PanArmenian News
March 4 2005

AAA RALLIES SUPPORT FOR DECLARATION BY AMBASSADOR JOHN EVANS

04.03.2005 13:34

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Assembly of America acted to galvanize
congressional and Armenian-American support for U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia John Evans’ self-evident declaration that `the Armenian
Genocide was the first genocide of the twentieth century’, the AAA
reports. The Assembly leaders launched a comprehensive campaign that
hinges on the support of the community and others of goodwill to join
Ambassador Evans in properly characterizing the attempted
annihilation of the Armenian people as genocide. As part of that
campaign the Assembly sent an urgent memorandum to the Senate to
support the Evans’ declaration. According to the source, pursuing the
policy of the Armenian Genocide denial Turkey relies on her
supporters in the Bush Administration, US Congress and some mass
media. Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chair Frank Pallone
said: `Ambassador Evans’ statements did not contradict U.S. policy,
but rather articulated the same message that the Bush Administration
has sent to the public, the only difference in this case is that
Ambassador Evans simply assigned the word to the definition that was
already provided by President Bush as well as members of his
administration.’

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BY US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA NOT
COORDINATED WITH US STATE DEPARTMENT

YEREVAN, MARCH 3. ARMINFO. The statement by US Ambassador to Armenia
John Evans that the Armenian massacres in Ottoman Turkey in early XX
can be qualified as genocide was his personal opinion and runs counter
to the US official policy on the issue, says a representative of the
US presidential administration in an interview to Radio Liberty.

Evans did not coordinate his statement with the US State Department.
Pres.Bush has qualified the 1915 events in Ottoman Turkey as one of
the most outrageous tragedies of XX and as a massacre of 1.5 mln
Armenians. Presidential opinion is always most weighty in the US
policy. Until Bush has changed his position on the issue no one can
empower an ambassador to make such a statement, says the official.

He says that Evans’ statement has made even more difficult
Armenian-Turkish rapprochement. When Turks are driven into a corner
they react very acutely. They can change their position on some
issues if one raises them consistently, purposefully and
persuasively. But pressure is not effective.

COCHAIRMAN OF PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION EU-TURKEY CALLS ON ANKARA TO
ADMIT GENOCIDE OF ARMENIANS

YEREVAN, MARCH 3. ARMINFO. During the meeting of the EU-Turkey
parliamentary delegation, its Cochairman, French deputy Jacques Toubon
raised the “unquestionable reality” of the Armenian Genocide. He
called on Turkey to admit the Genocide of Armenians.

PanArmenian.net reports, during his talk, Mr Toubon indicated to his
Turkish counterparts that the recognition of this genocide constituted
an “important element for Europe” and of its “common values”. In
particular he highlighted that the European Parliament, since 1987,
had on numerous occasions recognized the reality of the Genocide and
since then, continually asked Turkey to do the same. He explained that
“by refusing to ratify the Treaty of Sevres of 1920, Turkey did not
want to recognize this genocide” which could be explained in the
political context of that time, but “90 years later, Turkey must
change” and adopt European values while recognizing this historic
reality, Jacques Toubon noted. His statements provoked the rage of the
Turkish officials participating in the meeting.

GREEK MASS MEDIA CONDEMN JERUSALEM PATRIARCHATE OF ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH

YEREVAN, MARCH 3. ARMINFO. The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem has
heard with great concern about the false allegations published by the
media in Greece regarding the Holy Fire ceremony, which takes place
each year on the Saturday before Easter in the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre, according to which: “the Armenians are demanding that they
light the Holy Fire, and it must be noted that the issue has reached
all the way to the Israeli Knesset.

ARMINFO was informed in the JPA, as it is known, this request of the
Armenians is persistent, and many times, during the entrance and exit
of the Greek patriarch, there have occurred serious incidents.” The
position of the Armenian Patriarchate has always been to uphold the
peaceful and centuries-old traditional ceremony of the Holy Fire, in
compliance with the Agreement on the Status Quo in the Holy Places,
according to which: “The Bishop of the Armenian Church, who is to
accompany the Greek

Patriarch into the Sepulchre, here joins His Beatitude. The Patriarch
now disrobes, and his mitre and vestments are carried by the attendant
clergy to the Altar in the Orthodox Chapel.

The door of the Edicule is then opened and the Patriarch enters the
Tomb, accompanied by the Armenian Bishop.” Unfortunately, since his
accession to the throne in 2001, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Ireneios
I has maintained that the Greeks hold the exclusive right to light the
Holy Fire from the Holy Tomb, subsequently passing it to the
Armenians. Contrary to this assertion, firmans, hujjats, and other
historical and legal documents all state that the Armenian Bishop and
the Greek Patriarch should together light the Holy Fire from the Tomb
of our Lord.

The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem has and will continue to reject
the attempts of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch in Jerusalem to deny the
right of equal participation by the Armenian Patriarch in the lighting
of the Holy Fire.

Novosti
2005-03-04 17:03

AWACS PLANES NOT ADMITTED IN KYRGYZSTAN

BISHKEK, March 4 (RIA Novosti) – The Foreign Ministry of Kyrgyzstan has
described the US Ambassador’s remark that American spy planes could be
deployed in the country as a misunderstanding.

“It was only a misunderstanding that US Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Stephen
Young said the U.S. had not requested a Kyrgyz permission to deploy AWACS
planes,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

According to the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry’s Friday statement, the US Embassy
to Bishkek “did apply to the Foreign Ministry, via a relevant Note, for a
permission to have AWACS planes deployed in the territory of the republic.
More, NATO Secretary General Mr. Scheffer had previously applied for the
same permission in a letter to the Kyrgyz Foreign Minister.” However, the
statement reads, “head of the American mission to the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. S.
Young said that the American side had never raised the issue.”

At the same time, the Foreign Ministry said the case in point was only “a
disagreement about the Americans’ admitting that there had been such a
request,” rather than military-political differences between the two
countries. Relations between the U.S. and Kyrgyzstan appear to be in good
condition, with a U.S. airbase hosted at Manas, the Bishkek international
airport.

The Foreign Ministry of Kyrgyzstan was forced to make this statement by
critical voices in the national media, which accused the ministry of
“confused public diplomacy” and cited an alleged military-political
disagreement between the two countries.

The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry believes that everything is clear now and there
will be no more speculations about possible deployment of AWACS planes in
the country.

Having consulted the member states of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and
Tajikistan) and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Russia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, China, and Uzbekistan), the Foreign Ministry of
Kyrgyzstan responded to NATO and the U.S. that it could not permit AWACS
deployment, for the deployment of US spy planes in the country “would be
beyond the mandate and mission of the military-humanitarian operation in
Afghanistan and not in line with the country’s CSTO and SCO commitments.”

Athens News Agency, Greece

Today’s Home News
Friday 4, March 2005

BSEC members sign “Alexandroupolis Declaration” on energy

Energy ministers of the countries belonging to the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC) organisation adopted the “Alexandroupolis Declaration,”
after their meeting held in Northern Greece on Friday.

The primary conclusion the BSEC ministers reached was that
liberalisation of electricity and natural gas markets in full accordance
with EU directives is a must, with the aim of creating a regional energy
market, thus achieving economies of scale that will in turn lead to greater
growth.

A meeting of the working groups on electricity networks and energy
earlier in the week preceded Friday’s meeting.

By adopting the Alexandroupolis Declaration, BSEC members have agreed on
a common framework for collaboration in the future.

According to the declaration, some of the points BSEC members have
agreed on include: strengthening cooperation in order to improve energy
efficiency and promote renewable sources of energy, instituting a common
legislative framework with common rules that will apply to all BSEC member
countries, create a common market of electricity networks and natural gas
within the context of the EU market, etc.

All of the BSEC members – Albania, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bulgaria,
Georgia, Greece, Moldavia, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Turkey
and Ukraine – were represented at the meeting, while committees of energy
experts also participated.

Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas represented Greece.
Macedonia-Thrace Minister Nikos Tsiartsionis, Deputy Foreign Minister
Evripidis Stylianidis, Deputy Development Minister George Salagkoudis and
Secretary General for Development N. Stefanou were also in attendance.

Associated Press Worldstream
March 4, 2005 Friday 1:59 PM Eastern Time

Turkey renames animals to eliminate references to Kurds and Armenians

ANKARA, Turkey

Turkey is renaming three indigenous animals to eliminate references
to Kurdistan and Armenia, the Environment and Forestry Ministry
announced Friday, saying the old names were given by foreigners with
designs on the country’s unity.

A species of red fox known as “Vulpes Vulpes Kurdistanica” will now
be known as just “Vulpes Vulpes,” a species of wild sheep called
“Ovis Armeniana” was changed to “Ovis Orientalis Anatolicus,” and a
type of deer known as “Capreolus Capreolus Armenus” was renamed
“Capreolus Cuprelus Capreolus,” a ministry statement said.

“Unfortunately, foreign scientists, who for many years researched
Turkey’s flora and fauna, named plant and animal species that they
had never come across before with a prejudiced mind-set,” the
statement said.

“Unfortunately, there are many species in our country that were named
in this way with ill intent. This ill intent is so obvious that even
species that are endemic to our country were given names that are
against our unitary structure,” the statement added.

Eastern Anatolia was once home to a large Armenian population.
Armenians accuse Turkey of genocide, saying that 1.5 million
Armenians in eastern Turkey were slaughtered as the Ottoman Empire
forced Armenians out of eastern Anatolia. Turkey denies the genocide
and says the death count is inflated.

Many Turks fear that neighboring Armenia, which Turkey does not
formally recognize, aspires to reclaim the territory where Armenians
once lived.

Turkey also fears that Kurds living in the southeast aspire to break
away from the country. Turkey has been battling autonomy-seeking
Kurdish rebels since 1984. Some 37,000 people have died as a result
of the conflict.

The ministry said the new names were chosen through scientific
research.

It was not clear why Turkish authorities have waited until now to
change the names. It was also not clear if the name changes would be
internationally recognized.

Mideast Mirror
March 4, 2005

Turkish press

[parts omitted]

EU-FRANCE: Ergin Sedat comments on anti-Turkish sentiments in France
in Hurriyet: “The recent constitutional change in France creates a
real possibility that Turkey’s full membership may be prevented in
the future. French decision-makers have placed a very influential
weapon in the hands of anti-EU groups in Turkey. The referendum will
create a situation whereby the demands of the French public and
politicians on Turkey will be hard to resist. Accepting claims over
the issue of the ‘Armenian genocide’ is included in that. As a
result, France can exhaust Turkey in the full membership process.”
Fikret Bila comments on the same issue in the centrist Milliyet:
“France has already taken measures against Turkish membership. Turkey
is trying to improve its EU process under these circumstances.
However, there are no negotiations and there will not be any. As was
the case while fulfilling all the pre-conditions, Turkey will face
the dilemma of ‘either accepting or walking out’ during the
negotiation process-especially when its chances of membership are
already very small. The double-standards that the EU is applying to
Turkey are continuing after 17 December when Turkey got a date for
accession talks .”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1 Plus | 20:28:14 | 04-03-2005 | Politics |

THE REFERENDUM IS NOT FAR AWAY

29.3% of the 1500 citizens living in Yerevan and the regions are not
acquainted with the RA Constitution, 25.6% of them is acquainted but
does not understand its content. “The Strategy and National
Investigation Armenian Center” has carried out the first survey
consisting of 22 questions about the Constitutional and electoral
amendments.

Stepan Safaryan, regulating the results of the investigation of the
centre, representing the results, referred to the elections. According
to him, there is disappointment and growth of non-confidence towards the
authorities.

74.5% of the participants of the survey considered the 2003 presidential
elections disputable, a little less considered the 1998 presidential
elections disputable, and about half — the 1996 elections. About the
same percent considered the 2003 parliamentary elections disputable.

To the question if they are acquainted with the draft constitution the
overwhelming majority answered no. Let us remind you that the
Constitutional referendum deadline is 2005 June.

FresnoStateNews.com
March 4, 2005
Contact: Shirley Melikian Armbruster
(559) 278-5292 or (559) 593-1815

Author Markar Melkonian to Discuss
`My Brother’s Road’ on March 15

The Armenian Studies Program Spring Lecture Series will feature author
Markar Melkonian on Tuesday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Melkonian will discuss his new book, “My Brother’s Road: An American’s
Fateful Journey to Armenia” in his speech in Industrial Technology Building,
room 101, at the corner of Barstow and Campus Drive at California State
University, Fresno. Admission is free and the event is open to the public.

`My Brother’s Road’ is the story of Melkonian’s brother, Armenian national
hero Monte Melkonian. Born in the San Joaquin Valley, Monte Melkonian grew
up to become a promising archaeologist, witness to revolution in Iran,
militiaman in the streets of Beirut, guerrilla in southern Lebanon, prison
strike leader in France and commander of 4,000 fighters in the Karabagh War
in the last days of the former Soviet Union.

As Monte Melkonian’s comrade and sometimes-critic, Markar Melkonian shared
the dangers and hopes of the road for a while with his brother. `My
Brother’s Road’ is the product of eight years of research and writing and
draws from hundreds of interviews and thousands of documents in four
languages on three continents.

Markar Melkonian is a third generation Californian, a teacher, writer and
veteran solidarity worker. He holds several graduate degrees, including a
Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Melkonian’s books include `Marxism: A Post-Cold War Primer’ and `Richard
Rorty’s Politics: Liberalism at the End of the American Century.’

Markar Melkonian is founder and a director of The Monte Melkonian Fund,
Inc., a nonprofit organization that assists the needy in the impoverished
former Soviet Republic of Armenia.

The lecture is co-sponsored by the Armenian Studies Program and the Armenian
Students Organization. Relaxed parking will be available in Lots Q, K, and L
after 7 p.m. For more information, please contact the Armenian Studies
Program at (559) 278-2669.