UNITED ARMENIAN FUND
1101 N. Pacific Avenue # 301
Glendale, CA 91202
Tel: 818.241.8900
Fax: 818.241.6900
For Immediate Release
11 October, 2006
UAF Sent $6.2 Million of Aid
To Armenia By Sea So Far This Year
Glendale, CA – In addition to airlifts, the United Armenian Fund sends
humanitarian aid to Armenia by sea shipments. During the first nine months
of 2006, the UAF sent $6.2 million of relief supplies to Armenia on board 93
containers.
“The UAF would like to thank the following donors who generously contributed
various relief supplies for Armenia,” said Harut Sassounian, the President
of the UAF.
World Vision U.S. Inc. ($1.2 million); Armenian Gospel Mission ($459,000);
Hope for the City ($439,000); Medical Outreach for Armenians ($365,000);
Centre Hospitalier Lucien Hussel of France ($312,000); Armenian Missionary
Association of America ($293,000); World Vision Canada ($251,000); Vahe
Enterprises ($244,000); Mihran Mahmouzian & Jack Mazmanian ($235,000);
Jilland Corporation (Mr. & Mrs. Roubik & Gilda Assatourian ($221,000); Help
the Children International Children’s Charity Foundation ($206,000);
Juliette Serabian of France ($184,000); Fund for Armenian Relief ($180,000);
Armenian Canadian Medical Association of Ontario ($170,000); Friends of
Armenia ($162,000); Consiglio Regionale del Fruili Venezia Giulia of Italy
($112,000).
Also contributing were: The Armenian EyeCare Project ($73,000); Dr. Vartkes
Najarian ($72,000); Foundation Semra of Switzerland ($71,000); George
Asadorian ($67,000); Developmental Services for Armenia ($67,000); Chene of
France ($56,000); Association de Soutien aux Patriotes Armeniens of France
($54,000); Glendale-Ghapan Sister City Association ($51,000); Michael Candan
($51,000); Catholic Medical Mission Board ($50,000); Armenian Ministries of
U.K. ($47,000); Berge & Terry Minasian ($46,000); Komitas Action
Suisse-Armenia of Switzerland ($40,000); AmeriCares ($37,000); Sacred Heart
Medical Center ($36,000); Fresno Armenian Radio Hour ($36,000); Konnect9
World Wide of U.K ($36,000) and American University of Armenia Corp.
($35,000).
Other donors were: Centro Studi e Documantazione della Cultura Armena of
Italy ($33,000); Christlicher Hilfsbund im Orient of Germany ($32,000);
Alvan Tsarik Foundation of Holland ($30,000); Dr. George Katcherian
($30,000); Torkom Postajian ($26,000); Karapet Cuyumdzyan ($22,000); Shoebox
Sharing ($18,000); Aykaram Oganesyan ($18,000); Armenian Relief Society of
Germany ($15,000) and Nork Marash Medical Center ($14,000).
Since its inception in 1989, the UAF has sent $447 million of humanitarian
assistance to Armenia on board 140 airlifts and 1,359 sea containers.
The UAF is the collective effort of the Armenian Assembly of America,
Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian Missionary Association of
America, Armenian Relief Society, Diocese of the Armenian Church of America,
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America and The Lincy
Foundation.
For more information, contact the UAF office at 1101 North Pacific Avenue,
Suite 301, Glendale, CA 91202 or call (818) 241-8900.
###

YEREVAN STARTS MARKING 2788TH ANNIVERSARY TOMORROW
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.10.2006 13:28 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian capital of Yerevan celebrates its
2788th anniversary this year. As Chief of the Department of Culture,
Sport and Youth of the City Hall Kamo Movsisyan had stated before,
festivities will be held in the capital October 13-14.
“10 delegations will visit the city during the celebration,” he
said. The festivities will be full of surprises this year and these
will be held under the personal supervision of Yerevan Mayor Yervand
Zakharyan.
The opening ceremony will take place in the National Academic Theater
of Opera and Ballet after Alexander Spendiarov tomorrow, while the
closing will be in the Sport and Concert Complex after K. Dermichyan
October 14.

NATO CONTENT WITH COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.10.2006 13:48 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Progress is registered in all directions within the
launching of the NATO-Armenia IPAP,” NATO Secretary General’s Special
Representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simmons
stated at a joint news conference with Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian. In
his words, a wide circle of issues was discussed at the meetings in
Yerevan. He also stressed the Alliance is content with cooperation
with Armenia and Azerbaijan. “I would like to remind that the IPAP is
a NATO document, not that of the EU. The NATO accentuates security,
while the EU stresses economic cooperation and the CE underscores human
rights. Armenia successfully cooperates in all the three directions,”
Simmons said.
In his turn Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian said that a coordination
group is created at the President of Armenia to ensure normal work
in all three directions.
“The documents on cooperation with the NATO, EU and CE are so
extensive, that they demand a more individualized approach,” he said.

RUSSIAN RAILWAY MAY ASSUME MANAGEMENT OF ARMENIAN RAILWAYS
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.10.2006 13:57 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian Railway Ltd. (RR) is ready to consider the
question of participation in the tender for concession management of
Armenian Railways CJSC (AR), RR President Vladimir Yakunin stated in
Yerevan October 12. In his words, the decision on participation in the
tender should be taken at the level of the RR Council of Directors and,
to all appearance, at the level of the Russian Government, as it is
“a matter of state transport policy.”
In his turn Armenian Railways Director General Ararat Khrimyan informed
that a decision will be passed at the next session of the Government
of Armenia over a tender for passing AR CJSC to concession management
for 30-40 years. “All railways in the world experience structural
reforms and we also approach that phase,” Khrimyan added. AR need
much investment, he said. “The rolling stock is in a condition
that in two years it will be out of use. According to WB estimates,
$170-180 million needs to be invested in the AR within 15 years. “The
arrangement of the tender documents will demand about a year,”
Khrimyan said, reports IA Regnum.

ONLY FINANCIAL FACTOR PREVENTS TURKEY FROM RECOGNIZING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE?
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.10.2006 14:08 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish experts, who wished to remain unknown
underscore that in the matter of recognition of the Armenian Genocide
not only the political, legal and moral aspect, but first of all
the financial and economic ones are important to Ankara. “We could
theoretically recognize the genocide as an act committed even before
the creation of the contemporary Turkish Republic. If it is the case
Armenians will lay suits on material compensations and we will be
ruined,” this opinion is currently widely spread in the public and
political circles of Turkey, reports Vremya Novostey.

TBILISI MORE CONSISTENT IN MOVING TOWARDS NATO, THAN YEREVAN AND BAKU
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.10.2006 14:17 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The NATO does not put any time limits for accession
of a country to the Alliance.
Each country, wishing to become a NATO member, should fulfill the terms
and then speaking of its accession will be possible, NATO Secretary
General’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Central
Asia Robert Simmons stated at a news conference in Yerevan.
In his words, Georgia is more consistent in moving towards the NATO
than Armenia and Azerbaijan and the first phase of its program is
underway. “It is a program for NATO accession, and not IPAP. Neither
Armenia, nor Azerbaijan stated a desire to join the Alliance,”
Simmons said.
As for Georgian-Russian relations, the NATO Secretary General’s Special
Representative expressed confidence that the tension in the relations
between Russia and Georgia will be settled peacefully.
Robert Simmons also told about the agenda of the coming NATO
agenda. “Three issues will be discussed: increase of the military
presence of the NATO in Afghanistan, expansion of cooperation with
countries of the Pacific basin and NATO capacity to military operations
in various parts of the world,” Simmons said.

FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS BILL ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.10.2006 15:07 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The French lower house of parliament, the National
Assembly, approved a bill on Thursday making it a crime to deny that
the Ottoman Turks committed Genocide against Armenians during World
War One. A total of 106 deputies voted in favor of the bill while
19 voted against, France Info radio reports. The amendment of former
minister Patrick Devedjian, authorizing the debate of the historians
on the history of the Genocide, was rejected by the deputies. The
bill has still to be ratified by the upper house, the Senate, and
the President Jacques Chirac before it becomes law.
The bill provides for one year of imprisonment and a fine of 45
thousand Euros for denying the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey
during World War I.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN : PARIS FACE A LA COLèRE D’ANKARA
La Nouvelle Republique du Centre Ouest
10 octobre 2006 mardi
Edition Informations Generales
La diplomatie francaise cherche a calmer la colère d’Ankara face
aux debats en France sur le genocide des Armeniens et l’entree de
la Turquie dans l’Union europeenne (UE), qui font peser des menaces
de crise serieuse entre les deux pays. Le Quai d’Orsay a rappele
son” attachement a la perennite des relations “franco-turques et a
souligne la ” perspective europeenne de la Turquie “, au moment où
Ankara assurait que les Francais pourraient” perdre la Turquie “, en
particulier des parts de marche et de gros contrats.Ankara a multiplie
les protestations avant l’examen, jeudi a l’Assemblee nationale, d’une
proposition de loi instaurant des sanctions penales contre la negation
du genocide des Armeniens commis en 1915 sous l’empire ottoman.Philippe
Douste-Blazy a rappele que le gouvernement francais ne soutenait pas
la proposition de loi controversee instaurant des sanctions d’un an
de prison et 45.000 euros d’amende, en cas de negation du genocide
des Armeniens.Ce texte, depose par l’opposition socialiste, avait
deja ete presente sans succès le 18 mai. Le suspense plane toujours
sur son adoption, les deputes etant très partages.
–Boundary_(ID_dFlxEnnMCNeSKUONwlITww)- –
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN: LA POLEMIQUE ENFLE SUR LA PROPOSITION DE LOI PS
Par Suzette BLOCH
Agence France Presse
10 octobre 2006 mardi
Les deputes examineront jeudi la proposition de loi socialiste
rendant passible de prison la negation du genocide armenien de 1915,
un texte dont la possible adoption a declenche une vive polemique
avec la Turquie.
Des manifestations ont ete organisees a Ankara, le Premier ministre
turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan deplorant une “eclipse de la raison” en
France et son gouvernement menacant Paris de represailles economiques.
Les groupes politiques a l’Assemblee nationale, tous divises et
embarrasses, ont decide de laisser leurs elus se determiner librement.
En absence de consignes, le texte “pourrait etre adopte”, selon
plusieurs deputes connaisseurs du dossier interroges par l’AFP. Il
sera en effet discute, jeudi, un jour où les elus rentrent en general
dans leur circonscription. Les presents seront donc les plus motives,
a priori partisans du texte.
La communaute d’origine armenienne, estimee a 500.000 personnes,
represente un electorat non negligeable a quelques mois des elections
de 2007.
La France a deja adopte en 2001 une loi qualifiant de genocide les
massacres d’Armeniens, que la proposition vise a completer en faisant
de sa negation un delit punissable d’un an d’emprisonnement et de
45.000 euros d’amende.
Le gouvernement a pris mardi une nouvelle fois ses distances avec le
texte, le quai d’Orsay soulignant qu’il n’etait “pas necessaire” et
“n’engageait pas le gouvernement”.
Le chef de file des deputes UMP –dont une soixantaine sont ouvertement
favorables au texte–, Bernard Accoyer, a annonce qu’une “grande
partie” de ses troupes “ne participera” pas au vote, ce qui semble
aller dans le sens d’une possible adoption.
L’UMP votera par contre un amendement de son depute Patrick Devedjian
excluant les historiens du champ d’application du texte.
M. Accoyer a estime que “la loi n’est pas l’outil adapte pour ecrire
l’Histoire”.
Du côte du PS, les positions sont aussi divergentes. Le patron des
deputes socialistes Jean-Marc Ayrault a rappele qu’il avait emis
“des reserves” lors du premier examen du texte. “Mais il faut etre
logique, nous avons vote une loi reconnaissant le genocide armenien,
il s’agit simplement de la completer et rien d’autre”.
Jack Lang juge que le texte “irait a l’encontre de la liberte
d’expression”. Segolène Royal s’est en revanche prononcee pour, mais
sera absente le jour du vote pour cause de voyage. Soutien egalement
du numero un du PS Francois Hollande.
L’UDF a laisse ses deputes “se prononcer en conscience”. Son
porte-parole Francois Sauvadet “ne prendra pas part au vote” et son
president, Francois Bayrou, a fait part de ses reserves. Mais Francois
Rochebloine viendra voter la proposition.
Un premier examen du texte, le 18 mai, n’avait pu aboutir faute de
temps. Mais le president de l’Assemblee, Jean-Louis Debre, qui avait
alors tout fait pour retarder les debats, ne presidera pas cette
fois-ci la seance.
Dans le cas où le texte serait vote, il devrait encore etre examine
par le Senat, avant une deuxième lecture. Mais pour cela, il faudrait
qu’il soit inscrit a son ordre du jour… dont la maîtrise appartient
au gouvernement et a la conference des presidents. Il est donc tout
a fait possible qu’il ne le soit jamais.
Les Armeniens estiment que jusqu’a 1,5 million des leurs ont peri
dans un genocide perpetre par les Turcs entre 1915 et 1917. Ankara
recuse ces accusations.
–Boundary_(ID_NlMOczA1XTloJ7SZgBLAv A)–

UNE ORGANISATION ARMENIENNE DENONCE LES MENACES “IRRATIONNELLES” D’ANKARA
Agence France Presse
11 octobre 2006 mercredi
La federation euro-armenienne a denonce mercredi le “discours
irrationnel” de la Turquie en assurant que la menace d’Ankara d’imposer
des sanctions economiques contre la France en cas d’adoption d’une
nouvelle loi sur le genocide armenien etait “illusoire”.
“Les chiffres officiels que nous apportons dementent ce discours
irrationnel et montrent que la menace de boycott est illusoire”,
a assure dans un communique Laurent Leylekian, directeur executif de
cette federation qui regroupe de nombreuses associations representant
la diaspora armenienne en Europe.
“Avec l’union douanière (entre la Turquie et l’UE), les economies sont
a ce point integrees que la Turquie serait dans l’incapacite de mettre
en oeuvre une telle menace meme si elle le souhaitait”, a-t-il ajoute.
Selon la federation, les represailles annoncees par Ankara lors du
vote de la première loi francaise qui a reconnu le genocide armenien
en 2001 n’avaient “aucunement” affecte les echanges entre la France
et la Turquie.
Les echanges commerciaux entre les deux pays ne cessent d’augmenter
depuis dix ans, a-t-elle ajoute. La France est le 5ème fournisseur
de la Turquie avec 4,7 milliards d’euros d’exportations en 2005.
Le texte de loi qui doit etre debattu jeudi a l’Assemblee nationale
(chambre basse du parlement francais) vise a completer par un volet
penal la loi du 29 janvier 2001 dans laquelle la France reconnaît le
genocide armenien, et fait de sa negation un delit punissable d’un
an d’emprisonnement et de 45.000 euros d’amende.
–Boundary_(ID_XtJdUe55RVWyBpX7uciifw)- –
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress