BAYLOR HOSTS DAYLONG HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL
KWTX, TX

April 25 2006
(April 25, 2006)–The Baylor University for Jewish Studies hosts the
5th annual Holocaust Memorial Tuesday at several locations on campus.
At 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Room 133 of the Marrs McLean Science Building,
speakers Amie Coomer, Dr. Chris Van Gorder and Dr. George W. Gawrych
take part in a panel discussion, “Religion and Genocide: Never Again?”
A music recital begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Great Hall of Truett
Theological Seminary and the film “The Armenian Genocide” will be
shown at 8 p.m. in room 133 of the Marrs-McLean Science Building.
All of the events are free and open to the public.
“The purpose of holding the event is to remember the Holocaust and
to remember the beauty of the lives of those who were affected –
not just the tragedy,” said Dr. Marc Ellis, director of the Center
for Jewish Studies.
“People should come to inform themselves, to remember and to confront
our own sensibilities in the world today.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA NA PRESIDENT BAGHDASARYAN’S MESSAGE ON GENOCIDE VICTIMS’ REMEMBRANCE DAY
National Assembly of RA, Armenia
April 25 2006
Dear Compatriots.
On April 24, the Armenian Genocide Victims’ Remembrance Day, the whole
Armenian nation and progressive humankind bow down their heads before
the memory of 1,5 million innocent victims.
The Armenian Genocide is a crime committed not only against
the Armenian people, but also against the whole mankind, and the
recognition and the condemnation are important not only for Armenia,
but also for countries all over the world. Only through condemnation
of these types of crimes it will be possible to avoid its repetition.
The number of countries, that recognized and condemned the Armenian
Genocide, is increasing every year, which indicates the understanding
of humankind’s responsibility before generations. Only the recognition
and condemnation by the world community, as well as by the Turkish
Government might exclude from such crimes in future.
Different countries’ parliaments have adopted various laws and
resolutions, and we are thankful to all those countries that assist
us in this issue.
Once more we bow down our heads before the memory of the Armenian
Genocide victims and address our support to our compatriots.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ACTIVITIES DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’S 91st ANNIVERSARY HELD IN BELGIUM AND NETHERLANDS
Arka News Agency, Armenia
April 25 2006
YEREVAN, April 25. /ARKA/. Activities dedicated to the 91st anniversary
of the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire were held in Belgium
and the Netherlands. The press service of the RA foreign ministry
reported that after completing the Holy Liturgy in the Armenian church
in Brussels a mournful meeting of Armenian Ambassador to Belgium
Vigen Chitechyan, Head of Armenia’s mission in NATO countries Samvel
Lazarian, Belgian MPs, representatives of Brussels local authorities,
and also Belgium’s Armenian and Jewish communities.
Participators headed toward the memorials of the genocide victims
and held a meeting in front of the Turkish embassy. On 23 April,
an activity dedicated to the memory of the genocide victims was
organized in one of Amsterdam churches with participation of the head
of the NATO mission, local MPs, representatives of the Information
and Documentary Center of Israel in Hague, and also Chairman of the
Council of the Netherlands’ churches van Eik.
A protest action was held in the center of Hague on 24 April in
the evening.
The Armenian genocide is considered the first genocide of the 20th
century, organized and systematically executed by the Young Turkish
government. About 1.5mln Armenians were massacred in Western Armenia
that was part of the Ottoman Empire.

GEORGIAN VEHICLES TO BE FREED FROM ROAD TAX
Prime News Agency, Georgia
April 25 2006
Tbilisi. April 25 (Prime-News) – Vehicles moving from Georgia to
Armenia will be freed from the road tax.
The corresponding agreement was signed by Irakly Chogovadze, Georgian
Minister of Economic Development and Andranik Mukmanian, Armenian
Transport Minister, within the frameworks of the visit by the latter
to Tbilisi on Tuesday.
According to Irakly Chogovadze, the agreement enables to transit
cargoes without any limitations and additional expenditures in both
countries.
Andranik Mukmanian admitted that the agreement was a response to
the resolution of the government of Georgia to abolish road tax for
transit for all countries in 2005.
According to the Armenian legislation, foreign trucks were submitted
to USD 200-280 road tax, while light cars were to pay USD 18-20.
The signed agreement will come into force after ratification.

Outlook on Egypt: DO YOU SPEAK ARMENIAN?
Egypt Today, Egypt
April 25 2006
Social life, Egyptian Style: The March 2006 Edition
[parts omitted]
The Armenian Embassy in Cairo recently organized an exhibition
of Ancient Armenian manuscripts at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina to
celebrate the 1600th anniversary of the creation of the Armenian
alphabet. Representatives of foreign missions, cultural and scientific
leaders of the Egyptian community as well as journalists and members
of the Armenian community in both cities participated in the opening
ceremony. A conference on Armenian-Egyptian historical and cultural
relations was also held at the Bibliotheca and was inaugurated by
Dr. Rouben Karapetian (Ambassador of Armenia) and Dr. Ismail Serageldin
(director of the Bibliotheca).
spx?ArticleID=6470

REMEMBERING THE ARMENIANS
By Richard Senate
Ventura County Star , CA
April 25 2006
Monday, Armenians all over the world marked the anniversary of a
terrible crime. On that day in 1915, the Turkish government began
the systematic murder of the Armenian people.
It was their solution to what they saw as the “Armenian Problem.”
This mass killing took place in the middle of World War I when few
were interested in the plight of a group of people in faraway Turkey.
The Turks believed that the Armenians were disloyal in the war and
saw the best way to solve the problem was the complete elimination
of this minority.
The edict of April 24, 1915, ordered the arrest of all Armenian
leaders. After they were taken away, they were never seen again. This
was only the beginning.
Next, the Armenians were forced to leave the cities and homes to
points south. These were elaborately planned death marches where
thousands were brutalized and killed. They were forced along a track
that avoided rivers and wells so the despised Armenians would die in
the desert. The victims endured unspeakable cruelties that rival the
fate of the Jews in Nazi Germany. Even after the war ended in 1918,
the killings went on until 1920. It is estimated one-and-a-half million
died in this, the first holocaust of the 20th century. Even today,
Turkey refuses to accept the fact that this crime ever took place.
It is recorded that when Adolf Hitler contemplated the destruction of
the Jews, one of his henchmen asked if this action might cause world
reaction. It is said Hitler replied: “Who remembers the Armenians?”

TURKISH EMBASSY- NO INCIDENTS CONNECTED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Author: R. Abdullayev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 25 2006
No incidents connected to the so-called Armenian genocide in Ottoman
empire have been registered by the Turkish embassy in Azerbaijan,
embassy` s press-secretary, Bullent Ugur told Trend.
“In the regard with the anniversary of this so-called genocide the
Turkish foreign ministry ordered all its diplomatic missions abroad to
take additional precaution measures. No incidents have been registered
with the connection to that anniversary,” he said.
Information of “possible attack on Turkish embassy in Baku with
inflammatory projectiles” came from Ankara, he said. “Being ready
for such actions is a part of our routine job. However, as it was
expected there were no incidents,” he stated.
It is necessary to note that the Turkish ambassador in Azerbaijan,
Turan Moralli, speaking in the Asia University confirmed information
“about phone threats to the embassy.”

ARMENIANS PAUSE TO REMEMBER GENOCIDE
By: Steven S. Couse, The Record 04/25/2006
Troy Record, NY
April 25 2006
TROY – Armenians and Americans of Armenian heritage gathered once again
on Monday to commemorate the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
They plan events every year on April 24 to press Turkey to acknowledge
its part in the 1915-1923 massacre, and to press the U.S. government
to formally recognize it.
“Our voices are heard all over the world,” said Aram Barkamian of
the Armenian National Committee of Albany. “Don’t give up the fight.”
He welcomed local officials and Armenian clergy to the Collar City,
where the second Armenian church parish in the U.S. was established
100 years ago.
“We’re growing in numbers each year,” said Troy Mayor Harry Tutunjian,
who is “100 percent Armenian.”
He pointed to the Armenian flag flying outside of City Hall. “To
see that from my office is very exciting,” he said. It will fly over
Monument Square for one month.
“It’s a deep wound that we try to overcome,” he said of the genocide,
and then displayed a proclaimation declaring April 24, 2006, Armenian
Martyrs Day in Troy. “We will never forget.”
The first Armenian church parish established in the U.S. was in
Worcester, Mass., and the second, St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church,
moved from Fifth Avenue in Troy to Watervliet in the early 1970s
after land was donated to the church.
Watervliet Mayor Robert Carlson also proclaimed the day Armenian
Martyrs Day in his city.
Carlson said the federal government was close to recognizing the
genocide just before the war in Iraq started, but pulled back for
fear of offending U.S. ally Turkey.
“The pressure has to continue,” he said. “I hope before the 100th
anniversary, there will be recognition.”
“He’s going to continue the fight,” said Rep. John Sweeney, who is
50 percent Armenian. “It’s something he feels very passionate about.”
Letters of support from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Gov. George
Pataki, Albany Mayor Gerry Jennings and Schenectady Mayor Brian
Stratton were read aloud.
Pataki again proclaimed April 24, 2006, Armenian Martyrs Day in New
York, as he has done for the past 10 years. Albany and Schenectady
did likewise.
Earlier in the day, Armenian historian Aram Arkun from New York City
addressed lawmakers in the Assembly well of the Legislative Office
Building in Albany.
Arkun later addressed students at Siena College, and after the events
outside City Hall in Troy, moved in to the City Council chambers to
address the Armenian Students Association of Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute.
Armenian commemorations in the Capital District were started
at Monument Square in Troy in 1987 by the Homenetmen of Albany,
established a year earlier.
The Albany chapter of the Armenian National Committee, based in
Washington, D.C., was started in 1995 and took over the events
that year.
The monument was selected to host events because it closely resembles
a monument in Armenia.
On Monday, the Very Rev. Father Dajad Tsaturyan was in Troy to offer
a requiem. He is from the Holy Etchmiadzin, or “Vatican” in Armenia.
He came to America last May for a year to work at St. Peter in
Watervliet.
Joining him at the ceremony Monday were Deacon John Khachadourian
and Rev. Bedros Shetilin of Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church
on Spring Avenue in Troy and Rev. Stepanos Doudoukjian of St. Peter
Armenian Church in Watervliet.

ANALYSIS: “ROAD CONSTRUCTION SHOULD NOT BE A POLITICAL GESTURE”
The Messenger, Georgia
April 25 2006
As reported in Svobodnaya Gruzia, political analyst Ramaz Klimiashvili
thinks that the construction of new roads in the Samtskhe-Javakheti
region should simply represent a creation of new infrastructure instead
of the “carrying out of state policy in this region.” According to him,
the construction of roads should not be seen as a political gesture.
Klimiashvili stated that the “Armenian population of Samtskhe-Javakheti
region has been on the verge of starvation and has been completely
neglected by the Georgian government.” He thinks that because of such
a state of affairs, these Georgian Armenians have been forced to look
to Yerevan for support.
“The sad state of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region has raised a number
of problematic issues. It seems that the Georgian authorities have
forgotten that it is necessary to take care of these people and to
show them that they are valued as Georgian citizens,” the article
quotes the political analyst as saying.

ROBERT KOCHARYAN: INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF THE GENOCIDE IS PRINCIPAL ISSUE FOR ARMENIA
Regnum, Russia
April 25 2006
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has thanked the Lithuanian
parliament for adopting a resolution condemning the Armenian Genocide
in the Ottoman Turkey in 1915-23. It is worth mentioning that today,
on April 25, Armenian-Lithuanian top-level talks were held, after
which presidents of the two countries Robert Kocharyan and Valdas
Adamkus held a joint news conference for Armenian and Lithuanian press.
Answering a question of a Lithuanian journalist on position of
the official Yerevan on the issue of international recognition of
the genocide, Robert Kocharyan announced that “it is a principal
issue for Armenia, as it concerns not only the historic context,
but burdens the current Armenian-Turkish relations.” “Earlier,
the problem was hostage to ideological barriers and disagreements,
but today Armenia is a sovereign country and can protect its position
firmly. The Armenian Diaspora is persistent in seeking historic justice
too, which is a result of the genocide by itself. We believe we shall
achieve the result that will lay the basis for normal coexistence of
Armenia and Turkey in the future and will be the guaranty of peace
and mutual understanding in the whole region,” Armenian president said.
It is worth mentioning, on December 15, 2005, the Lithuanian parliament
with 48 votes for and tree abstained from voting adopted the resolution
that recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide in Turkey. The
resolution contains a call upon official Ankara to recognize the
Armenian Genocide.
A draft resolution to recognize the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman
Empire is also on the agenda of the Latvian parliament.
In turn, the Turkish authorities criticized sharply the decision
of the Lithuanian parliament. A statement of the Turkish foreign
ministry on the issue noted that the resolution was presented to the
Lithuanian parliament as “a thing that already happened” and without
discussions and presence of majority of the MPs was approved at the
parliamentary session.