Armenian Youth Federation
Washington Ani Chapter
4906 Flint Drive
Bethesda, MD 20816
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Serouj Aprahamian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
E-mail: [email protected]

AYF LEADS DEMONSTRATION AT TURKISH EMBASSY
— Protests Reception Honoring Group Noted
for Denial of Armenian Genocide
WASHINGTON, DC – More than fifty university students, public policy
professionals, and community activists joined with the Armenian
Youth Federation last Friday outside the gates of the Turkish
Embassy to protest a program honoring the Assembly of Turkish
American Associations (ATAA) – a group noted for its strident and
hateful denial of the Armenian Genocide.

The protest, organized by the Armenian Youth Federation Washington
“Ani” chapter, was held on the 25th anniversary of the Assembly of
Turkish American Associations (ATAA). Among the programs the ATAA
organized around its anniversary were this reception as well as a
three day-long conference, featuring presentations by paid
lobbyists for Turkey, including former Congressmen Bob Livingston.
In addition to condemning the Turkish government’s ongoing campaign
of Armenian Genocide denial, the demonstrators drew the public’s
attention to Turkey’s blockade of Armenia and human rights
violations against its own citizens.

The protestors gathered in front of the Embassy at 6:30 pm to
welcome those attending the reception with chants of “Shame on
Turkey,” “Turkey Guilty of Genocide,” and “No E.U. for Turkey.”
They remained in front of the Embassy for the duration of the
reception, casting a shadow upon all who entered the walled Embassy
compound. “We are here to show the Turkish Government and their
mouthpieces in the U.S. that we will never forget what was done to
the Armenian people from 1915-1923. We will continue our efforts
until the Armenian Genocide is properly recognized and justice is
served,” said Tsoghig Margossian, chairperson of the Washington
AYF.

As attendees were leaving the reception, several responded to the
protesters with frustration and derogatory epithets. The strangest
reaction came from the outgoing Chairman of the ATAA, Ercument
Kilic, who pulled his car up in front of the Embassy and broke out
into what seemed to be a form of folk dancing, only to be
immediately shoved back into his car by the presiding secret
service agent.

Among those making presentations during the day at the ATAA seminar
were Turkish Ambassador Faruk Logoglu, Congressional Turkish Caucus
Co-Chairs Robert Wexler (D-FL) and Ed Whitfield (R-KY), and State
Department Undersecretary Marc Grossman. The program also featured
an “ATAA members only” workshop on advocacy which included remarks
by former Congressman Bob Livingston, whose lobby organization, The
Livingston Group, is paid over $2 million a year to clean up
Turkey’s image in the United States.

To read, first-hand, the ATAA’s hateful message of Genocide denial,
visit:
#####

USC ARMENIAN INSTITUTE CAMPAIGN GAINS MOMENTUM. INAUGURAL BANQUET
PLANNED FOR FEBRUARY 13TH
LOS ANGELES, December 13 (Noyan Tapan). Since its launching in
September, the campaign to fund USC’s Institute of Armenian Studies
has registered notable successes in drawing support from a wide range
of key individuals from all segments of the Armenian community. At a
dinner meeting at the Bistro Gardens on November 11, the Institute’s
Steering and Banquet Committees took note of their achievements to
date, and discussed the next steps to be taken to attract new
contributors, leading to the Inaugural Banquet of February 13, 2005.
The attendees were particularly enthused hearing the announcement by
Steering Committee Chairman Charles Ghailian that total pledges to
support the Institute had passed the 0,000 mark. An endowment of
several million dollars is needed as the proceeds could only be used
for the operations of the Institute.
Banquet Committee co-chairs, Savey Tufenkian and Elizabeth Agbabian
reported on their plans to mobilize the community to make the February
13 Inaugural Banquet a resounding success.
Prospective donors are urged to make known their specific
contributions at an early date for inclusion in the Institute’s Honor
Roll and program listings. The special guest of the evening was
Professor Peter Balakian, author of the bestseller “The Burning
Tigris”, who underlined the crucial role that the Institute of
Armenian Studies would play in view of its multidisciplinary range of
scholarly and community activities.
Others in attendance were Ralph Tufenkian, Hermine Janoyan, Harut
Sassounian, Dr. John & Mary Kassabian, Dr. Mihran Agbabian, Alex
Baroian, Shant Minas, Silva Bezdikian, Mark Chenian, Edward Zohrabian,
Armen Janian, Peter Mehrabian, Serina Keshishian, Michael Mahdesian,
Sinan Sinanian, Judge Dickran Tevrizian, Varant Melkonian, Gerald
Papazian and John Berberian.

TURKISH JOURNALIST PUBLISHES IN “MILLIET” NEWSPAPER HIS IMPRESSINS
FROM VISIT TO GENOCIDE MUSEUM IN YEREVAN
ISTANBUL, December 13 (Noyan Tapan). Turkish journalist John Dyuntar
continued the publication of his impressions from the visit to the
Genocide Museum-Institute in Yerevan and his conversation with
Director of the Museum Lavrenty Barseghian in the December 8 issue of
the “Milliet” newspaper.
John Dyuntar writes that that the work on preparation for the “90th
Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide” (quotation marks are his –
“NT”), which will be marked on April 24, 2005, is being carried out at
the Genocide Museum-Institute. 250,000 people visit the museum every
year, which is under repair now. Young historians work in the museum
at present. L. Barseghian noticed that 14 parliaments have recognized
the Genocide till now and the National Assembly of Turkey was the
first of them in 1918.
Lavrenty Barseghian regretted in connection with the fact that the
Turkish community is not adequately informed about the crimes of the
Young Turks, and for that reason the guilt for the crime falls on the
Turkish people. “What is the guilt of the Turkish people in the crimes
of the past? Why does today’s government take the Young Turks’ guilt
upon itself? Why doesn’t President of Turkey Sezer beg the Armenians’
pardon like as it had been done by Bismark in his time,” emphasized
the Director of the Museum.
At the end of the article John Dzyuntar described Tsitsernakaberd and
reported that the names of different Turkish cities and tows,
i.e. Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Kesaria, Kharberd, Malatia, Mush,
Van and others, where the blood of the Armenians was shed in 1915, are
in the stone steles.

“THE RUSSIANS TO PUT PRESSURE UPON YEREVAN FOR IMPROVEMENT OF
RELATIONS WITH TURKEY,” “HYURIETT” WRITES
ISTANBUL, December 13 (Noyan Tapan). “The Russians reported that they
would put more essential pressure upon Yerevan for the settlement of
Yerevan’s problems with Turkey,” the Turkish “Hyuriett” newspaper
wrote in its December 7 issue.
According to the newspaper, which was re-published by the “Marmara”
newspaper, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Abdullah Gul said
during the official dinner given in honor of Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov that Turkey wants to undertake some
steps in the direction of the improvement of its relations with
Armenia but waits for Armenia to take the first step. “We will not be
able to do anything until Armenia undertakes steps, but Armenia
suffers a lot from the current state of affairs,” said Gul. S. Lavrov
said that it is quite a positive position, and his country will do its
best to explain Armenia what steps it should undertake for the
improvement of the relations with Turkey.

HOLY LITURGY CELEBRATED IN CHURCH OF ST TADEOS-BARDUGHIMEOS IN TEHRAN
ON NAME DAY
TEHRAN, December 13 (Noyan Tapan). On December 10, a holy liturgy was
celebrated in Church of St Tadeos-Bardughimeos on the occasion of the
Name Day.
The liturgy was to be celebrated by head of the Armenian diocese of
Tehran Archbishop Sepuh Sargsian, who, however, was not able to attend
the celebration due to the death of his mother. In his absence Priest
Komitas Gharakhanian assisted by Priest Mashtots Khachatrian
celebrated the liturgy and preached.
According to the “Alik” newspaper (Tehran), during the sermon Priest
Komitas Gharakhanian expressed condolences on behalf of the faithful
and his own behalf to the holy father on his mother’s death.

ON DECEMBER 21, RESULTS OF “ARMENIA IS MY HOMELAND” REPUBLICAN YOUTH
FESTIVAL TO BE SUMMED UP
YEREVAN, December 13 (Noyan Tapan). On December 21, the results of the
competition of compositions and patriotic songs organized within the
framework of the “Armenia is My Homeland” republican youth festival
will be summed up in the National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet
after Al.Spendiarian. 8-10-form pupils from comprehensive schools of
Yerevan, regions of the republic and Artsakh, higher school students
participate in the festival.
According to report submitted to NT by RA Ministry of Culture and
Youth Affairs, exhibitions of paintings and photographs will open
within the framework of the festival starting from December 21.
The goal of the festival is to contribute to rise of patriotic
breeding among the youth, preservation and spreading of national
values, revelation of creative capabilities.
According to the report, the solemn opening of the festival will take
place on December 13 in the Painters’ Union of Armenia.

PAN-ARMENIAN YOUTH FUND TO ORGANIZE PILGRIMAGE TO DER DZOR NEXT APRIL
YEREVAN, December 13 (Noyan Tapan). The youth camp of the “Baze –
Winter 2005” Pan-Armenian Youth Fund (PAYF) will not be
held. According to PAYF Executive Director Artur Poghosian, it was
decided that four arrangements would be held within the framework of
the program in 2005 instead of two programs held annually.
On April 18-23, 2005, Pan-Armenian Youth Fund will organize pilgrimage
to Der Dzor with the participation of 130 young people from Armenia,
Nagorno Karabakh, Georgia and Russia.
The pilgrimage will start in Etchmiadzin. Young people will leave for
Aleppo after receiving the blessing of Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II. Other 70 young Armenians from Syria, the US and several
European countries will join them there. Arthur Poghosian also said
that it is expected that a meeting with the representatives of the
Armenian traditional parties and youth organizations will be held. A
conference devoted to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
will also take place here.
A. Poghosian noticed that the program of arrangements for 2005 was
discussed at the RA Prime Minister and, it is likely to be approved
till the end of the year.

PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS OF JAVAKHK TO HOLD CONFERENCE ENTITLED
“INTEGRATION, NO ASSIMILATION”
AKHALKALAKI, December 13 (Noyan Tapan). A Press conference of the
Armenian public organizations of Samtskhe-Javakheti was held in
Akhalkalaki at ATV-12 TV company on December 9. It was devoted to the
first public conference of Samtskhe-Javakheti, which would be held in
Akhalkalaki upon the initiative of the board on December 11.
According to the “A-Info” Agency, members of the Board presented the
necessity and purposes of the holding of the conference. It was
noticed that the conference, which was devoted to the social-economic
problems of the region, will be no single one. It is expected that the
conferences devoted to the language, cultural problems, as well the
problems of the local self-government will be also held.
The title of the conference, i.e. “Integration, no Assimilation” is
typical, too. The initiators have chosen such a slogan because of the
fact that being adherents of the integration of their region into
Georgia, they at the same time, are against the policy of assimilation
carried out by the Georgian authorities.
Representatives of the Armenian public organizations of Javakhk
expressed hope that the conference will serve its purpose and help the
Armenians of Javakhk in the matter of the just settlement of the
problems, the development of democratic and legal society in Georgia.

PanArmenian News
Dec 13 2004
ARMENIAN CITIZENS PREFER EXPENSIVE WHISKY
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During the recent years the rate of realization of
whisky in Armenia has increased. “First of all Armenian citizens
prefer expensive whisky”, Anahit Sargsian, the manager, of Agena –
the official distributor of British strong beverages (whisky, rum,
vodka) in Armenia says. According to her, the amount of whisky
consumed in Armenia increases with 3-5% each year.

“Turkey must recognize the Armenian Genocide”
ANP (Dutch news agency)
December 13, 2004
BRUSSELS (ANP) – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Michel Barnier, said on Monday
in Brussels that France wants for the Turkish state to recognize the
Armenian genocide of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire. According to him it is also
Turkey’s duty to remember. However, Barnier said that the desired
recognition is not a condition to become a member of the European Union.
The Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire is the first genocide of the
twentieth century. Most of the massacres and deportations were carried out
between April 24, 1915, and the end of that year. According to estimates
between one third and three quarters of all Armenians in the Empire were
massacred. According to Armenians up to one and a half million Armenians
died.
Responsible Ottoman ministers could no longer deny the massacres by the
scale of killings and the death marches throughout the country. Just one
month after the beginning of the massacres the Allied Powers condemned the
Turkish actions. Ambassadors of Allied Nations in Constantinople reported
the extermination of the Armenian race to their capitals. The Turkish
republic was founded after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. The Turkish
government has always officially denied that there was question of organized
genocide.
Dutch foreign minister Mr. Bot confirmed on Monday evening that the
recognition of the genocide is not a requirement for membership of the EU,
but “this is a problem that we must emphasize in the future.”
Armenian Associations have announced a demonstration on Friday in Brussels
before the building where the EU summit must decide over accession
negotiations with Turkey. The Federation of Armenian Organizations in the
Netherlands stated that in spite of insistence by the EU, Ankara has
absolutely neither booked a step forward in its relations with its
neighboring country Armenia, nor on the issue of the genocide of 1915.
The Federation wants of the EU to ensure that Turkey must pursue good
relations with Armenia, by among others opening the border, and that Turkey
must finally recognize the genocide.