Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

ARMENIAN JUSTICE WALK BEGINS
By Connie Llanos, Special To The Daily News

LA Daily News
6/28/2006 12:00 AM

Marchers leave L.A. for Washington, D.C.

Nearly a century after the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians, the
descendants of those victims are finding new ways to heal old wounds.

Water coolers in hand and painful memories in their hearts, members
of the United Armenian Students kicked off their 3,000-mile Journey
for Humanity on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall on Tuesday. The
group, made up of Armenian college students, is marching 20 miles a
day until it reaches the nation’s capital in the hopes of educating
people about the Armenian genocide, as well as other atrocities
occurring throughout the world today.

"We have carried this pain for 91 years," said Vahe Abovian, project
director for Journey for Humanity.

"We kept hearing `never again, never again,’ but it keeps happening,"
he said.

Abovian, 29, has taken a leave of absence from his job as deacon of
the Western Dioceses of the Armenian Church and has sent his wife and
two daughters to Armenia to reduce his expenses so he can afford his
five-month trip.

He feels compelled to make this sacrifice not only as an Armenian,
but as an ethical human being, he said.

"It is personal to me as an Armenian, but the issue of genocide is too
big to be trademarked as an Armenian or a Jewish issue," Abovian said.

With the death toll in the Darfur region of the Sudan nearing 400,000,
Abovian stressed that recognition of genocides can lead to their
prevention in the future.

"The reasons for doing this are twofold," Abovian said.

"We are trying to keep the memories of all genocide victims alive
and educating our society and we are demanding that no more crimes
against humanity happen," he continued.

Richard Hovannisian, chairman of modern Armenian history at the
University of California, Los Angeles, said for many Armenians it is
the unresolved aspect of the genocide that causes the hurt to remain.

"It is 90 years after the fact, and the Turkish government will not
go on the record," Hovannisian said.

Hovannisian also said that much of the drive behind the genocide
awareness movement stems from a belief that had the world paid
attention to the Armenian genocide, many other genocides could have
been prevented, including the Jewish Holocaust.

He added that youth involvement in the issue is important. "Their
idealistic streak should be encouraged," Hovannisian said.

By Tuesday afternoon Glendale Community College student Albrik
Zohrabayan had marched 11 miles in 90-degree heat.

"I’m tired," Zohrabayan said in a weakened voice. But he isn’t nervous
about his trip, despite the unknown territory and summer heat; he
only hopes people are open to the message he carries.

"We just hope they are going to support us. That’s all we care about."

VUE Weekly, Canada
June 22 2006

SYSTEM OF A DOWN FOR THE COUNT?
BRYAN CARROLL / [email protected]

If lately it seems that every time you walk down Jasper Avenue you’re
looking at a new poster for System of a Down, you’re onto something.

Whether it’s for the double album the band decided to release in two
parts spaced months apart, or for the seemingly unending tours that
followed, System of a Down have been making their presence felt in
Edmonton almost as much as girls with their Oilers jerseys pulled up
around their ears have been lately.

System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan, who actually lived in Canada
for some time after his family fled Lebabnon because of civil war,
explains that he and the band are always thrilled to tour in Canada.

"I lived in Toronto for four years and really enjoyed it. I love
coming back," he says. "We’ve developed a really nice following in
Canada."

That "really nice following" the band has developed must have been
dismayed to learn recently that, following the band’s Canadian dates
and headlining tour with Ozzfest, System of a Down will be taking an
indefinite hiatus to work on solo projects.

For most of the band’s members, these solo projects will be of a
similar nature to their previous work; Dolmayan’s project, however,
is decidedly un-musical.

"I have ideas to do a small comic book-based business," explains
Dolmayan, who will most likely also play drums on a few tracks of
each of his bandmates solo efforts.

On another non-musical topic, much ado has been made of System of a
Down’s Armenian ancestry and their push to have Turkey finally
recognize the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

While stressing that these issues are of grave importance to the
band, Dolmayan laments that "the press made a much bigger deal of us
being Armenian than we ever did."

The press "couldn’t explain us," he says, because System of a Down
didn’t totally fit in with the embarrassing nu-metal movement they
were unlucky enough to be lumped in with. And when System of a Down
outlasted the nu-metalheads, the Armenian connection received more
ink.

"When people started asking [about our shared ethnic backgrounds],"
Dolmayan explains, "our reaction was to bring up the issue of the
genocide," in an attempt to use the press to spread their message.

Fans can expect that the band’s political views, which also include a
definite anti-war/anti-Bush stance, to be on full display Sunday
night, along with the heavy and intelligent music the band is known
for. V

Sun, Jun 25 (7 pm)
System of a Down
With Hatebreed, Bad Acid Trip
Rexall Place, $35.50 – $55.50

ILHAM ALIYEV PREPARES FOR WAR

Yerevan, June 23. ArmInfo. "Azerbaijan has lost hope for
international mechanisms of the conflict settlement", President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in the ceremony of graduates of students
of the Higher Military College after Heidar Aliyev.

As the "Day.Az" informs, I. Aliyev noted the "non-constructive
position of Armenia, which hinders from progress achievement in the
negotiation process for the Karabakh conflict settlement" and
emphasized that the "UN Security Council, the Council of Europe, ECO
and OIC adopted corresponding resolutions on the necessity of
liberation of the occupied Azerbaijan territories". "But Armenia does
not take any international document into consideration". That’s why
Azerbaijan has lost hope for the international mechanisms of the
problem solution", Aliyev said.

"In such a situation Azerbaijan has to introduce corrections in its
foreign policy", Aliyev said. He informed that the country will
receive $140 bln within the nearest 20 years from realization of oil
projects. "Taking into account that the Karabakh problem is of first
priority for us, these means will be used to strengthen the Army in
order to return our lands any time", Aliyev said, having added that
"Azerbaijan will recover its territorial integrity without fail,
either in a peaceful or in a military way".

GOLD ORE TO BE EXTRACTED GROM TUKHMANUK MINE THIS YEAR

YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. This year the company Global Gold
Mining (GGM) intends to extract the first 75 thousand tons of ore from
Tukhmanuk mine (Aragatsotn marz). Director of the company’s Armenian
subsidiary Ashot Poghosian told reporters on June 23 that GGM received
this right last year after becoming the main shareholder of Mego Gold,
a company that operated the mine previously. According to him, 200
jobs will be created thanks to the mine’s opeartion. It was noted
that the confirmed reserves of Tukhmanuk mine’s ore currently make
1.5 mln tons. It is envisaged to obtain 6 grams of gold from a ton
of ore. A.Poghosian said that GGM is now operating at a loss, since
only exploration work is being done. Only after its completion it
will be possible to make a profit.

TIGRAN TOROSIAN IS CONTENT WITH IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS OF AREMENIA’S COMMITMENTS TO COUNCIL OF EUROPE
By Nana Petrosian

AZG Armenian Daily
23/06/2006

Tigran Torosian, Speaker of RA National Assembly, expressed
satisfaction with Armenia’s implementation of commitments to Council
of Europe, in the course of today’s press conference. In June 2007,
the issue of bringing in line the Armenian legislation with the
constitutional amendments will be discussed in the course of the
winter session of the PACE. He said that the report on Armenia’s
implementation of commitments to CE will be included in the PACE agenda
in October 2007. Besides, according to him, 4-5 important reports on
Armenia and NKR will be discussed at PACE. As for the activities of
the Armenian delegations at the international parliamentary instances,
Torosian touched upon the resignation of Mher Shahgeldian from the post
of head of the Armenian delegation to NATO PA. He said that in early
June he suggested Shahgeldian to continue his activities at NATO PA.

But, yesterday he learnt from the newspapers about his decision to
resign. He admitted that the withdrawal of "Orinats Yerkir" party to
opposition might make Shahgeldian’s activities more complicated. At
the same time, Torosian said that it’s quite groundless to state that
his refusal to send him to USA to the sitting of one of the NATO PA
commissions. Torosian said that he merely wanted to send to "Rose Roth"
NATO seminar in Sochi, where the Nagorno Karabakh conflict was to be
discussed. Shahgeldian came and stated about his resignation from
his post and refused to go to Sochi, the day before the seminar,"
Torosian said.

Besides, he said that the issue of stopping the plenipotentiaries
of the Azeri delegation to PACE will be discussed in the course of
the June session of PACE. He stated that simultaneously with PACE
June session, the sitting of the PACE Special Commission on Nagorno
Karabakh will be held. He said that it is envisaged that suggestion
of Lord Russell Johnston will be discussed during the session. Lord
Johnston suggested organizing the meeting of the commission members
to the region. Torosian also said that PACE Bureau decided to change
the format of the special commission. According to the given decision,
two members each will represent the Armenian and the Azeri delegations
to PACE in the commission. The monitoring reporters for both countries
will also be included in the commission. As for the scandal that
happened during the visit of Garegin II, Catholicos of All Armenians,
to Turkey, revealed the true face of the Turkish people, as Turkey
is far from European values and culture. He emphasized that Turkish
PM Erdoghan should hold speech at CE PACE on issues of freedom of
belief in the course of the coming session. "I wonder, what he will
say and how he will explain the incident that happened during the
visit of the Catholicos," he said. At the same time, Torosian added
that he knows how the Turkish people can get rid of the complexes
they suffer of. He said that the Turks should only reconsider their
positions in many issues, including the issue of the Armenian Genocide.

As for the accusations of Vahid Erzem, member of the Turkish delegation
to NATO PA, who said that during his recent visit to Armenia he was
given neither a car, nor guards, Torosian said that only high ranked
guests are provided with car and guards in Armenia.

HEAD OF ARMENIAN CHURCH IN ISTANBUL

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
June 21 2006

The visit is just the third in nearly 50 years by a head of the
Armenian church to Turkey.

Guncelleme: 11:07 TSÝ 21 Haziran 2006 Carþamba ISTANBUL – The Supreme
Hierarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Garegin II,
arrived in Istanbul late Tuesday at the start of a week long visit
to Turkey, just the third ministerial visit of Turkey by the head of
the Armenian Church in the past 45 years.

Garegin II is in Turkey at the invitation of Armenian Patriarch
Meerop Mutaffian and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, Bartholomew I,
with whom he will be holding talks on inter church relations.

During his stay, Garegin II will officiate at a service at the
Armenian Cathedral of the Virgin Mary in the Istanbul district of
Kumkapi and conduct a blessing for Turkey’s Armenian community. He
is also expected to meet with the governor of the province of Istanbul.

–Boundary_(ID_ADnt1WGGLantTWfvg54kGA)- –

"THERE ARE NO SUPPOSITIONS, THERE IS PROFESSIONAL WORK"
Aram Zakaryan

Lragir.am
19 June 06

Part of Armenians officials, which is closer to the whole, certainly
have not read the Bible. One of these officials is Armen Smbatyan,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Russia.

The crash of the Armenian A320 took the lives of 113 people and
aroused a lot of questions and suspicions, which are increasing
daily. Even now when the deciphering of the black boxes of the plane
is almost over. Officials, including Armen Smbatyan, kindle such
suspicions. In an interview with the Public Radio Armen Smbatyan said
"there are no suppositions, there is professional work" in answer
to the question "how is the deciphering going on, and what versions
are there?" Armen Smbatyan appears to have lost the ability to judge
logically due to hastiness. In their first year of studies students
of law are taught that investigation is for confirming one out of
many suppositions. Generally, every study is intended to find the
most reliable version. If there is professional work, there must
be suggestions, then the most probable one is chosen. They say a
diplomat’s tongue is for concealing his thoughts. Armen Smbatyan’s
tongue fails: either he is not a diplomat or he is fulfilling someone’s
instructions very badly.

If Ambassador Armen Smbatyan represents Armenia with similar
"professionalism" on different levels and spheres of relations with
Russia, it is painfully clear why, to put it mildly, they persecute
Armenians in Russia, and the relations with Armenia do not go
beyond those with a "fort." But in that case it is not clear what
Armen Smbatyan is busy doing in Moscow with the title "Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary." In civilized countries, even in
those countries where constructive dissent is awarded, the career of
an ambassador, who damages his country’s reputation, is cut suddenly
and forever. In fact, Armenia is not a civilized country in this
respect either.

FM GUL ANTICIPATES OIC SUPPORT FOR TURKISH CYPRUS
By Cihan News Agency

Zaman, Turkey
June 19 2006

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has anticipated that the
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the body representing the
world’s Muslim countries, will endorse Turkey’s solution proposal
regarding the Cyprus problem.

Gul, who arrived in Baku on Monday to attend the OIC 33rd meeting of
foreign ministers, said that it was important to discuss the Cyprus
problem at the OIC meeting. "We have prepared a solution project. I
hope it will be accepted by the participating countries."

The content of the proposal is not known but the Turkish proposal is
expected to call on OIC members countries to open direct trade with
Turkish Cyprus, which remains under international sanctions.

At a 2004 meeting of the OIC foreign ministers, member countries had
reached an agreement to improve ties with the Turkish Cypriots after
they had voted in favor of the UN-sponsored peace plan in April of
that year.

Minister Gul came together with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
on Monday on the sidelines of the meeting.

Regarding the Armenian occupation of the Azerbaijani lands of Upper
Karabag, Gul said that the OIC supports the Azerbaijani position.

"Occupied Azerbaijan lands should be returned to their Azerbaijani
owners."

Gul is expected to come together with Iranian counterpart Manucohr
Muttaki later today.

The 33rd foreign ministers meeting of the Organization of Islamic
Conference kicked off in the Azeri capital Baku on Monday.

The foreign ministers of 57 member countries, including Turkish Cyprus,
will take up regional problems including Israel-Palestine, Iraq and
Sudan and will discuss the reconstruction of the organization for
the coming ten years.

For further information please visit

A1+

"THE EU CANNOT ACCEPT TURKEY"
[05:08 pm] 16 June, 2006

During the session the deputies used their right of
briefings for the last time.The factions of the United
Labor Party, the Orinats Yerkir Party and the People’s
Deputy obviously had nothing to tell the journalsits
as they were absent from the briefings.

Hrayr Karapetyan, the head of the ARF faction,
referred to the recent announcements about the
necessity of the cessation of the negotiations of the
membership of Turkey in the UN and said that the
diplomatic relations of Turkey and Armenia must not be
conditioned by the relations with a third country; and
that’s what Turkey does every time the relations
between the two countries are referred to.

According to Artashes Geghamyan, the head of the
National Unity, Europe cannot accept the membership of
Turkey. He reminded that the inflation rate exceeded
the established threshold in Lithuania by 0.1% only
and the EU does not allow Lithuania to enter the EURO
zone. "Taking into account the present situation when
the EU has not come to its senses yet after the
membership of Romania and Bulgaria, all the other
conversations are a waste of time".

By the way, Mr. Geghamyan found the decision of the US
Senate about not supporting the construction of the
railway Kars-Akhalqalaq-Tbilisi-Baku extremely
important. He said that it can contribute to the
regulation of the relations between Armenia and
Turkey.

Head of the Justice faction Stepan Demirchyan said
that we must have friendly relations with our
neighbors but never at the expense of our national
dignity.

The deputies also referred to the xenophobic
sentiments in Russia and the cases of murder of
Armenians. Stepan Demirchyan announced that we must
not stand the situation and that the RA authorities
must raise the issue.

According to Artashes Geghamyan, they would have done
it long ago if it weren’t for the statistic data
brought by the Russian authorities – 2396 people have
committed suicide in Armenia for the last five years.
Who is guilty for it? "And if the murder of three
Armenians for the last month gives us a chance to say
that Russia is not our friend, then we can note that
the authorities of our own country are our enemies",
Artashes Geghamyan said.

The deputies were also worried about the exchange rate
of the Armenian dram. "The dollar inflation is
definitely artificial: how come the fuel becomes more
expensive and the dollar becomes cheaper?" Hrayr
Karapetyan announced. And Stepan Demirchyan announced
that the dollar inflation contributes to the enhancing
of poverty and not vice versa, as some claim.

Nelly Karapetyan and Dora Osipova awarded NKR Honoured Doctor

ArmRadio.am
17.06.2006 12:40

June 17 NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan signed a decree, according
to which Nelly Karapetyan and Dora Osipova were awarded the title of
Honored Doctor of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic for their considerable
contribution to the healthcare development.