PRESS RELEASE
March 10, 2006
Armenian American Republican Association
700 North Central Ave., Suite 205
Glendale, CA 91203
(818) 241-0006 Facsimile (818) 241-0014
E-mail: [email protected]

ARMENIAN AMERICAN REPUBLICAN ASSOCAITION HELD A ROAST FOR LOS ANGELES
DISTRICT ATTORNEY STEVE COOLEY
Glendale, CA-More than 300 Armenian Americans gathered on March 1, 2006 at
the beautiful Renaissance Restaurant to have some fun and roast a good
friend of Armenian American Community Los Angeles District Attorney Steve
Cooley. This was the first of many event scheduled by Armenian American
Republican Association formally known as Armenian American Republican
Council.
The AARA recently filed for its State PAC status and should have an
extremely a busy schedule during the 2006 election cycle. AARA is the only
Armenian organization officially chartered and recognized by California
Republican Party.
The Master of Ceremony, Robert Philibosian, roasted each roaster and made a
few comments about the speakers. Among the roasters were Supervisor Mike
Antonovich, Sherriff Lee Baca, Chief Steve Simonian, Larry Zarian, Albert
Boyajian and Onnik Mehrabian. The event was a fun and enjoyable gathering
of friends and supporters of AARA.
Also in attendance were Glendale Councilmember Bob Yousefian, Glendale
Councilmember Ara Najarian, Glendale Police Chief Randy Adams and many from
the law enforcement throughout the state including members from Armenian
American Peace Officers Association.
“We have scheduled many more events in 2006.” Said Albert Abkarian, a well
known Armenian American Republican and a Board member with the organization.
“There are many organizations that pretend that they are interested in
Armenian American Republican issues. However, we have proven ourselves in
the past nine years and have earned the Republican Parties confidence.” The
other Board members are Greg Grigorian, Armen Janian, Eddie Minassian and
Rita Topalian.

The Armenian American Republican Association formally known as Armenian
American Republican Council is the largest and the only officially
recognized and Chartered Organization by California Republican Party. AARA
is dedicated in stressing Armenian American related issues to lawmakers in
the Republican Party. Anyone interested in more information can contact the
AARA at 818-241-0006 or write to AARA at 700 North Central Ave., Suite 205,
Glendale, CA 91203or email us at [email protected]

The World’s Billionaires
Billionaire Bacchanalia
Edited by Luisa Kroll and Allison Fass 03.27.06
Nearly two-thirds of the planet’s very richest people are self-made.
Canadian playboy Calvin Ayre went down to Costa Rica a decade ago and began
taking illegal bets over the Internet. Now he’s worth $1 billion. Making a
billion just isn’t what it used to be. In its inaugural ranking ofthe world’s
richest people 20 years ago FORBES uncovered some 140 billionaires. Just
three years ago we found 476. This year the list is a record 793, up 102 from
last year. They’re worth a combined $2.6 trillion, up 18% since last March.
Their average net worth: $3.3 billion.
Strong stock markets around the world (the U.S. being the notable exception)
contributed to this surge in wealth. India, whose BSE SENSEX market was up
54% in the past 12 months, is home to 10 new billionaires, more than any other
country besides the U.S.
Notable newcomers include Tulsi Tanti, a former textile trader whose
alternative energy company owns Asia’s largest windfarm; Vijay Mallya, the liquor
tycoon behind Kingfisher beer; Kushal Pal Singh, India’s biggest real estate
developer; and Anurag Dikshit (pronounced `dix-sit’), another online gaming
mogul, who made his fortune when he and two Americans took their PartyGaming
poker company public in London last June.
Russia, whose RTS stock exchange was up 108%, benefited from strong gains in
commodities prices. The surge swelled the fortunes of its 33 billionaires,
including 7 newcomers who join the list. China now has 8 billionaires, four
times as many as last year. The U.S. is home to 44 new billionaires and
commands nearly half of the fortunes on the roster.
Bill Gates retains his title as the world’s richest person for the
twelfth
straight year, proving that while it’s getting easier to make a billion, the
same can’t be said for making $50 billion.
Twelve people return to the list. Thirty-nine people depart from it. Seven
fortunes were broken up among family members, usually siblings, adding 15
individuals to the ranks. Seventy-eight women make the list, 10 more than last
year, though only 6 are self-made. Hind Hariri, daughter of slain Lebanese
prime minister Rafik Hariri, who is eight months younger than Germany=80=99s Prince
Albert von Thurn und Taxis, is, at 22, the list’s youngest member.
#53 Kirk Kerkorian
Age: 88
Fortune: self made
Source: Investments, casinos
Net Worth: 8.7
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Los Angeles, California, United States, North America
Industry: Investments
Marital Status: divorced, 2 children
High School, Diploma
Low-key investor with eighth-grade education scored big with $7.9 billion
takeover of Mandalay Bay Resorts in 2004. MGM Mirage now owns more than half
the hotel rooms on the Las Vegas Strip, but stock down 14% since July. Born in
Fresno to Armenian immigrants, flew planes across Atlantic during World War
II. First fortune: selling Trans International Airlines for $104 million
profit in the 1960s. Invested proceeds in Sin City: acquired Flamingo hotel 1967,
built International hotel 1969. Sold both properties to Hilton Hotels in
1970. Built first MGM Grand (now Bally’s), opened second incarnation 1993.
Took over Steve Wynn’s (see) Mirage Resorts in $6.4 billion buyout 2000.
Longtime romance with MGM movie studio now over: 3-time studio owner closed$5
billion deal with Sony, 3 private-equity firms and cable giant Comcast last
April; netted $1.8 billion. Former DaimlerChrysler shareholder now buying up
General Motors stock; owns 10% stake, value down $650 million since September.
Tennis junkie, said to play every day.
REPORTED BY Cristina von Zeppelin, Tatiana Serafin, Suzanne Hoppough, Kiyoe
Minami, Helen Coster, Kerry A. Dolan, Russell Flannery, Evan Hessel, Megan
Johnston, Matthew Miller, Matthew Swibel.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY Kiri Blakeley, Justin Doebele, Chandrani Ghosh, Lea
Goldman, Naazneen Karmali, Maxim Kashulinsky,
Josephine Lee, Forbes Russia, Nathan Vardi, Kirill Vishnepolsky, Chaniga
Vorasarun.
RESEARCH BY Phyllis Berman, Heidi Brown, Tomas Kellner, Ritu Kalra, Susan
Kitchens, Deborah Orr, Forbes Poland, Forbes Turkey.
PHOTO EDITOR Gail Toivanen.
DATABASE Mitchel Rand.
Forbes.com Inc.=84¢
From: Baghdasarian

e/chi-0603080224mar08,1,4839352.story?coll=3Dchi-n ewslocalnorthshore-hed
Teachers fill in gaps on Genocide
By Lisa Black
Tribune staff reporter
March 8, 2006
Mary Olson has told the story many times before, about men clubbed with
shovels and buried alive, and women marched into the desert to die with their
babies.
She tells of a family–her family–fleeing Turkish officers during World War
I and how they tried to save themselves by attempting to sacrifice their
youngest.
Weaving snippets of her family’s personal history into a horrific retelling
of Armenian genocide, Olson transfixed a teenage audience during a recent
U.S. history class at Warren Township High School in Gurnee.
Olson has given the speech for years but has found herself in greater demand
since the state approved a law that requires that acts of genocide–above
and beyond the Holocaust–be included in elementary and high school curricula.
Social studies teachers throughout Illinois have taken note since the law
took effect in August, said Phyllis Henry, president of the Illinois Council
for the Social Studies.
That group is organizing conferences and compiling material that covers not
only the Nazi persecution of Jews but also mass killings in Armenia, Ukraine,
Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Sudan.
“If you look at textbooks, depending on how old they are . . . sometimes
they only have a paragraph on the Armenian genocide,” said Henry, manager of
social studies for the Chicago Public Schools.
She said teachers must keep themselves informed of current events, such as
genocide being carried out in Sudan’s western Darfur region.
At Warren, the law has raised awareness among teachers, who tie the
information to their lessons, Olson said.
“Up until now, what they’ve mostly taught is the Holocaust,” said Olson, 54,
director of curriculum and school improvement for Warren Township High
School District 121.
The lessons resonate with students, especially when told by a descendant,
such as Olson, whose grandparents fled Armenia during WW I.
She recently provided juniors and seniors at Warren’s Almond Road Campus
with a quick backdrop to World War I, aided by a map, an Armenian coin,
100-year-old books outlining atrocities committed even before the genocide,and her
grandmother’s embroidery.
She explained that the term “genocide” was coined after Turkish leaders
during the Ottoman Empire nearly wiped out the Armenian population by killing
more than 1 million people from 1915 to 1918.
Her talk was not just a history lesson but also an example of how things
that happened long ago affect public policy today.
The Turkish government still disputes the description of the mass murders as
genocide, saying the killings took place within the larger context of the
war and that 350,000 Turks also died in battle. The United States, in an effort
to maintain diplomatic relations with Turkey, does not use the term genocide
to describe the mass Armenian killings.
But President Bush, in a statement on Armenian Remembrance Day last April
24, acknowledged the “forced exile and mass killings of as many as 1.5 million
Armenians.”
In Massachusetts the Assembly of Turkish American Associations sued the
school system after educators removed Turkish Web sites from a curriculum aimed
at teaching about genocide.
Narguiz Abbaszade, spokeswoman for the assembly, said the lawsuit was
“purely a freedom-of-speech issue.”
“The Turkish community feels they are not able to put forward their
interpretation of what happened,” she said. The lawsuit is ongoing.
Olson said she wanted to try to prove that the Turkish side is “revisionist
history.”
“Armenians were second-class citizens in Turkey. The Turks were trying fora
long time to find a way to rid themselves of the Christians,” Olson said.
At one point she talked about a husband and wife who believed that the only
way they could escape the Turks while hiding in a mountainous region was to
throw the youngest of their three children over a cliff. That way, they could
carry the other two children for miles. But the little boy survived after
landing on a ledge, and his cries alerted their foes.
The family members were caught and tortured. They survived the ordeal but
resented the child because his survival led to their capture, she said.
“How do I know that story?” she said. “The little boy was my uncle by
marriage.”
Students were aghast but curious.
“Usually when anyone talks about genocide or anything like this, people
automatically think of World War II,” said junior Lisa Alvin, 16, of Wadsworth.
“These people were so desperate,” she said. “The choices that they had to
make . . . that they would have to kill one of their children for the restof
the group to survive. That would be so hard.”
About 10,000 Armenians live in the Chicago area, including substantial
communities in Waukegan and Evanston, said Rouben Adalian, director of the
Armenian National Institute in Washington.
Many of them are determined to tell their stories before they die, said
Adalian, who is pleased that Illinois has included the Armenians in its
curriculum.
“It is a valuable presentation. It’s done all across the country but nowhere
near enough,” Adalian said.
———-
[email protected]
Copyright © 2006, _Chicago Tribune_ ()

THE NEGLECTED VICTIM OF THE CONFLICT

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
08 March 2006
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 — ListProcessor(tm) by CREN
Recent activity in the talks for the settlement of the Karabakh
conflict was reflected in the activity of the NGOs and political
forces of NKR. Debates and round-table meetings on various questions
concerning the conflict are held more often. On February 27 the
Democratic Party of Artsakh held a debate on NKR as a guarantor of the
Armenians of the Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan. Vahram Atanessian,
Democratic Party of Artsakh, delivered a short speech on the origin
and development of the Karabakh conflict, underlining the importance
of the historical and legal basis of the issue. The speaker emphasized
that in 1918-1920 Nagorno Karabakh was, in fact, independent, which is
to be found not only in Armenian sources, but is also confirmed by the
fact that as a separate unit Karabakh managed to set up relationships
with other countries and their representatives, including the command
of the allied forces in the South Caucasus, British and American
representatives. Briefly presenting the disreputable decisions adopted
in 1921 and 1923 and the `Golgotha’ of Karabakh that lasted for seven
decades, Vahram Atanessian dwelled on the formation of NKR and the
question of legitimacy of NKR. The reality was familiar to everyone
but the formulation was new: though the establishment of the
Autonomous Region of Nagorno Karabakh was against the rights of
Armenian people and the international law (in July 1921, though
formally, but the political party of a third country passed a
resolution on the territorial dispute of two countries), it was a
guarantee of the security of 100 thousand Armenians living in
different parts of Azerbaijan. At that time the Armenians had a
considerable role in Azerbaijan and were, in fact, one of the
nationalities that bore the statehood of that country. The term
`Azerbaijani’ with the sense it has today was coined later in the
mid-1930s. The Armenians living in Azerbaijan became the first victims
of aggression, were repressed by the Azerbaijani government from the
very beginning of the movement and narrowly escaped massacre in that
country. Who is to act as a guarantor of thousands of Armenians who
lost their property and homes? Who could they turn to? These are not
rhetorical questions but real questions concerning the fate of real
people and requiring a rapid solution. History calls for
alertness. The leader of the Communist Party Hrant Melkumian gave an
interesting answer to the question `What is the issue of the day?’
According to him, it is necessary to take steps at presenting to the
international community the reality in Nagorno Karabakh of the past
seventy years and the anti-Armenian policy carried out here by the
Azerbaijani government, rather than paying great attention to the
historical and legal bases of the problem. Moreover, Hrant Melkumian
believes that unofficial, popular propaganda has better chances to
succeed. `Let everyone come to recognize that the Karabakh issue
concerns an entire people, rather than several people. And there is
more certainty that mass protests will succeed,’ said Hrant Melkumian.
Armen Sargissian, Armenian Revolutionary Federation, asserted the
importance of shifting the issue to the historical and legal
plane. Emanating from the past realities and current developments, he
believes that independent from the political order in Azerbaijan this
country will conduct an anti-Armenian policy it has always carried
out. In addition, this danger will threaten Karabakh mainly. Thus, in
1918-1920, besides other Armenian territories, Azerbaijan tried to
dominate Karabakh, using every means. This policy was carried on by
the Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan and is currently implemented by
present-day Azerbaijan. Therefore, this fact must be taken into
consideration in taking any step. A. Yessayan, Azat Hayrenik Party,
assured that Azerbaijan does not possess real economic, political or
military leverages to press on Karabakh. At the same time, the economy
of NKR is normalizing, and the standard of living is
improving. According to A. Yessayan, this enables NKR to display
higher activity in propaganda, which requires greater emphasis
nowadays. There is one question and a number of answers. These various
opinions have one thing in common: NKR has the right to act as a
guarantor of the Armenians of the Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan and
sooner or later should assume this responsibility. Each speaker gave
their interpretation of how this would look like in practice, which is
natural, considering the scope of the issue debated, since it will set
forward elements, such as compensation, language problems,
nationality, etc. Armen Sargissian pointed out the importance of
clearly defining the aggressor to define the status of the victims of
aggression and the problem connected with compensation. The political
scientist Davit Babayan emphasized the role of the Karabakh Armenians
living abroad, proposing to view the issue not only in the framework
of Karabakh-Azerbaijan but in a wider scope. The participants of the
debate think it is of utter importance to prevent a dual policy of the
international organizations in reference to the problem. Any former
Armenian inhabitant of the Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan feels the
attention of the international community to a certain degree, whereas
the Armenians with the same status and living in NKR get no
attention. Alexander Grigorian, expert on the South Caucasus, proposed
to view the problem in two aspects: what NKR will get and what the
former Armenian inhabitants of the Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan will
get from this. Ashot Ghulian, Speaker of the National Assembly, said
besides acting as a guarantor NKR should be prepared to fulfill all
the subsequent obligations. Ashot Ghulian said, considering the
importance of the issue, there will be further debates on it in the
future.
NORAYR HOVSEPIAN.
08-03-2006

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia
to the United Nations
119E 36th street, New York, NY 10016
Tel.: 1-212-686-9079
Fax: 1-212-686-3934
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
March 10, 2006
PRESS RELEASE
ARMENIA AMONG THE FOUNDING DONORS OF THE MODERNIZED CERF
Armenia was among the first 31 countries to pledge financial support in the
amount of 5000 USD to the United Nations upgraded Central Emergency Response
Fund (CERF), which was officially launched yesterday, on March 9, at the
United Nations Headquarters in New York. The pledges totaled over $256
million, which would enable the Fund to make immediate deployment of
assistance.
At the 2005 Summit the world leaders mandated to take steps to improve the
humanitarian response system, including through timely and predictable
funding. On December 15, 2005, as part of its resolution on “Strengthening
the Coordination of the Emergency Humanitarian Assistance of the United
Nations,” the General Assembly approved by consensus resolution establishing
the new Fund. The Member-States decided to upgrade the existing Central
Emergency Revolving Fund into the Central Emergency Response Fund by
including a grant element of $450 million, funded by voluntary
contributions, in order to ensure a more rapid response to humanitarian
crisis.
In a statement made at the official launch of the modernized CERF, Armenia
stated: “The upgrading of the existing CERF and adding the grant element
will help launch life-saving relief operations. The Fund will provide the
needed tools to better meet the challenges of today’s world when rapid
response to sudden onset emergencies in crucial hours of a crisis becomes
the test of international community’s readiness and resolve to combat common
disasters.” Furthermore, it noted that” “Having a new stand-by fund would
allow this organization to use prevention where and when possible, in
recurring emergencies, as well as in stopping a crisis from spilling out of
control.” It also emphasized: “It is through collective action and continued
and demonstrable support that we will succeed in improving global
humanitarian system and make difference for people in need.”
Among the dignitaries that attended the high-level gathering on the launch
of the Fund were UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Prime Minister of Grenada,
Minister of State for External Affairs of India, Secretary of State for
International Development of the United Kingdom, Minister for Development
Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of Luxembourg, State Secretary for
International Development Cooperation of Sweden and State Secretary of
Norway.
END

PRESS RELEASE
AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Streets
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x109
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:
Friday, March 10, 2006
AGBU ALEXANDRIA SPONSORS CELEBRATORY CONCERT ON THE 85TH ANNIVERSARY
OF COMPOSER ARNO BABADJANIAN

Alexandria, Egypt — On January 29, 2006, AGBU Alexandria, in
conjunction with the Russian Cultural Center of Alexandria and the
Alexandria Center of Arts, sponsored a classical concert to celebrate
the 85th Anniversary of the accomplished Armenian composer Arno
Babadjanian (1921-1983).
With welcoming remarks by Antranig Arzoumanian, Vice-Consul of Russia
and Director of the Russian Cultural Center of Alexandria, AGBU
Alexandria Secretary Hrant Vartzbedian and Ambassador Taher Khalifa,
Head of the External Relations Sector at Alexandria Library, over 200
guests congregated in the Great Hall of the Alexandria Center of Arts
to enjoy a special performance of classical sonatas and concertos by
four members of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra.
Among the many local AGBU members, community representatives and
friends in attendance were distinguished dignitaries and clergy,
including Mr. & Mrs. Ruben Karapetian, Ambassador of Armenia to Egypt,
Libya, Sudan and Ethiopia; Astrid Papazian-Alexanian, Consul General
of Austria; and Reverend Father Krikor Mouradian.
On this special occasion, Ambassador Khalifa was awarded with a medal
by the Russian government for his great work and accomplishments in
bridging Russo-Egyptian cultures.
As AGBU’s first Chapter established in 1907, the Alexandria Chapter is
committed to preserving and promoting the Armenian identity and
heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs. For
more information on AGBU Alexandria, please email
[email protected].
For more information on AGBU and its worldwide chapters, please visit
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net
Karabakh and Azeri Armed Forces Contact Line

Monitoring Held without Incidents

10.03.2006 21:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to an agreement achieved
beforehand, the OSCE Mission held a regular monitoring
of the contact line of the Karabakh and Azeri armed
forces to the east of Talish settlement March 10. As
reported by the NKR MFA, from the Karabakh side the
monitoring was held by field assistants of the OSCE
CiO’s Personal Representative Imre Palatinus and Irzhi
Aberle. The monitoring was held according to the
schedule, no violations of ceasefire were fixed. The
mission was accompanied by representatives of the NKR
Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net
Armenian Gas Consumers to Pay 52.5% More from April 10
10.03.2006 21:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ From April 10 the Armenian gas
consumers will pay $162,95 for thousand cubic meters
instead of $168,4 offered by ArmRosgazprom. The
consumers utilizing less than 10000 cubic meters of
gas will pay 90 drams (20 cents) for a cubic meter
what exceeds the current tariff with 31 drams. The
consumers utilizing more than 10000 cubic meters of
gas (companies in energy sector) will pay a sum
equivalent to $146,51 for 1000 cubic meters. Thus, the
rise in price will make 52,5% for the population and
85,2% for the enterprises. The revision of the tariffs
is conditioned by the double rise in price (from $56
to $110) for the Russian gas imported to Armenia.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Armenians of Tsalka Hold Protest Action

10.03.2006 22:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The killing of 23-year-old Gevorg
Gevorgyan in Tsalka aggravated the situation in the
region. The roads leading from Tsalka to Armenian
villages are blocked by Georgian military. On March 9
evening the police detained three suspects, who are
being interrogated at present. Over 300 residents of
Tsalka gathered today at the police building to hold a
protest action. They demand a fair punishment for the
murderers and broke some windows. The policemen
batoned the protesting Armenians. According to
Georgian parliament member Hayk Meltonyan, some 100
ralliers were beaten, reports A-info agency.
To remind, On March 9, at about 06:00 p.m. local time,
in the city of Tsalka (regional center of Kvemo-Kartli
Region, Georgia) an armed attack was held against a
group of young ethnic Armenians. The attack was
committed in the city’s center, when the company
departed from a restaurant. When they were getting
into a car, unidentified people suddenly attacked
them, dragged out of the car and started beating them.
As witnesses and one of the victims said, there were
about 15 attackers, some of them armed with cold
steel. As a result of the attack, 23-year-old Gevorg
Gevorkyan was injured with a knife and died at the
scene. V. Saakyan, aged 25, was wounded in the leg.
25-year old K. Baloyan seven hours later was delivered
to hospital in Tbilisi with a severe wound. After the
attack the criminals escaped.

PanARMENIAN.Net
U.S: Causalities Prove Karabakh Conflict Not Frozen
10.03.2006 22:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The U.S. take active part in the
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict during the
recent two years, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno
Harnish told journalists. He noted that the
causalities at the frontline prove that the conflict
is not frozen.
Mr. Reno Harnish reiterated the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict should be settled via negotiations. He also
noted that after the failure of the Rambouillet
meeting recurrent meetings of Presidents and FMs as
well as between the Armenian and Azeri peoples are a
necessity. `The Co-chairs and the Foreign Ministers
should exert greater effort for the settlement of the
conflict,’ Mr. Harnish said. He added that March 13
U.S. Co-chair Steven Mann will pay a visit to
Azerbaijan to hold consultations on the conflict
settlement, reported APA new agency.