Author: Zaminian Bedik

SOVIET WWII VICTORY SYMBOLS WITHDRAWN FROM GEORGIA

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
July 25, 2007 Wednesday 07:33 AM EST

Another freight train loaded with military hardware belonging to the
12th Russian military base stationed in Batumi is leaving Georgia
for Russia on July 26.

The train numbering 32 cars and platforms will transport 39 vehicles,
one trailer, artillery ammunition and lubricants to Russia.

"Russia’s WWII victory symbols that remained on the territory of the
Russian base- WWII tanks T-34. SAU -100 and artillery gun ZIS-3,
will be withdrawn from Georgia along with the Russian hardware,"
Aide to Russia’s Ground Troops Commander Colonel Igor Konashenkov
told Tass Wednesday.

Another train, which is the 14th in a row, was scheduled to leave
Georgia in the beginning of August, Colonel Konashenkov said.

Until the end of this year six more trains and a truck convoy will
pull out the property of the Batumi base from Georgia and bring it to
the 102nd Russian base in Gyumri in Armenia, Colonel Konashenkov said.

Russia fulfills its obligations on the withdrawal of military hardware
from Georgia in full and ahead of schedule, he stressed.

In the end of June Russia’s 62nd base in Akhalkalaki was turned over
to the Georgian Defense Ministry, despite an agreement between Moscow
and Tbilisi envisaging that the base was to have been turned over to
Georgia by October 1, Colonel Konashenkov said.

The agreement envisages that the Batumi base is to be closed altogether
in 2008.

IRANIAN ART SHINING IN ARMENIA

PRESS TV, Iran
July 24 2007

Iran’s Cultural Council in Armenia and the Cultural Department of
Armenia’s Shirak province have jointly staged an exhibition on Iran.

The Islamic Culture and Communication Organization announced that
the exhibition is held in the Armenian city of Gyumri, presenting
handicrafts, miniatures, and paintings with great cultural values.

Iran’s cultural attache in Armenia, Reza Otoufi, told Fars News
Agency that this is an opportunity to familiarize Armenians with
Iranian art and culture.

The event has met a warm welcome and many provincial newspapers have
reported the event.

GEORGIA: A NEW BILL ON THE REHABILITATION OF THE MESKHETIANS UNDER CONSIDERATION
By Sophie Tournon in Paris, translated by Kathryn Gaylord-Miles

Caucaz, Georgia
nu.php?id=322
July 24 2007

Since June 14th, the Georgian press has focused on the topic of the
Meskhetians, a population deported from Georgia in 1944 and never
rehabilitated. The Georgian Parliament has begun the consideration
of one of the most controversial questions, yet one that has sat on
Parliament’s back burner for the past fifteen years. The current haste
is curious, given the misunderstanding and indifference long sustained
by the question of rehabilitating one of the last peoples punished
by being forbidden to repatriate, along with the Crimean Tatars.

This unexpected bill is about the rehabilitation of 20,000 Meskhetians,
or more exactly, "deportees forced from Georgia in the 1940s by the
Soviet authorities," a formula that includes not only the Meskhetians
(or Meskhetian Turks) but also Soviet Turks, Kurds, Hamshenis (Armenian
Muslims) and Gypsies who were run off their land at the same time in
September 1944. Submitted by the majority political group, the National
Movement – the Democrats, in the most discreet manner possible, all the
same, the bill was unable to escape the general outcry raised by the
other parliamentary groups fiercely opposed to this poisonous issue.

To understand the desire for discretion by the deputies supporting
the bill, it must be remembered that the question of the return of the
Meskhetians is directly linked to two sensitive issues in Georgia. On
the one hand, these exiles, scattered throughout the post-Soviet space
(Central Asia, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Ukraine) represent a community
of 300,000 people whose identity poses a problem to the tenants of
a Georgian Georgia: the Meskhetians are Turkish-speaking Muslims who
have had practically no contact with their fatherland for more than
two generations. On the other hand, the question of their return
is often packaged with and dependent upon the return of Georgian
displaced persons from Abkhazia and North Ossetia. In both cases,
the Meskhetians’s repatriation faces a strong hostility as much from
the political class and the media, as from the civilian population
which only understands that "strangers" can reclaim the land and
rights that they themselves lack.

In any case, the bill’s well-known prudence has exploded into being,
dividing the parliament and perhaps the country on a question which
essentially has not been directly addressed since independence. Why
is this bill appearing now? The only worthwhile explanation resides
in the obligation the European Council imposed in 1999: in adhering
to it, Georgia accepts to resolve this problem within twelve years,
that is to say, before 2011. Time has passed, and bills have been
presented and rejected. Despite everything, the tergiversations of
different Georgian governments have been unable to modify the European
Council’s calendar. It was time to take action.

According to the bill, candidates for repatriation must present
themselves to the Georgian embassy in their country or to the Georgian
Minister of Refugees to register a request for repatriation status
before the 1st of January 2009. It is interesting to note that this
status is a Georgian "creation" on the international level, as it does
not correspond to any recognized legal practice. Once this status is
received, the applicants lose their nationality and become naturalized
Georgians. All the same, the documents-the content of which is not
yet known: it is unclear whether, applicants must prove that their
family was deported, as was the case under a preceding bill-are put
into files and are first studied by the Ministry of Internal Affairs,
which reserves the right of veto over their acceptance of the case. The
criteria of the decisions are not yet specified. Finally, for the
happy ones who are repatriated, no aid or compensation of any sort
is promised.

In the Parliament, the opposition demanded guarantees in posing
"good questions": will there be a quota policy to spread out the
returned people? Why does this bill speak of 20,000 Meskhetians,
while the total population exceeds two to three hundred thousand,
and the actual number of repatriation candidates is unknown? Will a
minimal knowledge of Georgian culture, laws, traditions and national
history be required for repatriation candidates? Will the opinion of
the public largely opposed to the "return of the Turks" be taken into
account? Finally, will the repatriated people be required to spread out
over all of Georgia, or may they create an ethnic enclave in Meskhetia?

This last point is crucial for the Conservative Party, whose
spokesperson Zviad Dzidziguri has assessed the bill as "a danger to the
State and the law" of Georgia. According to Dzidziguri, an uncontrolled
return of the Meskhetians will inevitably, automatically lead to
an ethnic conflict in Samtskhe-Javakheti, where a large Armenian
population lives. The Armenians’ fear is that such an "invasion"
would keep them out of Meskhetia.

The question of the Meskhetians’ rehabilitation opens the proverbial
can of worms. All the same, in a statement made during her visit
to France, Georgian Speaker of Parliament Nino Burjanadze affirmed
that the bill would serve as the basis for another law. Elsewhere,
the parliamentary majority emphasized the "collateral effect" sought
via this bill: a rapprochement with Europe which backs this bill,
and better presentibility for NATO, to which Georgia aspires.

Is it a new hope for Meskhetians desiring to rediscover the homeland
of their fathers, or is it a new false promise? The fate of the
disillusioned population no longer rests, as it long has, in the hands
of Georgia. Most have made the choice to become a part of their host
country. However, such a law, if it were adopted, would finally give
the choice to a punished people: the choice to stay or to return. The
choice to dream, in some sense…

ARTSAKH NEWS DIGEST
July 24, 2007 (# 7)

(Dear Reader, this issue comes to you directly from Artsakh!)

POLITICS

NKR Elects New President

Bako Sahakian, the winner of the July 19 election will become the next
president of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Sahakian, 49, received 85% of
the votes, while his main challenger, Masis Mayilian, obtained 12%. Voter
turnout was over 77% of all registered voters.

An active participant of the Karabakh Liberation Movement, Sahakian joined
the Karabakh self-defense forces in 1990. He subsequently rose to senior
positions in the NKR Defense Army and earned a number of medals, including
Combat Cross 1st Degree, Karabakh’s foremost decoration for valor in combat.
>From 1999 to 2001, Sahakian served as Minister of Internal Affairs and from
2001 until last month he headed the National Security Service. He holds a
law degree from the Artsakh State University and is married with two
children.

More than 100 international observers from the United States, Europe and CIS
countries monitored the voting process. The observers’ assessments
universally indicated that the elections were free, fair and democratic.
American observers said the election was on par with the NKR Constitution
and international standards. Vladimir Matic, head of the American monitoring
group, stated they would issue a report on the NKR election for the U.S.
Congress and other organizations. (The report will soon be available at
<;)

Foreign Minister Luis Amado of Portugal, the current holder of the EU
presidency, reaffirmed the EU full support for the OSCE efforts to mediate
in the Nagorno Karabakh dispute. He hopes for a complete and rapid
resolution of the conflict.

Matthew Bryza, the U.S. Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, stated that to
help resolve the Karabakh conflict, U.S. looking for a compromise between
the principles of territorial integrity and people’s right to
self-determination and "there’s no universal formula to do that."

Armenian President Robert Kocharian, speaking with the German Der Spiegel
magazine, once again ruled out the possibility of Karabakh’s subordination
to Azerbaijan. Kocharian said that he foresees NKR as part of an
"asymmetrical confederation" with Armenia.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

The American University of Armenia launched a development program in Artsakh
aimed at the growth of small and medium-size businesses in rural areas. The
program provided grants and loans to help develop tourism infrastructure. As
a result, several small hotels were constructed in the villages of Chartar,
Ashan, Badara and Mets Taghlar in various districts of NKR. (More about
investments and tourism in Karabakh at <;)

SOCIETY

In a good faith gesture and to help build trust between the two nations, the
Shushi Revival Fund has invited Azeri organizations to join the restoration
of the Shushi Mosque. The Ghazanchetsots All-Saints Armenian Church in
Shushi was turned into an ammunition depot by Azeri military forces which
held the town until May 1992. The church was restored several years ago with
the help from Armenian organizations and individuals (More about the
foundation at <;)

***
We would like to hear from you. Just reply to this email with your comments
<mailto:[email protected]?subject=Commen ts>. Thanks!

***
ARTSAKH NEWS DIGEST is a publication of the NKR Office.
The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is based in
Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia and the public
representing the official policies and interests of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic, Artsakh. The NKR Office is registered with the U.S. Government
under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Additional information is
available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 223-4330 Fax: (202) 315-3339
Email: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Web: <;

Congressman John Sarbanes joins Armenian Caucus of US Congress

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.07.2007 15:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Congressman John Sarbanes from Maryland has
officially joined the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues this
week, bringing the total Caucus membership to 155. He also supports
the adoption of H. Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution,
the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) reports. ~SWith H. Res. 106
gaining momentum, I look forward to working with my Caucus colleagues
to continue raising awareness of this critical human rights issue as
well as other issues affecting the Armenian-American community,~T the
Congressman underscored. ~SWe~Rre very excited to have Congressman
Sarbanes join this important group, especially with so much progress
being made on the Armenian Genocide Resolution. Having worked for
decades with his father, Senator Paul Sarbanes, we are pleased to
continue a strong family tradition with Congressman Sarbanes,~T Annie
Totah, a member of the Assembly~Rs Board of Trustees and a longtime
Maryland resident said.

The third international congress ‘Construction 2007′ starts on 20 July in Tsakhadzor

arminfo
2007-07-21 16:26:00

The third international congress "Construction 2007" will be held on
20-23 July in the Armenian town of Tsakhadzor.

As Arminfo was informed from the "MASTER" centre on support to the
world integration, which is the organizer of the congress, the problems
of the strategy of the Armenian construction complex development
will be discussed within the frames of the congress as well as the
problems of international and inter-regional cooperation in the sphere
of investments, construction and development of the building materials
and technologies market. The main topics of the congress are: , , , , .

Deputy Urban Minister Karlen Gevorkyan said that such events promote
the Ministry to draw out more correct programmes and the normative
and legal field. At the same time he added that construction sphere
has become active in Armenia over the last years. Executive director
of Trade and Industry Chamber of Armenia Gagik Vardanyan said that
construction in Armenia is conditioned by improvement of the social and
economic situation of the population. New technologies are introduced
in the construction sphere of Armenia, construction companies are
being created including the joint ones with foreign businessmen.

For his part, Director General of Constructors’ Union of Russia,
Mikhail Viktorov, said of importance of such congresses holding. He
also added that over the last years construction rates in Armenia
surpass those in Russia.

Congress was organized the "Master" center on support to the world
integration. Urban Ministry of Armenia and Constructors’ Union of
Armenia assist holding the congress.

IRAN FOREIGN MINISTER ASSURES HIS ARMENIAN COUNTERPART THAT TEHRAN INTENDS TO RESOLVE NUKE PROBLEM WITHIN FRAMES OF IAEA

arminfo
2007-07-20 16:31:00

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan and his Iranian college
Manouchehr Mottaki met on Friday. The Iranian minister is also Chairman
of Intergovernmental Commission for Coordination of Armenian-Iranian
Ties.

Armenian Foreign Ministry press-service reports that Vardan Oskanyan
welcomed the guest and highly appraised the bilateral ties. The
ministers stressed that the results of the countries’ friendly
relations of the last 15 years are reflected in the successes in
various spheres. Manouchehr Mottaki briefed on the work of the morning
session of the Bilateral Economic Commission. He said that a number of
important economic programmes were discussed at the session. Moreover,
the sides pointed out the preconditions for raising the commodity
turnover between Armenia and Iran.

The parties exchanged opinions on regional issues and the relations
with neighbours. Minister Oskanyan informed his colleague of the
democratic processes in NKR and Armenia’s assessment of Karabakh
peace process. At the request of the Armenian minister, Manouchehr
Mottaki presented the negotiations on Iranian nuke programme and the
latest results. He assured Minister Oskanyan that Tehran tries to
adjust differences exclusively through negotiations and to settle
the problem within the frames of IAEA.

ARMENIAN CIVIL SERVICE COUNCIL TO IMPLEMENT ‘SANITARY’ WORK TO GET RID OF FALSE DIPLOMAS AND WORK BOOKS

arminfo
2007-07-20 16:30:00

Armenian Civil Service Council has taken the role of an aid man to
clean the system from the false diplomas and work books.

As the head of the Armenian Civil Service Council [ACSC] Manvel
Badalyan said at the press-conference today, as a result of audit
numerous of false higher education diplomas and work books with
false terms of service were discovered. Since the day of the system
introduction, as a result of 215 investigations 115 people were
dismissed from civil service because of different violations.

At present there are 7541 civil employees in Armenia. A total of 475
of them were examined over the first half year of 2007 and 11 were
recognized not corresponding to their post. 1337 civil employees
attended regular obligatory training. The reserve of staff that
consists of 1976 people functions under the Council. The latter
cooperates with Bulgarian State Management and Administrative Reforms
Ministry, Chinese Staff Ministry, French State Service Ministry. The
Council has cooperation and experience exchange agreements with them.

PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Media Relations Specialist
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

July 19, 2007
___________________

FAR FOUNDER AND LIFE CHAIRMAN HONORED WITH BUILDING RENOVATION

During the joint tour of Armenia by the Diocesan Council and the Board of
Directors of the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), the leaders of the Eastern
Diocese attended a moving ceremony opening the newly renovated FAR office
building in Yerevan, which was named in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Kevork and
Sirvart Hovnanian.

"Through the leadership of Mr. Kevork Hovnanian, FAR has accomplished many
thing," said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese and
President of FAR. "FAR was established under the umbrella of the Diocese as
we responded to the call of Catholicos Vasken I, of blessed memory,
following the devastating earthquake. We have been helping in Armenia, and
will continue to be in Armenia, through FAR because it is part of the
mission of the Armenian Church, to help others."

JOYFUL CELEBRATION

More than 100 guests attended the dedication service on Friday, June 29,
2007. The crowd included leaders of the Armenian government,
representatives from other non-profit organizations, officials from the U.S.
Embassy, and the beneficiaries of FAR programs.

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
presided over the event. Also attending were other clergy leaders from
Armenia, such as Archbishop Navasard Ktshoyan, vicar of the Araratian
Pontifical Diocese, also attended.

The Catholicos began the evening by blessing the building and offered his
appreciation for FAR and the Hovnanians for the work they have done to help
the people of Armenia. Mr. and Mrs. Hovnanian then unveiled the plaque
naming the facility, FAR’s main office complex in central Yerevan, after the
couple.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese and President of
FAR, noted that the success of the organization in bringing hope,
opportunity, and empowerment to the people of Armenia has much to do with
the spirit behind its founding.

"Mr. Kevork Hovnanian answered the call to serve the people of Armenia
following the devastating earthquake, and, with the support of the Diocese
and countless donors, he built FAR into an organization that is giving the
Armenian people the tools to shape their own future," the Primate said. "It
is through his leaders and the participation of many dedicated board
members, that FAR has become a vital part of Armenia’s future. And today,
this building is a sign not just of Mr. Hovnanian’s continued stewardship,
but that FAR’s work will continue to shape lives for years to come."

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian told the assembled guests that the
newly renovated building was a testament to FAR’s commitment to staying in
Armenia and working for a strong future. "FAR has faith in Armenia’s
rebirth," he said.

"Me and my family, and my FAR family, we will continue working for our
nation and the people of Armenia," Kevork Hovnanian said during the
celebration. "We want to see a prosperous and happy Armenia, where our
compatriots who, for whatever reason, have left Armenia looking for
opportunity, we want to see them return to this great nation, and find a
prosperous country where they can apply their skills."

ADOPTING A VILLAGE

Prior to the evening’s celebration, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian,
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, FAR Board Chairman Randy Sapah-Gulian, and
Kevork Hovnanian met. During the session, Hovnanian pledged to donate
$500,000 so FAR could adopt the village of Zankakadoon in the Ararat region
of Armenia.

The money will go towards providing infrastructure upgrades and supplies to
the village, the hometown of beloved Armenian poet Baruyr Sevag. The
village adoption is part of the Rural Poverty Eradication Program being
conducted by the Armenian Foreign Ministry and the All Armenia Fund.

— 7/19/07

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Mr. and Mrs. Kevork and Sirvart Hovnanian, joined by His
Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese, cut the ribbon
for the newly renovated Kevork and Sirvart Hovnanian FAR Office Building in
Yerevan.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Kevork Hovnanian, founder and honorary life chairman of
the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), speaks at the opening of the renovated
FAR headquarters in Yerevan.

Armenian National Committee – San Francisco Bay Area
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
: July 19, 2007

Contact: Matt Senekeremian

Tel: 415 387 3433

Prominent Congressional Black Caucus Leader Fights for Justice on Armenian
Genocide

San Francisco, CA – A Congresswoman from the East Bay Area has been working
with her colleagues in the U.S. Capitol to end the cycle of genocide by
raising awareness of the Turkish Government’s continuing denial of the
Armenian Genocide. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-09) is standing shoulder
to shoulder with more than 218 cosponsors of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution (H. Res. 106).

"We must never forget the heinous acts of the Armenian Genocide that wrought
devastation upon a generation of Armenians and scarred the conscience of the
world. If we let such atrocities be forgotten, then we are in danger of
letting them be repeated, and I hope that Congressman Schiff’s resolution
helps us to recommit to our efforts to end the terrible, present-day
genocide in Darfur," stated Congresswoman Lee.

H. Res. 106 "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,
and for other purposes." The resolution currently has over 218 cosponsors
and is a bipartisan measure. Over 46 of California’s 53 Members of Congress
are cosponsors of H. Res. 106.

Since taking office in 1998, Congresswoman Lee has strongly promoted issues
of concern to the Armenian American community. As a longtime member of the
House International Relations Committee (1998-2006) she has consistently
reached out to fellow Members of Congress to build support for the genocide
bill and other important human rights legislation.

Congresswoman Lee, who is a close friend of the San Francisco Bay Area
Armenian National Committee Chapter (Bay Area ANC), became a cosponsor of H.
Res. 106 on January 31, 2007. In addition to being a strong voice in
promoting policies that foster international peace, security and human
rights, Congresswoman Lee has been a leader in the bipartisan effort in
Congress to end the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan. Her leadership on
human rights issues is greatly revered by the Armenian American community
living in and around California’s 9th Congressional District.

"Since our first meeting with her in 1998, Rep. Barbara Lee has demonstrated
to us a keen understanding of the need for Armenian Genocide recognition,"
said Bay Area ANC Chairwoman, Roxanne Makasdjian. "We are proud that this
principled Bay Area Congresswoman has taken every available opportunity to
persuade her colleagues to join her in acknowledging and correcting
history’s wrongs."

The 9th Congressional District which the Congresswoman represents includes
most of Alameda County and the cities of Albany, Berkeley, Castro Valley,
Oakland, Piedmont and Emeryville.

Congresswoman Lee serves on the powerful House Appropriations Committee
which controls the federal budget and is widely considered one of the most
powerful committees in the House. She serves on three prominent
subcommittees – the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and
Education, the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations and the Legislative Branch
Subcommittee. In addition to her membership in the Armenian-American issues
Caucus, Congresswoman Lee Co-Chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus,
and serves as the First Vice-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC)
and a Senior Democratic Whip. She also serves as the Co-Chair of the CBC
Outreach Task Force.

Congresswoman Lee was born in El Paso, Texas, graduated from Mills College
in Oakland and received her graduate degree from UC – Berkeley. She began
her political career as an intern in the office of her predecessor,
then-Congressman Ron Dellums (and current Oakland Mayor) where she
eventually became his Chief of Staff. She also served in the California
State Assembly from 1990-1996 and in the California State Senate from
1996-1998.

The Armenian National Committee of America is 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.