ARTASHAT TILE FACTORY TURNS OUT 4-5 THOUSAND SQUARE METRES PRODUCTION MONTHLY
Noyan Tapan
May 18 2006
ARTASHAT, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Production turned out by the Artashat
tile factory has enjoyed wide demand for 6 years continuously both in
Armenia and in some foreign countries. Raw material of tile is brought
from the village of Lanjazat, the marz of Ararat, then after having
been reprocessed for 5-10 days, it becomes a ready material. Besides,
as much clay becomes older as production is of better quality. As
the Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by the factory, tile of
4-5 thousand square meters is turned out every month.
Already for five years builders of the “Vahagni” district, the “Ararat
Shin” trust, “Jrashkharh” (Waterland), different building organizations
and individuals are regular clients of the factory. Frenchmen as well
gave a high estimate to Artashat tile. As a result of the friendship
created between the city of Clamar and Artashat, the center of the
Ararart marz, Frenchmen visited the factory many times, bought,
according to them, production corresponding to European standards.

M.F.A.: WE EXPECT FRANCE NOT TO ALLOW ANY INITIATIVES THAT WILL HARM OUR HISTORICAL RELATIONS
Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 18 2006
ANKARA – “We expect the French parliament to reject the draft law
envisaging punishment of those who deny so-called Armenian genocide,”
said Namik Tan, spokesman for the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
on Wednesday.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing, Tan said, “we expect France
not to allow any initiatives that will harm our historical relations.
We welcome that the French government and people share the same views
with us.”
The French parliament will debate the draft law tomorrow.

DISCUSSION OF ARMENIAN BILL POSTPONED AT FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DUE TO LACK OF QUORUM
Noyan Tapan
May 18 2006
PARIS, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The discussion of the bill criminalizing
the denial of the Armenian Genocide planned for the May 18 session of
French National Assembly was postponed due to lack of quorum. According
to Noyan Tapan’s reliable sources, the Armenian bill will not be
included in the agenda of French National Assembly until October
2006. Speaking at the parliament Philippe Douste-Blazy, French Foreign
Minister, declared that the issue of the Armenian Genocide “should be
left to the historians” and Turkey should itself establish peace with
its own history. To recap, the author of the bill criminalizing the
denial of the Armenian Genocide is the opposition Socialist Party at
the French parliament. According to the bill, minimum imprisonment
of 1 year and a fine amounting to 57 thousand USD is set for those
denying the fact of the Armenian Genocide.

UGSAD CALLS ON DEBRE TO REJECT DRAFT LAW ON SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 18 2006
ANKARA – The National Security and Strategic Studies Association
(UGSAD) sent a letter to French Parliament Speaker Jean Louis Debre on
Tuesday, and called on him to reject the draft law, which was submitted
to the French parliament with the aim of punishing individuals who
deny so-called Armenian genocide.
In its letter, UGSAD stressed that the draft was against human rights,
democracy and understanding of law.
“It is quite offensive if a parliament makes unilateral decisions on
issues concerning another country. Such a draft will overshadow the
friendly relations between Turkey and France. Scientific researches,
which were carried out on the basis of documents of western sources,
revealed that Armenian allegations were totally baseless. When we
compare Armenian population before 1914 and after the World War I,
we can easily see inconsistency of such claims that 1.5 million
Armenians were killed. Although Turkey has opened all its archives,
Armenia constantly refrains from opening its archives,” it said.
UGSAD emphasized that Turkey would never recognize so-called Armenian
genocide as it had never committed such a thing in its history.
“Historical facts cannot be changed through such laws. If the draft is
approved, it will inevitably play havoc with Turkey-France relations,”
it added.

SURB KARAPET CHURCH OF JRARAT RESTORED
Noyan Tapan
May 18 2006
HRAZDAN, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Works of restoration of the Surb Karapet
church of the Jrarat district of the marz center (Hrazdan) of Kotayk
will be finished the next year. Works being continued already for
more than a year are implemented on the initiative and under the
patronage of Ashot Gevorgian, a former inhabitant of the city of
Hrazdan, living at present in Moscow. It is envisaged to re-open the
church during the celebrations dedicated to the 180th anniversary
of foundation of Jrarat. Stepan and Grigor, sons of Melik Sheko,
migrated here in 1827 founded in Jrarat (formerly the village of
Melik or Rndamal). The Surb Karapet church which was built still in
the 16th century was reconstucted by new settlers. But during the
Soviet years, the church was made a storeroom, then was gradually
destroyed. Fortunatly, the most part of stones of the church walls
was kept and is used in the restoration works.

INCREASE OF NUMBER OF CRIMES REGISTERED IN SYUNIK PROVIDED BY EFFECIENCY OF STRUGGLE AGAINST NARCOTISM
Noyan Tapan
May 18 2006
KAPAN, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. 106 cases of crime in return for 85 of the
same period of the previous year were registered in the marz of Syunik
in the first quarter of 2006. As Colonel Ashot Ghahramanian, the Syunik
Regional Department Chief of the RA Police mentioned in the interview
to the Noyan Tapan correspondent, this increase is mainly provided
by the effeciency of the struggle against narcotism: 15 cases of 21
ones of the increase are crimes connected with narcotism. Releaving
of crimes on criminal cases being under examination made 88.5% in
the marz in January-March, in return for 83.3% of the same period of
the previous year. It was mentioned that that index is higher of the
averige republican one which made 75.9% in the first quarter.

ISTANBUL BAR: IF FRENCH PARLIAMENT APPROVES THE DRAFT ABOUT GENOCIDE, IT WILL DESTROY FREEDOM OF THOUGHT
Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 18 2006
ISTANBUL – Istanbul Bar has reacted strongly to the draft law which
will be debated by the French parliament on May 18th and bring forth
punishments such as imprisonment terms and fine for those who deny
so-called Armenian genocide.
Releasing a written statement on Wednesday, Istanbul Bar said,
“Turkish nation was defending its homeland between the years of 1919
and 1922. During that warfare, both Turkish and Armenian people died.
Such a tragedy cannot be described as genocide. Hovhannes Katchaznouni,
the first Prime Minister of Armenia, acknowledged this historical fact
saying that Turks acted with the instinct of defending themselves,
and that Armenian people were used by Russia and British and French
imperialism.”
“If the French parliament approves the draft law about so-called
Armenian genocide, it will destroy freedom of thought which was gained
as a result centuries-long struggles. I will also prove France’s
returning to a totalitarian understanding,” it said.
Istanbul Bar called on French MPs to think once again before casting
their votes since the draft would have a serious impact on the friendly
relations between the two countries.

ZORAVAR ANDRANIK’S MUSEUM TO RE-OPEN IN YEREVAN ON MAY 27
Noyan Tapan
May 18 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. On the eve of the Republic’s Day, May 27,
Zoravar Andranik’s museum will re-open in a private residence near
the Komitas Pantheon. It will act on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the
private house. The museum re-opening is initiated by “Electromekar”
OJSC Chairman Ilyich Beglarian who, by the way, is a poet and author
of 17 books as well. I.Beglarian founded Andranik’s museum in this
building still in 1995. But then, the building was privatized, and
the museum was closed. I.Beglarian bought the building from the owner
by his financial resources and recostructed it as well as completed
the museum collection with new interesting exhibits.

LIU HONORS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE SURVIVORS
Western Queens Gazette, NY
May 18 2006
Arshalous Dadir received a City Council citation from Councilmember
John Liu. Dadir is a survivor of the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
City Councilmember John Liu hosted a commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide at the New York Armenian Home, 13731 45th Ave., Flushing,
on May 9. Liu specifically chose the date because May 9, “Victory
and Peace Day”, celebrates the end of World War ll in Europe and has
special significance for many Armenians.
Between 1915 and 1923, two million Armenians living in Turkey were
driven from their historic homeland through forced deportation or were
massacred. Currently, eight million Armenians live in communities
throughout the world where they were dispersed or to which they
immigrated, but only three million live in Armenia.
Liu presented four Genocide survivors, Israel Arabian, Ornorik Eminian,
Arshalous Dadir and Kristine Naldjian, with City Council Citations
in recognition of their courage and strength in the face of adversity:
+ Israel Arabian was born in Harpert in 1905. He was orphaned early
in life and raised by an older sister. During the Armenian Genocide,
his sister was captured and enslaved. Arabian escaped capture because
his sister screamed to him in Armenian to run away. He hid in a forest
and moved only at night. Eventually, he met other Armenian runaways
who were able to board a ship traveling to Greece, where Arabian was
placed in an orphanage.
Standing (l. to r.): Chuck Apelian, Community Board 7 vice chairman;
Liu; Robert G. Kallem, chairman, New York Armenian Home board of
directors; Aghavni “Aggie” Ellian, New York Armenian Home executive
director; seated l. to r.): Arshalous Dadir, Israel Arabian, Kristine
Naldjian and Onorik Eminian, all recipients of city Council citations
as 1915 Armenian Genocide survivors.
+ Ornorik Eminian was born in 1912. Her parents, sister, and two
brothers were killed in the Armenian Genocide. She was picked up by
the Red Cross and put in an orphanage in Turkey. Turkish soldiers
later came to the orphanage and took away all the teachers. All the
children were later transferred to Greece, where Eminian remained
until she came to the United States in 1930.
+ Arshalous Dadir was born in Shapenkaresar, Turkey. Her father was
murdered in the Armenian Genocide. Her uncle, her father’s brother, a
doctor, was one of 300 martyrs killed on April 24, 1915 when Armenian
leaders, including members of the Turkish parliament, were arrested
and murdered. The resulting lack of leadership was to have a profound
political and emotional effect on the survivors. The loss is felt
even today.
+ Kristine Naldjian was born in 1907 in the village of Boursa,
Turkey. Her entire family was murdered, but before her mother was
killed, she told Naldjian to hide. Naldjian passed out and woke to
find herself surrounded by dead bodies. She was taken in by a Turkish
couple who renamed her Fatima and kept her as a slave for many years.
When she was a teenager, she went to the market one day and met some
friends from Boursa who helped her to escape.
“The lives of the four honorees are a testimony to the triumph of the
human spirit,” Liu declared. “All of them endured horrific loss of
family and country during what is often called ‘the first Holocaust of
the 20th century’. The four citizens we honor were able to rise above
the horrors of the Armenian [Genocide] and go on to lead admirable
and productive lives.”
atures/028.html

WORLD VISION’S KAPAN TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CONTINUES
Noyan Tapan
May 18 2006
KAPAN, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Rather large work has been done during two
years under the World Vision organization’s Territorial Development
Program that has been implemented in the communities of Kapan region
since 2003 October. As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed
by program head Sergei Arzumanian, water-pipes were repaired in
17 rural communities, as well as the needs of the population were
studied. Parallelly food was distributed among needy layers, summer
camps were organized, in which children registered in the Kapan
Territorial Development Program are involved. Within the framework of
program of primary health protection doctor-specialists render free
medical service in 18 remote rural communities. It was mentioned that
at present works of building a canal for Kapan Aram Manukian street,
as well as repairs of Garegin Nzhdeh street’s canal and roofes of 5
tenement-houses are underway.