Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
December 12, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

LEGISLATION BLOCKING U.S. FUNDING FOR ARMENIA RAILROAD
BYPASS GOES TO THE PRESIDENT FOR HIS SIGNATURE

WASHINGTON, DC – Legislation containing a provision enforcing a
long-sought ban on U.S. financing of a proposed railroad that would
bypass Armenia, having been approved in its final form by both the
House and Senate, was sent to the President yesterday for his
signature into law, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).

"Armenian Americans look forward to the President’s signing into
law the principled stand of the United States against Turkey and
Azerbaijan’s efforts to institutionalize their illegal blockades of
Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh," said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian.

The Senate voted by unanimous consent on December 6th in favor of a
reconciled version of the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Bill
(S.3938). The House had approved this version on December 1st.
Both the House and Senate measures were based on the South Caucasus
Integration and Open Railroads Act of 2006 (S. 2461 / H.R. 3361),
introduced in the Senate by Rick Santorum (R-PA) and in the House
by Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), the Co-Chairman of the Armenian
Caucus.

The proposed new Caucasus rail line – at the urging of Turkey and
Azerbaijan – would circumvent Armenia. Promoters of the project
have sought, even at the planning stages, to secure U.S. financing
for this undertaking, prompting Congressional friends of Armenia to
preemptively block such attempts. In October of 2005, the European
Commission voiced official opposition to the proposed Caucasus
railroad bypass of Armenia. A formal statement by the Commission’s
Directorate General for Transport and Energy noted that its
construction was both unnecessary and inefficient in light of the
existing railroad connecting Kars, Gyumri, and Tbilisi.

On March 8th of this year, responding to a question on the railroad
bypass from Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA) during a hearing of the
International Relations Committee, Assistant Secretary of State
Daniel Fried asserted that, "The proposed railway would bypass
Armenia and thus not be beneficial to regional integration. We have
no plans to support such a railway financially. The Administration
has not allocated or expended any federal agency funds or otherwise
provided financial support for the intended project."

The final text of the measure reads as follows:

SEC. 11. PROHIBITION ON ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP OR PROMOTE CERTAIN
RAILWAY CONNECTIONS AND RAILWAY-RELATED CONNECTIONS.

Section 2(b) of the Export-Import Act of 1945 (12 U.S.C. 635(b)) is
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(13) Prohibition on assistance to develop or promote certain
railway connections and railway-related connections.

– The Bank shall not guarantee, insure, or extend (or participate
in the extension of) credit in connection with the export of any
good or service relating to the development or promotion of any
railway connection or railway-related connection that does not
traverse or connect with Armenia and does traverse or connect Baku,
Azerbaijan, Tbilisi, Georgia, and Kars, Turkey.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the
official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank’s
mission is to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and
services to international markets.

ARPA INSTITUTE
18106 Miranda St., Tarzana CA 91356 . PHONE/FAX (818) 881-0010
24 B, Baghramian, Mech. Inst. Bldg. of ASc,Yerevan, Armenia

Jointly with
The Armenian Educational Foundation Chair of Modern Armenian History, UCLA

Present : Lecture/Seminar

"Tigranakert in Artsakh: Discovery and Initial
Excavations of a Lost Armenian City"

by: Dr. Hamlet Petrosyan
Thursday, December 21, 2006 @ 7:30PM
Merdinian Auditorium
13330 Riverside Dr. Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Directions: On the 101 FY Exit on Woodman, Go North and Turn Right on
Riverside Dr.

Abstract: The archaeological excavations of Tigranakert by a team of
archeologists from the Institute of Archaeology & Ethnography, National
Academy of Sciences, Republic of Armenia, pinpointed in 2005 what it
believes to be the exact location of Tigranakert in Artsakh and carried out
short-term excavations in the city and surrounding areas in 2006. The
research team studied the historical and archaeological environment of the
lower hills of the Khachenaget River and came to the conclusion that the
ruins of Tigranakert are comprised of fortified sections, vast urban
quarters, and two cemeteries found in the surroundings of the Shahbulagh
springs. The discovery of Tigranakert has utmost significance, a city that
unveils the ethnic-cultural homogeneity of Artsakh and Armenia from the
early centuries B.C. to the 13th-14th centuries A.D. The territory,
according to 7th century historian Sebeos, was a part of Utik and
Tigranakert Avan, which belonged to Artsakh. In order to pinpoint
Tigranakert in Artsakh clearly and accurately, the investigative team
selected the Khachenaget valley as a conditional center and studied the
monuments of an area within a radius of about 10 kilometers. Among the
monuments in that area are two spacious ruins placed at the right and left
banks of the Khachenaget River, almost at equal distances, one from the
district of Sofulu and the other from the springs of Shahbulagh. This
lecture will present the most recent findings.

Dr. Hamlet Petrosyan, is a senior researcher and professor at the Institute
of Archaeology, National Academy of Armenia. He is the chief of the
Tigranakert excavations in Artsakh and has extensive background in
excavations and archeological research and analytical studies on ancient
cites in the Middle East.

For more Information Please call Dr. Hagop Panossian at (818)586-9660 or
e-mail Prof. Richard Hovannisian at
<mailto:[email protected]>hovannis@ history.ucla.edu

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 12, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY INITIATIVE TO BECOME LAW

U.S. Counters Turkish Attempt to Isolate Armenia

Washington, DC – Longtime Armenian issues leader Senator Robert Menendez
(D-NJ) last week hailed the unanimous passage of legislation that
included a provision to prevent U.S. financing of a nearly $800 million
railway project benefiting Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgian while
deliberately excluding Armenia.

"I am pleased that this legislation has passed the House and includes an
identical amendment to the one I passed in the Senate on a railroad in
the Caucasus," Menendez told the Assembly. The amendment, which
Menendez introduced along with Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), was adopted
by the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee in September.

"I believe that we cannot continue to stoke the embers of regional
conflict by supporting projects that deliberately exclude one of the
region’s most important members," Menendez continued. "Fundamentally,
these amendments are about fairness and about inclusion, rather than
exclusion. With these amendments, we have sent a simple message — that
we believe that the United States should support an integrated and
inclusive approach to economic and regional development in the Caucasus
region. I hope to see this enacted into law in the future."

"We commend Senator Menendez for ensuring that this critical provision
was approved by Congress," said Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman
Hirair Hovnanian. "Attempts to exclude or isolate Armenia will not go
unanswered. The Armenian Assembly has a proud record of working to
ensure a secure, prosperous and democratic Armenia."

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

NR#2006-109

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

December 12, 2006

Contact: Lerna Kayserian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

World Renowned Journalist and Author Robert Fisk to Speak in Los Angeles

NORTHRIDGE, CA — Robert Fisk, world renowned author of several books about
the Middle East and foreign correspondent for one of the United Kingdom’s
leading newspapers, The Independent , will speak at California State
University, Northridge (CSUN) about his latest book, "The Great War for
Civilisation." Fisk will discuss some of the issues addressed in his book
about contemporary conflicts in the Middle East region and their historical
roots. The lecture will take place at the University Student Union’s Grand
Salon on Friday, December 15, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.

The event is co-hosted by the Armenian National Committee of America –
Western Region (ANCA-WR) and the United Human Rights Council (UHRC), along
with the CSUN Armenian Studies Program, the Armenian Student Association,
and Alpha Epsilon Omega fraternity.

"Fisk’s unique insight as someone on the ground with in-depth knowledge of
these conflicts makes him one of the most engaging speakers in the field,"
noted Haig Hovsepian, Community Relations Director for the ANCA-WR. "Fisk is
known for speaking his mind and will undoubtedly address difficult issues at
the intersection of American and European foreign policy and the various
cultures and interests at play in the Middle East."

Of particular interest to the Armenian American community, Fisk is one of
the world’s best known journalists has distinguished himself in his effort
to inform the world about the Armenian Genocide. In his latest book, "The
Great War for Civilisation," Fisk dedicates an entire chapter to the
Armenian Genocide, which he titles "The First Holocaust." He provides the
historical details of the genocide, reveals interviews with survivors in
Lebanon, and decries the Turkish and U.S. governments’ complicity in
genocide denial today.

"The 20th century was one of great violence and repeatedly marked by human
rights abuses and genocide," commented Chris Yemenidjian, Chair of the UHRC.
"We look forward to Mr. Fisk’s analysis of the root causes of today’s
contemporary conflicts."

"Mr. Fisk provides a valuable voice for cultural awareness and human
rights," noted Terenig Topjian, President of the CSUN ASA. "As the
university is home to the sharing of ideas as well as the subsequent growth
and progress they inspire, we are proud to be co-hosting him at CSUN."

The event will be preceded by a 7pm reception for the author at the Grand
Salon. Both the reception and the event are free and open to the public.
Seating is limited and the author will entertain questions following his
presentation. There will also be a book-signing opportunity immediately
following the lecture. Books will be available for purchase at the event.

The ANCA 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.

NKR INDEPENDENCE DOES NOT NEED ANYBODY’S RECOGNITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.12.2006 15:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ There is no notion in the practice of international
law as ‘recognition of an independent state’, all countries are divided
by one feature – those which are not UN members and those which are
members of UN, said political scientist Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan in
Yerevan. In his words, NKR’s independence does not need anybody’s
recognition.

"Nagorno Karabakh only needs legal registration of its independence
and everybody will take into account this fact. Azerbaijan is afraid of
this very fact, since the laws in Stepanakert have always been and will
be observed, unlike those in Baku, which the international community
is well aware of. Moreover, part of European energy security is in
our region that’s why Europe needs stability. And it can be ensured
only by Karabakh, which develops in accordance with international
democratic norms," he said.

At the same time the political scientist emphasized, that the
Constitution does not define the borders of a sovereign state. "The
war is not over yet, and the border between Azerbaijan and NKR can
pass anywhere, even on the banks of the Kura River," says Armen
Melik-Shahnazaryan.

THE ADOPTION OF NKR CONSTITUTION IS OBJECTIVE NECESSITY

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.12.2006 15:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Nagorno Karabakh has reached such a level
of development when an objective necessity occurs to adopt
a Constitution for the state’s further progress, said Hamlet
Haroutyunyan, the Chairman of ‘Artsakh’ friendly association in
Yerevan. In his words, NKR people’s goal is to build a democratic
civil society. H. Haroutyunyan also noted, that Robert Kocharian’s,
Serge Sargsyan’s and Samvel Babayan’s merit among others is that they
took the power from field commanders and gave it to the people. "I
underline this fact, since under war conditions it is very difficult
to make the winners obey. They could do it in Karabakh," he said,
bringing as an example Turkey, where up till now everything is being
decided by the General Staff.

GEORGIA: TAMING OF A REVOLUTIONARY STATION

A1+
[03:45 pm] 09 December, 2006

Rustavi-2 television loses its fearless reputation.

The television station that was at the forefront of Georgia’s Rose
Revolution has lost audiences and its reputation for political
investigation, amidst accusations of pressure from the new authorities.

During the peaceful demonstrations against the government of former
president Eduard Shevardnadze of November 2003, the programmes of
Rustavi-2 were broadcast to crowds in the centre of Tbilisi on a huge
screen. As the revolution gathered momentum, Rustavi-2 worked round
the clock, urging people to join the rallies.

However, just a few months after the Shevardnadze administration fell
and Mikheil Saakashvili was elected president of Georgia, the media
climate began to change. Two television channels – Iberia and Ninth
Channel – were taken off the air, and the popular political talk
shows broadcast by Rustavi-2 and other companies began disappearing.

The official rationale for the closure of the two channels was
their own financial problems, while the ending of the talk shows was
explained as an internal management decision. However, the opposition
started accusing the new government of putting pressure on the media
and violating freedom of speech.

Rustavi-2, which had helped bring the new government to power, began
experiencing problems too. First the company was declared bankrupt
and the majority of its shares sold to a little-known businessmen
Kibar Khalvashi, who was a close associate of then minister of defence
Irakly Okruashvili. Two weeks ago, the day after Okruashvili resigned
as defence minister, Khalvashi again sold his controlling stake in
the company.

For viewers, the most important change has been in the content of
Rustavi-2’s news programmes. The news programme Courier has lost the
reputation for boldness, which made it so popular.

"Rustavi-2 broadcasts only the latest news from the interior ministry
or the president’s briefings, there’s nothing interesting to watch,"
Marina, 49, told IWPR.

Ia Antadze, a commentator with Radio Liberty, said the changes at
Rustavi-2 were directly linked to the balance of political forces
in the Georgian government, with two camps linked respectively to
Okruashvili and Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili.

She said Merabishvili had control over the Alania and Mze television
companies and influence over public television, while Rustavi-2 and
Imedi were associated with Okruashvili.

After the Rose Revolution, Rustavi-2 broadly continued to support the
new government. David Kikalishvili, presenter of the news programme
Courier P.S., explained, "After the revolution, the journalists
regarded themselves as revolutionaries, and, proceeding from interests
of the revolution, they agreed with the owner’s position that the
political temperature should be lowered."

The staff protested for the first time three months ago when the
authorities demanded the resignation of general director Nika
Tabatadze. The news section held a strike that lasted for several
hours. A crisis meeting was called, which staff say was attended by
Okruashvili and Gigi Ugulava, mayor of Tbilisi – although no one has
confirmed this in public.

The news team all then quit the company, but without making any
comment.

"They said nothing, because they had nothing to say," said Paata
Veshapidze, editor of 24 Hours newspaper, pointing out that they had
put up with the major changes at the station unquestioningly and it
was hard for them suddenly to take a determined stand.

However, one leading journalist, Eka Khoperia, announced live on
television that she was quitting because of "unacceptable demands from
certain representatives of the authorities", whom she did not name.

Following the mass resignations, Koba Davarashvili, a close friend of
Economics Minister Giorgy Arveladze, was appointed general director of
the company, and a former head of the press service of the governing
party, the National Movement, was put in charge of the news section.

But ratings have dropped dramatically. The Courier news programme
used to have an audience share of 50-60 per cent, but now only gets
between six and 11 per cent of the audience.

"The authorities are well aware of the power the television has,"
said Paata Veshapidze. "They do not want to have such a powerful bomb
that may explode at any moment."

The latest audience figures show that Rustavi-2 now lags behind Imedi,
a television company owned by businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili,
who is an associate of former Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky.

In August, Imedi signed a partnership agreement with Rupert Murdoch’s
media giant News Corporation.

Before the local elections in October, Imedi’s news programmes took
a critical line with the government and government figures boycotted
the channel’s political talk show Reaction for several months.

In its turn, the opposition has shunned Rustavi-2, saying the channel
has turned into a "branch of the government".

Experts say that the media is less independent and critical of the
government than it used to be and that is harder to obtain information
from official sources.

But, said television critic Ninia Kakabadze, "there are not enough
factual arguments to say that the authorities are directly putting
pressure on the media.

"To any question why this or that journalist has been sacked or why
this or that programme has been shut down the authorities give one
simple answer – we have nothing to do with this, this is what the
management has decided. That is why the main question is, who the
management is, how they take decisions and who influences them."

"Independent reporting is hampered by journalists’ self-censorship,"
said Tamara Shamil, a media expert with the Caucasian Institute of
Peace, Democracy and Development in Tbilisi. "Most of them are waiting
to see how their new masters will react."

By Eka Kvesitadze in Tbilisi for Institute for War and Peace
Reporting’s Caucasus Reporting Service

AZERBAIJAN: PROBING CHANNEL PULLED OFF THE AIR

A1+
[03:49 pm] 09 December, 2006

Dramatic shutdown of popular TV station seen as blow to freedom of
speech. Azerbaijan’s most popular and longest-running independent
television channel, ANS, was unexpectedly closed on November 24,
the culmination of a bitter dispute with the government.

The decision was taken that morning by the national television and
radio broadcasting council. Council chairman Nushiravan Magerramli,
said the channel’s license was not being extended and called on it
to stop broadcasting within three hours.

The ANS management was not given written notification of the
council’s decision, but at precisely three o’clock, operatives
from the communications ministry, accompanied by policemen, broke
into the company’s headquarters and switched off and sealed all its
transmitters.

The council said that ANS had repeatedly received warnings for breaking
broadcasting regulations. For the past few years, the company had
been broadcasting without a license, because of an ongoing dispute
with the government. ANS said it had repeatedly applied for a new
license but had been refused.

Mekhti Mamedov, assistant to the chairman of the council, told IWPR,
"Since the council was created in the spring of 2005, ANS was given
nine warnings, and on two occasions it was fined. That is why the
decision to revoke its license is absolutely justified." Mamedov said
ANS had failed to observe advertising regulations and opened a branch
in the town of Sheki without permission.

ANS general director Fuad Jabbarly told IWPR that the channel had
received only five written warnings from the council and reacted in
a proper way to all of them. "I have no idea where the figure nine
comes from," he said. "It’s true that we were fined twice and paid
the penalties on time. Until recently, the council never approached
us with any complaints."

ANS started broadcasting in November 1991 and is, according its
president Vahid Mustafaiev, the first private and independent
television channel in the former Soviet Union. It won a reputation
for its frontline reporting from the Nagorny Karabakh conflict – and
has maintained an aggressive stance on the Karabakh issue to this day.

The channel also won popularity for its news reporting, which was more
independent than the official television channels, and for programmes
such as "Internal News", where ordinary citizens were allowed to ask
questions of government officials.

A grand concert had been scheduled for November 26 to mark the
channel’s fifteenth birthday, however the administration of the
Heidar Aliev Concert Palace, where the event was due to be held,
cancelled the party, citing the need to make essential repairs.

Rashid Gajily, an expert on media and director of the Institute of Law,
said the council had exceeded its authority by issuing the decision
to close down ANS.

"The council does indeed have the authority to issue and extend
licenses or not to extend them," he said.

"But it is up to a court to decide on the closure of a media
outlet. There were no legal proceedings in the ANS case."

The ANS management says it intends to challenge the decision in court,
while the broadcasting council announced a tender for the station’s
frequency with a deadline of January 7.

President Ilham Aliev hinted there was room for compromise, saying,
"There are state organs and they have well-justified demands that
need to be fulfilled.

I think that the dispute with ANS can be resolved in a businesslike
manner and with good will. If all demands are met its activity can
be restored."

But presidential aide Ali Hasanov, apparently with the approval of
his boss, warned, "Even the president himself does not have the right
to interfere in the process of issuing licenses. Responsibility for
this lies with the broadcasting council."

The dramatic shutdown of the popular television channel has triggered
feverish speculation in Azerbaijan.

One interpretation is that the government was planning to make major
concessions to the Armenians in the ongoing peace talks over the
Karabakh issue and therefore wanted to take off the air a station
which strongly opposed compromise in the dispute.

"It’s true, the most convincing explanation for the closure of ANS is a
forthcoming surrender of Karabakh," said journalist Ilgar Mamedov. "As
long as ANS was on the air, it would be hard to impose on the people
a peace plan that meant defeat."

Einulla Fatullayev, a former ANS employee who is now a strong critic
and the editor-in-chief of the Realny Azerbaijan newspaper, sees
domestic politics as being at the root of the issue.

"ANS was closely tied to former economic development Farhad Aliev, who
is now accused of plotting a coup d’etat," said Fatullayev. He said
the president could not forgive the station’s perceived "treachery"
towards the government.

Most observers are inclined to see the shutdown within the context of
a general move against the independent media in Azerbaijan. Political
scientist Rasim Agayev, who was formerly a government official said,
"ANS was the only media outlet which defended me at a difficult time
when Heidar Aliev was in power and when I was arrested. I consider its
closure a blow against freedom of speech and the image of Azerbaijan
and I am ready to do everything I can to defend it."

US ambassador Ann Derse told the Turan news agency that Azerbaijan
should remember its obligations on freedom of speech under
international treaties and called on the government to reconsider
the issue.

In the meantime, ANS’s entire staff is currently on unpaid leave
and waiting to see what happens next to their channel. And millions
of viewers are deeply unhappy. "ANS stood out from the other TV
channels for being much more professional," said 37-year-old Tarlan
Babayev. "With ANS closed it feels as though the airwaves of Azerbaijan
have been orphaned."

Shahin Rzayev is IWPR’s Azerbaijan country director.

Matanat Alieva is editor-in-chief of Impuls newspaper.

By Shahin Rzayev and Matanat Alieva in Baku for Institute for War
and Peace Reporting’s Caucasus Reporting Service

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OMBUDSMAN OF ARMENIA ASSESSED ACTIVITY OF YEREVAN MUNICIPALITY NEGATIVE

Yerevan, December 9. ArmInfo. During the past three months the
Armenian Ombudsman’s Office has received 714 complaints, 304 of them
in the written form. 33 applications were collective – with 1612
citizens’ signatures. On the whole, positive judgement was passed
on 34 applications, Ombudsman of Armenia Armen Harutyunyan said at
today’s press-conference.

A.Harutyunyan noted that most of the claims concerned the activity
of judicial bodies (39), the Municipality of Yerevan (23), the Police
(36), the Ministry of Justice (21) and Prosecutor’s office (15). The
citizens mainly complained about infringement of their rights to
legal protection (96), to satisfactory conditions of life (63), to
timely answer from state bodies, as well as infringement of their
social security and property rights. According to the statistics,
189 people who appealed to the Ombudsman’s Office were from Yerevan,
38 from Shirak, 16 from Lori, 14 from Kotayk and 10 from Gegharkunik.

A.Harutyunyan assessed the work of the Yerevan Municipality negative.

It doesn’t pay proper attention to the complaints of the citizens
and fails to cooperate with the Yerevan office of human rights. He
emphasized that the Municipality prefers to give formal answers without
taking specific steps for constructive settlement of vexed situations,
even after the court adjudges in favor of the aggrieved party. So,
about 90% of judicial decisions are not carried out.

THE CASE OF MURDER OF THE 15-YEAR-OLD CITIZEN OF ARMENIA DISCLOSED

ArmRadio.am
09.12.2006 11:52

The Prosecutor’s Office of the Moscow Municipal Area has disclosed
the case of murder of the 15-year-old citizen of Armenia. "The case
has really been disclosed. Four young citizens of Ivanteeka have been
arrested," Press Service of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Moscow
Municipal Area told RIA Novosti. The detainees are university and
college students.

Narek Kocharyan was killed on November 11, 2006 on the railway platform
of Ivanteevka city. A criminal case was launched in compliance with
part 4 of the Article 111 of the Russian Criminal Code.