Author: Torosian Aram

BUNDESTAG’S DECISION MARKS A U-TURN

AZG Armenian Daily #111, 17/06/2005

Armenian Genocide

Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian is answering the question
of Armenpress about the decision of Bundestag on Armenian Genocide.

– Mr. minister, The German Federal Parliament has just adopted a draft
actually recognizing the Armenian Genocide. What’s your evaluation
of this event?

– Armenia’s evaluation of Bundestag’s draft is positive. It’s
an important step on the way of the Genocide’s international
recognition. Though lacking the word “genocide”, as Bundestag did not
feel authorized to give definition to the events of 1915, the term
“genocide” appears in the describing part.

In view of the fact that Germany has been avoiding to talk about the
issue, preferring to keep silent or deny it, Bundestag’s decision
marks a U-turn. Especially when Germany accepts its complicity to
the tragic events of 1915 and calls on Turkey to put up with its past.

This decision comes as an important step for putting the Armenian
issues on the agenda of Turkey-EU talks launching this fall.

Armenian National Committee of Illinois
1701 North Greenwood Road
Glenview, IL 60026
Contact: Greg Bedian
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE

June 16, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Genocide Curriculum Measure Awaits Illinois Governor’s Signature

Springfield, IL – The Armenian National Committee of Illinois today
called on Governor Rod Blagojevich to sign legislation mandating that
Illinois public school students receive instruction on the Armenian
Genocide and other acts of genocide.

The bill, HB312, cleared the legislature with commanding margins
earlier this spring, passing the Illinois House on March 1st and
passing the Senate on May 11th. The bill must be approved or vetoed
by the Governor within 60 days of receipt from the legislature. If
no action is taken after 60 days, the bill automatically becomes law.

“By signing this bill, the Governor can not only demonstrate his
concern for victims of previous genocides, he can play an active
part in a process that will hopefully help deter future genocides,”
stated ANC of Illinois representative Karine Birazian.
“The Armenian community of Illinois is looking
forward to a successful conclusion of the enactment process for
this legislation.”

On May 11, the Illinois Information Service (part of the state’s
official government media communications office) reported that
Gov. Blagojevich confirmed that he would sign the bill. That
commitment was later confirmed by community members who met with
the Governor. Blagojevich also mentioned his support for genocide
education in a recent gubernatorial proclamation issued to mark the
90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. In it the Governor stated
“both recognition and education concerning past atrocities such as
the Armenian Genocide is crucial in the prevention of future crimes
against humanity.”

After the bill was introduced, the Armenian National Committee helped
to mobilize Armenian and non-Armenians alike to work for passage of
the bill, which was introduced by Representatives John A, Fritchey
(D-11) and Paul D. Froelich (R-56). Upon passage in the Illinois
House by a vote of 96-11, HB312 was forwarded to the Senate where
Senators Jacqueline Y. Collins (D-16) and Ira Silverstein (D-8)
led the effort to a 47-5 victory in the Senate.

During the weeks leading up to the bill’s passage, the ANC lobbied
Illinois House and Senate members to work for passage of the bill by
organizing grassroots email, telephone and letter-writing campaigns
as well as conducting office visits with legislators. The ANC also
made presentations to various groups to encourage their participation
in this activity

“It was gratifying to see that our efforts led to a successful
outcome,” stated Karine Birazian, who heads up the ANC of
Illinois’ Genocide Education Committee. “It’s important for the
many constituents, and especially the public school students, who
participated in this endeavor to see that their voices were heard
and that their actions could make a difference on such an important
issue as Genocide education.”

HB312 provides “that in addition to the unit of instruction studying
the events of the Holocaust, the curriculum of every public elementary
school and high school shall include a unit of instruction studying
other acts of genocide across the globe, including, but not limited
to, the Armenian Genocide, the Famine-Genocide in Ukraine, and more
recent atrocities in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Sudan.”

With the passage of HB312, Illinois joins several other states,
including California and Massachusetts, which have mandated expanded
genocide education. Birazian added that the ANC will be working with
groups in those states as well as other organizations to help assemble
the necessary resources to help schools implement the new requirements
once they become law.

The Armenian National Committee of Illinois is a grassroots public
affairs organization serving to inform, educate, and act on a wide
range of issues concerning Armenian Americans throughout the state
of Illinois.

###

Armenian leader instructs officials to fight shadow economy

Mediamax news agency
16 Jun 05

Yerevan, 16 June: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today instructed
the head of the newly created state inspection of labour, Arsen
Grigoryan, to speed up the work to eradicate the shadow economy
in Armenia.

The Armenian president received today the heads of the state inspection
of labour under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the
head of the ministry, Agvan Vardanyan, the president’s press service
told Mediamax news agency today.

Noting the importance of the inspection’s work, Korcharyan said
that protecting the rights of the workers and ensuring work safety
standards as well as timely payment of salaries are a priority.

Grigoryan presented Kocharyan with the main areas and tasks of
their work and their cooperation with similar bodies of Bulgaria
and Lithuania.

BRITISH-ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY GROUP DEMANDS THAT UK RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Pan Armenian News
16.06.2005 03:35

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The British-Armenian multi-partisan parliamentary
group organized an international conference at the House of Lords
yesterday, reported the Press Service of the Foreign Ministry of
Armenia. Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian was invited as the main speaker at
it. Head of the Armenian-British Friendship Group baroness Caroline
Cox and Armenian Ambassador to UK Vahe Gabriyelyan addressed the
opening of the conference. Senior Aide of the Canadian Prime Minister
Sarkis Assadourian, head of the Armenian-French Friendship Group
of the French Parliament Francois Rochebloine, Executive Director
of Beth Shalom Holocaust Commemoration Foundation James Smith
also addressed the meeting. V. Oskanian made the key report. The
conference subject was the issue of genocide, which is considered
as a threat to the humanity today as well, genocide prevention by
the international community, unacceptability of the Turkish policy
of denial of the Armenian Genocide. The issue of acknowledgement of
the Armenian Genocide was discussed within the context of Turkey’s
accession to the EU. At that it was noted that before it Ankara
has to recognize the Armenian Genocide and normalize relations
with Yerevan. V. Oskanian drew the attention of those present to
the contradiction between the statements and actions of the Turkish
Government, which on the one hand tries to come out as a proponent of
the truce, while on the other criminalizes the term «genocide», bans
public discussion of the issue in the country and event demands that
the British Government revise histories of Genocide witnesses diplomat
James Brice and historian Arnold Toynbee. Nevertheless, not seeing an
alternative to the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation, V. Oskanian said
Armenia is ready to normalize the Armenian-Turkish relations without
preconditions. British politicians and public figures, foreign guests,
diplomats and representative of British and foreign media were present
at the event. The latest event of this level was organized in 2000 due
to the 85th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. After the conference
a dinner was organized in honor of V. Oskanian. In the latter half of
the day the British-Armenian Group addressed the British Government
a demand supported by 3 thousand signatures to recognize the Armenian
Genocide and promote Armenian-Turkish reconciliation. Yesterday a joint
liturgy of the Armenian Apostolic and Anglican Churches marked the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. V. Oskanian, V. Gabriyelyan,
baroness Cox, founder of the British-Armenian Parliamentary Group
duke Shanon, abbot Rice and other were present at the liturgy. The
same evening V. Oskanian left London for Brussels, where he will
present Armenia’s Action Plan to the EU and the North Atlantic Council.

–Boundary_(ID_3iq6BAP4Lr09cSxOvQTmWA)–

EU-TURKEY NEGOTIATIONS FOCUSED ON TWO ISSUES VITAL FOR ARMENIANS

Pan Armenian News
15.06.2005 06:10

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Very often Turks and Azeris say that unless the
Karabakh issue is settled and Armenian forces quit the territory of
Karabakh the prospects of opening of the Armenian-Turkish border and
establishment of relations are quite vague, NKR Foreign Minister Arman
Melikian stated in his interview with H2 Armenian TV Channel. “I think
statements of the kind are used as a cover for other interests. I am
convinced Turkey uses the blockade of the Armenian border for obtaining
some advantage in the negotiations with the EU member-states, which
from their part raise the issue of the Armenian Genocide. Thus the
EU-Turkey negotiations focused on two issues vital for Armenians. We
should try not to indulge in illusions and use every possibility “,
NKR Foreign Minister said.

Armenian Genocide bill to be introduced in U.S. House

15.06.2005 12:42

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The Armenian Genocide bill will be submitted to the
U.S. House of Representatives during this month. Rep. Adam Schiff,
(D-CA) has said the new bill will be presented to the House within
the next two weeks.

The new draft will be similar to the one that was turned down
five years ago as a result of a tremendous pressure by the Clinton
administration. It will suggest a full recognition of the Armenian
genocide by the House of Representatives.

ARGONAUT GREEK CENTER OPENS IN ARMENIAN ALAVERDI

Armenpress

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS: Greek ambassador to Armenia, Mr. Antonios
Vlavianos, the president of the Federation of Greek Communities of
Armenia, Nikolay Theofanov, a delegation of the World Council of
Hellenes Abroad, members of the Armenian parliament, representatives
of the local authorities and a large number of many representatives
of the Greek community of Armenia attended on June 11 the official
opening ceremony of Greek Argonaut Center in the northern Armenian
town of Alaverdi.

Ambassador Vlavianos, parliament member Vazgen Khachikian and Lori
governor Henrik Kochianin addressed the present with speeches to
reassure strong relations between the two nations. Greeks began
settling in the Southern Caucasus from VI century A.D, but the
current Greek population arrived in Armenia in the second half of the
XVII century, when many the so-called Anatolian Greeks moved to the
Caucasus and Russia from central and northern parts of the Ottoman
empire because of unsteady economic and political situation. The first
group of Greeks established in the northern Armenia, where they started
metallurgical plants. In 1763 about 800 families (approximately 2000
people) moved from Turkey to Armenia starting a copper factory of
Lalvar near today’s Alaverdi.

At the beginning of XIX century part of Greek miner specialists
moved to southern Armenian Syunik to build another mining factory
there. Greeks first established in Alaverdi at the end of 18-th
century and now it has the biggest Greek community together with
Vanadzor and Yerevan.

The Greek Argonaut Center is equipped with a satellite TV, Internet
connection, computers, DVD and video players, library and all other
necessary facilities for language teaching and recreation activities.

The Greek Embassy in yerevan said in a press release the Center is
another milestone in the long-standing Greek-Armenian relations
enhanced already by the activities of the Greek communities in
Armenia and aims to strengthen the cultural relations between the
two countries and to preserve the identity of Greek community in
Armenia. By a decision of the municipal council Ambassador Antonios
Vlavianos was declared honorary citizen of Akhtala.

ROUND-TABLE TO DISCUSS TRAFFICKING PROBLEM IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, June 14. /ARKA/. A round-table is to be held in Yerevan on
June 15 to discuss the trafficking problem. The OSCE Yerevan office
reports that representatives of the RA Government and NGOs will
discuss the possibility of forming a national system of trafficking
control and international experience in this field.

The round-table has been organized by the OSCE Yerevan office with
the assistance of the US Department of State. P.T. -0–

VENICE COMMISSION EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT

A1plus

| 14:23:51 | 13-06-2005 | Politics |

During the ratification of the second intermediate conclusion about
the constitutional reforms in Armenia the Venice Commission has stated
the following, “The Commission regrets that the draft adopted by
the National Assembly from the three possible variants contains only
several contextual improvements and has not taking into account fully
the remarks of the first intermediate conclusion of the Commission”.

The Commission also states, “The adopted draft does not correspond to
the European standards and does not take into account the offers made
by the Venice Commission and the COE. In this respect the Commission
expresses deep disappointment with the absence of progress in the
cooperation with the Armenian authorities”.

The Commission also expressed its regret for the complex political
atmosphere in which the draft constitution was adopted. The
intermediate conclusion is concluded by the following demand of the
Venice Commission, “The draft constitution must be totally reconsidered
before the second reading and it must taking into full account the
previous conclusions of the Commission”.

By the way, in contrast to this NA deputy President Tigran Torosyan
had informed that according to the second intermediate conclusion the
draft adopted by the first reading has been improved in comparison
to the previous one.

In the Venice Commission session the conclusion about the RA Electoral
Code has also been ratified. As far as the Commission is not yet
acquainted with the final version of the Electoral Code, a decision
has been made to represent a conclusion after reading the text.

A1plus

| 19:54:04 | 10-06-2005 | Economy |

WANTED EUROS

>From next year on the Kingdom of the Netherlands will allot 5 million Euros
to Armenia. Today the Kingdom of the Netherlands Development cooperation
Minister Agnes van Arden informed the journalists about it.

Up to now the Netherlands have been giving 4.7 million Euros to our country
annually. The additional 300 000, according to the Finance Minister Vardan
Khachatryan, is enough money to realize programs. Today the Minister signed
two agreements with the representatives of the Netherlands Government. The
first program was about Economic cooperation, the second was about
Investments.

By the first agreement 2-3 programs at a time can be financed in Armenia,
costing 500 000 Euros each. As for the investments, according to Mrs. Van
Holden, the Dutch businessmen have already expressed their desire to make
investments into the agriculture and food spheres in Armenia.