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  • ASBAREZ Online [09-22-2004]

    ASBAREZ ONLINE
    TOP STORIES
    09/22/2004
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    1) Reps. Eshoo and Sweeney Urge House Colleagues to Call for a Vote on the
    Armenian Genocide
    2) 13th Anniversary Independence Celebrations
    3) Garamendi Appoints Members of Armenian Insurance Settlement Fund Board
    4) Conference Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Lebanon ARF Zavarian Student
    Association
    5) Georgia President Suggests Stage-By-Stage Settlement Plan

    1) Reps. Eshoo and Sweeney Urge House Colleagues to Call for a Vote on the
    Armenian Genocide

    --Support Continues to Grow for Congressional Letter to Speaker Hastert in
    Support of the Schiff Amendment and H.Res.193

    WASHINGTON, DC (ANCA)--New York Republican John Sweeney and California
    Democrat Anna Eshoo have joined together in the effort encouraging their
    Congressional colleagues to cosign a letter to Speaker Hastert urging him to
    maintain the Schiff amendment in the House Foreign aid bill and schedule a
    vote
    on the Genocide Resolution.
    The letter currently has over 60 signatories and support continues to grow in
    the days leading up to the House and Senate conference to finalize the FY 2005
    foreign aid bill.
    In a letter to House Members, Reps. Eshoo and Sweeney, both of Armenian
    descent, explained:
    "Under the Ottoman Empire, nearly two million Armenians who were living in
    Eastern Anatolia were deported from their homes. Of the two million deportees,
    only 500,000 survived this ordeal. The historical record is clear. From
    1915 to
    1923, the Ottoman Empire succeeded in systematically eliminating the Armenians
    from their historical homeland where they had lived for over two thousand
    years. H.Res.193 reaffirmed our nation's commitment to the noble aims of the
    Genocide Convention, and urges the American people to learn from the
    lessons of
    past genocides in order to help prevent future crimes against humanity."
    The Schiff Amendment, spearheaded by California Democrat Adam Schiff, was
    unanimously adopted by the House in a voice vote, during discussions of the FY
    2005 foreign aid bill. The legislation would bar the Turkish government from
    using US foreign aid funds for lobbying against the Genocide Resolution.
    Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), and Majority
    Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) immediately denounced the measure in a harshly worded
    press release placed on the front page of the House Speaker's website, citing
    concerns about its effects on US-Turkey relations and pledging to remove the
    language from the final foreign aid bill.
    Following the Speaker's announced opposition to the measure, more than a
    dozen
    national grassroots Armenian American organizations cosigned a letter to the
    House leader, voicing the community's unequivocal opposition to efforts to
    reverse the Schiff Amendment to the fiscal year 2005 Foreign Operations bill,
    and expressing the community's "great dismay with your public statement
    against
    holding a vote on the Genocide Resolution, H.Res.193."
    The organizations that signed the community-wide letter were the ANCA, the
    Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church--Eastern and Western US, the Prelacy
    of the Armenian Apostolic Church--Eastern and Western US, the Armenian
    Missionary Association of America, and the Apostolic Exarchate for Armenian
    Catholics, as well as the Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian
    Democratic Liberal (Ramgavar) Party, United Armenian Fund, Armenian Relief
    Society, Armenian Bar Association, National Organization of Republican
    Armenians, Armenian Youth Federation, Homenetmen--Armenian General Athletic
    Union, and Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Educational Association.
    Reps. George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Congressional
    Armenian
    Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) introduced
    the
    Genocide resolution (H.Res.193) in April, 2003. The legislation (H.Res.193)
    was
    unanimously adopted by the House Judiciary Committee in May of that year and
    currently has 111 cosponsors. Similar legislation in the Senate (S.Res.164)
    has
    over 40 cosponsors.


    2) 13th Anniversary Independence Celebrations

    YEREVAN (Combined Sources)--Armenia's President Kocharian kicked-off official
    ceremonies marking Armenia's independence from the Soviet Union, by visiting
    the Yerablur military cemetery in Yerevan where hundreds of Armenians killed
    during the war with Azerbaijan are buried.
    "Today's Armenia is an established state with a pronounced commitment to
    deeper economic reforms, democratic transformation and international
    engagement," Kocharian told government officials, foreign diplomats, and other
    dignitaries attending an official reception later in the day.
    The holiday marks the September 21, 1991 referendum in which 94.99% of
    Armenians voted in favor of secession from the Soviet Union, just months
    before
    its collapse.
    In separate messages to President Robert Kocharian, the presidents of the
    United States and Russia pledged to strengthen their relations with Armenia
    US President George W. Bush described Armenia as a "major partner" of the
    United States, according to Kocharian's office.
    "The United States will work hard to assist the government and the people of
    Armenia in achieving economic growth, strengthening democratic institutions
    and
    resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Bush was quoted as saying. "I expect
    that cooperation between our nations and the very friendly ties between our
    peoples will be further reinforced."
    "I am particularly thankful for Armenia's important anti-terrorist support
    for
    the United States," he said.
    Armenia opened its airspace for the US military aircraft following the
    September 11 terrorist attacks.
    "I am convinced that a further deepening of the Russian-Armenian strategic
    partnership is in tune with the fundamental interests of our countries and
    plays an important role in maintaining peace and stability in the Caucasus,"
    read Russia's President Vladimir Putin letter cited by the Armenian
    presidential press service.


    3) Garamendi Appoints Members of Armenian Insurance Settlement Fund Board

    LOS ANGELES (Insurance Journal)--Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has
    announced three appointments to the Armenian Insurance Settlement Fund Board,
    created to oversee the settlement of claims against New York Life Insurance
    Company as directed in the settlement of a class-action lawsuit on behalf of
    heirs and descendants of policyholders who were killed during the Armenian
    genocide more than 90 years ago.
    The board members, Viken Manjikian, Paul Krekorian, and Berj Boyajian, will
    evaluate claims and determine which are to be paid pursuant to the terms of
    the
    settlement agreement. The board's decisions will be final with no right of
    appeal.
    "I am honored to appoint these three accomplished, capable and fair
    individuals who will further the pursuit of justice for heirs and descendants
    of victims of the Armenian genocide," Commissioner Garamendi said. "This is an
    important step to help bring closure to the victims and their families."
    Early this year, Garamendi secured a $20 million fund to help finance the
    payment of claims in the case. At least $3 million of that amount will be put
    into the "Unclaimed/Heirless Fund," which will be contributed to
    court-approved
    charitable organizations--as set forth in the settlement agreement--whose
    activities advance the Court-approved charitable interests of the Armenian
    community.
    Manjikian, of Lancaster, is Director of Inpatient and Emergency Radiology,
    and
    Director of Vascular and Interventional Radiology at Antelope Valley Hospital.
    He has extensive credentials in the field of radiology and earned his medical
    and undergraduate degrees at the University of California, Los Angeles.
    Boyajian, of Beverly Hills, operates Boyajian and Associates in Los Angeles.
    His practice specializes in business and toxic torts, and he has extensive
    experience in litigation on behalf of individuals and workers exposed to toxic
    substances.
    Krekorian, of Burbank, is a founding partner of the law firm Fisher &
    Krekorian in Los Angeles. His practice specializes in representation of
    business, charitable organizations and individuals in matters involving
    trademark, copyright and commercial disputes.
    Potential claimants in the Armenian genocide case have been informed via
    Notice by the Court and published statewide. The Department of Insurance
    consumer hotline will also be able to direct potential claimants to the
    settlement Web site. Or, call the Department's hotline at 800-927-HELP
    (800-927-4357).


    4) Conference Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Lebanon ARF Zavarian Student
    Association

    BEIRUT--A five-day pan-Armenian student conference commenced on September
    20 in
    Beirut, Lebanon, in celebration of the ARF Zavarian Student Association's
    (ZSA)
    100th anniversary.
    Representatives of various youth and student organizations from Armenia,
    Mountainous Karabagh Republic, Javakhk, Russia, Iran, Iraq, France, Canada,
    Germany, Greece, the US, Syria, and Lebanon are taking part in the before
    mentioned conference gathered for the opening ceremony on September 20 at the
    Aghpalian Sports and Cultural Center.
    In his address, ARF Bureau representative Hrant Margarian said that students
    must view the homeland and diaspora as one entity--the combined strength of
    which can be coordinated and utilized to the benefit of its people.
    A congratulatory letter from the International Union of Socialist Youth
    (IUSY)
    was read, and the ceremony ended with a documentary on ZSA founder Simon
    Zavarian.
    The conference, "Armenian Students Facing Challenges of The 21st Century,"
    will run through September 25, allowing students the opportunity to strengthen
    mutual relations and exchange ideas and experiences in facing challenges of
    the
    21st century. Participants will also examine their roles in the context of
    realities Armenians throughout the world face.
    The conference will address the following topics: The Armenian cause in light
    of the presence of the Armenian Republic; the integration of the Armenian
    Republic in the European Union: advantages and disadvantages; Globalization
    and
    the problems facing the Armenian Republic; the meaning of mutual relations
    between Armenia and the diaspora and respective roles (diaspora in promoting
    the development of the Armenian Republic and Armenia's role in maintaining the
    liveliness of diaspora); students and the Armenian national heritage
    preservation (emigration, assimilation); the current situation and mission of
    Armenian students living in Armenia or in the diaspora.
    For more information, contact: [email protected] or [email protected].


    5) Georgia President Suggests Stage-By-Stage Settlement Plan

    UNITED NATIONS (Itar-Tass)--Speaking at the 59th UN General Assembly
    session on
    Tuesday, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili presented a stage-by-stage
    plan
    of settling the Abkhazian and South Ossetian conflicts.
    The first stage of the plan would include concrete confidence-building
    measures--specifically the exchange of people and goods, joint economic
    projects, and the restoration of the right of displaced persons to return
    home.

    The second stage, he said, provides for material guarantees of the
    dismantling
    of military bases, demilitarization, internationalization of peacekeeping
    efforts, as well as international monitoring aimed at achieving a peaceful
    settlement.
    According to Saakashvili, the third stage includes the granting of the
    broadest possible autonomy to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which would ensure
    "the protection of their culture and language, local government, fiscal
    control" and equal participation in the settlement of all problems, which fall
    under the jurisdiction of the national government.


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