Israel is among the holocaust deniers

Haaretz
Tue., March 29, 2005

By Yossi Sarid

April 24 will mark the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, and
the Armenian government is holding an international conference in the
capital of Yerevan, dedicated to the memory of the more than a million
Armenians murdered by the Turks. I was also invited, and I decided to
attend. This month will also see the Hebrew publication of Prof. Yair
Auron’s eye-opening and stomach churning book, “The Banality of
Denial: Israel and the Armenian Genocide,” Transaction Publishers,
which has already been highly praised overseas in its English-language
edition.

As opposed to many other nations, Israel has never recognized the
murder of the Armenian people, and in effect lent a hand to the
deniers of that genocide. Our official reactions moved in the vague,
illusory realm between denial to evasion, from “it’s not clear there
really was genocide” to “it’s an issue for the historians,” as Shimon
Peres once put it so outrageously and stupidly.

There are two main motives for the Israeli position. The first is the
importance of the relationship with Turkey, which for some reason
continues to deny any responsibility for the genocide, and uses heavy
pressure worldwide to prevent the historical responsibility for the
genocide to be laid at its door. The pressure does work, and not only
Israel, but other countries as well do the arithmetic of profits and
loss. The other motive is that recognition of another nation’s murder
would seem to erode the uniqueness of the Jewish Holocaust.

Five years ago, on the 85th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, I
was invited as education minister to the Armenian church in the Old
City of Jerusalem. This is what I said at the time:

“I am here, with you, as a human being, as a Jew, as an Israeli, and
as the minister of education in Israel. For many years, too many, you
were alone on this, your memorial day. I am aware of the special
significance of my presence here. Today, for the first time, you are
less alone.”

I recalled the Jewish American ambassador to Turkey at the time of the
slaughter, Henry Morgenthau, who called the massacre of the Armenians
“the greatest crime of modern history.” That good man had no idea what
would yet happen in the 20th century – who could have anticipated the
Jewish Holocaust? And I recalled Franz Werfel’s “The 40 Days of Musa
Dagh,” which came out in Germany in the spring of 1933 and shocked
millions of people and eventually, me, too, as a youth.

Summing up, I said, “We Jews, the main victims of murderous hatred,
must be doubly sensitive and identify with other victims. Those who
stand aside, turn away, cast a blind eye, make their calculations of
gains and losses, and are silent, always help the murderers and never
those who are being murdered. In our new history curriculum I want to
see a central chapter on genocide, and within it, an open reference to
the Armenian genocide. That is our duty to you and to ourselves.”

The Armenian community in Israel and the world took note of that
statement with satisfaction. Turkey complained vociferously, demanding
an explanation from the Israeli government. And “my government,” of
all governments, first stammered and then denied responsibility, and
explained that I spoke for myself. And not a remnant survives in the
new curriculum of the Livnat era.

Now it can be said. They were right. All the stammerers and deniers. I
really did not consult with anyone else and did not ask for
permission. What must be asked when the answer is known in advance,
and it is based on the wrong assumption that there is a contradiction
between a moral position and a political one? Just how beastly must we
be as humans, or as Haaretz wrote then in its editorial, “The teaching
of genocides must be at the top of the priorities of the values of the
Jewish people, the victim of the Holocaust, and no diplomacy of
interests can be allowed to stand in that way”?

The Israeli Foreign Ministry, and not only it, is always afraid of its
own shadow and thus it casts a dark shadow over us all as accomplices
to the “silence of the world.” The Dalai Lama, leader of the exiled
Tibetans, has visited here twice, and twice I was warned by
“officials” not to meet with him. It would mean a crisis in relations
with China, the exact same thing they say about Turkey. I rebuffed
those warnings in both cases. I have always believed that moral
policies pay off in the long run, while rotten policies end up losing.

And all this I will repeat in the capital of Armenia, only in my name,
of course.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Tender Opportunity in the Republic of Armenia

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MARCH 28, 2005

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Arab Monitor, Italy
March 29 2005

Lebanese Armenians and Shiites call for national unity

Beirut, 28 March – in his Easter sermon, Catholicos of the
Armenian-Orthodox in Lebanon, Aram al-Awal, called for growing
awareness of the necessity to build a strong internal front, based on
solidarity among the various Lebanese communities.

Contemporaneously, the Deputy Chairman of the Islamic Shiite Higher
Council in Lebanon, Sheikh Abdul-Amir Kabalan issued a statement in
which he denounced the recent bombing assault carried out in a Beirut
quarter, declaring that the denotations and connotations of this
criminal act is “a black letter that contains Zionist fingerprints
that would lead to foreign intervention in Lebanon.”

Also today, the Beirut office of the Al-Jazeera news outlet was
threatened to have the building in which it’s offices are located,
blown up unless it desists from further investigating into the above
mentioned bombing assault.

’39&lang=en

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United States Department of State
28 March 2005
Europe and Eurasia

Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Record 2004 – 2005
Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor

Armenia

The Government’s human rights record remained poor; although there were some
improvements in a few areas, serious problems remained. The president, who
is directly elected, has extensive powers that are not checked by the
legislature or judiciary. Recent elections – including the controversial
2003 presidential election – have not met international standards. There
were some limits on freedom of assembly, the media and religious freedom.
However, in a positive step toward religious freedom, the Government
registered the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Judges remained subject to pressure from
the executive branch and corruption was a problem. Some members of the
security forces committed a number of human rights abuses. Security forces
beat pretrial detainees, and impunity remained a problem. There were
instances of arbitrary arrests and detentions. In April, police used
excessive force to disperse an opposition rally, detained opposition
politicians and raided opposition party offices. The Government’s assistance
with the creation of a civilian prison monitoring board and decision to
permit independent monitoring of prison conditions were positive
developments. While the Government took steps to limit trafficking in
persons, violence against women and trafficking of women and children
remained problems. The U.S. human rights and democracy strategy focused on
the promotion of democratic institutions and processes, the development of a
vibrant civil society, fundamental freedoms, rule of law, human rights and
anti-trafficking measures. United States officials regularly met with
Armenian government officials, parliamentary opposition leaders, religious
minorities and human rights activists regarding these issues. In 2004, the
United States sent two high-level State Department officials to Armenia who
engaged leaders on a variety of human rights issues. United States officials
raised human rights concerns during all high-level encounters with Armenian
officials, including during the meetings of the U.S.-Armenia Task Force in
May and October. The Embassy hosted numerous representational events and
roundtables during the year to raise awareness and encourage dialogue in
support of these objectives.

To promote democratic institutions and processes, the United States
supported programs designed to strengthen the separation of powers. Toward
that end, the United States funded programs in Armenia to augment the
national legislative abilities to respond to citizen concerns. The Armenian
National Assembly provided its members with information they previously
lacked, such as drafts of past legislation and non-governmental organization
(NGO) literature. The United States helped the National Assembly’s Control
Chamber to improve legislative oversight of the national budget and helped
the Government improve the published budget. The United States helped
Armenian citizens access information on pending legislation. With U.S.
support and encouragement, the National Assembly improved its transparency
by holding committee hearings, publishing draft laws in newspaper inserts
and developing a tracking system for citizen inquiries and communications.
The program also provided citizens with information about the National
Assembly through the creation of a website and publication and dissemination
of draft legislation.

The United States targeted its assistance to expand civic participation,
strengthen institutions of governance, and empower citizens to hold
government accountable by encouraging laws and policies needed to create a
democratic governance framework in Armenia. United States-funded programs
helped local governments improve internal management systems, implement
transition reforms, strengthen oversight and fiscal responsibilities and
increase public accessibility and accountability.

With U.S. help, more than 13,000 people participated in 240 town hall
meetings to discuss citizen concerns with community leaders. In more than
660 dialogue groups held around the country, citizens discussed the law on
the legal status of property, community schools, privatization, community
development and apartment building administration, among other issues. The
impact of these programs was reflected in the concrete actions taken by
initiative groups that formed as a result of the dialogues. Successful
efforts included renovation of a local state college and establishment of a
library fund for the college, legalization of supplementary constructions by
building residents and improvements in the sanitary situation in
communities. Through these programs, citizens created tangible improvements
in their communities by engaging in democratic processes at the local level.

To promote the development of a vibrant civil society, the United States
gave grants and technical assistance to advocacy NGOs and continued to
foster citizen participation at the grassroots level. The United States
supported public awareness campaigns, including campaigns to address the
societal costs of corruption and the shared responsibility for combating it.
The United States also launched a program to strengthen Armenian NGOs
through 82 grants in various sectors. This program has demonstrated success
as citizen advocacy programs deepen and broaden, and according to USAID’s
NGO Sustainability Index, NGOs in Armenia have significantly increased their
self-sustainable capacity.

The United States also provided 38 small grants in 2004 to NGOs and
independent media outlets that work to strengthen democratic institutions
and promote civil society in Armenia. These embassy-based “Democracy
Commission Small Grants” addressed issues such as citizens’ use of the newly
passed Law on Freedom of Information, patients’ rights, environmental
education, the promotion of volunteerism, media literacy and the integration
of disabled youth into society.

Following the Government’s excessive reaction to peaceful opposition
protests, the Department of State issued a Statement in April which observed
that “Physical assaults, raids on political party offices and widespread
arrests and detentions of opposition activists by the police do not
contribute to creating an atmosphere conducive to political dialogue.” The
United States also sponsored international visitors to observe political
parties in action during the U.S. elections.

To promote freedom of the media, the United States provided equipment and
technical assistance to increase journalists’ level of professionalism and
objectivity. A U.S-funded International Visitors Program on media ethics
introduced Armenian journalists to democratic media practices in the United
States.

To promote the rule of law, the United States continued to engage with the
Armenian Ministry of Justice and legal institutions. With the assistance of
a U.S.-funded NGO, the Government enacted legislation creating a bar
association for defense lawyers. Human rights advocates believe that the new
association will increase the legal defense of human rights by improving the
training and organization of defense lawyers.

Senior U.S. officials consistently engaged government officials on the
rights of women, children, minorities and the disabled. In 2004, the United
States began a Children’s Tolerance Education Program in elementary schools
and closely monitored and engaged the Government on issues of intolerance.

United States officials urged greater respect for religious freedom. As a
direct result of international engagement, the Government of Armenia legally
registered Armenia’s Jehovah’s Witnesses and enacted new laws to allow
conscientious objectors an alternative to mandatory military service.

The United States increased its assistance to anti-trafficking efforts in
Armenia, aiding the Government, local NGOs and international organizations
in their efforts. With U.S. assistance, the Government began training
consular officers to recognize and assist potential victims of trafficking,
and the United States invested in informational and child-protective
prevention efforts. The United States established programs to research
trends in trafficking and assisted in the creation of anti-trafficking
legislation. The United States continued to engage the Government
diplomatically on trafficking issues. The United States also significantly
assisted NGOs in creating, maintaining and publicizing victim assistance
programs nationwide.

SUPPORT GROWS FOR CONGRESSIONAL LETTER CALLING ON PRES. BUSH TO
PROPERLY COMMEMORATE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

WASHINGTON, MARCH 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Bipartisan efforts to urge
President Bush to keep his 2000 campaign pledge to properly
characterize the Armenian Genocide as “genocide” continued to grow
last week, with over 90 U.S. Representatives having cosigned a
Congressional letter to the White House, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA). Initiated by Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI), the letter calls on President Bush to join House members “in
reaffirming the United States record on the Armenian Genocide” in his
annual April 24th commemorative statement. “By properly recognizing
the terrible atrocities committed against the Armenian people as
‘genocide’ in your statement, you will honor the many Americans who
helped launch the unprecedented U.S. diplomatic, political and
humanitarian campaign to end the carnage and protect the survivors.”
Members of Congress joining Representatives Pallone and Knollenberg as
co-signers of the letter, as of Friday, March 25th, include: Neil
Abercrombie (D-HI), Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Tom Allen (D-ME), Robert
Andrews (D-NJ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Charles Bass (R-NH), Melissa
Bean (D-IL), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Howard Berman (D-CA), Michael
Bilirakis (R-FL), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Tim Bishop (D-NY), Earl
Blumenauer (D-OR), Mary Bono (R-CA), Jeb Bradley (R-NH), Ken Calvert
(R-CA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Benjamin Cardin
(D-MD), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), John Conyers (D-MI), Jim Costa (D-CA),
Jerry Costello (D-IL), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Susan Davis (D-CA),
William Delahunt (D-MA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), David Dreier (R-CA),
Eliot Engel (D-NY), Bob Filner (D-CA), Mark Foley (R-FL), Barney Frank
(D-MA), Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Raul
Grijalva (D-AZ), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Steny Hoyer
(D-MD), Steve Israel (D-NY), Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), Marcy
Kaptur (D-OH), Sue Kelly (R-NY), Dale Kildee (D-MI), Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), James Langevin (D-RI), John Larson
(D-CT), Sander Levin (D-MI), John Lewis (D-GA), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ),
Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY),
Edward Markey (D-MA), Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), Thaddeus McCotter
(R-MI), Jim McDermott (D-WA), James McGovern (D-MA), Michael McNulty
(D-NY), Martin Meehan (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Candice Miller
(R-MI), George Miller (D-CA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes
Norton (D-DC), Devin Nunes (R-CA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Collin
Peterson (D-MN), George Radanovich (R-CA), Steven Rothman (D-NJ),
Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Edward Royce (R-CA), Linda Sanchez
(D-CA), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), H. James Saxton (R-NJ), Adam Schiff
(D-CA), Joe Schwarz (R-MI), E. Clay Shaw (R-FL), Christopher Shays
(R-CT), Brad Sherman (D-CA), John Shimkus (R-IL), Christopher Smith
(R-NJ), Mark Souder (R-IN), John Sweeney (R-NY), Edolphus Towns (D-
NY), Mark Udall (D-CO), Christopher Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Visclosky
(D-IN), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Diane Watson (D-CA), Henry Waxman
(D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Joe Wilson (R-SC), and Lynn Woolsey
(D-CA). Over the past weeks, in statements on the House floor, a
number of House Members have already spoken out about the importance
clear and unambiguous U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide,
including Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone and Reps. Michael
Bilirakis, Barney Frank, Patrick Kennedy, James Langevin, and George
Radanovich.

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TOP STORIES
03/28/2005
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1) Congressional Letter to Bush on Armenian Genocide Gaining Momentum
2) Lebanese President, Catholicos Aram I Meet Amid Growing Tensions
3) Arab Tribal Leaders Arrive in Yerevan
4) Novorossiisk Armenians Fear Continued Persecution
5) Poll Shows Distrust Between Armenians, Turks
6) Armenia Garners First-ever World Cup Win

1) Congressional Letter to Bush on Armenian Genocide Gaining Momentum

WASHINGTON, DC–Bipartisan efforts to urge President Bush to keep his 2000
campaign pledge to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide as “genocide”
continued to grow this week, with over 90 US Representatives having cosigned a
Congressional letter to the White House, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
Initiated by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and
Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), the letter calls on President Bush to join House
members “in reaffirming the United States record on the Armenian Genocide” in
his annual April 24th commemorative statement. “By properly recognizing the
terrible atrocities committed against the Armenian people as ‘genocide’ in
your
statement, you will honor the many Americans who helped launch the
unprecedented US diplomatic, political and humanitarian campaign to end the
carnage and protect the survivors.”
Members of Congress joining Representatives Pallone and Knollenberg as
co-signers of the letter, as of Friday, March 25th, include:
Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Tom Allen (D-ME), Robert
Andrews (D-NJ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Charles Bass (R-NH), Melissa Bean
(D-IL),
Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Howard Berman (D-CA), Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), Sanford
Bishop (D-GA), Tim Bishop (D-NY), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Mary Bono (R-CA),
Jeb
Bradley (R-NH), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Michael Capuano (D-MA),
Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), John Conyers (D-MI), Jim Costa
(D-CA), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Susan Davis (D-CA),
William Delahunt (D-MA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), David Dreier (R-CA), Eliot Engel
(D-NY), Bob Filner (D-CA), Mark Foley (R-FL), Barney Frank (D-MA), Rodney
Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Maurice
Hinchey (D-NY), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Steve Israel (D-NY),
Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Sue Kelly (R-NY), Dale
Kildee (D-MI), Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), James Langevin
(D-RI), John Larson (D-CT), Sander Levin (D-MI), John Lewis (D-GA), Frank
LoBiondo (R-NJ), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn Maloney
(D-NY), Edward Markey (D-MA), Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), Thaddeus McCotter
(R-MI), Jim McDermott (D-WA), James McGovern (D-MA), Michael McNulty (D-NY),
Martin Meehan (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Candice Miller (R-MI), George
Miller (D-CA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Devin
Nunes (R-CA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Collin Peterson (D-MN), George Radanovich
(R-CA), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Edward Royce
(R-CA), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), H. James Saxton (R-NJ),
Adam Schiff (D-CA), Joe Schwarz (R-MI), E. Clay Shaw (R-FL), Christopher Shays
(R-CT), Brad Sherman (D-CA), John Shimkus (R-IL), Christopher Smith (R-NJ),
Mark Souder (R-IN), John Sweeney (R-NY), Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Mark Udall
(D-CO), Christopher Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Visclosky (D-IN), Maxine Waters
(D-CA), Diane Watson (D-CA), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Joe
Wilson (R-SC), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).
Over the past weeks, in statements on the House floor, a number of House
Members have already spoken out about the importance clear and unambiguous US
reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide, including Armenian Caucus Co-Chair
Frank Pallone and Reps. Michael Bilirakis, Barney Frank, Patrick Kennedy,
James
Langevin, and George Radanovich.
Support for the letter is expected to grow considerably, as the Armenian
American community continues its grassroots campaign to urge legislators to
become signatories. The ANCA launched a WebFax campaign last week, which, in
addition to calling on House Members to cosign this letter, urges activists to
appeal directly to President Bush on this key issue.

2) Lebanese President, Catholicos Aram I Meet Amid Growing Tensions

ANTELIAS (Combined Sources)–On the evening of March 25, His Holiness Aram I
held a lengthy met with President Emile Lahoud to discuss a line of issues
concerning Lebanon’s volatile state.
During the past week, Holiness has also met with France’s Ambassador to
Lebanon Bernard Emie, representatives of the countries opposition, as well as
Prime Minister Omar Karame’s representative Sebouh Hovnanian.
In his meeting with Hovnanian, His Holiness stressed the importance of
stabilizing the political situation of the country and organizing the upcoming
parliamentary elections.
“Accordingly, if it would be difficult to form a national unity government
presently, our proposal is that a government comprised of people trusted by
the
Lebanese communities be quickly established, in order for the political
life in
the country to normalize,” he stressed.
A blast on Saturday ripped through an industrial property in the mainly
Christian northeastern suburb of Bouchrieh injuring five people and setting at
least six factories ablaze. The attack followed bombings on March 19 and March
23 that targeted two Christian strongholds, killing three people and wounding
at least 10.
There was swift reaction to the blast from the international community.
Following a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Tokyo,
French President Jacques Chirac said: “All those who try and create chaos in
Lebanon will be caught and severely punished.”
In a joint statement, Chirac and Koizumi insisted that “UN Security Council
Resolution 1559 be fully implemented.”
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, in his condemnation of the latest violence,
said that the people of the Lebanon must be allowed to decide their nation’s
future without intimidation.
The Secretary-General was “especially saddened that this latest attack, the
third in Lebanon in only a week, was carried out on the eve of Easter, just as
many of the nation’s Christians were preparing to attend mass,” a spokesman of
Annan said in a statement released on Sunday.
He called on the Government of Lebanon “to act rapidly to prevent the
security
situation from deteriorating” and urged all concerned parties “to do their
utmost to safeguard Lebanon’s stability and national unity.”
Meanwhile, US State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern
Affairs Elizabeth Dibble reiterated US condemnation of the blast, saying
Lebanon is under the international “microscope.”
In an interview with Radio SAWA in Washington, Dibble said: “The
international
community is watching Lebanon very closely. The [Lebanese] population deserves
to live free of fear in a non-violent atmosphere. We hope no other attacks
will
take place.”
On Monday Lebanese opposition politicians continued to point the finger at
the
Lebanese security services controlled by the Syrian-backed government,
accusing
them of seeking to foment confessional unrest as Syria withdraws its troops
from the country.
About 2,000 Syrian troops have pulled out of eastern Lebanon over the past
week, a senior Lebanese security source said on Monday, bringing Syria a step
closer to ending its 29-year military domination of Lebanon.
The source said small units in the eastern Bekaa Valley were going home,
leaving behind a division of the Syrian army as well as scores of intelligence
agents.
A Syrian-Lebanese military committee is due to meet next week to set a
timeline for withdrawing the 8,000 remaining forces.
Facing immense international pressure and popular Lebanese protest, Syria has
promised to withdraw all military personnel, intelligence agents and equipment
it poured into Lebanon early in the country’s 1975-1990 civil war.
Damascus has completed the first stage of a two-phase withdrawal plan,
pulling
back to the Bekaa Valley and withdrawing more than a third of the 14,000
troops
it kept in its tiny neighbor.
It pulled troops out of about a dozen positions in the Bekaa last week. On
Sunday, it left its two largest and last anti-aircraft positions, the sources
said.
Witnesses said soldiers in Mashghara and nearby areas on the southwestern
edge
of the Bekaa were packing up equipment on Monday. Trucks were being brought in
to load the hardware.

3) Arab Tribal Leaders Arrive in Yerevan

YEREVAN (ARF Press Service)–A delegation of 12 Arab tribal leaders from
northeastern Syria, arrived in Yerevan on Monday, accompanied by
representatives of the Armenian Church’s Beria Prelacy.
Armenian National Assembly’s ARF faction secretary Hrair Karapetian and ARF
Bureau’s Political Affairs Office director Giro Manoyan greeted the guests at
Yerevan’s Zvartnotz airport.
The influential tribal leaders, some of whom reside in Saudi Arabia, Jordan,
Iraq, and Qatar, are in Armenia to take part in the events commemorating the
90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, to pay tribute to the Genocide
victims, and remind the world of the unpunished vicious crime.
Their hospitable ancestors gave refuge to the fragments of Armenians who
miraculously survived in the Genocide; today, many of those Armenians and
their
heirs still live side-to-side with the friendly Arab people and enjoy equal
rights.
The delegation will meet with Catholicos Karekin II, National Assembly’s
leadership, Armenia’s prime minister, government ministers, politicians, and
Yerevan State University professors. Their trip is organized by the Armenian
community of Aleppo.
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian received the guests on March 28,
after which they met with the mayor of Yerevan Yervant Zakharian. Their
itinerary includes a visit to the Dzidzernagapert Memorial to Armenian
genocide
victims and the Madenataran that houses Armenian manuscripts.
The delegation is composed of tribal leaders Udey al Ghasi of Al Shumar
tribe;
Fayez el Ghubein of Al Anaze tribe; Abdel Uahab Isa Suleiman of Bakard el
Jabal
tribe; Muhammad al Tai bin Abdel Razak of Al Tay tribe’s second branch; Hlu el
Hlu of Aduan tribe; Hasan Obeid el Khalil of Harp tribe; Abdel Karim Obeid of
Harp tribe’s second branch; Khalil Abud Zhdghan of Ogeidad tribe and a member
of the Syrian parliament; Muhammad Mslad of Chbur tribe and a member of the
Syrian parliament.

4) Novorossiisk Armenians Fear Continued Persecution

NOVOROSSIISK (Armenpress)–A representative of the Armenian cultural society
“Luys” in the Russian Black Sea city of Novorossiisk, said that following the
March 22 rampage against Armenians there, parents now fear sending their
children to school.
Describing those events as “a pogrom,” Alla Partsikian of “Luys” confirmed
previous reports that the clash was caused by a squabble at a local cafe when
Cossacks, led by their community leader Vladimir Petrushin, attacked a
group of
Armenians and Greeks during a birthday party. In a subsequent fight, Petrushin
was injured and was rushed to a hospital where doctors operated on him, and
local law-enforcement bodies launched a criminal investigation.
Later, Armenian-owned cars, cafes, and shops were destroyed in the town’s
quarter. Although the local mayor appealed to Armenians, Greeks, as well as
Cossacks to observe the law, around 200 Cossacks continued the attack against
Armenians and Greeks that evening.
According to the local Armenian daily Yerkramas, Armenian and Cossacks
representatives were due to meet with city authorities on Monday.

5) Poll Shows Distrust Between Armenians, Turks

(AFP)–The majority of Turks and Armenians distrust and dislike each other,
with both describing the World War I massacre of Armenians as a major obstacle
to normalizing ties, according to a poll published Monday.
The survey was carried out by an Istanbul-based think tank and an Armenian
research center, among 1,219 Turks and 1,000 Armenians.
More than 51 percent of Armenian respondents and 33 percent of Turks
interviewed said the two peoples “generally did not like each other.” Just
under one percent of Armenians and 14 percent of Turks expressed a wish to get
on well with one another.
Almost 69 percent of Armenians associated negative words with Turks–among
them “bloodthirsty,” “barbarian,” and “enemy”–while 34 percent of Turks had a
negative view of Armenians, some describing them as “enemy” and “prejudiced.”
Only nine percent of Armenians and 11 percent of Turks had a positive view of
each other.
Seventy-nine percent of Armenians described bilateral ties as “very bad” or
“bad” while 45 percent of Turks described them as “neither bad nor good.” Only
37 percent of Turks described bilateral relations as “very bad” or “bad”
An overwhelming 95.5 percent of Armenians saw huge obstacles to normalizing
ties and 82 percent listed genocide [Turkish denial of the Armenian Genocide]
as the biggest hurdle. Some 37 percent of Turks agreed that there were major
hurdles, but only 19 percent saw the genocide claims as the core of the
problem.
Almost 88 percent of Armenians and 65 percent of Turks said they were in
favor
of establishing diplomatic ties, while 63 percent of Armenians and 51 percent
of Turks supported the re-opening of border crossings.

6) Armenia Garners First-ever World Cup Win

YEREVAN (Reuters)–Armenia recorded their first victory in their 2006 World
Cup qualifying campaign, beating fellow outsiders Andorra 2-1 in a Group One
match on Saturday.
Midfielder Romik Khachatryan, who plays for Greek first division side OFI
Crete, scored the winner from close range seven minutes from time to send the
home crowd wild.
Ara Hakobyan put the Armenians 1-0 up with a cracking shot after 32 minutes
but Fernando Silva equalized for the visitors shortly after the break.
The win allowed bottom-of-the-table Armenia to draw level with Andorra on
four
points from six matches and one point behind fifth-placed Macedonia, who were
not playing on Saturday.
None of those teams have a chance of reaching the finals, but all want to
avoid finishing bottom of the group when it ends in October.

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Big News Network.com, Australia
March 28 2005

Revolution impossible in Armenia: PM
Big News Network.com Monday 28th March, 2005 (UPI)

A democratic revolution like that in Kyrgyzstan is impossible in
Armenia, its prime minister said Monday.

Interfax news agency quoted Premier Andranik Margarian as telling
reporters the kind of popular protest movement that toppled
authoritarian governments in the former Soviet republics of Georgia,
Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan in the past 18 months is impossible in Armenia
because the underlying problems that triggered the unrest don’t exist
in Armenia.

Undoubtedly, there are social and economic problems in Armenia, but
they are not the sort of problems that can be used to make a
revolution, he said.

Margarian said his government was constantly undertaking democratic
and economic reforms. Also, he said the Armenian opposition would not
do anything that could lead to serious destabilization, Interfax
said.

Ko’mm Percussion Performs at Strathmore’s “Art After Hours” series

MUSIC

The Washington Post
Saturday, March 26, 2005

By Andrew Lindemann Malone

We don’t get enough all-percussion concerts, despite the fact that
today’s wide-ranging percussion ensembles can provide hypnotic melodies
in addition to hard grooves and explosive outbursts. So it was
enterprising of Strathmore’s Art After Hours series to host a concert by
Ko’mm Percussion in the mansion on Wednesday night. The group,
consisting of local percussionists Leon Khoja-Eynatyan, Richard
McCandless, Rich O’Meara and Joseph Jay McIntyre, presented works by the
latter three.

Three of the eight works Ko’mm played stood out. The mesmerizing
minimalist-style marimba arpeggios of O’Meara’s “Island Spinning”
wobbled dangerously after some subtle metrical twists, but the piece
righted itself like a top given an extra spin. O’Meara followed that
with “301,” a work commemorating the official conversion of Armenia to
Christianity, in which Khoja-Eynatyan played breathtakingly quiet
ruminations on the marimba as his daughter Tatevik rang an Armenian hymn
on hand bells. The concert ended with a piece by McCandless called “Pile
Driver,” which he introduced with the half-boast “This piece is not
subtle,” but the poetry McCandless found in the cacophony made “Pile
Driver” absorbing.

Yet even the less successful pieces were interesting; for example, the
world premiere of McIntyre’s “Negative” found the composer using real
mallets to strike a nonexistent drum, cuing two bass drums behind him to
stop rumbling and thus “playing” silence. The reverberations of the
drums prevented the silence from cutting sharply through sound, but it
was fun to see the idea tried. And as the members of Ko’mm worked hard
to make the music sound good, they proved that the sheer athletic
spectacle of a percussion concert can be a lot of fun to watch.

OFFICE OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC IN THE USA
1025 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 1000, Washington DC, 20036
Tel: (202) 347-5166
Fax: (202) 347-5168
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site:

ARTSAKH NEWSLETTER
Vol. 7, no. 1
March 28, 2005

The ARTSAKH NEWSLETTER is a publication of the NKR Office in
Washington, D.C., the official representation of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic in the United States. To subscribe/unsubscribe to the Artsakh
Newsletter, please reply to this email.

In this issue:
1. AZERBAIJAN ATTEMPTS TO SCUTTLE THE NK PEACE PROCESS
2. MEMBERS OF US CONGRESS SUPPORT KARABAKH’S FREEDOM
3. NEW APPOINTMENTS IN THE NKR GOVERNMENT
4. ECONOMIC GROWTH IN 2004, PRIORITIES SET FOR 2005
5. SITUATION ON THE LINE OF CONTACT
6. NKR TO HOLD ITS 4TH PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION
7. `SAVE A LIFE, ACT TODAY!’ CAMPAIGN

1. NAGORNO KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

High-level consultations continued between the Foreign Ministers of
Armenia and Azerbaijan. Presidents Robert Kocharian and Ilham Aliyev
met in Astana, Kazakstan last year to advance the negotiation
process. However, no tangible progress has been reported. The OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs visited the region in July 2004 to consult with
the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh.

In November 2004 Azerbaijan initiated a discussion at the UN General
Assembly by submitting a draft resolution `On the situation in the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan’. A number of countries, including
the U.S., objected this move. OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs from the
United States, Russia and France criticized Azerbaijan for its efforts
to force a debate on the Karabakh conflict at the UN. Under pressure
from the Group, Azerbaijan suspended its resolution.

The OSCE mediators returned to the region in January 2005 to accompany
a fact-finding mission, created to verify Azeri allegations that
Armenia was engaged in mass population of territories under Nagorno
Karabakh’s control. The Nagorno Karabakh authorities cooperated
closely with the group, headed by a German Foreign Ministry
official. The group presented its findings to the OSCE Permanent
Council on March 17, which concluded that `overall settlement is quite
limited” and “there is no clear organized resettlement, no
non-voluntary resettlement, no recruitment…’. The report also said
that “the mission did not determine that such settlement has resulted
from a deliberate policy by the government of Armenia.”

NKR praised the report as `highly objective’ in a March 28 statement
and called on the international community to follow the lead of
Armenia and the United States in supporting Nagorno Karabakh’s efforts
to overcome the consequences of the Azerbaijani military
aggression. The OSCE mission acknowledged that the authorities of the
Nagorno Karabakh are in charge of the situation in controlled
territories, including Lachin, a fact on which the two Armenian sides
have insisted all along.

Azerbaijan continues to refuse to negotiate directly with Nagorno
Karabakh, the main concerned party, thus delaying prospects for
resolution to the conflict. Armenia and NKR have repeatedly stated the
importance of Karabakh’s direct participation in the negotiation
process. `Everybody understands that without considering Karabakh’s
position no resolution is possible’, underscored NKR President Arkady
Ghoukasian at a February 28 meeting with students of the Artsakh State
University.

In related news, an outspoken opponent of the Azerbaijani war rhetoric
was assassinated on March 2, 2005. Elmar Huseinov, a leading
opposition journalist, and his publication, the Monitor, were
well-known for its criticism of Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenian
policies. Official Baku continues to portray Armenians as its eternal
enemies and does not favor any contact with Nagorno Karabakh.

Karabakh has repeatedly called on Azerbaijan to agree to a series of
confidence building measures and to work towards establishing an
atmosphere conductive to peace and friendly relations between de-facto
neighbors, Azerbaijan and NKR.

2. MEMBERS OF US CONGRESS SUPPORT KARABAKH’S FREEDOM

Marking the 17th Anniversary of Karabakh Movement, NKR parliament
adopted a special resolution, which reconfirmed Karabakh’s commitment
to a peaceful resolution to the conflict with Azerbaijan, called on
official Baku to work towards establishing an atmosphere of trust and
tolerance in the region, and appealed to the international community
to recognize Karabakh’s efforts to build a full-fledged civil society
based on the rule of law.

Several members of the U.S. Congress joined in commemorating the event
by sending letters to the people of Karabakh and speaking on the floor
of the House of Representatives.

`Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my congratulations to the people
of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) on the 17th anniversary of the Nagorno
Karabakh Freedom Movement,’ Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) said.

`On February 20, 1988, the people of Nagorno Karabakh officially
petitioned the Soviet government to reunite with Armenia and reverse
the injustice perpetrated by the Soviet dictator, Joseph Stalin. This
peaceful and legal request was met with violent reaction by the Soviet
and Azerbaijani leadership, and escalated into full military
aggression against Nagorno Karabakh. The people of Nagorno Karabakh
bravely defended their right to live in freedom on their ancestral
land,’ said Rep. Michael McNulty (D-NY) in his floor statement.

`Today, the unwavering strength of the Freedom Movement can be seen in
the democratically-elected government of Nagorno Karabakh. […] I
congratulate the people of Nagorno Karabakh for their steadfast
commitment to promoting freedom, democracy and economic development
over the past seventeen years,’ echoed Rep. Martin Meehan (D-MA) in
his speech on the House floor.

`The people of Nagorno Karabakh should be commended for […]
achieving sovereignty in the face of strong opposition from
neighboring nations. The United States is honored to share such
fundamental values with Nagorno Karabakh as democracy, liberty, and a
profound respect for human rights,’ said Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ).

`Congress recognized this consistent move towards democracy, granting
NKR $20 million in humanitarian assistance in FY `97, an additional $5
million in FY `03 and $3 million just last year. This assistance has
not just been crucial for needs of the people of NKR, but has also
fostered the beginnings of an excellent relationship between our two
countries,’ underscored Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) in his floor
statement.

Pallone and Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), the co-chairs of the
Congressional Armenian Caucus, also sent a joint letter to the people
of Nagorno Karabakh.

The letter said in part: `We applaud your constructive approach and
ongoing contribution to peace and strability in the region. Our
support for your democracy and your quest to live free, under the
government of your own choosing, remains strong.’

`Like so many who have undergone the pains of oppression, the people
of Nagorno Karabakh must rest assured knowing that democracy breeds
peace. The United States will continue to promote the cause of our
democratic friends in Nagorno Karabakh, not yielding until the goals
set forth on February 20, 1988, have been realized in full,’ concluded
Rep. Holt in his powerful statement on the House floor.

NKR President Arkady Ghoukasian thanked members of the U.S. Congress
for their public support. In his March 4, 2005 letter Ghoukasian said:
`The people of Nagorno Karabakh are truly grateful for this ongoing
support, which contributes to achieving a secure, democratic and
prosperous Nagorno Karabakh and South Caucasus.’

Representative of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States
Vardan Barseghian met with members of Congress to personally thank
them and brief them on recent developments in Nagorno Karabakh.

3. NEW APPOINTMENTS IN THE NKR GOVERNMENT

President Arkady Ghoukasian announced several new cabinet appointments
and also introduced some structural changes. On January 12, 2005 a
presidential decree finalized the following structure and personnel:

Prime Minister – Mr. Anoushavan Daniyelian
Vice-Prime Minister – Mr. Ararat Daniyelian*
Minister of Agriculture – Mr. Vahram Baghdassarian
Minister of Defense – Lt.Gen. Col. Seyran Ohanian
Minister of Education, Culture and Sports – Mr. Ashot Ghoulian
Minister of Finances and Economy – Mr. Spartak Tevossian
Minister of Foreign Affairs – Amb. Arman Melikian
Minister of Health – Mrs. Zoya Lazarian
Minister of Justice – Mr. Robert Hayrapetian
Minister of Social Security – Mr. Lenston Ghoulian
Minister of Territorial Administration & Development of Industrial
Infrastructures – Mr. Armo Tsatourian
Minister of Urban Development – Mr. Boris Alaverdian
Chief of Staff, Minister – Mr. Suren Grigorian
Head of National Security Service – Mr. Bako Sahakyan
Head of Police – Mr. Armen Isagulov
Head of State Tax Service – Mr. Hakob Kaghramanian

* not related to the Prime Minister

4. ECONOMIC GROWTH IN 2004, PRIORITIES FOR 2005

The NKR economy continued to show strong growth last year with the
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reaching 42.2 billion dram
($79.3million), up by 17.5% from 2003. Exports totaled $39 million
(m), a 25% growth over last year.

Nagorno Karabakh’s industrial output totaled 18.5 billion drams
($35m), registering a 160% growth, as compared to the previous
year. Eighty percent of industrial enterprises are privately
owned. The main sectors showing growth were ore-mining (a 46% growth
in 2004), food processing (8% growth), production and distribution of
electricity (2.5% growth). Capital construction totaled 9.1 billion
drams ($17.2m), up by 5 percent.

On December 27, 2004 the NKR Parliament adopted the 2005 state budget,
which included 6.5 billion drams ($13m) in projected income and 21.4
billion drams ($42.8m) in expenses. The resulting deficit is due to be
covered mainly by $27m inter-government loan from Armenia.

The 2005 budget allocated in part (in drams):
4,490m for social security (21% of state budget)
1,210m for health care (a 30% increase)
785m for education, sport and youth programs
577m for social subsidy for certain categories of children
500m for restoration and development of irrigation facilities
200m for development of viticulture, cattle breeding and agro-machinery lease
190m to support families of killed soldiers, war wounded and veterans
107m to conduct first post-independence census
100m for preservation and reconstruction of historic architectural monuments.

Funding has also been earmarked for small and medium business loans, a
program that has been operating since 2001.

As of January 1, 2005, the minimum wage increased by 30% to 15,000
drams, and the minimum pension rose by the same percentage to 4,000
drams.

The government has also identified priority development areas for next
few years, which included school construction, building new medical
facilities with modern equipment, improvement of road infrastructure,
water reservoirs and irrigation facilities.

5. SITUATION ON THE LINE OF CONTACT

Azerbaijan continued its attempts to draw closer to NKR positions,
which led to increased tensions along the Line of Contact. Azerbaijan
violated the cease-fire regime several times in early March, causing
isolated skirmishes that resulted in lose of live from both sides.

NKR denounced Azerbaijan’s tactics while warning that continued
attacks will be rebuffed forcefully. Deputy Foreign Minister Masis
Mayilyan called for international demarcation of the Line of Contact
to prevent local attacks and further destabilization.

On March 18, 2005 Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian said that the
`defense capability of the NKR Army is high and that the Army is able
to ensure the security of the republic and its population.’

The OSCE cease-fire monitoring missions continued regularly and
confirmed that the overall situation on the Line of Contact remained
stable.

6. NKR TO HOLD ITS 4TH PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

Nagorno Karabakh will hold its fourth Parliamentary Election on June
19, 2005. The new Central Electoral Commission has set the dates for
candidates’ nomination, registration and campaigning. Four major
political parties — the ruling Democratic Artsakh and opposition
ARF-Dashnaktsutiun, Movement-88 and Our Homeland Armenia — along with
several smaller parties plan to participate.

As in the past, NKR invited international observers to monitor the
vote. Past elections in NKR were observed by international monitors
and reported to be in line with or exceeding the internationally
accepted standards for post-soviet territories.

Opposition to people’s right to vote continued in Azerbaijan, as
official Baku made statements on Karabakh’s upcoming ballot. As in the
past, the government of Azerbaijan launched a campaign of undermining
and discrediting the June election in Nagorno Karabakh. Despite Baku’s
effort, the international community clearly appreciates the Nagorno
Karabakh’s right to live in freedom, under a government of its own
choosing. In 2004, commenting on NK municipal election, the U.S. State
Department did not criticize the ballot and said only `that [the
election] would not affect the ongoing peace talks’. Members of the
U.S. Congress have supported democratic processes in Nagorno Karabakh.

`The men and women of Nagorno-Karabakh exercised their right to
vote–a right which we have cherished for more than two centuries and
a right that we hope will spread across the
world. […]Congratulations to the people of Nagorno Karabakh for
[their] commitment to freedom and democracy,’ said Rep. Adam Shiff
(D-CA) in a September 2002 statement on NKR Presidential Election.

7. `SAVE A LIFE, ACT TODAY!’

Extend a helping hand to the children of Artsakh!

The Government of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) asks you to
contribute to its efforts to ensure proper medical treatment for the
children of Artsakh.

Artsakh is still recovering from a devastating war initiated by
Azerbaijan. Much has been done to improve pediatric medical
care. However, some children with special needs still require medical
treatment outside Artsakh, in Armenia, Russia and elsewhere.

Considering the dire social situation in the republic, the NKR
Government has been consistent in trying to ease the financial burden
on such families by providing funds for treatment abroad. We often
rely on your support for making this assistance possible and are happy
to inform that last year five children received such benevolent
assistance.

A special committee has been created to oversee the proper
distribution and use of the humanitarian assistance. The Committee on
Implementation of Medical Assistance Projects (CIMAP) includes
representatives of Ministries of Health, Social Security and Foreign
Affairs, a local non-governmental organization, Motherhood, and a
local liaison of the U.S.-based Americans for Artsakh organization.

CIMAP receives and reviews applications for financial assistance and,
after scrupulous consideration, decides on the amount of financial aid
to be provided. It also outlines financial reporting guidelines for
recipient families. These families agree to use the funds exclusively
for medical treatment and associated expenses and to report to the
committee on the results.

Last year, CIMAP reported to its donors on the assistance impact and
use of funds in required detail.

Currently, a number of children are awaiting for financial help to
continue or even start their medical treatments. The NKR Government
requires at least $10,000 a month to be able to continue helping those
children.

We call on you to join this humanitarian effort and help ensure that
proper medical treatment is provided to the children of Artsakh! We
welcome donations from individuals and organizations! Every dollar is
sent to Artsakh to benefit the children.

Please mail your tax-deductible donation today to:

ARMENIAN CHILDREN’S RELIEF FUND
31800 West Eight Mile Road
Farmington, MI 48336

Please make your check payable to the Armenian Children’s Relief Fund
and include a note `Children of Artsakh’.

For more information, please contact
NKR Office at (202) 347-5166 or [email protected]

CIMAP can be contacted directly at (374-71) 7-15-51 or [email protected]

* * *

The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is
based in Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia
and the public representing the official policies and interests of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

This material is distributed by the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic in the United States (NKR Office) on behalf of the government
of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The NKR Office is registered with
the U.S. government under the Foreign Agent Registration
Act. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice,
Washington, D.C.