Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

Armenian authorities announce amnesty for draft dodgers
Arminfo
26 Apr 05
YEREVAN
The Armenian Prosecutor-General’s Office is closing criminal cases
initiated under Part 3 of Article 327 of the Criminal Code – dodging
compulsory military service in the Armenian army.
Cases that are being considered by the prosecutor’s office will be
dropped if draft dodgers voluntarily come to military enlistment
offices for the spring call-up, the press service of the
Prosecutor-General’s Office has told Arminfo news agency. But it did
not give the number of the people facing the charges.
The spring call-up is to start on 2 May, in accordance with the
Armenian president’s decree on the spring military call-up and
discharge of servicemen in 2005.

China Daily
April 25 2005
Armenia marks 90th anniversary of Ottoman Empire massacres
Bill Gasperini

Tens-of-thousands of Armenians, including top officials, led a series
of events to mark the 90th anniversary of mass killings by Ottoman
Turks that began in 1915. The small Caucasus Mountain nation says the
killings constitute genocide, a claim that Turkey has long disputed.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian led a silent march, and laid
flowers at a monument to victims of the killings in the country’s
capital, Yerevan.
The commemoration follows a candlelight procession Saturday, as
Armenians remember those killed beginning in 1915.
Armenia says 1.5 million people were killed or starved to death in
what they say was a systematic extermination campaign at a time when
Christian Armenians constituted a sizable minority in the Muslim
Ottoman Empire.
But Turkey has long maintained that up to 300,000 Armenians and
thousands of Turks died in civil strife that accompanied the chaotic
collapse of the empire.
The Armenians rose up against their Ottoman rulers and sided with
Russian troops when they invaded Turkey as World War I raged
throughout Europe.
Bitterness over the issue has long strained relations between the two
neighbors, which do not maintain formal diplomatic relations.
Armenian Justice Minister David Arutionian insists that the killings
constituted the first genocide of the 20th century, and that Turkey
has to admit to this.
In recent weeks, there have been signs of a possible thaw between the
two nations.
Turkey has offered to establish a joint commission to study the facts
about what happened, while Armenia says it would not demand financial
compensation, if Turkey acknowledged the killings as genocidal.
Ankara has come under increasing pressure from the international
community, especially as it will soon start talks about joining the
European Union.
15 nations including Russia, France and Poland have said the killings
were genocide. The United States has not.

French minister accuses Turkey of revisionism over Armenian “genocide”
Sources: Europe No 1 radio, Paris, in French 1100 gmt 24 Apr 05;
French news agency AFP, Paris, in French 0857 gmt, 1622 gmt 24 Apr 05
With regard to the commemoration of the Armenian genocide in 1915,
tens of thousands of people have been meditating since this morning in
Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, in front of the monument to the
victims. [Passage omitted]
This morning Trade Minister Patrick Devedjian [title as heard – is in
fact minister-delegate in charge of industry], whom we mentioned a
short while ago and who is of Armenian origin, denounced state
revisionism on the part of Turkey.
[The French news agency AFP reported earlier that Patrick Devedjian
had “denounced Turkey’s ‘state revisionism'” during the programme
Parlons-en (Let’s talk about it) of the parliamentary TV channel
LCP. The agency quoted the minister as saying that it was not a
question of “recognizing Turkey’s guilt but the fact that a genocide
occurred”.
In a later report, AFP quoted Socialist Party leader Francois Hollande
as saying that the opposition Socialist group in the National Assembly
was going to “propose a law making denial of the Armenian genocide
punishable”.
According to AFP, in an address to an audience of 3,000 French people,
mostly of Armenian origin, Francois Hollande added that “if there is
no recognition of the genocide, there won’t be any accession of Turkey
to Europe. This is a clear, unambiguous position.”]

Pan Armenian News
ARMENIAN YOUTH RALLY NEXT TO TURKISH EMBASSY IN GEORGIA
23.04.2005 04:41
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 24 a mourning ceremony, commemorating the victims of
the Armenian Genocide in Turkey in 1915, will be held in Surb Echmiadzin
Armenian church in Tbilisi Havlabar district, Regnum news agency reported.
Armenian Ambassador to Georgia Georgi Khosroev and other representatives of
the Armenian diplomatic mission will take part in it. In the words of one of
the leaders of the Armenian community of Georgia, MP Van Bayburt, the event
will start at 11 a.m. in Surb Echmiadzin church territory, then the action
participants will move to the Tbilisi pantheon of Armenian writers and
cultural workers. Bayburt also reported that Nahapet (Commander-in-Chief)
feature film was screened today in Tbilisi Cinema House, at which
representatives of the Georgian public, the accredited diplomatic corps
representatives and others were present. Tomorrow a mourning concert will
take place in the Tbilisi Armenian Theater. According to the information of
the Deputy, April 24 the Armenian youth intend to gather in front of the
Turkish Embassy in Georgia and to submit a letter to the diplomatic mission.
As Van Bayburt accentuated, the rally next to the Embassy will be held `in a
civilized manner.’ `We understand that Turkey is a good partner of Georgia
today and we respect these relations. We condemn the Turkish regime at the
time,’ he stated.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
April 22, 2005
___________________
BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO ANCIENT STORIES
What did the Armenian Patriarch Gregory of Shirvan have in common with
the centuries-earlier Biblical prophet Jeremiah? No, not a beard or
long tunic.
How did a sharp businesswoman trading in dyed goods in 1st-century
Macedonia make a huge impact on the success of St. Paul’s mission? No,
she didn’t outfit him and his helpers in togas.
The answer to these two questions and many more can be found in the
pages of “Breathed by God,” a new high school textbook on Scripture, and
its traditional understanding in the Armenian Church.
Published by the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern),
the 16-session course — designed for everyone from teens to adults —
is part of the Diocese’s ongoing effort to provide an informative,
creative Armenian Christian curriculum.
The “Breathed by God” set consists of a student book and teacher guide.
It is engagingly laid out in a “Dummies Guide” format with sidebars,
vocabulary, and points of distinctly Armenian interest –written by
ACYOA Executive Secretary Nancy Basmajia, and Elise Antreassian,
Diocesan coordinator of Christian education — surrounding the main text
written by Valerie Goekjian Zahirsky, a former religious education
director at the Diocese and a graduate of the St. Vladimir’s and St.
Nersess Armenian Seminary joint master of divinity program.
Zahirsky, who has written extensively for the Diocese, has also served
as an ecumenical representative in such places as Australia and
Istanbul; conducted teacher-training events in Moscow, Romania, and
Albania; and been a frequent retreat leader and speaker. This project
was especially meaningful to her.
“Some people don’t realize how foundational the Bible is to our faith,
and it’s gratifying to help others make the wonderful discovery that
everything in the church is Biblical — the prayers, the liturgy, our
basic doctrines,” she said. “I think my favorite moments were when I
had to present some of the great personalities of the Bible — real
people, making real decisions. The two independent-minded midwives of
Moses’ time, for example, who had important but almost anonymous roles
in the Exodus story.”
But the project had its challenging moments as well, Zahirsky said, such
as “explaining some of the basic doctrines of our faith — the Trinity,
the person of Jesus, what it means to follow and become like Him.”
“Breathed by God” is one part of an ongoing revision of the Diocese’s
series of Armenian Christian curriculum texts.
“We are thrilled with the latest publication to accompany our basic
curriculum for students in kindergarten through 8th grade. We’re
continually working on new books and CDs on the Bible, the Divine
Liturgy, the history of the church, and much more,” said Antreassian,
who is overseeing the revision process.
“Breathed by God” will be launched in Diocesan Sunday Schools this fall.
But individuals can purchase copies now through the St. Vartan Bookstore
by going online to or calling (212) 686-0710
ext. 52. The student book is $10 and the teacher’s edition is $5, plus
shipping and handling.
Incidentally: Still wondering about the answers to the opening two
questions? Both the 18th-century Armenian patriarch and the 6th-century
BC prophet wore symbolic weights around their neck as protests (Jeremiah
wore a yoke, and Gregory a chain). And the businesswoman was Lydia, who
was baptized by Paul and proceeded to open her home for gatherings and
meetings of the early church.
— 4/22/05
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): “Breathed by God: The Bible and You”, written by
Valerie Goekjian Zahirsky, is the newest addition to the Eastern
Diocese’s Armenian Christian education curriculum and has a focus on
Scripture in the tradition and understanding of the Armenian Church.
# # #

Armenians condemn genocide
Northern District Times (Australia)
April 20, 2005 Wednesday
RYDE’S 10,000-strong Armenian community will commemorate, on Sunday,
the 90th anniversary of one of the darkest chapters in their history.
The first genocide of the 20th century claimed 1.5 million lives
when the Turkish Ottoman Empire exterminated the Christian Armenian
population living in Eastern Anatolia (Republic of Turkey) between
1915 and 1922.
Ryde Council unanimously backed Councillor Sarkis Yedelian’s motion
last Tuesday night to condemn the genocide.
Taline Soghomonian, 20, a youth member of the Armenian National
Committee of Australia, said she was pleased the motion was passed.
“I was very happy with it but there’s still a long way to go,” the
North Ryde resident said.
“Not a lot of people know about it because of the fact the Turkish
Government denies it.”
A plaque commemorating the anniversary will be unveiled at Memorial
Park, Meadowbank on Sunday at 12.30pm.

Armenian lobbying in US mounts up prior to April 24
TDN
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
DIPLOMACY
Armenian Diaspora places an advertisement in a US magazine allegorizing
alleged Armenian genocide to Sudan’s conflict in the Darfur region
ANKARA – Turkish Daily News
The influential Armenian diaspora in the United States has taken
another step for recognition of an alleged genocide via a full-page
advertisement in a U.S. news magazine, as April 24, the 90th
anniversary of the alleged genocide, approaches.
The Armenian lobby has stepped up a campaign for the international
recognition of the alleged genocide at the hands of the late Ottoman
Empire at the beginning of the last century, placing a full-page
advertisement in the latest issue of the U.S. News and World Report
magazine accompanied by a photograph of a person who was alleged to
have escaped the genocide. 
The advertisement, prepared by the International Institute for Genocide
and Human Rights Studies, a division of the Zoryan Institute of Canada,
was sponsored by an Armenian whose ancestors had escaped the alleged
genocide and who doesn’t want to be identified, the Anatolia news
agency reported according to information from the Zoryan Institute.
Referring to the conflict in Darfur, Sudan, which is described
by the U.S. Congress as amounting to genocide committed by the
Sudanese government and its militia allies against non-Arab groups,
the advertisement, by use of the phrase “Déjà vu?” implies
that a new genocide is being experienced in Darfur today. 
According to Ross Vartian, a spokesman for the Armenian diaspora in
the United States and executive chairman of the Armenian Assembly of
America, a resolution upholding Armenian allegations is to be presented
today to the U.S. Congress. A similar resolution was pushed forward
in the House of Representatives in 2000 but was withdrawn after the
Bill Clinton administration intervened.
–Boundary_(ID_FRY89oKIE43r8P9yLgjbwA)–

A1plus
| 17:31:30 | 19-04-2005 | Politics |
EU-ARMENIA COMMISSION CALLED TO REFRAIN FROM MILITARISTIC STATEMENTS
The 7-th session of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Commission was held in
Strasbourg April 13-14.
Head of the Armenian parliamentary delegation, chairman of the
commission for foreign affairs Armen Rustamyan informed that the
delegates touched upon the political, economic and social situation
in Armenia, democratic processes, relations with neighbors, the
Karabakh problem, ecological problems and so on. The Commission issued
a resolution, which says, in part, “the South Caucasian states
should refrain from statements conflicting with the objectives of
the European policy and impeding the involvement of these states in
regional initiatives and projects.
The Commission reaffirmed the opinion on the closing of the Armenian
Nuclear Power Plant in case of launching alternative and safe energy
sources, welcomed the construction of the Armenian sector of the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, highlighted the regional cooperation and EU
assistance in conflict settling, protection of fundamental rights and
domination of law as well as the establishment of democratic values.
The Commission called the states of the region not to view the
Karabakh conflict settlement as a precondition for cooperation in
other areas. The resolution issued by the Commission also says that
the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict should be achieved
within the frames of the OSCE Minsk Group and via decisive steps
by Armenia and Azerbaijan. At the same time the Commission called
the parties to refrain from any statements, which could cause the
resumption of hostilities.
It should be noted that the Armenian Genocide issue was also discussed.
Reminding of the resolution of the European parliament on the Armenian
Genocide, the Commission called the Turkish leadership to take part
in the international reconciliation process on the threshold of the
90-th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

ISRAEL DENIES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DUE TO FRIENDSHIP WITH TURKEY
Pan Armenian News
18.04.2005 05:27
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Member of the Knesset Josi Saridi published an
article titled “Israel among Holocaust Deniers”, where he condemned
Israel’s’ position on the Armenian Genocide. The author holds the
opinion that the position of official Tel-Aviv is conditioned by
friendly relations with Turkey, which denies the Genocide to avoid the
responsibility. The second reason, according to the author, is that
the acknowledgement of another Genocide will diminish the role of the
Jewish Holocaust. “The Israeli Foreign Ministry is afraid of its own
shadow thus discrediting us and becoming an associate of the world
concealment of the Armenian Genocide”, Mr. Saridi writes. He draws a
parallel between the position of Israel on the Armenian Genocide and
the repressed Tibetans. “The leader of the repressed Tibetans Dalai
Lama has twice visited Israel and I was prohibited to meet with him,
since the meeting could cause a crisis in Chinese-Israeli relations
and twice I have neglected these bans. The analogous motivation reigns
in relations with Turkey. In my opinion the moral policy wins at
last while the mean one loses”, the article says, the International
Committee for the organization of events dedicated to the Armenian
Genocide 90-th anniversary reported. To note, being one of the few
officials, who criticize the policy of the Armenian Genocide denial
pursued by Israel, Mr. Saridi, former Israeli Minister of Culture
will visit Armenia to take part in the press conference to be held
within the frames of the events dedicated Armenian Genocide 90-th
anniversary, Arminfo agency reports.

TRIAL OF MILITARY INSTITUTE STIDENT SUICIDE CASE STARTS ON APRIL 14
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The trial of the case of suicide
committed by Vardan Movsisian, a student of Military Institute after
Vazgen Sargsian, in Akhtanak Park on October 28, 2004, started at the
court of first instance of Yerevan’s Avan and Nor Nork communities on
April 14. NT correspondent was imformed about this from the office of
Judge Khachatur Baghdasarian, chairman of the trial. To recap, in
connection of this case, charges have been brought against 6 students
of the same institute. 3 of them, having the rank of sergeant, are
charged under Article 375 of the RA Criminal Code “Abuse of Power,
Transgrassion of Authority or Administrative Dereliction” and Article
38-359 Part 1 and 3 “Complicity in Breach of Relations Prescribed by
Field Manuals, between Servicemen not Subordinated to Each Other”. The
other three are charged under Article 359 Part 1 and 3 “Breach of
Relations Prescribed by Field Manuals, between Servicemen not
Subordinated to Each Other” and Article 38-375 Part 1 and 2
“Complicity in Abuse of Power, Transgrassion of Authority and
Administrative Dereliction”.