TURKISH HISTORIANS ARE GOING TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
YEREVAN, MARCH 17. ARMINFO. During the current Istanbul international
symposium “New Approaches to Armenian-Turkish Relations” British
historian of Armenian nationality Ara Safaryan and Director of the
Institute of Turkish History Yusuf Galacoglu, who denies the Armenian
Genocide, have decided to develop a joint project to find out what
actually took place in Ottoman Turkey in early XX.
Milliyet (Turkey) reports Safaryan to say that there are irrefutable
proves that there was a genocide in Ottoman Turkey in early XX. One
proof is the words of then US ambassador to Turkey, who describes the
horrible events. In response, Garacoglu proposed developing a joint
project to examine the mass burial places and the massacre scenes.
Safaryn accepted the proposal.
The most sensational speech was made Thursday by professor of Israeli
University Yair Oron, who said that the events were certainly a
genocide. His statement is based on thorough research. He says that
despite Turkey’s efforts the Armenian Genocide is mentioned in the
world press, particularly, in Palestinian newspapers.

‘ROYAL-ARMENIA’ REPRESENTATIVES ASK THE PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA TO
INTERFERE THE PERSECUTION OF THE COMPANY
YEREVAN, MARCH 17. ARMINFO. Representatives of ‘Royal Armenia’
CJSC ask President Robert Kocharian to interference and to stop the
unlawful judicial persecution of the company.
‘Royal-Armenia’s open letter addressed to the President states that
shareholder Gagik Hakobian and deputy-director Aram Kazarian were
detained in result of calumny and falsifications by the Customs
Service. The company accuses investigator Mnatsakan Marukian for
neglecting the evidence of Hakobian’s and Kazarian’s innocence and for
stating openly that the activity of ‘Royal-Armenia’ has been illegal
for 6 years. The letter states that the company suffers from refusing
the unlawful demands of the corrupted Customs Committee.
‘Royal Armenia’ reminds the President about his criticism of the
Customs Committee and calls upon him for justice.

Synapse, CA
UCSF student newsletter
March 17 2006
Opinion: Your Chance to Stop a Genocide
By Adam Greenwald and Jeannie Biniek
Contributing Writers
Sixty years ago, the world stood silently by as six million Jews were
consigned to flames in Auschwitz and other factories of death. In the
aftermath of the Holocaust, humanity pledged never again to be
complacent in the face of genocide. Sadly, we failed to keep that
promise in Cambodia, Bosnia and Rwanda. In our own day, we have
allowed the genocide in Darfur to rage unabated for three agonizing
years.
Since February 2003, the Sudanese government has sponsored militias
who have carried out a systematic policy of massacre, rape and forced
displacement against the black population of that country’s Darfur
region. To date, 400,000 people have been brutally killed and 2.5
million more have been forced to flee for their lives. Ninety percent
of all Darfur villages have been destroyed. The U.S. government has
declared this staggering human catastrophe to be genocide.
Today, UC students are leading the fight to end Darfur’s nightmare.
Because of student pressure, the Regents of the University of
California agreed to establish a task force in late-January
responsible for creating a substantial, targeted divestment strategy
from certain companies doing business in Sudan. The task force’s goal
was to make exactingly sure that divestment efforts would only target
those countries that are contributing to government revenue, but are
not provide any benefit to the country’s population. The task force’s
findings and recommendations will be presented to the UC Regents for
a vote at their March 16 meeting on the UCLA campus.
If such a targeted divestment strategy is adopted, the UC will send a
powerful message that the world will not stand idly by while the
Sudanese government murders its citizens. However, this is no mere
symbolic action. We know that Sudanese military expenditures are
closely linked to foreign direct investments; by divesting, we can
limit Sudan’s ability to buy the guns and bombs that they are using
to butcher innocent civilians. By targeting divestment to only a
subset of companies, the UC avoids hurting more innocents.
A broad coalition of leaders support divestment. To date, 23 U.S.
Congresspeople have added their names to this effort, as have more
than two-dozen state legislators. They are joined by scores of
activists, clergy, union representatives, faculty and thousands of
students. Please add your name to this coalition by signing our
petition at
On March 16, the UC Regents will decide, once and for all, whether
the UC take the lead in fighting genocide.
The world remained silent through the Armenian genocide, the
Holocaust, the killings by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia and the
genocides in Bosnia and Rwanda. The genocide in Darfur is still
ongoing. Millions of people remain in imminent, mortal danger. We
have a chance not to repeat the mistakes of the past. We dare not
miss the opportunity. Support targeted divestment of UC investments
from Sudan.
For more information see our Web site, Adam
Greenwald is an Executive Member of the UC Sudan Divestment Taskforce
and President of the Progressive Jewish Student Association of UCLA.
Jeannie Biniek is External Vice-President of the UCLA Undergraduate
Student Association and an Executive Member of the UC Sudan
Divestment Taskforce.
606/gen.html

THE US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE ADVISED TURKEY TO GIVE ESTIMATION TO THE TRAGEDIES OF THE PAST
YEREVAN, MARCH 17. ARMINFO. The question of recognizing the fact
of the Armenian Genocide is a very complicated one and it should be
thoroughly attended by both the sides, stated on his visit to Ankara
Daniel Fried, assistant to the US Secretary of State.
‘Zaman’ newspaper notes that Mr. Fried arrived in Turkey together
with Steven Mann, the American Co- Chairman of the Minsk Group, and
met with representatives of the Foreign Ministry of Turkey. After the
meetings Mr. Davies said that the tragedies of the past must be given
an objective estimate and the nations must be mostly concerned by their
future. He said that the position of the United States on this question
is known to everyone and that President Bush will hold a speech about
it in April. Mr. Fried said that US Government’s demand to open the
border with Armenia was also considered on the meeting in Ankara.

CONCERT DEVOTED TO THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNION OF IRANIAN ARMENIANS
OF LOS ANGELES IN CALIFORNIA
YEREVAN, MARCH 17. ARMINFO. A symphonic concert “Treasures of Armenian
Classic Music” devoted to the 50th anniversary of the Union of Iranian
Armenians of Los Angeles was held in the Californian town of Glendale
on March 11.
The press-service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry reports the event
was organized by the Union of Iranian Armenians and Glendale Music
School with support of the Armenian Consulate General in Los Angeles.
The works by Armenian composers were performed. The creative director
and director of the concert is Michael Avetisyan. Participating in the
event were the Chorus of the Union of Iranian Armenians and pianist
Vache Mangryan.

ARMENIA WILL HAVE MORE EFFICIENT ARMED FORCES IN 10 YEARS, DEFENSE MINISTER STATES
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 17 2006
YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. Armenia will have more efficient armed
forces meeting the international standards in ten years, Secretary of
the RA Presidential National Security Council, RA Minister of Defense
Serge Sargsyan stated at his meeting with a US delegation.
Colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan, Press Secretary to the RA Minister of
Defense, reported that the Minister pointed out that importance of
the Armenia-NATO relations, stressing that they are rapidly developing.
In his turn, the member of the US delegation, representative of the
Command of the US armed forces in Europe, Colonel Mike Andersen
expressed gratitude for the Armenia~Rs peace-makers~R successful
mission in Iraq. The US officer expressed special thanks to the RA
Minister of Defense for assistance and transparent activities of the
RA armed forces. He also pointed out the importance of rescue training
to be held in Armenia in July 2006. P.T. ~V0~W
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 17 2006
PROJECT OF NKR CONSTITUTION DISCUSSED DURING THE MEETING OF
CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION
YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. The project of the NKR Constitution
was discussed during the meeting of the Constitutional Commission,
according to the Press Service of the NKR President. According to the
press release, during the meeting the President of Nagorno-Karabakh
Arkadey Ghukasyan commissioned the expert group of lawyers to prepare
the conclusion, previously studying all suggestions referring to
this issue. Summarizing results of the session Ghukasyan emphasized
the importance of Constitution’s corresponding to the international
standards of democracy. He also emphasized that the final project
of the Constitution will be presented to the political forces of the
country as well as to international experts. The President commissioned
the expert group to prepare and submit to discussion the work schedule
of the Constitutional Commission. S.P. –0–

Turkish, US officials discuss Armenia, Iran, Cyprus
Anatolia news agency
17 Mar 06
Ankara, 17 March: Ankara has given the message to the US assistant
secretary of state for Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs,
Daniel Fried, who reportedly asked Turkey to open up the border
crossing with Armenia, that the issue was part of the Turkish-Armenian
normalization process.
According to diplomatic sources, Fried urged Turkey to open up the
border gate between Turkey and Armenia since it would contribute to
resolution of Upper Karabakh problem.
Ankara reiterated its actual policy and made known that the issue
was part of the normalization process of relations between Turkey
and Armenia.
Iran’s nuclear programme was also taken up at the meetings, sources
said. Both sides shared concern over Iran’s nuclear programme;
however Turkish and American officials agreed that the problem
should be resolved through diplomatic means. On the other hand the
US executive conveyed the message to Turkish side that the military
alternative was still on the table.
During Fried’s meeting with MFA [Foreign Ministry] Undersecretary Ali
Tuygan, the Cyprus issue was one of the topics and Tuygan emphasized
the importance of ending the isolation of TRNC. Tuygan recalled
that the Greek Cypriot side, which had always had an uncompromising
attitude, was rewarded.

RA MINISTER OF ENERGY FINDS THAT POSSIBLE SELL OF INTER RAO UES TO
GASPROM TO HAVE NO EFFECT ON ENERGETIC SYSTEM OF ARMENIA
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 17 2006
YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. The RA Minister of Energy finds that
possible sell of INTER RAO UES to “Gasprom” will not affect the
energetic system of Armenia.
“I don’t think that it may somehow affect the energetic filed of
Armenia”, Movsisyan told journalists on Thursday.
At the same time he stated that there was no information about
such plans.
Heads of Russian RAO UES earlier stated of their intention to sell
part of their daughter enterprises, particularly INTER RAO UES.
Russian Gasprom Holding is mentioned among claimants to purchase
this company.
In Armenia “Electric Networks of Armenia” international energetic
corporation belongs to the INTER RAO UES and it also manages financial
flows of Armenian nuclear power plant. S.P.–0–

ARMENIA-EU ACTIVITY PROGRAM ELABORATION PROCESS DISCUSSED AT ARMENIAN
DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER’S MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF CIVIL
SOCIETY
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 17 2006
YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. Process of Armenia-EU activity program
elaboration as part of European Union’s European Neighborhood policy
was discussed Friday at Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Armen
Bayburdyan’s meeting with representatives of the country’s civil
society. The ministry press service told ARKA News Agency that the
results of Armenia-EU negotiations second stage held on March 6 in
Brussels were presented at the meeting. According to the press
release, Bayburdyan said the negotiations produced positive results –
an accord was reached on some points. He also spoke on some issues to
be discussed by Armenian Government and European Commission soon. The
sides also stressed importance of interaction with civil society in
this process. M.V. -0—-