ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY TO HOLD SYMPOSIUM ON TURKISH-ARMENIAN TIES

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
13 Mar 06

Istanbul, 13 March: Istanbul University Rector Prof Mesut Parlak
held an informative meeting about the symposium on “New Approaches
to Turkish-Armenian Relations” which will be held at the university
on 15-17 March.

Stating that this symposium would be the most comprehensive one with
70 participants from Turkey and some other countries, Parlak underlined
that it would reveal the truths regarding Turkish-Armenian relations.

Parlak said that 1915 incidents [during which the Ottomans allegedly
engaged in genocide against Armenians] had several dimensions –
military, social and psychological – stating that the matter would
be discussed from a scientific point of view.

“I believe that the symposium will help a new period be started in
Turkish-Armenian relations,” he underlined.

Parlak noted that the university invited Armenian historians to the
symposium, but they said that they would not attend.

USA GIVES ARMENIAN BIRD FLU EXPERTS PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

Mediamax news agency
13 Mar 06

Yerevan, 13 March: US ambassador to Armenia John Evans handed 1,500
sets of special protective clothing over to the Armenian authorities
in Yerevan today.

The protective clothing is for specialists who can take part in
monitoring, preventing or studying cases of bird flu.

A total of 1,125 sets of special protective clothing were given to
the Agriculture Ministry, and the other 375 to the Health Ministry
of Armenia, Mediamax learnt from the press service of the US embassy
in Yerevan.

ARMENIAN ARYAN ORDER CALLS ON ALL NATIONAL-PATRIOTIC FORCES TO BE VIGILANT AND UNITED

Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The Supreme Council of the Armenian
Aryan Order (AAO) made a “War-call in the name of Armenians and
Armenia” in which it calls on all national-patriotic forces of
all the Armenians to be vigilant and proposes to unite round the
idea of self-protection. It’s said in the document that during the
recent times, statements provoking the war and the attempts “of our
deadly enemies, Turk-Azeris (and their masters) became terrible, the
Turks again started to touch upon the ideas of Panturanism, Azeris
undertake steps of re-conquering Armenian historic Artsakh and other
liberated territories. Parallel to this, according to the AAO, the
“brothers” Georgians continue their state anti-Armenian policy the
final goal of which is to set free of Armenians our historic Javakhk
(Akhltskha-Akhalkalak-Bogdanoveka and the neighboring territories). The
organization finds that tendencies of strengthening Iran and some
Arabic countries in the region, aimed actions addressed to recognition
of the Armenian cause and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide
“infuriated the secret governors of dark forces of the world, and
the Zionist-masonic scum again uses its old methods, the Panturanism
poison given rise by it, the blunt instrument injecting it and
spreading ravage in the Armenian highlands, Caucasus and Near East.”

ARMENIA TO HAVE MILITARY OMBUDSMAN

Regnum, Moscow
13 Mar 06

13 March: The institution of military ombudsman will be set up in
Armenia, Deputy Defence Minister Lt-Gen Artur Agabekyan has said.

Agabekyan said that this step is envisaged within the framework of
reforming military legislation.

He added that the military ombudsman will deal with problems
experienced by the Armenian military personnel.

PARTICIPANTS OF RALLY OF MANY THOUSANDS TAKEN PLACE IN AKHALKALAK CONDEMN WHAT HAPPENED IN TSALKA

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 13 2006

AKHALKALAK, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the initiative
of the Samtskhe-Javakhk Armenian public organizations council a rally
of many thousands took place on March 11 on the Mesrop Mashtots square
of Akhalkalak as a complaint against the events taken place in Tsalka
two days ago. The rally participants condemned what happened in Tsalka
on March 9, emphasizing that the murder of Gevorg Gevorgian, a 23 years
old inhabitant of the Armenian village of Ghushchi and the two young
men of the same age being injured are a direct consequence of the not
ethnic policy led by the authorities. They speak at the rally about
the dangerous and threating with an explosion situation of Georgian
authorities’ leading the policy of changing the ethnic picture of
the region to the detriment of Armenians. The issue of giving the
Armenian language a state status was touched upon again. Condemning
what happened in Tsalka, at the same time the rally organizers called
on not to subject to provocations. The issue of giving real security
guarantees to the Armenian inhabitation was especially seriously
arosen in the case of condemning the authorities of Georgia. A claim
addressed to the authorities of Georgia, the Georgian Armenians and
the international community was adopted by the participants during
the rally. According to the “A-Info” agency, it’s particularly said
in the document: “Examining the instigating actions in general in the
regions of Georgia populated with Armenians during the recent months
and particularly on March 9 in Tsalka as well as expressing our anxiety
on the occasion of the Armenian population’s security and keeping the
stability in the country, we call on the authorities of Georgia: – to
stop the policy of putting pressure by interracial tension; – to stop
re-population of foreigners in the regions populated with Armenians
what is a reason for interracial tension; – to remain faithful to
their innitial programs of establishing democracy in the country
and solving the problems existing in Javakhk in a democratic way; –
to guarantee real security for Armenians; – to review the law on the
state language of Georgia before the coming elections of the local
self-government bodies, for the reason, that Armenia will be adopted
in Samtskhe-Javakhk as the state language joint with the Georgian
language. At the same time, we call on the nations of Georgia to
understand that the interracial tension can be of benefit for nobody:
everybody will lose in the case of interracial conflicts. We call on
Europe and the international community not to allow for democracy
and the human and civil rights are violated in Georgia. We call on
the Armenians of Georgia to be carefull and united, not to subject to
instigations, not to leave the right way of getting rights.” After the
rally some young people moved to the regional court of Akhalkalak and
the Akhalkalak branch of the Tbilisi State University. The participants
connected the main reason of the procession with discharging the
judge of the Armenian origin as well as with the fact of not accepting
Armenian young people in the univerisity branch. The ingidnated young
people broke the windows of the university building. Some of the young
people gathered at the new Georgian chapel, the chapel servicewomen
let them enter, and they made sure that there is no armament in the
buildings around, they went away. Khachatur Stepanian, a representative
of the Samtskhe-Javakhk Armenian Public Organizations Council mentioned
on the occasion of what happened that no prosession towards the
court and the university wasn’t planned by the rally organizers,
consequencely, what happened in the university and the court has
nothing with the council and rally organizers. Commenting upon the
happened, he expressed an opinion that a group of citizens unpleased
with the authorities of Georgia was subjected to certain provocations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGIA’S OMBUDSMAN CONDUCTS PRESS-CONFERENCE REGARDING TSALKA EVENTS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 13 2006

TBILISI, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the 11th of
March a press conference was conducted in public defender’s office
regarding the incident that took place on the 9th of March as a result
of which Mr. Gevorg Gevorgyan was killed and other ethnic Armenian
citizens of Georgia were injured to various degrees. According to
official data, five suspects were detained by the Police of Georgia
and other suspects are searched for. The incident provoked a mass
protest of ethnic Armenian residents of Javakhk region, which later
grew into violence. The demonstration was dismissed by special
security service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia
based in other regions of Georgia. The next day after the collision a
group of representatives of the Public Defender of Georgia arrived in
Tsalka. After having preliminarily studied the case the Ombudsman of
Georgia Mr. Sozar Subari stated that the conflict happened based on
‘common’ grounds. Public defender called to let government officials
finish the investigation of Tsalka events without any pressure or
hindrance. According to the Armenian portal of Georgia “Armenia.ge”,
Mr. Karen Elchyan, President of the Armenian Centre of Cooperation of
Georgia, has also come out with a statement. He expressed condolences
to the family of the murder victim and presented the official position
of his organization. He stated that there are two different versions of
the motivation of the crime, and one of the versions, namely the ethnic
hatred motivation, is held by the victims of the crime. Responding to a
journalist’s question regarding Javakhk Armenians’ requests of autonomy
for Javakhk he noted that such requests are entirely lawful and are
based on the principles of federalism and territorial integrity of
state. Residents of the region, he stated, are convinced that granting
Javakhk autonomy would contribute to fulfillment of their obligations
and rights as of citizens of Georgia. The Armenian Apostolic Church
Diocese of Georgia has also commented on the events in Tsalka. The
Assistant to the Head of the Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church,
Mr. Levon Isakhanyan supported the position of Mr. Karen Elchyan
regarding the existence of two versions of motivation of the crime. He
added that such crimes are consequence of anti-Armenian hysteria,
launched by the means of Georgian mass-media. On behalf of the Diocese,
he called for the appropriate government bodies to pay sufficient
attention to the problems of the Armenian Apostolic Church Diocese
of Georgia, interethnic relations and defending rights of the ethnic
minorities residing in Georgia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“MULTI-NATIONAL GEORGIA” NOVEMENT AND “NOR SERUND” UNION ASK TO CARRY OUT OBJECTIVE EXAMINATION OF INCIDENT IN TSALKA

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 13 2006

TBILISI, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the occasion of
the March 9 events in Tsalka, the “Civil Movement “Multi-National
Georgia” union and the “Nor Serund” (New Generation) union of the
Georgian Armenians made a statement in which they turn to the
Government of Georgia with a request to carry out an objective
examination of the incident in Tsalka, to punish those guilty in
the way envisaged by the legislation, as well as to make publicity
to what had happened. The organizations aks the civil society of
Georgia, the Government and President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili
to refer to the problems appeared in Tsalka with the upmost attention
for to avoid a regular interethnic conflict in the territory of
Georgia. “Multi-National Georgia” and “Nor Serund” expressed their
condolence to the family of died Gevorg Gevorkian. To recap, an armed
attack on a group of young people of the Armenian origin took place
on March 9 in the very center of the city of Tsalka (regional center
of the Tsalka region of the Kvemo-Kartli region, Georgia). According
to both witnesses and one of victims, there were about 15 attacking
people and many of them were armed with side-arms. As a result of
knife injuries, Gevorg Gevorkian of 23 years old was killed, he died
at the place, V.Saakian of 25 years old was injured at the foot,
and K.Baloyan of 25 years old was taken in 7 hours to the Tbilisi
city hospital No1 with a serious injury.

TRAIL ON CASE OF MURDER OF IRANIAN ARMENIAN YOUNG MAN TO START ON MARCH 14

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 13 2006

TEHRAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The trail on the
case of Miro Begijanian, an Iranian Armenian young man will start on
March 14. As Hovik Behbun, the attorney on the court action informed
the Tehran “Alik” daily, both the defendant and Miro’s family will
be present at the first official judicial hearing. Data of the
judicial-medical examination as well as of ones gathered by the
Police will be discussed at the hearing. According to those data,
the level of liability of each of the defendants will be defined
and the court sentence will be passed. The attorney mentioned that
according to the report of the judicial-medical center, Miro died of
injuries of not one person.

Two of the defendants admitted that they injured Miro. To recap,
Miro Begijanian was killed on September 9, 2005, near the “Ararat”
sport center of Tehran during a dispute with three Persians.

REPS. PALLONE AND RADANOVICH RALLY COLLEAGUES IN SUPPORT OF PRO-ARMENIAN PROVISIONS IN FOREIGN AID BILL

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 13 2006

WASHINGTON, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Congressmen
Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and George Radanovich (R-CA) called on their
U.S. House colleagues to join them in cosigning a letter calling on
the leadership of the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee to support
pro-Armenian provisions in the fiscal year 2007 foreign aid bill,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). This
bipartisan expression of support, addressed to the panel’s Chairman
Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY), strengthens
the hand of pro-Armenian members of the Subcommittee, most notably
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg, Steve Rothman (D-NJ),
Mark Kirk (R-IL), and John Sweeney (R-NY). Rep. Sweeney, who joined
the panel last year, is one of only two Members of Congress of
Armenian heritage. The letter notes that members of Congress are
“deeply troubled” that the Administration’s request for military aid
for Azerbaijan is considerably higher then the request for Armenia. By
signing the letter, legislators will add their voice to the effort to
ensure that the agreement struck in 2001 between the White House and
Congress to keep aid levels to these two countries equal is fully
respected. In addition, the letter calls for a hard earmark of at
least $75 million for Armenia, a one-year $5 million allocation for
Nagorno Karabagh, and the preservation of Section 907 of the Freedom
Support Act. “We want to thank Congressmen Radanovich and Pallone in
urging the Foreign Operations Subcommittee to support provisions in the
fiscal year 2007 foreign aid bill of special importance to Armenian
Americans,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We also
value the advocacy for pro-Armenian issues from within this panel
by Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg, the leadership of
Chairman Jim Kolbe and Ranking Democrat Nita Lowey, and the support of
Representatives Steve Rothman, John Sweeney, Mark Kirk, Jesse Jackson,
Jr., Carolyn Kilpatrick, Chaka Fattah, and our other friends.”

ARMENIAN DEPUTY OF IRANIAN PARLIAMENT TO MAKE SPEECH DURING DIALOGUE OF RELIGIONS CONGRESS HELD IN ZAGREB

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 13 2006

ZAGREB, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the initiative of
the Center for Dialogue of Religions of the Islamic Communication and
Culture Organization of Iran and of the Cultural Attache of Iran to
Zagreb, the first congress on the Dialogue of Churches started its
work in Zagreb on March 10.

According to the Tehran “Alik” daily, Gevorg Vardanian, the Deputy of
the northern Iranian Armenians at the Islamic Parliament was a member
of the delegation invited from Iran to the congress as a representatice
of the Armenian Christians at the Parliament. The congress ended on
March 11. The theme of the Armenian Deputy’s speech was “Obstacles
of a Successful Dialogue.” He touched upon in his speech not only the
difficulties of a dialogue of religions but events of overcoming them
as well.