Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

ASBAREZ Online [05-22-2006]

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • ASBAREZ Online [05-22-2006]

    ASBAREZ ONLINE
    TOP STORIES
    05/22/2006
    TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
    WEBSITE AT <http://www.asbarez.com/>HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM

    1) ANCA Telethon Raises $2,700,000 for Armenian Cause
    2) US Ambassador Designate to Azerbaijan Responds to Senator Boxer's Concerns
    about Julfa Cemetery
    3) Armenian Parliament Speaker Confirms Resignation
    4) Kocharian Appoints New Culture And Youth Affairs Minister

    1) ANCA Telethon Raises $2,700,000 for Armenian Cause

    The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) raised Sunday approximately
    $2.7 million in the first-ever nationwide Telethon for the Armenian Cause.
    The Telethon, which lasted for six hours, brought together hundreds of
    volunteers, community members, and leaders of the Armenian community from
    around the nation to Glendale Studios in Glendale, California.
    The program highlighted the work of the ANCA in the halls of Congress, the
    White House, and state and local governments around the country. It also
    showcased various programs offered by the ANCA, such as the Leo Sarkisian
    Summer Internship Program.
    Although the Telethon officially ended at 9:00 PM (PST), donations kept
    pouring
    in for another three hours, bringing the total to approximately $2.7 million.
    Proceeds from the Telethon will help the ANCA broaden its scope and resources
    with which it pursues issues important to the Armenian American community.

    2) US Ambassador Designate to Azerbaijan Responds to Senator Boxer's Concerns
    about Julfa Cemetery Destruction

    --Diplomat Stops Short of Pledging US Investigation

    WASHINGTON, DC--US Ambassador Designate to Azerbaijan Anne Derse responded
    this
    week to concerns raised by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) regarding Azerbaijan's
    destruction of the Armenian cemetery in Julfa, Nakhichevan, but refrained from
    pledging any concrete commitment to investigate the matter, reported the
    Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
    Submitting a written response to questions by Senator Boxer relayed during her
    May 12 Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing, Derse noted
    that the Department of State is "urging the relevant Azerbaijani
    authorities to
    investigate the allegations of desecration of cultural monuments in
    Nakhichevan
    and take appropriate measures to prevent any desecration of cultural
    monuments.
    Armenia and Azerbaijan are both members of UNESCO (and OSCE), and Azerbaijan
    has raised these issues in those organizations.  We have encouraged Armenia
    and
    Azerbaijan to work with UNESCO to investigate this incident. If I am
    confirmed,
    and if such issues arise during my tenure, I will communicate our concerns to
    the Government of Azerbaijan and pursue appropriate activities in support
    of US
    interests."
    Senator Boxer had specifically asked if the Ambassador Designate would "visit
    the cemetery site and commit [herself] to investigating the demolition of this
    unique cemetery."
    "We want to thank Senator Boxer for raising Azerbaijan's desecration of the
    Julfa cemetery with Ambassador Designate Derse," said ANCA Executive Director
    Aram Hamparian.  "We were deeply troubled by the silence of the US Embassy on
    this issue during the tenure of her predecessor, Reno Harnish, and remain
    hopeful that, despite her evasive response, Anne Derse will prove a more vocal
    and effective advocate for the core American values of tolerance and respect
    for cultural heritage.  She can start off on the right foot by personally
    visiting Julfa during her first month in office."
    In December of 2005, approximately 200 Azeri soldiers were videotaped using
    sledgehammers to demolish the over one thousand year old Armenian cemetery in
    Julfa, a sacred site of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The cemetery dates back
    to the 7th century and once was home to as many as 10,000 khatchkars
    (intricately carved cross-stones). An on-line video of the destruction can be
    viewed at: www.hairenik.com/Haireniktv/HA_TV_Clip04.htm.
    The ANCA has widely distributed DVDs documenting the destruction, educated
    Congressional offices about this desecration, and worked in concert with ANCA
    affiliates around the world to protest Azerbaijan's worsening anti-Armenian
    behavior. The Congressional Armenian Caucus, led by Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and
    Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), has formally condemned Azerbaijan's actions, as have
    Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA). On
    February 16, 2006, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning
    Azerbaijan's destruction of the cemetery and demanding that Azerbaijan allow a
    European Parliament delegation to survey the site.
    Derse also responded to a series of questions by Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD)
    earlier this week on belligerent statements and war rhetoric by Azeri leaders,
    as well as on the status of Karabagh peace talks.
    Anne Derse is a Foreign Service Officer with more than a quarter century of
    experience. She most recently served as Director for Biodefense Policy at the
    Homeland Security Council. Her prior postings have included service as
    Minister
    Counselor for Economic Affairs at the US Embassy in Iraq and at the US Mission
    to the European Union. Derse also has held posts in the Philippines, South
    Korea, Belgium, and Singapore, among other locations.
    The complete text of Senator Boxer's questions and Derse's responses can be
    found at www.asbarez.com.

    3) Armenian Parliament Speaker Confirms Resignation

    YEREVAN (Armenpress/RFE/RL)Armenia's Parliament Speaker Artur Baghdasarian
    formally confirmed Monday his intention to resign by filing a related
    application. Addressing Parliament, he thanked his colleagues for their
    cooperation over the three years during which he held the second highest
    position in Armenia.
    Baghdasarian said that he worked hard to raise the status of Parliament both
    inside and outside the country and succeeded in it, defending Orinats Yerkir's
    three year track record in government.
    "The parliament became an open body; we tried to enact numerous laws; we made
    sure that no schools or kindergartens are put on sale in Armenia today," he
    said.
    Under Armenian parliament regulations, Baghdasarian has to reconfirm Monday's
    application in five days and only then he will be formally relieved of his
    post
    and a replacement elected.
    Two Parliament Members who remained loyal to Baghdasarian and his party
    Orinats
    Yerkir, Mher Shahgeldian, chairman of the national security and defense
    commission, and Gagik Mkheyan, chairman of the health and social issues
    commission, also announced their resignations.
    Orinats Yerkir has been part of the governing coalition since 2003 when it
    teamed up with the Republican Party and Armenian Revolutionary Federation. It
    had 20 seats in the 131 seat parliament.
    Baghdasarian announced that he would resign and pull Orinats Yerkir out of the
    governing coalition following a mass defection of businessmen-legislators from
    his faction.
    Baghdasarian said that his decision is based on serious policy differences
    with
    the two parties remaining in government.

    4) Kocharian Appoints New Culture And Youth Affairs Minister

    YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Armenian President Robert Kocharian dismissed Gevorg
    Gevorgian from the office of Culture and Youth Affairs Minister, replacing him
    with Hasmik Poghosian.
    Gevorgian, a former member of Orinats Yerkir, held the post for less than four
    months. Gevorgian did not retain his position despite his defection from
    Orinats Yerkir.
    The new Culture Minister, Poghosian, does not belong to any party.
    Poghosian was born in 1960 in Yerevan and graduated from Sayat Nova Music
    School. She also studied biology at Yerevan State University and taught
    biology.
    Starting in 1986, she worked in the Armenian Union of Cultural Cooperation
    with
    Foreign Countries.

    All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier
    and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and
    subscription requests.
    (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved.

    ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for
    academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through
    mass media outlets.
Working...
X