ArmInfo News Agency
Sept 29 2005
ARMENIAN PM: THERE IS NO DEMAND FOR PROVISION OF AUTONOMY TO GEORGIAN
REGION OF SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI POPULATED WITH ARMENIANS
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29. ARMINFO. At present, there is no demand for
provision of autonomy to the Georgian region of Samtskhe-Javakheti
populated with Armenians, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan
says in an interview to the Armenian Public Television.
He says this issue is not on the agenda of the 4th sitting of the
Armenian-Georgian Intergovernmental Commission fixed for September 29
in Yerevan.

ArmInfo News Agency
Sept 29 2005
STEPANAKERT’S PARTICIPATION IN KARABAKH PEACE TALKS IS NECESSITY: NKR
PRESIDENT
STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 29. ARMINFO. Stepanakert’s participation in
the Karabakh peace talks is a necessity, President of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic Arkady Ghoukassyan said during a Wednesday meeting
with the students of two Armenian colleges of Australia who have been
invited to NKR by Australian businessman Hakop Abulakyan, the owner
of Hotel Nairi in Stepanakert.
Ghoukassyan told the students about the current state of the Karabakh
peace process. He expressed regret that Azerbaijan keeps pressuring
the international community to recognizing Armenia as an aggressor.
“That’s why Baku is insisting on bilateral talks with Armenia. As
soon as Azerbaijan realizes that this makes no sense the trilateral
talks will be resumed,” Ghoukassyan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+
| 16:52:53 | 30-09-2005 | Official |
HE PROMISED TO TAKE CARE
Today Robert Kocharyan received the Georgian Prime Minister Zourab Nogaideli
who has arrived in Armenia to participate in the works of the Economic
Cooperation Armenian-Georgian inter Governmental Committee forth session.
Besides the discussion of economic issues, the sides have also referred to
the social-economic condition in Javakhq. The Georgian Prime Minister said
that the Government intends to realize a 5-year program of road
reconstruction in Javakhq with the means allotted by the «Millennium
Challenges» Fund and the state budget.
The Georgian Government also intends to realize educations programs for the
Armenian-speaking citizens and actively participate in the
school-construction in Javakhq.

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
Fresno Bee
Opinion Section
‘Preposterous claim’
September 30, 2005
Again we read in a newspaper story (Sept. 24) of the Armenian massacres,
the claim by Turkey’s apologists that “the [Armenian genocide] deaths
were part of a war in which an equal number of Turks died.” The
implication is that losses on both sides were a consequence of World War
I.
Such a claim is preposterous and perverted. Virtually the entire
Armenian population of Turkey in 1915 (whole families, including women
and children) was forcibly deported from its homeland of nearly 3,000
years by the leaders of the much more recently arrived Ottoman Empire.
About 1.5 million died.
That occurred during World War I when Turkey, a member of the Central
Powers together with Germany, was at war with the Allies. Of course, the
Turks did lose many lives in the war (which was not against Armenians).
But an equal number — more than a million? Hardly.
Armenian lives (families, not military personnel) were lost at the hands
of Turkish forces and the Kurds.
Turkish lives (virtually all military) were lost in a war at the hands
of British and Russian troops.
This needs to be repeated, for the preposterous claim of Turkish
apologists will not cease.
Arra Avakian
Fresno

Armenian Youth Federation-YOARF Eastern US
80 Bigelow Ave
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel. (617) 923-1933
Fax (617) 924-1933
PRESS RELEASE ~ September 26, 2005
Contact: Sossi Essajanian
(617) 923-1933

AYF Eastern Region Junior Members Participate in Annual Athletic Games
WATERTOWN, Mass.?From September 23 to 25, over 110 junior and senior
members of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Eastern Region gathered
at Camp Haiastan for the annual Junior Athletic Games (JAG), which
brings together participants from the Mid-Atlantic and New England
districts.
AYF junior members hailing from New York; New Jersey; Philadelphia,
Penn.; Boston; Providence, R.I.; Worcester; North Andover; and
Blackstone Valley took to the pool and the track for heated
competitions. Attendees, staying at Camp Haiastan in Franklin, for the
weekend, were divided into two groups, with older juniors ages 10 to
13 competing separately from those in the 14 to 16 age group.
Beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, all juniors and seniors were
bused from the camp to the Milford High School pool, in Milford, where
athletes competed to the cheers of a sizable crowd of peers, AYF
seniors and parents.
By noontime the swimming events concluded, with participants and
observes alike traveling to neighboring Hopkinton, where the track and
field events got underway at Hopkinton High School.
Juniors participated in six track events, as well as team relay races
and the field events of long jump, shot put and baseball throw. “I’ve
been doing this for 20 years now and I enjoy it very much,” said
Providence AYF alumnus Sarkis Varadian, who clerks the track and field
events for JAG every year.
The Greater Boston chapter, who supplied sandwiches, snacks and manned
a concession stand at the track all day, hosted the event.
That evening, a celebration was held at Camp Haiastan’s Dikran Tzamour
Hall, where athletes and AYF seniors danced to the music of
Philadelphia AYF senior members Aram Hovagimian on keyboard, Anthony
Deese on guitar, and Greater Boston AYF senior Sevag Khatchadourian on
vocals. Entertainment also included tunes played by DJ Harout
Khatchadourian from Providence.
Team scores and award winners were later announced, with New Jersey
finishing in third with 41 points, followed by Providence in second
with 92 and the Greater Boston Nejdeh juniors, with 201 points, taking
first place. High scoring athletes were also awarded trophies: Ani
Megerdichian from Providence for the older girls (age 14 to 16); Araxi
Krafian and Anoush Arakelian both from Greater Boston for the younger
girls (age 10-13); Varant Chiloyan from Greater Boston and Greg
Gregorian from North Andover for the older boys; and Matthew Picard
from Greater Boston for the younger boys.
On Sunday morning, athletes participated in a basketball tournament at
Camp Haiastan, before boarding their buses and getting in their cars
to go home. “I like going to JAG because I get to see all my Armenian
friends and it?s a lot of fun to compete in the games,” said Ani
Sarajian from the New Jersey AYF junior team, as she left the camp.
Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) serves as the
youth organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(YOARF). The AYF stands on five pillars that guide its activities:
education, political awareness, fellowship, athletics and
culture. Moreover, the AYF promotes a fraternal attitude of respect
for the diversity of ideas and individuals amongst its
membership. Unity and cooperation are essential traits that allow
members of the organization to work together and realize its
objectives.

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
FOCUS on TURKEY – NEWS from COMPASS DIRECT
Global News from the Frontlines

Summary:
ISTANBUL, September 30 (Compass) – More than 100 residents of the Turkish
village of Karsu last month vandalized a Christian Orthodox quarter of
Altinozu after receiving reports that Christians had attacked two Muslims.
The Muslim mob descended on Altinosu’s Greek Orthodox neighborhood of
Sarilar shortly before 11 p.m. on August 3, chanting “there is no room for
infidels here.” The vandals damaged 10 houses and injured five people,
including the wife of parish leader Spir Bayrakcioglu. Cousins Mitri and
Engin Keseroglu, Greek Orthodox Christians from the Sarilar neighborhood,
have been charged with using razors to slash two Karsu youths in a fight
earlier that evening that triggered the outbreak of violence. One of the two
Muslim youths from Karsu also brandished a knife, but he was not arrested.
**********
Muslim Horde Vandalizes Orthodox Village in Turkey
Street fight over an insult triggers ethnic/religious passions, mob
violence.
by Peter Lamprecht

ISTANBUL, September 30 (Compass) – The unchecked passions of two young Greek
Orthodox Christians in rural Turkey last month showed how a single misstep
can result in the persecution of the larger community.
More than 100 residents of the Turkish village of Karsu vandalized the Greek
Orthodox quarter of Altinozu last month after receiving reports that
Christians had attacked Muslims. A street fight had erupted when two young
cousins allowed themselves to be provoked by a Muslim insult of Christian
women.
The Muslim mob descended on Altinozu’s Greek Orthodox neighborhood of
Sarilar shortly before 11 p.m. on August 3, chanting “there is no room for
infidels here.”
Gendarmerie reinforced local police and helped halt the violence, but not
before the vandals had damaged 10 houses and injured five people ranging in
age from 12 to 62, including the wife of parish leader Spir Bayrakcioglu.
Cousins Mitri and Engin Keseroglu, Orthodox Christians from the Sarilar
neighborhood, have been charged with using razors to slash two Karsu youth
in a fight earlier that evening that triggered the outbreak of violence. A
knife-wielding Muslim in the altercation, 19-year-old Bahadir Arslanoglu,
was not arrested.
According to Karsu village headman Kenan Yildirim, most of Karsu’s residents
were gathered at the town’s monthly business meeting when they received a
telephone call saying that Christians were attacking Muslims. In his
comments to the local Ozyurt newspaper, the mayor claimed that he tried to
stop the ensuing revenge attack, and that he even received several blows in
the process.
No One from Karsu Arrested
Tractors and minibuses transported approximately 100 Karsu residents three
kilometers (1.8 miles) to the entrance of Sarilar neighborhood in Altinozu,
where they regrouped before proceeding on foot.
As they made their way unopposed through the Orthodox neighborhood, they
reportedly chanted “get out of here, you have no business here, this land is
ours,” while using sticks and stones to break windows and attack the
ethnically Arab Turkish citizens.
One resident, who requested his name be withheld, told Compass that upon
hearing a commotion he rushed outside and saw a large crowd. “Behind them
were five or six policemen watching the event, because they were too few in
number to intervene.”
Shortly after 11 p.m., gendarmerie arrived to reinforce the police and
dispersed the crowd by firing shots in the air.
Police did not detain anyone from Karsu in relation to the vandalism.
Later that night, police arrested Sarilar Orthodox Christians Mitri
Keseroglu, 18, in his home, while 21-year-old Engin Keseroglu was taken into
custody the following morning around 8 a.m.
The Keseroglu cousins were charged with “the use of a sharp object to
intentionally injure.” They were released on September 1 after nearly a
month in prison. According to their lawyer, Mustafa Dikce, the trial date
has not yet been set.
In official statements made to the police, the Keserogluses denied using
weapons in their scuffle with 19-year-old Bahadir Arslanoglu and 18-year-old
Mehmet Sozer, both Muslims. The cousins claimed that the two Karsu youths
had attacked them first as they were on their way home.
Though Arslanoglu denied any involvement in instigating the fight, the
Ozyurt newspaper reported, and local sources confirmed, that the brawl with
the Keserogluses had started because of rude remarks Arslanoglu had made
about Christian women.
Simmering Tensions
Engin Keseroglu reported that after an initial scuffle ended and he had
continued home with only minor injuries, “I realized that I no longer had my
cell phone.”
Returning to the fight scene accompanied by Mitri Keseroglu and another
17-year-old cousin, he found that Arslanoglu and Sozer had also come back
with four more friends. According to Mitri Keseroglu, Arslanoglu pulled out
a knife, and the fight resumed until bystanders managed to pull the two
groups apart.
Arslanoglu and Sozer went to the hospital, where they received stitches for
long slices on the cheek and forehead. According to an August 10 doctor’s
report, the scars were permanent and require plastic surgery.
Many residents of both villages claimed that the Karsu attack on Sarilar
later that night was nothing more than a brawl between the Christian and
Muslim young men that got out of hand.
Two days after the violence, Karsu headman Yildirim was quoted by Ozyurt as
apologizing, “We’re very sorry that this event was provoked.”
“This whole thing was started because of rude remarks made to women,” parish
leader Bayrakcioglu explained in the same article. “It grieves me that the
issue got so big.”
Sarilar carpenter Selim Bayrakcioglu told Compass that the roots of the
fight went back to April, when the Christian quarter held its annual Easter
celebration of games and folk dancing. “Young men from other [Muslim]
villages come because they can be in the same place as young women,” many of
whom, he said, were European visitors who did not dress in a way that was
culturally sensitive to Turkish standards of modesty.
Bayrakcioglu said that while anyone who came with family was welcome, the
Christians did restrict the participation of single males “who were often
there to bother women. I think those young men [Arslanoglu and Sozer] were
not let in to the festivities, and that’s how this thing began.”
The area has traditionally been a rare example of inter-faith peace in a
part of the world where religious wars like the Crusades have left their
mark. During Turkey’s War of Independence following World War I, Turks
protected Altinozu’s ethnically Arab Christians, who belong to the Greek
Orthodox Church.
The region’s reputation is one reason it was chosen to host last weekend’s
“Meeting of Civilizations,” attended by Armenian Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish,
and Greek Orthodox leaders.
Muslim Lawyer Mustafa Dikce explained to Compass that he took the
Keserogluses’ case because he wanted to defend good relations between
religions. “Here, for years we have been living as brothers with these
people, Muslim, Christian, Alevi, and Sunni,” he said. “Altinozu is such a
great place, but there can be people who want to destroy it.”
But not everyone from this ethnically diverse region painted a rosy picture
of Muslim-Christian relations.
Bayrakcioglu, the Sarilar carpenter, agreed that relations with neighboring
Muslims have “always been good,” but pointed to a deeper problem of identity
that the Orthodox of Sarilar must face.
“We [Greek Orthodox] have never been seen by this mother country as true
children,” he said, pointing out that no one had been held responsible for
the late-night vandalism. “The fact that they got enraged over a very simple
thing and appeared to be ready to rub us out goes to show that things aren’t
quite as friendly as they appear.”
Yet Bayrakcioglu is not one to hold a grudge. The morning after the attack,
he shocked his wife when he gave nails, free of charge, to Karsu residents
who came to his hardware store.
The carpenter said that he hopes things will get better. “I’m not a
second-class citizen here. I’m not a stepchild. This is our mother country.
My grandfather served in the military here, my father served in the
military, and I served in the military. We need to understand this, and we
need the people around us to understand this. But it looks like its going to
take a long time.”
END
**********
Copyright 2005 Compass Direct
Compass Direct Focus News is distributed as available to raise awareness of
Christians worldwide who are persecuted for their faith. Articles may be
reprinted by active subscribers only.
For subscription information, contact:
Compass Direct
P.O. Box 27250
Santa Ana CA 92799-7250
USA
TEL: 949-862-0304
E-mail: [email protected]
<;

Armenian Youth Federation-YOARF Eastern US
80 Bigelow Ave
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel. (617) 923-1933
Fax (617) 924-1933

PRESS RELEASE ~ September 28, 2005
Contact: Sossi Essajanian
(617) 923-1933
Chicago AYF Joins ANCA, System of a Down, Axis of Justice for Rally at
Speaker Hastert’s Illinois Office
WATERTOWN, Mass.?On September 27, AYF-YOARF members joined hundreds of
demonstrators for a rally at the Batavia, Ill., office of House
Speaker Dennis Hastert. The event was co-sponsored by the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA), AYF, System of a Down and Axis
of Justice.
Community activists from the Greater Chicago area, Wisconsin, Indiana,
Minnesota, California and Washington, D.C., as well as the band’s
fans, called on Hastert to “Do the Right Thing” and keep his
commitment to hold a vote on the pending Armenian genocide
legislation.
Addressing the crowd were System of a Down members Serj Tankian and
John Dolmayan along with ANC representatives Aram Hamparian and Greg
Bedian. “The U.S. government today must set its record straight by
reaffirming the fact that Turkey committed genocide when it
exterminated 1.5 million Armenians. America must send the message to
governments around the world that the crime of genocide will neither
be forgotten nor treated with impunity,” said Bedian.
Also during the event, a letter was given to Hastert’s aids, addressed
to the Speaker, urging him to schedule a vote on Armenian genocide
legislation currently before the House of Representatives. Along with
this letter, the group presented hundreds of similar notes from
community members.
“We are honored that we had this opportunity to work with System of a
Down, as well as the ANCA,” said AYF representative Karine
Birazian. “Within 90 hours, we were able to reach out to not only our
community in Glenview, but to Armenians and Americans across the
country regarding the rally we had today. As the youth, we feel it is
our duty to call upon Speaker Dennis Hastert to schedule a vote on the
Armenian genocide; and we will not rest until we have proper
recognition of what happened to our people.”
Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) serves as the
youth organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(YOARF). The AYF stands on five pillars that guide its activities:
education, political awareness, fellowship, athletics and
culture. Moreover, the AYF promotes a fraternal attitude of respect
for the diversity of ideas and individuals amongst its
membership. Unity and cooperation are essential traits that allow
members of the organization to work together and realize its
objectives.

For more information, email [email protected] or call (617) 923-1933.

age/027-670-271-9-39-903-2
0050921IPR00563-28-09-2 005-2005–true/default_en.htm
Enlargement – 29-09-2005 – 16:55
European Parliament postpones vote on protocol to Ankara Agreement
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan – MEPs postpone vote on
extending customs union
The Parliament postponed voting on approval of the protocol extending
Turkey’s association agreement with the EU to the ten new member states.
MEPs feared that the Turkish declaration that the protocol does not mean any
form of recognition of Cyprus would form part of the ratification process in
the Turkish parliament and thus gain legal force.
 
Nevertheless, in a political resolution voted afterwards, Parliament notes
“the Commission and the Council take the view that Turkey has formally
fulfilled the last conditions for starting the accession negotiations on 3
October 2005.”
 
At the request of the EPP-ED group, Parliament voted 311 votes in favour,
285 against and 63 abstentions to postpone the vote on Parliament’s approval
of the protocol extending Turkey’s customs union with the EU to all its new
members, including Cyprus. The vote to postpone has no legal consequences in
terms of the starting date for accession negotiations. Stumbling blocks were
the Turkish declaration that the signing of the protocol to the Ankara
Agreement does not mean any form of recognition of Cyprus and the Turkish
refusal to admit vessels and airplanes from Cyprus. A majority of MEPs first
wanted guarantees from the Turkish authorities that the declaration was not
going to be part of the ratification in the Turkish parliament, fearing that
it would then have legal implications.
 
Nevertheless, in a political resolution adopted afterwards by 356 votes in
favour, 181 against and 125 abstentions, Parliament noted the Commission’s
and Council’s view that access negotiations with Turkey can start on 3
October. But by the end of 2006, the Commission must assess if Turkey has
fully implemented the protocol. If not, this could lead to halting the
accession negotiations. During the negotiations, which are open-ended and
will not automatically lead to Turkish EU membership, Turkey should be kept
under permanent scrutiny and pressure to ensure that it maintains “the pace
of the necessary reforms”.
 
Parliament also said it considered Turkish recognition of “the Armenian
genocide … to be a prerequisite for accession”.
 
MEPs deplore that the Annan plan for a settlement of the Cyprus question has
been rejected by the Greek Cypriot community and hopes that Turkey will
maintain its constructive attitude in finding an equitable solution.
Meanwhile, the Council should keep its promise and reach an agreement on the
financial aid and trade package for northern Cyprus.
 
On other issues, MEPs voiced their concern about the criminal proceedings
against Turkish author Orhan Pamuk, about article 305 of the penal code
which criminalises “acts against the fundamental national interest”, about
the restrictions on foreign funding for associations, and about the “Law on
Foundations” concerning religious communities.
 
Parliament wants each negotiation session at ministerial level to be
preceded by an assessment of the fulfilment of the political criteria, both
in theory and in practice, “thus exerting permanent pressure on the Turkish
authorities to maintain the pace of the necessary reforms”. Also, a full
programme of clear targets, timeframe and deadlines should be fixed for the
fulfilment of the political criteria. The Commission and the Council should
report annually to the European Parliament and the national parliaments on
the progress made by Turkey in this respect. MEPs reiterate that the
accession negotiations are an open-ended process and will not automatically
lead to Turkey joining the EU, even if the objective is Turkish EU
membership. Finally, Parliament underlines that the EU’s capacity to absorb
Turkey is an important consideration as well, and needs to be monitored by
the Commission during the negotiations.
 
Debate on opening of accession negotiations with Turkey
 
Speaking on behalf of the Council,  Britain’s Minister for Europe, Douglas
ALEXANDER said the strategic case for opening negotiations with Turkey was
convincing, but it was necessary to be scrupulous in ensuring all the
requirements were met before Turkey could join.
 
Turkey had met the two conditions laid down by the Council in December, and
its declaration stating that it had not recognised the government of Cyprus
had no legal effect.  The negotiations would be the most rigorous yet, and
Turkey would not accede imminently.  The Turkey which would join would be a
different Turkey, and the EU might also be different by then too. Progress
so far had been encouraging, and the conditions for opening talks had been
met, he said.
 
Enlargement Commissioner Oli REHN agreed that the formal conditions set out
by the Council for opening negotiations had been met.  He also stressed that
the talks would be the most rigorous yet undertaken.  There were good signs
– such as the Turkish government’s recognition that there was a Kurdish
issue and that the conference on the Armenian question would finally go
ahead – but also bad signs – such as the uneven implementation of freedom of
expression rights. “Both Europeans and Turks should work to build a
relationship based on mutual trust, ” he said, pointing out that the common
goal would be accession but that by their very nature the talks were open as
to the result they would achieve.
 
British speakers during the debate on Turkey
 
Roger KNAPMAN (IND/DEM,UK) said that he opposed political union with Turkey
as much as he opposed it with France, Germany or Italy. “But what of the
euro-fanatics whose ardour suddenly cools when they reach the Bosphorus? It
is not hypocrisy, but fear, fear that public support for the whole EU
project will collapse if Turkish membership were seriously pursued.”  For
this reason, he said, he was happy to see the EU plough ahead with
negotiations, destroying itself in the process.
 
Andrew DUFF (ALDE, UK) said “It is extraordinary that those who have
profited so much from EU integration in terms of prosperity, security and
liberal democracy should not refuse to extend these prizes to Turkey.” He
said the EU’s absorption capacity was a real issue, with the need for a
settlement of the constitution ahead of Turkish or Croatian entry.  He also
argued that the Cyprus issue and instability in the Balkans could not be
resolved if the EU refuses membership to Turkey, and called for a stepping
up of trade relations with northern Cyprus.
 
Roger HELMER (NI, UK) said there were powerful reasons in favour and against
Turkey’s accession to the EU.  The key condition, he said, should be
“democratic accountability”, Mr Helmer felt that Turkey’s accession would
“dilute the influence” of his constituents in terms of self-determination
and he therefore opposed Turkish membership of the EU.  Mr Helmer welcomed
the proposal from Angela Merkel on privileged partnership for Turkey as it
would incur fewer costs for Turkey.  Mr Helmer wished the option of
privileged partnership could also be made available to the United Kingdom.
 
Geoffrey Van ORDEN (EPP-ED, UK) stated that “last Christmas the Council
voted for Turkey”.  The conditions laid out at that time had been met and
Turkey was therefore ready to start negotiations.  Mr Van Orden warned
against the separatist dissidents still at large in Turkey that risked
undermining Turkish secularism and unity.  He stated that Turkey should be
treated in the same way as all other candidates for accession.  Mr Van Orden
stated that the Cyprus question should be treated separately from the
accession negotiations.  However, he recalled that the people of Northern
Cyprus had voted in favour of the Annan plan on reunification and that Greek
Cyprus had rejected.  He said the EU had done little to support
Northern Cyprus.  Mr Van Orden welcomed the imminent opening of negotiations
and recognised that the talks would last many years.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
MEDIA ADVISORY
September 30, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
SYSTEM OF A DOWN RALLY ATTRACTS INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ATTENTION
— Multi-Platinum Band Calls for Vote
on Armenian Genocide Resolution
— New York Times, BBC, and MTV Join Local ABC, FOX, and WB
stations and Area Newspapers in Covering Event outside the
Batavia, Illinois Office of Speaker Dennis Hastert
WASHINGTON, DC – The pro-Armenian Genocide Resolution rally this
week by System of a Down outside the Batavia, Illinois office of
House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) received extensive media
coverage – both internationally and within the Speaker’s local
suburban Chicago media market, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
The September 27th event was organized by the multi-platinum band
System of a Down, along with the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA), Axis of Justice, and the Armenian Youth Federation.
Over two hundred fans, including a large number of Armenian
Americans from Chicago, attended the rally to urge the Speaker to
schedule a vote on legislation pending before Congress that would
recognize the Armenian Genocide. At the rally, the band delivered
a letter asking the Speaker to allow the legislation to move
forward. (see below)
Speaker Hastert pledged to allow the full House to vote on Armenian
Genocide legislation in August of 2000, but retreated from this
promise in October of that year, citing pressure from the White
House. On September 15th of this year, the House International
Relations Committee overwhelmingly approved legislation recognizing
the Armenian Genocide.
The highlights of the media coverage included:
* Over 560,000 households in the Chicago area watched video from
the rally via ABC channel 7 News (Nielsen Audience: 310,980), WGN-
WB (Nielsen Audience: 231,385), and WFLD-FOX (Nielsen Audience:
22,726).
* The New York Times covered the rally, as did three area
newspapers read by Speaker Hastert’s constituents: The Beacon News,
The Daily Herald, and The Kane County Chronicle.
* News of the rally was broadcast on radio internationally via The
World (BBC) and locally by Chicago Public Radio.
* The rally received excellent coverage in the entertainment media
via stories on the websites of MTV (two stories), VH1, Rolling
Stone, and a range of other media outlets.
Links:
* New York Times (September 26, 2005 – Arts Section)
* ABC channel 7 news
l&id=3483619
WLS-ABC CHICAGO, IL
SEP 27 2005 5:00PM CT Nielsen Audience: 310,980
ABC 7 News at 5
* WGN-WB CHICAGO, IL
SEP 27 2005 9:00PM CT Nielsen Audience: 231,385
News at Nine
* WFLD-FOX CHICAGO, IL
SEP 28 2005 5:00AM CT Nielsen Audience: 22,726
Fox News at 5AM
* MTV.com: (Pre-Rally coverage)
* MTV.com: (Post-Rally coverage)
/09282005/system_of_a_down.jhtml
* VHI
28/system_of_a_down.jhtml
* TheWorld.org — (a radio program in done in co-production with
the BBC)
* Rolling Stone:
/7670574/bobice?pageid=rs.Home&pageregion=sing le1
* The Beacon News
/top/batchAU28_HASTERT_S1.htm
* The Daily Herald
ry.asp?id=98941
* Kane County Chronicle:
local/330582937821598.php
* PR Newswire
.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/09-26-2005/00041 31979&EDATE
* Los Angeles Daily News

* Blabbermouth.com:
uth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=4210 1
* Yahoo News
l
In the two weeks since that vote, thousands of System fans have
sent free ANCA WebFaxes urging Speaker Hastert to hold a vote on
the Armenian Genocide Resolution:
#####
==============================================================September 27, 2005
The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Speaker Hastert,
I am writing to personally ask you to do the right thing by
scheduling a free and fair vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution
this year – the 90th anniversary of this crime against humanity.
In making this request, I want you to know the special and profound
meaning that this issue holds for me. My grandfather, Stepan
Haytayan, is a 97 year-old survivor of the genocide. He’s my only
link to this past. I promised him that I would try to reach you
and explain how important American recognition is to the surviving
children of the first genocide of the 20th century. Historical
truths should never be denied in a democracy – especially one with
such a proud heritage of freedom.
My band, System Of A Down, has held three benefit shows called
“Souls” to raise awareness and much needed funds for the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. We have been encouraged, in
your own home state, by Governor Rod Blagojevich’s recent signature
on a law requiring that the Genocide be taught in the state’s
public schools. To date, thirty-eight U.S. states have officially
recognized the Armenian Genocide, as have Canada, Germany, France,
Italy, Argentina, Belgium, Greece, Russia, Sweden, and Switzerland
– as well as the Council of Europe, European Parliament, and the
Vatican. The International Association of Genocide Scholars
unanimously affirmed at their most recent meeting, in June of this
year, that the Armenian Genocide is recognized by “the overwhelming
opinion of scholars who study genocide: hundreds of independent
scholars, who have no affiliations with governments, and whose work
spans many countries and nationalities and the course of decades.”
Along with hundreds of thousands of Armenian Americans and
countless concerned human rights supporters across the United
States, I was encouraged by the House International Relations
Committee’s vote, less than two weeks ago, to overwhelmingly
approve legislation properly recognizing the Armenian Genocide. I
am sure that you would agree that the strong Committee-level
support for this legislation reflects the powerful bipartisan
consensus in the U.S. House of Representatives for decisive action
to properly recognize the first genocide of the 20th Century.
All that you need to do to move this legislation to a vote is to
remain consistent with your own record. As you recall, in 1994 you
spoke on the floor of the U.S. House about the need for Armenian
Genocide remembrance. In 1996 you voted for the Radanovich
Amendment to cut aid to Turkey until it ended its genocide denials.
Most recently, in 2000, you pledged – as Speaker – to bring
Armenian Genocide legislation to a vote of the full U.S. House.
Following your withdrawal of the Armenian Genocide Resolution in
October of 2000, you stressed – in an official statement – your
personal support for this legislation, your belief that the
Resolution enjoyed the support of a bi-partisan Congressional
majority, and your pledge to bring this legislation back to the
House floor.
The time has come – after five years – to honor this promise and to
act in a manner that we all know to be fully consistent with our
values and long-term interests as a nation. Today, the decision
rests in your hands: to schedule a vote, or to effectively defeat
this legislation by refusing to allow the 435 members of the U.S.
House to cast their ballots on this human rights issue.
I am quite aware of the pressures placed upon you by the
Administration, the military-industrial complex, and the special
interest groups that warn about the consequences of angering
Turkey, a NATO ally, over their denial of the Armenian Genocide.
These “friends” of Turkey are wrong; the truth is that, by acting
as apologists for Turkey, they are actually holding back Turkey’s
progress.
By allowing this vote, and allowing the will of Congress to be
freely expressed, you will be doing the right thing morally and, at
the same time, encouraging Turkey to deal honestly with its past
and more openly with its future.
Thank you for your consideration of my concerns.
Sincerely,
[signed]
Serj Tankian

PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
Prelate, Western United States
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
Email: [email protected]
For more information:
Zanku Armenian (818) 243-3557
Mercata Group
(Los Angeles, Calif. – September 30, 2005) Two floor statements were made in
the U.S. Senate this week by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Diane
Feinstein (D-CA) welcoming His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great
House Of Cilicia, to California for his upcoming October visit. Below are
the texts of their statements:
IN CELEBRATION OF THE PONTIFICAL VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I, CATHOLICOS OF
THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA, TO CALIFORNIA
Mrs. Boxer. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to recognize the
Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia, to my home state of California in October, 2005.
The Catholicos represents the Great House of Cilicia, an historic Armenian
religious center established in 1441. The Catholicosate was relocated to
Antelias, Lebanon following the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide, which
included destruction of houses of worship in Cilicia. Today, His Holiness
Aram I represents hundreds of thousands of Armenian American Christians, as
well as Armenians across the Near East. The Armenian faith is 1700 years
old and it is significant that Armenia was the first nation to officially
adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301 AD.
The Catholicos’ spiritual, cultural and educational influence extends well
beyond the Armenian people. His Holiness Aram I, who holds a Master of
Divinity, a Master of Sacred Theology, a Ph.D., and several honorary
degrees, has authored numerous articles and texts in Armenian, English and
French, some of which have been translated into other languages. The
Catholicos has worked to strengthen interfaith relations between Christian
and Muslim communities. In 1974, the Catholicos was one of the founding
members of the Middle East Council of Churches.
His Holiness Aram I was elected as Moderator of the Central and Executive
Committees of the World Council of Churches (WCC), a renowned organization
which represents over 400 million Christians worldwide. The WCC brings
together over 340 churches and denominations in more than 100 countries
throughout the world. The Catholicos is the first Orthodox, first Middle
Easterner and youngest person to hold this position and his unanimous
re-election as Moderator in 1998 was exceptional in the history of the WCC.
During his trip to California, which is titled “Towards the Light of
Knowledge,” the Catholicos will visit churches as well as educational and
cultural institutions in Los Angeles, Fresno and San Francisco. This
momentous visit was initiated by His Eminence, Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the
1600th Anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet.
I am honored to recognize this milestone visit to California by a
distinguished Armenian and world leader. I wish both the Catholicos and the
Armenian community in California a renewed sense of purpose and inspiration
from this visit.
Thank you. I yield the floor.

PONTIFICAL VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I — (Senate – September 27, 2005)
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to join the Armenian American
community in welcoming the upcoming Pontifical visit of His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. The Pontiff will be visiting the
State of California this October at the invitation of His Eminence,
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church of America.
His Holiness is one of the most prominent Christian leaders in the Middle
East and a spiritual leader for hundreds of thousands of Armenians around
the world. The Pontiff presently serves as the Moderator for the World
Council of Churches which is comprised of more than 340 churches from
different cultures and countries around the world representing over 400
million Christians. Currently serving his second term, His Holiness is the
first Orthodox and the youngest person to be elevated to Moderator.
The theme of the Pontiff’s visit is “Towards the Light of Knowledge.” This
theme reflects the Pontiff’s faith that only with greater education and
dialogue can the world’s conflicts be addressed properly.
I take this opportunity to not only thank The Pontiff for his time and
worthy endeavors in California, but also thank the sizable Armenian
community which has been actively contributing to the California culture and
economy since 1878. California cities of Los Angeles and Glendale are home
to the second and third largest populations of Armenians outside of Armenia
and are important members of their communities serving as business leaders
and city council members.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress