the armenian Number 20 July 14, 2007 reporter International Will Armenian-Azerbaijani dialogue continue? President Kocharian in On June 28, 2007, a joint Arme- Hrachya Arzumanian, a Step- nian-Azerbaijani delegation visited anakert-based contributor to the working visit to France Karabakh, Armenia, and Azerbai- Armenian Reporter interviewed jan. This initiative was realized Dr. Ludmila Grigorian, a physician after a year and a half of bilateral and civic activist from Stepanakert, discussions. The visited was a de- who was part of this unique del- meets President Sarkozy parture from Azerbaijan’s usual egation. Her thoughts and insight hostile rhetoric and policy. But it make for a compelling story. is still unclear, if the trip will open the way for more dialogue or be- Concludes Year of come an exception from the norm. See story on page A3 m Armenia in France International by Emil Sanamyan Armenian congressional caucus member Rep. PARIS – President Nicolas Sarkozy John Tierney talks about his trip Azerbaijan of France and President Robert Ko- charian of Armenia held an hour- Representative John Tierney (D.- Azerbaijani government put out a long meeting at the Élysée Palace Mass.) has been a longtime sup- press release saying that “consider- on July 12, continuing the close porter of the Armenian causes in ing the activities of the Armenian high-level relationship the two Congress. As part of his work on community” the congressman was countries’ successive leaders have the congressional Select Intel- happy to hear the other side. Our developed over the last decade. ligence Committee, Rep. Tierney Washington Editor Emil Sanamyan “We have reconfirmed all the was in Azerbaijan last week where talked to Rep. Tierney to see if that goals we set in the past, and we he discussed U.S. concerns about made a difference in his views on have also tried to outline new areas Iran and other issues with Azeri of- Karabakh. of cooperation,” Mr. Kocharian said. President Sarkozy received President Kocharian at the Élysée Palace. Photolure. ficials. “It was a very specific and pragmatic On the issue of Karabakh, the See story on page A2 m discussion, and I am satisfied with and Bernard Accoyer of the Nation- Mr. Sarkozy’s predecessor as its outcome and the atmosphere of al Assembly. president, Jacques Chirac, made a our meeting. We are going to con- Armenia’s president was last in state visit to Armenia last fall. Mr. Armenia tinue our contacts.” France in February of this year, Chirac’s visit kicked off the Year of Pres. Kocharian’s working visit when he first met with Mr. Sarkozy, Armenia in France. Mr. Kocharian’s on July 11–13 also included meet- who was then the French interior visit marks the conclusion of the ings with the presidents of the two minister and a presidential candi- program on July 14, which com- chambers of the French legislature date. Mr. Sarkozy was elected presi- prised some 400 cultural events all – Christian Poncelet of the Senate dent in May. over France. f Alex and Marie Manoogian’s earthly remains arrive in Holy Etchmiadzin YEREVAN – The earthly remains of Alex and Marie Manoogian will be reinterred in Holy Etchmiadzin on July 17, the Mother See an- nounced last week. Mr. Manoogian, a National Hero of the Republic Aram Antonyan, blacksmith, sculptor, Armenian, is the hero of a new in- of Armenia, was Life President of stallment of Armen Hakobyan’s Armenia at Work series. the Armenian General Benevolent See story on page A6 m Union. He died in 1996. Mrs. Ma- noogian had died in 1992. They had previously been interred in Detroit. Community On Friday, July 13, the caskets arrived in Armenia. Louise Manoo- gian Simone, the daughter of Alex Crime Beat: In gang-related shootings in Southern and Marie Manoogian, and other California, police get little cooperation Manoogian family members were The remains of Alex and Marie Manoogian lie in state in the St. Gayane monastery in on hand, as was Berge Setrakian, Vahgarshapat, awaiting the June 17 reburial at Holy Etchmiadzin. Photo: Photolure. Marat Manukyan, 18, was killed ate and allow killers to roam the president of the Armenian General on April 26 in gang violence, Jason streets than to put themselves Benevolent Union. caskets were placed inside the sanc- of our people dispersed throughout Kandel writes. in a position where they’d have His Holiness Karekin II, the Ca- tuary, where they will lie in repose the world,” Karekin II said. A 17-year-old boy was held on to testify,” Pinner said. “We need tholicos of All Armenians, National until July 17. “They created the luminous path suspicion of murder. But the Los general, everyday community Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian, Inside the monastery, the ca- of their own lives, as well as the Angeles District Attorney declined members to make the system Prime Minister Serge Sargsian, and tholicos offered a solemn requiem. lives of countless Armenians, with to file charges for lack of evidence. function properly. Without that other dignitaries were at the air- “Our free land receives today its the faith and vision of a renewed, Witnesses wouldn’t cooperate, De- cooperation, we end up with cases port to greet the Air France flight. dedicated scions . who lived and prosperous, and flourishing home- tective Martin Pinner said. like this.” The cortege moved from the contributed selfless efforts for the land.” f The case remains unresolved. airport to the Monastery of Saint love of the renaissance and vibran- “They’d rather not cooper- See story on page B8 m Gayane in Vagharshapat, and the cy of the spiritual and national life See editorial on page A10 m Huberta von Voss The Lark Farm draws portraits of Armenians here, there, and Jazz against racism everywhere Page C8 Page C3 Page C10 A2 The Armenian Reporter | July 14, 2007 International Genocide scholars honor Ambassador John Evans by Emil Sanamyan for calling upon the United States While “nothing can fully com- unclaimed policies held by Arme- government to recognize the Ar- pensate the Armenian people for nians who were murdered in the menian Genocide.” the death and destruction they suf- Genocide, saying “more needs to YEREVAN – The diplomat whose ca- In his prepared remarks, made fered,” Mr. Evans added, “at a mini- be done.” reer was cut short by the U.S. State available to the Armenian Reporter, mum the truth should be affirmed,” “Bottling up the truth and Department after he spoke openly Mr. Evans stressed that his effort as has been done in various national treating it as taboo gets us pre- about the Armenian Genocide was was certainly in a different league parliaments and can be done in the cisely nowhere,” he stressed. honored by the International Asso- from that of Mr. Wallenberg, the U.S. Congress should the House of “This long-standing problem dat- ciation of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) Swedish humanitarian who under Representatives’ leadership sched- ing from the early years of the this week. diplomatic cover in World War II ule a vote on House Resolution 106, 20th century needs to be fairly Former U.S. Ambassador to Ar- Hungary helped protect Jews from supported by 221 members of Con- and honestly dealt with, for the menia John Evans received the as- the Nazi Holocaust. gress as of July 12. good of both Armenians and sociation’s Raoul Wallenberg award “I simply violated a strict taboo, IAGS, which is chaired by the Is- Turks, and for the future stabil- on July 12 during the association’s and differed publicly with my raeli scholar Dr. Israel Charny, has ity of the region.” week-long conference in Sarajevo government, when, at UCLA and previously spoken out in support At the same conference, another in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Berkeley in 2005, I used the term of defining as genocide the Arme- IAGS award went to Turkish publish- The IAGS conference agenda said ‘genocide’ to describe – accurately, nian experience in the Ottoman er Ragip Zarakolu for “outstanding that the award went to Mr. Evans in my view – what happened to Empire contributions to the battle against “for speaking out when diplomats the Armenians of Anatolia in 1915,” Mr. Evans also pointed to the deniers of the Armenian Genocide are expected to remain silent, and Mr. Evans said. recent insurance settlements over and all denials of Genocides.” f John Evans. U.S., Azerbaijani officials discuss security issues Azerbaijan’s flict in one of its reports. (The State self-determination.” And, he added, Washington-based Freedom House Department later reversed that de- “there’s no universal formula… to reported the same day. democracy record cision.) do that.” The organization’s executive di- While the United States is seek- Mr. Bryza did not raise Azerbai- rector Elizabeth Windsor said in and threats over ing Azerbaijan’s cooperation to jan’s continued threats to launch a statement that Azerbaijan, like undermine Russian energy domi- a war in Karabakh. He described Cuba and Egypt, “arrests journal- Karabakh are nance in Eurasia and help contain cooperation on security, energy, ists for practicing their profession, Iran, Azerbaijan’s own domestic and democratic reform as the stifles meaningful political compe- glossed over record and threatening posture to- three focal issues in bilateral dis- tition, shows a blatant disregard ward Armenia appear to be taking cussions. for internationally recognized hu- by Emil Sanamyan a back seat. Asked by the Armenian Reporter man rights, and seeks to isolate its In a July 9 press conference, whether the matter of the recently people from the global dialogue on Mr. Azimov said that his govern- intensified crackdown on mass me- freedom.” WASHINGTON – U.S.