DELEGATION OF EU TROYKA TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN ON APRIL 20
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On April 20, the
delegation of the European Union Troyka led by State Secretary of
Austrian Foreign Ministry Hans Winkler will arrive in Yerevan within
the framework of the regional visit. As Noyan Tapan was informed from
RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department, Ambassadors of
Austria and Finland to Armenia, EU Special Representative to the South
Caucasus, representatives of the European Commission and EU Council
are included in the delegation as its members. During the stay in
Armenia the EU Troyka will meet with RA President, National Assembly
Speaker and Chairman of the Constitutional Court. The delegation’s
meeting with RA Foreign Minister V.Oskanian will take place in the
morning of April 20. Immediately after the meeting the joint press
conference of RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and State Secretary
of Austrian Foreign Ministry Hans Winkler will be held at RA Foreign
Ministry press hall.

MEMBERS OF PACE COMMITTEE ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND MEN IN PARLIAMENT
National Assembly of RA, Armenia
April 19 2006
On April 17 Tigran Torosyan, Head of NA delegation in PACE, NA Vice
President, received Vera Oskina, Rapporteur of the Committee on Equal
Opportunities for Women and Men and Jannick Devaux, PACE Secretariat
officer, who were on an official visit in Yerevan.
Mrs. Oskina noted that she is preparing a report on the women’s
state in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. She was interested in the
women’s role in the political life of Armenia, involvement in the
local self-governance, the issues of trafficking and family violence
and demography in these spheres.
Mr. Torosyan noted that the trafficking and family violence are
extraordinary phenomena contradicting Armenian traditions and are
of little percentage. Touching upon the women’s involvement in the
political processes, the NA Vice President noted that the women
of Armenia prefer to be more involved in public than in political
activity: about 99% of women are heads of public organizations.
Regarding the allocation of 25% to the women in the electoral lists,
in Mr. Torosyan’s opinion, “the positive” discrimination is also
unacceptable, and we should not promote the women’s political
involvement with unnatural steps.
During the meeting other issues of bilateral interest were discussed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DUMA DELEGATION OF ALTAI TERRITORY IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
National Assembly of RA, Armenia
April 19 2006
On April 17 Vahan Hovhannisyan, RA NA Vice President received the
Duma delegation of Altai territory headed by Vladimir Pekarsky,
who is also the Chairman of Entrepreneurship Committee.
The meeting, in which a group of entrepreneurs were participating,
was organized within the framework of the Armenian-Russian
inter-parliamentary cooperation committee activity to elaborate joint
business programmes. Similar meetings will also take place in Altai.
During the meeting an agreement was reached to make more competitive
the agricultural products of Armenia in the Russian market, find
new consumer markets. Both sides also discussed the possibilities of
decreasing the import prices of the Russian goods to Armenia.

RA PRESIDENT AND RF DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSS ISSUES REGARDING ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH CAUCASUS
Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 19, RA President Robert
Kocharian received RF Deputy Foreign Minister Grigori Karasin
who is in Armenia on a regional visit. RF Deputy Foreign Minister
informed that he is in Yerevan for the purpose of holding a regional
consultation with Ambassadors of Russia in Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan
and Turkey. As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA President’s Press
Service, the interlocutors discussed issues regarding Armenian-Russian
bilateral relations, developments in the South Caucasus, in particular,
issues concerning ways of settlement of existing conflicts, as well
as exchanged thoughts around a number of urgent international issues.

DELEGATION OF ARMENIA-EU PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMITTEE RECEIVED BY RA FOREIGN MINISTER
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On April 19,
RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian received the delegation led by
Marie-Anne Isler Beguin, European Co-chairwoman of the Armenia-EU
Parliamentary Cooperation Committee. As Noyan Tapan was informed
from RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department, the
participants of the meeting exchanged thoughts about cooperation
between the European Union and South Caucasian countries positively
estimating the growth of interest of EU in the region in the recent
years, as well as the European Parliament’s positive role in the issue
of including the three regional countries within the framework of the
European Neighborhood policy. Then RA Foreign Minister presented the
last developments in the negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh peaceful
settlement and Armenia’s approaches towards issues of energy security
and regional cooperation.

RA PRESIDENT ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO APPROVAL OF EU-ARMENIA INDIVIDUAL PARTNERSHIP ACTIONS PLAN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA President
Robert Kocharian attached importance to approval of the EU-Armenia
Individual Partnership Actions Plan within the framework of the EU New
Neighborhood policy as quickly as possible at the April 19 meeting with
the delegation of participants of EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation
Committee’s 8th sitting. The President mentioned that it will enable
to have more systematized relations with EU and to move forward
more purposefully. “We see the future of Armenia that has chosen
the European way of development in efficient management, efficient
political system and economy and this can be achieved only through
deep and large-scale reforms,” the President emphasized. The President
presented the last developments of the negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh
settlement and Armenia’s approaches. As Noyan Tapan was informed from
President’s Press Service, issues regarding the events around Iran,
Armenian-Turkish relations were also touched upon. In connection with
Turkey RA President said that Armenia’s approach is unequivocal: the
country is ready to build practical relations with Turkey without any
preconditions. The interlocutors also attached importance to deepening
democratic processes in Armenia, to organization and holding of the
upcoming elections in correspondence with the European standards.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SEYRAN OHANIAN: EXERCISES SHOWED THAT NKR DEFENCE ARMY IS ABLE TO DEFEND REPUBLIC’S BORDERS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006
STEPANAKERT, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The
command-headquarters exercises showed that the NKR Defence Army is
able to defend the republic’s borders and to fulfil the tasks set
before it without participation of a third force. NKR Defence Minister
Seyran Ohanian declared this at the April 18 press conference. The
combat training of the reserve forces is also checked during the
exercises. As the Minister mentioned, within 7 hours the forces of the
reserve were able to fulfil the tasks set before them and this “means
that in case of an unprecedented war they can prevent the attack”. RA
Defence Minister Serge Sargsian and Deputy Defence Minister, Head
of the General Headquarters of RA Armed Forces Mikael Haroutiunian
were present at the exercises as observers. The exercises in Nagorno
Karabakh started a week ago. The observation of the final part of
the exercises took place on April 19.

RA NA SPEAKER ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO STARTING EU NEW NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA National
Assembly Speaker Artur Baghdasarian attached importance to extension
of EU-Armenia relations and deepening of democracy in Armenia
at the April 19 meeting with the participants of the 8th sitting
of EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee. He expressed
the hope that during the 8th sitting of EU-Armenia cooperation the
participants had an opportunity to form a proper idea and to receive
sufficient information. Artur Baghdasarian attached importance to
starting and realizing the EU New Neighborhood program as quickly as
possible not only for Armenia but also for the region as extension
of democracy opens new prospects and promotes peace, it is an
essential stimulus for implementation of reforms. NA Speaker said
that a draft Electoral Code was worked out by the consent of the
political forces and the legislative bases for holding elections in
correspondence with the democratic standards are being created. NA
Speaker also touched upon energy issues mentioning that Armenia
needs EU’s assistance for energy diversification and provision
of energy security is a political priority for Armenia. Fighting
corruption, implementation of court and legal, tax and customs,
local self-government and territorial government reforms were also
mentioned as important. Artur Baghdasarian attached importance
to the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict through mutual
concessions and considered Azerbaijan’s bellicose statements to be
unacceptable. It was mentioned that Armenia is for normal relations
with Turkey and is ready to discuss the current problems around the
negotiations table. Co-chairwoman of EU-Armenia Cooperation Committee
Marie-Anne Isler Beguin expressed satisfaction with the Committee’s
efficient work. She mentioned that the European structures are
ready to assist Armenia in deepening democracy. Marie-Anne Beguin
attached importance to loyalty to democratic values in the coming
elections and mentioned that these elections will be important for
Armenia’s future. She also attached importance to mass media’s role
and provision of possibilities of their free work. In connection with
the Nagorno Karabakh settlement Mrs Beguin said that she would very
much like the Azeris also to adopt a constructive position.

DON’T BELIEVE THE DENIALISTS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By Rep. Peter Koutoujian and Sona Petrossian
Newton TAB, MA
April 19 2006
For those of us who are Armenian Americans, April 24 is an important
day: it was on that date in 1915 that the Ottoman Turkish Empire
began its slaughter of Armenians. Over the next several years, more
than a million Armenians were murdered in a calculated campaign to
rid Turkey of all Armenians. In other words, the so-called Young Turk
government committed genocide against the Armenian people.
Among scholars and genocide experts, there is no doubt about this
issue. The International Association of Genocide Scholars (the
definitive group of scholars on the subject), the Institute on the
Holocaust and Genocide in Jerusalem, and the Institute for the Study
of Genocide have repeatedly affirmed the historical facts of the
Armenian genocide, as has Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel and Pulitzer
Prize Winner Samantha Power.
For those of us who are relatives of survivors there can be no
doubt about this crime. Yet, sometime in the next several weeks,
a federal judge in Boston will hear arguments in a suit brought by
the Association of Turkish American Assemblies and others that seeks
introduce materials into Massachusetts classrooms denying that the
Armenian genocide occurred.
How, after all these years, can this still be open to debate?
Because the Turkish government and its American affiliate continue
to deny that the Young Turks committed this grave crime. And they
continue to seek forums to push their denialist point of view.
Now they’re bringing this campaign to Massachusetts, home to one of
the largest Armenian populations in the nation. They claim that the
Massachusetts Department of Education trampled on the First Amendment
when it decided not to teach “the other side” of the Armenian genocide,
i.e., that the slaughter was just the unfortunate byproduct of civil
war between the Turks and the Armenians.
This claim, refuted by every reputable genocide scholar in the world,
is an affront to thousands of Armenian-Americans living here in
Massachusetts whose families were victims of the Turkish government’s
murderous campaign. And it is particularly offensive for people like
99 year-old John Kasparian of Worcester and 93 year-old Armine Dedikian
of Watertown, two survivors of the slaughter.
For anyone interested in ascertaining the truth about this genocide,
they need merely to hear stories like Mr. Kasparian’s, whose family
left its home the night before the Turkish attack that took 200 of
their fellow villagers and whose brother died of starvation while the
family fled. Or that of Mrs. Dedikian, whose father was killed just
before she was born and who was separated from her mother soon after.
(Mother and daughter were eventually reunited when 15 year-old Armine
arrived alone at Ellis Island to meet her mother, whom she had tracked
down in the U.S., using newspaper ads and family connections.)
Unfortunately, the U.S. government, afraid to offend Turkey, its
military ally, has not taken a stand on this issue. But all 12 members
of our state’s congressional delegation – Senators Kennedy and Kerry
and the 10 representatives in the House – have signed a resolution
calling on the president to recognize the atrocity.
Now we in Massachusetts find ourselves being pulled backwards into
this debilitating debate over whether a genocide, long confirmed by
victims and historians, ever existed. It is more than ironic that this
court case was filed in a year when genocide has once again reared
its ugly head in Darfur, where thousands have died at the hands of
the Sudanese army, and in a year when the Iranian president has once
again put Holocaust denials on the front page. As unfathomable as the
crime of genocide is, it continues to occur in all its savagery. And
as offensive as the official denials are, they also continue, not
only when the crimes occur but for years afterward.
In 1939, when announcing his decision to begin killing Polish men,
women, and children, Hitler infamously uttered “Who, after all,
speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?” He was counting
on the world to forget his atrocities, as he believed the world had
already forgotten the Turkish murders.
Fortunately, the world has not forgotten either the Nazi crimes or
the Turkish slaughter. But denialists continue to try to spread their
peculiar amnesia. We in Massachusetts, home to a significant Jewish
population and one of the largest Armenian-American populations in
the country, must never forget.
Peter Koutoujian is a state representative who lives in Waltham and
Sona Petrossian is a Waban resident.
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ONE DAY WE ALL WILL BECOME MEMBERS OF ONE EUROPEAN FAMILY, FRENCH DEPUTY OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CONVINCED
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The 8th annual
meeting of the European Union-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation
Commission started in Yerevan on April 18. The commission co-chairman,
Chairman of the RA National Assembly Standing Committee of Foreign
Relations Armen Rustamian expressed a hope that this meeting will
also proceed in “an atmosphere of serious and hot discussions and
debates”.”One can say confidently that since the last meeting in
Strasbourg, quite remarkable developments have taken place during
a year both in terms of deepening the Eurointegration processes
and taking yet another step in our relations with the EU,” he
noted. According to A. Rustamin, the interest that the Armenians take
in developing relations with the EU and in European developments is
increasing. “Democracy does not belong to us by right of succession,
and we have to struggle for these values, struggle together with our
friends so that these values will most completely and consistently
strike roots in Armenia,” Speaker of the RA National Assembly Artur
Baghdasarian stated in his welcoming speech. Considering the year
2006 important in terms of settling the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
he said that “Armenia is making quite constructive efforts on this
path” and is pursuing the declared policy of solving the problem by
means of compromises. The commission co-chairwoman, French deputy
of the European parliament Marie Anne Isler Beguin noted that even
if public opinion of Europe as a whole does not yet perceive fully
the idea of cooperation under the European Neighborhood Policy,
“all members of our delegation are absolutely convinced that you
have European roots, and without indicating any date, I say that one
day we all become members of one European family.” In her words,
the commission members are well familiar with the problems facing
Armenia and are willing to assist with their solution. She pointed
out the Karabakh problem as the most important one, so the EU and the
European parliament are closely following the regional developments
and will pursue the goal of peaceful settlement of the Karabakh
conflict. “We don’t think that the Ramboillet meeting failed, just it
was not a summarizing, complete meeting,” Ms.Beguin underlined. At
the same time, she expressed a hope that an outline solution of
the conflict will be ready by the next meeting of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani Presidents, and it will be signed by the heads of both
states. According to her, EU representatives, especially ambassadors,
may play a great role in this issue.