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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2006
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
E-mail: [email protected]
ASSEMBLY CONTINUES ADVOCACY MEETINGS AND PROMOTES LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AS
CONGRESS RECESSES
WASHINGTON, DC – With Congress in recess until after the November
elections, the Armenian Assembly stepped up its advocacy efforts,
meeting with several lawmakers to promote Armenian-American concerns.
Board of Trustees Executive Committee Member Annie Totah, along with
Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, met with Senator Maria
Cantwell (D-WA) to discuss the U.S.-Armenia relationship as well as key
issues such as reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide. Cantwell who is
serving her first term in office, is a cosponsor of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution (S. Res. 320).
Totah and Ardouny also met with Armenian Caucus Member Representative
Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), an avid supporter of Armenian issues including
the South Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act (H.R. 3361) and
the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H. Res. 316). This past summer Maloney
spearheaded a letter to the European Union expressing concern regarding
Turkey’s ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide. In her letter, Maloney
urged the European Commission to consider Turkey’s stance on the
Armenian Genocide and the ongoing blockade which impairs the regional
stability of the South Caucasus in consideration of its membership into
the European Union. Maloney is a Ranking Member of the Joint Economic
Committee as well as a member of the Financial Services and Government
Reform Committees and serves as a co-chair of the Hellenic Caucus. Totah
and Ardouny thanked the Congresswoman for her strong support of the
Armenian community.
Additionally, Totah and Ardouny met with Armenian Caucus Members Joseph
Crowley (D-NY), Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Edward Royce (R-CA), and thanked
the Representatives for their support of H.R. 3361, a bill prohibiting
U.S. funding for a rail link that connects Baku, Azerbaijan; Tbilisi,
Georgia; and Kars, Turkey while bypassing Armenia. They also commended
the lawmakers for sponsoring an amendment ensuring that no Export-Import
money is spent on efforts that would isolate Armenia from economic and
regional transportation opportunities. A similar amendment was adopted
by the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee with strong
Assembly support.
“We thank Senator Cantwell for her receptiveness to the concerns of the
Armenian-American community, and we look forward to working with her and
her staff in promoting Armenian concerns,” said Totah. “Additionally, we
thank Representatives Crowley, Maloney, Royce and Sherman for their
continued support and work on the federal level for the Armenian
community.”
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#2006-093
Editor’s Note: Photograph available on the Assembly Web site at the
following links:
3/2006-093-1.jpg
Caption: Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) flanked by Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny (left) and Board of Trustees Executive Committee Member
Annie Totah.
3/2006-093-2.jpg
Caption: Board of Trustees Executive Committee Member Annie Totah (left)
with Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY).
93/2006-093-3.jpg
Caption: L to R: Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Board of Trustees
Executive Committee Member Annie Totah and Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny.
/2006-093/2006-093-4.jpg
Caption: Executive Director Bryan Ardouny (left) with Congressman Edward
Royce (R-CA).
93/2006-093-5.JPG
Caption: Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) with Board of Trustees
Executive Committee Member Annie Totah.

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
PART ICIPATION IN THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GERMAN PROTESTANT CHURCH IN
BEIRUT
The German Protestant Church in Beirut celebrated the 150th anniversary of
its founding on October 15 with an ecumenical service conducted by Bishop
Wolfgang Hubert, Chairman of the EKD Council.
Representatives from the Christian communities of Lebanon, the General
Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches, the Lebanese Culture of
Minister and the Ambassadors of Germany and Switzerland attended the
service.
His Holiness Aram I delegated Bishop Nareg Alemezian, the Ecumenical Officer
of the Catholicosate of Cilicia to attend the event on his behalf. Bishop
Alemezian also conveyed the Pontiff’s greetings to Reverends Frederike and
Uve Weltzin and the officials of the community.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SOLDIER WOUNDED BY AZERI SNIPER DIED IN YEREVAN
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.10.2006 14:07 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian soldier Alexander Papakhchayan wounded by
an Azeri sniper died in the Erebuni medical center in Yerevan October
16. As RA Defense Minister’s Spokesman, colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan
told PanARMENIAN.Net, 19-year-old Alexander Papakhchayan was wounded
in the chest.
Investigation is being carried out.

ANKARA HAS NO REASON TO BE ASHAMED OF ITS HISTORY, TURKISH FM ASSURES
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.10.2006 14:20 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Turkish government “uses all the possibilities
of international law up to bringing in suits” to prevent final
ratification of the French bill calling for imprisonment for the
Armenian Genocide denial, Turkish FM Abdullah Gul told parliament
today. He remarked that “France insists that historians should deal
with the disputable moments of its history on one hand and tries
to legalize Armenians’ claims lacking historical basis on the other
hand. “Turkey will lose nothing but France’s image will be damaged,”
Gul said.
The Turkish FM also assured that “Turkey has no reason to be ashamed
of her history.” “We are a nation sure of its past. The government has
opened the archives, including military and secret ones for everyone
wishing to investigate the events of 1915. Moreover, the parliament
has decided to form a commission that will examine the archives of
third states of that period,” Gul said.
Turkish parliamentarians voiced opinion that by adopting the bill
the French parliament “limits one of the fundamental freedoms of any
European state – freedom of speech,” “We hope that the ratification
process will be stopped and the French will regain consciousness,”
Gul underscored, reports ITAR-TASS.

TOTAL’S SELL DECREASES 30 PERCENT AFTER THE ARMENIAN BILL
Ummuhan Sumbul, JTW
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Oct 17 2006
Ummuhan SUMBUL (JTW), ANKARA – The passing of the controversial
Armenian claims denial bill in the French parliament has prompted
strong reactions in Turkish business circles. The French company
Total Oil has been the target of the boycott. The Company informed
the journalists that the sell has decreased about 30 percent in a week.
Several businessmen and companies announced they would suspend business
partnerships with French companies. The number of Turkish markets
which do not sell French products has radically increased yesterday.
Associations Continue to Call for Greater Boycott
Some French companies operating in Turkey include Total, Elf,
Carrefour, Danone, Tefal, Michelin, Renault, Peugeot, Citroen, Lacoste,
L’Oreal, Lancome, Christian Dior, Onduline, Lafarge, Chryso, Air
France, BIC, Cartier, Sheaffer, Le coq sportif, Alcatel, AXA, Gunes
Insurance, Basak Insurance, Basak Emeklilik Societe General Bank,
Turkish Economy Bank, Sanofi and Servier.
Consumer Union yesterday called all Turkish consumers inside and
abroad not to buy French products. However the Union also warned the
Turkish consumers not to boycott the French-Turkish companies which
have great investment in Turkey. The CarrefourSa Market Company
therefore was removed from the boycott list. “CarrefourSa invest
great in Turkey and create emploment here. If we boycott CarrefourSa,
it means we would boycott Turkish businesmen and workers” one of the
Union representative said.
Armenians claim that the communal clashes in 1915 was genocide, while
Turkish Government has never accepted these claims. Turkey says the
Armenians died due to the communal clashes, bad weather conditions,
war curcumstances, famine and epidemic diseases. Turkish historains
also say that more than 520,000 Muslim Ottoman citizens were massacred
by the armed Armenian groups. Armenia now does not recognise Turkey’s
and Azerbaijan’s national borders and occupies almost 20 percent of
Azeri territories.
17 October 2006
TUSIAD: Let us Reply with Reforms
TUSIAD called the French bill “a big mistake.”
“A proper reply to be given to France would be to accelerate
political reforms to include freedom of expression particularly and
proceed toward our goal of full [EU] membership as a country holding
memberships talks with the European Union,” the association stated.
TOBB: They won’t be Invited for Bids
Rifat Hisarciklioglu, chairman for the Turkish Union of Chambers and
Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), said public administrations in Turkey would
not invite French companies to bids after the passing of the bill.
“The French National Parliament made a mistake. Responsibility for
this process falls on it,” Hisarciklioglu said. The TOBB chairman
thinks France failed in the test of law and conscience and described
the developments as a black page in its history.

RF DUMA WORKING GROUP TO VISIT RUSSIAN MILITARY BASES IN ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.10.2006 14:34 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Russian State Duma working group led by deputy
chair of the defense committee Mikhail Babich will visit the Russian
military bases in Armenia October 17-20. The Babich administration said
the delegation includes defense committee member Nikolay Bezborodov,
members of the committee on CIS Affairs Konstantin Zatulin and Vasiliy
Teterin and the RF Defense Ministry’s representatives. The delegation
members will meet with the administration of military units of the
Russian Armed Forces in Armenia and attend the military base in Gyumri
and the aviation base in the Erebuni airdrome, reports Interfax.

PASADENA POLICE CHIEF GETS HONOR FROM ARMENIANS
Pasadena Star-News, CA
Oct 17 2006
PASADENA – The Pasadena Police Department’s efforts to raise funds
for equipment for the Yerevan Police Department has earned the police
chief an Armenian National Service Medal, officials said Monday.
Pasadena Chief Bernard Melekian is the second person outside of
Armenia to receive the medal.
The award was presented to Melekian during a Pasadena Armenian Peoples’
Advisory Committee fundraising gala earlier this month.
Yerevan police Chief Nerses Nazaryan, acting on behalf of the commander
of the Armenian National Police, presented the award.
“The award was truly a surprise and an honor,” Melekian said, crediting
the Pasadena Armenian group with building bridges between the Pasadena
Police Department and the Armenian community.
“My grandparents and my father, who were survivors of the genocide,
always felt they owed a great deal to this country and to Pasadena.
It was an honor to be involved with a project that helped give
something of value to Armenia,” he said.
PAPAC raised nearly $80,000 for the Yerevan Police Department.
“Yerevan is the capital city of Armenia. I had the pleasure to visit
that city in 2000 and was appalled at the deficiency of equipment
that a modern department needs to do its job,” Melekian said.

“I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH” (video)
A1+
[08:14 pm] 17 October, 2006
The songs of Varduhi Vardanyan will always sound for his relatives
and friends despite the car crash which put an end to her life. Those
who were present at her last concert in Martouni will always remember
her words, “I love you very much”.
Let us remind you that on October 15 on Sevan highway Varduhi
Vardanyan’s car got out of the road and turned over. As a result of
the accident the singer died on the spot.
We are representing you a part of the video of her last concert. In
order to watch it, press the button “video” (540 kb)
The video was given by TV Company “Zangak” of Martouni.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SHEN YANG AND ZAVEN ANDRIASIAN WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONS
Chessbase News, Germany
Oct 17 2006
17.10.2006 Both are seventeen and have won the girls’ and the open
section of the World Under 20 World Championship that was held in
Yerevan, Armenia, from October 2nd to 17th 2006. Shen Yang was just
a couple of tiebreak points ahead of one of the greatest talents in
chess today, Hou Yifan, who is just twelve! Report and games.
Junior World Championships in Yerevan
For our younger readers: a “demo board” is a large wooden or vinyl
chessboard attached upright to the wall or supported by a stand. The
pieces attach to the board with magnets, or are cleverly inserted
into slits at the bottom of the squares. Sometimes, when the boards
are very large (as in the above pictures) rods are used to move the
pieces. The transmission of the moves from the game to the board is
done by non-electronic means – a human agent is used instead.
World Junior Championship top finishers The open section was won
by 17-year-old Armenian super-talent Zaven Andriasian, who last
year won the Boys’ Under 16 section of the Youth Championships in
Herceg Novi. Zaven started as the 29th seed in this event. Second was
19-year-old IM Nikita Vitiugov of Russia, who was the fourth highest
rated player in the tournament.
Photos & score table
id=3432
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THEY DEMAND TO MAKE A FAIR DECISION
A1+
[12:39 pm] 18 October, 2006
The advocates of soldiers Razmik Sargsyan, Musa Serobyan and Arayik
Zalyan turned to Court of Cassation on June 9, 2006, but the Court has
not yet made a decision. According to the advocates, it contradicts
the European convention on Human rights, the RA Criminal Code and
the Constitution.
The advocates sent an application to the Court of Cassation to
investigate the case within the defined period of time. Many RA
citizens, public and political figures and NGOs have also sent an
open letter to the Court demanding to make a fair decision.
At present Razmik Sargsyan is in the hospital of Noubarashen prison
with tuberculosis. According to his doctor, Razmik’s situation is
not dangerous.