ARMENIAN RALLY IN TEHRAN
IRNA, Iran
April 25, 2006 Tuesday 10:17 AM EST
Tehran, April 24, IRNA On the occasion of 91st anniversary of killing
of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks in 1915, many of Tehrani Armenians
rally in the city streets in protest to the killing.

MEDIA BARRED FROM COVERING THE RETURN OF SOLDIERS REMAINS
Lloyd Robertson
CTV Television, Inc., Canada
SHOW: CTV NEWS 23:00:00 ET
April 24, 2006 Monday
LLOYD ROBERTSON: Good evening. Governments here and elsewhere are
always concerned about negative impressions and seldom more so than
when it comes to casualties in military conflict. That’s probably why
the Harper government decided on a new policy today. For the first
time, the media will be barred tomorrow from seeing the flag-draped
coffins of Canadian soldiers being brought back from Afghanistan.
This comes amid growing debate over Ottawa’s insistence that no flags
on federal buildings will be lowered to mark loss of life, except
on Remembrance Day. It’s a plan many in the military agree with,
but as CTV’s chief political correspondent Craig Oliver reports from
Parliament Hill, it stirred argument on this first day back after
a break.
CRAIG OLIVER (Reporter): Lloyd, there was a moment of silent tribute
in the commons today, but it was for the Armenian genocide, not as
in past, for fallen Canadian soldiers. Hardly a word about them. And
on the Peace Tower, the nation’s flag was flying at full mast on
the order of the Conservative government. But that’s not good enough
for the father of Corporal Matthew Dinning, one of the four soldiers
killed on the weekend.
LINCOLN DINNING (Slain Soldier’s Father): Please support your troops.
Those of who you have Canadian flags, lower them, please, as a sign
of respect to the soldiers that were killed.
OLIVER: Throughout the years of the Martin government, the flags were
flown at half-mast whenever soldiers were killed in the line of duty.
Dinning has written his member of parliament requesting that this
practice be restored.
PAUL STECKLE (Liberal-Ontario): They made it very clear what they
felt Mr. Harper should do.
OLIVER: The Defence Minister sought to justify his decision.
GORDON O’CONNOR (Minister of Defence): It has been the tradition
for 80 years to treat every casualty of war or operations, no matter
when it happened or where it happened, equally, and we will do that
by lowering the flags on November the 11th, Remembrance Day.
OLIVER: What tradition? In October 2004, a naval officer was killed
in the crisis aboard the HMCS Chicoutimi. In that case, all MPS,
presumably including O’Connor, unanimously supported a motion from
this Conservative MP.
JAMES MOORE (Conservative): That this house demand the Prime Minister
instruct all federal government buildings to immediately lower all
Canadian flags to half-mast.
OLIVER: Moreover, Canadians will no longer be permitted to see scenes
like this. The Prime Minister’s office is barring coverage of the
ceremonies when Canadians killed in action are brought home for the
last time. This is standard practice in the US.
JACK LAYTON (NDP Leader): They’re modelling their approach a little
bit on the way that George Bush and the American administration has
approached it. I don’t think that’s the right way to go.
OLIVER: The countries in the conflicts in which Canada and American
armies are engaged are in no way similar. Canada’s is not an army of
occupation, and Canada has invaded no one. Still, the Prime Minister’s
office obviously fears that as casualties mount, Canadians will begin
to see Afghanistan as Stephen Harper’s Iraq. Lloyd.
ROBERTSON: Craig, is that an overreaction, as you see it? Is that
fear justified?
OLIVER: It’s an old syndrome. If support drops, blame the media,
but Lloyd, I think that even people who support this mainly, in many
ways, a humanitarian mission are going to now debate whether this
is the way to do it. Perhaps it’s better to say here are the dead,
and these people cannot be seen to have died in vain, which they
would have done, if Canadians leave the field.
ROBERTSON: Does any of what happened today have to do with the families
themselves asking for privacy?
OLIVER: I don’t think so. I think this is the Prime Minister’s office,
the Defence Department, to some extent, concerned that the reality
of this, the grim reality of war, may turn Canadians off on the
mission. In fact, we’ve never heard any members of the public who
are related to any of these people complain to us. On the contrary,
this network and others have been told a number of times that they
appreciate the sensitivity in which we’ve handled these cases. And
in any case, Lloyd, we will be covering the funerals of these dead
Canadians.
ROBERTSON: The family funerals, right. Thanks very much, Craig.
OLIVER: Goodnight, Lloyd.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO USA IS NOT PLANNED
Regnum, Russia
April 25 2006
“Armenian President Robert Kocharyan is not planned to visit
Washington. The assumption made on the ground of answer of Armenian
Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan, I think, is a result
of either wrong translation or partial distortion of his words,”
spokesman for the foreign ministry Gamlet Gasparyan says.
“In an interview to Turkish Zaman newspaper Arman Kirakosyam was
talking not about visit of our president after the visit by Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev, but, pointing out our good friendly relations
with the USA, about a possibility of such visit on the whole,” Gamlet
Gasparyan is quoted as saying by press office of the Armenian foreign
ministry, reports a REGNUM correspondent.
It is worth mentioning that in an interview on April 24 to Turkish
Zaman newspaper, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan
informed that the Armenian president would probably visit Washington in
the next few days. According to the Armenian deputy foreign minister,
the president would probably be the guest of the US administration
within the next few days, “after Aliyev’s visit.”

STUDENTS REMEMBER ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Kaelyn Forde Eckenrode
Media Credit: Steevens Alconcel | Daily Trojan
Daily Trojan Online, CA
University of Southern California
April 25 2006
Monday events also focused on the Holocaust and other genocides
throughout history.
Remembrance. USC students (left to right) Nazanin Yaghoobian, Sam
Yebri, Julia Levy Boeken and Raisa Shvartsman light candles Monday
night during the 24-hour vigil in honor of the victims of the Armenian
Genocide.
Believing that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it,
the Armenian Students’ Association joined forces with USC Hillel and
the Jewish Law Students’ Association for the first time to promote
awareness, recognition and understanding of the Armenian genocide,
the Holocaust and other genocides in two ceremonies and a candlelight
vigil held at Tommy Trojan Monday and today.
The Armenian genocide claimed the lives of 1.5 million Armenians from
its beginning on April 24, 1915, to its end in 1923.
The Turkish government does not recognize these deaths as genocide.
It says that disease and famine complicated the conflict between
Christian and Muslim forces and that the Armenians’ violent political
aims rather than their race, ethnicity or religion led to their
relocation, according to the Turkish embassy’s Web site.
?”The ASA decided to collaborate with USC Hillel and the Jewish Law
Students’ Association this year to show solidarity against genocide,”
said Mercedes Aline Arslanian, a sophomore majoring in business
administration and a member of the ASA.
“Because we share a common, tragic cause, we decided to pool our
resources and broaden our scope to educate people about all crimes
against humanity – whether in Armenia, during the Holocaust or in
Darfur,” ?she said.
Sam Yebri, a third-year law student, co-organized the event on behalf
of USC Hillel and the JLSA.
“The goal of the vigil is to raise awareness about current genocides
by commemorating the tragedies of the Holocaust and the Armenian
genocide together,” Yebri said.
“By doing so, not only do we honor and pay tribute to the millions
of innocent victims who perished, but we begin to take a role as
responsible global citizens,” Yebri said. “History has taught us that
absolute evil reappears when apathy runs rampant.”
The two remembrance days fell next to each other this year, Arslanian
said. Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day is April 24, and Holocaust
Remembrance Day, which is set by the Jewish lunar calendar, fell on
April 25.
The ASA began the commemoration with its own ceremony at noon.
Two guest speakers, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, primate of the
Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and Steven J.
Dadaian, chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America,
Western Region, addressed students.
“We should always have the undying hope, the perseverance and the
courage to give our message about fighting genocide to our youth,”
Derderian said. “We are freedom fighters who seek justice, and it
would be a failure for us to not pass on our history to our youth.
This day shows our continuity in educating students and preventing
genocides across the world.”?
The ASA also circulated petitions calling for the federal recognition
of the Armenian genocide by the U.S. government. The U.S. government
still does not recognize the mass murders of Armenians as an official
“genocide,” although more than 30 American states do. ?
“We want students to understand that recognition of the Armenian
genocide is important in recognizing future genocides,” said Nerses
Ohanyan, a senior majoring in aerospace engineering and mathematics,
and the vice president of the ASA. “Recognition of past genocides is
essential to stopping governments across the world from committing
genocide against their own people in the future.”?
Ohanyan said he believes that U.S. business and political interests
in Turkey have prevented full recognition of the genocide by the U.S.
government.
?”President (Bush) uses the word ‘massacres’ instead of genocide,”
Ohanyan said. “If he recognized the Armenian genocide, he knows Turkey
would have to be penalized. The U.S. has political and economic
interests in Turkey, and so this issue has been put on hold for 91
years. In a country dedicated to freedom, justice and human rights,
we can’t let that go.” ?
ASA members said it was important for them to share their history
with other members of the USC community. ?
“Out of my family, only my great-uncle and my grandfather made
it out of Armenia alive,” said Serje Martus, a senior majoring
in biochemistry, political science and music. “It is my duty to my
family to make people understand and recognize the genocide. I will
never stop until I accomplish that.”
Other students agreed and said that it helped unite the more than
200 Armenians on campus.
“This event brings people together,” said Shushan Barsegyan, a
sophomore majoring in business administration. “By recognizing other
cultures that are here, we also form a stronger USC community.”
Alpha Epsilon Omega, the Armenian fraternity on campus, collected
donations for its Never-Again campaign at the event. Last year,
it raised $10,000 for genocide education organizations.
“This is our second year raising funds to educate people about and
get recognition for the Armenian genocide,” said Michael Kiaman,
a junior majoring in political science and the Never-Again chairman
for the fraternity. “This year, we hope to double that amount through
donations by people here today, and our members.”
The Armenian genocide and Holocaust Candlelight Vigil began at 6 p.m.
on Monday and will end at 6 p.m. today. Organizers read the names
of victims of both genocides, and members of the ASA, JLSA and USC
Hillel held vigil for the full 24 hours.
“Reading all 6 million names is very important for me,” said Ron
Rothstain, a doctoral candidate majoring in education and member of
USC Hillel.?”My grandparents – as well as the grandparents of many of
the people here – were victims of the Holocaust, and it is important
for us to remember and respect them 60 years later.”
The Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony, which begins at noon today,
features guest speakers professor Richard Dekmejian, adjunct professor
Sharon Gillerman, USC Hillel Rabbi Jonathan Klein, ASA member Gary
Prudian and President Emily Eyerman of Students Taking Action Now:
Darfur.
ASA, JLSA and USC Hillel organizers hoped to involve all members of
the community in recognizing and taking action against genocide today,
Yebri said.
“When people look at our generation and say, ‘What did you do about
the genocide in Darfur?’ I want to be able to look back at them and
say ‘I did what I could,'” ?he said.
Arslanian agreed.
“Before beginning the Holocaust, Hitler assured his advisers that
they would get away with it, saying: ‘After all, who remembers the
annihilation of the Armenians today?’ We want people to know that we
remember, and that we are committed to ending genocide everywhere.”

RUSSIAN GENERAL PRAISES PERFORMANCE OF CIS UNIFIED AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM’S ON-DUTY FORCES DURING EXERCISE
Interfax News Agency
Central Asia General Newswire
April 25, 2006 Tuesday 7:36 PM MSK
On-duty forces of the CIS Unified Air Defense System have accomplished
all missions of the command post exercise (CPX) held on Tuesday,
Lieutenant General Aitech Bizhev, Russian Air Force deputy
commander-in-chief, told Interfax-Military News Agency.
“Over 10 issues related to strengthening of CIS aerial borders were
worked on during the exercise held in the entire area of responsibility
of the Unified Air Defense System,” Bizhev said.
“Army general Vladimir Mikhailov, Air Force commander-in-chief, who
was in charge of the exercise, expressed satisfaction with actions of
national armies of CIS member states that took part in the exercise
and rated them as excellent,” he noted.
Bizhev recalled that the exercise involved air defense and air force
units of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan and Ukraine.
He stressed that the exercise focused on rehearsing actions of
electronic warfare, surface-to-air missile, and aviation units of the
Unified Air Defense System while accomplishing combat duty missions.
S-300, S-125, S-75 and Buk air defense missile systems and over 60
aircraft of all participating nations were involved.
“In particular, some missions were accomplished by the personnel of
Russian air bases in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan,” Bizhev said.
Mutual maneuvers of Su-24, Su-27 and MiG-31 planes of Russia,
Kazakhstan and Belarus were a success, he went on. Moreover, on-duty
air defense forces and assets were used to engaged a supersonic
stratospheric target in an interaction with the A-50 long-range
AWACS plane.
“Aircraft of NATO countries observed the exercise. They were especially
active in the north and northwest,” he said.

BUSH OBSERVES ARMENIAN REMEMBRANCE DAY, CALLS FOR DIALOGUE
Washington File, DC
April 25 2006
Also calls on Armenia, Azerbaijan to take bold steps on
Nagorno-Karabakh.
President Bush observed Armenian Remembrance Day April 24 by offering
his condolences to the Armenian people.
On Armenian Remembrance Day, the world observes the anniversary of the
“mass killings and forced exile of as many as 1.5 million Armenians”
in 1915, Bush said.
The president also praised Armenians and Turks “who have sought
to examine the historical events of this time with honesty and
sensitivity” and called for dialogues “that strive for a shared
understanding of these tragic events and move Armenia and Turkey
towards normalized relations.”
Bush also reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to securing a peaceful and
lasting settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and said he hoped
“the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan will take bold steps to achieve
this goal.” (See related article.)
Nagorno-Karabakh is a predominantly ethnic Armenian region within
Azerbaijan where armed conflict began in 1990 in the waning days
of the Soviet Union. The cease-fire agreement brokered by Russia in
1994 left much of western Azerbaijan occupied by Armenian forces and
hundreds of thousands in refugee camps.
For information on U.S. policy in the region, see Europe and Eurasia
and Caucasus.
Following is the text of Bush’s statement:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary (Las Vegas, Nevada)
April 24, 2006
Today, we remember one of the horrible tragedies of the 20th century —
the mass killings and forced exile of as many as 1.5 million Armenians
in the final days of the Ottoman Empire in 1915. This was a tragedy
for all humanity and one that we and the world must never forget.
We mourn this terrible chapter of history and recognize that it remains
a source of pain for people in Armenia and for all those who believe in
freedom, tolerance, and the dignity and value of every human life. It
is a credit to the human spirit and generations of Armenians who live
in Armenia, America, and around the globe that they have overcome
this suffering and proudly preserved their centuries-old culture,
traditions, and religion.
We praise the individuals in Armenia and Turkey who have sought
to examine the historical events of this time with honesty and
sensitivity. The analysis by the International Center for Transitional
Justice, while not the final word, has made a significant contribution
toward deepening our understanding of these events. We encourage
dialogues, including through joint commissions, that strive for a
shared understanding of these tragic events and move Armenia and
Turkey towards normalized relations.
Today, we look with hope to a bright future for Armenia. Armenia’s
Millennium Challenge Compact reflects our confidence and the
importance we place in Armenia making progress on democratic reform
and advancement of free markets. We seek to help Armenia bolster its
security and deepen its inclusion in the Euro-Atlantic family. We
remain committed to securing a peaceful and lasting settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and hope the leaders of Armenia and
Azerbaijan will take bold steps to achieve this goal.
On this solemn day of remembrance, Laura and I express our deepest
condolences to the Armenian people. Our nations stand together,
determined to create a future of peace, prosperity, and freedom for
the citizens of our countries and the world.
GEORGE W. BUSH
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs,
U.S. Department of State. Web site: ).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MARKED IN ARGENTINA
Arka News Agency, Armenia
April 25 2006
Yerevan, April 25. /ARKA/. Arrangements on the occasion of the 91st
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide have been held in Argentina. On
April 22, Archbishop of Buenos Aires Jorje Maria Bergolio offered an
ecumenical payer and a service in memory of the victims of the Armenian
Genocide. The service was attended by hundreds of Argentineans,
representatives of the Armenian community and of the RA Embassy
in Argentina.
In his speech, Cardinal Bergolio called on Turkey to admit the Armenian
Genocide as a grave crime committed against Armenians and the entire
humanity by the Ottoman Empire.
On April 23, liturgies were held at the Armenian churches in
Argentina. The same day, the former vice-speaker of the British
House of Lords, Baroness Caroline Cox made a speech at the hall of
the largest-scale annual book exhibition in Buenos Aires.
She pointed out that the Armenian Genocide has not been recognized
by a number of countries, including Great Britain, for political
reasons. However, she expressed optimism about the international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Baroness Cox also expressed hope
that Turkey will finally come to realize the importance of relieving
the Turkish people’s conscience of this burden.

SEPARATIST GARABAGH ARMY READY TO REPEL AZERI ATTACK, COMMANDER SAYS
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 25 2006
Baku, April 24, AssA-Irada
The joint military exercises of the separatist Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
and Armenian armed forces that ended last Wednesday were intended to
prepare a retaliatory blow to the Azerbaijani army in the event of a
possible attack, the commander of the so-called Garabagh armed forces,
Seyran Ohanian, told a news conference on Monday.
He said the exercises were also intended to test the Garabagh army’s
combat readiness and the capacity to engage in military action.
“The drills helped establish the possibility of putting the troops
on a high status of alert, perform troop management and coordinate
activities during attack and defense. The exercises also examined
the availability of resources for mobilization.”
Ohanian maintained that the Garabagh army was capable of repelling
a possible Azerbaijani attack along a 250-km frontline. He indicated
that the Armenians had built technical facilities along the contact
line and mined territories. This will make it very difficult for
Azerbaijan to launch an attack, he claimed.

ARMENIANS MARK 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF OTTOMAN EMPIRE MASSACRES
Voice of America News
April 25, 2006
Armenia has marked the 91st anniversary of massacres inflicted on
Armenians in Turkey under the Ottoman Empire – events Armenians refer
to as genocide.
Hundreds of thousands of people marched through Yerevan Monday climbing
to a hilltop memorial to lay wreaths in remembrance of the 1.5 million
people Armenia says were slaughtered in Turkey between 1915 and 1923.
Armenian-Americans are holding a 91-hour prayer vigil and demonstration
outside the Turkish embassy in Washington.
President Bush issued a statement calling it one of the 20th century’s
most horrible tragedies which he world must never forget.
Turkey strongly disputes the charge of genocide. It says 300,000
Armenians and thousands of Turks died as a result of a Russian-backed
Armenian uprising against Ottoman rule.
Ankara has come under increasing international pressure to acknowledge
its actions during those years as it seeks membership in the European
Union.
Several European countries, including France and Switzerland, recognize
the event as genocide.

THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: AN EVENT, AND A MOVEMENT
New California Media, CA
April 25 2006
New America Media, Q&A, Peter Micek, Apr 24, 2006
Editor’s Note: Armenians across the world march on April 24, 2006,
in remembrance of the Armenian Genocide, the systematic slaughter of
1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1917 in Turkey. Hayg Oshagan,
an Armenian born in Lebanon who came to the United States in 1975,
is the director of the Graduate Program of the Dept. of Communication
at Wayne State University in Detroit. Oshagan is behind the effort to
have the genocide taught in U.S. curriculum. He talked to NAM staff
writer Pete Micek.
NAM: Why is the Armenian Genocide remembered at this time of year?
Hayg Oshagan: Traditionally, the 24th of April is the day and the
month we commemorate this genocide in history. It’s the day in
1915 when Turkey rounded up the intellectual leadership of Armenia
and took them to their death. The roundup of politicians, priests,
writers and community leaders left the community leaderless afterward
for the genocide to unfold. It’s one day among many, but we pick that
day to do it.
Q: Is there more momentum for the cause now or in the last couple
of years?
A: Last year was the 90th anniversary, so we did a special effort
last year. We commemorate this every year. Since the 50th year,
it’s been one of the key days on the Armenian calendar.
[Without the genocide] there would be no Armenians in the United States
practically speaking, and none outside Armenia. The genocide creates
the diaspora, so the diaspora remembers and confirms its existence,
its present and affirms its future as well. We are not going anywhere
and we are not going to forget what happened to us.
Q: Has the movement or struggle been going on for a while?
A: Just after the genocide, the community had no energy. The struggle
really took off in earnest at the 50th commemoration. Since then every
Armenian community commemorates the genocide not purely as a moment
of sorrow and sadness at lost relatives, but also a political moment,
as a demand for justice.
I know there will be demonstrations in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, the
United States, France, Greece, Lebanon, Russia, Germany, Iceland —
demonstrators will be everywhere Armenians are. This is the moment
it’s recognized, and commemorated.
In Armenia, a hundred thousand or so will march to a symbolic gravesite
to commemorate Armenians’ deaths.
Q: You are involved in many Armenian organizations in the United
States?
A: Yes. One issue we are dealing with is having newspapers use the
term genocide. It’s a subtle issue we have. The style books say to
call it a massacre. This is one of the ways the Turkish government
has been changing the terms of debates. A couple of years ago, the New
York Times chose to use the term genocide and later the Boston Globe.
The difference between massacre and genocide is huge. Both involve a
lot of people killed, but genocide is a state killing, state-mandated,
state-structured and carried out. It is very different. Turks are
willing to use the word massacre, but not genocide.
Q: The recent documentary on PBS (“The Armenian Genocide,” directed
by Andrew Goldberg) mentioned the origins of the term genocide.
A: It was created after World War II and has been applied to many of
these [events]. The United Nations has a definition. There have been a
few genocides — Armenia, the Jews, the Rwandans — and unfortunately
it’s probably not a list that will be closed, but added to. It points
a finger at the state. It clearly finds the state to be responsible
for it. It essentially deals with an entire population.
There are hardly any Armenians left in Turkey, whereas all Armenians
were in Turkey before. How does [that] happen?
Q: Was your family caught in the genocide?
A: Both sides were, my mother’s and father’s. Both escaped, my
mother’s side through money, my father’s by running. My grandfather
was one of the people who would have been picked up on April 24,
1915. He was on the list. They told him the night before, “Don’t
sleep in your apartment tonight.” He was one of the leading novelists
of the Armenians of the generation. He didn’t stay. For the next two
years, he would run. He eventually made his way out of Istanbul into
Bulgaria. He married and my father was born.
Q: Do history books mention the genocide?
A: In a number of states, we’ve made an effort to have the board
of education adopt a genocide curriculum to have teachers deal
with it for one day, or one week. We refer to this as the Genocide
Curriculum. San Francisco has it. [Armenians there] talked to the
school district, so they have materials available. Believe me, it’s
not an easy thing to do. States can mandate it, but it means nothing
at a local level. The Turkish state has brought a lawsuit against
our curriculum in Massachusetts. So we have to deal with that as well.
But by and large it’s not taught in schools. Overall, there is no
treatment in history books, at the high school level.
e.html?article_id=0ee7425b2268672db8bb061f9feafccc