Leicester Mercury, UK
June 29, 2006 Thursday
Gripping end to a traumatic day
Philharmonia Orchestra, with conductor Rafael Frühbeck De Burgos
That this concert took place at all demonstrates the generosity of
the region’s musicians.
They stepped in when the Philharmonia lorry containing instruments,
music and concert dress was impounded near to King’s Cross, in
London, following a nearby fire.
Armenian-born violinist Sergey Khachatryan was the soloist in
Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No 1 in A minor.
A haunting, dark Nocturne, leads to an angular Scherzo, then to a
sometimes romantic Passacaglia, finishing with a challenging solo
cadenza and rondo finale in Burlesque style. Khachatryan transfixed
the listener with his total envelopment in the music.
Part of me wished the work had ended with that solo cadenza, leaving
the memory of such gifted playing.
Mahler’s Symphony No 1 was originally written as a tone poem
depicting the life of an abstract hero.
A slow movement is followed by a strong, recurring, melodic theme.
The interesting juxtaposition of the children’s theme Frère Jacques
used as a funeral march explodes into a brassy finale with the whole
orchestra rising to the final challenges of this complex and exciting
piece.
The trauma of the day was invisible in an exhilarating and gripping
performance throughout.

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
June 30, 2006 Friday 08:17 AM EST
State commission okays Russian Expo Arms 2006 in Nizhny Tagil
by Georgy Letov
YEKATERINBURG
A state commission gave a go-ahead on Friday to the Russian Expo Arms
2006 international exhibition of arms in Nizhny Tagil.
Already on Saturday, first exhibits will start arriving to the
territory of the exhibition center at the Nizhny Tagil Institute for
Metals Testing, spokesman for the regional ministry for energy,
industry and science Yevgeny Kharlamov told Tass.
According to the information department of the Nizhny Tagil
administration, over 24,000 square meters of open areas have been
prepared for the exhibition. Viewing stands will be able to
accommodate over 2,500 spectators. Over 400 enterprises of the
Russian military-industrial complex from 35 regions will present
about 2,500 exhibits.
Sixty-two units of military hardware will be used in a parade at the
unveiling of the exhibition. According to the regional minister for
international and foreign economic relations, 46 foreign delegations
will take part in the exhibition.
Official confirmations have come from the Czech Republic, Poland,
Germany, Switzerland, Venezuela, Sweden, Armenia, Tajikistan, Egypt,
Great Britain, Spain, Iran, Bulgaria, Mozambique and some other
states.
The most representative delegations will arrive from India, China and
Kyrgyzstan. Over 600 journalists from Russia, the USA, Japan,
Slovakia and South Korea will cover the event. The main events of the
exhibition will be shown on the Internet online.
The Itar-Tass, the Arms-Tass and the Rossiyskaya Gazeta are the
general sponsors of the exhibition, which will take place from July
11 to 15.

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS General Newswire
June 29, 2006 Thursday 8:04 PM MSK
Baku angered by Swedish MPs’ visit to Karabakh
BAKU
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has instructed its embassy in Britain,
which is in charge of several countries, including Sweden, to check
whether reports alleging that Swedish MPs had visited Nagorno
Karabakh without Baku’s notification were true.
“Our embassy has been instructed to check these reports and issue a
note of protest if they are true,” Azeri Foreign Ministry spokesman
Tair Tagizade told Interfax on Thursday.
Armenian media reported that a Swedish parliamentary delegation led
by Deputy Ulla Hofman had visited Nagorno Karabakh. The delegates
allegedly reached the territory from Armenia.
The delegation reportedly met with Nagorno Karabakh’s Parliamentary
Deputy Speaker Rudik Usnunch.

Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
June 30 2006
Armenia: Outrage at Newspaper Editor’s Arrest
Media rights groups say criminal charges against Arman Babajanian are
designed to neutralise a critical voice.
Diana Markosian in Yerevan (CRS No. 346, 30-June-06)
Journalists and media activists in Armenia are lining up in support
of newspaper editor Arman Babajanian, saying the criminal charge for
which he was arrested this week has only been filed because of his
paper’s criticism of the authorities.
Babajanian was detained at the offices of his Zhamanak-Yerevan paper
on June 26, and charged with forging documents four years ago to
allow him to escape army conscription. He is said to have made up a
certificate that fictitiously showed he had two children – a
circumstance which automatically results in exemption from military
service. Forgery carries a punishment of one to five years in prison.
An official report states that Babajanian made a confession in the
presence of a lawyer.
Babajanian was refused bail when he appeared in court on June 28, and
he is likely to spend the next two months in prison pending trial.
Grigorian said the court was wrong not to have taken his position and
his `frank confession’ into account in considering the bail request.
The lawyer now plans to appeal the refusal of bail. `If the court
upholds the decision, this will suggest there’s a political motive
behind what has happened,’ he said.
Babajanian’s colleagues on the paper and in other media have spoken
out in his support, accusing the authorities of prosecuting him
because of his work on Zhamanak-Yerevan.
`I insist that even if there’s some offence, the underlying cause is
the newspaper,’ said the paper’s deputy editor Liza Chagharian.
The newspaper only started publishing in Armenia on May 12 with a
print-run of 1,500, which although small is not unusual in this
country. But it has been going for four years, and continues to be
printed in the United States in Armenian and Russian with a
circulation of 9,000. Over that period, Zhamanak-Yerevan has carried
many critical articles about the government, although it has also
been hard on the opposition at times.
`The authorities dislike Zhamanak Yerevan, which is why orders were
issued to destroy it,’ Avetiq Ishkhanian, the chairman of Armenia’s
Helsinki Committee, told IWPR. `The law enforcement bodies took on
the task of devising a way to carry these orders out.’
The National Press Club released a statement describing Babajanian’s
arrest as a breach the constitutional right to freedom of speech, and
an attempt to force the media into a strait-jacket ahead of
elections.
The Yerevan Press Club and the Committee to Protect Freedom of Speech
wrote to the prosecutor general claiming that initial questioning of
Babajanian had been conducted improperly.
On June 27, a group of journalists, human rights campaigners and
opposition supporters held a rally outside the prosecution service’s
headquarters in Yerevan.
One of the participants, journalist Mesrop Harutiunian said dragging
a man off to the prosecutor’s office without giving him advance
notice or informing him of his rights was how the law worked in a
police state. `An army sergeant style of rule is being established in
Armenia,’ he said.
Human rights activist Avetik Ishkhanian believes Babajanian’s
detention is part of a wider campaign to bring the independent media
to heel.
`I don’t know whether the authorities will succeed to do this, but
I’m sure they won’t,’ he said. `But if they do succeed, they may turn
their hand to other newspapers, too.’
A recent report by the international media watchdog Freedom House
rates the press in Armenia as `not free’.
The media have repeatedly come under pressure in recent years. The
independent TV-channel À1+ was stripped of its license in 2002 and
has failed to win back its broadcasting rights ever since. This year
it was evicted from its premises.
There have also been a number of physical attacks on journalists,
including assaults last year on Anna Israelian of the Aravot
newspaper, Naira Mamikonian of Haikakan Zhamanak, and Diana
Markosian, the author of this article.
Armenia’s new human rights ombudsman, Armen Harutiunian, has so far
avoided any comment on the possible political ramifications of the
Babajanian case. `We will look at his crime [sic] to see whether the
draft evasion can be proved as a legal fact or not,’ he said. `Only
then will we be able to draw conclusions.’
Diana Markosian is a journalist with the À1+ television company.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x109
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 30, 2006
AGBU SPEARHEADS FIRST OF ITS KIND EUROPEAN TRAINING SEMINAR FOR YOUNG
ARMENIANS
Investing in the next generation, AGBU broke symbolic ground in
Brussels, Belgium, with its first training and networking seminar for
European youth from April 29 to May 2, 2006, entitled “Project
Exchange and Development Seminar for Young European Armenians.”
Promoting the grassroots efforts of young Armenians, AGBU in
sponsorship with the Council of Europe welcomed 38 talented community
organizers from 14 European countries (Armenia, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the
Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom) to
participate in a unique peer-to-peer exchange within a dynamic,
facilitated learning environment.
With multiple presenters on hand to explore new ideas, information and
experiences, the seminar was kicked off by guest speaker Dr. Bernard
Coulie, President of Belgium’s University of Louvain. Placing the
project work of the young Armenians within a European context,
Prof. Coulie emphasized the shared Christian history between Armenians
and Europe, and the tried and tested ability of the Armenian culture
to absorb new influences while retaining its specific identity.
Offering numerous learning opportunities, the four-day exchange
included informative talks by leading European organizations AIESEC,
AEGEE (Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants d’Europe), the
International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation and the European Commission
Youth Program; training in fundraising and project management;
roundtable workshops on international exchange, culture and
professional networking; and presentations by seminar participants on
their local projects.
Fostering fellowship and camaraderie, Europe-wide participants quickly
came to appreciate their shared experiences, and the challenges and
opportunities that unite them as young Armenians serving their local
communities and homeland. Through exposure to one another’s work,
participants enthusiastically engaged in discussions on ways to
collaborate on joint projects in the future.
“The AGBU seminar in Brussels has shown me an efficient way to bring
together young Armenian professionals and the potential of highly
motivated Armenians looking for an opportunity to serve their local
communities and Armenia,” said attendee Karen Navoyan, Co-Founder and
Co-President of Haik, an Armenian Students Association connecting 16
universities across Germany. “Furthermore, it has built a sphere for
potential collaboration on international projects. Knowing there are
other Armenians in Europe who are goal-oriented serving their
communities gives you motivation to continue your projects in your own
community. But the most important contribution of this seminar has
been the first step taken in creating a basis for a network between
Armenian young professionals in Europe.”
With an ongoing commitment towards continuing the exchange, various
follow-up measures have been implemented by AGBU, including the
maintenance of the project’s website () and
support of an online forum on openBC () for networking
and professional purposes. To participate, go to OpenBC, become a
member and join Groups/Community and social issues/Armenian
Professionals Online.
Among the various organizations represented at the seminar were:
All-Armenian Youth Foundation (); Armenian Culture
Association of Barcelona ([email protected]); AGBU: France
District (, ), London Chapter
(), Plovdiv Chapter ([email protected]), Sofia
Chapter () and Yerevan Office (); Armenian
Youth & Culture Committee, England (); Association
Culturelle Arménienne d’Aix-en-Provence, France
([email protected]); CCAF, Conseil de Coordination des
Organisations Arméniennes de France (); DA-Connexion
France (); Fondation Alliance Arménienne,
Switzerland (); Gladzor Armenian Students Association,
Netherlands (student.armeenseforum.nl/armv); Haik German-Armenian
Students Association ([email protected]); Inside Europe, Belgium
(); World Armenian Youth Network (WostAyn)
(); and the Youth Parliament of Armenia
().
For more information on the seminar, please visit the AGBU Project
Exchange and Development Seminar web site ().
Established in 1906, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is
the world’s largest Armenian non-profit organization. Headquartered in
New York City with an annual budget of $34 million, AGBU preserves and
promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through educational,
cultural and humanitarian programs, annually serving some 400,000
Armenians in 35 countries.
For more information on AGBU, please visit

CQ Transcriptions
Congressional Quarterly
June 30 2006
STATE DEPARTMENT REGULAR NEWS BRIEFING

JUNE 30, 2006

SPEAKER: J. ADAM ERELI, STATE DEPARTMENT DEPUTY SPOKESMAN
[parts omitted]
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) Why are DOS officials prohibited to use the
word, quote/unquote, “genocide” and speak truthfully when discussing
the Armenian genocide as happened yesterday in the Congress, during
the testimony of a new U.S. ambassador to Armenia?
Senator Norm Coleman, Republican from Minnesota, stated, quote, “I am
not sure how we can continue to have ambassador to Armenia who can be
effective unless they give recognition to the genocide,” end quote.
And the veteran Senator Joseph Biden against Senate approval of new
ambassador until the Department of State responds to questions on
Ambassador Evans’ recall.
ERELI: And what’s the question?
QUESTION: The question: Any comment, since you know very, very well
the reason?
ERELI: I don’t have any comment.
I think that as far as the senator’s questions go, we will respond as
we normally do, in formal channels to the members of Congress should
they ask for that.
And as far as our stand on this issue, there’s no change. And if
you’d like a restatement of it, I’d refer you to the record.
QUESTION: Why any U.S. ambassador to Israel would have not had
credibility if refused to talk about the Holocaust by then-Nazi
German and in the case of Armenia, it’s happened exactly the
opposite?
ERELI: I reject the premise of the question.
QUESTION: Why?
ERELI: Because I think it’s fallacious.
QUESTION: And one more.
May we have a copy of the Department of State’s, quote/unquote,
“background papers” on the Armenian’s genocide that Ambassador
Hoagland stated the other day he studied in preparation for his
possible post to Armenia?
ERELI: No, I think that what is available in the public record is
what we can provide.
From: Baghdasarian

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/30/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Senators Continue to Press Ambassador Designate to Armenia 2) Karabakh Leadership Position Remains Unchanged 3) G8 Expresses Support For OSCE Peace Efforts 4) Senate Aid Panel Votes Sharp Cut in Aid to Armenia 5) ACF Glendale Raises $500,00 For Community Youth Center 6) Karekin II Faces Prosecution in Turkey 7) Stupid Supremes Support Selection Again 8) Legislation Opening California Courts To Recover Genocide Era Deposits Headed to State Assembly 9) ANCA Leadership Conference to Gather Activists This September 1) Senators Continue to Press Ambassador Designate to Armenia Senate defers action on Armenian Ambassador-Designate; Quickly confirms ambassadors to Switzerland and Ireland WASHINGTONSenate Foreign Relations Committee members John Kerry (D-Mass.), Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) have each submitted a series detailed written questions to US Ambassador to Armenia Designate Richard Hoagland, calling upon him to clarify the specific instructions he has received from the State Department concerning the exact contours of the State Department's policy on the Armenian genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee. These questions follow this past Wednesday's contentious Senate confirmation hearing for Ambassador-Designate Hoagland, during which George Allen (R-Va.), Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), and Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.) pressed the nominee for an explanation of the State Department's guidance regarding the use of the word "genocide" to properly characterize this crime against humanity. Resorting to the use of evasions and euphemisms, the Ambassador-Designate avoided giving direct answers to any of the questions raised at the hearing. Ambassador-Designate Hoagland's June 28th appearance before the Foreign Relations Committee was alongside nominees for the US ambassadorships to Ireland and Switzerland. These latter two, who encountered no difficulties during their questioning at the hearing, were rapidly approved at the Committee level and approved overwhelmingly by the full Senate. In contrast, the Committee deferred action on confirming a new ambassador to Armenia. "Seven of the eighteen members of the Foreign Relations Committee - over one third of this influential panel - are already on record raising serious concerns about confirming a new ambassador to Yerevan before receiving a full, open, and official explanation of the circumstances surrounding the recall of our current ambassador, the instructions given to our prospective ambassador, and more broadly - the exact nature of our government's policy on the Armenian Genocide," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "In light of the seriousness of these issues - and the lack of responsiveness from the Administration - we were gratified that both the Committee and the full Senate have wisely delayed action on the new ambassador to Yerevan until these fundamental questions have been answered." In the days leading up to the confirmation hearing, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Democrat Joseph Biden (D-Del.) asked Secretary Condoleezza Rice for a thorough explanation of the circumstances of the premature recall of US Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans over his public comments affirming the Armenian genocide. In his June 23rd letter to Secretary Rice, Sen. Biden stated that he would "not be prepared to move forward with any Senate action that would prematurely end his [Amb. Evans'] tenure in Yerevan" until a series of questions surrounding the Evans dismissal had been answered. Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) has submitted his own concerns to Secretary Rice, stating that he is "interested to learn more about the circumstances that lead to his [Evans] departure," noting that "an effort, intended to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, clearly constitutes an act of genocide." Last week, House Armenian Genocide Resolution lead sponsors George Radanovich (R-Calif.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined with Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich) in urging Secretary Rice to reconsider replacing Amb. Evans, noting that "allowing John Evans to continue as Ambassador to Armenia sends a strong message on the necessity of Turkish recognition, and will be an important step on establishing the US position on the Armenian genocide." Over the past several months, scores of Senate and House Members have directed questions to State Department officials, calling for answers surrounding the controversial firing of Amb. Evans. The Administration's responses have been largely perfunctory, citing that Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the President, but giving no clear insight into State Department's decision to dismiss the career diplomat. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee members George Allen (R-VA) and Norm Coleman (R-MN) bombarded US Ambassador to Armenia Designate Richard Hoagland with questions about official US complicity in Turkey's campaign of Genocide denial, questioning him, during his confirmation hearing, regarding his ability to effectively represent the United States in Armenia without properly recognizing the Armenian genocide. In the days leading up to Wednesday's hearing, the Committee's Ranking Democrat, Joseph Biden (D-Del.), in a strongly worded letter, demanded that the Secretary of State answers questions concerning the recall of the current US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, before he could support the confirmation of his replacement. At the hearing, Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.), joined with Senators Coleman and Allen in sharply criticizing the Administration's refusal to speak truthfully on the Armenian genocide. Senator Boxer, who was unable to attend the hearing, submitted written questions to Amb. Hoagland. The hearing was marked by repeated calls upon Amb. Hoagland to clarify the State Department's policy on the Armenian genocide. If approved, he will replace the current US ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, who - amid great controversy - has been recalled over his truthful description of the Armenian genocide in February of 2005. "We appreciate the leadership of Senators Allen, Coleman and Sarbanes in pressing hard for a detailed explanation of the US policy on the Armenian genocide - and commend Senator Biden for his principled demand that the Senate receive clear answers on this issue from the State Department before moving ahead with the nomination of a new envoy to Yerevan," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "We were deeply disappointed that, in response to these legitimate inquiries, Ambassador-designate Hoagland - apparently at the direction of his superiors in the State Department limited his responses to a series of unresponsive evasions and euphemisms intended to obscure - not explain - the US policy on the Armenian genocide." "We have said from the start - and believe even more firmly today - that the US Senate cannot, in good conscience, approve the nomination of a new ambassador to Armenia until the circumstances of the current envoy's controversial firing - including a thorough description of the US policy on the Armenian genocide are fully, officially and openly explained to Congress and the American people," said Hachikian. Dodging the Armenian Genocide In his opening remarks, Senator Allen, who chaired the confirmation hearing, made specific reference to the Bush Administration's decision to recall US Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans for referring to the deportation and death of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 as a clear instance of "genocide." "Some have expressed concern that Ambassador Evans has been relieved of his duties as a result of references to the Armenian genocide," stated Sen. Allen. "I do not know this to be true, but will say that many of my colleagues and I refer to the tragic events of 1915 as genocide and have strongly encouraged the President to do so as well. I hope that in the future the Administration will recognize this terrible event for what it was genocide." The Virginia Senator - and potential 2008 Presidential candidate - then went on to question Amb. Hoagland about the instructions he has received about discussing the Armenian genocide, as well as the instructions he intends to issue to his Embassy staff on this matter. In response, Amb. Hoagland stated that, "the President has said, this is a tragedy for all humanity and one that the world must never forget." He went on to note that he had not received "any kind of written instruction about this. I simply studied the policy, I studied the background papers on the policy, I know the policy and my responsibility is to support the president." Amb. Hoagland noted on a number of occasions during the hearing that, as a Foreign Service officer who has dealt with the Caucasus, he has visited the memorial to victims in Armenia in Yerevan, and would do so again, should he be confirmed. He added, however, that he was against "getting stuck in the past" and wanted to focus on "living in the future." Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman noted that, "you can't look to the future if you deny your past." Sen. Coleman was relentless but respectful in his questioning, stating that, "the State Department has put you in a difficult position. It is almost absurd for you to sit here and you can't utter the word 'genocide.' The President's statement that he utters every year is a description of genocide. One of the things I was proud about the State Department is when we talk about the genocide in Sudan it's genocide what's happening in Darfur." Senator Coleman raised the 2000 statement by then Governor George Bush that, "Armenians were subjected to a genocidal campaign that defies comprehension," asking Amb. Hoagland, "do you agree or disagree with that statement." Amb. Hoagland avoided directly answering the question, noting instead: "I fully agree that events occurred in 1915 and following were of historic proportion. As I said, they were documented, they were horrifying. As we heard from Senator Sarbanes earlier on 'hundreds of valleys devastated,' 'no family untouched'. It was historic, it was a tragedy." When asked by Senator Coleman why he thought the State Department barred the use of the term "Armenian genocide," Amb. Hoagland dodged the question, stating: "I am very much encouraged by the fact that there are senior officials in Yerevan and Ankara and elsewhere who do like to bring closure to that period of history. They are looking for new ways of doing it. There are talks of commissions the truth and reconciliation commission concept is being explored in quiet conversations. If we could I would very much like to meet with senior officials in Ankara and Baku because I think that could be helpful - it would help me understand better how to play a role of reconciliatory and a peacemaking role." In his comments, Senator Coleman stressed the theme that a US Ambassador to Armenia who does not recognize the Armenian genocide lacks credibility. He noted that, "I am of the Jewish faith. I cannot imagine an Ambassador to Israel being effective without talking about the Holocaust. I am not sure how we can continue to have Ambassadors to Armenia who can be effective, unless they give recognition to the Genocide." Senator Sarbanes, in his opening remarks, expressed "regret that we were called to hold this hearing today, in part to replace a career Ambassador prior to the completion of a three year tour of duty. We would not be in this situation, if the Administration would simply acknowledge a plain historical truth that 91 years ago, the world witnessed the first Genocide of the 21st century the Armenian genocide." Sen. Sarbanes spoke eloquently about the US Foreign service officers who witnessed the Armenian genocide in 1915, and whose observations remain a permanent part of the US archives. Senator Barbara Boxer, who was not able to attend the hearing, submitted remarks and detailed written questions to Amb. Hoagland. Noting Amb. Evans' statement in February 2005, properly characterizing the Armenian genocide as "genocide," Sen. Boxer stated, "I agree with Ambassador Evans' statement. Not only should we not play word games with a matter as serious as genocide, we should also not play political games with issues of genocide." The Senator went on to express concern "that the controversy surrounding Ambassador Evans will needlessly harm US-Armenian relations. I understand that there are protests in front of the US Embassy in Yerevan today over the recall of Ambassador of Evans. How would you respond to this concern?" Sen. Boxer's reference was to a candle-light vigil held Wednesday in Yerevan by hundreds of human rights activists during the Senate confirmation hearing, as part of the "Yellow Ribbon Campaign" protesting the firing the Amb. Evans. On April 24th, tens of thousands had tied yellow ribbons in solidarity with the US Ambassador, who had stood with the Armenian people in honoring the victims and survivors of the Armenian genocide. Regional Integration And Military Aid Parity In response to questions on the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades of Armenia and the proposed Kars, Tbilisi, Baku railroad, Amb. Hoagland was adamant about the Administration's decision not to fund any project that would hinder regional integration and cooperation. When asked about efforts to maintain military aid parity to Armenia and Azerbaijan, Amb. Hoagland would not commit to equal allocations of military aid to both countries. Sen. Allen reminded the nominee that the Senate plays a central role in ensuring military aid parity and that he would continue to work hard to ensure the aid balance is maintained. Sen. Biden Asks Secretary Rice For Answers on Amb. Evans Recall Just days before the Senate confirmation hearing, Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Democrat Joe Biden (D-DE) expressed concern to Secretary Condoleezza Rice regarding the circumstances surrounding the recall of Amb. Evans, noting that he is "not prepared to move forward on Senate action" on his replacement, until several key questions are answered. In his June 23rd letter to Secretary Rice, Sen. Biden noted that "to punish an American official for correctly describing any historical event raise serious questions about the United States' commitment to the values of transparency and honesty." The letter went on to note that, "in this instance, the allegation that the Department would retaliate against an official whose only apparent offense was discussing an act of genocide with American citizens also damages our country's reputation for upholding human rights and democratic values." Senator Biden posed four questions to the State Department, including one which asks: "If it is in fact the policy of the United States not to characterize the systematic killing of 1.5 million Armenians as genocide, please explain why these events do not meet any of the five definitions in the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide." The State Department response, written by Assistant Secretary of Legislative Affairs Jeffrey Bergner, effectively avoided providing a meaningful response to Senator Biden's questions. Sen. Allen Calls on Ambassador-Designate to Respect Armenians In his closing comments, Senator Allen urged Ambassador-designate Hoagland "to be respectful to Armenian Americans and also to Armenians, recognizing their heritage, their history, their sensitivities." The Scripps-Howard News Service, ran a story Wednesday "Ambassador - to-be dodges Armenian genocide question," about Amb. Hoagland's confirmation hearing. The first line of the story reads: "America's next ambassador to Armenia is a verbal gymnast. He has to be, to keep his job." 2) Karabakh Leadership Position Remains Unchanged STEPANAKERT (RFE/RL)A senior Nagorno-Karabakh official reaffirmed on Thursday the Stepanakert government's unhappiness with the existing international plan to end the Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute and said the international mediators are also to blame for the deadlocked peace process. "Failure to include important provisions into the proposals [made by the OSCE Minsk Group] was to inevitably lead to a fiasco. Therefore their avoidance of responsibility is not justified," Arman Melikian, a top aide to Karabakh leader Arkady Ghukasian, told RFE/RL. He was commenting on a statement by the American, French and Russian co-chairs of the Minsk Group which disclosed the main elements of a framework peace agreement considered by Armenia and Azerbaijan. The statement, made public on Wednesday, warned that by failing to sign that agreement the conflicting parties would miss a unique opportunity to resolve the Karabakh dispute. At the heart of the Minsk Group plan is the idea of determining Karabakh's status in a referendum to be held years after the liberation of most Armenian-occupied territories in Azerbaijan and other confidence-building measures. Melikian reiterated that the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) has serious misgivings about the idea not least because the proposed vote would also involve Karabakh's former Azerbaijani minority that fled the region during the war. He complained that the peace proposals do not allow for the return of Armenians displaced by the conflict. "The current negotiating process does not seem to be aimed at finding a final and lasting solution," claimed Melikian. The Karabakh official also dismissed the mediators' assurances that they have done their best to broker a peaceful settlement and that the onus is on the two sides to hammer out mutual compromise. "In essence, the co-chairs are trying to blame the lack of results in the negotiating process on the parties, Armenia and Azerbaijan," he said. "They are taking a neutral stance and saying that the presidents are to blame for their failure to reach agreement." The remarks contrast with the position of official Yerevan which finds the proposed Karabakh deal largely acceptable. "Armenia finds that the basic principles, overall, on the table today remain a serious basis for continuing negotiations," the Foreign Ministry said on Monday. The Minsk Group was also essentially endorsed on Thursday by Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau member Vahan Hovannesian. "Nobody, including the mediators, denies that this is only a basis for further clarifications," he told RFE/RL. "We will never try to prevent our authorities from reaching such a framework agreement." "But when it comes to working out details of that framework agreement, there will certainly be debates, both here and in Azerbaijan," added the deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament. Hovannesian also praised the mediators for finally disclosing the essence of what they believe is the optimal peace formula. He suggested that ordinary Azerbaijanis will now see the huge gap between President Ilham Aliyev's public threats to win back Karabakh by force and his apparent stated readiness to let the Karabakh Armenians decide their status. 3) G8 Expresses Support For OSCE Peace Efforts YEREVAN (YERKIR)In a statement issued Friday, the foreign ministers of the G8 countries expressed support for the OSCE Minsk Group Karabakh peace efforts, announced the chairman of the G8 Summit currently underway in Moscow. "We emphasize the need to coordinate the fundamental principles of the plan as soon as possible, in order to resolve the conflict in 2006," the announcement highlighted. "We call on Azerbaijan and Armenia to demonstrate political will and reach an agreement during the current year and prepare the publics for peace but not for war," the document stressed. 4) Senate Aid Panel Votes Sharp Cut in Aid to Armenia Proposes $5 Million for Nagorno Karabakh; Allocates Equal Amounts of Foreign Military Financing to Armenia and Azerbaijan WASHINGTONIn a departure from its traditional support for a robust US assistance package for Armenia, the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday voted to dramatically reduce aid to Armenia, reported the Armenian National Committee of America. Early reports from Capitol Hill indicate that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a $50 million economic aid package for Armenia as part of its fiscal year 2007 aid bill. This allocation was broken down into $34.2 million for Freedom Support Act aid, $9.96 million for the Democracy Fund and $5.8 million for the Child Survival Health Programs Fund. An additional $1.8 million was allocated for Peace Corps programs in Armenia. The panel's proposal is $25 million less than the actual allocations for Armenia over the past several years. In a positive development, the Senate panel approved $5 million for humanitarian and relief assistance for Nagorno Karabakh, a $2 million increase over the fiscal year 2006 allocation of $3 million. The panel also voted to recommend equal amounts of US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Armenia and Azerbaijan, with each appropriated $3.5 million. The panel did not clarify, however, whether they intended this parity to extend to the International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining and Related Programs (NDAR) funds. "We are troubled by the retreat of Senate appropriators from their long-standing commitment to the US aid program for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh - all the more so given Armenia's impressive domestic progress, robust and expanding bilateral relations with the United States, peacekeeping support in Iraq and Kosovo, cooperation in settling the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, and on other pressing regional and security concerns," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We look forward to working with appropriators in both houses of Congress to restore aid to at least last year's level." The Senate Appropriations Committee's decision stands in contrast to the House vote earlier this month, which allocated $62 million in US economic aid for Armenia. Over the course of the past decade, the Senate has consistently proposed higher levels of aid for Armenia than the House. The full Senate is expected to vote on the fiscal year 2007 foreign aid bill following its return from the July 4th Congressional recess, after which House and Senate appropriators will hold a conference to work out differences between their two bills. In March of this year, the Millennium Challenge Corporation a newly established, performance-based foreign aid program approved a five-year, $235 million assistance package to build roads and irrigation systems in Armenia's rural regions. 5) ACF Glendale Raises $500,00 For Community Youth Center GLENDALEDuring a gala banquet on June 10 at the Glendale Hilton Hotel, $500,000 was raised by the Glendale chapter of the Armenian Cultural Foundation for the construction of its Community Youth Center. More than 450 community members attended the event, among them Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau member Dr. Viken Hovsepian, members of the ARF Western Region Central Committee, Glendale City Council members, the City Manager and representatives from the Glendale Police Department, as well as representatives of several city educational and civic departments, the center's benefactor Dr. Alber Karamanoukian and members of several organizations in Glendale. Masters of Ceremony, Glendale ANC Director Alina Azizian and Glendale City Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian welcomed the guests and invited Archbishop Mardirossian to present the invocation. In his remarks, the Prelate urged the community members to support the efforts of the Glendale ACF chapter and highlighted the importance of a youth center in the community. He recalled that the groundbreaking and the blessing of the center was conducted by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia. In his remarks, Glendale ACF chairman Nazareth Apanian explained that the needs of the community propelled the organization to initiate this worthwhile project. "Until the completion of the Glendale ACF Community Youth Center, fundraising will be our priority," stressed Apanian who explained that the center has an estimated price tag of $2.5 million and the assistance and support of each community member is imperative. "Let us make this center the pride of this community and center for all its members," proclaimed Apanian. The keynote speakers of the eveningGlendale High School Principal Kathy Fundukian, St. Mary's Armenian Church Pastor Rev. Vasken Atmajian and Glendale Police Captain Ray Edeyeach echoed the need for a community youth center and expressed support for this project, pledging their individual assistance in their respective spheres of influence. A 15-minute video screening presented a three dimensional view of the center's exterior and interior facilities. The Armenia and American national anthems were performed by Anahid Nersesian, while she and Razmig Mansourian provided the entertainment for the evening. A special presentation was also staged by the Armenian Relief Society Glendale chapter Saturday School students. 6) Karekin II Faces Prosecution in Turkey ISTANBUL (RFE/RL)Turkish prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II's calls for Turkey to recognize the 1915 mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide, it emerged on Thursday. Ending a five-day visit to Istanbul on Sunday, the head of the Catholicos of All Armenians said the Armenian genocide is a fact that can not be disputed by the Turkish government and scholars. "For our people, the Genocide is not a matter for research it is a reality of fact that happened, which must be recognized," he told a news conference there. "That (recognition) is nContinued on page 11aturally the desired option, but a negative position can also be taken on this issue." The Turkish Cihan news agency reported that the prosecutor's office in Istanbul believes that Karekin II thereby "denigrated Turkishness" and are considering bringing relevant criminal charges against him. It said the inquiry was launched after a written complaint lodged by an association of Turkish nationalist lawyers. Members of the association were reportedly among a small number of people who staged daily protests last week against Karekin II's presence in Istanbul. Karekin II would be prosecuted, in absentia, under a highly controversial article of the Turkish criminal code that has already been applied against writer Orhan Pamuk and other prominent Turkish intellectuals who have questioned official Ankara's vehement denial of the genocide. The European Union, which has condemned the high-profile case against Pamuk, is pushing for the abolition of the clause. Karekin II arrived in Turkey on June 20 at the invitation of the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and the spiritual leader of the local Armenian community, Patriarch Mesrob II. Turkish media quoted the latter as openly disavowing the Armenian pontiff's genocide remarks and saying that highly sensitive issue must be dealt with by historians only. During his Instanbul news conference Karekin II also welcomed the fact that the genocide issue is no longer a taboo in Turkey. "We are satisfied to see that in the life of Turkish society, within democratization processes, people are speaking and reflecting on the issue of the Genocide during the First World War to a certain extent," he said. 7) Stupid Supremes Support Selection Again Enough's enough. Thirty years ago, the Supreme Court's decision in 1976 Buckley vs. Vallejo set the stage for the moneyed class being able to pre SELECT who might eventually become a candidate for office be s/he Democrat or Republican. In this decision the Court allowed restrictions on how much a citizen could give a candidate for elective office, but not on how much a candidate could spend. Five years ago, the Supreme Court SELECTED the current resident of the White House as president. It did so by halting a recount of the ballots in Florida that would have given the victory to the other candidate, not their guy. A few days ago, they reconfirmed their thirty-year-old SELECTION position. Maybe it's time to have a new condition put on Supreme Court membership. You know, just as we have re-licensing requirements to drive after a certain age. It seems the nine current members, or at least the six who voted the wrong way, can't even differentiate their own sensory inputs. I'm referring to the recent Randall vs. Sorrell case about which the US Supreme Court just handed down its decision. These guys think money is speech. That's what they said. Well, let me help them a bit. Money is a thing. Sure it's becoming more ephemeral by becoming ever more electronified, but in the real world it is tangible. We usually associate it with our sense of touch. It is property, something we own. On the other hand, speech (unrendered into writing, in its "pure" form) is a thing of the mouth and ears, not hands. It is a creature of conscience and human rights. In the US, one is green (mostly, with some red thrown in lately) and often smells bad. The other is colorless and odorless (bad-breath notwithstanding). Hey wait that's it, the six supremes are color blind- an affliction of the eyes that impacts ability to see green and red! Or maybe the scent of money is driving them to insanity through greed. In either, just like dogs. Maybe that's why they're barking up the wrong tree of equating money to speech in their rationale for disallowing Vermont to implement its new law setting spending limits on candidates for state office. Imagine, having an election where the power of money CAN'T buy a victory. Where money can't squelch truth, issues, and ideas. Where money is secondary to the power of the people those supporting a candidate who walk precincts or call voters or stuff envelopes. Yeah, boy, that would sure stink, we'd have a democracy, not a moneycracy. Those idiotic ideologues can't even see their way clear to finding an overwhelming public benefit to removing the corrupting power of money from our electoral system. In case anyone has any doubts about the screwed-up money-addled priorities of this court, consider this. It also ruled that Texas' mid-census redistricting was also acceptable. What did it take to pull that off? Lots of money, funneled by FORMER congressman Tom Delay through at best questionable means that's part of the wheeling-and-dealing that's now gotten him indicted. So what's the solution? How can the power of money ever be counterbalanced by people? In California, we'll have to elect the Democrat, Phil Angelides, for Governor. The Assembly and State Senate will remain under Democratic control, there's no doubt of it. Then, we'll do a mid-census redistricting to reduce Republicans to half the seats they hold now, in Congress and in the state legislature. Certainly there'll be a court challenge by California's crybaby Republicans. It might even make its way to the illustrious supremes. Then we'll see how true they remain to their "principles," or how fast they show their partisan colors. 8) Legislation Opening California Courts To Recover Genocide Era Deposits Headed to State Assembly SACRAMENTO The California State Assembly Judiciary Committee passed legislation on June 27 that would grant legal rights to Armenian Genocide survivors and their heirs to recover bank deposits wrongfully withheld since the Armenian Genocide, by giving California courts jurisdiction over banks operating in the Ottoman Empire. The bill, SB 1524, the "Armenian Genocide Bank and Looted Assets Recovery Act," involves the recovery of funds from commercial entities operating in the region at the time. Testifying in support of SB 1524 at Tuesday's hearing, Armenian National Committee Western Region (ANCA-WR) Board of Directors member Souzi ZerounianKhanzadian told committee members that the reclamation of the assets can never serve as compensation for the atrocities endured during the Armenian Genocide. "It is simply a matter of justice exacted against those banks that took advantage of the genocide to profiteer in the midst and aftermath of genocide. A number of these banks continue to do business in California today either directly or through subsidiaries, therefore we ask you to adopt SB 1524 to help ensure this small measure of justice," ZerounianKhanzadian stressed. The bill passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee with a vote of 6-1 and is expected to go to the floor of the Assembly for vote on August 7, 2006 before going to the Governor. The State Senate has already passed the bill, which is authored by Senators Jackie Kanchelian-Speier and Charles "Chuck" Poochigian, and sponsored by ANCA-WR. The original Speier-Poochigian bill has been revised, however, due to a hostile amendment that was introduced and accepted during its hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 9. That amendment binds SB 1765, a bill entitling lawsuits to be filed for wrongfully repatriated Mexican Americans during the 1930s, to SB 1524. Commenting on the dissimilarities of the two bills, ZerounianKhanzadian said that while the ANCA firmly believes in correcting all historic wrongs, the two distinct pieces of legislation are unreasonably and unfairly joined in fate, making the passage of one contingent on the other. "While these two pieces of legislation are both very significant, they must nevertheless be judged on their individual merits. They not only address acts that occurred separately, they also involve different fiscal impacts on the state," she added. With an almost 1,000,000 strong Armenian community, California has a public policy interest in protecting the rights of its Armenian American constituency, asserted ZerounianKhanzadian. "Almost every one of these individuals was impacted by the genocide. For many, their very presence in California is a direct result of the Armenian Genocide. They found a haven in California where they could rebuild their lives after escaping utter turmoil. These survivors have established their roots in and contributed to the growth of this great state. These outstanding and ongoing grievances must be addressed." 9) ANCA Leadership Conference to Gather Activists This September --Practical Training to Advance The Armenian Cause WASHINGTONA broad cross-section of Armenian Americans - from long-time veterans to first-time activists - will gather in Washington, DC between September 14th and 17th for the Armenian National Committee of America's (ANCA) 2006 Leadership Conference. The conference, titled, "Grassroots Makes the Difference," will empower activists to serve as energetic and effective ambassadors for the Armenian Cause. Over the course of the three-day program, presentations, workshops, and practical training sessions will feature unique opportunities to: -Network with national, regional, and local ANCA leaders, as well as with activists from across the United States, and meet with officials from the Administration and Congress. -Explore exciting new opportunities - using cutting-edge technology and other innovative techniques - to advance the Armenian American advocacy agenda. -Learn effective ways to involve new activists, energize existing advocates, improve cooperation with community organizations, and mobilize your local grassroots base. -Develop simple and effective methods to influence the media - locally and nationally - by correcting mistaken reporting, responding to media bias, and promoting positive coverage of Armenian issues. -Share insights, experiences, and suggestions with old and new friends and colleagues from across the United States. -Engage with officials from the Administration and Congress, gaining special insights into the US-Armenia bilateral relationship, Armenian genocide recognition efforts, the Nagorno Karabagh peace process, and the impact of Armenian American participation in the political process. "The power, respect, and influence we enjoy in Washington, DC is earned every day by ANCA activists working in their local communities across the United States," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "Our Leadership Conference in Washington, DC - a truly unique learning and team-building experience - will provide these activists the tools they need to return home as even more effective ambassadors for the Armenian Cause." The conference, organized by the ANCA National headquarters, in coordination with the Eastern and Western Regional offices and local chapters, will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel, at 900 10th Street, NW, in Washington DC. To request information or to register for the conference, please contact the ANCA Washington office at (202) 775-1918 or by email at [email protected]. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
June 30, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
SENATE DELAYS CONFIRMATION VOTE
ON ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE
— Seven Members of the Foreign Relations
Committee Press the Administration to
Explain its Policy on the Armenian Genocide
WASHINGTON, DC – In the wake of this past Wednesday’s contentious
Senate Foreign Relations Committee nomination hearing for
Ambassador to Armenia Designate Richard Hoagland, panel members
John Kerry (D-MA), Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), and
Barbara Boxer (D-CA) have each submitted a series of detailed
written questions asking the nominee to explain the guidance he has
received from the State Department concerning its policy on the
Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee (ANCA).
Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) also sent a letter of inquiry this
week concerning the recall of the current U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia John Evans following his statements affirming the Armenian
Genocide.
During the June 28th nomination hearing, Sen. George Allen (R-VA),
Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN), and Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) pressed the
nominee for an explanation of the State Department’s guidance
regarding the use of the word “genocide” to properly characterize
this crime against humanity. Senators Allen and Coleman peppered
the nominee with numerous questions and expressed frustration as
the Ambassador-Designate avoided giving direct answers to any of
the questions, resorting to the use of euphemisms.
Ambassador-Designate Hoagland’s June 28th appearance before the
Foreign Relations Committee was alongside nominees for the U.S.
ambassadorships to Ireland and Switzerland, who were subsequently
approved by the Committee and then the full Senate on June 29th.
In contrast, the Committee deferred action on confirming the
proposed new ambassador to Armenia.
“Seven of the eighteen members of the Foreign Relations Committee –
over one third of this influential panel – are already on record
raising serious concerns about confirming a new ambassador to
Yerevan before receiving a full, open, and official explanation of
the circumstances surrounding the recall of our current ambassador,
the instructions given to our prospective ambassador, and – more
broadly – the exact nature of our government’s policy on the
Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. “In light of
the seriousness of these issues – and the lack of responsiveness
from the Administration – we were gratified that the Committee has
wisely delayed action on the new ambassador to Yerevan until these
fundamental questions have been answered.”
In the days leading up to the confirmation hearing, Senate Foreign
Relations Committee Ranking Democrat Joseph Biden (D-DE) asked
Secretary Condoleezza Rice for a thorough explanation of the
circumstances of the premature recall of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
John Marshall Evans over his public comments affirming the Armenian
Genocide. In his June 23rd letter to Secretary Rice, Sen. Biden, a
potential 2008 Presidential candidate, stated that he would “not be
prepared to move forward with any Senate action that would
prematurely end his [Amb. Evans’] tenure in Yerevan” until a series
of questions concerning Evans’ dismissal and the State Department’s
failure to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide had been
answered. Sen. Biden wrote further to Secretary Rice, “Recalling
an accomplished American diplomat for speaking truthfully about
genocide could feed widespread cynicism about United States’
foreign policy. I hope that you will carefully reconsider the
long-term implications of this decision on the United States’
ability to promote freedom and respect for human life.”
Senator Kerry submitted a three-page set of detailed questions to
the Ambassador-Designate. Among his inquiries was the following:
During your June 28, 2006 confirmation hearing, you stated
the following when responding to a question on the State
Department’s policy on the Armenian Genocide: “I simply
studied the policy, I studied the background papers on the
policy, I know the policy and my responsibility is to
support the president.”
1) Please describe, in detail, the source, purpose,
content, and conclusions of all “policy” documents,
“background papers,” and other materials concerning the
Armenian Genocide that you reviewed and provide copies of
these materials to the Committee for its review.
Turkey has consistently denied that it committed genocide
against Armenians and in fact has jailed several
journalists for stating otherwise, as in the case of Hrant
Dink, a Turkish publisher who was convicted for simply
writing about the Armenian Genocide. And the criminal law
penalizing speech on the Armenian Genocide remains on the
books in Turkey.
1) What is the Administration’s position on these
imprisonments?
2) Do you believe the policy of non-recognition encourages
the repressive actions taken by Turkey?
Senator Sarbanes, who spoke at Wednesday’s confirmation hearing,
followed up today with a set of seven additional questions:
1) How many people died, and during what period, in the
Armenian Genocide?
2) What were the causes of these deaths?
3) What actions were taken by U.S. diplomats in Turkey at
that time to warn and report on the events?
4) What steps were taken to punish perpetrators of the
Armenian genocide?
5) How does the U.S. define “genocide”?
6) Does the United Nations consider the atrocities against
Armenians to be a “genocide”?
7) Since the Ottoman Empire is long gone, why does Turkey
view discussion of the genocide as a reflection on its own
government and people?
Among the questions asked by Senator Chafee was a request that
Ambassador-Designate Hoagland explain “the State Department’s
policy regarding statements by official US government
representatives, such as yourself, about the Armenian Genocide.”
The Rhode Island legislator also asked if the nominee had “ever
been counseled to not refer to the events of 1915 as the Armenian
Genocide.”
Sen. Dodd outlined his concerns in a letter to Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice, stating that he is “interested to learn more
about the circumstances that lead to his [Evans] departure,” noting
that “an effort, intended to destroy in whole or in part a
national, ethnical, racial or religious group, clearly constitutes
an act of genocide.”
Last week, House Armenian Genocide Resolution lead sponsors George
Radanovich (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) joined with Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI) in urging Secretary Rice to reconsider replacing Amb. Evans,
noting that “allowing John Evans to continue as Ambassador to
Armenia sends a strong message on the necessity of Turkish
recognition, and will be an important step in establishing the U.S.
position on the Armenian Genocide.”
Over the past several months, scores of Senate and House Members
have directed questions to State Department officials, calling for
answers surrounding the controversial firing of Amb. Evans,
including 60 Representatives who joined Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA)
in a letter to Secretary Rice, Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA) who
submitted questions to Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried, and
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) who submitted questions to Secretary Rice.
Massachusetts Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry also asked
Secretary Rice for clarification on the Amb. Evans dismissal. The
Administration has either failed to provide responses or provided
responses, which have been largely perfunctory, citing that
Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the President, but giving no
clear insight into the State Department’s decision to dismiss the
career diplomat after 35 years of distinguished service.
The State Department, with the blessing of the White House, fired
Amb. Evans in response to his February 2005 statements at Armenian
American community functions, during which he properly
characterized the Armenian Genocide as “genocide.” Following his
statements, Amb. Evans was forced to issue a statement clarifying
that his references to the Armenian Genocide were his personal
views and did not represent a change in U.S. policy. He
subsequently issued a correction to this statement, replacing a
reference to the genocide with the word “tragedy.” The American
Foreign Service Association, which had decided to honor Amb. Evans
with the “Christian A. Herter Award,” recognizing creative thinking
and intellectual courage within the Foreign Service, reportedly
rescinded the award following pressure from the State Department in
the days leading up to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan’s visit to Washington, DC to meet with President Bush.
Armenian American response to Amb. Evans’ dismissal has been
widespread with thousands calling on their legislators to take
action and demand answers. In a March 8th letter to Secretary Rice,
ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian noted that “if, in fact, punitive
measures are being taken against Ambassador Evans, this would
represent a tragic retreat from our nation’s core values. It would
also represent a new low in our government’s shameful complicity in
the Turkish government’s campaign of denial. Not only does the
State Department continue to be publicly silent as Turkey
criminally prosecutes its writers and citizens for speaking about
the Armenian Genocide, it appears the State Department is following
Turkey’s lead by muzzling and punishing an American diplomat for
his speech and his acknowledgement of a genocide that is
extensively documented in the State Department’s own archives.”
In Yerevan, a candle-light vigil was held by hundreds of human
rights activists during the June 28th Senate confirmation hearing,
as part of the “Yellow Ribbon Campaign” protesting the firing the
Amb. Evans. On April 24th, tens of thousands had tied yellow
ribbons in solidarity with the U.S. Ambassador, who had stood with
the Armenian people in honoring the victims and survivors of the
Armenian Genocide.

rticle.php?&ArticleID=813
Noah’s Ark?
By Brannon S. Howse
© Brannon S. Howse
June 16th, 2006

How many times have you yawned at the claim “Noah’s Ark Has Been
Discovered”? Right, you say, and Elvis has been sighted again,
too. People who hoped to find the famous vessel and the legendary
voice have been pretty much in the same boat (so to speak)-No
proof. Until today.
Led by explorer, adventurer, and featured Worldview Weekend speaker
Dr. Bob Cornuke, a fourteen man crew returned this week from Iran
bearing stunning evidence that theirs is the long-anticipated even
coveted discovery of the remains of Noah’s Ark. Bob’s team consisted
of a Who’s Who of business, law, and ministry leaders including Barry
Rand (former CEO of Avis), the author and Christian apologist Josh
McDowell, Frank Turek (co-author with Norm Geisler of I Don’t Have
Enough Faith to be an Atheist), Boone Powell (former CEO of Baylor
Medical Systems), and Arch Bonnema (president of Joshua Financial).
The unusual object is perched on a slope 13,120 feet above sea
level. After studying the discovery site, Bonnema observed, “These
beams not only look like petrified wood, they are so impressive that
they look like real wood-this is an amazing discovery that may be the
oldest shipwreck in recorded history.”
Reg Lyle, oil and gas geologist said “the object appears to be a
basalt dike, however, it is absolutely uncanny that the object looks
like hand hewn timbers, even the grain and color look just like
petrified wood….I really need to keep an open mind about this.”
The team returned to the U.S. from rugged mountains in Iran with
astonishing video footage of a monstrous black formation which looks
like rock but bears the amazing image of hundreds of massive, wooden,
hand-hewn beams. Could it be the lost ark on which two of every animal
once sailed with their human rescuer?
Bob Cornuke, president of the BASE Institute, is a veteran of nearly
30 expeditions looking for yet-to-be-discovered locations and
artifacts described by the Bible. He is cautiously-but
enthusiastically-optimistic about the find: “We have no way of
confirming for sure that this object is Noah’s Ark, but it is probably
the most interesting and baffling object ever found by ark
searchers…it sure gets my heart to pumping just thinking of what it
could be.”
The arkish object is about 400 feet long and consists of rocks that
look remarkably like blackened wood beams while other rock in the area
is distinctively brown. And one visible piece is “cut” at 90-degree
angle. Even more intriguing, some of the wood-like rocks were tested
just this week and actually proved to be petrified wood, and it is
noteworthy that Scripture recounts Noah sealed his ark with pitch-a
decidedly black substance. Upon being cut open, one of these “rocks”
also divulged a marine fossil that could have only originated
undersea.
Scouring the mountains all around the object, team participant Steve
Crampton found thousands of fossilized sea shells blanketing the
landscape. Cornuke brought back a one inch thick rock slab choked with
fossilized clams.
High above the ark suspect, the team also found wood splinters and
broken pottery shards under snow and rock at the 15,300 foot level. It
showed evidence that ancients had thought this an important worship
site for hundreds-if not thousands-of years. The landing location
would also be an unusually hospitable place to live. The team notes
that every ecosystem helpful to humans and the animals is reachable
within a 25-mile radius of the ark’s location.
Cornuke initially got involved in the search for the ark after meeting
Apollo 15, moon walking astronaut Jim Irwin. In the 1980s Cornuke
participated with Irwin in several searches on Mount Ararat in Turkey
but was disappointed with the results. After several years of
frustrating expeditions, Cornuke started looking elsewhere for the
ark.
Cornuke found clues in the Bible that the ark might be on a mountain
other than the famed Mount Ararat of Turkey. His observation was based
on the Genesis 11 account that says descendants of Noah came to the
Mesopotamian valley from the east. According to Cornuke, that would
put the Biblical mountains of Ararat somewhere in the northern reaches
of Iran. He also cited ancient historians such as Nicholas of Damascus
and Flavius Josephus who wrote just before and after Christ that
timbers of the ark had survived in what would today be the higher
mountains of Iran.
Although his research is by far the most definitive ever, Dr. Cornuke
is not the first to suggest Noah’s Ark came to rest in Iran rather
than Turkey. In 1943 an army observer named Ed Davis said he saw the
ark on a high mountain in Iran. Sergeant Davis was a road construction
engineer in Iran during World War II, building army highways from the
Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea. During his tour of duty there, some
Iranian friends told Davis of the ark and led him to the site. After
the war, Sgt. Davis passed a lie detector test affirming his testimony
about actually seeing timbers from an ark-like object high in the
mountains of Iran.
Before his death, Davis became acquainted with Bob Cornuke and gave
him a map showing the way to the object. “It was right where Ed said
it was in his map,” Cornuke relayed, “After seeing it from a distance
I thought it at first unimpressive, but once we stood on the object we
were all amazed at how it looked just like a huge pile of black and
brown stone beams.”
Mary Irwin, wife of late Apollo 15 astronaut Jim Irwin, viewed the
evidence and stated that it was “compelling and certainly could be the
actual Ark of Noah.”
Many Christians will be eager to see the pictures and video footage,
and hear the Biblical evidence for why Noah’s Ark and the mountains of
Ararat must be in Iran. Unfortunately, I also expect that Dr. Cornuke
will be venomously attacked by both Christians and non-Christians. His
discovery will greatly distress evolutionists who do not want the
story of Noah and a worldwide flood to be verified. And many
Christians that have spent years and millions of dollars searching on
Mt. Ararat in Turkey will be quick to dismiss Cornuke’s discovery out
of jealousy (and perhaps a bit of embarrassment that they spent so
much time looking in the wrong place).
Dr. Cornuke has used the Bible as his primary guidebook to one
Biblical location and artifact after another. Has he once again
overcome huge odds to make what is arguably one of the greatest
archeological discoveries of all time? Has this
crime-scene-investigator-turned-explorer pieced together clues from
years of examination and discovered the remains of Noah’s Ark?
Some of America’s leading businessmen, an attorney who has argued
several cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, and two leading
apologists believed the evidence was compelling enough that they made
a daring trip to the politically volatile state of Iran and climbed a
harsh mountain to see the object firsthand. Now that they’ve returned,
they seem anything but disappointed. Elvis may have long since left
the building, but it looks as if the Ark may have just appeared at the
door.

ITAR-TASS, Russia
June 30 2006
Karabakh settlement should meet Azerbaijan’s interests – Aliyev

UDZHARY, Azerbaijan, June 29 (Itar-Tass) – Azerbaijani President
Ilkham Aliyev said the country’s leadership would not agree on any
peaceful deal in the Karabakh settlement that did not meet
Azerbaijan’s national interests.
Addressing the public on Thursday, Aliyev said, `Our position is open
and clear: Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity cannot be a subject for
discussions.’
He stressed that the international community recognized
Nagorno-Karabakh as an inalienable part of Azerbaijan. `This is an
excellent legal base for the peaceful solution to the problem.
Azerbaijan will not step back,’ he said.
Commenting on the 10-year-long talks, Aliyev said no results yielded.
He stressed, `Azerbaijan seeks to settle the conflict by peaceful
means, but it never agrees to lose its territories.’