A1+
WHERE ARE WE ARMENIANS AND WHERE ARE WE GOING?
05:18 pm 24 March, 2006
`EUROPE HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS’
`I am afraid that speaking about the collision of civilizations we
will ignore our national development’, advisor of the RA Foreign
Ministry Ashot Voskanyan expressed his concern during the discussion
with the theme `Collision of Civilizations and Armenia’ in the
`Mirror’ club. According to him, it would be better to think not about
the collision of civilizations, but about the solution of social
problems.
The Advisor considers the expression `collision of civilizations’
dangerous and artificial. Mr. Voskanyan fears that the collision
Russia-USA which started during the Soviet times can be replaced by
that of civilizations.
Mr. Voskanyan reminded that when he represented the issue of RA
membership to CE, a number of Europeans asked if the Armenians are
Europeans, `When I said that we are Christians, they said that the
people in Latin America are Christians too, but it doesn’t make them
European’.
Ashot Voskanyan was convinced that Armenia will not be a full member
of CE for a long time. According to him, it is clear for the Europeans
what we want, but they do not understand what we will give them.
Before referring to the main theme, the second guest of the `Mirror’
club Hrach Bayadyan tried to explain what civilization and especially
Western civilization is. As for the confrontation of East and West Mr.
Bayadyan thinks there must not be clear-cut boundaries. «When we speak
about the confrontation of East and West, we spread the ideology
created by the West».
Ashot Voskanyan had a different concept of the West, «The West is
Europe in the extreme, and USA is the West of the West». According to
Mr. Voskanyan, before speaking about civilizations, we Armenians must
understand what our own society is. «For centuries we failed to have
not only statehood but also a society».
He also spoke about his concept of Europe, «Europe has serious
problems. They follow the path of self-purification. The society must
discuss the problems within itself. That is to say, there is a section
in the society which raises these problems. This is Europe. »
To note, during the discussion no one failed to find out which
civilization is Armenia in, where it is going and what it can gain and
lose on its way.

A1+
THE PARLIAMENTARY WEEK IS THE MONOLOGUE OF THE NA SPEAKER?
06:07 pm 24 March, 2006
It turns out that not only the head of the Public TV Radio Company
Council Alexan Haroutyunyan, but also the coalition colleagues of the
Orinats Yerkir party are displeased with the program «Parliamentary
Week». «The society can see that the program is one-sided: it has
turned into a monologue», the head of the Republican Party fraction
Galoust Sahakyan said during the NA briefings, answering the questions
of the journalists.
He brought an example, «In particular, during the hearings about
energy security the speeches of neither the Minister nor the deputies
were shown: it was a monologue». He referred tot eh speech of the NA
Speaker. «And the people have the impression that some people are
interested in the closure of the nuclear power station».
The secretary of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Hrayr
Karapetyan too expressed his negative attitude towards the
«Parliamentary Week». He noted that although they discuss the content
of the program every Friday, «it has improved but a little. »
«We are active in the Parliament, and they show us during the
activity», the head of the Orinats Yerkir fraction Samvel Balasanyan
tried to explain away. He and Mher Shahgeldyan noted that the program
refers to the activity of the Committees, and gives the deputies and
fraction the right to express their points of view.
Secretary of the Justice bloc fraction Viktor Dallakyan announced that
these discussions are an attempt to deprive the opposition of the
right of voice. `This is the continuation of the closure of `A1+’,
deputy of Justice bloc Grigor Haroutyunyan said.
But the other members of the opposition underlined that the
conversations about the program simply confirm the problems within the
coalition.

A1+
CHANGE OF AUTHORITIES LIVE
06:48 pm 24 March, 2006
`Instead of taking up the role of interpreter, Vardan Oskanyan should
have sent a note to the US State Secretariat for offending our
national dignity’, head of the National Unity NA fraction Artashes
Geghamyan announced during the NA briefings.
He reminded that on March 7 the report of the US State Secretariat
about drug trafficking was published in the press. It was commented on
by him and other political figures, but after that `Vardan Oskanyan
was brought to the Parliament to refute it’.
Geghamyan informed that according to the commander of the Russian
military forces in Armenia General-Lieutenant Sergey Bondorev, the
Russian border forces managed to prevent drug trafficking near the
Armenian-Irani border several times. Geghamyan asked why the Armenian
National Security Service did not say anything about it and answered
his question himself, `Because high state officers are involved in the
business’.
Geghamyan informed Kocharyan that they are worried about the country,
that’s why they are ready to negotiation with the authorities on
tensionless change of authorities. `For this purpose we are ready to
negotiate with Robert Kocharyan and Serge Sargsyan live’, Artashes
Geghamyan said.

A1+
ARTASHES MINASYAN – CHAMPION OF ARMENIA
08:00 pm 24 March, 2006
Artashes Minasyan became the chess champion of Armenia. He gained the
right to participate in the chess world Olympiad in the Armenian chess
team. He also won 1.5 million AMD.
The second place was taken by Arman Pashikyan who won 900 thousand
AMD. He also reached the title of Grand Master. The third place was
taken by Tigran Qotanjyan.
As for the women’s championship, Siranoush Andreasyan became
champion. She too will participate in the world Olympiad. Her victory
`cost’ 300 thousand AMD.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Panorama.am
17:53 24/03/06

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE DONATES PHYSICAL TECHNIQUES EQUIPMENT TO
ARMENIAN POLICE

On March 24, 2006 the United States Department of State donated
approximately $40,000 of physical techniques equipment to the Police
of the Republic of Armenia for the training of Armenian Police
officers at the Police Academy and Police Training Center. The Deputy
Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy Anthony Godfrey opened the
donation ceremony, which took place at the Police Academy.
The physical techniques equipment, which was funded by the Department
of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement
Affairs (INL), includes gym mats, Redman instructor suits, body
opponent bags, rubber training knives, guns, handcuffs, and boxing
bags. The First Deputy Head of Police accepted the equipment for the
Government of Armenia and presented Ambassador Evans with a
Certification of Gratitude from the Police Academy of the Republic of
Armenia.
During the event, Charge d’Affaires Anthony Godfrey stated, ‘The
police force is the one democratic institution with which the
population has the most contact. That is why it is most important for
the police to change how it is perceived by the population. A fit,
well-trained, professional force gives the people of Armenia — and
visitors — the impression that Armenia is a country which cares about
citizens’ rights and about citizens’ safety.’

Panorama.am
17:45 24/03/06

CB PRESIDENT UNAWARE OF THE MATTER?
`I think the President of the Central Bank is far from the reality and
never visits any shop and is unaware of prices,’ announced `Justice’
grouping secretary Victor Dallakyan at the parliamentary news briefing
today touching upon Togran Sargsyan’s announcement made yesterday.
Victor Dallakyan mentioned that 73% of the population receives 2100
kilocalories of food. `If the prices of goods rise together with gas
tariff, can you imagine how hard the social situation will be in our
country,` Dallakyan concluded. As he said the situation may worsen in
concern with the fact that the Government has no programs of social
assistance to certain circles of the society.
The head of Armenian Republican party grouping Galoust Sahakyan also
realizes that the gas price rise will have negative results for the
economy. `It is well known that rise in gas price is not a good thing
to happen. We must do our best not to damage the energy security in
our country,’ the head of Parliamentary majority noticed without
commenting on the announcement of CB President. /Panorama.am/

Panorama.am
15:09 24/03/06

GIVE US OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT CIVILIZATION
`The representatives of Armenian intelligentsia have no opportunity to
discuss questions of civilization and culture at forums as such
occasions are not held in the country,’ announced art critic Hrach
Bayadyan during the discussion with philosopher Ashot Voskanyan
today. As he said, today the questions of civilization and culture are
discussed mainly on the level of Mass Media. In his turn A. Voskanyan
noticed that while discussing the above mentioned questions one must
firstly pay attention to social-economic problems of the
population. As A. Voskanyan thinks these two aspects are inseparable
and interdependent.
Talking about the clash of the Eastern and the Western civilizations
in Armenia H. Bayadyan mentioned that today these processes are
characteristic of any European country and one shouldn’t take them
dramatically. Moreover, as the art critic said the global processes
taking place in the country today are not being treated by the
Armenian population adequately as `Armenia is not a multiethnic
country.’ Nevertheless, it should be noted that the opinions of the
participants of the discussion coincided concerning the most
preferable social model for Armenia. Both give preference to the
European model. /Panorama.am/

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, March 24, 2006
Contact: Armen Carapetian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
THOUSANDS PROTEST AGAINST TURKEY’S DEFENSE MINISTER VECDI GÖNÜL
— Armenian Youth Federation Rallies Community Against Genocide Denial
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) led a
demonstration of over 2,000 Armenian Americans today outside the
Beverly Hills Hotel during a speech given by Turkish Defense Minister
Vecdi Gönül, a key figure in the Turkish state’s campaign to
deny the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee
of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR).
The crowd of protesters marched peacefully and chanted in front of the
Beverly Hills Hotel, where the Defense Minister spoke at a luncheon
hosted by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council about `The Evolving
Security Environment and Turkey’s Strategic Role in Eurasia.’ Among
the thousands of participants in today’s protest were Congressman Brad
Sherman (CA-27) and Burbank Board of Education President Paul
Krekorian.
Before inviting Congressman Sherman to speak, ANCA-WR Board of
Directors member Raffi Hamparian underscored the failure of the US
State Department to live up to American values. `At the same time that
the US government is condemning Belarus for suppressing freedom of
expression, the US State Department is preparing to fire our
Ambassador to Armenia for simply telling the truth about the Armenian
Genocide,’ said Hamparian. `Congressman Brad Sherman is not only a
friend of the Armenian American community, he is an ally and a
champion of justice and human rights,’ said Hamparian in welcoming
Congressman Sherman.
`It is not only those with Armenian heritage who demand that the truth
be recognized. Friends of Turkey should demonstrate that Turkey accept
the Armenian Genocide,’ said Congressman Sherman in his remarks to the
crowd. `Where will Turkey be among the family of nations if it does
not recognize the truth? I will work in Congress every day until the
historical truth of the Armenian Genocide is recognized,’ he
concluded.
Congressman Sherman also commented on Turkey’s failure to provide
access to US military bases in Turkey and necessary passage over its
land and air space during the invasion of Iraq three years ago. `The
casualties stemming from today’s conflict in Iraq are, to some extent,
a direct result of Turkey’s refusal to allow the US-led coalition to
open a northern front,’ said Congressman Sherman.
In his remarks at the luncheon, the Defense Minister addressed the
issue of Turkey’s actions during the run-up to the Iraq War. He
directly contradicted the position of his American counterpart,
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who has repeatedly said on
national television that Turkey’s refusal to allow US-led coalition
forces to open a northern front has significantly contributed to the
strength of the Iraqi insurgency. `Turkey has supported the US led war
on Iraq from the beginning,’ said the Defense Minister. He added that
`Turkey promotes good neighborly relations.’ This assertion also
stands in sharp contrast to the actions of the Turkish government,
which, on one hand, blockades and seeks to isolate Armenia, and on the
other, denies the Armenian Genocide and continues to harvest the
economic, demographic, and geopolitical fruits of the genocidal crime
it committed against the Armenian nation nine decades ago.
`Defense Minister Gönül’s remarks are consistent with his
government’s campaign to portray a rosy image of itself – despite the
facts on the ground. Increasingly, however, the American public is
seeing through these transparent efforts, and looking instead to
Turkey’s actual conduct – such as its blockade of Armenia, abysmal
human rights record, attempts to revise history, and, more broadly,
its increasingly antagonistic relationship with the United States,’
said Hamparian after listening to the Defense Minister’s speech.
Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül’s visit to Southern California,
home to the largest Armenian population in the US, came exactly one
month prior to the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April
24th. California, which is one of 38 states to have recognized the
Armenian Genocide, last year adopted legislation permanently
designating the week of April 24 as California’s week of remembrance
of the Armenian Genocide. The effort to enact legislation on the
Armenian Genocide was led by state legislators such as Senators Chuck
Poochigian (R-Fresno) and Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco), and signed
into law by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2005. California has also
adopted an education curriculum that includes teaching of the history
of the Armenian Genocide, and the Los Angeles Unified School District
is among many public school systems in the state that continue to
train its teachers on implementing a curriculum that teaches about
this crime against humanity.
The Defense Minister’s visit also came at an especially sensitive time
in US-Turkey relations. In recent weeks, `Valley of the Wolves,’ the
most expensive film ever made in Turkey, prompted the US military to
issue warnings to our troops stationed in Turkey due to the film’s
severely anti-American and anti-Semitic nature. The film continues to
remain a box office hit in theatres across Turkey and has been
publicly praised by many Turkish leaders, including Prime Minster
Erdogan. The popularity of `Valley of the Wolves’ is not the only
recent demonstration of anti-Semitic and anti-American sentiment in
Turkey. Last year, Adolf Hilter’s `Mein Kampf’ was a best-seller in
the country.
The Defense Minister’s speech was repeatedly interrupted by chants
coming from protesters demonstrating along Sunset Boulevard. Armenian
Americans attending the luncheon, including Glendale Unified School
District Board Member Greg Krikorian, called on the Defense Minister
to acknowledge Turkey’s past.

However, Defense Minister Gönül said that `these are Armenian
claims, and there is nothing to acknowledge.’ AYF Chairman Tro
Tchekidjian stated at the conclusion of the protest that `We will
never forget what happened in 1915, and we will persist in calling for
recognition of the Armenian Genocide until Turkey comes to terms with
its past.’
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.

Glendale News Press, CA
March 24 2006
Krekorian moves ahead in funding
Burbank School Board President Paul Krekorian announced his campaign
for California State Assembly has successfully raised $408,900.
The number puts Krekorian ahead of his challenger, Glendale City
Council Member Frank Quintero, in fundraising for the 43rd Assembly
District race, which includes Burbank, Glendale, North Hollywood and
Los Feliz. The seat will be left open after Assemblyman Dario Frommer
terms out of the position.
Krekorian has $321,631 available from the Committee to Elect Paul
Krekorian, and an additional $82,500 from the group Education Leaders
Support Burbank School Board President Paul Krekorian, which is
sponsored by EdVoice Inc., a nonprofit group that advocates for
public education in the California Legislature.
Quintero, who on Saturday was endorsed by Frommer, has reported a
total of $321,982 on hand.
Krekorian claims to have received donations from 676 contributors, at
an average donation of $456.
Krekorian also received the endorsement of the Burbank Police
Officer’s Assn. last week. The endorsement was made in light of
Krekorian’s dedication to public safety and understanding of the
challenges police officers face, explained Mike Parrinello, president
of the association.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zaillian is Back on American Gangster
Variety
March 24, 2006
Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment have rehired Steve
Zaillian, this time to rewrite American Gangster.
The studio has also committed to a late July start date for the film to
be directed by Ridley Scott and star Denzel Washington and Russell
Crowe. Brian Grazer is producing.
Zaillian had written the original script about a Harlem drug kingpin
(Washington) who smuggled heroin in the body bags of U.S. soldiers slain
in Vietnam.
After the film halted last year, Universal conscripted Terry George to
write a downsized version of the story, but Grazer and Imagine exec Jim
Whitaker couldn’t let go of Zaillian’s vision of the crime story.
The film will shoot mostly in New York, with a brief stopover in Thailand.
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