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04/18/2006
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Armenians in Greece Demonstrate 2) 'Cultural Genocide' Exhibition Held at YSU 3) Armenian Memorial Vandalized in France Prior to Unveiling 4) New Case Filed against Turkish Publishers of British Blue Book 5) UCLA Conference on Sustainable Development in Armenia 1) Armenians in Greece Demonstrate In order to commemorate the Armenian genocide, hundreds of Armenians gathered in Athens, Greece Saturday morning to demonstrate in front of the Turkish Embassy. The peaceful gathering was broken up by police officers who used batons to disperse the demonstrators. The demonstrators attempted to submit a memorandum to the Embassy, but Turkish diplomats refused to take it. The following day, a wreath honoring the victims of the Genocide was placed at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the central square of Syntagma. Community members, Armenian Embassy staff, and Greek political figures were present at the event. 2) 'Cultural Genocide' Exhibition Held at YSU YEREVAN (Armenpress/Yerkir)The Nigol Aghbalian Student Union of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) opened Tuesday an exhibition of 70 photos, shot by Samvel Karapetian and Hrayr Baze, which COMPARE the past and present state of Armenian monuments in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Iran. The exhibition titled "Cultural Genocide" will run for three days outside the Yerevan State University. The photos on display show how Armenian monuments are gradually destroyed in the neighboring countries. While last year's exhibition showed only photos of the Armenian monuments in Western Armenia, this year it was expanded to include the pictures from all four neighbors of Armenia. "It is not an accident that Iran was included in this exhibition," said NASU Chairman Iskhan Saghatelian. "The situation in that country is completely different. Iran is the best example of the dialogue of civilizations. Although the Iranian government works to preserve Armenian monuments, this is not the case in Georgia, where numerous Armenian monuments were destroyed and as more declared as "being Georgian." The fate of Armenian monuments in Turkey and Azerbaijan is even worse. The governments of these countries sanction the destruction of monuments. Answering the question on how the international community is to know about this exhibition, Saghatelian said the ARF youth organizations hold similar exhibitions in other countries and, in addition, the NASU plans to send the electronic version of the exhibition to the foreign missions in Yerevan. "We believe it will help," Saghatelian said. "The Council of Europe condemned to destruction of the Armenian khachkars (cross stones) in Old Julfa thanks to the efforts of the ARF Hay Tad offices and other organizations. If we put efforts we would ensure that such vandalism is prevented." 3) Armenian Memorial Vandalized in France Prior to Unveiling (AP)--A memorial in southeast France honoring those killed in the Armenian genocide by Ottoman Turks was vandalized just a week before it was to be unveiled, Armenian organizations said. The memorial in Lyon was scrawled with graffiti reading, "There was no genocide," according to the Committee for the Defense of the Armenian Cause and the Council of Armenian Organizations in France. The groups expressed indignation at the incident, which occurred Monday, and demanded tight security for the unveiling of the monument April 24, which French President Jacques Chirac will attend, and for other commemorations that day around France. 4) New Case Filed against Turkish Publishers of British Blue Book ISTANBUL (BIA)Retired Turkish Ambassador and Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy, Sukru Elekdag is suing publisher Muzaffer Erdogdu for the Turkish translation of "The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, 1915-1916," also known as "The Blue Book." The book covers the correspondence and memoirs of witnesses and officials including refugees and foreign dignitaries, as well as newspaper articles, about the Armenian genocide between the years of 1915 and 1916. Elekdag, a member of the Parliamentary Foreign Relations Commission and the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission, is demanding 20,000 Turkish Liras ($15,000) in libel damages from those involved in the publishing of the book, claiming he was insulted in a section of the book edited by historian Taner Akcam. The book's publisher Erdogdu, historian Akcam, and translator Ahmet Guner will appear in court on May 30 as defendants in the case. Akcam is also being accused by Elekdag for an article he wrote last year. In his suit, Elekdag claims Akcam committed libel in the section of the book titled "A Scandal: Where is the letter of the TBMM (Grand National Assembly of Turkey) Sukru Elekdag and Justin McCarthy dragging this country?" as well as in Akcam's article published in the May-June 2005 issue of the Birikim magazine. Elekdag charges that both the book and the article insulted him and that his individual rights had been attacked. He also says both his professionalism and credibility were damaged due to Akcam's articles. 5) UCLA Conference on Sustainable Development in Armenia LOS ANGELESThe University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) will host an international conference titled "Armenia: Challenges of Sustainable Development," on Saturday, May 6, from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. in the Court of Sciences 50 (Young Hall). The conference, featuring specialists in economics, finance, and governance, is dedicated to UCLA Professor Emeritus of Economics, Armen A. Alchian, a world-renowned economist and teacher who was born in Fresno in 1914 and has been a member of the UCLA faculty since 1946. The conference is organized by the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History at UCLA and the Armenian International Policy Research Group (AIPRG), with support from the UCLA Von Grunebaum Center for Near Eastern Studies and the Department of Economics. AEF Chair Holder Richard Hovannisian will open the morning session with introductory comments on "The Economic Factor," followed by the presentation of Professor Alchian and his contributions to economic theory by a similarly distinguished Professor of Economics, Harold Demsetz. Enrique Gelband, Deputy Division Chief and former Mission Chief to Armenia of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will give the keynote address on "Growth and Poverty Reduction in Armenia: Achievements and Challenges," the title of his recent book published by the IMF. A panel discussion on the subject will be moderated by UCLA Professor of Economics Michael Intriligator and include William Ascher, McKenna Professor of Government and Economics at Claremont McKenna College; Daniel Mazmanian, Director of the Judith and John Bedrosian Center on Governance and the Public Enterprise at the University of Southern California; and Ara Khanjian, Professor of Economics at Ventura College. The Saturday afternoon session moderated by Professor Lee Ohanian of the UCLA Department of Economics focuses on specific topics relating to Armenia's economic development. David Grigorian of the IMF will speak on "Tax Potential versus Tax Effort: Factors behind the Stubbornly Low Tax Collection in Armenia"; Bryan Roberts of the Department of Homeland Security, "Remittances, Poverty, and Growth in Armenia"; and Nerses Yeritsyan, Central Bank of Armenia, "Financial Sector Development in Armenia: Problems and Challenges." A discussion period will conclude the afternoon session. Richard Hovannisian stated: "I am pleased that after sixteen wonderful semi-annual conferences on Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces, we shifted the focus to contemporary issues in 2005 with 'The Enduring Legacy of the Armenian Genocide' and 'Three Turkish Voices on the Armenian Question.' Now, for the first conference of 2006, the economic and fiscal challenges facing the Republic of Armenia will be addressed. I am thankful to David Grigorian for arranging much of the program, especially as Ascher, Khanjian, Roberts, Yeritsyan, and Grigorian are also associated with AIPRG. The subject of this conference is of critical importance to Armenia and all those concerned with the welfare of its people." The conference is open to the public and free of charge. Parking is available in Structure 2 at the Hilgard and Westholme Avenue entrance to UCLA. A map of the UCLA campus can be found at the web site: <; map or the UCLA Armenian Studies web site at <;www.uclaarmeni an.org. For additional information, e-mail Richard Hovannisian at [email protected] or David Grigorian at [email protected]. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
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04/19/2006
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) French Interior Minister Calls Desecration of Armenian Memorial 'Unacceptable' 2) Karabagh Army Concludes Week-long War Games 3) New Books to Aid Understanding of ARF 4) Armenian Genocide Recognition Issue Has Entered New Stage 5) Hamazkayin Fifth World Congress Ends in Lebanon 1) French Interior Minister Calls Desecration of Armenian Memorial 'Unacceptable' (Nouvel Obs)French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his indignation Wednesday at the desecration of the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Lyon. The memorial, which is to be unveiled on April 24, was vandalized Monday with revisionist inscriptions that read, "There was no genocide." Sarkozy called the incident "unacceptable" and said that its authors "must be severely punished by the justice of our country." He assured the Armenian community that France stands in solidarity with them. He said that "the Republic expressed herself with force, by the law of January 29, 2001, according to which France recognizes publicly the Armenian genocide of 1915." So, said the Interior Minister, "The authorities of the Republic will not accept that the law is scoffed." Two Armenian organizations in France, the Committee for the Defense of the Armenian Cause (CDCA) and the Council of Armenian Organizations in France, raised their concerns about the incident and demanded that those responsible be apprehended and adequately charged. The CDCA also demanded that extra measures be taken to ensure the safety of the Memorial's inauguration and Genocide commemoration on April 24, which will be attended by French President Jacques Chirac. 2) Karabagh Army Concludes Week-long War Games YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--The ethnic Armenian armed forces of Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR) ended on Wednesday week-long large-scale exercises, which the MKR leadership said highlighted their ability to fend off possible military action by Azerbaijan. Hundreds of troops, backed by tanks, heavy artillery, and helicopter gunships firing live rounds, practiced defensive and offensive operations at a training ground not far from the Armenian-Azeri line of contact east of Karabagh. The war games, which will be evaluated by top military officials on Thursday, followed a familiar scenario, with the Karabagh army fighting back an enemy assault and then going on the counteroffensive. They also involved a rare call-up of local army reservists who also took in the simulated fighting. Armenia's Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian and the chief of army staff, Colonel-Lieutenant Mikael Harutiunian, monitored the proceedings along with the leadership of MKR. "At first glance, everything is alright," Sarkisian told reporters. Armenian and Karabagh officials insisted that the exercises are not connected with Azerbaijan's renewed threats to win back Karabagh by force or aimed at affecting the ongoing peace talks mediated by the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Sarkisian claimed that President Ilham Aliyev and other Azeri leaders make such threats for "propaganda purposes." Sarkisian also said he looks forward to Aliyev's meeting with President George W. Bush at the White House which is scheduled for April 28. "I am confident that the president of the United States will urge Aliyev to resolve the conflict by peaceful means," he said. MKR President Arkady Ghukasian, for his part, remained skeptical about chances of a breakthrough in the peace process. "In my opinion, Azerbaijan is dragging out the negotiations," he said. "Azerbaijan is not prepared for a settlement. But this is a case where I want to be mistaken." Meanwhile, Russia's chief Karabagh negotiator, Yuri Merzlyakov, confirmed on Wednesday that he and the French and American co-chairs of the Minsk Group will likely visit the conflict zone early next month in a bid to arrange another meeting between Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian. Merzlyakov said the two leaders have already been presented with the mediators' revised peace proposals and are currently studying them. He refused to disclose those proposals. The Minsk Group's American co-chair, Steven Mann, is due to pay a separate visit to Baku and Yerevan later this week. 3) New Books to Aid Understanding of ARF YEREVAN (Yerkir)The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) presented Wednesday new books aimed at helping people learn about and understand the ARF better. The books presented were: "Bibliography of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation," in 4 volumes; Ararat Hakobian's "The Parliament of Armenia and Political Parties in 1918-1920"; "ARF Figures Answer People's Questions"; Nigol Aghbalian's "Thoughts on ARF"; and Gevorg Khudinian's and Ararat Hakobian's "The Latest Efforts to Distort the ARF History." "I think these books will help those who want to understand the Dashnaktsutiun better," ARF Bureau representative Hrant Markarian said at the Bureau headquarters. Markarian said these books are mostly aimed at the youth. "But the issues raised in the books are aimed at all the sectors of the society," Markarian added. "The books contain assessments of various periods of the ARF activities, including the present times." Parliament's ARF faction leader Levon Mkrtchian noted that the goal of publishing these books was to familiarize people with the ARF. "Each of the 115 years of the ARF history is described in press, book series, and today, we are continuing this tradition," Mkrtchian said. "Every generation passes on the ARF values to the next; we will pass them on to the next generation." Artashes Shahbazian of the ARF Armenia Supreme Body's Promotion Group mentioned the books will be given as gifts to the participants of the presentation, and later be donated to Armenian libraries. The books will also be available at bookstores. 4) Armenian Genocide Recognition Issue Has Entered New Stage YEREVAN (Yerkir)Leader of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) faction in Parliament, Levon Mkrtchian said Wednesday that Armenian genocide recognition has entered a new stage and can now focus on reparations. "The Armenian genocide recognition issue has entered a new stage. Almost all of the leading states recognized this fact and even the US doesn't deny it," said Mkrtchian. He said Armenia should take advantage of the international community's positive attitude about Genocide recognition and pursue a more precise approach towards Turkey. "It's time to speak of compensations, since without it the fact of recognition loses sense. For Armenia the matter concerns not only moral and material issues, but appears as a security issue as well," the ARF leader said. Mkrtchian said that if Armenia's neighbor does not acknowledge the Genocide, the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border and the Karabagh conflict settlement could be drawn out for an indeterminate period of time. At the same time, the faction leader remarked that the Arab world and Iran support Armenia in its struggle for Genocide recognition. "Iran has not declared it at the state level, but it sides with Armenia. Actually, the majority of states arrived at the conclusion that the Armenian genocide in Ottoman Empire should be recognized," said Mkrtchian. 5) Hamazkayin Fifth World Congress Ends in Lebanon The Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Educational Associations held the 5th World Congress April 13-15 in Lebanon, with participants from the Middle East, Europe, North and South America, Australia, and Armenia. The meeting discussed the activities of the Central Committee over the last four years. Participants also spoke about prospects for increasing participation of youth during the next four years. At the conclusion of the Congress, a new Central Committee was elected consisting of Sarkis Armenian, Lebanon; Mgrditch Yapoujian, Lebanon; Vahe Jamakordzian, Syria; Simon Hasserjian, Canada; Mgrditch Mgrditchian, Lebanon; Antranig Misserlian, Lebanon; Edward Misserlian, USA; Masis Baghdassarian, Armenia; Souren Sarkissian, France; Mardig Demirjian, Lebanon; and Vatche Papazian, Lebanon. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

Armenian National Committee of Canada
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622
Fax (613) 238-2622
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2006
Contact: Aris Babikian (613) 235-2622
The Prime Minister of Canada Recognizes the Armenian Genocide
Ottawa – The Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Stephen
Harper, made a clear statement recognizing the historical fact of
the Armenian Genocide.
In response to a reporter’s question regarding the Armenian Genocide,
the Prime Minister said: “That was a vote held in the last Parliament
[Motion M-380 – April 21, 2004]. As you recall, Parliament passed that
resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Our party supported that
resolution and we continue to recognize that parliamentary resolution”.
Dr. Vagharch Ehramdjian, Chairman of the Armenian National Committee
of Canada (ANCC), thanked the Prime Minister Harper, on behalf of
the Canadian Armenian Community, for his historic statement. “The
Right Honorable Stephen Harper’s principled and righteous stand in
recognizing the Armenian Genocide will finally bring closure to the
Canadian-Armenian Community,” said the Chairman of the ANCC.
-30-
The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range
of issues.
Regional Chapters: Montreal- Toronto – Laval – Vancouver – Ottawa –
Hamilton – Cambridge St. Catharines – Windsor

European Premiere Of Maestro Tigran Mansurian’s Choral Masterpiece “Ars Poetica”
The Armenian National Chamber Choir conducted by Robert Mlkeyan, will take
part in the conclusive event of the First International Contemporary Music
Festival “Contaminazioni Contemporanee – Musica Sacra” (Contemporary
Contaminations/Sacred Music) to be held on 21-22-23 April in Bergamo
(Italy).
Mansurian’s masterpiece “Ars Poetica”, based on Yeghishe Charents poetry,
and most of the festival World or European première musical events are part
of Munich based ECM recording productions.
An important part of the festival is dedicated to Armenian authors such as
Gurdjieff, Komitas and Mansurian, performed by the Duo Anja Lechner-Vassilis
Tsabropoulos and the Armenian National Chamber Choir.
Just before the musical evening, there will be a presentation of Mansurian’s
work during a public debate and meeting with Maestro Mansurian, by Franco
Masotti (Artistic Director of Ravenna Festival) and Minas Lourian (Director
of Musical section OEMME Edizioni/MUSICAM of Centro Studi e Documentazione
della Cultura Armena, Venice).
[See program below]
CENTRO STUDI E DOCUMENTAZIONE DELLA CULTURA ARMENA
Corte Zappa, Dorsoduro 1602
I-30123 Venezia (Italy)
Phone/fax: +39 (0)41 5224225
E-mail: [email protected]
_________________________________ _____________________
VERBO ESSERE
Associazione Culturale
per le Arti Contemporanee
in collaborazione con:
COMUNE DI BERGAMO Assessorato alla cultura e spettacolo
DIOCESI DI BERGAMO
MUSEO BERNAREGGI
con il contributo di:
FONDAZIONE delle COMUNITA’ BERGAMASCHE
FONDAZIONE CARIPLO
BANCA POPOLARE DI BERGAMO
CREDITO BERGAMASCO
BANCA DI BERGAMO
ECM Records
DUCALE
SINAPSI
CONTAMINAZIONI CONTEMPORANEE
1° Festival Internazionale di Musica Contemporanea
MUSICA SACRA CONTEMPORANEA
LUOGHI DI SVOLGIMENTO
1) Teatro G.Donizetti
2) Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
3) Centro Congressi Giovanni XXIII
4) Museo Bernareggi
TUTTI GLI EVENTI SARANNO GRATUITI
PRENOTAZIONI
L’INGRESSO agli eventi sarà gratuito sino a esaurimento dei posti.
La PRENOTAZIONE è obbligatoria da effettuarsi presso la segreteria del
festival c/o Centro Congressi Giovanni XXIII tel: 035-236435 oppure
all’indirizzo di posta elettronica [email protected]
PROGRAMMA del FESTIVAL
Il programma preliminare degli incontri pubblicato in questa stampa, potrà
subire delle variazioni
TUTTI GLI EVENTI SONO AD INGRESSO GRATUITO
Venerdì 21 APRILE 2006
ore 18.00
Museo Bernareggi – Città Bassa
INAUGURAZIONE del FESTIVAL
ore 18.30 – 19.30
Museo Bernareggi – Città Bassa
ARVO PART, UN RITRATTO
Inaugurazione della mostra fotografica di Roberto Masotti
ore 21.00
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore – Città Alta
CONCERTO INAUGURALE
THE HILLIARD ENSEMBLE – Omaggio ad ARVO PÄRT
Sabato 22 APRILE 2006
ore 15.30
Centro Congressi Giovanni XXIII – Città Bassa
TARKOVSKIJ: il cinema fra poesia e profezia
interverranno
Manfred Eicher, produttore ECM
François Couturier compositore e musicista
Altro relatore (da confermare)
ore 18.00
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore – Città Alta
ANNUM PER ANNUM – CHRISTOPHER BOWERS-BROADBENT – Organo
Musiche di Arvo Pärt, Olivier Messiaen, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Kevin Volans,
Bowers-Broadbent
ore 21.00
Teatro G.Donizetti – Città Bassa
NOSTALGHIA Song for Tarkovskij
François Couturier Quartet
François Couturier (piano), Jean-Louis Matinier (fisarmonica)
Jean Marc Larché (sax soprano), Anja Lechner (violoncello)
prima assoluta
Domenica 23 APRILE 2006
ore 10.30 – 12.00
Museo Bernareggi – Città Bassa
ECM : panorami sonori del nuovo millennio
Ascolto con Manfred Eicher produttore ECM
ore 15.30
Centro Congressi Giovanni XXIII – Città Bassa
TIGRAN MANSURIAN – Il paese delle pietre che urlano
interverranno
Tigran Mansurian compositore armeno
Franco Masotti musicologo
Minas Lourian Direttore sez. Musica Centro Studi e Documentazione della
cultura Armena
ore 18.00
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore – Città Alta
CHANTS, HYMNS AND DANCES
GURDJIEFF – TSABROPOULOS
CONCERTO di Anja Lechner (violoncello) e Vassilis Tsabropoulos (piano)
ore 21.00
Teatro G.Donizetti – Città Bassa
TIGRAN MANSURIAN – ARS POETICA
Musiche di Tigran Mansurian e Komitas
Concerto per coro misto a cappella
Armenian Chamber Choir (Coro da Camera Armeno)
Robert Mlkeyan direttore
prima europea
Eventi collaterali:
Museo Bernareggi – Città Bassa
“ARVO PART, UN RITRATTO”
Mostra Fotografica di Roberto Masotti
Dal 21 aprile al 06 maggio 2006
Orario di apertura:
dal martedì alla domenica
dalle 9.30 alle 13.00
dalle 15.30 alle 18.30
chiuso lunedì
–Bou ndary_(ID_FWNC+dw4nUWryRSyp08xyA)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
20-04-2006
Delegation of EU Troika Visits Armenia
On April 20, Minister Oskanian received a delegation of the EU Troika, in
Yerevan on the first leg of a regional visit. Hans Winkler, Austria’s State
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, led the delegation.
The delegation included the ambassadors of the Republics of Austria and
Finland to Armenia, the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, as
well as representatives of the European Commission and the Council of the
European Union.
After stressing that the Republic of Armenia shares the European Union’s
values, the State Secretary noted that the EU attaches great importance to
the progress already achieved, and to democratic developments in the
Caucasus region generally.
Further, the interlocutors discussed issues related to the European
Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan negotiations with Armenia.
They also exchanged views on regional and energy issues, as well as issues
having to do with democratic development. Special emphasis was placed on the
need for holding free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections.
Minister Oskanian and the members of the delegation discussed the present
state of Armenia-Turkey relations, as well as the prospects for these
relations in the context of Turkey’s EU accession talks. They also exchanged
views on the present phase and the prospects for the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement process.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
19-04-2006
Minister Oskanian Receives Grigory Karasin Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Russian Federation
On April 18, Minister Oskanian received Deputy Minister Karasin,
who was in Armenia on a regional visit.
During the meeting, the two discussed the dynamically developing
relations between the two countries, as well as a number of
international and regional issues of mutual interest and great urgency.
They focused on developments in the South Caucasus, and specifically
the prospects for searching for ways of settling the conflicts in
the region. They also touched the possibility of reactivating the
transport network stressing in this context the importance of a
peaceful and negotiated decision.
Minister Oskanian and Deputy Minister Karasin also discussed issues
having to do with the situation in Iran, as well as Armenia-Turkey
relations.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
19-04-2006
Minister Oskanian Receives a Delegation of Armenia-EU Parliamentary
Cooperation Committee
A delegation of members of the European Parliament arrived in
Yerevan to participate in the Armenia-EU Parliamentary Cooperation
Committee. Minister Oskanian received the group, led by its co-chair,
French parliamentarian Marie-Ann Isler-Beguin.
During the meeting, the parliamentarians and the Minister discussed
the ongoing cooperation between the European Union and the South
Caucasus countries. They noted that there is increased EU interest
toward the region. The Minister expressed appreciation at the role
of the European Parliament in the engagement of the three countries
in the European Neighbourhood Policy.
At their request, Foreign Minister Oskanian presented the
parliamentarians with the latest developments in the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement process, and Armenia’s approaches to energy
security and regional cooperation issues.

PRESS RELEASE
The National Citizens’ Initiative
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 375033, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 27.16.00, 27.00.03
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected]
Website:
April 20, 2006
NCI Targets Corruption in Armenia
Yerevan–The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) today convened a
roundtable on “Corrupt Society: Who is to Blame?” The meeting brought
together social and political activists, human rights advocates,
analysts, experts, and media representatives. Members of world donor
organizations were likewise invited to the event.
NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian welcomed the audience with opening
remarks. “One of the key problems facing the Armenian society is
corruption by the ruling authorities and this vice has also spread
onto a large segment of the body politic like a virus. The mentality
of and the mode of operation by many has become fraudulent, and
based upon petty self interests, the deception, the swindling, and
the abuse of official and social status have grown to be ordinary
and even acceptable occurrences,” he said. In Khurshudian’s words,
the first ones to fight against this phenomenon that aims at damaging
different social strata must be the media, the NGOs, the political
parties, and the international donor associations in particular by
whose subsidies the civil society is established to a great extent.
According to Khurshudian, at times the financing by these
associations is itself turning into grounds for corruption and this
is impermissible.
In his intervention, the first speaker, chairman Karen Hakobian of
the “Huis” NGO briefly presented the history behind and the cases of
corruption inside the “Professionals for Civil Society” NGO. He stated
that they had even appealed to the court in order to tackle this evil,
but it had become clear that the court’s ruling was already made prior
to hearing the case. In Hakobian’s words, this is not a single instance
and has become prevalent and widely accepted. All this, according
to Hakobian, brings about the incorrect handling of grants. He also
pointed out that since the Machiavellian precept of “the end justifies
the means” is still widespread and the constitutional amendments are
passed by way of falsifications in Armenia, these allotments cannot
serve their true purpose: the better protection of human rights and
societal interests.
During his talk concerning “Legalized Arbitrariness at the National
Academy of Sciences,” the next speaker, Academician Anri Nersisian
charged the Academy’s former president Fadey Sargsian of violating
numerous rules and regulations, unlawfully privatizing the property
belonging to the Academy and ineffectively managing the state funding
being made to the Academy. In Nersisian’s firm belief, this comes to
prove that Sargsian had acted in marginal self gain and usurped to
a large extent.
In her intervention on “Art and the ‘Distribution’ of Funding,” art
expert Susanna Giulamirian talked about the story of an unsuccessful
attempt at providing a grant. As the tale goes, since individual
petitions are not accepted for unknown set of rules, Giulamirian had
to appeal to a local social association in order to petition the “Open
Society Armenia” NGO for sponsoring a project called “European-style
Remodeling in the Post-Soviet Space.” And by winning the grant, she
started the project which also included the holding of an exhibition of
the works by arts and craftsmen of the region. However, the chairman
of the “Actual Art” local social association, through which the
funding project was introduced to the “Open Society Armenia” NGO,
demanded ten percent of the financial support.
Giulamirian naturally refused. Then “Actual Art’s” chairman started to
threaten the latter as a result of which Giulamirian made an appeal to
“Open Society Armenia” so as to change her partnering association. But
she was denied on the grounds that her evidence concerning the local
NGO’s dishonest conduct was impossible to confirm. Subsequently,
Susanna Giulamirian was com pelled to discontinue the grant.
The remainder of the session was devoted to exchanges of views and
policy recommendations among the public figures and policy specialists
in attendance. Also noteworthy were interventions by Armenia’s first
Ombudswoman Larisa Alaverdian; Valery Brusov Yerevan State Linguistic
University professor Hrach Tatevian; legal attorney Zaruhi Postanjian;
research director of the Armenian Center for National and International
Studies Stiopa Safarian; chairman of Armenian Helsinki Association
Mikael Danielian; Ruzan Khachaturian from the People’s Party of
Armenia; Tamar Gevorgian of the United Labor Party; Gevorg Kalenchian
from the Heritage Party; Vazgen Karapetian of the Catholic Relief
Services; Gohar Armenakian from the Soldier’s Protection Committee;
chairwoman Artemis Lepejian of the “St. Sandukht” NGO; Vakhtang
Siradeghian from the Transparency International Organization; members
of other social organizations; men and women of arts and crafts;
and many others.
The National Citizens’ Initiative is a public non-profit association
founded in December 2001 by Raffi K. Hovannisian, his colleagues,
and fellow citizens with the purpose of realizing the rule of law
and overall improvements in the state of the state, society, and
public institutions.
The National Citizens’ Initiative is guided by a Coordinating
Council, which includes individual citizens and representatives of
various public, scientific, and educational establishments. Five
commissions on Law and State Administration, Socioeconomic Issues,
Foreign Policy, Spiritual and Cultural Challenges, and the Youth
constitute the vehicles for the Initiative’s work and outreach.
For further information, please call (37410) 27-16-00 or 27-00-03;
fax (37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected]; or visit

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 10) 517 163
Fax: (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website:
April 18, 2006
Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ
in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
“We must take up the cross and follow the Lord, accomplish the good even
when confronted with obstacles, worship the One Who was crucified even to
the point of our own crucifixion, to see the stone of disbelief rolled away
from the grotto of faith and spirituality.” – Karekin II
On Sunday, April 16, the Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord
Jesus Christ was celebrated by the worldwide Armenian Church. His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, celebrated
the Pontifical Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral of the Armenian people
– Holy Etchmiadzin.
Early in the morning, a religious parade was held in the city of
Vagharshapat with the blessings of His Holiness. More than one thousand
young men and women began walking from the Monastery of St. Hripsime to Holy
Etchmiadzin, led by drums and trumpets and under the singing of church
hymns. They arrived in the Mother See just in time to greet the Pontifical
procession of His Holiness as it began from the Residence of the Catholicos
toward the Mother Cathedral to celebrate the Easter Divine Liturgy.
Surrounded by thousands of faithful Armenians from Armenia and the Diaspora,
the convergence of the two processions as the Liturgy commenced infused
great spiritual joy and happiness into the atmosphere of the Mother See and
the emotions of the people. Assisting His Holiness as he celebrated the
Liturgy were His Grace Bishop Vicken Aikazian, Diocesan Legate of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern); and His Grace Bishop
Vazgen Mirzakhanian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Georgia.
The Mother Cathedral was filled to capacity, and the overflowing crowd in
the courtyard of the Mother See heard the message of the Pontiff, as he
declared: “Christ is Risen from the dead! Blessed is the Resurrection of
Christ.”
The theme for His Holiness’ sermon was from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans,
“So that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we
too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). In his message to the
Armenian faithful in Armenia and the Dispersion, His Holiness stated in
part, “Two millennia after these events in the history of mankind, the
Glorious Resurrection of Christ grants the same consolation and happiness to
the living, through which we have the grace to pass from death to life, from
darkness to light. Today as well, the words of the Apostle are very timely
for nations and peoples, ‘As Christ was resurrected from the dead by the
glory of the Father, the same way we shall walk with a new life’. The world
as yet cannot completely realize this message – to walk with a new life in
paths of peace, reconciliation, love and brotherhood. Today also, many
greet the feast of the Resurrection in tumult and unease, in difficulties
and worries, and in the dangers of war. The world is tempest-tossed akin to
a biblical episode, but men are not eager to call upon the Lord, as did the
Apostles who pleaded with their Teacher to calm the storm. Resonating once
again today is the greeting of the Resurrected Savior: ‘Peace be with you’
(John 20:19), Who revealed his wounds and pierced side in order to bring the
world to faith, while the world shows its wounds to protest against God and
to depart from God.
“.In contrast to the fundamental problems facing mankind, the feast of
Resurrection is the grace-filled source of new inspiration, strengthening of
faith, and in the words of the Apostle, ‘to walk in a new life’. It
reinforces us to withstand difficult situations, and to establish peace,
hope and love in the lives of men. Throughout history, as in our time,
financial means and resources, mere secular understandings and
methodologies, have simply not been enough to face challenges, stop
socio-political confrontations, or triumph over the calamities of war. To
have a peaceful, just and philanthropic world, it is necessary to arm
ourselves today with spiritual armaments rather than deadly weapons. We
must take up the cross and follow the Lord, accomplish the good even when
confronted with obstacles, worship the One Who was crucified even to the
point of our own crucifixion, to see the stone of disbelief rolled away from
the grotto of faith and spirituality.
“.We too were called to see the dawning of the Resurrection of Christ.
Hope, joy and the strength of our faith in the Savior gave life to the
aspirations of our people and our culture, and guided the course of our
history. Passing through genocidal paths, our people always believed in
their new resurrected life with Christ, in their own rebirth. The
reestablishment of our statehood and the freedom of our people are realities
today in Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. On the edges of our homeland and in
the Diaspora, all our people live with new hopes, aspirations and faith,
which for centuries has been unceasingly and without shadows dispersed from
the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin – from the ‘altars of light’ of our
churches. May our faith and hope in Christ continue to flow through the
arteries of our heart, transforming into the power to build the vigorous and
prosperous country dreamed of by our fathers, to keep our
national-ecclesiastical life vibrant, to ignite the lights of the future, as
well as to support and help all on the paths of realizing desires for peace,
liberty and justice.” – stated His Holiness.
>>From the See of the Apostles Saint Thaddeus and Saint Bartholomew, and the
Throne of the Illuminator, His Holiness addressed his Easter greetings,
blessings, congratulations and brotherly love to the Incumbents of the
Hierarchal Sees of the Armenian Church, the entire ranks of clergy, state
officials of the Armenians, and all faithful throughout the world.
Present during the Divine Liturgy were President of the Republic of Armenia
Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, President of the
Constitutional Court Gagik Haroutiunian, Ministers of the Government of the
Republic of Armenia and Members of the National Assembly (Parliament),
Ambassadors and the diplomatic corps of foreign governments, representatives
of sister Christian Churches, members of the Supreme Spiritual Council, and
thousands of faithful.
The entire Divine Liturgy was broadcast live via satellite to all Armenian
communities throughout Armenia and the world, including the Middle East,
Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australia.
At the conclusion of the Liturgy, an official reception was hosted in the
Pontifical Residence for the dignitaries and guests in attendance. His
Holiness welcomed and congratulated the guests on the occasion of the
Glorious Resurrection of Christ and once more conveyed to them the great
tiding of: “Christ is Risen from the dead! Blessed is the Resurrection of
Christ.”
Later in the afternoon, hundreds of children from the Armenian Church Youth
Centers converged on Holy Etchmiadzin and were received by His Holiness in
front of the Pontifical Residence. They came from throughout Armenia to
congratulate the Pontiff of All Armenians on the occasion of Easter. His
Holiness welcomed and blessed them, extending his fatherly love and best
wishes to the young boys and girls, their parents and teachers.
##

04.17.2006 Monday – ISTANBUL 16:58
‘Kurds are Falling into the Same Trap Armenians Fell into’
By Osman Asilturk, Istanbul
Published: Monday, April 17, 2006
zaman.com
[dink_b.jpg] The Agos daily’s Editor in Chief, Hrant Dink, said some
Kurds are now being deceived by the same Western trick that Armenians
fell into in the past. Armenians made the mistake in the past of
believing the British, German, French, and Russians, claimed Dink,
who asked the Kurds not to believe the promises made by the US to set
up a Kurdish state in Northern Iraq. A conference on Malatya, an
eastern Turkish province, was held with the participation of famous
people from the city as part of the Malatya Businessmen Association’s
(MIAD) 3rd Intellectual Platform meeting. Dink, noting that he is
from Malatya, maintained that the Armenians fell into a trap when
they tried to get rid of the Ottoman State in the 1915s. “The
British, French, Russians and Germans are repeating the same game
they played on this territory in the past. The Armenian people
believed in them in the past. They thought they would be rescued them
from Ottoman persecution. However, they were deceived because the
superpowers made their own calculations, they encouraged brothers to
kill each other on this territory and then left,” Dink said. The
Editor in Chief claimed that Kurds are now being deceived using the
same trick, and defended that America uses Kurds on the pretext of
establishing a Kurdish state in Northern Iraq. “The US came in order
to set up a Kurdish state in Northern Iraq” the Armenian origin
journalist said, “and we are reminded of the games of the past
that are being played out again today”. “Political calculations
and party differences must be put aside. This is the US. It will
come, deal with its own initiatives and leave as soon as its job is
over. In the aftermath, those left behind will fight against each
other,” Dink said.