PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES
THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA
His Holiness Aram I received the foreign minister of Armenia, Vartan
Oskanian, in his office in Antelias on April 10.
The Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon, Vahan Der Ghevontian, also attended
the meeting in addition to members of the National Central Committee,
Yervant Pamboukian and Hagop Ateshian.
The two sides discussed over an hour about issues related to mutual
relations between Armenia and the Diaspora and the upcoming Third
Armenia-Diaspora Conference.
##
View photo here: tm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
12-04-2006
Minister Oskanian Receives a Congressional Delegation
On April 12, Minister Oskanian received a Congressional delegation led by
Congressman Jim Kolbe (Republican, Arizona), member of the House of
Representatives Committee of Appropriations and Chairman of its Subcommittee
on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs, which funds
most US foreign aid programs. Congressman Scott Garrett (Republican, New
Jersey), member of the House Financial Services and Budget Committees, and
member of the Armenian Caucus was also in the delegation. Accompanying the
delegation was Ambassador John Danilovich, Chief Executive Officer for the
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) who had met with Minister Oskanian in
Washington, DC, just a few weeks ago, during the signing ceremony of the
MCC-Armenia compact .
During the meeting, they exchanged views on the agenda of Armenian-American
relations, specifically implementation of the Compact the Millenium
Challenge Corporation signed with Armenia, creating an office in Yerevan to
this end, developing free economic system and democracy in Armenia, as well
as a number of international and regional issues of mutual interest.
The Minister stated once again Armenia’s appreciation of the depth and scope
of US assistance to Armenia, since Armenia’s independence. He affirmed that
Armenia is aware that this new assistance program, focused on both economic
and democratic processes, provides Armenia with a special opportunity to
benefit from both the substance of the assistance, as well as its intent.
Congressman Kolbe stated that the US believes that sustained and
transformational economic development can only take place in an open
society, free of corruption, where there is transparency, protection of
property rights and other things necessary to make society work. Both sides
stressed the importance for transparency of the implementation process
within the MCC framework.
The Minister and the congressmen also discussed regional issues, including
Armenia’s relations with Iran and with Turkey.
At the guests’ request, Minister Oskanian briefed them on the situation in
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process, following Rambouillet.

April 13, 2006 04:45:06 PM | <; Archive | <; Russian | < ot_news.html> Hot News |
<; Vacancies in Georgia | <; CENN | 13.4.2006 News From Georgia < > >>

What Is this: Criminal Lobbyism or Incompetence?

Under such title on April 5, 2006 Entrepreneurs Party held press conference
in the building of State Parliament of Georgia.
The theme of press conference was duty on natural resources usage.

On December 29, 2004 Georgian Law on Duty for Natural Resources Usage
entered into force. At the same time the parallel amendment was made in the
Law on Basis of Duty System (06.02.1998) that was necessary as the law
forbids any kind of duty that is not listed in it.

On March 25, 2005 from the basis law sub item on Duty for Natural Resources
Usage was removed. Now, under the government initiative parliament was
presented proposal on amendment in Law on Basis of Duty System. To the fifth
article of the mentioned law will be added sub item on – Natural Resources
Usage that as it was already mentioned has been removed in 2005 year.

As Zurab Tkemaladze, leader of the opposition Industrialists party, declared
all the dues (that makes several million GEL) collected during this one year
are illegal and should be returned to entrepreneurs

All these amendments doubts that government either is lobbing certain
business or this is just results of Georgian government incompetence. Any
way, all this is at the expense of business, said Mr. Tkemaladze.

2006-04-06
Prepared by CENN
13.4.2006
News From < jan> Azerbaijan >>

Azerbaijani expert: BTC pipeline potential miliTary target for Iran

Source: The Messenger, 2006-04-06

“In case of US attack on Iran, says Egypt Al-Ahram newspaper, Iranian
missiles could strike the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. The statement was
made by Azerbaijani military expert Uzeir Jafarov, re-ports Day.az. He added
that in case of US military operation against Iran Azerbaijan will not be
able to remain aloof.

“Even if Azerbaijani gives no consent to using its territory by US troops,
it should be not ruled out that Tehran, being in a desperate situation,
would strike objects of US economic interests in Azerbaijan: works in the
Caspian Sea, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline,” believes the military
expert.

It should be mentioned, last week the UN Security Council gave a month to
Iran for curtailing its nuclear program. Tehran responded immediately that
it would not stop uranium enrichment.”

13.4.2006
News From Armenia < > >>

ARMENIA AND “GASPROM” COMPLETE NEGOTIATIONS FOR TARIFF OF RUSSIAN GAS

Source: ArmInfo, 2006-04-05

Armenia and “Gazprom” completed negotiations for tariff of Russian gas. As a
result, they signed relevant agreement. An official of “Gazprom”, who wanted
to remain unknown, said this in the interview to “Liberty” Radio Station,
today.

According to him, Armenia agreed to hand 40 kilometers of Iran-Armenia gas
pipe line and the fifth energy block of Hrazdan TPP to “Gazprom” in exchange
to considerable decrease of tariff for Russian gas. The source refused to
tell the new tariff for gas, stating that “Gazprom” will make relevant
statement in the morning.

It’s worth mentioning that since April 1, 2006, “Gazprom” began selling gas
to Armenia at the new price that totaled to $110 for 1 thousand cubic
meters, but according to Aleksander Medvedev, deputy chairman of “Gazprom”
board, the given price is no final for Armenia. The unofficial sources State
that the tariff of gas for Armenia will amount to $68 for 1 thousand cubic
meters.

13.4.2006
International < tional> News
>>

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR, LEGISLATURE TAKE AIM AT CLIMATE CHANGE

Source: ENS, 2006-04-04

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is ready to do battle with climate change.
Today he directed the California Environmental Protection Agency to host a
series of public presentations statewide to discuss recommendations to
combat global warming in the state’s Climate Action Team’s report, released
Monday. New legislation would set the nation’s first statewide limit on
greenhouse gas emissions.

13.4.2006
International < nce> Seminar /
Conference / Meeting >>

Annual Meeting of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Develo pment
(EBRD)

We hope that you have received your invitation to attend the European Bank
for Reconstruction and Development’s Annual Meeting on 21-22 May in London.

If you have not received the official invitation, please let us know and we
shall be happy to make the necessary arrangements in order for you to
register.

As always, NGO participation is free for two persons per organisation.
However, the Bank does not provide any financing related to participation.
Travel and accommodation costs are the responsibility of each organization.

Likewise, participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements.
Please remember to take the original letter of invitation with you to the
British Consulate when applying for a visa to United Kingdom. Information on
application forms, photographs and any other documents required for
applications is available at the various consulates.

This year the Annual Meeting will take place at the Hilton London Metropole
on Sunday 21 May and Monday 22 May, with the Business Forum starting at
09:00 on Sunday and the Board of Governors Session at 10:00 on Monday.

The deadline for pre-registration is 5 May, however we strongly recommend
that you register as soon as possible to avoid delay upon arrival at the
Annual Meeting venue in London. NGO representatives can register also online
at

We invite you to acknowledge by 21 April any specific topic or project you
would like to discuss at the Annual Meeting. This will help both you and
the Bank prepare for productive meetings, especially since the Annual
Meeting is spread over only two days. Since the Annual Meeting is in London
more EBRD staff will be available for one-to-one meetings and we are happy
to arrange these meetings for you.

Please let us know by 21 April, if you would like to have such a meeting and
on which particular topic or EBRD project. Please refer to the NGO
newsletters and our web pages for more information on projects and other
NGO-related topics at the following link

In order to help you plan your schedule at the Annual Meeting, the
provisional NGO programme is as follows:

Saturday: 14:00-16:00 – Sakhalin II, Phase 2 project

Sunday:

08:00-09:30 – Political Counsellors
10:00-11:00 – Public Information Policy
11:15-12:45 – Environment
12:45-13:30 – Working lunch
13:30-15:00 – Energy
15:30-17:00 – Board of Directors
17:30-18:30 – NGO reception

Monday

08:00-09:00 – Revenue Transparency and Production Sharing Agreements
10:00-11:30 – Infrastructure (Transport, Water and Waste)
12:00-13:00 – Project Evaluation
13:15-14:00 – Sandwich lunch
14:30-15:30 – Turnaround Management & Business Advisory Services

Tuesday
09:30-11:30 – Meeting with the President at EBRD Headquarters

Along with the main thematic panels, the Bank is holding a “Scenario
building” session which is designed to spark debate and identify drivers of
change that will affect the future of the EBRD region. It will be an open
exchange of ideas in small group discussions as well plenary, to allow
participants to network actively and engage with each other, while
contributing thinking that will help the EBRD plan ahead. The other panels,
which will most certainly benefit from your interest will be “Transition of
transition” and “Conserving the future: financing to fight climate change”.

The 2006 Country Promotion Programme will include for the first time a new
type of event: country update and networking sessions. Six countries have
chosen to hold country update and networking sessions (Albania, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia and Kazakhstan).

Your contact in London is:

Doina Caloianu
Manager of Outreach & NGO Relations, EBRD
Tel: +44 20 7338 6620 / Fax: +44 20 7338 6102
We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to the EBRD’s Annual
Meeting 2006.

Outreach and NGO Relations team, European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development

13.4.2006
< ; Job / Internship / Study Opportunity >>

Master Programme

The School offers two Master Programs for the academic year 2006 / 2007:
The 10th International Master Program in Cooperation and Development;
The 6th International Master Program in Cooperation and International
Economic Integration.
For more detail information, please see – I
< df> taly-2006-2007.pdf.

13.4.2006
Grant/Tender < gt; >>

Municipal Development Fund of Georgia
Invitation for National Bidding Trade (Bidding)

Municipal Development Fund of Georgia announces tenders on the following
activities:

1. Kharagauli District Village Vani Secondary School Repairs;
2. Shuakhevi District Village Chvana Secondary School Repairs
3. Kharagauli District Village Ghoresha School Construction;
4. Kazbegi District,v. Kobi Water Supply System Reconstruction;
5. Kharagauli District Village Lashe School Repairs;
6. Ozurgeti District Village TV Tower Installation;
7. Shuakhevi District Village Shubani Secondary School Repairs;
8. Shuakhevi District Village Uchamaba Secondary School Repairs;
9. MDF Project II: Consulting Service (Expressions of Interest).
10.
MDF invites all interested persons to participate in the tenders.
For additional information, please see Tender
< oucement%20.zip> Announcement.
Municipal Development Fund of Georgia
Address: 7b, Yetim Gurjy st. 0105
Tel: (99532) 94 32 40, 94 29 47, 92 34 69, 92 34 70
Fax: (99532) 94 04 39
E-mail: [email protected]
web site: <; 13.4.2006 Announcement < ement> >>

Only Two Days!

Source: The Messenger, 2006-04-12

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Georgia
would like to inform you on the 8th Internationals Tourism Fair of Silk Road
Countries, organized by Exhibition Center ExpoGeorgia on April 12-14, 2006.
On the event will be presented once inaccessible but now opened to everyone
the Georgian protected areas that for travelers looking for a new outdoor
destination is truly unique.

The Georgia protect areas offers everything for the savvy traveler-from
ancient village life, as it has been for hundred of years, to hospitable
mountain people serving glorious Georgian food and wine to old Georgian
architecture to an amazing array of truly untouched nature such as
mountainous landscape, rivers and the only badlands in all of Europe.

For more information, please visit:

<; <; Address: 118, Tsereteli ave., 0119a, Tbilisi Georgia 13.4.2006 Subscribing Information CENN lists are created to maintain e-mail discussions of Caucasus Environmental NGO Network members. CENN has been distributing information since 1998. All the published digests and bulletins issued in both English and Russian languages present incredibly rich environmental information base that give the reader the whole picture of the environmental process taking place during the recent 5 years in the South Caucasus region as well as abroad. To subscribe or unsubscribe from CENN mailing list service, please send an email to [email protected] and place the “subscribe” or
“unsubscribe” command as the first line of the message body.

If you would like the information about your organization and activities to
be distributed via the CENN mailing lists (the current number of CENN
mailing list members represents 11049), if you want your voice to be heard
around the world, please send your information at the following email:
[email protected].

For more information about the program, please visit CENN web-page:

Caucasus Environmental NGO Network 2006
< l?abkhazia&0&digest>
BannerDots Network
< pl?digest>

CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

Tel:+995 32 75 19 03/04
Fax:+995 32 75 19 05
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: <; From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
11-04-2006
Armenian Square Inaugurated in the Central Park of Evreux, France
On April 7, Jean-Louis Debre, President of the French National Assembly, and
Eduard Nalbandian, Armenia’s Ambassador to France, formally inaugurated a
square in the central park of the city of Evreux in Normandy. They planted
an apricot-tree brought from Armenia for this special occasion.
In his speech, the President of the National Assembly spoke about warm and
deep relations between the two nations. He underscored that the nature of
the Armenia-France relationship today is very fraternal, and the best
illustration of that is the Year of Armenia in France which begins this
September.
Meanwhile, the Armenian Ambassador noted that the apricot tree is an
appropriate symbol of Armenian-French relations – with roots in French soil
and fruit bearing an Armenian name.
In their talks prior to the ceremony, the President of the Assembly and the
Armenian ambassador discussed current issues having to do with
Armenian-French relations.

PRESS RELEASE
Mr. Viken L.Attarian
Chairman
AGBU Montreal Inc.
805 Manoogian street
Ville St-Laurent, QC H4N 1Z5
Tel: 514-748-2428
Fax: 514-748-6307
E-mai;: [email protected]
Website:
AGBU MONTREAL CENTENNIAL INAUGURAL EVENT AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS
Montreal, April 10, 2006 – On Friday April 7, 2006 AGBU Montreal inaugurated
its centennial celebrations with a unique event in the presence of the great
Canadian opera diva, Ms. Isabel Bayrakdarian and her talented pianist
husband, Mr. Serouj Krajian. Ms. Bayrakdarian is an internationally renowned
opera superstar whose credits include the soundtrack of the Oscar winning
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Ms. Bayrakdarian and Mr. Krajian
jointly won the 2006 Juno Award for best Classical Album of the Year.
The event started with a special cocktail reception in the Demirdjian Hall,
for selected guests to meet the two great artists. Soon after, well over
300 attendees had filled the AGBU Jirair and Elise Dervishian hall to the
brim and there was standing room only all the way into the entrance hall.
The event was held under the auspices of the Primate of the Canadian
Diocese, His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian. Attendees included many
community leaders and dignitaries, as well as Mr. Francesco Miele,
representing the Hon. Stephane Dion, Member of Parliament and leadership
candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada, Mr. Yvan Bordeleau, Member of the
National Assembly of Quebec, Ms. Mary Deros and Ms. Nouchig Eloyan,
Counselors for the City of Montreal.
“This was certainly a top quality event and being a fan, I am extremely
thrilled to have met Ms. Bayrakdarian in person”, said Mr. John Mitchell,
who was representing Mountain Lake PBS of NY.
Mr. Viken L. Attarian, chairman of the chapter, thanked the attendees and
the organizers of the event. He outlined a brief history of how the AGBU
was founded and what its ongoing mission was, and he stressed the importance
of art and culture in the context of that mission. He then introduced the
guest artists and invited the audience to watch the Montreal premiere of the
unique documentary made about Ms. Bayrakdarian’s visit to Armenia in 2004 A
Long Journey Home.
After the screening, Ms. Bayrakdarian was presented with a special
centennial plaque in recognition of her showcasing of Armenian music and
culture. Isabel and Serouj then took the stage and graciously answered
several questions from the audience about their work and future projects.
The evening concluded with the word of His Eminence, Bishop Bagrat, who
focused on the pride created for Armenians by artists such as Isabel and
Serouj.
For further information, please contact the AGBU at 514-748-2428 or at
[email protected]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
The Genocide Education Project
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 264-4203
[email protected]
www.GenocideEd ucation.org
Contact: Raffi Momjian – [email protected]
L.A. TEACHERS LEARN LESSONS ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
04_13_2006b.htm
San Francisco, CA – The Genocide Education Project kicked off the first
of a series of workshops for Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)
teachers as part of a joint project to train more than 300 teachers on
the Armenian Genocide.
As part of an effort to uphold the California education framework
requiring public schools teach about the Armenian Genocide, The Genocide
Education Project conducted its first two workshops for Los Angeles high
school teachers on March 23rd and April 3rd. In an article in the The
Los Angeles Daily News, James DeLarme, a 10th-grade teacher
participating in the April 3 workshop was quoted as saying: “We have a
world history book – and it’s an excellent one – but it only has two or
three paragraphs devoted to this time. This [workshop] really opens
your eyes and makes it real as to what happened…”
The workshops are tailored to meet the teaching needs of high school
Social Studies and World History teachers. The Genocide Education
Project conducts and coordinates lectures and provides all necessary
teaching resources, including access to lesson plans, so that teachers
are well-prepared to fulfill the educational standard concerning the
Armenian Genocide. Dr. Nicole Vartanian, who has a doctoral degree in
Education, gave a compelling lecture at the March 23rd event about the
history of the Armenians and genocide denial. Facing History and
Ourselves, another educational organization, also participated in both
workshops.
The Genocide Education Project also conducted a teacher-training
workshop on April 5th for Glendale Unified School District teachers.
Renowned Armenian History scholar Dr. Richard Hovannisian provided a
compelling overview about the Armenian Genocide, and Greg Krikorian,
Glendale School Board member, shared his family’s experiences during the
Genocide.
####
The Genocide Education Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
that assists educators in teaching about human rights and genocide,
particularly the Armenian Genocide, by developing and distributing
instructional materials, providing access to teaching resources and
organizing educational workshops.

PRESS RELEASE
The Genocide Education Project
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 264-4203
[email protected]
www.GenocideEd ucation.org
Contact: Raffi Momjian – [email protected]
L.A. CITY ATTORNEY TEAMS UP WITH THE GENOCIDE EDUCATION PROJECT
4_13_2006a.htm
San Francisco, CA, April 3, 2006 – Education, art and politics came
together for the opening of the “iwitness” photo exhibit and The
Genocide Education Project’s teacher training workshop, co-hosted by the
Los Angeles City Attorney.
The “iwitness” exhibit by Ara Oshagan and Levon Parian, which runs
through the month of April, is a series of photographs of survivors of
the Armenian Genocide taken over the past ten years and accompanied by
testimony from the survivor represented.
Coinciding with the opening of the exhibit, The Genocide Education
Project held its second teacher-training workshop for Los Angeles
Unified School District teachers. Participants were exposed to the
dramatic and educational exhibit as well as the new lesson plan created
by The Genocide Education Project, which is based on the exhibit. The
lessons are available online at
After the workshop, participants and City Hall employees had the
opportunity to ask the artists questions about the exhibit. Armenian
students from St. Gregory Hovsepian School in Pasadena were also able to
attend the Q and A along with members of the Armenian community in
Southern California.
A post-workshop reception was held for City Hall employees, LAUSD
representatives, artists and exhibit guests, to reflect together on the
lessons of the day, and the importance of preserving the history of the
Armenian Genocide and the honor of its survivors.
###
The Genocide Education Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
that assists educators in teaching about human rights and genocide,
particularly the Armenian Genocide, by developing and distributing
instructional materials, providing access to teaching resources and
organizing educational workshops.
—
PICTURE CAPTION: “iwitness” exhibit at L.A. City Attorney’s office

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x109
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, April 13, 2006
NEW AGBU YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GROUP HOSTS INAUGURAL EVENT IN BOSTON
Open House Draws Over 95 Armenian Professionals to AGBU Center in
Watertown

Watertown, MA – The latest addition to AGBU’s growing network of 14
Young Professionals (YP) Groups around the world, AGBU YP Boston
hosted its inaugural event-an Open House-on the evening of March 18,
2006, at the AGBU New England Center in Watertown, Massachusetts.
The kickoff event drew over 95 Armenians from the Boston area,
culminating in an evening of mingling, music and meze with guests
enjoying a variety of domestic and Armenian wine. Introducing an
artistic quality to the event, an exhibition of contemporary paintings
by YP Boston Co-Chair Garo Arakelian was also on display on the
spacious second floor. The evening continued with guests
enthusiastically completing questionnaires citing ideas for future
activities and volunteering to serve on event committees.
Warmly welcoming guests to YP Boston’s opening event, Kim Yacoubian,
AGBU Central Office YP Liaison from New York, remarked that the city
of Boston will benefit greatly from a YP Group aimed at fulfilling the
mission of AGBU through original activities and events geared
specifically for young Armenian professionals.
Funds raised from the Open House will benefit a designated
AGBU-sponsored project in Armenia.
The AGBU Young Professionals of Boston are committed to preserving and
promoting the Armenian identity and heritage through educational,
cultural and humanitarian programs. For more information on YP Boston,
please email [email protected].
For more information on AGBU and its Young Professionals Groups,
please visit the Programs section of
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri Officer Given Life Sentence For Brutal Killing Of Armenian
AFP, Associated Press
April 13, 2006
An Azerbaijani military officer who hacked to death an Armenian lieutenant
while attending a NATO-sponsored training course in Budapest was convicted
of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday.
Judge Andras Vaskuti of the Budapest district court ruled that Ramil
Safarov, now 29 and an Azerbaijani army lieutenant, killed Armenian
Lieutenant Gurgen Markarian, 26, in “premeditated, malicious and an
unusually cruel” way by nearly decapitating him with axe in February 2004
while the victim slept in a dormitory used by participants in a NATO
Partnership for Peace English language course.
Safarov was also found guilty of planning the murder of another Armenian,
which he did not carry out. He will be eligible for parole in 30 years,
according to the ruling.
“Compassion and remorse were completely missing from (Safarov’s) testimony,”
Judge Vaskuti said upon announcing the verdict. “During the whole case we
waited for him to be at least a bit sorry for the Armenian soldier he killed
brutally and for (Markarian’s) family.”
Safarov’s lawyer, Gyorgy Magyar, said they would immediately appeal the
verdict, adding that it was yet unclear whether his client would serve his
sentence in Hungary or be extradited to Azerbaijan.
A lawyer representing Markarian’s family said she was satisfied with the
court’s decision. “We’re happy that the court honestly evaluated all the
materials of this case and the brutal intentions … of the murderer,” said
Nazeli Vartanian. “This is a good decision for the Hungarian court and for
(Armenian) society.”
Making his final statement to the court earlier Thursday, Safarov said the
conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia was at the root of his act, and that
the Armenian officer had repeatedly provoked and ridiculed him. He said he
was unable to suppress his feelings and his wartime memories due to
Markarian’s behavior.
“My conscience was clouded as a result of the insults and humiliating and
provoking behavior, and I lost all control,” Safarov told the court. “It
would not be correct to consider it as merely a premeditated act caused by
the awakening of revenge and hate upon seeing the Armenians.” Safarov denied
trying to kill a second Armenian officer.
Armenian-backed forces drove Azerbaijan’s army out of the ethnic Armenian
enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in the early 1990s. A 1994 cease-fire ended the
six-year war that killed 30,000 people and left about 1 million homeless and
the enclave is now under the control of ethnic Armenians.
(AP-Photolur photo: Safarov Making his final statement to the court.)

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee
of Illinois
1701 North Greenwood Road
Glenview, IL 60026
Contact: Greg Bedian
Tel: 917 428 1918
Fax: 718 651 3637
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
Community Groups Urge WTTW to Drop Program Featuring Genocide Deniers
Chicago, IL – A group of organizations involved in raising genocide
awareness have joined together to urge Chicago PBS affiliate WTTW Channel 11
to drop a program featuring two renowned genocide deniers scheduled to be
broadcast on Monday, April 17 at 11:00 pm.
The program, entitled `Armenian Genocide: Exploring the Issues,’ is intended
as a follow-on program to a documentary film directed by Andrew Goldberg
entitled `The Armenian Genocide,’ which will be broadcast at 10:00 pm the
same evening. Hosted and moderated by Scott Simon, `Armenian Genocide:
Exploring the Issues’ is in the form of a panel discussion where noted
Turkish historian Taner Akcam and award-winning author Peter Balakian engage
in a debate with genocide deniers Justin McCarthy and Omer Turan.
In a letter addressed to WTTW’s Director of Broadcasting Dan Soles, the
groups stated, `By airing the panel discussion, WTTW would do a great
disservice to its viewers by providing genocide deniers with a platform to
promote their views, allowing them to engage in the final stage of genocide,
or what Elie Wiesel has called `double killing,’ the murder of the memory of
the crime.’
The groups also objected to the program’s debate format because it affords
the same scholarly authority to genocide deniers as it does to legitimate
historians. `No matter how strong the rebuttal, in the absence of
appropriate context viewers who are unfamiliar with this period of history
may be inclined to wrongly believe that the Armenian genocide is the subject
of serious and genuine historical debate, casting doubt as to whether 1.5
million Armenians were really murdered,’ the letter stated.
Although the Goldberg documentary is being broadcast nationwide, PBS
affiliates in nearly every major market, including New York, Los Angeles,
Boston, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Miami, San Francisco, Detroit and St.
Louis, have chosen not to broadcast the `Armenian Genocide: Exploring the
Issues’ program.
The organizations which authored the letter reflect of broad spectrum of
Chicago’s ethnic communities which have been affected by genocide in the
past as well as groups engaged in trying to end the current genocide in
Darfur. They include the Armenian National Committee of Illinois, the
Assyrian Community of Illinois, the Cambodian Association of Illinois, the
Chicago Alliance to End Genocide, the Genocide Education Network of
Illinois, the Greek Pontians of Chicago- Xeniteas, the Hamazkayin
Educational and Cultural Association, the Holocaust Memorial Foundation of
Illinois, and the Ukrainian Genocide Famine Foundation – USA.
`The Armenian American community is profoundly grateful for the outpouring
of support it has received to help prevent the propagation of genocide
denial,’ stated Greg Bedian, chairperson of the Armenian National Committee.
`WTTW Chicago needs to understand it is not in the public interest to
provide genocide deniers like Justin McCarthy or Arthur Butz with an
opportunity to broadcast their distorted and hateful message,’ he concluded.
In addition to the letter sent by the organizations, WTTW has also received
numerous phone calls, letters and emails from individuals and groups urging
the station to rethink its decision to broadcast the panel discussion
program. A recent meeting of WTTW’s Community Advisory Board also decided
to urge the station not to air the program.
The text of the letter is attached.
April 11, 2006
Mr. Dan Soles
Director of Broadcasting
WTTW Channel 11
5400 N St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60625-4698
Dear Mr. Soles,
It has come to our attention that WTTW is planning to air two programs
regarding the Armenian genocide in the month of April, the month in which
Armenians and others worldwide mark the anniversary of the extermination of
1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923. As organizations who are actively
involved in raising awareness about genocide, we laud the station’s decision
to air `The Armenian Genocide,’ a thoroughly-researched and well-prepared
documentary by Andrew Goldberg. However, we must also express our serious
concerns regarding WTTW’s intent to follow the documentary with a panel
discussion featuring outspoken genocide deniers.
In his documentary, Mr. Goldberg took pains to include those who engage in
Turkey’s campaign of denying the Armenian genocide, but placed them in a
proper context so viewers will see them as deniers. Mr. Goldberg’s decision
to present these views provides an important perspective and contributes to
the overall objectivity of this documentary, making it an excellent example
of the high quality of programming we expect from WTTW.
On the other hand, the panel discussion employs the format of a debate,
granting genocide deniers Justin McCarthy and Omer Turan the same scholarly
authority on the subject as afforded to noted author Peter Balakian and
Turkish historian Taner Akcam. During the discussion, Mr. McCarthy
characterizes the genocide as a myth and implies that Mr. Goldberg’s work is
wholly fictitious. No matter how strong the rebuttal, in the absence of
appropriate context viewers who are unfamiliar with this period of history
may be inclined to wrongly believe that the Armenian genocide is the subject
of serious and genuine historical debate, casting doubt as to whether 1.5
million Armenians were really murdered. By airing the panel discussion,
WTTW would do a great disservice to its viewers by providing genocide
deniers with a platform to promote their views, allowing them to engage in
the final stage of genocide, or what Elie Wiesel has called `double
killing,’ the murder of the memory of the crime.
We therefore strongly urge you to join the PBS affiliates in Boston,
Providence, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Detroit, Miami and
elsewhere who will be broadcasting Mr. Goldberg’s documentary without this
panel discussion. We look forward to your favorable reply on this matter.
Regards,
Armenian National Committee of Illinois
Assyrian Community of Illinois
Cambodian Association of Illinois
Chicago Alliance to End Genocide
Genocide Education Network of Illinois
Greek Pontians of Chicago- Xeniteas
Hamazkayin Educational and Cultural Association
Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois
Ukrainian Genocide Famine Foundation – USA