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
e-mail: [email protected]
Armenia Fund USA Aids “Children’s Home” Orphanage
Press Release 04.21.06
NEW YORK, New York – Armenia Fund USA (Fund), East Coast Affiliate
of Hayastan Himnadram All-Armenian Fund, is pleased to announce
the successful implementation of a much needed heating system
restoration project in “Children’s Home” orphanage, Yerevan,
Armenia. Having started in November of last year, the project was
brought to its successful completion in January of 2006 through
the generous contribution of Mr. Agop Giritliyan. With project
implementation support from Armenia Fund USA’s Armenian affiliate,
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, the heating system’s restoration was
completed in January of 2006.
Constructed in 1937 and currently located in the district of Nork,
“Children’s Home” orphanage in Yerevan has been intended for
children aged 6 years and under. Today, it gives shelter to about 80
children, with an average of 150 children annually passing through
its portals. Once children reach the age of 6, they are relocated to
other orphanages (mankadoons) throughout Yerevan, Gavar, and other
towns. When necessary, the mankadoon in Gyumri, which specializes
in the care of children with various neurological illnesses and
disabilities, is accessed for those children with special needs.
Yerevan winters can be brutally cold with the winds of the surrounding
Ararat and Aragats mountains piercing Soviet-era stone structures
which house most of the city’s institutionalized children. But with
their hands tied by the socio-economic realities of a recovering
Armenia, many orphanages struggle daily with critical needs such as
overcrowding, poor plumbing/sanitation, and lack of heat.
That is why Liana Karapetian, director of the “Children’s Home”,
was so grateful when Armenia Fund USA – through the generosity of
Agop Giritliyan- was able to come alongside the “Children’s Home” in
order to address the serious need of a reliable heating system. The
outdated system from Soviet times had not been working since 1989,
and repairing it would have cost more than developing a new system
for the orphanage. Challenged to sufficiently heat the home for the
children – aged 0-6 years, Director Liana Karapetian had previously
been forced to rely on electricity- which then presented severe
budgetary challenges. But now, through Agop Giritliyan’s gift and
Armenia Fund USA’s efforts, a brand-new system utilizes natural gas-
a more economical and reliable resource for heat.
On behalf of the staff, management and children, “Children’s Home”
director Liana Karapetian expressed her gratitude to Armenia Fund
USA and the Giritliyan family, as well as to Hayastan Himnadram, for
the sincere compassion and concern for the children’s well-being in
cold winter.
Also, on the occasion of the successful completion of the project,
Naira Melkoumian, executive director/Hayastan Himnadram, visited the
orphanage. She announced Himnadram’s interest in undertaking another
project at the orphanage – this time directed toward repairing the
roof of the building.
Armenia Fund USA’s has distinguished itself by implementing
projects ranging from grassroots development projects to specific
problem-solving initiatives. With the support of its donors and
constituents, the Fund will continue in its mission of improving
Armenian lives by building foundations that will sustain the economic
growth and stability of the country and its people.
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.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
MEDIA ALERT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2006
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
Email: [email protected]
RE: Boston Globe: “Armenians get allies in genocide teachings,” Boston
Herald: “Expert says slaughter fits bill, despite Turks’ denial”
The Armenian Assembly would like to call your attention to two articles
below: the first published by the Boston Globe entitled, “Armenians get
allies in genocide teachings, Group stands up against denial” and the
second published in the Boston Herald entitled, “Expert says slaughter
fits bill, despite Turks’ denial.” The articles include comments by
Armenian Assembly Board of Trustees Member Anthony Barsamian and
Armenian Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
The articles can also be accessed at the following links:
Boston Globe:
tion=doc&p_docid=1111E3
678F8D3F38&p_docnu m=1
Boston Herald:
/view.bg?articleid=135744
Boston Globe
Armenians get allies in genocide teachings
Group stands up ‘against denial’
By Yvonne Abraham, Globe Staff
April 20, 2006
Leading politicians and groups from a range of communities are joining
with Armenians in their battle to ensure that the Armenians’
early-20th-century history be taught as genocide.
The Armenians are fighting a federal lawsuit that seeks to include
opposing views of the genocide in teaching materials for Massachusetts
high schools.
A new group, called kNOw Genocide, includes the Jewish Community
Relations Council, the Irish Immigration Center, the Massachusetts
Council of Churches, Rwanda Outlook, and the Cambodian Mutual Assistance
Association, among others. Standing with them will be Attorney General
Thomas F. Reilly, Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey — both gubernatorial
candidates — and several state legislators.
A rally tomorrow at the State House is expected to draw representatives
from the diverse coalition, in a testament to the political clout that
the Armenian community has in Massachusetts.
“This allows our community, together with other communities, to stand
together against denial,” said Anthony Barsamian, a member of the
Armenian Assembly of America board, based in Washington. “And those who
try to deny genocide will be beaten back.”
The coalition is being launched at a time of considerable debate over
events in Ottoman Turkey early last century. Several PBS stations were
criticized this week for airing a documentary called “The Armenian
Genocide” and declining to air an accompanying panel discussion that
included scholars who have denied that a genocide took place.
Those who believe that both views should be heard accused PBS stations,
including Boston’s WGBH, of bowing to pressure from Armenians and their
supporters.
Armenians and many historians have long maintained that the events of
1915 in Ottoman Turkey — in which more than 1 million Armenians were
killed and many more were driven from their homes — constituted
genocide.
In Massachusetts, home to about 30,000 Armenians, legislators
established a day of remembrance for victims.
But the Turkish government, and some historians, say what happened
should not be described as genocide because the deaths were part of a
civil war that resulted in the murder of innocent people on both sides.
In the lawsuit, now pending at US District Court in Boston, a teacher
and a student from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, and the
Assembly of Turkish American Associations, have demanded that the state
Department of Education include dissenting views on the Armenian
genocide in a curriculum guide on the topic.
A draft of that guide originally included the dissenting views, but did
not mandate that they be taught in Massachusetts schools. The plaintiffs
say the removal violates freedom of speech.
The attorney general, who is defending the state, argues that because
the curriculum guide is a government document, it is not bound by free
speech. Armenians and supporters say presenting opposing views of the
1915 events is like denying the Holocaust.
The struggle has drawn support from other groups who say they speak from
their own painful histories of oppression.
“As members of the Jewish community, we identify with the Armenian
community in terms of the Armenian genocide, and it’s important to fight
denial,” said Nancy Kaufman, executive director of the Jewish Community
Relations Council of Greater Boston. “We thought this was a battle that
had been won long ago.”
Harvey Silverglate, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs in the
Department of Education suit, said his clients are not denying that a
genocide took place. “We are not admitting it, we’re not denying it,
we’re taking no position,” he said. “We simply want to open up the
avenues for honest debate and restore the censored articles to the
Massachusetts curriculum.”
Boston Herald
Expert says slaughter fits bill, despite Turks’ denial
By Kevin Rothstein
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
The Turkish government’s fierce PR campaign to cast doubt on the
Armenian genocide has spilled into the courts, Congress and even public
television – but not into Harvard genocide expert Helen Fein’s mind.
“It is a genocide by all criteria of genocide,” said Fein, director of
the Institute for the Study of Genocide. “It’s insulting and ridiculous
to argue with these deniers.”
The Republic of Turkey has paid millions of dollars to Washington-based
lobbying firm the Livingston Group, trying to battle a congressional
human rights bill that would recognize the deaths of 1.5 million
Armenians, at the hands of Turks, was genocide.
“Given the fact that Turkey continues its denial campaign, it becomes
that much more important for the U.S. and other countries to remember
and reaffirm what happened so we cannot repeat the mistakes of the
past,” said Bryan Ardouny, head of the Armenian Assembly of America.
The Turkish ambassador to the United States, Nabi Sensoy, yesterday
blasted a PBS documentary, “The Armenian Genocide,” that aired last
night on WGBH-Boston as a “blatantly one-sided perspective of a tragic
and unresolved period of world history.” Many Turkish authorities argue
that civil war, disease and famine, not genocide, contributed to the
deaths of Armenians as well as Turks between 1915 and 1918.
As the Ottoman Empire collapsed in the early 1900s, Turks embarked on a
campaign of death and destruction against Armenians. The campaigns are
substantiated, Fein said, by eyewitness accounts from Armenians,
European missionaries and desperate missives from the U.S. ambassador,
Henry Morgenthau. He cabled Washington on July 16, 1916, that only force
would dissuade the Turks.
Armenians observe the genocide each year on April 24.
NR#2006-039

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
APRIL 20, 2006
MONDAY APRIL 24 IS THE 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
DIVINE LITURGY AND REQUIEM SERVICE ON SUNDAY
AT ST. ILLUMINATOR’S CATHEDRAL, NEW YORK CITY;
REQUIEM SERVICE ON MONDAY EVENING
His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan will preside at the Divine
Liturgy and Requiem Service at the Martyrs Altar at St. Illuminator
Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City, on Sunday, April 23, beginning
at 10:30 a.m. V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General, will
officiate, assisted by Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral.
Immediately after the Requiem Service, His Eminence together with the
clergy and faithful will proceed to Times Square to participate in the
commemoration that is expected to attract a large number of people.
His Eminence and clergy of the metropolitan area parishes will offer a
Solemn Requiem Service at the Cathedral’s Martyrs Altar on Monday, April 24,
at 7:30 pm, in memory of the one and one-half million martyrs.
2006 GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION AT CITY HALL
IN NEW YORK CITY WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW
Archbishop Oshagan will participate in the commemoration tomorrow,
Friday, April 21, organized by the City Council of New York together with
the Armenian National Committee of New York, and the Friends of ANC, 6 to 9
p.m. The commemoration is sponsored by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn
and City Council members Melinda Katz and Peter Vallone, Jr., and will take
place in the City Council Chamber on the second floor of City Hall. In
addition to speakers there will be a musical presentation, and an Armenian
Genocide photo exhibit from the archives of Project SAVE. Buses will depart
from the Armenian Center in Woodside, NY, St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston,
NY, and Baruir’s Grocery in Sunnyside, NY. For details contact the ANC of
New York, 718-651-1530.
GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION AT TIMES SQUARE
We have just been informed that New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine will join
the many other dignitaries who will attend the Times Square commemoration
organized by the Mid-Atlantic Knights and Daughters of Vartan, on Sunday,
April 23, beginning at 2 pm. The event is co-sponsored by ArmenPac, the
Armenian Assembly, the AGBU, with the participation of area churches and
organizations. The Times Square Gathering is supported by 155 members of the
U.S. Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues. National, state and local
dignitaries will participate as well as scholars and artists. Political
dignitaries scheduled to attend include Senator Charles E. Schumer;
Representative Frank Pallone, Jr.; Representative Scott Garret;
Representative Anthony D. Weiner; NJ Assemblywoman Joan M. Voss; New York
State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi. Buses will be departing from various areas
in New York and New Jersey. For information: 516-627-6687, 718-777-7765,
201-265-1275.
GENOCIDE OBSERVANCE ON CAPITOL HILL
Archbishop Oshagan will participate in the 11th annual ANCA Armenian
Genocide Observance on Capital Hill, which will take place Wednesday, April
26. Armenian Americans from around the Untied States will join with members
of Congress on Capitol Hill to mark the 91st anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.
DOCUMENTARY TO BE SHOWN IN TROY
The Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church and the Albany chapter of the
Armenian National Committee are sponsoring the showing of “The Armenian
Genocide,” the PBS documentary that was shown on most PBS stations this past
Monday.
The showing of the documentary, which will take place Sunday, April 23, 1
pm, at Holy Cross Church, 101 Spring Ave., Troy, New York, will be followed
by a discussion led by Rev. Fr. Bedros Shetilian, pastor of the church, and
Antranig Karageozian, chairman of the ANC Albany chapter.
MERRIMACK VALLEY COMMEMORATIVE PROGRAM
The Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of the Merrimack Valley,
Massachusetts, will present “The Denied Genocide,” on Sunday, April 23, 3 pm
at the North Andover High School auditorium. The main speaker is Stephen
Kurkjian, Boston Globe journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner. A cultural
presentation will be offered by the Armenian School students of St. Gregory
Church, North Andover. For information, 978-685-5038.
VICAR ATTENDS WCC-US MEETING
V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General, attended a meeting of
the United States Conference of the World Council of Churches, which took
place April 18 at the Interchurch Center in New York City.
Hayr Anoushavan was recently appointed Ecumenical Officer for the Eastern
and Western Prelacies by His Holiness Aram I. He will continue to serve as
the Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy.
VICAR WILL ATTEND PRAYER FOR PEACE IN D.C.
V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan will attend the 2006 International Prayer for
Peace on April 26 and 27 at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
The event is sponsored by the Community of San’Egidio, the Archdiocese of
Washington, Georgetown University, and The Catholic University of America.
This gathering will feature religious and civic leaders from around the
world and will mark the 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s historic
interfaith gathering for peace in Assisi. This is the first time that this
annual event, the largest regularly held interfaith gathering in the world,
will take place in the United States.
COMMUNION AND EASTER FESTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS
AT ST. GREGORY IN PHILLY
Last Saturday, April 15, St. Gregory the Illuminator Sunday School of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, held its annual Easter Communion, breakfast, and
egg hunt. An unprecedented number of students and children, ages three
through eighteen, attended the early morning service.
Prior to the service, the pastor of the church, Rev. Fr. Nerses
Manoogian, using a red dyed Easter egg as a prop, gave a brief history of
the Armenian tradition of the red colored egg and how it relates to the
Resurrection.
Assisting Der Hayr on the Altar for Holy Communion were Derek Dervishian
and Evan Mazmanian. Reading the confession on behalf of the penitents were
three of the older students, Abbie Bass, Rita Komrokian, and Jorin Schug.
Following Holy Communion, everyone convened in Terhanian Hall for a
delicious breakfast, donated, prepared and served by the Ladies’ Guild. The
morning event ended with the traditional Easter Egg Hunt outdoors with the
children running happily to see how many eggs they could collect.
(Reported by Jeanette Nazarian)
TIME MAGAZINE’S SELECTIONS
TIME magazine asked earlier honorees whom they would select as the
world’s most influential people. In the April 17 issue, Pulitzer Prize
winning author Samantha Power nominated Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk. She
wrote: “He has acknowledged his homeland’s genocide against the Armenians
and nearly got himself arrested before the Turks decided their commitment to
and pride in their greatest writer exceeded a commitment to killers who died
almost a century ago.”
PAN-ARMENIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE IN ANTELIAS
The Third Pan-Armenian Writers’ Conference ended on April 9 at the
Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon. The president of the Writers’
Union of Armenian, Levon Ananian, thanked His Holiness Aram I on behalf of
the participants. Mr. Ananian expressed his gratitude not only for the
organization of the conference, but for the love, support, care and
commitment that the Pontiff shows towards Armenian writers and culture. The
conference was the initiative of the Writers’ Union of Armenia in
cooperation with the Assembly of Lebanese-Armenian Writers. More than 300
Armenian writers from Armenia, Nagorno Karabagh, Lebanon, the Middle East,
Europe, Northern and Southern America, Canada and Australia gathered in
Antelias to participate in the conference.
In his concluding remarks, His Holiness proposed that in the future more
time be reserved for discussion sessions, which should include more
questions than statements. He suggested penetrating into the heart of the
presented topics and bringing problems clearly into the spotlight. His
Holiness said that we must bravely face difficult and sensitive issues
rather than ignoring them. As an example he mentioned the issue of
dictation, noting that as one of the strong factors of the Armenian nation’s
unity, the matter needs to be discussed. He also spoke about the
deterioration in the quality in all fields of Armenian literature and called
for establishing a new level of quality with collective efforts and
commitment.
YELLOW RIBBON CAMPAIGN TO PROTEST
RECALL OF AMBASSADOR JOHN EVANS
A press release we received today informs us of a “Yellow ribbon campaign
to protest the recall of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans for
publicly acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. The campaign is organized by a
recently formed ad-hoc group based in Armenia called, “Armenian Americans in
Armenia and Friends.”
On April 24, when hundreds of thousands of people will converge on the
Tsitzernakaberd Memorial in Yerevan, the Yellow Ribbon Campaign will
commence by participants tying yellow ribbons on 100-meter long ropes
stretched along the walking path leading to the Genocide Monument.
THIS SUNDAY IS “NEW SUNDAY”
Easter Sunday is followed by a period of fifty days (Hinoonk) during
which there are no fasting days or saints days. This period, from the
Resurrection to Pentecost (Hogegaloost) is dedicated to the glorification of
the Resurrection. Each of the seven Sundays of Hinoonk has a separate name.
This Sunday, the first Sunday after Easter, is called New Sunday (Nor
Kiraki), since the first day of the week through Christ’s resurrection
became consecrated and Sunday became a dominical day. By virtue of its being
the eighth day of Easter and a day similar to Easter, it is also called
Second Easter (Grgnazadig).
LET US ALSO REMEMBER THE PRESENT
Certainly we need not remind anyone that Monday is April 24-a solemn day
of remembrance for Armenians all over the world. The first six items in this
week’s Crossroads are directly related to April 24th and the various
commemorations that will take place in our area.
What does need reminding is that genocide, unfortunately, is not just
something of the past, but very much of the present, and we above others
have an obligation to be involved.
The Save Darfur Coalition will have a rally at the U.S. Capitol on April
30, beginning at 1:30 pm. The rally is part of their “Million Voices for
Darfur” campaign which has a goal of one million postcards addressed and
delivered to President Bush, urging him to take steps to stop the genocide
in Darfur. For more information go to:
Nicholas Kristof, a columnist for the New York Times who is of Armenian
ancestry, last week won a Pulitzer Prize for his many columns that have
brought international attention to the genocide in Darfur. He is a frequent
traveler to troubled areas and a voice for those who have no voice.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
April 21-2006 Genocide commemoration at City Hall, New York City, sponsored
by the New York City Council and the Armenian National Committee of New York
and Friends of ANC. For details, 718-651-1530.
April 23-Commemoration of the 91st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at
Times Square-the crossroads of the world. Organized by the Mid-Atlantic
Knights and Daughters of Vartan, co-sponsored by ArmenPac and with
participation of area Armenian organizations. Featuring Prof. Israel W.
Charny, Andrew Goldberg, Edward Korkoian, Asien Surmeian, Annie Totah, Aram
Hamparian, Curtis Sliwa, and more. More details to follow.
April 29-Presentation by comedian Vahe Berberian at St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York. For details 718-224-2275.
May 5-Reunion of all students beginning from the 1930s who attended St.
Illuminator Armenian School in New York. Dinner Dance at Terrace on the
Park, Corona, NY. For reservations or information contact the St.
Illuminator’s Day School, 718-478-4073.
May 7-Mothers’ Day celebration at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.
May 8-Mothers’ Day Luncheon by Prelacy Ladies Guild, St. Regis, New York
City.
May 12-Exhibition of the works of artist Emma Gregoryan at the Prelacy, 138
E. 39th Street, New York City.
May 13-Dinner-Dance organized by the St. Sarkis Church Ping-Pong Club. For
details 718-224-2275.
May 17-19-National Representative Assembly (NRA), hosted by Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. Concluding reception and banquet will take
place Friday, May 19, at the Fort Lee Hilton, Fort Lee, New Jersey.
Reception at 7 pm, followed by dinner. For information/reservations: Sts.
Vartanantz Church office, 201-943-2950.
May 16 and 17-Conference of Yeretzgeens in conjunction with the National
Representative Assembly, hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New
Jersey.
May 20-Year-end Hantes for Sunday School and Saturday School, St. Sarkis
Church, Douglaston, New York. For information, 718-224-2275.
June 4-16th Anniversary Celebration of the new St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York. For information, 718-224-2275.
July 22-Ladies Guild of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island,
and Ani Chapter of Armenian Relief Society co-host gala dance at Greek
Orthodox Annunciation Church. For information, 401-286-8107.
September 28-4th Annual Golf Outing hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey. Bergen Hills Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey.
For reservations and/or information: 201-943-2950.
Visit our website at

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
OVER 200 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS URGE PRESIDENT TO
PROPERLY CHARACTERIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
— Thirty U.S. Senators Join 178 Representatives
in Sending Strong Message to White House
WASHINGTON, DC – Two hundred and eight U.S. legislators today
called on President Bush to reaffirm the U.S. record on the
Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).
In separate letters, 178 Representatives and 30 Senators
specifically asked the President to properly characterize the
atrocities as “genocide,” in his annual April 24th remarks. In
February of 2000, during Michigan’s hotly contested Republican
primary, then Governor Bush promised to properly recognize the
Armenian Genocide if elected president. Since taking office in
2001, the President has retreated from this pledge, issuing a
succession of April 24th statements that use evasive and
euphemistic terminology to diminish the full historical, moral, and
contemporary legal implications of Ottoman Turkey’s genocide
against the Armenian nation.
The House letter, organized by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-
Chairmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), stressed
that, “the United States must never allow crimes against humanity
to pass without remembrance and condemnation. As U.S. efforts to
aid victims of genocide continue, it is imperative that we pay
tribute to the memory of others who have suffered and never forget
the past. By commemorating the Armenian Genocide, we renew our
commitment to prevent future atrocities and therefore negate the
dictum that history is condemned to repeat itself.”
The Senate letter, led by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Richard
Durbin (D-IL), noted that, “The memory of the Armenian Genocide
underscores our responsibility to speak forcefully about our
respect for fundamental human rights and opposition to mass
slaughters. It is in the best interests of our nation and the
entire global community to remember the past and learn from these
crimes against humanity to ensure that they are never repeated. We
respectfully request that you refer to the mass slaughter of
Armenians as genocide in your commemorative statement.”
“The Armenian Genocide is incontrovertible, of which the
U.S. Archives is replete with thousands of pages documenting this
horrific crime,” said Co-Chairmen Joe Knollenberg and Frank
Pallone. “The President has employed a textbook definition of
genocide to describe the events that occurred from 1915-1923, but a
full and irrevocable U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide is
necessary to prevent such crimes from happening in the future.”
“We are very gratified by the strong, bipartisan message from
Congress encouraging the President to properly recognize the
Armenian Genocide in his April 24th remarks,” said Aram Hamparian,
Executive Director of the ANCA. “We join with our Congressional
friends – most notably Senators John Ensign and Dick Durbin and
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg – in
calling for moral clarity in our nation’s response to genocide.”
Members of Congress joining Reps. Pallone and Knollenberg in co-
signing the letter included: Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Gary
Ackerman (D-NY), Tom Allen (D-ME), Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Joe Baca
(D-CA), Brian Baird (D-WA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Gresham Barrett
(R-SC), Charles Bass (R-NH), Melissa Bean (D-IL), Bob Beauprez (R-
CO), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Howard Berman
(D-CA), Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), Tim Bishop (D-NY), Earl
Blumenauer (D-OR), Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), Mary Bono (R-CA), Jeb
Bradley (R-NH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Dave Camp
(R-MI), Lois Capps (D-CA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Benjamin Cardin
(D-MD), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), William Clay (D-MO), Emanuel Cleaver
(D-MO), John Conyers (D-MI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jerry Costello (D-
IL), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Danny Davis (D-IL), Susan Davis (D-CA),
Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Diana DeGette (D-CO), William Delahunt (D-
MA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Charles Dent (R-PA), Lincoln Diaz-Balart
(R-FL), John Dingell (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), John Doolittle
(R-CA), Mike Doyle (D-PA), David Dreier (R-CA), Vernon Ehlers (R-
MI), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Lane Evans (D-IL),
Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Mike Ferguson (R-NJ), Bob Filner (D-CA), Mike
Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Mark Foley (R-FL), Vito Fossella (R-NY), Barney
Frank (D-MA), Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), Scott Garrett (R-NJ),
Jim Gibbons (R-NV), Charlie Gonzalez (D-TX), Al Green (D-TX), Gene
Green (D-TX), Mark Green (R-WI), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Luis
Gutierrez (D-IL), Stephanie Herseth (D-SD), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY),
Peter Hoekstra (R-MI), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Michael Honda (D-CA),
Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Steve Israel (D-NY), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Jesse
Jackson (D-IL), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Nancy Johnson (R-CT),
Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Sue Kelly (R-NY), Mark Kennedy (R-MN), Patrick
Kennedy (D-RI), Dale Kildee (D-MI), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Dennis
Kucinich (D-OH), John R. Randy, Jr. Kuhl (R-NY), James Langevin (D-
RI), John Larson (D-CT), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Sander Levin (D-MI),
John Lewis (D-GA), Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ),
Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Dan Lungren (R-CA), Stephen
Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Edward Markey (D-MA), Doris
Matsui (D-CA), Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), Betty McCollum (D-MN),
Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), Jim McDermott (D-WA), James McGovern (D-
MA), John McHugh (R-NY), Buck McKeon (R-CA), Cynthia McKinney (D-
GA), Cathy McMorris (R-WA), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Martin Meehan
(D-MA), Michael Michaud (D-ME), Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA),
Candice Miller (R-MI), Gwen Moore (D-WI), James Moran (D-VA), Jerry
Moran (R-KS), Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO), Grace Napolitano (D-CA),
Richard Neal (D-MA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Devin Nunes (R-
CA), John Olver (D-MA), C. L. Butch Otter (R-ID), William Pascrell
(D-NJ), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Collin Peterson
(D-MN), Richard Pombo (R-CA), Jon Porter (R-NV), George Radanovich
(R-CA), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Mike Rogers (R-MI), Mike Ross (D-
AR), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Edward
Royce (R-CA), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Paul Ryan (R-WI), John Salazar (D-
CO), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Bernard Sanders
I VT), H. James Saxton (R-NJ), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam
Schiff (D-CA), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), Joe Schwarz (R-MI), David
Scott (D-GA), E. Clay Shaw (R-FL), Christopher Shays (R-CT), Brad
Sherman (D-CA), John Shimkus (R-IL), Rob Simmons (R-CT),
Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Hilda Solis (D-CA), Mark Souder (R-IN),
Pete Stark (D-CA), Ted Strickland (D-OH), John Sweeney (R-NY),
Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), John Tierney (D-MA),
Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Mark Udall (D-CO), Christopher Van Hollen
(D-MD), Peter Visclosky (D-IN), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Diane Watson
(D-CA), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Curt Weldon (R-
PA), Dave Weldon (R-FL), Gerald Weller (R-IL), Joe Wilson (R-SC),
Frank Wolf (R-VA), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).
Senators cosigning the letter to President Bush along with Senators
Ensign and Durbin were: Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Wayne Allard (R-CO),
George Allen (R-VA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA) , Lincoln Chafee (R-RI),
Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Norm Coleman (R-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME),
Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Dianne Feinstein (D-
CA), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), John Kerry (D-MA),
Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Carl Levin (D-MI), Joseph Lieberman (D-
CT), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Barak Obama (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI),
Harry Reid (D-NV), Ken Salazar (D-CO), Rick Santorum (R-PA), Paul
Sarbanes (D-MD), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Debbie
Stabenow (D-MI), and John Sununu (R-NH).
#####

PRESS RELEASE
Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society
8721 Santa Monica Blvd., Box # 654
West Hollywood, CA 90069-4511
Contact: Greg Alexanian (President)
Tel: (323) 203-1587
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web:
April 18, 2006
City of West Hollywood Passes Armenian Genocide Resolution
It is with great pleasure that GALAS, The Gay And Lesbian Armenian Society
of Los Angeles, announces that on April 17, 2006, the City Council for the
City of West Hollywood unanimously passed a resolution commemorating the
Victims of the Armenian Genocide and condemning the human rights violations
committed by the Turkish government. The resolution not only cites Turkey’s
failure to recognize and take responsibility for that country’s atrocities
against Armenians, which occurred more than ninety years ago, but also
emphasizes that the current Turkish government’s unremitting denial is a
continuing violation of the civil rights of all Armenians everywhere.
Members of GALAS were present at the City Council meeting on Monday to
support the City’s humanistic act of justice. Greg Alexanian, the current
president of GALAS, spoke at the council meeting and commended the City
Council on their proactive measure to fight injustice and in their
progressive stance in always promoting equality, justice and diversity.
Moreover, the City of West Hollywood will lower its flags to half staff on
April 24, 2006, to honor the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians who
perished during the first Genocide of the Twentieth Century.
GALAS invites all to attend their Genocide Commemoration on April 22, 2006,
from 4PM -8PM at Plummer Park Community Center 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West
Hollywood, CA 90046. Admission to the commemoration is free. For more
information please visit our website at or contact us at
(323) 203-1587 or [email protected].
Schedule of Events For 4/22/06
4:00-5:00 Registration and Educational Exhibits
5:00-6:00 Video Presentation – “The Genocide In Me”
6:00-6:30 Performance Art
6:30-8:00 Panel Discussion and Q & A Session
###
GALAS is a registered 501(c)3 organization in the State of California. For
more information about our activities and upcoming events, please visit our
web site

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
April 18, 2006
___________________
ARMENIAN FAITHFUL FILL CATHEDRAL TO CELEBRATE CHRIST’S RESURRECTION
By Jake Goshert
Some came with sleeping babies in their arms. Others had toddlers
walking alongside. There were families with three generations
attending. All ages of Armenians came Sunday, April 16, 2006, to the
Easter Divine Liturgy at New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral.
About 1,500 people filled the cathedral, spilling out onto the
sunlit plaza. Among the worshipers were several dignitaries, such
as Ambassador Armen Martirossyan, Armenia’s ambassador to the United
Nations, and his young family.
“There was a tangible sense of spirit and celebration that filled
the entire cathedral,” said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate
of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), who
celebrated the badarak Easter Sunday. “And there were families and
people from all generations. There were seniors and young parents,
teenagers and newborns. Both the current community leaders and the
future were there to celebrate the victory of Christ’s resurrection.”
The Easter Sunday Divine Liturgy was sung by the St. Vartan Cathedral
Choirs, under the direction of Maestro Khoren Mekanejian with Florence
Avakian accompanying on the organ.
DAY OF CELEBRATION
Following the badarak and the administering of Holy Communion,
the Primate joined the faithful on the plaza for the traditional
“Antasdan” ceremony, or “Blessing of the Fields,” followed by the
release of doves.
The release of 12 doves each Easter represents Jesus sending his 12
disciples to spread the gospel to the world. Joining the Primate in
this ceremony was Diocesan Council Chairman Haig Dadourian, who served
as “godfather.” He was joined by his wife, Astrid, their children and
grandchildren, each helping launch a white dove into the air above
the mass of joyous faithful.
“Not only was Haig Dadourian eager to join this important celebration,
but he wanted the next generation of his family to share in the
experience,” the Primate said. “A true steward of the church, he
is actively working to instill a sense of faith in his children and
grandchildren.”
Following the ceremony on the plaza, 260 Armenians gathered in
the Diocesan Center’s Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium for
a traditional Armenian lamb dinner, organized by Gregory and Ani
Manuelian, and featuring a performance by the Yeraz dance group
directed by Karnik Nercessian.
WEEK OF CELEBRATION
The Easter services were the capstone of a week-long commemoration
of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. The events and services were
organized by Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of St. Vartan Cathedral.
Easter Eve, Saturday, April 15, 2006, featured a Divine Liturgy
celebrated by Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian, which was preceded by a
Scripture-reading ceremony.
The Divine Liturgy was sung by the St. Vartan Cathedral Youth Choir,
made up of students from the Diocesan Khrimian Lyceum, and Diocesan
Armenian Saturday schools of New York and New Jersey and under the
direction of Maro Partamian. Students of the Diocesan Khrimian Lyceum
also provided the Scripture readings.
EASTER CONTINUES
April 16 did not mark the end of Easter celebrations for all Armenians.
Because they use the Julian calendar, the Armenian Patriarchate of
Jerusalem will celebrate Easter on April 23, 2006.
On Monday, April 17, 2006, a group of 35 people from the Diocese
headed to the Holy Land on a special pilgrimage. They will be in the
Holy Land until April 25.
This is the first of two trips to the region being organized by
the Diocese this year. The Diocese will take another group on an
educational pilgrimage to the Holy Land this August.
“In the Holy Land you see first-hand the sites mentioned in the
Bible’s accounts of Holy Week. And seeing these places enlivens the
hearts of Christians,” the Primate said. “We must also remember that
the spirit of Easter, the hope and renewal it promises, can be found
in the hearts of all believers throughout the year.”
— 4/18/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in
the News and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese, delivers his Easter homily to a filled St. Vartan Cathedral
in New York City on Sunday, April 16, 2006.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): The Primate administers communion to a young
Armenian on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2006.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): A young child looks at the doves before they are
set loose during the releasing of the doves ceremony on the plaza of
New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral following the Easter badarak on
Sunday, April 16, 2006.
PHOTO CAPTION (4): Astrid and Haig Dadourian, who served as “godfather”
of the releasing of doves ceremony, kiss the hand-cross of Archbishop
Barsamian prior to the ceremony.
PHOTO CAPTION (5): Dancers from the Yeraz Dance Group perform during
the traditional Armenian lamb lunch at the St. Vartan Cathedral in
New York City following Easter Sunday services. (Photo courtesy of
Jennifer Morris.)
PHOTO CAPTION (6): Armen Akopian, a student from the Diocese’s
Khrimian Lyceum, reads from the Scriptures during the Easter Eve
service on April 15, 2006, in the St. Vartan Cathedral.(Photo courtesy
of Jennifer Morris.)
PHOTO CAPTION (7): Two of the 12 doves released following the Easter
Sunday badarak perch in a corner of the St. Vartan Cathedral in New
York City.
# # #
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
04/18/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Armenians in Greece Demonstrate 2) 'Cultural Genocide' Exhibition Held at YSU 3) Armenian Memorial Vandalized in France Prior to Unveiling 4) New Case Filed against Turkish Publishers of British Blue Book 5) UCLA Conference on Sustainable Development in Armenia 1) Armenians in Greece Demonstrate In order to commemorate the Armenian genocide, hundreds of Armenians gathered in Athens, Greece Saturday morning to demonstrate in front of the Turkish Embassy. The peaceful gathering was broken up by police officers who used batons to disperse the demonstrators. The demonstrators attempted to submit a memorandum to the Embassy, but Turkish diplomats refused to take it. The following day, a wreath honoring the victims of the Genocide was placed at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the central square of Syntagma. Community members, Armenian Embassy staff, and Greek political figures were present at the event. 2) 'Cultural Genocide' Exhibition Held at YSU YEREVAN (Armenpress/Yerkir)The Nigol Aghbalian Student Union of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) opened Tuesday an exhibition of 70 photos, shot by Samvel Karapetian and Hrayr Baze, which COMPARE the past and present state of Armenian monuments in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Iran. The exhibition titled "Cultural Genocide" will run for three days outside the Yerevan State University. The photos on display show how Armenian monuments are gradually destroyed in the neighboring countries. While last year's exhibition showed only photos of the Armenian monuments in Western Armenia, this year it was expanded to include the pictures from all four neighbors of Armenia. "It is not an accident that Iran was included in this exhibition," said NASU Chairman Iskhan Saghatelian. "The situation in that country is completely different. Iran is the best example of the dialogue of civilizations. Although the Iranian government works to preserve Armenian monuments, this is not the case in Georgia, where numerous Armenian monuments were destroyed and as more declared as "being Georgian." The fate of Armenian monuments in Turkey and Azerbaijan is even worse. The governments of these countries sanction the destruction of monuments. Answering the question on how the international community is to know about this exhibition, Saghatelian said the ARF youth organizations hold similar exhibitions in other countries and, in addition, the NASU plans to send the electronic version of the exhibition to the foreign missions in Yerevan. "We believe it will help," Saghatelian said. "The Council of Europe condemned to destruction of the Armenian khachkars (cross stones) in Old Julfa thanks to the efforts of the ARF Hay Tad offices and other organizations. If we put efforts we would ensure that such vandalism is prevented." 3) Armenian Memorial Vandalized in France Prior to Unveiling (AP)--A memorial in southeast France honoring those killed in the Armenian genocide by Ottoman Turks was vandalized just a week before it was to be unveiled, Armenian organizations said. The memorial in Lyon was scrawled with graffiti reading, "There was no genocide," according to the Committee for the Defense of the Armenian Cause and the Council of Armenian Organizations in France. The groups expressed indignation at the incident, which occurred Monday, and demanded tight security for the unveiling of the monument April 24, which French President Jacques Chirac will attend, and for other commemorations that day around France. 4) New Case Filed against Turkish Publishers of British Blue Book ISTANBUL (BIA)Retired Turkish Ambassador and Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy, Sukru Elekdag is suing publisher Muzaffer Erdogdu for the Turkish translation of "The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, 1915-1916," also known as "The Blue Book." The book covers the correspondence and memoirs of witnesses and officials including refugees and foreign dignitaries, as well as newspaper articles, about the Armenian genocide between the years of 1915 and 1916. Elekdag, a member of the Parliamentary Foreign Relations Commission and the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission, is demanding 20,000 Turkish Liras ($15,000) in libel damages from those involved in the publishing of the book, claiming he was insulted in a section of the book edited by historian Taner Akcam. The book's publisher Erdogdu, historian Akcam, and translator Ahmet Guner will appear in court on May 30 as defendants in the case. Akcam is also being accused by Elekdag for an article he wrote last year. In his suit, Elekdag claims Akcam committed libel in the section of the book titled "A Scandal: Where is the letter of the TBMM (Grand National Assembly of Turkey) Sukru Elekdag and Justin McCarthy dragging this country?" as well as in Akcam's article published in the May-June 2005 issue of the Birikim magazine. Elekdag charges that both the book and the article insulted him and that his individual rights had been attacked. He also says both his professionalism and credibility were damaged due to Akcam's articles. 5) UCLA Conference on Sustainable Development in Armenia LOS ANGELESThe University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) will host an international conference titled "Armenia: Challenges of Sustainable Development," on Saturday, May 6, from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. in the Court of Sciences 50 (Young Hall). The conference, featuring specialists in economics, finance, and governance, is dedicated to UCLA Professor Emeritus of Economics, Armen A. Alchian, a world-renowned economist and teacher who was born in Fresno in 1914 and has been a member of the UCLA faculty since 1946. The conference is organized by the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History at UCLA and the Armenian International Policy Research Group (AIPRG), with support from the UCLA Von Grunebaum Center for Near Eastern Studies and the Department of Economics. AEF Chair Holder Richard Hovannisian will open the morning session with introductory comments on "The Economic Factor," followed by the presentation of Professor Alchian and his contributions to economic theory by a similarly distinguished Professor of Economics, Harold Demsetz. Enrique Gelband, Deputy Division Chief and former Mission Chief to Armenia of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will give the keynote address on "Growth and Poverty Reduction in Armenia: Achievements and Challenges," the title of his recent book published by the IMF. A panel discussion on the subject will be moderated by UCLA Professor of Economics Michael Intriligator and include William Ascher, McKenna Professor of Government and Economics at Claremont McKenna College; Daniel Mazmanian, Director of the Judith and John Bedrosian Center on Governance and the Public Enterprise at the University of Southern California; and Ara Khanjian, Professor of Economics at Ventura College. The Saturday afternoon session moderated by Professor Lee Ohanian of the UCLA Department of Economics focuses on specific topics relating to Armenia's economic development. David Grigorian of the IMF will speak on "Tax Potential versus Tax Effort: Factors behind the Stubbornly Low Tax Collection in Armenia"; Bryan Roberts of the Department of Homeland Security, "Remittances, Poverty, and Growth in Armenia"; and Nerses Yeritsyan, Central Bank of Armenia, "Financial Sector Development in Armenia: Problems and Challenges." A discussion period will conclude the afternoon session. Richard Hovannisian stated: "I am pleased that after sixteen wonderful semi-annual conferences on Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces, we shifted the focus to contemporary issues in 2005 with 'The Enduring Legacy of the Armenian Genocide' and 'Three Turkish Voices on the Armenian Question.' Now, for the first conference of 2006, the economic and fiscal challenges facing the Republic of Armenia will be addressed. I am thankful to David Grigorian for arranging much of the program, especially as Ascher, Khanjian, Roberts, Yeritsyan, and Grigorian are also associated with AIPRG. The subject of this conference is of critical importance to Armenia and all those concerned with the welfare of its people." The conference is open to the public and free of charge. Parking is available in Structure 2 at the Hilgard and Westholme Avenue entrance to UCLA. A map of the UCLA campus can be found at the web site: <; map or the UCLA Armenian Studies web site at <;www.uclaarmeni an.org. For additional information, e-mail Richard Hovannisian at [email protected] or David Grigorian at [email protected]. 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.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
04/19/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) French Interior Minister Calls Desecration of Armenian Memorial 'Unacceptable' 2) Karabagh Army Concludes Week-long War Games 3) New Books to Aid Understanding of ARF 4) Armenian Genocide Recognition Issue Has Entered New Stage 5) Hamazkayin Fifth World Congress Ends in Lebanon 1) French Interior Minister Calls Desecration of Armenian Memorial 'Unacceptable' (Nouvel Obs)French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his indignation Wednesday at the desecration of the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Lyon. The memorial, which is to be unveiled on April 24, was vandalized Monday with revisionist inscriptions that read, "There was no genocide." Sarkozy called the incident "unacceptable" and said that its authors "must be severely punished by the justice of our country." He assured the Armenian community that France stands in solidarity with them. He said that "the Republic expressed herself with force, by the law of January 29, 2001, according to which France recognizes publicly the Armenian genocide of 1915." So, said the Interior Minister, "The authorities of the Republic will not accept that the law is scoffed." Two Armenian organizations in France, the Committee for the Defense of the Armenian Cause (CDCA) and the Council of Armenian Organizations in France, raised their concerns about the incident and demanded that those responsible be apprehended and adequately charged. The CDCA also demanded that extra measures be taken to ensure the safety of the Memorial's inauguration and Genocide commemoration on April 24, which will be attended by French President Jacques Chirac. 2) Karabagh Army Concludes Week-long War Games YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--The ethnic Armenian armed forces of Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR) ended on Wednesday week-long large-scale exercises, which the MKR leadership said highlighted their ability to fend off possible military action by Azerbaijan. Hundreds of troops, backed by tanks, heavy artillery, and helicopter gunships firing live rounds, practiced defensive and offensive operations at a training ground not far from the Armenian-Azeri line of contact east of Karabagh. The war games, which will be evaluated by top military officials on Thursday, followed a familiar scenario, with the Karabagh army fighting back an enemy assault and then going on the counteroffensive. They also involved a rare call-up of local army reservists who also took in the simulated fighting. Armenia's Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian and the chief of army staff, Colonel-Lieutenant Mikael Harutiunian, monitored the proceedings along with the leadership of MKR. "At first glance, everything is alright," Sarkisian told reporters. Armenian and Karabagh officials insisted that the exercises are not connected with Azerbaijan's renewed threats to win back Karabagh by force or aimed at affecting the ongoing peace talks mediated by the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Sarkisian claimed that President Ilham Aliyev and other Azeri leaders make such threats for "propaganda purposes." Sarkisian also said he looks forward to Aliyev's meeting with President George W. Bush at the White House which is scheduled for April 28. "I am confident that the president of the United States will urge Aliyev to resolve the conflict by peaceful means," he said. MKR President Arkady Ghukasian, for his part, remained skeptical about chances of a breakthrough in the peace process. "In my opinion, Azerbaijan is dragging out the negotiations," he said. "Azerbaijan is not prepared for a settlement. But this is a case where I want to be mistaken." Meanwhile, Russia's chief Karabagh negotiator, Yuri Merzlyakov, confirmed on Wednesday that he and the French and American co-chairs of the Minsk Group will likely visit the conflict zone early next month in a bid to arrange another meeting between Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian. Merzlyakov said the two leaders have already been presented with the mediators' revised peace proposals and are currently studying them. He refused to disclose those proposals. The Minsk Group's American co-chair, Steven Mann, is due to pay a separate visit to Baku and Yerevan later this week. 3) New Books to Aid Understanding of ARF YEREVAN (Yerkir)The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) presented Wednesday new books aimed at helping people learn about and understand the ARF better. The books presented were: "Bibliography of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation," in 4 volumes; Ararat Hakobian's "The Parliament of Armenia and Political Parties in 1918-1920"; "ARF Figures Answer People's Questions"; Nigol Aghbalian's "Thoughts on ARF"; and Gevorg Khudinian's and Ararat Hakobian's "The Latest Efforts to Distort the ARF History." "I think these books will help those who want to understand the Dashnaktsutiun better," ARF Bureau representative Hrant Markarian said at the Bureau headquarters. Markarian said these books are mostly aimed at the youth. "But the issues raised in the books are aimed at all the sectors of the society," Markarian added. "The books contain assessments of various periods of the ARF activities, including the present times." Parliament's ARF faction leader Levon Mkrtchian noted that the goal of publishing these books was to familiarize people with the ARF. "Each of the 115 years of the ARF history is described in press, book series, and today, we are continuing this tradition," Mkrtchian said. "Every generation passes on the ARF values to the next; we will pass them on to the next generation." Artashes Shahbazian of the ARF Armenia Supreme Body's Promotion Group mentioned the books will be given as gifts to the participants of the presentation, and later be donated to Armenian libraries. The books will also be available at bookstores. 4) Armenian Genocide Recognition Issue Has Entered New Stage YEREVAN (Yerkir)Leader of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) faction in Parliament, Levon Mkrtchian said Wednesday that Armenian genocide recognition has entered a new stage and can now focus on reparations. "The Armenian genocide recognition issue has entered a new stage. Almost all of the leading states recognized this fact and even the US doesn't deny it," said Mkrtchian. He said Armenia should take advantage of the international community's positive attitude about Genocide recognition and pursue a more precise approach towards Turkey. "It's time to speak of compensations, since without it the fact of recognition loses sense. For Armenia the matter concerns not only moral and material issues, but appears as a security issue as well," the ARF leader said. Mkrtchian said that if Armenia's neighbor does not acknowledge the Genocide, the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border and the Karabagh conflict settlement could be drawn out for an indeterminate period of time. At the same time, the faction leader remarked that the Arab world and Iran support Armenia in its struggle for Genocide recognition. "Iran has not declared it at the state level, but it sides with Armenia. Actually, the majority of states arrived at the conclusion that the Armenian genocide in Ottoman Empire should be recognized," said Mkrtchian. 5) Hamazkayin Fifth World Congress Ends in Lebanon The Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Educational Associations held the 5th World Congress April 13-15 in Lebanon, with participants from the Middle East, Europe, North and South America, Australia, and Armenia. The meeting discussed the activities of the Central Committee over the last four years. Participants also spoke about prospects for increasing participation of youth during the next four years. At the conclusion of the Congress, a new Central Committee was elected consisting of Sarkis Armenian, Lebanon; Mgrditch Yapoujian, Lebanon; Vahe Jamakordzian, Syria; Simon Hasserjian, Canada; Mgrditch Mgrditchian, Lebanon; Antranig Misserlian, Lebanon; Edward Misserlian, USA; Masis Baghdassarian, Armenia; Souren Sarkissian, France; Mardig Demirjian, Lebanon; and Vatche Papazian, Lebanon. 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.

Armenian National Committee of Canada
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622
Fax (613) 238-2622
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2006
Contact: Aris Babikian (613) 235-2622
The Prime Minister of Canada Recognizes the Armenian Genocide
Ottawa – The Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Stephen
Harper, made a clear statement recognizing the historical fact of
the Armenian Genocide.
In response to a reporter’s question regarding the Armenian Genocide,
the Prime Minister said: “That was a vote held in the last Parliament
[Motion M-380 – April 21, 2004]. As you recall, Parliament passed that
resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Our party supported that
resolution and we continue to recognize that parliamentary resolution”.
Dr. Vagharch Ehramdjian, Chairman of the Armenian National Committee
of Canada (ANCC), thanked the Prime Minister Harper, on behalf of
the Canadian Armenian Community, for his historic statement. “The
Right Honorable Stephen Harper’s principled and righteous stand in
recognizing the Armenian Genocide will finally bring closure to the
Canadian-Armenian Community,” said the Chairman of the ANCC.
-30-
The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range
of issues.
Regional Chapters: Montreal- Toronto – Laval – Vancouver – Ottawa –
Hamilton – Cambridge St. Catharines – Windsor

European Premiere Of Maestro Tigran Mansurian’s Choral Masterpiece “Ars Poetica”
The Armenian National Chamber Choir conducted by Robert Mlkeyan, will take
part in the conclusive event of the First International Contemporary Music
Festival “Contaminazioni Contemporanee – Musica Sacra” (Contemporary
Contaminations/Sacred Music) to be held on 21-22-23 April in Bergamo
(Italy).
Mansurian’s masterpiece “Ars Poetica”, based on Yeghishe Charents poetry,
and most of the festival World or European première musical events are part
of Munich based ECM recording productions.
An important part of the festival is dedicated to Armenian authors such as
Gurdjieff, Komitas and Mansurian, performed by the Duo Anja Lechner-Vassilis
Tsabropoulos and the Armenian National Chamber Choir.
Just before the musical evening, there will be a presentation of Mansurian’s
work during a public debate and meeting with Maestro Mansurian, by Franco
Masotti (Artistic Director of Ravenna Festival) and Minas Lourian (Director
of Musical section OEMME Edizioni/MUSICAM of Centro Studi e Documentazione
della Cultura Armena, Venice).
[See program below]
CENTRO STUDI E DOCUMENTAZIONE DELLA CULTURA ARMENA
Corte Zappa, Dorsoduro 1602
I-30123 Venezia (Italy)
Phone/fax: +39 (0)41 5224225
E-mail: [email protected]
_________________________________ _____________________
VERBO ESSERE
Associazione Culturale
per le Arti Contemporanee
in collaborazione con:
COMUNE DI BERGAMO Assessorato alla cultura e spettacolo
DIOCESI DI BERGAMO
MUSEO BERNAREGGI
con il contributo di:
FONDAZIONE delle COMUNITA’ BERGAMASCHE
FONDAZIONE CARIPLO
BANCA POPOLARE DI BERGAMO
CREDITO BERGAMASCO
BANCA DI BERGAMO
ECM Records
DUCALE
SINAPSI
CONTAMINAZIONI CONTEMPORANEE
1° Festival Internazionale di Musica Contemporanea
MUSICA SACRA CONTEMPORANEA
LUOGHI DI SVOLGIMENTO
1) Teatro G.Donizetti
2) Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
3) Centro Congressi Giovanni XXIII
4) Museo Bernareggi
TUTTI GLI EVENTI SARANNO GRATUITI
PRENOTAZIONI
L’INGRESSO agli eventi sarà gratuito sino a esaurimento dei posti.
La PRENOTAZIONE è obbligatoria da effettuarsi presso la segreteria del
festival c/o Centro Congressi Giovanni XXIII tel: 035-236435 oppure
all’indirizzo di posta elettronica [email protected]
PROGRAMMA del FESTIVAL
Il programma preliminare degli incontri pubblicato in questa stampa, potrà
subire delle variazioni
TUTTI GLI EVENTI SONO AD INGRESSO GRATUITO
Venerdì 21 APRILE 2006
ore 18.00
Museo Bernareggi – Città Bassa
INAUGURAZIONE del FESTIVAL
ore 18.30 – 19.30
Museo Bernareggi – Città Bassa
ARVO PART, UN RITRATTO
Inaugurazione della mostra fotografica di Roberto Masotti
ore 21.00
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore – Città Alta
CONCERTO INAUGURALE
THE HILLIARD ENSEMBLE – Omaggio ad ARVO PÄRT
Sabato 22 APRILE 2006
ore 15.30
Centro Congressi Giovanni XXIII – Città Bassa
TARKOVSKIJ: il cinema fra poesia e profezia
interverranno
Manfred Eicher, produttore ECM
François Couturier compositore e musicista
Altro relatore (da confermare)
ore 18.00
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore – Città Alta
ANNUM PER ANNUM – CHRISTOPHER BOWERS-BROADBENT – Organo
Musiche di Arvo Pärt, Olivier Messiaen, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Kevin Volans,
Bowers-Broadbent
ore 21.00
Teatro G.Donizetti – Città Bassa
NOSTALGHIA Song for Tarkovskij
François Couturier Quartet
François Couturier (piano), Jean-Louis Matinier (fisarmonica)
Jean Marc Larché (sax soprano), Anja Lechner (violoncello)
prima assoluta
Domenica 23 APRILE 2006
ore 10.30 – 12.00
Museo Bernareggi – Città Bassa
ECM : panorami sonori del nuovo millennio
Ascolto con Manfred Eicher produttore ECM
ore 15.30
Centro Congressi Giovanni XXIII – Città Bassa
TIGRAN MANSURIAN – Il paese delle pietre che urlano
interverranno
Tigran Mansurian compositore armeno
Franco Masotti musicologo
Minas Lourian Direttore sez. Musica Centro Studi e Documentazione della
cultura Armena
ore 18.00
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore – Città Alta
CHANTS, HYMNS AND DANCES
GURDJIEFF – TSABROPOULOS
CONCERTO di Anja Lechner (violoncello) e Vassilis Tsabropoulos (piano)
ore 21.00
Teatro G.Donizetti – Città Bassa
TIGRAN MANSURIAN – ARS POETICA
Musiche di Tigran Mansurian e Komitas
Concerto per coro misto a cappella
Armenian Chamber Choir (Coro da Camera Armeno)
Robert Mlkeyan direttore
prima europea
Eventi collaterali:
Museo Bernareggi – Città Bassa
“ARVO PART, UN RITRATTO”
Mostra Fotografica di Roberto Masotti
Dal 21 aprile al 06 maggio 2006
Orario di apertura:
dal martedì alla domenica
dalle 9.30 alle 13.00
dalle 15.30 alle 18.30
chiuso lunedì
–Bou ndary_(ID_FWNC+dw4nUWryRSyp08xyA)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress