PanARMENIAN.Net
Rafael Hambartsumyan: `Turkey and Russia Equally Guilty of Armenian Genocide’
21.04.2006 23:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Genocide was organized equally by
Russia and Turkey, historian Rafael Hambartsumyan stated in
Yerevan. In his words, when speaking of the Armenian Genocide several
important and concealed facts should be emphasized. `30 years before
the Genocide Russia put the slogan `Armenia without Armenians’ into
the mouth of prince Golitsyn,’ the Armenian historian said.
According to Hambartsumyan Russia always used Armenians for its own
ends. During the World War II Russia indirectly abetted Turkey in
perpetrating the Genocide by sending over 200 thousand soldiers to the
Russian-German front.
`As result of Moscow Treaty of 1921 Eastern Armenia was almost
completely occupied and divided between Turkey, Azerbaijan and
Georgia. The main purpose of the Treaty was the elimination of the
Armenian Republic,’ he said
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net
German Writer Received RA President’s Award for Contribution to the
Armenian Genocide Recognition

22.04.2006 00:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 15 Armenian President Robert Kocharian signed
a decree on awarding the persons, who contributed to the Armenian
Genocide recognition process, reported RA leader’s press
service. German writer Edgar Hilsenrath received the award for the
book titled `The Tale of the Last Thought’ and Verjine Svazlyan was
awarded for the book titled `The Armenian Genocide and Historical
Memory of People’.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net
Armenian-Georgian-Ajarian Business Forum to Be Held in Ajaria in May
22.04.2006 00:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An Armenian-Georgian-Ajarian business forum will be
held in Ajaria late May. The forum will be followed by an
Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental sitting. According to chairman of
the Armenian-Georgian and Armenian-Ajarian associations Vladimir
Badalyan, the Armenian-Georgian association has been successfully
functioning for two years already.
`One of the tasks of the Armenian-Georgian association is the
organization of summer vacations in foreign states for the middle
section of the Armenian population. 12 thousand Armenian citizens took
a vacation to Ajaria in 2005. This figure can double if the transport
problem is solved,’ Badalyan said.
Badalyan noted that presently the journey from Armenia to Batumi takes
16 hours, meanwhile the construction of a road through Javakhk will
shorten the way with 6 hours. `It will contribute to the development
of Javakhk and attract investments to the Ajarian economy,’ he said.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Baku Says Information on Azerbaijan’s Intention to Resume Hostilities
Groundless
22.04.2006 00:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `The militaristic statements to return the seized
land by force have become very frequent recently. Is it a coincidence?
For all appearance it’s not. In the opinion of representatives of
international structures and specifically the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-chairs, the year of 2006 can become the most suitable for a
peaceful settlement. There is an expression `Lie repeated many times
becomes the truth at last’. Perhaps hurhaber.com Turkish website tried
to make the expression true,’ Zerkalo Baku-based newspaper writes.
According to acting head of the Azerbaijani press office Ilgar
Verdiyev, this information does not correspond to reality and peaceful
talks are going on. As for Azerbaijani MFA’s position, head of the
department of information policy Tahir Taghizade remarked he does not
think it’s necessary to comment on the nonsense spread by the Turkish
website. `Azerbaijan abides by the peaceful settlement,’ Taghizade
said.
For his part, independent political scientist Eldar Namazov remarked
that the information is either an obvious stupidity or serious
provocation. According to the political scientist a paradox situation
occurs, presently hostilities can be profitable for Armenia, but it’s
Azerbaijan, who makes military statements. He also noted that the
U.S. is not interested in the resumption of hostilities, since in this
case the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline will be receded into the
background.
In the words of political scientist Rasim Musabekov, the website is
not at all known and the information furnished by it doesn’t need any
comments.
To remind, Media-forum Azeri online newspaper with a reference to
hurhaber.com that allegedly received the information from a diplomatic
source, said that within 1 or 2 day Azerbaijan will start war for
Karabakh.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Stepan Stepanyan: Armenia Should Urge Turkey to Return Territories
22.04.2006 00:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia should raise the issue of returning of
historical Armenian territories by Turkey, head of the department of
history of the Armenian issue and Armenian Genocide of the Institute
of History at the National Academy of Sciences Stepan Stepanyan
considers. In his words, to date 18 states have recognized the
Armenian Genocide and this offers the reason to urge Turkey to return
the territories. Stepanyan considers that the Armenian diplomats and
Diaspora should play a significant role in the issue.
`We should not wait until all the states of the world recognize the
Armenian Genocide. The diplomatic work should be targeted at the
returning of historical Armenian territories. Turkey will never
acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. Its barbarian attitude to the issue
has not changed so far. On the contrary, when Armenia speaks of the
opening of the Armenian-Turkish border or Karabakh conflict settlement
Turkey tries to oblige Armenia to abandon the campaign on the Armenian
Genocide recognition,’ he said, reported Novosti-Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net
Monument to Armenian Genocide Victims in Lyon Guarded Around Clock
22.04.2006 00:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The monument to the Armenian Genocide victims that
was desecrated in Lyons assumed its former appearance. The vandalism
aroused the indignation not only of the Armenian but also of the
French official circles and the authorities decreed to protect the
monument. Guard groups and four policemen watch the monument around
the clock. Besides, the city authorities placed video cameras thanks
to which the situation around the monument is always kept under
control.
As it was reported earlier, French Minister of interior Nicholas
Sarkozy condemned the desecration of the monument and said the
criminals should be found and punished.
Official unveiling of the ceremony will take place April 24. The
French President is expected to attend the event, reported Hurriyet
Turkish newspaper.

AZG Armenian Daily #074, 22/04/2006
Armenian Genocide
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER DECLARES APRIL 23-27 A WEEK OF REMEMBRANCE OF
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS
Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared April 23-27
a week of remembrance of Armenian genocide victims, Lisa Galustian,
governor’s Los Angeles office deputy head, told RFE/RL. Underscoring
that California has the second largest Armenian population after
Armenia he stated that the descendants of Genocide survivors play an
important role in such spheres as state economy, culture, education
and governance. Mr. Schwarzenegger made an appeal to recognize the
Genocide. “The path to a more hopeful future lies through recognizing
the past. With this hope I stand beside our friends from the Armenian
community and urge the freedom loving Americans and other nations of
the world to recognize the Armenian Genocide.”
The Genocide remembrance week has aroused the indignation of Turkish
and Azerbaijani communities of America, and they are going to hold
protests during the week.
By Karine Danielian

AZG Armenian Daily #074, 22/04/2006

Karabakh issue
SERGE SARGSIAN BELIEVES AZERBAIJAN WANTS TO GRAB THE MOST IT CAN
“I have the impression that Azerbaijan wants to grab the most can,
making new suggestions that are not acceptable for us. If each of us
tries to grab as much as we can, we will hardly ever come to
agreement,” RA defense minister Serge Sargsian said at the end of the
military exercises in Nagorno Karabakh.
As for the participation of the Nagorno Karabakh republic in the
negotiations, Mr. Sargsian said that he doesn’t think big changes will
take place in near future. “Certainly, it is very desirable that NKR
participates in the negotiations as well but our wishes do not always
come true, ” he said. As for Azeri President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to
USA, Mr. Sargsian said it is quite normal, besides it is important
for any country to meet with U.S. President. “I am sure that
U.S. president called for Aliyev to settle the conflict through
peaceful negotiations,” he underscored.
By Gohar Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily #074, 22/04/2006

Karabakh diary
IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO CATCH DEFENSE ARMY BY SURPRISE
NKR Defense Minister Assures
Military drills organized by the Army of Defense of Nagorno Karabakh
on April 12-20 proved a higher level compared to that of previous
years. The exercises of all military unites – from infantry troops to
military aviation – were supervised by NKR President Arkady Ghukasian,
Armenian and Artsakhi defense ministers, head of Armenian armed forces
headquarters Mikael Harutyunian and senior military officials. Serge
Sargsian assessed the drills as normal adding that the experts
imminent report will highlight the progress in the army. Mikael
Harutyunian stated, on his part, that these large-scale drills, that
are staged for already 5-6 years, secure higher level of performance
emphasizing army’s preparation.
Distinguished unites, commanders and servicemen were presented with
gifts and diplomas.
At the meeting with journalists before the final stage of drills, NKR
defense minister Seyran Ohanian said the Army of Defense not only
readily overcame all tasks but also proved to be able to defend the
motherland without the help of a third power. “There is still no need
of the third power – a peacekeeping contingent. The Army of Defense is
the best power for peace.” The minister stated that the most important
thing is to feel confident in the face of Azerbaijan’s threats. And
they do feel confident. “It’s impossible to catch the Army of Defense
by surprise.”
As to the borderline incidents, the minister assured that the
situation is calm. “Exchange of fire and sniper shots are a usual
thing on the borders, and even privates take them quietly.” Seyran
Ohanian added that the process of mutual concessions is not properly
introduced to the public and it indeed needs to be introduced. Asked
whether he believes in a settlement this year, the minister said:
“We’ll do everything to reach the finish but the settlement depends on
the process of negotiations.”
By Gohar Gevorgian in Stepanakert

AZG Armenian Daily #074, 22/04/2006

Music
JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH IN ARMENIA
“Jazz Appreciation Month” will launch in Armenia on April 26. This
will be the fifth international jazz festival held in Yerevan. The
U.S. Embassy to Armenia informed that within the framework of the
festival they will hold not only concerts but also film sessions on
the history of jazz, a dancing performance staged on jazz music,
“Colors of Jazz” the exhibition of young artists. It is expected that
both Armenian and American musicians will hold concerts at the
festival.
By Nana Petrosian