Author: Nanijanian Alex

Orthodox Christians greet ‘new fire’ of Easter in Jerusalem

Agence France Presse — English
April 22, 2006 Saturday 3:59 PM GMT

JERUSALEM, April 22 2006 — Thousands of Orthodox Christians converged
on Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher Saturday for the lighting
of the “new fire,” on the eve of Orthodox Easter.

Only minor incidents were reported in connection with the centuries-old
ceremony that is often the source of brawling and fisticuffs, and
which has even led to stampedes and deaths.

Jerusalem’s Old City, with its Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Armenian
quarters, was blocked off to vehicular traffic, and some pilgrims
fainted after being held up at Israeli security checkpoints leading
to the church.

Last year, a dozen Greek and Armenian Orthodox clergymen briefly
scuffled over who would be first to emerge from the tomb of Christ
with the ceremonial flames, said to be sent by Jesus from heaven.

“To take part in this ceremony is to see God in person and take a
spiritual bath,” said Elizabeth, an Australian in her 30s dressed
head-to-toe in black.

The church contains within its precincts what is believed to be
Calvary, the site where Jesus Christ was crucified and, only a few
meters (yards) away, the tomb where he was buried and from which he
rose again to life.

Custody of the church is shared by the Greeks and Armenians as well
as Roman Catholics, all of whom jealously guard their responsibilities
under a fragile network of agreements hammered out over the centuries.

Most of the people making their way to the church on Saturday, along
with local residents, were Russians, Greeks, Armenians and Romanians,
an AFP journalist said.

This year, the new Greek Orthodox of Jerusalem, Theophilos III,
exercised his prerogative to light the first candle from the holy
fire, inside the small marble-clad structure built over the site of
Christ’s tomb, or sepulcher, inside the church.

“This ceremony is a magical moment, a miracle, in the tomb, the fire
lights itself,” said Russian Orthodox Basil Yakimov, 52.

“You can touch the flame when it comes out of the tomb, you will not
be burnt, it comes from heaven and you have to welcome it with faith,”
said 40-year-old Frenchman Pierre.

The holy fire allegedly appears each year. It is described as a blue,
shiny light emanating from the tomb after some prayers have been said
by the patriarch.

>>From there, the candle is brought out to be greeted with joy by
the assembled throng, and its fire passed from candle to candle among
the faithful.

“May God bless you Virgin Mary,” cried dozens of young Arab Christians
as they ran out of the church bearing lit candles.

“It’s like being in a football stadium, we’re used to more
contemplation in churches,” said Henri, a Roman Catholic Frenchman
living in Tel-Aviv.

Theophilos left the sepulcher to take the fire to the Patriarchate,
accompanied by a delegation of Greek officials, and then on to to
Bethlehem, the traditional site of Jesus’ birth, only a few kilometers
(miles) south of Jerusalem.

A specially arranged flight will then take the fire to Athens, from
where it is taken by road, air and sea to illuminated every church in
Greece and some further afield to cries of “He is risen” at midnight.

In Orthodox tradition, and also widely practiced in many Western rites,
the vigil held on the night before Easter begins with a darkened
church that is illuminated by the new fire, which symbolizes the
“light of Christ” manifest in the Resurrection.

OVER 200 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS URGE U.S. PRESIDENT TO PROPERLY
CHARACTERIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

WASHINGTON, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Two hundred and
eight U.S. legislators called on President Bush on April 20 to
reaffirm the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). In separate letters,
178 Representatives and 30 Senators specifically asked the President
to properly characterize the atrocities as “genocide,” in his annual
April 24th remarks. In February of 2000, during Michigan’s hotly
contested Republican primary, then Governor Bush promised to properly
recognize the Armenian Genocide if elected president. Since taking
office in 2001, the President has retreated from this pledge, issuing
a succession of April 24th statements that use evasive and euphemistic
terminology to diminish the full historical, moral, and contemporary
legal implications of Ottoman Turkey’s genocide against the Armenian
nation. The House letter, organized by Congressional Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), stressed
that, “the United States must never allow crimes against humanity to
pass without remembrance and condemnation. As U.S. efforts to aid
victims of genocide continue, it is imperative that we pay tribute to
the memory of others who have suffered and never forget the past. By
commemorating the Armenian Genocide, we renew our commitment to
prevent future atrocities and therefore negate the dictum that history
is condemned to repeat itself.” The Senate letter, led by Senators
John Ensign (R-NV) and Richard Durbin (D-IL), noted that, “The memory
of the Armenian Genocide underscores our responsibility to speak
forcefully about our respect for fundamental human rights and
opposition to mass slaughters. It is in the best interests of our
nation and the entire global community to remember the past and learn
from these crimes against humanity to ensure that they are never
repeated. We respectfully request that you refer to the mass slaughter
of Armenians as genocide in your commemorative statement.” “The
Armenian Genocide is incontrovertible, of which the U.S. Archives is
replete with thousands of pages documenting this horrific crime,” said
Co-Chairmen Joe Knollenberg and Frank Pallone. “The President has
employed a textbook definition of genocide to describe the events that
occurred from 1915-1923, but a full and irrevocable U.S. affirmation
of the Armenian Genocide is necessary to prevent such crimes from
happening in the future.” “We are very gratified by the strong,
bipartisan message from Congress encouraging the President to properly
recognize the Armenian Genocide in his April 24th remarks,” said Aram
Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “We join with our
Congressional friends – most notably Senators John Ensign and Dick
Durbin and Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg
– in calling for moral clarity in our nation’s response to genocide.”
Members of Congress joining Reps. Pallone and Knollenberg in co-
signing the letter included: Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Gary Ackerman
(D-NY), Tom Allen (D-ME), Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Joe Baca (D-CA),
Brian Baird (D-WA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Gresham Barrett (R-SC),
Charles Bass (R-NH), Melissa Bean (D-IL), Bob Beauprez (R- CO), Xavier
Becerra (D-CA), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Howard Berman (D-CA), Michael
Bilirakis (R-FL), Tim Bishop (D-NY), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Sherwood
Boehlert (R-NY), Mary Bono (R-CA), Jeb Bradley (R-NH), Sherrod Brown
(D-OH), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Dave Camp (R-MI), Lois Capps (D-CA),
Michael Capuano (D-MA), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA),
William Clay (D-MO), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), John Conyers (D-MI), Jim
Costa (D-CA), Jerry Costello (D- IL), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Danny
Davis (D-IL), Susan Davis (D-CA), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Diana DeGette
(D-CO), William Delahunt (D- MA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Charles Dent
(R-PA), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), John Dingell (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett
(D-TX), John Doolittle (R-CA), Mike Doyle (D-PA), David Dreier (R-CA),
Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Lane
Evans (D-IL), Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Mike Ferguson (R-NJ), Bob Filner
(D-CA), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Mark Foley (R-FL), Vito Fossella
(R-NY), Barney Frank (D-MA), Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), Scott
Garrett (R-NJ), Jim Gibbons (R-NV), Charlie Gonzalez (D-TX), Al Green
(D-TX), Gene Green (D-TX), Mark Green (R-WI), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ),
Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Stephanie Herseth (D-SD), Maurice Hinchey
(D-NY), Peter Hoekstra (R-MI), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Michael Honda (D-CA),
Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Steve Israel (D-NY), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Jesse
Jackson (D-IL), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Nancy Johnson (R-CT), Marcy
Kaptur (D-OH), Sue Kelly (R-NY), Mark Kennedy (R-MN), Patrick Kennedy
(D-RI), Dale Kildee (D-MI), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH),
John R. Randy, Jr. Kuhl (R-NY), James Langevin (D- RI), John Larson
(D-CT), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Sander Levin (D-MI), John Lewis (D-GA),
Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA),
Nita Lowey (D-NY), Dan Lungren (R-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn
Maloney (D-NY), Edward Markey (D-MA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Carolyn
McCarthy (D-NY), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), Jim
McDermott (D-WA), James McGovern (D- MA), John McHugh (R-NY), Buck
McKeon (R-CA), Cynthia McKinney (D- GA), Cathy McMorris (R-WA),
Michael McNulty (D-NY), Martin Meehan (D-MA), Michael Michaud (D-ME),
Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), Candice Miller (R-MI), Gwen Moore
(D-WI), James Moran (D-VA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Marilyn Musgrave
(R-CO), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Richard Neal (D-MA), Eleanor Holmes
Norton (D-DC), Devin Nunes (R- CA), John Olver (D-MA), C. L. Butch
Otter (R-ID), William Pascrell (D-NJ), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Nancy
Pelosi (D-CA), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Richard Pombo (R-CA), Jon
Porter (R-NV), George Radanovich (R-CA), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Mike
Rogers (R-MI), Mike Ross (D- AR), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Lucille
Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Edward Royce (R-CA), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Paul
Ryan (R-WI), John Salazar (D- CO), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Loretta
Sanchez (D-CA), Bernard Sanders I VT), H. James Saxton (R-NJ), Janice
Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), Joe
Schwarz (R-MI), David Scott (D-GA), E. Clay Shaw (R-FL), Christopher
Shays (R-CT), Brad Sherman (D-CA), John Shimkus (R-IL), Rob Simmons
(R-CT), Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Hilda Solis (D-CA), Mark Souder
(R-IN), Pete Stark (D-CA), Ted Strickland (D-OH), John Sweeney (R-NY),
Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), John Tierney (D-MA),
Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Mark Udall (D-CO), Christopher Van Hollen
(D-MD), Peter Visclosky (D-IN), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Diane Watson
(D-CA), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Curt Weldon (R-
PA), Dave Weldon (R-FL), Gerald Weller (R-IL), Joe Wilson (R-SC),
Frank Wolf (R-VA), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA). Senators cosigning the
letter to President Bush along with Senators Ensign and Durbin were:
Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Wayne Allard (R-CO), George Allen (R-VA), Barbara
Boxer (D-CA) , Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Norm
Coleman (R-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Russ
Feingold (D-WI), Dianne Feinstein (D- CA), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Edward
Kennedy (D-MA), John Kerry (D-MA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Carl Levin
(D-MI), Joseph Lieberman (D- CT), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Barak Obama
(D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Harry Reid (D-NV), Ken Salazar (D-CO), Rick
Santorum (R-PA), Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Olympia
Snowe (R-ME), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and John Sununu (R-NH).

UKRPROMBANK BUYS 35% OF ARMINVETSBANK SHARES

Yerevan, April 21. ArmInfo. UkrPromBank, Ukraine, officially announced
today about purchasing 35% of ArmInvestBank shares, Armenia.

The UkrPromBank report states that the purchase was made by its own
means. It aims entering the Armenian banking market. The report says
nothing of the amount of the deal nor of any perspectives of
UkrPromBank on the international market.

‘Kommersant’ newspaper, Ukraine, reports that UkrPromBank will realize
a part of its operations through the Armenian financial
structure. ‘Armenia is traditionally used for schemes of capital
withdrawal and avoiding taxes,’ said a director of a major bank,
preferring to remain incognito.

According to the information of the Association of Ukrainian Banks, as
for March 1, 2006, UkrPromBank was the 12-th in the Ukrainian banks
ranking list by assets (4,24 billion grivna) and 9-th by funds (652,48
million grivna). According to ArmInfo (Agency of Rating, Marketing and
Information), authorized capital stock of ArmInvestBank are $5,3
million (14-th place), assets – $21 million (13-th place). As for
December 31, 2006, 35% of its shares belonged to Grigor Sukiasian,
15,6% to Unibank, the rest (49,4%) to other shareholders, each owning
less that 10%.

“ROUND TABLE” ON THEME OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN TURKEY TO TAKE PLACE IN SLAVYANSK-ON-KUBAN

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006

KRASNODAR, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A “round table”
of the public-political forces of the city of Slavyansk-on-Kuban,
dedicated to the theme of the regular anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide in the Ottaman Turkey, will take place on April 19 at the
Slavonic State Pedagogical Institute. As the “Yerkramas” (country)
newspaper of Armenians of Russia informs, during the “round table”
in which representatives of public-political organizations of
Slavyanks-on-Kuban will participate, the following issues will be
discussed: – the Armenian Genocide as a crime against the humanity
and mankind; – the international recognition of the fact of the
Armenian Genocide and legal responsibility of Turkey; – the official
recognition of Turkey itself and its condemnation of that crime; –
ideology of Panturkism as a real threat for Europe and the world; –
ways of just liquidation of consequences of the Armenian Genocide;
– solution of the Hay Dat (Armenian cause) based on international
law. The film “I accuse”, prepared by the “Yerkir-Media” TV company
on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
in Turkey will be shown to participants of the event. Adoption of
a resolution is planned according to data of the “round table.” The
greeting message is sent to participants of the “round table” by a
number of public-political figures of Russia, particularly, by Sergey
Shishkarev, a Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation
(“Yedinaya Rossia” (United Russian) faction).

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
04/20/2006
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM

1) US Envoy Steven Mann Meets with Armenian Leaders
2) ARF Bureau Member Says Recognition of Karabagh Should Be on Agenda
3) Armenian Church in Baku May Be Converted to Library
4) Turkey’s Definition of ‘Terror’ Not in Line with European Council

1) US Envoy Steven Mann Meets with Armenian Leaders

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)Steven Mann, Washington’s chief Karabagh negotiator, met with
Armenian leaders Thursday to discuss the Karabagh peace process on yet another
visit to Yerevan.
During their meeting, Mann and Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
discussed “prospects for continuing negotiations” aimed at resolving the
Karabagh conflict. Mann also met President Robert Kocharian later in the day.
Mann will be in Baku on Friday to meet with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev
about
the latter’s upcoming visit to Washington during which he will be received by
President George W. Bush.
The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, including Mann, have said that the flurry of
diplomatic activity is aimed at arranging another meeting between the
presidents of the two South Caucasus nations. French co-chair Bernard Fassier
said they hope that Aliyev and Kocharian will meet in June or July at the
latest.
The planned Aliyev-Kocharian meeting may take place ahead of the Group of
Eight summit in the Russian city of St. Petersburg scheduled for July. The
United States, France, and Russia, which is chairing G8 for the first time
this
year, are all members of the group of rich nations.
US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said late Wednesday that Washington
wants the conflicts in Karabagh and elsewhere in the former Soviet Union to be
included on the summit agenda. “On the agenda we suggested today, for the
first
time, should be these…issues pertaining to conflicts very close to Russia’s
borders,” Burns told a news briefing during a visit to Moscow.
The formal G8 agenda proposed by Russia does not include a specific
mention of
the ex-Soviet conflicts.

2) ARF Bureau Member Says Recognition of Karabagh Should Be on Agenda

YEREVAN (Combined Sources) – Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau
member and Parliament Vice Speaker Vahan Hovannisian spoke Thursday about the
Karabagh conflict, Armenia-Russia relations, and domestic political
developments.
Speaking about Yerevan’s position on the Karabagh conflict settlement,
Hovannisian said that Yerevan is not going to make more concessions other than
those already spelled out for years.
“The statements Armenia makes to succeed in talks and show the country in a
better light should not be confused with the final goal,” Hovannisian said.
“If
Azerbaijan admits even once it recognizes the self-determination right of
Nagorno Karabagh, it would be hard for it to take its words back later.”
“Today, the negotiations with Azerbaijan should not be the first issue on the
agenda. Instead, the first item on the agenda should be the recognition of
Karabagh–in any form–by the international community. This would make
Azerbaijan go for more compromise.”
He added that presently not only the ARF but also state officials realize
this.
Referring to the latest gas deals with Russia, Hovannisian said that the
political side of the deal was “really very obnoxious,” but in terms of
economics, the deal was the best solution currently possible.
Speaking of the prospects of the political developments and the possible
outcome of the parliamentary election due next year, Hovannisian said he was
sure the ARF will be represented in Parliament.
He predicted that next year’s parliamentary election in Armenia will be
“unusually tense,” because they will take place less than a year before the
next presidential election.
Those that are keen to succeed President Robert Kocharian in 2008 will spare
no effort to win the 2007 vote, he said, adding that the ARF will likely field
its own presidential candidate.
He warned that Armenia may suffer a setback in terms of its international
image if these elections are not deemed democratic.
Therefore, he said, the president, the parliament, and the government must
guarantee free and fair elections.
Hovannisian said his party stands prepared to fight against every form of
election fraud. He said law-enforcers must make it clear that those who to try
to rig the polls will not be forgiven.

3) Armenian Church in Baku May Be Converted to Library

BAKU (Armenpress)The Azeri culture and tourism ministry is intending to turn
Baku’s Armenian Church into a library.
“I think that turning the Armenian Church in Baku into a library is
purposeful,” APA news agency cited the minister Abulfaz Garaev as saying.
According to Garaev, converting the church into a library would be the right
thing to do, as there are not that many Christians in Azerbaijan.

4) Turkey’s Definition of ‘Terror’ Not in Line with European Council

ANKARA (Zaman/BIA)–The definition of “terror” in Turkey’s Counter-terrorism
Act (CTA) was not modified by its Cabinet, even though Turkish Justice
Minister
Cemil Cicek had said earlier said that it would be modified in line with the
European Union Council decision.
The CTA aims to boost the powers of the country’s security forces in
combating
terrorism.
Cicek said the condition of using “force and violence” was preserved in the
draft that has been sent to Parliament.
“In fact, it is impossible to commit terror crimes in many aspects without
using force and violence. This point should be kept in mind when such acts are
evaluated,” said the minister.
According to the information obtained, individuals chanting slogans in favor
of terror organizations and carry their symbols can be sentenced to 1-3 years
in prison.
Cicek held a press conference after the cabinet meeting to inform that the
CTA
does not target ordinary citizens.
The Minister explained the reason why the definition was not modified as
follows: “The EU Council decision is only a suggestion. Besides, not everybody
agrees on the EU’s terror definition. We believe our definition contains all
the necessary elements.”
Expectations that the CTA will bring an end to terror are wrong, he warned.
Human rights activists are challenging the Anti-terror bill, which they
say is
“incompatible with human rights” and intends to revert to past suppression
laws. They say the law restricts democratic rights in the country and punishes
those who attempt to enjoy their rights in order to pursue their goals.
Ayhan Bilgen, the Deputy Chairman of the Association for Human Rights and
Solidarity with the Oppressed, said that he was seriously concerned about
escalating violence in Turkey if the draft was passed in its present form by
Parliament.
“To adopt violence against violence serves no purpose but to strengthen
violence” he said. “This is the kind of intervention that will stimulate the
violence stemming from the Kurdish problem instead of focusing on the Kurdish
issue and its reasons.”
Bilgen said the mentality behind the bill was “to punish activities that
could
be perceived as supporting armed groups in order to eradicate those groups,
thus preventing that support.”
Bilgen added that both in the articles of the bill and its reasoning, freedom
of expression, democratic struggle, and human rights activists were being held
responsible and expected to pay for the failure of the security forces and
intelligence organizations in conducting their duties.

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Armenian National Committee of Canada
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622
Fax (613) 238-2622

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 19, 2006

Contact: Aris Babikian (613) 235-2622

The Prime Minister of Canada Recognizes the Armenian Genocide

Ottawa – The Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Stephen
Harper, made a clear statement recognizing the historical fact of
the Armenian Genocide.

In response to a reporter’s question regarding the Armenian Genocide,
the Prime Minister said: “That was a vote held in the last Parliament
[Motion M-380 – April 21, 2004]. As you recall, Parliament passed that
resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Our party supported that
resolution and we continue to recognize that parliamentary resolution”.

Dr. Vagharch Ehramdjian, Chairman of the Armenian National Committee
of Canada (ANCC), thanked the Prime Minister Harper, on behalf of
the Canadian Armenian Community, for his historic statement. “The
Right Honorable Stephen Harper’s principled and righteous stand in
recognizing the Armenian Genocide will finally bring closure to the
Canadian-Armenian Community,” said the Chairman of the ANCC.

-30-

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range
of issues.

Regional Chapters: Montreal- Toronto – Laval – Vancouver – Ottawa –
Hamilton – Cambridge St. Catharines – Windsor

ARMENIAN BOXERS TO PARTICIPATE IN AN INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT IN CZECH REPUBLIC

ArmrRadio.am
18.04.2006 15:00

An international boxing tournament will start today in Czech
Republic. Five boxes of Armenia – Hovhannes Danielyan, Edgar Manukyan,
Hrachya Hovhannisyn, Andranik Hakobyan and Artak Mamulyan – will
participate in the championship.

The tournament will come to an end on April 23.

ANCA ACTIVIST CHOSEN TO SERVE ON COMMISSION’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Yerkir
17.04.2006 17:29

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti
has appointed Raffe Deirmenjian to serve on the city’s Human Relations
Commission Advisory Committee that strives to promote positive race
and human relation in the increasingly complex and multicultural county
of Los Angeles, reported the Armenian National Committee of America –
Western Region (ANCA-WR).

Deirmenjian, a member of the West San Fernando Valley ANCA, has worked
diligently to have the Armenian Genocide included in the Los Angeles
Unified School District’s curriculum.

PRESS RELEASE

Armenian Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Microsurgery
58 Abovyan St.
Yerevan, Armenia
Contact: Gevorg Yaghjyan MD, PhD
Secretary General
Tel: (37410) 560636
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Intensive Course in Facial Surgery

Yerevan, April 21-22, 2006

Armeni an Association of Plastic Reconstructive Surgery and
Microsurgery(AAPRSM), as well as the Yerevan State Medical University
will organized an Intensive Course in “Facial Surgery ”

The symposium will take place on April 21-22, in the Conference Hall
of the Yerevan State Medical University. About 60 ENT, maxillofacial
surgeons and reconstructive surgeon from different hospitals of
Yerevan will attend.

The symposium will be lead by Dr. Artavazd Sahakyan MD, PhD – the
president of AAPRSM and invited lecturer Dr. Der-Sarkisian Raffi MD
from Boston Facial Group

Dr. Der-Sarkisian board certified Facial Plastic and Reconstructive
Surgeon, Assistant Clinical Professor of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck
Surgery Boston University School of Medicine

Author of many articles abstracts, and book chapters

The lectures will be dedicated to Reconstruction of the Nose, Scalp
and Lip, as also in the using a technologies in reconstructive surgery
of the face .

The goal of the symposium is to present the latest information,
the experience and knowledge of the international faculty members to
Armenian doctors.

Symposium is open for all doctors, resident and student upon the
registration on the web site:

We hope that the program of this kind will be continued in the future
and help to enhance the professional level of local specialists
through the gained theoretical knowledge and discussions.

AAPRSM is a non-for-profit organization of medical professionals,
aimed at improving the health care system of the community and
advancing medical sciences in Armenia.

PACE Discussed the Situation in Armed Forces of Azerbaijan

01&p=0055&n=001413&g

14.04.2006

At the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Bulgarian Member of Parliament Alexander Arbadjiev presented verbal
report on situation and protection of human rights in armed
forces. The rapporteur informed that in many Member States of the
Council of Europe the human rights are violated in armed forces. He
underlined the importance of establishment of the Institute of
Military Ombudsman to review their complaints. In section devoted to
Azerbaijan the rapporteur informed that in Azerbaijan about 5,000
soldiers died because of hard conditions and various diseases. But not
all Member States of PACE were for description of situation of human
rights in armed forces.

Members of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE – Aydin Mirzazade, Elmira
Akhundova and Ganira Pashayeva made report. A. Mirzazade informed that
the military in equal with civilians should have the rights drawn from
the European Convention. He considers as important establishment of
the Institute of Military Ombudsman to which the military could make
an anonymous complaints.

Speaking at the session E. Akhundova said that she did not agree with
report figures. She informed that the figures about death of 5,000
Azerbaijani soldiers who have been died because of unacceptable
conditions and acute diseases do not meet realities, and said that
this misinformation is based on figures of NGOs.