PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee of Pasadena
740 East Washington Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91104-5007
Telephone: 626.798-0751
Fax: 626.798-7872

Thursday, April 15, 2004

Contact: Peter Tashjian
Telephone: (626) 255-4658

PASADENA ARMENIANS TO COMMEMORATE 89th ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Congressman Adam Schiff to be the Keynote Speaker at April 16th Event

PASADENA, CA (April 15, 2004) – The Armenian National Committee of
Pasadena (ANC-Pasadena) and its affiliated organizations will
commemorate the 89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with keynote
speaker Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA 29) on Friday, April 16 at 7:30
p.m. at the Pasadena Armenian Center,740 East Washington Boulevard.

Congressman Adam Schiff will give attendees an update on the status of
House Resolution 193, which would commemorate the 15th Anniversary of
the U.S. ratification the U.N. Convention on the Punishment and
Prevention of Genocides. H.Res. 193 which was co-authored by
Congressman Adam Schiff, specifically mentions the Armenian Genocide
as an example of genocide in the 20th century.

The honorable Consul General of the Republic of Armenia, Gagig
Giragossyan, will also speak at the event. Hundreds of Armenian
Americans, along with community leaders and public officials are
expected to be present to attendthis special event and show solidarity
in the quest for justice for the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
Although historians and eyewitnesses have unequivocally described the
events of 1915-1923 as a state sponsored genocide, the Republic of
Turkey continues to deny the claims through public relations campaigns
and paid lobbyists.

`Congressman Schiff has always been a strong advocate of issues of
concern to our community since his days in the California State
Senate. As one of the principal co-authors of House Resolution 193,
he is the ideal person to provide insight on the status of the
resolution. We are very grateful that he accepted our invitation,’
stated Shahan Stepanian, ANC-Pasadena Chair. `This will be a unique
evening with all federal, state and city officials paying respect to
the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide,’ added Stepanian.

The ANC-Pasadena works to raise awareness and educate the general
public about issues of concern to the Armenian-American community.

To find out more about this event, call (626) 798-7872.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
April 14, 2004

Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ in the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin

On Sunday, April 11, the Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ was celebrated by the worldwide Armenian Church. His
Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
celebrated the Pontifical Divine Liturgy.

As the service was about to begin, the Pontifical Procession moved from the
Residence of the Catholicos toward the Mother Cathedral to celebrate the
Easter Divine Liturgy, surrounded by thousands of faithful Armenians from
Armenia and the Diaspora.

The Mother Cathedral of All Armenians was filled to capacity, and the
overflowing crowd in the courtyard of the Mother See heard the message of
the Pontiff, as he declared: “Christ is Risen from the dead! Blessed is
the Resurrection of Christ.”

The theme for His Holiness’ sermon was from the Gospel of Saint Mark, “Take
heart, it is I; have no fear.” (Mark 6:50). In his sermon to the Armenian
faithful in Armenia and the Dispersion, His Holiness stated in part, “With
His blessed presence and with His saving power, the Lord has been at our
side, wherever the ship of our life has been driven during the journeying
courses of difficult, as well as trouble-free periods of our history. God
has been at our side and has not abandoned us in deadly fateful times, when
having lost our hope in men, we have been left alone. The light of the
Resurrection soars above all of our Avarayrs and Sardarapats. The paths of
Golgotha for the Armenians, which dispersed us throughout the world, are
crowned with the radiance of the Resurrection. Today, our statehood is also
reborn, and at every stage of life, the Lord awaits us, to spread His light
and His peace over us, to bless our efforts and labor and to make them
fruitful. However, we should not mix the good with the bad, nor confuse
truth with falsehood. The truth is Armenia independent and Artsakh free,
and our patriotism, our solidarity and unanimity. Indeed, there is no
greater expression of faith than unity, and there is no greater
encouragement than the belief that God with his saving power, is with us.

“Wherever we live, we will live through the Homeland and Holy Etchmiadzin,
with our national values and patriotic inheritance, so that our children
will keep away from useless and false ideas, and from alien values, which
are penetrating our lives and being imposed upon us from within and without
…

“Dear Armenians dispersed throughout the world, you who can look to Ararat
from near or far, can see under the gaze of the mount that hosts the Ark,
the outstretched ark of Armenian salvation: Armenia and Artsakh. You, who
see the radiating and inexhaustible light of the lantern of the Illuminator
above the heights of Aragats, have faith, that the God of our fathers will
continue His work upon our land through our faith. He will continue His
work throughout our national life, upon which today the hope of Resurrection
is taking flight.”

His Holiness addressed Easter greetings, blessings and congratulations as
well to the Incumbents of the Hierarchal Sees of the Armenian Church, the
entire order of clergy, state officials of the Republics of Armenia and
Nagorno Karabagh, and all faithful throughout the world.

Present during the Divine Liturgy were President of the Republic of Armenia
Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, President of the
National Assembly (Parliament) Arthur Baghdasarian, National Assembly
Members and Ministers of the Government of the Republic of Armenia,
Ambassadors and the Diplomatic Corps of Foreign Governments, representatives
of sister Christian Churches, members of the Supreme Spiritual Council, and
thousands of faithful.

At the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, an official reception was hosted in the
Pontifical Residence for the dignitaries and guests in attendance. His
Holiness welcomed and congratulated the guests on the occasion of the
Glorious Resurrection of Christ and once more conveyed to them the great
tiding of: “Christ is Risen from the dead! Blessed is the Resurrection of
Christ.”

##

A1 Plus | 15:46:02 | 15-04-2004 | Politics |

OPPOSITION LEADERS HOLD NEWS CONFERENCE

Despite Armenian National Assembly’s last sessions have failed because of
upsets in Yerevan traditional parliamentary briefings were held on Thursday.

United Labor Party fraction, People MP parliamentary group and the
opposition participated in the briefings while the coalition hasn’t taken
part in them preferring to come up with special statements later.

Opposition leaders Stepan Demirchyan and Artashes Geghamyan gave a joint
news conference. They reiterated their determination to continue acting with
united efforts and confirmed their intention to stage a rally on Friday.

The opposition is already aware of Police Day celebration in the republic
and festive party scheduled for Friday in Opera House, outside of which the
rally is to be held.

Any case, the protest action will be held, as the opposition set the date of
the rally earlier and announced about that beforehand. The authorities ought
to find solution to the problem, Stepan Demirchyan said.

The opposition MPs once again condemned violence committed by the police
against peaceful demonstrators Monday night.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION ACTS ON POLITICAL BUSINESS-PLAN FINANCED BY ARMENIAN
COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES OF RUSSIA

15.04.2004 15:12

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian opposition acts on the political business
plan, financed by certain commercial structures of Russia, deputy of the
Armenian Parliament, leader of the United Labor Party Gurgen Arsenian told
journalists today. In his words, certain people of Armenian origin back
these structures and the Russian Government has noting to do with it. G.
Arsenian emphasized that opposition actions are made at the amateurish level
and thus are doomed to failure.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

APRIL 9-15, 2004

HIGHLIGHTS:

VIOLENCE REPEATED

PERPETRATORS OF APRIL 5 AND 13 EVENTS MUST BE PUNISHED

CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS INSTITUTED FOR ATTACKING JOURNALISTS ON APRIL 5

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCES ON AIR

IOSIF VERDYAN PASSED AWAY

VIOLENCE REPEATED

On April 12 in Yerevan, the procession and rally organized by opposition
forces near RA National Assembly ended up in violence. The rally
participants demanded negotiations with Speaker of Parliament, Head of RA
Police, as well as live TV broadcasting for opposition leaders and live
reports of the event. Most probably, this demand provoked heavy guarding of
the TV companies buildings by the police in the capital that day.

At about 00:30, street lights went off on Baghramian Avenue, and at about 2
am, the picket was dispersed by police units using special devices – water
jets, explosive bags, rubber bludgeons, electroshock.

In the official April 13 statement of RA Police, the actions of the rally
participants were qualified as illegal, aggressive and uncontrollable,
presenting real threat to life and health of police and the citizens. It
induced law and order bodies to use physical force and special devices
against them in accordance with RA Law “On Police”. The police declared
about initiating criminal proceedings for organization of these public
disturbances.

Among the victims (according to official data, medical care was provided to
30 people), again were journalists similarly to the meeting of opposition
deputies with the voters a week ago (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, April 2-8,
2004). The evidence of the journalists, as well as their colleagues on the
spot contradict the official version of the events on early morning of April
13: picket participants were not aggressive, “some of them even settled for
the night”, therefore it may be viewed as an action planned by the
authorities.

That night “Haikakan Zhamanak” daily correspondents Haik Gevorgian and
Avetis Babajanian, as well as cameraman of Russian ORT TV in Armenia Levon
Grigorian and “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” newspaper correspondent Mher
Ghalechian were beaten while on duty.

According to “Haikakan Zhamanak” correspondent Haik Gevorgian, Deputy Head
of RA Police Hovhannes Varian (who, by the way, controlled the forces
keeping law and order during the April 5 rally) personally took his photo
camera away, whereas the policemen nearby started beating the journalist
with their bludgeons and feet. Afterwards, Haik Gevorgian was transported to
the police department of Nor Nork community, and later to one of Yerevan
hospitals. At present, Gevorgian receives treatment at home.

Avetis Babajanian was not as seriously injured as his colleague and was also
taken to the same police department.

ORT cameraman Levon Grigorian’s story was that civilians approached him and
tried to take the camera away (later the damaged expensive equipment was
discovered at police press service). These persons dragged the resisting
journalist to the group of special forces who started beating him with
batons using electroshock. It is only in an ambulance that Levon Grigorian
recovered consciousness.

“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” correspondent Mher Ghalechian was exposed to
violence at about 3 am, when the journalist, on the instructions of the
editorial office, investigated into the data on the search at opposition
“Republic” Party headquarters. According to Ghalechian, he was about to
leave after taking pictures when he was assaulted by four representatives of
special forces. He was beaten, and later taken to the police department of
Erebuni community where he was detained for 16 hours.

During the raid to the headquarters of another opposition party – Popular
Party of Armenia – its press secretary Ruzan Khachatrian was arrested. The
law and order bodies broke open the door of her private office and escorted
her with beating to the police department of Center community. On April 14,
Ruzan Khachatrian was released.

PERPETRATORS OF APRIL 5 AND 13 EVENTS MUST BE PUNISHED

On April 13, Yerevan Press Club, Journalists Union of Armenia and Committee
to Protect Freedom of Expression made a statement condemning violence
against media representatives.

“On early morning of April 13, journalists were also among the victims of
the rally dispersed by police forces on Baghramian Avenue in Yerevan.

Yerevan Press Club, Journalists Union of Armenia, Committee to Protect
Freedom of Expression state that law and order bodies have not yet revealed
and punished the perpetrators of April 5 violence against the journalists.
Moreover, this time the police themselves used force towards journalists on
their duty: several media representatives were exposed to beating; their
equipment was snatched away or crashed.

We once again stress that impeding journalist activity by any person even
the police is criminal offence.

We condemn this display of violence and declare that we will be consistent
in our demands, namely to track and punish, on Article 164 of RA Criminal
Code, the persons using violence against the journalists on both April 5 and
April 13 early morning, as well as to compensate the damage caused to the
media”, the statement of three journalistic organizations runs.

Committee to Protect Journalists also appealed to the Armenian authorities
“to investigate these attacks against our colleagues and bring those
responsible to justice”.

Repeated violence against media people on duty was condemned by a number of
local journalistic associations.

The April 14 statement of CE Secretary General Walter Schwimmer expresses
concern over anti-democratic decline in Armenia and stresses the necessity
for dialogue among all political forces. “There is incomplete and
conflicting news of excessive use of force by the police, of arrests –
including of members of parliament – and of a media blackout. This confirms
one thing: if there was complete freedom of the media, we would have a clear
picture of the situation”, CE Secretary General notes.

“Haikakan Zhamanak” initiated a peculiar action. In April 14 issue, the
daily accompanied all materials devoted to the events with the same photo of
RA Police Deputy Head Hovhannes Varian. Besides, the newspaper reported that
it intends to file a petition to General Prosecutor’s Office for bringing
him to criminal responsibility.

CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS INSTITUTED FOR ATTACKING JOURNALISTS ON APRIL 5

Criminal proceedings are started on violence against media representatives
during the opposition rally on April 5, RA Police press secretary Sayat
Shirinian informed Yerevan Press Club. The journalists were attacked by a
group of “strong guys” when trying to shoot the scene of egg throwing at
rally participants (see detail in YPC Weekly Newsletter, April 2-8, 2004).

The proceedings were instituted on Article 258, Point 2 of RA Criminal Code
(“gross violation of public order with extreme cynicism”). According to
Sayat Shirinian, the case is in execution at RA Police investigation
department.

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCES ON AIR

On April 9 in Armenia, broadcasting of Russian NTV channel was interrupted.
On April 8, the sound disappeared, whereas the next day there was no
picture. “Paradise” company (retransmitting NTV) accounts for disappearance
of the Russian channel from Armenian air by technical reasons – mainly
transmitter problems.

Meanwhile, there is an opinion that technical obstacles were not accidental
but induced by NTV’s covering of the opposition rallies in Yerevan. An
indirect proof of this may be the last year’s blocking of NTV in similar
situation. The broadcasting was interrupted on February 26, 2003 and resumed
only on March 17 – in hardly two weeks after the second round of
presidential elections (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, March 15-21, 2003). This
time, even AATV satellite network subscribers were deprived of NTV programs.

Mysterious disappearances from air afflicted several programs of Armenian TV
companies. In particular, on April 9 “Burg” program of “Yerevan” TV was no
longer on air. Previously, “Tesankyun” program on “Kentron” TV was shut.

IOSIF VERDYAN PASSED AWAY

On April 9, Chief Editor of “Urartu” newspaper Iosif Verdyan suddenly passed
away. Starting journalistic activity in 1969, Iosif Verdyan worked in local
media, for many years he was correspondent of several Moscow publications,
prize-winner of “Golden Pen” Award of Journalists Union of Armenia.

Yerevan Press Club expresses deep condolences to the relatives of the
diseased.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375007, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 1) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 1) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

Armenian opposition decisive to topple government

Mediamax news agency
15 Apr 04

YEREVAN

“The Armenian opposition is not broken and will consistently struggle
for a change of power in the country,” Stepan Demirchyan, leader of
the opposition Justice bloc and People’s Party of Armenia, stated in
Yerevan today.

As Mediamax news agency reports, speaking at a briefing in the
Armenian National Assembly today, Stepan Demirchyan said that the
opposition can open up a dialogue with the authorities only after
those who used force against the peaceful protesters in Marshal
Bagramyan Avenue and those who took part in the falsification of the
presidential elections in 2003 are brought to book.

“Everything that is going on today is a continuation of the
presidential elections during which the police were also used as a
tool for suppressing the opposition,” Stepan Demirchyan stated.

A member of the political council of the Republic Party, Armenian
ex-prime minister, Aram Sarkisyan, stated today that “Robert Kocharyan
has never offered us a dialogue”. He said that if before the police
dispersed the rally on the night of 12-13 April, 90 per cent of our
country’s population were “in favour of the president’s resignation,
today this indicator has reached to 99 per cent”.

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan stated on 14 April that he regards
it as unacceptable if these statements about readiness for dialogue
resemble an ultimatum.

The head of the OSCE office in Armenia, Vladimir Pryakhin, called on
the representatives of the Armenian opposition “to be more restrained,
more moderate and ready for constructive negotiations with the
opposite side”. In his interview to the Yerevan newspaper Golos
Armenii today, Vladimir Pryakhin stated:

“Unfortunately, the leaders of the opposition are refusing any
political dialogue. In this situation, this position is not convincing
enough for me”.

Nato incident

The Guardian – United Kingdom
Apr 15, 2004

An Armenian army officer attending a Nato-sponsored English language
course in Budapest was murdered by an Azerbaijani officer attending
the same course. The attack took place in February during a training
course organised under Nato’s Partnership for Peace programme.

[email protected]

Chief policeman says situation in Armenia stable

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
14 Apr 04

The prime minister [Andranik Markaryan] has requested the head of the
Armenian police, Ayk Arutyunyan, to make a report on the recent events
in the republic at a government session.

Ayk Arutyunyan told the government about the events which took place
on the night of 12th to 13th April and their consequences, and about
the current situation in the capital and in the republic.

The head of the police said that the situation is now stable.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkey to open border with Armenia – Azeri pro-government MP

Azadliq, Baku
15 Apr 04

Text of unattributed report by Azerbaijani newspaper Azadliq on 15
April headlined “Is Anar Mammadxanli cleverer than Ilham Aliyev?” and
subheaded “The latter says that the borders will not open, the former
says they will be…”

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his entourage differ about the
opening of the Turkish-Armenian border. Ilham Aliyev does not see any
grounds for concern, pointing out that during his visit to Ankara as
the prime minister last autumn, he heard statements from the Turkish
leadership that the border will not open. He believes that those
statement were sufficient for him.

Therefore, there is no need for anxiety over this issue because he
believes that the border will not open. He confirmed this stance in
his comment on a protest action by a group of Azerbaijani journalists
in Turkey against the possible opening of the border.

MP Anar Mammadxanli, who is well-known for his personal closeness to
Ilham Aliyev and is trying to show off as a staunch member of his
“team of reformists”, thinks the opposite and aired his concern about
the situation in his interview.

He backed the journalists’ protest action against the possible opening
of the border, but said that he expects the Turkish-Armenian border to
open. Unlike Ilham Aliyev, Mammadxanli believes that Turkey will open
the border as soon as its membership of the European Union becomes
topical. Despite his feeling of regret, the MP advises to take a
realistic approach to the issue.

Mammadxanli went even further and blamed “some pseudo-patriots for the
erroneous analysis of the issue”.

We wonder whether Ilham Aliyev, who does not believe that the
Turkish-Armenian border will open, is also one of the
“pseudo-patriots” mentioned by Mammadxanli. And who knows more – Anar
Mammadxanli or Ilham Aliyev?

Armenian president calls for dialogue with opposition

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
14 Apr 04

[Presenter] President Robert Kocharyan has announced that the
opposition forces are responsible for the events which took place on
Bagramyan Avenue. He said this at a meeting with the leadership of the
United Communist Party of Armenia. The president said that the
opposition should work on improving people’s living conditions. Today
the opposition has all the conditions for normal work. Robert
Kocharyan said the authorities have the right to intervene if the
opposition chooses to act differently so as to defend people and avoid
disorder and disturbances.

[Correspondent over video of meeting] At the meeting with the head of
state, the political bureau of the United Communist Party of Armenia
spoke not only about the party’s problems, activities and programme
but also about the internal political situation.

The leader of the party, Yuriy Manukyan, noted that young people are
now joining the ranks of the United Communist Party. The meeting also
discussed the country’s social and economic developments and the
structure of local authorities.

The participants in the meeting also called for stability and law and
order in the country. The communists also stressed that in no case the
opposition should disrupt stability in the country. Robert Kocharyan
spoke about the current situation in the country at the request of the
meeting. Speaking about the importance and need for dialogue, the
president noted that it would be wrong to avoid it.

[Robert Kocharyan, captioned] Generally speaking I think that it would
be wrong to avoid dialogue. I must say that during the last 12 and 18
months Armenia’s political forces, the ruling coalition, had many
meetings with representatives of the opposition. For as long as the
opposition position is black and white, there will be nothing to
discuss. This is where the problem lies. It does not mean that we do
not accept dialogue. When the dialogue is black and white it means an
ultimatum. Dialogue in the form of an ultimatum is unacceptable.

[Correspondent] Speaking about the recent events in the country, he
noted that the opposition is responsible for what happened. He
stressed that the police acted within its powers to prevent disorder
and establish law or order in the country. Stressing the importance of
the opposition to the country, President Kocharyan noted that the
opposition should channel its energies into improving the country’s
and peoples’ lives.

[Robert Kocharyan] No government can work productively without the
opposition. From this angle, the opposition must also support the
president’s intentions. What does the country’s president need? For
the government to work productively, the opposition must help it by
revealing shortages in its work. In the end, both the country and
people will win. But the opposition is now refusing to do this and is
acting differently.

[Correspondent] Speaking about the undesirable political events and
the opposition’s struggle, Robert Kocharyan noted that this was forced
on the people.

[Robert Kocharyan] First of all our people should understand that this
struggle is not their struggle. It is quite a different struggle. This
struggle and related events make no impact at all on the country’s
economy, financial market or investments.

There are positive tendencies. Whatever happened belongs to the
political sphere. I am sure that the conditions in our country which
is still developing are not yet right for that.

Nune Aleksanyan, “Aylur”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress