PRESS RELEASE
Nor Serount Cultural Association
440 W. Colorado Blvd. Suite 201
Glendale, CA 91204
T: 818-502-6580
F: 818-502-6543
Email: [email protected]
Turkish Scholar Keynote Speaker at Armenian Genocide Commemoration Event in Glendale
Rep. Schiff Will Update on US Congress Resolutions
GLENDALE — Increasing number of Turkish scholars believe that
the massacres of Armenians by the Young Turks from 1915 to 1917
were a case of genocide. One of these scholars is Ragip Zarakolu,
the keynote speaker of the commemorative event to be held at the
Glendale Community Church, on Saturday, April 22nd starting at 7:30
p.m. This event is organized by Nor Serount Cultural Association and
Organization of Istanbul Armenians.
Speaker Ragip Zarakolu is the director of Belge International
Publishers, in Istanbul, who for almost 30 years has exhibited
extraordinary courage by publishing books in Turkey that are about
taboo subjects related to the histories of the minority people of
Turkey – the Armenians, Kurds, Greeks.
Zarakolu has long faced harassment for publishing his books. In 1971
a military junta assumed power in Turkey that immediately convicted
and imprisoned him for three years. On his release Zarakolu refused
to abandon his campaign for freedom of thought, striving for an
â~@~attitude of respect for different thoughts and cultures to become
widespread in Turkeyâ~@~].
The Belge Publishing House, established in Istanbul in 1977 by Zarakolu
and his wife Ayse Nur, has been a focus for Turkish censorship laws
ever since. Charges brought against the couple – at one point there
were over thirty government-brought actions – resulted in imprisonment
for both Nur and Zarakolu, the wholesale confiscation and destruction
of books and the imposition of heavy fines. In 1995 the Belge
Publishing House offices were firebombed by an extremist rightist
group, forcing it to be housed in a cellar. Since his wifeâ~@~Ys
death in 2002, Zarakolu continued to face further prosecutions.
Since November of last year, Zarakolu has been facing new charges of
â~@~insulting and undermining the Stateâ~@~] under Artricle 301 of
the new Penal Code in Turkey. These charges stem from the publication
of two new books about the Armenian Genocide. If convicted, he could
face six-year imprisonment.
Zarakoluâ~@~Ys latest publication is the translation to Turkish
the memoires of Henry Morgenthau, US Ambasaador to Turkey from 1913
to 1916.
Last year, writer Peter Balakian shared his 2005 Rapahel Lemkin prize
from the Institute for the Study of Genocide with Zarakolu.
US House Representative Adam Schiff will be updating on pending
Armenian Genocide resolutions in the Congress (H. Con. Res. 195 and
H. Res. 316). Both these resolutions, for the first time in five
years, were passed by the House International Relations Committee
with overwhelming majority clearing the way for a historic vote
on the House Floor The Glendale Community Church is located at 333
E. Colorado Boulevard in Glendale. This event is free of charge and
all are welcome.
For additional information please call Harout DerTavitian (818)
502-3233
–Boundary_(ID_JdJm+3wQ4LzRgiKA/l7 APw)–

Pyunik primed for title defence
Tuesday, 18 April 2006
by Khachik Chakhoyan
from Yerevan
FC Pyunik got off to a flying start as the Armenian
Premier League season began with the title-holders
defeating newcomers FC Gandzasar Kapan 3-0. Arsen
Avetisyan scored twice with Levon Pachajyan adding the
third.
Fewer clubs
Pyunik announced their intentions at the onset of a
campaign that has seen the number of participating
teams drop from eleven to eight due to financial
problems. The Football Federation of Armenia had been
keen to increase the number of competing sides, but
that proved impossible, so each club will play its
rivals four times as in the last two seasons.
Ararat winner
Elsewhere on the opening weekend, FC Ararat Yerevan
overcame FC Banants thanks to Edgar Safaryan’s
solitary free-kick goal. FC Kilikia had to come from
behind against FC Ulis Yerevan after Gor Atabekyan put
Ulis ahead, Sagris Movsisyan equalising from the
penalty spot before Arman Minasyan grabbed the winner.
Meanwhile, FC Shirak managed a 0-0 draw against
much-fancied FC MIKA.
Pyunik dominant
Pyunik have been Armenian champions for five seasons
running, and have signed three players as they attempt
to make it six. Arsen Avetisyan and Eduard Partsikyan
have returned to their ranks from Russia’s second
division while 18-year-old Boris Melkonyan has joined
from Russian side FC Sochi-04.
MIKA primed
Pyunik’s main rivals are expected to be MIKA,
runners-up in the last two years. MIKA have five new
faces and held two training camps abroad in a bid to
improve their fortunes. The teams will get an early
chance to assess each other when they meet in the
Armenian Cup semi-finals on 19 April.
Turkish trips
Banants, meanwhile, have the experienced Nikolaj
Kiselev in charge and spent much of the pre-season in
Turkey. They also recruited nine players after a
series of trials, with six coming from FC Metalurh
Donetsk in Ukraine.
New boys
Finally, the top flight’s two newcomers, Gandzasar and
Ararat Yerevan, suggested they could cope with the
élite during previous cup campaigns, but while Ararat
have landed three Brazilians to keep compatriot Renato
Moraes company, Gandzasar will try their luck with an
all-Armenian squad.
©uefa.com 1998-2006. All rights reserved.
–Boundary_(ID_pTzN4DNOh0b6z1597Yu2bg)- –

WHEN AND HOW MUCH WE WILL DECLARE
Lragir.am
19 April 06
The bill on declaration of property and income of natural persons
caused dissent between the People’s Deputy Group and president’s
advisor on corruption affairs Bagrat Yesayan. The only dissent is
the threshold of property liable to declaration. The dissent seems
to have been overcome and now the following thresholds and deadlines
are included in the bill.
In 2007 a natural person will not have to make a declaration if their
income does not exceed 6 million drams within the tax year. In 2008
they will not have to declare if the same index is not over 5 million,
in 2009 4 million, in 2010 3 million, in 2011 2 million and in 2012
1 million.
Starting with 2012 most citizens of the Republic of Armenia will have
to write a declaration of income. However, there is not a hint on
declaration of property and income of natural persons in the bill how
much our income will grow year by year by these scales, and naturally
there could not have been any. This bill is solving another problem.
Whereas it would be better if all the questions were solved at once,
and the citizens whose income is one million drams in both 2006 and
2012 could understand why they need a declaration of property. Or
else it will be difficult to explain why the government is adding
nuisance of paperwork if within six years it did nothing to boost
the income of its citizens.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
April 18, 2006
___________________
IN CEREMONY REMEMBERING LAST SUPPER, ARCHBISHOP HUMBLY KNEES BEFORE YOUNG
ARMENIANS
By Jake Goshert
One by one the young men and little boys stepped forward, sitting before
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian as he knelt over a bowl of blessed water. The
Primate took each boy’s feet into his hands, washing it before anointing it
with oil. The boys then kissed his ring reverently, before returning to
their place by the altar of New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral.
On Thursday, April 13, 2006, as part of this year’s Holy Thursday
celebrations, the Primate re-enacted the Last Supper, where Jesus washed the
feet of his 12 disciples in a gesture of humility and love.
This year, to mark the 1,600th anniversary of the creation of the Armenian
alphabet, the 12 people representing the disciples at the cathedral were
young men and boys from Armenian Schools at the St. Vartan Cathedral and
from the St. Gregory the Illuminator Mission Parish in Brooklyn, NY.
“It was important for me to participate, because it is a very personal honor
to be up there,” said Armen Bandikian, 15, who serves on the cathedral
altar. “This service shows the importance of the church, and the importance
of Christ and Christianity as well.”
The group of twelve boys included four from the growing St. Gregory the
Illuminator Mission Parish in Brooklyn, NY. That community is made up of
recent Armenian immigrant families.
“Having our young people participate was such a big event and a big honor,”
said Svetlana Amerkhanian, parish council chairman of St. Gregory. “More
than that, the children participating brought up a lot of questions and we
gave a lot of answers about what this is about.”
For one young Brooklyn parishioner, Erik Bazian, participating in the
ceremony was a way to honor a connection to past generations of Christians.
“We still practice Christianity today the way they have for generations. We
did the same thing tonight,” he said.
Participating in this year’s “Washing of the Feet” ceremony at New York
City’s St. Vartan Cathedral were: William Babikian, Arthur Bagdasarian,
Armen Bandikian, Erik Bazian, Narek Bazian, Arsen Danilyan, Tavit Jlanjian,
Harry Petropoulos, Krikor Torossian, Vartan Torossian, Armen Shamamian, Avik
Shamamian
— 4/18/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, washes the feet of
David Ilanjian, 4, during Holy Thursday’s “Washing of the Feet” ceremony at
New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral on April 13, 2006.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Twelve young men and boys join the Primate at the altar
of New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral during the “Washing of the Feet”
ceremony on Holy Thursday, April 13, 2006.
# # #

RESIDENTS OF KIEV AGAINST CONSTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN CHURCH
Armenpress
Apr 17 2006
KIEV, APRIL 17, ARMENPRESS: Residents of a Kiev district are protesting
against construction of an Armenian church in their borough.
In 1992 the authorities of the Ukrainian capital city passed a decision
allowing the Armenian community of the town to build a church on a
1,022 square meter location in Podol district. The community held
several fundraising campaigns and after collecting the necessary
amount it ordered a church design and began construction, but local
residents destroyed the fence of the site saying they would not allow
construction in the green zone.
Ukrainians argue they are against the destruction of the green
zone where the church is supposed to be erected but not against
Armenians. “Even Jews who have been living in this district for many
years never tried to build a synagogue in the park,’ one of the
residents was quoted by RFE/RL as saying. But Vahe Stepanian from
the Ukrainian Diocese of the Armenian Church says he is ready to go
through all level courts to defend the community’s legal right.”

YEREVAN CHILDREN LIBRARY TO HOST EXHIBITION OF RUSSIAN BOOKS
Armenpress
Apr 17 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 17, ARMENPRESS: The biggest Khnko Aper children
library in Yerevan will host in late May an exhibition of children
books published in Russia in the last five years. The display will
have around 400 pieces of books.
The library director, Ruzan Tonoyan, said the exhibition is part of
the Armenian Year in Russia. She said Russian ministry of culture and
the embassies of both countries will help to hold the event, following
which the books will remain in Armenia and will be distributed to
children libraries and schools as gift of Russia.
A return exhibition of Armenian children books will be held in Moscow
in late September and early October.
She said some 300 books will be shown in Russia. She said the Armenian
urban ministry has promised to release funds for a major repair of
the library building in 2007-2009.

IS GOVERNMENT’S MIND CHANGEABLE?
Lragir.am
18 April 06
On April 18 when the Constitutional Court was hearing the
case of the residents of Buzand Street and North Avenue the
representative of the government Davit Harutiunyan made an interesting
statement. Davit Harutiunyan addressed the court that in the judgment
on constitutionality of the alienation of property of the residents
of Buzand Street and North Avenue he would like to see something on
the compensations given by the government. The minister of justice
wanted the court to say whether the compensation to the residents
can be considered income.
Davit Harutiunyan said the government does not think it is income,
therefore the compensation cannot be taxed. The residents laughed at
this phrase because the government used to think otherwise and even
taxed the compensation sums.

WILL THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT BE TOUCHED?
Lragir.am
18 April 06
At 18 PM on April 18 the Constitutional Court of Armenia will decide
whether the government treated the residents of Buzand Street lawfully
or unlawfully. The morning sitting of the Constitutional Court, which
was the continuation of the first sitting that took place several weeks
ago, began with the final speeches of the parties. After the first
sitting the Constitutional Court studied the additional material,
for which the hearing was adjourned till April 18. The court had
apparently studied these materials deeply, for no questions were
asked to the parties. The parties did not have questions either,
therefore they started with final speeches.
Ombudsman Armen Harutiunyan, who appealed to the Constitutional Court
on the claims of the residents of Buzand Street, was the first to
speak. The ombudsman announced that the discussion of the question
and the arguments of the defendant once again confirmed his belief
that the alienation of the property of the residents of Buzand Street
by the government was unconstitutional.
“The arguments of the respondent did not shatter my belief, moreover,
made it deeper,” says the ombudsman. He says the alienation of the
property was not done out of urgent need and with sufficient reason,
which did not allow the residents to appeal against the decisions of
the government. Armen Harutiunyan thinks the alienation of property
must have statutory grounds, unlike what the government has done,
referring to Article 218 of the Civil Code – national and community
needs.
Armen Harutiunyan says this article contradicts to the Constitution
of Armenia, because it transgresses the right for property without
exclusivity. Armen Harutiunyan announced that everything should have
statutory grounds.
“There is nothing we can do for those citizens who have signed a deal,
because there was agreement. However, decisions on enforced alienation
had to have sufficient statutory ground,” says Armen Harutiunyan.
Gevorg Mheryan, the representative of the RA President in the
Constitutional Court, was brief and clear. He announced in his
final speech that the alienation of the property was lawful and did
not violate the Constitution of Armenia. The representative of the
government, Minister of Justice Davit Harutiunyan shares this point
of view. He stated that he could understand the emotional side of the
problem but he would nevertheless try to give legal explanations to
prove the lawfulness of the government’s action.
Davit Harutiunyan says there is not a single point in the RA
Constitution stating that alienation of property must be set down
in the law. The minister of justice says even the general map of the
city is sufficient reason for an enforced alienation, emanating from
the plan of development of the city.
Davit Harutiunyan wonders why Armenia should differ from all the
other countries.
“Yes, we do agree that there are shortcomings in the legislation, and
it is high time to fill in the gaps. Moreover, we even think that human
rights in Armenia must underlie laws in Armenia, but the decisions of
the government are in compliance with the laws and the Constitution,”
announced the minister of justice, adding that the Constitutional
Court might yield to the emotional side of the problem in the judgment.
The members of the Constitutional Court have already come of age,
announced the Chairman of the Constitutional Court Gagik Harutiunyan.
He said they have sufficient experience, knowledge and awareness of
the case being heard to pass an unbiased verdict. And the verdict,
longed for by the cheated residents of Buzand Street and North Avenue,
will be passed in several hours.

LAW IS A FALSE NATIONAL IDEOLOGY
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am
18 April 06
Following the Unity Tree Planting, most of us might have thought
that the Head Public Prosecutor of Armenia should be concerned about
issues of lawfulness rather than environmental issues, and most of us
might be right. Moreover, this lack of lawfulness in the country is
visible to the naked eye, even at night. It is hard to disagree that
no matter how important nature and national unity are, something is
wrong, however, when the head of law enforcers starts taking care of
nature, and the head of environmentalists starts shooting seagulls
like a policemen would shoot a criminal, without thinking that if
a shot in the air would mean a warning for the offender, for the
seagull it might mean death.
Naturally, neither the problem of environment will be solved, nor the
problem of lawfulness, if the law enforcer does not observe the law,
and the environmentalist forgets about nature.
However, the state of things is not as bad as it might appear. It is
the least of evils when they plant trees as a symbol of unity.
Imagine what would happen if they decided to start a development
of unity, considering that they are unable to build anything
except elite houses. The ombudsman would have to spend nights at the
Constitutional Court, although the problem is not that of the ombudsman
but thousands of citizens whose property would be sacrificed for the
sake of unity. So, let us be thankful for tree planting, and let us
be thankful that there is place where to plant trees, and no one has
to start alienation of property of residents.
If the residents of Buzand Street and North Avenue protest because
their property is seized in favor of the elite, refusing to give one’s
property for place to plant trees would be considered treason. How
can one refuse to give some territory, some apartment or some roof
if someone devotes all his time, heart and soul for the Unity Tree
Planting? Yes, it is better to sacrifice one’s apartment (one might
even receive a title of hero) than to be threatened to be seen as
a traitor.
Hence, this is what happens in the countries where public initiatives
come to replace the law. Those to whom the idea of law does not even
occur become devotees of the nation. And those who refuse to follow
the initiative of such a devotee is seen as a traitor. How can one
refuse to participate in the dance of unity or in the unity tree
planting? If you fail to, you are not merely defying the head public
prosecutor but also the idea of unity of the nation. And whoever dares
to criticize, moreover, not to take part in these events of unity,
and even doubt their appropriateness, will be declared a foe of the
nation, who does not want our unity.
That is why the Head Public Prosecutor has set aside the questions of
lawfulness and engages in planting trees of unity and begets ideas
of unity in general. It is like a magic circle, and those who are
outside this circle are heretics. There is no other option; either
you are united, or you are a traitor if you dare to speak about some
laws and equality during such a crucial event for the homeland as
tree planting. It is necessary to make people equal on another plane
for them not to be equal before the law and to forget about this
inequality. First it was Mount Aragats, now it is trees of unity,
next year they will surely invent something else.
The public must not be allowed to remain idle, otherwise they start
talking about the law, and a devotee of the nation is seen as an
offender.

POLITICAL ASPECT OF ABKHAZIAN RAILROAD SETTLED
Lragir.am
18 April 06
The Consortium including Russia, Armenia, Georgia and Abkhazia
will meet April 27 to discuss the reconstruction of the Abkhazian
railroad, said Member of Parliament Vladimir Badalyan, the co-chair
of the Armenian-Georgian Business Association, to the news reporter of
Regnum. He said during the meeting they will discuss the logistics of
reconstruction of the railroad, as well as investments. An estimated
150-200 million U.S. dollars is required. Vladimir Badalyan said the
work on the railroad will begin as soon as all the necessary documents
are ready. “The political issues of the Abkhazian pipeline have been
settled, and in 2-2.5 years of intensive work railroad communication
will be fully restored,” said Vladimir Badalyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress