NOT TO LIMIT THE RESPECT WITHIN THIS ONE DAY
Panorama.am
14:01 24/04/06
Despite the rainy weather the Tsitsernakaberd monumntal complex was
even more crowded this year in comparison with the previous years. From
the early morning people have been paying their tribute of respect to
the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Turkey
from 1915-1923.
At about 11 the Governmental delegation headed by President Robert
Kocharyan as well as the delegation of the religious representatives
headed by Patriarch of All Armenian visited Tsitsernakaberd.
What is the symbol of April 24, what evaluation should be given
to the fact, what should be the attitude of the world towards the
Great Genocide and what does Armenia do for that? These are the
questions that are still on the agenda. “There were countries which
recognized the fact of the criminal action and those where monuments
were erected. The achievements are obvious and year by year more and
more countries realize that this was a criminal action against the
whole humanity,” RA NA vice Speaker Tigran Torosyan says.
The dean of YSU faculty of sociology Lyudmila Haroutyunyan is deeply
sure that justice will triumph and the world will recognize the fact
of the Great Armenian Genocide.
The Ukrainian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Armenia
Alexander Bozhkoy thinks: “Today we have to remember and learn a lesson
from the dark days of the history as after the Armenian Genocide there
came Hitler camps, artificial hunger (“gladomor”) in the Ukraine, and
Stalin massacres in the end. Thus, we must remember about all that.”
Talking about the symbol of April 24 Armenia’s chief Procurator
Aghvan Hovsepyan emphasizes: “Today all of us respect the memory of
the innocent victims of the Great Armenian Genocide and we must do
our best not to limit it within this one day.”

THE WORLD MUST RECOGNIZE
Panorama.am
14:15 24/04/06
“We have to think about our steps and deeds. It’s Turkey’s problem
where it will be at that time,” NA vice Speaker Tigran Torosyan said
today touching upon the statement that Armenia and Turkey have to
become members of the EU at the same time.
What refers to recognition of the fact of Armenian Genocide by Turkey
T. Torosyan said: “It’s not our problem, it’s Turkey to think over
that. It’s a matter of Turkey’s and Turkish people’s dignity. They
may not recognize that fact. Nothing is going to change in the world.
The important thing is that the humanity has to realize that it was
a real criminal action, and the attitude towards that is not only a
respect towards the Armenian people but also respect towards humanity
and universal values.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGIA TRIES TO KEEP LID ON RUSSIAN WATER ROW
Lloyds List
Apr 25, 2006
Tensions fizz between countries over exports ranging from citrus
fruit to mineral water, writes James Brewer.
AS IF fears over Gazprom’s grip on gas prices were not enough, a
bubbling dispute over bottles of mineral water that everyone these
days loves to tote, or to sip at table, could turn relations toxic
between Russia and its neighbour Georgia.
Russia seems to be sending its messages in rejected bottles of wine,
brandy and potentially of water.
Tbilisi is already quavering over the head of steam built up by the
giant Russian energy company in raising its charges. Just a short
time after Gazprom almost doubled its price to $110 per 1,000 cu m,
there are fears in Georgia, as there are in several other countries,
that worse is to come.
It is possible that Russia’s next move will be to take the fizz
out of the huge import trade in Borjomi mineral water, produced by
a renowned spa in central Georgia, after centuries in which it has
been gulped in quantity byRussians of all walks of life. They enjoy
its taste and detoxicant powers.
Trade rows have been escalating since the beginning of 2006, and the
speaker of the Georgian parliament, Mrs Nino Burjanadze, has been
raising her country’s concerns in European capitals, most recently
in London, where she discussed them, alongside seeking support for
Georgia’s application to join NATO, with defence secretary John Reid,
foreign office minister Douglas Alexander, and many other politicians
during more than a dozen meetings.
Bottled water worries have bubbled to the surface following three
serious blows to the Georgian economy. In September 2005, Russia
introduced phytosanitary measures against imports of fruit and
vegetables.
In January 2006, at the height of winter, the gas and electricity
supply to Georgia was briefly cut off. Then on March 7, Russia banned
the import of wine from the mountainous Black Sea republic on the
grounds of ‘violation of health norms’ by wines containing pesticide.
Russia’s federal consumer protection inspectorate has impounded
more than 9,000 bottles of Nabeghlavi-brand mineral water in Moscow
district, to the outrage of producer Tsqali Margebeli.
Earlier the directorate announced that it had found a large quantity
of counterfeit and low-quality Borjomi mineral water. Georgia says the
ban on wine, and the fuss over mineral water Borjomi and Nabeghlavi
have licences from Russian laboratories is political, and a reprisal
for its pro-Western stance.
Mrs Burjanadze stressed that Georgia had offered dialogue with
the Russian Federation, but she said that Moscow had cancelled and
refused top level meetings. She said: ‘We appeal to the international
community to give adequate evaluation to Russia’s actions and ability
to behave as a reliable trade and energy partner in good faith, and
to honour its participation and commitments in the various agreements
and international organisations through predictable and transparent
trade policy.’
She added that lack of progress during bilateral and multilateral
talks created serious difficulties for Georgia’s support for Russia
joining the World Trade Organisation.
Action over gas ‘shows that Russia is trying to use its gas and oil
resources as the major mechanism for political pressure,’ warned
Mrs Burjanadze.
Such fears were underlined both by the dramatic shutdown of supplies
to Ukraine at the turn of the year, and more recently when Gazprom
executive Alexander Medvedev declined to rule out a further rise in
prices for Armenia and Georgia (pricing is similar for both countries)
towards European levels.
Representatives of European Union member states who were given a verbal
reminder of the power of Gazprom by its leader Alexei Miller recently,
will have had an ear to its attitude toward Georgia and other former
Soviet republics, given that the huge company controls almost all
the gas needs of central and eastern Europe.
Mrs Burjanadze has been at the centre of political life for the last
few years; she came to international attention when she was acting
president of Georgia after the downfall of Eduard Sheverdnadze,
welcoming what was known as the Rose Revolution. She is a law
graduate who studied in Tbilisi and Moscow, where her thesis was on
international maritime law, organisations such as Inmarsat, and the
export of oil. She told Lloyd’s List that part of her mission in
London was to inform the UK government about the way Georgia was
strengthening reforms and democracy, and striving for a peaceful
solution to the conflicts in the separatist influenced regions of
South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
The future of these regions is highly sensitive, and both Russia and
Georgia are keen to maximise leverage.
Paradoxically, Georgia is pleased with the progress made by Russia in
withdrawing from its military bases, but Mrs Burjanadze is concerned
the instability that could be caused by trade difficulties might
deter Western investors, at a time when a 12% uniform tax and more
liberal licensing has brought in growing foreign money.
BP has been the leading investor for the past few years, and is
expected to be so again in 2006, to the tune of $195m.
Mamuka Khazaradze, chief executive and owner of Georgian Mineral
Water ‘ Glass Co, told Lloyd’s List by telephone that he welcomed
the presence of Russian inspectors at his warehouses, but was anxious
about a potential ban.
His company is planning to export a total of 250m bottles of water
in 2006, of which it was planned to send 40% or 50% to Russia.
He pointed out that his company was one of the biggest taxpayers
in Russia.
In an attempt to strengthen energy supply security, meanwhile,
president Mikheil Saakashvili and his government are pressing for
the opening of new gas pipelines to transport Azerbaijaniangas from
Shah Deniz field via Georgia to Turkey, which will run parallel to
the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline.
This is likely to prove just as political as the Russian decision a
short time ago to suspend entry visas for Georgian nationals.
Earlier this year, Russian president Vladimir Putin had something to
say about the crisis. It was this: ‘I feel very sorry, very sorry,
for the Georgians. This beautiful people to whom we feel close are
currently in a difficult situation,’ he told journalists.
‘Georgia is experiencing great economic difficulties and if some
people deem it possible to solve these kinds of problems by diverting
people’s attention into looking for external enemies, I think they
are on the wrong track.’

PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARIAN’S MESSAGE ON THE GENOCIDE VICTIMS REMEMBRANCE DAY
Armenpress
Apr 24 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 24, ARMENPRESS: On the occasion of the 91-st
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide President of Armenia Robert
Kocharian addressed a message today to his country fellows, which
reads as follows.
“Dear country fellows, today we are honoring the memory of the victims
of the Armenian Genocide. The government of the Ottoman Turkey and its
successor bear the entire responsibility for this crime. The Armenian
nation has been suffering the heavy consequences of it throughout
their post-Genocide history.
Our pain is stronger because we have to fight for international
acknowledgment and condemnation of this black chapter of the
history. As the mouthpiece of all Armenians of Armenia and Diaspora
the Republic of Armenia will continue this struggle. We are grateful
to those nations, organizations and individuals who support us in
it. The understanding that the recognition and condemnation of the
Armenian Genocide is the problem of all nations of the globe and the
most effective way to prevent its repetition in future is becoming
deeper and stronger with every year.
The struggle of Armenians for the recognition of the Genocide is
not driven by their desire to take revenge. We look forward because
a strong, prosperous and advancing Republic of Armenia is the best
response to the policy of denialism.

RETURN OF MESKHETIAN TURK FAMILIES TO GEORGIA BEGINS
Kavkas-Press, Tbilisi
24 Apr 06
Tbilisi, 24 April: The repatriation of people deported from southern
Georgia has practically started. Six Meskhetian Turk families will be
resettled from Azerbaijan in Georgia’s Gori District within a month
under the Georgian president’s order.
When Georgia joined the Council of Europe it assumed obligations to
repatriate Meskhetian Turks, deported from Georgia in 1944 by Stalin’s
regime, and to do this by 2011.
[Passage omitted: Georgia’s ethnic Armenians are said to be opposing
the return of Meskhetian Turks]

BUSH SAYS WORLD MUST NEVER FORGET
ArmRadio.am
25.04.2006 11:33
In his annual April 24th commemoration statement, President Bush
described the “mass killings” and “exile” of 1.5 million Armenians
noting that this was a “tragedy for all humanity and one that we and
the world must never forget.”
The statement was delivered following strongly worded letters from
more than 200 House and Senate leaders last week, asking the President
to properly acknowledge the genocide in his annual statement.
“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,” President Bush said.
Bush’s statement, as in years past, encourages dialogue between Turks
and Armenians and states that “The analysis by the International Center
for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), while not the final word, has made a
significant contribution toward deepening our understanding of these
Events.” The ICTJ report, issued in 2003, reached the conclusion that:
“The Events, viewed collectively, can thus be said to include all of
the elements of the crime of genocide as defined in the Convention,
and legal scholars as well as historians, politicians, journalists
and other people would be justified in continuing to so describe
them.” The President’s reference to ICTJ serves as an implicit
acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide.
In his statement, the President also says that the US applauds
Armenia’s democratic reforms and seeks to help bolster Armenia’s
security and deepen its inclusion in the Euro-Atlantic community. The
President also encouraged a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, adding “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.”

GIOVANNI GUAITA: THE GENOCIDE IS A CRIME AGAINST WHOLE HUMANITY
ArmRadio.am
25.04.2006 11:10
“If I were Armenian, I would first of all insist on the return of
Ararat Mountain as a factual compensation to Armenia,” famous Italian
writer and historian Giovanni Guaita declared in Moscow, during the
meeting dedicated to the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
in Osman Turkey.
“The genocide is a crime against whole humanity. Today this crime
continues against all, including me, since it has not been recognized
so far. However, as a historian, I am confident that the issue can
be resolved,” the Italian writer noted.

TURKEY CONCERNED WITH THE OPENING OF ARMENIAN MONUMENTS IN FRANCE
ArmRadio.am
25.04.2006 12:24
Turkey will submit a complaint to UNESCO against France for raising
monuments dedicated to the Armenian Genocide. The reason was the
opening of memorials dedicated to the Armenian Genocide in Paris
and Lyon.
The releases of Turkish mass media say that “both monuments have been
raised in territories included in the list of international cultural
heritage of the UNESCO International Heritage Committee.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS COMMEMORATION SOIREE HELD IN SWEDEN
PanARMENIAN.Net
25.04.2006 00:30 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On the initiative of the coordination center of the
Armenian unions of Sweden a soiree in commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide victims was held in the town of Upsala, Sweden on April
22. Hundreds of Armenians and representatives of other nationalities
took part in the event. The soiree attendees revered the memory of
the Armenian Genocide victims with the minute of silence. Professor
Carlson of the Lund University presented the Armenian Genocide issue
in the light of international political event and touched upon the
stages of its international recognition.

ARMENIANS OF GEORGIA MARK GENOCIDE 91ST ANNIVERSARY
PanARMENIAN.Net
25.04.2006 00:40 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A number of events dedicated to memory of 1.5
Armenians slaughtered in Ottoman Turkey in 1915 were held in Tbilisi
on April 24. On the initiative of “Nor Serund” with the assistance
of the Armenian Center of Cooperation of Georgia a protest action
was held at the Turkish Embassy in Tbilisi. A memorial service was
held in the Cathedral of St. Gevorg Church. A soiree was held in the
Armenian dramatic theater after Petros Adamyan. Later a march towards
Nor Echmiadzin Church is expected. The event will end in lighting
of candles.