ARFD ON PRES.BUSH STANCE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

YEREVAN, APRIL 25. ARMINFO. Since his election US President George
Bush has avoided appropriately qualifying the Armenian Genocide, says
the Supreme Body of ARFD.

In his annual Apr 24 statement Bush refrained from qualifying the
events of early XX as “genocide” thereby ignoring relevant appeal by
178 congressmen and 32 senators. Appreciating Bush’s commitment to
join the world Armenians by his statement ARFD at the same time is
concerned over his evading clear definitions and thereby devaluating
the moral, historical and legal consequences of the Armenian
Genocide, says the director of the Washington office of Hay Dat Aram
Hambaryan.

Hat Dat is concerned that the White House policy of the Armenian
Genocide non recognition is part of its wider policy on the issue of
genocide as such – this being proved by Washington’s inactivity to
prerevent the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. And so Hay Dat is
cooperating with many NGOs for Washington to timely and effective
react to the Darfut conflict.

ARFD reminds that while meeting with the Armenian community of
Michigan in Feb 2000 presidential candidate Bush promised to call the
early XX events genocide but as president has failed to keep his
promise and keeps opposing any legislative initiatives to condemn
this crime against humanity.

MAYOR OF IGDIR, TURKEY, INTENDS TO SUE ARMENIANS AT INTERNATIONAL COURT

YEREVAN, APRIL 25. ARMINFO. The mayor of Igdir, Turkey, Nurettin Aras
is going to sue the Armenians at the International Court for
“deporting Turks from Yerevan during WWI and 30s of XX,” reports
Milliyet (Turkey).

Aras has started searching for Turks born in and deported from
Yerevan. He claims that part of them moved to Igdir.

NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS OF KRASNODAR ASK PROSECUTOR
GENERAL OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION TO APPOINT INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATORY
GROUP ON CASE OF ARMENIAN MASSACRES IN NOVOROSSIYSK

YEREVAN, APRIL 25. ARMINFO. A number of nongovernmental organizations
of Krasnodar region, as well as representatives of the intelligentsia
appealed to Prosecutor General of Russia Vladimir Ustinov with a
request to appoint an independent investigatory group regarding the
case on Armenian massacres in Novorossiysk.

The authors of application ask Vladimir Ustinov to pay attention to
discrimination of ethnic minorities and systematic infringement of
human rights in Krasnodar. “Taking into account the fact that no
criminal case connected with discrimination of the rights of ethnic
minorities has not been brought to the court during the last several
years, we ask You to appoint an investigatory group regarding the
case on conflict of a group of Cossacks with Armenians in town of
Novorossiysk”. The representatives of the NGOs also required from the
Prosecutor General’s Office sooner investigation of the case,
detection and punishment of the people, who sow international
dissension in Krasnodar.

Representatives of the Novorosiysk Human Rights Committee, the head
of the community “Kurmanch”, lawyers of the program “Migration and
law”, the leader of the Turks-Meskhetins of Krasnodar region, the
chairman of the Krasnodar regional NGO “Human Rights Center”,
Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper of the Armenians of Russia
“Yerkramas”, representatives of the cultural-economic commonwealth,
members of the Union of Russian writers, chaplain of International
Evangelistic Alliance, the chairman f the Department of General
Psychology of Novorossyisk branch of the Moscow humanitarian-economic
institute, members of the board of the association “Memorial” and
other signed to the appeal.

PACE MONITORING COMMITTEE TO DRAW CONCLUSION ON INCLUSION OF ISSUE OF
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS IN ARMENIA IN AGENDA OF PACE FORTHCOMING
SESSION

YEREVAN, APRIL 25. ARMINFO. On April 25 the PACE Monitoring Committee
will draw a conclusion on inclusion of the issue of constitutional
reforms in Armenia in the agenda of PACE forthcoming session.

It were 24 European deputies headed by Russell Johnston was initiated
the inclusion of the issue in the PACE agenda. This initiative aroused
dissatisfaction of the head of the Armenian Delegation to PACE Tigran
Torosyan and Leader of the United Labor party Gurgen Arsenyan. The
remaining members of the Armenian delegation, including the
representative of the opposition bloc Justice Shavarsh Kocharyan, Head
of the Deputy Group “People’s Deputy” Karen Karapetyan and
Representative of the Supreme Body of ARFD Armen Roustamyan, see
nothing blameworthy in the possible discussion of the constitutional
reforms in Armenia at a session of PACE. To note, the constitutional
reforms are among the country’s commitments to the CE. The referendum
on constitutional reforms in Armenia is planed for late spring – early
summer 2005.

TWO CHILDREN FELL INTO HRAZDAN RIVER APRIL 24, SEARCH STILL CONTINUES

YEREVAN, APRIL 25. ARMINFO. Yesterday two boys fell into the Hrazdan
River. The press-service of the Armenian Governmental Emergency
Situations Department informs ARMINFO that on April 24 approximately
at 14:00 near the settlement Dashtavan, Ararat region, residents of
the village of Darakert Hayk Hovhannissyan (1995) and Garnik Grigoryan
(1994) fell into the river. Rescuers arrived in the place, and the
police and local residents were involved in the search as well. To
contribute to the search, from 16:00 to 21:45 the water poured into
river from Lake Yerevan was blocked. Today in the morning the search
of the missing children has been resumed.

RALLY IN FRONT OF TURKISH EMBASSY IN MOSCOW

MOSCOW, APRIL 25. ARMINFO. A traditional April rally of the Armenian
community in front of the Turkish Embassy in Moscow this year exceeded
all the previous rallies as to its scales. The Moscow authorities
allowed gathering of 300 people and not 100 as it was during the
previous years.

According to ARMINFO’s special correspondent to Moscow, this time
Chairman of the Russian-Armenian Commonwealth organization Yuri
Navoyan led the rally. In his words, this year the community managed
not only to achieve permission for more number of participants in the
rally, but also to block the street in front of the Embassy. The
police officers inspected the rally-participants at special
checkpoints. As soon as 300 people had passed the checkpoint, the
access to the rally was closed. The participants occupied the whole
square approaching the building of the Embassy. To note, the Armenian
community has not been allowed to approach the Embassy before.

All the Armenian organizations in Moscow – Russian Armenian
Commonwealth, the Union of Armenians of Russia, Moscow Armenian
Community, the Club of Armenian Culture Ararat, and the National Club
“Miabanutyun” participated in the rally. Youth organization –
Association of Armenian Students “Mitk,” UAR Youth Organization,
Students Organization of Armenian Apostolic Church Diocese were
especially active. Among the flags of Armenia and the Armenian
organizations in Moscow, were also flags of Russia and Germany. A
group of German volunteers also participated in the rally as well as
the organization Young Lawyers of Russia who bore with them silk
posters condemning the vicious crime in Ottoman Turkey against the
Armenian people and the whole humanity.

According to preliminary calculations, if allowed, the rally
participants would number 1,000 people. They observed the demand of
the police in the course of the rally and displayed civil
consciousness.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NOT ONLY TURKEY ACCOUNTS FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BUT ALSO GERMANY:
CONFEDERATION OF WORKING TURKS

YEREVAN, APRIL 25. ARMINFO. Confederation of Working Turks (KPT)
demands from Ankara to recognize Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey
in 1915 and to compensate for perpetrated crime, KPT Head Osgu Jan
stated at today’s press-conference in Yerevan.

He informed that KPT representatives are in Armenia to participate at
actions timed to the 90th anniversary of Armenian Genocide. “We feel
the bitterness and pain of Armenian people and express readiness to
fight for recognition and condemnation of Genocide”, he stated.

Jan stressed that not only Turkish authorities but also German
leadership, supported Ottoman Turkey in every way, are responsible for
Armenian Genocide and massacres of Greeks and Assyrians. Jan stated
that 1.5 mln Armenians were murdered and hundreds of thousands of
Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians were removed forcedly as a result of
Genocide. “Ottoman Turkey authorities annihilated not only these
peoples but also their culture, ancient civilization and historical
heritage”, he noted.

In his words, present Turkish authorities continue the Young Turks’
policy and annihilate representatives of intelligentsia criticized
Ankara’s activity. Jan noted that Turkish authorities fulfill
chauvinistic policy continuing to recognize Armenian Genocide. At the
same time, he stressed that the people denying its past has no
future. Jan did not rule out that Turkey under the pressure of
international community will be forced to recognize Armenian Genocide
sooner or later.

He stressed that if even Ankara recognizes Armenian Genocide, Turkey
will not become a civilized and democratic state but remain a fascist
power. Jan also stressed that there is no place in the European Union
for Turkey.

HOPES FOR RECOGNITION OF CRIMES OF OTTOMAN TURKEY BY “EUROPEANIZED”
TURKEY ARE BASELESS: ANDRANIK MIHRANYAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 25. ARMINFO. Hopes for recognition of crimes of Ottoman
Turkey by the “Europeanized” Turkey are baseless, stated politologist
Andranik Mihranyan at the Round Table organized by “Voice of Russia”
Russian State Radio Company, Apr 24.

In his opinion, the fact of Turkey’s accession to the EU in itself
means neither recognition nor repentance, it only delays the problem
and makes the case more neglected. As an example Mihranyan noted
Latvia and Estonia conducting the most undisguised discrimination
policy of considerable part of their countries’ population when be a
member of the EU. Chairman of Armenians Union of Russia and
International Congress of Armenia Ara Abrahamyan stressed that,
moreover, recognition of Genocide means for Armenia the guarantee of
its further security. Presenter and Chairman of “Voice of Russia”
Armen Hovhannissyan especially accented attention of both his
interlocutors and listeners to the circumstance that the problem of
1915 Genocide concerns not only Armenians but it is common to all
mankind. In his words, this first Genocide of the 20th century had not
been condemned by the world community, thus, became a prologue for
next bloody crimes.

FORMULATION ‘BROAD AUTONOMY TO ARMENIANS OF NAGORNO KARABAKH’ – VEILED
FORMULA OF SURVIVAL OF ARMENIAN POPULATION: KARABAKH SPECIALIST IN
POLITICAL STUDY

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 25. ARMINFO. The statement of Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev on readiness “to provide high status of autonomy to the
Armenians residing in Nagorno Karabakh with use of the positive
experience of autonomy in Europe” evidently shows the unwillingness of
official Baku to make a step towards all embracing settlement of
Karabakh conflict. Karabakh specialist in political study David
Babayan made this statement commenting to ARMNIFO on the Azerbaijani
President’s statement at GUUAM Summit in Kishinev.

“First of all, the idea of any autonomy as part of Azerbaijan is
inadmissible for Nagorno Karabakh. We have already had such autonomy
for 70 years and everyone knows which it has led to. Second, the
wording ‘autonomy’ itself is discriminatory in its essence,” he said.
According to him, speaking of autonomy, Ilham Aliyev did not mean the
Nagorno Karabakh, but the Armenians residing there. “In the given
context autonomy can suppose just cultural autonomy and nothing more.
And the characteristic Aliyev gave to the conflicts in the GUUAM area
– ‘result of aggressive separatism’ is another evidence of it.”
Babayan said “to prevent ‘aggressive separatism’ one must not provide
broad autonomy.” “This separatism is either recognized independent, or
neutralized. The notorious formulation ‘broad autonomy to the
Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh’ is a veiled formula of survival of the
Armenian population on its historical Motherland. For Nagorno Karabakh
it is naturally inadmissible and absurd,” Babayan said.

REGULAR MONITORING OF OSCE ON CONTACT LINE OF ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI
ARMED FORCES FIXED ON APRIL 26

YEREVAN, APRIL 25. ARMINFO. A regular monitoring of OSCE on the
contact line of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Armed Forces will take
place on April 26. Tavush region (Armenia) and Gazakh region
(Azerbaijani) will be monitored, The press- service of the Armenian
Defense Ministry informs ARMINFO, Personal Representative of OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk will participate in the monitoring
on the Armenian party.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress