5 ARMENIAN PLAYERS TO PARTICIPATE IN "MOSCOW OPEN" INTERNATIONAL CHESS
TOURNAMENT
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. "Moscow Open" international chess
tournament will be held in Moscow for the second consecutive year on
February 2-10. Armenian chess players Vladimir Hakobian, Karen Asrian,
Artashes Minasian, Zaven Andriasian and Elina Danielian will
participate in the tournament.
Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
February 1, 2007
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
E-mail: [email protected]
SUPPORT GROWS FOR DINK RESOLUTION
Lawmakers’ Statements Mark the First Anniversary of his Assassination
Washington, DC – A congressional resolution condemning the murder of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink (H. Res. 102) continues to gain
strength, as five House Members added their support to the measure in
recent days.
Within the course of a week, Congressmen Jerry F. Costello (D-IL),
Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Edward Markey (D-MA), Ed Royce (R-CA), and Paul
Ryan (R-WI) joined the growing list of cosponsors, bringing the total
number of supporters to 49.
A human rights defender, Dink was prosecuted under Article 301 of the
Turkish penal code for his writings on the Armenian Genocide. He was
murdered on January 19, 2007 in broad daylight outside of his office at
Agos newspaper in Istanbul, Turkey.
To mark the one-year anniversary of his death, Representatives Joe Baca
(D-CA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Scott Garrett
(R-NJ), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Ed Royce (R-CA),
and Adam Schiff (D-CA) made statements before Congress expressing their
remorse and reiterating the importance of acknowledging the truth of the
Armenian Genocide.
"Hrant Dink was a man who called for tolerance, peaceful dialogue, and
greater civil rights for all Turkish citizens. He was a fierce defender
of freedom and believed all people have equal rights under the law,"
said Crowley, who introduced H. Res. 102 shortly after Dink’s murder. "I
hope my colleagues will join me in honoring the memory of Hrant Dink and
continue to urge the repeal of Article 301."
"In order to uphold our democratic values, it is imperative that America
demonstrates its commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms to
the rest of the world," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
"Article 301 is part and parcel with Turkey’s ongoing campaign to deny
the historical truth of the Armenian Genocide. We will continue to push
for passage of H. Res. 102."
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
###
NR#2008-012
Statements can be found on the Assembly’s website at the following
links:
Representative Joe Baca (D-CA):
_2008/Hrant_Dink_-_2008/Congre
ssional_Materials/M ember_Statement__Baca__D-CA___House_-_January_28__ 200
8.pdf
Representative Michael Capuano (D-MA):
_2008/Hrant_Dink_-_2008/Congre
ssional_Materials/M ember_Statement__Capuano__D-MA___House_-_January_2 8__
2008.pdf
Representative Joseph Crowley (D-NY):
_2008/Hrant_Dink_-_2008/Congre
ssional_Materials/M ember_Statement__Crowley__D-NY___House_-_January_1 7__
2008.pdf
Representative Scott Garrett (R-NJ):
_2008/Hrant_Dink_-_2008/Congre
ssional_Materials/M ember_Statement__Garret__R-NJ___House_-_January_28 __2
008.pdf
Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA):
_2008/Hrant_Dink_-_2008/Congre
ssional_Materials/M ember_Statement__Lofgreen__D-CA___House_-_Jan_23__ 200
8.pdf
Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ):
_2008/Hrant_Dink_-_2008/Congre
ssional_Materials/M ember_Statement__Pallone__D-NJ___House_-_Jan_22__2 008
.pdf
Representative Ed Royce (R-CA):
_2008/Hrant_Dink_-_2008/Congre
ssional_Materials/M ember_Statement__Royce__R-CA___House_-_Jan_22__200 8.p
df
Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA):
_2008/Hrant_Dink_-_2008/Congre
ssional_Materials/M ember_Statement__Schiff__D-CA___House_-_January_28 __2
008.pdf
DARCHINYAN FIGHTING FAME IN PHILIPPINES
Bulletin Wire
January 30, 2008 Wednesday
They will bay for his blood on Saturday but Filipino fight fans are
lavishing rock star treatment on Australian boxer Vic Darchinyan in
the lead-up to his world super flyweight title eliminator against
local hero Z Gorres.
An amazed Darchinyan said he was getting far more recognition in Cebu
City than in his adopted home of Sydney.
Prior to losing his IBF and IBO flyweight world titles to Nonito
Donaire last July, the Armenian-born slugger was fast becoming the
scourge of Filipino fighters.
Before leaving Australia last Saturday, Darchinyan joked he might
be public enemy number one in the Philippines after beating three of
their other boxers.
So far, the only think it looks like Darchinyan will be killed with
is kindness.
"I can’t believe how they are treating me very well, they are very
good," Darchinyan told AAP.
"Everyone is recognising me. Even in the car, I was sitting in the
middle of the back seat, cars are passing us and they can see me and
recognise and start following us.
"They are recognising me here much more than in Australia."
Darchinyan’s manager Elias Nasser said his fighter had been in huge
demand for autographs and photos.
"He’s like a rock star. It’s unbelievable, he gets stopped every step
he takes," Nasser said.
"There are groups of people taking photos of him. At a media workout
he signed about 250 autographs.
The Filipinos hospitality extended to putting a boxing ring and a
couple of punch bags in the gym of the hotel and casino complex where
the fight will be held.
"I’m very fit, I’m sharp, my speed is very good, I’m very strong,
I feel great, I’m ready for everything," Darchinyan said.
Nasser said Darchinyan was running 10km on a treadmill just over two
hours after arriving in the Philippines.
"Vic is absolutely and unbelievably hungry, I truly think that he
will stop Gorres," Nasser said.
Darchinyan completed his sparring last Monday in a light session with
his stablemate Hussein Hussein, who will challenge Donaire in Dubai
on April 4.
That card will also feature big-punching, Sydney-based Filipino Ranee
Ganoy, who will fight Julio Diaz in an eliminator for the IBF number
two lightweight rating.
Donaire will be at Saturday’s promotion, which also features unbeaten
Australia junior lightweight champion William Kickett in a contest
against Filipino Romeo Jakosalem.
ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BACKS COOPERATION WITH BOTH RUSSIA, NATO
Mediamax
Jan 30 2008
Armenia
Yerevan, 30 January: An Armenian presidential candidate, who is
also a deputy speaker of the parliament and member ofthe [Armenian
Revolutionary Federation] Dashnaktsutyun party bureau, Vahan
Hovhannisyan, said in Yerevan today that heconsiders as righteous
Yerevan’s choice of the "multi-layer" model of security provision.
Vahan Hovhannisyan said this today at his meeting with journalists
in the Information Center on NATO in Yerevan.
The Information Center on NATO sent out invitations to all the nine
presidential candidates with a proposal topublicly present their
approaches to the issue of security provision in Armenia.
Vahan Hovhannisyan noted that Armenia has the opportunity to expand
cooperation with Russia within the framework ofthe Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO), as well as with NATO. The presidential
candidate noted that Armenia keeps to a constructive stance, trying
not to gamble on contradictions but find common interests.
Vahan Hovhannisyan noted that the absence of diplomatic relations
between Armenia and Turkey undoubtedly influencesthe public perception
of NATO in Armenia. The presidential candidate also noted that
"in Soviet times we perceived NATO as a defender of the free world,
however, after the collapse of the USSR, when our eyes opened, we
realized that byno means all the member states of the alliance are
as free and democratic as we considered them to be".
============================
WESTERN DIOCESE E-NEWSLETTER
===========================
Diocesan News
—————–
PRIMATE PAYS OFFICIAL VISIT TO GREEK ORTHODOX METRIPOLITAN OF SAN
FRANSISCO & PATRIARCHAL ATHENAGORAS ORTHODOX INSTITUTE
On Wednesday, January 30, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate of the Western Diocese, was the honored guest at a reception
and luncheon hosted by His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos, the Head
of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco.
( tory.php?id=821)
Upcoming Events
—————–
======================= =====
The Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, providing
spiritual guidance and leadership to the Armenian Apostolic community,
is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization comprised of 47
churches in 16 western states. It was established in 1898 as the
Diocese of the Armenian Church encompassing the entire United States
and Canada. In 1927 the Western Diocese was formed to exclusivly serve
the western United States.
3325 North Glenoaks Blvd. Burbank, CA 91504
Tel: (818) 558-7474 Fax: (818) 558-6333
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE STATED THAT THE TEAM OF THE EX-PRESIDENT "RECEIVED HUGE FINANCING FROM OUTSIDE"
Mediamax
January 30, 2008
Yerevan /Mediamax/. "Levon Ter-Petrosian does everything to destabilize
the situation in the country", Armenian presidential candidate, Leader
of "National Unification" Party (NUP) Artashes Geghamian stated in
Yerevan today.
Mediamax reports that, speaking today at the meting with the youth,
Artashes Geghamian stated that the team of the Ex-President has
received "huge funding from outside and tries to justify in every
possible way the upcoming failure of its Leader during the presidential
elections".
According to him, "the participation of Levon Ter-Petrosian in the
present election campaign is the project of Robert Kocharian and is
directed to the establishment of an atmosphere of fear in the country".
Leader of NUP stated that the return of the Ex-President and
his company to power will have catastrophic consequences for the
country. "Those people are avengers, and not creators, and they intend
to continue the interrupted robbery of the country", Geghamian stated.
TER-PETROSIAN DEFENDS KARABAKH STANCE
By Astghik Bedevian
Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
Jan 30 2008
Former President Levon Ter-Petrosian brushed aside on Wednesday
accusations of defeatism leveled against him by President Robert
Kocharian and reaffirmed his stated commitment to seeking a compromise
solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Campaigning in the eastern Gegharkunik region, the opposition candidate
said he will make peace with Azerbaijan and ensure continued Armenian
control over Karabakh if he wins the upcoming presidential election.
Reacting to Ter-Petrosian’s harsh anti-government rhetoric at the
weekend, Kocharian renewed his allegations that his predecessor is
ready to place the disputed region back under Azerbaijani rule. He
said Ter-Petrosian would go so far as to disband Armenia’s armed
forces in order to "get chummy with Azerbaijan."
"If he takes cooperation of peoples and good neighborhood as
chumminess, that is the expression of his cultural level, his state
of mind," Ter-Petrosian shot back at a campaign rally in Vartenis,
a small town near the eastern shore of Lake Sevan.
"Yes, I am stating that the land which has been Armenian for 3,000
years will remain Armenian for another 3,000," he said, referring to
Karabakh. "That achievement has to be formalized by an international
treaty, after which we will cooperate and establish good-neighborly
relations with Azerbaijan.
"Because our main conduit to the outside world is Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani railway used to handle 85 percent of Armenia’s external
cargo turnover."
Ter-Petrosian was forced to step down ten years ago by his key cabinet
members, including then Prime Minister Kocharian, for advocating
a phased settlement of the conflict with Azerbaijan that would
indefinitely delay agreement on Karabakh’s status. Kocharian and his
allies stood for a so-called package peace deal that would formalize
Karabakh’s secession from Azerbaijan and settle all sticking points
at once. The Kocharian administration now appears to have agreed, in
principle, to international mediators’ most recent peace plan which
is very similar to the one advocated by Ter-Petrosian in 1997 and 1998.
Verbal attacks on Kocharian and Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian
were again the central theme of Ter-Petrosian’s speeches in the
unemployment-stricken area. He again charged that their decade-long
rule has been "based" on vote rigging and the 1999 terrorist attack
on the Armenian parliament.
"Imagine Robert Kocharian’s rule continuing for another ten years in
the form of Serzh Sarkisian," he told hundreds of people rallying in
Vartenis. "This is such a nightmarish prospect which I wouldn’t wish
even to my enemies."
"Take back the victories which were stolen from you in [the
presidential elections of] 1998 and 2003. This is your victory. Take
care of your victory," added outspoken ex-president.
"Yerevan is with us," claimed one of his top allies, Hanrapetutyun
party leader Aram Sarkisian. "We’ve won there. We only have to prevail
in the regions."
Ter-Petrosian, who himself had been accused of rigging elections
while in power, attracted visibly strong voter interest during his
latest campaign trip, with hundreds of people attending his rallies
in Vartenis, the nearby town of Martuni and several local villages.
In two of those villages, opposition supporters slaughtered sheep
and danced to folk music as they greeted Ter-Petrosian.
While the number of people listening to his speeches was relatively
high, not all of them were Ter-Petrosian supporters. "He destroyed
what we had. How can we be happy?" said one man, recalling Armenia’s
economic meltdown of the early 1990s.
"I had no job here during his rule and I have no job now," said
another. "Nor will I have one under the next president."
MEMBERS OF THE PRE-ELECTION MISSION OF PACE AD HOC COMMITTEE IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
National Assembly of RA
Jan 30 2008
Armenia
On January 29 Mr. Tigran Torosyan, RA NA President, received the
members of the pre-election mission of PACE Ad hoc Committee to observe
the presidential elections headed by Mr. John Prescott will arrive
in Armenia. Ms. Bojana Urumova, Special Representative of the Council
of Europe Secretary General to Armenia participated in the meeting.
Welcoming the guests Mr. Tigran Torosyan, NA President, expressed
confidence that this visit and the visits preceding the elections will
promote holding the presidential elections in Armenia in compliance
with international standards. He handed over the members of the
pre-election mission of PACE Ad hoc Committee the certificate on the
amendments made in the Electoral Code, for which served as a basis
the recommendations and considerations of the Venice Commission of
the Council of Europe and OSCE/ODIHR experts on the drawbacks noticed
during the conduct of the parliamentary elections. Reminding that the
parliamentary elections were assessed highly by the international
observers, the NA President stressed also the conduct of the
presidential elections in a best way, which will give opportunity
to confirm that the democratic elections in Armenia are becoming
a tradition. The compliance of the elections with the democratic
standards was also stressed in the aspect of the fulfillment of the
obligations undertaken by Armenia in joining the Council of Europe.
Mr. John Prescott, head of the Pre-election mission of PACE Ad hoc
Committee to observe the presidential elections in Armenia conveyed
the best wishes of the PACE President to NA President and said that
in the Council of Europe he enjoys an authority of an honest man, who
distinctly expresses his opinion about good and bad. Mr. John Prescott,
who is the first time in Armenia, noted that getting familiarized
with the reports regarding the parliamentary elections in 2003 and
2007 he had seen positive developments and progress. As he assessed,
it’s important that the elections will be democratic and the results –
acceptable for everybody. At his request the NA President clarified
why being a presidential candidate, the Prime Minister continues
to hold office. It was noted that such precedent had already been
in 1998 (moreover at that time the prime minister in office was not
only a presidential candidate, but he was replacing the president),
besides that, an expert of international organizations never raised
such a question on legislation, that the prime minister in-office
cannot be a presidential candidate. Besides that, in order to get
an exhaustive answer to the question on different opportunities of
coverage one of the European structures has been invited to hold
monitoring and present its data.
At the meeting the sides touched upon the role of the police, courts
at the pre-electoral period and in the aspect of organization of
elections, clarified their role and the issues concerning their
functions.
The members of the Armenian delegation to PACE in the National
Assembly met the members of the Pre-election mission of PACE Ad hoc
Committee to observe the presidential elections, headed by Mr. John
Prescott. Ms. Bojana Urumova, Special Representative of the Council
of Europe Secretary General to Armenia participated in the meeting.
Mr. Prescott noted that they had meetings with the presidential
candidates Mr. Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Mr. Artur Baghdasaryan,
who expressed their dissatisfaction in connection with broadcast
time and some cases of terrorism. In Mr. Prescott’s opinion, as it
is election campaigning, then it is possible that the candidates
present more than it is in reality. Mr. Prescott was surprised that
the terms power candidate and opposition candidate are used. The
delegation also met with the head of OSCE/ODIHR office: tomorrow
the first intermediate report of the office will be published. In
the impression of the delegation members after the publication of
the report of every group observing the elections a positive move
is recorded. The head of the mission expressed conviction that the
upcoming elections will record positive step, and the real assessment
of the elections can be given only after elections.
Welcoming the guests Mr. Davit Harutyunyan, head of the Armenian
delegation to PACE, chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State
and Legal Affairs highlighted the fact that the situation is free
in the country in connection with mass media. Mr. Harutyunyan noted
with regret that during the parliamentary elections a monitoring
was held of electronic media through Caucasus Media Institute,
trustworthy organization by PACE, but this time it will not be
held. In his words, the representatives of power and opposition
referred to the data presented by Caucasus Media Institute with
confidence. The next important step, according to Mr. Harutyunyan,
is to put a stamp in the passports of the voting persons, which will
exclude double voting. The reforms made in the judicial system –
is also an important step in the direction of holding democratic
elections: from now the electoral disputes will be examined not in
ordinary courts, but in administrative courts. In Mr. Harutyunyan’s
conviction, mechanisms are imported, which give opportunity not only to
hold elections at due level, but also create public confidence toward
the due process of elections. In his words Armenia is standing before
the serious changes, and those elections are possible only in case,
when the people trust the results of the elections.
Referring to the opposition’s accusations on providing unequal
broadcast time Mr. Avet Adonts, member of delegation, Chairman of
the NA Standing Committee on European Integration, noted that the
studies show that some candidates of opposition have more broadcast
time than the candidate of power.
At the meeting other issues regarding the electoral processes were
discussed.
TURKISH PROFESSOR FALLS VICTIM TO ARTICLE 301
PanARMENIAN.Net
30.01.2008 14:49 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A Turkish court has handed down a 15-month suspended
jail term to an academic found guilty of insulting the state’s founder,
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Professor Atilla Yayla said the trial highlighted the limits on free
speech and academic debate in Turkey.
His crime was to suggest in academic discussion that the early Turkish
republic was not as progressive as portrayed in official books.
His lawyers say they will lodge an immediate appeal.
Professor Yayla said he was prepared to take his case to the European
Court of Human Rights if necessary. "I want to emphasize again and
again that Turkey’s most pressing problem is freedom of expression,"
he said.
"Turkey should evolve into being a country where people are not
punished because of their thoughts."
The prosecutor had asked the judge to impose a five-year prison
sentence.
This trial has become a test of academic freedom in Turkey, which is
pursuing a long-term ambition to become an EU member.
Mr Yayla had also warned that, as Turkey moved closer to Europe,
Europeans would inevitably question why Turks displayed so many
pictures and statues of Ataturk. The professor was vilified by parts
of the Turkish press, suspended from work at an Ankara university,
and brought to trial.
Mr Yayla, a well-known liberal, denied the charge of insulting Ataturk
and argued that academics must be guaranteed freedom of expression
to pursue their research.
The Turkish parliament is preparing to debate amending another law
that restricts free speech.
Article 301 on "insulting Turkishness" has been used to prosecute
dozens of writers and intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner
Orhan Pamuk.
"Many foreign observers concentrate on article 301, but there are
other laws and articles in different laws, which have the potential
to restrict freedom of expression, as it is in my case," Mr Yayla said.
"What is important is that Turkey should evolve into being a country
where people are not punished because of their thoughts. And to achieve
this we ought to make reforms in the whole legal system and also change
the mentality in the judiciary. Otherwise Turkey will go on suffering."
The EU has been pressing for a change to Article 301 for well over a
year, but the government has faced stiff opposition from nationalists,
both within the ruling party and in the opposition.
But changes to the law which protects Ataturk are not up for
discussion, BBC reports.
CANDIDATE FOR ARMENIAN PRESIDENT: "CONCESSIONS AND COMPROMISES IN THE GARABAGH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT ARE INADMISSIBLE, AS AZERBAIJAN WILL NOT STOP ON THAT"
Today
s/42733.html
Jan 29 2008
Azerbaijan
Candidate for Armenian President from the Popular Party Tigran
Karapetyan considers compromises in the settlement of the Garabagh
conflict to be inadmissible.
"I consider the concessions and compromises in the Garabagh conflict
settlement to be inadmissible, as Azerbaijan will not stop on that
and will continue to present claims", Tigran Karapetyan told a press
conference Tuesday.
Karapetyan also voiced doubt that the concessions will help settle
the problem.
"Such approach settles only the issue of refugees, while other problems
will remain unsolved", the candidate for Armenian President noted.