Six criminal cases on corruption charges launched in Armenia in eight
months
Mediamax news agency
23 Aug 05
Yerevan, 23 August: In eight months of its work, the anti-corruption
department of the Armenian Prosecutor-General’s Office has instituted
six criminal cases on corruption charges.
The cases were instituted following complaints lodged by people in
writing, the head of the department, Migran Minasyan, said.
Department employees established that there had been cases of major
bribe-taking by public servants, social workers, employees of the
Armenian land survey committee and others. Minasyan said that no
cases of corruption had been registered at the Prosecutor-General’s
Office.
He also stressed the importance of the department’s existence and
called on the public to complain to relevant agencies in order to
remove corrupt officers from public services.

AZG Armenian Daily #148, 23/08/2005
Ecology
‘OUR ECOLOGICAL RIGHTS ARE EQUAL TO COMMON VALUES’
Seminar of Youth Club’s Federation Launches
The Federation of Youth’s Clubs organizes “Ecological Rights Are Equal to
Common Rights” youth’s seminar with the assistance of “Youth. Environment.
Europe” international organization and “Alert” foundation from Netherlands,
on the shore of the lake Sevan, on August 19-24. The seminar is dedicated to
preservation of environment, negative impact of people on nature, stability
of atmosphere, harmony between the human beings and nature and a number of
other important issues.
The representatives of about 25 various organizations from Armenia discussed
ecological issues, issues concerning cooperation and ecological rights. The
peculiarity of the program is that the initiators envisaged holding the
arrangements on the shore of the lake, communicating with the campers on the
shore. The Youth’s Clubs’ Foundation published leaflets for the special
seminars that contain information on the national park of Sevan, some piece
of advice. The booklets will be delivered among the campers. In other words,
such arrangements teach the citizens how to rest in the nature without
making harm to it.
By Gohar Gevorgian

Armenian-Georgian talks are not anti-Russian – president
Arminfo
22 Aug 05
Yerevan, 22 August: Friendly relations between the Armenian and
Georgian presidents will definitely tell on mutual relations between
ordinary residents of both countries. This is how Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan commented for journalists on the results of his
unofficial meeting with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili at his
summer residence on Lake Sevan today.
[Passage omitted: reported details]
Commenting on a recent article carried by the Russian newspaper
Nezavisimaya Gazeta, which said that the current Armenian-Russian
[presumably Armenian-Georgian] unofficial talks allegedly have an
anti-Russian undertone, Robert Kocharyan described it as “a fruit of a
morbid and limited imagination of the author of that article”.
Everything possible should be done for the interests of the two
countries not to collide in the South Caucasus, in Armenia and
Georgia. On the contrary, if there are some points for collision, they
should be softened, and the current relations may be very useful in
these terms.
Only people with a morbid imagination can look for an undertone here,
like the said article did it, the Armenian president believes.

AZG Armenian Daily #148, 23/08/2005
Visit
THIS TIME ON THE SHORE OF SEVAN
President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia paid an unofficial visit to Armenia
August 21-22. At the summer residence of Armenian President on the shore of
the Lake Sevan, Mikheil Saakashvili and Robert Kocharian discussed issues
concerning Armenian-Georgian relations and present socio-economic situation
in Javakhk.
This was the second visit of the Georgian President since elected president.
The previous visit, the official one, took place in 2004. Fortunately, no
one attempted President Saakashvili’s life in Armenia neither this time nor
previous (the reason might well be the fact that Vladimir Arutyunov is
jailed).
From: Baghdasarian

AZG Armenian Daily #148, 23/08/2005
Literature
SAROYAN PRIZE FINDS WINNERS
Mark Arax and Rick Wartzman, authors of “The King of California”, and George
Hagen, author of “The Laments”, won the biennial William Saroyan
International Prize for Writing on July 19, Armenian Mirror Spectator
informs. The first book received the Prize in non-fiction category and the
second one in fiction category. The Stanford University Libraries and the
William Saroyan Foundation presented the prizes, $12.500 each. The Saroyan
Foundation was created in 1966 to encourage beginner writers. In 1990, the
trustees handed Saroyan’s literary legacy to the Stanford University. This
year’s contest gathered 125 participants in each category. Prizewinner Mark
Arax is a famous journalist from the Los Angeles Times living in Fresno, CA.
Wartzman lives in Los Angeles and is the editor of business-economic section
of the paper. Arax and Wartzman document the creation of a cotton kingdom in
the San Joaquin Valley in “The King of California”. Hagen lives in Brooklyn,
and “The Laments”, being his first novel, follows a family who travels from
Africa to England to New Jersey.
By Hakob Tsulikian

AZG Armenian Daily #148, 23/08/2005
Adventure
‘CILICIA’ REACHES FINAL DESTINATION IN LONDON
Second Stage of Navigation Completes
“Cilicia” completed the second stage of its “Navigation in 7 Seas,” reaching
Portsmouth. The trip lasted about a year.
RA President Robert Kocharian send a congratulation massage to Karen
Balayan, the captain of the ship, and the crew. The message says the
following: “Overcoming long distances and hazards, you proudly sailed under
the flag of our motherland, displaying strong will and firmness.” Arkady
Ghukasian, president of NKR, said that it is symbolic that the first stage
of the navigation ended on the eve of the 14th anniversary of Nagorno
Karabakh’s independence. “I am greatly proud of you, as well as all the
Artsakhi people are. I am sure that your deed will be an invaluable
phenomenon for the further generations and they will follow your example.”
Sos Sargsian’s letter is also very exciting. “I was with you in my mind
during your navigation. I always talked to Zory Balayan and the rest of you
on the phone, and only after that my soul rested in serenity. I am with you
at the very moment when “Cilicia” has reached its final harbor. I am
grateful to you that today we have “Cilicia” and I hope it will return to
its native Sevan.”
Serge Sargsian, RA defense minister, remembers the day when he first sailed
“Cilicia” in 2003. “Few people believed that this really daring navigation
would be a success. But one only needed to get acquainted with the crew that
built the ship, to see its middle age construction, to realize how
responsible and devoted these brave people are.” Mr. Sargsian who
accompanied “Cilicia” in the Strait of Gibraltar experienced unforgettable
moments. Yervand Zakaryan, Yerevan mayor, also congratulated the crew of the
ship. “This historical event let the flag of the independent Armenia wave in
the Atlantic Ocean after 800 years,” he said.
By Ruzan Poghosian

AZG Armenian Daily #148, 23/08/2005
Constitution
ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTION IS CHALLENGE FOR ARMENIA
Artur Baghdasarian, chairman of RA National Assembly, and Rene van der
Linden, president of PACE, emphasized the importance of making
constitutional reforms in the course of the joint press conference. Mr. van
der Linden emphasized that PACE is a consulting body and doesn’t define any
penalties. While Armenia has undertaken certain commitments on making
constitutional reforms and if we fail to meet them, it may have negative
impact on the relations between Armenia and PACE, as well as on our
relations with CE. PACE president said that the adoption of the constitution
is a challenge. He added that the authorities and the opposition carry the
responsibility for that, as the constitution is for the whole country and
not for any particular party or the authorities. Mr. van der Linden
emphasized the importance of the awareness, especially in the issue of
adoption the constitution.
Artur Baghdasarian confirmed that they are on the path of democratization in
Armenia. Chairman of RA National Assembly give consent for broadcasting the
August 29 sitting dedicated to constitutional reforms.
Both speakers emphasized that the adoption of constitutional rights is of
great importance for the further development and progress of Armenia, as
well as for its authority.
By Nana Petrosian

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, August 22, 2005

Contact: Armen Carapetian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

COLORADO CONGRESSMAN ACKNOWLEDGES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO CONSTITUENTS

— ANCA-WR Praises Rep. Tancredo for His Unwavering Stance

CASTLE ROCK, CO – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western
Region (ANCA-WR) today praised Republican Representative Thomas G. Tancredo
(CO-6) for his moral stance on the Armenian Genocide.
In letters the Congressman sent in response to constituents asking for his
support of the Armenian Genocide resolutions pending in the 109th Congress,
Rep. Tancredo wrote “I believe that the atrocities committed against the
Armenian people is worthy of the term ‘genocide’. It was carried out the
Ottoman Empire in 1915-1916, and large numbers of Armenians were
methodically massacred.”
Colorado Armenian American community leaders and activists who began
receiving the letters this month expressed their appreciation for the
Congressman’s candid remarks. Long-time ANCA-WR supporter and community
leader, Dr. Garo Chalian, and ANC activist Simon Maghakyan, who were among
the constituents receiving Rep. Tancredo’s response, were encouraged by the
Congressman’s clear and unambiguous statement. Last week, ANCA Government
Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian met members of Representative’s staff in
Washington, DC to extend thanks to the Congressman and to discuss pressing
foreign affairs matters of concern to Armenian Americans.
“Congressman Tancredo voted for passage of the Armenian Genocide resolution
in 2000,” cited Steven Dadaian, Chairman of the ANCA-WR. “Having his support
again is critical as he serves on the House International Relations
Committee.”
The State of Colorado has a growing and vibrant Armenian American community.
Armenians of Colorado, an organization dedicated to advancing understanding
of Armenian history, culture, religion, language, and heritage, has
consistently maintained strong ties with the Colorado state officials and
its Congressional delegation. In 2003, the Colorado General Assembly
permanently designated April 24th “Colorado Day of Remembrance of the
Armenian Genocide” urged the United States Congress to likewise act to
commemorate the Armenian Genocide.
Two resolutions dealing with the Armenian Genocide have been introduced in
the 109th session of the House of Representatives. H.Res. 316 was introduced
on June 14, 2005 by Rep. George Radanovich (CA-19), and Rep. Adam Schiff
introduced H.Con.Res. 195 on June 29th. Both H.Res. 316 and H.Con. Res. 195
enjoy strong bi-partisan support, to date having earned 112 and 83
cosponsors, respectively. The resolutions have been referred to the House
International Relations Committee and are currently pending markup in the
Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations,
where Rep. Tancredo serves.
The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots
political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of
the Armenian-American community on a broad range of issues.
#####

AZG Armenian Daily #148, 23/08/2005
Karabakh diary
KARABAKH CANNOT GET SIDETRACKED
The Central Electoral Committee of Nagorno Karabakh called the appeal of the
Azerbaijani CEC to the people of Karabakh on the eve of parliamentary
elections a violent intervention in the inner affairs of sovereign Artsakh.
A statement by NKR CEC reads, “Azerbaijan is empowered neither with legal
nor especially with moral right to call on the Artsakhi people to take part
in elections in the republic. The people of Nagorno Karabakh realizes its
electoral right in accordance with the constitution of NKR, exclusively
within the frontiers of its own state, which secures its social and civil
rights.
The official Baku, which organized and carried out mass killings and
eviction of hundreds of thousands Armenians in former Soviet Azerbaijan and
provoked large-scale war against NKR and its people, now tries to play a
protector of the rights of people of Nagorno Karabakh. Such a stance is even
more impudent when considered the neglect to basic rights of Artsakhi
people, including the right of self-determination, the seizure of a
considerable part of NKR territory, the everlasting blockade of NKR and the
creation of atmosphere of intolerance against Armenians. Azerbaijan, which
violates the constitutional rights and liberties of its own citizens, cannot
guarantee security for the elementary rights of life and dignity of NKR
citizens. This proves that the people of Karabakh has chosen right and
irreversible path of independent development.
The people of Karabakh has its own state that declared its independence on 6
January of 1992 in accordance with a national referendum held earlier. The
population of Nagorno Karabakh, whose civil rights are documented in the
constitution of NKR and are pronouncedly protected, is actively involved in
the inner political life of the republic, in strengthening and further
development of civil and state institutions, including the National Assembly
of NKR. During the years of independence Nagorno Karabakh has organized 3
presidential, 4 parliamentary and 3 elections to local governance bodies.
International observers found all of them transparent, free and just”.
The statement calls on Azerbaijan at the same time to refrain from
groundless statements that mislead the world community and to direct its
efforts to a constructive dialogue aiming to establish stability in the
region and to achieve peaceful coexistence of the two people.
The head of CEC of NKR, Sergey Nasibian, told daily Azg on occasion of the
statement that this step of Azerbaijan is directed to the inner audience, as
the neighboring state is perhaps anxious about the forthcoming elections on
November 6. Azerbaijan has carried many elections in the course of a
decade-long confrontation but this was the first time it employs such
tactics. This, perhaps, speaks well of the authorities’ fears as regards
inner instability of the country.
By Kim Gabrielian from Stepanakert
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Chronicle of Higher Education
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Duke U. Student Is Free From Jail in Armenia After Conviction on
Book-Exportation Charges
By AISHA LABI

HEADLINES
A Duke University graduate student who was jailed for two months in
Armenia was released on Tuesday and given a two-year suspended
sentence for attempting to export old books from the country
illegally.
The student, Yektan Turkyilmaz, is a Turkish citizen who is a
Ph.D. candidate in cultural anthropology. After a weeklong trial, he
was convicted of violating an Armenian law that prohibits the export
of books older than 50 years without permission. He could have been
sentenced to four to eight years in prison, but the court opted not to
imprison Mr. Turkyilmaz after a last-minute request by prosecutors,
who said Mr. Turkyilmaz had cooperated and had partially acknowledged
his guilt.
Mr. Turkyilmaz was arrested on June 17 as he tried to leave Armenia
for Turkey with about 90 second-hand books he had purchased legally at
bookstalls in the open-air market in Yerevan, the Armenian capital. He
was held for more than a month before he was charged. Scholars from
around the world, including many Armenians, reacted with outrage at
his detention and more than 200 signed an open letter of protest to
Armenia’s president, Robert Kocharian (The Chronicle, August 1).
Orin Starn, a professor of cultural anthropology at Duke who is
Mr. Turkyilmaz’s dissertation adviser, traveled to Armenia for the
trial. In an e-mail message from Yerevan on Wednesday, he said that
“all of the books that Yektan had were related to his research on
Armenian history, culture, and politics.”
Mr. Starn said Mr. Turkyilmaz “was completely unaware of the law
prohibiting the export of books older than 50 years from Armenia; all
of the booksellers who testified at the trial related that they, in
fact, were either unaware of the law themselves or had not told Yektan
about it.”
Mr. Turkyilmaz’s dissertation is to be titled “Imagining ‘Turkey,’
Creating a Nation: The Politics of Geography and State Formation in
Eastern Anatolia, 1908-1938.” The period that Mr. Turkyilmaz’s
dissertation research focuses on and its role in fostering modern
Turkish and Armenian nationalism is at the heart of continued tensions
between Turkey and Armenia. An especially inflammatory subject is the
deaths of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians in 1915: Armenians
characterize the killings as genocide, while Turkey officially rejects
this view.
Mr. Turkyilmaz is fluent in Armenian, as well as modern and Ottoman
Turkish, different dialects of Kurdish, French, and English. His
fluency allowed him to address the court in his own defense.
“I regret what happened and accept that as a result of my
inconsistency and indifference, I did not know legal requirements
existing in the Republic of Armenia and failed to obtain permission
for the books in a manner defined by the law,” Mr. Turkyilmaz said in
his final statement at the trial. “As I said earlier, I never sought
to violate the laws of the Republic of Armenia or to cause any damage
to the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian people.”
Mr. Turkyilmaz is free from jail but is not permitted to leave Armenia
until the sentence becomes official, which is expected to take place
in two weeks.
When Mr. Turkyilmaz was arrested, the books he was carrying were
confiscated, as were his laptop computer, his camera, and computer
disks containing his research materials. In announcing the verdict,
the trial judge said that the government would return all of the
research material, according to Mr. Starn.
“We hope, and expect,” Mr. Starn wrote, “that the Armenian authorities
will allow Yektan to leave the country at the end of this 15-day
period with the return of all these materials, which are a crucial
part of Yektan’s dissertation research.”
Despite his incarceration, Mr. Turkyilmaz said after his release that
he was looking forward to doing more research at the Armenian National
Archives and was hoping to visit them as soon as possible, perhaps
even before his departure, according to a Radio Free Europe report. “I
have not yet finished my work there and am glad that I will stay in
Yerevan for 15 more days,” he said. “I love this city.”