SITTING OF PACE SUBCOMMITTEE ON KARABAKH TO BE HELD IN JUNE 2006
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.04.2006 00:04 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recurrent sitting of the PACE Subcommittee
on Nagorno Karabakh will be held in June 2006, vice-speaker of the
Armenian National Assembly, head of the Armenian delegation to PACE
Tigran Torosyan stated at a press conference in Yerevan. In his words,
the most important mechanism to be discussed is the reconsideration
of the subcommittee composition. “There are preliminary agreements
on the issue. It’s supposed that people aware of the Nagorno Karabakh
settlement process will serve on it. The subcommittee will include two
representatives of the Armenian and Azeri delegations, rapporteurs
and the chairman. The subcommittee members will possibly visit the
conflict region in October,” Torosyan said.

BAKU POLICE DISPERSED MEETING IN SUPPORT OF RAMIL SAFAROV
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.04.2006 00:59 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Azeri students held an action in support of
Ramil Safarov sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of the
Armenian officer.
Several hundreds of demonstrators mostly the students of the Baku
University were dispersed by the police.
The marching students shouted out slogans like “Release Ramil
Safarov”, “We must defend our officer”, “Losing Safarov we lose
Karabakh”. As result 50 students were put in a bus and brought to
a police station. Chairman of the Karabakh Liberation Organization
Akig Naghi was also detained, reported IA Regnum.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE MG TO DO UTMOST FOR RESUMPTION OF KARABAKH TALKS IN TRADITIONAL FORMAT
/PanARMENIAN.Net
18.04.2006 01:21 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE Minsk Group French Co-chair Bernard Fassier
said he is satisfied with the visits to Azerbaijan and Armenia,
Russian mediator Yuri Merzlyakov stated. In his words, the Co-chair
will do their utmost for the resumption of the Nagorno Karabakh
talks in the traditional format. Yuri Merzlyakov also informed that
a meeting with U.S.
Co-chair Steven Mann is scheduled for April 19. After the meeting
Mr. Mann will depart for Yerevan.
The Russian mediator also informed of his intention to meet with
Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers Vartan Oskanian and Elmar
Mammadyarov on April 21. As for the arrival of the PACE mission for
conduction of a monitoring of cultural monuments in Azerbaijan and
Armenia, Merzlyakov said he hasn’t received any message yet, reported
APA news agency.

ARMENIAN PATRIARCHY OF JERUSALEM WAITING FOR THE FORMATION OF NEW ISRAELI GOVERNMENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
14.04.2006 GMT+04:00
The new cabinet headed by Ehoud Olmert may include partners of
Armenian lobbyists.
The acting Prime-Minister of Israel Ehoud Olmert has finally been
officially appointed to the Prime Minister’s post. The appointment
was preceded by secret voting of cabinet members who unanimously
supported the suggestion to declare Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
incapable because of being in coma for already three months. “Kadima”
party, created by Sharon and headed by Olmert won in the parliamentary
election held on March 28. Currently, Olmert is engaged in forming
new government. The new allocation of political forces in Israel
cannot but attract Armenia’s attention first of all because one of the
thrones of Armenian Apostolic Church is located in the Jewish capital
– Jerusalem. The outcome of ongoing political consultations is also
very important for the development of dialogue between Armenian and
Israeli governments.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The victory of “Kadima” in parliamentary elections
was not so convincing. This is why for the formation of parliamentary
majority Olmert needs the support of at least four political forces.
Up to now it is known for sure that the coalition will include the
left-centrist “Avoda” party and the surprise-of-elections party of
pensioners. Still undecided is the involvement “Our Home Israel”
(OHI) party which mainly unites Russian speakers, parties of “Shas”
religious orthodoxies and the left-wing “Merets” party. Let us try
to analyze government formation perspectives from the point of view
of national interests of Armenia.
Official Yerevan and the Armenian community of Israel have partners
among the members of once ruling and currently radically oppositionist
“Likoud” party.
Among such partners we may with great reserve call the name of former
Soviet dissident, ex-minister of labor Natan Sheransky who has been in
the same prison with Paruyr Hairikyan, Ashot Navasardyan and Andranik
Margaryan and bravely spoke out for the necessity of recognizing
Armenian genocide. Being on the minister’s post Sheransky did not take
any measures in that issue. Nevertheless we can suppose that being in
opposition it will be easier for him to criticize the administration’s
attempts to politicalize the issue of Armenian genocide. (Today the
official position of Israel concerning Armenian genocide is that it
should be discussed by historians and not politicians). Just before
elections I managed to interview Mr. Sheransky in Jerusalem. In the
interview on the perspectives of Armenian genocide recognition he said:
“I have been one of those who tried to raise that question. But you
have to understand that Israel still cannot make a braver step towards
recognition than the world community, particularly the USA. You should
not expect Israel’s recognition of genocide before United States.
But if the world community gives an appropriate political appraisal
to the genocide, we shall be among countries supporting that”.
Armenians have allies also in “Merets” and OHI. But those political
parties cannot exist in the same team.
The government will include either the left-oriented leader Iosy
Bailey or the head of the right-oriented Avigdor Lieberman. Founders of
“Merets” Iosy Bailey and Iosy Sarid are known as consistent fighters
for the recognition of Armenian genocide. Being in government they
have many times raised the genocide issue. “I have done and will
do everything possible to achieve Israel’s recognition of Armenian
genocide. It is a crime against humanity and there cannot be a more
horrible crime than the genocide of Armenians. Jews being victims
of hatred bear greater responsibility and have to be more attentive
to other victims. The one who turns a deaf ear to crime, actually
assists criminals”, said Sarid in April, 2005 in Yerevan.
Similar to Sarid’s is the announcement of the current head of the
party – Iosy Bailey. In 1994, being on the deputy foreign minister’s
post, in reply to the TV speech of the Turkish ambassador he said:
“Things that happened in 1915 were not war, but massacre and genocide”.
Of course, it would be extremely naïve to suppose that people with
such a way of thinking would enter the government. But the chances of
“Merets” to get ministerial positions are not so good, since it has
only 5 mandates, whereas OHI has 12. On Monday, the leaders of “Merets”
party announced that Olmert will most likely prefer Lieberman’s
team. On the second place in Lieberman’s party list (OHI) is the head
of inter-parliamentarian commission for Armenian-Israeli cooperation
Yuri Shtern who, accompanying the supreme rabbi Iona Metzger in his
visit to Yerevan, announced that he would promote recognition of
Armenian genocide. “I myself recognize the historical fact and am
sure that putting aside Turkey’s policy, it is necessary to agree
with history”, said Metzger during his visit to Tsitsernakaberd.
If OHI enters the ruling coalition, Yuri Shtern will most likely get a
“light” ministerial position. The appointment of the former Muscovite
to a ministerial post will make it easier for Armenian and Israeli
governments to find common language.
But the trouble is that currently, former Prime Minister and Foreign
Affairs and Defense Minister Shimon Peres speaks against the inclusion
of OHI in the ruling coalition. It should be noted that Olmert wants to
see Shimon Peres on the vice-premier’s post in his cabinet. Peres says:
“Either me or Lieberman’s team”. To put it shortly, the involvement
of Peres in the cabinet of ministers is extremely undesirable for
Armenia. Worsening of Armenian-Israeli relations occurred in the
period when Peres was occupying the Foreign Minster’s post. Peres
is a promoter of strong strategic partnership with Turkey and
Azerbaijan. This is why he claims that there has been no genocide of
Armenians in Turkey. “It is impossible to assert that Armenians have
suffered genocide like Jews did.
Identification of Jews with Armenians in this issue is inadmissible”,
Peres said in April, 2001.
Another threat for us is the possible involvement of the Sefard
“Shas” religious party that demands the position of Internal Affairs
Minister. This appointment cannot but alarm Armenian patriarchy of
Jerusalem since Judaic orthodoxies hold a radical position towards
the status of Jerusalem and speak out for giving a force of state
laws to Judaic canons.
This perspective alarms not only representatives of ethnic and
religious minorities of Israel, but also the Jewish intelligentsia who
are against the refusal from temporal social structure in the country.
Staying of “Kadima” party in power allows supposing that there
will not be serious changes in the relations between Tel-Aviv and
Yerevan and the former administration’s striving to build dialogue
with Armenia will continue. But the fact is that elections have to
some extent thrown back the beginning of a very important stage in
Armenian-Israeli relations.
Yet at the end of 2005 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel was
ready to appoint an ambassador in Armenia but the change of government
did not allow the foreign ministry to do that. Armenian issues are
still dealt with by the Israeli ambassador in Georgia which means that
our country is still playing a secondary role for Israel. The political
leadership of Israel has finally made a decision on appointing an
ambassador to Armenia, whose residence however will be in Jerusalem
and not in Yerevan. The ambassador will arrive in Armenia several
times a year. “The reason for this is connected not with politics
but merely with the shortage of funds”, told me the head of Eurasian
countries department of the Israeli foreign ministry Anna Azary. It
will be possible to return to the issue of appointing an ambassador
already after the appointment of a minister and determination of
new foreign policy priorities of Ehoud Olmert’s government. Thus,
we should only wait and hope that the new minister will not decide
to revive the policy of Simon Peres whose resignation brought about
certain improvements in the relations between our countries.
“PanARMENIAN.Net” analytical department
–Boundary_(ID_JsRspHVs7orUSCJxBOTTEw) —

YEREVAN TO HOST THE SESSION OF WORLD ARMENIAN CONGRESS GENERAL BOARD
AZG Armenian Daily
18/04/2006
On May 16 Yerevan will host the session of the World Armenian Congress’
General Board. Besides discussing further projects of the WAC,
the session will make an evaluation of the accomplished work. The
session will also discuss the issue of opening offices in different
countries. “The Congress has to have offices all over the world in
order to be more productive in uniting Armenians worldwide and to
have a smoother implementation of our projects,” Vladimir Aghayan,
WAC vice-president, said.
The next volume of Yuri Barseghov’s, genocide scholar and chairman
of the Armenian Genocide Committee, book on Genocide has already
been published. The forth book of the Committee’s reports will be
put out shortly.

BEAUTIES PERSECUTED IN IRAQ
By Tamar Minasian
AZG Armenian Daily
18/04/2006
Winner of Miss Iraq contest 23-year-old Armenian Tamar Goregian
returned her crown to the preparatory committee 4 days ago after the
April 9 contest giving way to persecutions from the Moslem world. “You
are the queen of unbelievers, but not of beauty,” Regnum news agency
quoted Moslem organizations as saying.
Miss Iraq’s preparatory committee proposed the crown to Moslem
participants of the 2d and 3d places but they also refused to accept
it. Eventually the crown decorated the head of another Armenia,
23-year-old Silva Sahakian, on the 4th place. According to the agency,
she did not reject the crown but has to hide now.

CONCERT DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN MOSCOW
AZG Armenian Daily
18/04/2006
On the initiative of the Russian-Armenian Friendship NGO, at 7.00 pm
on April 24, “Arax” Belgian ensemble will play a concert in Hermitage
Park of Moscow dedicated to the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
According to Yerkramas newspaper of Russian-Armenians, the repertoire
of Arax includes traditional Armenian music with modern interpretation
accompanied with classic guitar, flute, cello, pipe and duduk.
The aim of the concert is to draw the attention of Russia’s political
and social circles to the issue of the Armenian Genocide as well as to
contribute to the unification of the Armenian community, especially
young people. A number of famous Russian mass media representatives
are the sponsors of the concert.
Armenian and Russian renowned statesmen will take part in the concert.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE FOUNDERS
AZG Armenian Daily
18/04/2006
The Armenian General Benevolent Union, the greatest benevolence
organization in the history of the Armenian people, was established in
Cairo 100 years ago. Ten outstanding Armenians, successful in their
lives, led by Poghos Nubar Pasha signed a resolution that ratified
the establishment of the union.
Certainly, many sittings, meetings and conferences followed this
first sitting directed to the regulation and the program of the
organization. A number of the Armenian intelligentsia leaders, namely
Arpiar Arpiarian, Arshak Chopanian and others united to elaborate
the program of the union. The intelligentsia members realized that
the Armenian people, being under the dictatorship of the Ottoman
and the Russian Empires, needed to have a non political organization
that would unite the Armenians and settle the issues of education,
culture, as well as preserve the national dignity of our people. But
their dream was realized by ten founders that had experience of state
administration and benevolence.
There had been several other Armenian benevolent unions functioning
before the establishment of AGBU, and naturally they feared that
a stronger union would hinder their activities. But the founders
of AGBU assured them that the newly established union was aimed to
contribute to everybody’s activities and unite the charity-oriented
forces for the sake of the Armenian people.
It was envisaged that the union would not only render aid to the
Armenian farmers during the disasters, to create sources for earning
for their lives, to gather the Armenian orphans and educate them,
to give shelter to the young Armenian girls that were deprived of
parental warmth and give them opportunities to marry in the future
and have their own families.
Besides, according to the union’s regulation, the union members
should have always been faithful to the will of the donors and
philanthropists, even if the union would suffer loses. That’s why
many AGBU members rebelled against the notorious decision to close
the Melgonian Educational Institute in Cyprus, as this was the first
case when the golden rule of the union was violated.
Moreover, the founders of the AGBU taught us that the foundation
is based on money, thus one should give financial assistance for
contribution of the union’s activities.
Even now, when 100 years have passed, AGBU still remains the most
powerful and largest organization that meets the needs of the Armenian
people and their motherland, thanks to its devoted chairmen, donors,
philanthropists and members.
Glory to the founders of AGBU!
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

APRIL 18 INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR MONUMENTS AND SITES
By Marietta Makarian
AZG Armenian Daily
18/04/2006
The International Day for Monuments and Sites
The International Day for Monuments and Sites, initiated by the
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), with the support
of UNESCO, in 1982, is being organized in many countries of the world
on April 18. In solidarity with the world community the Ministry of
Culture and Youth Affairs of Armenia will put on an exhibition of
Teishebaini fortress at “Erebuni” History-Archeological Museum.
Among the exhibits will be the findings of Boris Piotrovsky’s
archeological expedition in 1931-1971 as well as the recent findings.

KAREN DEMIRCHYAN WOULD BE 74
A1+
[05:31 pm] 17 April, 2006
Today Karen Demirchyan would be 74 years old. This is the seventh
year his relatives and friends have been visiting the Pantheon after
Komitas on his birthday.
Karen Demirchyan’s relatives consider it meaningless to speak about the
October 27 events and their consequences under the present authorities
and prefer to suffer in silence.
“He was a unique person both as a leader, and as a husband, and as a
father. I have never met a better person in my life. That’s why the
loss is too bitter.
My soul can find no consolation. Those who did not know him personally
cannot imagine who he was. Only the appearance is not enough to know
him,” Karen Demirchyan’s widow Rima Demirchyan said.
The relatives of the other victims of the October 27 events visited the
Pantheon too .According to Anahit Bakhshyan, Yuri Bakhshyan’s widow,
today’s reality has gone astray from human values, “Patriotism, loyalty
and even the truth are distorted. Everything is in a topsy-turvy. If
today there are this many people here, it means that only this many
people exist today in the country.”
Regardless of the change of the political situation, Karen Demirchyan
and Fadey Sargsyan were bonded with joint work and friendship of many
years. “I have known him since 1957. He was a very friendly man. When
we played a game, he wanted to let me win intentionally, but he always
won as he was stronger. He was a unique person with his diligence,
fidelity to principles, and shrewd mind. Even in the Soviet Union he
never surrendered to anyone. In any situation he was able to gain a
victory,” Fadey Sargsyan, one of his closest friends said.