Category: News

PRESS RELEASE
Joint Committee
90th Anniversary Commemoration of Genocide
Contact: Iris Papazian (212-689-7810)
Chris Zakian (212-686-0710)
November 29, 2004
JOINT COMMITTEE OF ARMENIAN AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS FORMED
TO COMMEMORATE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF GENOCIDE
NEW YORK, NY-Under the auspices of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of
the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, and Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan, Prelate of the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America, a committee has been formed to organize a pan-Armenian American
commemoration of the Armenian Genocide’s 90th anniversary. As currently
planned, the commemoration will take place in New York City on Sunday, April
24, 2005.
The joint commemorative committee convened its first meeting on October
21st. Roy Stepanian of St. Mary’s Armenian Church, Livingston, NJ and Ken
Sarajian of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church, Ridgefield, NJ have
been appointed by the Diocese and the Prelacy to serve as co-chairs. With
the attendance and support of major Armenian-American groups, the committee
began its work.
“The commemoration of the Armenian Genocide presents us the opportunity to
remind the world and re-educate our community of not only the Genocide, but
its aftermath that is felt today,” said Archbishop Barsamian.
“We need to bring the Armenian community in the eastern United States
together in New York City on April 24, 2005, to bear witness to this crime
that continues today,” said Archbishop Choloyan.
The committee’s next tasks will be the formation of subcommittees to plan
specific events, prepare educational and press materials, and begin
fundraising to underwrite the commemoration.

Armenian National Committee – Glendale
721 S. Glendale Ave
Glendale, CA 91205
Tel: (818) 243-3444
Fax: (818) 243-3009
E-mail: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release ~ November 23, 2004
Contact: George Garikian ~ 818.243.3444

ANC – GLENDALE CHAPTER ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Glendale native Alina Azizian brings strong grassroots organizing and
advocacy skills to new position
Glendale, CA- The Armenian National Committee – Glendale Chapter announced
today the appointment of Alina Azizian as its new Executive Director. The
decision comes after a month-long search to augment its office staff, which
serves the interests of over 70,000 Armenians living in Glendale.
“We are excited to have Alina as a part of our team,” commented Board
Chairman, Pierre Chraghchian. “Her experience in grassroots organizing as
well as her knowledge of local issues makes her a strong asset to our
organization. We are confident in her commitment to this community.”
Alina Azizian was born and raised in Glendale, California. She attended the
University of California, Berkeley, earning her Bachelor of Arts in
Political Science with honors. Most recently, she served as the Campaign
Manager for the Democratic Party in San Mateo County. She supervised over
500 volunteers throughout the 3 month campaign. Overall, the campaign had a
high success rate with a 74% county-wide voter turnout and 81% of endorsed
candidates winning seats. Aside from her experience campaigning, Azizian is
a former ANCA Leo Sarkissian Intern and a former summer intern with the ANC
– SF/Bay Area chapter. On campus, Azizian was a dedicated member of the
U.C. Berkeley Senate and Co-President of the Armenian Students Association.
At home, she has worked on outreach at Glendale High School and has always
remained an active member of the community.
The offices of the Armenian National Committee – Glendale are located at 721
S. Glendale Ave. Community leaders will be invited to meet Ms. Azizian
along with the new 2004-2005 ANC Board Members at a local mixer in early
December. For more information please call the ANC – Glendale at
818.243.3444.

Armenian ombudsman says she was not invited to Baku conference
Arminfo
29 Nov 04
YEREVAN
Armenian ombudsman Larisa Alaverdyan is not taking part in the third
international conference of European and CIS ombudsmen on 29-30
November in Baku.
By the last day Larisa Alaverdyan had still not received an invitation
to take part in the conference, although the Armenian ombudsman was
ready to take part in the conference’s work, the Armenian ombudsman’s
office told Arminfo. The theme of the international conference is the
role of civil society and education in the field of human rights and
the development of democracy. The event is dedicated to the 10th year
of the UN’s Decade for Human Rights Education and will be organized
with UNESCO support.
Larisa Alaverdyan said earlier that the issue of cooperation between
the Armenian and Azerbaijani ombudsmen was too politicized for the
time being.
[Passage omitted: reported details of Alaverdyan’s remarks]

Juvenile delinquency on rise in Karabakh
Arminfo, Yerevan
29 Nov 04
STEPANAKERT
The problem of juvenile delinquency was discussed at an operational
meeting of the Nagornyy Karabakh Police.
The meeting pointed to the growing crime rate among underage children
in recent years, especially in the capital, an Arminfo correspondent
reports from Stepanakert. About a third of all crimes have been
committed by minors this year. These mainly included robberies, which
is largely preconditioned by social factors – disadvantaged families,
financial difficulties, etc.
Participants in the meeting pointed to the low effectiveness of work
with adolescents, which necessitates the strengthening of preventive
work in an effort to pre-empt juvenile crimes and offences. Also
discussed was the problem of street children, which is exacerbated by
lack of orphanages in the republic.
The number of thefts has considerably increased over the past several
years. The highest number of thefts is registered in Stepanakert and
Mardakert [Agdara], the meeting participants said.

Armenian minister, Italian defence official discuss Karabakh
Arminfo
29 Nov 04
YEREVAN
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan today met Ambassador Pietro
Ercole Ago, who used to head a group of the Committee of Ministers of
the Council of Europe that monitored Armenia’s fulfilment of its
commitments to the Council of Europe.
Ago, who is in Armenia within the framework of a regional visit, is
currently an adviser at the foreign relations department at the
Italian Defence Ministry.
During the meeting, Ago said that the Italian Defence Ministry was
planning a seminar on regional strategic processes, the press service
of the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported. In this regard, he asked
the Armenian foreign minister to put forward Armenia’s position on the
current stage in the Nagornyy Karabakh settlement.
For his part, the Armenian foreign minister put forward Armenia’s
approaches to regional tasks, in particular, focusing on the
developments around the Nagornyy Karabakh issue. Oskanyan also filled
the Italian diplomat in on how Armenia was fulfilling its commitments
to the Council of Europe.
During his two-day visit to Armenia, Pietro Ago is also to meet
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and the chairman of the Armenian
National Assembly, Artur Bagdasaryan.

Former Armenian official slams foreign minister for stance on Karabakh
Aravot web site, Yerevan
26 Nov 04

The OSCE supports the UN Parliamentary Assembly debate and vote on the
occupied Azerbaijani territories as a way of putting pressure on the
Armenian leadership, the press secretary of Armenia’s last president
has said. Levon Zurabyan described as a “feeble attempt” at blackmail
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan’s comment that Armenia would withdraw
from the Karabakh negotiating process if the UN adopted Azerbaijan’s
resolution. He also noted a change in terminology in international
institutions’ documents about the Karabakh conflict with the use of
such terms as “annexation attempt” by Armenia and “ethnic cleansing”.
The only solution is “for Armenia to abandon its maximalist and
unrealistic policy”, Zurabyan said in conclusion. The following is the
text of Anna Israelyan’s interview with Levon Zurabyan, press
secretary of first Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, on Armenian
newspaper Aravot’s web site on 26 November headlined “Why the Armenian
foreign minister’s mood isn’t getting worse” and subheaded “Levon
Zurabyan, press secretary of the first Armenian president, thinks that
Vardan Oskanyan has no reason to be in a good mood and
self-confident”; subheadings inserted editorially:
Prospect of UN vote sword of Damocles for Armenia
[Correspondent] The postponement of the vote on the occupied
Azerbaijani territories, which was to be held at the session of the UN
General Assembly, gave rise to contradictory
interpretations. According to one of the theories, Azerbaijan refused
to vote, because it was not certain that the results would be to its
advantage. According to another theory, the US representative called
for non-interference in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. And
finally, the third theory: the OSCE Minsk Group has presented new
proposals and is now awaiting a reply. Which theory do you deem most
realistic?
[Zurabyan] The putting of this issue on the agenda of the UN General
Assembly was a punitive measure that the OSCE Minsk Group envisaged
for Armenia, which froze the talks under this format. However, the
issue has not been removed from the agenda, the vote has simply been
postponed pending concessions from the Armenian side. Essentially,
this is the sword of Damocles hanging over our country.
OSCE’s Minsk Group behind UN discussions
[Correspondent] Why are you so certain that this situation was
initiated by the Minsk Group if it is known that the issue was placed
on the agenda at Azerbaijan’s suggestion?
[Zurabyan] The last vote at the United Nations on this issue was taken
in 1993. Is it not surprising that Azerbaijan has not made one single
attempt of this type in 11 years? The explanation is very simple: the
co-chairmen of the Minsk Group dissuaded it [Azerbaijan] from coming
up with this kind of initiative. I affirm that if the co-chairmen were
against the development of this process, they could curb it because
they wield sufficient political influence in all structures: at the
OSCE, Security Council and UN General Assembly. And they did use their
influence – the US representative at the UN, who proposed to postpone
the vote, spoke on behalf of the Minsk Group too. Precisely this
proves that they govern this process from the beginning to the end. As
to the vote, they support it as a possible correctional measure for
the Armenian leadership. If our country demonstrates no desire to
hold talks under the Minsk Group framework, the punitive measure will
be carried out.
Armenia to achieve nothing by threatening to withdraw from talks
[Correspondent] The leadership of the Armenian Foreign Ministry has
issued a threat, though, that if the United Nations adopts this
resolution, Armenia will stop taking part in the talks sponsored by
the Minsk Group, and Azerbaijan will have to negotiate with
Karabakh. Can you not see danger in this? If our country bowls off,
the Karabakh problem will be resolved without the participation of the
Armenian side.
[Zurabyan] First, I am surprised by the behaviour and mood of the
leaders of the Armenian Foreign Ministry. I can understand [President]
Robert Kocharyan: that person regularly does physical exercise, so he
is in a good mood regardless of the political situation. But I cannot
understand why Vardan Oskanyan is in a good mood. He should not have
any reason for his genial mood and for self-confident statements. The
threat that Oskanyan voiced was a feeble attempt to blackmail the
international community and Azerbaijan. It is obvious, however, that
Armenia will not achieve anything this way.
[Correspondent] Let us try to understand the reasons for Vardan
Oskanyan’s good mood by quoting his own statement: “The decisions by
the UN General Assembly are not imperative and have no legal
force. They can only be of a non-binding nature and reflect the
opinion of the General Assembly.” So, if they do not have legal force,
there is no point in spoiling one’s mood.
[Zurabyan] I should not have to explain to the professional diplomat
that there is the notion of a “critical mass” of this type of
decision, which finally leads to the adoption of documents that are
legally binding.
Change in terminology to Azerbaijan’s advantage
[Correspondent] Another reason for the good mood of the foreign
minister is the following: Vardan Oskanyan claims that the “documents
that are adopted by international instances can pose a threat if the
issue of the further status of Nagornyy Karabakh will be raised in
them, but there have not been such reports yet.”
[Zurabyan] Azerbaijan has achieved its main goal of depriving the
Armenian side of its trump card in the talks – the occupied
territories. I want to remind you that the passage was struck from the
latest resolution by the UN Security Council, Resolution No 874, in
which the demand was made that the Armenian side should “immediately
and unconditionally withdraw its troops from the occupied
territories”. The diplomatic process which is under way at present
will lead to accusations against Armenia of occupation of Azerbaijani
territories and demands that it unconditionally withdraw its
troops. The change of terminology in descriptive documents on the
Karabakh conflict is also important. For example, in the resolution by
the Committee of Ministers of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe [PACE], expressions such as “annexation attempt” by
Armenia, “ethnic cleansing”, “violation of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty”
and so on are used. These terms reflect the position of the
Azerbaijani side, according to which Armenia lays claims to
Azerbaijani territories. It was clearly pointed out in the 1993
resolution that the Azerbaijani territories were occupied by the
“local Armenian forces”. The report by the PACE rapporteur [David]
Atkinson includes the term “separatist forces”, which has never been
mentioned before.
It is with heartache that I have to agree with Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s
thought that sad consequences are brewing with respect to the Karabakh
issue. We will not be able any more to get what could have been
achieved in 1997. But this does not mean that we should despair. I
think that the only way out is for Armenia to abandon its maximalist
and unrealistic policy.

Ethnic Kurds in Armenia mark party anniversary
Noyan Tapan news agency, Yerevan
29 Nov 04
YEREVAN
A ceremony to mark the 27th anniversary of the Kurdistan Workers’
Party [former PKK, now People’s Congress of Kurdistan] was held at the
Youth Palace in Yerevan on 27 November. About 100 people took part in
the ceremony, including representatives of the so-called Kurdistan
committee, Kurds from different parts of Armenia, popular Kurdish
singer (?Jomard) who lives in Germany, etc.
A representative of the Caucasus branch of the PKK, (?Bagr Zagros),
made a speech in Kurdish. The chairman of the Kurdistan committee and
editor-in-chief of the Mezopotamia newspaper published in Yerevan,
(?Chakraye Mstoyan), said this ceremony was part of the struggle for
the release of the PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan. Mstoyan told a Noyan
Tapan correspondent that the problem of Kurdish people attracts
international attention and that the European Court of Human Rights is
expected to make a decision on Ocalan’s release.
Mstoyan is convinced that the demand of the 40m-strong Kurdish people
that Ocalan be released will sooner or later be satisfied.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan protests at Russian National Bank activity in Karabakh
ANS Radio, Baku
29 Nov 04

Azerbaijan’s National Bank has sent a protest letter to the president
of the Russian National Bank [Vladimir Stepanov].
Azerbaijan officially protested that Russian banks are setting up
branches in the Armenian occupied territories of Azerbaijan and they
are transferring money to those branches.
[Passage omitted: background information]
If we are to trust the president of the Russian National Bank, he
himself [Stepanov] and the appropriate bodies have to make sure that
Russian banks do not cooperate with Nagornyy Karabakh’s separatist
government.

Turkish minister plays down French official’s remarks on EU entry
NTV television, Istanbul
29 Nov 04
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul hosted his Hungarian counterpart
today. During a joint news conference with the Hungarian foreign
minister, Gul said that he does not see any reason to speak negatively
with regard to the outcome of the EU summit on 17 December. He
remarked that the talks are continuing in a positive manner. Referring
to the remarks by Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Gul stated: The
authoritative person in foreign policy matters is the French
president, it is Chirac.
At the news conference, Gul said that there is no reason for the
negotiations with the EU not to begin. I believe that it is
unnecessary to have negative expectations, he stated. The foreign
minister also stressed that any alternative other than starting the
negotiations with the aim of attaining full membership is out of the
question for Turkey.
Commenting on the statements emanating from France in connection with
Turkey’s membership, Gul recalled that French President Chirac is
authorized to decide on foreign policy matters. Gul stated that it is
important to remain loyal to steps taken in the past.
On the subject of Iraq, Gul commented on the criticism directed
against the United States and Washington’s reaction against this
criticism. Everything should be evaluated within its own dimension,
Gul remarked. He said that it would be blackmail to say: We will do
this, if you use the definition of genocide.
Gul added that there is no such blackmail. It had been charged in the
media that the United States had warned Turkey that the draft bill on
the Armenian genocide allegations would be enacted [if Turkey used the
word genocide in connection with Fallujah].

Azeri pundit points to similarities between Karabakh, Middle East problems
Yeni Musavat, Baku
29 Nov 04

Text of unattributed report by Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni Musavat on
29 November headlined “Karabakh is becoming a tiring problem” and
subheaded “Leyla Aliyeva: The West wants to make people forget about
the problem”
It was impossible to break the deadlock in the Karabakh peace talks
this year either. The outgoing year of 2004 could be regarded as the
most passive and unsuccessful (wasted) one in the history of the
conflict settlement. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs do not conceal
this either.
However, some garrulous “analysts” were extremely upbeat in 2003 and
said that there would be a U-turn in the conflict settlement
immediately after the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidential elections
and after new leaders enter their offices. This was not the case. The
idea of “starting talks from scratch” suggested by [Azerbaijani
President] Ilham Aliyev to show off was a fiasco.
The only positive memorable point about the issue this year was the
Baku government’s initiative to put the issue on the agenda of the UN
General Assembly. Unfortunately, the discussions were not successful
and failed to meet our national interests. A draft resolution [on the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan] was not adopted. The vote was
postponed indefinitely. However, we learnt an expert opinion about the
importance of the initiative and the consequences it might have.
Commenting on the UN discussions, political analyst Leyla Aliyeva said
that an analysis of the recent developments had produced some negative
results.
“Watching the peace process, one can conclude that someone wants to
put the Karabakh problem on the back burner. I can also observe that
they have stopped mentioning Karabakh at conferences and
meetings. They are Europe and the USA in the first place. They want
the parties to the conflict to gradually integrate and cooperate,” she
said.
>From this standpoint, the political analyst highly assessed the
putting of the issue on the UN agenda.
“We should always keep the issue in the focus of the international
community. In particular, we should take into account the fact that
Armenians are being settled on our occupied lands. This is a very
dangerous process. Because it will be rather difficult to return those
lands after Armenians settle there. This has been the case in the
Middle East.”
Incidentally, the political analyst stressed that the same scheme and
approach were being taken both on the Nagornyy Karabakh and Middle
East problems at the moment.
“The conflict has been continuing in the Middle East for 40
years. Jews settled on the occupied territories and this has emerged
as an additional problem now. Of course, we do not need such a
problem. Therefore, the UN General Assembly discussions might be
regarded as positive. But it would be wrong to expect major and
practical results from these discussions. I do not think that they
will act as an important incentive for the peace process. This is good
tactics as a PR campaign.”
Commenting on reasons for the negative stance of leading western
states and of the US envoy [presumably, the USA’s Karabakh mediator
Steven Mann] to the Karabakh discussions in the UN, Leyla Aliyeva said
that they did not want the issue to be a subject of discussions in a
larger framework. Because they think that the sides can find a common
language within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group more
easily. They think that it would be wrong to hinder in any way the
talks based on making mutual compromises that have been under way
within the framework of the Minsk Group for a long time. The mediators
think that the discussion of the issue in the UN precisely hinders the
talks and creates tension.
From: Baghdasarian