AAA CONSIDERS SENSELESS PROPOSALS TO SUBMIT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE FOR DISCUSSION

WASHINGTON, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. In the issue of acknowledgement
of the Armenian Genocide the US will do what other countries have
done some time or later, Armenian Assembly of America Executive
Director Ross Vartian stated, the Milliyet Turkish newspaper
reported. “France has recognized the Genocide, however it did not
damage the Turkish-French relations at all,” he added. According to
“PanArmenian.net”, Ross Vartian considered senseless the proposals
to submit the Genocide issue for discussion, grounding it with the
historians having discussed it long ago and have come to a certain
conclusion. Answering the question that “genocide is merely the
problem of the Diaspora,” Ross Vartian noted, “the acknowledgement of
the Genocide is one of priority tasks of Armenia’s foreign policy.
Some 1 million people visit the Memorial of the victims of the
Genocide victims April 24 each year – this makes 1/3 of the population
of Armenia. We – the Diaspora representatives – are not hostile
towards the Turkish people.” Answering the questions referring to the
territorial integrity of Turkey and the Armenian-Turkish relations,
Ross Vartian did not deny that the acknowledgement of the Genocide
will have certain consequences for Turkey. Simultaneously, he noted,
“however the definition of the consequences of the acknowledgement of
the Genocide does not concert the Diaspora. It is the affair of Yerevan
and Ankara. As of the land demands, the authorities of Armenia have
made an unilateral statement on respecting the territorial integrity
of Turkey.” “Armenia and Turkey should be able to discuss all problems
available. It is necessary to open the borders. The acknowledgement
of the Genocide is not a precondition to settlement of the relations
between Yerevan and Ankara and it cannot be. The sound dialogue is
important. The Genocide will be recognized when the Turkish people
themselves want it and make the Turkish Government do it, but not under
pressure from the outside. Turkey is being gradually reconstructed,
challenges the history, otherwise Orhan Pamuk would have not been
able to make a public statement on the murder of 1 million Armenians,”
Ross Vartian stated.

MONUMENT TO THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BE PLACED IN VARNA

04.04.2005 06:36

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Monument to the Armenian Genocide will be
placed on the one of the squares of Varna, Bulgaria on April 24,
2005 with the help of Hovsepian & Sons. Thanks to the company a
book dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide
was translated into Bulgarian and published as well as a CD with an
Armenian song performed by well-known Bulgarian opera singer Tsvetan
Tsvetkov was released.

STATIONARY CENTER ON TREATMENT OF CHILDREN NEEDING SPECIAL CARE OPENS IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. “ArBes” stationary center on treatment
of children needing special care was founded in Yerevan on the
initiative of the “Arabkir” united children’s benevolent fund and
“Arabkir” medical complex. The solemn ceremony of the center’s
opening took place on April 1. The center will assist to physical,
mental, language and social development of the children keeping their
contacts with their families. According to Manushak Yeritsian, Director
of the center, the construction of the building was implemented
with the assistance of Mrs Bella Kocharian, first lady of Armenia,
and with financing of 6 benevolent companies from Switzerland and
1 company from Liechtenstein. A sum in the amount of 500 thousand
dollars was spent on the construction. According to Gayane Zakarian,
manageress of the Rehabilitation Department, it’s the first time that
such a medical institution is founded in Armenia. The specialists of
the center will work with children by group and individual programs
contributing to their integration to society. It was also mentioned
that the children will pass a course of treatment mainly within the
framework of the state order.

ARCHBISHOP KHAJAG BARSAMIAN: POPE JOHN PAUL II REPRESENTED SUPREME
POWER OF HOPE, FAITH, AND FREEDOM

NEW YORK, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The Press Office of the Eastern
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America provided “Noyan Tapan” with
the Message of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese,
on the occasion of the death of His Holiness Pope John Paul II: “It
was with great sadness that I learned of the death of His Holiness
Pope John Paul II, one of the great spiritual leaders of our era. All
Armenians are united in offering their prayers for his soul, as he was
not only a friend to our people but to all those who seek freedom. I
have been fortunate at many points in my ministry to meet with the
Pope and benefit from his wisdom. I have vivid memories of the Pope’s
meetings with His Holiness Karekin I, and His Holiness Karekin II. And
no one will ever forget the Pope’s historic visit to Armenia in 2001,
when he stood before the world as a true friend to the Armenian Church,
recognizing the suffering and tragedy Armenians have borne for their
Christian faith, but also casting his eyes forward with optimism to
our future. Just a few months earlier, in 2000, when I was privileged
to be a part of the delegation joining Catholicos Karekin II on a visit
to Rome, the Pope personally acted to return relics of St. Gregory the
Illuminator to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. In his actions and
his deeds he was, indeed, a true Christian. Pope John Paul II shared
something else with out people: a long, but finally successful,
struggle against tyranny. During the dark days of the Cold War,
when the Pope’s Poland and our own motherland were shrouded in the
atheistic fog of communism, he stood as a beacon of faith and light
to all Christians, not just Roman Catholics. Against naysayers and
politicians ready to give up to totalitarianism, the Pope represented
the supreme power of hope, faith, and freedom. Our shared belief in
the importance of religious freedom and the power of Christ is what
truly made Pope John Paul II a brother to all Armenians. May our Lord
welcome him into His blessed kingdom.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Saakashvili Comments on the Armenian President’s Visit

Baku Today

04/04/2005 18:16

In an interview with the Rustavi 2 television network on April 3,
President Saakashvili said that there was nothing surprising in
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan’s unplanned visit to Georgia on
April 1-2.

“When there are some issues that need to be discussed, or even if there
are not any, we can visit each other without any prior notifications
and meet and have a talk. We will always have something to talk about
with our neighbors, including Armenia and Azerbaijan. Because, we
are inter-linked, inter-dependent, there are many mutual problems,
so you would be a fool to reject these contacts,” said Saakashvili.

Saakashvili denied speculations that Robert Kocharyan arrived in
Tbilisi at the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Armenia
is an independent state and a well-disposed country towards Georgia,”
Saakashvili said.

This is a partner post from Civil Georgia

The Police Have Become Politicized
By Fatih Altayli

Anatolian Times, Turkey
Published: 4/4/2005
Source: Hurriyet

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Hurriyet reporter Fatih
Altayli at the hotel in Kizilcahamam where AKP is having a retreat
this week. In the conversation, Erdogan had this to say about the
recent breakdown in public order and service: “Politics have entered
into the police force. The police have become politicized. There are
information leaks.”

(Hurriyet) “Public order is breaking down more and more every
day. There is a security problem. Purse snatchings, muggings, these
sort of incidents are increasing. Is the police force not taking
these things seriously, and does the government plan to do anything
about these things?”

(Erdogan) “At the base of it all is poverty. Actually, recent police
operations have had a serious effect on breaking down some of this
disorder…..one thing is clear, and that is that migration (to
Istanbul) is a factor in all of this. The other thing is that the
police force personnel is not growing. When I was mayor of Istanbul,
the force numbered 32,000, but now it is down at 27,000. For this
reason I say let’s add university graduates to the force….Let me
also add this: the police have become politicized.”

(Hurriyet) What does that mean? In order to wear you down, some people
are using the police? Would this be your political foes?

(Erdogan) Well, there are information leaks. We learn some things
from the press before the police have even processed them. But there
are some things that must remain silent.

Armenian Genocide and the American Congress

(Hurriyet) The Armenian issue is heating up again inside Turkey. The
American Congress has announced that it is gathering the 90 signatures
necessary to bring the genocide bill before Congress. What is being
done about this in Turkey?

(Erdogan) We have begun with the British. We have spoken with
the opposition leaders in this country, and they are being very
understanding. We are breaking down the accusations made in the
Blue Book….which is completely a tool for propaganda. Armenian
cargo planes can land and fly from Turkey, including Istanbul. The
Culture Ministry is restoring the Armenian Church located on the Van
Lake Island. It seems that while the Armenians living in Armenia are
approaching relations with Turkey this positively, the Armenians living
outside Armenia are fighting against it. They have taken the idea of
migration and told the whole world that it’s genocide. Migration is
one thing, genocide is another.

(Hurriyet) Well, will the bill pass in the American Congress? If I’m
not wrong, US presidents have in the past prevented it twice. Will
Bush do the same thing?

(Erdogan) I have absolute trust in him. Because he is very sensitive
on this issue. I believe he will take the right steps at the right
time. Anyway, we are making a point to have our groups make contact
with US groups at the appropriate times.

“He is Also Uncomfortable With the Way Things Are Going”

(Hurriyet) How are relations with the US going? It seems that everyday
some other problem happens.

(Erdogan) I speak with Bush myself about this matter. He is also
uncomfortable with the way things are going. He has asked me what
I think we should do to get over this crisis. We talked, and have
decided communicate at the highest level. When there is a problem,
the two of us will speak directly.

(Hurriyet) Turkey is being attacked even in cartoons in the US. Is
there perhaps a communications problem between the two countries?

(Erdogan) Well, if it has to be admitted, yes. The Foreign Ministry
is focusing on this right now. And so are we. But we need the support
of citizens and the press on this matter.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A CONFERENCE ON THE ARMENIAN CAUSE IN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Azg/arm
5 April 05

A conference “The Situation of Armenians in Turkey and Ankara-Yerevan
Relations” is to take place in Strasburg on April 11-14, Turkish
NTV informed yesterday. This conference being organized during the
next session of the European parliament will touch on the Armenian
Genocide issue as well. Taner Akcam, as NTV labeled “defender of
the Armenians’ thesis and professor at the Minnesota University”,
will deliver a lecture.

Akcam’s report is titled “The Ottoman Archives as Evidence.
Reconsidering and Reassessing Official Turkish Historiography”. The
list of reporters includes Etienne Mahchupian, columnist from Zaman
daily and Hrant Dinq from Akos weekly. By the way, Mahchupian and
Dinq participate today at a session in Mejlis on “Genocide claims of
the Armenians”.

According to the NTV, Jem Ozader, Germany’s Turkish-born
representative at the European Parliament, is the initiator of the
conference. Meanwhile, he will chair the conference. NTV also reminds
that the European Parliament recognized the Armenian Genocide on
June 18 of 1987 and on December 15 of 2004 with a majority of votes
demanded Turkey “to recognize the historicity of the genocide in 1915”.

By Hakob Chakrian

National Defense Minister Gediminas Kirkilas to pay a visit to Armenia

Blackanthem.com, MI
Blackanthem.com, VILNIUS, Lithuania, April 4, 2005

On Monday, 4 April Lithuanian Minister of National Defense Gedminas
Kirkilas and him accompanying delegation will leave for a two-day
visit to Armenia.

An agenda for the first visit day (5 April) is scheduled to include G.
Kirkilas~R meeting with the Armenian Minister of Defense Serzh
Sargsyan. The ministerial meeting is likely to address a bilateral
co-operation in the field of defense, prospect of multinational and
regional military co-operation, NATO enlargement processes, reform
of the armed forces and participation in international operations.

The visit agenda also includes a visit to the War Institute, meeting
with leadership and training panel of the Institute. Later in the
day the Minister is also scheduled to pay a visit to Echmiatsin to
meet the Catholics of All Armenians, His Holiness Garegin II.

On Wednesday, 6 April, G Kirkilas is expected to meet with Prime
Minister of Armenia Andranik Margaryan, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Vardan Oskanyan and Chairman of the National Assembly, Defense,
Domestic Affairs and National Security Committee Mher Shahgeldyan.

During the visit, the Lithuanian Minister of National Defense will
lay a flower wreath at the memorial to genocide victims, visit the
Manuscript Depository and the Armenian National Gallery.

An agreement concerning co-operation in the filed of defense between
Lithuania and Armenia was signed in 2002. During a visit by the
Armenian Minister of Defense S.Sargsyan to Lithuanian in the autumn
2004, another agreement on military studies of Armenian military
personnel at the Military Academy of Lithuania was signed. This year
two Armenian military personnel are undertaking studies of the English
Language and another two officers are improving their military skills
at an international Captains~R course at the Lithuanian Military
Academy in Vilnius.

National Defense Minister Gediminas Kirkilas and him accompanying
delegation is expected back to Vilnius on Wednesday, 6 April.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS EXTENDS SYMPATHIES ON DEATH OF POPE JOHN PAUL II

ETCHMIADZIN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 3, His Holiness Karekin II,
Catholicos of All Armenians, sent a letter of condolence on behalf of
the worldwide Armenian Church to the Vatican, wherein he extended his
sympathies to the Roman Catholic Church, her clergy and faithful, on
the death of His Holiness Pope John Paul II. The letter of condolence
submitted to Noyan Tapan by the Press Service of the Mother See
of Holy Etchnmiadzin, in particular, read: “We fondly recall our
meeting with His Holiness in the Vatican, as well as his historic
visit to Armenia in 2001, the first visit of a Bishop of Rome to our
biblical land. In recent years, we witnessed the courage and strength
displayed by our Brother in Christ during his illness, which provided
the most excellent example of dignity, faith, hope and submission to
the all-providential Will of God. Throughout the 26 year tenure of Pope
John Paul II, His Holiness was a vigilant defender of life and champion
of justice. His constant appeals for peace and reconciliation among
nations were always based firmly on his strong moral convictions and
love of mankind. In more recent years, through his efforts and the
work of our predecessors of blessed memory, the fraternal love and
solidarity between our two Churches were greater reinforced and made
stronger. Today, Armenians dispersed throughout the world sympathize
with your Church and faithful, and we stand ready to continue together
on the paths of righteousness and service, all for the greater glory of
God. Offering our affectionate greetings and our blessings to you all,
we pray that the protective Right Hand of the Almighty grant progress
and renewal to the Roman Catholic Church. It is our plea that Our Risen
Lord bestows you with strength and wisdom at this difficult time for
the benefit of your faithful flock.” According to the Press Service
of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the same day requiem was held
in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for the late Pope John Paul II.

Lowell Sun, MA

Updated: April 03, 2005 1:31 AM MST

Healing the scars

Exhibit at Patrick J. Mogan Cultural Center reveals wounds left behind from
the 1915 Armenian Genocide

By STEPHANIE COYNE, Sun Correspondent

Tom
Magarian, of Tyngsboro, a 91-year-old survivor of the 1915 genocide of
Armenian’s by the Turks, stands in front of an exhibit depicting the
horrors his people endured during what is considered the first mass
execution of the 20th century. SUN PHOTO/ BILL BRIDGEFORD

LOWELL — Scars run so deep that nearly a century has passed but the
occurrence still remains fresh in their minds.

The Armenian Genocide of 1915 — the first mass execution of the 20th
century.

Grandparents, parents, siblings, children, all dead — drowned, beaten,
starved, slaughtered by the Turks.

The death toll: 1.5 million men, women, children, babies — it didn’t
matter. The killers weren’t picky.

What hurts the survivors most, the thought that lingers on everyone’s mind:
Why won’t anyone recognize this event and stop pretending it never happened?

This perplexing question
and many others were discussed during the opening ceremony for the 90th
Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Exhibit at the Patrick J. Mogan
Cultural Center yesterday.

“I don’t understand why they deny it,” said Rose Narzakian, a lifelong
Lowell resident. “It will stop further destruction of other countries.

“It brought on the other genocides.”

Narzakian’s mother was a survivor of the genocide. Her grandmother was
killed along the side of a road as the two walked for months to the Syrian
border.

“They shot my grandmother as she stopped and was washing a few things
along the river,” Narzakian said.

George Simonia experienced loss in his family as well.

One grandfather was taken off on a death march, while his other grandparents
were drowned.

“My mother witnessed the whole thing,” said Simonia, a Chelmsford resident.
“It was very difficult to interpret the word ‘alleged’ to my mother about
the genocide.”

Tom Magarian had a similar story.

Magarian is the last known Armenian Genocide survivor living in the Greater
Lowell area.

He was a toddler when his parents and four siblings were killed. He survived
along with one brother and two sisters.

After marrying, his older sister brought her three siblings to the United
States to live and escape the cruel fate that six members of their immediate
family endured.

Aram Jeknavorian, of Pelham, was a teenager when he first began to hear the
horrific stories about what happened to members of his family.

“Growing up they didn’t talk about the genocide,” he said. “It was
repressed.”

His father was a teenager when the family made arrangements for him to hide
in the basement of a home of a Greek family.

“This family was at great risk doing this for him,” said Jeknavorian.

His grandmother was one of the victims of the genocide and died at the hands
of the Turks.

Jeknavorian, also, wants to hear the Turkish government recognize the
genocide as an official event to begin the healing for the families who lost
so much.

“This is turning into more than just ethnic pride,” he said. “This is still
unresolved.”

Special exhibits and a series of event commemorating the 90th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide will take place through June 17.

The exhibit is open Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5
p.m., Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays,
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Patrick J. Mogan Cultural Center, 40 French St.,
Lowell.