Armenica.org
October 2, 2005
Editorial: Turkey Swings Back and Forth
By Ake Daun
Turkey’s negotiations with EU start on October 3. Confronted with the
demands for freedom of speech, the Turkish government has turned on its
heel. The conference in Istanbul, entitled `Ottoman Armenians during the
decline of the Empire’, which was stopped shortly before its opening on
May 25, was instead rescheduled for September 23-25.
In May, the minister of justice described the conference as `a stab in
the back of the Turkish nation’. The participants were risking
prosecution. In August, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül declared instead:
`Turkey does not avoid discussing the Armenian Question. We have nothing
to fear. Let the Turkish general public discuss this issue under calm
conditions and draw its own conclusions’.
On Thursday, September 22, just before the opening, the conference was
stopped once again. The denial of the Christian minority genocide in
that beginning of the 20th century has been official policy since 1920s.
The Armenian Question has been as taboo as the Kurdish one. At the same
time the Turkish author Orhan Pamuk is charged with the crime against
the `Turkish national identity’. He has mentioned the Armenian
Genocide.
But in order to mark its change of position, the Turkish state has
decided to spend one and a half million (US Dollars) on the
reconstruction of the Armenian church of Sourp Khatch on the Akhtamar
Island, a architectural treasure from the old Great Armenia. The measure
is a sensation, keeping in mind the large number of churches in the old
Armenian areas which have been left to fall into disrepair.
Regardless to the fact whether a positive social change is politically
forced on or not, it should be confronted with respect ` without malice!
It will be a gift from history to the next generation, which will be
spared to bear the legacy of its forefather’s inability.
It is though problematic that Turkey has several contradictory centres
of power. When the conference was stopped with threat of prosecuting the
participants, the organizers decided to move the conference from the two
state universities of Bosporus and Sabanci to the foundation owned Bilgi
University which could be excluded from the court jurisdiction. The
court decision had met by government’s anger, who, at the prospect of
starting the EU membership negotiations, did not wish for any new
spanner into the works. Foreign Minister Gül bitterly noted that `few
countries in the world are so skilled in damaging themselves so much.’
But the lawyers have not given up so easily. According to the Internet
edition of a Turkish newspaper, the same group who threatened the
organizers of the conference with legal actions, now asked the Chief
Prosecutor to raise charges against 17 of the involved people in the
conference at the Bilgi University. Among the names on the list are also
Prime Minister Erdogan and Foreign Minister Gül, who have been forced to
join those who committed crime against the `Turkish national identity’.
The quite peculiar situation seems to have aroused ` or actually is
asserting more clearly than ever that the Turkish foreign policy is
driven only partially by its government.
>From government’s direction there is, at the prospect of the EU
negotiations, a more conciliatory posture than before. A similar opening
has not been given in the Cyprus question, which could put a stop to the
EU entry. Turkey does not recognise Cyprus as a state. It is difficult
to consider this as a negotiation manoeuvre. That a member country would
not recognise another member country is as imaginable as unrealistic.
With some knowledge about the Ottoman Empire the posture of Turkey is
more comprehensible. The Greeks were actually involved in the same
history which resulted in the Armenian Genocide. Both were Christian
minorities in the mighty Turkish state. The other subjected Christians
were the Assyrian-Syrians and the Chaldeans. They carry on the same
memory. Even the Greeks are waiting for Turkey to make up with its
bloody past.
The history ` which has a much longer political background history ` is
in short the following: In 1878 Turkey was forced to give up Cyprus to
Great Britain, one of many decisions which altered the history of the
Ottoman Empire. In 1960 Cyprus became an independent state, ruled by
Greek-Cypriot president and a Turkish-Cypriot vice president. The mere
fact that these two could not fall into each other’s arms should have
been realised much sooner.
Let us study Eastern Anatolia from a different hypothetical perspective,
i.e. the old Armenian nucleus area in Turkey. Imagine that it has become
an independent state with an Armenian president and a Turkish vice
president (yes, as unrealistic as Cyprus!). Then imagine that the
country, after internal conflicts, have been divided in an
Armenian-Anatolian part and a Turkish-Anatolian part. Imagine that the
Turks had made the Turkish part to a federal state within Turkey and
nine years later declared it as an independent state, illegal according
to the UN Security Council.
And finally. Imagine that our virtually Armenian-Anatolian government
have applied for EU membership and has received it in 2004. What would
EU had said if Turkey then refused to accept the demands of EU about
recognition of this Armenian ruled country, already an EU state?
Turkey had most likely reacted in the same recalcitrant manner as the
country has done in the reality in regard to Cyprus. Does this long
grievous history belong to the kind out of the possibility range of the
diplomats? Maybe all the factors which decide the outcome already in
place. I do not think so.
________________________________________________________________________
Ake Daun is professor in ethnology at the Nordiska musset and Stockholm
University. Daun’s speciality is within the field of European culture.
He has been editorial writer for Dagens Nyheter and the TCO newspaper
and is often consulted expert and lecturer in ethnical issues.

US weighs in on Turkey-E.U. talks over NATO
By Saul Hudson
Mon Oct 3, 6:21 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States helped rescue Turkey’s bid to join
the EU on Monday in an unusual intervention in European affairs prompted in
part by American concern the bloc was interfering in NATO.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan to prod Washington’s large Muslim ally to accept negotiating terms
with the EU and begin accession talks.
Turkey acquiesced at the eleventh hour after the superpower’s top diplomat
emphasized to Erdogan that the rules for joining the EU could not oblige him
to drop his objection to Cyprus’ membership in NATO, as Ankara had feared.
“Our view is that EU processes shouldn’t affect or be brought into NATO
processes,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.
Despite wariness across Europe, the United States has long supported
Ankara’s ambitions to join the EU because Washington hopes anchoring Turkey
in the region’s institutions could encourage more integration between Muslim
states and the West.
But Monday’s high-level intervention also showed U.S. determination to
thwart any EU attempt to use the bloc’s power to exert greater influence
over NATO — a transatlantic alliance traditionally dominated by Washington.
Rice acted in part because close ally Britain, which holds the EU
presidency, needed help to save the talks and in part because Washington
wanted to send a signal that NATO was independent from the bloc, a senior
State Department official said.
Another State Department official said that although Turkey signed up to a
framework for joining the EU that included agreeing not to block Cyprus’ bid
to be a NATO member, European countries did not always follow through on
such pledges.
“We are basically saying (to Turkey): cut whatever deal you can get at the
EU and don’t worry that somehow it ties your hands at NATO — because we
don’t think it does,” said the official, authorized to speak to reporters
anonymously.
CYPRIOT CALL
Rice also called Tassos Papadopoulos, the Greek Cypriot leader of the tiny
divided island, who is involved in a decades-old territorial dispute with
Turkey.
She demanded he refrain from using his government’s ambitions to join NATO
as a wedge between the EU and Turkey, a senior State Department official,
said.
Papadopoulos agreed not to make it an issue, said the official, who asked
not to be named because the conversation was private.
The Bush administration is sensitive to any moves it perceives as an EU
effort to undermine its sway in Europe through its dominance of NATO.
At an EU-U.S. meeting in Brussels this year, Rice did not attend a dinner
after bitter wrangling over wording that Washington insisted on in a
conference statement praising NATO’s role in Iraq, a State Department
official said.

Aravot (Morning), Armenia
Sept 27 2005
DO THE COCHAIRMEN LIVEN UP?
We got 3 news about the cochairmen of OSCE Minsk group. All three are
from the Azerbaijani sources. First the Foreign Minister of the
neighbor country E. Mamediarov informed that the meeting of Stiven
Mann, Bernar Fasie and Yuri Merzlyakov was held in Vienna in these
days during of which «the place and format of next negotiations of
the Karabakh conflict will be determined». Then the US Ambassador in
Azerbaijan Rino Harnish informed that the American cochairman of the
OSCE Minsk group Stiven Mann would arrive Baku. And finally the
Russian cochairman of the same group Yuri Merzlyakov according to the
Azerbaijani source declared that the cochairmen seriously worried
about increasing expenses of Armenia and Azerbaijan
for military proposes.

PR Web (press release), WA
Sept 28 2005
Arpa International Film Festival Opens with “Khachaturian” and “One
Dollar Curry”

Beginning on Monday, October 3, 2005 the Arpa International Film
Festival kicks off its 8th annual event at ArcLight Cinemas,
Hollywood. More than 50 features, documentaries, shorts and animated
films from 18 different countries will be presented through Thursday,
October 6.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) September 28, 2005 — Beginning on Monday,
October 3, 2005 the Arpa International Film Festival kicks off its
8th annual event at ArcLight Cinemas, Hollywood. More than 50
features, documentaries, shorts and animated films from 18 different
countries will be presented through Thursday, October 6.
This year’s nominated feature films are Jodi Binstock’s `Call
Waiting’, produced by Don Roos; Vijay Singh’s `One Dollar Curry’;
Tahmineh Milani’s `Unwanted Woman’; and Rene Gabri’s `Love &
Suicide.’ Nominated documentaries are Peter Rosen’s `Khachaturian’;
Carmen Labaki’s `Armenians of Lebanon’; Aaron Weisblatt’s `Between
Two Worlds’; Gary Null’s `The Drugging of Our Children; and Hagop
Goudsouzian’s `My Son Shall be Armenian’.
2005 Arpa Official Selection includes the work of Caroline Aaron,
Shohreh Aghdashloo, Ed Asner, Catherine Bell, Eric Bogosian, Dan
Bucatinsky, Vikram Chatwal, Erica Christensen, Andy Dick, Jenna
Elfman, Isaac Hayes, Roger Kupelian, Danica McKellar, Michael Moore,
James Oxford, Timilee Romolini, Jane Seymour, Diego Velasco, and
Sevag Vrej. Joanelle Romero will receive the Armin T. Wegner Award
for `American Holocaust – When It’s All Over I’ll Still Be Indian’,
an examination of the link between Adolf Hitler’s treatment of German
Jews and the U.S. government’s “ethnic cleansing” of American
Indians.
Arpa is a resource for international filmmakers who address the
issues of diaspora, multi-culturalism and global empathy. The
non-profit art organization has grown into a dynamic forum for world
cinema in Los Angeles.
The festival concludes with a gala awards ceremony at the Hollywood
Roosevelt Hotel on Friday, October 7.
For more information, please visit or call (323)
663-1882

EUROPA (press release), Belgium
Sept 28 2005
Speech by Mr Olli Rehn
Member of the European Commission, responsible for Enlargement
“Accession negotiations with Turkey: the journey is as important as
the final destination”
European Parliament Plenary Session
Strasbourg, 28 September 2005
Introduction
Let me first extend a warm welcome to the new observer Members of
Parliament from Bulgaria and Romania. I am very happy to see that you
are participating in the work of this House, and I am looking forward
to cooperating with you in the future.
This debate about Turkey is timely. We are on the eve of the date
fixed by the European Council for starting accession negotiations
with Turkey. This opens a new phase in the EU-Turkey relations.
The reasons which led the EU to decide to open accession negotiations
with Turkey are unchanged: the EU needs a stable, democratic and
prosperous Turkey, in peace with its neighbours, which takes over the
EU values, policies and standards.
The start of the negotiations will give a strong push for those in
Turkey, who want to reform the country to meet the European values of
rule of law and human rights; they are also a way for the EU to have
leverage on the direction of these reforms.
The conditions set in the December European Council conclusions are
met: First, the six pieces of legislation, including the penal code,
identified by the Commission in last year’s Recommendation entered
into force on 1 June. Second, Turkey signed Additional Protocol to
Ankara Agreement on 29 July.
Additional Protocol
In this context, I would like to thank the chairman of the Committee
of Foreign Affairs and the rapporteur, Mr Elmar Brok, for putting
forward the recommendation to give assent to the conclusion of the
Additional Protocol to the Ankara Agreement.
Let me make some comments in light of the developments in recent
weeks.
We regret the fact that Turkey had to issue a declaration upon
signature of the Additional Protocol. This obliged the EU Member
States to react and to lay down the obligations which we expect
Turkey to meet, in a statement adopted on
21 September. It stresses that:
– the declaration by Turkey is unilateral, it does not form part of
the Protocol and that has no legal effect on Turkey’s obligations
under the Protocol;
– the EU expects full, non-discriminatory implementation of the
Additional Protocol, and the removal of all obstacles to the free
movement of goods, including restrictions on means of transport;
– the opening of negotiations on the relevant chapters depends on
Turkey’s implementation of its contractual obligations to all Member
States; failure to implement its obligations in full will affect the
overall progress in the negotiations;
– recognition of all Member States is a necessary component of the
accession process; accordingly, the EU underlines the importance it
attaches to the normalisation of relations between Turkey and all EU
Member States, as soon as possible;
– and finally, in the context of this declaration, the European
Community and its Member States agree on the importance of supporting
the efforts of the UN Secretary General to bring about a
comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in line with relevant
UNSCRs and the principles on which the EU is founded, and that a just
and lasting settlement will contribute to peace, stability and
harmonious relations in the region.
Negotiating framework
Right before the start of accession negotiations, the Council should
adopt the negotiation framework proposed by the Commission. This
framework forms a solid basis for rigorous and fair negotiations with
Turkey.
Political reform
I have carefully read your joint motion for a resolution and I share
many of your concerns. I also agree with you that there is an
important link between the pace of negotiations and the pace of
political reforms.
I will spare no effort to repeat time and again that starting
accession negotiations marks only the beginning of a very demanding
and complex process: Turkey will need to continue and accelerate its
process of internal transformation and its transition towards a fully
fledged liberal democracy respectful of human rights and minorities.
Turkey’s reform process is ongoing. Important legislative reforms
adopted earlier have now entered into force, leading to structural
changes in the judiciary. The human rights situation has improved,
but significant further efforts are required.
There have been recently some encouraging signals. The acknowledgment
by Prime Minister Erdogan of the existence of a `Kurdish issue’ is a
landmark. His trip to Diyarbakir suggests the importance the
Government attaches to the economic and social development of the
South East of Turkey.
The academic conference on the Armenian issue could finally take
place in Istanbul last week-end, with the support of the government
and despite last-minute attempts by an administrative court to cancel
it. These attempts were strongly condemned by PM Erdogan and Vice-PM
Abdullah Gül. This is a step forward.
However, in order to be fully credible, Turkey’s commitment to
further political reforms should be translated into more concrete
achievements for the benefit of all Turkish citizens.
Despite the efforts of the authorities, implementation on the ground
remains uneven. On the one hand, there are signs that the judiciary
is enforcing the reforms. Several positive court judgements have been
made in relation to cases on freedom of expression, freedom of
religion and the fight against torture and ill-treatment.
On the other hand, there have been contradictory decisions,
particularly in the area of freedom of expression where, for example,
journalists continue to be prosecuted and, on occasion, convicted,
for expressing certain non-violent opinions.
The case of Orhan Pamuk is emblematic of the difficulties the Turkish
authorities face to ensure effective and uniform implementation of
the reforms and of the struggle between the reformers and the
conservatives in Turkey.
The respected novelist is prosecuted by a district judge of Istanbul
under art 301 of the new Penal Code for `denigrating Turkish
identity’. Yet, an earlier investigation by another prosecutor was
dropped following a different interpretation of the same Penal Code,
which states in the same article, 301 that expression of opinion with
the purpose of criticism does not require penalties!
The Commission made already very clear that its assessment of the new
Penal Code, in particular on the doubtful provisions related to
freedom of expression, would depend on how actually these provisions
are implemented.
The prosecution of Mr Pamuk raises serious concerns in this respect.
If this is indeed the direction taken by the judiciary in Turkey,
then the Turkish Penal Code will have to be amended in such a way
that freedom of expression is not subject to the very particular
beliefs of some district judge anymore, but simply follows European
standards as we all know them.
Another problem: fundamental problems encountered by non Muslim
religious minorities persist. There is an urgent need to address
these in a comprehensive manner via the adoption of legislation in
line with the relevant European standards. A draft Law on Foundations
is currently pending in Parliament but we have made it clear to the
Turkish authorities that the current draft still falls short of EU
standards.
On these issues, the Commission will continue to monitor closely the
progress in meeting the Copenhagen political criteria fully. We shall
make a detailed analysis in our Regular Report, to be published on 9
November.
I want to add that we shall propose a revised Accession Partnership
which will list the priorities that Turkey needs to meet, including
in the political area. This will serve as a roadmap for future
political reforms and as a yardstick against which to measure future
progress.
Conclusion
L’Union Europénne se trouve à un moment crucial, dont nous ne devons
pas sous-estimer l’importance. En ouvrant des négociations d’adhésion
avec la Turquie, nous prenons une option forte sur la poursuite de la
métamorphose politique, économique et sociale de ce pays. Ce faisant,
nous respectons nos engagements à son égard.
J’adresse à la Turquie le message que nous devons construire des
relations basées sur une confiance réciproque. Je fais confiance aux
autorités turques pour qu’elles s’embarquent dans ce voyage avec une
attitude ouverte et que le Trois Octobre fournisse l’occasion d’un
nouveau départ. La démonstration d’un engagement sans ambiguïté ni
arrière-pensées envers la transformation démocratique et les valeurs
européennes sera certainement le meilleur atout de la Turquie pour
gagner le soutien de l’opinion publique en Europe.
Au cours de la période à venir, la Turquie aura l’opportunité de
démontrer qu’elle est sérieusement engagée à intégrer les valeurs
européennes. Les pays qui souhaitent adhérer à l’Union doivent en
effet partager notre vision de l’Europe et notre conception de
relations internationales basées sur la démocratie, l’état de droit,
les droits de l’homme et la solidarité. Ils doivent également
partager nos normes, que ce soit entre autres dans le domaine social,
environnemental ou industriel. Si l’Union Européenne prend un pari
sur leur adhésion future, c’est parce que nous croyons aussi que
c’est dans notre meilleur intérêt et que c’est pour le bénéfice de
nos concitoyens. Je m’engage personnellement devant cette Assemblée à
mettre en `uvre rigoureusement nos critères et conditions.
Comme je l’ai dit à de nombreuses reprises, le voyage est aussi
important que la destination finale. Bien que l’objectif commun des
négociations soit l’adhésion, de telles négociations sont de par leur
nature même ouvertes quant au résultat. Mais c’est dans notre intérêt
réciproque que ce processus soit encadré dans des principes clairs et
rigoureux tels que ceux prévus dans le cadre de négociation. Ceci est
la meilleure garantie d’un succès.

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 MEETS WITH ARMENIAN STUDENTS
“THE LANGUAGE OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN
ARMENIANS SHOULD BE ONLY ARMENIAN”
SAYS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
As part of His Pontifical visit to Canada, His Holiness Aram I met with the
young Armenian students of Toronto on September 30. The students of the
“Koloyan Elementary-Secondary School of the Armenian Relief Society (ARL)”,
as well as those of the “Babayan Kindergarten” prepared a special program to
commemorate the 1600th anniversary of the Consecration of the Armenian
Alphabet.
His Holiness first visited the “Babayan Kindergarten” with Prelate
Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, V Rev Fr Meghrig and the delegation accompanying
him from Lebanon. The youngest representatives of the new Armenian
generation put out a well-prepared performance in honor of the Catholicos.
The ceremony in ARL’s elementary and secondary school started with the
welcoming remarks of teacher Moushegh Karakashian, followed by a speech by
Haroutioun Shitilian, chairman of the educational committee.
The latter drew out a connection between the 1600th anniversary of the
consecration of the Armenian Alphabet, the 75th anniversary of the Seminary’
s establishment and the 10th anniversary of His Holiness’ enthronement.
Shitilian pointed out that the prominent individuals who have contributed to
the school’s success in the past and do so in the present are all graduates
of the Antelias Seminary.
The students then took to the stage, with representatives from the eleventh
and twelfth grades delivering speeches in Armenian and English about His
Holiness’ activeness and the achievements of his 10 year tenure.
“Nightingales of Kantsasar”, a children’s choir composed of students from
the second and third classes, entertained the audience with enthusiastic
songs.
Prelate Archbishop Hagopian delivered a speech outlining His Holiness’
international efficacy, particularly in the international ecumenical,
inter-faith and political fields.
His Holiness then delivered a lecture on the 1600th anniversary of the
Consecration of the Armenian Alphabet. He highly praised the students, the
administration, teachers and the board of trustees, emphasizing the
importance of remaining loyal towards Mesrob Mashdots and his work.
“Being an Armenian first and foremost means speaking in Armenian, reading
Armenian, writing in Armenian, singing in Armenian and opening to our
cultural values. Our nation receives its spiritual and national nourishment
from the Armenian language and culture,” said His Holiness.
“Therefore, the only language of conversation between us, Armenians, should
be Armenian. We will speak in various languages with foreigners, but we will
speak in Armenian with one another. Otherwise what value does this building,
which has been erected for you with such huge sacrifices, have? You give
life to this building with your pure Armenian language. Mesrob Mashdots
lives in this building when you speak with each other in Armenian,” he
continued.
His Holiness then blessed over 350 students with “Bahbanitch”.
His Holiness gave a press conference to the local Armenian and Canadian
media on the morning of September 30. The Catholicos focused on the role of
the church and the importance of finding better means of attracting the
youth.
Answering the questions of reporters, His Holiness also spoke about
advancing cooperation in the meeting places of religions and cultures in
multi-religious societies, in order to fight against globalization and its
threat to identities with united efforts.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the dioceses 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.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenia Fund, Inc.
111 North Jackson St. Ste. 205
Glendale, CA 91206
Tel: 800-888-8897
Fax: 818-243-7222
Contact: Sarkis Kotanjian
E-mail: [email protected]
Armenia Fund Unveils 2005 Telethon Logo – Build a New Horizon
Thanksgiving Day Telethon Launched
Los Angeles, CA – Armenia Fund, Inc. launched Telethon 2005 – Build a
New Horizon – with a logo unveiling ceremony and reception on Wednesday,
September 14, at the Casa Adobe de San Rafael in Glendale, California.
The logo and the theme `Build a New Horizon’ was created by local
graphic artist Helena Gregorian. The orange and white logo features the
four key elements of Telethon 2005 – agricultural development,
construction of water distribution systems, health care and education.
Produced by Armenia Fund, Inc., since 1996, the Telethon has become a
Thanksgiving Day tradition for Armenians around the world. Through the
annual Telethons Armenians around the world are able to participate in
the important task of nation-building by supporting large-scale
infrastructure development and humanitarian projects in Armenia and
Karabakh.
The Telethon 2005 launch brought together representatives of all large
Armenian organizations and a number of local elected and appointed
officials of the cities of Glendale, La Canada, Pasadena and Burbank as
well as California State Representatives.
Elaborating on this years Telethon theme the Chairperson of Armenia
Fund, Inc., Maria Mehranian said: “This year our fundraising focus will
be on Martakert – the Northern region of Karabakh that has been the
hardest hit and is in the most need of revitalization. One of the most
urgent needs for the population of Martakert is Healthcare and that is
what our focus will be in the U.S. Western Region.’
Among other priority projects such as Drinking Water, Agricultural
Development and Education, this year’s Telethon will raise funds for the
Martakert Regional Hospital and Ambulance System that will service
20,000 in more than 50 villages in all five sub-regions of Martakert.
Ara Aghisian, Vice Chairman of Armenia Fund, Inc., announced upcoming
Telethon 2005 events and activities including a November 18 gala dinner
at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel featuring President of the Republic of
Karabakh, H.E. Arkady Ghoukasian and the Foreign Affairs Minister of the
Republic of Armenia, H.E. Vartan Oskanian.
Scheduled for Thanksgiving Day, November 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
(PST), Telethon 2005 is a 12-hour, live broadcast airing in over 25
cities throughout the United States as well as Europe, South America,
the CIS and the Middle East.
For more information on Armenia Fund, Telethon 2005, please contact
Armenia Fund at 818.243.6222 or visit the newly updated website at
Armenia Fund, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation
established in 1994 to facilitate large-scale humanitarian and
infrastructure development assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Armenia Fund, Inc. is the U.S. Western Region affiliate of `Hayastan’
All-Armenian Fund.

“RE-COG-NI-TION”
A1+
| 17:38:53 | 03-10-2005 | Social |
The members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Youth Union
and students of different higher educational institutions organized
a march today to the EU office with cries “Off you go, Tur-key”,
“Re-cog-ni-tion”, “Con-dem-na-tion”.
The act of complaint was connected with the fact that today Turkey
starts negotiations of membership to the EU.
The act consisted of two phases. First they sent a letter to the
Embassy of Great Britain, and then to the EU office. “Why to the
Embassy of Great Britain? Because GB is the presiding country, besides,
being one of the efficient member-countries of EU it has opposed more
than once to the membership of Turkey”, member of the ARF YU Mkhitar
Margaryan says.
By the way, if the act has no results, the Youth Wing has decided to
organize a sit-down strike.

LUZHKOV TO CONGRATULATE
A1+
| 14:44:38 | 03-10-2005 | Social |
On October 8-9 Yerevan will celebrate its birthday party. By the
Government decision the second Saturday of October has been announced
“The Yerevan Day” instead of the previous Erebouni-Yerevan. “All the
capitals in the world have their birthdays, why mustn’t Yerevan have
one? ” deputy mayor Arman Sahakyan said.
On October 8 at 10:30 a.m. the Yerevan history museum will be
opened. At 12:00 in all the Yerevan communities events will take
place which will end with fireworks. At midday in the cinema Moscow
the annual photo competition “Yerevan by my Eyes” will initiate.
According to Armen Sahakyan, about 80-100 million ARMD will be spent
on the celebrations. 11 delegations from different country will arrive
in Armenia.
>>From Russia, the delegation of Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov will arrive.
By the way, on October 6 the Moscow days in Yerevan will be
organized. A Gala concert will be organized in which about a hundred
Russian actors and singers will participate

NEED FOR SPEED
A1+
| 14:23:05 | 03-10-2005 | Politics |
Today the NA plenary session started with the participation of 105
deputies. In 28 minutes they voted for 28 drafts, including those
remained after the previous sitting.
The Orinats Yerkir Party draft about the return of the deposits was
included into the agenda without any «against» votes. By the way, the
secretary of the Justice bloc Viktor Dallakyan spoke for it. According
to him, even if his draft has illegally been excluded from the agenda,
he calls people to vote for the Orinats Yerkir draft proceeding from
the importance of the issue.
–Boundary_(ID_VjBG7Ng02leMr8+owToIhg)–