El Vaquero, CA
Glendale College
April 28 2006
Armenians Protest 1915 Genocide Denial
By OLGA RAMAZ
El Vaquero Arts and Entertainment Editor
April 28, 2006
For 91 years the Turkish government has vehemently denied the
annihilation of a million and a half Armenians.
On Tuesday, the Armenian Student Association (ASA), with the help of
the Associated Students of Glendale Community College (ASGCC),
converted Plaza Vaquero into an outdoor classroom in order to educate
the local community in regards to the genocide of 1915.
`April 24, 1915, was when the Ottoman Turkish government gathered all
the Armenian intellectuals in the Ottoman empire and killed them,’
said ASA President Ani Daniyelyan. `What followed was eight years of
suffering, cries and despair.’
Through historical documents, video and photographs, the events
leading up to and after the genocide were depicted at large before
students, faculty and staff.
`Even though we’re in Glendale, there’s so many people that still
don’t know about the genocide,’ said Daniyelyan.
Aside from educational material on display, the afternoon was also
filled with speeches, a performance by Tina Issa and Marina Terteryan
of the ASA at Cal State Northridge, and lyricist Knowledge, who
rapped about the Armenian genocide.
`All the other genocides came from that [Armenian genocide],’ said
Knowledge, who believes that if everybody in the United Nations had
been on the ball and given recognition to the Armenian genocide, the
number of deaths as a result of mass murders would be significantly
lower.
As a sign of solidarity, yellow ribbons were handed out in order to
show support for John Evans, the American ambassador to Armenia whose
job is in jeopardy for publicly acknowledging the mass extermination
of Armenians as a genocide.
`He did nothing but speak the truth,’ said Daniyelyan. On Monday,
several hundred members of the Armenian community, including members
of the ASA at Glendale College, made their presence felt at the
annual march held in Little Armenia, located in Hollywood.
`We demanded justice, nothing else,’ said Musheg Akopyan, ASA club
advisor. `But we have to work everyday to get Turkey to recognize the
Armenian genocide.’
Los Angeles City councilman, Eric Garzetti, gave an opening speech
and explained the special connection that L.A. has with the Armenian
community.
`Eight months ago I left Little Armenia to go to big Armenia,’ said
Garzetti. `I spent time by the solemn plain in the capital of
Yerevan, the largest city of Armenians in the world, bringing
greetings and friendship to the second largest city of Armenians in
the world, Los Angeles.’
Garzetti’s trip to Armenia spawned an agreement between Yerevan and
L.A. to become sister cities so that Armenia’s past would never be
forgotten.
`We lost too many fellow brothers and sisters, and their memories are
not forgotten, but they are uplifted,’ he said.
Entire families participated in the mass procession, from youngest to
oldest. They waved flags, carried banners with slogans such as `shame
on Turkey,’ and shouted out demands for justice. The youngest member
of the Garapetian family, 3 1/2-year-old-Stepan, proudly waved an
Armenian flag made out of construction paper and a straw.
Garapetian, like almost every other child participating in the
protest, were all in agreement that the reason as to why they were in
attendance was because their people were struggling.
On her way to the march former GCC student Anahid Davidian,
reminisced about her grandmother’s struggle during the Armenian
genocide.
Davidian’s grandmother was a survivor of the genocide and raised her
own child as well as orphaned Armenian Children.
Due to her family’s struggle in the genocide, Davidian makes it a
point to participate in the protests.
`The Armenian genocide is like blood running through every Armenian’s
veins,’ she said. `It is a part of all of our lives and that is why
it is important for us to honor and remember our people.’

KHACHATUR SUKIASIAN RECOGNIZED BY BUSINESSMEN AS MOST PROFESSIONAL
POLITICAL FIGURE

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, NOYAN TAPAN. An Internet survey of 231 citizens
revealed that 25% of respondents consider Khachatur Sukiasian, RA
National Assembly deputy, founder and chairman of SIL Concern, to be
the most professional political figure among 9 members of the Armenian
business elite who are also members of the RA National Assembly. The
results of the survey conducted on March 1 – April 25 by the Vox
Populi public opinion survey center were presented during the
discussion “Business and Politics” held at the Political Debate Club
on April 28. Gurgen Arsenian, Chairman of Arsoil CJSC, founder of the
United Labor Party (ULP), was in second place (15%), and Chairman of
Multi Group concern Gagik Tsarukian – in third place (8%). They were
followed by Founder and Director of Eurostan-Uyut Manvel Badeyan (7%),
Chairman of Armtobacco OJSC Ruben Hayrapetian (6%) and Chairman of
Board of Directors of Hrazdan Sport Complex company Ashot Aghababian
(1%). In the opinion of repsondents, Alexander Sargsian (brother of RA
Defence Minister Serge Sargsian), Samvel Sargsian (founder of Fleet
Food and Astghatsolk companies), and Sayad Zakharian (executive
director of Argali Group company, brother of Yerevan’s Mayor Ervand
Zakharian) cannot be considered professional political figures, while
33% of those surveyed said that none of these 9 businessmen can be
considered a professional politician. The purpose of another survey
conducted by Vox Populi was to find out whose interests the RA
National Assembly protects. In the opinion of 81% of 109 respondents,
the Armenian parliament is a body that expresses and protects the
interests of business elite, 9% of those surveyed responded that it is
a body regulating the state legislation, 7% said that the National
Assembly is a body expressing and protecting the public’s interests,
and 1% found it difficult to answer this question. The same
respondents were asked the question “What is your attitude to
politicization of the country’s business elite?” 84% responded that
this phenomenon hinders the rapid development of the Armenian economy,
7% said that it promotes the country’s economic development, and 7%
found it difficult to answer.

NOR ZHAMANAKNER PARTY’S FIRST SPRING RALLY PASSES IN POURING RAIN

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Several hundreds of people took part
in the rally organized on April 28 by the Nor Zhamanakner (New Times)
party in the territory adjoining Matenadaran. The party had brought
part of the rally participants by buses from the Armenian regions. Nor
Zhamanakner party Chairman Aram Karapetian had to speak in the pouring
rain before the rally participants. According to Karapetian, the
Armenian power structures have become the adjunct and the obedient
fawner of the authorities. He considered impermissible the
intervention of the power structures in the political processes. The
rally participants organized a procession from Matenadaran towards the
buildings of RA Police and National Security Service. Reaching the
buildings of these organizations the people shouted “shame” and
whistled with the colored whistles given by the organizers. They also
gave the representatives of the departments written complaints
prepared by them beforehand, in which they mentioned the attack of the
police on unarmed people early in the morning of April 13, 2003, the
search at the opposition parties’ offices, the recent attack on the
guard of the party Chairman, etc. The participants of the procession
were accompanied by a great number of policemen who were ensuring
observance of traffic rules. The policemen were very polite and no
unpleasant incident took place. To recap, the rally and the
procession were sanctioned by the Mayor’s Office. The participants of
the procession again moved towards Matenadaran where the event
ended. Aram Karapetian declared that as many people took part in the
rally as it was necessary for not breaking the traffic rules. He said
that the next rally will be organized before the building of the
Public Television. According to Aram Karapetian, the Public
Television refuses to give him the permission to speak on TV even on a
paid basis and he will go to demand a permission to speak on TV.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 28 2006
Garabagh mediator cites new approach

Baku, April 27, AssA-Irada
The approach toward settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh conflict has somewhat changed, Russian ITAR-TASS
news agency quoted the US co-chairman of the mediating OSCE Minsk
Group (MG) as saying.
Steven Mann said the new approach envisions advancing step by step
and putting off certain complex issues until later.
`From this standpoint, suitable grounds have emerged for compromises
[by the conflicting sides] on the conflict resolution,’ the
intermediary said, adding that the dispute could not be resolved once
and for good.
Mann said he would visit Moscow next week to hold consultations with
the other co-chairs.
The OSCE mediators are due to meet in Moscow on May 2, followed by
their visits to the region.*
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“POLITICAL SCIENCE IN XXI CENTURY” REPUBLICAN II STUDENTS’ SCIENTIFIC
CONFERENCE HELD IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The “Political Science in XXI Century”
republican II students’ two-days scientific conference started work at
the Armenian-Russian (Slavonic) State University on April 28. More
than 40 students of RA leading institutions of higher education
particiate in the conference.
According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the
organization committee of the conference, the political science in
Armenia is a new science, and similar conferences have important
meaning for students of the political science, international relations
departments. All the events on political sciences implemented in
Armenia today are of one-off, thus, not countinuous character. And
this conference differs just with the fact that it has a goal every
year to give young people possibility to reveal their preferences and
potentials in this sphere. Best speeches made at the conference will
be given monetary and encouraging prizes.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 28 2006
Armenian parliament prepares document on Garabagh
Baku, April 27, AssA-Irada
The Armenian parliament’s foreign relations commission has prepared a
document concerning settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh conflict entitled `The conceptual basis for the
conflict resolution’.
`It is high time this document was passed. It will ensure the
political forces in the Armenian parliament will adhere to a common
position in various international organizations,’ the commission
chairman Armen Rustamian stated.
He added that the opinions of 14 political forces were taken into
account when developing the document.*

AZERBAIJAN’S MILITARY PREVALENCE IS MYTH
Yerevan, April 28. ArmInfo. In the last years Azerbaijan has been
selling its military prevalence over Armenia – but it is a myth, the
senior research worker of the Institute of World Economy and
International Relations of the Russian Academy of Science Alexander
Krylov said during the international conference Caucasus 2005 in
Yerevan today.
In his report on Azerbaijan Krylov said that in fact Azerbaijan can’t
have such a prevalence as long as Armenia is member of Collective
Security Treaty Organization. Besides, Azerbaijan can’t start a war
because foreign investors don’t want it.
Despite its declared integration into NATO mostly because of the US’
great role in the building of the Azeri navy and the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Azerbaijan is not in the fairway of
the US’ policy. In 2004 Baku and Tehran drastically improved their
relations, the Iranian capital is involved in dozens of joint
projects. In 2005 Azerbaijan’s commodity turnover with Russia exceeded
$1 bln. Turkey is trying to attain this level too but Turkish-Azeri
relations are less profitable economically as Turkey pays for Azeri
fuel in light industry products mostly.
Given the bitter experience of the Kyiv events of late 2004 Russia
refrains from expressing political sympathies in Azerbaijan but
obviously they in the Kremlin consider the Azeri opposition as the
successor of the adventurous policy of Abulfaz Elchibey.

WITHDRAWAL OF RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE FROM ARMENIA IS NO PRIORITY ISSUE
FOR USA

Yerevan, April 28. ArmInfo. The recent statements for the Western
political figures testify to the fact that the presence of the Russian
military base in Armenia is not desirable for USA. Rouben Safrastian,
head of Department for Turkish Studies at RA National Academy, said in
the interview to ArmInfo.
At the same time he emphasized that the withdrawal of the Russian
military base from Armenia is not a priority issue for the USA, as
that will not hinder the probable actions against Iran. He added that
in coming two years big changes may take place in the region around
the situation in Iran. “The USA haven’t used all of their pressure
tools for withdrawal of the Russian military stations from Armenia,”
he stated.

PATRIARCH OF KILIKIAN SUPREME HOUSE CATHOLICOS ARAM I OFFERS TO TURN
FROM SENTIMENTS TO BUSINESS AND DEVELOP MECHANISMS OF INTEGRATION OF
ARMENIANS OF WHOLE WORLD
Yerevan, April 28. ArmInfo. The speakers go no further of idle talks
on the forum “Armenia-Diaspora” and holding of such assemblages for
this reason is not expedient, the Patriarch of the Kilikian Supreme
House the Catholicos Aram I expressed such opinion in the interview to
the “Yerkir” newspaper.
Aram I offers “to turn from idle talks to business, having specified
what are the state’s priorities and what they offer”. In the opinion
of Catholicos, it is necessary to exclude a “pseudo-tourist approach”
of Armenia to the issues of interrelations with the Armenian Diaspora
representatives, the emotions of whom are often played on, thus,
making distinctions between the citizens and non-citizens of Armenia.
Talking about the unity of Armenians, Aram I expressed
misunderstanding of the “centralization of Armenians” by the current
policy. “The Armenian diaspora is various and it is necessary to well
define the role of the Fatherland and Diaspora as sensible, romantic
and one-sided formulations in this issue are harmful. The Diaspora has
something to offer the Motherland but it has no right to interfere
with the state affairs of Armenia just as the Motherland has no right
to dictate to the Diaspora”, the Catholicos said. He also noted that
it is necessary to put an end to omissions between the Diaspora and
the Motherland by developing mechanisms of actions to serve for the
welfare of the Fatherland and strengthening of the Armenian Army, the
guarantee of the state system and unity of the nation.

ARMENIAN ECOLOGISTS INTEND TO APPLY TO CONSTITUTIONAL COURT FOR
APPLICATION OF AARHUS CONVENTION IN ARMENIA
Yerevan, April 28. ArmInfo. The Government of Armenia does not fulfill
the provisions of the International Aarhus Convention, and Armenian
ecologists are ready to apply to the Constitutional Court to make the
authorities apply the convention, Armenian ecologists and lawyers said
at a press conference, Friday.
Thus, according to Vice President of Armenian Botanical Society Gohar
Oganezova, recently the Secretariat of the UN Economic Commission for
Europe Convention on access to information, public, participation in
decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters, known
as Aarhus Convention, has confirmed the given fact. The government
fully ignores the right of the public to participate in
decision-making on specific types of activity. This fact neutralizes
the public influence on adoption of ecologically important decisions
by government bodies. Meanwhile, de-jure recognition of Aarhus
Convention provides for recognition of the importance of open activity
of government bodies. While, in Armenia the public is often informed
last about regular claims for green areas, she said.
In her turn, Representative of Transparency International Regional
Development Center Sona Ayvazyan said a number of environmental
organizations of Armenia tried to protect the “Dalma Gardens” against
claims in the court, however, the legislation of Armenia has many
loop-holes and the government takes advantage of them. The last
instance they applied was the Court of Cassation. The latter rejected
their application stating that “the violations in the case of ‘Dalma
Gardens’ are not subject to consideration.” The given response
testified to the weak mechanisms of control over fulfillment of the
legislation and the insufficient preparedness and awareness of the
persons making decisions in the sphere of ecology, S. Ayvazyan
said. “Access to justice is secured just formally in Armenia, whereas
it is almost impossible to win any legal case on protection of the
citizens’ ecological rights,” she stressed.
To note, ratification of Aarhus Convention by Armenia in 2001 was to
regulate the procedural issues connected with public access to
information, public, participation in decision-making and access to
justice in environmental matters.