Erdogan: No Chinese wall between Armenia and Turkey

Pan Armenian News

ERDOGAN: NO CHINESE WALL BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY

30.04.2005 03:39

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ There is no Chinese wall between Armenia and Turkey,
stated Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, reported RFE/RL. In
his words, Turkey is ready to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia if
Yerevan agrees to form a joint historical commission on research of the
Armenian Genocide. «On the one hand, political relations could be
established. On the other hand, the work (on the archives) could continue,’
the Turkish Premier stated. As reported by Reuters, Erdogan did not speak of
restoring full diplomatic relations, however his statement evidences Turkey
wishes to normalize relations with Armenia.

Laws more important than peresonal opinion

A1plus

| 12:23:09 | 30-04-2005 | Politics |

LAWS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PERSONAL OPINION

According to the RA Constitution, the power in our country belongs to our
people. The same Constitution states that the people express their opinion
via elections and referenda. However the society does not have the right to
initiate a referendum. When commenting on the issue first Armenian Ombudsman
Larisa Alaverdyan said, «I suppose the issue is subject to discussion and
should receive a positive development».

Nevertheless, she was cautious to express her opinion. He did not openly
protest the citizens’ right for referendum on any issue. «I by no means say
that it conflicts with the legislative field. Any expansion of human rights
and approach to the international norms is admissible and we welcome it.
However the circumstances of state development should be taken into
consideration and clauses conflicting with the Constitution should not be
adopted. This is the fundamental approach by our part’, she said. To make
the approach wightier Larisa Alaverdyan resorted to international standards.
`International norms speak of correspondence to geopolitical and personal
conditions’.

Being the human rights defender and witnessing the imperfection of the RA
laws Larisa Alaverdyan nevertheless bring forth the condition of not
conflicting with the laws. When responding to the question whether the RA
Constitution should empower citizens with the right to hold referendums the
human rights defender said, «It is a very specific issue. I support items
providing for expansion of human rights. However it should be legal.»

Lena Badeyan

Jerusalem: Holy Saturday service passes quietly

YNetNews.com, Israel
April 30 2005

Holy Saturday service passes quietly

Greek Orthodox and Armenian followers mark Holy Saturday with flame
lighting ceremony at Church of the Sepulchre
By Efrat Weiss and Shani Mizrachi

JERUSALEM – The Greek Orthodox ceremony marking Holy Saturday was
held at the Church of the Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s old city Saturday
without disturbance, despite police concerns of possible
confrontation.

More than 100,000 tourists and believers gathered at the church to
participate in the `Sabbath of Light’ ceremony.

The ceremony, in which a holy flame is lit, is considered one of the
most important ceremonies in Christianity marking the day before
Jesus’s resurrection and the day after his crucifixion.

According to tradition, Jerusalem’s Greek and Armenian patriarchs
lead the ceremony. The Greek patriarch enters the tomb and lights the
flame. His Armenian counterpart then leaves the site with the burning
flame.

Under control

Meanwhile, Jerusalem district police commander Ilan Franco, his
deputy Shimon Koren, Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi and Interior
Minster Gideon Sa’ar were present at the site.

No disturbances were reported, despite police concerns of possible
protest by Greek Orthodox followers who demonstrated Friday in
protest to the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, Irineos I.

Both Christian and several Muslim Palestinians rallied outside the
Church waving Palestinian flags in protest to Irineos, who has been
accused of selling Greek Orthodox Church land in Jerusalem to Jews.

Irineos had been conducting Good Friday mass inside the church at the
time.

,7340,L-3079246,00.html

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0

BBC wants permanent frequency in Armenia

Pan Armenian News

BBC WANTS PERMANENT FREQUENCY IN ARMENIA

29.04.2005 09:15

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ BBC World Service would like to have a permanent frequency
in Armenia, the TV Company administration stated at the meeting with
Armenian Ambassador to the UK and Northern Ireland Vahe Gabrielian, RA
Foreign Ministry’s press service reported. When a guest to BBC studio Vahe
Gabrielian commented on the Karabakh conflict settlement, the Armenian
Genocide and the domestic situation in Armenia. He also gave an interview to
Londoninfo weekly and responded to the questions of the BBC Turkish and
Armenian offices. To note, presently BBC broadcasts in Armenia via Van and
Impulse radio stations, which provide only an hour’s air per day.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Book entitled “Armenian Genocide and Historic Memory” in Turkey

Pan Armenian News

BOOK ENTITLED `ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND HISTORIC MEMORY’ ISSUED IN TURKEY

29.04.2005 08:37

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Istanbul-based Belge publishing house with the assistance
of human rights activist Ragip Zakarolu published a book by member of the
Yerevan Institute-Museum of Genocide, Doctor of Philology Verjine Svazlian,
Yerkir online reported. The book entitled `Armenian Genocide and Historic
Memory’ was published in the Turkish language to help the Turkish society to
learn the truth about historic facts. The book tells about the carnages
perpetrated in 1915-1922 and includes annotations in the Armenian, French,
German and Russian languages, evidence of over 65o people, who survived the
Genocide, as well as photos and maps. To note, Mr. Zakaoglu was invited to
take part in `Ultimate Crime, Ultimate Challenge. Genocide and Human Rights’
International Conference held Yerevan recently. However, due to some
personal reasons he did not arrive.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Editor of Turkish-Armenian newspaper stands trial for insulting Turk

Pan Armenian News

EDITOR OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN NEWSPAPER STANDS TRIAL FOR INSULTING TURKEY

29.04.2005 08:29

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish journalist Hrant Dink is standing trial for
insulting Turkey, AR-Ankara reported. The editor of Agos Turkish-Armenian
newspaper was accused for statements made 3 years ago in the Turkish town of
Sanliurfa. However at that time the legal proceedings were postponed. At
that time Dink criticized the obligation due to which Turkish schoolchildren
every morning perform the Turkish national hymn and swear. In his opinion,
there should be no place for nationalism in Turkey, which is an aspirant to
the EU. However the Turkish government promised to apply some restrictions
to the freedom of expression. It should be also noted that Hrant Dink took
part in the events organized in Yerevan on the occasion of the Armenian
Genocide 90-th anniversary.

Union of Youth of Russia and Armenia new orgnization founded

Pan Armenian News

UNION OF YOUTH OF RUSSIA AND ARMENIA NEW ORGANIZATION FOUNDED

30.04.2005 02:30

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ To implement youth programs on cooperation between Russia
and Armenia and raising the patriotic spirit of the youth a new youth
organization Union of Youth of Russia and Armenia UYRA is founded within the
structure of Non-Commercial Partnership of the Association of the
Russian-Armenian Business Cooperation, reported the Yerkramas, the newspaper
of Armenians of Russia. The most important task for the new organization is
to form a common youth policy in the two states, drawing public attention to
youth problems, activation of the young generation’s participation in the
social and political life, forming a common information, educational,
economic and cultural space. The UYRA will promote spiritual intimacy of the
peoples of Russia and Armenia, many-years’ friendship and cooperation
tradition between the nations. In the opinion of UYRA head, Chairman of the
Youth Movement and member of the Supreme Council of the Russian Party of
Workers’ Self-Government Karen Dasoyan, the peoples of Russia and Armenai
becoming closer fits the demands of the time and is determined by the
current major geo-political processes.

Government of Germany pledges fresh assistance to Armenia

Armenpress

GOVERNMENT OF GERMANY PLEDGES FRESH ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA

YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS: Armenian finance minister Vartan
Khachatrian said today the government of Germany pledged 10 million euros in
aid to Armenia for 2005-2006. He said the agreement was reached during an
April 17 meeting of Armenian-German intergovernmental commission on economic
cooperation.
Khachatrian said 7.5 million euros of the aid are envisaged for mortgage
lending, of which 6 million euros will be a credit for supporting the
establishment of primary mortgage market and 1.5 million euros will be
directed for technical support to the project.
Another 2 million euros of the aid will be channeled towards
accomplishment of a water supply project for Armavir region and another 2
million toward building a waste water removal station, the rest will be
utilized for purposes of technical support and staff training .
Khachatrian said the German KfW bank intends to take place in the
Armenian market of providing trade credits, saying it is ready to release
additional 15 million euros towards development of small and medium-sized
businesses.
The minister said the German side has already made available around 107
million euros as part of this program.
He said the German bank is also ready to give 20 million euros for
reconstruction of a chain of small hydro power plants, known as
Sevan-Hrazdan Cascade and the Yerevan hydro power plant and 24.5 million
euros for construction of Lori Berd hydro power plant.

Armenian boxers reserve two bronze medals

Armenpress

ARMENIANS BOXERS RESERVE TWO BRONZE MEDALS

YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS: Hovhannes Danielian (48 kg) from Yerevan
and Myasnik Malkhasian (85 kg) from Etchmiadzin have managed to slip into
semi-finals of an international boxing tournament in Ukraine’s Donetsk that
has brought some 100 athletes from around 15 countries.
Whatever the outcome, Armenian athletes have already reserved two bronze
medals. Four other Armenian boxers failed to fight for medals.

Bigotry Monitor: Armenian Church Defaced With Graffiti

Volume 5, Number 17
Friday, April 29, 2005

BIGOTRY MONITOR

A Weekly Human Rights Newsletter on Antisemitism, Xenophobia, and
Religious Persecution in the Former Communist World and Western Europe

EDITOR: CHARLES FENYVESI
(News and Editorial Policy within the sole discretion of the editor)

Published by UCSJ: Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union
___________________________________________________________

ARMENIAN CHURCH DEFACED WITH GRAFFITI ON ARMENIANS AND JEWS. For the
second time within a year, an Armenian church in Lviv, Ukraine was
daubed with anti-Armenian and antisemitic slogans, according to an April
26 report by the Jewish.ru news web site. The graffiti, stating that
“Armenians are the second Kikes — get out of Lviv,” was accompanied by
a swastika. A similar incident in September 2004 remains unsolved by
local police.

_____________________________________________________________
Copyright (c) 2005. UCSJ. All rights reserved.

Bigotry Monitor welcomes use of its contents without prior approval on
the condition that full attribution is given to “Bigotry Monitor —
UCSJ’s weekly newsletter”. We would also like to see a copy of the
publication.

Send letters to the editor to: [email protected]

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