutyunyan, RA
NA former speaker, Orinats Yerkir party leader Artur Baghdassaryan,
National Unity party leader Artashes Geghamyan, ALM Holding president,
chairman of People’s Party of Armenia Tigran Karapetyan, chairman of
the National Democratic Union Vazgen Manukyan, RA NA vice speaker, ARF
Dashnaktsutyun Bureau member Vahan Hovhannisian, RA Prime Minister,
RPA chairman Serge Sargsyan and Armenia’s first President Levon
Ter-Petrosyan.

7TH SHIFT OF ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS WELCOMED AT THE MUNICIPAL REGIMENT OF YEREVAN

armradio.am
05.12.2007 17:12

The solemn welcome ceremony of the 7th shift of Armenian peacekeepers
to Kosovo was held at the Municipal Regiment of Yerevan. The ceremony
was attended by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces
of the Republic of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan, other senior officials.

Welcoming the servicemen that carried out peacekeeping mission
in Kosovo, Seyran Ohanyan noted that the Armenian soldier proved
once again that fulfils all the tasks with honor. "The level of his
professionalism, the knowledge, the organizational and psychological
capacities prove that he is able to meet the tasks posed to him not
only in ensuring the security of the Republic of Armenia, but also
in carrying out international peacekeeping mission. The Armenian
peacekeeping division is decisively fulfilling the program of reforms
of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, a component of which
is the creation of cooperation field with foreign military systems,"
Seyran Ohanyan said.

By order of the Defense Minister of Armenia Michael Harutyunyan
three servicemen of the 7th shift of peacekeepers were awarded
"Vazgen Sargsyan" medals. Another three peacekeepers were awarded
"Admiral Isakov" medals. A number of servicemen received diplomas
and expensive gifts.

Hayots Ashkharh, Armenia
Dec 7 2007

THE ARMENIAN PAN-NATIONAL MOVEMENT HAS ABUSED THE PEOPLE’S
CONFIDENCE, ROBERT KOCHARYAN SAYS

`I wouldn’t like to continue the Soviet-time tradition when each
new leader began his work by criticizing the former authorities. I
considered that it was necessary to demonstrate a result, and seeing
the difference with their own eyes, the people would appreciate it.
Besides, LTP behaved quite calmly. There was no persecution
against any activist belonging to the Armenian pan-National Movement.
Otherwise, half of them would have been imprisoned up to now. Vano
Siradeghyan is under investigation on charges of organizing
assassinations. I have avoided that topic for 9 years on end, until
LTP and the Armenian pan-National Movement provoked the debate.
Today, I openly say that the Armenian pan-National Movement has
abused the confidence of my people, making Armenia one of the most
impoverished countries of the world. The Armenian pan-National
Movement came to power upon the wave of the Karabakh movement and
then betrayed it. The national ideology is alien to the Armenian
pan-National Movement; it is ready to forget about the Genocide and
make Armenia an appendix to Turkey,’ ROBERT KOCHARYAN announced in
his interview.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Neither Russia nor U.S. to allow escalation in Karabakh
05.12.2007 14:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `Bellicose statements are first of all tools of
pressure on the population, let it happen in Azerbaijan or in any
other state. On the other hand, Ilham Aliyev can make such statements
due to $1 billion defense budget,’ Professor of international
relations and politics at the San-Andres University of Buenos Aires,
Khachik Ter-Ghukasyan said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.

`However, it doesn’t mean that he will be allowed to deteriorate the
situation. Neither the U.S. nor Russia will tolerate it. It’s bluff
and speculation. Azerbaijan is well armed and we should not forget
about the syndrome of the defeated that reigns there. Calls for war
are just meant to unite the nation,’ he said.

LAST REGULAR FOUR-DAY SITTINGS OF RA NA AUTUMN SESION START ON DECEMBER 3

Noyan Tapan
Dec 03 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The last regular four-day sittings of
the autumn session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia
started on December 3. Approximately 30 issues and 19 international
treaties submitted to the National Assembly for ratification by the
RA President are included on the agenda.

The election of the Chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on
Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs is also included on the
agenda. It should be mentioned that the above-mentioned post has been
vacant since November 12, when Arevik Petrosian, who held that office,
assumed the post of the Vice Speaker of the National Assembly. In
addition to this, the National Assembly is to conduct the election of
the lawyer-scientist members of the Council of the RA Justice as well.

The issue concerning the ratification of the suggestion of the RA
President on prolonging the deadline for joining the memorandum
of mutual understanding on the regulation of the management of the
multinational division in the stabilization forces of Iraq and other
similar issues for a year is also included among the treaties submitted
for ratification.

As Tigran Torosian, the Speaker of the National Assembly, mentioned,
it is obvious that the Parliament will not manage to discuss all the
issues included on the agenda, therefore, a convocation of a special
session is possible in case of necessity.

LEVON TER-PETROSIAN IS FOUNDER OF AUTHORITARIAN SYSTEM, SHAVARSH KOCHARIAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 04 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The National Democratic Party
cannot support Levon Ter-Petrosian’s candidature, as the party is
against the authoritarian system, the founder of which is the first
RA President. As NDP Chairman Shavarsh Kocharian stated at the
December 4 press conference, in the year’s of L. Ter-Petrosian’s
tenure the national enthusiasm of 1988 was broken and "nation’s
spiritual potential was lost, which was equal to oil potential." Then,
according to S. Kocharian, the electoral institution was exterminated
by the presidential elections of 1996, when the power was retained
with the help of tanks and a "military coup" took place.

The NDP Chairman refuted the statement made by L. Ter-Petrosian lately
that in the years of war Prime Minister Serge Sargsian was expelled
from Karabakh for some time. According to S. Kocharian, S. Sargsian
had left for Moscow for some time because of contradictions in the
Karabakh governmental system, "the author of which was L. Ter-Petrosian
and his defeatest policy in the Artsakh problem."

Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

November 27, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian

Tel: (818) 500-1918

ANC-WR Welcomes Student Human Rights Advocates to Regional Office

— Mesrobian Students Conduct Walkathon in Support of H. Res. 106

Los Angeles, CA – On November 8, 2007, the Armenian National Committee
– Western Region (ANC-WR) welcomed students from the Mesrobian Armenian
School to the organization’s regional office.  Mesrobian students
had set out to walk 10 miles to the ANC-WR office in a walkathon
to support community efforts regarding the passage of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution (H. Res. 106). 

"It is important for our schools and the community’s youth to engage
themselves in support of the Armenian Cause," stated Mesrobian
Instructor Tro Tchekidjian.  "Our students took an important stand
today in the name of human rights," he added.

A group of twenty human rights advocates from the Mesrobian Armenian
School’s 11th grade class gathered at the Pasadena Armenian Center
the morning of November 8th.  After two weeks of diligent efforts in
collecting sponsorships from local businesses, friends, family and
teachers to reach their stated goal of $1000, the marchers set out
to walk the 10 mile trip to the ANC-WR’s office.

Along the route from Pasadena to Glendale students wore ANC T-Shirts
to express their solidarity and support for the Armenian Cause.  After
a walk in which students bonded closely as a class, ANC-WR Executive
Director Antranig Kzirian greeted the group at the ANC-WR office. 
Kzirian thanked the students for their activism and leadership and
provided a brief update on the organization’s activities. Kzirian
stressed that the students represented the future of the Armenian
American community and the Armenian Cause.  Tchekidjian also addressed
the students, happily informing them that they had easily surpassed
their original goal of $1000 and had collected $2500 in support of
the ANC-WR.

"Seeing these students give their time and support in such a selfless
fashion inspires me," stated Kzirian. "As a product of Armenian
American schools myself, I especially appreciate the value of their
commitment to the Armenian Cause," he added.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization
in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network
of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United
States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR
advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.

###

–Boundary_(ID_guBECDN07lw0gGLTQOoWn w)–

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

AGBU Donates Computers to Armenian Genocide Museum in Yerevan, Armenia

In a ceremony that took place on November 22, 2007 at the Armenian
Genocide Museum-Institute, AGBU donated computer equipment, including
desktops, printers and scanners, worth approximately $11,000 (USD) to
the Yerevan-based museum. The Genocide Museum, which is a leading center
of Armenian Genocide research, will use the donation to digitize its
extensive documentation on the Armenian Holocaust, mount professional
displays and exhibitions of documentary materials, and place documents
on the museum’s four-month-old English-language website:

Museum Director Hayk Demoyan commented at the ceremony, "The museum was
facing a huge problem. We had to digitalize the archives, otherwise we
risk losing them." He was thankful of AGBU’s donation and he said that
the modern equipment was essential to carrying out the mission of the
Genocide Museum, which is to document one of the 20th century’s greatest
crimes against humanity.

Director of the AGBU Armenian Representation Ashot Ghazarian remarked,
"I am glad AGBU could contribute to a mission of such importance." He
also added that the organization is eager to assist the museum in the
realization of various future projects.

Demoyan pointed out that, every year, new sources of information about
the Armenian Genocide surface. He also explained that there are so many
undiscovered and unexamined archives that await careful examination and
which will illuminate some of the lesser known aspects of the
catastrophe. He is planning to send museum employees to Europe, Russia
and the Middle East, with a promise to organize a display of all the
materials culled from these new sources. Furthermore, in the coming
months, the museum is planning to publish a 10-volume monograph, which
will include new translations of rare documentary materials.

The director pointed out that the number of visitors to the Armenian
Genocide Institute’s English-only website is doubling every month, and
the site has plans to expand into a multilingual site, which will
welcome Armenian, French, Russian and Turkish-language users.

AGBU’s recent donation is the latest in a series of contributions that
began with the founding of the museum in 1995.

For more information on AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit