Author: Tumanian Talar

TWO MEN CHARGED IN DEADLY ROADSIDE ATTACK
By Ruzanna Khachatrian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Aug 9 2007

An investigation group of Armenia’s Prosecutor-General’s Office has
brought charges against two men over an attack on a group of Russian
servicemen which resulted in a fatal shooting of one Russian officer.

The crime occurred in the village of Arinj on the outskirts of Yerevan
and stemmed from a quarrel between two armed Armenians and a vehicle
carrying five Russian servicemen shortly after midnight on August
6. Two of the Russian servicemen were subjected to unmotivated beaten
before their vehicle was fired upon by the men armed with hunting
rifles, fatally wounding 22-year-old Dmitry Yermolov, who later died
on the way to hospital.

Sona Truzian, a spokesperson for the Prosecutor-General’s Office,
told RFE/RL that Artem Andreasian and Gor Balian are charged on two
counts of Armenia’s criminal code: article 118 (beating) and points
6 and 10 of part 2 of article 104 (a murder committed in a manner
dangerous for the lives of many people; for motives of hooliganism).

A Yerevan court has issued arrest warrants for both indicted men.

Several forensic examinations have been appointed, including medial,
ballistic and chemical to establish a number of circumstances in the
case that may change the volume of indictment.

Truzian confirmed that a bullet was found in the body of the killed
Russian officer but said it was yet a matter for experts to establish
which rifle it was released from.

The murder charge under article 104 envisages 8 to 15 years in prison
or a life sentence. The charge under article 118 envisages a fine of
100,000 drams (approx. $300) or two months in jail the longest.

BOTULISM AND MUSHROOM POISONING KILL 3 THIS YEAR

ARMENPRESS
Aug 09 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, ARMENPRESS: Twenty-two cases of a rare disease
known as botulism were registered in Armenia this year, killing one and
causing a great deal of suffering to 34 others, including 4 children
below the age of 16.

Botulism usually occurs after eating improperly cooked or preserved
foods. The botulism bacteria release a poison, also called a toxin,
which travels through the blood to attach to the nerves that control
your muscles.

Botulism cases in Armenia occur usually in winter when many families
start eating home-made preserves, despite the health ministry’s warning
against using such food or its instructions to at least thorough cook
such food by boiling it for ten minutes to destroy the botulism toxin
Also 28 cases of mushroom poisoning were registered this year killing
two people and affecting 46 others.

PRESS RELEASE
Date: 03 August 2007
Armenian National Committee of Illinois
1701 N. Greenwood, Glenview, IL 60026
Contact: Nairee Hagopian
Tel: 312-615-7698

ANC OF ILLINOIS WELCOMES CONGRESSMAN
RAY LAHOOD’S COSPONSORSHIP OF H. RES. 106

Chicago, IL- The Armenian National Committee of Illinois (ANC of
IL) welcomes the 14th Representative from Illinois to cosponsor
House Resolution 106 in recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
Congressman Ray LaHood (R-IL-18). The ANC of Illinois has worked
closely with constituents of the 18th District along with members of
Congressman LaHood’s staff over the past several months to discuss
the importance of the resolution.

Ari Killian, Chairperson of the ANC of Illinois, stated: "We
welcome Congressman LaHood as the 14th cosponsor of H. Res. 106 from
Illinois. His support of the resolution again highlights the broad
bipartisan support for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in
the US House of Representatives". Constituents and local
activists, together with Armenians from the State of Illinois and
nationwide praise the Congressman for his support of this
resolution. To date, the House resolution has 227 cosponsors.

Introduced on January 30th by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and
spearheaded by Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA), Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI), and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), the Armenian Genocide Resolution
calls upon the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the
United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity
concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and
genocide documented in the United States record relating to the
Armenian Genocide.

Congressman LaHood has dedicated his life to public service. He was
a junior high school social studies teacher for six years prior to
his political career. In 1982, he was elected to the Illinois
House of Representatives. From 1982-1994, he served as Chief of
Staff for U.S. House Minority Leader Robert Michel (R-IL-18). In
1994, he was elected to the United States Congress.

The Armenian National Committee of Illinois is part of the largest
and most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively
advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.
####
Photo: Congressman LaHood

LEBANON’S AWN REPORTEDLY MEETS SYRIAN SECURITY OFFICIAL IN GERMANY

Elaph website
3 Aug 07
London

A Western diplomatic source has disclosed that Lebanese Deputy Michel
Awn who visited Germany last week on the pretext of meeting with
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier went to this European
country to hold a secret meeting with senior Syrian security official
Major-General Muhammad Nasif (Abu-Wa’il).

The source said the meeting between Awn and "Abu-Wa’il" focused on
the parliamentary battle in north Al-Matn which Awn is contesting
in an attempt to prevent Shaykh Amin al-Jumayyil from winning the
seat that was occupied by his son Pierre who was assassinated last
November. The source stressed that Maj-Gen Nasif underlined the need
for Awn to contest the elections battle against Al-Jumayyil to the end
and that Syria is willing to place all its resources at his disposal.

The Syrian official insisted that Awn should not back down on
the battle and reiterated that Damascus would ask the parties it
influences to back Awn’s candidate to the utmost limit. He pointed
out in this respect that Syria is capable of pressuring the Armenian
Tashnaq Party to have all its votes go to Awn’s candidate.

It was noticed that Awn returned from Germany with hard-line stands
that prevented any compromise in Al-Matn after Muhammad Nasif asserted
to him that Syria was capable of ensuring his candidate’s success
and would put its weight and that of all its allies behind achieving
this goal.

It is known that Maj-Gen Nasif is responsible for the Shi’i dossier in
general and the Shi’i one in Lebanon in particular and has a history
of strong relations with all the Shi’i parties, foremost of them
"Hezbollah" and "Amal." The senior Syrian security official visits
Germany frequently for treatment.

INTERNATIONAL ARBITRAGE GROUP ESTABLISHED TO STUDY FACTS OF ARMENIANS’ APPROPRIATING AZERBAIJANI SONGS

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug 1 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend Sh.Alizade / The World Trade Organization
(WTO) received a lawsuit from Azerbaijan regarding Armenia’s
appropriating the musical performance ‘Kor Arabin Mahnisi’ of the
Azerbaijani composer Fikret Amirov and the composition ‘Vokaliz’,
performed by the Azerbaijani singer Brilliant Dadashova.

An International arbitrage group has been established to consider the
case, said the Deputy Chairman of the State Agency for Protection of
Author Rights, Oktay Samadov.

Samadov said that he discussed this issue several days ago in the
WTO’s Geneva Office.

During the meeting, Samadov suggested supporting the conduct of meeting
of the WTO Department on Regulation of Spread of Audio and Video
Products in Baku. "The WTO approved the suggestion," Samadov said.

FAMILY RECORD BECOMES CHRONICLE OF GENOCIDE
By Steve Arney

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO
July 30 2007

BLOOMINGTON, ILL. – To record his father’s life, George Churukian
led a family effort to fill a volume with pictures and accomplishments.

But he couldn’t leave it there. Churukian, a retired Illinois Wesleyan
professor, felt it necessary to delve into the human tragedy witnessed
by his father, his mother and their people, the Armenians.

A weathered red notebook contains the scribbling of Giragos Churukian,
a physician known as Doc throughout the east-central Illinois town
of Paris, where he practiced medicine for more than five decades.

Now typed, edited and self-published, the contents tell of hardship
that defined Doc Churukian’s early life. Advertisement In doctor’s
scribble, Giragos wrote: "We begged them to let us rest, drink water,
and eat something – of no use. Old and weak ones could not tolerate
the trip and they were left behind. My grandmother, Martha, was left
behind and we never saw or heard of her anymore. She just died or
was killed and perhaps buried next to the road."

They were in what is today part of Syria. In those days, it was
Anatolia, within the Turkish-ruled Ottoman Empire, and the Armenian
population was being cleansed. The Turkish government acknowledges
trouble in those parts in the 1910s; it denies genocide occurred.

But Armenians were targeted, placed on death marches through the
desert and often massacred in groups, according to historians. The
word "genocide" isn’t avoided among academics, and the U.S. government
estimates 1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered and forcefully exiled.

A recount of horrors is an awkward introduction for a life story of
a man who became a prominent citizen in a small Illinois town.

Said his son, George: "The major value, I think, is so that future
generations know what happened, where we came from, what his life
was like and partially what my mother’s life was like."

George’s mother, Helen Churukian, also was an Armenian immigrant. She
died in 1987. Giragos lived until 1994, to the age of 97.

Starting in 1989 at age 93, Giragos provided the first pages of his
story. The early chapters explore two waves of repression.

The genocide of the Armenians generally is dated to the early days
of World War I, until the end of the war. The Churukian family dates
the start to 1909.

Giragos’ family and most of those in the city of Kessab fled an attack
by Turkish soldiers, Giragos recorded. With the overthrow of the
Sultan the same year, the people returned to their pillaged village.

A removal under soldier escort occurred in late 1914. The family,
nearing starvation, was given work mining salt in a city called
Djaboul, according to Giragos’ pages. The family befriended Arabs who
warned them of a rebel attack in autumn 1918, enabling them to escape.

SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT AND US DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE DISCUSS THE ISSUE OF RADIO LIBERTY’S BROADCASTING IN ARMENIA

arminfo
2007-07-30 18:37:00

Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Tigran Torossyan, met Matthew
Bryza, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, OSCE Minsk Group
Co-chair, Monday.

The Armenian parliamentary press-service told ArmInfo that at the
guest’s request T.Torossyan presented the situation in the country
after the parliamentary election. The Speaker expressed hope that the
forthcoming presidential election will become another step towards
deepening of democracy. He pointed out that after the adoption
of constitutional reforms in Armenia, essential progress has been
achieved in democracy, human rights protection, and law priority.

T.Torossyan also expressed pity about the fact that the opposition
failed to estimate the significance of this process in due time,
boycotting the discussions, and also failed to seriously study
the situation created after the adoption of the constitutional
reforms. According to T.Torossyan, the opposition’s weakness is
also a problem for the authorities, as in a multi- party system the
weakness of one side will affect the establishment of the system by
all means. As for the presidential election, T.Torossyan noted that
in case a good corresponding work is done, the Republican Party of
Armenia will have no problems with the victory of its nominee. He
added that Armenia has already entered the second stage of reforms,
where the emphasis will be put on settlement of social problems.

The meeting also covered the issue of Radio Liberty’s
broadcasting. M.Bryza noted that he was informed that many issues are
addressed, and though the radio company itself prefers broadcasting on
the frequency of the Public Radio, nevertheless, the most important
thing is to get the opportunity to broadcast, let it be on another
channel. As it was earlier reported, negotiations on Radio Liberty’s
broadcasting on the Ar-Radio channel are being currently held.

ARMENIA/USA: ARMENIAN PUBLIC RADIO REFUSES TO RE-SIGN CONTRACT

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty website, D.C.
24 Jul 07
Washington

(Washington, DC 24 July: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
and its oversight agency, the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors
(BBG) expressed dismay at Armenian Public Radio’s rejection of a new
contract to continue carrying programs of RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.

RFE/RL Armenian programs have been aired on Armenian Public Radio,
Armenia’s top radio network since 1998, where they have earned the
trust of a significant number of listeners. Survey data shows that
15 per cent of Armenian adults listen to RFE/RL programs each week.

Three days of discussions in Yerevan, Armenia last week between
U.S. and Armenian broadcast officials ended without agreement on a
new contract to replace one that had lapsed in February.

"Our delegation was asked to go to Yerevan to iron out some minor
technical issues and conclude a contract to extend this successful
partnership," said BBG Chairman James K. Glassman. "All these issues
were resolved. Our delegation was told there are no deadlines, and
no threat was made to take RFE/RL programs off Public Radio. Yet
the contract remains unsigned, and our offers to make payment were
refused. It seems clear that whatever is holding up an agreement has
nothing to do with legal, contractual, or technical issues."

"We value our relationship with Armenian Public Radio," added Glassman,
"and certainly want it to continue. We look forward to signing the
contract, and making all payments stipulated in the contract, as soon
as our partners in Armenia tell us they are ready."

The Armenian parliament on 3 July did not adopt amendments to the
country’s media regulations that would have banned RFE/RL and other
foreign broadcasters from public airwaves. One week later, Armenian
Public Radio indicated that it planned to stop RFE/RL broadcasts on
9 August, citing contractual and payment issues. Last week’s visit
to Armenia by RFE/RL and BBG contracting officials was intended to
resolve these issues.

"The potential end of our very fruitful relationship with Public
Radio has no economic or other legitimate justification," said
RFE/RL President Jeffrey Gedmin. "Armenians go to the polls in
eight months to choose their next President, and therefore it is
particularly important that RFE/RL’s broadcasts, which are widely
respected for their accuracy, objectivity and timeliness, reach the
largest possible audience. Our coverage of the 12 May parliamentary
elections was singled out for praise by OSCE observers for its balance
and thoroughness."

RFE/RL’s Armenian Service has been on the air since 1953 and produces
more than three and one half hours of Armenian-language programming
daily in Prague and its Yerevan Bureau.

35 IRANIAN ALPINISTS ARRESTED IN AZERBAIJAN
By Aghavni Haroutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily #139
25/07/2007

International

Azerbaijani police arrested 35 Iranian alpinists, who visited
Azerbaijan to climb the mountain Shah Dagh.

The group of the alpinists did all their duties connected with the
visas and entrance privileges and didn’t have any problems during its
entrance to Azerbaijan, the Iranian Phars Agency informed, according to
"Hayastan" News Agency in Athens.

The alpinists were arrested later. ISNA (Iranian Student’s News Agency)
confirmed that the alpinists were arrested not soon than July 18,
and they were not even allowed to contact with the representatives
of the Iranian Embassy in Baku.

ARMENIANS DIVIDED OVER PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION RESULTS – OPINION POLL

Mediamax news agency
24 Jul 07

Yerevan, 24 July: A total of 49.8 per cent of Armenian respondents have
described the 12 May parliamentary election as "free and transparent
but unfair".

That is the finding of an opinion poll conducted by the Armenian
sociological association on 6-12 July. A total of 1,200 Armenian
citizens were polled.

A total of 12.5 per cent of respondents said that the election was
"free, transparent and fair", whereas 28.5 per cent said that the
election was not free and fair. As many as nine per cent of the
respondents could not answer the question.

A total of 48.5 per cent of respondents said they were satisfied with
the election results, whereas 46.9 per cent said they were not.

As many as 65 per cent of respondents said that there were serious
irregularities that might have affected the election results. At the
same time, 21.1 per cent of respondents expressed the opposite opinion.