Author: Zargarian Hambik

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

December 9, 2008
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA RECALLS EXTRAORDINARY CAMPAIGN OF SENATOR
PROXMIRE FOR U.S. RATIFICATION ON THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE
CONVENTION

Assembly Urges Renewed Effort to Combat Genocide Denial

Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) recalls the
extraordinary campaign of Senator William Proxmire (D-WI) in securing
U.S. ratification of the United Nations Convention on Prevention and
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Convention) on the 60th anniversary
of its adoption in the United Nations.

The Assembly was part of the coalition of organizations headed by the
American Bar Association advocating for U.S. adoption of the U.N.
Genocide Convention. From the time of its founding in 1972, the Assembly
supported Senator Proxmire’s unremitting campaign to persuade the Senate
to approve implementing legislation enabling the U.S. adoption of the
Convention. The Assembly had the honor then of giving testimony in
committee and in writing, as part of the commitment of the
Armenian-American community to doing its share in creating greater
awareness of the danger of genocide.

Starting in 1967, Senator Proxmire launched a campaign urging the U.S.
to ratify the Convention and is known for giving 3,211 speeches about
genocide on the Senate floor. In 1988, the U.S. became the 98th nation
to ratify the Convention. Signatory States "confirm that genocide,
whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under
international law which they undertake to prevent and to punish."

Today the Assembly, as an ardent proponent of genocide prevention,
affirmation and education, welcomes prevention efforts and continues its
work with various organizations, such as the Save Darfur Coalition, to
raise awareness and urge intervention.

While much has been achieved over the last 60 years, there is still much
more to be done. CNN’s "Scream Bloody Murder," which aired the first
week of December, highlighted many of the issues faced today, from the
horrors in Darfur to the continued denial of the Armenian Genocide. The
failure to prevent genocide in Darfur and the constant denial of the
Armenian Genocide underscores the need for even greater action.

The Assembly has therefore renewed its calls to combat genocide denial,
especially as it pertains to Turkey’s multi-million dollar campaign to
silence the truth and the proud record of U.S. humanitarian intervention
to save the survivors of the first genocide of the 20th Century.

Moreover, yesterday, the Genocide Prevention Task Force (GPTF) issued a
report on genocide prevention; however it failed to address Turkey’s
ongoing genocidal denial. The Assembly remains deeply troubled by the
lack of impartiality of GPTF Co-Chairs, former Secretary of State
Madeline Albright and Secretary of Defense William Cohen, due to their
ties to Turkey. Cohen’s firm, the Cohen Group not only provides
financial contributions to the American Turkish Council, but also serves
on its Advisory Board. Meanwhile, just days ago Co-Chair Albright
proclaimed: "I consider myself a Turkophile of major proportions."

"The time is long overdue for unequivocal affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "Only by
squarely combating and defeating denial can we hope to prevent future
genocides. President-elect Barack Obama has been a consistent advocate
on the issue of combating genocide, including reaffirmation of the
Armenian Genocide."

"The goal of genocide prevention can only be realized through a complete
understanding of past genocides and the lessons derived therein," added
Ardouny. "We would not be discussing the Convention today if it was not
for Raphael Lemkin, whose tireless efforts made the Convention a reality
from which all of humanity has benefited."

Lemkin, who was of Polish-Jewish descent escaped the Holocaust and
dedicated himself to the prevention and punishment of this crime against
humanity. Lemkin specifically referenced the Armenian and Jewish
experience as prototypes of genocide. This was reinforced in 1951 by the
United States in its filling before the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) concerning the United Nations Genocide Convention, which squarely
acknowledged the Armenian Genocide as a crime.

The document reads in part:

The Genocide Convention resulted from the inhuman and barbarous
practices which prevailed in certain countries prior to and during World
War II, when entire religious, racial and national minority groups were
threatened with and subjected to deliberate extermination. The practice
of genocide has occurred throughout human history. The Roman persecution
of the Christians, the Turkish massacres of Armenians, the extermination
of millions of Jews and Poles by the Nazis are outstanding examples of
the crime of genocide.

The 1951 statement is consistent with the legislative history of the
U.S. ratification of the Genocide Convention, President Reagan’s 1981
Proclamation 4838 ("Like the genocide of the Armenians before it, and
the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it – and like too many
other such persecutions of too many other peoples – the lessons of the
Holocaust must never be forgotten."), the 2003 International Center for
Transitional Justice endorsed by President Bush, which concluded that
"the Events [of 1915], viewed collectively, can thus be said to include
all of the elements of the crime of genocide as defined in the
Convention, and legal scholars as well as historians, politicians,
journalists and other people would be justified in continuing to so
describe them," the 1993 court decision in Krikorian v. Department of
State (where the D.C. Federal Court of Appeals confirmed that U.S.
policy recognizes the Armenian Genocide) and the 42 U.S. States that
have affirmed the Armenian Genocide.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

###

NR#2008-090

Editor’s Note:

Link to United Nations Genocide Convention
oci.htm

Link to ANI

Li nk to AAA – Obama press release

Li nk to 1951 statement
tion.388/current_category.6/affi
rmation_detail.ht ml

Link to Reagan’s 1981 proclamation
rmation.63/current_category.4/affir
mation_detail. html

Link to ICTJ/TARC, via ANI’s website
on.244/current_category.5/affi
rmation_detail.html

Link to Krikorian v State Department
ation.241/current_category.76/aff
irmation_detail. html

Link to U.S. reaffirmation – 42 states via ANI
ory.11/affirmation_list.ht
ml

Link to AAA Genocide and Rule of Law Testimony

Link to AAA Divestment Testimony

Link to AAA Action Alert – Scream Bloody Murder
tid=12278316

LEBANESE MP RECEIVES US AMBASSADOR, COMMENTS ON AWN’S VISIT TO SYRIA

Lebanese National News Agency
Dec 5 2008
Lebanon

National News Agency, 5 December: MP Michel al-Murr received US
Ambassador Michele Sison and reviewed the latest developments with her.

After the meeting, Al-Murr said: "We discussed what is happening in
the world in the wake of the global financial crisis and its impact on
European nations and Middle East countries. The ambassador stressed
to us that the US policy after the presidential elections is still
the same. She is waiting for President Obama to assume his official
duties on 20 January. She said that US policy towards Lebanon is
for maintaining its sovereignty and supporting it on more than one
level. Other issues include the new US vision of finding solutions
to the problems of the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue
and the Iraqi issue, which are linked to Lebanon either directly
or indirectly, in addition to the nuclear problem between Iran and
America."

Questions and answers

He was asked: What is your comment on the visit of Gen Awn to Syria
in form and content?

He answered: "I do not want to comment on this issue for one reason,
which is that during the previous elections and the alliances,
General Awn used to say: How are we going to have an alliance with
Michel al-Murr, who is one of the symbols of Syria? Today, it seems at
least that we have met on this symbolic principle, which he used to
ascribe to us. He is now convinced that we were not at fault in our
good relations with Syria. As for the content, Syrian courtesy and
welcoming Gen Awn is one of their moral duties; it has nothing to do
with politics. Syria’s political position does not depend on a visit
to determine it. As for the timing, the president of the republic is
in Germany, and this coincided with General Awn’s visit to Syria. Awn
also previously visited Iran when President Sulayman was in Saudi
Arabia. The two visits are important, but for them to coincide with
the visit of the president of the republic, this was not right. I
wish things had been coordinated because there is a president for
the state in Lebanon and he negotiates in the name of Lebanon and
establishes relations. As a president who represents consensus,
he can establish good relations with both Iran and Syria."

He was asked: Yesterday, Gen Awn wore an aba in Syria. Does this
mean that the Christian electoral decision is now in his hand, and
has the decision of the Armenians been confiscated as well?

He answered: "First, I do not want to speak on behalf of
the Tashnaq. They can speak for themselves and they have a
position. Certainly, they have communicated this position to the
Syrians. I met them recently, and their position was firm and did
not change. As for the issue of the aba, I am thinking of wearing
one now if the aba helps in creating lists. As for the story of the
aba according to its colour, it is a symbol of love and welcoming a
guest. I will not forget during the war of liberation how many members
of the Syrian army died. I will also not forget how they demanded,
on an American television, a Syria accountability law. Maybe this
visit will erase everything from memory and open a new chapter."

He was asked: The question of amending the Al-Ta’if [Accord] was also
raised in Syria. What do you think?

He answered: "I am waiting for my main ally, Speaker Nabih Birri,
who is a friend of General Awn. If he agrees to amend the Al-Ta’if
[Accord], let us start discussing the amendment. All the Lebanese
agree on the Al-Ta’if Accord. Hezbollah, in its positions, and Sayyid
Hasan Nasrallah, stressed the Al-Ta’if Accord and its implementation
in full. The same goes for Speaker Birri. But if this is part of
one-upmanship to amend the powers of the president of the republic,
which Al-Ta’if prejudices, I do not think that Al-Ta’if can be amended
in this way. Do we have to see the country in ruin once more to reach
another Al-Ta’if? The Al-Ta’if Accord is agreed upon. If he wants
to amend it, that is his business. I reiterate: Does Speaker Birri
want to amend Al-Ta’if? Will Hezbollah amend it? I do not know. If
you want, we can study the issue."

Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

December 8, 2008
Contact: Ani Garabedian

ANC-WR Intern Spotlight: Patil Aslanian

Los Angeles, CA – Community Activist Patil Aslanian is one of four
participants of the Armenian National Committee – Western Region’s
Autumn 2008 Internship-Externship Program (ANC-WR IEP). Over the past
several weeks, Aslanian has developed many important skills within the
fields of administration and media. In addition to building media
relationships, Aslanian continues to work on educational presentations
for non-Armenians to raise awareness about issues of concern to the
Armenian American community.

"The ANC is a grassroots organization that relies on the commitment
and passion of volunteers," said Aslanian. "Being an intern has
taught me the value of contributing to the Armenian Cause – especially
here in the ANC-WR office where I have learned that the ANC is an
organization that defends Armenia both here in America and
internationally," she added.

Aslanian has spent her internship working on various assignments and
projects including voter registration and a voter outreach program.
"Every single person that votes makes a difference in every election;
we have to get our voices heard, especially the youth," remarked
Aslanian.

Aslanian is a 3rd year senior currently attending the University of
California at Irvine majoring in Political Science with an emphasis on
Middle East Studies. After graduation, she plans on spending her year
off participating in various internships, following which she plans to
continue her education and attend law school.

Aslanian learned about the Internship-Externship Program through the
Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) as well as many of her friends who had
previously participated in the program. She is currently an active
member and serving on the executive body of the AYF – West San
Fernando Valley "Sardarabad" Chapter. "So many other activists and
friends had recommended the program that I knew I had to apply,"
stated Aslanian.

The application for the 2009 Spring Session is now available and the
deadline to submit is December 1st. For more information about the IEP
and a downloadable version of the application please visit
.php.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in
the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States
and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances
the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.

###

OSCE HOPES FOR REGIONAL DECLARATION ON KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.12.2008 17:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan and Armenia have made progress in
resolving a long-standing dispute over Nagorno Karabakh and the OSCE
hopes for a regional declaration on the issue at its annual meetings
later this week, its chairman said on Tuesday.

"Things are looking quite good on Nagorno Karabakh," said Finnish
Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, who is leading the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe under the Finnish chairmanship.

"I think that we are moving away from a frozen conflict towards a
permanent solution, but of course we are not there yet, and it is
very important that the Minsk Group works on this," Stubb said.

The Minsk Group – co-chaired by Russia, the United States and France
– was established by the OSCE in 1992 to bring about a peaceful
resolution in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, where a Russian-brokered
ceasefire has held since 1994.

Stubb said talks among the 50 foreign ministers in Helsinki on Dec. 4-5
for the annual meeting of Europe’s main security and human rights body
will be dominated by Caucasus disputes, including Nagorno Karabakh,
along with the broader question of European security, Reuters reports.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT AUTHORIZES ADOPTION OF LEGAL ACTS ON AVIATION IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

ARKA
Dec 2, 2008

YEREVAN, December 2. /ARKA/. Armenian Parliament passed the amendments
to the country’s law about legal acts that allows adopting legal acts
on aviation in foreign languages.

The amendments suggest two new items, the Head of the country’s Civil
Aviation Department Artem Movsisyan said in presenting the draft law.

The first, Armenian Government and the respective authorized state
agency on civil aviation, upon approval by the government, are
empowered to adopt legal acts in foreign languages.

According to the second amendment, if approved by the government,
legal acts on civil aviation and atomic energy can be adopted in
foreign languages and will only apply to people who are employed in
the mentioned fields and are obliged to know foreign languages.

Currently legal acts on civil aviation are available only in Armenian,
which makes it difficult for Armenian staff to communicate with
foreign pilots, he said.

According to Movsisyan, translation of terms and legal acts into
Armenian is impossible without misinterpretation that poses a threat
to the safety.

TURKEY SUPPORTS THE KARABAKH SOLUTION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE OSCE MINSK GROUP

armradio.am
01.12.2008 15:51

Turkey supports the format of the OSCE Minsk Group to settle the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Ali Babacan, the Turkish Foreign Minister,
told a press conference held on the results of the talks with the
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Baku

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a very complicated issue and could
be settled only through negotiations, Babacan believes.

According to Babacan, essential steps are needed to take to settle
the issue.

Relations between Turkey and Armenia depend on Turkey-Azerbaijan ties,
Turkish Foreign Ministers Ali Babacan said to journalists in Baku.

Turkish Foreign Minister said Azerbaijan and Armenia are holding
intensive talks and possible positive result of these talks will have
an impact on the Turkish-Armenian bilateral relations.

Ottawa Citizen, Canada
Nov 28 2008

Karsh to have global anniversary exhibition

Portrait Gallery, science and tech museum plan centenary celebrations

Laura Payton, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Friday, November 28, 2008

Famed Ottawa photographer Yousuf Karsh’s work will be exhibited in
Ottawa and around the world this year, in a celebration of the 100th
anniversary of his birth, the Portrait Gallery of Canada and the
Canada Museum of Science and Technology announced yesterday.

The gallery and the museum have organized Festival Karsh, with a
website featuring his work going live on Dec. 23, the centenary of
Karsh’s birth. The events will also include an exhibit at the Museum
of Science and Technology, an online group to share portraits and
stories, and the Karsh Trail, a self-guided tour around Ottawa
buildings where Karsh worked and where his work will be displayed.

"Yousuf Karsh was about unlimited and intense involvement with people,
both those before his lens and those looking at his photographs," said
Lilly Koltun, the portrait gallery’s director general, who posed for
Karsh in 1987 and recalled how he requested she wear a specific
outfit. "It was the first time I realized just how sensitive (he was)
to his environment, and particularly to style."

The exhibition, called Karsh the Storyteller, will feature some of his
original prints and artifacts, including darkroom equipment and the
cameras he used from 1958 until his retirement in the late ’90s. It
will also include a studio experience in which visitors can become
portrait photographers and portrait subjects. It will run from June 12
to Oct. 12 next year, and will be available for travel in Canada and
abroad until 2012.

Some of the portraits and stories featured in Karsh the Storyteller
will be gathered through the festival’s website, festivalkarsh.ca, and
an online photosharing group called My Karsh on the website Flickr.

Portraits allow people to search for meaning and understanding, says
Jack Horwitz, whose father and uncle each sat for Karsh portraits.

"It’s a world that is locked in memory, at which we unlock that memory
and there is mystery behind it," Horwitz said. "When we look at the
portraits that this man took, it’s akin to entering into those lives."

Alia Hogben sat for Karsh when her family arrived in Ottawa for her
father’s posting as Indian high commissioner. Karsh had asked her
father if she would model for a portrait, but her father, she says,
being a protective Indian father, turned him down. After Karsh finally
took the portrait, he used it in a 1958 Maclean’s magazine feature on
the most beautiful women in Canada.

"When I was 17 and the photographs came out, people kept saying, ‘Oh
he only liked you because he’s Armenian and he likes dark women,’"
Hogben joked.

PROVOCATIVE “PHOTO” REMOVED FROM GOOGLE EARTH

YEREVAN, 28.11.08. DE FACTO. As it has been reported, a hacker posted,
on Google Earth of the Armenian Memorial of Tsitsernakaberd the name of
Talaat Pasha.
This intolerable profanation is signed Haluk Dolmayan. Actually, it is
about the adulterated name of historian and Director of
Institute-museum of the Armenian genocide, Hayk Demoyan, and
independent French journalist Jean Eckian told DE FACTO.
To note, the use of interface Panoramio partner of Google, the users
can poster of the photos in its preferred places.
Today Jean Eckian told DE FACTO that following worldwide many protests
of the Armenians, website Panoramio, which had posted the name of
Talaat Pasha on Google Earth, had eliminated the insult at Armenian
Memorial Genocide in Yerevan.

THE SALARIES OF THE JUDGES DOUBLED
LILIT POGHOSYAN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
28 Nov 08
Armenia

Despite the disagreements regarding the issue of doubling the salaries
of the judges: from 220 thousand to 440 thousand drams, yesterday the
parliamentary majority voted for the `pro-judge’ amendments in the law
on `The Salaries of the RA Legislative, Executive and Judicial Bodies’.

Thus `Bargavach Hayastan’ and RPA ensured the majority of the votes.
`Orinats Yerkir’ mainly abstained and `Heritage’ party refused to
participate in the voting.

Below we bring to your notice the pro & con of the representatives of
the parliamentary factions.

Stepan Safaryan, Secretary of `Bargavach Hayastan’ faction.

`I voted for the bill because during the discussions which we had with
the government on the second half of the day yesterday and today in the
morning, our apprehensions allayed. As the Speaker of NA informed us
before the voting, they have reached an agreement on giving package
solution to the issue, most probably in the spring of 2009.

The problem is after 2003 the proportion of the salaries in different
state structures have been breached for different reasons. It is high
time to restore those broken proportions, beginning from the Control
Chamber, where the salaries really differ from the others, to the
Deputy Ministers, Heads of Departme
nts, Heads of Divisions, and other
officials, where there is no logic.

This field must be regulated and we received a confirmation that in
Spring 2009, it will be realized.

`Anyhow what was the reason of showing special attention towards the
judicial system? Do your coalition partners also believe that the
system will become uncorrupted and impartial?’

`In my view the logic here is to contribute to the reforms in the
judicial-legal system. Most probably this is the reason why the
government decided to firstly raise the salaries of the judges, because
strict measures are previewed to be introduced in this system. That is
to say on the one hand they raise the salaries and on the other hand
they make the control, stronger. One without another is not possible;
this is the reason of such haste.

Stepan Safaryan, `Heritage’ faction.

`We are against this bill, firstly because the proportion of the
salaries of legislative, executive and judicial bodies shouldn’t be
broken.

Secondly in our view we shouldn’t do that unless we raise the minimum
salary, so that each citizen will be able to satisfy his or her needs.

And thirdly before reviewing the official salaries in any system we
must firstly discuss the effectiveness of that system. If it turns out
that there are obstacles and raising the salaries is one of the options
of eliminating those obstacles then
we can choose that way.’

ARMENIAN BLOGGERS PROTEST DESTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN CHURCHES IN GEORGIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.11.2008 17:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian bloggers gathered at the Georgian Embassy
in Yerevan today to demand that demolition of the Armenian cultural
heritage be stopped and those guilty be punished.

The protesters were carrying posters of Norashen church and banners
reading "Save Armenian churches in Georgia", "Republic of Georgia
not Europe still Asiatic" and a small coffin with an inscription "The
newborn Georgian democracy. This newborn democracy is dead already"
on it.

What is happening to Armenian churches in Georgia is nothing but
genocide of our cultural heritage, according to historian Samvel
Karapetyan. A crime has been committed and those guilty should be
punished by the international court, he said yesterday.

Over 650 Armenian churches are situated in the territory of Georgia,
most of them already appropriated or destructed by the Georgian side.

On November 16, Georgian monk Tariel Sikinchelashvili instructed
workers to raze to the ground the graves of Mikhail and Lidia
Tamamshevs.

This barbarian act outraged Armenians, who demanded to let the graves
in their place. However, Father Tariel responded with harsh statements.

Upon arrival of representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church and
parliament member Van Bayburt, the Georgian monk said he just wanted
to replace the gravestones to "clean under them."