Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
September 21, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
SYSTEM OF A DOWN CALLS ON SPEAKER HASTERT
TO HOLD VOTE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
— Thousands of Fans Respond to Alert on
News Section of
WASHINGTON, DC – Within hours of posting a notice last night on the
System of a Down website, thousands of fans from across the United
States have sent ANCA WebFaxes urging Speaker of the House Dennis
Hastert to schedule a U.S. House vote on legislation recognizing
the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).
The letters, sent through the ANCA’s free WebFax system, urge the
Speaker to honor his pledge, made in October of 2000, to hold a
vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution. The WebFaxes stress
that, “The Armenian Genocide is a clear-cut moral issue. Our
government’s failure to stand up to Turkey’s denial is an outrage.
. . Today, the fate of this human rights issue rests in your hands.
Do the right thing – keep your pledge. Serve U.S. interests and
American values by allowing this legislation to reach the floor for
a vote at the earliest possible opportunity.”
On September 15th, the House International Relations Committee
overwhelmingly approved legislation properly recognizing the
Armenian Genocide. During the course of a three-hour meeting, 21
members of this 50-member panel spoke in favor of H.Res.316 and
H.Con.Res.195, which were adopted by bipartisan majorities of 40 to
7 and 35 to 11, respectively. Similar legislation was adopted by
the Committee in 2000, but was withdrawn by Speaker Hastert, at the
urging of President Clinton, only moments before it was to reach
the House floor for a vote. In the aftermath of his withdrawal of
the measure, Speaker Hastert pledged to hold a vote on the Armenian
Genocide Resolution, but has, in the five years that have followed,
failed to honor this promise.
In May of this year, Mezmerize, the first half of the band’s two-
part album Mezmerize/Hypnotize, debuted as the number-one selling
CD in the United States. On April 24th of this year, System held a
sold-out “Souls 2005” benefit concert for the ANCA and other groups
working to prevent genocide and counter genocide denial. The band
has sold nearly 10 million CDs worldwide. A Google search for
“System of a Down” returns over 1.6 million hits.
The ANCA, at the invitation of the band, has worked alongside
Amnesty International and Axis of Justice at activist tables at
concerts to distribute educational materials, secure signatures on
petitions, field questions, and promote discussion about the
Turkish government’s ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide.
For information about System of a Down, including a full listing of
their remaining tour dates, visit:
The full text of the System of a Down action alert is provided
below. It can be viewed on-line by visiting
and clicking on “NEWS.”
#####
9.20.05 – STAND WITH SYSTEM:
U.S. RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS WITHIN REACH
Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House, has it in his power to
accomplish one of System’s goals – official U.S. recognition of
Turkey’s destruction of 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and
1923.
On September 15th, a major Congressional committee – rejecting
attacks from Turkey and the Bush Administration – approved
legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
The next step is for the full House of Representatives to take a
final vote on this legislation. But this is only possible if
Hastert lets it happen. The choice is in his hands.
By allowing Congress to vote on this legislation, Hastert can end
U.S. denial of this crime and open the doors to justice – to the
restoration, reparation, and restitution owed to the victims of
genocide.
By continuing to block a vote on this legislation, Hastert
effectively joins in the denial of this crime against humanity, and
the denial of justice to an entire nation.
Join with System. Click HERE to take action and send a free WebFax
urging Hastert to hold a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution.

Glendale News Press
Published September 21, 2005
Killings trigger domestic concerns
Police and YWCA remind of services that offer help to those in abusive
relationships.
By Tania Chatila, News-Press and Leader
GLENDALE — In the last two weeks, two Glendale woman have died in
what police believe to be domestic-violence related cases, bringing a
decades-old problem into the spotlight.
“It’s always been an issue,” Glendale Police Sgt. Tim Feeley
said. “But it’s really come to the forefront because of these issues.”
advertisement
On Sept. 7, 67-year-old Glendale resident Teymur Iskandari confessed
to stabbing and killing 59-year-old Lusik Aslanyan, his wife of 40
years.
Two days later the body of 24-year-old Odet Tsaturyan, of Glendale,
was found in the trunk of her boyfriend Artur Khanzadyan’s 2005 Audi,
police said. Khanzadyan, a suspect in the murder, and Tsaturyan were
known to have had a history of violence in their relationship.
“We’ve had two incidents in a short period of time,” said Kathie
Mathis, director of domestic violence programs at the Glendale
YWCA. “What is that saying to us? What is that saying to the
community? It’s here.”
Community members need to be more informed of the different resources
local police and agencies like the YWCA offer for battered women and
children, she said.
“I thought, here we are in this community, and in 2005, there’s a lot
more awareness of domestic violence because of the Nicole Simpson
incident, and yet domestic violence continues,” Mathis
said. “Batterers are sill hurting women and children, and yet we have
more services than ever.”
Members of Glendale YWCA’s domestic violence program work closely with
police, local churches and area hospitals in offering services to
women in violent relationships, Mathis said.
Along with free services such as counseling, legal aid, employment
referral and education programs, the YWCA has two shelters in
unidentified locations for battered woman and their children, she
said.
A 45-day emergency shelter provides a free, safe haven for battered
woman in immediate danger, and a two-year transitional living shelter
provides a place for battered woman to get back on their feet, she
said.
“I think that’s one of the hardest things, to get the word out that we
have these resources,” Feeley said. “And that’s what investigators do,
to try and empower the victim — let them know what we offer.”
Last year, the Glendale YWCA served 4,000 women in domestic-violence
related crises through its shelters and other services, Mathis said.
And Glendale police made 211 arrests on domestic violence issues
between
January and August of this year, Feeley said. “Each one of us needs
to be responsible in trying to eradicate this,” Mathis said. “If it
happens to you, don’t keep it a secret. Tell somebody and get
help. And you know, people are always afraid to get involved because
it is dangerous. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make a call that’s
anonymous.”
The YWCA domestic violence program does not offer services for
batterers, but will refer them to where they can get help, she said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+
| 17:14:59 | 20-09-2005 | Politics |
RECURRENT OSCE MONITORING HELD
On September 20, according to the arrangement achieved beforehand, the OSCE
Mission began conducting a regular monitoring of the Nagorno Karabakh and
Azerbaijan armed forces’ contact-line near the settlement of Karakhanbeily
of the Fizuli region.
At the very beginning of the monitoring, a single shot in the direction of
the Mission was made from the Azerbaijani positions, which was fixed by the
OSCE representatives. According to the instruction of Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk
who led the monitoring from the Azerbaijani party, the observation was
ceased for security reasons.
>From the positions of the NKR Defense Army, the monitoring mission comprised
Coordinator of the Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, Lieutenant colonel Imre Palatinus (Hungary), Field
Assistants of the OSCE PR C-i-O Peter Kii (Great Britain), Harry Eronen
(Finland) and Representative of the OSCE High Level Planning Group, Colonel
Andrey Korotkov (Russia).
>From the Karabakh party, representatives of the NKR Ministries of Foreign
Affairs and Defense accompanied the OSCE monitoring mission.

Kerkorian May Seek GM Board Seat, Increased Stake
By – 9/21/2005
Los Angeles Business Journal Staff
Billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian’s Tracinda Corp. said on Wednesday it
may ask for representation on General Motors Corp.’s board and that it
intends to raise its stake in the automaker.
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Tracinda, which now
holds a 9.53-percent GM stake – or 53.9 million shares – said it plans to
increase its ownership interest to as much as 9.9 percent of outstanding
shares. Tracinda said it had sought approval from antitrust officials on
Wednesday.
In the filing, Tracinda said it does “not have a present intent to acquire
or influence control over the business of General Motors” and that the
shares are being acquired “for investment purposes.” The acquisition of 10
percent or more of the shares would require various approvals, including
those applicable to GM’s financial services subsidiaries, the filing states.
On May 4, Tracinda, the majority owner of casino and hotel chain MGM Mirage,
announced a tender offer to pay $870 million to buy up to 28 million shares,
or nearly 5 percent of total General Motors stock.
Tracinda ended up purchasing 18.9 million shares, leaving it 9.1 million
shares short of the stated goal. However, in a Sept. 1 filing, the Beverly
Hills-based company said it had increased its GM stake to 9.53 percent in
three separate private transactions, starting in late August.

Congressional Record: September 20, 2005 (Extensions)]
RECOGNIZING RITA BALIAN
HON. JAMES P. MORAN
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the
exceptional contributions of Rita Balian, a humanitarian activist and
community leader who has worked tirelessly on behalf of women and
children in the United States and Armenia.
Ever since the earthquake in Armenia in 1988, Ms. Balian has
dedicated her time, talent and expertise to help the people of Armenia.
She has realized many projects in support of women, schools, and
universities. Since 1996, she has concentrated her efforts on women’s
health, taking American technology, management skills and medical
expertise to Armenia.
She is the founder, president and chief executive officer of the
Armenian American Cultural Association (AACA), a non-profit charitable
organization incorporated in 1995 in Arlington, Virginia. Through AACA,
Ms. Balian established the Armenian American Wellness Center in
Yerevan, a humanitarian project dedicated to saving, prolonging, and
improving the lives of women through the early and accurate detection
of breast and cervical cancer and to providing primary health care
services to ensure the good health and well-being of families in
Armenia. To facilitate the Wellness Center’s work, Ms. Balian partnered
the Center with seven major U.S. medical institutions. Since the
Wellness Center’s establishment in 1997, it has screened over 60,000
women and saved the lives of over 1,500 through the early detection of
life-threatening illnesses.
Ms. Balian has dedicated herself to expanding the services offered at
the Wellness Center and providing increased access to those services.
The Center has added protocols in gynecology, family medicine, and
pathology and reaches out to Armenians living in rural areas through
monthly outreach missions and the establishment of two satellite
clinics.
Along with her work on behalf of the Wellness Center, Ms. Balian’s
accomplishments also include the establishment of a sister-city program
between the cities of Gyumri, Armenia and Alexandria, Virginia. She co-
chaired the Alexandria/Gyumri Sister City Committee for six years,
organized several municipal, cultural and educational exchanges and
established the Alexandria Armenian Day Festival, which is now an
annual celebration.
Through her work with the Armenian General Benevolence Union (AGBU),
the largest and oldest Armenian philanthropic organization in the
world, Mrs. Balian and her husband cofounded the AGBU New York Summer
Intern Program for Armenian college students from around the world. She
continues to manage the intern program, which is now in its nineteenth
year.
She has received many awards in recognition of her work with the
Wellness Center; most notably the “Spirit of Life Cancer Advocacy
Award” in September 2003 from the International Spirit of Life
Foundation and the Washington Cancer Institute, the “Outstanding
Citizen Achievement A ward” from the United States Agency for
International Development in January 2003, and the Armenian Church’s
highest medal of honor, the St. Nersess Shnorhali Medal, bestowed upon
her through a Pontifical Encyclical by His Holiness, the Catholicos
Karekin II, in October 2001.
The Armenian people have acknowledged Ms. Balian’s humanitarian work
as well. She has received honorary doctoral degrees from three
different universities in Armenia, and in April 1996, Rita and her
husband, Vartkess Balian, became honorary citizens of the Republic of
Armenia through a special presidential decree presented to them at the
Armenian Embassy in Washington, DC.
She has also been honored by the United Nations for her advocacy on
behalf of women’s and children’s rights and by the American Red Cross
for her leadership in obtaining humanitarian assistance for the victims
of the 1988 earthquake in Armenia.
Since March of 2004, Ms. Balian has served as a member of Governor
Warner’s Virginia/Armenia Advisory Commission.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the numerous accomplishments of
Rita Balian. Her dedication to the people of Armenia and her efforts to
increase international understanding reflect a deep sense of purpose
and remarkable ability to achieve difficult and worthy goals. Her work
serves as an inspiration to us all.

Congressional Record: September 20, 2005 (Senate)]
>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
IN RECOGNITION OF REVEREND DR. VAHAN H. TOOTIKIAN
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I would like to call my colleagues’
attention to a distinguished religious leader in Michigan, Reverend Dr.
Vahan H. Tootikian. Dr. Tootikian will be honored at a special
testimonial banquet on Sunday, September 25, 2005, in Troy, MI. The
tribute will mark his retirement from active parish ministry and will
recognize his 30 years as pastor of the Armenian Congregational Church of
Greater Detroit and his 46 years
of Christian ministry. Since accepting his call to the ministry in
1959, Dr. Tootikian has used his talents and unique skills to encourage
and enlighten people around the world. He has earned the respect and
admiration of the Armenian and the greater religious community in
Michigan, throughout North America, and around the world for his
pastoral leadership and his commitment and devotion to service.
Born in Kessab, Syria in 1935, Dr. Tootikian received his primary
education at the Armenian Evangelical schools in Syria and his
secondary education in Beirut, Lebanon. He simultaneously earned a
bachelor of art degree with honors and a bachelor of theology degree
with honors from the American University of Beirut and the Near East
School of Theology, respectively. He then served as pastor of Armenian
Evangelical Churches in Syria and Egypt before coming to the United
States in 1965 to pursue religious studies at Hartford Seminary,
Harvard Divinity School, and Andover Newton Theological Seminary. While
serving as minister of the Armenian Memorial Church in Watertown, MA,
Dr. Tootikian earned a master of sacred theological degree in 1970, and
a doctor of ministry degree cum laude in 1973.
In 1975, Dr. Tootikian was welcomed into the pastorate of the
Armenian Congregational Church of Greater Detroit. Under his spiritual
guidance, the Church has flourished and undergone expansion, which has
included a new Christian Education Building, the founding of an
Armenian library, and the organizing of the Armenian Heritage Committee
to preserve and perpetuate the Armenian Christian Heritage.
Over the years, Dr. Tootikian has also provided leadership to
numerous organizations, including the Armenian Evangelical Union of
America, Armenian Missionary Association of America, and the Armenian
Evangelical World Council–AEWC. During his tenure with AEWC, the
1700th Anniversary of Armenian Christendom was celebrated by all
Armenian Evangelical Unions in Yerevan, Armenia, and the first Armenian
Evangelical Pastors’ Conference was held in May 2003 in Evian, France.
As a scholar and lecturer, Dr. Tootikian has provided instruction at
the University of Michigan and at the Lawrence Technological
University. Dr. Tootikian has authored 27 books, with 6 of them
currently in use as college textbooks. In addition, he has been a
frequent contributor to many magazines and papers, and currently writes
bilingual articles for 12 Armenian papers and periodicals. His efforts
in support of various educational, philanthropic, religious and
cultural organizations have been recognized through many awards and the
establishment of endowment funds in his honor.
I know my colleagues join me in congratulating Dr. Tootikian on his
service to the community, and on his many achievements in the pastoral
ministry. I am pleased to offer my best wishes to him on his
retirement, and for many more years of good health, happiness, and
contribution to the spiritual well being of many people around the
world.

A1+
| 20:36:41 | 20-09-2005 | Politics |
ELECTION WITHOUT PROGRESS
«No progress was fixed during the election to the local governing bodies
from the viewpoint of fair and free election. 52000 voters were registered
in Kanaker-Zeytun community, however 53491 came to the polling stations»,
chairman of It’s Your Choice public organization Harutyun Hambartsumyan
sated today during the press conference dedicated to the outcomes of the
election.
The organization members observed the elections in 33 polling stations. In
their words, the great number of faults, grave violations of the electoral
order, cases of illegal voting, abuse of the rights of the empowered persons
arouse concern.
«Just fancy the situation that will be created during the parliamentary
election», he said. To note, It’s Your Choice organization will submit its
report to the Central Election Committee.

A1+
| 19:48:03 | 20-09-2005 | Social |
REFUGEES TO BE EVICTED FROM EREBUNI HOTEL
«Our greatest misfortune is to remain alive. We have no rights to fall ill,
feed and choose. Even if we appeal to the court we will be evicted», the
refugees residing in the second building of Erebuni Hotel said today.
35 families live in the hotel at present. 17 of them are refugees from
Gyumri. In 2004 the families were informed that the building was sold to
Ginekar LTD, which allocated $200 thousand to the resident. The sum was
divided among the refugees while the families from Gyumry received nothing.
In their words, they were offered «checks» valuing in $4600 but they
refused.
The Fund of Tourism Development headed by the father of Erebuni Hotel
Director has brought a suit against the residents of the second building of
the hotel. The residents turned to the Court of Appeals.
Earlier they appealed to President Kocharian, RA NA Chairman Baghdassaryan,
the Prime Minister, Ombudsman and some deputies, who said they cannot help.
The residents of the hotel said that in case they are evicted they will
pitch a camp near the government building and live there.

A1+
| 18:50:46 | 20-09-2005 | Politics |
VIOLATIONS AGAIN
Representatives of the Electoral Systems public organization were observing
the election to the local governing bodies of Kanaker-Zeytun community held
on Sunday. The observers visited 8 pit of 29 polling stations to meet with
the empowered persons and members of the election committees.
Upon completion of the election the observers watched the process of
counting of votes.
Violations of the RA Electoral Code including group voting, absence of the
necessary conditions for the people with special needs, slogans near the
polling stations, were fixed during the election.
According to head of the observing group Arthur Avtandilyan, disparities
were found in the registers. The final conclusion of the group will be
issued within a month.

A1+
| 18:14:27 | 20-09-2005 | Politics |
NEW PARTY
Today the Party of Democratic Forces headed by Manuk Gasparyan was
registered in the Justice Ministry.
To remind, the constituent assembly of the party was held on August 23.
After the final stage of the formation of regional and initial structures
the first sitting of the party will be convoked.