Author: Vardanian Garo

TEENAGERS WHO ASSAULTED ARMENIANS “SHOULD BE FLOGGED”, ARMENIAN HONORARY CONSUL CONSIDERS

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.04.2006 00:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The teenagers who assaulted two Armenians in
Yekatirenburg in late March should be flogged. The incident is
settled,” Armenian Honorary Consul in the Ural Federation Okrug
Artashes Chlingaryan stated. To remind, March 28 three young men
assaulted two Armenians. “We all understand that the assault was
committed in anger and was not against the Armenian nationality. It’s a
mere coincidence,” Chilingaryan said. According to him, representatives
of the Armenian Diaspora will not dispute the decision despite the
fact that the police detained the malefactors and found nationalistic
literatures in their homes, reported Ekho Moskvi.

GROUP FOR INTERPARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP WITH AZERBAIJAN TO BE ESTABLISHED IN UAE’S PARLIAMENT

Caucaz, Georgia
April 12 2006

Baku, 12 April 2006 (Trend.az – website) – A group for
interparliamentary friendship with Azerbaijan is established in
National Federal Association (NFA) of United Arab Emirates. This issue
has been discussed at thee meeting between Eldar Salimov, Azerbaijan’s
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to UAE and Muhammad
Salem Al-Mezrui, Secretary General (head of executive department), NFA.

Mr Salimov told Trend that in the course of the conversation Secretary
General was informed of running the group for interparliamentary
friendship with UAE in Azerbaijan; moreover, the hope was expressed
for establishment of the similar association in UAE.

Mr Al-Mezrui has outlined the high level of bilateral relations both
in political and cultural spheres, which gives the ground for close
interparliamentary cooperation as well. Too, Secretary General greeted
the creation of friendship group in Milli Medjlis and promised to
create the similar interparliamentary group in NFA at the forthcoming
summer session. The hope was expressed at the meeting for bilateral
visits at the level of parliament speakers.

Mr Al-Mezrui again highlighted the UAE’s support to the right position
of Azerbaijan regarding Nagorno-Karabakh resolutions and expressed
intentions for the further support and help to brotherly Azerbaijan
and its refugees and forced migrants.

FIRST VOLUME OF “WHO IS WHO: ARMENIANS” BIOGRAPHIC ENCYCLOPEDIA PUBLISHED

Noyan Tapan
Apr 12 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The editorial staff of the
Armenian encyclopedia published the first volume of the “Who is
Who: Armenians” biographic encyclopedia. It involves biographies
of all those famous Armenians from the pagan times till our days,
who have had significant achievements in different spheres: science,
culture, policy, etc. Famous figures of the recent 20-25 years who
have founded or developed separate directions of science, culture
and other spheres, have a scientific degree of doctor of sciences,
drafted and built buildings, were honoured with the title of USSR and
RA People’s and Honourary Artist, as well as with highest military
titles, RA President’s state, literary and other prizes, confered
state and other orders, are presented in the encyclopedia. According
to people forming the volume, particularly, separate participants of
the national-liberating movement, Diasporan Armenian public-political
figures were not involved in the “Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia” for
the first time published in Armenian during the years of Soviet power,
what was provided by ideology and policy of time. This omission was
partly completed in the “Armenian Brief Encyclopedia” (in 1991-2003),
but while preparing the “Who is Who: Armenians” encyclopedia, the
publishing house made an attempt to complete all the omissions.

CHANGE OF CURRENT FORMAT OF MEDIATORIAL MISSION ON SETTLEMENT OF NK CONFLICT IS INEXPEDIENT – RENE VAN DER LINDEN
Author: R.Abdullayev

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 10 2006

“Both Azerbaijan and Armenia are members of the Council of Europe (ÑÅ)
and we are interested in advancement of the negotiations on settlement
of the Nagonorno-Katrabakh conflict between the countries,” Rene Van
der Linden, the President of PACE, stated at a news conference on
opening of the PACE spring session on Monday, the correspondent of
Trend in Strasbourg reports.

Linden noted there was no progress during the last meeting of the
Azerbaijani-Armenian presidents (Rambue, France -‘Trend’ ).

“Nevertheless, in our opinion the sides must come to the peaceful
solution of the problem in the final,” he stressed.

Besides, Linden said it was wrong to change the current format of the
mediatorial mission. “We will wait for completion of the negotiations
through the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group,” he underlined. The
President of PACE said that replace of the mediatorial format of the
OSCE Minsk Group to the CE format was inexpedient.

–Boundary_(ID_sufU2BD6eIkI4YkY79tsr g)–

EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO SOUTH CAUCASES MEETS IN YEREVAN WITH NKR PRESIDENT

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 10 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Ambassador Piter
Semneby, the newly appointed Special Representative of the European
Union to South Caucasus met with NKR President Arkadi Ghukasian
on April 8 in Yerevan. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the NKR
Permament Representation to the RA, during the taken place detailed
conversation, the sides presented their approaches connected with the
last developments of the peaceful settlement process of the Karabakh
problem and the possible activization of the role of the European
Union in that context. The NKR President emphasized the importance of
keeping and strengthening the cease-fire regime and again re-affirmed
the necessity of the direct participation of the Karabakh side in
the negotiation process.

PUNISHMENT OF A SINGLE DEPUTY BOYCOTTING A SESSION OF THE PARLIAMENT CANNOT BE CONSIDERED POLITICAL PERSECUTION

Yerevan, April 8. ArmInfo. Punishment of a single deputy boycotting
a session of the National Assembly cannot be considered political
persecution, said to ‘Voice of Armenia’ newspaper Vahan Hovhannisian,
Vice Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly.

Mr. Hovhannisian stated that the National Assembly must be respected
as a state institution, irrespective of its ‘content’. He said that
taking part in the sessions of the parliament is the compulsory
commitment of each deputy and those neglecting their duty must be
brought to responsibility, although the public may consider the
punishment as political persecution. Mr. Hovhannisian said that the
question of official punishment for scamper-deputies will be raised
in the Constitutional Court.

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV AT RECEPTION IN HONOR OF PRESIDENT OF TURKEY AHMET NECDET SEZER

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
April 5 2006

President of the Turkish Republic, my dear brother Ahmet Necdet Sezer!

Dear Semra khanum!

Ladies and gentlemen!

Dear guests!

Let me cordially greet you once again, and say “Welcome”. We attach a
great importance to this visit, because this visit will give a powerful
impetus to our bilateral relationship. The ties between Turkey and
Azerbaijan are based on friendship and fraternity. Our nations have
always been bound by very close ties. However, our interstate relations
were established after Azerbaijan became independent, and they have
been very rapidly developing ever since.

Turkey was the first country to recognize Azerbaijan’s independence,
and we have always felt Turkey’s help and support. We are very grateful
to you for the help and support.

There are fundamental principles our relationship is based on. The
great leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s “Sorrow of Azerbaijan is sorrow
of ours, its joy is joy of ours”, and the national leader of the
Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev’s “Turkey and Azerbaijan are one
nation, two states” are the principles, which our today’s relationship
is based on, and I am confident it will be even strengthened in
the future.

The relations and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey are of
great significance for not only our two nations, but also the entire
region; in particular, nowadays, when Turkey and Azerbaijan have
consolidated their positions in both the region and the world: the
joint large-scale energy projects are of great importance not only for
development, strengthening peace and security in the region but also
for the whole world. This year, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline
is to start operating; at the same time, the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas
pipeline is to be commissioned. Those are global-scale projects, and
they, first of all, will make our states stronger, and simultaneously,
will increase our significance.

Azerbaijan and Turkey are being transformed to very important
countries to deliver the Caspian natural resources to the European
and world markets.

In addition, connection of railways is also a very important issue,
and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project is already in the agenda.

Today, we have talked and exchanged views about it. I am sure, this
project will also be realized, and thereby, the railway connecting
Central Asia and Azerbaijan to Turkey, will be put into operation.

Some people once regarded the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project
as a legend. However, our joint efforts, successful activities and
regional cooperation have turned the legend into reality. I do not
doubt that the outstanding projects will also be successful.

Today, the ways of solution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh have also been discussed. As you are aware, Turkey
has always been side by side with Azerbaijan in this problem. We have
always felt this support, and it is a very important factor to us,
the one, which makes Azerbaijan’s positions stronger. Azerbaijan is
seeking solution to the conflict only on the base of the international
legal norms. The international legal norms must work everywhere. The
international norms must be observed, and equal treatment rules must
be provided to all. We live in this world, are part of the world,
and the norms accepted in international organizations must be a basis
for each country. Azerbaijan’s position is exactly that territorial
integrity of our country recognized by the United Nations must be
restored. Sovereignty of Azerbaijan must be restored, the occupied
lands must be cleared from the occupation forces, and Armenia must
eliminate the consequences of its policy of ethnic cleansing against
Azerbaijanis. This position of ours is unchangeable, and solution
to the conflict can be found only if based on those principles. The
Turkey’s support to Azerbaijan, its related statements and proposals
are of great importance for us, and play a great role in the settlement
of conflict.

Our economic cooperation is rapidly developing. Trade turnover
has grown very rapidly over the last years. It indicates that our
economic relations have also reached a new phase. It makes us very
happy because solid economic relations will have an adequate impact
on other fields. Economic progress in Turkey and Azerbaijan is now
obvious. Turkey’s economy is growing and developing rapidly. Last
year, economic growth rate in Azerbaijan made up 26.4 percent. This
year, this figure will be higher. There will be new opportunities,
new projects to realize. We invite Turkish businessmen operating in
Azerbaijan to cooperation. There are already thousands of business
people who are living and working in Azerbaijan. For our part, we
will always try to take care of and provide assistance to them.

Necessary measures to improve investment environment are also
underway. The stronger economic relations will promote strengthening
those in all other fields.

I would like to reiterate that what unites us are our historic roots,
joint history, traditions, religion, language and culture. Those
are great basis, on which the two brotherly countries – Turkey and
Azerbaijan – are strengthening their relations and working on new
projects. It is reality that the issues of great importance to our
countries, the region, and the world, are solved in Ankara and Baku.

I do not doubt that our positions will become even stronger in the
future. The Turkey-Azerbaijan cooperation is the basic condition for
our successful development.

My dear brother, esteemed head of state, I welcome you again here
in Baku.

Thank you.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
04/06/2006
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1) Thirty US Representatives Urge PBS Not to Provide Platform for Armenian
Genocide Deniers
2) Turkey Renews Support for Azerbaijan in Karabagh Conflict
3) US Realizes Importance of Maintaining Aid Parity between Armenia And
Azerbaijan
4) Azerbaijan Again Violates Ceasefire During Monitoring

1) Thirty US Representatives Urge PBS Not to Provide Platform for Armenian
Genocide Deniers

WASHINGTON, DC–Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) was joined by Representative
George Radanovich (R-CA), Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank
Pallone
(D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), and a bipartisan group of twenty-six US
Representatives in urging the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) not to provide
a broadcast platform for deniers of the Armenian genocide, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
In an April 3 letter, addressed to PBS Chief Operating Officer Wayne Godwin,
the House Members addressed the growing controversy surrounding plans by
PBS to
broadcast a panel discussion including known Armenian genocide deniers Justin
McCarthy and Omer Turan following the airing this April of the documentary
“The
Armenian Genocide,” produced by Andrew Goldberg. The ANCA has formally
protested PBS’s decision, and established an online WebFax program through
which close to 10,000 individuals have already registered their protests.
In their letter, the group of legislators urged that, “PBS not provide a
national platform to those who deny the Armenian genocide… Despite the
Turkish government’s concerted and well-financed effort to obscure and alter
history, there is no serious academic dispute about the Armenian genocide.”
The
letter closed by noting that, “Surely, PBS would not consider broadcasting a
documentary on the Holocaust, followed by a panel that included Holocaust
deniers. A commitment to balance does not mandate the inclusion of opinions
that are objectively false.”
“We want to thank Representatives Schiff, Radanovich, Pallone, and
Knollenberg
for their leadership in giving voice to the growing Congressional
opposition to
PBS’s deeply flawed decision to provide public airtime to deniers of the
Armenian genocide,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Clearly
their
concerns are being heard, as more and more PBS affiliates are deciding not to
run this panel discussion.”
The full list of signatories is as follows: Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Shelley
Berkley (D-NV), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Bob Filner (D-CA),
Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Steve Israel
(D-NY), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Carolyn Maloney
(D-NY),
James McGovern (D-MA), Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), Michael McNulty (D-NY),
Richard
Neal (D-MA), C. L. Butch Otter (R-ID), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Donald Payne
(D-NJ), Collin Peterson (D-MN), George Radanovich (R-CA), Steven Rothman
(D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Joe Schwarz (R-MI), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Mark
Souder (R-IN), John Sweeney (R-NY), Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Diane Watson
(D-CA),
and Anthony Weiner (D-NY).
In addition to the signatories of this letter, a number of other legislators
undertook individual efforts directly with PBS. Among these were Senator Boxer
(D-CA), who shared her concerns with San Francisco’s KQED, which recently
decided not to air the denial panel. Senator John Ensign (D-CA), the author of
the Senate version of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (SR 320), similarly
urged Las Vegas PBS affiliate KLVX not to air the panel, stressing that, “to
air this or any other denial would only serve to condone [the Turkish
government’s] denial and to ignore the reality of those atrocious acts that
were responsible for the loss of one and half million lives and for more than
half a million survivors being exiled.”
On the House side, individual letters were sent by Representative Zoe Lofgren
(D-CA) and James Langevin (D-RI). In her letter, Representative Lofgren
expressed hope that “PBS will evaluate this planned programming using the same
standard it would employ if deniers were discussing either [the Armenian or
Jewish] Holocaust.” Representative Langevin noted that, “I imagine that those
who deny the existence of the Holocaust would not be offered the same
chance to
air their views, and I question why the Armenian genocide appears to be
held to
a different standard.”
On April 4, Representative Schiff hosted a Capitol Hill screening of the PBS
documentary, “The Armenian Genocide,” to a standing-room only audience of
Members of Congress, Congressional staffers, members of the media, and
Armenian
American community activists. Representative Schiff was joined by
Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) and Representative Pallone in offering remarks
at the opening of the documentary, while director Andrew Goldberg led an
insightful question and answer session at the conclusion of the piece. Among
those in attendance were His Excellency Tatoul Markarian, Ambassador of the
Republic of Armenia to the US accompanied by Embassy staff, as well as former
US Ambassador to Armenia Michael Lemmon, and Pulitzer Prize winning author
Samantha Power.
On March 29, Representative Pallone delivered a House floor speech urging PBS
not to air the panel discussion, arguing that he “would not feel any different
about this issue if we were discussing Darfur, Rwanda or the Nazi Holocaust.
Genocide deniers should not have a forum. The quest for fair and balanced
information does not give a license to propagate false, misleading, and
offensive information about historical facts that relate to genocide.”
The Washington Post reported on February 16th that, “Thousands of Armenian
Americans are protesting the Public Broadcasting Service’s planned
panel-discussion program about Turkey’s role in the deaths of Armenians during
and after World War I. The 25-minute program has generated an outcry because
the panel will include two scholars who deny that 1.5 million Armenian
civilians were killed in eastern Turkey from 1915 to 1920.”

2) Turkey Renews Support for Azerbaijan in Karabagh Conflict

(AFP)–Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on Tuesday renewed his country’s
support for Azerbaijan in its territorial dispute with Armenia.
The dispute over the ethnic Armenian Karabagh “should be resolved within the
framework of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,” Sezer told reporters
after meeting his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev. This is “in line with
international norms,” Sezer added.
President Aliyev expressed gratitude for Sezer’s position on Karabagh and
support rendered to Azerbaijan in the settlement of the conflict.
Sezer was speaking at a news conference during a two-day official visit to
Baku, which focused on bilateral relations, regional and international
projects, and other matters of mutual interest.
During the meeting, he lauded economic ties with the booming Caspian Sea oil
economy, saying total trade volume would hit $1 billion in 2006.
Both Turkey and Azerbaijan have severed ties with Armenia, closing borders
and
imposing an economic blockade on Yerevan as a result of the Karabagh dispute.
Ankara is under European Union pressure to normalize ties with Armenia but
worries that reconciliatory moves sought by the bloc may damage its alliance
with Azerbaijan.
Turkish-Armenian ties have also been strained by Yerevan’s demands that
Turkey
recognize the Armenian genocide.

3) US Realizes Importance of Maintaining Aid Parity between Armenia And
Azerbaijan

YEREVAN (PanArmenian.Net)–Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the US
realizes the importance of maintaining aid parity between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, but providing more military aid to Azerbaijan than Armenia is
offset by the fact that Armenia received a grant through the Millennium
Challenge Account, while Azerbaijan did not.
“This is a matter of individual needs and demands, however we remember it is
necessary to keep parity. We now work with both parties,” said Rice.
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair, Representative Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI),
pointed out to Secretary Rice that, because of the Karabagh conflict, Armenia
and Azerbaijan preferred that the parties be treated in the same manner.
In response, Rice said “parity cannot be kept for the sake of parity, one
should try to establish normal relations between the parties and help them.”
Rice added that, “Azerbaijan is not ready to take part in the Millennium
Challenge Account now and we would not like Armenia to have an upper hand in
the issue. The slight difference in the assistance to the two states can be
endured.”
The US budget for fiscal year 2007 allocates $4.5 million to Azerbaijan and
$3.5 million to Armenia in military assistance.
Providing more military aid to Azerbaijan goes against the agreement struck
between the White House and Congress in 2001 to maintain parity in US military
aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan. This informal agreement was reached when
President Clinton was allowed to waive previous legislation prohibiting any
military aid to Azerbaijan.

4) Azerbaijan Again Violates Ceasefire During Monitoring

YEREVAN (Armenpress)–Azerbaijan once again violated ceasefire Thursday when
shots were reported during a routine radio-monitoring along the Armenian-Azeri
border near the Ijevan-Ghazakh region.
Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Seyran Shahsuvarian said that during the
monitoring, communication was established with the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) representatives conducting the monitoring on
the Azeri side. Shots were then registered from the Azeri side.
Although ceasefire violations have occurred sporadically since the 1994 cease
fire, they have become more frequent in recent weeks amid more aggressive war
rhetoric from Baku.

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NEARLY HALF OF RUSSIANS ARE “FOR” RUSSIA’S PARTICIPATION IN CONFLICT SETTLEMENT IN POST-SOVIET TERRITORY

l
16:31 04/05/2006

40% of Russians believe Russia is to render assistance to
self-proclaimed republics in the territory of the former USSR to
gain full and formal independence. The Russian Public Opinion Center
(VTsIOM) publishes the data based on a poll conducted on March 18-19,
2006.

Further, 26% believe, Russia should press South Ossetia, Abkhazia,
Nagorno Karabakh, and Transdnestr to rejoin the states they had
left. One third of respondents (34%) found it difficult to answer
the question. Mainly respondents with university and unfinished
university education tend to advocate international recognition of
the self-proclaimed republics (46%).

Answering the question about Russia’s reaction to military conflicts
in the CIS territory, 47% of respondents said, Russia should actively
strive to settle them itself, 36%, on the contrary, believe it
is necessary to give the role to international organizations (UN,
OSCE etc.) or even to military and political forces from outside
the CIS. It should be mentioned, there are more supporters of active
position of Russia among men (54% against 34%), and women’s opinion
is nearly equally divided (42% against 39%).

VTsIOM all-Russian public opinion poll was conducted on March 18-19,
2006.

1,600 persons from 153 settlements in 46 Russian regions and republics
were questioned. Statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM GENOCIDE
By Naush Boghossian, Staff writer

Long Beach Press-Telegram, CA
April 4 2006

The Armenian Genocide once observed primarily by Armenian-Americans
and marked by events in parochial schools and annual protests at
the Turkish Embassy is taking on a greater role in the culture of
Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Unified School District has launched a genocide
curriculum that more effectively teaches students about the killing
of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 considered the first large-scale
genocide of the 20th century.

And Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo hosted the first in
a series of training workshops Monday, with more than 300 teachers
reading witness testimonials and looking at survivors’ photographs
in the “Witness” exhibit on display at his office.

“I run an office where every day truth is powerful. It leads us to
justice, and I think the images out there speak truth and justice,”
Delgadillo said. The Genocide Education Project developed the
curriculum. It focuses on the 1915 genocide by the Ottoman Empire
against its Armenian citizens, but it also includes materials on
other genocides of the 20th century the Holocaust, Rwanda, Cambodia,
Bosnia and Darfur. California schools are required to discuss the
Armenian genocide in their 10th-grade modern world history classes.

An El Camino Real High School history teacher said “Witness” with its
stark portraits and poignant stories of victims brought to life for
him horrors from nearly 100 years ago. “We have a world history book
and it’s an excellent one but it only has two or three paragraphs
devoted to this time,” said James DeLarme, a 10th-grade teacher.

“This really opens your eyes and makes it real as to what happened.

It will help when I teach students about what happened.”

The Turkish government blames the deaths of Armenians on civil war
rather than an orchestrated massacre, and the U.S. government has
not yet formally recognized the killings as a genocide.