REVIEWING RELATIONS WITH FRANCE
The New Anatolian
Oct 10 2006
Ankara toughened its stance towards Paris on Monday, saying it will
be left with no option but reviewing relations with France, due to
a draft bill that would make it a crime to question the Armenian
genocide claims.
Turkish officials told reporters yesterday that despite strong efforts
to convince French lawmakers that the disputed bill will have negative
impacts on bilateral relations, Turkey’s European Union process as
well as the reconciliation efforts with Armenia, today it seems highly
likely that the bill pass the lower house of French Parliament on
Thursday. Stressing that France has entered into an election period,
the officials said some of the lawmakers are under pressure from the
Armenian lobby and that some others will be in their constituency
area and will even not attend the meeting.
Officials said that under these conditions, the bill will probably
pass from the lower house, even without discussion.
“Turkey will view such a decision by French Parliament as a hostile
action,” a high-level official from the Foreign Ministry told
reporters yesterday. “Despite France being a country that the young
Turkish Republic adopted as a model, it will lose all its privilege
and influence in Turkey,” the official said.
Foreign Ministry officials acknowledged that Turkish people are
also benefiting from French companies investing in Turkey, but
underlined that if the bill is adopted by the French Parliament it
will be impossible to accept the participation of any further French
companies in strategic projects like nuclear plants or those in the
defense field.
The economic worth of tenders that French firms are looking to
participate in is approximately 14 billion euros. There are also some
4 billion euros in military tenders.
Foreign Ministry officials also listed several other possible steps
by Turkey to express its unease, in the fields of political, economic
and defense ties, but ruled out the option of calling back the Turkish
ambassador to Paris, at least for the time being.
If French Parliament’s lower house adopts the disputed bill, the
process for approval of the law will continue with a vote in the
Senate and finally the president’s signature. According to Turkish
officials, even if the controversial law is adopted, it is highly
likely to be challenged by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR),
on the basis of violating the principle of “freedom of expression.”
However Turkish officials have expressed great regret that the French
move would fuel among the Turkish public a perception of European
double standards and also strengthen the country’s anti-Western
political trend.
A group of Turkish deputies intensified their efforts on Monday
to win the support of party groups for a bill that aims at official
recognition of the Algerian “genocide” committed by France, and makings
its denial a crime. Parliament sources told The New Anatolian that the
draft bill is highly likely to be discussed by the Justice Commission
on Wednesday.
However, Foreign Ministry officials adopted a critical approach towards
the move. An official told the press that as there is controversy
with France it is not wise to include a third party.
Underlining that even Algerians do not support such an initiative,
the official also said Turkey was insisting that the French move is
a big mistake, and a similar one by a group of Turkish deputies would
only undermine Turkey’s position.

REHN WARNS OF DANGERS OF PASSING ARMENIAN BILL
The New Anatolian
Oct 10 2006
European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn warned on Monday of
the dangers of the French Parliament passing a bill on the so-called
Armenian genocide, calling on France to act responsibly and seriously.
Speaking to reporters, Rehn said, “I’m calling on French deputies to
consider the consequences of approval of the bill. Our aim is to solve
the problem through serious debate. I believe French parliamentarians
will act responsibly.”
Rehn stated that the bill in question is the problem of France and
French parliamentarians, warning that its possible approval would
also have major consequences in Turkish-European Union relations and
stressing that such a move would damage Ankara’s dialogue with the
Union instead of enhancing it.
Rehn also underlined that French Parliament’s approval of the bill,
that introduces fines and prison terms to those who question the
Armenian genocide claims, would block debates on the controversial
issue and hamper Turkish efforts to abolish obstacles to freedom
of expression.
Touching on his latest contacts in Ankara, the enlargement chief
also said, “Turks think that France, urging Turkey to take steps in
freedom of expression, is itself taking a step to limit that freedom.”
“I’m in favor of an open dialogue with Turkey,” Rehn added.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
ARMENPAC, The Armenian-American Political Action Committee
421 E. Airport Freeway, Suite 201
Irving, Texas 75220
Contact: Jason P. Capizzi, Esq.
Tel: (972) 635-5347
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: <; THE ARMENPAC SURVEY RESULTS ARE IN - 380 Respondents' Positions Published on - 207 Pledges to Join the Armenian Caucus Irving, TX - ARMENPAC has released the responses of its 2006 Congressional Candidate Questionnaire in which over 1,900 congressional hopefuls were surveyed on current issues of importance to the Armenian-American community. ARMENPAC investigated the positions of all candidates for the United States Senate and House of Representatives to empower Armenian-American voters by providing them with the information necessary to make an informed decision in the upcoming midterm elections on November 7, 2006. ARMENPAC is the first Armenian organization to educate all federal candidates, and to provide them with a forum to share their opinions, on fundamental Armenian-American issues. "ARMENPAC's Congressional Candidate Questionnaire initiative, which educates federal candidates who are unfamiliar with the pressing issues that are important to Armenian-Americans and empowers voters concerned with Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Unites States relations, is a critical component of ARMENPAC's efforts to raise awareness of, and advocate for, policies that help create peace, security and stability in the Caucasus region," commented ARMENPAC Co-Chair Edgar Hagopian. ARMENPAC requires a strong foundation of Armenian-American supporters in order to maintain and advance a beneficial relationship between the United States, Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. To execute Armenian goals, a legislative body comprised of leaders devoted to facilitating and supporting initiatives that benefit Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh is imperative. The ARMENPAC Congressional Candidate Questionnaire has apprised voters with the knowledge necessary to make an informed decision when voting. The right to vote is a primary aspect of democratic governments, and ARMENPAC urges the Armenian-American community to refer to its survey results, which are posted at <; , before voting on November 7, 2006. Armenian-American unity, despite partisan political beliefs, is guaranteed to assist the Republics of, and our brothers and sisters in, Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. "Armenian-American voters have profited from ARMENPAC's leadership in pioneering this daunting survey initiative; ARMENPAC's initiatives are setting the advocacy standard which other organizations are quickly following and embracing as their own after a decade of apathy," said ARMENPAC Co-Chair Annie Totah. "The information gained from this survey, which is published on <; for the benefit of the entire Armenian-American community, will help us all to vote for the candidates that will most likely promote pro-Armenia/Nagorno Karabagh initiatives." To date, three-hundred eighty (380) candidates responded to ARMENPAC's 2006 Congressional Candidate Questionnaire; visit <; to view the survey results and find out if your candidates took the time to respond? Is your candidate interested in fighting for Armenian-American issues? Of the candidates that responded, ARMENPAC received two hundred seven (207) pledges to join the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. Already one of the largest caucuses in Congress, increasing membership with passionate leaders will only enhance Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh's relationship with the United States. Nine (9) of the respondents do not support the reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide, with varying explanations. Does your candidate regard the Armenian Genocide as a forgotten tragedy, better left in the past? In addition to viewing the responses to the 2006 Congressional Candidate Questionnaire, visit <; to obtain voter registration information. Posted on the ARMENPAC website are the voter registration forms of all fifty (50) states. To download your state's form, just click on the name of your state in the < t; "Register to Vote" link, fill out the form, and mail it to the designated agency before your state's registration deadline. If you do not have internet access, contact ARMENPAC at (877) 286-1046 to have a hard copy of your state's application form sent to you in the mail. It is imperative to the success of ARMENPAC's advocacy efforts that every eligible member of the Armenian-American community is registered to vote. ARMENPAC is an independent, bipartisan political action committee with a nationwide membership. ARMENPAC raises awareness of, and advocates for, policies that help create peace, security and stability in the Caucasus region. ARMENPAC provides financial support to federal officeholders, candidates, political action committees and organizations that actively support issues of importance to Armenian-Americans. For more information and how to join ARMENPAC, please call (877) 286-1046 or visit <; . ###

Armenian lobby is strong
Het Parool (Dutch Daily Newspaper)
7 October 2006
By Addie Schulte

Never before the Armenian Genocide got as much attention in the Dutch
politics as in the previous weeks. A small lobby with many branches in
Binnenhof had unexpected success. ?I think that the Netherlands has spared
herself a big deal of misery¹.

It started a month ago with a letter to CDA (Christian Democrat Party) and a
press release. The Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands
(FAON) and its 24 April Committee asked if candidate Member of Parliament
Ayhan Tonca distances himself from his earlier denial of the Armenian
Genocide.

³Tonca were a straight denier², says Inge Drost, spokeswoman of the Armenian
organisations. The Armenian lobby did not get a direct answer to the letter
to CDA. But after the attention paid by media, the matter gained momentum,
which seems still to continue.

That was quite different when the Armenians achieved a first success in The
Hague. In December 2004 the Parliament unanimously adopted a motion,
submitted by the chairman of Christian Union faction André Rouvoet and
signed by other factions, wherein the government is asked to bring the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide under the attention of the Turkish
government. A topical subject, because the Parliament was discussing the
starting of negotiations for the accession of Turkey to the European Union.

We insisted for many years on this matter. But with this motion the
recognition was not a requirement for the accession of Turkey. Last year Mr.
Rouvoet tried to achieve this point in a debate with foreign affairs
minister Ben Bot. Mr. Bot refused, because according to him it was
implicitly clear that Turkey would have to recognise the genocide. ³Mr.
Rouvoet said: ?Let¹s take this¹,² according to Mrs. Drost.

But in the minutes of the report there was nothing mentioned on this matter.
Mrs. Drost continued to insist. ³I have asked Rouvoet to inquire about this
statement in a plenary debate once more². These debates are recorded
textually. Mrs. Drost: ³But then the answers were quite different.²

It is not surprising that Mr. Rouvoet repeatedly raised the Armenian matter
and thereby received quite broad support. He is a member of the Recommending
Committee of 24 April Committee just like the Parliament Members Harry van
Bommel (SP), Kathleen Ferrier (CDA), Farah Karimi (Green-Left), Cees van der
Staaij (SGP), PvdA senator Ed van Thijn and former MP Leen van Dijke
(Christian Union).

The small Christian political parties have been therefore well represented.
The majority of Armenians are Christians. The 24 April Committee was also
particularly involved with the bill concerning the punishment of the
Genocide denial in some cases submitted by the Christian Union faction.

In fact it concerns a historical question, and the struggle for its
recognition is not political, says Mrs. Drost. ³But the policy of denial is
guided by Ankara². ³Turkey is doing a rearguard action: almost all
historians recognise the Genocide. But we cannot just pass over, because
Turkey wants to become a member of the European Union. That is unthinkable
without recognition of the Genocide.²

The Turkish embassy plays enormous role in this matter, according to her.
Mrs. Drost does not accept the criticism that the Dutch candidates of
Turkish origin are sharply followed. ³We have not damaged someone
unnecessarily. We asked clarity and we have mainly succeeded to get that. I
think that the Netherlands has spared herself a big deal of misery. A
Turkish problem is imported here. Some people are connected with hundreds of
ties to Ankara. Many people do not want believe that the Dutch policy was
already influenced, even before the motion of Mr. Rouvoet. The Members of
Parliament Fatma Koser Kaya (D66), Nebahat Albayrak (PvdA) and Fadime Örgü
(VVD) have given then an interview wherein the Turkish point of view was
presented².

Following Tonca also other Dutch candidates of Turkish origin came in the
sight. Particularly Mrs. Albayrak owes that to herself with her statements
in the newspaper Trouw, Mrs. Drost thinks. ³We could unfortunately not
neglect her judgments. Unfortunately, because it concerns persons.²

According to her many people did not understand that the statements of Mrs.
Albayrak are very close to those of negationists. ³The position of Mrs.
Albayrak is still not clear. It is, however, remarkable that Albayrak now
shows victim behaviour.²

Feeling Stressed?
See the article below which is also pasted below:
Shortcut to:
Fee ling Stressed?
Here are some tips to relieve the pressure of everyday life
By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter
SUNDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) — You just missed a deadline at work,
you’re supposed to chaperone your son’s school field trip, and your mechanic
called to tell you your car’s transmission is shot.
Stressed to the max?
Everyone experiences stress. And many people are stressed every day. But,
stress isn’t always as obvious as in the example above. In fact, some people
don’t even realize how much stress they’re under until they suffer serious
physical consequences of that stress.
Psychologist Anie Kalayjian, professor of psychology at Fordham University,
said she’s had patients end up in the emergency room, convinced they were
having a heart attack, but instead, it was just the body’s extreme response to
stress.
“If you’re a person running around with high energy or nervous energy, you
may not realize that you’re stressed until you collapse!” said Kalayjian.
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, some possible signs
that you’re under too much stress are: Anxiety, back pain, stiff neck,
depression, fatigue, trouble sleeping, unexpected weight changes, headaches,
relationship troubles and high blood pressure.
“People need to start proactively trying to prevent episodes before they
have extreme reactions,” recommended Kalayjian.
But that doesn’t mean you should make managing stress just another item on
your “to-do” list, cautioned Gail Elliott Evo, the integrative medicine
coordinator at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.
“We talk so much about stress now. It’s to the point that people are now
feeling judgmental when they experience stress and can’t eliminate it. But,
unless you’re a guru sitting in a temple in Tibet, I don’t think you can avoid
stress. There will be periods where you’ll have stress,” she said.
Still, managing stress or reducing it as much as you can is a smart idea,
because constant stress leaves your body flooded with stress hormones, which
can increase your risk of heart attack and other serious health problems.
“Stress causes physical and psychological reactions. It can alter your
sleep. It leaves you constantly in fighting-mode and leaves your immune system
suppressed. You may get sick a lot,” Kalayjian said.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to managing stress.
“Some things will be right for one person but not for another. Be open, and
try things. Give something a try, and if it’s not right for you, move on to
something else. You’ll eventually find something that’s right for you,” said
Evo.
Some of the approaches she recommends include: Massage, healing touch, yoga,
tai chi, walking, meditation and guided imagery.
Kalayjian said a good place to start de-stressing is with deep breathing.
“One minute per each hour of the day, you need to sit and do nothing but
focus on breathing. No phones, no lists, no responsibilities. It’s almost like
how you recharge your battery for your mobile phone. We need to recharge,
too,” she said.
She also recommends exercise. “Don’t wait to feel stressed. Get at least a
half an hour of exercise every day. It gets a lot of the toxins and stressout
of our bodies,” Kalayjian said.
Kalayjian also advocates something she calls “journaling.”
“It helps to put things on paper and outside of yourself. You don’t have to
store it in your heart, body or mind. When we journal, we let go of things
and that acts as a release,” she said.
She also suggests getting organized. “Many people waste 20 percent of their
time looking for things. Try to be organized. Label things. Have organizers.
It seems very mundane, but helps tremendously in saving your energy,”
Kalayjian said.
Evo said many people use a combination of techniques to relieve their
stress.
“Be playful with it. Try different things,” she said.
Kalayjian agreed, adding that people need to “learn how to have a sense of
humor, to laugh and make others laugh, too.”
Finally, Kalayjian advised that if you try several different methods to
“de-stress” and just can’t seem to relax, you could probably benefit from seeing
a psychotherapist.
More information
The National Mental Health Association offers _tips on coping with stress_
( .cfm) .
SOURCES: Gail Elliott Evo, integrative medicine coordinator, Beaumont
Hospital, Royal Oak, Mich.; Anie Kalayjian, Ph.D., professor of
psychology, Fordham University, New York City; American Academy of
Family Physician’s FamilyDoctor.org Web site
Last Updated: Oct. 9, 2006
Copyright © 2006 _ScoutNews LLC_ () . All rights
reserved.

The Daily Telegraph (LONDON)
(Filed: 10/10/2006)
Turkey’s EU plans threatened by genocide dispute with the French
By David Rennie, Europe Correspondent
Turkey’s painful progress towards European Union membership has been
plunged into crisis by a dispute with the French over the massacre of
Armenians during and after the 1914-18 war.
A Socialist-backed proposal, which could pass the National Assembly on
Thursday, would make it illegal in France to deny that the killings
amounted to genocide by Turkey.
The legislation, which has gained support from Right-wing assembly
members, would see anyone denying that a genocide took place jailed
for up to five years.
Armenians claim that as many as 1.5 million of their ancestors were
killed between 1915 and 1923 in an organised campaign to eradicate
them from eastern Turkey.
The Turkish government fiercely denies a genocide, saying that
hundreds of thousands of Turks and Armenians died in a civil war.
Under Turkish law, it is illegal to accuse the state of genocide.
Scores of Turkish writers and intellectuals who have debated the
massacres publicly have faced prosecution under article 301 of the
penal code, outlawing insults to “Turkishness”.
The Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, reacted with
indignation to the French proposal, asking: “What would you do if the
Turkish prime minister came to France and denied that the genocide had
taken place? Arrest him?”
In retaliation, the Turkish parliament’s justice committee will on
Wednesday discuss a draft plan to imprison people who deny that France
committed genocide during its colonial rule over Algeria.
Thousands of protesters who marched in Istanbul at the weekend vowed
to mount a trade boycott of French goods.
Mr Erdogan also met representatives from several French multinationals
on Saturday, including the car makers Peugeot and Renault and the
supermarket chain Carrefour, to press home the serious risks to the
multi-billion pound annual trade between Turkey and France.
The draft law has been taken up by the leading French presidential
candidate Nicolas Sarkozy, a long-time opponent of Turkish entry into
Europe.
He revealed yesterday that he had telephoned Mr Erdogan, saying his
party might still drop its proposal for the law if Turkey met three
conditions: dropping the penal law forbidding mention of the genocide;
opening the Turkish-Armenian border; and equal representation on a
joint Turkish-Armenian research committee.
Last week, President Jacques Chirac, publicly a supporter of Turkish
EU membership, suggested that recognition of “genocide” against the
Armenians should be a precondition of EU entry.
Mr Sarkozy raised the stakes by saying in a radio interview that, even
if Turkey admitted genocide, that should not guarantee it EU entry.
The EU enlargement commissioner, Olli Rehn, expressed concerns that
the French law would abruptly shut down the first signs that the
Turkish government would be willing to tolerate some historical
re-examination of the killings.
Supporters of Turkey’s EU entry said France was being “completely unhelpful.”
Andrew Duff, a Liberal Democrat MEP and prominent ally of Turkey in
Brussels, said he spent yesterday meeting senior Turkish MPs, who
asked him: “Why are you asking us to defend freedom of expression in
Turkey, when France is proposing to shut down freedom of expression in
France?”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

3325 North Glenoaks Blvd. Burbank, CA 91504
Tel: (818) 558-7474 Fax: (818) 558-6333
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
======================== ====
WESTERN DIOCESE E-NEWSLETTER
===========================
Bible Readings
—————–
Isaiah 17:7-14
( dings.php?ID=1003)
Final Greetings (2 Corinthians 13:5-13)
( adings.php?ID=1004)
The Authority of Jesus Challenged (Mark 11:27-33)
( eadings.php?ID=1005)
Diocesan News
—————–
MR. AND MRS. BERJ AND BELET SHAHBAZIAN TO BE HONORED AT THIRD ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BALL
Christmas Ball preperations begin
The Christmas Season is well underway at the Western Diocese, Armenian
Church of North America, as plans and preparations begin for the Third
Annual Christmas Ball to be held on Saturday, December 2, 2006 in the
Nazareth and Sima Kalaydjian Hall of the Arshag and Eleanor Dickranian
Complex.
(http://www.armenianchurchwd.c om/news/story.php?id=212)
RECENT ACTIVITIES OF VERY REV. FR. DAJAD DZ. V. YARDEMIAN
Responsibilties range from the liturgical to television production
Within the ecclesiastic, religious and cultural realm, Very
Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian, the Vicar General of the Diocese,
aside from his daily responsibilities and Sunday Divine Liturgies and
Sermons, also participates in several projects and events within the
Armenian community.
( tory.php?id=213)
ARMENIAN VILLAGE OPERATION PROVIDES WATER TO FAMILIES IN RURAL VILLAGE
Diocese calls attention to AVO’s recent project
The AVO has been implementing projects in rural villages of Armenia
since early 2005. The mission of the organization is to eradicate
poverty through community and economic development, income generation
and self sustainability.
( ews/story.php?id=214)
APN HOSTS SPECIAL EVENT ON NOV. 19TH, 2006
Honorable Judge Armand Arabian will be the guest speaker
The APN will be hosting a special event to honor brave Armenian
American men and women who have served in the Armed Forces of the
United States.
( y.php?id=215)
Upcoming Events
—————–
10/22: An Evening of Appreciation
( ndar/detail.php?id=26)
11/19: Reception to honors Armenian American Veterens
( /detail.php?id=29)
11/24: ACYO Convention & General Assembly
( /detail.php?id=30)
============================
T he Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, providing
spiritual guidance and leadership to the Armenian Apostolic community,
is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization comprised of 47
churches in 16 western states. It was established in 1898 as the
Diocese of the Armenian Church encompassing the entire United States
and Canada. In 1927 the Western Diocese was formed to exclusivly serve
the western United States.

PRESS RELEASE
American University of Armenia
300 Lakeside Drive, 5th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Contact: Maggie Mead
Tel: 510-987-9125
Fax: 510-208-3576
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
AUA GRADUATION: The American University of Armenia is 15 years old
Yerevan – In the midst of 15th Anniversary commemoration activities, the
American University of Armenia celebrated its 13th graduation and
commencement ceremonies during the last week of September.
Festivities began on Friday, September 29, with the traditional annual
alumni dinner, whereby AUA alumni and faculty congratulated the Class of
2006. The traditional Alumni Dinner brought together about 300 graduates,
past and present faculty, and staff.
The following day, September 30, AUA held its Baccalaureate Service for the
graduates, families, faculty, and staff to reflect upon their
accomplishments in a spiritual setting. The Baccalaureate is a
traditional celebration of academic achievement marked by an inspirational
message which takes place the day before graduation ceremonies in American
universities. AUA President Haroutune Armenian explained that “the
Baccalaureate is an integral part of the AUA graduation celebration taking
place next weekend and it is a wonderful opportunity for students and
families to reflect on their hard-earned achievements.”
This year, the speaker was AUA President Emeritus, Dr. Mihran Agbabian. Dr.
Agbabian is a founder of the American University of Armenia and served as
its first President. Dr. Agbabian spoke on the importance of “giving back”
and fellowship, or, as he stated, “If you cannot return the help you receive
directly to those who have made a difference in your life, you can always
help another person in another place and time.”
“Paros” Chamber Choir, the only wheelchair choir in the world, then
performed several inspiring songs.
On October 1, 2006, the American University of Armenia’s graduation ceremony
took place in the main auditorium. One hundred and twenty six men and women
received their Master’s Degrees. These new graduates join AUA’s 1,402 alumni
who now occupy important leadership positions.
At the ceremony President Haroutune Armenian welcomed the graduates, their
families, faculty, and many distinguished guests.
The Associate Dean of English Programs spoke on behalf of the University of
California. Commencement addresses were delivered by Mr.Gagik Harutunyan,
President, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia, and Mr.
Jason B. Sprague, Peace Corps Volunteer in Gavar, Armenia. Valedictorians
Anush Dulgaryan (Armenian address) and
Tatevik Gharibyan (English address) spoke on behalf of the Class 2006.
After this, about 126 graduates were presented by their respective Deans and
called to the stage to receive their Certificates and Master’s Degrees. At
the end of the Ceremony, the graduates, according to tradition, threw their
caps into the air.
The reception in the main lobby and cafeteria of AUA concluded this great
day.
AUA Accomplishments, Year 2006
* AUA becomes a founding member of the consortium of American-style Academic
Libraries of colleges and universities in Europe, North Africa, and the
Middle East, which is created to implement collaborative projects in
information resources and technology that support teaching and learning.
* AUA launches the Turpanjian Rural Development Program, a major five year
initiative focused on economic growth through adult education and rural
entrepreneurship.
* The Anti-Seismic Systems International Society and AUA, in collaboration
with the Armenian Association for Earthquake Engineering, holds an
international workshop on “Base Isolated High-Rise Buildings.” Armenia was
the first among developing nations to implement seismic isolation technology
and pioneered the practice of retrofitting buildings for seismic isolation.
* Fifty-two doctors and nurses in Nagorno Karabakh complete basic first aid
and emergency skills training organized by the Center for Health Services
Research and Development, as part of the United States Agency of
International Development-funded Humanitarian Assistance Program for Nagorno
Karabakh.
——————————-
The American University of Armenia is registered as a non-profit educational
organization in both Armenia and the United States and is affiliated with
the Regents of the University of California. Receiving major support from
the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading to the Masters Degree in eight
graduate programs. For more information about AUA, visit

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
“Capital punishment must be totally removed in all countries which
strive to uphold democracy, the rule of law and human rights,” says PACE
President
Strasbourg, 10.10.2006 – “Capital punishment must be totally removed
once and for all from the legislation of all countries which strive to
uphold democracy, the rule of law and human rights,” the President of
the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), René van der
Linden, said today to mark the World Day Against the Death Penalty.
“The death penalty has been abolished in all our member states, with
just one exception, the Russian Federation”, Mr van der Linden said. He
urged the Russian authorities to show, vis-à-vis public opinion in
their country, the same determination and persuasiveness displayed by
the other Council of Europe member states, which had the political will
and courage to abolish the death penalty despite the potential
unpopularity of the measure. “The sentence of life imprisonment of the
only surviving Beslan terrorist was a clear signal of Russia’s respect
of a de facto moratorium on the death penalty, but I hope that this
moratorium could soon result in a de jure abolition of the death
penalty,” he said.
At the same time, he warned against all attempts to launch discussion on
the re-introduction of the death penalty in Europe.
He also recalled that at its June 2006 session, the Assembly had noted
with concern that the separatist territories, not recognised
internationally, of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and the Dnestr Moldavian
Republic do not observe the abolition of the death penalty by Georgia
and Moldova respectively. “The Assembly believes that the death penalty
should be abolished in these territories and that the sentences of all
prisoners currently on death row in Abkhazia and the Dnestr Moldavian
Republic should be immediately commuted to terms of imprisonment in
order to put an end to the cruel and inhuman treatment of those who have
been kept on death row for years in a state of uncertainty as to their
ultimate fate,” he stressed.
In respect of countries having observer status with the Council of
Europe, he referred to earlier PACE Resolutions 1349 (2003)
< D/Documents/AdoptedText/ta03/ERES1349.htm> and 1253 (2001)
< D 1/ERES1253.htm> , in which the Assembly calls on Japan
and the United States to place an immediate moratorium on executions and
to take the necessary steps to abolish the death penalty. “The Assembly
finds it inadmissible that these appeals have gone unheeded and that
both Japan and the United States continue to apply the death penalty and
violate their fundamental obligation to uphold human rights.”
He finally called on all countries in the world which have not yet
abolished the death penalty to follow the lead given by the 46-nation
Council of Europe, a de facto “death-penalty-free zone”.
Press Release
Parliamentary Assembly Communication Unit
Ref: 575a06
Tel: +33 3 88 41 31 93
Fax :+33 3 90 21 41 34
[email protected]
internet:
The Parliamentary Assembly brings together 315 members from the national
parliaments of the 46 member states.
President: René van der Linden (Netherlands, EPP/CD); Secretary
General of the Assembly: Mateo Sorinas.
Political Groups: SOC (Socialist Group); EPP/CD (Group of the European
People’s Party); ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe);
EDG (European Democratic Group); UEL (Group of the Unified European
Left).

Council of Europe Secretary General Death penalty is a fatal form of injustice
Brussels, 10.10.2006 – Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of
Europe and Franco Frattini, Vice President of the European Commission
held today a joint press conference in Brussels to mark the World Day
against the Death Penalty. On this occasion, Terry Davis said:
“Death penalty is a fatal form of injustice and a fatal violation of
human rights. You cannot have a genuinely civilised and humane society
if the state is uncivilised and inhumane.
Death penalty is barbaric. It does not deter crime. It does not help the
victims of crime. It transforms murderers into martyrs. It transforms
judicial errors into irreversible tragedies. The bottom line is – the
next time that judicial error may be you.
The European Convention on Human Rights and its protocols guarantee the
right to life and prohibit torture, degrading and inhuman treatment.
Death penalty violates that Convention.
The Council of Europe has been working for the past 30 years to outlaw
the death penalty in Europe. Since 1989, abolition has been set as a
formal condition for accession for all new members. 45 of the 46 member
states have formally abolished the death penalty. We expect the Russian
Federation will soon follow suit. Meanwhile it has had a moratorium
since it joined in 1996. As a result, there has not been a single
execution in any member states of the Council of Europe for 10 years.
In the whole of Europe, only Belarus is out of step.
But, as far as I am concerned, the abolition of the death penalty is
still an unfinished business. First, many Europeans are still in favour
of the death penalty. This is not something we can ignore. We need to
go out and explain to people why the death penalty is wrong, why it has
been abolished and why it should stay abolished. This is an area where
the Council of Europe and the European Commission can work together and,
I hope, will work together.
Second, we must look beyond Europe. Some of our closest friends and
allies continue to execute people. We all know that the decision to
abolish the death penalty must come from them. But until they decide to
do so – and eventually, they will – we should not remain silent.
Politely but persistently, we should encourage them to follow our
example and say yes to justice but no to cruelty, torture and death.”
Press Release
Council of Europe Press Division
Ref: 576a06
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A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to
promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops
common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 46
member states.