Author: Torosian Aram

ALLARD, SYSTEM OF A DOWN GROOVE ON GENOCIDE BILL
By M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News

Rocky Mountain News, CO
April 25 2006

Wayne Allard co-sponsored a symbolic bill on Armenian genocide.

Republican Sen. Wayne Allard and members of the heavy metal band
System of a Down would seem to have little in common.

For starters, Allard has shorter hair and wears ties more often.

While Allard is quiet and conservative, the band is, um, not.

But they share concern over Armenian genocide. And on Wednesday the
band will drop in on Allard to thank him for co-sponsoring symbolic
legislation casting a spotlight on the deaths of an estimated 1.5
million ethnic Armenians under Ottoman Empire rule in the early
20th Century.

The Armenian-American band, known for political lyrics, has made
remembering the Armenian genocide a cause celebre.

Its Web site urges fans worldwide to pressure their representatives
to remember crimes against humanity.

So is the band’s music on Allard’s iPod?

“Sen. Allard does not yet own an iPod,” chief of staff Sean Conway
reports.

Even if he did, it’s doubtful it would be loaded with System of a Down.

Its song list includes “F— the System.” One song, “B.Y.O.B.,”
includes the lyrics “Why don’t presidents fight the war? Why do they
always send the poor?”

And then there are profanity- laced songs like “Cigaro,” which includes
bragging references to various male physical attributes.

“Sen. Allard is aware the band is heavy metal and has strong political
lyrics in their songs, but he admires the band members for their
standing up for what they believe in and for their strong support of
the Armenian Genocide Resolution,” Conway said.

Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Denver, also is among the 26 co-sponsors of the
bill. Salazar spokesman Drew Nannis did not know if band members
planned to visit Salazar’s office.

Band members reportedly plan to meet with numerous members of Congress
as they try to get the bill moved on the congressional agenda.

On Monday night, they were scheduled to join members of the Armenian
National Committee of America and Armenian Youth Federation for a
protest outside the Turkish Embassy.

Today, they are planning to host a congressional screening of the
documentary Screamers, which highlight’s the band’s role in the
Armenian genocide campaign, according to NewAmericaMedia.org.

1,000 JOIN SOAD RALLY URGING TURKEY TO END ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL

Yerkir
25.04.2006 15:18

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Armenian Americans from across the United States
joined today with System Of A Down’s Serj Tankian and John Dolmayan
at a Washington, DC “Rally for Justice,” urging the Turkish Government
to end its worldwide campaign of Armenian Genocide denial.

Organized by the Armenian National Committee of Greater Washington
(ANC-GW) and the Armenian Youth Federation Washington Chapter,
the protest attracted over 1,000 activists to the Turkish Embassy,
as Armenians worldwide marked the 91st anniversary of this crime
against humanity. Among the participants was DC United star player
Alecko Eskandarian, who was MLS Cup Champion and MVP in 2004.

Tankian and Dolmayan are in Washington, DC as part of a three-day
advocacy tour in support of Congressional recognition of the Armenian
Genocide.

Following participation in the rally on Monday, the band members will
be meeting with Members of Congress and the media urging passage
of legislation in the Senate and House that would recognize the
Armenian Genocide. On Tuesday evening, Tankian and Dolmayan will host
a screening of excerpts of “Screamers,” a powerful film by Carla
Garapedian about System of a Down’s international anti-genocide
advocacy efforts.

On Wednesday evening, they will be honored for their vocal pursuit
of justice for the Armenian Genocide at the annual Armenian Genocide
observance on Capitol Hill.

The inter-generational “Rally for Justice” brought together young
and old in their call for the Turkish Government to end its campaign
of Genocide denial. Activists were met by a smaller group of Turkish
and Azerbaijani counter-protesters, who were apparently organized by
the Turkish Embassy staff and its paid lobbyists.

Following the demonstration, attendees walked to the Embassy
of the Republic of Armenia for a short service and wreath-laying
ceremony. Members of local Armenian organizations placed wreaths and
flowers in front of the Khatchkar (stone cross).

The ceremony was led by Ambassador Tatoul Markarian and featured
remarks by Nagorno Karabagh representative Vardan Barseghyan, and
the participation of the Washington Homenetmen Armenian Scouting troop.

ARMENIAN WOMAN SENDING GRANDCHILD TO TURKISH SCHOOL LOOKS TO THE FUTURE
By Selcuk Gultasli, Brussels

Zaman Online, Turkey
April 24 2006

Some Armenians oppose the Armenian Diaspora builds the identity on
Turkish hatred and they try to maintain friendship with Turkey.

Maria Rosa Ayoriyan, an Armenian from Gaziantep registered her
grandchild at Herkul College established by Turkish entrepreneurs in
Buenos Aires last month.

She sent a touching message to both Armenians and Turks, saying:
“What has happened is in the past. We should look ahead and leave the
past in the past. It is not possible to separate Turks from Armenians
and vice versa. We have lived together with Turks for years. We took
brides from Turks and also bestowed our daughters to them. Our cuisine,
conventional proprieties and customs are very similar. We speak the
same language.”

Ayorian says she took her grandchild to the Turkish school despite
the disapproval of some Armenians.

She believes a group of people are trying to separate the two nations
by force, adding that what happened during a time of war should
be forgotten.

In asked why she chose a Turkish school, Ayorian says, “I believe my
grandchild will learn good manners and universal values there.”

Armenians and Turks are two nations of the same land and culture;
only the religion is different.

Her grandfather, Kirkor Nazaryan, was a lawyer in Gaziantep, a
southeastern Turkish city, and she still speaks a little Turkish.

A kindergarten and a primary school are currently operating at Herkul
College founded by the Turkey-Argentina Friendship Foundation.

The school has 95 students and offers education in both English and
Spanish languages.

Mrs. Ayorian is referred to as “Aunt Maria” by school officials. She
calls Turks the “men of honor” and says her father and grandfather
spoke positively about Turks.

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Russian interior minister at counterterrorism exercise in Tajikistan

Channel One TV, Moscow
22 Apr 06

[Presenter] International military exercises have taken place in
southern Tajikistan. Security services personnel from four countries
– Russia, Belarus, Armenia and Tajikistan – rehearsed operations to
eliminate terrorists who, according to the scenario, were planning
to seize a chemicals plant, an aluminium mill and a hydroelectric
station. The four countries’ interior ministers watched the exercises.

The CIS council of interior ministers has been meeting in Dushanbe
for several days. Its agenda included the fight against transnational
organized crime. It was decided that the next international exercises
will be held in Novosibirsk.

[Rashid Nurgaliyev, Russian Federation Minister of Internal Affairs,
captioned] Every terrorist, every terrorist organization should realize
that the CIS countries are a dependable union of the like-minded,
of professionals, that are ready today to stand in defence of the
CIS. They are ready to stand in defence of every state. So we must
be constantly ready for combat, constantly hone our skills and,
most important of all, confidently understand and empathize with
our colleagues.

[Video from screen time 1707:06 shows troops, vehicles, snatch squad,
ministers]

SAAKASHVILI PAYS SHORT-TERM VISIT TO JAVAKHK

AKHALKALAK, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. President of
Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili with his wife Sandra Rulofs paid a short
visit to Javakhk on April 19. According to the “A-Info” agency,
immediatly after arriving in Akhalkalak from Tbilisi by the
helicopter, the President was first of all present at the solemn
ceremony of starting the construction of the Aspindza-Akhalkalak road,
within the framework of the “Millennium Challenge” program. The
President also arrived in the village of Gandza, the region of
Ninotsminda. He presented here gifts to children of the secondary
school after Vahan Terian, restored on his own initiative. After
staying in Gandza for a very short time, the President’s helicopter
left for Ajaria.

From: [email protected]
Subject: Karabakh Is a Milestone Of International Law

KARABAKH IS A MILESTONE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Lragir.am
21 April 06

On April 21 Stepanakert kicked off parliamentary hearings on the topic
`The Karabakh Issue: Prospects of Settlement.’ The parliamentary
delegation of Armenia, headed by MP Armen Rustamyan, Chair of the
Committee of External Relations, arrived in Karabakh.

NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan is not taking part in the hearings. In
response to the question of Member of Parliament Gegham Baghdasaryan
why Arkady Ghukasyan was not participating in the hearing, Chair of
the Committee of External Relations of the National Assembly of NKR
Vahram Atanesyan said the president was at the final conference of the
military exercise. Foreign Minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan’s
schedule was tight, and knowing this, they had not invited him.
Speaker Ashot Ghulyan said parliamentary debates on the Karabakh issue
are becoming more active. The first success in similar debates was
reported in Bishkek. He mentioned that all the political forces have
the same opinion.

Addressing the participants, NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosyan
commended the first parliamentary hearing on the Karabakh issue and
mentioned that the NKR parliament must develop a definite standpoint
on the issue that is directly related to its own future. He emphasized
that the essence of the conflict over Karabakh is that human rights
are not respected. Azerbaijan has constantly attempted to move this
essence to other planes which give rise to conflicts. `If in a
conflict human rights are neglected, it leads to a clash of
interests,’ said the foreign minister. Georgy Petrosyan thinks the
core reason of the present state of things is the following: the
international community, fearing war, refused to recognize the results
of the referendum on the independence of NKR. `It bolstered up the
intention of Azerbaijan to settle an issue of rights through military
means,’ said Georgy Petrosyan. The NKR foreign minister said Karabakh
must blame the international community for such an immoral
approach. It is necessary, for presently proposals are offered at
negotiations which consider the consequences of the war and not
rights, and are restoring the situation to a former status
quo. Instead, guided by their own standards of democracy, the West
should have considered the right of the people of NKR. The West
refuses to recognize the results of the referendum, speaks about a
humanitarian disaster, economic decline in the region, threats of war
voiced by Azerbaijan. As an attempt to overcome this situation, the
foreign minister thinks the mediators should propose the parties to
reassert their commitment to maintaining peace. `At that time it will
become known who uses what arguments,’ he said.

Assessing the present situation, the minister mentioned that Armenia
had to or was forced to become engaged in the talks. The international
community forces Armenia to make concessions, because Azerbaijan is
threatening to wage a war. `The standpoint of Karabakh is clear. We
would not adopt a decision that would contradict to the common will of
people. Every decision must solve all the problems of people who
suffered from the war. Azerbaijan must be recognized as an aggressor,
also against its own people.’ As to the NKR-Armenia relations, the
foreign minister thinks we are two brotherly sovereign states which
can act independently.

In response to Member of Parliament Hmayak Hovanisyan, Georgy
Petrosyan said the president of Armenia informs NKR president Arkady
Ghukasyan about the details of the talks, and for his part, Arkady
Ghukasyan informs the NKR foreign minister. `It does not mean that we
agree to everything, this has an advisory nature,’ said Georgy
Petrosyan. Besides, he also disclosed a secret ` the negotiations are
no longer confidential. `What they are now publishing is true,’ said
Georgy Petrosyan.

CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF OF RA ARMED FORCES SUGGESTS THAT KARABAKH
ARMED FORCES SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN RA – RF MILITARY TRAININGS

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
April 20 2006

“Azerbaijan violates Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE),
according to which such countries as Azerbaijan and Armenia must have
up to 220 tanks, 285 units of field artillery, etc. Azerbaijan has
already surpassed the limit. We informed the corresponding
international organizations of the fact, having requested them to
undertake measures and affect Baku not to build up military force in
a quantitative aspect”, RA Deputy DM, Chief of the General Staff of
RA Armed Forces, Colonel-General Mikael Harutyunyan stated, De Facto
Information-Analytics Agency’s correspondent in Stepanakert reports.

While speaking about the level of the Karabakh army’s operational
readiness, the General noted, in part, “All the subdivisions and
units of the NKR Defense Army are ready to operate under mountainous
conditions, efficiently use artillery and aviation”. He stressed
subdivisions of the Defense Army could successfully participate in
the counterterrorist operations as well. RA Deputy DM spoke up for
“more frequent conduct of joint Armenian-Russian trainings with the
Karabakh Armed Forces’ participation”. “These are not politicized,
but purely military trainings”, Mikael Harutyunyan noted. In his
words, the situation in the border zone is normal. According to Chief
of the General Staff of RA Armed Forces, “April proved to be quieter
than March”.

Armenian foreign minister does not rule out selling Iran-Armenia pipeline to Russia

Regnum, Russia
April 20 2006

“Nothing can be ruled out,” Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
has said answering a question about possibility of selling the
Iran-Armenia pipeline, which is now under construction, to Russia,
reports a REGNUM correspondent. Nevertheless, the Armenian foreign
minister failed to provide an exact answer. “It is hard to say,
whether it will be sold or not. Actually, there is no such pipeline,
as it is being constructed yet. There are talks held. It goes about
who will invest in it and who will construct it. Most probably,
the one who gives money will be the owner.”

Earlier, Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan announced that
“the Iran-Armenia pipeline has not been constructed and is not a
subject of economic activity yet, therefore, is not a joint-stock
company and has issued no stock, so, it cannot be sold.” Meanwhile,
Member of the Armenian National Assembly, ex-Prime Minister Vazgen
Manukyan earlier expressed his confidence that a 45-kilometer section
of the pipeline is already sold, “despite the fact that the Armenian
authorities assure that the pipeline was not sold to Russia.”

It is worth mentioning, on April 6, Gazprom within several hours
corrected a report released by its press department on signing an
agreement with Armenia for 25 years. From the new version of the
press release published on Gazprom’s official site statements on the
Iran-Armenia pipeline were excluded. The previous variant included
information that the agreement envisages acquiring by ArmRosgazprom
of a 40-kilometer section under construction of the Iran-Armenia
pipeline and the fifth energy unit of Hrazdan Nuclear Power Plant,
as well as giving functions of building owner of the second section
of the pipeline 197 km long to ArmRosgazprom. The new variant of the
document reports only about acquiring the fifth energy unit of the
Hrazdan NPP and gas facilities.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN MPS DISCUSS REGIONAL ISSUES, REFORMS

Mediamax news agency
19 Apr 06

Yerevan, 19 April: Armenia has a clear position on its relations with
Turkey and is ready to establish practical ties with Turkey without any
preconditions, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said at a meeting
with participants in the session of the Armenian-EU parliamentary
cooperation commission in Yerevan today, the presidential press
service has told Mediamax news agency.

The sides also discussed the situation surrounding Iran. Speaking
about the importance of approving Armenia’s action plan within the
framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy, Kocharyan said that
this will make it possible to coordinate relations with the European
Union and confidently move forward.

“The future of Armenia, which has taken the path of European
development, lies in effective management, a productive political
system and the economy. We can achieve this only through high-level
and large-scale reforms,” Kocharyan said.

The parties also noted the importance of deepening democratic processes
in Armenia and organizing and conducting upcoming elections in line
with European standards. The Armenian president also briefed the
European MPs about the latest developments in the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict settlement.

MEMORIAL TO THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE PROFANED IN LYON

ArmRadio.am
19.04.2006 17:35

Monday April 17, 2006, seven days before the commemorations of the
Genocide of 1915, the steles of the Armenian Memorial set up in the
town of Lyon (France), which must be inaugurated by President Jacques
Chirac, were profaned with inscriptions of insults.

“Following the official opening of the memorial on April 24 a criminal
case may be launched to reveal and punish the guilty,” Director of
the European Armenian Federation Hilda Tchoboyan said in her phone
talk with “Radiolur” correspondent.

The vandalism against the memorial to the Armenian Genocide in Lyon
escalated a great noise in the Armenian community.

“Yesterday representatives of the community invited a press conference,
attended by a great number of journalists,” Hilda Tchoboyan told.

By the way, the Socialist Deputies of the French Parliament brought a
new suggestion to add a point on “Punishing Genocide Deniers” in the
Law on the Armenian Genocide.