WE HAVE NOTHING TO DISCUSS WITH THE TURKS

A1plus
| 15:18:10 | 20-04-2005 | Social |

Immediately before the international conference «Genocide and Human
Rights» started in Yerevan the RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan
had a short conversation with the journallists. They asked him why
Armenia refuses the Turkish offer to create an Armenian-Turkish
Committee to investigate the reality of the Armenian Genocide.

The Prime Minister said that for the Armenians the Genocide is a fact.
«There is nothing to discuss here», he said. The Prime Minister was
reminded that the Turks have invited the Armenians to investigate
the Turkish archives, and we say that they are forged. What does
Mr. Margaryan think about ot ? «If they give us the opportunity to
use the Turkish archives, we will with pleasure». He said.

And does he consider it possible for the EU to make the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide a must for Turkey to anter the EU ? «The issue
is already being discussed by the EU members», said Mr. Margasyan. And
is it possible for the EU to raise the question in October? «They
raise is during the process, not at the end of it», said the Prime
Minister and left.

–Boundary_(ID_y9H+VQM8raaXr2GMhjSorQ)–

PATRIARCH CONGRATULATES NEW POPE

ISTANBUL (Lraper Church Bulletin, 20/04/2005) – His Beatitude Mesrob II,
Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey, sent a congratulatory letter
to the New Pope, His Holiness Benedict XVI.

The content of the letter is as follows:

“Your Holiness,
Beloved Brother in Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ,

It is with great spiritual joy that I congratulate you on the occasion of
your election, on 19 April 2005, as the 264th incumbent of the Holy See of
Rome.

The passing and the interment of His Holiness Pope John Paul II of blessed
memory demonstrated the impact the Holy See of Rome has on the whole world
as a great centre of the Christian faith. Indeed, the demise of the great
pastor that he was, his exemplary faith, perseverance in service,
prayerfullness and holiness gave the world the opportunity to encounter the
message of the Gospel anew.

Whether they express it audibly or not, especially all the churches of
apostolic origin, from the East and from the West, despite differences of
doctrinal views, do look to the Holy See of Rome, as the fortress of Holy
Apostolic Tradition.

This is why most of the Christian world welcomes Your Holiness’ election to
the Holy Roman See with expectation and hope for the continuity of the
legacy of your predeccesor in bridge-building between Christian churches and
between religions.

AD MULTOS ANNOS! Your junior and humble brother in Christ,
Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul & All Turkey”

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
LRAPER Church Bulletin 20/04/2005
Armenian Patriarchate
TR-34130 Kumkapý, Istanbul
Licensee: The Revd. Fr. Drtad Uzunyan
Editors: The Revd. Archpriest Krikor Damatyan,
The Revd. Deacon Vagarsag Seropyan
Press Officer: Attorney Mrs. Luiz Bakar
T: +90 (212) 517-0970
F: +90 (212) 516-4833
[email protected]
[email protected]

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

–Boundary_(ID_YZTJynVl/dwAHv1sM5iuHQ)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russia’s Karabakh mediator says London talks “fruitful and constructive” – TV

ANS TV, Baku
19 Apr 05

[Presenter] Regular truce violations on the front line and the growing
tension on the contact line have compelled the [OSCE Minsk Group]
co-chairs to make a statement.

[Correspondent] The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ meetings with the
Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers [Elmar Mammadyarov
and Vardan Oskanyan] in London [on 15 April] were fruitful and
constructive, Russian co-chairman Yuriy Merzlyakov has said.

[Merzlyakov by phone, in Russian with Azeri voice-over] A very
intensive exchange of ideas is under way and I positively assess the
consultations being carried out at this stage. Everybody had specific
proposals and we discussed them.

[Correspondent] Merzlyakov said apart from a special statement by
the co-chairs on the growing tension on the contact line, a special
representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office, Andrzej Kasprzyk,
raised the issue of three Azerbaijani POWs held in Nagornyy Karabakh.

[Merzlyakov] The issue is under discussion. I hope the issue will be
resolved soon since it has been brought to the attention of the sides.

[Correspondent] Merzlyakov spoke about the reasons for separate
meetings held with the foreign ministers at the co-chairs’ request.

[Merzlyakov] This was a preparation for an important event, a meeting
between the presidents, that will happen soon. We want to have a
broad exchange of ideas with the sides before that meeting.

[Correspondent] The Russian co-chair said Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan will not participate in the next meeting to be held
in Frankfurt on 27 April. The meeting with Elmar Mammadyarov in
Frankfurt has been set for 27 April because he cannot make it other
time, he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROBERT KOCHARIAN DEPARTING FOR FRANCE TODAY

Pan Armenian News
20.04.2005 03:14

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian is
departing for France on a working visit. During the visit he is
scheduled to meet with French President Jaques Chirac, the Senate
President and the Parliament Speaker. The Armenian leader will return
to Yerevan on April 23.

DEVELOPMENT OF NATO INDIVIDUAL PARTNERSHIP ACTION PLAN TO BE COMPLETED LATE APRIL

Pan Armenian News
19.04.2005 06:41

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia is actively cooperating with the US and the
bilateral relations receive good development, Secretary of the National
Security Council under the Armenian President, Defense Ministry Serge
Sargsian stated when commenting on the Armenian-US relations. “There
are no new directions in the cooperation with the US yet”, the RA
Defense Minister said. We are cooperating for re-training and training
of specialists as well as for the joint participation in peacekeeping
operations. When touching upon the Armenia-NATO cooperation Serge
Sargsian noted that the elaboration of the NATO Individual Partnership
Action Plan will be completed by late April. However, in his words,
it does not conflict with Armenia’s cooperation within CSTO. The
cooperation with NATO is developing according to “26+1” formula,
he resumed.

FROM NOW ON TO PARLIAMENTRY ELECTIONS

A1plus
| 15:50:40 | 20-04-2005 | Politics |

>>From now on there is another party in Armenia which will start
working to take part in the Parliamentary elections. The aim of the
political power is to create a fraction «Democracy and Labor Party»
in the Parliament with a number of delegates.

Organizing a meeting today the party «Democracy and Labor»
was celebrating the first anniversary of its formation. The
represenatitives of the party who are led by the motoes «Place
for medium business» and «Small and medium businessmen, unite»,
criticised today both the authorities and the opposition for the fact
that the nation has been disapponted by them.

Naturally, the coalition was criticised most of all. Its members,
according to Spartak Meliqyan, head of the Party, «without having
program of economical development and having different principles
are engaged only in having attaining power».

The members of the party are convinced that the poeple are no more
tolerant and a single impetus is enough to set a fire. «Today
there exists no National Ambassy, the poeple there are busy only
with the solution of parsonal or party problems, the the laws are
adopted proceeding from the profits of the parties», says Spartak
Meliqyan. However, he is sure that abrupt changes of authorities will
be devastating for Armenia.

For the changes to occur we must pass the Constitutional way, the party
members think. In order to pass this way the party adopted two calls;
one to the NA, the other to the political parties.

The call to the NA consisted of two points. The first referred to the
Constitutional amendments, «The RA Main Law ~V the Constitution must
not be the monopoly of a sinlge political power or even several ones;
it must express the will of the nation, their rights, and it must
become the guarantee of the society».

The party also had demands concerning the Electoral Code, «Reconsider
and change the 35th article of the RA Electoral Code, according to
which the electoral committes must be formed by the representatives
of the participant parties of the NA elections. Only this will be
the guarantee of free and transparent elections».

As for the RA political powers, the party mainly calls them «to have
pro-state policy and prefer the profit of the state to their own».

–Boundary_(ID_utalqXp5rbdpRf2QmGTpYg)–

European, Armenian MPs pass statement on bilateral ties, Karabakh, Turkey

Noyan Tapan news agency
19 Apr 05

Yerevan, 19 April: The chairman of the foreign relations commission of
the Armenian National Assembly, Armen Rustamyan, and a French member of
the European Parliament, [Marie Anne] Isler Beguin, presided over the
seventh session of the commission on parliamentary cooperation between
the European Union and Armenia in Strasbourg on 13 and 14 April. At
the beginning of the session, members of the committee observed a
minute of silence to honour the victims of the genocide of Armenians.

The agenda was quite busy, Rustamyan said at a press conference
in Yerevan on 19 April. The meeting discussed issues related to
the political, social and economic situation in Armenia, democratic
processes, environmental, educational and cultural problems, as well
as Armenia’s relations with neighbouring countries, the situation in
Nagornyy Karabakh and programmes of European assistance.

As a result of two-day discussions, the commission endorsed the text
of a statement and the text of proposals comprised of 36 points. The
commission, in particular, said that all the South Caucasus countries
should refrain from statements and reservations which restrict or
obstruct the goals and the spirit of the European Neighbourhood Policy
and the inclusion of each of these countries into regional initiatives
and programmes. It is said that the efficient implementation of the
programme of activities will pave the way for signing a new type
of an agreement on European neighbourhood between Armenia and the
European Union.

The commission also touched on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.
Azerbaijan and Armenia can take decisive steps towards a peaceful
resolution to the long-standing conflict. The commission expressed
the view that a resolution to the Karabakh conflict should include an
agreement on the future status of Nagornyy Karabakh, on the population
of the adjacent territories, including refugees, and encourage the
participation of the Nagornyy Karabakh people in the peace talks. The
commission also said that the still-undefined status of Nagornyy
Karabakh must not become an obstacle to the international community’s
respect for fundamental rights and freedoms of the people living in
the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic. The commission condemns the use of
force or such a threat in resolving the Karabakh problem.

The document also spoke about another neighbour of Armenia, Turkey.
In particular, the commission called on Ankara to fully comply with
its status of a European Union candidate, to take the necessary steps
towards establishing good-neighbourly and diplomatic relations with
Armenia and to open the land border as soon as possible.

“The commission refers to all the European Parliament resolutions
on the genocide of Armenians and on the eve of the 90th anniversary
of the genocide calls on the Turkish authorities to engage in a
fully-fledged and sincere international and domestic process of
reconciliation in connection with this issue,” said the document
adopted by the commission.

Azeri official critical of mediators’ call for compromise on Karabakh

Trend news agency
19 Apr 05

Baku, 19 April: Baku has its own perception of the calls for a
compromise in the statements of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen
addressed to the Azerbaijani and Armenian people, the head of
the foreign relations department of the Azerbaijani presidential
administration, Novruz Mammadov, has said. In his view, such
statements run counter to the mission and powers of the mediators in
the Karabakh talks.

“We do not have to do what the mediators say. They are only mediators
in settling the conflict and should do their job. We do not need
their statements addressed to both nations,” Mammadov said. In his
opinion, the co-chairmen should address this statement to the Armenian
leadership and people.

There can be no talk of fundamental concessions on the part of Baku,
Mammadov said.

“Our position is firm – Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity must be
ensured, the occupied districts must be liberated and refugees must
return to their native land. Should there be a concession within this
framework, Azerbaijan will consider that and take a decision,” he said.

Speaking on the process of resolution, Mammadov said that the talks
benefit Azerbaijan.

“In this way, Baku demonstrates diplomatic supremacy, whereas
Yerevan is unable to go beyond political atavism. Armenia is in a
tight corner. They cannot take a decision independently. For them the
situation will not become normal regardless of whether they conduct
negotiations or not,” he said.

Commenting on separate meetings between the foreign ministers of
Azerbaijan and Armenia and the Minsk Group co-chairmen, Mammadov said
that the format of the negotiations was not to be changed. If this
does happen, this will be an indicator of the mood of the Armenian
side, he said.

He also touched on the fate of an OSCE fact-finding mission’s report
on the settlement of Armenians in the occupied territories. He reckons
that the topic is open for discussion in the UN, and on the other hand,
repeat visits of the mission to the region are possible.

Armenians Launch Nationwide Genocide Ad Campaign

LOS ANGELES, April 20 /PRNewswire/ — Armenians have taken their
message to an unprecedented level this week with a nationwide
advertising campaign raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide.

The 30-second commercials coincide with an official letter to the
March For Humanity received from Senator Bob Dole. “From 1915 to
1923, 1.5 million Armenians perished through a policy of deportation,
torture, starvation, and massacre,” reads the letter signed Bob Dole.
“Despite the vast numbers of victims, many people remain unaware of
this significant tragedy.”

“Americans have been kept in the dark about the Armenian Genocide and
the subsequent horrors experienced by its 1.5 million victims,” said
Vicken Sosikian director of the March For Humanity. “Our ad campaign
aims to educate the public about this crime against all humanity.”

The March For Humanity is a 215-mile walk from Fresno, Calif. to
Sacramento. Started on April 2, the 19-day trek will conclude on April
21 with a rally at 11 a.m. on the steps of the state capitol building.
The Rally For Humanity will feature many elected officials including
California State Assembly Majority Leader Assemblyman Dario Frommer
and Speaker Pro-tem Assembly member Leland Yee.

“The March For Humanity brings people together in spirit of remembrance
for all those who suffered. The more we spread awareness of such
atrocities, the better prepared we are to prevent them in the future,”
wrote Senator Dole. “Thanks for all you do to educate our nation
about this genocide.”

On April 24 Armenians worldwide will mark the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire, seeking official
recognition and reparations from the Turkish government.

More information about the Armenian Genocide, the March For Humanity,
and the Rally For Humanity are available at

SOURCE March For Humanity

04/20/2005 02:12 ET

Armenian lobbying in US mounts up prior to April 24

TDN
Wednesday, April 20, 2005

DIPLOMACY

Armenian Diaspora places an advertisement in a US magazine allegorizing
alleged Armenian genocide to Sudan’s conflict in the Darfur region

ANKARA – Turkish Daily News

The influential Armenian diaspora in the United States has taken
another step for recognition of an alleged genocide via a full-page
advertisement in a U.S. news magazine, as April 24, the 90th
anniversary of the alleged genocide, approaches.

The Armenian lobby has stepped up a campaign for the international
recognition of the alleged genocide at the hands of the late Ottoman
Empire at the beginning of the last century, placing a full-page
advertisement in the latest issue of the U.S. News and World Report
magazine accompanied by a photograph of a person who was alleged to
have escaped the genocide. 

The advertisement, prepared by the International Institute for Genocide
and Human Rights Studies, a division of the Zoryan Institute of Canada,
was sponsored by an Armenian whose ancestors had escaped the alleged
genocide and who doesn’t want to be identified, the Anatolia news
agency reported according to information from the Zoryan Institute.

Referring to the conflict in Darfur, Sudan, which is described
by the U.S. Congress as amounting to genocide committed by the
Sudanese government and its militia allies against non-Arab groups,
the advertisement, by use of the phrase “Déjà vu?” implies
that a new genocide is being experienced in Darfur today. 

According to Ross Vartian, a spokesman for the Armenian diaspora in
the United States and executive chairman of the Armenian Assembly of
America, a resolution upholding Armenian allegations is to be presented
today to the U.S. Congress. A similar resolution was pushed forward
in the House of Representatives in 2000 but was withdrawn after the
Bill Clinton administration intervened.

–Boundary_(ID_FRY89oKIE43r8P9yLgjbwA)–