SEPARATISTS CONDUCT WAR GAMES TO PRESSURE BAKU TO SIGN PEACE DEAL – AZERI PUNDIT
Yeni Musavat, Baku
16 Apr 06
Excerpt from Tamerlan’s report in Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni Musavat
on 16 April headlined “Armenians preparing for war” and subheaded
“The enemy has started large-scale military exercises in Karabakh”
The Armenian separatists have started conducting military exercises
in Nagornyy Karabakh and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
Military units and mobilized civilians are participating in the
drills, which are aimed at “improving the combat readiness of Armenian
forces and coordinating their work during defence and counterattack
operations,” Turan has reported.
The deputy Armenian defence Minister and chief of the Armenian General
Staff, Col-Gen Mikayel Arutunyan, is monitoring the exercises. In
fact, he commands the drills, which once again shows that the hostile
country is the main occupier of Azerbaijan’s territories.
[Passage omitted: the drills show that it is not “a handful of
Karabakh Armenians”, but the Armenian-Russian military alliance that
has occupied Azerbaijani territories,]
Political analyst Vafa Quluzada says that the Armenian military
exercises do not come by chance. This kind of demarche, which followed
the abortive Rambouillet talks and Azerbaijan’s refusal to sign a
capitulatory peace agreement desired by the West and Armenia, aims
to put pressure on Azerbaijan, he said.
“Or more precisely, this is another ring in the chain of pressure.
Apart from that, this is a way of demonstrating that Russia has a
final say on the issue,” Quluzada said.
Those who are trying to force Azerbaijan into signing a humiliating
peace agreement also take into account the sensitivity of our public
opinion to casualties in the army, he said.
“I mean, the Azerbaijani public is being blackmailed in this way as
well,” Quluzada added.
[Passage omitted: the war games in Karabakh are a response to President
Ilham Aliyev’s bellicose statements]

PRESS RELEASE
KNOW GENOCIDE Coalition
CONTACT: Harout H. Semerdjian
Tel: 617-489-1597
E-mail: [email protected]
April 10, 2006

BOSTON, MA – A new multi-ethnic, non-partisan coalition, KNOW GENOCIDE
will be announced to combat the ongoing denial of known cases of
genocide, such as the Darfur, Cambodian, Jewish, Rwandan, and the
Armenian genocides. The coalition is grounded in the understanding
that denial of genocide is the final stage of that crime. For the sake
of human rights as well as the historical truth it will counter and
expose attempts at genocide denial.
On April 21, 2006, at 1:00pm, KNOW GENOCIDE will be publicly launched
witha rally outside the Massachusetts State House directly after the
Armenian Genocide Commemoration Ceremony. The coalition’s inception
will bemarked by brief presentations by Dr. Taner Akcam, the first
Turkish scholar to publicly acknowledge and discuss the Armenian
Genocide, as well as major community leaders representing the
coalition.
Denial of genocide and silence in the face of ethnic cleansing
emboldens future perpetrators to carry out these same crimes. In
April, the month of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, KNOW
GENOCIDE stands up for the Armenian community. The coalition is
prepared to stand up for others when efforts to perpetuate denial
surface.

Armenian opposition leader says Karabakh peace ideas “in favour of Azerbaijan”
Aravot, Yerevan
12 Apr 06
Excerpt from Margarit Yesayan report by Armenian newspaper Aravot on
12 April entitled “To root out the evil is the most important task”
An interview with the leader of Anrapetutyun [Republic] Party, Aram
Sarkisyan.
[Correspondent] Mr Sarkisyan, what do you think of the sale of the
Razdan power plant?
[Aram Sarkisyan] I think that the “Property for Debt” and “Property
for Gas” programmes are in fact addressing a different problem that
may be described as “everything for debt”. Obviously the Armenian
energy security has received one final blow from the authorities. The
problem is not at all about being a vassal of Russia. The problem
regards the state and statehood. We cannot speak about independence
and profitability when the state property is being sold to Russia or
any other state for that matter.
[Passage omitted: reiterates the point]
[Correspondent] So you are against the deal. But what do you suggest,
another revolution?
[Sarkisyan] If there is another option, please suggest. The gas price
will rise, but in three years time. I suppose that one day three years
later we shall find out that a “cheaper” gas price cost us not only
the Razdan power plant but also shares in the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline.
[Passage omitted: Sarkisyan speculates on other possible consequences
of selling property]
[Correspondent] But what is the way out? What does the opposition
suggest?
[Sarkisyan] In our country the authorities consider the opposition
their enemy. Today we can only be against this. But
tomorrow…[ellipses as published]. All I can say is that our party is
drafting a law on nationalization because if there is a law on
denationalization and privatization, there should also be a law on
nationalization to avoid abuses. This law will give an opportunity to
annul all the illegal deals.
[Correspondent] You have put forward your proposal for the Karabakh
issue settlement. Did they reply?
[Sarkisyan] No, they did not. But today’s options for a settlement of
the Karabakh issue are in favour of Azerbaijan. And there is no mutual
compromise. I am sure we shall be able to root out the evil and
produce good results. But if not, Armenians will continue to leave
Armenia. We shall then lose this state and turn into a nation which
will be making toasts on foreign shores. [reference to Armenians
living abroad]
[Correspondent] How will the political field look before the
parliamentary election 2007?
[Sarkisyan] It is too early to speak about this election. That is the
field of the authorities and they are preparing for that election. But
I am sure that it would just be an imitation. Actually the year of
2006 raised serious questions for our country and the region as it is
considered to be a year of the Karabakh issue settlement.
The presidents of the two countries may meet again in May. All the
parties are awaiting the results of that meeting, especially the
ruling party as it does not know what will happen afterwards, what
parties it will unite and whose interests it will support.

Armenian paper looks at reasons for US backing of incumbent leader
Aykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan
14 Apr 06

Text of unattributed report by Armenian newspaper Aykakan Zhamanak on
14 April headlined “The double outpost”
Australia’s the Australian newspaper has carried a report which said
that the American Armenians determined the US policy towards
Armenia. This provides answers to many questions. In particular, it
explains why the American authorities are so kind to the incumbent
government of Armenia which is authoritarian by nature.
The USA is not just kind to the Armenian authorities, but it has
itself become an accessory to their illegal acts and fraud. Many
people do not yet realize the reason for this. And it cannot be ruled
out that there is only one reason – the Armenian lobby of the USA has
persuaded the Washington administration that this is necessary. In
fact, the Armenian lobby advocates committing even more illegal acts
in Armenia to prolong Robert Kocharyan’s stay in office. But why are
American Armenians so much concerned about perpetuating the current
situation in Armenia?
The point is that our compatriots from the Armenian diaspora do not
mean Yerevan, Sevan, Echmiadzin or Dilizhan [towns in Armenia] when
they say Armenia – they mean Mus, Van, Agahan and Adana [towns in
Turkey claimed by Armenia]. They have only one problem connected with
Armenia: the Armenian genocide. That is to say, for the Armenian lobby
in the USA, Armenia is more of an outpost against Turkey, a
springboard towards their country [eastern part of Turkey claimed by
Armenia], rather than a motherland or an independent state.
The problem is that Robert Kocharyan is the perfect president for
turning Armenia into such an outpost and the incumbent Armenian
government is the perfect one to turn our country into a regional
aggressor. They are ready to fulfil all the orders of the diaspora at
any price. And the immoral constitutional referendum on double
citizenship is evidence of this. Thus, the American diaspora and
Robert Kocharyan have a rich potential for cooperation and for
implementing their plans. They will do everything possible in order
not to leave any independently thinking people in Armenia, so that
when our American brothers give a directive to cross the Araz River
[separating Armenia and Turkey] there would be no person in Armenia
who would dare to object at the wisdom of such a move. Representatives
of the diaspora will watch the event on their computers monitors and
will gamble our lives.
This is the reason why American Armenians who have lived there for
many years hate those who emigrated from Armenia to the USA over the
past decade, as they had to stay in Armenia and act as their
pawns. This also explains the uproar among the American Armenians in
the wake of reports about possible recall of the US ambassador to
Armenia, John Evans. Now it becomes clear that Evans is not only a US
ambassador, but also an ambassador of the Armenian lobby of the
USA. We should finally understand and recognize the realities and
challenges because without surmounting these challenges Armenia faces
inevitable destruction.

Christians from around the world mark Easter Sunday at Jerusalem holy site

AP Worldstream; Apr 16, 2006
ARON HELLER

Thousands of Christian pilgrims from around the world gathered on
Sunday at Jerusalem holy sites to celebrate Easter Sunday, marking the
day with prayer and hymns.
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah, the top Roman
Catholic official in the Holy Land, celebrated Mass at the Church of
the Holy Sepulcher, built over the skull-shaped rocky mount believed
to be the place where Jesus was crucified.
Easter Sunday marks the resurrection of Jesus and caps holy week,
which includes Palm Sunday, when Jesus return to Jerusalem, and Good
Friday, which marks his crucifixion. Thousands filled the narrow
streets of the Old City of Jerusalem on Friday as well, retracing the
route that Jesus followed on his way to the crucifixion.
On Sunday, Armenian priests cloaked in black gowns and head dress
followed Sabbah into the candlelit church singing the Lord’s
Prayer. The Catholic priest emerged from the Sepulcher with a flame
and lit worshippers’ candles that gradually illuminated the painted
dome ceiling erected in the Crusader era.
Worshippers crowded into the grotto-like church as organs played
solemn tunes. Outside, the masses, including some from Serbia, Greece
and England, marched past droves of pictures of Jesus on a cloudy,
overcast day.
Crowds were larger than in recent years, encouraged by a relative lull
in Israeli-Palestinian violence.
Although police did not have an exact crowd size for the Easter Sunday
celebrations, the Israeli Tourism Ministry said 90,000 tourists are
visiting the country for Easter and the Jewish holiday of Passover
this year, up 20 percent from last year.
Israel’s tourist economy suffered during the Palestinian uprising,
which erupted in late 2000. But the flow of visitors has steadily
increased since a cease-fire was declared in early 2005, despite
recent tensions between the sides following Hamas’ victory in
Palestinian legislative elections.
The Easter services underlined one of Christianity’s doctrinal
differences: Roman Catholics believe Jesus Christ was buried in the
Holy Sepulcher, while many Protestant denominations believe he was
buried in the nearby Garden Tomb.
There will be other processions through the Old City this week when
Orthodox Christians, who follow a different calendar than the Western
Church, celebrate Good Friday and Easter Sunday according to their own
tradition.

PRESS RELEASE
Sonoma State University Center for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide
The Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust at Sonoma State University
1801 East Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Contact: Christyne Davidian
Tel: 707-738-1919
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
Dr. Robert Owen Krikorian will speak at the 23rd Annual Sonoma State
University Holocaust and Genocide Lecture Series on Tuesday, April 25th from
4:00PM to 5:40PM at Warren Auditorium, Ives Hall, at Sonoma State
University. Dr. Krikorian will present “Living with Genocide: The Armenian
Experience” for the first annual Armenian Genocide Memorial Lecture, a newly
established lecture established in commemoration of the 90th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide and funded in part by the generosity of the Thomas
Family Foundation, the Bay Area Armenian National Committee, members of the
Armenians of the North Bay, and other community members.
This is the second Armenian Genocide lecture given by Dr. Robert Krikorian
at the SSU Holocaust and Genocide Lecture Series. Dr. Krikorian is a
Professorial Lecturer at the Elliott School of International Affairs, George
Washington University, teaching courses on the Caucasus and Eurasia, and a
Research Associate at GW’s Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian
Studies. Dr. Krikorian obtained his Doctorate in History and Eurasian
Studies at Harvard University, specializing in the history and politics of
Russia and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. He also earned an
MA in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard and an MA in
Political Science from George Washington University.
The SSU Holocaust and Genocide Lecture Series is offered annually every
spring semester as a student course and for free to the public. This lecture
series is sponsored by the Sonoma State University Center for the Study of
the Holocaust and Genocide and The Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust
at Sonoma State University. The Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust,
founded in 1982, is a University-community partnership that co-sponsors the
Lectures Series, supports the Center for the Study of the Holocaust and
Genocide, provides outreach to the community including teachers and
community groups working with issues related to the Holocaust and Genocide.
Both SSU and the Alliance have provided support and a forum for the study of
the Armenian Genocide for the last 4 years and are dedicated to the
continuation of inclusion annually with the establishment of the Armenian
Genocide Memorial Lecture 501(c)3 non-profit fund.
All lectures are broadcast via LIVE WEBCAST at:
aust_lectures.html. All
lectures are also posted for streaming video approximately one week after
each lecture.
Those wishing to learn more about the SSU Center for the Study of the
Holocaust and Genocide, the Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust at
Sonoma State University, the Armenian Genocide Memorial Lecture Fund, and/or
Armenians of the North Bay, please contact Christyne Davidian.
Christyne Davidian
Board Member
Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust

Agence France Presse
14 avril 2006 vendredi 9:55 PM GMT
Championnat d’Europe super-moyens – L’Arménien Mkrtchian détrône Chanet
(COMPTE-RENDU)
REIMS 14 avr 2006
L’Arménien Mger Mkrtchian a détrôné le Français Jackson Chanet,
tenant du titre de champion d’Europe des poids super-moyens, par KO à
la 11e reprise, vendredi à Reims (Marne), devant 3500 spectateurs.
Seul tricolore encore champion du Vieux Continent, le Bragard a été
cueilli par un crochet du gauche, le faisant vaciller, avant qu’une
série ne l’expédie lourdement à terre.
Il fallut de longues minutes au Français pour récupérer des coups
reçus et de sa déception aussi car, selon les juges, deux d’entre eux
lui accordaient six points d’avance au moment du dénouement, le 3e
optant pour le nul.
Mais, d’entrée le pugiliste basé à Saint-Pétersbourg avait refroidi
le camp local en envoyant pour la première fois de sa carrière le
champion à terre. Dense du torse, il donnait alors une formidable
impression de puissance.
Jackson Chanet prenait toutefois la mesure de son rival, saignant
abondamment du nez, à partir du 4e round. Il avançait et variait sa
boxe en touchant souvent Mkrtchian au visage, lui ouvrant également
l’arcade sourcilière droite.
Rassuré par l’énergie de son favori, l’assistance craignait alors les
coups de tête qui avait valu au challengeur un avertissement à la
mi-combat. Elle était loin de se douter que l’ancien challengeur WBO
avait encore de la foudre dans les poings.
Chanet a commis l’erreur de baisser les bras à partir de la 10e
reprise, ce dont a profité le pugiliste de l’Est, légèrement plus
grand, qui a d’autant plus facilement trouvé l’ouverture.
Le nouveau et percutant champion a probablement signé, à 29 ans, la
plus probante de ses 23 victoires (dont 17 acquises avant la limite)
pour 2 défaites.
Invaincu jusque là en 26 combats, pour autant de succès (dont 15
avant terme), Jackson Chanet devra s’interroger sur la catégorie dans
laquelle il doit poursuivre, s’il le souhaite, à 28 ans, sa carrière.
Il a manifestement perdu de sa puissance des mi-lourds et de la
fraîcheur qu’il affichait à l’époque.

Agence France Presse
14 avril 2006 vendredi 11:31 AM GMT
Les livres rares du collectionneur Calouste Gulbenkian exposés à
Istanbul
ISTANBUL 14 avr 2006
Le musée Sakip Sabanci d’Istanbul exposera à partir de samedi quelque
75 livres anciens et rares appartenant à la collection du riche
amateur d’art d’origine stambouliote Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian, mort
en 1955 à Lisbonne.
La doyenne des oeuvres présentées est un livre de prières de 241
pages aux couleurs remarquablement conservées, réalisé sur parchemin
à la fin du XIIIe siècle en Italie.
L’exposition, intitulée “L’art du livre de l’Orient à l’Occident”,
présente également jusqu’au 28 mai de nombreux ouvrages anciens
français, ottomans, iraniens et japonais, ainsi que des éditions
rares et illustrées de livres plus récents, de Victor Hugo, Honoré de
Balzac, Rabindranath Tagore notamment.
Aux côtés des livres prêtés par la fondation Gulbenkian de Lisbonne
sont exposées des broderies ottomanes et des céramiques d’Iznik
(nord-ouest de la Turquie) prisées par le collectionneur d’origine
arménienne, né en 1869 à Istanbul et qui a vécu en France, en
Grande-Bretagne et au Portugal.
“Nous n’avions jamais réalisé cette combinaison de livres d’orient et
occidentaux. Nous voulions que cette exposition ait une valeur
symbolique de pont entre les deux cultures de notre fondateur”, a
expliqué vendredi à l’AFP Emilio Rui Vilar, président du conseil
d’administration de la Fondation Gülbenkian.
“D’autre part, je pense qu’aujourd’hui le dialogue entre les cultures
est non seulement une tche urgente mais aussi un devoir”, a ajouté
M. Rui Vilar, venu à Istanbul pour la présentation de l’exposition à
la presse.
Le musée Sakip Sabanci, ouvert en 2002 dans une ancienne demeure
ottomane sur la rive occidentale du Bosphore, aspire à devenir un
centre d’attraction d’envergure internationale.
Sa précédente exposition, consacrée au peintre espagnol Pablo
Picasso, a battu tous les records d’entrées en Turquie avec quelque
250.000 visiteurs.
Il accueillera en juin quelque 140 oeuvres du sculpteur français
Auguste Rodin -principalement prêtées par le musée Rodin de Paris-, a
indiqué à l’AFP sa conservatrice Nazan Ölçer.

Agence France Presse
13 avril 2006 jeudi 6:04 PM GMT
Une proposition de loi pour punir la négation du génocide arménien
MARSEILLE 13 avr 2006
Le groupe socialiste à l’Assemblée nationale va proposer une loi
sanctionnant la négation du génocide arménien lors de la séance
d’initiative parlementaire le 18 mai, a-t-on appris auprès jeudi du
Conseil de coordination des organisations arméniennes de France
(CCAF) à Marseille.
Cette proposition de loi, si elle est adoptée, viendra compléter la
loi du 29 janvier 2001 dans laquelle l’Etat français reconnaissait le
génocide arménien, a expliqué le président du CCAF Marseille-Provence
Pascal Chamassian.
Le président du conseil général des Bouches-du-Rhône, Jean-Noël
Guérini, a annoncé officiellement jeudi soir que le groupe PS allait
proposer cette loi, rédigée à l’initiative de députés du département
et qui a été appuyée par l’ensemble des élus socialistes à
l’assemblée.
“Pour nous c’est une grande nouvelle car la loi de 2001, magnifique
pour nous, était tronquée à la base: tous les négationnistes
pouvaient continuer à oeuvrer tranquillement”, a expliqué à la presse
M. Chamassian.
La communauté arménienne de Marseille et de France se prépare à
commémorer le 91ème anniversaire du génocide arménien, le 24 avril.
Un mémorial, le premier financé par l’Etat, doit notamment être
inauguré à Marseille en présence du préfet de région Christian
Frémont, du président du Conseil régional Michel Vauzelle, du maire
de la ville Jean-Claude Gaudin, de M. Guérini et du président de
l’Assemblée nationale d’Arménie Arthur Baghdassarian.
Les Arméniens affirment que jusqu’à 1,5 million des leurs ont péri
dans un génocide orchestré par l’empire ottoman (1915-1917). Ankara
soutient que 300.000 Arméniens et au moins autant de Turcs ont été
tués au cours de troubles suscités par des soulèvements d’Arméniens
et leur ralliement aux armées russes en guerre contre l’empire
ottoman, et lors des déportations qui ont suivi.

Members of the EU-Armenia Cooperation Commission to visit the
Armenian-Turkish border

ArmRadio.am
15.04.2006 14:10
Next week members of the EU-Armenia Cooperation Commission will visit
the Armenian-Turkish border.
The 8th sitting of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Commission
will be held April 18-19 in Yerevan.
In the framework of the visit members of the Commission will have
meetings with RA President Robert Kocharyan, Chairman of the National
Assembly Arthur Baghdasaryan, Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan,
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan and Human Rights Defender Armen
Harutyunyan.
Members of the delegation will meet also representatives of
independent TV Channels, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan Vladimir
Pryakhin and Ambassadors of EU member states.