Forthcoming visits of RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
ArmRadio
23.03.2006 17:58
March 26-31 RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan will pay a working
visit to the United States.
April 27 together with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Minister
Oskanyan will participate in the ceremony of signing a compact with
the `Millennium Challenges’ Corporation. The same day his meeting with
the US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group is expected. Vardan Oskanyan
will meet the UNDP Coordinator Kemal Dervish, as well as President of
the General Assembly Yan Eliason.
March 31 the Minister’s meeting with UN Secretary General Coffi Annan
is scheduled.
April 6-7 the Foreign Minister will pay a working visit to Moscow,
where his meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and
Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Igor Ivanov are scheduled.
April 7-9 Minister Oskanyan will leave for Syria on a working visit,
where he will meet President Bashar Asad and Foreign Minister Valid
Muallim.

France risks EU row over human rights in Turkey
By Daniel Dombey in Brussels and Vincent Boland in Ankara
FT
March 22 2006 16:31
France is pushing the European Union to take a tougher line on human
rights in accession negotiations with Turkey in a move the European
Commission fears will damage relations with Ankara.

EU leaders are also facing calls from Paris to thrash out a new, more
rigorous strategy for enlargement ` an issue that foreign ministers
will discuss at a summit on Thursday night.
Some members of Germany’s ruling Christian Democrats also back the
plan, saying the EU would only be able to admit big new member states
to the 25-nation bloc after major institutional reform, such as that
envisaged in the proposed constitution rejected by French and Dutch
voters last year. Angela Merkel, German chancellor, recently
downplayed the hopes of western Balkan countries of full EU
membership.
The French initiatives deepen the Commission’s concerns that Paris and
its allies are seeking to frustrate Turkey’s bid for membership a mere
six months after the EU agreed to begin the accession process.
`Some member states want to introduce new goal posts in a
non-transparent manner,’ said a senior Commission official. `This may
backfire because it is not considered in Turkey that we are playing a
fair game.’
Paris insists it is acting in good faith and does not seek to obstruct
the negotiations. It adds that worries about enlargement played a
large role in the French public’s rejection of the European
constitution in a referendum last year and that leaders need to
consider seriously the limits of the EU’s capacity to absorb new
members.
`This is not a question of stopping enlargement,’ said a senior French
diplomat. `This is a question of showing that someone is flying the
plane.’
The first French push is to link negotiations on education and culture
` normally one of the least contentious parts of enlargement talks `
to human rights criteria.
Paris says the education and culture `chapter’ has to take account of
human rights issues, such as Turkish textbooks that treat minorities
as untrustworthy.
The Commission and countries such as the UK respond that it is unfair
to add new conditions to negotiations that have traditionally focused
a state’s record in adopting EU laws.
Although the EU’s 25 member states have agreed to start another
chapter ` on science and technology ` no negotiations have started,
because the current Austrian presidency of the EU would like to begin
talks on both chapters at the same time.
But the larger issue is whether the question of human rights will
overshadow almost all of Turkey’s negotiations with the EU, instead of
mainly being dealt with in chapters on fundamental rights and justice
and home affairs.
An opinion poll last week showed that support in Turkey for EU
membership is slipping. Although some 66 per cent of Turks still
support entry, the trend is downwards, as it has been almost since
Turkey secured its negotiations last October.

Blogcritics.org, OH
March 23 2006
On Holocaust: Anti-Semite or Anti-Human?
March 23, 2006
temporal
Defining the Horrific : Readings on Genocide and Holocaust in the
20th Century
William Hewitt
hol.o.caust n. 1. Great destruction resulting in the extensive loss
of life, especially by fire. 2. [Middle English, burnt offering, from
Old French holocauste, from Latin holocaustum, from Greek
holokauston, from neuter of holokaustos, burnt whole : holo-, holo- +
kaustos, burnt (from kaiein, to burn).]
I just finished reading an involved, wonderfully mesmerizing review
of Lajos Koltai’s Fateless: Death and the Children by Alan Dale.
Something I read there caught my eye and lingered in my mind long
after I finished reading that review. He wrote: The Holocaust, a
crime of historic proportions, is simply greater than any heroic
ordeal out of conventional romance–it calls for a new approach to
character and narrative.
Forget entire human history: even our recent history is replete with
what we call crimes against peace, humanity and genocide.
Consider these:
Roma (Gypsy) Holocaust Deaths: Determining the percentage or number
of Roma (Gypsies) who died in the Holocaust (called the Porrajmos,
“paw-RYE-mos” in Romani, a word which means “the Devouring”) is not
easy. The latest (1997) figure from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial
Research Institute in Washington puts the number of Romani lives lost
by 1945 at “between a half and one and a half million.”
Armenian Genocide: The official Ottoman statistics compiled for the
period between 1915 to 1917-18 were of 800,000 (Armenians) killed,
which suggests that possibly over a million perished. This figure
originates from Djemal’s bureau’s compilation statistics. The results
have been published in the official Ottoman gazette.
A report provided that as soon as February 1916, 1.5 million
Armenians were destroyed. A report in May 27, 1916, by Foreign Office
Intelligence Director Erzberger provided the same figure, as did an
October 4, 1916 report by the German Interim Ambassador to Turkey,
Radowitz, again with 1.5 million as the estimate of Armenian’s having
perished. It seems that the generally cited 1.5 million figure had
originated from those German sources. What might be considered by
many one of the most balanced German account is those of the German
major Endres, who served in the Turkish army, and who has estimated
the number of Armenians having lost their lives during the war to be
1.2 million.
“We have never denied the Armenian crime of genocide inflicted upon
2.5 million Muslim people between 1914 and 1920.” Agop Zahoryan,
‘Voices of Agonies’, p. 91.
Massacre in Cambodia: Estimates of the number of people who perished
under the Khmer Rouge vary tremendously, even within the present
Cambodian government. A figure of three million deaths between 1975
and 1979 was given by the Vietnamese-sponsored Phnom Penh regime, the
People’s Republic of Kampuchea (PRK). Father Ponchaud suggested 2.3
million; the Yale Cambodian Genocide Project estimated 1.7 million;
Amnesty International estimated 1.4 million; and the United States
Department of State, 1.2 million. Khieu Samphan and Pol Pot cited
figures of 1 million and 800,000, respectively
Tragedy in Chechnia: Today, 12 years later, is there anyone who
mourns the more than 30% of the total Chechen population who perished
in the last two wars? Who cares today about the hundreds of thousands
of Chechen refugees who fled wherever they could from the Chechen
killing-field, only to find themselves in unbearably miserable
conditions, with no hope of being treated as decent human beings?
The Rwandan Genocide: The slaughter of an estimated 800,000 Tutsis
and moderate Hutus, mostly carried out by two extremist Hutu militia
groups, the Interahamwe and the Impuzamugambi, during a period of 100
days from April 6th through mid-July 1994.
Slaughter in Yugoslavia: Each nation (Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats)
reported many casualties in the three-sided conflict, in which the
Bosniaks reported the highest number of deaths and casualties.
However, the only case officially ruled by the U.N. Hague tribunal as
genocide was the Srebrenica massacre of 1995. At the end of the war
approximately 102,000 people had been killed according to the ICTY
and more than 2 million people fled their homes (including over 1
million to neighboring nations and the west)
There is more
Over twenty million Russian deaths in WWII.
The thousands who died and millions who were displaced during the
great divide in the sub continent – the partition of the subcontinent
into India and Pakistan.
Hundreds of thousands dead in the troubled region of Kashmir at the
hand of terrorists and Government Forces of India and Pakistan.
These are part and parcel of our heritage – correction our human
heritage and conscience. But when the word holocaust is mentioned
what image crosses your mind? Which of the holocausts mentioned above
comes to your mind?
Let me admit I am probably like the majority of folks here. This word
reminds me of the Jewish holocaust more than the other horrible
travesties.
How did that happen? Was it all of those movies? Books? Constant
references in the media? Who is triggering this guilt in me? By
maintaining our silence on all the holocausts perpetrated by us on
some of us are we not culpable?
I am not an anti-Semite. But I certainly could be anti-Human if I
remained silent any longer and not point out our fallacy.
Also on Desicritcs
love words and people who are in awe of them. words are the sole
arbiter and the final survivor. what else is there to state?
57.php

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
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Contact: Armen Carapetian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
USC PROMPTLY CANCELS CONFERENCE ON `TURKISH PERSPECTIVE’ ON THE
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
LOS ANGELES, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western
Region (ANCA-WR) learned on March 22nd that a planned conference at
the University of Southern California (USC) featuring leading deniers
of the Armenian Genocide was canceled.
The USC Center on Public Diplomacy originally sponsored the
conference, entitled `Turkish-Armenian Relations: The Turkish
Perspective’, which was scheduled to take place on Sunday, March
26th. Former Turkish Ambassadors Gündüz Aktan and Ömer Engin
Lütem were invited to speak about the Armenian Genocide and
Turkish-Armenian relations. Aktam and Lütem are notorious deniers
of the Armenian Genocide, and the event announcement made no attempt
to hide that their discussion would not only distort history but
attempt to justify Ottoman Turkey’s extermination of its Armenian
population.
`The USC event, which was to have featured Turkish members of the
State Department’s discredited TARC initiative, is part of an
orchestrated national campaign to breath new life into the failed
effort,’ said Zanku Armenian, a member of the ANCA-WR Board of
Directors. `The ANCA-WR, working with USC Armenian student groups,
Alumni and school supporters, was able to demonstrate to USC officials
the misguided and sinister nature of this panel which led to its
cancellation. The cancellation, along with the March 22nd Los Angeles
Times editorial reaffirming the Armenian Genocide, sends a strong
message to those who deny the Armenian Genocide: ‘You are not welcome
in California.’ We applaud USC administrators for taking prompt
action to rectify this situation and thus protecting USC’s fine
reputation from being used in Turkey’s propaganda war.’
Outraged student groups called on USC administrators to ask why this
conference was organized. In a letter to the director of the USC
Center on Public Diplomacy, ANCA-WR Chairman Steven Dadaian called on
the organizers to drop the conference. The quick action to draw
attention to this issue by many groups and individuals resulted in the
ultimate cancellation once USC officials were made aware of the real
intent of the event.
The 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.
Editor’s Note: The text of the ANCA-WR letter to USC is attached
below.
#####
March 22, 2006
USC Center on Public Diplomacy
Joshua S. Fouts
3502 Watt Way, ASC Suite 103
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0281
Dear Mr. Fouts:
It has recently come to our attention that the USC Center on Public
Diplomacy is hosting a program called `Armenian `Genocide’,
International Law and the Psychology of Destroying the Other’
featuring two speakers who are notorious deniers of the Armenian
Genocide, Gündüz S. Aktan and Ömer Engin Lütem.
According to the description of the program issued by the Center,
Messrs. Aktan and Lütem have the extraordinary task of turning the
victims of the first genocide of the 20th century into the
perpetrators. Based on the program, it appears that Messrs. Aktan and
Lütem plan to argue the Turkish government’s official position that
(i) there were no massacres of Armenians, (ii) even if there were
massacres, the Armenians deserved them, (iii) the Armenians killed
more Turks than vice versa and (iv) the deaths were as a result of
`relocation’ and were not Genocide.
As today’s Los Angeles Times editorial clearly states, the facts
surrounding the Armenian Genocide are not in dispute. The Armenian
Genocide has been recognized by the United Nations, the United States
government and even the Ottoman courts who convicted the perpetrators
of the Armenian Genocide in absentia. The fact that USC is going to
provide a forum for Turkish foreign agents to deny historical facts by
making outright false statements is disturbing and a violation of your
own Code of Ethics. Genocide Denial is a form of hatred and bigotry
and it is outside the purview of accepted standards of civil discourse
within the academic community. It is a deliberate misrepresentation of
fact and a scientific fraud which must not be tolerated by the
University. What’s more, this panel is a threat to the University’s
academic environment because it frames the genocide as a historical
controversy.
All this is heightened by the fact that USC has an Armenian-American
student body of over a thousand students whose families are the direct
descendants of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by Turks and now
officially denied by the Turkish government. This panel will
undoubtedly be considered an extremely offensive event which
disrespects the rights and dignity of not only your students but to
all the hundreds of thousands who are the victims and surviving
children of the Armenian Genocide.
We wonder what the reaction would be if USC were to host a
`discussion’ for neo-Nazis to argue that no Jews were killed, going so
far as to assert that while some Jews may have been killed during the
Holocaust, they deserved it. Would USC allow their name to be
associated with such a hypothetical event much less be sponsoring it?
Our organization is prepared to work with USC to minimize the damage
caused to the university’s image within the Armenian-American
community as a result of this program being scheduled if immediate
action is taken to cancel it. However, if USC chooses to proceed with
this program, our organization will be forced to take further action
to protest the University’s complicity in providing a forum for
genocide deniers.
We are requesting a meeting this week to discuss this urgent matter.
Please feel free to contact me at (818) 500-1918.
Sincerely,
[signed]
Steven J. Dadaian
Chairman, Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
cc: Steven B. Sample
C.L. Max Nikias
Joseph Aoun
Vartan Gregorian

Baku Today
March 23 2006
Azerbaijan Discovers New Gold Deposits
23/03/2006 22:22
Initial explorations gave promising results on new gold deposits in
Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources
Huseyn Bagirov told journalists.
Exploration works were conducted in the large and Small Caucasus, and
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
Geological-exploration works will now be conducted in these
perspective areas. The ministry also conducts work regarding the
illegal development of gold deposits in the Azerbaijan’s territories
occupied by Armenia. Important information is given to international
organizations.
Currently, the attraction of international legal mechanisms to
prevent the illegal exploitation of Azerbaijan’s gold deposits is
going on, the Minister said.

Federation of Jewish Communitites of CIS, Russia
March 23 2006
Armenian Jewish Leaders at Mass Media Conference
Thursday, March 23 2006

YEREVAN, Armenia – The leadership of the Jewish community of Armenia
have just finished taking part in a publishing and public relations
conference in Georgia. The Conference of editors and founders of
Jewish newspapers and magazines was organized by the Center of
Knowledge and Information of Caucasus Jewish Communities and was
sponsored by the JDC. The event took place this week at the Jewish
Community Center in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Rabbi Gersh-Meir Burshtein, the Chief Rabbi of Armenia and one of the
founders of `Kohelet’ newspaper, was joined by Yevgenia
Kazaryan-Pliner, the Chief Editor of the `Magen David’ Magazine, at
this event.
The conference highlighted the numerous themes, including the role of
the Jewish press in the life of today’s Jewish community.
Participants covered topics dealing with the mass media and the laws
of Torah, as well as addressing Jewish publications as a
community-building tool and many more topics of interest.
The Jewish leaders from Armenia took an active part in the ensuing
discussions. Participants in this conference also benefited from a
psychological training session entitled `Techniques of Effective
Communication’, which was conducted by Lamara Ugulayeva.
The Jewish representatives from Armenia are hopeful that they will be
able to apply all that they have learned in advancing the continuous
development of Jewish life at home.

Belmont Citizen-Herald, MA
March 23 2006
At the library
Thursday, March 23, 2006

Aspiring babysitters: Learn the basics of feeding and diapering
plus much more at a Child Care and Babysitting course at the Belmont
Public Library. Students age 10 and older are invited to sign up for
the course which will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday,
March 25 in the library’s Flett Room.

Janice Nolan Henry, a registered nurse and educator, will lead
the program, which will cover basic first aid and emergencies, child
safety, diapering and feeding infants, and ideas for entertaining
children with age-appropriate play. Participants should bring a lunch
and a doll. Snacks will be provided.

To register, sign up at the Reference Desk or call 617-993-2870.

Hovsepian, Beletsky to perform

Pianist Levon Hovsepian and cellist Arkady Beletsky will present
an afternoon concert of chamber music at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 2,
at the Belmont Public Library. The free concert, which will be held
in the Assembly Room, is sponsored by the Friends of the Library as
part of the Music on Sunday series.

Hovsepian and Beletsky, who are both on the faculty of the Indian
Hill Music Center in Littleton, will perform works by Bach,
Beethoven, Brahms, Arutunian, Prokofiev, and Popper. Hovsepian also
teaches at the Powers Music School in Belmont.

Both Hovsepian and Beletsky began performing professionally as
children and achieved performing careers overseas before moving to
the Boston area. A graduate of the Komitas Conservatory in Soviet
Armenia, Hovsepian performed throughout Armenia, Estonia and Moldova
and appeared as a soloist with the Yerevan Symphony Orchestra and on
Armenian national television. After attracting major critical
attention in Armenia, he was invited to study at the Longy School of
Music in Cambridge. He made his New York debut in 1994 and became
known for his compelling interpretive style and expansive technique.
He was a prize winner at the Arlington Concerto Competition and has
appeared as a soloist with the Salem Philharmonic Orchestra, the New
England Philharmonic Orchestra, WGBH radio, and Moscow Radio.
Beletsky was born in Kiev, Ukraine and completed his master’s degree
in music at the Gnesin Institute of Music in Moscow. In 1983 he
founded the Renaissance Chamber Ensemble, which rose to prominence as
one of the most prolific and well-regarded chamber groups in
pre-Perestroika Russia, headlining over 1,000 concerts throughout the
15 republics of the Soviet Union. In 1989 Beletsky emigrated to the
U.S. with his family. Since then, he has performed solo, chamber and
orchestral work at Jordan Hall, Sanders Theater and Mechanics Hall,
has participated in numerous music festivals, and has made a live
appearance on WGBH’s “Morning Pro Musica.”

For more information about the concert please call 617-489-2000,
ext. 2870.

Career resources offered

Christine Hunnefeld, technology librarian at the Belmont Memorial
Library, and Anna Whitcomb, principal of Your Career Choices in
Belmont, will give a presentation on career and job hunting resources
on Thursday, April 6 at 7 p.m. in the Assembly Room of the library.

Participants will learn about resources for assistance in all
phases of the job search process and for career development. Discover
resources for determining your personality type and finding a career
to match. Learn about sites and books on how to market yourself
through resumes, cover letters, networking and interviews. Explore
library databases and other online resources for researching
potential employers. Locate job postings through national, local and
specialized job listing sites. Find out where to receive assistance
in developing your career and conducting your job search.

To register for this workshop, stop by the Reference Desk or call
617-993-2870. Light refreshments will be served, compliments of the
Friends of the Belmont Public Library.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
MARCH 23, 2006
KALOUST SOGOIAN LAID TO REST IN MICHIGAN
Kaloust (Karl) Sogoian, a long-time supporter of the Eastern Prelacy as
well as the worldwide Armenian Church and nation, was laid to rest last
Friday, March 17.
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan presided over the Homecoming (Wake) service
on March 16 at St. John Armenian Church in Southfield, Michigan. Funeral
services the next day were presided over by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and
Archbishop Oshagan. During the services messages of condolence from His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, were read.
Mr. Sogoian and his wife, Emma, were ardent supporters of many Armenian
charities and projects. Archbishop Oshagan noted that even in his final days
on this earth Mr. Sogoian thought about the church he sponsored-St. Dertad
Church in the Vayk, Armenia. Literally days before his death he made a new
donation to the church for a current building project.
Archbishop Oshagan described Mr. Sogoian as an exceptionally benevolent,
humble and kind person with unique ideas and clear ideals and goals.
PRELATE IN NEW JERSEY THIS WEEKEND
On Sunday Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the Divine Liturgy at
Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. In the afternoon he will
attend the Festival of Schools sponsored by the Armenian National Education
Committee, which will take place at Dwight Englewood School Auditorium in
Englewood, New Jersey. The program will begin at 3 pm bringing together more
than 100 students from various schools of the Mid-Atlantic area.
PRELATE WILL ATTEND SIGNING CEREMONY FOR AID TO ARMENIA
Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Washington, DC, on Monday, March 27,
to participate in the Compact Signing Ceremony with the Republic of Armenia
and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. The signing by Armenia’s Foreign
Minister, Vartan Oskanian and the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice
will take place in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the U.S. Department of
State.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation was established on January 23,
2004, after President Bush’s call for a “new compact for global
development.” With funds provided by Congress, the Corporation provides aid
to “those countries that rule justly, invest in their people, and encourage
economic freedom.” Armenia will receive 235 million dollars in aid.
NAGORNO KARABAGH OFFICIALS VISIT PRELACY
Vardan Barseghian, (left), permanent representative of the Republic of
Nagorno Karabagh to the United States, and Massis Mayelian, Deputy Foreign
Minister of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh paid a visit to Archbishop
Oshagan at the Prelacy yesterday, Wednesday, March 22. The guests enjoyed an
exchange of ideas with the Prelate about Diasporan issues as well as the
future needs of the Republic.
PRELATE AND CLERGY TO VISIT OLD AGE HOME IN FLUSHING
AND SENIORS OF ST. SARKIS
Next Wednesday, March 29, Archbishop Oshagan and V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan
and the clergy serving Prelacy parishes in the New York-New Jersey area will
visit the New York Old Age Home in Flushing where they will conduct a Lenten
Arevakal (Sunrise) Service, followed by a visit with the residents of the
Home.
In the afternoon they will lunch with the seniors of St. Sarkis Church
in Douglaston, New York.
“GENOCIDE THEN AND NOW” AT UNITED NATIONS
Archbishop Oshagan and V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian will attend a
forum next Thursday, March 30, at the United Nations, entitled “Genocide
Then and Now: Lessons Learned for the 21st Century.”
The forum is sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United
Nations and the Permanent Mission of Rwanda to the United Nations and is
co-sponsored with the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU).
Speakers include: Ibrahim Gambari, Under Secretary General, Special
Advisor on Africa at the UN; Vahakn Dadrian, Director of Genocide Research,
Zoryan Institute; and Juan Mendez, Special Advisor to the UN
Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide. Ms. Andrea Kanapell,
Assistant Foreign Editor of the New York Times, will moderate the
discussion. The forum will discuss the first and last genocides of the 20th
century with respect to lessons learned for the 21st century and for United
Nations reforms.
REPRESENTATIVE OF WCC VISITS CATHOLICOSATE
The supervisor of the World Council of Church’s (WCC) Middle East desk,
Dr. Nseir, visited His Holiness Aram I last Sunday, March 18. They discussed
the possibility of strengthening the cooperation between the WCC and the
churches of the region, pursuing the accomplishment of several joint
projects related to the WCC and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC),
the upcoming meeting in Geneva for evaluating the 9th Assembly of the WCC
and other issues.
DELEGATION FROM CHURCHES OF WALES VISIT CATHOLICOSATE
A delegation representing the Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox churches
in Wales visited the Catholicosate on March 18. The delegation met with His
Holiness Aram I and gave him a letter from the Most Rev. Dr. Barry Morgan,
Archbishop of Wales. The delegation included senior spiritual leaders and
members of the European Parliament.
The purpose of the delegation’s visit to the region is to get closely
acquainted with the churches of the Middle East. His Holiness briefly
reported on the situation in Lebanon and the Middle East, encouraging
discussions about the region’s political, religious, social and economic
circumstances.
NEW TITLES AT PRELACY BOOKSTORE
The Prelacy Bookstore receives new books regularly. This week we call to
your attention “Armenian Identity in a Changing World,” by Levon Abrahamian.
The 406-page softcover volume discusses the old and the new constituents of
Armenian identity, such as language, religion, or shared history in broader
Transcaucasian and former Sovet Union context. The 16 chapters in the book
are based on lectures the author gave at Columbia University in 2001. The
Preface is written by Professor Marc Nichanian. To order contact the
bookstore, 212-689-7810.
ANEC SCHOOL VISITS PLANNED
Ms. Nayiri Balanian, chair of the Armenian National Education Committee
(ANEC), will visit the Armenian Sisters Academy and St. Stephen Elementary
School in Massachusetts, on Friday, March 31.
LENTEN SERIES CONTINUES
The Prelacy’s Lenten series, sponsored by the Armenian Religious
Education Council (AREC), and the Prelacy Ladies Guild, continued last night
with Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston,
NY, presenting a thoughtful mediation on verses 15 to 18 of St. Nerses
Shnorhali’s prayer, “In Faith I Confess.” The Lenten programs take place
Wednesdays during Lent at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street,
New York City. Husgoom Service starts at 7:30 pm, followed by a short
meditation at 8:00 pm.
Next week’s meditation on Wednesday, March 29, will be based on verses
19 to 21 presented by Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral in New York City.
The author of this popular prayer, Catholicos St. Nerses Shnorhali (the
Gracious), was born in 1102. He was Catholicos from 1166 until his death in
1173. “In Faith I Confess” has been translated into 36 languages and is the
most popular of the prolific writings of this noted theologian, poet and
musician. Comprised of 24 short verses, this small prayer book is reverently
carried by many of the faithful to strengthen faith and hope. The small
prayer books are available at the Prelacy Bookstore, 212-689-7810.
DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AGES 13-18;
20TH ANNIVERSARY TO BE MARKED THIS YEAR
Plans are underway for the 20th annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute
Summer Christian Studies Program. Sponsored by the Armenian Religious
Education Council (AREC), the weeklong program will take place at the St.
Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania.
FORTY MARTYRS OF SEBASTIA
This Saturday, March 25, the Armenian Church commemorates the Forty
Martyrs of Sebastia.
Although the background and identity of the forty young soldiers are not
known for sure, it is believed that they came from Lesser Armenia. They
served in the Roman army in the region of Cappadocia.
During a general purge of Christians from the ranks, it became rumored
that in Sepastia there was an elite military unity whose members were
Christians. Forty youths of the unit confirmed being Christians and remained
steadfast to their faith.
The young soldiers were tried and condemned to death by stoning.
Miraculously, when the sentence was being carried out, the stones would not
reach the intended targets, but rather “boomeranged” striking those throwing
the stones. The young soldiers were then thrown into a frozen lake and
forced to stay there, with the admonition that should they renounce their
faith they would be allowed to come out of the cold water and into a warm
bath. Of the forty, one chose to accept this offer, but he died
nevertheless. As one by one the youths died, halos came down upon them.
Seeing this, one of the guards threw himself into the lake and joined the 39
bringing the number to 40 again.
Subsequently some of our great church fathers, such as Basil, Gregory of
Nyssa, Ephraem the Assyrian, and Sisian of Sebastia, wrote panegyrics about
the forty martyrs.
Their memory is commemorated each year during Lent on the Saturday
following the median day of Lent (Meechink), The Armenians have also built
and named churches in their memory in various parts of the world.
SUNDAY OF THE JUDGE
This Sunday, March 26, the fifth Sunday of Lent, is the Sunday of the
Judge (Datavori Kiraki).
The Gospel read on this day describes the parable told by Jesus about a
widow and a judge (Luke 18:2-5). In a certain city there was a judge, who
neither feared God, nor had respect for people. In that city there was a
widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my
opponent.” For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, “Though I
have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps
bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by
continually coming before me.”
Jesus told the parable of the stubborn widow to encourage his followers
to persevere in prayer and to never cease to struggle against injustice.
Through this story Jesus assures us that God will do justice in the end.
AND NOW.A MODERN DAY PARABLE
We here are Crossroads admit that we are big fans of a special feature
printed every Monday in the New York Times, called “Metropolitan Diary.” The
column prints little vignettes sent in by readers depicting life in The
City. Last Monday’s edition had the following story (sent in by Aaron
Garretson) we just cannot resist sharing with you:
The other day on the A train, a large man dressed in a camouflage
sweatsuit was being grilled by a woman about not going to church enough.
He defended himself, saying he showed his devotion to God through his
actions, but the woman wasn’t satisfied.
She said he had to go to church to win his place in heaven.
Just then, a young woman about 30 feet away doubled over and collapsed.
The man in camouflage was the first on his feet to help her. He propped
her head with his backpack and sat on the floor to hold her hand while he
directed others to alert the conductor.
When the train stopped at 14th Street, the conductor announced that
there would be a delay for a sick passenger, and the man’s church friend
rushed across the platform to catch a local train.
Meanwhile, he continued to sit with the young woman, holding her hand.
After the police helped her off (she was a cancer patient), the man put
on his earphones and returned to his pew in the greater church of New York.
IT IS SPRING!
Spring arrived this past Monday afternoon. It’s still cold and windy,
but there definitely is the “feel” of spring with daylight already
noticeably longer.
Yes, as so many of you have reminded us, “it is planting season, what is
happening in your garden.”
Right now, not much. We are late.the cool weather crops like sugar snap
peas should have been planted by last Friday, St. Patrick’s Day. We will
give you an update next week.
Calendar of Events
March 26-School Festival presented by the Armenian National Education
Committee (ANEC), at Dwight Englewood School, Englewood, New Jersey. Watch
for details.
April 2-Annual Ladies Guild Lenten Luncheon, Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church,
Whitinsville, Massachusetts. Immediately following church services.
April 2-Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, 635 Grove Street, Worcester,
Massachusetts, traditional Lenten Dinner in Danielian Hall immediately
following church services. For additional information, 508-852-2414.
April 8-Ladies Guild Annual Bake Sale, 10 a.m., Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church,
Whitinsville, Massachusetts.
April 17-“The Armenian Genocide,” a new documentary will be shown on most
PBS stations. Please check your local listings.
April 23-Commemoration of the 91st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at
Times Square-the crossroads of the world. Organized by the Mid-Atlantic
Knights and Daughters of Vartan, co-sponsored by ArmenPac and with
participation of area Armenian organizations. Featuring Prof. Israel W.
Charny, Andrew Goldberg, Edward Korkoian, Asien Surmeian, Annie Totah, Aram
Hamparian, Curtis Sliwa, and more. More details to follow.
April 29-Presentation by comedian Vahe Berberian at St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York. For details 718-224-2275.
May 5-Reunion of all students beginning from the 1930s who attended St.
Illuminator Armenian School in New York. Dinner Dance at Terrace on the
Park, Corona, NY. For reservations or information contact the St.
Illuminator’s Day School, 718-478-4073.
May 7-Mothers’ Day celebration at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.
May 8-Mothers’ Day Luncheon by Prelacy Ladies Guild, St. Regis, New York
City.
May 12-Exhibition of the works of artist Emma Gregoryan at the Prelacy, 138
E. 39th Street, New York City.
May 13-Dinner-Dance organized by the St. Sarkis Church Ping-Pong Club. For
details 718-224-2275.
May 17-19-National Representative Assembly (NRA), hosted by Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
May 16 and 17-Conference of Yeretzgeens in conjunction with the National
Representative Assembly, hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New
Jersey.
May 20-Saturday School year end Hantes, St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
York.
May 21-Sunday School year end Hantes, St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
York.
Visit our website at

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
March 23, 2006
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
E-mail: [email protected]
FROM COAST TO COAST ASSEMBLY ACTIVISTS CONFRONT PBS ON ITS PLAN TO
TELEVISE A DENALIST PANEL
WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian Assembly commends activists around the
nation for taking the initiative and contacting their local PBS stations
to encourage the airing of Andrew Goldberg’s documentary “The Armenian
Genocide,” and to pull the plug on a pre-taped panel discussion
featuring Armenian Genocide deniers.
Colorado State Chair Pamela Barsam Brown informed PBS KRMA Channel 6 in
Colorado about the hour-long documentary by Andrew Goldberg titled “The
Armenian Genocide.” She provided the station with information about the
film including congressional efforts to reaffirm the U.S. historical
record on the Armenian Genocide.
“The detailed and deliberative process the KRMA staff undertook in
concluding to air ‘The Armenian Genocide’ as a stand-alone documentary
was impressive,” said Barsam Brown. “In every way KRMA represents the
best of public television and its mandate to serve as a reliable and
trustworthy source of information for its Colorado viewers.”
PBS affiliate KRMA will air the Goldberg documentary, however, they will
not air the panel discussion featuring two prominent genocide deniers
following a planned documentary on the Armenian Genocide.
Additionally, PBS KBDI, which will broadcast Goldberg’s film on April
26, assured Barsam Brown that the post documentary program “won’t be
offensive or insensitive to the Armenians.”
New York’s PBS WNET Channel 13 will also be airing the documentary.
After community protests led by Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY), WNET
has decided not to broadcast the panel discussion.
“PBS and WNET have a well-earned reputation for their programs that
explore history with a depth and understanding not found anywhere else
on the dial,” said Weiner, who serves on the Armenian Caucus. “I am
pleased that WNET has now cancelled plans to follow their historically
accurate program with a panel discussion including some who deny that
the genocide took place.”
Armenian Assembly activists, including New York Regional Council Chairs
Mike Candan and Arthur Halvajian, also took part in the protest.
“We commend Channel 13 for making the right decision and not airing this
panel discussion,” said Candan. “Congressman Weiner is a dedicated
supporter of Armenian issues, and we thank him for his stance on this
issue.”
In Los Angeles, community leaders had a meeting with PBS affiliate KCET
to review plans for broadcasting Goldberg’s documentary.
Assembly Member and KCET Woman’s Council President Lily Ring Balian
arranged the meeting which included Assembly Western Office Chairman
Richard Mushegain, along with community members Osheen Keshishian from
the Armenian Observer, AGBU Southern California District Committee Chair
Vahe Imasdounian and attorney Mark Kassabian from the firm of Geragos
and Geragos. KCET said they would broadcast a French documentary, “Le
Genocide Armenien” on April 17.
“The meeting with the management of KCET was cordial but frank,” said
Assembly Western Office Chairman Richard Mushegain. “I believe they
understand the importance of the Genocide issue to their
Armenian-American constituency and I have no objections to the French
documentary. I left the meeting believing that at some point in the
near future Mr. Goldberg’s documentary would be televised on KCET.”
Goldberg’s documentary may be shown at a later date, however, the
controversial panel discussion will not be broadcast. “This is settled
history and we would not give time for discussion by those denying it,”
KCET President and Chief Executive Officer told the Assembly group.
The Assembly sent a letter to Senior Vice President and Co-Chief
Programming Executive, Jacoba Atlas in February urging PBS not to air
the panel discussion saying it would give genocide deniers a chance to
manipulate the truth. PBS Viewer Services responded to this letter in
March saying that the objective of the panel is to examine the
controversy behind the genocide among historians and the station has no
plans to cancel the program.
Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian followed up with
a letter to the new President and Chief Executive Officer Paula Kerger
of PBS stating that there is an overwhelming amount of historical
verification of the Armenian Genocide including thousands of documents
kept at the U.S. National Archives. He concluded his letter by
requesting that PBS urge its member stations not to air the panel
discussion.
Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) will host a
special screening of “The Armenian Genocide” for Members of Congress,
their staffs and members of the Washington, DC foreign policy community
at the U.S. Library of Congress on April 4.
### NR#2006-025

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
03/23/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) 'Armenian Genocide' Will Show at Hollywood Theater 2) Newly Declassified State Department Files Reveal US Opposition to Armenian Genocide Recognition by UN 3) Status of US Ambassador to Armenia Questioned 1) 'Armenian Genocide' Will Show at Hollywood Theater LOS ANGELES (LA Times)With local PBS affiliate KCET-TV refusing to air his documentary [The Armenian Genocide], filmmaker Andrew Goldberg has decided to rent out Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre to show the film in continuous free screenings on April 17--the same day it will air on most of the major PBS affiliates throughout the country. "We will continue to screen the film that day and night as long as we have the theater," Goldberg said Wednesday. The filmmaker, who is paying for much of the $10,000 tab out of his own pocket, noted that "the largest market of Armenians outside Armenia is in Los Angeles." Goldberg's one-hour documentary focuses on the Ottoman Empire's role in the Armenian genocide during and right after World War I. The film also focuses on ongoing denial in the modern republic of Turkey, successor of the Ottoman Empire. The documentary has already created some controversy, in part because PBS commissioned a 25-minute panel discussion to run afterward, which featured two genocide deniers. A group called the Armenian Tidorts launched an online petition against the panel program and several members of Congress complained to PBS. They argued that the network would never follow a documentary about the genocide of Jews during World War II with a panel discussion featuring holocaust deniers. KCET said it would not run either the documentary or the panel follow-up. Bohdan Zachary, the station's executive director of programming, said it would instead air a French documentary about the Armenian genocide, which the station felt offered a more comprehensive examination of the issue. 2) Newly Declassified State Department Files Reveal US Opposition to Armenian Genocide Recognition by UN WASHINGTON, DC--A series of formerly classified State Department cables, recently made available through the National Archives and Records Administration, provide first-hand insights into the cooperation during the early 1970s between the US and Turkish governments seeking to block the recognition of the Armenian genocide by the United Nations. "These files provide new insights into the depths to which our own government has sunk in its complicity with Turkey's denial of the Armenian genocide," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Knowing that sunshine truly is the best disinfectant, we welcome the release of these documents and value the growing public awareness of the internal mechanics of our government's immoral and short-sighted policy of denial--an increasingly untenable policy that is destined to collapse under the growing weight of its own lies." Commenting on Turkey's efforts to delete a reference to the Genocide in a Human Rights Subcommission report, the Secretary of State wrote in a March 1974 cable to the US Mission to the UN that: "Dept [State Department] appreciates Turkish concerns on Armenian Question and agrees that subject should be handled even-handedly. Para [paragraph] objected to by Turkish del [delegation] reads as follows: Quote: Passing to the modern era, one may note the existence of relatively full documentation dealing with the massacres of the Armenians, which has been described as "the first case of genocide in the twentieth century" unquote. Apparently seeking to avoid the international criticism it would face for openly supporting Turkey's outright efforts to delete this passage, the State Department advised the UN Mission to present its opposition on procedural grounds: "We would like to support the Turks and Dept [State Department] therefore concurs in USDEL [US Delegation to the UN] suggestion that we inform Turks we willing to speak in support of procedural proposal to urge rapporteur to assure evenhandedness in study. We do not think it would be appropriate to request the rapporteur simply to delete the offending para [paragraph], although we would not oppose deletion if other dels [country delegations] indicate support for Turkish position." In March of 1974, the US Embassy in Ankara wrote to the State Department outlining its rationale for opposing the UN's recognition of the Armenian genocide. Among the reasons cited were: "[...] Another reason is that the Turks are apprehensive that this year's commemoration of the Armenian massacres by Armenian communities throughout the world will be on a more impressive scale than in the last few years." "[...] In addition, at a time when we are trying to persuade the Turks to exhibit some appreciation of our position on the opium issue, we would like to be able to show some understanding for a position on which Turkish emotions have characteristically run high." In a March 1974 note following the support expressed by the US for the Turkish position, the US Mission informed the Secretary of State that: "Turk del [delegation] warmly thanked US del [delegation] for support following our intervention." These files also provide insight into the early efforts by the Turkish Government to obstruct US legislation and prevent other constitutionally-protected efforts by American citizens to work toward the recognition of the Armenian genocide. In an April 1973 cable, the State Department wrote to the US Embassy in Ankara that: "It clear GOT [Government of Turkey] would like USG [US Government] to halt all Armenian demonstrations, and indeed other Armenian activities which are hostile or offensive to a close ally." In a second cable, also from April of 1973, the State Department reports that it has responded to Turkish concerns in the following manner: "We pointed out that peaceful demonstrations could probably not be prevented, but expressed belief that with adequate policing, they could be stopped from getting out of hand." A June 1974 cable reports on protests raised with the State Department by Turkey's Ambassador, Selcuk Esenbel, over a recently introduced Armenian genocide Resolution. Under-Secretary of State Joseph Sisco dismissed the legislation, according to the cable, explaining to Ambassador Esenbel that the "resolution must be seen as part of normal domestic electoral politics." Despite Turkey's efforts, the United Nation has established a record of recognizing the Armenian genocide: * In 1948, the United Nations War Crimes Commission invoked the Armenian genocide "precisely... one of the types of acts which the modern term 'crimes against humanity' is intended to cover" as a precedent for the Nuremberg tribunals. The Commission stated that "[t]he provisions of Article 230 of the Peace Treaty of Sevres were obviously intended to cover, in conformity with the Allied note of 1915... offenses which had been committed on Turkish territory against persons of Turkish citizenship, though of Armenian or Greek race. This article constitutes therefore a precedent for Article 6c and 5c of the Nuremberg and Tokyo Charters, and offers an example of one of the categories of 'crimes against humanity' as understood by these enactments." * In August 1985, after extensive study and deliberation, the United Nations SubCommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities voted 14 to 1 to accept a report entitled "Study of the Question of the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide," which stated "[t]he Nazi aberration has unfortunately not been the only case of genocide in the 20th century. Among other examples which can be cited as qualifying are... the Ottoman massacre of Armenians in 1915-1916." This report also explained that "[a]t least 1,000,000, and possibly well over half of the Armenian population, are reliably estimated to have been killed or death marched by independent authorities and eye-witnesses. This is corroborated by reports in United States, German and British archives and of contemporary diplomats in the Ottoman Empire, including those of its ally Germany." 3) Status of US Ambassador to Armenia Questioned WASHINGTON, DC (LA Daily News)--Members of California's congressional delegation are asking for an explanation of reports that the US ambassador to Armenia is being recalled for openly acknowledging the Armenian genocide. In separate letters to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Representatives Adam Schiff (D-Pasadena) and Grace Napolitano (D-Santa Fe Springs) demanded answers about Ambassador John Marshall Evans' status. Both strongly opposed recalling him. Schiff said he reiterated that message last week in a meeting with State Department officials. "I expressed my opposition to any disciplinary action being taken against the ambassador for speaking the truth," Schiff said. "I made it very clear I thought any action taken against him would merely compound the erroneous policy of the administration." A State Department spokesman insisted that Evans has not submitted his resignation nor been told to return to the US. However, there have been continuing reports about his recall. "It's very concerning and very upsetting," said Zanku Armenian, a member of the Armenian National Committee's board in Glendale. "The word that we have is pretty clear that this is in the works," Armenian said about Evans' recall. "It's clear that the State Department is bowing to pressure from Turkey." Evans was praised in Armenian-American communities last year when he unequivocally referred to the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians in post-World War I Ottoman Turkey as a genocide. "I think it is unbecoming of us as Americans to play word games here," Evans said in February 2005 during a stop at the University of California at Berkeley. "I will today call it the Armenian genocide." In doing so, Evans became the first US administration official to use the word genocide. The Bush administration, like its predecessors, refers to the killings as a massacre and a tragedy, but never genocide. "It felt like a breakthrough moment," Armenian said. "It felt like we were getting somewhere." Turkey, a key US and NATO ally, strongly opposes the genocide label. Tuluy Tanc, minister counsel at the Turkish embassy in Washington, DC, called Evans' comments "personal views" and not a reflection of US policy. He said he did not have any knowledge about Evans being recalled. But Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America, said the State Department is already quietly vetting a new ambassador to replace Evans in late spring or early summer. "I think it's pretty clear he's being ushered out the door," Schiff said. Evans, for his part, has sidestepped questions about his tenure in Armenia. In response to a query during a press conference last week, he replied, "I serve at the pleasure of the president. Period." 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.