BIBLIOGRAPHY OF BOOKS PUBLISHED BY NATIONAL LIBRARY OF ARMENIA TO BE PUBLISHED

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The National Library of Armenia (NLA)
envasiged to publish in 2006 bibliography of books published by the
library. As Rafik Ghazarian, the NLA Deputy Director informed Noyat
Tapan correspondent, it will include the list of the literature
published by the library in 1937-2004, among which will be list
of editions of bibliographies and biogrphical bibliographies,
documentary, research, methodical and informative nature. 200 copies
of the bibliography will be printed under the state budget financing.
According to R.Ghazarian, the 4th and 3rd volumes of “Armenian Book’s
Bibliography” and “Library Business in Armenia” respectively, are
also already formed, but cannot be published yet due to lack of funds.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee
Eastern United States
P.O. Box 1066
New York, NY 10040
Contact: Doug Geogerian
Tel: 917 428 1918
Fax: 718 651 3637
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

David Phillips Refuses to Disclose Author of Report

At a brown bag lunch on March 29 at New York University’s School for
Global Studies, David Phillips discussed what he saw as the results
of the Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Commission, which he moderated
and wrote about in his book, Unsilencing the Past. TARC generated
world-wide Armenian opposition in both the Diaspora and the Republic
of Armenia for its role in interfering with international efforts to
gain recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

During his talk, Phillips highlighted a report, which the International
Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) commissioned an anonymous author
to write. The report alleged that the United Nations Convention on
the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide could not be
retroactively applied to the Armenian Genocide. The author of this
report has remained unknown. When Phillips was asked who wrote the
report, he answered, “That will not be disclosed,” and would not
explain the reasons for keeping the author’s name a secret.

Phillips was joined by International Center for Transitional Justice
Legal Expert Paul van Zyl, who asked Phillips whether denying the
applicability of the Armenian Genocide to the UN Convention on Genocide
was not the same as denying theapplicability of the Holocaust to it,
as both genocides occurred before the Convention was adopted by the
United Nations. Phillips insisted that it was not the same thing,
referring to documents Bernard Lewis had shown him in an attempt to
shed doubt on whether the Armenian Genocide occurred. On June 21,
1995, a French court condemned Lewis for his statements denying the
Armenian Genocide in the French press.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH ARMENIANS TO TALK TO PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ABOUT GENOCIDE ISSUE

ANKARA, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Turkish Parliamentary EU Adjustment
Committee will listen today to the views of members of Armenian
community living in Turkey pertaining to allegations of genocide,
“Anatolia” news agency reported. Gunduz Aktan, a retired ambassador,
and Etiyen Mahcupyan and Hrant Dink, members of the Armenian community,
will attend the meeting which will be held in the parliament.

7TH SITTING OF EU-ARMENIA PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMISSION TO BE
HELD IN STRASBOURG ON APRIL 13-14

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The regular, 7th sitting of the European
Union-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Commission will be held in
Strasbourg on April 13-14. The deligation headed by Armen Rustamian,
the Co-Chairman of the Commission, the Chairman of the NA Standing
Committee on Foreign Relations, will leave for Strasbourg on April
12 for that purpose. The problems concerning cooperation of Armenia
and the European Union within the framework of the Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement, adoption of statements and proposals of the
Cooperation Commission’s 7th sitting are on the agenda. The analytical
conclusion of the European Commission concerning the status of Armenia
within the framework of the EU “New Neighbourhood” program will also
be discussed.

SLOVAKIA PARLIAMENTARY DELIGATION’S VISIT TO ARMENIA POSTPONED

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The official visit to Armenia of the
deligation headed by Pavol Hrushovski, the National Council Chairman
of the Republic of Slovakia, was envasiged on April 8-10. But it was
postponed on the initiative of the Slovakian party, on the occasion
of participation in the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

THEATRICAL TOURS AND WEEK OF RUSSIAN FILMS TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN ON
OCCASION OF YEAR OF RUSSIA IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 6-9, the collective of
Moscow Art Academic Theatre will perform on tour in Yerevan within
the framework of the Year of Russia in Armenia. The troupe consisting
of 20 actors will represent the “Moon Monster” performance by Richard
Kalinoski’s play. The performance dedicated to the 90th anniversary
of Armenian Genocide was staged by Alexander Grigorian, Art Director
of Yerevan Russian Dramatic Theatre after Konstantin Stanislavski,
in Moscow. The Yerevan premiere of the performance will take place
on April 7. Susanna Khachatrian, Chief of the Foreign Relations
Department of RA Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs, informed Noyan
Tapan’s correspondent that, in all probability, the Moscow troupe will
represent another performance, as well. According to S.Khachatrian,
on April 11-17, a week of Russian films will be held in connection
with the Year of Russia in Armenia. A delegation of 10 famous Russian
figures of cinematography will arrive in Yerevan on the occasion of
the week of Russian films.

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian Studies Program
and the Armenian Students’ Cultural Association at the University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor will jointly commemorate the 90th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide. Professors Kevork B. Bardakjian, Gerard
J. Libaridian and Ronald G. Suny will discuss various aspects of the
Genocide and, in a session following their talks, will respond to
questions from the audience. The evening will take place on Sunday,
April 10, 2005. A reception will follow the session. The public is
invited to attend.

ONE OF MONTEVIDEO SQUARES TO BE NAMED “ARMENIAN PEOPLE’S GENOCIDE SQUARE”

MONTEVIDEO, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. By the decree of Adolpho Peres
Piera, the Mayor of Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, on of the
city squares will be named “Armenian People’s Genocide Square”.
Informing about it, “Armenia” radio of Uruguay remainds that there
is already a square named “Armenia” in Montevideo.

LECTURE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ORGANIZED IN BEIRUT

BEIRUT, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. “Recognition is not enough, there should
be compensation to the ancestors of the deported and the massacred
Armenians,” said David Barsamian, an American freethinking activist
whose parents have been eyewitnesses of the first Genocide of the 20th
Century. The Youth and Student Committee of the 90th Commemoration
of the Armenian Genocide had organized a lecture entitled “Armenian
Genocide: Justice Denied” in collaboration with the Human Rights
and Peace Club as well as the Lebanese-Armenian Heritage Club of
American University of Beirut (AUB). According to the Armenian
Genocide Commemoration Committee of Lebanon, the lecture took place
in the West Hall at AUB in the presence of numerous distinguished
guests including the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in Lebanon,
Mr. Arek Hovhannesian, Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian, Primate of the
Armenian Prelacy of Lebanon, State Minister, Mr. Alain Tabourian,
members of Parliament, representatives of political parties and social
organizations. Nazeli Kandaharian spoke on behalf of the Youth and
Student Committee of the 90th Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide
stressing that “we owe our present and future to the will of those who
have secured the beating of the heart decades after decades for this
we are ever grateful.” She concluded her speech inquiring “how can
Humanity prevent a crime from reoccurring when the criminal remains
unpunished”? After the opening speech, a 20 minutes-long documentary,
featuring the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, was viewed after
which, Mr. Aram Kradjian, President of the Lebanese-Armenian Heritage
Club of AUB, introduced the guest speaker. David Barsamian stated
that the Armenian Genocide “is not an abstract, ancient history, it’s
our present and our daily life”. He stressed that all denial efforts
exerted by the Turkish authorities and other states like the U.S. and
Israel will not succeed in deterring the will and the determination of
the Armenians. Answering to the questions of the audience, the lecturer
tackled the issue of compensations and reminded that “Hitler knew that
nothing had happened to the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide”
and concluded that “Genocide unpunished is a Genocide encouraged”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Georgia rejects Russian demand for compensation over Soviet-era base closures
By MISHA DZHINDZHIKHASHVILII

The Associated Press
04/05/05 11:17 EDT

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) – Georgia on Tuesday flatly rejected Russian
demands that it pay several hundred million dollars (euros) in
compensation for Moscow withdrawing from two Soviet-era military
bases in the Caucasus country.

Already strained relations between the two former Soviet republics
soured further Tuesday when Moscow protested Tbilisi’s refusal to
allow a Russian radar plane into its airspace, saying it violated
Georgia’s commitments under a regional air defense system.

“Georgia has no intention of paying any form of compensation for the
withdrawal of the Russian military bases,” Georgian Prime Minister
Zurab Nogaideli told reporters.

Georgia, where a pro-West leadership took power last year, is keen
to assert its independence and has been pushing Moscow to hand back
the bases within two years.

Russia has said it needs at least three years, perhaps even a decade,
to complete the pullout and is also demanding compensation. Russian
Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said last month the cost of withdrawing
would be as much as US$300 million (euro234 million).

The head of Russia’s main air force headquarters, Col. Gen. Boris
Cheltsov, complained that Georgia had refused permission for a flight
by a Russian radar plane through its territory.

“Unfortunately, we wanted to fly it to Armenia but the Georgians
wouldn’t let us through their airspace,” Cheltsov said in remarks
broadcast on Russian state television.

The aircraft was to have performed reconnaissance missions during
maneuvers by the CIS, or Commonwealth of Independent States, joint
air defense system.

Russian observers have said that Moscow is concerned that pulling out
all its forces from Georgia could jeopardize its base in neighboring
Armenia, one of Moscow’s closest allies in the region. Armenia does
not share a border with Russia, and all Russian equipment and personnel
have to transit Georgian territory to get there.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said later Tuesday that he
had approved the order barring the Russian plane from traveling to
Armenia. He also firmly reiterated Georgia’s position toward the
Russian bases.

“We are a country of laws…. We are not a ‘Land of Bandits’ in which
one or two people make decisions,” Saakashvili said. “We have had
civilized decisions with Russia on withdrawing the bases. We have
proposed that the bases … be withdrawn stage by stage. We have
offered various transit privileges.”