Category: News

The Moscow Times
Putin confident in continuing stability in Armenia
Interfax. Wednesday, Apr. 14, 2004, 10:34 PM Moscow Time
MOSCOW. April 14 (Interfax) – President Vladimir Putin and Armenian
President Robert Kocharian discussed pressing issues in bilateral relations
during a Wednesday telephone conversation, the Kremlin press service
reported.
At Putin’s request Kocharian shared his opinion of the recent developments
in Yerevan that caused in an upsurge in domestic tension.
Putin expressed confidence that the leadership of friendly Armenia would use
the existing potential of democratic reforms to maintain stability, law and
order.
The two presidents also discussed further Russian-American contacts at
various levels, including the very highest

Rosbalt, 14/04/2004, 17:04
Erevan Angered, Clamps Down on Russian Media
EREVAN, April 14. Staff of Armenia’s embassy in Moscow bought up all copies
of today’s Independent Newspaper from kiosks near the embassy, Avetik
Ishkhanian, head of the Helsinki Committee, told Rosbalt. Ishkanian said the
aim was to keep out of circulation an article headlined ‘Kocharian Takes
Revenge on the Opposition in the Name of Moscow.’
Rights organizations earlier had complained that issues of Independent
Newspaper containing information about Armenia’s opposition leaders were not
being sold in Erevan. In addition, broadcasts of NTV to Armenia have been
cut off since April 5, the day of the first mass meetings of the opposition.

Rosbalt, 14/04/2004, 13:04
With Outcome of Armenia Crisis in Doubt, Russia Keeps Its Distance
MOSCOW, April 14. Russia is taking ‘a quite sober and carefully weighed
approach’ to the situation in Armenia, Prof. Andranik Migranian declared at
a press conference here Tuesday. Migranian is a member of the board of the
Union of Armenians of Russia.
‘There have been no official statements by Russian authorities. And one
would have to be very foolish to make any,’ the professor said. ‘For whoever
turns out to hold power after the current crisis, Russian-Armenian relations
are hardly likely to change.’
He also said ‘it would be incorrect to draw direct parallels between the
current political crisis in Armenia and the velvet revolution in Georgia at
the end of 2003.’ Migranian, a political scientist, pointed out some crucial
differences. ‘The Georgian leadership was less unified,’ he said. ‘So when
the army and police declared neutrality, it was obvious that Shevardnadze’s
time was up. On top of that, the Georgian opposition had an indisputably
charismatic leader who was known for his struggle against corruption-Mikhail
Saakashvili.’. On the other hand, Migranian said, the Armenian opposition
has a number of leaders and was unable to agree on a single candidate in the
last election for president, which ‘very much helped Robert Kocharian to
win.’
‘Finally,’ Migranian said, ‘there is no George Soros with his money, who
helped get rid of Shevardnadze, in Armenia. Nor is the US ambassador so
active in Armenia. It’s known, after all, that the architect of the Georgian
revolution was the American ambassador Richard Miles.’

A1 Plus | 21:15:53 | 14-04-2004 | Politics |
EX-MINISTER IS STILL IN JAIL
Under Police data, 115 people were taken to Police departments after April
12 events. 71 of them were examined, warned and released, 7 in detention, 12
fined. 19 are now being examined, 4 are arrested, including the members of
“Republic” Party political board, Lieutenant General Vagharshak Harutyunyan,
Ex Defense Minister and Colonel Gegham Harutyunyan, Ex Deputy Minister. {BR}
This afternoon People’s Party press secretary Ruzan Khachatryan and
“Republic” Party political board member Artak Zeynalyan were released.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1 Plus | 21:48:15 | 14-04-2004 | Politics |
OMBUDSMAN COMMENTING ON THE POLITICAL EVENTS
Human rights protector Larisa Alaverdyan held a press conference today. She
announced that law machinery didn’t always act within the law. Mrs
Alaverdyan also said that meetings, rallies and marches can’t be illegal
since they are within Constitution.
Ombudsman avoided strict comment saying the methods the law-enforcement
bodies resorted to on April 13 were not always equivalent, they could be
gentler.
Mrs. Alaverdyan is still trying to find information from Office of
Prosecutor and Police and her office employees actively work to protect the
rights of those arrested.

A1 Plus | 21:29:57 | 14-04-2004 | Politics |
MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE
On Friday at 6:00 PM a meeting will take place in Freedom Square. MP
Shavarsh Kocharyan who was arrested at April 12 night and released, has
today announced that “Justice” Bloc held sitting and made a decision.
He said that both Opposition and people didn’t give up and would reach their
purpose.

Turkish, Azeri presidents sign declaration on Karabakh
Turan news agency, Baku
13 Apr 04

Ankara, 13 April: A meeting of the Azerbaijani and Turkish presidents
was held in Ankara today as part of Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev’s official visit to Turkey. After the presidents’ 30-minute
meeting in private, the talks continued at the level of delegations.
In his statement for the press, Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer
said Ankara attached special importance to relations with Baku and
intended to maintain the relations on this level. Touching on the
Karabakh theme, Sezer said that Turkey believes that the conflict must
be resolved peacefully in accordance with the principles of
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and international law.
Ankara will do everything in its power to turn the South Caucasus
region into an area of peace and cooperation, Sezer said.
Ilham Aliyev, in turn, said Azerbaijan had always felt Turkey’s
support and help and appreciated them. In his view, there are reasons
to make these strategic partnership relations even deeper and
stronger.
After the meeting, a joint declaration was signed reflecting the
thesis that the Karabakh conflict must be resolved in line with the
principle of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
The declaration also says that Turkey and Azerbaijan intend to develop
their cooperation in the political and economic areas, especially in
the energy sector.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1 Plus | 17:38:05 | 13-04-2004 | Politics |
STEPAN DEMIRCHYAN TALKING TO JOURNALISTS
“Unfortunately, our community is ill-informed about the night events. Even
many journalists are absolutely unaware of what happened”, said People Party
leader Stepan Demirchyan.
He denounced assault on marchers as crime against Armenian people. The key
criminal is who ordered outrages against civilian population.
Commenting on the police officials’ statement accusing demonstrators of
provoking violence from the law enforcement, the party leader said it was a
complete lie and conspiracy against people who were singing, dancing and
showed no signs of aggressiveness.
“We have irrefutable evidence that pointed objects were thrown on pavement
after the outrageous events in an apparent attempt to accuse the opposition
of plotting a coup”, Demirchyan said.
He told journalists the opposition would keep them in touch with its further
steps.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Thousands of Armenians celebrate the Easter in Antelias
It was a special day in Antelias at the headquarters of the Armenian
Catholicosate of Cilicia on the Easter Sunday 11 April 2004. Thousands of
people attended the Eucharistic celebration at the cathedral in Antelias.
The Eucharist was celebrated by His Holiness Aram I.
In his sermon, His Holiness described the Easter as the celebration of life.
“Through His Cross Jesus conquered the death and gave us abundant life. The
God given life in Christ is a quality of life that generates service,
humility and commitment. Therefore, we must perceive and practice our life
in a way that makes the Gospel massage a living reality in our lives”.
Speaking about the Armenian Church and communities, His Holiness emphasized
the crucial importance of collaboration: “One-sided approaches will always
create internal tensions in our communities. Bias attitude will create more
and more problems. What we need is sincere and comprehensive collaboration
engaging all our organizations and active forces. We must also continue
supporting Armenia, our homeland. Nowadays, Armenia is facing tremendous
problems. It is my prayer and firm expectation that opposition and
government initiate a process of dialogue reaching a mutually acceptable
consensus. This is the only way to take the country out of the prevailing
stagnation and uncertainty” concluded His Holiness.
##
View printable pictures here:
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
jurisdiction and the Christian Education activities in both the
Catholicosate and the dioceses, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

PRESS RELEASE
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research
395 Concord Ave.
Belmont, MA 02478
Phone: 617-489-1610
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Marc A. Mamigonian
NAASR TO PRESENT EAST COAST PREMIERE
OF `GERMANY AND THE SECRET GENOCIDE’
The National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) will
present the East Coast premiere of award-winning filmmaker J. Michael
Hagopian’s documentary Germany and the Secret Genocide on Friday evening,
April 23, 2004, at 7:30 p.m., at Belmont (Mass.) High School, on Concord
Avenue in Belmont. This special event is in commemoration of the 89th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
The film, which chronicles the involvement of Germany with its ally the
Ottoman Empire in carrying out the Armenian Genocide, has been hailed by the
Los Angeles Times as a `revealing, notable, persuasive work … a rigorously
researched and damning indictment.’ Hagopian, a pioneer in the effort to
document the Armenian Genocide through films such as The Forgotten Genocide,
The Armenian Case, Where Are My People, and Voices from the Lake, will
attend the screening and take part in a panel discussion following the
showing.
Distinguished Panel to Discuss Film
In addition to Dr. Hagopian, the panel will include Prof. James R. Russell,
Mashtots Chair of Armenian Studies, Harvard University; Prof. Sharon Rivo,
Director, National Center for Jewish Film, Brandeis University; Dr. Suzanne
Moranian, historian and author; and John Shattuck, former Assistant
Secretary of State and current Chief Executive Officer, John F. Kennedy
Library Foundation.
Germany and the Secret Genocide follows the final footsteps of Armenians who
were led to their deaths in Turkey during the Armenian Genocide beginning in
April 1915. Hagopian weaves together filmed interviews and letters written
by American and European survivors of the Armenian Genocide with the
testimony of witnesses and experts in the field to examine Germany’s
involvement in the mass killings of Armenians.
It is shown in the film that Germany had the power to stop the Armenian
Genocide but opted to do nothing and became complicit in what the Allied
governments proclaimed a `crime against humanity’ by assisting in the
covering up of the Turkish government’s actions. In addition, the
involvement of a number of Germans who were among the early members of the
Nazi party under Hitler is explored.
Hagopian demonstrates throughout the film that the Genocide was a
well-thought-out extermination of an entire culture – complete with a
pre-arranged train schedule for the transportation of Armenians out of their
ancestral homelands.
Acclaimed and Pioneering Filmmaker
Born in Kharpert-Mezreh in Historic Armenia, Hagopian has explored his roots
and the history of his people through the medium of film and won critical
acclaim, including two Emmys for the writing and production of The Forgotten
Genocide, the first full-length feature on the Armenian Genocide. In all,
Hagopian’s work encompasses nearly 400 `witness’ interviews and twenty years
of research.
In 1979, Hagopian founded the non-profit Armenian Film Foundation to
document Armenian culture and instill pride in Armenian youth worldwide.
Since then, he has been leading the effort to raise funds and create the
`Witnesses’ trilogy on the Armenian Genocide. The first film, Voices From
the Lake, provided a case study of the Genocide’s impact on one community,
Hagopian’s birthplace of Kharpert-Mezreh.
Hagopian holds a doctorate in international relations from Harvard
University and an undergraduate degree from University of California,
Berkeley. Having left Armenia as an infant, he grew up in Fresno,
California, before moving to Los Angeles as a teenager.
Tickets are available in advance at the NAASR Headquarters and will be on
sale at Belmont High School on the night of the film showing. Advance
purchase is recommended. Ample parking is available at the Belmont High
School building and in adjacent areas on Concord Ave.
More information about the film showing is available by calling
617-489-1610, faxing 617-484-1759, e-mailing [email protected], or writing to
NAASR, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478.
From: Baghdasarian