Wales-Armenia Solidarity
c/o Temple of Peace, Cathays Parc Cardiff Wales
Tel 07876541681
[email protected]
The Majority of Welsh Members of the UK Parliament Recognise the
Armenian and Assyrian Genocide
Following intensive lobbying from the above organisation,over half the
eligible Welsh Representatives of the UK Parliament have signed a
motion recognising the Armenian and Assyrian Genocide of 1915. The
Motion is called “Early Day Motion number 1454” and the Welsh Members of
the London parliament, in doing this, follow the example of
1 the majority of National Assembly of Wales Members who did the same
on 30th october 2002. and also
2 Gwynedd County Council, North West Wales who did so in March
2004(The first municipality in the UK to do so) and
3 Cardiff City Council which did so in September 2004
“This is a historic day for Wales” said a spokesman for Wales-Armenia
Solidarity. “There can no longer be any doubt that Wales has recognised
the Armenian and Assyrian Genocides. For seven hundred years during
the period of English rule,, our voice was silenced on international
issues.We have now a consensus on a serious international issue that
differs signifigantly from UK government policy
We accuse Britain of the betrayal Armenia for its own self-interest
ever since the nineteenth century.
Britain’s four betrayals of Armenia are spread over a century.
1 British Foreign policy in the nineteenth century,expressed through
the The Anglo-Turkish Convention and The Berlin Treaty in the 1 870’s,
(depriving Armenia of its protection by Russia), which led to Armenia
being totally exposed to the massacres of 1894-96, and eventually the
Genocide of 1915
2 The refusal to take up the mandate for an independent Armenia
following the Treaty of Sevres, allowing Armenia to be overrun in
1920-23. Lloyd George’s promises of an independent Armenia, made during
the war ( to aid the war effort) were not honoured.
3 The refusal to countenance the return of Kars and Ardahan to
Soviet Armenia from Turkey in 1945-46
4 Today’s shameful denial of the historical reality of the 1915
Genocide
We will continue to expose this shameful government denial of the
genocide in order to protect British investment in Turkey and to further
Britain’s strategic interests in the region.
Our priority will be to put the issue of restitution and reparations
for the genocide on the political agenda.The reunification of Armenia
must no longer be a taboo suibject during Turkey’s accesion talks. We
in Wales can raise our voice to insist that Turkey should yeild back
land to the Armenian nation if she is to acceed to the European Union.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance
22 Concord Lane Cambridge MA 02138 USA
Phone 617 871-6764 Fax 617 491-1011
Contact: Bianca Bagatourian, President
Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance
617-871-6764
[email protected]
www.arme niandrama.org
6/1/06
Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance presents a reading of Saroyan’s Hello
Out There at ALMA
Please join the Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance for an afternoon of
excitement and celebration at the Armenian Library and Museum of
America on Sunday, June 11, 2006, at 3 PM.
A Reading of William Saroyan’s highly acclaimed short play HELLO OUT
THERE will be directed by Zoya Khachadurian form New York City and
will star Paul Schafer, Danielle Bauman, Jason Taylor, and Michele
Markarian.
William Saroyan is regarded as the greatest playwright of Armenian
heritage in the 20th century. As a playwright, Saroyan is best known
for his story “The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze” and his
play “The Time of Your Life”. His short wistful play “Hello Out
There” was produced for the first time at the Lobero Theatre in Santa
Barbara on Wednesday, the 10th of September, 1941, as the curtain-
raiser to George Bernard Shaw’s The Devil’s Disciple. It was also the
play in which Al Pacino made his Broadway debut. The play tells about
the bad luck of an itinerant gambler who is arrested and jailed in a
small Texas town, charged with rape. The charge is a lie, but the
only one who hears his call for justice and understanding is a young
girl who cooks for the jail. The gambler gives all his money to the
girl before a mob breaks into the jail and the lying woman’s husband
shoots him. ADAA & ALMA will present the play reading at ALMA’s
contemporary art gallery on 3rd floor.
The reading will be followed by a presentation by Jacqueline Kazarian
Papasian, Saroyan’s niece, who will share some stories about her
uncle Bill.
Please RSVP to ALMA @ 617.926.2562 ext. 3, or email [email protected]
by 5pm on June 8. Seating is limited. Armenian Library & Museum of
America is located at 65 Main Street, Watertown, MA

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
PRESS RELEASE
-“Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund
-Governmental Building 3, Yerevan, RA
-Contact: Anush Babayan
-Tel: 3741 52 09 40
-Fax: 3741 52 37 95
-E-mail: [email protected]
-Web:
5.06.06
One more apartment building unveiled in Spitak
On June 5, the `Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund unveiled one more
residential building in Yereankyuni district, Spiatak town. Construction
of this district started in 1999. There are 11 residential buildings in
Yerankyuni of which 10 are sponsored by HAAF’s Great Britain local
committee and the other one by the German local committee.
Mrs. Naira Melkoumian, the Executive Director of the Fund, Armineh
Carapeti, the representative of the Great Britain local committee,
Armenian donors from Great Britan Seda and Tigran Ouzounian, who have
sponsored the project, Armenians from Great Britain and Vanik Asatrian,
Mayor of Spitak town were present at the opening ceremony of 8b
building. Naira Melkoumian expressed gratitude to the benefactors and on
behalf of RA President and Chairman of the Fund’s Board of Trustees
Robert Kocharian, handed over them the Certificate of the `Hayastan’
Fund’s Honorable Donor.
Appreciating the successful work of the Great Britain local committee
Mrs. Naira Melkoumian mentioned that the local committee has always been
actively participating in various initiatives of the Fund, especially in
the large-scale project in Spitak. Delegates of the Great Britain local
committee expressed satisfaction for the qualified construction work
done.
All the buildings in Yerankyuni district are constructed with the same
design. They are seismically resistant and designed for the people
having lost their homes as a result of the earthquake.

UNITED ARMENIAN FUND
1101 N. Pacific Avenue # 301
Glendale, CA 91202
Tel: 818.241.8900
Fax: 818.241.6900
PRESS RELEASE
3 June 2006
UAF’s 138th Airlift Delivers $12 Million of Aid to Armenia
Glendale, CA – The United Armenian Fund’s 138th airlift arrived in
Yerevan on June 3, delivering $12 million of humanitarian assistance.
The UAF itself collected $10.8 million of medicines and medical supplies
for this flight, most of which were donated by AmeriCares ($9.9
million); MAP International ($481,000); Health Partners International
of Canada ($298,000) and Catholic Medical Mission Board ($150,000).
Other organizations which contributed goods for this airlift were:
Pfizer Inc. ($445,000); UMAF from France ($309,000); Armenian Eyecare
Project ($74,000); Armenian International Ophthalmic Association
($50,000); Nork Marash Medical Center ($44,000); International Academy
of Telepathology ($38,000) and Howard Karagheusian Commemorative
Corporation ($36,000).
Also contributing to this airlift were: Foundation Semra ($28,000);
Armenian American Health Association of WA ($20,000); Armenian American
Cultural Association ($20,000);
Since its inception in 1989, the UAF has sent $441 million of
humanitarian assistance to Armenia on board 138 airlifts and 1,312 sea
containers.
The UAF is the collective effort of the Armenian Assembly of America,
the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian Missionary
Association of America, the Armenian Relief Society, the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America, the 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.
###

Armenian Library & Museum of America
65 Main Street, Watertown MA 02472
617.9262562 (T) ~ [email protected] ~
<; PRESS RELEASE JUNE 11 --WILLIAM SAROYAN PLAY READING AT ALMA ADAA & ALMA present: William Saroyan's Play "HELLO OUT THERE" Sunday, June 11, 3:00 pm ALMA's 3rd floor The Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance (ADAA) and the Armenian Library & Museum of America (ALMA) present a reading of one of William Saroyan's most highly acclaimed short plays, "Hello Out There" (1941). The play reading is directed by Zoya Khachadurian and stars Paul Schafer, Danielle Bauman, Jason Taylor, and Michele Markarian. The play reading will be followed by Jacqueline Kazarian Papasian, Saroyan's niece, who will share some stories about her uncle, William. As a playwright, Saroyan is best known for his story "The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze" and his play "The Time of Your Life". Less known is his short wistful play "Hello Out There". This play was produced for the first time at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara on Wednesday, the 10th of September, 1941, as the curtain-raiser to George Bernard Shaw's The Devil's Disciple. The play tells about the bad luck of an itinerant gambler who is arrested and jailed in a small Texas town, charged with rape. The charge is a lie, but the only one who hears his call for justice and understanding is a young girl who cooks for the jail. The gambler gives all his money to the girl before a mob breaks into the jail and the lying woman's husband shoots him. On June 11, ADAA & ALMA will present the play reading at ALMA's contemporary art gallery on 3rd floor. The play will be directed by Zoya Khachadurian, followed by a talk about Saroyan's work and refreshments. Please RSVP to ALMA at 617.926.2562 ext. 3 or email [email protected] .
The event coincides with the exhibit “May name is Bill: Remembering
William Saroyan” Exhibit at ALMA which runs through August 4 at the
Terjenian-Thomas Hall of the contemporary art gallery. The museum
admission is free for ALMA members and children 12, and a small fee
For Adults, and students with valid ID. ALMA is located at 65 Main
Street, Watertown, MA. 617.926.ALMA (2562)
<; . Museum hours are: Thursday 6 - 9 PM, Friday and Sunday 1 - 5 PM, Saturday 10 AM - 2 PM. ###

Armenia Fund USA, Inc.
152 Madison Ave, S-803
New York, NY 10016, U.S.A.
T/1-212-689-5307
F/1-212-689-5317 w.armemeniafundusa.org
All-Armenian Fund International Affiliates’ Annual Meeting Convenes
~15th meeting of the Board of Trustees assesses the progress of the
organization and sets priorities for the future development of Armenia and
Karabakh~
NEW YORK, New York – Leadership from Armenia Fund USA traveled to Yerevan,
Armenia for All-Armenian Fund International Affiliates’ annual meeting which
convened on May 5, 2006. The conference brought together the leadership of
all 18 affiliates from all over the world to review progress of the
organization since the last annual meeting and set priorities for
development. Chaired by the President of the Republic of Armenia His
Excellency Robert Kocharian, the meeting took place at the Government
Reception House in Yerevan creating a momentum for sharing a common mission
among all affiliates – the task of ensuring the well-being of Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh through large-scale infrastructure and socio-economic
development and sustainability. Apart from assessing the benchmarks of
success, the meeting also approved the 2005 report of the Executive Board,
discussed agenda items important for ensuring the successful implementation
and continuity of current projects, took decisions on the 2006 beneficiary
program, as well as elected new members to the International Board of
Trustees.
Before starting the session, led by the prayers of His Holiness Karekin II,
Catholicos of All-Armenians, the Board Members and the leadership of the
Fund paid tribute with a moment of silence to the victims of Armavia Flight
967 that just days earlier had claimed the lives of more than ten dozen
people. The Republic had announced a two-day national mourning after the
terrible catastrophe.
The approval of the 2005 annual report of the Executive Board, prepared by
an independent French-American accounting firm, addressed the financial
standing of the organization, and presented the Fiscal Year 2005 financial
audit of All-Armenian Fund on the one hand, and of the construction
procedures of projects on the other. The report summarized funds received
and expenses incurred for the fiscal year concluding that the financial
standing of the organization “is clearly in accordance with International
Financial Reporting Standards”, which, most significantly, gave account of
the transparency and maintenance of internal procurement standards.
An important agenda item under discussion during the annual meeting was the
“Rebirth of Artsakh” Regional Development Program for Nagorno-Karabakh -a
three year, three region comprehensive development plan approved last year
to provide socio-economic assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh. The participants
confirmed the continuity of the program and provided information on
preparatory works done to this date. The participants also took decisions on
directing Telethon 2006 to the implementation of the “Rebirth of Artsakh”
program. Funds raised through the fundraising telethon will be directed to
the rehabilitation, reconstruction and development of the Hadrout and
Mardakert regions in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The meeting also touched upon the rural poverty eradication program
introduced during the meeting by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic
of Armenia Mr. Vartan Oskanian, a Trustee of the Fund. Hayastan All-Armenian
Fund was tasked with the coordination of the Rural Development Scheme for
159 border villages in Armenia. The program is an integrated approach toward
poverty reduction in the rural villages of Armenia, particularly those
located close to the border. It is a broad effort to provide the necessary
development support in the form of technical and infrastructure intervention
to ensure the economic sustainability of rural communities. Apart from
overall socio-economic development impact, the program is expected to
leverage effects of rural poverty on migration, geopolitical security and
regional stability. A commission was set up to study the program and the
timing in detail, put forth suggestions on jointly implementation of the
program with other projects of the Fund and integrate efforts toward
regional development.
A meeting of all affiliates of Hayastan Himnadram took place on May the 4th
at the campus of the American University of Armenia to exchange views and
discuss common operational challenges. During the meeting representatives
from respective affiliates introduced progress reports and project
coordination details. Armenia Fund USA, led by Chairman of the Board of
Directors Mr. Kevork Toroyan and Executive Director Ms. Irina Lazarian,
introduced details on the implementation of the Agricultural Initiative for
Mardakert region of Nagorno-Karabakh and parameters of cooperation with
local authorities to ensure maximum efficacy of the program. The Initiative
is the economic underpinning of the “Rebirth of Artsakh” Regional
Development Program launched by affiliates in spring of 2006, and is a
strategic plan to increase rural household income by boosting region’s
agricultural economy.
Armenia Fund USA representatives concluded the trip with visits to
project sites, as well as meetings with Karabakh farmers to listen to their
concerns and input about the new program.
The annual meeting elected three new members to the International Board of
Trustees, among them Mark Geragos, U.S. based attorney who has been very
supportive of the Fund’s overall efforts in the United States, Hasmik
Terterian of Armenian Relief Society and Mike Kharapian of Ramkavar
Liberal-Democratic Party.
ABOUT ARMENIA FUND USA: ARMENIA FUND USA, founded in 1992, was one of the
first of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s 18 international affiliates and serves
constituents in all states east of the Mississippi. As a non-profit,
non-governmental, nonsectarian organization, the Fund represents all
Armenian constituents.

Armenia Fund USA is the largest contributor among the 18 international
affiliates – supporting strategic infrastructure projects in Armenia and
Karabakh, and having helped build 138 miles of roads, 100 miles of
waterways, 36 schools, 3 electric transmission networks, 210 residential
buildings and 15 healthcare institutions.
Armenia Fund USA’s Mission is the development of strategic socio-economic
infrastructure in Armenia and Karabakh, focusing on major projects such as
major highways, schools, drinking water to communities and humanitarian
programs in education, training and medical facilities. The Fund has adopted
a policy to go “Beyond Bricks and Mortar” to provide sustainability for
projects it sponsors.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/05/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Kocharian, Aliyev Discuss Karabagh Conflict in Bucharest 2) Armenians Protest Racist Killings in Russia 3) Armenian Men's Chess Team Wins Turin Olympiad 4) DON'T FORGET TO VOTE TODAY! 1) Kocharian, Aliyev Discuss Karabagh Conflict in Bucharest (RFE/RL/Armenpress)Armenian President Robert Kocharian and his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev concluded a second round of talks aimed at resolving the Karabagh conflict, but no progress was reported. Monday's talks were the second time that Robert Kocharian and Ilham Aliyev met on the sidelines of the Black Sea Summit in the Romanian capital, Bucharest. The talks were also attended by the French, Russian, and American Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, which has overseen the peace negotiations since 1992. Kocharian and Aliyev already had a protracted meeting on Sunday, June 4, at the Polish embassy in Romania. OSCE Chairman in Office Karel de Gucht, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, and the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan also attended the meeting. Afterward, the presidents met one-on-one. The first round of negotiations lasted for over four hours. American co-chair Steven Mann said that the meeting took place in a "very good atmosphere" but gave few details about the nature of the talks. "The co-chairs still believe that 2006 is the window to reach an agreement regarding Karabagh, and I don't want to characterize exactly where we might be in that process," Mann said. Mann also said that the mediators believe that the Karabagh conflict can still be resolved this year. "The co-chairs still believe that 2006 is the window to reach an agreement regarding Karabagh," he said. Asked whether Aliyev and Kocharian made any progress towards a peace deal, the American diplomat replied, "I would only say that we have had very, very detailed discussions." He said that he and his two counterparts expect progress in the talks every time Armenian and Azeri leaders meet to explore ways for ending their dispute over Karabagh. These meetings in Romania are the second time that Kocharian and Aliyev have met this year. The previous talks, held near Paris in February, failed to yield any agreement. The Armenian and Azeri leaders also brought up the Karabagh conflict as they separately addressed a high-level forum of Black Sea nations at the summit on Monday. "The people of Nagorno-Karabagh have implemented in practice the right to self-determination," declared Kocharian. "It was done fully in line with the requirements of international law." "We believe that there is a need for effective efforts for a full-scale integration of the [Mountainous Karabagh] Republic into the international community," he added. 2) Armenians Protest Racist Killings in Russia YEREVAN (RFE/RL/Armenpress)Several dozen people staged a demonstration outside the Russian embassy in Yerevan on Monday to protest racially-motivated killings of Armenians and other non-Slavs in Russia. The protesters, most of them representatives of several Armenian civic groups, accused Moscow of connivance and even complicity in the xenophobic violence widely blamed on tens of thousands of neo-Nazi skinheads operating across Russia. The demonstrators presented a statement to embassy officials, saying that in 2005 there were about 402 attacks and 28 murders of non-Slavs in Russia. In 2006 alone, 6 ethnic Armenians have been killed in Moscow. "The citizens of Armenia and Armenian non-governmental organizations condemn the activity of raging nationalistic organizations in Russia and the negligence of Russian law-enforcement bodies to detect perpetrators and punish them. We demand that Russian authorities take speed measures to arrest murderers and punish them," the statement said. The protest was sparked by the fatal stabbing of a 19 year old Russian citizen of Armenian descent, Artur Sardarian, by a group of youths on a train in a Moscow suburb. Simon Tsaturian, who represents the family of another ethnic Armenian killed in Moscow in April, cited witnesses as saying the murderers were chanting "Glory to Russia" while stabbing Arthur Sardarian. The attackers then stopped the train by setting off an alarm and escaped. Few of the perpetrators of these racially motivated killings have been arrested and brought to justice. A case in point was the St. Petersburg trial of seven teenagers, who were convicted of stabbing to death a 9 year old Tajik girl but were sentenced only between 18 months and five years in prison last February. Protestors also denounced the Armenian Government's reluctance to bring Russia to task over the killings. They marched to the Armenian Foreign Ministry to condemn its failure to publicly criticize the Russian authorities for their failure to stop the violence. Armenia's ambassador in Moscow and other diplomats say they regularly raise the issue with Russian officials. But the organizers of the protest insisted that Yerevan is scared of openly challenging its closest ally. "I am convinced that if the Armenian authorities took a tougher line the situation would not be so grave," said Ishkhanian. "The Armenian authorities are not doing anything to stop the killings," charged another protester, Arsen Kharatian. "Their failure to speak out is a crime in itself." Sardarian's violent death came in the wake of an uproar caused by the killing of another young Armenian. The 17 year old Vigen Abramiants was stabbed to death on a Moscow subway platform on April 22. 3) Armenian Men's Chess Team Wins Turin Olympiad YEREVAN (Armenpress)The Armenian Men's team won the gold Sunday at the 37th Chess Olympiad in Turin. The Armenians, going into the final round 2.5 points ahead of the field, had agreed to a quick draw against the Hungarians. This secured them Gold less than an hour after the start of round 13. Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian announced Monday in Parliament that the Armenian Government will organize a reception for the team when they return home and will award the champions. Other winners in Turin included the Ukrainian Women's team, which won the women's tournament by 2 points. China beat the Netherlands 2.5:1.5 to take Silver, two points behind the winners. The US team demolished Norway 3.5:0.5, while Israel beat a lackluster Russian team 3:1. Both USA and Israel had 33.0 points, but the Americans took Bronze on tiebreak scores. 4) DON'T FORGET TO VOTE TODAY! The Armenian National Committee Political Action Committee urges all Armenians to vote for the Following Candidates: CHUCK POOCHIGIAN for Attorney General JACKIE KANCHELIAN-SPEIER for Lt. Governor PAUL KREKORIAN for State Assembly (43rd District) JOHN CHIANG for State Controller LELAND YEE for State Senate (8th District) ANTHONY PORTANTINO for State Assembly (44th District) MARTY SIMONOFF for State Assembly (72nd District) LEE BACA for Los Angeles County Sheriff MIKE CARONA for Orange County Sheriff To find your nearest polling station, visit 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.

California Courier Online, June 8, 2006
1 – Commentary
Interview on UPN (KCOP-TV)
On the Armenian Genocide
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
2 – Henry & Anahis Derian Donate $100,000
For Expansion of AMAA’s Camp Arev
3 – Element Band Garners ‘Best Newcomer
Album’ at Armenian Music Awards
4 – Prelacy Religious and Executive
Councils Elect Executives
5 – Board of Regents of Prelacy Schools
Publish Genocide Instruction Book
6 – Haig Kelegian Buys Crystal
Park Casino for $17.5 Million
7- Governor Names
Achadkjian to
Coastal Commission
8- Catholicos Aram I
Invited to Keynote
Conference in US
9 – UAF’s 138th Airlift Delivers
$12 Million of Aid to Armenia
****************************************** *******************************
1 -Commentary
Interview on UPN (KCOP-TV)
On the Armenian Genocide

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

FOX-TV (KTTV, Channel 11) and UPN (KCOP-TV, Channel 13) in Los Angeles, in
their evening news hours on April 23, interviewed this writer on the eve of the
91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. During both interviews, live
footage was aired via satellite of the procession of hundreds of thousands of
Armenians at the Genocide Memorial Monument in Yerevan.
The transcript of the 6-minute long in-studio interview with FOX-TV was
published in an earlier column. Here is the transcript of the more than 5-minute
long in-studio interview with KCOP-TV:

Anchor 1: Joining us now in studio to help us put some perspective on the
anniversary is Harut Sassounian of the United Armenian Fund.
Anchor 2: Let’s start off by just getting all of our viewers up to speed on
exactly what happened with the Armenian Genocide. Can you quickly tell us what
happened, where, and when this all occurred?
Sassounian: Armenians lived in their historic homeland for thousands of
years. They were later on occupied by what turned out to be the Ottoman Empire. On
the eve of World War I, while the world was busy with its own fate, the
Turkish government decided to eliminate the Armenians, as a result of which 1.5
million Armenians were deported and killed from what was historic Armenia.
Anchor 1: We have already mentioned that Turkey does not call it genocide.
How do they define these events at this time, and what would it mean politically
if they do?
Sassounian: They — the whole world, including the Turkish leaders —
recognize the facts, but they just don’t want to admit it. For political and
psychological reasons, they [the Turks] think that it would be like a scar on their
history, if they recognize it. But I think they would be better off if they
recognize it because they’re trying to join the European Union, and they would be
classified in the rank of civilized European countries. Just like Germany
recognized the Holocaust, Turkey should recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Anchor 2: We had some live pictures earlier from Yerevan. Can you tell us
what’s going on there right now, because it is the next day — its actual day.
Sassounian: It’s already April 24th. Its the 91st anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide in Yerevan, Armenia – they are 12 hours ahead of us — and hundreds
of thousands of people, despite the rain, are proceeding in a solemn
procession to the Eternal Flame, the Monument of the Armenian Genocide, putting flowers
there and paying their respects. And this year especially, they’re paying
tribute to U.S. Ambassador John Evans, who’s being recalled because he said a
word that hes not supposed to say, according to the State Department — the
Armenian Genocide. So they’re recalling him. So there’s a yellow ribbon campaign –
I’m wearing one myself — as a tribute to his good sense of recognizing the
truth and the facts of history.
Anchor 1: That’s right, you mentioned that the U.S. Ambassador John Evans did
in fact call it a genocide. He has received some flack obviously from the
State Department. President Bush calls it a tragedy, does NOT call it a genocide.
What would it mean if he actually called it, recognized it, as a genocide,
and what peacemaking or peacekeeping effects would it actually have between
Turkey and the U.S.?
Sassounian: Of course, President Bush, when he was a candidate, he did call
it a genocide. But when he won and became President, he started calling it
tragedy and massacre. He even said 1.5 million Armenians were killed. So he used
all the words to describe what happened factually, except the word [genocide].
It would not have a major legal effect — just like President Reagan issued a
Presidential Proclamation in 1981 saying genocide — but it has more a moral
and psychological effect in acknowledging the fact, that it’s something that
the victims and their descendants would feel much better if people did not lie
about what took place. As they say, truth is the last victim of genocide.
Anchor 2: Now, in Turkey, how are they recognizing what’s going on tomorrow?
Sassounian: Well, there’s a leftover, a small Armenian community in Turkey,
and they’re under all sorts of repressive situations – circumstances — so they
do not dare to talk about it. They do not commemorate it, they do not have
any special ceremonies, except maybe they go to church and say their prayers.
But more and more, recently, Turkish scholars themselves are coming out and
writing books and articles, saying it is genocide. So there’s a slight movement
under pressure from the European Union.
Anchor 2: Now tomorrow, there are many things going on around town [L.A.],
right?
Sassounian: Right. At 10 a.m., there’s a huge march in Hollywood, Little
Armenia. Between 50,000 and 80,000 Armenians will gather. I’m the keynote speaker
there. And in the afternoon there’s a protest in front of the Turkish
Consulate, on Wilshire.
Anchor 2: Thank you so much, best wishes for tomorrow.
**************************************** **********************************
2 – Henry & Anahis Derian Donate $100,000
For Expansion of AMAA’s Camp Arev
HOLLYWOOD, CA – One of the highlights of the 29th Annual Camp AREV Banquet on
May 20 was the announcement of a $100,000 gift to the Camp by Henry and
Anahis Derian.
Held at the Paul Avazian Hall of UACC, the banquet saw founders of the camp
mingling with campers, parents, and friends during the social hour as a video
of campers played on the screen.
Co-Chairs, Debbie Levonian and Arsine Phillips welcomed all on behalf of the
finance/banquet committee who coordinated the evening.
M.C., Jon Khoshafian, a former camper and counselor, kept the program moving
along as he introduced Maggie Kchoyan, Camp AREV Executive Director, who
shared her vision for Camp AREV. Anthony Dorian, Lara Tovmassian, and Ara Darakjian
conveyed their impressions and experiences of camp life.
Zaven Hanessian, immediate past Chair of the Camp AREV Committee, was
congratulated by Chair Hagop Ketenjian, for his years of dedicated service to the
camp. John Jamgotchian presented him with a plaque commemorating his efforts.
The Dust to Glory band and singers lifted everyone’s spirits with their
musical selections, which included some audience participation.
Guest speaker, Aren Balabanian shared his experiences at AREV as a camper and
counselor, and how they shaped his life. He said, “Camp AREV fulfills its
original mission of the Armenian Evangelicals to realize the importance of
Scripture and the purity of the Gospels. The Camp ministry reaches all Armenians
-and helps create life-long friendships.”
Hagop Ketenjian gave a PowerPoint presentation of camp ministry, finances,
and plans for the new chapel/dining hall which will cost approximately $350,000.
The new facility, a focal point for the camp, has been designed by architect
Nubar Aroyan. He projects the completion to be in the spring of 2007 and will
not interfere with ongoing camp activity.
Rev. Joe Matossian, Minister of the Armenian Evangelical Union of North
America, read the biography of Henry and Anahis (Jambazian) Derian and invited Mrs.
Derian to the podium where she presented a check for $100,000.00 on behalf of
her husband Henry and herself, for the much- needed chapel/dining hall for
150 people for Camp AREV at the Edward J. Manishagian Armenian Evangelical
Conference Center in Frazier Park.
Co-chairs Levonian and Phillips presented Mrs. Derian with a bouquet of
flowers and a lighted birthday cake, as the audience sang “Happy Birthday.
The banquet came to a close with the benediction by Razmig Minassian.
Those wishing more information about Camp AREV philanthropy, summer/winter
camp dates, etc., may call 818-507-8297 or log on
************************************************** ************************
3 – Element Band Garners ‘Best Newcomer
Album’ at Armenian Music Awards
LOS ANGELES–Element Band, one of the hottest emerging Armenian bands
received the 2006 Armenian Music Awards “Best Newcomer Album of The Year” on May 25,
for their CD “Yev O Phe” that debut in March 2006.
Since its release, “Yev O Phe” has lured an incredible mix of listeners to
give the band a fan base that spans not only three generations, but has also
transcended the diverse musical preferences prevalent in Armenian culture.
The arrangements are bold with sounds of the Flamenco, Tango, Rembetika
wafting in and out of performances of traditional Armenian songs that are never
forsaken to foreign sounds. Refusing to compromise Armenian melodies, Element
nevertheless complements them with the use of the accordion, bouzouki, mandolin,
classical guitar, violin, and the purity of the band’s vocalists to serve-up
a compelling combination of fiery Mediterranean and hauntingly raw Armenian.
The band members were also featured last week in KPFK 90.7-FM’s “Global
Village” program, as well as their award-winning music.
And just as the Armenian alphabet incorporated two additional letters o and
phe during the Middle Ages to better reproduce the sounds of European tongues –
all the while remaining utterly Armenian – so it is with Element’s Armenian
compositions that incorporate the sounds of Europe and the Mediterranean, while
remaining untethered, simply free… to be uniquely Armenian.
Element Band can be heard in concert on Friday, June 16 at 8PM at the Ford
Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. For tickets
or information, call (818) 343-4757 or (818) 342-6624.
Also visit for additional information about Element.
***************************************** **********************************
4 – Prelacy Religious and Executive
Councils Elect Executives
ENCINO, Calif. – The newly elected Religious and Executive Councils of the
Western Prelacy, elected at the 34th National Representatives Assembly (May
19-20), held their first meeting on May 30, at the temporary Prelacy office in
Encino.
During the meetings, held under the auspices of Prelate Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, the new councils elected their executives.
The Religious Council consists of the following executives and advisors:
Chairman, Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian; Vice Chair, Very Rev. Fr. Barthev
Gulumian; Secretary, Rev. Vazken Atmajian; and Advisors, Rev. Gomidas Torossian, Rev.
Razmig Khatchadourian, Rev. Vahan Gosdanian, and Rev. Ardag Demirjian.
The Executive Council consists of the following executive members: Chairman,
Dr. Garo Agopian; Vice Chair Dr. Hagop Der Megerdichian, Secretary, Boghos
Sassounian; Treasurer, Vahan Bezdikian; and advisors, Garbis Bezdjian, Garo
Avakian, Meher Der Ohanessian, Dr. Navasart Kazazian, Nerses Melkonian, Vahe
Hovaguimian, and Varoujan Der Simonian.
********’******************************* **********************************
5 – Board of Regents of Prelacy Schools
Publish Genocide Instruction Book
LOS ANGELES – The Board of Regents of the Prelacy Armenian Schools announced
the publication of an age-proper instructional handbook for teaching the
Armenian Genocide to Armenian students K-12.
The book is the first of its kind to employ psychological and pedagogical
approaches to offer age-proper instructional methodology-hands-on materials and
lesson plans-to teach the Armenian Genocide, the most complicated, doleful, and
inexplicable period of our history.
Teaching about this harrowing experience begins at an early age in our
schools, and this handbook will assist teachers of each grade level to approach this
difficult subject with approved methods and proper tools. In fact, the
handbook suggests teaching about fundamental ideas such as fairness, similarities
and differences, freedom, rights and responsibilities, justice, loss and how to
cope with it, survival, etc., in lower grades to prepare the students to grasp
the complicated concept of Genocide in the upper grades.
The 315-page handbook is the result of diligent research and hard work of the
committee of educators, appointed by the Board of Regents and led by Dr.
Rubina Peroomian. It is being published after completing a period of a two-year
classroom testing and ensuing necessary changes and revisions.
The Board of Regents of the Prelacy Armenian Schools thanked the Armenian
Educational Foundation for the donation of $2500 toward the publication of the
handbook. The handbook was published in April, 2006 in limited numbers and
distributed to all Armenian schools in California.
Those educational institutions who would like to obtain a copy of this
handbook are requested to contact the Board of Regents office at (818) 500 0822, or
e-mail: [email protected].
************************** *****************************************
6 – Haig Kelegian Buys Crystal
Park Casino for $17.5 Million
LOS ANGELES – As the owner of several California card clubs, Haig Kelegian
has made some large wagers – but none possibly as high as buying the Crystal
Park Casino Hotel in Compton, Calif.
Kelegian, who owns the 151-table Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, is buying
the property for close to $17.5 million. The card club, now known as Crystal
Casino, contains a 226-room hotel that sits on 20 acres at 123 E. Artesia Blvd.
The seller, Pinnacle Entertainment Inc., decided to sell the property shortly
after California voters roundly rejecdted a 2004 referendum that would have
allowed card clubs to operate slot machines.
Card clubs and racetrack owners complain they can no longer compete with
casinos operated by Native American tribes that have been allowed to have slot
machines.
“We took it out to everyone – commercial and industrial buyers,” said Colin
Walker, a CB Richard Ellis Inc. associate who represented Pinnacle in the
transaction. “We didn’t expect another casino operator to be the buyer.”
Except Kelegian sees promise.
The operator, who also runs Oceans’ 11 Casino in Oceanside, plans to invest
money renovating the casino and hotel to make the casino a regional
destination. Walker said CBRE valued the replacement cost of the land and structures at
close to $50 million.
“He bought the property based on the gaming,,” Walker said. “It’s the only
part that really makes money, though that could change under the new ownership.”
Kelegian could also stand to benefit from a large mixed-use development that
would surround the Compton casino and be called the Gateway Towne Center.
Costa Mesa-based prism Realty has purchased 40 acres in the area and is planning a
large retail and housing project that could draw more visitors to the area.
Meanwhile, Kelegian may have redevelopment plans of his own for the property.
With the hotel and casino occupying only 20 percent of the 20-acre site,
there’s an opportunity to propose a project on the site’s vacant land, currently
parking lots. “If they want to take advantage of it, there’s a strong real
estate play there,” Walker said.
******************************************** *******************************
7 – Governor Names
Achadkjian to
Coastal Commission
SACRAMENTO – Khatchik Achadjian, 54, of San Luis Obispo, has been appointed
to the California Coastal Commission. He is the chair of the San Luis Obispo
County Board of Supervisors and has served as a San Luis Obispo County
Supervisorsince 1998.
Achadjian is a cofounder and director of Santa Lucia Bank and the owner of
three service stations in the City of Arroyo Grande. As a member of the Board of
Supervisors, he has served as a member of the San Luis Obispo County Air
Pollution Control District, Council of Governments and Regional Transit Authority.
This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is
$100 per diem.
Achadjian is a Republican.
************************************** ****************************************
**
8 – Catholicos Aram I
Invited to Keynote
Conference in US
ANTELIAS, Lebanon – Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia was
invited as a keynote speaker at a conference entitled “Faith and Health” that will
take place at the University of Notre Dame from December 3-5, 2006. It is
sponsored by the departments of Psychology and
Theology of Notre Dame as well as the Indiana University School of Medicine.
The conference represents a conversation between disciplines that have
developed individual perspectives on faith and health but have only recently begun
to integrate them. Hence, the main thrust of the conference will be to bring
scholars from theology, medicine, and psychology together in a way that will
allow them to not only present information from their respective disciplines but
also to integrate that information in order to set a new agenda for the field
of faith and health.
Because of the broad base of knowledge that will be presented at the
conference, the information will be of value to people from a wide variety of
professions.
************************************ **************************************
9 – UAF’s 138th Airlift Delivers
$12 Million of Aid to Armenia
GLENDALE – The United Armenian Fund’s 138th airlift arrived in Yerevan on
June 3, delivering $12 million of humanitarian assistance.
The UAF itself collected $10.8 million of medicines and medical supplies for
this flight, most of which were donated by AmeriCares ($9.9 million); MAP
International ($481,000); Health Partners International of Canada ($298,000) and
Catholic Medical Mission Board ($150,000).
Other organizations which contributed goods for this airlift were: Pfizer
Inc. ($445,000); UMAF from France ($309,000); Armenian Eyecare Project
($74,000); Armenian International Ophthalmic Association ($50,000); Nork Marash Medical
Center ($44,000); International Academy of Telepathology ($38,000) and Howard
Karagheusian Commemorative Corporation ($36,000).
Also contributing to this airlift were: Foundation Semra ($28,000); Armenian
American Health Association of WA ($20,000); Armenian American Cultural
Association ($20,000).
Since its inception in 1989, the UAF has sent $441 million of humanitarian
assistance to Armenia on board 138 airlifts and 1,312 sea containers.
The UAF is the collective effort of the Armenian Assembly of America, the
Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian Missionary Association of
America, the Armenian Relief Society, the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America,
the 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.
**************************************** ***********************************
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT TELLS ROMANIAN COUNTERPART AZERI STANCE ON KARABAKH UNCHANGED
ANS TV, Baku
5 Jun 06
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, attending a Black Sea summit
in Bucharest, has told his Romanian counterpart Traian Basescu that
Azerbaijan’s position on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict has remained
unchanged, Azerbaijani state-run news agency Azartac reported on
5 June.
The agency quoted Aliyev as saying that “Azerbaijan’s position on the
issue has remained unchanged and we are in favour of the conflict
settlement only within the framework our country’s territorial
integrity”.
Private TV station ANS has quoted the head of foreign relations
department of the Azerbaijani presidential administration, Novruz
Mammadov, as saying on 4 June that meetings of the Azerbaijani and
Armenian presidents, also under way in Bucharest, were being held in
a tense atmosphere.
ANS reported that the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders were expected
to hold another meeting at 0800 gmt on 5 June.

BLACK SEA SUMMIT OPENS IN ROMANIAN CAPITAL
AP Worldstream
Jun 05, 2006
The presidents of Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia were among leaders
attending a Black Sea summit on Monday aimed at tackling drug- and
people-smuggling in the region and finding ways to clean up pollution
in the sea, as well as discussing alternative energy routes.
“Putting the Black Sea on the map is a challenge in itself,” said
Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu opening the summit.
“Good governance, sustainable development to define issues of common
interests and to evaluate national and regional capacities and to
prepare the future in a pro-active manner. … We want a new vision
to reflect new realities,” he said.
The main topics on the summit’s agenda would be environment protection,
regional cooperation, joint energy projects, combatting cross-border
crime and improving infrastructure.
Among those attending were Presidents Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine,
Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia, Robert Kocharian of Armenia, Vladimir
Voronin of Moldova and Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan, as well as officials
from Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece and Lithuania.
Top officials from NATO, the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe, the United Nations and the Council of Europe are also
attending the summit.
Kocharian and Aliev are expected to hold talks on the status of
Nagorno-Karabakh on the sidelines of the summit. Talks between the two
leaders in France in February ended in failure, despite international
mediators’ efforts to push the leaders to resolve Nagorno-Karabakh’s
status.
Nagorno-Karabakh is inside Azerbaijan but populated mostly by ethnic
Armenians, who have run it since an uneasy 1994 cease-fire ended six
years of full-scale war. Sporadic border clashes have grown more
frequent since the breakdown of talks. The lack of resolution has
hindered development throughout the strategic region.
Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia directly border
the Black Sea, which is one of the world’s most polluted seas.
Its only outlet to outside seas is via the Bosphorus Straits.
Russia declined to send a high-level official to the summit but
requested observer status. It is being represented by its ambassador
to Bucharest, said Romanian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Corina Vintan.