Armenian National Committee of Canada
3401 Olivar-Asselin
Montreal, Quebec
H4J 1L5
Tel: 514-334-1299
Fax: 514-334-6853

April 18, 2004

NEWS RELEASE

Second Reading of the Armenian Genocide Recognition Motion Tabled on
April 20, 2004

OTTAWA – The House of Commons is scheduled to continue its debate on
April 20 on Private Member’s Motion M-380 to recognize the Armenian
Genocide. After the second reading, the House must vote to adopt or
reject the motion. Due to scheduling reasons, it is unlikely that the
House will vote on the motion on April 20. It is foreseen that the
vote will take place on the following day.

Motion M-380, which had its first reading on February 25, was moved by
MP Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral (Laval Centre, BQ), and seconded by MPs
Sarkis Assadourian (Brampton Centre, Liberal), Jason Kenney (Calgary
Southeast, Conservative Party of Canada) and Alexa McDonough (Halifax,
New Democratic Party).

According to the House Order Paper and Notice Paper, Motion M-380, was
originally scheduled to be tabled on April 28. Because of a
last-minute arrangement between Madam Dalphond-Guiral and Ms. Libby
Davies (Vancouver East), a switch of motions took place and the
Armenian Genocide recognition motion was brought forward by one week.

Dr. Girair Basmadjian, president, Armenian National Committee of
Canada (ANCC), expressed the Armenian community’s appreciation to
Ms. Davies for her humanitarian and courageous gesture to switch her
private member’s motion with madam Dalphond-Guiral motion, to allow
the vote to take place before the 89th anniversary commemorations of
the Armenian Genocide on April 24.

`We hope that the House of Commons will adopt this motion on the eve
of the 89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and put and end to
the anguish of Canadian-Armenians so that we can begin the healing
process,’ Dr. Basmadjian said.

The ANCC has campaigned diligently for 25 years for Canada’s
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. As in the Senate’s recognition
of the Armenian Genocide, ANCC has been a driving force behind Motion
M-380.

Motion M 380 reads `That this House acknowledges the Armenian genocide
of 1915 and condemns this act as a crime against humanity.’

###

Contacts: Aris Babikian (416) 706-4934 Mobile
Roupen Kouyoumjian (514) 336-7095

Fresno events to recall Armenian massacre
By Vanessa Colon
Fresno Bee
Sunday April 18, 2004

A Fresno blood drive, a candlelight vigil and the raising of the
Armenian flag will mark the 89th anniversary of the killing of an estimated
1.5 million Armenians at the beginning of the last century.
Armenian-Americans – an estimated 40,000 of whom live in the Valley –
say 1.5 million Armenians were killed between 1915 and 1923 at the hands of
the Ottoman Turks.
Officials in modern Turkey, an ally of the United States, say the death
toll was lower and have formally recognized that as Armenian massacre took
place.
Nazik Arisian, an administrator at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic
Church in Fresno, said the events this week will “Give respect. It’s to not
forget them. It’s to perpetuate the memory so it’s not forgotten.”
The events begin today with the third annual Martyr’s Day Blood Drive at
10 a.m. at the First Armenian Presbyterian Church.
Donors must be in good health, be at least 17 years old and weigh at
least 110 pounds.
On Friday, the Armenian Students Organization and the Armenian Studies
Program at California State University, Fresno, will feature poetry and
various presentations, beginning at noon on the university campus.
A film and a candlelight vigil will follow at 7 p.m. State Sen. Chuck
Poochigian, R-Fresno, is scheduled to speak.
“The reason (the community) should come is so they are educated… The
events also are to pay respect for those who died in the genocide,” said
Barlow Der Mugrdechian, professor of Armenian studies at Fresno State.
Activities on Saturday will include the raising of an Armenian flag at
Fresno City Hall.
Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church plans to hold an Armenian Martyrs
Day Commemoration ecumenical service at 7 p.m.
On April 25, a memorial service will be at 1 p.m. at the Ararat Masis
cemetery at the monument to Soghomon Tehllirian, who
killed a Turkish leader considered a principal perpetrator in the Armenian
massacre.

[email protected]

US commission for democratic Armenia condemns violence against opposition

Arminfo
15 Apr 04

YEREVAN

The US commission for democratic Armenia expresses its deep concern
about the Yerevan events on the night of 12-13 April. A statement
forwarded to Arminfo news agency today says that the terrorist gang
acting under the name of the state law-enforcement bodies subjected
the opposition leaders, peaceful demonstrators and journalists to
brutal beatings and mass arrests.

The US commission for democratic Armenia and other human rights
organizations addressed US President George Bush, Secretary of State
Colin Powell, all senators and congressmen, condemning the bloodbath
in Armenia and calling on them to take the necessary measures to end
acts of violence and persecution continuing in the country.

The commission informs Armenia’s relevant bodies that deviation from
democracy casts an irreparable shadow on Armenia’s authority. The
night events make it possible to note that the Armenian authorities
are quite indifferent to their commitments to authoritative
international organizations.

“We warn that from now on, using all possibilities and levers, we will
disrupt all visits by Armenian officials to the USA. At the same time,
we state our fight for forming a legal government, democracy and a
civic society in Armenia,” the commission noted in the statement.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

THE INFORMATION MINISTER VISITS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

Antelias, Lebanon – A long meeting took place between His Holiness Aram I
and the Lebanese minister of information Michael Samaha yesterday in
Antelias, Lebanon. The Minister informed His Holiness about a number of
issues related to the current situation in Lebanon. The focus of their
discussion was the forthcoming international conference on “Genocide,
Impunity and Justice”, to be held in Antelias on 22 and 23 April. The
Minister stressed the particular importance of this conference not only for
the Armenian Community but also for Lebanon and the whole Arab world.

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

*********
View printable picture here:

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER RASHID SOLH IN ANTELIAS

Antelias, Lebanon – The former Prime Minister of Lebanon, His Excellency
Rashid Solh paid a courtesy visit to His Holiness Aram I. The discussion
included issues related to the internal situation in Lebanon, the
forthcoming municipal elections, the actual situation in Iraq and the peace
process in light of the new developments on the international scene,
particularly in the Middle East.

His Holiness and Mr. Solh stressed the need to strengthen internal coherence
among the Lebanese communities to face together the new challenges in the
region.

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

*********
View printable picture here:

Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
April 17, 2004 Saturday, Home Final Edition

BUILDING A HOME AWAY FROM HOME ;
Azerbaijan native turns eyesore into ‘cool’ restaurant
By Dean Narciso, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Nine months ago, Garry Ambartsoumov sat inside a vacant East Side print
shop and waited for a vision.

For hours, alone with a notebook and pencil, the ethnic Armenian
scrawled notes, drew diagrams and considered color schemes for turning
the building into a showplace.

Ambartsoumov’s vision — the Blue Crystal restaurant and banquet center
— with its black-light-illuminated interior, textured coral wallpaper
and waterfall, opened last week.

“This is beautiful. It’s going to bring the Russian community together,”
said Alex Chernyakhovski, who came to the United States from Ukraine.

Dina Shirina, a Russian physician who immigrated here 11 years ago,
invested more than $60,000 in the Blue Crystal.

“I thought Columbus has needed someplace where you could go and dance
and eat, some place more festive, more than just food,” Shirina said.
“People from Europe want to eat and talk and meet people when they go
out . . . to dress up, show off and enjoy themselves.”

One who was glad to see him renovate the building at 2167 E. Livingston
Ave. was Bruce Black, president of the Berwick Civic Association and
coordinator of Columbus’ Neighborhood Pride program.

“That building had become an eyesore for that community — boarded up,
leaking,” Black said. “And we were scared that we’d have another empty
building in our community. No neighborhood wants to see that, especially
on your main thoroughfare.”

Black, who attended last Saturday’s opening, was impressed with
Ambartsoumov’s confidence and focus.

“He explained to me what his vision was, and I told him, ‘I think this
is definitely different from any place I had been in. This is really
cool.’ ”

Ambartsoumov moved to Columbus 13 years ago. He left his native Baku,
Azerbaijan, to protect his family from the growing conflict between
Christian Armenia and Muslim Azerbaijan, he said. “If I don’t come here,
my family could be killed.”

He came to Columbus with his wife, Lia, and their 2-year-old daughter
after living in Moscow for two years and working as a hair stylist. He
arrived here with $1.45 in his pocket.

Speaking no English, he delivered pizza, sold jewelry in a pawn shop and
painted apartments.

Four years ago, he opened 3-SG Body Shop at 1125 Cleveland Ave., a North
Side business he still co-owns.

“If you work very hard, be smart, don’t put yourself in trouble, and
show your face to people, you can make money here,” he said.

Ambartsoumov borrowed $22,000 on his North Side home and got $32,000
from his mother-in-law, Galina Gasanova, and $300,000 from other
investors to create the Blue Crystal, which is open Monday through
Thursday for dinner and can be used as a banquet or party center on
weekends.

Last Saturday, privet, the word Russians use to greet friends, was
exchanged throughout the evening, along with hugs and toasts.

“He understands our needs. And he’s got a good business orientation,”
friend Vazha Pinskiy said. “I think he’s doing everything right.”

[email protected]

Fischer to visit Afghanistan – followed by Caucasus stopovers

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
April 16, 2004, Friday
13:16:03 Central European Time

BERLIN – German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer will visit Afghanistan
next week followed by stopovers in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia,
the government said Friday in a statement. Fischer begins his April
19 to 23 trip in Afghanistan where he will meet President Hamid Karzai
and other officials including United Nations Special Commissioner for
Afghanistan Jean Arnault. He is also due to visit German soldiers
operating a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in the city of
Kundus. Germany has supplied about 2,000 of the troops serving in the
6,000 member NATO-led ISAF peacekeeping force in Afghanistan. ISAF is
separate from the over 13,500 U.S.-led troops fighting remnant Taliban
and al-Qaeda forces in remote areas of the country. Fischer will
make stopovers in Azerbaijan, Aremenia and Georgia on his way home
for talks with leaders of all three countries. Topping the agenda
will be regional conflicts especially that between Aremenia and
Azerbaijan as well as between Georgian state and breakaway regions,
said the statement. dpa lm sc

All Go For International Railway Corridor

Global News Wire – Asia Africa Intelligence Wire
Africa Analysis
April 16, 2004

Russia will supply expertise and investment for a major railway network
that should link eastern and northern Europe with India through Iran.
This North-South international transport corridor has been on the
drawing board for some time and will be formally launched next year.

Russia, Iran and India established the concept of the transport corridor
and have so far been joined officially by Kazakhstan and Belarus. There
are ongoing talks with Oman, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Syria,
Sweden, Finland and Bulgaria, all of which are already known to have
shown an interest.

Several other countries are also keen to link into, and support, what
promises to be one of the major freight corridors anywhere. Official
estimates put north-south freight at up to 50m tonnes a year by 2010.

The latest commitment by Russia comes after a meeting in Iran between
Iranian transport minister Ahmad Khorram and Russian Railways company
president Gennady Fadeyev . Russian Railways is also involved in
bilateral discussions with the Iranian government about the building of
several rail lines in Iran.

Rail traffic between the two countries has increased dramatically over
the past year and, once the international corridor is formed, should
double in 2005. The 4m tonnes of freight estimated to be carried between
Iran and Russia this year should rise to 8m tonnes.

Iran, which is spending large sums on the development of its ports, sees
itself as a hub for North-South traffic, providing port facilities to
service the Asia-Pacific region.

Parl democracy development one of CIS IPA priorities
By Maria Federova

ITAR-TASS
April 17, 2004 Saturday

ST. PETERSBURG, April 17 — Consolidation and development of
parliamentary democracy principles and implementation of constitutional
ideals of a rule-of-law state are among the most important political
priorities of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, Russian Federation
Council Speaker Sergei Mironov, who is also IPA council chairman, told
the 23rd plenary meeting of the Assembly in St. Petersburg on Saturday.

In 2003-2004, CIS IPA observers participated in monitoring of
presidential and parliamentary elections in Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Russia, based on the Assembly-worked-out convention on
standards of democratic elections and election rights and freedoms
in CIS states.

The convention gains more and more recognition among international
organisations and countries, Mironov noted.

Addressing the CIS parliamentarians, the speaker called for joining
the convention and accelerating procedures to ratify it.

Globalisation problems among Petersburg econ forum issues
By Maria Federova

ITAR-TASS
April 17, 2004 Saturday

ST. PETERSBURG, April 17 – Economic growth problems and quality of
life under conditions of globalisation and development of economic
ties between the European Union and Russia and other CIS countries
will be in the focus of particular attention of the eighth Petersburg
Economic Forum to be held from June 15-17, Russian Federation Council
Chairman Sergei Mironov told the 23rd plenary meeting of the CIS
Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (IPA) in St. Petersburg on Saturday.

The Petersburg Economic Forum of political and business elite is held
annually under the aegis of the CIS IPA and the Federation Council.

The forum will also discuss economic and social reforms, development
of up-to-date information technologies, attracting of investments
and new members joining the World Trade Organisation.

A congress of CIS entrepreneurs, a meeting of the consultative council
on foreign investments in Russia and presentations of the South Russian
region, Armenia and the Czech Republic will be also held during the
Petersburg forum.

Mironov said he expected the forum to promote improvement of
legislative work in the Commonwealth of Independent States and legal
ensuring of CIS integration into the world economy.