PRESS RELEASE
sherman/pr_sherman_codemnarmgen.html
September 15, 2005
House Panel Condemns Armenian Genocide Congressman Sherman Backs
Resolutions
Washington, D.C. – The House International Relations Committee on
Thursday adopted a pair of resolutions calling on Turkey to
acknowledge the slaughter of Armenians by Ottoman Turks around the
time of World War I.
`It is long past time for us to criticize the Ottoman Empire for the
first genocide of the 20th century,’ said Congressman Brad Sherman, a
member of the prestigious panel.
`Ignoring genocide is the last act of genocide,’ Sherman added.
`Where would modern Germany be if it was ruled by a government denying
the Holocaust?’ One resolution calls on Turkey to acknowledge the
actions of the Ottoman state from 1915 to 1923, when the extermination
campaign claimed about 1.5 million Armenian lives. It also urges
Turkey to build closer relations with Armenia. The second measure
calls on U.S. presidents to take the Armenian genocide into account in
determining this country’s foreign policy.
Both resolutions, which are opposed by the Bush administration, were
approved by overwhelming bipartisan majorities. Similar measures have
cleared committee before, but were stymied by House leaders who
blocked consideration by the full House. Sherman urged House leaders
to permit votes on the latest resolutions.
The committee votes coincided with visit of Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the US.
`It is an act of friendship with the people of Turkey that we
passthese resolutions,’ Sherman said. `Turkey can move forward onlyby
truthfully acknowledging its past.’
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
09/20/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Cyprus Threatens to Veto EU's Draft Text on Turkey 2) Sharjah Ruler Commemorates Armenian Genocide Victims 3) Youth Activists in Azerbaijan Say They Are Being Targeted By Government 4) Azeri Shots Force OSCE Mission to End Monitoring 5) Catholicos Aram I to Visit Los Angeles Armenian Evangelical Community 1) Cyprus Threatens to Veto EU's Draft Text on Turkey (Bloomberg)--The Cypriot government threatened to veto a European Union (EU) declaration on ties with Turkey, imperiling EU plans to start Turkish membership talks on October 3. The last-minute threat prevented European governments today from agreeing on a response to Turkey's diplomatic boycott of EU member Cyprus and may force the 25-nation bloc to hold an emergency meeting. The UK, current holder of the EU's rotating presidency, brokered an accord among diplomats yesterday and expected routine approval today. "There is no agreement yet," Stavros Papagianneas, a spokesman for the Cypriot mission to the EU, said by telephone in Brussels today. "There is a proposal by the UK presidency which is being studied by us." The month-long debate over the declaration has sidetracked the EU, holding up the passage of a negotiating plan for Turkey that needs the backing of all member nations. The plan covers 35 areas from customs and public procurement to energy and fisheries where Turkey would have to meet the bloc's regulatory standards. The Turkish government said in July that its signature of a protocol extending a European trade accord to Cyprus wasn't tantamount to recognizing the Mediterranean island, whose northern tier Turkey has occupied since 1974. Signing the protocol was a condition the EU set in December for starting decade-long membership talks. RECOGNITION The declaration agreed on yesterday by EU government representatives urges Turkey to ensure free trade with Cyprus while moving toward normal political ties "as soon as possible.'" The EU will review progress in 2006, the statement says. "There was approval at ambassadorial level but not ministerial level," Jonathan Allen, a British government spokesman, said by telephone today in Brussels. He said EU diplomats would return to the issue tomorrow and did not exclude the possibility of a special meeting of EU foreign ministers on September 26. "We don't want to drag foreign ministers to Brussels, but if we he have to, we will," Allen said. Papagianneas declined to say when the Cypriot government would decide on its final position and what the government's remaining concerns might be. Cypriot government demands for tougher warnings against Turkey over trade obstacles and non-recognition helped scuttle four attempts to agree on the declaration this month until yesterday's breakthrough among diplomats. The trade curbs include a ban on Cypriot ships unloading goods in Turkish ports and Cypriot planes landing at Turkish airports. Turkey, a nation of 72 million people, is counting on the accession talks to attract record foreign investment to its $300 billion economy. It would be one of the two most populous EU nations along with Germany, become the bloc's first mainly Muslim member and widen the EU's borders to Iraq. 2) Sharjah Ruler Commemorates Armenian Genocide Victims YEREVAN (Armenpress)--The Ruler of Emirate of Sharjah, HH Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, paid his respects, on Tuesday, to the victims of Armenian genocide by visiting Yerevan's Genocide Memorial and a nearby genocide museum. The Sheikh, who is on an official visit to Armenia to open the Days of Arab Culture there, initially met with the head of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences to review scientific cooperation, specifically joint research projects in the near future. "We are happy that, despite the burden of pressing problems, Armenia opens its doors to Sharjah. We respect that, along with the determination to expand our relationship," said the Arab leader. He said that cooperation with Armenia developed after President Robert Kocharian's visit to the United Arab Emirates in April 2002. The Sheikh also met with Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markarian to evaluate implementation of projects in recent years, and the various cooperation agreements the two countries have in place. They spoke of developing economic cooperation, and noted the need to expand their collaboration in the areas education, science, culture, tourism, and the exporting of agricultural products. The prime minister the Sheikh's visit and the celebration of cultural days of Sharjah in Armenia will give new impetus to their relationship. Margarian stressed the importance of establishing an Arab cultural center in Armenia and thanked the Sheikh for readiness to provide financial support. 3) Youth Activists in Azerbaijan Say They Are Being Targeted By Government (Eurasianet.org)--As Azerbaijan's November 6 parliamentary elections draw closer, opposition and youth organization representatives say they are feeling increased pressure from the government. Their concerns have been fueled by the recent arrests of youth activists, one of them a Ukrainian citizen. On September 12, Yeni Fikir Deputy chair Said Nuri was detained for 48 hours on suspicion of conspiring to stage a coup against the Azeri government. While attending a training session in Poland that was sponsored by the National Democratic Institute, Nuri allegedly received instruction on organizing anti-government protests with the aim of overthrowing the established order, Azerbaijani officials contend. Nuri had assumed responsibility for running Yeni Fikir, a youth group loosely aligned with the opposition Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, shortly after the August arrest of Ruslan Bashirli, the group's leader. Bashirli was charged with conspiring with Armenian special services to foment unrest in Azerbaijan. The same day as Nuri's detention, Ramin Tagiyev, another Yeni Fikir deputy chairperson, was sentenced to a three-month prison term for his role in a supposed coup plot. The US State Department has sharply criticized Nuri's arrest. In a September 15 interview broadcast by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Azeri Service, Terry Davidson, a US State Department official, expressed concern that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's administration was trying to squelch legitimate domestic political opposition. "The US government is concerned [by] the arrest of youth leaders in Azerbaijan as well as the campaign against the Popular Front Party," Davidson said. `We urge the Azeri government to provide basic civil liberties in preparation for the parliamentary elections, including freedom of assembly, equal access to the media and not being a subject of pressure." In an interview with EurasiaNet, Popular Front Party Chairman Ali Kerimli stated that the arrests were motivated by the authorities' fear of Yeni Fikir's increasing popularity and the related need to reduce youth activism in Azerbaijan. "They [authorities] think that the only way to make these young people stop the struggle is to isolate them," Kerimli said "However, the opposition's rallies demonstrate that, more and more, orange-clad youth have joined the nationwide struggle against dictatorship." The scandals surrounding Yeni Fikir show no signs of abating. On September 15, organization members reportedly discovered three hand grenades and a cartridge of TNT in the group's main office in Baku. Media reported that the police officer called to the scene to investigate refused to remove the explosives. The building also houses the offices of the opposition newspaper Azadliq and the Popular Front. Azadliq Editor Ganimat Zahidov, reportedly accompanied by foreign and local journalists, eventually took a bag with the explosives to the local police station. Zahidov claimed that the explosives were deliberately planted by authorities to provide justification for another Yeni Fikir arrest, and to search the organization's headquarters. Zahidov has since ordered all individuals entering the building to be checked. Police pledged to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident, but have not issued any updates. Some human rights activists believe that the arrests of Yeni Fikir members are designed to reduce the potential for an election-related protest in Baku akin to those that occurred in Georgia and Ukraine in 2003 and 2004 respectively. Those protests resulted in regime-change in Tbilisi and Kyiv. Georgian and Ukrainian youth groups played key roles in organizing those demonstrations. "The former leaderships of Georgia and Ukraine never took such tough action against youth leaders," said Saida Gojamanli, director of the Bureau of Human Rights and Law Observance. The arrest of a representative of the Ukrainian youth group Pora in Baku has helped fuel speculation that the government plans to discourage such organizations from playing any role in Azerbaijan's parliamentary elections. Azerbaijani authorities detained Sergei Yevtushenko--an advisor to the Ukrainian foreign minister, and a Pora leader--at Baku airport on September 15. Two days later, he was forcibly returned to Ukraine. Yevtushenko had traveled to Azerbaijan at the invitation of the opposition election bloc Azadliq to attend a conference on democratization in Azerbaijan and Belarus. No official reason was given for Yevtushenko's detention. The Ukrainian consul was allowed to meet with Yevtushenko only after the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry lodged a formal diplomatic protest. In a September 16 interview with Trend news agency, the country's ambassador to Baku, Igor Kizima stated that Azerbaijani officials had violated international agreements by making the Ukrainian consul wait five hours before seeing Yevtushenko. Ukrainian officials also accused Azerbaijan of violating bilateral agreements that provide for a no-visa entry to Azerbaijan for Ukrainian citizens. 4) Azeri Shots Force OSCE Mission to End Monitoring YEREVAN (Armenpress)--An OSCE team had to cut short its routine monitoring of the line of contact between Armenian troops of Mountainous Karabagh and Azeri troops near a village in Fizuli region on Tuesday. At the very start of the monitoring, a single shot in the direction of the Mission was fired from Azeri positions. Andrzej Kasprzyk, the special envoy of the OSCE chairman-in-office supervising the monitoring, reported the observation was ceased for security reasons. Representatives of the Mountainous Karabagh Republic's Foreign Affairs and Defense Ministries were accompanying the OSCE mission. 5) Catholicos Aram I to Visit Los Angeles Armenian Evangelical Community The Armenian Evangelical Union of North America has announced that His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia has accepted the Church's invitation to visit the Evangelical community of Southern California, during His upcoming Pontifical visit to the Western Prelacy, October 5-19. The Evangelical Church will welcome the Catholicos on Friday, October 7, 3PM at the United Armenian Congregational Church located at 3480 Cahuenga Blvd. West, in Los Angeles. A reception will follow at the adjoining Ayvazian Hall. 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) 2005 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.

Armenia: Country outlook
COUNTRY VIEW
ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT
PUBLICATION DATE: August 01, 2005
OVERVIEW: Tension in Armenia’s political scene is likely to ease. Real
GDP growth will be relatively strong, at an annual average of about 7.5%
in 2005-06. We forecast an average annual inflation rate of 2.4% this
year, followed by a rate of 2.5% in 2006. Strong current transfers
credits will contain the current-account deficit at an annual average of
around 5% of GDP in 2005-06, despite a growing trade deficit.
DOMESTIC POLITICS: Tension in Armenia’s political scene is likely to
ease, following the approval by the Council of Europe’s Venice
Commission of a package of constitutional amendments intended to ensure
a more balanced distribution of power. The next challenge for the
authorities will be to persuade the public to support the changes in a
referendum. A positive outcome in the referendum will depend on the
opposition’s response to the proposed changes. Prior to the Venice
Commission’s assessment, several of Armenia’s opposition parties had
indicated that they would end their 18-month long boycott of the
National Assembly (parliament) and resume co-operation with the
government, assuming that the changes were sufficiently far-reaching in
terms of reducing the powers of the presidency. Their return to
parliament would accord a greater sense of legitimacy to the legislature.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: Armenia will continue to pursue a
“complementary” foreign policy, whereby it seeks to balance relations
with the US, the EU, Russia and Iran. The government is also likely to
accord a high priority to an easing of relations with Turkey, and to
talks with Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorny Karabakh.
Negotiations over Nagorny Karabakh have gained momentum over the past
few months, with several rounds of high-level talks held. Although
Armenian officials have sought to downplay expectations that a
breakthrough in the conflict is imminent, it appears that considerable
progress has been made towards reaching a settlement acceptable to both
sides.
POLICY TRENDS: A poverty reduction strategy paper, a medium-term
expenditure programme (for 2005-08) and an anti-corruption strategy will
determine the government’s economic policy. The main policy priorities
will include further reforms of the tax and customs administration,
enhancing fiscal transparency (in particular, by improving expenditure
management), and strengthening the financial sector and the judiciary,
along with the completion of reforms in the energy and water sectors.
More effective mobilisation of tax revenue will also be a priority, with
a view to reducing dependence on foreign grants.
ECONOMIC GROWTH: We expect real GDP growth to slow from 10.1% in 2004 to
an annual average of just over 7% in 2005-06. The strong base period is
the main factor behind the anticipated slowdown, as the outlook for
domestic demand is relatively favourable. Government consumption and
investment will rise strongly, as the authorities increase both social
and capital spending, and private consumption will be supported by
strong inflows of workers’ remittances. In addition, credit from banks
to private enterprises is expected to increase.
INFLATION: Price stability will remain the main objective of monetary
policy, and to this end the central bank will refrain from intervening
in the currency markets, instead allowing the dram to appreciate in
order to reduce inflationary pressure. External pressure on domestic
prices is expected to weaken in 2005-06, in view of our forecast for
easing world food prices. We forecast an average annual inflation rate
of 2.4% this year, followed by a rate of 2.5% in 2006.
EXCHANGE RATES: Foreign-currency inflows, in the form of workers’
remittances and other private transfers, will remain high in 2005-06,
ensuring that the dram stays strong against the US dollar. The Central
Bank has projected an annual average rate of Dram485:US$1 for 2005, but
on current trends an average rate of Dram445:US$1 appears more
realistic. After strengthening briefly in mid-2005, the US dollar is
once again expected to weaken, a trend that will continue throughout
2006, resulting in an annual average rate of about Dram430:US$1.
EXTERNAL ACCOUNT: A fall in donor-financed investment could lead to a
reduction in spending on capital goods such as construction materials,
machinery and equipment. However, strong inflows of private transfers
will support private consumption, keeping expenditure on consumer goods
imports high. The growing trade deficit will be only partly offset by
the surplus on current transfers, resulting in a widening
current-account deficit. Relatively robust economic growth will
nevertheless contain the annual average deficit at about 5% of GDP in
2005-06.
SOURCE: Country outlook

PRESS RELEASE
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
CONTACT: Andrew Souvall or Jennifer Cannata
Te: (202) 225-4671
September 15, 2005

HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION LEGISLATION
Pallone Calls On Speaker Hastert To Allow Floor Vote This Year
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), co-chairman
of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and one of the lead
authors of legislation that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, praised
the House International Relations Committee for approving the
legislation and encouraged House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) to
allow a vote on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives this
year.
The New Jersey congressman introduced H.R. 316 in June with
U.S. Reps. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), co-chairman of the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues, Adam Schiff (D-CA) and George Radanovich
(R-CA).
The resolution calls on the president to ensure that the foreign
policy of the U.S. reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity
concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing and
genocide documented in the U.S. record relating to the Armenian
Genocide.
“Today the House International Relations Committee moved this Congress
one step closer to finally recognizing the atrocious acts inflicted by
the Ottoman Turks on the Armenian people,” Pallone said.
“It is now up to Speaker Hastert to realize the importance of this
legislation, and finally allow a floor vote,” Pallone said. “I
continue to believe that if the entire House has an opportunity to
vote on recognizing the Armenian Genocide, the truth will win out and
American recognition will finally occur.”
Pallone and his colleagues have worked for years to have the
U.S. Congress join the likes of Canada, France, Italy, Poland and
Sweden in acknowledging the Armenian Genocide.
“If America is going to live up to the standards we set for ourselves,
and continue to lead the world in affirming human rights everywhere,
we need to stand up and recognize the tragic events that began in 1915
for what they were—the systematic elimination of a people,” Pallone
continued. “The fact of the Armenian Genocide is not in dispute; the
only step left is to reject the deniers.
“It takes humanity to overcome the ignorance that spurs the evil
crimes of Genocide, and it’s time the U.S. government recognizes these
actions for what they were so that we can prevent such atrocities from
occurring again,” Pallone said. “The healing process cannot actually
begin until recognition takes place, and that’s why passage of this
resolution is so important.”
###

Cascade Credit CJSC (Yerevan, Armenia) Signs a Loan Guarantee Agreement
with USAID
BISNIS Banking and Finance Industry Update
September 2005
In an effort to keep you updated on recent Banking and Finance
developments and opportunities in Eurasia, we offer the following
reports and news:
1. Cascade Credit CJSC (Yerevan, Armenia) Signs a Loan Guarantee
Agreement with USAID, August 30, 2005
2. MIGA Small Investment Program
id=1088
3. OPIC’s Eurasia Private Equity Fund
For more general Banking and Finance information on Eurasian markets, go to:
=========Sent by=========Chris D. Christov, International Trade Specialist for Banking and Finance
BISNIS/U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service,
U.S. Department of Commerce
Tel: (202) 482 – 4655
Fax: (202) 482 – 2293
=========================**BISNIS SEPTEMBER OUTREACH**
September 21, 2005 – Bowling Green, Kentucky
September 22, 2005 – Pontiac, Michigan
September 23, 2005 – Salt Lake City, Utah
September 26, 2005 – Las Vegas, Nevada
Featuring BISNIS representatives from St Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod,
and Samara, Russia.
For more information on the outreach events, go to
NEED TO FINANCE YOUR SALE IN EURASIA?
If you have an identified Eurasian buyer but are lacking the financing
necessary to complete the sale, please review the BISNIS FinanceLink
program ( ) The program serves as your
free distribution mechanism, sending your deal to financial service
providers and offering you direct access to trade finance professionals.
NEED TO CERTIFY YOUR PRODUCT IN EURASIA?
Even for seasoned U.S. exporters, Eurasian product certification
procedures may seem intimidating. BISNIS offers general overviews of
certification processes in eight Eurasian countries
() AND a list of U.S.-based
certification companies specializing in these procedures
(
HAVE YOU USED MY BISNIS? ()
– Update your contact information
– Select or change the type of information you receive from BISNIS
– Refer a friend to BISNIS products and services
– Transfer your subscription to a colleague
– Unsubscribe from BISNIS services
IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE DIRECTLY FROM BISNIS
and would like to receive future BISNIS reports on commercial
developments in Eurasia, visit the subscription page of BISNIS Online,

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
September 19, 2005
MID-ATLANTIC AREA PREPARES TO WELCOME ARAM I
LARGE TURNOUT EXPECTED AT DIVINE LITURGY IN NEW YORK
REV. DR. SAMUEL KOBIA WILL BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT BANQUET
NEW YORK, NY-The Mid-Atlantic area states, including New York, New Jersey,
Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, are preparing to welcome His Holiness Aram I,
as he begins his visit to the Eastern Prelacy. His Holiness will arrive in
New York on the evening of October 19 and will visit areas within the
Eastern Prelacy until November 1, including New York, Washington, DC,
Boston, and Chicago.
His Holiness will be officially welcomed by the Mid Atlantic community
at Hrashapar services at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street,
New York City, on Thursday, October 20, beginning at 7:30 pm. A reception
will follow the ceremony providing the faithful an opportunity to personally
greet His Holiness.
75TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEMINARY
“His Holiness is honoring us with his presence as part of the worldwide
celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Theological
Seminary at Antelias,” said Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the
Eastern Prelacy. “The Seminary has served the Armenian Church worldwide with
great distinction for 75 years, and it is appropriate for us to pause and
reflect on this service and pay homage to the visionary leaders who overcame
difficult obstacles and established the Seminary in Antelias.”
On Friday, October 21, this anniversary will be formally marked with a
commemorative program at Sts. Vartanantz Church, 461 Bergen Boulevard,
Ridgefield, NJ. The program will begin at 7:30 pm and will be followed with
a reception.
The program will feature two keynote addresses. Judge Sarkis Teshoian,
an esteemed member of the Massachusetts judiciary, and a former chairman of
the Prelacy’s Executive Council, will speak in English, while V. Rev.
Meghrig Parikian, a member of the Cilician Brotherhood and pastor of St.
Asdvadzadzin Church in Toronto, Canada, will speak in Armenian.
PONTIFICAL DIVINE LITURGY
On Sunday, October 23, His Holiness will be the celebrant at the
Pontifical Divine Liturgy at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Park Avenue (between
50th and 51st Streets). The Liturgy, which is expected to be attended by a
large number of community members, dignitaries, and ecumenical guests, will
begin at 1:30 with a procession. His Holiness will be assisted at the altar
by members of the clergy and deacons serving in the Mid-Atlantic area. The
choirs of the area churches will join forces and participate in the Liturgy.
CELEBRATORY BANQUET WILL MARK DUAL ANNIVERSARIES
Immediately after the Liturgy a banquet will take place at The Pierre,
Fifth Avenue at 61st Street. Cocktail reception will begin at 5 pm, followed
by dinner at 6 pm. The Keynote Address will be delivered by Rev. Dr. Samuel
Kobia, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches.
The banquet will focus on the 75th anniversary of the Seminary with a
short video presentation, as well as the 10th anniversary of the election
and enthronement of His Holiness. Dr. George Dermksian, chairman of the
Steering Committee, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies during the
Banquet. “I am honored to be taking part in welcoming Catholicos Aram I to
the Eastern Prelacy,” said Dr. Dermksian. “He has earned the respect and
admiration of not only Armenians, but the world at large through his
outstanding ecumenical leadership. We can all be proud of his
accomplishments and be prepared to welcome him in the finest manner
possible.”
ENCYCLICAL ISSUED
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Seminary, Catholicos Aram
I issued an encyclical praising the rich history of the Seminary. He said,
in part:
“Take another look at the history of our people and church during the
past 75 years. So many generations, ecclesiastics and laypersons alike,
enlivened by the Bible, enriched by our intellectual and spiritual values,
and imbued with national aspirations, emerged from the Seminary of the
Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, to go among our people
scattered throughout the world. So many generations took the spirit and
education received in the Seminary and applied it in uncompromising and
self-devoted service, an abundance of which they provided to the Armenian
people, from Armenia to the distant Diasporan communities.. Remembering the
75th anniversary of the Seminary means looking toward the future with solid
faith and bright vision, having rendered the past into just pride.”
To read the entire text of His Holiness’ Encyclical in Armenian and
English go to the Prelacy’s web site ().
ECUMENICAL SYMPOSIUM
During his visit a symposium and conference will take place in New York
City and Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The symposium in New York, sponsored by the Eastern Prelacy in
conjunction with the World Council of Churches and National Council of
Churches, will take place Saturday, October 22 at The Interchurch Center,
475 Riverside Drive.
Under the general topic of “Challenges Facing the Ecumenical Movement
in the 21st Century,” a number of well-known church leaders will participate
including, The Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, General Secretary, World Council of
Churches; Rev. Dr. Robert W. Edgar, General Secretary, National Council of
the Churches of Christ in the USA; The Very Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky,
Moderator, U.S. Conference for the World Council of Churches and Ecumenical
Officer, Orthodox Church of America; The Rev. Dr. Wesley
Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary, Reformed Church in America; Bishop
Thomas Hoyt, President, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA;
Fr. Arthur L. Kennedy, Executive Director, United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops; The Rev. Dr. Diane Kessler, Executive Director,
Massachusetts Council of Churches; The Rev. Deborah DeWinter, Program
Executive for the United States, World Council of Churches.
His Holiness will address the Symposium and offer the Closing
Reflection.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
An International Conference dedicated to the 1600th anniversary of the
founding of the Armenian alphabet will take place on Friday and Saturday,
October 28 and 29, at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The Conference, sponsored by the Eastern Prelacy, Harvard University’s
Mashtots Chair, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, and
the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, will bring together top
scholars in the field from Armenia, Europe and the United States. Some of
the participating scholars are: Robert Thomson, Abraham Terian, James
Russell, Michael Stone, Gohar Muradyan, John Huehnergard, Karen Yuzbashyan,
and others. The Conference will begin Friday evening, October 28 and
continue on Saturday, October 29.
His Holiness will attend and address the Conference Friday evening.
VISIT THE WEB SITE
Up to date information about the entire visit is on the Prelacy’s web
site (), or contact the Prelacy at 212-689-7810.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
September 20, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
RE: Assembly Meets with Armenian Parliament Speaker
An Assembly delegation led by Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair
Hovnanian met with Armenian Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan in
New York on September 9. The meeting, which focused on building
stronger U.S.-Armenia relations and democratic reforms in Armenia,
also included Board of Trustees Treasurer Edele Hovnanian, Board of
Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian, Board of Directors Member Van
Krikorian and Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.

Ardouny also briefed the Speaker on key legislative issues and
participated with him in various meetings with U.S. government
officials in Washington. Baghdasaryan met with U.S. State Department
officials and several lawmakers including House Speaker Dennis Hastert
(R-IL), House Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-CA), Minority
Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ), among others.
“Armenia has a proud history and is committed to engagement with its
neighbors to promote democracy and regional trade,” Dreier
said. “Speaker Baghdasaryan and I agreed that democracy is critical to
security and stability in the region. I was proud to welcome the
Speaker to the Capitol and look forward to working with him on his
efforts in the future.”
Photographs available on the Assembly Web site at the following links:
Caption: L to R: Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, Board of
Directors Member Van Krikorian, Speaker of the Armenian Parliament
Arthur Baghdasaryan, Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian,
Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian and Board of Trustees
Treasurer Edele Hovnanian.
Caption: L to R: Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, House
Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-CA) and Armenian Parliament
Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan.
Caption: Armenian Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan, center, with
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), far right, and Assembly
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.
###
NR#2005-091

Yerevan Press Club of Armenia presents `MediaDialogue” Web Site as a
Regional Information Hub project. As a part of the project web site is maintained,
featuring the most interesting publications from the press of Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey on issues of mutual concern. The latest
updates on the site are weekly delivered to the subscribers. ***********************************************************************
===========================================================================
CONFLICTS
===========================================================================
AZERBAIJAN AGAIN RAISES THE ISSUE TO UN
———————————————– —————————–
Source: “Echo” newspaper (Azerbaijan) [September 17, 2005]
Author: R. Orujev

It is all about the situation on the occupied territories
Yesterday evening Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, Elmar Mamediarov was
expected to make a speech at the 60th session of UN General
Assembly. The main issue to be raised by the Foreign Minister was
Mountainous Karabagh conflict and the role of UN in its settlement. As reported by Associated Press, E. Mamediarov stated back on Thursday
in New York that our state took actions for holding free elections
despite the threats of the opposition that if the results of elections
of November 6 are rigged, anti-government protest actions will start
in the country. Mamediarov also declared that he thinks there is low
chance in an oil-rich country for people’s uprising similarly to those
in the former Soviet republics of Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgistan. `The
government and President himself have an aim for holding free and fair
elections’, Mamediarov stated. `We strictly follow international
standards. This voting will be much more fair than the previous ones’,
he stated. During his speech in New York, Mamediarov stated that for settlement
of the Karabagh conflict leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan `should act
as state figures and not politicians pursuing national interests’. The
Minister noted that the recent meeting of the two countries leaders
laid ground for negotiation process. `I would like to inform you that
we are close to a breakthrough, but in reality the problems are still
in place’, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister stated. At the session, Azerbaijan joined a number of international
agreements. In UN headquarters, an event named `Focus-2005: Response
to Global Changes’ was held related to signing of a series of
international documents on human rights, refugees, terrorism,
organized crime, struggle against corruption, environment, maritime
law and other spheres. Within the framework of the event, Elmar
Mamediarov held a ceremony of signing multilateral agreements:
`International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear
Terrorism’ (the text of the Convention is adopted by UN General
Assembly resolution # 59/290); “Optional Protocol to the Convention
Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment’ of 2002. “The information about the issue on the situation in the districts,
controlled by the Karabagh forces, entering the agenda of the current
60th session of UN General Assembly in New York is confirmed’,
Panarmenian writes. `On Tuesday, Armenian MFA Press Secretary Hamlet
Gasparian stated that if Azerbaijan insists on considering it at the
plenary sitting of the session, official Yerevan will have to withdraw
from negotiation process, and Baku will have to continue negotiations
with the Karabagh side”. The response to these harsh statements came immediately. Yesterday
special representative of AR President at the negotiations on
settlement of Mountainous Karabagh conflict, Deputy Foreign Minister
Araz Azimov informed media that Armenia’s statements about withdrawal
from the negotiation process should not be taken seriously. `Putting
the issue about the situation in the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan on the agenda of UN 60th session was quite expected’, he
stated. `The problem is still open, this issue should be central for
the international community, since Azerbaijan holds that these efforts
are useless as long as the negative processes on its occupied lands
are underway’. The decision about including our issue on the agenda of the session
opened on Monday was adopted unanimously, Рanarmenian
reports. “Armenia seems to have exerted zero effort for preventing
it. However, in compliance with General Assembly regulations, the
issues included in the agenda of the current session and not discussed
till its end are automatically transferred to the agenda of the next
session. Only Azerbaijan had the right to take off the issue’. ===========================================================================
REGION
===========================================================================
ARMENIAN TIME, TURKISH TIME
——————————————— ——————————-
Source: “Turkish Daily News” newspaper (Turkey) [September 18, 2005]
Author: Elif Safak
Armenians and Turks live in different eras. If we want to build a true
dialogue between the two sides it is this time-related fact that we
first need to recognize. What happens when an Armenian girl speaks
about her past with average Turkish women? Below is an excerpt from an
upcoming novel. `Ask her what their family name is?’ Grandmother Gülsüm asked Asya. `Tchakhmakhchian,’ Armanoush replied when the question was translated,
adding, `My full name is Armanoush Tchakhmakhchian.’
Auntie Zeliha’s face brightened as she exclaimed in recognition: `I’ve
always found that interesting. The Turks add the suffix ‘ci’ to every
possible word to describe professions. Look at our family name; it is
Kazan-cı . We are the cauldron makers. Now I see Armenians do the
same thing. Çakmak, Çakmakçı, Çakmakçı-yan.’
`That’s interesting. Look, I have an address,’ said Armanoush, who
fished out a piece of paper from her pocket, adding: `My grandmother
Shushan was born in this house. If you could help me with the
directions, I’d like to go and visit it sometime.’
`So you came here to see your grandmother’s house. Why did she leave?’
enquired Aunt Zeliha. Armanoush was both eager to be asked this question and reluctant to
answer. Was it too early to let them know? How much of her story
should she reveal? If not now, then when? Why should she have to wait
anyway? In a listless, almost sapped voice she said, `They were forced
to leave.’
As soon as she said this her weariness disappeared and she lifted her
chin up as she continued: `It’s a long story. I won’t take your time
with all the details. When her father died my grandmother Shushan was
three years old. There were four siblings, she being the youngest and
the only girl. The family had been left without its patriarch. My
great grandmother was a widow now. Finding it difficult to stay in
Istanbul with the children she sought refuge in her father’s house in
Sivas. But as soon as they arrived the deportations began. The entire
family was ordered to leave their house and belongings behind and
march with thousands of others to an unknown destination. They marched
and they marched. My great grandmother died on the way and before long
the elderly died as well. Having no parents to look after them the
younger children lost each other amidst the confusion and chaos. But
after months apart, the brothers were miraculously united in Lebanon
with the help of a Ca! tholic missionary. The only missing sibling among those still alive
was my grandmother Shushan. Nobody had heard of the fate of the
infant. Nobody knew that she had been taken back to Istanbul to be
placed in an orphanage.’
Asya looked at Armanoush somewhat puzzled. Never before had she met
someone so young with a memory so old. Auntie Feride was the first to raise doubts and said: `But I don’t
understand. What happened to them? They died because they walked?’
`They were denied water and food and rest. They were made to march a
long distance on foot. Women, some of them pregnant, and children, the
elderly, the sick and the debilitated…’ Armanoush’s voice now
trailed off. `Who did this atrocity?’ Auntie Cevriye asked as if addressing a
classroom of ill-disciplined students. `The Turks did it,’ Armanoush replied without paying any attention to
the implications. `What a shame, what a sin. Are they not human?’ Auntie Feride
volleyed. `Of course not, some people are monsters!’ Auntie Cevriye declared
without comprehending that the repercussions could be far more complex
than she would like to handle. In twenty years in her career as a
Turkish history teacher she was so accustomed to drawing an
impermeable boundary between the past and the present, distinguishing
the Ottoman Empire from the modern Turkish Republic, that she had
actually heard the whole story as grim news from a `distant country.’
The new state in Turkey had been established in 1923 and that was as
far as the genesis of this regime could extend. Whatever might or
might not have happened preceding this date was the issue of another
era, and another people. Armanoush looked at them one by one, puzzled. She was relieved to see
that the family had not taken the story as badly as she had feared,
but then she couldn’t be sure that they had really taken it in at
all. True, they neither refused to believe her nor did they retort
with any counter argument. If anything, they listened attentively and
they all seemed sorry. But was that the limit of their commiseration? And what exactly had she expected? Armanoush felt slightly
disconcerted as she wondered whether it would be different if she were
talking to a group of intellectuals. Slowly it dawned on Armanoush that perhaps she was waiting for an
admission of guilt, if not an apology. And yet that apology had not
come, not because they had not felt for her, for it looked like they
had, but because they had seen no connection between themselves and
the perpetrators of the crimes. She, as an Armenian, embodied the
spirit of her people from generations before whereas the average Turk
had no such notion of continuity with his or her ancestors. The
Armenians and the Turks lived in different eras. For the Armenians,
time was a cycle in which the past incarnated itself in the present
and the present begat the future, whereas for Turks time was a
multi-hyphenated line where the past ended at some precise point and
the present started anew with a fresh page with nothing but a huge
rupture in between. ===========================================================================
NEIGHBOURS
===========================================================================
TURKEY SHOWS DISCRETION
————————————— ————————————-
Source: “Azg” newspaper (Armenia) [September 17, 2005]
Author: Hakob Chakrian
As previously reported, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
House of Representatives of US Congress discussed and adopted two
resolutions recognizing the Armenian Genocide. In compliance with the
first resolution, initiated by Democrat Adam Schiff, the congressmen
adopted a decision on `recognition of Armenian Genocide executed in
1915-23′. The second resolution whose author is Republican George
Radanovic, called on the `Turkish Republic to admit of the crime
committed by it predecessor – Ottoman Empire, in compliance with the
decision’. The first resolution was adopted by 35 pro votes, 11 cons, the second
one – 40 pros, 7 cons. It is notable that both resolutions do not
refer to 1915 as the year of committing the Genocide, they mention the
period from 1915 to 1923. Thus, the responsibility for this crime of
the Kemalists against humanity is emphasized. It is an important
circumstance. No less important is the fact that the two resolutions
recognizing the Armenian Genocide are simultaneously submitted to the
Committee of the House of Representatives, which is a common
initiative of Democrats and Republicans. All this points to the unprecedented nature of the mentioned
initiative, directed at recognition of the Armenian Genocide, which
implies strong resistance of Turkey. The restraint of the Turkish political circles and Turkish media
surpassed all expectations. Still, `Zaman’ newspaper in its issue of
September 16 conditioned adoption of the two resolutions on
recognition of Armenian Genocide in the Committee of the House of
Representatives by the decision of March 1, 2003. In compliance with
the decision, Mili Mejlis of Turkey declined the request of US to
allow using the territory of this state for the anti-Iraq war,
refusing deployment of American troops and military equipment on the
territory of this country. In this respect, `Zaman’ writes about adoption of the resolution, `By
the Armenian resolutions, US House of Representatives took its revenge
for March 1′. As a proof, it quoted member of the Committee Tom
Lantos, `The decision of the Mejlis resulted more losses of American
troops in Iraq. Turkey did not reckon with our interests. Turkey
refused to help us in opening a front against Syria and Iraq from the
north. So, I definitely support both Armenian resolutions’. As reported by `Milliyet’ newspaper, Adam Schiff also referred to the
decision of March 1. However, in contrast to Lantos he did not
substantiate adoption of the resolution on the Armenian Genocide but
answered the message addressed to the Chairman of the Committee of US
State Secretariat Henry Hyde by US Department of State, which runs,
`the resolution may harm Turkish-American relations’. According to
`Milliyet’, Schiff stressed the importance of Turkey to USA, noting,
`The March 1 decision of Mili Mejlis of Turkey did not result in
deterioration of Turkish-American relations. Thus, the resolution in
its turn is not supposed to harm these relations’. In this aspect, Schiff was supported by Hyde, stating he does not
believe that adoption of the resolution will harm the relations of the
two countries. Therefore, the rejection of the fact of Genocide can in
no way be justified. At the same time, Hyde emphasized that Turkey
does not bear responsibility for the crime committed. Based on the mentioned newspaper, the members of the Committee often
referred to the criminal proceedings initiated in Turkey against Orham
Pamuk for recognizing the fact of the Armenian Genocide and the
responsibility of Germany for the Holocaust, stating that it will have
bad consequences. The absence of the supposed resistance by Turkey to the adoption of
the two resolutions on the Armenian Genocide by the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the House of Representatives of US Congress means
that Turkey shows discretion and not weakness. Simply, Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is still in US and will return to Ankara
on September 17. Doubtlessly, Erdogan will take relevant steps. They
are important for the press. These steps will allow adequately
responding to the adoption of the resolution. As for the nature of
resistance, it may also hinge on the efficiency of Erdogan’s
steps. Consequently, we should wait for the return of Prime Minister
Erdogan to Ankara. ***************************************************************************
You can subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter either at
or by sending a message to the Editor:
[email protected]. For comments or questions please contact the Editor: [email protected].

September 19, 2005
PRESS RELEASE
American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 5th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Bruce Janigian appointed Vice President for Development and Government
Relations of AUA

Oakland, CA – The Board of Trustees of the American University of Armenia
Corporation (AUAC) approved the appointment of Bruce Janigian, Esq. A.B.,
J.D., LL.M., as Vice President for Development and Government Relations of
the University.
Bruce Janigian is a member of the Public International Law and Policy Group,
and leads the US delegation in the European Academy of Sciences and Arts.
His international appointments have included the vice presidency and
directorship of the Salzburg Seminar, Fulbright and visiting professorships
in international law, attorney adviser for the US Agency for International
Development, and legal counsel for the US Navy. His California appointments
have included chairman of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board,
and deputy director and general counsel of the California Employment
Development Department. He has been a scholar at the Hoover Institution on
War, Revolution and Peace and has taught public and private international
law in the US and overseas for the past 30 years. He is a Phi Beta Kappa
graduate of UC Berkeley’s honors program in International Relations, and
holds law degrees from the University of California and the George
Washington University.
AUA is confident that Bruce Janigian will contribute immensely to the
development and prosperity of the university, and will help lead the
institution into new direction bringing AUA to a new level of
professionalism.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Glendale Independent Weekly
Monday, September 19, 2005

School Board President is a ‘Student of Politics’
Krekorian plans to run for 43rd District Assembly seat
By Liset Marquez
Paul Krekorian has always wanted to serve in public office and help the
community.
Krekorian, president of the Burbank Unified School District Board, was
inspired by his father, who was a marine.
“[My father], more than anybody, helped plant the inspiration that
government can be a tool for good accomplishments,” Krekorian said.
Krekorian said his father, who fought in World War II, taught him that it is
the responsibility of every citizen to do his or her part in trying to make
things better.
“Once he set me on that path, it has always been a life mission to try and
help the public in any way I can” he said. “It’s been my passion and my
hobby since then; I’ve been fascinated by the process of government.”
A political science major, Krekorian said he has considered himself a
student of politics for the past 30 years.
His learning path led him in 2002 to become the first Armenian American ever
to hold an elected position in Burbank when he won the School Board
presidency.
Krekorian said running for office made him more in tune with the needs of
the community.
“That’s one of the greatest things about the power of the government
process; people who govern interact with people and this forces them to
become knowledgeable,” Krekorian said. The knowledge gained, in turn, can be
used to shape policies addressing community issues, he added.
There were also lessons learned in defeat. In 2000, Krekorian ran for the
43rd District Assembly seat and lost by only 3,000 votes. He will give it a
second try in 2006, and many believe he will be a strong contender, with
Burbank Mayor Jef Vander Borght, Glendale Mayor Rafi Manoukian and Glendale
Council members Bob Yousefian, Ara Najarian and Dave Weaver supporting him.
Manoukian recently hosted a fundraiser at his residence for Krekorian’s
campaign.
“I think he has strong moral character and strong integrity,” said Glendale
City Clerk Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian, who was also at the fundraiser.
Kassakhian got to know Krekorian when he joined his campaign team in 2000.
“He has a vast knowledge and most amazing understanding of policy and
politics.”
“I think [Krekorian] is well prepared and capable,” Burbank Mayor Vander
Borght said. “He is best at solving problems; he’ll be what they need in
Sacramento.”
For Krekorian, serving as school board president has opened his eyes to a
big problem facing the state. He said his biggest focus in the next election
would be education, since it can have a big effect on the future of the
state.
“I think that for many years the state has not sufficiently devoted itself
to providing a first-rate public education system,” he said. “We largely
neglected our schools, increasingly over the years.”
If elected to the 43rd District, Krekorian said he would also like to be one
of the “guiding forces” in preserving the California environment because he
considers the state “a national and international treasure.”
As School Board president he has addressed environmental concerns in the
modernization of schools. He recently led the move to adopt one of the
strictest environmental standards in the state.
“We have changed the mindset of the district in terms of energy conservation
which has environmental benefits and financial benefits,” he said.
Krekorian has also been in the forefront of promoting the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, the issue of which is close to his heart.
His great grandmother’s brother was murdered by Ottoman Turks in the 1880s.
In the 1890s, a series of massacres forced Krekorian’s great grandmother’s
family to leave their village and sought refuge in the United States. Some
15 to 20 years later, the whole village was wiped out.
“Had they not left, they all would have been killed,” Krekorian said.
The recognition of the Genocide, protection of the environment and promotion
of equitable and quality education are just some of the issues that
Krekorian will continue to address as a public servant.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress