Author: Vardanian Garo

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

GEORGIA MUST HONOR RIGHTS OF ETHNIC MINORITIES

On November 25 the situation in Georgia three years after the Rose
Revolution was discussed at the Friday Club, namely the problems of
the ethnic minorities. The reason was the report of the International
Crisis Group released three days ago. The guests were Levon Zurabyan,
an expert of the International Crisis Group, Stepan Margaryan,
adviser to the Prime Minister of Armenia, and Sergey Minasyan, head
of the Department of Caucasian Studies of the Caucasian Media
Institute.

According to the ICG, in Georgia, which is building democratic
institutions and forging civic identity, there is little progress
towards integration of the Armenian and Georgian minorities
constituting 12 percent of the population. Levon Zurabyan adds,
`Georgia lacks a mechanism of dialogue with eithnic minorities. The
ethnic minorities, communities are ostracized from the life of the
country. Georgia seeks for the help of Armenia to solve the problem
of Javakheti. The problem is given a short-term solution, whereas in
depth it remains unsettled. The ICG deliberately omitted the social
and economic problems, because the equal political rights of all the
citizens of the country is primary. It is desirable to settle these
problems on the Tbilisi-Javakheti level.’ Meanwhile, there are three
groups of obstacles for the settlement of the problem: the ethnic
minorities are underrepresented in government, decentralization is
unsufficient, and there is not even cultural and educational
sovereignty, and the ethnic minorities do not speak Georgian.

The other guests agreed. Stepan Margaryan said `it is impossible to
learn Georgian in an environment where Georgian is not used. The
teachers of Georgian arrive in Javakheti with Armenians constituting
95 percent of the population, and soon they leave having learned
Armenian. Georgia does not trust Armenia, Javakheti does not trust
Georgia. Javakheti suffers from the Russian and Georgian relations.
An annual 30 thousand job migrants left for Russia, now Russia does
not grant a visa to these people. There is going to be a third party
in the Georgian and Armenian relations. It would be desirable if
there was a third party, with which we are trying to integrate.’

Sergey Minasyan views the question in terms of European integration
and notices that Georgia, which is on the track for European
integration, should adopt the European standards of honoring the
rights of the ethnic minorities. `Javakheti and Georgia should settle
the issue. Armenia and Europe can be interested parties.’ Stepan
Minasyan thinks that unlike the issue of Karabakh, there is vast
possibility for a compromise, it is only necessary to overcome fear
and prejudices and discuss the question without fear, `the report of
the ICG can be used as an argument in the negotiations with Georgia.’

The ICG recommends to `introduce legislation allowing Azeris and
Armenians, in municipalities where they exceed 20 per cent of the
population, to use their native language to communicate with
administrative authorities, submit complaints, acquire civil
documents and certificates, benefit from public services and conduct
municipal business and sakrebulo meetings’; `set quotas so that at
least 50 per cent of new entrants in the Akhalkalaki branch of the
Tbilisi State University and the Marneuli branch of the Ilya
Chavchavadze State University are minorities.’ In Armenia they
believe that thereby the problem of learning Georgian will be solved
for young people. Meanwhile, fewer young people go to this university
because they have a language problem. By the way, the Armenian
government is ready to support the Akhalkalaki branch of Tbilisi
State University.

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
Nov 25 2006

MEETING OF NKR CENTRAL COMMISSION ON REFERENDUM

AA

On November 20 the meeting of the NKR Central Commission of
Referendum took place, which was conducted by Chair Sergey Nasibian.
The Commission confirmed the sample of the ballot where the question
of the referendum is put down clearly, and the order of voting is
explained. After registration by the NKR Ministry of Justice the
sample will be published in the media to give information to the
voters. Afterwards, the text of the message of the central commission
to the participants in drafting the Constitution, organization and
conduct of the referendum was adopted. It will be released in the
Guide of the commissions of referendum. The commission decided to set
up a press center headed by Mikael Hajyan. The press center will
cover the work of the commissions, public relations, and relations
between the divisional commissions, hold press conferences, deal with
international and local observers and journalists, release the
results of the constitution.

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
Armenia Solidarity Press Release

Armenia Solidarity
c/o the Temple of Peace
Cathays Park, Cardiff, Wales
07876561398 or 00447876561398(int.)
[email protected]

Br itish Foreign Secretary accepts evidence on the Genocide

The British Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon. Margaret Beckett,
accepted a book of evidence on the Armenian Genocide today from an
Armenia Solidarity representative.
The book "Remember" was compiled by John Torosyan of the Armenian/Welsh
Friendship Society.( Part of it is on line at
). The presentation occurred in her Derbyshire
constituency by local Armenia Solidarity official Guy Dickenson. She
promised to read it and study the evidence carefully.
We sense a change of tone in the reactions of government officials
to the issue and we urge UK Armenians to make more frequent contacts
with their MPs to raise the Recognition question..
The above organisation, formerly Wales Armenia Solidarity, has
expanded its lobbying to most parts of the UK.

ALIYEV WILL AGREE ON MEETING WITH KOCHARIAN IF ‘THERE IS EXACT TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION’

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.11.2006 16:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Novruz Mammadov, the head of the presidential
administration’s foreign policy department told reporters November
22 that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will give his approval
to meet with the Armenian President if there is a tangible focus for
discussions. Mammadov expects that the meeting of the Co-chairs with
the Azerbaijani President will confirm the steps to be taken to achieve
certain progress in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. "I
suppose that the efforts by the co-chairs will enable progress
to be achieved within the negotiations," he stated, reports Trend
news agency.

FRANCE STAGING CONFERENCE ON MINORITIES IN TURKEY

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Nov 21 2006

The conference is likely to set a jarring chord in Turkey, which
recently voiced its disquiet at the lower house of the French
parliament approving legislation that would make it a criminal offence
to deny the so-called Armenian genocide.

Guncelleme: 14:11 TSİ 21 Kasim 2006 SaliPARIS – France will hold
a conference in Versailles on minorities Turkey on November 25 as a
part of activities marking "the Armenian year".

The theme of the conference focuses on the past and future of the
Armenians, Syriac-Keldani, Greeks and Kurdish minorities and has
been referred to as a joint activity of those destroyed or oppressed
by Turkey.

Some administrators from minority associations and academics will be
participating in the conference.

France had declared September 2006 to July 2007 as the Armenian year,
a step that has been described as a move to win votes of the about
500,000 Armenian’s living in France ahead of the French Presidential
elections in 2007.

HISTORICAL POINT

A1+
[01:52 pm] 20 November, 2006

The Armenian women’s national football team won the first point in
its history tying with Bosnia 1:1.

Before this the Armenian national team had lost all the matches
without scoring even once.

Our girls are in the group A2 of the qualifying round of the European
championship. At present they are in the second place. In the other
match of the group Israel beat Latvia 3:0 and tops the list.

DEVELOPMENT OF BILATERAL CO-OPERATION DISCUSSED IN MEETING OF AZERI AND UAE PRESIDENTS
Author: E.Huseynov

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Nov 20 2006

The development of the bilateral co-operation was discussed on 20
November in Abu Dhabi at the meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan,
Ilham Aliyev and United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed
Al Nahayn.

Both parties expressed their satisfaction with the development of
co-operation in various areas. It was stated that signing documents
and holding a business forum during Aliyev’s visit to the UAE will
further expand relations between the two countries. Is was agreed that
after the visit, they would fully benefit from the existing potential
for the development of relations, including economic relations.

The Presidents discussed co-operation within the international
organizations, the process of resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and regional questions. In addition, on
20 November, Aliyev met with the member of the Executive Council of
the Dubai Emirate, Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahayn. They spoke of the
successful co-operation of the two countries in various areas. Aliyev
gave an interview to the State media of Abu Dhabi and met with large
business organizations.

H. MEKHDJIAN, 21, MAN WITH GENTLE HEART
By Jessie Mangaliman

San Jose Mercury News,
Nov 19 2006

Friends Recall College Student’s Humility And Caring
Mercury News

Julie Barsoumian has an indelible, vivid image of Harout Mekhdjian.

He was about 3 or 4 years old, standing before his schoolmates at an
Armenian school in Cupertino, reciting a 14th-century Armenian poem
from memory.

"I was very touched," said Barsoumian, who had known Mr. Mekhdjian
since birth. "He related to a subject that was much bigger than
himself."

For all who knew and loved Mr. Mekhdjian, that fearless, joyful
enthusiasm to tackle anything big and small was the character that
most defined his young life.

Everyone around him, it seemed, noticed or felt his devotion and
passion for any task that came his way.

Mr. Mekhdjian, a junior at San Jose State University, died Nov. 5
after a motorcycle accident in a parking lot at De Anza Community
College. While trying out a friend’s bike, he hit a curb and was
thrown off. Friends said he died on the way to the hospital. He was 21.

At a wake Nov. 9 at St. Andrew Armenian Apostolic Church in Cupertino,
hundreds of Mr. Mekhdjian’s friends gathered to mourn.

There were his young charges in the Boy Scout troop, the Homenetmen
Ani of Santa Clara Valley, his SJSU business fraternity brothers at
Alpha Kappa Psi, church deacons, Armenian mothers like Barsoumian who
saw him grow to a young adult, his family and all his young friends.

"As tragic as everything was for his family and his friends, it
was a comfort to see how many people came to pay their respects,"
said his cousin, Lena Dakessian, 19, a junior at the University of
California-Berkeley.

"That service confirmed for me how he was a gem, a truly special
person," Dakessian said.

Born Sept. 23, 1985, in San Jose, Mr. Mekhdjian graduated from Fremont
High School. From a young age, he was a Boy Scout. Later, he became
an active and well-loved troop leader.

"He did this thing. He’d touch your ears and wiggle them," recalled
his friend, Aleen Koumriqian, 18, who attends De Anza College. "It
meant how much he loved you."

Mr. Mekhdjian, friends said, was not sparing in doling out his love.

He gave generously, freely.

"He was just the most kind-hearted individual I’ve ever met," said his
friend Taleen Moroyan, 22, who attends UC-San Diego. "Always smiling,
always positive. I’ll carry that memory with me."

After graduating from high school, Mr. Mekhdjian attended De Anza,
then later transferred to SJSU, where he studied management information
systems. He completed an internship at the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, but he never boasted about it.

"For all of the things that he was," Dakessian said, "he was also
modest. And he had so many things, so many good things, that he
could flaunt."

At the 15th-anniversary celebration of his scout troop, Mr. Mekhdjian
thanked the group for introducing "me to a great horizon of people,
but it also brought me closer to my heritage and culture."

His grandparents were survivors of the Armenian genocide in Ottoman
Turkey. His parents emigrated from Lebanon.

Like many parents who witnessed Mr. Mekhdjian’s coming of age from
a young boy reciting Armenian poetry, to candle bearer, to church
deacon at St. Andrew, Barsoumian said his sudden death struck at a
small community’s heart.

"I’ve never heard Harout complain about anything being hard or
difficult," Barsoumian said. "He blossomed from this very sweet boy
to someone who nurtured other people."

Harout Mekhdjian

Born: Sept. 23, 1985, San Jose.

Died: Nov. 5, 2006, Cupertino.

Survived by: his parents, Manoug and Meline Mekhdjian, two sisters,
Houry and Aline, all of San Jose.

Services: Have been held.

Memorial: The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can
be made to the Harout Mekhdjian Memorial Trust Fund, in care of St.

Andrew Armenian Apostolic Church, 11370 S. Stelling Road, Cupertino,
Calif. 95014.

MANVEL SARGSYAN: EU-ARMENIA ACTION PLAN WILL HARDLY CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE OF KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 19 2006

The signing of the Action Plan of the "Enlarged Europe: New Neighbors"
Program by Armenia will hardly change the atmosphere of the Armenian
Genocide recognition process, Manvel Sargsyan, ex-Adviser to NKR
President, analyst of the "Caucasus" center, said in "Friday"
Club today.

He reminded the statement of Council of Europe Secretary General
Terry Davis that "he is interested in people, not the territories."

In Sargsyan’s opinion, this statement is the core of the policy of
the whole European community primarily targeted at the resolution of
humanitarian issues.

Manvel Sargsyan noted also that during the 10 years of its activity,
the OSCE Minsk Group has turned into a powerful mechanism, an
independent structure capable of resolving a number of issues.

Therefore, the attempts of Azerbaijan to transfer the Karabakh question
to another format will hardly succeed.

MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS CALL ON THE PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO USE THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 17 2006

The recurrent meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
Robert Kocharyan and Ilham Aliyev will be held November 28 in Minsk,
in the framework of the summit of CIS leaders, Russian Co-Chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov told ITAR-TASS.

On behalf of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Yuri Merzlyakov called
on the Presidents of the two countries to use the unique opportunity
to agree upon the principles of the Karabakh conflict resolution,
since next year they will have no such opportunity. He stated that
in 2007-2008 elections are expected in both Armenia and Azerbaijan,
which will have a negative impact on the negotiation process.

"Besides, the key political figures, who have been participating
in the talks from the Armenian side, will start dropping out of the
negotiation process," Merzlyakov said without going into detail who
he meant.