MosJan

IRAQI CITIZEN PREPARING ASSASSINATION OF PUTIN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS Azerbaijani national security minister Namik Abbasov said on Tuesday that an Iraqi citizen Kenan Rostom was sentenced to 10 years in jail for preparing assassination of Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2000 January 9-10, when Putin was to pay an official visit to Baku. In an interview with Azerbaijani public TV Abbasov said the special services had leaned about the plot before the scheduled visit and detained Kenan Rostom. Abbasov said Kenan Rostom had special training in terrorist camps in Afghanistan and was closely connected with one of the Chechen field commander Ramazan Akhmadov who executed three Britons and one New Zealander in Chechnya several years ago. © Copyright AZG

TARC SPLITS US ARMENIANS In an interview with the daily Azg the chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Kenneth Hachikian said: “ Actually we do not have any information about the circumstances which were behind the formation of the Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission, as all those people involved in it, provide vague and ambiguous comments. We know at this moment that the US State Department, contrary to its assurances that it was not involved in the creation of the TARC, provided financial assistance to promote TARC activity. I think we shall learn much more about the volume of US government’s involvement in it. In response to ANCA questions, the State Department answered that the assistance had been given to TARC as an alternative to the inclusion of the Armenian genocide issue on the Congress’ agenda.” The news about TARC first appeared in the New York Times which wrote in a July issue that the Commission members were having secret talks since the issue of the Armenian genocide was put on Congress agenda. Until October 2, when a report by the Congressional Research Center disclosed that financial aid was given to the TARC through the channels of the US University for Conflict Solutions in Washington, the State Department officials had been categorically denying the US government’s involvement in it. “The TARC has split the US Armenian community, which seems to be what Turkey and US desire. The majority of US Armenians have voiced their opposition to the TARC, however, the creation of the Commission has brought in a lot of controversies in the community,” Kenneth Hachikian said. In response to the daily Azg question whether the approval of the Commission by the official Ankara was pursuing the goal of using it as a tool in Turkey’s efforts against international recognition of the genocide, Hachikian said: “ The US State Department evidently thinks so and I believe that this opinion was formed as a result of close cooperation between the State Department and senior officials from Turkish foreign ministry. Last week a European Union subcommittee changed its attitude towards Turkey’s accession to EU. In the past one of the preconditions for Turkey to enter the EU was recognition of the Armenian genocide. Creation of the TARC was cited by an EU senior official as a factor for the change of the EU attitude towards Turkey’s accession. Former US ambassador to Armenia Michael Lemmon used to say that the issue of the Armenian genocide would not be put on Congress agenda this year. I also used to ask myself why he was thinking so.” ANCA is one of the two, along the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA), major US Armenian organizations, having numerous chapters in all communities throughout the USA. Andranik Mihranian, an independent Russian Armenian political analyst and a member of the TARC, recently described the AAA as an “organization having serious ties with the State Department.” By the way, some sources close to the AAA claim that the organization supports the idea that the “issue of the Armenian genocide should be left to historians,” contrary to the approach of the ANCA, which makes Armenian-Turkish dialogue conditional on Turkey’s acknowledgment of the genocide, lifting of Armenia’s blockade and giving up its pro-Azerbaijani stance in the issue of Nagorno Karabagh conflict. Some senior members of the ANCA recall that in 1992 Hrair Hovnanian, the chairman of AAA Board of Trustees said during a reception in White House that “the Armenian genocide is not a political issue and should be left to historians.” In 1996 the AAA did not make any attempt to help support a Radanovich-Boneur amendment calling for reduction of US aid to Turkey, unless the latter recognized the Armenian genocide. Some sources close to the ANCA say that in 2000 July 12 several senior members of the AAA had met with House of Representatives Spokesman Dennis Hastert to discuss “ why the issue of the Armenian genocide should not be put on Congress agenda.” By Tatool Hakobian from New York © Copyright AZG

MISS ARMENIA BEAUTY CONTEST ORGANIZER DEPRIVED FROM ITS RIGHTS YEREVAN, OCTOBER 17, ARMENPRESS Ara Yernjakian, the art director of the Yerevan Chamber Theatre was the first to conceive the idea of starting to hold Miss Armenia beauty contest, which he and the theatre had been organizing since 1996. Speaking today at a news conference Mr. Yernjakian cited numerous business contacts, the organizing committee of the contest has established with the representatives of similar contests abroad. Armenian beauties participated in beauty contests in other countries, winning different prizes, including 3 Grand Prize, as well as 'Miss Trans-Caucasus, 'Miss CIS' and others. The 5th anniversary of the contest is to be marked this year. On this occasion the organizing committee was preparing an open performance with the representatives of 12 countries participating. Yet Mr. Yernjakian had to tell the reporters that his copyright of the contest and all other rights were taken from him illegally. At present the head of the Miss Armenia contest organizing committee is the deputy minister of culture, sport and youth issues Karen Aristakessian. Yernjakian learned about it in September and applied to Mr. Aristakessian to find out the reasons. The latter briefly explained: "I'll do it better". Mr. Yernjakian has not yet decided to whether apply to the court or not. According to him, unfortunately such behavior becomes usual in the country, where the law and responsibility is ignored

IRAQI CITIZEN PREPARING ASSASSINATION OF PUTIN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS BAKU, OCTOBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Azzerbaijnai national security minister Namik Abbasov said on Tuesday that an Iraqi citizen Kenan Rostom was sentenced to 10 years in jail for preparing assassination of Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2000 January 9-10, when Putin was to pay an official visit to Baku. In an interview with Azerbaijani public TV Abbasov said the special services had leaned about the plot before the scheduled visit and detained Kenan Rostom. Abbasov said Kenan Rostom had special training in terrorist camps in Afghanistan and was closely connected with one of the Chehchen field commander Ramazan Akhmadov, who executed three Britons and one New Zealander in Chechnya several years ago.

AZARTBAIJANI SPECIAL SERVICE HEAD CLAIMS ISLAMIST ORGANIZATION STRUCTURES IN BAKU PREPARED ATTEMPT ON RUSSIAN PRESIDENT'S LIFE 17.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Attempt on RF president's life was prepared in Baku. This sensational statement was made by Azerbaijani national defense minister Namik Abbasov in his interview for Azerbaijani State television. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

ANDRANIK MIHRANYAN THINKS IT DIFFICULT TO COUNT ON US CONGRESS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ACKNOWLEDGMENT AFTER SEPTEMBER 11 17.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey was in favor of the establishment of the Armenian-Turkish commission for reconciliation being scared of the international community pressure. This has been stated by commission member, famous political scientist Andranik Mihranyan in his conversation with «Arminfo» agency correspondent. According to him, the statements that the commission activity will prevent the 1915 Armenian genocide acknowledgment by the American Congress are «nonsense and dilettantism». «No one will think to bring up this question in the Congress after September 11 terrorist acts», thinks Mihranyan. According to him, «Turkey has again become a key country for the realization of US strategic interests in the Middle East». Mihranyan has noted the commission goal is to find out the ways in order to come to compromises and to get ready for them». Speaking about the forthcoming commission session in New York, the political scientist has noted that the legal aspects of the relationship of Armenia and Turkey will be discussed. The establishment of commission sub-committees including experts with different viewpoints regarding the genocide of Armenians is also possible. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

«ISLAM SOLDIERS», WHO PARTICIPATED IN MILITARY OPERATIONS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES, RECRUITED IN AZERBAIJAN 17.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijani ministry of national defense has stated about the arrest of the illegal military unit head Kenan Shabanov and its 12 members. Baku resident Kenan Israfil oghlu Shabanov, being under the influence of radical vakhabizm, recruited Azerbaijani citizens for participation in military operations in foreign countries. The list of the countries where the Islam soldiers, recruited by Shabanov, fought is not made public. But it is known that three unit member: Javid Muftizade, Anver Askerov and Tofiga Abdulragimova were killed in Chechnya and Abkhazia. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

AUTHORS OF LEGEND ABOUT COUNTLESS OIL STOCK COME TO GRIEF 17.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Ramco" British-American Company can validate its withdrawal from the contract for working of the largest oilfields in Azerbaijan in November. One of the heads of the department of foreign investments of Azerbaijani State Oil Company Beglyarbekov has stated it today. The company illusions regarding the perspectives of oil production in Azerbaijan has begun to dispel since summer. As CNA agency informs, July 1998 "Ramco" leadership promised to invest about $1 billion in the exploration and working of "Muradkhanli' bloc. But 2001, July, the British-American company rejected the project realization and paid $250 thousand compensation for non-fulfillment of its duties. In spite of the fact that the first oil well displayed certain oil stock, the complex geology of the oilfield layers did not let continue the started works. It is assumed that in November, when the term of the exploring period will expire officially, "Ramco" will also stop its activities in other three contract oilfields. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

??? The Most Aggressive Religion Is ???

New CD TaTa CD http://www.mksduduks.com/GTAK/Tata.jpg [ October 18, 2001: Message edited by: MosJan ]

GTAK VIDEO - Glandale 216 S Glendale ave Glendale CA 91205 Phone 818 500 8002 >> Map [ October 17, 2001: Message edited by: MosJan ]

Do you like to see TATA ??? Do you liek to See TATA and get his new CD?? OK YOU CAN DO THIS AT GTAK-VIDEO ON OCT-18 7PM IN HOLLYWOOD STORE AND ON 9PM AT THE GLENDALE STORE. TATA WILL BE PROMOTING HIS NEW CD - "Shaba-Daba-Dash-Dash" GTAK VIDEO - Little Armenia-Hollywood- 5230 w Sunset blvd Hollwood CA 90027 Phone 323 662 9897 Map [ October 17, 2001: Message edited by: MosJan ]

yerb iys tary garnan@ Yerevanum eyi, iytseletsy nayev Komitasi anvan Panteon@. Iyter e tarrvats mer Frunz@, barekams ov indz het er patmets vor iys ardzan@ ( TapanaQar@) vor drvats er Frunzi Shrimin uni mi patmutyun. Frunzi mahits 1 tary ants yerb Vakhtang Kikabidzen norits e iytselum ir @enkeroj gerezmanin tesnum e vor der tapanaqar chi drvats, voroshum e inq@ ir @enkeroj hamar tapanaqar dnel, yev vajarelov ir Volga 2410 meqenan yerevani avtoShukayum, vjarum e n@ra hushardzani hamar, i hishatak ir @enkeroj vori het asum en shat mterim e yerel. barekams patmum er yev verjum avelatsrets te , "Ap menq Lenakanstiks or eskan mer Frunzin sireyinq g@, me tarva mej es martu gerezmnin tsarik@m chdrinq, es qarn el et vratsu drats qarna, es el menq, es el mer lenagantsy Funz@ ira Vratsi @engeroch qarov" h@ b@ mezi sazakan e? ba-Axper Movses

ba- Ali BAba yev 40 avazakner@ ( MultFilm ) Astvst hogin lusavori Hoyakap derasan er, mi qani or araj Hye_tv Project-z programm@ uner vor@ mi n@karichi masiner, iys mard@ Frunzi Tarman Ararorutyan jamanak n@karel er mi n@kar ur frunzi diyaki korgin kangnats eyin Sos Sarksyan@ yev Xoren Abrahamyan@, , yev n@karich iys n@kar@ anvanum er "Ushatsats Handipum", vorqanov haskatsa HAy Filmi metsin@s astrer@ kendani jamanak irar het iydqan el lav cheyin yerel,,, Movses [ October 17, 2001: Message edited by: MosJan ]

Ba miminon ? Glxavor derum ?? ba Inchu e Armkum Get@ ?? Kolxozi naxagahi varordn er che

TURKEY TAKES ADVANTAGE TO ACCUSE ITS NEIGHBORS OF HARBORING TERRORISTS Taking advantage of a global campaign against international terrorism Turkey does not spare efforts to label Greece and Cyprus as countries harboring terrorists, a Greek daily Kathemirini writes. A senior Turkish military official, chief of staff General Huseyin Kivrikoglu made an attempt on Monday to describe a camp of refugees in Lavrion, which is under protection of the UNHCR ,as a “camp of terrorists” in an effort to tie Greece with international terrorism. He went on to allege that Greece tried to secure a safe harbor for Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of PKK, now under arrest, and asked: “Who were those people who provided Ocalan with a passport and hosted him at the embassy building?” He made this remark one day ahead of Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit’s warnings, sent to the European Union, with a request to revise the issue of Cyprus joining the Union, describing it as “a hotbed of anti-Turkish propaganda and money laundering.” The daily Kathemirini also writes that Turkish warplanes had been violating Greece’s airspace in the last three days during military exercises, held near the region of Lavaron. Turkey’s encroachments followed a meeting between Greece’s and Turkey’s defense ministers in Brussels, which seemed to mark a progress in negotiations aiming to build the atmosphere of confidence between the two countries. A spokesman for Greece’s government denied Kivirkoghli’s allegations, noting that Turkish General was abusing the current international situation. He also suggested that Turks could obtain information about the camp from UNHCR office. Greek defense minister Akis Tsogadzopulos, who together with president Kostis Steafanopulos was also present at the exercises, slammed Kiviroghlu, saying that “some people are trying to invent bicycle by old methods.” © Copyright AZG

RUSSIAN ARMENIANS IN KARABAGH A delegation of the Union of Russian Armenians traveled to Nagorno Karabagh on October 15 within a set of events, all dedicated to 17 centuries of Armenia’s conversion to Christianity, the Union is holding first in Karabagh and then will move them to Armenia. The delegation, comprised of very prominent Russian Armenians, was received by Karabagh leader Arkady Ghukasian. He spoke about the social and economic conditions of Karabagh and prospects for further economic development. He said that the leadership of the country considers the involvement of foreign private capital in the economy of the country many important, for which corresponding legislative field and favorable investment atmospheres is established. Ghukasian particularly underlined the fact that Karabagh hopes that the Armenian community of Russia will bring its contribution to the development of multilateral relations between Russia and Karabagh. Karabagh's prime minister Anoushavan Danielian, foreign affairs minister Naira Melkoumian, internal affairs minister Armen Isagulov, writer Zori Balayan were present at the meeting. Late in the evening a concert was organized in the central square of Stepanakert, Karabagh capital, with participation of singers and dancers from Russia, Armenia and Karabagh. By Yeghishe Arshakian from Stepanakert © Copyright AZG

MONUMENT DEVOTED TO ARMENIA OPENED IN FRANCE A monument, devoted to the Armenian-French friendship and the 1700th anniversary of Armenia's adoption of Christianity, opened October 14 at the center of Antonie city in France with Armenia's ambassador to France Edward Nalbandian, mayor of Antonie city, parliament deputy Mr. Devejian participating. According to the foreign affairs ministry public relations department, Edward Nalbandian said that the 2001 year could be announced a year of Armenia in France, taking into account France's recognition of the Armenian Genocide and Armenia's president Robert Kocharian's state visit to France. And the opening of the monument coincides with the 10th anniversary of Armenian Independence and the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia.

US AMBASSADOR TO BAKU WARNS AGAINST HOSTILITIES RESUMPTION IN KARABAGH YEREVAN, OCTOBER 15, ARMENPRESS: A member of the Turkish parliament Bulent Akacali announced on Friday that Turkey could help Azerbaijan carry out an anti-terrorist action in Nagorno-Karabagh if Azerbaijan proved Armenia's involvement in terrorist actions in Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabagh. Azerbaijani ANS agency quoted an Azeri "expert" Kyamil Salimov as saying that Azerbaijan has enough facts to prove Armenia's involvement in an explosion in Baku underground railway and terrorist attacks carried out by Nagorno Karabagh's armed forces. Meantime the US ambassador to Baku Ross Wilson told ANS news agency that Washington reckons that any possible anti-terror operation to be conducted in Nagorno-Karabagh wouldn't bring Azerbaijan any good. In an interview with ANS, the U.S. ambassador said a war could have dangerous results for the whole region. At the same time, Mr. Wilson once again expressed his Government's support of Azeri President Heydar Aliyev's peaceful line in the Karabagh conflict issue.

AZERI FOREIGN MINISTER REJECTS GHUKASIAN'S PROPOSAL BAKU, OCTOBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijani foreign minister Vilayat Quliyev has rejected a proposal by Nagorno Karabagh leader Arkady Ghukasian to start direct negotiations between Baku and Stepanakert to find an end to the decade-long conflict. Quliyev said the conflict was between Armenia and Azerbaijan and Karabagh was not a side to it. Quliyev also said that Karabagh might join the negotiations given a significant progress was reached in Armenia-Azerbaijan talks over its regulation. Quliyev also said that the OSCE Minsk group co-chairmen, including the US newly appointed envoy Rudolph Perina, tasked to handle the conflict, will arrive in the region in early November.

Nor yerg uni mi hat Im Ser - HAyuhi !!! Hoyakap Yerga Nvirvats HAyuhinerin Hayuhi Sireli, Im Srty Taguhi Movses

Raffi JAn Your the MaN : Movses

Brownback Bill Escalates Attack On Section 907 WASHINGTON DC—In the latest of a series of legislative initiatives designed to lift the restrictions on US aid to Azerbaijan enacted by Congress in response to Azerbaijan's blockades of Armenia and Nagorno Artsax, Sen. Sam Brownback today introduced stand-alone legislation that would broaden the president's authority to waive Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). In a short speech this evening on the Senate floor, Sen. Brownback acknowledged that it would be a "tough issue" to pressure Congress into retreating from the law it enacted in 1992 in response to Azerbaijan's aggression and blockades against Armenia and Nagorno Artsax. Under current law, the President can only lift Section 907 by formally reporting to Congress that Azerbaijan has taken demonstrable steps to lifts its blockades and cease all offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno Artsax. He stressed that his legislation would not eliminate Section 907, but rather allow the President to waive this provision if he determines that it is in the national security interest to do so. Encouraging his Senate colleagues to co-sponsor his legislation, he explained that, "this is providing the President with waiver authority, national security waiver authority...there has to be a national security interest. If it is not needed, if it is not there, the President does not have the authority to exercise it...But we should provide him that authority." "Recognizing the lack of support in Congress for his earlier attempts to secure the outright repeal of Section 907, Senator Brownback has now apparently turned to a second strategy to accomplish his goal of ensuring the free flow of US taxpayer funding into the government of Azerbaijan," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "In light of the State Department's recent escalation of its anti-Section 907 campaign, it is clear that this legislation represents a focused and coordinated attempt to effectively eliminate this law, against the express will of Congress." Armenian President Robert Kocharian, in a letter today to President George W. Bush, stressed that "Section 907 and the Turkish-Azerbaijani blockade of Armenia have been interlinked through the life of this conflict, and are part of the overall package of issues which require resolution. Removing one element, dealing with it independently, will irreparably damage the peace process." Bipartisan Congressional support for Section 907 was reaffirmed in Senate and House floor votes in June of 1999 and September of 1998, respectively. Local ANC chapters and activists have worked with Armenian Americans from throughout the United States in educating members of Congress about the dangers of facilitating the weakening, repeal, or waiver of Section 907. Any such moves, they have explained, would: *Reward Azerbaijan for its illegal blockades and destabilize the region by encouraging Azerbaijan to maintain its blockades and other offensive uses of force, secure in the knowledge that such aggressive actions will not meet any meaningful opposition on the part of the US government. *Allow Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev to exploit the terrorist attacks against the United States to force the repeal of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act as a condition of his cooperation in the war on terrorism. *Tilt the military balance in the region in favor of Azerbaijan and threaten the seven-year cease-fire in the Nagorno Artsax conflict

DIASPORA WILL CONTINUE PARTICIPATING IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF MOTHERLAND Among other guests who came to Armenia in connection with 1700-th anniversary of Christianity adoption and the consecration ceremony of the newly built St. Gregory the Illuminator church, the member of Armenian Democratic Liberal Party’s Central Board, the chairman of American and Canadian eastern wing of the Party, deputy chairman of the Diocesan Council of Canada’s Armenian Apostolic Church, Doctor Haroutiun Arzoumanian also visited Yerevan. He is a doctor in the field of nuclear rays. Below we give the interview of AZG correspondent with him. Q: Doctor Arzoumanian, you emigrated form Egypt to Canada in 1966 and have been living there since then. You are well aware of the Armenian community life there. Can you acquaint us with it please? A: Canada now has a 80,000 strong Armenian community. Armenians live in Montreal (around 30,000 people) and in Toronto (about 25,000). Smaller communities exist in Vancouver (about 500 people) and other towns. We have Armenian colleges, churches and cultural centers. The main Armenian church in Canada is the St. Gregory the Illuminator church of Montreal. The head of the church is Archbishop Hovnan Terterian. The biggest Armenian school is the AGBU’s Armen-Kebek Alek Manoogian secondary college (founded in 1971) – with 550 students. It has had 1500 graduates up till now. The founder of the college is Doc. Arshavir Gyonjian, and the director since the day of the school’s foundation is Mrs. Varduhi Palian. Besides many subjects, the students of the collage are taught, they are brought up in Armenian manner. Next to the school Vahan Tekeyan and Alek Manoogian benevolent centers are situated and the street is called after Alek Manoogian. The community’s first Armenian language weekly – Apagay, started to be issued in 1975. The Dashnaktsutyun (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) part of the community has its church and a seminary close to it- both named St. Hagop. Horizon weekly is also being published in Montreal in three languages. Different compatriot unions and organizations are functioning in the community, which conduct charitable and cultural activity (e.g. Istanbul-Armenians Union, Egyptian-Armenian Association, Iranian-Armenian Raffi and Erebuni cultural unions). Armenian St. Trinity (built in the style of Zvartnots temple) and St. Blessed Virgin churches function in Toronto, as well as AGBU’s and ARF’s two Armenian schools. Q: What’s the level of relations between Armenian community and Canadian state-governing bodies, especially in the issue of pursuing the Armenian Cause? A: Although the community has a history of about 100 years, at the beginning there were very few Armenians there. The first Armenian church of St. Gregory the Illuminator was built in Saint Catherines city 75 years ago. Many Armenians migrated from Istanbul and Egypt to Canada in 1950’s and 60’s, and then after the war in Lebanon again a huge mass of Armenian refugees came here. The community was formed on Armenian traditions and is functioning actively now. It made its notable contribution to the development of Canada. We have notable Armenians in every sphere of the country’s life. The work with the state circles is carried out mainly on three levels – political, provincial and federal. Representatives of Canada’s state circles often participate in the events we organize, and they approach our history and culture with great respect. But unfortunately in political sphere they are very cautious and never use the word ‘genocide’ in their official announcements and speeches- not wishing to undertake the initiative. Usually they give all the definitions of the genocide –without using the word. But I am sure that our efforts are going to justify themselves one day. Especially now when Armenia has an embassy in Canada and the relations between the two countries are on quite a high level we hope that certain results will be reached soon. Q: You were one of the founders of the Apagay newspaper and its editor for some time. And now you continue contributing to the paper. Please tell us a little about the newspaper and about the Tekeyan Cultural Union (TCU) in general. A: TCU is a legal non-profit organization, the central office of which is in Boston. Its executive branches are in Montreal, Toronto, New York, Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and several other cities. Apagay newspaper, which is published in Montreal, celebrated its 25-th anniversary last year. It is a national, cultural and public weekly, the editor-in-chief of which is Arsen Nubar Mamurian- a chemist by profession, who learnt journalism and literature in Canada. Besides 12 pages in Armenian the newspaper has two pages in English and two in French. We also had a TV studio, which does not function for some time, but will soon again start broadcasting. The programs of the channel are broadcast in Canada and Philadelphia. We also have two-month summer camps, the responsible of which is Mrs. Artemis Poyajian. Cultural events are also being organized. Armenian Democratic Liberal Party’s Ojen Papazian club functions in Montreal, close to which ‘Armenian Law Council’ functions, which often cooperates with ARF Armenian National Committee of America- especially in pursuing pan-national issues and April 24 commemoration. Q: Is there a split in the ADL party of Canada? A: The split of the party in 1995 was artificial and was based on interests of a group of people. Unfortunately some circles of Armenian government speculated the split and made the situation worse. But thanks to President Robert Kocharian and foreign minister Vartan Oskanian the situation of the party improved. After two sessions that took place in Paris and one in Yerevan, the two parts of ADL again came together and finally united this April at a meeting in Athens. The issue was solved everywhere except in the ADL branch of Lebanon, where individual disagreements prevail. Our relations are very warm with the ADL of Armenia and although there are no administrative ties between us, the ideological and moral cooperation is very close. The new Central Board of ADL and its branches will try to implement the goals of the party which are mainly the programs of preserving Armenian spirit in Diaspora and pursuing the Armenian Cause. In our opinion these missions of Armenian traditional parties will always remain urgent. Q: What’s your opinion about the festivities dedicated to the 1700-th anniversary of Christianity adoption in Armenia? A: To participate in 1700-th anniversary of Christianity adoption in Armenia, Myrrh Consecration, 10-th anniversary of Armenia and the visit of Pope of Rome was a source of spiritual rebirth and patriotic revival, which we will surely pass to the Diaspora-Armenians. This time we are leaving Armenia with more optimistic feelings. There is a notable progress in the country. And Diaspora will surely continue participating in the reconstruction of the motherland. Interview by Hagop Tsulikian © Copyright AZG

http://www.azg.am/IMAGE/200118403.jpg By a secret vote of 36 against 20 and 14 abstentions the Armenian parliament has upheld today that Vano Siradeghian should continue to remain as parliament member. To pass the bill on recognizing Siradeghian’s mandate invalid 47 votes for were needed out of 92 registered lawmakers, but 22 did not take part in it. Vano Siradeghian, a parliament member and former interior minister in ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosian's administration, fled the country last year after the parliament lifted his immunity allowing the law-enforcement bodies to start his prosecution on charges of masterminding a series of high-profile assassinations in early 90s. Since then his whereabouts are not known. Siradeghian has missed 264 votes in parliament sessions, which, some deputies claimed, was enough to deprive him of his mandate. Chairman of parliament committee on legal and state issues Victor Dalakian, who had initiated the bill, said he was going to submit another one to seek inadequate 219 absences of Siradeghian from parliament votes. But another parliament member Manouk Gasparian claimed that the parliament leadership was acting at the orders of the top authorities who will later accuse the parliament of protecting the fugitive parliament member. The logic, according to Gasparian, is to diminish the clamor that has emerged after president Kocharian’s bodyguards have allegedly beaten to death a visitor at a Yerevan cafe on September 24. But this logic does not seem to be convincing, as there is another, seemingly more important factor. Parliament leader Armen Khachatrian had announced about including Siradeghian’s issue on the agenda before September 24. So, no one, including Khachatrian, could imagine what was going to happen September 24 night. It is becoming apparent that certain political forces will be exploiting this factor in this very context, which would hit the already discredited parliament in the first place. One thing is clear, the elected representatives of the people did not agree to deprive a man from parliament mandate who had been allowed by them to be prosecuted in 2000 April. There may be three reasons behind this. First, the deputies just avoided to create a precedent that may later hit one of them, second, the fugitive parliament member still enjoys some popularity among his colleagues, and the third is that many deputies could not understand why this issue was raised after 18 months of silence. To avoid responsibility for further development of things the parliament did not upheld the decision. It is hard to say which of the three factors was the decisive one. In any case, the parliament displayed its true face, proving, at least, that it is supporting Siradeghian. By Gor Abrahamian © Copyright AZG