CONSTRUCTION OF BUSINESS-CENTER ON BASIS OF CENTRAL DEPARTMENT STORE
FROZEN

YEREVAN, MARCH 1. ARMINFO. Construction of a business-center on the
basis of the Central Department Store privatized several years ago in
Yerevan has been frozen. Russian businessman, the owner of the company
“Accord- Armenia” which privatized the CDS, Ara Abrahamyan tells
journalists today.

He refused to mention the reason of freezing of the construction,
adding that it was not connected with financial problems. “We have
funds and construction companies, but we cannot build. It is a
separate issue which I do no want to speak about,” he said.

It should be noted that construction of the business-center embracing
40,000 sq.m was planned under implementation of the program “Northern
Avenue” and was to be completed by the end of 2002. $5 million were to
be invested in the construction. The company “Accord-Armenia”
purchased the CDS in September 2001 for $900.000.

Armenian opposition MP puzzled at country’s “paradoxical” economic data

Arminfo
1 Mar 05

YEREVAN

The increasing volume of imports into Armenia was twice as high as
that of exports in 2004, something that brings about a high level of
Armenia’s dependence on foreign countries, opposition MP Tatul
Manaseryan told the parliament today.

Inflation was two and half times higher than it was expected in 2004,
while measures to make the [national currency] drum stronger did not
lead to a logical fall in prices.

“The head of the Central Bank says that the increase in the index of
consumer prices constituted 2.8 per cent in 2004, while official
statistics testify to a 7-per-cent growth. We do not have the moral
right to approve the candidacy of the chairman of the Central Bank
unless answers are given to these paradoxical questions,” the MP said.

Armenian leader demands transparent local government polls

Arminfo
1 Mar 05

YEREVAN

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and the minister for coordinating
territorial administration and production infrastructures, Ovik
Abramyan, have discussed the course of preparations for the
forthcoming local government elections in October.

Kocharyan demanded that steps be taken to conduct transparent and fair
elections and to rule out any intervention in the electoral process,
the press service of the Armenian president has told Arminfo.

Earlier, Abramyan had assured journalists that there would be no
intervention in the electoral process on the part of the government
and the president. He said it was important for the government to
ensure that the heads of local government are elected by the free will
of the population and work well.

“The election of community leaders and elders does not depend on their
party affiliation,” Abramyan said and promised that the elections
would be free and fair.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Coalition party warns Armenia may turn into mafia republic

Arminfo
1 Mar 05

YEREVAN

The Orinats Yerkir [Law-Governed Country] Party, which is a member of
the ruling coalition, condemns the crime situation in Armenia, a
member of the Orinats Yerkir faction, Gagik Avetyan, told the National
Assembly today.

The criminal world has become embedded in some government structures
in the republic, he noted. Permissiveness and irresponsibility have
become visit cards of certain circles, he said. Avetyan stressed that
Armenia will turn into a clan and mafia republic in the near future
unless timely measures are taken to rectify the situation, which is
possible only by means of consolidating the forces concerned about the
future of the Armenian nation.

Another member of Orinats Yerkir, Ovannes Markaryan, said that
corruption has penetrated all the government structures of the
republic, budget spending and state procurement are not properly
overseen and officials frequently abuse power.

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03/02/2005
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1) Rep. Pallone Welcomes Amb. Evans’s Remarks Recognizing the Armenian
Genocide
2) Four Local Charities Get New York Life Settlement Share
3) Armenian-Azeri Talks Further Delayed
4) Parliament Reinstates Central Bank Chair Sargsian

1) Rep. Pallone Welcomes Amb. Evans’s Remarks Recognizing the Armenian
Genocide

–Delivers Powerful Speech on Floor of the US House

WASHINGTON, DC–Speaking on the floor of the US House, Congressional Armenian
Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) tonight welcomed public statements made
last week by US Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans, in which he
properly
described Ottoman Turkey’s systematic massacres of the Armenians between
1915-1923 as “genocide,” reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA). The Ambassador yesterday issued a statement in which he
re-characterized his remarks as his personal views.
In a speech on the House floor, Rep. Pallone shared with his colleagues that
Ambassador Evans, who he noted had studied Russian history at Yale and
Columbia
and Ottoman history at the Kennan Institute, had repeatedly and openly
discussed the Armenian genocide in his public statements during his recently
concluded tour of Armenian American communities. He noted, “Breaking with a
pattern on the part of the State Department of using alternative and evasive
terminology for the Armenian Genocide, Ambassador Evans pointed out that,
and I
quote, ‘No American official has ever denied it.'”
Congressman Pallone added: “Amb. Evans was merely recounting the historical
record, which has been attested to by over 120 Holocaust and genocide scholars
from around the world. In so doing, he was merely giving a name–the accurate
description of “genocide”–to this very Administration’s statements on the
issue. President Bush, on April 24th of each of the last four years, when
commemorating the Armenian Genocide, has used the textbook definition of
genocide–with words and phrases such as ‘annihilation,’ and ‘forced exile and
murder.’ Before him, President Reagan used the word ‘genocide’ in 1981 when
describing the annihilation of over 1.5 million Armenians. In the days of the
Genocide, our US Ambassador, then Henry Morgenthau had the courage to speak
out
against the atrocities, which he stated were a planned and systematic
effort to
annihilate an entire race.”
The New Jersey Congressman closed his remarks by stressing that he wanted to
add his name and voice “to all those who, like Ambassador Evans, know the
truth
and speak plainly when discussing the Armenian Genocide.”
“Armenian Americans, throughout New Jersey and across the nation, welcome
Congressman Pallone’s remarks in support of official US recognition of the
Armenian Genocide and in defense of all those who are working to bring an end
to US complicity in the denial of this crime against all humanity,” said Aram
Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “We value Congressman Pallone’s
tireless determination, his years of hard work, and–in response to this
latest
controversy–his clear and principled defense of US officials who will no
longer be deterred from speaking the truth about the crime of genocide.”
Rep. Pallone’s comments came a day after a statement released by Amb. Evans,
expressing concerns about a “misunderstanding” regarding his comments made
at a
series of public Armenian American community outreach events in Boston, New
York, New Jersey, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Fresno, and Washington, DC.
During his presentations in these cities, the Ambassador spoke with a level of
candor on the Armenian genocide. During his public presentation at the
University of California, Berkeley, hosted by Armenian Studies Program
Executive Director, Prof. Stephan Astourian, Evans announced, “I will today
call it the Armenian Genocide.”
The Ambassador argued, “We, the US government, owe you, our fellow citizens a
more frank and honest way of discussing this problem. Today, as someone who’s
studied it…There’s no doubt in my mind what happened.”
In a statement posted on the Embassy’s website yesterday, Amb.
Evans noted that his remarks regarding the Armenian genocide were his private
views and did not reflect a change in official US government policy.

2) Four Local Charities Get New York Life Settlement Share

PASADENA (Combined Sources)–Four local charities received their portion of a
$20-million insurance settlement Monday for heirs of the victims of the
Armenian genocide.
Haigoush Keghinian-Kohler of the Armenian Educational Foundation, Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Chairman Richard Mouseghian of the Armenian Church of the North America
Western
Diocese, and Maro Minassian and Anahid Meymarian of the Armenian Relief
Society
were on hand to receive the checks for more than $333,000 each during a
ceremony in Pasadena on Monday.
New York Life last year agreed to settle the 1999 class-action lawsuit filed
by descendants of victims of the 1915 genocide. They accused the insurance
company of not paying out 2,300 policies purchased by their relatives in the
Ottoman Empire, officials said.
“This is historic because it is the first case of its kind for any money or
resolution of the Armenian genocide,” said Brian S. Kabateck, one of the
attorneys who orchestrated the settlement and whose grandparents survived the
genocide. “And it’s probably the oldest case in US history since its inception
90 years ago.”
The money will benefit only the “poor and needy,” Kabateck said. It cannot be
used for administrative purposes by the organizations. The groups have six
months to determine how to spend the money, he said.
According to the settlement, nine US charities that serve people of Armenian
descent will share $3 million. Individual relatives of victims will receive
the
remaining $17 million.
The 55-year-old Armenian Educational Foundation provides scholarships to
needy
students, funds after-school programs for as many as 1,400 Glendale and
Burbank
children and has helped rebuild schools in Armenia, board member Haigoush
Keghinian-Kohler said. The board will meet this month to decide the best use
for the money, Keghinian-Kohler said.
The settlement will not only benefit the local community, but will also help
the healing process, she said.
“I am a child and grandchild of survivors,” Keghinian-Kohler said.
“Hopefully,
my parents and grandparents will rest in peace, but not completely until
the US
and Turkish governments recognize that the genocide did happen.”
The Armenian Relief Society, with affiliate entities in 24 different
countries
serving the social and educational needs of Armenian communities everywhere,
seeks to preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian nation and bring
humanitarian help to all communities in distress.
Descendants of those who have outstanding New York Life policies must file
their claims by March 16 to receive their share of the settlement. People can
check their eligibility at
On January 27, five Armenian charities received checks for $333,333, also
part
of a $20 million settlement with New York Life Insurance Co. The agreement set
aside at least $11 million for descendants, $3 million for charities, and $2
million for administrative costs.

3) Armenian-Azeri Talks Further Delayed

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–The next round of Armenian-Azeri peace talks has been
postponed by at least one week because of Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian’s
continuing illness, his spokesman clarified on Wednesday.
Oskanian and his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov were scheduled to
hold a meeting in Prague on Wednesday. News of its postponement was confirmed
by Armenia on Tuesday. Azerbaijani sources said it will likely take place in
Paris later this week.
But an Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Serob Bejanian, said this is now
out of question. “The Mammadyarov-Oskanian meeting has again been postponed
due
to Mr. Oskanian’s health condition,” said Bejanian. “Mr. Oskanian has to
continue his treatment in Yerevan for at least one more week.”
“Precise dates for the meeting will be set afterward,” he added.
Mammadyarov, meanwhile, was due in Prague on Wednesday for talks with Czech
government officials.
Azeri ANS radio quoted him as saying that he has already received a copy of a
report drawn up by a fact-finding OSCE mission that visited
Armenian-controlled
territories of Azerbaijan last month. The OSCE officials were investigating
Azerbaijani allegations about illegal resettlement of Armenians in the
occupied
territories.
Mammadyarov declined to comment on the report, saying that its findings will
not be publicized until March 16. An Azerbaijani diplomat in Vienna on Monday
accused Armenia of illegally sending 23,000 settlers to those lands. “Such
steps of Armenia represent a blatant violation of international humanitarian
law and totally contradict the Geneva conventions,” Parviz Shahbazov told a
news conference.
Shahbazov also accused Bernard Fassier, France’s chief Karabagh negotiator who
accompanied the OSCE team on the trip, of justifying “the result of Armenian
aggression” and diminishing the scale of the settlement campaign.
Fassier had said that, with the exception of the Lachin district providing
for
the shortest overland link between Karabagh and Armenia, Armenians’ migration
into the occupied territories seems to be largely spontaneous and improvised.
“Contrary to what many people thought, there doesn’t seem to be a deliberate,
large-scale plan to settle those areas,” he stressed.

4) Parliament Reinstates Central Bank Chair Sargsian

YEREVAN (ARKA)–Armenia’s National Assembly has voted to reinstate the
chairman
of the Central Bank of Armenia Tigran Sargsian, for a seven-year term.
The closed ballot yielded 86 votes in favor of Sargsian, reelection; only 4
members of parliament opposed.
Sargsian thanked Armenian President Robert Kocharian for putting forward his
candidacy and lawmakers for approving it, and promised to justify the
confidence of the lawmakers in reinstating him for another term.
“I’ll try to strengthen this confidence and hope that cooperation with the
Parliament will bring about a flourishing of the country’s economy,” Sargsian
said. He stressed that Armenia would be facing new challenges and must be
prepared to tackle them.
According to law, the Chair of Armenia’s Central Bank is nominated by the
President for a seven-year term, and must be approved by its National
Assembly.

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EUROPAICA
Bulletin de la Représentation de l’Eglise Orthodoxe Russe
près les Institutions Européennes

N° 59

The Armenian Genocide discussed by the WCC Central Committee

The Moderator of the World Council of Churches Central Committee His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, made the following statement in
his report to the Central Committee on 15 February 2005: ‘The acceptance
of truth is the sine qua non condition for forgiveness. Guilt must be
admitted; truth must be told. The acknowledgement of truth in its
totality is the first concrete and hopeful step towards a new beginning.
Healing is generated primarily through truth telling. Allow me in this
regard to remind you of the painful story of my own people. This year my
church and people will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. During the First World War in 1915, one-and-a-half million
Armenians were massacred by the Ottoman-Turkish government according to
a well-devised and systematically executed plan. Although my generation
did not directly experience the tragic past, the Armenian Genocide has
had a strong impact on our spiritual and intellectual formation. The
past haunts the victims; we cannot free ourselves from the past unless
that past is duly recognized.’

During the plenary discussion of the Moderator’s report Bishop Hilarion
of Vienna and Austria, Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church to
the European Institutions, said: ‘I am grateful to the Moderator for
mentioning the Armenian Genocide, which took place 90 years ago and
resulted with one and a half million victims. The Armenian Genocide is
one of those shameful pages of human history which, for the sake of
political correctness, is very often passed over in silence. I think the
hour has come for the entire international community to recognize the
Armenian Genocide and condemned it in the same way as the Holocaust.’
Bishop Hilarion called the WCC Central Committee to make a special
statement in which the Genocide would be duly recognized. ‘We must do
this out of solidarity with the Armenian Church and with the Armenian
people,’ concluded the Representative of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Bishop Hilarion’s motion was seconded and the issue was forwarded to the
Public Issues Committee for appropriate deliberation and action.

In its statement, prepared by the Public Issues Committee and adopted on
21 February, the World Council of Churches ‘addressed the need for
public recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the necessity of Turkey
to deal with this dark part of its history. The importance of Turkey
evaluating its history has recently also been addressed by the
Conference of European Churches relating to Turkey’s relation to the
European Union.’

‘From the Christian perspective,’ continued the statement, ‘the path
towards justice and reconciliation requires the recognition of the crime
committed as a sine qua non condition for the healing of memories and
the possibility of forgiveness. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting but
to look back with the intention to restore justice, the respect for
Human Rights and relationships between perpetrators and victims. The
Public Issues Committee recommends the General Secretary and the staff
to propose to all member churches to make Sunday April 24 a day of
memory of the Armenian Genocide and to consider further appropriate
actions related to the 90 years Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.’

ARMENIAN COUNCIL OF AMERICA
440 W. Colorado Blvd. Suite 202
Glendale, CA 91203
Tel: 818-502-6580
Fax: 818-502-6543
email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

March 1, 2005

Contact: Peter Darakjian
818-254-7391 ACA Announces Endorsements For Glendale Elections

GLENDALE – For the upcoming Glendale City Municipal elections on April
5th, the Armenian Council of America, a political action committee, on
Tuesday March 1st, 2005, announced its endorsement of current Glendale
City Mayor Bob Yousefian, Council Member Frank Quintero, Glendale
Community College Trustee Ara Najarian and Glendale community activist
Garry Sinanian, for the four city council seats.

For Glendale City Clerk’s office and City treasurer’s office, the ACA
is endorsing city employee Paulette Mardikian and incumbent treasurer
Ronald Borucki respectively.

The ACA also announced its endorsement of Board President Greg
Krikorian and Board Member Chakib `Chuck’ Sambar for two of three open
seats in the Glendale Unified School District Governing Board
elections.

As for the Glendale Community College Board of Trustees elections the
ACA is giving open endorsement without specifying any individual
candidate.

`In the past few months, the election endorsement sub committee,
interviewed and carefully studied the agenda of the candidates,’
stated ACA Executive Director Mr. Peter Darakjian, `we feel these
individuals are best suited to represent the Glendale community, and
that is why it is important that the Armenian-American community
mobilize and vote for these individuals in the April 5th elections.’

ACA board chairman Mr. Vasken Khodanian stated; `with so many
individuals running, we felt it necessary to endorse candidates who we
have worked with before in different capacities and believe that will
better represent the needs of our community.’

Besides endorsing above officials, ACA is also actively engaged in
educating the mass about the importance of voting and urges every
citizen to fulfill his/her civic duty.

The Armenian Council of America is a grassroots organization dedicated
to educating the Armenian-American community in local political
affairs, as well as actively pursuing Armenian-American participation
in their respective local governments.

ARKA News Agency
March 2 2005

Head of CIS Executive Committee meets with RA Deputy Foreign Minister

Customs sector remains in center of President’s attention

RA President meets with UAR President

Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee Vladimir Rushailo arrives in
Yerevan

Karabakh conflict assumes character of cold war – head of
National-Democratic Union of Armenia

PPA for strategic alliance with Russia

RA Central Bank Chair Tigran Sargsyan reelected

Vladimir Zhirinovsky: The Scenario of `Orange’ Revolution May Take
Place in Armenia

*********************************************************************

HEAD OF CIS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS WITH RA DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER

YEREVAN, March 2. /ARKA/. Head of the CIS Executive Committee
Vladimir Rushailo has met today with RA Deputy Foreign Minister
Gegham Garibjanyan. The Press and Public Information Department, RA
Foreign Office, reports that Rushailo presented the issues put on the
agenda of a meeting of the Council of the CIS Foreign Ministers,
which is to be held in Minsk, Belarus, on March 18. The sides also
discussed issues of reforms of the CIS and of arrangements to
celebrate the 60th anniversary of Victory in the Great patriotic War.
P.T. -0–

*********************************************************************

CUSTOMS SECTOR REMAINS IN CENTER OF PRESIDENT’S ATTENTION

YEREVAN, March 2. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian held a
working meeting today with Chief of the Ra Customs Committee Armen
Avetisyan. The RA presidential press service reports that Avetisyan
reported to the President on the execution of previously received
instructions. The sides discussed the Committee’s further activities,
particularly issues of the planned surveys aimed to reduce the share
of the shadow sector on the consumer goods market. President
Kocharian stressed that the customs sphere will remain in the center
of his attention. P.T. -0–

*********************************************************************

RA PRESIDENT MEETS WITH UAR PRESIDENT

YEREVAN, March 2. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian held a
meeting today with President of the Union of Armenians of Russia
(UAR) and of the World Armenian Congress (WAC) Ara Abramyan. The Ra
presidential press service reports that the sides addressed issues of
holding arrangements to mark the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, the 1600th anniversary of creation of the Armenian
alphabet, as well as of celebrations of 2005 as a year of Russia in
Armenia. P.T . – 0–

*********************************************************************

CHAIRMAN OF THE CIS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE VLADIMIR RUSHAILO ARRIVES IN
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, March 2. /ARKA/. Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee
Vladimir Rushailo arrived in Yerevan today. He informed the reporters
in Yerevan Zvartnots Airport that the visit is of working character
and he plans to conduct a number of meetings, including those with
political authorities of Armenia. `Issues to be discussed are the
execution of the decisions of the summit of CIS Heads of State
Council in Astana ‘, said Rushailo. He also said that a number of
important sessions are being prepared now, in particular, the session
of CIS Foreign Ministers Council on March 18 in Minsk and the session
of CIS Head of State is scheduled to be held in the end of April in
Tbilisi. In addition, the session of CIS Heads of State Council will
be held in Kazan. According to Rushailo, the agenda of talks includes
discussions on execution of decisions dedicated to celebrations of
60th anniversary of Victory in great Patriotic War. Meetings with RA
President Robert Kocharian, Premier Andranik Margaryan, Defense
Minister and Secretary of the Security Council Serge Sargsian, Deputy
Foreign Minister Gegham Garibjanyan are scheduled in the framework of
Rushailo’s visit to Armenia. Rushailo will also meet with veterans of
Great Patriotic War and workers of the rear. L.V.–0–

*********************************************************************

KARABAKH CONFLICT ASSUMES CHARACTER OF COLD WAR – HEAD OF
NATIONAL-DEMOCRATIC UNION OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, March 2. /ARKA/. Karabakh conflict assumes cold war
character, as stated Vazgen Manoukyan, the leader of
National-Democratic Union of Armenia. According to his forecast, the
settlement of the conflict will be delayed for tens of years and both
sides will be waiting for the `collapse of the other’. `Karabakh
issue can be settled neither by external force, nor by mutual
concessions ‘, noted Manoukyan.

*********************************************************************

PPA FOR STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH RUSSIA

YEREVAN, March 2. /ARKA/. The People’s Party of Armenia (PPA) is for
a strategic alliance with Russia, PPA Chairman Stepan Demirchayn told
a press conference. However, he stressed that he is against the
formula `enterprises against debt’, which resulted in the giants of
Armenian industry being transferred to Russia. The enterprises remain
idle.
On December 4, 2002, as part of Armenian-Russian economic
cooperation, the RA Parliament ratified an agreement transferring to
Russia five Armenian enterprises against Armenia’s $93mln national
debt to Russia. The enterprises transferred to Russia are: the `Mars’
CJSC, Yerevan Research Institute of Mathematical Machines CJSC,
Yerevan Research Institute of Automated Control Systems CJSC, Yerevan
Research Institute of Materials’ Science, and the Hrazdan TPP. P.T.
-0–

*********************************************************************

RA CENTRAL BANK CHAIR TIGRAN SARGSYAN REELECTED

YEREVAN, March 2. /ARKA/. Armenian National Assembly reelected RA CBA
Chair Tigran Sargsyan for a seven-year term by secret vote. According
to the Head of Parliamentary Counting Commission Gagik Melicyan, 92
MPs participated in the vote, of which 86 cast their votes for and 4
against his candidacy. Two ballots announced invalid. After his
reelection, Sargsyan thanked Armenian President Robert Kocharyan for
putting forward his candidacy and lawmakers for approving it. He
promised to justify confidence. `I’ll try to strengthen this
confidence and hope that cooperation with the Parliament will promote
the country’s economy flourishing’. Sargsyan said. He stressed that
Armenia would face new challenges and the country must be prepared
for them. `I hope the confidence in me will enable me to resist these
challenges’, he said.
Under clause N 18 of the Law on Central Bank, the Chair of the
Central Bank is being nominated by Armenian President for a
seven-year term and approved by National Assembly.
Current head of CBA Tigran Sargsyan took office in March 4, 1998.
M.V. -0–

*********************************************************************

VLADIMIR ZHIRINOVSKY: THE SCENARIO OF `ORANGE’ REVOLUTION MAY TAKE
PLACE IN ARMENIA

MOSCOW, March 2. /ARKA/. The scenario of `orange’ revolution may take
place in Armenia, the Leader of LDPR faction of RF State Duma, Deputy
Chairman of RF State Duma Vladimir Zhirinovsky stated to ARKA’s
reporter in Moscow. According to Zhirinovsky, some circumstances may
contribute to it: small population, hence it would be easier to
bribe, Georgian factor, where the revolution has already happened, as
well as hostile neighborhood of Turkey and Azerbaijan. `Armenia is in
a difficult state, it’s surrounded with enemies from three borders,
and Azerbaijan and Turkey are implacable enemies of Armenia ‘, he
said.
With regard to Middle Asia, Zhirinovsky said that he didn’t
anticipate any revolutionary upheavals there: those countries are
ruled by the regimes that firmly hold the engines of power and do not
allow left powers and strong pro-western opposition. That’s why,
according to him, everything will be there `all right, including
Azerbaijan, where lham Aliyev adheres to the policy of his father, a
man quite experienced in policy’.
On the whole, according to Zhirinovsky, LDPR is not going to support
`any revolution in any way’. `I am against any `orange’ versions and
against CIS’, he said. Zhirinovsky doesn’t like the CIS, as it `lives
at the expense of Russia’. Transcaucasia is not an exception, and his
attitude to Transcaucasia is quite critical, since `emigrants from
there occupy scarce work places and take out Russian capital’. Thus,
according to Zhirinovsky, 2 mln of Azerbaijanis living in Russia
currently take about USD 2 bln away from the country, Georgians –
about USD 1 bln. And with regard to Azerbaijani oil and Georgian
tangerines used before, `the country was different then’, Zhirinovsky
said. `We separated and live now in different apartments, different
states, and if it’s not convenient, then we should look for other
types of cooperation ‘, he said. In his opinion, such should be
mutually advantageous union on voluntary basis, obliteration of all
borders, adoption of dual citizenship, two state languages, that is
Russia and local language, and a single type of currency- Russia
Ruble. A.H. -0–

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
March 2, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY JOINS COMMUNITY GROUPS IN URGING PRESIDENT BUSH TO
REAFFIRM THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly today joined together with
several major Armenian-American organizations to deliver a singular
message to President Bush – that now is the time to accurately label
the atrocities of 1915 as the Armenian Genocide as articulated by
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans and other leading
U.S. officials.

Evans most recently evoked the Armenian Genocide during his first
stateside visit to Armenian communities across the country. During a
series of public exchanges with Armenians last week, Evans said “The
Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the twentieth century.”

Community organizations, in turn, sent a letter to President Bush
today asking that he also use the word Genocide to characterize the
forced exile and murder of the Armenians by the Ottoman Turks. The
letter was signed by the Armenian Assembly of America, the Armenian
Bar Association, the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian
Missionary Association of America, the Armenian National Committee,
the Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA, the Eastern Diocese of the
Armenian Church, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church, the
Knights of Vartan, the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of North America and the Western Prelacy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church of North America and said in part:

“In this the 90th Commemorative Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
we urge that you join President Reagan and so many other leading
public officials in reaffirming the facts of history you have already
proclaimed with the correct name – Armenian Genocide…. Just as it
was when your Administration properly termed the crimes against
humanity in Darfur as genocide, U.S. leadership is once again needed
to provide clarity to the crimes against humanity committed by Ottoman
Turkey against our ancestors under cover of WW I.”

Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian said that he was
encouraged by the spirit of cooperation exhibited by the community.
“Now more than ever, it is imperative for us to unite and strengthen
our voices as we work towards an inevitable, full and irrevocable
U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide,” Hovnanian said.

Also today, the Assembly sent a letter to Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ), asking for their continued leadership and support to rally
Congress in support of affirmation of the truth.

The Assembly additionally sent a “call to action” to thousands of its
members and activists around the country, encouraging their
involvement in the campaign for formal U.S recognition of the
Genocide.

For information on how to get involved, log on to the Assembly Web
site at or send an email to the Assembly’s grassroots
branch ARAMAC at [email protected].

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.

###
NR#2005-021

Editor’s Note: Attached is the full text of the pan-Armenian letter to
President Bush.

March 2, 2005

President George Bush
The White House
Washington, DC

Dear Mr. President:

Ambassador Evans has just completed his first U.S. visit to major
Armenian-American communities to share his initial impressions of
Armenia, U.S. programs there and the even greater role that our
community can play in promoting ever closer U.S./Armenia relations.

During his public exchanges with our communities throughout the United
States, Ambassador Evans also properly and repeatedly characterized
the attempted annihilation of our people by Ottoman Turkey as the
Armenian Genocide. In so doing, the Ambassador accurately labeled the
textbook definition of the crime of genocide that you have carefully
set forth in your successive April 24 statements commenting on this
crime against humanity. In effect, Ambassador Evans succinctly named
the policy you have enunciated in these important declarations.

Mr. President, in this the 90th Commemorative Anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, we urge that you join President Ronald Reagan and
so many other leading American public officials in reaffirming the
facts of history you have already proclaimed with the correct name –
Armenian Genocide. Candor on this vital matter will ultimately
enhance U.S./Turkey and U.S./Armenia relationships. Just as it was
when your Administration properly termed the crimes against humanity
in Darfur as genocide, U.S. leadership is once again needed to provide
clarity to the crimes against humanity committed by Ottoman Turkey
against our ancestors under cover of WW I.

Sincerely,

Armenian Assembly of America

Armenian Bar Association

Armenian General Benevolent Union

Armenian Missionary Association of America

Armenian National Committee of America

Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA, Inc.

Diocese of the Armenian Church of America – East

Diocese of the Armenian Church of America – West

Knights of Vartan

Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of North America – East

Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of North America – West

Associated Press
March 2 2005

Magazine editor killed in Azerbaijan
3/2/2005, 3:51 p.m. CT
The Associated Press

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) – The editor of a magazine critical of
Azerbaijan’s government was shot and killed Wednesday in the lobby of
his apartment building, police and colleagues said.

Seven shots were fired and four struck Elmar Huseinov, founder and
editor of the opposition magazine Monitor, police at the scene in
Baku, the capital, told journalists.

Tension between the government and the opposition in tightly
controlled Azerbaijan has increased since the October 2003 election
in which Ilham Aliev replaced his father, longtime leader Geidar
Aliev, as president in a vote the opposition called fraudulent.

Several opposition leaders, including newspaper editors, have been
sentenced to prison over unrest that followed the election.

Monitor has been published and sold privately since a decision
forbidding the state printing and distribution company from selling
it.

It was ordered closed twice. After the first order, in 1998, it
continued publishing under a slighly different name. It shut after
the second order, in 2002, but renewed publication after a change in
media licensing legislation the same year.

Huseinov served six months in prison in 2001-2002 after a successful
libel suit by the mayor of Baku.

Last November a court ordered his property confiscated to pay $20,000
fine connected with a 2003 suit by the representative of Azerbaijan’s
Nakhichevan enclave over an article titled “The Godfather.”

Nakhichevan, which is on the Iranian border, lies entirely within the
neighbouring state of Armenia. It has an area of 2,124 sq miles with
a population of 333,200. The magazine article compared Nakhichevan
residents to Sicilians. Huseinov did not have enough property to
cover the fine.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress