NO INTERNAL POLITICAL CRISIS
Panorama.am
18:40 15/05/06
According to Defense Minister Serj Sargsyan, internal political crisis
did not happen in the political field followed by recent steps taken
by Orinats Yerkir. “No program can be a dogma. Any program is subject
to change. We will try to adapt those program to the Armenia reality,”
S. Sargsyan said.

SERGE SARGSIAN: NOTHING EXTRAORDINARY HAPPENS, WHEN SPEAKER OF RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RESIGNS
By Gohar Gevorgian
AZG Armenian Daily
16/05/2006
“I do not think that anything extraordinary has happened,” Serge
Sargsian, RA defense minister, said in response to the question
about the resignation of Artur Baghdasarian, chairman of RA National
Assembly.
As for the recent withdrawals of the members of Orinats Yerkir party,
Mr. Sargsian said that no pressure was exerted on them. He assured that
people join a party for certain goals to support a certain force and
when that force has problems with the authorities, they have nothing
to do but to leave the party they had joined earlier. Mr. Sargsian
advised to interview Mr. Baghdasarian about his resignation. Mr.
Sargsian added that they do not confront and do not struggle against
each other.

‘I, CITIZEN OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA, …’
By Gohar Sargsian
AZG Armenian Daily
16/05/2006
These are the first words of the oath of those going to their
death. Artur Sarukhanian was the 5th to read it. He was sure
at that moment that he will go to Artsakh and will return with
victory. Mrs. Elmira is reading her son’s diplomas as though expecting
to find out something new, but in fact she can recite what is written
there. She says she remembers everything. Even things that were
written about Artur in a book of dream interpretations.
Artur was born in a house at the backyard of Khachatur Abovian Museum
in 1971. Upon finishing the 103d secondary school he entered the
polygraphic school. In 1989 he was called up to the Soviet army and
served in the special guard of Kremlin. His sublime appearance and
excellent command of Russian language embarrassed foreigners. Only
his surname would indicate his nationality. Artur had an Azerbaijani
mate in Moscow.
Artur did not trust him. Mrs. Elmira says that even commanders worried
about Artur. He often talked about Artsakh with the Azeri and used
to say that it will be liberated some day.
After the events of 1991, Artur came back home. He said he was leaving
for Artsakh. No one believed him.
His mother knew that her son is unable to kill.
Without telling the folks Artur went to military registration and
enlistment office. He asked there to be sent to Artsakh and was
said that it was impossible for then. That very day he met Vazgen
Sargsian. Then he returned home and said with blazing eyes: “Mom,
can you imagine, I played football with Vazgen.”
Nevertheless, Artur left his home for the front. But returned in a
week. There was no uniform for recruits.
In a couple of days Artur got in a car accident.
Opening his eyes at the rehab ward he said: “Let me go. I have to go
to Karabakh. Where are my parents?
They must be looking for me.” His parents were waiting at the
corridor. At that moment Mrs. Elmira was praising God that his Artur
was ok but today she would prefer he had broken his leg to stay
at home.
It was 5 of September. Having liberated 8 villages “Artsiv-1” squad
appeared in encirclement. When the corridor was open, and the squad
began pulling out, Artur did not move. In a distance of 15 meters
to the enemy his fiend was lying dead. Artur would not allow Azeris
take his friend either dead or alive. He crawled to him and tried to
embrace. At that instance a bullet got him.
Mrs. Elmira says that 2 years ago she did not believe that Artur
is no more. She did not see her son’s body, the tomb was empty for
her. Only 2 years ago Artur’s picture was impressed on a khachkar. Now
she visits the memorial; she goes to her Artur. Years passed, and now
was Vazgen Sargsian’s turn to say: “I played football with ‘handsome
Artur’ from Kanaker.”
At the parliamentary elections one of the candidates promised to name
a street after Artur Sarukhanian but he forgot the promise after
the lections. Soon after a new light beamed for her. When the son
of Artur’s brother was born everybody noticed that he is very like
his uncle. Every time his grandma tries to tell him off he says:
“Grandma, don’t you know that I am your Artur?”

PREDICTIONS ARE COMING TRUE
AZG Armenian Daily
16/05/2006
Undoubtedly, it is very concerning that crimes, based on national hate,
are increasing day by day, and RF officials and law enforcement bodies
do not pay a proper attention to these crimes.
Several days ago, the cruel assassination of 17 year-old Vahan
Abrahamianc by chauvinists in the “Pishkinskaja” subway, does confirm
the fact that today society is not protected from the actions of
these rascals. By the way, recently the president of the Unity of
Armenians in Russia Ara Abrahamyan gave a strict criticism regarding
this issue. According to his statement, the number of the victims
subjected to racial discrimination has been doubled, as compared to
the same period of the previous year. It is the time for the officials
to pay a proper attention to this.
We had a conversation with a famous advocate, the former advisor of
the representative on Human Rights of RF, Arbak Khachatryan. He also
condemned state and law enforcement bodies regarding the present
situation.
“Skinheads are rascals who, taking the state bodies as enemy for
them, became more powerful and feel themselves unpunished. I am sure,
that the actions of these rascals can be stopped now only through
many sacrifices,” said A. Khachatryan.
Three years ago, Arbak Khachatryan, in the letters addressed to
the president of RF V. Putin, described in details what Russia will
encounter within the coming 2-3 years. Unfortunately, at that time
Kremlin didn’t pay a serious attention to these proposals.
The lawyer of A. Khachatryan Oksana Kosachova handed me the copies
of the letters addressed to V. Putin in 2003 that concerned the
developments in Russia and the countries of the region within the
coming 2-3 years.
A. Khachatryan said that he didn’t want to talk about the
discrimination implemented by some powers and bodies towards national
minorities, as there are people who would give political meaning to
his words.
But in the near future, he will answer the questions of the readers of
“Azg”.
When the conversation came to an end, I began to think about how the
Check businessmen, Valeri Bugrov and other Russian businessmen felt,
whose fake and baseless testimonies isolated A. Khachatryan from
political, social field for three years. I would like to inform the
readers that at the present the lawyers of A. Khachatryan continue
the processes of justification and rehabilitation in high instances,
while a group of lawyers have allied to European Court in order to
make the Check businessmen and Valeri Bugrov bear the appropriate
liability. I hope we would be able to discuss these issues more
detailed during our up-coming meeting.
Letter To The president of RF Vladimir Putin
From: The former advisor of the representative on Human Rights of RF
Arbak Khachatryan
Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,
In January 2003, I turned to you regarding the actions of some
officials whose activity can take the relationships between Moscow
and some countries of CIS to crisis. There was a prognosis regarding
the relationships with Georgia, Moldavia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and
Armenia-Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which is more painful to me. I place
the blame for all this on governors and their trustees. Meantime,
we are going to encounter such strategic problems, like Caspian
oil pipeline and gas pipeline issues. I think there are the same
problems in Ukraine as well, where anti-Russian sentiments are going
to increase.
After my letter, by the efforts of some political Lilliputians, I was
arrested. DEP FSS of RF turned to the investigative service of FSS
with operative information stating that I am one of the leaders of
criminal international group and have ties with the bosses of mafia
from Corsica to Cyprus and if I stay in freedom, the diplomatic
relationships between Russia and Armenia will get destroyed. The
creator of this “detective story” was the leadership of Armenia.
I got acquainted with these documents.
Officially, the reason of my arrest was the accusation of
contraband. The close friend of my family didn’t declare the
money during the flight from Moscow to Yerevan. After the repeated
interrogatories within 9 months (attempt of suicide, Psychiatric
hospital) he gave a testimony that I gave him money and asked him
intentionally not to declare the money and added that at the passage
through VIP lounge they check very badly. This was the base of the
accusative conclusion of smuggling. This episode was classified as
“smuggling in extremely big amount”. A smuggler who transfers drugs,
weapons is considered to be less dangerous then a passenger who,
because of run of time, didn’t declare the money. Damage to Russia
and its citizens doesn’t exist. Perhaps, that’s why the prosecutor
asked for a sentence of 7 years. From 7 to 12 years in jail await
under this article. Golovinski court of Moscow brought in the verdict
of not guilty.
But the executors weren’t satisfied with this, as it would mean that
I was kept in Lefortovo illegally.
State court of Moscow, being in “despair”, sent the case for the new
review of law. Why in “despair”?
Because I must be informed of the date, place and the subject of the
hearing beforehand. While I was informed of it only after the hearing
of the process.
There are different types of methods. It is not necessary to have
direct evidence for the verdict.
Sometimes it is enough to disseminate fake information, which will
influence the decision of the Judge.
These presumptuous executors think that they can rule the fates of
people and even nations. Economy and international relationships
get destroyed because of such activity. It is possible to restore
the economy and the welfare of people, while it is impossible to
root out the international conflict. What’s going on now between
Russian and people from the Caucasus?. The whole world became our
enemy. People living in the Caucasus do hate each other and everybody
realizes that this is the guilt of the governors and their trustees. 60
percent of the population in Armenia has left the country. Emigrants
are struggling for elementary survival. They are humiliated, put in
jail because of a sell of air tickets, they are accused of assisting
terrorism. Armenia doesn’t provide them with legal protection. Do
these governors, who don’t have dignity for their nation, can be
worthy leaders and political partners.
Unfortunately, any problem in Russia and not only in Russia, is
solved by making law stricter. Every citizen of Russia is glad to
have a powerful and faithful president. But when a political figure
(Grizlov) declared for more then 300 deputies (I apologize in front
of the deputies who are not in that list) that they will support
any candidate represented by the President in 3 years, it reminds
me of the horse of the Roman Emperor, which has a right of voice
in Senate, as it was the wish of the Emperor. These “people” fill
order for lifetime. They get power by accident and have one method
of work-Stalin method.
Weak people either are killed or sent to jail without a reason. These
methods will take the country to a very sad end.
It is proper to a man to cover up the action of the members of his
team. However, this kind of actions of the head of the country can
bring to a very painful situation for the country.
My request to you is connected with the law enforcement bodies and
justice, as life, more or less, has taught us to understand people,
who, being in despair, fill order against their will. We can at least
admire genius of lawyers, who edited the content of the article about
the motives of imprisonment.
The person, who didn’t declare the money, free. I pray he wouldn’t be
sentenced to imprisonment. I have a condescending attitude towards
the witnesses as well, as I don’t have a right to blame people,
who, in order to survive, behaved themselves unfaithful towards my
personality. I don’t have anything against those people, who gave
a testimony while being in a frustrating situation and generals who
became private.
I have questions only to those people, who are guilty for my arrest
and have immense power.
I am asking you to help me regarding two questions.
Firstly, there are the copies of the letters in the criminal case
addressed to a company, which is in Check Republic which involved
in the signatures of leaders of Gazprom as well. Originals of these
letters are in Czech Republic. I am asking you to help me in obtaining
the expertise of these signatures, so in future the case won’t be
given a political color.
Second-When I was getting acquainted with the criminal case, I learned
that I was fired before 2 days of my arrest. Doesn’t it remind you
of Stalin period?
Before my arrest I was the head of the Russian delegation on Human
rights in France. After my return, the members of the commission
came to you together with the solicitation for granting me a rang
of first class. This day coincided with the day of my dismissal. My
lawyer possesses the authentic copies of these documents. This issue
is of a moral importance to me.
After the first letter I am sure that you will receive this information
with the distortion of the content, if you receive it at all. I
dictated the text to my lawyer, so you can receive the information
through NGOs and Mass media.
Sincerely, Arbak Khachatryan.

SECOND STAGE OF SEARCH OF CRASHED A320’S BLACK BOXES LAUNCH
By Ruzan Poghosian
AZG Armenian Daily
16/05/2006
Aleksander Davidenko, head of RF Transport Ministry’s Federal Agency
of Marine and River Transport, stated that “Cheleken” ship began
taking samples out of the water, where the airbus plunged. He added
that “Navigator” ship will continue the search in the place of the
crash. It is envisaged that marine research equipment will be taken
on the board of “Navigator” to get concrete data on the signals that
come from the seabed. The specialists state that the first stage of
the search works is completed. “We have elaborated the information we
had in the first stage and that will help to begin the second stage of
the search works. We expect soon to find the “black boxes.” Davidenko
said, adding that they will look for more powerful marine research
equipment in all the countries of the world to successfully complete
the search works.
The specialists state that though they know where the signals come
from, that will be very hard to take the “black boxes” out of the
seabed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A SYRIAN MONASTERY LIES AT THE NEXUS OF ISLAM, CHRISTIANITY
AZG Armenian Daily
16/05/2006
It is late afternoon at the monastery of Deir Mar Musa on the edge
of the Syrian desert and the only sounds are the call of desert birds
and the whisper of the breeze over time-worn stones.
Until, that is, a group of Muslim schoolgirls arrive from a nearby town
to fill the monastery’s valley with laughter and joyful chattering.
“Keep the noise down. This is a monastery,” bellows the Rev. Paolo
Dall’Oglio, the monastery’s Italian Jesuit founder, looking stem for
a moment before breaking into a broad, proud smile.
The monastery of Deir Mar Musa was first built by Greek monks in the
sixth century as a remote retreat from the material and political
world. Abandoned in the 19th century, it once again houses a small
religious community. But now, under its second founder, Father
Dall’Oglio, it is on the forefront of politics with a fresh approach
to bridge-building with the Islamic world.
“When I arrived here 25 years ago, Syria was [a] center of the struggle
between communism and capitalism,” says Dall’Oglio, dressed in a
worn gray pullover. “And today it is the crossroads between Islam
and Christianity.”
“For us, dialogue really starts from being curious about others,” he
says, explaining that instead of proselytizing, the Catholic Church
now advocates building bridges with Islam.
Through day-to-day interaction, bridge-building is what the Deir
Mar Musa’s six monks and nuns and several lay assistants are working
toward. Traveling to local Muslim communities they work with Muslim
leaders to improve opportunities for young people, promote ecological
awareness, and arrange theological discussions between religious
leaders.
“It’s really just a simple, evangelical life,” he says, stroking
silvery beard. “I accept pluralism as a gift from God.”
In 1977, DeU’oglio began studying Arabic in Damascus, where he soon
heard about a ruined Byzantine monastery 50 miles away on the edge
of the Syrian desert.
Five years later he made his first visit. After leaving the main
road and trekking into barren hills, he arrived at a crumbling
building. Clambering through the ruins, he found himself in a roofless
church staring at medieval frescos slowly dissolving beneath the sun,
wind, and rain.
“I came here for 10 days of prayer and meditation,” he says. When he
returned to Damascus, he began laying plans for nearly a decade to
restore the ruins and make it the home for a new sort of monastery.
Now on one typical April day, the restored monastery is visited by
a busload of noisy Muslim schoolgirls on a field trip, two Syrian
Christian soldiers in camouflage uniforms, and a stream of foreign
backpackers and tourists. “Sometimes on Fridays thousands of people
come,” says Dell’oglio. “For Muslims, a Christian monastery is a holy
place. And Muslims know that monasteries like this were protected by
the prophet Muhammad himself.
The monastery also combines medieval monasticism with Arab traditions
of hospitality by extending free accommodation to all travelers –
provided they help with cleaning, washing the dishes, and collecting
Jitter from, the- surrounding hills.
“Our hospitality is really a political program,” he says. “I would
say to the [American] people ‘come to Syria and discover the human
values of these people – Muslims and Christians.'”
“Yes, we have problems [in the region] but let us consider the
problems of the Middle East as a problem within one family and not
as the problems of an enemy.
Let us look for another logic beyond the logic of military aggression
and occupation and see that we are one humanity. Peace is something
that you build with your enemies.”
Ironically the monastery’s very success at attracting visitors means
that the monks now have little time for meditation or study. Recently
they have refurbished another old monastery 30 miles further north
as well as ancient caves throughout the surrounding stony hillsides.
“We consider ourselves at home when we are surrounded by guests,”
says Dell’oglio. “But obviously sometimes we get tired and so we have
caves where people can go for some quiet.”
Not surprisingly, many visitors find it difficult to leave. One young
French woman is coming to the end of nearly two years of living in the
monastery and working with local people as an agricultural engineer.
“This place is like something wonderful,” she says.
“Every day I wake up here and think that I just want to live here
for always and always.”
But Dell’oglio rubs his eyes tiredly when asked about the future of the
region, and particularly of Syria’s 1 million native Christians. He
says if relations with the West worsen, it will get more difficult
for Christians to stay in Syria.
His concerns are shared in the Syrian capital, Damascus.
“The Christians in Syria are very worried about the future,” says
Ayman Abdul Nour, a Syrian reform leader in Damascus. He notes that
a disproportionate number of visa seekers at North American embassies
are Christians.
But while Dell’oglio is concerned about Syrian Christians, he’s also
thinking globally.
“The big issue is whether there can even be a future without religious
harmony,” says Paolo. “To build religious harmony is to build a future
for humanity.
It’s not going to be easy but I say let’s do it. Bring it on.”
The Christian Science Monitor, Monday 1 May 2006.

California Courier Online, May 18, 2006
1 – Commentary
Turkey Declares Diplomatic War
On France on Armenian Genocide Law
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
2 – Lucy Mardian, 85, wife of former mayor of Phoenix, dies
3 – Armenia Fund Donates $25,000
To Plane Crash Victims’ Families
4 – Triple X Golf Tournament
Will Benefit Youth Camps
5 – Turkish PM Asks French Firms
To Help Defeat Genocide Bill
6 – Parliament Deputy Hranush Hakobyan, Actress Nora Armani
Will Highlight AIWA’s 15th Anniversary Celebrations
7 – ArmenBar Holds 17th Annual
Convention in Washington, D.C.
8 – Diocesan Council
Officers Elected
****************************************** *******************************
1 -Commentary
Turkey Declares Diplomatic War
On France on Armenian Genocide Law
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
The Turkish government gets embroiled in diplomatic conflicts every time that
a country acknowledges the Armenian Genocide. However, what happened this
month is extraordinary even by Turkish standards. Ankara simultaneously recalled
its ambassadors from France and Canada to express its displeasure at these
countries’ stands on the Armenian issue. The confrontation with Paris hasmuch
more serious repercussions as Turkey is caught between needing France’s
support to join the European Union and going on an all-out offensive attempting to
stop the French Parliament from adopting a law on May 18 that would make the
denial of the Armenian Genocide a criminal offense. After recalling its
Ambassador to France, Ankara threatened to exclude French companies from
multi-billion dollar tenders, called for a boycott of French products, rallied the
Turkish community in France against this law, placed ads in various French
newspapers, pressured French companies operating in Turkey to lobby againstthis bill,
and dispatched teams of Turkish politicians, trade union officials and
businessmen to Paris to dissuade the French Parliament from such action. Both the
Turkish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister met with their French counterparts,
urging them to prevent their Parliament from considering such a law. The
Turkish government is outraged that the Armenian Genocide issue is being raised
once again in the heart of Europe, despite Ankara’s extensive efforts to
relegate this “tragedy” to the dustbin of history. Consequently, Turkey hasresorted
to all sorts of political and economic pressures, even threats and blackmail,
to thwart the passage of the new law. In their desperation, Turkish leaders
have shamelessly tried to use the argument that the ban on genocide denial would
constitute suppression of freedom of expression! Turkey is in no position
to lecture anyone, especially a democracy like France, about the protectionof
civil rights. A pariah state like Turkey, that has long violated just about
every human right of its citizens, makes itself the laughing stock of the entire
world when it tries to give lessons to Europeans on civil liberties. The fact
is that Turkey is using all possible means in its disposal and making up
ridiculous arguments in order to silence discussion of the Armenian Genocide in
France. Regrettably, it appears that even some highly-educated and
independent-minded Turkish individuals, along with a handful of Armenians, have been
fooled by the shenanigans of the denialist leaders in Turkey. Since these
otherwise reputable individuals have come forward opposing the French bill on
grounds that it limits freedom of expression, I must say that in a perfect world no
government should restrict any of the liberties of its citizens. As the
publisher of a newspaper, I value highly freedom of the press and take full
advantage of it in my weekly columns. However, I realize that even in the United
States, where such freedoms are cherished and zealously guarded, legal limits have
been placed on them, such as libel, defamation and fraud. Freedom of speechis
therefore not an absolute right in the United States, and even less so in
France, where verbally assaulting the dignity of an individual is itself a crime
under French law! Many European countries, where such freedoms are further
restricted by outlawing racism, anti-Semitism, and advocacy of crimes against
humanity, have laws that specifically criminalize the denial of the Jewish
Holocaust. Such restrictions have not only been sanctioned by national laws, but
by the European Court for Human Rights. Isn’t it ironic that neither a single
Turkish official nor any of those siding with Turkey’s position on this bill
have uttered a single word against such restrictions on freedom of speech in a
dozen or so European countries? But, all of a sudden, when the French
Parliament considers making the denial of the Armenian Genocide a criminal offense,
all sorts of complaints are voiced about the sanctity and inviolability of
freedom of speech. There seems to be an unacceptable double standard in this
matter. Logically, either these other laws are also considered to be restrictive of
the freedom of speech, in which case Ankara should have complained about them
years ago, or they are not, in which case Turkish officials should not utter
a single word of complaint now! Last week, nine prominent citizens of Turkey
(Murat Belge, Halil Berktay, Hrant Dink, Muge Gocek, Ahmet Insel, Etyen
Mahcubyan, Baskin Oran, Elif Shafak, and Ragip Zarakolu) who are well-knownfor
their opposition to the Turkish state’s denial of the Armenian Genocide,
surprised everyone by issuing a hasty statement which put them inadvertently and
uncomfortably in bed with Genocide denialists! They condemned the proposed French
law by claiming that the ban on the denial of the Armenian Genocide would not
only curb free discussion of this issue in France, but even more so in Turkey.
These professors and journalists, who are frequently accused of being
traitors to their nation by the Turkish “deep state,” were probably trying to
rehabilitate their reputations in Turkey by issuing a statement that criticized both
Armenians and Turks. However, they seem to have overlooked five key points in
making their joint declaration:
Their utopian view of freedom of expression contradicts the Europeans’
long-standing acceptance of certain restrictions for the sake of higher values, such
as the rights and dignity of the victims of racism, genocide and crimes
against humanity.
These nine individuals singled out the proposed ban on the denial of the
Armenian Genocide in France, while remaining silent on the criminalization of the
denial of the Holocaust throughout Europe. Why is the former considered
suppression of free speech, while the latter is not?
No moral equivalence should be drawn between laws in Europe banning the
denial of the Armenian Genocide and Turkish laws banning its recognition. In
Europe, it is against the law to lie, while in Turkey, it is against the law to tell
the truth on genocide!
They unfairly accuse “Armenian nationalists” for supporting laws limiting
freedom of expression in France. This law is being debated and considered not by
“Armenian nationalists” but by the French Parliament. It is simply untrue that
the Armenian minority in France, that constitutes less than 1% of the
country’s population, controls the French Parliament’s actions and decisions. Similar
laws have been or are being passed also in Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.
Do “Armenian nationalists” control the parliaments of these countries too?

The proposed law, if adopted, would not ban the discussion or even the debate
on the facts of the Armenian Genocide. It would simply ban its denial.
The rationale behind the French Parliament’s intent to pass such a law is
very simple and straightforward. When the French government adopted a law in
January 2001, stating that France recognized the Armenian Genocide, no punitive
damages were assigned for those violating that law. The French Parliament is now
trying to correct that oversight by prescribing a punishment for those
denying the Armenian Genocide. This is why the title page of the proposed law states
that it is intended for the “completion” of the law of 2001. Finally, all
those who are unhappy that such a law is being considered by the French
Parliament, should note that the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, 91 years after
the fact, are still hounded by a country that brings to bear all of its
powerful political and economic resources to boycott, bully and threaten everyone
around the world, from journalists to politicians, in order to silence any and
all mention of the Armenian Genocide. The descendants of the survivors of the
Armenian Genocide, who are engaged in a David vs. Goliath struggle, use what
little clout they can muster to counter the onslaught of the Turkish state,which
makes no distinction between legal and illegal means, and shows no regard for
any kind of rights, starting from the right to life and ending with the right
to be free of abuse and insults. All the while, the fledgling Republic of
Armenia, due to its many domestic problems, is unable to come to the defense of
its compatriots scattered in the four corners of the globe, leaving them alone
to fend for themselves in the face of the massive Turkish assault. The
proposed French law also corrects the existing imbalance in French law between
punishing the denial of the Holocaust, but not the denial of the Armenian
Genocide. It eliminates a glaring double standard! All those who are sidingwith the
denialist Turkish state on this bill are consciously or unconsciously backing
the victimizers against
the victims! Since the final stage of any genocide is its denial, and since
committing genocide is punishable by law, so should its denial! Even if this
law is not adopted this week by the French Parliament, the bullying behavior
exhibited once again by the Turkish government on this occasion, would surely
further erode its low standing in the eyes of the European public. A country
that uses threats and boycotts against its future partners cannot then turn
around and ask for their support to gain entry into the European Union.
Furthermore, thanks to the Turkish overreaction to this proposed law, Ankara has once
again managed to do something Armenians could never have accomplished on their
own: it has placed the Armenian Genocide issue on the front pages of
newspapers around Europe and indeed around the world. The only thing that would top
this in the future is if the Turkish government would repeat its erratic
behavior in many more countries. Should that happen, Turkey would withdraw its
ambassadors from several countries, cancel all trade, boycott foreign products, and
become an isolated pariah state – a fitting punishment for a denialist regime!
***************************************** *********************************
2 – Lucy Mardian, 85, wife of former mayor of Phoenix, dies
By Brent Whiting
The Arizona Republic
PHOENIX, AZ – Lucy Mardian, wife of a former Phoenix mayor and a member of an
influential Arizona family, died Friday.
Friends said the 85-year-old Mardian will be remembered for her years of
service to Phoenix in a number of civic and charitable ventures.
“She was the ultimate lady, absolutely,” said Anne Walsh, widow of Mason
Walsh, a former publisher of The Arizona Republic.
“She was the type of woman everybody would like to have as a sister,” she
added.
Her husband, Sam Mardian Jr., 86, served as mayor from 1960-64. The Mardians
celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on Dec. 1.
“She was totally devoted to her children,” said Sam Mardian III, 62, oldest
of the couples’ five children, when reached at his father’s Phoenix home.
Dennis Mitchem, director of corporate relations for Northern Arizona
University, described Lucy as a warm and friendly person.
“She could laugh at herself and at things going on around her,”Mitchem said.
“She could lighten up things when political things
would sometimes get tense.”
He described her death as a true loss to the community and to her family.
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Mayor
Mardian and his family for the loss of his wife.”
Lucy served with the Phoenix Symphony Guild, Phoenix Art Museum League and
hospital, charitable and Kiwanis Club auxiliaries.
She had been in failing health for a number of months, said the Rev. Peter K.
Perry, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church.
It was always a joy to meet with the Mardians and hear them reflect on the
years he was active in politics, he said.
The Mardians moved to Phoenix in 1947 from Pasadena, Calif., to join his
brothers in the construction business.
Lucy Mardian, formerly Lucy Keshishian, was born in Cyprus on Oct. 6, 1920.
Her family and the Mardians came from Hadjin, a small village in Armenia.
Her parents and her husband’s parents knew each other in Armenia but went
separate ways.
Lucy and Sam met in 1939 after the Keshishians traveled across the country
from New York to attend an Armenian picnic in California.
She is survived by her husband and five children, Sam III of Meyer; Jim of
Paradise Valley; Carol Pickens and Doug, both of Phoenix, and Steve of
Scottsdale, and five grandchildren.
Funeral services were held May 11 at the First United Methodist Church, 5510
N. Central Ave, Phoenix.
************************************************** ************************
3 – Armenia Fund Donates $25,000
To Plane Crash Victims’ Families
LOS ANGELES – Armenia Fund and its worldwide affiliates donated $25,000 to
the account set up to assist the families of the recent airliner crash that
occurred in the Black Sea on May 2, 2006. The amount was approved during the
Fund’s Board of Trustees meeting which took place on May 5, 2006 in Yerevan.
The government of Armenia has set up an international account for the families
of the victims of flight 967. The airliner crash is the worst aviation
disaster in the history of Armenia,
prompting the President to declare May 5 and 6 as official days of mourning
in the republic.
Armenia Fund’s U.S. Western Region leadership was on hand during and after
the disaster in Yerevan. “Armenia Fund stands ready to further provide
financial and moral assistance to the victims of this tragic incident. Armenia Fund
will make every effort to help our nation recover from this disaster,” stated
Maria Mehranian at a press conference following the Board of Trustees
meeting.
Individuals or organizations interested in assisting the victims’ families
through monetary means may donate to Armenia Fund and specify it as “Armavia
Victims’ Account”. Armenia Fund will safely transfer the entire amount to the
international account. Tax-deductible Donations could be sent to Armenia
Fund, Inc. 111 N. Jackson St. Ste. 205, Glendale, CA 91206 or by making a secure
online donation at (Please specify “Armavia Victims’
Account). Armenia Fund, Inc. is a reliable entity that draws years of experience
in facilitating humanitarian aid to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh.
International leaders and officials also sent their condolences. U.S.
Congressman Adam Schiff, representing the 29th District, pledged full U.S. support
for the investigation of the crash. “I have been in contact with the National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is the transportation investigative
arm of the U.S. government and is widely recognized as the preeminent agency in
the world at investigating the cause of aircraft accidents. TheNTSB has
informed me that they stand ready to assist Armenian and Russian authorities in
investigating the disaster and that either your government or the Russian
government can request assistance through the United States Embassy in Yerevan or
Moscow”, stated Schiff in a letter to President Kocharian.
Armenia Fund, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation
established in 1994 to facilitate large-scale humanitarian and infrastructure
development assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. Armenia Fund, Inc. is the U.S.
Western Region affiliate of “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund. Tax ID# 95-4485698
*************************************** ************************************
4 – Triple X Golf Tournament
Will Benefit Youth Camps
LOS ANGELES – For over 75 years the Los Angeles Chapter of the Triple X
Fraternity of California has enjoyed a reputation as an organization that has
contributed to the Armenian community while providing a social setting thatis
well-known throughout the state.
Part of that heritage includes the annual Armenian Open Golf Tournament, a
tradition that was started in 1955 and is eagerly anticipated each year. Since
its inception the tournament has raised over $250,000 that has been distributed
to various Armenian charities at home and abroad. The proceeds from 2005 went
to two Armenian youth camps.
This year the fraternity is presenting its’ 51th Annual Tournament on June 16
at the prestigious Brookside Country Club in Pasadena, California. The
organizers of the event stress that golfers of all skill levels are invitedand
that there are trophies for each level, including a Senior flight. The trophies
will be given at an awards banquet immediately following the tournament. There
will be a sumptuous dinner, a raffle that promises to be a lot of fun, and
overall general camaraderie that occurs when Armenian golfers get together!
Those interested in participating or getting more information should call Tev
Eminian (818-366-7888) or Mike Kourtjian (818-885-6500).
********’************************* ****************************************
5 – Turkish PM Asks French Firms
To Help Defeat Genocide Bill
ANKARA (AP) – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with
representatives of French companies Tuesday and warned them that a French bill
criminalizing denial of Armenian genocide would damage relations between their
countries, the state-owned Anatolia news agency reported. Erdogan’s spokesman
confirmed the meeting took place.
On Monday, Turkey recalled its ambassador to Paris over the proposed bill,
which would make it a crime to deny that the mass killings of Armenians by
Ottoman Turks at the beginning of the 20th century constituted a genocide.
The French bill was proposed by the opposition socialists and submitted to
the French parliament. It is similar to a law making it a crime in France to
deny the Holocaust of World War II.
Turkey has used economic leverage before to punish France for its stance on
this issue: in 2001, Turkey canceled millions of dollars worth of defense deals
with French companies after lawmakers in France recognized the killings of
Armenians in Turkey as genocide.
Erdogan reportedly told the assembled company representatives in Ankara that
he wanted them to pressure the French government not to enact it. “We expect
executives of French firms to react to the draft law,” Erdogan was quoted as
saying, warning that its passage would negatively affect relations. Erdogan
added that the law was not conducive to freedom of thought and expression,
Anatolia reported.
Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was widely quoted in the
Turkish news media as asking his French counterpart, “Will you throw me in jail
too?” if Gul stated that the killings were not genocide, which is official
Turkish government policy.
The recalling of the ambassador was a strong statement by Turkey, which faces
an uphill battle to win over the French public in hopes of gaining eventual
entrance to the European Union.
Turkey also recalled its ambassador to Canada over the genocide issue, saying
remarks by the Canadian prime minister recognizing the genocide could
seriously harm Turkish-Canadian relations. Turkey has said it would return both
ambassadors after consultations in Ankara.
****************************************** *************************
6 – Parliament Deputy Hranush Hakobyan, Actress Nora Armani
Will Highlight AIWA’s 15th Anniversary Celebrations
BOSTON – Hranush Hakobyan, one of only five women deputies in Armenia’s
Parliament, will join in the celebration of the Armenian International Women’s
Association’s 15th Anniversary Gala at the Oakley Country Club in Watertownon
Friday night, May 19.
The evening will feature a performance by actress Nora Armani, who recently
returned to the United States after several years of dividing her time between
London and Paris. Both women have had a long association with AIWA and will
take part also in the organization’s 15th Anniversary Annual Meeting on
Saturday, May 20, at the Winchester Country Club, where the focus will be on “Paths
to Leadership: Armenian Women in Business and Government.”
The public is invited to join AIWA members and friends to celebrate the
achievements of this independent, non-political and non-sectarian organization
dedicated to increasing the visibility of Armenian women and achieving an equal
role in the community.
The Anniversary Gala has been designed as a celebration, with cocktails,
dinner, and music provided by the Artie Barsamian Springtet.
The Annual Meeting on May 20 will begin with registration and coffee at 10
a.m., the business meeting at 10:30 a.m., and luncheon at 12 noon. The luncheon
program will consist of a panel discussion about effective means to encourage
women to assume leadership positions, with Hranush Hakobyan, Massachusetts
State Representative Rachel Kaprielian, Nancy and Michele Kolligian, respectively
Chairman and Director of Human Resources for Distributor Corporation of New
England, and Sharyn S. Boornazian, Leslie University Certification Officer and
Armenia liaison for AIWA’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Program.
Spearheading the Gala Honorary Committee are Margrit and Nishan Atinizian.
The organizing committee is headed by Olga Proudian and co-chaired by Michele
Fashjian and Margaret Kilajian.
The public is cordially invited to the Anniversary Gala on May 19 and the
Annual Meeting on May 20. Further information and reservations are available by
contacting the association at 65 Main St., Watertown, MA; telephone:
617/926-0171; e-mail: [email protected].
************************************************* **************************
7 – ArmenBar Holds 17th Annual
Convention in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, DC – Springtime in the nation’s capitol provided a picturesque
backdrop for the 17th Annual National Meeting of the Armenian Bar Association
(Armenbar). Over 100 judges, lawyers, politicians, dignitaries and membersof
the public attended the meeting at the Embassy Row Hilton near Dupont Circle,
and were treated to a number of interesting activities, elegant receptions and
excellent substantive panel discussions.
Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee, and
Armen Kharazian, Director of Research and Analysis of the Armenian Assemblyof
America, were CO-guests of honor at the meeting luncheon. Hamparian and
Kharazian are head of the two most powerful Armenian lobby groups in the United
States, and offered encouraging words about the Armenian community and the
Republic of Armenia. Kharazian discussed the challenges and opportunities
for
the Armenian community, and stressed the areas of Genocide recognition and
assistance to Armenian, while Hamparian suggested that Armenians overcome their
past and become assertive and forceful in their efforts to obtain their
goals. Hamparian stressed the importance of activism, especially in topicssuch as
Genocide recognition and prevention. The meeting included a full day of
informative topics and lectures. Following a general business meeting, presided
over by Chairman Gary Moomjian, the membership voted on the appointment of five
new Board members.
The vote resulted in Federal Judges and Honorary Life Members Dickran
Tevrizian and Larry Burns being elected along with Armenbar Vice-Chairmanand
Chairman elect Frank Zerunyan, a City Councilman from Rolling Hills Estates,
California and accomplished attorneys Garo Hovannisian and Sonya Nercessian all
joining the Board. Tevrizian, Zerunyan and Hovannisian were on the Board
and the election installed them into their second terms.
The first lecture was given by Jacob Bournazian on the US Energy market and
the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Bournazian has been a spokesman for the US
Department of Energy under both the Clinton and the current Bush administrations.
Bournazian discussed the current US energy situation, reliance on foreign
producers of oil and other energy related prospects, in addition to future
trends and possible alternate energy sources.
Speaking next was Olga Ruda, a legal analyst and Deputy Coordinator of the
Judicial Reform Focal Area with the American Bar Association’s Central European
and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA/CEELI). She is primarily responsible for
managing and the implementation of the Judicial Reform Index, an assessmenttool
designed to analyze the compliance of a country’s judiciary with fundamental
international standards on judicial independence. She spoke of the situation
in Armenia, giving constructive criticism and pointing out areas needing
improvement in the Armenian judicial system.
The first afternoon panel was on the topic of the Griswold v. Driscoll case
in Massachusetts. In the pending case, plaintiffs challenge the Genocide
curriculum in the Massachusetts public school system and seek to force the Board of
Education to include references to Genocide denial materials. In response to
the case, Armenbar assembled a team of attorneys and law firm, including
Bingham McCuthcheon and Wilmer Hale. Former Armenbar Treasurer and currentRights
Watch Chair Saro Kerkonian was the moderator while Zerunyan gave an overview
of Armenbar’s efforts in opposing the case. Ariel Waldman of the WilmerHale
firm discussed the research of the cases which went into the filing of an
amicus brief by Armenbar. David Balabanian, the first Chairman of Armenbar,
and a preeminent attorney in California, discussed strategies and
considerations in putting together the Amicus brief with Mona Simonian, ofhis firm.
Genocide reparations was the final topic and the panel was moderated by
Thomas Samuelian, current Dean of the Law Department of the American University
of Armenia (AUA) in Yerevan. Samuelian is also the former Chairman of
Armenbar. He was joined by Manuk Hergnyan, Executive Director of Vem Spyur Media
Company in Yerevan, and Hakob Martirosyan, who holds a LLM from AUA. The panel
discussed such issues as the return of land to the Armenian community and
the Armenian Church, who have evidence in the form of deeds to real property
in Turkey. The panel also looked into the projected monetary losses suffered
by the Armenians during the Genocide.
On Saturday evening, Armenbar held a lavish reception at the Armenian
Embassy. Arman Israelyan, Counsel General of the Embassy gave words of
congratulations and encouragement to those in attendance. Lisa Barsoumian was the hostess
for the reception, and Moomjian offered a donation of $1,000.00 to the
Embassy, pointing out with pride that the members were technically on Armenian soil
while in the Embassy.
Nevart Jamgotchian, Armenbar Executive Director Betty Jamgotchian’s mother,
and Nicholas Simonian, nephew of Armenbar Treasurer Vicken Simonian, provided
musical entertainment with several selections from the grand piano, including
the Armenian National Anthem.
On the last day of the meeting, the Board met once again to choose the
Officers of the corporation. Zerunyan was hairman, Melineh Verma of the Wilmer Hale
firm was appointed Vice-Chair, Rita Bojalian, an employment specialist with
CBS, became Secretary and Edvin Minassian, a certified specialist in worker’s
compensation law, became Treasurer.
On May 1, several members and guests of Armenbar attended a session of the US
Supreme Court, where nine members were sworn in into the court. Shahinian
served as the sponsor who presented the qualified Armenian attorneys to the
court. Armenbar had the largest number of applicants that day. It was a
memorable experience for all in attendance, as they ere able to see the court in
action, with its two newest members, Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate
Justice Samuel Alito.
Armenbar will next meet in Philadelphia in mid-September, for its Midyear
meeting. The Board of Governors resolved to hold s 2006 Annual National meeting
in Santa Monica, California.
************************************** ************************************
8 – Diocesan Council
Officers Elected
COSTA MESA, Calif. – At the conclusion of the 79th Assembly of the Diocesan
Assembly on May 6, the delegates elected the officers after two days of
deliberations, reports and discussion.
Held at the St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Costa mesa, the Assembly,
conducted under the auspices of the Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
elected the following slate of officers: Diocesan Assembly Vice Chair Deacon Rod
Jorjorian
Diocesan Assembly Armenian Secretary Archpriest Fr. Sipan Mekhsian; Diocesan
Assembly English Secretary Shoghig Giragosian; Diocesan Council – clergy Rev.
Fr. Yeghia Hairabedian; Archpriest Fr. Vartan Kasparian; Diocesan Council –
laymen Ben Krikorian, Deacon Barlow Der-Mugrdechian, Joseph Kanimian,
Esq.,,Armen Hampar, Auditing Committee Sarkis Der Sarkisian The Primate presented this
year’s Archbishop’s Award to Mrs. Lily Balian, Chair of the Ladies’ Auxiliary.
The Primate commended Mrs. Balian’s service over the past many years, as well
as her extensive accomplishments in a variety of fields. The Primate presented
certificates of “Blessings and Appreciation” to the sponsors of the banquet,
donors, and the members of the organizing committee.
*************************************** *************************************
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**
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ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
05/15/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Orinats Yerkir Members Follow Baghdasarian Out of Government 2) Turkey Threatens French with Sanctions over Armenian Genocide Law 3) US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Nominee Affirms Commitment to Peaceful Resolution of Karabagh Conflict 4) Repatriation Efforts in Georgia to Negatively Affect Georgian Armenians 1) Orinats Yerkir Members Follow Baghdasarian Out of Government YEREVAN (RFE/RL/Armenpress)The Orinats Yerkir party of outgoing Parliament Speaker Artur Baghdasarian, lost yet another Parliament member to the ruling coalition on Monday. However, several senior government officials affiliated with the party remained loyal to the Baghdasarian, heeding his calls to resign. Baghdasarian cited growing policy disagreements with Kocharian, and the two other parties in the ruling coalition, the Republican Party and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, as he officially announced his resignation and Orinats Yerkir's withdrawal from the Armenian government on Friday. Baghdasarian stopped short of blaming Kocharian for this month's defection of a dozen Orinats Yerkir parliamentarians, which precipitated the party's exit. According to Prime Minister and Republican Party member Andranik Markarian, Orinats Yerkir's withdrawal from the coalition was inevitable because of Baghdasarian's disagreements with the socioeconomic and foreign policies pursued by Armenia's leadership. He noted in particular that its repeated demands for providing large-scale compensation to Armenians who lost their Soviet-era bank savings during the early 1990s "ran counter to the economic policy of our state." He also rejected Baghdasarian's recent calls for Armenia's eventual membership in NATO as "unacceptable".  Orinats Yerkir's faction in the 131-seat legislature was reduced to just nine members after another defection Monday. The latest defector, Mekhak Mkhitarian, issued no explanations, just like the nine other lawmakers that have left Orinats Yerkir since May 5. So far, all three Armenian ministers that have represented Orinats Yerkir have ignored Baghdasarian's demands to resign, choosing instead to remain in the government. One of them, Education Minister Sergo Yeritsian, was the party's deputy chairman until last Friday. Two other prominent Orinats Yerkir figures, Mher Shahgeldian and Gagik Mkheyan, who head the parliament committees on defense and social affairs, announced that they will formally quit with Baghdasarian at the end of this month. Orinats Yerkir has also had five deputy ministers in the coalition cabinet of President Robert Kocharian. Three of them said on Monday that they remain loyal to Baghdasarian and will comply with his orders. "On Friday, after Artur Baghdasarian's news conference, I handed the minister [of labor] a letter to the prime minister asking him to relieve me of my duties," said Artsruni Aghajanian, deputy minister of labor and social affairs. "I am one of those individuals who participated in the party's creation and don't find it moral to even consider staying [in the government]." "I have abandoned the post of deputy minister to stay with my party," said Ara Grigorian, deputy minister of trade and economic development. "I tendered my resignation on Friday." Similar decisions are understood to have been made by Gagik Aslanian, another Baghdasarian loyalist who has served as deputy minister for local government, as well as at least two regional vice-governors representing Orinats Yerkir. Party sources claimed that "numerous" other, lower-level Orinats Yerkir officials will follow suit after Baghdasarian formally ceases to be Parliament Speaker. Parliament is expected to accept his resignation without a debate on May 27. It is still unclear who will replace Baghdasarian as Parliament Speaker. Deputy Speaker Tigran Torosian said Monday that it is early to speak about candidates for the job, adding that the Armenian Parliament still has its speaker who is carrying out his duties. 2) Turkey Threatens French with Sanctions over Armenian Genocide Law ANKARA (AFP)--Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened France with trade sanctions if it adopts a bill making it illegal to deny the Armenian genocide, a Turkish newspaper said Sunday. "Patience has its limits. We do not have hatred (towards France) but we will impose our sanctions," the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet quoted Erdogan as saying at a summit of Muslim countries on the Indonesian island of Bali. French lawmakers are due to consider this Thursday a bill from the opposition Socialist Party (PS) which would make anyone denying the Armenian genocide liable to a five-year jail term and a 45,000 Euro (57,000 Dollar) fine. French members of parliament should be "particularly sensitive" to the issue of possible sanctions since France is the number one investor in Turkey, Erdogan said. "There will possibly be problems," he added. France has angered Ankara in the past over the Armenian genocide. In 2001 it adopted a law officially recognizing the massacres that took place starting in 1915 as genocide. Several French businesses were excluded from invitations to conduct business in Turkey amid calls for a boycott of French products following the 2001 law. French exports to Turkey in 2001 law plunged by 3.53 billion dollars, according to Turkish figures. But analysts predict the latest law could have a far greater impact on trade between the two countries than the 2001 bill. Turkey has reached record rates of growth in the past five years and bilateral trade between the countries in 2005 was worth at least 9.6 billion dollars. The 430-member Turkish chamber of commerce has intensified appeals to French leaders including a letter to President Jacques Chirac, urging them to abandon Thursday's vote. 3) US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Nominee Affirms Commitment to Peaceful Resolution of Karabagh Conflict YEREVAN (Yerkir)--During her Senate confirmation hearing Monday, Ambassador-designate Anne Derse reiterated US policy for a peaceful, mutually acceptable resolution to the Karabagh conflict, stating that "a return to violence would be a tragedy." Ambassador-designate Anne Derse responded that if confirmed, she will work toward expanding and strengthening US-Azerbaijan security cooperation and help promote democracy and governance. She said a peaceful settlement to the Karabagh conflict is critical to achieving this goal and expressed hope that President of Armenia Robert Kocharian and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev will work together on this issue. She further stated that as Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the US will also urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to remain engaged in the process and demonstrate political courage. On the issue of democracy, Derse stressed the importance of a genuine effort by Azerbaijan to respect human rights in order to pursue democratic reform and ensure long-term political stability. 4) Repatriation Efforts in Georgia to Negatively Affect Georgian Armenians (Combined Sources)Zaza Imedashvili, a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Housing and Refugees in Tbilisi, said that Georgia's budget this year has allocated 1,227,000 Lari (around 500,000 US Dollars), to resettle thousands of Ajarian Georgians displaced by landslides and other natural disasters. Close to 5,000 families, around 30,000 people all together, are expecting resettlement any day now under a new government program, which is still at a very early stage. The program aims to resettle the ethnic Georgians in areas such as Tsalka and Akhalkalaki, which have predominantly Armenian or Greek populations.  "Everyone understands this policy here," said Sevak Yeranosyan, an Armenian resident of Ninotsminda district in the southern region of Javakheti. "They [the Ajarians] will be resettled to Armenian villages so that there will be a larger Georgian population here." "Their program is to populate our region with Georgians and Ajarians," he said. The Georgian Government insists that the Ajarians are being moved to these regions because of the cheaper housing that is available there. The Georgian Government has also pledged to resettle Meskheti Turks in Georgia by the year 2011, also in the predominantly Armenian populated region of Samtskhe-Javakheti. 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.

PRESS RELEASE
Zavarian Student Association
Yerevanian Bldg, 4th floor, Bourj Hamoud, Lebanon
Tel: (961) 01-240167, (961) 01-265078
Mob: (961) 70-102403
Fax: (961) 01-265078
e-mail: [email protected]
YOUTH AND STUDENT SEMINAR ON “THE ROLE OF THE ARMENIAN STUDENTS IN THE
STRUGGLE FOR THE ARMENIAN CAUSE”
On Sunday the 14th of May, the A.R.F. Zavarian Student Association
organized a seminar entitled `The Role of the Armenian Students in the
Struggle for the Armenian Cause’. The seminar was held at 11 A.M. in
Armenian National Yeghishe Manougian School.
The participants were representatives of Armenian Youth and Student
Associations, Armenian Clubs of the Lebanese universities, and
secondary students of the Armenian schools. Among the people present
at the seminar were the Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon, Vahan Der
Ghevontyan, the representative of the Prelate of the Armenian Orthodox
Church, Mesrob Kezezian, members of the A.R.F. Lebanese Central
Committee, and some principal, and teachers of various Armenian
schools.
After the opening speech by Salpi Kiurkjian, the representative of the
Prelate of the Armenian Orthodox Church, Mesrob Kezezian, and the
Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon, Vahan Der Ghevontyan, delivered
their speeches by praising such events that gather the Armenian youth
and students together.
The seminars first lecturer was Mr. Hagop Pakradouni who lectured
about the Armenian Cause today and its difficulties which was followed
by a lecture by Mr. Mgerditch Mgerditchian about the importance of the
associations and schools in the molding of the Armenian youth and
students.
In the second part of the seminar, Dr. Hovhannes Taslakian lectured
about how the Armenian students can play an active role in the
activities done for the Armenian Cause. The day’s final speech was
presented by Dr. Nora Arisian, who talked about the ways of promoting
the Armenian Cause to foreign students. After the lectures a debate
also took place between the participants and the lecturers.
The seminar ended by the reading of all the ideas discussed and
approved during the seminar.

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICANEWS RELEASE
1 AMERICAN AVENUE
YEREVAN, ARMENIA
TELEPHONE (+374 10) 464700
FAX (+374 10) 464742
E-MAIL: [email protected]
On May 10, 2006 Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians visited
the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan.
On May 10, 2006, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of all Armenians, Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, visited the U.S. Embassy
in Yerevan. His visit marked one year since the opening of the new Embassy
compound. He spoke briefly to Embassy employees and offered a prayer of
blessing upon the peoples of Armenia and the United States of America, and
upon the work of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.