Author: Torgomian Varazdat

PRESS-SECRETARY OF ARMENIAN PRESIDENT QUALIFIES TURKISH LAWYER’S ACCUSATIONS AS NONSENSE

AZG Armenian Daily
07/03/2007

Viktor Soghomonyan, the press-secretary of the Armenian President,
qualified Turkish lawyer Kamal Kerincsiz’s initiative as nonsense. The
Turkish lawyer tries to accuse the Armenian President of the "Khojaly
genocide".

"That’s nonsense", V.Soghomonyan gave a short answer to an ArmInfo
correspondent, commenting upon Kamal Kerincsiz’s initiative. The Azeri
APA news agency reports that the K.Kerincsiz, the leader of the Turkish
Lawyers’ Union, has already appealed to some unknown judicial structure
"Roman International Criminal Court". According to the source, the
lawyer states that he has all the necessary proof for accusing the
Armenian President and 78 terrorists of the massacre. At the same time,
K.Kerincsiz expressed confidence that the Turkish court will render a
favorable decision. But if Turkish courts fail to render a decision in
favor of Azeri Turks for some political reasons, the Lawyer’ Union will
raise this issue in the International Criminal Court, K.Kerincsiz said.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

REQIU EM SERVICE IN MEMORY OF SLAIN ARMENIAN JOURNALIST HRANT DINK

ANTELIAS, Lebanon – The 40-day anniversary of Armenian journalist and editor
of the Istanbul-based "Agos" bilingual newspaper, Hrant Dink’s martyrdom was
commemorated by a requiem service in Antelias on March 4. Government
officials, representatives of political parties and a large number of
believers attended the service, which was followed by a commemoration event
in the "Cilicia" museum of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.

Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon, Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, chaired the
event on behalf of His Holiness Aram I. The event brought together several
guests including the chairman of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical
Churches in the Near East, Reverend Soghomon Kilaghbian, Members of
Parliament Hagop Pakradouni and Farid Khazen, secretary of the Press
Syndicate, Fouad Daaboul, representatives from the three Armenian political
parties, cultural, educational and charity organizations, the mayor of
Bourdj Hammoud, Antranig Meserlian, and a large number of believers.

Following the Lebanese National Anthem, the attendants observed a minute of
silence as a tribute to the memory of the journalist assassinated in
Istanbul in January.

Loutfig Ayvazian delivered the opening remarks, after which Member of
Parliament and a lecturer in Political Science at the American University of
Beirut, Farid Khazen, pointed out that heroes do not depart by people’s
tears, but by their claps and greetings.

Khazen considered Dink to be a martyr of justice and freedom, expressing
support for the idea the journalist defended in his lifetime. He assured
that the incident was not simply a murder, but Genocide.

Fouad Daaboul, the Secretary of the Press Syndicate and editor of the
"Anwar" newspaper pointed out that Dink’s assassination comes at a time
when Turkey wants to join the European Union. As such, through his death
Dink sent a message to Europe and the whole world that the membership of a
country like Turkey in the European Union is not possible.

Speaking about the Armenian nation’s resilience, Daaboul said that despite
all the difficulties and torture they faced, Armenians had successfully
preserved their identity and their cause, a fact for which Hrant Dink
vouched for.

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View the photo here: #3
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

ARMENIAN NGO TO MONITOR MAY PARLIAMENT ELECTION

Mediamax news agency
6 Mar 07

Yerevan, 6 March: The Choice is Yours NGO, which will send its
observers to all the polling stations during the parliamentary election
of 12 May, "does not have political goals".

NGO head Harutyun Hambardzumyan said this in the Friday press club
today. He recalled that the observers have no right to dispute
registered violations in court. "We do not have political goals,
we will be just publishing registered violations, and it is up to
political parties to struggle for their votes," Hambardzumyan said.

The Choice is Yours will prepare video materials which will inform
the people that all the unlawful actions during the election are
punishable under the Criminal Code.

The observation mission of The Choice is Yours organization is realized
with the financial assistance of the US Agency for International
Development (USAID).

MINISTRY OF CULTURE SHOULD CONTROL TV BROADCASTS, RUBEN HAKHVERDIAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 06 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, NOYAN TAPAN. "Today many things are distorted, as
any kind of mediocrities enter into television and TV air is filled
with Turkish and Arab melodies, idiotic humor broadcasts," composer
of songs Ruben Hakhverdian stated at the March 6 meeting held at the
Hayeli (Mirror) club.

In his words, television should propagandize only Armenian and
non-distorted culture. R. Hakhverdian considers that RA Ministry
of Culture and Youth Affairs should undertake measures and control
TV broadcasts, as such tasteless broadcasts have especially great
influence on under-aged, 10-14-year-old children. "Songs play a great
role in the issue of preservation of Armenian language and Armenian
nation, but first of all singers "make dirty" the language by bleating
songs in unintelligible Armenian, which is not characteristic of
Armenian. I think a Frenchman will never permit himself such a thing,
as he respects his language," R. Hakhverdian said adding that "if we
lose our language, we will lose our culture." In the words of singer
Shushan Petrosian, the majority of her colleagues does not have their
own image and tries to be like another one, from which, in her words,
first of all art suffers. As S. Petrosian affirmed, we should return
to our national sources and preserve the values we had got before.

PRESS RELEASE
The National Citizens’ Initiative
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 27.16.00, 27.00.03
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected]
Website:

March 6, 2007

NCI Tackles the Issue of Political Prisoners

Yerevan–Today the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI), together with the
parliamentary group that is investigating the true motives behind the recent
arrests of Colonels Zhirair Sefilian and Vardan Malkhasian, devoted
volunteers of the national quest for liberty and self-defense, convened a
roundtable to examine the real reasons for these arrests. The meeting
brought together social and political activists, human rights advocates, NGO
officials, MPs, and media representatives.

NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian welcomed the audience with opening
remarks. "The widespread corruption, permissiveness, and
arbitrariness–demonstrated by the very public seizure of Sefilian and
Malkhasian nearly three months ago–by the ruling clique are growing worse.
What is more, in the run-up to the parliamentary elections they are becoming
more apparent," he said.

In his intervention, Aram G. Sargsian, member of the investigative group of
parliament, briefly presented its preliminary findings. He explained the
formation of the parliamentary group by stating that the arrests of these
freedom fighters are more political than criminal in context. He also added
that such unlawful actions must be prevented in concert with the body
politic. "Instead of the real criminals, they are apprehending national
heroes," Sargsian maintained.

Defense attorney Vahe Grigorian pointed to the absence of any legal
justification for keeping Sefilian and Malkhasian in custody. "All matters
have been cleared up and therefore it is absurd that they are still
incarcerated," he asserted. In Grigorian’s words, his client Zhirair
Sefilian is refusing to provide testimony to the investigators because he is
convinced that they are mere lackeys and blindly carry out the political
instructions given from "above."

MP Hmayak Hovhannisian reflected on the Armenian version of Article 301,
which clearly curtails the freedom of speech in the country. He recommended
that this provision be removed from the Criminal Code.

The next speaker, Armen Aghayan of the "Defense of Liberated Territories"
public initiative, spoke about the political motives behind the criminal
persecutions unleashed against Sefilian and Malkhasian. Aghayan also
presented a pamphlet containing Zhirair Sefilian’s responses given to the
questions posed to him by the parliamentarians. In the pamphlet, Sefilian
stipulates in particular that if calling for a change in government is a
crime then at least half of Armenia’s population should be put on trial.

The remainder of the session was dedicated to exchanges of views and
recommendations among the public figures and policy specialists in
attendance. Noteworthy were interventions by Armenia’s first Ombudswoman
Larisa Alaverdian; Academician Lenser Aghalovian; MPs Gagik Kostandian,
Albert Bazeyan, Stepan Zakarian, and Hrant Khachatrian; publicist Hrair
Ulubabian; Arsen Kharatian of the "Scientific Development" NGO; former MP
Khachik Stamboltsian; Sefilian’s long-time friend Garegin Ghazarian; and
several others.

In his closing remarks, Hovsep Khurshudian underlined that "not only
Sefilian and Malkhasian, but all of society is in need of liberation.
Sefilian is not giving testimony, but instead the public resonance, one
example of which is today’s roundtable, is speaking in his favor."

The National Citizens’ Initiative is a public non-profit association founded
in December 2001 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian, his colleagues, and fellow citizens with the purpose of
realizing the rule of law and overall improvements in the state of the
state, society, and public institutions. The National Citizens’ Initiative
is guided by a Coordinating Council, which includes individual citizens and
representatives of various public, scientific, and educational
establishments. Five commissions on Law and State Administration,
Socioeconomic Issues, Foreign Policy, Spiritual and Cultural Challenges, and
the Youth constitute the vehicles for the Initiative’s work and outreach.
For further information, please call (37410) 27-16-00 or 27-00-03; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected]; or visit

PRESS RELEASE
The Heritage Party
31 Moscovian Street
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 53.69.13, 53.26.97
Fax: (+374 – 10) 53.26.97
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Website:

March 5, 2007

HERITAGE ISSUES ELECTION DECISION AND RESOLUTION

Yerevan–On March 2, 2007, the Heritage Party Council issued its decision
and resolution on the upcoming parliamentary elections.

DECISION OF THE HERITAGE PARTY’S COUNCIL ON PARTICIPATION IN
THE ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF MAY 12, 2007

In accordance with Section 4.10 of the Charter of the Heritage Party, in
pursuit of the national imperative to effect a democratic transformation in
our country, and in recognition of our duties and responsibilities for
securing a dignified life for all Armenian citizens, Heritage’s Council
decides:

1) To take part in the May 12, 2007 parliamentary elections in the
proportional format; and

2) To approve the election list of parliamentary candidates as introduced by
the Executive Board.

Raffi K. Hovannisian
Chairman, Heritage Party Council
March 2, 2007
Yerevan

RESOLUTION

The Republic of Armenia, which regained its independence in 1991, stands now
before a historic decision–between becoming the cradle for citizen and
citizenship and continuing to bear the widespread unlawfulness and
unproductive governance of recent years, which threaten to turn Armenia into
a hopeless territory. The choice is ours to make, and the right choice will
usher our state into a new era of pride and prosperity in which:

— The citizen is the value supreme and the cornerstone of the
country.
— Statehood is the guarantee for civil and national perpetuity,
and the government, with its separate branches, is the constitutionally
affirmed trustee of the people.
— The parliament is the reflection of the political unity of all
citizens and, as it is justly formed by the will of the people and functions
openly and accountably, enjoys the legitimacy of public trust.
— The media, free from censorship and any form of coercion, are an
independent estate of societal oversight.

In such an Armenia, the state is intertwined with the citizen and the
citizen with the state. Free nations shall consider ours an equal,
sovereign, respected, and secure land.

Our creed comprises:

— The interest of the nation;
— The rule of law; and
— The country of the citizen.

Recognizing the difficulties placed against the achievement of that goal,
nonetheless distinguishing the shape of such an Armenia on the horizon, and
endorsed by the power of law and our common resolve, we, the Heritage Party
candidates who are herewith nominated through the proportional format, agree
that to ensure a broad public involvement and to guarantee that every
citizen is the master of the country, it is indispensable:

— to take our message everywhere and to everyone, and to enlist
among our ranks the disappointed and the content, the alienated and the
integrated, the segregated and the self-segregated;
— to awaken the people’s confidence in their own power and Armenia’s
future;
— to fight for the execution of fair elections, a joint battle
against fear, lawlessness and permissiveness, disaffection and apathy;
— to create, in order to secure democratic due processes and
specifically to hold a poll that every citizen deserves, a sound and
participatory environment and, obviating the application of intimidation and
threat, to guarantee conditions that will define free and fair elections;
and
— to respect one another, to believe in our individual relevance
and collective success, and to become the masters of our Homeland–the land
of our dreams and our liberty.

We are determined to gain victory at the parliamentary elections and,
together with other democratic forces in the country, to form a national
government which earns the people’s trust and moves to launch systemic
changes in the current year.

We shall build a nation united and free, starting today and standing
together. In the name of Faith and Fatherland.

March 2, 2007
Yerevan

PanARMENIAN.Net

CSTO Sec. Gen. warns U.S. not to use force towards Iran
02.03.2007 15:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization)
Secretary General Niklolay Bordyuzha warned the United States not to
use force towards Iran. He said, U. S. military strikes will not be
able to stop nuclear programs, but will become one more step towards
destabilizing the Central Asian region.

`Strikes on Iran will not have an influence on his nuclear
programs. It is easy to give an order to strike, but it is very
difficult to reach peace after it. The most vivid example for it is
Afghanistan,’ Nikolay Bordyuzha stated, RFE RL reports.

AUA ACCREDITED BY US WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF SCOOLS AND COLLEGES

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The American University of Armenia
(AUA) has received education accreditation of the US Western
Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The AUA President Harutyun
Armenian said at the March 2 press conference that they started the
accreditaion process 7 years ago, and it was done in three stages:
receiving a correspondence status, then a candidate status, and
finally – being granted the accreditation. In H. Armenian’s words,
this is an unprecedented event: it is for the first time that the WASC
grants this status to a university outside the US and especially for a
7 year period. WASC accreditation is usually granted for 3
years. H. Armenian attributed this exception to high-level education
provided by the AUA. "The accreditaion process was a period of
self-examination and self-analysis for us, which has had a positive
impact on the university’s functioning," he underlined. He added that
this achievement has created new challenges for the AUA.

Congratulating the university staff, the RA Minister of Education and
Science Levon Mkrtchian noted the importance of the AUA’s accreditaion
for further activities of the country’s higher educational system. He
expressed confidence that state and non-state higher educational
institutions of Armenia must undergo accreditaion – "they should have
the courage to pass these stages of self-analysis and self-examination."

According to him, this is necessary for improving the educaional level
and occupying one’s own place in internation educational system.

March 2, 2007

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] <mailto:[email protected]>
Website: <;

PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER MASS AT HOLY MARTYRS CHURCH

Sunday, March 4, 2007, is the third Sunday of Lent and the Sunday of the
Prodigal Son. On this occasion, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, will preside over Mass at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino and deliver
the sermon.

PRELATE PRESIDES OVER MORNING SERVICE AND PRELACY LADIES AUXILIARY LENTEN
LUNCH AT ST. MARY’S CHURCH

On Wednesday, February 28th, the Prelate conducted morning services and
delivered his sermon at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale. Very Rev. Fr. Muron
Aznikian also participated in the service.

Following church services, the annual traditional Lenten lunch
of the Prelacy Ladies Auxiliary took place at the church hall under the
auspices of the Prelate. In his remarks, the Prelate conveyed his blessings
and commended the hard work of the Ladies Auxiliary members while H.E.
Archbishop Suren Kataroyan explained the meaning behind the Sundays of Lent.
An artistic program also took place.

On the same morning, Archbishop Kataroyan conducted services at
St. Garabed Church in Hollywood, with the participation of Very Rev. Fr.
Barthev Gulumian. Present were students from Rose & Alex Pilibos high school

On Wednesday, March 7th, Archbishop Mardirossian will preside
over services at St. Sarkis Church in Pasadena.

ANNUAL BANQUET OF ST. SARKIS CHURCH

On Friday, March 2nd, the annual banquet of St. Sarkis Church of
Pasadena is scheduled to take place under the auspices of the Prelate. The
banquet is organized by the parish Pastor, Board of Trustees, and Ladies
Association, and hosted by Mr. & Mrs. Zohrab and Liza Manoogian

The Prelate will preside over the event and convey his blessings and best
wishes.

PRELATE TO CONVEY HIS BLESSINGS TO THE HAMAZKAYIN REGIONAL EXECUTIVE MEETING

The representatives meeting of Hamazkayin Regional Executive is scheduled to
convene on the evening of Friday, March 2nd, and conclude on Saturday, March
3rd, at the hall of A.R.S. Regional Executive in Glendale.

The Prelate will attend the opening ceremony and convey his blessings to the
participants.

PRELATE REPRESENTED AT THE LARK CONCERT

The LARK musical society, in collaboration with the Armenian Missionary
Association of America, has organized a concert for Saturday, March 3rd, at
Glendale Presbyterian Church in Glendale.

Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian will represent the Prelate.

PRELATE TO ATTEND USC INSTITUTE OF ARMENIAN STUDIES BANQUET HONORING
AMBASSADOR EVANS

The second annual banquet of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies is
scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 4th, at the Beverly Hills Hilton
Hotel. The banquet is taking place in honor of Ambassador John Evans.

The Prelate will attend and convey his blessings.

PRELATE REPRESENTED AT THE

HAMAZKAYIN ANNUAL PERFORMANCE

On Sunday, March 4th, the annual performance of the Hazmakayin "Ani" dance
company will take place at Glendale High School.

Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian will represent the Prelate.

TURKISH MPS TO LOBBY AGAINST ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL IN USA

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
March 1 2007

Ankara, 1 March: Turkish lawmakers Aziz Akgul and Egemen Bagis will
send brochures and letters that contain information and documents
related to so-called Armenian genocide, to members of US House of
Representatives and US Congress.

Referring to Turkish historian Yilmaz Oztuna’s assessments saying
"there were reciprocal clashes between Turks and Armenians in 1915"
quoted from Turkish ideologue Ziya Gokalp, Akgul told a joint press
conference today that unfortunately both Turks and Armenians were
killed during those clashes.

"In these brochures, to be sent to US congressmen, we will reveal by
the help of documents and evidences provided by Turkish History Society
that a genocide against Armenians has never happened," said Akgul.

Akgul said US congressmen have not got enough information related to
this issue, noting that congressmen were misinformed and influenced
by some certain institutions.

Another Turkish lawmaker Egemen Bagis said the brochure was printed
in five languages.

"Its cover letter says the bill on so-called Armenian genocide is
full of historical mistakes. It also reminds Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks saying (I am ready to face my history but
Armenia should be ready to face its history too)," Bagis said.

Recalling that 10-12 million Muslim people live in the USA most of
whom are black Muslims, Bagis said W.D. Muhammed, one of the leaders
of them, will be in Turkey from March 6th to 9th.

"He may have impact on lobbying activities in the USA regarding
so-called Armenian genocide claims," he said.

Bagis also noted that a second delegation of Turkish lawmakers will
travel to USA on March 11th to attend a meeting of the American
Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which is the biggest Jewish
organization in the USA.