Author: Tavakalian Edgar

EVENT ON SELF-PROCLAIMED REPUBLIC’S ANNIVERSARY HELD IN US CONGRESS

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Oct 6 2005

An event dedicated to the 14th ‘anniversary’ of the self-proclaimed
Upper Garabagh republic was held at the US House of Representatives
building in Washington last Wednesday, Radio Liberty reported.

Pro-Armenian Congressmen spoke at the meeting attended by Vice-speaker
of the British House of Lords, Baroness Caroline Cox.

Commenting on the matter, a source from the US embassy in Baku said
that the United States supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity
and does not recognize the self-proclaimed republic.

The Azeri Foreign Ministry said that the event does not reflect the
official position of the USA. Deputy foreign minister Khalaf Khalafov
said that the meeting took place in the Congress premises leased by
pro-Armenian Congressmen. “However, the ministry negatively assesses
the event and considers it an attempt of propaganda and assistance
to separatism.”

TENSION IN SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI INCREASES

Pan Armenian
06.10.2005 10:30

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Representatives of Tax Service arrived in Akhalkalaki
region of Samtskhe-Javakheti region from Tbilisi. By a decision of
Service representatives some ten shops were closed. Today some 300
citizens gathered in front of the building of Regional Prefecture to
voice protest against the Georgian authorities’ decision. In response
Akhalkalaki gendarmerie soldiers starting dispersing those gathered,
beating them with rubber batons. The gendarmes also fired in the air
with submachine-guns. Several peoples suffered from the beating and
were taken to hospital. Citizens and residents of neighboring villages
are now gathering in the city center. The situation is tense in the
city. Javakheti NGO leaders are sure that the mass closure of shops
owned by Armenians and the cruel dispersal of the peace rally are an
attempt by Georgian authorities to put pressure upon Javakheti after
the Javakheti NGO Council urging Georgian authorities on September 24,
2005 to provide status of autonomous federal subject of Georgia to
Samtskhe-Javakheti region mostly populated by Armenians. Aggressive
actions of Georgian authorities do not leave other choice to Armenian
population of the region, but using force to defend their rights,
leaders of Javakheti NGOs suppose, reported Javakhk.Info.

$4 MILLION FOR AVERTING AIDS
By Gohar Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily #179
06/10/2005

Healthcare

The press release of World Vision Armenia informed that the “Global
Foundation” against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria allocated $4 million
to Armenia for the AIDS prevention program. This is the second part of
the grant received in 2003. The first part amounted to $3,2 million and
expired in 2005. The financial agreement of the second stage is signed
by Valery Chernyawski, manager of the Latin America and Eastern Europe
portfolio, and David Thomson, national head of World Vision Armenia.

“HUSHAMATEAN” BOOK DEDICATED TO 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE SUMMER COURSES IN VENICE

Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 5 2005

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The book
“Hushamatean” (Book of Memories) is dedicated to the 20th anniversary
of the Summer Intensive Courses of Armenian Language and Literature
of the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. The Yerevan presentation of
the book took place on October 4, at the Writers’ Union of Armenia.

The 20th anniversary of the courses was receintly marked in Venice
with a great celebration with the participation of guests arrived
from Italy, France, England, Germany, Australia and Armenia.

The summer courses have been held at the Ca’ Foskari University of
Venice on the initiative of Father Levon Zekiyan, the Director of
the Armenian Language and Literature Department of the University
Ca’ Foskari, since 1986. Not only Armenians but foreigners, either,
who today works at the Armenian Studies Departments of different
Universities, participate in those courses. 774 people participated
in the courses till now.

Levon Ananian, the Chairman of the Writers’ Union of Armenia
mentioned that those courses are of important meaning for Armenian
traditions. “Today the education field of Diaspora is before danger.

Closing of Moorat-Rafael College of Venice and Melkonian College of
Cyprus already speaks on the fact that the national school in Diaspora
retreats. We should make every effort to keep Armenian schools of
Diaspora otherwise in some years there will be almost no Armenian
schools in Diaspora,” the Chairman of the Writers’ Union mentioned.

L.Ananian emphasized that they should show honour to father Levon
Zekiyan for the work carried out and the activity beneficial for the
nation as the summer school doesn’t only give knowledge of Armenian
language but has a mission of securing Armenian culture and national
originality as well.

“We are proud that 4-5mln Armenians live in different countries of the
world but we shouldn’t forget that only 10% of them speaks Armenian,”
Vladimir Barkhudarian, the RA NAS Academician mentioned.

According to him, courses dedicated to problems of keeping Armenian
traditions should be held not only in Venice but in Armenia as well
for children living in communities of Diaspora like the Fatherland
coming to Armenia, remain Armenians and know the native tongue.

ARMENIA TO HAVE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM REFERENDUM ON NOV 27
By Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
October 4, 2005 Tuesday 3:50 PM Eastern Time

Armenia will have a referendum on constitutional amendments on
November 27.

The parliament passed the draft on a constitutional reform in the
third reading on September 28. The existent constitution has been
in effect since July 1995, and amendments result from the Armenian
commitments to the Council of Europe. They will balance powers of
legislative and executive authorities.

European experts have approved the draft.

The amendments will lift the ban on double naturalization, which is
important for more than 5 million Armenians residing abroad.

The constitutional reform is very important for the European
integration of Armenia, President Robert Kocharian said.

Constitutional amendments have once been put on a referendum. The
referendum was held simultaneously with parliamentary elections in
May 2003 but did not gain support of voters.

ANDRANIK MARGARYAN RECEIVED UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR TO RA

A1+
| 15:12:34 | 04-10-2005 | Official |

Today Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan met with newly appointed Ukrainian
Ambassador to Armenia Alexander Bozhko.

Having congratulated the diplomat with appointment to the office
for a second time, A. Margaryan said he hoped for the Ambassador to
promote Armenian-Ukrainian relations further. Mr. Bozhko informed
the Armenian PM on latest developments in the political and economic
life of Ukraine. The situation in the region is stable at present,
a new Government is formed, headed by an experienced PM, relations
in the international arena are also being regulated, he emphasized.

Noting the importance of further strengthening of political and
diplomatic relations between the two countries that have chosen
the way of European integration, the interlocutors discussed the
current state and prospects of development of bilateral trade and
economic relations. They specifically highlighted cooperation within
international organizations. The economic potential of Armenia and
Ukraine is underused in goods turnover between the two countries, the
interlocutors noted. The parties expressed confidence that the previous
sessions of the Armenian-Ukrainian Inter-Governmental Commission for
Trade and Economic Affairs, as well as a range of agreements signed
between the parties would encourage bilateral economic relations.

A. Margaryan and A. Bozhko agreed to speed up the holding of the
Commission fourth session upon the appointment of its new Ukrainian
co-chair to deal with accumulated matters more efficiently.

Pan Armenian News

MARGARYAN APPRECIATED JOINT WORK OF UNION OF ARMENIANS OF RUSSIA

30.09.2005 07:41

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian PM Andarnik Margaryan met with Chairman of
the World Armenian Congress and Union of Armenians of Russia Ara Abrahamyan
and the delegation headed by him, reported the Press Service of the
Government of Armenia. The delegates told A. Margaryan about the goal of
their visit to Armenia, events being held within the visit framework. They
also touched upon the outcomes of the UAR 5-year activities, works done and
future programs. The guests also discussed some proposals over future
programs with the Armenian PM. Margaryan appreciated the UAR joint work in
implementing programs of all-Armenian significance. These should serve as an
example for Armenian communities in other countries, the Armenian PM stated.

Pan Armenian News

ARMENIANS OF EUROPE TO RALLY IN LUXEMBOURG ON DAY EU-TURKEY TALKS START

01.10.2005 03:26

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ October 3 some 3000 Armenians of Europe will hold a rally
in Luxembourg, where the official opening of the talks on Turkey’s accession
to the EU is scheduled on that day. Armenians from France, Belgium, Holland,
Germany, Italy, Cyprus and Greece will arrive in Luxembourg for the event.
As noted by Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Western Europe
Murad Papazyan, «thousands of Armenians should join the rally to confirm the
well-known fact that if talks continue for 10-15 years, during all of these
years we will keep struggling to make Turkey recognize the Armenian
Genocide.» «We come against accession of Turkey to the EU. Turkey has to
recognize the Armenian Genocide, to withdraw troops from Cyprus, to respect
human rights,» he noted. When commenting on the resolution adopted by the
European Parliament that urged Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide
before accession to the EU, Murad Papazyan called it an «important step».
The item was reflected in the resolution owing to efforts of Armenian
organizations of Europe, he added.

Pravda, Russia
Sept 30 2005

Armenian church leader in Turkey urged EU to support Turkish EU bid

The leader of the Armenian church in Turkey urged European leaders to
support Turkey’s bid to join the European Union, saying postponing
Turkish membership would harm regional stability.

Pressure to delay Turkish membership “will be a blow not only to
Turkey and Europe but to reconciliation between East and West,”
Mesrob II wrote in a letter to the 25 EU foreign ministers, who will
hold an emergency meeting Sunday aimed at overcoming Austrian
objections to starting entry talks with Turkey.

Vienna insists that Turkey be offered the option of a lesser
partnership rather than full membership in negotiations. All 25 EU
nations have to agree on a negotiating mandate before talks can begin
with Ankara as scheduled on Monday, reports the AP.
I.L.

ACTION OF GRATITUDE

A1+
| 14:23:37 | 29-09-2005 | Politics |

Today at 18.30 an action will be held next to the European Commission
building in Tbilisi to support the passage of a compulsory condition
for Turkey’s accession to the EU, which lies in Turkey’s recognition
of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

The action will comprise some 100 participants with gratitude words
written in all state languages of the EU member states, as well as
in Georgian and Armenian. Candles will be lit to commemorate the
Genocide victims. To note, the event was initiated by Nor Serund,
the union of Armenians of Georgia.

On behalf of the action participants and Armenians of Georgia a
letter will be handed to head of the EU delegation to Georgia Torben
Holtze. The letter says, in part, “This move once again proved that the
European Union is the bastion of democracy and human rights protection
throughout the globe. The Armenian Genocide is an outrage not only
against the Armenian nation but also against humanity. We think that
the Genocide recognition is of utter importance not only for Armenia,
Armenians but also for the whole world.

Only through condemnation of such crimes we can prevent their
repetition. We welcome the position of the European Union and hope that
it will help Turkey to resign to its past and overcome the complex,
which being conveyed from generation to generation poses problems
between the neighbors.”