November 18, 2004
Armenian Genocide Resource Center
5400 McBryde Ave
Richmond, CA 94805
(510) 965-0152
Contact: Richard Kloian
Armenian Genocide Educational posters now on the Internet
After four years of research and two years in production by a
dedicated artist in Portland, Oregon, a set of five instructional
posters on the Armenian Genocide has just been released and is now
available for viewing and free download on the web.
The posters were recently unveiled at an educator workhop in Oakland
California where the largest professional teacher training
organization in the U.S, Facing History and Ourselves, announced to
San Francisco Bay Area teachers and members of the community attending
their availability and endorsed the use of the posters in its national
teaching program on the Armenian Genocide.
The set of five theme oriented instructional posters teach about the
Armenian Genocide and provide a visual overview of key events related
to the genocide, its prelude, methodology, and aftermath.
Each illustrated poster measures 19″x25″ and includes photographs,
text, graphics and a chronology, allowing teachers and students to
easily conceptualize and grasp essential facts related to each theme,
and provides teachers with a template for further instruction,
exploration and study.
The posters have been teacher-tested and endorsed by Facing History
and Ourselves,which will be using them in its six regional offices. A
teacher study guide prepared by FHAO will be forthcoming soon.
Please see the following website for a detailed description of the
posters and information on how to obtain hard copies. A description of
the posters is below:
—————————————————————-
PANEL 1: Prelude to Genocide
A brief chronology of Ottoman history from 1502 to 1913 revealing the
myths and realities of Ottoman History and a list of major historical
events that led up to the Armenian massacres of 1894-96, 1909 and the
genocide of 1915. Includes an overview of the corrupt Ottoman
taxation system and the failed treaties that sought to protect the
Armenian minority in the Ottoman Empire against increasing abuses and
usurpations.
PANEL 2: Decapitation of a Nation
Includes a chronology of monthly events from Feb 1914 to May 1915
leading up to the genocide, the decision by Turkish leaders for the
genocide and their justification for it, the Turkish methodology to
first destroy Armenian leaders and intellectuals, the reaction to the
genocide by the Allies who for the first time warned Turkish leaders
for their “Crimes against Humanity” setting a legal precedent for a
concept used in future war crimes tribunals.
PANEL 3: Deportation
A chronology of monthly events from May 1915 to Feb 1916 showing the
deportation as a ruse for destruction of the Armenians. The full
U.S. State Dept translation of the Official Proclamation of
Deportation by the Young Turks showing the demonization of the
Armenians and the authorization for the genocide. Observations and
statements by Swiss, German and American eyewitnesses attesting to the
intent of the Turkish government to destroy the Armenians. Includes
photographs of the deportations, deportees, and survivors.
PANEL 4: Extermination
A chronology of monthly events from Oct 1916 to March 1918 with quotes
by major figures from the period describing in detail the deliberate
destruction of the Armenians and listing the growing reaction by
public figures in the U.S. and elsewhere to the genocide. Includes a
map showing the deportations and massacres, photographs of the victims
and refugees, many taken under threat of death.
PANEL 5: Aftermath
A chronology of related monthly events from May 1918 to July 1923
describing the fate of the survivors, Armenian women sold in slave
markets or taken in Moslem harems, the forced Islamization of
children, scenes of starvation and destitution with hundreds of
thousands of refugees seeking food, shelter and relief, the continued
destruction of Armenians in 1920 by Turkish Nationalist forces, a
discussion of treaties that first sought to atone for the injustices
upon the Armenians and then relegated their plight to the backwaters
of history thus giving impunity to the Turkish state and paving the
way for the denial that continues to today. Includes a map and
photographs of the refugees.

A1 Plus | 14:48:08 | 18-11-2004 | Social |
HEALTH CONDITION OF CHILDREN AT SPECIAL SCHOOLS IS ALARMING
Children with special needs placed at special/boarding schools in
Yerevan face myriad health and development problems, according to the
Assessment of Health Condition of Children with Special Education Needs
conducted upon the request from the Ministry of Education and Science of
the Republic of Armenia by the Children’s Health Care Association with
UNICEF’s support.
The study which provides an in depth analysis of health and development
problems of children was carried out at Nubarashen No. 1 and 11 schools
for children with mental retardation, school No. 9 for children with
hearing impairments and Nubarashen No. 18 special school for children
with behavioral problems.
The objective of the study was to assess health condition of children,
identify whether children are placed in a proper special school and meet
new admission criteria recently adopted by the Ministry of Education and
Science.
Out of 514 children registered in the surveyed schools, only 391 (76%)
were available for screening. Over 60% of children were from Yerevan,
while the rest were from neighboring regions.
The screening revealed that along with children with special educational
needs, schools also accepted their siblings without such needs solely on
the basis that they belonged to the same socially vulnerable families.
On the average for 16% (62 children) of the surveyed children the
schools that they were placed in were not appropriate. However, the
reintegration of those children into mainstream education is already
impossible.
According to the study findings, poverty (50% of children) and family
problems (62 % in Nubarashen No. 18 special school) are major causes for
placement of children in a special school.
Many of the children suffer from chronic diseases, including cases which
require immediate medical intervention. In particular, up to 17% of the
surveyed children have hearing problems caused by chronic tonsillitis
and otitis. In many cases, however, school administrations were not able
to provide relevant medical assistance to the children due to the lack
of qualified medical personnel and absence of legal power to authorize
specialized medical intervention.
In addition, the study indicates that out of 391 children 28 (7%) were
subjected to physical violence within their families, whereas 9 children
(2%) were subjected to violence at the schools.
The assessment once again brings up the importance of regular medical
checkups of all children in special schools as well as the need to
revise curriculum in those institutions. Moreover, the development of
the state policy on early identification of childhood disability and
early intervention will lead to timely integration of children with
disabilities into the society, thus preventing many children from being
placed in special schools.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

November 18, 2004
Armenian Genocide Resource Center
5400 McBryde Ave
Richmond, CA 94805
(510) 965-0152
Contact: Richard Kloian

ONLINE FORUM – LESSONS FROM THE PAST: THE ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE,HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS
December 1-3, 2004
Facing History and Ourselves will host a global online conversation
for educators, scholars, and university and graduate students focusing
on the difficult choices individuals, groups, and nations have
confronted – and continue to struggle with – in the face of genocide.
The forum will build upon the issues explored in Facing History and
Ourselves’ newest resource book, Crimes Against Humanity and
Civilization: The Genocide of the Armenians, as well as examine the
work of contemporary human rights activists and scholars who challenge
indifference and believe that prevention of genocide is possible.
Facing History and Ourselves staff will facilitate this three-day
online forum with the participation of leading human rights and
Armenian Genocide scholars, including Chair of Modern Armenian History
at the University of California, Los Angeles, Richard Hovannisian.
Smith College Professor and human rights activist Eric Reeves, a
frequent writer and commentator on the genocide in Sudan will also
join us along with Helen Fein, the executive director of the Institute
for the Study of Genocide and the International Association of
Genocide Scholars. The online forum is free of charge, Interested
individuals can RSVP online.
For more information, please go to

Calls for Iordanescu’s resignation after draw in Armenia
.c The Associated Press
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) – Amid calls for the resignation of Romania’s
soccer coach after a humiliating draw against Armenia, soccer
federation boss Mircea Sandu said Thursday he also was considering
alternatives to replace Anghel Iordanescu.
Romania, one of the favorites in World Cup qualifying Group 1, drew
1-1 Wednesday in Yerevan, losing critical points in a tight battle for
supremacy with the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Finland.
Romania is currently second in the group, behind the Netherlands.
In Armenia, Romania missed 10 of its top players and several regular
substitutes due to injuries or suspensions.
Fans met the team at the airport Wednesday night, calling for the
coach’s resignation. The calls were echoed in the media and by sports
celebrities, who criticized Iordanescu’s selection of players.
Daily newspaper Ziua wrote that a “sorry coach and a team of losers
shamed us in Yerevan”.
A front page headline in sports newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor said
“Dead,” while another sports newspaper, Pro Sport, wrote “God
punished you!” referring to Iordanescu’s well-known mysticism. The
coach is known for being extremely superstitious and bringing crosses
to games.
Iordanescu told the media Wednesday night that he will stay on as
national team coach.
But on Thursday, the two sports newspapers reported on their Web sites
that Iordanescu is stepping down. The reports cited sources in the
Romanian federation.
The soccer federation has not confirmed the resignation, but issued a
statement saying its executive committee has scheduled a meeting with
the coach for Sunday, when “Iordanescu will present the activity of
the technical staff”.
“Until Sunday, there will be no comment on the situation,” the
statement added.
11/18/04 11:43 EST
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pope Condemns Use of Religion for Violence
.c The Associated Press
VATICAN CITY (AP) – Pope John Paul II received Muslim, Orthodox
Christian and Jewish religious leaders from Azerbaijan, calling their
visit Thursday a symbol of tolerance and declaring that religion must
never be used for violent aims.
“No one has the right to present or use religion as an instrument of
intolerance, as a means of aggression, of violence, of death,” the
pope told the group.
Christians, Muslims and Jews must appeal together for an end to
violence in the world “with justice for all,” he said.
“This is the way of religions,” he said.
The audience was scheduled to repay the pope’s 2002 trip to
Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic and mainly Muslim nation with a
Roman Catholic population of only 300 people.
The Vatican said the pope wanted to hold up Azerbaijan as an example
of coexistence and cooperation among religions and express hope that
“a full peace in the spirit of reconciliation” may be achieved in
the region – a reference to the country’s conflict with Armenia over
Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave.
A cease-fire ended fighting in 1994 after some 30,000 people were
killed and more than 1 million people fled their homes.
11/18/04 09:16 EST

Margaret Thatcher’s Son Charged in Plot
By RODRIGO ANGUE NGEUMA MBA
.c The Associated Press
MALABO, Equatorial Guinea (AP) – Equatorial Guinea prosecutors
confirmed Thursday they have charged Mark Thatcher, son of former
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, in an alleged coup plot in
the oil-rich west African nation.
Thatcher is accused of having helped finance the coup attempt,
Attorney General Jose Olo Obono said.
Thatcher was added to the existing list of 19 other defendants, all
accused mercenaries, on Tuesday, Obono said.
Equatorial Guinea intends to seek Thatcher’s extradition, a legal
official close to the government’s case told The Associated Press
earlier this week.
Equatorial Guinea alleges Thatcher and other, mainly British
financiers, worked with Equatorial Guinea opposition figures, scores
of South African mercenaries, and six Armenian pilots in a takeover
plot here.
The coup plotters intended to force out the 25-year regime of
President Teodoro Obiang, installing an exiled opposition figure in
his stead as a figurehead leader for Africa’s No. 3 oil producer,
Equatorial Guinea claims.
The alleged plot was exposed in March by South African intelligence
services, and scores of accused mercenaries arrested here and in
Zimbabwe.
Thatcher was arrested in August at his home in South Africa.
Trial resumed Thursday, with prosecutors’ lead witness formally facing
the death penalty after repudiating his alleged confessions in the
case in court on Tuesday.
11/18/04 06:45 EST

AGBU Montreal
has the pleasure of inviting you to an
exhibit of recent works by world-renowned artist
ROUDOLF KHARATIAN
November 26 to 28, 2004
VERNISSAGE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26 at 8:00 p.m.
The exhibit continues
Saturday, November 27
and Sunday, November 27
from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
at the
AGBU Alex Manoogian Center
Dervishian Hall
805 Manoogian Street
St-Laurent, QC
514.748.2428
See attached flyer, and feel free to invite
friends and family. All are welcome.
Biographical Information:
Roudolf Kharatian is a native of Yerevan, Armenia where he studied at
the Yerevan School of Fine Arts. In America, Kharatian’s works have
been included in individual, group and juried exhibitions in
Washington, DC at the Foundry Gallery, the International Monetary Fund
(IMF), the Fannie Mae Foundation Gallery of the Washington Ballet, the
Embassy of Armenia, Art-O-Matic 2000, HNTB Architecture, Hamazkayin
Cultural and Educational Association, Touchstone Gallery, Art-O-Matic
2002, Roulette Gallery, the Embassy of Russia’s Russian Cultural
Center and the Maryland College of Art and Design; in Frederick,
Maryland at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center; in Montreal, Canada at
the Tekeyan Cultural Center; and in St. Petersburg, Russia at the
Gorohovaya Gallery. Kharatian’s works are in private collections in
the United States, Canada, France, Great Britain, South Africa and
Armenia.
Mr. Kharatian has also had an illustrious career in dance. His ballets
have been performed on many stages worldwide including the Kennedy
Center, Lincoln Center, the Salle Pleyel in Paris, the Place des Arts
in Montreal, and many others. Artist Emeritus Kharatian holds a
Master’s Degree in Choreography and Stage Production and is the
recipient of three Maryland State Arts Council Awards for Choreography
(1997, 1999 and 2001). He is currently on the faculty of the
Washington Ballet and is the founder and Artistic Director of ARKA
Ballet.
Dance biography:
Choreographer and Master Teacher Roudolf Kharatian was principal
dancer with the National Ballet of Armenia from 1967 to 1990,
performing all the great leading roles of the classical repertoire. A
star of five films, he also toured extensively with the Bolshoi Ballet
and Stars of Russian Ballet. From 1979 to 1991, he was Artistic
Director of the Chamber Ballet of Armenia.
A graduate of the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg,
Mr. Kharatian also holds a Master’s Degree in Choreography and Stage
Production from the Moscow University of Theater Arts. Artist Emeritus
Kharatian has received numerous medals and awards as dancer,
choreographer and teacher including consecutive Maryland State Arts
Council Individual Artist Awards for Choreography (1997, 1999,
2001). Under his coaching, many of his students have won gold at the
most prestigious international ballet competitions.
A frequent guest teacher, Mr. Kharatian has taught the Kirov Ballet,
the Boston Ballet, the Washington Ballet, the Debra Colker Dance
Company, among others. His ballets have been performed on many stages
worldwide including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the Salle
Pleyel in Paris, the Place des Arts in Montreal. His choreographic
credits include full-length story ballets and countless one-act
ballets and concert pieces. Mr. Kharatian served on the faculty of
Washington’s Kirov Academy before joining the Washington School of
Ballet faculty in 1994. He is also the founder and Artistic Director
of ARKA Ballet in Washington, D.C.
In addition to his work in ballet, Roudolf Kharatian is also an
accomplished visual artist. His works are in private collections in
the United States, Canada, France, Great Britain, South Africa and
Armenia.
Web sites to check out: and
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Postimees web site, Tallinn, in Estonian
18 Nov 04
Newspaper questions consistency of Estonian foreign policy
Vacillating between idealistic and realistic strands is no good for
Estonian foreign policy, the Estonian newspaper Postimees has said,
adding that there should be greater coordination and clarity on this
front. The comments came in the wake of President Arnold Ruutel’s
statement in Yerevan where he called on Turkey to apologize for the
1915 genocide in Armenia. The following is the text of the
newspaper’s editorial published on its web site on 18 November:
The statement of President Arnold Ruutel in Armenia about the fact
that Turkey should apologize for the 1915 Armenian genocide is
evidence of eternal twitching between the Estonian idealistic and
realistic foreign policies.
Having suffered from a Soviet genocide as a small country, Estonia is
under a moral obligation to fight for human rights and against crimes
against humanity. Estonia is expecting that Russia should apologize
for its acts of violence. It is only natural that we should voice our
opinions on other issues as well, for example, on the Turkish
genocide of the Armenians in 1915.
However, this is where doubt creeps in. The Armenians think that 1.5m
people died as a result of the Turkish policy of genocide. Turkey
thinks that the number is perhaps up to 0.5m and there were dead on
both sides. It seems, however, that, in the eyes of the world, Turkey
is to blame.
But if we say so of Turkey, where is the Estonian position, for
example, on the occupation of Tibet or the independence of Taiwan?
Would Ruutel issue a statement in China to say that China needs to
end its occupation of Tibet? Once Estonia has accepted that
idealistic foreign policy is its aim we would have to go the whole
way.
The issue of Turkey, however, brings in the issue of realistic
foreign policy. Turkey has been one of the biggest supporters of
Estonia in NATO and Estonia has voiced support for the start of
accession talks between Turkey and the EU. Undoubtedly, Ruutel’s
statement on the Armenian genocide will result in a negative reaction
from Turkey and our diplomats will have to explain what it was the
president wanted to say. Let us recall the statement from Justice
Minister Ken-Marti Vaher on the subject of the Kurds.
The problem is even broader, since the consensus over the
implementation of Estonian foreign policy that existed to a degree
quickly started to crumble once we joined the EU. Different
individuals say different things on foreign policy. The most recent
example was the public debate between Prime Minister Juhan Parts and
Foreign Minister Kristiina Ojuland as to when Estonia should be the
country holding EU presidency. It ended with the prime minister’s
victory.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has refrained from statements on the
subject of the Armenian genocide. Now a presidential statement has
come. Arnold Ruutel has had his say on the Armenian genocide; it is
the diplomats’ turn next. One would still like to hope that Estonia
should be more coordinated and unambiguous in pursuing its foreign
policy (whatever its content).

Mediamax news agency, Yerevan, in Russian
18 Nov 04
Greek telecom company signs “reconciliation agreement” with Armenian
government
YEREVAN
The management of the Greek company OTE Greece’s Telecommunications
Organization signed a reconciliation agreement with the Armenian
government on disputable points in the activities of the ArmenTel
company on 17 November.
Justice Minister David Arutyunyan, who represents the interests of
the government in the negotiations on this issue, said this in
Yerevan today, a Mediamax parliamentary correspondent reports.
Arutyunyan signed this document on 13 November. He said that the
ArmenTel management would sign the agreement today. It will come into
force immediately after that.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azg, Yerevan, in Armenian
18 Nov 04
Armenia displeased with new Council of Europe rapporteur’s Karabakh
report
Excerpt from Tatul Akopyan’s report by Armenian newspaper Azg on 18
November headlined “Atkinson submits a report prepared by Davis” and
subheaded “Azerbaijan is pleased with the new rapporteur on Karabakh,
but Armenia is not”
Yesterday’s session of the political commission of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe PACE in Paris had to discuss David
Atkinson’s report on the Karabakh issue along with other reports.
In his interview with the Baku newspaper Ekho, a member of the
Azerbaijani delegation at PACE, Aydin Mirzazade, said that if the
report is based on that of the former Karabakh rapporteur Terry
Davis, who is now secretary-general of the Council of Europe, it will
be acceptable to Azerbaijan and unbiased.
Two days ago 16 November , Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
told journalists in the parliament that Atkinson had almost copied
Davis’s report. “There is a number of points in the document, which I
think should be changed, as they do not express reality correctly. It
would be better to change them for the report to become more
balanced,” Vardan Oskanyan said.
At the press conference held earlier on 22 September, Oskanyan
described Terry Davis’s report on Karabakh as unacceptable and
causing anxiety. “Today this report has no legal status, it is still
a subject of discussion, the rapporteur has changed, a
newly-appointed one should prepare his report, he may ground on
Davis’s report or may ignore it.” Oskanyan described the statements
made up till now by Karabakh rapporteur Atkinson as not being
pro-Armenian.
Undoubtedly, Atkinson was forced to make only some changes to the
report prepared by Davis, as he could not prepare a new one in two
months. In that period of time, he did not visit the region,
including Karabakh.
Passage omitted: Atkinson once visited Karabakh in 1993; On the
whole, the view existing in Armenia that the British MP is
pro-Azerbaijani is not true
Along with Vardan Oskanyan, the deputy chairman of the National
Assembly, Vaan Ovanesyan, also publicly expressed a negative reaction
to Atkinson. And this happened when Atkinson’s report was not ready
yet. Atkinson is not obliged to read the Armenian press, but it is
difficult to rule out that he is not aware of the negative view that
developed around his name in Armenia. Armenia is displeased with
Atkinson’s appointment instead of making contacts with him.
Earlier, the deputy chairman of the National Assembly said that
Davis’s report on Karabakh had no legal force and had only a
consultative nature.
Undoubtedly, Atkinson’s report will also have no real force, but it
will be of political and propaganda significance. Especially as
Atkinson’s report, which is a copy of Davis’s report, contains a
number of inadmissible words like “ethnic cleansing”, “part of
Azerbaijani land is occupied, and separatists control Karabakh” and
so on.